All That Glitters

Is gold...isn't that how it goes?  Either way, Bethany was totally rocking it Saturday night at the JUG winter formal!  She'd had her eye on a sparkly gold number for months.  I know this because she sent her mom and me an email with a link to the dress and casually mentioned how cute it would be for formal.  Hint, hint.  Little did she know, Grandmommy and Pop had it wrapped up underneath their Christmas tree for her.  Talk about a fun surprise!  She's one to look at a piece of clothing and instantly plan an outfit from head to toe.  That's what she did with these really cool heels and necklace that tied it all together...

  

 And an up close because I think she's pretty...

 

Saturday was a soaker, so sadly there were no pictures taken outside.  We had to settle for the corner of the dining room once her date William arrived...

 

Beautiful!!

They had dinner at her friend Madison's house, and then we all convened for lead out.  All that preparation and it's over just like that...
But it was totally worth it!  She told me the next morning that the band party was a snooze fest because it was nothing but Michael Jackson cover songs.  I couldn't tell her that my friends and I would have been all over that.  And thus, you can tell my age.  There was some talk a few weeks ago of her wanting to be social chair.  Now she's moved on because she doesn't want the responsibility, but I couldn't end that conversation without telling her I once lived with the best social chair on the face of the earth.  Fun times, right roommate?

While we were doing it up right for formal, all my sweet friends were showering Tara and Baby Carter with lots of love and girly gifts in Atlanta.  I know it was fabulous, but I sure did miss seeing everyone!

It's always fun to have a packed weekend, but now it's back to the daily grind and all that comes with it.  Like spelling words.  Spelling words might be the death of me yet.  Sometimes Towns is all about schoolwork and sometimes she's not.  Friday afternoon she wasn't, so I had to spice it up a little...

She says I'd win the award for craziest mom. I won't disagree.  Can't remember who said this, but I like it...

"Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius, and it's better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring."

Amen!

Here's to an absolutely ridiculous Monday...

Hot to Trot

The other day Bethany strolled in from school looking like she'd been to game day on the Plains.  Hence the title of this one.  My heart sort of skipped a beat.  She'd left in such a hurry that morning that I didn't see her dressed and ready to go.  She was so stinking cute.  Naturally, I had to break out the camera...

 

 I couldn't get over her cuteness.  However, she could totally get over me and my camera.  Really quick!  That's her "what in the world are you doing" face.  Love her!

That same day blondie soared through a check up at the dentist and afterwards decided she wanted to try to build her own basketball goal.  Don't ask...no idea where that came from.  The good news?  No cavity bugs...ever!  So proud of her.  Especially since brownies, cookies, candy, etc. are her favorite foods.  You name it, she loves it.  And I love her...

I must be in a lovey dovey mood today?!  I think it's the sunshine.  We haven't seen it in a while!

Cate and I hung around Towns' class this morning to see if we could catch a certain bookworm's report on sea horses.  She worked diligently trying to prepare for it last night.  Right down to the numbered note cards, I might add.  I did my part and made her a shirt to go along with her theme...

Look at those sleepy eyes!  When I tried to wake her up this morning she wasn't really going for it.  But when I reminded her that it was book report day those eyes popped open and she was out of the bed in a flash.

J says she's such a nerd.  We're not complaining, though!

She makes me laugh...

I printed out a picture from when we went to the Georgia Aquarium back in September for her to use as a visual.  She read through her facts about sea horses and took questions from the class...

Have I mentioned how much we adore Mrs. Propst?  Let me say it a few more times.

Adore, adore, adore her!

This is the new background on my phone from our girls-only date to Zen Beri...

 

Blurry, yes.  Could they get any sweeter?  Nope!

We've Arrived!

Where have we arrived, you might ask?  To the days of Little Miss Priss wanting to flaunt her own style.

Exhibit A:

Have you ever seen such in your life?  Once Cate saw them at Target, there was no turning back.  She begged.  She pleaded.  She told me she'd never ask for anything again.  She even pinky promised and bit her thumb.  That was Saturday morning.  Everywhere we've been since then that she's asked for something I've reminded her of her of her promise and she's said, "oh yeah, that's right...I do love those shoes."  She wore them Sunday with her stockings and smocked dress.  She's serious about those kicks!  They sort of remind me of a pair I used to have when I was her age so I can't say a thing about it.
Now on to Exhibit B:

This would be the outfit she meticulously chose to go with her bright blue tennis shoes.
I rest my case.
She used to be the one I could count on not to argue about what I lay out for her to wear in the mornings.  Those days are long gone.  And in the grand scheme of things, is it really worth it?  Contraire mon frere.

 One of the reasons Cate wanted those shoes was because she said they'd be good bike riding shoes.  She's all about her bicycle these days.  Rightfully so.  She's practiced so hard.  You know there's some dedication in the mix if she'll get out in the misting rain to ride...

If only you could have seen the spill she took that landed her face down in the mud.  You can sort of see the result of it in this one...

That's one dirty little love!  J and I always say she's the boy we never had...she's about as rough and tumbled as they come.  I asked her if she wanted to go change after she got that muddy.  She said no thanks because she'd probably be wrecking a few more times.  Towns has been really helpful in the process.  She's a great encourager and constantly tells her sister she's doing so good on those two wheels of hers.  Sweet thing...

Love this one...

He's such a good Daddy!  There's nothing I love more than seeing him with his girls.  They adore him.  And he might just be wrapped around a few fingers!

On a different note, last Tuesday was monumental for these two...

Bethany's last time to cheer and Towns' 100th day of school...although I suppose it was Bethany's 100th day of school too now that I think about it.  The difference in the two is that Towns wants the next 80 days of school to creep by whereas for Bethany they can't be over soon enough!  So hard to believe she's almost halfway done with high school.  I say it all the time...someone please hit the pause button!! 

Somebody Call 9-1-1

Yesterday was one of those days.  You know, one of these kinds of days...

The kind where you're desperately trying to get a home cooked meal in everyone despite the crazy Monday night dance schedule and you end up using your daughter's take home folder as a fire starter because you inadvertently turn on the wrong eye of the stove.  Yep.  That kind.  (And apparently today's the kind of day where run on sentences are perfectly acceptable.)  It's a miracle we still have a house standing after that episode.  Goodness.

The good news is that despite melting Towns' folder to pieces, these two are always willing to provide a few laughs right in the middle of the chaos...
Towns was doing her spelling home work (I didn't set that on fire) and had to pick five spelling words from her list of ten to use in sentences.  Being the ever so helpful sister, Bethany gave her a couple of suggestions:
1. My sister Bethany is my favorite.
2. My sister Cate is scary.
That's when Towns did this...

And said, "ohhhh Bethany."  She ended up using the one about Bethany being her favorite.  She did not use the one about Cate being scary.  Instead, she should have used this one:
3. My mother's ability to set things on fire in the kitchen is amazing.
Did I tell you about the time I laid J's brand new motocross pants on the kitchen counter...right over a lit candle?  Better keep that one to myself.  He's yet to let me forget it.  Especially given the fact that they were so hard to find.  One of a kind.  Straight from Australia.  I doubt I'd let me forget that one either.

Speaking of laughs...
The Wii has been a good source of them lately.  The other night the little ones begged J to play Just Dance Kids with them.  Bethany and I stood in the background laughing until we were crying while we got it all on video and camera...
He'll kill me for this.  Oh well...'tis better to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission! I'm pretending I didn't hear him say, "those pictures better not end up on the internet."

Our family has reached a whole new level as of Sunday afternoon.  All five of us are now capable of riding on only two wheels...
Buggy was beyond excited to learn how to ride her bicycle without training wheels!  Actually, this is Towns' old bike, and the only way she can stop is to throw both legs over to one side and hop off.  When we take the training wheels off of her bike she'll be able to put her feet down to stop since it's smaller.  Or better yet, use the brakes.  There's a new concept!  I'm finding out that she's learning new things at an early age.  Turns out having big sisters really lights a fire under you.  She definitely doesn't like to feel left out and wants to be able to do everything they do.  Can't say that I blame her.  If this isn't proof she there's something to the whole concept of adoring your big sister, I don't know what is...
Towns was already asleep the other night when Cate got right up under her and dozed off.
Sweetness!

I'll leave you with my latest obsession...

I stumbled upon it in Target the other night and told my dear husband that I couldn't live without it.  So he happily purchased the Floral Cherrynova shampoo, conditioner and body lotion for me.  It's divine.  Seriously divine.  The cherry on top (no pun intended) is that it's made by Burt's Bees!  Usually I get things like this and love them for the smell or how pretty they are, but don't love them for the way they work.  Proud to report that's not the case here.  It's a win/win!

Bowling & a Half Birthday

With Monday being a day of no school thanks to Martin Luther King, Jr., we made sure to fill it up just right.  We had a long list of things to accomplish.  All fun things, of course!  It started out with Towns the Restauranteur opening Bananas & Candy for business.  Apparently that's the name of her hot spot.  She had two things on the menu: banana smoothies and candy.  Sounds like a winner to me...

 

 We didn't have plain yogurt for her smoothies which was totally unacceptable to such a professional.  Cate agreed to let us use her beloved strawberry squeeze yogurt to improvise and made me pink promise to buy her more before the end of the day.  Given the fact that Towns is really serious when it comes to playing restaurant, there was no way we were having anything for breakfast that wasn't on the menu.  So strawberry banana smoothies and candy it was.

They were pumped about the day ahead.  After a lunch date at their favorite Asian spot, it was time to trade in the sparkly silver ballet flats for the ever-so-stylish bowling shoes.  I forget we even have a bowling alley.  I'm glad I happened to remember Monday because it was great entertainment.  For me and for them!  They bowled, I watched and laughed.  They're pretty funny...

 

They discovered this metal contraption that helped them get their ball going straight down the center...

 

I've never seen such in my life, but it worked!

 

They both got so excited for each other when they bowled strikes.

There were quite a few happy dances performed!

Next on our "to do" list was preparation for something really special...Mrs. Propst's surprise 1/2 birthday celebration!  Since she has a July birthday, we thought it was only fitting that a "birthday in a box" be waiting on her Tuesday morning at school so the kids could celebrate with her...

With the help of other sweet moms in the class, we gathered everything needed for a super fun birthday party.  Including a little Carriage House goodie!

It took four hands to get it there...

 

Two of those hands belonged to a very windblown Cate!

Mrs. Propst had to open a note explaining what was in store before she opened the box...

It was a note that went on and on about how special she is, how much the kids love her, and how they couldn't think of a more fun person to celebrate.  I think it's safe to say that she was surprised when she opened the box and balloons popped out...

Especially since she had no idea it was even her half birthday!

Everyone absolutely could not wait for her to dig in...

She proudly wore her birthday tiara all day and proclaimed herself "queen of the world"...

To say she's loved would be an understatement.

That's one fabulous half birthday girl!

Sister, Sister

There's nothing better than a healthy dose of sisterly love..

Ever since Bethany turned sixteen, naturally we see her a little less than we used to.  And less than we'd like to, for sure.  That comes with the territory and I totally understand.  However, the two little sisters don't really understand.  Whenever she walks in the door they run to her screaming as if they haven't seen each other in years.  It's really sweet.  So anytime she gives them a little extra attention (see above), they're in heaven.
Cate didn't want to miss out on the love fest, though.  She jumped right in the middle of it.  Literally.

You can tell by the look on her face she got the reaction she desired...

And of course, you can tell by the look on Towns' face she was none too thrilled about it being jumped on.

These girls make my world go 'round...goodness, I love them!

Today's a Monday and a Tuesday rolled into one, and my inbox looks like Mt. Everest.
If you don't hear from me for a while, send the search and rescue team...

Wishing and Hoping...

 Wishing and hoping and thinking and praying, planning and dreaming...

Isn't that how the song goes?

(Obviously I'm having a My Best Friend's Wedding moment, here. )

It's official.  I'm craving summer like never before.  Maybe that's because I'm frozen to the core.  And there's snow on my car.  I'm just not a winter person.  I try.  Really, I do.  But it's just not for me.

I would give my right arm (and most likely my left) to be doing this right now...

Oh well...a girl can dream.

And wish.  And hope.

At least it's a long weekend, though.  Hallelujah!