Locks of Love

Both Serenity and Cadence have loved having long hair and both have been growing it out for several years.  Neither, however, have learned how to brush through it adequately and both dread getting their hair done each morning.  Part of me feels like I should just let them do their own hair and don't worry about the rats nests that are being knotted up underneath the surface, and eventually they will learn what it takes to care for their long hair by themselves.  The part of me that refuses to let them leave the house looking like orphans in the movie Annie or Oliver Twist usually wins out though.  I hate to admit that I understand why my mom kept my hair short a lot of my childhood, but I do.  I hate the tears and the dirty looks they give when I am just trying to take good care of them.  I also hate the idea that they might get it stuck in their heads that girls are only pretty with long hair.  Variety and change are healthy, beautiful, and fun and when it is all said and done, it is just hair and it will grow back.

So a few months ago I mentioned it to them that it was time for a fresh cut for each of them and that it would not only make life a little easier in the mornings but we could turn it into a service project and donate their hair to Locks of Love and help out in an easy and fun way.  They had already done most of the work.  So hooray for new haircuts and fresh starts.  I think we will grow it long again and donate again.  It is a good experience.  They both look so gorgeous with their new do's as usual as well.  Here are the fun before and after pictures.  I don't think the pictures show well enough though, how almost giddy they both are at how cute their new looks are.  They have both had "bob" hair cuts before, but with bangs.  Without bangs might make them look too grown up.  I haven't decided yet.

My Beauties!

I know I already posted these new school pictures on my facebook, but I must post here as well for those who don't use facebook, don't you think. It is only fair to them. Hehe. We had the fun option of choosing the background colors for their shots, so each of them of course chose their current favorite colors.

Serenity's is green, as it has been most of her life.  She loves all things nature and fresh.

  Cadence's is orange, which totally fit her, since she is bold and sunny and it is a great autumn color.

Halloween In A Small Town

Halloween was a week long event here in Palmyra when it comes right down to it. Last Saturday on the 24th was Trick or Treating on Main St., which is just IN the shops in the village so it didn't take the girls long, but hey, more candy. Serenity painted pumpkins for activity day girls while I helped the YW decorate for the games we setup for Friday's ward dinner and Trunk or Treat.

Then on Wednesday evening there was a costume parade and contest for the kids up to twelve years old and free doughnuts and cider, that was held at Cadence's school. Cadence won second place in the cutest category for her age group....more candy. Regardless of the fact that Serenity was robbed of winning a prize, the three of us had so much fun dancing with each other as we watched the different age groups and cheering each other on. I cannot be sure, but to look at us, I think we had more fun than anybody else.

Serenity is a beautiful pink flamingo on the lawn that we call life.

Thursday I made a new recipe of soup to take to the ward dinner. Roasted butternut squash soup with apples and bacon. It was so good. As usual I didn't follow the original recipe exactly, but tweaked it a little to make it my own. We came home with an empty pot, so I hope people really liked it. Which brings us to Friday. The girls' took their costumes to school for their class parties. School is business as usual until the last part. But both of them came home with plenty of loot. Then we went to the ward dinner. The food was good but the turn out was so good that we ran out of food. The games went pretty well. My personal favorite was digging for the bones of a miniature skeleton in a cauldron of slimy spaghetti. Then we paraded the kids across the stage and out to the trunks for Trunk or Treating. More Candy!

Cadence was The Blue Nosed Witch, which is from a favorite book I read as a kid and that we found and read together from Cadence's school library. I love passing on traditions.

My sad attempt as a China Doll.

Saturday was a fairly normal rainy Saturday of chores and me at work with a migraine. That made me more grateful that I had already asked Grandpa if he would take the girls out Trick or Treating. The rain had stopped by then, but it was windy. They needed gloves and coats and covered ears. That doesn't seem too bad after looking at pictures of more than two feet of snow at my sister's house in Colorado. For the first time since becoming a mother ten years ago, this was the first Halloween I didn't go out. It was so relaxing to sit and watch mildly scary movies and pass out candy. Our house isn't next to too many residences so we only had about twenty kids. The girls were home and showered and in bed by 9:00. Woo Hoo. Happy Halloween everyone!

Autumn Walking

Autumn is my favorite season. It has been for as long as I can remember. I love the cool snuggle-time weather, the cute clothes, autumn colors, baking more, and sometimes being able to slow down into a smooth routine. Although I don't think we have slowed down much this year. Busy is good....right?
We took the time Columbus Day gave us together to get out for a walk and see the leaves before they all fall. There are still a lot of green leaves but it is already getting so cold that I won't be surprised if autumn is short lived.

Back to School

Well, school finally started for the girls here in New York. They have been waiting with baited breathe for weeks now. The morning ran pretty darn smoothly and hopefully we can make a trend of that. We'll have to see how it will have to change if at all once I am working again since my summer job is done. I am so pleased that both the girls love school so much and I hope their first day is a fabulous one. It seems so strange to have them in separate schools, but at least the bus for Serenity goes from and comes to Cadence's school so with a little bit of a wait they can walk together and with me for now. People talk about how safe and comforting it is for children to have normal set routines. It is so true and it is comforting to moms too, I'm sure most would agree. So here are my cute girls in their twin outfits, all raring and ready for the new adventures ahead.