Friday family night

E had a blast yesterday celebrating her friend Hannah's birthday. After lunch, Stacey took the girls to Club Libby Lu for a makeover. They both got pampered and had their hair (a libby du) and nails done and were treated like princesses for the afternoon. They ended the day with birthday cake! Hmmm...she is getting so spoiled these days.

The Girlz

Birthday Girl Before

E before

...and after

Best friends

Washer Update: I have been doing two loads of laundry a day for the past two days, with no water collecting in the tray underneath. So, I guess we're good for a little while longer, anyway. What can I say? I am absolutely thrilled not to have to go appliance shopping....

...especially since I stayed up last night till 2:30 AM researching car booster seats and spent the afternoon booster seat shopping. Yes, it's true, it seems A is outgrowing her Britax roundabout (handed down three times), so I can graduate her up to the Britax Wizard and E to a true booster and something a little more portable too (since she's five now). After hours of research, I narrowed it down to five choices: 1) Britax Regent in Madison pattern, 2) Britax Frontier in Pink Sky pattern (this one is airline approved) 3) Graco Turbo Booster Safeseat Step 3 in Talia pattern 4) Compass B510 in Daisy pattern 5) Graco Nautilus 3-in-1 carseat (the patterns were ugly). I almost went with one of the Britax seats, because they were 5 point and safer, plus I thought it would be easier for E to buckle them (wouldn't have to fish around underneath the seat for the seat belt latch). But they were sooo much more expensive ($200 more to be exact) (and safe), and bulkier (and safe), and heavier (and safe) and would probably defeat the purpose of getting a booster seat in the first place (convenience). Now, I'm not opposed to spending extra money for safety, but the extra bulk deterred me somewhat. Plus I figured, I can always buy one later and use the one I purchased today for travel in other cars besides the minivan. Well, what (really) finally persuaded me? I had placed the choices in my shopping basket at Amazon.com. When I logged on today to do more research, I noticed a message that since I placed the Compass in my basket the price had gone down (I ended up paying $77 which is $99 everywhere else). That's all it took to convince me! That, and the fact that N already has this booster in the giraffe pattern. (The free shipping and zero sales tax helped too). Of course I won't get it for 10-14 days, but I'm in no big hurry. I just looked again and the price has gone back up to $91 (on the same day), so it must be a supply/demand thing. I am curious, I wonder how they determine their price changes, anyone out there have that information?

Potty training update: Success today! It carries such a high price, though. After discussing the potty-training matter with friend Stacey yesterday, I decided today would be NO DIAPERS. So first thing this morning the diaper was off and the panties (with skirt) on. Swim lessons-a success (no accidents), shopping at Target (big puddle accident in the sports section at back of store). After finding a sales associate and explaining the "situation" (with my head hung low), I almost gave up for the day, and it was only 10 am, but decided to march on (no pain, no gain, right?). Lucky for me, I had the wisdom and foresight to bring a change of panties shopping with us -and a pair of give-ups pull-ups too. Also a plastic grocery bag to lay on the carseat. So after two more (smaller) accidents at home, we finally made progress with a few small squirts on the potty chair (each 5 minutes apart, and each requiring it's own individual celebration). I put a diaper on for naptime (soaked of course). Then afternoon potty time commenced. Several hours and one accident later (p.s. I made her wipe them up herself, excluding Target) we made a leap with several ounces in the potty chair. See photo below.

The kids adopted a new pet. They've been keeping "Snailey" captive for a few days now in their critter case. Today I decided it was time to let him go, since we didn't really know how to care for him. I had the kids misting him with a spray bottle periodically, but I'm not sure if he was happy, or being drowned. I didn't know what exactly snails eat (I thought it was decaying matter, but it turns out they eat living plants, too). So, as compassionate as I am, I had them find the darkest, coolest spot in the yard (where all the other snails hang out) and release him.

"Snailey (in da house)"

This elusive creature has been sneaking in our backyard and eating all the herbs from the garden!

Fridays are supposed to be family nights, but today Daddy had to work late, so we had to do game-night alone. I could have taken the kids to the park for the free community film festival (they were showing the Bee movie), but it just didn't appeal to me. I just hate having to carry everything by myself, and it gets so dark outside I don't want to lose any of them. So instead we played one of N's favorites, Monopoly Jr. Dig 'n Dinos (this game is retired, they don't make it anymore).