celebration time

It's been some time since we had a complete girls' night out. Celebrating my grandma's birthday seemed to be a perfect time to get the gang together. My grandma, mom, 3 sisters and I made a Christmas-y night of it. We started off with a little Joe's B-b-q. I provided the cake (meaning: I bought it from Joe's bbq) and we sang a quiet happy birthday to both Grandma and Mara, who celebrate just days apart. Even minus candles, the cake was yummy.

From there we went to see A Christmas Carol. I thought it was very un-procrastinating of me to think ahead and get us great seats. Turns out I was really thinking ahead. To December of 2009. When I got to will-call and my tickets weren't there for me, it was discovered I purchased them for the wrong year! Who knew they sold tickets for shows so far in advance? I don't know what I'm doing next week, let alone next year! Lucky for us, they fit us in to some house seats that they reserve for emergencies. {Saved my embarrassed behind.}

Outside, they had [small] faux snow machine. Sara and I shoved our way through the children already playing in it for a photo op via Faith's iphone. Good times are had when you revert back to being 12 years old and stop all traffic coming out of the theater when the iphone fails to be a quick alternative to a camera. It was 'snowing', baby!

Unfortunately, I forgot my camera (gasp!) and didn't get any shots of the birthday girls. But it was a giggly-gossipy good time and helped bring some Christmas cheer to the season. I look forward to the next girls' night out.

let's go g.n.o. (girl's night out)

Our latest girl's night was to the Hannah Montana concert in 3D at the IMAX theater. We enjoyed our girlie night with cousin Amber and her mommy, Sommer. For Paige it was a suitable substitute to the real thing.

Miss Paige has been waiting for this show with much eagerness. The night before, as we were snuggling at bedtime, I was pumping her up for the event, saying it would be 'so wicked cool' (yes, I felt a little old to be using that terminology), she was almost shaking with delight.

We arrived early enough to be 2nd in line. Paige and Amber posed for pics with Hannah, of course. This is their 'I'm wicked cool' stance. Then we sent the girls off on their own with a popcorn coupon - making Paige feel so grown up. What movie would be complete without a bag of popcorn as big as my 6 year old?

Once seated, we counted down each minute 'til start time. Once it got started and we were instructed to put on our glasses, it was enjoyable to hear the entire theater of young girls (and a few random boys that got dragged in with their sisters) shriek in delight the first time a 3D image came at them, seemingly close enough to touch. Paige knew a few songs to sing along to and got a little jiggy with some sittinginherchair dance moves.

Both of the girls told us that they LOVED the movie. I was even nominated the 'Best Aunt EVER' for coming up with such a wicked cool plan. After we took the girls to dinner, the evening progressed to the 'Best Night Ever'. Impressive, right?

grandma and the princess

Princess Paige got to spend a little time among other princesses last night. It was her much anticipated night out with Grandma Peterson and they went to see Disney Princesses on Ice. She's been counting down the days to this event since Christmas. She got all Princessed up and off they went with a big smile on her face - tiara and all.

They had seats in the 4th row! Grandma was impressed by that, but Paige kept insisting that she wanted to be in THE front. She's truly a princess. Paige had a great time taking tons of pictures of all the skaters. She loved seeing Tinkerbell. She reports that Grandma getting her an icee was one of the best parts of the evening. (Looks like Dopey is wanting some of that icee as well.) We were proud of Grandma for being able to get there and back without getting lost.

Both came home excited to share their evening with us.

It's always good to spend time with Grandma!