Pigtails

I always thought that pigtails referred to braids, but Bob says it means "two ponytails". Either way, Parker's new favorite hairstyle is two ponytails. She finally has enough hair to wear it that way too. I think she looks adorable like this! But try to imagine me trying to get her crazy wavy cowlick-y hair not only parted, but up into ponytails while she wiggles all around excited about going to school. We are usually late on two ponytail day.

One of the benefits of letting her laundry pile up is that when I finally wash it all, Parker likes to help put the dresses on hangers. She'll sit and methodically hang dresses until she goes through the entire pile. She likes hanging them in her closet too.

In the Christmas Spirit

Last week Parker got to put up her own little Christmas tree. We got it for her last year, and she liked it, but this year she LOVES it. She has really enjoyed decorating it, and she's very proud of it - any time a friend comes over, she takes them and shows them her tree immediately. And every morning, or when we return home from somewhere, she requests that I turn the lights on.

Also notice the outfit she picked out herself:
A short sleeve Easter-themed shirt
A skirt w/ strawberries on it
sparkly shoes from her Halloween costume
headband w/ glittery beads
and the additions (my choice) to keep her from freezing: leggings, long sleeve shirt underneath, and socks. That's nearly a whole load of laundry on one kid!

Man a-loose

Dangerous neighborhood we live in.
About a month ago, our phone rang, and it was 9-11 calling us!

Turns out a prison trustee had run off from a work release detail that was clearing brush just across the lake from our neighborhood. They played a recorded message telling us to stay indoors and lock everything up, etc. If I had that info earlier, I might have spent less time standing outside watching the police helicopter circle overhead. They caught the guy a few days later in a neighboring town.

And, we've gotten warnings from the neighborhood association lately about not only coyotes, but bobcats prowling around! We are being warned to keep an eye on our shitzus so they aren't a tasty meal for the local wildlife.

Shoes glorious shoes