Liam has been asking me to cut his hair all summer. All of his friends have buzz cuts and he wants one too. I just knew he wouldn't look like my Liam anymore so I kept pushing it off. I may have even told him that getting your hair cut hurts... I promised him we would cut his hair before kindergarten. There were a few days where I felt his hair was more "homeless child" than "surfer dude."(not that I surf--the whole idea of being knocked over by a giant wave with a giant board strapped to my ankle sounds terrifying.) So, I knew it was time to at least clean it up a bit.

Kindergarten starts Monday, so yesterday we took him to the only person I would trust--our friend Patrice. She knows me and she knows what level of change I can handle and what level will leave me curled in the fetal position holding blond curls wailing with gnashing of teeth.

Liam was pretty nervous so he sat on my mom's lap while Patrice snipped away. I really think she did a PERFECT job! He still looks like Liam, but more surfer and less homeless. He was happy with it but said next time he wants more cut off. I think I will be ok with doing this gradually...I think...next time there may be wailing and gnashing of teeth...

I am not sure what's going on with his face, but this is the only picture I had of the final cut at Patrice's

This is him today--see, he still looks like himself, but less disheveled :) Thank you Patrice! (Note: he and Stanley have matching Superman shirts on!--Stanley is Aunt Nicki and Uncle Nicholas' dog) 

Rori's Birthday Party

So I am also late doing this post. I really should just stop commenting on my lateness, as it is no longer unusual, but has become the norm. Anyway, Rori's birthday party was the weekend after Liam's and 3 days before we left for Florida. I was a little stressed, so I popped one of my airplane Xanax (I had a couple of extras). My allergies were also acting up, so I also popped two benadryl. This was me about an hour before the party. My mom was pretty worried.

Anyway, enough about me. I pulled it together in time for the party. Rori wanted a Rapunzel birthday party, and she requested a pinata. It was 8000 degrees out that day. Bill hung the pinata outside about 30 min before the party. We figured we would play some of the games and then do the pinata. My mother brilliantly realized the candy (much of which was chocolate) was probably melting. So, it became the first activity. Bill thought of hitting it with a frying pan.

Unfortunately it just knocked the pinata off it's string. So we re-connected it, and tried again

Same result. Since the candy was melting we decided to have them just pull the strings.

Success! I suggested they put their candy bags in the fridge when they got home...

Next we played pin the Pasqual on the Rapunzel

Then we headed back outside for the dress up game. The girls had two teams and each had to put on a princess dress, shoes, and jewelry, spin around and say "bibbidy bobbity boo" then run back and tag the next person.

The next game was an Ariel game. The girls were blindfolded and had to dig in a sandbox for sea shells. Whomever found the most was the winner. I didn't realize until later, that some of the moms didn't know me, and I wonder if they thought, when dropping their girls off, that we kept a litter box in the front yard. Hopefully their girls told them what it was there for!

I was worried that the girls would get antsy while waiting for their turns, but they were really good at self-entertaining. They found bugs to look at!

Then we had cupcakes. We had to rush the girls. They take much longer to eat cupcakes than boys do!

Then we did presents and it was time for them to go! We were thankful for my mom and my sister who took pictures, and Ryan and my mother in law for all their help!

Happy Birthday, Rori Rose

Alas, I am a month late, but to be fair, we were in Florida for Rori's 7th birthday. This year has been a year of big changes. Rori went to first grade, so it was the first year of all day school. You were in the school play of The Wizard of Oz in the Tornado Dance. You showed a real love for art.

You can play with anyone--your brothers, kids older than you, younger than you, and with grandmas :) Your cousin, Noah, followed you around like you were the Pied Piper while we were in Florida. You share really well, and you are good at being able to see both sides of an argument. You love to share things your are thankful for, and you love to hear what others are thankful for.

You love to help around the house--you get great pleasure out of setting a lovely dinner table. I love this about you, because I love the looks of a lovely table, but never do it. You danced in your first ballet recital. You were so beautiful, and when I looked at you, I couldn't believe you were mine.

Rori Rose, I love you so much. It takes my breath away. Happy 7th Birthday, my love!

A Tale of Two Bubbas

Once upon a time there was a chubby baby. He was affectionately called "Chubba Bubba"

He had a cousin named Juli. She called him "Bubba." Once he was able to talk, he called her "Bubba." They loved each other very much. One year they went on vacation together and were inseparable.

They walked up and down with their suitcases

They checked out grandpa's shoes

They listened to stories of the days of yor

They asked great-grandma for her cupcake

They checked all the beds

and made sure none were sleeping

They regaled each other with tales

They read stories on their Kindles

They shunned society's requirements of clothing

They fought crime as fearless superheroes

And they watched the sunset as their mom's discussed that someday, they will realize they are cousins, and this magic is going to be fleeting. But for now, they are "the Bubba's"