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Ellie at the beach

Ellie loved everything about the beach. She learned how to balance on the waves and she loved building princess ballrooms in the sand.

Sadie at the beach

Sadie loves the beach! She can't get enough of sand and everywhere we went she wanted to cover herself in it. Budding geologist? Maybe!

Our world this week

In between all the birthdays and parties we've been doing other stuff...

... like swimming at the pool ...

... and playing with party decorations ...

... and hanging out in cages.

Ok, ok, we don't do this to our kids!! Last week I took the cats to the vet. After we got home I went to put the cages away and found this little cutie waiting for me. I have no idea how she managed to get her whole body in there, but she was giggling like crazy!

Reading books at naptime.

Garlic is fun. It peels!

Sippy cups are even more fun.

"Mommy, I am a princess fanatic."

Jamming out

Sadie loves to dance. Here she is testing out dancing in her sunglasses.

Feeling pensive.

Ellie's day

Ellie's actual birthday was quiet here at home. She loved that this year her birthday was the same day as Father's Day.

The big highlight was Ellie's new bike.

By now Sadie has figured out this whole birthday present thing.

Check out that nightie on Ellie. It was a present from one of her friends. The tag says "Gown" so Ellie insists that it is dress up. She wore it all day on her birthday, even when we were out and about. Oh we love princesses!

Party at the bakery

This weekend we had a second party for school and playgroup friends at a local cupcake bakery.

Waiting to decorate.

Four year olds, bags of icing, and a short wait... just guess how many of those fancy decorator tips ended up in four-year-old mouths before the cupcakes even made it to the table.

The demonstration.

And FINALLY our turn to start being creative with our food.

I'm going to blow out this candle and then I'm going to eat both cupcakes at once.

Sadie tried out her ability to sleep anywhere through anything.
She missed pretty much all the action.

Ellie explaining how pin-the-candle-on-the-cupcake works ...

... and demonstrating ...

Pinata frenzy.

Sadie

Sadie had a great time celebrating the birthdays. She loves get-togethers! She is so relaxed at them that she fell asleep at not one but BOTH of the parties we had. Unfortunately that means we don't have very many photos of her at her own parties. But we made sure we sang Happy Birthday to her, and that she tried (cup)cake and, of course, opened presents.

Only one-year-olds can sit so calmly next to a pile of presents like this!!

Her sister was hopping up and down just itching to start helping unwrap.

Surveying all her new stuff.

Ellie reading one of Sadie's new books to her

Sadie just loves baby dolls. She's never met one she doesn't love. I have photographic proof. Here you go ...

This one crawls, giggles and talks to her.

Birthday pics

The birthday girls.

Sadie's first taste of a cupcake.

Party hats were a must for Ellie - no party is complete without them.

So she helped make these, and spent a long time choosing hats for each person!

Our party at home

Last weekend we had a cupcake decorating party at our house for the neighborhood kids. Ellie loved playing hostess.

Everybody decorated mugs ...

... and played pin-the-candle-on-the-cupcake ...

... and then we got down to business ...

There were some pretty impressive cupcakes. Note: If you ever do a cupcake decorating party, don't forget the gummy worms. They were a BIG hit!

It is BIRTHDAY WEEK at our house!

I have lots of photos to put up, this being birthday week and all. Here's what it looks like to turn one year old. Happy birthday, Sweet Sadie girl.

Discovering cupcakes. Hmm... what is this "frosting" you keep talking about?

Sadie loves her new baby doll.

And her new cell phone... with a special recorded message from her sister.

Here she is the morning after her birthday (doesn't she look older?) with her new set of keys.