Older and Wiser?

This morning I was helping Leila get ready and put some barrettes in her hair.  She said, "Mom, they're not in their perfect places, let me do it."  I am happy that she is being more independent and brushing her own hair and teeth, she is getting so grown up!

Although the logic isn't always there.  The other night she and Stella made a nest of pillows in the living room and yelled to me in the bathroom where I was finishing up Henry's bath.

L: Mom, come see - Leila is sleeping!

S: So is Stella!

Me: I will be there in a minute.

(when I get there, Stella is standing up, forgetting that she is supposed to pretend to be asleep, so she quickly lays down and closes her eyes)

L: Leila already fell asleep, she is too tired to clean up.

S: We should sleep here tonight.

Here is Henry playing with the hair dryer.  Soon after this picture was taken, it was close to going into the toilet, along with a lot of other things that have made narrow escapes lately.  I have to watch this boy closely!

Too Windy

 Sometimes it looks nicer outside than it is.

 I was watching our kids plus Norah and Greta on Thursday and it took about 10 minutes to get everyone's shoes and coats on and get the stroller set for Greta.

 And then no one wanted to play outside because it was too windy.  So after 10 minutes I gave up. :) 

 Henry is being forced to give up his bottle.  He fought a good fight and fell asleep at lunch.

 The girls pretended to fall asleep too.

 They are pretty convincing, right?

 He is getting better, but still fighting the sippy cup revolution. 

 Leila is doing a cooking show demonstration with her snack. (Add some kindness, a little salt, stir in the mushrooms...)  She does one almost every day, she LOVES watching cooking shows!

Stella is too...she is talking about how her crackers are moist. They probably are because she had them in her mouth, but that is one phrase Leila picked up from a cooking show and likes to use when she is doing a demonstration.

Henry's Belated Party

 Henry still LOVES the vacuum.  He also wants to help!

 We finally got around to celebrating Henry's birthday with my side, it took me a while to figure out presents since we had just done Christmas before his birthday.  I am glad we waited a bit, because he is much more able to enjoy them now that he is a little older.

 His sisters are enjoying them too.

 I feel like this is a look I get a lot from Stella too.

 It is fun to dump out all of the hair stuff at least once a week.

 Stella was doing her hair and makeup this morning and wanted her picture taken.

I finally figured out why Leila refuses to wear jeans.
L: Mom, you're wearing jeans.
A: Yep.
L: Princesses NEVER wear jeans.
A: What do they wear?
L: Dresses, dresses, dresses, dresses, dresses.