the norm

in our house, it's the norm to vacuum in heels and a tutu.even though our mommy has NO idea where we learned this.

 

it's totally fine to play outside in a princess dress and galoshes (when there's nary a puddle in sight):

 

we pass our time by giving pedicures:

 

and eating popsicles (even when it's cold outside):

 

it's the norm to make faces like these at mommy:

 

 

to wear outfits that make us look like majorettes:

 

and to have bed head all day long:

 

some days (moments, really), we are best friends.

but the norm, most days, is that one of us isn't into the other. and we want NOTHING to do with sister.

we want to do everything BY OURSELVES!!!!

SHE TOUCHED ME MOMMMMMMYYY! SHE LOOKED AT ME FUNNNYYYY!!!

 

but moments like those are turning into more and more moments like these...

 

and although sometimes it's really crazy and GIRLIE around here...

it's the norm and we wouldn't have it any other way.

happy thursday! xo

 

Comments

[Sherry Cartwright]

This post made me giggle out loud as most of our days are filled with cute kid antics, too. Gotta love moments like this --- priceless.

The photos make my heart smile.

[Kristen Welker Cox]

they are so precious! i love harpers head down on her bike. haaaa! so funny those 2. =) please please have more of those babies!!

[Jessica Turner]

I love your sweet girls. :) They make me smile.

[Beth Ann]

ah Steph thanks for sharing these pics and a little piece of your life. it always makes me smile!

[Kim]

Ahh. Finding the gifts in an otherwise ordinary day. I love it.

[Samantha]

this makes me want some of my own :) I love the way you put these feelings and events into words.

[Steph H]

Happy Thursday indeed.
Nothing like some Howell girls to make me giggle and put a smile on my face.

[Tiffany Johnson]

You have a beautiful family! I'm sure we'll see these photos on an awesome layout soon!

[tara pakosta]

Before you know it, they won't be
into those dress ups, so take as MANY pix
as you can possibly get, and when you think
you took too many, take some more!
I miss those stages soooooooo much, my girls were
always in outfits, and I miss those days! seems like yesterday but it was already 3 years ago>!
I adore every single one of these pix, stephanie!
tara

[Lori Renn]

I am drowning in testosterone with my three boys so thank you!! I really needed a heavy dose of girly today! :)

[Ki Kruk]

This was an absolute pleasure to read and brought a smile to my face - a big one!

[Robin Greene]

The pictures are just priceless! How prescious! My girls are 6 and 14 and still can not get along! LOL! Although, I do have some sweet moments on film! They are few and far between. We are looking forward to getting snow tomorrow. We live in Warner Robins, GA. and I think Columbus is going to get more than we do. That is, if we get it at all! Fingers crossed!

[Angie F]

Love all the dress up stuff!! We are pretty big into dress up here too. FUN!! :) Thanks for sharing!

[Teri]

Your kids are so dang cute. =) I'm glad you can see the fun mommy moments while their young.

[Kami]

Get out!! You are so adorable and funny!!! Those girls make me smile SO much!!! I love that you write it as it is, because really that is life - crazy, sweet, insane, and oh so beautiful!!! Thank you as always for brightening my day!!!

[Lisa]

OMG! The fringe skirt/majorette outfit. To DIE FOR!!! If only I could look that cute in something like that, I would NEVER take it off. Might even vacuum too. :O)

[Kelly]

hee - first i love the the word "nary" ;)

and second...I LOVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE those girls! They seriously melt my heart and I miss them....and you, too, of course ;)

xoxo

[Tamara Nicole]

I LOVE THIS! I can't wait to have girls so we can be all girly together:-)

Lovely photos! Jsut know it gets better and better as they get older. My sister and I would fight all the time, but now we're the best of friends!

[Colleen S.]

They are such dolls!

[QSOgirl]

this post brought tears to my eyes.... your girls are so sweet

[lisa truesdell]

i love that your house is the opposite of mine, yet so the same. ;)

[Holly]

How lucky your girls are to have you as a mommy!!! Its obvious you are teaching them and allowing them to enjoy life to the fullest!!! And when they are in their early teens, all the sweet photos will remind you all that some days they really did like each other!!! Thank you for sharing!!!

[susan]

This is just priceless! Thanks for sharing Stephanie!

[Avital]

Oh, what a precious post. It's my favorite post so far and the competition among your posts is huge. Gigantic even. If the norm or everyday life wouldn't be the most precious - by being able to make all these sensitive and soulful observation - then what meaning would our life have?

thank you. Thank you. Thank you!

[Account Deleted]

What sweet photos of your girls! TFS!

[j.leija]

what lovely little girls! you are truly blessed!

[Missy]

This is so my life as well...the similaraties are uncanny!

[Betsey]

I can't believe how all of a sudden Sadie looks so grown up...too cute! Love that you allow them to just 'be themselves'. The pictures truly are priceless. love it!

[MandyK]

Love posts like today!Visits to your blog make me smile!Hope you have a lovely day!xx

[Lynn]

Love the faces photos, so funny! Maybe they learned how to vacuum from Freddie Mercury :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eM8Ss28zjcE&feature=fvw

[reyanna]

Awwwwwww! For cryin' in the mud, your girls are the CUTEST!!! Thank you BUNCHES for posting so many photos of them! I miss them. *sniff*

[Kimber-Leigh]

all of a sudden, sadie is looking so grown up. doesn't it happen overnight?!?!? such precious sisters. and we practically live in dressup clothes over here too. (thankfully, nathanael claims he's the prince and has nothing to do with the dresses other than adore his sisters in them!)

[stephanie]

good post!!!!

[Keshet]

Love this!

[Carol]

sisters are the best!!!
i have two not so little girls who weren't always into each other either, but now at 7 & 9, they are the best of friends. most the time ;)

[Jen]

So it has been a year since I have been reading your blog and I have a question...When did Sadie grow? Seriously? I swear she isn't looking so baby anymore but more like a little girl. They both are precious.

[Haidee]

***********I enjoyed these pictures of your family. Sometimes we do need to sit back & just enjoy the times with each otherregardless if it's good or bad. Taking the pictures of the girls of all their feelings makes a memory of a life time!! Thanks for sharing!!!! :)***********

[Haidee]

***********I enjoyed these pictures of your family. Sometimes we do need to sit back & just enjoy the times with each other regardless if it's good or bad. Taking the pictures of the girls of all their feelings makes a memory of a life time!! Thanks for sharing!!!! :)***********

[Cass]

So so cute! Enjoy them!

[C. Rayevich]

God bless lil' girls! They are the best!!! =D
xo

[Lori Borntreger]

Love this post!!! Such beautiful girls, such beautiful photos!!!

[Sarah]

All of it is beautiful because it is the specialness of the ordinary. Great pics!

[lisa]

AWESOME post. Gave me a huge giggle looking at all photos from today. Thanks!

[Katie Burnett]

I love the fact that they wear a crown with EVERYTHING!!!! Even multiple crowns (or crown plus headband) bc really, you can never be enough of a princess. Precious photos.

[amy]

Stephanie, your post made my hurting, troubled heart and soul a little sweeter. Thank you for that tonight. Your girls are so sweet...just like their mama.

[Kellie Dugan]

How stinking cute! I can tell yall have so much fun. You must carry that camera around your neck 24/7 to get those funny shots. Or are you one of those parents that have them trained to stop and repeat? Whatever your method, your great! I hope yall enjoy the snow. We are on the north part of town in Col. and I can't wait. Take some more great pictures.

[Andrea]

I absolutely love reading your posts, your honesty mixed with a touch of humor is just what I use to get me through the day. Your girls are gorgoeus, your home looks like fun and I can't wait to read more!!! Keep up the good work.

[Erin R.]

Girlie is so precious though and (while I absolutely adore having a little boy) it makes me just a bit jealous for all of the sweet girliness that you are able to share with your girls. :o)

[sharron]

They are too sweet..you are blessed..

[Vivian]

Oh my word - totally LOVED this!
Maybe the tutu makes vacuuming more fun?
I might have to try that......

[Jill Sprott]

Heart officially WARMED.

[Cortney]

Hi Stephanie,
I'm a new subscriber to your blog, and I *love* it! I've got two boys and an ex-Navy husband, so I never get tutu/pedicure/tiara moments. Thanks for the vicarious peek into an estrogen-ladened household!
Cortney

[bluemoon]

Hi Stephanie, I cannot believe how big your youngest baby has gotten before our very eyes. They're both so sweet and adorable, how lucky you are.

Once upon a time... there lived 2 little princesses...

[Julia, the french girl]

Read your post the morning make me smile for the day. This pictures are so cute and your girls are beautiful.
I haven't let a comm when you have talk about a new baby. I think that if you ask the question to know if you are ready, it is that you are. I have 2 boys and I like it, I wish for you that you can have one. Kisses.

[mel brewin]

Too too cute!!!

me xx

[Maria Elena]

Sweet pictures, sweet girls .....a great day

[Stephanie Howell]

ha! neither. most of those  moments were in my scrap room, which they have made into their play room, which is where i keep my camera (which is a FAST camera) heee xo

[Lisa Day]

You are so sweet Steph! I love that you capture these moments and see the preciousness in them!I can relate to all of them! I just need to learn to capture them!! Your girls get more beautiful everyday!!

[Carrie]

I love the girlie stuff! It never gets old. Thanks for the smiles! xoxo

[Stéphanie Pouliot]

The pictures of your girls are adorable!!! Thanks for sharing!

[Kacie]

They are so darn cute. Thanks for making my heart smile this morning :)

[Ana F.]

Thank you for this post, Stephanie. Having 2 boys, it's nice to experience a little pink once in a while. Adorable.

[Bree]

my home is so boyish and tomboyish, these pictures just warm my heart :-)

[Jessica]

Those pictures of S vacuuming are adorable (as all of your pictures are)! She doesn't look like a baby anymore!

[Danielle]

Love the photo's--so so precious! I have two younger sisters and we used to wear my poor mom out with your constant fighting and all that....BUT now we are the best of friends and I wouldn't trade them for the world!

[Danielle]

*our I canNOT type today :)

[Mustangkayla]

What a cute post! LOVE all the photos!

[cindy johnston]

I love reading your blog! tfs with us all

[Mandy Ni B]

awww whata post! beautiful and so true....pictures and simple things like this put everything in prespective, thanks for sharing :)

[debbi]

Your photos capture so much that words can't say. Just precious.

[breanne and madelyn]

this post made me so happy i have a girl!!

[vanessa]

love this post :)
too funny
too true even for brothers...well minus the dresses and the pedicures and mostly the love & hate relationships :)

[La grande cupcake]

Man I love your pictures!!!!!

[Account Deleted]

LOL! Love these pics and your girls are the cutest ever!!
I should so try the vacuum technique - looks like so much fun! ;)

[Andrea T.]

I know that you snuck into my house and took notes!! My girls are just the same way . . . but I wouldn't have it any other way! I love reading your posts . . . you are so honest and thoughtful!

[Angela W]

Wonderful, sweet post, Stephanie! It is so cute seeing how your girls are and what they do. Especially since I just have boys!