Seriously???

Why does this ALWAYS happen to me? Will someone please explain to me what is so hard about getting highlights in my hair? About 95% of the time when I go get my hair highlighted it turns out horrible. I do a better job myself. I can do the front of my head fine, but my whole head needed to be done and I don't have eyes in the back of my head. I went to JC Penney which I thought was safe and explained what I wanted like 20 times because I know the problems I have. Once she washed out my hair and had me sit back in the chair and took the towel off I knew it was horrible right off the bat. I have had this happen so many times and I don't say anything and just go home really mad and spend days fixing it. Well, not that day. I decided to take a stand!! As nicely as I could I told her that it was not at all what I asked her to do. She then tried to tell me that it was. That is when nice went out the window. I told her that something must have been lost in translation...she is...how can I say this without offending...not from the US. I then said that I needed to leave because I was really mad. I walked up to the front fully intending to pay but the girl at the desk heard what was going on and said that I didn't need to and that someone else could fix it for me. I had just spent 2 and half hours there while my kids were being watched by a friend. How on earth was I going to stay another 2 and a half hours...not to mention that my hair would be fried right off my head.
She said the manager would call me and maybe recommend some conditioning treatments. What???? Conditioning Treatments?? What about the mess of color on my head? I was so mad at that point that I just said whatever and left.
That was Thursday. Today, which is MONDAY he called me. He asks me if I would like to come in and have someone redo it. I say yes. I can not live with this color. He then asks me if I want the original lady to do it. Clearly he doesn't quite grasp the situation. No, I tell him...not really.
Now I have an appointment with another lady tomorrow. I have had her before and I know she does a good job. Why I didn't request her to begin with is beyond me.
Now my question is...are they going to make me pay? I didn't pay for the original disaster...but they are fixing it...so does that warrant payment? I am thinking no...but let me know what you think.
Oh..for the description of what I wanted:
An overall blonde with subtle lowlights. A 2 to 1 ratio, blonde being the 2, brown being the 1.
What I got:
An overall red/brassy look with a 2 to 1 ratio...red being the 2 and brassy being the 1. Oh and for a bonus, some WHITE strands which have broken off already...so we don't need to worry about those.

The kids are home!!!

Last night when I went to bed, this wonderful note was waiting for me on my nightstand. I couldn't believe Dylan would think to do something like that. I am the luckiest mom in the whole world!

So glad to have them home!!

The craziest little boys in the south. They are more than a handful!

Saturday we went to pick up the kids!! It felt like Christmas for me. I was so excited that I couldn't sleep the night before. They look like they have grown a ton....especially Dylan. His teeth are shifting in his mouth so he has a new gap on top and his two front teeth are loose. Yay, dental work begins.

We went to Seaworld today. My friend Allison, which was Dylan's first grade teacher came with us to help me. Thank goodness she did. We had so much fun and we all are a little crispy. Nothing like the Texas sun to power it's way through 45 SPF!!

SLACKERS.....

You know who you are....yeah you!!

Boys room take two!

So, I opted to stencil and paint rather than do vinyl....cheaper. I was telling my mom I am all about "Shabby Chic".

Just in case they forget where they sleep;)

That is a guitar chord poster. I also traced a guitar that Dylan has onto poster board and then spray painted it black. And voila....wall art for a buck!!

A little finishing touch for Cierra's room. Once again, stencil and paint.

I was a little hasty in posting pictures of the boys's room. I added a few finishing touches. I am so excited for them to see it when they come home!! These pictures were taken with my phone so they are not the best..but you get the idea.

Memory Tag

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!
2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you.It's actually pretty cool (and funny) to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you.

Obedience

I had the opportunity to teach Relief Society this past Sunday. Now when I say "oppourtunity", I really believe that the Lord knew I needed this lesson and that I would internalize it better having taught it rather than listening to someone else teach it.
The lesson was on obedience. Now it is no secret to my fellow bloggers or really anyone else for that matter that I struggled with this for a time and made a life-altering/shattering choice. I have had a very bitter struggle within myself since. In my lesson I talked about the freedom that comes with obedience.
It goes like this:
If I obey then I am free from sin, which in turn leaves me free of guilt, free of self-doubt, free of uncertainty. If I obey than I am free to fulfill my church callings and attend the temple.
Obedience starts with very simple things: Read my scriptures, say daily prayers (personal...not just with the kids and family), attend my meetings, fulfill my callings, etc.
One sister commented on how we decide our level of happiness by our level of obedience. If we raise the bar on our obedience, we raise the bar on the level of blessings we will receive. An increase of obedience means an increase of blessings, which means an increase of happiness. It is a snowball affect.
I had often scoffed (funny word, but fitting) at the idea that my problems would all just go away if I would read my scriptures and say my prayers. How could it be that simple? It didn't seem that simple, and yet it was, it is. It begins with obedience. Why I had to learn it too late is my own fault, but I have learned it. I testify of it...on this blog;)
So, the moral of the story is read your scriptures and say your prayers. In fact...go do it right now!!!

Is it just me?

Or does anyone else feel a little lost with no Bachelorette on tonight. I have to say that in my pathetic little world I would look forward to Monday night to see this not so realistic "love story". Well...Jon and Kate plus 8 is still on...thank Heavens for that.

Brotherly Love

Today I was at my friend Sarah's helping her paint. The boys needed a nap so I put them in her pack and play. They finally fell asleep after hearing crying from Landon every now and then. I went in to check on them and found them all snuggled up together. It was so precious. Then when I got home I noticed Landon had a nice bite mark on his arm. I think Tyler must have taken a bite when they were in there. Poor Landon. Tyler is always hitting him on the head with something, stealing any toy Landon picks up, or apparently biting him. I hope Landon survives his little (bigger)brother (by 2 minutes).

I don't know why Tyler picks on Landon so much. Tyler is always so sweet and helpful with little babies, so I know he is capable. Seriously...any ideas on how to deal with this? I am at a loss.

I'd like to thank.....

Holy Cow. I love the blogging world. My friend Lindsey just gave me an award. I was reading her blog and saw that she received the award and then passed it on to me and 4 others. She is so awesome...this is what she said about me: "2. PERSON IS NICOLE SHE IS A BUSY MOM OF 5 KIDS AND 2 STEP KIDS HER LIFE IS FULL OF FUN AND EXCITEMENT AND SHE LOVES HER KIDS AND LOVES BEING A MOM. SHE IS A WONDERFUL FRIEND AND A GREAT SINGER!!! SHE ALSO LOOKS LIKE DUFFY."

So now I must pass it on to 5 other bloggers. So my nominees are:

1. My sister Kristen. She is an awesome mom and sister. I love being able to keep up with her family with her blog. I don't get to see them very often so pictures she posts keep me updated. She is the best aunt to my kids. They are definitely spoiled by her.

2. My sister in law Kathy. She is also an awesome mom and sister. Her girls are so precious and I love seeing them grow up through her blog. She is married to my little brother and loves him which I am so grateful for...and I am sure he is too!!

3. My friend Abbey. She is an awesome friend. She also is a wonderful mother. She and her family are amazing and if you know them you know what I mean.... and she always leaves comments on almost every post. I love it.

4. My friend Sarah. Also a great friend and mother. She is a trooper. She just went through a pregnancy from (for lack of a better word) hell with a deployed husband and didn't even complain once.

5. My friend Heather. Another great friend and mom. She is a great listener and always has sound advice. She is going through a lot right now and I hope all is well with her and her family.

I wish I could nominate my friend Lindsey too!! She definitely made my day and I hope I made yours too!

RULES: Choose 5 blogs that you consider deserving of this award for their creativity, design, interesting material, and also contribute to the blogging community. 2. Each award has to have the name of the author and a link to his/her blog. 3. Each award winner has to show the award and put the name of and link to the blog that presented her/him with the award. 4. The award winner and the one who has given the prize has to show the link of Arte Y Pico blog so everyone will know the origin of this award. 5. Show these rules

That's my boy!

Landon had spilled some popcorn that I had given him. I told him that he better clean it up. So he went into the kitchen and got the broom and then the dust pan and started "cleaning it up". So dang cute. What a good kid. We like to teach 'em young!!;)

And yes it is 3:00 in the afternoon and he is still in his pj's...what's your point?;)

New Paint for the Kids!

I got the boys new bedding. Just a plain brown. Their room isn't really done yet. I am going to add some guitar wall art. I was thinking of framing sheet music and then getting some vinyl lettering that says either "Let's Rock" or "Rock and Roll"

Only one wall is striped and that is how it is going to stay. That took FOREVER!! I think more stripes would be too much anyway.

For the little miss, I finished painting ALL the walls pink, covered her polka dots and added a brown stripe around the room. It looks really cute. I got her new bedding too.

Since the kids are gone I wanted to do something for them. It also helps me feel closer to them. So, I chose to redo their rooms. I wish I had good before pics. I am so excited for them to come home to their new rooms!

Pretty Pretty Princess

Cierra got Pretty Pretty Princess for her birthday and we all had a blast playing it. The boys even got into it. I am not sure Ron will be too thrilled I am putting his picture up, but oh well..it was too good not to.

Cierra Turns 6!

Her special day started with breakfast in bed..coco puffs.

Then she opened her presents before school started. No way she could last all day with that suspense!

Princess helmet to match her princess bike from Daddy and Kim.

Her party was on Saturday.

The party crew!

This post is a little late, but the babies had misplaced my USB cable and being the slow person I am didn't think of just putting my SD card in the computer until this morning.

So, at long last pictures of Cierra's 6th birthday. I can't believe she is 6. Time really does fly. Also that means that I have been in San Antonio 6 years. Way too long. It is time to move on but the military won't let me;(.