Rite of Passage

When I got home from work yesterday and I was walking Abby out, she said, oh, Sara, today Elle cut her bangs. She told me she was going into the bathroom to look at herself in the mirror and then she cut her bangs. She really didn't want me to tell you. So, I said ok, and went into see what this hair cut looked like. I had her hair in braids, so the "natural" part of the bangs were already down, because they are not long enough really to tie back into the braid. Honestly, it looked a little like my bangs and I was very thankful that she didn't cut above her eye brow line! Anyway, I have not officially "done" her hair yet to know how it will turn out, but I am not too worried about it.

I was thinking a lot about Elle last night -- being that next month she will be 5. It seems like a pretty big birthday to me -- knowing that she has been here on earth of 5 full years. I can see how much she is trying to change already and morph into this next stage in her life. So, it is natural, I guess, that she is taking interest in her clothing choice and her hair bow color and how her hair looks. To me, I thought this "cutting" of the hair was a rite of passage in sorts. I thought back to the time I cut my hair --

1. In college, right after I tried out for cheerleader, and didn't make it, I cut off all of my hair
2. When I got pregnant with Elle, I cut off my hair
3. After Emme turned 3 last year, and I felt like I was coming out of the deep sea I had been drowning in -- I cut off all of it, probably the shortest it has ever been

This morning, I looked up rite of passage and exactly what it means and the history, and it is funny to me, that they use the illustration of a person cutting their hair when joining the army -- they are "cutting" away from their former self.


A rite of passage is a ritual event that marks a person's progress from one status to another. It is a universal phenomenon which can show anthropologists what social hierarchies, values and beliefs are important in specific cultures. Rites of passage are often ceremonies surrounding events such as other milestones within puberty, coming of age, marriage and death. Initiation ceremonies such as baptism, confirmation and bar or bat Mitzvah are considered important rites of passage for persons of their respective religions.
Rites of passage have three phases: separation, transition, and re-incorporation. In the first phase, people withdraw from their current status and prepare to move from one place or status to another. There is often a detachment or ‘cutting away’ from the former self in this phase, which is signified in symbolic actions and rituals. For example, the cutting of the hair for a person who has just joined the army. He or she is 'cutting away' the former self - the civilian. The transition (liminal) phase is the period between states, during which one has left one place or state but hasn't yet entered or joined the next; the person adjust to the new status. In the third phase, having completed the rite and assumed their 'new' identity, one re-enters society with one's new status. Re-incorporation is characterized by elaborate rituals and ceremonies, like debutant balls and college graduation.

You can see on the right side of her hair, the edge of the bangs, right by her eye

4 Day Weekend of Fun

Well -- I have enjoyed seeing everyone's snow pictures on Facebook and on email. The snow was so amazing and we all had such a great time. We had 2 days at home with the snow, not at work and Joe took the girls out to play in it when ever they wanted -- I stayed indoors, where it was warm and where there was plenty of cleaning to do! I did manage to organize the girls closets, how fun.

Anyway, the weekend was great. Saturday night we took Abby and Cody to Via Real and ate and ate and ate and had a great time getting to know them. We probably scared them a bit though! Joe and I are very transparent about our marriage and Abby and Cody got married in January, so we were asking them all of these questions -- it was funny.

The kids had a party that night too and they came in thier pj's and ate pizza. Sunday was valentines day and Joe gave E&E these heart necklaces, which they loved and won't take off. Also, Joe got me some new PJ's, so comfy! Then Elle wanted to go back out on Sunday to get me some "clothes." She picked out a blue dress, like a long bathing suit cover up and then a Kiss Me, I am Irish shirt. It was too cute.

Ms Beth, Elle's teacher sent me this video and I had to post it on my blog - http://sharing.theflip.com/session/17ed297795f3d58de59622974f32484d/video/9301993
Anyway, back to work -- back to normal, back to some Mommy time! :)

For those that know my friend Adrienne, I think this pic of Elle looks like her

This is from Super Bowl Sunday, Spencer likes to get in our family pics, it's too cute. He fits right in!

With so many pics of Hadley and Emme, it's nice to get one of Emme and Hunter for a change!

Pretty Fun Parade!

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One of Elle's favorite shows is Olivia. One day, Olivia had a parade in her neighborhood and so Elle thought it would be fun to have one too. She invited her friends over and asked them to make a float for the parade. We had music and candy to throw and the kids were crazy. I have more pictures I can share this week, but these are some of the ones my mother in law took. Anyway, it was great to see it all come to life on Saturday and I was really proud of her! These are the things that are really important and memories we will treasure!

10 Updates

Wow, didn't realize that it has been a month since I blogged. I decided to give an update on what is going on in a "list" format -- seems more efficient!

1. One of my best friends from high school, actually since 6th grade, got married in January. The wedding was so fun and it was great to catch up with everyone

2. We went skiing with Ann and Brian and Tommy and my parents came too -- we went to Santa Fe and it pretty fun! The girls did really well skiing and mommy did horrible at Black Jack!!

3. Joe and I decided to participate in a Triathlon Sprint this summer -- so we have been figuring out our training programs and it seems like a pretty lofty goal! But, I think we can do it!!

4. Abby is looking for a career job - so that means that we potentially could be loosing her soon -- and that has occupied our thoughts a great deal. We really think she needs to do what is right for her and Cody and that probably means to find a job with a salary and benefits -- but it will be hard to loose her on a daily basis -- I will keep yall posted

5. Work for me is going really great right now, a lot of fun and challenging projects

6. We are in planning mode for our trip to Disney! I think we are going to go in September and we are planning on making it a "BRATS" trip -- with a trip in an RV to the magical land!

7. I am still in this weight loss battle. It seems that I am working so hard on it and I think I am actually gaining weight -- so frustrating

8. The girls start swim class today. They are going to go on Monday's and Wednesday's for February. Elle wants to try out for the swim team in the summer -- so I think this will be a fun thing for her and Emme to do, we will see how it goes

9. Elle added a day of class at CCDC, so now she is going 3 times per week to school. I think that this will be really good for her -- she gets so bored during the day!

10. There really is no place like your own home and your own bed. The travel has been fun -- but there is something about walking in your back door and seeing your home -- it just relaxes you!