Will Work For Food

Invite some missionaries over for dinner, and they're happy to do your dishes! haha


Raelee and Daniel absolutely love getting their picture taken. They're so cute when they "pose" for a pic.

The kids and the elders. What a fun evening!

First Beauty Shop Trip

I've been wanting to take Raelee to get her hair cut for a couple months now, but there just never seems to be an open time. I've cut her hair many times, but she has never been to a professional for a haircut. I thought that we could get our haircut together, a good mommy & daughter outing, you know?

Her Grandma, on the other hand, got it into Raelee's head that Grandma would take her to the beauty shop, and that Raelee needed to ask her mommy for permission. When I approached Raelee about taking her to get her hair cut this weekend, I was devastated when Raelee said no because she was supposed to go with Grandma.

And then the thought occurred to me that all 3 of us could all go together!

I made an appointment with Fantastic Sam's, but my mother-in-law decided we should go to her beautician instead for the real "beauty shop" experience. I hesitated a little bit because I've never had a good haircut experience, except for one time, and that was over 10 years ago (yes, I am that picky so I get my haircut about once a year).

Today was haircut day. After Raelee's dance class, we headed to the beauty shop. She did really fine until it was time to sit in the chair and get her bib on (is that even what it's called??). Then she got really scared and began crying.

Sweet little girl. I cried on the inside too at hear tears and anxiety.

This is her "before" picture.

The chair swiveled around and dropped back right into the sink. Raelee really bawled at this point. She had no clue what was going on. Simply broke my heart. I held her hand, and this helped calm her down. That and Miss Shirley was very calm and a good scalp massager as she washed Raelee's hair.

Getting her hair cut...

...And cutting some more...

...And still more coming off!

Then a quick blow dry on a low heat setting. She tolerated this rather well.

By the time Miss Shirley pulled out the flat iron, Raelee was giving little grins here & there inbetween pouting. She was so quick with them. Try as I might, I couldn't catch any of them with the camera!

Ta-da! The after shot--a cute little bob with a pretty white bow. Again, she was giving quick perky smiles here & there at her Grandma & her Grandpa, who was also at the beauty shop with us. I just couldn't get a cheerful grin out of her long enough to get a smile. But at least it wasn't a frown!

Raelee loves her haircut and kept commenting about how "beautiful" she was. And she truly is a beauty. I love my little princess.

Oh and yes, I love my haircut this time! I just might go back for another cut in a few months instead of waiting another year. :)

Tuckered Out

She insisted that I read her a story before bedtime.

I must have been pretty boring. :)

Super Son

It's a bird. It's a plane. It's SUPER SON!

He doesn't just make his own bed (without being asked).

He also makes his sister's bed (without asking). And...

...he even makes his parents' bed!

All without being asked.

I love my sweet son! :)

The Boot Scoot Boogie

Also knows as the Protestant Preschool & Kindergarten annual dinner auction! This year's theme was cowboys & cowgirls.

"I am not a crook!"

The kids had a blast getting up on the stage and singing cowboy songs.

Raelee's Snow Day

5 Inches!!!!!

We woke up to a magical world this morning--white-out conditions!!


The snow began yesterday evening but really started to come down right as we put the kids to bed last night. It stuck to everything as it continued to come down.

I took a ruler and measured the snow accumulation on our table out on the deck. We were supposed to get 2-4 inches of snow for our area. Low & behold we got 5!

Both kids were eager to play outside. Raelee especially wanted to have a snowball fight. In fact, it's about all she cared to do. She kept talking about it and would grab a handful of snow and throw her snowball at me. Kind of hard to take pictures when you're constantly bombarded by snowballs!

The kids and I took a little adventure out in the woods behind our house. They were in heaven!

Daniel insisted on toting the wagon with him, but I finally made him stop as we headed deeper into the woods.

We found dad's deer stand. Daniel made sure to climb up it and cleaned off all the steps. When he got to the top, he declared, "It's just like I'm hunting!" He is very excited for the day that he gets to go hunting with his daddy.

And here's Raelee saying, "Throw a snowball at me!" I told you it's all she could talk about. And the snow was PERFECT for snowballs. Our snow usually is icy and doesn't stick to itself very well. But this time the snow was ideal for snowballs and snowmen, although we didn't get a chance to make a snowman and the snow started melting almost as soon as the sun rose above the house.

The kids did make snow angels, of course!