Carter home and update photos

ready for Christmas

Year One

We made it! One year ago we moved to San Antonio,  not knowing a soul and dragging two devastated teenagers. We were refugees from the broken economy in Michigan looking to rebuild our very broken life. A new job, new climate and a totally foreign culture greeted us as we rolled over the Texas state line. Leaving the midwest and the community we had loved for the past twelve years not to mention a home we loved has been extremely difficult. We left behind MaryKate at Michigan State University and Molly at Cornerstone University. So when I say broken, I mean broken. Leaving half my children 1500 miles away has been THE most horrible part of the relocation.

Today, I am not terrified of the roadways, we have friends and a church family. The kids have semi forgiven us for moving them. I have learned to substitute Texas brands for Michigan standby’s. We eat more tortillas than bread, but I still WON’T eat refried beans. I am convinced that refried beans were used to build the Alamo and that’s why it still stands today. Last names like Smith, Jones and Johnson have been replaced with Lopez, Morales and Garcia. There is no need to check the forecast because its warm and sunny or hot and sunny or really hot and sunny and even sometimes, Do not go outside because you are going to melt and sunny.

We managed to live through the hottest summer in over a decade. The temps were over 100 degrees for 72 consecutive days. I can only describe it as living on the surface of the sun. The state of Texas  dealt with fires and record drought. All part of God’s welcome to Texas package. How in the world people settled here prior to air conditioning is beyond my cold Yankee hearts imagination.

This fall has brought us into the crazy culture of Texas High School Football. Not a person on this planet could have prepared me for my first game. The level of play exceeded some college games I have watched. The marching band and dance teams travel to away games and perform during every half time. I LOVE it!!!! Our friends Gus and Kem have attended every game and are family to us now. Michaela has her own cheering section in the stands. We all derive great pleasure in screaming her name as she storms the field much to her horror.

I miss the change of season and fall colors. I miss wearing sweatshirts to the football games and crisp cold nights. I can’t remember what a sweater or real coat looks like. Flip Flops are my year round shoe choice. I miss water, the lakes were so much a part of our lives in Michigan. tailgate and bond fires are not a part of this new life in South Texas. Believe it or not I miss the way people drive in the Detroit Suburbs, just try to merge sucker and commuter blank faces are a void in my life.

We had some serious emotional lows and highs over the last several months. My new  mantra… Humbled! I am HUMBLED by the will and grace God has shown us this past year. I wake up some mornings and just can’t believe my life. I am grateful!

Drivers beware!!!

Molly turned and said, so that’s what you mean about the other people on the road. I smiled and said “Yup!”

Jack is flying to Michigan next month, unfortunately his passport expired last year, so we wanted to get him a Texas ID card. We all headed to the Texas version of the Secretary of State, I believe it’s called the DMV.( department of motor vehicles) I had Jacks birth certificate and social security card in hand, what more could I have for him right?

Molly, Michaela, Jack and I walked in to the DMV building in Universal City. There was at least 100 people waiting inside. Every chair was filled with someone waiting. There was a long line snaking around the front of the office. It appeared we had to wait in line to get a number to… wait in line. YIKES!!!! Molly looked and me and asked if we were really going to wait. I said “yes”. We stood in the line for 45 min, finally reaching the information desk we were greeted by a man who asked, “What are you here for today ma’am?”

I HATE being called ma’am and everyone says it here. It’s meant as a term of respect but it makes me feel old. Why not miss instead?????

I showed him the documents and forms that I had filled out. “I am here to get my minor aged son an ID card” The gentleman looked over all my paperwork. I’m feeling like we are so prepared this will be easy. But NO!!!!!!   The very large man asked, “Where is your third form of identification?”

“third form?!?!”  Jack is a minor, what else could I possibly have? Do you have a report card or school enrollment form? My heart sank, I have to go home and get Jack’s report card then come back and stand in this God forsaken line… again… The very large man simple replied with “yes”.

We drove home and I ran in to grab the report card. I promised the children some form of fast food as a treat if they stick with me through the process. I decided to drive 10 miles north of Schertz and go to the New Braunfels DMV. I had hoped it would be less crowded. The New Braunfels office is much smaller than Universal City. We parked and walked in but there was another line. This line was not as long but moved slower. The office had three women processing people trying to take care Drivers license renewal, ID cards, Car tags, driving permits and driving tests. The line moved very slow, at one point we moved about 36 inches in one hour. The children were about ready to mutiny  when a show began to unfold at the counter. We stood silent and watched.

There stood an elderly man over six feet tall and rail thin,  wearing cowboy boots, jeans and red button up shirt. This gentleman had glasses on and appeared to be a bit fragile( we will call him Tex). Tex was apparently hard of hearing and shouted when he spoke. ( really loud so everyone could hear) The women behind the counter was calm and kind. We could tell she had dealt with his kind before. She spoke to him clearly, with respect and very loudly. Tex was there to renew his driver license. She asked him to look into the device on the counter and read line 5 from left to right.

Tex had a white-knuckled death grip on the eye test  machine and after an awkward pause he asked,”Which line again?” The woman repeated , “Read line 5 from left to right” She encouraged him to take his time. Tex looked up and asked which one was line 5. She explained, “It’s underneath lines 1-4″ Tex shouted out random numbers and letters. She would ask him to try again… and again… and again. “How about you just start at the top and work your way down”, her next suggestion. Tex, still death gripping the machine shouting out ” the last three are 9……. S…… and a big Q in the middle” The woman again told Tex take your time and make sure you are looking through the top of your glasses. “I am testing you for distance vision sir” she told him as he tried to adjust his line of sight into the machine.

There was not a person in that room that did not understand what was happening. The man behind us made a comment about how getting old just sucks. I agreed with him. We all were blown away with the patience the woman testing him displayed. I would have lost my cool after the 3rd or 4th attempt. Tex at one point said he had a different pair of glasses in his truck. He asked if he could go get them and she told him that sounded like a good idea. Tex could barely walk, he used the counter and walls to guide him hand over hand out the door. We all knew it would take him a while and the worker processed  the next person in line while he was getting his glasses.

Tex returned in the same manner he left, holding on the counters, door handles and walls for support. Hand over hand he made his way back to the counter in front of the worker. We all just stood there amazed Tex had not given up on the process. He had a pair of glasses on his head as well as on his face. Having switched to the “other” pair of glasses he could not see through he leaned over to grip the vision tester. Taking a deep breath the  woman once again asked him read line 5 from left to right. At this point I think we all were thinking the same thing, just fail him already. Tex tried several more times, shouting out random numbers and letters. The worker had told him there were no numbers only letters but he kept trying. ” M……. F……..& there is a 7 at the end” Tex said in desperation. Finally the woman told him,” I’m sorry sir you will not be getting your license renewed today. You can’t seem to pass your vision test.” The man stood shocked in amazement.

Tex asked, “What happens next?” She explained he would need to go get his eye doctor to fix his glasses so he could pass the test and sign some forms. Tex asked if she had the name of an eye doctor in town. The woman turned to the line of people and asked if anyone could recommend an doctor. Several people dug into their purses and got cards or wrote down numbers on paper for him. Then the most unbelievable part of the day.

Tex left gripping hand over hand on the counter and walls… and drove home! I was in shock, they failed him on his vision and then let him drive home. Why in the world would they do that? Why not have the police drive him home and call family or have a fellow officer drive his car for him. Molly looked at me and said, “now I understand what you mean, You worry about the other people on the road not me”. It was one of those bittersweet teachable moments.

Eventually we got Jack his Texas ID card. It was a long day.

Last Day of School

This morning I packed lunches and got the kids off in the normal routine. Ahhh, I will miss my mornings, sooo peaceful…

Jack is a monster in the morning. Round one:  after I have shouted, shaken, screamed and removed covers, Jack moves from his bed to the couch. “OH MY GOSH! I’m Up” he says.(so much for rise and call your mother blessed.) Then after he falls back to sleep on the couch I bring a bowl of fruit loops over to the coffee table.  Round two: more shaking, screaming and pulling covers off his sleeping body. One eye now open, I  hear growling from the sweet little man cub. Jack eats and promptly falls back to sleep on the couch holding his spoon. Round three: screaming, shaking and this time taking the blanket away, send him into his room to change. If I’m lucky, I catch him on the way back to the couch and get him to re-route to bathroom for tooth brushing. ( This means that he might use toothpaste, he might not. He might put the brush in his mouth or just might even run the brush under water and put it back in the cup.) All this effort is to make me think he brushed his teeth, when in fact you know it … I know it… no clean teeth. I’ll enjoy paying to have them all filled later!

7:55: Moving at the high-speed of a glacier, Jack puts his shoes on and gathers his backpack, ID, and lunch. (what I mean to say is, I gather his backpack , ID and lunch while he puts his shoes on.) We stumble out the door and drive the one block to school. ( I know… he should walk, it’s so close. But I want him to GET to school. Driving him is my insurance policy he got there.) We pull in front of the school and he opens the door to get out. Before he steps out I tell him, “Have a good day buddy, I love you.” Jack turns to look me in the eye and growl, ” I HATE IT HERE!”. He slams the door and heads toward the school door. Such a nice way to start the day.

Michaela by contrast gets herself up, showered and ready for the day without a peep. I prepare her lunch and remind her to eat some breakfast and drive her to school. Good as gold… in the morning. School nights are a whole different story; her inner monster (not the Lady GaGa fan kind) comes out around 9pm.

Michaela has always been good about going to bed when tired. She gets pretty grumpy when the sun goes down. The nightly  routine: wash face ( and I mean a strict skin care regimen,) brush teeth and pj’s. Once she has started the process,  NOBODY better try to use the bathroom or get in the way.  Complete and dressed for bed, she removes the 500 throw pillows from her bed and stacks them neatly on the bedroom floor that is covered in dirty clothes. Michaela makes sure hallway and bathroom lights are turned off before crawling into her bed. iTouch in hand, she retreats to her bedroom much like a bear in its cave for a long winter nap. Therefore, YE BE WARNED!!!!!! Michaela is not to be disturbed. Nobody better accidentally turn on the hall light, make too much noise or need to turn on the bathroom light. (Because the light might creep under the door, shinning light into her bat cave dark room.) MaryKate and Molly have had to adjust to their evening behavior. Both girls have “poked” the sleeping bear one or more times and understand the “rules.” Really it’s that they fear her wrath, she growls much like her brother.

School is out and the bedtime and morning routines will fade away. I feel confidant Jack will never be a morning person, and Michaela will never be a night person. We are going to have fun exploring San Antonio all summer long.

Let’s not forget that Texas highschool football is just around the corner. I’m told we are in for a shock (very intense,) and Michaela will be part of that whole hot mess. She starts July 15th, crazy!!!!

I hope to post photos and blog as we hit all the various places. MaryKate just sent me a text about the Mission San Jose ( founded in 1720), she said it’s a must see. I can’t wait to tell Jack, I think it will go something like this.

Me    “Let’s go to a Mission that was built in 1720.”

Jack      ” Why?”  ( he is a man of few words)

Me    ” Because it’s historic and interesting.”

Jack     ” What is a mission anyway?”

me    ” An old Mexican Catholic church”

Jack     ” You want me to go to an old catholic church for Mexican’s? MOM! We aren’t even Mexican or Catholic!

Yeah, that’s how that  is going to play out I’m pretty sure. So I will have to bribe with ice cream or an XBox game.

I’m sure it will be entertaining. Bring on summer!

Guilty Pleasures

These two words are good all by themselves but put them together and it’s amazing.

A guilty pleasure can be as simple as candy or complex like a trip to the spa. For some moms, it is so difficult to allow yourself a guilty pleasure. The guilt is manageable when there is no cost involved. Don’t get me wrong, I love taking off for a weekend with my friends and laying in the sun all day, (with boat drinks… duhh) I would never turn down a spa day either, but the guilt can be heavy. This economy has me always looking to the extremely cheap or free option.

Tonight, The Bachelorette starts and MaryKate has declared this show will be our “guilty pleasure”. I think because it’s a crazy unrealistic show that almost always ends in disaster. The show is a full on train wreck but you can’t look away. Ashley, the bachelorette will be showered in beautiful clothes and over the top experiences all over the globe. Who would not fall in love  when 25 guys are fighting for your attention. My bet,  in the end there will be no hubby, there might be a proposal but no wedding. How anyone could think they really get to know the real person under such non reality is nuts. The travel all over the world and interesting situations make for great TV and I know we will have fun laughing about it. Even if the bachelorette does not end up with a husband in the end, she will have a great wardrobe and a passport full of stamps.

The best part is sitting around with all my girls and just be together. My husband can’t stand reality shows, Jack is not a big fan either. So who knows what the two of them will do. They may go watch History Channel in the bedroom or clean guns. Something manly and anything to avoid watching the Bachelorette with us.

“My clothes are here”

Last week my daughter MaryKate came home for the summer. She is here for 3 months, doing an internship with the Institute of Texan Cultures. Kate arrived with one checked bag and a carry on. Anyone who knows the Carter girls understands this would NEVER be enough clothing to get through three months. In fact,  one checked bag would amount to just the essential shoes. Needless to say, the majority of her things had to be shipped via UPS. I mean seriously how else would she make it?!

Yesterday, we went to the pool after Jack and Kayla got home from school. We have a pool in our subdivision. The weather was hot and the cool dip did just the trick to relax us after a busy day. It was a lovely way to spend the late afternoon. The pool is just a couple of streets over from our house. We never bothered to change out of our swimsuits, we just wore them home. I changed when we got home and started dinner. I thought everyone had changed…. as in I assumed that everyone had changed… as in, I thought people would put “clothes” on when we got home. Yeah, not so much.

I’m sure you can tell from photos that the Carter daughters are beautiful and fit. So… it’s not crazy for the Carter sisters to wear skimpy, yet tasteful bikinis. So… when I tell you that my daughter (Kate) had not changed, I’m saying that she was running around the house in a bikini.

Here is the scene as it played out:

Jack has changed,left his wet swimsuit and towel on the floor in the bathroom and is playing XBox in his room in nothing but his boxers.

Michaela has changed into sweat pants and  t-shirt. She is in the livingroom undoubtably texting on her phone

Molly also in sweats and  t-shirt is typing on her lap top laying on my bed watching tv.

Please note they have all changed into clothes!!!!!! Seems like a good idea!!!! right!!!!!

I am in the kitchen working on dinner.

Edward is at work, keeping us in the lifestyle we have grown to know and love. (aka, he has no idea whats going on at home)

MaryKate, my beloved, well-educated, most adult child is in her room. I assumed changing, into clothes, that cover more skin.

Back to the scene

I hear from the front room ” OH! My clothes are here” , I peak around the doorway. To my surprise the UPS man is delivering three 40-50 lb boxes. They were huge! There stood MaryKate talking to the UPS guy and she was wearing nothing but her bikini. I never even heard to door bell ring.

MaryKate, having noticed the brown truck in front of the house, opened the door.

MaryKate ” Oh! My clothes are here”

UPS Guy, (we will call him Jim)

Jim the UPS guy, ( looking shocked to be greeted by a girl in a bikini) .

MaryKate “I just moved here and I have been waiting for all my clothes to arrive”

Jim, the UPS guy ” Well thank you for keeping us in business. You know these are heavy…”

MaryKate “Yes I know. I am just so excited to have all my clothes.”

Jim, UPS guy brings boxes into the house and says, “Yeah, now you’ll have something to wear.”

UPS guy returns to truck having been greeted by pretty girl in swimsuit

While we have always had prompt and courteous service from UPS, now I anticipate even better service.

MaryKate has moved out of her boxes and into the closet. We only had to buy 100 shirt hangers and 50 pant hangers. Monday she will start her internship. She will LOOK AMAZING!

Disney blogging

There are thousands of official and un official blogs about the Walt Disney empire. I (try) follow most of them. I have come to really enjoy my daily dose of Disney magic. Currently I’m tracking the progress of Walt Disney Worlds new Fantasyland , California Adventure expansion and the new interactive que lines for the Haunted Mansion.

Last month I stumbled onto a blog that appears to be internal for the imagineering department. I was able to see most of the que line for the Haunted Mansion 15 min before Disney officially broke video to the public. The thrill for me is like getting an item for free with vendor and store coupons. I’m hooked!!!!

One of my virtual friends got me on a site that appears to be the dumping ground for items like furniture , lamps and art from the Walt Disney World resort hotels. I was able to get a bedspread from our favorite deluxe resort, Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. 

Nothing can replace a non virtual trip to the magical resorts in Disneyland and Walt Disney World but I enjoy some daily pixie dust in my life.

check out :

wdwmagic.com

disneydispatch.com

wdwtoday pod cast

disneyworldforum.disney.go.com

just to name a few, Have a magical day!

Storm Photos

Tornados and storms

Mid morning Thursday, May 12th the sky turned scary black. The winds were crazy strong, and MaryKate and I were glued to the window, watching the angry sky churn and swirl.

The local news station tracked a storm across the better part of South Texas.  MaryKate said, “Mom let’s go out on the deck.”   Standing outside of the house with full view of the open sky, we were mesmerized by the clouds. Suddenly it occurred to me, where in the heck do we go hide in this house!?  Having lived in our home back in Michigan for 12 years, I knew what to do and where to hide during tornadoes. I snapped photos of the sky and then ran into the house and sent Edward a text, “Where do we hide in this house for a tornado?” He sent a text back, “our bathroom.” We have this very strange shaped toilet area  in the master bathroom.  It’s narrow with no out facing walls. Molly was asleep in her bed, so I ran in and woke her up. I just wanted to be able to move to the bathroom quickly if needed.

No tornado touched down, but we got one heck of a storm. The rain was so welcome as Texas has been  dry for months. When Jack and Michaela came home we all talked about the storm. The kids had been moved to safe classrooms during the day. It was exciting. I am grateful that we are all fine, and my heart goes out to all the families who have suffered this spring. Floods, tornados and fire have destroyed families’ homes all over our country. The power of the thunder shook our home during the storm. Praise God for keeping us safe.

Jack Carter’s weekend of Pro Skaters