Capes

There are approximately zero days that go by that Colbie doesn’t request to wear an “Elsa cape”.  And it is almost a guarantee that if an Elsa cape in on, we will be listening to “Elsa music”, singing “Let it Go” at the top of our lungs. 

The “capes” are actually nothing more than long, silky pieces of fabric that also happen to make some great dresses as well as roof tops for forts.  But really, their most important function is the cape:

Doesn’t everyone have their own live-in superhero?

There are some things that are just impossible to do with a cape on, so in that case, the Elsa dress will do just fine.

For example: yoga

I guess if we have to be reliving a Disney movie day after day, it might as well be Frozen.  It was a pretty great movie after all.

Oh Sydee Girl

Realizing that a lot of the blogs recently have been very “Colbie heavy”.  I feel like Syd more than deserves a post all to herself.  

This girl has so much personality and such an eagerness to experience the thrill of life, as well as keeping up with the big kids.  She truly fills up my heart with love and my mind with anxiety more and more each day.  Without doubt, she will be our girl who has us on the edge of our seats the majority of the time.  The hubs mentioned just the other night, how he plans on having Syd up on downhill skies next winter. She will have no fear, and therefore be a great beginner skier.  I think C and I will be sitting in the lodge, reading and drinking hot chocolate together :).  

When her sister won’t play with her, Syd knows just who to turn to.

A true Daddy’s girl

We are pretty much all done with this winter and ready for some sun.

“Spoons?  Heh, spoons are for amateurs"

The only time in his life the hub’s size 8 shoes will look big :).

Syd loves loves loves looking at pictures in books

Status post cutest temper tantrum in the world.

Oh Sydee, we love you more than you will ever know.  

***In case you haven’t noticed, sweet Sydney rarely gets called “Sydney”.  Poor girl lost the “n” somewhere along the way and pretty much gets called Sydee or Syd exclusively.  The “n” sometimes get pronounced with a good strong “Sydney Elise, no no” if someone is being a bit naughty :)

Caught in the act

Truth is, these two generally get along quite well together.  They are starting to do a pretty good job at keep each other entertained.  They do have their moments though and not a day goes by that I don’t have to break up a little scrappiness. 

I love when I can capture a shot, good or bad, of the girls getting along.  I have plans to use these some day while saying, “stop fighting, you guys love each other and used to be best friends”.  

Of course my hope and prayer is that they really will be best friends.

New Do’s

We’ve taken a break from our typical “puffs” these days when it comes to hair.  We’ve had fun trying out styles such as a braided basket weave :

A valentine’s week heart do: 

In addition to being super into making silly faces, we’ve also been into letting C’s hair be loose:

And a little like our favorite Dr. Seuss:

And then there is Syd, who’s hair has really taken off too:

And she does it again!

The end of January I took the girls over to a photo shoot with my dear friend, Laura, of Laurels & Stars.  I seriously think the whole session took about 15 minutes, with some amazing photos to show for it.

The arm cuff in the photo below was styled by Colbie and Stella, Laura’s three year old daughter, who also happens to be one of C’s BFFs.

A little harder time was had getting images of Syd, as she just wanted to get up and walk off set.  I’m pretty sure we just need to stick that girl in the middle of a field and let Laura chase after her with a camera :).  In the case of this shoot, we opted for just sticking her in a box :)

And the last shot of the day, Colbie and Stella of course :)

Thank you always to the lovely Laura, for capturing my girls so perfectly.

An Afternoon with Colbie

Colbie’s naps have become shorter and shorter, while Sydney’s nap remains a pretty consistent three hours every afternoon.  In one respect the shorter naps for C have been harder because that significantly shortens the time I have to get things done.  In another respect though, it gives me some one on one with Colbie, that I think has been much needed.

Three is a hard age.  I will say it again, three is a hard age.  C can go from talking in baby talk and whining one minute to being over the top sassy the next.  We talk about being a “good listener” multiple times a day,  but to no avail, she is a terrible listener most of the time.  Oh, and when she doesn’t want to do something, watch out folks, you are in for Academy Award winning performance.  Really though, Colbie is still sweet, and gentle and loving too.  She gives more hugs than ever before and tells us she loves us as least 20 times a day.  The days that Colbie does her best are consistently the days that we play with her, spend time with her, let her have an agenda separate from ours.  The worst days, you guessed it, when my own agenda rules, when I have a million things to do and don’t stop, sit down on the floor, and play.

With all of that being said, I took Colbie Sunday afternoon for a few hours and we did exactly what she wanted to do.

First up on Colbie’s agenda, getting her nails done.  We went to five different nail places to find one open on Sundays, but I refused to not make this happen.

Next up, go to Starbucks for hot chocolate.  What can I say, she is her Mama’s girl :)

We were at the Starbucks cafe at Barnes and Noble, which has an unending display of pastries.  The look on C’s face when she saw that display, I couldn’t help but let her pick something out to share.  Her choice, a cream puff!

She didn’t believe me that she had chocolate on her face, so I had to take this and show it to her.  This would be considered a “big mess” for her, but totally gave her the giggles.

After our treat, C wanted to read some books together.  She LOVES stories these days.  We hardly got into the kids section, and there was the Frozen table set up.  Instead of reading together, she opted for looking at all of the pictures of Elsa, and was over the moon when I told her she could pick one out to keep before we headed home.  

I did very little redirecting, I focused 100% of my attention on her vs splitting it, I watched her explore, I didn’t rush her, I listened to everything she said.  I had a blast.    

Photo Bomb time!

Guess who downloaded the photos off of her phone?!?!?  So now all of you are subjected to a bunch of random photos.  Sorry...but only kind of. :) 

My sweet mischievous Syd

Walking hand in hand.  I hope they do this forever

Hair time

A not at all uncommon scene around the house!

If you are ever going out of town and need someone to “dog-sit”, Syd has it down pat.

C enjoying her morning “coffee” with the ladies at GG’s house.

Sydney get’s pierced! She did awesome, Colbie told her afterward, “Syd, you were so brave"

Bath time beauty

Ball time beauty

Bringing the outside in.  Painting snow:

and making snowmen 

 
Snow ice cream anyone?

 Aunt KC sent a box, it was filled with old gymnastics leotards, dance costumes and a first communion vail.  C was so excited, she fell asleep on the dog.

Ballet has started up again, and someone has been practicing.

And then there is a certain someone else, who may end up being more of a thrill seeker.

Note, she got on top of this table in about 3 seconds flat.  Her mama developed a new ulcer in those same 3 seconds.

 For the girl who never slows down, this is what happened the other day when she decided to boycott naps.  This NEVER happens!

And these days, this mama sure does feel loved.