Blog Entry
Posted by Loren Alldrin on October 15, 2010 to Family Life blog
First trip to the zoo, first Mommy-and-me shopping trip, first straight hairstyle...
(click any image to enlarge)
First Trip to the Zoo
Kristen and the kids went to the Sacramento zoo after a looooong day of doctor's appointments. Feet were tired, but the kids had fun.
Olivia's First Mommy-and-Me Shopping Excursion
Kristen took Olivia out and showed her the rejuvenating powers of retail therapy.
Olivia's First Haircut in America
Olivia needed a little cleanup, so we took her to a professional.
Olivia's First Straight Hairstyle
To cut it right meant a lengthy hot-iron straightening process, which somehow added four years to Olivia's look.
Olivia's Straight Hair
Kristen said, "You have to take her picture." So I did. Then Kristen said, "Did you have to make her look so grown up?" Sorry!
Naomi's First Halloween Costume
Just kidding--this is the look she had for a few minutes between hairstyles. The girl looks cute with any 'do!
That's More Like It
After a few weeks of less-than-flattering hairstyles, Naomi's four-inch curls got wrapped in yarn braids again.
When you bring kids home from another country, you sometimes think about all the firsts you missed with them. Instead of dwelling on what you can't change, however, it's better to celebrate the firsts you do get to enjoy. So here are a few firsts for Olivia, Naomi and Samuel.
After a grueling day of doctor's appointments in Sacramento, Kristen took the kids to the zoo. It wasn't all that impressive (if you've been to the Sacto zoo lately you know what we're talking about), but the kids had a good time. The Ethiopian kids got to see animals in captivity that they used to run screaming from in the wilds of Africa. (Just kidding!) They saw some big cats, monkeys, flamingos galore and kangaroos. They took their first head-in-the-hole pictures that we Americans seem to love so much.
Olivia enjoyed her first Mommy-and-me shopping excursion. Hand-me-downs aren't fitting Olivia all that well, and she was in desperate need of some winter clothes. So Kristen and Olivia scored some deals and had a great time shopping. It was also good for their bonding.
We removed Olivia and Naomi's yarn braids and tried something else for a few weeks. It was unanimous--the yarn braids had to go back in! In between styles, however, Naomi had some fun little twists and Olivia got a much-needed trim. Olivia's trim required straight hair, so she got the glamorous flat-iron treatment. (Why that has to make a kid look four years older is a mystery, but it surely did.) She enjoyed her flat hair for a few hours, then the moisture in the air (and constant brushing and fiddling) made it inflate back up like a balloon.
Other firsts? Olivia learned to ride a two-wheeler. The kids got to watch their first baptisms, American-style (in a warm backyard pool). They took in their first movie at a theater (Charlotte's Web). Samuel got his first T-ball set, and shows some natural ability whacking and throwing the ball. They had their first fun time at the dog park, a place where Samuel would have climbed to the top of the highest tree just nine short months ago.
There have likely been other firsts we're missing, but our brains are scattered. We have seven kids, remember?
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