Twin Day fun for Miss Marin at school! She chose to be a twin with her classmate/friend {also our neighbor} Aubrey. They had so much fun shopping for a matching shirt & planning it all out. They had it down to the socks, shoes & hair tie. It was really cute to see how happy and excited they both were. Kindergarten is so much fun!

 Just so happened that Twin Day was also my day to volunteer in their classroom for the week. {I go bi-weekly to help her teacher...the teacher in myself just LOVES it!} While there I got to peek at her writing journal. First photo is her writing from that day about her twin Aubrey. The second definitely surprised me. She wrote about our new doors in the basement & that " thay loke cool." I knew that Gary & I were excited for the basement remodel but I didn't know that the doors were exciting to Marin as well! Too funny!

 Two more shots of the twins including their silly photo!

Then I also snapped them while they were in front of the class with their teacher. It was cute to see their smiles while Mrs. S. talked about their matching outfits {tiny giggles included}.

So happy to be able to be a part of fun days like this. I look forward to doing the same with Margaux & then Maeve. I love my job!!! xoxo

Hello, long time no post! They days/weeks fly by & then all of the sudden I'm thinking it's time to blog. Today the sun is finally shining & we are just soaking it all in. April 25th and we have been very unlucky with weather this spring. The next few days promise to be in the mid-50's & then 60's by next week & we are WAITING for it!!! This past weekend Gary & our neighbor took all the girls for a bike ride. It was chilly but they just loved getting outside.

Winter coats with helmets, not exactly what we're used to. They had a great time though. Gary & Steve took the girls to several parks, which they loved. They all napped great that afternoon.

Looking forward to packing away the winter clothes & getting all the spring/summer stuff out!
Today through the weekend... RUMMAGE SALE. We've cleaned house & are hoping to sell it all!!!

It was hair cut time this week! We all were WAY overdue for haircuts. I had called to make an appt. a few months ago, only to find out that Marin's usual girl had quit! Thanks a lot Alyssa!! lol

So I got the bright idea to call my cousin Lindsey to see if she does house calls. {She used to cut hair & just recently took a job working for the Am. Cancer Society} She was happy to stop over this week to hook us all up with hair cuts. Margaux was very brave & went first. She got the most cut off, about 4+ inches. She really wanted her hair cut shorter like her friend Karis.

 Marin went second & was determined to only get a trim. She changes her mind every day about the length of her hair. One day she wants it short again, most days she wants it long like her friends. She got about 1 1/2 inches cut off & it looks much healthier!

 Who knew our kitchen would double as a photo studio AND a hair salon??!!!The girls thought it was so cool that they didn't have to leave. Margaux & Maeve are used to getting their hair cut at home though, my mom usually attempts to tackle some of their cuts {we call it Grandma's place} since their hair is so fine. After Lindsey saw Margaux's hair, she advised my mom not to quit her day job! haha

She did a fantastic job on all {I got my hair cut as well, Maeve did not want her hair cut} it was SOOOOOOO nice to do it here & not worry about the others running around a salon while they each took turns. Got them all done in one shot, which was fantastic! Thanks Lindsey! Can't wait to do it again.

Happy Belated Easter! 

Can you tell we've been busy here...it's been a week since the jolly holiday & I still haven't posted some of our photos! The big girls got sick Easter Sunday night {throwing up} and I've been all stuffed up & miserable with allergies. It was kind of a long week! 

But on a positive note, we had a GREAT Easter. Very low-key, but enjoyable to just spend time together. The night before Easter we colored eggs together. The girls worked so hard this year to make their eggs multi-colored!

 As always we made an egg with each of our names on it. Here are M1 & M2 with their "name" eggs. Can't see Marg's because she was still working patiently!

 Poor Maeve was only allowed to color with yellow because mommy was too worried she'd spill the dye all over the floor! I did not want to think about a giant blue spot in the hardwood! She had no idea she was limited & had a blast coloring her eggs. Maybe next year we'll add orange! haha

 The weekend before Easter we did the local Easter Egg hunts {both at grocery stores!} with the girls. And posed for the usual shots with the Piggly Wiggly Pig whom Maeve was not a fan of at all. She couldn't even enjoy the egg hunt because she was consumed with watching for the giant pig to be sure he was NO WHERE near her! I'm actually surprised that she's not crying in the photo!

 Then we met Mr. E. Bunny at another stop. He was much smaller & Maeve tolerated him a bit more. She still wasn't too sure, but at least not crying. Baby steps! I was most surprised at how willing the big M's were to get right up next to him. Happy smiles from 4 of the 5 Browns!

 Easter morning we got up & the girls began their search for the baskets. All of them were found quite quickly this year. I think Mr. Bunny didn't hide them hard enough. Next year Mrs Bunny will have to give it a go! They were all thrilled with their findings. Gary & I also hid 40 candy filled eggs in the basement, so after church the girls had another hunt of their own. It was fun & far too cold outside for an outdoor hunt. {Not to mention the snow on the ground would have leaked into the candy filled eggs!}

 One of their best surprises came in their baskets from Grandma Jean. New gown pajamas for the girls with matching pj's for their American Girl Dolls. They were THRILLED! They didn't give a crap about all the other stuff she brought them, they ran immediately to their rooms to change into their pj's & to find their dolls. It was cute! Even Maeve was super excited...she has to be just like her sisters!

Hard to believe another holiday has come & gone. We're so anxious for summer. 90% chance of rain & snow every day this week & it's only Monday! Not what we're looking for! Hopefully warmer weather is just around the corner. xoxo

Spring Break Week! Yesterday {Monday} afternoon I decided to take the girls to a small local indoor water park. We had soooo much fun. Maeve was in heaven being able to splash around all by herself. It was so fun seeing her explore a place like that for the first time. She was even dancing! {see below}

 Marin was a little fish. She split her time between the slides & swimming back and forth in the pool. She swam back & forth forever! It's so nice to have at least one child that can swim.  She still looks so different to me with that missing tooth. Blue lips as well, they were cold!

 Our friends Kristy & Maya came along. Margaux spent most of her time with Maya going up and down the bigger slide {the yellow one} I swear they must have gone up and down about 50 times. It never got old. I did slow her down long enough to take a few photos! Poor thing is so tiny, she was freezing. But that didn't seem to phase her.

 And it only took a few trips down the big slide with Maeve before she started to figure out that she wanted to do it by herself. I was a bit hesitant but she did it... and after the first time she just kept on going! Over & over! It was so cute! She's such a big girl. UNTIL.... about trip #5, she was crawling up the steps to the big slide her hand slipped & she hit her mouth on the steps. Lots of crying & two chipped teeth. I was heartbroken. {picture crying all evening, feeling so sorry for my baby!} She was fine & in zero pain, but she looked a bit silly. We did take her to the dentist this morning, they did some x-rays & were able to file down her teeth so they don't look so bad anymore. {It took Gary, Aunt Katie & a few other hygienists to hold her down to do the filing, I stayed away...no way could I handle that!} I say it looks 80% better, but her little smile looks different & I can only hope that as she gets bigger & time goes on, it will start to look better. I still get upset thinking about it. Although today, even after all the trauma, she's still talking about how fun the slide was at the swimming park. She's a trooper & is definitely the one that's going to give me a run for my money!!

 Here is Margaux with Maya...

 LOVE this photo of Marin! She's so big & had so much fun swimming around. Her new smile is starting to grow on me... until the next one falls out & it's totally different again! lol

 One more of Marin & Maeve. She wanted Maeve to wait for her each time but there was no stopping Maeve. She could not wait for Marin! haha

It was such a fun afternoon, but honestly I'm not sure I could go back there. I would be on edge the entire time after our injury yesterday. We'll see how I feel in a few months. I sure got some cute pics though! I'll have to snap Maeve's new smile now! xoxo

It's official, we've lost our first tiny tooth in the Brown house!

 It's a bit hard to see in the photo but you can definitely see the hole! Crazy to think that she's at the stage of losing teeth already. Yesterday afternoon she came to me & told me to wiggle it. I told her I didn't think it was any more lose than it was the days before, but I started to pull at it anyways. As I was pulling, I heard/felt one of the roots let loose and then there was no turning back. One more pull & it popped out! The look on her face was unforgettable. I really did not think it was ready to come out & had no idea that in that moment she would lose her 1st tooth. Of course, I cried a bit. It makes me sad that she's getting so big. Her little baby smile will never look the same.

Here she is holding her little tooth & again with in inside her tooth box. Such a proud moment!

 She had this "glow" to her all day long. She was just so happy to have lost a tooth like so many of her friends had already done. She did come to me & stressed her concern that the Tooth Fairy was going to take her tooth. She really wanted to be able to keep it. I suggested we write her a note asking her to leave this one because it is special. She happily wrote the note & placed it next to her. {right alongside her tooth fairy girl with the silver box in her pocket.} She also wanted to leave a piece of Easter chocolate for the Tooth Fairy. So sweet!

Here is her note & the note that the Tooth Fairy left for her to find in the morning...

First tooth brings a whopping $5.00!!! We explained that the first tooth brings as many dollars as you are old & then after that, it will be as many quarters as they are old. Five years old got her $5 and she is more than happy with that! It's burning a hole in her pocket already. The first of many visits from the Tooth Fairy to our house. I still can't believe it. She did also quickly discover that a straw fits quite nicely in that small hole in her mouth! She thought that was sooooo funny! I will take a photo soon! xoxo

Ugh, this poor little girl has been sick for FOUR days. 

 Literally, three whole days with out anything to eat. She couldn't keep anything {even a teaspoon of liquid} down & she was widdling away to nothing. We lost count of how many times she was throwing up & felt so bad for  her. Today is day 4 and she's finally starting to eat & feel like herself again. She's very concerned that she has been missing school. The first thing she asked when she woke up today was "Mommy, what day is it?" When I told her it is Wednesday, she immediately said she needed to go to school. That didn't happen but I'm pretty sure she'll be joining her friends tomorrow!

In the mean time, Maeve took advantage of Marin being in the bedroom sick & Margaux with her buddy Wyatt... she helped herself to the girls American Girl dolls & accessories. All of which are usually off limits to her!

 I thought it was so cute how she had the napkins down & the food set on them! She had set up an entire picnic for her & the dolls! She's too funny & growing up way too fast.

It was really not easy to keep Margaux & Maeve busy while I tended to Marin. {who was incredibly needy!} It has been a LONG four days. I had to break out some new things/art supplies to make fun for them. Here they are painting with new watercolors which only stay new for about 5 min. & then they're all mixed together.

Maeve was so happy to be painting for the first time. Her conversation was pretty cute & she was just thrilled to be painting like a "big girl."

My fingers are TRIPLE crossed that no one else gets sick now. I'm ready for a break & to get this house disinfected! {Is it even possible for only one of us to get sick?!? I am not sure.} xoxo

This week we visited Corduroy at the library with friends. They participated in story time, crafted & then got to meet Corduroy too! Below is Marin with her friend Neela & little Dominic as well. They were working hard on their Corduroy crafts.

 The other three were on the opposite side of the table...

I was totally shocked at how excited the girls were to meet this big bear! I love their smiles, AND Margaux looking at the camera!!! {That rarely happens!!!}

 Then we added Maeve who was not as much of a fan! She was terrified but I  had to get at least one photo so we knew she was there!! haha She preferred to look from much farther back!

We all enjoy Monday night family story time. It's great for when the weather isn't especially nice out yet & gets us out of the house! Corduroy was an added bonus this week!

The girls picked out these suckers the other day as a treat. They looked pretty funny with the big lips in their mouth. I wish I would have taken a picture of how big the actual sucker was, HUGE. Margaux had a hard time putting the whole thing in her tiny mouth! They tasted good & produced a lot of giggles, but surprisingly they didn't even finish them. Totally fine with us... these kids DO NOT need any more sugar! kisses!

The bath tub is still a favorite time/activity for all the girls. Maeve especially loves it. She hears the word "tub" or "bath" and she's half way to the bathroom taking her clothes off! Never gets old. We also have to gate off the shower in our bathroom {there is no door} otherwise she just walks right in with her clothes on. Showers are a favorite as well. She is such a funny little girl.

 She has to get in the tub RIGHT away because her favorite is sitting under the spout {below} while playing with the water. She's always first in!

 Hard to persuade her to get out though, it's way too much fun!

 Having all three in the tub at once can be challenging on the ears, but they enjoy it. They immediately get crazy though...

 Love.those.lashes!

 Marin takes up the most room in the tub. Not only because she's the biggest, but because she insists on laying down and trying to swim in the tub. She's definitely our water bug!

 Loves to pour water all over!

 Once we get Maeve out this is what the girls do RIGHT away. Lay down flat & relax together. There are always lots of giggles.

Bath time photos are always so fun. I haven't snapped them all in the tub like this in quite some time. They are pretty funny, although I can't say it's our {mine or Gary's} favorite time of the day!!! Loud & crazy isn't exactly what we're looking for at 7pm most nights the week! That's about the time I'm ready for the couch, quiet & some good t.v.!!! xoxo

The big girls had their 1st sleepover this past weekend. Their good friend Keira slept over Saturday night. It worked best to have the sleepover here so Margaux could join in on the fun. I'm not so sure Marg could handle a w/o mom or dad sleepover just yet. Here are the girls reading in Marin's bed.

 I took both of these photos with the ipad so they aren't as clear, but you get the idea. They were so excited. Made us feel like Marin is super old. I can't believe she's to the age that she'll be having & going to sleepovers with her friends. Doesn't seem right. But they sure did have fun.

It was fun for us to see their excitement. They did a great job too. I told them at bed time that if they went to bed well, they would be able to have more sleepovers. Totally worked like a charm. I didn't hear a peep out of them after I left the bedroom. They were exhausted! {They stayed up SUPER late...9 pm! lol} They all stayed in bed all night & got up at 7am. Pretty darn good for a first sleepover.  First sleepover of MANY to come! xoxo

Maeve had a first last week, she got her nails painted! It definitely made her feel like a big girl. She didn't stop looking at them for days. It was cute to hear her talk about her "pretty" nails that mommy painted! This was the best picture I could get of her. She wouldn't even look up at the camera, she was in awe! lol

 Just so happened that it was also Valentines Day! The girls woke up to cards along the counter in each of their places from daddy. They were thrilled, he picked out some pretty awesome valentines too! Margaux with her Barbie Valentine that included a charm bracelet!

 Marin eating breakfast with her card from daddy {also a Barbie Valentine}

 And we all know how much Maeve loves Elmo, he did all he could to find her an Elmo Valentine & this one just had to do!  For his GRANDdaughter! lol She LOVED it & obviously had no idea. She was happy with all the Elmo stickers inside!

 I picked up these cute Valentine treats for the girls to share {big caramel brownies for the adults}

We also worked to set the table & make it all Valentine-y for the girls. They were so excited. We had heart-shaped pizzas for dinner with my mom & Aunt Katie too! {All the guys were out of town/dinner, although Gary surprised us & came home!}

By the end of the day the girls were all hopped up on sugar & acting crazy! It was such a fun day, I think they definitely know they're loved! xoxo

Marin has been coming home with all these love notes lately. It's so cute & I have a hard time throwing any of them away! I loved this one for Gary saying "I love you dad you are special, love Marin." She came home got it out of her back pack & brought it into our bedroom to place on his night stand. So cute! As much as I hate them getting older & want them to stay little forever, it is fun that she's getting more independent too! We have her parent-teacher conferences tonight. Looking forward to the update! xo

 Today is Marin's 100th Day of Kindergarten. She is so excited to get to school & celebrate with her class. They've been counting down the days for "a lot of days" she says. For a take-home family project, she had to create a "100" poster with on hundred of something that she could choose. She chose 100 snowflakes {above} She really enjoyed cutting out the snowman, his hat, etc. It took quite some time to glue on all 100 of those tiny little snowflakes but it turned out cute!

And I got to work this morning & made her "100" lunch. 100 shaped pb&j and cookies too! She's just getting ready to get on the bus now just before 10am because school was delayed this  morning. {Icy roads} Hopefully they can get all their celebrating in with the shorter day! Have fun Marin! xoxo
Update- She had a great day & came  home with this adorable hat...

 100 Days Smarter! So cute! She said she told her teacher & showed her friends her 100 sandwich. They all wanted one too. I guess I should have made more! Happy 100th Day Marin!