lousy louse and and a turqoise blouse

Layton brought home a special souvenier from Orlando. And this time, it was a good thing that he didn't share. About a week after we got home from Florida, Layton started complaining about his head itching. I knew what I had to do but just didn't have a minute to do it since it was Cassidy's birthday. The following day, he came home from school again and said, "mom, my head is still really itching!". It didn't take me long to find some new tenants in Layton's head. No one else was infected and no other signs of lice at school, so that was good. The only thing I can think of was the hotel room in Florida. Layton slept on the floor there and layed on a bedspread each night for extra padding. All at once I had vivid recollections of all those 20/20 episodes where they show you exactly how many bedbugs are in hotel beds and all the many body excretions that show up on bedspreads under the blue lights! Apparently, I missed the episode where they showed how lice likes to live in the bedspreads and carpets!

My first reaction to this news was not good. I was already a stressed out maniac with just being gone for a week, getting ready to leave for another week and then leaving for 3 weeks to Rwanda only a few days later. Poor little Layton. I quickly calmed myself and explained to him that I was not mad at him. I was mad at the situation. He had done nothing wrong. It was just something I didn't really have time to deal with. But it turns out, this was probably a blessing in disguise and his lice bought me time rather than stealing it. I was scheduled to babysit some kids that day, keep another girl for several days while her family was out of town, and have a family over for dinner the next day. Well, needless to say, when I told them all the news....everyone cancelled on me! And it turns out, boys with lice are WAY easier than girls with lice. A few hours of medicated shampoos, gels, nit combs and laundry and we were lice free! I took Layton to school the next day to have the nurse check him out because I couldn't see any trace of lice. The nurse at school even questioned if I really saw anything in the first place because he looked so good! But yes, I still have nightmares about the those little critters I saw and they were, oh, so very real.

So with everything under control at home, I was off to Utah with Kennedy for BYU Cougarette try-outs. Of course, I didn't even make it to my parents house before stopping at Market Square for a little bargain shopping. Our goal was to find the perfect turqoise top for Kennedy to wear during try-outs. No turqoise tops, but I found plenty of other stuff! So, then it was off to 3 different dance stores all around town to find everything she needed for try-outs. Then, only to find out later that night she hated it when she put it all on together! So, back to the store for a manic shopping spree to find what she needed with 5 minutes til closing time. The rest of the night was filled with trial hair-do's and make-overs and me be-dazzling the turpoise top. If this is any sign of what her wedding day is going to be like then just lock me up now!

The next day we were off to Provo. My mom went with us, hoping we would be able to watch the try-outs. Unfortunately, they changed the policy since my sister, Brittany tried out to a closed audition. So, mom and I got to sit on a bench and visit for 4 hours. I quite enjoyed it, especially after the month I had just had. There were over 100 girls there to try out and only about 3 spots available. You could just feel the tension and competition among the girls. I did not envy Kennedy at all - in fact, I think I was more nervous than she was.

There are three steps to the try-out process. First, all the girls are taught some across-the-floor techniques and asked to perform them in groups of 4. Kennedy said the technique was crazy hard and immediately felt like she was out of her comfort zone. After that step, they cut the girls down to about 50. Then the girls learn a routine. Then they are cut down again and the remaining girls are interviewed. Kennedy was cut after the technique portion and said the news came as a relief to her. After learning that the team practices 4 hours a day and on Saturdays, Kennedy was relieved that that was not how she would spend her freshman year of college. Not to say, she might not mind so much later on!

I couldn't had been more proud of her even if she had made the team! She is such an example to me of pushing to be your best self, courage and determination. Any time she wants something, she goes for it, giving 100%. She isn't afraid of failure, only afraid of not trying. She will be able to look back on her life with no regrets. What more could a mother want for her kids? I can't wait to see all the other amazing things that come to Kennedy because of these qualities. You are a true winner in my eyes!