On our last day at the beach in Aruba…
…I asked Skylar if she wanted to get her hair braided and she, of course, said, “YES!”
Enjoy the pictures. There are tons!
I had fun taking them and watching her enthusiasm!
But most of all, the sheer joy on Skylar’s face during the whole hair-braiding experience was wonderful to watch.
I may have shed a few tears watching my “baby”, now 4.33 years old, have her waist-length hair braided.
When did she go from bald newborn to having waist-length hair?
Did the last 4 years just fly by? Yes, they did!
Scott took these before the hair braiding session.
The highlight of her braiding experience was selecting which beads from the Braid Lady’s Bag of Tricks she was going to put on the end of each braid.
Each braid has two little beads on the end.
Digging for just the right beads was a big job.
And she felt so proud when she picked out those beads.
This was the end of our trip.
A very wonderful, amazing, and memory-filled trip.
Thank you for everyone who’s been reading with me the past 18 days that we’ve been here in Aruba.
I am sorry to have bored anyone with my beach pictures ad nauseum.
Or my local island pictures.
And I even have a highlight reel post coming soon. Lucky you. And me. We get to re-live the whole trip, one more time, probably over the weekend when that post goes up.
From my last post, Efficiency and New Technology, thanks for filling me in on what kind of computer you have and what kind you’d like to have.
For those of you who already use and love Windows Live Writer, I know. I knew it already. When I get back to San Diego, I plan to do my final research and then pony up for a screaming fast new machine.
Thanks to suggestions that I move photos and other data to external drives and try to clean up my existing machine, but after 4+ years, I just need a fresh start.
This definitely isn’t a fresh recipe, but it’s a good one. And it may be new to some of my new readers. Thanks for finding me and saying hi!
No-Bake Vegan Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Balls (with a High Protein Option)
And they take about 5 minutes to whip up, no food proc or Vita required.
Questions:
1. Have you ever had your hair braided?
My mother never let me when I was a kid on vacation. She always said the braid ladies have dirty combs.
But Skylar’s Braid Lady’s comb looked just fine to me.
Skylar said it looked like Barbie’s comb.
Edited to add, I submitted this photo for judging
The Braid Lady could braid hair faster than anyone I’ve ever seen.
The entire “event” was over and done with in about 10 minutes.
She could braid from root to tip after the hair was parted and sectioned, in not kidding, about 8 seconds. Unreal speed.
The only time I ever had my hair braided was in Cancun when I was 19 on Spring Break. Oh, I wish I had those pictures!
2. Any vacation stories or memories from your childhood, or adulthood, that you want to share?
I’m all ears!
3. If you made it this far, thank you!
You may be wondering why I have so many of these pictures?
Two reasons: first, I never know what pictures are truly going to look like until I hit publish. So that’s one reason.
The second, is I am very serious about pursuing my career dreams and aspirations and I am going to use some of these in my portfolio. Yes, my photography portfolio. More on that another time.
Do you have any favorite pictures from this post?
Why or what spoke to you in the image. What story was told? What did you feel?
Those are questions I ask myself when I am making pictures to use a Penny term.
P.S. Thanks for everyone who continues to comment on the Healthifying Desserts & Beans in Dessert post. I had a feeling it would be somewhat popular when I posted it, but had no idea it would be that popular. Thanks for your comments, stories, and thoughts.
Stay tuned for Blogging 103 and maybe some airport and airplane blogging…
Skylar looks as though she is just beaming during the hair braiding session. She looks great!
And I love the photos of you & Skylar (pre-braiding) by the rocks. Good photo Scott!
18 days already?! Wow! I’ve certainly enjoyed all the photos of your trip. No worries about my being bored by beach & scenic photos :)
Had my hair braided in Barbados when I was 16 (the comb was very clean) Kept them in for about 6 weeks and then had to take them out.
Favourite photo: black & white (or subdued maybe?) of Skylar with the pink comb.
Looking forward to more info on the photo portfolio. Your pictures have come a long way. Leaps and bounds.
“And I love the photos of you & Skylar (pre-braiding) by the rocks. Good photo Scott!”– thanks. It’s called editing and cropping on my part too….lol. Half the shot was just of rock and skylar and i were in the corner. Cropping is a beautiful thing :)
Cropping is a must :)
And here I thought Scott’s photography skills were improving by your example.
I got my hair braided like that when I was 8 in the Bahamas i also got one pf those hair wrap thingies. I can remember beig just as excited as Skylar looks! Awesome photography I like the second picture of Skylar best. Good for you for going after your dreams :) I think you definetly have a future in photography or anything you put your mind to. You just gotta believe!
thanks for the support!
So sad you’re leaving Aruba…reading your blog was like a mini vacation everyday! The pictures were just stunning; keep up with the photography, you are really gifted!
I never had my hair braided either…was always jealous of the girls who did :P
She’s too cute! I’ve had my hair braded, and yes, it’s fuuun!
Sucha amazing pictures! She is the cutest. I love the one where she is holding the bead up! Make sure you put sunscreen in the part of her hair! I had my whole head braided and got burnt in every single part! When it started to peel it looked like I had horrible dandruff!
thanks kendall and i still remember your guesties on chelsey’s blog about yoga…such a good post!
Thanks!!!
Gorgeous photos! I’ve been really enjoying reading about your time there for the past few weeks :) Those braids are too cute. I secretly want to get my hair braided. I’ve always wanted to since I was tiny! They have booths for it at the beach every summer.
Are you old enough to remember Bo Derek? https://www.folklore.org/StoryView.py?project=Macintosh&story=An_Early_Switch_Campaign.txt
She starred in “10” in 1979 and started the short-lived fad of white-women-with-cornrow-braids. Well, I’m one of those white women who tried it and looked ridiculous! Wearing cornrows requires an exotic/ethnic look that I just couldn’t pull off.
Good pics. I’d like to see how that sepia-tone works in some other settings.
the thing about sepia is that other factors, lights/darks like sand vs water…have to be “right” or sepia doesnt look so hot. with food I have found meh results but i am going to keep playing!
and yes Bo D and her braids. SHE could pull off the corn rows. I cannot!
No not like that, but I want my hair braided now! The teachers in daycare used to french braid my hair and I loved it when they did! I love black and white photos always the best!
That is definitely a face full of joy :) She looks so happy getting those braids!
Gorgeous pictures!
Wonderful Pictures and Memories… Skylar really looks like you in a lot of these pictures (although I have never seen a picture of Scott to compare?) Especially when she has those gorgeous eyes wide open! My favorite picture is the one of her standing up after you write “This was the end of our trip” She is GORGEOUS and very grown up… I am totally jealous of her hair!
I love some of the editing on the pics – and pics themself, of course!! So definitely include them in your portfolio! I need a vacation, but I’ll settle for looking at your pics right now :) I’m glad you just included the dough balls at the end, because I really want to make dough balls lately. Never have before and for some reason have a longing to now! haha
yes – I LOVE braids-27! I think that color scheme/adjustment really works for this series. It really accentuates her youth… Childlike innocence, maybe? It gives a very mellow feel, while still being allowing the viewer to feel her excitement. Love braids-53/54, too. I like the candid nature of it, as she’s not paying attention to you but rather, the comb.
You are wonderful at being able to convey emotion. Whenever you post your Skylar pictures I always feel like she’s smiling at me through my screen. I feel myself smiling right back before I’m through with the post! A future in photojournalism, perhaps?
Nope, I have never had my hair braided! The most I’ve done is dye it crazy colors :P
“A future in photojournalism, perhaps?”
wouldnt that be a DREAM come true!
And thank you “You are wonderful at being able to convey emotion. Whenever you post your Skylar pictures I always feel like she’s smiling at me through my screen. ”
:)
Hey Avery,
I have been reading your blog for about 6 months and I love it! I came across it looking for a vegan recipe (I have been vegan for 2 years). I was so excited to see you’re from Mn (I live in rural Mankato)….as you know, living in this area makes for interesting vegan conversations with others. Your blog has been a great friend to me. Keep up the great work. Ps. Skylar is adorable:)
Xoxo,
Rachel
I grew up not far from there..about 45 mins! Small world!
And yes, small towns, alternative choices can tend to get the raised eyebrow looks. Glad my blog has helped :)
All of the photos are adorable and beautiful, but I especially like the second photo of Skylar getting her hair braided. She looks trusting and excited and a little unsure at the same time, like she’s looking up for reassurance. I also like the first photo of her standing, looking at her braids. She’s so engrossed in those little beads. Precious photos!!
I loved that one too. The 2nd one and yes she was SO engrossed!
My favorite picture is the last one, of Skylar in b&w.
And can I just say…bore us? BORE US? You could never in the world bore us with pictures from Aruba! Never in a million years, because beauty isn’t boring.
Your daughter is so adorable with her braids. And your pictures are vibrant and fun to look at, as always. Who would ever want to leave that place? :)