The "big kids"

I have always divided my kiddos into 2 groups,

the big kids and the little boys.

Jordan and Mackenzie were the big kids and Justin, Colten, and Bridger were the little boys.  Eventually Justin moved out of the little boy group, and in reality, none of them are little boys at this point.  I finally quit calling them that but my college kids are still "the big kids"

Well, my "big kids" came home for the 3-day weekend and

  I love having them here.

It started off by me taking Colten to Burley to meet Jordan last week.  Jordan then took him to Pocatello for 3 days to check out the campus and college life.  Colten is planning on going to ISU next year.

Kenz got a ride to Poki on Friday morning and went to class with Jordan and Colten.  The class that Jordan teaches.  

"cool lecture bro"-Mackenzie

Then they all headed home.  It was quite a difference going from 1 kid in the house to 4.  especially since when Jordan comes home this is the kind of thing that takes place...

With boys involved, there is always a wrestling match just waiting to break out.

Meanwhile, Kenz and I had to establish new seating rules so we could be on our computers together.  Yes, I know...be in the moment...engage with the people you are with...and on and on.  But we have a thing, I always sat in my chair and she sat on the right side of the couch and we would do our thing, and talk, and Pinterest, and talk, and a little FB in between, and talk, and Pinterest some more.

  It works for us

and that is one of the ways we spend time together.

Don't judge.

Anyway, I got a new couch while she was gone and my spot is now the right side.  She tried to take over but we eventually got our places established.  Meaning, I won.

This is where the weekend Pinterest projects were born.

Here's mine.

We crafted while the boys all went to the hockey game.  Kelly and G came over to hang out with us and when the boys got home Gemma was in quite the crazy, wild, wound up mood.  Kenzie and I introduced her to being swung in a blanket.  When the boys got home she even decided "Jordy" was ok to play with.  She has not been a fan of his...ever.

Oh and another fun picture from the weekend...Kenz got this dress a while back and when we were shopping for G for Christmas we found this outfit for her to match Mackenzies.  A few weeks ago Kelly found this maternity shirt to match with Gemma so they had to get a picture of them all together this weekend.

Yep, it is AWESOME when the big kid are here, and I hope they always want to come home.

Love you guys more than you will ever know!

That's All!

Lesson Learned

I hate to admit to this story but...

I have a friend that was telling me about how she is doing hair extensions and how great they are turning out.  Well, I'm a hair dresser so this caught my attention.  

As we were talking I decided that maybe I would like to get some and then start offering them as a service.

Hair extensions are a BIG money maker.

She told me if I got my own hair then she would put them in for free.

Sounded great!

But, I was a little worried about it.

Mostly I was worried about how I would look with long hair.  I really didn't want to look ridiculous.  

I'm not a huge fan of attention being on me, so a big change like that was bound to bring some and I was worried about that too.

And...even getting them in for free, it's still quite expensive to buy the hair.

I finally decided to do it because after all, I could learn it and make money.
That is why I work after all.

Last week I text my friend to see when she had time and she said thursday morning. So, Thursday morning I drove to the supply store and bought the hair and clips and went and got them put in.

The night before I dreamed about it all night long.  It was so ridiculous.  I kept thinking 
maybe I shouldn't do it.  Maybe it would look bad.  
  On and on.

(here is the part where I just thought I was being a worrier)
Anyway, here is my before picture

Once we got them in I knew I would have to get them and my hair cut to blend it all so I called Becky and asked for an "emergency hair cut".  She stayed late after work thinking it wouldn't take too long.  Well, she  cut and cut and blended and blended and it never worked quite right.  The front looked good but the back was not quite blending.  We came to the conclusion that I didn't have enough in and I needed to go and buy some more.  That being decided I went home.
Sleeping on them was a bit uncomfortable and I didn't sleep well, but I kind of expected that the first night.
In the morning as I was messing with it and trying to fix it different ways I realized this had been a mistake because I hate spending time on my hair. Now I had more of it. 
 What was I thinking? 
 By the time I got to work I decided to cut my losses and take them out.  Becky talked me out of that, so again I decided to add more and give it some time to get used to them. 
 Friday night after work I was going to a movie and dinner with Robin and Becky so I went early with Robin and we went and got 2 more packages of hair and more clips.  
Yep, another --$ later...
I was going to have Becky put them in at some point soon.
Well, trying to go to sleep that night I realized this was NEVER going to work for me.  
My head hurt so bad and it was soooooo irritating to me that all I could focus on was how much they hurt and bothered me.  I got up saturday morning knowing they had to go.
If only it was that easy.
I had 100 of them attached to my hair!  
ONE HUNDRED!
I tried to use pliers to bend the clip the other way to get them out.  HA! Nope.
I tried to cut them with  my nippers.  HA! Nope.
I had Robert try both those things.  HA! Nope.
I finally text Karan to ask if I could borrow her tool to get them out then went and picked that up.
Then the real fun began.
My sweet husband then spent the next 2 hours cutting little metal pieced out of my hair. 
 Oh and also pulling my hair out of my head.  
Not on purpose.
He tried so hard not to hurt me. 
I am a huge baby when it comes to my head.
It hurt sooooo bad.
I don't know how I have any hair left.
It's thin to begin with.
So...2 hours of quality "togetherness", some laughter, and a few tears of frustration,
 (for my own hair I was losing and the $ that was involved and wasted)
 left me with 100 less extensions in my hair, about 1000 less of my own hairs in my head, and a HUGE headache inside and on the surface. 

What a great guy!

        

some of the evil extensions

some of the hair that was ripped from my scalp

    

See the extensions on the left? How about the one on the right on the envelope?  Wait...that is a huge chunk of MY hair!  Can you say OUCH!
(Pretty sad when the only after picture I have is of hair laying on a desk)

Oh what a day!
Yep, lesson learned!
 (a day later and my scalp still hurts!)
That's All!