Saying "See You Later" to Dad

I was looking back through my posts & realized a couple of things. One, I have been horrible at posting, and two, I haven't ever done a post about Matt's deployment!! It has almost been exactly 3 months since Matt left for a year long deployment to Kuwaiit. I tried to explain to the kids that he weas going to be gone for a LONG time, but knew they wouldn't really be able to understand the time concept. (Trinity understands a little better than the 3 younger ones) Since Matt had to leave at 3am, we just did our good nights and good byes (or see you later's as I like to call them) before bed.

The kids were all really hyper and acting silly & I wanted to make sure they gave a good hug and kiss. I think it would be safe to say I was feeling a little overwhelmed that the day had actually come for Matt to leave & I got frustrated with the way the kids were acting. I told the kids they needed to settle down and be serious to say goodnight to Dad because he was going to be gone for a long time. As I said the words out loud I got a little emotional & Trinity blurted out to everyone, "Yea, we are NEVER going to see Dad again!" I started laughing & Matt assured everyone that we would see him again. :) I tried to take a few pics of each of the kids saying good night/see you soon.

Big Group HugTrin (understanding the best that Dad would be gone for a while)Pase (we had just celebrated her one year B-Day that day, but her actual Birthday was the following Day)Brin (SQUEEZING Dad's guts out. I love how her eyes are shut so tight as she squeezes)Gray (Our "tender" little guy who alwasy askes for "one more kiss and a hug")We miss Matt everyday & are so proud of all he does to support our family and protect our country. Trinity has been learning a lot more about the Military at school & it is fun to see her understanding and appreciation for our freedoms grow.

What the H_ _ _?!

HAIR

What the HAIR? Did you think I was trying to say something else? Alright, so maybe I was. However, after you read this post you will realize why I may have actually been saying the other 4 letter "H" word that my title suggests.

Brinley is my quiet child. She was such a quiet and sweet baby. She was a quiet 2 year old. No tantrums were necessary-yet. (she was saving them) She is still quiet. Quiet before the STORM that is.

I have always cut the kids' hair myself. No. No, I have not gone to school or been taught by anyone, and maybe I shouldn't be doing it, but I do. It typically turns out pretty well & everyone is always happy with their results. Until now...

Exibit A: The Scissor Thief

I say scissor thief because Brinley has been known to cut *things in the past & has been banned from using scissors without permission/supervision. (*my new blanket, her pillow case, her pajama shirt, a BRAND NEW shirt of hers etc.) She managed to find a pair of scissors that I had hidden and decided that her hair cut wasn't quite meeting her standards. She quietly took matters into her own hands and butchered- I mean cut her own hair.

This next picture doesn't show it very well, but in the red circle if you look closely you'll see a small patch of hair that was trimmed down to about 1/4 of an inch. Right on the top of her head!Her hair had previously, after I had cut it, been all one length. I could do lots of fun stuff with it & she loved having her hair "pretty".Now I had to try and make "pretty" hair out of this mulitple lenth, mostly two inch chunk, half bang mess!Her main hair style for the next little while was my white girl version of what sorta looked like corn rows. (Sorry about the random picture. This is the only one I could find that showed the majority of her hair.)This is a closer view of the top & how I had to hide the disaster! (She was in the tub & I was about to undo it for the night.)

After about 2 months of these tiny, intricate, time consuming hair-do's her hair had only grown out a little & I couldn't take it any more! So, I decided to cut her some bangs! (haha, I love this picture) The minute I cut them she went from my little baby face Brinley to this Big Girl! She looks so cute with bangs & I wish I would have cut some a lot sooner!! Phew...hair headaches averted.

JUST KIDDING!

I sit down one moring, just a few weeks after solving all my problems with her hair, and discover this.

Exibit B: The Gum Snatcher

If scissors weren't a big enough issue with this girl she also has to add gum to the list of things she loves, but can't have. I cannot keep her away from the stuff! If she were a dog she could be on a top police team solving mysteries of missing gum! No matter where I hide the stuff she can always find it!