And now, a lesson on how to rock like a superstar on Guitar Hero: Metallica, courtesy of Logan.

Here’s Logan, owing Enter Sandman on base. I was impressed, but his sister Barky the seal (otherwise known as Lily) just wasn’t feelin’ it…

Serious Rock Star from Walking With Scissors on Vimeo.

Apparently, the Foo Fighters doesn’t pose enough of a challenge for Logan. He’s playing on medium, completely goofing off and still manages to hit pretty much every note. Show off…

Crazy Rock Star from Walking With Scissors on Vimeo.

Filed under: Offspring, Phoning it in, Random by WWS (Lynn) - 3 Comments →

Filed under: Happy Happy, Offspring, Random by WWS (Lynn) - 1 Comment →

Lily had her first real, unparented swimming lesson on Sunday morning. If you’ve never had a four year old in swimming lessons, I’ll just say that the term “swimming” is used very loosely. I’d call them “let’s play games to try and get you to stick your face in the water” lessons or “let’s see if we can learn how not to sink like stones in the water” lessons, but I have a bad memory and let’s face it. That’s just too many words to remember. So, “swimming” lessons it is!

Lily was all smiles throughout the half hour lesson, actively participating in each activity, chatting to her classmates and generally bobbing around in the water like a happy little apple. Her instructor, a university-aged boy who squinted and looked as though his face wouldn’t be complete without a pair of glasses, was friendly and engaging. The kids took to him like flies to honey and Lily gave him a big hug around the neck when the class was over.

When she came out of the water, I wrapped her in a towel and asked her about her class.

Me: So, how was swimming?
Lily: Great! I’m going to come back again.
Me: You are?
Lily: Yes. Definitely.
Me: Lily, do you like your swimming teacher?
Lily: *sigh* Yes. I like him. Even though he’s a BOY.

Of the five kids in the class, Lily was the only kid with pool shoes on. Maybe it’s my germ issues, but going barefoot in and around a swimming pool just skeeves me right out. I mean, honestly. It’s a giant fungal infection just waiting to happen.

Needless to say, Lily and Logan both will wear pool shoes to class until I’m told otherwise. If and when the time comes that pool shoes just slow them down, I may have to resort to taping saran wrap around their feet…

For those of you who are of the opinion that I should just get over it and let my kids go swimming in their bare feet, I have taken the liberty of putting together some motivational posters to help prove my point. (The words are tougher to read than I’d hoped, so I’ll transcribe them below as well).

Pool Shoes: Because plantar warts are a bitch to get rid of

Pool Shoes: Because she’s too big to fit in a hamster ball

Pool Shoes: Because hazmat suits aren’t waterproof

Pool Shoes: Because I love my kid more than other parents love theirs

Pool Shoes: Because nothing says “I love you” like warding off foot fungus

Pool Shoes: Have you SEEN the floors in those changerooms?

Do you have any good ideas for motivational poster slogans on pool shoes? Fire your best shots into the comments section. I’ll pick my favourites and make up some posters, along with a link to your website (or other site of your choosing, if you don’t blog) and include them a future post.

Filed under: Keepin' it Real, Me, Offspring, Out of the Mouths of Babes, Uncategorized by WWS (Lynn) - 4 Comments →

A couple of months ago, one of my best girlfriends (you know her best as Chesty LaRue) wrote this note as part of some Facebook meme thingy. I liked it so much that I stole it copied and pasted it to keep for the time when I actually decided to follow her advice:

I really, really, really hate it when people constantly bitch and complain. If you hate your job, get a new one. If you don’t like your body, change it or get a makeover. If you’re miserable, there are drugs for that! I think we’re in charge of our own happiness and once you realize that and take ownership of it, you’ll be happier. If that makes sense. And there’s a difference between having a bad day or week and constantly bitching about everything.

That girl has brains and a great rack. And she’s right – we are in charge of our own happiness. There are some big changes on the horizon for me and I can’t wait!

My appointment with the endocrinologist is coming up on Thursday, and I have a list of questions/concerns to bring along. I’m going to take control of my health and make sure that the things I want to see happen actually happen. (I’m talking to you, ovaries. Your days of making my pelvis ache are numbered.)

My walking buddy and I are committed to walking again for an hour a day starting in May. Along with that, I’m going to consistently make good food choices. (Exercise and eating right + endocrine system overhaul = goodbye apple shape, hello hourglass.)

AND, in an effort to save my mental health, I quit my job. I’ve got two weeks left and then I’m done like dinner. Walking in the evenings will be so much easier when I don’t have to wear a flashlight hat to see where I’m walking when I’m not calling cranky redneck truck drivers until 9:30 every night before I go.

If everything goes according to plan, I will soon go from this:

To this:

Let the transformation begin.

Filed under: Keepin' it Real, Me, PCOS, Uncategorized by WWS (Lynn) - 5 Comments →

They say that bad things happen in threes. Probably, whoever said it meant three bad things happen specifically to one person in clusters of three, but I’m going to change the meaning in this instance because as a mother, I just don’t want to hear any more.

In a matter of days, three little ones have been taken from the loving arms of their parents, families, friends. Three precious little lives.

First was Maddie.

A few days later, little Thalon followed.

And now, Rose.

I have nothing inspirational to say. I can only hope that the parents of these children know that they have the love and support of countless other parents, grieving or otherwise. We are all in this parenthood thing together. When one of us loses a child, we all feel the pain to some degree. If my heart hurts this much for children I’ve only ever read about, well. I can’t even finish that thought.

Filed under: Uncategorized by WWS (Lynn) - 2 Comments →

The world has lost another dear, little soul. On April 7, 2009, little Madeline Alice Spohr passed away after being admitted to the hospital with breathing problems. My heart is breaking for her parents, Heather and Mike. It’s nearly impossible for me to wrap my mind around this senseless, tragic loss. I can only imagine the anguish they are going through. No parent should ever have to lose a child.

If you’d like, head over to Maddie’s March of Dimes Page and make a donation in her honour. As of the time of this post, Maddie’s family and friends, both in “real” life and online, have raised over $10,000 in her name. Amazing.

At this time, Heather’s blog page has been crashed due to all the visits it has received as of late. I will post the address when I know it’s back up and running again.

Filed under: Uncategorized by WWS (Lynn) - No Comments →