Photo Friday-New Haircuts

As promised, both girls got haircuts yesterday. The smaller one's was more dramatic than the bigger one's, but both came out just perfect.

The Before Pictures...
Katelyn, the non-hair doer

Padyn, the shaggy hairdo girl
The After Pictures...

Katelyn-the new 4 year old in the house
Padyn-the mature looking 7 year old

And here are some other fun "during" and "after" pictures...

Kate admiring her new look...

...and enjoying her post-haircut lollipop Padyn getting her hair straightened...she wants me to do this everyday for her.Both girls are very happy with the results. So is Mommy.

Happy Friday!

Letter to a Four and a Half Year Old

Dear Katelyn,

Thank you for deciding that you had other clothes worthy of wearing. I was getting tired of seeing the "snow dress" every day. I'm not sure why anyone wants to wear the same article of clothing four days in a row, but that seems to match your persistent, selective personality. You certainly have made me seek out how to be a better parent. I'm ok with cutting the tags out of your clothes and letting you decide what you wear everyday, but you really do need to wear underwear. I'm sorry. It's just required in this family. You can sleep naked (except for underwear), wear the same dress everyday, and not do anything to your hair, but you 1) do have to wear underwear and 2) change it on a regular basis. I'm sorry there seem to only be 4 pairs you like right now. I'm doing my best to find others that "feel right." If only every pair of underwear went up to your mid-back, as you seem to require it. I'm sorry. Hanes and Fruit of the Loom just don't do granny panties for little girls. I'll keep looking.

And about the hair. You will be undergoing a drastic hairstyle change tomorrow. I'm really really tired of you not putting anything in it, crying when I brush it, and pulling on it while screaming, "It doesn't feel right!" A short bob with bangs will make us both happier, I think.

And while we're at it, I think you might need to seriously think about another pair of shoes for this coming winter. Your pink Crocs will only last so much longer. And eventually you will want to play outside in the cold and rain. You will need shoes that do not have holes. But I just can't even talk to you about socks right now. They seem to be your mortal enemy.

But anyway, thanks for deciding other long sleeves dresses are just as good as your sweater dress. I'm glad I remembered them and pulled them out of their 5T storage box the other day. I'm happy that your happy. Eventually we'll work on socks and sweaters and pants, but for now, I'll take whatever means you aren't screaming like a banshee and having a knock down tantrum every morning.

Love,
Mommy

Verbal Ability

Robbie is a man of few words. Literally. Few. But I thought I'd share them with you anyway...just in case you ever try to have a conversation with him, you'll know what to center it on.

Mommy! (Always said emphatically)-Mommy
Daddy! (see above)-Daddy or Paci
Momma-Mommy
Dadda-Daddy or Padyn or Katelyn
Cah! (see above)-car
BAH! (ditto)-ball
moe-more
ng-anything that he doesn't know how to say but wants to make you get for him, like Daddy's truck, a much loved book, or some tasty morsel on the counter
uh oh-uh oh, dang, didn't mean to drop that, or totally meant to drop that but want you to think it was an accident
bye-bye-always accompanied by waving
BAY-bee-baby
panting like a dog-dog

He makes a lot of noises much of the time, but we have yet to decipher their meaning. He's very good at screaming, but lately it's for joy, not frustration. I'm sure that will change.

This is What a Seven Year Old Looks Like

Happy Birthday, Padyn. Seven years ago today you came into the world, changing it forever. But you've certainly changed our lives for the better. We are so grateful for you...even when you drive us crazy.

We love you, Birthday Girl.

18 Month Semi-Comparison

Today, Robbie had his 18 month check up. Sure, he'll be 19 months old next week, but who's counting? We do what we can around here...
Presently, the little man weighs in at 26 pounds, 7 ounces and 32 inches tall, which puts him in the 60th and 40th percentiles for each. But don't let that fool you. His head? 46 cm. That's right. That's at least 75th percentile. But really...have you met his daddy? We're surprised his head isn't bigger.And while I'm pretty sure Robbie outweighs his bigger sisters at this age, he certainly can't do things that Kate could at this age. Things like this......or this...

Thank you, son, for being such a calm mellow toddler!

(If you want to see and read about other things the girls were doing at this age, you can go here.)

Photo Friday-Photos You Haven't Seen Yet

Daddy leaving for the desert in July

Spider Girl shooting her web

Queen of the haystack

Carving

Haircut Happy Friday!

All Hallows Eve

Appearing at our house on Halloween this year was...

Crush, the sea turtle from finding Nemo...Spider Girl...

and two Batgirls (Padyn in the pink, Bella in the black). We were joined by our neighbors, Luke Skywalker and Kitty. And down in the last picture you can see Trevor as Thomas the Train.

And yes. Those are Christmas lights in our front yard in October. They have been up all year. They are our front porch lights. That's just the way we roll...

We Love Baby Animals

The pumpkin patch we went to last week had an extensive petting zoo. Well, petting farm, really. For a nominal fee, the kids were able to roam around with baby pigs and goats, hold kittens and bunnies, and pet and brush ponies, a calf and a few sheep. We can't forget the miniature pony or the ducklings. Or Kate's favorite...the baby chicks.Robbie's squeals of delight could be heard throughout most of the county. He was giddy from start to finish. I was amazed that he wasn't frightened by the animals. He walked right up (usually yelling his happy yell) and gently pet his new farm friends. Thankfully those little animals were extremely tolerant.This was Kate's favorite...the baby chicks. She really couldn't hold them. They were a little to jumpy and scratchy. But she loved petting them. When I asked her why she liked them so much she said, "They made me laugh because they were goofing around so much."Here the three girls are sitting and watching the ducklings dine.

Robbie was fascinated by the chickens. I didn't let him go in the enclosure because I was afraid he would chase those poor chickens around. Here he is screaming at that nice black and white one.I think the baby pygmy goats were Robbie's favorite. They were definitely my favorite. I really want a goat.

The kittens were Padyn's favorite. She could have spent all afternoon holding them. Now she is asking for one for her birthday and Christmas. Why does she love them so? "Because they are SOOOOO cute!"

More pygmy babies... Next year, we are getting the season pass.

Photo Friday-Pumpkin Patch Part I

Impromptu trip to the pumpkin patch yesterday with cousins Bella and Trevor. I'll let the photos speak for themselves...

Part II will include the photos from the petting barn portion of our outing. And of course with it being Halloween on Sunday, I have SO MANY other photos to post with costumes and class parties and whatnot. But for now, Happy Friday.

Photo Saturday-Cool Patch (seriously-that's the name of the pumpkin patch)

Last Saturday, when it wasn't raining, we heading out to the best pumpkin patch in the universe. It's more than a patch, really. It's a whole fall extravagance. World's Largest Corn Maze (which we did last night, but that's another blog entry), thousands of pumpkins still on the vine, haystack pyramid, haystack maze, 4 man tricycles, little pink houses, and course, the corn bath. Really, we should have just gone for the corn bath. That's where all 11 children wanted to spend their time. That's right...these children right here...



I took my camera, all ready to get some get great pumpkin shots to add to my collection from years past. Unfortunately, 6 shots in, my battery died. And one more shot later, my back-up battery died! Good thing there were a few other mommies there with their cameras. Otherwise all I'd have to show you would be this photo....



and this photo...

...and this photo that sort of proves that Robbie is now walking.

Oh. And this one.

And thank goodness I got this photo. I really need to capture these fashion moments, don't you think?But I would not have been able to show you the first photos of all the kiddos, or of these next few in the corn bath. Really. It was the best $3 per kid I spent all week. We were hoping to go back today, but somehow I don't think the corn bath would be as fun wet as it was dry.

Corn AngelPadyn's BFF being buried in the corn.

I'm not really sure of why this was so much fun, but these girls loved putting the kernels in their shirts. I think the joy came from releasing the corn rather than collecting it.Sorry the weather isn't cooperating or I'd have more photos for you today. Luckily the patch is open until Nov. 7th, so I'm sure we will be making at least one trip back before the corn (and pumpkins) disappear until next Fall.

Happy (wet) Saturday.

Ingredients

At breakfast this morning as Kate was eating her dry cereal...

Kate: Are Rice Krispies made from sand?

Mommy: No honey. (slight pause) What made you ask that?

Kate: Because they feel like sand when they get into your eyes.