Basketball Opening Day

Today was opening day of Camden's rookie year in basketball.  Emma decided not to play this season, so she helped me cheer on Camden from the stands.  Chris is coaching the Hawkeyes and they had a fantastic first game.  Here are a few highlights...

Girls' MLK Weekend in Paris: Part Deux

Sunday morning started with a trip to Notre Dame Cathedral

The things we do to get a great picture of our friends

The Catholic Coalition: Angelia, me, Madds

One of the landmarks on Tiffiney's blue notecards was Paris Point Zero (the geographic center of the city). After searching for a long (cold) time, we found it. 

Someone had the idea to take our group photo up a notch...

 You know it's a great day when you laugh so hard you can't breathe :)

On our trek to find the next thing on Tiffiney's blue notecards, we walked by the beautiful Sac de Coeur basilica 

Much to my dismay, the trek took us up (and up and up)

Madds got her crepe!
Sherri and Mel have too much energy after hiking up all those steps

Here it is: The man coming out of the wall
Tiffiney can check this off her blue notecards now :)

The man coming out of the wall was on the way to our big Sunday afternoon highlight: a show at the Moulin Rouge

Sherri & Madds

Kelli & me

Michelle & Tiffiney

Angelia, Kelli, and Madds joined the pre-show line dancing

What a gorgeous theater!

Me & Angelia

The champagne has arrived and we are ready for the show

Melissa, Michelle, and Tiffiney after the AMAZING show

Camden told me I had to eat snails while I was in Paris. This escargot was delicious!

Fondue for our final dinner in Paris

Girls' MLK Weekend in Paris: Part Un

A weekend away with friends is a guarantee good time. 

 A weekend away with friends in Paris is a guarantee wonderful, amazing, incredible time!

Back in September we found a great deal on a flight to Paris leaving Friday afternoon.  Thanks to a little Italian air traffic controller strike, that flight was cancelled. We were able to get on the next flight out Saturday morning.  

Kelli, Angelia, Melissa, Maddalena, Sherri, and I ready to board the plane.

In Paris we met up with Tiffiney and Michelle (who traveled from Germany). We found a little cafe near our hotel in Saint-Germain to grab lunch.

Beer for me; champagne for Mel

Sherri and I were camel colored coat twins for the weekend

Tiffiney wrote down all the things she wanted to see on her first trip to Paris on these blue notecards. They came out of her pocket often and we happily checked off things as we saw them. :)

Laudree's famous macaroons were a little piece of heaven

What was I thinking only getting 3?!?!

The Delta Girls, Angelia & Melissa, in front of the Louvre 

Sherri, Mel, and Madds enjoying Angelina's famous hot chocolate

Angelia really did want to get her picture with me ;)

Strolling down Champs Elysees

After doing some shopping along Champs Elysees, we caught a pedicab ride to the Eiffel Tower

 I quickly snapped a picture of the Arc de Triomphe from our pedicab as we navigated around the crazy traffic circle where 12 roads converge!

Seeing the Eiffel Tower at night was at the top of my Paris wish list.  We got there right as the the light show began and it did not disappoint!

Emma's Birthday Celebrations

When there is a birthday to celebrate, Dom's is the place to go. Emma invited her friends, Meagan, Katie, and Maddie. Here they are making pizzas with Dom.

Ready to eat!

The birthday girl made a special heart shaped pizza for us

Sprite cheers!

Chris & Arianna hanging out

Our wonderful friends who helped Emma celebrate

Funny reactions while opening presents

Dom made Emma a special Nutella birthday pizza. He came out singing at the top of his lungs. :)

Making a wish

I think Arianna is enjoying it

4 slumber party girls watching cartoons before breakfast

The birthday girl was the first person up today, so she got her special birthday cinnamon roll on the couch (rather than a donut in bed)

The official birthday portrait

Opening some Littlest Pet Shop animals from Aunt Mandy

 Ever After High doll from Nana & Grandpa

 Camden was in charge of wrapping Emma's present from us.  He loaded up a cereal box with rocks to throw her off. She was over the moon excited when she pulled out an iPod touch.

 10 candles to make a wish on!