Harriet Oliger

Grandma passed away Wednesday morning.

I cried, got mad and made Noodle Kugel with Ricotta Cheese. I was/am a mess. I really believed that God would heal her and now struggle with the fact that even though he can, he doesn't. Even with this anger have have towards God (don't worry, I hear He's big enough to handle my angry heart), I am well aware that she was a blessing. That many go through life without the precious moments to pull them through.

Grandma made dinner for me nights Cory had class. I worked so hard, she'd say, taking care of a baby and working.

Grandma made anyone feel welcome. Come to her home with a hungry stomach and not only would she feed you, but send you out the door with arms full of leftovers. In fact, I'd just have to hint at having a Saturday free and she'd be organizing a Saturday breakfast for the entire family.

Grandma taught me to quilt, to make magic out of ordinary things, to appreciate the creativity is small crafty items.

Grandma was special. She loved my baby. She loved my husband. I am going to miss her. Miss playing cards. Big family get togethers at her house. Miss the camper and flying kites at the beach.

I will probably be sad for a long time that she won't see Michael get married or Jocelyn grow up. She'll never hold my future babies...G.G.'s girls (or boys). But it's okay to be sad. Being sad makes you realize what you had and I know exactly what I had and will praise God even today for giving her to me as a gift.

The memorial service for Grandma will be at 2:00pm on Sunday at Hardage Giddens Rivermead, 127 Blanding Blvd, Orange Park, FL followed by a get together at Mom's place 257 Whispering Woods, Orange Park, FL 32003.

Our Orlando Adventure

We met the mouse!

Our first trip to Disney was a huge success. It was cold. It was wet. It was worth it. No lines and lots of unique experiences. Great time with family. Cory & I even got some time alone as Jocelyn slept in her stroller through Epcot - we could not have asked for more.

Trip highlights included: Hollywood & Vine

They have a buffet lunch where little ones can play with favorites from playhouse Disney. Leo and June from the Little Einsteins were there. Jocey was beside herself. We could not get into the restaurant fast enough. She danced and got to give hugs and kisses to her favorite Disney characters. I tell you what, I would gladly pay Disney prices for this experience again. Best part, I have the whole thing on video so I can keep this precious moment forever.

Paradiso 37 - Featuring cuisine from the Americas, this was a great place to eat at downtown Disney. I highly recommend the Margaritas.

Transportation (buses, boats, monorail, we could have saved loads and bought Jocelyn a bus pass).

Dumbo and similar rides.

She likes flying around high in the air. We went on the triceratops ride at Animal Kingdom twice, Dumbo (in the rain) and Aladdin's Magic Carpet ride. She would have stayed on these kind of rides all day long.

There are so many other special memories that I am sure I am forgetting something wonderful. (Like Jocey falling asleep in Paul's lap during the Hall of Presidents or her running excited to Daddy after she met Goofy.) It was all truly magical!

Turkey day will be here before we know it.

Can you believe it is November already? This time of year seems to pass too quickly. I love the holidays, but I am not ready to hear Christmas carols while running my daily errands.

Our Halloween went good. We decorated the entire house with spider webs and Jocelyn spent the month of October calling the spiders "flutterflies". The day before Halloween I took the day off work and went to Jocelyn's school. We did arts and crafts and trick-or-treated at the different classrooms. (Well, I trick-or-treated, Jocelyn used the opportunity to weasel her way into the 'big kids' classroom and play with their 'big kids' toys.) Afterwards, I spent the day taking her around to visit friends and family in her costume.

Halloween night, Jocelyn enjoyed going door-to-door for candy. Every time we passed a kid in a costume she recognized (like the witches) she'd point them out. I think at this age viewing the characters was her favorite part. She also had her first taste of candy...mini chocolate M&Ms. She definately has my sweet tooth.

So, the first real Halloween experience was a huge success and one I will forever remember.

Big Girl Bed

Tonight Jocelyn is in a big girl bed.

Cory and I double checked all of the baby proofing and sat in her room until she feel asleep. I can not believe this day has come. I looked at her in the toddler bed and couldn't help but think "she is too little for this..she's still my baby". Even now, I want to curl up on her floor to be sure she is safe.

Cory & I are a mess, but Jocey did great. We told her to stay in bed and she did, even if it was a struggle for her to get comfortable. (She normally likes to stick her feet through the bars of her crib and was finding a hard time doing so in this bed.) Later, Cory and I snuck onto the back porch to peak into her room, making sure she'd stayed in bed. She looked right up at us, smiled and settled her head back down. It's almost as if she was thinking.."silly mommy, it's just a couple of less bars."

And it is silly, except that's my baby in that big girl bed.

The next couple of months are going to be crazy!!
Look at all the stuff that's going on...
October 10th - Zoo fun with family
October 17th - Halloween Door & More (charity for hospice kids)
October 18th - Anniversary surprise from hubby
October 31st - Halloween
November - new baby Mecca
November 26th - Thanksgiving
November 27th - Black Friday
November 29th - Jocey 2nd birthday party
December 12th - Hockey game in N. Carolina
December 12th - Hanukkah
December 17th - Indianapolis Jags game
December 25th - Christmas
January 1st - New Year's
January 31st - Marathon

That's right. You read correctly. I am going to take the marathon plunge. I think I can make it into a fundraiser to raise money to help pay for Grandma's treatment and medicine. In anyone knows anything about starting these kinds of things...I'm all ears.

I am flying to Anaheim this afternoon to attend the Fresh Summit (a large produce & floral show). Finally, something other than fried food and sweets (which is more typical of food shows I attend. While I am gone (until Monday) check in on Cory and Jocey for me!! I promise to post pictures from Cory's fantastic birthday weekend when I get home.

By the way, I am going to run a marathon January 31 in Miami...I am hoping to raise money for cancer programs...ideally, some could of the proceeds could help grandma out. More details to come...let me know if you have recommendations on how I can go about this. I have no clue. All I know is I have to find a way to run about 6 miles while in Anaheim...maybe I'll head towards Disney...

We are only three weeks into day care and Jocelyn is already developing many new skills. I watched in amazement last night as she finished playing with her blocks and proceeded to pick each one up and put them in the toy box - without being asked. She also learned sign language for the word "more" which she demonstrated last night at dinner..sign language was something Cory and I wanted to work on, but had never gotten around to doing.

Go day care!


I wish everything else was that easy. Cory is overwhelmed with work (Fidelity and Appraising) and school and I feel like I am drowning sometimes tying to balance motherhood, womanhood, career and the household. What's a girl to do....chop off her hair? Well, as you can see, that's what I did...fortunately, I love it. I seriously only blow dry it for 5 minutes in the morning...nothing else.

If you like it, let me know. If not...I never liked you anyway.

What else is new for the Shrader's?

Upcoming events:

• Cory turns 30 September 28th, we'll be spending that weekend in Orlando and PSL
• I am focused on personal growth lately. Listening to podcasts and networking. Trying to prepare myself for the next step.
• Grandma (who recently had abdominal surgery) is healing...slowly but surely, please keep her in your prayers
• I will be heading to Anaheim October 1-4 to attend the Fresh Summit, a huge Produce Food Show. I am going to see Condoleezza Rice speak at a women's leadership event.

I'll keep you posted. Check back early October.