Tuesday, December 30, 2014

First Sleepover

A few weeks ago I was out to dinner with Shannon, Stella’s mom and a few other women and Shannon mentioned that Stella was dying for a sleepover. I said that Ally would love to host but is worried about going to someone’s house. And there it was – the set up.

So we talked to the girls and they were thrilled and excited. It was scheduled for December 29.  The day before Ally asked if she could look up on the ipad things to do at a sleepover and she compiled a list of things. Ally asked if they could have pancakes for dinner  - of course we said yes.

  • Watch a movie
  • Do our hair
  • Manicures
  • Play AG dolls
  • Play Spy Games
  • Eat ice cream
  • Eat popcorn
  • Bake brownies
  • Make a craft
  • Stay up late  - until 10pm
  • Tell stories

Well it was a success:

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The girls played spy games before dinner – the highlight was putting the motion sensor outside the door into Ally’s room and then Cloey would stand there and set it off and run away and the back and set it off again. Finally we made them put it inside the door.

Stella is afraid of dogs, Cloey included and so Cloey stayed on a leash inside the house and was not allowed in any room Stella was in. Ally declared the living room “DOG FREE ! No dogs allowed in the Spa and TV room” I was quite proud of her for being so sensitive to her friend that she put Stella above Cloey.

Dinner was scrambles eggs, chocolate chip pancakes, strawberries and Trax Punch (relatives should know that is Hawaiian Punch and ginger ale with rainbow sherbet). The girls ate by candlelight.

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After dinner I made them masques to put on their faces as part of the spa experience. They worked on comfy positions to relax on the couch while I whipped up banana-honey-yogurt masques. The girls dubbed them “smoothie masques” because it smelled so good they tasted it and said it was like a smoothie. Above – Stella was brave to try it – and Ally was a little hesitant.

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But it was yummy!

 

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Then it was time to apply the masques. I was the spa technician last night. Stella was first for the facial – Can you tell it was so much fun?

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They laid there and relaxed for a few minutes and then went to wipe off the masque with warm washcloths.

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I love the picture on the left when they see themselves for the first time in the mirror.

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After they cleaned up their faces it was time for nail polish. First I massaged their hands with lavender lotion. Ally was so relaxed when it was Stella’s turn we joked she would fall asleep.

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It was tricky manicures – they each chose two colors and wanted them alternating. Blue and Purple for Ally with butterfly stickers on her thumbs and flowers on her pinkies. Stella was green and pink with butterfly stickers on her thumbs, flowers on 6 fingers and a heart on the remaining 2. Phew – lots of work.

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I didn’t get a shot of the completed manicures– but I think you can get the idea.

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It movie time. We made them sit for a bit to dry their nails, and then when our photographer / spa assistant / chef / cleaner (AKA Becky) deemed their nails dry they had popcorn with candy. They each got a small box of jelly belly jelly beans and some m-n-ms to add in to their popcorn. Ally kept her candy and popcorn separate. And as it turns out neither girl liked the “buttered popcorn” bean – so Becky ate those afterwards – not a bad tip!

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They chose to watch the latest M.y L.ittle Pony E_questria Girl movies, Rainbow Rocks – it’s a cartoon musical that they have both watched before. They sang along and giggled and had fun.

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After the movie – at 830 – it was time for hair. Ally did Stella’s hair, and then Stella did Ally’s.

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Stella has some skills with hair – I swear Ally’s do was prom-worthy!

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These two – have been friends for 5+years now – and it was a pleasure for Becky and I to host and watch them have so much fun. After their hairstyling session they put on a show for us.

I should say that while they did hair, Ally cam running out and asked me if I could get the soundtrack to the movie on the iPhone for them to listen to. They then proceeded to listen and sing with gusto!

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Last event of the evening was a dance show to a few of the songs.

We had lights out at 10pm – and Ally said they stayed up until about 11pm talking – she slept on her bottom bunk and Stella on the top. They both slept all night and were up this morning around 615AM.

They watched the DVD of their summer camp performance, ate cereal, got dressed and Stella was picked up at 830.

This was the first time EVER in her whole life that Stella had spent away from her parents. She did great.

Thursday, December 25, 2014

Christmas Morning 2014

It was a great morning. We are all feeling very grateful. 
Santa enjoyed the cookies Ally left.

Ally was up early at 6am so she and Cloey settled in on the top bunk with Aunt Beth to watch some TV and wait super patiently for Grandma and Poppy to arrive .
 The tree with presents and a chair full of stockings.

Finally they arrived and after hugs it was time to begin. Ally had a sequence of events planned out for the morning.
Photo with Cloey in their matching pjs in front of the tree.
She got a small pug figurine!

Then she opened up the sparkle box and read out loud the "gifts for Jesus" we took a moment to talk about Christmas and the real reason we celebrate. Ally did a few things to fill it up this year:
Made cookies for the shelter at church
Delivered sandwiches to the Outdoor Church
Gave two of her unopened birthday gifts to the church toy drive
As a family we donated money to Ally's school, the Salvation Army and food to the food drive.

Then it was time to open stockings!


Becky was not that amused to get a man gift.
Several of us got socks from Beth's trip to SE Asia. They have a split toe so you can wear flip flops with socks!
After stockings it was gift time.
Ally got the Isabelle Palmer AG doll !

Ally was adorable crawling under the tree to retrieve gifts.
A fun craft and a new sweater from Great Aunt Martha and Uncle Phil. 

Another great craft project from Great Aunt Pam and Uncle Tom.
I got this HUGE gift from Ally. It was new cookie sheets and cookie baking supplies!

Ally even got a gift from Cloey. A plate and cup with Cloey's picture on them.

After gifts it was time to play !