Blog Update #2

This last weekend (yes, a week ago!), we spent hanging out at home. In fact, I don't think we left as a family the entire three days. Mark got us dinner and a movie, and he helped some friends move, but I think that might have been the only time our car was even started. It was wonderful. Lots of naps, a few hours of cleaning out closets, but mostly just playtime with the girls.

Then, on Sunday, we got the awesome luxury of losing one of our kids for the day and night. We went to lunch with the Ownby's and they left with three kids and we left with one. I love being "one kid down" for a few reasons. Of course, it's just easier all around. Baths are easier, car rides are easier, home life is easier, bedtime is easier, and the list goes on.

But, the main reason it was great----It made my heart happy to watch Kendyll's excitement level rise and rise as she anticipated her slumber party with one of her favorite friends, Trinity. She and Trinity play so well together and always have fun, without alot of the "girl drama" that can happen when four year old girls play together. In fact, she loves Trinity so much, that we have a "pretend Trinity" who lives at our house most weeks. Pretend Trinity does everything we do. We even buckle her into the car, set her a place at dinner, and have playtime with her. (Should I be embarrassed to admit this about my daughter?)

So, when Kendyll heard the news that she was invited to Trinity's house, she packed right away, got up EARLY on Sunday morning, with her backpack by the door, and counted down the minutes (all the way through church) until it was "after lunch". It's so nice to have family friends like the Ownby's who love my daughter so much, and whose home I know Kendyll loves spending time in.

The other wonderful thing about being "one kid down" is the time Mark and I get to spend with our Carlie. Sunday and Monday were so much fun with her, and it made me realize how different she is when Kendyll's not around. She had time to play with anything she wanted without hearing "No, Carlie, that's mine!" or "That's not how you do that!". There was no screaming or crying! She had her mommy and daddy's uninterrupted attention. She had her fair share of hugs and kisses from us, without having to share us at all. Kendyll already got that time as a baby or toddler, and Carlie should get it too, at least for short periods of time.

We ended up getting out the video camera and getting footage of Carlie singing, dancing, talking, and reading, all four of which we had never videoed before without a larger and more enthusiastic big sister jumping in front of the camera showing us what she could do even better, louder, and more excitedly. It was precious video and a precious time with our sweet two year old.

So, thank you Honey and Mr. Mark, for giving us that time with Carlie. And, for taking on an extra child so that we got a break!

The next day, I met Trinity, Kendyll, Trenton, and Stephanie for lunch and a trip to Libby Lu for the girls. This was such a fun place! It's pure girl, with all shades of pink and purple and lots of sparkle all over the store. Both girls got Princess Makeovers and got some treats to bring home in their new purple Libby Lu backpacks. It was a fun end to their sleepover.

Before the Makeover

During the Makeover

After the Makeover

As you can tell, Kendyll was completely exhausted by the end of Monday, and fell asleep within three minutes of being in the car. That's the best kind of sleeping there is. The kind where you're sleeping so soundly that your head flops around, because you're beyond tired from staying up late giggling, running around playing, and becoming a princess with a "real tiara".