Love this photo!  I call it, “Keeping it real!”  These sisters love hard, fight hard, play hard and everything else as passionately as they can.  They are great friends at the end of the day, and I love to watch them mature and grow together!

  

The girls had trunk or treat at their school the night before Halloween, so the littles went as princesses so their Halloween costumes would be fresh and ready to go the next day.  We didn’t plan on this many October dress-ups but since we were at Disney this week last year, I think it only felt natural to relive some of the magic and why not?!  This phrase keeps coming up in my head, “Life is too short!” when I worry or get side-tracked about what something will think or say about this or that.  It just doesn’t matter.  Live in your truth, have fun, and don’t worry!  Life truly is too short, so live it to the fullest, like these amazing little girls!  They truly inspire me to go for it, and I’m trying my best! 

  

 

Noelle is a mix of grace and beauty and elegance and poise.  She keeps this family rocking and rolling, and we totally adore her!  Go Greek goddess girl! (and now I’m all done with alliterations )

  

 

Almost everything this baby does is a complete surprise and cracks us up!  I asked her to smile as I was about to take these pictures, and she said, “No Mom, take a picture of my pose!”  She keeps us on our toes, and we never know what’s about to come out of her mouth, but we love every second we get to spend with her.  We laugh so hard and love so deep! 

 

These pictures show just how adorable our Cutie Kate is these days!  She’s still reserved in her own ways, but stands her ground and holds her own as the middle sissy.  We are so proud of her and love her to pieces!

 

Pirate Pippi (Longstocking) Pond, how’s that for an alliteration!  Here’s Anna Kate all dressed up for her storybook character parade at school last week.  We didn’t even know until the week of that they were going to have a storybook character day because they didn’t have one back when Noelle was in kindergarten, but we just finished reading Pippi Longstocking by: Astrid Lindgren, so it was an easy choice for Anna Kate who she wanted to be. 

Pippi’s dad was a pirate, and she told many of her crazy stories to her friends in the book from her previous adventures at sea with her father, so Anna Kate said, “Remember Noelle’s pirate costume?  I’ll wear that!”  Pippi’s little pet monkey was named Mr. Nilsson, so she found a little monkey to carry with her and asked for freckles and braids as well.  It was so fun hearing all of her great ideas, and I love that she put it together all on her own.  The only thing I wanted to add were stockings (tights), but if you’ve noticed, my girls refuse to wear tights at all costs, so that idea was squashed. 

Pippi Longstocking is one of the few books that has been a home run that I’ve read aloud to both Noelle and Anna Kate, as far as their age difference goes.  It’s so hard to find books that fit both their skill and interest levels.  We’ll always start out reading all together, and sometimes Noelle and I will finish a book, and sometimes Anna Kate and I will finish, but this one they both wanted to finish!  I never make them finish a book they aren’t interested in at this point in time because I want their initial experiences with reading to be fun and entertaining.  There’s already going to be enough of that down the road!  They each have to read 20 minutes every night, but they get to choose what they read, unless it is an assigned book, and then we get through it as best we can.  Three years is a big gap at these ages when it comes to finding books they both enjoy, and reading all together is super helpful, so if you have multiple elementary aged kiddos, this is a great read.  Boys would like it too.  Pippi’s best friends, Tommy and Annika, go on all of her adventures with her, and they are highly amused to say the least.  I can’t recommend this book enough (a million times better than the movie) and am absolutely crazy about our Pippi Pond!

My sister, Michele, gave us the book to read from her awesome collection, so thanks sissy!  Anna Kate had chosen to be the purple butterfly for Halloween this year, but after having so much fun wearing this costume, she changed her mind and ended up being Pippi Pond for Halloween too!  That will make for a fun comparison post soon! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

 

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Greek goddess Noelle, Pirate princess Anna Kate and Leopard kitty Rose hope you had a spook-tacular Halloween! 

 

  

We love our baby child so much!!!

Rose had a few little girlfriends over last week for a costume party!  Reese, Rose, Cerly, Katie, Lizzy and Lucy were so adorable all dressed up and ready to play!

 

Our theme was pumpkins and kitties!  The night before, it was like Christmas Eve for Rose.  She was so very excited!  The big girls remember all their toddler play dates fondly and were really happy that Rose was getting a turn.  I love my girls!

 

Noelle found the “Mummy pig” idea on YouTube for me, and the girls enjoyed them.  We are trying so hard to eat healthy around here, but it’s so hard.  I think we did a pretty good job today, and the girls did get to decorate cupcakes at the end for a little treat.

 

Rara came to help with the party and babysit for Mike and me to go out with some friends the next night, and of course, stayed busy helping us the whole weekend.  I don’t know what I’d do without her!  Rose, Katie, and Lizzy were busy at work with their first of lots of crafts that kept them busy: Halloween window gel clings! 

 

After we decorated goodie bags and other sticker crafts, the girls had the cutest, giggliest freeze dance session I’ve ever seen. 

This was adorable and something the moms will always remember for sure!

And Rose’s favorite, cupcake decorating time!  Toddlers have to stay busy 100% of the time or you never know what you are gonna get.  We had so much fun, and it was just the sweetest afternoon.

 

I asked Rose if her kitty was sad, and she said, “No, my kitty is mad!” as she was laughing like it was the funniest joke ever.  Lizzy had a blast showing off her crazy-eyed ghost too! 

Rose and Cerly finishing up their cupcakes!

Rose’s kitty claws!  This is just too funny to me.  She got out of bed the night before, came in our room, and said, “Mom, what are we going to do for my kitty claws?  I have to have claws because kitty cats have claws!”  I thought this one up on a whim, and she loved them!

I was hesitant to plan a party because for some reason, we are all exhausted right now, like so exhausted.  But… then I thought, “Both of my big girls are in school, and it’s now or never!”  So, we went for it, and oh my goodness, we had the best warm fall afternoon ever with these girlies.  I’m always so overjoyed when I see kids playing together and having fun!  It should always be this simple, carefree and easy.  They are all such little loves!