Take a Picture, It Will Last Longer

With Black Friday going on (does anyone remember three Black Fridays ago at Walmart when I got run over with a shopping cart?), I couldn't fight off the urge to stay in my house, close the blinds, and lock the doors. What else to do but a little post T-day cleaning? I whipped out the camera because 1-Literally, shocked to see what my house looks like clean, and 2-Per loved ones' request, here is what the place we call home looks like (just come visit, people!)

The grand tour...

Front door, then on the left is our living room/home teaching room/violin studio, we have yet to decide.


For now it is only home to our Love Sac, which I re-named the Eye Sore (Interested? I will personally deliver it to your home.)
and a few pink strollers.


Then onto the family room, and yes, that is the Mighty Thor hanging over the fireplace.


Kitchen...I hardly recognize it without the oatmeal on the floor.
Look closely you can see L & M playing their secret spy game under the table.




Patio/ L & M's sidewalk chalk art gallery. Also, those of you who know me know we went to great lengths to transport my porch swing in the name of sentimental value. And the picnic table has come in handy for the princess parties we have been hosting lately.

The upstairs.

Love my Liv's room, though having two cribs has come in handy as she's comfortably settled down in the master bedroom. Liv's room gets the least amount of traffic in the house, used only at 3 am when I call this little rocking chair my bed.


Home of the Mother Hens, still arguing over a paint color. Maddie wants shockingly lime green and London, true to form, wants pink. (The compromise? A happy brown?)

So there you have it, a little sneak peak at what we like to call 'The Before.' A little paint and a 20-foot ladder later--we will see what kind of ridiculous projects we have in store. But for now we are enjoying the house, enjoying the neighbors, enjoying the ward. I even put a little Pf sticker on my car. Looks like it's official-we've settled ourselves here in Pflugerville.

Confessions of an Insomniac

I think I need to print a retraction about our little one sleeping at night. Olivia, sweet baby, now wakes up bright eyed and chipper at the unholy hour of 3:30 am. For good. We finally drift off about the same time the family rooster, Madelyn, performs her duties waking up every human within a five-mile radius.
Last night when Ryan walked in the door, I realized we -none of us girls- were even dressed for the day. So, Ryan put on pajamas himself and we piled in the car with after dinner and got our favorite pumpkin pie shakes. Because I just couldn't do it that day. Everyone around here has been really forgiving that their clothes aren't always clean and dinner is barely thrown together. We expected all of this transitioning to three kids.


But someday we will look back and here's what we will remember. How can anything compare to moments like this? And in case you are wondering Liv is into Star Wars like her dad.


And these two are more than willing to entertain their little sister when asked.


Just some of the affection they display.


As you can see, Liv is quite a captive audience.


Here she is with her "Pinky" (get it, pink binky, compliments of London). The twins are pretty diligent about shoving the thing in her mouth when she is crying. Or they turn on the music in her swing the full blast. But mostly without realizing it, they are soothing their sister to sleep with their screaming. I think she is just used to it, which is convenient because I never have to ask them to be quiet. As predicted, it has come in handy to have L & M around to entertain each other. I think we can survive the next few weeks of insomnia. Right now we are shooting for a nice four-hour stretch of sleep. Then maybe I will be more coherent. So in the meantime, here is our update, sleepily barlowing along.

Proud Mommy Moment

Has anyone seen this movie? If not, there is a good reason for that. I never had any interest in it until flipping through the channels yesterday and suddenly both twins yelled "Stop!" And so we stopped. We loved it. Who cares that the plot is predictable and the acting is mediocre at best? The cats, the dogs, the rocking out to Black Eyed Peas music videos, what's not to love? One of my favorite moments ever was, *spoiler alert for those of you who have yet to see this* when Garfield is making his way through the big city in order to save his kidnapped adopted half-brother Odie. Just as the camera pans to a bird's eye view of Garfield narrowly dodging cars, Maddie looks at me and says, baffled, "He is NOT holding anyone's hand!" Like lightning was about to strike our poor feline friend for crossing the street without a buddy. Oh, they have finally listened to something we have said. Forget that really, whose hand would he have held with Odie being kidnapped and all, not to mention even Garfield probably has nine lives, our little Madelyn has successfully put safety first. I could not have been more proud.

Barlows on Parade

Sunday we put all of our babies in strollers and took a walk around the neighborhood...


Even this one.


We sometimes feel like the only family on the whole block with kids, let alone three under four. Oh well.


And here is what you do if your baby gets fussy (Dad gets to carry the stroller).


And we sat on the porch until this one got hungry. I can't believe we are still wearing flip flops in November!

Indian Summer

Here's a little peek at the happenings around here...


Cinderella, Aunt Heather, and Sleeping Beauty enjoyed a night out on the town. My little glamour girls spent the day getting manicures, pedicures, and glitter makeup to complete the ensamble.


Sleeping Beauty found her Prince Charming, who held down the fort with baby Liv while the girls went trick or treating.


The goods. To be raided every time our princesses sleep.


How long does it take to get three kids ready and out the door? All day, but it was worth it to enjoy the afternoon downtown to ride the Zilker train. I am thinking I'm starting to forgive Austin for the nightmare summer it gave me if autumn is going to look like this.


My delightful traveling companion. How did little London get to be so grown up?


And the kids came out of nursery looking, not to mention acting, like ninjas! Love it.


The lesson? Something along the lines of 'I can be honest.'


Baby Liv is two weeks old and still as mesmerizing as the day we met her. It seems we can never get enough of this baby. Some samples of our little post-dinner photo shoot. That dark hair, as you can see we are twins.


Today she tipped the scale at 8 lbs. 14 oz. The girl is so hungry all the time she has eaten me alive, but we can't complain because she lets us sleep at night. A cuddler through and through, she is a cheerful new addition to the Barlow household. Plus she seems to enjoy the color pink. We think we'll keep her. :)