Birthdays in Birmingham

We went to Birmingham this past weekend to celebrate Matt’s & Tynes’ birthdays with Matt’s family (in spite of him having strep throat and double ear infections, leftovers from my sickness I guess—it just won’t leave!!)

Matt got to open his parents gifts which were a pair of huge framed jerseys & other memorabilia from the Super Bowl (his mom’s family are big Saints fans and Matt loves all things Manning).  It was a great surprise!

Saturday morning Campbell helped Clairey make pancakes and then we headed off for a girls day (minus Sara Gray).  First stop-manis & pedis!!  Campbell has been asking for awhile to paint her toes but I have held off my little girl, just wanting her to stay little.  But when grandmothers are involved, it’s time for new and exciting adventures… That’s right-Clairey treated Campbell to her very first spa day!

Yes-its a princess chair just her size! The nail salon had mini pedi-bath chairs just for kids and complete with a DVD player!  This look is a “I’m not sure what this is all about and I am cautiously excited but still serious.”

She got the full treatment, from warm steamed towels to the lotion-leg massage.

 As you can see she is totally warmed up to the idea now and is laid back enjoying the Cinderella movie and Capri Sun (both supplied by the salon). Notice the bright pink polish-of course picked out by you know who.  In spite of me showing her some lighter options and telling her much I liked those, she insisted on the brightest she could find!

 Manicure too—including polka dots. Notice her right hand. This is her attempt to be still. The lady kept saying “no move, okay? be very still, okay?” and Campbell would just look at me as if to say-what is she talking about??!!

Clairey spraying her down so we could get in the car for our next adventure. Campbell thought it was the coolest thing ever and was already talking about going back.

After we got our nails done, we were headed to the McWane Center for some educational fun but chose shoe shopping instead!  Clairey likes to buy Campbell shoes when we are in Birmingham so we headed to Sikes in Homewood.  Clairey wanted to get Campbell her summer sandals, I needed to get her some new school shoes but all Campbell wanted to try on was flip flops! Go figure—give a girl a pedicure and she wants to show it off.  So what do you think we got? All 3 of course (yes, I got her more Lelly Kelly’s you blog stalkers!).

Well we couldn’t just go into one shop so we had to hit all the Homewood favorites—Jack & Jill, Salvage’s Bakery & Homewood Toy & Hobby (where Campbell suckered Clairey into an Ugly Doll name Uppy).  Some of my favorite stores have new spots in Homewood too so we had to go visit White Flowers and Once Upon a Time where I got Sara Gray some goods since she missed out on the girls day and Campbell’s shopping spree.

It started to rain and we were hungry and pretty tired. So we swung by Five Guys &  A Burger to pick up lunch for the family.

SG was already having her nutritious lunch of peas & pears when we got home but I turned my head and…

 someone had stuck a french fry in her mouth!!  Her first french fry (um, first potato, first fried food, first fast/junk food…) amazing how many firsts our girls experience when they visit their Birmingham grandparents!

Of course, Campbell was thrilled to show off her polished toes & fingers-complete with some super sophisticated designs! 

 

Saturday night we went to Sid & Burr’s house for dinner and birthday celebrations.  It was great to have all our Birmingham family together. For dessert, Clairey served a caramel toffee-crunch cheesecake that she made with some help from Campbell. 

 Campbell giving Papa Q his birthday gift.Matt with his girls and hid grandmother, Edith. 

Campbell loved playing teacher with Jerry—Clairey’s mother who was, in fact, a teacher many years ago! 

 

Sunday morning we were all very lazy.  The girls didn’t sleep well and of course the time change threw everyone off schedule.  We stayed in our pj’s until noon!!  After making waffles with Clairee, Campbell spent time with Papa Q reading the Sunday paper and playing fair.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAPA Q!! 
YOU’RE A SPECIAL GUY AND WE LOVE YOU!!