At-Home Beautification

You may think I'm crazy, but recently, I've decided to start waxing my own eyebrows.

Think about it.  One salon visit for this service costs roughly $15, before tip.  I have to remember to make an appointment before I look like a uni-brow.  I have to take the time out of my day to go over there.  I have to wait while she finishes with other customers.  Repeat this every 3-4 weeks, and it has just started to seem like a hassle.  It didn't used to, but over the past year or so, it really has.  I've even had my friend Crystal wax me once in a while when I don't feel like bothering with the salon.  Crystal will do JoAnn and I for free if we can make time to do it after work.  She does her own eyebrows all the time.

So I decided a few weeks ago while wandering around Walgreen's that I would give it a shot.  I bought a waxing kit and magnifying mirror for a whopping $12.82.  I did it that night, heating up the wax in the microwave, and although it felt like it took me forever, I liked the results.  So I've done it twice more since then, getting faster every time.  I have to do it about every 2 weeks, so a little more frequently than going to the salon, but waxing at home definitely has its benefits.  Mostly, it's AT HOME.  The cost savings is nice, too, but I am just starting to get too lazy in my old age to have someone do that for me when I can do it for myself.  In my pajamas.  :)

Would you ever wax your own eyebrows???

Lightning

Today I decided I would get up at 6am and run.  I'd done it for a few Sundays but skipped Father's Day.  It had rained much of yesterday, so I flipped on the TV and saw that rain was coming, but still probably an hour away.  That was OK, I could get out and back in that amount of time.  I laced up my shoes and took off with the rest of my family still in bed.

The sidewalks were wet in our neighborhood.  I got up to the main drag, turned left, and BAM!  A HUGE bolt of lightning to the west, and not that far away.  Yikes.  I paused a bit, and BAM!  A second one!  Well, that is too much lightning for me, so I turned around and high-tailed it back home.  Total miles = 0.5.

Instead I popped a workout DVD in and sweated my buns off until my family woke up.  I don't love it as much as running, but it works.  I'm glad I did it.  I didn't have a chance to go to the Y today, and it rained until nearly dinnertime, so I wouldn't have been able to run outside, anyway. 

I would say, "Here's hoping our weather improves!", but I've seen the forecast.  It won't.  It'll be one soggy week around here.

Operation Christmas Child

Christmas?  In June?  You bet!!!

Our church strongly supports Operation Christmas Child.  While most people who support this ministry pack their shoeboxes in November, our church chooses to do this over the summer.  I think I've mentioned this in previous years.  My family really likes the opportunity to pack shoeboxes full of gifts in the summer.  It helps us to remember that there are people in this world who need assistance all year long, not just at the holidays.  This year we packed two boxes for little girls somewhere in this world.

Katie, my trusty assistant

Each box you fill also needs a small monetary donation to pay for shipping charges.  New this year is the option to pay online.  We chose that because you get a bar code that will help you track your box!  I can't wait to find out where our boxes go.  Central America?  Africa?  You never know!  I will be sure to provide an update when I find out.

This is such a simple thing to do that will make a big impact on a child that may have never received a Christmas gift.  Please consider doing this with your family or church group if you have the opportunity.

Happy Father's Day

A little quiz for you:
Name 5 recent Academy Award winners.
Name the last 5 Heisman Trophy winners.
Last 5 World Series champions?
Any 5 Nobel prize winners?
Any 5 Pulitzer prize winner?

Now, for round two:

Name your 5 favorite teachers.
Name 5 people that you enjoy spending free time with.
Name 5 people that you call to share good news with.
Name 5 people who have lifted you up when you've had hard times.
Name 5 people who are always there for you.


If you look at your answers from round two, odds are you named your dad in some or all of those categories. This little exercise that we went through in church was to prove that although some people become famous for a while, it's the everyday people who make the most powerful impact on our lives. I know that is certainly true for me.

Thank you, Dad, for teaching me so many things. For being so fun to hang out with. For being there to share in my joy when something exciting happens. For being there to pick me up when I'm struggling. And most importantly, just for being there. You are truly one of a kind!

Happy Father's Day!!!

Recital 2011

It's dance recital week!  Weeks and months of hard work from Katie and all the other students, and we are finally here.

Striking a pose

Katie's class is dancing to "Nobody's Perfect", a Hannah Montana song.  They love it and love their routine.  She has 15 girls in her class, which is a rather big class, but they all perform it wonderfully (though not always at the same speed).

We had dress rehearsal Wednesday night, Show 1 on Thursday, and Show 2 tonight.  Everything has gone well so far, and I'm sure tonight will be no different.  Natalie is so excited to go and watch her big sister (only Colin and I went to Show 1 while Natalie stayed home with Grandma).

I love seeing all the different costumes and different routines.  The teachers are all very creative and choreograph fantastic work.  I continue to be impressed at how well all the dancers do.  Some of them are in multiple routines, and I don't know how they can keep themselves straight for 5 or 6 different numbers.  I'd have trouble with only one!  Also, I don't know how they can change outfits and hair so quickly to get back out on stage.  Amazing.

We are so proud of Katie to see her on stage, doing something she enjoys with her friends.  Way to go!!!

Last Day of School

It seems like kindergarten just flew on by!  And I can't believe that I forgot to mention that they had their last day of school on Friday the 10th.  Here's Katie, all done, and ready for first grade!

Her teacher had a frog theme in the classroom, and they made frog shirts during their year-end party.  How fun!  Katie really loved kindergarten and loved her teacher.  She doesn't see how any other teacher could possibly teach her as much...  I am so glad she had a great first year of school, and I love the fact that she is ready for more!

Flood

The Missouri River is running high this year, and with record releases from the dams upstream, there's a major flooding situation.  This puts my beloved homeland and dear family and friends in danger.

Sites I'm watching:

Sioux City Journal

Omaha World Herald

With that, some TV station websites, and word from my parents, I'm trying to stay up to date on what is going on.  And what I know is that they need a lot of prayers.  It's already a mess, and will likely remain a mess through the summer. 

Please say a prayer for those families who've had to leave their homes, their belongings, everything behind.  People who have had to leave their dream home they built for their retirement.  People who've had to move their small children from the only home they've ever known.  It's going to be a long summer and they appreciate the support.

Bye-Bye, Diaper Pail

Since I don't normally help Natalie get dressed in the morning (Colin does), it took me a while to realize that her pull-up was still dry in the morning, almost every morning. So I gave her the same deal I gave Katie when she was at that point... If you are dry 5 nights in a row, you can start wearing underwear to bed. She was dry the next morning, then the next morning barely wet, and then dry 5 consecutive times after that. I let Natalie wear underwear to bed, as promised, and we haven't looked back! She has done fabulously with this, and I am ready to throw that diaper pail out with the garbage. I am SO PROUD of her!

Katie seemed a little miffed that Natalie achieved this at a younger age than she did. I joked that Natalie has "iron bladder", but it's true! No offense to my mother, but Katie and my mom have the same bladder. Natalie can hold it like I can. Everyone's different, and Katie has gotten over her irritation and come to be proud of Natalie as well. :)

Bye-bye, pull-ups, and bye-bye, diaper pail.  Our house is full of big girls now!

Running Ramblings...

I've been bad about running on Sunday afternoons like I used to, and with the temperatures rising, it's hard to make myself want to. I decided this weekend that I would get up early and run before we went to church. It ended up working out really well! I got up at 6, had a little snack, and was out the door around 6:30. I ran 4.2 miles, and although it certainly wasn't my fastest effort ever, I felt really good about being out there and getting the miles in while it was still cool outside. My mileage has taken a hit lately, mostly due to the ridiculous heat and humidity, but I'm going to try and get it back up a little bit. I work so hard during the winter that I feel bad when I don't keep it up during the rest of the year!

In other running items, I had a meeting out of the office Friday afternoon, and I had just a bit of time after it got out before I needed to head home. I stopped by the New Balance store, mostly to check out shorts and other apparel. I did end up with these awesome shorts, on sale.

Then, because I can't resist shoes, I asked the guy if I could try on these babies, WT10 Minimus Trail shoe.

I did a few laps around the store and was a bit surprised when the salesman asked me if I currently run barefoot. "No", I replied. "Why do you ask?"

"It's just that your stride is very good. Most people don't do that when they put these shoes on. They still strike on their heels too hard."

I could've hugged that man. After my previous gate analysis that left me fuming, I was determined that I would change my stride, even though the lady who did my analysis didn't think I could. Once a heel striker, always a heel striker, she told me.

I'll show her, I thought.

And I have. The wear pattern on my current shoes shows that I am striking at mid- to fore-foot, and I hardly have any wear on my heel. I'm so proud of myself. I really could wear a minimalist shoe! Now I just have to get the guts to actually buy it. :)
 

Farewell, Spring Soccer

Today we had the last soccer games of the spring season.  Natalie's team had a coaching change, then a name change, partway through the season.  They went from being the Lemonaders to the Sharks.  Natalie and Preston were the only 2 who still liked the old name!  Natalie did take to her new coach a little better, but still, she really didn't like playing all that much.  Here's Natalie and Katie after the game:

Sheep-puppy had to come with us

Natalie has sheep-puppy...  Shay has the same hair as Natalie!

I didn't get many action shots...  I was trying to coax Natalie onto the field, so Katie held the camera for me.  She took more pictures of Jacob's family and their donuts than she did anything else!

Katie's Frogs had close games all season long.  They were often short or running at the bare minimum number of players, and we were so proud of them and how hard they worked every week. 

Katie on the move!

Goal kick...  she played goalie 2nd half

The intensity!

Frogs post-game party

Once again, the season's fun, but I'm so glad when it's over!  We're actually going to take a break this summer and not play basketball.  The girls will still be swimming, and this will free up our Saturdays to do other things.  I'm sure we'll be back to organized sports in the fall.

Natalie and George

Colin's parents have a bird.  I can't say I've ever been that fond of him.  Katie is more afraid of him than anything.  But Natalie is EXTREMELY curious about George.  While over there for Memorial Day, she finally got her wish...  George got to come out of his cage and visit her!

He scratched up her shoulders something fierce and later pooped on her dress, but Natalie was thrilled anyways.  She got to touch George!  It made her day.  :)