Reading time and randomness.....

We've started a new thing -- going to the library!  We try to go every Monday morning, but sometimes it gets pushed off until Tuesday (like today).  Danielle has LOTS of fun coming up with books she wants to pick out.  It usually goes something like this:  "Mommy, I have a good idea!  I want penguin stories!"  Me: "Penguins.  Okay, lets go find the librarian."  This week she wanted penguins and turtles.....thankfully they didn't have to be in the same book!

...at her favorite reading spot....

....those of you who know how much I like to read know how much I love this picture!

Ashley bringing me one of her little books!

...we're learning how to turn pages....

And if it's a chilly day, this is a pretty good bet on where to find Danielle....

Aunty Beth is SOOOOOOO creative!!!

Aunty Beth sent home some clothes that she made for the girls.  Danielle and Ashley have matching outfits, and this one is one of the favorites!

Of course, the smile always makes her pretty!

...but how often do you get to have a butterfly on your back?

And Danielle loves to show off her outfit to EVERYONE!

So what you're seeing here is a black turtleneck over black yoga pants with a skirt and yellow shirt over them -- and the shirt has a butterfly on the back of it that matches the skirt! So adorably cute!!

Dancing with Daddy

I know I'm catching up, but this little bit of fun was too cute to not share with everyone!  A few weeks back, Bob has some music turned on in the living room and Danielle wanted to dance with her Daddy....so here you go!

Bob is trying to teach her to twirl here....

 ...and jumping is always fun....

...more fun...

....obviously we were just about in stitches by this point....

...and I saved my favorite for last!  I love it!!

Birthday Party!! (#4)

Aunty Beth was kind enough to host a birthday party for Ashley -- we had LOTS of fun and got to see lots of people!!

The little girl of the hour!

She was a little unsure of the party hat....

Beginning to investigate the frosting.....

....and discovering that it tastes yummy....

....proof that indeed it does!!

Grandma Carol provided adorable cupcakes with four different colors of frosting, and Aunty Beth thought that Ashley might like a more varied color palate to work with....

...and promptly put her feet in them!

Ashely wasn't the only one to enjoy the cupcakes!!

....but she was the only one who needed a bath immediately and thus opened her presents nice and clean and in her diaper!!!  What a cutie -- I love her so much!!

DISNEYLAND!!!!!!

We got the chance and TOOK it!!  Grandma Carol offered to watch Ashley while we took Danielle to Disneyland!  We had so much fun -- it's quite a lot for a little girl to take in!!!  Nancy B. was super-cala-fragalistic and was able to meet us and sign us in and Grandpa Jim, Grandma Sweetie, and Auntie Julie were able to join us, too!

Yeah, we're here!!

Hm...should I be surprised that she LOVED the carosel?!?!

Dumbo was also a BIG hit!  (and we only had to wait about 10 minutes, which was a HUGE hit with Mom and Dad!)

We had fun flying!

Mommy was in serious need of a cup of coffee so Grandma Sweetie and Daddy took Danielle on Peter Pan -- which she informed them that it was "too dark", but that Grandma and Daddy kept her safe.  I met them just after (yes, coffee in hand) at the sword in the stone.  She doesn't know the story, but how cute is she?!

....outside It's a Small World....and yes, we WALKED onto that ride!!!

Another BIG hit was the train ride around the park....

...and I will finish this posting later -- I didn't realize how late it is and I gotta get some cuties up from their naps!!

Princess!! (Birthday Party #3)

We had a nice little quiet birthday party for the Great-Grandmas to see Ashley enjoy cake and presents.  Grandma Carol wanted to do princess cakes, so she and I teamed up and created 5 of them -- 4 little ones (jumbo cupcake size) and 1 big one.  They turned out SOOO cute!!!

The birthday table, complete with little princess figurine toys....that Danielle got to take home!!

The four smaller princess cakes -- even though it was Ashley's party, Danielle got to pick who got which colors.  I think it went green to G-G'ma Darlene, yellow to G-G'ma Rachel, pink to Danielle, and purple to Mommy.  Everyone else got a slice from the big cake!

The big cake!  We had fun decorating.....and I had to get creative with the bodice of her dress as I forgot to save enough pink frosting!  All things considered, I think we did good.  (and SO many memories came flooding back of all the princess cakes that Grandma Darlene used to make for me!)

Grandma Carol got a cute little headband for Ashley to wear.  She was kind enough to let us snap a few pictures of her wearing it, and then she was done -- we'll have to try again soon to see if she'll leave it on for more than 2 minutes!

Grandpa with the girls!!!

Opening presents....with big sister's help!

....and just like her big sister, Ashley LOVES the cards!  Too cute!!

Feeding the ducks!

Back to Riverside, we managed to find a morning that we could walk down to the park and let Danielle feed the ducks!

She had a blast, and tried to throw the bread as far as she could!

Did I mention that she was excited?!?!