Alyssa's chop

Loved it long....but with so many tangles and snarls and me not keeping up with it, the chop needed to be done. I had to convince her a little, I showed her pictures of Mia in CT, and reminded her that her dear friend Audrey Temple had short hair and she got convinced.

So I called my hair girl, Brooke, and she was all ready to chop for us.
And there it all is....





I LOVE IT!

Happy Mardi Gras

Did you know that there's a holiday today? In Louisiana they get 3 days off from school. Today is the big parade day just before Ash Wednesday (tomorrow). If you didn't read my MARDI GRAS POST LAST YEAR, please go read it to inform yourself about the Mardi Gras I know and love from my childhood years.

A few stores sold King Cakes and I had to make sure a baby was included b/c in the years past they'd sell the cakes without a baby, and thats just a no no. The baby is hidden and its a surprise and excitement who gets the slice with the plastic baby inside.


Tyler got it!

The cake also came with 3 beads in the Mardi Gras colors: Green, Purple, and Gold
It isn't usually attached to this yellow crown, but it was this time.
Alyssa crossing her eyes....
Happy Mardi Gras!!!

Our Scavenger Hunt

Last Monday the boys had a day off from school for Presidents day. The night before I said to Michael, "What should I do fun with the kids tomorrow?" Without any thought, he said, "You should do a scavenger hunt!" Of course, why didn't I think of that? He helped me come up with a random list of things for the kids to do as we drove around town. I got some snapshots and video of it all. The kids thought it was pretty fun, and it didn't take a whole lotta effort. I typed out 10 "tasks" and cut them up into strips and put them in a bag. They took turns drawing out each task. The video below goes in order (though I don't anticipate everyone will want to see the video because I'm not much of one to watch videos on blogs--its comical at times--especially the part where I didn't realize I was recording...he he he).
This task read, "Climb a tree and take a picture in it"

Do "hook em" next to a sign that says TEXAS
Climb on the longhorn statue
Go down a slide together
Climb a fence
Drive the car (pretending)

The last task said: "Go to McDonalds for lunch" they were pretty excited about that!

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Glucose blah blah

My friend Tamiel is due with her 4th the day after I am due with my 4th. We both failed our first glucose test, so when we realized we needed to do the big dog test, we scheduled it on the same day. Arrive at DR at 8am...get blood drawn. Drink 100mg sugar drink in 4 minutes, then blood drawn on the hour the next 3 hours. We spent that 3 hours hanging out, reading a magazine, chatting, and by the end we were quite loopy from our sugar high/blood drawing. We may or may not have been a little bit obnoxious in the waiting room full of people laughing loudly.


Here we are with our arms taped up from 2 different draws. It was fun to hang out with a friend during that time. As of Friday, she passed, and I haven't heard yet from mine. Keeping my fingers crossed. By the way...those who don't know, the glucose tests for Gestational Diabetes.

The Day of Love

The kids woke up to this little treat left out for them. Along with a bunch of balloons because I just love balloons.

Michael did his weekly Jamboree and made us yummy crepes with the new pan that my bro and his wife brought back from Belgium.
Swirly heart straws sent by Duke grandparents. We used the last of the heart plates that I got on after holiday clearance 2 years ago. Such cute plates, I will miss them.
Collecting of the balloons

So many fun games to play with balloons....Michael even gets into it...

He was rubbing it against their clothes to see how many he could stick to them at one time.
Tyler won
In the afternoon, my friend Jessica and I went to get a pedicure. It was part of getting ready together for our big night out with our husbands. Not lovin' the angle for me here, but documented nonetheless.
We had our next door neighbor, Moriah, come babysit for the first time. Why didn't I think of that earlier? She brought lots of activities and as we waited for our friends to arrive, we left them (and I snapped a quick picture) to play with the stencils that she brought. She is going to be on the drill team next year in high school, so I hope she'll still have time for us every once in a while. She was great, and her mom said she was so excited to be asked!
Our friends met up at our house (we were the central location) and I asked Moriah to take a few pics of us. Liz and Reed on the left, Jessica and Chris on the right of us.
Awwww, just like prom, right? We toyed with going out to eat, but when the church offered a free meal for us, we couldn't pass it up. Somewhat anti climactic to get ready side by side with your date. I laughed to the girls that as I was trying to straighten my hair in the bathroom, I had to leave when Michael steamed it all up with his shower.
It was also Liz's birthday--how fun to have a Valentines birthday!
Kissing faces helps thin out my face....they obliged me.

A dinner was served to us--fajitas/tacos. Michael went back to get me seconds...and thirds. Hey--they only gave out one at a time.

I tried to secretly grab some pictures of my friends dancing, but with my little camera delay and the flash, it was tough. Chris and Jessica actually posed for this one...it makes me laugh!
Another non pleasing angle of me, but I'm all over showing myself in the good, bad, and ugly. I like us dancing and laughing here. Michael did a great job and actually danced a few faster songs with me.
Jana and her date, Cameron, who turns out was ALSO in Jerusalem with us.
Stacy and Dan twirled around the dance floor...
Girls fast dancing....
boys watching us dance...
Michael and I at the end of the night with 3 heart balloons to take home to our kids. It was fun to dance with each other again, its been a while. We reminded ourselves once again that we want to try to take a couples dance class.
He got me my favorite Valentines treat--chocolate covered (not just dipped) strawberries. I got him a bag of snickers snacks. We don't do much with gifts, but we do enjoy going out on dates.