"Mom! Daddy's wearing your mommy-thing!"

So Michael wore my "mommy-thing" on Sunday and Riley thought it was super hilarious.

plus, there is a mutilated balloon hanging on our fridge "so Kaylee can always remember the day she popped it."

Lily got her ears pierced

On January 7 the girls and I ventured to Idaho falls.

It was all Kaylee's idea. 

A few days prior she had told me that she reeeeeeaaaallly wanted to get her ears pierced. Lily followed suit and told me that she, too, would like to pierce her ears. I told the girls that we had to talk to Daddy first and see what he thought about it. When he came home from school we talked to him and he was agreeable, so we made plans to go to Idaho Falls on Saturday and get it done!

When we got to Claire's, Kaylee hopped up into the chair first. Then she climbed down and said she wanted Lily to go first. Lily climbed up and waited nervously but excitedly. They gave her a little teddy bear to hold and then the ladies made their marks, checked and rechecked them to make sure they looked perfect, brought their guns up to her ears, and fired away.

Poor Lily cried and cried.

Kaylee chickened out and announced that she would not be getting her ears pierced that day or any other.

"I will never get my ears pierced! Never, never, never!"

I think that Lily's tears were a result of shock and hurt feelings. I told her that it would feel like a pinch and that it might hurt a little. Perhaps she felt betrayed. Perhaps it hurt more than she actually expected it to.

She got over it in no time. She was happier than happy to have cute little studs in her ears. She loves to show them off. They just look so darn cute in her little ears.

...and maybe a little too grown up.

What happened to my baby?

before and.....

just before... no after.

she looks sooooo much like her daddy in this picture!

look at those cheeks!

I took these pictures with the intent of getting her hair cut and doing before and after photos. Once I looked at these I simply could not bring myself to let anyone bring shears to those locks!

and in case you're wondering... her hair never looks this lovely when it's down. but still.... I just can't do it.

Panch

this is Pancho. my brothers stole him from a girls' apartment.

I liked the harsh light that shone on him as he sat on my kitchen table.

we sang happy birthday to zach

outtakes

just some things I've heard around my house in recent days...

• {"We don't get tattoos because tattoos will KILL you!" -Lily}

• {"Hey! There's no reading at the North Pole!" -Kaylee}

• {abruptly, after 15 minutes of straight giggling: "okay... all that playing made me have to go poop." -Lily}

Conversation with Riley:

"Mom, look!"

"Awesome!"

"No. It's not awesome." (she shows me an empty movie case- Bedknobs and Broomsticks; uh-oh. not awesome. this is serious...)

"Oh, you're right. That's not awesome. Where did the movie go?"

"I don't know..."

then somberly:  "Do you think Zach did it?"

Zach is living with us this semester and he sleeps in the room where we keep the movies. She has a valid concern.

• {to Kaylee: "Did you just call me a codfish??" -a Very Offended Lily.}

Conversation with Kaylee

the matchbox got left in reach of the children (don't worry, Mom, it's hidden now!) and Kaylee lit a match. I said to her:

"Ooooh, Kaylee. Please don't do that again."
 
"Okay, but can I do it when I'm six?"

"maybe"

"seven?"

"yeah"

"eighteen?"

"eighteen for sure"

eighteen sounds like the perfect age to finally be allowed light a match.


a conversation between Lily and Kaylee:

after kaylee destroyed lily's castle:

Kaylee: "Lily, I made you a new sandcastle. Come see!"

Lily lovingly put her arm around Kaylee and Kaylee wrapped her arm around Lily. They walked with their arms around each other to the living room.

Lily: "(gasp) oh, it's beautiful!"

Kaylee: "and I'm verrrry sorry for knocking yours over."

Lily: "It's okay. I like knocking sandcastles over too."


I wasn't present for the original argument but Lily and my friend Mandy filled me in on the details. It went like this:

Lily: "Kaylee! Why did you do that? I'm so mad at you!"

Kaylee: "Well, I'm so mad at you! See ya later!"

Lily: "Alligator!"


If the is the worst my children fight I will be forever happy.


oh. and we can't forget this gem.

Riley is potty training (finally!). She still hasn't got the hang of the undies thing.

around the house (film)

one of my children took the next three lovely photos