During a whirlwind house pick up today I was in a happy mood (induced by my Mindy Gledhill, Anchor album) and grabbed a handful of candy corn from the abused candy dish (perhaps the second cause of my energy surge:)

Distributing the goodies between Audrey and Colin,

Audrey asks "What's this for?"

"Because you two are soo cute," I reply.

A little while later Colin finds me and grins as he asks,

"Can I have some more cute?"

Audrey's 4th Birthday Party

John and Rachel's Wedding

I am in the kitchen cleaning. I can see the kids playing in the backyard. The sliding glass door is closed to keep the muggy hot air outside where it belongs.

I look up from my work to see Colin crouching on the patio and examining something. My gaze is redirected to a white and brown spot on the cement about the size of a golf ball. Alerts are sounding in my head as I nearly simultaneously 1. realize this is bird droppings and 2. notice Colin is extending a pudgy index finger toward the glistening smear 3. run across the kitchen 4. shout "Colin, NOOOOO!"

But he cannot hear me through the glass. Split seconds seem to pass as full minutes. Slow motion horror strikes as I'm dashing through the dining room, reaching for the door and see my pure, innocent baby dip and bring his once beautiful finger.....to his mouth.

A hair cut, and then another hair cut, and then one more

I quickly cut Audrey's bangs on Wednesday night after bathtime. When we were finished I lifted her off of my bathroom counter and I headed downstairs to take care of dinner dishes. I recall about halfway down the stairs thinking - "I should put those scissors away." But I was more intent on the kitchen and so I ignored the thought.

Fast forward 45 minutes. I discover long blonde locks littering my bathroom floor. I review in my head. I cut 1/4 inch of bangs. I left the scissors on the counter. I see 4 inch lengths of hair. A lot of them. I shout "AUDREY!!!!"

It wasn't pretty. She cut all of what she could reach on the sides and the back was left long. Like a mullet. On Thursday I took her to a friend's house who is a hairstylist. Much better. Audrey was very sad when she looked in the mirror and all her hair was gone. Maybe she will remember that feeling next time? Maybe I will put the scissors away too? She's better now. And I like her little fairy hair cut.

Yesterday while we were out a man asked the kids what their names were. Audrey responded appropriately and after thoughtfully watching his sister Colin smiled and said proudly, "My name Colin!" I think this was the first time anyone has asked him what his name was. A few hours later at the store the kids were looking at small fish in tanks. I noticed Colin was saying something so I stepped closer and heard, "My name Colin," he then turned his head toward another fish and repeated, "My name Colin." He probably introduced himself to six or seven different fish.

During the same run of errands I looked in my rear view mirror at one point and noticed tears streaming down Audrey's cheeks. A bit shocked, since I could recall nothing that would have brought on this emotion, I asked her what was wrong. Audrey sniffled and wiped a few tears before saying, "Everyone keeps thinking I am a little girl."