SCHOOL SHOPPING SHENANIGANS!

Last year, Becky, Barry, and I started what is evolving into a tradition -taking the girls school shopping.  Sasha was treated last year because she was going into pre-school.  This year, we took both girls because Clara is going into pre-school and Sasha is going into Kindergarten. On the way to Hagerstown, We were seranaded.  Check it out!

Our first stop was Toys R Us because we needed to get a swing for Barry and Beck's swing set and the girls each had a little money from their mommy to get a little treat. They chose Barbies (big surprise!).  Clara just had to take ride before we left the store.

We headed to the Valley Mall and the food court for a snack to fortify us for some serious shopping.  The girls had some cinnamon melts and a visit with Ronald McDonald.
Our next stop  was the Bon-Ton where we discovered they were having all kinds of cool activities for kids plus a HUGE sale - I mean a HUGE sale!  Almost everything was marked down 40-70% off and a bonus discount of up to an additional 30% off the entire purchase! Woo! Hoo! They found great outfits. Then the girls made puppets, played a few games, and entered some contests.
Next stop was J.C. Penny's where we hit some more fabulous sales.  We even found some goodies for Aidan and Ryan (hope they like them!).  As you can see, a few hours and several over-stuffed shopping bags later and we were ready for re-fortification, so it's off to Chuckie Cheese!
We shared a pizza and some fun time playing games and riding the rides.
We needed the break in order to go another round of shopping at the Outlets!We hit the jack-pot at the Sketchers store.  Becky and I are die-hard Sketcher addicts and so are the girls, so we each got a new pair of shoes.  Couldn't resist their "Buy one, get one 1/2 off sale!"  In addition to Chuckie-Cheese, part of our tradition is finishing our day at Cold Stone Creamery for ice cream!  While we were at the Outlets, we got a phone call from Annisa saying that Sasha won a big prize at the Bon-Ton, so we headed back to the Valley Mall to pick up her prize.

She won a beautiful backpack stuffed full of school supplies and her choice of a pair of pants and a top!   What a fun surprise!
When we got home, the girls decided they wanted to have a fashion show!  We called their mom and dad and invited the to a Back-to-School fashion show.  After dinner we made giant cupcakes, a'la Crumbs Bake Shop and decorated them to serve as post-fashion show refreshments.
I think more sprinkles and toppings landed off the cupcakes than on them, but they were masterpieces when finished!
While waiting for their parents, Barry taught them how to strut the runaway.  He was their "Runway Coach!" I wish I would have taken pictures of that!  Dixon was part of the attentive audience when the show began.
Clara's favorite purchase of the day was her cupcake dress!
Sasha will be warm and toasty in her new hooded sweater and matching pants.
Although she is missing a long sleeved shirt, Clara loves her new soft quilted pink vest and flower pants.
Remember the Sketchers store!  Well . . .  Becky happened to mention how much she loved her high tops when she was a kid, and the girls went crazy over them too!  Clara chose sparkly pink ones.
Since Sasha's favorite color is blue, hers are blue with lots of bling!  (These are girls after my own heart - can't have too much bling!)
From shoes to  . . . .you can see that bling is everywhere!  Wish they had these pants in my size!  Sigh!
The girls also got nighties.  Clara is adorable in her fairy Pjs.
After all the clothes were modeled accompanied by music (courtesy of Becky's computer selections) and lots of oohs and ahhs and clapping, the girls had their finale!
Then, we were treated to their fabulous cupcake masterpieces.  Guess who was first in line? Little Miss Cupcake!