Shrek The Musical!

Lilah and I have been attending a few of the local plays around town, over the last year.  Ever since Lilah was in Snow White, we've both been more and more interested to watch others in action. Once I saw the advertisement for Shrek, the musical, I asked Lilah if she wanted to go (because I wanted to) and she immediately said "YES!"

We had a special night on the town planned and invited Gram to join us. Lilah treated it like a real date and knocked on the door to pick her up.  Poppy said hello, but NO BOYS ALLOWED.

And we were off...

We headed downtown for dinner, the candy store, and the musical SHREK!

We met Lilah's BFF and family (not daddy) at Alejandro's.  Doesn't every perfect night start with chips and salsa?

After dinner, we headed to the local Candy Store.  It's actually called "The Candy Store".  LOL!

I am so glad that Lilah has met her match.  She was teary one day and said, "Mom. I just really love Avery.  She's like a sister to me.  I feel sad when I am not with her."

Gram had to get in there a snag a pic.  I was glad that she was able to join us.  I know it meant a lot to her.  

Downtown photos always turn out so good.  Look at this sweet photo I captured of Avery with her momma.  

And then my mom stole the show in the candy store.  I swear, she always keeps us entertained.

Until the candy store attendant stole the show by bombing our photo.

Shrek, the musical, was incredible.  

The entire show was great, but the role of Lord Farquaad had us all dying laughing.  His costume was HILARIOUS.

It really kept everyone's attention.  

This outing was so sweet.  Of course, it had to end with a sleepover.  Haha.  Lilah finally used her sleepover coupon that she got in one of her hidden, Easter eggs to invite Avery over.  

"YES" Day!!!!

Summer is coming to a QUICK close! Due to the ages of my children and their personal LOVES (fortnite, youtube, and musicallys, and slime), this Summer has been the slowest, most unproductive, and uneventful Summer to date. We have also been a little busy serving my mother and father, who recently moved to Roanoke, so our normal, Summer days took a major detour for a good month or so. No one has complained. I guess I just have mom guilt now that the school year is about to begin. I am thinking about all of the things we could have done or should have done, but didn't.  I am grateful, however, that my children LOVE being in their home and don't have to be whisked away on vacation and entertained constantly. When I stop and think about what we've done... we did plenty: we went to Charlotte, King's Dominion, Myrtle Beach, and Richmond. They had Starbuck's, Salem Ice Cream Parlor, Dairy Queen, and Bahama Sno-Shack.  They went to the pool (both ours and a friends'), the trampoline park, the YMCA, and enjoyed multiple/expensive sports camps, drama camp and cheer camp! Went to birthday parties. Had a sleepover or three.  We ate out A TON! They even were able to enjoy a day at the mall shopping for back-to-school clothes and then Target/Staples for personal school supplies. They were able to sleep in and didn't have to go to daycare. Sounds like a good Summer to me.  

BUT... I wanted to do a little something that would leave a lasting impression.  I feel like I am constantly saying "NO".  Kids don't get that discipline is love.  Guidelines are necessary.  Rules are required.  Motherhood/Fatherhood, PARENTHOOD ain't easy.  YES, I say no mostly out of convenience, because I know our daily agenda and what will fit into it, and for selfish reasons, but I am allowed to.  I've been a kid.  It was done to me and I survived.  My kids will too.  When they are parents, they will do what I am now doing.... "AH... now I guess why my mom ...."  [Fill in the blank]! I am not here to fulfill their every selfish desire.  I am hear to fulfill their needs and an ENTIRE day of fortnite, staying up till 1:00 a.m. every Summer day, eating endless amounts of CRAP, and not expecting them to do chores or allowing them to sleep till noon is NOT being a loving parent.  It's being an unprotective, negligent, lazy, abusive parent. It's teaching my kids how to be nonproductive humans in society.  I am raising the next generation, future adults, and hopefully, most importantly, CHRIST FOLLOWERS.  So saying "YES", all the time, is NOT necessary, practical, or loving.  

BUT TODAY, I will be saying "YES".  I do have (10) Guidelines, mostly for my sanity, but also because I know, allowing my children a day of asking questions that only allow me to say YES, will pose dilemmas, IF I don't set those guidelines. They knew this day was coming and they were already planning out their absurd desires, like pulling an all nighter, thinking they could have a budget of $100 each (guess who that was), or skipping their already planned out obligations to invite a friend to sleep over.  "UH... negative!"  So, guidelines were necessary.  Suggestions are mentioned.  They have the choice to make some major decisions and if they choose unwisely, like eating ONLY junk, they will pay for it.  

So, tell me what you think.  See the guidelines below.  I will also include a link for you to print these same guidelines at home, if you desire to mimic ours.  I plan to make sure I have plenty of coffee available to me.  I have ONE friend who has done this before and she said by the end of the day, you feel like you've been hit by a mack truck, went out partying all night but didn't enjoy it, or feel like you could sell your children to North Korea's leader and never look back.  HAHAHAH.  We shall see what they ask me to say "YES" to.  Stay tuned... 

P.S. I bet today will be the best day of their lives.  #MOMGOALS

 

After reading the guidelines, do you feel like I've put far too many stipulations on the day?  OR do you think I was fair?  There are (3) links below, that you can click on, and print if you wish to use BOLLINGWITH5's guidelines.  Oh and let me preface... these guidelines were created by ME! They work within the dynamics, morals, faith, and personalities of our family, so if you do not like them... make your own!!!! I am curious to see how they change, if you do make up your own. Send them my way! 

Guidelines 1-4
Guidelines 5-7
Guidelines 8-10

Mother-Daughter Sleepover Party!

*Disclaimer: Oh my goodness. It's been 3 weeks since I have created a blog post. I PROMISE you, I DO NOT PLAN to ONLY blog once a month. I have been crazy busy this Summer and I just cannot justify sitting at my computer when the house needs tending to, kids want to have fun or need to be disciplined, or if I am playing nurse, hair dresser, taxi cab driver, or referee.  If you are a mom... you GET IT! BUT, I will be blogging MORE in the next 7 days (when school is back in session).  For now, check me out on Instagram, @BollingWith5, for all of the deets on our daily life. Now, enjoy a long overdue post...

Lilah has been begging for a "sleepover" with ME. All she really meant was for ME to sleep in HER room with her.  I think it's sweet, but I love sleeping with my husband, lol.  I mean, if you were me, you would agree. AND truth is, no one sleeps well with a KID.  They sleep every direction possible, but the right direction (vertical).  Liley asked again on Friday night and I decided to bring her wish to fruition.  And, if you have been following me for any length of time, you could probably guess that I took it one step further because EVERY. LITTLE. THING. IS. A. BIG. DEAL.  

I designed our "sleepover" around her LOVES and some things that a traditional sleepover is famous for.  We couldn't start our night until about 8:45 pm because she was at a birthday party BUT, when she arrived home, she was greeted with a beautiful, sleepover presentation.  The image above is a  "sign" I made. Below you will see both her reaction and the presentation. Isn't it comical how UNPHASED Tyson was when he entered the house and saw it all?  He's SUCH a TEENAGER.  

We started off our sleepover by making slime.  It's Lilah's favorite past time, so I obliged.  The slime supplies came complete with Elmer's Glue, sequins, glitter, and detergent activator.  

I call Lilah my professional slime maker.  She self-taught herself all about slime, through trial and error, as well as, by watching some of the BIG/famous youtubers who make slime. I knew what she needed, but I had NO idea how to make slime, so last night, she taught me.

 

 NOW, I know how to make slime.

Above: My Slime.
Below: Lilah's Slime.

During our slime making extravaganza, Lilah kept saying, "Oh my goodness.  I feel so honored you did all of this for me!"

Next up... Sleepover Party MadLibs.  We each did TWO and then Darren joined us for ONE.

Those were fun and created some laughter for sure. Just imagine the words knee cap, belly button, smelly, and slippery inserted into a pre-designed story.

At this point, the time was 9:50 p.m. I decided it was movie time.  We didn't have a movie picked out.  Next time, that will be the only thing I change.  We just turned on Netflix and chose something that looked half decent. The movie was decent. We laughed and at one point Lilah almost cried. It happened to be about a mother-daughter, so we could both relate. I will be sure to plan out our movie selection next time though. Maybe something a little more light hearted and funny. Our movie came complete with popcorn and candy.

I tried to pick out candy that Lilah loves and stuff I wouldn't be tempted to eat much of.  The twizzlers and KitKats were all I sampled.  I didn't want her to feel or see my restraints.  I wanted to be her fun "friend" for the night.

I was so concerned I would doze off. What kind of friend does that? I was proud of myself that I only dozed off, ONCE, for about 30 seconds.  I got busted too.

After the movie was over, it was close to midnight, so we decided to save the panda bear facial masks for tonight.  We got ready for bed and had one last silly idea in mind! A big thank you to Tyson for taking the photo of us.

Lilah's bed does NOT typically look like this.  She has GORGEOUS bedding, but I dressed up her bed to look more sleepover-party-ish. "Donut worry! Adventure awaits!"

Of course, no sleepover party is legit without cozy blankets and eye masks.  

This was the BEST. NIGHT. EVER. I'm glad we could make this memory happen before the Summer comes to a close.

This sleepover took LITTLE planning and the details ARE NOT what is important to my girl (even though they are important to me). Lilah just wanted this time with me.  So... if you have a special, little girl in your life: be it a daughter, niece, cousin, or God daughter, do yourself and HER a favor and MAKE.THIS.HAPPEN.

Myrtle Beach ~ Day #7

Just another day at the pool and beach!

 WHAT? Are my kids actually interacting QUIETLY, engaged, and happy?

 This was BY FAR MY FAVORITE color combination to DATE! Just unique and fun.

 I'm also pretty obsessed with my Liley's hairstyle. She sorta looks like Princess Leia AND I LOVE IT.

Twice blessed.

This kid is getting BIG! I blinked and he went from a sixe 8/10 to a size 14/16.

Brothers.

I am also pretty addicted to Lilah's freckles.  You don't see them that often, anymore, and I think it makes her unique looking.

My trio.

 

I can't recall where we went to dinner, but Darren and I did take the kids putt-putt golf this night.  

Most families make this a beach tradition, but we do not.  I guess putt-putt is fun to kids, but Darren and I find golf beyond BORING.  I would truly rather watch the grass grow.    

 

Darren has been wanting a jeep, so we joked and said, "We finally took the plunge!" Haha.  What better place to cruise around in a Jeep Wrangler!

If I am NOT mistaken, Daren won the round of golf.  If we didn't hear it 100 times, we didn't hear it ONCE, "There's a whole lot of pizza left in that box!" AFTER EVERY SINGLE STROKE I TOOK. Darren hates to lose and he has all kinds of scare tactics and distraction techniques.  LOL! If he wins, I usually just say, "I let you win!" Oh man... that really gets him going.  LOL!