Shamed. With a Happy Ending

Thursday afternoon I was on a school bus with 15 high school kids riding up to Mt. Hood again. This time without Slade. I was the official chaperon while Slade stayed behind for required parent teacher conferences.

I was in search of a feeling. One only experienced for a brief hour last February. I wanted to have a sense of fun, not fear, while snowboarding. I felt a little like a junkie looking for the great high that he has been unable to duplicate.

One more attempt. Would the stars be aligned for me?

1. Temperature? It was very nice. Not frigid. Just crisp and clean. CHECK

2. Snow conditions? It was soft. It actually glistened. Like Walt Disney sent snow fairies to sprinkle glitter wherever I went. CHECK

3. Mental condition? I was calm and relaxed. CHECK

4. Physical condition? I was wearing different socks so my boots felt SO much better. And I wasn't worn out. CHECK

Things were looking very good at this point . . .

Then I saw a few bright yellow ski bibs on people emerging from the direction of ski school. Half of them said, "Instructor." "Hmmm. Maybe I need one of those bibbed people with me. They must be the really GOOD instructors." But then I noticed the other half, in smaller print. "BLIND SKIER."

Really?!

Now if that isn't the last star to be aligned for me, I don't know what is. Surely, if I, with my surgically corrected vision, can see, I should be able to make it down the same hills that a physically disabled person can.

And with a good attitude.

So, Thursday evening, January 29, 2009, Heidi Watts made it off the ski lift without falling (more than once), strapped herself in her boots without her husband's pampering, lifted herself off the ground without any thoughts of childhood baggage and snowboarded down Buttercup multiple times. I found my little high.

Amazing what perspective does!

Cute Cousins (& auntie time)

Remember when you are young and single (or engaged)? Everything is so crisp, clean and ideal. Such definitive statements are thought and (foolishly) verbalized out loud, "I will sit next to Slade in church rather than at different ends of the bench to corral the kids." Or, "Our kids will be kind to each other at all times." Or, the best, "My house and dishes will be clean every day." Need I go on? (Feel free to spill your beans. . .)

There is a debate out there that people in that "La-la Land of pre-dashed dreams" will argue. "You marry into the family" vs. "You don't marry the family." For Slade and me, it is a tried-true statement. And one that we also guessed incorrectly. Not that we didn't mind marrying into each other's families, but we thought we'd be enough for each other. Sure we'd see our families, but our nucleus would be it. HA! We were so wrong! (Not to say some out there have had a different experience.)

And I have never been happier to be wrong!

We love that we really, honestly, look forward to hanging out with our families. And each other's families.

The past week, Slade's sisters have been in town. And it has been fun getting our visiting time. Of course, there isn't enough. (But there is a fine line between loving our families and ILF. Gotta respect the boundaries, man.)

For me, I love getting the scoop from my nieces through my camera. Yesterday, Savanah and I had a fabulous walk. It made me realize how quickly other kids are growing up too. Sigh.

But at least I have these fun images to remember! Get ready--she's just TOO darn cute to only put a couple . . .

So this is Laney. She's a happy baby! Really. She lets me hold her. She doesn't freak out. She has round cheeks. How could you not love her?

Savanah is avoiding eye contact with me. . .

But then we head off for an adventure. . .

These are some of my favorite! She let's loose and calls for the dog to come back. (Doesn't it look like she should be yelling, "Hey You Guys!" from the PBS kids' show, 'The Electric Company', back in the 70's?)

"Hmmm. . . that dog isn't listening to me."Doesn't this hat make you HAPPY?! I LOVE IT!!Time to head home. Adventure complete! And Aunt Heidi now gets eye contact.

8 is GREAT!

Our little "baby" turned 8 yesterday! Life wouldn't be the same without her. Here are 8 great reasons why:

1. No one else can keep themselves up past bedtime like Avy! (And she is so darn cute when she's trying to curl up with us in our kid-free hours.)

2. Only Avy draws thank you cards with pictures at the drop of a hat. Actually, Avy draws anywhere, anytime with ANYthing the leaves a mark. We love our artist!

3. Avy has a flair for fashion. You never know what outfit she'll dress herself in each day.

4. Avy loves to sing. To herself or anyone who will listen.

5. Avy lives in the moment. And to the fullest! (Clean out my backpack or lunchbox each day after school? No way, I've got other things to do.)

6. Avy is sweet. She has a very caring personality. She wants those around her to be happy.

7. Avy can LAUGH and be silly.

8. Avy has a talent for shoulder massages. Seriously, the girl has fingers that are way beyond her years!

We love her and are happy she is our little girl! HAPPY BIRTHDAY AVE!

Wanted: Brain Space

Yesterday I had a wonderful girls' day/night scrapbooking at the Expo Center. It was a revisit to a very fun annual tradition. It is energizing (and, at times, a little distracting) to scrap with SO many other women, but also it is a strange kinship to share. You haven't seen it all 'til you see 1600 women hauling in boxes and boxes of craft supplies.

It is fun to be together, chat away, catch up, laugh, and in our case, eat lunch in a minivan! (Who's got time to leave for lunch?) Let's hear it for the scrapbook sisterhood.

Well, with one TINY exception. Since starting my own business, I haven't had a chance to scrapbook like I love to. At first I missed it. Then I seriously mourned it. Then I told myself I could still get caught up. One day. Now I have come to the realization that my family will have a few years of their lives not documented in albums. It's the truth. I can honestly admit it. And I have come to terms with it.

So instead of paper and markers, I took my laptop. And worked on work. Don't feel bad, this is not a "woe is me" post. Oh contrare. I LOVE my laptop. I LOVE working. One creative outlet was replaced with another.

But there was a little part of me that missed that feeling of completion of having album pages to show by the end of the night. I missed the sound of my paper being cut by my well used chopper.

But today, I allowed myself some time to do what I used to do in January---create birthday invitations. I COULD make very cool ones and plan a super party and love every minute of it. But I can't. There is just no room in my head to do it all. Or the time to do it. But after yesterday, I figured I deserve to do something for me and have a tiny portion of, "Look what I did!"

So here it is:


Nothing fancy. Pretty darn simple. Just like my scrapbooks. Just like the way I used to do it. It's the same 'ole me in there. I just wish there was more space to share both sides of my life.

Gentleman Caller

I love that my kids have some neighborhood friends. And they are at the age where it is fun to hang out.

This morning I was surprised when there was a tapping on the door. Someone was being invited outside to play. I opened the door to find Renzo standing there, begging fro his friend. Renzo lives next door. He is a dog.

Even Spock has a social agenda!

I Went. I Wimped Out.

I'll try again.

Which for me is good. If I was DONE, I'd say so.

But part of me is searching for what must be there: fun. Surely, all those people swooshing down the hill (mumbling under their breathe at the newbies messing up their line) enjoy it. Surely I can too. One day.

It's like the ultimate triple dog dare.

Friday the 16th

Bad luck today.

Kate told Slade, "There is no way my husband would let me get out of skiing tonight." Darn it! Looks like I'll be hitting the slopes.

P.S. I told Slade he owes me. Big time! He replied, "I was doing this for you."