Locks of Love

So, after not being able to get their hair cut on Saturday night during the Relay for Life, I set up appointments for the girls to go to a hairdresser and have it done. Emily wanted to get up first thing Monday morning and get hers cut, and Claire didn't really care. I told Em that she would have to wait until Tuesday afternoon, after swimming lessons. She told me that was too long to wait.

When we finally go to the salon, Claire went first. She got in the chair, and they cut her hair. It didn't phase her. The only thing she was worried about was that people would call her a different name. She was afraid that people wouldn't recognize her with her hair cut.

While Claire was in the chair, Emily started to get nervous. She wasn't sure she wanted to get her hair cut anymore. She even had a couple of little tears trickle down her cheek. However, when it was her turn to get her hair cut, she jumped right up in the chair, and she was a little trooper.

I love the new hair cuts. I am sorry though, because the both look older. My little girls are growing up.

Dangerous Jobs?

I guess Emily thought she was going to run into some complications while she was cleaning the toilet. I know it really needed to be cleaned, however, I really didn't think it was this bad.

Relay for Life

Our family participated in the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. It is featured in the Austin Daily Herald. It was a great experience. My children and I went to some friends and neighbors and asked for donations (we raised over $1000 in money and free food coupons - it is nice to know people who sell grocery products at Hormel). Thank you to all who donated.

On Saturday, about 3:00 p.m., we put on our shirts and went down for our group picture. After the group picture there was food, cotton candy, drinks, games, a silent auction, and a live auction. Our team leader was one of the honorary chairs of the event, and she gave a speech at sunset. Before she was able to give her speech, she had to be bailed out of jail (one of the members of our team put her in jail for $10 and she had to raise $100 from inside jail to be able to get out - the normal bail was $10 - she raised $100 in jail, but got fined $20 for taking off her jumpsuit, so she had to go up on stage and ask for money). Caleb and Eli got put in jail. After a little while, Eli came running back to our group shouting, "I'm out!" He had collect $10 from the people walking by. Caleb still had $8 left to collect. Then one of the young men in our ward wanted to see if Eli could get out again before Caleb got out. Eli was back in jail. After a while, our team captain bailed them both out, but Eli got the money first and came running over to our group yelling, "I beat him again!"We took a couple of laps around the pond, and then a little after 12:00 midnight we started packing up the children to take them home. We finally made it home a little before 1:00 a.m. and went to bed. I set my alarm for 4:20 a.m. and then got up and went back for a couple more laps and the closing ceremony. When I returned home about 7:30, the children were all still asleep, and Brett was at church meetings. Several people were very tired at church.
Emily and Claire were very excited to donate their hair. They have been looking forward to it since we signed up for this event, and the people who were going to come and cut hair cancelled. Emily was very dissapointed and cried a lot. The girls will be getting it cut on Tuesday.

All in all - it was a great event.

My Sister Stinks!

So, my sister just started a blogger blog, and she got tagged on her first day. She has since tagged me. So here it goes (yes, I am getting old)...

20 years ago...
1- I got my driver's license
2- Went on my first official date
3- Had a boyfriend who won a car in the McDonald's monopoly game

10 years ago...
1- I was teaching school in Las Vegas
2- Moved to Minnesota
3- Became a true stay at home mom

5 years ago...
1- I was pregnant with #4
2- I was walking Caleb to school everyday
3- I was already in my third decade, and Brett wasn't

3 years ago...
1- I took a 5 week road trip without Brett
2- We remodeled our kitchen
3- We had two family reunions at Bear Lake

1 year ago...
1- I started teaching preschool
2- Went to girl's camp
3- I changed my child's last diaper!

So far this year...
1- Got a new job
2- I got a new bike
3- I sold my very first house

Yesterday I...
1- Was up all night with Claire (she had a fever)
2- Stayed home from church and cuddled Claire
3- Ate sweet corn and green beans for dinner

Today I...
1- Took my children to swimming lessons
2- Spent 3 hours at the preschool waiting for a shipment and organizing toys
3- Will have Family Home Evening with my family

Tomorrow I...
1- Take my children to swimming lessons
2- Take Emily to piano lessons
3- Take Eli to the nature center for a Junior Naturalist Class

This is the Beginning

We came home one evening to find this note tucked into our door. I guess it isn't so bad because it is from two girls. We actually let him go "play" the next day. We're not sure we are ready for this.

Dinner Menu

Emily made a dinner menu for us. There are five different things on the menu. Can you guess what they are?

1. Hamburgers
2. Chicken Nuggets
3. Pizza
4. Ham
5. Lasagna

Good luck and thanks for playing

HINT: For the last one - replace the z with an "l" sound, it might help. Oops - it should have been replace the v with and l sound.

They are all there, just click and drag your cursor over them to really see them.

A Happy Ending

We had a pretty incredible day. Caleb and Emily made us breakfast, and they set the table for two. Brett & I got to eat together - alone. Emily and Claire wrote us love notes. Eli was willing to help all day. We played tennis and went to Dairy Queen. Brett and I went on a date - out to dinner. The day ended with a beautiful rainbow. It was incredible to watch. It was bright and then it would fade. It stretched all the way across the sky. It was an amazing site and a wonderful day.

Memory Tag

I got this off my friends blog and thought it might be fun, plus it gives me a chance to find out how many people actually read my blog :)

1. As a comment on this post, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you know me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you.

9 Words Women Use

A friend sent me this list, and I think it is pretty accurate:

(1) Fine: This is the word women use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up.

(2) Five Minutes: If she is getting dressed, this means a half an hour. Five minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given five more minutes to watch the game before helping around the house.

(3) Nothing: This is the calm before the storm. This means something, and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with nothing usually end in fine.

(4) Go Ahead: This is a dare, not permission. Don't Do It!

(5) Loud Sigh: This is actually a word, but is a non-verbal statement often misunderstood by men. A loud sigh means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you about nothing. (Refer back to # 3 for the meaning of nothing.)

(6) That's Okay: This is one of the most dangerous statements a women can make to a man. That's okay means she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.

(7) Thanks: A woman is thanking you, do not question, or Faint. Just say you're welcome. (I want to add in a clause here - This is true, unless she says 'Thanks a lot' - that is PURE sarcasm and she is not thanking you at all. DO NOT say 'you're welcome' ... that will bring on a 'whatever').

(8) Whatever: Is a women's way of saying you're in so much trouble!

(9) Don't worry about it, I got it: Another dangerous statement, meaning this is something that a woman has told a man to do several times, but is now doing it herself. This will later result in a man asking 'What's wrong?' For the woman's response refer to # 3.

Summer Swimming

The children did two weeks of swimming lessons this summer. Emily had private lessons because there was noone else in her class. Caleb didn't take lessons this session because he had already completed the highest level a couple of times. On the last day of lessons, the children have a "fun" day. They turn on the water slide and let them use the diving boards. Caleb convinced Emily to ask her teacher if he could swim with them. It was fun to watch them play at the pool. (Caleb asked if I would sign him up for the next session of lessons - while watching he was reminded of how fun it was.)