Is There Life Out There...

There's a place in the sun That she's never been

Where life is fair and time is a friend

Would she do it the same as she did back then

She looks out the window and wonders again...

Is there life out there

So much she hasn't done

Is there life beyond 

Her family and her home

She's done what she should

Should she do what she dares

She doesn't want to leave

She's just wonderin

If there life out there...

~Reba ~

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZNvjmXM7eg&feature=related

I cannot remember at what age or time in my life when the idea came to me that all I wanted to do was to be a stay at home mom. It has just been part of who I am. I felt that being a stay at home mom was the most important job I could do. I felt my girls were and still are the most valuable treasure I have on this earth. I wanted to be there to work at the school, be the volunteer mom for parties, drive the kids after school and do all the things that I never had in my life. As the girls got older traditional school was not the way to go. We then decided the best thing for our family was to home school the girls. I think home learning gave me a much stronger bond with the girls than we could have had. Being with each other day in and day out is tough, but rewarding. Then I was a stay at home, home schooling mom.

Heather was struggling with what do with her life when she got cancer. The treatments gave her time off from life to think about what she really wanted to do. She wanted so much to be a nurse after treatments were finished. Specifically she wanted to be a chemo nurse, but she knew she would never be able to stick people. She wanted to give back to all the special medical people who had saved her life. Heather decided to go into Medical Coding and Billing. She was thrilled and so proud to be headed in a good direction. Her goal was to graduate with honors. Always my high goaled gal. I believe that with as hard as she worked during her first 2 weeks of school, that she would have graduated top of her class.

A million things happen when you lose a child. Everything changes. The lights, desires and goals all shift from day to day it seems sometimes. Due to life being what it is nothing in the future is certain. It had sort of been the plan for me to go to college after the kids were grown and start a career. I have had many different ideas over the years as to what I would like to do. When Heather began coding and billing I thought about doing it with her. They had told us that a mother/daughter team would do very well. I looked forward to beginning this career with Heather. 

Of course this dream or goal was not to happen. I was not really looking to go back to school for a degree, but have been thinking about it recently. My thought is that life is short. I don't know that Bill or I are going to be here next year. While it would be terrible if I died, Bill would be able to make money and survive. If something happened to Bill, I would be pushed into the workforce with no experience and no degree to fall back on. Not that I dwell on this, but it is a fact that could become true. The other issue is what if something happens to Bill either mentally or physically and he can no longer work. How would we survive?

In 2007, when I lost weight for the 1st time, I thought about becoming a personal trainer. This was not to become reality as Heather had cancer and my training days were over for nearly 3 years. My goal in January was to become healthy this year. Eat right, exercise and lose weight. I have made amazing strides in this goal. I have currently lost 23 pounds and am 13 pounds from goal weight. I have begun a lifestyle change in eating and exercise that will be with me for the rest of my life. Will this save me from dying? NO!! But it does help me a bit as to how I live the life I have left.

When Heather was going through treatments she would try to exercise and eat right. This is not an easy thing to do since you feel so terrible. Chemo is not easy and it makes you feel horrible, but the in hospital high dose chemo is unbearable. On the very few days that she felt good we would take a walk around the block or a walk into Target. At the end of treatments even walking into Target from the parking lot was a huge amount of energy that Heather didn't have. When Heather finished treatments she wanted to get back to exercising. She wanted her strength back. I think this is true of all chemo patients when they are finished.

It is because of watching Heather struggle with all this, that I have decided to pursue a Bachelors degree in Health and Wellness from ASU. I want to work with cancer patients during and after their treatments to help with nutrition and fitness. My goal is to hopefully become part of MD Anderson's Cancer Center. I think that nutrition and fitness is as much a part of the treatment and recovery as the actual chemo drugs themselves. The following is a little description of what this degree is about:

The B.S. in exercise and wellness with a concentration in exercise and wellness provides student with the knowledge, skills and professional expertise to assist individuals across the lifespan in adopting physical activity and other healthy behaviors that lead to increased fitness, wellness and optimal health.

The exercise and wellness concentration prepares students in:

• Fitness and wellness behaviors to varied populations.
• The knowledge, skills, and ethics for instructing, assessing, prescribing, and promoting.
• Methods for promoting health behavior change.
• The sciences of cardiovascular and muscular fitness, nutrition, and stress management.

Example Careers: Undergraduates in this concentration often pursue careers in such fields as:

• Active adult planned community fitness and health promotion.
• Cardiac rehabilitation.
• Special health needs
• Country club fitness.
• Hospital based fitness centers.
• Personal trainers.
• Spa fitness.
• Sports medicine clinics.
• Strength and conditioning coach.
• Wellness centers.
• Worksite fitness and health promotion.

Graduates may pursue further graduate study in such fields as:

• Exercise science.
• Medical school.
• Physician assistant.
• Physical therapy.

I became nervous as I actually registered for Mesa Community College (MCC). They require you take placement tests for reading, English and math. I feel like I am a smart person, but when it comes to taking a test the fear of failure is there no matter the age. Plus I have been out of school for a long time. I was thrilled beyond words when I tested into honor English and out of reading. Meaning I do not have to take a reading class. I was quite proud of myself. I am reviewing math this weekend and will take the placement test on Monday for the math portion. I hope to test into the 142 math so I only have to take one math class and be finished with the required math. I begin school full time on August 22, 2011.

I will be registering in the Spring for the MAPP program (Maricopa-ASU Pathway Program). I get guaranteed admission to ASU degree program when all MAPP requirements are met. I will be eligible for the ASU Tuition Commitment which provides limits on tuition increases during enrollment in the program. I will receive an Associates degree from MCC and then a Bachelors degree from ASU. All my credits from MCC will transfer with me. I have a total of 5 years to complete this program. It is for students who want to continue on the the major universities to continue their education. But my degree is on the list so I will take it.

 I know that Heather is looking down from heaven saying  "Way to go Momy. I am so proud of you!"

Heather's Hutch...

There was a little girl named Jessica who had bone cancer.

When asked if she was afraid to die, she said,

"No, not for me. 

But I worry about my mom and dad.

But I believe that a thousand years

On earth is one day in heaven.

So by the time I'm sitting down for my 1st lunch,

My mom and dad will be there."

~Melissa Gilbert~

Melissa Gilbert began working pediatric cancer patients after she served as the SAG president. She was in shock and awe at the bravery of these very young warriors who had to face so much in their young lives.

As a grieving mother I have to find things that I feel bring Heather close to my heart. Not that I ever forget her, but something visible for me to look at. Heather knew my love of Thomas Kinkade's paintings. I have several paper prints in the house. As he began to come out with the Disney paintings, Heather commented to me that she would buy me a real painting with her first paycheck. She reminded me of this when she began her classes at PIMA Medical. As we walked by the Gallery she put her arm in mine and said "One day soon Momy, we will walk in and pick out your painting." In my recent dealings with the Thomas Kinkade Gallery I saw a very small paper painting entitled Heather's Hutch. I was instantly moved to the painting. I came home and began doing research about it.

Heather's Hutch-the sign on the light pole has the name

+++++ And this is what Thomas Kinkade said about this work +++++

"I have just the prescription for anyone who's feeling cynical or flippant or world-weary: daughters!

The playful high-spirits and sense of wonder that my little girls, Merritt and Chandler, bring to my world inspire and invigorate me. What imaginations they have; they'll notice one tiny detail in a painting and weave a whole story from it.

I've paid tribute to the everything nice world of little girls before, but my new Sugar and Spice Cottages is the first series solely devoted to dollhouse cottages that my little girls would love to live in. Heather's Hutch, which leads off the series, is no dollhouse; it's inspired by a real stone cottage I discovered in the English Cotswolds. But the thatched roof and pink and white dogwoods make it especially attractive to young ladies and I just know there's a little play garden behind the gate.

The hen with her chicks and pigeons are for my little Chandler, who gets so excited whenever she sees birds. And the rich plum color on the doors above the windows is for another favorite "girl" of mine - my lovely wife, Nanette."

~~Thomas Kinkade

This painting was introduced in 1993 only in a 12 X 16 edition. Meaning all prints other than the Master original is a 12 X 16. This painting has been sold out for 14 years. Most of the editions of this are sold by personal art collectors. I happened to find a Gallery in Thomas Kinkade's home town in California that said on the website that they had one of these paintings. I called immediate to see if they still had the painting. They had 8 Gallery Proofs of this painting available. There were only 300 G/P-Gallery Proofs-made. He told me they still had the price at issue price and he would take $100 off of it, there is no sales tax and shipping is only $10. He also told me there was a Master Highlighting event on Saturday and they would highlight it and ship next week. I bought it on the spot. He is looking to see if he had one signed on the back for me as well.

This is the frame I have chosen..it has flowers in each corner

Gallery Proofs (G/P)~This edition is restricted for distribution through the Thomas Kinkade Galleries and Signature Dealers, and is issued in qualities significantly smaller than S/N (Standard Number). They can be distinguished from the S/N edition by the unique gold foil remarque stamped onto the imagine and the designation of G/P on the numbering process.

I also purchased the lighted cottage statue of Heather's Hutch as well. to me this is just like the TY Heather bunny. I never paid any attention to this painting in 1993 or the years leading up to this. I know it was not the time before. For some reason now is the time. My loving and supportive husband is telling me I have very little wall space for all these paintings. Heather's Hutch will be going over my bed...it will be replacing a different paper print from a different artist. I knew exactly where I was going to place this one.

lighted cottage

Thomas Kinkade was on NBS shop channel today. He was showcasing the 50th Sleeping Beauty Castle canvas wrap. During his interview he said that the original painting still hangs in his home. It is one of the most personal to his family pieces of artwork he has done. I am still thrilled that I have my 50th Sleeping Beauty Castle painting. I am still waiting for the Tangled and now Heather's Hutch. I am turning into an art gallery. Come by anytime to see all my new lovelies....

The Love of 2 Daddys...

The Daddy longing to have a daughter:

On December 20, 1965, Jim Blake received a phone call stating the adoption agency had found a baby girl for them to adopt. Jim and his wife flew to Denver to look at the baby girl they had available. They were told to go into the room where the baby girl was and play with her. Take as much time as they wanted to get used to the baby girl. Jim took one look, walked back out and said "Yes, we want her!" So with that statement, Jim Blake became a Daddy to a 3 month old baby girl.

My Daddy, Jim, just enlisted in the Navy

My Daddy, Jim, was the best Daddy ever. We bonded immediately and had a very very close relationship. He was my best friend growing up. This is not to say that there were not arguments. Daddy, Jim was adopted as well. So he knew some of how I felt and he never made me feel like I was adopted. I belonged to him and he belonged to me.

Sherry and Daddy-10th birthday-1975

From the time I was about 15 till I got married, I rode every Saturday and Sunday with my Daddy on his work route. He worked for Pony Express and had to drop paperwork off at banks, department stores and then make a final run to the airport. I would have him drop me at the mall and then he would pick me back up and we would spend the rest of the afternoon together. This is a special time I cherish. This was real Daddy/daughter time for us.

Beautiful thing my Daddy wrote to me

I felt terrible leaving him when I got married. He was having trouble with Norma, his wife, and I was his whole world. He told me everything and he was planning on divorcing Norma and living his life. He had married 2 women who controlled him to the ends of the world. Both women were jealous of the relationship that he had with me. A year after I left, things were repaired and life seemed good for a change.

Wedding Day-1983

My Daddy, Jim, was never more happy than when Jennifer came along and I made him a Grampaw...He loved that little girl with all his heart. He was even more thrilled when Heather joined our family.  Daddy was excited when I was pregnant with our 3rd baby as he held out a small hope for possibly a grandson. We had come home for Christmas 1989. Norma was making me some maternity clothes and Jenn and Heather were playing with Grampaw. He had oxygen on and was having a hard time breathing. But he would not have missed playing with the girls for nothing. We left on December 29 to come back home. We would return to Farmington on January 15 to hopefully make it in time for me to say goodbye to my Daddy. But I didn't make it in time. Looking back, at the time I was 7 months pregnant with Wendy and would not  have been able to handle the ICU and watching my Daddy die.

Grampaw with Jenny-1988

Grampaw with Jenny-Christmas 1988

Years later as I would talk about Grampaw, Heather asked me if this was the man that had lifted her to the bells and had played boogie boogie with her. This took me back as Heather had just turned 2. There was no way she could remember him. As Heather told me what she remembered the tears filled my eyes. She DID remember and this was so precious to me that she was given this memory of a Grampaw that loved her so much. Booige Booige was a game they made up..as the girls would sneak up to him and he would tickle them and say boogie boogie..something she had to remember as we didn't talk about boogie boogie specifically.

Last photo-1989

The Daddy longing to save a daughter:

On April 10, 2008, Bill Coombe received a phone call from me telling him about his daughter, Heather. The only words I could utter after I heard his voice was "Its bad, get home." Bill left immediately and raced to try to find the doctor's office. He didn't even know where the doctor's office was. The panic he felt inside was tearing him apart as he drove. We passed each other as I was heading home and Bill followed me home. As we got home at the same time we stayed in the driveway and hugged each other and sobbed..."Why did God want our daughter?" So with that phone call, Bill Coombe became a Daddy to a 20 year old daughter who was fighting for her life.

Bill with Jenny-1986

Bill with Heather-1988

Bill holding Wendy with Heather and Jenny-1990

On March 13, 1986, Bill became a Daddy for the 1st time. Bill would change diapers and make and feed bottles. Our lives revolved around our little Jennifer. Then on December 10, 1987, Bill became a Daddy for the 2nd time. We had a bet as to the sex of the baby. I bet it was a girl and he said a boy. Not that it mattered, but I won. I got a new dual cassette am/fm player...and he still got the new fishing reel. Our new baby girl, Heather, was such a joy to add to our family. What slight glimmer we had of adding a boy to our family was crushed when on April 9, 1990, Bill became a Daddy to his 3rd daughter, Wendy. The closing edition to our family.

Jenny on play phone-Bill on real phone with his Mom

Jenny, Lanny tigger and Bill-Bronco Babies

  Bill loved all his little girls and enjoyed playing and doing things with them. They all were avid Denver Bronco fans as we lived in Colorado at the time. One of Bill's greatest memories he has is walking his girls to school in the morning before work. This began in Minnesota with Jenn and continued here at Falcon Hill. He loved spending any time he could with his girls.

Wendy and Bill on the Apple computer

 As most Daddys do, Bill has provided a good life for us and allowed me to stay at home. Bill grew up with his mother being at home. The kind to clean and fix meals, kiss scrapes and make chocolate chip cookies. This was important to both of us that I be able to stay at home with the girls. He worked during the day but could not wait to get off and come home to his girls. He would nap with them, play with them and even built them a huge sandbox first thing in the new house. So we may not have had the boat and summer vacation home...but our girls grew up with a Daddy and a Mommy who loved each other and tried to make the best life possible.

Heather, Wendy, Bill and Jenny-1992

As the girls got older it was more of Bill working to pay the bills for dance and piano lessons. Bill was there for every dance, orchestra and piano recital the girls had. It was important to him and to them. As the girls got into the harder math it was Bill who would patiently sit and try to teach them algebraical equations or rise over run and slope. Bill realized that his job had then turned into the guy who pays all the bills for the girls.

Our 1st trip to Disneyland-1996

This was hit home when Heather got sick. Bill had just begun a new stressful job. As if cancer or a new job was not enough, we had both. Bill faithfully went to work and tried to focus on his job each day. This was very difficult for him as he wanted to be with Heather and me at the hospital. He wanted to hear the reports from the doctors. Many days he came to see us for lunch. Every night that Heather was in the hospital we had dinner as a family. It might have been in Heather's room with her eating, or in the cafeteria so she could sleep. During this time Bill took over all the household duties. He cleaned, mopped, vacuumed and did the laundry. he took care of all the pets and Jenn as well. He also was just a phone call away for me as he proved one late night when he had to bring stuffed animals to Heather. It was once stated that he was just insurance guy, he was so much more than that. He was our rock and strength during the cancer treatments.

Bill and Heather-2006

Beautiful...

As things got rough with the last time Heather was in the hospital, Bill began to understand his deep love of his daughters. It is a love like no other. You hurt for what your child is going thru and would give your very life to save them. I know that Bill would give anything for all of this to have happened to him and not to Heather. He prayed by her bedside and watched day in and day out helpless to do anything as she slipped further away.

These 3 men have been with me and supported me throughout my whole life-each one at different stages. To all 3 of them I say

I love you very much and Happy Father's Day...

Pretty Woman...

Welcome to Hollywood!

What's your dream?

Everybody comes here;

This is Hollywood,

Land of dreams.

Some dreams come true, some don't;

But keep on dreamin'-

This is Hollywood.

Always time to dream,

So keep on dreamin'...

~Pretty Woman~

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTtVVHg41kU&feature=related

Rodeo Drive of Beverly Hills, California is a shopping district known for designer label and haute couture fashion. The name generally refers to a three-block long stretch of boutiques and shops but the street stretches further north and south.

 The deluxe Disneyland season passes we have limits the days that we can go into the park. All major holidays and most all Saturdays are off limits to the parks. Makes good sense as these are the most crowded. During our recent trip to California I wanted to go to Rodeo Drive and Hard Rock Cafe Hollywood. SO, Saturday after beignets at The Jazz Kitchen it was time to head toward Hollywood. It was quite something to arrive and see a Bugatti car worth 1.9 million dollars. WOW!!! One of the hot spots on Rodeo Drive is the build your own Porsche shop.

  Heather loved the movie Pretty Woman. She loves the scene where Julia Roberts goes back to the store that was mean to her and would not wait on her the day before. But in truth...Rodeo Drive is not that way. The stores are very polite and nice. Always a big welcome and lots of sucking up.  They don't know if you have money or not so they have to be nice to everyone. You can even get name brand water bottles if you need a drink.

 Back in 1964, when Fred Hayman started building his Giorgio Beverly Hills shop, Rodeo Drive was just a regular city street, with a grocer, a gas station and a hardware store. Hayman became its ambassador. he envisioned the street as an elegant home to the finest designers and boutiques, a magnet for starlets and socialite, like an American Champs-Elyees, a sexy, fun, camera-ready intersection of Hollywood and fashion. his original Giorgio Beverly Hills, located at 273 Rodeo Drive is now the home to Louis Vuitton. 

I recently saw an article about Fred Hayman and his love of Rodeo Drive. It showed a street sign that reads Fred Hayman Drive and is placed at the Louis Vuitton store the home of his original store. Of course I had to go find this sign. I was thrilled to find it and think that it all started with one man and a dream. I came home to find a new book has been written about Fred Hayman. Of course I bought the large book and plan to take many months to read it.

I only bought some things from the Coach Store. I had a very special coupon and I waited to spend it on Rodeo Drive. Once I was finished shopping it was time for lunch and loud music at Hard Rock Cafe. I plan on going to as many of these as possible. Heather loved Hard Rock and many treasures from several of them. I thought I had the right Hard Rock from the website, but it has been closed for 4 years. We then needed to find another one. Little did I know where this new one was going to be.

 The Hollywood Walk of Fame consists of more than 2,400 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and 3 blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, California. The stars are permanent public monuments to achievement in the entertainment industry, bearing the names of the mix of actors, musicians, directors, producers, musical and theatrical groups, fictional characters, and other. 

 Grauman's Chinese Theatre is a movie theatre located along the historic Hollywood Walk of Fame.The theatre opened on May 18, 1927, headed by Sid Grauman, with the premiere of Cecil B DeMille's The King of Kings. it has been the home to may movie premieres, birthday parties and three Academy Awards ceremonies. Among the theater's most distinctive features are the concrete blocks sen in the forecourt, which bears the signatures, footprints and hand prints of popular motion pictures from the 1920's to today.

As we drove by trying to find the Hard Rock Cafe, I realized where we were. In an amazing spot in Hollywood. Of course after lunch I had to go and look at some of the stars and the hand prints. I would love the opportunity to go back and really look at all the stars and possibly see a movie at the theatre. Yes it is still a working theatre and red carpet movie premiere happen there all the time. It was a great time of star seeking. I would like it to be less crowded the next time I go.

No Place That Far....

I can't imagine, any greater fear

Than waking up, without you here,

And though the sun, would still shin on,

My whole world, would all be gone,

But not for long...

If I had to run, if I had to crawl

If I had to swim a hundred rivers,

Just to climb a thousand walls,

Always know that I would find a way,

To get to where you are,

There's no place that far...

~Sara Evans~

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8F9LCu5PJU4

Sara Evans was one of Heather's favorite female artists. She had every CD that Sara ever made and loved every single song she sang. No Place That Far is the second album released by the country singer. It produced Evan's first number one country hit in its second single, the title track. The album was certified gold by the RIAA for American sales of 500,000 copies. Vince Gill sings back ground vocals on this single.

Heather's rose and Sleeping Beauty Castle

Heather sang this song when Bill and I renewed our wedding vows in May 2006 . I really loved the words and the meaning behind them. It seemed to me to be a wedding song. When Heather died, again the music changed. Suddenly this song was not about a married couple, but a mother and her child. There is no place too far that I would not go to find her. Except for Heaven. I know where she is but cannot reach her. If you listen to the song again with the parent's view it changes everything.

British Crown

British Crown

Side view -my crown

During our recent trip to Disneyland I had an idea for some photos of my red Heather diamond. I wanted the ring with the roses and Castle in the background. The Castle is blurred on purpose and the focus is the beautiful red diamond. Bill got some amazing photos of the ring in Heather's favorite place on earth. The sun really drawing out the color in the stone and just how stunning this ring is. Many have commented that from the front view it looks like a king's crown...the red diamond being the velvet material part of the crown. Might have to use a bit of your imagination....

Happiest Place on Earth

Amazing

Breath taking

 I recently had my red Heather diamond ring sized to fit my ring finger. Since I received this ring I have been wearing it as my wedding ring. I was recently asked the question "Am I going to continue to wear this as my wedding ring?" The answer is yes. Let me explain. While I still have my wedding ring and I love it...the Heather diamond has so much meaning it is hard to explain all of feeling and emotions that go with this. When a couple goes to pick a diamond, it has been created in nature and really has no value to the couple personally. She may love the size, cut or the clarity of the diamond, but it is a rock they pick out together. It is a symbol, a token of the love they have for one another. But nothing from them personally. My red Heather diamond is actually Bill and I combined into one. Bill and I created Heather together. The diamond was created from Heather's ashes which she was a part of Bill and me. So...this ring actually is more of a wedding ring to symbolize the love and enduring relationship that Bill and I have shared.

Remember Me....

Remember me with smiles and laughter,

Because that's how I'll remember you all.

If you can only remember me with tears,

Then don't remember me at all..

~Michael Landon~

This is a quote that Michael Landon wrote for an episode of Little House on The Prairie. In the episode, Patricia Neal, plays a neighbor that has leukemia. She dies and Charles must find a home for her 3 children. This statement is read at her funeral. Heather and I watched this 2-part episode just a few days before her own leukemia diagnosis. This statement was read at Michael Landon's funeral. 

Bill and I took a small vacation to Disneyland this past weekend. It was very good to get away and have some fun. Each time I go, I seem to find many new treasures to bring home with me. The 1st time we went in August 2009, I wondered if things would be the same. Would it feel the same, different or could we really ever go back to this special place. The answer is yes and no.Yes in the fact that I feel like Heather is there every moment while I am at Disney. For the most part I have been able to do everything at Disneyland except for one ride...The Mad Hatter's Tea Party. 

Mad Tea Party is a spinning tea cup ride at all five Disneyland-style theme parks around the world. The ride theme is from the Unbirthday Party scene of Disney's Alice in Wonderland. The ride has gained infamy over the years for the amount of guests who get motion sickness as a result of the spinning component to the ride. The attraction is called Mad Tea Party at Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom. It is known as Alice's Tea Party at Tokyo Disneyland,  Mad Hatter's Tea Cups at Disneyland Paris, and Mad Hatter Tea Cups at Hong Kong Disneyland.

Disneyland

Tokyo

 All five versions of the attraction are located in Fantasyland, and all except the Tokyo version were opening day attractions at their respective parks. The Disneyland version was originally located directly behind Sleeping Beauty Castle (in the present-day location of King Arthur Carrousel and was moved to its present-day location in 1983. This version was modified in 2004 to make it more difficult to spin fast after a disabled rider lost his balance and slipped from a teacup.The Disneyland, Disneyland Paris and Hong Kong Disneyland versions are the only Mad Tea Party attraction that doesn't have a big teapot in the center of it.
 

During our first trip to Disneyland in 1996, the first ride that the girls and I did was the Tea Party-spinning tea cups. Bill was riding the new Indian Jones ride and Wendy was too short at the time. So Bill rode Indiana and we girls headed to Fantasyland. This is when the famous girls in the teacup photo was taken. Heather loved this ride. Due to sisters being motion sick she was not able to spin the teacup the way she wanted to. She watched the other teacups spinning and said she wanted to do that someday.

Every time we went, Heather and I tried to do the Tea Party ride. But due to the long lines and not wanting to leave the other people in our party, most of the time we just skipped it. Heather and I took a spin in the tea cups for spring break in 2006. We loved to get in the teacup and spin the wheel as hard and fast as we could. We had such a good rhythm going and we could make that cup fly. We took what was to be our last spin in October 2007. Heather had broken her toe, was in a wheel chair and we got to skip the long line. It was such a fantastic time. In December 2008 Heather was feeling a bit too urpy to her stomach to enjoy the teacups.
 

I walk by the ride and I long to sit and spin the cup with my Heather just one more time. My heart cannot begin to allow me to go on this ride alone or with anyone else right now. I stand and watch like the kid at the candy store glass longing to go inside and make a purchase. I am not sure if I will ever be able to spin in the Mad Hatter's Tea Party again. I am hoping that maybe Pea may want to spin with her Mimi in the teacups someday.

Sherry and Heather ready to spin-2007

Here we go---spin, spin, spin

 So, imagine my surprise as several new Disney items are focused on the Mad Hatter's Tea Party. Of course I managed to purchase all the tea cup collectables I found.The first was a souvenir plastic travel mug. Of course I did get the one soda filled in the cup at time of purchase. The next treasure was an actual teacup. It is a limited edition of 1000 adapted from the artwork of Kevin Kidney and Jody Daily. My final tea cup treasure is a Gallery of Light box by Robert Olszewski.

Actual replica tea cup

 Heather is in everything at Disneyland, every ride, every fireworks show, every parade and every restaurant. I doubt there will be a time when I go that I don't think of her and all the wonderful memories. To me Disneyland is Heather and Heather is Disneyland. One is not without the other. I know that Aunt Missy was smiling down on us as I watched Pea love the new stuffed Minnie Mouse I brought her. Pea made mouse sit with her and sit with me. She carried her around the neck and laid her next to her on the floor. Watching her was like watching Heather at a very young age play with her Minnies. It was priceless..

Mickey and Minnie take a spin