Hot Air Balloon Festival

Bridget's first "Talent Show"!

Tonight, Bridget announced that she was having a Talent Show.  She brought out a little music box, propped a stick in a bucket of sand and called it a flower, and brought her bag of special things.  She twirled around in her crinolins, lifting her leg now and then and had a moment of sweetness.  So cute, had to capture it.

Mom's first day back to school...

It's the last weekend of summer break - man, it went fast! Charlie, you and dad are camping with the cub scout group and Will, you are also camping with scouts and helping with a triathlon. A nice end to the summer but you're both excited for school to start. Today was my first day back - back to full time after three years of glorious part time home as a mom. It was undeniably the best of both worlds - I loved going to work 2 or 3 days a week and I loved being home. It's time for B and H to go to preschool and be around other kids and learn the routine of school. I know you two are going to love it at Smoky Row. I am going to miss the heck out of spending the majority of my days with you, but our time together will be all the sweeter. You must know that your dad was and is my hero in all our time together. Your dad never flinched at the three years I was home. He never said a thing about the money that wasn't made or the dinners I didn't get together - but he did say "Team Brandol" a lot, a reminder that we were in it together. I thank my lucky stars every day.

So, off to school we go. I hope it all gets done and that we get through the year intact!
It was a wonderful summer!

Charlie is finally a BIKE RIDER!!

While in NC with Thomas, there must've been some conversation about going for a bike ride and Charlie must have given it a try.  When he called last week, he said he'd ridden a bike for a few drive way lengths and we were thrilled.  When he finally came home on Saturday, I mentioned getting on again, and he was pretty willing.  He got on and simply took off.  He finally wasn't afraid of falling and had his balance.  SOOO excited for him.  He and Will have been all around the neighborhood and he's talked Dad into a long bike ride tonight.  YAA CHARLIE!

Charlie,...so lucky

We're back from our trip and getting settled down.  Charlie got the best gift - as we're putting on our seatbelts ready to leave Myrtle, Carla knocks on the window and asks if Charlie can stay until the Stampers come up to Long's Retreat.  Charlie - so excited, didn't even hesitate.  Jumps out of the car, grabs his Star Wars figures and he's gone.  A week with Thomas.  I don't even think he misses us!

Kiddos at Myrtle Beach

What? 41?

What the heck happened?  I turned 41 today.  All of the sudden, birthday's have become something to avoid.  Charlie - you asked me today,..."Mom, why is it so bad to have a birthday?".  I replied with something I've heard from my own mother - "You'll understand when you are older."   UGG!  When did this happen to me?  I keep in the back of my head,...you're as old as you feel...

I got the best birthday present ever - we're spending the weekend with Carla, et al..  It has been a difficult summer.  Between helping my mom with her Heritage Tour of her house, and helping Jody get moved to Sunbury, and then Carla moving to Charlotte, it's been quiet and full of emotions.  You may not see many posts, because we aren't at Zoombeezi, or taking a major vacation, but this weekend, we are thrilled to be in Charlotte, NC..  I haven't yet faced their move, as I look over at 2295 Severhill and expect to see Carla's face in the window, and wave to her as she does dishes, and I do mine, but this has been a smack of reality.  She's really here, and doing dishes in North Carolina. 

I couldn't be happier to be here, and yet it's bittersweet.  My bestie, in another place, far from where she should be.  It will be a wonderful weekend - today, celebrating my birthday, and tomorrow, heading for Myrtle Beach.  We will share a condo and SOOO much fun.  I love my Carla...a sister.

Haircut

So, I guess you're supposed to tell your kids that they're not allowed to cut their hair.  I hadn't yet had this conversation with Bridget, and so tonight, after I got her out of the bath and combed through her cotton candy hair, I went in to get her jammies, but came back to very pretty, very blonde hair on the floor.  Hmm.
I guess it could've been worse - she could've cut herself some short bangs.  She did enough to warrant a hair cut, but I had to take a few pictures of her darling hair in little buns before I took her to the salon.

Will at Boy Scout Camp

Out to God's country today to take Will to camp.  This is your third year Will, and while I know you hate to be away from home, this is really good for you.  Working on merit badges for swimming, environmental science, computers, and tech design.  This year, camp got new tents, platforms, and cots - now how bad could it be? 

Summer baseball

Last game for Will today - the second of the tournament games and a big win!  Will, you had lots of great hits and scores today.  You played mostly first base and center field this season, and were one of the oldest on the team.  Overall, the team was a bit of the "Bad News Bears", but you had fun and played a lot.  You'll miss the real last game while you're at camp, but too far to drive you back and forth.  Fall baseball starts soon!

4th of July

Dad had a long four day weekend and we knew we would be heading up to northern Ohio for part of the weekend, so we decided to go the Lake Arrowhead to have some fun and camp out.  You kids had so much fun fishing, playing in the water and sand, and making smores.  Dad and I chilled out and enjoyed watching you play. 

We got some rain,...to say the least.  Right when we were going to bed, the wind kicked up and I checked the radar on my phone to find a huge storm headed right for us.  The lights went out which made it pretty dark down at the lake, and the rain came down in buckets for about two hours.  The tent held out for the first hour or so, but then started leaking and soon enough, most of us were laying in soggy blankets and pillows.  I didn't sleep until morning, dad, not far ahead of me.  As I'm getting older, the less I like to be out of my bed, and this turned out to be pretty rough.  We couldn't get to Aunt Megan's soon enough to get showers and clean clothes on.

We ended up having a really nice time at Aunt Molly's swimming, playing games, and eating and drinking alot, as usual!

Thomas and Charlie

Commander Cody and Captain Rex...

Can hardly believe you two are 8 already! 

June...

Not much going on besides playing outside all day long and running through the sprinkler.
Thomas and Charlie are attached at the hip and we're dreading the thought of the Stamper's moving to North Carolina.  Time will tell, but until then, we'll enjoy every minute we get to spend together.

Summertime!

We all got through the last weeks of school - always a little tough when the two districts time lines don't match up, but the boys had a great time helping and playing at my school.  This past weekend was a nice kick-off to summer with Lauren's graduation party!  Wow - almost 18 and ready to go to college.  Had nice visits with family and a nice picnic for Oma's 66th birthday, too.

It's been the rainiest start to summer I've ever seen, but good to get through the last exciting weeks of school.
Can't wait to sleep in, not pack lunches, and play outside until dark!

Blessings....

You kids should know, that I have moments of sheer hell.  I hate it when you chomp in my ear, I hate it when you bicker, I hate it when you scream at a high pitch.
However, I am so blessed.  We are all blessed.  I go to bed each night, and I think "Thank you God for keeping each of us healthy, for being able to go to bed each night climbing in with our own two feet, closing our eyes, and breathing deep, fresh air.  We are so fortunate to have each other,... I wouldn't trade this life for anything."

Some people struggle every day.  We should not forget these people.  We should be aware of those who need our support and help.  But when we can home together, at the end of the day, and be good with our choices and find happiness in each other, it's a good day.

I hope in your lives, you will each find simple abundance and happiness in the little things.  In the end, this is all that matters.

Now, I'm going to sit on the patio, listen to some good music, drink a margarita, and hope that all the little people that are still making noise up their rooms go to sleep and know how much I love them.

regrets and mistakes,...they're all memories made

Such a hard mommy day,... Charlie, you were such a trooper.  You had a visit to the burn clinic at Children's Hospital where they dressed your back again and gave you some physical therapy to help as your skin grows back.  You were so brave and we had an important talk about my faults in this incidence and yours.  I have such a belief in you guys learning from your mistakes as opposed to me telling you that you could, for example, hurt yourself.  I know as a child myself, I would've always been curious if my mom or dad told me I couldn't do something.  They told me no for a good reason, but still I wondered.  I believe that I can tell you kids no over and over again, but until you see for yourselves, what could happen, you won't get it.   But I learned my lesson today, that we have to tell our kids no for their own sake and safety - if you persist, and you hurt yourself, at least I won't have a guilty heart.

Parenting is tough.  It's exhausting, it's redundant, it's draining, but it's also the best thing you'll ever do.  Through all this, I have heard from Charlie over and over again, how much he loves me.  Charlie - today you said, "You know mom, you are one of the most precious things in my life."  How many times do you get to hear that?

We got you set up with lots of Star Wars Lego ships to build and play with, so the next few days won't be so terrible.  For you anyway....

The Mummy Charlie

Why is Charlie dressed like a mummy you ask?  No, it's not Halloween, Charlie just has second degree burns on his back from falling on the treadmill!  I'm having one of those nights where I'm hanging my head low and feeling that everyone would say, "DUH!".  For the record, I didn't know he was on the treadmill, but apparently, he wanted to "exercise".  He must've gotten going too fast and took a layer of skin off most of his back.  A trip to the Urgent Care, a roll or two of gauze, and a check up at the Burn Clinic down at Children's tomorrow.  This is right up there with Henry's broken leg on the trampoline and Will's broken hip from falling from the tree!  Those are stories for another day....

My sad little mommy heart....

Bridget and Henry, back together again!

When you two were little, you were together in your cribs, and then together in your toddler beds.  Then Bridget, you weren't sleeping as well (and I mean less naps) than Henry, so you got your own room and Henry, you went to share a room with Charlie.  We made a Star Wars room for you Charlie, complete with a huge "window" into outerspace with fighter jets in the distance.  Charlie, you were up in the full size loft bed and Henry, you were in a twin underneath.  Really, you were both happy in there.  However, Charlie, you got so many Star Wars things and Lego stuff for your birthday, that we hit a turning point with not knowing where to put it all.  You were invading my dining room!!!

So, today, I moved your bed Henry, into Bridget's room.  You were SO excited.  You were asking me at 11:00 in the morning when we got it set up, if you could get your jammies on and go to bed!  There's not much room in there for anything else but the beds and a nightstand in the middle, but you two seem very happy to be together again!  Now, hopefully, you 'll get a good night's sleep!!

To my Children on Mother's Day

May the good Lord be with you
Down every road you roam
And may sunshine and happiness
Surround you when you're far from home.
And may you grow to be proud
Dignified and true
And do unto others
As you'd have done to you.
Be courageous and be brave.
And in my heart you'll always stay
Forever young.

May good fortune be with you
May your guiding light be strong.
Build a stairway to heaven
With a prince or a vagabond.
And may you never love in vain
And in my heart you will remain,
Forever young.

And when you finally fly away
I'll be hoping that I served you well
For all the wisdom of a lifetime
No one can ever tell
But whatever road you choose
I'm right behind you, win or lose,
Forever young.

Mother's Day

What a wonderful day I had.  I slept until about 8:00 which was nice, because I was ready to get up and do my mom chores.  Got a load of laundry started and some bacon for Charlie.  Jim finished the breakfast prep with pancakes.   We had a yummy breakfast and I got ready to drive up to Pine Tree Barn with Oma to meet Molly and Megan for lunch.  This has been a tradition for about 4 years now and it's a good in between and a nice drive.  The second year we went, we decided to bring our girls and make it a girls day.  When Bridget and I got home, Dad was working on a delicious dinner for us - hamburgers, pasta salad and watermelon.  Grandma Mary and Grandpa Ken came over, as did Laura and Danielle.  We made our first pitcher of margaritas of the season!  When they left, I opened my card from Jim and found two Jimmy Buffet tickets!  WooHoo!

I also got the nicest cards and letters from Charlie - the dearest gifts of all.  A letter telling me all the great things I do for him and even a game or two he made.  Nothing better.  I am so proud to be the mother of you wonderful kids.  There is nothing more important than you guys.  I love you all dearly.

My Boys' Careers...

I might need to worry,...this week, Charlie told me he thought a good career for him would be a "corn peeler" because he is really good at it.  Charlie, you said, "See? I take a lot of time to get all the hairs off!"  I told you that you would be really poor and most often, out of a job, so you said, "Oh, then maybe not."

On Saturday, the day of the Kentucky Derby, Will, you informed me that you wanted a horse.  You have never in your life expressed an interest in even going riding, so this came as quite a shock.  It was easy to flat out say "No" and we talked very briefly about the time commitment and cost of a horse.  Then you tell me that when you grow up (because you're already 5'7"), you want to be a jockey!  I just had to laugh.  You're toes would be dragging on the track!  I told you that your chances of being a horse jockey were over when you were in second grade!

I guess this is fair,...when I was in second grade, I drew pictures of what I wanted to be when I grew up - a truck driver.  I thought they had the greatest job in the world, just getting to drive around the country, seeing the sights!  As a matter of fact, sounds pretty good right about now!

Happy Easter!

Look at all you cute kids!  It was a really nice Easter at Aunt Molly and Uncle Dave's house.  A rainy day, so the Easter Bunny left your baskets and eggs in the house!  We had a yummy brunch, and then headed back to Columbus so we could stop and see grandma Mary and grandpa Ken.  School tomorrow!

The flu house...

And three days later, we all have it!  Bridget, you've gotten by with a slight case of the back door trots, but Friday morning, Will, Charlie and me are all down for the count!  Poor dad is doing his best to keep up with the clean up - his favorite!  Good times....

April 12th

Charlie - you chose to go to McDonalds for your birthday dinner really because you wanted to play in the (germ-infested, smelly) play place there.  Ok, I can suck it up with the promise of Menche's ice cream afterward!  Just as we're ordering, Henry throw's up on the floor.  Yeesh.  I'm hoping it was something he ate and it passes.  We eat our dinner, and Henry falls asleep on my lap.  You, Bridget and Dad go on into the play area and I carry sleeping Henry in there as well, thinking he can hang out and let you play for a little while - it is your birthday afterall!  As I sit down there, Henry throw's up again, but all down my front - into my purse, down my legs,..we're both covered.  So I took Henry home and told Dad I'd be back in awhile.  Got him cleaned up, but the barfing went on through the night.  And no Menche's!!!  Sometime, I'll tell you the very unexciting story of the three birthdays in a row when I had the flu,...well, I guess I just did.

Happy Birthday Charlie!

The Story of your Birthday

Charlie, I got a kick out of telling you the story of how your birthday was supposed to be on April 9th so I thought I'd write it down for you. 
I was supposed to be induced on April 9th as the 8th was my due date.  We got everything prepared - including care for Will, days of work scheduled, and arrangements for Molly to come down.  I got to the hospital at 8:00 in the morning and was just getting ready to get my IV when the nurse told me they were too full for me to stay.  WHAT!?  Dad and I were beside ourselves with anger and disappointment.  They told us to come back at 11:00 that night - that maybe things would have calmed down by then.  We thought maybe your birthday would be April 10th - sounded like a good day to be born!  Well, needless to say, that didn't happen either.  They rescheduled us for the 12th, and said that maybe things would happen on their own before then.  I walked, I ate, I walked some more,...no luck.
We went back for the induction on the morning of the 12th - they actually kept us - and by 7:50 that night, you were born.  Aunt Molly, Aunt Megan and Oma were all there along side Dad for your birth.  Believe it or not, you were the biggest baby of the four of you - at 8 lbs. 6 ozs..  You were so cute - a spitting image of your dad!  Sometime soon, I'll write down the story of what a good sleeper you were and about your paci's.

Charlie's 8th Birthday

How can it be that you are 8 already, Charlie?  I know everyone always says "it seems like yesterday..." but it really does.  I remember your 1st birthday when you dug your fingers right into your chocolate cake, and your second birthday at Aunt Molly's - we all went bowling and you slept in your carseat - in the bowling alley of course!  They always seem to go hand in hand with Easter get togethers with our family.  When you were 6, you had your first birthday party with your friends.  You had your party at the Worthington Rec Center where we went swimming.  On your 7th birthday, we went to Magic Mountain - a kid favorite, mom's least favorite!  This year, we went to the Rec Center again for swimming.  Friends in attendance: Thomas, Alex Nelson, Cameron and Kaitlyn Robinson, Visvam and Anutam, and Jackson Raabe.  We swam for a few hours, then had pizza and cupcakes (grapes and carrots, too), and opened presents.  Another year of Star Wars gift - figures and Legos and Star Wars III for the Wii.  A great birthday party and the kids were all WORN OUT!  Happy Birthday Charlie!

Charlie's new Hamster, Spike

This is what happens when A., Mommy leaves Daddy in charge, and B., Daddy goes to the pet store.  Wouldn't it have been cheaper to get dog food at Target, I ask?  Charlie's pretty happy with his new pet - named Spike after a clone trooper in Star Wars - and Bridget and Henry (and Farley and Phoebe) like following him around in the ball.  At least it wasn't two like when Will had hamsters!  Funny story,...Will had two tiny hamsters when he was about 5.  One of them died, and I didn't have the heart to go through that with him at the time, so I went to the pet store and said "we had two females, so I'd like another female FOR SURE!"  Okay, she said.  Well in about two weeks, the two girls hamsters multiplied to 10.  I thought, in a couple weeks when they need their mom less, I'll take the babies to the pet store.  No sooner did I suddenly have another eight hamsters - and then another, until the hamsters started to be born with mutations like only three paws!  Creepy!  So when there were about 40 some hamsters in the cage, I took the whole damn thing to the pet store and came home with none!  Science lesson - the gestational period of hamsters is about 3 hours!

Mommy's Retreat to the "Spa House"

     So it was time for a trip to Baltimore to visit Jane Beatty with dear friends Beth Cullinan and Terri Goldring.  We get to see each other once a year, but coming to Baltimore is just perfect.  Jane's house is so peaceful and inspiring, and being here with these amazing women is bliss.  We laugh until our muscles ache and eat so much good food it should be illegal.  A few highlights... Friday was the roadtrip out which went quickly for a 7+ hour drive.  We put our jammies on and talked until very late.  Saturday morning, I woke up at 9:00 to the smell of bacon - how often does that happen for a mom?  Jane had made us a DELICIOUS breakfast of waffles, bacon, smoothies and coffee.  We got cleaned up and headed out - a stop at the mall and moved on to Charles Street in the Mt. Vernon area for some more interesting shops.  Terri and I bought some beautiful beads to make bracelets - all the beads reminded us of little things about being here.  We went down the street for a Thai food dinner, which was incredible.  We had curry chicken, pad Thai, duck and Mai Thai's.  Back home for Proseco and carrot cake.  Another night of laughing that lasted until 2:30am..  Sunday morning, we headed out bright and early for the farmer's market.  Not too much produce yet, but the smells, sights, and sounds were perfect.  Coffee from Zeke's, mini donuts, fresh squeezed orange juice, pies from the Rock-n-Roll Pie Guy, pickles, cool purses, punched metals angels and birds, amazing people, a wonderful morning.  It has been such a restful, happy trip.  This afternoon we're going to Henna dye Jane's hair and enjoy our last night at the Spa House.  And we'll probably watch "Crazy Nastyass HoneyBadger" for the 6th time on YouTube. 
     All has gone well at home - Dad is as good as it gets and I am tremendously grateful to him for making this happen for me.  Of course, a picture came through with a text yesterday that said, "So, we went to the pet store for dogfood,..." and suddenly we have a hamster named Spike.  Okay.

So happy....

4 Happy Girls at the Market

Check out the Student of the Month!

Way to go Charlie!  "I was really trying hard in class - I was sweating!  Student of the Month means doing your best!"  Gonna have your orange belt before you know it!  So proud of you Charlie!

What happened to Spring?

We were having such a nice run of beautiful weather - we were able to get outside and play, take walks, bike rides, blow bubbles.  But we've gone backward, to 30-35 degree weather and occasional flurries!  Such a bummer.  We're back to staying inside - coloring, play doh, playing in the basement.  Thank God Jody has been such an awesome babysitter, getting Bridget and Henry out to the "Big Red Barn" and to the library.  You two love going to Sumeno's for pizza every week!  You eat a ton and she's helping you develop good restaurant manners.  Soon enough, April will be here and we'll get to the parks and playgrounds.

BA BA BA BA BA BATMAN!

No, it's not Halloween, just another day inside!  Henry (with "guy guy") battling evil

and the Joker (Bridget that is).

So cute in ponytails!

Bridget, your hair is finally long enough to get into two ponytails!  SO CUTE!  It suits you but you hate it!  Everytime I come at you with a comb, you scream!  If it makes you feel any better, I used to cringe when my mom braided my hair, too.  Must be that sensitive toe-head.  You are going to have to either get used to it, or I'll have to cut your hair into a nice, high bob, but for as long as I can get away with it, I'm coming at you with a comb and pony tail holders!

Henry's "Guy Guy"

I have to share Henry's "guy guy" before it's in shreds.   Henry, this was your hospital blanket when you were an infant.  I don't even remember at what point it became an extension of you, but for at least two years, it has been in your hand.  You call it "guy guy" because when you were a baby, that was the sound you made almost like a humming while you pulled the blanket between your thumb (which was in your mouth) and fingers.  I'm not sure what we'll do when it is in pieces, but I suppose that's how kid's blankey's work,... just when you're old enough to be rid of it, it falls apart.

Will becomes a Teenager!

How did 13 years go so fast?  Will, it seems as if you were just born, and then just turning one.  I can remember your first birthday like it was yesterday - it was quite a hurrah complete with a clown and out of town relatives and friends.  When you turned 2, your big gift was a red wagon, and when you turned 3, Oma got you a two wheeler Red Rider bike with training wheels.  Shortly after your 4th birthday, you were riding a bike without training wheels!  They aren't kidding when they say it goes by so quickly. 

This has been a rough patch for you - learning to deal with the responsibilities of a cell phone and life in general.  Unfortunately, you were grounded from going to the Canteen at school over your birthday weekend - which would've been so fun for you.  Someday, you'll understand how hard it is to be the mom and take these things away from you but at the same time want to pummel you! :)  To make sure you still had a fun birthday, we took you to get what you wanted for your birthday - a guitar.  You got a really cool electric guitar, but were wavering on learning to play acoustic.  So you used your own money to buy the acoustic.  Saturday night, you  spent lots of time working with the online lessons that Jim has.  You did great!!  I hope you'll keep it up.  It looks good on you.

Sunday, you opened a few gifts, an UnderArmor sweatshirt from Grandma and Granpa, an UnderArmor backpack from Oma, and a watch from us to keep you from missing your "better be home by" time this summer.  You also got a Phiton necklace with your money from Aunt Molly - we'll see how long that expensive fad lasts!  Aunt Megan's gift of money went toward your guitar.  We went bowling with your dad and Robin and TR and his girlfriend.  Lots of fun!  A yummy dinner at Steak-n-Shake. 

Hopefully, these next few years as a teenager will be as wonderful as the rest have been.  You're turning into such a handsome young man.

It was a good day to be Charlie Brandol!

So tonight was the Boy Scout Pinewood Derby!  Charlie, you and Dad spent some time choosing good decals and thinking about the design.  You were going for the "Coolest Car" award this year, not so much concerned with being the fastest but Dad still worked on polishing the axles and added lots of graphite.  You were excited about making a camo car that you could play with after the race was over, so we got some good paint effects going and glued on an American flag and an army guy laying in the bed of the truck.  It was a pretty cool car!  So low and behold, the races begin and your car just doesn't seeem to be losing!  We fly through the double elimination round and on to the championship race to WIN!  So exciting!  You said it was the best night of your whole life!  You brought home a first place trophy as well as the award you were hoping for - your car was voted "Coolest Car".  A very fun night!