A Birthday!

After getting home from vacation, we dropped the car, picked up the dog and cat, got some milk and prepared for the girls' birthday the next day. 

I'm not going to lie, when Alida showed up wanted to help make her cake, I was relieved. 

We moved and were here 8 months before Covid shut down the world. 

It isn't all bad that they don't have a huge cadre of friends here yet that they are missing now, and one guest for the day was perfectly lovely!

Ben hung the streamers.  It was certainly at the girls height...even if it looked a little like a crime scene.

Happy Birthday Elaine!

(I cannot take credit for that cake, which was beautiful!)

Happy Birthday Alida!

We totally take credit for the soda pop cake with strawberries and cool whip frosting that we call Slawberry cake here.  

And some cute little cupcakes to blow on since we're all being super clean these days. We probably could have moved the cakes some distance away from the blowing while we were at it, but we just get excited sometimes. 

13!

Thirteen years ago today, we were amazed by you, but we were not yet aware how very much we needed you to complete us.  Now, I cannot imagine a day without you.  A warm and happy birthday to you.  You delight us daily.

Sunset

Girls, you should go look at the sunset.  It's amazing. 

"Huh?"

Flashback Friday

February 2008

Do you remember who always wore pink?

Spa Day Earned

After all the planning, planting, and plotting, you just have to have a gold facial from time-to-time.  

Track out

The kids are on year round school 9 weeks on and 3 off. 

Somehow it seems the other way around. 

And even they are having to dig deep to entertain themselves. 

Here is breakfast brought to you in the form of pancakes. 

But these macaroons?

They had to make a double batch the next day to keep up with demand. 

I'm not entirely sure when I handed tree decorating over to the kids. 

But it was the best decision ever. 

And with our new Christmas Tree onesies that the girls insisted upon, we were up and running for  some cheer around here.  They may have left everything else to me... 

Although they did suggest they could be the front door decorations. 

Settling In

We took advantage of the boys in Washington DC with school and dad out hunting to make some updates  recently. 

So. Very. Yellow.

But it came together nicely in the end.  Elaine has her goldenrod accent wall.

And Alida went for a bank of curtains that added to her most desired rustic orange accent very nicely. 

The yellow is everywhere...

Decorating for Halloween

Began in an unconventional way this year. 

That Took a Turn

When I saw the girls grab the vacuum and a trash bag, I wrongly believed my girls were cleaning. 

Turns out you are ticklish even through a trash bag. 

"Don't worry mom, I'd never put this bag over my head."

Well, okay.

The Birthday Celebration

We found a wonderful local bakery that put together an amazing set of celebratory cupcakes for the girls' 12th birthday with about 2 hours notice of our order.  After trying a new local restaurant for a birthday dinner, we destroyed these as well. 

And Nicholas is forever offended by the birthday gifts.  Here he believes Alida just opened Airpods; they were a knock off, and she loved them and Nicholas was quelled. 

And Elaine was very excited for her backpack. 

A very special backpack that she can carry the cat around in.  

Poor thing is a good sport.

Happy Birthday Girls!

Twelve Years Old today!

Way back then, we had no idea how very much we needed you to complete our six pack.

 

 

Today, I cannot even imagine my days without either of you.

We love you!

 

 

Grounded

Girls get quite creative when they are grounded.  Here they have made their own homemade facials.  The boys were surely somewhere arguing, having been grounded at the same time.

 

The facials included Elmer's Glue, for some reason. But when peeled back, I have to admit I considered trying it in an attempt to get that soft skin. Then I realized that soft skin just comes with being 11.

 

Then Alida became very creative with her free time and decided to try some fake wounds.

Science!

 

Sixth Grade Science class has changed so much since I was there. I received this from Elaine while working away one day last month. She was quick to tell me that her teacher said it was okay that she had her phone out in class.

 

 

And when I showed this to our lab director while I was at work this month, he was excited to tell me that he makes DNA with all of the same materials in his lab.  He also entirely got the double helix dance that was going on during the presentation without missing a beat.

Let them Make Cake

Seriously with all of the days off school.

When they were bored; and it was cold outside; and, I was trying to work,

I told them to go bake something.

 

And so they did.

 

And it tasted pretty amazing too.

Know Thyself

Alida did not let me get away with saying she could get her ears pierced without scheduling the date and time of the event.

Elaine happily joined the outing,

and picked out a magnetic pair of earrings for herself.

The Circle of Doom

Me: what are you doing?

Them: Playing the Circle of Doom!

 

I'm still unclear what it is.

Snacktime

Just hanging around, eating our gigantic gummy worm.

Spongebob

The entire cast of the cartoon in balloon characters

Because sometimes, you are just stuck inside.

 

And imagination must fuel your day.

Let the Holiday Tomfooliry Begin!

Onzies.

 

They were oddly delighted and so tickled.

 

Let Christmas season begin!