little {big} thrills in my life

Yesterday was fun.

Brenden down DOWNHILL skiing.
Yep, that's right.

And Nick went golfing.

How funny is that?!

All within well under 100 miles of each other.

Well it seems funny to me.

Oh, and the girls and I went to the library
and checked out a ton of books.
We're such nerds.
But hey, at least we were warm.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~More exciting news~

Let me set this up so you fully understand why
I'm so tickled about such a simple thing...


I've been cutting my own hair for YEARS.
Years, I say.

I've been a hair stylist for almost 20 years and
it's just something I've always done.
*With the exception of when I worked in a salon & let
friends cut it*

But---
I'm SICK of it!

I hate giving myself a full hair cut
so what ends up happening is,
I just snip here and there, as needed.


But it needs a good old fashioned
(ok, change that to modern),
hair cut.


I told Kel that for Valentine's Day...or Mother's Day
I wanted him to get me a gift certificate
to a nice salon.

He said,
"Good grief, Lori, you don't have to wait for it to
be a gift...just make an appointment and GO!!"
He's so cool.

Soooo,
this Saturday at noon,
I'm going to a nice place to have Amanda (I think that's her name...
I really can't remember. I didn't know who to ask for),
give me a super cute new do!!!

It's the the littlest things that give me the biggest thrill, folks.

attachment at the beauty shop

As a spry 13 year old, I clearly felt the calling to be a hair stylist. Wow, big calling, I know. But actually, when God calls you to do something, it truly is BIG and He will use it for mighty things!

Little did I know, so many years ago, that my calling to do hair would go far beyond just adding a few $$ to our income. Wow, there was so much more that God had in mind for this little stay-at-home-mom/hairstylist!!

Macy loves for her hair to look cute...but she doesn't like to do it herself.

*Big ol' flashing light bulb*

So I have slowly transitioned her into letting me do her hair. I first suggested it nonchalantly because I didn't want her to think I was trying to change her or make her feel that I didn't think she was capable of doing it herself.

But she has quickly discovered just how glorious it is to have someone, not only style her hair...but to wash, dry and flat iron it. And I'm not talkin' head hanging over kitchen sink while mom pulls and tortures (does this ring a bell with anyone else's childhood but mine?).

I mean my girly gets THE WORKS. We scamper down to my shop and she gets to lean back and get a good head scrubbin' and relaxing style...right in her very own "salon" at home.

God is no doubt using this very calling that I heard a gazillion years ago, to serve my sweet girl and to build attachment in a very unique way.

Wow, I'm so thankful!!!

No pics of Macy (she strictly forbids the paparazzi from her hair appointments!) but here is a cute one of Lucy enjoying hers!

first haircut!!

Last evening we sent the guys out to get pizza.
And while they were gone,
we did some major make-overs!

First,
Lucy got a bath.
Then I got the idea that she needed her bangs
trimmed....then I got the idea
that I would have Macy watch, just for fun.
Planting the idea in her head that she would also want a haircut.

Low and behold,
after I finished Lu's hair I looked at Macy and
asked her if she wanted a haircut too.
Wow.
She said YES!!

SHE SAID YES!!!!

So, time wasn't exactly on our side since our
pizza arrival was pending...
so I swooped her down to my shop and we
got started.

I gave her a nice relaxing shampoo.
Then we started the cut.
Wow, her ends were really bad.

I took off a good inch.
Then I added some more bangs and blew it dry.

She seemed to love every second.

AND SO DID I!!!

What do you think?!!

She immediately hopped on the computer...
so I'm guessing she had to tell
her friends about her new do.

Then we had a little family night,
watching Mystery Science Theater 3000.
Us girls didn't last long watching it.
It's rather silly.
Brenden loves it....'nuff said.

By the end of the night,
I could tell Macy was bored...really bored.
I asked her, and she confirmed my suspicions.
Poor girl.
I wish so much we had some books
and magazines in Chinese for her.
We are going to check out another Chinese market today and
I hope to find something for her there.

If anyone knows of WHERE I can order some books,
please let me know!

Lucy, the hair stylist....and client

For the past 14+ years I have been a stay-at-home mom/hair stylist.
After Nick was born I left the salon world.
My super awesome clients followed me to my little
shop in my little house.

After Lucy came home, I knew that even though I didn't
work anywhere near full-time, I had to give up
the majority of my clients.

I miss the money them terribly but I really know I made the
right decision. Lucy needs me full-time (oh boy, does she).
And I'm loving my extra time to do things
I didn't have time for before.

I'm so very thankful for my skills that remain so I can cut the
hair of my family members (saving us lotsa $) and
a few close friends (who generously compensate me).

Lucy has quickly learned the fun of playing "beauty shop".....
and if you are one of the few lucky ones to come
by for a hair do....you will no doubt get
an Asian touch....

Lucy can't resist getting into the shampoo action.
(And believe me, K-man doesn't mind extra hands
massaging his scalp!)

Then...it was Lucy's turn.
Her first real hair cut (by me).
I've trimmed her bangs for the past year
but never really gave her a hair cut.

Trust me, this gal is all girl.
She knows a good thing when she sees it.
Aaahh...a relaxing shampoo!

She can't even resist helping with her own
shampoo!

Woo! Invigorating!

Then things took a turn.....
You can see on my face (half of it) that surprise has set in.
I made the mistake of putting a booster chair
under her so I could raise her up...
you know, so she gets a decent haircut!!

How dare you make things easier for yourself
me unhappy!

Oh, I will NOT enjoy this relaxing experience.

You can't make me.

The only reason I'm holding still is
because I want to, not because it's the
greatest feeling ever you told me to.

Whatever.

Well now, there you have it. Lucy's first big hair cut.
Well....I had fun!


Thanks Karin! *wink*