Update: The Twins are FIVE!

A few days ago, the girls were sitting on my lap going through some old posts.  Olivia couldn't believe she got into permanent markers and Gabby loved her 1st birthday photos.  I really love that I have this website to help preserve memories!

I am still in disbelief that my little ladies are turned 5 on the 1st.  They are growing into such fun girls.  Very, very different in many ways, but they are always best friends.

Olivia loves to color.  She can sit at the table and create artwork for hours.  She also loves to dance and make people laugh.  Some nights we sit on the couch and look at magazines together and she is obsessed with looking at movie stars in their "beautiful dresses".  Her preschool teacher told us that she has a dominant personality in school--the kids tend to listen to her.  I cannot wait for the day when she meets her match!

Maddie is very into fashion.  I should say, she's into what SHE thinks in fashionable.  It's so funny to see what she can come up with.  She likes to hike up her pants, tuck in her shirt and accessorize with headbands, a purse and numerous hair bows.  Also, her main hair request is a "side pony".  Maddie is my main cuddler, too.  The other girls don't want to spend much time snuggling with me anymore, but I can always count on her to get comfy on the couch with me.  Not going to lie, Maddie and I butt heads all day long, but Ricky thinks it is because we are so alike. 

One of my favorite things to watch with them is how they interact with Gabby.  Although she is only 2.5, she is basically the same size of them, minus the height.  She is in 4Ts and they are barely out of 4Ts!  Gabby doesn't take any crap from them and is very opinionated.  It's funny to watch them try to be big sisters to her.  Olivia and Gabby can play with the doll house for an hour without an argument.  Maddie and Gabby tend to butt heads more.

As a birthday treat, we decided to take the girls to get a hair cut.  We've tried a few places now and the Douglas J Aveda Institute is by far our favorite place.  Haircuts are $16 each (actually $11 after a text coupon!) and they get the full treatment: wash, scalp massage and cut.  They feel like complete princesses there! Since it's a student school, it does take about an hour...but totally worth it! 

On Saturday, their actual big day, it was snowing (a tradition for their birthday so far!), but we still went bowling and had a nice little family gathering! 

They are loving being 5 and are ready for more responsibilities.  Olivia loves to help me in the kitchen and Maddie likes to "clean" for me.  It's too cute!  Our big decision for this year is whether or not to put them in the same class for kindergarten.  Their preschool teacher thinks they will thrive apart, but I also get concerned that separating them too early could be harmful as well. 
We have the kindergarten registration in April (tear!) and we will get more info then.

Any tips for raising 5 year olds without losing your mind?! I'm going to need them!