Current Dinner Conversations

...E's first hair cut...

We all know that E is totally sportin' the baby mullet. There is just no denying that he's got some major party action in the back.

W is all for getting his first big boy hair cut AFTER October. He is convinced that E should be McGyver for Halloween.

I *think* I'm ready for a hair cut now. Half of me really wants to see what he'll look like all cleaned up..at least a trim. The other half of me loves the long, surfer look and doesn't want to face a more 'grown-up' look. 

...Our next car purchase...

We dropped of my car at the dealership for a once over before leaving for vacation. While there, we popped over to the showroom to check out the VW Routon, their version of a mini-van. We were impressed and hopeful that this could be the next purchase after saving up for the 'affordable' price tag.

Unfortunately, after mom's Consumer Reports investigation, we discovered that its prone to break-downs and is actually a Chrysler's body base. Yuck. No, thanks! So we're back to square one. I don't want an SUV or a popular mini-van. We have been oohing over the Pilot but actually seeing the inside of a mini-van, made it much more appealing to a mom with future kids in mind. Sigh. So we may end up with a Sienna or Odyssey...just like everybody else. Either way, we best get to saving!

...5 weeks of vacation...

Part of W's up-coming job will include very long hours during the work week. A bonus to this will be the 5 weeks of vacation time he'll be awarded during the first year. Recently, we've been swooning over the idea of finally making it to Hawaii. We've tried a few times to make it there on the cheap, but it never came together. W has never been and it's been yeaaars since I've been back. Kaui was our go-to island growing up, but I feel like we should start with O'ahu with Pearl Harbor and all its history. W is a huge history nerd buff.

Anyway, it's on our  'to-do' wishlist for the up-coming year. I do cringe when thinking about buying three tickets, but I figure we'll need it after having to adjust to two kids and another job with the potential of a commute.

Travel is such a bug, huh?! You come back and you're already brainstorming future trips.

...W's Men's Group Study...

It's been delightfully fun to see God providing opportunities to help meet our New Year's goals. One of W's was to start a parenting book together. God answered that by putting W as a co-leader for an early morning men's group. They are going through a parenting book that we had heard of before from various families at church and are excited to read along together as the group does.

It seems to be targeted toward 'older' kids but so far lays a great foundation for practical application. It's goal "is to build family relationships while helping kids learn better ways of responding to life's situations." From what we've been told, it's a great practical companion to another fabulous parenting book that we've read.