- What Is A Sister? -

This isn't a poem I wrote, but I saw it somewhere and I feel it soooo hard when I watch my beautiful babies interact!  I don't have a sister of my own, so raising daughters who are sisters really gives me ALL THE FEELS!!!

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What is a sister?

An ally, defender, a gentle arm bender...

An honest debater, a story-relater...

A planner, a lender, the perfect gift sender. 

A winer, a diner, an outfit designer...

A meeter, a greeter, a chocolate eater...

A debater, relater, a smile re-instater.

A secret provider, an on-your-sider...
A diva, a bopper, a tireless shopper...
A snorter, a sniggerer,  an infectious giggler.

A hugger and squeezer, playmate and teaser...
A texter, a writer, a party inviter...
A good-for-a moaner, a helper and phoner.

A carer, comparer, a problem-sharer...
A gossipy chatterer, forgiver and flatterer...
A handbag borrower, a ring-tomorrower.

A date fixer-upper and time for a cuppa...
A listening ear, a loyal volunteer...
A birthday surpriser and cherished adviser.

A laugher, a kidder, anxiety ridder...
A won't-let-it-rester and know you bester...

...THAT'S WHAT MAKES A SISTER!

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Zomgggg, over the moon that these two sisters will forever have each other!  I love their love and am so happy knowing the very best is still yet to come!!!  :)))

- Princess Day -

Immediately following our 2.5-week long recovery from some form of a mini-flu-plague, we loaded up the car and put the pedal to the metal straight to Princess Day at the salon!  A Stamp Out Cancer event in honor of a local family that we adore, the fundraiser was most definitely a hit for TONS of little girls!  The princesses got to decorate [and eat] crown cookies before having their hair fixed...

...nails painted...

...make-up applied... 

...and photo taken with the "real queen!"

Thanks, Fiona, for joining us! And thanks, Grammy Resa, for proposing this and buying the tickets!  The nail polish chipped and the make-up washed off, but Scarlett has demanded piggy tail braids every day since and both girls have put on their crowns and played dress-up together many a times!

*heart-eye emojis forever* :D

- Feb-ewe-AIR-eee! -

It always seems like life is so chaotic and busy through the holidays...

...and then January drags on and on and on and ON...

...but allthesudden it's hello/goodbye February like whoa, a full 4 weeks here and gone in a flash!!!

Feb-ewe-AIR-eeeeeeeee.....#whatamonth!

I just mentally recounted that, in only 29 jam-packed days, we celebrated:

-- the Super Bowl...

-- Pre-K Grandparent's Day...

-- Grandma Penny's birthday...

-- Valentine's Day...

...[complete with Harper's Pre-K party, Scarlett's daycare party, and then hand-delivering our homemade valentines to a few beloved friends and neighbors!]...

-- Fat Tuesday [God bless Dana -- the best neighbor ever -- for showing up on the doorstep with cupcakes from The Cup!]... 

-- and Ash Wednesday! 

^^ I must admit, I was really hoping for the iPriest this year; but somehow, I always end up with a combo of The Blob + Rorschach.  We went to the all-school Mass with Harper's class, and I loved watching her behave so well while sitting next to all of her adorable classmates in the first few pews! 

ALSO last month, Scarlett fully potty trained herself AND learned how to paint her own toenails...

...and I got to photograph a good friend's labor/delivery which was so beautiful and perfect!  ALL THE FEELS IN FEBRUARY!

February 10 was the official 2-month mark of living in the new house, and -- call me crazy, but -- looking at bare walls and countertops has turned me a little crazy in 2020 and I made a very valiant effort to get the ball rolling with decorations.  After many trips back and forth between Hobby Lobby, At Home, Home Goods, and Michaels, the house is finally starting to shape up!  Wall decor and rugs and curtains...OH MY!

We ordered blinds [cheers for some privacy!]...

...Brian started on crown molding...

...and I gave Harper AND Scarlett's room a revamp [lolz, more to come on this...]!

February also entertained with the preschool's family paint night which was a total hit!

Unfortunately, the three girls of the house spent the last week of the month [and the first week of March, too, but who's counting...] down with some variety of 'da flu...

 Harper bit the dust first, soon to be followed by Mommy and Scarlett...

...but LOTS of family naps, several movies, and a few popsicles by the fire helped us through! ;) :)

Brian was the sole survivor when the 2.5 week semi-self-quarantine lifted, and I think it's safe to say the rest of us are finally on the upswing as each day we're more and more energized and feeling back to our old selves!

Over the weekend, the calendar flipped to MARCH!  This month we're looking forward to Harper's birthday [and my birthday, too!], the Bachelor finale [!!!], and the Dogtown St. Patrick's Day celebration!  Not sure how the busyness can top February, but March is going to be a really exciting month and I can't wait! :)))

Until next time...!

- Grandma's Birthday -

Many of my very favorite childhood memories involved spending time with Grandma Penny.  We grew up about 5 minutes down the road from her and Grandpa's house, and she would invite us over for sleepovers on the regular.  After letting us stay up late to watch TV [usually movies that she had recorded for us] and then letting us sleep in bed nuzzled between her and Grandpa, she'd sneak out of bed early the next morning and leave a wall of pillows on her side of the bed just in case we might roll out.  When we finally woke up, we'd always find her in the kitchen baking strawberry muffins and cherry turnovers!  I can still smell the wafting turnovers; it's funny how certain memories are so vivid!

I have so many other fond memories with her through the years, but the thing I adore the most is that the 3 GREAT grandkids are growing up knowing and cherishing her, too!  We had a little cake and ice cream bash at our house to celebrate her special day...

...and even though it was my first stab at German chocolate cake/scratch icing [LOL, I know, finally growing into my housewife shoes], it turned out pretty tasty and no one seemed to complain! ;) :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Grandma!  How lucky we are to be loved by you! 

- HBD, Grammy! -

Happy [very belated!] birthday to youuuuu, Grammy Resa!  Even though Scarlett thought the cake/singing/celebration was for her [cheers to January birthdays!] and Harper assured you 3 times before we lit the candles that "we didn't get you trick candles!!!", it was still a birthday for the books! 

Here's to another trip around the sun and your best year yet! :)

- Grandparent's Day -

A day full of celebrating with our beloved grammies and papas?! YES, please!  Harper's preschool had their Grandparent's Day celebration a couple weeks ago, and I'm in love with the photo updates I received throughout the day. 

Thanks, all, for making the trek down and being with Harper on this special day!  She was so proud to show you her classroom and also "show you off" to her teachers and friends!  :)

- Out of the mouth of babes: VOL X -

Throwback Tuesday...is that even a thing?  ...Today it is!  

Just found these gems on a note on my phone, and they're too sweet not to share!  Rewind to summer 2019!

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[Over the summer] while looking at her Tupperware container full of lightening bugs after I accidentally closed the lid over one's head:
"Awwwwwww, that's sad, one of the bugs broke his ears off!"


As Scarlett was holding a lightening bug:
"Scarlett!  You need 'da go outside and let him go so he can fly and doesn't get scared!"

While examining a different lightening bug that she had trapped inside a Ziploc bag for a few days:
Harper:  "I think he stopped lighting up because he's scared..."
Me:  "Hunny, I think he's dead."
Harper:  "No, Mommy, he's just scared. But he said he wants to sleep with me so when I'm scared in the middle of the night in the dark he can light up for me."


Later on, in reference to same said [dead] lightening bug:
"Daddy, I think the lightening but is hungry and we need to put some food in his bag!"

While driving to school:
Me:  "Mannnn, I'm really tired. I need some coffee today!"
Harper:  "Yes, 'else you will be crabby!"
Me:  "Yes....."
Harper:  "Sometimes when I don't drink hot chocolate in the mornings, I get crabby.  Sometimes.  But not that much."


While drawing a very intricate family portrait:
"Does Scarlett have eyebrows yet?"

As Brian was laying hardwood floor at our new house:
Me:  "Let's go, we have to buy Daddy some knee pads and bring them back to the house." 
Harper:  "So if Daddy falls down he won't hurt his knees?"


Randomly:
Harper:  "Mommy, when I was in your tummy did I kick you every day?"
Me:  "Yes, EVERY day!"
Harper:  "Do you know why I did that?  It was because I was hungry and I wanted you to feed me!"
Me:  "Oh, I fed you alright..."
Harper:  "Yeah, and I was always hungry and you had to eat all the healthy food so my brain grew big!"

After letting a grasshopper out of her bug box so he could live outside:
"Well Scar, now we sadly don't have a bug!" 


While rubbing my [stubbly] legs:
"Hairs are growing in you!  Need 'da shave so they're smooth, Mom.  See, feel my legs, they're soft and smooth!"

While pulling in the driveway at Garett's:
Me:  "Actually, let's park on the street tonight so Daddy can have the driveway when he gets home really late."
Harper:  "Yep, that would be a better choice, Mom!"


Randomly:
"Mommy, I was thinking that moles aren't really cute because they're just all brown.  But that's just how God made everyone!  And in the world, we have lots of people because that's the way God made us all different!"

While driving in the car:
Harper:  "Ew! A booger!"
Me:  "Gross! Did you wipe it in the Kleenex you have back there?"
Harper:  "No, I already 'frowed it on your car seat because that seat is already dirty with mud and stuff.  Your car is so junky, Mom... You need 'da clean it!" 


When caught in a daze:
Me:  "You're looking tired..."
Harper:  "No, my eyes were just stuck on something."


Randomly:
"When I grow up, I will marry my boyfriend!"