An American Girl Birthday

This birthday princess had the most special celebration for turning four.  

Our family met up with Grandmother and Grandaddy in Atlanta to give our girl a birthday treat she could never forget.   

Here she is getting checked into her American Girl hotel room.  It was fit for a princess.  And little brother thought is was pretty cool too.

After we loved on Grandmother and Grandad, and unpacked our things we drove over to the main event.  

For months we have been checking the American Girl books and tapes out from our local library.  Lucy Mills loves them and knows all the girls by name.  She could not wait to get inside this magical, girly, dreamland of a store.  

She was in awe. 

Yet, without hesitation she went directly to the doll she wanted.  She chose her long ago when the catalog came in the mail and there was no changing her mind.  Mommy, I want Josephina.

Not a minute was wasted.  She opened the doll box and sat down in the middle of the store with her new family member.

Come to find out it was Josephina's braid and earrings that sealed her fate in the heart of my birthday girl.  

Pure happiness with her pink credit card in hand ready to take Josephina home. 

We are all thankful to Grandmother and Grandaddy for making her birthday one for the memory books.  What a loved little girl our four year old is! 

Just checking on Josephina.  

That is the face of a happy birthday girl. 

After getting Josephina we headed for a birthday dinner celebration at the Bistro in the American Girl store.  It was perfect.  They had chairs for the doll to join us at the table and even brought her a little tea party.  The meal was delicious.  But nothing topped singing Happy Birthday to Lucy Mills and seeing the smile on her face when they brought her the pink birthday cake.  She was in heaven.  

I can't believe she is four.  

After dinner we headed to the hotel for a fun evening of swimming, and then Lucy Mills snuggled up with her new baby and their matching pick robes.  

Sweet daughter, you are a blessing to our family and I am thankful that we had such a fun memory for your fourth birthday.  

Adventures at EdVenture

Last Christmas Suggie and Aunt Marian gave the kiddos a membership to the local children's museum, EdVenture.  

They.love.it.

It proved to be the perfect indoor activity during the south's hot summer months.  Here is Lucy Mills posing with Eddie.  They loving climbing through the playground inside the boy who spans the two floors of the museum. 

They are amazed at all the interesting things to see - like the human skeleton that is designed to let the children move it's arms and legs.  

The supermarket is always a must to see.  They can shop, go through the checkout counter and ring up their items on the cash register.  

Giving a dental check-up. 

In the construction zone. 

Playing with the puppies and kitties in the vet. 

The light up board. 

Checking out the puzzles in the indoor treehouse. 

We love our adventures at EdVenture.  

4th of July

Yep, it's mid September and I am finally catching up on pictures from the summer.  I am nearly jumping out of my skin to edit and post our more recent happenings - Lucy Mills' birthday, the start of school, our recent trip out west; but the summer memories are too sweet to not document.  

For the second year in a row we spent the 4th of July at the beach.  It was a great getaway full of swimming, swimming, and more swimming.  We took a break from the water to engage in the parade some of the neighbors organized for the children.  

Yankee Doodle Dandy here led the way...

But that was right after Lucy Mills serenaded the group with every word of God Bless America.  It was perfect. 

And they were off, marching in step right behind the flag. 

The kids had a great time sporting their red, white, and blue and proudly waving their American flags.  

The four of us. 

God bless America, land that I love.