Curly Girl

So...  For all your girls out there with curly hair...  I found the solution!!!  As I was just browsing in Barnes & Noble, I stumbled upon a book called Curly Girl Handbook by Lorraine Massey.  First I picked it up & started reading because I am ALWAYS looking for ways to manage Lauryn's hair.  I think we have tried every single hair style, stylist, permanent straighteners, non-frizz or for-curly-hair shampoo & conditioner on the market.  We have spent a lot of money to always find the same result - frizz.  So I found the book to be very interesting, but thought, "Why would I ever buy a book on managing hair?"  So, I put it down & kept walking around.  But, there I was 5 minutes later... back to reading more in the book.  Now I'm to the point where I am carrying the book around (but still not going to buy it) while I check other books out.  So at the last minute I decide to buy the book.  Well, it has turned out to be the BEST self-help book I have ever invested in!  Lauryn & I both spent time reading the book & talking about ways to manage her hair.  So, I searched the web to find where I could buy the type of products she talked about in her book & went out & bought them the next day.  Here we are a week later & THRILLED with the results!  For the past 2 years I have straightened Lauryn's hair pretty much every day.  It takes us a half hour to straighten!  Let me tell you, that's not always fun to do every day before school!  But now with the new results that we are getting, Lauryn is embracing her curls & wearing it curly.  It is a.d.o.r.a.b.l.e!  I would kill to have her curls!  But now that she has learned how to manage it & get rid of the frizz, she is loving the curls too.  I had to post before & after pictures.  Keep in mind that the before picture is from over a year ago (while on vacation without a straightener) because that is probably the last time she would go without it straightened.

Our Life in Pictures

Wow, I have NO idea where time went?  As we get busier & busier, I have more & more to blog & share, but less time to do it.  So, to wrap up the last few months, I am posting some of our favorite pictures & I'll give a quick update for each. 

The next 3 pictures are what have consumed us since October & will keep consuming us until March.  Both Lauryn & Zach made the traveling basketball teams, & Sean is still playing house league until he is old enough to try out for traveling.  Every single weekend consists of at least 7 basketball games.  We've had some fun traveling to further places & spending time with the other families.  All 3 kids are loving it & we've heard no complaints about it getting old! 

The next picture was a special night for Sean - when he made his First Reconciliation.  What a wonderful achievement.  We are so excited for this Spring, when he gets to make his First Communion too!  Sean was so cute & nervous before he actually made his confession to the priest.  He told me that he "couldn't wait to go & get rid of all the sins that were in his body!"  As a mother, I don't even want to know... :)  

And here the kids are frosting our Christmas cookies.  I had to post this picture because this tends to represent Lauryn well...  TEXTING!

Aw...  What a fun night with friends...  During the busy holiday season, we spent a night at the Marriott West & did the Murder Mystery Cafe hotel stay.  It was a hoot!  If you like impromptu shows, this is one to do at some point!  We saw the Holiday Murder show.

I feel like the next 3 pictures deserve a post of their own, but I have to wrap this up as best I can! :(

Zach celebrated his 11th birthday in December!  For Zach's birthday gift this year, we gave him tickets to a Vikings game & a Jared Allen jersey (his all time favorite player).  Well, we all know what happened to the roof at the Dome!  Before we knew where the game would be played & how they would handle tickets, Zach was VERY upset!  This was his dream gift & he did not want to miss it.  So, Jim & Zach braved the cold & snowy weather, bundled up, stood in line for 2 1/2 hours before getting in, & had the times of their lives at the TCF Stadium watching the Vikings play the Bears.  It actually turned out to be an experience of a life time, watching an out-door Vikings game! 

We also had a few boys over for a slumber party & movie night!

And again, the next 4 pictures really deserve their own post too... after all...  It was CHRISTMAS!  I posted each kid's excitement as they opened gifts...

 And the dogs got spoiled too!

And to wrap it up...  We had an amazing New Year's Eve and a great start to 2011.  We decided to spend the day & evening as a family & we had a blast.  First we started the day by going to Elm Creek.  Everyone decided to tube except for Zach.  He decided to try out snowboarding with a buddy.  He liked it but had a scraped up face to show for it!  After Elm Creek, we went to the Wild's Hockey game.  This was the first game the kids had ever been too.  So they were excited & had a great time.  After the hockey game, we went over to a friend's house & hung out as families.  It was very relaxing & an enjoyable welcome to 2011!

Hope all our friends & family had a blessed Christmas & a wonderful New Year!