Just Because...

About a month ago I noticed this lady walking out of the Education Center holding 5 tulips (3 red and 2 yellow). I know, specific right? It's because they were "tulips". I hadn't seen tulips in like forever. People receive all sorts of flowers but I can't recall ever seeing anyone with tulips recently. Secondly, they weren't in any sort of arrangement - she was simply carrying the flowers out as you would a magazine. But they just captured me because the colors were so vivid and the stems were thick (like the diameter of my finger) and I suddenly concluded: "I like tulips".

I know, random. But hey, it's me. So I felt compelled to tell a few people and relayed my new found fondness for tulips and then continue to wonder when was the last time I actually saw one. I really couldn't remember - other than drawing them with the "u" representing the bulb and the "w" the pedal lining the tip when I was younger; Darryl generally buys me wildflowers because he knows I like the simpleness more so than all of the hoopla that goes along with the rose. He does get me roses on occasion however, when he encounters some botanist or florist gone mad with cross pollination and reaps some off kilter colors or patterns (not dyed though I hope) - then I like them - otherwise roses are just a flower like any other. So weeks went by and time went on and I forgot about it all as I generally do when this type of thing occurs.

Well anywho Darryl comes home this week with a bunch of wildflowers in one hand and I was happy. He does his "just because" thing all the time. It was nice and made my evening. But then he extended the other hand and guess what...tulips.

Just because! He got me tulips just because he heard me talking about them like a month ago. Well, for any of you who know my husband, he can barely remember his wallet each day...Gotta love him!

My wildflower and tulip arrangement

I'm not a professional but I think I did an acceptable job.

They are blooming...center stage on my dresser!

Which reminded me of a recent take on marriage/relationships that I heard from none other than Ice-T on an episode of Ice Loves CoCo (yes, I watch it and I like it, so there) and I can't believe that I am actually quoting Ice-T but I am, LOL. They've been married for like 10 years now - that's quite a feat. Well it was something to the extent of "When your partner asks you to do something or asks you for something and you don't do follow through, it doesn't necessarily make that want go away. But over time, it might just make them decide to get that want fulfilled elsewhere." It's simply stated and can be taken or left, basic principles of communication just reworded.

I'm just glad Darryl is listening even when I don't know it!

Number Five

OK, so as I'm growing out I've been exploring hair styles and as many of you know I'm back in my element...the classroom - Thank God! This week concluded my first week back teaching (a three-day due to the Presidents Day and Mardi Gras holidays) and boy am I glad to be back. I am on a long-term sub assignment for a special educator who serves a school of second and third grade students.

Now initially my "teacher peers" may have some hesitation - but I'm in heaven, I tell you! I have 5 classes of alternating Reading/Language Arts and Math and no more than 7 students in my class at any given time WITH the assistance of a paraprofessional! I feel so spoiled I don't know what to do with myself...I'm actually TEACHING, I have time to TEACH! The students are wonderful also - nothing beyond what I have encountered in any general education classroom as far as abilities or behavior issues so I can ride this assignment out into the sunset...(OK, so you've gotten a two for one story today). But back to my hair...

So along with reentry into my beloved career, I've added another style to my repertoire...

The "Pompadour", check it out...

I love this side profile...

Can't wait for my hair to grow more so my poof will be massive in the front!

I secured it using 3 hair combs and boy was it a task getting them out that evening :)

The styling took less than 15 minutes (water and a brush) - I used a styling wax on the edges to keep them secure - but unsecuring the style was something entirely different. Darryl had to actually help me pull the combs out that evening as I didn't bother combing all the way through my hair and simply used the "inside" as the "teased" portion to form the "roll". You can even see my "unintentional" streaks too from my "boxed" dye job at this angle aggghhhh...LOL

Happy 5th Birthday Robbie

Robbie spent his 5th birthday at The Children's Museum of Lake Charles. It was really cool and although the rain was torturous but our friends still rallied together and made the party a hit! So of course we braved a 45-minute rain soaked drive and let loose. We played in the simulated Louisiana rivers, grocery stores, climbed rock walls, swung from ropes over imaginary lakes, canoed in boats that made it seem like we were in the bayou and combating gators - and this was just the first floor!
The adults had just as much fun as the kids, as we reached the second floor and got into a huge bubble machine, raced cars, walked through a car wash, played a heartbeat drum, and even held a static ball before going to the third floor to snap shadow pictures, crawl through an over-sized tunnel maze, and walk a hologram hall...can you say "tired".

Check out our pics:

Thank you all for helping to making this day memorable for our family!