Mommy, I cut my hair!

"Mommy, I cut my hair!" is NOT the phrase a mother wants to hear her 4 year old say. Well, guess what I heard this morning - yep - just that. She said "Mommy, I don't need to go to Ms. Debbie's now, I cut my hair". Ms. Debbie is my hairdresser, who sometimes trims my 4 year old's hair. As you can see from the blog photos, my daughter had long, straight, blonde hair - completely opposite of mine. When I was lucky enough to have long hair when I was young, it was always frizzy, wavy or curly. I say lucky enough because for some reason, my older sisters always seemed to convince my mom that I "needed" a short haircut. I don't know if that was meanness or did they really think I needed short hair? I always wanted my hair to be long. When I was 5 years old living in the white house (as I called it) at Kingsley Field AFB in Klamath Falls, Oregon, yes, I remember that far back one of my friends who lived at the end of the block on McGuire Street, Kirsten, had long hair. Kirsten wore it in a pony tail and it pounced just like a horses tail when she ran. I wanted a pony tail so I could run like a pony! So you immediatly think that is why my daughter's hair is long? Nope, that's not why. I cut a few inches off last winter and just didn't like it. Plus, she's in ballet, so she really "needs" long hair. Plus, it's the style right now.

So back to the haircut. I asked her if she cut her hair, and she rather sheepishly said no and walked away. I was calmly taking visual inventory and didn't see any gaping holes that I hear other parents talk about and show photos of, so so far so good. Then I saw it. It wasn't too bad. She had taken a piece from the crown of her head and pulled it at her eye level (about 5 inches from the root) and cut it. Not too much damage. relief!!! So we went to the table and there it was, 5 inches of beautiful, straight, blonde soft hair, lying on the floor. I picked it up and told her how sad the hair was that it didn't get to be on her head anymore. I didn't scold her. Now, in case you are wondering why a four year old had scissors - well, it's my fault. I let her scrapbook at the table yesterday, along with stamps and ink. She's really quite responsible for a four year old - but I should have put up the scissors. I learned that lesson last year when she cut holes in my brand new Gulf Shores souvenier t-shirt that I had for about 2 weeks. I got it at the Shark Store - her favorite store from the trip. I never buy t-shirts, so I was so sad about the holes. It was then that I hid all the scissors.

Meanwhile - I took my daughter to school today and when I took her out of her carseat, she said "But - I want to go to Ms. Debbies". See, I explained to her that only Ms. Debbie can cut hair because Ms. Debbie has special hair scissors and we only have paper scissors. Then after school, she still insisted on going. So now I am trying to explain to her what an apointment is.

Scrapbook Celebration

For those of you in the Arkansas / Mississippi / Louisiana area - and those who just love to travel - we are having a scrapbook convention in West Monroe, Louisiana. The FIRST EVER in this city that I am aware of!. I'll be teaching some classes there, and of course shopping from the fabulous selection of vendors. Do you want to get away and crop till you drop? Check out this link for more information. If you come - please ask around until you find me. I would LOVE to meet you and take some pics! Here's the information for Scrapbook Celebration!

Oh - and for a chance to win a free ticket to both crops, Friday and Saturday from 10am - Midnight (wow!) - check out Mississippi Paper Arts' contest for details!

That time of year....

It's that time of year. Well, yeah, it's summer - but that's not what I'm talking about. It's the mad rush to get CHA projects done. That and regular life. I can barely see the floor in my already small scraproom. My computer desk? Can't see the surface. Everything revolves around "I've gotta get this done...I've gotta get that done...". I warned my hubby a month ago this time was coming. I think he forgot. He rented some DVD's this weekend. So my life has pretty much been like this...
Thursday - take son to the river for photos for CHA projects
Friday - take photos of daughter for more CHA projects. Work on project no. 1 (meanwhile kids are at home - so everything is subject to interuption). Pack altered items and cards for mailing. Pack another card for mailing. Mail comes - got a magazine that had my projects in it - made scans (and couldn't resist looking thru at all the creations). Gee, where did the day go? Hubby home. time to take a long break and watch a movie. Hubby gets called out. Keep watching movie. Hubby comes home - rewind the movie to where he last saw. Read magazines while he watches what was replayed. that makes it seem like a really, really long movie! Prepare for a class to teach the next day. Wiped out.
Saturday: Up and at 'um. Teach altered project. Return home. Start on project with photos of son. Finish project! (yeah). Where did the day go? Time to watch movie no. 2. Retreat to my bedroom to veg on new bed. Son asks "why aren't you working, mom?" Banish son from bedroom. Okay - not really. A little bit of Trading Spaces and I'm wiped out again but I did have some cool ideas on repainting our bedroom furniture.
3. Sunday - church, then home. Back to work. Gee - I can't even remember what I worked on and that was just yesterday. Took a late nap! Worked till the wee hours.
4. Monday - finish projects left over from last night. Start new project which ended up getting re-done two times. Taking a much needed break to blog and then shower. Yes, it's after 5 and I haven't showered although the dog took a dip in dd's blow up pool.
5. Note to self: Self - prepare and mail off projects to two publications. Don't forget! Now if I would just remember to read my reminder.

Summer Movies

I love movies - especially in the summer. There are so many "summer releases" coming out. I went with 10 ladies (fellow scrapbookers) to see The Lake House Tuesday night (Tuesdays always have the best prices). I loved it. But I keep thinking about it. Why? It's the "time travel" factor. There are so many "problems" and kinks in time travel stories, but I love them. I always watch Back to the Future reruns when I happen to find it on the cable listings. There's just something cool about time travel. I really, really want to watch The Lake House again - probably to catch more "time travel" story kinks, but mainly just to watch it again.

I didn't feel that way about Cars. I loved Cars. Cars was adorable, and I want to get the DVD as soon as it comes out. Super cute. But didn't want to rush out and watch it again right away.

I'm also counting the days until Johnny Depp's new movie comes out. Is it okay to call it "johnny depp's" movie? he he.

If you haven't been to any movies this summer - try to catch one - soon! It's a great way to relax and have fun.

Empty Nest

I have empty nest syndrome. I went to take photos of the five baby birds again - 4 days after the last photo - and this is what I saw.



I can't believe I missed seeing them learning to fly. I panicked because I didn't know where they were. They were there the day before - I could hear them "singing" when their mommy brought them dinner.

Then I looked. They were just a few yards away perched on our fence. They were all there, but I only got a pic of 4 of them because the other male was flying. Yes, the males already have color! When did this happen. They were all still dark and fuzzy just a few days ago.



I watched them throughout the day. They moved further and further away. Out of our yard, to the pond behind our house. I could still see them in a distant Bradford pear tree. Then they were too far to see. I was sitting outside talking to my mom on the phone - and they flew over my head! But I don't know where they went. I was hoping they would "come home" and stay in their crowded nest for the night so I could "see" them.

*sigh* Empty next syndrome. They grow up too fast. I wish I would have taken more photos and watched them "leave" the nest. Lesson learned: Cherish your real children even more and more and be thankful that they don't grown up and leave home in two weeks.

Sunday Ramblings

About two weeks ago I was watering my hanging ferns. I took one down so I could place it on the ground while I watered, and much to my surprise - there was a nest with five eggs in it! Yikes. I immediately put it back up and then noticed the mom AND the dad. House finches. So from then on I was careful to only water the part of the fern on the other side of the nest. Afterall, we don't need the fern to die since it is providing much needed shade for the new family. Well, about a week ago I noticed the mom was not "sitting" on the nest anymore - but perching on its side with her head towards the nest. Yep - we have baby birds now. I can always tell when the mom and dad are at the nest - there is a choir of wee chirps - very musical.



I was recently very honored to have Aussie Scrap Source ask if they could put the "Smile" page (posted below) on their wonderful blog. Check it out at Aussie Scrap Source.

And one more bit of "me" news (why do I feel so funny sharing this??) My husband phoned from work one day this week to inquire "How are you"... "I'm fine"... "Well, good... since you're famous"... One of his co-workers noticed this in the newspaper.
NewsStar

They put a photo in the actual paper. A very, very, very cropped photo of my face. That could be good, or that could be bad. Someone reading the paper wouldn't *know* that was me at first glance - with only eyes, nose and mouth showing. Like I said, that could be good or bad, depending if I were in hiding or not.

We'll see.

just a few pages

just a few pages with some recent photos.

Is it really summer?

Is it really summer. I guess the giveway is the fact that Arielle won't stay away from her kiddie pool. I walked 10 minutes on my treadmill while she was eating lunch. I came back to the kitchen and she was gone. She was stripped down in the backyard with the waterhose. At least she didn't get her clean clothes wet.

Her ballet recital last weekend went wonderful. We are waiting for the DVD so she can actually "see" the production. You don't see much when you are back stage. The production was Peter Pan and the characters really flew!