Happy Birthday - Harry Potter!

Happy Birthday Harry!

Ashley made some AMAZING plans for us to celebrate Harry Potter's Birthday!

Emily received a letter from Hogwarts (delivered by owl of course) with an invitation to a party!

It came complete with a Professor Minerva McGonagall costume and wand!

When the day of the party finally arrived, we had to look the part!

Professors Minerva McGonagall and Sybill Trelawney were ready to take the party by storm!

We were so excited to be dressed up in some of our favorite HP characters for the night!

Even if there were no costume contest, we would have dressed up!

Ashley curated both costumes: even sewing on buttons and making them personalized!

We arrived at Tina's Traditional Old English Kitchen & Tearoom only to find a sign directing us to the Hogwarts Express!

After passing through platform 9 3/4, we found ourselves among our people!

The terrace was filled with Potterheads being sorted into their houses!

We sipped on some Butterbeer and took in the sights of original costumes!

After being sorted into Ravenclaw, we found our seats!

The table had Bane Berry and Veritaserum drinks as well as chocolate frogs!

There were about 50 people at this dinner!

The Tearoom and all four house tables were full to bursting!

Of course tea was on the menu!  There was a decaffeinated Roobios and caffeinated 1776!

The mystic tea was almost as revealing as a pensieve!

Of course Professor Trelawney was trying to read my tea leaves! 

"Are you in the beyond?!"

Tina gave announcements in her British accent which added a bit of authenticity to the evening!

There were Harry Potter's letters and candles hanging from the ceiling!

The menu for the evening feast:

Gilly Weed Salad (Green salad and apple dressing)

Roast Dragon and “See In The Dark Wands” (Roast Beef and Carrots)

Toad in the Hole (Yorkshire Pudding with British Pork Sausage)

Treacle Tart 

Magic Chocolate Shortbread Wands

Harry’ s Birthdays Cake

Harry Potter's birthday cake and our first taste of Treacle Tart were on our dessert plate!

Tasting the wizarding world was so magical and fun!

After dinner, the costume contest took place in the shop area of the Tearoom.

Although we didn't win, we had a great time and met some new friends!

It was a great birthday celebration!

Of course we would have pushed the theme just a bit further, but it was wonderful to attend an HP event that we did not have to plan or cook for!

What a wonderful evening of HP, all things magical and twins!

It was sad to have the evening come to an end, but we remember that Hogwarts will always be there to welcome us home!

Grandma is 88 Years Old!

Grandma is 88!

Since mom was in town, we decided to all go and visit grandma to celebrate her birthday!

We met at Natalie's in the morning for a family breakfast!

Of course there was some play time to get the boys' energy out before the long drive!

Jack and Victor love to play together!

Victor was loving all of Jack's toys!

Emily supervised the play session!

Jack likes to teach Victor everything he knows!

Jack was loving all the attention!

After all that playing, it was time to load the boys in their carseats and head out!

Grandma was so happy to see all of us!

Of course had had to snap some family shots!

Jack loves to give Victor kisses!

Grandma and her great-grandchildren!

Grandma was all smiles with her two little guys!

She even stole a smooch or two!

We had a really nice visit!

After picking up Panera on the way there, we had lunch and some lemon bars with grandma.

She loved every second as we played with the boys and she opened gifts.

It was great to see her for her birthday and she was happy to see how much the boys had grown!

Great twin day!

BSU Graduation - Ashley got her Master's Degree!

Ashley got her Master's Degree!

What an amazing day to celebrate a HUGE accomplishment!

We came together to celebrate another tassel on Ashley's wall of fame!

We had some mimosas and fun on the way to Muncie!

Ashley finished her Master's so quickly, but she really had to work for it!

Mom helped Ashley get into her cap, gown and stole.

We were right next to Worthen Arena on Ball State University Campus.

Ashley took a few minutes to pose for pictures and take in the monumental moment!

Don't forget to be awesome!  (Like she needs a reminder!)

Her garb just keeps getting more elaborate as the diplomas stack up!

Ross was so proud of all that Ashley has managed to do!

Ashley was beaming as the ceremony approached!

Mom was so happy to be a part of Ashley's special day!

The beautiful graduate showed off the commencement program!

We made sure to get a front row seat for all the graduate action!

Worthen Arena was decorated with flowers and faculty lined the edge to usher in the graduates.

Everyone found their seats and soon were filing past the stage, receiving their diplomas!

Ashley shook hands and received her diploma in style!

As she headed back to her seat, she posed for her adoring fans!

After the ceremony, she posed on the steps, diploma in hand!

She was so adorable in her Cardinal colors and grad hat!

Ashley kept her cap on as we went for lunch at Scotty's in Muncie.

We had plenty of time before graduation dinner, so we stopped at Chateau de Pique.

We sampled some wines and had a glass before heading to Buca di Beppo!

Natalie, Greg and Jack Gilbert; Emily, Greg and Victor Schwindler; Ross Marshall and Mom were all on hand to celebrate!

We ordered tons of food and had a great time talking and congratulating Ashley!

She opened some gifts and had some laughs watching the kids!

Soon it was time for high fives and goodbyes.

What a wonderful day of acknowledgement for Ashley's major accomplishment!

Great twin day!