Just a little off the top . . .

I can count on one hand the number of times I have liked a new haircut when I leave the salon. Today was no exception.

I went to a new salon with my hair fixed as I normally wear it - I did this on purpose so the beautician could see how I wear my hair. Despite my hair's recent history, I was actually having a good hair day.

I told the beautician that I would like to keep the same style but just shorten the layers and shorten the overall length by about 2 inches.

She cut it like I requested but then styled it totally different - maybe she was subtly trying to tell me something. Oh well, I came home and re-fixed it - now I like it.

Despite the whole styling thing, here is a list of positive things about the salon and my beautician -

1. She shampooed my head with really warm water - oooh so nice;
2. She didn't comment on how bad my hair tangles or how overdue I was for a haircut, nor did she suggest that I color my gray;
3. She didn't talk a lot - I find it hard to make conversation when I am worried about my hair;
4. She was really reasonably priced - $20 and that was after a nice tip (I was 10 minutes late and so I felt a little obligated to leave a nice tip);
5. She was fast - I appreciate that.

Cassie Role

One senior milestone over and done - this year is going to fly by!

Every year at Tabernacle the senior class puts on a play for the Eagle Club Banquet. It usually draws a crowd of about 500 people and serves as the school's biggest fund raiser. This year Megan's class put on a "who dun'it" type mystery dinner.



Megan (a/k/a Cassie Roll)
I fixed her hair for the play - I had plenty o f experience,
I wore my hair that way my entire sophomore year!!

Joel warming up his trumpet - The band and choir provided music for the evening.
Ensemble also made their first performance.

Emily and Megan

Megan played the part of Cassie Role - a rather flirtatious southern cook. The ending of the play was kept secret - even from me (I thought Megan told me everything - lol). It turned out that Megan's character, Cassie Role, was the "one who dun'it."

It was a fun evening - made even more special by the many friends and family who came to support the kids!

Our family and friends filled one whole table!!
Troy and Hope with Levi - posing for the camera



Megan with the flowers Troy got her -
it was a perfect evening!!

Just the two of us

Us - still liking each other!

The youth group at church went to Tim and Angel's home town this past weekend. From the stories they told, it sounds like they had a great time.

They were able to visit an Amish farm and help with the day's chores, have cookouts every night, play ultimate frisbee, and go to Angel's church Sunday morning. The Lord blessed them with great weather and safety while they were traveling.

This trip meant that Brian and I had the weekend at home with no agenda. It was really nice to have nothing to do. Not that there weren't things that we could have done - but we chose this weekend not to do them.

Our weekend without kids at home -

- We fell asleep at 10pm on Friday night - not exactly the romantic evening we had planned - lol;
- We slept in, watched Batman, and ate a late breakfast at Cracker Barrel on Saturday morning and then bought the lumber for Megan's full wall bookshelf that is now one step closer to being done;
- We visited with Robby who stopped by Saturday afternoon to fix our ever eroding driveway;
- We ate at Steak and Shake for supper Saturday night and split a milkshake;
- We went to church on Sunday morning and then came home and took a quick nap before the kids got home; and
- We found out we still like to be together!

It was nice - thanks Tim and Angel.

Mood Rings

The day started out with such promise . . .

I was in a good mood - actually, downright great mood most of the day. Our morning went smoothly - everyone up early, lunches fixed, homework done, left on time . . .

Mood Ring, oh Mood Ring,

Work was crazy-busy but manageable. This was despite the fact that I was in clinic with Dr. D. today who showed up at 10:15 am which made us start seeing patients 1 1/2 hours late! This was especially bad because he was double-booked all day and had two new patients to see as well. . .

All of this should have been enough to sour my mood - but it didn't. . .

oh tell me will you bring the key
To unlock this mystery?

I got home from work around 5 pm and the kids and I were out the door by 5:20 pm on our way to the church where Megan was slated to practice with Adam and Karlee for the weekend fund raiser in Nashville. Brian met us at the church and with the boys we headed to Donato's for pizza. . .

Of girls and their emotions

Nice supper - pizza was good, enjoyable time talking with the boys about school and the upcoming basketball season. . .

Back to church to pick up Megan and head home in two vehicles - as is usual for us any more. . .

Play it back in slow motions
So I may understand

Somewhere between Donato's and home it seems my mood changed . . .

The complex infrastucture
known as the female mind.

Maybe it was . . .

realizing Brian's Friday plans weren't the same as my Friday plans;
riding with Levi on the way home;
finding two piles of dog poop in my room when I got home;
writing Mr. Y. a thank you note for the metronome he bought me (obviously because he thinks my piano accompanying needs help with keeping time);
explaining to Levi why I critiqued his driving on the way home;
deciding it probably would not be appropriate to make an issue of Mr. Y. saying Megan's costume top for the school play wasn't above reproach; or
remembering I forgot to buy cat food.

Let's get emotional girls to all wear mood rings
So we'll be tipped off to when they're ticked off
Cause we'll know just what they're thinking,
Just what they're thinking...

*lyrics by Reliant K

Best Friends

A pup named Scooby Doo

Brian spent the last four days at home thanks to a abscessed wisdom tooth - ouch! Looking back, I don't know that he has ever been "confined" to the house for that long - at least not in recent history.

Pain, nausea, and dizziness aside I think it was good for Brian to be at home. This may have been God's way of slowing him down and giving him an opportunity to just "be home."

One thing that happened over the last four days is Brian and Scooby really bonded. I think Brian now understands what a good friend Scooby can be - that whole man's best friend thing.

Dogs are great because they -

like napping on the couch with you all afternoon;
don't mind if you wear the same pair of sleeping shorts for four days;
don't expect you to talk to them when you don't feel well - they just like sitting next to you;
will willingly clean up any crumbs you drop when eating on the couch; and
aren't bored with watching 6 continuous hours of Justice League episodes.

Worth a try

. . . no dirty dishes . . .

. . . clean floors . . .

. . . just dusted . . .

. . . no laundry piled up . . .

I thought maybe posting pictures of my house clean
would somehow translate into having it be clean now.
It didn't work.

Wal-Mart

Joel being silly at church camp - in goggles not glasses!

Scooby ate Joel's glasses the other day. What makes it even worse is that Scooby ate Brian's glasses about week before eating Joel's.

We replaced Brian's glasses to the tune of $156.00 and weren't looking forward to replacing Joel's. I was more than shocked when I went to the Walmart Vision Center to order Joel's glasses, and they told me they would replace them for free. FREE!!

Maybe the lady working has a dog and understood our situation - I don't know. All I know is Joel will have a brand new pair of glasses in one week and I left Walmart with money in my pocket!

10 reasons and 6 pictures . . .

10 things I like about Hope -

1. She's herself 24/7 - I really like that.

2. She's kind, caring, and friendly.

3. She's faithful to church.
4. She loves the Lord and is open about it.
5. She honors and respects her parents.
6. She is a good student.
7. She's adorable yet not high maintenance.

8. She enjoys life and has fun.

9. She's good to Levi and treats him well.

10. She has a dad (mom and brother too) who loves her.