Crazy Hair Day

We're in Dallas spending approx. 5 weeks with my sister's family. Harold's doing an away rotation, at Parkland, while the girls and I hang out and attempt to do some schoolwork. It's only been a week and I think I'll grade the week a C+ as far as having five kids and two dogs, under one roof, trying to get along and share.

This morning was Crazy Hair Day at my nephews and niece's school. I love that I am getting to share in these lil things with kids that I love as much as my own. I know this because I put one of them in time-out last night and felt zero guilt. Just like when I do so to my own kids.

Alex's hair is "long" to me but cool to the rest of his friends. Just the perfect length for a funkly lil mohawk - can't get much crazier than that!

Sophia ended up with two teased pigtails - the pic does it no justice. My sis definitely put her 80's bang teasing skills to good use. I feel for the child who sits behind her in class since their blackboard view will for sure be obstructed.

And Joshy, this lil bundle of energy is anything but neat and proper - his hair doesn't even get this slick for church. Too bad we didn't have a bowtie to add to his shirt.

When I told Alex that I was going to post his pics on here he said, "Cool! Now everyone around the whole world can see me!!!" Isn't that sweet? My nephew thinks I have a global following.

I just laughed and moved this week's grading to an A++!

Buzz, Buzz!

Booty Shaking on the Front Lawn

The other day I decided that I was going to celebrate my children. Not sure if I read an inspiring blog post, read a story about a child dying or saw a sweet commercial, but I was determined to see past all things that bugged me and just enjoy being with my children.

Lucia woke up from her nap and we were off to pick up Isabella. I had my new iPod playing and we were both dancing around to Black Eyed Peas "I Gotta Feeling" and I just knew that it would be a good, good day. We picked up Isabella and, I kid you not, we made it approximately 2.5 blocks down the street and I was screaming at Isabella to stop whining and complaining.

The whining kills me. Slowly. Every. Day. Sigh.

Yesterday, I decided I was a loser mom for giving up so quickly as I thought back on that afternoon. I turned on the radio and the beginning lyrics to "I Gotta Feeling" song were starting. Yes! God agreed and I was being given another chance. Lucia and I both screamed out in excitement.

We sang. We danced. We laughed. We got home way too quickly.

I quickly turned up the radio, jumped out the car, pulled Lucia out and we danced right then and there... in my driveway. Two cars drove by and one actually slowed down, probably because they thought I was trying to perform the Heimlich Maneuver on myself, but once they saw Lucia's smile and heard the music playing they kept on driving.

Nothing wrong here - just enjoying my daughter with a lil booty shaking in the middle of the front lawn.

Time to Pull Out the Suit

Harold's med school "pregnancy" is progressing along. We're in the setting-up-interviews phase so I put together this map to show you guys where Harold will be interviewing soon.

I'm pretty sure I'm missing 2 or 3 other places but he's not home for me to ask - pretty sure I heard something about Emory, Parkland and Baton Rouge. Oh, well. I saw this idea on my friend Katy's blog and totally had to copy.

Katy made the comment that she realized they could end up anywhere after putting her map together. Me? I realized that I should have followed through with my high school freshman dreams of med school when I had the chance. Now I am going to be stuck at home with two kids while my hubby goes of on silent plane rides and sleeps in clean hotel rooms.

So. Not. Fair.

(If you click on the map you can read it a lil better)

Choose Hope

I remember sitting in my living room with my dad. I think I was 12 or 13. We were watching a Feed the World special about the hungry children in Ethiopia. It was so sad. I remember it was just my dad and me, my sister couldn't watch these type of documentaries without crying and I'm not sure where my brother and mom were. Maybe it was late and my mom was already asleep, I'm not sure.

During a break, I turned to my dad and said that I thought if everyone in the world could give just one dollar, maybe those kids wouldn't be hungry. I remember my dad saying that not everyone had a dollar to give and the one's that had thousands of dollars, just didn't want to.

I don't know how true the latter part of his statement is today. Maybe it's more true than I want to believe. I don't know. I do know that this world is full of generous people who are working to making a difference. Hopemongers.org was created to help us, help others. The concept is simple - give $10 and help end poverty somewhere in the world.

You choose the project and they'll take care of the rest.

A Berry Special Birthday

This past Sunday we had a party for the girls.

Isabella turned 5 last week and Lucia turns 3 next week. I love having joint birthday parties for them. Not only does it justify the running around but I think it's pretty cool that it's teaching them the art of compromise and it's keeping Isabella from growing up too fast since Lucia's two years younger. This year some of the ideas were Chuckee Cheese, a mermaid party, a Dora party and I think a puppy party, too.

A few months ago, my aunt gave us matching Strawberry Shortcake outfits and the theme was quickly chosen and approved by moi! The party got a lil crazy with a house full of family and friend but in the end, it ended up being a "berry" special birthday!

Smart Turtle

We found a turtle in the yard.

Decided to keep it as a pet. Especially after we noticed how much her shell resembled the pattern of our patio.

This turtle was pretty big! And fast! We'd go inside and come back minutes later to find it running across our backyard. I figured she could hear the whining of who got to hold her first and decided to hightail it outta here!


Smart turtle.