Not Everyone's Mama

My mom just sent me this email and I thought it was an awesome look at what we have here in Iowa.  I don’t know who started this nor do I own any of the pictures.

When I was in beautiful Rhode Island, someone asked me, "What is so great about Iowa?" I really could not answer them at that time, except to say, "My family is there."
Then I took a trip back and remembered why Iowa is special. I would like to take you for a visual trip through my home state.
Iowa has the most beautiful skies, and wide open spaces so you can really enjoy them.

We have four seasons. Winter brings wonderful white drifts shaped like whipped cream. The world turns into a fairy land. When we have had enough of cold and snow, spring is just around the corner with it’s fields of flowers and warm days and cool nights.

Summer arrives and treats us with a reason to go swimming or to one of the many beautiful state parks. Fall brings the golden colors and relief from the intense heat. And then we start all over again.

There are cities and farms.

The hills and plains stretch for miles.

Iowa is known as the food basket of the nation.

Iowa has little boys that try very hard to be good.

And Iowans have a sense of humor.

(Side note from Heather:  That water tower has always been a landmark for our family, it meant we were almost half way to grandma’s house!)

The water tower at Adair.

Education is more important than sports, in Iowa. University of Iowa, Iowa State and Drake University.

Just to mention a few of the interesting things that crowd your schedule in Iowa. Iowa has rodeos, hot air balloons and the famous Bike Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI).

A weed is only a weed if it is growing where you don’t want it. Here are the coneflowers abundant in the Loess Hills and the tulips of Pella.

Maybe you didn’t know that the "Little Brown Church in the Wildwood" is in Iowa.
Have you seen the movie or read the book "The Bridges of Madison County"?  Yep, Madison County is right here in Iowa.

There are some famous people who came from Iowa. How about Presidents Reagan who began his public career in Des Moines (WHO radio), and President Herbert Hoover, born in West Branch in 1874. Actress Donna Reed and composer of "The Music Man", Meredith Wilson, were born and raised here.

Did you know Marion Morrison was an Iowan. Who? you say!

Hmmmmmm… I think his name is J O H N "I’m happy to say "I’m from Iowa"" Wayne. A few were missed! How about Andy Williams and Johnny Carson – both born in Iowa! Buffalo Bill Cody, Simon Estes – the great singer, William Frawley – Fred from I Love Lucy, Abigail Van Buren and Ann Landers – advice columnists, Cloris Leachman – actress, Harriet Nelson from Ozzie and Harriet, Glenn Miller the orchestra leader, Grant Wood – the artist famous for American Gothic.
Just to name a few more: The computer was invented at Iowa State University! Nylon and neoprene, the Gallup Poll, screendoors, buffered aspirin, antacid tablets, the trampoline, the Eskimo pie and the first gasoline powered tractor – - all invented in Iowa.
The Delicious apple came from Winterset, Iowa.

Wasn’t that neat?  I’m so glad I took the time to read it!

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I came across a site tonight that I thought I would share.  They have such cute children’s clothing!

Tea Collection designs their clothing from inspiration they draw from in their travels around the world.  It could be from the art of Korean patchwork to the boldness in street graffiti in Brazil.  They started out with 3 sweaters and a desire to bring world wide culture and design into children’s clothing.

These are some of my favorites I saw that I know would look adorable on my girls!

Boardwalk V-Neck Dress

Citron Flora Ruffle Twirling Dress (I’ll admit, this is my ABSOLUTE favorite.  I can see Alyce twirling in it like I used to do in my skirts and dresses like this.)

Jardin Play Dress

Casa Nouveau Tea Dress  (This one is VERY close to tieing as my favorite.  It is just beautiful!)

The prices are fabulous too.  Most of the dresses I have looked at are only $27. 

While you are browsing through their store make sure you check those out.  They are beautiful!  I am seriously thinking about getting my favorites for the girls.  I can picture them in my head.

They don’t just have girl’s clothes.  They have a beautiful assortment of boys’ clothes that I could see Christiano wearing.  Really really cute.  Their Spanish Nouveau Collection would look adorable on him!

Guess what?  They also have clothes for us ladies!  They look comfortable and beautiful.  That’s a combination that I love to where!  Their dresses are so pretty!

Besides their website (teacollection.com), you can find their clothing at Saks, Nordstroms, and 300 children’s boutiques throughout the US, Canada, and Australia.  Check them out!  Tell me what your favorite would be for your kiddo!  I’m sure you will find something you fall in love with, just like I did!

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I am an Iowan.  I know how important agriculture is to us.  It’s what runs the state.  It provides a living for all of the people who live off the land. 

I’m for almost anything that helps our farmers.

Almost.

Except for Iowa House file 589.

When I first heard about this file, I thought it was bad.

I have heard more about it and I still think it is bad for animals.

I am not a supporter of PETA because I don’t agree with the tactics they use all the time, but I do think they have done a lot of good where it concerns animal welfare. 

I think most of the family Iowa farmers take care of their animals.  They take of the land.  Most farmers are some of the biggest conservationists you will ever meet.  They live off the land, they use the meat and other products from the animals, they wouldn’t abuse that.

However, like most egg cartons, there is usually one bad cracked egg.

I keep hearing commericals about house file 589, call your congressman to support it.  That it only prevents people from misrepresenting themselves to gain employment so that they can’t go in undercover and report abuses.  That it doesn’t stop whistle blowing.

You tell me, how else are people going to know that there are abuses occurring?

Sure, the sheriff can stop by whenever he wants, investigators can stop in.  How often does that happen?  How often do you hear, this was uncovered by an inspector?  No, you hear this was uncovered by an employee video taping it and releasing it.

This law covers puppy mills as well.  Check out this video on some undercover work on a puppy mill.

This law, if it goes into effect doesn’t just cover PETA, it covers all journalists trying to blow the whistle.

Here’s a local news article about it.

Without undercover work, how else would this have been found?  or this?

This is just a way for big ag to hide these abuses and I cannot believe they have gotten our legislature behind them.  I guess that is what lobbyists are for.

If you are as disgusted by this as I am, you can contact the Iowa legislators. Please do on behalf of the animals who don’t have a voice.  There is also this petition here.  From what I understand, this has only passed the house, not the senate, as I just heard a commercial on the radio supporting this this morning.

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After Kat’s birthday party the other day, Nano’s nose started running.  Then Alyce.  Then me.  Yesterday we were all completely miserable, lazing the day away on the couch.  Running for Kleenexes until we ran out, then substituting with napkins (which BTW, do not feel good on a red sore nose).  Christiano and I both started running fevers.  It was a joy, let me tell you.

I got up this morning and I can almost breathe.  And I don’t feel quite like I was run over by a Mack truck.

That is good because today is the day Katiana gets to have her slumber party.  I was really worried that we were all going to be sick still.

I’m still not sure how many girls are coming.  Out of 11 that were invited, I know 4 can’t come, 2 can come and haven’t heard from the other 5.  I’m not sure if they will show up or maybe their invite got lost. 

On top of being sick, I’ve been scrubbing my carpet over and over.

Jasper came.

Remember, I was going to adopt another Chinese Crested about 1 1/2 months ago?

The lady was sick and couldn’t get him to me.  (She had to drive to KC where her home is, she goes to school here at ISU.)

I adopted Suki, the little chihuahua mix, because she needed a home.

Then I got the call that Jasper was almost here.

He’s a boy.

When he gets excited, he pees.

Clean that up.

I didn’t know what food he was on.  He’s been eating the girls’ dog food, which I have been assured is one of the best you can get.

His stomach is not quite used to that.

I’ve been cleaning that up since he got here too.

Now, what happens when one dog goes in the house?

The other 2 think they can also.

Clean that up also.

I’ve just left my carpet steam cleaner out.

It’s easier that way.

I need kennels to crate them in until we get this under control and everyone is re-house-trained.

I wasn’t sure we were going to be able to keep Jasper.

He bit Pato.

In his defense, he was a tad sexually frustrated.

See, I have an appointment to get Suki spayed the 11th. 

She was in heat when I got her.

She also was in a diaper as soon as we had a male dog in the house.

Jasper was trying to hump the diaper.

One time he got the diaper off and I interrupted the act.  He hung his head in shame and his boy parts dragged on the floor.  Alyce was very concerned that something was wrong with Jasper’s wee wee.

That night he bit Pato he’d been told no about 1000 times and to get away from Suki’s toosh.

Pato tried to pick him up to put him in Jordan’s room for the night.  Jasper didn’t want to sleep in Jordan’s room.  He yelped when Pato touched him and bit.

Pato said that’s his one chance.  No more biting.

Jasper is much more content now that Suki is out of heat and he has a bed on the floor next to my bed, next to the girls’ beds.  Though he completely stressed  Junie out when he decided he liked her bed the best.

Junie retaliated after I got Jasper his own bed.  She slept in it.  Jasper got the pink satin, fur trimmed bed.

Take that mr man dog.

So, now I know the whole world is full of dogs that need adopted.  I also know that I am at my limit.  Though my heart strings get tugged every time I hear of a dog that needs a new home, and I’m worried all the backyard breeders will adopt the purebred ones and put them through what Junie went through, I can’t save them all on my own. 

3 little dogs is enough for our family.

3 little dogs and 7 little birds is enough for our family.

I am really lucky that Pato likes animals as much as I do.  The kids are lucky that I like animals as much as I do because I get help maybe once every other day taking the dogs out to pee.

Have a great day!

I’ve got to get stuff ready for Kat’s soccer game and slumber party.

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I’ve been so busy today getting ready for the family portion of the party that I didn’t even have time to check my emails.

I thought I’d pop on really quick because I can’t let one of my kids’ birthdays go by without celebrating on my blog.

7 years ago today, well, actually yesterday, I was admitted into the hospital to be induced, Kat went over.  It was the worst labor I had ever gone through.  She was sunny side up and the back labor was ferocious.  I hemorrhaged after I had her and ended up needing 2 bags of blood.  I’m telling you, out of the 4, I have only had one come out quick and (not so) easy (or as easy as childbirth can be) like he should.  Thank you Christiano.  My sister was 17 and was in the room with mom and I.  She told me afterwards that she had looked down and asked mom, is that supposed to be happening.

*WARNING* Kind of Graphic

She said it was like a fountain.

It was all worth it. 

I have a beautiful little girl who has the sparkliest brown eyes.  One of the most beautiful smiles that I wake up to in the mornings.  And while she can be a drama princess, she can also be one of the happiest most fun people to be around.  She was my trooper when the first happened and we were without a home, living with my brother for 6 weeks.  Not one complaint.

She is a wonderful child to have.

Happy birthday my beautiful Katiana Lynn!

(Who, if you haven’t read my blog a lot, is named after my mom – Kathy Ann (Katiana) and me, Heather Lynn.

Have a wonderful day!

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Maybe all the talking from myself, Jordan’s dad, Pato, the teacher, and the principal had an effect on Jordan.

He made character club yesterday for the first time in over a month.  (Meaning he didn’t get more than 2 checks for bad behavior, late assignments, etc for the week.)  His teacher told me that minus what had gotten back to the principal the other day that Jordan has had a very good week. 

She said that she knows that Jordan hates her and he thinks that she hates him, but that she really cares a lot about him.  That if she didn’t, she would have given up on him a long time ago.  We want to get him back to the happy loving kid he was at the beginning of the school year.  It was around December when he started changing.  The first occured at the end of January, that didn’t help.

I had a talk with Jordan on the way home and we talked about how proud both I am and his teacher is of him for getting his work done this week, for making character club, and for being one of the few in the 5th grade to be selected to take the algebra readiness test.  You have to score about 90% in math on your Iowa Tests Of Basic Skills to take this test.  Jordan did.  I also talked to him about how when the week goes good, can he not see that his teacher really does care about him.  Yes.  That she just wants him to do his best and succeed.  Yes.

It was a good talk.

I hope it continues.

They have a program through the school where a therapist comes to the school and talks to a kid.  I signed Jordan up for it.

Last year we went to see a therapist who was wonderful, but he missed half a day of school every day because I had to drive him downtown.  This way he also misses a small portion of the day but he still is getting some help that he needs, someone to talk to about why he is so frustrated and angry.

The other kids would never need to know it was a therapist that he was seeing if he didn’t want to tell him.  He’s had a big brother up until the last year, so it would appear to be something just like that.

Keep him in your thoughts and prayers.  It’s been a rough year for all of us but it’s affecting Jordan a lot.

Today is my day to keep all the kids.  My brother is moving to his new house and I offered to have all the little ones over here so they could move without them under foot.  I am going to miss Kat’s first soccer game of the season because of it.  That makes me sad.  7 more that I will be able to watch though.

I have to get my house completely ready too.  Kat’s birthday is Wednesday and I am planning on having the family over for that.  Then April 9, she is having a slumber party with 3 of her friends.  Must have everything put away by then.

I hope.

I plan on getting a chunk of it done today.  It’s mostly just clothes that I separated into rooms that needs put away now.  I’ve been dragging my feet.

I still need to clean the carpet so I can get my couch and chairs out of the shed for the living room.

Have a great day!

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I was in shock when I heard how many designers had gotten together to make a digital scrapbooking collab for me after the fire.  Literally in shock.  This community is absolutely amazing.  Let me show you the collab because it is absolutely gorgeous!!!

Believe In Miracles Bundle (you get everything below in the bundle)

Believe in Miracles The Kit

Believe In Miracles The Alpha Pack

Believe In Miracles The Template Pack

Believe In Miracles The Glitters (CU OK)

Believe In Miracles The Glitter Gels (CU OK)

Is that not gorgeous?  Absolutely beautiful!

I have to say thank you to all of the designers who came together for this kit:

2 Girlz Designz
Alegna Designs
Alla Design
Amy Teets Designs
Angel Hartline Designs
Armina Designs
Azur Scrap
Bekah E Designs
Benthaicreations
Blythe Evans
Captivated Visions
Circle of Life Studio
Claudio
Dawn Inskip
Daybreak Scraps
Designs by Angel
Designs by Helly
designs by Serena
Diamond Ink Designs
Dianne Rigdon Design
Digi Overdose
Digi-Scrap Princess Designs
Down This Road Designs
Dragonfly Studio Designs by Shannon
EAL Designs
eNKay Design
Eyeinspire
Farynar’s Wings
Flutter Expressions
Gabs-Art
Hazel Olive Designs
Inspiredbydominic Designs
JayaPrem’s Hangout
Jen C Designs
JennCK Designs
jusme digital
Keley Designs
Kiki Halbert Designs
KimB’s Designs
Kimeric Kreations
Kiss This Designs
Late Night Scraps
Laughing Sun Designs
Lisete Scrap
Lollipop Designs
Loucee Creations
Lpand3dogs Designs
Lumik Designs
Mad Genius Designs
Mandy King
MarieH Designs
Melissa Bennett
Meredith Cardall Designs
Micheline Martin Designs
Microferk Designs
Missy’s Bits Designs
Mye De Leon
Pixiemama Designs
Ramona Memories
RebeccaPSP Designs
Relocated Dixie Girl
Rose Thorn
Shilo Designs
Stella K Studios
Studio Wendy
Sugar Kissed Designs
Sweet Tomato Designs
Teresabelle Designs
The Urban Fairy
Victoria Feemster
Wendy Page

I told you it was a humongous group!  It literally took my breath away and brought tears to my eyes.  This community is absolutely amazing.  I thank each of you from the bottom of my heart.  I cannot wait to get my desk into my office, get my desktop set up and start scrapping with this.  It’s beautiful!!!!

Thank you!!!!

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When your kid acts out, do you take the blame for it?

Jordan has been having problems at school and they are getting serious.  I’d go into details but this is my blog, not his, and I don’t want to blog about exactly what he has been doing because he would be embarrassed. 

I’m just at a loss as to what to do for him.

I talked to his dad today and couldn’t decide if his behavior is my fault or not.  Is it because I’ve always been mama bear running to save them?  Is it because I’ve given him too much?  I always thought as long as I had him do chores, disciplined when needed, rewarded when needed, that my kids would grow up to be well adjusted kids.

I have to be doing something wrong.

I don’t know how to fix this for him.

His teacher is trying so hard.

His principal is trying too.

I’ve been back and forth with his doctor all year long.

I’m lost.

Do you guys blame yourselves when things start going wrong?

You figure it has to be something we did.

We come from the generation where therapists blame a lot of things on childhood.  That’s why we are all the way we are now, right?

So it must be something his parent is doing that’s causing this right?

I don’t know.

That’s why I haven’t been blogging as much.  I’ve been dealing with this for over a week now.  It’s all that is on my mind and there’s only so much I can say on my blog right now.

Plus, I’m still trying to unpack and get organized.

That needs to happen quickly.

Kat will be 7 on April 6.  The family will be here that day.

Plus she’s having a slumber party on the 9th.

Can’t have a mess here when they all come.

I am waiting for a call from his principal.

I think I’ll just sit and breathe and hold back the tears.

Have a great day.

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