Brand new hairdos

Brand new hairdos!

We took the plunge!  Ellie has developed a gross habit of chewing on her hair.  For weeks I threatened that I was going to cut it off.  Finally I made appointments with  my neighbor, who has a salon business in her garage.  It's fabulous.  Ellie hopped up in her chair, Sasha asked what Ellie wanted, and Ellie said, "I want it up to here."  Pointing to her chin.  I gasped, in shock, and Sasha went with it.  Dani was sitting in my lap and when Sasha chopped a good 4 inches off, she turned to me and adamantly said, I am NOT doing that.  That looks ugly."  I said, "You don't have to, you choose to do whatever you want.

I was next up and ended up chopping mine off too.  It was all very impulsive and I do have some regret for mine, no more ponies.  :(  I actually have to style my hair EVERYDAY!  It is craziness.  Dani was last up and she definitely didn't want to be left out of this party, she went ahead and chopped hers too.   I ADORE the girls cuts.  I have already referred three different people to Sasha.  They have been getting lots of attention, which helps.  I think they may have had some regret too.  Oh well, it's just hair!

Impromptu photo shoot

We did have a few HOT days a while back and we took full advantage.  The girls put on their

swimsuits and lived it up!  I just couldn't get over how cute they were and how HAPPY they were.  They were having the time of their lives, if life were only this simple all the time!  :)

 Ellie was mildly heart broken because her "bra" swimsuits don't fit, they are all too big. We have since fixed the problem and she will be sporting a green and white striped "bra" swimsuit whenever we get some hot sun!  She can barely contain herself, I thought for a while she may be strutting her stuff in the grocery store.  I claim her as mine, but I don't know where this streak of confidence, self assurance comes from, but I hope she will always have it! 

 Loving my bathing beauties!

Holy Moses!

Wow, life got a way from me and it has been 3 months since I have posted. So much has happened, every time I think about posting I get so overwhelmed because I am so far behind. I am going to do my best to hit the highlights of the last three months. First off, I have two FIVE year old girls! I am so happy that they are growing into such lovely little things, but a part of me is so sad to leave the baby/toddler years behind.....

They had a Hello Kitty party with school friends, and neighbor friends, it was there first "real" birthday party with friends. A good time was had by all! They also got to celebrate at school, it was all very exciting!
March is birthday month in our family.....so many!  We also got to celebrate cousin Hunter's birthday and Grandma Phillips's Birthdays!

 Then we were off to the 'Couve for Spring break!  My kids adore their cousin Leila!  They will  play with her for hours and hours, the poor peanut has no chance of freedom with my kids around!

 On this trip, it was the first time they got to meet cousin Cullen!  He is just a sweet, mild mannered little guy.  I held him for hours, but I had to fight my kids for him.  We love loving on these baby cousins!

 While we were in the 'Couve we had another birthday celebration!  My Mom's!  The kids were more than eager to celebrate again!

 We took a road trip South to visit my Grandma Wagener.  We had an awesome visit and Brayden even got to play a few hands of cards with her.  She is amazing, she and my dad are the reason behind my love of games, and partially due to my competitiveness.  (That's mostly from my Dad though).

 Next up, out  to breakfast with my Cousins, Sarah and Jeremy and Mike.  What a fun morning, we got to eat and shop at Mike's outdoor shop.  They hooked the kids up with hats, flashlights and glow sticks, it doesn't get any better than that!

 Next on the list, a trip to the Oregon Coast, Tillamook.  Brayden all ready to head down to the pool, guess we forgot to pack flip flops....

 A day at the park, Oregon style.  Rain boots, rain coats, and wool hats!  :)

 A new hair hat for Kent.

The beautiful view that we had to leave behind.  It was a jam packed, fun-filled Spring Break!  Now home  to rest!

"Fluffy"

Last night Kent and I went out on a date!  It was wonderful, we hadn't been out by ourselves in what seemed like forever!  We did dinner and a movie and some shopping.  We were downtown and I jetted into the White House Black Market store.  I love this store, their stuff is so cute, just not typically in my price range.  I was able to splurge though, one of my oldest, dearest, bestest, friends is getting married!  I am honored to be in her wedding and was told to get a black dress.  No guidelines, no suggestions, just this: "Find a dress that you can wear again, just probably not a jersey knit T-shirt dress."  :)  Yes, she's pretty darn funny, or just lacks confidence in my style.  :)

The first dress I tried on last night fit!  I was thrilled, dresses have always been hard for me to find.  I bought it on the spot!  Kent knows that dress shopping is not always fun or successful for me, so he chose to sit on the bench in the mall.  This morning I wanted to get his opinion.  Ellie was in the bedroom with me while I was putting it on.  I went all out, I pulled the spanx out so I could get the full effect on how it should look.  As I am cramming myself into these things, that I have worn once in my life years and years ago, Ellie says, "Mom, I have fluffy skin too, look."  As she is trying to pull her cute, soft, perfect skin away from her little tummy. 

Umm, yeah your skin isn't quite as "fluffy" as my tummy that you and your sister lived in for 10 months!  She's so cute, I think she was trying to let me know that it's normal/ok that I have to shove my "fluffy" skin into nylon that is being stretched to its limits.

Kenz, I will send you a picture of the dress that my fluffy tummy is stuffed into, you can let me know if it will be appropriate.  I know it sounds amazing with this awesome description!  :)

*Proud Mama*

I got the girls' pre-school evaluations back.  I have been somewhat concerned about them being ready for Kindergarten.  The good news is that they're both doing great, and they will be more than ready for the big K!  The best part is what their sweet teacher said about each girl.  This proud mom was in tears (of course, knowing me).  I will keep their evaluations in each of their "special boxes," but I wanted it in here too.  So bare with me:

"Ellie is doing great in class!  She is always ready and willing to help and encourage others.  She has a very nurturing heart.  Ellie also makes sure to include her classmates in whatever she is doing.  I  have loved watching her grow and mature over the last year and a half!  Thank you for blessing me with Ellie."
-Ms. Jenny

"Dani is doing awesome in school!  It is fun to watch her little face light up when she is happy about something.  She is one of my little sponges.  :)  She sits back watches/listens and retains everything we are learning.  Dani LOVES to play school with her friends.  Her little personality melts my heart.  She is truly a joy.    -Ms. Jenny

We love Ms. Jenny, and all of us will miss her dearly when it's time to move on.  It's amazing how well she knows the girls and each of their personalities as individuals.  She summed them up so eloquently.

On another happy note, it seems my sweet boy  may be returning to me.  I think Brayden has turned a corner and has his emotions more in check.  I have seen more smiles and less anger in the past week.  It is a great relief, I truly missed my boy.  I hope I'm not jinxing it. 

Have a Happy Valentine's Day and give your babies extra squeezes!  This Mama will!

Too much fun for this old mom!

Wow, Monday is here and I am exhausted.  This past weekend was so jam packed full of fun, that not much sleep took place.  Brayden has officially started basketball!  It has been quite a fiasco with many tears shed on his part.  Our coach has not been the best communicator or planner.  His first practice took place Friday night (boo for Friday night practices!) and his first game was Saturday morning.  I think this worked ok for most kids on the team, but B has never played before.  Who knew a first grader would be so behind if he had not played before?  Holy smokes, things are intense nowadays.  His team is really good and most of the boys have been playing together for a while!!  I think this will be good for B to catch up and keep him motivated!  The poor guy started out clueless.  Before his game Saturday morning I tried to prep him for the game.

Me:  Do you know what to do when you get the ball?  You can't just run with it.

Brayden:  Why?  What do you mean?

Me:  You have to dribble the ball!  Do you remember what a rebound is?

Brayden:  Huh?  What?  Total look of confusion.

Me:  Remember the coach talked ALOT about it at practice?  You have to get the ball after it's shot, on BOTH ends of the court!

Brayden:  Ok mom.

I was kind of a nervous wreck.  He wasn't phased a bit.  He has been waiting for 9 months to play.  Each player wore a wristband (scrunchie) that coordinated with a player on the opposite team.  (Whoever came up with this is a genius, I wish they could have done this when I played).  B had a difficult time finding his man to mark, he started out by running all over the place, it didn't help that his opponent had mad skills and was the point guard.  He did better as the game progressed and I was quite proud of him.  After the game, Kent asked, "So how do you think you did?"

Brayden:  "I think I did GREAT!  I played as well today as I did at my very last soccer game!!"

Umm, ok. This boy doesn't lack confidence, that's good, right?  I think it will be a great season!

On Saturday night Kent and I hit the town with three other couples.  It was a blast having adult interaction, listening to parenting stories and laughing until our sides hurt.  We were out until 10 pm, almost a record for us in our old age!  :)

On Sunday morning we woke up bright and early so we could hit the slopes.  My MIL, graciously offered to watch the girls, so we took Brayden up to Mt. Spokane for a ski lesson.  In January we purchased three groupons that included, ticket, rentals and a lesson. 

It was THE PERFECT SKI DAY!  Being Super Bowl Sunday, no one was there!  The weather was sunny and warm with no wind.  I bailed out of my lesson when the first run took 45 mins to get down the mountain.  I was able to do SIX runs all by my lonesome before I met up with my boys.  Let me tell you, it was heavenly!  I don't remember the last time I skied by myself, let alone have an hour and 15 minutes all to myself!  Talk about a perfect day!

                                                 Brayden during his lesson!  He rocked it!

                                              A shot on one of my runs!  Gorgeous!

                                                                        My boys!

                                                                  Brayden and me!

I was quite proud of my little guy.  He was raring to go after his two hour lesson.  We hit the hill several times before we drug him into lunch at 1:30.  We ate quickly then headed back out.  Kent and I each took turns doing our own runs then skiing with the boy.  He did great, each time he fell he explained what went wrong, and how he needed to fix it.  By the end of the day, at 3:00 he was so disappointed that we had to leave.  He insisted on going up on the chair lift by himself.  I have to admit, there is no way I would have let him, but Kent was with him and sent him on up!  He did great, and met us at the bottom.  That's him in the picture above, he looked so little all the way up there.  Big, independent boy!  I can't believe it, he wants to go back this weekend!

Thank you to Sandy and Auntie and Uncle for watching our little girls!  We went to pick them up at Kelly and Sarah's and ended up hanging there for the Super Bowl.  Thanks for a fun impromptu pizza night!

Our Angels

 Our girls got their dance costumes today!  Their recital isn't until May, but we're ready.  Cuteness wise, not so much skill wise.  That will come, right?

 I picked Ally up today and Sarah asked me to take pics. of them because they were getting their costumes today.  I said, ok, not thinking much of it.  I thought she wanted their reaction when they saw it.  I didn't realize they were putting them on and dancing in them!  Yes, I was the privileged one that got three little girls and all that frillyness changed back and forth, all while keeping the white costumes, plus accessories off the floor!  Good times, but I have to say they were so dang cute it was well worth it.  (My poor Claire Bear (dani) is tall with long, long legs like me, her little tutu barely covers that cute little bum)!

10 tiny, frilly girls, it was a whole different dynamic.  They truly looked like little angels!  Thank you Grandma and Grandpa Wagener for the fabulous costumes!  We are all very excited, mark your calendars for the recital in May!