Mysteries

1. For two nights in a row Catherine has broken out with a severe case of hives precisely at 9:00 pm. I have gone through everything in my brain and let me assure you -- no new food, no new soap, no new clothes, no new stuffed animals, no new anything-- she is on the bed with the old bedding, one night she took a bath, one night she didn't??? Maybe she is allergic to 9:00. I wish I were then every night I could take 2 benadryl and go to bed at 8:30.

2. I think there is a mouse stuck in the wall behind our bedroom. We had made it almost 10 months without any incidents and now this . . . but it is a weird sounding mouse so maybe it's not -- maybe it is a ghost-- or a rat. . . or a bird???? I don't know. Maybe some benadryl will help me sleep through the sound.

3. Adam's new thing is pushing all his little girl friends. He sees them and gets right over by them to give them a big shove. Why is he doing this?????

Oh well, some things we just may never know.

Madelyn's art

This is my favorite drawing stage. Madelyn just figured out how to draw people. She draws them a lot lately. It is as though she can finally represent the world around her from her point of view.

She drew this picture during church. She leaned over to Trent and I and said (pointing to the upper left hand figure), "This is you, Daddy and (then moving to the upper middle) this is Mommy and (the upper right hand figure) this is me."

And then pointing to the figure in the lower left she said, "And this is an octopus" (and then pointing to the last figure in the lower right) she said "And this is the Holy Ghost!"

Trent and I were laughing so hard. Trent said, "We sure hang out with some interesting characters!"

The Storybook Cottage

The 3 girls went to a birthday party on Saturday at a cute little place called the Storybook Cottage. When they arrived they got to select a fancy party dress, glittery shoes, a crown, a handbag and jewelery galore. Then they waited in line for nails and makeup.

Could she be any cuter?
Catherine --looking as fabulous as any red carpet Oscar nominee!
I just had to show this mistake of a picture, Julianne turned around just as I shot it, but don't you think she could be a hair model? She has the thickest, shiniest, most beautiful brown hair around!!!
Does life get any better than this?
The fashion show : Princess Catherine

Princess Madelyn
And Princess Julianne.
The whole party!
Here are the princesses back in their "real" clothes. With their fancy new head wreaths and wands!!!!

Spring Cleaning : Julianne and Catherine's Room

After working so hard on Madelyn's room cleaning and decorating and touching up and repairing, I have now started on Julianne and Catherine's room. For their room, first, I had to choose a new quilt. I found one I liked on EBAY and ordered 2 of them. A week later 2 quilts arrived -- but one quilt was the one I ordered and one quilt was similar but different. We are anxiously awaiting the 2nd quilt, which should be on its way. I love EBAY, but I hate it too. Once we knew which quilt we were going to use, the kids and I headed to Hobby Lobby to find matching paper to do Julianne and Catherine's names. (side note -- my new advice to parents -- choose short names)
The girls had a half day of school on Friday and my Mom came over and we worked as quite the team tracing, cutting, glueing, sanding, and modge podging.

Here are the letters on the new bedding. I promise I will take and post more pictures once the other quilt arrives. Waiting to go on the wall.

The final product, hanging on their walls. I still have a lot more work in their room still to do. I plan to post a list and update soon and my plan is to be done in a week. I'll let you know!

Sisterly Lovin'

I just don't think a sister could love a brother more than Madelyn loves Adam. She adores him. She wants to hold him and cuddle him and carry him. She wants to prepare his food and feed it to him. She wants to control what he plays with. She is always trying to keep him safe.

On the other hand. . .

I just don't think a brother could get more annoyed by a sister than Adam does with Madelyn. He runs away from her. He screams when she touches his toys. He won't let her near his food.

But . . . every once in a while he appeases her for just a tiny moment in time. He doesn't completely enjoy it, but he tolerates it. Here is one of those moments I was able to catch. He let Madelyn hold him for about 5 minutes while she was watching her favorite TV show, Max & Ruby. It made her day.

Madelyn loves Max & Ruby. The relationship between the 2 bunnies is the same relationship between Madelyn & Adam. It's no wonder why it is her favorite show.

FYI

The trend didn't hold. At 3:30 am, Julianne came in our room coughing. I put vap-o rub on her feet and then socks. She climbed into our bed and I suggested that Trent go sleep in the guest room so her coughing did not keep him up. He has been working long hours and was very tired. At 4:20 am, Madelyn came in our room and climbed into bed between Julianne and I. At least by now, the vap-o rub had been working for a while and Julianne had not been coughing and was fast asleep. At 5:30 am, Adam awoke. Trent went and got him and took him into the guest room and after some persuasion got him back to sleep for another hour. At 6:30, Adam and Catherine got up for the day.

It's a miracle

My Children have slept through the night 2 nights in a row. I can't believe it. Trent can't believe it! It is awesome. I have had the best 2 nights of sleep ever. I can't remember the last time this happened!!!!!!!

Oh, and we're having Cookies N' Cream Icecream for breakfast to celebrate!!!!!!