Professional Photos

About one month ago, we went to have our pictures done. It had been over one year since we have had our pictures done. I was so good about getting Kaelyn's pictures every three months, but poor Gretchen and Sophie have not been so lucky. I am really trying to be better about this!

I need to note this because it was too funny. Sophie was less than thrilled about having her pictures taken. She cried and cried and just did not want to cooperate. So, Daddy held her for her individual pictures and I acted like a fool trying to make her laugh and smile. Toward the end, she was DONE. She wanted her paci and a nap. So, in some of the pictures you can see that she had been crying and had had enough.

Here are a few of the newest photos. We had the girls pose individually . . .

. . . and together.

Of course, we posed as a family . . .

. . . just Mommy and the girls . . .

. . . and just Daddy and the girls.

I think our photos turned out great! I always love having our photos done and documenting the different stages in the girls' lives. Our photographer does a great job getting the girls to smile and capturing their personalities.

I have to share this final photo of Sophie. Our photographer likes to take a full body photo to document growth. I always love these because it is fun to look back and see how much the girls have grown through the years. However, this time, when it was Sophie's turn, she was DONE. Daddy and I held her hands and she stood while she was photographed. However, as you can tell, she was not happy. Not. At. All.

Go ahead . . . it's okay to laugh. I did!

Pig Tails

Sophie finally has enough hair to put up in pig tails! They are little, and, may I say, pretty cute, but they are pig tails nonetheless.

We have had her hair in quasi-pig tails before, using just the front of her hair and letting the back hang long, but this is the first time I have been able to put up all of her hair.

With that sweet round face and those big blue eyes, I think she looks absolutely adorable!

Of course, she is even more adorable when she has a mouthful of her favorite treat, banana!

Wrong on So Many Levels

Let me start this post by saying that this is not one of my proudest parenting moments. The wrongness associated with the photos are understood by me and by Kaelyn. However, even though the situation is totally wrong, there is something funny about the photos. Kaelyn and I had a long talk about smoking and she understands that it is a filthy and unhealthy habit . . . one I hope that she will never explore.

A couple of days ago, Kaelyn and I were talking about the candy cigarettes that we use to buy when we were kids. She wanted to get some just to see what they were like. I told her that I didn't think anyone sold them anymore. However, when I was at the gas station yesterday, I actually found some bubble gum cigarettes. Of course, I had to buy them for Kaelyn.

So, I gave the bubble gum cigarettes to Kaelyn and let her try them out. I had to show her how to hold the "cigarette" and how to smoke it. Just for the record, I have never smoked a cigarette in my life, so I am in no way an expert at showing anyone how to smoke.

I do think the photos are a little funny. Kaelyn looks ridiculous with a cigarette hanging out of her mouth!

Kaelyn was thrilled with her "treat". I just hope that this is as close as she ever comes to smoking!

Book Count 2012

So, my book count is up to five. I am slowly -- very slowly -- making my way to 50. I don't know what it is, but I am just not motivated to read these days. In addition, I am having a difficult time concentrating on any type of literature. Maybe once the weather turns warmer and the sun is actually out more than one day per week, I will feel like staying up past 10:00 PM to read.

Here are my most recent accomplishments:

Here is the complete list of what I have read so far:

1. The Homecoming by Earl Hamner, Jr.
2. Private: #1 Suspect by James Patterson
3. Eat Cake by Jeanne Ray
4. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
5. The Maze Runner by James Dashner

Clowning Around

Kaelyn and Gretchen decided to dress up as clowns this afternoon. Kaelyn is wearing one of my old ballet recital outfits. Gretchen picked out her own outfit from the dress-up drawers.

The girls had the best time "clowning around". They were so cute! Gretchen even tried to juggle!

Gretchen loves to play with Kaelyn. I love it when the girls play together. Most of the time, Kaelyn does not want to play with the little girls because they "mess up her toys". However, every once in awhile, she will play with her sisters and they all have the best time. It makes Gretchen's day when she gets to play with her big sister.

Two sweet little clowns!

Every One Loves A Blue-Eyed Girl

Sophie's shirt says "Everyone loves a blue-eyed girl". I bought it for Kaelyn when she was Sophie's age. I found it again when I was putting 3T shirts in Gretchen's dresser. It was at the bottom of the drawer. As soon as I found it, I had to put it on Sophie. Gretchen has green eyes, so she never wore the "blue-eyed" shirt.

Sophie has the bluest blue eyes. They are super clear and sparkly!

I love, love, love my little blue-eyed cutie!

Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day from The North Girls! The girls started their day by playing with their gifts from the Valentine Fairy. She brought Kaelyn new Lalaloopsy dolls, a new dolly for Gretchen, and a new Laugh and Learn puzzle for Sophie.

We finished our day with heart-shaped pizza for dinner.

Sunday night, we had dinner at Nana and Grandpa's house. Kaelyn decorated a cake complete with a frosting heart just for Valentine's Day.

Of course, I bought Gretchen and Sophie matching shirts just for Valentine's Day. I think they look adorable!

I tried to get a picture of all three girls together in their Valentine's outfits, but this is the best I could do. It is really hard to get all three of the girls to look and smile at the same time!

Kaelyn Makes A Friend -- Literally

Kaelyn was very excited about the unexpected snow this morning. She could not wait to put on her snow clothes and get outside!

Kaelyn worked and worked on making her snowman and her snow dog. She must have spent more than two hours working on her new friends.

Great job, Kaelyn! Your new snow friends are absolutely adorable!

Gretchen Incognito

This is how Gretchen looked when we left for story time and gymnastics this morning. I guess she didn't want to be recognized by all of her fans! It does get a little tiresome to have the paparazzi snapping your photo all the time!

Strawberries

This afternoon, Nana and Grandpa came to visit and brought the girls some strawberries and fruit dip. Anyone who knows my girls know that they LOVE strawberries. Just check out the look on Kaelyn's face!

Sophie was so sweet . . . she kept sharing her treat with Gretchen.

The girls ate and ate and ate until they were chock full of strawberry goodness!

Sophie decided that she like the fruit dip better than the strawberries, so she decided to skip the dipping and eat it with a spoon.

Of course, her sisters followed suit!

Thanks, Nana and Grandpa! What a tasty treat!

Future Superstars

This morning, Kaelyn found a pair of sunglasses for her and a pair for Sophie. They both sat and played in their "shades" most of the morning. I guess they are practicing for their future in the spotlight!

Doesn't Sophie look thrilled? I think she had enough of big sister by this time!