Big Girl Haircut!

For her birthday, my big girl wanted a real hair cut...at my salon.  Usually I've just cut her hair.  She's young enough that I can't mess up too bad.  And it really saves money.  Here's her special morning...

She really wanted her hair washed.

She kept asking me to take more photos.

And more photos...

Josie took off about 3 inches.  Here's my princess.

Next stop, Starbucks for some hot cocoa.  

A gift from Rex...

He must have gotten out when we were leaving for the library the other day. This really upsets the kids since they know we signed the paperwork to keep him inside (he was declawed before we got him from the Rescue). Anyways, several hours later my mom was over and I was cooking dinner after the library and a playdate...and she screamed when she saw Rex wanting to come in the sliding glass door with a tail hanging from his mouth. Can you see it here?

He really didn't want to leave the tail outside, but I convinced him to let me throuw it over the fence. Poor lizard. We're not sure if he only caught the tail...or if he actually ate his prey and then brought us the souvineer. Aren't cat's wonderful.

Cinnamon

Have I talked much about how the boys took horseback riding lessons this year? Well, it was the highlight of our week. One of the best parts of the lessons was being 'on-the-farm'. We enjoyed the lama, goats, sheep, pigs, cats, dogs, and chickens. Cinnamon was raise by a family who couldn't keep him, so he came to live with our horse instructor. Because he had been hand fed he loved to be held. 6 LOVES Cinnamon!

I just hurt my daughters feelings...

I yelled at her. She thought she'd made her shirt FANCY. She had decorated herself with an entire book of stamps. How is a 4 yo supposed to know the difference? They look like stickers. You should have seen the look in her face. Yes...she should have not snuck into my cupboard and stole my stamps when she has her own stickers. But, I do need to find a way to bite my tongue and respond calmly.

Acorns and Oak Trees

Chan awarded me with the Renee Award, and truly....I am both awed and humbled by this award. I especially like the song she linked. Today, many might not know this about me, but I LOVE country music and I used to go dancing every week at the country bars. Oh...those were the days. But, to think that I'm strong enough when I feel like I'm just surviving...well, that's encouragement to keep going. It's humbling to know that any strength others see is not all my own.

Here is what Bella says of this award:
"This is a brand new award and I have the pleasure and honor of spreading the seed, watching it grow. I hope it finds it's way to those who are like Renee: the acorn, a small package becoming a tall and sturdy oak, giving more acorns, becoming tall and sturdy oaks, giving acorns..."

I took this photo last August at the Dog Park near my Grandparents house. A really fitting time for this post. We were right in the middle of a storm. The winds of life blew hard and it was good that my roots ran deep. Go read this poem. (I was searching the internet for something about the strength of an oak and found this. It says so clearly what I want to share.) Last summer, when M lost his job, I wasn't sure how we could survive. I learned that I was a lot stronger than I thought. I owe it all to my Foundation. Where my roots are grounded.

California Oaks are one of the most beautiful things to me. I love their silhouette against the sky. To me...this is a glimpse of heaven. And now...I'll focus on them as the symbol of strength.

So, to pass this on...that's been the hardest part of typing this post.

Karen & Sue. These 2 are women I'd love to grow up to become. I admire their desire to pass on what they've learned.

Allison & Nancy. Both women had gone through a serious injury and shared with me hope when I couldn't walk. My knee has come a long way...but I'm still not the same.

Gail & Tammy. Evidence to me that you can survive homeschooling and still find time for knitting. Most of my homeschooling friends are still on their first kid. It's a huge difference to be homeschooling more than one.

Really...this could go to everyone in my bloglines. I read because you inspire me. To Love God More. To Love Others More. To Keep On When The Going Gets Rough. To Knit To Keep My Sanity. Thanks for sharing your lives.