The Long and Short of it

My two older sisters and I have had MANY different hairdos through the years.  All three of us have had both long and short hair.  However, I would say through the years I was usually the one with the long hair and Heidi had the short hair.  Jennifer didn't usually have either extreme.  I have always felt more comfortable with long hair and Heidi has never seemed to hesitate chopping hers off.  My theory is that you just feel more comfortable with whatever you had most growing up.  Here is some of the proof-

School Pictures from Alabama. 

Heidi did have long luscious locks in high school, but chopped them off when she went to Utah State.  Here we are posing in my grandparents den late one night.  Pretty dumb.  Another thing is that even though I like long hair, I have always preferred it pulled back.  I think during grade school I pretty much never wore my hair down. It was braids or pony's all the way for me.  Even now I will wear it down to go out but the minute I get home it is up in a bun!

Heidi at Jennifer's wedding reception.  She was so stylin' with this chic cut.

The five of us-Heidi with her short hair, Jennifer with her shoulder length locks, and me buying into the "bigger is better" for as long as I can. 

My Senior Commencement with my mom and Heidi. (They were chaperons?) You might not think that Heidi's look is too stylin' here, however, trust me, she was.  I just watched "Sleepless in Seattle" a couple weeks ago.  Remember Tom Hanks wife that died?  She looks just like this picture of Heidi!  Big shoulder pads, dress with no shape, and the hair-same thing!  Go watch it.  You will get a kick out of all the old hair styles in that movie.  I just didn't think it came out so long ago until I watched it again.  How is that possible? PS Mom, your hair is looking pretty hot too. 

Almost ten years ago...

I stole this from Heidi, this is at Michael and Carly's wedding. 

Heidi right before moving to Arizona.  

A squinty picture of us at my Grandma Milligan's funeral.  Man, I wish I had the pics of Heidi with SUPER short hair.  Can't find them. It was WAY short for quite a few years. 

I cut my hair to my shoulders a few years back, but for the past year I have done nothing.  No color, no cut.  Mostly just because I was lazy, not really any big plan. 

 

Anyway, so you get the idea.  I mostly have had long hair, Heidi has mostly had short hair.  I have been wanting to  have a pixie cut since back in the early 90's when Gwyneth Paltrow was dating Brad Pitt and did it.  I just always wanted to be lose weight first or whatever. But, as I said before, this is what I really wanted to do-

So after lots of vanity shots in the mirror, should I?  Should I not? 

I took a final picture of me with long hair, and headed out the door to get it cut. 

The stylist took this one...."Are you SURE, she said."  

Chop Chop

 I don't know why I forgot that you can push that little switch button and take a self portrait.  You don't have to hold up your iphone to a mirror.  But here is a side-type shot. This is really not even a good picture.  

Here is what I posted on Facebook, and luckily I got A LOT of kind responses and people were really supportive.  

Which was great since the response from my kids was slighty less enthusiastic. Lots of running, hiding and ducking behind things to shield me from their view.  

"Mom, YOU RUINED YOUR LIFE!"  

"Please, don't come volunteer in my class tomorrow."

"WHY didn't you listen to me?!  I told you not to do it."  

"I don't even KNOW you anymore." 

"You look like Ellen." 

"That does NOT look good."  

"I miss your old hair." 

"How long will it take to grow out?"  

"I talked to so-and-so and their whole family hates it."  

"I can't even look at you."  

"Do you think it will be grown out by my High School graduation?"

Okay, you get the point.  However, honestly, it didn't bother me a bit.  I know that is how kids are (especially boys).  This is what I wrote about it on Facebook. 

"I don't even know you now. Who are you? You ruined

 your life. " -son #3 Thanks for the unconditional love 

peeps. I have some serious drama kings on my hands.

The day AFTER the cut was a little scary.  I COULD NOT do my hair.  Luckily I had a great short-haired friend come to the rescue and told me I HAD to get this stuff-

And she was right. And so I survived, and I am even liking it. 

Will I grow it back?  Probably.  It is like my BFF told me once, when I was contemplating the cut.

You could pull it off, but your personality (and mine) 

screams hot rollers or pink sponge curlers all the way.

 In my heart of hearts I know she is right. I am just a pink roller type of a gal.  And plus, with short hair I can't have my nieces play with my hair and do things like this-

 Maybe I will tell the boys that if they play with my hair for an hour a day I will grow it back.  Ah, ha!  That is a sweet plan.  We shall see.  In the meantime....NO REGRETS!  You only live once and it hs been fun. Oh, and one more thing....both of my sisters have long hair right now.  Even the "short-haired" one.  You can check out her post about all this here.

Axel is here & a late Christmas Reviewe

Congratulations to Cade, Michele and Presley on their new little baby boy and our new cousin-

Axel Dane Bogren

Isn't he sweet?

I know that Christmas seems like a lifetime ago, but this is my scrapbook, so here is a quick recap of Christmas Day.

They actually slept in a little...that is one area that we trained them well.  :)

Such a great age, when absolutely love everything they open. 

I appreciate when at this age, they still act like they like everything.  :)  "Thanks for this sweet pillow, Santa!"

Michael was happy about this one...

This is not a great picture, but it wraps up Ryan over the holidays.  Miserable with all his cankers.  He has been taking a prescription to prevent them and his life has changed dramatically!

You never know which gifts the kids will like the best, and I bet Santa didn't know that this robe would be a favorite!

Sophie mostly just went around scoring as much candy as she could find!

After opening everything from Santa, we headed into the kitchen for Christmas Breakfast.

(Joshua is having his Mountain Dew with Breakfast, nice.)

It was then back to gifts, opening each others sibling gifts.  This is one of my favorite things. 

It was then a quick rush to Grandma's house for Turkey Dinner.  Yum.  It snowed all day on Christmas Eve, and made it a perfect White Christmas!

"Over the river and through the woods, to Grandmother's house we go..."

 Christmas is always relaxing and low key, we can all finally take a deep breath and relax from all the hoop-la of the season.  

(Joshua, Abigail, and Uncle Michael)

Uncle David, Sadie, and Joshua-we are so relaxed Joshua never changed out of his PJ's for dinner. 

Grandma and I didn't plan this...but we were total twins all day.  I had to include an action shot because all the posed shots I had were hideous.  I didn't wear make up that day, and in pictures it shows.  :)  

Thanks for keeping all the little ones entertained with games, Aunt Carly!

Now that I have recorded all of Christmas, it is officially over!

Lessons I promise to learn for Christmas next year:

1.  Be done with shopping Dec. 1st

2.  Don't wait until the last day of school to send teacher gifts, send them early in the season

3.  Have cards READY to go, by first week December

4.  Plan ahead for neighbor gifts and deliver early

5.  Forget all my Thanksgiving decorating.  I am joining the rest of the world and starting my Christmas Decoration in November.  I want to have it up and enjoyed by December 1st. 

Next year I want to enjoy the REASON FOR THE SEASON, not be rush, rush, rushing.  

I did a little better this year, but lots of room for improvement.  Getting all the rushing done in the early months, makes for a December to enjoy!  

I WILL RE-READ this next September!

Sophie is TWO!

 While downloading the pictures from Sophie's birthday I realized I did pull out my camera for a minute in Park City.

These guys had a lot of fun in their fort. 

Ryan spent a lot of time working. 

Anne performing, "Ooh, La, La, La, Ooh, La, La La" from the movie "School of Rock". 

Onto the birthday-

The morning of her birthday Grandma and Grandpa stopped by early to drop off a gift for Sophie since they were leaving town. 

It is fun to see when they start to "get" the whole present thing. 

She was pretty excited!

My mom has gotten all the grand daughters a Bitty Baby for their second birthday and it was just what Sophie wanted! 

Photos shoot with Grandpa.  

After we said Goodbye, Sophie wanted the party to continue.  (Or was it Annie?  I think she was just as excited.)  I let her open her gifts sent from Nana and Papa.  She got this cute little high chair for her new doll. 

She also got a doll carrier to hold her doll when on-the-go. 

Thank you, Nana and Papa!  (And thanks from all the other kids for the yummy candy and gifts you sent them!)

 She got this cute top from us for her Birthday but she wanted to pair it with a skirt and one rainbow leg warmer along with her snow boots. Since it was her birthday, I  went with it.  Inside I was worried...I think I have another Annie on my hands.  

She was pretty grumpy.

I went to go help in Michael's classroom. It was right about the time she needed a nap, but she actually did well.  It was fun to see Michael and her together.  He was so proud of her. 

Ryan was out of town for her birthday.  That night we had a million things going, so we decided to do the whole cake and ice cream thing when her favorite person (Dad) got back in town.  The highlight of the evening was getting to play with her cousins Emmaline and Isabelle and opening this fabulous gift from Aunt Heidi. 

I don't know why I didn't capture what was inside the box.  It was the cutest dress you have ever seen. I will have to take a picture of her wearing it.  Thanks, Aunt Heidi! 

After reading my cousins blog post here, I knew I better get a picture of Sophie and I together.  I do have one from her last birthday and I love it.  This one from the iphone didn't turn out so great.  But, I will take what I can get!

Last year-

While we are at it, here is the real birthday, isn't she such a chunk!  

Happy Birthday, Sophie Rose!  You are a beam of joy in our home.  We love you!