New Hair Cut

Here are the before and after shots. At least she's confident enough to pull this crazy do off, she likes to do it now (although she has expressed that she wants a "new long hair-cut")---sorry, Lily.



I will always remember Tyler's 5th birthday as the very special one on which he played Barber Shop with his sister. All of my kids have been lucky enough to have either been born with a lot of hair, or grown it really fast. So, hair cuts are usually not a bad thing. Unless they're done in the pantry, with sewing scissors and by your 5 yr old brother.

I walked downstairs and they both walked out of the pantry, one behind the other, with big smiles on their faces. They were probably wondering why their mother started screaming/crying instantly. I was on the phone at the second I saw them and my friend thought Lily's finger was cut by my reaction ... WORSE, her beautiful golden tresses were absolutely gone. On the floor in a heap. All those years of having fun with her long yellow hair. Gone in probably 3 minutes flat.

Tyler just kept saying over and over, "But mama, it will grow back." That was and will never be the right thing to say to a mom who's little baby girl's hair just got butchered. It took me a whole day to finally realize that my life will go on. I took her to get it fixed, and I could tell the stylist thought she had done a really good job, and was wanting me to react so, I just couldn't. I was barely functioning and did not have it in me, not even to fake it. I was SO sad. What is it about a little girl's hair that makes her who she is. She doesn't look like my Lily now, she looks like Peter Pan. I will probably cry a few more days about it, but then I'll have to get over it. I know this might've sounded silly, and pales in comparison to so many other struggles, but it sure is hard to deal with at first. This wasn't the first time this has happened, but I sure do hope it's the last. oh well, after all, it will grow out.

Tyler Talmage

Tyler is 5 years old today. What a great age to be! You're still full of imagination (not that Tyler needs ANY help in that department), but you're figuring out how to be independent.

I can't even begin to describe Tyler without a smile playing on my face. He is pure JOY! He is kind and thoughtful and sweet and fun, all at the same time. He is the one who always has a "plan."

Today he got a gift card from his Grandma, so I took him to Walmart to pick out a birthday toy. He had SOOOO much fun. On the way to the store he said, "I'm a Dadda now because I have a credit card." He perused each aisle carefully and would point things out, then change his mind, then look some more. He is a methodical thinker and decisions come slowly to him, he has to make sure he is getting the ABSOLUTE best deal on the planet. (Yes, he is definitely my son!)

But, the highlight of the night for me was after he had picked out one toy, he still had quite a bit of money left, so I directed him to the super soakers, which I will add, has been at the top of his list for a good 2 years. He looked at the big cool ones, I assured him these were within his limit. Instead, he picks out a package of an assortment of about 8 different ones (not nearly as cool looking as the BIG ones), and he says "I'd rather get these because it'll be more fun if Brooklyn has one too." That melted my heart. He is constantly thinking about everyone around him. In fact, he has remembered to pray for me to get better every day for the past year, without fail, more than once a day sometimes... which I am constantly grateful for, to have to faith of a child on my side. I hope he never grows out of his perfect faith and his enormous heart.

That being said, he is also the one in our family for comic relief! :) He makes us laugh constantly, whether he's talking about eyeballs, or "nice skeletons" or robots. He loves to dance to funky music, and listen to my mp3 player whenever he can. Right now he is OBSESSED with quarters... and has discovered that if you can find a quarter in the house, you can take it to the store, you have to run in before mom can catch you (unless she sprints and looks ridiculous) that you can put a quarter in the machine and buy a trinket.

Tyler is my favorite little boy in the whole world!!! He is grateful, he is forgiving, he is unpretentious, he is love! He lights up my day with his big happy eyes. I am so lucky to be Tyler's mom. I LOVE YOU TYLER!

BIG NEWS!!!

Ok, I know there's been a lot of news about Tyler lately, but Tyler had something monumental happen tonight...

If you couldn't tell from the picture already, he lost his first tooth. It seems that this is really early, but who knows, he already has another one loose too.

Well, it's not as if it just fell out, each tooth has a story, right? It first started when I walked in on Brooklyn wiggling it hard and saying, "Now I don't want to hear ANY screaming.!" And Tyler was looking paranoid! So, I jumped in and saved the day, in keeping with Mouritsen family tradition. I remember teeth getting pulled out in all kinds of ways... slamming a door with a string attached to my tooth, getting yanked out by pliers... you name it, and my Grandpa Mouritsen was even a dentist, so go figure. Tyler's tooth only required a slight little push from Mom, thank goodness, no tools needed!

Anyway, bottom line is, Tyler lost his first tooth and is eagerly awaiting his visit tonight from the tooth fairy!

ARRRRGH!

a Pirate's life for me...

OK, here is a picture of the much anticipated (by Tyler) birthday cake!!!

As soon as I saw it online, I knew no other cake would do for a 5 yr. old boy's pirate birthday party. When I started thinking about Tyler's special day, it happened to come at a very inconvenient time this year, being right before we are supposed to move. That being said, it made it all the more important to have a party.

I am not a cake froster! I would say it's probably one of my least talented areas... you'd think with 3 kids it would make for plenty of practice. I actually figured it out, by now I've made 20+ birthday cakes. But, this cake was actually relatively easy and VERY fun to make. I have learned over the years a few tricks of the trade from my mother-in-law, who makes fabulously delicious and beautiful wedding cakes. I am fortunate to have Jeff's mom have such an expertise in cakes, but also very lucky to have a mom who can make the best apple pies you have ever dreamt of. This comes in handy because my husband is a pie lover! We have the best of both worlds!

PS. The expression on Tyler's face when he saw this cake was one that I will NEVER forget! He was soooooooooooo happy! It's those moments that make it all worthwhile. :)

more to come on the party later... (especially on Jeff dressed up like a pirate)

Hugs and Kisses!!!