Sometimes I doubt my abilities as a mother. I feel inadequate. I don't feel like I am doing enough. Well, the other day... I was an awesome mom. Why? Because I took my kids to the Wiggles concert. So just for the record, I've been an awesome mom twice in my life because I took Dallin to a Wiggles concert when he was a wee one.So I bought 4 tickets... one for me, one for Dallin, one for Claire and of course, one for Spencer (ie: Wiggle lover). All of a sudden, out of nowhere, Dallin decided he was way too cool for the fab 4 and refused to go. What in the world do I do with 1 Wiggle ticket when my too-cool husband refused to go? :) I get really lucky and have a Mom flying in the same day as the concert! My mom was the lucky ticket taker and made it just in time for us go.
As we were getting ready, I noticed my mom's cute blue sweater and saw that I was wearing a purple one. The creative juices were flowing... what if Spencer wore red and Claire wore yellow... then we would be... the Wiggles!!! So not only am I a dork (I mean super-cool mom) for attending a Wiggles concert, I am now orchestrating a way to resemble them. We did look pretty rad if I do say so myself.
(sorry about the bad quality/freaky-looking photos)
And yes, I took one for the team by being the purple wiggle :). Speaking of Jeff, did you know that he is 50 years old!??!!! Not that that's old, but it is for someone doing gymnastics and all sorts of other death defying feats on stage to make a 4 year old smile. Pretty cool... and it made me feel better about being the purple wiggle.
So we drove to San Diego, walked into the theater and realized that our seats were great. The show had just started as we sat down and the freaky clown man speaking had us all a little scared and Spencer has never clung on tighter. The "Toot Toot Chugga Chugga, Big Red Car" song was a welcome relief as Spencer quickly turned around, relaxed and enjoyed the rest of the show. He was enthralled the majority of the time, but I still wonder if he thought that he was watching this show on some kind of high-definition, 3-D TV. Either way, he was good and still and happy.
Claire was just as excited to see them and was in a mature awe the entire concert. She sat there, taking it all in, smiling while the other 4 year olds around us were dancing around like caged monkeys who had just been released. The highlight for her, however, was bringing roses for Dorothy the Dinosaur.
We have seen enough Wiggle shows on TV to know that it is proper etiquette to bring Dorothy roses to the concerts (for her to eat of course). We cut some roses in our backyard, removed the thorns and put a ribbon around them. Claire held those roses the entire ride to SD and in her seat until the part of the show came where they collected them. Captain Feathersword (yes, the real Paul Paddick) kindly took them from her. She was a little embarrassed/in awe/excited wrapped into one. It was her first real celebrity encounter. :)
The show was full of some of their greatest hits and even some new songs that we had never heard (and I seriously have been listening to them daily for the last 8 years). The best part of the whole show was probably the fact that my mom and I had the most fun. We danced, forced the kids to dance, sang, laughed at the stupid (yet funny) jokes, and enjoyed the Wiggles like we were there for us. The kids had fun, but I think we had more fun. We definitely made a memory.
Dallin played at his friend Wilson's house while we were gone and it sounds like he had a blast. He definitely didn't regret his choice... even after we told him how much stinkin' fun we had. So I've played it out in my mind that the next time this cool mom takes her kids to the Wiggles concert, Dallin and Claire will both refuse to go... Spencer and any other Waldron tinys will be really excited... and the Wiggles will all be in their 50's/60's defying all age stereotypes. Wanna go Mom?
This is one of those posts that honors a loved one and should have been done on a birthday, anniversary, or a grandparents day. On this day, however, I am deeply sad to say that this post comes as a result of Peter's dad passing away. It only happened this morning... very sudden and unexpected. A very emotional day and a day that has left us all remembering those poignant moments in our lives with Dad/Lee/Grandpa. 
I started to scroll through some photos of Dad and I did so for quite awhile. It was healing. 
I decided to share some of my favorites with all of you in hopes that everyone sees that Dad was an incredible father (raised 5 great kids on his own for years), 
a wonderful father-in-law, 
a fun and happy grandpa, 
a super-cool helicopter pilot with amazing stories,
and a stable and constant anchor in our family. 
Words are inadequate, photos share a glimpse, but it is our memories and knowledge of this good man and how he lived his life that portray how great he really was.
We will miss you so much Dad and look forward to seeing you on the other side someday.
