Welcome to Tinseltown (and Other Compromises)

Kennedy: Would love to have highlights in her hair to add some razzmatazz.

Kristen:  Recalls the days of her Jr. High youth when it was only the naughty girls who had their hair colored. At least that's how it was at BJH.

Compromise:  Went to salon-a-la-Randee for some hair blingity-bling. Hair tinsel.  It is tied into your hair and is temporary (usually falls out when your hair naturally sheds or you brush too hard).  Kennedy went for purple and pink (not nearly as dramatic as the picture on Randee's salon blog).  It is very subtle but just adds some shine and sparkle. While she now has a little sass in her mane, she still looks very much like a nice girl (which she is).  

{click to enlarge}

All parties are happy with the compromise.

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Kennedy: Would love to have her own cell phone.  Feels she needs one because of the after school games she has to go to as part of her officer duties. Some game days, when they travel by bus, she doesn't get home until 5:30 p.m. and by then the school office is closed.

Kristen:  Hates the whole cell phone epidemic with teenagers.  HATES teenage texting. Has entirely too much to say about the topic and has her own soap box packed and ready to use at a moment's notice.  Agrees with Kennedy that cell phones are good for safety and convenience reasons. 

Compromise:   Kennedy, Taiden, and Britt will share a family phone.  The phone stays in the kitchen unless it is needed for one of the following reasons: after school games or activities, going to the swimming pool, park, on a bike ride, etc... without mom or dad, going somewhere with friends, any other reason that having a cell phone would heighten safety and peace of mind. HOWEVER, there is no texting plan with this phone.  

All parties are (mostly) happy with this compromise. (The 13 year old would still love to text.) 

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Jeff: Idea of a great family vacation is to spend a week camping and enjoying the great outdoors.  Kayaking, hiking, campfires, sleeping in the wild, and grit under his nails.  No crowds, noise, or overstimulated senses. Becoming one with nature and purging stress and fatigue.  Using latrines and giving high 5's to mosquitoes.

{Dad's Near Death Trip '09}

 

Kristen:  Idea of a great family vacation is to spend a week at any Disney themed area.  Not picky.  Could be Anaheim, Orlando, France, Tokyo, or in the middle of the ocean on a Disney themed boat.  Loves the energy that comes along with going to any of the Happiest Places on Earth and loves the thrill of experiencing it with her kids over and over again.  Having been born in southern California, anything Disney reminds her of her childhood and of going home to that time.

{Brittan '04}

Compromise: Jeff's vacation choice wins out April - August and Kristen's wins out in the off season. Camping, kayaking, Echo Lake in the summer.  Orlando in the fall.  To ease Jeff back into the world of princesses and pixie dust, Kristen promises to do the following:

1.  Smuggle in an inflatable kayak so he can paddle over to Tom Sawyer's Island and camp out there for awhile.

2.  Point out that even in themed parks, there are plenty of animals around. Mice, ducks, bears, rabbits, dogs, and birds.  Even exotic animals like elephants and Tiggers and huffalumps.

3.  Take a picture of him dancing with the belly dancers at the Morocco Pavilion in Epcot for bragging rites.  

4.  Hike over to Expedition Everest and come face to face with a yeti.

5.  Observe the night sky and stars from another part of our country.

  

All parties are happy with the compromise.

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Shaw: Likes sleeping in between mom and dad.  Will take a power nap from 8:00 - 10:00 p.m. and then wake up wailing as though his bed is on fire.  This production of Come Get Me NOW 'Cause I Can Keep This Up All Night Long and Wake Up My Three Siblings, always works. The other kids have to sleep (3 boys sharing a room is not working).  Shaw knows this and plays on our current square footage shortage.  (Never underestimate the rational and fully comprehending mind of a 17 month old.)

Kristen and Jeff:  Don't like that sleeping arrangement one bit.

Compromise:  Shaw starts out in his own bed.  10:00 p.m. hits, the thrashing begins and he triumphantly makes his return downstairs.  Queen bed + 2 adults + 1 restless toddler = dark circles and baggy eyes.

All parties are SO NOT happy with the compromise (or lack thereof). Little Shawski has big changes comin' his way when we get back from our vacation.  

{Note to self:  remember to call neighbors about possible crib transfer over to their house starting sometime in October; promise a bottle of homemade vanilla}