So I've shared how freeing my lack of a social calendar has been, but lately the novelty has been slowly wearing off. I don't want to be so busy that my head spins in circles but it'd be nice to actually need a day planner (or iPad calendar or Microsoft outlook or any other form of engagement organizer) I told Austin that I'm beginning to feel the pang in my side that tells me I need friends and he said 'well I'll see if bills and I can arrange something.
Bills(a new character in my blog who I'm sure is thrilled to be part of this blog world unknown to him) is another platoon sergeant in Austin's company who has been urging Austin to 'get the wives together'. He thinks that his wife and I would be instant friends - which sounds nice but his entire premise for his theory is based on the fact that we both like to bake. Martha Stewart and I share that in common too but I bet we'd be far fetched to find any other mutual topics of conversation. So, as is true to my personality, I've been a little skeptical and reluctant to dive in and say lets go.
I am not sure if Austin told Bills that I was begging for friends, but last night during the Olympics he texted Austin and asked if I would want to go to a book club with his wife on Thursday.
There are some red flags here.
#1 I enjoy reading but have never been a very committed reader. I sort of play on the shore of calling myself a reader and there have been long periods of time where I haven't touched a book and haven't cared one bit. So 'book club' isn't quite where I'd picture myself (truly no judgment here, I'm just not that great with it)
#2 walk into a room of 5(or maybe 20) women who all know each other, none of whom I've even met? Me? I mean you, maybe, but me?
#3 the book of the month is one I'd usually quit reading mid-way through the back cover. Actually i did quit reading through the back cover on my first glance. And I'd have to actually turn to page 1?
#4 did I mention all of the women are members of the same church, and that church happens to be a different religion than my own? Now - before you start judging me - some of my best friends from Colorado are also members of this faith and I have never taken issue with it. But if #2 didn't make me enough of an outsider, think this one might???
#5 the one women in the group with whom I'm expected to be instant friends will be moving in two months. The cynic in me says 'what's the point?'
So, I emailed the scenario to Addie asking her opinion. I know her well enough to know she herself would likely be planning to pass on the invite so I knew she wouldn't judge. And she gave me the best response:
If Rickie hadn't sat next to me in geology and asked to go to lunch without EVER knowing me, we would never have hung out. Which means we never would have hung out with Ryan and James and she never would have dragged me to that party (because James liked Rickie). Which means Ryan and I would never have started dating and I never would have been introduced to that b-batt crew. THEN I never would have met you. (and I never talk to Rickie anymore)
True. And how can I argue with logic that very well could find me a friend of 9 or more years? (Addie can you believe we've known each other for 10 years next spring????)
So - to book club I go! On Thursday. And if I absolutely hate it and never speak to the people again, I guess I lost an evening of my life. I'd say I have far more to gain.
- manda
Jul 31, 2012
You know what I'm sick of?
Politics. And it's only August! How am I going to survive?
You know what I'm more sick of? The chick fil a debate. Get over it! So a known Christian business owner answered an interview question honestly based on his beliefs - is he the first ever? Will he be the last? If you heard hate and bigotry in his statements then don't eat at his restaurant. If he offended you and you don't want to support his AMAZING chicken sandwiches and DELICIOUS waffle fries and YUM YUM milkshakes then by all means, bid them farewell. But can we just move on?
I realize that in writing this I am in fact not moving on, but I'm not here to debate his opinion or his beliefs or my support for him. I love chick fil a. Why? Because I love their food! I would eat their August 1 if I could because I'd eat there at least once a week if I could. Not because I do or do not agree with his views.
I didn't stop drinking Starbucks when they reportedly announced they didn't support our military. Number one I didn't know if it was true, and number two our relationship was not based on our joint belief system. Our relationship was based on the fact that they provided a product I liked. Period.
Did I agree with Starbucks? No. Do I agree with the CEO of chick fil a? Likely. But my point is it doesn't matter! If chick fil a were engaging in violent hate crimes against homosexuals and using company funds to do so I'd take issue with pouring my money into their pockets. But the last time I ate at chick fil a I was served by someone I'd bet any amount of money was homosexual and you know what? He was happy to work there. He and his coworkers enjoyed each other's company. And I devoured my waffle fries. So where the CEO stands on any one of his religious beliefs (religious or political? I'm sadly confused these days) is of little
Concern to me.
What IS of concern to me is #1 when is chick fil a coming to seaside, ca? and #2 when did it become wrong to have opinions one way or another? Until you can, without malicious words toward the other side, answer that question please PLEASE just make it stop.
I think I need to go to Australia until mid November.
- manda
You know what I'm more sick of? The chick fil a debate. Get over it! So a known Christian business owner answered an interview question honestly based on his beliefs - is he the first ever? Will he be the last? If you heard hate and bigotry in his statements then don't eat at his restaurant. If he offended you and you don't want to support his AMAZING chicken sandwiches and DELICIOUS waffle fries and YUM YUM milkshakes then by all means, bid them farewell. But can we just move on?
I realize that in writing this I am in fact not moving on, but I'm not here to debate his opinion or his beliefs or my support for him. I love chick fil a. Why? Because I love their food! I would eat their August 1 if I could because I'd eat there at least once a week if I could. Not because I do or do not agree with his views.
I didn't stop drinking Starbucks when they reportedly announced they didn't support our military. Number one I didn't know if it was true, and number two our relationship was not based on our joint belief system. Our relationship was based on the fact that they provided a product I liked. Period.
Did I agree with Starbucks? No. Do I agree with the CEO of chick fil a? Likely. But my point is it doesn't matter! If chick fil a were engaging in violent hate crimes against homosexuals and using company funds to do so I'd take issue with pouring my money into their pockets. But the last time I ate at chick fil a I was served by someone I'd bet any amount of money was homosexual and you know what? He was happy to work there. He and his coworkers enjoyed each other's company. And I devoured my waffle fries. So where the CEO stands on any one of his religious beliefs (religious or political? I'm sadly confused these days) is of little
Concern to me.
What IS of concern to me is #1 when is chick fil a coming to seaside, ca? and #2 when did it become wrong to have opinions one way or another? Until you can, without malicious words toward the other side, answer that question please PLEASE just make it stop.
I think I need to go to Australia until mid November.
- manda
Jul 28, 2012
MY STUPID APP
I wrote 3 blogs that just disappeared into cyber/mobile/e space apparently. I'll just have to try to recreate them this weekend I suppose.
Relay Update:
William and I are on our way out the door to try to solicit some last minute sponsors for the Relay. We have some sponsorship forms and some business card supporter forms. Hopefully we can get some local businesses to sponsor but with the last minute timing, I'm mostly thinking a few business card sponsors would be great.
We met at the Relay Site on Wednesday with our ACS representative and the team captain from the fire department. Their team name is "Seaside FD: Hot for a Cure" clever huh? The site is going to be great I think. There's a big playground so it's free entertainment for kids. In Salinas they pay for bounce houses and game trucks and stuff like that - we have a free park! It's great for a first year site. There's plenty of space for camping and cooking too, and I think we're really going to have a great time. It got me really excited! Lindsey has been working on 3 other local relays and they all happen to be clumped near each other so I'm sure she's just ready for her relay season to be over, but she's done a great job getting this first year event up and running. Have I mentioned I'm excited???
Our team has raised $1830!!! We are SO PROUD! Our goal was $2,000 so we are almost there. I realized that some people have made online donations that I never got a notice for, so I may not have been able to thank you, and some people have made anonymous donations. So - I'll just say one BIG THANK YOU to all of our supporters. We are incredibly thankful for your support through your financial donations, and your encouraging words. I've received many sweet cards in the mail from family and friends encouraging us in our journey. They really mean the world.
Sorry this update is so scatter brained - just thought I'd do a quick blog check and relay website check before we run out the door and that's when I realized my blog hadn't been working all week! So my apologies there too :) (i know you were sobbing in bed at night)
Also - it's not too late to donate, for those of you who may want to jump on board our team of donors. The site - again - is
www.realyforlife.org/seasideca
Feel free to support myself, Austin, my mom or Alfredo - or hey, you could support one of his soldiers and help them earn their t-shirts! I'm sure they'd appreciate the support too :)
Happy weekend!
Relay Update:
William and I are on our way out the door to try to solicit some last minute sponsors for the Relay. We have some sponsorship forms and some business card supporter forms. Hopefully we can get some local businesses to sponsor but with the last minute timing, I'm mostly thinking a few business card sponsors would be great.
We met at the Relay Site on Wednesday with our ACS representative and the team captain from the fire department. Their team name is "Seaside FD: Hot for a Cure" clever huh? The site is going to be great I think. There's a big playground so it's free entertainment for kids. In Salinas they pay for bounce houses and game trucks and stuff like that - we have a free park! It's great for a first year site. There's plenty of space for camping and cooking too, and I think we're really going to have a great time. It got me really excited! Lindsey has been working on 3 other local relays and they all happen to be clumped near each other so I'm sure she's just ready for her relay season to be over, but she's done a great job getting this first year event up and running. Have I mentioned I'm excited???
Our team has raised $1830!!! We are SO PROUD! Our goal was $2,000 so we are almost there. I realized that some people have made online donations that I never got a notice for, so I may not have been able to thank you, and some people have made anonymous donations. So - I'll just say one BIG THANK YOU to all of our supporters. We are incredibly thankful for your support through your financial donations, and your encouraging words. I've received many sweet cards in the mail from family and friends encouraging us in our journey. They really mean the world.
Sorry this update is so scatter brained - just thought I'd do a quick blog check and relay website check before we run out the door and that's when I realized my blog hadn't been working all week! So my apologies there too :) (i know you were sobbing in bed at night)
Also - it's not too late to donate, for those of you who may want to jump on board our team of donors. The site - again - is
www.realyforlife.org/seasideca
Feel free to support myself, Austin, my mom or Alfredo - or hey, you could support one of his soldiers and help them earn their t-shirts! I'm sure they'd appreciate the support too :)
Happy weekend!
Jul 23, 2012
Californ-I-yay Roday-o
Salinas has a theme song for their rodeo - I don't remember all of it but it ends with 'at the Californ-I-yay Roday-o'. Very pneumonic of them.
But it was a lot of fun!
I had noticed signs for the rodeo when I first started my job and thought it could be a fun event. I had no idea how big it is for this small/mid sized town. But when I heard they pronounce it roDAYo I was a bit worried. When I hear that pronunciation I, naturally, think of pretty woman and roDAYo drive. So I assumed salinas was trying to glam up a country event and that it wouldn't be worth attending. We were offered free 'sponsor' tickets for my birthday though, so I figured - why not?
William LOOOOOOVED it. Loved it. We had access to the hospitality tent where there were tables and chairs with free food and drinks, so Austin and I preferred to stay there. But William kept asking to go sit in the stands where he could see better so we finally obliged. He was so happy! I couldn't get a picture of his face cause he wouldn't take his eyes off the cowboys and animals.
It was at the same outdoor sports complex where the relay for life was, but the arena is much bigger than I had realized before.
And of course William loved all the tractors.
We didn't realize the timing for the events so we missed more than we'd like, but we still had a great time. After the bull riding we walked around the booths to see if we could find Austin some boots. We didn't, but we did find these!
And would you believe the salesperson said his Texas merchandise just flies off his shelves? I wasn't surprised. It's a pride unsurpassed. And who was I to break the streak? we had to support the local Texas love.
William liked trying on hats but I wasn't about to spend that money on a hat he'll soon grow out of. That's what grandparents are for, not mommies.
We tried to walk over to the kid's play area but it was already closed. We did catch the face painters though and William was pretty proud of his spider man.
Look at that proud face! He kept pointing to his unpainted cheek saying 'this is William' then pointing to his paint saying 'and this is spiderman!' For someone who has never seen spiderman he sure does live the paraphernalia!
And in the end we had a tired, conked out baby. He could barely stay away past 7:00. He had an awesome day and loved the rodeo!
And I have to say I was pleasantly surprised myself. It was pretty awesome!
- manda
But it was a lot of fun!
I had noticed signs for the rodeo when I first started my job and thought it could be a fun event. I had no idea how big it is for this small/mid sized town. But when I heard they pronounce it roDAYo I was a bit worried. When I hear that pronunciation I, naturally, think of pretty woman and roDAYo drive. So I assumed salinas was trying to glam up a country event and that it wouldn't be worth attending. We were offered free 'sponsor' tickets for my birthday though, so I figured - why not?
William LOOOOOOVED it. Loved it. We had access to the hospitality tent where there were tables and chairs with free food and drinks, so Austin and I preferred to stay there. But William kept asking to go sit in the stands where he could see better so we finally obliged. He was so happy! I couldn't get a picture of his face cause he wouldn't take his eyes off the cowboys and animals.
It was at the same outdoor sports complex where the relay for life was, but the arena is much bigger than I had realized before.
And of course William loved all the tractors.
We didn't realize the timing for the events so we missed more than we'd like, but we still had a great time. After the bull riding we walked around the booths to see if we could find Austin some boots. We didn't, but we did find these!
And would you believe the salesperson said his Texas merchandise just flies off his shelves? I wasn't surprised. It's a pride unsurpassed. And who was I to break the streak? we had to support the local Texas love.
William liked trying on hats but I wasn't about to spend that money on a hat he'll soon grow out of. That's what grandparents are for, not mommies.
We tried to walk over to the kid's play area but it was already closed. We did catch the face painters though and William was pretty proud of his spider man.
Look at that proud face! He kept pointing to his unpainted cheek saying 'this is William' then pointing to his paint saying 'and this is spiderman!' For someone who has never seen spiderman he sure does live the paraphernalia!
And in the end we had a tired, conked out baby. He could barely stay away past 7:00. He had an awesome day and loved the rodeo!
And I have to say I was pleasantly surprised myself. It was pretty awesome!
- manda
Jul 20, 2012
What do you think of?
In times like this, what is it that you think of? Where does your focus land?
Do you think of the innocent lives lost? Do you think of the lives cut short, and what they could have become had someone not stolen it from them? I wonder what they thought when they saw the shooter enter the theater. I wonder if they saw him at all.
Do you think of the injured? Do you think of the people laying in the hospital with gun shot wounds? Their lives will never be the same. They will look at the world through new lenses. Will the lenses be good? Will they embrace the gift of another day and make something of themselves? Or will their vision forever be tainted and battered, seeing the worst in everything around them?
Do you think of the employees at the theater? The people who were awake in the middle of the night to try and earn some extra money on their next paycheck. The ones who were mindlessly serving popcorn and coke to people whose lives were going to end suddenly? I wonder what they felt when they were watching the time tick by on the clock then suddenly heard gunshots and screams.
Do you think of the families who got dreaded phone calls? Mothers kissed their teenagers before they went to bed that night and told them to come straight home after the movie. Parents paid babysitters to care for their children until their expected safe return a few hours later. But while someone was murdering innocent people at a theater, their families were sleeping peacefully at home in their beds. They had no idea the horrific loss they were going to endure in their sleep. I wonder if they’ll ever sleep well again.
Do you think of the family of the shooter? Did they suspect anything was wrong with him? Did they talk to him at all? I wonder a lot about his mother. I wonder if she will replay his entire life in her head for years to come. I wonder if she will beat herself up forever over potential mistakes or wrong choices, never knowing if she failed as a mother. The guilt of motherhood is the heaviest burden to carry I think.
Do you think of your own families? Do you hug them one more time just because you realize life is precious? Do you call and apologize for the mean thing you said yesterday? I usually tell William we don’t have time for 4 books in the morning (he asks for 4 because he knows at bedtime he gets 4) but today I let him sit in my lap as I read 4 books of his choice. I squeezed him tighter, I kissed him more, and I thanked God for the opportunity to be his mom. Again. And again.
Do you think of the shooter? Do you think of him with hatred? pity? compassion? I wonder how long he planned this. Weeks ago when he saw his state ablaze did the thought ever cross his mind that enough lives were lost? I wonder why he planned this. Was he angry? Was he lonely? Was his brain so convoluted to think that he was just acting out a scene from the movie? Did he just want his name to go down in history? I wonder what he’s thinking right now.
Or are you like me? Me – I think of all of them. I juggle thoughts of the victims, the witnesses, the families, my family, and the shooter. Am I so affected by this tragedy because it occurred 10 minutes from our last home? Or are we all so affected by tragedies like this because it brings reality to the forefront of our attention? I’m angry. I’m hurt. I’m scared. I’m sorry.
And I’m thankful. I’m thankful that I have been given today. I’m thankful that I can appreciate the blessings in my life. My entire day was filled with love and blessings, and I’m thankful I can remember that today.
- manda
Do you think of the innocent lives lost? Do you think of the lives cut short, and what they could have become had someone not stolen it from them? I wonder what they thought when they saw the shooter enter the theater. I wonder if they saw him at all.
Do you think of the injured? Do you think of the people laying in the hospital with gun shot wounds? Their lives will never be the same. They will look at the world through new lenses. Will the lenses be good? Will they embrace the gift of another day and make something of themselves? Or will their vision forever be tainted and battered, seeing the worst in everything around them?
Do you think of the employees at the theater? The people who were awake in the middle of the night to try and earn some extra money on their next paycheck. The ones who were mindlessly serving popcorn and coke to people whose lives were going to end suddenly? I wonder what they felt when they were watching the time tick by on the clock then suddenly heard gunshots and screams.
Do you think of the families who got dreaded phone calls? Mothers kissed their teenagers before they went to bed that night and told them to come straight home after the movie. Parents paid babysitters to care for their children until their expected safe return a few hours later. But while someone was murdering innocent people at a theater, their families were sleeping peacefully at home in their beds. They had no idea the horrific loss they were going to endure in their sleep. I wonder if they’ll ever sleep well again.
Do you think of the family of the shooter? Did they suspect anything was wrong with him? Did they talk to him at all? I wonder a lot about his mother. I wonder if she will replay his entire life in her head for years to come. I wonder if she will beat herself up forever over potential mistakes or wrong choices, never knowing if she failed as a mother. The guilt of motherhood is the heaviest burden to carry I think.
Do you think of your own families? Do you hug them one more time just because you realize life is precious? Do you call and apologize for the mean thing you said yesterday? I usually tell William we don’t have time for 4 books in the morning (he asks for 4 because he knows at bedtime he gets 4) but today I let him sit in my lap as I read 4 books of his choice. I squeezed him tighter, I kissed him more, and I thanked God for the opportunity to be his mom. Again. And again.
Do you think of the shooter? Do you think of him with hatred? pity? compassion? I wonder how long he planned this. Weeks ago when he saw his state ablaze did the thought ever cross his mind that enough lives were lost? I wonder why he planned this. Was he angry? Was he lonely? Was his brain so convoluted to think that he was just acting out a scene from the movie? Did he just want his name to go down in history? I wonder what he’s thinking right now.
Or are you like me? Me – I think of all of them. I juggle thoughts of the victims, the witnesses, the families, my family, and the shooter. Am I so affected by this tragedy because it occurred 10 minutes from our last home? Or are we all so affected by tragedies like this because it brings reality to the forefront of our attention? I’m angry. I’m hurt. I’m scared. I’m sorry.
And I’m thankful. I’m thankful that I have been given today. I’m thankful that I can appreciate the blessings in my life. My entire day was filled with love and blessings, and I’m thankful I can remember that today.
- manda
Jul 19, 2012
Opening a present
I wish I could paint you a picture. But I'm not an artist, so I'm going to attempt to paint you a picture with my words. I know I will fail to match the beauty I'm aiming for, but maybe I'll land somewhere close.
In the mornings it is usually foggy in Monterey. I don't love fog, but it is a happy time of day for me. I always hear George clooney's voice(and hearing George clooney can make any day a happy one) in The Perfect Storm saying 'the fog's just lifting. ...' I hear it because I loved that part of the movie; I loved where he relished in the blessing to be living his life. I can't believe I get to live where I am now, seeing a bit of the fog he described. This morning's fog was a little different though.
First, as we entered onto highway 1 which is maybe 50 feet from the water the fog was more dense than usual. There was no sight of sunshine peeking trough, no visibility of the waves breaking on the shore, no signs of tail lights ahead. It was a very thick, pretty nasty fog. I remember thinking 'I guess we got spoiled in June with the lack of fog and we are collecting on past due weather'. Then in an instant it was like we just curved around the fog wall. To my right I could still see this grey, dense fog consuming the beach and above the car and mountains I saw the same. But just in front of me, just peeking around the well defined edge of the fog, the sun was shining down on Monterey. I tried to capture a picture as the moment captivated me, but let's be honest - I was driving 65 mph down a freeway with a jabbering 2 year old. I shouldn't have been taking pictures in the first place, and the one I got just didn't do the moment justice.
There's just a little piece of God's gift to me peeking out. And in that instant I heard Him say, 'even when you can't see where you're going, just keep trusting that I have a gift for you on the other side of the clouds'. And he sure does! My picture doesn't show the fog that was literally consuming me. My picture doesn't show the brightness which shined through the little gap of the landscape. If I were a photographer or a painter I'd work tirelessly to capture that and share it with you.
I got an email today from one of my oldest friends and she said, 'I'm so glad you're doing so well in Cali, I know how nervous you were'.
I was. But I did my best to trust and have faith and believe that God had a plan laid out. And as He guided me, he slowly peeled back the fog to reveal his beautiful gift. He revealed it a little at a time, constantly reminding me 'stop worrying; I've got this. You have no idea'.
I had no idea. And maybe today you have no idea. I don't know if God shared this with me as a reminder of his faithfulness through all of this or if He shared it with me because He's trusting me to share it with you. Either way, I couldn't keep it to myself. God shared Himself with me and for my birthday he let me open a beautiful gift. Happy, happy birthday!
- manda
In the mornings it is usually foggy in Monterey. I don't love fog, but it is a happy time of day for me. I always hear George clooney's voice(and hearing George clooney can make any day a happy one) in The Perfect Storm saying 'the fog's just lifting. ...' I hear it because I loved that part of the movie; I loved where he relished in the blessing to be living his life. I can't believe I get to live where I am now, seeing a bit of the fog he described. This morning's fog was a little different though.
First, as we entered onto highway 1 which is maybe 50 feet from the water the fog was more dense than usual. There was no sight of sunshine peeking trough, no visibility of the waves breaking on the shore, no signs of tail lights ahead. It was a very thick, pretty nasty fog. I remember thinking 'I guess we got spoiled in June with the lack of fog and we are collecting on past due weather'. Then in an instant it was like we just curved around the fog wall. To my right I could still see this grey, dense fog consuming the beach and above the car and mountains I saw the same. But just in front of me, just peeking around the well defined edge of the fog, the sun was shining down on Monterey. I tried to capture a picture as the moment captivated me, but let's be honest - I was driving 65 mph down a freeway with a jabbering 2 year old. I shouldn't have been taking pictures in the first place, and the one I got just didn't do the moment justice.
There's just a little piece of God's gift to me peeking out. And in that instant I heard Him say, 'even when you can't see where you're going, just keep trusting that I have a gift for you on the other side of the clouds'. And he sure does! My picture doesn't show the fog that was literally consuming me. My picture doesn't show the brightness which shined through the little gap of the landscape. If I were a photographer or a painter I'd work tirelessly to capture that and share it with you.
I got an email today from one of my oldest friends and she said, 'I'm so glad you're doing so well in Cali, I know how nervous you were'.
I was. But I did my best to trust and have faith and believe that God had a plan laid out. And as He guided me, he slowly peeled back the fog to reveal his beautiful gift. He revealed it a little at a time, constantly reminding me 'stop worrying; I've got this. You have no idea'.
I had no idea. And maybe today you have no idea. I don't know if God shared this with me as a reminder of his faithfulness through all of this or if He shared it with me because He's trusting me to share it with you. Either way, I couldn't keep it to myself. God shared Himself with me and for my birthday he let me open a beautiful gift. Happy, happy birthday!
- manda
Jul 18, 2012
Oh man! Just great
I wrote a blog yesterday and it didn't post! So now I have to re-write it then I'll be a day late on William Wednesday again. Ahhh, what frustration.
Two days ago I got a super fun birthday package in the mail. And what is a birthday package without at least one surprise for William? This was actually my second awesome package and neither one disappointed my little tot.
But this one brought on a parental 'mistake' that was just so fun!
After dinner and playtime Monday I proceeded to take William to the bath to clean him up and wind him down. I thought I had done a good job and then at 8:30 as I was drying him off I heard Austin say, 'wait don't bring him in his room I'm making a surprise for him'.
I was thinking maybe a tower of blankies or stuffed animal buddies or laying out his 4 books for the night. I was not envisioning a remake of the Olympic rings out of his new glow sticks!!! We went into his room when Austin said it was ready and William's face lit up when he saw the glow stick masterpiece.
Usually after bath there's about 3-5 minutes of trying to get him dressed and get him to lay down, then 10 or so minutes of reading his 4 chosen books, then if he still let's us we sing songs until he's asleep. Otherwise we just lay with him for a little bit and bedtime ends almost like clockwork at 9:00. But, as the clock struck 9:00 we were still building necklaces and bracelets and more Olympic rings and twirling them all in the air and laughing hysterically. Finally at about 9:05 I asked William if he wanted to play with his glow sticks alone for a little bit while we showered and did dishes and then told him I'd come back. He didn't like the plan but when I told him the alternative (losing his glowsticks) he decided it was a great idea! When I went back in at 9:30 he was just barely keeping his eyes open, cuddled up with his favorite toy du jour.
(what it looked like with lights off)
In the morning, this is what I found
I put the glowsticks on the floor and got him ready for school, thinking surely they'd die out during the day and lose their luster. So at 8:45 last night when I heard lots of giggling coming from his room I was surprised to find that he and dada were playing with the glow ring again...still glowing away.
So, if you need glow sticks that live up to their name I highly recommend the black tube from michael's. They will not disappoint! But if you're trying to get a 2 year old (or almost 30 year old) to sleep I'd recommend you leave the glow sticks downstairs. Just from personal experience.
- manda
Two days ago I got a super fun birthday package in the mail. And what is a birthday package without at least one surprise for William? This was actually my second awesome package and neither one disappointed my little tot.
But this one brought on a parental 'mistake' that was just so fun!
After dinner and playtime Monday I proceeded to take William to the bath to clean him up and wind him down. I thought I had done a good job and then at 8:30 as I was drying him off I heard Austin say, 'wait don't bring him in his room I'm making a surprise for him'.
I was thinking maybe a tower of blankies or stuffed animal buddies or laying out his 4 books for the night. I was not envisioning a remake of the Olympic rings out of his new glow sticks!!! We went into his room when Austin said it was ready and William's face lit up when he saw the glow stick masterpiece.
Usually after bath there's about 3-5 minutes of trying to get him dressed and get him to lay down, then 10 or so minutes of reading his 4 chosen books, then if he still let's us we sing songs until he's asleep. Otherwise we just lay with him for a little bit and bedtime ends almost like clockwork at 9:00. But, as the clock struck 9:00 we were still building necklaces and bracelets and more Olympic rings and twirling them all in the air and laughing hysterically. Finally at about 9:05 I asked William if he wanted to play with his glow sticks alone for a little bit while we showered and did dishes and then told him I'd come back. He didn't like the plan but when I told him the alternative (losing his glowsticks) he decided it was a great idea! When I went back in at 9:30 he was just barely keeping his eyes open, cuddled up with his favorite toy du jour.
(what it looked like with lights off)
In the morning, this is what I found
I put the glowsticks on the floor and got him ready for school, thinking surely they'd die out during the day and lose their luster. So at 8:45 last night when I heard lots of giggling coming from his room I was surprised to find that he and dada were playing with the glow ring again...still glowing away.
So, if you need glow sticks that live up to their name I highly recommend the black tube from michael's. They will not disappoint! But if you're trying to get a 2 year old (or almost 30 year old) to sleep I'd recommend you leave the glow sticks downstairs. Just from personal experience.
- manda
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