Lifeinasmalltown

Certainly not Emily Post...or a Martha Stewart....

Heather — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 18:01:00 GMT

When we were first married, I spent my days working and figuring out married life. We were invited to the big family fourth of July celebration. I was assigned with bringing potato salad. I thought, cool, no one can mess up, potato salad. We drove to York, Pennsylvania and spent the night at my husbands Great Aunts house. I didn't have a glass dish for the potato salad, but I did bring all the ingredients to prepare once we got to the house. I still needed a bowl, and his aunt just sent me to the attic to pick from the many collecting dust on the shelf. She said, she just moved all her china up to attic, because she no longer entertains...I love going up into attics of old houses. She had lived in this house since 1907 and it was the house she was born in, so there was much history. I finished my potato salad and put in fridge to chill until I could find a serving bowl in the attic. Potato salad must be chilled, and so I left it in the fridge while I went bowl hunting. I wandered up the stairs, and it was a treasure trove up there, magazines from the 1930s, Victory Magazine from the world war...and it was so cool. I found a shelf of beautiful bowls, and one caught my eye. It was way up and behind, a box but that was the one, I grabbed the step ladder and moved the box to retrieve my bowl. It was white porcelain with inlaid gold design all through the body, solid gold or seemed so handles, and a beautiful lid. The bowl was so dusty and yellowed with age. I made a baking soda and peroxide mix to clean the inside, scrubbed the old yellow age discoloration on the inside. It was just beautiful. I took my potato salad out and scooped into the bowl. We were off to the big picnic. This was to be my first time meeting most of the extended family. I was nervous but equally thrilled with this beautiful treasure I found for my potato salad. We arrived, and I carried my potato salad into the pavilion and since we were newly married, everyone stopped and looked as we entered. I held out my potato salad to my mother in law, and she said, "Oh, dear"....Oh..dear??? huh?? She asked where it was I found this pot...I said in the attic....isn't it beautiful...but soon...laughter roared through the pavilion...and my husbands aunt came over and put her hand on my shoulder, and said, "Dear one, thats a chamber pot"....oh...know...oh..my word...I can tell you, no one ate my potato salad, and 18 years later, I have yet been asked to prepare a dish for a family gathering...

All spiders are arachnids...but all arachnids are not spiders..

Heather — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 16:31:00 GMT

We all remember in math class when the dreaded math statements were introduced....true or false... All spiders are arachnids, therefore all arachnids are spiders. I initially said, oh, yep, so true as my son was pressing through his homework. He looks up and says, false, and I naturally look up from my Amazon Kindle and ask why is it false? He then, follows with the question, is a scorpion a spider? No, of course not, I reply and he says its an arachnid. I sit corrected. My mind was wrapped up with all these little facts. Today, my boys started their insect collection for science class. Oh, stunning, or finding an insect on the ground to pin it to a piece of styrofoam, gives me the heebie jeevies. The boys have collected several specimens already and love that mom is staying an arms length away from their discoveries. What happened to leaf collections or maybe a model of the solar system, but bugs....oooo....yuck...blech...I so do not do insects.

There are bugs in jars, I don't recognize....and they are flipping through books, and online looking for the names. They couldn't push a pin through the stink bug...so I gorilla glued it to the styrofoam...there's no way, I am sticking anything through that body....what if it has a stink sac? I don't know....I don't want to smell like a stink bomb...though my kids would find it quite amusing.

The day the dog took flight....

Heather — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 16:07:00 GMT

It was a really blustery day just before Christmas. The girls were hanging the garland on the picket fence, and I was inside baking the gingerbread. Whisper and Spring, our two Pomeranians, suddenly appeared at my feet doing what we call the potty dance. I placed the spatula down in the bowl and grabbed my jacket and scarf and took them outside. The winds were at the time 25 to 35 mph and I had not realized the wind was quite so strong. Imagine a flying squirrel, as it's body just sort of flattens as the wind lifts it from a branch, well, that was a bit how it was for poor whisper. She hit an ice patch and slid down the driveway, an suddenly her legs sprawled the wind came and up she went. I would say she defied gravity, but then she weighs maybe 4 pounds soaking wet. Her little eyes widened, she squealed and barked, as I ran or rather slid to her rescue. She didn't fly to high only maybe a foot or two, but was enough to scare her. I pulled her close to me, and she was shaking so hard, she was traumatized. Springer-dinger as we affectionately called her, stood by the garage, and waited to return to the safety of our home. Whisper did not go out the rest of the day, she only would go to the garage and use a piddle pad.

Books..tuition...more books...where does it end..???

Heather — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 15:16:00 GMT

It was registration time for second semester. My daughter was now registering for her second semester at college, and I was left in the lobby with my checkbook. As, she emerged with her schedule, I just sat nervously, wondering how much this was gonna cost us. Although, the HOPE scholarship pays for a good bit of her classes, the fees, books, and, some electives were not covered by the scholarship. We departed the university and headed home. We were searching for books online at Amazon, and rental sites. Where the snag comes in, she has two classes with homework on a mathlab, and her cell biology and genetics class required a code that cost 100.00 each. Are you kidding me??? We overnight these, and all that arrived was a piece of cardboard with a 12 to 15 digit access code. Shipping and handling for a piece of cardboard, in a world of electronic technology, I pay shipping for a number? We are now at the point of selecting her four year college. She will have completed to years of undergraduate work while simultaneously finishing her last two years of high school. My daughter asks me, "what should I do with my life? " I can only say, do what makes you happy, what brings her joy. She loves the human anatomy, she can tell you the strangest facts about the body. She has a library of human anatomy books, right beside the Teen Vogue and Seventeen Magazines. She struggles with math, but loves science. I remind myself, she is just sixteen, and not eighteen, and she will change her mind five or six more times. How do we survive in a single income family and next fall we will have two in college, and the following fall three in college?

There are 2 speeds fast and faster...life never stops...

Heather — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 19:10:00 GMT

I find myself these days running from pillar to post. Having five kids all stair stepped apart and all very different, I find myself sitting in my chair tearfully watching as they spread their wings. as a mom, I just relish in their own personal gains and they are making their own imprints in the world. I have always been a bit of an artsy fartsy, fly by the seat of my pants kinda gal, but since the teen years have hit, my best friend has become the calendar. I have my life scheduled, so much that I realize I have not a second for myself, and no time for relationships. I used to struggle with the word no, now its become a regular word in my vocabulary, so either I am growing ornery in my forty's or just tired of always putting out. This last week was one of non stop chaos....and to open a window to my life...you just can't make this stuff up...by the way...

The week began as usual dad flies to NYC, and girls start off to school on Monday, and the boys and I start our homeschool day. We headed to the library in town so they could work on their research papers. Yes, "Virginia, there is a Santa Clause", my boys were gonna learn how to find reference material in a library. It's been a few years since I did library research....heavens its been twenty years since I graduated college...so one can only imagine. I have been to the libray but merely to pick up a new book to read. I taught the boys how to use a card catalog before leaving home. I walked all over the library looking for the chest of drawers that held those cards...and the young girl, early 20's asked if she could help me, I replied.."where's the card catalog?" , she said, I will ask..?? Now my inner thought was you work in a library and you do not know where the card catalog is?? The librarian came over and said, she could help me on the computer, that defeated my purpose. I can use a computer, not a complete moron...meanwhile, the boys are loving this, because I said, they could not use computers to research...guess what the boys were doing, clicking away at the computer. We were successful and headed home with a stack of reference books.

I had my week down, Monday, Wed, and Thursday from 5 to 9 pm, I was gonna be at swim practice with boys. Practice is 6 to 7:30. I would drop boys off, continue on to Emory drop the girls off, return to pick up boys and swing back and pick up the girls. On Tuesday nights, our youngest son has basketball games. We jump in our Ford Expedition and drive 30 minutes to the gym and spend an hour or so watching a game, I do not understand. I get things done, amazingly...except my curve ball this weekend...my oldest is away at school and she was txting me about studying for finals. I texted back that I would be coming down next weekend to help her pack up her dorm room, and bring her car home so that after her last final she just will have a suitcase. She sent me a txt back ??? huh???, I repeated myself, and she says, mom, I am done Thursday...like in 3 days Thursday...I had plans yesterday, and they didn't include driving for 6 hours to gather pack and come home...all the promises I made were all broken. I scrambled to reshuffle my life on Sunday, and I candidly said aloud, 'There are just not enough hours in the day', and my 13 year old says 'mom, there are plenty of hours, it just matters how you use them...' ugh...i rolled my eyes..she is right though...I hated to admit it..

I suppose life will continue to move fast...and faster...but learning to find my way...in a new time in my life...write again soon...

Oy...too old for push ups...bras or otherwise...

Heather — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 01:33:00 GMT

I in my infinite wisdom decided to hire myself a fitness trainer. Life after 40 certainly is not forgiving when it comes to our bodies. I laughed when I heard my father say once "that he knew he was over the hill because his chest fell into his drawers." I also heard a quote from a wise woman who said "that she may be over the hill but its better to be over it than under it". I joined a gym, and have started 'boot camp', I can honestly say, I am finding myself doing things, I never thought possible. I managed to do 2 sets of 20 push ups, sit ups, assisted pull ups, you name it I was doing it. I was sweating like a faucet and there was no perspiration just good ol sweat. I am on the floor worshiping the mat, as I look up and see all these buff men, and i am huffing and puffing. Why is it there are mirrors at every turn. I was introduced the to the weight machines. The last time I used a weight machine I was in college and that was twenty years ago. Where in the world are the pins and pully's??? These machines look like torcher devices. I now understood, why senior citizens are so afraid of technology. I survived, but honestly I am so sore. I am still wearing a softcast brace on my ankle and so I have not been able to run. I started to walk on the treadmill at about 4.5 for about ten minutes. I was not told that if I hit stop I would go reeling backwards because my body was not prepared to stop. I am smart, but I was dumb in that moment. I sat on the floor aside the treadmill as the trainer came running to my aid. I stood up and limped to the bench where I sat, sweating profusely, and my hair was a wreck, I looked awful. Where is sexy now??? I just sat on that bench looking in the mirror, and asked myself, why I am paying for this? I realize that I am taking time for me.

I love to write, travel and laugh. I am learning today that I am becoming a woman again. I will always be my role, a wife, mother, friend, and survivor. I learned today, I am not defined by my roles. So, as I feel like two ton tessie without a clue in that gym, I am learning. I'm redefining my life as I have known it.

In the coming weeks I will be returning to Walt Disney World, and I will be bringing two of my dearest friends. We met as we were receiving our chemo/radiation treatments at Piedmont Hospital and they will see Disney World for the very first time. They are 72 and 65 and though they are old enough to be my mothers, we are bonded together in love and have conquered and overcome many obstacles.
My role as a Walt Disney World Mom's panelist along with my many trips to the parks, will allow me to navigate with them with a great deal of ease. I will probably write about our Golden Girl adventures.

Learning to ride a bike...

Heather — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 00:56:00 GMT

I began the day teaching my boys about the mechanics of riding a bike. This may sound boring, however, everything to my son is a math problem. I thought if I could teach him the physics and mechanics involved with riding a bike, perhaps he would finally be able to balance and learn. We set out this morning with his brand new Mongoose bicycle and his brother jumped on his bike and pedaled down the street. My son is 12 and the only boy on the block not riding a bicycle. We tried and tried but to no avail. I have the scratches and bruises from the bicycle. We were unsuccessful. My goal is to teach him, so that we can ride bikes on the beach in Hilton Head, SC. It would be a dream if he could ride his own bike instead of having to use a tandem bike.

I have gone to doctor, to doctor, psychologist, to a psychiatrist but they all tell me, he is a genius, and has aspergerlike symptoms, but also had dexterity issues. The school put him in a gifted program, and then just punished him because he couldn't get information from his head to paper. It took him such a long time to complete a task. He is the most amazing puzzle solver, avid reader, and created a an AM radio yesterday. He can't ride a bike, its as if he has two left feet. I started him on a homeschool swim team, hoping that just maybe the strokes will help the mind body connection. I know in my heart, he is missing that component, its either all mind or all body. He is doing really well, in fact, he is learning. Homeschool has been challenging, but at the same time, I am seeing my child smile again.

The fantasy of marriage

Heather — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 00:20:00 GMT

There is a fantasy that I had growing up. I would find my prince charming, have the 2.5 kids, and the house in the burbs. I would have the most amazing marriage and our life would be perfect. The world at large, television, movies, all have these amazing families and marriages. As, I began almost 18 years ago, I had a magical thought of what marriage would be and to be honest, I wouldn't give anyone a plumb nickel for the first five years. My oldest daughter came to me and needed to do a presentation for her class about the American Family. She was looking for articles and experiential knowledge about what the typical american marriage. I stood before her speechless, what was I to say? The american family is no longer just husband and a wife, it goes beyond just a partnership. I believe love is the bond that will break any and all barriers. If one has love, than they have strength and with strength comes power. I took her to see the movie The Kids are Alright, Annette Bening and Julianne Moore. I turned to my daughter and said, that is what a marriage is really about. It wasn't the physical marriage I was referring too, defining marriage is each individuals responsibility to find and create their own belief systems. I sat in the theater and witnessed the strain, the emotional arguments, it was real. I was impressed there was movie that actually showed a real depiction of how marriage works. Marriage is about love, its about coming together and committing to one another in the presence of God, family, and friends. Marriage is work. Marriage is about compromise, and learning that what you might have loved once, has become a annoyance.

We stopped by Starbuck's on our way home and as we sat quietly sipping our coffee, she looks up and says, "I am so glad, you and dad kept going." I said, me too. I asked her what she was going to present to her Oral Communications class and she replied, "the fantasy of marriage". She said, momma, no one fights for marriage anymore. She says, it seemed to her that when the going gets tough the marriage is dissolved. She is correct, but that statement is far deeper than a marriage. Our society has begun to raise up a generation of entitlements. Our young children and adults want the big houses, the nice cars, but don't want to work for them. I watch as people half my age live in a world that far exceeds the Jones's. My daughter and I left the Starbucks and headed home. Our family has overcome many obstacles. We have lost everything, but we still had each other.

State of our medical system...

Heather — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 14:01:00 GMT

It's been 150 days since my last post and for the most part it has been my life has been a bit crazy. I spend every summer in New Mexico. I take my kids to camp and also am the camp mom. My duties range from doing all the laundry, giving hugs, walking campers from place to place. I answer the phones and manage frantic parents whom have left their little ones at camp for the first time. I get my weekends to go into Santa Fe and visit the galleries, stop and have a massage or two and its a fabulous time. This year, I was standing on the porch and was correcting some boy campers when my foot slipped and down I fell into a huge mud puddle. My foot twisted upwards and a popping and grinding sound, I was sure it was broken. I had never broken a bone in my life which exceeds 40 years by the way. I remember starting to shake and my body was moving quickly into shock. I was quickly scooped up and taken to the hospital, which I shall not name, but only because I am still upset with them. The hospital x-rayed my foot and I was told ice the foot for swelling, no breaks, and its a mild strain. Start bearing weight on the ankle in two days. I am a social person, I love to travel, I love to be out adventuring, so to be down for any amount of time was not acceptable. I went back to the camp and iced my foot the whole next day, I laid in bed listening to the bustle outside my window. That night, I was determined to walk, and I did. I cried, bit down hard, and breathed my way through the night. I am very thankful no for all those breathing exercises we mom's used during childbirth. I meditated and prayed God would just take this pain away. I am good at getting through a crisis and personal pain afterall I have survived cancer, brain surgery and have learned to walk afterwards. This was 'just' a strain and to be honest, if it were my kids and the doctor said not to 'baby' the injury, I would be all over them to get up and going. I believe in the 'do as you say principles' and do it. This pain was unbelievable. I was successful by morning my foot was purple but the pain was gone. I elevated and iced each night and limped my way through the remainder of the 2 weeks. I drove 2000 miles home and called an orthopedist to see if they could help with my mobility issues. I learned that day after an x-ray and MRI I had 3 non displaced fractures, ruptured 2 ligaments and the third was questionable but most likely ruptured, the nerves were severed which accounts for the lack of pain, and significant severe bone marrow edema. He said, it was considered a third degree sprain, and that a surgery within 48 hours would have been the directive however it has been 4 weeks and the damage had already began to heal. It gets even better. I was in a boot but the edema was not improving and the fear was the bone was dying. A dying bone means amputation of the foot. I almost fell off the table in my mind I am thinking 'are you kidding me??? I fell off a porch, not a war injury, or farming accident...lose my foot'? I realized i had to get off my foot for every hour I am up I would go down 2 hours. The doctors were going to drill my bone if the swelling did not begin to decrease. It has finally and no drilling but really scary stuff. I am in a half aircast instead of the boot now. I am thankful but have got to listen to my body. I am way to good at rationalizing my own pain and downgrading my own needs. I don't want to be stopped life is so short, and I don't want to be on the sidelines of life.

When College becomes home

Heather — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 13:52:00 GMT

When college becomes home....

I sat in orientation with an auditorium full of parents watching a parade of staff and administrators barrage us with information. I sat listening hearing about how to help our children transition and to understand that once our children leave home they never really come back. I thought and believed I was ready for my little girl and in theory that was true. She came home the first weekend to pick up the remainder of her stuff and she was excited to get back to her new abode. I thought to myself, I got this, she's okay, I'm okay....no problem. Last weekend I drove down to pick her up for the three day weekend and my Expedition was in the shop for an a/c issue so I had a rental car. I forgot the GPS and asked if she would get hers from her car. There are faster ways home but without my trusty GPS I dare not deviate from the known route. She happily brought her GPS to the car and plugged it in, I pressed the home button and to my surprise the address was not our home but her college address. I felt my face getting hot and the tears well up in my eyes somehow seeing it on a screen had a much more powerful affect on me. I couldn't help teasing her relentlessly all the way home.

Helicopter Parenting.....

Heather — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 13:49:51 GMT

So, much has happened since my last entry 150 days ago..one could write a book based on my crazy life. My first born did score well above the scores to be accepted into the college program of her choice. I guess a crazy send off is not always a detriment. Saturday we will embark on another ACT day with our second daughter. It seems nothing in our lives goes as planned, in fact when Murphy's Law was written, I believe it is our family crest pictured within the definition. Lexi has everything a child could want or need for college less the television. We bought her a fully loaded Dell laptop, Canon Printer,fax, and copier, an iPhone, Emerson Pink fridge with a whiteboard as a door, a pink microwave, and a boatload of insundaries. We even gave her a Garmin GPS for her car, so she could find her way home. She has a strong foundations and good head on her shoulder, but after helping her move in and making her bed for the final time, the good bye was hard. I hugged her and no tears only because I knew if I lost it so would she, and that would be a cocktail made with disaster. I turned and walked out of the building and began the drive home. It really hadn't hit me yet, my little girl was now in college. Where did the time go? It seemed like yesterday she was stepping on my toes and running into my arms so to kiss her boo boos. The weight of leaving her 2.5 hours away really did not affect me until I rounded the bend in my neighborhood and there was no car, her car was gone. It was then I fell into a puddle of tears, anxiously awaiting a phone call. We had since learned that AT&T service is less than desirable where she is and we are dependant on Google Chat. Thank God for Google Chat, if only there would be a way to select whom you would want to be visible instead an all or nothing. I love the chat, it is just that there are times when I want Lex to know I am there, but would rather not chat with others. We all have the one 'friend' who sees that green dot pop up, and three hours later, one finds themselves trying to stop the conversation. I have 3 of those, so what do I do, I sit invisible and pray she pops on and doesn't pop off before I can chat her. I find myself these last few weeks wanting to micro manage her, knowing when she is discouraged and wanting to help but really am unable. She submarines herself, and as a mom I watch the pattern, but feel powerless to help her. I want to call her professor's and see what I can do to help her but its her growth and her college experience not mine. She will be alright,

ACT testing...

Heather — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 21:28:00 GMT

As a parents, we all want the best for our children. We want them to succeed and we want them to do well. So, the college board recommends the students should get a good night sleep, a good breakfast, and to be prepared. This is the ideal morning. All week, we have been talking about the ACT test on Saturday, we had discussed her test, prayed about her test, and had all the best intentions. However, in our household it became a calamity of errors.

Friday evening as we all sat down for dinner, we discussed the mornings activities. One had theater rehearsal at 9 am, one had the ACT test at 7:30 or 8:00 at the time was sketchy, one was going to help a friend move, and the youngest two had a birthday party at Chuckie Cheese. All these things we discussed, who would drop off who, and then the pick up. The conversation faded, I took some much needed Nyquil for my Allergies. I know Nyquil is meant for the sniffling, sneezing, stuffy head so you can rest medicine, but when the pollen count is in the thousands, menopause, and no sleep, Nyquil helps me to sleep. I take it so infrequently it works when I get totally desperate for sleep. I fall asleep just before 9 pm. The rest of the house follows, and soon the sun begins to rise. I lay in my nice warm bed and discover its 7:30. I leaped to my feet and scream ACT we have to get her to the test. I in my infinite thought believed the ACT check in was 7:45 am, like the SAT. I screamed to my boys where is my lap top, I have to print the admission ticket. Both, Laptops are shut down, and I am frantically trying to bring up the ACT website to print the ticket. I send her ahead to the test site, while I stayed behind and awaited the ticket to print. I discovered it was then the check in time was 8:00 am. She was dropped off at the door of the community college by her daddy. She left behind her license, pencil, calculator, and her water bottle in the front seat of the car. I pull up and drop off the ticket, pass along her calculator, pencils, and water bottle and a fist full of quarters for the vending machines. Hoping she will find something to fill her tummy.

So, we will see how she does under pressure. Her daddy returns home just in time to start the morning of drop offs. He says I think I deserve eggs and bacon. Unfortunately, I had no eggs in the house so we embarked on a trip to Waffle House. I true southern breakfast.

She made it through the test and now all I can do is pray.

Building the Ark

Heather — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 14:42:00 GMT

I walked into our local post office to mail out some bills. Everyone was talking about the rain, it is really the talk of the town. I said nonchalantly, " I am building an ark in my backyard." , well the gentleman behind me said really???, I wasn't meaning literally, just figuratively. I tried to explain that I was merely stating that there is a lot of water...but the damage was done. I stopped trying to explain as it felt like an old Laurel and Hardy skit, 'Who's on First' joke. This El Nino year has caused quite a bit of havoc in these neck of the woods. It's hard to believe that I live in the south, as its been unusually cold. I keep hearing about global warming, our pollution causing holes in our ozone. Is it possible the earth has changed its tilt a one hundredth or one thousandth of a degree. This would explain much more??? Who am I just a lowly housewife, mom, and teacher.

Life as a home school mom is never dull. I learn sometimes right along with the boys. I had no idea that Haiti and Dominican Republic became known as Hispaniola. They had to identify and label countries on a map. They had to label North and South America, Hispaniola, Cuba, Central America. Well, I didn't need a key to check most of them, but for the life of me, I could not understand where Hispaniola was all that came to me was perhaps they changed the name of Puerto Rico.

Let's think...hmmm..when I was in school there was an East and West Germany. So, much has changed in the global world.

Life moves on in this town.

"Life is like a box of Chocolates" saith Forrest Gump

Heather — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:56:00 GMT

Life is like a box of chocolates. What would our lives be like without chocolate? Homeschooling!!!! Oh...argh...ugh...and love it!!! The hardest part of my day is just getting started. My two boys are gems, and are flourishing. Living in a small town with limited resources does affect the quality of my sons education. My oldest son struggles with Dysgraphia and some of his behaviors fall into a high functioning Asbergers. He spent many recess days inside at his desk completing assignments, but it wasn't laziness, he just couldn't get the information from his head to a piece of paper. He loves to read, and if he had his druthers he would spend all day in a book or solving a soduku. Learning to teach him has been a trial in patience and love. Handwriting has been so difficult, until I discovered a book called Handwriting without Tears. I am beginning to see a bit of light, but its very far away. My youngest son, I homeschool only out of principle because the school principal of the local elementary school, felt I needed to leave the education to the professionals. My son had 4 different fourth grade teachers. It was a disasterous year. The principal was shocked my son passed the CRCT because there were sections completely blank on the test. It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out how, even the school psychologist said because he scored perfectly on the questions already answered. I didn't want to deal with that woman ever again, even if my youngest was an 'A' student.

Life happens....

Heather — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 01:04:00 GMT

I have learned in my life to expect the unexpected and to laugh...otherwise only tears and frustration would befall my heart...as a family we have climbed many mountains, soared in the heavens, and fallen in to the deepest valleys. We have overcome cancer as a family not once but 4 different times. We still find joy and laughter with each day. Yesterday was no exception to that rule. We had entered into a Lease-purchase last September of 2008 and now we were in the final stages of closing our mortgage. So, anyone with children knows that nothing and I mean nothing will go as planned when a deadline is at hand. We had an 11am closing on the other side of Atlanta and three kids to pack up to go. I packed the diaper bag with diapers, juice, pediakids strawberry drinks, Ritz Crackers and a few books. The boys grabbed their Nintendo DS's, and we loaded into the Cadillac and we were off, baby in car seat, both boys on either side of her. We were on time...I was a mother with a plan. We got as far as Interstate 20 west and 4 exits from home...my son who gets car sick says...Momma I don't feel so good. I whipped open the diaper bag frantically trying to get the juice cup out of the Ziploc Gallon Sized bag and in the frenzy, my son begins to throw up. It wasn't just any throw up it was the kind that totally travels. I threw the bag in the back seat, nope, I didn't hand it to him, I tossed it...oh mercy me...I can do many things, but throw up...its not what I do....thats dad's department. Cracking the window, holding my nose, head between my knees to block the sound, it was just horrible. We pull off into the Walmart shopping center. I open the door and run from the car leaving my husband with three kids in the back seat. Yes, I officially got the rotton mother of the year in that moment. I ran into the store bought two outfits, a container of Lysol Wipes, Paper towels, peppermint gum, and a bottle of water, in total it cost me about $30.00. I exited the store and headed straight for the car, my husband had cleaned the mess up, and my poor son was standing there covered in throw up....waiting for me to return with some clothes. This whole event took us almost 45 minutes, and we were clearly only 20 minutes from home. We had to get going, and off we went. We stopped at the bank to pick up the cashiers check, and we were again off to the Closing Attorneys office. We made it to the office, rode the elevator to the 19th floor and composed ourselves to close on our house. The baby was hungry but I knew if I could just get into the conference room, sit her on her blanket, with her bottle and some crackers all would be okay...right?? Wrong...she wanted to sit on my lap, while I tried to sign a stack of papers. Everything was going smoothly, the boys on the floor playing a game together, the baby happily eating and drinking her strawberry pedia kids drink...until....she made a funny face...and that was the end of my world. It was like watching a movie in slow motion, her mouth opened and out shot about 8 ounces of strawberry shake at the closing attorney. He was covered in strawberry baby throw up...omg...I was horrified, but that doesn't come close to the disdain of the closing attorneys suit. He jumped from the table with a howl, which any one with babies knows a sudden movement or scream will scare a baby, so she let out a shrill of a scream, the paperwork was salvagable. We offered to pay to clean the suit, but the lawyer, just really wanted the transaction to be complete. We are officially homeowners and our real estate attorney didn't give us his card for referrals. We got in the elevator as each floor went by, the smile began to replace my horror and embarrassment....I couldn't stop laughing. I will never forget the day we closed on this house.

The Chisel Brush

Heather — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 03:01:00 GMT

<:od>We live in the south, and understand that we do see ice and occasionally snow. My little boy whom is almost 9 was completely perplexed one morning as we traveled home from a basketball game. We were having the same conversation that we have as we leave the gym after a game. Did I see that shot from way out...and I reply it was so awesome. We pulled into the driveway where he asked momma 'why do you have a chisel brush in the back seat?' I thought a chisel brush, what on earth are you talking about, and again he said, here on the seat its a 'chisel brush'....scratching my head and completely perplexed I asked him to show me this chisel brush. He pointed to the seat and on the seat was a chisel brush or known to most as an Ice scraper, yes, my little Georgia boy had no idea what an ice scraper was or what it looked like....I quietly chuckled explained the use and off into the house we went. I thought his name for the ice scraper was very accurate and well thought out for a nine year old.

comical happenings in WDW

Heather — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:42:00 GMT

I recently spent the weekend with some amazing mom bloggers. They at times had me laughing so hard tears would be falling from my eyes. The stories of these fabulous women, and even a few connections I had not yet known would impact my life in so many ways.

As a Disney Mom's Panel mom, I had the luxury of sharing some of my own wisdom with some amazing bloggers. I had never blogged so my soul purpose was to be the fountain of information about the Walt Disney World Resorts. I never really thought I would come out blogging. So, here I sit on my couch..blogging..

Walt Disney World is in my opinion fanatical about cleanliness. There are trash cans every 27 steps in any direction in their parks. It's not uncommon to see a cast member walking around with an apparatus to pick up trash. The apparatus looks like a long pole with a pincher at end. I am sure you must be wondering where I am going with my story...??? Murphy's law...perhaps..We had just attended Tiana's Showboat Jubilee and as a group many of us needed a visit to the 'comfort station' a pleasant way of saying...gotta go to the ladies room. I had on a cute pair of white Capri's that was accented by a rope belt with a tri-frayed tip. Now, as all of us ladies do when visiting the little ladies room, we drop our drawers, and squat, unlike the men...who have a totally different luxury that we as women lack...anyway...as I squatted....I feel a tugging at my feet. I yelp....and attempt to stand up to stop my pants from being yanked under the stall. Yes, the dear sweet cast member thought my belt was a piece of toilet paper...fortunately she realized the error of her ways, and apologized. I equally remembered the immediate task at hand and remained on the thrown. Needless to say, I made it out of the 'comfort station'.

Living in a small town, I don't seem to get out much. I don't have much opportunity to experience 'fancy' restaurants. We had a fabulous dinner at the restaurant California Grille located at the top of the Contemporary. We started off the meal with some fabulous appetizers and then a salad, a few glasses of wine of course, but soon a martini glass appears at my place setting. I didn't see it arrive and inside the glass was a tiny melon scoop of sorbet. Now, I looked at Darcie who was sitting to my left and said 'is this dessert?' 'Did I miss dinner?' She looked at me for a second, and I think she was wondering if I were serious or joking, I was serious. She said, it was to cleanse the pallet. Now, imagine all I could think was cleanse from what???? Seriously, isn't that what your toothbrush is for or even mouthwash. Sorbet...come on...I did dip into the sorbet and tasted. I learned to cleanse my pallet.

Living...

Heather — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:05:00 GMT

The beginning...I have written for years about the anectodal stories that have happened to me and my family. "Murphy's Law" seems to befall me and my family, and I often find myself just finding a bit of laughter in all of the chaos. I spend most of my days at home with two of my children homeschooling and the other half of my days I am running from sporting event to sporting event. So, what sets me a part from all the other cheerleader moms, soccer moms, homemakers...well I guess that is for whomever finds my writing to be entertaining. So, as I bend to peer pressure, here I am.

I live in a small town, a town where there is no commercialism, a dry town (no alcohol sales), one traffic light, and everyone knows everything...or so they totally believe.

As the alarm rang I rolled over this morning and groaned...as the day was yet again starting..I walked down stairs, and proceeded to awaken each of my five children for school. Grabbing Lexi's cheer uniform off the line and the ribbon for her hair so she would be ready for the football game later that day. I awoke Ally and grabbed her soccer uniform out of the dryer, so she too would have her stuff for the day. Meredith's saxophone was still in the car, and had to retrieve as the panic will set in as she screams 'I can't find my sax' just before the bus would pull up to the curb. Yes, that was just a typical morning...then the boys...I homeschool them, so why awaken them at such an hour...well just because I can. I have no real reason, it more or less is to give them a schedule. I began their day as they begin the doorbell rings and its the baby I keep during the day. She is 9 months old and a spitfire.

The day seemed to move along, we had a history test, math quiz and a vocabulary homework. We practiced piano, and I say we because it is we...not them but we..I sit there and hold the beat after all they are only 9 and 10 right...at what point do I leave that bench and say...your on your own.??? I don't quite have that one figured out.

We finished school about 2pm and nap time for me, them and the baby. I love nap time, because after nap time is when my day really gets rolling.

Swim Practice: 3:30 to 5:30

Today is my turn to carpool...I make stops at 5 different houses to pick up swimmers ranging from freshman to juniors in high school. We all load up in the car and we are on our way. I drop the kids off at the pool, which did I mention is approximately 28 miles away. I usually do my grocery shopping as they practice. why?? well when you live 30+ minutes from any major grocery store, its sort of fun to shop, especially without kids. I grabbed my eco friendly bags and headed to Aldi's, then Walmart, and lastly Kroger. I loaded up the cooler with the meats and milk, and my bags with bread and dry items. The trunk is piled to the brim with all my bags, so much so the bags were spilling into the back seat. I was and am determined to be efficient. I head back to the pool, the kids should be finishing up within the next 20 minutes or so. I park the car, open the window, as the sun was beating down, and it was getting hot. I opened my book, The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown, and was gonna read for the next 20 or so minutes. Reading is a luxury that I never seem to have so I thought how perfect!!! I smiled as I heard the sound of a duck quacking, just tickled my heart, hard to describe, I can't explain any other reason for my giggle. The quacking continued, and then it became annoying, I looked out the window, in the mirror looking for the duck. Soon the quack sounded as if it was now tortured...it became pitchy and downright irritating...something needed to be done...My peaceful quiet time was now painful. I in my infinite wisdom decided to get out of the car and find this duck. I opened the loaf of bread and grabbed a few slices and off I went. I was gonna feed the duck and it was gonna stop squawking and I was gonna get maybe five minutes of quiet time. I looked and looked for the duck, but all I saw was an old beat up pick up truck. Inside with his window open was a toothless old man, and I am not joking he had a cowboy like hat and lifted his hand to the brim and smiled. I waved and smiled back...and asked have you seen a duck around here???? He said, no ma'am but I am practicing my duck calls.....He then asked whats the bread for??? I looked at him and just said, for you...I was gonna feed it to the duck, since you are the 'duck' guess its for you. He actually took my bread....

I never did get my 20 minutes of reading, as soon as I got home, it was off to basketball, and then to soccer both at opposite ends of the county. I spend more time driving from place to place.

Welcome

Heather — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:03:26 GMT

Welcome to my blog. Please check back soon for new entries.