For the sister who said...

to just chop all the girls hair off!!! I almost gave in until something reminded me that I really don't like extra work (We have the inbetween hair, not all curly & not all straight.) So Summer & Tess just got a healthy trim while Liza got it chopped. She loves it short even though it requires a blow dryer & a flat iron

She just has a hard time expressing her happiness when she can't keep her eyes open for one picture!

I even gave it a day so she could relax the blink reflex but as you see...she can't

So after 10 shots I just told her to turn around for the one shot that would not demand a retake

For her school pictures you can tell they had to just pick the one where they caught the eyes half open...I had to call & cancel her GAP photo shoot-there goes our college savings plan.

Yay...

"I'm so cited Balentine Days is finally here!"this is my #1 food group...treats

Piggy even arrived for the special occasion but fell flat on his face when he realized how much sugar he would have to consume in one day

a healthy start to a happy day

well, not so happy for some...we had tummy troubles for Summer & Tessa. It was so sad b/c they were waking up each day asking how many more days 'til Valentines Day & then when it arrives they both don't feel like eating an ounce of sugar...(I'm still hoping to catch this bug)

this is all they did throughout the day

but Amelia was eating enough candy for everyone

from sweet little hands to a sloppy little mess

my mouth is full so I say no more

East Coast Fun

So we finally made it to our weekend getaway & we head straight for the largest mall in the states (at least at one time it was) & Tammy gets right down to business...posing in a dress & her ugg boots (I don't mind showing off her winter white legs) no, she didn't buy the dress

but Jody did find a purse that she willing to model for & she did buy it

(just trying to support the economy of course)

then we got a little tired from shopping at two stores so we had to stop for a treat at...

they look yummy

but we couldn't touch them for 20 minutes b/c they had to get to room temperature

by the time we could eat them we had lost interest & felt like eating dinner instead so we actually wasted $15 bucks on cupcakes b/c the next day they weren't so fresh & yummy looking. Oh well, dinner was good & we got ice cream to take into the theaters & laughed our way through the movie 'New in Town' it may not have gotten the greatest reviews but we loved it.

We took over their bedrooms so this is where Bryn got to sleep...

and this is where Garrett got to sleep...

they must love us...a lot.

We only took pictures on the first & last day of our trip but everything in between was just about laughing, food & treats! Our bonus was that we got to sleep in every morning & Dave even made breakfast for Saturday & Sunday, we were spoiled!

We did get too laid back & a little loopy by the looks of this picture, holding a Virgils root beer.

This is how hard we laughed when we found out Tammy was pregnant.

Okay, she's not but we would laugh pretty hard if she was ever surprised:)

the time came to get on a jet plane & look how excited the girls were when they came to pick me up at midnight...

Thanks for showing us Virginia like it's been your town for 4 years instead of just 4 measly weeks! So fun to see how your new life fits so comfortably, although I hope you guys still get board out of your gourd so that you'll be motivated to come see us again!!!

Finally...a snow day

School cancelled the night before b/c they were worried about this white stuff, well we only got an inch & a half so the girls finally get to do this...

at the top of our HUGE hill they sat ready...waiting for their leader to take off!

but nothing.

because their leader had never been sledding before & she thought the string attached would control all steering & the gas to go...but no

soon enough she caught on & was ready to instruct everyone else that might be clueless as well.

then the neighbors heard their was fun to be had so they joined in

and Liza's friend Brynn heard she was a pro sledder so she got to come over & join the screaming cold fun

the next day we got a real snow fall so they continued playing well into the night just in case it all melts tomorrow!

brrrr.

(by the way I did do some pro sledding myself & it was fun until I got cold)

Ummm...

Look who got a certificate for being Liza's Hero...no, not her wonderful, hardworking, patient, incredible, give you a treat whenever you want, tries her best not to flip out when forcing you to practice piano, most favorite mom...no. Looks like piggy takes it all. The reason piggy won, well, he just does one thing..."pigy helps me go to sleep"

I should think about doing a whole lot less around here. Oh wait, I already do.

Last night Eliza came to me while I was making dinner (it was a gourmet dinner consisting of 2 boxes of Arthur shaped Mac & Cheese) to show me the outfit she had picked out for school. Yes there are two belts...quite stylishly placed. Lately she has been loving a side ponytail with a headband. This ensemble reminds of outfits my sister Tammy would put together...no really, they were cute (like the star spangled banner dress?)

I have learned that all that really matters is that if a girl feels cute...she is.

(This rule does not apply to anyone over 10)

Remember their favorite?

Every morning, mid-morning, noon, mid-afternoon or anytime there is a moment of silence she asks for 'bill bear' you know...our beloved Little Bear



She likes to get up close & personal




Life is really good if you get a lollipop while watching thee favorite show of all time or at least the favorite show of her time!




We are happy & have no complaints during this half hour of pure bliss...

We can only smile for the camera once b/c she might miss something from the pre-recorded episode she has already seen twice today

'just let me curl my toes & swing my little legs & I promise I won't trouble you for much mom'

Life really is quite simple & happy when little bear is around

(every time I catch a minute of the show I swear mother bear is always making

a chocolate cake, maybe that's her secret to why she's always so patient with that little

bear...she's always in a sugar comatose!)

Asleep

Christmas Memories

Here are the memories of our Christmas Eve that went by way too fastAmelia loves the love that Aunt Jody gives
and she loved playing with Garrett every minute that she was awake!

the girls thought Garrett was amazing in everything he could do...even peeling a pomegranate

Dinner was amazingly deelicious (b/c Jody made it & I helped)

The cheese ball got a lot of attention, Jody posed b/c she thought this picture might qualify for the cover of America's Test Kitchen magazine...we'll see.

We began our Christmas Eve by following a program that Director Bryn Harrell printed out for us (she practiced with the girls every day for a week!)

(THIS PICTURE WAS MESSED UP B/C I TRIED TO CROP IT, SORRY BRYNIE)

Everyone took their part very seriously...

Our little wise man

the angel with her star

okay, so maybe not too serious

It was a success

then we had the polar express song sung by Bryn & Summer (it made me cry b/c Bryn spent so much time teaching Summer, it was too cute)



next on her schedule was red light, green light. Then a little white elephant exchange (it was pretty extreme...itunes gift card or toilet paper...Dave won!)

Christmas morning comes so fast!!!

Amelia was trying to figure out how she was going to get to that tricycle

and she found a little help from her cousin of course.

lots of unwrapping, lots

this is why we are so sad that Christmas day came so fast...

we had to give out lots of hugs, kisses and squeezes before they rolled out of town

when they were gone, truly gone, the truth finally settled in that they weren't coming right back...

we all put our head in our hands & stared at the wall.