I love Christmas. I love everything about it. I love dragging out the stored away boxes labeled "Christmas decorations" in big black letters. I love going through them with my kids and watching the excited look on their faces. The house is decorated to the brim. I love helping the kids memorize their lines for the program at church...I love wrapping the special gifts for friends and family...I love celebrating the birth of Christ. But most of all, I just love life and this time of year reminds me how great it is to be here, on this earth, living for God. There really is no greater gift than that.

Thanks to a reporter on CNN, I had orange hair.

My bh and I were watching the channel Saturday afternoon and he saw it...the hairstyle I was looking for. Now, I have been looking for a change for quite awhile. But I was finding it hard to know what color/style I should be wearing. I would pay big money to have an appointment with Nick on What Not To Wear...he rocks. Anyhoo, after some discussion, I really wanted to get rid of my blond hair and dark roots poking through. My good friend who does my hair could not get me in until the middle of December so I thought, I'll just put a little color in myself just to hold me over until then....

Big mistake.

I went to Walmart, picked out this semi-permanent color. I thought it looked good. So did my bh who has wanted me back to brunette again for some time. I was excited. I was ready to make the subtle change. My girls and I went into the bathroom and proceeded to put in a light brown, Navajo Bronze to be exact. After the 10 minute waiting period, I washed it out, put a towel around my head and then my heart went into my throat. My hair was orange. Not like a pumpkin orange, but more like a reddish orange. My girls just kind of stared and then wanted me to dye their hair pink. I had to get my bh's opinion. He and my son looked and said, it's definitely orange.

So, I had to fix it. I couldn't go to church the next morning with orange hair. I headed back to Walmart, with a hat on of course, and got another box. Dark brown this time, went home and did the whole process again. This time, it worked. It's still a little reddish and not quite the color I was going for but my hairdresser can take care of the rest.

I still went to church. God doesn't care what color my hair is, so I didn't care. I just walked in with my head held high but inside I was saying a little prayer, "Please God don't let anyone comment on my hair." Only one person did. Ssheww...I guess I learned a little lesson and will probably avoid the hair color aisle for a long time.

Who came up with name "Navajo Bronze" anyway? Should be more like "Navajo Bronze but could be Navajo Orange on some people"....Sigh!

Is it my age or why can't I just focus? I always knew my worst trait was getting distracted easily but it seems to have taken on a new life. I think it's getting worse. Like today for instance, I have a ton of things to get done around the house and here I am, 10:00 at night and as I look around I really can't tell you what i got done. Ugh. I really need to focus on one thing at a time. I seem to start one thing and before finishing, start on another. While I'm folding laundry, I'll notice some dirty dishes in the sink which I can't stand so I have to quick put them in the dishwasher. Then I'll notice something else sitting out that needs to be dealt with and I'll start it but if my kids or husband come out and need something,

"mom, I can't find my shoes...."
"mom, I need my hair put in a bun...."
"mom, can I have some chocolate milk...
"honey, where is my screwdriver...."

So, I'll help them and forget what I was doing before. The result? There are times when nothing really ever gets done. It's a vicious cycle. I can't seem to stop. Sometimes I think it's a case of being a busy mom, sometimes I think it's a case of, well, getting older?! But as I sit here and look at the half-folded laundry, more dishes in the sink, books on the floor and my husbands hunting clothes laying at my feet, is it really that big of deal? The laundry will get done, it will get put away and everything will be just fine....

Okay, so now what was I gonna do?????? Sigh.....

Nothing really much to say...I just like this picture of our dog, Ridge. This was right before he got to go pheasant hunting so he was being very patient. Believe it or not, he's only 9 months old and he's huge. But very sweet and very good with the kids. Funny how those animals just become a part of the family. Good boy, Ridge...

Keep reading after this post...I'm in a blogging mood! Today I brought my kids to school as my bh and I do every morning. My son had to be there extra early for student council so I told my 1st grader she could wait in the van with me until the bell rang. She saw her friend, Ethel, and wanted to go play so we did our ritual kisses and hugs and she ran off. I usually wait awhile before pulling away, just to make sure she is okay. (I wonder if I will ever stop doing that.) Suddenly she motioned for me to come over to her. I went, asked what was wrong and she wanted to come back into the van with me. She was teary eyed and wanted anther hug. I was surprised as she usually goes off to school with no problem. This morning was different. She really was missing me. I told her we would have some mommy-Maddie time in just a few hours. Once she was at lunch, school is half over, I told her. She smiled and gave me a final kiss and hug.

Picking up the kids from school is probably my favorite thing to do...they still run with those open arms, even my 4th grade son is excited to come home. So my 1st grader was extra excited to see me waiting for her today. Hmmmm, I realized no matter how old they get, there are still the little things that just mean so much.

I just had to post this picture...it's of my client/friend's triplet boys. They are 2 1/2 years old and I had the pleasure of photographing them last weekend. This one is definitely in my top 5 list. I love how they are just playing and how totally oblivious to me snapping away in front of them. This same family also has a 6 year old daughter. They have never had a family picture taken because, well, can you say triplets?!? My friend has always wanted one so we set up the appointment. While walking to the location I was going to use, her husband looked at me and said, "this is never going to work. We've tried it before and the boys are either crying or won't sit." I looked at him and said we'll give it a shot. This is what their first family photo turned out like.....

My friend cried. That is truly the best part of what I do...giving people the picture they will cherish forever.