Mommy, a hot air balloon is going to land in the backyard!

Unfortunately, it did not, but we were hoping. It was so close the kids were having a conversation with the people in the basket. A small creek and nature preserve is located about 300 feet behind our house (the tree line in the background of the top picture). In the second picture, the balloon barely cleared the trees.

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Kids Say...

I have never really had one of those mommy moments where I wished I was a turtle and could just poke my head inside my shell and disappear, that is, until the other day at WalMart...

I was trying to get some last minute shopping completed for Karigan's birthday. Rushing through the aisles, I was pulling the kids along as they were struggling to keep a hold of the side of the basket. As we came upon the baby section, a gentleman was waiting for us to pass so he could enter. Then, out of nowhere, Jillian LOUDLY proclaims...

Look Mommy, that guy is a DORK.

What am I supposed to say to that? Where did she even hear that word (Russell Hale!!!) Anyway, a long diatribe in the middle of the grocery store about the rudeness of her statement was more than what was necessary because, honestly, she did not know nor understand the gravity of her statement. Instead, I managed to pull out some sort of Mommy wisdom that sounded a little like...

Jillian, just because someone looks differently than we do, doesn't mean he is a dork.

Perhaps, in this instance I should have said simply - just because one's body works differently than yours doesn't mean he is a dork - as he wheeled himself in behind us.

Googly DeeDee

We got this email today from Aunt DeeDee.

Boy, she is always good for a laugh.

A Little Perspective

"We think too small. Like the frog at the bottom of the well. He thinks the sky is only as big as the top of the well. If he surfaced, he would have an entirely different view."

-Mao Tse-Tung

I love this quote so much. Sometimes I forget that what seems so overwhelmingly big right now is just a mere grain of sand in my path of life. I've said before that I wish I had a little jet-propeller on my back so that I could zip up and have a better look at the path I'm on and where it's going. It can be frustrating sometimes to have such a limited view of our lives - not seeing it as God sees it. But at the same time...that's what makes it exciting! We never know what is coming next. Let's just hope & pray for good things, all around!

Backyard Fun

Happy 1st Birthday Karigan

Meme and Poppy sent me balloons and a teddy bear for my birthday. Boy, was I surprised when I woke up from my nap. I Love Balloons!

At the last minute (the way everything is for us) we opted for a small party at home for Karigan's first birthday. Grandma and Grandpa Waishnora and Aunt Jennifer, Josh, and Alyssa came over. Mark and I made dinner for everyone - parmesan crusted chicken, tortellini, and tomato mozzarella salad. After dinner the kids played with bubbles and on the play set in the backyard. Then we opened presents. Karigan received a new dress with tiny pink roses from Grandma and Grandpa, a stuffed Blue and Sprinkles with magnetic hands from the Richters, a chenille purse with a lipstick rattle, quilted money, mirror compact, and heart-shaped keys from Brendan and Jillian, then new apple PJs, a paisley handkerchief print dress, a sippy cup, and a Playskool Walk-n-Ride from Mommy and Daddy. She loved opening the packages, and the big kids liked showing her how. The cake was perhaps, as it normally is on first birthdays, the best part. At first she just pinched the frosted dots off the top of the cake. Once everyone stopped watching, she was down to business. She topped the night off with a bath in the sink and, shortly after, fell asleep in Grandma's arms.

Make Your Own Pizza Night

Tonight was make your own pizza night. Mark mixed the dough and we let it rise while we went to the store to get the toppings. I had already purchased the ingredients, but Mr. Brendan decided he was going to eat the can of olives and mushrooms (he still denies eating the mushrooms.) So, off to the store. We came back home with cheese, olives, mushrooms, pepperonis, a tomato, and a lot of creative ideas. On to pizza making. Jillian was first, just pepperoni and cheese. Then Brendan. Mark tried to toss Brendan's dough, which he did successfully, but the dough was too thin in the middle so we folded it in half. His toppings included: buffalo chicken, pepperoni, olives, and cheese. Mine was next. I made half buffalo chicken and Roma tomato and the other half pepperoni, mushroom, and black olive. Mark had to further show off his pizza making skills by stuffing the crust of his pizza and, like father like daughter, just pepperoni and cheese. Boy, were they yummers.

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.

Happy Birthday Momasita!

After yesterdays post, in honor of my mom's 55th birthday, I decided to make a list of my own.

The Things My Mom Has Taught Me

She taught me to keep my marriage a priority, that my children are a ‘product of’ my marriage, not a ‘factor in’ my marriage. She taught me not to pray for what I want, only what I need, and never confuse the two. She taught me to give until it hurts, to be true to myself and to love others for who they are not what they have. She taught me that a sense of humor can get you through the darkest times in your life and bring sunshine when it seems as if the rain will never end. She taught me the value of friendship, of listening and holding the tongue when it is almost impossible to keep silent. She taught me to love God, to honor my family, and to love myself. She taught me to stand up for myself and to defend others. She taught me that a careless word cuts deeper than the sharpest sword and heals more slowly than any wound. She taught me forgiveness is for everyone She taught me to be proud of who I am NOW, not what I may or may not become. She taught me to harvest my passions and take pride in my accomplishments.

She taught me that honesty is the essence of one’s own self respect and that though I may face consequences for what is true, I will lose my self respect for what is not. She taught me that we are not all exactly the same but we are all in this together. She taught me to love my country and to respect the law. She taught me that I teach others how to treat me. She taught me money is meant for enjoying but only after the bills are paid. She taught me to look and, more importantly, to see the best in everything. She taught me to think for myself but to leave plenty of room for the thoughts of others. She taught me the value of keeping a home in order. She taught me to keep things simple, most complications are self created. She taught me to love books and music and history. She taught me everyone has a story, even the man who cut me off on the freeway. She taught me to use my imagination. She taught me that while I reach for the most distant stars, I have to take joy in the stars I can see. She taught me that I am exactly what I think I am, no more, no less. She taught me to sing my own songs but to dance to the songs of others. She taught me that what is said about me is not nearly as important as what I say about others.

She taught me when all else fails, family is always near.

She taught me unconditional love and how to be a mom myself.

Happy Birthday, Mom

I love you!

Decisions, Decisions

This month's Real Simple featured a "things my mother taught me" section, something that's always fun to read. It would be hard for me to pick just one thing to illustrate all that my Mama has taught me - I've learned so much from her! Anyway, I particularly loved this answer:

"There Will Always Be Other Sweaters" - by Jenny Bowers

"Mildly frustrated and bemused by my indecision in choosing a new sweater on a shopping trip, my mother coined the phrase 'It's not the last sweater you're ever going to buy.' This deceptively simple maxim has entered common parlance between me and my friends whenever we need a way of cajoling one another into taking leap instead of dwelling. We have realized that if you make a mistake, there will always be another chance to get it right."

I SO love that! While it is important to take certain decisions seriously and consider them prayerfully (not the sweater thing, obviously), it's also important to remember that this life is all about trial and error. It's okay to take some chances, see what happens and go from there. We're not expected to make all the right choices the first time around. I want to be more that way. More open to new experiences. More willing to try something different. If it doesn't work out, so what? It's not the last decision I'll ever make! It's not like I can't go back and try something else. Because, as the author said, there will always be another chance to get it right.

Yum, sketti!

Karigan fed herself for the first time at dinner tonight.

Can anyone guess what she ate?

Our Dear Ms. Kraner

Brendan's teacher sent the following letter home today. Boy, are we going to miss her!

Dear Mark and Jennifer,

I give you back your child, the same child you confidently entrusted to my care last fall. I give him back inches taller, pounds heavier, months wiser, more responsible, and more mature than he was then. Although he would have attained his growth in spite of me, it has been my pleasure and privilege to watch his personality unfold day by day and marvel at this splendid miracle of development. I give him back reluctantly, for having spent nine months together in the narrow confines of a crowded classroom, we have grown close, have become a part of each other, and we shall always retain a little of each other, Ten years from now if we met on the street, your child and I, a smile to our lips, and we shall feel the bond of understanding once more, this bond we feel today. We have lived, loved, laughed, played, studied, learned, and enriched our lives together this year. I wish it could go on indefinitely, but give him back I must. Take care of him, for he is precious. remember that I shall always be interested in your child and his destiny, wherever he goes, whatever he does, whoever he becomes. His joys and sorrows, I will be happy to share. I shall always be his friend. Enjoy your summer! Ms. Kraner

Last Day of School

Today was Brendan's last day of school - and like a bozo, I forgot my camera. His class had a luau complete with an island buffet, flower leis, and the limbo. Boy, do third graders eat. They devoured four large pizzas, fifty fruit kabobs, two dozen mini fruit pizzas, five bags of chips (some leftover), twenty-four cupcakes, ten liters of soda, and each a slushy after the games. After the party, they had a flag ceremony to honor a mom of one of our students who is on active duty in Iraq. She sent our school a flag that was flown in Iraq. Then the faculty and students played "Are you smarter than a Bloom student?".

Dishes She Will Do

My sweet girl knew the last thing Mommy wanted to do last night was the dishes. After dinner, she proudly declared in such sweet simplicity, "Mommy I will do the dishes tonight." And I, proudly, did not complain one bit about the gigantic water mess that followed. My greatest goal as a mother is to teach my children compassion and empathy. And boy, what a noble reflection of her heart.

The Tastes of Summer

Karigan experienced her first Flavor*Ice today and loved it. She would shiver and feel her tongue after each bite. She was so excited. The greatest gift of being a mother is seeing the world through your child's eyes. Boy what a perspective.

Welcome summer.

We anticipate the sheer joy your season brings.

If you had $47,000...

...would you buy this bed for your daughter (or yourself?) I do have to admit it is one pretty bed, but FORTY SEVEN THOUSAND DOLLARS. Who is spending this kind of money on their children? Probably the same people spending $1.3 million on sweet sixteen birthday parties. Absurd! Hey Grandpa, think you could whip up one of these bad boys?

Oh the days of being a kid

Today we went to a birthday party for a neighbor boy. We found this totally outrageous gift, and I love it - absolutely love it. I want one!!! So much, Mark, the kids, and I drove to 3 different places trying to find another one before we went to the party. It is a giant tether ball set. The pole is normal height, but the ball is huge -- a whopping 16 inches in diameter. I love tether ball. It conjures nostalgic childhood memories of long summer days wishing the sun would never go down. BUT, as I previously stated, it was for the neighbor boy and I didn't have one. It was bittersweet as he opened the gift - knowing I can pass on such a relic of my childhood, but badly wishing we could set it up immediately and just as it was back in the day - every kid for themselves. Much to my surprise, the boy's dad and mom were ecstatic and when the kids go to bed it is GAME ON!