Look MOM! No cavities!

Izzy's first trip to the dentist was today.  We didn't wake up thinking this was going to be the day but when I called this morning to make an appointment they happened to have a cancellation spot so we took it.  Better to face our my fears, right?  I decided to take her to a pediatric dentist.  I've heard they make things more fun and know how to talk to and deal specifically with kids' teeth.  Here's Izzy waiting patiently in the fun waiting room (leopard loungers!).

 

And nothing is better than waiting with your favorite side kick, especially while watching Disney Channel on the flat screens in the waiting room! 

 

When it was Izzy's turn she walked in a little shy but without hesitation.  The hygienist started by offering her some Pinkalicious stickers (good call!) and lettin gher pick out a new toothbrush (she chose a Disney princess Belle one of course!).   Then she picked out strawberry toothpaste and the hygienist showed her first, while sitting up, how she was going to clean her teeth.

Izzy did so good!  Not a cry, peep, or anything!  She did the entire cleaning with no problem.

When the dentist came to check her teeth out he said she was good to go!  

Look MOM!  No cavities and a pearly white smile!  She also got to pick a prize from their bubble gum machine towers filled with toys.  FUN!

I'm so proud of her!  I am very much afraid of the dentist, I'm not sure why, so I'm trying to teach both of the girls early on how to prevent their teeth from having any problems in the future and to not be afraid.  Think I can find a dentist with leopard lounge chairs and fun prizes at the end?  I think I could be bribed into being a good patient if I was offered a little bracelet at the end of it all. ;)

On another note, my sweet friend Helen at Jack & Eleanor sent this sweet, fun dress to Emily.  Isn't it so cute?!?  Tons of compliments today when she wore it out.  Helen is such a kind lady and her clothes are top quality!  Check her store out if you get a chance!  And isn't Emily looking so grown up??  She's still a little peanut, but when I look at pictures of her she just looks so big to me. *sigh*

Pool Time

We spent part of the early afternoon by the pool today for the first time this year.  Last year we were so proud of the fact Izzy had learned to hold her breath under water and swim a few feet, all without swim lessons.  After a whole year out of the water I was a little worried she would revert back to being afraid and starting from square one.  She is not the brave, have no fear, of the two.  In fact, this picture below represents them so well.  Big sister loving hiding behind little sis.  Not all the time, but sometimes.

We got all goggled up.

And then just went for it!

Woo hoo!!!  We went swimming!  I was so proud of her! And this is day one of the summer so we'll have to see where she goes from here.

So what was Emily doing while Izzy was swimming?  She enjoys the water and like I said she has no fear.  But she sure does enjoy her cheetos!  Don't worry, I buy baked. ;)

Izzy sure didn't want to leave the pool.  Tears were spilled but promises were made to swim again...maybe tomorrow?

 

A few more cute little pics to share...

Don't you LOVE the round tummy?? *sigh* and I just couldn't resist.  10 tiny, bright pink toes in summer sandals.  Yes, summer is officially here.

On another note, I currently have an auction up on my facebook page Olivia's Ultimate.  

This is a charity auction which is benefiting a family (a friend of a friend) whose house and everything they owned was destroyed by the Joplin, MO tornadoes this past week.  All proceeds will benefit this family in need.  The auction is for one custom upcycled Harajuku dress made by me to whatever size you need (up to a size 10 girls) and my friend Melanie of The Melamoose Co. made this ADORABLE swimsuit, sarong, and headband set to coordinate with the dress.  The set fits most 15 -16" Waldorfs.  Auction ends on Monday (tomorrow) at noon CST.

Baby Rapunzel

People are always commenting on how LOOOOONG Emily's hair is.  She is only 5th percentile for height (and barely that) but her hair is that of a 5 year olds (and longer than most 5 year olds probably).  I went and got a haircut today so I decided to take Emily along and get one too at my salon.  Most kids would probably scream and cry but she held her arms out to the guy who was cutting her hair to be picked up and put into the chair.  What PRO!

 I also worried about not having the big loud movies that they play in kids hair cutting places these days to distract her but she did great.  Serious look on her face, but not a whimper.

 She just watched herself in the mirror and me as I was getting mine dried.  Here she is afterwards with her orange lollipop reward.  The stylist said he'd never seen a kid behave so well.

Gorgeous, is she not?  We cut off 2 inches and this is her FOURTH hair cut!  It just grows, and grows, and grows...

Today's Fun

This morning we went to orientation for pre-K at Izzy's new school.  Here's a picture of Izzy walking with daddy to school.

 I have to tell you it's been a struggle for me as to which school she should go to.  There's a private school where she's been going to Mother's Day Out for the last four years, another private preschool where Emily will be attending this fall, and then there is public school one street away from me.  In the end we chose to put her this year into the public school.  Even after enrolling her I was still struggling with the decision.  But after touring today I feel so much more at ease.  It seems to be an amazing school with amazing programs.  All 3rd - 5th grade students take piano lessons.  No one leaves the school without that gift.  Awesome, no?  It's a magnet school with an emphasis in fine arts and physical education.  They have gymnastics, ballet, music, choir, violin, chess club, yearbook, etc, etc.  All that along with education of course.  Also a super impressive science lab.  I think Izzy will really enjoy next year. :)  Here's her first official school picture, taken on my not so good camera phone.

 And one of her with mommy waiting for orientation to begin. Many more school pics to come I'm sure!

In the afternoon I took both girls to Costco shopping with Gayle and Morgan.  Izzy and Morgan just crack each other up the entire time they are together.  Izzy spotted one of Costco's featured vendors today which happened to be a whole set up of wedding dresses.  Of course she wanted to go see and try on the wedding dresses.  "UH, UH Missy!  Not for like 30+ years!!!"  OK, maybe a little less, but not much less!!!  So of course when she came home she decided to play dress up bride instead with little sister.  Emily is always the bridesmaid, never the bride in Izzy's world.  They ran outside and plopped themselves down on the front porch while I was watering the yard.  I yelled, "Wait right there and don't move!" and I ran inside to grab my camera.

The little bride.

The bridesmaid.

A couple little after wedding hugs and kisses.

 

And of course then the real silliness begins...

People ask me all the time how I get them to pose.  This is ALL them!  I do sometimes ask them to turn a certain way but I think they've each got their own little style now, don't you?

Teacher Appreciation

 

We've been attending the same Mother's Day Out program for four years and can you believe in all that time there has never been a teacher appreciation day???  Those teachers work hard every day and give so much love and attention to the kids.  My good friend Gayle and I decided it was time to really show them just how special they are to us and our kids.  We sent out letters to all the parents 2 weeks ahead of time and specifically asked them to being an item to contribute for a breakfast & lunch we wanted to serve.  We also decided to use some of my butterfly finds from Mother's Day and go with the same theme to make it easy and cute.  The parents really went above and beyond our expectations and the teachers enjoyed a wonderful breakfast of breakfast casserole, bagels and cream cheese, donuts, fruit salad... Unfortunately, I of course forgot to get pictures in the midst of all the prepping!  But I do have pictures of lunch!  And what a spread they had!

 A beautiful salad one of the parents made.

 

Tortilla and Lentil Soup.

 

Pasta Salad.

 More fruit.

Lots of Sandwich fixings.

And check out these super cute cupcakes my friend Summer made!  Cupcakes in a jar.  She said she baked them in the jars, dumped them out, sliced them and then layered the icing and butterfly sprinkles in the middle.  Then she glued the butterflies to the spoons and tied them on the jars.  They loved these!!

I also did more chocolate molds and made butterfly pops.

Lots of cookies and delicious cakeballs made by my friend Colleen too!  She makes the BEST cupcakes and cookies! 

I also found these adorable butterfly bowls that we also filled with Hershey Kisses and Hugs, tied them with tulle and ribbon, and hung tags from them as little gifts for all the teachers.  --FORGOT the pic! :(

One of the teachers came in during lunch and said she felt like she was on a cruise because she just got to eat a lavish breakfast and then got served this beautiful lunch! :)

Lots of the kids brought flowers and presents to show their thanks.  The teachers even got a little monetary surprise from a very generous family! Boy were they excited about that!

I spent all day up at the school and the kids were so surprised to see me in the halls at times.  Here's Emily running to me when she spotted me down the hall.  SO glad I had my camera with me to capture this moment of pure joy! That's Emily's BFF behind her in case you are wondering and one of her teachers Ms. Becca.

The teachers really deserved a special day to be recognized just for them and it was long over due.  I hope they know how special they are to me and my kids.  Both girls are attending new school next fall so I will truly miss these special ladies and I know my kids will too!

Blessings X 2 (times two)

That's how I always feel when I see this.

 How can you not smile at this? :)

 Look at that hair fly! 

 I'm surrounded by the cutest little feet.

 Sugar, spice, and everything nice.

 Truly, truly blessed I am.

Ruffles, ruffles, ruffles...and lace!

Izzy desperately needed pants.  She is the girliest of girls and only wants to wear dresses, making it really difficult at times to convince her that she has to wear pants.  Shhh...Don't tell her I told you but if you see her in pants a lot of times it means she's gotten herself in trouble and it's her "punishment".  Awful I know, but effective! ;)  She usually outgrows them before she gets a chance to wear them and I don't even bother buying them.  Today she agreed that she would wear a pair of pink ruffle pants made from the softest knit if I were to make them.  Guess who ran to the sewing machine and whipped out a pair in 30 minutes? She saw them and said, oh, but what about HOT PINK?  Um, ok! Oh, but I couldn't stop there!  I thought to myself.  If I am doing another pair why don't I do a few more.  So 3 hours later I have made the girls 6 pairs of ruffles pants.

 Great to mix and match with lots of things in their wardrobes! My favorites are the plain linen looking  ones with the rows of lace.

And check out these fun colors!

If you're a beginner sewer I highly suggest trying a pair (or two, or three, or four...) of ruffles!  They are highly addictive and EASY!