Time for a trim

For the first time I got brave enough to cut Molly's hair.  We've been letting it grow (like Sleeping Beauty) and it got so long we that we gave her the option to start wearing barrettes to keep it out of her eyes or get bangs.  The barrettes never last long so the bangs won.  I have two girls and neither one will let me put barrettes, bows, headbands or ponytails in their hair for very long.

It seemed that over the last few months Molly's hair started growing so fast and became thicker and super silky.  Recently a friend said it was "like we put Miracle Grow on her hair."  I give all the credit to the crazy amount of seaweed that she has been eating.  It's one of her favorite snack foods.

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/mermaid-secret-for-gorgeous-hair.html

 

        

        

The result is not bad for my first time!  

Truth is with that cute face I could really screw up and no one would even notice.

BTW these photos are from back in May and I am just playing blog catch-up once again.

Molly's Scooby Doo Birthday Party

With two kids around the house this year I was just about set to order a pre-made cake for Molly's party but recently when we were looking at pictures from her 3rd birthday party Molly looked at her cake (a castle cake for the princess party) and said, "I loved my cake you made me so much Mama."  Then she gave me a big hug!  That was it - I knew I had to make my own!

Here are a few pictures from Molly's Birthday Party that we had on Saturday at her preschool, Happyland.  Earlier this year when we attended the Happyland Auction we bid on the Have Your Birthday Party at Happyland and we won (or as Eric puts it - we offered the highest bid)!  Molly loves Happyland and was so excited when we told her that is where her party would be.  I should have know better but one of the reasons Molly loves Happyland so much is the teachers and the first thing she said when she got there was "where are all my teachers?"  Next year we'll know better and invite all the teachers we just wanted them to enjoy their weekend and not feel obligated to a party on their time off.  The only down side to having our party at the school was that we had to keep the guest list short as there was a limit to how many kids could be invited so the school stayed in tact.  It was hard to keep the list short and there where many of you that were missed on this special day and we hope you understand.

So here is a slide show from the party and a video of everyone singing Happy Birthday.  More Birthday posts after her birthday on the 15th when we go to Disneyland!

Our little ladybug

Molly had this costume on about 5 minutes before this photo was taken of Gracie.  Gracie wants to do EVERYTHING Molly does.  So glad Molly is well behaved and very good (most times) about sharing with her little sister.  

Molly's Second Annual Dance Recital

Molly is still enjoying taking dance class and she recently had her second recital.  I was a little worried that she was going to experience some stage fright this year but she was so excited when we arrived at the auditorium and couldn't wait to get on stage.  She loves teacher Taylor and just like last year didn't take her eyes off her during the performance and did her best to keep up.  We were so proud of our girl!

Gracie loves dancing too and will be starting dance class in the fall.  During one of Molly's rehearsals Gracie ran up to join the girls in line and followed them with a perfect arabesque of her own and Molly was so proud of her.

Here is the video from the recital

Strawberry Festival

So last year we took Molly to the Strawberry Festival and she loved it!  We took the train, stayed at a beach front hotel and went to the festival and ate lots of things strawberry.  The whole time we were there Molly talked about how next year we would bring Gracie.  So here they are enjoying the kiddie rides together, Molly loves having Gracie to share all the fun with her.  Eric and I decided the best part of the trip is the beach front hotel and unfortunately we didn't get to do that this year.  

A recent conversation with Molly

We are playing in the backyard and Molly sees a butterfly fly by and that starts yet another conversation that completely amazes me.
Molly says, "Mama I want to fly.  But I want to be a mama too.  I want to be lots of things, a princess, a soccer player, a doctor, a police officer."
So I tell her,  "Molly you can be anything you want to be when you grow up!  You are so smart, strong, kind and beautiful all you need to do is practice and work hard."
She is now sitting on my lap and we are hugging. Molly looks me in the eyes and says, " Mama I am going to cry." I say "oh why honey." "Just thinking of all the things you tell me I can be when I grow up."

If at first you don't succeed...

One more from the files of how mature Molly is. The other day I was sitting down to draw a picture with Molly. I needed a specific image of a bee for a card to give to Marie announcing her Mother's Day spa package at a place called Queen Bee. Molly became frustrated at the idea of drawing something new. Marie has quite acutely noticed that Molly is so good at so many things so quickly that when she runs up against something she isn't a natural at she gets angry. Before she even tried to draw a bee she announced that she couldn't do it and she got upset. I offered to show her how to draw a bee but she was already in a mood so we set it aside and decided to try another time.

To my surprise the very next morning she went to her drawing table on her own (during her usual Curious George time even!) and came out a few minutes later announcing she had a special present. She unveiled a bee drawing she had done all on her own. Still in bed (Marie lets me sleep in) I was honestly a little teary-eyed. I was just so proud of her to take the initiative and make an attempt at it on her own. That and the bee was really pretty darn good! She was also proud of herself which is important. We try hard to really make her feel pride when she does something so mature. She immediately ran off to add the little Molly and Gracie bees next to Queen Mama Bee. This one is a keeper and another reminder of what a special and unique girl Molly is. She'd better watch out though, little Grace is hot on her heels.