"I'm glad to have you"

This is what I said to Mom the other night out of the blue .. though that's just how it looked to her. It really wasn't out of the blue, but rather because of her awesome face painting skills she has recently acquired. 

Backing up a bit ... I won a gift card to a local toy shop from our pediatrician's office over the summer. We basically forgot about it, and it got lost in the pit of Mom's purse for about a month. The other day, I pulled out this neon green envelope and asked what it was ... "Oh, that's your gift card to the toy shop," Mom says nonchalantly, like it's no big deal it has just been sitting there - unused - this whole time. She then proceeds to tell me it is for $50! Not just chump change by any means. So that week after school one day, we scheduled a stop at the toy store. 

The first thing I grabbed was this book about face painting. 

Mom was skeptical because it took up half my budget, but I think she now agrees it was worth the money as it has provided hours of entertainment already.

The first designs we tackled were some rainbows on the arm and rockets on the cheek.

The next day, it was a butterfly and shark

 And a quick sidebar about the ridiculous amount of rain we've been getting... everyone's basements are full of water and the streets are flooding, it's crazy! But Maida inherited this Thomas rain outfit from our friend, Ford, (really meant for Foster, but it fits Maida to a T right now, so she may as well wear it) and the girl has just been playing in the rain ever since.

Then on Saturday we headed over to our cousin's house to celebrate her 2nd birthday. I rocked a pirate eye patch for the party.

Sayler wasn't too sure what to make of everyone singing to her

Maida had some fun times in the bouncy house 

I assisted with the present opening, of course

Even Mimi took a turn in the bouncy house!

We'll be seeing them again soon, because Sayler is about to become a big sister here any day - can't wait to meet our newest cousin and welcome her to this motley crew!