As we hit 59 degrees today in lovey Portland, Oregon, it was painfully obvious that we needed to get out of the house.  With Konnor’s attention span running on a short fuse and my temper the same, I opted for a park trip.

Post-naps and lunches, I loaded the car with the bubbles, stroller, kids, Justin, and off we went.

Sundays don’t prove to generally be the best days to go to the park.  Especially at 2 or 3 in the afternoon.  It just tends to be crowded.

However, this is February.  No one takes their kids out on a Sunday afternoon in February in Portland.  Why? 

Well, it doesn’t generally get to be in the upper 50′s or low 60′s during the month of February.  Nope, here in Oregon, this time of year usually consists of rain, rain, and well, more rain.  To be quite honest, my recollection of a February this nice doesn’t exist.  I’m sure at some point in my life, if not in the las few years, there have been warm February’s, but I just can’t remember such an event.

Anyways, we headed to the park, hung out, let Konnor run amock, and Ariana learned that she has a new favorite, and not-so-favorite, activity.

Konnor loves the slides, the swings, the running, the jumping, and everything else that comes with going to the park.  He is completely and totally in his element when there are things to play on while outside.  He is my little monkey, and definitely an outdoorsy monkey at that.

Ariana totally loved the swing, while she absolutely hated the slide.  By hate, I don’t mean dislike – I mean hate.  At first Justin started her out halfway up and let her go on her back, laying down, and into my arms at the bottom.  The look on her face – Ohhh. Emmm. Geee!  PRICELESS!

Then I decided to go down with her.  Screams.  Konnor wanted to go with her on a baby slide.  Alright, that was okay.  Until Konnor accidentally got his foot and her arm entwined, causing a huge scene, and screams that pierced ears.

And did you know – bubbles are quite possibly the cheapest entertainment ever?!?!?!

I figured I was being pretty smart grabbing the bubble gun and bubbles to take with us.  Konnor asked for them, so I figured there would be no harm.  Ariana’s entertainment would have to be something from her stroller for 90% of our stay if she hated the swing, and she loves her some bubbles.  So they made the venture with us.

30 seconds after having the bubbles out and the gun blowing them for Ariana and Konnor, a swarm of kids swooped over and wanted MORE bubbles.  Alright.  So, being a good mommy, I made the bubble gun blow more bubbles.  And more.  And more.  Which attracted more and more kids.  Duh Alex, it isn’t rocket science!  This is like throwing bread for birds at the beach.  The only way to stop this madhouse before someone gets hurt is to —- you guessed it!  “Oops, sorry kids, the bubble gun’s batteries are dead.”

Yes, I went there.  Problem solved.

This concludes Sunday’s Story.  Have a great week and look for my Monday Mingle tomorrow! :)

Let me preface this post by saying “mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.”

I entered a giveaway on Sandra‘s blog for some candles from Lake Arrowhead a little while back.  Being a huge candle– addict, you could say, this giveaway was perfect for me.

So I went to Lake Arrowhead’s website and chose what scent I would accept if I won. 

First of all, the visual appearance of their website makes you feel serene and at peace with the world.  Every candle they make has a picture and description which is fabulous!  It definitely helps with a decision if you are as indesicive as I am.

Each candle they make is classified into one of six categories or Scent Collections:

• Fresh Baked
• Woodland Hideaways
• Drink Up
• Secret Garden
• Hand Picked
• Vintage Aroma

They literally have an aroma for every taste and style you can think of.

Personally, I love anything with a lavender scent.  So I chose Lavender Vanilla.

Imagine my surprise and excitement when I actually WON this giveaway!  Soon, I would have a 16oz double wick candle, a 10oz candle, and a 5oz candle.

Within hours of hearing that I had won(which was a Monday), I was being notified that my candles were being made, and that they would be ready for shipping the same week. I received an email on Saturday that they had been shipped Friday.  Imagine my surprise when they arrived on MONDAY!!!  Yes, just seven days after winning!  That is some seriously FAST shipping!

Not only that, but remember that visual appeal I told you about on their website?  Well, the candles are gorgeous!  They have a lid that looks like a golden rust, and my candles are an absolute beautiful shade of purple!

The 15oz jar is double-wicked to ensure that the candle burns evenly, thus eliminating “sidewalls.”

These candles are seriously amazing!  Most candles I buy at the store smell good when you open them, but that aroma doesn’t always fill the room when the candle burns.  This candle, my friends, does just that! I’m pretty sure that I am, at this point, more addicted to candles than ever before.  Lake Arrowhead will be having my business again really soon!

Disclosure: This was a product that was given to me, for free, for entering a contest on another blog.  I was not required to review this product, nor was I compensated in any way for doing so. All thoughts and reviews are 100% my own.

When I was younger, the weekends were a time for me to sleep in.  Rejuvenate.  Be lazy.  Relax.  You know, that awesome stuff that you do when you are a teenager or don’t have kids.

Partying the night before, it wasn’t uncommon for me to sleep past noon, get up, shower, and laze around the rest of the day.

These days, you can find me up as early as 7 but not later than 8, with one, but most of the time two, kids running around.  Talking, babbling, wanting food, it is my duty as mommy to get up and wait on them hand and foot (to a degree).

Even when my night before is full of dinner, a late night movie, and migraine, I am still required to get up with them.  Feed them.  Entertain them.  And to not go back to sleep until, say, nap time?

Being a mommy rocks.  I used to take advantage of going to bed early, waking up as the sun rose, and feeling that groggy feeling.

There is nothing quite like really really wanting to be able to go back to sleep, but having it be quite impossible.

Yes, I may sound sarcastic, and maybe I am just a tiny bit, but I wouldn’t change these moments for anything.   Work consumes too much of my time that I should get with my babies, so losing a few hours of sleep to watch them play and their bond form isn’t going to kill me.  Make me a little grumpy? 

Perhaps.  

But I can deal.  I don’t take it out on them. 

 I just smile a little more. 

Giggle a bit harder.

And am completely thankful that I have what I do.

To whom it may concern,

I do NOT dye my son’s hair.

When he went out for his first outing after his birth, his hair was not dyed.

During his first birthday, to all the people at the play area where he frolicked around, his hair was not dyed.

When my boyfriend is out at the store, the park, or the mall with my son, know that his hair has not been artificially altered.  I mean, where could I even buy white hair dye???

Konnor was born with white “patches,” for lack of a better term, on his legs, tummy, and most prominent, his head. Something that was never diagnosed by a doctor, I find the likely diagnoses is Vitiligo.

While few cases of Vitiligo are reported at birth, this skin depigmentation is caused when melanocytes (cells that make pigment) are destroyed. The cause of Vitiligo is unknown at this time, though there are several theories on what causes the condition.

Being that his father has the same depigmentation on his forehead area and one leg, I am inclined to believe this is hereditary more than it is anything else. A vast majority of researchers, however, believe Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease, which means that Konnor’s body is at war with itself, thus leaving area where no pigment is present.

Ultimately, where Konnor has these “white patches” there is no skin color. The skin is white. So is his hair.

Did you know only about 1 percent of the world’s population have Vitiligo?? That’s only about 65 million people, of which only about 1-2 million live in the United States.

Konnor is my little giraffe, and while this name doesn’t bother him now, I’m sure in the future it will. I’m also sure that his hair will be the cause of many teasings to come.  This means, as a mommy, I will have to work extra hard to make him realize that it’s okay to be different.

That it is okay to be unique. 

P.S. this is the bag I will choose if I win:

http://thetrendypurse.com/go?id=Ebags-Kate-Spade-Gramercy-Park-Stevie-Baby-Bag-30265