Baby, I love your style

(wrong foot of course)

Her fashion sense – just one of many things I love about my little Catiebug.

I love these kids

Annie has been home on fall break and it’s been so wonderful. When she heads back to school on Monday my heart will hurt again – I miss her when she’s gone.

Of course she will be thrilled – she ran downstairs this morning and the first words out of her mouth were “Do I get to go to school today?” Don’t worry about my feelings, kiddo, really. I’ll try not to be offended! lol I really am glad that she loves it so much though – I know we’re blessed in that regard (see that word again?).

At breakfast she suggested that we all pray for Grama, who was at the doctor. So proud. My mom had a hysterectomy + on Wednesday, and is having a difficult recovery.

Late morning they asked if they could watch a movie and I obliged, thinking of the work I could sneak in while they were occupied. As they snuggled together on the couch I heard Catie say, “I love you guys so much” and Annie replied, “I know Catie. I would be lost without my sisters.” It brought tears to my eyes. And actually I am also blessed in that regard as well, because words like these are a pretty common occurrence around here. I’ve always been careful to tell them how lucky (blessed) they are to have each other, and how sisters are best friends, no one will ever love you like your sisters, etc. I hope that stays with them their whole lives.

Before Annie’s soccer game last week they were playing on the playground, and one of her teammates came up and asked Annie to play with her. She said, “I’m playing with my sisters right now, but you can join us if you want.” I love that she didn’t ditch them to play with the big kids.

I really can’t remember what I did before these girls entered my life, but I know it wasn’t anything good. They are my favorite people in the world.

County Fair!

The girls entered a few things in the fair again this year, and tonight we learned the results. A very successful year!

I say ‘the girls’, but actually only Annie entered last year. Sweet Catiebug is only 3, but she has to keep up with big sister so she was very excited about entering things her OWN self.

Catie’s cornbread won a blue (1st place) ribbon:

Not that you can really see the detail, but in the back there is a coloring page that she did – a little cheerleader girl. This won a white (3rd place) ribbon:

Annie and her cousin Erin made these patriotic rice crispy treats, and they won 1st place as well:

Annie and Erin also teamed up for this Peanut Butter Fudge, which not only won a blue 1st place ribbon, but it also snagged a purple Grand Champion ribbon! This is the second year in a row Annie’s made prize winning fudge, and she’s pretty darn proud of herself.

Here are Annie’s super-duper chocolate chip cookies, on a stick, and dipped in chocolate. I have to say that I’m really not a chocolate lover, but these are pretty good. Just the regular cookie though, I can’t do the chocolate coated part – that’s just insane. (But if Aunt Amy were here, I know she’d be up to the task!) These also took 1st place:

Again, very hard to see detail. At the corner where the tables meet is Annie’s coloring page with Jasmine, for which she won a red (2nd place) ribbon. Two pictures up from that is her drawing, which won a red ribbon as well. She drew herself, her cousin, and her sisters all in a flower patch.

And finally here is Catie’s banana bread, which also won 1st place. I have to say I’m shocked that this didn’t also get a purple ribbon, as it is hands down the best banana bread I’ve ever had in my life. If I do say so myself.

So sorry I haven’t been blogging lately! As I mentioned above, our very dear cousin Erin and my sister are here visiting, and we’ve been so busy having fun that I haven’t found time to blog about it! I’m taking lots of pictures though, so hopefully we’ll be up and running again soon!

Thanks for letting me brag about my girls. They are such fantastic little people.

Things that can go wrong when you share a bed with your sister

Annie and Catie like to sleep together. Not just in the same room; in the same bed kind of together.

They have their own beds, own rooms, but they don’t use them and we gave up trying to make them. It’s really very sweet most of the time. I mean, take a look at this:

Happy Birthday sweet Catiebug!

My darling middle daughter turned 3 yesterday. We had a joint birthday/Father’s Day celebration, which worked out well for Chris. He had been wanting a Strawberry Shortcake party, so this way he got his wish and no one had to know the theme was really for him.

I started with cute DIY invites (and matching thank-you’s) from U-Print-Invitations. I was really pleased with how easy it was, and the fact that I could see all my personalization before I bought. Next time I think I’ll plan for some of the extras like coloring books or play-do labels. Here is what I ended up with:

I started a trend a couple years ago, making the girls outfits to match their theme. We’ve done an Alice in Wonderland tea party for Mother’s Day, and Dora (twice!), Hannah Montana, and a few others for birthdays. This years Strawberry Shortcake came out really cute if I do say so myself. Catie used to call her ‘Ba-Ba Ca-Cake’, and while she gave up the baby talk a long time ago, Chris and I are having a harder time letting it go. Always hard to admit they are growing up on you. So here’s Catie modeling her Ba-Ba Ca-Cake set:

Lilly in her matching outfit:

The only request she made for the day – chips and dip. Mommy doesn’t buy chips so this is a real treat:

Obviously she was tired of having her picture taken:

The adorable cake Mom made for the big day:

And unfortunately, my poor sweet Annie was still very sick. This is how she spent the day:

She didn’t want to stay in bed and miss the party, so she crashed on the couch. I had stayed up until 4 am the night before making her a Strawberry Shortcake tiered halter dress that she requested, but as it turns out that was all for naught, since she didn’t even feel well enough to get out of her jammies. Poor baby.

Other than Annie being sick, I think it was a pretty good day for Catie. Harder day for Mommy – I want them to stay babies forever. But this is Momma’s girl here, so hopefully she won’t be leaving me too soon.

Happy Birthday sweet buggabug. I love you.

Reason #76 why a home office in the basement is a bad idea

All I had to do was print a few shipping labels. 5 minutes, tops. When I went downstairs the scene was pretty dull. Catie was crashed on the couch:

Lilly was snacking happily in her high chair:

And well-behaved, ever-responsible Annie was reading a book.

When I came back upstairs something was different. For one thing, Annabelle had changed her clothes. (Ok jammies, whatever. It’s a jammie kind of day at our house. Also known as ‘a day when Dadda isn’t home’) But it wasn’t just the pajamas. Something else had changed. If only I could put my finger on it…

So I asked about it.
No, she did not have anything to eat.
Yes, she is sure about that.
Very sure.
Yes, she knows that lying is wrong.
No, she does not need to think about that again.
She is positive.

Hmmm… Then how in the world did this get here?

(I mean come on kid, seriously! At least throw away the wrapper! Spot check in the bathroom mirror! Something!)

When confronted with this evidence, she blushed. And looked at the ground. And said, “Oh.” And then, “Also I couldn’t find a napkin.”

I glance over to where her little finger is pointing:

“We don’t have to tell Dadda about this do we?”