because i said so

the girls started new, more formal, journals for the new year and they really have trouble with the concept that their words and drawings have to stay in the book. their instinct is to rip out every page and tape it to their bedroom wall. or really any surface in the house will do. i throw a lot of masterpieces away. what i really should be doing is burning it after they go to bed, the better to avoid this recurring scenario:

Ally: MOM! YOU THREW AWAY MY HOMEWORK?!

Me: What? How did that get in there. Oh, dear. What a terrible mistake. Let's get that out of there immediately.

Ally: MOM! WHY DID YOU THROW AWAY MY WORK?!

Me: Whew. It's a good thing you came along when you did and found that. We just averted disaster. Thank you so much.

Ally: {stomps off indignantly, smoothing out drawing and looking for the tape.}

they make so much wonderful stuff, and also many, many pages of identical stick figures and bland smiley faces (Ally often does her work in triplicate so we can each have our own copy). Liv's faces are actually kind of miraculous. i'll have to scan some examples, but what makes them so special is how they all capture her own personality; they all have this wistful, kindly quality. they're neckless, but they give the impression of heads cocked to one side in reflection. she went one day from shapeless scribbles to these soulful self-portraits.

Ally had her first sleepover last week at her friend Sasha's house. she made a list of acceptable sleepover activities, which included a pillow fight, and her list of items to bring was carefully illustrated. i am told all went well. tonight Lauren took Liv home for her own sleepover.

we've been drinking hot chocolate today because it's chilly by our standards. my girls are physically incapable of keeping shoes or socks on their feet, no matter the weather, but i insisted today. Ally made a nice hopscotch game outside and has been calling her best friend Hannah repeatedly on my phone, feeling like a big girl. she started Drama Club at her elementary school last week and they're preparing to be munchkins in The Wiz.

also in this post: pictures from my birthday. bim found peonies in December! oh, and that is a zinger cake. yes, it is. if you're inclined to count candles, i will give you a hint. THIRTY-FIVE.