"Beauty Parlor"

Ryan's gonna kill me for this, but I couldn't help posting these pictures. Last weekend the girls wanted to play "beauty parlor," so they set up their little shop on the craft table...

computer for check ins - check
clock for... hmm not sure - check
hair brush and comb - check
hair clips - check
hair detangler - check
decorative grass - check
hand-held mirror - check
mom's nail essentials bag - check

Once they were all set up in their new "beauty parlor," they needed customers. I have no idea where I was at the time - probably doing laundry upstairs - but I walked in the room to find this...

 If that doesn't win Ryan the "Best Dad of the Year Award," I don't know what will. The poor guy is getting his nails painted by Ella and his hair done by Brooklyn. All I can say is, "lookin good hot stuff! I think hot pink is your color!" See what having three girls can do to a man? =-)

And, while we're on the topic of embarrassing moments, I'll tell one more funny story about Ryan (which only emphasizes the fact that he's earned the "Best Dad of the Year" award). A few years ago we put our house up for sale. One day we had some potential buyers stop by unannounced. As they were walking around the outside of our house, they passed the playroom windows (as pictured above), which sit about six feet above ground level. So, when they looked in the windows from outside, all they could see was Ryan, who happened to be wearing a hot pink feather boa around his neck, dancing around the playroom to some girly princess song. What they couldn't see was Ella and Brooklyn all dressed up in their feather boas, fairy wings, tons of jewelry, and princess shoes dancing around with him. It was hilarious! Okay, now he's really going to kill me. Ahhh, such good times.

One snowy day

That's all we've had so far this winter... one snowy day. So, of course we had to take advantage of it. As much as I hate the cold and snow, I took the girls over to the golf course behind our house to go sledding. They got these sleds for Christmas, but unfortunately they didn't work so well on the dry snow. One has already popped. We still had fun though until Brooklyn started complaining that she was frozen.

Hearing Brooklyn whine about the cold brought back some serious memories of me sitting in the Sunrise Ski Resort lodge drinking hot chocolate because I was frozen solid (there may have been some whining about it, too, but I'm not saying one way or the other.) I'm sure my dad wasn't thrilled about spending $50 on my ski pass and another $7 on hot chocolate while I sat by the fire in the ski lodge at the bottom of the hill most of the day, but he never said a word. In fact, he'd make sure I was nice and comfortable by the fire and then he'd shake up a few packets of "boot warmers" to get them going before sticking them in my boots (hoping, I'm sure, that I'd eventually get back out on the slopes). He'd head out for a run or two and then stop in to check on me. Sorry about that dad.

 Do you ever wonder if your kids are really sweating to death under all of those clothes? I'm guessing, since she's got a little of my blood in her, that she's still freezing cold no matter how many layers I put on her.

 Since it was an uphill walk to the golf course, Ella and I pulled Kendall on the sled. Then, of course, Brooklyn wanted a ride, too, which didn't work at all.

Out you go Miss B., I can't pull you both!

Chores, round two

New year, new goals, right? The girls decided they wanted to start doing chores... again. So I pulled out their cute little chore charts that I made them last year, re-assembled them (because, of course, they were played with rather than used for their intended purpose), and put them back into circulation. How have they been doing? They didn't even last a week. Round three? How do you keep your kids motivated to do chores?

 Ella and I made this cute castle (not loving the hamster sticker though), stuck it on a box and then made the following chores...

 We taped them on popsicle sticks and then put these princesses on the other end...

 Every day, when she completes the chore, she flips the the stick so the princess is facing up and is happily enjoying her castle. At night, she flips them back so the pictures of the chores are on top. 

 Ya, she looks excited about doing the chores in this picture, but like I said, she did them for a week and hasn't done them since.

 Brooklyn's are the same as Ella's, except hers are frogs instead of princesses. I don't think Brooklyn has done one chore yet.

Gingerbread Houses?

I have a question mark by gingerbread houses because I want to know if anyone's gingerbread house has ever really worked? And by worked I mean actually stood up without falling down at least once? Why are they so hard to make? Why do the sides always fall down no matter how much or how little frosting you slather on them to make them stick? Why don't they ever look like the ones on the box?

Who cares, right? The kids still love putting them together and decorating them, which is what it's all about, anyway, right? Well, just so you know, next year I'm getting out my hot glue gun, glueing them together and then letting the kids go to town on them. Good idea, huh?!

Hanging out Asay style

On Friday, the family drove up to see our Asay relatives in New Jersey. Every time we go we eat and eat and eat the yummiest stuff. This time it was some chili, cream cheese, salsa bean dip concoction. Very dangerous, but very delicious!

We all had so much fun hanging out with them for the day. The girls jumped on the trampoline, went hiking and hunting for treasures, and played games. I made myself comfortable by the fire nearly the whole time we were there and would have just spent the night right there, too, if the girls weren't getting tired for bed. Next time I'll bring my sleeping bag!

 Aunt Shelley and cousin Connor. Ya! I finally got a picture of Shelley, but somehow missed getting one of Layne again.

 Heading off on a treasure hunt.

Ashlee and Kendall had matching coats. I didn't get a picture of Greg either?

Bring it on!

Yep, I'm ready for 2012, so bring it on.

Last night we celebrated the start of a new year by hanging out with our great friends at the local bowling alley. The kids had a blast bowling, eating pizza, making lots of noise with their party favors, and being silly with their friends. At 6:30 pm (yes, 6:30 pm), the bowling alley counted down the new year, dropped the balloons, and served sparkling apple cider in plastic wine glasses. It was awesome!! We were out of there by 7 pm, the kids were in bed by 8 pm, and Ryan and I were out cold by 10:30 pm. Ya, we're wild and crazy like that! One day we'll take the kids into New York City and celebrate until 3:00 am with the rest of the world - when they're like 20 years old - but for now, we'll enjoy the extra sleep!

Happy New Year everyone!

Ally, Lyssie, Brooklyn, Ella, Kendall, Ryan and Michael.

Christmas 2011

This is what Christmas looked like for us! Hope yours was just as wonderful. Merry Christmas!

 Kendall could have cared less about opening gifts... all she wanted was the food in everyone's Christmas stockings. She went from Cheez-it's to Animal Crackers, M&M's to fruit snacks, and then back to the Cheez-it's. And that was just breakfast!

 Kendall LOVES this Laugh and Learn talking, singing, dancing dog (that, as you can see, Brooklyn so kindly opened for her). She's been rocking out with it all day long.

 The girls were thrilled with the new play-doh items they got. Dried up play-doh is already littering the playroom floor! Awesome!

 Who knew this ceramic tea set would be such a hit?! Brooklyn loves it and I'm guessing it might last another day or two before at least one piece gets broken. I hope not, it sure is cute and I love watching little Miss Brooklyn playing with it and being so "tea party'ish" in her mannerisms and speech. P.S. She also LOVES this Christmas dress I bought her. She wanted to put it on first thing this morning before we went down to open gifts. We talked her out of it of course, but she couldn't wait to get ready for church today when we were done opening gifts! 

 Of course, the minute this little pony came out of the box it was served a nice helping of hot chocolate.

 My little artist in the making LOVED this Crayola Twister Crayon set. What budding artist wouldn't?!

 She opted for coloring a masterpiece rather than opening another gift... well, for a few minutes at least. She even brought it to church.

 Kendall didn't quite understand the tear-the-wrapping paper-and-see-what-the-surprise-is-inside-the-box yet. Luckily, Brooklyn opened most of Kendall's gifts for her. Here I am trying to give Kendall proper gift opening techniques. =-) 

 And the big surprises were the gifts Santa brought. As in previous years, Santa sent the girls on a scavenger hunt around the house to find their gifts, and this time around we ended up in our guest bedroom. The girls were so excited to see their new bike (Ella), doll house (Brooklyn), and pull toy (Kendall). Oops, gotta get a picture of Kendall with her Santa gift.

 The girls took their new bikes (Brooklyn got one from me and Ryan) outside to ride immediately. Brooklyn had never been on a "real" bike before, but after an hour or so was doing awesome. I know she'll be a natural at it, and before long, her training wheels will be coming off, too.

 After a yummy dinner, the kids jumped back in to their Christmas PJs and watched Polar Express. They were EXHAUSTED by bedtime! Me, too!

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!