Locks of Love

Last summer I asked E if she would be interested in donating her hair to Locks of Love. I wasn't sure if she would even know what I was talking about, but she said that she had read a story in the American Girl magazine about it, and was already thinking about doing it. We talked about how there were lots of little girls who had cancer, like Papi, and they lost their hair when they took medicine. I then said that it would be nice to do it in honor of Papi, even though 60 year old men don't wear wigs when they lose their hair from chemo. She agreed, and we have been measuring her hair every couple of months to see if it was long enough. Finally, it reached the requisite 10 inches, and we decided it was time to cut it. E asked her good friend Kyra if she would like to do Lock of Love too. Kyra agreed immediately, and her mom and I set up an appointment for this morning. We decided to go to "Cookie Cutters" in Chestnut Hill because they send off the hair for you, and the cut is free for LoL. It is also a very cute hair place for kids with a kid themed waiting room (slides and video games), and the styling "chairs" are actually cars, trucks, and motorcycles. The girls had fun sitting on the motorcycle, and we took lots of before, during and after pictures. Following the haircuts, we all went to the French Bakery to celebrate. The moms had "The Egg Thing", while the girls had muffins and croissants. It was such a fun, special morning, that the girls are already planning on doing it again next year








I really liked doing this with E because it was a tangible way that she could help someone with cancer. It is something that she was able to do, and a way that she could give, and bring joy to another little girl. It made me a little teary eyed as I brushed her hair this morning for the last time, thinking of where this hair was going, and of the mother and daughter on the other end. I just pray for them, what they are going through, and that this donation of E's will be a blessing.

Valentine's Day

We had a very busy Valentine's Day this year. Two of my sisters came in to spend time with the family, and more specifically, my dad. Julie flew in from TX with her 6 month old son, Adrian, and Katherine drove up from VA with her husband and 2 kids. Katherine and her family stayed with us, although unfortunately 75% of their family ended up being sick for most of the weekend. Even so, we had fun together.

Saturday morning I woke up early and caught the sunrise- the colors were amazing and my pictures certainly don't do it justice (if I didn't use the flash, it was blurry, if I did use the flash, it was too dark). I popped some sticky buns in the oven, started the coffee, and waited for everyone to wake up. I had set the table the night before with heart plates and put out little gift bags with heart PEZ dispensers and small boxes of chocolates, and candy hearts. Katherine and Rusty got candy filled heart mugs, and Ed a box of chocolates hand selected by me. After breakfast, I started to prepare a french toast dish for our family brunch, and Ed ran out "mysteriously" on an errand. He returned with a beautiful arrangement of roses for me! I am pretty much of a cliche on Valentine's Day- I love getting chocolates and roses!

Some Valentine goodies

K-dressed to go in her Valentine outfit, and E's rainboots and gloves!

We left for my parents' house with our family, Katherine and TJ (Rusty and Teagan had already fallen) When we arrived, the kids played with their newest cousin, and we got ready for brunch.

E making a fruit bouquet

After eating, the kids made a valentine craft and exchanged valentines, and then the adults gathered around the table to express our appreciation for Mom and Dad, individually.

K getting into the craft

Someone is not happy

It got a little teary and heart-breaking at times, but it was really good. We then wiped our tears, and celebrated Sandy's birthday (a month late!).

We left mid-afternoon, went home to rest/nap and then everyone showed up at our house for take-out cheese steaks. Our dinner turned eventful when TJ puked at the table, but fortunately, since then, no one else has gotten sick. The evening ended quietly when everyone else had gone to bed and Ed and I exchanged Valentines (and I got my box of chocolates :)) Although our day was busy, it was a special day, spent with many loved ones. I just pray we can have another one like it next year.

Date Night

After a particularly busy Christmas season. Ed turned to me one day and asked when our next date night would be. I said,"Well, first you have to ask me out, and then I will schedule it in". Although I was kind of joking, I kind of wasn't. Our weekends tend to fill up with activities at an alarming rate. First off, Fridays are always taken by our C-Group that meets in our home. Sundays are usually low key, since it is a school night. And so that means Saturdays are the nights that we invite other families over for dinner, or to plan a family movie night, or to go to someone else's house. December was completely crazy, with some nights being double and even triple booked. It has slowed down a bit, but Ed asked me back in early January when we could have a date night, and this was the first possible weekend.

It is something that is long in coming. I am a little embarrassed to admit that the last time we went out without the kids was Ed's birthday...in June. I don't think we even celebrated our anniversary this year! We also have some movie tickets we wanted to use at the local theater that we received for Christmas...in 2007. Yes, it is sad- we don't get out much, as a couple. I could probably count on 1 hand the amount of times that we have paid a babysitter so that we could go out by ourselves, since Ellie was born. We have gone out other times- when family has babysat, and we have also had plenty of babysitters who watched our kids when C-Group wasn't at our house, or for other functions when children were not welcome. It is just something that we have not made a priority, and maybe a little bit because I feel a little guilty spending money on dinner/movie and a sitter. It makes for an expensive night. But when your husband has to ask you out a month in advance, it is time to make the time. So tonight we will leave our children in a teenager's capable hands(!) as we go out to dinner (!!) and a movie(!!!). I am quite looking forward to it, and only hope that we can find something to talk about-- other than the kids!