Back when my boys were toddlers, I learned how to do the then-popular bowl haircut, mostly to save money. As they outgrew that style and began verbalizing their distaste of looking like the Home Alone kid, I learned how to use the clippers. Five boys looking like they just returned from boot camp was kinda cute plus they enjoyed looking like their dad.

Elly, on the other hand, required a scissor cut beyond my skills so I would take her to the salon every couple months. But that all ended today. While at the library yesterday, I found the book called “Haircutting for Dummies” .

Our town librarian is somewhat opinionated and outspoken. I have checked out books in the past on things ranging from herbal remedies to planning an organic garden and she has been very supportive, often making small talk about how great it is that I’m learning things to benefit my family. However, when she saw my choice this time, her eyebrow shot up like a bottle rocket on the 4th of July and she very loudly said “SERIOUSLY?”

I quickly tucked the book in between “Make Your Own Toilet Paper” and “Goat Milking 101″ and made my exit.

Last night I read Haircutting for Dummies and it just made sense. I knew I could do it despite the Doubting Librarian Lady. My only concern was that Elly’s hair was so long, I knew it would take a lot of time to do a good job. I explained this to Elly and we positioned her so that she had a good view of the television. My first cut removed almost 10 inches of length. The Librarian’s face flashed before my eyes and I panicked a little on the inside. But I followed the directions in the book and I’m thrilled with the result.

See for yourself!

On Tuesday, when the library opens again, I’m going to check out the book called “Surgical Procedures for Dummies” just to see her reaction!

Tonight was just one of those incredible evenings where everything was easy.

We visited the library and picked out books for the weekend. Logan gave wagon rides, pulling three at a time with the riding lawn mower.  I surprised them by jumping in even though it had just been used to transport composted manure to the garden. You should have heard them giggle when I realized that I had antique horseshit on my blue jeans!

But my favorite moment of the day was when the kids and I blew bubbles into the breeze and watched as they floated right into the clouds.

I’m quite certain the word “gratitude” was birthed in a moment like this.

Due to contractual obligations, and in effort to stave off hurt feelings, I must make mention of Elly in today’s post.

Previous posts about Elly can be found here and here and here and here.

Elly’s blog can be found here.

Normal programming will resume tomorrow.

In the comment section of the previous post, Jeff asked “Yeah, but can he clip them on his ears?”

Isaiah’s response was “Duh!”

I charged him $1 to take this photo.

I would say that I have a fairly typical family when it comes to getting children to do their chores. No one wants to help without first going through the who, what, why, where and “how long grounded if I do not comply?”  Loss of computer time generally wins out over my attempt to inspire them to domestic greatness. But it’s a whole different story if the children believe there’s a chance to increase their financial portfolio by the sweat of their brow.

This evening, Isaiah came to me and said “Do you think you would pay me $.05 a piece if I fixed all the broken clothespins?”

My jaw fell on the floor.

You see, this beautiful child could walk into the kitchen, see a pile of strawberry jam on the floor surrounded by a neat circle of ants feasting on the spill, and never once think “I should clean this up so mom doesn’t have to.” Yet he notices broken clothespins?

I agreed to his terms and quickly forgot about our arrangement until he came back 45 minutes later looking like the Maytag porcupine attacked him.

“You owe me $.85, Mom,” he said with blazing dimples.

“I’ll round it up to a whole dollar if you let me take your picture.”

“SWEET!”

As I went to grab my camera, I caught Nathanael in his room with the clothepin bucket on his bed. He was purposefully breaking the clothespins in hopes of making some big bucks and is now grounded from the computer for 24 hours.

Oh, parenthood.