the Vaseline Event

Many of you saw these pictures on Facebook. Many of you probably did not. The Vaseline Event, as I now "lovingly" refer to it, has been a turning point in the way we parent these boys. And because this blog is about milestones for our family, it is only fitting that the Vaseline Event be included. Also, this is hilarious and I want you all to get a good laugh. New parents and parents-to-be, learn from us. And everyone else, you will also learn what gets Vaseline out of hair.

I am sure you are saying WHAT?!!??!!  Vaseline??!  Hair?!!

Um. Yep. An entire jar of Vaseline in the hairs of two little boys. Short story is that this is what happens when two little boys are being quite and Mommy and Dad think they are just being sweet and playing nicely together. WRONG. They are conniving. And doing something they shouldn't be doing.

Now for the long story. The boys have recently been playing together. Wanting to play together. And they will play back in their rooms, they will color together or play play-doh, or they will play trains together in the livingroom. Usually I can hear them....but not always. And there is occasionally a scream, tattle, cry out, or whatever...but then they seem to work it out. So last Wednesday as Josh and I were preparing supper (for our family AND a friend who just had a baby) the boys were doing their recent play-together-thing. And they were being good...and quiet. (First lesson: quiet boys = trouble) I recall telling Josh to go check on them but he replied he didn't want to disturb the peace and I completely agreed. Usually when we stick our heads in to peek on them, all harmony goes out the window. So we let them play. Then right before our lasagna was to come out of the oven and our friend's was to go in, all hell broke loose.

Josh went back to check on the kids/tell them to come eat, and instead of a parade of little feet out to the kitchen I heard my name. I rolled my eyes and walked back to Keagan's room. And that's when I saw it:

Vaseline. Everywhere. Not just on the boys and in their hair, but all over their play tent, the dresser, the throw pillows off our couch, the blankets. And the now empty Vaseline jar sat open, quietly, on the greasy dresser. I fell to my knees in a laughter. I honestly couldn't believe my eyes. I was so mad at them, yet they looked hilarious and I couldn't believe what they had done that I seriously couldn't stop laughing. I wanted to cry! Where in the world do I begin to clean this mess up?! How in the world will we get this out of their hair, off the furniture/toys/linens/everything?!!?!!! I continued to laugh.

Then Keagan, also laughing, thinking this was actually funny and he wasn't in trouble, said: "Mommy, we need more of that stuff." (Lesson #2: When your child(ren) does something terrible, don't laugh. It is too hard to go back and really reprimand.)

OH Supper!!!!! Must.Not.Forget.About.It.  (We somehow made it all work in the end...we ate good, then took supper to our friends...all before 10 o'clock)

Continuing to laugh I grabbed Finn's slick Vaseline-covered hand and led him to the bathroom nagging that he NOT TOUCH ANYTHING while we are making our way. We bathed the boys twice, washed their hair so many times we lost count. The water just beaded off their heads in a Nanny-Nanny-Boo-Boo type of taunt, like water rolls off a duck. We washed with grown-up shampoo, bar soap, their shampoo...then we realized Dawn soap is the ultimate de-greaser. So we washed a bunch with Dawn. And combed out the Vaseline. Then between bathings Josh tried baby powder (something a quick Google search must've brought up). Then back to the bathtub. Nothing really helped.

The next day Ms. Brittney was good enough to just have a "bath day" with the boys. She did some Googling and decided to try Coke and then eggs, along with Dawn soap. She managed to get it pretty well out of Keagan's hair, but Finn was still a bit greasy. Both boys' hair is now beautifully conditioned. (Lesson 3: Eggs + Dawn soap seem to be the magic combo should you ever find yourself needing a hard-core degreaser)

(Lesson 4: While terribly hard to get out of your hair, Vaseline seems to be a great conditioner!)

Needless to say, they are not allowed alone together for a while. Oh and the biggest lesson I have learned, bigger than something being wrong if my little boys are quiet, is that you should NEVER-EVER leave a jar of Vaseline in the child's room. It may have been there since they were born, and seem like an unassuming permanent fixture on a dresser that a child will never touch, but rest assured your 2 and 4 year olds will find it. We are just thankful that it wasn't something dangerous or poisonous.

Oh. And those boys are the luckiest little boys on the face of the earth. They never got reprimanded, just a "talking to." Nope, the moment passed. We laughed too much during the incident...and I am still tickled about it.

Lazy Sunday - Lake Style

This past Sunday we were invited to go out onto the lake with our friends Billy and Chasity. It was initially supposed to be a grown-up outing with another couple but plans changed and the other couple wasn't able to go, and so the kids were invited. And let me tell you...Finn went absolutely APE NUTS when I told him we were going out on a boat. My more sensitive child, Keagan said he didn't want to go. And then asked if it would be scary. So I was a little concerned how Keagan would react. But I am pleased to say that their first leisure boat ride and lake adventure was a true success (other than exhaustion at the end of the afternoon...resulting in a screaming fit from Finn and then passing out on my chest). Josh and I have plans to get a boat someday and so it was reassuring to know that our children would love it!

Checking everything out...

Keagan LOVED to drive...and Billy obliged him by letting him drive all the way across the lake to the beach.

It was like his first steps on the moon...but it didn't take long for him to warm up and even get into the water on his own. The kids played so well together and us adults were able to hang out and relax a little bit. 

first day jitters?

Keagan started preschool yesterday!! He had some preschool curriculum at his old daycare, but that was hit and miss. And because it was at a daycare, babysitting was the main priority of the teachers. We removed Keagan and Finn from daycare back in late May and they boys have been fortunate to have a babysitter who comes to our home. But because we wanted to encourage an environment similar to what he will get when he goes to kindergarten, we signed Keagan up for a Christian-based preschool 3 mornings a week. We have been prepping him about "starting school" and that child had zero first day jitters! He was beyond excited. Mommy, on the other hand, was not so fortunate. I think I actually reverted back to the combined emotions of excitement over new school supplies and a fun first-day outfit and the anxiety of wondering if the kids would be nice and would I forget anything! I had a lot of stress!! But Keagan was cool as a cucumber and when his teacher got him out of the car from the carpool line he actually squealed "Bye Mommy!!!!" and turned and ran into the doors. I may have shed a tear or two. I have asked him to please stop growing, but he demands he wants to be big. These early years, though so difficult at times, really are so fleeting. 

Big stuff with his Ninja Turtle backpack. (Thank God we found this at Wal-Mart the night before school because this is exactly what he wanted...and he would've been devastated if we didn't find it!) He even got to take a lunch box (Ninja Turtles, too...courtesy of Grandma).

Drop off..Keagan's teacher Ms. Linda was the one to get him out of the car. That afternoon as we were asking him about his day and did he know his teacher's name he remarked, "Who? That Lady in the pink shirt?" First lesson: learning his teacher's name. 

 BYE MOMMY!!!

Waiting for Bubby to get let out of school. Friday I was reminded just how strong the bond is between these brothers. When Keagan ran into school Finn was a wreck. He kept saying that he wanted to go and that he wanted Bubby. He was crying big crocodile tears and had a hard time getting a hold of himself. The (only) three hours Keagan was in school was tough on Finn, he asked about his Bubby constantly. And he was so excited to see him when he came out! 

Keagan and his pal (and neighbor) Penn. The two boys are in the same class! So cute. :)

When we picked Keagan up he actually asked us why we were there. It was kind of a silly question to us, but I guess he was having such a good time he wasn't ready to leave! He did tell us he cried a little, and we think it may be that he wanted to keep coloring and it was time to move on. We had a tough time pulling any details out of him and so this was our best guess. We are going to have to work on getting him to tell us how his day went!!

Well Worth The Wait

A year ago I won a contest on Facebook from a local photographer. I didn't win first prize, but I won second prize which was a free session. (So, YES! people do win those contests!) It took us a bit to coordinate dates and schedules. I wasn't in a hurry to get the pictures taken because we had just finished up a session with our prized photographer Julie, who took Finn's 1-year smash cake pictures and some family photos. So we didn't meet up with ROK Photography until February of this year. And it just so happened that the day we picked was a rare, warm day. We decided to do some urban, downtown pictures because we didn't have anything like this in our house and to say we were amazed at the finished product was an understatement. I was teary-eyed while watching the slide show that Ryan (the photographer) had put together. I wanted each.and.every picture. Ryan and his wife Rachel were so amazing to work with and they made the session fun and gave us some incredible images. And, not that we doubted their work or anything, but we were just certain that none of the images would out because the boys were less than cooperative. But we were wrong. In fact, there were way too many to choose from...and it took forever for me to pick which ones to go on our walls!! Without further ado, here they are!

Are they incredible or are they incredible?!! The only thing I wish is that my babies were still this small! HAHA! It hasn't been THAT long, but they seem to have grown so much since these pictures were taken. I look at these pictures that Ryan and Rachel took and I wipe tears away now. I am immeasurably blessed by God for the beautiful family that he allowed Josh and I to create. Thank you again ROK Photography, for you've made my heart sing and created stunning images for our family to reflect back on for years and years!!