And When Someone Needs a Makeover

I simply couldn't take over, because I didn't know exactly what she needs. So I took her to Cookie Cutters. (Forgive the Wicked reference--Jillian just sang this song for her Annie audition--and yes, she got a part in the play.)

Jillian wanted to donate her hair to Locks of Love, so they cut off her ponytail and mailed it in.

Corinne got her hair trimmed while we were there, and now they have twin haircuts. Can you tell who's who?

Corinne is still upset about being the only blonde in the family. She hopes it turns brown when she gets older. She really wants to be a "brown girl" (her words) like Alyssa--she wants to change her eye color, too! When Corinne got mad at Jillian a few months ago, this was her angry insult: "You're a little sister and you have blonde hair!" Can you imagine anything more horrible! But things are looking up for Corinne--Hayley has blue eyes, too, and we think she's going to be another blondie.

When the Family Gets Together…

Tonight’s Family Home Evening was taken care of by the kids.  Corinne volunteered to conduct as she does almost every week.  She loves being in control, and she does a great job moving things along, much to the frustration of the person giving the lesson.  Jillian was relating a story from the August Friend when Corinne interjected:

“Thank you, Jillian.  That was a great lesson.  Now we’ll turn the time over to…”

“Corinne!  I wasn’t finished!”

“I know, but that’s enough talking.  It’s time for the game.”

We asked Jillian to finish her lesson on repentance and she did a great job.  Afterwards she thanked Corinne for being reverent.  Corinne admitted:

“I wasn’t really listening.  I was just waiting for you to be done.  Let’s play the game now.”

Evan asked:  “Great.  Are we playing bubble/fairy/farmer tag?” (a mixture of the types of games we play when the little girls are in charge.)  No, not this time.

Jillian almost lost us as she explained the rules of the game she made up to go with the lesson, but we agreed to try it.  She had put a lot of thought into it and even made a “tangerine” prop.  We found ourselves running around the basement trying to avoid being tagged by the tangerine tree.  If the tangerine touched us, we were frozen in place and waited for Mrs. Baker to hug us before we melted into the floor or we’d be the next tangerine tree.  Have you ever played that game before?  Probably so, but it was our first time and we actually enjoyed it.  I should have taken a picture but I was too busy trying to dodge the tangerine. 

The fun ended too soon for Corinne and she begged for another game.  When we wouldn’t accommodate her, she collapsed on the floor and refused to conduct the rest of the meeting.  We continued without her.  When it was time for the closing prayer she raised her head and asked:

“Dad, what was I sad about again?”

“We wouldn’t let you play another game.”

“Oh, yeah.” 

She puts head down and starts crying again while we all try to control our laughter so we can pray.  And then we adjourned to the kitchen for some Snickerdoodle Casserole.  Just ask Evan for the recipe—it was really tasty!