Silliness with Sissy!

Today was girl's day out for Caroline and I. We went shopping for her a "graduation" dress. She has preschool graduation coming up, and is obsessed about a new dress. Here's how the obsession started........

In December, she had a Christmas program at her school. There was a note that went home informing parents that the boys need to wear slacks and the girls should wear dresses. Well, the note went home on a day that Tim picked up the kids. So.......it got thrown in his truck and I never even knew a note about proper attire even existed. Therefore, the day of the program, I sent Caroline in red and white striped leggings and a precious Christmas shirt and a big red bow. She looked absolutely adorable......

But---all of her friends had on "program dresses". She was the only girl there without a dress on. You can imagine the drama! And she has been traumatized ever since. I told her that day that the next program she had a school she could pick out any dress she wanted. Well, today was the day to make good on my word.

I went with the mindset that she could pick out any dress she wanted, no matter how much I hated it or how hideous it was. We tried on A LOT of dresses. And she finally picked the perfect princess dress for graduation (that will have a navy blue graduation gown over it ;) ). It DEFINITELY would not have been my choice.....but it could have gone much worse!!!

Anyway, here's some silly pictures we took before we left today.

'Tis the Season

Tim and I braved the crowd and went shopping the day after Thanksgiving. We went later in the morning, so it wasn't as crazy as I was expecting. We did get a few good deals on some gifts for the kids. The highlight of the adventure was lunch together......alone. Doesn't happen very often.

Then Friday night we put up the tree and I took some pics. of the kids in their Christmas pj's for our Christmas cards. Quite the eventful night.

The kids were really interested in the tree and ornaments this year. They intently watched as I unwrapped each ornament and wanted to know where I got it and who gave it to us. Every unbreakable ornament we own is on the bottom of the tree, placed carefully with love by one of these three little monkeys. Needless to say, the finished product is VERY bottom heavy.

This is an out-take from our little photo shoot.

New Balance.......

Okay, I know this sounds frivolous to most everyone else except me......but.....New Balance brand tennis shoes have changed my life!! I just found out that SELECT styles in these shoes come in an extra wide.

I am constantly looking for shoes that Wills braces will fit comfortably in -- and strap somehow. Let me tell you, not an easy feat! We have been settling for a wide shoe that is just not wide enough. The only other shoes wide enough for his braces are Stride rite (which are a fortune!), and orthopedic shoes that my insurance does not cover (which are even more expensive!)

I ordered these shoes for a very reasonable price at zappos.com, and they work perfectly with the braces. They just slide right into the shoe......no struggle whatsoever! I'm not a big fan of Velcro--but they fasten, so I can't complain! It's just the little things in life that make a big difference!!!!!
Here are Will's "chunky" new shoes with the braces in them. Of course, Jack got matching ones too.....just not in an extra wide!!