Apple Picking

After Mark got home, we went to Lynd Fruit Farm to pick apples. Megan and Bailey have never been apple picking before and apple picking just so happens to be a Waishnora Family tradition. Mark pines (no exaggeration) for this time of year starting in January, throughout summer, and even more come fall. This was Karigan's first trip to the orchard because last year Ohio had frost after the apple trees had already started to blossom. Sadly, the apple crop was bleak and we were unable to pick.

I got one.

Oops, I dropped it!

Oh, well. It's a keeper, anyway.

Ike made apple picking very easy for Jillian this year. Several trees were down, but still green and full o' apples.

Brendan really gets into his work. Actually, he normally spends about 5 minutes searching for the perfect apple, then spends the rest of the time eating that 1 apple.

Bailey had a blast picking apples, but I think he was more amazed by finding this abandoned bird nest.

These two have very similar, very strong (aka stubborn) personalities and were constantly taunting, picking, etc. etc. etc. one another - YET - this is how they would behave when they thought no one was looking.

Megan and her loot.

Soccer Playoffs

Today was Jillian's last soccer game. Following the game, the girls received metals for participation and then each team had a pizza party. Jillian was awarded "most improved player." She started the season rather disinterested with the whole soccer thing. In fact, her favorite part was the water breaks and end of game snacks. She giggled her way through every practice and come game time, she was getting in there and getting after it! She acquired basic soccer skills and one mean bear claw (the goalie stance.) I was so proud of her! She had a good time and kept the sighing and eye-rolling to a minimum. Which is a miracle, in and of itself. She made a lot of friends through soccer and is excited to play this Spring. Go Starlights!

Memory Lane aka Pacemont Road

Megan and I met in Tulsa, but coincidentally, she was born in Columbus about 25 miles from where I currently live. So, today we took a trip down memory lane. Not that she has many memories of living here. She was born in Columbus at The Ohio State University Hospital and moved to Oklahoma when she was 18 months old. This is a picture of the house she lived in before she moved. We thought the trashcan with the address and the storm drain with the city, state, and 1976 (coincidentally, the year her mom and dad moved here) would make for great scrapbooking or a shadowbox or, ya know, a photo collage for the good ole blog.

Kid at Heart

The rest of the day was spent hanging out in the backyard, playing around, and soaking up the sunshine. The main attraction was the buoy ball on the play set. I don't blame her for trying it out. It is my favorite, too! Thankfully, no one has taken pictures of me.

Bailey the Pilot!

This was Bailey's first time to fly. The pilot let Bailey sit in his chair (I guess the airlines do not pass out plastic wings anymore.) As a SUprise, belated birthday present, we enlarged this bottom photograph in black and white. It arrived in the mail the day after they got home.

Megan Comes to Ohio, FINALLY!

Today my very best friend Megan and her son Bailey came to visit. She and I have been friends for, like...evuh! She moved to Houston shortly before I moved to Ohio. So we no longer spend our lives attached at the hip or all of our waking hours on the phone to each other, but when we do see one another or talk, we pick right back up where we left off. We haven't lived near each other in 8 years (has it really been that long?), but we get together as often as possible normally meeting in Oklahoma. Our lives have taken different roads, to be sure. I am married with 3 children. She's a sales executive and single mom. She's got man drama. I've got poopy diaper drama. But it doesn't matter. When we get together, it's like nothing has changed at all. I talk about my stuff, she talks about hers, we reminisce about how we used to be and how much we've changed...and stayed the same. I feel so lucky to have a friend like that! I know someday, we'll be cackling old ladies, still shopping, eating and gossiping with the best of 'em!

~

Tag: Eight

Tags seem to be coming by leaps and bounds this week. So here goes. 8 TV shows I love to watch.

1. Grey's Anatomy

2. Heroes

3. CSI: Miami

4. Boston Legal

5. Lipstick Jungle

6. Kitchen Nightmares

7. Larry King Live

8. Oprah - while I make dinner

8 Places I love to eat.

1. Home - I really, truly enjoy family dinner every night! Picnics in the backyard or living room, depending on the weather

2. Cheeseburger in Paradise

3. Shades

4. Panera

5. Abuelos

6. Red Robin

7. Outback

8. Sonic (though not as nostalgic now that we have five within 15 minutes)

8 things that happened yesterday

1. Slept in and so did the girls, or rather because so did the girls. Woohoo for 9:30 wake up calls.

2. Laundry, Laundry, Laundry, and more Laundry!

3. Sat still (not moving at all!) on the highway for 45 minutes on our way for #5.

4. Sang silly songs with the kids as loud as we could with the windows open in the car while other drivers laughed at us to occupy our time while stuck at #3.

5. Went to get new glasses for Brendan, only for him not to find a pair.

6. Had a pretzel from Auntie Anne's.

7. Came home to a wonderful dinner made by my even more wonderful husband!

8. After bath time and bedtime, Cuddled on the couch with my hubby to catch up on the shows we missed while we had company.

8 things I look forward to

1. Christmas in Oklahoma (the week after, anyway)

2. My parents coming for Thanksgiving.

3. A date with my hubby (really this is always number one on my list)

4. Seeing friends from Oklahoma

5. Karigan walking.

6. Time to blog.

7. Showers (without an open ear to what is going on in the rest of the house.)

8. Seeing my children smile.

8 things I love about Fall

1. Thanksgiving - it is my favorite holiday!

2. Apple picking.

3. The trip to the pumpkin patch.

4. The leaves changing colors

5. The smell of fireplaces burning.

6. Quiet nights after bedtime, sitting on the patio with Mark, wrapped in a blanket, chiminea burning.

7. Making everything apple with our loot from #2.

8. BLACK FRIDAY!!!!!

8 things on my wish list

1. New family pictures for the living room and others pictures for a secret project.

2. Happy, healthy children (now and throughout adulthood.)

3. Perspective - to always be able to see the silver lining.

4. True friends.

5. My sister to see, realize, and fulfill her true potential.

6. A BIG, trendy handbag with matching wallet.

7. A new charm bracelet

8. Unlimited airline miles to fly where ever, whenever we want.

8 people I'm tagging (If you don't have a blog, leave a comment with the answers.)

1. Robin S.

2. Martha

3. Jennifer

4. Kasia

5. Stephanie

6. Megan

7. Kelly

8. Hazel

Tag! I'm it?

Here in bloggerville a fun, community building tradition exists called "tagging." Someone creates a post sharing anything and everything imaginable and then asks certain readers to share the same, either as a comment to the original post or on his/her own blog. Well golly-gee, I was tagged twice this week. How special do I feel right now!!! The first tag came from Rachel to share my fourth photo in my fourth file, and this is it.

~

This picture was sent to me via email a while ago. My original purpose in saving this picture to my computer was to later create a shadow box with this picture and a print of the Family Proclamation, which I still plan to do. However, since I have a mountain of unfinished crafty projects, this picture resides in a pretty frame on my dresser. The second tag came from Natalie, and I have to ask one of my children a series of questions and record his/her answers on my blog. Well, Karigan isn't quite talking well enough to answer, Jillian isn't interested right now, and Brendan is at school. So maybe, just maybe, I can answer this tag tomorrow.

I tag Megan, Robin, Jennifer, Kasia, Stephanie, Jenny, and Martha.

Take Five: General Conference

General Conference is this weekend and since Sunday, Sunday also falls on Take Five, I decided to combine the two. So here are my top 5 talks/lessons given during General Conference.

1. Elder Uchtdorf (from the RS meeting last week) - Creating and being compassionate are two objectives that contribute to our Heavenly Father’s perfect happiness. Creating and being compassionate are two activities that we as His spirit children can and should emulate. The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul. No matter our talents, education, backgrounds, or abilities, we each have an inherent wish to create something that did not exist before. Everyone can create. You don’t need money, position, or influence in order to create something of substance or beauty. Creation brings deep satisfaction and fulfillment. We develop ourselves and others when we take unorganized matter into our hands and mold it into something of beauty.

2. Elder Perry - In our quest to relieve stress, the solution is to simplify our lives. There are spiritual benefits to a simplified life.

3. Elder Uchtdorf - Hope's absence can make the heart sick. We cultivate hope the same way we walk - one step at a time. Faith, hope, and charity - as one increases, the others follow.

4. Elder Wirthlin - things to do to be happy: 1. Laugh (as a result, anger and resentment have no place). 2. Seek for the eternal. 3. Understand the principle of compensation - the Lord compensates for every loss, come what may. Accept it and love it.

5. Elder Hales - (speaking of responding to aggressive challenges to our faith) surely Heavenly Father is sad and the devil laughs when we contend with others. It is a given, therefor, our intent must be to lift others and help them find the truth, not vindicate ourselves or our ego. Sometimes true disciples show Christian courage by not saying anything at all. Don't come down off the mountain and argue in the mud.

A Little Piece of Heaven

A little while back, I was not sleeping. Tossing and turning, nearly kicking and screaming while Mark snored with contentment, I had had enough. Then suddenly, I was sleeping perfectly, peacefully. Mark, on the other hand, began losing more and more sleep each night. I remember distinctly a pillow being tossed across the room in frustration. We couldn't figure it out. I had blamed it on the mattresses for a while, but why was I all of a sudden sleeping and Mark was not??? And then I remembered, I flipped the mattress. HA! It was the mattress. Well, not anymore. Because this is what we loaded up in our truck tonight. Yeah, us!

And let me tell you. We are in love. Love, love, love! Though, I do feel like the princess and the pea sitting high atop our bed and Mark is extremely paranoid about the kids even being on the bed.

iPhone

I know, I know, I know I said that I wouldn't do it. Spend that kind of money on a phone that is, BUT I did. AND I am lovin' every minute. BECAUSE it is really more than just a phone. It's an iPod, a palm pilot, a GPS, etc. etc. etc. all in one. Over the years, I have easily spent many, many times more on all the other gadgets this "phone" houses. Can you tell I am still trying to convince myself? The downside (and at first I almost returned it just because of this) I can't picture message anymore. Aw, shucks! I am definitely over that. Mark is love, love, lovin' his, too.

Jillian's First Day at PreK

Jillian started preschool today. Lets just say that I was really conflicted about this - for very selfish reasons I might add. She is still my baby. Will always be my baby girl. Even though she isn't the baby, in the sense of being my youngest child, each of my children are my babies.

And despite yesterday's conversation, she was super excited! She had this sense of self confidence that was palpable. She was so grown, big, big, BIG! The picture below is the only picture I could get of her on her first day because parents are not allowed in the classroom at drop off and pick up times to minimize separation anxiety. And, yes, it minimized my anxiety just as much as hers, if not more.

This morning while I was getting ready, she wanted to draw a picture for a new friend she would make at school today. She drew two mermaids and wrote "Hi, my name is Jillian." She gave the picture to the girl sitting next to her, Olivia.

PreK Eve

Jillian starts preschool tomorrow. I remember what the first day of school was always like for me - laying out the perfect outfit, having everything ready, lying awake for hours. I was always, always, always super-dee-duper excited. However, I didn't want my own anxieties to transfer to her, but I did ask several times the today if she was ready. The last time (and there is a reason it was the last) I asked, this conversation followed.

Me: Jilli, are you ready for school tomorrow?

J: I'm not going to school. I only want to go to PRRREEEEeee-school.

Me: It is PRRRREEEEeeee-school. (yes, I mocked her)

J: Well, I'm not going.

Me: Jilli, why do you not want to go to preschool?

J: Because, I just don't want to go.

Me: Jilli, you will have fun. You will make new friends. You will play new games and sing new songs.

J: So! (Holy wow, where did that attitude come from? Oh, yeah - me. Shucks!)

Me: I am sure you will change your mind in the morning when it is time to go.

J: We'll just see about that!!! (as she marched upstairs)

Yikes Ike or My Husband the Roofer

It is supposed to rain tonight. Mark thought it was about time we (okay he) fixed the roof. We lost 8 shingles when Ike blew through almost two weeks ago. So my handy honey, you know the one that doesn't like heights, scaled to the third highest peak (it sounds more dramatic when I write it that way) of our roof and with a little shingle cement, a few roofing nails, and one mighty swing of a hammer - our roof is fixed. F-I-X-E-D. Fixed! I am so grateful I am married to such a wonderful man that isn't afraid of hard work and finds great pride in the care and upkeep of our home. And by the way, great job holding the ladder Grandpa. He couldn't have done it without you.

Furniture Assembly, Anyone?

After the roof was finished, the mighty task of assembling the girls' furniture was the next item to be marked off the to do list today. It was a beautiful day, so Mark and Grandpa decided to put everything together outside. In addition, Mark's truck provides the perfect work station. Five hours and two pizzas later, mission accomplished. I still do not, Do. Not! know how I am going to fit everything in their room. I guess I will have to post pictures when the task is complete, but don't be surprised if it takes me a while.

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.

Karigan has Wings

The poor girl doesn't have much hair. She hasn't since the day she was born. Brendan and Jillian were both born with more hair than she has now. But, boy the hair she does have is just blond, blond, blond and curly, curly, curly. I am lovin' it. Even when it does stick out no matter how hard I try to comb it down. Her hair, just like her, definitely has a mind of its own.

I Heart Target <3

What a deal. I mean, What. A. Steal! Mark and I went on a day date to Target. Pronounced Tar-jhay - we were on a "date" after all, and we might as well make it as exotic as possible, right? And this is what we found. We had been looking on and off for about a year for new furniture for the girl's room. And wait until you get a load of this...the nightstand was $74.99, the bookcase was $99.99, and the dresser was $16.99 yes I typed correctly Sixteen dollars and ninety-nine cents. Can you believe it? We even asked the cashier if the price was right, she rescanned the dresser and said, "yep that is what it's ringin' up." Thank goodness for being in the right place at the right time. Now task #1 is assembling the furniture, and task #2 is making it all fit. Where's Grandpa?????

Sympathy Shopping

Since the "devil's fire" cream didn't work, I tried some of Mark's Gold Bond, and boy, by this time, it was Heaven sent. So Mark ran to the store to get more and strawberry syrup. However, this is what he came back with. Each of these items has a unique story behind it. Fun Stuff. Gotta love him. Wanna love him. Forever!

Chili Pepper Apothecary

Bite into a chili pepper and you are likely to feel an intense burning sensation - as if your mouth is on fire. So it would make perfect sense to apply a compound cream consisting of cortisone, lidocaine, and capsaicin to very sensitive, extremely irritated skin, right?

Well, that is just what the doctor ordered. I thought the whole battle with shingles was over and I escaped with mild neuropathy and only one spot. Ha Ha Ha! I woke up last Thursday with another "spot" on my neck, this one twice the size as the one on my abdomen. And, like an outbreak, by Monday I was covered from earlobe to knee cap. And with the pox came the pain! I followed up with the doctor on Tuesday, only to be told "yep, still shingles." He prescribed a higher dose of pain medication and a cream made at the compound pharmacy down the street. I adore the science behind holistic apothecary, but user discretion be advised. I picked up the cream, and then had a few errands to run while I was out. I used a dab of the cream in a small spot just to see how beneficial it was. And It. was. great! The lidocaine numbed the pain, and about 15 minutes later, the heat from the capsaicin soothed the chaos beneath my skin. I was so excited when I arrived home because it was time for the next application. I lathered every affected area, keeping in mind "a little goes a long way." And then it happened. I WAS ON FIRE! Crazy fire! Errupting from the tissues beneath my skin. A shower was the logical solution, right? Oh no, no, no. The warm water made the "fire" worse, and cold water made me shiver and my skin pucker.

I guess I will chalk this one up to "one of those things I am meant to experience in life." And I dare ask, "What's next?"