5 on Friday: November 20

1.  Kid Pics

Last Sunday a dear friend took holiday photos of the kids.  She actually ended up taking some family ones as well.  I wasn’t in sweats, which is a first on the weekend; but I was going on four day hair.  So, hmmm….the rest of the world may not see those. ;)

Getting ready was an ordeal as expected.  Tess decided she didn’t want to wear this and wanted to wear that.  Brady threw his standard “lay on my tummy and lift my legs as high as I can” superman tantrum over me attempting to come and style his hair.  You know, typical family get ready for the day fun.

I was all set to throw in the towel and have a nice cocktail halfway through the process.  But, somehow we ended up on time for photos, the kids actually smiled and cooperated (bribed with sour patch kids, of course), and  I think the kids only fought once when Tess attempted to put Brady in a head lock….so I feel really confident there will be some great photos to chose from.

Whew…another year done!

2.  Curls

My girl loves to do her hair and pick out her bows each day.  Lately though, she had been very insistent about combing out her curls.  I’m not entirely sure why she had been doing this.  She made a few statements referring to them not being pretty.  I don’t know if she had been told that by someone at school or if it’s an idea she’s made on her own or what.  Needless to say, I’ve been on a mommy mission to show her how beautiful they are!  (If she only knew how much her mommy wishes she had those curls!)

I took little miss with me to get some new shampoo and styling products so she would be excited about trying them on her hair.  I let her help me use everything and style her hair this last weekend. 

If I may, I think these are the most beautiful curls I’ve ever seen….and most importantly, she is embracing them again too.

3.  Christmas & Mickey

There are two things that my children love all…year…long.  The first of these is Mickey Mouse and the second is Christmas.  I have to admit we’ve been singing, watching, and dancing to Christmas music and watching more Mickey Mouse Christmas shows than I want to admit. 

Yet, despite it all, I love to see how much these kids “love.”  This is just a typical afternoon scene at our house.

Side Note:  The letters hanging in the background should say TESSA.  Funny, they spell out SEATS.  I can’t say I helped them with this one, but I am happy to see they made an actual word during their madness!

2^nd Side Note:  We have a blow up Christmas Mickey that goes in our yard.  The kids have been asking for it for weeks.  Neighbors beware: it’s probably going up this week!

4.  Holiday Yum

I have a severe problem with the Dark Chocolate Pretzel Crisps.  They were first introduced to me by a wonderful Costco employee who was running the sample stand.  (By the way, the sample idea…insanely good marketing strategy!)  Anyway, I tried them…I was hooked…and they are forever in my pantry.  Then, last night as I walking to grab my trusty stand-by snack; I see these.

Folks, game changer.  If you like peppermint, candy cane peppermint, not wintergreen or spearmint peppermint, you know, true peppermint, then you are in for a treat! 

I thought because of the mint flavor that I would be satisfied with only one or two….three, four, five….  Needless to say, grab some while you can!

5.  Like My Mommy

Tess is my little mini me.  She is very much in an imitation phase and wants to do whatever it is that I do as part of my routine.  She’ll pick out clothes that look similar to mine, she will want to eat only what I eat, and her nighttime routine mimics mine.  That being said we wash our faces together, brush our teeth, use our floss, and follow up with some chapstick. 

Last night before we began our routine, I looked over to see little miss getting ready to put on her pajamas; only to realize that wasn’t what she was putting on!  You can imagine my surprise when I saw this.

It took everything I had not to laugh and make her feel silly (and I secretly snapped this photo), but lordie bee…let’s not grow up too fast my dear!

What’s everyone doing for the weekend?  We have a winter storm warning out for our area today.  I’m trying not to be Pessimistic Patty but I just know that any snow we get is going to come right when everyone needs to get home.  My commute is going to be awful and I’m guessing there’s a chance we won’t make our evening activities.  Ugh.  Be safe everyone!