Picture Day

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Originally uploaded by Freakrn

Today was picture day at school which means that my house turned into a beauty parlor/hair salon/day spa/dressing room. Ro's hair is great if just left to it's own curl craze - however today - she wanted it picture perfect. It took fifteen minutes of scrunching, TiGi Curls Rock and gliter spray.

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Originally uploaded by Freakrn

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Originally uploaded by Freakrn

She wouldn't stop fidgeting. Meanwhile - Natalie was on her own - and happy to be so cause she didn't want her hair "poofed." That wasn't her style!

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Originally uploaded by Freakrn

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Originally uploaded by Freakrn

Yes - that is me - not looking glamourous. But - I was giong to go run after the HAIR SPRAYING was done.....

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Originally uploaded by Freakrn

Meanwhile - Natalie is done! (And she is my high maintenence one) she was going with the simple sleek look (she told me). She was busy practicing her smile in the mirror. (whatever - Norm was going through the medicine cabinet looking for a valium - which we have none???? I have nothing stronger than tylenol/motrin in my house.

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Originally uploaded by Freakrn

And we continued to poof......

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Originally uploaded by Freakrn

And sprayed...................

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Originally uploaded by Freakrn

and poofed.......................

and scrunched...........

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Originally uploaded by Freakrn

For the final product - Belinda and Heather would be proud!

The finished product

Well - what can I say. We make plans, vow to keep up our blog and then..... LIFE happens. What I promised was pictures of the girls finished room! What I delivered was nothing. The girls came home the day after the scrapbook expo and I haven't seen my computer long enough to send emails much less blog. (LOL)

Without further ado - is the final product. (And I apologize in advance, some of the pictures are blurry)


Yes I know that it is upside down. This past weekend - while everyone was enjoying labor day (or the lack of work) - we were pulling the hard drive out of our computer. Yes - after ten re-formats the hard drive finally took the big dive......... What's on my camera now is stuck on my camera. I currently type on my mac...... But here is the dresser we re-did. We put it in the closet and I tried to make it look GIRLY...... the tulle is what they used as wraps in a wedding they were flower girls in last year...


Socks all in once place and every bag they have claimed as theirs as well - and they are not on the floor!!!!!!!!



The redone desk and new curtains....... They also have a hanging shelf unit from IKEA with each box filled to the rim with toys......



Yes - my girls could literally open their own library or book store - but I would rather that bookshelf be full of books than video games...... Many were books that I started buying when I was pregnant with Natalie and Rowan. Those books are special to them.



This is a picture of the room in the mid afternoon here in the windy city. The room has an orange glow to it that makes it look very retro. When they opened the door to their room they both jumped up and down and screamed shrilly cheers of laughter. What can I say - Rowan benefited from Natalie's big birthday gift - but Natalie didn't even notice.


Then the beds..... New sheets...... new comforter.... new pillows.... a bulletin board I embellished for each girl and lights attached to the bed for them to use when they are reading into the wee hours of the night. (A far cry from me using a flashlight when I was a kid.....) Again - gotta love IKEA.


Norm's major purchase from IKEA..... a stand alone closet (meant for a dorm room I am sure) but perfect for theirs. In it are school uniforms, toys, craft projects and other interesting items that now have a place tucked away......



This would be the red headed curly child that benefited from Natalie's birthday gift - but deserved a new room as well. She is the top bunk and proudly proclaims she needs no ladder to get to her bed. She's my monkey.... she has been climbing since she could crawl....

Fortunately Orthopedics has not been a consult we have had to visit.... facial lac repair yes (but only because I was too tired to repair it myself at home).






There is the birthday girl...... she is the one that inspired the room makeover. Retro warm colors for my first born leader.

She so deserved a girly pre-teen room - and I hope I delivered.

It was so much fun doing..... even the DH admits how fun it was!!!!!

Happy Birthday Baby Girl

Natalie - I have sat at work all day in wonder of how awesome it is that God gave me such a beautiful, talented, smart, independent, discerning, caring, tender, sensitive, strong daughter as you........

I knew from the day I concieved you that you were special and each day you amaze me more.


You are a born leader.....
You have a heart for people's needs.....
You are able to discern right from wrong (and still manage to push the limits when it comes to yourself)
You are tender and compassionate but strong and firm when needed.....
You are level headed and precise in how you carry out your day.....
You are so smart and have so many roads and avenues available for you in the future...
You are artistic and creative.....
You are vulnerable.....
You are strong.....
You are quiet and serene.....
You are a gale force wind - a storm to not be reckoned with.....
You know what you want and you don't stop till you get it.....
You are passionate and in charge.....

You are developing in to a most beautiful woman of God....

But most of all.....

Your sister looks up to you......
I look up to you......

Happy Birthday my beautiful child of God!!!!

What happened on Aug 7 1997 at 0340?

They say it's your birthday......

Happy Birthday to you.......

Today my baby girl steps from single digits to (gasp, pick me up off the ground) double digits. Today my baby girl is TEN!

Happy birthday Natalie Leona! I love you so very much!

Who is this person?

WHO IS THIS PERSON?


IS it Bertha Palmer?



Or is it my BABY GIRL dressed up as Bertha Palmer for her PRESENTATION at school today?


Bless Natalie's little heart.......


She had to do a research project on someone famous in Chicago. She picked Bertha Palmer.......


As a part of her presentation she had to BE Bertha Palmer. Her daddy took her to the costume store and this is the end result. I heard her presentation went well. I was barred from coming to it (even though I could now...)

They grow up SO fast!