Do they have different personalities?

Um...Yeah!

I love how strangers are always asking me in stores or such this question. They do like many of the same things, but in such different ways. Right now, we are in a big fashion and hygiene phase. They both want a lot of control in what they wear and how their hair looks. However, we are manifesting this very differently. Each morning, I lay out four or five different clothing options. Joiner can always find a choice she likes and quickly puts it on. Carly stares at the floor for at least five minutes with her finger on her cheek pondering. When she does speak it is to barter the choices in some way. She may like a pair of shorts that I have put out, but none of the shirts. Can she pick another? If I let her into the drawer, and I have made this mistake, she will take another hour. This is outfit #1. We have a 1 outfit a day policy. If you get unreasonably wet or dirty for some reason, you can change. They have learned this and I think sometimes strive to get so dirty they can change clothes. Then we start all over.

Now the hair...I have made them wear a choice of a ponytail, piggy tails, or a princess bun all summer because of the heat. Each morning we go over what they want me to do to their hair. Then they choose the clip they want for their "bangs." So Carly likes clips and wants it to be just the way she imagined it. She tells me at length where she wants the clip. Then I put it in her hair and she feels it and looks in the mirror and usually needs an adjustment. Joiner prefers head bands and likes to do it herself. She puts the hairband on all the way back them rakes it forward to pull all the hair onto her forehead. The result is one child has stepford-wife-like hair and one looks like a punk rocker. See, same interests, but a completely different manifestation.

I will say that I totally relate to Carly's need for things to be "just right." Andy calls them my systems and if ever a child had a system, then it is Carly. So Carly is teaching me patience with a small version of myself and Joiner's need for control when it so differs from mine is teaching me patience with others when things are not "just right." I wouldn't change it for the world.

This is Joiner Saturday in her self-styled outfit of a tank top and shorts, Gigi watch, and headband. She didn't understand why I wanted to take a picture.

Carly's back. She is wearing her "whatamaula" dress. I bought it in Asheville from a vendor that has these fairly traded dresses and blouses from Guatemala. It was a dress last year, but more of a tunic this year. She doesn't have to wear shorts while we are home, but she has to put them on when we leave. This is a battle every time.

Here is the front of Carly's hair. She was not happy with me. She wanted to be able to hold her shoe in front of her face and I told her it defeated the purpose. We do have a picture with the shoe in front of her face, but I am not posting it.

Dance Night With Daddy

We had a dance night on Saturday. We are going through a phase and want to be naked after dinner. We compromise with keeping our undies on. They will surely regret these pictures later, but they show our true natures. I love the ones where Daddy is letting go. People think he is so quiet, but oh no.

Salon Day

The girls had their second hair cut EVER today. I took them to the wonderful woman who cuts my hair and they were so excited. They wore special dresses and had to tell everyone about it. We went to New Balance beforehand and they told the salesman that they were getting a "big girl" haircut. Their hair looks great. They both had a bunch taken off but it is still well below their shoulders.

Carly in the chair

Carly getting her "standing" hair cut.

Joiner standing up so Amber can get to the back of her hair.

Joiner in the chair. She can't stop looking at herself.

Here is the finished "do." Joiner said that she looked like a princess. Carly said she was Cinderella.

Movie-trying again

A movie theatre in town was showing kids movies from years back this summer at a discounted rate. For $3 you got to see the movie, a box of (very old) popcorn, and a drink. We didn't do great with our first movie, but a huge bunch of our friends were going to see Madagascar 2 for the last movie of the summer and we joined them. I think this is the only popcorn Joiner ate, and Carly ate none. They just held the box and stared straight ahead the whole time. It is not as dark as a normal movie and really lively, with 300 or so kids talking and laughing!! They told Mrs. Zette that is was a little scary, but overall, I think this time was a success.

(You can see how much they hate the light that comes with the flash)

Princess Night and Cow Night

Chik-Fil-A has family nights on Tuesdays and our friend Stefanie let us know that one was having a Princess Night. Well, you know our princesses. We threw on our dresses and headed to have reduced kids meals and to stare at the beautiful princess who was there to make crafts.

Having our picture made with Ariel.

I don't think Joiner could believe her good fortune.

Doing crafts with Ariel

Every year, Chik-Fil-A has Cow Appreciation Day and if you dress like a cow then you get a free meal. Our whole family dresses up and we eat for $.64, the cost of adding fruit instead of fries. It is also a lot of fun to see how big of a fool you are willing to make out of yourself in order to get free food. We each wore a spotted shirt, ears, a plastic glove udder, and a sign. Apparently we are willing to do just about anything for free food!

Joiner in her costume with a real cow.

Hugging the cow. This is a big deal for us. It wasn't too long ago that we wouldn't even look at him as he passed our table.

Dance Camp Recital

Today was the day we have been waiting for. It was the recital for our Princess Dance Camp. The girls were so excited. They both did so well, although Joiner had some stage fright. Daddy couldn't make it so we showed him the video and then we did all our dances for him live. This was what Joiner was waiting for I guess. Our friends Ellison and Makena were part of the show as well.

Waiting in the wings before the show.

Doing our tap dance.

Joiner coming on stage

Carly and others at the final bow

Joiner and some of the group for the final bow

Posing with our flowers and the castle

Our Dancers

We have two very excited ballerinas. They have been anticipating Dance Camp since I misguidedly told them about it in May. I thought it might ease the loss of school for the summer, but it only made us very anxious about when this would start. They are taking ballet, tap, and making crafts all week. I had planned to stay and watch them some, but it is impossible to see them in their room, so I leave and do things for the two hours. They have a recitial on Friday, so I look forward to that.

Day two of Dance Camp. I didn't get a picture of yesterday, but better late than never. They aren't both looking at the camera, but that rarely happens.

These pictures are of the girls attending a "big girl" class at the NC School of the Arts during their week of camp at school. It is the highlight of their week at camp.

Watching the dancers at NCSA. I don't think they moved the whole time

Practicing at home after camp. We needed to put on our leotards.

We are using the panelling as a barre. Very creative.

Practicing at home.

Check out the leg lifts. This is a direct imitation of the big girls we saw.

More watching the dancers at NCSA