Now I think that a tomato is technically a fruit which would make ketchup a fruit, but that just doesn’t sound right. Vegetable sounds much better.

Anyhoo.

Hailey is such a picky eater that I am really hoping that ketchup counts as a vegetable since that’s about all she will eat. And she doesn’t like fruit either. About the only fruit she will eat is jelly. Is that even a fruit?

When I give her almost any food she will usually try it. Then take it out of her mouth, hand it to me and say, “Gucky!” (yucky) We go back and forth with this throughout every meal.

“Hailey, try your food.”

“Gucky!”

“If you try it you might like it. Just try it.”

Hailey puts her food in her mouth, takes it out and hands it to me and says “GUCKY!”

“It’s not yucky. You liked broccoli last week so I bought some more. Now please eat it.”

“GUCKY Mommy, GUCKY!”

“How about you eat some of your chicken then? You like chicken.”

“COOKIE! COOKIE!”

I do not give her a cookie and I have never given in and given her one no matter how much she demands and screams and cries for it. “We’re eating dinner. We don’t have cookies for dinner.”

“Yo-Ye-O. Peeaazzz! Yo-Ye-O.” (Oreo. Please! Oreo.)

“After you eat your dinner you can have an Oreo.”

“All done. Me yook ousssside. All done.”  (Me look outside)

And that is how most of our meals go.

I usually try to stay away from my computer on the weekends. And Saturday I did especially great avoiding my computer. When I got up in the morning I did have to check my email and my blogs just in case there was some sort of blog emergency. But then it was well into the afternoon before I actually sat down to use my computer. And it was wonderful.

I started out my morning trying to get Hailey ready for our daily walk (I’ve done it for 4 days in a row, so I think it now qualifies as a “daily” walk.) She loves to go for a walk so I don’t know why she fights me so much. She kicked and squirmed while I got her dressed, refused to open her mouth to have her teeth brushed and ran away as fast as she could when I tried to put her sunscreen on. The entire process probably took at least 45 minutes. Finally we were ready to go and enjoyed our morning walk.

After our walk Hailey and I played out front until I got tired of chasing her down every 15 seconds when she would take off running right towards the road. So we went to the safety of the fenced in back yard. Hailey had a blast with her sidewalk chalk, painting with water, going down her “whee,” and watching the ants on our patio.

Then we “helped” Rich wash the car. Hailey thought it was a blast, as long as she didn’t get wet and no one touched her bucket or sponge.

What a little helper.

After we finished washing the car it was time to come inside for lunch. Which of course caused much kicking and screaming (by Hailey). Since she had gotten up bright and early that morning (6am) she went right down for her nap after lunch.

At that point I decided that it could wait no more- I needed a hair cut. It has been over a year since I have had my hair cut, no trimming or anything. So, I’m sure you can imagine that I was very much in need of having my hair cut. And suddenly I felt the urge to have highlights as well. So, off I went to have my hair done.

So now about the title of this post, the one where I said there would be a picture of me? Here you go.

This is me modeling my hip-t a few ago- notice my hair. You can’t really tell but it is several inches past my shoulders. And it is also brown.

And now?

This is me on Sunday morning before church. I did my hair just for you (and also just in case I saw anyone while at church). See how short it is? And you can’t tell from the picture but it is really light. I think it is too light actually.

I know this picture is blurry, but have you ever tried to take a picture of the top of your head before? So in this picture you can kind of tell that it is much lighter but you can’t really tell how light it is. I mean I did tell the hairdresser I wanted the highlights to be noticeable, but I didn’t want them quite as noticeable as they are.

I was so sad with my hair that I thought that maybe I shouldn’t even go to church. Or that I should at the very least wear a paper bag over my head so that no one would notice my hair. Then the lady who sits behind me in church every week told me that she loved the new style and the new color about 3 or 4 times and I started to feel better.

So, tell me what you think- just remember that it is a lot lighter than you can tell from the picture.

A few weeks ago I found a new (to me) blog while I was chatting over at The Mom Blogs.  So, while I was visiting this new (to me) blog Outnumbered 2 to 1, I saw this fabulous marital rating scale from 1939.  Oh how it made me laugh.  And what kind of bloggy friend would I be if I didn’t share a good laugh with you.

Basically what you do is read the checklist and give yourself demerits and merits- add it all up and see if you are a good wife.  The entire chart is not actually here because it was quite long, but I think you can get the basic idea of what kind of wife you are with this first page.

So, how did I do?

I received demerits in these categories:

1. Slow in coming to bed- delays till husband is almost asleep.  I am always asleep well before Rich is.  

3.  Fails to sew on buttons or darn socks regularly.  I can’t even remember the last time I sewed a button on and I have certainly never darned a sock.

4. Wears soiled or ragged dresses and aprons around the house.  Well, technically I’ve never worn an apron and I don’t usually wear a dress.  But, what about ragged sweats and a t-shirt.  Does that count?

7.  Seams in hose often crooked.  I suppose that fact that I do not wear hose would earn me extra demerits.

9.  Puts her cold feet on husband at night to warm them.  Always!

10.  Is a back seat driver.  Not really.  But that is because I sit in the front, not the back.  And I hang on to the door for dear life while slamming on my imaginary break.

And I received merits in these categories:

3.  Can carry on interesting conversations.  At least I think it’s interesting when I share the latest information I have found on my friends blogs.

5. Dresses for breakfast.  Okay, I didn’t receive a merit here, I just think it’s hilarious.  I guess if you count my sweats and t-shirt as clothes then I am dressed for breakfast.

7. Personally puts children to bed.  Yes, I do this!  Woo Hoo!  A real merit for me.

9.  Asks husbands opinions regarding important decisions and purchases.  I repeatedly ask until he can’t take my harassment anymore and he agrees with me.

10.  Good sense of humor- jolly and gay.  I think I’m pretty jolly and gay

11.  Religious- sends children to church or Sunday school and goes herself. We go every week.

12.  Lets husband sleep late on Sundays and holidays.  Ummmm, no.  How would we get to church on time if I let him sleep in??? 

So, I’m pretty sure I fall into the very poor/failure category.  How about you?

(It’s the last day to sign up for my From*me Tees giveaway, so make sure you have entered!  And make sure you come back tomorrow because I have a fabulous new giveaway starting!!)

A couple of weeks ago I did a post called Mommy Guilt where I told all of you how I have been feeling like a bad mommy for not spending enough time with Hailey.  And I wish I had posted it sooner.  You all made me feel so much better.  Every single one of your comments made me cry- you guys are all so sweet.  I love my blogging friends. 

So many of you commented that you have the exact same feelings that I do- you feel like you just can’t do enough or be there enough for your kids.  And that the people who are the bad moms- they don’t worry about doing more for their kids.  This is one of the things I love so much about blogging- realizing that other moms have the exact same thoughts and feelings as I do.

Then there were the phone calls, emails and comments from the people who know me in real life. The people who have actually seen me in action with Hailey and know Hailey and what a happy little girl she is. Those meant so much to me because you all know me for real and have actually seen me with Hailey.

Having said all of that- I have been spending less time on the computer lately and it feels great!  I’m still working on my sponsored posts, which has been going great.  But, I have been cutting back on reading other blogs and commenting on other blogs.  Some of you may or may not have noticed.  I am still visiting all of my favorite blogs and commenting, just not as often as I was.  If you used to get a comment from me everyday you’ve probably noticed that I’m not doing that anymore.  So, I’ve been spending less time on the computer and I’m so much happier.

Anyhoo, all of that to say- thank you so much for your sweet comments. 

And you know what?  You guys are right- I am a good mom.  This little smile right here is how I know!