Just a Little off the Top?

Somehow, we got the idea that Henry needed a haircut. It was getting a little shaggy. Normally, we just take him to Poik's and that's it. But we decided that in these economic times that maybe a good way to save $12 every three months would be to do the haircuts ourselves. I volunteered my barber services for this experimental procedure. Momma quickly realized it was an event that needed to be documented for a number of reasons and grabbed the camera.

Back in the late 1980s, I used to shave lightning bolts and such into the heads of friends in the name fashion and team spirit, so I figured I was up to the task. Besides, I had seen this done many, many times. I know that people who cut hair for a living kinda hold the hair in between their fingers and cut uniform lengths off. See below? I thought I had it. Apparently, there's more to it than that. I now know that I lack the patience and vision of a barber or hairstylist. Henry isn't even four yet and he realized that this whole operation was SNAFU from the beginning...

It wasn't long before I resorted to the clippers.

By this time my I was basically in sheep shearing mode -- just hold him down and get it done. At this moment Henry wasn't thinking about his new glow in the dark Spiderman undies...

For less than the price of a twelve pack of Pabst Blue Ribbon YOU can prevent this abomination of decency. Donate NOW to the Henry James Hair Fund.

We told him he looked really awesome but he was self conscious about it -- enough so that he refused to take of his stocking cap for dance class. He seems to have adjusted to now. And he takes pride in that he now looks like a ringer for his cousin Eli.

Henry is like a little marauding bear in the kitchen pantry. He has an uncanny ability to nose out unhealthy snacks. I swear we do dress the kids every day.

We got this beautiful little rocking horse from Great Grandma Evi. Both of the kids have already taken a liking to it. Violet rides it like a cute toddler would. Henry rides it like a rented mule.

Violet had her 18 month checkup a few weeks ago. She tipped the scales at 25.02 pounds (52%) and is 35 inches tall (99%). I don't recall her exact head circumference measurement but it was 74%. She now wears a men's size 9 sneaker. Just kidding about the last part but she is growing so fast. Overall, it appears that she is destined to be a tall and skinny knockout with a slightly larger than average head circumference... just like her momma. Violet and momma enjoy painting their toenails and doing facial masks.

Violet's vocabulary is growing so fast. She says "baba boo" for Grandpa Bruce. She is also learning to climb onto the dining room chairs and stools in the kitchen.

I finally found Violet a nice outfit from a thrift store ($10 at Unique Thrift on Rice and Larpentuer). It's insulated and really ornate. A little bit more than I would normally spend on a kids outfit but I thought it was ok. This one is called "Crouching Tiger".

Since she started wearing her new outfit she has learned to avoid Henry's quick sword strikes with simple, efficient movements and mind power.

Dad was gone last week on the annual spearing / ice fishing trip (34 below!). Henry took over as man of the house and slept on the threshold of our bedroom to protect momma from intruders.