Easter 2009!

Hayli and Layci posing for the camera.

Sweet Brenner, taking a nap. This is the only time you can get a picture of him!

Sydni takes a break from the egg hunt to give me a pose!

How sweet is this? Look at those pink cheeks and lips! Cutie-pie!

Karson and Sydni "hang out" at Granny Marla's house.

Always crossing her legs like a big girl!

Removing the loot from the eggs so they can hide and hunt them again. They did that for nearly two hours!

Check out Brenner hanging with the big kids!

I can't believe she will be FIVE soon.

Makki showing me her eggs. Ah, that hair!

Ready to hunt!

I was trying to teach them how to make dandelion necklaces...but I think grass stains on the knees were the only thing that was accomplished.

Karson said they were having "a meeting"! Guard your loins!

Mak's headband makes me happy. Cute cousins, too!

Going through their stuff from the Easter Bunny.

Arriving in White Deer Saturday afternoon, we weren't too optimistic that Easter Sunday was going to be very promising in terms of egg hunting and celebrating Jesus Christ's birth in the glorious sunshine! It was windy, cold, and rainy, and the forcast for Sunday didn't give us much hope, either. The kiddos (eight total) seemed resigned to the fact that their play was going to have to take place in doors. However, we were pleasantly surprised that the sun made a few appearances and the girls and their brood of cousins were able to have a fun egg hunt in Granny's yard.

Sydni told us on the way to White Deer "that Jesus died on the cross for us" and went on to explain "that is what Easter is all about!" It was so sweet to hear her repeat what she is learning about God, but she's still a little confused how eggs and a bunny are involved in all of that! (Just like when she thought that Santa and God were brothers, and quite possibly related, we are having to explain and define things that are confusing to us, too!) Speaking of the Easter bunny, he made quite an impression on the girls! Tons of crayons, markers, and every type of candy and Easter goodies were left after his visit. Thank you Easter bunny! (You know who you are! You did an AMAZING job on the girl's baskets!)

The Haircut That Makes Me Nauseous

Makenzi.....Oh, Makenzi! Apparently, Makenzi's bangs (that we have been growing out since September) were in her face and getting on her nerves Friday. She decided to alleviate the aggravating bangs by cutting said bangs to her scalp. Mak and Syd were staying with Granny Deb so I could finish cleaning the house, and she snuck into Granny and Pop's master bathroom and used Pop's beard trimmers to do the deed. Deb thought they were both intently watching an episode of Tom & Jerry on her bed, but Makenzi had other plans when Granny left the room. (Deb, you couldn't have prevented it! She's like a stealthy cat. Nothing can stop her when she has a plan!) She then hid the cut hair in the bathroom drawer. Maybe if she hid the evidence no one would notice six inches missing from the front section of her hair? I'm not sure what our ornery girl was thinking, but she definitely will not have bangs in her face for SEVERAL months! Oh, Makenzi!!!!

Oy! How do you style around this?

Yes, she is giggling about this.

Yep. You can see her scalp.

"Does my hair wook all crwaazzyy?" she said. She's rather proud of her artistry.

Another sampling of Makenzi's dazzling personality.

Talk About Being Bored!

The girls were goofing around Friday morning (we didn't have school) and I thought I'd take pictures for black mail someday! Sydni's first boyfriend will love these shots, and when Makenzi appears on American Idol, I'll definitely send these pics to producers!

Sydni doesn't really wear much on the weekends!

Makenzi is wearing Sydni's old Dee-dee Doodle costume, her pink yoga pants on her head, and then her polk a-dot pj pants, as she plays a ditty on the Doodle Bops guitar. So talented!

Only Sydni would point out the fact that her gloves match her panties.

Future rock star! I totally love the goofy grin!

She started improvising a new addition to her "silly dance" routine. I must get this booty shaking on camera. The complex choreography involved is unreal!

You Look Marvelous!

They may play like little boys, but Sydni and Makenzi sure do love the girly fun that a pile of mommy's discarded makeup can bring! Let me just tell you, that allowing them to do this a few times a month has helped keep their tendencies to "borrow" my makeup lessen in frequency. Well worth the mess! Check out my little makeup artists at work this morning!

Sydni pretty much gouges her own eyes out while putting on eyeshadow.

Makenzi is a fan of blush. She put it on for nearly twenty minutes before I cut her off!


Looking "Bee-you-tee-full" as Makki says!

Loving the eyeshadow, Syd. Captivating!

Makeup makes her happy.

Makenzi is a Pro

If you've read my blog or know my children, you know that Makenzi is the child that will make me pay for my raising someday. She is feisty and has a HUGE personality. The crafty kids are usually your most intelligent (teaching 8th grade has taught me a lot about this) and she can "play" both Donnie and I like a master puppeteer! Check out her "pouting" face. This is the face she makes when she really wants something that you won't give her...(like my camera that I took from her dirty paws moments before I snapped this pic!)

Pouting like a pro!

After the pouting did not work...

Flower Girl Dress Selection

We met Ashlee (the bride-to-be) to try on flower girl dresses for her June 6th wedding. Makenzi is not a very good shopper, (she runs through racks of clothes and is basically a pain-in-the-you-know-what), so she went with Granny Deb. Sydni was UBER excited to try on gowns. At David's Bridal, they only had five dresses in her size, and by golly, we tried on each one! Sydni loved each one, and also wanted to try on the flower girl shoes. Needless to say, my little fashionista loved every moment in the bridal store. Ashlee might have a hard time choosing, but Sydni will be happy with any dress she chooses (and Makenzi could care less, but will wear it happily)!

Sydni - going to the prom!

Lots of bows!

Can you tell she's loving this?

Simple and cute!

We didn't have the petticoat on with this one, and it was very pretty in person!

This one had little sparkles and sequins.

How adorable is this one?

Good luck picking, Ashlee!

"Can you see my feet?"

She wanted to buy the shoes right then!

Sydni REALLY Likes Commercials

You could sell anything to my four year old if you put it into commercial format. She believes everything she sees on a commercial, and I've been noticing this more and more! Granny Mar measured her for a SNUGGIE last weekend because Sydni pauses the Snuggie commercial everytime it is on and makes Donnie or I watch it. She REALLY wants one and told me, "Mommy, you need one because you can read a book without your arms showing." She also goes on to quote most of the selling points of the commercial. I mean, really, it's a blanket with sleeves! What "selling points" could a commercial for that possibly make? Either way, Sydni wants one and Granny Mar plans to make her Snuggie dreams a reality!



Another example of her commercial fixation came from a conversation she had with Granny Deb the other day:



Sydni: What place are we at, Granny?

(She says this as they pull into Home Plate Diner.)

Granny: This is Home Plate Diner.

Sydni: Oh, I like Home Plate Diner.

Granny: Really?

Sydni: Yeah, they have a good meatloaf special.



Deb said she started laughing because she has been seeing the diner's recent commercials advertising a "meat loaf special"! Donnie and I are in big trouble when she starts requesting the expensive stuff she sees in commercials!

Fancy 'Do's and Outfits!

Having girls is such a blast! Not only do I get to dress them up and shop for them, but I'm also in charge of hair! Sydni is very fashion conscious for her age, and is now starting to pick out her clothing, but sometimes she has odd requests for what she wears. It's frustrating, especially when we are running late most mornings, and she wants to wear odd combinations! In the picture below she demanded to wear her athletic socks and white Sunday school shoes with her outfit! I pick and choose my battles, because like her Mommy and Daddy, she has a very hard head and doesn't negotiate! We are also experimenting with new hairstyles as the girls' hair grows longer. I've been having to learn a few new things here and there, but I love getting to play with different styles. Donnie also seems to enjoy the compliments we receive when the girls look cute. They never go to daycare or out in public without their hair fixed, so it bothers him if it's not looking pretty! I never thought he would be as particular as me about their clothing and hair, but he's turned into a very fashion savvy Daddy of little girls!


Check out the socks! Sydni is also striking a pose!

I'm calling Tyra to sign her up for the new season!

Mak is working on her runway pose!

They bring a "friend" to school each day for nap time.

Love my Makki Jo!

The "fishtail ponytail". They love this braid!

Looking cute for school.

Awww, Makki puts a hand around Sydni, her idol!

Brenner's Birthday!

It depresses me to say that my baby nephew, Brenner, celebrated his first birthday last week! His babyhood went by entirely too fast, but I've learned through experience that most babies grow up too fast! He's already walking (running, actually!) and into everything! I hate that I don't get to see all of my nieces and nephews more, but we attempt to get to White Deer and Amarillo as often as we possibly can. Here are some pictures from our short visit:

Makenzi and Kienan enjoying breakfast! I need to buy Kienan a new Tech shirt!

Karson pointing at his brain...

Which inspired this picture!

Sydni, Alee and Alyx enjoying the great weather.

Brenner opening his gifts.

Pretty darn cute!