(More than) Fourinarow.net

I’m not talking about the edible ones.  Although, now that I think about it, maybe I’ll make some tomorrow.  Yum!
Today was Maria’s first official day as a Brownie.  She has been looking forward to it ALL YEAR.  The boys start at the beginning of first grade, but the girls have to wait until the new [...]

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Maria and I just got home from spending the weekend in Tampa, FL.  Neither of us had ever been, so we were thrilled to be “obligated” to go for our newest Goddaughter’s baptism.
It was odd, going from winter to summer in just a few hours.  The climate was wonderful – warm and balmy and breezy.  [...]

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I never really considered myself vain.  Okay, maybe a little in high school.  But that ended quickly enough and by senior year in college, I was voted “Looks most like she just rolled out of bed.” I grew out of the rumpled stage when I entered the work world and looking presentable was required.  But, [...]

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My “little” brother got married over the weekend.  In Texas.  Approximately 905 miles from our house in Chicagoland.  We HAD to go – not only because it was my brother, but because he had asked Maria to share the responsibility of being a flower girl with her cousin Lucie.
My mom generously offered to fly us, [...]

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My good friend Troy called me last night.  I was a little surprised to hear from her.  The baby isn’t due to be born until December 22nd, and Kyle is home on his mid-tour break from Afghanistan.  No way should she be taking time away from her family right now to talk to me!
Anyway, she [...]

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My dear, wonderful, fun friend Kristina made The Cut today.
For the past year she’s been growing out her long, thick, beautiful black (or nearly black) hair for Locks of Love. It has apparently been somewhat of a struggle, as it takes quite some time to dry and can be difficult to style (although I [...]

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Over the weekend, Maria saw a blurb on TV that showed some girls dressing up their jeans with iron ons, bows and paint. “I want to paint my jeans!” She told me.
Hobby Lobby (our only craft store) is closed on Sundays, so, daredevil that I am, I took Sam and Luke to Hobby [...]

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From the book, Do Princesses Wear Hiking Boots?
Daddy, do princesses eat the crusts of their bread?
They feed them to the ducks instead.
Yesterday for lunch, Maria requested cinnamon toast.
Maria (as she’s polishing off the first piece – except, of course, for the crust): I have an idea, Mama.
Me: What?
Maria: Let’s pretend cheerio [...]

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So. Maria and I found ourselves with little to do the other afternoon while The Little Boys were (thankfully) napping.
I decided that it would be fun for us to give ourselves curly hair! I got all excited and asked Maria if she wanted to make her hair curly! After explaining that I’d [...]

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Cousin Gwen came and went. Safely, I might add. I don’t think she ended up with any permanent damage from her visit with us.

While she was here, we were able to get some quality girl time in. Gwen, Maria and I played the Pretty Princess game. Maria won. (Gwen really won but we kept playing.) [...]

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