Nya's new 'do

After months of asking, wanting to be just like her idol (Emma), we did it!

Yesterday afternoon while sitting in front of Dora, we cut hair.

{before}

{after}

And, even though it appears that one side is longer than the other in every picture, I assure you that it is not.

I think she likes it. She walked around all day touching and flipping her locks!

Cousin Aubrey: These are for you. Nya took them of herself to show you her "Aubrey" hair.
She asked me if you would be at church on Sunday, and I assured her that you would not, as California is too far away!

haircuts all around, well almost

It was time.

 I lined them up, put on a movie and began chopping.

Nya - I think this was only her 3rd haircut ever. 

 She had fun playing with her hair. She thought she was pretty funny - as did I.

 Noelle - first cut since January! 

 Emma - if anyone, at anytime has ever made me wish for ginger hair, it is her. 

Her hair is just the softest shade of auburn. 

I hope it never changes.

And even though Bergen, in particular, is in great need of a trim, 

by the time I was done with the girls, 

I didn't have it in me. Maybe tomorrow!

an upcoming week of camping calls for a cut

beauty salon

The girls had a great time yesterday playing beauty salon. Noelle did everyones make-up and hair. 

Later that afternoon we painted our nails, and then I was able to go to a real salon and get my hair cut. 

I tried something new. 

I asked for bangs. 

I haven't had bangs for as long as I can remember.

You can barely tell they're there. They blend in really well.

And when I don't want to deal with bangs, I can pin them back!

It is kind of nice to have a change.

I think I like them.

Julianne, When I got home and Nya saw my hair, she said, "Oh, mommy! You look like Auntie Juweeanne! I think she likes them, too!

this week.....

we got a package from my parents in the mail. It contained Christmas cards for the kids and this years ornament. Since moving away my mom has made a really big effort to send the kids cards - for Thanksgiving, Halloween, Christmas, ect. This means so very much to them. They save every card! Thank you, also, Mom and Dad for the birthday cards. I got two - one from my mom and another one especially from my dad! I am missing my parents this time of year, and wishing we could have our annual girls day at the mall.

Auntie Shannon let Santa know that we needed an elf at our house, and so a couple of weeks ago we had a new little guest come to stay with us for the holiday season. Nya was not too sure about him, and refused to go into the living room where he sat. After a couple of days, and seeing pictures of her cousin, Aubrey, with her little elf, Nya warmed to the idea. I asked her what we should name him and she insisted upon Sheep. So here he stays, taking advantage of the many holes we still have in our drywall since getting pot lights installed last summer! The kids are actually super excited about him. Every morning I will awake to Tate asking me if he can show me where the elf is now! 

My Christmas mantel this year is super simple. I didn't go and gather greenery to make fresh boughs. Normally I clip behind my parents house, but since they moved I didn't have in in my heart to go. Maybe next year. But thanks to Debra who was in a purging mood, the mantel got a facelift at least. Thank you, Debra. I LOVE the believe sign, and the black star got a coat of red paint and now my pretty bland mantel is all ready for Christmas. And..........

after 8 months I FINALLY painted my board and applied the vinyl (cut by Debra) for our family affirmations. It makes me smile every time I walk past! It has been WAY too long since I have done anything creative. I need to get back at it.

My boys have such fun with their hair. Every morning they think up some new animal they resemble. One morning this week it was a great horned owl. About 30 minutes later Bergen was relieved of his horns, via the hair clippers!

Noelle is continuing to cook up a storm! She loves it, and so do the other children. She declared one day that she wanted to open her own bakery and name it 'The Baker Bee'. She would greet her customers with, "Welcome to the hive. How may we help you?" I, for one, think this is a fantastic idea. I will be your first customer, Noelle!

You would think that Nya would never be in need of a playmate, but the other day I found her playing Connect Four with a Webkinz. She would lift his paw and have him play his piece when it was his turn. Too cute!

at last

I am not a hairdresser, and I will never profess to have hair savvy abilities, but when it comes to paying for a haircut for the children or trying to do it myself, I will try and do it myself. If I mess up too terribly bad, I will humbly go into the salon and have someone fix my sad attempt. But so far it has worked out alright. It is never perfect, but I have also paid for less than perfection, and that hurts a whole lot more than free.
Noelle has been wanting her hair cut for a while now, but I have been stalling and putting her off, for the above reasons. Also, she is not little anymore, well she's little, but she's not. And she wanted a big girl haircut. I was not so sure I could do what she wanted. So 3 loooooong months later I gave in. It is her hair after all and she seemed to trust in me a little more than maybe she should. So cut we did!

{before}

 {after}

bed head

This is the first face I ALWAYS see in the morning. As soon as he wakes up he comes in to say good morning! Today when he came in he said, "Mom, I look like a hedgehog!" 

I opened my eyes and smiled when I saw him and said, "Yes you do!" This kid has the greatest hair. He even makes bed head cool. 

Kevin Schmidt, you would be proud! 

Nya's New Do

Trying to take a picture of this little one lately has been almost impossible. She frowns, or turns her head, or runs away, or sticks her fingers in her ears, or any other thing she can think of to sabotage the picture - Turkey!

This is the best shot I could get of her new do. It looks so cute but almost all her curls are gone. I am not sure how I feel about that. 

I will try and get a better picture of her soon.