What a Weekend!!!!!!

Our American Girl adventure started on Friday at 1:00 when we picked Hannah up early from school. From there we went to get Kaylee and then we were headed north. The girls did great in the car............at one point 3 of them were napping and Hannah was watching a movie. I got to read a book and Justin had a quiet conference call. There was one 20 minute stretch where Kaylee asked every 5 minutes,"How many more Mickey Mouse Clubhouses until we get there?!?!?!" Thankfully, that is when she fell asleep!!!!

Swimming was first on our agenda----forgot to pack sandals!!!!

Forgot my suit so Whitney didn't swim. I actually really did forget it on accident.

PIZZA!!!!!

They weren't too sure about the thick Chicago style pizza, but we figured we had to get it----when in Rome.............

Ready to get their babies!!!!

Macy LOVED this stroller........she must be a stroller hoarder like her Mommy!!! When I checked out they didn't add it to our things and I didn't realize it until we were walking back to the hotel. Justin and I decided if she didn't ask about it we would just not worry about it. It was the first thing she asked about!!!!!!

Snack break while shopping!!!!!

Macy and Papa Scott

How she fell asleep on the walk back is beyond me......it was really cold!!!!!! Staying up late for Grandma and Papa to get in the night before and shopping for her baby must have worn her out!!!!

Kaylee and Kamden

Thought she would like waking up with her baby!!!

Hannah and Haylee

She thought of the name all by herself

Ready for the pool-----AGAIN!!!!

That night, Grandma Patti and Papa Scott kept Whitney so the big girls could have a Mommy and Daddy date at the AG Cafe.

Daddy wanted some legos!!!!

Pool-----AGAIN!!!!!

Macy and Molly

Swimming races!!!!

Life is Good when you have fun family adventures!!!!

All Packed Up!!!!

Yesterday, while my niece and Whitney took a nap I was able to pack for today's trip. Usually, I pack a few days in advance, but the week just got away from me!!!!! When I talked to my mom yesterday she asked if the girls would be all "matchy, matchy!!!!!"...........Of course.........there will be many pictures taken this weekend!!!!!! Since I was looking for 4 sets of 3 matching outfits in closets packing was pretty easy. Someday soon I am sure the girls will refuse to wear coordinating outfits, but until then we will continue to be what I like to call "the cute freak show" when we are out and about. I wish I could record the looks and comments we get from people.........Maybe I will this weekend and share them with you next week!!!!!

4 bags waiting for an adventure!!!!!!

Can't forget the diaper bag, bottle basket, snack and swimming bags!!!!!

Life is Good when you are all packed and ready for a family vacation!!!!

17 Months

Our little cousin, Morgan, is here for a few days because her mom has some business in Indianapolis. The girls love having her here. Kaylee is such a good little Mommy! Macy enjoys having someone else a little younger around that can play with her...............However, I think Maddie, the dog, is most excited about having Morgs here. Morgan is a snacker and loves to share all of her treats with Maddie!!!!! Whenever Morgan goes to her seat Maddie is right at her feet!!!! There have been a lot of giggles and laps made around our house in the last few days!!!! The mommies have possibly been enjoying some wine and trashy TV!!!!!! Tori and Dean Home Sweet Hollywood may be my new favorite...........tonight we will watch last night's Revenge!!!!

Morgan was not harmed during this picture!!!!!

Today, while the 3 bigs are at school it is just Morgan, Whitney and me............similar to what it was like when it was just Hannah and Kaylee. Morgan and Whitney are 17 months apart and Hannah and Kaylee are 18 months apart.

Whitney fell asleep on the way to preschool and Morgan is about to go down for a nap.............Time for me to pack 4 little backpacks for our trip to Chicago tomorrow!!!!

Life is Good with Fun Cousins!!!!!!

Chicago Here We Come!!!!!

The girls have been so excited to go and get their dolls. Hannah has been getting online checking out which doll she wants...........this surprises me since she isn't really into baby dolls!!!! Macy says she wants to get a Bitty Baby with a blue swimsuit and Kaylee is trying to figure out a name!!!!!! We leave for our adventure on Friday afternoon. Thankfully, we have our cousin, Morgan, here for the rest of the week, so the last few days will go quickly.

Friday morning a little surprise will be waiting for each girl. What does every new mommy need?!?!?!? A cute diaper bag!!!!!! A friend passed along this great tutorial for an American Girl diaper bag.

http://mommybydaycrafterbynight.blogspot.com/2011/11/dolly-diaper-bag-tutorial.html

I would change a few things about her directions......... The first one is that I didn't use fusible fleece........I used iron on stabilizer instead.

Also, I would use the stabilizer on the straps. I followed what she said and didn't do anything on the front bag's straps, but they are really flimsy.

When the stabilizer is used the straps have more shape!!!!

In her version in the pattern she used soft minky in the inside. I love how it feels, but it isn't the easiest to work with. It moved around a lot.........next time I would probably just use cotton fabric on both the inside and outside.

She also doesn't have you add the velcro until the end, so your stitches show. On bags #2 and #3, I added the velcro before I put the flap pieces together so the stitches are hidden between them.

Each bag needed a matching blanket!!!

Hannah's bag was the first one I did............it has the most little mistakes----visible velcro stitches and droopy straps! Next time I will start with someone else's first!!!! She does have the cutest coordinating blanket.

Life is Good when you are a prepared little Mommy!!!!

What's your price?!?!?!?!

Normally, I don't really mind what our basement looks like............most of the toys are down there so it is usually a mess of baby dolls, dress up clothes, games and anything else they dump out!!!!! However, our little cousin, Morgan, is coming later today and the cleaning people come Wed. so we needed to be able to see the carpet!!!!

I asked the girls to go and clean it and our conversation went a little like this:

Me: Girls can you please go clean up the basement? It will go fast if you use teamwork!!!!

Hannah: Do we get marbles?----usually I say no if they ask, but I really wanted the basement clean and I didn't want to do it!!!!

Me: Ok..............How about FIVE each?

Kaylee: How about 20?!?!?!?!

Me: TEN is the most you can get!!!!!!

All three: Ok!!!!

So down they went............

I could here Kaylee and Hannah telling Macy that she needed to help. I never heard her scream so I know they weren't using force to get her to help.

After about 30 minutes they came up and were so excited to show me the clean basement.

When I started down the stairs this was the first thing I saw.

Then, I saw the cleaned up kitchen area............to the right of the washer and dryer there are usually two large bins of dolls and a few cribs!!!!!!!

Found the baby stuff!!!!!!

Decided they followed the directions I gave.........I just said I wanted everything put away so I could see the carpet and they did just put baby doll stuff in there!!!!

Macy was also proud of her contribution!!!! Wonder how long it took her to place 3 pillows back on the couch?!?!?!?

Life is Good when you use teamwork!!!!

Over the weekend, "the Middles" had their birthday party. It was a day they had been waiting awhile for!!! Not sure how many more years their friend celebration can be combined, but it worked great this year.

Two peas in a pod!!!!

Hannah Montana cake----not because we love HM, but because it had the coolest toy on top!!!

Princess #1 for the day

Princess #2 for the day

Life is Good when you can share your special day with a sister and you think it is cool!!!!!

Birthday Buddy

Justin's best birthday surprise yesterday was the birth of our new nephew. Justin's middle brother, Michael and his wife, Kristin had a baby boy. The girls love getting together with their cousins and always have a great time. Until yesterday, the girl to boy ratio was 6 to 1!!!!!!

With the addition of this bundle of joy it's now only 3 to 1!!!!

We can't wait to meet William Edward at Christmas!!!!

Life is Good with new baby cousins!!!!