Home Alone (almost) and Hair Traumas

Each year the Middle School students at the girls' school go to Catalina for a week. This is the week and both Emily and Paul are gone. Paul has gone as the chaperone every year that Emily has been in Middle School. Emily's sad that this will be her last trip and she's already told Paul that he can't chaperone when Hannah's old enough to go since that would mean that he got to go more than her. They always have a great time snorkeling, rock climbing, hiking, dissecting squids (okay Emily is not thrilled with this part), learning about marine life and more. Everyone comes home exhausted but happy from these trips. I'm just really glad that the week they went this year was changed. Last year, the 8th graders had to test for high school the Saturday morning after they got back from Catalina - luckily this year they've already completed their testing so Emily won't have to go through that when they get back.

With both Paul and Emily gone, that means that Hannah and I are home alone for the week. Hannah didn't have school on Monday or Tuesday because it was parent-teacher conference time. Yesterday we went to see Nanny McPhee which we both enjoyed. And, today Hannah got her hair cut. She insisted on looking through the book of styles and picked the one she wanted and had it done. The hair stylist was probably amazed that I let someone so young pick out her own style but then again the hair stylist probably thought she was a 1st or 2nd grader. It looked very cute with one side curled under and the other flipped up and she really liked it. Then tonight after her shower she discovered the sad truth that all women must learn at some point in their lives. No matter what the cut you will never be able to make your hair look like the hair stylist did. :) It's been a major trauma since shower time to try to get her hair to look the way she wants. Poor Hannah and just think there will be more of these types of truths she'll have to endure as she gets older.

I feel for her on the hair thing though and may very well be going through the same trauma later this week since it's on my agenda to get my hair cut too. For the past, oh probably 10 years, I've just been having my hair cut into a collar-length blunt bob and then coloring at home. I'm debating trying to branch out a bit this time and in having my hair professionally colored since the at home jobs just aren't doing the job any more. So, I could be enduring the multiple trauma of cut and color later this week!

To Resolution or NOT to Resolution

Now that is the question. I do find myself evaluating things at the start of a new year but making resolutions is almost a joke these days. Everyone (including you) thinks you'll break them; the question is just how soon. So, does that mean, I don't make resolutions. Well, kinda.

This time of year, I do try to spend some time thinking about what I want to change or improve in my life. I find that I'm more reflective than normal this year because before the end of 2006 I'll be hitting a milestone birthday - one of those BIG ones.

So, in 2006, I intend to:

• Move More & Eat Healthier: I hope to be a smaller and healthier version of myself by the time that milestone birthday rolls around in October!
• Practice Patience: Lately I find that I have a very short fuse. Why? Well, I think it could have to do with too much to do, not enough time to do it, a strong-willed 9 year old, having a teenager, lack of exercise, approaching menopause, too much clutter, and probably at least a dozen other things. Regardless of why, it's time that I find ways to react less and enjoy more.
  
• Organize & Simplify: It's time to weed out all the stuff we seem to have collected and give ourselves room to live in the space we have.
  

That's the list. I'm sure there are a lot of other things I could and should do but honestly if I can accomplish these three I will be thrilled!

What are your goals, hopes, resolutions (whatever you call them) for 2006?

Okay, I've given in and started a blog!

I have resisted setting up a blog because to me it has seemed like just one more thing that I should do that I just know I won't update as often as people expect. But, I've had a family website for years that I update as I find time and I intend for this to replace that. So, it will get updated when I have time. Don't expect daily updates or even weekly updates - there may be times that I do update regularly and then it might be a month or so without much of anything happening. If you can live with that then so can I!