I Dine With Elephants.

Don't you?

Swimming in late September?

That isn't how the day started. Yes it was a little warm that day, but it had been cold for a few weeks prior which equals the pool being COLD!  How it all began was... the girls went out to the pool to float some boats from the side. Before you knew it they were on the top step. Then the second step. Next came "Can we take off our pants?".  Before you knew it there were three "Nakey" girls splashing in the pool. 

Those squeals were enough to draw all the boys to the pool. (With swim suits mind you). Thanks to Ayi (aka Aunt Kristi) the girls were soon in suits too. 

 Picking up the clothes left behind from the three girls.

 Darcy trying to surf.

  Caleb trying to "clean off the side walk."

 
 Maylin playing "beach volleyball".

 Daniel getting braver and braver! I think it is safe to say he is a water bug!

Maylin and her busted knees. Funny how a caterpillar can make anything feel better.  

 These guys really do love each other. It is always so much fun to have them all together. 99.9% of the time it is full of laughter and squeals of joy, hugs and kisses and just plain fun. How I would do anything to have them all be together more often.

 These two are quite the pair. With them there is NEVER a dull moment.

They love playing together and do so very well. They are a little team.  Daniel is making his way into that circle of 'brotherhood' as well. But I think he still has a little while before he will be full swing into the mischief that is Pierson and Caleb. 

 Can you feel the air as Darcy's gasps upon reentry?

 Ready. Set....

 JUMP!

 JUMP!

 JUMP

 Pierson getting a running start,

 wait for it...

 SPLASH!
He says this doesn't hurt... I have a hard time believing that.

 A bit more of the Caleb-Pierson Duo.  Can you hear the noise?

Boys will be boys. Cousins will be cousins. But at the end of the day it is nice just to know you belong to this crazy thing we call family.  It is a gift I don't spend enough time relishing. A gift that to often slips through my fingers because life gets in the way.

"No matter what you've done for yourself or for humanity, if you can't look back on having given love and attention to your own family, what have you really accomplished?"
- Lee Iacocca

Oh Boy We Have a Long Way to Go. :)

I am not sure if this is soccer or gymnastics. 

 Cartwheel

 Hand less back bend?

 Handstand?

Not exactly sure what this one is.

Typically Pierson is a bit more into the "game"... typically.

 "Get up Pierson!"

 "Mom! Watch dis!"

 Oh yeah! They make me laugh!

 "What? This isn't football? We don't tackle each other?"

 At first glance this picture isn't that funny. At second glance you realize my kids are on different scrimmage teams yet they are both celebrating a goal as if their team scored. Even better, what you can't see is that they were playing cross-field so this "goal" is really just an out of bounds accident.

We may have a long way to go, but I love every minute of the journey!

Girls night out!

Disney On Ice with Maylin was fantastic! 

She didn't know where she was going. She just knew that we were going to see princesses. Her eyes lit up like Christmas trees when I told her she needed to dress up like a princess. She decided not to wear any of her "dress up costumes". "Dey too itchy". So we opted for a pretty dress, her fancy shoes, and a crown. Prettiest princess I know!

Of course there was a little down time before we left. Who doesn't want to play on a swing set in high heels?

Once downtown we were walking towards dinner. I thought Fuel Pizza would be a good choice, not for the pizza mind you, but for the spaghetti. This is my noodle queen after all. However, we passed Moe's... I guess the thought of a bowl of rice won out! She didn't want the tortilla, just a bowl of rice, beans, and shredded cheese. Dinner for the champions! :)

Doesn't my little girl look like a BIG girl! Rip out my heart! Seriously, she needs to stop growing! :)

Twirling without a care in the world in the middle of Epicenter uptown.

I love that she still has no inhibitions. She gracefully walked about 20 feet away from me and said, "Do you want me to twirl for you?"  ME:  "Well of course Princess twirl away!"

Twirl she did. It was as if this space was created for her, for this night, for all the world to see. She was the center of my attention, and she knew it, and relished it.
Semi Related side note: If you haven't seen the movie "Courageous" you should. Not because of the acting, but for the message. For those of you who have seen it you will understand why I played 'Ring Around the Rosies' in the center of uptown Charlotte as if Maylin and I were the only ones there.  Yep, I felt silly at first, but letting my daughter feel like she is the only thing that matters felt even better! 

When we got to the arena we quickly went potty, and bought one treat. (The nifty little light thing below?) Then it was off to our seat for the show to begin! Maylin was silenced. This was the expression on her face throughout the program.

 At one point I was wondering if she was really enjoying it. Then I reached over and gently scratched her leg. The giggles and smiles I got out of that were priceless. Yep. She was having the time of her life.

Mickey, Minnie, and Goofy introduced the show.

Then it was time for princess Tiana to make her appearance. As Tiana was singing "I'm almost there". Maylin looked over at me and said, "Mommy, how dat girl know dat song?" I said, "Of course she knows that song, that is Princess Tiana."  Maylin looked at me with eyes like saucers, head shaking, eyebrows raised and a grin like the Cheshire cat and said, "WHAAAT!?"  Immediately her eyes were glued back on the ice along with a permanent grin.

The following pictures are some of Maylin's favorite pictures from the evening. You might enjoy them, but I know Maylin will love seeing them on the blog so bear with me here for a moment!

Cinderella

Intermission. I'd say she was a happy camper! What is not to love about princesses, fancy shoes, crowns, and cotton candy?

Rapunzel.

Cinderella's grande finale.

Rapunzel's grande finale.

Mulan making her first and only appearance.

Disney may have it's faults, I don't really know? But last night they surely made my little girls dreams come true!

Checking out her loot from the show. She was happy, and I was happy because she was happy! Makes for a wonderful evening.