disappointments

I've been wanting to post this for a while now...

DISAPPOINTMENTS

Ones of the Christmas variety.

did you have any?

a few?

a lot?

We spend months thinking about, researching, asking around, and then searching for those PERFECT gifts.
The ones that our kids will just LOOOOVE.
That will make their little worlds so much happier.
They'll spend HOURS playing with and still not have enough of.

Did you do that?

Just KNOW that you had the ultimate gifts picked out?

From you.
From the grandparents.
From Aunts and Uncles, etc.

I did.

And every year I just KNOW I've done better than the year before.
I just KNOW that THIS YEAR is the year that it will be the right stuff.
(makes me want to do a funny dance)
But alas
each February I find myself thinking "hmm...they don't play with those toys! I just knew I had gotten perfect ones yet there they sit." or even worse "OK, I researched and asked around and still that toy turned out to be a piece of junk!"

SO...
I want to know.
WHAT WERE YOUR DISAPPOINTMENTS this year?
What gifts didn't hit the mark that you so carefully aimed for?
What gifts lasted just a month or two and either lost their charm, never had any charm, or quit working completely?

Here are a few of ours:
~Dora dress up doll (I spent WEEKS searching and bidding on ebay) with a bunch of outfits...I don't think she's played with it since the day she got it.
~AMAZING pettiskirt (I knew this one could go either way)...hasn't worn it except for 10 seconds after opening it.
~swimming puppy and swimming baby doll!...now these held their attention and they loved them...BUT BOTH HAVE STOPPED WORKING! (and yes, I have replaced batteries on both twice already)
~Hot Wheels tracks... Caleb BEGGED for these. He still just plays with the cars all the time but doesn't take the time to make/put together tracks. Appears the driveway is the best ramp around.

Still have hope for:
~Playmobil farm. Georgia SOMETIMES plays with this. Not nearly as much as we had hoped but I think she will as she gets older (I hope!)
~K'Nex for Caleb. The older ones... he can NOT make what the pics show but he SOMETIMES gets these out and makes shapes and "car"...maybe twice a month. Again, hopefully more as he gets older.

So tell me yours and maybe we can help each other for future purchases
(and we'll share the ones that did hit the mark too!)
:0)
~robin

Read More 4 comments | Posted by cajungal01

haircuts

I'm wonderin'...how do your kids do with haircuts?

Do they just sit nicely, enjoy the experience, watch what is going on with excitement?

or

Do they scream, cry, and act like the stylist is cutting off their head instead of their hair?

My children definitely do the latter.
Caleb used to be HORRIBLE.
The great thing about boys is that they can have super short hair. And since I've always LOOOOVED buzz cuts on guys of all ages, that's what my son gets.

We get comfy on the back porch and take care of it.
#3 on the top, #2 on the sides.
No problem.

Georgia though has been a different story.
Last year she did OK with her first few haircuts.
She would have to be held a little while they cut the back and she needed to look down.
Then in Dec. the haircut experience got worse.
We had a bad stylist (who had no tolerance for children) and it just ...well, did not go well.
So since then I have given her the option "Either you wear your hair in a ponytail or we go get it cut."
She's opted for the pony.

but

I'm tired of doing that every day.
With her super fine hair it is just another hassle on already busy mornings trying to get ready for school.

SO...I talked to a friend who recommended a salon and stylist.

A KIDS salon.

You know the ones.

The ones that have chairs shaped like fun things, TVs on the walls, etc.
We've tried some of those before but didn't have much better luck and the stylists didn't have tons of talent/ability either. Just patience with kids. Although the patience is a must, Georgia's haircut is one that does require some work too.

So I was thinking "yeah...probably not."

BUT I stopped in yesterday anyway.
The place was not only one with cool chairs and tvs, plus playstations, etc...it was also a store, a dress up room, and more.
I indeed was sucked in by thinking "Hmm...this might be just the right thing to distract Georgia enough to actually cut her hair."
Worth a try.

and

It worked.

It worked better than I could have EVER imagined.
I went prepared and armed with Leapsters, Leapster Games from a friend (so Georgia had never played them before and then therefore would be held captivated), stuffed animals, etc.

Didn't need em'.

The stylist was AMAZING.
Talented AND beyond wonderful with kids.
Even gave Georgia HER last donut hole.

Georgia just sat there and let her do her work.
I dare say she even SMILED a few times.
The Leapster was still great for all of the time Georgia had to "look down" (a lot for her type of hair cut) so that was helpful.

Truly though...
It was wonderful.

So, I took the bait,
Bit the hook and went for the over commercialized child salon.
And it was worth every penny.
(which wasn't too much either!)

YEA for Sharkeys and Miss Lisa!
:0)
(and yes, I'll post photos later...at least I posted finally!)

Read More 4 comments | Posted by cajungal01

As I promised...

Read More 4 comments | Posted by cajungal01

robin's ramblings...

Ok, so this will be a pictureless post but tomorrow I plan on a post that is only pictures...

I've been gone a while from here and decided to catch you up for our month of January. First..the kids were sick...forever! They first had a stomach bug that was vicious for the first 5 days and then seemed to linger for 9 or 10 days. That finally finished and we were blessed with two nieces and a nephew staying with us for a few days (fri-mon). It was FABULOUS! I loved having them around. They are just such great kids and we have so much fun just being together. :0)
As soon as we finished with that, the kids went to school ONCE and Georgia started to run a fever. Her fever was off and on at first, dr. couldn't find a cause. Then it got stronger and was accompanied by lots of boogers. She was pretty puny but still ok. Then Caleb started. His grew MUCH worse. His turned into the flu and lasted over a week. NO FUN.
So we are all finally back at school and it feels like the cloud has lifted. :0)

I want to say that my hubby was amazing. The kids stayed home with him on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with me on Mondays and Wednesdays. That way, I didn't have to miss every day of work. It was GREAT! All in all, I think Caleb went to school for a total of 3 days for the entire month of January. Nice. Gotta love payin' the money but not being there. Ahhh well...

Within that time we also had some great things...
we babysat a baby pug for 4 days and had a blast!
I had my outing with Sis and PapaLou and loved it.
I took Eli to a trainer for a private lesson and found out "he doesn't have a mean bone in his body and isn't aggressive to other dogs, just his "motor runs a little high". With some more intensive obedience and training, he should be a little calmer." I have to start getting him around other dogs though.
I painted and completely redecorated our guest bathroom and it is GORGEOUS! It went from not having " a look" at all to a very beautiful one.
I have fallen WAY behind in my digital scrapbooking.
....
hmmm...that's all I can come up with right now!

Just wanted to touch base and apologize for the lack of posts!
:0)
be back tomorrow with pics!

Read More 3 comments | Posted by cajungal01

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