It was late at night and I thought he was asleep. Out of the darkness he said, "Ash, I'll always love you." I took a deep breath and considered my amazing luck.

Then he added with a smile in his voice, "most likely."

Well at least it's not swine flu

The good news is that I'm still alive and that I don't have swine flu. I got pretty sick last week and I'm recovering ssssssssllllllllllllllooooooooooooooowwwwwwwlllllllllllllyyyyyyyyyy. Last Thursday night it got really bad and I laid in bed all night just trying to breathe. I was afraid if I fell asleep I would just stop breathing and die.

After being asked a million questions and feeling like I've been poked and prodded from head to toe I realized something neat. I am really grateful to be raised with good healthy standards!

1. Do you smoke? NO
2. How often do you consume alcohol? NOt ever
3. Do you worry that you consume alcohol too much or too often?
4. Do you drink alone? Seriously? NO
5. How many caffeinated drinks do you consume per day? NONE
6. How many sexual partners have you been with this year? This year? hm...gee can't keep track.
7. Do you ever have sex for money or drugs? Wow, NO
7. Do you do drugs? NO
8. Do you use prescription drugs for any use not intended by the prescriber? STILL NO
9. Do you share needles with others? Really really NO

Also, Is HIPAA just a Utah thing? I was amazed at the things that were discussed with doors wide open. One nurse shouted down the hall to the other the type of test she should do on me next.

Nothing like being sick to make you miss home. I miss my doctor, who has treated four generations of my family. I miss my pharmacy, where they are friendly and fast. I miss being able to run to my parents house to borrow a heating pad. I miss my mother in law, who insists we'd all be healthier if we'd just drink our Goji Juice.

Thank heavens for Dionne and Dallas. Thank you for checking on us. Thank you thank you for bringing us dinner. You'd think we hadn't eaten in a week, and maybe we hadn't.

This week's favorite words

"You can't pray a lie" -Huckleberry Finn

"Cheer up Missouri, you're bringing me down" -Big Plans

"The cure for everything is saltwater...sweat...tears...the sea..." -Karen Blixen

Special Moment

I was just updating Mason's blog about our reading adventures. I wanted to post this picture here, because it's one of my favorites of the two of us. Thanks Jason for capturing the moment.

Signature Required

I organized papers and threw away a lot of junk today. I was trying to thin down Mason's folder. It's packed full of every random print out any medical professional has handed me since before he was born. I weeded through duplicate immunization fact sheets, nutrition guides and book/toy/activity lists. I had a good laugh at the toy list I was given at the health department here in VA. Well intentioned but this is what they suggested for 2-3 year olds: Wagon, wheelbarrow, jungle gym, toy auto to ride in, small slide, balance board, three wheeled scooter, wading pool, etc. The list goes on. Um, I'm trying really hard to be a good parent but that's just not going to happen.

Going through these papers reminded me of one of my first and funniest mommy moments. It was the day Mason was born, but since he made his grand entrance at 1:10am we'd been up for a long long time. A nurse brought in a ton of paperwork for us to go through. All I wanted to do was sleep, but she continued to talk me through the stack. I was doing my best to comprehend everything, but the fatigue was overwhelming and everything hurt. Then I saw at the bottom of a page the words "Parent Signature". My exhausted mind just couldn't process the request. All I could think was "I just conquered the world, and yet they need my mom to sign this? You've GOT to be kidding me". Kidding they were. Finally someone explained that I was the "parent" that needed to sign. Oh boy. It's pretty much gone down hill from there....

Our "backyard" in the city

These pictures are from the little duck pond across the street. Mason says "bah bah" for quack quack.

Wrapped with love

Although Jason isn't a big holiday/celebration person, he still gets excited about giving presents. Neither of us are very patient so we started a tradition when we were first married of giving each other a present as soon as it is technically our birthday. Yesterday after we ate dinner at 1:30am (I know, crazy schedule) he couldn't wait a minute longer. He had me close my eyes and brought out this:

The gift was fantastic but the wrapping paper was my favorite part. He printed off a piece of paper for every year old I am. On each was something he loves about me. Some were sweet, some were funny.
Atta boy.

All things girly...

Also, yesterday a bunch of us had a Princess Ballerina Tea Party to celebrate all the birthdays this week, several of them belonging to girls under 7. Although all the girly stuff was a bit out of my usual repertoire, it was great fun playing with all the kids. Don't tell anyone but I think I'll keep this one:

Promised Land of Cheraw

We escaped the stresses of work for the weekend and drove down to Jason's mission area. We were there three years ago when living in Summerville while Jason was a service tech for APX. Here are some pictures, then (2006) and now, with our gracious host Brother Fred. Can you tell which are which? Mason gives it away but I think we all look younger in the latest pictures.

We were excited to go through North Carolina because the last time we'd been there was for our ruby hunting adventure and had driven through the most beautiful area with steep wooded hills and charming little towns tucked into the foliage. Well, that was a different part of North Carolina. We drove through the country side and witnessed how strange a land it is. Abandoned, paint stripped houses were being devoured by the out of control Kudzu. Dream homes were placed perfectly on their picturesque plantations. Old rust mingled with lofty white steeples.

We saw houses with porches and people on those porches. We stayed with Fred, who has a charming smile and a desperate crush on Sheri Dew. We attended the Cheraw branch, where small numbers make beautiful music. We joined in Mema's 65th birthday celebration. Mason met his first cat, horse, and fell in love with a southern belle named Savannah. We found the Wrights happily living the American Dream. For the rest of the story click HERE.

I have a stalker

It started out innocently enough. I had just moved to Virginia and didn't know anyone. She smiled from across the store. Then she complemented my baby and I was won over. As we left the store she had me jot down my email and cell number on a box of brownies. Interested in Mom's club? Sure.

The more I found out about Mom's club the more I knew it just wasn't my cup of tea. When she called I tried to sound friendly but vague. She told me about some other stuff she does. No thanks to the makeup party, I don't leave my kid with babysitters. Then I ran into her at the park. I smiled and left. Then she emailed. I didn't care to respond. THEN she showed up at the baby class I signed up for. At the end of class she makes a bunch of random announcements and then attacked me again. "Hi my name is ***stalker***. Have you heard about Mom's club?" Seriously? I hated to remind her that we'd already met, and then met again and then talked on the phone, but I did. And then she followed me around the library (sssshhhhh!) and kept talking about the most asinine things.

After finding an invitation she sent me on Facebook, I almost didn't go to class today. But it's for Mason so I went. After class she approached me and started talking ( I have no idea what she was talking about) so I just walked away. Rude? I don't really care at this point. And don't worry, she didn't seem to care either. As I was buckling Mason in she ran up with a huge plastic bag and handed me a card from it. Her card. I'm glad she only gave me one of the thousands she carries around.

Professional Kids at Heart
Playdates accepted and encouraged
Kids' full names and COMPLETE birthdays!
complete Address/Home phone/Her Cell/Her poor husbands cell /Website/website number 2

I almost hesitate to post this because she has found me everywhere else I go, but this could be good. Stalker lady: If you are reading this, please leave me alone. I am too passive to hit you but I'm tempted. Go away. People don't like to be invaded or told what to do or where to take their kids. Don't be stupid and put all your personal info on a card and give it to strangers! I get from your card that you are looking for friends and very available and perhaps desperate to be contacted.
I'm not any of those things.

photographic prediction

I promised myself I'd use this blog to help catch up on some personal history that I didn't journal. Everything since I started "Real Life" has been left undocumented. "Not really Real Life" was back when my greatest joy was TPing some friends house and my greatest worry was getting caught. I regret all the small details my porous brain has discarded. So here we go:

Picture this: It's our wedding day. It's snowing and freezing cold. I'm in sneakers and a short sleeved wedding dress. Jason is out of view of the photographer, making sure my dream-dress doesn't get too wet. We're trying to get a few pictures without snowflake-in-the-eye-wincing faces. And little do we know but we are mere minutes away from both falling in the snow.

This is my favorite wedding picture. Richard, Jason's dad, captured the essence of our marriage in a single behind the scenes snapshot. So true to life. Most of the time I am grinning like a dope, thinking of grand and romantic (yet unrealistic) notions. Even back then I saw the snow as a magical omen. Now let's look at Jason. His expression says it all. He's out in the cold snow and looking at his crazy woman bride thinking, Is she nuts? Steady, practical, sensible Jason gives me this look a lot. I'll never understand how I can be so crazy in love with someone who doesn't appreciate fireworks, candlelight, roller coasters, poetry, dressing up for Halloween, full moons, or driving in the rain. When we got back from a whirlwind trip to Ireland I asked him where he'd like to go next. "Fish Lake (UT)" was his reply. That's my boy! That's my wonderful companion who kindly will ask "Well, did you think that through?" or incredulously question "Are you serious? You really thought that would work?"

So opposites do attract! Don't get me wrong, I'd be lost without Jason keeping my feet on the ground. We balance each other out well. I don't know who is right or wrong but I do know that we laugh our guts out in the end.

Best Beach

After fighting crowds and paying for parking, I was excited to hear from my friend Dionne about East Beach. It's a quiet spot near a new development sprouting new beautiful beach houses. We took a trip there with the other APX wives and children. It's secluded and pristine. We're actually in the bay so the water is calm and warm. The kids loved it! They jumped over the 3 inch waves and played in the sand. The contrast from Virginia Beach's Oceanfront is what really has me sold.

Click here for the highlights of the outing: http://picasaweb.google.com/asherstarr/BestOfEastBeachJuly1?authkey=Gv1sRgCMvmg6S33uvj1QE&feat=directlink

It's apparent you're a parent...

• When you create a blog for yourself and realize the only note worthy events are all about your kid.
• You worry about what your child wears to church more than what you are going to throw on last minute even if it's covered in crackers.
• Everything is covered in crackers.
• You introduce yourself as "Mason's mom" instead of your name.
• You find yourself rocking back and forth- even when your arms are empty.
• You can recite all the words to all his books, but you'd read them a million times more just to see that smile.
• A day can be filled with tears, stained carpet, messy diapers, and tantrums and still be the perfect day.

To Market, to market...

Today Mason, some friends, and I went to the local farmer's market. What is it about markets that is so appealing? On the way home we spotted a flea market and I was sorely tempted to turn in, but by then the kids were worn out and overheated from also playing at the park. We picked up some zucchini, squash, avocados, plums, and the greatest raspberry/rhubarb/lime jam. Click here to see Mason in the candy store. I wish we had markets back home. I also wish that I didn't waste the avocados by adding too much salt to the guacamole. I guess I'll have to go back and get more!

Here we go...

After several years of mocking bloggers, I caved in and created a blog to update family members about my son, the Amazing Mason, while we lived out of state. After having our computer stolen, I realized that without having that silly blog I would have lost almost all of his baby pictures. After floundering with journal writing, I realized this is probably the best format to get life recorded. So, here we go! I'll try to recreate some of the fading memories of life before diapers, capture the little miracles that happen everyday, and ponder what life has in store for us next.