AWESOME PICTURE of the WEEK

Look who's WALKING!!!!!!!



It's still a little intermittent, but he's definitely taking steps, all day long. And you can tell from the top shot, he's VERY proud of himself.

...mullet and all...

Hair 'issues'

If you've EVER met our family OR even just seen pictures, you know there are some hair 'issues' here. All 3 kids were born basically bald and stayed that way until about 2 years old (for both girls) and right about the year mark for Mitchell... I cut Elise's hair once (like 18 months ago) and it was DISASTROUS. I did a blog about it, but don't know how to do that fancy link-to-something-else-in-the-text, so use your imagination. It was a bad haircut. So I'm a little scissor-shy after that last incident.
We've never cut Ainsley's hair- not one strand. She was SO BALD up until 2 and then in the last 6 months or so, she's actually getting a bunch of hair...but it's pretty scraggly looking. Ok, REALLY scraggly looking. I try bows, headbands, hairspray, mousse sometimes, but it's really just useless...it's so uneven, she's got some mind-of-their-own curls (hmmm...no idea where THAT came from!?), and NO patience for mommy to work on it.
She went down for a nap a few weeks ago with a little bit of wet hair (mid-day bath? not likely..maybe it was syrup or peanut butter in the tresses. That sounds more probable.) and woke up with a HAIRDO that HAD TO BE IMMEDIATELY CAPTURED ON FILM...seriously.

She's still 1/2 asleep here, but I had to get proof of this look.

I PROMISE PROMISE PROMISE that I did NOT stage this at all!

Here's after a few more minutes and she realized Elise and I weren't laughing AT HER (ok, not in a mean way at least...)...and it's a better angle with light/color behind her to get the full effect.
Man, she is a funny kid. Stubborn and exhausting, but funny. =)

She's not alone, though. Her brother is still rocking the SKULLET, and it's actually getting better. (or worse, depending on how you feel about HORRIBLE hair on a baby).



Elise, however, is the one shining star in the hair department of Moseley kids right now. On a total whim a couple weeks ago, she said she wanted her hair cut a little... I thought, "I can do it this time...it's much longer than the last attempt, there's more room for someone else to fix it once I mess up...". So, I just cut off about 4 inches straight across the bottom, then did some of the little 'texturizing' stuff they always do to my hair, and it worked! She loves it and I think it's precious.

The day before the cut...it was SO long! And she's wearing a gorgeous hand-made outfit from a friend of mine. It's a tunic/long shirt on Elise and Ainsley wears it as a dress. Beautiful!


Immediately after the haircut.

oh, man...

I'm so behind on this thing. It bothers me for two reasons when I'm behind...1.I hate to disappoint my 'fans'...ok, our family + about 3 other people. and 2.This really is our (online) photo album and keeps things in order in my head to have pictures, stories of our hysterical kids/life, and dates all in one place. (So, in theory, when I get around to updating the kids' baby books, this is a huge help)...

Ok, I'll just throw up a smattering of pics/stories from around the house this past month:


For Mitchell's 1st birthday, my great friend Erica F MADE this adorable (A-DOR-A-BLE) little froggy for him. It's a tennis ball in the middle and SO CUTE!


It's quickly turned into one of his favorite bed-friends and he giggles whenever I hold it out to him. It's like his own little secret with froggy...so cute. Thanks, EF!!


Ainsley MAY be one of the most stubborn kids on the planet. She asked for a banana with lunch one day about 2 weeks ago. I asked again "Ainsley, are you SURE you want it?" because she's already eaten a full lunch. She said "Yes, I sure." So, I gave it to her and she immediately handed it back to me and said, "No, i not hungry now." WRONG ANSWER, kiddo.

She stayed at the table for ONE HOUR and TWENTY MINUTES longer (almost 2 hours total for a weekday lunch). I didn't give in, she was crying, laughing, angry, etc... but there was NO WAY she was getting out of this one.

...halfway through the event....

but ATE THE WHOLE THING. And she was so proud of herself...all this over a banana.

The whole time she was at the table, Mitchell, Elise and I had exaggerated "fun" without her, Elise pretended she was a cheerleader, etc...

Mommy won that day.

Today:

I hate doing blogposts out of chronological order, but I had to put this one up right now.

The 'Controlling' part of me always wants to pick out my kids' outfits, especially on school days and church days... (So, they can choose on Saturdays, ok!?!). But the 'I want them to express themselves within reason' side of me LOVES when they choose whole outfit by themselves... This morning for church was a "Choose your own outfit" day for Ainsley. And as a friend working in the nursery commented, "She's kind of channeling Rainbow Brite from the mid-80's". Although there are a few differences, the overall thought is right on!


Complete with the Silly Bandz (OBNOXIOUS jelly bracelets that are back in style. they were a gift...i DID NOT BUY them...), adorable leggings, and a dress-that-is-really-too-short-but-throw-on-some-leggings-and-you'll-get-another-6-months-out-of-it! woohoo for having little girls! You can't pull that one off with a boy... I also love the last-years-jeans-are-now-capris trick!


Then, of course, is Ainsley's go-to face for pictures:

And the best part is the Bed-Head she was sporting after naptime! This kid has crazy hair and I have no idea what to do with it right now...

First day of school

Kind of the 'first day', at least. Elise goes to preschool 5 days/week. Ainsley goes one day only. I bought them a matching outfit (yay for CLEARANCE rack at Gymboree!!!), which is so not 'us'... but this fabric was so cute and they both loved it. Anyway, it was Elise's 5th day of school or something, but the first day for Ainsley. They both ADORE their teachers and seem to be doing well. Here's how the 2 minute photo session went:

"ok, girls. Smile. It's the first day of school together!!"

"Really. Elise. I know you're not a Morning Person, but try to fake it, ok!?" she HATES waking up...


"I'll give you both a lollipop if you just smile for a COUPLE QUICK seconds."
Whatever works somedays, right?!


Then I threw Mitchell in just b/c they all looked so darn cute. =)
...hmmm... this picture may resurface on a Christmas card...pretend you never saw it. =)

oh yeah, we went on 'vacation'...

We went to SC for a long weekend to visit friends and just 'get away' for a little bit. We learned that weekend (3 weeks ago now...oops) that we can't really call it a 'vacation' for a few years. Kids were pretty horrible in the car on the 8 hour drive there, sleeping situation was less than ideal, etc...and we probably won't do a trip like that for another year or so. BUT, it was AMAZING to catch up with some friends that are so, so dear to us. Unfortunately, we didn't take nearly enough pictures... OF COURSE. Here are a few:

On Saturday, one of Elise's buddies had her 5th Birthday party at our FAVORITE location in the city...the wonderful, wonderful, Children's museum... all three kids (and both parents) enjoyed it!
Adam and Elise enjoyed a quiet 'rest time' together on Saturday afternoon...I think that's the only "vacation-y" thing we actually did!

Elise and her best, best buddy spent TONS of time together and this is really the only picture we took! The girls decorated cupcakes for a Labor Day cookout. It was cute. Elise was on CLOUD NINE to be back around Kristina again. It was precious to watch...


The girls also had their FIRST SLEEPOVER!!!!!!! We had Kristina come over to "our" house (really our wonderful friend who was out of town- their house...) for the night. Kristina was perfect and went right to sleep. Elise dozed pretty quickly, but AINSLEY (really no surprise for anyone who knows her!!!) was giggly, mischievous, and overall T.R.O.U.B.L.E. That kid was awake until almost 11pm. really!!? She's never been awake past 9 before... so, she was awake the next morning and and 'faking it' while the other two were still snoozing... it was cute. =)

Birthday messes...

After an email from my dad, I thought to go through old iPhoto files to actually compare the pictures we have of each kid on their first birthday. Turns out, Mitchell was DEFINITELY the messiest. Elise, who loves to get messy and muddy now, didn't make a mess AT ALL at her first birthday in Japan. Ainsley is ok with messes SOMEDAYS, but seemed to enjoy her first bday with a cute pink cake. And Mitchell CLEARLY had the greatest hair as he celebrated his big first birthday! All were adorable and it's always fun to reminisce a little...


Elise

Ainsley

Mitchell