Haircuts and Legoland

Evidently I am just as bad about getting the girls haircuts in a timely manner as I am with myself.  I started thinking about it a few weeks ago...thinking, it's probably been a good nine months or more since they got a haircut.  They are probably due.  And then I kept putting it off.  Finally, on Monday, I decided it was time. Now, we have a Hair Cuttery right near our house but there are two problems (1) They don't have any coupons and (2) You can't make an appointment and who wants to wait there with a whole gaggle of kids? The solution is Fantastic Sams which is a little farther away (12 minute drive) but it's cheaper and you can make an appointment.

I made an appointment for 11:30 for both girls.  I got everyone out of the house in a timely fashion, pulled into the parking lot, and walked into Sam's at precisely 11:30.  I don't like to be late!  As we walk in, I see two gentleman literally sitting down into chairs with two hairdressers starting to put capes on them.  I see no other employees.  Hmm, I say to myself.  Surely there are other employees in the back who will come out to help us.  Afterall, we have an appointment.  But then one of the ladies looks at me and says "Are you the ones with the appointment?"  Yes, I say.  "Oh, have a seat.  It will be about 10 or 15 minutes."  And she finishes attaching the cape of the guy that just sat down in her seat.  I felt my blood pressure go up a notch (thank goodness I have very good blood pressure) but I very calmly said, "So there isn't anyone else that can do the haircut now?" That would be a no.  I smiled through my teeth and said "Okay, we will go over to Publix and be back in a few minutes."  No way was I about to sit there and do nothing.  Meanwhile, I have to just add that when the kids heard we were going to get haircuts they were all excited because they would get a lollipop which is pretty standard fair. The salons dole them out. In fact, Brady wanted a haircut just to get one but I assured him that he could still get one without an actual haircut taking place.

We got a couple things at Publix and it was back to Sam's.  As suspected, they were nowhere near done with the two gentleman.  So we sat and sat and I kept getting madder.  What is the point of a reservation if you can't KEEP the reservation??  I felt like I was in a Seinfeld episode.  Of course, I wasn't about to say anything at this point because I was about to place my daughters in the hands of people with sharp pointy scissors.  An inch could become five inches.  Finally, at noon, yes, 30 minutes after our appointment, they finally got Calleigh, at least, into the chair and Aubree a few minutes later.  All went well with the cuts and I was perfectly polite.  But as soon as they lady checked me out and had accepted my coupons, I said very sweetly, "Just for me own information, I take it there isn't any point to making an appointment?"  She responded, "Well, we wait but then if somebody doesn't come, we move on to people who are waiting." I said, "But we were here at 11:30."  Her response? "Yeah, we messed up on that."  During this whole
frustrating conversation (a "sorry" would have been nice), Brady is pulling on my leg and whining "I want a lollipop, I want a lollipop."  The lady looks around, opens a few drawers and says "Sorry, I guess we're all out."  Oh boy.  Wait for it.  And there it is.  A big scream goes up.  I don't know who this Sam character is but I'd like to get a hold of him and ask him just what's so fantastic about his establishment.  And while I'm at it, tell him thanks a lot for those horrendous perms back in the late 80's.

So then we had to walk all the way back to Publix so the kids could pick out a couple of candies to make up for the lollipop fiasco.  When we got in the car and were headed home, Brady said disgustedly, "Those ladies ate all the lollipops."  All I can say is - - "Fantastic" Sams...you're FIRED!

I think Aubree's hair may officially be longer than Calleigh's.

The $0.54 of loot from Publix to make up for the lollipops.  He sure does love the "Hand on the hip" pose.  Jennifer must be teaching him a thing or two!

This week my big activity has been getting ready for the Just Between Friends Consignment sale.  I'm trying to sell all my summer maternity clothes, some kids' clothes I've picked up at yard sales, and also some baby equipment that Colby has grown out of.  At the fall sale, it was such a nightmare picking the stuff up that I decided this time it would all be donated so I don't have to deal with it.  Anywho, quite a few nights I worked on entering the tags in the system, attaching the tags, and steaming (I got a "fancy" new handheld steamer) the items.  Duncan pretty much scoffed at me saying was it even worth my time.  I guess we'll see. My goal was to sell as much money as I spend.  But truthfully, I actually don't mind doing the work because I enjoy seeing what sells.  It's all electronic, of course, so you can go on the website at the end of each day and see what has sold.  As of now, I've sold quite a few things that I bought for dirt cheap so I have made a little profit, not counting my time, of course.

The drop off day was on Wednesday and obviously I didn't want to take the kids with me to do that (you have to put all the stuff on the sales floor) so I left the four of them with Ron and Elaine.  Fortunately the drop off process was pretty quick and painless although I did have an "oops" moment.  I was selling a bouncer/rocker type thing which retails for about $60.  I wasn't sure what to price it at but landed at $19. When I placed it on the floor, I noticed two of the same ones priced at $35 and $40.  So yeah, I guess I under priced mine just a teensy bit.  And yes, I definitely sold it on the the first day!

When I got back to Ron and Elaine's, before I even got to the front door I could hear Colby screaming inside.  Yup, he was pretty much doing that the whole hour I was gone.  I don't know what is wrong with this kid but he has a problem.  None of the other kids were like this although Aubree did have some issues of not wanting to leave my sight but that was when she was like a year or older and she was never that way when I would leave her with grandparents or whatever.  He is in this stage (at least I hope it's a stage) where only Duncan or I can hold him.  Thank goodness he's at least good with Duncan or that would be a real killer.

Yesterday the sale started so I left Duncan with all four kids at 5:45 and I was off to shop alone.  Bliss!  I noticed, however, that there was a lot less clothes this time around.  Maybe people got mad about the bad pickup from last time and stayed away?  Who knows.  At any rate, I got a few things including some underwear for Brady that he's excited about.  However, I have no desire to start potty training yet but it's at least something for him to think about.  Maybe at the end of the summer...So far he has shown no signs at all of wanting to go on the toilet.  I am in no rush.

After the sale, I stopped at Target (they had a $20 off $50 purchase of household cleaning/laundry/paper products coupon out that) and Bed, Bath, & Beyond.  I also stopped at Taco Bell and got a couple of Seven Layer Burritos.  I've only had them once before and I seemed to recall that they didn't have anything in them that I found offensive.  But then when I went to put some hot sauce on them I looked closely and was like "What is this green stuff on here?"  Yup, guacamole which I just don't do (let's be honest, I really don't know if I like it or not.  I think avocados are slimy looking and refuse to put one past my lips and by default, guac gets the same treatment).   I wasn't about to go through the drive-through again to get new ones and throw these two away so I sucked it up and ate them.  I could barely taste anything out of the ordinary but really, who is surprised.  Back in 1998 I ate half a Mexican pizza with meat on it because it was so well disguised by everything else on said pizza.  But no worries.  The free $0.69 cinnamon twists they gave me for the inconvenience quickly made up for the trauma of eating meat for the first time.

Today the kids were off to Legoland.  They get in for practically free with a homeschool group and so the group all headed in today.  Ron and Elaine were kind enough to take Calleigh, Aubree, and Brady and they all had a great time with the whole Bergherm and Isidro clans.  Meanwhile, Colby and I bundled up (it was cold again today with a brisk wind and no sun.  I only mention this so that my northern family won't feel as jealous) and hit the yard sales.  We had a good, productive day.

The group.  Photo courtesy of stealing off Allen's FB page.

Brady watching a ride he couldn't get on.

This one.

Jennifer took him on a ride.  At least, I assume since I wasn't there or anything.

  

He snuck on this ride which was supposed to be for kids 3+.  Sorry, he doesn't know how to read signs yet.

He crashed in the Isidro's "wagon" when they stopped to get supper. 

Last week in my post I mentioned that terribly horrendous night that Colby had after his shots.  Thank you Lord it has not been repeated.  In fact, the two night after that, he slept right through until morning (although I wish his morning did not start at 6:00 am) and besides that, he pulled out some long naps including a 2.5 hour afternoon nap one day.  Whenever he does that, I start thinking, "Would I prefer he sleep until 7:00 and take a short nap or would I rather he continue awaking at 6:00 but take long naps?"  Hmm.  Food for thought.  If only I got to choose...

Recently when we were at Costco they had a Vita Mix demonstration going on which happens pretty frequently.  As you may recall, we got a Vita Mix last year and love it although we really don't use it as much as we should.  This particular day the demonstrator was making vanilla ice cream and it is SO good and easy that I have to share the recipe here.  And I don't even like ice cream that much.  I've made it several times now and Duncan and I were in fact gobbling some down this evening before the kids got home from Legoland!

-6 oz whole milk (I use an organic brand with DHA added so I think it's pretty good for you).
-2 tablespoons of agave (this is a natural sweetener sort of similar to honey.  I buy it at Costco but I think you can get it anywhere.
-2 teaspoons of Vanilla
-Handful of spinach
-1/4th of an avocado (yes, I know, incredibly ironic but you can't taste it)
-2 handfuls of ice.

That's it.  Just blend and voila!  Try it.  You won't be sorry.  I'm guessing you can do it in a blender and not just a Vita Mix.

Before I close, I have a few quotes to share.  Actually, these ones from Brady aren't meant to be funny but I just wanted to have them down on the record to remember later.  These are two things he says a lot:

-When asking a question he always adds "Or no?" to the end.  As in, "Can I have this fruit snack, or no?"  "Can I look at pictures on your phone..or no?"
-Another favorite question is "Would that be a good idea?"  As in, "Mommy, I'll put your phone right here.  Will that be a good idea?" or "I want to give Colby this toy.  Will that be a good idea?"

Then I had this comment from Aubree.  Duncan had taken Calleigh to get her bike tuned up and then to his work for a little while before dropping her off at his parents to join us on Wednesday.  While there, Duncan's colleague was telling Calleigh how his son, Dylan, had caught a shark.  Calleigh was then relaying this tale to me.
Calleigh: "Dylan caught a shark!"
Me: "Oh wow.  Really?!!  What, was he fishing?"
Aubree: "No, I think he was sharking."

A few more pictures and I bid you adieu.  Have a Happy Sabbath!

Frozen yogurt at JoJo's on Sunday and then on to the splash playground.

Colby's first solids.  This was actually from last week but I didn't have the picture from Duncan.

Science experiments for school.  What floats, what doesn't?

Posing with his backpack.

Calleigh waits while her bike gets a tune up.

Duncan is practicing his swimming for a triathlon this is taking place in a few weeks.  I'm pretty sure the water is freezing but the girls have been going in.

See?  It's really warm, right Aubs?