I’m gradually learning not to be surprised anymore about what these ladies like and don’t like, when their personalties change, or any of that fun discovery stuff that is all part of being five and six. Mad in particular is always a complex puzzle…with her inherent shyness you want to just help her make friends, while at the same time you see the old soul in her that knows exactly what she wants and you know you should just leave her to make her own way. Usually when I ask her if she’d be interested in doing this activity or that, it’s a resounding “NO”, and in general I try to respect her freedom of choice.
In one of her more generous moments, she agreed to try Daisy Scouts, which she has turned out to completely LOVE. I’m amazed - she likes the meetings, the uniforms, everything! We took this silly self-portrait on the day she got her Girl Scout pin, where they had a little ceremony involving pledges and jumping over, well, daisies (The flowers, not the other kids - though THAT would have been a ceremony).
My own childhood memories of a year in Brownies are vague but I’m fairly sure that I didn’t enjoy it, brown and orange uniforms and all. I thought for sure that Maddie would want to quit even before the first meeting. Shows you what I know. I’m glad to be wrong…sometimes!
It’s pumpkin-gutting time again, and we had a few more than usual this year due to leftovers from Maddie and Sophie’s birthday party. Mad was more than up to the task of pulling out the slimy seeds and strings.
In fact, we couldn’t get her off the table.
Really! Something tells me she’ll make a great brain surgeon one day. Or mad scientist.
This was my contribution, a Day-of-the-Dead-inspired midget one. I kinda like it. It makes me want to quote some Shakespeare or something.
We ended up with quite the ensemble. Overall the favorite was the big one on the far right, a dog designed by cousin Sarah. You can’t tell but we glued black Snoopy-esque ears to each side - very cute.
And how’s this for an ensemble? Mad made a last-minute decision to be a penguin. Sophie’s still wearing the Cinderella outfit from her birthday. In fact, she’s still wearing it now. She’ll probably go to college in it. We’ll have to hose her down every few days to keep her fresh…
Let’s get a closer look at that….wig? Yes, Soph also made her own last-minute, Halloween-morning request:
“Mom, I want to be blonde.”
(insert needle-scratching-across-the-record-sound here)
Since I’m already defeated on the princess front, I figured it would be no further blow to my psyche to go and get her a wig. You’ll be impressed that I fashioned the up-do myself from a Barbie wig (the actual “Cinderella” ones were too yellow and too scary - you gotta have limits, just like the glass slippers. You’ll note that Soph is still barefoot, ha ha). Bet you didn’t know that art school prepared me for that, too! Sadly, after all of that, Soph decided not to wear it trick-or-treating after all. Something about “it itches” and “it’s hot.” I think I’d feel that way with strange synthetic stringy stuff wrapped around my head, too.
The girls were barely able to carry their buckets home at the end of the night because they were so filled to the brim. Good thing Dad was nearby to help if needed! Though that jersey would scare anyone, dontcha think?
Sophie is 5! Which means that the girls are “temporary twins” until Mad’s 6th birthday in mid-November. Of course, since I’m posting this way after the fact, it’s really…next week! Better get shopping…
We threw the girls their first “friends” birthday party in the park just before Halloween, which Soph had been begging for but Maddie had to be coaxed into agreeing to. Since their birthdays are only 3 weeks apart it just made sense to have a joint one, and we lucked out with a beautiful sunny and breezy afternoon.
We painted faces, decorated pumpkins and cupcakes and had a great, low-key time. It was terrific to see new friends and old friends. Of course, the sugar helped…
The smiles definitely make it all worth it!
I’ve lost this one. As evidence, I present to you this:
And this.
I am so totally defeated by the sheer force of nature that has made Sophie a “princess” through and through. I’ll even admit that I bought this full Cinderella ensemble; elbow gloves, choker, and everything. My own tomboy soul is a bit appalled, but Soph just looks so natural in tulle and satin, how can you say no?
But I draw the line at glass slippers - she’ll have to stay barefoot!
I do need to add - Mad tried to get into the act by creating her own “dress up outfit” using real clothes - but I really think she pulled off more of a “Carla Bruni” than “Disney Princess”. You be the judge.
