Disney!!!

One more sleep until we leave for our first family trip to Disney World!

Ready for their first (that Ellie remembers anyway) airplane trip!

Hands up for takeoff!

It was barely warm enough for the girls to swim the first evening, although Ellie could have swam all night!

Breakfast with Lilo and Stitch.

Enchanted Tales with Belle.

Ellie played the part of Belle's father, Maurice.

Lunch with the Winnie the Pooh characters.

We met many princesses throughout the parks, but most at the princess breakfast at the Akerhus Royal Banquet Hall in Epcot.

Crocodiles! Kilimanjaro Safari at the Animal Kingdom.

 Where did all of these animals come from?!

 Clara was especially thrilled with meeting Mickey and Minnie : )

 One of Ellie's favorites, Rapunzel.

 Jasmine and Aladdin were fun.  Love Ellie's expression as she talks to all of the characters.

Having fun during a street dance party.

Move it Shake it Parade!

 The girls learned all kinds of new dance moves!

Can't believe that it's already time to head home... but not without some princess souvenirs to remember the fun times!

Sweet Girls

 

 Best buds being silly together.

Clara is really getting into the lullaby that she's singing for her sister.

Celebrating Daddy

Justin began the MBA program at Xavier University in 2010 and has worked hard over many nights and weekends to complete the program with his final class this past fall.  They did not have a graduation ceremony in December, but I am hoping that he will decide to participate in the ceremony this spring.  Until then, the girls and I decided to surprise him with a little celebration after I found his diploma in the mail a few weeks ago. : )

 

 "You are awesome Daddy"

Beating the winter blahs!

 We left a couple of bowls outside one day while it snowed, and once they were full we made snow ice cream!

 I thought that it was a bit too sweet, but the girls enjoyed it.

 I guess Dixie thinks that she's just one of the girls.

 Ready for the Daddy-Daughter dance at Ellie's school!  He may be outnumbered in our house, but the girls adore their daddy and Ellie just loves it when he comes to her school or dance class for special things like this : )

Playing with dolls while Daddy and Ellie are at the dance.  Brooke grabbed a handful of Rapunzel's hair and pulled her over while I was getting her ready for bed.

 Caught in action - rolling over for the first time!!!

  

 On a donuts and hot chocolate date with Daddy at Tim Horton's.

 It's a hot chocolate kind of winter!

 The girls figured out a new way to the use their hopper.  Lots of giggling going on here!

 Staying cozy!  Thanks Aunt Karen for finding such an adorable hat for little Brooke : )

 Excited to be at Disney on Ice- Princesses and Heroes show!

 Thank you Nana for a fun afternoon!

 All wrapped up and ready for bed!

Starting off Valentine's Day with heart-shaped cinnamon rolls!

 Making treats for her preschool dance teachers.

 Clara's very first attempt at writing her name!  She wouldn't let me help her, so this was all her!

 Our Valentine sweeties : )

 The girls were trying hard to make Brooke smile, but she wasn't giving in!

Brooke's Baptism

Brooke's baptism was a beautiful day- despite the weather, which was not so beautiful!  The snow and extreme cold made it too risky for several family members to travel, but we enjoyed the day and are grateful that at least some of our family was able to celebrate with us.

It was very sweet- she was looking right at the priest and held his hand.

Brooke was actually the calmest of our three babies during the ceremony.  She didn't start to cry until the very end - progress!

Brooke's Godparents- her Aunt Nikki and Uncle Rob

The christening gown is exactly 100 years old this year!