Sissy Love

Abby and Nancy (my 2 youngest sisters) have been staying with us since Friday. It's been great. They have been such good sports about taking down their beds every morning, setting them back up at night and organizing and re-organizing their suitcases and belongings to keep them all together in one spot in our bedroom. These things are necessary, you would understand, if you have spent any time in our home. It is quite small. I'd never have believed that 4 people could live in it so comfortably! I guess I'm getting the girls ready for camp next week, and they're helping me be a little more flexible in my home. I remember when my friends James and Christen were living in the Barnabas house by our church along with James' parents, and so James and Christen shared a bedroom with their 3 children, including a newborn. It really blew me away, and I sort of woke up to my own selfishness about the space I felt I needed. It's good for us to adjust our schedules and lives to make room for people!

Some fun things we've done include:
~Shopping and buying matching flip-flops at J.Crew, and then taking millions of pictures of us with the shoes (Johanna's gift of the flexible tripod was useful for this!

~Lots of eating out! We've gone to Josh's restaurant 2 times, a yummy fish place by the riverfront, coffee shops, Krispie Kreme, J. Gumbo and even Sonic (that's high living there!).

~Swimming at the pool here on campus, and at our friends' house.

~Reading, reading, reading! Abby pulled To Kill a Mockingbird off the shelf the first day she got here and said "I'll try to finish this while I'm here". It's on her summer reading list. She sure finished it -- in less than 3 days! We are planning to have a movie night tomorrow night and watch the movie version of the book (which is quite good, for anyone who has not seen it). I pretty much just have everybody bring a book with them everywhere. It's been a good break from television/Myspace. :)

~Tonight we are having a spa night. I hope my mom doesn't kill me! I gave both of them highlights! (see pictures below) We also are whitening Nancy's teeth (she is a recent braces wearer) with this cool stuff from Rembrandt that only takes 2 hours, and then you're done. It seems to be pretty effective! It was Nancy's birthday on Sunday, so this mini-makeover is her birthday present. I also gave her a bunch of clothes, and we are experimenting with hairstyles that are suitable for her hair type (curly and fluffy!). Does it look like Abby is worried about my concocting her hair dye? She shouldn't be! It turned out great! (I PROMISE, Mom!)

*Nancy and cap being doused with dye.*

*Abby and her foils*

*Ta da! Josh likes Abby's highlights so much, he wants some of his own. Nancy's "after" picture will have to wait, as she is still in the middle of her whitening treatment!*