A New Haircut

I don't trim Ella and Madison's hair very often. To be honest, I was afraid that I would trim around their face (like so many parents do) and, over many trims, unknowing sculpt a mullet. Hey--it happens. Anyway, at the prompting of my mother, who pointed out that Madison actually couldn't see out of one of her eyes, I decided to cut their bangs.

Madison's are a bit shorter than Ella's because she made the unfortunate mistake of moving during her trim and the neighboring bangs had to be cut to match. Sorry kid.

Experiementing

It is summer vacation and, in the name of science, I am keeping the education going by experimenting on my children--mainly with new foods (and occasionally with rocket launchers--what?).

In response to this culinary expansion Ella and Madison have perfected a new taste testing protocol. If they put something in their mouth and don't like it (goat cheese went over like a lead balloon) they take it out and hand it to me--along with what ever portion of the offending food remains on their plate. If that doesn't work they "accidentally/on purpose" drop it on the floor for Cooper.

This is what I have learned in the past few weeks:

1. Ella and Madison will eat shredded carrots but not cut up carrots--Cooper will not eat a carrot in any form.
2. Cooper IS a big fan of cheerios but not grapes.
3. The Dyson is excellent for solid foods but not so good for paste like foods (enter said goat cheese).
4. Beige carpet can hide most stains--with the exception of smashed and ground in mandarin oranges.
5. Apricots only taste good if cut in half but not in chunks.
6. Tortellini can be ingested on a Monday but not a Wednesday or a Friday.
7. Once Daddy lets you eat dinner while sitting on a barstool there is no going back to your regular ways of mundane highchair dining.

Ahh... to be a guy

When I give a gift I obsess over the wrapping. I'm not going to lie--I take a lot of pride in making it look good. For those of you interested in becoming someone obsessed with the wrap job on your next house warming gift--try wire edged ribbon; you will not be disappointed.

I know that my husband does not share my love of paper and ribbon. In fact, I have been convinced for quite some time that men actually lack a wrapping gene present in most females of our species. Today that thought was supported when this scene unfolded at a local Target store:

A very nice man in khaki pants and a Tommy Jeans Tee tucked in with a belt (nice--but fashion challenged--as are so many) was buying something in front of me. The checker asked him if he needed a bag and the man responded, "Yes. In fact, can you double bag it... it's a gift." Apparently, two Target bags qualifies as gift wrap. Plus, when you are done "unwrapping" you can take your dog for a walk and pick up after them. Really, it's two gifts in one. :)