This Week's Randomness

Baby Liv turned four months old and learned how to prop up on her elbows. Four months going on forty-five months, any idea who she could be trying to keep up with?


That's right, Liv has got a front-row seat for all the shenanigans her older sisters are up to, like dumping out all the play food in the name of a tea party. L & M could not have a more captive audience. If they so much as look Liv's way she breaks into a giggle.



We heard a crunching noise and discovered Liv had scooted herself all the way to the twins' 2nd breakfast and was crunching it around with her toes. (Maddie: "I don't want it back now!")


London ends up with this haircut...but we won't get into that.


Cousin Gwen turns three!!
And celebrates with a pirate party. What's a party without a treasure hunt, pirate cupcakes, decorating eye-patches, a gazillion balloons, a pirate pinata, not to mention helping the other kids grind playdough into the carpet. Needless to say, L & M had a blast! After quite an exhausting afternoon of celebration, I thought for sure they would come home and take a nap...


Think again mom, we want to try out our pirate whistles!
(We had EVERY dog within a 5-mile radius barking!)


Oh London, an upside down skull on your eye patch, that is pretty hard core.
The girls ran around outside for at least three hours with their treasure maps. They even had me hide their gold coins so they could use their maps to find buried treasure. Oh Gwen you hit the jackpot with that party.


And I'll leave you with this--eaten cupcakes.
The girls and I spent all morning making baby cupcakes and when I woke up from a nap, come to find out L & M hadn't taken one, but instead made their way to the kitchen to eat the tops off the cupcakes. The funny thing was I didn't even care, I was just so happy they let me sleep!

Brace Yourself

So last night after the kids had a bath I was brushing out their waist-long hair and especially frustrated. I mean, we use tangle-free shampoo, extra conditioner, and then leave-in conditioner and sometimes extra tangle spray on top of that and still get tears. Well, nobody thus far had ever agreed to cut their hair even though I am constantly reminding them if they want their hair this long they are going to put up with the combing. They always come back with something about Sleeping Beauty, Ariel, and Jocelyn having long hair and since it is their life goal to emulate these Princesses, I have no argument.
Until last night, London suddenly agreed to a little trim. Even though it was hours after bedtime I rushed her downstairs with the scissors and got started. All I was trying to do, mark my words ALL I was trying to do was give her a little trim and some of the layers that Maddie made away with at Great Clips while London's stylist clearly did not understand the word 'layers' in English.
I have had my hair cut enough to know that you separate out the hair and cut the bottom part, and then move up to the top. Plus I have been cutting Ryan's hair for 6.5 years, what could go wrong?
Well I got started and tried to throw in a few layers and the next thing I knew hair was flying everywhere and London ended up with a bob. Ok, a longish, layered bob but there were tears. Not her...me! I felt so bad for cutting off all her Sleeping Beauty hair that she has been working an entire lifetime to grow out. However she looked in the mirror and squealed with delight, a shock but we'll take it. Maddie on the other hand observed the whole hair cut and kept saying, "it's not my turn next" oh that Maddie. How lucky to try out a new hairstyle on your twin sister first to see how you would look with it. (I guess she opted out). Anyway now there is NO MISTAKING which twin is which now with this drastic new 'do, I hope you all are happy. Pictures to come soon.
p.s. London woke up this morning worried that her hair had grown! I assured her if it starts growing again I'll take care of it...

Day of Firsts

L & M were markedly distressed by their first trip to the dentist...
So he suggested they sit in the chair together!
(I was dying.)


So here they are, holding hands and the like.
An episode of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse inches from their faces.
Playing footsies.


And when it was time to switch, they did.
What was the big deal again?
Did I mention there was a treasure box at the end?


Little Miss Liv finally slept through the night.
Not that she needed any more beauty sleep.


And today when Baby Liv made some kind of "aaaaaggggggaaaaahhh" noise,
London turned to me and said:

"Liv talked Spanish!"

Oh I guess there is a first time for everything.

Code Red

L & M spent the morning at the Mom Spa which included all things red: a mani/pedi, cinnamon foot lotion, and new dresses.





All my work was immediately counterbalanced by some good ol' daddy daughter wrestling.



I gave my Valentine Ryan some time in the spa & coincidentally the same haircut as Liv (I guess that's why she's wearing a hood), who wanted a front row seat for The Cat in the Hat Comes Back. Her first time matching the twins, not to mention smelling nice, was short-lived.

I got a nap,


Red roses from Prince Charming...


Pink for the Princesses.


Ryan also tried his hand at Angel Food Cake, which when burned can turn into a number of alternatives: Fallen Angel Food Cake, Devil's Food Cake...Satan Cake. Oh we had fun with that one.


Without the burnt parts (about 50%), the cake was rather good. Here Ryan is using his turkey carving skills. Things can get a little crazy around here with all kids in bed and totally conked out by nine? Now there was a Valentine surprise straight from heaven. What did we do with all our time? That's right NBA all-stars and Devil Cake, just you try to beat that.

Princess Promenade

L & M got invited to a Princess birthday party for their cute friend Rylee. Here they are at the Palace with all the other princesses (except Maddie, for some reason she wouldn't let go of my leg). The girls got to choose a beautiful costume and jewlery to wear, though London opted for her own attire.



Next was a seat at the princess vanity to be pampered like a queen with their choice of nail polish and lip gloss.


London was totally in her element.


I think I want to have my next birthday party here...



The girls got princess sparkles dusted on them, and then a fashion show to show off their cute outfits.


Each princess got a little spotlight as they walked down the runway; I learned here that London's favorite food is chicken and favorite animal is a pig!


Next was princess story time. As you can see, Maddie is slowly migrating her way into the party.
And yes, Batman and some other superheroes made an appearance.


They had craft time and got to decorate princess wands, and also a tea party where they learned all about princess manners.



And here are the three sleeping beauties I got after only a short drive home. Being a princess is hard work, but a lot of fun. The girls have been talking about their day at the palace ever since.

A Cookie Kind of Day

In the Barlow household we are pretty strict about sugar consumption. I do not throw out candy like a float in the local parade: in the middle of a hot day -BAM- a surprise from the sky. I do however believe sugar in its purest form can be heaven sent when it becomes the object for which my I have my kids' full attention.
Today London and Madelyn each ate a cheese sandwich and a container of yogurt in less than an hour flat. I mean, slow down children your esophagus can't handle that kind of speed. The girls only paused for 20-minute intervals that included what I could have only imagined were triathlons with stair races, couch jumping, and the final event: hopping on once foot while singing at the same time. Typical lunchtime. But the kicker today was that burned into the girls' memory was the package of rainbow chocolate chip cookies they had chosen at the store the night before.
Maddie finished her last drop of yogurt with one satisfying gulp. As promised, out came the rainbow cookies, and because I was in a particularly good mood, one for each hand. I could tell by the way she savored her treat it was worth enduring any disgustingly healthy lunch. Then, it was London's turn, and just like that my living room was silent for three full minutes.
Until, the sound of Madelyn's entire mouth full of cookies, barely squeaked out my least favorite sound, "MORE?"
I prepared myself to fight to the death, which usually happens when you deny Madelyn, well anything. As expected, there were words. Kicking, screaming, tantrums, and finally, Madelyn's wild card, the ultimate of big guns.

"YOU BROKE MY HEART!!"

"Oh Maddie that is dramatic," I said and went back to my lunch, unswayed, bracing myself for the volcano eruption that would spew hot lava over my feet and my conscience. Tempers that day were predicted to reach boiling point.
But then a little voice came up from behind me, which was quite disturbed by Maddie's attempt at a gut-wrenching guilt trip. Yittle Yondon's sweet voice, "I don't yike it when Maddie's sad."
And then, a couple of minutes later, my London girl came back with a big rainbow-lipped smile.

"I fixed Maddie's heart,"

she said so giddily I had to peek around the corner to see how she could have possibly managed the feat in just one swoop. Sure enough, she had given Maddie her entire cookie, the one I had just barely placed in her right hand. And in the simple act had restored Madelyn's heart, peace of mind, not to mention song and dance skills, to normal. The thunderstorm directly over my kitchen had vanished.
As I looked at my daughter so proud of herself, my heart tripled in size. With the familiarity of a summer parade, that savory, sweet little moment landed in my lap as if from heaven. The feeling that came with it was worth all of the sluggish days in between when my children are not playing so nicely. And just like that, I retracted my imaginary plans that afternoon to run away from home.
London went on with her playing, not giving much thought to how she had single handedly altered the course of hurricane Madelyn. To her it was just a cookie. Maybe it really is just that simple.