The latest outfit

Maybe it is because she is the youngest. (of 2, can you imagine how weak I'd be if I had 6?)...

Maybe it is because it is the week of Halloween...

Maybe it is because my plate is full these days and I am choosing my battles carefully...

Maybe it is because I am getting older and more relaxed everyday...

Maybe it is because I would wear this if I could...

Maybe it is because of the joy on her face as she spins...





Whatever the reason, this is what I allowed Piper to wear today.

Yeah, it is the joy. No doubt.
and maybe a little bit of envy. ;)

Tuesday morning, Brenna told me she wanted her hair like a little girl in her class. I asked her how said girls wears her hair and B said she has lots of ponytail braids with little barrettes at the ends.

Now, allow me to pause my story here to remind you that I made the commitment to allow my girls to be who they are, even if it causes embarrassment to me (on a small scale). OK, back to the story...

I was really hesistant to fulfill this request because I didn't want any children in her class to say something that would hurt her feelings. I tried to explain why her friend, who has what Brenna calls a dark face, wore the braids and why most 'peach face' girls don't wear braids. Textures and oils meant nothing to her. Since I couldn't come up with an real explanation (other than I didn't want her to get hurt by other kids), I braided my baby's hair in seven braids with all different color barrettes at the bottom.

She walked into school with head high and her braids swinging.




She had a really great day. And her joy was a reminding smack in my face of her innocence. Shame on me for projecting and fearing.

"J"

"O"

"Y"

If this doesn't break your heart, nothing will

All because she didn't want a pony tail in her hair.

Anybody else tired of looking at those goofy lips?
Anybody else feel so busy they haven't taken the time to do the unnecessary things?

If so, I am right there with you. Here I am squeezing in a moment of un-necessity, for the good-very good.

Piper picked her outfit, felt cute and wanted a photo shoot with Minnie Mouse.
Brenna had other plans.

Looking cute, getting situated

See Brenna sneaking in there?

Don't be decieved by Piper's grin at this point. Reality had not yet set in...

And there it is.
Reality.
Apparently I AM the kind of mother who takes pictures of her children hitting.

Brenna has officially comendeered the photoshoot.

Somehow, Piper rallies and attempts to reclaim her position of total queen.

The smile of sweet victory.

"Now, where were we?"

And I leave you with this...

A week of "bold"

Bold lips

Grandma sent these in the mail.

Poor Brenna couldn't hold onto them because she has no teeth!!

Piper immediately bit the middle of hers so there was no place for her to hold them.

I figured I could just switch Brenna's and Piper's since Brenna has no use for the part to bite onto anyway.

...because I'm cool like this.

Bold Outfits

Yet again, my statement of letting the girls dress themselves came back to haunt me.

I refused to let her wear this Sunday night, but had no valid argument when she
wanted to wear it to Ms. Heather's house.

She said she was "Rainbow Piper". Who can say no to that?

Bren felt left out on the picture taking. I think she did a pretty good job on this outfit.

Bold Play

At BK Sunday night Piper intercepted some Wii play with her face.
She didn't even tell Josh or I about it, just went about her business playing.
Once we got home she decided she needed some medical attention...

No injury a little Cars band-aid can't fix!
She had a little TLC Left Eye look going on for a while. In fact, she had that look going on until 8:30 this morning when I was reminded that it is picture day at Sonshine School.
Nice.

I wonder if the big patch of irritated skin will show up perfectly in the pictures.

I wonder how her teachers would feel about putting a little concealer on her.

I wonder if we should start making up a good story now for why Piper has a black eye and Brenna has no teeth in the Fall 2009 picture.

Our first driveway casualty

Saturday we were all working the garage. The girls were riding all our bike type vehicles - we have several for various stages. The ones they love the most is the three wheeled scooter and the three wheeled motorcycle (that have have literally had since Brenna's first birthday). Both girls can maneuver these pretty well and they take turns racing them around the cars.

Back to the garage cleaning.
Josh loaded up some charitable donations and was headed to Goodwill and the bank (unrelated errands, by the way) with Brenna. Piper and I planned to stay home to work on other stuff. Josh backs the van up about 1 foot hears the sound of cracking-grinding-breaking-smashing plastic. He pulls back forward about a foot while I investigate, only discover the beloved three wheeled scooter; now it is about a 2 1/2 wheeled scooter.


Brenna is instantly heart broken and wants it to be anyone else's fault.
When they get back from errands she grabs the scooter and asks me to fix it. When I tell her I can't, she decides to test me. After dragging this thing one leg pump at at time down the driveway and back, she comes back to inform me that it is better than ever
because NOW it has BRAKES!!!

The scooter is in the garbage.