Hey, You Look Like...

This is my FB profile pic. It is pretty much how I look now. My hair is a little longer and I need to get in for a haircut and some highlights to cover those pesky gray hairs. Well, let me clarify those two sentences. It is pretty much how I look now IF I have had a shower, washed my hair, fixed my hair, put on makeup and waited for my husband to find the right lighting and setting to take a picture that wouldn't show my wrinkles and brown spots from too much tanning in the 80's. Ok now that I've cleared that up, we can continue.
Sunday at church an elderly lady stopped me and said, "Oh my! You look like Ali McGraw." I smiled and told her thank you. I wasn't exactly sure who Ali McGraw was, but I had a vague idea. This is her in Love Story with Ryan O'Neal.

However, Ali McGraw is now 71 years old. I'm not sure if the lady at church was referring to the Love Story Ali McGraw or this Ali McGraw.

Yikes! Maybe I need to call my hair stylist today and make an appointment for a haircut AND a facial or botox or something.

Well, that got me thinking about that age old icebreaker questions: Has anyone ever told you that you look like a famous person and if so who?

So I thought I'd share.

I've been told I look like two famous people at different times in my life. I had never gotten the Ali McGraw comment until Sunday.

First, Winnie Cooper from The Wonder Years. My students used to tell me this alot. Possibly to annoy me or possibly because they thought it was true. Here's Winnie and here's a picture from when I taught school. You decide. (Why, yes those were floral patterned linen shorts. Still not sure how I got away with wearing those to school. Maybe because I wore hose with them. Ahhhhhh. What was I thinking????)

When I did computer software training right after Kevin and I got married, I taught different groups of people every day. Several people in different classes told me they thought I looked like Ashley Judd. My hair was shorter then and I think she had recently starred in a couple of popular movies. Here's Ashley and here's me about that time. (This was back before kids when we actually went to fancy parties and got to dress up).

Meh. I don't see Winnie or Ashley when I look in the mirror... except maybe when I don't have my contacts in (did I mention I am legally blind without them???).

There's also a local news reporter here who happens to be the mom of another kindergartner in Fletcher's class at school. I've had several people at church and at school tell me I look like her, but I don't see it. Neither does Kevin. Plus, she's not exactly famous and might think it is weird if she found her picture on my blog so I'll skip her.

What about you? Has anyone told you that you look like a famous person? If so, who?

Faces

We have a few books with pictures of kids showing different emotions. I pulled out the camera to see what Luke would do when I said certain words. He was very cooperative, but wanted to see himself on the camera display after each picture. What did we do before digital cameras?

"Pretty smile" for the camera

Silly

Happy

Grumpy

Excited

Mad

Surprised

All done.

I took Luke to the doctor last week. He had this weird rash all over his body. At first I thought it was a reaction to something he ate or maybe something he came in contact with, but then it got worse. The doc said it was something called pityriasis rosea. Apparently, it can be common after a virus (Luke had strep throat a few weeks ago). It is usually very itchy. Thankfully, it hasn't seemed to bother Luke too much. But the doctor said it can last for 6-10 weeks. His starts to look better then gets worse again.

Who Needs Drivers Ed?

Fletcher recently had a little incident at school where some of the kids including Fletcher were in an area they were not supposed to go during recess. Fletcher claims that he "only went halfway" just to tell them to come back. Of course, we had the long talk about obedience and boundaries and how he is to tell a teacher if someone is being unsafe and not to handle it on his own.

I was still a little unsure exactly where the kids were in relation to the playground so when we drove by Fletcher's school Friday night on the way to dinner, I had Kevin pull in so Fletcher could explain it to us.

Fletcher: S and J were over there by that bush.

Mom: (pointing) Right over there?

Fletcher: Yes.

Mom: And where were you?

Fletcher: I was following at a safe distance.

Kevin: (bursting out laughing)

Mom: (through gritted teeth under my breath) You are not helping.

Mom: Fletcher, we are not talking about your driving abilities...

Just Call Me Martha

We needed a new something(????) for our front door since we took down the giant candy cane from Christmas. I didn't really want a boring wreath (although I have a few of those). I saw a cute idea on another blog and thought I'd try to copy it.

Here is the finished product (please disregard the dirty Crocs on the front porch):

Of course, my project got a little complicated. I am not very crafty and most crafty things I try seem to run into various challenges so I should expect it. Or maybe I should stop trying to do crafty things altogether. I bought a cheap picture frame from Garden Ridge Pottery. The plan was to take the glass out and spray paint the frame. But (there's always a but) in MY frame the glass had been glued in place. I've probably purchased 50+ frames in my lifetime, maybe more. Never once has the glass been glued in place. But of course, the one and only time I need to remove the glass, it is glued very securely in place. Grrrrrr. So my additional step in my craft project involved a hammer and broken glass. I probably should have used wire ribbon too since my bow making skills are a little lacking.

Since I am from Louisiana and the Saints are going to the Super Bowl (!!!!!), I think this project would look cute in Saints colors with a fleur de lis instead of an initial. Or a heart and red, white and pink colors for Valentines Day. The possibilities are endless. Maybe I should start my own business.

Or maybe not.

Two Bits, Four Bits

Fletcher is playing in a kindergarten basketball league this season. The boys play on half court with lowered goals. I have to say that after the first few practices, I was wondering if we had made the right decision. Trying to run while dribbling is hard for five and six year olds. Blocking, passing, and shooting while running and dribbling seemed almost impossible. However, I am amazed at their progress over the last few weeks.

Video disclaimer: I was holding Luke in my lap (so he wouldn't run on to the court) while I was filming so the quality is not that great. I hope to get some better footage near the end of the season to mark his progress. Fletcher did make three baskets during this game, but of course, I didn't get any of those on video much to Fletcher's disappointment.

Their "league" has four teams. This was the first time the coordinator called out their names and let them run to the middle of the court before the game started. Can you tell Fletcher thought this was the coolest thing ever?


Please note #5 on the opposing team. That boy knows what his job is and he is very serious about it. I have to laugh when I see these kids. To me Fletcher is just a normal kindergartner. I forget that he is and has always been in the 98th + percentile for height so he towers over some of the other kindergartners in this league.


My Mother of the Year Moment: After about the third practice I was wondering why Fletcher seemed to be slipping and falling on the court. At first, I thought he was doing it on purpose just being silly. But then I looked at the bottom of his tennis shoes. His tennis shoes that he has worn daily since the first day of school back in August. There was no tread. None. They were completely smooth. He might as well have been wearing socks to play. I felt terrible. Needless to say, that day I ordered basketball shoes for him. He is convinced they make him run faster and jump higher.

Three Things - Rachel

Well, I guess it would be weird if I covered everyone else and their "Three Things" and didn't do my own. So here goes.

1. I mentioned that I did Beth Moore's Esther Bible study last fall at church. This time I am doing Shepherding Your Child's Heart by Ted Tripp. It is interesting so far. The basic thought is that behavior issues are the overflow of heart issues (pride, selfishness, unkindess, etc). You can get a child to exhibit correct outward behavior, but if his heart is still prideful, selfish, etc then that's really not going to help him in the long run.

2. The high school students in Fletcher's school go on a mission trip to Nicaragua each summer. Many of you know we used to take our college students on mission trips every year when we were in college ministry in Florida. We miss being able to do that. With small children, we can't go this year, but we are helping them get ready. Kevin is helping with fundraising. I'm helping them with applications, passports, forms, etc. I like the organization part of things and it is something I can do from home while Luke is napping. It is so neat to see these kids interested and excited about missions. I hope and pray both of our boys develop a heart for missions and seeing God's message of hope and salvation shared with everyone around the world.

3. Umm...I'm having trouble coming up with this one. I'm trying to spend less time on the computer in 2010. With Facebook, emails, reading blogs, and writing this blog, I find that I can spend way too much time on the computer. Maybe I'll start playing the Wii more.

Three Things - Kevin

1. Today is his 39th birthday. Happy Birthday! He reminded me recently (after my birthday) that he's only seen 5 decades while I have seen 6. Really? Still cracking old lady jokes after we've been married almost 12 years? You know my motto: Get him young, train him right!

2. He has two little boys (and a wife) that can't wait for him to come home from work every night. He works so hard to provide for our family. I know his employer values him too, but I don't think they really grasp what a great man he is. While I won't go all Jerry Maguire and say "He completes me", I will say that we make a good team. He is the sanity in our home when momma is feeling a little crazy...

3. I love him more than words can express on a blog. He follows hard after God so he can lead our family.

I could continue my list, but seeing that I have this Three Things theme going, I'll stop with 3.