cousins

growing up,

i had a cousin that was my age

and my best friend.

i'm so grateful

that my girls have the same

types of relationships with their cousins.

proud

bella and meredith

are both playing basketball this year.

they play through a christian organization call upward.

the league is non-competitive and requires

that kids be evaluated for their skills before the season

so that the teams can be put together evenly according to skill.

it is an awesome program

and i am very impressed with the girls' skill levels and improvement.

they are given uniforms to wear and this year's colors are green...

i love it!

everyone has the same uniform and they're reversible.

at the beginning of each game,

they turn the lights down in the gym,

run a disco light,

and play that "ready to rumble" jock jams song

as they announce each player,

just like in the NBA.

sooooo cute!

it's everything i can do to keep from jumping out of my seat,

running out on court,

grabbing my little girl and

showering her with kisses.

i am so proud of my daughters.

growing up, i never played a sport.

it wasn't that i couldn't, there were lots of opportunities.

but i just didn't have the confidence.

i was so worried about messing up,

not being good enough,

or embarrassing myself.

i'm so glad that my daughters

don't care.

that they have the ability and the confidence

to play.

i have to say that i think i enjoy it

just as much

or more than they.

watching them is amazing,

adorable, and fun.

my baby's out of the crib

we had a couple extra kids for a week or so.  the littles had tons and tons of fun together.  you know the kids that you have over and it's almost no work because they all just play so well together?  no fights that you have to step in and referee.  it's.... nice.

all five of the kids played together, including little margo.  with school out of session and no schedule to worry about, sleep schedules were off the wall.  the kids were never in bed before 10... including little bit.  so what happens to a two year old who doesn't go to bed until after 10?  she sleep until lunchtime!

so with schedules so messed up, it was the perfect time to break down the crib (sniff, sniff) and put up her beautiful big girl bed that was found at an antique store and painted white by daddy.

i bought the bedding months ago through craig's list.  somebody had bought it at pottery barn and changed their minds.

the girls were all very excited.  actually, mere was jealous... she wants an old bed, too!

ignore the binky...please.

so after all the pink and brown and lots of white... is it just the middle of winter "spring fever" i'm feeling, or does the room need some color?

so we painted a dresser.  margo and i.

she was so proud of herself.  she did some drawers and then i gave her the extra special job of painting the back of the dresser.

i have yet to buy the glass knobs that go on the front.  target is out and i haven't made it to home depot. 

so after the dresser, i think i went a little crazy.  i painted a picture frame, mirror frame, decoupaged some letters, added fabric to a loom.  and i'm a little concerned i did too much.

i want the room to be a little funky and fun.

i thought it'd be fun to have the mirror be where margo could see herself. 

regardless, she likes it.  i still need to touch up the walls, change the baseboards and paint the trim.

overall, i like it.  it's a happy room.

and margo's been sleeping like (sniff) a baby in it.  even though, she isn't anymore.

she tells everyone that she's a "big girl now."

vacation

the children have been on holiday break for... a while now.  the days start running into one another... especially with all the snow we have gotten.  i love having them home and just hanging out together.  i also love to see the things they come up with to amuse themselves.

here they are dancing to our new favorite song by taylor swift "the best days"

then lunch was served by the waiter, daddy in the hallway.

he took their orders and quickly "whipped" it all up.

and afterwards, it was time to take every single pillow from around the house and make a path to walk on.  seriously... every... single... pillow. 

they had a blast and i enjoyed watching.

when i say the days run into one another, i mean it.  their bathing schedule is off. like, i can't remember the last time i bathed them.  as i was watching them brush their teeth last night as they got ready for bed, i sniffed the air, looked at mere and she giggled.  "it's me," she said.

 "what's you?"

more giggling... "i haven't changed my pants since sunday."

we all cracked up and then i seriously stopped.  really?  no way. that would be like, a week.

so today (sunday) has been declared "bath" day.