The Nutcracker

So the day was finally here; the Nutcracker. We woke up and had our traditional cinnamon roll birthday breakfast. Mamie, Pops, and Robert were here and we played in the morning. I made the Sugar Plum Fairy cake. The girls have seen the doll cakes in the grocery store and that is what they said they wanted this year. So, I improvised and tried to make our own. I used a bundt pan and our Princess Aurora doll. I had to bend her and be creative with left over cupcakes from school, but here she is. The girls were thrilled.

This was the first year the girls seemed to understand about presents, and boy were they excited. It was almost a shame that they were so focused on the gift part. I miss the oblivious toddler days.

Opening gifts from Mamie and Pops

A fish tank!!!

Money to buy their own fish. I will post pictures of our new fish and the set-up tank in a new post. Thanks Mamie, Pops, and Robert!

Carly and Joiner are constantly playing with my camera,so they got kids cameras for their birthday. You can tell it is just what Joiner wanted!

Carly and her camera

I love this picture. I don't know if it is totally clear, but I am taking a picture of Carly, Joiner, and Mamie in the background taking a picture of me. So funny.

Before lunch, Gigi and Grumpa came. They brought Sugar plum fairy, and Mouse King nutcrackers. Of course, we had to take them to the show.

They also brought a piano...

And a guitar! Now we have a full band to play dance party!

Part of the special day was a new dress. We went to ETC consignment and they got to pick out any dress they wanted. They both chose really beautiful dresses. I think we wore them all week. Joiner had even torn the hem out of hers, but thankfully Mamie did a great job repairing it!

We are on our way to the show. We chose to go to a matinee performance even though we are still dedicated nappers. We were scared the 7pm performance would be just too late. They did really well. Joiner was VERY tired by bedtime, but Carly was on a birthday high!

The crew minus Caga, Miriam, and Grumpa (taking the picture)

Checking out the orchestra pit. The UNCSA kids were amazing musicians.

Joiner taking some shots before the show started. So excited!

Carly and Pops before the show

The show was amazing. We also had wonderful seats. We were in the fourth row, basically in the middle. Thanks to school, the girls new each scene and would bob on whatever lap they were sitting in excitment when things would happen. The two hours flew by with the girls loudly whispering how much they were enjoying it! I don't think any of us stopped smiling...

Until I asked them to pose with the Nutcracker. You would think I had asked Joiner to give me all her birthday presents. Did I mention that we skipped our nap for the first time?

Taking pictures of the signs outside with Gigi

Grumpa with the Sugar Plum Fairy

It was a great day. I don't know if anyone has seen the movie Center Stage, but it is a favorite of mine. It is about the American Ballet Company and how a top male dancer is shaking everything up. So, this year the UNCSA Nutcracker was new and improved thanks to a new dean of dance. Well, this dean is the dancer who played the top male dancer in Center Stage, Cooper. His real name in Ethan Steifal and I had just realized that it was the same person when a man passed me on the way to our car. Well, it was him!!! I almost called out to him to sign my program, but I chickened out. Still, it was really cool.

After the show, we went to dinner and then came back to our house for cake and ice cream. My camera was dying so I have very few pictures of cake and no pictures of dinner. It was so much fun and the girls are still talking about how much fun they had. We are so blessed to have so many friends and family who shared this special day with us!

Spa Day

For the girls 4th birthday, we went to the Nutcracker with basically our entire extended family. Well, one day the girls asked when they would see their little friends. So with a generous gift from Margaret and Bruce, we had our nails done on the Friday before their birthday. Ellison was sweet enough to be our guest. C & J were very excited and Ellison appeared to be as well.

When we got there, they had them put on these little spa robes. I should add that this was a spa just for little girls! I know! I am not sure if they wanted to take this picture.
Picking out their colors

Carly and Ellison picked the same shade of florescent pink and Joiner picked a darker version.

Soaking their hands in the warm bubbly water with rocks...Again, I know!

Ellison getting her hand massage

Carly getting her hand massage

Joiner getting her hand massage

Carly getting her polish. Carly wanted just polish. Ellison chose a glitter top coat, but not Carly! Have I mentioned before that she knows what she wants?

Joiner and her polish. Joiner also chose to have a flower jewel on her pointer fingers. Of course one quickly feel off after we left, but the other stayed on for a few days. She at least got to show the family.

Joiner's finished nails. If you look closely, you can see the jewels.

Ellison getting her top coat.

Joiner's blissed out spa look!

While they were letting their nails dry, they were served water in champange flutes. Of course they all thought this was the best part.

Cheers!

Relaxing in the little lounge area

Joiner

I thought I had a picture of Carly here, but on closer inspection it is Joiner again. They were wearing their cupcake birthday shirts and it is just too hard sometimes!

All three nails together. Just imagine how big those three sets of hand will be soon. Whew, where does it go!

Special Day

At Carly & Joiner's school they have a Special Day during the year. We chose to have theirs near their birthday. So on Thursday, Gigi took a day from her class and we were both the parent helpers for the morning. It was a great time and we all really appreciate Gigi taking time from kindergartners to hang out at preschool!

As I have said in other posts, the girls' school does a lot with UNC School of the Arts. Since November, their class acts out the Nutcracker almost each morning. They get different roles and to learn each part well. This knowledge was invaluable when we saw the actual play Saturday.

Gigi as Uncle Drosselmeyer and Carly as Clara
Fixing the Nutcracker that Fitz broke

Rocking the babies

Clara (Carly) asleep with the Nutcracker

Clara and the Prince watching the Sugarplum fairy
Carly loves to take part in the play, but Joiner is usually in the audience. However, on her Special Day, Joiner was the Snow Queen. She was really pleased with herself. You can see her in her class rocking the nutcrackers to sleep.
Joiner the Snow Queen and Gigi the Mouse King

Playing outside
We made a poster with 4 years worth of pictures of the girls to show their friends. They stayed together to do this and to have the cupcakes we brought for snack.
The 4 of us on Carly and Joiner's Special Day!

Bathing Suits and Mary and Joseph

Last week when we came home from school, both girls grabbed bathing suits that they wore as babies and put them on over their clothes. Then we played dance party in these crazy outfits! So funny! You can see Joiner has on a toboggan as well.

I was making dinner the week before last and I hear the girls come out of their room running. When I find them in the living room to ask what is going on, they tell me that they are Mary and Joseph and this is what I find.

Sad faces

Role reversal

A very happy holy family! Merry Christmas!