Haircut...Finally...for ME

So, more and more I realize how neglectful I have become of myself, as a woman...as my family has grown over the years, I, as most of us do, have made myself very little of a priority. Not so much intentionally, but there is always something more important to do...or more important to spend the money on.

Every once in a while, I take a minute, and I look around and really notice the weight that has magically stayed on (even though I have vowed to lose it every year), or how long it's been since I have painted my toes or my fingernails, shopped for something just for me...or even had real time alone (except in the shower), and suddenly I even noticed...it had been almost a year since my last haircut...

Oh being a mommy....

So finally, THIS IS THE YEAR....The year that I take myself back! My kids are the most important thing in the world to me...but a happy mommy, makes a happy family!!! I will be better for everyone...happier and healthier!

SO..................This year, thus far...I have lost almost thirty pounds...

I did my toes on Thursday...

Then..........
On friday, Tyler's long day at school, Makylie and I headed over to a new salon that was referred to me. This is a woman who was a professional stylist for years, and then had kids and decided to stay home. Then a couple years later when baby number 2 was on the way, they moved into a house that had a mother-in-law attached...and so began the makeover. She made an adorable little studio! It is so great, I can bring the kids if I need to, or can go in the evening after Kevin is home from work. And she did an amazing job!!!! I love my cut, and the products she used!

BEFORE (cheesy!!!)

and......AFTER

I feel so much better with the weight of the hair gone! It feels so springy/summery...and I feel sassy. LOOOOVE IT!

Feels good to put aside my full time, 24/7 career, and do something...even small, for me! Especially when it makes me feel better about myself....BECAUSE LET'S FACE IT....Our job isn't exactly glamorous!!!

I must say...there could be NOTHING...and I mean NOTHING, better then when I picked up Tyler and he looked at me with those giant, heartfelt, eyes...and said "Mommy, you look SOOOOOOOO pretty!"

Right back to reality...but what's not to love!!

Ahhhhh...the world of Highschool...

So we went to Karman's final debate event. It was an awards banquet at a local Mexican restaurant.

So she got.....*Glacier Peak High School Speech and Debate award/pin 2008-2009, *State particiaption award/pin 2009, *Double National Forensic League member award 2008-2009 and a *VARSITY letter award.

Are you kidding me???? Awesome...


First year debater, on a first year team, at a first year school. Impressive...surprising...wonderful!

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Despite the frustrations, and the everyday teenage girl drama, Karman, you make us very proud. Though sometimes it seems the arguing, yelling, and crying in our house outweighs any sentimental moments these days...it really does impress us what you accomplished. (Even though Debate has taught you to argue even more...)

So, just because I can, I am going to go mommy here for a minute...

Karman,

You challenge us, and push us to figure out how to make your future as bright as we can manage, despite what you THINK you want, now. You, seemingly, don't usually like our decisions, nor do you like our opinions...but in the amazing way of life...you don't have much choice. And thank GOD...because if you did, at this volitle age...I don't know what would happen.

Fortunately, for us and for you, there are enough bright spots to keep us all waiting for the day (and we know it will come) when the slamming of doors, and the rolling of eyes will come to an end...when you care less about the fact that we push and INSIST (and boy, do we push and insist) that you cannot and WILL NOT fail Spanish, and more about making sure, for YOURSELF, that you do EVERYTHING not to fail, in anything...when you don't think you are the smartest teenager on Earth and instead, realize you can benefit SO MUCH by what others can teach you. It all comes with age...but I do hope you will realize that you are SO much better and more deserving then you think you are right now at this, quickly passing age. Being a teenage girl, is kind-of brutal...and when we make it through we, hopefully, find who we are, and come into our own and are better off because of it.

You are getting there my dear...Almost finished with your sophomore year...beautiful, smart and trying so hard to figure out your place in the world of highschool. But, you need to worry less about your place, and more about your time there. I can tell you that someday, you won't care where you did, or didn't, fit it, or what you are, or aren't doing, that others are...but you will have regrets about what you didn't learn, the bridges you burned, or the opportunities that you didn't take advantage of while you could.

Be VERY proud of what you have accomplished, know that you can always accomplish more, keep your head above the level of people who try to belittle you. I have confidence, that you will then, do nothing but succeed!

Speech and Debate has been great for you and we look so forward to watching you grow with it over the next couple of years. Congratulations!

Happy, Happy Easter

Easter morning was wonderful! The kids were all so excited!

(seriously? Could this picture be ANY cuter?)

Its funny, since Karman has gotten older...she doesn't much care for the hoop-la before the holiday, and has even been known to say that the pre-events, (say an Easter egg hunt) are "sort-of stupid" but boy...even the big kid gets excited when there are presents and candy to be had! :)

So the Easter bunny had come, and everyone was thrilled! Tyler and Makylie both got a Leapster game, and a stuffed bunny and some small toys and books...Karman got nail polish in her school colors, a necklace,a how-to crochet book and a Gameboy game. Also, their favorite candies. That Easter bunny sure is SMART!!!

Then we laid low for the early afternoon, preparing a BEAUTIFUL ham, and starting a potato casserole, salad, and tipsy cake dessert, and of course....

COLORED SOME EGGS!

At about 3ish, some of our best friends, Mark, Erin, Sean and baby Mason came over for Easter dinner and big egg hunt! The weather had decided that an outdoor hunt was not in our future, so we set it up inside. The kids absolutely didn't care at all!!!!!!! They had a great time. After it was over, they went through all of the eggs, and the kids were beyond EXCITED about the fact that some of them had money!!!!

Then we enjoyed the above dinner with the addition of the delicious green bean casserole that our friends brought!

It was a wonderful evening...

Good friends, Good food, Good memories...who could ask for more?

HAPPY EASTER, 2009!

There an Egg...

We went over to Grandma and Grandpa Bean's house on Saturday. You know...it was the typical pre-Easter, early brother-in-law birthday, Easter egg hunt, pictures of Egypt trip, brunch, kind of a day.... I know, typical...

Easter was coming on Sunday, and my brother-in-laws birthday was the next week. Which was all pulled together with the fact that my In-laws had just gotten home from a trip/cruise to Egypt.

So we all got together for brunch.

During that time we had a big Easter Egg hunt, which at this point, is just about all the kids even remember about the day :) They had so much fun....and as we all know...Gramma gives the best candy! (And money too)

(The Cute little Blondie is my Niece, Elaine...she is 9)





Karman didn't hunt, but did stand outside and give hints to the hunters....
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The kids quickly went through and compared their loot....



Thanks for a great time Gramma and Grampa! Not just for the Easter eggs...but also the brunch, and hosting the birthday get together and the thousands of pictures......oh my goodness, I am suffering delusions of grandeur!!!
Just kidding---Thank you!

Here an Egg......

So I am a little behind...and need to backtrack for this last week... (4-11-09)

Our kids just ate up the Easter Egg hunts this year. It was fun to see. It is the first year that Makylie understood what to do, (last year she grabbed one egg, and went and sat down to open it) and the first "real" year that Tyler ACTUALLY truly remembered the year before. Plus, they are still SOOOOO appreciative....it is never, "I didn't get that" or "That's it?" It is pure, unrelenting JOY!

(seriously, look at that face! :) )

(Makylie didn't get many eggs, but she was on top of the world!)

(These guys were SO nice to the kids!)

The two little kids are just at that magic age...where it is all still so fun, and new, and exciting...and they totally believe in all of it.

(Ty went to town)

(seriously...the dress? Cutest thing EVER!!!)

For the record...it looks like the big kids had fun too...even though we sort of had to drag them there. :)

(Karman and one of her best friends, Rae...they didn't hunt...they were helping recycle the eggs!)

We went to a couple hunts, a small one at Tyler's old preschool, a large community free-for-all , a surprise hunt at grandma and grandpa's and, of course, had our own with our friends on Easter Sunday...

These pictures are from the community hunt the day before Easter. For the record they are from my cell phone. I was set up to take my first picture of the face painting...and I snapped it only to have it say...NO CARD...I was SOOOO disappointed. Going to an event with no camera, for me, is a mistake I don't make very often and causes SO much anxiety when I do! SO I had to resort to the cell phone....

Kids.....still cute, no matter the camera!

Now, after it is all said and done...they are still hiding the empty eggs, and re-finding them. It is such an entertainer right now! Love it...but I am packing them all away this weekend, so we will see how that goes.