sassy

miss kate:

or shall we say miss sass?

the last two or three days have been... interesting.
you're pushing boundaries like crazy and it's taken all my mothering will-power to not wallop you upside the head.
instead i've been threatening you with taking away your blankies [the ultimate punishment in your book since you only get them at bedtime and you claim you 'neeeeed' them to sleep because your 'head hurts if you don't have them']
yesterday i actually took them away but ended up giving just one [you have three] back to you after you sobbed for 5 minutes in your bed at bedtime.
i figured if i didn't give it to you, you would sleep terribly and there's nothing worse than a night without solid sleep, so i caved.
and i deeply regret it today.
you don't appeared to have learned anything.

if i didn't love you so dearly....

let's just leave it at that.
you're lucky kid i love you so much.

18 months old.

evie roozer:

you love:
pulling hair [anyone's but especially kate's. as you can imagine, that doesn't go over too well]
otterpops
sleeping [when we tell you it's bedtime, you scoops up your 14 blankies and head right into your room. parenting success!]
saying 'ma maaaa. ma maaaaa!!' fifty thousand times a day.
shoes
toothbrushes [i think you have 4 stashed in various places around the house]

you hate:
being told no. [your bottom lip shoots right out and it's the saddest/cutest thing i've ever seen]
when kate's not around to play with/annoy.
eating [for the most part. obviously there are some items you enjoy {see list above}]

 ****

and no, evelyn doesn't have a skin condition-
her arms are splotchy due to numerous sloppy sunblock application.
what can you do when she won't hold still for 2 seconds?

a failed attempt to expand your palate.

kate:

yesterday i was whipping up some amazingness for lunch
[as is the case every day. i'm a fantastic cook, you didn't know?]
and i put a small portion of a M&M cookie on your plate; hidden among the goldfish, mixed nuts and watermelon, strawberries and carrots [see? told ya]

it took you all of two seconds to realize what i had done.
and then it was hands on the hips and an exasperated sigh with a drawn out 'mooooooom! i told you i don't like cookies!'

well, excuse me kid.
just trying to get you to enjoy the finer things in life.
pardon my folly.

a true toddler now

evie: 

this pic was taken one day a few weeks ago at the library.
because when mama is plum outta ideas of how to entertain the girlies we head to the library.
new books! new toys! oh so exciting!
[it's not really that exciting but libraries always feel a bit magical to me. mostly due to my many good memories of summer visits to the library when i was girl. thanks mom!]

look at that sweet face and those gigantic cheeks.
what an angel's face.
[that kinda sorta looks down syndrome in this picture? maybe just a little? i know. i know. that's terrible to say, but it's a little true]

you hadn't learned the art of a tantrum when this picture was taken.
my, how things have changed.
this week you have perfected that art.
there's the throwing of yourself on the floor, followed closely with two chubby hands shoved into your eyes and all sorts of fake crying that sounds so realistic that every once in awhile you fool me or your dad.
[note: your dad is a sucker for crying and caves waaaaay to easily. i have a feeling you will exploit this many times in your life]
and then there's the thrashing about- legs kicking, butt bouncing, rolling to and fro as only a toddler can do.
you certainly look like a tortured soul.

but we're onto you little one.
we've done this rodeo before and it's not nearly as impressive the second time around.
keep up the good work though.
the tantrums seem to tire you out and there's nothing this mama loves more than extra long naps.

love ya kiddo.
tantrums and all.

my ballerina

kate-

this summer we enrolled you in ballet and gymnastics classes.
you have loved both but you've declared that you prefer tumbling to dancing.
i think this has nothing to do the actual activity and everything to do with your teachers.
you dance teacher is a little, how does one put it lightly?...... grumpy.
she was most definitely not made for children's classes.

your tumbling teachers were a group of high-school gymnasts and their summer job was to teach classes at the rec center.
they had pandora set to the disney station, were energetic and full of smiles and compliments.
an easy win as far as like-ability.

regardless, you've had fun in both classes and i think we'll sign you up for dance/acrobatic class this fall.
as long as there is minimal/no make-up required and absolutely no booty-shaking involved.
"let them be little" as pinterest says.

scenes from around the house

dear girls:

life seems to be crashing by at a ridiculous pace.
evie, you're walking! kate, you're taking dance and gymnastic classes! good heavens, what's next? driver's ed and teenage pregnancies?? [please no. not ever. please]

i feel as if i'll never capture your childhoods successfully.
i'll never be able to document all the great things you say or the funny things you do.
days/weeks will pass and we'll forget they even happened.
and doesn't that seem tragic?
to let our life pass without pausing to appreciate what a glorious thing we have going for us?

so here we are,
another blog post that on the surface is about nothing.
but really it's about everything.

two healthy daughters who are happy and well-adjusted [a mother's dream come true].
a safe home to live in with a pool to boot.
enough money to afford us a comfortable lifestyle.
love. and really there isn't much more we need.

still love this quote that sums it all up perfectly:

"the days are long but the years are short"

can i get an AMEN?!

also, 

this made me pause and think: especially number 4 and 5