tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44899779564886109702024-03-13T11:05:42.541-04:00The Years Are ShortDaisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08980758232167941972noreply@blogger.comBlogger372125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489977956488610970.post-22973315401334188972011-09-29T08:45:00.010-04:002011-09-29T15:15:33.375-04:00The Farm<span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: georgia;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgolnTynZ7NuQATHScSsi1b1j-omNevaCnu4uSzp4zJZGJ9akLNRIfJJLs419CpkukZ1S2UNJFNrTpOvZqgjTSy6MvklI-zOZ0BYRKJbfdSPvT04y7FueuyZUAwzbraHOXAQ8Z0kw74Cg/s1600/DSC_0097.jpg"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: georgia;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMeRKXdU8HHH12GNF6ZlPxrvrKrwJncqaYF1MPah86kcYvkoL5xnWuuYYRwoIbOkWmRSzZmSPvryE_Vsf0Am0s0Z5dJfMh4iljHymwGv7Yiz7tuli93sGDtgxgOb2OTV3_wR0KMr_5Ag/s1600/DSC_1102.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMeRKXdU8HHH12GNF6ZlPxrvrKrwJncqaYF1MPah86kcYvkoL5xnWuuYYRwoIbOkWmRSzZmSPvryE_Vsf0Am0s0Z5dJfMh4iljHymwGv7Yiz7tuli93sGDtgxgOb2OTV3_wR0KMr_5Ag/s400/DSC_1102.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657772079104267330" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Last year our family went to a farm in the north/middle of PA, near Bloomsburg. We enjoyed our long weekend there so much, we decided to extend our stay to a whole week. There were 20 of us there this year, all from my side of the family- my mom, sisters, brother and their families (including my sister from France and her 2 boys). There were lots of little kids, lots of laughter, good cooking, swimming, fishing, and hiking. It was a great week to get reconnected with each other. It is funny how even after all these years, we all fall back into many of the roles and spaces that we occupied when we were children. Sometimes, that is not so great, like when I am sharp with my 33 year old sister, like she is a child. And other times, it is fun as we laugh at my brother's wit and antics. Of course, there was a hole where my dad would have been there with us. We all commented at one point or another throughout the week how he would have loved being there with his kids and grandkids, how it was exactly his favorite kind of vacation. Despite moments of longing, our eyes shiny with tears as we mourned our deep loss once again, it was a joyful, fun week. The kids loved playing with their cousins, favorite activities being the pond, fishing, and the trampoline.</span><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiBfF9ipQ__S8FcQgveou0wEjg9blJsEwj6G59BHKj3Y_JoEOJNa7CgjBdEw1uwK8s-e_9a5W4kc_dHpHPMl2J0sTRzQIai23ugCIhLYzf1haevumWh8HucyDgev7i7zmXgPL1NPDN0A/s1600/DSC_0116.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiBfF9ipQ__S8FcQgveou0wEjg9blJsEwj6G59BHKj3Y_JoEOJNa7CgjBdEw1uwK8s-e_9a5W4kc_dHpHPMl2J0sTRzQIai23ugCIhLYzf1haevumWh8HucyDgev7i7zmXgPL1NPDN0A/s400/DSC_0116.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657767392589108930" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNW2s6fbdlBhncenMfz-dZ7NAA5udGpKb6mfJyM3Ai1VFrudE6hOMw-YZCEeDW58TlRzlnxMjwjzp9b11bK-CxCF2Q8jteUFJ5GYKL12pHEGG3ljbH0Si0Dw2APJnL-yNgKZy62wgaBg/s1600/DSC_0120.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNW2s6fbdlBhncenMfz-dZ7NAA5udGpKb6mfJyM3Ai1VFrudE6hOMw-YZCEeDW58TlRzlnxMjwjzp9b11bK-CxCF2Q8jteUFJ5GYKL12pHEGG3ljbH0Si0Dw2APJnL-yNgKZy62wgaBg/s400/DSC_0120.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657837809493404386" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWVGV4nj82SHuifVGckAtjNqh7PpvAfDhDmJqeeY8UD240_aWrLo1BCQuLCQVoJa5MtK04V5U2tyAiBD2VCwtsbMIeWc53j0tftnYl8xY0XOo5agia8HXC1iADXMR_tjwyCoPMqK3c1g/s1600/DSC_1062.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWVGV4nj82SHuifVGckAtjNqh7PpvAfDhDmJqeeY8UD240_aWrLo1BCQuLCQVoJa5MtK04V5U2tyAiBD2VCwtsbMIeWc53j0tftnYl8xY0XOo5agia8HXC1iADXMR_tjwyCoPMqK3c1g/s400/DSC_1062.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657767394792353746" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieA6l9dpWqrF5wrqODScw6VrmMyQPUsXHqTE_8THbAptVQ4BuXIKDPcH-YWFxqVJOth_BXYDDJ80gqvBCIQ9Rn464F51pXg57l-J0ACtKI4t2BZxJh1jTCLJ01M05m6XBaTSwNk8_G6g/s1600/DSC_0128.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieA6l9dpWqrF5wrqODScw6VrmMyQPUsXHqTE_8THbAptVQ4BuXIKDPcH-YWFxqVJOth_BXYDDJ80gqvBCIQ9Rn464F51pXg57l-J0ACtKI4t2BZxJh1jTCLJ01M05m6XBaTSwNk8_G6g/s400/DSC_0128.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657836814159141682" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjECWNYl6vXpv6GFJ3PRQWbZcywNFUyqGtk0MusexkKNQhDRFSApVFgSjQjl8Z2Go5R8yVP6Q4xrwt6yjY7IRjrAJsox6ZKFCTeRHYWNA8RxkXZZ4rOWx-E0qjuMeMwNeD4lyKPJiwzGQ/s1600/DSC_1094.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjECWNYl6vXpv6GFJ3PRQWbZcywNFUyqGtk0MusexkKNQhDRFSApVFgSjQjl8Z2Go5R8yVP6Q4xrwt6yjY7IRjrAJsox6ZKFCTeRHYWNA8RxkXZZ4rOWx-E0qjuMeMwNeD4lyKPJiwzGQ/s400/DSC_1094.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657772070674864338" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">We took a trip to Rickett's Glen on Monday, where coincidentally our next door neighbors were hiking there the same day and we ran into them--crazy! The falls were gorgeous, and the trails were a little challenging, but not too bad. The kids also loved wading in the different pools along the creek. (KK did not come on this hike, maybe next year she will be big enough to handle it.)</span><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgolnTynZ7NuQATHScSsi1b1j-omNevaCnu4uSzp4zJZGJ9akLNRIfJJLs419CpkukZ1S2UNJFNrTpOvZqgjTSy6MvklI-zOZ0BYRKJbfdSPvT04y7FueuyZUAwzbraHOXAQ8Z0kw74Cg/s1600/DSC_0097.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgolnTynZ7NuQATHScSsi1b1j-omNevaCnu4uSzp4zJZGJ9akLNRIfJJLs419CpkukZ1S2UNJFNrTpOvZqgjTSy6MvklI-zOZ0BYRKJbfdSPvT04y7FueuyZUAwzbraHOXAQ8Z0kw74Cg/s400/DSC_0097.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657836814190850690" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvq4D9E0wQZ5RsRewEvKur0xvvXkFRJQBfjCu1ps2YRgsWR562a6bOMjQsvh5-6Yw2672X1PriGYegUONWxwAH1k74NR7l_PjWeG0FEdT9gpmZ1-ktLonbj-dKfGG_plk8hZ4lsarz5g/s1600/DSC_0104.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvq4D9E0wQZ5RsRewEvKur0xvvXkFRJQBfjCu1ps2YRgsWR562a6bOMjQsvh5-6Yw2672X1PriGYegUONWxwAH1k74NR7l_PjWeG0FEdT9gpmZ1-ktLonbj-dKfGG_plk8hZ4lsarz5g/s400/DSC_0104.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657772090524793282" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgihPCxIrFKKtOO-qacUr2v8syF1NZxb7zP0y8rNnaXe1scxB1g_NmrBZy7YbUT4J65k2luV4cBJP4BL1VoOW-PKFbv6g6gndAPxw6hLbOfpcMpQgtU6IfUT5BpSwyRlGMKlR79614bCQ/s1600/DSC_0016.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgihPCxIrFKKtOO-qacUr2v8syF1NZxb7zP0y8rNnaXe1scxB1g_NmrBZy7YbUT4J65k2luV4cBJP4BL1VoOW-PKFbv6g6gndAPxw6hLbOfpcMpQgtU6IfUT5BpSwyRlGMKlR79614bCQ/s400/DSC_0016.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657836805018164034" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRz_Y4yagzr3MbRQBrqw4UL18wDcKqtf1nMmmAi4ckuFqouWMcJwtPVDSYf_3gJta_kfbVIxxaSPXOq_aQKK7lu1-DmuvOgreMnPA8d8QWxeKzl59Q_86UXKUFuWT4_hnTaQvckw9oqA/s1600/DSC_0014.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRz_Y4yagzr3MbRQBrqw4UL18wDcKqtf1nMmmAi4ckuFqouWMcJwtPVDSYf_3gJta_kfbVIxxaSPXOq_aQKK7lu1-DmuvOgreMnPA8d8QWxeKzl59Q_86UXKUFuWT4_hnTaQvckw9oqA/s400/DSC_0014.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657836803810263490" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9UsFtLSgtFyXAJCp8AocbkTevOZi7cbLOjRUUjRsUSZrICzA7f6QTULgVUraHCgkArAV9Hga9FyUZEtqQTwJG-_HQB5NZ_P6_Sa5pXMPvQd2L85EZoGaFAhAVeEc03-z6Ee4keYBrCg/s1600/DSC_0050.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9UsFtLSgtFyXAJCp8AocbkTevOZi7cbLOjRUUjRsUSZrICzA7f6QTULgVUraHCgkArAV9Hga9FyUZEtqQTwJG-_HQB5NZ_P6_Sa5pXMPvQd2L85EZoGaFAhAVeEc03-z6Ee4keYBrCg/s400/DSC_0050.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657772080538214690" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Later in the week we went to Knoebels amusement park. It was a blast- KK was actually the one who was the most daring on most of the rides. We went on one together that E and N did not want to try. It lifted into the air and the ride spun several baskets all around in a huge circle through the air. KK kept saying, " This is so fun! I love this ride!" We also went on the flume which she loved, and N hated. I was amazed at her enthusiasm for the fast and dizzying rides. As for me, it is clear that I am past all that. I used to love those rides that went in circles, and I felt absolutely sick. I remember as child, how my mom used to sit out most amusement park rides herself, and I never understood it. Now I do.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqwcJfaac7uFufetIuaj7q4KaTYGHZ5UziBbkTfG4gFMP3uMF2jfdpYMstD220rQF5avgXltbKNm_6d6ALyfQ-x_iqZF1VUZnBj8jzVao6wz8pfJ6j9BT2-Rn4sbDfZwntAfWFWZ7QrA/s1600/DSC_0154.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqwcJfaac7uFufetIuaj7q4KaTYGHZ5UziBbkTfG4gFMP3uMF2jfdpYMstD220rQF5avgXltbKNm_6d6ALyfQ-x_iqZF1VUZnBj8jzVao6wz8pfJ6j9BT2-Rn4sbDfZwntAfWFWZ7QrA/s400/DSC_0154.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657837812682714834" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheVgSKDUx_oiqqQSZVpozaUAm0GSmK_Ij1dfQJjhijQBHhlgwu1n_QCK8cABatHB9m-SS80xetrDjZks2FzumqS11JLO8sHmZuo6ClUNdOOFCB2Bi0ao2AcV-ntDWd7aCabv53E3DZLg/s1600/DSC_0207.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheVgSKDUx_oiqqQSZVpozaUAm0GSmK_Ij1dfQJjhijQBHhlgwu1n_QCK8cABatHB9m-SS80xetrDjZks2FzumqS11JLO8sHmZuo6ClUNdOOFCB2Bi0ao2AcV-ntDWd7aCabv53E3DZLg/s400/DSC_0207.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657837820543759778" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;">This is the ride KK liked so much</span></span><br /></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh5nj6Icwsu5lrPdGXsIhQoAvA5Zuh7tZAyUlOSbRxRnHef8hbsYArtqTWGOuEfM6pJRrjz9NfPUiwgDCayxRcW3dSIQNlZTYuoFA5TW3rfoGhbotDsn2SRIxj_rsHRAF3_daa2ingJA/s1600/DSC_0181.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh5nj6Icwsu5lrPdGXsIhQoAvA5Zuh7tZAyUlOSbRxRnHef8hbsYArtqTWGOuEfM6pJRrjz9NfPUiwgDCayxRcW3dSIQNlZTYuoFA5TW3rfoGhbotDsn2SRIxj_rsHRAF3_daa2ingJA/s400/DSC_0181.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657859110209082242" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2RbhmWWQynFdAIxvdCt4XOtY04f71-avT6xZx1AjGNSUhwcyPzzeIPaY2BjPEdZspY0TK-Cq7O9QBq4pVSTHliHwR2PdyPTZ5jOCnuM7LkBxfmBgTl2pJqzUzktNZ08rYbySBP0PyPg/s1600/DSC_0184.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2RbhmWWQynFdAIxvdCt4XOtY04f71-avT6xZx1AjGNSUhwcyPzzeIPaY2BjPEdZspY0TK-Cq7O9QBq4pVSTHliHwR2PdyPTZ5jOCnuM7LkBxfmBgTl2pJqzUzktNZ08rYbySBP0PyPg/s400/DSC_0184.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657859115486565458" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGUtIPjPpGfzOqLiZ_1NdCO_ZPdyiIxWkwEPSzMtLOH6rB-mS3tsZ99Y7PcBhEpGrVEcLL59PGSwoPgGfRVAA1myZzDX6ZC3B1SHK8eRW661h-TOrIvZAGrDmQGzoJWdvauuXsokJDug/s1600/DSC_0215.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGUtIPjPpGfzOqLiZ_1NdCO_ZPdyiIxWkwEPSzMtLOH6rB-mS3tsZ99Y7PcBhEpGrVEcLL59PGSwoPgGfRVAA1myZzDX6ZC3B1SHK8eRW661h-TOrIvZAGrDmQGzoJWdvauuXsokJDug/s400/DSC_0215.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657859986667575954" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;">My French nephews</span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0bE-bXl9NPXcQGoaNdMxWH2398NBPM2aUzeDbUO5yLJmmbKrxkA4FHysxIATiBN0YhhwzbzYDGDdtFqZ6hymqNnafCcL70DYYyeOugzUmKnbZwOBFmNH04WmkRs7nTONzDeoCizf3CQ/s1600/DSC_0246.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0bE-bXl9NPXcQGoaNdMxWH2398NBPM2aUzeDbUO5yLJmmbKrxkA4FHysxIATiBN0YhhwzbzYDGDdtFqZ6hymqNnafCcL70DYYyeOugzUmKnbZwOBFmNH04WmkRs7nTONzDeoCizf3CQ/s400/DSC_0246.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657858700276469426" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Makes me dizzy just looking at it</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The rest of the week we spent just hanging out together, games at night, sharing meals, just doing family stuff together. And it was good, really, really good.</span><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiszpJVnyDZvnAjhab99pNMb0QGZRj_pVYzyvvdWcxCHbeY8RvTqmbS_tFgB59JNQVgr-z1HyVt8p-PCSRvEEiUUgqLTOOhytwYpzjuyJeAyEDtlSuIfoE58Jek7gEwzzjnrQ8XjqSrLQ/s1600/DSC_1052.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiszpJVnyDZvnAjhab99pNMb0QGZRj_pVYzyvvdWcxCHbeY8RvTqmbS_tFgB59JNQVgr-z1HyVt8p-PCSRvEEiUUgqLTOOhytwYpzjuyJeAyEDtlSuIfoE58Jek7gEwzzjnrQ8XjqSrLQ/s400/DSC_1052.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657767385857673234" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">I actually really don't like this picture, but it was out of my hands.</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08980758232167941972noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489977956488610970.post-80953503395198812662011-09-28T08:37:00.007-04:002011-09-28T17:03:37.837-04:00OBX<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgq1Wny9qqxRJGobzaMzceUKr1IjFTFMDMUBqj-T2JlfnebFTojBn0UQ-ngp-7VpbQho-S9-hsEWfOY6jZGl0of-OLrCoSvAupXfnMuKBLwPzts0MmVv-T5BgynT106V3uHlIj6UYzQw/s1600/DSC_0249.JPG"><br /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEholl2BZhF3Fbw8v_TCpzrABAfT89E9vLzVbXVxePN4h_MAxrTWAPTvYxw_sx2by1QFQ3AxvbRq0rmPwakenrom4iLk3JtrxgaiM6THmuMuRiYyAKXhluVKLdVDWGmiKt7iMJnoNMCpPg/s1600/DSC_0945.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEholl2BZhF3Fbw8v_TCpzrABAfT89E9vLzVbXVxePN4h_MAxrTWAPTvYxw_sx2by1QFQ3AxvbRq0rmPwakenrom4iLk3JtrxgaiM6THmuMuRiYyAKXhluVKLdVDWGmiKt7iMJnoNMCpPg/s400/DSC_0945.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657393093912086370" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Well, after our rather emotional spring, we were really looking forward to summer vacation. The one big trip that we were planning to take was to the Outerbanks of North Carolina, more commonly known as OBX. We had been invited to go with Ed's brother's wife's family. We have been wanting to go for years, but could never find another family who was willing to commit, so we jumped at the chance. Our vacation time was the week when a terrible heat wave hit the rest of the country, we were so glad we had the pool and the beach to escape the crushing humidity. The house itself was absolutely gorgeous, everything you want in a beach house- the ocean was just over the dune, we had a beautiful pool (that the kids enjoyed even more than the ocean), and the house was spacious and beautifully decorated.</span><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPZTFgudwWzJB0Tft1uAPitPBsep6mLnSyPrWeYqOTJCvRxnHtXXPcwwNIgq45HUX81z0ajvk1PG2kibkg0I_xC1Y0kF9ro3W5yqYUZGxxVGhYrX5gNA-0VHvSi804UZ82gX6TGWYNjg/s1600/DSC_0067.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPZTFgudwWzJB0Tft1uAPitPBsep6mLnSyPrWeYqOTJCvRxnHtXXPcwwNIgq45HUX81z0ajvk1PG2kibkg0I_xC1Y0kF9ro3W5yqYUZGxxVGhYrX5gNA-0VHvSi804UZ82gX6TGWYNjg/s400/DSC_0067.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657392227819351922" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_geUtVGhz4hyrGaBMoLCkJ0x60HZnsxLivoQiiyhAOgwVmJibsIQyf72svxVPC4WCI1eDPnkMm5AAhEHJt9xbr7XQLBPuCEVeTxSYZkJFy114sjeeKsrJTlrT7J-ijBhFIWhZMz0hSg/s1600/DSC_0212.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_geUtVGhz4hyrGaBMoLCkJ0x60HZnsxLivoQiiyhAOgwVmJibsIQyf72svxVPC4WCI1eDPnkMm5AAhEHJt9xbr7XQLBPuCEVeTxSYZkJFy114sjeeKsrJTlrT7J-ijBhFIWhZMz0hSg/s400/DSC_0212.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657392235008904482" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggzdcr8muzJNJSW9ab4dasiNbks0CEgRXFxxHuL-TEofHetwfaru1JFlmnTYU7cL5XGFd717_cfnV-_uFmAoNOeYEV3BnNRqvlYVtkV6VFOyJrmMjE-sry1etwnm3PcQmLoht6NTldJQ/s1600/DSC_0148.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggzdcr8muzJNJSW9ab4dasiNbks0CEgRXFxxHuL-TEofHetwfaru1JFlmnTYU7cL5XGFd717_cfnV-_uFmAoNOeYEV3BnNRqvlYVtkV6VFOyJrmMjE-sry1etwnm3PcQmLoht6NTldJQ/s400/DSC_0148.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657515668229459634" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBrpM6bLHrtDeIQszyNkphS7yOZgOh1BZji3ifU5Bp2drNsFkCfOdPaN8U58AUXuSjBpQunF-K5NweippRNTKsUI1vWFR6UIT3Qo1C25Iz0G3pDbW0DWemdfTrmgQYEjtUOO6Y2ZnlDw/s1600/DSC_0147.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBrpM6bLHrtDeIQszyNkphS7yOZgOh1BZji3ifU5Bp2drNsFkCfOdPaN8U58AUXuSjBpQunF-K5NweippRNTKsUI1vWFR6UIT3Qo1C25Iz0G3pDbW0DWemdfTrmgQYEjtUOO6Y2ZnlDw/s400/DSC_0147.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657515664356351250" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">We loved the slow pace of the day--hanging out on the beach in the morning, going back to the house for the pool or hot tub in the afternoon, and eating ice cream while we watched the sun set at night. Then when the kids were in bed, Ed and I played Catan, Ticket to Ride, Carcassonne, and other games with Jim and Steph. We did take a day trip down to Hatteras Lighthouse, but other than that we hung out at the house. <br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN0ftDPtNhFi4ofwJIsGHwMb35ojKsD-gvbfDtTRORJo1gC4KUTmiL3B-SInteLhMlOL9emlHjw7Mr30qXad-MFYmvPjmFUuomLstydtVeWZHmGqtE0wgARaoysblPN51zFvHYb8YyoQ/s1600/DSC_0801.jpg"><br /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqrmWote8lgncRibpZ1MjePhTwFyMYIgbNJlIpg3ofaUEcmKhyphenhyphenYZEczivzdebxzJ_4q_AbYo7JabX18V0WwYGqGBpins8fns3HqaQvR8-YAX3mpa16iVo8GA58_aCdPGtOFTYX3A4txQ/s1600/DSC_0877.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqrmWote8lgncRibpZ1MjePhTwFyMYIgbNJlIpg3ofaUEcmKhyphenhyphenYZEczivzdebxzJ_4q_AbYo7JabX18V0WwYGqGBpins8fns3HqaQvR8-YAX3mpa16iVo8GA58_aCdPGtOFTYX3A4txQ/s400/DSC_0877.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657518833056739090" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgq1Wny9qqxRJGobzaMzceUKr1IjFTFMDMUBqj-T2JlfnebFTojBn0UQ-ngp-7VpbQho-S9-hsEWfOY6jZGl0of-OLrCoSvAupXfnMuKBLwPzts0MmVv-T5BgynT106V3uHlIj6UYzQw/s1600/DSC_0249.JPG"><br /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSgsXcPlEpUrVrH31L6LiHL8ShodSU2qGxNkkIT8JE3lREEzZV-Fjns2tNl3Egs5CBRTcR-JUzyTKz0o73oUzPYEh-ZmQIxJi4CWUDX6m8aHeKKLBsotA9ukvcCB2IKa2IH3MjVzmVxg/s1600/DSC_0185.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSgsXcPlEpUrVrH31L6LiHL8ShodSU2qGxNkkIT8JE3lREEzZV-Fjns2tNl3Egs5CBRTcR-JUzyTKz0o73oUzPYEh-ZmQIxJi4CWUDX6m8aHeKKLBsotA9ukvcCB2IKa2IH3MjVzmVxg/s400/DSC_0185.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657392229480827170" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3vDVNz8crpHEm25Q-XtkQYSvwfivqt4Dus1gWsnoKWaVuP9Cj8yvA80ReYQUoq0dzkGwD7rRpglkKWnI3EgxsokYHDphfCxTIHf4L_tQEFDf7mXi2zzxTbZM3LegOyGqgRt1nKR60Rg/s1600/DSC_0246.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3vDVNz8crpHEm25Q-XtkQYSvwfivqt4Dus1gWsnoKWaVuP9Cj8yvA80ReYQUoq0dzkGwD7rRpglkKWnI3EgxsokYHDphfCxTIHf4L_tQEFDf7mXi2zzxTbZM3LegOyGqgRt1nKR60Rg/s400/DSC_0246.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657517598914529602" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgq1Wny9qqxRJGobzaMzceUKr1IjFTFMDMUBqj-T2JlfnebFTojBn0UQ-ngp-7VpbQho-S9-hsEWfOY6jZGl0of-OLrCoSvAupXfnMuKBLwPzts0MmVv-T5BgynT106V3uHlIj6UYzQw/s1600/DSC_0249.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgq1Wny9qqxRJGobzaMzceUKr1IjFTFMDMUBqj-T2JlfnebFTojBn0UQ-ngp-7VpbQho-S9-hsEWfOY6jZGl0of-OLrCoSvAupXfnMuKBLwPzts0MmVv-T5BgynT106V3uHlIj6UYzQw/s400/DSC_0249.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657517597308157234" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">While on the beach, I tried body boarding for the first time this year, and I found out I really, really liked it. I have grown fearful of the big waves in my adult years as I realize how you can be injured, and my sensible self has been staying out of the big waves. With the body boards, I feel safer, and I can ride the waves in. I had a blast, it is such a rush! </span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDBQ166jJxVGrBHKTcqYOBk3sJopSBc2l-b7fqa585QoehBbldNdruAkQf6y3cYpFvuHdd4ouMqXitZ5gtyq93E14p2B_mRmc-G24PFn9TeblflAy1VtlTTp9LCTLKyHGb_P_LwN3D-Q/s1600/DSC_0232.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDBQ166jJxVGrBHKTcqYOBk3sJopSBc2l-b7fqa585QoehBbldNdruAkQf6y3cYpFvuHdd4ouMqXitZ5gtyq93E14p2B_mRmc-G24PFn9TeblflAy1VtlTTp9LCTLKyHGb_P_LwN3D-Q/s400/DSC_0232.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657392241285952354" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwT7oM_jKMEvofZnedtLpry7Xbw0U8hCLwbXdxgvw9R4iVB0mP9M-yNo880tCF8sLIidL-gysP7VbBUxcgS6mEd3xONjUqUbFUvgdeJ7QfFl3w2vOulVixURbDo9W4PGf42rhK8UH7_g/s1600/DSC_0857.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwT7oM_jKMEvofZnedtLpry7Xbw0U8hCLwbXdxgvw9R4iVB0mP9M-yNo880tCF8sLIidL-gysP7VbBUxcgS6mEd3xONjUqUbFUvgdeJ7QfFl3w2vOulVixURbDo9W4PGf42rhK8UH7_g/s400/DSC_0857.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657393088625269650" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">From a photography standpoint, I absolutely fell in LOVE with the dunes. They were breathtaking, and the perfect setting for my first photo shoot of another family (Stephanie's). I also got some great shots of my own family in the mix.</span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxjd5Fg15YPoNx3q0_GlNwW6wtYRC4mFTQ_ugRZ6scEd3rAuGNKws910FC1UapwBUGSeLJAtmKDOkYQ1j9EB9dDYJZdoPD4T-aBA9PVXWqXmJW1R6HUM01bgwypObJMDdEcF2QkXE4_w/s1600/DSC_0309.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxjd5Fg15YPoNx3q0_GlNwW6wtYRC4mFTQ_ugRZ6scEd3rAuGNKws910FC1UapwBUGSeLJAtmKDOkYQ1j9EB9dDYJZdoPD4T-aBA9PVXWqXmJW1R6HUM01bgwypObJMDdEcF2QkXE4_w/s400/DSC_0309.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657392246724424338" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxhJhsqiAYqjMWAhZpFiRET0_1VDDGhCTk7KC6FFH6aZoKrVlCIFWbffDMRyZWCID3SiC7uNnAvfVB4w7y8C-pD9kedqeMm7qB6x3owihyURD0oxLQUMiUQU1Ns-elvdf1DY7ooXYMlQ/s1600/DSC_0323.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxhJhsqiAYqjMWAhZpFiRET0_1VDDGhCTk7KC6FFH6aZoKrVlCIFWbffDMRyZWCID3SiC7uNnAvfVB4w7y8C-pD9kedqeMm7qB6x3owihyURD0oxLQUMiUQU1Ns-elvdf1DY7ooXYMlQ/s400/DSC_0323.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657515661348471586" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix7x6diLZDg56ytIs6HmjDYB_cWg_HVNlKCmwzMeN_ntlSJ5dSUNKaHAoSgJ_TudEZRVKFC_MJbYSsmBUD_m70-XK5NxHMUPH6xp_2iL-DXjUnFirGayG9pe40z7Xd_UXZjiB434pi-A/s1600/DSC_0509.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix7x6diLZDg56ytIs6HmjDYB_cWg_HVNlKCmwzMeN_ntlSJ5dSUNKaHAoSgJ_TudEZRVKFC_MJbYSsmBUD_m70-XK5NxHMUPH6xp_2iL-DXjUnFirGayG9pe40z7Xd_UXZjiB434pi-A/s400/DSC_0509.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657513991591117362" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz6wJ86OIbJ4pPMOPsxR0MyYjfeW0tMcO43L9YsO3Ipwt2gBod8Yj9_uyUnc7Sm9vOtivX1RoNJ8JmaffGaK1OBWUikJQDv-YEpQgcrTpKqsQiM4UIcYWJiXKT8wRzkX3FXGW3C9DcQw/s1600/DSC_0576.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz6wJ86OIbJ4pPMOPsxR0MyYjfeW0tMcO43L9YsO3Ipwt2gBod8Yj9_uyUnc7Sm9vOtivX1RoNJ8JmaffGaK1OBWUikJQDv-YEpQgcrTpKqsQiM4UIcYWJiXKT8wRzkX3FXGW3C9DcQw/s400/DSC_0576.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657515656807370706" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhL7bbuh4Bzw2BJHsomgc0ckCMSur0uHXmcC2ltnbTj9NW1m8oWOy_whVz4NwG7-UgZd98lkMR-fmK3FWw4IinkQb6_g5fMTQPuyhfccPggb-3_DkCsUQMA0WphLLV3X6-u9gmpvokqQ/s1600/DSC_0524.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhL7bbuh4Bzw2BJHsomgc0ckCMSur0uHXmcC2ltnbTj9NW1m8oWOy_whVz4NwG7-UgZd98lkMR-fmK3FWw4IinkQb6_g5fMTQPuyhfccPggb-3_DkCsUQMA0WphLLV3X6-u9gmpvokqQ/s400/DSC_0524.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657513995904874690" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGm5iiEw0_RdSHx5wNMkaYPA5-R3kuwO5L2sVLWpSOab2QzjW5CNjkipchrEignkWhOMG6odReq5Kqv3JSPV8Kuml6i4VT6XhVH42FpBaP6Ly50LARHZ04dvsG5yn90UsY2G6Yr6H8Mw/s1600/DSC_0569.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGm5iiEw0_RdSHx5wNMkaYPA5-R3kuwO5L2sVLWpSOab2QzjW5CNjkipchrEignkWhOMG6odReq5Kqv3JSPV8Kuml6i4VT6XhVH42FpBaP6Ly50LARHZ04dvsG5yn90UsY2G6Yr6H8Mw/s400/DSC_0569.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657514005715281778" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj77_xjol07sNWRISgkhJIU_sPbbJyvCM87q2JlAOFOSDnWutnGckNA_eQpNY1UgNnuwOxbctESGjyi71IPCHOSBMWxjZmkbCXR5-FibNsSleqsjScCP4HcQ1f6tYKg0DYxVfsBjZa_w/s1600/DSC_0562.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj77_xjol07sNWRISgkhJIU_sPbbJyvCM87q2JlAOFOSDnWutnGckNA_eQpNY1UgNnuwOxbctESGjyi71IPCHOSBMWxjZmkbCXR5-FibNsSleqsjScCP4HcQ1f6tYKg0DYxVfsBjZa_w/s400/DSC_0562.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657514003662224690" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtdqNbM9UXvVkf5NdPhLHeeF2VOnRF0sAIGsmy_VJ2m96EjvRDiMsu_WRm_XCe2LtbJQSv1mcP4dGHM114NDj9kf9oX5fNHYm6Frd0t4NAb3dqOtylpsMjTHvWgKioq5C1gXY17AAOIw/s1600/DSC_0672.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtdqNbM9UXvVkf5NdPhLHeeF2VOnRF0sAIGsmy_VJ2m96EjvRDiMsu_WRm_XCe2LtbJQSv1mcP4dGHM114NDj9kf9oX5fNHYm6Frd0t4NAb3dqOtylpsMjTHvWgKioq5C1gXY17AAOIw/s400/DSC_0672.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657514009601037538" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> I could have stayed for another week, easily, but unfortunately, our vacation came to an end. I am hoping we can get together another group for next summer because it is definitely the best vacation I have been on in a long, long time.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRQMUl_osoA5NLPDyNtcpKL2z3Vjf_x_XBvRPeS3LAVJ0-K3iwliYkmmx5y-f-NihJCzFfHgct1Q_vvTNVE1fxejfpuLvU5ziuCbvkWt-1ZD-smc4QdImVm3UUsWvfsXubPHbg_IkjlQ/s1600/DSC_0538.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRQMUl_osoA5NLPDyNtcpKL2z3Vjf_x_XBvRPeS3LAVJ0-K3iwliYkmmx5y-f-NihJCzFfHgct1Q_vvTNVE1fxejfpuLvU5ziuCbvkWt-1ZD-smc4QdImVm3UUsWvfsXubPHbg_IkjlQ/s400/DSC_0538.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657393087205903746" border="0" /></a></span>Daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08980758232167941972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489977956488610970.post-52678592642719738352011-09-27T14:17:00.006-04:002011-09-27T15:25:15.056-04:00Our Holly Girl<span style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">So, after an 8 month dry spell, I thought I would try to come back to blogging. I will not attempt </span><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">to catch up on everything that has happened in that time, but I will give a couple of significant events every few days. Today I will start with Holly.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6_ngJfGKAb1LgPOkWi7kmVR9MBqQ7CFLwBVlibiBnqit4bMMbmt4AkAo94lGo4bstQvGrTvh3vsB31QGDuNmqoVVjXjVJzWVdlCveODY3eO1Y_uq4MvB1NHVl-6WY0Iuw18NCYEyN6w/s1600/100_1927_0168.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6_ngJfGKAb1LgPOkWi7kmVR9MBqQ7CFLwBVlibiBnqit4bMMbmt4AkAo94lGo4bstQvGrTvh3vsB31QGDuNmqoVVjXjVJzWVdlCveODY3eO1Y_uq4MvB1NHVl-6WY0Iuw18NCYEyN6w/s400/100_1927_0168.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657120555305879730" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><br /><br />This spring we noticed that our 12 1/2 year old Lab, Holly was not doing so well. Her breathing was getting heavier and heavier to the point where we wondered if there was a tumor. But then she would have periods throughout the day where she was fine, and rested peacefully. We </span><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">finally took her to the vet, because we wanted to see if there was an easy way to ease her breathing. Unfortunately the vet told us that she had something called Laryngal Paralysis that </span><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">was causing her to have trouble breathing. There was really nothing they could do to help her, and they asked if we were ready to put her down that day. Ed and I just sat there in the room crying and holding Holly, and we decided we wanted to take her back home to see how she did. That week, the first in May was cool, and we didn't notice Holly having any trouble. Then on </span><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">Tuesday, May 7, it was an unusually warm day. I noticed Holly's breathing becoming more labored throughout the day. That evening it got really bad, and when Ed came home at 8 she was gasping for every breath, vomitting because her sides were heaving so much, and it was clear that something had to be done. We looked at each other, and with tears in our eyes we decided to call the vet. They had hours until 10 pm, and it was around 9. I drove Holly and </span><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">picked up our friend, and old neighbor, Lisa who had told me she would come. She loved Holly as much as we did, and Holly loved her too. We drove into Rau, and they took us back to a wonderful room, called The Comfort Room. It was set up like a living room with a couch and chairs and a rug on the floor. It was exactly what we needed to help us say good-bye to our </span><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">sweet girl. Lisa held Holly as she fell after they gave her the muscle relaxant. I just kept holding her head, stroking her soft, soft ears and telling her what a good girl she was and how much I loved her. She slowly relaxed, and her breathing got more controlled. When they gave her the final shot, it was a couple of breaths and then Holly gave one final sigh in exhalation, and she was gone.<br /><br />Leaving her in that room was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. I felt like I</span><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"> w</span><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">as abandoning her, even though I knew </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >she </span><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">wasn't there anymore. When I got home, it was really hard. It took a long time for our family to heal from the loss. Even now, as I write this, tears run down my face remembering our sweet girl. There were nights when I was just holding all 3 kids as we sobbed, missing Holly. Ed and I reminisced together about all of the things that made her Holly. The way she would push herself between your legs, trying to squeeze herself as close as possible to say "hello", her innate knowledge of when it was a Sunday morning, the day she would visit Lisa, how she would sit at the door the minute we started piling up bags for a trip, </span><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">determined not to be left behind. Her sweet, gentle ways with the kids, never barking or </span><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">snapping, even when they put their hands in her mouth. And her wise, all knowing eyes that were so expressive and intelligent. I still deeply miss Holly, she was our first baby, and although </span><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">she kind of fell into the background with the kids' arrivals, she never complained. She was a steadfast dog, and we are so blessed to have had her in our family. One day I hope we get another dog, and I think it will really help in the healing. But I will never forget our good girl.<span style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Bzc7WdoptlurqVYPQ0Z7uq131dwpd8XpxVqKCzx6VvXp5eBN_tsn1InCt9ji5W3Now7O484AkCmB_d32S4iKC8IjfGaeRpKL5ivoA-MGTMJXofZawsvyUIBLIu_xl1ELKEFrpZbBeg/s1600/100_7326_0125.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Bzc7WdoptlurqVYPQ0Z7uq131dwpd8XpxVqKCzx6VvXp5eBN_tsn1InCt9ji5W3Now7O484AkCmB_d32S4iKC8IjfGaeRpKL5ivoA-MGTMJXofZawsvyUIBLIu_xl1ELKEFrpZbBeg/s400/100_7326_0125.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657121978941915650" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSf8ywsiIivUsOOZWy3RP-5BberV1KP984tJz-7xlwHg_ytcChyrxbgjNXqABY5dkUMtaasCpkFyz-owLECgbJSjOKMy383uQPuCKmLYoUH0ilsHJdtxP0DGGYpHjU0Sx8xnOLpi0M5w/s1600/100_7319_0121.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSf8ywsiIivUsOOZWy3RP-5BberV1KP984tJz-7xlwHg_ytcChyrxbgjNXqABY5dkUMtaasCpkFyz-owLECgbJSjOKMy383uQPuCKmLYoUH0ilsHJdtxP0DGGYpHjU0Sx8xnOLpi0M5w/s400/100_7319_0121.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657121973320666898" border="0" /></a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /></span>Daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08980758232167941972noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489977956488610970.post-44502921135275606182011-01-20T09:50:00.005-05:002011-01-20T11:59:01.414-05:00"I never even picked up a racquet"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">As some of you know, I have been a gym member for about 6 1/2 years. In that time I have gone through spurts of super- dedicated weight training and cardio 5 days a week (with the regular help of a <i>real</i> trainer), as well as months that I didn't even darken the door. Yet I have kept my membership because it is so darn cheap, and I will never get a deal like it again. Since I am not giving up my membership, I feel like I need to use it, so that usually gives me the incentive to go back if I have lapsed in my dedication. For the most part, my gym attendance falls somewhere in between the two extremes- several days a week of some combo of cardio/weights, but nothing too strenuous (this may be why I haven't actually seen any serious weight loss or change in my body in that time, sigh). </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Since I am a semi-regular I notice more or less, people who are also "regulars". I usually don't engage in conversation, as I am not one to chat up perfect strangers, instead I prefer to get in, do my work out, and get out, with minimal eye-contact. After I had been going for several years, in the middle of one of my more consistent periods of exercise, one man kept smiling at me and finally introduced himself. (Now before you get any ideas, it was perfectly innocent and friendly- I call him "the Mayor" because he knew everyone and greeted everyone. I think he is at the gym every day for at least 2 hours, possibly 3, so he knows who the regulars are. After that initial introduction I would say "hi" when he was nearby, and this went on for several months. After some time we got into conversations occassionally, he told me about his kid, I told him a little about mine, I invited him to church and he said he'd come (but still hasn't). </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span> One day we were talking and the subject of racquetball came up. I noticed him playing with different partners each week and said I didn't know how to play, but I was intrigued. He offered to play with me once a week. I was very hesitant as I am </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">not</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> the "athletic" type. But I finally agreed because he said it was a very good workout. We decided to play one morning a week, and for the first couple of months I was very, very bad. I missed the ball, I had very little coordination, power or direction on my hits. It was so embarrassing that I almost quit one week, but decided to do 'just one more' week, mainly because the workout really <b>was</b> great. I needed to consume large quantities of water throughout, I would get winded, and I also felt it in my muscles the next day. The next week I turned a corner and started to improve enough that I was encouraged to keep trying. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Up until this point I hadn't purchased a racquet, instead using the "lost" ones in the lost and found, not wanting to invest in my own until I was sure that it would "stick". After another month of modest improvement, I decided that part of my problem was that I didn't have a "feel" for my racquets. One week I was using a racquetball racquet, the next, a junior tennis racket. Not exactly great for consistency. So I went ahead and purchased my own racquet. I also got some necessary undergarments for increased support, which greatly helped in comfort while running around. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I continued to meet up with the Mayor every week, gradually getting better. All of this time we were just hitting the ball back and forth, but not playing a real game. Finally, last week the Mayor decided that I was ready. We played a short game in which I "won", but not really since we only played until 10 and I had to go before we could finish, so I just happened to be ahead. This morning we played 2 games, and although I lost both, it wasn't by much, 12-15 the first game, 14-15 the second, and I got in lots of good shots that he couldn't return. I am so excited to have found some kind of physical activity that I look forward to, something that I can honestly say has never happened, from field hockey and softball in HS to the present mixture of whatever it is I do for 20 minutes every morning. I like the challenge and the feeling of actually getting a cardio work out, without all the drudgery of running on the treadmill or elliptical. I think this sport might actually "stick". Now if only I could find another partner and add another day of the week to my schedule. I think this is the start of a better, more "in shape" version of me.</span></span></div>Daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08980758232167941972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489977956488610970.post-76376961150301401392011-01-19T12:45:00.004-05:002011-01-19T13:46:48.031-05:00Plumeria and Primroses<span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" >Last year, when we went to WDW, I got myself a little souvenir. It wasn't much to look at, just a forked stick. But the promise was enticing. If I took that stick and planted it, and watered it, and made sure that it got plenty of sunshine, it would grow into a plumeria tree. So I bit. I took home the stick and hoped that some of that Disney magic would bring this little stick to life. I planted it in special succulent soil, and put it in a sunny window until the days got warmer. Then it sat outside on our patio all summer long. About 2 months in, it began to grow little spikes on the top. These spikes lengthened and unfurled to beautiful, shiny leaves. It was magical. By the end of the summer, it looked something like this. Lush, vibrant and healthy:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglkfCJJyjVB-cWi3VsMWcT6DQOFgGohRZld7Z5M0ac9K6GOEqF3JBv6QpZ9NpXoUtAMvGbwq7SESPGLKQHiWOy8LsAwMhKJoR4pBRQwbonZ0OdzGpfPajZXhVXxxm7whlHJGweX64dUw/s1600/DSC_0026.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglkfCJJyjVB-cWi3VsMWcT6DQOFgGohRZld7Z5M0ac9K6GOEqF3JBv6QpZ9NpXoUtAMvGbwq7SESPGLKQHiWOy8LsAwMhKJoR4pBRQwbonZ0OdzGpfPajZXhVXxxm7whlHJGweX64dUw/s400/DSC_0026.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563954055499220562" border="0" /></a></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" ><br /><br />And then the temperature dropped, and I had to take it inside. According to the directions, I wasn't to let the plant go dormant in the first year. I was to keep on watering it, and then the next summer it would burst into bloom. So I put it next to our one sunny window in the house and kept my eye on it. Every so often I would notice dirt on the floor, and then the leaves started to spot and drop off, and I got suspicious. I went in for a closer look, and smelled the unmistakeable odor of cat urine. The cats were using my precious plumeria as a litterbox! By the time I realized it, it was too late. The leaves were dropping every day, and my once lush plant looked sickly. I must, at this point, admit that I kind of went crazy on the cats. Or more specifically, cat. I knew that it could only be our male cat, Jasper who was defiling the plumeria. I googled for remedies and found several suggestions for deterring the cats from going in the plant. But first I had to bring the pH level back within normal range. So I flushed out the pot, running water through it several times until there was no odor left. Then I took skewers and placed them around the dirt to keep the cats out. Finally, we put the plant on a stand in the middle of a wall, where the cats couldn't reach it. After all this, the plant lost every last leaf, but one.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUEbpKcVcWEwsommk3NwsABUPmKtMxaYWALBJ-ORo3ukHx8oEeAa-Zox6SSkdxj1Vb3GX27qr8dRa9I6yzlJh-TgfOY6OIA5qI9sZ5jCx2xMQuUYFMDxpv4-nvlbnSMSS32vs1eNpp_g/s1600/DSC_0040.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUEbpKcVcWEwsommk3NwsABUPmKtMxaYWALBJ-ORo3ukHx8oEeAa-Zox6SSkdxj1Vb3GX27qr8dRa9I6yzlJh-TgfOY6OIA5qI9sZ5jCx2xMQuUYFMDxpv4-nvlbnSMSS32vs1eNpp_g/s400/DSC_0040.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563954052476676178" border="0" /></a></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" ><br />This last leaf has hung on for at least a month, and I think the plant is going to make it. But it is a sad shadow of the plant it used to be.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF-L8LdcnGKmWSl8ieVhry1-B1DElV8hA7Qh3f9uenhspQaTBUAQw1d_6PuvBICLnes34rTFQYYmsx8aUvC9gImkJGHFxD2s0KD_bH4pcQDShgLBV4IW0SD3VulsAy1vYm2CAaCdmcRw/s1600/DSC_0039.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF-L8LdcnGKmWSl8ieVhry1-B1DElV8hA7Qh3f9uenhspQaTBUAQw1d_6PuvBICLnes34rTFQYYmsx8aUvC9gImkJGHFxD2s0KD_bH4pcQDShgLBV4IW0SD3VulsAy1vYm2CAaCdmcRw/s400/DSC_0039.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563954048378000994" border="0" /></a></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" > We are many months away from the 60 degree night temps that I need to put the plumeria back outside. Hopefully by then those little leaflings will have fully sprouted, and the plant will make a full recovery.<br /><br />Right now, in the dead of winter, spring seems so far away. I have had enough of this snow and ice, and am starting to feel the burden of the cold temps and dark days. So, yesterday, on an impulse, I introduced another little plant into our house because it was so cheery, and spoke of the promise of spring. "Soon", it says, "soon!"<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfxu3xoEwB7e0TSqBSkA0JMA4zBTl8dcpj1uEkne4vZtaoud6MLc2M0cljEVCODdTxrA9qqpxT5AxXuGjVtIVSTiboCu-cjc0Py0i2jtd3-nm1I286RCxnt1YRzJUzMzZPTAZBHHGwpQ/s1600/DSC_0037.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfxu3xoEwB7e0TSqBSkA0JMA4zBTl8dcpj1uEkne4vZtaoud6MLc2M0cljEVCODdTxrA9qqpxT5AxXuGjVtIVSTiboCu-cjc0Py0i2jtd3-nm1I286RCxnt1YRzJUzMzZPTAZBHHGwpQ/s400/DSC_0037.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563959403790284786" border="0" /></a><br />Now I need to figure out how to keep those cats far away...<br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDuCxZ_e4tKCJuN0Yy7TLV_oLVnKU_lMPZVsGoomEFWuJ0DMNGvG9VHgDD0OXLrQPdlxLcg20QmuPX0gmpvH8HjVRAUWImwF4i3O78go4MDKXv3oujdkEeaHikYDNSdzeNnKTkpg3rDg/s1600/DSC_0041.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDuCxZ_e4tKCJuN0Yy7TLV_oLVnKU_lMPZVsGoomEFWuJ0DMNGvG9VHgDD0OXLrQPdlxLcg20QmuPX0gmpvH8HjVRAUWImwF4i3O78go4MDKXv3oujdkEeaHikYDNSdzeNnKTkpg3rDg/s400/DSC_0041.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563969168443701362" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Blossom- "I just want one tiny lick, I promise"</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Jasper- "Hey, what do you have up there?"</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJGQSPqeoagHhv5EKoN_1AbpZoeb-uImIerneCsk5qIATUe242XDEOLtfQfEPCS3asU6bLtFlhu_rOvwd62oaEpifK9FF2y6a-gJwSH22oxPlZC9T7qGVRmN0WTpSnAdzjI0pVJ1fRww/s1600/DSC_0048.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJGQSPqeoagHhv5EKoN_1AbpZoeb-uImIerneCsk5qIATUe242XDEOLtfQfEPCS3asU6bLtFlhu_rOvwd62oaEpifK9FF2y6a-gJwSH22oxPlZC9T7qGVRmN0WTpSnAdzjI0pVJ1fRww/s400/DSC_0048.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563969173526287122" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Jasper- "Let me take a closer sniff, that soil needs some 'Eau de Jasper', I think"</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYzniIbh5QIR8H8w0Uk9YvtC5XWhzGJEH6U4Uu0gRROTWeuP6-RhRD13JRRH_m6jyAVwqBxcDzrc3SPzlULO6qQMFf36Zhp0_3XiluaQ00RmzqISEM3jZ5a-vTtqeyVnJI-7RDPYzRmw/s1600/DSC_0042.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYzniIbh5QIR8H8w0Uk9YvtC5XWhzGJEH6U4Uu0gRROTWeuP6-RhRD13JRRH_m6jyAVwqBxcDzrc3SPzlULO6qQMFf36Zhp0_3XiluaQ00RmzqISEM3jZ5a-vTtqeyVnJI-7RDPYzRmw/s400/DSC_0042.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563969174248650962" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Jasper- "Me, a plant killer? You must have me confused with some one else. See, I don't even care about plants!"</span>Daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08980758232167941972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489977956488610970.post-89372892301594365602010-12-10T08:47:00.014-05:002010-12-10T13:07:36.758-05:00Christmas Cards<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Every year I have a love/hate/love relationship with Christmas cards. I love to get them in the mail, but I kind of hate the process of making my own, but then I love the finished product and giving them to people. But still, it is an all day task. I have to look through our photos and decide which ones make the cut. I have to decide if we go for one family shot, or some individual shots. Usually I try to do both because a family shot rarely has the best of each person. Then I need to find a card that has enough space for all of those pictures I want to use. Additionally, there is the newsletter. Last year we wrote a letter that accompanied our card, which was a great way to share the eventful year we had, but a lot of work. So as I was pondering our choices, and even </span></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" >if</span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" > we would send a card this year, I flipped through a brochure that I got in the mail from </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery">Shutterfly</a><span style="font-family:arial;">. It seemed that they had a lot of options and cute designs that I hadn't seen in other cards. I liked this one b</span><span style="font-family:arial;">ecause it lets you use 6 pictures, which would be perfect for our family, to share one good picture of each person, and then a group shot. In fact, they have a lot of multi-picture <a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-cards">cards</a>.</span></span><br /><br /><div class="sflyProductPreviewWidget" style="width: 425px; height: 494px;"><div class="sflyProductPreviewWidgetTop" style="height: 6px; background-image: url("http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/top.gif");"></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewWidgetCenter" style="height: 482px; padding: 0pt 6px; background-image: url("http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/bg.gif"); background-repeat: repeat-y;"><div class="sflyProductPreviewLogo" style="width: 105px; height: 34px; padding: 14px 0pt 0pt 14px;"><img src="http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/logo.gif" /></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewContainer" style="height: 350px; text-align: center; padding: 0pt;"><a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery"><img src="http://images-community.shutterfly.com/prs/v1/0AZtmjls0aNWZg/0AZtmjls0aNWZupA/p/67b0de21b3127d902548/JPEG/1291997436000/0/" /></a></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewMessageContainer" style="height: 55px; background-color: rgb(244, 244, 233); text-align: center; padding: 15px 0pt; line-height: 19px;"><div class="sflyProductPreviewTitle" style="font-family: arial,sans-seris; font-size: 15px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: bold;"></div><img src="https://os.shutterfly.com/b/ss/sflyshareprod/1/H.15/111?pageName=sharekey&c1=msc&c2=blogger" border="0" height="1" width="1" /></div></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewWidgetBottom" style="height: 6px; background-image: url("http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/bottom.gif");"></div></div><br /><br /><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" >They also have many cards that have a more religious tone, which I appreciate, but am not always able to use because there usually aren't enough photo spaces, but this one actually does have plenty of photos.</span><br /><div class="sflyProductPreviewWidget" style="width: 425px; height: 494px;"><div class="sflyProductPreviewWidgetCenter" style="height: 482px; padding: 0pt 6px; background-image: url("http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/bg.gif"); background-repeat: repeat-y;"><div class="sflyProductPreviewLogo" style="width: 105px; height: 34px; padding: 14px 0pt 0pt 14px;"><img src="http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/logo.gif" /></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewContainer" style="height: 350px; text-align: center; padding: 0pt;"><a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery"><img src="http://images-community.shutterfly.com/prs/v1/0AZtmjls0aNWZg/0AZtmjls0aNWZuSg/p/67b0de21b3127d902548/JPEG/1291995415000/0/" /></a></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewMessageContainer" style="height: 55px; background-color: rgb(244, 244, 233); text-align: center; padding: 15px 0pt; line-height: 19px;"><img src="https://os.shutterfly.com/b/ss/sflyshareprod/1/H.15/111?pageName=sharekey&c1=msc&c2=blogger" border="0" height="1" width="1" /></div></div></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">And here is one that I really like because of the design </span></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" >and</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> the message.</span></span><br /><br /><div class="sflyProductPreviewWidget" style="width: 425px; height: 494px;"><div class="sflyProductPreviewWidgetTop" style="height: 6px; background-image: url("http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/top.gif");"></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewWidgetCenter" style="height: 482px; padding: 0pt 6px; background-image: url("http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/bg.gif"); background-repeat: repeat-y;"><div class="sflyProductPreviewLogo" style="width: 105px; height: 34px; padding: 14px 0pt 0pt 14px;"><img src="http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/logo.gif" /></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewContainer" style="height: 350px; text-align: center; padding: 0pt;"><a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery"><img src="http://images-community.shutterfly.com/prs/v1/0AZtmjls0aNWZg/0AZtmjls0aNWZuaA/p/67b0de21b3127d902548/JPEG/1291995729000/0/" /></a></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewMessageContainer" style="height: 55px; background-color: rgb(244, 244, 233); text-align: center; padding: 15px 0pt; line-height: 19px;"><div class="sflyProductPreviewTitle" style="font-family: arial,sans-seris; font-size: 15px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: bold;"></div></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewWidgetBottom" style="height: 6px; background-image: url("http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/bottom.gif");"></div></div></div><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">But the one that I ended up choosing* was exactly what I was looking for. It had both plenty of picture spaces, and a "Top 10" portion of the card that we could fill in(here it is a generic list, but in real life it has actual events). It would cut out writing the Christmas newsletter, but still give our far-away friends and family an update on our lives.</span><br /><br /><div class="sflyProductPreviewWidget" style="width: 425px; height: 494px;"><div class="sflyProductPreviewWidgetTop" style="height: 6px; background-image: url("http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/top.gif");"></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewWidgetCenter" style="height: 482px; padding: 0pt 6px; background-image: url("http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/bg.gif"); background-repeat: repeat-y;"><div class="sflyProductPreviewLogo" style="width: 105px; height: 34px; padding: 14px 0pt 0pt 14px;"><img src="http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/logo.gif" /></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewContainer" style="height: 350px; text-align: center; padding: 0pt;"><a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery"><img src="http://images-community.shutterfly.com/prs/v1/0AZtmjls0aNWZg/0AZtmjls0aNWZuwg/p/67b0de21b3127d902548/JPEG/1292002760000/0/" /></a></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewMessageContainer" style="height: 55px; background-color: rgb(244, 244, 233); text-align: center; padding: 15px 0pt; line-height: 19px;"><div class="sflyProductPreviewTitle" style="font-family: arial,sans-seris; font-size: 15px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: bold;"></div></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewWidgetBottom" style="height: 6px; background-image: url("http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/bottom.gif");"></div></div></div><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">After I am done designing and sending out our card, I think I will take some time to make a <a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/photo-books">photo book</a> of our summer vacation this past year, and a <a style="color: rgb(102, 51, 255);" href="http://www.shutterfly.com/calendars/desk-calendars">calendar</a><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> </span>for next year. </span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">*Even though I loved the design, I wasn't sure I was going to purchase them, but once I saw their offer for 50 free cards in return for a blog post (heavy with links), I decided to go for it. I am super-excited that I can send out the card I wanted all along.<br /><br />Also, so, so, sorry to all of you who sign up for my blog via a reader. I didn't know how to imbed the pictures of the cards into my post, so I had to have shutterfly send them and create a brand new post each time. Then I deleted them, but they still show up on the reader. So embarrassing!<br /></span></span></span>Daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08980758232167941972noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489977956488610970.post-64570297464163559082010-12-08T11:14:00.011-05:002010-12-10T13:09:01.329-05:00In which I attempt to cram 6 months of life into a post<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_8beEDqpxbMbHGqS6VSjSVApXMxUzCiPcoQPkBilDsjXfnBj0uC7KWytz3pzIxkAym1AkN7tW7S4R-cXq3fjzkcMyyCuEgELqaizdlVVZj_pr5HlOEXhuuHboVBxneC9kQDsF0EihRA/s1600/DSC_0881.JPG"><br /></a><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;" >I know, I know, you thought I'd never blog again, didn't you? Well, I kind of felt the same way myself. The funny thing about blogging, for me, is that if I start to fall behind I have a tendency to just keep putting it off. I will start my new years resolution a little earlier, and resolve to be a better blogger! With that, here is a 6 month recap.<br /><br />Previously, on this blog, it was the middle of summer vacation.<br />We spent the remainder of the summer taking weekend trips to the Jersey shore with both friends and family. We ended the summer with a fun block party where the kids enjoyed riding bikes, face painting, tie dying shirts, games and playing with their neighborhood friends.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdPRPvc5fsk3XQRw-gYelMcM89-ZaQksAjsmRUhE9YGGJEqoA3ExaLnSvaSriF5QRMX99akOlil4lZqcV9efpNLERR2VfqKt6A3iheKt3_UwDFh7hRsScMaEqcubvy2l6k6RBZYsAUbg/s1600/DSC_0438.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdPRPvc5fsk3XQRw-gYelMcM89-ZaQksAjsmRUhE9YGGJEqoA3ExaLnSvaSriF5QRMX99akOlil4lZqcV9efpNLERR2VfqKt6A3iheKt3_UwDFh7hRsScMaEqcubvy2l6k6RBZYsAUbg/s400/DSC_0438.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548372413920095458" border="0" /></a></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzIx2JA84iT_ejALo9ZZ4KRu0uoUoTHLF0Sv7LXftd80kzxMmLDvKRTZW7CaOFGDOe5kb0g37VA3bUWYHop8vq2aF3v0zREdGd9MfsNuCFI157mKOwyPdt223MS7YhObAKJNCAiHeifg/s1600/DSC_0338.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzIx2JA84iT_ejALo9ZZ4KRu0uoUoTHLF0Sv7LXftd80kzxMmLDvKRTZW7CaOFGDOe5kb0g37VA3bUWYHop8vq2aF3v0zREdGd9MfsNuCFI157mKOwyPdt223MS7YhObAKJNCAiHeifg/s400/DSC_0338.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548372400080990546" border="0" /></a></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;" ><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghJv4cCQTBMN46XJsn6kH8f687W0U7AICuidSah5VLCKWKifR7BVpc0ttKsg6FXa0wIvF6S2JG0IVFGIbH8Y4bwIT5SOzeLMd6toHAzBE098xIfkETT-AdmLjt8CIJwSpRJNDL_iBjQw/s1600/DSC_0967.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghJv4cCQTBMN46XJsn6kH8f687W0U7AICuidSah5VLCKWKifR7BVpc0ttKsg6FXa0wIvF6S2JG0IVFGIbH8Y4bwIT5SOzeLMd6toHAzBE098xIfkETT-AdmLjt8CIJwSpRJNDL_iBjQw/s400/DSC_0967.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548376820178654514" border="0" /></a></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;" ><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_-ZsZfiYrI4x55PDWs78gNqfsheT7sivchYL3tj-k1SJU04cwu_GJfhwYcSTkK5lBqJzl53w1vQu6k_dM0jA_3cRGTGWSsKCdFuolufZTkzcq7GDdJpprt1c_bLnk-uh7BuwQ_4oCpQ/s1600/DSC_0964.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_-ZsZfiYrI4x55PDWs78gNqfsheT7sivchYL3tj-k1SJU04cwu_GJfhwYcSTkK5lBqJzl53w1vQu6k_dM0jA_3cRGTGWSsKCdFuolufZTkzcq7GDdJpprt1c_bLnk-uh7BuwQ_4oCpQ/s400/DSC_0964.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548376831450128274" border="0" /></a></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;" ><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFa7fAZoxaOnNcGgC0U6ivjbMZFaXkDbDF8RRVGXrutZKW8v_LPz8bFu4bJ2BPYCkPNm4BCoArpDEr_QlPZVNhdJ_WoNVLrzVCU3dcNNmZCz6tNF3xd3uYroSQSY-N1gjHGJdUuBODWQ/s1600/DSC_0963.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFa7fAZoxaOnNcGgC0U6ivjbMZFaXkDbDF8RRVGXrutZKW8v_LPz8bFu4bJ2BPYCkPNm4BCoArpDEr_QlPZVNhdJ_WoNVLrzVCU3dcNNmZCz6tNF3xd3uYroSQSY-N1gjHGJdUuBODWQ/s400/DSC_0963.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548376839086271250" border="0" /></a></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;" ><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnuwYT_hRVVrhWHJ4XVppwgY1HB0hjaQJq1QfeD792PsuAI-MyeI8dA0pe9O3CDqLszA-LKSgcCQBcFoZLQDwKYWUIgbhOVkwwJ4o3PhM2zu9gksVnS_VRniLV8y8yBh9KN_nF6Gjb9g/s1600/DSC_1002.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnuwYT_hRVVrhWHJ4XVppwgY1HB0hjaQJq1QfeD792PsuAI-MyeI8dA0pe9O3CDqLszA-LKSgcCQBcFoZLQDwKYWUIgbhOVkwwJ4o3PhM2zu9gksVnS_VRniLV8y8yBh9KN_nF6Gjb9g/s400/DSC_1002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548377582746791330" border="0" /></a></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;" ><br /><br />We also took a weekend long trip to Benton Pa with my family. It was a bittersweet weekend, as we had originally planned this trip for the weekend that my dad went into hospice. As soon as we arrived on the farm, we knew that it was the kind of place Dad would have loved. It had rolling fields, and a little pond to swim in, as well as plenty of room for our family to play games and eat meals together. His absence was keenly felt, and we enjoyed reminiscing over the years we have had as a family as well as making new memories with each other. The kids loved playing with their cousins in the pond, on the trampoline, and, strangely enough, the marble run was a favorite with them all. It was also a little break for Ed, who had an extremely busy summer and fall at his company, and he was unable to take off more than a couple days at a time. He really enjoyed having some downtime to spend with me and the kids.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhItCAw3ZYxpJjvAzKrLoOp_gmIj9heNnAsrNpcjOjIfRZgsDJfeh3EHiKZeSdz2X8w8jS9PKyy5u40tj5zoTHY98OPUGEnuMZG-Zv6jZBcxe-lqm4ObrA47RHfJ2yQ3RdPuHYm40KIrA/s1600/DSC_0592.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhItCAw3ZYxpJjvAzKrLoOp_gmIj9heNnAsrNpcjOjIfRZgsDJfeh3EHiKZeSdz2X8w8jS9PKyy5u40tj5zoTHY98OPUGEnuMZG-Zv6jZBcxe-lqm4ObrA47RHfJ2yQ3RdPuHYm40KIrA/s400/DSC_0592.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548372430622066946" border="0" /></a></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;" ><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5oDRkCFVCDlu_QGpnJC0OSJ1ZCYAeAkhHka3gwwxhSXdDFzYO_yNLqs2iojoAbi1jPqg8L82H2JEA-HLS8ZZb12Cedyy99uXa6ksYRmEPafLxqyXm-xsv3qPWXFcthHqlvK_oYUa5iw/s1600/DSC_0603.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5oDRkCFVCDlu_QGpnJC0OSJ1ZCYAeAkhHka3gwwxhSXdDFzYO_yNLqs2iojoAbi1jPqg8L82H2JEA-HLS8ZZb12Cedyy99uXa6ksYRmEPafLxqyXm-xsv3qPWXFcthHqlvK_oYUa5iw/s400/DSC_0603.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548372442968116754" border="0" /></a></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;" ><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqRwxCiHDl4c8YCKZH4Ge1NcbUGrr82o1tnDg5ej-CGAhBBOU0EKX7Y_0JCCR_kW6DaMbQOSzYrA_Pj18u7plcMqtqD_KpVIv9pM0AqD0dlZhhyKPnj6cOtaSTL27bdMR70Y7vz3IX1w/s1600/DSC_0622.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqRwxCiHDl4c8YCKZH4Ge1NcbUGrr82o1tnDg5ej-CGAhBBOU0EKX7Y_0JCCR_kW6DaMbQOSzYrA_Pj18u7plcMqtqD_KpVIv9pM0AqD0dlZhhyKPnj6cOtaSTL27bdMR70Y7vz3IX1w/s400/DSC_0622.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548373926692487986" border="0" /></a></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;" ><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5qBIoiIoXn9wJ0hhvD6wQrWYpt11_Atxs8SZVWY1PE7269910H7ZeeYkea94K7k9PS_7wPcCzVYSrBQCMoVJaxCNh0URqZXO8IkMyNpeel1yaXHyfDAXTTAFvRBZ5GLsbHtfFULhBxA/s1600/DSC_0668.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5qBIoiIoXn9wJ0hhvD6wQrWYpt11_Atxs8SZVWY1PE7269910H7ZeeYkea94K7k9PS_7wPcCzVYSrBQCMoVJaxCNh0URqZXO8IkMyNpeel1yaXHyfDAXTTAFvRBZ5GLsbHtfFULhBxA/s400/DSC_0668.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548373932382224386" border="0" /></a></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;" ><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPmBFDqf1BvBXkotBtB2aBXK9v-BPzWjmhdkuVI8QhUCHqqLgs1yK9L00tZg12G_VxDvDEcp9hsZzLKzLMehCOOmFCsVnrMqTrwAHkBI9_E3i73y-o3Ve12pPAdVhH9NqLk7UwhM0QIw/s1600/DSC_0682.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPmBFDqf1BvBXkotBtB2aBXK9v-BPzWjmhdkuVI8QhUCHqqLgs1yK9L00tZg12G_VxDvDEcp9hsZzLKzLMehCOOmFCsVnrMqTrwAHkBI9_E3i73y-o3Ve12pPAdVhH9NqLk7UwhM0QIw/s400/DSC_0682.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548373938723215730" border="0" /></a></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;" ><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5w1RX-Thad8i0mRNO6GlAsSJrCEeYYgmr2p9PN5YCjHdKXZKIrJB-ONmRVySsrHw8Qy9xGezpGc5JjHPEUaDrMAol3-JvWlxS_HwRdXnAZ5EF31s-k6_bTj8rL4njAvxRGvQsn06hsg/s1600/DSC_0612.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5w1RX-Thad8i0mRNO6GlAsSJrCEeYYgmr2p9PN5YCjHdKXZKIrJB-ONmRVySsrHw8Qy9xGezpGc5JjHPEUaDrMAol3-JvWlxS_HwRdXnAZ5EF31s-k6_bTj8rL4njAvxRGvQsn06hsg/s400/DSC_0612.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548372455099890898" border="0" /></a></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;" ><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdw-kEmRkh3pB6ens7wJcPfZYRyNaR4QNVHtfKYCnX8a6i48-FaIAlU8kNerZYKFrCqF73rTYZd6ijS1VokDMdXAKyRjZ9Iugj_vhxoUyxidljVJ_LhQ92OZ-RKwVb_is9V6KbOnFCDA/s1600/DSC_0708.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdw-kEmRkh3pB6ens7wJcPfZYRyNaR4QNVHtfKYCnX8a6i48-FaIAlU8kNerZYKFrCqF73rTYZd6ijS1VokDMdXAKyRjZ9Iugj_vhxoUyxidljVJ_LhQ92OZ-RKwVb_is9V6KbOnFCDA/s400/DSC_0708.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548373949756541362" border="0" /></a></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;" ><br />The start of the school year meant that the activity level picked up again. E started 4th grade, N started 1st grade, and KK was so proud to begin going to school as well. I took on the care of another little boy, in addition to the children I had watched last year and their new baby sister. Our days and weeks have been packed with soccer, piano, dance, and kids clubs at church. Our lives are very full right now, and I am truly thankful to the Lord for his daily measure of strength and patience for me.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvc1WrfBPY1yFG0nJdGWbAypYpPF681q293gfgG5F7aZ_lkaUAiQM4O9PhkfV2g3HtTMHJXDzopdbbl8VAAh2ZESFymQBKxzK4pjSLa7enZwdJ9jalEVqDad7DF7ZntgVIClL4T_5TNw/s1600/DSC_0811.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvc1WrfBPY1yFG0nJdGWbAypYpPF681q293gfgG5F7aZ_lkaUAiQM4O9PhkfV2g3HtTMHJXDzopdbbl8VAAh2ZESFymQBKxzK4pjSLa7enZwdJ9jalEVqDad7DF7ZntgVIClL4T_5TNw/s400/DSC_0811.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548376799445533666" border="0" /></a></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;" ><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDBpqEDHSB6KzLHVYbObiukf2wg5IiY7k01W59e9Z8wjJ43ygC-WQSxfgvcJKmNugLW0i7HZxn-SyKgNVLb6rtIZVcJbHQW-o6ZErkkE-EgOMLZ_cC7sYS3VcbW2axYGGAEu0LdyYi-Q/s1600/DSC_0808.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDBpqEDHSB6KzLHVYbObiukf2wg5IiY7k01W59e9Z8wjJ43ygC-WQSxfgvcJKmNugLW0i7HZxn-SyKgNVLb6rtIZVcJbHQW-o6ZErkkE-EgOMLZ_cC7sYS3VcbW2axYGGAEu0LdyYi-Q/s400/DSC_0808.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548376810949228850" border="0" /></a></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;" ><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnGNGlP-w6toxTPnm57OEglDlHEO_jxUlMbXCdm3dKdTeFd3EOMuDAaxtCu_BqgPryPiRMRbbAXBHS6S7Nkia_0bDulEt91xYVd2IueioR0dMDDWJa8cQgDTgFBdavFMFjTfJZZNYKMg/s1600/DSC_0935.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnGNGlP-w6toxTPnm57OEglDlHEO_jxUlMbXCdm3dKdTeFd3EOMuDAaxtCu_BqgPryPiRMRbbAXBHS6S7Nkia_0bDulEt91xYVd2IueioR0dMDDWJa8cQgDTgFBdavFMFjTfJZZNYKMg/s400/DSC_0935.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548375206127894450" border="0" /></a></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;" ><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYO5GbML1nQkIC-2It6jHODhyzIqaQgq0dIUaFuiFUT3vRTFgbGK4AwPaYaDe_HEnl64ToFOA8WlVE1-OVMJcq3FCvuYAVbjlkKDUHBdFH3CfYeEWywPN57YKdJkhbLsAsjGLDahXXVQ/s1600/DSC_1086.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYO5GbML1nQkIC-2It6jHODhyzIqaQgq0dIUaFuiFUT3vRTFgbGK4AwPaYaDe_HEnl64ToFOA8WlVE1-OVMJcq3FCvuYAVbjlkKDUHBdFH3CfYeEWywPN57YKdJkhbLsAsjGLDahXXVQ/s400/DSC_1086.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548377619948770402" border="0" /></a></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;" ><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbEMq7mxWV9YoWPpN7x7ZfwlTyWZ4tFkrK4kntkL9Ticni9OwwX8MSsYS9GkbqWoJb7aFopaU1ZLlL3infhK0SjOcuI9aSoeVIsn6QBRFcyEGKvNjxc95CSDLvJrkd-4XKGQEPqcPo8Q/s1600/DSC_0115.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbEMq7mxWV9YoWPpN7x7ZfwlTyWZ4tFkrK4kntkL9Ticni9OwwX8MSsYS9GkbqWoJb7aFopaU1ZLlL3infhK0SjOcuI9aSoeVIsn6QBRFcyEGKvNjxc95CSDLvJrkd-4XKGQEPqcPo8Q/s400/DSC_0115.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548378921280153058" border="0" /></a></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;" ><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz8PAZWaKfWPvdT9XDW0iUk_klL-VnOl70Q6dcpOwysECwHhg3na9k7aj4ti7_S7m3Jj-6CW3MyZ6v5tzsou7ivEsV7VMTa3SAQ-BXTkkClP1MWASDTYGDkL20yyElAtyuf6TqoUAHGA/s1600/DSC_0902.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz8PAZWaKfWPvdT9XDW0iUk_klL-VnOl70Q6dcpOwysECwHhg3na9k7aj4ti7_S7m3Jj-6CW3MyZ6v5tzsou7ivEsV7VMTa3SAQ-BXTkkClP1MWASDTYGDkL20yyElAtyuf6TqoUAHGA/s400/DSC_0902.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548375194042397042" border="0" /></a></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;" ><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3X7YMrtlb1ylkYIjRM1bmEJMtkgTzzn6BK2G6w92_hXwgvS8fzgQqmkBKmfbCzokqTOe-F6YK2ti4QmtT6zk-HsuWofW9ZKCr2dnoT2vFDAZ1zdnn9-JURo-vHJg6XQxmbUiALYXdgA/s1600/DSC_1037.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3X7YMrtlb1ylkYIjRM1bmEJMtkgTzzn6BK2G6w92_hXwgvS8fzgQqmkBKmfbCzokqTOe-F6YK2ti4QmtT6zk-HsuWofW9ZKCr2dnoT2vFDAZ1zdnn9-JURo-vHJg6XQxmbUiALYXdgA/s400/DSC_1037.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548377588703626578" border="0" /></a></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;" ><br /><br />In addition to our traditional fall activities of apple picking in September, and pumpkin picking in October, we took our first tent-camping trip as a family. We went with another family to Rickett's Glen. It was a really fun weekend, and we enjoyed hiking the waterfall trail with all the kids, as well as the campfires and time spent with our new friends. We are planning more camping trips for the spring and next fall. The kids really look forward to these things every year, and I think it is an important part of childhood to have these traditional family events that they can depend on.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Xn6aQzcROJwyEZ0CHX3QBAUYfgUUVVcuh3ARuayyY7GP22kiH6rfh1aSdsvY6ny0FKneq2lce0GM9CmTTdTDA5DoCOF-zf1SyNx410LNpeZ2SEVbwD1uSvDmt1xfmtzTucWusvGPSw/s1600/DSC_0820.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Xn6aQzcROJwyEZ0CHX3QBAUYfgUUVVcuh3ARuayyY7GP22kiH6rfh1aSdsvY6ny0FKneq2lce0GM9CmTTdTDA5DoCOF-zf1SyNx410LNpeZ2SEVbwD1uSvDmt1xfmtzTucWusvGPSw/s400/DSC_0820.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548375166219380386" border="0" /></a></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;" ><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_8beEDqpxbMbHGqS6VSjSVApXMxUzCiPcoQPkBilDsjXfnBj0uC7KWytz3pzIxkAym1AkN7tW7S4R-cXq3fjzkcMyyCuEgELqaizdlVVZj_pr5HlOEXhuuHboVBxneC9kQDsF0EihRA/s1600/DSC_0881.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_8beEDqpxbMbHGqS6VSjSVApXMxUzCiPcoQPkBilDsjXfnBj0uC7KWytz3pzIxkAym1AkN7tW7S4R-cXq3fjzkcMyyCuEgELqaizdlVVZj_pr5HlOEXhuuHboVBxneC9kQDsF0EihRA/s400/DSC_0881.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548384895454922402" border="0" /></a></span> <span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;" ><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIKKxBmt0zkF-Hs1Zsj5f_EgMu92cyW9UWN81G4VKeQaEP76ABkozCTJaFL_1eVUBbaN4RSLdaR7v77aQB0DPSgqYFYYUGsCUvUxnRtuQPt7Duv3wNmg4-Y_v1Wet_3wcH6EqxTxw3Nw/s1600/DSC_0879.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIKKxBmt0zkF-Hs1Zsj5f_EgMu92cyW9UWN81G4VKeQaEP76ABkozCTJaFL_1eVUBbaN4RSLdaR7v77aQB0DPSgqYFYYUGsCUvUxnRtuQPt7Duv3wNmg4-Y_v1Wet_3wcH6EqxTxw3Nw/s400/DSC_0879.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548384891172853426" border="0" /></a></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;" ><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKJV3Vw-TVraDhApkHp3vg7QspfS25Q6DziFBaUlZ38roe519vh8DTPBUr8KQ-zwFBbxrDfvefd-K0kg3bZ5YnS1GTRYmxbE3P1TDWmUdtAcoExtzxPJCzAwqxqLJCj_a_LctJc4_6BA/s1600/DSC_0872.JPG"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9SpJ1bXiohDjIQo4hQOJ-n_f-1AIJ1mRgXFriuYxZgLrUTcdi6NXlQkkG-AYxNVIW0GwyI_NmsCcpo1qhXIwmhWTW6doq0CgTlA46I8KJ-Ke0y9ZAUpCN56bFMx3Kga_jBRHfCRfddA/s1600/DSC_1048.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9SpJ1bXiohDjIQo4hQOJ-n_f-1AIJ1mRgXFriuYxZgLrUTcdi6NXlQkkG-AYxNVIW0GwyI_NmsCcpo1qhXIwmhWTW6doq0CgTlA46I8KJ-Ke0y9ZAUpCN56bFMx3Kga_jBRHfCRfddA/s400/DSC_1048.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548377594923293298" border="0" /></a></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;" ><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6u03rOwVK-emN9JUz169lokABijVF_zpoH7Divy0cmnt2wmUmz3oyltqS2Jxhj58Svy45Jifzj6COdau7KZQ0423J56bVZKQYz4zi1PObfexDL6pIDu4ZUkIiHMJCbaL9leTBZnuT6w/s1600/DSC_1054.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6u03rOwVK-emN9JUz169lokABijVF_zpoH7Divy0cmnt2wmUmz3oyltqS2Jxhj58Svy45Jifzj6COdau7KZQ0423J56bVZKQYz4zi1PObfexDL6pIDu4ZUkIiHMJCbaL9leTBZnuT6w/s400/DSC_1054.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548377611938912178" border="0" /></a></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;" ><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Q36mgbB9xNtbj3r-4ehp2aEuL2eR52VlnxdVm73-htfxqY8V6VCb8Yp5BQvZwVfj_Eh4nlokgfDgHTGjt8IoOdVeicxA-bbz3pSePmVCPlyxFUiolTzyhVOh7zcKkHCcgmFiudGnBw/s1600/DSC_1157.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Q36mgbB9xNtbj3r-4ehp2aEuL2eR52VlnxdVm73-htfxqY8V6VCb8Yp5BQvZwVfj_Eh4nlokgfDgHTGjt8IoOdVeicxA-bbz3pSePmVCPlyxFUiolTzyhVOh7zcKkHCcgmFiudGnBw/s400/DSC_1157.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548378877037052130" border="0" /></a></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;" ><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTkzXVXyGe1gEA3odQ5kc6HYy6ntG-jCIg6p6ipArXK0v-HC7R1CtzYURoPI8fLkgtNQBIYXiaLRQZcT4OZu4I0Yt5SIfiJ81s7aS6-bEaOscCN-dK8Cnhae0ihHVjVAKDOQVI4pK8Ig/s1600/DSC_1164.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTkzXVXyGe1gEA3odQ5kc6HYy6ntG-jCIg6p6ipArXK0v-HC7R1CtzYURoPI8fLkgtNQBIYXiaLRQZcT4OZu4I0Yt5SIfiJ81s7aS6-bEaOscCN-dK8Cnhae0ihHVjVAKDOQVI4pK8Ig/s400/DSC_1164.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548378886243393378" border="0" /></a></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;" ><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQmvt-I5_lxb4VRXXHy2Pj1pbM5e4K0KrwS25keqqFGzaEXQSisG39p29FPFNgEUoyE_i1wpJdB9yWH3x6qz_3ZWkC7T8DAVJCF4XTd5nnzqpjTe0ul7jUjTQdKMl2WXue6129SgK5qg/s1600/DSC_1185.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQmvt-I5_lxb4VRXXHy2Pj1pbM5e4K0KrwS25keqqFGzaEXQSisG39p29FPFNgEUoyE_i1wpJdB9yWH3x6qz_3ZWkC7T8DAVJCF4XTd5nnzqpjTe0ul7jUjTQdKMl2WXue6129SgK5qg/s400/DSC_1185.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548378895521488562" border="0" /></a></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;" ><br />Now we are in the advent season. With only a little over 2 weeks left until Christmas, we decorated our tree and the kids are enjoying their advent calendar chocolate each day. We are a little behind on lighting the candles on the advent wreath, as we just made one this past Sunday at church, but at least it is made and displayed in our dining room, ready to light this Sunday. I will try to have at least one more post before Christmas, but you know how hectic the holiday season can be...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig4B2ytoE4w3uBlzKW80_PLyOwwHUG7-jrGdMrYo_iTRS56j0ImmuHnUUZ4dg9EPMS5YTUF94bvSQZ1lkWMmVDlmBdQotbx9VUNyaGvlneViixn8HFfy5tUaf2P4GcvXs4UcUtgmVYpw/s1600/DSC_0321.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig4B2ytoE4w3uBlzKW80_PLyOwwHUG7-jrGdMrYo_iTRS56j0ImmuHnUUZ4dg9EPMS5YTUF94bvSQZ1lkWMmVDlmBdQotbx9VUNyaGvlneViixn8HFfy5tUaf2P4GcvXs4UcUtgmVYpw/s400/DSC_0321.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548378924981628370" border="0" /></a></span>Daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08980758232167941972noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489977956488610970.post-38605723874801926602010-07-29T18:09:00.007-04:002010-07-29T18:48:37.290-04:00Writing Camp<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1J_fFWf2L-t2HvFTa4fRArAuULuQjPfxnHtSUcuTiWBcTlUZUaZOMQnj4bI9OJgTAr9tDKNO6hKPFMFUN4gcy_IBlvZatdA3Y7SMYQVMSdv7mIcd1ANJ-7K_22uJSakAoSM6AEX05vw/s1600/DSC_0035.JPG"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDOtq1GxRe3MDi3f3xXDbyMaDLN99TerPatoT2P5uCFDOZICDXBh0fqHWcbLUvnZ7LCHfHenGTVHm2hdlXM67ZBoTDA7tq7J9FaNgykeDdG6ESM-LCDH4EBNakuvMqkG4YdYTCJUdBPw/s1600/DSC_0788.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDOtq1GxRe3MDi3f3xXDbyMaDLN99TerPatoT2P5uCFDOZICDXBh0fqHWcbLUvnZ7LCHfHenGTVHm2hdlXM67ZBoTDA7tq7J9FaNgykeDdG6ESM-LCDH4EBNakuvMqkG4YdYTCJUdBPw/s400/DSC_0788.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499461416632194802" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">E has always been a writer, ever since she could put together letters into words she has written stories, letters, journals. So it didn't surprise me when E's teacher recommended that she attend a </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.wcupa.edu/_academics/writing.prj/youthprograms.asp">writing camp</a><span style="font-family: arial;"> this summer. We signed her up for one that was called "Nature Journaling" that took place on the grounds of </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.highlandshistorical.org/">Highland Mansion</a><span style="font-family: arial;">. She will never be a kid who would go to a soccer or basketball camp, running around in the hot sun. And I have to say, in this she is my daughter. I knew that she would enjoy writing camp, because I would have loved it myself. My sisters and I were laughing, because they could never imagine wanting to go to a writing camp and I could never imagine wanting to go to a sports camp. What is a fun time to them is torture for me, and vice versa. Anyway, E was in her element as each morning she had different lessons that incorporated both writing and drawing.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">The last day of camp the parents were able to come and take a tour of the grounds, which </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: arial;font-size:130%;" >I</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> was excited about, since we hadn't been able to when we went there for our family </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://mangotango328.blogspot.com/2009/11/family-photoshoot.html">photo shoot</a><span style="font-family: arial;">. I loved walking around and taking pictures, and E loved giving us the tour. It would be a great place for a wedding/reception, I will have to file this away for the future.</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1J_fFWf2L-t2HvFTa4fRArAuULuQjPfxnHtSUcuTiWBcTlUZUaZOMQnj4bI9OJgTAr9tDKNO6hKPFMFUN4gcy_IBlvZatdA3Y7SMYQVMSdv7mIcd1ANJ-7K_22uJSakAoSM6AEX05vw/s1600/DSC_0035.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1J_fFWf2L-t2HvFTa4fRArAuULuQjPfxnHtSUcuTiWBcTlUZUaZOMQnj4bI9OJgTAr9tDKNO6hKPFMFUN4gcy_IBlvZatdA3Y7SMYQVMSdv7mIcd1ANJ-7K_22uJSakAoSM6AEX05vw/s400/DSC_0035.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499461428267894226" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJcvynT8g4Yc7nqSv-Jg-AOh0eNszyo1_04Y3AKrwGCDFEHSpYYPHTdcNBXb0mMmbMfy3x4Q9Puy2cWJQ9yuka1fTdjqo8Aq2mEZinYFsCeBeke2_3H699XgN9-xkpuyYosEHNUglFGA/s1600/DSC_0045.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJcvynT8g4Yc7nqSv-Jg-AOh0eNszyo1_04Y3AKrwGCDFEHSpYYPHTdcNBXb0mMmbMfy3x4Q9Puy2cWJQ9yuka1fTdjqo8Aq2mEZinYFsCeBeke2_3H699XgN9-xkpuyYosEHNUglFGA/s400/DSC_0045.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499461438840834786" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKrQSLZAM0qi5s9NiG36vPry-bsR4Z1diKPkRqRh3nc3u9JP6bnkS1AM8IK7ORpG-FZAviTsdfjo4Uwxiw_xj6Ke-wlV58W46i97-zTCI7xxmugVuWwgUtEu_iG3N7MtZ-JuLENxCRAA/s1600/DSC_0048.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKrQSLZAM0qi5s9NiG36vPry-bsR4Z1diKPkRqRh3nc3u9JP6bnkS1AM8IK7ORpG-FZAviTsdfjo4Uwxiw_xj6Ke-wlV58W46i97-zTCI7xxmugVuWwgUtEu_iG3N7MtZ-JuLENxCRAA/s400/DSC_0048.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499461446616519650" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0xd7gY20ZIj6ldSm42cjdZkFEtThCXbzbykhHsqE3zc79hSloaXMlKsAVkZB0LrEez065KVP5VP50zrPuZvXOWDNqBC3R9N2fUcSy6Nzfc4WHCFctOiZ-JPfBjPxwydcPmjl8KULJ7w/s1600/DSC_0053.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0xd7gY20ZIj6ldSm42cjdZkFEtThCXbzbykhHsqE3zc79hSloaXMlKsAVkZB0LrEez065KVP5VP50zrPuZvXOWDNqBC3R9N2fUcSy6Nzfc4WHCFctOiZ-JPfBjPxwydcPmjl8KULJ7w/s400/DSC_0053.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499461463741627186" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXTS2_2N_Di7qfx7a-ZBaF134MuSpn4QgFJ8jImGMVbyDXIeFR-y2fx5Dsg5q0ByzK5Pi7hyphenhyphenJgLSLshnSwGHxq6fvwm0d9FPkW8QradMk0LYTldLAHqbcNrnyGTU33NTX_ND2H1z2yQg/s1600/DSC_0056.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXTS2_2N_Di7qfx7a-ZBaF134MuSpn4QgFJ8jImGMVbyDXIeFR-y2fx5Dsg5q0ByzK5Pi7hyphenhyphenJgLSLshnSwGHxq6fvwm0d9FPkW8QradMk0LYTldLAHqbcNrnyGTU33NTX_ND2H1z2yQg/s400/DSC_0056.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499462291258316258" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8TL4r7NtohfDCc0yv-Ycl8-7jIeNt5plSHjbVP1I3hzV-EnuKNnzVE1seznWn009EEV3xoiqslVcnGnyjh89OtPYmVYVlDqwJcxyyXi2iH2mFmkXn3s4WSccSv9Z6ubdHcat4RuxGHA/s1600/DSC_0057.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8TL4r7NtohfDCc0yv-Ycl8-7jIeNt5plSHjbVP1I3hzV-EnuKNnzVE1seznWn009EEV3xoiqslVcnGnyjh89OtPYmVYVlDqwJcxyyXi2iH2mFmkXn3s4WSccSv9Z6ubdHcat4RuxGHA/s400/DSC_0057.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499462303281754194" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkR5Hj50IBLuIEyWfzAn3eambrfE1J0iyuNzNRXrHzHhQaTPL4mx34cmid6ybqwU-g0e2X91qyeXUl48Ggkqd14MYEaHoqSkUXSD6-6fbmbKKz-CKPvSi2mFRBGEjz0Z321iD7KrIJKw/s1600/DSC_0061.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkR5Hj50IBLuIEyWfzAn3eambrfE1J0iyuNzNRXrHzHhQaTPL4mx34cmid6ybqwU-g0e2X91qyeXUl48Ggkqd14MYEaHoqSkUXSD6-6fbmbKKz-CKPvSi2mFRBGEjz0Z321iD7KrIJKw/s400/DSC_0061.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499462322514083906" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqPBOCIHo8j6oSO6W15YHxm14HbRj1O0aUjGKtdo-LVBRAbxeb2LrLNZa4yl6-Mt-qD_1xdftQelLenoh25Zhu-q_BwkIIWwCue43IVVz2VqDiiNVv2t4E3TmdTvqhags3Nm5xrHGTYw/s1600/DSC_0064.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqPBOCIHo8j6oSO6W15YHxm14HbRj1O0aUjGKtdo-LVBRAbxeb2LrLNZa4yl6-Mt-qD_1xdftQelLenoh25Zhu-q_BwkIIWwCue43IVVz2VqDiiNVv2t4E3TmdTvqhags3Nm5xrHGTYw/s400/DSC_0064.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499462331450166098" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXiagiV4IDOj1DqRTibCmb4kABFjhWj51ww_TOh6_w_UvN7ZyxnRXp7o5b_P637bpKcscDSxTGjL-nRZLLtOjPbmF16vIK_H-B2z8v8MbqyeReubnF_EMqe53jjoJbWVpkJW3Ie8-3eg/s1600/DSC_0068.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXiagiV4IDOj1DqRTibCmb4kABFjhWj51ww_TOh6_w_UvN7ZyxnRXp7o5b_P637bpKcscDSxTGjL-nRZLLtOjPbmF16vIK_H-B2z8v8MbqyeReubnF_EMqe53jjoJbWVpkJW3Ie8-3eg/s400/DSC_0068.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499462834335580050" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3WKoZKfxeDS9uARhtmgDrmdxYhlsfne-ZhX_UX_2mNlVC4w2gKkAd60Yol2aHBEJulzV8VfDovgBhBSbIqHr85f7jGM4dOfhImCwCjETFaLixM-zyFEMGiNKB5WTa_YTSfWmpA5RgmQ/s1600/DSC_0069.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3WKoZKfxeDS9uARhtmgDrmdxYhlsfne-ZhX_UX_2mNlVC4w2gKkAd60Yol2aHBEJulzV8VfDovgBhBSbIqHr85f7jGM4dOfhImCwCjETFaLixM-zyFEMGiNKB5WTa_YTSfWmpA5RgmQ/s400/DSC_0069.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499462843878463938" border="0" /></a>Daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08980758232167941972noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489977956488610970.post-83869711981813144632010-07-26T19:59:00.003-04:002010-07-26T20:05:50.277-04:00Slip Slidin' AwayThis week's <a href="http://sailorandcompany.blogspot.com/2010/07/rawe-26.html">raw(e) challenge</a> is to open up your 2nd folder, and pick the 6th picture and post it. I usually make a folder for each month of a calendar year and then stick the pictures in it, after that month is over. So the top folders right now are from early July. This picture was taken when my good friend Jess and her kids stopped in for a visit. They had a lot of fun on the slip n slide that day...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIkCxD4yCzlMx2SN5M6ZhccD5AcYzkgXwBEFz9XgOAiaJx75yLzGEnLXDIwOmp0vqs5bw4dezTVGIC1r35KDF5_AHQJ7v1EkVLkwIYefVGC_DRjeLdhrjpjrIOUKfA0NWQdQ4f2of3ww/s1600/DSC_0625.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIkCxD4yCzlMx2SN5M6ZhccD5AcYzkgXwBEFz9XgOAiaJx75yLzGEnLXDIwOmp0vqs5bw4dezTVGIC1r35KDF5_AHQJ7v1EkVLkwIYefVGC_DRjeLdhrjpjrIOUKfA0NWQdQ4f2of3ww/s400/DSC_0625.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498370130514332754" border="0" /></a>Daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08980758232167941972noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489977956488610970.post-7032505722567652442010-07-14T15:25:00.007-04:002010-07-15T03:23:24.458-04:00lego cupcakesMy latest entry in the <a href="http://sailorandcompany.blogspot.com/2010/07/rawe-desserts.html">raw(e)</a> challenge:<br />The subject is dessert, so I decided to enter this picture of the lego cupcakes I made for <a href="http://mangotango328.blogspot.com/2010/04/lego-party.html">N's party</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPsWUAtdJuwqOJwuyirfwZghG4J4WeMkycan5I9KXDXRdWBrCigueRlYeYqYh20BnJBiyk7l3XNXcGSzvaIqoSoNOAHi9m21miQrKm1ob6h1L6PwR38KhvlKH2bpxrFy3gMG9xAzKWRQ/s1600/DSC_1476.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPsWUAtdJuwqOJwuyirfwZghG4J4WeMkycan5I9KXDXRdWBrCigueRlYeYqYh20BnJBiyk7l3XNXcGSzvaIqoSoNOAHi9m21miQrKm1ob6h1L6PwR38KhvlKH2bpxrFy3gMG9xAzKWRQ/s400/DSC_1476.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493849095786298978" border="0" /></a>Daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08980758232167941972noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489977956488610970.post-84437270741905470392010-07-09T16:31:00.006-04:002011-09-28T16:09:25.880-04:00July 4th<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGDv4i4nAacQxYzzwUCvTS2scQv1JRIUBRJ4ywD28aUuwe0JOqJqtk2XAuaBus9PEM34gPcpk-8r3d1Nydn-wKeITanNpwIKMiMPcU7pqoA97hAPmb17lREoPq76bs5FFXDsieqVX7Aw/s1600/DSC_0637.JPG"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikrLjnLl9ndOXHOFLkUX0xtSFikBn33_nih-NhI-qf7FRsHKGESiwj19eagFzYrlxomuXf-Fts2MV9omhPFWp_PQ-_r8Y3eNyj5YR1jux6cLUQ1JducGiJ6ibCvVOcST1XtYJbwSb3Nw/s1600/DSC_0636.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikrLjnLl9ndOXHOFLkUX0xtSFikBn33_nih-NhI-qf7FRsHKGESiwj19eagFzYrlxomuXf-Fts2MV9omhPFWp_PQ-_r8Y3eNyj5YR1jux6cLUQ1JducGiJ6ibCvVOcST1XtYJbwSb3Nw/s400/DSC_0636.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493857533161663570" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This year we decided to stay home for the Fourth, since we had been away the past two years. I love the festive feel of the holiday, and it was really nice to celebrate in Glenside again. We started off the day at church with a joint service where the energy of the worship was awesome. Then I went to my mom's house to get the house ready for the picnic. We moved tables and chairs up to the porch, made flower arrangements, and gallons of lemonade.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGDv4i4nAacQxYzzwUCvTS2scQv1JRIUBRJ4ywD28aUuwe0JOqJqtk2XAuaBus9PEM34gPcpk-8r3d1Nydn-wKeITanNpwIKMiMPcU7pqoA97hAPmb17lREoPq76bs5FFXDsieqVX7Aw/s1600/DSC_0637.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGDv4i4nAacQxYzzwUCvTS2scQv1JRIUBRJ4ywD28aUuwe0JOqJqtk2XAuaBus9PEM34gPcpk-8r3d1Nydn-wKeITanNpwIKMiMPcU7pqoA97hAPmb17lREoPq76bs5FFXDsieqVX7Aw/s400/DSC_0637.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493857547208691394" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKAICo_YMVcPmBux3TTch1EcrB21v8NYCxSNUEIJGEJ8K-3OD-qUajV2eDs7KrPOwaypwYPwwzxzI4IcnhopLwBAZCnjbNBEdnX0mK48emjke_gQ4fad7C7scr7PkZECI2fVdjeK5baQ/s1600/DSC_0638.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKAICo_YMVcPmBux3TTch1EcrB21v8NYCxSNUEIJGEJ8K-3OD-qUajV2eDs7KrPOwaypwYPwwzxzI4IcnhopLwBAZCnjbNBEdnX0mK48emjke_gQ4fad7C7scr7PkZECI2fVdjeK5baQ/s400/DSC_0638.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493857558959422130" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQM3eirMFKpUAZiaiK1TXi8T3f3Vq8gAshO-mXfCv6qiKKQg9YJ7Hj3dumUnbozfnovEe_byPnkneTvd4taQM4REZi2AmEFVpu_Tfu0L-TYCxMZrDFO-SuH7uw16iG3eMwtdW-opSdpw/s1600/DSC_0634.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQM3eirMFKpUAZiaiK1TXi8T3f3Vq8gAshO-mXfCv6qiKKQg9YJ7Hj3dumUnbozfnovEe_byPnkneTvd4taQM4REZi2AmEFVpu_Tfu0L-TYCxMZrDFO-SuH7uw16iG3eMwtdW-opSdpw/s400/DSC_0634.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493857522945899234" border="0" /></a><br />Around 4:00 people started arriving. We had invited several of our friends, and most of them could make it. We spent the next 3 hours on the porch, in the front yard and on the curb eating, talking, and watching the parade.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTXrZveFWTTl9uJW6iAseL9EOBJkJouREUlH5hSf6SzCS-499fbubLIli8k-ijBV_p2Z7p7a8rJVhs_oAoSyNDF4NRHj7yKg-Iw4y1ir98hjn9VW8qRFH5ozq2k-eCLkEZcztic9ZLEA/s1600/DSC_0676.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTXrZveFWTTl9uJW6iAseL9EOBJkJouREUlH5hSf6SzCS-499fbubLIli8k-ijBV_p2Z7p7a8rJVhs_oAoSyNDF4NRHj7yKg-Iw4y1ir98hjn9VW8qRFH5ozq2k-eCLkEZcztic9ZLEA/s400/DSC_0676.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493858378229282418" border="0" /></a><br />When I tell people that the parade is two hours long, I don't think they really believe me until they see it! It is a pretty great parade, and it is always fun to see the New Life float coming down the street. The worship team sings songs while volunteers hand out freeze pops to the crowd.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUwWVaEZ7cGdDtNjfCN4ItwFVfdQvLJXA0YAdgTV0eBz5RTdeeOtZ57kstj3Wwa8NKPy2h-TsSYe74XY8hUC6nb2YH1sh_PHo2voXDWAFolH3oLASABcw0g4KioCZYtpkc4cXhHeNKmg/s1600/DSC_0703.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUwWVaEZ7cGdDtNjfCN4ItwFVfdQvLJXA0YAdgTV0eBz5RTdeeOtZ57kstj3Wwa8NKPy2h-TsSYe74XY8hUC6nb2YH1sh_PHo2voXDWAFolH3oLASABcw0g4KioCZYtpkc4cXhHeNKmg/s400/DSC_0703.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493858399948671730" border="0" /></a><br />After the parade was over, several of the families stayed behind to help with the clean-up, and then we all headed up to the highest point in Glenside to watch the fireworks- the Burger King parking lot! We got there just in time to get parking spots, and then we set up camp for the next hour as we waited for it to get dark enough for the fireworks.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj95nPx1naCmJH59798e4Z8soJX94sIpUIed5CfQsIXSHzCgQr3AVC7kEYzkpyzRAfV08bWXqE8UnKyhUHfyeuwMky4aeokpU4NyzN4_rrPUWKIuKBKjsdenjBlKJkztnQBhYqPRpLA6w/s1600/DSC_0706.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj95nPx1naCmJH59798e4Z8soJX94sIpUIed5CfQsIXSHzCgQr3AVC7kEYzkpyzRAfV08bWXqE8UnKyhUHfyeuwMky4aeokpU4NyzN4_rrPUWKIuKBKjsdenjBlKJkztnQBhYqPRpLA6w/s400/DSC_0706.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493858404820917698" border="0" /></a><br />The time passed quickly as the kids played with sparklers and entertained each other.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyuW_SL1BVzY2u_MBseHHTCOZHLFOztk5qLL8Uaw_JiBLcWc7DYVJLMEgNZ_LBuw1ufWuB6xPxp73i2a8T6hewiDMuLArZ5COI-9mf6s-Cc3wttbnxvVb3K_OaEULl-FRg9qucxAXjTA/s1600/DSC_0717.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyuW_SL1BVzY2u_MBseHHTCOZHLFOztk5qLL8Uaw_JiBLcWc7DYVJLMEgNZ_LBuw1ufWuB6xPxp73i2a8T6hewiDMuLArZ5COI-9mf6s-Cc3wttbnxvVb3K_OaEULl-FRg9qucxAXjTA/s400/DSC_0717.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493858426732457538" border="0" /></a><br />Around 9:15 the show started, and it was well worth the wait.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_5Wn4Sutve6ClxsrYEoKT2cF_8UjUNPg_NilyLHZ2PVxTDqQjRHDnWpkhgl2z36KTlKKLP_UgcwoMoZO7AvlGuoU3I48_8Xr63WdOfpVrzPoa3yJmQz9PIzW3nHX6kQsDwIbnHAoVhA/s1600/DSC_0724.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_5Wn4Sutve6ClxsrYEoKT2cF_8UjUNPg_NilyLHZ2PVxTDqQjRHDnWpkhgl2z36KTlKKLP_UgcwoMoZO7AvlGuoU3I48_8Xr63WdOfpVrzPoa3yJmQz9PIzW3nHX6kQsDwIbnHAoVhA/s400/DSC_0724.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493858609714003234" border="0" /></a><br />All in all, it was a very satisfying day. I love the festivities, but even more I loved spending time with family and friends. For me, nothing can compare to celebrating the Fourth in Glenside.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfxTxZ4fZ9oxxWmHxuiEkuXy3i8kgPy086OxBkkAY6YQ5pEOosrWtj-n3-epUdxABBFymAq1_FOehS3BHcFnt_WF80Z6NHiIywn7jF-UaEBZcImOw0G1cgDwktuHKd__Qk3lS1VN7pqg/s1600/DSC_0711.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfxTxZ4fZ9oxxWmHxuiEkuXy3i8kgPy086OxBkkAY6YQ5pEOosrWtj-n3-epUdxABBFymAq1_FOehS3BHcFnt_WF80Z6NHiIywn7jF-UaEBZcImOw0G1cgDwktuHKd__Qk3lS1VN7pqg/s400/DSC_0711.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493858412862126882" border="0" /></a>Daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08980758232167941972noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489977956488610970.post-50503240337525718052010-06-30T22:21:00.005-04:002010-06-30T22:40:13.556-04:00Beach Time<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZyh0Hh9EH8NpVT0R5cZRWFn0KJXxHzOknmq-GQHWi1cGriIjVQNF39i7QQ0vUj778YspZQ9clO_7cduotIKc_CCvZ7OG25n2t7_1xnHcLAMVQGfczh8KesMDdVTt3Jk_dSFzDxmX_Qg/s1600/DSC_0238.JPG"><br /></a><br />It is that time of the year when we pack our bags every other weekend or so, and drive down to the Jersey shore area to spend Fri night- Sun. morn at Ed's parents' house. The kids really love the ocean, so we usually spend a few hours there on Saturday. Although it is kind of a pain to pack up the car, drive 1/2 hour to get to the beach, and then haul all of our things across deep, hot sand, it is totally worth it to see the joy they have in splashing in the waves,<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbCJayV1jF8abv_97cVUMuZQCjr2pcjFnvsuQb07jI7X8rNrhkIrLgoShDdzyGN4-ewMBQqDSBaF0iUqLngWTQcCNcu5HjMmV6Q6TjFMqJUVUd4E_5h49nwIyOxNoxG1rHgHZssuWixg/s1600/DSC_0219.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbCJayV1jF8abv_97cVUMuZQCjr2pcjFnvsuQb07jI7X8rNrhkIrLgoShDdzyGN4-ewMBQqDSBaF0iUqLngWTQcCNcu5HjMmV6Q6TjFMqJUVUd4E_5h49nwIyOxNoxG1rHgHZssuWixg/s400/DSC_0219.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488761623796111474" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3kK-217RQwSh4MWgx6ZWzgfzalC0CXshqEx4818NGp94p8CQhQhqXbAnymp-PPdCpkIo74wdGSnlsdgvR2vS0yUODVbH7YwMZ6LAyIxXFN3A62ZiKZzixoqebrpHlDpI2w4hCy4LYCg/s1600/DSC_0205.JPG"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRvTPoxZkDEdrR-IjpxXU4wG5HDUyXHazmK8u_6IwmhLDBQXzUsCXfEbGAiZ43brIwUBdmRHBd-iv_PVam9QwQWRUDPnHxYNVu7EkJ0l8NbHUOjMXGjWnkc0M74J4I11aVBFy1DHCuKw/s1600/DSC_0213.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRvTPoxZkDEdrR-IjpxXU4wG5HDUyXHazmK8u_6IwmhLDBQXzUsCXfEbGAiZ43brIwUBdmRHBd-iv_PVam9QwQWRUDPnHxYNVu7EkJ0l8NbHUOjMXGjWnkc0M74J4I11aVBFy1DHCuKw/s400/DSC_0213.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488760090031098098" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEljn45TxCJaIPfTLEESQfLg0WPZEOa-p_Xu5WubXX0LU6ojTmyPsjuXvs4yB1TDn5og8U4wa0jsfuVzSzbAPKSqxkkAMOR3y5kgV0HTpsdfLnK_eWJHOFNSP7dWjpWRVMatIGziBtNw/s1600/DSC_0222.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEljn45TxCJaIPfTLEESQfLg0WPZEOa-p_Xu5WubXX0LU6ojTmyPsjuXvs4yB1TDn5og8U4wa0jsfuVzSzbAPKSqxkkAMOR3y5kgV0HTpsdfLnK_eWJHOFNSP7dWjpWRVMatIGziBtNw/s400/DSC_0222.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488760097617923218" border="0" /></a>digging very large holes,<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxHZmMX8fYCoIE_yoWtlVurWrckorL4pVLgYCTq-h70Fi-iWRic4yR9ctMoKqv2qRKsNBZbc_K1a_MiFAvUenageS_H_V9khmrhFrydcPKZEupijzqX2q6i74TXkjhKy5Hz7XPjXlWpQ/s1600/DSC_0235.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxHZmMX8fYCoIE_yoWtlVurWrckorL4pVLgYCTq-h70Fi-iWRic4yR9ctMoKqv2qRKsNBZbc_K1a_MiFAvUenageS_H_V9khmrhFrydcPKZEupijzqX2q6i74TXkjhKy5Hz7XPjXlWpQ/s400/DSC_0235.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488760108780015954" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOYbHTunBcfTvLgp4p_UaOU_0C-CKqnt7oSz7cC52NeVNx2d7VbhJ_eB96IumzzxFiBEiief0G-nP_naJuRd5gsPTt3uqD-mExsYqy-oe2qrbrCeQ0QiW1xMWx7btE3Xfpg8yCamKMQA/s1600/DSC_0223.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOYbHTunBcfTvLgp4p_UaOU_0C-CKqnt7oSz7cC52NeVNx2d7VbhJ_eB96IumzzxFiBEiief0G-nP_naJuRd5gsPTt3uqD-mExsYqy-oe2qrbrCeQ0QiW1xMWx7btE3Xfpg8yCamKMQA/s400/DSC_0223.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488760122925175970" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRMkrteEEVa8gbpq1Kkt_Mp5NGdQJZQ7580UYJqYy3wQZZ5wvLc3zf7UTCDR0_e42bKfBcOEq-0s-lV-JilZw4ITKMXLyV6cbZ0pNMK5f-qoZagt8jEoohQRd0xTUB_1vMAlqstq8c_g/s1600/DSC_0231.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRMkrteEEVa8gbpq1Kkt_Mp5NGdQJZQ7580UYJqYy3wQZZ5wvLc3zf7UTCDR0_e42bKfBcOEq-0s-lV-JilZw4ITKMXLyV6cbZ0pNMK5f-qoZagt8jEoohQRd0xTUB_1vMAlqstq8c_g/s400/DSC_0231.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488761630142874898" border="0" /></a><br />and swimming in the ocean.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5eerV2GO6QbnWq8CGoK61TNplY5YIzgo5KeceO6FJVFvPy8mQQLGazDT04ZXhwj0g5yNAhCsfaITr4_C4rjqhsKHT3YV2r_0416ikXyhwjKASlXKkMfT0CKXsq_CC8Ybo0Y0uejflLw/s1600/DSC_0242.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5eerV2GO6QbnWq8CGoK61TNplY5YIzgo5KeceO6FJVFvPy8mQQLGazDT04ZXhwj0g5yNAhCsfaITr4_C4rjqhsKHT3YV2r_0416ikXyhwjKASlXKkMfT0CKXsq_CC8Ybo0Y0uejflLw/s400/DSC_0242.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488761638352938658" border="0" /></a><br />And we have to admit, we like it too.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZyh0Hh9EH8NpVT0R5cZRWFn0KJXxHzOknmq-GQHWi1cGriIjVQNF39i7QQ0vUj778YspZQ9clO_7cduotIKc_CCvZ7OG25n2t7_1xnHcLAMVQGfczh8KesMDdVTt3Jk_dSFzDxmX_Qg/s1600/DSC_0238.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZyh0Hh9EH8NpVT0R5cZRWFn0KJXxHzOknmq-GQHWi1cGriIjVQNF39i7QQ0vUj778YspZQ9clO_7cduotIKc_CCvZ7OG25n2t7_1xnHcLAMVQGfczh8KesMDdVTt3Jk_dSFzDxmX_Qg/s400/DSC_0238.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488761644312895234" border="0" /></a>Daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08980758232167941972noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489977956488610970.post-13496690752699788222010-06-30T22:10:00.006-04:002010-06-30T22:20:51.955-04:00Shell Seekers<span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >I thought I would enter this photo for the <a href="http://sailorandcompany.blogspot.com/2010/06/rawe-summertime.html">RAW(e) summertime challenge</a>. As this is my first time, I am not sure I am doing this right but here is my photo that speaks "summer" to me (there were so many to choose from, it was hard to pick just one!)</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHvdGEHB39UNVcFx4bEkQtvz0tuUOd7IE9ZkeCItkpTBhyQ3gDbAIb6Mqhdlifchs631tcil435e2G-IjzW8suARfllNnkyWLWqumgULHOL2kh7SMA5nnZnnq_FlnSWYzuS21evNuOUA/s1600/100_0597.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHvdGEHB39UNVcFx4bEkQtvz0tuUOd7IE9ZkeCItkpTBhyQ3gDbAIb6Mqhdlifchs631tcil435e2G-IjzW8suARfllNnkyWLWqumgULHOL2kh7SMA5nnZnnq_FlnSWYzuS21evNuOUA/s400/100_0597.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488755995700406514" border="0" /></a>Daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08980758232167941972noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489977956488610970.post-49258649010464173382010-06-20T08:23:00.001-04:002010-07-17T09:30:51.443-04:00Fiesta!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh_e5KCbWoG1rKwjEylUyBWMriSWNorgEPygB1VbmtQAeGPr4Qaw17nyrYXw2OdiQqjIbyrVToNXRa3A28L0XMwLb8GuxNyJLx7IaMOlOHL0ar80d7BsszLAX3jGZvjwkzrt6cynGUJg/s1600/DSC_0102.JPG"><br /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6bY0tI9zVny-fkWQ_3sM_UxLA6FkOtBEe5CkgWTuItyNxNPrdIDFuF2H9gg5JupRwne-zV36BcHSEJatdzZbSMdpYPnssHt2peSbjYVNPB98NA134rCgjwcb78whCYxobZc1wfmQmPg/s1600/DSC_0090.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6bY0tI9zVny-fkWQ_3sM_UxLA6FkOtBEe5CkgWTuItyNxNPrdIDFuF2H9gg5JupRwne-zV36BcHSEJatdzZbSMdpYPnssHt2peSbjYVNPB98NA134rCgjwcb78whCYxobZc1wfmQmPg/s400/DSC_0090.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494863594110537746" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8vG9EjmsoxGLDgIN1aDDKwrQyyGr0ibSwVwmn9fvXzcWo4Xa59iNqUWBgLF8zlAm__fNWXNpQx1Rd2UTX4AnaVCvKLZmv9NCzaEB9x4eXj8yo5Ef9UYaORZqcJltWlW-764x2UERvkA/s1600/DSC_0084.JPG"><br /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">For the past 3 summers we have </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://mangotango328.blogspot.com/2009/07/summer-birthdays.html">combined</a><span style="font-family: arial;"> the kids' birthdays and thrown a </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://mangotango328.blogspot.com/2008/06/birthday-carnival.html">joint</a><span style="font-family: arial;"> family birthday party. This year we had a Fiesta!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">I decorated with chili pepper lights on the patio, and a "Fiesta" banner that went around the tree grove in the middle of our yard. I also hung little paper lanterns to our mulberry tree to add to the festive feel, not because they were a part of the theme. As guests arrived, there was an assortment of Mexican sodas and fruit juices on the beverage table, and dip, salsa and guacamole on the patio table. This staved off their hunger as I was working madly in the kitchen with various guests who offered their services on arrival. We chopped lettuce, tomatoes, onions, peppers, and carrots for toppings. We cooked up ground beef for tacos, as well as chicken for fajitas. After about an hour and a half (oops, I guess I could have planned better and done some more prep work the day before!!) dinner was served.</span><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuGyEpiSkWNwMDQBV-dG1OOYyuENymLVsGtWUjjFSzDkHnBrGdLGTFZNtVywaE4pPcUnLpLsIxjcC1w6N_40i4b6ef0sSLiNj6He3W9c9kPRn9U_WTbEbzodt3E8wrXekdc5iXdW2W_g/s1600/DSC_0083.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuGyEpiSkWNwMDQBV-dG1OOYyuENymLVsGtWUjjFSzDkHnBrGdLGTFZNtVywaE4pPcUnLpLsIxjcC1w6N_40i4b6ef0sSLiNj6He3W9c9kPRn9U_WTbEbzodt3E8wrXekdc5iXdW2W_g/s400/DSC_0083.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494863574791163442" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8vG9EjmsoxGLDgIN1aDDKwrQyyGr0ibSwVwmn9fvXzcWo4Xa59iNqUWBgLF8zlAm__fNWXNpQx1Rd2UTX4AnaVCvKLZmv9NCzaEB9x4eXj8yo5Ef9UYaORZqcJltWlW-764x2UERvkA/s1600/DSC_0084.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8vG9EjmsoxGLDgIN1aDDKwrQyyGr0ibSwVwmn9fvXzcWo4Xa59iNqUWBgLF8zlAm__fNWXNpQx1Rd2UTX4AnaVCvKLZmv9NCzaEB9x4eXj8yo5Ef9UYaORZqcJltWlW-764x2UERvkA/s400/DSC_0084.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494863585493143666" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Following dinner, the kids played a "musical sombrero" game which got a little aggressive at points (ripping the hat band off of one of the hats in one final struggle for the win). Unfortunately I </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: arial;font-size:130%;" >thought</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> I purchased a CD with fiesta music when I placed my order with Oriental Trading for the banner, lights, and sombreros, but apparently I didn't make it into the order, so I ended up using a CD that didn't exactly fit thematically. I don't think they cared- they just wanted the silly bands that I was handing out as prizes!</span><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh_e5KCbWoG1rKwjEylUyBWMriSWNorgEPygB1VbmtQAeGPr4Qaw17nyrYXw2OdiQqjIbyrVToNXRa3A28L0XMwLb8GuxNyJLx7IaMOlOHL0ar80d7BsszLAX3jGZvjwkzrt6cynGUJg/s1600/DSC_0102.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh_e5KCbWoG1rKwjEylUyBWMriSWNorgEPygB1VbmtQAeGPr4Qaw17nyrYXw2OdiQqjIbyrVToNXRa3A28L0XMwLb8GuxNyJLx7IaMOlOHL0ar80d7BsszLAX3jGZvjwkzrt6cynGUJg/s400/DSC_0102.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494863602909965954" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3osxfZQR6ObCgshK60tttC1FP0K4CHCMRPgSko8QgOyYW7G_VajNDHTtW74QRGGAKVRXLyGjjQAvYlzW2AlO-XVuSkNtEXoHZtxnfJMZO7ORBAm_cauvuBYErR0nfr6H3MaRLQJxhLA/s1600/DSC_0107.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3osxfZQR6ObCgshK60tttC1FP0K4CHCMRPgSko8QgOyYW7G_VajNDHTtW74QRGGAKVRXLyGjjQAvYlzW2AlO-XVuSkNtEXoHZtxnfJMZO7ORBAm_cauvuBYErR0nfr6H3MaRLQJxhLA/s400/DSC_0107.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494863612819162786" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdqIFXvAuLXlBlIU_NBZ6kIbz9-LU1GYeaJyA5B2KnFYmnlRk_yXglAfdoqWI9Zvae5opf0nrySL1RbO8xhhOsx46nEkpmJtB0lIN6GFyQMWf33MSvrF6nx1wpotmpFkMqQanG730X6g/s1600/DSC_0115.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdqIFXvAuLXlBlIU_NBZ6kIbz9-LU1GYeaJyA5B2KnFYmnlRk_yXglAfdoqWI9Zvae5opf0nrySL1RbO8xhhOsx46nEkpmJtB0lIN6GFyQMWf33MSvrF6nx1wpotmpFkMqQanG730X6g/s400/DSC_0115.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494864711078979330" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK295Avt2tr82fhA9pm8dilw6LWZF25YJ6FaMeLyCq66njj1GvXr1bRslQ8O8PI3XDplQ9etaAPT16SUG6gp_oAK_cc5fVyLRmR3KbPiHlJs-OmV2FE1Bytya-9xG8oAV5Lv1wiJlCMQ/s1600/DSC_0125.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK295Avt2tr82fhA9pm8dilw6LWZF25YJ6FaMeLyCq66njj1GvXr1bRslQ8O8PI3XDplQ9etaAPT16SUG6gp_oAK_cc5fVyLRmR3KbPiHlJs-OmV2FE1Bytya-9xG8oAV5Lv1wiJlCMQ/s400/DSC_0125.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494864719798728338" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">After the sombrero game, the kids were ready for the pinata. We hit it in age order, starting with my 3 and then going from the youngest on up. It lasted until my 8 year old nephew Peter got a hold of the stick and ripped the poor donkey's head off!</span><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5m6cqHX-mOIdaLI_LRKRi1RHJMtYZAebCF0SV043kcnXmTCdayyXg0eIjHwkf4upt-lCGzgqkmMLGp9uSFejHy0G85czH4PENcesWIInKsCT-P_A0JqfxsMRGM3av6TpSbygRewIh4A/s1600/DSC_0155.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5m6cqHX-mOIdaLI_LRKRi1RHJMtYZAebCF0SV043kcnXmTCdayyXg0eIjHwkf4upt-lCGzgqkmMLGp9uSFejHy0G85czH4PENcesWIInKsCT-P_A0JqfxsMRGM3av6TpSbygRewIh4A/s400/DSC_0155.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494864730447667218" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">We then sang Happy Birthday to the kids as they "pretended" to blow out the candles on their sombrero cake. The breeze prevented us from actually lighting them, and although N and E caught on, K looked a little confused "</span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: arial;font-size:130%;" >What </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">do you want me to blow out?".</span></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh51H5bJR4Ef9shv4e6YpN9GaSuF1PpJRlTafvwW9j5Ucym8-CznVhwtV0XDXIE0nur4Haxxvn7pfRA_6qADFTRkZfRqyaJgwS_bHD4OYU_Jb3luxZGfAxQ5jEzvHSc2EkT_PEkaPJQWA/s1600/DSC_0177.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh51H5bJR4Ef9shv4e6YpN9GaSuF1PpJRlTafvwW9j5Ucym8-CznVhwtV0XDXIE0nur4Haxxvn7pfRA_6qADFTRkZfRqyaJgwS_bHD4OYU_Jb3luxZGfAxQ5jEzvHSc2EkT_PEkaPJQWA/s400/DSC_0177.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494864749711851522" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">After cake and presents, guests started to leave, and I turned to the monumental task of cleaning up. Yes, the parties are fun, but I am </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: arial;font-size:130%;" >so</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> glad we only do it once a year. That bouncy place is looking better and better to me!</span></span>Daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08980758232167941972noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489977956488610970.post-75930515955429193012010-06-18T21:25:00.000-04:002010-07-17T09:29:27.304-04:00End of the Year<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">I posted a status on facebook last week about the end of the school year always bringing a lump to my throat. It is exciting to have the summer ahead of us, but a part of me always gets a little sad at thinking that the year is over, the time my kids have with each teacher is done. Each year we have been blessed with fantastic teachers and our kids have really blossomed and grown. I was </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://mangotango328.blogspot.com/2009/09/letting-go.html">especially nervous</a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> about N and his teacher this year. Although I had heard wonderful things about him, part of me wanted N to have a woman teacher, to have that nurturing motherly influence.</span><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTRHPqh1bejECqF6g65FSRCn9ObjmJVntiAaTP_DccCzAuPHxfF5t04vvjnrDcISHn7E7HHWxWVQ5sS8wZNFRRhmAY7JF5xv57QgSRue_Cs0UsqvN9RoVCxEdTz_4Un_ta0IV9Tk81qg/s1600/NoahCraneFarina_1.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTRHPqh1bejECqF6g65FSRCn9ObjmJVntiAaTP_DccCzAuPHxfF5t04vvjnrDcISHn7E7HHWxWVQ5sS8wZNFRRhmAY7JF5xv57QgSRue_Cs0UsqvN9RoVCxEdTz_4Un_ta0IV9Tk81qg/s320/NoahCraneFarina_1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485042443575028786" border="0" /></a></span>first day of school<br /><br /></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">I have to say that Mr. F really did live up to all the hype. He was great with all the kids, and really taught them a lot. I am amazed at how much N learned. He barely knew his alphabet when he started, much less the sounds, no matter how much I worked with him. He can now read simple books, and write his "kid writing" stories.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_QWOMRwxz9WHLzXZaVylcgIZgH7yWru3jpGeOX1CgYgr-8hPSPyUBnKVtAF91fwNNBgOQUusSWcvS2aitt8ahVKndyR8IFCXkhm4aWTHHsXYeLRKRISABXpEEzi2K0vq0Y8LyBw7J-g/s1600/DSC_0454.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_QWOMRwxz9WHLzXZaVylcgIZgH7yWru3jpGeOX1CgYgr-8hPSPyUBnKVtAF91fwNNBgOQUusSWcvS2aitt8ahVKndyR8IFCXkhm4aWTHHsXYeLRKRISABXpEEzi2K0vq0Y8LyBw7J-g/s320/DSC_0454.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485038472439554242" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I also love the relationship he formed with his teacher. Mr. F got a kick out N's personality, and actually did have a more tender side in caring for N when he was upset, hurt, or needed encouragement. It was neat to see the bond that formed between the two of them,</span><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkfPON8gQ0SaCyusT5W58qhgdC_VxXBK0YXD20cWbaULhmn85KUS9QkJcjalhnsVjaEwTpQZ5NE4fDAgIxtC2DZaGP9CZEZfgyCzz0Sfbo9GfNYjsFR1vMI2OLPM2qwBkd0Z5n-UUfMw/s1600/DSC_0015.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkfPON8gQ0SaCyusT5W58qhgdC_VxXBK0YXD20cWbaULhmn85KUS9QkJcjalhnsVjaEwTpQZ5NE4fDAgIxtC2DZaGP9CZEZfgyCzz0Sfbo9GfNYjsFR1vMI2OLPM2qwBkd0Z5n-UUfMw/s320/DSC_0015.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485041367046553586" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXvwUzO5VN-67hh7LcLpJGHypRtAfXs12q2Ql74-7a2NFtrLMg-zYb7aI0UE4TSDBxlzWY08cj6GL35qm-MqUC1zK3n5YhOmE8wkEQlX2EID6vamX8-tkh0LXxvWG-E38jmycaOD3NNw/s1600/DSC_0036.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXvwUzO5VN-67hh7LcLpJGHypRtAfXs12q2Ql74-7a2NFtrLMg-zYb7aI0UE4TSDBxlzWY08cj6GL35qm-MqUC1zK3n5YhOmE8wkEQlX2EID6vamX8-tkh0LXxvWG-E38jmycaOD3NNw/s320/DSC_0036.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485041326819159410" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKc_tJ47vCbutQmEubKwgo5wgjyJyN83M0vFhS5Xie8nvqJSe5nBWOPIqRxGkKad5ZkMeN6isdDgY01S_kmBGiS_Dd_hJ-cTtSsQOg6gsTOqhS5_wghOXOXfWAU2Tk9GG6qVAEWrgZ0Q/s1600/DSC_0037.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKc_tJ47vCbutQmEubKwgo5wgjyJyN83M0vFhS5Xie8nvqJSe5nBWOPIqRxGkKad5ZkMeN6isdDgY01S_kmBGiS_Dd_hJ-cTtSsQOg6gsTOqhS5_wghOXOXfWAU2Tk9GG6qVAEWrgZ0Q/s320/DSC_0037.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485041346524492978" border="0" /></a></span>last full day of school<br /><br /></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">and I think I will miss having Mr. F teach N almost as much as N will.</span><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_QWOMRwxz9WHLzXZaVylcgIZgH7yWru3jpGeOX1CgYgr-8hPSPyUBnKVtAF91fwNNBgOQUusSWcvS2aitt8ahVKndyR8IFCXkhm4aWTHHsXYeLRKRISABXpEEzi2K0vq0Y8LyBw7J-g/s1600/DSC_0454.JPG"><br /></a><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU0R5CD97N_qrsNHgOxp5rp6kjDYqbcNkC-_snqDMqXHTF5t7wCjHjTe6J3jEIQraO1VFAropzKwvcotSs1GluwidzzydxTINx_rurEauvqCfXvlJVZuB1jAwpFF0JR6Ml2YWLeAp1hA/s1600/DSC_0059.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU0R5CD97N_qrsNHgOxp5rp6kjDYqbcNkC-_snqDMqXHTF5t7wCjHjTe6J3jEIQraO1VFAropzKwvcotSs1GluwidzzydxTINx_rurEauvqCfXvlJVZuB1jAwpFF0JR6Ml2YWLeAp1hA/s320/DSC_0059.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485041308259501426" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">As for E, she also had an awesome teacher who really pulled the class together, focusing on the team aspect of sharing a year together. E was able to let her gifts shine in academic areas, as well as experience growth in learning to be bold and speak out when needed. Every year E is sad at leaving her teacher behind, but this year was especially hard for her. I found her the morning of the last day of school under her covers, crying her eyes out. She loves her teacher so much, she hated to say good-bye. I really felt for her, and although it was hard to see her so sad, it is good because I know that she would always remember 3rd grade, and the impact this teacher had on her will last a lifetime. On a bright note, we think N might be placed with her next year, as she is moving down to first grade!</span><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijZP19abSstSOAlMgIX5ous6J9vzfm_0Lm9slycdhbnrRET81NONNRQPxT5pB_1rxKjfg0Bv6qA2iHzGlIF8_-6AArXHpbZdMhle_Q66lKi8ng59MuHavKGBjZd2LyDGyWrhZJnvz9tg/s1600/EllieCraneEgitto.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijZP19abSstSOAlMgIX5ous6J9vzfm_0Lm9slycdhbnrRET81NONNRQPxT5pB_1rxKjfg0Bv6qA2iHzGlIF8_-6AArXHpbZdMhle_Q66lKi8ng59MuHavKGBjZd2LyDGyWrhZJnvz9tg/s320/EllieCraneEgitto.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485039950626621378" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:100%;">first day of 3rd grade</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3kSNueGOvDdkY0r47_OZLT1E_QSZu8K5VLYfQUCQH4M7Ei-HPOoMMin8OpTzOBpCJb67Kab2crBzV8gbswrDazIJK1WYgltfLR1F-J7wIs5Cob5NTnMITNqEtmaK9zsLEwtfvZNxD8Q/s1600/DSC_1222.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3kSNueGOvDdkY0r47_OZLT1E_QSZu8K5VLYfQUCQH4M7Ei-HPOoMMin8OpTzOBpCJb67Kab2crBzV8gbswrDazIJK1WYgltfLR1F-J7wIs5Cob5NTnMITNqEtmaK9zsLEwtfvZNxD8Q/s320/DSC_1222.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485038494114098098" border="0" /></a></span>end of 3rd grade<br /></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Despite the initial melancholy over the year being over, we have all bounced back, and are ready to embrace the summer season with it's fireflies, pool trips, ice cream, late bed times, and days at the beach. Let the summer begin!</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmQpGjwyIuJLr6GuoN76PZLsU-szqze6QGPxNOJBrz0bYnQiL8tQT_uT8FVBgV2uMG7rgZ1jT_eqmIGMGmpcqaoubK0MAvKUNlXGfzyWJqCKIw7HreSFqD0BfPxks-TUJckQXpxgO66w/s1600/DSC_0041.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmQpGjwyIuJLr6GuoN76PZLsU-szqze6QGPxNOJBrz0bYnQiL8tQT_uT8FVBgV2uMG7rgZ1jT_eqmIGMGmpcqaoubK0MAvKUNlXGfzyWJqCKIw7HreSFqD0BfPxks-TUJckQXpxgO66w/s320/DSC_0041.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485043428199246418" border="0" /></a></span>Daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08980758232167941972noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489977956488610970.post-80992079753922544232010-05-28T13:13:00.008-04:002010-05-28T14:21:20.241-04:00Kid in a Candy Store<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmq3IIm_GYCDZxzNiBy01LfycZElosdYsqn77z9O6B0uv_oo04wCb0EqQH0BQc7sak2CjXPpHi7l6FkX3vpSJ-UMFpvt-CJzq5dhWyWBsylsDKM56ZhmlakhdeTOSPSOaStrOD3mMskA/s1600/DSC_1313.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmq3IIm_GYCDZxzNiBy01LfycZElosdYsqn77z9O6B0uv_oo04wCb0EqQH0BQc7sak2CjXPpHi7l6FkX3vpSJ-UMFpvt-CJzq5dhWyWBsylsDKM56ZhmlakhdeTOSPSOaStrOD3mMskA/s320/DSC_1313.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476386604269131842" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">You know those things that you see while shopping, and you can't seem to pass by without checking them out, and somehow rationalizing a purchase? For some it may be pocketbooks, shoes, or jewelry. I can usually walk by these things with just a small tug of longing. They don't bring on the quickened heart rate and middle of the gut ache when I spot my two main weaknesses - books and flowers.<br /><br />As for books, it has to be a used book sale. I like a good book store as much as anyone else, but I don't go in for paying full price on a brand-new book. No, for me, it is the corner of the library with the stacks of used books, priced for a reasonable quarter or fifty cents. I have to really think hard about if I want it if it is as much as $1. I can't seem to resist going over to check out the selection, even though I know I have piles of books at home, both mine and the kids. I usually end up coming away with a new treasure or two, and I seem to always justify my purchases by reassuring myself that I am helping out the library.<br /><br />As for my other weakness, I literally have to talk myself out of purchases. Spring time brings out my appetite for all things <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">gardenly</span>. I pore over catalogues, take long walks just to see what other people have and how they have planted it, and try to figure out how I can get the same effect. For this reason, going to San Diego was torturous! To see every single house planted with gorgeous, flamboyant, lush, spectacular gardens was both a treat for the eyes as well as an ache for my heart.<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhODcSEl6Ko1Cm_VM_V87va3h-lHr6nGqNVELu2FtlZGaUoF3jQAFXs0CeCtLanqPyd6tBiq6EwbQuLFwhT2gSE5XLx8Y7yNzK28IcuYPwpFo2-_uxuarzWRMOL2adda5z-BmiFo9wP0g/s1600/DSC_0484.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhODcSEl6Ko1Cm_VM_V87va3h-lHr6nGqNVELu2FtlZGaUoF3jQAFXs0CeCtLanqPyd6tBiq6EwbQuLFwhT2gSE5XLx8Y7yNzK28IcuYPwpFo2-_uxuarzWRMOL2adda5z-BmiFo9wP0g/s320/DSC_0484.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476382323378692226" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">My own garden seemed so sad, so pathetic, in the face of these gardens of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">eden</span></span>. How could I dare to post pictures of my own little irises and peonies,<br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">knowing about the eye-popping beauty of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">lantanas</span></span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">cannas</span></span>, and hibiscus that are commonplace in other parts of the world? I admit, there was a little bit of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">embarrassment</span> involved- that I would dare to think my common place garden was something worth sharing. But then I returned home, and there really is nothing I can do about my climate. I realized that I need to be thankful for what I have, and even if it isn't at the same level of beauty, my garden still warms my heart and brings me pleasure, like the simple sight of water droplets clinging to a grassy stem.<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2t5vAi-Jn8z_-btwrHb2Y2s4Uv62AACuJhrEHvdT_GRT2Fn7-QXg2j8V9-EK9diq6kF7bjOQeFnbGuSsV8hw3_z_eTfj-cRqXkiAClWlhU83YiMJg18lDo6V2iHDJo2KAMeGgiUdqYg/s1600/DSC_1212.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2t5vAi-Jn8z_-btwrHb2Y2s4Uv62AACuJhrEHvdT_GRT2Fn7-QXg2j8V9-EK9diq6kF7bjOQeFnbGuSsV8hw3_z_eTfj-cRqXkiAClWlhU83YiMJg18lDo6V2iHDJo2KAMeGgiUdqYg/s320/DSC_1212.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476384084416126658" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"><br />So I entered the season of planting and buying. Like I said, my weakness. It is very dangerous for me to enter a garden center or nursery this time of the year. Every flower seems to call me to it, and my mind spins, wondering where if I could find a place for it in my already bursting flower beds. It can get pretty expensive if I don't hold myself back. Fortunately, this year, I had a couple of budget friendly <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">acquisitions</span>. First, in early April I went to a plant exchange. I got together with a couple of friends, and we all brought some divided perennials. Everyone went home with a nice new selection of plants, and the best thing, it was free!<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGgKMgHpGJ54Auxy9ObY_BhYpVZIL8fC73suiSNif5panXslfyvolyVISxvSR_M7ANebQ7-lXvEVRO_R0zEta2BKFJn8PaqWz1p1diJF0Y2sUrdp9dt4s_izAjDgIxaYKSrLeD4DupnA/s1600/DSC_0284.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGgKMgHpGJ54Auxy9ObY_BhYpVZIL8fC73suiSNif5panXslfyvolyVISxvSR_M7ANebQ7-lXvEVRO_R0zEta2BKFJn8PaqWz1p1diJF0Y2sUrdp9dt4s_izAjDgIxaYKSrLeD4DupnA/s320/DSC_0284.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476382338370015298" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1izg-HUJFzkjaol3w6CpvUfzgMe9XdZTAe3rSPC-665cm5axyCfAnREhSJ54ydKazIDNor1-UiV_WjyHCJfU4Ot38NVFNWNtCh4d01_G3x5AiGiHmzGfvPtY7Hvp7DCmQK0Uu0n0pGg/s1600/DSC_0286.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1izg-HUJFzkjaol3w6CpvUfzgMe9XdZTAe3rSPC-665cm5axyCfAnREhSJ54ydKazIDNor1-UiV_WjyHCJfU4Ot38NVFNWNtCh4d01_G3x5AiGiHmzGfvPtY7Hvp7DCmQK0Uu0n0pGg/s320/DSC_0286.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476382344896862386" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">I also used birthday money towards some new baskets for the front porch, and I found a place that had gorgeous baskets for half the price of other nurseries.<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh04D0wwe3m1ypheLX12rxnfdN33V3k6PIZq4tbInFY-TyW__CUSH5PHhr_akaUCR-Qj2mQq_65EgQZAOZfrUsGQNOQqTNUdvh4PR7F1fpnMDaXvqjpB4F0lKJy9S3zR4kNNq9-dpdOmg/s1600/DSC_1213.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh04D0wwe3m1ypheLX12rxnfdN33V3k6PIZq4tbInFY-TyW__CUSH5PHhr_akaUCR-Qj2mQq_65EgQZAOZfrUsGQNOQqTNUdvh4PR7F1fpnMDaXvqjpB4F0lKJy9S3zR4kNNq9-dpdOmg/s320/DSC_1213.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476382361323850738" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:130%;" >I also couldn't resist these begonias!</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkBUEb9fbjeXo0bFcq7TR8A4T39K6BSwUrSXfiumG4kjz73CQCfyPqWPClbTUPkSblFEMjHkQbPi_H0IIxBql88EbKtTFLoeaG3ZOHdeuJ4_NdOVLebzE92HvIMvrBmDiz1pA7tx4Fvg/s1600/DSC_1162.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkBUEb9fbjeXo0bFcq7TR8A4T39K6BSwUrSXfiumG4kjz73CQCfyPqWPClbTUPkSblFEMjHkQbPi_H0IIxBql88EbKtTFLoeaG3ZOHdeuJ4_NdOVLebzE92HvIMvrBmDiz1pA7tx4Fvg/s320/DSC_1162.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476382366920687282" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">Today I went on my annual trip to the nursery of all nurseries. It is a beautiful place, garden beds laid out with paths that show both sun gardens and shade gardens, a pond and vegetables. It has it all. The flowers are of excellent quality, which means they are a bit pricier. But I was able to get a couple of annuals using a birthday gift certificate, and spend some time getting ideas. I usually go once or twice a year, and it always feeds my soul.<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAbjhwZqMEGT_DxZtfXiHKxn35avBjJb3KnXxRRwfUzOCUFY0CUWcqWSu6o9TipK6opc58Dj0ml6vsQVo7v7kaCaqEAWZzy6SzkzblhTennfhr_nMqun-TJ3Do7_CU9okgXuRjjWaltQ/s1600/DSC_1273.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAbjhwZqMEGT_DxZtfXiHKxn35avBjJb3KnXxRRwfUzOCUFY0CUWcqWSu6o9TipK6opc58Dj0ml6vsQVo7v7kaCaqEAWZzy6SzkzblhTennfhr_nMqun-TJ3Do7_CU9okgXuRjjWaltQ/s320/DSC_1273.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476384059281879922" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAMsFabQkXps4CawQReWIvmdGG3D2K5hoRDK3BNE1Hjm2qChifWx0QIXEJAokg_r7GHrEANc92nPwcNUaguPXouRyVzRO6f1INm2YGQkXPTk3aQatJaJmxUAuPh656B9G7mk7ag4y6jg/s1600/DSC_1295.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAMsFabQkXps4CawQReWIvmdGG3D2K5hoRDK3BNE1Hjm2qChifWx0QIXEJAokg_r7GHrEANc92nPwcNUaguPXouRyVzRO6f1INm2YGQkXPTk3aQatJaJmxUAuPh656B9G7mk7ag4y6jg/s320/DSC_1295.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476384073287775746" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq0mmQbFxUhWpI3wEBp92Ca1rflkl3Tt1hh00k9CMF1t3sv9bvOn9wAVwHoOVe6SYDcSjL2kC1gr0pIvAPxUJXxzGcmLNb1QY92-JZJ1I-y68mG-RKvA71P01CCN1roHYTdhRIW4nJhg/s1600/DSC_1289.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq0mmQbFxUhWpI3wEBp92Ca1rflkl3Tt1hh00k9CMF1t3sv9bvOn9wAVwHoOVe6SYDcSjL2kC1gr0pIvAPxUJXxzGcmLNb1QY92-JZJ1I-y68mG-RKvA71P01CCN1roHYTdhRIW4nJhg/s320/DSC_1289.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476386092305165474" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">I was reflecting on my love of growing things and gardens and it <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">occurred</span> to me that my parents picked out a perfect name for me. I think I was destined to be weak-kneed over a perfect blossom from the very start.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKx8HrzA6HpVPLsTBCY9Z9Ncc29qswv_CZSwTsgVjh92Vr2qgse0eLpOgZHzzD3gH87zehgLAamI080eI0Hc3FEP-s2lRLXFisWsZvcrqEyUjABdm2W7cfIVc-m-CMSDCBzElT7auuwg/s1600/DSC_1277.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKx8HrzA6HpVPLsTBCY9Z9Ncc29qswv_CZSwTsgVjh92Vr2qgse0eLpOgZHzzD3gH87zehgLAamI080eI0Hc3FEP-s2lRLXFisWsZvcrqEyUjABdm2W7cfIVc-m-CMSDCBzElT7auuwg/s320/DSC_1277.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476384082187077250" border="0" /></a> </span>Daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08980758232167941972noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489977956488610970.post-51323371877930331642010-05-23T06:15:00.004-04:002010-05-23T06:33:15.013-04:00A new reason to smile"<span style="font-style: italic;">Mommy! Mommy!</span>" a voice whispered from the foot of my bed. <br /><br />I groggily answered, "What's wrong?" while determining that it was N standing there.<br /><br />"<span style="font-style: italic;">My tooth is falling out of my mouth!</span>" I squinted at the clock, and noticed it was 2 a.m. "N, go back to bed. I'll look in the morning."<br /><br />I rolled over and went back to sleep, wondering what he was talking about, but being too tired to really care. <br /><br />He has had a loose tooth for about 3 months, and we have wiggled it at teeth brushing time, but it hadn't noticeably loosened. Apparently something happened in the middle of the night, because the next morning N came into the kitchen bright and early with his tooth just hanging out of his mouth. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Eru_e9XVIu18JAb35ECpCAdOTbR4vgP5VEm7jTlIKme8G8Dw8c0D_VOC-MJaO2gb1LYzXAdH0Hqi5MyOhUANBVlGcrhuiCcpND3n4VMlm1_asdqnamC20m5sdiUgcjzia35-gYTjAw/s1600/DSC_1187.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Eru_e9XVIu18JAb35ECpCAdOTbR4vgP5VEm7jTlIKme8G8Dw8c0D_VOC-MJaO2gb1LYzXAdH0Hqi5MyOhUANBVlGcrhuiCcpND3n4VMlm1_asdqnamC20m5sdiUgcjzia35-gYTjAw/s320/DSC_1187.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474410605458053826" border="0" /></a><br />I asked him if he wanted me to pull it, and he did. I took a tissue, twisted one corner out, and then gave a another twist and tug, and it was out!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifGrThFBqu8W9z_fMcKphLgYDz2vzTx7EbYcjfT1NViH1t_x0Ahln9YA2HfD2nKsUVw27wbM33_Ugyb_qpDmXQRNa5ciaZGQqDPZtETN0LmA-Qu2pY1ngejhwuZOgl9opOXFq88Q2-8Q/s1600/DSC_1189.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifGrThFBqu8W9z_fMcKphLgYDz2vzTx7EbYcjfT1NViH1t_x0Ahln9YA2HfD2nKsUVw27wbM33_Ugyb_qpDmXQRNa5ciaZGQqDPZtETN0LmA-Qu2pY1ngejhwuZOgl9opOXFq88Q2-8Q/s320/DSC_1189.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474410608150970978" border="0" /></a><br /> He was so proud and happy.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9sbWYaYoAx4k7CPTTNaTdjEG6IKJwqusQ8SNFtQKQupiv92xYPhVR1jCBVZLDtfEuyslrQSsK5G9PA6-BCCvmnwKb92_rbDbowzOJ_kl-IWEEE3LGpbLF-pufLHHHQj9pcGy8d8M88A/s1600/DSC_1192.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9sbWYaYoAx4k7CPTTNaTdjEG6IKJwqusQ8SNFtQKQupiv92xYPhVR1jCBVZLDtfEuyslrQSsK5G9PA6-BCCvmnwKb92_rbDbowzOJ_kl-IWEEE3LGpbLF-pufLHHHQj9pcGy8d8M88A/s320/DSC_1192.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474410616249504514" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I</span> was so proud and happy. My boy had just lost his first tooth, just one month shy of the end of kindergarten. He had watched his classmates all year coming in with stories of lost teeth, and now he got to share his own. I love those gap tooth smiles, it is one of my favorite stages of childhood.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt4s134frWnhXUami64p_x8R654R6zUJ2qFXScJYiNLOvipXp3mbXl92TPShPZr0tZ5o2SF8j4aHRmuDJ8EKa49qSqKQfC5ST9L8X2U1O8DJMQcbI7tCVJc9M-sjlPkyx85P7EFbn0Nw/s1600/DSC_1194.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt4s134frWnhXUami64p_x8R654R6zUJ2qFXScJYiNLOvipXp3mbXl92TPShPZr0tZ5o2SF8j4aHRmuDJ8EKa49qSqKQfC5ST9L8X2U1O8DJMQcbI7tCVJc9M-sjlPkyx85P7EFbn0Nw/s320/DSC_1194.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474410623776633490" border="0" /></a>Daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08980758232167941972noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489977956488610970.post-38268627213069267432010-05-05T13:46:00.006-04:002010-05-05T14:28:58.102-04:00Mulching<span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;" >Every couple of years we get several cubic yards of mulch delivered to our driveway. I would love to be the person that gets it all neatly shoveled onto the flower beds within a day, or even a week. But it seems to sit for weeks, gathering "helicopters" from the maple trees, and long strands from the oak trees. Last time we had it delivered, we actually got too much, and the remainder of the pile sat there </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;" >for a whole year</span><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;" >, until the following spring when I used it up. The neighbors must have been horrified! Anyway, I was trundling wheelbarrows across the yard yesterday, with two little helpers. Both KK and Addie were eager to use their little beach shovels to pat down the mulch around the flowers. It must have seemed like a fun game to KK, because today she came up to me, shovel and bucket in hand, "Mommy, please I can do the dirt?". How could I resist? So what if she was wearing a white shirt, and the mulch leaves black stains? I showed her where to dump her mulch when her bucket was full, and left her to it. About half an hour later, I realized that she was still working! Face flushed, dirty knees and hands, she was completely absorbed in her job. </span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" >Digging into the pile</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMXjB05Y8qojgBEvmd0PPTAo6m-CCWsMHiAaKrStS-PbwBPH_soDRx9-A9L3Pwfk-QglpvLGsQrVk-uSZGQY0MBxz66EAAY_4GpwAx-vP_N-K-Tvus_Cl8qdyc7AOkOuhIyVT07mvwng/s1600/DSC_0772.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMXjB05Y8qojgBEvmd0PPTAo6m-CCWsMHiAaKrStS-PbwBPH_soDRx9-A9L3Pwfk-QglpvLGsQrVk-uSZGQY0MBxz66EAAY_4GpwAx-vP_N-K-Tvus_Cl8qdyc7AOkOuhIyVT07mvwng/s320/DSC_0772.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467847457947152098" border="0" /></a></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmJddc1gXCFqh-OLwOPUfIXV1FYZw9Xm1xUjcW-qUDA9w3Ji8hfkLRXauTrLYYp9p-0bCReqMyiu7mJe9XmS4zwG0FHvqmZMpM24uNNDYo18q9ET4O7HiAvg_vN40cpY5o4_9n5NQnpg/s1600/DSC_0775.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmJddc1gXCFqh-OLwOPUfIXV1FYZw9Xm1xUjcW-qUDA9w3Ji8hfkLRXauTrLYYp9p-0bCReqMyiu7mJe9XmS4zwG0FHvqmZMpM24uNNDYo18q9ET4O7HiAvg_vN40cpY5o4_9n5NQnpg/s320/DSC_0775.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467848279258092178" border="0" /></a></span><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" >Mulch covered</span><br /><br /></div><span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgolBF0aE3bs8gIkWb9xG0QpU0EOxs3GdoQSZIacHdXMLRTb68Qx1rBKDi-vCVyqltuy1iYkVmn_ZxWwWUKNfa4fO1L2HX32U-g6b9jhyphenhyphenAApIqWy1UGhrUQA4x_wZIMVN2DwgsqzgdUQg/s1600/DSC_0774.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgolBF0aE3bs8gIkWb9xG0QpU0EOxs3GdoQSZIacHdXMLRTb68Qx1rBKDi-vCVyqltuy1iYkVmn_ZxWwWUKNfa4fO1L2HX32U-g6b9jhyphenhyphenAApIqWy1UGhrUQA4x_wZIMVN2DwgsqzgdUQg/s320/DSC_0774.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467847473751607378" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLcZE1gXx26eN7Nl9_LR9BLr_tLA6TYVyaseyZudb5EZ72h5KRANbvB3qDwAVn_SfEg9c_41dLJYXHxg_LnyZik4Pwgx1RGbagqatCIM1OZA_XQrdJgcy24-CrKqR1dBqrmWsfY-jFpw/s1600/DSC_0795.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLcZE1gXx26eN7Nl9_LR9BLr_tLA6TYVyaseyZudb5EZ72h5KRANbvB3qDwAVn_SfEg9c_41dLJYXHxg_LnyZik4Pwgx1RGbagqatCIM1OZA_XQrdJgcy24-CrKqR1dBqrmWsfY-jFpw/s320/DSC_0795.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467848272156321330" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Getting up</span><br /><br /></span><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhwaYiUgLvuLdVqherOVJSuKAF4f0FGs9W4Lhv7brOhvvtxiI_6bRHXlM3zaqJcNMrLrnXLOQXHZdTuNu53Ra1KYdMrG8DjHcHHS7a4t-fo_04OjrVKbNdpPwCD5Uyn1rNjgt8Q0PvJQ/s1600/DSC_0782.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhwaYiUgLvuLdVqherOVJSuKAF4f0FGs9W4Lhv7brOhvvtxiI_6bRHXlM3zaqJcNMrLrnXLOQXHZdTuNu53Ra1KYdMrG8DjHcHHS7a4t-fo_04OjrVKbNdpPwCD5Uyn1rNjgt8Q0PvJQ/s320/DSC_0782.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467847486792011090" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">partially full bucket</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmuSOOZslMWIfYOoOQJQTQX1KvwYVX_2Z38BCGyJ3nTZa_ybpYCVcGvvyWIsz8VXBxMZVpNNB4kH_RRcFVLwajVliH0IJAWUsnUcJSE4KCSJUg0Lw9DIv1KKd9KQZa-KzaxvZ5qgjaPQ/s1600/DSC_0784.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmuSOOZslMWIfYOoOQJQTQX1KvwYVX_2Z38BCGyJ3nTZa_ybpYCVcGvvyWIsz8VXBxMZVpNNB4kH_RRcFVLwajVliH0IJAWUsnUcJSE4KCSJUg0Lw9DIv1KKd9KQZa-KzaxvZ5qgjaPQ/s320/DSC_0784.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467847492126147042" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">dumping</span><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeGWyAAP0uWlOfCDXKtIf6Cjt-VeR4FkZ4wqORoAYn-TUQCGMmxjd50kacVYxYfg7W63XBvaZNu3pmFDFuW5bA8Tw92TN7U-F3KzoxkOY8gMFdm9sA6ZDe_DDiB5_-paFigLT41FSHJg/s1600/DSC_0789.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeGWyAAP0uWlOfCDXKtIf6Cjt-VeR4FkZ4wqORoAYn-TUQCGMmxjd50kacVYxYfg7W63XBvaZNu3pmFDFuW5bA8Tw92TN7U-F3KzoxkOY8gMFdm9sA6ZDe_DDiB5_-paFigLT41FSHJg/s320/DSC_0789.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467848261696869746" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">off to get some more</span><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9l9Wdft7k3h3UgbB8ri5IjNv9A6QbAi53k0zabrnV6zMX7_MTaEYZwE3qEdVF6259_f9dgFy53xv8ZxMKHynD1RZXrzaguPNNZCoCsj_hIRRMWqzZ_HjCndbF5ch6kCMaaUFSeuzDVA/s1600/DSC_0788.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9l9Wdft7k3h3UgbB8ri5IjNv9A6QbAi53k0zabrnV6zMX7_MTaEYZwE3qEdVF6259_f9dgFy53xv8ZxMKHynD1RZXrzaguPNNZCoCsj_hIRRMWqzZ_HjCndbF5ch6kCMaaUFSeuzDVA/s320/DSC_0788.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467847500148570130" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLcZE1gXx26eN7Nl9_LR9BLr_tLA6TYVyaseyZudb5EZ72h5KRANbvB3qDwAVn_SfEg9c_41dLJYXHxg_LnyZik4Pwgx1RGbagqatCIM1OZA_XQrdJgcy24-CrKqR1dBqrmWsfY-jFpw/s1600/DSC_0795.JPG"><br /></a></span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:130%;" >With a little helper like this, it won't be long before I'm scraping asphalt.</span><br /></div><br /></div>Daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08980758232167941972noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489977956488610970.post-12862777261126915812010-05-03T08:41:00.007-04:002010-05-03T09:37:57.614-04:00Retreat<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZWIMDnBsFIDcBeJudGIAIMFc6RHkIc4RDX9HwMRNLbX8PraHrMnkJWhNwyJ4EJ1Ah4ItJPG8tmvOw3mdnNJ3DNReWViCeERwe8ITv-WY2-q5zkEWZmrhmQkoeEO9UcfG2iHygm7siEw/s1600/DSC_0716.JPG"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyEXF8Wom3aw9d9QaKEGxE1Ch9Ng8QQfbFDQmoM9u526kTPVDVfqk4h8YBFf6geq1gv8HynkqQoP4SB72D9YaNRQtIFF9DLhyphenhyphentNkefH3zAbHrFAHda3w2lGbd7nhVhgZq_WlNvZxJL8Q/s1600/DSC_0682.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyEXF8Wom3aw9d9QaKEGxE1Ch9Ng8QQfbFDQmoM9u526kTPVDVfqk4h8YBFf6geq1gv8HynkqQoP4SB72D9YaNRQtIFF9DLhyphenhyphentNkefH3zAbHrFAHda3w2lGbd7nhVhgZq_WlNvZxJL8Q/s320/DSC_0682.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467034986982675186" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" ><br />Coming up on the women's retreat weekend, I was feeling a little conflicted. Two of my friends, who I look forward to rooming with every year weren't going. I have always enjoyed this time to spend with them- talking, worshipping, eating, learning together. But it was not going to happen. On the other hand, I was super excited for the speaker, Nina, she is a very dear friend from my growing up years whom I don't see very often anymore. So I signed up to go, and asked my sister, Sandy, and another friend, Anna, to room with me. It was a little hard leaving this time, since I had just returned from a weekend in San Diego with my two closest friends from high school, and I knew Ed was feeling a little overwhelmed being alone with the kids again. Also, we passed the one year anniversary of my dad's death the day after I returned from San Diego, and 2 days before I left again. I was still feeling a little shaken from all the emotions running through my mind. Yet, I was really looking forward to learning from Nina, and spending time with her.<br /><br />The weather was absolutely the best I have ever seen. We always go to the same place- Harvey Cedars Bible Conference on LBI at the Jersey shore. Most years it is chilly, sometimes rainy- it is only the first weekend in May. But this year it was 85 and sunny, sunny, sunny! I really enjoyed my time with Sandy and Anna. We ate together, talked, laughed, and I was completely blessed by our time together. We just soaked in the sun and Nina's lectures.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKKvyDgbbpSQc7usS3zS41VNB3lqER-eFgiIT9wBB4iTn_juJHnhTF7R7X3ZwBKsFYDzn8Zmo7QkraQpENlypWvvy3TOGTQEg8QJsPQQS9ULKZcXTnmy3tWz1trbhX5N9h-obEuHNvTw/s1600/DSC_0686.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKKvyDgbbpSQc7usS3zS41VNB3lqER-eFgiIT9wBB4iTn_juJHnhTF7R7X3ZwBKsFYDzn8Zmo7QkraQpENlypWvvy3TOGTQEg8QJsPQQS9ULKZcXTnmy3tWz1trbhX5N9h-obEuHNvTw/s320/DSC_0686.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467036607796110946" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" ><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiic7OeHfHu4CbD0wYARVEVjJ305xn9YNoBKNYuNp08IFSS1rjRS8r6veW5jDK8tdFiQuTjQC674_uTgu7i1RsSTimpwVdNZyLsir08EMeIV-xdiH5xFZvHCwPynowjcwwi9fZNqmouJg/s1600/DSC_0705.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiic7OeHfHu4CbD0wYARVEVjJ305xn9YNoBKNYuNp08IFSS1rjRS8r6veW5jDK8tdFiQuTjQC674_uTgu7i1RsSTimpwVdNZyLsir08EMeIV-xdiH5xFZvHCwPynowjcwwi9fZNqmouJg/s320/DSC_0705.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467034995627643410" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZWIMDnBsFIDcBeJudGIAIMFc6RHkIc4RDX9HwMRNLbX8PraHrMnkJWhNwyJ4EJ1Ah4ItJPG8tmvOw3mdnNJ3DNReWViCeERwe8ITv-WY2-q5zkEWZmrhmQkoeEO9UcfG2iHygm7siEw/s1600/DSC_0716.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZWIMDnBsFIDcBeJudGIAIMFc6RHkIc4RDX9HwMRNLbX8PraHrMnkJWhNwyJ4EJ1Ah4ItJPG8tmvOw3mdnNJ3DNReWViCeERwe8ITv-WY2-q5zkEWZmrhmQkoeEO9UcfG2iHygm7siEw/s320/DSC_0716.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467037158872233074" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" ><br />It was absolutely the best lecture series of a retreat, in my memory. The theme was "</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >Making straight paths in a crooked world</span><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >". Nina wove in practical applications, was honest as she shared struggles from her own walk, challenged us in the way that we thought about Scripture, about our Shepherd. The best way to summarize all that Nina talked about is through a line from this song, that she shared with us,<br /><br />"When my world is shaking<br />Heaven stands<br />When my heart is breaking<br />I never leave your hands"<br />-</span><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >JJ Heller and Katie Herzig<br /><br />In so many ways my world has been shaken, starting about 8 years ago - my family, friendships, church family, basically, my life. This weekend was such a good reminder that I am in His hands. It is a long journey ahead in this crooked world of ours, He is with me, alive in me and lives through me so that I can bless others. I have a renewed desire to pursue a knowledge of Jesus, to be a woman who knows her Saviour well.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Here are some random pictures from our weekend:</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;">I saw this, and I asked the owner if I could take a picture of his dog- it just cracked me up</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZzkp_6U4ch1GMaOK41j35z1gX3USB__bg2I9rpX5iCNz_T8FcE70uOCHX15WOIPa-5JP-CkUBD5Z2-ZkrrMBf_FOG0EmCJXGTH1x4wOI0m3nNtpAyxywKCdtEAua8rRpoo1VitFADCw/s1600/DSC_0715.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZzkp_6U4ch1GMaOK41j35z1gX3USB__bg2I9rpX5iCNz_T8FcE70uOCHX15WOIPa-5JP-CkUBD5Z2-ZkrrMBf_FOG0EmCJXGTH1x4wOI0m3nNtpAyxywKCdtEAua8rRpoo1VitFADCw/s320/DSC_0715.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467035003838942690" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Someone found this little turtle on the walk. I took him inside the last lecture, and he became very animated midway through, trying to crawl out of my pocket, across my notebook, down my legs. I released him, although I knew the kids would have loved to see him.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV3_A-mj7kDgaDx44Lup0Iqr3BeCnZ02choD7qSxhRZjqeR4oR7o3lA-3xpl-6JtHR3jMjzzVE11sjFIWfOKQWYs9F3e7NJRWqdlIXQpUaCz4iYz7i92mBEZM84yRrEn9AJ0-CMU3gnA/s1600/DSC_0726.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV3_A-mj7kDgaDx44Lup0Iqr3BeCnZ02choD7qSxhRZjqeR4oR7o3lA-3xpl-6JtHR3jMjzzVE11sjFIWfOKQWYs9F3e7NJRWqdlIXQpUaCz4iYz7i92mBEZM84yRrEn9AJ0-CMU3gnA/s320/DSC_0726.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467035018703269394" border="0" /></a></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNk43fIcJd9Ce8RSjjOW7RDx7eYQRat6RZpe_LmkURmVEdN9attAuXNU0kMHFUHnHNd5BFvi5lGOLlAkfYG6uuKejEnJArS3xzpBd7267sFryGBWzBSYpxvoDpIJSqKWYogzdJjc__Hw/s1600/DSC_0736.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNk43fIcJd9Ce8RSjjOW7RDx7eYQRat6RZpe_LmkURmVEdN9attAuXNU0kMHFUHnHNd5BFvi5lGOLlAkfYG6uuKejEnJArS3xzpBd7267sFryGBWzBSYpxvoDpIJSqKWYogzdJjc__Hw/s320/DSC_0736.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467035973520553954" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;">and one with my sweet friend, Nina<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHHGODIazJwlB7s_MfiS7LS1nvivB7zQ03PyvCsWa5b8lbctCNyAXQhT3vxzXKJQvNxk9yjT0JajY9KDdhVTB4DwXipVxEZkQpY_I1YGIMOZH3KS7t1TQm78RBAk2H7Dq7O7WXPAP6-A/s1600/DSC_0723.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHHGODIazJwlB7s_MfiS7LS1nvivB7zQ03PyvCsWa5b8lbctCNyAXQhT3vxzXKJQvNxk9yjT0JajY9KDdhVTB4DwXipVxEZkQpY_I1YGIMOZH3KS7t1TQm78RBAk2H7Dq7O7WXPAP6-A/s320/DSC_0723.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467035004875327986" border="0" /></a></span></div>Daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08980758232167941972noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489977956488610970.post-66688271308946958572010-04-08T09:14:00.003-04:002010-04-08T10:07:50.061-04:00When Ed's away...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlVt-bG4d9IeuSTo9xsz4y6WAIY5Ex0UGWbQSpO9Cf2n9C1iww3XlEZcntnpey_tBUS7araLjTg2Aix2P2rH6xV-xcojwKYTfLhI1352VLBwhGz7zVZEx3xRuQwjodxyt_Gd3VH6zaYQ/s1600/DSC_0162.JPG"><br /></a><br /><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;" >Ed occasionally has to be out of town on business. Sometimes it is one week, other times just a day, this time it is 3 weeks (home on the weekends). We all miss him, but there is also the fact that life is easier when he is here. Although he is at work all day, I do count on him being here for dinner and then to help with the kids at bed time. When he isn't, it just makes the day seem longer. It's amazing what a difference it makes to have another parent helping with brushing teeth, or cleaning up after dinner. And then there are things that happen that make me realize how much I miss not having a man around the house. Things like broken garbage disposals, or closet doors that fall off the track, or...mice.<br /><br />Yes, we have had mice issues since moving in this house. Sometimes worse, sometimes better, but Ed has always been the one to deal with the dead mice and the mouse traps. Once we got our cats, we haven't been as vigilant with setting the traps, hoping that the cats would take care of the problem. Shortly after we got Jasper, he "caught" his first mouse. Ed and I were in the living room watching T.V., all of a sudden, Jasper darted across the floor and Ed said, "He's chasing a mouse!" We both jumped off the couch and found a poor little mouse limping along, trying to get away from Jasper. We didn't want to see the mouse suffer, but we didn't know what to do with it. I suggested that we get our electrical mouse trap and zap the mouse, to put it out of its misery. Ed, of course, took care of that. He got the trap and placed it in front of the mouse. The frightened and dazed creature saw the opening in the little black box as an escape, crawled in, and was immediately electrocuted. It made us a little sad, but it was better than the alternative of being mauled to death by the cat. Anyway, we haven't seen any evidence of the cats catching anything else until yesterday.<br /><br />I was on the phone with Jess, when Ben came running up to me and said, "Jasper has a mouse! A real live mouse!" At that point, I saw Jasper running into the laundry room, so I followed. Sure enough, he turned around to face me and there was the poor creature, in Jasper's mouth, little legs wriggling around, frantically trying to get away. I gave a little yelp and locked Jasper in the laundry room, hoping that he would finish off the mouse quickly. Jess was horrified at the situation, and I was a bit worried that I would find bits of mouse or step on a head. After I got off the phone, I checked on Jasper, and although he was interested in the space behind the dryer, I didn't see any injured or dead mouse, so I figured it had gotten away and had found somewhere to die in peace.<br /><br />When E came home, I was telling her the story when I saw Blossom overly interested in a pile of books on the playroom floor. She was playing with something underneath and I had my suspicions that it was a mouse. "E, go lift up those books" I urged.<br /><br />She looked at me like I was crazy, and said, "No, YOU go pick up those books!"<br /><br />"No, YOU!"<br /><br />"No, YOU!" This probably would have continued indefinitely had KK not been standing there, and watching. As we argued, she went over and lifted up the books. E and I took one look, saw a mouse, and ran SCREAMING up the stairs. I think our arms were over our heads too. Once we got our breath back, we went back downstairs where K was still standing next to the mouse, confused as to what made us run for the hills. I grabbed a clear plastic toy container, put it over the mouse, and then came in for a closer look. At closer inspection, the mouse was very small and cute, but obviously injured. It was curled up, panting and close to death. I didn't know what to do- it probably wouldn't be able to make it into the mouse trap, but I didn't want to just let it lie there and die in front of all the kids. I went to look for the mouse trap, and that is when I found mouse #2, or maybe it was the original mouse. In any case, it was lying in the middle of the laundry room floor, very dead. Now, if Ed were coming home I would have left that mouse, and probably the other one, but I now I was forced to take care of the situation. My mom called in the middle of this and I told her about the 1/2 dead mouse. Her first suggestion? <span style="font-style: italic;">To cut off the mouse's head, using the cutting board and a knife from my kitchen.</span> I yelped, "Are you crazy?!" Her response? "That's what the farm wives used to do!" Needless to say, I didn't take that advice, or her other suggestions to "crush it" or "drown it". In the end, I got up my courage, gritted my teeth and scooped up both mice, put them in plastic bags and threw them in the garbage bin. I know it wasn't the most humane thing to do to that little injured one, but I couldn't find the trap, and I just could not kill the mouse outright. Hopefully it was close enough to death that it didn't suffer long. I am proud of our little mousers. I think that the message is getting out to the mouse community that this is not a "friendly" house any longer. We've got hunters on the job!<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlVt-bG4d9IeuSTo9xsz4y6WAIY5Ex0UGWbQSpO9Cf2n9C1iww3XlEZcntnpey_tBUS7araLjTg2Aix2P2rH6xV-xcojwKYTfLhI1352VLBwhGz7zVZEx3xRuQwjodxyt_Gd3VH6zaYQ/s1600/DSC_0162.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlVt-bG4d9IeuSTo9xsz4y6WAIY5Ex0UGWbQSpO9Cf2n9C1iww3XlEZcntnpey_tBUS7araLjTg2Aix2P2rH6xV-xcojwKYTfLhI1352VLBwhGz7zVZEx3xRuQwjodxyt_Gd3VH6zaYQ/s320/DSC_0162.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457767874638855618" border="0" /></a><br /><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;" >Now I am just wondering what other (mis)adventures we will have while Ed is away.</span>Daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08980758232167941972noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489977956488610970.post-73921644191319695582010-04-04T21:13:00.006-04:002010-04-04T21:37:35.812-04:00Three<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">Today, she is 3 for <span style="font-weight: bold;">real</span>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPqzmXeso_tnCZELLObFX5E7B0I-wccWRozOBunGkLHK9mFJeKwj3ijZ9ohAONOguTDKbWZLvFbPnoNmLPkTvqjYBV5j0UrbAqAxnauexcPZHXxqw4GfALNF84FR7_tGhAekT443ZsJQ/s1600/DSC_0111.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPqzmXeso_tnCZELLObFX5E7B0I-wccWRozOBunGkLHK9mFJeKwj3ijZ9ohAONOguTDKbWZLvFbPnoNmLPkTvqjYBV5j0UrbAqAxnauexcPZHXxqw4GfALNF84FR7_tGhAekT443ZsJQ/s320/DSC_0111.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456456786121982850" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:130%;" ><br />Not 2,<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEANRLJ6gPLcGET-KLMVJS6IwtUTGdoJDic0VPz04Wd3xPzjnmHU_YxiaQXzWVCM1TYMCR-WMNbIe3nTlteI-_Dua5Ww8wXaFwgdA8LSUoJkV5bYtxdiqaykMRMWQ2tJ0JiQMBWEp-8A/s1600/DSC_0110.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEANRLJ6gPLcGET-KLMVJS6IwtUTGdoJDic0VPz04Wd3xPzjnmHU_YxiaQXzWVCM1TYMCR-WMNbIe3nTlteI-_Dua5Ww8wXaFwgdA8LSUoJkV5bYtxdiqaykMRMWQ2tJ0JiQMBWEp-8A/s320/DSC_0110.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456456776479927106" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:130%;" ><br />but 3.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRCHBiPFywiorH92Q80p6hsN0npa_yZCNMYfB2JOra7mHF66DQ9J1mHRRShYWOcMl3DFxUxSDAu34CGWbq1KttpQCvpkmTkFOusw6fBlTLlxr_vJPpa8eWMS_2GhGfbQ8HkvkWYZlgmA/s1600/DSC_0114.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRCHBiPFywiorH92Q80p6hsN0npa_yZCNMYfB2JOra7mHF66DQ9J1mHRRShYWOcMl3DFxUxSDAu34CGWbq1KttpQCvpkmTkFOusw6fBlTLlxr_vJPpa8eWMS_2GhGfbQ8HkvkWYZlgmA/s320/DSC_0114.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456456795235611330" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:130%;" ><br />Happy Birthday, our sometimes silly,<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUrU8HKQe-sRRBG-p3aFWbMAf3QdGDihCt87JsJePJo46GFLrMkz8Zayc6MEWbXmioPms72uZnpNF8wkIjg8oFhrPNSwOPK9jBVvN_f_eFn3VkNgGkmSArqK_uYHNhFx2pd_89nk8O3g/s1600/DSC_0109.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUrU8HKQe-sRRBG-p3aFWbMAf3QdGDihCt87JsJePJo46GFLrMkz8Zayc6MEWbXmioPms72uZnpNF8wkIjg8oFhrPNSwOPK9jBVvN_f_eFn3VkNgGkmSArqK_uYHNhFx2pd_89nk8O3g/s320/DSC_0109.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456456772960295618" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:130%;" >sometimes serious,<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkSaMzElmmuUBL1HplkA0e9W7pHFAmHyzSRVkL1dzvqkeFwyhQryALQ5_JOgAHkAac-jSNkVjUcvjKfN6xxAOldBkPVturJqZJrYagtWQkSVw2apcuwH1dM5H3nmn_EYnvFZPs3tdFyA/s1600/DSC_0108.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkSaMzElmmuUBL1HplkA0e9W7pHFAmHyzSRVkL1dzvqkeFwyhQryALQ5_JOgAHkAac-jSNkVjUcvjKfN6xxAOldBkPVturJqZJrYagtWQkSVw2apcuwH1dM5H3nmn_EYnvFZPs3tdFyA/s320/DSC_0108.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456459853850122066" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:130%;" ><br />but always sweet, girl</span><span style="font-size:130%;">.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5aWFtTHIWNQlKTEZKelblRg03VIJuff7c96togkZKqlJqbg4YfLXay7NsEln5CTUMfiXCFbBJd6684j5tNGEjpdRQHsRWeRSSY4fsVGsI6QZsNDWkPBBozevne3ydcyuzObhF1bMCKw/s1600/DSC_0120.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5aWFtTHIWNQlKTEZKelblRg03VIJuff7c96togkZKqlJqbg4YfLXay7NsEln5CTUMfiXCFbBJd6684j5tNGEjpdRQHsRWeRSSY4fsVGsI6QZsNDWkPBBozevne3ydcyuzObhF1bMCKw/s320/DSC_0120.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456460627141210850" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"> <span style="font-family:verdana;">May all your birthday wishes come true...<br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitmSTt_bSV1sYl0zHjjqlB4-hZl9CB0mQM_blz3a4zzkfjvJlr4K4665y5Ti3tM8Hbd-EZY1NZ8toSRucm0pcDcWSVLCeGski897-5ANlZoTvJgax-UgrE282F2wmLpPae06Y2gm_B9A/s1600/DSC_0125.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitmSTt_bSV1sYl0zHjjqlB4-hZl9CB0mQM_blz3a4zzkfjvJlr4K4665y5Ti3tM8Hbd-EZY1NZ8toSRucm0pcDcWSVLCeGski897-5ANlZoTvJgax-UgrE282F2wmLpPae06Y2gm_B9A/s320/DSC_0125.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456459843456212578" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">even the one about flying like Tinkerbell.</span></span><br /><br /></div>Daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08980758232167941972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489977956488610970.post-65012010613841061242010-04-03T12:51:00.008-04:002010-04-04T21:13:25.207-04:00Miss Spider Party<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVXIaRGSfdCNGmEbFDQkPB6rYMuQ-mzfRA2aBc5skWqravRh-t1mPSwClUqLT1sDmxsC4_Rmsb8MzVMqrA-ytvz8NylV5OUPgFuvwrxKixjKyEXn27FqI_3xfgWBeIb1Cs9JbH62D8RA/s1600/DSC_0081.JPG"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt0JIIIcJ57ce6o0Q13bCHBTc8lzh-zfl-LkMEck1Q0iud5TkPV_TRu_blwh1YWgpbnSxuojjUq0BztFYjZ-olCsRy4VieNlQk1daOk-JHnUyWystCGoSqujEFQ-K3e9zWtiwXJmu4_Q/s1600/DSC_0007.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt0JIIIcJ57ce6o0Q13bCHBTc8lzh-zfl-LkMEck1Q0iud5TkPV_TRu_blwh1YWgpbnSxuojjUq0BztFYjZ-olCsRy4VieNlQk1daOk-JHnUyWystCGoSqujEFQ-K3e9zWtiwXJmu4_Q/s320/DSC_0007.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455962748751983042" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYrxUgz_tLSEZtpRRxKfDsaLIRWC_atsCeZePtpcKdYLgQ5TsdCINdaG5Rjueb_SE55p__RI_M7kD90C_YiaMENvrGuS2ydjdkIhtG2rp4yw9rdGDAixbg2J76uBMlKzXioPh25fFaIQ/s1600/DSC_1601.JPG"><br /></a><br />This morning we celebrated K's third birthday. I can't believe she is 3.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6rqNSp77ZRVxrfw25E1OAn9WHIetNhXwmx3KtWz7_O3LAzd61pz8UvEYfdigFtIz_5X0pqLXZDoqVxTiHc15PsrkkLojo-Vdfxfbvsqnb2IHk2qhaor5BxY_9e2KpGDrKNHzeupCAGg/s1600/DSC_1600.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6rqNSp77ZRVxrfw25E1OAn9WHIetNhXwmx3KtWz7_O3LAzd61pz8UvEYfdigFtIz_5X0pqLXZDoqVxTiHc15PsrkkLojo-Vdfxfbvsqnb2IHk2qhaor5BxY_9e2KpGDrKNHzeupCAGg/s320/DSC_1600.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455961867575593826" border="0" /></a>Well, actually, not yet, since her real birthday is tomorrow. So I can have one last day with my two year old girl. Sniff.<br /><br />Anyway, moving on. We did the same thing as for N last week- we celebrated today, because tomorrow is Sunday and there will be no time for birthday celebrations at breakfast. Also, it is Easter, and I didn't want to cram her birthday in-between Easter celebrations. So, we had breakfast together and then K opened her presents from us. I think E was more excited about the Calico Critter townhouse and various accessories than K was! She couldn't wait for it to be unwrapped before getting out all the itty-bitty pieces and cute critters and setting up the house. K was more interested in placing each one of her new crayons into her new caddy. It was driving the other kids crazy!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYrxUgz_tLSEZtpRRxKfDsaLIRWC_atsCeZePtpcKdYLgQ5TsdCINdaG5Rjueb_SE55p__RI_M7kD90C_YiaMENvrGuS2ydjdkIhtG2rp4yw9rdGDAixbg2J76uBMlKzXioPh25fFaIQ/s1600/DSC_1601.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYrxUgz_tLSEZtpRRxKfDsaLIRWC_atsCeZePtpcKdYLgQ5TsdCINdaG5Rjueb_SE55p__RI_M7kD90C_YiaMENvrGuS2ydjdkIhtG2rp4yw9rdGDAixbg2J76uBMlKzXioPh25fFaIQ/s320/DSC_1601.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455961885076561346" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxet4gokbqM2Weht2Bu5wkgKxwMvaW7r98bKBKrgtZHz9F7DKEg7qGcuNtrpXpR-Dx82bFuwAhUgUCUn17e6gTsVOoC-7-O_lOzq4N05uO9XQX4Uqsg6bpOo-K91w4lMXYNUwLoTzWtA/s1600/DSC_1606.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxet4gokbqM2Weht2Bu5wkgKxwMvaW7r98bKBKrgtZHz9F7DKEg7qGcuNtrpXpR-Dx82bFuwAhUgUCUn17e6gTsVOoC-7-O_lOzq4N05uO9XQX4Uqsg6bpOo-K91w4lMXYNUwLoTzWtA/s320/DSC_1606.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455961895937803602" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOVXMJdwm9TrLA3mAn5CVs6u-xBdwhM3ufr5ADTnvnO6mdDUQ6xD3bxse7afbZoh_HvhcEYyIzg0_yJRVZEkDerpgkzepaETUSogAUJVh-nMNJvZ7CFXPPrTWRNILXWmi9_7Hni1Qshw/s1600/DSC_0001.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOVXMJdwm9TrLA3mAn5CVs6u-xBdwhM3ufr5ADTnvnO6mdDUQ6xD3bxse7afbZoh_HvhcEYyIzg0_yJRVZEkDerpgkzepaETUSogAUJVh-nMNJvZ7CFXPPrTWRNILXWmi9_7Hni1Qshw/s320/DSC_0001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455961898334713954" border="0" /></a><br />Shortly after the kids got dressed, K's little friends arrived for a Sunny-Patch style birthday. We started off making butterflies from coffee filters and markers. It was a great craft for this age- quick and easy. They really liked spraying the water on the wings to make the colors run.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2aiiiOvFvZV80-wvIkZuojW83bo16PahmPl49slPFaaf_o8Im-pTMXDldJy4cJ9QLiCy84a53zHgSUPeqcg2sRZE-4qN0m_P9yA-KGzPqgccYXl56LVvcEFc_Rl3ul5jmJjekdyRS0Q/s1600/DSC_0027.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2aiiiOvFvZV80-wvIkZuojW83bo16PahmPl49slPFaaf_o8Im-pTMXDldJy4cJ9QLiCy84a53zHgSUPeqcg2sRZE-4qN0m_P9yA-KGzPqgccYXl56LVvcEFc_Rl3ul5jmJjekdyRS0Q/s320/DSC_0027.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455962837963500658" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFqlJ60y9e0FOMtmSl9pJV_uZKaZwlzsTvcauGB4a0kze0ep0JoH5XJyTUCYZ5AJmqcsZflLxyyrKjBBfUKWlGBmPAyviSSE3zO9FZXa3NhLdpiTQt-ROVQkIC37UjFZQXUqE3nnfqZg/s1600/DSC_0026.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFqlJ60y9e0FOMtmSl9pJV_uZKaZwlzsTvcauGB4a0kze0ep0JoH5XJyTUCYZ5AJmqcsZflLxyyrKjBBfUKWlGBmPAyviSSE3zO9FZXa3NhLdpiTQt-ROVQkIC37UjFZQXUqE3nnfqZg/s320/DSC_0026.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455962795705588322" border="0" /></a><br />While the butterflies dried their wings, the girls went on a bug hunt for some Sunny Patch friends. They followed a map I had made, and found grasshoppers, lady bugs, centipedes, beetles and ants hiding in the backyard. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk-BgQlfbjunM1gRyzJzOrJYFBo3onohOsC35ceI7KVHn3y3wsZMuQHc2wSqSedRwwTV3s3Nuvz01YkFBFTeos3revSCCd8gQZQ3GAijLsllzuKjAw7jpzvKEZEWU0O1NbAJkzT3CERA/s1600/DSC_0029.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk-BgQlfbjunM1gRyzJzOrJYFBo3onohOsC35ceI7KVHn3y3wsZMuQHc2wSqSedRwwTV3s3Nuvz01YkFBFTeos3revSCCd8gQZQ3GAijLsllzuKjAw7jpzvKEZEWU0O1NbAJkzT3CERA/s320/DSC_0029.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455964254667311218" border="0" /></a> When each bug was found, they were put into a little bug box that each girl carried around their neck. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3SPHICoaXcFttss42pQluM2_PCWCFc4bJiXOWoG4Et64pqKxUEuWCGaiggxYevDCyYOUtuDrFh1ipYf91mqU50WFcbw5RuTyF0zgJ7TRhT2j5YgsO5cHq54EA_rtZyQm-4zY2JGPEOw/s1600/DSC_0013.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3SPHICoaXcFttss42pQluM2_PCWCFc4bJiXOWoG4Et64pqKxUEuWCGaiggxYevDCyYOUtuDrFh1ipYf91mqU50WFcbw5RuTyF0zgJ7TRhT2j5YgsO5cHq54EA_rtZyQm-4zY2JGPEOw/s320/DSC_0013.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455962772399271202" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7vXHEferSeizyE-L3wksIjU0mWDBlXYxR8Mo9moWUGkF8HHd1es5_6SoyDfJhBQIX4CNk-dPyzGRfXq0uWSXONltADj3ftN855HJBojqNlKmBoqKv8rtyZbyQpZpQByaFDspPaLKDXA/s1600/DSC_0032.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7vXHEferSeizyE-L3wksIjU0mWDBlXYxR8Mo9moWUGkF8HHd1es5_6SoyDfJhBQIX4CNk-dPyzGRfXq0uWSXONltADj3ftN855HJBojqNlKmBoqKv8rtyZbyQpZpQByaFDspPaLKDXA/s320/DSC_0032.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455964263817041266" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The last spot was in the moon bounce, where they had fun bouncing like "Bounce" (from the show).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPspqompJ47ov4I8hdDXXHswc9sqNZkT3HpL0THEaw5HldRTnSn-SJuuurJsS6EuF82aKN0-jjGDw5jje-iPmLRtqvnOYeVkAY3yrr7GIzg6dx8i8zgx-jAYbqqYZ2DicJ1D_m3jLnlA/s1600/DSC_0046.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPspqompJ47ov4I8hdDXXHswc9sqNZkT3HpL0THEaw5HldRTnSn-SJuuurJsS6EuF82aKN0-jjGDw5jje-iPmLRtqvnOYeVkAY3yrr7GIzg6dx8i8zgx-jAYbqqYZ2DicJ1D_m3jLnlA/s320/DSC_0046.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455964285140333394" border="0" /></a><br />We then went inside to have cake and ice cream. I had made a big Miss Spider cake, and then put all the little Sunny Patch Friends on cupcakes around her. (Another long friday afternoon and evening!!). I have really enjoyed the creative flexibility the fondant has given me! I found a recipe I like for marshmallow fondant, and itt tastes so much better than the store bought kind. Still not as good as buttercream, but the kids seem to like it.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYm-V1CdIrWGGKnJism3rFMuNgkeoRyrYIX_uk2uFM7k6x6MgYsiuRz4sRcQplKNRikY8B35e4XmjQdMzeNvUDzIzAV1wNBvSqXBTWpY_fh5CljcnYIXtSrKqrTdsyGQRcVnKr8YT7Iw/s1600/DSC_0004.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYm-V1CdIrWGGKnJism3rFMuNgkeoRyrYIX_uk2uFM7k6x6MgYsiuRz4sRcQplKNRikY8B35e4XmjQdMzeNvUDzIzAV1wNBvSqXBTWpY_fh5CljcnYIXtSrKqrTdsyGQRcVnKr8YT7Iw/s320/DSC_0004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455962735670206050" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixVD3MYWGUq3iWO9AhehjlS_DLKyS1LaKaghHZ-x6ApmTI_-sduLAsIsN9Rde5fSLquyPzlutWALKZ82Ek5z89mumxUENAw2XVy78e12dLny-19r0MbtCeAfy1PIwBfvAoSdKZ9H9l7g/s1600/DSC_0054.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixVD3MYWGUq3iWO9AhehjlS_DLKyS1LaKaghHZ-x6ApmTI_-sduLAsIsN9Rde5fSLquyPzlutWALKZ82Ek5z89mumxUENAw2XVy78e12dLny-19r0MbtCeAfy1PIwBfvAoSdKZ9H9l7g/s320/DSC_0054.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455964312712471666" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmGR3-uqZLTWCTr3N6HZMFBpo13QNLFZEBC4S7OAmFKnmaxpCS2lEvP-v_rXloab06pL8wuNY6g6lM0Pt18HpdHvlPQrjHCItzAFPjoaTTUmFM9nA6_OHfFqYHK2xNV_sPqgZA4CiMsw/s1600/DSC_0059.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmGR3-uqZLTWCTr3N6HZMFBpo13QNLFZEBC4S7OAmFKnmaxpCS2lEvP-v_rXloab06pL8wuNY6g6lM0Pt18HpdHvlPQrjHCItzAFPjoaTTUmFM9nA6_OHfFqYHK2xNV_sPqgZA4CiMsw/s320/DSC_0059.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455965231226281682" border="0" /></a><br />After gift-opening, the girls went outside to finish their butterflies before heading home.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHmzXd8PhrbJJINeTPf-0BAu9uk6fwX7pUqFoewUG9ULYDielgnqumbYNgVVma1uSH5qOprygE1nWam93xlLGQ89Z53_W-TcYZjGY6XpDeMwf6-Ri1WeROx6dLuXIt-rG3PxBTEvo1Ww/s1600/DSC_0061.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHmzXd8PhrbJJINeTPf-0BAu9uk6fwX7pUqFoewUG9ULYDielgnqumbYNgVVma1uSH5qOprygE1nWam93xlLGQ89Z53_W-TcYZjGY6XpDeMwf6-Ri1WeROx6dLuXIt-rG3PxBTEvo1Ww/s320/DSC_0061.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455965243962751538" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVXIaRGSfdCNGmEbFDQkPB6rYMuQ-mzfRA2aBc5skWqravRh-t1mPSwClUqLT1sDmxsC4_Rmsb8MzVMqrA-ytvz8NylV5OUPgFuvwrxKixjKyEXn27FqI_3xfgWBeIb1Cs9JbH62D8RA/s1600/DSC_0081.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVXIaRGSfdCNGmEbFDQkPB6rYMuQ-mzfRA2aBc5skWqravRh-t1mPSwClUqLT1sDmxsC4_Rmsb8MzVMqrA-ytvz8NylV5OUPgFuvwrxKixjKyEXn27FqI_3xfgWBeIb1Cs9JbH62D8RA/s320/DSC_0081.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455965685372753170" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiItPOVACVKkOLrmWLYpAQEewCWJssNx-KaGJq5phU2L3qVfhFFLdRzvbjLN0RsPn6M5a8jqlx1gPzWwWssR-PcLplvlkvf6-th_6nT0vwP7yto13ilG-Z8LAtvG4MCJ2XH6MoW-RNPrg/s1600/DSC_0078.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiItPOVACVKkOLrmWLYpAQEewCWJssNx-KaGJq5phU2L3qVfhFFLdRzvbjLN0RsPn6M5a8jqlx1gPzWwWssR-PcLplvlkvf6-th_6nT0vwP7yto13ilG-Z8LAtvG4MCJ2XH6MoW-RNPrg/s320/DSC_0078.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455965271686104514" border="0" /></a><br />Now K is outside with N enjoying her new playdough, and E is upstairs with the Critter house. It is such a beautiful day to be outdoors! I am also super excited that tomorrow, Easter, is supposed to be gorgeous. There is nothing like a beautiful, warm, sunny Easter to celebrate that He is Risen.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifOTcRPX0s4um70NVu_KYa46wP6U9w9S67s6sxOY9RY_z0ZCNsxseoBm9o4mUugQT9grjOP5YB7AycoXWtUvejXIx7pihbocFJFJ6Zq1FC2lOOecxfuwASVfDzxI_kYbRF1fsiv192fw/s1600/DSC_1575.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifOTcRPX0s4um70NVu_KYa46wP6U9w9S67s6sxOY9RY_z0ZCNsxseoBm9o4mUugQT9grjOP5YB7AycoXWtUvejXIx7pihbocFJFJ6Zq1FC2lOOecxfuwASVfDzxI_kYbRF1fsiv192fw/s320/DSC_1575.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455961863625292738" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnGv3Xp1GaA8sBzptE8MZBek0TfotxLXIkTbNtd1Y2zgOmk0n0AUfz2OMv-yXaZJ_IyBYrzJ7VxZz4LlFHLWm2lKvgwIg8OQYolbaq3IhyphenhyphenKGHcdqaST-iz5JfhuDXBm3wBLbXUWlWT1g/s1600/DSC_1591.JPG"><br /></a>Daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08980758232167941972noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489977956488610970.post-27229390591676135312010-04-03T12:20:00.005-04:002010-04-03T12:50:56.773-04:00Lego Party<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii9f4Z5RZrBq5VQTAdekjO1XFvIdh8wf9hUvLLRKIh23Ryz5Pe9licto-kLAaSC3mUp56TXyiv_uKDrT9FJNRKH31x29hLWdKC6vycGezo-WZ1UDFImlVsTTqNiO7qavLsHiagTZZlcg/s1600/DSC_1485.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii9f4Z5RZrBq5VQTAdekjO1XFvIdh8wf9hUvLLRKIh23Ryz5Pe9licto-kLAaSC3mUp56TXyiv_uKDrT9FJNRKH31x29hLWdKC6vycGezo-WZ1UDFImlVsTTqNiO7qavLsHiagTZZlcg/s320/DSC_1485.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455951720437879490" border="0" /></a><br />Last week N celebrated his 6th birthday. We started the morning off with our own family celebration at breakfast time. We actually celebrated on the day before his birthday, because his real birthday was on a Sunday, and we wouldn't have time to do breakfast and presents before church. N didn't mind opening his gifts a day early.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiny4ILKrBnuPs61TwbiwjiYjFA5WrlLjbhHg1YY_cLgmJMXqrx3Uzrw1vvVJmgrot9Q6VTgS9Qk57oHBu4OGMjYjLs4LaTaebOv1cvIsJUaxpEjZhp9FaY1nrigVaBK6nn01bklVCkKA/s1600/DSC_1482.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiny4ILKrBnuPs61TwbiwjiYjFA5WrlLjbhHg1YY_cLgmJMXqrx3Uzrw1vvVJmgrot9Q6VTgS9Qk57oHBu4OGMjYjLs4LaTaebOv1cvIsJUaxpEjZhp9FaY1nrigVaBK6nn01bklVCkKA/s320/DSC_1482.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455951699607754930" border="0" /></a><br />Then, after lunch N's friends came over for a Lego party. Originally N wanted a Bakugan party, but I couldn't really think of how I could pull the theme off with games or projects, so I steered him toward the lego idea. We ordered a ton of legos from ebay (actually, <span style="font-style: italic;">just</span> 16 pounds) and poured them onto the train table. When the boys arrived, they built a lego man, and then a vehicle from the pile of pieces. After that, the challenge was to build something, anything, from a box with random pieces. It was neat to watch them create and use their imaginations. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWtCN3oPEt4DEDnG27G61RAjX0lmukbhht7YvbJW9yf0G0BEEvRAZHqGdrBdFl1LD6mBdNvQqaFLJrv_ieeQtxObxdQOb5Lb0_4-VS4jB0RxTLPg9yb-Zpzi4TkshM_PD8H_4r1uMXQQ/s1600/DSC_1492.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWtCN3oPEt4DEDnG27G61RAjX0lmukbhht7YvbJW9yf0G0BEEvRAZHqGdrBdFl1LD6mBdNvQqaFLJrv_ieeQtxObxdQOb5Lb0_4-VS4jB0RxTLPg9yb-Zpzi4TkshM_PD8H_4r1uMXQQ/s320/DSC_1492.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455952735101244930" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7U0B2UQerM5JTOtB2FRmV0jmKPco-uAAQsZN0BzVcLTX_xpScXlECw0iBwMDcUVzadP8K8pkmTa8lMHICKaRCHrO5vm3_m-91F2Bm45j2Y8_qAcEcW4FqU_9yFRUn-04MSCM7bGN2Gg/s1600/DSC_1498.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7U0B2UQerM5JTOtB2FRmV0jmKPco-uAAQsZN0BzVcLTX_xpScXlECw0iBwMDcUVzadP8K8pkmTa8lMHICKaRCHrO5vm3_m-91F2Bm45j2Y8_qAcEcW4FqU_9yFRUn-04MSCM7bGN2Gg/s320/DSC_1498.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455952743724768482" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCv-VV2LBv7n91a3psKMt7DfNz5bXkG2chwaQShdfIq3B0SdRC33LUftqidRo7g_xRSG8d88utV7Ui66RSn1CaK0KU5Nh5MtK1y3moXulZvTZFxk8d3mW27FKnvtRETT6O1IdNTfR8Mg/s1600/DSC_1500.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCv-VV2LBv7n91a3psKMt7DfNz5bXkG2chwaQShdfIq3B0SdRC33LUftqidRo7g_xRSG8d88utV7Ui66RSn1CaK0KU5Nh5MtK1y3moXulZvTZFxk8d3mW27FKnvtRETT6O1IdNTfR8Mg/s320/DSC_1500.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455952762125860130" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6l6iTmjOqM-bzAKEHEropebl6KJLh6V_yK1jiE5nqa1YAu6gJu_NG-lSkJVMOxOoE8Jlh08f3jEuBhyphenhyphenZwfHGMttjSwdRWdqiRYGS6_d7wa2xf7SKUQkvtKrjFJEpTEUj78FayZm4b1g/s1600/DSC_1501.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6l6iTmjOqM-bzAKEHEropebl6KJLh6V_yK1jiE5nqa1YAu6gJu_NG-lSkJVMOxOoE8Jlh08f3jEuBhyphenhyphenZwfHGMttjSwdRWdqiRYGS6_d7wa2xf7SKUQkvtKrjFJEpTEUj78FayZm4b1g/s320/DSC_1501.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455952791176733378" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhs7E0eViEKZwJrH-H7uGwc6wL6AEdyQIsXXGB-4A1sg9WvjB0gCG0Tn5Q9Ky5xPwuB8erPa0uwwR8vJAxiue7CXXYPzBZ_Ba-iP45GpRfuTMkxJqaE9AvqrHypqhb9aml4joQpztpeA/s1600/DSC_1507.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhs7E0eViEKZwJrH-H7uGwc6wL6AEdyQIsXXGB-4A1sg9WvjB0gCG0Tn5Q9Ky5xPwuB8erPa0uwwR8vJAxiue7CXXYPzBZ_Ba-iP45GpRfuTMkxJqaE9AvqrHypqhb9aml4joQpztpeA/s320/DSC_1507.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455953495273669586" border="0" /></a><br />For the cake, we had both cupcakes and a big cake. I had spent the day before figuring out to to make and color fondant icing. I made these cupcakes, designed to look like the parts of a lego guy. Then the morning of the party Ed iced several cake "blocks" so that they would look like lego bricks stacked on each other. The effect was pretty cool, and the boys each got to take home a cupcake as part of their party favors.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizOl1OnqMmRFFjN73YasQccdt1vRWvu9JVIseD3X_x4zVf3SoknnamAyFKDq0ErjClvD0ETihtIJYj00bz5l2v_fRzcHwUYzE4ibsioDT4SL0vbbmyeKgJyunhEpGyxazJY9I2iadjSA/s1600/DSC_1473.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizOl1OnqMmRFFjN73YasQccdt1vRWvu9JVIseD3X_x4zVf3SoknnamAyFKDq0ErjClvD0ETihtIJYj00bz5l2v_fRzcHwUYzE4ibsioDT4SL0vbbmyeKgJyunhEpGyxazJY9I2iadjSA/s320/DSC_1473.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455951740978725634" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUiyKZmk9SJO0alfO4NxRFwU1KsQ_x6Qq5GIHC31zWjCxU2Yb-Q8kzZf-MCsGgzGeyMX1buz1UgxAYEihrmEFLJZgUwhKZlUVZ9r70UbufrnfApbuUjD9tYLJurNkXKPP4UW4vnf6jxA/s1600/DSC_1488.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUiyKZmk9SJO0alfO4NxRFwU1KsQ_x6Qq5GIHC31zWjCxU2Yb-Q8kzZf-MCsGgzGeyMX1buz1UgxAYEihrmEFLJZgUwhKZlUVZ9r70UbufrnfApbuUjD9tYLJurNkXKPP4UW4vnf6jxA/s320/DSC_1488.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455952699393434226" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhivRC3UxxwigIVVhTEUhWjPZlwv-b12F6i3bwEazahRCDlZm9VAJP85lm40dUaUg8ZMw3G2jYep-ADQWtMZKPBc1XsaoupnauxY5MVLFJ8FObdAptFJogl_voALzltGITiq2_KJa8FyA/s1600/DSC_1512.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhivRC3UxxwigIVVhTEUhWjPZlwv-b12F6i3bwEazahRCDlZm9VAJP85lm40dUaUg8ZMw3G2jYep-ADQWtMZKPBc1XsaoupnauxY5MVLFJ8FObdAptFJogl_voALzltGITiq2_KJa8FyA/s320/DSC_1512.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455953517149648258" border="0" /></a><br />When the boys had all gone home, N settled down to start on his gift from us. He actually ended up building the whole thing with little help from us- a first for him. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc84-ulZ-BnQyF_0eSQAL7JxwkAcgUU7Ulvli0qjIcS39drIstj8lrbcZ5FNRIEB9qD8uCp4tzm_TrjD0Rh-d0q4FOWopuo608R03h2-0wix4ktu1ts3AQclRoDIvLGsscpPL2e87Mbg/s1600/DSC_1483.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc84-ulZ-BnQyF_0eSQAL7JxwkAcgUU7Ulvli0qjIcS39drIstj8lrbcZ5FNRIEB9qD8uCp4tzm_TrjD0Rh-d0q4FOWopuo608R03h2-0wix4ktu1ts3AQclRoDIvLGsscpPL2e87Mbg/s320/DSC_1483.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455951705276337490" border="0" /></a><br />When I praised him, he said, "That's because I'm six now!"<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgakNQ0Ht0wQhSErBqZSTkdG97AwwNz0XQWpjdy1JbFm2wwrpCjIF-IotimmWzNbi97mYQbDjn3ZRdE-oQJ5Y2QGWw38kMpTKrF3ylr3LaVgs7ZBEOom-FXoGCDP8qqZxyBw1vKmwiXVQ/s1600/DSC_1481.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgakNQ0Ht0wQhSErBqZSTkdG97AwwNz0XQWpjdy1JbFm2wwrpCjIF-IotimmWzNbi97mYQbDjn3ZRdE-oQJ5Y2QGWw38kMpTKrF3ylr3LaVgs7ZBEOom-FXoGCDP8qqZxyBw1vKmwiXVQ/s320/DSC_1481.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455951672402082370" border="0" /></a>Daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08980758232167941972noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489977956488610970.post-83629468370673461062010-03-26T20:08:00.009-04:002010-03-27T10:22:35.022-04:00Flowers<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8w1u2UtVhceUugxw9dyFPZGUOIATF-aKclbrc8yiCr_jQBKuvtUFJB0STCsVNbToHoTZCIwM91vqiJ0Y3YYro8-WBywSMjzCrVjGUs5nip3s4JBxogSOC7OqupFQ29pvCFIq3eWfiOw/s1600/DSC_1465.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8w1u2UtVhceUugxw9dyFPZGUOIATF-aKclbrc8yiCr_jQBKuvtUFJB0STCsVNbToHoTZCIwM91vqiJ0Y3YYro8-WBywSMjzCrVjGUs5nip3s4JBxogSOC7OqupFQ29pvCFIq3eWfiOw/s320/DSC_1465.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453102642548019250" border="0" /></a><br /><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >Around this time every year I expectantly await the return of my flowers to the garden. Yesterday I was walking around, taking pictures, and thinking about how they are kind of like old friends. They have been there through several seasons of my life (literally and figuratively). I know them, love them, and they bring me great joy and, even, comfort. Some I transplanted from my old house, some are transplanted from others' gardens and bring those people to mind each year when they flower. It's fun to walk around and see the little leaves poke through the soil, and both remember how beautiful they were in years past, and anticipate what they will look like in the months ahead.<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwNtkBNPstmK8cZjVfXbTbS96eX7N2NTkKms1B1Jv-gTHuiF-zWViHBAaBgtEyEJtCTPQBq_rqsOWpUZe8wSYT8-1kcFscgGKkYE2grFyclSgmsAbZ0UrrClBVkq9_uFAMjiJ3ltuXHg/s1600/100_0370.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwNtkBNPstmK8cZjVfXbTbS96eX7N2NTkKms1B1Jv-gTHuiF-zWViHBAaBgtEyEJtCTPQBq_rqsOWpUZe8wSYT8-1kcFscgGKkYE2grFyclSgmsAbZ0UrrClBVkq9_uFAMjiJ3ltuXHg/s320/100_0370.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453108919490006114" border="0" /></a><br /><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >Here is a fun quiz for you gardeners out there- can you guess what plants these are? Since they are in their "baby" stage, it isn't easy.<br /><br />Answers are at the bottom.</span><br /><br />A. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMM20BMSPm4mPzr5TGOjJgxV1rUrQtTepWSOfPY8JknyzkJlple6GDj6sRXS5c8TdpknBvF4ZHH3pzoHy5WV3Q3kl2TF5T8woGupRBJeKJcD5vFPWPmusK-4Bz_nrMhNyeCiu2tWUbXA/s1600/DSC_1456.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMM20BMSPm4mPzr5TGOjJgxV1rUrQtTepWSOfPY8JknyzkJlple6GDj6sRXS5c8TdpknBvF4ZHH3pzoHy5WV3Q3kl2TF5T8woGupRBJeKJcD5vFPWPmusK-4Bz_nrMhNyeCiu2tWUbXA/s320/DSC_1456.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453102342400917458" border="0" /></a><br />B.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMM20BMSPm4mPzr5TGOjJgxV1rUrQtTepWSOfPY8JknyzkJlple6GDj6sRXS5c8TdpknBvF4ZHH3pzoHy5WV3Q3kl2TF5T8woGupRBJeKJcD5vFPWPmusK-4Bz_nrMhNyeCiu2tWUbXA/s1600/DSC_1456.JPG"><br /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmT27yT7-q0J63mn34wvcPnI5j1aHA1HxYLl5e4GAf3ktRi0Z6LZgM_it3ccqHhx7laLHlnonrlYlXqOiDsj2fzreV65OT4jBsIT4VFuBj5EYUJY778SCKUboxGHNQi0SKownt4viiPQ/s1600/DSC_1457.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmT27yT7-q0J63mn34wvcPnI5j1aHA1HxYLl5e4GAf3ktRi0Z6LZgM_it3ccqHhx7laLHlnonrlYlXqOiDsj2fzreV65OT4jBsIT4VFuBj5EYUJY778SCKUboxGHNQi0SKownt4viiPQ/s320/DSC_1457.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453102353093087938" border="0" /></a>C.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikr3DrHilwu9WSUsQMsJLxhSvnaZwlSqod9cx6WUCdJrc1oW_tWP6K4PIyAz6wGEM4A6ZRcSYC5h6eGFiasaKoZN5Jhje0IcmAp6k4quY2UvRjxMqs0fpEe72nsvht5YR1wlcODZQ7XA/s1600/DSC_1461.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikr3DrHilwu9WSUsQMsJLxhSvnaZwlSqod9cx6WUCdJrc1oW_tWP6K4PIyAz6wGEM4A6ZRcSYC5h6eGFiasaKoZN5Jhje0IcmAp6k4quY2UvRjxMqs0fpEe72nsvht5YR1wlcODZQ7XA/s320/DSC_1461.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453102363752492066" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4n3kBNVAHxJ8hOT5hmQEHzuZswEcUr2cJhyphenhyphen81F1c4eDq4BJpuUm04DhdWMpA5G8vb7Tx9_W4fJZTs_apsbu7oHg21aytLkanPfwcsa36yJDJuCSwVhquVZGQpJ3S_-3dw7-dNSmSxng/s1600/DSC_1458.JPG"><br /></a>D.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSdA1z8mpz2NSg5JM4p_Z4k_Ol6IUqG-i6kgLi1FDRyp29JHRUhmbDN7-3TSPaOHlS0DNTge1MwynK3Oa6aahcHGz-2H9EGnNo_DuEnWDb3gov-qfLG4aw16vpHRv2Ko0hvoXF0JsTkQ/s1600/DSC_1462.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSdA1z8mpz2NSg5JM4p_Z4k_Ol6IUqG-i6kgLi1FDRyp29JHRUhmbDN7-3TSPaOHlS0DNTge1MwynK3Oa6aahcHGz-2H9EGnNo_DuEnWDb3gov-qfLG4aw16vpHRv2Ko0hvoXF0JsTkQ/s320/DSC_1462.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453102372824206658" border="0" /></a>E.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhAYx0iGrYAJQHdY1r_Nr3TgkYM0GMI6cqp6HvC9UNp17QakLvppKIKVX8bq7UKNppYoyDwv35azFKpP-P_Fc2b9eFNsXGJWm3lyC5778PKbCaUZ712_5dz5Vie1Gn7cKWwYBicccJEQ/s1600/DSC_1466.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhAYx0iGrYAJQHdY1r_Nr3TgkYM0GMI6cqp6HvC9UNp17QakLvppKIKVX8bq7UKNppYoyDwv35azFKpP-P_Fc2b9eFNsXGJWm3lyC5778PKbCaUZ712_5dz5Vie1Gn7cKWwYBicccJEQ/s320/DSC_1466.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453102649626509858" border="0" /></a>* Extra Credit*F. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4n3kBNVAHxJ8hOT5hmQEHzuZswEcUr2cJhyphenhyphen81F1c4eDq4BJpuUm04DhdWMpA5G8vb7Tx9_W4fJZTs_apsbu7oHg21aytLkanPfwcsa36yJDJuCSwVhquVZGQpJ3S_-3dw7-dNSmSxng/s1600/DSC_1458.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4n3kBNVAHxJ8hOT5hmQEHzuZswEcUr2cJhyphenhyphen81F1c4eDq4BJpuUm04DhdWMpA5G8vb7Tx9_W4fJZTs_apsbu7oHg21aytLkanPfwcsa36yJDJuCSwVhquVZGQpJ3S_-3dw7-dNSmSxng/s320/DSC_1458.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453102360315531554" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhAYx0iGrYAJQHdY1r_Nr3TgkYM0GMI6cqp6HvC9UNp17QakLvppKIKVX8bq7UKNppYoyDwv35azFKpP-P_Fc2b9eFNsXGJWm3lyC5778PKbCaUZ712_5dz5Vie1Gn7cKWwYBicccJEQ/s1600/DSC_1466.JPG"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></a><br /><br />A. Iris B. Day Lilies C. Peonies D. Spiderwort E. Hydrangea<br /><br />F. I am not sure what this is. I think it might be a corn flower, but I am not positive. Here is a picture of the flower- if you can give me a positive ID, that would be great!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJHi5LxyqBPmmq2MeQwcE3kFi0ac0imazP3cOFwHsQY5JIxymPpTvV6T1RgralG0lOyTdE9tFcPHxcjuKE4Oi12CHlVbKoNUKUJ4_aDXCbjOfF1DyWAw2tDAn7zxmKRG6NLTLtPDa06Q/s1600/100_0364.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJHi5LxyqBPmmq2MeQwcE3kFi0ac0imazP3cOFwHsQY5JIxymPpTvV6T1RgralG0lOyTdE9tFcPHxcjuKE4Oi12CHlVbKoNUKUJ4_aDXCbjOfF1DyWAw2tDAn7zxmKRG6NLTLtPDa06Q/s320/100_0364.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453108435569853938" border="0" /></a>Daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08980758232167941972noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489977956488610970.post-35968091924690601392010-03-25T12:57:00.004-04:002010-03-25T13:12:46.565-04:00Say "Aaah!"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi24rzG4Xj9YSiHcFJtupdYDQIfYnCarAR-oUwiKqDUsjVUNgXcVKt0pOOr2kE5bZB8FNgygVwT5AmY_CjnpetsPkj6ymIXoUIephhxKKzZVbI-WxhDAgKf7-3c6crSaM4GFujfBJtKg/s1600/DSC_1309.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi24rzG4Xj9YSiHcFJtupdYDQIfYnCarAR-oUwiKqDUsjVUNgXcVKt0pOOr2kE5bZB8FNgygVwT5AmY_CjnpetsPkj6ymIXoUIephhxKKzZVbI-WxhDAgKf7-3c6crSaM4GFujfBJtKg/s320/DSC_1309.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452618827825640530" border="0" /></a><br />Last week K passed another milestone, of sorts. Her first visit to the dentist! Our oldest two went to the dentist at the same age, and still ended up with a mouthful of cavities at 5 (same as me). At first checkup, Dr. Lloyd was pleased with how K's teeth look, so we are crossing our fingers hoping that she inherited her daddy's teeth instead of mine. Ed has never had a cavity, whereas I have had more than I can count.<br /><br />Dr. Lloyd is a very gentle, sweet man who has a really kid-friendly office. Toys in the waiting room as well as in the examination room. Lots of prizes at the end. The kids love going. K readily climbed into the chair, hands full with Mickey, Tinkerbell, and Elmo. She opened her mouth to get her teeth counted and checked out. No cleaning this time, just an introductory visit.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEkwXoq2XgdzwfqcVJS5afz-tSOLWzYu2fIB_UWPoUvQpu0dxRh_tx1J9DW3fLWu4cACn9FF83F3-YrFSoOkwk9_899CusUq_Ioybg_69iHmHivaYYhFpcGPkzII6Acmrj4BXiNIT3fQ/s1600/DSC_1304.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEkwXoq2XgdzwfqcVJS5afz-tSOLWzYu2fIB_UWPoUvQpu0dxRh_tx1J9DW3fLWu4cACn9FF83F3-YrFSoOkwk9_899CusUq_Ioybg_69iHmHivaYYhFpcGPkzII6Acmrj4BXiNIT3fQ/s320/DSC_1304.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452618819944172210" border="0" /></a> The biggest drawback to this practice is that they don't accept insurance cards, so you have to do the paperwork yourself and pay out of pocket at the end of a visit (no joke with 3 kids). Also, I fear he is going to retire any day now. For now, he is hanging in there- bringing happy smiles to many little faces.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrrNlqmwSHSUpbAY9ZIUnQd4zYi_yjs6X4_iLvwP-GCcvTqtDKH6tHhC_Mx-9-t8jshpXdRTDje6UVybkdXE8VjpnLFMwugo7D2Tl_EMrmkULSZVixUSnsppaB8r8dtc_MwevnQh5dhA/s1600/DSC_1310.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrrNlqmwSHSUpbAY9ZIUnQd4zYi_yjs6X4_iLvwP-GCcvTqtDKH6tHhC_Mx-9-t8jshpXdRTDje6UVybkdXE8VjpnLFMwugo7D2Tl_EMrmkULSZVixUSnsppaB8r8dtc_MwevnQh5dhA/s320/DSC_1310.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452618831102624882" border="0" /></a>Daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08980758232167941972noreply@blogger.com1