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.

You've GOT to be kidding me!!!

Brenna lost another tooth (#7) today in the cafeteria. Apparently she had to pull it herself!
But got a cool tooth container necklace as a memento of the joyous occasion.

This morning

Me: Girls, get your shoes on, it is time to go. Bren, got your backpack?
B: Yes.
P: Can I take Julia to Ms. Headers house?
Me: Piper, you know that is Brenna's special baby. I don't think you should take her.
P: Please?
Me: Ask Brenna
P: Can I take Julia to Ms. Headers house?
B: You have to take good care of her because she is my VERY SPECIAL baby. And I get her when school is over.
P: Tank you, Brwenna.
Me: Thank you, Brenna

Fast forward about 30 minutes. We have taken Brenna to school, mailed a package, returned a rented movie and are pulling in the parking lot to pick up some random paper work.

P: Where's Julia?
Me: WHAT????
P: Where's Julia?
Me: Piper, did you leave Julia some where this morning?
P: Maybe
Me: Piper, where did you last see her?
P: ....
Me: Pipes, did you leave her in the post office?
P: Maybe not

We retraced our steps and found Julia sitting on the counter at the United States Postal Service completely unscathed. We would not have fared so well had she not been where Piper left her.
We'll see how Julia makes the day with Sam, Chloe, Rudy, Miley and Piper!

I have a terrible memory. I really do.
I can remember that I am supposed to pick Brenna up from school, that we are out of toilet paper, that I have report due soon, but the memories of my beloved past seem to be scant.

• I have to trust Josh on some details of our early dating and married life. I don't always think he is right, but I can't be sure. He probably is.

• I seem to have forgotten so many details of college and high school. Many of the memories can be triggered, but I feel so foolish until I do remember.

• I had a wonderful childhood and it saddens me that I only have snippets of it to enjoy. I know the facts of my childhood and I think I have filled in some details based what I think life was like.

Recently, I have had the joy of experiencing distinct memories of my youth. In the last few weeks, Brenna has started intentionally walking in step with me. I can remember several times trying to do the same with my mom. Not only am I reminded of what it felt like to be in perfect step with her, I can actually see a parking lot, a road and a store where I tried to walk in unison with her as long as I could. I do not remember why that was so important to me, but I can only assume it had something to do with figurative foot steps as well.

And last Sunday, Piper played with my fingernails during church. I was immediately struck with the thought now I am the one whose fingernails get played with. I used in sit in church and touch each one of mom's fingernails. I would put as much of my finger under her nail as I could. I would see which was the longest. I would see which was the roundest. I would see which was the smoothest. Then I would turn them into characters and a play would commence.
I am thankful for the childhood memories that my children bring back to me.

Can you hear the chorus?

The Hallelujah Chorus that is!!

It only took a little coaxing and a strip of mint flavored dental floss, but, finally! That tooth we have been waiting on since March has been turned over to the tooth fairy!!
(I do realize with the scab on her eyelid and 2 missing teeth she looks like a prize fighter, but that gleam in her eye can only come from winning the fight! By the way, the scab is from this, which got must worse a few days after the incident.)And she is very happy about it!
I'm thinking little miss fairy might even pony up an extra buck for this one!

One more tooth gone

But NOT the one we have been waiting on for about six months.

That one is somehow completely still in place. I would say it won't be long, but I literally have been saying that since June. She avoids using her front right tooth at all costs, which is probably why the one beside it came out. Both front ones are wiggly, but as you will see in the video below, the right one is ridiculous! She can't even be bribed with money for us to pull it.

If you don't like loose teeth, you might want to skip this video.

And the winner is....

The correct answer is MEATBALLS!!

These pops were ordered for a group of 8 year olds going to see "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs". We weren't sure we could pull off the look, but eight of you got it. So thanks for validating our efforts. (No thanks to you Ben.)

The winner of the contest is Mandy White! Mandy, we will make a batch for you sometime this week. Congrats, Mandy, and thanks to all who played.

Feel free to order your next shower, class party or sweet tooth craving!
www.CakePopCastle.Esty.com

Cake Pop Contest

Name that theme!

These cake pops were custom ordered for a birthday party taking place on Friday evening.
Can you guess what the customer requested? Leave a comment with your best guess and a winner from all the correct answers will be chosen at random.

What will the winner win??? Well, what would expect other than cake pops? Winner will get a dozen cake pops of our choice. And you can be fairly confident they will not look like the ones pictured here!

Contest ends at midnight on Friday and the winner will be announced sometime after that. :)

FINE PRINT:
If you ordered these cake pops you are not eligible to participate.
If you live outside of the United States, we will not be able to ship cake pops to you and guarantee their safe and healthy arrival. Therefore, please don't expect shipment.
If you are glutton or dairy intolerant or a vegan, don't even bother.

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

The Good:

Picture this, Edmond, 2009: (who can name that sitcom reference?)
Friday night, bed time, long week, extra energy.
Lights go out, strobelights(flashlights) come on, music cranked.

I took these shots in the total dark having no idea what we would see. What I see makes me laugh! And THAT is good.

The Bad:

Yesterday was a rough day for the Bailey girls. I rolled Piper's finger up in the window. And locked the window in place before I knew what was going on. The .37 second it took me to figure out what was going on and how to unlock the freaking window felt like an eternity. I know that was no long term damage done, and this wasn't even her worst finger smashin', but this one was my fault. And she was quick to point that out to whomever would listen. Thanks, kid!

Apparently in Kindergarten you now play hoola hoops with your face. Brenna isn't fond of this version of the game, but took it in strides. After lots of kisses and some ice (8 hours after the incident occurred) she is recovering nicely. Now she has bragging rights on her first play ground injury. Next, we are working reflexes.

The Ugly:
OK, my girls don't know how to be ugly, but here they gave it their best shot!

And when you finish soaking up the love of my girls, please, please go here. Please.

Labor Day

I apologize to grandparents for not staying current on the blog. I'd say we are busy, and we are, but it seems our days are filled with things not really blog worthy. I know, I know, you just want to see the girls. I'll try to get back in the routine.

So, let me start with telling you we did 8 1/2 dozen cake pops this weekend. It really really smooth and I am so proud of Josh. In between that, we did this...

Played "Day Care" - Brenna and Piper ran a day care out of our home. Today was picture day.

Piper flicked a 6 on the spinner of Chutes and Ladders.
(but Mama won the game-if anyone cares)

We did some great bike riding, running, racing and playing in the church parking lot.
Brenna is really getting her courage up with riding bikes.

Blow this one up and look at Piper's face. She is LOVING this!

We played "King of the Mountain" on the gravel pile by the construction site at church.

Shhhh...that might be against the rules. :)

We are in business!

We finally did it! Josh and I started a cake pop online business.
We are working through Etsy and have just gotten started. Please visit our site and check back often as we are updating regularly.

www.CakePopCastle.etsy.com

Curious George is coming to town...

I have two thoughts about this:

1.) "Oh, how my girls would LOVE this!!!!!!"
2.) "Maybe they should charge a little more and hire a proof reader. Seriously!"


Did you miss it???? Look closer.



Once I pointed the word out to her, even my six year old knew it wasn't right. Maybe Curious George should spend sometime "Between the Lions".

We've been busy, but nothing really worth reporting.

shoe modeling

bird watching

napping

exercising/dancing

toe nail trimming
(I love the concentration on her face.)
Dressing ourselves

Josh's cousin, Micah, is attending OC and we are thankful to have him around. I know the girls will really enjoy his energy and attention. I suspect we will see a lot of him!

Micah, with his mama moments before she left her baby in the big city.

School is still a big hit. Bren loves her teacher, friends, and routine. Yesterday, Daddy and Piper ate lunch with her in the cafeteria, which was a really big deal in her world. I think she will talk about that for weeks to come.

Piper seems to like the down time when Bren is gone, but she is always ready to go get her from school

Ready or not, here she goes...

-----------------------
And then I got this email a few minutes ago:
Piper is sitting here at the desk scribbling on a notepad while I work on the computer.

"What are you doing," I ask.
"Writing a note. It for Sam," she says.
"Is he your special friend?"
"Yeah, he going to marry me. ALL DA TIME!"
"Oh really?"
"Yeah... but not this morning."
"No? When will that happen?"
"Umm, later. After Brenna get home from her school. Maybe Saturday. Ummm, Fursday. He marry me Fursday. Yes."
"How do you know he wants to marry you?"
"Because he want to! ...Fursday."

It seems like only yesterday they were just kids. Wait, they WERE just kids yesterday! Do you think two days is enough time to get a caterer, or should we just do popsicles?

--Josh

Spielberg? I think not

This is Piper's footage of our recent school store project.

I think we have a while before we should anticipate a nod from the Academy.

We're having a party!!!

Don't worry, girls, your dolls are doing okay while you are away...
...and they know not to eat the mushrooms!!!