First cut.

Stella got her first hair cut! Thank you Candace. Stella was a good sport but a wiggle worm--finally a sucker helped to keep her as still as an 18 month old girl will be for a hair cut.





What a cutie--she loves to sit through the 5 minutes it now takes to blow dry her hair but, she can't stop pulling out her bow and constantly asking us to put it back in her hair.

I think the two of us are hair-twins now.

Holiday play.

I am a bad mother and I apologize to all of those who would have liked to see Presley perform in a Santa's Elves dance number last Saturday. I just forgot and you would have had to sit through a performance of The Nutcracker in order to see her 1 minute skit.

However, out of guilt I did purchase the DVD so we can all watch it over the holidays. I promise to invite you all to the spring production! These are a few pictures from the dress rehearsal . . . for the real thing Presley had her hair in pigtails and red tulle bows (she made a pretty cute elf, even if she and the other kids could hardly remember their dance).

New Do.

No hair cuts yet for Stella, but I think it is about time for a new do. Her hair is getting pretty long to pull up on top of her head. Here are the issues--the bow won't stay on. How do we feel about bangs for Stella (or does anybody know how to get a bow to stay in fine hair??) and maybe trim up the back for a cute bob??

Halloween.

Stella was more into the pumpkins and candy than getting dressed up and Presley fell in love with posing for the camera again.








Though trick-or-treating was cold the girls had a fun time. Presley couldn't and still hasn't taken out those fake teeth--we practically had to tear them out of her mouth for church on Sunday. Stella managed to open up a Starburst and get one out and nearly ate it all (thank goodness she still had an ok night with her tummy)--no wonder she was so content to be snuggled up in dad's coat handing out candy for the night.

Next year we are going to think of something warm to dress up as for Halloween!

Sneak Peek.

Here is a look into what our Halloween will look like this year--lots of PINK!


Presley had her preschool costume party today and she had so much fun getting dressed up as a fairy. Stella has the same costume and we will all have pink hair on Halloween (unfortunately I did not get Chris fairy wings, but there is still time . . . ).

Dress-up.

It is a wonder that I ever get Presley out of her dress-up clothes. And today while Presley was out with her dad, all Stella wanted to do was get dressed up in the dress-up clothes. She was so frustrated that she couldn't get the feathered, heeled shoes to stay on while she walked.



Presley is currently "earning" a pair of Cinderella slippers--please, thank you, and doing what mom asks all get her closer to the prize.

Preschool.

This picture just about sums it up. Presley, who couldn't wait for me to leave her at Princess Camp and on those initial days of school, now is almost in tears every Tuesday and Thursday and I get her ready for school.


She participates in dance, but won't do the karate class. I came early a few days just to watch and Presley was sitting out, not playing with the other kids. The next week during karate I showed up early and did the class with her. I have finally resorted to bribery--a huge hand full of candy corn if she participates in the whole karate class.

Let's hope she is motivated.

**For those who want to know we are just about at the half-way point in the 100 lessons book to learn to read. I am so proud of Presley. She ready the short stories everyday and even loves to read signs when we are about town (her favorite was when she learned she could read n-o-r-d-s-t-r-o-m). I highly recommend the book**

Our little walker.

Stella officially took her first steps on August 24th--for Grandma while Presley and I were at "Back to School Night". I couldn't believe Chris and I had missed it. Grandma said she loved walking a few steps and then falling into her arms, laughing.






Well now, nearly 6 weeks later, Stella is officially walking. She rarely crawls and is slowly learning to walk without her arms in the air for balance. Still a bit bow-legged (who wouldn't be with a soggy diaper??), but oh so cute--and she loves it!

I love Stella's rare laugh--though she smiles all the time. She even teases strangers with waves and her signature big, toothy grin.

Family portraits.

After much of this . . .


. . . we actually ended up with quite a few good family pictures! I credit the photographer--Krista.






It was pretty funny to see my nearly 7 month pregnant (with twins) sister squatting and sitting on the ground trying to take our picture--can you believe she is still doing weddings?

Presley and Stella were both coming down with little colds and all they wanted to do was play in the gravel.

Our favorite.

We love Sundance--lots of memories. The girls and I met Chris and Paul, who had been biking all afternoon, for a chairlift ride and dinner. The trees are turning orange and red, the aspens will turn yellow later in the fall.








Here we are, all happy as can be! Chris dirty and worn out from biking, me with my camera, Presley with a sucker, and Stella saying "WEEEEEE" the whole time riding the lift.