D is for D@*#*, that hurts!

Yesterday, I was out running errands and happened to catch a glance at my reflection in the rearview mirror.

Waaaaay past time for an eyebrow wax.

So, on the way home, I pulled into my friendly neighborhood nail salon.

And that's where the pain began. Now, let's be clear here. The pain of which I speak is not of the physical variety. Because if there's one thing you should know about me, it's this: My vanity is not of the sort that would allow a small thing like massive quantities of pain to get in the way of the pursuit of beauty.

Anyway, I approach the counter and tell the lady what I'd like: an eyebrow wax, please.
At which point, she turns and yells loudly into the salon: EYEBROW WAX!!!!
(This is why I don't tell the chick at the counter that I also want a lip wax. I save that part for the chair. I only made that mistake once. LOL.)

So, I get into the chair and the girl says: You liie eyebrow wax?

Yes, I "like" eyebrow wax, please. And this too, I whisper, while pointing discreetly at my upper lip. (Whispering it somehow makes it seem less real.)

Then, she punched me in the gut says to me: You liie I do chin too?

And there was silence. Like movie silence. The kind with the crickets. During which I stared at her in complete horror and consternation.

And then I managed to squeak: Do I NEED a chin wax?

And she said: YES.

And then I died. Right there on the spot.

C is for Could she be any Cuter?

A few days ago, Rowan wanted to have a Lemonade Stand. Of course, I'm never prepared for anything fun, so she had to settle for a Water stand. Which, I tried to convince her would have the neighborhood kids running for their piggy banks.

Turns out, piggy banks weren't really needed. Rowan has her own ideas about pricing. It's possible she misunderstood what I meant when I was explaining the "free market"

to her.

Of course, her generousity doesn't stop with the neighborhood kids.

She decided to use her "water" stand to collect money for charity for "poor people". Those are her words. Seriously. Could she be any sweeter? I love this kid and her big heart.

It was a great day for Rowan! She was thrilled when the neighborhood kids came to be her "customers". She "sold" three bottles of water, and collected about $1.30 thanks to her daddy and several of the kids who ran home to get change when they saw her basket. It was The. Sweetest. Thing. Ever. :) :)

Chuck & I shared a little laugh over her excitement at her $1.30 and all it would do for the "poor people" until we realized that that's $1.30 more than we've collected for charity lately. It's no small thing to teach a child. And it's certainly no small thing to learn from one.

B is for Ballet

It more dangerous than it looks.

A is for Absent

In a shameless act of complete copy-cattyness, I am blogging the alphabet like several of my more proficient bloggy friends have done.


Now, admittedly, it's been a while since I studied the alphabet, but unless they've changed it lately, it seems most appropriate to begin with "A".


And "A" is for absent, because that's what I've been lately. Absent from blogging. And absent from home for two weeks following Hurrican Ike.


I know you're just dying to know what I did all that time. So, here's a rundown of the last month or so. (Yeah, I know. I've been absent from the blog way longer than that, but I can't tax my memory that much or my head will probably start smoking.)


Rowan started Kindergarten. That's right. Kindergarten. I can't believe it.





She's so totally over me and my camera. LOL.





Just a couple weeks after school started, Hurricane Ike decided to pay us a visit. We did decide to "hunker down" here for the storm. But, the aftermath of Houston in September without air-conditioning was more than we could take. So, we went on a Hurricane "vacation" as my husband so exaggeratingly and annoyingly termed it.

We stayed in luxury hotels and had seaweed wraps and massages in the afternoon and lobster dinners every evening. (This is my blog, I can say whatever I want.)

It was sooo much fun! I know I, for one, can't wait for another "vacation". (I hope you're all reading my sarcasm here.)


Okay, well, our "vacation" (I can barely type that word in reference to those weeks) we did get to spend some time in one my very favorite parts of Texas - New Braunfels. It's a beautiful place and I would love to take the kids back there sometime, hopefully voluntarily.

Next up - B. I think.

this pretty much sums it up . . .

The Baptism.

On June 29th, Rowan & Luke were baptised at our church.

There are no pictures from the actual ceremony. Cameras are not allowed during worship. (That's in the Bible. Look it up.)

We did receive a very nicely edited DVD, though. God has nothing against video cameras, apparently. And, of course, you can download the podcast on iTunes.

The above picture was taken after the service, at a Mexican restaurant. This is Texas. Mexican food is sacred. So, it seemed appropriate.

I'm a preschool graduate!

Well, I'm not. But Rowan is. For a couple months now. Is anybody really surprised that I'm behind here? Didn't think so.



This is Rowan and her teacher, Ms. Debbie. On Rowan's final evaluation form, Ms. Debbie said that Rowan's strength was COMPASSION. I couldn't be prouder if she had said GENIUS.


And, in other Rowan news - she lost her first tooth right before graduation, on May 20. She was beyond thrilled! And the toothfairy was extremely generous to her, mostly because she was dealing with lots of guilt over some other issues. LOL.

negotiating . . .

Me: Luke, you need to help Rowan clean up the playroom. If you do, you'll get two dollars for the day!

Luke: Mommy, how 'bout this? I give YOU five dollars and you never mention cleaning to me again.

The Colors of our Family . . .

I'm so in love with my son. I love how he's growing up. He asks the best questions. He's so inquisitive and so stinking funny.

We had this conversation a few days ago:

Luke: Mommy, what do yellow and blue make?
ME: (So relieved that I know the answer, LOL) GREEN.

Luke: What do red and orange make?
ME: (thinking. . . thinking . . . thinking . . .) Uh . . dark orange?

Luke: What do brown and white make?
ME: Light brown?

Luke: How about orange and green?
ME: Uh, probably a very ugly brown.

Then, I turn the tables on him, thinking I can stump him.

ME: What do Mommy and Lukey make?
Luke: Family. (which he pronounces Fam-buh-wee.)

Good Answer, Lukey. :)

I LOVE this kid.

He's got the whole world . . .

. . . in his hands. And us, too, of course.

Luke and I had this discussion yesterday. He was fascinated when I told him that God is holding us in his hands ALL THE TIME.

Later that day, I hear this conversation in the backseat:

Luke: Hey Rowan! Did you know that God is holding us ALL the time? All of us. Even Daddy.

Rowan: Yeah, I know that. He's holding us right now. (spoken with the absolute certainty of her 5-year-old wisdom)

Luke: Is he holding our car?

Rowan: Yep, he's holding ALL the cars. (again, such certainty :) )

Luke: OH. MY. GOSH!! All these cars are like God's toys!

I love you really really LOUD.

A couple weeks ago, my son Luke said this to me.

Luke: Mommy, I love you.

Me: Really? How much?

Luke: I love you really really LOUD.

It was really cute. I think, in his sweet 3-year-old heart, he was trying to say that he loves me sooo much - and he couldn't think of a bigger word that LOUD. I thought his description was so fabulous. And so fitting - considering the child it came from. :)

And the more I think about it, the more I love it.

Think about how Jesus loved us. He loved us so "loud" that he died for us. He was not ashamed of us. He proclaimed his love on the cross, for all to see. His love was not quiet. It was LOUD.

And so I resolve to love Him - and everyone else in my life - a lot more LOUD from now on.

Thank you, Luke, for sharing your wisdom with me.