Happy birthday, Charlotte and Claire!

Charlotte and Claire are six!  They celebrated with a very busy weekend.  Friday kicked off the party with a hat from Claire's teacher:

The morning of the birthday began with handmade gifts from big sister:

The girls then made short work of an enormous pile of presents:

The girls' friend Zelia had a party at Limerick Bowling:

After a quick wardrobe change, it was on to the main event:

 Charlotte's friends clearly know her well - princess gloves, handbag, sunglasses, and bow and arrows:

Fun continued today, first with a trip to the movie theatre to see Home, and then to their friend Nicky's party at a bounce house.

Whew.  Probably best for Mummy and Daddy that birthdays only come twice a year for the three girls.

Kiss age 7 goodbye

Louise had a great time at her birthday party.  She celebrated with her friends Mariana and Rayna:

decorated cupcakes:

danced with her sisters:

and painted a stuffed cat, whom she named Poseidon (or "P-God" for short, to fit on the nametag):

Louise and Charlotte are enjoying Variety Show rehearsals.  Louise demonstrates part of the dance in the video below.  She disapproves, however, of one song's use of forbidden language ("Shut Up and Dance With Me.")

Triumph!

For the first time, Louise's basketball team did not lose!  (It was a 14-14 tie).  Alison was filling in as head coach - coincidence?  We think so.  We let the star center celebrate with a hot cocoa.

Also in the past week, we have started selling cookies in earnest, going door-to-door and staffing cookie booths.  Louise appears to have her father's approach to retail in the photo below, but when the camera wasn't around, she was determined and charming.

The girls and Alison honored the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr by participating in a day of service (1.5 hours long!) at the high school.  They decorated blankets, assembled hygiene packets for homeless people, made valentines for nursing home residents, and made thank-you cards for soldiers.

Red stripe

Charlotte passed her first Karate test and earned a red stripe:

 
We've been festive and busy since our last post.  Katie visited on Christmas Eve (perhaps Louise's favourite gift):












On Christmas Day, we opened a bounty of Christmas treasure,

then headed for the airport.

















We all loved Tucson - the scenery, the grandparents, the games, and meeting Aunt Julia (one of Mary's two daughters).  

Images from Tucson:

After we returned home, we enjoyed a trip to the da Vinci Science Center in Allentown...

Snow...

...and dress-up: