Aunt Barb's Butterfly Sandwiches

I grew up eating Aunt Barb's lunch specialty of butterfly sandwiches on summer afternoons in Michigan. She made them for our kids during the Baynes' visit here a few weeks ago, and they were a hit! We didn't have any marshmallows or homemade strawberry jam, so my kids missed out on that--but Aunt Barb is creative and came up with lovely edible butterflies with what we had on hand. The girls were so enamored with them; they requested them for lunch again and again.

 Lydia left, Abby right

 

Twin Birthday

Lydia and Abby were so excited to be turning four (even though Lydia often tells me she wants to remain a "shild" [child] her whole life and never grow up)! 

 Lydia (left) and Abby (r) eating their birthday breakfast with whipped cream

Choosing birthday food was a thrill for the girls. They both agreed on Dutch Baby Pancake for breakfast and homemade pizza (to which menu I added salad) for supper.

Months in advance they put in orders for their birthday cake: Lydia wanted "shoc'late cake and shoc'late ice cream," and Abby wanted "manilla cake and manilla ice cream." Josiah lobbied for an ice cream cake and managed to entice the girls with vivid descriptions of his past birthday's ice cream cake, such that they abandoned their former wishes in favor of his suggestion. This made my task easier, since we combined the desire for chocolate and vanilla by layering both types of ice cream on a fudgy, flourless chocolate cake base. I also drizzled some caramel on top and decorated with piped whipped cream and chocolate chips. Everyone enjoyed it!

Josiah had to get in on licking the candles

My mom was here for the girls' birthday and brought presents from my sisters and the Baynes. There certainly were lots of presents and lots of wrapping paper for Clara to tear into bits after her sisters had torn it off the gifts. 

I took Josiah to pick out presents for the girls--a sticker book each and a box of chalk to share 

Clara was possessive of the phone Grandma gave her

Lions from Great-grandparents Neuman 

Teeny tiny doggies from Aunt Bobo 

And blow pens from Aunt Bobo! They beg me to do this with them . . . we still need to find a good time (without Clara) 

Clara moving her hand as if bouncing a balloon 

Bouncing balloons from the Baynes! 

 Aunt Hannah and Aunt Rach got the girls some cute shoes

Grandma Cousino gave them puzzles, lots of cute socks, and matching shirts 

They enjoyed getting birthday phone calls from friends and family, and they now update everyone (whether we know them or not) on their age: "We are four!"

A Few from August

I was glancing through pictures and noticed some I hadn't posted but meant to--from the end of August. Whoops.

First up: curious Clara. She has increasingly loved being outdoors with the big kids. This was before she started walking, but she still liked cruising, crawling, and climbing!

Every day I just can't get over how cute and how much fun she is! I can't give those cheeks and that head enough kisses! Too soon the chubby thighs will slim out and she'll have a thick head of hair. I love how she loves to sit in my lap after she wakes from naps, letting me kiss her as she plays with a toy. She has started to bring me books to read to her, too!

And next up: the big sisters . . .

 L on left, A on right (and Clara envious below!)

One day I did their hair in princess braids. I think it was a few days after the last washing, with the frizziness and knots starting to take over, and I figured I had to do something to tame it. So I recalled my hair skills from the days of fixing younger sisters' manes, and here's the end product:

 A on left, L on right

I love how their natural highlights make the braids stand out. I'm also surprised they allowed me to finish the braids! (They certainly did complain during the process, though.)

Oh, Lydia 

 Abby

Alright, now we can go back to the fall programming. :)

Then and Now

Just look what a few years will do . . .

October 2013:

Lydia on the left, Abby on the right

Abby on the left, Lydia on the right 

Lydia behind Abby 

Lydia grabbing Abby's ball 

Abby on left, Lydia on right

Oh my sweet babies! Bring them back to me! (Not really--I love 3.5-year-old Abby and Lydia--but I do just want to squeeze those 8-month-olds and kiss their heads hundreds of times.)

October 2014: 

Lydia on left, Abby on right 

L left, A right 

A left, L right

And those chubby, smiley toddlers! AND THE CURLS! Amazing how much hair grows in a year, huh?

October 2015:

 Lydia on left, Abby on right in both

Such cutie-patooties! This was right before Abby smashed in her front tooth. 

October 2016:

Lydia on left, Abby on right

Where, oh where, have my little girls gone? What fun, bright, hilarious, sweet, passionate, opinionated, darling three-year-olds they are!