I don't think I can handle the excitement

This morning we saw the UPS truck in our neighborhood as we pulled out to go swimming with friends. I knew that UPS truck likely held something fun for our family, but we went on to the pool. Then we went to Target. Then we went to the post office. Then we *finally* went back to the office and collected 1 large envelope and 2 boxes - yippee! It had finally arrived!

What was that wonderful thing? The thing that caused so much excitement?

It was our third grade curriculum.

We raced home, got showers, and K insisted on getting started immediately. At this moment, she is parked in front of the TV watching her class on DVD. She sitting at a TV tray with a small table next to her that is holding her supplies and books. Yes, we do go all high-class like that for school. Heck, when you spend that much on the curriculum, you're lucky to have enough left for notebook paper, much less a "desk".

So it looks like we're officially back to school. Now to teach L that even if it looks like K's just watching TV, she's really very busy and L's not allowed to interrupt. That seems to be a tough concept for L's tender years.

New friends are funner in the pool

There's a family with a daughter from China that we see all over town. We run into them at parks, Bible study, stores, restaurants, even once in a hotel. I've spoken to the mom and the big sister a few times and finally just invited them over this week so we could get to know each other better. They live just a hop, skip, and a jump away, so it only makes sense.

I left a comment on the big sis' blog last week asking them to come over, then we ran into them at lunch Sunday. It was funny because little AC, their youngest, ran over to us, cornered K and announced her name. As K tried to escape, AC followed until K backed up into me, "Moooomm, there's a little girl following me...." At that point I spied AC, found the family, and we made plans to swim at our pool.

So today I got to meet Pam and her little girl and we watched all the girls play while we told our adoption stories and just had a fabulous time getting to know each other. Pam and I really have a lot in common, besides just going to all the same places!

K was smitten with the persistent little AC and even shared her beloved goggles.

L was rather more interested in AC's cool toys, but she (mostly) played nice. She spent most of her time without her floaties in the shallow end, so you know she enjoyed having a playmate!







Isn't AC a doll? She's so pretty! The cool thing is she's getting a sister sometime this fall who's coming from L's hometown!

I'm so glad we've found a new playmate even if we are moving a little further away at the end of the month. At least we'll still see them every week at Bible study this fall!

Thanks for the advice on the hair dilemma

I bit the bullet and went back to the hair salon this afternoon. When I called, they were so matter-of-fact and didn't ask for any explanation. I got a stylist who has been there 13 years rather than 13 minutes and she got it fixed right up. I even managed to explain the problem areas without acting like I was accusing the other stylist of doing a bad job. We decided it had just been left too long and thick at the neckline and the new stylist got to use a new razor technique she had learned in a training class to thin everything else out. I got a good haircut and a new stylist who *didn't* mention the word "faux-hawk" right after saying she had a new short style in mind for my next haircut - eeeek!!

In other news, we did a little more packing today, got the loan packet in the mail, and received official word that our contract has been accepted by the builder. A few more steps closer.

Do I or Don't I?

On Friday I went to my favorite hair salon, the one that always gives great cuts. A few months ago, my stylist moved so I switched to another one. A newbie. With bad hair. Which ought to have caused me to run in the opposite direction, but no, I bravely sat down and let her proceed.

And proceed she did. She spent a ton of time on the cut, clipping and texturizing and I ended up with a cute razored bob look. There was one problem, though. The left side looked a little thicker and longer to me, but I figured it was her attempt at a little asymmetry and decided to see if she fixed it the next time.

Well, I went back Saturday (she had finally had someone fix her own hair) and she whipped through my haircut in record time, failing to thin and texturize so the bob looks less "razored" and more "mushroom". This is *not* a flattering look on me. I noticed it in the shop, but I hoped it was just the way she styled it. I got home, washed it, and nope, it really is cut like that.

And then Saturday night, I noticed the neckline. At first fix, it looks fine. 10 minutes later, it has bunched into 6 various lengths that differ by as much as *an inch*. It looks like a child hacked it off.

My dilemma is do I call the shop and demand another stylist to fix my hair? I could trim the neckline myself and avoid that whole uncomfortable display, but I paid good money for the haircut and I want it done right. I, however, hate confrontations and I'd probably have to face the original butcher and get her in trouble with management, etc. etc. It's that whole Southern belle thing coming out in me.

Today's craft: Soap Buddies

A long time ago, I saw a craft in a magazine that I thought was awfully cute, but I never got around to making it. After all, it seemed kinda involved.

Well, I finally bit the bullet and discovered something - it's easy! And pretty quick to do! And it will even save you money! You can't beat that.

You will need:

1 washcloth
1 bar of soap
embroidery thread
thread
needle
embroidery hoop, if you have one around (get it? aROUND? I crack myself up)


Center the washcloth in the embroidery hoop and stitch a smallish design, like an initial. Aww, suck it up, you can do that. The bad thing about terry cloth is you'll need to go over your stitches once or twice to make them stand out enough to see the design. The good thing about terry cloth is it's very forgiving so you don't have to be real careful with your stitches.

Remove the hoop and lay the washcloth in front of you so the design is face up. Fold the top down and the bottom up so that the washcloth is folded in thirds.

Lay the bar of soap in the middle and mark the washcloth about 1 inch from each end of the soap. Stitch a seam on the mark through all three layers on both ends of the wash cloth.

Trim the ends to about 1 inch past the seam.

Flip one side right side out and insert a bar of soap. Flip the other side right side out.

The soap will be safely tucked inside so your kid can use it in the bath until the soap is used up, then you simply replace the soap. Your kids can't dump an entire bottle of body wash into the tub again (not that I've had any experience with that or anything) and bar soap is cheaper anyway.

House Pictures!!

We made our way out to the new dance studio this morning. The lady I spoke to on the phone first was so incredibly nice and the studio sounded very similar to our last one, but she had me sold when she was giving me directions to their studio and she said, "Then you go past SuperTarget..."

SuperTarget!!! No way! We're going to live near a SuperTarget!

We went to the studio, then took the road to our new home. It's a back road and the scenery is beautiful. We even go over a tiny arm of the local lake.

I did manage to remember my camera so I could take some pictures of the new place along with my two willing assistants who insisted on being models.

Here's the front. Notice all the trees in the background.
When you open the front door, this is what you see.

That front room is the living room and the space behind the fireplace is the dining area. The hardwood floors are covered in cardboard and the carpet still hasn't been installed, but you'll probably still see the 4-year-old running around like a maniac when you come to visit.

If you go behind the staircase and to the right, you'll see the kitchen.

The stove and microwave will go behind L, the breakfast area is to your left and the laundry room is to your right.












Let's head up the stairs now.

The girls have noted that there's a vent right beside the stairs that feels really good on a hot day.

To the left at the top of the stairs is K's room. She picked it because it has *2* windows. I love that both the girls' rooms have big windows that face the woods in back.













To the right at the top of the stairs is L's room. It is an exact mirror image of K's room with the exception of one small window. Both rooms have these huge, wide closets.


If you take a sharp right at the top of the stairs, you'll find the bathroom and the loft where Mr. at Home will have his work from home office.

This concludes our photographic tour. I hope you enjoyed your time here. Please exit through the front door is at the bottom of the stairs and feel free to drop in again in about a month when construction is finished. By then maybe I'll know what color the carpet is going to be!

The trouble with tutus and tap shoes

This weekend is tax-free weekend - yippee!!

We're saving all our money for the move - whine!!

I had completely forgotten about such a thing as tax-free weekend, but Mr. at Home warned me this morning that I shouldn't buy anything we didn't really, really need. Thankfully, I couldn't think of anything we really, really need.

Except maybe some new dance shoes. Which then brought about the decree of Mr. at Home that we are going to need to find a new dance studio closer to our new home.

Have I mentioned how much I love L's dance studio? The people are nice, charity-minded folks that don't care if your 4-year-old wears a huge sparkly tutu to class and they have a very professionally run recital. But it will be about 15 miles away and that's a long drive, especially with gas prices what they are.

There's a closer option that I need to go check out today since they require a specific class uniform and different shoes. Thankfully, I think those things are tax-free (and hopefully on sale) this weekend. I just hope their office is open today.