Summer Changes

It’s been a rather tumultuous seven days around here. Or as I like to call it…any typical week in this house.

End of schoolWith these two, anything can happen.

We finished the school year, and summer camp begins next week. So we’re currently in a week long limbo with the kids at home while I’m still trying to work. And although they’re old enough to do many things on their own, they choose this week to fight constantly, ask me a thousand questions about life that just happened to pop into their heads (why DO they call it a Q-tip?), and need my help with just about everything they want to do.

Usually my mom helps out with the kids during this week, but she’s currently in Canada. She picked a lousy week to decide to leave the country. I need to start befriending local college girls majoring in education to find a mother’s helper for summer.

On the upside, Cordy and Mira are really looking forward to summer camp next week, if for no other reason than spending summer days with mom is so boring that anything else sounds like a great adventure. Hmph…see if I ever bribe them with popsicles to sort laundry again – what’s not exciting about that?

On the good news front, I recently changed my job position, from contractor with BlogHer to employee at BlogHer. Telling you I’m thrilled is an understatement. What started as a temp job – something to get by for a few months when my position was eliminated from my previous nursing job last year – quickly became a job I loved and didn’t want to ever leave. Luckily, they felt the same way, and I can’t think of any other job where I’ve been happier. Not working the night shift is a bonus, too.

Aaron had some sudden good luck with employment, too. He started 2013 working full-time at his position, but while we were on vacation at Disney at the end of February, he found out that they were pulling him back to part-time. That was super-frustrating, and after months of being part-time he started looking elsewhere again.

He was called for a job interview for last week, and that first interview on Tuesday went well. But then, right after the interview, he got a call about another job he had previously been contacted about, this one with an offer. The offer was a surprise to him, since he had only had a phone interview once, although the person he spoke with had worked with him at a previous job.

Job possibility #1 might be a more stable job, with a larger company, but there was no guarantee he’d get the job. The offer on the table from job possibility #2 was a solid offer, although it’s a smaller company and the position required being a contractor for at least the first five months. Figures that after nothing for months, two opportunities pop up at once, requiring a decision within 24 hours.

(Funny story: that same day he received a call about a THIRD job opening, also. It wasn’t nearly as appealing, so he didn’t pursue it. When it rains it pours, eh?)

We discussed it all that evening, unsure of which direction to take. Should he hold out for hopes of an offer from job #1 or take the offer presented to him. He emailed his contact from the first job, explaining that he had an offer from another company but wanted to check if there would be a decision soon from this company. She responded, saying it can take their company weeks to get to a decision, and couldn’t confirm if he was a top candidate or not.

With that job proving to be anything but certain, he took the offer for the second job. Since I had recently acquired benefits, it’s less of an issue for him to be a contractor for a short while, and the company ended up countering his pay requirements with an offer above them. Above all, he’ll be full-time again and working not far from home, which are both great aspects of the new job. He’ll start the new job late next week.

And now? Now I watch for the sky to fall, because everything feels too awesome at the moment. It’s been a trend that we’re both not allowed to be happy in our jobs at the same time, a trend that has lasted for several years. I’m hoping we might break that trend this time, ’cause I’m ready for some good times around here.



Making The Most Of The Good Life

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Allstate. All opinions are 100% mine.

I remember when I first became a mom, someone told me that I’d now “forever carry my heart outside of my body” or something like that. You’ve probably seen a similar sentiment in Mother’s Day cards, engraved photo frames and sentimental artwork. At the time I dismissed it as a sappy quote said to all new moms, not realizing how true it could be. [Read more…]



School’s (Almost) Out

In our area, school usually doesn’t wrap up until the Thursday of the first week of June. Due to the way the calendar fell this year, however, the kids went back to school this morning for their last three days of school.

I always remembered the last few days of school as being little more than clean-up time. In my elementary school, our teachers would put us to work taking down the bulletin boards, storing away the posters and washing off the desks. If we were lucky we got to watch a movie on a giant TV wheeled into the classroom on a tall cart that didn’t look safe enough to support the weight of that TV.

My two are spending their last few days in a bunch of school-wide activities. Today is their Field Day, although Mira told me that there won’t be any races. What? No races? When I went to Field Day as a kid, races were one the primary activities. It was a defining moment as the athletic kids were identified and rewarded for their talents and the non-athletic kids did their best and hoped no one would tease them for being so slow.

Note: I was one of the non-athletic kids. And yes, I hated Field Day, as I turned purple in the face trying to win even one event and always came in not-first. I’d like to say we non-athletic kids got our revenge when awards for academics were handed out, but we really didn’t. The athletic kids were given more attention for their accomplishments.

I guess they now make Field Day a wide group of events, some of which require little athletic skill, so that everyone has fun and doesn’t feel left out. And the junior high sports coaches probably aren’t scouting at the event, either, so there’s no pressure.

Tomorrow is Awards Day, where the entire morning will be spent giving out awards to kids. We were told that parents would be notified if their child was receiving an award so that we could attend, and sure enough both of ours had a note sent home. I want to go to the awards ceremony, but at the same time I wish they’d give me a hint as to what award they’re receiving.

I’m happy to attend if one of them is getting a special award for achievement or kindness or something like that, but I’m less excited to sit through hours of paper certificates being handed out if they’re getting an attendance award. I had a little something to do with their attendance, after all, and I don’t really consider it award-worthy. Elementary kids should be expected to be at school all days except when they’re sick.

The last day of school is only a half day. The school talent show is in the morning, which my girls decided they weren’t entering this year, so I have the morning to get work done. And then after the talent show is the school picnic on the lawn with parents.

I really enjoyed going to the picnic last year, and we’re planning to go again this year. Last year it was only Cordy having lunch with us, and this year we’re so proud to have both kids finishing the year at their school together. I expect Mira will be crying as she hugs her friends, wondering how she will survive without them until the start of the next school year. Hopefully she’ll remember to introduce us to some of their parents so we can get contact info to set up summer playdates.

And then…it’s over. Another school year is done and they’re promoted to third and first grades.

Then we enter the beginning of what I like to call Survivor: The Week Home Between School and Summer Camp Edition.



Six: The Years Are Going By Too Quickly

Today, Mira woke up to greet her first day as a six year old.

I may have cried a little.

It doesn’t seem possible that my youngest daughter is turning six. That six years ago I went through 20-some hours of labor, after being nearly a week past my due date, to meet my fashionably late daughter who would count that as the beginning of a trend of doing things her own way.

She was an adorable baby. I remember how clingy she was – she liked to be touching me at all times, and still does that today when she’s feeling insecure and becomes a “space invader.” We couldn’t persuade her to do anything as a baby – it was all accomplished due to internal motivation. She watched me eating and demanded solid foods for herself. She learned to crawl because she wanted to get to Cordy’s goldfish crackers. (I’m sensing a food theme here…) It took extraordinary effort to get a smile out of her – always so serious, soaking in everything around her as if she was silently judging us all. Except for Cordy – she would always brighten up and smile for her big sister.

Mira at 11mo old - always seriousWhy so serious, baby?

It’s hard to tell that there was once a time when Mira couldn’t speak clearly. Her speech is still a little difficult to understand, but not much worse than the average kindergartener. Gone are the days of speaking mostly in vowel sounds only, and while she still occasionally substitutes some consonants, she gets her point across. Therapy helped her recover from speech apraxia, and she has proven that by encouraging her to talk, we will never again get any peace in this house.

Now she’s six. She’s not my baby anymore. She’s a kid, with her chubby preschooler limbs replaced with long arms and legs, her face thinner, and looking more grown up every day.

Mira at threeI miss those curls, too.

Five was a big year for her: she was off to kindergarten, she lost her first (and her second) tooth, she went to Disney World, she rode her first big roller coaster, and she’s started learning to read. It’s been an exciting year.

She had a birthday party this weekend. Well, three parties actually. Friday night we had an informal dinner with Aaron’s family, where we just happened to have cake and presents for Mira, too. Then Saturday was her “official” party. She requested a party at Chuck E. Cheese and invited all of her friends from school. Ten kids were with her to celebrate, and she effortlessly spent time with all of them, running off to play games with different kids every few minutes, making sure no one was left out. She’s a social butterfly, always needing other people around her at all times.

blowing out her birthday candles

And then yesterday we went to a family reunion, where again there happened to be presents for her. She didn’t mind that she didn’t know most of the distant cousins in the house. She just assumed they were all there for her birthday, too. Why wouldn’t everyone celebrate her birthday?

Her greatest strength, and greatest flaw, is her sensitivity. She can read people with ease, quickly coming to a friend’s side when needed and trying her very best to be a good person and do what she thinks is right. But that skill has given her tissue-paper skin around her ego, with her emotions bubbling just under the surface and breaking through at the slightest tilt in any direction.  When Mira laughs, it’s hard not to join in and she makes everyone around her feel happy. When she feels the smallest slight, the world is ending and nothing I do can console her. Tears can spring from her eyes with no warning at all.

She continues to have that inner drive pushing her forward in life. She wants to see it all, do it all, and when she’s really determined, she’s not afraid at all. If she is focused, she could rule the world. My only fear is that she’ll discover she doesn’t need us long before we can’t live without her. I will forever be asking her to not grow up so quickly, to enjoy this moment and this age, and she will likely be trying to do more, see more, be more before I want her to.

I miss the baby, but I love the girl she’s become and the young woman she’s turning into. She’ll have to tolerate her emotional mother for some time to come, watching her mature and wishing the clock would move just a bit more slowly to give me more time with her as a five year old, a six year old, and more years to come.

Six years. Just…wow.

Jedi Mira at Disney World



Cedar Point Never Gets Old

There are some places we can visit over and over and still feel like it’s new and exciting every single time. Cedar Point is definitely one of those places. We made the trip to Sandusky last weekend (Cedar Point provided tickets for us) to see what’s new for 2013, and to revisit some of our old favorites.

Cedar Point

Mira was especially hopeful that she had grown enough since last October to meet the 48″ requirement for many of the roller coasters. Last year she measured 46″ which only let her on one big coaster, the Iron Dragon.

The changes at Cedar Point start right when you get to the gate. They’ve completely remodeled the entrance now, partially to work in the newest coaster, the GateKeeper. It’s an impressive winged coaster – meaning the cars are attached to the track in the middle, but riders sit on either side on the “wings” of the coaster. There are two keyholes built into the towers around the new gate, and the GateKeeper coaster glides through each of those narrow keyholes, twisting at the last possible second to fit the arms and legs of it’s passengers safely through, and wowing visitors as they come up to the gate. It holds records for being the longest, fastest and tallest wing coaster. I can already tell you I love this coaster, and I haven’t even had a chance to ride it yet.

GateKeeper at Cedar PointYes, they have to turn sideways quickly to fit through that narrow tower over the main entrance to the park. It’s amazing to watch.

Our first stop was to get both kids measured for rides. You can do this right at the entrance and get a colored wrist band, avoiding any further waits in line to be measured again. Cordy was 54″ this time, allowing her to ride nearly everything in the park (allowing is different than wanting, though, and her anxiety kept her away from all coasters), and Mira let out a cheer when she was told she met the 48″ height requirement. She was the happiest kid ever to get her 48″ rider wristband.

Cedar Point rider wristbandProudly showing off her red 48″ wristband.

The first ride for us has practically become a tradition now. Cedar Downs is always our first stop – it’s essentially a carousel, but it goes faster than most, and the horses “race” each other, with one in each row coming out ahead by the end of the ride. (The winner varies each time.) Cordy loves this ride, and Mira was thrilled to have her first experience with it.

Cedar Downs over three yearsCordy on Cedar Downs: 2011, 2012, 2013 (with Aaron this time)

After that we had a quick lunch (full disclosure: lunch was provided by Cedar Point) and Aaron was so happy that Cedar Point is considerate of those with food allergies. He was able to eat a gluten-free pizza for lunch, with other gluten-free options available as well. If you need a gluten-free meal, try Joe Cool Cafe – they even have separate fryers for those who can’t have gluten but still want some french fries or gluten-free chicken tenders.

Mira then wanted to continue exploiting her new height to ride another 48″ or higher ride. Off to the Cedar Creek Mine Ride we went! Cordy used to love this ride, but her anxiety was too high, so she stayed back. Thankfully, Cedar Point offers a Parent Swap pass for this kind of situation. You can pick up a Parent Swap pass in the Guest Services office, good for one use on most of the larger rides.

Here’s how it works: one parent gets in line for the ride with their child, while the other parent does something else with the kid who doesn’t want to ride. Once the first parent and child get off the ride, they hand the Parent Swap pass to an attendant and go out the exit. The other parent can trade off and go up the exit ramp to get on the ride with no wait. Each parent gets to ride, and the child who wants to ride gets to do it twice. It’s a win-win.

Mira loved the Mine Ride! We tried the Gemini next, which was a little more scary for her. I’m glad she decided not to try Millennium Force quite yet. At this point we decided to dial back the adventure level a little and spend some time in Camp Snoopy, which is filled with rides for the younger set. (Although many allow adults to ride with their kids, too.) Cordy was a big fan of the Tilt-a-Whirl, and we rode that ride at least five times. Yes, I’m still dizzy.

Cedar Point SwingsCordy and Mira took a few rides on the swings, too.

You can also meet Snoopy and his Peanuts friends in Camp Snoopy. Cordy couldn’t miss out on a hug.

Hugging Snoopy at Cedar Point

We like playing the carnival games at Cedar Point, too, always coming home with some new stuffed animals to add to the family of plush creatures. Both kids like that Pokemon can often be found as prizes with some of the games, but Cordy set her sights higher this year:

Cedar Point - It's so fluffy!Say it with me, folks: IT’S SO FLUFFY!

Near the end of the day, Mira got her courage back and asked to go on the Corkscrew. This roller coaster has three loops in it – I thought there was no way she’d want to go on a looping coaster. But she did, and she waited with Aaron patiently (although nervously) in line for the ride. Despite the wristband, they still checked her height again – she just barely clears 48″ and I think they were surprised a five year old wanted on the Corkscrew.

She did it, though – and she loved it! I know Mira is going to be a Cedar Point Ride Warrior as she gets older. She’s already asking how long it will take for her to be 52″ tall so she can ride Top Thrill Dragster, a ride that goes from zero to 120 miles-per-hour in four seconds. Maybe she can ride that one with her dad.

This is our third year in a row to go to Cedar Point, and we really appreciate how much there is to do in this amusement park. We love how many thrill rides are in this park, as well as plenty of family rides and in-between rides that are thrilling but not too scary. Our energy level ran out before we ran out of rides and attractions to visit – you can’t do it all in a day!

We're a Cedar Point FamilyWe’re a Cedar Point family!

Yes, we love Disney World and will always love Disney World, but Disney’s roller coasters can’t compare to the roller coasters at Cedar Point. And unlike Disney, Cedar Point is an Ohio theme park that’s easy to daytrip or take a short Ohio staycation at Lake Erie.

If you have the chance, get to Cedar Point to try the new GateKeeper this year, and then let me know how you liked it! I’m hoping we’ll visit again later this summer, perhaps with more adults in our group, so Aaron and I can take a ride on GateKeeper together!

Full disclosure: I was invited by Cedar Point to bring my family to the park for the day and received complimentary admission into the park and lunch. Mira’s blossoming Ride Warrior personality comes to her naturally – both of her parents love roller coasters!

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