Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow

This weekend was busy, as always, but topped with a very special event. For over a year now, Isabelle has asked, no begged, me to let her get her hair cut...short. I've resisted, as frankly it seemed like so much work. She plays a lot of sports, so the "go to" pony-tail is just something I wasn't willing to let go of so easily. So her hair has gotten longer and longer and longer. We trim it every six weeks, but it quickly grows out again.

Anyway, a week or so ago we had one of Isabelle's friends over who commented that she wanted to grow her hair out to donate to Locks of Love. I'm very familiar with the organization, but really hadn't put all the pieces together to think it could be an option for us. But the gears got turning in my head at that moment. "Isabelle," I said, "if your hair is long enough to donate to Locks of Love, I'll let you cut it." She was delighted, and to me it seemed like a win-win situation. I read the requirements on the Locks of Love website - you have to have a minimum of 10 inches of hair for donation - and we verified that Isabelle had that covered. Appointment was made for this weekend, and the pictures below will tell the story best (click on the pictures for a larger view).

Getting ready to start. Looking a little nervous.

Megan, who cuts my hair, did the deed. She separted Isabelle's hair into two braids for donation.

Here the braids are being cut off. Everyone in the salon gathered around to watch the big moment, and kept telling Isabelle what a fabulous thing she was doing to help others.

Getting styled. Isabelle couldn't stop staring in the mirror, and was delighted with the outcome.

Isabelle with her hair that she is donating. She was very excited that her hair will be going to help other kids, and fully plans on growing it out again for another donation.

In addition to the big cut, Isabelle's soccer team also played their first indoor game of the season. They won 2-1, which was huge as we're putting our almost all girls team (we were given one "token" boy to technically keep the team co-ed) against all boys teams or mostly all boys teams. The rules state each team must have at least one girl on the field at a time (five players on the field) but we're often sending all girls out. So, this was a big win and we hope the first of many. Sophia and Hudson are also attending soccer class right before Isabelle's games, so Saturday mornings are busy. We hope you all had a wonderful weekend like we did!

~ Shannon

Please pass the meds

Apparently today is the most depressing day of the year, at least according to this article. I can buy it. I can’t think of a ton I’m excited about today, except that the sun is out in Seattle, which is always a plus in January. The joy and happiness of the holidays are behind us, and right about now most of us are starting to realize all the extra drinking and sweets we ate are now also behind us, just in the form of our bigger butts. Todd and I are on a bit of a detox diet; no soda, smaller portioned meals, no red meat, and no cheese (well, the last one is mainly mine). We’ll see how it goes. We were also supposed to cut out coffee and alcohol, but realized that then we'd end up divorced and that's not any better than fat.

We painted our bathroom this weekend, which was starting to drop into a state of depression itself since it had been a few years since being painted. Below is a picture. We went with a lovely dark gray which I think makes it look a little more formal. Hopefully the color will hide marker and crayon too, since Sophia has been on a tear lately of coloring on the walls. Next we’re moving on to painting the rest of the upstairs, which is in desperate need as our walls are trashed from the kids.
Watched the Golden Globes last night. Just one thing to say: Robert Downey Jr. He obviously won’t win an Oscar for his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes, but I loved the movie and adored him in it. Todd put it best after RDJ finished his acceptance speech, “I would totally add that guy to my list of people I’d like to eat dinner with. You just don’t know what he’s going to say or do, but you know it’s going to be great.” Agreed. Robert, consider it an open invitation to dine at our house any night. On a side note, why must people display their horrid breasts and plastic surgery faces for all the world to cringe over when they appear on the TV (Courtney Cox, Mariah Carey…looking in your directions)? On a positive note, Kate Winslet and Reese Witherspoon were just as classy and gorgeous as ever. Props and keep it up, ladies.

Song of the moment: It’s a tie…Sea Blue by Sam Bradley and Being a Mockingbird by Bobby Long

In honor of today's holiday, be kind to each other.

“Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle.”
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.