Twisted braided ponytail

This is one of my go-to hairdos when I am in a hurry. It works best if the hair is pretty wet and/or slicked with pomade to keep all the flyaways at bay. Just part the hair in the middle (or anywhere else you'd like) to the crown and section off a small piece on each side at the front and start twisting down to the middle adding hair to the twist as you go. If your daughter is more obliging than mine you can have her hold one side while you do the other, otherwise clip it while you do the other side. Then just bring the two sides together making sure the hair that's not twisted is laying nice and flat, braid down to the end.

Stalling Tactics

My 6 year old has quite suddenly decided that he is scared of the dark. I may sound like an insensitive mother, but I don't think he's really scared. First of all, he has a nightlight and the hallway light shining right into his room, so there isn't any dark to be afraid of. Now he wants us to go in there and talk to him at length about his fears. When we've convinced him(at least for the night) that there isn't anything to be afraid of in his room, he moves onto monsters under his bed. Last week when Greg was out of town, Jacob called me into his room to tell me that he was afraid that there were monsters under his bed. I told him there couldn't possibly be in monsters under his bed because there is so much stuff under there they wouldn't fit. To which he responded, "What if they are just little monsters?" I told him that if that's the case he could just stomp on them. He got his "I have an idea" look on his face, and said, "What if there was a coelyphysis (sp?)under my bed, then he could eat all the monsters." For those that don't have a dinosaur obsessed child, a coelyphysis is a carnivorous dinosaur, you'd have to ask Jacob for more details about it though. I told him that that was a great idea. He could pretend that a coelyphysis that could eat all the pretend monsters (because Jacob knows deep down that monsters are pretend). He screwed up his face and told me that that wasn't going to work because the coelyphysis lived in Asia and not North America. I threw up my hands in exasperation, turned on the lamp, and walked out. No more stalling tactics. just go to sleep!

Rhubarb Slush

I found this recipe in a Taste of Home magazine and it's fabulous! Even if you aren't a big rhubarb fan, you will love this!

Rhubarb Slush
8 c. diced fresh or frozen rhubarb
1 pkg. (16 oz.) fresh or frozen unsweetened strawberries
3 c. sugar
8 c. water
1 pkg. (3 oz.) strawberry jell-o
1/2 c. lemon juice
Ginger ale or lemon-lime soda, chilled

In a Dutch oven, bring the rhubarb, strawberries, sugar, and water to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 5-8 minutes or until rhubarb is tender. Press through a sieve; discard pulp. Stir in jell-o and lemon juice until dissolved. Transfer to a freezer container and freeze, stirring occasionally, until firm (I haven't ever stirred mine and it seems to work fine). May be frozen for up to 3 months. To use slush: In a punch bowl or several pitchers, combine equal amonuts of rhubarb mixture and ginger ale. Or for one serving, combine 1/2 c. rhubarb mixture and 1/2 c. ginger ale in a glass, adjust according to taste.

Enjoy!

Messy Curly Ponies

I love love love this hairstyle. It is quick, looks so fun and it doesn't have to be perfect. Just make an exaggerated zigzag part and put each section into ponytails and then flip them to make knots. Then part the rest of your hair into two ponytails. Curl each of them and then just bobbypin a few random sections. Add a couple of cute bows and a goofy smile and you're ready to go.

She's a Fish Killer!

Jacob went to a birthday party on Tuesday night, and for some reason the party favors were fish, 6 to be exact. Just little bait fish. Jacob was so excited on the way home. "My first pets!," he exclaimed while loving watching his fish swim in the ziploc bag. I am notorious for killing fish. I have never been able to keep a fish alive for more than 24 hours, and here I am responsible for these fish, and my son's feelings. I told the people that gave Jacob the fish that I was going to send them the bill for the therapy he was going to require after I killed his fish. I went home and just poured the fish into a vase (my only substitute for a tank) and gave them the tiniest bit of food. Only one survived the night, but Jacob was still okay. I, while trying not to throw up, dug the unfortunate souls out of the vase and flushed them. I put the survivor in some new water, contemplating that if this one should survive the day I would call him Mo, short for the Last of the Mohicans, and said a silent prayer that I would not kill Jacob's last fish. I went and gave the kids a bath and by the time Jacob went into his room to get dressed, Mo had passed away. Now came the tears. Poor little guy. His first pets didn't even last 18 hours. Now he thinks he wants to get a different pet, perhaps a dog. I can't even keep fish alive, I am lucky that I've kept three kids alive, I don't think I want any more pets. Jacob told me while I was relating this story to my Mom on the phone,"you are the fish killer you know!" Just in case I didn't know already.

Lorelei's Birthday Celebration!

Lorelei turned 4 on the 5th and we celebrated last night. She was a very patient little girl waiting 3 days past her birthday to get her presents. She was so excited about the "Tinkerbell" show. For months when she said prayers she would insist on thanking Heavenly Father for the "Tinkerbell" show. And she loves her new bike, so she can be big like Jacob. Happy Birthday little Princess! Don't look to close at my cake. Tink fell apart as I was trying to put her on.

4th of July Weekend

So we went to Twin Falls, Idaho and Salt Lake for the weekend and had a great time. Here are a few pictures! Enjoy!