While Russ Was Away....

 We kept busy. Here is some of what we did.

Fort building. Dallin would have it up all day, every day if I let him. He played it all day.

 I got my necklace that I bought with that gift certificate my mom won and gave me.  Dallin thinks it is his and wore it all weekend until he broke off and lost one of the jump rings. Oh well. Easy fix.

Dallin played "travel" for two days straight. He would "fly" to see Grandma and then home to see Mom and go to church. The only days there were was Sunday and Monday. Luckily he doesn't get to really make that true. Who wants only Sundays and Mondays over and over?

 We made a glitter jar he has been wanting since his friend made one. I finally got got the stuff to do it.

He's been begging me to make him a specific costume for months now. I finally got the stuff to make it. Can you tell who he is?

 We made bagels. They are the best bagels I have ever made. Better than any I have bought at the grocery store. I don't think I can buy them again. They weren't that hard. Just takes prep time. (You have to start the night before.) There recipe is here* if anyone want to try them.  Dallin and I have pretty much only eaten bagels today. We did save some for Dad when he gets home tonight.

*I didn't have malt syrup or molasses, so I just used dark brown sugar mixed with a little water. Still great!

I also started on making Mother Day gifts since I will be in Utah in March. This way I won't have to send them. Better get going. I need to be at the airport to get Russ in 15 minutes. Oops.

My Mom's A Winner!

There was a FB giveaway from a online store I follow, Boutique Academia.  They make "stuff for geeks with taste." I found them about a year ago and wanted a Fibonacci necklace. The reason is that back when Russ and I first met and he was helping me pass Calculus II (this is after me stalking him for help),  one of the problem I needed help with and had to hardest time getting was Fibonacci sequences. All I remember of it now is it had something to do with bunnies and it made no sense. When I saw this beautiful necklace with the graphic representation of Fibonacci's sequence, I wanted it, a little reminder of when we met.

Now to the "winner" part. The necklace was $25 plus shipping, and a poor post doc's wife can't just spend that kind of money on jewelry. Boutique Academia had a Facebook giveaway for a $20 gift certificate. I got an extra entry by sharing the giveaway with friends on FB, so I did. My mom decided to enter too, and she won! She gave me the certificate to get my necklace. Thanks, Mom!!!! I am so excited to get my necklace. My Mom's kindness makes this necklace have even more sentimental value. I'll post pictures when I get it.

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Russ had some job stuff to do in Fort Wayne, IN. Since it is only about 2 hours from us, Dallin and I decided to go. Russ dropped us off at the mall. We found a place to go mini golfing and that is where we spent most of our time. It was one of those cheesy, poorly put together places, but Dallin loved it.

Dallin also loved playing on the ride toys even though I never give him money to ride.

We also played at the playground in the mall.

It was fun. Here are some videos of Dallin golfing.

Winner, Winner Chicken Dinner

Sooooo,  I entered a giveaway at a great blog I follow, Creative Juices Decor.  I won! It's the cute dress in the picture from Shabby Apple. I've always wanted a Shabby Apple dress, but never knew if they would look as good on me as the models. Now I get to find out. I'll let you know once I get it. On another note, who knew Michigan would be so luck for me?  When I first moved here  I won a cookbook,  then this, then this, and now a dress.  I am thinking my luck has run out. Russ isn't so sure. He's asking me to find a contest to enter for a Ford Mustang. :)

Note: I think Dallin is getting the wrong idea about this winning thing, like it is to be expected, like it is a natural part of life.  He doesn't even seemed surprised about it, but that might also be because it is just a dress this time. Nothing for him.

Hazards of Scissors

So, I know some of you have dealt with the hazards of scissors in the fact some little girls have given themselves or each other haircuts.  That isn't a problem with a little boy, but Dallin learned about another hazard. He cut his thumb. It really isn't that bad. He didn't even cry. As a matter of fact, he didn't want me to know because he knew he shouldn't have been playing with scissors. I was brushing my teeth and Dallin came in the bathroom and told me it was his turn in the bathroom and I needed to leave. Thinking it was weird, I went into the front room and found the scissors. I asked him if he cut his shirt and didn't want me to know. He sadly held up his thumb with blood on it. He was afraid he was going to get into big trouble, so he was trying to get a band-aid on it on his own.

At first I was actually happy because it is his thumb-sucking thumb. (Great mother, I know.) He can't suck it with the band-aid on. That excitement waned last night when he couldn't seem to get relaxed to be able to fall asleep. He was exhausted, but couldn't relax. I think it was not having the thumb to suck. A couple times I thought he was drifting off and his thumb went to his mouth and he was wide awake when he realized he couldn't suck it. After 2 1/2 hours of sending him back to bed, reading to him, snuggling him, singing to him, and finally ignoring him, I finally let him crawl into bed with me. At this point it was almost 11 and Russ and I were going to bed. I moved him back into his room once he fell asleep.

I am hoping last night was the worst of it. I am hoping he will quickly get use to not having his thumb so that he will be free of the habit. I'm crossing my fingers.

Tennis

We had talked to Dallin about taking a tennis class about a year ago and he was really excited, but we never got him signed up for it. Either we had missed the deadline, we would be in Utah for some weeks, or we were doing other activities. I finally got him sign up. His first class was today. It went way better than the crying episodes he had during tumbling or the running away at soccer. I think he actually liked it. He listened (most of the time. There was some twirling around and dancing with the racquet) and participated in all the drills without me standing right next to him. That is a big deal. He tried to drag me out at the beginning, so I walked him out to the court, but once they got started he couldn't have cared less that I went to sit back down. Hope the next 5 weeks go as well. Sorry that the pictures aren't very good. He had his back to me most of the time.

To cut, or not to cut,....

that is the question: Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer....

OK, enough of that. I am having hair debates. Lame, I know, but I need opinions. 

Keep it long?

 Or cut it short again?

Please let me know.  I am even so lame as to make a opinion poll. Please vote! Thank you for your support in my research. Polls will be open till Feb 12th (Only because my next hair cut appointment is the 13th) :)