Corn Country!

As many of you may know, my BFF Alisha was diagnosed with colon cancer this past April.  She is the absolute last person I would have ever expected to have health problems; she's the most health-conscious, super-atheletic, organic-loving, pesticide-hating, vitamin-popping, earth-saving, holistic-minded girl I know.  Her world was turned upside overnight & over the past 4 months, she has undergone colon resection surgery, put their house on the market, moved back home to Wapakoneta, OH, & already endured 4 rounds of chemo.  Fortunately, Alisha is blessed with a wonderful husband, a precious little boy, extremely supportive parents, sisters & brother-in-laws and lots of extended family, most of which reside nearby in Ohio.  (She also has a huge fan-base back here in Greenville!)

I had been eagerly anticipating a trip to Wapakoneta...I've heard all sorts of stories from her childhood over the past several years and couldn't wait to check out the farm & see what "Wapak" was all about.  Alisha, Alex & Ethan are temporarily living with her parents while they finish renovating a house, so I had not planned to take Jackson with me, but he was invited to come along so he could see his buddy Ethan.  (We  intentionally got pregnant at the same time & our boys are only a month apart!)  So Jackson & I took our first mommy-son trip to Wapakoneta.  He was an absolute dream on the plane & I could not have asked for a happier baby on the trip!

Let me start by saying that Alisha should be a poster-child for cancer.  She looked absolutely amazing and had more energy than I have had in the past 14 months combined.  Looking at her, you would never know that she is going through chemo & fighting a horrible disease.  She's as upbeat, optimistic & active as always - the same 'ole BFF that made me sweat it out at Boot Camp & always shared a good laugh when I often put my foot in my mouth.

Being a "city girl", I have never really been to a "real" farm.  In my mind, there would be a white farm house, a big red barn, a couple cows, some chickens (maybe), a green tactor, a couple dozen bales of hay & fields of corn.  You can imagine my surprise when we pull up to a pretty brick house, backng up to several huge metal "barns", sourrounded by shady trees, a distant lake, fields & fields of crops and a lone dog.  There is also a huge quarry where Alisha's Dad has been excuvating in order to build a pond.  Its like Disney World-Wapak with all the 4-wheelers, tractors, bulldozers, combines, etc. 

 

Upon picking me up from the airport, Alisha suprised me with plans to visit the neighboring county fair later that evening!  I love good old-fashion fun and nothing beats a fair, especially one that features a tiger show, petting zoo & very few rednecks.  Unfortunately, we missed her cousin's 2nd place finish for showing his cow =)

The next day, we hit up the Wapak Waterpark (who knew?), which had a great kiddie play area, 2 big waterslides & fairly cold water.  Aunt Alisha aka Mother Earth loaned us a cloth swimmie diaper (as opposed to the Missy-favored, disposable Little Swimmers) and thankfully they withstood the test that Jackson put them through (note to self: don't feed baby burritos from the fair)  The boys had fun playing in the water & going down the waterslide! 

On Thursday, we took the boys antiquing and then went to Alisha's sister Missy's house to let the boys play in her pond.  Missy's son Zach is only a couple months older than Ethan, so they are more like brothers than cousins.  Jackson fit right in with the two blondies ;)

Aunt Alisha also did the honors of giving Jackson his first haircut on our last night.  His curly mullet was getting out of control so we decided it was time to trim it up.  We couldn't find scissors sharp enough so she used the clippers instead.  All he needed was his toothbrush as a distraction & he was content!

Our trip was over all too soon & it was so great to see Alisha & spend time with her amazing family.  We have already decided that the Talbert family will be making an annual summer trip to Ohio (in addition to other get-togethers through-out the year!)

Alisha's sweet Mom, Debbie. 
An awesome Mom, Grandma & a wonderful hostess.

Enjoying an after-dinner ride on the 'Bota.

Bathtime!

Alisha & her sisters used to sell sweet corn during the summers growing up and were locally known as the "corn girls".  I always joked that I'm sure everyone knew them as the little hotties that sold the corn.  This picture says it all.  (Alisha don't kill me)