Just a little off the sides please.

Grandma E gave Landon his last haircut, and even though it turned out good we'll just say the experience wasn't the greatest. Landon screamed through the whole thing as though we were branding him. So I was a little apprehensive when I decided to bring him to the "salon" to get his hair cut. I was going to wait until we saw Grandma E again, but that won't be for another 2 months and he was getting a little shaggy. I can cut the girls' hair, but don't know where to start with little boy hair. I was surprised when the gal took out the clippers, but it seemed to work just fine despite his soft baby hair. I took notes so maybe Daddy can do it next time.

He wasn't too sure about the clippers.

Little man!! Now we can really see his baby blues (plus his uber-long eye lashes!).

Why I love screens!

This was, thankfully, on the OTHER side of our screened in porch this morning...

This thing is 4 INCHES long!

It kept the girls attention for awhile.

Now, I am not sure what is scarier to me, this HUGE bug or the fact that we are starting potty training today. Maybe I will ask this Praying Mantis to pray for me!

Happy Moving Day Anniversary, or something like that.

Wow, it's been one year since we said "goodbye" to Virginia with all our earthly belongings packed up and headed West. Really, are you sure?! No, it can't be. It's like these past 365 days have been a complete blur. When we talk about Kansas, I say that I am "new to the area." I guess I'm not "new" anymore, am I? There is still a part of me that feels like I am the new kid on the block. Sure, I am getting to know more people. We have friends who we enjoy hanging out with and getting to know more. But, I think it's that "getting to know" part that reminds me that I am "new." There's not that history yet, but all history has to start somewhere. Even though it's not as often as before, I do get choked up when I talk about moving from VA. It was such a special place where we made such special friendships. And what's funny, is that there are even some close friends who don't live in Virginia anymore, but they are still my "Virginia Friends."

I think one of the hardest parts about moving to someplace where you know no one is that you have a "clean slate." No one knows anything about me. Is this a good thing? I suppose it could be. There are some things in my past that just don't need to be known and are best forgotten. On the other hand, this clean slate can be a burden because there is comfort in being around friends who know you, you know?

I was reminded of this tonight. I was on my way to a Girl's Night Out for moms at Annika's school. I was nervous because I knew I would only know one, maybe two, other ladies there. Even worse, I knew there would be a lot of them who knew each other. Now, I can come off as an extrovert, but not too deep inside is an insecure high schooler who just wants people to like her and gets really nervous at the thought of meeting new people. I tried on a few outfits, put on some jewelry, and even put on some of that long-lasting lipstick. I felt like I was getting ready for a date. Isn't that high school-ish?! (Other than the fact that I didn't date in high school, but that's another story). And don't even get me started on the snack I brought. I didn't want to run out to the store and get stuff, so I tried to go with what ingredients I had in the pantry. I tried something new, and realized having a candy thermometer around would've been nice. Let's just say the Chocolate Pecan Caramels, were more like Chocolate Pecan Goo. I even threw them in the freezer. That worked, but as I cut them up, I prayed the room wouldn't be warmer than, say, 40 degrees. I just put them on disposable plates so I wouldn't have to reclaim them at the end of the night.

As I was in the car on the way, I turned on the radio. Now, there are times in my life where I have turned to a random passage in the Bible and felt that what I read at that moment was just what I needed to hear. But tonight, on my way to my "first date," God gave me a holy slap in the face. I turned on the Christian radio station just as a woman was wrapping up a short devotional time on Proverbs 31. The verse she was reading was verse 30, "Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." It really made me catch my breath. For the past hour (maybe 2), I had been concerned about what these women would think of me. "Would they like my shirt, how about my jeans, would they notice any of my jewelry, or would they like my dessert, or notice that I brought a plate of goo?" Not once, did I think "Will they see that I am a daughter of the King, a sinner bought at a price?"
As I was pulling into the parking lot, I sat in my car and looked up to see a rainbow. SERIOUS! I couldn't make this up if I tried!!! It was the coolest rainbow. It wasn't an arc like rainbow, but one that went straight up from the ground into the sky. And the verse "never will I leave you, never will I forsake you" came to my mind. It was a very cool moment between me and a God who cares deeply for little insecure me.

Sometimes in my moments of homesickness, and even some loneliness, I still wonder why God brought our Plain Life out here. As I continue into the next year of this chapter of my life, I need those rainbows to remind me that I am not here to impress people with my charm or the latest and the greatest (because we already know that's not going to happen). I serve a God who can't be impressed. He doesn't want our best outfit or even the best snacks, he wants me. He's the only one who can make this "clean" slate as white as snow.

Soccer Dad

I think Dan has been waiting for this day since we knew we were going to have kids. Annika's team name is the Bumblebees, I think Dan is just happy the colors are black and yellow!

Why buy the professional pictures when you can just sneak in behind the photographer?! We sure are Dutch!!

We think Annika likes to play. However, the first game took a little coaxing. She had two "fastbreaks" but both times she kicked the ball a little wide. Ah, well. It's not about the score, it's about having fun, right? Right? Dan said I have to watch my sideline manner. I think I did just fine, I was encouraging! And he's the competitive one in the family! We are hoping for the next Mia Hamm, no pressure or anything.

Caution: Artists at work

I really do like Annika going to afternoon kindergarten. Since the girl likes to sleep in, I figured one more year of lazing around in the morning wouldn't hurt. However, with Landon still taking a morning nap we don't get out of the house too much. (Hence, the lack of blog fodder). Landon gets up from nap around 10, and we have to be at school by 12:15. That's two hours, but in that time Annika needs to get ready and have eaten lunch. Really doesn't leave a lot of time. Add to it that it was raining today, the girls were itching to do something (as was mama-I was looking for something other than them hanging around the kitchen annoying each other!). So we pulled out the paints. I really don't mind painting it's the clean up that I'm not a big fan of.

The masters doing their craft:

The masterpieces! (For you CCS alum, don't you think Miss M. would be proud?)

Meanwhile, where was Landon?! Making his own work of art. He chose Multi-Grain Cheerios as his medium.