Helaina's been wanting to cut her hair short for quite a while. I've been trying to talk her out of it for just as long. I LOVE her long hair, I LOVE braiding it, putting it in buns, using ribbons and bows and all that girlie stuff. It took forever to get it long, just about to her waist, and all one length. She was insistant, though, so we finally gave in. After all - it is her hair, and it will grow back. So I suggested to her that if she truly wanted to cut her hair short, she might as well do a good deed with it and I told her about Locks of Love. She got very excited hearing about it and said "Yah, I want to donate my hair to Locks of Love!" We checked out their website and made sure she had the required amount to donate, and she did. The night before the big haircut I had to take "before" pictures.
Ugh. Are you sure? Are you sure? That's all I kept asking her.
"Yes Mom, I'm sure. Stop asking me!"
Here's the adorable outcome. Helaina loves it and I do as well. I knew a short bob would look adorable on her, but I want that long hair back!!!! Here's how we got to this point.....
When Helaina hopped in the seat and told the stylist who's been cutting her hair for years that she wanted 10 inches cut off, Brittney thought she was kidding. Nope, I confirmed, she's not kidding. She got out her ruler and measured 10 inches, put in the rubber band, braided the hair and then said "Who's cutting it?" I didn't know what she was talking about. She wanted me or Jim to cut the braid off! I said no way, uh uh, nope, I don't want to do it. I told Jim to but he said I should do it. So I did. I reluctantly cut 10 inches of hair off my baby's head.
She was SO excited.
After the initial cut, Helaina's hair had to go even shorter to even it out, but we're all happy with the outcome - especially Helaina.
We already sent her hair to Locks of Love and Helaina received her Certificate of Appreciation from them. I'm going to email one of these 2 pictures of Locks of Love. They post many of the donation photos on their website and I'm hoping Helaina's will be one of them.
Still can't believe she took the plunge. Her hair is actually long enough to make a ponytail or 2 stubby braids, though - thank goodness.
The same day Helaina had her major haircut was Greta's birthday. Our Greta Garbo was one year old on June 3rd. She's such a sweetheart and I'll post tons of pictures of her and tell her story about how she came to us all the way from a high-kill shelter in Texas, of all places - some day when I have more time. We put a small scoop of vanilla ice cream on a plate with a doggie cookie and one candle. The flame didn't bother her at all. She kept eyeing the ice cream. Check out that determined look on her face!
We sang to her, Helaina blew out Greta's candle, and our sweet puppy enjoyed her ice cream and doggie cookie. We love this little doggie so much. She's such a sweetheart.
Helaina's gymnastics studio had a parent's night a while back. The kids put on a show and did their routines on all the apparatus. At the end they all had their name called out, got a certificate, a medal and some candy. Our sassy little gymnast with her sassy haircut.
Anyone who knows Helaina knows that she loves to sing, and that she doesn't have a shy bone in her body. We entered her in our town's talent show this year. She was very excited to get on stage at our local park and sing Tomorrow from Annie (the show she was in this past December). She chose to sing with no music (sometimes the music messes her up).
She looked adorable in her hot pink dress from cousin Beth, and she did a great job. She wasn't scared or nervous at all. We were so proud of her. She skipped off the stage, down the side exit and across the grass to get to us - skipped all the way. The people watching the show were smiling at her antics. So were we. We thought she did great.
And so did the judges. Helaina won 3rd place in her age group! She was so excited when they announced her name. She won a gift certificate to Twin Trees pizza, a mug and some candy. We told her from the very beginning that she might not win anything and that we were doing this for fun and the experience, then she goes and wins 3rd place. She was thrilled. Second and first places had cash prizes, but Helaina didn't care. As soon as she collected her prize and ran back to us she said "Who cares about money - I want pizza!" That's truly our gal.
Year end class picnic at Helaina's school. Her class chose red to wear for the day. I was one of the room mother's who organized the event. There was pizza, drinks, snacks, cupcakes, popsicles, water balloons, relay races, water duck duck goose, and lots of other fun activities.
Here Helaina's running with wet sponges in the water relay. Look at that girl fly!
A local fire truck came and the kids got to hold an oxygen tank to see how heavy it was.
Water balloon toss was fun. Helaina and her buddy did a good job and were one of the few teams left at the end that hadn't burst their balloon yet.
Catch it! Catch it! It was so hot that day that the kids liked when the balloons burst all over them.
Yearly Dragon Boat festival with our FCC friends. Fun day with more picnicing, relay races and fun activities. We won a drawing we entered and came home with a beautiful Asian-inspired plate and stand. Helaina was so excited when our number was called. "We won!!!" she screamed.
Pulling her friend Bridget in the rickshaw.
Pizza box relay race.
They love those relay races. Water relay race this time.
Then there was the traditional tug of war. Unfortunately Helaina's team lost this round.
Then they called for the Dads versus the Moms. When the Dad's started winning, all the girls ran to the Mom's side and then it was all over. Mom's and girls won! Even Jim got in on the fun.
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