A Lovely Afternoon with Marie-Grace and Liberty

 Hello, lovely readers!  Bundling up two days ago, ...

... we headed outside with our dolls.

"Thanks for letting me borrow Felicity, Chrissa!"  Liberty said.  

"You're welcome.  Can't wait until you have your own AG doll!" Chrissa responded with a smile.

"Shall we play?" Marie-Grace asked.

"Certainly; let us start." I agreed.  We spent a nice time playing with our American Girl dolls.  When the dolls finished their adventure, Marie-Grace and I brought them inside while Liberty and Chrissa went to climb a tree.

"Come on, Libby!" Chrissa called.  "We're almost to the top!"

"Coming!" Liberty yelled back.  "All I can see is your feet!"

"This is one of my fave spots." Chrissa told her cousin.

"Chrissa and Liberty?  Elizabeth and I are going on a walk."   Marie said.

"Okay!  See ya later!" Liberty and Chrissa said in unison.

We walked around Nana and Papa's neighborhood, both enjoying the quiet and talking.

"It has been ever so lovely to see you again, Elizabeth." my cousin said warmly.

"I must say the same.  Is it not wonderful how alike we are?" I replied.

"I shall be quite sad when you must leave."

"I as well."

"Hey!" Liberty invited. "Chrissa and I are going on the tire swing!  Do you want to come?"  Together, Marie and I looked at our skirts and laughed.

"I think we shall pass." I answered for both of us, Marie-Grace nodding in agreement.

"This is awesome!" we head Libby say.

"Okay, one more swing and then it's my turn!" Chrissa said excitedly.

"So-much-fun!" Chrissa yelled, swinging back and forth.

"Do you want to go on the slide?" Liberty asked Chrissa, who clambered off the tire swing.

"Sure, why not?" Chrissa replied, making them both laugh.

"Weeeeeee!" 

"Look out, Libby!" Chrissa cautioned Liberty, who scrambled up just in time.  "Look at that cool beam-ish thing!  I'm going to do a cartwheel."

"Cool, Chrissa!" Liberty praised.  "You know I can't do that." (http://sandhilladventuresadollblog.blogspot.com/2013/12/home-alone.html)

"Thanks.  Do you want to go on the trampoline?" Chrissa wondered.

"Sure, why not?"

Dropping their shoes in the grass, the cousin-friends climbed onto the trampoline.

Bouncing up and down, Chrissa and Liberty sang ridiculous songs; but soon fell down, laughing and gasping for breath, only to jump back up and restart the cycle.

Marie-Grace, Liberty, Chrissa and I spent a lovely afternoon in the outdoors.

How do you like to spend time outside?

P.S. I just noted that we have 25 followers!  Thank you to every single one of you.

Merry Christmas!

 Hi all!  Elizabeth and I had a wonderful Christmas, spent with family and friends!

Back in Aurora, Libby, Marie-Grace, Elizabeth, and I gathered around Nana and Papa's tree.

 It was so lovely, decorated in normal Nana style.

 "In what order shall we open our gifts?" my sister wondered.

"I think youngest to eldest is the proper way." Marie answered.

"Yay!  That means I get to go first!" Libby shouted happily.

 Ripping open the gift Elizabeth had wrapped so carefully, Libby plopped the bow on top of her head.

"Very festive." I complemented her.

 "This is adorbs!" my brown-haired cousin shouted when she saw the outfit my sister helped me make.  "Thanks!"

 Next, it was my turn.

 I unwrapped a cute notebook that Libby made herself!  (With MOD PODGE!!)

 McKenna opened a pretty painting from Marie-Grace.

 Next up in line, Samantha found a lovely green dress in her gift box.

 To her delight, Marie received a homemade hat, scarf, and mittens from Elizabeth.

"You wrote that light pink was your favorite color." my sister said.

"It is indeed.  Thank you!"

 Elizabeth, in turn, chose to open a present from Marie-Grace.

 ... Which turned out to be a cute cat calender!  I, myself, prefer dogs, but whatever.  With a gust of cold air, Jubilee and Addy Walker (Libby and Marie-Grace's friends) well, walked in!

 "Sorry we were a bit late." Addy apologized.

"That's alright, that's okay, I'm going to be your boss someday!" Libby sang high-spiritedly.

"Come here, Addy, open this gift." Marie said, handing her friend a neatly-wrapped box.

 "How nice!  A pearl necklace." Addy admired.  "Thank you!"

 Jubilee tossed off the paper of a gift for her, reveling a pink watch.

 For my gift, Marie gave me a stunning gymnastics poster.  I am so going hang it up on my wall (if Elizabeth lets me, that is).

 Even though Addy and Jubilee forget everyone but Marie-Grace's gift, Elizabeth and I had a writing set for them.

 McKenna unwrapped a calender,...

 ... I got a stuffed pug I named "Blossom" ...

 ... And Marie got the AG doll Marie-Grace, ...

 ... who she called "Maria" ...

 ... last but not lest, Elizabeth opened Cecile's Nightwear.  Isn't it pretty?

There was so much paper leftover on the floor, Libby, McKenna, Jubilee and I laid in it!

How did you spend Christmas?

A Day with Libby and Marie-Grace

 Hi all!  Last night, Mom and Dad dropped us off at Libby and Marie-Grace's (our cousins) house in Ord, where we spent the night.

 Since they got up earlier, Elizabeth and Marie-Grace made us waffles and strawberries (!!!!) for breakfast.

 "What do you want to do today, Rissa?" my fave cousin asked.  "We can't make mud pies like we did last time." (http://thesaltysadollblog.blogspot.com/2013/05/what-we-did-this-week.html)

"What about a fashion show?" I suggested.  "Elizabeth brought all her new fancy dresses."

"Sure, why not?"

 I tried on Cecile's Parlor Outfit, which Julie and Saige gave my sister for Christmas before we left, and Libby donned Caroline's Travel Outfit.

"Let's pretend to tap dance!" I said exuberantly.

"But I don't know how to tap dance!" Libby protested.

"I said 'pretend'." I assured her.

 Next, I threw off my previous ensemble, which Libby had a turn with, and put on Marie-Grace's (not my cousin's) Skirt Set...  

 ... Libby wore it, while I took Caroline's Travel Outfit to try on.

 The whole time, Elizabeth and Marie caught up with all "the news".

 Returning to our normal outfits, we sat in a line: Libby, Me, Marie-Grace, then Elizabeth to do each other's hair.

"Shall we all brave the cold weather for a photo shoot out of doors?" Marie wondered.

"That sounds like a most lovely idea!" Elizabeth agreed. 

"Totally!" I commented.

"Sure, why not?" was Libby answer.

 (By the way, I just LOVE this picture.  It's AMAZE!)  First of all, Marie-Grace, ... 

 ... then my sister, ...

 ... my fave fruzzie (friend + cousin) Libby, ...

... and finally, me.

Next, we took some pics in pairs.  Isn't fun how Libby and I have matching outfits?

Marie-Grace and Elizabeth in their semi-matching coats.  I spent a awesome day with my cousins!

Are you close to your cousins (if you have any,that is)?