Author: momonthegoinholytoledo

Huge fan of living life to the fullest! You're only given one life, it is a gift, don't waste it! I'm a mom of 3 and enjoy sharing and living this philosophy with my kiddos...I share our adventures, experiences, the extraordinary and mundane.
How much are you willing to spend on a child’s B-day Party?

How much are you willing to spend on a child’s B-day Party?

momonthegoinholytoledo

Ok, so I have gone to a significant amount of birthday parties this year. Between my 4-year-old and my 6-year-old social butterfly I have had the opportunity to observe many moms in this Birthday Chaos Mode. We have attended bug themes, princess themes, dancer themes, super hero, dinosaur, cowboy, you name it and I am sure there has been a correlating themed birthday party we attended. Since when did a child’s birthday party become such a huge production?

The vast amount of time, energy, and money that is sunk into these occasions astounds me at times.  I always thought the big, break the bank party people threw was for weddings, not the case any more. My husband and I were discussing this birthday party epidemic the other day and we were trying to determine how this crazy birthday party revolution evolved.  When we were children we did not have birthday parties till we were at least 6 years of age and even then they were often smaller scale gatherings.  We would have a hand full of friends over to play pin the tail on the donkey, make a pretty picture, have some cake, and call it a day.  Granted every now and again I would have a friend whose parents would have a party for their child at a fast-food restaurant or even at the pool that they were members of but, again, it often wasn’t anything to elaborate.  So when did this birthday party revolution occur and how has it evolved into such a spectacle?

Was it a 4-year-old who woke up one morning and declared that he wanted a bounce house, a clown, tons of candy, cookies, cake, cupcakes, trampoline, pony, dancers, goody bags trimmed in gold that Donald Trump would be jealous of, and an outlandish gift that is not appropriate for my age that all my friends will envy.  Or perhaps we should blame MTV?  After all isn’t that the easiest was out? Why take responsibility as the parents, no, let’s blame entertainment media.  Did this all start because of the MTV elaborate show Sweet Sixteen where parents, mind you often millionaire parents, throw teenagers parties that any bride would be envious of? Perhaps the over the top party idea was then imbedded to memory and was unconsciously referenced when it came time for the 4 year olds birthday? Or maybe a mother really asked her child what they wanted for their party and they made their every wish come true? I don’t know about you, but if I actually threw the party my 4-year-old wanted there would be a space ship in our backyard, perhaps a few fire trucks as a safety precaution in the front, the Wiggles dancing on the roof, and Yo Gabba Gabba characters being shot out of cannons on the side of the house.  Oh, and the cake would be tons of PB & Jelly sandwiches in the shape of the spaceship in the backyard (don’t be surprised if you actually see this type of party on some celebrity reality show- talk about crazy!).

I guess we will never know the true culprit, who first entertained these crazy competitive, over the top parties but the crazy bus needs to be put out of commission. The elaborate birthday parties are making moms go wild and not in the cool crazy way. We are talking scary, nuts, veins bulging from their foreheads way.   It is not a pretty sight for anyone to witness let alone a poor, innocent, 4-year-old.  Why are these moms driving themselves crazy to have the best birthday party for their child? We get it, you love your child but don’t you love them enough to provide boundaries and limits to their expectations.  If you are starting off so elaborate at 4 how are you supposed to top it at their next birthday?  These moms are not only competing with each other but they are also competing with themselves.  If you have more than one child each party must be better than the last. 

Moms there is no need to break the bank when it comes to your child’s birthday party, keep it low-key.  Have fun planning the party with your child.  Bottom line and most importantly enjoy the day.  Your baby will never turn 3 or 4 or whatever age again, soak it in mom and designate another parent or girlfriend as your photographer that day.  You will be so busy with the activities that you will not have the time to take a lot of pictures, you will treasure them later.

So, how much is too much to spend on a child’s birthday, how much did you spend on your child’s last birthday? What is the most elaborate child’s birthday party you have attended? Any one happen to see the Real Housewives of OC last week? Alexis, a mother fo 3 young children had an elaborate party for her twin 4 year-old daughters (the entire thing was rather humorous if you are looking for a good laugh) and she had puppies for the guest to take home (like on Bridesmaids), how pissed would you be if you were one of those children’s parents who attended the party?

Cystic Fibrosis, 65_RedRoses, and what you can do TODAY to help!

Cystic Fibrosis, 65_RedRoses, and what you can do TODAY to help!

momonthegoinholytoledo

36 years ago, give or take a few months, there was a Respiratory therapist and a young man who volunteered at Cystic Fibrosis Camp. For those of you not familiar with Cystic Fibrosis here is some information:

Cystic fibrosis is an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system of about 30,000 children and adults in the United States (70,000 worldwide). A defective gene and its protein product cause the body to produce unusually thick, sticky mucus that: clogs the lungs and leads to life-threatening lung infections; and obstructs the pancreas and stops natural enzymes from helping the body break down and absorb food.

Statistics:

  • About 1,000 new cases of cystic fibrosis are diagnosed each year.
  • More than 70% of patients are diagnosed by age two.
  • More than 45% of the CF patient population is age 18 or older.
  • The predicted median age of survival for a person with CF is in the late 30s.

While at that camp they grew close with many of the children and got to know each other.  They allowed themselves to form relationship with these young children, they wanted the children to have a wonderful camp experience, they wanted them to feel like “normal children”, to help them enjoy what little time they had left on this planet. All the while knowing that the bonds they would form would be short lived and their hearts would break deeply when they received the news that a child had died.  It had to take a lot to be willing to volunteer for such an amazing opportunity and yet heart wrenching one at the same time. The Respiratory therapist and the young man who volunteer at Cystic Fibrosis camp are my parents.  They met while volunteering at camp and would eventually marry and have 3 children of their own.  

Over the years I have heard stories about the children my parents had the pleasure of meeting at Cystic Fibrosis camp. I think I had forgotten that it wasn’t just what my parents contributed to the camp but it was also what they learned, shared, and witnessed.  Those children in a way live on today because of the memories my parents share.  My mother always speaks so fondly of two young sisters, 5 and 7, with big brown eyes, who were just the sweetest, gentlest, little angels.  They enjoyed everything an average little girl would enjoy, playing dolls, swimming, riding bikes, etc.  But their little bodies did not always agree with their little spirits.  They would be in and out of medical care, experience horrible coughing fits, vomiting, etc.

She has also shared the fact that Cystic Fibrosis can hit an entire family which is what happened to one such family, all four of their children had Cystic Fibrosis and yes, all four died at a young age.  As a Mother now myself I could not even image the amount of strength it must take to know that all four of your children will not live past their 20s.  The amount of strength it must take to live every day to the fullest because you never know if it will be their last. The amount of strength it must take to bury a child and know that you will be doing this again, very, very, soon. 

I was reminded of the courage and strength that those diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis have and the strength their parents and loved ones maintain because they LOVE when I viewed the movie 65_RedRoses.

It also helped to watch Ava’s story and to understand that Cystic Fibrosis is not who she is, she is more that Cystic Fibrosis. Here is a clip that really helps explain 65_RedRoses.

 

 

After viewing 65_RedRoses I also double checked to make certain that I am an organ donor.  To know that if something did happened to me that parts of me might go on and make someone’s else’s life that much more fulfilling is a gift unlike any other.

May is CF Awareness Month

What You Can Do??

During the month of May, you can:

  • Walk in Great Strides. More than 100,000 walkers will put their best foot forward this year at more than 600 sites nationwide. Register today.
  • Be an Advocate for People with Cystic Fibrosis.
    • There are many federal and state issues that affect people with CF. You can help get our collective voice heard by contacting your elected representatives. Check out our “Take Action” advocacy page to read about the issues and learn how you can help.
  •  Download the “Cure CF” iPhone App. Use it to educate potential new volunteers and donors about the mission of the CF Foundation. Download it for free from the iTunes App store.
Flutter Your Worries Away at The Butterfly House

Flutter Your Worries Away at The Butterfly House

momonthegoinholytoledo

The first day of May brings about much anticipation and excitement for many impending events.   Big events such as, the culmination of the school year, the joys that will precede summer break, graduation celebrations, the excitement of Mother’s Day, and last but not least, Opening day of The Butterfly House!

The Butterfly House is located in Whitehouse Ohio, just a short drive from Toledo and it is by far one of the most relaxing outings/field trips I have ever had the pleasure of sharing with my children.  The first time we visited the butterfly house our eldest was 3 years old and infatuated with butterflies. In fact, her room is adorning with pink butterflies.  She practically lost her mind when we entered the magnificent space where she was greeted by gorgeous Morpho Peleides, Papilio palinurus, the classic, all-time favorite Monarch, and many many more gorgeous butterflies fluttering all around.  

The experience is amplified by the fact that while walking around viewing the gorgeous butterflies in such an idyllic environment classical musical plays in the background.  The combination of fluttering butterflies, the water trickling in the small pond, the amazing foliage all around, and the classical music embodies you and bring about one of the most relaxing experiences.  When I leave The Butterfly House I leave with the same relaxing mindset that is only equal to a Spa experience but for much less.

I had been counting down the days to our visit, so desperate for the relaxing feeling that encompasses you after the visit.  May seems to be one of the craziest months with school activities, after school activities, rehearsals for recitals, recitals, weddings, showers, Mother’s Day, etc.  I could feel the stress mounting and I knew that The Butterfly House was just the thing to help me relieve the mounting pressure piling up from the multitude of responsibilities and obligations.  And it did!

We so enjoyed our visit, we went with our Playgroup and the young children seemed to enjoy themselves as well as the parents. Our preschooler really enjoyed watching the butterflies eat and noted the Proboscis and how it looked like the butterfly had a cool straw that sucked up the banana. He also enjoyed seeing the pupa (chrysalis). The butterfly house has a window where children can watch the butterflies emerge from the chrysalis. It was a wonderful learning experience for our preschooler and toddler. We can’t wait to go back with big sister once school is out. The Butterfly House also has a beautiful space for picnicking after your visit, the scenery, breeze, and environment are unsurpassable.

 

Are you fascinated with butterflies? Do you have favorite butterfly?  Have you been to a Butterfly House near your home or perhaps the one in Whitehouse?

Mission impossible: To raise confident kids in a superficial and over-sexed society?

Mission impossible: To raise confident kids in a superficial and over-sexed society?

momonthegoinholytoledo

Being a mother of two girls my heart ached the other day when I witnessed a young adolescent girl walking down the street with short shorts, a halter top, and high heel shoes.  I wanted to yell out the window, “Honey, you are worth so much more than that”.  So this instantly got me thinking, who was this girl’s role model? Who influenced her decisions? Shoot, who influenced her wardrobe?  My conclusion was four-fold; perhaps her mother or female guardian, her peers, fashion industry, and/or the social media had something to do with her wardrobe selection that morning?  

Female role models:

A female role model could be a mother, sister, cousin, aunt, close family friend etc. It got me thinking about my own daughters and who their female role model might be once they reach adolescents. Then it occurred to me that what they witness today can even have an impact on how they mold their future self-image and behavior.  So I took a good hard look at some of the female role models that girls have to look up to today, number one being their own mothers. (Don’t get me wrong fathers play a vital role too! First and foremost they need to be present and they need to live a lifestyle that doesn’t encourage daughters to have low self-esteem.  It doesn’t help when dads are looking at magazines, watching, or frequenting establishments that encourage a sex sells innuendo. But more on that later.) Surprisingly this concerned me, it had me thinking about current posts on facebook, conversations with other moms, and cyber media. What did these all have in common, a strong self-deprivation agenda! Many moms are complaining about their weight, their thighs, cellulite, etc. and how unhappy they are, if only they could fit into their skinny jeans then life would be great! What messages are we sending to our daughters, to our sons? Are we saying that your worth is in some way directly measured by your pant, bathing suite, or dress size? Perhaps if we, as moms, focused just as much energy on the positive attributes as we do complaining about the flaws we could be that positive self-worth image that our young adolescents so desperately need to prescribe to?

Peers:

This one scares the crap out of me!! Because while you can encourage and influence friendships when your children are young as they grow older you slowly lose this ability.  They enter middle school, high school, get their first job, and suddenly they are introduced to a broad spectrum of individuals whom you will have no say in whether or not a friendship should be fostered. What if your daughter makes friends with the daughter of the mother who has been religiously bantering about her physical attributes for years and now her daughter thinks she is only valued by her appearance? But how does that young girl know if her appearance is valued? Well by the amount of attention she receives from the boys of course.  All that attention more than likely will lead to synthetic power; she has something all the boys want. Then, one day a young boy will say all the right things, all the things she had been yearning to hear for years, synthetic of course, and they give into the most animalistic behaviors. She will then lose her power and synthetic love so she will start the vicious cycle all over again, pushing the envelope further each time.  And your daughter bared witness to the entire fiasco. But, what will she think? Will she think she needs to dress reprehensible in order to get all the boys attention?

Fashion Industry:

My daughter is age 6 and currently wears a size 8.  I am 5’-9” and my hubby is 6’-6”, she is going to be a tall young lady. Unfortunately since she wears a size 8 it seems like the fashion industry feels as though she should be dressing as a pre-teen. I have had such a difficult time finding appropriate clothing for her. Shorts and skirts that cover her bum when she bends over and shirts that cover her mid-drift are difficult to come by. What gives? Why are children being exposed to an adult fashion industry when it comes to the styles that are available? Thankfully there is a strong dress code in the school district we reside in and all the children dress for success. But outside of school is another story.

It is obvious that stores are just trying to sell sex and at a young age. Just take Abercrombie & Fitch, what are they selling in the following ad….

 

Shoot, this advertisement doesn’t even have the model wearing ANY clothes!! So, what are they selling??

 

Media:

It seems like our youth are slowly becoming numb to the idea that something is too racy or scandalous to wear.  The skinnier, shorter, and sexier the better seem to be the motto society is feeding our young ladies. I know this is getting lengthy and I could go on for day so I will keep this short. Here are two quick examples of what pre-teens and teens are viewing these days.

J.Lo, you know the mother of young twins, singer and one of the judges for America Idol, the show pre- teens and teens watch in hopes of one day making it big themselves.  She has a new song and video out…..

 

And then there is this show that I found to be uncomfortable for me, a 30 something woman to watch.  I could not image my teenage daughter watching it.

 

We live in a society that doesn’t value or respect the female form; it is more like a meal ticket. Sex sells and until consumers stop buying, it will keep on selling and further assisting in the degradation of adolescent girls self-image.

So, as Gandi said, “be the change you want to see in the world”. Before you utter a self-degrading comment about yourself think about how it might affect those around you.  When purchasing clothing for your children look for age appropriate pieces that will help build their confidence from the inside. Lastly, and this one is tricky because children have so many means of viewing media, try to monitor what your child views or at least be present in the media so you know what type of conversations to initiate. Growing up televisions were not allowed in bedrooms and the computer was in a community space for all to view, I like those rules.

What are the rules in your home? How do you deal with outside influences? Have you experienced any clothing dilemmas? As I stated I have two young daughters, I am really interested in hearing other moms advice.

 

Happy Mother’s Day

Happy Mother’s Day

momonthegoinholytoledo

Happy Mother’s Day Moms!!

Here is something beautiful I wanted to share with each of you on this special day.

The moment that changed my life!

 

First time Mommy amazed at the beautiful blessing that is her baby girl.

 

A baby asked God, “They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow, but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless? “

 God said, “Your angel will be waiting for you and will take care of you.”

 The child further inquired, “But tell me, here in heaven I don’t have to do anything but sing and smile to be happy.”

 God said, “Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you. And you will feel your angel’s love and be very happy.”

 Again the child asked, “And how am I going to be able to understand when people talk to me if I don’t know the language?”

 God said, “Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will teach you how to speak.”

 “And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you?”

 God said, “Your angel will place your hands together and will teach you how to pray.” “Who will protect me?”

 God said, “Your angel will defend you even if it means risking its life.”

 “But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore.”

 God said, “Your angel will always talk to you about Me and will teach

you the way to come back to Me, even though I will always be next to you.”

 At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from Earth

could be heard and the child hurriedly asked, “God, if I am to leave

now, please tell me my angel’s name.” God said, “You will simply call her, “MOM”

What I Bought myself for Mother’s Day, 2 Apps every Super Mom MUST Have, and a Special Shout Out to YOU!

momonthegoinholytoledo

Okay, so I fell in love with this mug the moment I walked into Caribou the other day, I just had to have it. So, I did what any Super mom would do, I bought it for myself because if past experience has taught me anything it is that you sometimes need to purchase your own Mother’s Day gift. Please, don’t get me wrong, my eyes fill with tear the moment my children hand me those delicate imprints of their hands and I read those heart wrenching poems that coincide. You know the ones; the ones that make you want to come up with some secret potion to keep them small forever. Why must they grow, and why so fast?? And of course my hubby, God bless his soul, he does try to makes an effort to give me a Mother’s Day gift from the heart, kind of.  But if I have to fake a smile for one more gosh darn last-minute, convenience purchased, cheap, carcinogen based candle I might lose it! Seriously, I am not sure if he is aware of this or not but he has given me the same candle 3 years in a row, I have the proof.

 

So, long story short, instead of doing a woe is me pity party later, after the Mother’s day festivities I decided to purchase the mug for myself. This way I am guaranteed a smile Mother’s Day as I sip on my coffee from my new mug.  Despite what gifts and appreciation may, or may not be expressed on Mother’s Day I am already guaranteed a great day because my mug says I am a SUPER MOM!!

The mug got me thinking though, what does every SUPER MOM need in order to be, well, SUPER? Faith, patience, kindness, a sense of humor, love, tolerance, integrity, faith, a positive disposition, a sense of humor, fortitude, a sense of humor!! If you can’t tell, I think faith and a sense of humor need to be emphasized; you can’t take life or raising children too seriously and sometimes you will have those days when you only get by on a prayer. SUPER MOMs also need super support networks. A supportive family, friends, neighbors, etc. are a must otherwise you lose your mind and the SUPER. Then I started thinking about some of the more modern-day gizmos like technology, iPads, iPhones, etc. and the ways they support and encouraged the SUPER status. There are two must have apps that instantly came to mind.

 

Gube, it is wonderful, a true life saver in desperate moments.  You know those days when you are at your wit’s end and you feel like throwing in the towel but you still have 2 more errands on your list?  Well, Gube is the answer. Gube is an app that provides kid safe videos. Parent’s there is no need to worry about your toddler or preschooler stumbling across a provocative video on their search for Elmo or Yo gabba gabba. Gube provides parents with a catalog of pre-screened, moderated, and safe, yet fun, YouTube videos. Designed and developed by parents of toddlers for parents with young children. Paired with the BubCap (www.bubcap.com) home button cover, it turns your iPhone or iPad into a great learning and entertainment device!

Best part, as a special Happy Mother’s Day Gube is $0.99!! It is normally $3.99 but starting Friday May 11th– Sunday May 13th  it is $0.99, so be sure to get your app Friday! Moms this is a great gift to give yourself for mother’s day, trust me, you will thank yourself the next time you are waiting in the Doctor’s office, waiting in line at the grocery store,  going on vacation, or stuck in road construction (construction season is just around the corner).

 

The second app that is a must for a SUPER MOM is Rescuehood.  As many of you know I experienced a Scary Mommy Moment this spring while enjoying what was supposed to be a fun-filled memorable day at the zoo with my children and friends, but quickly became a nightmare.  As I express in Scary Mommy Moment: You can’t Find your Child!, there is panic and pure adrenaline that takes over your body when you can’t locate your child. It is a feeling that no mom, parent, or guardian should have to feel or experience. But if they do have the misfortune of experiencing this scenario Rescuehood is the ally you want on your side!

Rescuehood would instantly alert everyone in the area that a child is at risk, so a mass of people can mobilize into action and rescue the child fast. Rescuehood is an emergency broadcast social network however in order for it to work the technology needs to be on EVERY mobile phone in the world to help save children from harm. The founders are building awareness parent by parent, community by community.

Rescuehood is a must for every SUPER MOM and for that SUPER MOM’s support network. This app is FREE; please share with all you come in contact with today.

Now it is your turn to share, what helps you be the SUPER MOM you are? Do you have a support network, technological allies, or some other means for getting through parenthood, please share?

Lastly, I would like to take a second to give a special shout out to all the amazing Mom bloggers, followers, and friends, you rock!! You are all a part of my social support system, it is nice to read other moms banters and blessings, to know that I am not alone, that there are others who have experienced the same is comforting. To all the SUPER MOMS out there I hope you have a Happy Mother’s Day and God blesses all your efforts.

Added Bonus: The Ten Super Powers of Moms

momonthegoinholytoledo

This is pretty interesting, I just had to share. Take a moment to check out the top ten, their blogs, and accomplishments, talk about amazing. I have no doubt that a few of the mommy blogs I follow will be on the list in the future. Mommy Blogs Rock!!

pminglin's avatarGo Girl Blog

Nice infographic about the continual rise of the ‘Mommy Blogger’ (via  http://mashable.com/2012/05/08/mommy-blogger-infographic/#)  Are you surprised by any of the stats?

 

 

 

 

View original post

Combat Summer Brain Drain with DreamBox (Also a great initiative for Homeschoolers)

Combat Summer Brain Drain with DreamBox (Also a great initiative for Homeschoolers)

momonthegoinholytoledo

Okay moms, I know it is difficult to believe but the school year is almost over. I know I for one am so excited to get my little soon-to-be first grader home for the summer.  I can’t wait to enjoy the long lazy days of summer with all 3 of my kiddos. But I am also very concerned. Our 6-year-old has learned so much this year, making leaps and bounds in both reading and computation skills. I am afraid that a nearly 3 month vacation from academic rhythm of instruction might have her sliding backwards come the start of school in the fall.  Reading the following article confirmed and compiled my concerns.

 

RESEARCH ON SUMMER LEARNING LOSS

A research synthesis conducted by Cooper et al. (1996) integrated 39 studies examining the effects of summer vacation on standardized achievement test scores. The 39 studies included 13 that could be included in a meta-analysis (a statistical integration) of the results. The meta-analysis indicated that summer learning loss equaled at least one month of instruction as measured by grade level equivalents on standardized test scores-on average, children’s tests scores were at least one month lower when they returned to school in fall than scores were when students left in spring.

The meta-analysis also found differences in the effect of summer vacation on different skill areas. Summer loss was more pronounced for math facts and spelling than for other tested skill areas. The explanation of this result was based on the observation that both math computation and spelling skills involve the acquisition of factual and procedural knowledge, whereas other skill areas, especially math concepts, problem solving, and reading comprehension, are conceptually based. Findings in cognitive psychology suggest that without practice, facts and procedural skills are most susceptible to forgetting (e.g., Cooper & Sweller, 1987). Summer loss was more pronounced for math overall than for reading overall. The authors speculated that children’s home environments might provide more opportunities to practice reading skills than to practice mathematics. Parents may be more attuned to the importance of reading, so they pay attention to keeping their children reading over summer.

(source:http://www.ericdigests.org/2003-5/summer.htm)

My plan for combating Summer Brain Drain is to first enroll all 3 of our kiddos in the Summer Reading Program at our local library. As the article addressed, our home environment fosters reading.  The children enjoy listening to books on tape and CD, having mommy or daddy read to them, and then lastly, having our little reader read to the entire family.  We then keep track of the books we read and go to the library to report what was read for that week and receive a prize. It is a wonderful way to encourage children to read.

So, that leaves Math!! What to do over the summer to encourage and continue our daughters interest in Math? The solution, DreamBox, it helps children become proficient, mathematical thinker with the right learning environment. DreamBox unique intelligent adaptive learning technology goes beyond engagement, with a rigorous math curriculum that builds conceptual understanding and fluency. What I really like is that DreamBox offers interactive math games for first graders. The clip below does a wonderful job of expressing how DreamBox makes math fun, in fact it is so much fun they have no idea that they are actually learning (shh…we’ll just keep that between us parents).

Phew, I can sleep better now knowing that I am prepared to combat the Summer Brain Drain.  How about you, are you prepared to combat the Summer Brain Drain?  

This weekend was LEGEN…wait for it…DARY!

This weekend was LEGEN…wait for it…DARY!

momonthegoinholytoledo

This weekend was such a fun filled extravaganza. It all started Friday afternoon.  We started packing up the car around 3pm for our road trip to Dayton. We would be heading to Dayton to see my baby sister graduate the next day as a Dr. of Physical Therapy. Around 5pm the game of maneuvering the pack-n-play, stroller, diaper bag, 2 suitcases, swim bag, snack bag, and a few odds & ends to keep the kiddos occupied into my hubby’s car was complete. I made careful note of where everything ended up because I would be taking this trip solo since my hubby was ill and I would be the one placing everything back into the car at the culmination of our visit (Tip: take a picture of everything once it is packed into you vehicle you will thank yourself later, it is tricky remembering how you got everything into such a confined space). So by the time everyone had pee twice, we located my son’s preschool Olympic medal (yes, he is still wearing it, 3 weeks and counting), changed diapers, hit the ATM, went through Starbucks drive-thru, and gas station we were finally on the road around 7:30pm. Anyone else spend their first hour of their vacation/trip in their home town /city grabbing last needed items?

 

We arrived in Dayton at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites around 10:30pm. As we entered the room the kiddos jumped for joy when they saw what my mom, Nana, had in store for each of them. She had place graduation balloons in the room along with a sand bucket with Legos, coloring books, pool toy, etc. for each kiddo and for my hubby and I she had snacks and beverages, she is amazing.  She always manages to make the ordinary extraordinary, that’s my mom!  So the kiddos looked though their goodies wide-eyed and eventually the excitement from the day got the best of them and they fell asleep. I am pretty sure my son was dreaming about the pancake machine that would greet him in the morning with the continental breakfast.

Since my hubby had to stay home my brother kindly stayed with me and the 3 kiddos to help out in the morning with breakfast and the festivities the next day.  Keep in mind my brother is a now 26, his birthday was yesterday, bachelor who, while excellent with the kiddos doesn’t contain that daddy gene just yet. You know the one that tell Dads that grabbing a paper in the morning and trying to read it at the breakfast table with 3 kiddos 6 and under is not a good idea? Yep, that one!  So, while he sipped his coffee and read the paper I played mommy juggler with the diaper bag, bowl of cereal, banana, camera, and toddler. On the up side I think I put on quite a show for the other guest dinning that morning. Then, after picking up cereal from the floor the hundredth time I was lucky enough to visited the restroom, not once but twice! God forbid they both go at the same time, seriously! On the way back to the room I managed to take a sip of my then cold coffee and eat the bruised parts of 3 bananas, and while doing so my son asked why I was still hungry after all that food?  Funny, didn’t anyone realize mommy never sat down, mommy never ate breakfast? “Haha…I was a little busy during breakfast” I exclaimed to him. After breakfast we headed to the pool for a swim before going to the graduation ceremony.

My son’s Spiderman bag filled in as the diaper bag for this trip. The diaper bag was at home being washed, some weird unreconizable goo was lurking in the bottom of the bag. I know what you’re thinking, classy!! Right?

After our relaxing swim, what is it about a pool that lowers your blood pressure? We then got ready for the graduation, packed a diaper bag (my toddler was the only kiddo who didn’t have a BM and after swimming I thought for sure she would have a blowout during the graduation.  There are few things worse than sitting in a humid arena with a toddler who just had a massive poop). If that happened I needed a plan. Once we were seated in the Arena I noted all possible exits and restrooms, and which route would be the fastest and which would be the most discreet.  Yes, moms are also specialist in reconnaissance, we have to be! I was prepared. Then the excitement built as the music began and the students made their way down the aisles with their caps and gowns. I got goose bumps. I was so excited for every one of them. All the hard work, all-nighters, research, disappointments, progress, and emotions that comes with the journey that they had each experienced all to arrive at this point. Then I saw my baby sister and my eyes began to fill with happy tears.  She has been working so hard for this degree. She has put the rest of her life on hold and focused solely on her studies.  Since she started her graduate work she has attended numerous wedding showers and baby shower, a handful of weddings including 2 family weddings, has become an aunt again, a Godmother, and welcomed a new cousin into the family, all the while hauling books in and out of coffee establishments, looking for free Wi-Fi signs, sneaking in flash cards to movies and church not wasting any free moment to study. And guess what, it paid off!! I am proud to introduce to you my sister, Dr. Kunkle.

Then it was time to party like my parents had been paying college tuition since 1999!! (Because they had) They decorated the guest apartment where my sister lives and had bubbles at each person’s setting, they had balloons, champagne, and had dinner catered from a local Italian restaurant. Everything was perfect!

The party continued on till 2pm the next day during which we also celebrated my brothers 26th birthday.

It was such a memorable, LEGENDARY weekend. So many emotions filled the weekend, including, excitement, anticipation, sadness, joy, gratitude, and love, there was so much love.

Have you ever experienced a legendary weekend? Please share.