Fashion Making Girls Grow Up Too Soon

My daughter has always been at the top of the height charts. She is almost 6 and wearing a 7/8. Nothing wrong with having a tall child, except once you get into the big kid sizes the fashion industry thinks that you want your daughter to dress like a pre-teen/whore.

Shopping for Easter dresses is a project. I like the cute dresses that look like this:
They stop making these dresses after size 6x. The dresses in most stores look like prom dresses or street walkers. That is why I'll pay more to shop at Gymboree or Land's End because they still carry cute clothes in the bigger sizes.

Have you seen the push up bikini top that Abercrombie Kids is pushing? Sizes start with small (the equivalent of size 7.) First of all, what are these little girls pushing up? I know puberty starts earlier but most kids sized small are not developed yet. Who on earth wants their kids pushing their bosom's up that young or ever?
Today, I saw a commercial for Sketcher's Shape-Ups shoes for girls. Really? Is that the message you want to send your daughters? You should wear these shoes to tone your booty. I don't beleive they really work but the message you send by buying these for a young girl can be beyond damaging. If you daughter is overweight, change the way the family eats and find fun ways to exercise together.
Seeing fashion items like these makes me sad. Why can't we let little girls look and act like little girls? I hope my daughter doesn't have to think about how shapely her butt is and pushing up her chest for a long, long time.

Nature Walk

Caitlin and I went for a walk at a linear park a day after the torrential rains. We were happy to get out of the house even if the weather was still a little dreary.Caitlin likes to "fly" on the trails.

The long grasses that got pushed down by all the water.

Caitlin stopped to write down observations like her favorite explorers from the Magic Tree House books.

We stopped for a Reeses break. That is my kind of walk.

There were lots of downed branches and twigs. Caitlin spotted this letter "F."

Pretty grass.

Caitlin commented that this tree looks like it might house a leprechaun. I couldn't help but edit one in.

Go to Living and Learning for more posts on Nature Connections.

Another Last Minute Shot

Join the year long challenge of getting yourself in the photo at Diary of a Church Lady. You won't regret it. This is photo 2/52 for me.

Crooked Smile

Do you think the Tooth Fairy will come soon?

Check out more wordless at 5 Minutes for Mom, Momspective, A Beautiful Mess and Wordless Wednesday for more wordless photos.

Bring on Spring!

While I have seen some flowers in other people's yards, I found the first bloom in our yard this week. This little bloom gives me hope that spring will come soon and we can pack those winter coats, gloves, and hats away.

Be sure to go Leigh vs Laundry to see more photos that are bound to make you happy. This is 4/52 for me.

Breakfast and Books

We are lucky that Dave works from home twice a week. We are really lucky that the kids are in school at the same time on those days. That let's us have some quality alone time and have an outside of the house date if we want.

This week I made breakfast for us. We had yummy egg scrambles. We then went to the library to return books and get some new ones. Dave got books on playing guitar. He just started taking lessons. I got some books on the South Beach Diet. I tried to explain what a carbohydrate is to Dave. A man with a good metabolism can not seem to comprehend not eating carbs. I also got The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. I can't wait to read it.

While this is a sorta mundane date, it was also good. We had time to really look for books in the library without children begging to go play at the train table. We got to discuss books and interests. We also got to just relax while we ate breakfast. The whole point of dating your spouse is to stay connected. I think we are doing that pretty well.

This was date 49 out 52 for us.

Project 365

This week it was warm enough for flip flops and then cold enough for spring snow. The kids made some modern art and gave kisses. I went to the spa with a friend, saw flowers bloom, and the early morning light on the tree. I saw a cute chipmunk pose in the bonus shot.

Join NapTime MomTog to view more project 365 posts or to join yourself.

Be sure to check out The Daily Wyatt for more great photos.

Shoot Me Again!

I just finished 52 weeks of the Shoot Me Challenge. I liked it so much I'm starting another year. This shot was taken last week at the spa by my friend, Amy. Do I look relaxed? I totally was.
Join the year long challenge of getting yourself in the photo at Diary of a Church Lady. You won't regret it.

Signs of Spring

Check out more wordless at 5 Minutes for Mom, Momspective, A Beautiful Mess and Wordless Wednesday for more wordless photos.

A Spa Get Away and the Walking Date

This weekend I had a girls weekend with one of my oldest friends, Amy. We escaped to the spa for massages and manicures. We went shopping at the outlets the next day. We actually finished conversations. Relaxation, shopping therapy, and catching up with a good friend make me extremely happy.

Be sure to go Leigh vs Laundry to see more photos that are bound to make you happy. This is 3/52 for me.
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It was about 55 degrees out for last week's date. Dave took his lunch early so we could go for a walk while the kids were at school. We had a great time talking while enjoying the fresh air. I took my camera to snap pics of the interesting things we saw.

The sky was gorgeous.

I think Dave is gorgeous too. He indulges me by posing a lot.

This squirrel seemed to be posing too.

And I had to take an arm length portrait to complete the date.

This was date 48 out 52 for us.

Hostile Cleaning Syndrome

Do you hate cleaning? I mean really, really hate it. Do you swear under your breathe? Do you resent the mess and the little and not so little people that make it? Are you irritable the whole time you clean? Do you feel your blood pressure rise as the rug rats destroy a room you just cleaned? Then you may suffer from Hostile Cleaning Syndrome.

The only cures are the children moving out or a maid. I have 13 years till my youngest will go to college, so I think a maid is the prescription for me. Do you think if I get the doctor to write me a maid prescription the insurance will cover it?

Project 365 This Week

I experimented with texture this week. I enjoyed the sunrise and the moon. I cuddled with my little boy. I watched my girl enjoy apples. Dave and Davey rocked out. I even caught a leprechaun on a walk.D

Join NapTime MomTog to view more project 365 posts or to join yourself.

Be sure to check out The Daily Wyatt for more great photos.

52 Weeks Of Getting Into the Photos

Davey asked me to take our photo this week. I was happy to do so. This is my 52nd week of getting myself into the photos. I'm happy I have. I am usually the photo taker. This meme forced me to hand over the camera or take one of myself. When I look back at this year, I get to see myself with my kids instead of just them. That is a good thing. Join the year long challenge of getting yourself in the photo at Diary of a Church Lady. You won't regret it.

Dino Davey!

Be sure to head over to see what all the other cool kids are wearing at Feet Off the Table. Check out more wordless at 5 Minutes for Mom, Momspective, A Beautiful Mess and Wordless Wednesday for more wordless photos.

The Great Apple Taste Test

Dave loves McIntosh apples. I hate them. I love Empire apples. Dave hates them. I do the grocery shopping so I buy Empire apples. Dave was complaining about this so we decided to have The Great Apple Test Taste. We brought the 8 types of apples they had at the grocery store.

We pondered the complexities of the apples.

We rated the apples.

His favorites were the Cortland and McIntosh. Dave rated the Golden Delicious as "craptastic." My favorite was the Braeburn. Note: They did not have Empire at the store. We pretty much discovered that we don't have the same taste in apples. His favs were my least favs and vice versus.

We did discover that combining 8 types of apples make a good but foamy cider.

Be sure to go Leigh vs Laundry to see more photos that are bound to make you happy. This is 2/52 for me. This was also the 47 out 52 dates.

Our World This Week

We had another busy week around here. We visited the puppies at the pet store. They all wanted to come home with us. Caitlin gave herself a heart sticker lip zipper. Caitlin tried a burger and was not impressed with it. (At least she finally tried it.) I clowned around. Buzz went to infinity and beyond. The kids used me as a pillow. I saw a pretty weed.

Join NapTime MomTog to view more project 365 posts or to join yourself.

Be sure to check out The Daily Wyatt for more great photos.

A Day in the Life

Motherhood may not be glamorous but the benefits are awesome.

Join the year long challenge of getting yourself in the photo at Diary of a Church Lady. You won't regret it. This is 51/52 for me.

Go to Simply Modern Mom to share photos of what motherhood is like each week. This is 9/52 for me.