Plan B at McD's

This morning I hit a major roadblock in my plans, figuratively and literally. Seems some semi decided to overturn on the highway I take to get home from the dance studio. I did not realize this until I tried to get on the highway and was instead re-routed the opposite direction with hundreds of other unfortunate drivers. But the time I got back to the place I started there was not enough time to get home before turning right back around to pick Jocelyn up. So I thought fast, and promptly started driving toward the nearest McDonald's. Ava, Molly, and I shared some fries and drank milkshakes while watching some of the morning's Olympics coverage. (Really can't escape the Games - not that I'd want to) We hung out in the restaurant for a good 45 minutes or so. The girls enjoyed their treat, and I enjoyed getting out of the traffic, at least for a few minutes. Another silver lining found on an otherwise cloudy morning - I'll take what I can get and be grateful.

Change in the Lineup

Today we did things a little differently. I decided at the last minute to send Jocelyn to Princess Camp at the dance studio this week. She was over the moon excited when I told her. She put her leotard and tights on as soon as she was finished with breakfast, and only took them off this afternoon when I told her she couldn't play outside with the neighbors in her dance clothes. It was amazing to see her embrace this activity as her own. She was so excited to get to do something her sister has done for years now. She is being treated like the big girl she is, and seems to be maturing before my eyes.

Just as fun to watch was the interactions between Ava and Molly. My oldest and youngest daughters get along wonderfully, but don't often have the opportunity to play together without Jocelyn around. This morning they took full advantage of their time together, playing, laughing, and having a grand ole time. The personal growth for Jocelyn and relationship-building for Ava and Molly will certainly be worth every penny Princess Camp cost.

Day of Rest

My life is many things, but dull is rarely one of them. Adding the constant watching of the Olympics, especially past my bedtime, to the everyday mayhem of our family seemed to have put me over the edge. This morning I was EXHAUSTED. More tired than I can remember being in a very long time. I woke up feeling almost hung over, but no alcohol had been involved. So Ben and I both agreed first thing that this was going to be a catch-up day. By the end of the morning we had tag-teamed and each gotten a nap in. I didn't even fully realize how tired I'd been until I woke up from the DEEP sleep I had been in while napping. The whole day wasn't that mellow - we all got out of the house at one point or another - but it was very nice to have a little time to recover from the damage my Olympics addiction has already caused me.

Goofy girl

My kids are crazy. I've said this many times and told many stories supporting this. Today I give you this short video of Molly. This is not an isolated incident. She is wearing a box hat holds some blocks the girls play with. More often than they actually play with the blocks, Molly and sometimes Jocelyn will dump the blocks out of the box and wear the box on their heads. I don't know why this is so entertaining but they can't seem to get enough of it. Before I got my camera, Molly was running in circles around the L-shaped wall between our kitchen and living room. As soon as she saw the camera she changed tactics and came over to flirt with the camera. She is a ham, a goof, and a wonderfully darling of a toddler who provides hours upon hours of free entertainment.

Realized after I reviewed the video once more I forgot to mention the sticker on her forehead. I'm not sure which of her sisters put it on her this morning, but she wore it all morning long and even through naptime. Like I said, goofy :)

Let the Games Begin!

Today the Summer Olympics officially began in London with the opening ceremony. I LOVE the Olympics. It's always so fun to hear the stories of the many journeys these athletes have taken to get to this sporting event. Tonight I invited Ava to stay up late with Ben and I and watch the opening ceremony. She was super excited - mainly because she got to stay up late and have Mom and Dad all to herself. She asked a zillion questions and fidgeted constantly (in other words, was her normal self). We ate popcorn and commented on all that we were seeing unfold on the TV screen. I told her she could stay up until she was ready to go to bed, and at 10:15 we finally convinced her that the parade of athletes would not be over for a VERY long time (they were on the J countries, I think) so she should just head to bed. She may not remember anything in particular about this experience, but I hope after the next few weeks we will have another Olympic fan for life in our house.

A Tale of Two 'Dos

This morning we started the day off fantastically - my kids let me "sleep in." Ava woke up around 7am, but went downstairs and turned the TV on herself. (Thank God for self-sufficient children!) Molly woke up around 7:15am, and Jocelyn didn't get up until almost 7:45am!! Most mornings this week at least one of them has been awake before 6:30am, and this morning I realized just how important that extra 30 minutes is to my mood in the morning. I really woke up on my own and felt pretty refreshed from the closest to a full night's sleep I've seen in a while. What I loved even more, however, is something that I've been thinking about the past few days. One of my favorite things about the day is the way my kids look first thing in the morning. Pj's looking a little wrinkled, bags under their eyes, hair everywhere... they are a sight for sore eyes, but a beautiful sight at that.

can you tell that Ava's my morning child?

Fast forward to later in the morning. The girls went to get their hair cut by our hairdresser friend miss Debbi. The girls have been asking to go see her for months - I had wanted to wait until closer to school starting but decided I couldn't take the pestering any longer. All of a sudden this morning both Ava and Jocie seemed to be getting cold feet. For some reason I think they were under the impression that getting their hair cut meant they'd have no hair left, because they kept insisting they liked their long hair. I assured them no one was losing their long hair, we were just going for a trim. So Ava gets in the chair first, and tells miss Debbi what she's been expressing to me for a few weeks now: she wants bangs and straight hair. I had warned Debbi that this was coming, and that I had explained to Ava bangs might not work with her hair. After asking repeatedly however, I said I didn't care what Ava does with her hair (it grows back after all). So she got her wishes - and it was like Christmas Day all over again. Ava spent the rest of the day tossing her hair over her shoulders and looking at herself in the mirror. I know that the bangs are going to drive me absolutely crazy, being as OCD as I am, but she is happy, so I'll take it.

getting all ironed out

straight with bangs!

side view

back view

Not to be left out, Jocelyn just got a traditional trim, and Molly even climbed up into the chair. We let her sit there for a minute or two, and Debbi even took one snip to even out her bangs. No need to do any further cutting to her hair at this point, but at least this way she'll be used to the hair cutting experience.

Molly showing off her freshly trimmed bangs

Jocelyn's new 'do

These pictures in some ways look very different - it already takes a little to polish these kids off and be ready for the day - but first thing in the morning to last thing at night these beautiful faces (and their ever-changing hairstyles) never stop making me happy.

Venus and Mars

This afternoon we had Ava's friend Jackson over for a couple hours. He and Ava were friends all last year at preschool and have played several times this summer. They know each other well, get along wonderfully, and always have fun. However, I saw what I'm sure will be the first of many instances when the gender difference was blatantly clear. To start with, their playtime was a little strained for the first time I can ever remember. Ava was getting very frustrated when Jackson was not doing exactly what she was instructing him to do, mainly taking part in a dance party (go figure). Then, in the car on the way to take Ava to dance class, a Miley Cyrus song came on the radio. Seconds into the song Ava looks at Jackson and squeals, "It's Hannah Montana!!" Then she proceeded to sing the entire song (as best she could, anyway). I would KILL to have caught on camera the look Jackson gave her. Ava might as well have grown three extra heads and begun speaking in tongues. Ava was so in her dancing/girly element, and Jackson was really just not. It cracked me up to see these good friends discovering that while boys and girls can certainly be friends (as I'm sure these two will be for years to come), that does not mean they will always understand each other.