What Have They Done to Our Childhood?

I'm sorry, but this

is Holly Hobbie.

This, while cute,

is not. Maybe her great-granddaughter. Maybe. Quit messing with good stuff!!!

During Prayers Tonight . . .

Dear God,

Thank you for my mommy and my daddy and my little sister and my little brother and my cat and all my friends (rambling here about who is her best friend and who only likes her when there's no one else to play with). And God, when my little brother grows up to be a big kid like me, please let him be neat and not a weirdo like most little brothers. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Still Down, But Looking Up!

Still sickness all around. I finally had a fever-free night last night, but Little Dude was burning up this morning and coughing. I gave him a breathing treatment and ibuprofin, he's a little better now. Miss M is still hacking and was a bit warm this morning, but no fever. So, it's Day 3 off of work, no groceries, trapped at home with the sick kiddies. Oh, and still mouth breathing myself, the old honker is still stuffed up something awful. Not even Sudafed will help. Of course, it might if our pharmacy still sold the real Sudafed, not that Sudafed PE junk. Those darn meth-heads have to ruin perfectly good medicine for the rest of us! Anyway, I'm praying that by tomorrow all the fevers shall have run their course and we'll all be fairly healthy.

On another topic, you'll notice I no longer have Google Adsense ads. I just got an e-mail saying I was in violation of their TOS because I have a header that says Click My Ads. Since I'm not making any money off of them anyway and I've already received my first payment from Blogads (it took me several months for it to add up to enough for a payout), I'm going to just cancel Google's ads. It's not worth changing my template for, lol!

Laid Low

I was going to blog some this weekend but got busy, then planned to blog last night, but got sick! Some kind of flu-like virus has hit. Just head-cold flu, not stomach flu thank goodness! I had a fever last evening of 102.9, and the Little Dude was feverish in the night and coughing. Can't breath, can't sleep, toss and turn, it was not a fun night. My wonderful hubby is home from work today and let me sleep til NOON!!! I'm feeling a bit better, but still stuffy and achey. Miss M has a cough now, but no fever yet, and Little Dude is cranky but the fever seems to be staying away. I hope we're back to normal tomorrow!

Speaking of Haircuts . . .

. . . Sis is getting her hair cut at a posh salon next weekend and is wondering the correct protocol for tipping. Is it 20% like for waitstaff? Do you tip the shampoo girl? If so, how much? C'mon my savvy readers, enlighten us!

Haircut Day!

Well, she finally bit the bullet and did it. Little Miss T got her hair cut for Locks of Love!!! It is so adorable -- yeah, I know I'm biased, but I think you will agree. I also got Little Dude's buzzed, it was getting a little shaggy looking. Miss M decided she needed a new look also -- one almost just like T's, but with bangs. Here they all are, befores and afters:


Miss T's before pictures. Not brushed, but you can see how long it had gotten.

Here's the snip . . . And here's the final look!


Little Dude's isn't as much as a transformation as last time, but still stinkin' cute!


Miss M hadn't planned on a haircut, but she is so happy with this one!

This is just gratuitous cuteness!!!

Hello Strangers!

It has been WAY too long since I've had a decent post. This job is KICKING MY BUTT! I don't know if it's just because I haven't had an outside job in a few years or that three and four year olds have more energy than anyone ought to have, but I'm just bushed at the end of the day. And I'm only working 4 hours a day! I've been waiting to put together a coherent (read NOT just blurting out whatever's in my head) post on my experiences of the last week, but I just haven't had the time or energy. Last week, I was ready to throw in the towel by Friday. I was in a small center, 4 kids (plus my 3), all in the same large room. It was a REALLY large room -- a former church sanctuary -- but it was just too chaotic with all ages in the same space. Plus, my girls did not want to listen to me and my son wanted to cling to me. In retrospect, I can't really put a finger on exactly why I was so frustrated, but it was some combination of those factors. So I told C over the weekend that I was just coming unglued. She told me I was doing just fine, that we'd all get used to it, and that she'd see if she could re-arrange some people so I could be over at the main center. There, the kids are all in separate rooms by age groups and I just have a few at a time until the end of the day. I start in the toddler room, which is nice -- Little D gets all acclimated and having fun -- then I move to the Blue Room, the 4s and 5s. When enough of them go home we combine the Blue and Green Rooms and I stay until the count goes down to 8 (not counting my kids). Then we all go home. I'm usually there from 3 to around 5:30. That will change as their attendance changes, I'll probably be going in around 1:00. C is on a mission trip to Brazil for two weeks, so I told her I'd stay until she got back and we'd see if I liked it by then or not. I didn't want to leave her in a lurch, since she accepted more kids based on the ration that my being there created. If I quit it would really leave her in the lurch.

I really prayed all weekend, as did my husband and best friend and you know, it really made a difference. I don't feel as frazzled and confused as I did last week. The kids really are sweet. There are a few rough ones in the bunch, but even they can give you a smile that makes it all worth it! They are so starved for love and affection -- and not because their parents don't give it too them, but because their parents are working so hard and long to just make it. The love and affection that goes on when they pick the kids up gives lie to everything I might have thought before I saw it. You know, I've been dirt-poor growing up, but if I'm honest I think I felt like country dirt-poor was somehow different than inner-city dirt poor. We may say that we aren't prejudiced against those who are different, but I think in my case I still held myself aloof or distant. These kids don't let you do that -- and it's WONDERFUL! As we were driving in, the girls said "These houses look creepy!" and they do. Some look like they should be condemned. But what we're learning together, the girls and I, is that people are people. I am ashamed to say that I knew that intellectually but not in my heart. And God, through these kids, is putting it in my heart.

Yeah, I need to write a real post. But in the meanwhile, here's a little tidbit about me:

Your Five Factor Personality Profile

Extroversion: You have high extroversion. You are outgoing and engaging, with both strangers and friends. You truly enjoy being with people and bring energy into any situation. Enthusiastic and fun, you're the first to say "let's go!" Conscientiousness: You have low conscientiousness. Impulsive and off the wall, you don't take life too seriously. Unfortunately, you sometimes end up regretting your snap decisions. Overall, you tend to lack focus, and it's difficult for you to get important things done. Agreeableness: You have high agreeableness. You are easy to get along with, and you value harmony highly. Helpful and generous, you are willing to compromise with almost anyone. You give people the benefit of the doubt and don't mind giving someone a second chance. Neuroticism: You have high neuroticism. It's easy for you to feel shaken, worried, or depressed. You often worry, and your worries prevent you from living life fully. You tend to be emotionally reactive and moody. Your either flying very high or feeling very low. Openness to experience: Your openness to new experiences is high. In life, you tend to be an early adopter of all new things and ideas. You'll try almost anything interesting, and you're constantly pushing your own limits. A great connoisseir of art and beauty, you can find the positive side of almost anything.

The Five Factor Personality Test

Anyone who knows me in real life -- were you terribly surprised at the neuroticism description? LOL!

Just a Quick Blog . . .

Man, it is just impossible to find time to get on here these days! I didn't get lost. Work went well, I ended up working in a closer center -- brand new, only 5 kids so far. Mine will make 8. The girls haven't been to this one yet, but I took the Little Guy with me yesterday. Hubby was off so the girls stayed home with him and he took them to dance. I guess once they get some more kids I'll be working with the older ones. Not my first choice, but still not anything I can't do. Oh, my hours are different than originally planned as well. It was going to be 2:30 to 6:30, but now it's noon to 4:30 or so. That will probably stretch a little later as they get more children as well. So supper isn't as big of a problem as I thought it would be, but lunch is always rushed.

Well, I've got some computer work to get done for the church. I was supposed to do it last night, but crashed with a headache (no, I didn't see the State of the Union). I'm off Fridays for now, so I'll try to post a little more then!