Author Archives: heather

Today was Josie’s birthday and one year anniversary of her passing on December 2, so her family and a few of us friends gathered after church to say hi to her. Family read scripture, and we sang Joy to the World and happy birthday (Sophia’s idea). Clara’s coat didn’t match her outfit—I don’t know whatContinue reading “Cemetery Songs and Starbucks for Josie”

Finn and Eli definitely enjoyed hamming it up. Clara was so pretty in pink. Abe artfully added a matching tie. Brooke and Clara were gorgeous. The moms from this Whitman group couldn’t help it. The socks definitely pulled the while look together.

Most Eye Popping (Poppy) Most Devilishly Deceitful (Finn) Best Puckered Old Man (Heather) Best Throwback (Blitz) Most Scarily Cute (Georgie) Best Guffaw Gallows Humor (Clara)

Here are some takeaways from our fascinating trip to the far east. First and foremost, jump rope is an amazing sport. Finn’s single rope team freestyle (“fourstyle”) group earned a 3rd place medal in the international open tournament. Finn it to win it! A walking tour of Tokyo with local guide Haiyan gave us aContinue reading “Tokyo Tricks”

Shark researcher? Too much lab time. Early childhood education? Maybe. Political science? “I want to take every class on this list.” That’s the one! Tatum and Aiden both started their college career at the end of June, along with another one-third of the first-year class at the University of South Florida. She and roommate Carson,Continue reading “College Kicks”

So at 3:30 am in Kawasaki, Japan, Italy and California are on my mind. Jet lag will do that to a person, spin the mind like a globe. I was just thinking that since Christmas in the UK, not including Kevin’s constant travels to Ukraine and Poland, and Tatum’s foray into Florida, we’ve also beenContinue reading “Spring Trips”

It has been such a festive and cerebral season! So many graduates to celebrate, and celebrate we did. Marley, as usual, led the way. Unfortunately, we had to watch the UMD events live streamed because it was pouring rain and too cold for Mom and Doug to sit outside—but we still felt part of eventsContinue reading “Graduates Galore”

It’s my last evening in Antananarivo and I’m feeling like a tortoise that found a skateboard; how lucky to have been here for a second time this year. I listen to live and lively piano music in the pavilion of La Varangue, sip my Cristal (sparkling water) and realize I can’t feel the temperature, whichContinue reading “Foreigner in a Friendly Land: Lemurs and Little Kids in Madagascar”

There’s nothing like feeling a wave of nausea to focus the mind on meeting the moment. Specifically, where can I vomit most discreetly at this moment, I wondered, because there’s no time to spare. And, secondly, she’s a mom, this person in front of me— she’ll understand. She has had at least five children, soContinue reading “World’s Okayest Moms”