she's gone crazy!

I'm sitting at the computer desk and Jack comes flying in and dives under the desk. I hear the beeps of his Power Ranger phone and then in hushed tones:

Gavin? It's me, Jack. Yeah, well Ainsley has gone crazy! I mean, she's gone nuts! She wants to get my phone and not her Cinderella phone! I know! Well, bye.

And then he runs off, just as quickly as he came in.

forensic hair stylist

*All names have been changed on the off chance that more people than I think read this blog. Except for Julie, because she rocks...

Without a doubt, one of the top three things I hate most about moving is trying to find a new hair stylist. (In case you were wondering, the others are getting a new driver's license and finding a new doctor, neither of which I've done since we moved here 18 months ago...) I don't really have easy hair...it's very thick and very unruly and in the wrong hands...well, just look at some pictures of me over the past 20 years and you'll see what I mean. I was totally spoiled with the last hair stylist I had before we moved here...Julie. She was the epitome of everything you want your hair stylist to be. She was friendly and made conversation, head and neck massage with every shampoo, used great smelling products, and I never felt like I had to rush home and re-do my hair. In fact, I so didn't want to give her up that I even made an appointment to see her during one of our trips to Indy for Ainsley's surgery. (6 months after we moved here!) But, I knew I couldn't keep waiting 6 months or longer for a haircut, so I started searching for someone here. I've always loved Aveda products, so I located an Aveda salon not to far from here. It was a nice experience. The salon was nice...I was offered a beverage while I was waiting and even got a hand massage while my hair was being shampooed. My stylist was Christie*, and she didn't talk to me as much as she did to the other stylists and customers, but she took her time and when I left, I felt like a million bucks. And the cut looked nice for a couple of weeks, and then I noticed it would take me longer and longer to style my hair. And then it was taking 30 to 45 minutes to do my hair and it would still look ridiculous, so I'd end up pulling it back anyway. For the past couple of weeks, I haven't even bothered drying it. I just pull it back all the time, because as you can imagine, I just don't have that kind of time to spend on my hair!
I thought about going back to Christie*, but then I found out that a new Aveda salon opened up in the shopping center right next to our house, so I decided to give it a try. The salon is much smaller and there were only 2 stylists working on a Saturday afternoon (instead of the 15 at the other salon!), but everyone was nice and when I explained to Andi* the problems I was having, she suggested that it was because my hair had so much texture from the last cut that it wasn't holding it's shape well, and perhaps layering was a better way to go, given my length. (Yes, I realize I have most likely lost all the guys reading this...) So, Andi started to work on my hair and we started talking and she asked me where I went before this salon and when I told her, she said she used to work there. And then as she started cutting some more, our conversation went like this:

Andi: This looks like a Christie or a Steven cut.
Me: Excuse me?
Andi: You don't have to tell me. It's just that I've worked closely with both of them and this either looks like a Christie or a Steven cut.
Me: You're right...but how can you tell?
Andi: Well, Christie and Steven are the cutters...they like to cut. Lots of texture and that sort of thing. Keri is good with color and so is Sam. But Christie and Steven are the cutters.
Me: Hmm.

And then she cuts a little more.

Andi: I'm going to say Christie.
Me: Seriously...
Andi: Okay, well, most stylists who are right handed will leave the right side a little longer than the left. And the opposite is true too. And your left side is a little longer and Christie is the only left handed stylist there. So...
Me: Wow.

Freaky, huh? Anyway, I liked the cut...even though Andi says it will take another 6-8 weeks and one more really good haircut to get all the texture out. I was able to dry my hair and style it in just a few minutes and I was able to leave it down the whole day. So I'll be going back to see Andi in March. Maybe I'll even have a new doctor and a new driver's license by then.

most creative excuse for not eating leftovers

Once upon a time, I used to make pancakes, and any that were left over went into the freezer. Then on school mornings, the kids would take them out and pop them into the microwave for a minute or two and have a nice pancake breakfast. Not so much anymore. I'm not sure what happened, but now, no one will eat the leftovers. When I asked why that was, Ryan offered up this explanation:

"Well, it's like all the love that goes into them and makes them good just freezes out."

Hmm, good to know.

the blushing bride

Thanks, Holly!!

cabo

Kate sent (well, texted) this to me this afternoon...the view from her room.

Wish I could be there too!

what a snow day in charlotte looks like

Some of you might remember seeing pictures of our snow day last year and I have to say, I'm even more shocked this year! I even turned to 3 different news channels before I truly believed that school had been cancelled, just to make sure I wasn't seeing things. I'm not going to complain one bit though, because now instead of the crazy, running-around day I had planned, I get to sit in my jammies and cuddle with my kids as we watch one of the most incredible events of our lifetime unfold.

Update: 3 hours and 787 reported delays/cancellations later, every last bit of snow and ice was gone. Way to go, South. You have completely earned your reputation for being a bit melodramatic...I don't know how you will ever look Minnesota in the face again.

how they sleep

Because I have tons of laundry to do and absolutely none of the motivation I need (I mean, I still have clean underwear!!), I thought it might be fun to take pictures of the kids' beds...what they look like in the morning after the kids tumble out of them and before I make them. Ha! Make their beds...oh, that's a good one! Ahem...anyway, this will be fun! We'll go oldest to youngest.

First up is Ryan's bed. I love these cozy, flannel sheets. ($13.99 @ Target!) Mmmm, and the really soft down comforter. I would totally sleep here. Well, except for the climbing up and down the ladder thing.



See anything weird? Or rather, is there something you don't see? Like books?




Ah, here they are. Tucked neatly on the side. And no, that is absolutely NOT a La Madeleine travel mug. Okay, well maybe it is. But it's definitely not the one that the Royals have been missing for years and years. Okay, well, it could be. Moving on...

Emily's bed is probably about what you would expect...no books, lots of pillows and of course, Lambie. Oh, and her robe, no doubt thrown up here so that I won't yell at her for leaving it on the floor. Again with the fabulous Target sheets.



And then on to Jack. More cozy sheets ($15 for a Queen set @ Target! How do they do it??)

See all those pillows? Those are just for show. Jack doesn't sleep on a pillow. He rests his little angel head on that sweet blanket that Kate bought him when he was born. It's a patchwork blanket and before he goes to sleep each night he has to find the yellow corner and he rubs it with his fingers as he's falling asleep. I know, right? Almost too precious to bear! And what else is there, next to the blanket?



Ah, yes. Every night, before Jack goes to bed he "picks cars." Meaning he chooses a car or two to sleep with. Usually, he just adds to the collection until I wash his sheets, at which point all the cars get put away and we start with a clean slate.

Hmm...eleven cars and a Lightning McQueen car flashlight keychain. Looks like it's about time to wash Jack's sheets...

And then we have Ainsley's bed. This started innocently enough. About 3 stuffed animals. But now it seems like every night we have to add something else. It's almost as if she's thinking that she still has about 3 inches to move around, so what else can we put there to fill that space??

How do you like the books? She will actually open them up and then lay on top of the book! Seriously.

Huh. I notice that not everyone is here. She has 2 babies that are usually in here, and I just remembered she was playing with them while I was taking these pictures. I've tried putting all of the animals away when I change her sheets like I do with Jack's cars, but usually she is right there throwing them all back into the crib before I can even finish putting the sheets on the mattress.

And there you have it. More than you ever possibly could have wanted to know about the kids' beds. I really should go do laundry now because I just remembered that Ryan is actually out of clean underwear. Do you know how a 12-year-old boy would solve that problem? I'm pretty sure it wouldn't involve doing his own laundry. Yeah, I think I just found my motivation.

the post in which i was going to complain about my ridiculously horrible week

This has been one of the worst weeks I've had in quite awhile. And not only has it been bad, it has also been long. I could almost believe that the entire world was taken over by aliens who changed our whole calendar system, making each day actually a week long. Seriously, it's been bad. But as I sat down to whine and cry and moan and complain, I realized that I couldn't do it.

Even though our week started out with Doug going to the wake of a 39 year-old co-worker and friend who went to sleep one night and didn't wake up, leaving behind a devastated wife and 3 very small children.

Even though I started to make dinner for the kids on that night and discovered we seem to have a mouse living with us.

Even though on Tuesday night the Summit broke down, leaving us a one-car family until we find out whether it's even worth fixing or if we have to get a new car (and a new car payment...yipee!).

Even though Ryan's bus was an entire hour late on Wednesday morning, one of the coldest mornings we've had this year.

Even though the mouse traps are still empty.

Even though when I was making bread dough on Wednesday, I knocked my very favorite Pyrex measuring cup that I've had since before I was even married, off the counter and it shattered into a million pieces.

Even though I was in the middle of making blueberry muffins when I discovered I only had 2 paper liners.

Even though when I went to Target to get a new measuring cup and paper liners, I was carrying Ainsley in one arm and my sunglasses in my other hand and I waved at Aubrey (who works at the Starbucks counter), and my sunglasses went flying across the store and I looked like a total dork!

I woke up this morning and I knew it would be okay.

Because the bus was on time.
Because we all got ready this morning and there were no screaming tantrums or fits. None from the kids either!
Because Ainsley gave me a kiss without me even having to ask for one.
Because Jack reached out and grabbed my hand on the way into school and I didn't have to ask for that either.
Because Doug got some really great news at work.
And tonight, we're having tacos for dinner with beans and chips and salsa and guacamole and everyone will eat it.

And I can't ask for it to be much better than that.

the monsters i've created

As much as I used to complain about Ainsley's sleep habits, or shall I say, lack of sleep habits, I couldn't be happier with the way she sleeps now. Actually, the way she and Jack both sleep. They will usually go to bed sometime between 8:00pm and 8:30pm and most mornings I have to wake them up by 8:00am for school. Generally, they both tend to wake up well, but our mornings go much smoother if they get their chocolate milk right off the bat. Yes, chocolate. Last week was a little tough for everyone, getting back on a schedule after two weeks of being on vacation, so in order to smooth the transition, every morning when I went in to wake up the little darlings, I brought their chocolate milks with me. Jack would always take his and then burrow back under the covers until I made him get up and get dressed. And Ainsley would start jumping up and down in her crib with excitement..."Milk, milk!" She's as excited about her milk as I am my morning coffee. Saturday, since we didn't have to take anyone to school, I decided I would sleep in as long as the babes would let me. And so at about 8:30am, Jack wakes up, comes into our room and over to my side of the bed and says, "Mom, I'm ready for my chocolate milk in bed now!"

four things that have made me almost pee my pants this week

On Monday, Jack says, "Hey Ains! Ains! Do you want to see the song I just wrote?"

On Tuesday, Jack gets a thank you note from one of his teachers. I read it to him and then ask him if he would like to keep it. He takes it back and says, "Yeah. But I wish there was a dollar in it."

On Wednesday, Ryan begins a sentence with, "Well, when I'm eighteen and start to date for marriage..."

And today, when Jack says, "Mom, hippos are fat and their mouths are all gross-y, but I would still like one."

and speaking of photos...

Here are our photos for December! (If you just watch the slideshow here on the website, make sure you click on the little conversation bubble on the lower left to see the captions...or you can just click on the slideshow...) We had a nice month and a nice break for the holidays and we start back with our crazy, hectic schedule on Monday. (Well, actually we start tomorrow with soccer practice!) One new feature on the blog for the new year...a daily photo! I hope to post a new (well, new to you!) photo at least every week day. Anything in particular you'd like to see photos of? Comment away!

the absolute best photo of 2009...so far

Ahh, you gotta love static electricity!

Thanks, Doug, for getting this shot!