{ A Chesapeake Bay Kinda Day }

Hello everyone!  Isabelle here!  I am so excited to share with you about my recent trip to the Chesapeake Bay for the day with Lanie and Trey.  If you remember, the two of them took a 'bay day' trip last year.....you can read Part I here and Part II here.  Now, when Trey and Lanie got back last year and went on and on and on about how much fun they had, I asked them to pleeeeeeze let me come the next time they go.  Well, two weeks ago they told me to mark my calendar for a very special day and I knew it was a trip to the bay!  So, Oreo and I counted down the days until our 'bay day' arrived.

As soon as we got there, Lanie had to pick out the best place to put her towel and cooler.  I forgot my towel (I know, right?) but sweet Lanie offered to share hers.

Being the outdoor-sie girl that she is, Lanie brought her sun screen.  Ugh, I forgot THAT too!  I guess I was so excited about going that I forgot some of the most important things to take to the beach.  But again, Lanie lent me hers to use...thank goodness, cause even though it was later in the afternoon, I really, really didn't want to get a sunburn and look like a lobster!

Trey caught up to us and plopped himself down on a log next to Lanie's towel.  "Sup girls?" he asked.   "Well, the sky of course, Trey!" Lanie chirped back, followed by a muffled giggle.  At first Trey just sort of stared at her and then looked up to the sky with a puzzled look on his face.  "Good golly, Trey!  It's a joke!" gushed Lanie.  "I, uh.....I knew that!" Trey shot back in the most confident tone he could muster.....but it wasn't convincing, Lanie and I both knew that he really didn't get it at first.  :)

After about an hour had passed, the sun was getting low so I decided to go for a walk along the beaches high tide line.  Lanie said that was the best place to find sea glass.  Even though I walked quite a ways on my own, I didn't find any sea glass or sharks teeth.  This was probably because I had to constantly keep my eyes on Oreo who insisted on not staying with me and running on ahead.  Still, the early evening was absolutely perfect so I was happy even though I didn't find any treasures!

When I got back from my walk, we all spent time talking and just hanging out together.  It was so relaxing and fun.  Oreo finally stayed beside me after I bribed him with a few treats.  Lanie and Trey were sorry I had not found any sea glass or sharks teeth but both agreed it sure was fun just hanging out together on the bay.

Turned out, Oreo wasn't satisfied with one or two treats.....ohhhhh no, he kept coming back for more and more and more.  He might be a silly dog but he sure is smart when it comes to his treats!  And it doesn't help that I am a total sucker for his cuteness, lol.

We spent about another hour chatting and telling jokes.....and I spent it handing out treats to Oreo to get him to stay with me and not run off down the beach.  It was just a perfect, perfect day and I didn't want it to end.  Now that I am back home at the dorm, I really cannot wait to go back.  I sure hope they let me go next year! 

I was wondering; are any of you going to a beach this summer?  Or, maybe you have already been to one!  I'd love to hear what you liked about it!  I know next time I am going to be sure to bring my towel and sunscreen!!!  :)

  18 Inch Doll Outfits & 18 Inch Doll Accessories by:

Lanie is wearing the Floral Swim Outfit by American Girl®

Isabelle is wearing the Boho Beachy swimsuit by American Girl®
Trey's awesome outfit is by Minipparel ~ Etsy®

 

Be sure to visit us on YouTube!!!

{ Valentine's Day Party - 2015 }

Ooh, we had such a fun time at our party this year!  We were all worried that we might not be able to even have our party this year because of all the make up classwork we had been assigned due to so many snow days off from school last week.  I mean, as much as we all like school.....none of us like it when we have to make up tons of missed work!  So we all worked really hard to get it done by Friday night at bedtime so we could focus on the party on Saturday at noon.

Saturday morning was spent decorating the kitchen.   I helped hang the heart garland that Hope made for last year's party.....it's just so perfect, isn't it?  Lanie helped Cindy bake cookies and got them all put out on the punch table while I straightened the main table.  

We were all excited to meet Hope's friend, Ester, from southern Virginia.  They have been friends for many years and we had heard all about her but never actually met her.  We couldn't wait for Hope and Ester to arrive!  Then, knock, knock, knock....she was here!

We could see how happy Hope was that Ester was here and so she took great joy in finally getting to introduce her to us;  "Everybody, this is Ester, my bestest friend in the whole wide world!"

There was a chorus of 'Hellos' and 'Welcomes' from the rest of the girls and me.  It reminded me of when I arrived at the Valentine's Party last year!  Back then, everyone was so warm and welcoming that I wanted to Ester to feel the same, even though she was only visiting for the party.

Here is Hope and Ester....they tried unsuccessfully to take a selfie so I offered to do it for them.  I think it turned out great!  Of course, my silly little Oreo jumped in holding a Valentine that he swiped out of the basket!

I thought Oreo was so cute with that Valentine in his mouth that I put him back over next to the chair with all the goodies to get his photo.  He looked so cute and it turned out that he had actually picked out the one we made for Ester!  Hmmmm, do you think he knew that he got the right one???  If so, that's really creepy!

All us girls had such a good time hanging out and eating sweets.....we talked about school and friends and youth group.  Ester is home-schooled and she is very involved in her youth group.  It was so interesting to hear about all the different kinds of things she does with her youth group.  She has helped at the elder care home in her hometown and she helps serve food at her local soup kitchen that her church runs.  She told Cindy about the hundreds of biscuits the church makes every week and Cindy said she was tired just thinking about it!!  Ester sure was super interesting and so sweet too!

I was glad to have a few minutes to talk to Ester on my own cause I was really interested in what Ester's youth group does at the elder care home.  She said sometimes they sit and play cards with the residents and sometimes they just sit and talk with them.  Ester said there are these two really old ladies that are, like, in their 90's and they are twins.  They share a bedroom at the home together.  She says that these two ladies just love to have her sit on the end of their beds and and tell them about what she did at school or what errands she ran with her mom that week.....just the little stuff in life.  Ester says they tell her that her visit is the highlight of their week.  OMGosh, isn't that just the sweetest thing you have ever heard?  Ester shared that sometimes they even get tears in their eyes when it's time to leave.  That really broke my heart!  I decided right then that I want to talk to my youth group leader about our group going to our local elder care home.

After we finished talking about the elder care thing, we started talking about Ester's home schooling but Oreo would simply not leave Ester alone and kept carrying her Valentine around and around and around the kitchen.....and especially around and around Ester's feet!  Finally, I begged Ester to open it so Oreo would go and lay down.  

"Awwww, how sweet is this?" Ester cooed to Oreo.  This made Oreo's tail wiggle back and forth wildly with excitement!  Oreo's tail can actually hurt your legs when it gets going that crazy.  Trust me, I've been whipped by his wild tail more than once! 

After she opened the envelope and saw the handmade Valentine, Ester looked right at me; "Oh Izzy, you guys made me such a pretty card!  You have really made me feel like I have known you girls forever!  Thank you so much!"  I could tell she really loved the card but even more so, she loved being with us all.  The two hours passed way to quickly and even though we only spent a couple hours with Ester, we loved her so much!  We are totally looking forward to the next time that she can come and visit with Hope.....and the rest of us too!  Here we all are right before Ester had to leave.  Her mom came in and took this photo for us so we could all be in it.   

How about you?  Do you have a friend that you only see every once in a while?  What do you do when you get together?  ~ Izzy ღ

  18 Inch Doll Outfits & 18 Inch Doll Accessories by:

Ester's outfit by Forever18Inches ~ Etsy®

Hope's boot toppers by SewUrbanDesigns ~ Etsy®

Hope's flannel shirt by LoriLizGirlsandDolls ~ Etsy®

{ We're All Still Here! }

Well, as you all know, yesterday was Alien Abduction Day!  I wore my protective foil hat to school and boy did I get some strange looks!  Haha, but at least I was safe.....deep down, I sorta wished aliens had come and taken some of those annoying boys away for at least a few days!  Anywho, when I got home, Frolics was waiting for me in his favorite chair. 

Fortunately we have online textbooks so my backpack isn't terribly heavy.  Even still, I had a TON of homework - mostly algebra - my favorite subject - NOT.  Man, my teachers just LOVE to give us homework...and lots of it! :(  As I set my backpack down to get started on my assignments, Frolics was acting as if he wanted me to follow him to the kitchen.

So, I picked him up and headed upstairs to the kitchen.  Plus I wanted to make sure that everyone is wearing their hats! Then it hit me - Oh no.....what if they forgot to make them and were already abducted?!  Quick, let's go Frolics!

I ran to the kitchen with Frolics, and could not BELIEVE my eyes! It was like looking at a Reynold's Wrap fashion show of hats!!  "Good gravy, you guys! Those aren't the kind of hats I was talking about!" I exclaimed.

"Don't you like them??" McKenna exclaimed. "I made a fez (because fezzes are cool! :D), Saige made a top hat, Isabelle.....well.....I don't really know what she made..."
"It's a dome!" Isabelle cut in.
"Okay. Isabelle made a dome, Trey made a snapback, and Sarah made a hat that looks just like Mountie Jack's!" McKenna finished.
"Yeah! My hat looks a lot like Mountie Jack's from the AMAAAZING TV show, 'When Calls The Heart'! I did it because he is ALL I can think about! I cannot WAIT until Saturday night! I swear.....if Jack leaves Elizabeth again I'm going to CRY I tell you....cry a major big long river of tears!!!  Give Rosemary to Gowen!"
Sarah is talking about Hallmark's 'When Calls The Heart' - our favorite TV show. The show comes on every Saturday night at 9 p.m. and we are all completely and utterly obsessed with it. Do any of you guys watch it?? We are all crushing on Mountie Jack! He's soooooooooo all that! :)

Suddenly, out of the corner of my eye.....I noticed an unprotected doggy head! Oh no! Honey! You aren't wearing a hat!  It's a wonder you are still here with us!

I rushed over to the table and grabbed a wad of foil and quickly smooshed a foil doggy hat out of it. There you go Honey! Now those creepy little extraterrestrial bug-eyed beings won't get you!

So, we all had a good chuckle about everyone's creative take on making their protective foil hats.  We mostly admired Trey's snap back.....who knew he had a creative side?  Boy, we sure didn't!  However, at the end of the day, we all agreed that it must not matter what shape our hats were because none of us was missing so they must have worked.

Well, a belated Happy Alien Abduction Day! Hope your still with us and didn't get abducted!!!

So, whose hat is YOUR favorite and why?  ~Christina ♫ 

18 Inch Doll Outfits & 18 Inch Doll Accessories by:

Trey's jeans Minipparel ~ Etsy 

Trey's Star Wars shirt from Lostinajungle ~ The Beach Shack ~ Etsy  

Trey's shoes are 2003 Grey Sneakers by American Girl®

{ Happy National Peanut Butter Lovers Day! }

Okay, I bet ya'll didn't know that March 1st of this year is National Peanut Butter Lovers Day, did you?  Doesn't that include, like, everybody? I mean, who doesn't, right? So, it got us girls to talking about all the foods that peanut butter is good on!

We girls here at the dorm decided to have some snacks that are good with peanut butter in honor of this day! It goes with pretty much anything: celery, crackers, pretzels, apples, bananas, chocolate, toast, pancakes and SO much more!! Coconut and Hershey are wild about peanut butter, too! I swear, whenever I open the jar I hear paws clicking down the hall and they're there in an instant!

One of my favorite foods is the classic peanut butter and jelly sandwich. They are the BOMB!! I mean c'mon... everyone has had at least ONE in their lives!

So earlier, I made some yummy snacks to celebrate this day! Mmm, tasty!

"Hey, Isabelle! Did you know that most kids will eat 1,500 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches before 12th grade?"
"Wow!" Isabelle exclaimed. "That's a LOT of PB&J's! Where did you hear that from??"
"Harper told me! She had to do a research report on it for school this past week!"

"Say, Harper! Can you tell Lanie and Isabelle more about National Peanut Butter Lover's Day?" I asked.
"Sure! It's referred to as a "national" holiday, even though it's not official. Peanut butter has been very popular since the early 1900's, but no one knows who invented it!! It is an $800 million dollar industry and has many different brands. The most popular brands are Jif, Skippy, and Peter Pan."

 
"Whoa!" Lanie said. "I'm just now realizing how much I use it! I've heard it's unhealthy for you, though. Is that true?"
"Well, it can be healthy in moderation. Peanut butter is a great source of healthy fats and proteins.  The healthiest kinds are the brands with no added oil or sugar. Believe it or not, it can actually reduce the risk of certain heart diseases! Wild, huh?"
"Oh, golly! Who would have thought peanut butter can help your heart? Well, hears to my heart! I'm gonna heat my muffin and then smear peanut butter all over it. What are you gonna have peanut butter on today, Harper?"
"I'm going to put it on my banana!! It is super good with them!"

Isabelle, didn't you tell me that one of your favorite peanut butter treats is Peanut Butter Panic ice cream? I think I would have to agree with you on that one...the chunks of chocolate mixed with the peanut butter cups...so yummy!! But I think today I'll stick with a good old fashion PB&J!

So lets all toast to National Peanut Butter Lovers Day! Hip Hip Hooray!

How will you celebrate this day? What is your favorite peanut butter treat??
~Cindy ♥

{ Valentine's Party ~ 2014 }

Hiya! Lanie here. I cannot believe it's been over a week since we had our Valentine's Day party!  We had such a blast! I so totally loved doing all the decorating.....it seemed to take FOREVER to get all the decorations out and up, but it was SO worth it!!

Look at these super cool garlands that Hope made! We hung them up just before the party started and it was a complete surprise to all of us!  Hope told us that she sewed them all by herself on her sewing machine and that Cindy was a big help holding them cause they got reeeeeally long! They just look SOOO cute hanging up, don't they?  They really made it extra festive!

And look at this super, super cute felt heart centerpiece!  Hope hand made this too!  The little hearts are puffy and Hope says the edges are done in a "blanket stitch".  Hope is super talented isn't she?

In preparation for the party; Cindy, Christina, and I went out to our local grocery store a few days before Valentine's Day and got little boxes of chocolates for everyone. I picked out a soccer ball chocolate box for Trey- when I saw it I knew it was perfect for him! Cindy picked pink rose chocolate boxes for the girls, and Christina made the flower decorations to stick on the candy boxes when we got home.  She used some really pretty Valentine's ribbon and silk flowers she bought at Michael's. Aren't they cute?? I'm not sure where that big chocolate Hershey's Kiss came from or who it's for but I sure wish is was mine!!

 

I even decorated the top of our fridge so that our noisy but awfully pretty parrot could enjoy the party too.  I had to make sure that he couldn't get to the stuff though cause he has a way of shredding everything that comes in contact with his beak!

 

After decorating, I helped with getting the foods prepared and set out. Yum!  I love cookies!  Cindy made us put out the "healthy" foods and says we have to eat some of the veggies before having sweets.  At least I like carrots & cheese cubes.  But celery?  Nope.  Not so much.....I do not like the stringy part at all.  Now, I will confess, I don't mind those pig-in-blankets one bit!  Those are one of my favorite party foods!!  I like them dipped in honey mustard....yummilicious!

Christina put all our handmade valentines into a big basket to pass out.  McKenna was so excited to find out which one was hers, that she immediately offered to help with the task! I cannot wait to see our special little felt Valentine envelopes; Hope has been working on these for months in and around school, homework and youth group.  She made them very similar to the puffy hearts centerpiece; with hand-embroidery and special applique's and buttons - one for each of us!  Golly, I have to admit that I wished I had offered to help cause I really wanted to see mine too!

Christina set the basket of our special Valentine's under the table and told Coconut to guard them with her life!  Coconut happily agreed and stayed right next to the basket, guarding it as if it was full of bones!

Just as I was getting my first cookie, Harper arrived!  She kept apologizing for not dressing up for the party but I assured her that it was fine!  The most important part was that she made it.....and that there was still food left for her! 

After about 4 cookies, I heard Christina call to get everyone's attention so she could start passing out the valentines. Needless to say, she gave McKenna hers first - since she was just DYING to see it - AND she was standing right there next to Christina! 

"Next is Harper's!!" Christina called out.  Harper nearly knocked me over to get next in line behind McKenna, but you can bet that I was right behind her!! 

"Patience, Lanie-bug." Christina smiled, as she handed me my Valentine. Ooh! Oh my golly! It's mine! I cant wait to open it and see who its from!! Maybe I have a secret admirer!!

I couldn't bring myself to open it right away.  I just wanted to sit and admire just how adorable these are! All the work and love that went into each stitch.....what a true gift these were.  Okay, so that moment passed in like, two seconds and I had to open it!   I pulled out my card and it had pretty glitter dots and a heart made of the same glitter.  Inside it read;  

"Roses are Red, Violets are Blue ~ You're Such A Good Friend and I Miss You!"  

Love, Isabelle XOXO

Awwww, that was sooooo sweet!  My Valentine was from Isabelle!  For a few seconds, it like totally made me sad cause it reminded me of how much I really do miss her ~ even though I have had such fun with my special Izzy doll that she sent. 

Right about then, Hope arrived and we all cheered when she walked into the kitchen!  "We love your special garlands!" everybody shouted. 

Since McKenna helped with the Valentines, I wanted to be the helper for handing out the boxes of chocolates.  I grabbed Hope's and handed it to her and told her that I admired her terribly.  "You are so talented, Hope. I wish I could be more like you!" I exclaimed.  "Oh Lanie, you are still young and learning but you already have a wonderful talent - you make us all smile each and every day and not everybody can do that!"  Hope replied.

"Thank you Hope.  I hope you'll always know that I love you like a sister!"  ♥  Then we hugged and posed for this photo. 

Just then, we heard a semi-familiar voice......"Hellooooo!  Hellooooo!  Is anybody home???"  I turned to Hope and asked her who that could be?  It sounded familiar but I couldn't quite figure it out.  Hope agreed, "Maybe it's Cindy's bff, Lily?"

Then we heard the voice again and this time, I was pretty sure I knew who it was!!!!!  We turned towards the direction that the voice was coming from to see if we could figure it out.....the voice was getting louder and louder......closer and closer!  By this time, everybody at the party had stopped talking because they were curious too.  We were all looking towards the door......

OH. GOOD. GOLLY.  I could NOT believe my eyes!!!!  It was Isabelle!  My little heart felt like it would just burst out of my chest and fly away!  I squealed with glee SO loudly that I startled poor Hope so badly, I think she might have peed her pants!

Can you believe it?!?!?  Isabelle was right there in front of us!  We all cheered cause we were all so happy to see her.....and then we all rushed towards her like a flash HUG!

This was the best Valentine's Day party we have ever, ever, ever had!!!!  Good golly, I am still walking on sunshine and it's been ten days. ☺