Ponytail

Caroline got her first ponytail this week! She's never been patient enough for more than a quick brush and a bow or barrette. I was able to distract her with a toothbrush and running water. I've got to learn to be much quicker. I think she liked it. She kept checking herself out in the mirror and giggling.

Little Matisse

Happy Valentine's Day!

Flowers, 'fraidy holes, and flashlights

I did a flower arrangement for our Tuesday morning women's Bible study and it was a huge success. And now I get to enjoy it... I love the pink tulips!


Not too long after we were first married, a storm came through Memphis. I told Kevin we needed to decide on a 'fraidy hole. He had no idea what I was talking about. My parents grew up in Oklahoma and were very familiar with storm shelters. So that's what I grew up calling the place where you take cover during bad weather. I remember one visit to Oklahoma when I was little where we all went down to the 'fraidy hole in the middle of the night. My Boompa stood in the doorway of the garage watching the storm blow. Mom said not to worry - he only came down when it got really bad. He didn't come down that night. He was such a funny man.

So we used our 'fraidy hole last night for the first time since living here. I don't, as a general rule, go down to our basement. It's unfinished and kind of creepy and all I can imagine are the huge spiders lurking behind the water heater. Luck would have it that Kevin did a major clean out of some of the leftover junk in the basement a week ago. I have to say that it was quite nice down there (relatively speaking) and I've never been so thankful for our little 'fraidy hole. The whole basement adventure was great fun for Caroline and Tigger.

While in the 'fraidy hole, Kevin introduced me to the most fantastic of all flashlights (our electricity was out for about 5 hours). It's a Sears Craftsman 19.2 Volt fluorescent flashlight. If you don't have one, you need one. Just on the off-chance you need a really bright flashlight. This thing is awesome. It's as bright as the noon-day sun. I'm not kidding. I was knitting by the light of this thing. And not big, bulky yarn - little, tiny baby yarn. Apparently this super flashlight was part of a tool kit I got for Kevin for Christmas. (Yay, me!)

Jump

Yep. I let Caroline jump on the bed. The bed is good for more than jumping - tickling, rolling, snuggling, turning sommersaults, playing naptime. It provides about 30 solid minutes of entertainment - for both of us.

Tickle, tickle

Random facts

Lori "tagged" me to list 7 random things about me. It took me a while to come up with these...

1. I do Sudoku. Often. I love it. I hate when I have to ask Kevin to help me. I'll stare at a puzzle for hours before I do.
   
2. I have recurring nightmares about my teeth being loose or falling out. It's terrifying.
3. I still hold a grudge against our high school valedictorian. He cheated off my calculus final exam.
4. Heaven for me is nothing short of a hot, buttered slice of homemade bread. It's even better if it's French bread.
5. Socks at my house should never go into the washer wadded and inside out. The same goes for most shirts and pants. Ask Kevin what happens if I find them in the dryer that way.
6. If you want to know what I'm doing Tuesdays at 9pm, I'm watching Nip/Tuck. (OK - 9:30. DVR has changed my life!)
7. I have a horrible sense of direction. I am scared to drive anywhere I've never been. I have to have very explicit instructions for getting places.