New hair

Steve, Cooper & Katie this Sunday before church

Until this week, Cooper has had the same hairstyle pretty much since he had enough hair to shape and style. Sometimes it looked like a bowl cut, others like a mushroom. I loved it -- one length, thick, smooth, shiny. He definitely didn't look like most other little boys. (And it was very similar to my hair from when I was 5, which I realize may seem strange and is not what all boys aspire to. But he loved it, too.)

For about three years, we had the best hairdresser -- Sylvia, at a local kids-only shop. She knew how to work around his occasional curls and always finished with a straight, even cut. But she left the state a few months ago, and we've been roaming from one place to the next, in search of a Sylvia substitute.

I took him to a nearby guys kind of place this week, and the woman helping us insisted that he needed something more masculine, something to get rid of the flippiness on the ends.

Me: Well, I don't know. What would you do exactly?
Pushy lady: Oh, just layer it in the back.
Me: Would it look the same in the front?
Pushy lady: Yes, oh yes. I like the length in front. He just needs to look more like a boy.
Me: Oh, I'm not sure about this.
Pushy lady: Really, it will be fine.

The whole time I was thinking in my head, "I'm not ready for any additional drastic changes! It's just hair, and I know it will grow, but can't we just keep this the same?!" But I didn't want to spill out all that turmoil on the lady with the scissors in her hand. And Cooper said he was willing to try something different.

Well, he looks like a completely different person. Handsome and beautiful, of course, but different. Julie noted that you notice his eyes even more. I think it makes him look older, too.

And he loves it, which I know is most important.

Cooper the day after his haircut (dressed as a meteorologist for career day)

Katie's many names

In the past couple of months, Katie has become fascinated with her name. A few weeks ago, I was explaining to her that her name is Kathryn but we call her Katie.

At first, she denied her given name. "I not Kathryn! I a good girl! I Katie!" (And Kathryn is pronounced Kafryn.)

Now, she's embracing the name.

Recent quotes include:
"My name is Kathryn, but they call me Katie."
"I not Katie. I Kathryn."
"My name is Kathryn, but Aunt Ami calls me darlin'. And I call her darlin'."
"My name is Kathryn, but Aunt Julie calls me T." (Julie's son Adam, one of Katie's best friends, has called her T for a long time, as in K-T.)

T-shirt becomes a sleep shirt

Last year on spring break, we bought Cooper and Katie matching T-shirts. Cooper has worn his dozens of times since. Yesterday I pulled it from his closet for him to wear to school.

He put on his turtleneck first then walked into the kitchen with the shirt in his hands.

"Mommy, no one in my class really likes Winnie the Pooh. I'll be embarrased."

I smiled at him, didn't speak (maybe I was afraid I'd start crying, knowing our "little" boy has outgrown Pooh) and walked to his closet, pulled out one of his Star Wars shirts and handed it to him.

"Oh, Mommy, I love you," he said, and sealed it with a crushing Cooper hug.

He wore the shirt to bed last night, and after it's washed, it will officially move to the PJ drawer.

Energy

Often in the mornings, Cooper comes to our room and heralds the time.

"It's 6:14!" or "It's 6:25! Time to get up!" or "It's 6:37! Time for breakfast!"

Sometimes we can convince him to join us and snuggle for a bit. When we know it's really time to get up and get moving, we ask him for energy hugs.

This week he shared with Aunt Ami his secret about energy hugs.

He told her that when he gives Mommy and Daddy energy hugs, we think he's giving us energy. But really, he said, he's taking energy from us and just doesn't want us to know.

We won't let on that we know his secret. We'll just keep sharing our energy back and forth.

School-related Christmas festivities

Mrs. Meyer and Katie creating ornaments

Decorating a Christmas cookie with guppies (an off brand of Goldfish)

At Cooper's party today

Cooper and Mia

Cooper and Cade

No loss for words

Do you ever feel at a loss for the right words when someone you know is going through a tough time? I sometimes do -- nothing seems to adequately express the empathy or sympathy I feel.

I compiled this far-from-inclusive list of just some of the most beautiful words written to Steve and I the past week. This doesn't even include the supportive spoken words from others. We somehow have the world's most poetic, compassionate and giving friends and family members. These words are incredible gifts.

We stand ready to help with meals, errands or anything else. Just say the word. Your family really, really are in our prayers and our thoughts.

I’m here if you need anything.

I hope you can feel God’s loving arms around you.

We're pulling for you all and wish you strength during this tough time.

I know God is capable of things we can never begin to wrap our minds around.

Please let me know when I can do anything else. If you ever need to get away you know where I am.

I know you're not one to ask, but I don't want to bombard you with calls, so PLEASE let us know what we can do.

We are all connected in this world for a reason ... right now support, love and hope are surrounding you and your family.

I just want to give you a big hug.

We serve a God of healing – I hope you can both cling to that during this time. You’re both strong individuals, and your faith will bring you through this.

I'm sending positive vibes your way.

Know that you have friends that are here for you at a moment's notice.

I want you to consider me "on-call" for you starting right this minute.

I just want you to know that you guys are thought of all the time and we are praying each day for God's help and healing.

My prayers are going full throttle for all of you.

You are both in my thoughts and prayers, surrounding you all in healing light.

Stay positive, stay strong!

Your love for and devotion to one another has always been so apparent. That alone will get your through many dark periods in life.

We love you guys.

(I rediscovered this photo tonight while getting some images together for an upcoming Cub Scout project. Cooper was Harry Potter again for Halloween this year.)

Steve

I'm keeping a blog for friends and family who want updates on sweet Steve's condition: checkonsteve.blogspot.com/

Youngest St. Nicholas I've ever seen

We enjoyed our Heritage Village visit this weekend. Because the park celebrates life in the late 19th century and early 20th century, there was no Santa Claus as we know him today. Instead, there was St. Nicholas in the gazebo, who looked to be about 18 or 20 (and not too happy to be there). In addition to visiting St. Nick, we toured some homes, listened to a choir and some bands and watched the costumed docents and volunteers cook, eat and visit. In the saloon, Cooper beat a Webelo Scout in a game of checkers while Katie stacked dominoes.

The kids and I had been to the park a few weeks ago as part of my Fodor's research. The PR lady gave us a great tour and let us ride the donkey-drawn carriage. She even let the Cooper & Katie sit on Nip & Tuck. For Katie, it was the next best thing to a pony ride.

Christmas card photo outtakes 2007

This year hasn't been much easier than last as far as getting a Christmas card photo. But we sure have had fun! (And don't you just love Katie's red patent leather shoes? She wants to wear them with everything, when she doesn't want to wear her pink cowgirl boots.)

Quickly

• Most importantly, Steve is having some health issues that worry us. Please include him in your prayers.
• Katie and Cooper are enjoying the Christmas season. The Adolphus Neiman Marcus Christmas parade last Saturday was a great kick-off to a month of activities. We also had the Advent festival at church Sunday. We hope to attend the Candlelight event at Heritage Village this weekend and continue driving around in search of awesome light displays.
• Katie's clavicle is officially healed, according to the most recent X-ray, and she's been cleared for playground activity. There's a reindeer with its head down in the front yard of a nearby house. Katie thinks it's sad "because it had to have a picture taken of its collar bone."
• Cooper's Destination Imagination team has chosen its name -- the Titanic Finders. And its topic -- the Great Wall of China. Jackie, any fun tips or facts you want to send about the wall would be great! Another mom and I are taking the first-graders to a DI workshop tomorrow.
• I've been buried in another Fodor's project, ignoring piles of laundry, stacks of papers, nonwork-related phone calls and e-mails and who knows what else.
• In other Fodor's news, a brief review I wrote of Fearing's is online for a week or so. My last name is misspelled, though -- Damn. I've requested a correction.