Deciduous Heather

hopeless romantic

2012-02-14T21:32:00.001-05:00

I am a hopeless romantic. Always have been, likely always will be. I was the girl in middle girl that was always secretly "in love" with someone but never talked to that boy. I was the annoying girl in high school that was constantly doodling hearts and initials in the borders of my notebook paper during math class.

Love, love, love, all you need is love, right?

It is funny how your idea of love can change. I used to think that love was "calling me back when you said you would". Oh silly boys, silly times, silly me.

I have come a long way in the love department. In my defense, I never had a good example to follow, a true picture of what love really looked like. All I saw was separation, dysfunction, abuse....that eventually collided and broke into a million little pieces.

I took a chance, with no experience, little prior knowledge, and so many high expectations and jumped in head-first in love in 1997 and haven't looked back since.

Thank you, Chris, for helping me put together all the tiny little pieces. Turning something ugly into something beautiful. Into something good, something real, and something that continues to grow and thrive.

Thank you for being patient with me and for showing me what true love really means. Thank you for loving me. All of me. All the knicks, quirks and crannies that is ME, you know them all, and you love me anyway. I am so lucky.

Happy Valentine's Day!
Love, Heather

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

wordless weekend--snowMAN

2012-02-11T18:30:00.001-05:00

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

we all fall down

2012-02-11T10:37:00.001-05:00

Karsen fell last night, and then I fell off the wagon. Let me explain....

Last Saturday I woke up with a MAJOR migraine. I drank coffee, I took a shower, I took ibuprofen, I drank more coffee. By Sunday it was worse. By Sunday night, I was ready to die and had taken enough ibuprofen to kill a small child. I had tried all my normal tricks and it was worse. Monday, I went to work, and all day I felt like I had only one eye that was working and I wish I had a pirate patch on the other eye. Light, noise, and motion were all killing me. I made it through the day and then decided maybe I had been having TOO much coffee lately and that was actually causing my headache. I decided to give up coffee and see if that helped. *GASP! I love coffee, so these were strong words!

After a fairly exhausting week, we were sitting down last night to eat, and I hear pretty solid thump and then a whimper from the other room. Karsen had slipped and fallen on the hardwood floors. I came around the corner pretty quickly and saw she was still laying where she had fallen and she kept saying "OW, my ARM, OW my arm, Mommy OWWWWWW my ARM"

Crud.

I didn't see it happen, I just heard it. It was like there is button in the Mommy brain that is just pushed and knows instantly when your child is hurt. I knew it when I heard a noise that I had never heard her make. The button was pushed, and I just knew SOMETHING was broken.

We iced her arm, gave her Motrin and waited an hour to see if she could move it without it hurting. It was basically limp, and she couldn't move it without using her other hand to lift it up. Off to Urgent Care we went.

One hour and two X-rays later, the doctor comes in and says, "Well, Karsen, you broke your humurus." She just started giggling..... LOL

On the way home, I pulled into my favorite coffee spot before I could stop myself, it was like I was on autopilot, and I ordered my favorite large coffee. So, technically I fell off the wagon.

She fell and then I (fail)ed. We all fall down. Oh well!

I love coffee and coffee loves me.

As we were pulling into the driveway Karsen said "I always wanted to know what it would feel like to break your arm". Well, now you know, sweet girl.

little known facts about the author

2012-02-02T19:48:00.000-05:00

Did you know.....

that my ears stick out?

that I used to have sideburns and bangs when I was a little girl? (seriously, Mom?)

that I think and talk in song lyrics and movie lines that run through my head?

that I used to have and LOVE the RECORD "Parents just don't understand" and play it over and over again? I still love Will Smith (his ears stick out too) Ha!

that I once danced in a school talent contest in the 6th grade? (and haven't danced like that since...)

that I am a middle child and possess all of the middle child tendencies....

that when my high school guidance counselor asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up...I replied, "A Mom" *big grin* (You should've seen her face...)

that I not only talk in song lyrics, but I also tie memories closely to songs. For example, yesterday I heard Milli Vanilli's "girl, I'm gonna miss you" song on the radio, and I remember sitting in my closet in the 7th grade listening to this song over and over again and crying because Allen Taylor didn't like me. LOL *1990

that I love pickles almost more than any other food in this world. Love them. I loved them pregnant, I loved them when I was little, I love them still. My nickname when I was younger was "Picklehead" Nice.

that I am not very close to my Mom and it makes me sad?

that I am super close to my big sister and I miss her?

that my sister in law sent me a pic of our old swingset that we passed along to them and their 3 kids....and I started crying when I saw it. We *just had that in our backyard. Our kids were *just that little. Swinging and laughing and being adorably 2 and 4 years old? How did time fly by that fast?

that I still battle "baby fever" from time to time? (obviously....)

that I have no desire to travel overseas....haven't you all seen the movie "Hostel"?!

that vocal tics drive me crazy? and ventriloquists scare me? but that I love scary movies?

and that I can be the most random person ever? I bet you already figured that out though. Ha!

friday nights are for family

2012-01-21T16:01:00.000-05:00

I don't know about you guys, but by the time Friday night rolls around, we are all pretty tuckered out from the busy week. I love to have lazy and low-key Friday nights. If the kids want to do sleepovers-- we save it for Saturday. If they want to have a friend over to hang out-- we save it for Saturday. We save it all for Saturday! Friday nights are about our family of four!

This week we especially needed this down-time as we were all recovering from 2 out of 2 of our children being sick! Yes, it was one of THOSE weeks. Everyone is feeling much better now. Thank goodness.

What do you do on a snowy, icy, cold January Friday night? Last night we made Chicago style hotdogs and mac n cheese. We stoked the fire as the snow kept falling! There wasn't really anything on TV, so Chris decided it was time to get creative.

We recently set up a corner of our basement with an art/drafting desk, two easels, and plenty of supplies that the artistic mind needs to get creative!

Last night became "Art time with Daddy" night! Chris started the first painting he has worked on in over 2 years! It has been way too long. His artwork had been his life and passion for most of his life. Life circumstances over the last 2 years have forced him to put it on the back burner, so it made me very happy to see him back in front of the canvas.

Karsen was so excited to have her own easel set up for her to create. You can see the subject matter that she chose to paint in the background. A pretty blue butterfly, of course.

Halfway through the process she allowed me to take this picture (after she adorned her "smock shirt"), but she did not want me to take anymore pictures until she was done with the painting. She looks serious, just like her Daddy does when he paints.

Dylan hunkered down on his futon on the other side of the basement and decided to go with a pencil sketch. Wanna guess what he drew? He started a scene of comic characters that look like the cast of Napoleon Dynamite (LOL one of his fave movies), but then he decided to draw.....

Davey Jones! From Pirates of the Carribean. I don't know about you, but I love this! I think it is great, and my favorite part has to be the key on the end of one of his many tentacles. I can see he got some of his father's artistic talent.

Davey Jones (google image)

I think Dylan captured the original character.

As for what I was doing while the kids and Chris were working hard on their art in the basement? I was sitting 10 feet from the fireplace watching HGTV and the snow fall in the backyard. It was a good night all around!

the sky is falling!!

2012-01-12T19:29:00.000-05:00

So, everyone is in a tizzy because "the snow" is coming! It is in Dayton, Ohio as I type this and it's on the way right now!!!

I have heard repeatedly over the last month or so from all the locals that it has been "unseasonably warm" here in Columbus this Winter so far....I believe it shows that there is power in prayer. LOL. ;)

Every bit of my southern self wants to say, "It is NOT warm, y'all!" So when I hear this, I want to scream because I have been perpetually cold since Thanksgiving. I think people are either 1. LOCO OR2. Sipping on some of their Grandpa's moonshine. But then when I really think about it, I realize that we are not in NC, so people probably do not even KNOW what moonshine is, let alone have access to any...so that takes me back to the first theory. People are just crazy. LOL.

So, the snow is coming! It should be here tonight. Happy, happy, joy, joy, let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

P.S. After my first post on my IPAD I realized several things. One being that I need to use html to space and format my posts. It makes me head hurt to think about that, but I think I can do it. See spaces above in this post? Yes, even old dogs can learn to do new tricks. Now to learn how to insert pics. I think I can, I think I can...

P.S.S. Thank you all for the comments, calls, texts, and message after my last post too. You are all the best. :)

Love, Me

just words

2012-01-08T21:15:00.000-05:00

I have writers block. I used to approach my blog like it was my personal journal, just writing this and that and random thoughts punctuated with pictures. Tonight, I don't have any pictures. Just words. We had a virus attack one of our laptops this week. FUN. Um, totally not something that I can even pretend to know how to fix. Ugh. Chris took care of it, or so it seems. We can now get online, but I think it is a matter of time before that circa de 2006 laptop just self-implodes in one giant puff of smoke. *POOF* So, I gave myself permission to go ahead and purchase my Valentine's Day present. Thanks, Chris! Happy early Heart Day! <3I got the new IPAD 2! This is my first Apple product. It is very user-friendly, but SOOOO different than what I am used to. The first thing I asked the salesperson was "can I blog on this high-tech-doo-hickie?" LOL So, here I am, giving it a shot. I got the convertible keyboard that goes with it. So it feels like a special little laptop, but way more fun!It is what all the Moms at gymnastics have. I realized that after I took it out of the box. I had been wondering what those nifty lil toys they tapped on during their son/daughter's 90 minute long class were...now I know. Now I am a happy owner. Now I may even be able to blog more! YAY Karsen had a friend over last night, and I have never ever heard so much giggling in all of my life. Who woulda thunk that hearing other people's children laugh could wear you out so? ;) Chris and Dylan had a boys' night last night and went to see a movie Chris knows I would not care to see. LOL They saw Sherlock Holmes and grabbed Pei Wei TO GO on the way home. Dylan's fave! Dylan gave the movie 4/4 stars.....a top 5 movie EVER for him. Dylan is quite fickle when it comes to movie, however. They had a great time and were not subjected to 5 hours of straight giggling. I don't think they could have taken it. We made it church this morning for the first time since before all the holiday travels. I really can sincerely say that it was such a blesssing to be there. This particular message really touched my heart. Our church is doing a 8 week long series on "Healing Your Heart". This morning's message was about "Do you carry a twig of bitterness in your heart?" In the message a little girl named, Sally, bore the twig of bitterness in her heart when her parents got divorced when she was 7 years old. She carried this twig with her for years and years and this twig turned into a big, prickly tree that surrounded her heart. As she grew up, the tree suffocated good things that tried to enter her heart. It robbed nutrients and light that kept anything else from growing there. It starved out good things that may have started taking root into her life and heart. It made me cry because I realized that old hurts still lived in my heart. By allowing those old hurts to take up space I was preventing healthy, happy things from starting to grow there. Do you have old hurts that take up unnecessary room in your heart? I do. Chris is so sweet because he knows this shook me to the core. He is waiting to talk to me about it when the kids go to bed. He knows he can't heal all those hurts, but by being there to listen, it helps. To just say things out loud. Just get the words out. Thanks for listening too.

merry christmas and a happy new year!

2012-01-02T12:15:00.001-05:00

I sit here in disbelief that I must return back to work tomorrow! It is snowing sideways here right now, and I am so thankful that I did not have to get out there in the snow and cold today. One more day of cozy, snuggle time....then back to reality.

Christmas was an absolute whirlwind for us as we made the long drive back to NC for a four day weekend. We spent time with both sides of our families, but when we left I think we all felt like there was just not enough time spent with any of them.
We brought in the New Year nice and quiet-like. I still can not believe that it is 2012! 2011 was such a big year for us . Here is a rewind of the year in pictures.

The first Ohio winter for us. We adjusted nicely and managed to have some fun along the way.

We thought about pursuing new dreams and spent time reflecting on everything we had been through to realize other dreams that we had been working on for a while.

The kids continued to thrive and grow where they were planted.

They love Ohio!

In April I spent one last week with my Pharmacy School friends. Saying goodbye was tough, and I miss them all so much already. What a wild and crazy journey we shared together; 5 years. I was so proud of them all! I will never forget them or more importantly the strength, encouragement and love we gave each other along the way.

Spring brought goodbyes but also brought promise of new things, new hopes, and a new beginning.

In the Spring, I interviewed for and got the one job that I really, really wanted but thought I had no real chance of getting! Talk about being blessed. I bid farewell to being a student and hello to the world of being a working Mom!

All work and no play makes me grumpy, so we spent the Summer having some fun too!
Sunset Beach was a wonderful week with friends and family.

And because we are beach bums at heart, we also had wonderful week spent at Harbor Island, SC and Savannah, GA in August.

After that we made our way back up I-77 North to start a new school year.

We welcome Fall with open arms and BOO at the ZOO!

My sister fought for her life at Johns Hopkins Hospital for over two months...and now is at home with a long road ahead of her. Most of my New Years' prayers and wishes were for her. Praying that 2012 is a year of complete healing and growth for her. We miss her visits here to Ohio and this was the first Christmas morning in 5 years that she did not spend the morning at our house. I miss her dearly. We all miss her smile, laugh and spirit. We love you, Aunt Suzy.

We had a wonderful year, full of many blessings. We are excited about 2012 and everything it may bring our way. I am thankful for my family. I am thankful for Chris, who really does take care of all of us. I am so thankful.

I want to end this post with my three favorite pics of this year.

I pray that we have a happy and healthy 2012.

And I wish the same for you all too!

Happy New Year from our family to your's!

Love,

a work in progress

2011-12-20T21:34:00.000-05:00

I have been here. Promise. Just doing the usual. Busy busy. Not sure where the last few months have gone. I kinda feel like an astronaut being pushed back in their seat on takeoff, just trying to hang on and breathe until the pressure on their chest lightens.

Is that called torque? Hmm.....that is a man question. If Chris were here, I would ask him but he is working late.....and also I love a good analogy, but to open my blog post with an astronaut analogy?

WOW. Where did that level of random come from? Warning! This whole post may be very, very random! Cause when I am tired, I get awfully random!

We have been doing great this Fall....and somehow Fall has flown by and here we are... one year older....and 5 days from Christmas! Winter! YIKES!

Yes, I am one year older. Very thankful to be. 33 was a big year for me. Finished school. Graduated all shiny and new. Started my CAREER. and did I even spell career right? ;) LOL Still a work in progress, that's for sure.

See self portrait of a tired Pharmacist above..... Honestly, I feel like I am always at work! It is funny how 40-ish hours can feel very overwhelming some weeks! I love my job though and feel very blessed and fortunate! All work and no play makes for a grumpy Mom....so Chris planned a date night for my birthday! It was way overdue.

We had a wonderful 34th birthday celebration. Dinner with friends at a wonderfully charming place in downtown, Columbus. It was an old, historic building that was just ooozing with charm. And reportedly haunted. Love places like that. And I loved spending a few hours with the Hubs even more. Uninterrupted conversation + good food makes me one happy, blessed girl. And evidently, it makes Chris happy too.

Rock Filet, the steak cooks on stone in front of you. *Chris is not a vampire. LOL

It was a great birthday. After dinner with friends Chris and I went a ramblin' around one the sweetest cobblestone street, row house lined, parts of downtown Columbus. German Village is the one part of Columbus that reminds me of the South. It is so charming! I love it. It was cold...see the temp above Chris' noggin?

The cold didn't keep us from having a memorable birthday celebration and perfect date night.

Go ahead and ask me the one question that everyone has been asking me this week. Go ahead....ask it. I know you want to. Am I ready for Christmas?

That would be a big fat NO!

Oh well, every year I say I am going to be more prepared next year. Next I am going to be more organized and next year I won't wait until the last minute to send out cards, get packages mailed, and make sure all the T's are crossed and I's are dotted way before Christmas Eve. Yep, I remembered that today when I was standing in line at the United States Post Office along with half of the city of Columbus. Let me tell you, there was very little Christmas spirit going on in that line. LOL.

Next year, I plan to do better. I did mention I am a work in progress, right?!

thirty-four years

2011-12-13T18:26:00.001-05:00

HAPPY

34th birthday

to me!

P.S. And YAY to date night!

so ready to see....

2011-11-21T09:30:00.000-05:00

I am so ready to see my brother and sisters this week! We are NC bound on Wednesday to celebrate Thanksgiving with our families. <3 Can't wait.

double digits

2011-11-20T19:06:00.001-05:00

Karsen turned TEN years old last week! I remember when I turned 10. I thought I knew everything. You couldn't tell me otherwise. When I look at Karsen I see me when I was 10. In so many ways.

10 years ago we were blessed with a 6 lb 12 oz little firecracker. A little mini-me. I remember the first time I saw her face. She had such chubby cheeks and so much black hair. She looked like a little eskimo baby, and when our eyes met I felt like our family was complete.

Karsen, 6 weeks, Dec 1999

Her first year was quite challenging. She was NOT happy unless she was in Mommy's arms or preferably nursing in Mommy's arms. She cried if she was doing anything else or if anyone else tried to hold her. I remember Chris' Mom was SCARED to babysit her because NO ONE could stop her from crying except Mommy. There were even times I could not stop her from crying. We playfully tell her she cried the first year of her life.

After that it was like a switch flipped. She became the happiest toddler. Except when a camera was pointed her way.

mean princess, 2002

Then the times seemed to fly by. I remember when you were little you LOVED to dress up. Everthing was princess. You loved pink and purple. All things prissy. The ultimate girly girl. You and your lil cousin Leigha were the ultimate girly girl duo and loved to dress like twins.

cousins

You have always loved to read and it was a challenge to keep clothes on you as well. I will never forget the nights we would go in your room and you would be sitting on the edge of your bed with your short little legs swinging. reading a book (in the dark), without a stitch of clothes on. LOL. Classic 3 year old Karsen.

It seems like you did everything fast. You walked at 8 months and 1 week old. Everyone would say you looked like a baby doll walking that young. Then before we knew it you were not so much a baby, you were suddenly a grown little toddler.

You used to order for yourself when we went out to eat. I remember you saying in your little 2 year old/ little lady voice, "I would like a baked potato with butter and sour cream like a woman". The waitress would look at you and then look at us and laugh. LOL.

We spent the first years of your life singing. You learned to talk and sing at the same time. I never heard a two year old who loved to sing as much as you.

"PWease play the U-SIC MOMMA!"

You used to tell me to turn on the "U-SIC!" .....(the way you used to say music when you were two) before you were even buckled in your carseat. When Dylan started school we would spend the days running errands and running around singing together. You loved Alicia Keyes, Reba McIntire, and Martica McBride. You also loved to combine it all, princess time and singing and silly time with your brother.

5th birthday

2003

Then before we knew it you were turning five. Ready to start school. You loved this outfit you have on. Not long after you had your first day of school. I remember leaving the school crying my eyeballs out because you were growing up way too fast. I am sure I scared some of the children as I walked out of the school crying and hiccupping. Good thing this picture was taken on our way in....before my emotional meltdown.

1st day of school

And then you can be Daddy's girl too.

You have a way of asking him for something with the sweetest little voice and I can tell there is no way he will tell you no.

I am going to have to talk to him about that!

And suddenly now you are in the fourth grade and loving school, gymnastics and of course singing. You and your brother both have adjusted wonderfully to all the change that has happened in our family over the last few years. You have a gift of being able to make friends easily. I was worried when this year started because all of your friends from last year were in the other 4th grade class. You looked at me as we were reading the class roster and said (as you rolled your eyes in your newly tween voice), "It's OK Mom, I will just make new friends and keep the old ones too".

You love to cook. You are like my little shadow in the kitchen. Constantly saying, "I can do it. Let me do it, Mom". You went from being a nursing magnet, to just being right beside me most of the time.

We sing. We laugh. We shop. We cook. We clean. You help me do whatever I am working on. Thank you for having such a willing spirit to help. You also try to tell me what to wear. You are my very own little fashionista and personal "What Not to Wear" consultant.

(Even when I don't ask for your opinion.) You are quick to vocalize your opinion and let me know if a certain pair of jeans "dont work with my hips". HA!?

Karsen, I am so proud of the little lady you are becoming. My prayer for you is that you are always the fierce, sweet, and confident girl that you are now. Never forget where you come from.

Home in NC, 2008

I pray you never lose your JOY for life.

You are just like me in so many ways, but I can honestly say you also have many gifts that I still struggle with as an adult. I hope you never let anyone try to change you.

You embrace life fully each day.

Keep doing that, Karsen.

Never doubt yourself.
Not for a moment.

Know that you can do anything you want. You are such a light in our lives. It's a privilege to be your Mommy. I thank the Lord daily for the blessing and challenge of being your Mommy. And I hope you always know how much we love you.

Fourth Grade

Welcome to double digits, Karsen Grace.

We love you.

My mother wanted me to be her wings, to fly as she never quite had the courage to do.
I love her for that. I love the fact that she wanted to give birth to her own wings.
- Erica Jong

wordless wednesday, sisters

2011-11-16T19:09:00.001-05:00

goulash post

2011-11-15T20:37:00.001-05:00

My Mom used to make us goulash for supper when we were younger. Years later I now realize it was a convenient way to get rid of leftovers. Goulash was basically a big ol' pot of this and that warmed up and mixed together. Usually corn, tomatoes, green beans, potatoes or whatever we had (which wasn't alot). Goulash. Simple. Different everytime. This and that. Crowd pleaser.

Goulash is what I thought about when I sat down to write this post. I miss my blog. I haven't been able to spend as much time here as I have in the past. The past two weeks have been CRAZY, But, I miss blogging so here I am. :)

Some this and that (goulash of words) for you....

My sister's surgery and anticipated 7-10 hospitalization has turned into a 6 week stay at Johns Hopkins Hospital. *Fingers crossed* and praying that she will be able to go home to NC tomorrow or the next day at the latest. She really has been through so much, and I pray that her strength and spirit will be restored swiftly when she is home with her family that loves her very much. I am counting down to next week when we visit for Thanksgiving. I can't wait to see her and everyone else!

I can't welcome Winter to Ohio without posting one last pic from our Summer. Awww, Summer. I love you. I will really try to welcome Winter with a happy heart, but I can't promise you I won't complain along the way. Dear Summer Tan, I miss you already. Love, Me. Sigh...here's to scarves, boots and down coats that will be my life until May 2012.

Dylan surpasses me in size

I talked with a friend that lives in Georgia today and he mentioned it was 80 degrees there today. As I sit here writing this post, I have socks on, I am drinking coffee, and a fire is roaring in the fireplace. Needless to say, it was NOT 80 degrees here today.

The kids have had a busy few weeks. Piano recitals for both and Veteran's Day program performances for Karsen. Flu shots. Dentist and orthodontists appointments. Teacher conferences for both kiddos. Overall, a great start to 4th and 7th grade for Karsen and Dylan.

Things are just zooming along here with us. Busy busy, and most weeks I feel like I am STILL adjusting to working full-time. I look forward to the next few weeks with trips to NC, Christmas shopping after Thanksgiving, and a long overdue datenight with my hubby to celebrate my birthday (we found a babysitter finally). I can't believe that 2011 is coming to a close.

Oh, I almost forgot the most exciting part of my day. All of the pharmacists at work decided to play the LOTTO last week on 11/11/11. We played and 4 of our 6 numbers matched! WE WON!!

We won...........

$70. SEVENTY BUCKS!! I paid $2 to play and won $7. Any accoutants or financial advisors that may be reading can't argue with that impressive return. :)

Right now I have two kids that need to be reminded to brush their teeth and tucked in for the night. Then I plan to snuggle with my hubby on the couch and watch some College Basketball. GO DUKE! OK, I will conceed to the fact that Fall and Winter at least has Duke Basketball. I love it!

That my friends, is most likely the most random and varied post I have ever written. Yay to Goulash. Yay to random. There, I feel better. Goodnight!

savannah, georgia

2011-11-06T20:37:00.000-05:00

I can't believe that I haven't had the chance to tell Y'ALL about Savannah.

This past August we spent a week on the coast of SC.

Loved. it.

Since we were so close to Savannah, we decided to make a day trip

down to visit since neither of us had ever been.

So glad we did.

It was a kid free day.

We took our time roaming around the streets of Savannah

I was ooohing and aahhhhing over the cobblestone streets

and big trees that were draped with Spanish moss

everywhere you looked.

We stopped and took pictures (of each other)

here and there. We ate shrimp and drank salty margaritas.

I munched on pralines as we window shopped and watched

the huge barge ships pass by along the riverfront.

We even took a horse and buggie tour after

(the margarita made me a little tipsy)

AND

my feet started getting a little sore.

I had to stop and take a break.

My sandals were not really walking tour-friendly.

(But they matched my dress)

We stopped here for a pic or two

until I got attacked by mosquitoes.

Oh, sweet hot summer in the South.

You haven't changed a bit.

Heat, humidity and mosquitoes.

Typical August.

The horse and buggy tour was the perfect way

~~to rest my weary feet~~

to hear and see all the sweet (tragic) history of Savannah in one fell swoop.

I especially loved the old churches

and unexpected courtyards

that we happened upon along the way.

We even saw J.Lo leaving the American Idol auditions!!

Ask me if either of us got a pic.

Nope. Sorry.

(But she looks super golden and shimmery in real life too.)

It was a wonderful day of walking aimlessly, holding hands

with the one I love

in a sweet, southern city.

We loved you, Savannah

and can't wait to visit again.

Maybe for a long weekend next time.

BOO at the ZOO

2011-11-05T13:57:00.001-04:00

The Columbus Zoo may very well be the best Zoo in the US. That is what we heard over and over again when we moved here. We checked it out right when we moved here, and it remains one of the best places to visit for fun for the whole fam.

This past weekend they had their annual BOO at the ZOO weekend.

Half of the kids wore their Halloween costumes. Can you guess which one?

Karsen decided to save her Halloween costume the actual "Holiday" and decided to dress as a "punk rocker" instead....

I did not point out that's basically how she dresses lately anyway. LOL.

Dylan saw plenty of Batman costumes and they all had something to say about his Joker costume. He had so much fun playing the part. He is a very convincing Joker. Shocker.

We had a great time walking around...trick or treating at different stops along the way. I did not complain that it was getting COLD once. Hot cider along the way really helped. BOO at the ZOO was a fun day!

wordless weekend

2011-11-05T12:56:00.000-04:00

an autumn hayride

2011-10-25T19:39:00.000-04:00

We went to Karsen's school this past Friday night for a annual Autumn hayride. It was so much fun. They had a bonfire, hot chocolate and krispy kreme donuts. Yes, yes and yes!

Dylan complained about us "forcing him" to return back to his old Elementary school, but he ended up having a blast too. He ran into alot of other kids that were also forced to return and he had a great time! He rode the hayride several times.

Karsen wanted to find a few of her friends when we got there.

We also hit up the Book Fair! After she found a few of her friends we took our turn on the hayride. Once we were on the ride.....I saw something very interesting. I have heard of this "one boy" that all the girls are crazy over! This one boy that is supposedly super cute and the one boy in the whole entire school that is a dreamboat. Mr. Fourth Grade Hottie. Do you think it is a coincidence that Karsen somehow ended up sitting beside him on the hayride? Is it me or do they both look awfully tickled to have ended up on the same bale of hay?

Hmmmmm.......My smartphone captured the evidence. Oh my. Could it be......young love? Here's my blurred proof.

Awwww. <3 Oh my....

a big, big change

2011-10-24T19:50:00.000-04:00

before

after

Karsen has been patiently waiting for this day. We have been counting down since March. Finally, she got her braces. I don't know about you, but after I recovered from the fact that she truly is looking like a pre-teen lately....I had to admit that the braces totally suited her. :) And since then....it has been terribly ~~difficult~~ impossible for her to walk by any reflective surface without stopping and smiling. Really, really BIG.

twelve

2011-10-23T20:50:00.002-04:00

a dozen years?

Wow.

When did that happen and where have I been?

You have gone from being our first born to towering over your Momma

in the blink of an eye.

Happy 12th birthday to Dylan!

Thank you for being so sweet, sensitive and tender hearted.

You always know when I need an extra hug or a sweet smile.

When you smile really big your eyebrows dance

and your sky blue eyes melt my heart.

You still love all things super hero.

Currently you are obsessed with Batman

Kinda like when you were four years old.

You love the Joker, specifically.

That's your costume plans for this Halloween in fact.

You really are in between right now.

Sometimes you want to make believe

And in the next moment you are having a pre-teen fit.

When you are way too cool for your "old" parents.

You love to eat.

My daily challenge is to keep you from starving to death.

I must be doing a pretty OK job as you weight more than me now.

Your feet are huge- only one size smaller than Daddy's!

It seems like just yesterday you started your first day of school.

You have grown up so fast. You were the happiest of babies.

and you have always been a sweet big brother.

Wanting to play with Karsen from Day 1. Teaching her big brother things

like how to share her swing. :) You two have always gotten along so well.

Thank you for not torturing your sister. And teaching her how to be sweet instead.

You have always had a mind of your own

and you truly do march to the beat of your own drum.

(For example: You decided to "Change things up this year"

and paid the $5.00 fee to change the background of your school picture

to green. WOW. Yes, you said you had a surprise for me

and I truly was surprised. P.S. Don't ever do that again.

Thanks.

Love, Mom)

Dylan, Aug 2011
7th grade

Dear Dylan

I hope you always know that the day you were born

was one the happiest days of my life.

Thank you for being you! Thank you for being original,

and full of life. You taught me so much about love and life

as a young mother. Along the way, we both kinda grew up together.

Happy Birthday, Dylan!

We love you!

a heavy heart

2011-10-15T23:01:00.001-04:00

I am so sorry I have been quiet lately. I have alot to say, but no energy to put it into words. I am emotionally exhausted. Torn between two worlds right now. Feeling helpless. Wishing I could make things all better. Knowing all I can do is pray.

My sister, Suzanne, is 8 days post-op from a major surgery. She is currently in Baltimore, MD, recovering from complete abdominal wall repair. I know I have talked about this a bit here on my blog. As a reminder, she was born with a congenital birth defect of the abdominal wall called gastroschisis.

This last surgery was her 15th. She had major complications after her 14th surgery 12 years ago. In short, it never fully healed and she has been dealing with two openings in her stomach for the past 12 years. This most recent surgery was one that UNC and Duke University hospitals opted NOT to do due to the level of complexity and the (I quote) "a great possibility of making a bad situation much worse". I went with her to Johns Hopkins Hopsital this past May for a 3rd opinion. They agreed to push ahead and operate this Fall. She was happy, relieved, reluctant, and scared. But she decided to go ahead and let them operate.

She had her surgery on Thursday, October 6th, and what was thought to likely be a 14-18 hour surgery lasted only 9 hours. She was amazed when she woke up to find that it was still Thursday.

Her next few days were a blur of pain, fever, pain, nausea and pain. She started out with 6 tubes in various locations of her body right after surgery.

She is now at day 8 post-op of what was thought to be a 7-14 day hospitalization. She is now down to 3 tubes. That's sounds like progress, however she is still not out of the weeds. She has had several setbacks. Today the big concern was the tube on the right side of her abdomen is having increased, foul output. Her abdomen and back have also started swelling, and are red and sore to touch. THIS IS NOT GOOD. Going back into surgery at this point would be devastating.

I am asking for prayer. She is so strong and tough. She has barely complained through all of this. Our whole family was able to go there last weekend, but this weekend I sit here in Ohio wishing I could be there with her, wishing I could help, wishing I could do something.....

Please pray that this new issue resolves without surgery. Please pray that the mega-antibiotics they started take care of this. Please pray that the TPN (nutrition through IVs) gives her strength to fight through this. Please pray that she has complete healing. Please pray that her new abdominal wall holds strong and does cause any lung issues as well. This is new territory for her and new territory for her surgical team as they decide how to proceed. Please pray for wisdom for them. Please pray for my Mom as well who has been there with her 24-7 through all of this. I know she is exhausted.

My sister is my best friend, one of the few people I talk to every single day. She was the strong one who moved in with us, when Chris moved to VA and then to OH two years ago for his new job.

She was my rock then, and right now I wish I could be her's right now. She supported us through one of the toughest times in our lives. The last few days she has been too weak to talk on the phone, and I miss her so much. My heart is so heavy knowing what she has already been through and that she still has alot of fighting left to do. If anyone can do it, I know she can.

Please pray that she has a better day tomorrow...and the next day and the next. I will keep you posted.

lately

2011-10-03T20:01:00.003-04:00

Things have been busy around here lately. Here's a recap with pics compliments of my smartphone. :)

Dylan has been doing his usual. Listening to music. Likely Weird Al Yankovic. (Yes, he loves him.) Lately, Dylan has been to middle school football games. Has adjusted nicely to the 7th grade. I just bought him more blue jeans-we went up to size 18 slim (seriously!?), and is just two weeks shy of turning 12.

Lately Karsen has been having a blast in the 4th grade. She started back taking gymnastics lessons last week and is getting ready for her first piano recital. She was also selected to sing a solo in the upcoming Veterans Day memorial program at school. She loves her jeggings, and she is terribly excited about Fall and Winter coming! Her latest obession is weaving, and lately she's been doing that quite a bit.

Lately, (and basically ever since I married him), Chris has been so thoughful. He knows I have been burning the candle at both ends, and lately he has been helping out so much around the house. I caught him vacuuming the other day. Without my asking. On a school night. Enough said. Love <3

That's just a little bit of what we've been up to around here lately!

yay weekend

2011-09-30T18:33:00.002-04:00

(google images)

yay, the weekend is here!

finally, sigh....

because i am so beyond tired

40 hours turns into about 46 hours most weeks

that's not including my crazy commute

and the weeks fly by

as I try to keep up

with home, homework and husband

piano, gymnastics, and lunches

made early each morning

as i start another day

of crazy.

i am so tired.

and very thankful

always

but

this week really wiped me out

i want to blog

(i miss it)

but i am too tired.

i hope to sleep 12 hours tonight

at least.

and hope to catch up with you

later this weekend

yay weekend. :)

the lowcountry, y'all

2011-09-25T15:16:00.000-04:00

I haven't had time to tell you more about our awesome and close to perfect vacation we had last month. We had wonderful weather, our house was right on beach, and we had days with nothing on the agenda. It was my idea of a perfect week.

We stayed in the yellow house above, yes the one right above Karsen's ankle. The beach was private so you literally felt like the beach was YOUR'S for the week. We took our beach gear down and camped out all day. Went back inside for lunch and drinks. Stayed inside if you wanted a nap, I spent alot of time on the screened in porch reading. The kids looked for conch shells and crabs. And then at night we all sat on the porch and speculated whether the sea turtles were coming out of their nests.

The Lowcountry of South Carolina is the most beautiful place on Earth. Period. No, I haven't traveled the world, but I can't imagine a place that tops the sunsets we saw all week. We took advantage of the perfect setting and captured a few memories on film.

I didn't plan ahead and bring matching white and khaki outfits for a photoshoot on the beach, so we just went with turquoise and blue jean. :) I think it turned out OK!

It seems like Chris and I hardly ever get a pic of us TOGETHER when we go places. We handed the camera over to a semi-professional photographer and she got a few snapshots of us.

She also took a few more shots of herself too. Ha!

We did venture out a couple of days to discover the small town nearby. We had the best shrimp and grits at a local "Mom and Pop" joint. We poked around inside a few eclectic shops and met alot of super-nice locals that said "Y'all" and called us "Sugar". It felt like home. <3 I can't wait to go back again next Summer!

family & familiar & phone

2011-09-18T21:49:00.000-04:00

Wonderful weekend was comprised of

a visit from my sister

and little brother, Wesley.

Was great to hang out with them

See familiar faces and hear familiar accents.

You don't know how much you miss familiar

until you leave it.

We spent Saturday here

at The Wilds

(google)

Which may very well be

the most beautiful place I've ever seen in Ohio.

It was a great day trip

10,000 acres of conservation land located 70 miles east of Columbus.

with rhinos, giraffes, and zebras.

We had to kill time

because we had a to be out of the house for 7 hours

while Magdelena worked her magic.

Yes, I had my house

professionally cleaned.

I almost cried when we got home.

It was a little gift to myself.

Today was a girls' day

and my sis, Karsen and I hung out

at my favorite place in Columbus.

The North Market

(google)

It was artisan Sunday

and I bought two handmade pot holders

that had brown owls on them.

Sweestet things ever.

(google)

It's hard to believe we have been here a year already

and some things here really ARE starting to feel familiar.

It's starting to feel like home.

Kinda, sorta.

P.S. I got a smart phone this weekend

and I am pretty sure it's smarter than I am.

I will now be able to upload random, weird pictures.

See?

Karsen showed me how to do this.

The smart phone is smarter than I am

but not smarter than my fourth grader.

Hope you had a happy weekend too.

wordless wednesday-savannah

2011-09-14T08:00:00.000-04:00

pier fishing with gabby

2011-09-13T08:30:00.000-04:00

Way back when in 2004

Dylan had his first fishing trip

with his Gabby* (which is how Dylan pronouced 'Granddaddy' when he was learning to talk and the name stuck)

Last month Chris and Dylan went home to NC for a weekend with Gabby

and they hit the piers of Carolina Beach, NC.
See Gabby there with the same green hat on as before.
and Dylan has on his checkered shirt.

It was the perfect place for a day spent fishing with family

and friends from the Ocean.

Dylan said it was basically the best day of his entire Summer.

september 11th

2011-09-11T15:28:00.001-04:00

Remembering

10 years ago

I was 23 years old

and I slept in that morning

because Dylan did.

He was two years old

and was playing in lego heaven

on the living room floor.

My belly was brimming over with child

30 weeks along with Karsen.

I turned the TV on and stood there

frozen

just taking in the first images,

feeling very surreal

like I was watching a movie.

10 years later

I am 33 years old

answering inquisitive questions

from innocent minds

that don't understand

why bad things happen.
Hoping to shield them

from all that is bad in this world.

Praying for healing.

Remembering.

“Remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seem invincible but in the end, they always fall."
Mahatma Gandhi

blackberry view of chicago

2011-09-11T11:21:00.000-04:00

Chris spent two weeks of July in Chicago. He spent the days working and then checked out the city at night. He wanted to eat all of the Chicago style foods. Starting with pizza.

Then he made the rounds so that when and if I decided to visit, he would have a plan of just where to take me. I decided to go and we had the best weekend in Chicago. In the spontaneous rush to leave, I forgot my camera. So we used the blackberry to snap memories all weekend.

His hotel is not very far from Chicago's Magnificent Mile....so we started there. He showed me an awesome statue that he had ran past most mornings. Then we found the best Indian restaraunt. Yum. Later, we ran into Marilyn Monroe.

We walked all along the riverfront that ran through downtown. Call me crazy, but I had NO IDEA that a river ran smack-dab through the center of Chicago.

The next morning, we walked back along Lake Michigan to the Navy Pier. I ALSO had no idea there was a lake right beside the city. It was so random to be between these talk sky scrapers and then all of a sudden see this view across the street. It was beautiful.

It was so HOT this weekend, it was early in the morning but it was already about 98 degrees. I just wanted to jump in the lake. Or at least go boating. We kept walking and found the Navy Pier.

At the very end there is such a beautiful view of the city.

As you were walking looking out at the water, it was easy to forget you were in the middle of a huge city.

By the time we got the end of the pier, we were tired and hungry! But we had to get a picture of Chris with the massive anchor.

Then we walked back and along the way, we found the sweestest streetside cafe to have brunch.

Birthday brunch of eggs benedict and fruit. It was so good. It really hit the spot after we walked about 5 miles.

And I was a happy girl....not just because the food was so good. Because it really was the best. And good food really does make me happy. See?

I was ALSO so happy to spend the weekend with him in the Windy City. We hope to go back again in the future!

wordless wednesday-footprints

2011-08-31T21:08:00.000-04:00

the alligator versus the artist

2011-08-31T07:20:00.000-04:00

Chris decided to build a sandcastle one day while we were hanging out on the beach.

The Sand Alligator versus....the Artist.

The tide won.

fourth grade

2011-08-30T12:06:00.003-04:00

The day before school started,

Karsen had meet-the-teacher and picture day.

We also stopped by the White Oak tree they planted in her honor in May.

Her plaque is up too!

Karsen designed the cover for her school's annual Earth day calendar.

She was also the first 3rd grader to ever win!

She is so proud of her tree.

And I am glad she has a couple more years

left in Elementary school there

so we can watch it grow.

Speaking of growing....

She is so excited about fourth grade.

All of a sudden she is 9 and on her way...

So independent and grown up in so many ways.

She is a leader and thinks outside of the box!

She is proactive in every, single thing she does.

She is very "Type A" and prepared the night before

to do what she needs to do the next day.

Her outfit is picked out with matching headband and everything.

She is way more confident than I have ever been.

(I think she gets that from her Daddy) ;)

We have been "practicing" fractions for weeks because

she struggled with them at the end of 3rd grade

and she is bound and determined to figure them out!

She keeps asking

"What's fourth grade like?"

"Is it hard?"

"I hope I do well"

We are sure you will, Karsen!

Happy first day of fourth grade, Karsen Grace!

7th grade-welcome to middle school

2011-08-29T11:59:00.001-04:00

All of a sudden you are in middle school.

7th grade

April of this year you weighed 80 lbs.
Four months later you weigh 105lbs.

When did that happen?

Looking at your schedule.
Spanish
Pre-Algebra
Robotics
Changing classes.
Locker combinations, dressing out in gym class.

You eat 24/7.

Pizza and cheeseburgers are your favorite.

You eat pringles by the can. If we let you.

You are your own person.
Highly analytical, imaginative and extremely sarcastic.
You love XBOX, piano, your new MP3 and watching movies.
You are the only 11 year old movie buff I know.
You can quote movies that you saw years ago.

It's tough for me to see you grow up so fast.
You ask me to "please stop being dramatic"
and run back in the house before your friends see me
taking your 1st day of school pics.
Plus you have to get to the bus stop on time.
Lucky for you,
the bus stop is right in front of our house.
You will be glad about that when it starts snowing.
You see your friend, Angelo,

already waiting there so you are ready to go.
On your way
to your first day of
middle school.
You're ready, even if we're not.
Happy first day of 7th grade to Dylan!

farewelll summer 2011

2011-08-28T11:57:00.000-04:00

Last week of Summer vacation

Harbor Island, SC

August 2011

20 dolphins that lived just offshore

greeted us several times a day

with their perfect flips.

we took in perfect sunsets

everynight

Days of nothing except

sun, seashells, sunscreen,

and walking aimlessly

along the shore.

Summer of 2011

You really flew by

but you sure were

one of our best yet.

wordless wednesday-joy

2011-08-24T18:02:00.000-04:00

an original song

2011-08-18T12:07:00.000-04:00

Harbor Island, SC August 2011

Fly, Fly Away

By Karsen Grace, age 9

You live in the wild now.

You used to be sweet

you used to be mine

and you left our home.

We cheristed* you.

So so much,

we loved you...

We cared for you

and you are always in my mind...

So, fly, fly away.

Sweet bird.

Fly, fly away....

We loved you......

We loved you.....

Fly, fly awayyyyyyyyy.

(*cherished) Karsen wrote this about a bird, and then sang it to us.

We are in Harbor Island, SC this week on va-cay!

and have been lucky enough to see sunsets like the one above every, single night.

whirlwind in the windy city

2011-08-12T21:16:00.000-04:00

Alternately titled: One indecisive chic

Chris had been working in Chicago for two weeks. I had been missing him like crazy! His birthday just so happened to land right smack-dab in the middle of his trip there. We had resigned to celebrating his birthday a week later when he got home.

But, I changed my mind. Yes, I can be slightly indecisive.

I decided to surprise in the Windy City on his 34th birthday. The expression on his face was priceless. Just.plain.happy. He said the expression on my face was priceless too....I had the look of complete terror. I had never driven in such traffic. My hands were numb from gripping the steering wheel.

I picked him up curbside at the hotel and we continued down the street one block and then I almost turned onto a street that was barricaded. Whoops. Because the GPS chic told me to. Stupid technology.

Come to find out, it was the movie set of Superman. Cool!

We had a great night exploring the city. Ate at a wonderfully remote and romantic Indian restaraunt and then walked all along "the heart of Chicago's Magnificent Mile"

(Did anyone else just hear Oprah's voice?) I secretly had my eyes peeled for her the whole time. No such luck. LOL. Michigan Ave was a hodge-podge of so many different people, cultures, languages, and just an awesome place to people watch. I am a people-watcher.

A random man took this pic of us. Thanks so much, Mr. Brown Stranger.

I thought for a second that he might run off with Chris' Blackberry, like that scene from National Lampoon's European Vacation. Ha! But, he didn't. Plus, we don't have any naughty pics on his Blackberry. At least, I don't think so. Haha.

We went to the Navy Pier and walked along Lake Michigan. We walked about 8 miles Saturday night and Sunday morning. It was just beautiful. Perfect birthday surprise weekend.

To quote Chris, "34 is awesome." Happy Birthday, Bay.

I hope it was memorable.

wordless weekend-under the pier

2011-07-30T22:14:00.001-04:00

Sunset Beach, June 2011

lessons from my patients

2011-07-29T22:13:00.000-04:00

Work is going great. I can't believe that next week will mark my 2 month anniversary of being (an employed) Pharmacist! I have learned a great deal already and have finally started to become more comfortable with caring for my patients. The first few weeks I was petrified of hurting someone or making the wrong decision. I took my time and asked alot of questions of the more seasoned Pharmacists on the team, and now I feel so much more confident about the decisions I make each day.

I can already tell that my favorite part of the job is having the chance to talk to my patients everyday! Everyone has a story, everyone has survived so much. They have so much wisdom and I truly love listening to them talk. Many of the patients we see are older than 70. Even more are older than 80. I saw someone that was 94 years today, and she had more energy than me! I swear I had to chase after her down the hall....she was twisting her hips and moving wayyy faster than I was. Ha! I loved her spunk! I have found out fairly quickly that many of the patients love to discuss politics, religion, the economy, and the way things were way back when.

They also love to share their opinions. One patient swore that Kennedy was the best President we ever had. She remembers what she was eating when they announced on the radio that he had been shot. She also went on to say that President Clinton was the next best President but, (I quote) "that nasty bastard couldn't keep his zipper up". Ha! Well then, Mrs. Hazel...why don't you tell me how you really feel? LOL.

Then there are the lessons about the economy. I had a patient complaining about the national debt crisis and how wasteful our nation is. She declares that this is not an economic depression...she remembers the real depression....way back when she wore shoes that were made out of brown paper sacks. She declares those tough times were much worse than the national crisis we are in now. She said, clear as day, if we are really in a depression now then "there wouldn't be so many fat people running around. Being fat is a luxury! I was never lucky enough or rich enough to be fat!" Then she looked at me and said "Honey, you are skinnier than I was during the real depression. Did you bring your box lunch today?" Ha! I look back at her and stutter slightly as I reassure her..."Yes, Mrs. Esther, I bring my lunch everyday" At that point her husband, who has severe dementia....and hasn't said one word the entire appointment says (VERY loudly) "You've gotta great body for a nurse!" Mrs. Esther gives him the stink eye and hollers back, "Hush up, Hank!" I swear I saw a twinkle in his eye.

They teach me about patience and how to handle even like the grumpiest of patients. I saw Mrs. Ruth my first week there and she did not want me to touch her with the needle because I was "too new". Mrs. Ruth may be one of the oldest patients we have. I understood why she didn't want me to "practice" on her...and respected her decision (but it did hurt my feelings). I saw her again this past week and was hesitant to try to see her again. This time she said "You're not that new anymore, are you?" I was relieved as I realized that she was going to let me see her this time. As soon as we got in the patient room, she looked at me and said in a questioning tone, "You much be old-fashioned?" I looked at her and wondered what she meant, and then she said "You've got a bobby-pin in your hair, I haven't seen one of those in over 40 years". I brought my finger up and realized yes, I had put a bobby pin in my hair that day in an attempt to tame the humidity attack....I laughed and told her that "If bobby pins make you old-fashioned than I guess I am!" She smiled and went on to say that her Mom used to wear bobby pins to pin down her curls, and she had the prettiest hair she had ever seen. I smiled and realized that this was Mrs. Ruth's way of letting me know that she accepted me. She went on to talk about her Mom, and didn't even flinch when I poked her finger.

It feels like a gift everytime one of the patients share stories about their past with me. They share happy stories and sad, painful ones too. I had a patient talk about her stillborn baby she had back in 1948. Obviously some things stay with you no matter how much time passes. The happy things stay with you too. Mr. Arthur told me his wife's birthday was next week, and I asked how they were celebrating. Then he told me she had passed away 12 years ago in her sleep. I was about to apologize and he said with a big grin, "I am going to celebrate in a big way and have her favorite cocktail and sit and look at pictures of the 63 years we had together". He looked so happy when he said it too. I almost cried when he left.

One especially spirited patient made me laugh today. I was taking her blood pressure and commented on how teeny her arm was (she was maybe 4-10 and 90lbs) and she said "Sweetie, I am like that Lady Gaga, I was born this way!" I am still laughing about that one. I can tell now, that even though I am finally out of the classroom, my patients will be teaching me lessons in a different way. It's a privilege to be there to learn from them.

wordless weekend-my beach boys

2011-07-24T13:36:00.000-04:00

wordless wednesday-sand castle

2011-07-20T20:36:00.000-04:00

Going out with a bang!

2011-07-19T07:42:00.000-04:00

The kids both had great ends to this school year.

Dylan finished the school year by winning first place in the school Science Fair . His project entitled, "Which fruit is the best conductor of electricity?" was deemed worthy of the first place ribbon. He compared kiwi, banana, apples, grapes and lemons to see which ones were best conduits for electricity. Kiwis were the winner! We were very proud of Dylan.

The judges thought his project was original and interesting. We thought so too, and we also thought it was MUCH better than his first idea....."Which gun shoots bullets the fastest?" Um, No. Not for school. Not for anything, Dylan. LOL

Karsen finished the school year by setting a record at their school. For Earth Day they had a "design the cover of the annual Earth Day calender contest". The kids were all challenged to draw/design what Earth Day means to them and the winning illustration wins the cover. Their school is K-6 and they voted the best design for each grade level. Karsen won for the 3rd grade!

From there all the individual grade winners were voted for the final winner of the whole school. A 6th grader usually wins, but not this year! Karsen's won for the whole school! Way to go, KG!

Her drawing of a little girl swinging in a tire rope in a field of flowers will be on the cover. They planted a white oak tree in her honor at the front of the school and her name will be at the base of it on a plaque! We were so proud of her.

The coolest part of all of this is both of these things happened the same week that I graduated, so it felt like a very special week for our family. We are so proud of Dylan and Karsen! They ended the school year with a bang!

a year later

2011-07-18T07:15:00.003-04:00

I couldn't have made it through Pharmacy school without my sister, Suzanne. Remember when she stayed with us last summer and helped with the kids while I was doing my rotations. Here the kids are with their Aunt Suzy last year.

and here they are a year later. She has been visiting with us the past two weeks, and we are loving having her here with us in OHIO!

Look how much the kids have grown! <3

We love you, Aunt Suzy!

gone fishin'

2011-07-17T12:30:00.003-04:00

When I was little we lived down a long dirtroad in a tiny, white house with black shutters. Even further down that dirt road was a small pond that my Dad used to take us fishing in. He taught me how to bait the hook, cast the line and watch the bobber for just the right time to pull in the big one! Once when we were fishing, my Mom caught a water moccasin...as soon as she reeled it in she dropped the pole and took off down the dirtroad running for the house. It scared her to death! Apparently when she dropped the pole she managed to wrap the fishing line around her ankle, so every step she took running the water moccasin also flew down that dirtroad behind her "chasing her". I remember sitting there on a 5 gallon bucket with my Dad watching it happen, caught between being scared for my Mom and being amused by her hooping and hollering like she was.....finally when she was out of sight my Dad just started laughing. Then I started laughing too. We laughed the rest of the day and my Dad told that story for years. My Mom still gets mad when she hears it mentioned. Ha!

Fishing has always been one of my favorite things to do. Still is. We have a fishing hole close to our house here that we have been going to the past several weekends. We will pack a bag of snacks and grab some hotdogs to use as bait. Yes, hotdogs! I had no idea fish even liked hotdogs! But they do! Then we hop on our bikes and a few minutes later we get to our fishing hole!

Dylan and Karsen both love to fish too. They are great casters, always careful to watch behind them to make sure they don't hook each other! I love seeing how excited they are everytime they catch a fish. Dylan was somewhat underwhelmed with this catch. LOL

Look how proud Karsen is! She was the winner for this day. Yes, they were keeping count. Dylan caught 3, Karsen caught 6, Mommy caught NONE! Daddy caught a HUGE catfish that broke the line. This thing was so big it looked prehistoric. If I hadn't seen it for myself, I would have never have believed it! Our goal is to catch him again by the end of the summer!

We are "catch and release" kinda fisherman. We don't keep them and eat them. In fact, none of us really like fish. Karsen always brings bread to pinch off and throw in the pond. The fish will come to the surface and eat it. Then Dylan will cast in that direction in hopes of ensuring a big catch. They are quite strategic and serious about fishing already! HA!

You can't go fishing without a few essentials. Tackle Box. Check! Water and snacks! Check! A big, strong, man that is willing to bait the hooks and take the fish off the hook to throw them back in! Check!

This has quickly become our favorite way to spend a Sunday afternoon. It feels like we are out in the middle of the country somewhere instead of right in the middle of our neighborhood. I love it! I told the kids we should make this a summer tradition. Or at least until we catch that monster catfish again! If that happens, I will definitely post a pic!

You can hear me on the radio!

2011-07-16T12:29:00.000-04:00

OK, Well maybe you can't...but I do have a neat story to share. Since I became a working Mom last month, I now have a favorite radio station that I found for my morning commute. It is 104.9 FM "The River". It is a Christian radio station whose motto is they are "kid safe and family friendly". I found it on the way to my interview wayyyy back in March and have been listening to it ever since.

They always have a "family name game" each morning about 7:30AM. They will announce the name of the day and if you have a child with that name, you can call in for a chance to win a prize! This past week I was listening as usual, sipping my morning coffee, and they announced the name "Evan" as the name of the day and "if you are the mother of an Evan, give us a call and you can win an awesome prize for the whole family!" I was thinking, they may have Dylan as the name one morning, but I doubt they will have the name Karsen, ever! Well the very next morning.....

"If you are the mother of a Carson, give us a call and brag all about Carson! If you are the fourth caller you and you family will win Family Fun Passes to Kings Island! Call now for your chance to win!

I couldn't believe it! Just as soon as I claimed they would NEVER call the name, Karsen, they did! I called just as fast as I could! It went something like this:

Mary & Josh in the morning voices answer the phone: "Good morning, thanks for calling 104.9FM THE RIVER!"

Me:" Oh...Hey! This is Heather and I am calling because I am the mother of a Karsen! It's Karsen with a K, so I hope that counts!?"

Mary & Josh:"Of course it counts, tell us about your son!"

Me: "Well, Karsen is my daughter, she is 9 and loves everything girlie! She is fiercely independent, loves math, reading and cooking!"

Mary & Josh: "What's Karsen up to this summer?"

Me: "She and her brother are going to a fun Summer Day Camp, and in a couple of weeks they will be heading to NC to spend time with their grandparents too!"

Mary & Josh" "well thanks for calling and telling us all about Karsen! You are the fourth caller and YOU WON!"

I was the fourth caller, and I WON! LOL~ It was a fun start to the day. I got the tickets the next day in the mail for free admission for the whole family! It is basically OH's version of Disneyland!

(google images)

So, we are heading to Kings Island, in Southern OHIO for a fun day in the sun very soon! I am not sure if we will ride this ride:

(google images)

Ahhhhhh! I doubt it~ but, I am sure we will have fun!

wordless wednesday-my happy place

2011-07-13T09:09:00.001-04:00

So sorry....

2011-07-11T19:45:00.000-04:00

for the lack of posts. First of all, we were having internet technical difficulties...we are back up and and running and connected to the world again. Yay!

I didn't mind the lack of internet for the first few days because it felt kinda nice to be "unwired". Especially for the kids.....I believe they were having withdrawal shakes. LOL.

In the meantime...we have been on vacation. To the beach. It was wonderful. Perfect. Summer sun. In NC. With our favorite family. The week went by wayyyyy toooo fast.

I will catch up with pics and stories soon~ Just wanted to let you know we were alive!

lately....

2011-06-13T16:23:00.010-04:00

Things have felt really busy lately, and my poor, little blog sure has suffered. Here is what we have been up to lately.....

Rena & Heather

We celebrated my graduation

Chris & Ronald

with good friends

Dylan, Heather, Suzy

and family. Dylan is busy growing and

Karsen, "Old Worthington Day", 3rd grade

Karsen had alot of fun with "Old Timer's" day at school.

Karsen

And the sun is finally out here in OH.....just in time for

Last day of 3rd & 6th grade!

the last day of school!

What have you guys been up to lately?!

a dozen years

2011-06-12T06:58:00.002-04:00

Click here to view this photo book larger

dogwood tree, spring 2011, in the yard where we said "I DO"

12 years ago was one of the happiest days of my life. Since then we have been very blessed to have so many more "happiest days" ever....
Happy Anniversary, Bay.

"Like two sparrows in a hurricane, trying to find their way, with a head full of DREAMS and FAITH that can move anything. They've heard it's all uphill, but all they know is how they feel. The world says they'll never make it....LOVE says they will." ~Tanya Tucker

guess what?

2011-06-11T16:36:00.001-04:00

1st day of work

I found out yesterday...after 8 long days of waiting, wondering, and worrying....that I PASSED MY BOARD EXAMS! I am officially a licensed Pharmacist, RPh! Big sigh of relief. Yayyyyy!

hope plus faith equals matthew 7:7

2011-06-05T11:44:00.000-04:00

First day of my new job is tomorrow!
(Dont'cha just love first days.... um, nope!)

First day of practicing as a Pharmacist.

(Am I ready, do I know enough, am I being punked, are y'all for real?!)
I have everything I need for my first day...i hope...

White coat....Check!
Stethoscope....Hmmm, I need to find that before the day is over. (I think I saw the kids playing with it a couple weeks ago....checking Miley's heart rate lol)
Positive attitude in place....Check!

I am ready!
I will meet some of my new patients on the very first day.
I hope they are open to having a new person poke on them and ask them personal questions.
I hope I don't get any really difficult patients on the first day.
I hope they like my accent.

I hope.....

(google images)

So long starving, trying, Pharmacy student (while married with children) life. Hello, World! I hope I am ready. I have faith that I am.

Letters of Intent-New Chapters

2011-06-03T09:19:00.001-04:00

I am linking up with my friend, Julie @ Foursons....I have a few letters I need to write this week! I gotta get a few things off my chest!

Dear question-makers for the exams I took the last two days,
I am not legally obliged to comment on the exam, so I can't say how I really feel about you. Grrrrrr! Sigh.

Dear people who will be issuing my license,
Why don't you submit your scores electronically online? Seriously?! Every other state does, but Nooooo, not you! If you did I could find out my scores as early as next Monday or Tuesday..... but you make me wait on SNAIL MAIL!? What year is it?...1995 or something? Sheesh.....Please put me out of my misery ASAP. Don't make me wait and wait and wait. I would like to know my fate next week if possible. Thanks so much. Until then I will be forced to stalk the mail man. I have no other choice, as these are desperate times indeed.

Dear new boss of my new job,
My first day is Monday! You were so nice to me during the interview, and I am truly looking forward to being part of your team. I hope you are as friendly to work with as you were during the interview process. I am a quick-learner, but please don't overwhelm me during the first week! I am sure I will be slightly nervous initially. Be gentle! I still feel so blessed to have been chosen for this position, and I promise you won't regret picking me!

Dear sweet husband of mine,
THANK YOU so much for letting me crash every night this week from exhaustion. You know I need my sleep, and the stress of this week didn't help. Thank you for cooking supper and cleaning up the kitchen the last two nights. Your support has meant the world to me. I couldn't have done it without, Bay! Thank you for being so proud of me. I can't wait for our lunch date today....and for everyday after that.

(google)

Dear Heather,
CONGRATS! You are a new graduate, no longer a student. You are officially a Pharmacist! Lord willing, you will have passed your Boards and will be an official licensed practitioner! Today is the last day of being in between school/graduation and the "real world". Your new job starts on Monday, and this is what you have been waiting for. No more count-downs till the next big exam, Spring Break, or till the next rotation is done. It is all behind you!

Look ahead...I challenge you to embrace this new chapter of your life. Don't count down the weeks as they pass, waiting for 5pm on Friday or till the next three day weekend. Enjoy today, build relationships with your patients, find satisfaction in knowing you are helping them live better.

Also, be patient as you transition to being a full-time working mom. Yes, that is the most redundant phrase ever...but don't try to do it all by yourself. It can't be done, and you will only stress yourself out. Don't be afraid to ask for help. Don't be afraid to pay for help LOL. Lastly, it sounds cliche' but don't sweat the small stuff...life is about the journey, not the destination!

Enjoy this new chapter of your life!

Signed,
Deciduous Heather

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." Romans 12:12

ready or not....

2011-06-01T09:32:00.000-04:00

(google images)

Pharmacy board exams are today and tomorrow! Ready or not, here I go! If I am not ready now, then I don't think I ever will be!

Boards....looming ahead

2011-05-31T10:09:00.000-04:00

Karsen in the sunshine, Memorial Day weekend 2011

We had a great Memorial Day weekend! We had family in town this week and I was still able to balance family time with study-time!

The weather was sooo gorgeous with highs near 90s for the most part, and then yesterday it got up to 94 degrees! Karsen was so happy to wear her new jumpsuit from Old Navy. Very summer-like! We even went to the pool, and it seemed like I hadn't felt the sun in years. LOL.

I did not get any pool pics, because I had a my head in a book the majority of the time.

I take the MPJE Pharmacy Law exam tomorrow afternoon and then the NAPLEX Thursday afternoon. The anxiety has kicked in.

For some reason even though I feel like I KNOW alot, I don't feel prepared in the least. My brain feels completely saturated though. I have the rest of the today and a good part of tomorrow for last minute studying, but I don't know if my brain will hold out! It's test time!

My.Brain.Hurts. It is screaming STOP!

I will be very happy to get it behind me. It would be really nice to PASS! Continued prayers needed.....

Thanks!

busy, busy, busy

2011-05-28T22:27:00.001-04:00

Dylan got a new hat, and it is his latest favorite thing. What a cutie-patootie. He actually reminds me of Chris when we started dating. He always had a Atlanta Braves hat on backwards. <3

Things have been CRAZY since I graduated a couple weeks ago. We got home safely, but it is also safe to say that we were all completely exhausted! I have never had so much laundry to catch up on in my life. Ha!

Just one week after graduation, Dana, my best friend, that I talked about here....her Dad passed away after a very long illness. It broke my heart to not be there in NC to support her. He was her favorite person in the whole world, and it made me really sad to be so far away during a time like that. :(

A couple days after that I made a very quick road trip to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD. My sister is have a MAJOR surgery there this August. After having very dissapointing results when she consulted UNC and Duke over the last couple years, she had a very poor outlook. Then she decided to get a 5th opinion. This appointment at Johns Hopkins was completely different, and she is feeling hopeful about her health situation for the first time in years. <3 I am so glad I was able to go with her, support her, and be an advocate for her.

This holiday weekend, home came to us, as we have family in town from NC. It has been fun showing them our new home and Columbus! AND...guess what?!....the weather has been cooperating. Shocker! It has been sunny and beautiful! They actually felt relieved to get away from the heat and humidity that has already arrived in NC!

In other news....earlier this week I attended New Employee Orientation, and it made me feel even more fortunate about my future employer. :) I am really excited. I start bright and early on Monday, June 6th. Feels like that day is just around the corner.

But before that happens I need to pass my BOARDS! Today I attended a NAPLEX, MJPE review at Ohio State! My exams are THIS Wednesday and Thursday, June 1st and June 2nd! OMG. omg.....no pressure, right?!

Prayers are really appreciated. I will likely NOT relax until after Thursday! Just breathe.....

So, that is in a nutshell is what we have been up to since graduation! Busy busy! I have some fun and exciting news to share about the kids with pics to come. :) I will be back as soon as the Boards are behind me!

Hope you are all having a wonderful Memorial Day weekend!

official cap & gown pic

2011-05-20T15:02:00.000-04:00

http://www.nathaliefuerstphotography.com/

my sidekick, Dana aka "Patches"

2011-05-17T14:35:00.000-04:00

Heather & Dana

Dana has been my sidekick in school from day 1. She is inarguably one of the most intelligent people I have ever met. Her brain in a scary place full of a millions little tidbits and morsels of highly detailed information. Many days she would be bored out of her mind, because she already knew whatever the professors were talking about. Pure genious!

She was the person I could depend on to make me laugh when I needed it. Or feed me when I was hungry. Or make me study when I didn't want to. I couldn't have made it through the last 5 years without her!

This past week we went out for a girls' night after Boards Review....we went to the Raleigh rose garden and made time to "stop and smell the roses". Neither of us have been able to do that over the last year and half. After that we went to the cutest lil' restaraunt and got fried green tomatoes and shrimp and grits. YAY to the South! LOL~It was the most fun I've had in a very long time. I needed it!

Dana was raised the same way I was, and we both know that we truly beat the odds by raising ourselves up out of poverty and making it to and finally finishing Pharmacy school. While my family was moved states away during my 3rd year of Pharmacy school, she was tending to her critically ill father who has been in the ICU 13 times over the last year. It hasn't been easy for either of us. She would always sing this song out loud when the going got tough. At times it was daily occurrence.....I miss her already....the song she sang helped me finish school.

We did it, Patches! I love you and I am so proud of you, Dana! <3

graduation part I

2011-05-16T14:07:00.001-04:00

Dr. Deciduous Heather
Doctor of Pharmacy
Master's of Science Clinical Research
Magna Cum Laude
May 13, 2011

I have officially graduated! What a whirlwind of a week.... We had a great time celebrating with family and friends. Chris kept asking me, "How does it feel?" I had NO words, and that NEVER happens! HA!
Finally after thinking about it for a while...I told him that if I had to put all of my feelings and emotions into words I would just simply say,

"My cup runneth over...."

We are so happy and feel incredibly blessed! I am also very excited because we were able to get a professional photographer to capture some of the moments from graduation. I have seen the proofs, and I am so excited to see the final pictures. Here is one (uneditted) preview pic!

Nathalie Fuerst Photography

And just one more preview pic, cause I love you all!

Nathalie Fuerst Photography

More pics to come soon! Thank you to all my blog readers, loyal commenters and friends far and wide that have kept us in their thoughts and prayers. The road has been long and bumpy...some weeks were harder than others, and there were many, many moments of self-doubt. I could not have done it without Chris, Dylan and Karsen and all of our and family and friends! I love you all!

happy mother's day 2011

2011-05-08T22:31:00.000-04:00

I didn't get to spend Mother's Day with my family.

Bummer.

Instead, I was making the long road trip back down to NC

for Pharmacy Board Review week.

It's mandatory.

A week of reviewing all the stuff

they ~~learned~~ taught us over the last 4 years.

It will be good to see all my classmates and catch up...

but I would have rather spent the day with THEM ^^

instead of driving.

Again.

Chris sent me this pic.

and it t made me smile.

You can tell alot from a picture.

I can tell they are at our fave burger joint.
Their fries rock.

Both of them have chocolate milkshakes.

No cherry for Dylan.

Karsen will eat it for him.

Yum, they have the best shakes too.
Hate I missed that.

Dylan is playing with his spoon

instead of eating with it...

and reading a Diary of a Wimpy Kid book.

Classic Dylan.

Karsen is wearing a carefully chosen outfit with

her pocketbook slung over her shoulder.

And I wonder if her hair

was brushed out all the way.

Classic Karsen.

They both have on brown.

My signature color.

Even though I wasn't there

to pick out their clothes for them.

I missed them today.

I hope I have to never spend

another Mother's Day apart from my family.

Happy Mother's Day to all the amazing Moms out there!

So even though I am down right now...

This week will end on a happy note.

Chris and the kids will be here for my graduation this Friday.

T-minus 5 days.

Happy!

before and after

2011-05-07T20:19:00.000-04:00

BEFORE

AFTER

Sigh, much better.

columbus children's choir

2011-05-05T09:41:00.005-04:00

I have exciting news! Well, exciting news if you are a Momma and you get excited when people say nice things about your kids....That would be me, and I AM excited. :) I wanna share it here anyway!

Remember I mentioned that Dylan and Karsen started piano lessons this past January? Well, their music teacher is awesome! She mentioned that when Karsen says her notes out loud that she "actually sings them" and she can hear "raw, natural talent"...WOW!! Now, Karsen and Dylan both love to sing and I have always thought they sounded great, but I thought I was a biased Momma. LOL. We have always sang in the car. Karsen learned to talk and sing at the same time. Some of her early favorite songs were by Martina McBride and Alicia Keys. Ha!

After her piano teacher mentioned this to me, the next week Karsen won a singing contest at school. I walked in to pick them up from after school and I hear someone belting out "Our Song" by Taylor Swift and knew it was Karsen right away. She was singing her little heart out. Awww! She won a MP3 player and was tickled pink.

She sings ALL THE TIME! She sings in the car, in the shower, in her sleep, during gymnastics practice when she should be flipping...ALL THE TIME. Right now her favorite songs are..

Adele's, Rolling in the Deep http://youtu.be/rYEDA3JcQqw

Christina Perri's, Jar of Hearts http://youtu.be/8v_4O44sfjM

She BELTS these songs out all the time.

Yesterday we got a referral letter home from the music teacher at their school for the Columbus Children's Choir, "Con Brio"! They sing at the governor's mansion during Christmas...and do some very cool productions through the year. All of the teachers have graduate level training and it is a privilege to be asked to audition (or so other parents told me cause I knew nothing about it until yesterday! Ha!).

Her teacher said she hears a "very talented voice with great potential and she wants to make sure it continues to grow." The choir has an audition process (that makes me nervous) but she said she felt certain Karsen wouldn't have any trouble with it. It made me so happy to hear this.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE to sing, and always planned to be a BIG country music STAR in Nashville, TN when I grew up....but then I realized ~~I have no talent what-so-ever~~ I needed to be practical, so I went to Pharmacy school instead. I coulda been a big star otherwise, y'all. Sigh....but I digress. This post is not about you, Heather! Ha!

The fact that Karsen may have some talent in that area makes me very happy! I plan to schedule her audition after we get back from NC for my graduation!! I am proud of both of them and will keep you posted!

wordless wednesday

2011-05-04T12:56:00.002-04:00

a group date!

2011-05-03T12:15:00.002-04:00

It started like this......
Dylan asked "Hey, Mom? Taryn wants to come over and hang out Friday night."
I replied without even skipping a beat.....""Um, no, I doubt it."
"Whyyyyyy, MOM?!"
"Because you are too young to have a girl over to hang out alone!!"
"How old is old enough?"
"I don't know, Dylan, but I know 11 is WAYYYYY too young. I won't even feel comfortable with that when you are 14! Let alone 11--ELEVEN!"
"Well, can she come over and we go somewhere else and hang out with the whole family?"
"Hmm, let me talk to your Daddy about it"

Three days later we decided.
"We guess we can plan to go get ice cream on Friday night, and she can tag along"

Taryn is Dylan's "girlfriend" by the way....his first girlfriend back in August and his 4th girlfriend present-day. LOL~It's been a dramatic year. Speaking of drama, Taryn was sleeping over with her friend, K, who happens to live directly across the street from us. Convenient, much? K is a sweet girl and I was glad to invite her as well...to make it much less like a date.

The girls arrived at 7pm (with matching red lipstick on) to ride with our family to get ice cream. K's Mom walked them over, because I wanted to make sure it was OK with her for them to go with us. We ended up having a blast. Of course I had my camera....

Dylan, Taryn, K and Karsen

The weather was great, and we stopped to pose with the tulips in the cute downtown area on the way to the ice cream parlor.

I have never been more proud of Karsen than I was when she decided to sit in between them at the ice cream parlor. LOL. Karsen adores Taryn and K and really looks up to them. And since Dylan told me to make sure not to embarrass him, I didn't mention the fact that Dylan and Taryn look like they could be brother and sister. Ha!

After ice cream we decided to take our time and walk around the downtown area a bit. This fountain is new since last year. We had a good time, and I am genuinely glad we decided to go. Dylan looks happy, huh?

When he got home he said "I had a great time, thanks Mom and Dad" as he ran downstairs to the basement.

Awwww. Sigh...Bittersweet. I am glad he had fun because I am pretty sure that "Group" dates will be the way to go until he is about 17. LOL.

letting him go

2011-05-02T10:45:00.000-04:00

Dylan, Summer 2008

Today Dylan left for school, and I knew I would not see or talk to him until Wednesday afternoon. *sniff sniff* It is the official departure day for the annual overnight 6th grade field trip. They are going to an outdoor adventure camp about an hour north of the city for 3 days and 2 nights of wild and crazy 6th grade fun!! God Bless those teachers! Ha!

I would be lying if I said I hadn't been slightly anxious about this trip ~~for most of the school year~~ over the last few days. He's only 11 years old! Yes, he is taller than I am, and his voice is changing....but he is ONLY ELEVEN! How can I let him go on an overnight trip like that? They can't be serious!?

At the beginning of the year, I comforted myself by saying, "well that is 8 months away, by then Dylan will be much more mature, and you will feel better about letting him go"...well 8 months has passed and I am still wondering if he is ready to leave for an overnight trip. I calmed myself by saying, well at least I could text him to make sure he was OK while he was gone. Then I realized that he couldn't take his cell phone. SERIOUSLY?!
Talk about a leap of faith. I spent a good part of the day yesterday doing laundry, packing his bags, labelling his clothes, checking things off the list, and praying that he didn't get scared in the cabin at night. I packed his flashlight....and even extra batteries...ya know, just in case.

Along with extra socks, I packed clearly labeled bathrooms items....wondering if he would even open the soap. Likely NOT. As I packed his clothes, I thought that I wouldn't be surprised if he actually came back home in the clothes he wears to school tomorrow. LOL. I even felt like tying a ribbon on the brush end of his toothbrush so I could see if it even hits water while he is gone. I highly doubt it.

Maybe he will surprise me....

Maybe he will remember to change his clothes, use soap, and brush his teeth. To-be-sure he will...it is quite unsettling to know that I won't hear from him until I see him Wednesday afternoon. I packed a disposable camera so that he could take pictures of the fun they have, adventures they embark on, and mischief they get into on the trip. I hope he has a safe and memorable trip, and I know he will come home with lots of stories to tell!

Dyl & Mom, 2009

After Chris left to take him to school, I realized that I thought I was worrying about how he will handle being away from home.....what I am really worried about is the fact that I am NOT ready to let him go. No one really tells you how to handle this part of motherhood....when you have to trust that you have taught them well, step back, let go of the "control" and trust that they can handle some things on their own. I was never in control in the first place. Sigh. It is time for him to test out his wings a bit on his own...and I have to let him go (just a little).

While I wrestled with the emotions surrounding letting him go, it was oh-so-obvious that he was completely ready to go! He bounced down the stairs this morning, and didn't even take the time to eat breakfast...he was so excited as he ran out the door saying "bye, Mommmm!"

"Have fun, Dylan! I love you. Stay warm. Follow the rules"....and I let him go.

"If we take care of the moments, the years will take care of themselves, for childhood is fleeting and motherhood is forever" ~ Maria Edgeworth

weekend wrap-up

2011-05-01T19:52:00.001-04:00

donwtown dublin, oh; spring 2011

this weekend we...

saw so many tulips everywhere we looked

and I started reading a book

we went on a triple date

and got our fave organic ice cream, a flavor called "buckeye state"

the kids posed in front of a fountain

and went swimming at the Y

we took a nap

packed for 6th grade overnight camp

rode bikes

made homemade vegetable soup

and homemade butter too.

We had a great weekend.

How about you?

What did you do?

Master's degree presentation

2011-04-29T08:47:00.012-04:00

I realized that I have done a really bad job of taking pictures while I have been in school. There are alot of people that I am going to miss after graduation; we have been through so much together over the last 5 years, but I don't have a single picture of them! Last week I decided I needed to do better. I know it is a little late, but I am determined to take as many pictures as I can until graduation! I want to be able to look back ten years from now and remember what I ~~barely lived through~~ accomplished and who was there with me along the way.

This past Monday night I remembered to bring camera along for my final Master's Presentation. This was the last major hurdle I needed to jump in order to meet all the requirements for graduation just prior to returning to OH. When I decided to go back to school, I chose to do a joint degree program and complete my Master's of Clinical Research, MSCR, along with the Pharmacy Doctorate, PharmD, at the same time. This MSCR project has been in the works for the last 4 years. It was a long, tedious project that really frayed my nerves at times. At times I just wanted to say "forget it!" But this past week our group finally presented our final thesis presentation to faculty members to meet the last requirement for graduation. We took this picture just after we finished...we were both tired and relieved...mostly tired.

Leigh & Heather, MSCR presentation, April 25, 2011

We started this project a long time ago, lost one group member along the way, but we were determined to finish the degree! It was so much work, and it got even trickier when I moved to Ohio and was extremely limited as to how often I could meet etc....

Leigh was an awesome MSCR partner and is one of my best friends in pharmacy school. We were both 2 of the handful of people in our class who were older and married with children in pharmacy school. He and his wife were two of our most loyal prayer warriors over the last 18 months when Chris was here in OH, and I was still there trying to finish up school and sell our house in NC. He also worked full-time through pharmacy school (which is terribly difficult to do), so many times he was often just as tired as I was. His words of encouragement lifted me up on many days, and I will always remember that! Finishing this project with him meant more to both of us because of all the trials and tribulations that we faced along the way.

Our MSCR project was titled "Survey of satisfaction of patients that receive influenza vaccinations in a retail pharmacy setting." And we may even get it published :) That is a pretty big deal for nerdy people. Ha!

It was a 45 minute presentation followed by about 20 minutes of discussion and questions. It can be a pretty intimidating process, and we have heard horror stories about how tough the faculty can be as they grill you with questions during the final presentation. We made it through alive, and it was not as bad as we were anticipating. We did it!! Wooo-Hoo!

I am so happy it is DONE! My last hurdle. DONE. I have officially completed all things school related. All I have left to do is ~~dance like a crazy person~~ walk across the stage at graduation (in 2 weeks) and pass my boards!! Did I mention I was done? ;)

who's the boss

2011-04-28T20:36:00.001-04:00

When Karsen came downstairs this morning, it hit me how much she looked like Samantha from "Who's the Boss"! I took a pic before they left for school! See....

What do you think? Maybe it was the jean jacket. Maybe it was the sequins on the jean jacket. Or the Chuck Taylors. You know you are getting old when you see fashion from the 1980s coming back around again. It was a full-circle moment of sorts. Ha!

wordless wednesday....Easter morning 2011

2011-04-27T22:33:00.003-04:00

home sweet home together

2011-04-27T10:32:00.000-04:00

I AM HOME!!!

It goes without saying that I missed Chris and the kids so much last month when I was in NC. I was so happy to see them, and so happy to be home~that's a major understatement!

I also missed our house. I missed the comforts of home. My safe place. My time to unwind. I haven't genuinely relaxed since I left home a month ago! I was never so happy as I was when I walked into the door last night after a 10 hour drive (that really should've been a 9 hour drive~curse you, bladder!) LOL!

The kids ran out to meet me when I pulled into the driveway and I was struck with HOW BIG and beautiful they both looked! Chris looked very happy AND very relieved to see me! Ha! I understand how he felt.

Last night when we were ~~whispering sweet nothings to each other~~ talking, he said he had no idea how I did the "single Mommy thing and Pharmacy school" for a year after he was transferred to OH. 3 weeks of single-Daddy time nearly did him in. It was nice to hear that he understood how hard it was for me.

On the other hand, I have no idea how he did the "alone in Columbus, OH" thing...I missed them so much! I felt lost, like I had lost a limb...something just didn't feel right. We just belong TOGETHER and that's all there is to it.

We are so looking forward to normalcy after graduation. We knew we would have to be creative to figure out how to meet my school requirements in NC while actually living in OH. It hasn't been easy. There have been times where I was so stressed out about how all the details would fall into place. But they did, one by one... and here we are. Very close to graduation.

Now we can breathe a sigh of relief and look ahead to more peaceful times. No more stints of living apart. No more upheaval. No more crazy back and forth to NC for school requirements! Just a normal life. A normal, ordinary routine. That will be a nice change of pace for a while. Finally. Home sweet home together.

"Where is home? Home is where the heart can laugh without shyness. Home is where the heart's tears can dry at their own pace." ~ Vernon Baker

details about my non-traditional job!

2011-04-25T10:49:00.000-04:00

HEY, everyone. I have been MIA in NC and haven't been able to post much! I am still so incredibly happy yall. So if you remember from this post, I had a wonderful interview last month before I left for NC. I really started getting worried when the two week window had passed and I hadn't heard a peep from them....but I got a voicemail from HR almost 3 weeks after the interview. It was very generic voice message, saying she "wanted to discuss the position with me and could I please give her a call back". I got nervous instantly.

I tried to find a quiet place to hide in the hospital so I could call her back RIGHT AWAY. First of all she just asked me "if I was still interested in the position" and I said "YES" a little too loud, LOL and she offered me the position. YAYYYY! I was jumping up and down as doctors walked by. LOL SO HAPPY!

They want me to start ASAP after graduation. They know I won't take the boards until June..they will pay me a modified rate until I get officially licencsed. The pay is competitive. :) This job is doing exactly what most pharmacists wish they could do, but there are not that many positions out there. I will be an ambulatory care clinic, seeing patients...helping modify their coumadin regimens. Talking with them about their all of their medications....really using what I have learned over the last 5 years!!

The hours are the BEST. 8am-4:30pm. They close an hour for lunch. TALK ABOUT FAMILY FRIENDLY! I will still be able to pick the kids up from after-school, help them with their homework, cook supper. Our afternoon routine will not change. I am so happy I can have the best of both worlds and on most days I will not have to pick between my job and my family. I LOVE BALANCE!! It is exactly what I have prayed for over the last few years.

I won't be standing up all day OR working 12 hours shifts (alot of them are 9am-9pm) which is what I would have been doing in retail pharmacy. (Ironically, Walmart called me the day after I accepted this position, and I felt very happy to tell them I was not interested, but thank you!) I also get to eat~SCORE! Anyone who is or knows a Pharmacist, then you know that on busy days it gets kinda tricky figuring out when to eat (in most settings) or how to run to the bathroom really quick without falling behind. I won't have to worry about that! YAY! I also won't have to deal with insurance headaches or high co-pay arguments. YAY!

I knew the whole time that I wanted to do something slightly non-traditional. I wanted to have the opportunity to talk to patients, make interventions, but at the same time I wanted a family friendly schedule. I didn't want to have to work nights or weekends like I would at the hospital or in a retail setting like Walmart. This is part of a hospital, so I would be an employee for this hospital...and get those benefits, but I will be in the free standing care clinic. It is strictly run by pharmacists. I will be the 6th Pharmacist in the group.

It is such a wonderful opportunity. I told my preceptor that I am on rotation with this month about the job, and she said "That's my dream job, do you know how lucky you are? You should feel very fortunate!". I DO! I applied to 15 jobs and this was my first interview....but this is the ONLY one of those 15 that I felt 100% excited and passionate about.

It's also the ONE that I thought I had such a slimmest chance of getting. I CANT BELIEVE IT!! Thanks for all the well wishes and prayers. I feel so blessed. I start June 6th. They also OK-ed the two vacations we have already planned for this summer, one in June and another in August. :) Both on the coasts of the Carolinas. Our family desperately needs a vacation! Ya'll know this! LOL.

I am so happy to know that I have a job lined up after graduation. Chris is so happy. We both cried a little bit. LOL. OK, I cried ALOT. I graduate in 18 days~ and I feel like a load has been lifted....I am so happy.

wordless weekend--missing them

2011-04-17T18:43:00.000-04:00

the sophisticated look

2011-04-17T18:33:00.001-04:00

I miss my mini-me.

*the glasses are purely a fashion accessory. lol.

breaking news from ohio

2011-04-16T08:02:00.001-04:00

The bulbs have bloomed.....

red tulips, ohio spring 2011

Oh my word!

I LOVE TULIPS! This picture made me so happy!!

The kids are doing great with their Daddy.....

while I am here in NC finishing my last rotation.

Dylan reportedly had two friends stop by last night.

Two friends that just happened to be female.

Two GIRLS!?

"Does Dylan K live here?

giggle giggle

"We just wanted to say HI!!!!"

giggle giggle

My mind is officially blown by this news,

maybe I will be able to talk more about this after I process

what this actually means. Sigh....

My first born.....*cue reminiscing music*

Karsen had a pizza party at school this week because

she read a gazillion pages over Sring Break

and wrote every single one of them in her reading log.

She ate 6 pieces of pizza at this party

and then went to gymnastics.

6 pieces of pizza + lil tiny belly + flipping/jumping on trampoline

=not having fun at gymnastics.

Let's just say that this did not end well.

Last night she had a sleepover with her best friend, Rachel

and was so excited and happy when

I talked to her on the phone.

I miss them...

but I AM SO HAPPY because

I GOT THE JOB!!!

More details to come.

I will say that I am so excited, happy, amazed...

and feel incredibly BLESSED BEYOND BELIEF.

*see the biggest smile in the world*

SO HAPPY.

country time

2011-04-11T06:56:00.001-04:00

Country time.... and the living is easy.

First day of the strawberry picking season.

Spring 2011.

a perfect weekend

2011-04-10T10:18:00.000-04:00

It's been a week since I packed my bags to stay here in NC for the month of April. I spent my first week staying with my Aunt Brenda and family. It was a good week of catching up and late nights and way too much food to mention. I could tell they have been missing me! It was nice to just sit back and catch up on everything. Aunt Brenda's house used to be my favorite place to visit when I was growing up, so it was nice to come back for a little while. But, I can't sleep. Ugh.

So, this weekend Chris arrived in NC to visit his parents and pick up the kids from their Spring Break! Dylan and Karsen had a wonderful and fun week with thier grandparents while I have been on rotation. I was so happy to see my whole family on Friday night. It had only been a week, but that is a long time to go without seeing your favorite people in the world. Dylan and Kasren both looked like they had grown two inches. Sheesh!

We had a wonderful weekend! Friday night we ate at one of our favorite places! READ: THE BEST SWEET TEA ON FACE OF THE EARTH!.....I promise! Then when we got back to his parents' house we were both tired.....we ended up just rocking on the front porch until the sun went down. It was wonderful being outside (without freezing to death)....and just talking and catching up. It was a peaceful way to end our crazy, hectic week. Friday night I slept like a rock. I am pretty sure I am was COMATOSE. It was the best!

Cousins at dusk; Karsen, Leigha, and Hailey

On Saturday morning, we all slept in. HALLELUJAH! Then we spent more time outside, playing with cousins, fishing in the pond out behind his parent's house, walking down dirt roads, smelling the wisteria, looking at the lil' chicks in the pen, talkig with his Daddy about plans for this year's vegetable garden, and then swinging on the front porch some more. In the afternoon we went shopping for summer clothes for the kids (Dylan really has grown about 5 inches since last summer)! After that, we spent the rest of the day grilling out and spending time with the whole family. The kids had a blast! It was quite possibly the most perfect weekend.

Which made it even more difficult to tell them goodbye this morning..... :( Sad face.

Chris and the kids are back on the road, OHIO bound and I am on my way to do homework in preparation for my second week of this last rotation! I miss them already, but I am so thankful that I got to spend this weekend with them!

almost wordless wednesday

2011-04-06T20:59:00.000-04:00

Nap time with her friend, 2004

10 reasons I am happy...

2011-04-04T17:33:00.001-04:00

I am so happy to be back in NC for my last Pharmacy rotation. I couldn't have planned this any better if I had tried. Originally, I had this rotation scheduled for September 2010, but I really wanted to go be with my family when they moved to OH. I wanted to be there to help the kids get transitioned to their new school and home. Now I am back in NC to make up this month. It just so happens that it is also absolutely BEAUTIFUL as Spring has definitely arrived here in the south! Here are the top 10 reasons I am so happy to be back in North Carolina!

dogwood, blue sky & sunglasses

Dear Dogwood trees, I have missed you! You have my heart. Love, Heather.
The azaleas are blooming.
The sky is so BLUE!
My accent is NOT the countriest one around. Shocker!
There is no shame in eating fried food (every once in a while). Yum, hush puppies and sweet tea.
85 degreessssss........Yes, EIGHTY-FIVE! OCHENTA Y CINCO, mis amigos!
Wearing my sunglasses!
Driving with the windows down. Vitamin D repletion in process.
Seeing FaMiLy, FrIeNdS and other familiar faces.
Being done with my last first day of my LAST rotation ever!

North Carolina bound!

2011-04-02T16:04:00.000-04:00

I will be in NC for the entire month of April for my last Pharmacy school rotation. Can you believe it? We leave bright and early in the morning. I can't wait to see this sign as we come rolling out of the West Virginia and Virginia mountains.

The first weekend will be filled with visiting friends and family, and then I start working on Monday. Dylan and Karsen are very excited about seeing some familiar faces and spending the week with (and getting spoiled endlessly by) their grandparents.

With Nama, February 2011

I am just excited to leave my down-filled coat HERE. Ha! I will also leave Ohio with snow on the ground, and TO BE SURE it won't be here when I get back in May?! Ha!

Please pray for Chris as he has Daddy-duty for 3 weeks without me. I will miss them terribly. Please bear with me if my posts get a little sappy as the month goes on...I am sure he and the kids will enjoy their "quality time" together. :) I'll see y'all when we get down south.

Onomatopoeia

2011-03-30T19:42:00.000-04:00

Onomatopoeia is a word that imitates or suggests the source of the sound that it describes.

Examples of Onomatopoeia
(google images)

The "THUMP" that came from my basement!
By: Dylan Kennedy, 6th grade

It was a rainy day, my parents were out of the house and my sister was having a sleepover....I was home all alone. I made a fire in my fireplace to warm me up; I sat down to turn on my XBOX 360 when all fo a sudden, "THUMP" I froze....The strange noise came from my basement. "It must be the pipes", I thought out loud. "THUMP" it happened again even louder. I decided I should check it out. As soon as I got down there, "BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ" the lights went out, someone or something had turned the power out. I got my flashlight from my roo, "Batteries are dead." I was alone alone in the dark.

I was walking down the creaky stairs wondering what was lurking down in my basement. "AAHHHHHHHH" All of a sudden, a wailing scream echosed from the basement!!! "WAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!" There it was again, the most horrible blood curdling scream I have ever heard in my entire life. I decided I would have to be brace and find whatever was down there and shut it up for good!!!

When I got down to the basement floor, thwole place was destroyed. "How can I explain this to Dad?" I thought. Out of the corner of my eye I thought I saw something strange. "My eyes must be playing tricks on me" I saild out loud. "RROOOOOAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRR!!!" I nearly jumped into my own arms when I heard that! I now knew that whatever was down here was real and aggresive. Then I saw it, the most disgusting thing I have ever seen in my whole life! It was covered in slime from had to toe and his mouth had over twenty teeth that made up over half of his face! I tried to attack but I was no match for the beast, it jumped on me, my head hit the hard concrete floor, and then I blacked out...........

THE END???????

Dylan's teacher comments: "Great use of Onomatopeoeia! Are you going to write a sequel?"
Grade: 30/30 100% A+

Mother's comments: Aww! Loved it, but then again I am well aware that I am slightly biased. :)

Also, I must make the following clarifications. This is in fact creative writing, because Dylan would NEVER be allowed to start a fire when he is home ALONE by himself. LOL. I also noticed that he loves CAPITALIZING FOR EMPHASIS in his writing JUST as much as I DO!!!!! Ha! We also share a deep love for the exclamation mark, I see!!!!! LOL. My favorite part of the paper was "I was so scared I almost jumped into my own arms." LOL Dylan has always had a way with words. Proud of you, Dyl.

the view from here

2011-03-30T19:18:00.001-04:00

Yep, it is snowing. Again. Here. In Ohio. Snow. Uh-huh. It looks like a ~~Winter~~ Spring Wonderland in our backyard. See?!

Where are you, Spring? Why must you play little tricks on my mind? My bulbs are so determined to make their appearance this Spring. I hope they hang in there!

Yep, I took all these pictures from inside the house. I was warm and cozy and couldn't bear to head out in the cold. Don't judge me! I have to admit that here is something very pretty about the snow, and I am glad I got to see it one more time....

before we head down south to North Carolina on Friday morning! Woo-Hoo!

"do re mi fa so la te da"

2011-03-28T18:47:00.002-04:00

One thing I always wanted to do growing up was learn how to play a musical instrument. Unfortunately I never learned! (probably because in no way, shape, or form am I gifted musically~sigh....oh well....Ha!) I had a friend in high school, that used to play "Fur Elise" by Beethoven for me on the piano. It was so beautiful. I.LOVED.IT. (If you don't know the song, just click below).

I would sit and watch her play, admiring her perfect posture and was completely mesmerized by her talent. Then I would ask her to PLEAAAAASE play it just one more time. She knew if we went to her house, that I would ask her to play it at least twice. She would roll her eyes, but she played it for me anyway. Now, 16 years later, when I hear that song it still makes me think of her. :)

That is one reason why it makes me so happy to hear the kids attempting to play it. We finally signed Dylan and Karsen up for piano lessons!! They started a month ago. I AM SO EXCITED. I feel like I am truly giving them an opportunity that I never had; to learn to read music and play an instrument. They have already learned quite a bit. The first night, I was so proud of them when they came home and proclaimed that they loved it! Dylan said he was a "natural". HA! However, Karsen is wayyy more diligent about practicing than he is. Not surprising.

Last night their teacher called me and told me that they were doing great, and she was very pleased with their progress. She also added that she sensed a "healthy degree of competition" between the two of them. HA! She thought it could be a good thing if it meant they would work harder individually. I was thinking, "Yep, that sounds like Dylan and Karsen". It made me chuckle.

The night of their first practice after I tucked them into bed, I was heading downstairs and heard both of them singing "do re mi fa so la te da" over and over again to themselves. It was too cute. Awww <3 I can't wait for future recitals and to see where they choose to take this opportunity. Of course, I would love it if they learn to play "Fur Elise".

wordless weekend....laughter

2011-03-27T19:32:00.000-04:00

eleven point five

2011-03-26T09:31:00.002-04:00

Dylan participated in his 6th grade school play last night. I can't believe how grown up he looks.

How can you be almost bigger than your mother when you are only half way through your 11th year?

He stil has a way to go before he catches up with his Daddy!

my first pharmacist interview

2011-03-25T09:31:00.000-04:00

So, this past Wednesday I was wondering aimlessly around the mall, and I got a phone call about one of the jobs I applied to last week! It was actually THE job position that I most excited about because it is a Hospital Clinical Pharmacist position in an Anticoagulation Center. That basically means that it is a Pharmacist-ran only center that provides patient care to people that are on the drug warfarin/coumadin. When I was attempting to explain this to Chris he was like "HUH?!...what?.....ok?....is that a good thing?" LOL, Yes, it is a very good thing! I have had two student rotations in similar settings this past year, and I have enjoyed both of them! It is a slightly non-traditional role for a pharamacist, and that part appeals to me as well!

The Pharmacy manager asked me if I was available to interview the very next morning at 8:30am. I wanted to say, "look, you have no idea HOW available I am!" or "Listen, I need a J-O-B, so yes I will be there whenever you want me there." Instead, I said, "Of course, and I am looking forward to meeting you. See you then." Then, I freaked out. I had bought a new suit a few weeks ago, going on nothing but faith that I would have an interview or two coming up. However, it did not fit perfectly. When I tried it on again, I realized it was actually very far from fitting at all. It needed to be majorly tailored in the worst way, but there was no time for that. So, I freaked out again. After a hour I realized that I could just wear the same suit that I wore when I initially interviewed for Pharmacy school way back when.

I woke up super early with a dusting of snow on the ground! Crazy! I arrived early, and everyone I met there was really nice. The interview lasted 3 hours!? THREE HOURS, I am a talker, but I was NOT talking the whole time at all. We talked about everything under the sun from Puerto Rico to Clinical Research. Pradaxa to Spanish. Work ethics to professionalism. He asked me deep, probing questions and then he asked me more general "get-to-know-you" kinda questions. He also asked me the stupid, on the spot interview questions that some people asked. This is the one that kinda stumped me:

In your past professional experience, tell me about a time that an employer did something that you did not agree with. How did you respond and deal with this conflict/situation?

*You could hear crickets chirping* I had absoulutely NOTHING. I generally don't have conflict in the workplace, but I knew this was not a good anwer. Finally, I said something about "communication" and how healthy communication can diffuse a great deal of many misunderstandings in the work place....Ughhh.....that is the one question that I keep replaying in my head, and almost 24 hrs later I still don't have a solid example or response. Other than that I nailed every question and feel good about my responses. All in all, I really thought it went great! I should hear back from him within two weeks. !!!

Chris said there is no way they would talk to me for SO long if they weren't genuinely interested. I did my best. That's all I have! We will see what happens! *FINGERS CROSSED*

"You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face... Do the thing you think you cannot do." ~Eleanor Roosevelt

blooming in ohio

2011-03-24T08:42:00.004-04:00

Remember, I posted a couple weeks ago about being thrilled with the surprise bulbs that were peeking up out through the ground and snow? Just when I thought winter was going to last forever, I saw this sweet bulb blooming.

I was so excited to see hints of Spring. This bulb was the picture of hope for me! Today, I noticed that my little bulb was thriving and growing. Alot more green was also popping up all around it. I can't wait to see what color blooms in a few weeks!

Then I took the time to look around and appreciate the other small changes that were happening outside....even though it was raining this morning...I saw more promise all around...just behind my bulbs on the bushes that I thought to-be-sure were completely dead....I saw yellow.

and this afternoon as I was putting away folded laundry, I look out of Dylan's bedroom window....and

Be still my heart, I could not believe my eyes....I saw red. I almost cried a little bit. I definitely squealed. :)

Spring has officially arrived here in Ohio, and that makes me one happy girl. I was picking up the kids from after-school and making small talk with another Dad. He said that since we lived through one winter that makes us official "Northerners"....I am sure the look on my face said, "I doubt it!" Ha!

Then he said, "I bet you will really appreciate how warm and pretty Spring is now....". Now, I happen to agree with that. It was just about 55 degrees here yesterday, but it was quite pleasant. I also took a minute to appreciate the fact that Dylan is NOT fighting the annual "pollen war" that he always ends up losing with his allergies in North Carolina. He has had relief, he can breathe and he's not completely miserable..and for that I am thankful. For that reason alone~ I like Ohio. :)

I can't end this post without also saying that they are calling for snow today. Oh my word~Ha! Oh well, this is still progress, people. Green, yellow and red....officially means that tank top and flip flop weather can't be too far away. I have never wanted a sunburn so bad in my life (.....I'm kidding..kinda...!!). Ha! Happy Spring 2011!

It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade. ~Charles Dickens

WW--like father, like daughter

2011-03-23T06:34:00.001-04:00

it makes me happy

2011-03-22T12:30:00.001-04:00

It makes me so happy to see you

smiling when I pick you up from school.

Is it because you did well on a Math test?

Hmmmmm....

Is it because you are starving and you know

we have plenty of Pringles at home?

Highly likely.....

Or could it be that you are happy to see me?

Ha!

Is it because your cell phone is at home

and you are excited to start texting your friends?

I bet....

Or because you missed Miley during the day

and you wanna get home to play ball?

Or maybe it is because you love your new school and friends?

OR Could it be....

about a girl?

Bingo.

Regardless, it warms my heart to see you so happy here.

*cell phone pic of Dylan after I told him a girl named Erica sent him a text today.

You are worried about seeing him spend his early years in doing nothing. What! Is it nothing to be happy? Nothing to skip, play, and run around all day long? Never in his life will he be so busy again. ~Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Emile, 1762

fearlessly be yourself

2011-03-21T19:19:00.004-04:00

I love how fearless Karsen is! Especially with fashion...She is our little diva. Stylist extraordinaire. Fashion critic. And even though I have always hated shopping for myself...going with her is a whole new experience. She opens my eyes to possibility...forces me to think outside of the box.....and we have a ton of fun! This past weekend we hit the outlets, but before we left I did something new and fun with her hair. Here is a peak:

Here's another look in color...

Obviously, Karsen has quite a bit of hair

and we ~~are always quite challenged~~ have fun trying different things.

Karsen is not afraid to encorporate ~~a little bit~~ a whole lotta color into her wardrobe. She is fearless when it comes blazing her own path AND being her own person. She makes me laugh when she sets out her outfit for the next day each night before bed. Always putting so much thought into each outfit.

This was her outfit for Saturday. Whoever says that turquoise, purple AND hot pink don't go together, well they were wrong! She is my little personal shopper, and I am not embarassed to admit just how much stock I put into her opinion. LOL. Each morning, she always gives her Daddy a thumbs UP or a thumbs DOWN on his shirt and tie combination. Most of the time he asks her to pick between two options and then he goes with her choice for that day. Her opinion matters! Ha! In case you can't believe your eyes. Yes, those are leg warmers. Oh my.

I love how Karsen is so fearless when it comes to being her own person!

If only I can figure out a way to give her a little boost of confidence..... ;)

“There is only one YOU for all time. Fearlessly be yourself.” ~Anthony Rapp

your daily dose of sarcasm*

2011-03-16T14:03:00.001-04:00

I apologize if some of you have been sitting and waiting on the edge of your seats for me to answer these questions. I am being so sarcastic, but seriously, several questions have been asked over the last two weeks..and I am here to answer them!!

I posted a picture last week of our latest weekend family project. We spent our entire Saturday giving our basement a much-needed makeover! WE LOVE the end result. I have been waiting for the sun to come out, so I could take some "AFTER" pics with some natural light flooding in down there. BWUAHHH! HAHAHA!

Ummm, that's not going to happen anytime soon. I am still feeling like Heather Cullen, although I did hear a rumor that the sun will show itself tomorrow. Yes, that sort of thing makes headlines around here. I can't wait to ~~see~~ squint my eyes in the bright light of the sun!!

Anywho, back to the basement. Chris had a vision (and since he is the artist and everything) I was fine with him making all the creative decisions and fully trusted that it would turn out great! He picked out the paint colors, and I was just part of his manual labor task force. Ha! No, I really love to paint. Almost as much as I love doing laundry! We all helped. See?

This picture prompted a nice, long lecture from me to Dylan about what it means to help with a happy heart. Does it look like Dylan has a happy heart here, people!? Ha! I doubt it! To give him credit, it was a loooong day and he did do is part when it was all said and done. He just needed more prodding along the way....and wasn't quite as obliging as others....

Karsen's face here cracks me up. I asked her to show my Campbell shirt (yes that is my shirt AND my necklace she has on)....so here she is representing my school. I was quite ok that she got paint all over it. :) As for the colors on the walls....Chris wanted to go with a dark gray with some red contrasts. The color was officially "smoky ash". Well, once we got it on the walls, it looks more like "navy blue" to me. What do you think?

Or maybe DUKE blue?! Which is completely OK with us, since we are lifelong fans AND they beat UNC (AGAIN) last weekend to become ACC Tournament CHAMPS, AGAIN! WOO-HOO!

LET'S GOOO DUKE!! (google images)

So, we got the basement done and "AFTER" pics will come shortly! The final product is awesome, and Dylan has already had fun down there with having friends over! They thought the room was "epic", "beast", and "sick". These are all good things coming from 12 year old boys, or so I am told. Ha!

Speaking of BLUE.....I LOVE my graduation dress! It's BLUE! I wanted to go with a brighter color (to contrast my vampire-esque like post-winter skin-tone). Ha! It is cornflower blue, which is in between blue and turquoise! :) I can't wait to wear it!

This week has involved a ton of paperwork! I have applied to several more jobs, but have yet to hear from anyone yet. I also finally applied for the NAPLEX/MPJE. These are two seperate exams that I must take and pass in the state that I hope to be licensed as a Pharmacist and practice in. I am taking both of these for the state of OHIO! The NAPLEX tests your basic* Pharamcy knowledge base (basic being that they can ask anything about anything!).

The MPJE is the Jurisprudence exam that assesses my knowledge of Federal and OHIO-specific Pharmacy law. I have to take AND pass these both before I am offficially licensed and before I can become gainfully employed! Nerve-wracking, much?!

I have bought a (humongous) review book (that could also serve as a deadly weapon if-need-be) and today I am mailing the seperate application & fee to the Board of Pharmacy to apply for licensure. I have also registered for a OHIO NAPLEX review being held here in Columbus during Memorial Day weekend. See, it is a confusing process with alot of steps, paperwork and fees involved! I will have spent almost $1000.00 this past week alone to just get to the point to take the exams. If you don't pass, you can't retake it for 90 days and you have to pay for it again. No pressure, right?!

(google images)

I was stressed out initially, but now I am just excited about all these final details. It is what I have been working toward for the past 5 years! I can see the light at the end of the tunnel even in (gray and rainy) Columbus!

“It is during our darkest and most trying moments that we must focus to see the light.” Aristotle Onassis

just call me heather cullen

2011-03-10T12:24:00.000-05:00

Disclaimer: If you haven't read the Twilight books or have been hidden under a rock somewhere for the last few years-the references made within this post will mean absolutely nothing to you.

This past weekend I seemed to be in a much better mind-set. We woke up Sunday morning with snow on the ground. We headed to church and I said to Chris, that "there is something extra sweet about going to church with snow on the ground". He smiled.....

Now, 5 short days later and I am in a major funk. The past two days it has rained non-stop. And something just broke inside of me. When Chris got home on Tuesday, I felt (and looked ) like a zombie because it is just so gray outside. Why in the world am I so influenced by how the weather is outside? Ugh?! I have had awful thoughts about Columbus this week. Yesterday it was like the sun struggled and struggled and finally gave up and just completely FAILED to come up at all. And I may have said a bad word in my head about that. Just sayin'....

The day basically looked like dusk ALL day long. Then, I made things worse. I made the mistake of clicking on the 7 day foreceast....searching desperately for some hope. A change. BIG MISTAKE. HUGE. It was a long endless week of 37-42-ish degree temps and rain. Yuck and Yuck.

Then I had an epiphany....I realized that Columbus would be a great place for the whole Cullen family to live. Vampires would thrive in Columbus. It is gray, and the sun hasn't come out in forever. It would not burn their skin, it would just be pure paradise for a vampire. I, however, am not a vampire. I have been perpetually cold since forever. Like Edward. Just straight up cold.

Then I did myself in....yesterday I said the following out loud, "I prefer snow over rain anyday"....Guess what? They are calling for snow tonight. Yep. 1-3 inches will cover my sweet bulbs that are trying their best to break through the cold ground. I am hoping it will be short-lived and that the sun decides to show itself sooner rather than later. I don't want to feel like Heather Cullen. I would like to wear sunglasses again one day and not have to rely so much on my bronzer blush. Ha!

On a more positive note.....

I have applied to four more jobs, one in particular that I would be super excited about!
I am actually TEAM JACOB, so there is no way I could be Heather Cullen.
I have officially registered for the NAPLEX/MPJE. I still have sticker shock, but it's a means to an end.
We are getting our favorite take-out tonight. Comfort food. Yum.
I do love wood burning fires, and tonight will be a perfect night for one.
I found my graduation dress! Guess what color it is?
Dylan seems to be doing much better in school this week. Thank goodness.
I officially am almost, quite possibly, caught up on laundry!!! That's a miracle in itself.

I wanna end this post with a couple of pictures that epitomize summer to me.

country Karsen

Dylan wearing his Daddy's sunglasses

lazy days

There, I feel better now.

In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer. ~Albert Camus

wordless wednesday-team work

2011-03-09T07:50:00.002-05:00

Alternate title: Wordless Wednesday~Cute butt

there is hope!

2011-03-08T15:48:00.002-05:00

LOOK!!!! We have bulbs sprouting just outside our front door. Not just 1 or 2 but TWELVE-ish or so.....I saw them this morning and stopped dead in my tracks. I could barely believe it! I even bent down to touch them....they ARE REAL! YAYYYYY! This little sign was such a welcome sight for seasonal affected eyes. I just had to take a picture to share with you all. I may even set it as my profile pic on Facebook. THAT is how excited I am about this. Ha!

This morning, as Chris and I were getting up bright and early, we could hear the birds chirping outside.

Chris mumbled, "Those birds act like it's Spring or something." and I said

"Yep, they're in denial just like me. They act like it is warm outside or something. GRRRR!"

Um. GRUMPY, much?

Although it was only 30 degrees this morning, that is a long way from ZERO; which is how cold it was a month ago! It also got up to 51 degrees today and the sun was out. This is nothing short of a miracle. LOL. Maybe the birds and the bulbs know more than we do. Spring actually is on it's way....it is just being shy and likes to take it's time. There is hope!

In other news....I am busy busy...I thought I would slow down some with my month off. I have.....kinda-sorta. HA! It has been productive in lots of ways. My next major task is to complete the paperwork for the NAPLEX/MPJE, the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination that I will take after I graduate. I absolutely must pass before I can start working! Crucial!

Speaking of jobs, I have applied to not 1 or 2 but SEVEN-ish jobs so far! I got a big fat NO via email for one of them. "The position has been filled". Alrighty then....onward! I am waiting to hear from the others and still looking for more opportunities out there. I know the perfect job is waiting for me. I really hope to find something that will afford us some family balance and flexibility. I also want something slightly non-traditional. I can't explain it...I will just know it when I find it! I am hopeful!

Update: Just got another NO in the mail from the VA. I did not meet their "specialty experience requirement". Oh well, that commute was a little too long for my liking anyway. Still hopeful...

playing catch-up

2011-03-03T10:47:00.001-05:00

Life has slowed down a tad for me this week. Thank.the.LORD. I am OFF this month. Time to catch up on a few things today...

(google images)

1. Meet my hubby for lunch downtown. We don't know anyone here in OH, so we haven't had a date night in ages. It's long overdue. A date lunch will have to do. Sounds good to me. I might even get pretty for it. Ha!

2. Buy citrus candles today. The sun has been out 3 days in a row in Columbus. This is a first since October, people. I am going to burn some citrus candles and pretend that it is as warm outside as it looks through our family room windows. (Even though the thermometer says 27 degrees) Denial CAN be a good thing. Spring is right around the corner....it can't be much longer now, right?! RIGHT?

3. Talk with Chris and Dylan about their weekend project coming up. Mission: Basement makeover. They will do all the work...i.e...paint....I will just voice my opinions along the way. LOL. (No, really I will paint some....) Before and after pics will be posted here. :)

4. Tackle the MOUNTAIN that is our laundry on the spare room bed. It is huge. It is embarassing. It is proof that life has been too crazy for too long. I will do it today.

5. Enjoy a home-cooked crock pot meal. YUM! There's nothing quite like comfort food to soothe the soul. Today's special is pork tenderloin with rice and gravy.

6. Encouarge the kids to practice their piano lessons for this week. It makes me happy to hear them playing. :)

7. Watch the American Idol results show on the couch tonight with Karsen in the crook of my arm. Yes, we really love that show! And I really love Chris more for not rolling his eyes the whole time we watch it. Ha!

8. Allow myself to sloooooow down in general. Single-task. Be present. And disconnect.

Permission granted.

wordless wednesday-future architect?

2011-03-02T14:36:00.000-05:00

ask, and it will be given to you

2011-02-25T14:27:00.000-05:00

Today we woke up to completely white-out conditions. A pure blizzard. It was snowing like crazy. We went to bed with rain and woke up to SNOW blowing side ways. School announced a two hour delay and then an hour later they cancelled it altogether. SNOW DAY!

Karsen was so sad. She exclaimed, "But this is the outfit I was going to wear today!!!" I looked at her and calmly told her she would still need to be dressed, and that outfit would be just fine for a snow day. She stomped away to sulk....and I chuckled. Then we told Dylan.....he had the totally opposite reaction. He starts screaming and cheering "Yes! Yes! Yes!"

My children are polar opposite. LOL.

As for me, of course I started worrying about my rotation and wondered if my preceptor would be mad and fail me for the month. !!! When I called her, she was so great. She said she already knew our school district was cancelled and she had been brainstorming a project I could work on from home. Sigh....YAY!

It has been a good snow day so far! I cleaned like I haven't cleaned in about 3 months! No exaggeration. I have been on 3 months straight since November 1st, and you could look in every single nook and cranny of our house and tell.

For lunch, we decided the roads looked passable, so we ventured out for milkshakes and cheeseburgers.... Karsen's idea. It was a good one. Turns out she doesn't mind snow days, if she can get a cookies n cream milkshake that is bigger than her head for lunch!

I must confess....I actually went to bed last night and prayed for a blizzard. I am exhausted. I am worn down on every level like I have never been before. I just feel overwhelmed. My entire BODY is screaming STOP! SLOW DOWN! CHILL OUT, WOMAN! I really, desperately needed a lazy kinda day. I was very thankful for answered prayers when I woke up this morning.

P.S. Only ONE rotation stands between me and graduation. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

wordless wednesday-tulips in quebec

2011-02-23T13:05:00.002-05:00

June 2003

breaking news....

2011-02-21T15:10:00.000-05:00

There is an awesome Science Museum/fun kid destination here in Columbus that the kids love! COSI! It is very interactive with different exhibits/shows that are geared to be educational AND fun. We spent this past Saturday afternoon there! I forgot my real camera, but did take a couple of pics with my cell phone. I think one of their favorite exhibits was the TV studio where they could do mock interviews and see what real news studios look like behind the scenes. The kids were so much fun to watch.....it was great to see their imaginations run wild.

Here is Karsen behind the camera. She was a natural. She kept telling me that the light was not good for me. LOL

When it was her turn to be the news anchor, she talked about sunny skies and the Olympics. Then she mentioned the NBA slam dunk contest. Talk about versatility. HA!

Dylan took the stage and talked about the Cuban Missile Crisis (?!?) and the economy; specifically the 95% inflation rate of the currency in Germany. (You never know what is going to come out of Dylan's mouth.) As you can tell, he was really getting into the moment.

Next, Dylan took the stage to be the weather man. He was pointing at a 7 day forecast and then suddenly....he was being attacked by a shark. Karsen (was behind the scenes) and changed the background from weather man to JAWS!! He loved it!

They had a fun afternoon at COSI, and we are thinking about buying memberships. It is great when you can tell the kids are having FUN and learning at the same time. :)

what's COOL and what's NOT

2011-02-21T15:05:00.000-05:00

YAY it's Monday! I got a random and unexpected day OFF today. My preceptor thought I should spend President's Day off with my family. How nice. I agree. Thank you, Mrs. Supernice ReallyCOOL Preceptor. You didn't have to do that.

Dylan has a friend over. We spent the morning putting the basement back together after the unexpected flood--our hot water heater busted and flooded the entire basement last week. Unexpected expenses ARE NOT cool. Good times. Anyway, things are fixed and back to normal...and Dylan and friend are hanging out once again in their fave (dry) spot playing Call of Duty: Black Ops. Evidently it's the COOLest game and all rage right now. According to 11 and 12 year old boys, anyway.

Karsen has her third outfit of the day on. My little fashionista. Yesterday I let her pick out MY outfit, and she must've told me how COOL I looked about 50 times. HA! She has already picked out her outfits for school tomorrow AND Wednesday. Yesterday at Target, we bought her a pair of khaki pants with ZIPPERS ON THE BOTTOM OF THE LEGS. Circa 1988~Remember when?~ OMG. Tonight she wants me to braid her hair so that we can unbraid them in the morning and her hair "will be wild and wavy all day!". I used to wear my hair like that in the 6th grade. Remember when crimping irons were SOOOO cool? Circa 1988. AGAIN. It really was a full-circle moment for me. LOL Fashion really does come back around I see. How old am I again?

Chris is enjoying his federal holiday, one of the many perks of his job. Random holidays off here and there ROCK! Right now, he is on his way back from DSW and Panera. It is not JUST cool here, it's COLD and rainy outside, so he went to grab our favorite soup for lunch. What a sweetie. <3

Speaking of the weather....Columbus is SO NOT cool. It's just plain 'ol cold. Four days ago it was in the 60s here and the sun was shining for the first time in months. I optimisticly asked the Pharmacy team at Walmart if Spring had officially arrived in OH??!! They just looked at me and laughed. NOT cool. HA! It was just wishful thinking on my part, I see. Especially since it SNOWED here yesterday!

Dylan has a 4:40pm hair appointment today that we can NOT miss. We need to remedy the Justin Bieber-esque mullet he has going on right now. SERIOUSLY?! I guess the back of his hair grows faster than the front? I don't know...but I know we are going to JUST SAY NO to the (forever un-COOL no matter what decade it is) MULLET. HA!

Happy Monday, everyone!

wordless wednesday-time flies!

2011-02-16T08:18:00.000-05:00