Who. Are. You?

When I started blogging, I was hoping to create a virtual scrapbook for all of our out of town family. I couldn't really imagine that anyone would check in on my blog very often except my family and a few friends. I was tinkering with the idea of going "private" or not, so I installed a site meter just to see who was popping in from time to time. This allows me to see who is visiting, how they found my blog, how long they stay, etc. Boy, was I surprised when I started getting hits from places uninhabited by people I know. I will never fully understand, why some people have found my crazy little life interesting, but I have recently noticed that several people are repeat visitors, but I don't know who they are. This leads me to my next question...

Are you a CLOSET Blog Stalker? Do you check in on my site frequently but never leave me a comment letting me know who you are? If so, please, please, PLEASE leave me a comment! If you find our lives interesting enough to stop by on a regular basis and check things out, then I want to get to know you too! And if you have a blog, then we can stalk each other. ;O) Scandelous, isn't it?

SHOW MAMA SOME LOVE PEOPLE!!!

Droppin' the L.B.'s

We can tease all we want, but seriously the numbers do not lie. As of tonight, Mark is officially weighing in at T-minus 21 pounds and I have lost a whopping 26 pounds (unfortunately, it shows more on him.) Lets be clear, I do not. Absolutely, DO NOT! encourage weight loss to be achieved in such a manner, however, it is one fan-freakin'-tastic consolation to being this sick. Especially when I have been toting around about twenty stubborn pounds left from my last pregnancy over. a. year. ago. Mark has been dragging the same amount of sympathy pounds around, too, might I add. At this rate, I am one stomach flu away from my goal weight. Really, I don't actually weigh myself for the sake of day to day tallying or diet control - that would be torture! - and I never even kept a scale in our house until I was pregnant with Jillian and was forced to weigh myself twice a day and then call my home health care nurse with the digits. But how great would the one above be - at least it would show me some love before the bad news was magnified to the world!

The Known and The Unknown.

She goes from one addiction to another. All are ways for her to not feel her feelings.

~ Ellen Burstyn

I had a very interesting conversation with my younger sister again today. I don't know where to begin. I don't know the answers. I don't know how this happened. I don't know how to feel. I don't know when she lost her light. I don't know why she chose this. I don't know why she is so angry. I don't know what to do. I don't know what to say to her, to my parents, to my family, to myself. This is what I do know. Addiction touches everyone. Addiction never goes away - it is transferred or replaced. Addiction hurts everyone not just the addict and the pain is often unbearable. Addiction is selfish. Addiction is thoughtless. Addiction is rogue. Addiction is ruthless. Addiction is deceit. Addiction is not cured; it is managed. Recovery is not about blame. Recovery doesn't allow excuses. Recovery requires honesty. Recovery demands self reflection. She has a greater probability of short term relapse than long term sobriety. She has to be honest. She has to want for better. She knows better. She has experienced better. She has a choice. She is strong. She can beat this.

Taste the Future

Taste the Future is an event featuring culinary masterpieces from over 50 of central Ohio’s best establishments. The real stars of this event are the amazing chefs, Mark included, from around the community who show off their remarkable culinary skills to over 1,000 guests.

Taste the Future takes place on the downtown campus of Columbus State, Mark's alma mater, and all proceeds from the event fund scholarships and special projects. Every year the event helps hundreds of students build their future with a college education. This year I went with my great, great, great friend, fellow SAHM, and creative genius -- Kelly. Megan and first-timer Becky joined us there. It was a night of great food and greater fun. The only news left to be discovered is who is going to get pregnant this year. Two years ago, it was me and last year it was my sister-in-law Jennifer. Any guesses for this year?

Bowl Lovin'

I am love, love, lovin' these bowls. I have been thinking a lot about Christmas lately, and sadly, I already have quite the list going on in my head. Only a few things for me, most of the items are for everyone else, but I can't publish those here. These adorable bowls are on the top. Just B.E.A.U.tiful!

A Hurricane in Ohio?

Mark's Aunt Veda lives in Florida, and upon hearing that Ohio was struck by a remnants of Hurricane Ike, this is what she had to say...

Dear Ohioans,

It is with great pleasure (and much laughter) to tell ya'll to "HUNKER DOWN"!!!!!!!!! I hope you storm chasers are safe and can easily get the knots and tangles out of your windblown hair! Just one of the many hazards of a hurricane!! Just remember...if you need new windows, you have to poke the window from the outside in! the glass has to be inside to make it look real! It does not hurt to throw in a few leaves and branches too! Have fun with this! I never heard of a cat. 1 hurricane so far inland!!!! I wonder if the tide will rise on Lake Erie!!?? Remember...get in water, duck tape, bleach, rx's, 4 day food supply, important papers, photos, flash light, batteries, you get the idea. If you are interested in attending classes on "HOW TO HUNKER DOWN" just call me. Love and prayers to each and every one of you.

Love, V.

Nesting Family

I am absolutely in love with this idea. How cute would this be for Christmas gifts? Every year each family subunit creates a homemade gift for all the other subunits. We could paint and decorate them like each family member. In addition, I have been looking for a way to decorate the top of the armoire for summer. As domesticated as it sounds, I have a different display for just about every season and holiday - except summer and back to school (which is definitely a holiday in our house.) How cute would this be to paint our family in their swimsuits. Bonus: Cellulite is not included. Get yours here.

If there is one thing our church does well, it is food. Tonight, Bishop Hay brought our family dinner, courtesy of Sister Hay, that is. And well, Karigan's face says it all. It was so super-dee-lic-ious! He said that it was a new recipe that she had seen on TV that day. Well, if anyone out there ever questions whether or not to give one of those celebrity chef recipes a stab (no pun intended) I say go for it. If it turns out anything like what we had for dinner tonight, the payoff will be unimaginable. Have I told you how delicious it was?

Nine Eleven

It has been said that 9/11 will be remembered in the same respect as the assaination of JFK, the day the Challenger exploded upon takeoff, and/or the bombing of the Murrah building in Oklahoma City. Everyone remembers where they were, what they were doing, and the emotion that resonated. So, here is my story...I had just moved to Ohio; only 10 days under my belt. My mom made the journey with me and stayed for those ten days to help unpack and get settled. She flew home on 9/10. Nine eleven was my first day on my own. I felt like only what I could imagine a deer caught in headlights might feel. I had been on my own before but the 900 mile distance between me and what I had always known as home made this feel like the first time. Brendan awoke at 9:00 on the dot. I made him a quick bowl of cereal, popped a bagel in the toaster, and attempted to find some cartoons. I wanted a shower and needed to find a job. The TV had only been on for seconds when the second plane crashed into the second tower. I remember Charles Gibson saying this can't be an accident. I was spellbound and all I could think was, "here I am embarking on this new journey, a time that was meant for happiness, yet the whole world is falling apart around me." What is your story? Click on the comment button below and let me know.

Getting By with a Little Help from our Friends

100% Waishnora has been in a time out for a little while.This last month has been crazy and super-dee-duper challenging. The latest ingredient in our cake (see previous blog entry) -- Mark has pneumonia and I have shingles. Woo flippin' hoo! Pardon the sarcasm, but pain is not my friend and it makes me rather irritable and discontented. Thankfully, we have great friends and an even greater family that have rose to our challenge better than we could have ever anticipated. So a big thank you to everyone who has called, helped, cooked, prayed, etc. Your efforts have been just about the only things that have been smile worthy these last few days. My grandpa always used to say, "Jesus never said let me know how I can help, He was just always there to help." So thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for all the help. Goodness knows we need it now more than we ever have before.

It's Friday. I'm in Love.

I had this song in my head all day long today...One of my favorites from my Cure days. Enjoy!

~

I don't care if Monday's blue, Tuesday's grey, and Wednesday too. Thursday I don't care about you. It's Friday, I'm in love. Monday you can fall apart. Tuesday, Wednesday break my heart. Oh, Thursday doesn't even start. It's Friday, I'm in love. Saturday, wait. And Sunday always comes too late. But Friday, never hesitate. I don't care if Mondays black. Tuesday, Wednesday - heart attack. Thursday, never looking back. It's Friday, I'm in love. Monday, you can hold your head. Tuesday, Wednesday stay in bed. Or Thursday - watch the walls instead. It's Friday, I'm in love. Saturday, wait. And Sunday always comes too late. But Friday, never hesitate. Dressed up to the eyes. It's a wonderful surprise. To see your shoes and your spirits rise. Throwing out your frown. And just smiling at the sound. And as sleek as a shriek. Spinning round and round. Always take a big bite. It's such a gorgeous sight. To see you eat in the middle of the night. You can never get enough. Enough of this stuff. It's Friday, I'm in love. I don't care if Monday's blue. Tuesday's grey and Wednesday too. Thursday I don't care about you. It's Friday, I'm in love. Monday you can fall apart. Tuesday, Wednesday break my heart. Thursday doesn't even start. It's Friday I'm in love. ~ The Cure

Five Things...

...I Can't Live Without

1. My Family. I love, love, LOVE my family. The one I have helped to create, the one I chose, and the one with I was stuck. Though we may not always agree or, at times, even be on speaking terms, I will always love my family and want the best for every leaf on our tree - no matter what.

2. Forgiveness. I truly believe it is the key to humanity. It is what separates us from all other creatures on this Earth. I have probably received more than I have given, but with both always comes the promise to be better, to do better.

3. Dental Floss. I can't, absolutely can not, sleep without flossing my teeth. I only wish I was more diligent in flossing my children's teeth. Something about having my fingers in a screaming, resistant child's mouth. At least they get another set by the time they are able to take care of them by themselves. Good thing for those baby teeth.

4. A DVR. I honestly do not know how we ever survived without this. My life is so busy, the simple luxury of being able to record my favorite shows or pause a show to take a phone call is just that--a luxury. The only down side - sometimes in the car I find myself reaching for the rewind button on the radio because I didn't hear something for all the noise in the backseat. Oh, I how I wish my radio had a rewind button.

5. My Spirituality. Last, but certainly not least is my faith in Jesus Christ. I love my Savior and I know that His sacrifices are my rewards. I could not imagine this life without knowing my purpose, receiving eternal blessings, or feeling His love.

Enjoyment

Jillian was coming down off her birthday high and had one of her crankiest days of all time today! She woke up on the wrong side of the bed and it was downhill from there. Needless to say, I was beyond eager to get her into bed tonight. As she took her bath I was hustling around the house spraying Lysol and trying to get things situated so that once she was in bed, I could just relax. I popped my head in to see if she was ready to get out - but she wasn't. So I started to rush off to continue doing who-knows-what (oh, I know - laundry, I am always doing laundry) when she gestured toward the toilet and hit me with..."Mom! Can't you just sit down and enjoy me?" Well goodness gracious. Who could turn down an offer like that? Especially since I hadn't "enjoyed" her all day long. So I plopped down and she told me about her mermaid and the magical, wish-granting cove under the sea. It was nice just to sit and be with her for a couple of minutes, I wish terribly it were longer, but somethings always comes up. When Brendan is in school, a few times a month Jillian, Karigan, and I have PJ days. Days that are spent in our PJs, doing whatever comes to our minds: dance, color, sing, paint, or sometimes a good cuddle and a book. Some may see this as slothful laziness because the rules are no cleaning, no errands, no phone calls, just the pure simple pleasure of my daughters' company and the fleeting chance to see the world through their eyes. We didn't have any of these days this summer, maybe once, but my memory is fuzzy, so it couldn't have been... And maybe, just maybe, Jillian has been missing these days. Goodness knows my mind has been consumed by more overwhelming matters than it is used too lately, but why is it so hard for me to just "sit down and enjoy" the little ones in my life that mean so much to me? I feel like I'm constantly rushing from one thing to the next and I never just stop and BE with them. My kids will be grown sooner than I might like. I need to "sit down and enjoy" them more. I have to remember tomorrow is not promised to anyone. The past doesn't come back and tomorrow may not come at all. Today is all we have. And so for the rest of my days and especially tomorrow, I will sit down and enjoy my kids. Or at least, I will really, really, REALLY try!

Politics As Usual?

I CAN'T STAND IT!! I can't stand the way that our country is divided. I mean people are seething with hatred towards each other depending on which way they vote. As soon as anyone gives a speech or makes a political statement, a swarm of vultures fly in, ripping them to shreds. Republicans and Democrats are so divided it's no wonder that we are at war. GOOD GRIEF people, we are at WAR with ourselves right here! It makes me crazy and as I try to stay abreast of the bigger issues, I'm just not sure what is the plain truth anymore. I am tired of skewed images and playground name calling. All I want are the facts. Who can give me that? Anyone? A solid source I have found is DividedWeFail.org. Check it out. The important thing come election day is that you have done your research, that your vote is cast for a candidate that is going to build a better tomorrow, that supports the morals you stand for, and is eager to protect the American you love and strive for the America you want. So close your eyes on election day, be blind to race and gender, and be armed with the knowledge of how whomever you choose is going to work for YOU. After all, we are the ones who hire them.

To Hide or Not to Hide???

Perhaps this is just pure laziness at work, but I haven't been able to subscribe to the big "hide the veggies" trend. In fact, no perhaps about it. I feel a great sense of accomplishment if dinner makes it on to the table, period. Pureeing veggies to hide in that dinner is just not on the agenda. But I have tons o' friends who love, love, love this method. In fact, they swear by it. And my hat is off to them, because there is nothing wrong with more veggies, and heaven knows we could use 'em around here. So anyway, I was thrilled to read this article, Stealth-Vegetable Smackdown by one of my favorite Mommy writers, Catherine Newman. Come to find out, she's in my camp! Her kids, like mine, are required to eat actual carrots and broccoli, etc. etc. She cooks 'em up all sorts of appetizing ways and gives them lots o' fun things for dipping, but broccoli is broccoli is broccoli - none of this hiding the broccoli in the mac 'n cheese. So if you're looking for some great ways to serve up veggies to your kiddies, click here and check out the recipe links at the top of the page. And feel better about yourself if you just can't bring yourself to put pureed veggies in your brownies like some amazing people I know!

God's Cake

Sometimes we wonder, 'What did I do to deserve this?' or 'What more can go wrong?' Here is a wonderful explanation, an email sent by a dear friend of mine. How could she have known I was in need of a little perspective...

A daughter is telling her Mother how everything is going wrong, she's failing algebra, her boyfriend broke up with her and her best friend is moving away. Meanwhile, her Mother is baking a cake and asks her daughter if she would like a snack. The daughter replies, "Absolutely Mom, I love your cake."

With a smile her mother offers, "Here, have some cooking oil."

"Yuck," says her daughter.

"How about a couple raw eggs?"

"Gross, Mom!"

"Would you like some flour then? Or maybe baking soda?"

"Mom, those are all disgusting!"

To which the mother replies, "Yes, all those things seem bad all by themselves. But when they are put together in the right way, they make a wonderfully delicious cake!"

Our Heavenly Father works the same way. Many times we wonder why He would let us go through such bad and difficult times. But He knows that when He puts these things all in HIS order, they always work for good! We just have to trust Him and, eventually, they will all make something wonderful!

Pee-Jay-Par-Tay

Jillian's "Pretend Sleepover" was today, and our house was busting at the seams with girls, girls, girls. We. Had. A. Blast. This party was very last minute - only about 8 days to plan, buy, make, decorate, etc. Our local Papa Murphy's had large take-n-bake pizzas on sale for $3.99, and I thought "oh, two pizzas will definitely be enough." Boy, was I ever wrong. Eight girls cleaned out 2 pizzas in minutes. Minutes I tell ya. After dinner, we made soccer hair bands (some girls have them on in the pictures), danced to Jillian's favorite songs, played "would you rather," opened presents, ate cake and ice cream, played with the presents, then had a few "bedtime stories" before the girls were picked up by their parents. Each girl left with a diary, a satin eye mask with lash detail, and a pajama party soundtrack of Jillian's favorite music with a little thank you note written on the disc. The party was a big, HUGE success. Jillian was on top of the world, and all of the girls were terrific, simply delightful.

Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina

Today is the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. I remain humbled by the resilience of those who fought to get their lives back after the extreme devastation of the storm and angry over the current condition of the area.

"A few years ago there was a shining moment in that struggle. It seemed as if there was a real promise of hope for the poor -- both black and white -- through the poverty program. There were experiments, hopes, new beginnings. Then came the buildup in Vietnam, and I watched this program broken and eviscerated, as if it were some idle political plaything of a society gone mad on war, and I knew that America would never invest the necessary funds or energies in rehabilitation of its poor so long as adventures like Vietnam continued to draw men and skills and money like some demonic destructive suction tube. So, I was increasingly compelled to see the war as an enemy of the poor and to attack it as such." ~~ Martin Luther King, Jr. 1967

Josh is Three!

Happy Birthday to our big guy, nephew, and cousin. We love your outgoing personality, the way you always insist on being in the thick of things, your independent spirit, and your awnry grin. If a game has ball, you are there and dressed in the appropriate uniform I might add. We love you big guy and hope your big day is everything you deserve.

Just What the Doctor Ordered

Well, not exactly. But at least I now know what is the source of all my issues, no not the neurotic mental ones, the bathroom ones. Two words. Intestinal. Obstruction. And yes, I will spare you the details, but just imagine a slow draining sink. I know, I know, already T.M.I. So if you need me, I will be at home, in the bathroom, consuming several trees worth of TP, and hopefully, just hopefully, I will drain normally once again.

Got any missing money?

Who couldn't use a stumble upon a big pile of money they never knew they had. Well, take a trip on over to Missing Money and see if any of it could be yours. PS - I charge a 10% finders fee.

Just one more story, Mommy, puh-leeze!

I have to say this is a K-E-E-P-E-R, keeper. Jillian is infamous for always, always, always asking for just one more bedtime story. We read for about 10 minutes every night before bed, but that 10 minutes is never enough. SO, for her birthday, she received a Barbie bedtime story clock and nightlight. And lets just say, it is magnificent. It has a nightlight and a projector with 3 images, AND two bedtime stories, The Princess and the Pauper and The 12 Dancing Princesses. We, and I do mean we (not just she) love, love, love it.

The Family Party

This year Jillian wanted to have a sleepover for her birthday party, and well since 6-10 five year old girls screaming for their moms and dads at 11 pm didn't sound like MY idea of fun, we opted for a pretend sleepover aka A. Pajama. Party. Which meant we needed to separate the good ole family party and the wild and crazy friend party. Today: Family Party. Saturday: Friend Party. Today's Plan: simple, simple, simple. Saturday's plan: stay tuned...

So we celebrated with Grandma and Grandpa Waishnora, Uncle Matt, Aunt Jennifer, Joshua, and Alyssa. Pizza and Salad then the most adorable cupcakes and ice cream. Unfortunately, I am still not feeling quite well, so I didn't get too many pictures. But I had a wonderful assistant that captured many lovely images of our living room floor. Thanks Josh, you were a big, big, HUGE help!

Happy Birthday Jillian!

~

Five years ago today, Mark went rushing down the hospital hall into the waiting room and through tear filled eyes declared, "It's a girl, and she's beautiful!"

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. ~~~

Locks of Love

Jillian received a thank you card today from Locks of Love for her hair donation. Just look at those long curls. Oh, how I miss them. As we were reminiscing about her temporarily absent locks, she reminded me that there was a little girl somewhere that needed her hair more than she did, "and besides, Mom, it will grow back."

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.

Karigan's New B-F-F

Karigan loves, loves, loves the Backyardigans.

And given the choice, Tasha is her favorite - her new B-F-F.

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.

The Suite Life of Brendan and Jillian

~~~

Brendan and Jillian were quite comical when we arrived at the hotel. I have to admit, even I was slightly in awe over the beauty of my surroundings. And of course, Jillian was NOT speechless. She loudly, and I mean loudly, proclaimed "this is suh-weet!" Brendan added, "this is the sweet life" and then it became "the suite life of Brendan and Jillian." And that all we heard, all anyone heard from the front desk, to the elevator, to the room, to the bathroom, to the bed, to the view out the window - you get the idea, right?

How did I spend my Saturday?

Want to find out.

Click here.

Gotta Love a Deal

So as a last minute hurrah before school starts, Mark and I decided to finally take the kids on that Cincinnati trip we have been talking about ALL summer. We are hoping to squeeze in as much as we can in a very little window of time on a very, very tight budget. So, I had been searching all day for a good rate at a decent hotel that was close to where we wanted to be. No luck. Later, Mark called his mom to see if she knew of any steals, and she recommended priceline.com. They now offer a "name your own price" on hotels. So, if you are familiar with priceline for airline tickets you know that you name the price and once your bid is accepted they tell you the name of the airline you will be flying on and the time of your flight. With the hotel option, you pick your star rating and name your price. Once your bid is accepted, they tell you the name of your hotel. I figured with a little strategy, we could get a nice room at a great price, and hopefully we wouldn't be stuck with one that we would have to sleep with our clothes on or wear our shoes in the shower. So we picked out a 3 star hotel and bid $50 - hey there is no harm in aiming low. Surprising, they came back and said "increase your bid by $14 to win." Thank you priceline - $64 a night for a heavenly room at the Kingsgate Marriott. I will definitely be using priceline again for every hotel stay.

The Olympics

Okay, so maybe this post should be titled The Ultimate Tear Fest because that is all I do when I watch the Olympics - cry, cry, cry. Like. A. Baby. Even as a young girl, I remember crying as Mary Lou Retton scored a perfect 10 on the vault and crying as Jackie Joyner Kersee repeatedly broke world track records. This year, the floodgates have yet to close as there have been so many proud moments for our country, the Olympians, and their families. Why the tears? Every time I hear our national anthem and see the victorious smiles on the athletes face, I feel their pride, I sense their accomplishment, and I can't help but think that each person is there because somebody believed in them -- somebody saw in them what he or she didn't even see in themselves. And that is sooo powerful to me. So, the tears come, and I can't stop them. There is no point in trying to hide them, so the tears come.

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!

Giggler Dribbler

The girl can't dribble for all the giggle, but boy she had all of us laughing with her.

The Starlights!

Soccer Practice #2 and the assignment was to bring back a super bodacious name for the team, a name that epitomized everything girl. Lets just say - We. were. prepared. Jillian had been told stories about Brendan naming his first soccer team the Blue Sharks, and she wanted to pick out the winning name as well. So before soccer practice she made a list.

And the winner is #3 - Starlight Soccer!

That Time

Only in India would you actually find a sign like this, although, we could probably use one at our house today. Oh, the hormones - out of control, I tell ya, out of control.

See the whole collection, click here.

The Start to Soccer Season

Today was a proud moment for this 'burb dwelling mamma.

My girl is playing soccer!

We have been anticipating this day for several weeks now. I have a great feeling that this season is going to be full of many surprises, a little drama, plenty of good laughs, and a lot of fun. Jillian has always been identified as a possession to someone else, i.e. Brendan's little sister, etc. Up to this point, she hasn't had an opportunity to do or excel for and/or by herself. SO - she is superstoked! And boy, Coach Eric does not know what he is getting himself into, well maybe he does a little. I am not sure if sitting on the field sulking is part of soccer (yes I do, and it is not) but I am sure we will have some of that at least once - at. least.

Surprise #1 - Brendan whining on the sideline because he had to sit and watch his sister play soccer - as if she hasn't been watching him from the sidelines her WHOLE life.

New Baby Silver Leaf Monkey

The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium welcomed a baby silvered leaf monkey in the morning hours of August 8, 2008 or 08/08/08. The last langur born at the Columbus Zoo was born on July 7, 2007 or 07/07/07. Pokey, the Zoo's year old langur is big brother to the new baby whose sex has not yet been determined. Both babies are the offspring of father, Digby and mother, Gumby. Langurs are born with orange fur and white colored skin on their hands, feet and face. The skin changes color to black within days of birth. The orange fur will change to the grown up color in 3-5 months. So we headed up to welcome the little one into the world, and learned that sibling rivalry, and the corrective discipline that accompanies it, is even more extreme in the animal kingdom. While the new baby was nursing, big brother decided to come from underneath and pull its tail. In return, mom grabbed big brothers hand and bit it! I told Brendan and Jillian to be prepared - the next time they are picking on one another, I am going to bite the perpetrator. Think it will work?

80s Housewife

You Belong in 1980

Wild, over the top, and just a little bit cheesy. You're colorful at night - and successful during the day.

What Year Do You Belong In?

Rub-a-Dub-Dub-K-Dub-in-the-Tub

They say a picture is worth a thousand words - How about two letters.

Now, if only her determination to help with the dishes lasts until she is older.

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!

Vertigo Haiku

Oh, vertigo, vertigo;

nine hundred miles an hour I go.

Stop, spinning wheel, stop!

Gotta case of the dizzies - when the room stops spinning, I will be back to post.

Five Things

So on the 5th of every month, I decided to start a list of 5 things. This month's list...

Five Things People Don't Know About Me:

1. I can walk from my bed to the bathroom with my eyes closed.

2. I am completely EVIL in the morning (only for about 20 minutes) and I can't do naps for the same reason, even though I do try sometimes.

3. I become physically ill when I am extremely tired or when I am in pain. Stomach cramps, vomiting, chills, etc.

4. I almost never answer my home phone. (I guess if you've ever tried to call me, you DO know this, or now you feel really special, if I happened to answer...) I am always doing something and the phone is never where I left it. I do make an attempt to call back, though.

5. I can't do massages or any type of repetitive touch. My nerve endings are very close to the surface of my skin, and it is painful - very, very painful.

Anybody want to play? Leave a comment listing 5 things I don't know about you!

Daddy Confusion

Is Mark a Chris Bradley look-a-like?

Apparently Karigan thinks so. You see, Chris Bradley is the lead meteorologist on Channel 10 news and while watching the weather tonight, Karigan crawled to the TV, pointed to Chris, excitedly declared "da dad dad," then started clapping. I am hoping it is because we normally watch the 6 o'clock news (watching the 5 o'clock today) and Mark typically arrives home around weather time. Sure that makes sense, right?

The Brave Little Toaster Inside Us All

While I was never one to put up with crap, having children has made me an even stronger, braver woman. Because I don't want my kids to put up with crap. I want them to be strong. I will fight on their behalf. Because I want them to be fighters. Because while I might be willing to put up with injustice on my own behalf, I never want my kids to suffer any injustice. I want my kids to be brave. To never be satisfied with something that is less than they deserve. That's what our kids do for all of us. They make us strong. Maybe because they don't necessarily have a voice of their own - we will stand up and be that voice, where we once might have stood by silently. In the world we live in today, we need strong willed kids. Hopefully, my kids will use those strong wills to fight for the good and right things in life. But they will not learn to be strong and good if we don't teach them to be. They will not be brave if we're not brave. So I guess that's the way it works. Our kids make us strong so we can teach them to be strong. I've said it before and I'm sure I'll say it again. Having kids is quite an inspiring experience...I'm still learning a lot!