I’ve often been left scratching my head over the details of hairstyles and why it’s different for the sexes. How is it that grey hair can make a man dignified but a woman old? It’s also interesting to see how the length of hair impacts impressions.
Take me for example. In junior high school I had a short layer hair cut. When I’d take my younger sister to the park people would ask me how old my daughter was. I couldn’t believe it but neither could they when I’d reply that I was only 13 years old! During high school I was often mistaken as a college student. Then after I graduated I let it grow long and people started asking me when I was going to graduate from high school! When I got married and took a job as an office administrator I had a hard time getting people to take me seriously because I looked so young. I cut my hair short and everything changed. In fact, a few years later I was accused of being my younger sister’s mother…on her wedding day! Not surprising I grew it out again after that.
A few weeks ago my husband decided it was time to try a new do. He said he needed to find the right style that wouldn’t get messy when he buys his Benz convertible. *wink* It’s funny how much a hair style impacts first impressions. He is now being mistaken for the cocky high school jock mentality yet all that changed was his hair.
If still in doubt, watch Hugh Jackman in “The Fountain.” His 3 extreme hairstyle differences make a very different Hugh. I’m still contemplating the show.
You can define every generation by a popular hairstyle. Funny how something so minute can have such far reaching impact. Thankfully, hairstyles don’t seem to recycle at the same extreme that fashion does. Pray that poodle perms and 4 inch tall bangs straight up never come back into style…pray people.
His big phrase has been "All my whole big family, all uv dem" for several weeks. He loves knowing he has more family out there and wishes that he could be with all of them all of the time. I love watching my children go through these stages of development, when they begin seeing the relationships around them and put meaning to those relationships. I remember how cool it was to learn about my own family relationships. To learn that my uncles were my mom's brothers just like me and my brother. I am constantly in awe at the learning and growth of my kids.
Today, I'm so grateful for a child's heart that loves and reaches out to all his family. In his perfect world, we'd all live in the same house and be together all the time and everyone would be his brudder or sister! Maybe he's just realized what most of us spend our entire lives searching for...that we really aren't alone.
Filed under: Family, Sharing — holly.schwendiman @ 10:16 am
Well, the family called to let us know they’d made it safely home today. My kids are having withdrawals now as it’s back to the 3 of us during the day. They count down the hours until dad gets home when we become 4 again. Then of course it’s on to a million requests of things to do.
The weekend was wonderful. We spent the lion’s share of time by the pool - hence my favorite photo of our lifeguard. *wink* We also took in several #3 movies including Spiderman and Shrek and ate a ton of good food and almost made it through the leftovers! My hubby went to Pirates 3 with the older kids and adults that were here this weekend, while I took the little guys to Chucke Cheese’s. All was well and everyone was happy. The cousins are sufficiently waterlogged and seemed to think that Arizona was an okay place. We were just supremely grateful to enjoy such fun vacation time with the cousins without being the ones making the 16 hour drive.
So life is settling again now - at least as settled as summer goes. Hopefully I’ll find some kind of normality or routine before the big vacation in July!
His first year of official school has come to a close. I’m not sure where the time went. I’m quite certain it wasn’t that long ago that he was just a babe in my lap and then a toddler learning to walk. Yet here he is on the brink of turning five. It’s so fun to watch them grow yet it’s hard too. It’s like every emotion under the sun wrapped into one experience. This motherhood thing is so much more than I bargained for in every conceivable way.
I look back at what a few months can do and just have to giggle. Letting him go the first day was hard for this mom yet just months later we’re both showing off our smiles.
And check out the personality coming out by the end of the school year!
Lastly, I have a little vent. I spent Tuesday helping with my daughter’s class. I have to say I don’t understand why they don’t do the AIMS testing in May instead of April. It’s the big push from the start of the year and with it over in April the last month appeared to be a complete bust. If I hadn’t known the last day of school was today I would never have believed it Tuesday. Walking through the halls lined of boxes with supplies for moving and empty rooms with desks stacked against the walls and kids watching movies all cried “we’re done” to me. I know my memory is kind of hazy now but I don’t remember much more “take down” during my last days of school beyond cleaning desks and doing inventory of books and such. Apparently the teacher’s release time lines more exactly with the kids’ time these days. By the looks of things the last day activities started on Monday.
But the bottom line is we made it! School is out and now it’s time for some unscheduled summer fun. We’ll kick it off right with cousins here this weekend and that will be wonderful. My kids can’t wait, in fact they’ve been counting down the minutes for several hours now! So I guess I’d better finish the laundry!
Filed under: Family — holly.schwendiman @ 10:36 am
He may have thought I’d forgot. I didn’t say anything when he left for work or even in our first morning chat. But no dear, I could never forget. Today is your birthday. Happy Birthday Blake!!! We love you.
p.s. - Cid’s at school but we’ll get one of her here when she gets home.
Filed under: Blogging, Sharing — holly.schwendiman @ 7:38 am
One of my favorite things about blogging is getting to know other people. Since the earliest days of chat rooms and community boards I’ve been constantly amazed at how close friendships can become with people I’ve never met in person, yet have so much in common with. Blogging picks up where those leave off and give you a chance to peek into other people’s lives and personalities as they share daily events, opinions and everything under the sun on their own blogs.
This morning I received such a nice comment from a new reader who heard about me from one of the first bloggers I met when I began blogging last year. Those types of referrals and shares are truly awesome to me. Then I was tagged for a meme from another good blogging buddy and it was a perfect way to jump start my day and blogging mind. So here goes….
Wait! One more just came through - Go visit Dr. John!! He also sent me some link love over the weekend. He’s one of those that just nails the basics. (more…)
Well it’s Monday…again and I’m suffering from high expectation syndrome. It’s the start of the week so I’m always thinking/hoping I’ll get a serious leg up on all the tasks needing attention. Thankfully, the big jobs got done last week. But now it’s after noon and I don’t feel like I’ve gotten much of anything done - partially because there’s not as much looming in front of me. *sigh*
Tonight we’re having a little party at our house with some neighbors for the season finale of 24. I hope it doesn’t disappoint. So far this season hasn’t been as enticing for me. It started with a big bang (literally) but they took out the main terrorist just past mid season and the last several weeks have been drawn out story lines that don’t seem to be connecting. I’m really hoping they can tie it all in for me tonight in a way that doesn’t leave me going “eh” and if they kill off Chloe I’m done. She’s one of only two main players left for me. It is this viewer’s humble opinion that you can’t mess too much with an original cast or you lose the emotional investment of the audience. Worse case scenario is still good though because I know the Heroes finale won’t disappoint and we’ll be able to watch it later thanks to the technology of the DVR.
I had high expectations for our Phoenix Suns too and so the last game with the Spurs was a big disappointment. They really are an amazing team and poured their hearts into it. Oh well, one less thing to plan time for. Besides, I have family coming to town this weekend and the kids can’t wait to see their cousins and have them at their house. So I suppose I should find some form of motivation to keep moving today. Too bad I gave up my Mountain Dew, that might just have done the trick….LOL.
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Well, the family called to let us know they’d made it safely home today. My kids are having withdrawals now as it’s back to the 3 of us during the day. They count down the hours until dad gets home when we become 4 again. Then of course it’s on to a million requests of things to do.
His first year of official school has come to a close. I’m not sure where the time went. I’m quite certain it wasn’t that long ago that he was just a babe in my lap and then a toddler learning to walk. Yet here he is on the brink of turning five. It’s so fun to watch them grow yet it’s hard too. It’s like every emotion under the sun wrapped into one experience. This motherhood thing is so much more than I bargained for in every conceivable way. 
Then I was 
