I guess it happens to everyone...

I have discussed hair cutting with my children, mainly Aisling, a number of times. Basically I've threatened them with bodily harm explained how bad their hair will look if the cut it themselves.I thought they understood, and I was safe from the horrible "emergency" hair cut. (You obviously know where this is going....)

Connor's hair has gotten quite long. And, while he often gets mistaken for a girl, we all loved it. I thought it was fitting for him and looked very unique. It was almost long enough for him to tuck behind his ears, but not quite. A few times I convinced him to have it tied back in the center of his head...

but he hated that. So, instead he had it hanging down in front of his eyes, like so:
Apparently he got sick of that because he gave himself a haircut. I guess I thought he was too old for that at age 7. Not to worry, we didn't escape that developmental milestone unscathed. He was extremely upset about it afterward, and I think embarrassed. He asked me not to show the pictures to anyone. So, I will honor that request secretly post them on this blog for you anyway; he'll never know.

Here's the self-haircut: (You can tell he'd been crying...) He didn't want his picture taken, but what's a blog-writing, scrapbook-making mama to do? Let him get away with this monumental event not photographed? *snort* I think not! A little personal trauma makes the best scrapbook pages! You can see where he chopped his bangs. While he was doing it, I remember wondering where he was, since he'd been gone (and quiet) for a while. I never learn...

Here's during the haircut:And here's the professional cut:I think it looks really great. I'll need to get some gel for him. He asked for another mowhawk, and that's not exactly what he got. I am glad though, I like this a lot better. I do have to say, I was impressed with how long he kept his hair long. That's not the "typical" style, and I love, love, love that he was confident enough to go with what he wanted, over what the typical expectation is. That takes courage!

Working in the garden...

...with Daddy

Best invention e.v.e.r.

Check this out, this is my before:
Yes, it's a big pile of mismatched, orphan socks. (And, yes, this is the second time I have placed this picture on my blog. It's my blog, and I can do what I want!)

But wait: (Drum roll please)
Now I own these:
http://www.sockpro.com/sockpro.htm

Oh yes, the sockpro. A veritable life saver for those of us with twelve feet in our homes. It looks like this: Is that not the best thing ever? Your socks go in together, come out together, and can even be put away together! Entire evenings have just opened up for me. *sigh*.

That's my update for tonight. Stay tuned for lots of pictures involving baseball, birthdays, and babies. (kids really, but that didn't go with the alliteration...)

Mommy's little helper.

You'll not be seeing any photographic updates of the children anytime soon, oh no. So, if you're here just for that, I suggest coming back in a week or two (or a month...). Our camera has gone to the big photo development lab in the sky. How, you ask? Well, a certain four year old is quite the helper. See, Aisling is the middle child. And, as such, one of her survival techniques in this crazy family is to be the pleasing, helpful, and all around wonderful child. (Minus the crazy tantrums, but we'll just chock that up to the Irish/Italian blending). The other day she took the camera to take pictures of her room which was, of all things, CLEAN! She brought the camera back down and it was wet. Al decided (after hesitation I'm sure) to ask why the camera was wet. (Had she washed her hands and gotten it wet? Had she gotten a drink and gotten it wet?) The answer was that she had washed it. (How utterly helpful...). And how did you wash it? Al wants to know of course. (or, does he...) Did you wipe it with a baby wipe? A washcloth? Oh no, of course not. She took the camera and submerged it into a sink full of water. Of course, when one washes things, one needs soap. So, clearly the purple foaming soap is perfect for washing cameras, dontcha think? The camera left this little session cleaner, shinier, and wetter. Sadly water and digital cameras do not mix well. So, we are without our pocket sized camera. We do have a larger camera, but it's a pain to use. It is, however, dry.