LOVE-ly Day!

Stella and Esme made Valentines on Valentines Day.  Stella named who they were for but said they were to stay on her fridge and were not be mailed.  (???)  Esme is continuing to follow her sister and demands to do everything Stella does.  Monkey see, monkey do.  If Stella comes home from dance/tumble class and shows me her new twirl on her toes and a somersault....the 18 mo old also twirls on her toes and attempts to do a somersault.  They brush their teeth together, they climb and jump together, they dress up together and they even cry together.  Things are not always perfect between them.  Stella was so mad at Esme yesterday, for not helping her pick up the mess they made, that through real tears she declares, "Esme! You are such (huff, huff, tear) a STINKY BUTT (sniff, sniff, tear)!!"  On V-day, Esme did NOT want Stella touching her new toy (a big gumball machine with about 12 balls).  Stella even tried to trade toys, and at one point tried to convince Esme that they could play together.  Esme decides it was worth not actually playing with the toy, in order to hold it and walk around the house with it to keep Stella from playing with it.  Later that night...she brings Stella her blanky and milk and hugs and kisses her.  Last night, we were working on a puzzle and Stella says to me, "I love Esme so much." 
Oh...sisterhood.

A Fresh Take

We were given this bookshelf a few years ago.  While it fit in our spare bedroom in our old house, it doesn't in our new house.  Ben has a thing with wood semi-matching or complimenting each other in the same room.  So, to take advantage of some additional storage, I decided to give it a fresh take with some paint.

 Some white paint and then painter's tape to mark off a design.

 And then some brown paint.

 Aaahh...love it.

 Oh, and some new hardware.  I love that 50% sale at the Lobby.   I wanted to stay true to the lines of the bookcase so went with a vintage glass look.

 Hmmmm. Do you see that? I had a little help from a 17 month old.  The girls are ONLY allowed to use washable crayons, paint, markers, etc, etc, etc. However, Mommy has her own stash of markers that are not so washable.  Good thing baby girl only decided to decorate this door that can easily be painted.....again.

Hanging out and Superbowl Fun

 Her new thing (besides shoes).  Sunglasses. 

She will wear them all day, or at least until I can hide them during nap time.

 Looks like we need a hair cut soon.

 The girls had so much fun hangin with the Wittmers for the Superbowl.  So much fun, that they both cried on the way home. Stella was begging to stay the night.  Too cute.

 They were ready to eat.

Esme was back and forth all night between the "big girls" and a baby girl closer to her own age. 

In Her Shoes

As in Mama's shoes, Stella's shoes, and dress up princess shoes. Esme loves shoes. 

 We were on our way to getting jammies on when she decided she needed some heels.

 I LOVE wearing Mama's shoes most.

 Stella's rain boots.  Three different days, three different pairs of shoes.

 And...just because...

Isn't she lovely?

The Girls and Cabin Fever

I have been absent.  I admit.  We had two snow storms and temps in the teens/twenties.  It was too cold to really play outside, and too cold to have desire to bundle up the kids and go to Target (whoa).   So, lack of activity, equals lack of pictures, equals lack of blogging.   Submerging myself in a book series did not help either.  I read ten books in nearly two weeks (naps and evenings).   But, the snow is melting and I started a couple small projects.  Of course, I still snapped some shots of the girls around the house these last couple of weeks. Still beautiful.

 Sharing.

 Dancing and twirling.

 Being a princess.

 Being a princess should NOT involve climbing on a table.

We are at a strange point with the girls' ages and doing activities.  Stella LOVES "project" time with Mama. She LOVES art.  Esme wants to be a part of everything she does.  I usually do project/art with Stella when Esme is napping.  But we are in transition to one nap a day which does not leave any time to spare.  Esme doesn't appreciate project time yet.  In other words, she tries but lacks the attention span and then gets frustrated that Mama and sister are not playing with her.  So...I am getting more creative and am in search of creative activities that she can take part in too.  I found this activity through Ashley's fab blog. 

 Both girls really enjoyed this activity.  Esme used her little hands and her fine motor skills as best as she could and then ate as many marshmallows as she could.  Stella, would yell, "Esme! NO Thank You!  These are not for eating!"

Ben was gone for four days.  The girls sat next to each other every night while he was done.