My niece and nephew are staying with us for a few days during their spring break. Tonight during that lovely time between dinner and bedtime the kids are looking for something FUN to do.
Mirna (my niece) finds a set of old makeup brushes in CJ’s costume bin. “Hey!” she says, “we should do a makeover!” She looks around and adds, “Now if only we had a dummy…”
Suddenly all eyes are on me.
“Oh fine,” I say, “You can put makeup on me.”
The upside to this gig, I think, is that I get to sit on the couch for an extended period of time while getting credit for “playing” with them.
I dig through my makeup bin, pulling out the oldest, cheapest, and most neutral colors.
How much damage can they do with mauves, pinks, and champagnes?
How much damage, INDEED.
The children are beside themselves with excitement.
CJ is leaping up and down shouting OH BOY OH BOY OH BOY!
Henry races around the room five times before grabbing a brush and getting to work.
Mirna giggles feverishly and rubs her hands together.
I sit down, take a deep breath, and close my eyes.
Ever-so-gently they dab and brush and dot. It’s strangely relaxing, this makeover. I zone out and congratulate myself on my brilliance.
Meanwhile, the layer of makeup covering my face grows thicker and thicker.
“Mommy, you are looking BEAUTIFUL!” CJ tells me. 
“We’re making you into a lady,” Henry says, as he very carefully dabs a brush along my chin.
They are amazing, these children. In just 45 minutes they have managed to turn me into… well…
The truth is, I look like a burn victim.
They say that makeup can do amazing things. NOW I believe it.
Notice how my eyes appear even smaller and squintier.
Observe the splotchy glow of my skin, the angry red patch on my neck.
See my eyebrows? No? It’s because they’ve all but vanished along with any hope for eyelashes or lips.
“Auntie Jen, can we do you hair too?” they ask me, eagerly.
Why not?
***
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xo Jen
April 8, 2008 at 1:26 am
This is beyond hilarious! Im glad the kids had fun and well, it was at least relaxing for you. You are a very brave soul, me not so much.
April 8, 2008 at 2:17 am
haha! It does feel nice, doesn’t it? That’s why I let my nieces do this sometimes. Although I must say, they’ve never quite taken it this far…
April 8, 2008 at 5:08 am
I love getting makeovers from the kids. It’s soo relaxing. My nieces are too old for it now, an dmy kids aren’t quite old enough. I’m waiting though. They owe me some relazation.
April 8, 2008 at 5:24 am
OMG! This is the funniest thing I have seen in ages! I must remind myself NEVER to let my boys do this to me! LOL! Really, I think it’s great that you let them do this! You’re a good sport.
April 8, 2008 at 5:56 am
You should have let them have other colors! I let my kids do a makeover on me once – one boy, one girl.
When they were done, they proudly proclaimed that I looked like “a rainbow alien”. LOLOL Personally, I think I was ready to hit the jungle for some serious recon. ;-)
April 8, 2008 at 6:37 am
Too fun! I want to play next time!
April 8, 2008 at 6:38 am
Okay, you had me laughing out loud with the burn victim comment.. 45 minutes of play though? I would totally let them do that to me too..:)
April 8, 2008 at 6:57 am
This is fabulous! You are so lucky they are old enough to play with makeup so that they don’t try this with “washable” markers instead. I am laughing so hard, though honestly the joke’s on me, since I’ve never come up with such a great activity in which I could sit still with my eyes closed for 45 minutes and still get credit for playing with the kids. I bow to your genius!
April 8, 2008 at 7:12 am
You are awesome. I think you may have found your new look.
April 8, 2008 at 7:23 am
AND you got felt up, so double score!
How long did it take you to wash it all off?!
April 8, 2008 at 7:28 am
this made my day. thanks. you look FIERCE!
April 8, 2008 at 7:43 am
This would have been a great Make Me Laugh Monday post, cause I am sitting here in tears I am laughing so hard. Um with you, not at you!
Good sport!
April 8, 2008 at 7:50 am
Hilarious. I love that he thought he was making you into a lady. So funny!
April 8, 2008 at 8:03 am
I loved that! I remember doing that to my aunt when I was a kid and blues and greens were so very “in” – she looked like a space alien when my sister and I were done.
My aunt went down in history as the coolest aunt ever. I’m sure you did the same with the kids.
Great job! :)
April 8, 2008 at 9:18 am
I know that LOVELY TIME! I like how the makeup artist is copping a feel! He’ll go far in the biz!
April 8, 2008 at 9:30 am
How sweet you let the kids do this. I have to find the pic of me when the kids did my hair. Ugh! You created some great memories for them. Kudos to you.
April 8, 2008 at 10:05 am
Har! You are far braver than I.
April 8, 2008 at 11:35 am
Oh, that’s funny!
April 8, 2008 at 11:54 am
I think they are budding makeup artistes! Such talent! You look gorgeous, dahling!
April 8, 2008 at 12:09 pm
How funny- sorry, but you do look like a burn victim, but amazing how creative the kids are and what a good time they had.
April 8, 2008 at 1:17 pm
LOL! Making you into a lady!!! This was great!
You look FABulous, dahling! Eyebrows are SO last year!!
April 8, 2008 at 1:29 pm
Hmm,I would have asked if the spa served drinks while tending to your beautification.
April 8, 2008 at 2:20 pm
You lovely absolutely lovely!
April 8, 2008 at 4:49 pm
I can’t believe you didn’t save this for May’s “Hot Mama’s Know” post.
April 8, 2008 at 6:57 pm
I guarantee the day I do this, I’ll fall asleep and the kids will get out the scissors!
April 8, 2008 at 7:45 pm
Dude. You are the SPORT of all SPORTS.
You are the Aunt EVERYONE wants, you know that right?!
April 9, 2008 at 6:16 am
Wow. You managed to milk 45 minutes out of that one?! Hell, I’d do it too for that kind of entertained child time! What fun.
April 10, 2008 at 12:35 am
Oh, you are the best Aunt ever! :)
April 10, 2008 at 2:52 pm
If you had shown the picture without the story, I would have thought you did it in Photoshop. That’s amazing. But kudos on scoring 45 minutes out of a quiet activity!