'Punzel

The last few weeks have been full of princess. While the spunk is still intact, the princess in Cassidy has made itself very apparent. She has adopted Lucy's Rapunzel dress and has warn it over her clothes every day for the last 14 days straight, at least. She even rocked the 'Punzel dress in Menard's and proceeded to whimsically twirl as a princess does with her arms and hands gracefully floating up and down at her sides as we made our way down the aisle (much to the amusement of the gruff contractors we passed). She corrects me if I accidentally call her Cassidy (because her name is PUNZEL) and she refers to me as 'Mutha knows best'. Her pet Pascal is never far behind and she usually can be found toting her baby 'Punzel doll as well. I love this little girl sooo sooo much and can't wait to see what her imagination comes up with next.

freshly clean

I just love how squeeky clean Cassidy looks... the drips of water running off of her nose and eyelashes.

first shots

Today was day one of what is going to be a very long (and fun!) learning process. I am so glad Andy decided to let me practice with my birthday/Christmas present a little early so I can at least have the basics figured out before baby arrives. Cassidy was my subject today since it was just her and I, and I'll have to tell you she did not want to look at the camera. Here are a few of the shots I liked the best.

dirty habit

Cassidy has been a thumb sucker since day one. I used to think it was soooooooo cute (and honestly still do sometimes). However because her father is a dentist, and has 9 year olds come in who sucked their thumbs and now look like Bucky Beaver, and because we are starting to see signs of our own little Bucky, this habit must come to an end. We have tried duct tape. The sneak can rip of any style of tape job you can create. Vinegar: 'Mmmmm tasty!' (what!?) Icy Hot: Only limited success; wore off too quickly to make any difference. Trying to educate her on why she has had Hand Foot Mouth disease 2 times in the past few months (in simplified terms)- too young to understand or correlate. Telling her she'll get buck teeth: once again too young to understand- just simply repeats it back to you when you tell her to stop sucking ('why? Cause I'll get bucky's?) Hot Sauce: worked for a bit but the child got wise and simply goes to wash her finger off once it is applied. Enter story: 'Kick the Habit' bitter nail polish. You'd a thought I was poisoning her with Draino the way she reacted to the bitter taste. Spittering, sputtering, gagging, licking her arm, licking towels, drooling, crying, repeating "this tastes yucky"over and over and over... then finally tiring of the act (because over half was an act) until she tried to sucky again. I will say I think this stuff finally has potential. I plan to apply it each night when she is asleep- because there is no way in h-e- double hockey sticks- she is going to let me do it willingly. But I am not going to hold my breath. We have been foiled one too many times.

She could be the poster child for this stuff, don't you think?

Update 9/22- it has been 48 hours since the initial application and I have not had to tell her to stop sucking one time! But I tasted the stuff, and let me tell you it is bitter... and it lingers for a few seconds. The first night she woke 3 or 4 times crying because she wanted to suck to fall back asleep or soothe but couldn't. Last night she slept through the night. I haven't even seen her put her thumb to her mouth in the last 24 hours. She twirls her hair a lot more and seems more attached to her black blankee when it is time to rest. I'll take it!

sassy with a "C"

The posts that parents publish typically brag about a positive accomplishment of one of their children, or something they are proud of. This post is a bit different. I am posting this little blurb for a certain young lady who may someday look back at this and laugh when her own daughter adds a little sass to her day.

I have to say that we have been pretty lucky with our children's behavior while they are away. Even a certain young man who likes to challenge his parents daily has never had an issue with behavior when he is at school or with a babysitter. Enter child #3. Perhaps it is irony that if you switch one letter from a 'C' to a 'S' you can easily spell the word SASS. I was handed a screaming child halfway into Sunday school today. 'She must be hurt' I hoped, remembering how her nursery teacher told me she was having a hard time in class with sharing toys. Not the case. Again. It seems that since another child has entered her class, one who has similar ideas as Cassidy and has decided to challenge some of the dominance she had once had a monopoly on in this class, Cass has decided to throw an occasional tantrum, and swing an occasional arm when she is upset. I'll be honest I am a little thrown for a loop, that a child of mine would have the gall to do this. *enter sarcasm* I mean, my kids are supposed to be perfect aren't they?! Ha! Yeah right! (Looks as if my luck has warn off:)) Sassidy is in full force. What a sweetie she can be... but challenge her when she feels she is in control (and for now if you are her size) and she is going to exercise her agency. Boy, I can't wait til she is 16. All I can say is that we are doing our best to nip. this. in. the. bud.

Pai nolish

My two year old has a thing for 'pai nolish'... known to the rest of us as nail polish. Earlier this spring, I painted her toes for the first time. (Up to this point she did not sit still enough for me to do it and I was afraid in an impulsive moment she'd run off and drag her wet nails on the carpet.) She has since proven herself and is absolutely in love with polish. If there is a chip, she insists (until it is fixed) that I touch it up.

I can't resist cherry toes in fancy sandals!

Lucy has taken to funky colors lately. Her choice this time: shimmery royal blue. And a friend introduced me to this shatter polish that goes over another color. I love it because that means I don't have to be as particular about how the base color looks--which by the way is getting harder to do with this belly getting in the way.

Not what I envisioned...

At about 11:45 last night a very hot little girl tip toed into my room and snuck into bed with me. I awoke about a half an hour later, realized how really hot she was, took a quick temp and gave her some Tylenol, then whisked her back to her own bed. (this growing belly makes it hard enough to get comfy, minus another whole 2 year old). I slunk back into my bed, positioned my body pillow and about 20 minutes later awoke to the same 2 year old heaving right next to my bed (the most puked on spot in the whole house. Lucky me!). I practically throw her into my bathroom, managing to get about 80% of the red damage (fruit punch for dinner!) either in the toilet or on the hard floor vs. cream carpet. We did what we usually do when one of the kids is sick and created a little bed of blankets at the bottom of our bed, about 2 feet from the bathroom and then strategically place towels in case this escapade occurs again. Luckily it has not, but the fever is still there, and she is a little lethargic. Anyone in my family knows from this picture, the puke bowl is in formation in case it is needed. I just hate how little kids can't tell you when they have to puke- they just usually do it. All over you. I am hoping we are past that part- she did have some breakfast that has been down for a little over an hour now. I just didn't envision our first day of waking up to 72 degree weather to be spent laying around. Yes. Rhinelander. 72 degrees. Oh well. I guess it forces me to take it easy (which I usually have a hard time doing!).

'Hey Cass, smile!'

With this bunch you never know what you get when you say 'smile'...

First attempt: perfect depiction of of what I like to call "Lindner lips". Plump, kissable and in Cassidy's case, evident from birth.

Second attempt: Pure sassiness.

Third attempt: I guess she subscribes to the train of thought '3 strikes and your out', and decided to cooperate.

the dirt and crumbs are my favorite part

Hodag Park

The girls and I took advantage of the 60 degree weather yesterday and took a picnic to Hodag Park. We had never played there before and were happily surprised at how quiet it was. They just loved the mini teeter-tooter, and took turns playing 'bus driver', dropping each other off at home after school. I was happy to see how well Cassidy is able to get around and climb on the equipment this year, and that she was willing to try up to the medium sized slides. Our goal is to conquer the big slides by the end of the summer. I don't think we'll have any problem.

Foot Five: The new game Lucy and I came up with while swinging. As she is swinging back and forth, I hold out my hand and she has to try to give me '5' with her foot. We both actually got quite a kick out of the game.... no pun intended.

Hodag park is on the shores of beautiful Boom Lake.

We spent a while looking at the water and watching the boats, and Lucy had to stick her toes in the cooooold water only to confirm that we may need to wait a bit before thinking about swimming.

Little D's Drawers

I don't know why, but I get such a kick out of these little padded panties! Little D is doing such a great job keeping dry and has been sporting these little drawers all day now. Every time I see her and her little chicken legs and knock knees paired with these undies I just have to chuckle to myself. :)

the damage

Bribed with a Reese's peanut butter egg, Cassidy was more than happy to let me take some pictures of her new hair do. I just have to keep telling myself that it could have been so much worse. She could have cut the sides or the back. She could have cut her own hair. (Moments after I finished the post last night, it dawned on me that I never checked Lucy's head to see if she had decided to re-do her own hair. I flew up the stairs and found that luckily she liked the haircut she got.)

Early this morning Lucy woke up and wormed her way into my bed as she usually does. I gave her her usual kiss, then asked if she had a good night. She smiled all sweetly at me. Then I asked her if she knew what happened to Cassidy's hair. She looked at me- blank stare then put her arm over her eyes. I asked her if she cut it. No answer. I tried to pry her arms off her eyes and she would not let me. I told her I was not mad and finally she looked me in the eye. At this point I knew she was not going to fess up, so I took a different angle and asked her why she cut Cassidy's hair. Her response, "I wanted us to be twins, Mom."

So that's the story. She simply wanted them to be twins. She adores that little sister and wants her to be just like her. My heart melted despite the horrifying bangs she created, and I simply told her she was NEVER to cut anyone's hair ever again.

She has received this reminder about 5 times throughout the morning, and probably will hear it a few more times.

As you can see below, if she keeps the bangs pushed to the side, they don't look as bad. We are just going to make it a habit of keeping it brushed to the side.

stylist

Let me set the scene. Thursday Night. Our house. Approximately 9pm. The kids are in bed. I am relaxing on the couch with Andy watching the boob tube. It is about 2 hours after I put the kids to bed, and all is good, when I hear bang bang bang then a pause then bang bang bang "Maaaaaaa maaaaa!" I get upstairs and Cassidy tells me she has to go tinkles. So we go do the duty and I am bringing her back to the room- then I look at her a little closer. Her forehead looks different. Bigger or something. I go to set her down in bed and give her a kiss ... then I see them. The bangs. The 1" long bangs. The 3" above the eyebrow bangs. They are thin, not like an obvious bush, but there are short bangs. Bangs that never used to be there. Bangs that will someday be cute 'push to the side' bangs but that are crazy short bangs right now! BANGS! So calmly, I ask 'did you cut your hair?' (don't know how I was so calm...) she replies, "No Lucy did." Lucy at this point and probably for some time, is fast asleep so I can't ask her about it. I asked Cass where the scissors are and she directs me right to them under Lucy's bed in her basket of Lucy things that mama doesn't usually see because it is under the bed. I search the room for the pile of hair. No where to be found. Yet. I know it could be worse. (It could be a boyish 'do like mine, and then I'd be looking up baby wigs online so people didn't think she was a boy.) I mean, it is only bangs. And pretty straight bangs too. And luckily Cassidy's hair naturally goes to the side pretty well. So we will make all efforts to keep them pushed to the side versus down. (to avoid the optical illusion that her forehead is 7" long). A word to the wise. If you choose to take your daughter to the salon to get her hair cut, make sure she realizes she is not a licensed stylist following the visit. Because evidently this is what Lucy thinks. Pictures to follow tomorrow. Once I stop shaking.

home again

It is snowing again. And we are home again. This is Cassidy on the couch yesterday. She is fighting the same thing Lucy has. Started with a fever and has progressed into a cough and lots 'o boogers. So I am once again taking the day off from Zumba to let these little ones heal. Wouldn't be as bad if we didn't wake up to 2 inches of snow, with crazy flakes flying down again.

And what is this you ask? It is not a ceremonial cleaning of the new truck. Andy says this is why you shouldn't own an expensive vehicle when you have kids. Because they PUKE all over. Jack decorated the back seat this weekend. The truck has since made its way to be professionally steam cleaned... and is smelling much better now.

I hope they have gotten all the sicknesses out of their systems now!

Heat Wave

Yesterday Rhinelander hit 60 degrees! I could hardly believe it- it was sunny and warm. We opened windows, cleaned the car out, and frolicked around coat-free. The girls spent most of the afternoon running up and down the driveway, having snowball fights, and jumping and splashing in the puddles. The taste of spring was such a nice change:)

Sketti-ooooo's

Doesn't this picture just make you want some?

Even though it is such a mess to clean up, I love faces that are full of food. I will miss faces like this when they grow up! :( (so I am not going to let them!!)

Bouffant

Every morning my cheerful little lass comes and snuggles me in bed at about 5:30am. In the hour or so that we spend snuggling, Cassie does about 6 back flips, a few snow angels and rolls over a half dozen times. She is not a sound sleeper. You might remember that she and Lucy choose to share a twin bed together. Cassie is on the inside next to the wall so she doesn't fall off- because believe me, she would. I hear her kick or head-butt the wall at least 3 times a night.

So, what does all of this exercise result in?

A bouffant.

This morning's bouffant measured 4.5" horizontally off the back of her head.

Amazingly she allows me to brush it out with a little help from some detangler each morning, fairly patiently. I guess that is the saving grace for her longer locks. I am just not ready to cut it off because she looks so cute in piggies!

You'd think I'd learn

I have this habit of finishing my lunch before the girls, then sneaking out to the computer to check Facebook. I usually sit there and waste time until a little voice in my head says "you better go check on Cass". 9 times out of 10 I find some kind of mess (Remember the oreo incident?)or her standing on the table. Today's stunt was a bit grander than usual.

That was a cupcake.

Can you guess what this look was in response to?

"Cassie, smile!"

I guess I perpetuate it myself... half of the fun is finding my spunky girl in the act of something sassy.

Cassie's snow day

Cass and I had a little fun in the snow a few days ago. She is at such a fun age. Her personality has just blossomed - she is a whirlwind of energy. She is every bit as loving as Lucy- and best friends with her as well. It makes my heart sing to see them spending special moments together. And as sassy and full of life as Jack. I can already see them scheming together. She brings such joy to my day- from the first moments the alarm clock goes off and she 'dances' in bed next to me (she wakes up way too early and thus climbs in until I am ready to get up)- to the silly sentences she creates (whether they are created of all real words or not)- to the shakin' of her booty at super sonic speeds-to her expressive faces or how she gets 1/2" from my face, holding the sides of my head to whisper when she really wants something, this little girl is the life of the party. I am so glad this little girl is ours.

Cassie Lou Who

Do you see a resemblance??

Sleeping Beauties

Every night I find my girls snuggled together. This is them tonight.