Random Acts of Kindness Week

Every other year, around Valentine's Day, Brooke donates her hair to Locks of Love and has done so three times already. This year is no exception except that Ashlyn wanted to do it, too.

They've talked about it for many weeks and Ashlyn really wanted to give her hair for those in need.

We went to see Julia today. Madison got a trim, Ashlyn and Brooke donated. We were at the salon for the long haul.

This is Ashlyn's first real hair cut and she loved being pampered.

A client in the chair next to ours was so moved by what the girls were doing, especially seeing little Ashlyn sitting in the chair getting her long gorgeous locks chopped, that she nearly cried. Julia heard on the radio this morning that it's Random Acts of Kindness Week - well what a perfect thing! Although this is not too random, it is still certainly an act of kindness.

The client left when she was done, only to return a few minutes later with a box of Bundtlets from Nothing Bundt Cakes. She said she wanted to do a Random Act of Kindness for our girls, too. Now that's random! What a nice lady.

I said we were in for the long haul . . . Christian brought a chapter book to start, and finished it, so was then entertained with my phone. He had enough of the girl stuff.

Although Madison was treated to a wash, trim, and blow dry, she luckily brought a book for the last hour.

Don't they look so cute?

Brooke has now donated 40 inches of her gorgeous hair! That's a total of 90 inches from our family in the past six 1/2 years.

Good job, girls!

A Little Weekend Get-a-Way

As a birthday gift for John, his parents offered to watch the kids for a weekend. Considering his birthday was two months ago, and our weekends are only getting more filled, we decided to seize the day and get out of dodge. We stayed pretty local, not wanting to waste our precious time driving; we booked a Marriott in Santa Monica right by the pier.

We were walking distance to 3rd Street, where the street performers are a'plenty.

We at at a delish restaurant called True Foods and felt energized and healthy afterwards.

We felt so energized, we were able to ride our bikes for 15 miles up and down the coast. It was beautiful. Between the pier and Venice Beach there is a giant skate park where people of all ages were showing their skills.

One of the perks of having John's Elite Marriott status is that they give you an in-room treat which could be a few different things including a pint of ice cream. Instead of just sending up one thing of ice cream, they had room service bring us a whole service, which was beautiful and fancy. Perfect for enjoying while snuggling up watching a movie.

On our way home, we stopped at a new restaurant that was recommended to me called The Counter. Holy cow, yes, that's my burger. And I wasn't even hungry!

I wish we could have these little escapes once a month, or at least once a quarter.

Or how 'bout right now?

It's Great to Be Eight!

When you turn eight, you get to celebrate

in many different ways!

There's grandma's house:

And birthday morning at home with your favorite breakfast:

And a lunch treat with mom and dad at school:

And the birthday fairy visits:

And Master Yoo has the whole studio sing:

And you get to go out to dinner with your family wherever you choose:

And you get presents! 8-year old boys get a Cub Scout uniform:

And a matching shirt with cousin Benjamin! It's a tradition. Can't wait to see him so they can be twins:

And you get to have a birthday party. A Star Wars party at that. You even get to dress up:

And your sisters will dress up too, to help with the party:

Lots of friends will come:

And go on full attack with light sabers:

And can do this for hours

And hours because they are boys with light sabers.

Pin the light saber on the Jedi:

Eat Han Burgers:

Destroy the death star pinata:

And have ice cream cake:

Eight year old boys get to make a wish and blow out their candles, but have to hurry before their little sister does:

Lots of little Jedis-in-training eating:

And crowding around for presents:

Birthday kids always get a special dinner date with mom and dad:

After all this, you'd think one little boy would be done celebrating his birthday, but ...

That's not all folks,

there's more to come . . .

that's why its great to be eight!