Time Flies

Are there really ONLY 4 whole days and 4 half days left of the school year for the kids?

Our Flower can't possibly be finished with the 1st grade already?!

Our Sun can't possibly be going to the 5th grade next year?!

Say it ain't so!

Our Flower just started Kindergarden the other day!

I know cause I was there, and I remember it quite well. I cried all the way out of the school after I said goodbye. (Well, after she told me to leave because "I am fine, Momma!" ) Yes, I cried big ol' crocodile tears for the better part of the day.

And, Our Sun can not be going into the 5th grade, can he?

I remember his sweet 4 year old face so clearly (He did not turn 5 until 8 weeks later). He was as cute as they come. He looked like a little man walking into the school with that big ol' bookbag on his back. The 5th grade can't be right!

I demand a recount!

I guess I am feeling melancholy as another school year comes to a close. I was looking through old pictures this morning and wondering where the time went?

Here are some of the cutest:

My Flower, Mean Princess circa 2003

First Fishing Trip, Lake Tillery, Circa 2003

Where has the time gone? 2003


Still being silly in 2004

Fall 2004 in Lake Lure


Another Road Trip 2005

Looking Grown 2006


After Picking Strawberries 2007



Labor Day Weekend, Sunset Beach 2008


No matter how old they are, what grade they are in, or even when they get taller than me....
They will always be my babies.

Sweet Basil

One of the many reasons I love summer!

Sweet Basil

It is so good in so many dishes. We put it on

• Pizza
• In different vegetables like zucchini
  
• In pasta sauce

Our Flower loves to just eat it! It grows so fast. It loves the sun, and it is very hard to kill!

The perfect herb!

Plant some today~

You will love it!

Wordless Wednesday

We are Charleston bound!

Tomorrow we are heading out of town for a much-needed escape from reality.

To the most beautiful place in the South~ Charleston, SC!

Rainbow Row @ Battery Park

The Piccolo Spoleto Festival 2009 starts today, so we will go do all the artsy-fartsy festival things. My Rock, the talented artist, is very excited about this! The kids will also be able to do some crafts and have alot of fun. I just want to eat alot of vendor food~ yum!

We plan to also do one of the famous Ghost Tours. Our Sun is so excited. Hope they are not too scary!


We will also be swinging through Sullivan's Island~ which is one of my most favorite places ever. It is one of the things that made it onto my Things that Rock My World list~ remember? My Rock asked me to marry him (again) at the base of this lighthouse. Awwww~!

Sullivan's Island Lighthouse

The rest of our itinerary is as follows:

• do whatever we want
• fly by the seat of our pants, moment to moment
  
• maybe hit the outlets
• definitely eat at Carrabba's (Our Sun's fave place)
  
• walk on the beach
  
• get some sun while walking on the beach (using sunscreen all the while of course!)
  
• sleep in (delicious)
• and just do whatever we want for 3 whole days!
  

VA-CAY, baby! @ Charleston! We would LOVE to move there one day.

Daniel's Island would be nice. Or one of those Tara-esque plantations...

Something like this would be lovely, but I am not picky.

Tara Plantation from Gone With the Wind

Oh, that IS Tara!

Fine, I'll take it!
I'm a simple, southern girl....

Happy Memorial Day, weekend, ya'll (*spoken like a true southener).

Wordless Wednesday

NOT Me, Monday!

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

Good morning all,
It is NOT Tuesday, and I am NOT one full day late in participating in Not Me Monday.
Late?? Nope, never, ever, NOT me!

I am NOT going to be like #600 or something'another on the list....a fatal fall and far cry from my #43 position last week. This has NOT turned into a competition for me. I am NOT that person. Nope, NOT me.

Seriously, GAME ON!

I am going for #1 next week~ No survivors! LOL~ Except, next week we will be out-of-town for Memorial Day! So, just kidding.

Well, I am sure I didn't do alot of things this past week, but honestly I have been so busy that I can't remember many of them. I am NOT in denial about this, nope, NOT me.

I must have been a pretty-darn-near-perfect Mom to NOT have some things to report.

Oh, it is all coming back to me now. Some of these things may burn your ears. Hey, don't say I didn't warn you.

Since classes ended I have been working in the pharmacy ~I did NOT get approached by a patient at work asking for some "Va-Va". I had no idea what he was talking about.

I had him repeat it several times. Finally, out of sheer frustration he said " I need some Va-Va for some GOOD SEX!"

Ohhhhh, light bulb moment~ he wants Viagra.

Wow, Va-Va..... (???)

""I am sorry sir, Va-Va is NOT available without a prescription. You will need to go see your Doctor to discuss what your options are and get a Rx for a medicine that is safe for you".

To which he replies, "Well I heard Mountain Dew might work too?!"

"No, I am sorry sir, I don't think that will".

Can you believe I went through all of this with a straight face. Yep, definitely me!

Because, A true, real-life (professional) Pharmacist

would never think ANY question coming from a patient is a stupid question. I did not walk away thinking this. Nope, NOT me.

My children, the joys of my life, essential as the air I breathe, they are the epitome of my soul.

They did NOTHING this week that I needed to correct or admonish them for. They were perfect angels. I do not count to 10 every day of my life with them because they listen the first time. I did not have to threaten My Sun this morning for talking back. I did NOT have to do the "I am calling your Dad" trick. How lame! I am not THAT Mom.

My Flower has NOT started talking like a pre-teen at the ripe age of 7! I am NOT scared to death about how fast she is growing up, and what is surely coming our way. I am NOT scared about how we will handle this feisty, beautiful little girl as she gets older. She did NOT come home the other day and say "What's up, Mom?!".

I did NOT think I was a bad Mom for letting her paint her fingernails pink (WITH white polka dots). Nope, NOT me.

She is only seven after all.

We will always be the ones in control as their parents, right? They are NOT going to get the best of me, right?! They are only 9 and 7 for goodness sakes! Am I right, OR am I right?

(Please tell me what I want to hear!)

Kids don't grow up too fast, do they?
This very thought did NOT make me want to cry on several occasions this past week. Nope, NOT me.

Prayer is the only thing that is sure to get us through, folks! Pray! It works!

Lay it all out at His feet.

Your worries, your concerns, your frustrations. Leave it there.
Am I a fool to believe this?
Nope, NOT me.


Have a sun-shiny and blessed week, everyone!

Things That Rock My World Part I

In an effort to share more about myself, I thought I would share some of my true loves in life, a few things I just can't live without, and things that are guaranteed to make me smile.

1. Summer

Did I mention I just L-O-V-E Summer? I am so cold and Deciduous from November -mid-April...so that makes sense that I am ohhh so happy when the sun comes back and when it starts warming up here so that I can wear flip-flops 24-7, it truly is the only way to live.

Which leads me to the second and third things that rock my world.

2. Flip Flops 24-7

I adore flip-flops. I feel like a flighty, care-free, young, and beautiful girl in flip-flops. They remind me of my youth, although I am certain I spent most of my youth barefoot. A whole day in flip-flops is a good day. Which would certainly be the case when we spend the day at my #3........

3. Beach time

I love the beach. I would love to be a real-life beach bum one day. I live for the summer so I can go to the beach and breathe in the salty air, put my wild-from-humidity hair up, walk along the shore while the kids play for hours.....It's one of my all-time favorites.

Speaking of my favorite I just love.....

4. Tully

Tully By Paullina Simons

Best book ever. I love it. I have it memorized in parts, since I have read it almost 12 times.
There are times when I feel like Tully. Gotta love her.

Other Miscellaneous Things That Rock My World

5. Mt Pleasant/Charleston, SC

Well, Sullivan's Island specifically....It will always hold a special place in my heart.
I want to go back there soon.

6. Pharmacy
I love Rx~! I am a Nerd!

7. Yellow Tulips
I want to plant some this year.

8. Country music

I swear if this whole Pharmacy school thing falls through --I am SO Nashville bound to go for my dream! Im'ma be a star, ya'll!

9. Pickles

Anyone who knows me, knows this is true. True friends ask for extra pickles on their cheeseburgers too and give them to you! Yum.

10. This Song

I love this song right now!
Miranda Lambert sure is a saucy chic. Gotta love her.

11. Awesome Quotes
Two of my favorites are on my blog, one at the side, and another at the bottom. This is another of my faves by Ralph Waldo Emerson!

"To laugh often and love much; to win the respect of intelligent persons and the affection of children;...to endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to give of one’s self; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to have played and laughed with enthusiasm and sung with exultation; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived—this is to have succeeded."

My Goal in Life.

Not Me Monday!

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

This past week was relatively calm, and I was busy not doing a bunch of stuff.

Am I being vague and coy? Do I sound guilt-ridden? Nope, not me!

Last Wednesday I worked 9am-9pm, the traditional pharmacist hours for many chains, and I am embarrassed to say I could not hack it , it was a breeze. My ankles did NOT look like CANKLES when I got home...

They also did not hurt the entire next day and kept me from cleaning my whole house , was quite productive the next day like I had planned.

It did not make me doubt my career choice~ I also was NOT relieved when I found out I was scheduled for only 5 and 6 hour shifts this week. Nope, not me!

I was invited to a beautiful Mother's Day tribute at my Flower's 1st grade classroom. The teacher made an awesome movie of the kids talking about what it means to be a mom and basically how....
as Moms, we basically ROCK.


I did NOT cry my eyes out, and come home and think about how we should just have 4 more children because they are the root of every happiness I know, and my life would be empty without my children. I did not go that far. Nope, not me.

I have NOT been thinking of baby names since then.

Alexander, and call him Zander
Logan Dean
Landon Hayes
Wesley
SNAP OUT IT!
And if it is a girl....or twins.....boy and girl or....
Raven Dawn
Addison Dawn
Lilly

STOPPPP!!!!!!!!!!!!
One week after exams and I am already afflicted with baby fever?? Nope, not me!

And, just to clarify, pictures like this do NOT make my uterus throb and do NOT make me want to go make a baby right NOW! Nope, NOT me.

I also do NOT think about the fact that MckMama has four babies, and if she can do it so can I! Nope, NOT me.


AND, just so that we are crystal clear as mud here. I do NOT wonder if my 31 year old uterus is getting too old for babies. I do NOT intentionally try to sabotage my BCP each day and see what will happen on any given month. I am almost compliant with my meds. Same time each time, yada yada yada....I am a pharmacist intern, for goodness sakes, I know how VERY important all those sticky labels on the meds really are.

I swear, I need someone to come along and just drop-kick me as hard as they can in the head!

Ok, I am better now. Ahem.....

Really, I am ......

............in denial? Nope, NOT me!

And I really am NOT letting the topic of baby fever and the possible affliction of said condition TOTALLY take over my Not Me Monday post. I promise, I do think about OTHER things........

(*whispers* Nope, NOT me. )

Relief, I finally admitted it. Now, I can talk about something else.

I do NOT have a TO-DO list a mile long, and I totally feel lazy invigorated with life and so not ready to tackle it.

I mean, if I don't do it, it won't get done right~?!

I did NOT just use the oldest Mommy saying in the book, did I? Nope, NOT me!!

Happy, reproductive, Monday to you all!

Happy Mother's Day

This video makes me think of my mom.

Happy Mother's Day to all the Moms out there.

It is the most important job.

Priceless.

"Handful of Weeds"

Happy Almost M.D.

This video made me cry.

As My Rock and I toy with the idea of having more children, this video made me realize what an easy choice it is.

For all the teenagers out there pregnant and lost, please know that decisions you make now will be with you your whole life.

For all the women trying to conceive and can't....my heart breaks for them.

Yes, I get terribly SICK when I am pregnant, but it is worth it. Beyond a shadow of a doubt. It is.

I love being a MOM. It is my most favorite thing, and is very easily what I do best in this world.

I love it.

My kids blow me away daily, make my heart wanna bust with love spilling out over and over again.

My Flower wrote me a note yesterday to tell me I was

..the best mom ever and "Happy Almost M.D."..Love Flower

...M.D.? Mother's Day....of course.

My Sun yearns for my approval, basks in affection from his mother, and I am very conscious of the fact that I am molding the man that he will be one day. How scary! How priceless.

Being a Mom is the hardest and most important thing I do everyday.

This video was so beautiful I wanted to share. I can't wait for our hearts to grow a little more when we expand our family, if it is His will.



Happy Almost Mother's Day~

Not Me Monday!

This is my first time participating in a "Not Me Monday" so early on a Monday morning!

I'm going for #1, baby!

Seriously, I am just happy to be nominated. (WAIT~Why do I sound like I just won an Oscar or something?) Back to topic at hand......I was NOT super excited and giddy as I started reloading MckMama's blog over and over and over again this morning, that would be silly. Nope, not me.

Actually, I could just bust from excitement,since this will be the first one done since Stellan's return home.

But before that.....I must repent.

I was NOT slightly extremely relieved when the kids left this morning, so I could crash on the couch with a huge cup of coffee and relish in the peace and quiet. That would be quite selfish and borderline un-motherly of me, no? Nope, not me.

What: Family Reunion 2009
Where: Rural Backwoods, NC
When: May 3, 2009
Why: ............insert *sarcasm* here

I did NOT ride to My Rock's family reunion yesterday in the backseat of our family SUV with our Sun and Flower yesterday (see explanation as to why I was relieved this morning) and knowingly ride 30 minutes in the wrong direction because My Rock and my bil KNEW they were going the right way.

I knew they weren't...

but I just sat back there rather than attempt to reason with men and their senses of "mis"direction. Nope, not me. I also did NOT smile with an evil-tinged, all-knowing grin when they realized we had just made a huge detour through the country in the wrong direction. Nope, not me. *evil grin*

I am just a "scenic route" kinda gal.

I did NOT let My Sun and My Flower run around most of the day at the Family Reunion with no socks and shoes on because

"all the other kids were doing it"

at the aforementioned family reunion. Nope, not me. I ALSO did NOT have to do deep-breathing exercises as they did so in a feeble attempt to suppress my mounting anxiety due to

"letting kids be kids"

(according to one nosy, anonymous Aunt whose name I honestly do not even know) and run around and get there feet so gross and dirty.

One thing I can't stand more than feet, is dirty feet.
More specifically, dirty feet ON clean sheets.
Eeeeeecckkkkkk!

Grrroooooooooosssss!! I did NOT cringe when I looked at my kids feet all the way home. Nope, not me.

No, really, I am not OCD, Nope, not me! On that note....

I did NOT just pause this blog entry to hit reload AGAIN on MckMama's blog. That would be borderline downright obsessive. Nope, not me.

I did NOT-double-NOT go to see X-Men Origins: Wolverine this past weekend and lust after the four gorgeous men in this movie. Hugh Jackman, Ryan Reynolds, Taylor Kitsch, Liev Schreiber, and HUGE JACKMAN. Nope, not me.

Actually, that is FIVE sexy men. I am sorry, due to dizzying side effects of topic at hand, I lost count.

I am a MOM for goodness sakes, let's act like one. It wasn't me, I tell ya! Ladies, it is a must-see. Wow, I REALLY have no words.

Editted: My lawyers made me do this.

I can not be responsible for any damage that may occur to keyboards and/or laptops due to any drooling or wet-panting that may directly or indirectly result from any Hugh Jackman pictures that I may or may not post on

www.deciduousheather.blogspot.com

This is posted in accordance to the latest and most current Deciduous Heather by-laws Copyright © 2009.
Thank you.

Mommas, drool on. Believe me, I understand.

And finally, and more motherly in nature, My Sun and Flower (AKA My kids) are NOT so familiar with Mckmama's blog and Stellan's miracle story that they claim to see "Baby Stellan" everywhere we go, in many different public places, no matter where we go.

"Momma, LOOK! Is that Baby Stellan?"
I swear, they are on the look-out.

Is it sweet? Is it peculiar? Does it suggest that I spend too much time on the internet *GaSp* when they are home?

Am I a bad mother?

Mommy-guilt kicks into overdrive.

Well, just so you know......

I THINK it is super super-duper fantastically sweet, so THERE!

And let me tell you something else, I refuse-double-triple decker REFUSE to feel guilty because my Sun and my Flower know Baby Stellan and have witnessed his miraculous story.

And as a result they may have occasional many sightings of him here in Rural Heaven, NC.

They are just looking for a miracle.

Nothing wrong with that.

Actually, it makes me smile.
And, and I think we could all learn from that.

Welcome home, Stellan!



MckMama, thank YOU so much for allowing us to witness his journey,
and we are so happy you two are back home where you belong!

Have a blessed Monday, all!