Fashion Show

Natalie set up a fashion show tonight. 

I admit, I was not thrilled when I saw that she had brought up tables from the basement and gotten out my clean table clothes and several sheets and had this little fun project going on. Ugh.... such a mess... I was like "Ok fine BUT YOU HAVE TO CLEAN ALL THIS UP!!! I want the tables back downstairs where they were, not just added to the piles already down there, and table clothes washed and put away and sheets washed and put away and and and...." I started going off. She had used some of Corey's expensive jazz music books as steps between the uneven tables and I was like "NO, those are dads..." "I tried to get old books you wouldn't care about..." "Those are old because they are highly used and they ARE cared about, put those back" (She hasn't put them back yet, they're still on the desk... I'm trying to tolerate the mess and resist cleaning it up myself) But the fashion show was cute. Natalie came out to introduce the models who would be showing the pieces she created...

Then Katharine did her little cat walk - hers was cute. She did a little flip of her hair with her hand.

Followed by Peter and Daniel, who both did their walks way too fast...

Peter was practically running and Daniel stopped and turned only half way down the last table...

They didn't even go all the way to the end of the walk, or take a pause for the audience... they were walking like they were thinking "Get me outta here..." I think they had a feeling that this was not good for their manliness and they were being used by their older sister. Natalie said that messed up the show, cause they were done before Katharine was ready in her other designer piece. Sophi's friend was recording the show from on top of the closet. The audience was patient and cheered when the final model came. 

I think Daniel and Peter would be correct to feel that their sister might have used them, cause it happened earlier this morning. Natalie was babysitting for a neighbor from 6:30 am until 4. (She knocked on our bedroom door at 6am asking to take Katharine with her. I said NO, the poor child is sleeping, but I'd bring her after she woke up on her own. I ended up taking her over around 8:30.

WELL, then Peter was sad after he woke up cause K was gone and he wanted to play with her. I text Natalie asking if Peter could come over. She said no, they were doing girl stuff. I said I wanted to get K cause Peter needs his friend, so then she said ok, Peter could come, but he had to dress up cause they were playing princesses. Daniel didn't want to be left out and asked if he could come too. I didn't ask Natalie but said yes, but dress up. I take them over dressed in white shirts and Daniel in his suit coat. I told her there were two princes on their way in a carriage. She said the guards would be ready to grant them entrance at the royal gates. I told her to send me pics. 

There was dance music playing. 

The princes danced with the fair maids of the kingdom.  

Not 20 minutes later Natalie texted for me to come get them. "mommm - i want to be with gurls - not my little bros" I didn't see her text, but soon Peter and Daniel walked in the door. They both protested "Natalie made us walk home!" Then I replied to Natalie "Poor guys, being treated like accessories" She said "Tell them I'm sorry - and I love them - and they can have more cake pops" They accepted the cake pops, but I think were still wounded at being dismissed. Thus, in a twisted way they wanted to be part of the fashion show tonight, but don't let her trick you again boys! It will be more of the same! Though they were both sweet to participate.

So, yeah, Natalie being creative and making fun games for the little people in her life, those she babysits and her younger siblings, but it comes with a cost of dignity for the boys and it comes with a mess for me. I just can't compete with so many kids making messes. Lily and Natalie switched rooms earlier this month (last month?) and there is still a pile of junk outside Lily's door that she's waiting to go through, after she finishes her room, which looks even worst. So, you might wonder, how do I cope with the mess in my house? I'll tell you: I escape it. I go up the canyon. Thus the reason that I went on a walk up the canyon today, as I will do most everyday (ride or walk) if I can. 

Pretty pictures from my walk today.

You, too, can go on a walk today and just ignore the messes in your life. 

Don't worry, they'll be waiting for you, but that's ok, cause you can just escape again tomorrow.