An Irreconcilable Force.

We have a somewhat supernatural force in our home. 

It has the power of the strongest wind.
It has the strength of one-hundred horses (The Big Clydesdales, not the mini-ponies).
It is silent like Carbon Monoxide (really? I couldn't think of anything else deadly & silent).
Stealth ... like something really really sneaky.
It causes damage in the blink of an eye.

It is my daughter.  Her name is Hannah.


Now, I've heard many people say "If I had this child first, I would NOT have had anymore children."  No matter how damaging that child is - I love her.  I would love 10 more just like her. I am so blessed by her spirit and her... well... creativity and imagination.  Think: "Harold & the Purple Crayon".  So creative.  So imaginative.  But how do you think Harold's mom reacted to purple crayon all over the walls, ceiling, floor...

The latest chapter in "Hanzilla the Destroyer" was a pile of golden cornsilk hair laying on her floor last night.  I knew it wasn't human hair - definitely of the plastic-hair variety. 
Let's take a poll. 
Do you think the hair was from:
A. The $2 thrift-store Barbie that we bought just for the dress she was wearing?
B. The doll we have had since she was a baby - of unknown origin?
C. The tail of a horse we got at Build A Bear Workshop?
D. The hair from her most recent birthday-present, Rapunzel "barbie".

If you said "D" you're right.  Rapunzel now has a very Avant-Garde, NY Runway model hair "don't".  What is the point of a Rapunzel doll if she has short, zig-zag hair do?  "Rapunzel, Rapunzel... let down your fire-escape ladder..."??? Not quite the same ring.

Mommy kept her cool (mark it on the calendar).  I undressed Rapunzel, handed her to Hannah & said "You may go throw her in the garbage."  Tears.  Wails of protest. Nashing of teeth. "MY PRESENT!"
Some might think I was a little dramatic throwing the doll away.  Maybe a little over-the-top.  But seriously.  I do NOT want her thinking her destructive actions are cute or acceptable.  I can't think of punishments to fit these crimes (& Dr. Spock, Dr. Phil, Oprah, Dr. Dobson... none of them have a chapter on "What to do with the doll post hair-cut".)
Plus - I don't want a wonky-looking doll laying around.  I am trying to simplify my life & having broken toys laying around will not achieve that goal.  I still wonder if I can try styling her hair into a short bob...  (I'm also one step away from filling out the application for TLC's Hoarders...)

Then as I was about to tuck her in for the night, I notice a small pile of darker-golden cornsilk hair.  This time it was of the human variety. 
Reason's why I love Hannah:
I asked her "where" she cut her hair (clearly meaning: where is your bald-spot)... & she said "By the desk".
I asked her... "No - WHERE is your hair cut?"  & She pointed to my hand full of hair & said "there!"
Once again, I ask... "On your head. What part of your head did you cut off hair?"
Then she rubbed her head & said "kind of all over, just like Grandpa does."

Next Chapter: Why I wish my father was NOT a barber...

Happy Birthday My DARLING Hannah Jase!

FOUR YEARS OLD!
The very idea of Hannah having a twin makes me want to scream!

My little Mermaids

She's such a little silly kid.  I *heart* her So Much!

This was one of the first times we got her hair up in 2 pig-tails.

Some other adorable pictures of our little baby...

This is Hannah's little boyfriend, Aiden.

And just to remember how it all started:

 Cutting the already-cut Cord. Traditions are funny. 

What is the big deal with that cord cutting stuff?

The Very Best Buy

So a while back, my work bought a 47" flat screen television for our community/rec room.  Because all the 80-year olds were asking for us to pimp-out their rec room.  Riiiiiiight.

Anyway, we used my Best Buy "reward zone" card for the purchase.  That means I earned points!  It also means that it bumped me up to Premier Silver Status. (Impressive, right?)  I only explain this in detail because if you know anything about Best Buy, you know it takes A LOT of $purchases$ to acheive the "Premier Silver" status. I don't want anyone to be jealous of our 1992 - 30" JVC "Hand Me Down from Grandma Harder" Television.

So, one of the Best Buy perks was free subscription to Napster (the music down-load site) as well as 15-free credits to down load songs every 3 months.  (That is equal to one album plus a song or two extra...)

Today my 3-month cycle restarted & I went to request my new activation code from Best Buy.

Sadly, the customer service rep said that at this time their Napster codes aren't working.  They are looking into it but don't really have a solution at this point.  Except they could send me a code for a free $15 iTunes gift card... or issue me a $20 Best Buy Rewards certificate.  "Which one would you like?"

Well, I might not have gotten better than Cs in high-school math ... And I might have taken the "alternative" math class in college, but even I know that 20 is greater than 15.
So I will be receiving a $20 gift card to Best Buy for doing... NOTHING (except spending 2 minutes on the phone with "Jimmy").

Too bad everything we NEED costs over $1000, but whatever.  Maybe I can get a couple movies for Christmas presents.

All About ME!

I never wanted to be the person that could only EVER talk about her children.
So this post is all about me. Little Sara Lou Harriger.

Last night, I did something for myself! I "joined" the Gospel Choir at my church.  I'm so proud of me on many levels.  I love singing. I love being in a choir.  I've been avoiding it because "I don't know anyone". I was nervous & shy.

You might think, "Oh, Sara - That's silly. You're so outgoing and SO not shy... I just can't believe you would have a problem like this."

I do!  I suffer from extreme lack of self confidence.  If I know you - of course I'm comfortable.  If I know the environment or "situation" (like being at Camp Lebanon, or going to the church I grew up in) I am totally comfortable because it is a part of ME.  I belong there - even if I don't know anyone. 
But if I walk into a room of strangers - especially if THEY all know each-other, I feel light headed & want to puke... I get a case of the "What-ifs"...
What if no one talks to me? What if they are mean? What if they don't have a joking-spirit or a sense of humor?! (You know musicians can be quite serious...). What if they don't WANT new choir members? (well, they shouldn't advertise for them, I guess!).  What if the lady next to me doesn't like my shirt?

What if What if What if!!!

However, the MOMENT I walked into the worship center for choir practice, all my What ifs were so quickly blown away that I found myself spinning in circles trying to shake everyone's hand & still find my way to the Alto section! Then the best thing happened... one lady said "Sit there - next to me!" 

It was funny - I felt VERY welcomed.  VERY wanted.  And yet - so nervous I picked all the nail polish off my fingers.  I sat next to one of the "Main" singing ladies - she's always in the choir, on stage singing Praise & Worship, etc.
I had SO much fun. At the end of practice, the "main lady" (her name is Karen) even said, "Oh, I KNEW I'd like you the minute I met you."

Not only do I get to sing again, but maybe my self confidence was boosted up a notch last night.

Ladies & Gentlemen... Introducing....

A Bona-fide Kindergartener!