Post-haircut

This is Blake's new look. Still lots of curls, just a little less "stuck my finger in a socket".

The first haircut

Blake had his first haircut today. It was getting just a little crazy. The curls were very cute, but he was mistaken for a girl for the first time a couple weeks ago. I'd said all along that would be when I got his haircut, so, with much trepidation, we went to the salon today. All the moms at school were "ahhing" about cutting off the curls, but it has to be done sometime.

I figured it was going to a loud and wiggly experience, but the kid totally surprised me. I sat him up in the chair and he just sat there the whole time with a look on his like "what the hell is going on?" and "who thought this was a good idea?" and "why the hell are you squirting that water at me?" and "when the hell can I get out of here?"

He did get through his whole haircut with a very serious look on his face, and then he started to cry when I took him out of the seat. A sort of after the fact, "I really didn't like that Mom!"

But now he looks less like an urchin, and he still has lots of curls.

Cool shades

Faith got some new sunglasses this week, complete with rhinestones. Very cool. I told her she had to take care of them, so she's cleaned them about 50 times since she got them.

As an update of funny things she's said lately, the other day she was jumping from the chair to the ottoman, which I promptly told her to quit. First, she's not supposed to jump on the furniture, and second , Blake was taking it all in trying to figure out how he could do the same thing. She was not happy to have her adventures cut short.

"Mom, you never let me do anything fun!"

"That's my job...to suck the fun out of everything."

"Well, you're really good at it!"

First horseback riding lesson

Faith's first horseback riding lesson was at a stable near our town. She loved her first lesson, which included learning how to brush down the pony and put on the saddle.

Then Faith went out to the ring with her instructor, Amanda where she learned how to get on pony, hold the reins (which she already knew...she was happy to tell me), get the horse to "walk on", and stop..."whoa!" Texas was a little bit lazy, so Faith had to be pretty forceful with her walk ons. Then she got to turn the horse in a circle. Finally, she was able to ride the pony all on her own! She was so proud of herself!

Of course, as soon as the lesson was done, she informed me that she wanted to get her own horse. Grampa will be so proud. (And, no, Papa, this does not mean Faith will be getting racing lessons any time soon.)

Catching up....

Faith has been talking about having a birthday party for about a year now. She wanted to have her friends over (although exactly who they were has changed as time has passed) and play games. She finally settled on her friends, and that she wanted a Webkinz party. Essentially, this boiled down to me googling "webkinz birthday party" and stealing other people's ideas. Faith was totally impressed by this..."Mommy, you are so smart."


We ended up with four girls and two boys, and a whole lot of squealing, shouting and jumping around. And that was before they had sugar.

The kids seemed to have a great time running from activity to activity. We did everything from Webkinz Supermodelz (making capes for their WebKinz) to Zingoz Pop to Gem Hunt. (One tip: Popping balloons sounds fun in theory, but doing it with six kids and very large balloons in an unfinished basements is a recipe for deafness.) The party ended with Candy Bash (a pinata) and we sent the kids home wanting more. (They didn't want to leave.)

So, apparently I have a possible second career as a party planner for seven-year-olds. But frankly, this sounds like the seventh level of hell. After the party, I was more tired than the kids and put my feet up for about 15 minutes, until we figured out that Blake had stomach flu. Woohoo!

Making cookies

Faith and I made chocolate chip, oatmeal cookies the other day. This used to be a much easier proposition, but since George showed Faith that licking the beaters is OK, baking is much more interesting. Throw in a curious 15 month old, and things can get downright hairy.

Faith's whole purpose for making cookies now is to lick the beaters and eat the dough. After I caught her stealing cookie dough for the hundredth time, I told her she was "just like her Grampa...always stealing cookie dough!"

"I don't care," she replied, "Grampa's grrrrreat!"

Cookie dough is no longer safe in my house.

Blake's 15 month

To Blake:

With each day that passes, you are getting more fun, and becoming more challenging to keep up with. Your big thing right now is climbing on just about anything...the ottoman, the stairs, the chairs, your sister. You have mastered pushing any item that resembles a step stool next to the object you want to climb and then climb said object. Your latest trick is to climb the ottoman sans stepping object. Which means at any moment I can look over and see you standing on top of the ottoman smirking at me. Being a mom, this usually gives me a heart attack as I envision you running off the ottoman and smacking your head into the fireplace. Blood and stitches. I predict this in your future.


Your other big tricks this month involve language. You are really starting to talk...we just have to pay attention. The cutest thing right now is how you say "thank you" whenever we give you something. It sounds more like "ta da", but we get the idea. Not sure how you turned out so polite, but I'm hoping this lasts into your teen years.

Other words include cheese, soos (for soother), kiss, sis (for sister), light (you're obsessed with these), hi, and fai (you pounded on your sister's door and yelled "fai"). And, you love to talk on the phone. You'll walk around the house pushing the buttons on the phone and pretending to talk to people. When we did put you on the phone with Great-Grandpa and Grandma, you said "Hi", and chatted away with them. Then you like to push the buttons and make beeping noises in their ears, so you haven't quite got the phone etiquette thing yet.

In the last month, you've really started to play with your sister, or I should say she's playing with you. And, man, does she ever play rough with you. And, man, do you ever like it. Again with the mother thing and the heart attacks, but if she's carrying you around upside down, the better you like it.


But, my hands down favourite thing you've started to do this month is cuddle more. You'll put your head on my shoulder and snuggle your face into my neck. I think this is your version of a hug, and it feels perfect. Just like you.

Love,
Mom