Starting a New Decade

 Greeting me when I stepped off the elevators this morning?  Penguins.  Lots of them.

 Lining the hall from the elevators to my office as well...and balloons and confetti filling my office.

 Topped off with a delicious birthday cake.

 Getting off the elevator.

Surrounded by chaos.

I have truly great friends at work--even if they DID broadcast my old age to the whole firm!

Messy Face

Happy Friday!

Ballerina

Today was Visitor's Day at ballet class!  Hallie was VERY excited, and so was Mommy.  (Incidentally, I was surprised that she had on the headband when I arrived. Apparently she has been keeping it in her bag and wearing it just for ballet--it matches the leotard, you know.) They did their normal warm-up exercises and showed us some of their moves.  I really enjoyed it and can see why Hallie likes it so much.  We also got all the details on the Big Day...the recital.  It will be the day after Hallie's birthday, and we saw a picture of the (VERY sequiny) costume, which I'm quite sure we'll wear around the house for a year at least.  Here is a clip of my little ballerina in action (forgive the small screen shot--I was using my iphone)...

Uno!

Uncle Ted, does this look famiiliar? 

I can remember playing Uno over and over again when I was about Hallie's age (specifically, with Uncle Ted).  I love it now because it reinforces numbers, colors, and matching for the girls, and it's fun to play a "real" game with them.

Heart-Shaped? Cookies

Daddy and the girls made some Valentine cookies this morning.  In the words of Hallie, "It's ok, Daddy.  They're still pretty."

Daddy and the Rebelettes Take Tuscaloosa

Daddy took his girls to Tuscaloosa to watch the Rebels play Alabama in basketball yesterday.  They had a big time.

 

 

 They even ran into some opposing fans they know...

 

Grumpy's Birthday Brunch

We went to Gigi's last weekend to celebrate Grumpy's birthday.  But first, Gigi had a few Valentine's treats for the kids...

 Including Valentine socks!!

 And heart suckers!

 And of course Hallie asked to "help" Grumpy open his presents.

Happy Birthday, Grump!  We love you!

First Haircuts!

Brooks and Sara accompanied our barbershop veteran Hallie to the "hair cut store" today and got their first haircuts.  Forgive the picture quality...we were stuck with our camera phone. 

Miss Angie didn't cut off too terribly much--just evened everything out.  And Brooks no longer has a mullet and hair covering his ears, much to his daddy's relief.  Everyone sat very still!

Early Birthday Trip

 Birthday Girls

 Ultimate Gas Station Food...Late Night Chicken on a Stick

 ...VERY late.

 Lunch at Ajax

We went to Oxford for an early 30th birthday celebration (and a late 30th celebration for Heather) a couple of weeks ago and had a blast.  Many thanks to the babysitters, whose picures are posted below.  We ate, shopped, walked around the Square, and hung out with great friends.  It was a perfect, laid back way to celebrate my 30th!