Whittaker Woman

The Fresno Fair is a Great Big Fair, Don't Miss it Don't Even Be Late

Oh I was so excited to find out that we will be in Fresno during the fair. It is such a fun thing to do in Fresno, everyone looks forward to it. Jacinda, Brian and my family all went for the day. It was great.

Ok this is not fair food, but we did stop at Dog House before to fill our tummy's with this tri-tip sandwich. Heaven. Really I mean it is so sinful that you just do not care about the consiquences of eating it.

Oh if only I had a video. Just imagine this in real life. I wanted to give the poor mother some vicadine or something for what these little guys were doing to her. Oh my boobs ached for her.


If you go to the Fresno fair, you have to get a cinnamon roll. So good.


Papa came and so did his wallet. So the kids got to do things that they would not get to do with us.







Ok... Whats your thing to do or eat at the fair? H

From Day ONE

Allow me to be vulnerable, intimate and share something that is so personal about me that only my best friends would know about. You may read this post and think it is lame and not a big deal, but to me it is my heart, my memories and a part of ME.

This is Saint Andrews Abbey.     Or as I would call it Valyermo.

It is a Catholic Abbey that, well... you can say I was Umm, well lets just say my parents met there and well, simply put I was made there. So... I have REALLY been brought up there. :) Oh this is not going down hill fast. Anyways I have a life time of memories and this is one of the harder things to leave when I left California. I mourned the fact that my kids will not have the memories that I do. I have had major events that make this place special. My parents met here, I had my first major boyfriend from here, Carlos has a tattoo of the Abbeys symbol on him and most importantly  my dad is buried here. And yet many of the little things here are just as sentimental.

The smell of the desert and the gravel,

The sound of the trees,

The constant sound of a sprinkler running, all these things bring joy to my heart.

The sad part of my visit here is because of a death of one of the Fathers here. Father Werner was one of the Monks who knew my dad (who passed away when I was 16) There are not many people that I know that were friends of my dad so it was sad to say good-bye to someone who  held that friendship.
The great part is that I was here to be a part of it.


I have not been to funeral here since my dads which is coming up on 14 years. I must say it was weird.

And beautiful all at the same time.

The kids had fun decorating Papa Bills Grave. Its silly but makes me smile.

This is Dominic he was one of my dads best friends, and also one of my moms. He is just someone who I have known my whole life and he just is a special relationship.

So there you go. A very personal side of me that only those closest know. Welcome to my world. My soul. H

Fog, Hoodies, and Sand

Sohaila has been studying the continents and oceans in school. She has been asking non-stop about the PACIFIC Ocean. Mom when can we see the pacific ocean? Are we near the pacific ocean? Did you know that the pacific ocean has so many sharks? Did you know... On and on. So I finally decided to make it stop! It was freezing, windy and they could not have been happier!

 








I am just grinning from ear to ear while I post this. What a great day! Oh and tonight my tummy is full of Mexican food! Really does it get any better? H

No time wasted!

We woke up early and went on a hike near our house! You got to love the nature that is in the heart of the city limits! It is amazing!

Carlos let tus have a fun day out with out the kids!  We shopped till our feet could not carry us any longer.

Then we came home for some Korean food by our roommates and then the grown ups went out on the town!

It is 4:05am and we are still going. I guess I am not going to do my 10 mile run in the morning. Opps!
Tell me what is the best thing you did today?

Mine was to dream! Oh how refreshing and powerful and hopeful dream can be! What is the best thing you did? H

One thing after another...

My poor brother came to visit at a terrible time. He was here two weeks the first week was our road trip and the second week was a week of recovery for me from the road trip. Needless to say, I was not able to give him my perfected tour of the ATL. So with less than 24 hours left together, we decided to loaded up the car and go camping!

We drove out to Stone Mountain. For those of you who are not familiar with this area, Stone Mountain is a huge rock that protrudes from the earth and they call a mountain. It is cool, but when you grow up with this as your back yard it is hard to be awe-struck. The campground was beautiful! It was nestled right on the banks of the lake and had great views. The kids were so excited to play in the water. All was well, until we realized that swimming in the lake was prohibited, but being the good rule breaker that I am, we continued to swim! It was the hottest day of the year here. How could I tell these guys to get out of the water?

Anyways the day went on. It was hot! No, it was HOT! You know the kind of hot where you begin to loose all sense of rational thinking. Where you will simply do anything to keep cool. (Like swimming in the lake). 

Around 6pm things began to look better. Carlos arrived, dinner was cooking and best of all the sun was going down. However, after a hour of dusk the heat had not let up. It was so bad that Carlos asked me if I was crying, because he saw "tears" rolling down my cheeks. Nope it was sweat! When that happened I threw in the towel and said I was done. I was 20 minutes away from my own bed and AC. There was no way I was going to sleep in this. I am a camper, I love to be dirty, I love to sleep on the ground, but the heat... NOPE not going to do it!

My poor brother worked so hard to get he tent up, he was a good sport! Once we packed up, a storm rolled in and we were so glad to be on the way HOME! We did have to stop and get my brother's canvas bags off the roof! I am telling you it was one thing after another!

H

You just can't have summer without the beach!

When was the last time you touched the sands of the beach?  H

California Dreaming!

 
This was in Cali 7 months ago...
 
This is in Virginia this week. It was so weird to have my whole family out together on the east coast. It was like we were having Christmas in July. We have never all been together in a location other than the typical holiday party in So Cal. It made me feel like I was in Cali for a few moments!

We heart DC!

What do you do in hotel rooms?

Use them! H

Family Vacation

We planned a great stop at this place called Grandfather Mountain. It was so beautiful for the 2.4 seconds we were there before the storm blew in!

Sohaila got FREAKED OUT! Can you tell? It happened so quick. We were out having fun, then all of the sudden pouring down rain. My brother got locked out of his car and had to climb in ours because he was getting pounded!

So much for Grandfather Mountain.

Why did I sign up for this?

 
A road trip would just not be complete with out a little barf bag and crying!

Thunder Rolls! And Rolls! And Rolls!

The Whittaker's are on the road! Last night we started our road trip to Virgina. Our trip began a little late when my brothers flight was delayed. However the long dark road from Atlanta to Asheville was nothing but boring. For people who have been born and raised in Cali it was MAGICAL. I think we yelled Holly Cow about 1,343,973 times! This is why...
 

 

H

Touring ATL

We started at the Vasity for snacks

  

 

We went to see the MLK museum and the home he was born in.

 

  

It was so fun to be a tourist for the day. We went to the Varsity, then to the High Museum of Art to see a fabulous photography exhibit on the Civil Rights Movement, followed by a walk around the MLK Museum.

It is just great to have so many things to do at our finger tips when visitors come! So you tell me, where are you from and where would you take someone if they came to visit. H

Places to go, People to see...

Ok so the familia will be taking a journey up to Virgina this summer to go to my cousins wedding. I can't believe how close we are to the North East! I have not explored this side of the coast and am thrilled at the idea. Not so much the gas prices, but we will just swipe the card and not look at that. Anyways, moving on, I wanted to get idea's from you on where we should stop, places to see, things to do. We plan to take a week. The wedding is in Virgina on a Saturday. So we will have plenty of time to play.
Here are a few things we want to do... Go to DC, visit Lancaster County and well I guess that is it. So please help me plan our trip. We need info on great places to stay, stop and see. Help a girl out and fill me in on this side of the states! H

My little secret

Confession: I love to read Fiction Christian Amish books. How cheesy did I just get! Wow, I really look lame on paper! Well the truth sets you free!  Anyhow on our way home from Nashville we stopped by a Amish Community in Ethridge Tn. It was so great! We went on a wagon ride. It took us to about 8 Amish Farms where we were able to buy things from them. I got fresh eggs, butter, jelly, candy, plus some fun wood toys and everything was so cheap. The people were all so friendly and I just loved it. I can't wait to go back! H

Three for three!

Monday... Ticket in Nashville for expired tags
Tuesday... Pulled over for speeding, got a ticket for that, then another for expired tags, plus two other ones for not transferring my license and plates to Georgia.
Wednesday... Pulled over yet again for expired tags.
I have been pulled over more in the past three days than I have been in my whole life.
H

Nashvegas

There is nothing like going out on the town with your grandma! It was so fun. We started the night at the Elrod's. Losiah has a thing for Randy.

We then went to a dinner Compassion put on for all
the artist that they work with. It was so fun to see all our
Ugandan friends.
After dinner we went to the wild horse where we met up with
Stephanie to see her man play.

Where's Carlos?

Most of the time it's " Have you met Heather she is the wife of Carlos", " This is Ragamuffinsoul's wife, oh and she has her own blog too." " Heather is married to the service programing director at Buckhead" There is always a title that is somehow connected to MY MAN. I love that! He is hot, talented and just popular. What can I say I am a lucky girl.  Tonight was one of those nights. I went to a Compassion dinner that was hosted for all the artists that they sponsor. It was a night of working the tables, talking to people here and there. Lots of names and lots of schmoozing. I only wished Carlos was there tonight. He would of loved it and maybe I would have just been Heather. H

Girls just wanna have fun!

Nani wanted me to take this picture, she was ready
even though her local clock said 10am.

   

My Nashville Peeps!

The kids, Nani  and myself drove to Nashville this afternoon. We are getting ready to go to dinner with some of my favorite people. I am so excited to see him, her,  him, her, her, him, him, her, him and him! I only wish he was here. How did you like that for some link love. It makes me smile to know that with the exception of Chris and Randy I did not know any of these people 6 months ago and now I truly love them all!  Life is so good! H

Bipolar?

After we got these pictures this weekend thought it would
be a great time to follow up on this post.

Let me give some important details. Some details I chose to leave out in the initial post and some are questions you asked...
-First, let me start off by saying they were not MY FRIEND.
  I did not even know the person who put me in my place. I don't
  know what I would have done if they were my friend.
-The event is something I will have keep private, sorry you nosy peeps.
-Thanks so much for all your encouraging words. I have never questioned my parenting. I know that my kids  are being raised in a amazing family. I also know that after three kids the best and only parenting advice is to do what works for you and your family.

Here are some comments I thought I would address:
-If your little guy was crying for an extended period of time, I could see it being very disruptive to their own children and themselves, especially given the fact that they don't have their own children CIO. (There was never a time where his crying disrupted anyone. He was in a space where he was absolutely alone.)

-I wouldn't tell someone how to parent their child... but I would however be pretty pissed at someone who straight left a crying baby in my house while they leave. Its not fair that you left the burden of the crying child on them.(He was never in their care, I was always there, always parenting).

-Depending on the child, it might be scary for them to be in an unfamiliar room in the dark by themselves that's all. (We had stayed there at this location for the past two nights so he was in a place that he knew. He had been fine the other nights.)

-Does the person who did this read your blog? (No way. I don't have the balls to be that rude!)

Here are some comments that made me laugh:

-whew! that experience would have made my blood boil! i cannot stand it when people tell me how to parent my kids.-Jennifer

Huh. Who knew? I guess now I can make everyone who comes over to my house breastfeed their babies, because that's the way *I* do it and it's my house so they have to do what I do. -Stephanie

my question: Did you punch them? -Nathan G.

There are certain "my house my rules" things that are ok. No shoes inside,ok. Don't throw things, fine. the cat is not a toy, perfect. But no crying?!?! BS.- Rebekah

thats not balls....thats ass-KFJ

To some of you thank you for your encouraging words, to some of you thanks for challenging my parenting and opening my eyes to how others may see things. To all of you thanks for reading!

Spring Break 2008

Carlos took Thursday off and we headed out to the farm.
 
We got to feed the baby cows,

Go on a hay ride... I guess a smell hay ride.
   
And of coarse drink the fresh milk!

We drove to Athens, (Go DAWGS, did I do that right?)
To visit our dear friend Rachel.

Then headed up to Lake Burton to be roommates again
with our Phenix family. Oh it was so lovely!
 

   

   

   

You know a weekend is good, when you are ready to
go back as soon as it is over. What did you do for
spring break? H

Do you have the balls?

Oh how I have been waiting to post this story. The questions and parental wonder has been killing me. So here it goes. It's a disguised and condensed version of what really went down but here it is.
I was at an event some time ago. It was one of the many things I have attended as a single mother. Carlos was working but I still wanted to go, so I packed up all the chillins and headed out.  We arrived, spent the night,  and had a great time. The next evening was the great event.  It came to decide what to do with the youngest Whittaker. He was getting cranky and ready for bed, but the rest of us were not ready to go home.  I had a decision.
I could either: 
A. Put him up in a room that he is not familar with and let him cry to sleep.
B. Miss out on the very special event and leave. (this is was a once in a lifetime  experience)
C. Keep him up with even though he was crabby and could possibly ruin the event because of his crying.

So what would you do? What is your parenting style?
Mine?  My kids will be singers like their father because they have had some good cries.
That is just me though.

This is what I did, I decided that the event was to important to miss or even disturb so I chose to put him in a pack n play and let him sleep. But guess what, I got busted. This is where the part of the story gets fun.

See later in the night the person who owned the home came to me and said that I had to move Losiah. They said that he cried for a extended period of time. They then began to lecture me about how they do not allow their children to cry and therefore since I was at their place I would have to  parent like them.  I was standing with a friend when I was informed of my terrible parenting and the need to change it.  My friend began to  freak out at how  rude this person was  I just stood is shock.
I went and got Losiah, packed up, and left.  I drove 6 hours through the night because I was parenting wrong.
I know that there are many forms of parenting. Some people spank, some people do naughty carpet, some people let their kids get away with more than others, some let them cry to sleep. I am on my third child. I have let them all cry to sleep and so far so good. Sohaila and are both healthy children who love me and show no signs of neglect because I let them cry to sleep.
So I guess I have a couple of questions.
Whats your parenting style... No judgement here I am just wondering.
What would you have done....
Do you have the balls to tell someone how to parent like they did?
H

No more driving!

Leg one...

Fountain Hills AZ to Riverside CA  347  Miles

Riverside to Altadena 55.3  Miles

Altadena to Prather 260 miles

Prather to South Lake Tahoe 277 Miles

South Lake Tahoe to San Diego 603 miles

Total= 1542.3 miles

I drove enough miles this past week to get from LA
all the way to Arkansas. Only 600 miles shy of
driving all the way home to Atlanta!

Here comes the bride

I know these pictures are a week late but I finally got my camera back and here are my favorite shots that I got that night. 

The Sanner's

The best looking friends ever!

Then my favorite shots! Defiantly frameable!

Bribery

Our travels have sent us all over the west, however this
past stop was a one of pure thought out bribery on my
sisters behalf. You see we were driving from Fresno
which is in Central California all the way down to
San Diego which is pretty much on the boarder of Mexico.
In the middle is LA which is where my sis resides. I did not
think I was going to have time to visit due to the length of the
the drive we had ahead of us but my sis added an
incentive. She said she would go and pick up our Nannan
and have her at her house if I came by. She is
sneaky but I am so grateful for it. I was able to see my
sis, grandma and also the cousins could play. It was a
good day!

I am getting tired

My grandma and I left Tahoe this morning and headed
to Fresno where I spent the day with the Hales. I wish
I had more energy because I feel like a bump on a log.
Jacinda is awesome, she plans out family nights every
Wednesday night. Tonight we did cowboy night. It
was so much fun. I really miss living in Cali and having
friends at my finger tips.

If you knew me you would know...

that I have a side of pure giddiness when I get in nature. If fills me. It drives me. It just makes me happy. I guess that is why I spend my life doing things like this, and this oh and we can't forget this. It just is who I am. So I wake up early this morning. Three hours before I need to be ready to go on the slopes. And what do I do?
I get ready so I can come sit outside in the freezing weather just to be in the outdoors. I am sitting in a parking lot with the slopes of Heavely to my right and Tahoe Lake to my left. What beauty to blog from. My room 10 feet from me but because I am me I decide to have some alone time sitting on the ground in a parking lot. Carlos always laughs at me when we are  about to go do something fun like this. I wish he was here to laugh with me today.

I tried to take a artsy picture and it just did not work
so finally I gave up.

My Brother and Tahoe, how can it get any better?

What a day

What a day...
Woke up in Riverside, went to breakfast with some of my favorite people.
Left around 10am, drove to Pasadena to pick up my grandma.
Drove to Burbank to drop off the rental car I had.
Drove to Fresno. Ate at dog house. :)
Drove to Prather and had a birthday for my dad.
What a day.

My grandma and mom were yelling at my dad for taking
a bite of this with the candle still lit. I thought it was
funny but they didn't. H

Welcome!

Well I forgot my camera in Arizona so I have nothing to show for my day yesterday. Hopefully later this week you will get some catch up blogs of the wedding.

I am in Riverside. I arrived at 1:45am last night, there is something a little silly about me. When I crossed into the California boarder I just grinned from ear to ear all the way in to the IE. It was completely black, I could not see a thing but it felt good to be back.

Once I got in bed California was good to me and decided to welcome me with this...



Just a little Califonia love. Yep two earthquakes while I sat there wide a wake!
H

Nature Walk

We took advantage of the different terrain and took a cactus hunt hike.
This is what we found.
   

   
Lesson Learned: Don't go hiking in flip flops in the dessert.

Fountain Hills, Ohh La La

Where are the tree's, where's the grass?

I tried to tell him...

That this was for lunch.

This is my view as I type in a 3 million dollar home.

I know it's tough folks, but someone's got to do it.

The Little Moments that get me through

Yesterday was pretty hectic, but here are a few the things that made it much more easier.

For starters Atlanta Airport has one of the longest
security lines I have ever seen in my life. At the minimum
it will take you 45 minutes just to get through. Unless...
you have a stroller. That right if you have  a stroller they
usher you to the front of the line! Under ropes and through
masses of angry people giving you dirty looks, but it
did not matter to me because I was at the front.
All this to say that my kids will be in a stroller until they are
15 years old!

As we were boarding the  plane I heard the lady say that it was
a full flight. I walked by I wondered who was the lucky
person who was going to sit by us. People kept coming and no
one came to sit by us. Then... the door shut. That's right we had
the only seat open next to us! Praise God! My little man was  a little
handful and so it was great to have that extra seat!

And the final little moment was when we got to baggage claim there
in front of all the people waiting lied this cart all alone free and asking me to take it. So I did. There was no way I would pay for one. That's just me but there it was just for us!

Ahh the little things! H