Beach Moments

My first visit to the beach was at sunset last night ... BEAUTIFUL!

And an even better moment!

Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

I put this moment here.

Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Spam Musubi

My snacks ... I am being brave! Seasoned SPAM, rice and seaweed!

Cookie and a view!

I have checked in and have a cookie to make the travel ordeals better. Down below the balcony, a pool. To the left, mountains. To the right, a short walk to the beach and ocean. I think the kids would love this ... One day!

My people!

Electric ORANGE Ballerina

Yes, my daughter. How could you tell? You remember my electric blue bodysuit? Yes, it was fabulous! I made it myself. TADA! She is much like me.

However, unlike me, she is taking ballet lessons. Tonight she is trying pointe class for the first time. She is THRILLED!
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Keeping Up Is Hard To Do

We can't seem to keep up ... wait ... I can't seem to keep up. Miss M is on top of the world and ready for more! Within one week, we have had several days of squeals and excitement and research. Yes, research (she is my daughter)! At this moment, she is researching dance costumes. We have also Googled several other things including how to break in pointe shoes.

But I'm getting ahead of our amazing week! Here are the cheers in the past few days:

• Got glasses ... seeing is amazing.
• Auditioned for South Tulsa Children's Ballet (Nutcracker performance).
• Had her first private dance lesson.
• Impressed her teacher by learning almost the entire song (solo competition coming up).
• Made the Leadership Team at school (guess which role? BROADCAST - yep, my daughter.)
• Ballet instructor said she is ready for pointe.
• Won a couple of drawings ... always exciting!
• Received notification that she is a SNOW FAIRY (Nutcracker).

I think I'm missing something. Then again, I'm thinking this couldn't have happened in a week! I'm adding up the days ... Nope. It's happened within 5 days. Keeping up is definitely hard to do!

Morning Moments

I think we have started a tradition ... Labor Day Weekends at Camp Tallchief. The first was an attempt at a family birthday weekend with J, but it didn't go over that well with him! He is not my nature boy. Now that he is in Ohio, I have to admit that being at Camp Tallchief is kind of my escape. It's been a year, but it is still so hard to think of my boy being elsewhere.

Time out for a happy birthday message ... To my J, I truly do hope it is a great day for you and that it is celebrated well out in Ohio. My heart always wants the best for you, more and more as each year approaches! I LOVE YOU and always will.

Year three, and we had K's family as visitors a couple of times. WONDERFUL! And the serenity of waking with the horses? PRICELESS. I have to admit that it is tempting to volunteer to be the wrangler (though my horse days are decades behind me) and live out here endlessly!

Game night with the cousins ... And boyfriend!

Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Just call me Jill ... It's a long story.

It was Jill that "came tumbling after" in the nursery rhyme ... and I can now relate! My latest of adventures involves a canyon, a fall, and new experiences in wheelchairs. Why? Well, even though I have always had a love for nature, a renewed interest in getting out of my comfort zone to experience it has motivated me to HIKE! (I talk about a little bit in my "I'm A Girl Scout!" blog.)

But for the personal side of the story ... and so I don't have to tell the story over and over ... here's what happened, and a few pictures to share the moments with you.

It started in Italy this spring. During a stay in the Cinque Terre area where there is a lot of hiking, a very long impromptu hike from a sanctuary down to the village of Riomaggiore had me wishing I were more hiking-equipped! Inspired by seeing other hikers with what I thought were ski poles, and later educated by my Girl Scout sisters about the value of trekking poles ... I bought some for my own birthday.

Colorado was my first opportunity to try out more prepared hiking ... no Birkenstocks, now multi-terrain hiking shoes. Add my fancy, shiny telescoping trekking poles and unmarred water bottle to my camera bag and I am SET! Mountain vistas as well as altitude left me breathless in every way!

Nevada is the next stop, and I've got Red Rock Canyon, Mount Charleston, and Death Valley on my list. After visiting the Red Rock Conservation Area outside of Las Vegas one evening when I have a few extra hours, I came home with photos like this:

Red Rock Canyon

My first free day, I decide that a proper backpack will help carry cameras and a babushka will help keep my head from getting sunburned. And I set out for Mount Charleston all by myself while everyone else is busy with a conference. Sadly, my GPS leads me to a national park area that is not actually Mount Charleston ... so with the little time I have left, I decide to revisit the nearby Red Rock Canyon.



After enjoying my secret place, I attempted to climb down ... and ended up slipping into a slidey-flip that broke in my new backpack quite nicely! As I was lying there, I had visions of being airlifted ... NOT an enjoyable thought. I remembered how I had a short window of time when I broke my elbow that I could still move. So, just in case I broke something in my foot, I figured I better get moving AND FAST!

Hoping that I had only sprained my foot, I got back up and winced back to the slope so I could retrieve my trekking poles and camera nestled on a ledge. Thanks to plenty of adrenaline, my "canes" and determination to NOT be airlifted, I was able to slowly hike back up to the observation area and get in my car.

The 13 mile loop at low speeds turned out to be a godsend. I practiced braking with my left foot until I was confident I could avoid whiplash by concentrating really hard. Before tackling the highway, I stopped to see if I could put weight on my foot - it had been balloning quite a bit as I drove. NOPE! OK - I was beginning to think that I may have broken it now. I decided I better get medical attention instead of just returning to the hotel.

My GPS was helpful ... somewhat! The first two places no longer existed, and the third was private and couldn't take my insurance (or even help me inside - though they did bring a wheelchair to the car). Finally at the local ER, I sat there for hours in another wheelchair. I should have mentioned chest pains ... everyone who did - even though they were talking, smiling, not even acting as if they were in pain - went in before me.

Lamaze actually helped somewhat! It was the only thing I could think of to try and stay calm in the midst of the pain. By the time a bed opened up and they brought me back for x-rays, my memory starts to fade ... I remember the x-rays and WOW did it hurt. I also remember holding tight to the railings, shaking and shivering, desperately trying to keep my teeth from clattering.

I also remember my "Special K" finally able to join me. Originally, I had hoped to be bound up and on my way in time to still make the Blue Man Group event. I had visions of the day in junior high that I slipped and hurt my ankle while getting ready for a family trip. By the time we were to Hutchinson, I was IN PAIN and my ankle was big. We stopped at the ER there and found I had broken it ... so they splinted me and gave me crutches and pain pills, and we headed on to our first big event: The Oak Ridge Boys!

Anyway, he gave away our Blue Man Group tickets and was more of a doctor to me than anyone had been yet! He got my leg iced and raised up, asked questions of the medical staff and by the time we left, he was my wheelchair chauffeur.

A friend who was speaking at the conference kept me company the next day, which was very special to me. And we even went out for supper, wheelchair and all. I don't know if that was wise for me yet ... but amazingly when news of my situation spread, we were issued new Blue Man Group tickets ... and yes, I wanted to go!

All in all, I was amazed by how different the world was from a wheelchair. I now know what it is like to be short. And I now realize that our "handicapped accessible" world is just a small step toward true accessibility. In fact, I would like to have whoever approved airport bathrooms actually try to navigate them in a wheelchair! They may change a few things.

I came home to more tests, crutches, a fancy brace, and a bedside nurse named Little Miss M. My norwegian bones did a magnificent job of holding their own. So a severe sprain with a good bit of internal bleeding is "all" I walked away with. I am graduating from two cructhes to one this weekend ... and in a few more weeks, I should be able to wear all my shoes again.

School Already!

It's hard to believe the summer has gone and it's that time again! Thankfully, she is still young enough to appreciate (and even expect) the "back-to-school" picture. She is growing to fast. Sometimes I am glad things are moving fast because it leaves less time for me to think about things (i.e. CRY). But most times I am wishing that life would slow down so we could more easily savor the moments.

For My Daughter

I think you will be able to recognize me!
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Children of Divorce

I'm working on my laptop with the TV on ... I'm trying to find research about parents and kids (values, needs, expectations) for a project at work ... and the program on right now is talking about kids caught in divorce. It makes me so sad. It's not just on behalf of all kids of divorce. My emotions ride high toward my own children when I see the gap between what I desire for my kids and what I see. There are things I can't fix. It's like Humpty Dumpty falling off the wall and not being able to put back together again. Life has to be redefined. The road is different and unfamiliar. There are some successes, there are some failures, and there is love underneath everything that isn't always expressed as it should be. And I find myself having to try and be strong - when I probably need to be vulnerable (as well as vice versa).

I am a child of divorce.
My children are children of divorce.
And none of us had parents that expected to forge that path.
We all had dreams that didn't come together as we expected.
But as long as there is hope, I believe new dreams can be born.

Wildflower Walk

It was a beautiful morning ... and we spent most of it by a river on a wildflower walk with a guide from the Nature Center. Afterwards, we sat down by the water while the orchestra (Philadelphia Philharmonic) rehearsed for the concert that evening in the amphitheater. Talk about WONDERFUL!

My Birthday Adventure ...

Within 8 hours, I've already put most of my birthday blessings to use ... I can walk in the river (thanks, Mom and Byrne) and carry a non-plastic drink container (thanks, Mom and Byrne) while hiking with new trekking poles (thanks, me - LOL) and enjoying the amazing Colorado landscape (thanks, sweetie).

Family Day at the Shoot'n Range

Yeppers ... It's Bass Pro and we're shootin'!
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Oh wow!

The dogs weren't giving me any rest (and I was trying to be spiritual and do what Pastor Mike preached) ... And now I know why! They are evil! LOL (not really, but WOW those eyes)!
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Eskimo Joe's ...

What could be better than this? Evidently a T-shirt! Gift shop is next.
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Camper Goodbyes

It's the last camp for Miss M ... And she had an AWESOME time!
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Isn't this divine?

I wish I were camping here with my little one. One more Girl Scout camp before ar flies off for some time with her dad. She is at "Picture Perfect!" and will be my little photog helper the day I come to pick her up.
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

The higher, the better!

I can hardly believe this is my 9 year old. She is INTO high heels. Just wait until the day she can actually wear them!
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Miss M Goes Jogging

... Or so I thought! She embarked upon a 30 minute Wii jog. But look who showed up with the Wii remote hooked to her collar!
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Dry Gulch Campers

From Twitter @chadolinghouse ... the kids are on the way back from camp. Can't wait to see my little camper!

Pets on 2 Wheels

Isn't this cool? I think it is a pet carrier for a motorcycle (white object with vents). I saw it from the front first and that side is like a kennel door.
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Prisoners @daisycoonhound @hanktheblacklab

The queen and her jester are trapped indoors (well, maybe just banned from being on the loose out front)
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Church Camp!

I had to put on my smiley face for this one. It's the first church camp, and the two girls she knows who said they were going AREN'T! I a glad we have a great staf she is connected to from Destiny Church. They will make sure she has an AWESOME time!
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

See that blur?

It's super-k making a point!
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Modeling in the Sky

My little one has recently been inspired by actresses and models and would like to be both. Her request for our "together activity" this weekend was a photo shoot. Later on, after finding out that she would need to help by vacuuming the living room floor before I would set up all the equipment, she thought an outdoor one would be fun.

So, eclipsed by her favorite activity, we decided just to take a few shots while swinging. I think the pull of the swing was just as strong as the aversion to vacuuming! It was fun for a moment and she was ready to sing her heart out WITHOUT her mom nearby.

Hank's Bath

Sadly, there are no photos between capture and escape ... but Hank seemed to think I could rescue him and I was unprepared for the giant pup. He flattened me! Yes, truly flattened me and I was stuck, wet, scraped, and worst of all unable to reach my cameras!

Cowgirl Heaven

We have arrived!
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Cleopatra Went To School Today

"Clee-oh-paa-trah! Clee-oh-paa-trah!" The chant made me smile as I stepped outside this morning. The bus was about to leave Cleopatra behind! My little actress had forgotten her speech she had been practicing in bed and raced back to the house to get it. Her sandals were flying as the jumble of miscellaneous costume pieces and tin foil threatened to unleash themselves.

Today was the "Penny Arcade" for second graders where third graders dress up as historical characters and give a little speech about their lives every time a penny is put in their cups. Cleopatra brought in 32 cents!
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Homemade Handicap!

This made me laugh. I thought it was cute. K said it was ghetto.
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Upstaged!

It's hard to keep the spotlight with these two around!
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

My Little Citizen ...

I'm a very proud mom of a proud girl today! I could hardly wait to blog this. Each month, students are chosen from each class as a "STARtastic Student" (like a Student of the Month) for a specific attribute that is a theme for the month. This month? Citizenship. And my daughter's name was called! Here's what the teacher said about her ...

"M--- has a very friendly, easygoing personality. She is polite and always willing to help. I can count on M--- to do what is right. With her positive attitude, she is great example in our classroom."

Talk about proud! I was SO excited and happy for her. Of course, the Girl Scout part of me just LOVES that she was chosen for citizenship. But the mom part of me just wanted to burst. This has been a year for my little one to blossom!

Finger Caprese

Isn't it dainty? It is my moment of Italy and self indulgence before an attempt to be productive. The scent of fresh basil can transport me to the Italian Riveria. I love it!
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

My Not-So-Little Dancer

At the BYOU2 event, another staff member noticed that my daughter's "Dance" shorts that were planned ended up being "Cheer" sweats (that are still a bit short). Why? She is growing SO FAST! I began to think about how much this "little" one has grown. In less than a year ... 8, 10, 12, and now 14. She is becoming quite a young lady ... and quite a good dancer, I might add. There is nothing like seeing her let loose and have fun dancing.

The Princess and the Queen

Well ... The Princess and Miss Tulsa! At today's Girl Scout BYOU2 event, my little one had her photo taken with Miss Tulsa, Damaris Pierce. She talked to the girls about having a healthy self image and never letting anything stop them from pursuing their dreams. After that? DANCE TIME! Those girls danced and danced and danced!

A Mother's Moment

Looking through old photos of my firstborn ... how I love that smile.

Rockin' with Disney!

She's inspired. And who woudn't be with Radio Disney in the house?
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T