Birthday, Dinosaur Poop, and a Haircut

So yesterday marked another year of my life passing by.  This past year has seen a lot of change and I'm so excited to see what this next year holds for me and the family.  Since we are still adjusting to one income and also trying to conserve money for if James is accepted into med school, I didn't want elaborate birthday gifts.  I received a coupon in the mail from the jewelry store we bought our wedding set from.  It was for a free pearl bracelet with the "I AM LOVED" charm attached.  Perfect!  It was definitely within our budget and would require James to plan ahead and go into Wichita to get it.  I set the coupon on the piano and reminded him of it earlier this week.  Now normally, I would keep track of it and notice if it was missing.  I must be slacking because I had no idea when it was no longer where I put it!  James' schedule hadn't changed; he didn't mysteriously work late one night or was away at the store for a long period of time so I thought that maybe he forgot about it.  Mentally, I was trying not to be disappointed if he hadn't went to get it, but it was a battle. 

I walked into the kitchen to get the kiddos breakfast and on the counter, there was a container of chocolate cupcakes with buttercream frosting and a birthday message from James written on the container.  But on top of the cupcake container, there was the red jewelry box with the bracelet inside! It was a wonderful surprise.  When did he go get it?  How could I have not noticed?  James finally told me that he left work early one day this week and went into Wichita.  I felt honored that he would take the time to surprise me with it.

The kiddos were super great yesterday.  On their own, they decided to sing "Happy Birthday" to me or as Samara sang it loud repeatedly, "Appy to You".  The boys kept calling me the Birthday girl and would come over to me and give me hugs and kisses for no reason.  We had a cupcake snack in the morning; don't you just love the face of a kiddo who just ate a chocolate cupcake?  Even George behaved himself!

My family called and sang "Happy Birthday"; I also received birthday cards in the mail.  On Facebook, I can't begin to count the number of "friends" who sent birthday wishes.  The bracelet said exactly how I felt...I AM LOVED!  It was truly an awesome birthday.

Now, I'm sure you're wondering, what is up with the Dinosaur Poop.  Well, it was nap time and I was finishing putting dinner in the crock pot.  I told Samara to head upstairs and I would be up in just a minute.  Ok, maybe it turned out to be 2 or 3 minutes, but it was a very short time later, I went upstairs.  She was in the bathroom shouting, "POOP!"  "YAY!".  I naturally thought that she went poop like a big girl.  But instead she had her pink dinosaur on the floor, wiping its bottom and a huge amount of toilet paper in the toilet.  She was so proud of her dinosaur.  So I ask you, if the dinosaur can poop in the toilet, why can't she?

At long last, this morning Samara went for her first haircut.  Seeing how she hardly had any hair until about 6 months ago, she really didn't need one until recently.  She was very apprehensive about it because she doesn't like her hair played with (although she loves to play with other people's hair).  James seemed a little nervous, too, because he likes long hair and I prefer short hair.  But, I think little girls should have longer hair so after teasing him a little that she would come back with a boy hair cut, I promised him that she was just going to have a trim, but keep most of her length.  On the way there, Samara was saying that it would "huwt" (hurt), I told her that it was fun and I loved to get my hair cut.  Her reply was "Ooh" and her attitude immediately changed.  Normally, there's at least a 30 minute wait so I packed juice and books to keep her preoccupied.  To my surprise and delight, we were able to get right in.  Samara did awesome!  She didn't move at all and did exactly what she was told to do.  There were a few smiles on her face during the cut, too.  When her bangs were being cut, her eyes got huge, but she stayed very still.  The cosmetologist said Samara was the best 2 year old she had ever had.  Really was there any doubt that she wouldn't be?   Cute girl with cute hair.