And She smiled

Today I was awoken at 5 am by a phone call on my cell. Ohh no not good I thought...nothing at 5 am ever is. However this time was different. It was my BBF, Sue..."We're having our baby" she said. This was it..the end of a very long 9 months that started back in December with a happy announcement phone call. Sue was going to be a grandma again.

Our phone calls were filled the next couple of months with discussions of pink dresses and blue onesies..they also had some fear that the baby would be healthy.

Then I got another phone call on my cell in late February...this one late in the afternoon. This was the phone call no friend or human should ever hear. "My daughter is dead", Sue said. The world stopped and the agonizing days began. I supported my friend as best I could. I watched as her and her family went through the most horrible thing a family ever has to go through. Sue worried about the baby that had not been born. She worried about her other daughter who was carrying the baby and was also mourning a sister. And again the phone calls continued endlessly while she came to terms with Why. But this baby was a fighter. The baby was not going anywhere and continued to thrive.

The phone rang yet again about a month later. This was a short conversation. "He's been arrested" she said. How much more could she and her family endure? Losing her daughter and now her son-in-law? So much loss..but still the baby was there just waiting. Thoughts of the baby were such a wonderful distraction...planning the baby shower, watching her daughters belly grow.

Then the phone call today. Keira Marie arrived early this morning and for the first time in many months the phone call had tears of joy not of sorrow and I'm positive Grandma Sue was smiling for the first time in many months and I'm also positive that so was Aunt Carli from up in the clouds.

Lessons from Camping 101

Over the weekend we ventured on our yearly camping trip to Knoebels. Ah the fresh air and the sound roller coasters in the distance. It has become a trip that I highlights the wind down of summer and lets us spend time with close friends (well actually almost family)

Every year I take away mosquito bites and memories but here are a few "lessons" that I thought I might share that I have also learned.

1. Air mattresses defy the laws of physics. An air mattress may have enough air in it to float a hot air balloon but by 2 am you will be flat on the ground.
2. Smores should be considered a healthy essential part of your daily food consumption (and as an added plus marshmallows can hold together just about anything)
3. Around the campfire Smores and alcohol DO mix.
4. At 4 am Smores and alcohol DO NOT mix.
5. Always stay upwind of the bathrooms
6. The older you get the closer the campsite must be from the bathroom.
7. No matter how much bug spray you pour on your body, a mosquito will find that one spot you missed no matter how small.
8. Food at a campground always tastes better even if its just P&J
9. Yearly camping outings with Friends make the best memories.

Who knew?

Cast Call
Originally uploaded by kishbee.

This weekend provided me with an enlightening moment involving Kaydee...one of those proud parent moments.

Kaydee participated in the Performing Arts Institute for the past two weeks in their Young Artists Musical Theater Program. She would spent 7 hours a day practicing and rehearsing and come home exhausted but happy. I listened in awe all week as she memorized 15 pieces of music...but she was happy. Happier in fact than I've ever seen her.

When the time came for her group choral performance I sat in the audience and listened and clapped and stood up as she got her first standing ovation. Her group (all 10 voices) sounded like angels and amongst some of the most talented high school muscians in the country the kids stood there own and brought down the house..and still Kaydee was happy.

Then she performed in her first musical "Magic in the Attic". I was nervous and scared for her..but she was happy and relaxed. Then it happened...

She walked confidently across the stage and sang her first solo. She portrayed Anna from "The King and I" and as she "Whistled a Happy Tune" Kaydee was no longer Kaydee..she WAS Anna. Her voice was totally natural, strong and beautiful as if she had been performing all her life. And Kaydee was Happy..

And I was Proud. Proud to witness her first moment of what I am sure will be many on the stage. Proud of what she had become in 2 short weeks. And most of all Proud that she was My daughter and My daughter is Happy!!!

Ohh god--Not more Pictures??!!

A Kish Wish

As I was taking my shower tonight and realized (once again) that I was out of towels I started thinking how nice it would just to be able use my "magic wand" and wish for my towels to do there own laundry. Well from that thought..many other wishes started popping in my head so I thought I would put them in writing so maybe someday they'll come true. So without further adieu..

The Kish Wish List

1. A washing machine that magically spits out that purple sock your husband threw in with the whites.

2. A person named "Itwasntme" so I have someone to blame when it was.

3. Hair glue so when the 8 year old finds scissors for the 6th time (playdoh scissors can cut) and cuts off her ponytail, you can glue it back on.

4. A food called "Idontcare" because when I ask "what do you want to eat", it seems to be the most popular food out there.

5. A toilet roll that shreaks an alarm if you take the last sheet and wont shut up until you refill it.

6. A toothfairy who always carries cash and never forgets to stop at the ATM.

7. A freeze button so I can freeze my kids as they are now and not let them grow up.

Feel free add to my list...Who knows maybe that magic wand might just work!!

A lesson in Puberty!!!

Maylynn - self portrait
Originally uploaded by kishbee.

Yes you heard it right. In this household puberty is just around the corner for the eldest of my household. Which of course has the youngest member jealous with the little extra attention that Kaydee sometimes get.

Well Maylynns jealous arouse the other night as we were bra shopping. The conversation went like this:

"Mommy, I need a bra" ..Maylynn says. "No you don't Maylynn..you have a couple years before that" I say.

"But Mooomm...I'm in puberty", Maylynn exclaims very loudly. "Maylynn your 8..you don't even know what puberty is!!!" I say.

"Yes I do Mom..its when a girl gets her exclamation point!!"

For which I pulled to side of the road to avoid an accident from laughter.

All I can say is..out of the mouth of babes.

Its finally happened!!!

Marys Flowers
Originally uploaded by kishbee.

I've "officially" found a hobby!! More like an obsession.. Photography!! During the spring I started playing with my old Kodak Easy Share 6300 something. I started to discover the joy of "unposed" shots of my children vs. fake smile from hell. All of a sudden I was snapping all over the place ..just when you would least expect it.

I thought that I would just be satisfied playing with the camera and uploading my shots and maybe framing a few. Nope..the more pictures I took..the more I wanted to learn more and take more..experiment. Then I found Flickr. A god..an amateur photographers nirvana!! I spent nights staring at other people's master pieces..fascinated my the ulimate voyerism I was experience but also trying to figure out the angles they had shot a certain photo.

As my Kodak wore out from the use I was giving it (the poor thing after 6 + years didn't know what had hit it) I contemplated, researched and fantasized about a new camera.

And on Friday, I made my purchase..a Fuji S5200. I came home from the Camera Shop like a kid who had just gotten her first video game. I took my first photo of my next door neighbors flowers (on the left) So my new journey has started. And my blog is now multi media!

Wino Bliss

Ahhh 4th of July--a day to celebrate our freedom..to relax and enjoy the spirit of summer..a day for Wino Bliss!!

We (as in me and significant other) are not in large drinkers. In fact, I have seen a six pack of beer ferment in my fridge until dust accumulates. However on occasion when the planets are aligned just so and the kids are under the watchful eye of their father and of course I have another willing wino to partake...Wino Bliss can happen.

Tonight was one of those nights. As we sat at the lake with friends that I only see on the 4th and the unconfortable getting reaquainted conversations began, the words "how about a glass of wine" came out of my mouth. And so it began..the immediate feeling of "ahh" swept over me. Conversations seemed a little more humorous and relaxation began to take place. As we partook in another glass Wino bliss was in there in earnest and our significant others "were on duty" ...this was mommy time!!!

When the bottle was empty..we sat with smiles on our faces and both knew that as another July 4th would go down in the books and that Wino bliss would be put away until next year.