"Coupla" cuties

Over the past year, Lauren has become proficient in pre-dinner snacking, beginning with pretzels ("prapples?"), progressing to chips ("prapples or cheeps?"), ending with her direct request for a "coupla chips?" each afternoon. Gracie, of course, sweetly joins her with a request for "chips, please".

Deals

Today we traveled to Pursell Farm for a liquidation sale. Oddly, a fertilizing company was based there. The office is being relocated to Colorado, and they were selling their furnishings instead of moving them. We picked up two very nice office chairs for Skip's office for $45 apiece. We thought it was a great deal.

Here we are hanging out while Skip transacts business:



Expending a little energy after the drive:

Pursell Farms Footage from Cathi Lindsey on Vimeo.

Then, we stopped for lunch:

Abby Cadabby

We will be celebarting the girls' third birthday on October 3rd. We had decided on a simple home party this year. However, Lauren kiboshed that idea last week when we were discussing birthday plans during Lauren & Gracie's bath time. When I said, "We're going to have your party at HOME! Won't that be fun?" She responded by saying, "Yellow park?" The "yellow" park was the site of their cousin's recent birthday party. Then she asked, "Party at Barney park?" So... Barney park it is. Luckily, the monsoon-like rains we have been experiencing for the past month have frightened most people from scheduling an outdoor party so the park was wide open, enabling us to book a last minute reservation. Barney Park? Here we come!

A couple of months ago, at the height of the girls' fascination with Abby Cadabby, Sesame Street's newest and most lovable character, I planned to have an Abby theme. How fickle almost-three-year-old-girls can be! We are now on the cusp of leaving Abby behind and embarking on a full blown Cinderella obsession. We wanted to have Abby because we simply have not been ready to move beyond Sesame Street, but a couple of developments have made me question the decision.

First, I met with a local bakery to discuss the cake about a week and a half ago. The bakery is a local institution, was privately owned for approximately 50 years, before changing hands to another local owner. (The cake they made last year is here.) So, I met with my contact there, and I quickly realized that I was working, both creatively and in a negotiation style, to get this cake deal done. We nailed down how the cake would be handled (there are licensure/copyright issues), and that I would be back in to discuss the cake specifics in a couple of weeks to go over the artwork, etc. We shook hands about a tentative cake deal.

Actually, they're great. Last year, when I was explaining that I needed two sets of toys and extra icing, the same contact nodding very knowingly, and said, "Don't worry; I'm gon' hook you up." This year, as I asked him if he knew who Abby Cadabby is, he nodded affirmatively, but then explained that she would be difficult to do. He explained, "Better known characters, sure... Elmo? no problem. Big Bird? we can do. Maybe, just maybe, Grouch, but it would be tough." So I confirmed that Abby is a BIG DEAL at our house and that it has to happen. He nodded, thoughtfully, and said, "Hmmhmm... I can tell. We'll work it out. Let's see what we can do." And we got down to business. Abby's image is licensed, and this bakery takes its responsibility serious. But, it's going to happen. Problem solved.

So this afternoon, we set out to complete the next set of "to do" items for the party. Naturally, this involved a trip to Party City. I managed to dodge this retailer for the first two parties we have had. But beloved Abby? Her image is well protected and hard to locate. We arrived, and there are literally aisles upon aisles (so it seemed) of Cinderella/Princess/Barbie items. There, amongst the other Sesame Street characters was a tiny, disheveled section devoted to Abby.

I procured our supplies, from the sparse selection that was available, and will meet with the baker again tomorrow.

Refuge

The constant rain has forced us to seek refuge at an indoor playground...

Hey Mr. DJ

Other than the bride and groom (and the cake, of course), the girls' favorite yesterday was the music. After the bride and groom left, Skip relayed a request from Lauren for "Happy Happy," but the DJ did not have any REM in his catalog.

Best wishes to Melissa & Justin

Today we went to my nephew's wedding at a small, quaint university about an hour and twenty minutes away. In preparation for the ceremony and reception, I made the connection with the ending of Cinderella (when she marries the prince) and the wedding. Therefore, they referred to Melissa as Cinderella and were excited to eat Cinderella-cake.

"Hold My Hand"

After the rain we experienced this morning, afternoon and evening, it is hard to recall that there was a slight break in the downpour, mid-morning, that allowed us to enjoy the briefest moments of sunshine. We dried off the slide and got a little wet in the process, but it was totally worth it to see the girls hold hands for the first (lengthy) period of time.

Tree hugger

Afternoon at the playground

After church and nap, we tried to beat the rain by heading quickly to the park. We didn't quite make it, but it was only some minor precipitation.

24

The last 24 hours involved 1) going out to eat last night after work, 2) going to a birthday party at the park and 3) eating out again tonight. Yum!

The restaurant last night:



Grace-bug:



"Here comes LuLu!"



Here is the restaurant tonight. This little gem may not look impressive, but it is something of a local institution:

Tiny dancer

Two fashionistas

After work today, the girls and I spent some time reviewing the various catalogs that arrived today, and a package I received containing two new dresses for Fall. After we looked at the catalogs, I tried on the clothes. Lauren, dissatisfied that there were only two dresses, ran over to the closet door, opened it and said, "Look at all THESE clothes, mama! Try THESE on!"

Update

I am behind from the weekend/holiday, but below is a brief recap:

Monkey-ing around at the zoo:



A sweet, post-zoo moment:



Taking a snack break at the zoo:



Another killer smile:



Lauren, DMD: "Now hold still, Barney, this won't hurt a bit."



"Brushy-brushy!"



Today, they met a friend at the park to play. Their friend, C, also LOVES Barney and brought his Barney to the park. Because I limited the girls to one travel item, they each took a purse, and their Barneys were left behind.

C was a great and generous sport and let Lauren play with Barney for approximately 75% of the time, before finally asserting ownership rights. This, of course, escalated (due to Lauren and Gracie's screaming) to Barney behind placed in the car. I looked around to see Lauren and C walking with Barney (each of them holding a Barney arm, as Barney was suspended between them) to the car.

At play

Plan B

Our initial plan was to go to the lake today; however, due to the monsoon-like rains we experienced, we opted for some indoor activities instead.

Lauren using the computer at the library:



Grabbing lunch at the mall:



Gracie watching the rain:




Getting a new faux phone from Claire's: