Bad Mother

I have a memory.

It is from when I was little, so it is entirely up for debate as to how much of it is actually true.

(I was going to scan pictures, but I didn't. Surprise, surprise.)

When I was little, I had long hair. Apparently I cried whenever my mother did it, and so when I went into kindergarten, my mother chopped it off.

This is what I remember:

I remember going to the haircut place, I remember it being cut, I remember it being crooked, and I remember them cutting it again to straighten it.

I remember thinking it was sooooooooo short. And I remember whining a lot about it afterwards. I'm pretty sure my mother remembers that part too.

As a mother myself, I have not cut E's hair much, and I have somewhat encouraged her quest for "Rapunzel" hair. But E's hair is pretty sparse, and it grows pretty slow. I knew it was getting to be time for a trim if I wanted it to look at all healthy.

At the same time, I'd debated cutting M's. I haven't cut hers since she was a baby, and it had almost caught up with her sisters. M has thick, somewhat curly hair. Justin loves how it curls in the morning... it reminds me of Medusa hair, snaking around her face with it's little red locks.

Unfortunately/fortunately, for everyone involved, on Tuesday,I had idle hands. Not because there wasn't much to do, but because I didn't much want to do it. (Anybody want to unpack a box.... I'll let you do it for free... anyone, anyone....) So, what did I do instead?

I made E cry, and cut off Justin's pride and joy.

I didn't do too horrible of a job. Luckily M's hair is curly, so it doesn't show much if I cut it crooked. And as for her E, her hair is thin enough I could do it all in one continuous cut around her head.

I had convinced her I was only 'trimming' it, and when I was finished, she cried. She'd heard my Mom say I might cut out the curl in M's hair when she was visiting, and she was sure her hair would never curl again. (Don't worry, I'm not completely evil. I let her wear it 'down' more, now that it can't get in knots, and she's quickly deciding short might be better than long.) She is starting to forgive me.

These first pictures make M's hair look a little bit like a mushroom, it's calmed down since then. She didn't care AT ALL that I was cutting her hair. Justin, however, still tells me often (in Spanish, so the girls can't hearhim) that he can't believe it's gone.

I'm sure I'll be hearing about it from them one of these days.

You Know You Wish You Could Eat It Too!

GQ has a TINY obsession with eating rock/grass/dirt and anything else on the ground. These photos were at our last KOA in Nebraska.

When the Cat's Away, the Mouse will Play

While we were in L.A. having a children break, we went to Disneyland (thanks Mark and Bekah!!!). Grandma Paula and Aunt Jessica brought the kids down and we enjoyed Disneyland like the British upper class in old books. We got to look at our kids when they were cute, and leave them behind when they screamed. Thanks Grandma Paula and Jess!!!!

Need a smaller skirt, M?

It was M's year to love the princesses. E was scared for some reason.

On the Way....

We didn't take many pictures along the way. Too much going on. Here's a few things that happened.

Justin and I went horseback riding during our get-away to L.A. The horses were pretty sure we were dumb as rocks and ignored anything we did, but other than that, it was fun. My glasses did get scratched when I ran into a tree, luckily they only cost me $5.

Grandma Paula and Grandpa Mark took the kids to the Children's Museum in Vegas. On the way in, E started crying because the parking lot was so hot. When people say it's hot here in Iowa, Justin and I just look at them in wonder. Nothing is hot like Vegas.

One of our KOA cabins, and GQ's temporary home. None of the KOA's we went to had grass. They did have a lot of rocks, which kept GQ busy tasting them all.

The Grand Canyon. Not much to do in the heat with little ones. After this, we pretty much skipped sight-seeing and got the drive done.

Dinner-time at the KOA. Needless to say, GQ is more than happy to have a house again.

Pre-Iowa: Birthday/Goodbye Party

GQ has enjoyed his new toy... if M will let him have it.

Look at all those cousins.

Yummy Cake!!! Thanks, Laura!!

Pre-Iowa: 4th of July

Pre-Iowa: GQ is 1... and cute.

These are my favorite pictures of GQ being one. Too bad he's wearing his leg warmers to prevent grass rash - he seems to have an allergy to it. I might just put the first one on the wall anyway - who needs fashion sense, right? And those blue eyes.... mmmmm....

Wouldn't want to go without eating a little scenery along the way.

Still no teeth, no walking, no talking... he's our baby. He does stand, although he likes to clap when he does it, so he often falls over before really standing... too busy congratulating himself. He knows how to go down the stairs, but doesn't know he HAS to go down the stairs that way. So, still not trustworthy there. He likes to do things he shouldn't, so you can say "no," he can stop, and then you can clap for him. Open the drawer, close the drawer, clap.... I's a good boy mamma, I is!!! (Think "My Fair Lady" on that one.) He can be a little violent in a sort of - give me that toy before I wack you - sort of way. And he loves cuddles, hugs, and seeing his sisters. He does point to people to say he loves them, like Justin does. And he does get very excited when he sees dogs... and calls them "DaDa." Anything interesting is "DaDa." When he wants something he says "MaMa." Uh, huh. We sure love that boy!!!!

Pre-Iowa: A Visit to Temple Square with the Roommates

In June we headed downtown to Temple Square with my old college roommates. Other than GQ trying to eat rocks whenever we put him down, we had a great time.

Of course, in the best picture of our family - the one where all the kids are looking at the camera and smiling - I am talking with my lips pressed outward like a duck. Talent, I tell you.

Don't they look happy to be at the Temple? I wanted a picture to blow-up and put in their room since we won't be living as close as usual to the Temple. I think this turned out great.

My favorite of GQ.

All three kiddoes.... and they look fairly happy. Except when you look really close at M, she looks a little worried. We'll miss Temple Square. We love it there.