Batman & Robin (and other Lego Wii Games)

Leia has been really into making little figures out of clay these days. They are so good that I end up putting them in my curio cabinet! Here is the most recent: Batman & Robin, . . . in honor of Leia's and Daddy's newest Lego Wii Game: Lego Batman. I have such wonderful memories of playing Intellivision with my own Dad, . . . and now the girls are having the same kind of experience with their Daddy! : )

A Valentine Visit with Shenan

This visit was more than just a birthday party and a park! The girls had so much fun together (and so did the Moms and Dads)! Leia got to cheer on Shenandoah as she played a basketball game, there were puppet shows in the new playroom, valentine candy, and so much more, . . . before the school bus pulled up on Monday and it was time to say "goodbye" until next time.

Maymont with Shenan

Maymont is a spectacular park in Richmond, Virginia.We all went there together this Sunday, and it was SO much fun! A petting zoo, a great hike, stepping stones, piking up algae (otherwise known as "allergy") with sticks, lots of snow-eating on the part of Annie, . . . even a surprise film done by film school students (which was quite surreal)!

Special Sleepovers (Annie's First!)

It was especially wonderful to see Annie truly be able to interact with Armelle and the other big girls this time, . . . so it was high time for another big first: Annie's First Sleepover! Sleepovers are always the highlights of a visit to the Worrels. My girls never have so much fun with friends!

Shenan's Chuck E Cheese Birthday Party

Just as it was a blessing to have Shenan and Armelle join us for Leia's birthday in October, it was a blessing for us to be able to attend Shenan's in February! Hooray for the Virginia version of Chuck E Cheese (which Leia still insists on calling Chunky Cheese). A lot of great memories came to the forefront during this party, . . . in that Leia and Shenan, Laura and I used to frequent Chuck E Cheese in Chapel Hill, . . . on early weekday mornings LONG ago. Well, that was a far cry from the chaos of a busy weekend there. LOL. But Chucky really does do a great job making the birthday girl feel VERY special! The party was a blast all around, . . . and it was a crazy feeling to let Leia go off with her friends instead of accompanying her on every single activity. And you know who really loved it, . . . as she had never really visited many times before? ANNIE! She did everything from clapping to the songs, singing and dancing, playing games, riding on the most perfect toddler ride ever (the big rocking horse), eating pizza, climbing in the tunnels above the fray (and not being able to get out again), winning tickets, to redeeming those tokens for her coveted "fishies"! In addition, we got to meet Shenan's boyfriend Jeremy. (Laura wrote on her blog a few weeks ago that Shenan mentioned she liked him "the kissy-kissy kind.") LOL.

Valentine Preparation

Leia Rose and I have been working hard on her original valentines this year. We got this idea from one of Leia's friends from Artgarden Montessori: Jessica. One year she made simple playdough hearts as a kind of valentine ornament. This year, we did the same! We used really cool stamps to make designs and even stamp Leia's name as well as her classmates'. It was hard work, but it turned out a great set of valentines!

Even MORE Dress-Up & Dancing

Oh my goodness, this is ABSOLUTELY one of Annie's favorite activities these days. Both of my girls have truly rediscovered dress-up, but Annie has gone far beyond rediscovering. Daily she requests to dress up and then dance. Here she is dancing to, of all things, Cyndi Lauper's "She Bop"! I just LOVED dancing with Annie to this song, bringing back all memories of the Valley-Girl eighties! : ) And the first photo really proves what a show Annie puts on for me! I just love it! : ) Then, of course, another day another outfit! LOL! At the bottom Annie is dancing as a "Ballerina Unicorn"! : )