Sleepy Heads

Today is Megan and Bailey's last day in Ohio and I couldn't, just couldn't, resist this photo op. Waking up this morning and seeing the boys like this conjured so many, many memories. Meggie and I have several pictures of the boys like this from over the years. Maybe in a few days I will dig some out of my photo boxes and post a few comparisons.

You're Invited

A little while ago, I was reading an article about parenting in the August Ensign titled Love, Limits, and Latitude. I knew as I read that the impression from this article would be, will be lifelong. I was really inspired, encouraged, and validated by these simple words. I want to read this article every morning before I get going so I can start the day in the right frame of mind. Seriously, it made everything seem so clear. I consider myself a pretty savvy parent. I parent with love and authority, I praise with gratitude and esteem, and I discipline with clarity and diligence. But oh the times they are a changing. As Brendan and Jillian grow, their demand for discipline increases, and Mark and I have began to notice differences in our parenting. I come from a long line of yellin' and hollerin', so I constantly battle the vociferous urge to bark and squall commands. Mark on the other hand, comes from the ideology that you do what you are told, when you are told - no questions asked. If only it worked that way all the time, right? I have noticed over my last 11 years as a parent that my children are more responsive when I invite them to do something, instead of commanding them to do it. I was sharing the article and its teachings with Mark today and relating all my newly discovered answers to all the parenting questions we have had lately hoping to reach a middle ground. A middle ground may be within reach, each day adds a new piece to the puzzle. However, what we did get today was some immediate super-spectacular comic relief. Actually, it hurt too much for Mark to laugh, but I was laughing my tail off anyway.

The cause for such laughter...Mark and I were still not feeling well one day last week (he had pneumonia, I have shingles.) It was the first day we managed the whole day without help. The kids were finally bathed and in bed, Mark and I were ready to crash, and the Bigs were constantly getting out of bed. Brendan already achieved three times up post tuck in, Jillian was inching towards a fourth (we could here the springs of her bed squeaking yet again), and Mark had enough. Enough, I tell ya. So from his roost on the couch, he yells upstairs, "Jillian, I invite you to go to bed!" Read the article, you will understand and it will make you laugh even harder.

Rock On!

~~~ Brendan decided he wants to be in a band. Leave a comment with potential rocker names. The winner gets a copy of his first demo. ~~~

That Time Already?

Ohhhh...Back to School, Back to School

To prove to Dad that I'm not a fool

Got my lunch packed up, My boots tied tight

I hope I don't get in a fight

Ohhhh...Back to School, Back to School, Back to School

~Adam Sandler

Today, is the first day of school, and despite my previous Staples post, I am truly sad that this day is here already. Summer passed before our eyes and days of schedule-free fun are long gone. Good luck, Bubbie! Remember who you are and know we are proud.

Brendan the Thrill-Seeker

Attempted his first "big boy ride" with no hands

B Shot in a Slingshot

As we drove by King's Island on our way to our hotel, a giant hamster ball shot into the sky. Immediately, Brendan called out from the back seat, "That is what I am going to do!"

And. So. He. Did!

265 feet in the air. 65 miles per hour.

Sorry, the video is sideways. I was trying to capture the full parameter of the launch. And at one point the ball goes off the camera. That would be because...as his mother, not only was I trying to preserve this moment in history, but I also had to make sure he was okay. SO - I wasn't really focusing on the camera shot.

Mom-cation

Some people go on vacations, some people have stacations, I have mommycations!

Definition: achievement of simultaneous naps without a mommy to do list. TGIF!

Dr. Insecta

A very dear friend of ours is a wonderful, fabulous, stupendous, eclectic, genius, hilarious, AMAZING magician. He is

THE AMAZING MAXWELL.

As part of his portfolio, he is working with local libraries as Dr. Insecta to help kids "catch the reading bug." So we thought we would check him out at our local library. What a show! A little magic, a few bugs, a lot of fun, and then one lucky kid got to turn into "Insecta Kid." Lucky. Brendan! Yes, that is a giant, hairy tarantula holding my son up by his belly. AHHH!

Wonder-ful

So I offered the kids a treat in exchange for some house cleaning, good behavior, etc. Okay - you can call it bribery, but it worked. So Mr. Magoriums's Wonder Emporium was the first "kid movie" on Pay per View that caught my eye. I remember when the movie came out last year - wanting to see it, but then being disappointed when it didn't get the best reviews. But, I found myself "wonder-ing" again. I knew Jillian would be intrigued by all the toys and colors, and because one of the lead characters was Padme from Star Wars, Brendan would be in, too! Any connection to Star Wars is always a bonus! So about the movie - Boy, oh, boy - it was so wonderful! I love, love love it and want to buy it - or maybe add it to my Christmas list. I even called my mom to tell her she had to see it - she has the ultimate movie collection of all time, and this would make a great addition. I am surprised that I did not hear more good things about it when it was in theaters. I just (not that I am a "just" person - from the movie) loved all the hidden messages in the movie and it was so inspiring to me. The heroine of the movie is Molly Mahoney and she was a child protege on the piano. She is now 23 years old and STUCK. She has not moved past playing the magnificent piano pieces that she was able to play as a child. She is trying to write her own, and yet she just can't make it happen. She also still works at the same toy store that she has worked at since she was 15 years old. Without giving away all the fun, quirky details of the movie ... The 234 year old, eccentric Mr. Magorium has decided that it is time to leave the store and he wants to give it to Mahoney. She doesn't want him to leave and so he is trying to make it stay. She even tries to show him all the wonderful reasons why he should stay. Overall, what a great lesson in learning how to believe that anything is possible, that sometimes your life is not what you thought it would be, and that our Heavenly Father can use our gifts in ways that we did not see coming. It is about getting outside the box and letting life be an adventure. It is about not being JUST a person. So, this is a tidbit of what I took away from the movie - I can't wait to watch it again with Mark - because he will love it too and I will probably find something else to love about it even more! All I can say is I give it 5 great big stars, despite what the critics say!

Family Camp In

For Brendan's second birthday, Meme and Poppy gave him a two person dome tent. It was green and red and a two year old boys dream. Brendan was so super excited that we set it up in the yard that very night and camped out, well slept out. Keep in mind Brendan's birthday is in November and it was particularly cold that year. We piled as many sleeping bags and blankets we could fit inside, a few stuffed animals, some snacks, and we were set. As soon as we awoke the next morning, we ran inside to get warm. Brendan gleefully remembers that day and every time he talks about going camping, that story is the first to be told. Well, a few years ago, one of the poles to that particular tent broke. We searched and searched for a replacement, but were never successful in finding a pole short enough. Well, Meme and Poppy to the rescue...

Brendan received a new tent from Meme and Poppy when they were here this past April. We were waiting to use it later this summer at Old Man's Cave, but the kids just couldn't wait any longer. With a little help from Daddy, Brendan anxiously set it up in the backyard, and he did a mighty fine job, might I add! Quite the boy scout he has become. We roasted hot dogs on the chiminea and then an army of mosquitoes began their attack. A little known fact about the Waishnora clan: Mark and Brendan are highly, highly sensitive to mosquitoes. Upon being bitten, Brendan swells up and has been known to turn blue. Mark, on the other hand, attracts every mosquito within a five mile radius, and once bitten (who am I kidding, it is never just once) develops circular, knotted welts the size of a quarter and bigger. Brendan's reaction is simply treated with Benedryl. Mark, on the other hand, has to go in for a steroid shot :( So since the mosquito population is at an all time high this year, and the visible swarm was evidence enough for us, we opted to bring the tent indoors. The kids had a blast just the same. Karigan would crawl in and out, in and out, and then roll from one side to the other. Then Brendan and Jillian would do the same. Needless to say, the tent is going on Day 3 in the house and has moved from outside to the living room to the dining room.

Sliders Anyone?

Grandma and Grandpa Waishnora stopped by today and brought a 6 pack of "Sliders" with them. Wowee. Brendan. Loves. Sliders. I have often said and today reinforced the notion that Karigan is Brendan in girl form because Karigan loved, loved, loved her first slider. Thanks Mamaw and Papaw. We love you!

Surfer Quilt for Brendan's Room

Brendan's bedroom is nearing completion. Items remaining: tiki bar/raffia hut window treatment and bedding. Window - later, bedding - now. So, a few months ago we found two great Tommy Hilfiger surfer themed sheet sets at TJMaxx (sorry Uncle Jeff.) All that is left are the quilts I promised, promised, pinkie-promised Brendan. I drew the design for the top bunk and Brendan drew the design for the bottom bunk. I am doing the top bunk first because I want to incorporate the leftover fabric into the quilt for the bottom bunk. So here is the sketch for the top bunk, keep in mind he has a "T" bunk system, so the top quilt has to be viewed cross ways...

and these are the fabrics we are going to use

Surfboard 1.) the two skull and rose fabrics in a old-school, vertical pattern 2.) camo shark fabric 3.) money fabric with an outlined American flag vertex 4.) cherry red guitar on a music note fabric background 5.) a water outlined flame long board 6.) tie dyed star fabric bordered in white with 3 white stars 7.) Chinese letter fabric behind green dragon with orange and yellow striped belly and 8.) the buckeye board - created to resemble a OSU football helmet in scarlet and gray complete with earned buckeye stickers. All of the boards with be "leaning" against a rickety fence in the sand. I might even "carve" a few love tags in the fence - maybe MW + JW in a heart. The back of the quilt with be the yellow/orange hibiscus print bound in white damask striped fabric. Anxious to see it? I am!

Brendan's Twin: Found at the Zoo

The kids found an old bag of hairspray paint in the basement last week. Since then, each day brings a new style, color, etc. Brendan opted for a fauxhawk and day glow orange for our trip to the zoo Thursday. Upon passing this caution cone, I couldn't resist the photo op.

World Series Champions, Maybe Next Year

Well, Brendans team's run for the Little League Championship has come to an end, and I was at a motherhood crossroad. You know, the pivotal intersection of decision. On one hand I can act like a sore loser and rant about the politics of little league baseball, on the other I can choose to advocate for my son, his team and stand up for what is just and fair. Or, as I have chosen, neither because sometimes things happen, and no matter how loudly you scream, it will be as it is - as it was.

Rewind -- Since the Midwest has been pummeled with torrential downpours on a daily basis this last week, all the teams knew that our schedules had to be flexible, that rain would fall, fields would be wet, and that games would be postponed. Our first playoff game was scheduled for Saturday. We are up 6-0, bottom of the 3rd. The winds pick up, a few drops begin to fall, then each drop within every cloud above simultaneously falls to the ground. In the confusion, the opposing team scores 4 runs. The field is too wet to continue any time today, so we are postponed until Sunday. The boys assume they will continue where they left off and are disappointed Sunday to learn that the game has to begin again. Melancholy and sadness consume all efforts to play and 7 runs are scored by the opposing team the first inning. A big pep talk by the coach and finally some finesse is seen by the 3rd inning. And the drops. start. to. fall. First 1, then 2, then a repeat of the previous game's rain out. Only this time the game is called, not postponed, not rescheduled. Called! I will spare this post from the diatribe that is running through my thoughts and will not place judgement on the events being linked to the commissioner being the coach of the other team or the ump his nephew. I will only continue to exclaim to Brendan that "you win some, you lose some, but the important thing is you keep playing like you will win them all."

So we went home, threw our clothes in on the spin cycle, and went for pizza. Later, we topped the night off with our own backyard baseball game, in which Jillian sent a ball into the neighbors yard, Brendan lost two balls to the sewer, Mark let the kids win, and I made a stealthy slide into second. Mark thought I fell, and came swooping in to save me. Teach him to doubt my athleticism, though the "damsel in distress" wasn't so far fetched either.

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

Brendan's last baseball game is Thursday night, and then the playoffs begin on Saturday. Stay tuned for an update after the Championship game on July 7th.

Summer Zoo Trip #1

Check back for more info later

Bedtime Story

Brendan volunteered to read Jillian a bedtime story last night. Flawless results, don't ya think? It was fun this morning when they woke up listening to their stories of...he stole the blankets, she kicked me, etc. I do have to say, that is a tiny bed for those two wild sleepers to share.

Hey Brendan, How's your vision?

They say pictures are worth a thousand words. This one is worth about nine.

Mom, I can't see out of my glasses anymore.

The Pool is Open!

The 'Top Ten List' for opening day at the Waishnora Family Pool

10.) It's hot.

9.) Karigan did not like the cold water.

8.) Flavor*Ice will not change the color of the water.

7.) Pee will.

6.) Do not drink the water.

5.) Telling the mail lady I did not wet myself.

4.) Applying sunscreen to each square inch of three bodies every hour, only to discover I missed under Jillian's eyes each time.

3.) Putting the Aloe Vera gel in the refrigerator.

2.) Sleepy, sleepy, sleepy kids.

1.) Quiet time for Mommy and Daddy.

Boys Day Out

Mark and Brendan went to see the new Indiana Jones movie this weekend but got a little side tracked along the way. I am not sure what happened to the picture of Mark posing with the big, green guy. He probably knew where it might appear.