The Bronze

Today they held the closing Olympic Ceremonies at Ashton's preschool. We were asked to arrive 15 minutes early to view the medal ceremony. It began as the teachers called up three children at a time to receive either a gold, silver or bronze medal for their specific event. I bent over and whispered to my friend, "Finally! They all don't win GOLDS or are all #1's (you all know I like competitions)." I was thrilled that all the kids were winners and were receiving a medal, it was the fact that they competed and not everyone would win gold. Life is like that. We of course are all winners, but we have to work hard at winning "the prize," it isn't just a given. (I was however ready to storm "outta there" if my kid didn't get the gold...ha ha).

I was anxiously awaiting Ashton's event and placement. Mrs. Peacock then said, "For the 100 Meter Dash...Gold-some girl! Silver-some girl! And getting the Bronze-Ashton." My heart sunk (kidding). I nudged my neighbor warning her I might make a scene (kidding). But I did have to prepare to accept how Ashton would handle it...darn it.

He stood on the podium and looked down and turned his body sideways. After the parent photo-op, he quickly came to me and with tears in his eyes and a bit of disgust he said, "Mommy, I don't want this one. I want the gold!"

For a moment I wanted to take back my previous delight of "not everyone is the gold medal winner" but I didn't. I bent down (kind of, I still have those crutches) and looked into my little olympian's eyes and said, "I would want the gold too buddy. But you ran hard and did the best you could. Now let's go home and spray paint that baby GOLD!"

Dentist

I have been putting off the dentist.

We don't have a dentist we like. We tried a new dentist the past few years that had started a new practice by Garth's law office. I thought it was very "supportive" of us to give him our large family. I didn't like him at all. I think he was dishonest. And after having a super cousin dentist in Arizona to give us second opinions, we were right about him. So I put off finding a new one.

This summer, Sommer's orthodontist (whom we absolutely love...and trust) referred his favorite local dentist. But now the dreaded call...

Understand that making 7 seperate appointments can be a very difficult process. Kids in school, like everyone else, means after-school appts were taken years ago. I don't enjoy taking my kids out of school for appts. Why? Because of this scenerio: parking my car, lugging my 4 year old into the school, waiting for the office to call down my child with the appt, sign him out, hike back to the car to then GO to the actual dental exam. I am already exhausted.

After scheduling 7, yes 7 (this after making 5, changing 3 of those, adding another, going back to two orginal appt...you get the picture), seperate one hour cleanings, I began to worry again. Ashton, our four year old (and sensitive to new situations), was scheduled in just a few weeks. I began to invision a screaming child with fears of cruel torture. How was I going to break the news to him lightly?! So I began with, "Ashton, do you want a awesome new toothbrush? Well, I just made an appt for you to get your teeth all clean and shiny at the dentist! Calvin and Ethan are going to go too!" He immediatly jumped up and said, "Sure! Let's go! I want a new toothbrush." Then I said, "No honey. We don't have to go for a few weeks."

Crying and screaming quickly began...kind of like he was being tortured by a dentist.


This is all why I have been putting off the dentist.

I am a Piano Teacher

I have always wanted to teach piano lessons. Ever since I took 8 years of piano, most of the time taken along to Hilary's phenomenal teachers where I was forced to cut my nails short and memorize and then perform in front of judges then the pressures to practice (bless your heart dear mother), believe it or not, I have wanted to teach.

My problem was two fold. First, I felt one had to be either a concert pianist or Hilary Weeks to be a teacher. I learned this summer from Hilary that wasn't the case. She encouraged me, along with my friend (and piano extrodanaire), Anell, that I could indeed teach piano and fulfill this desire.

My second issue holding me back was the wonderful problem of having so many little kids for so long. But that obstacle is no more with my children at super easy stages of their lives.

So for the past few years, my friends have noticed my beautiful piano in my window and have asked me numerous times if I taught lessons. I have always had to decline but deep down have wanted to say, "YES!"

This summer I got a call from a friend asking me a huge favor. Her 12 year old son had gotten a keyboard for his birthday and she wanted me to teach him. I said, "Ahh. I would love to but I just can't. Let me ask a couple of my friends in the area to see if they have openings." I called her back later that day to let her know about a possible teacher. She said, "No. I would love you to do it."

So this is when I called Hilary to get advice. She said of course you can. I then called Anell, she said of course you can. I ended up saying yes!

Now fast forward two months. The word has spread on the streets and I already have 10 students (I can't say no and orginally wanted to keep it at 5)! I am loving it. We are having so much fun. I don't care if they cut their nails. I don't expect them to be concert pianists. I simply want them to love music. And touching my heart strings this week was 7 year old Lauren who was thrilled when I told her she could sing along as she played. I sang first while I played her song. Afterwards she replied, "Wow, Ms. Heather, you sounded beautiful!" She then said, "Can I try?!" I played the song, she sang. She then asked me repeatedly if she could do it again...and again...and again, her sweet voice singing the simple three note melody.

I am a piano teacher!

My Nerves...

When it comes to things that stress me out, house problems make it to the top of my list. This lovely pouring rain has delighted us with the knowledge of four leaks. The first presented itself in Ashton and Tate's ceiling, the second in Garth's closet, third the window in the kitchen (a most lovely bubble of water behind paint) and coming in fourth and the most blood raising, our super high entry way ceiling. I found that when I saw a puddle of water by the front door. I then slowly looked skyward and saw a lovely line of water damage thick with moisture, dripping, dropping...and cries immediatly coming forth to my hero water catcher Garth (who has just climbed down from a small attic in his closet with buckets to catch drips).

Nothing can be done until the storm has passed. What a super Saturday!

It's Raining. It's Pouring

Tropical Storm Hanna is here today. She is giving us rain all day. That of course means everything is cancelled. Calvin will not have his first football game. My friends 50 miler race (which she has been dilligently training for 5 months) is no more. Rain, although pouring, really doesn't warrent cancellations. What would Alaska do all summer with all of their rain?

Another School Year Begins

Summer is over (well the heat isn't). Another school year begins. I am not cheering, celebrating or relaxing...Lying.

Sommer was so excited for her first day of 7th grade! She looked quite lovely in her "back-to-school" outfit. When I went back to school (this was in Alaska), we actually had fall clothes that were appropriate for the weather (sweaters that we didn't actually "sweat" in). But although they sell jackets, sweaters and if you can believe it, PANTS...you just can't wear them in 90 degree heat. I guess you can, you just might get a bit overheated. (tangent?!)

Here are the boys getting ready for their first day. Calvin is the big 5th grader, Ethan is a 3rd grader and Tate a fresh little (and might I add totally cute) Kindergartener.
He was not thrilled about wearing the Bunny necklace that is recquired by all Kindergarteners the first few weeks to adorn...
Ahhh! Bless your hearts you home schooling mothers!

Ashton Turns Four

Our baby is 4! Ashton Brown Porter turned four yesterday. He loved his M&M cake (so did all of the other kids) and enjoyed his box of Skittles that he received as a gift. He is pretty easy to please as long as he has candy, Spongebob is on the TV and a can of Fresca.
We have surely been blessed to have such a wonderful boy in our home. Besides a few tantrums now and then (when he doesn't get candy, Spongebob or Fresca) he is a joy. I will be loving our last year home together before he heads out to school next year. Happy Birthday ASH!