tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45611543397343152242024-03-20T03:08:54.018-07:00The Black FamilyNaomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07057717279489122900noreply@blogger.comBlogger176125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561154339734315224.post-17346872851797339112011-06-25T07:21:00.000-07:002011-06-26T12:40:40.379-07:00Vincent Claire GoghI am fully aware of the fact that no one on this planet thinks my kids are more special than their daddy and I do. I <em>know</em> that I am biased and that I think the every-day things they do are wonderful. And while I rave about my kids, most people are probably rolling their eyes and snickering at my excess.<br /><br />To that end, I'm just going to brag <em>a bit</em> about my girl, and you can do all the eye-rolling and snickering you want, and I'll never know! Such is the beauty of the Internet.<br /><br />So, here it is. The plain, unvarnished, unbiased truth is that my girl is an arteest! That's right, a bon-ee-fyde artist extraordinaire. :-)<br /><br />Her school sponsored an art program this year, and the culmination of the program was an art contest. Students could enter pieces from any medium they desired: photography, writing, sculpture, painting, drawing, etc. Claire decided that she wanted to enter a painting piece but debated right up until the deadline on what exactly she would paint.<br /><br />I suggested that she paint a copy of one of Vincent Van Gogh's works simply because this was the very first artist in whom I ever heard her express an interest. She loves his "Starry Night" picture, so she decided to do that one.<br /><br />We worked together. I painted a copy while she sat next to me and worked on her own version.<br /><br /><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 273px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 217px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622598386478553218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcNvHAyeRgsRP6MEKbSu1sBacbSyEejKVjShoT1sawFw0SoOLiwG4IdCmYbKh2eA2Ejq_iyxdZ_3PABykzXRJsEBQ2OzAoEippqOCbKoA0tuHUIIvNUCPGmbTZulLe5o-koK50X9MZ-CY/s320/starrynight.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD7y07zZuCM3upffnjP-y4lYDNCQEppvx8Jn4JxkpFKTqWEYGQTUjFMOHBTT3ptVehigReel4rmmAqUpqHW4TdXC0TjVuOT8H26BQ6DQuA04wrhYQ_FLRG6eiQ_MRR2qLeq7RNJgSuiYQ/s1600/may2011+066.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622250069618967906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD7y07zZuCM3upffnjP-y4lYDNCQEppvx8Jn4JxkpFKTqWEYGQTUjFMOHBTT3ptVehigReel4rmmAqUpqHW4TdXC0TjVuOT8H26BQ6DQuA04wrhYQ_FLRG6eiQ_MRR2qLeq7RNJgSuiYQ/s320/may2011+066.JPG" /></a>The top picture is Van Gogh's original, and the bottom is Claire's copy of it.</div><br /><br /><br /><div>Van Gogh, she is not, but we thought she did a great job.</div><br /><br /><br /><div>The night of the art show, the students gathered to hear the final results of the contest winners.</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1RwcclzmJWsH9_s5WufUWZwGqDx2Ctjp6VGstmzFnrbktzr1aL-vVPb7www2FRqnEGGZ2B9omkYQ7HlZJgpxWgO0ZDTkk0oYtvsclWweWufqC7SKE0Iyi7PjYonwQLIAWz19X4ABNf2o/s1600/may2011+056.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622250066778039730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1RwcclzmJWsH9_s5WufUWZwGqDx2Ctjp6VGstmzFnrbktzr1aL-vVPb7www2FRqnEGGZ2B9omkYQ7HlZJgpxWgO0ZDTkk0oYtvsclWweWufqC7SKE0Iyi7PjYonwQLIAWz19X4ABNf2o/s320/may2011+056.JPG" /></a><br />And my girl walked away with the First Place prize for first grade in the painting category.<br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622250061059287474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8geKMD1s7ez5xX-AuRGMCXiB7fl95NUkCqU6elzWMvv2VkBM0XU8Oq-Ixoh4pmNRmXc7G9r47IL_sorJgHi9chH0ALjL2KanEkavDiIuUMHctiIFWBEbvq1FpcS0vVIS3_PHrME2eyRk/s320/may2011+059.JPG" /> </div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieZNQ2kRPW6ZadsJl2LYWQcVF9xyUW4s0NWBkVPHbp8SzFEMcGRrxcMfTlNcYMSxxNsSSAqCEQ9frP3mEHLx6TNHkUw1uNja7DOtWX3MxUqgoQsteNPK_Sl5NT94tvZ5Tcronj3s5cHeI/s1600/may2011+061.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622250055538584162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieZNQ2kRPW6ZadsJl2LYWQcVF9xyUW4s0NWBkVPHbp8SzFEMcGRrxcMfTlNcYMSxxNsSSAqCEQ9frP3mEHLx6TNHkUw1uNja7DOtWX3MxUqgoQsteNPK_Sl5NT94tvZ5Tcronj3s5cHeI/s320/may2011+061.JPG" /></a><br />We are super proud of her.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 277px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622164152825803874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiVZ_RrDqSZdMX6vtL2MPkO3qzHuwR4klVwgkBH-NU4D9vsD3YvXpDK1tF5k-aLPoEzFbQL4QDDCV-PWh-zfhE92dyyloiTdehKXE4fYktw1OdGPz8jfRl1rLqRSp5M_B3i0ZMZd5wEXQ/s320/IMG_0643.JPG" /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><div>I tend to stress academics with my kids, as that's the area in which I have more experience and feel most comfortable, but I've always been envious of people with artistic talent. My dad and his father and grandfather are all gifted artists of a variety of mediums, and I wish that I had more of that ability. </div><br /><br /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622250057833959426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9rMFnTARPmBMbbi0y-c8Dz9AGbmxEz2NMq1HA5TzQ3VyKcFv8vPx0lLby4Fd2eGBk8IWSKwti_pvxJPfTtFI_u3xkJUR7-98Y4hcAQTn10JnTMpOqHByJR4DrDR1XdPXcjxsVv8uPwLE/s320/may2011+066.JPG" /></div><br /><br /><br /><div>I am overjoyed to think that my girl has maybe inherited an artistic inclination from her Papa.<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSAiL8U4cuterB0WG98OlNfQYaboLTvXT0c2nmHQy9kZBWnvxKsn0IriQzc8-nMnQAyP3HnY9BEs9sHFKDLR6IsiDldB0lTt3A999p-nxb-O6ykqGtzJduROYS1WQJH6YaAHhUdvoCTbY/s1600/IMG_0644.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622164140960453730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSAiL8U4cuterB0WG98OlNfQYaboLTvXT0c2nmHQy9kZBWnvxKsn0IriQzc8-nMnQAyP3HnY9BEs9sHFKDLR6IsiDldB0lTt3A999p-nxb-O6ykqGtzJduROYS1WQJH6YaAHhUdvoCTbY/s320/IMG_0644.JPG" /></a> Claire's friend and classmate, Emma, also entered the contest and won Best in Show for her self-portrait!<br /><br />Probably the highlight of the whole experience for Claire was that the artwork of the students was then displayed in a local art gallery.<br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0zht0VLvBRM3AG1MNtgKwkv8GPpFUnSmFUZlS0eINsdHglRei6kUAKKQDJv4PCJnXhfXOsbTogbErVREj6g7p-LZ1XB28Tq-EtqCoiflngosmXiPykztPLT_5kce5K28dMYDDZKU82XU/s1600/IMG_0687.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622164137148820210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0zht0VLvBRM3AG1MNtgKwkv8GPpFUnSmFUZlS0eINsdHglRei6kUAKKQDJv4PCJnXhfXOsbTogbErVREj6g7p-LZ1XB28Tq-EtqCoiflngosmXiPykztPLT_5kce5K28dMYDDZKU82XU/s320/IMG_0687.JPG" /></a><br />Right alongside real works from local artists hung the works of the students.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0y8zh4hUfCU0eCUoiFsLche7RHEEUNZEul2jXxtnTccJUJzv0twPEm7BEnyKxxaHhBqhBYmlcy_b9670hE95dU9_SyyjSW0Nc4Lw4bNQNxUWj_zeRB2xgrKyVzjV0sm2_Xt5ra14HqkE/s1600/IMG_0688.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622164133143515218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0y8zh4hUfCU0eCUoiFsLche7RHEEUNZEul2jXxtnTccJUJzv0twPEm7BEnyKxxaHhBqhBYmlcy_b9670hE95dU9_SyyjSW0Nc4Lw4bNQNxUWj_zeRB2xgrKyVzjV0sm2_Xt5ra14HqkE/s320/IMG_0688.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB6JXpF-PjwI1B9LD7WB8Z__Prc61aGArqbFCwacX3MOi2b22hUs404oT95gb71EQhbw5ZAoZ3JAmdyOb-MihT0e5RuTDkui_PkY28gTBcl5h2olN5wvujuPLoaylL2zALaEd1WRmeGJs/s1600/IMG_0689.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622164126845294834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB6JXpF-PjwI1B9LD7WB8Z__Prc61aGArqbFCwacX3MOi2b22hUs404oT95gb71EQhbw5ZAoZ3JAmdyOb-MihT0e5RuTDkui_PkY28gTBcl5h2olN5wvujuPLoaylL2zALaEd1WRmeGJs/s320/IMG_0689.JPG" /></a> I'd like to believe that it won't be the only time she sees her paintings hanging on the art gallery's wall. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07057717279489122900noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561154339734315224.post-22965915056006905522011-06-24T14:07:00.000-07:002011-06-25T07:21:03.190-07:00Easter 2011 - where we (and every other family in America) take every opportunity to get pictures of our family all dressed up.Pretty Easter dresses and handsome Easter ties mean mom has to take every opportunity to snap a few pictures of the kids.<br /><br />Just a few.<br /><br />Okay, maybe several.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZfpCPLDYczHWDqWjeXqLhGHOGkIJziyAkTWRbrPNslYmuagPQ4HWapEUyrODFOQbxSxQZoLoelyMscr5RKDsAntkaUNhAD4OucdHYn8g7sjcQAqHlr0Sa-OU-y8OTBDfaMwhD3Amo5fg/s1600/may2011+027.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621975251866415842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZfpCPLDYczHWDqWjeXqLhGHOGkIJziyAkTWRbrPNslYmuagPQ4HWapEUyrODFOQbxSxQZoLoelyMscr5RKDsAntkaUNhAD4OucdHYn8g7sjcQAqHlr0Sa-OU-y8OTBDfaMwhD3Amo5fg/s320/may2011+027.JPG" /></a> I started early on the way to church. Just in case those pretty clothes got ruined later in the day. Live and learn, man. Live and learn.<br /><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621975246237046962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT0eTzwJMYwgHDH_lJp6YXzcQdDlF8nR5tOasVTjPolh1UkJoxix05_ZK4oYSmZaFjIViOzqUTSOY5quwBGkuFrH0cbhFrCpQUZtGrn5D1baN7nIDNaHcvMLtDc00uE5S3vrZ8T2VyI2s/s320/may2011+029.JPG" />Hello, future Mr. Senator.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmV5z4LQGf0pEiAgAl5fv0kmgxJqj4EhKHJ-E4N213BZ1Q9S8_l1DvT85vcv2L_2UpBEHLpZtkPeazJ-v6szNXh5xuvVoPPIe107UQZABnrIHKaylG8jdk5HgOIIjLkVHS7tWtPLa_UxQ/s1600/may2011+030.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621975241649605842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmV5z4LQGf0pEiAgAl5fv0kmgxJqj4EhKHJ-E4N213BZ1Q9S8_l1DvT85vcv2L_2UpBEHLpZtkPeazJ-v6szNXh5xuvVoPPIe107UQZABnrIHKaylG8jdk5HgOIIjLkVHS7tWtPLa_UxQ/s320/may2011+030.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY_Gd811fmH2I1Y78Ai3KOuJh2ieRH2Zesd8SFwiNZ-NRF1iAd2Zyoohym5FiYC5wCeytMEOSh52KFcM2ZUVDpi6X6L4hfDe50hj8PLTo2q57fljWzUV9f2VkzIeeJ2EnHuiaOq3HrzbM/s1600/may2011+031.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621974630655183026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY_Gd811fmH2I1Y78Ai3KOuJh2ieRH2Zesd8SFwiNZ-NRF1iAd2Zyoohym5FiYC5wCeytMEOSh52KFcM2ZUVDpi6X6L4hfDe50hj8PLTo2q57fljWzUV9f2VkzIeeJ2EnHuiaOq3HrzbM/s320/may2011+031.JPG" /></a>And then come the obligatory "go stand over there by your sister and act like you like her" pictures.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiecgH5dqCWETL9HbFDgT4JnyjlFxs5sz9TOpRz1lnLp1sTuBKp3bieRI-l_yGvjfFl0rbnZHFcwnUe7zA7S7hqeHZn0geTubu1qhGABTJnNSFjC97xAT8TsbKWAcWpX6n0c2eW3eMTu28/s1600/may2011+032.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621974622574128066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiecgH5dqCWETL9HbFDgT4JnyjlFxs5sz9TOpRz1lnLp1sTuBKp3bieRI-l_yGvjfFl0rbnZHFcwnUe7zA7S7hqeHZn0geTubu1qhGABTJnNSFjC97xAT8TsbKWAcWpX6n0c2eW3eMTu28/s320/may2011+032.JPG" /></a>I think the eye roll on the little one gives it away.</div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEfjsYEecn9JcL3WX5t_Yhz_FVhFNCC7yhb60Xf3CzhN-SUKqCAu2PqEDHV9y9Q8FTxXaS7m_GdarZiXIoYQhwfomEchmq55J0UM-8QASvhmTVJ4MIH2Bme_bNENXjS_f-LJQfz6irutM/s1600/may2011+033.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621974614879435794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEfjsYEecn9JcL3WX5t_Yhz_FVhFNCC7yhb60Xf3CzhN-SUKqCAu2PqEDHV9y9Q8FTxXaS7m_GdarZiXIoYQhwfomEchmq55J0UM-8QASvhmTVJ4MIH2Bme_bNENXjS_f-LJQfz6irutM/s320/may2011+033.JPG" /></a><em>Are we done yet mom?</em></div><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj456PfS5O5-_5ntYgCp4iUOI1xoFysz3JvxYvCuZfgr0tgfusMBjM9QyaEaRBs7qVFNJ4XQ3T7xDWit-j8MQAPLPLNtMlPaNYTda8NXTm3QhdJ8Ka7jO-Mhq2YrTCq2Bfclw0BED_unVI/s1600/may2011+034.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621974612839720946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj456PfS5O5-_5ntYgCp4iUOI1xoFysz3JvxYvCuZfgr0tgfusMBjM9QyaEaRBs7qVFNJ4XQ3T7xDWit-j8MQAPLPLNtMlPaNYTda8NXTm3QhdJ8Ka7jO-Mhq2YrTCq2Bfclw0BED_unVI/s320/may2011+034.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik0cmSoznRskTR0vQ4OxYnnvfjIXx76vl9wFh55y83S__fMW6KUVftRzsNyIgI6nyLFpTxAkb7Z2d2xZogXZMyFvP__YMw4nan-_TL7rXtI2a1CUTYpe6AJvKQAHwLGBluDmFJCMJHeBw/s1600/may2011+035.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621974608860113090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik0cmSoznRskTR0vQ4OxYnnvfjIXx76vl9wFh55y83S__fMW6KUVftRzsNyIgI6nyLFpTxAkb7Z2d2xZogXZMyFvP__YMw4nan-_TL7rXtI2a1CUTYpe6AJvKQAHwLGBluDmFJCMJHeBw/s320/may2011+035.JPG" /></a>And the close-up's<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3HeMpq08GXESH3dPi6X2lNHuiek4DRYSrFmU5sspXUJN7fZ4F8ydfJOcsn88QDIYII55SbDc-xpnWUkCantCYicBIXY1ycKFJb9HNmc0PR9rAp8EEVYVgopYjzSNUCxAglCKKMt9VzsY/s1600/may2011+036.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621973403582112514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3HeMpq08GXESH3dPi6X2lNHuiek4DRYSrFmU5sspXUJN7fZ4F8ydfJOcsn88QDIYII55SbDc-xpnWUkCantCYicBIXY1ycKFJb9HNmc0PR9rAp8EEVYVgopYjzSNUCxAglCKKMt9VzsY/s320/may2011+036.JPG" /></a></div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh8QopWJQ_ddMpSvVLGuDY2r6Wg1fTCgm2_4EV6uml11FxJTLwzkMEkJSOxMSdRECFzlV2YJnbPdUdEPT4z_C6q-kHn3rcMe5bYuKdiFCcTUvr00xFIdMGJ9PJiglGnWxkc0QUMM3EL1w/s1600/may2011+037.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621973401277694882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh8QopWJQ_ddMpSvVLGuDY2r6Wg1fTCgm2_4EV6uml11FxJTLwzkMEkJSOxMSdRECFzlV2YJnbPdUdEPT4z_C6q-kHn3rcMe5bYuKdiFCcTUvr00xFIdMGJ9PJiglGnWxkc0QUMM3EL1w/s320/may2011+037.JPG" /></a> The little princess.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_cp20rAqiIClKHn9k_UkhYQiNzT1vw_cRdD4LPgzehDa4iYykryi498I_4PXgzPOXhm38ehjsz6lzvxyMZ70IzemFmrRKx2gGKPrnPtUo59QSVBqVqxxXXw8ddlENNxKbM1cV9k0dqPQ/s1600/may2011+038.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621973396370775010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_cp20rAqiIClKHn9k_UkhYQiNzT1vw_cRdD4LPgzehDa4iYykryi498I_4PXgzPOXhm38ehjsz6lzvxyMZ70IzemFmrRKx2gGKPrnPtUo59QSVBqVqxxXXw8ddlENNxKbM1cV9k0dqPQ/s320/may2011+038.JPG" /></a>I'm more than a little concerned at how quickly this one is growing up. Who gave her permission to do so?<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia_YXbf2FL6p-wbglAFg0S6YC1-dQENPHwV487_dpGg582wvjBXnXqa2d_DtFz0XGCeWpvlFA-Bf6qHS5cIljFvky9nBZt-8KXE7IGiyg9aS1cW_0DqWgqntfmyX3vDNybl0NaOTJDfFw/s1600/may2011+039.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621973392784004274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia_YXbf2FL6p-wbglAFg0S6YC1-dQENPHwV487_dpGg582wvjBXnXqa2d_DtFz0XGCeWpvlFA-Bf6qHS5cIljFvky9nBZt-8KXE7IGiyg9aS1cW_0DqWgqntfmyX3vDNybl0NaOTJDfFw/s320/may2011+039.JPG" /></a>Gah! She was just in my womb yesterday! Who is this gorgeous big girl?</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>And then there's this little guy.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgynn5zsh8OwHRHzdXxHWGpG7f2kYV5AftlTCRPXjAKKQ1kGsSb9Sp21mx8L9OdfplZR-c3qgi5BPmymCtKFMVv0XtrZFkCPLx6RAK89QeZUcjEke5RWOSDEw27Wc1GXGrCgyzk4rtFbLo/s1600/may2011+040.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621973383074269682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgynn5zsh8OwHRHzdXxHWGpG7f2kYV5AftlTCRPXjAKKQ1kGsSb9Sp21mx8L9OdfplZR-c3qgi5BPmymCtKFMVv0XtrZFkCPLx6RAK89QeZUcjEke5RWOSDEw27Wc1GXGrCgyzk4rtFbLo/s320/may2011+040.JPG" /></a> This is the "see my tie?" stance.</div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaB_HkC-FdB_GOtlKRtaJDrWXZxmH6YfspsrBCrubM6bSmmGQ-8xtk4o3VMJy1K6uuu_C6VDYRrYdKHcMrPPjwD1fGl46gDnIeJvcyxeJXN6fOyTwMc1ueUFL8y-cQXlzQRhFBWHUnp_I/s1600/may2011+041.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621972170585691362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaB_HkC-FdB_GOtlKRtaJDrWXZxmH6YfspsrBCrubM6bSmmGQ-8xtk4o3VMJy1K6uuu_C6VDYRrYdKHcMrPPjwD1fGl46gDnIeJvcyxeJXN6fOyTwMc1ueUFL8y-cQXlzQRhFBWHUnp_I/s320/may2011+041.JPG" /></a>He's super proud of that tie.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTv1IBANbGBMzyqMLcIvVyeytL5uM5aXCt-FGiZOS8OChIjVRBNxV-VL_wXppsbT5LcJDQY0oxFu8YOqjX1bl3_jCrUuJBTfgd29hTslLgZtJJFCxHDXPUOizv0bmHw2Gcr0JLsEWP5P8/s1600/may2011+042.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621972168995026898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTv1IBANbGBMzyqMLcIvVyeytL5uM5aXCt-FGiZOS8OChIjVRBNxV-VL_wXppsbT5LcJDQY0oxFu8YOqjX1bl3_jCrUuJBTfgd29hTslLgZtJJFCxHDXPUOizv0bmHw2Gcr0JLsEWP5P8/s320/may2011+042.JPG" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><div>So proud that he refused to wear the perfectly adorable vest that went with his suit all because, "it will cover up my tie, mommy!"</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcGzxTTgBpwYGuiOnskMjM9FVMfwDxWY9PDK8i8Y0yF7P327wRvN11hRH0-Y-4OS_HI8lvGafq_1ePDkcQ6SDlvWjX0bbxfJpkgfYf4gkocD7Xgj76J006zFbYuvrGFJnM8zXgZF_4_9I/s1600/may2011+043.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621972165618727586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcGzxTTgBpwYGuiOnskMjM9FVMfwDxWY9PDK8i8Y0yF7P327wRvN11hRH0-Y-4OS_HI8lvGafq_1ePDkcQ6SDlvWjX0bbxfJpkgfYf4gkocD7Xgj76J006zFbYuvrGFJnM8zXgZF_4_9I/s320/may2011+043.JPG" /></a>So I gave in.<br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVPLQeKZ4JIaMtkdWq3xBdDwIhw2LFDg_J_rldnTdm729O0jD_ZjDCuSQSs75QZegLCiC2E8-q3AEC0lmcxbi2BC4_IJeN18H_orFxZoJ5O6rI7YgnLSYLdlfEj7AOJQCAnWPqkkJlQvU/s1600/may2011+044.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621972161158057890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVPLQeKZ4JIaMtkdWq3xBdDwIhw2LFDg_J_rldnTdm729O0jD_ZjDCuSQSs75QZegLCiC2E8-q3AEC0lmcxbi2BC4_IJeN18H_orFxZoJ5O6rI7YgnLSYLdlfEj7AOJQCAnWPqkkJlQvU/s320/may2011+044.JPG" /></a> Who could resist this face anyway?</div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx5fAhV8th_HgXffXbFtB0eAw3tPnkCmwqBZc9FwWrBOIqfGdUMAOWLwFP9o0jdoctGyLN4Nka3rzOIuMzTuIzpnK09KH8TohZ9VMaOaxfQCd703Db_UpTouc9jJDx-BAgQWY44nZrEi8/s1600/may2011+045.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621972155694350050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx5fAhV8th_HgXffXbFtB0eAw3tPnkCmwqBZc9FwWrBOIqfGdUMAOWLwFP9o0jdoctGyLN4Nka3rzOIuMzTuIzpnK09KH8TohZ9VMaOaxfQCd703Db_UpTouc9jJDx-BAgQWY44nZrEi8/s320/may2011+045.JPG" /></a>Not me.</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Mom and Dad even got in on the picture parade.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621901994279783474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2AD2Z8ICne1BlhB2nYqSdozayepkKYpqEG0opC2N4CliyyZspXkABUSwxT02IEqRSRcb5fc3gEwOXc57Oh0lgmbSbxSJWBdIgTTJBKFiHfvsTttkIZNXhj9KVbp9QIOsHWEbTJ39IKqs/s320/may2011+046.JPG" />This one was courtesy of Claire.</div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYeYLI1ieBWFm4TrLohnCRSn3jku1Rg8O7ISBen1kLmEG3P6dGfirMSm1p9vDz5qVUOpmXQwEZD6YuHn3PAFQF1x9NTQb12j73x8zh9mlM_aJwnJXX-6VZMH0ic0Zau7i7IWWqhDBQCHs/s1600/may2011+047.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621901988230341218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYeYLI1ieBWFm4TrLohnCRSn3jku1Rg8O7ISBen1kLmEG3P6dGfirMSm1p9vDz5qVUOpmXQwEZD6YuHn3PAFQF1x9NTQb12j73x8zh9mlM_aJwnJXX-6VZMH0ic0Zau7i7IWWqhDBQCHs/s320/may2011+047.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM75eTeGilF3BJie8UTWSdohbjcAa4Vic7EZFfvaqZYUPep4BYk0wNeyAC5Qv1v-SetUn0kFwYWIaNyoS-ub-2_v0DpcpujR3ymN6kRpl4mu43-9XfvzdM_IhFqd41xpLzzS9Oyh-MIwA/s1600/may2011+048.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621901984246205666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM75eTeGilF3BJie8UTWSdohbjcAa4Vic7EZFfvaqZYUPep4BYk0wNeyAC5Qv1v-SetUn0kFwYWIaNyoS-ub-2_v0DpcpujR3ymN6kRpl4mu43-9XfvzdM_IhFqd41xpLzzS9Oyh-MIwA/s320/may2011+048.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><br /><br /><div>And then the whole family.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvObXdDYisKkuTA99qLIpTETlroGGRYiC61oLde_w_oTlJyTaMtCIyDDZZTZ3gTvtHbRqZnFDCsxajFMVemgzruweV_xJT2pgb7mKzo9hxbZYF8oqnjYZvIq4pS7b9bj9GL9krZdYSKkM/s1600/may2011+049.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621901980808152018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvObXdDYisKkuTA99qLIpTETlroGGRYiC61oLde_w_oTlJyTaMtCIyDDZZTZ3gTvtHbRqZnFDCsxajFMVemgzruweV_xJT2pgb7mKzo9hxbZYF8oqnjYZvIq4pS7b9bj9GL9krZdYSKkM/s320/may2011+049.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_lKOml7OTA2Mdp74LhS8FRnVI83dXnRsdDY7PW2b3sW-7ADn_aBPrkHn6iYJJJm_y24FlFohpqi-KfU-HUzj_PP5QJRIJJRNhISgpfBa9kopX4rvt-lKA55L3gHMi3zS-nv_QYWIlsgU/s1600/may2011+050.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621901972597740082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_lKOml7OTA2Mdp74LhS8FRnVI83dXnRsdDY7PW2b3sW-7ADn_aBPrkHn6iYJJJm_y24FlFohpqi-KfU-HUzj_PP5QJRIJJRNhISgpfBa9kopX4rvt-lKA55L3gHMi3zS-nv_QYWIlsgU/s320/may2011+050.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWXBsS5vGkXlFc44L46388INTiAO1iarMDhZ3J1wCLT9rSUccc91onIt4M9dGv9absUy6mx-6EFlljbPexlLnrTjns9KOsQAbGg-OD7m-WauzL43t1HtG_ssJ6k0aEVpRm63Liqb3Y0wA/s1600/may2011+051.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621897328832438194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWXBsS5vGkXlFc44L46388INTiAO1iarMDhZ3J1wCLT9rSUccc91onIt4M9dGv9absUy6mx-6EFlljbPexlLnrTjns9KOsQAbGg-OD7m-WauzL43t1HtG_ssJ6k0aEVpRm63Liqb3Y0wA/s320/may2011+051.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigl7YkRbagEzo1x9_5TPKPZfZmn-dItVo2aciUckpTmlQ8t7YXvbB8FnumE3pUEJmpBabhFSynB04iIa2_KQd2amZ1spRNx5w2979aYGmlPiHsjXZN4R5fAqeUY3DrmUYLSH0b7wvsAG4/s1600/may2011+052.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621897322244737682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigl7YkRbagEzo1x9_5TPKPZfZmn-dItVo2aciUckpTmlQ8t7YXvbB8FnumE3pUEJmpBabhFSynB04iIa2_KQd2amZ1spRNx5w2979aYGmlPiHsjXZN4R5fAqeUY3DrmUYLSH0b7wvsAG4/s320/may2011+052.JPG" /></a><br />And if you've made it to the end of this post, you deserve some sort of reward. I'd give you some plastic Easter eggs full of candy, but that's what I used to bribe my kids to get all the pictures, and they ate them all.</div><br /><br /><br /><div>Sorry.<br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07057717279489122900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561154339734315224.post-89969520006574905622011-06-23T12:23:00.001-07:002011-06-23T12:53:19.053-07:00Egg HuntsEaster time around here is important. While we are busy with multiple egg hunts, and baskets filled with candy that thrill our kids and ruin mom's diet, we are very careful to stress the real reason for remembering that day. Our talks about Easter and God's love for us this year really prompted some inquisitive questions from Ben, and his tender heart was absolutely devastated by the story of Jesus' death on the cross. He told me, "mommy, I don't like that part of the story" with tears in his eyes.<br /><br />Yet, as we celebrated Christ's resurrection, we also did participate in some of the local festivities, including several egg hunts.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl37J7yvHHkVNFKKFeg-9i2AivOWI6Ga2DHUWCB60bRE26exaFAf6q2PLI2yJSz5MNOD1uMJWbvgBGsVuDNfIzAp9XAWbQvf064eYDx8hOhRV3I4SPC73qvebd97Uq48Rec_d6K90cg6c/s1600/IMG_0553.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621501474017816418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl37J7yvHHkVNFKKFeg-9i2AivOWI6Ga2DHUWCB60bRE26exaFAf6q2PLI2yJSz5MNOD1uMJWbvgBGsVuDNfIzAp9XAWbQvf064eYDx8hOhRV3I4SPC73qvebd97Uq48Rec_d6K90cg6c/s320/IMG_0553.JPG" /></a> Baby chicks!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjnrn4Jv7QFuxibMYPJZCiUtRT2qwlj6CfEc9YJvxKOBeiJJlyQGQh5eKL1AXMqqlhA38IiOZSiS-1jbOT3ZDai3fAccv8n0PwAvHeaEyobLz-aGscNgUjkkkGjZNdn7dMhEM1WGKeUg4/s1600/IMG_0554.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621501468702874562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjnrn4Jv7QFuxibMYPJZCiUtRT2qwlj6CfEc9YJvxKOBeiJJlyQGQh5eKL1AXMqqlhA38IiOZSiS-1jbOT3ZDai3fAccv8n0PwAvHeaEyobLz-aGscNgUjkkkGjZNdn7dMhEM1WGKeUg4/s320/IMG_0554.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Ben had a small plastic bottle of bubbles he found at home, and he spent nearly the entire time that day blowing those bubbles.<br /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621501456837613890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhorTT6mNmmvOSruE780WM3OGzI3aHkTUSZ5Ns8vC_YSvC73CgrKQSaNLxhFyIcfhNuO55qfe3PzVyKa2e0rTG4bIPf1W_ujHN9oJL4GsF7nDqoWpGkaO5j0jzehD63aVDqHUNt9V0ds5E/s320/IMG_0556.JPG" /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVjNp751ASms3E3JtI-0DRa8NDMe9bHGZEpD2THYDAY0wCbjU1C_yETlEtA80eCeSO8hBqyjtJWKu8P-KbIws6k2GO8iSoGBAMK9dlnwF2S2fQkEVh8SkOYEwOZK37MCXxlr-l5o_FCsY/s1600/IMG_0557.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621501450929458018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVjNp751ASms3E3JtI-0DRa8NDMe9bHGZEpD2THYDAY0wCbjU1C_yETlEtA80eCeSO8hBqyjtJWKu8P-KbIws6k2GO8iSoGBAMK9dlnwF2S2fQkEVh8SkOYEwOZK37MCXxlr-l5o_FCsY/s320/IMG_0557.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKleXWMjGgSXpd6is-w1TmaZfZWzipjnoe8U8iwq8QKa8S8LmQ7KgRIeoElUa8Dn5_VYgxDBIv4m_8ohpWQgW78ZwTHNahl-mW1AgLGaoFxhIKszVsxAafqhuDn6RmAlzW6NBo-brMKHQ/s1600/IMG_0558.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621500360366089122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKleXWMjGgSXpd6is-w1TmaZfZWzipjnoe8U8iwq8QKa8S8LmQ7KgRIeoElUa8Dn5_VYgxDBIv4m_8ohpWQgW78ZwTHNahl-mW1AgLGaoFxhIKszVsxAafqhuDn6RmAlzW6NBo-brMKHQ/s320/IMG_0558.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYY1sZDJ-cx45QzxMl8_p0vOFRK7RAj1bxfk0-E5RgT1XkznBmJ3_nSTRzegL5YfJoGkoRwSDVzuvhCXS5vK5-tVrVr5yH14vcQlGdYN0jVNgh2gwZG243nBNur8EVjsm030hhKSLcKs/s1600/IMG_0559.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621500355537999362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYY1sZDJ-cx45QzxMl8_p0vOFRK7RAj1bxfk0-E5RgT1XkznBmJ3_nSTRzegL5YfJoGkoRwSDVzuvhCXS5vK5-tVrVr5yH14vcQlGdYN0jVNgh2gwZG243nBNur8EVjsm030hhKSLcKs/s320/IMG_0559.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiODeAMKLbkUGqBa2YjF09_cYg-FmR34wxfvkAAR9jtTKRbmFlWYhyQp2mmq6fBM2RpMT4bHZftFDseWfDhO_Qu1xR3ZAiUMWoTAItA_6htbJFG5Kyxqpf1un4wxNPqPcMUcUYqwUqxrE4/s1600/IMG_0560.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621500348277864530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiODeAMKLbkUGqBa2YjF09_cYg-FmR34wxfvkAAR9jtTKRbmFlWYhyQp2mmq6fBM2RpMT4bHZftFDseWfDhO_Qu1xR3ZAiUMWoTAItA_6htbJFG5Kyxqpf1un4wxNPqPcMUcUYqwUqxrE4/s320/IMG_0560.JPG" /></a> He really was not interested in doing anything else and had to be talked into looking for eggs. Come to find out later that the medicine he was currently taking for an ear infection wasn't working, and he was probably feeling pretty crummy. Poor little dude.<br /></div><br /><div><br />Claire, on the other hand, was enjoying herself.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYTxftExGTTaNDpOMvGbLRbqSwQAnxuEJobKQyhk1uc3StqJkGffP_sr9l7f0rqD7gW3lVvEMKqgvrztVcvYGpS92BaSiBfQdhK5_sMsPUIiNietoJ9BNSAGXB-hclh4i6mH6cuIVLNvM/s1600/IMG_0561.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621500345387692370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYTxftExGTTaNDpOMvGbLRbqSwQAnxuEJobKQyhk1uc3StqJkGffP_sr9l7f0rqD7gW3lVvEMKqgvrztVcvYGpS92BaSiBfQdhK5_sMsPUIiNietoJ9BNSAGXB-hclh4i6mH6cuIVLNvM/s320/IMG_0561.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf87bVkVduKe7iqGiUWrCLJ7sY-xD2wHJ2Fw4swsqNbGtSIfHsBFg4cc_TmjHrde_2Hfd2ZcdQnHqzCKOsK10WA8GMEiSNdgOb5zobWTyTvhVyOGApnphShm3aoLpsXItqBjJMI-QrxSw/s1600/IMG_0562.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621500340056572066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf87bVkVduKe7iqGiUWrCLJ7sY-xD2wHJ2Fw4swsqNbGtSIfHsBFg4cc_TmjHrde_2Hfd2ZcdQnHqzCKOsK10WA8GMEiSNdgOb5zobWTyTvhVyOGApnphShm3aoLpsXItqBjJMI-QrxSw/s320/IMG_0562.JPG" /></a><br /><br />This egg hunt was a bit different from others. They used real hard-boiled eggs that had been dyed with organic dyes.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLjFOoqxm0BB1Yh-2D5pyHIHtvUy5DiSjQ4GTRKf9gxeuNCKcEDABmAWWoKpxxaQveGSkcPfaesiVw-TdxGt_M9sGgo1oTvTqnYX3eQdlt_x_uOHY_JrUoEOWwus1wP8CiOxEX_36NHfM/s1600/IMG_0563.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621499339427430098" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLjFOoqxm0BB1Yh-2D5pyHIHtvUy5DiSjQ4GTRKf9gxeuNCKcEDABmAWWoKpxxaQveGSkcPfaesiVw-TdxGt_M9sGgo1oTvTqnYX3eQdlt_x_uOHY_JrUoEOWwus1wP8CiOxEX_36NHfM/s320/IMG_0563.JPG" /></a> They ended up being really pretty.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixqsd9eXBHREzGD710GxwYRw97A54p2mcNMuq5TGj5q5C-W0E9Yo5iW_c2vmNqbx1cgRx20BdMHHS2Jp1qrX9Mw8an4tvXl0Ymo-jZMhwMz2B_cd9LtVz6Z1Yd6tsVRVEIeQhPsMjiy2w/s1600/IMG_0567.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621499331065733650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixqsd9eXBHREzGD710GxwYRw97A54p2mcNMuq5TGj5q5C-W0E9Yo5iW_c2vmNqbx1cgRx20BdMHHS2Jp1qrX9Mw8an4tvXl0Ymo-jZMhwMz2B_cd9LtVz6Z1Yd6tsVRVEIeQhPsMjiy2w/s320/IMG_0567.JPG" /></a><br />And, as long as they didn't crack (peeyew!), they lasted for a long time.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjvCBbOJhuI6_BQ9RmT35plvb_QAulNPW9b7hwjctppoMbgbeHJ0nJT7Us7kXLlXjyZThAavP6wTASyxiMg6XCIg9BdLhy3VIsD__PzhrywrIkwBH0neX4d_prvRqM2WzjbfHI8U_Z2WU/s1600/IMG_0568.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621499327060127778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjvCBbOJhuI6_BQ9RmT35plvb_QAulNPW9b7hwjctppoMbgbeHJ0nJT7Us7kXLlXjyZThAavP6wTASyxiMg6XCIg9BdLhy3VIsD__PzhrywrIkwBH0neX4d_prvRqM2WzjbfHI8U_Z2WU/s320/IMG_0568.JPG" /></a><br /></div><br /><div>The mom's organization that sponsored the egg hunt also booked the kid's band: Big Bang Boom to play for the kids after the hunt was over. Someone was ready to bust a move.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-PRDJnXMB2wL6ck2FDA-PMaSGwWt2iJ2qIhW-B2i4jR3ccFKjhwuZDQuviOaBN1VPuRC_AtIZHFPfLj866oqqbo738XQluV_-q3bJwaU2_BY1AUz0lx6y7eXkrAWupdiQZaTLyAkdtTo/s1600/IMG_0572.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621499318095104690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-PRDJnXMB2wL6ck2FDA-PMaSGwWt2iJ2qIhW-B2i4jR3ccFKjhwuZDQuviOaBN1VPuRC_AtIZHFPfLj866oqqbo738XQluV_-q3bJwaU2_BY1AUz0lx6y7eXkrAWupdiQZaTLyAkdtTo/s320/IMG_0572.JPG" /></a>And someone was not.<br /><br />I think that picture pretty much sums up Shawn's attitude toward dancing in general: dancing= teeth drilled.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I was lucky to get a dance out of him at our own wedding. Seriously.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiISQNPwOahn_GyDcHi-iF7NnwS-_d-nwynGZ5gAXRuXg6DFPm3YBmNZlrbFS4tHd7ANlbv3ShF6qdgyUOBz2Rw-pnI1lnTXW0Fjx4PCwS4GsFr1-uv3_btG5X7d73Pkxyir4QRQkEDIwM/s1600/IMG_0575.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 252px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621499315695224466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiISQNPwOahn_GyDcHi-iF7NnwS-_d-nwynGZ5gAXRuXg6DFPm3YBmNZlrbFS4tHd7ANlbv3ShF6qdgyUOBz2Rw-pnI1lnTXW0Fjx4PCwS4GsFr1-uv3_btG5X7d73Pkxyir4QRQkEDIwM/s320/IMG_0575.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div>Last picture of the day. What you don't see in this picture is Shawn gripping Ben to hold him in place OR the threatening "to sit still and smile" that took place about 2 second before. Or the complete and total meltdown that occured 5 seconds later. Ah, parenthood.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>It was a glorious day.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07057717279489122900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561154339734315224.post-75139932263591718282011-06-23T11:50:00.000-07:002011-06-23T12:17:40.957-07:00Claire's Spring BreakObviously I realize that a post about spring break is entirely ridiculous given that it is currently the middle of June.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZnpMIVKprlzGydidgcfqYRHj4lM4ursnmX_qKm9XPKsRx381DTmd4OVNUxH5dbfgEoSATPJqOm1lTOWplAloWjyM6yvYj_OPzw8Az1LYjE26Plm8MN3AAYvJ5Yma0_u5W_w2263H_bQI/s1600/IMG_0545.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621492847635138386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZnpMIVKprlzGydidgcfqYRHj4lM4ursnmX_qKm9XPKsRx381DTmd4OVNUxH5dbfgEoSATPJqOm1lTOWplAloWjyM6yvYj_OPzw8Az1LYjE26Plm8MN3AAYvJ5Yma0_u5W_w2263H_bQI/s320/IMG_0545.JPG" /></a> But, given that a post about spring break also starts with a picture like this one, which obviously indicates that mother nature is totally off her rocker, I'm just going to go with it.<br /><br />Truth be told, I'm so behind on my posts right now, that the sheer volume of pictures and posts demanding my attention is making me want to run away and hide. Which, I've obviously done for the last 2 months. But, there's no more hiding. I'm putting my foot down. It's time to get back to business.<br /><br />The fact that I'm actually about to run out of room on my camera's memory card has absolutely nothing to do with it.<br /><br />Honest.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0QwrSyKFl-0l8QM10hQ6EptcawyzLusx-lYD6HQPbdj1WpS48Td7T8zPVBgjrsaYfocpi-1Ns_iWX47tZk9GlTmt2ODYyR_Np_2qA2eMlOvLYIssZV1lprA_ZLe9LwmdDPNewzimnkQg/s1600/IMG_0546.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621492846172559170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0QwrSyKFl-0l8QM10hQ6EptcawyzLusx-lYD6HQPbdj1WpS48Td7T8zPVBgjrsaYfocpi-1Ns_iWX47tZk9GlTmt2ODYyR_Np_2qA2eMlOvLYIssZV1lprA_ZLe9LwmdDPNewzimnkQg/s320/IMG_0546.JPG" /></a> So, anyway, as you can see. The first day of Claire's spring break didn't exactly herald a week full of warm weather and fun day trips to the park. <br /><br />It snowed.<br /><br />At the end of March.<br /><br />And then it proceeded to rain the rest of the week. We spent a lot of time baking, going shopping, and thinking of fun ways to pass the time indoors. With 2 children who aren't used to spending all day with each other. Ideal spring break? No. <br /><br />It was agonizing.<br /><br />And, because Mother Nature is as hormonal as all women, the weather did warm up enough a few days later to allow for Claire and Shawn to begin work on our garden.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-pIc9gd5aELSRrTlYIudMBfTdEqULegI2Wy5HR5jpopHEFG7lJumOjGxxpglWvi_lmptryBc-cmpr86fI8UcH7wfDLOv_VB26QdrxKMGypJkS7iZFRsQ-zLkMKIE8SAeeBKw517tTeII/s1600/IMG_0548.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621492834778537394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-pIc9gd5aELSRrTlYIudMBfTdEqULegI2Wy5HR5jpopHEFG7lJumOjGxxpglWvi_lmptryBc-cmpr86fI8UcH7wfDLOv_VB26QdrxKMGypJkS7iZFRsQ-zLkMKIE8SAeeBKw517tTeII/s320/IMG_0548.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdgKxBFwch1gl3pqJw7lACqGB6EZembmpc73oRBrG_6f43M29ohfgaLTobLD8DqbYoOyU8bD_O5FIraWEWoM5eMJM8C0xkByx8zRUzBRLPD5hyphenhyphenwmmVYSrrhkFsQZsOHzMMS9iehyHgajg/s1600/IMG_0550.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621492826828332274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdgKxBFwch1gl3pqJw7lACqGB6EZembmpc73oRBrG_6f43M29ohfgaLTobLD8DqbYoOyU8bD_O5FIraWEWoM5eMJM8C0xkByx8zRUzBRLPD5hyphenhyphenwmmVYSrrhkFsQZsOHzMMS9iehyHgajg/s320/IMG_0550.JPG" /></a> Okay, mostly, Shawn worked and Claire "supervised." </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I've taught her well.<br /></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>And while Grandma's spring break didn't coincide with Claire's this year, she did come down a few weeks later for a visit. Everyone is always happy to see Grandma.<br /></div><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621491505321347746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRvIrJrtcVMDN8ualneBc45QgWv5zu3w6CNS4PxALXoFnLi3GYdeOvUza8jTdkZ7bJ7D61fuOC-ajuROxzwHPfS1TFeHPQ6bwswFpRjmlS87JmRA_CyGAPOA3n70BHD3mUtlO49k5V_6g/s320/may2011+020.JPG" /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCGPPknNQeeMYcXboYO_GNLEQlOg6n-UCAN7a5LCmQwb-Pa-BQo22pLoaRWanUyqavToxms-7ftUXfUlazW8raG-nFouZ2OdJ3GgePu5CDet4DIfYG1oZTpv1HjZvEnPa2SEiaBM_iTYY/s1600/may2011+022.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621491501739377010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCGPPknNQeeMYcXboYO_GNLEQlOg6n-UCAN7a5LCmQwb-Pa-BQo22pLoaRWanUyqavToxms-7ftUXfUlazW8raG-nFouZ2OdJ3GgePu5CDet4DIfYG1oZTpv1HjZvEnPa2SEiaBM_iTYY/s320/may2011+022.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGqvl5uyCU25586GfRLn4MFTIkcVrtg7CNOTVaRq6wDkNrj2G1Q68oc-FMJdEjLs4fx59xJGiofwQ0Fz-gh9O3jfsUe2WWxjLTMaWCPx-97VRXtwzpYAzX1HuWn4iNef946MUM3N0H0DI/s1600/may2011+024.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621491490421156514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGqvl5uyCU25586GfRLn4MFTIkcVrtg7CNOTVaRq6wDkNrj2G1Q68oc-FMJdEjLs4fx59xJGiofwQ0Fz-gh9O3jfsUe2WWxjLTMaWCPx-97VRXtwzpYAzX1HuWn4iNef946MUM3N0H0DI/s320/may2011+024.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpWVtCRPmHpZG-KW1fWyJmPuDi9_SwYEkDjlkOu4M0Sp8sp80uHQDKaKaeHfkHy71EXZGKLYs4ck7WORlolPDpDLdbzPRpL39Venr_nsbZTRo1lSDJNhMMIQz0ak-BRAGXhelD_UPTWa0/s1600/may2011+025.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621491481833839410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpWVtCRPmHpZG-KW1fWyJmPuDi9_SwYEkDjlkOu4M0Sp8sp80uHQDKaKaeHfkHy71EXZGKLYs4ck7WORlolPDpDLdbzPRpL39Venr_nsbZTRo1lSDJNhMMIQz0ak-BRAGXhelD_UPTWa0/s320/may2011+025.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4hoSZXKv-Pvw7_UAr9kGapIgl-8u3hvwW5nsGvJ2ufI8VYIsCqNgmjZkhYN9xfdMjVYiU4tbJsFok6hbhE_JyQOK3M2bdFu5jb0lfZxFuq05iIUNeaV3mUcY7KbW6bPQ6fJfgeYjvDAo/s1600/may2011+026.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621491480638181586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4hoSZXKv-Pvw7_UAr9kGapIgl-8u3hvwW5nsGvJ2ufI8VYIsCqNgmjZkhYN9xfdMjVYiU4tbJsFok6hbhE_JyQOK3M2bdFu5jb0lfZxFuq05iIUNeaV3mUcY7KbW6bPQ6fJfgeYjvDAo/s320/may2011+026.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><div>Okay, so that's one post down. Maybe in the next few days I'll actually catch up enough to post some pictures taken in <em>this</em> season. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Maybe.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Don't hold your breath.</div>Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07057717279489122900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561154339734315224.post-1800570589374606402011-03-23T14:11:00.000-07:002011-03-25T12:09:21.265-07:00Claire's song and danceSomeone around here thinks she's all grown up.<br /><br />She stopped sucking her thumb after 7+ years of it just this month. The dentist is thrilled. Me? I'm a little sad.<br /><br />She's now in a 2nd grade reading group.<br /><br />She has her life all planned out. Her goal is to be either a teacher, a scientist, or an artist. <em>(go scientist, go scientist!)</em><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZXegfNqvcu8SAISbkdRX81bF8I_IEegrCpqCVY8WlLP7aVOgMqTKwdMAH4rMq6d9_IAMGY9AjljEnjOAq5eourBH69RvmHD5hgD8Np8UPvTTxKwCMJIomf_m3nrL8pfkA0A1Dq6LovSU/s1600/IMG_0543.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587386354945873202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZXegfNqvcu8SAISbkdRX81bF8I_IEegrCpqCVY8WlLP7aVOgMqTKwdMAH4rMq6d9_IAMGY9AjljEnjOAq5eourBH69RvmHD5hgD8Np8UPvTTxKwCMJIomf_m3nrL8pfkA0A1Dq6LovSU/s320/IMG_0543.JPG" /></a> Where's my baby? <em>Waaaaaaah!</em></div><br /><br /><div align="left">Last night we had the privilege of seeing her perform in her school choral concert.</div><br /><br /><div align="left">Here are a few clips for you to enjoy: </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><p></p><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><p><br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/zMwSWy5oZ5o" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><br />Here are my thoughts on the evening (in case you cared one little bit):<br /></p><ol><br /><li>Thank you Lord that it was only 1 class performing this year. Memories of <a href="http://theblackfamilynews.blogspot.com/2010/05/so-sorry.html">last year's 2-grade-performance</a> still give me the vapours.</li><br /><li>The singing and speaking abilities improve with age. The song choices, however, do not.<br /></li><li>Parents who don't bring their children to a school recital when their children have solos or speaking parts should receive some sort of punishment.</li><br /><li>I never want to be a grade school music teacher (see #3)<br /></li><li>My daughter is a Glockenspiel extraordinaire (a real-world skill, no doubt).</li><br /><li>My daughter likes to make sure all the other kids do it right.</li><br /><li>Second grade dances look an awful lot like the "hokey pokey."</li><br /><li>Yes, I know that Claire isn't in the last movie clip. That little boy was SO DARN CUTE. I had to include it.</li></ol><br />On the way home last night, Claire informed us that she "loved doing that and wished it (the recital) weren't over."<br /><br />If she could figure out a way to be a teacher/scientist/artist/stage performer, we'd be set.Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07057717279489122900noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561154339734315224.post-38543042425789966882011-03-21T11:18:00.001-07:002011-03-21T11:28:33.593-07:00Spring has SprungIt's the first day of spring, and it's surely evident around here.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYlZV04Z0uGSD-1FKJcAgjSHQIYCQoHF4-GWp3PeOOPW411yl-dq9nsy6d2e94JFfmemfDm0Sgp02Tk56jguqPOiITvcQadcO_16hpwrWHaEi3YZDqNoZ1350-TKcdVOVA-Iz69Ig01Rs/s1600/march2011+002.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586600852281766450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYlZV04Z0uGSD-1FKJcAgjSHQIYCQoHF4-GWp3PeOOPW411yl-dq9nsy6d2e94JFfmemfDm0Sgp02Tk56jguqPOiITvcQadcO_16hpwrWHaEi3YZDqNoZ1350-TKcdVOVA-Iz69Ig01Rs/s320/march2011+002.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4EessvBzVPBnW1fuweZwrrccbDgqYzTJbhbPDvdtBW1gO1TVQcDowjS331CJ4QomxJyfii-vWRUdVUVPZHaHZ1xqC54CCTl4Fv3xjkE9M4TdCgMDGz3jFolfXaxgP4z9ZN-tuxbSR6JY/s1600/march2011+003.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586600848974931842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4EessvBzVPBnW1fuweZwrrccbDgqYzTJbhbPDvdtBW1gO1TVQcDowjS331CJ4QomxJyfii-vWRUdVUVPZHaHZ1xqC54CCTl4Fv3xjkE9M4TdCgMDGz3jFolfXaxgP4z9ZN-tuxbSR6JY/s320/march2011+003.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhnxL-H-DpfWSM6lYp0BTNB1h1RCXTa-8G95nsFbGOWRk37rZPwZgygafGS4sLyLox71l2WdAa4tloVzo7ZVezcxGDAtYSbwsVHwtlsYlDCZF6ETr_uU2hnfgX75ldiVMLD5xlAi-Jeaw/s1600/march2011+005.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586600274441071250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhnxL-H-DpfWSM6lYp0BTNB1h1RCXTa-8G95nsFbGOWRk37rZPwZgygafGS4sLyLox71l2WdAa4tloVzo7ZVezcxGDAtYSbwsVHwtlsYlDCZF6ETr_uU2hnfgX75ldiVMLD5xlAi-Jeaw/s320/march2011+005.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvYvMLdnzdSzWtcy7VTMVr5L_vE7XBkZOqkkW-SvV496QfFp_pjkAOsQmPOfpcKDQheCmqLNtclWRF2vS9Yhdt00baTAtw7ZctcewHklEQei_S1WPUKigytCwWApTR_rpQAradfeUQ9D8/s1600/march2011+004.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586600265024271586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvYvMLdnzdSzWtcy7VTMVr5L_vE7XBkZOqkkW-SvV496QfFp_pjkAOsQmPOfpcKDQheCmqLNtclWRF2vS9Yhdt00baTAtw7ZctcewHklEQei_S1WPUKigytCwWApTR_rpQAradfeUQ9D8/s320/march2011+004.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgabGDqav-oSGZqKHNME-GXQoyxRqb_Qb9b75xJgAptXSZ9WkKkptpUSSxejcToTQGemgwhCTywKeo0oajLiu6kzLoQPAs-w7NvlwAz4sgvvOK_K3wmS54fDIOGBQ5QPiu6Nmv2hBcpJbQ/s1600/march2011+006.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586600258640048226" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgabGDqav-oSGZqKHNME-GXQoyxRqb_Qb9b75xJgAptXSZ9WkKkptpUSSxejcToTQGemgwhCTywKeo0oajLiu6kzLoQPAs-w7NvlwAz4sgvvOK_K3wmS54fDIOGBQ5QPiu6Nmv2hBcpJbQ/s320/march2011+006.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifmyP2c5LWiU4XiDzM-GH0XgbQwj_NzkZPJR3czA9VHf_IWRtewVcKc8hCuu3khRymBkVuvUn3XLca4X4J-CnhBR-F450N-RFXW8H6hlyiBKO4r7D8I8zQsWHjXLBASNXtJonhMNZMusY/s1600/march2011+008.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586600256450509378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifmyP2c5LWiU4XiDzM-GH0XgbQwj_NzkZPJR3czA9VHf_IWRtewVcKc8hCuu3khRymBkVuvUn3XLca4X4J-CnhBR-F450N-RFXW8H6hlyiBKO4r7D8I8zQsWHjXLBASNXtJonhMNZMusY/s320/march2011+008.JPG" /></a> </div><div>The only thing missing is a rainbow. </div><div> </div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div>Wait . . . </div><div><br /> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKuFtBRJHhd5heRxPCnmxm5Qm3tjGzEo3nsLNW6HJhlea83SnPRWTJlisGBqrkem7oNmdX8LEi9nTRZ2uaUGfMtoaEnW2hfnWYMnfX_plyMJ5zHmOEuJ1REE-kCKsvZ_uA0rLvd9Y2nqg/s1600/march2011+007.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586600250077194770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKuFtBRJHhd5heRxPCnmxm5Qm3tjGzEo3nsLNW6HJhlea83SnPRWTJlisGBqrkem7oNmdX8LEi9nTRZ2uaUGfMtoaEnW2hfnWYMnfX_plyMJ5zHmOEuJ1REE-kCKsvZ_uA0rLvd9Y2nqg/s320/march2011+007.JPG" /></a></div></div></div></div></div><br />Now, we're all good.Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07057717279489122900noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561154339734315224.post-74920584098981287382011-03-12T12:46:00.000-08:002011-03-12T13:20:59.057-08:00BenjaminIt's hard to believe that Ben's first year of preschool is nearly over, just a few more months, and summer vacation will be here. Crazy.<br /><br />And while all that time keeps flying by, Ben keeps growing up.<br /><br />In fact, he has his whole life already planned out. He informed me the other day that his chosen profession is to be a "karate train conductor who also owns children."<br /><br /><em>What do you mean that you want to own children</em>?<br /><br /><em>Well, mommy, you know those children who don't have mommies and daddies? Those kids can just come live with me.</em><br /><br />Adoption/own children. Of course. Why didn't I realize that's what he meant?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUhWJMRmqOpEU8TvUGtjfOHRbjBTQjj5NSs6Xbo6_FJRxAs2QFIlfKdTr-SRNs5LVgYx8_fJqnumsNePhuWvRI9ynY-LpAODmhDwc5QWSNb09HMMf8TEH5hwuGWNAUXzg78Zev2pCBO2U/s1600/march2011+011.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583301527129168066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUhWJMRmqOpEU8TvUGtjfOHRbjBTQjj5NSs6Xbo6_FJRxAs2QFIlfKdTr-SRNs5LVgYx8_fJqnumsNePhuWvRI9ynY-LpAODmhDwc5QWSNb09HMMf8TEH5hwuGWNAUXzg78Zev2pCBO2U/s320/march2011+011.JPG" /></a>While the phrasing of his heart's desire wasn't exactly stated in a politically, socially or morally correct way, it's still pretty sweet.<br /><br /><br />He loves preschool though, and loves when I come to help out.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvfNbQ6rSrXqG52jRGRzd18OWFvBYwcWlpyz3izknKjjuCfdP_CtwHlTjjii5obG1bZ-R6pok7_4vPx7eOYIjqaZjzzKQ1MctvxOuxyp505aQ7sjfgsbqV0G3sqz2OObGa1JDwUzoUxEQ/s1600/march2011+007.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583301522770299554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvfNbQ6rSrXqG52jRGRzd18OWFvBYwcWlpyz3izknKjjuCfdP_CtwHlTjjii5obG1bZ-R6pok7_4vPx7eOYIjqaZjzzKQ1MctvxOuxyp505aQ7sjfgsbqV0G3sqz2OObGa1JDwUzoUxEQ/s320/march2011+007.JPG" /></a> This was the menu for his Valentine's/pajama party. Yummo!</div><div></div><div></div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg67E5Vvn6T8uyASioEEoCU5bFcf23wBKAfNLFF_8KiyEcx2GVhbHcQPQ4Z-AyX4bBN1H9zHpp3j4WghCGNxC2_mnt7anI5W8VceaggO2hlb-TRu-YZ-XJknTVvFWHjZUeKm16mEkQAdJg/s1600/march2011+008.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 205px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583301106600943090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg67E5Vvn6T8uyASioEEoCU5bFcf23wBKAfNLFF_8KiyEcx2GVhbHcQPQ4Z-AyX4bBN1H9zHpp3j4WghCGNxC2_mnt7anI5W8VceaggO2hlb-TRu-YZ-XJknTVvFWHjZUeKm16mEkQAdJg/s320/march2011+008.JPG" /></a>He was only slightly excited. Can you tell?<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpWj32btbGgAB8-zAJwcSbCBDRpoC364icYoMtgsTvyBEYxAzHADGYpbgtuNWgZ8nffJ9erWVj4z9TKSX6OMnbB2BK1a6fOay7VapoPa7tSb8L7JcOr_qInX6jnBDHp_d2XZaz3n4bayY/s1600/march2011+009.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583301100161380834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpWj32btbGgAB8-zAJwcSbCBDRpoC364icYoMtgsTvyBEYxAzHADGYpbgtuNWgZ8nffJ9erWVj4z9TKSX6OMnbB2BK1a6fOay7VapoPa7tSb8L7JcOr_qInX6jnBDHp_d2XZaz3n4bayY/s320/march2011+009.JPG" /></a> But then again, the rest of the kids were a little excited too.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3aMBBJqxJGREAqXjoO9YqlpMGc5HG4lp_Krsfp845PMfWfj_5XEeB4iBVl3dXFhvcDyLc-wmXC2xa_1osmOX5qVHAenngRjdIn-3utF0Ms1wS4kbSslq4c5OJBK0Wv1EwdmtCIPgDuuw/s1600/march2011+010.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583301092754903650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3aMBBJqxJGREAqXjoO9YqlpMGc5HG4lp_Krsfp845PMfWfj_5XEeB4iBVl3dXFhvcDyLc-wmXC2xa_1osmOX5qVHAenngRjdIn-3utF0Ms1wS4kbSslq4c5OJBK0Wv1EwdmtCIPgDuuw/s320/march2011+010.JPG" /></a>He's come a long way this year, learning so much, both academically and socially and we owe a lot of that to his sweet teachers.<br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih1lUG3qCJMcFVsteRz02RNWbe7YVDP5LsdGaJUWQC2Rm5g90Xhr93IxO8ey-t7TBQPu6wNYL3y-TnEDcts5ZdBL4Gctr__cW-Mb4mQvLBJBTYsfcBTC4BMicEGdnUNWJ96b0-HusmUq4/s1600/march2011+014.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583301080160465826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih1lUG3qCJMcFVsteRz02RNWbe7YVDP5LsdGaJUWQC2Rm5g90Xhr93IxO8ey-t7TBQPu6wNYL3y-TnEDcts5ZdBL4Gctr__cW-Mb4mQvLBJBTYsfcBTC4BMicEGdnUNWJ96b0-HusmUq4/s320/march2011+014.JPG" /></a> Ms. Judy LOVES those kids, and they adore her right back.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiayd1aXCWd6KD3E9V13TYbn_9zuZ1atZgShiFpxEePJ4GfrLcy6IBR-BQENjpuw9DJwgqxacDm9unCt1ExRzRJQdO1ClefEDH3vv2BhjVJIQydsDAZsOKYa9Z6ipEvuhY7CCIORHBMazI/s1600/march2011+013.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583298574354027186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiayd1aXCWd6KD3E9V13TYbn_9zuZ1atZgShiFpxEePJ4GfrLcy6IBR-BQENjpuw9DJwgqxacDm9unCt1ExRzRJQdO1ClefEDH3vv2BhjVJIQydsDAZsOKYa9Z6ipEvuhY7CCIORHBMazI/s320/march2011+013.JPG" /></a>They enjoyed a little Valentine heart candy bingo.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXN2el1zWO2zTYnUPZbZ-L4vMlDWb1ipoxbITZ8CPDB-3XpgMagnfGVoRosUrr6Hx7OC6gwstx3xUJ6rNAy0HZz6gkseeWJXrnENbwqneKMBadP2iG8FF4BWIFKkzFRJF5nziShIClOb4/s1600/march2011+016.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583298563777854018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXN2el1zWO2zTYnUPZbZ-L4vMlDWb1ipoxbITZ8CPDB-3XpgMagnfGVoRosUrr6Hx7OC6gwstx3xUJ6rNAy0HZz6gkseeWJXrnENbwqneKMBadP2iG8FF4BWIFKkzFRJF5nziShIClOb4/s320/march2011+016.JPG" /></a> A much better use of those candies than actually eating those nasty things!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPIdyjgF-l_mmOxhlHpMJ3J-0AnuKK-gclGWtp3o1z7j5TshllHoLM7cH4ckgAVL4Vwu3HkC4d5o3nfT5KT061te0SlpF_E8EcxXRfIfiYvhfzH-NCQd1iTPZjuwX5J5NoxKoFNU7ZdfQ/s1600/march2011+018.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583298555464623922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPIdyjgF-l_mmOxhlHpMJ3J-0AnuKK-gclGWtp3o1z7j5TshllHoLM7cH4ckgAVL4Vwu3HkC4d5o3nfT5KT061te0SlpF_E8EcxXRfIfiYvhfzH-NCQd1iTPZjuwX5J5NoxKoFNU7ZdfQ/s320/march2011+018.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx0QIudnNRHOIPo4ZixgfxZT3J1XWRXpE9aO1unyd3ntHlDHdc2XJbcvg1T3A4jh6AWY1AXMpjo1nvyvGLnNSL6Fk-CJdd4gDCvo71qEH0GdNgfz51a6_R-ty0yoRHVP8lBkTcXDWqMSQ/s1600/march2011+019.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583298549814774626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx0QIudnNRHOIPo4ZixgfxZT3J1XWRXpE9aO1unyd3ntHlDHdc2XJbcvg1T3A4jh6AWY1AXMpjo1nvyvGLnNSL6Fk-CJdd4gDCvo71qEH0GdNgfz51a6_R-ty0yoRHVP8lBkTcXDWqMSQ/s320/march2011+019.JPG" /></a> He has made some great friends, but one of his biggest achievements this year thus far is finally learning to write his name. </div><div></div><div></div><div>I understand that most 4 year olds have been writing their names for a while now, but Ben had absolutely NO interest in even attempting to learn.</div><div></div><div></div><div>But now he can. This letter came in the mail for me this week.<br /></div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFqrh0Y3tC9XTKX_e7koBL9Q4fjP5klr2-WQnBkEeOYL87b5T6GBm1gM4iqq8bJJcSKLQuBdyWI3I32XjTBvFKVfiWBCgwRlStKdKqrQ_qOTLagrSi3CkrQOYe_JMM-qj3QVMqMxPVy7s/s1600/march2011+021.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583298544895168898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFqrh0Y3tC9XTKX_e7koBL9Q4fjP5klr2-WQnBkEeOYL87b5T6GBm1gM4iqq8bJJcSKLQuBdyWI3I32XjTBvFKVfiWBCgwRlStKdKqrQ_qOTLagrSi3CkrQOYe_JMM-qj3QVMqMxPVy7s/s320/march2011+021.JPG" /></a> See?</div><div></div><div>It makes my heart explode with love too.<br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07057717279489122900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561154339734315224.post-91752886857326671552011-02-20T10:52:00.000-08:002011-02-20T12:31:05.019-08:00And now I will bore you with tons of pictures from last yearI've been lax in my blogging duties yet again. This time, I blame the abbreviated monster known to most as the PTA - you know, the Parents and Teachers Association? Well, I was asked to be on the board this year, and then asked to chair a committee about which I knew nothing.<br /><br />I hereby warn you mothers of young children to NEVER make this mistake.<br /><br />The PTA in our house now quietly stands for Pain in the you-know-what.<br /><br />Anyway, I had a big event that I was working on steadily since Christmas, but now that that is behind me, hopefully I can get caught back up here.<br /><br />So, imagine yourself stepping in to a time machine that will take you back to the far off date of December 2010.<br /><br />Welcome!<br /><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575865590427123506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXvSBoQfJ7YcWSUvzkvv4D_WQ0VRL9tRdhUtuxR2ly5UIuqo5An-pTUwPeZL1ShwWPr96Zcfza48fGlGrwTuShpDSVfQQ9iInJn1O_PotbR0UFPNGaygbqioUF9v_RmRF8xZQSoeD45U4/s320/december2010+046.JPG" />This picture is totally out of order, but Blogger is not cooperating with me today. This was taken on Christmas day. Uncle Zach with all the boy cousins - Ezekiel, Benjamin, and Noah. Hello, Biblically named boys!</p><p>And now, back to your regularly scheduled programming.<br /><br />Before Christmas break, Claire's class had itself one humdinger of a party. Seriously, the parents in her class went all out, and we had chicken fingers, cupcakes, sandwiches, veggies, fruit, hot cheese dip, and more.</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWob08zkQMeRSdYLGiq79TdOth44Yq2KpV3apbuNLEI6-Vxe4gVD-q1SxVDRwUN1yhmjbaVerFgSlX_IWkg1ruA2MIsyObHnwTADzivqA6ZXbOkcne0ExOBPuuVK3t_dqcYsL6D0ekQx4/s1600/december2010+001.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575854299659848210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWob08zkQMeRSdYLGiq79TdOth44Yq2KpV3apbuNLEI6-Vxe4gVD-q1SxVDRwUN1yhmjbaVerFgSlX_IWkg1ruA2MIsyObHnwTADzivqA6ZXbOkcne0ExOBPuuVK3t_dqcYsL6D0ekQx4/s320/december2010+001.JPG" /></a> Ben was super thrilled to "help" Claire with her Christmas party craft.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaO2KaW29ddWaf0fJ5hNZG6ha6j5sEbrG-QerjnSuFK1-VbsjVK96y8UnUmvg_VxtikQCznjywy9R-zGaZqgH9X1JiBOEv9yz6nnTNVMGCCiYZaa1YQVdvUJFDxnRccbeVZokcCPA5iMk/s1600/december2010+002.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575854296299408914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaO2KaW29ddWaf0fJ5hNZG6ha6j5sEbrG-QerjnSuFK1-VbsjVK96y8UnUmvg_VxtikQCznjywy9R-zGaZqgH9X1JiBOEv9yz6nnTNVMGCCiYZaa1YQVdvUJFDxnRccbeVZokcCPA5iMk/s320/december2010+002.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYW4SJ_a9tOkcBTG09MF3E9NfxhmfK3Ynh7OJvIxL69QAVeQQofnwMKoBaY9VNxKiPhIYgh56pKGG0pCKLgmotkKgxyvfr1Fwpd_GtQztREBTNVQN8zIgXa_W_SgQL0TYxFcUp2BWI6WQ/s1600/december2010+003.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575854290887372578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYW4SJ_a9tOkcBTG09MF3E9NfxhmfK3Ynh7OJvIxL69QAVeQQofnwMKoBaY9VNxKiPhIYgh56pKGG0pCKLgmotkKgxyvfr1Fwpd_GtQztREBTNVQN8zIgXa_W_SgQL0TYxFcUp2BWI6WQ/s320/december2010+003.JPG" /></a> And after this delightful pictures of various classmates working on their craft, my camera batteries decided to call it quits. Awesome!</div><br /><div></div><div>So, the next "hunormous," as Ben would say, group of pictures were all taken while we were up in Ohio visiting family over the Christmas holiday.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>We started Christmas Eve night at Grandma's house with some serious present opening fun.<br /></div><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 246px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575854287465739042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF6wuxki-volMyGTanAGakrTi75F7cCm0oZFYiaakp6DeFVce_afH4pL-OFbg9riX8_Y3dUvLqhGjV3et1KkwPzJ2Q64lezBAHZk7bu3Kxh_kbmJnNCXZX9i29DVdxISApWpoT4SeYEL4/s320/december2010+004.JPG" /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivpmHP62YSVO1DkvmyitGpgDfOlgXhtUolVwoS3m_nl07VhSZqQ49fsxYFSTIDTRHh-5_Zw6foiBRoBdlTuC6mrKAkmRXeWvoPHyhpcVJBF8vlPlsbfd0nMncP0DlCgvFKeISYJgibo5Q/s1600/december2010+005.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575854283307271010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivpmHP62YSVO1DkvmyitGpgDfOlgXhtUolVwoS3m_nl07VhSZqQ49fsxYFSTIDTRHh-5_Zw6foiBRoBdlTuC6mrKAkmRXeWvoPHyhpcVJBF8vlPlsbfd0nMncP0DlCgvFKeISYJgibo5Q/s320/december2010+005.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTM8wMzRMGxE0sJ4o0wyNb_UX-NyFgPmIU_GpbaqkbGj4sjAydXyzyqspu-xrP-NVMB41_sxK01ok_zJT5JAHJRtcflZsaPCwmrFwh7UwOU0usQov5UhAGljKMJ38mcAuNn3qk9nZRHiY/s1600/december2010+006.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 245px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575853545550869330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTM8wMzRMGxE0sJ4o0wyNb_UX-NyFgPmIU_GpbaqkbGj4sjAydXyzyqspu-xrP-NVMB41_sxK01ok_zJT5JAHJRtcflZsaPCwmrFwh7UwOU0usQov5UhAGljKMJ38mcAuNn3qk9nZRHiY/s320/december2010+006.JPG" /></a> Aunt Allison and Uncle Jeff. Odd how Jeff looks like he is having about as much fun as getting a tooth drilled.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdk08D0GX1doIv8G-P1fepuWlSTR_ygFnlZeVZWx-N9XdDaUybjIANHf2kj02SPB61Tw_8YgzLSx8Ooh67spxDhAItdOvChgUMRS-nW7QhZK7i0bhusGjSyIRzWvQFUzzgB4Swy7WFNaQ/s1600/december2010+017.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575853539852600914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdk08D0GX1doIv8G-P1fepuWlSTR_ygFnlZeVZWx-N9XdDaUybjIANHf2kj02SPB61Tw_8YgzLSx8Ooh67spxDhAItdOvChgUMRS-nW7QhZK7i0bhusGjSyIRzWvQFUzzgB4Swy7WFNaQ/s320/december2010+017.JPG" /></a> Putting those new toys to work.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifykzVp66zG8eXIlvO7IPOUntcp5amd2AC0poNEnVd9gnnZym6gEoSFidfv2MTHcBB80rQvPDS1XDmD18iLFVUnJTe468bRWV8Cp0GkcaUuAxvrasaLYPSuk1zVy3L-8p2ZviyJS3HCFM/s1600/december2010+018.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575853535959647410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifykzVp66zG8eXIlvO7IPOUntcp5amd2AC0poNEnVd9gnnZym6gEoSFidfv2MTHcBB80rQvPDS1XDmD18iLFVUnJTe468bRWV8Cp0GkcaUuAxvrasaLYPSuk1zVy3L-8p2ZviyJS3HCFM/s320/december2010+018.JPG" /></a> The evening even included a Claire-modified version of the game Catch Phrase. Here she is giving a clue.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj91S44JQG6qFYHs4GHtpEzaEfYHaLwrCwJFuGoJWt9Fi4mP9vAZZjy0KnQ5qdkPdNOhrsdq93iGZHQC9aqMTT1957uyvQwtAlzqEKPtxslcab3OrvCLAe9Ko95Qj7KSkETl1vJzg6RH24/s1600/december2010+020.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 243px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575853528764100018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj91S44JQG6qFYHs4GHtpEzaEfYHaLwrCwJFuGoJWt9Fi4mP9vAZZjy0KnQ5qdkPdNOhrsdq93iGZHQC9aqMTT1957uyvQwtAlzqEKPtxslcab3OrvCLAe9Ko95Qj7KSkETl1vJzg6RH24/s320/december2010+020.JPG" /></a> Papaw and Claire<br /><br /></div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm3S65r3Sufxk-coAvuBX-Sx40JVzZqAECyiWEJhXp-uGcqrhhAx7EThx-5wxQINsq8HL1-waz5oKmWD2mRACY9TJS05g5q-PIcNkAsqu6uslyxtK_D9U5_ou4YATv9HpwuAXplR_61Po/s1600/december2010+021.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 269px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575853529548575090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm3S65r3Sufxk-coAvuBX-Sx40JVzZqAECyiWEJhXp-uGcqrhhAx7EThx-5wxQINsq8HL1-waz5oKmWD2mRACY9TJS05g5q-PIcNkAsqu6uslyxtK_D9U5_ou4YATv9HpwuAXplR_61Po/s320/december2010+021.JPG" /></a> Oh, hello! What's this? Aren't you 2 people usually <em>behind</em> the camera?<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA9U0ZTi3w2oTiLuQMyWOAFPIuNWQaSI_DIqo29dRhIFFjSwGBUnpOJ7uGBij-cJZ9JNLzULZvHSAR8BEkBb0b3zXlW6wdXdtT4r-sERNxO9xRoOhAvvmfoi1VkXf6NrNAx2lyTeK-IZQ/s1600/december2010+022.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575852717729980546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA9U0ZTi3w2oTiLuQMyWOAFPIuNWQaSI_DIqo29dRhIFFjSwGBUnpOJ7uGBij-cJZ9JNLzULZvHSAR8BEkBb0b3zXlW6wdXdtT4r-sERNxO9xRoOhAvvmfoi1VkXf6NrNAx2lyTeK-IZQ/s320/december2010+022.JPG" /></a> Grandma snuggles<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWqxh_4yerPyqo9cjsxJ_6vOzJCfbsLNMcGLe_4t_zkGmgIn-Gd4f3hs0x8_alxRo4KdmLnBOWTaP9zxIjVOXqeD-iSeCI0cxYEdgKZFLgInYqFdLj9snI7wtghx4j2Rm5Gmhwlgdt18M/s1600/december2010+023.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575852717888144658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWqxh_4yerPyqo9cjsxJ_6vOzJCfbsLNMcGLe_4t_zkGmgIn-Gd4f3hs0x8_alxRo4KdmLnBOWTaP9zxIjVOXqeD-iSeCI0cxYEdgKZFLgInYqFdLj9snI7wtghx4j2Rm5Gmhwlgdt18M/s320/december2010+023.JPG" /></a> Ben loving on Aunt Allison<br /><br /><br />And then we come to Christmas morning. We stayed with mom this year, and here are the kids sitting on the stairs waiting to come down to see what Santa left for them this year.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTDM6JprzW60chgi_S6eOltcFZLZortTNz3x2VQ9Z-cjxh2zTqZuo_GXBnHHT9DGSHQVeaqOev4bqoqSr1U-ZgUtl_fWtg2BOyYUyZwylIEb7kA_tOltJpZb1pxoqFmH4s5iBiU_SWW1E/s1600/december2010+025.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575852716740805154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTDM6JprzW60chgi_S6eOltcFZLZortTNz3x2VQ9Z-cjxh2zTqZuo_GXBnHHT9DGSHQVeaqOev4bqoqSr1U-ZgUtl_fWtg2BOyYUyZwylIEb7kA_tOltJpZb1pxoqFmH4s5iBiU_SWW1E/s320/december2010+025.JPG" /></a> Ben must be shutting his eyes because he is so overwhelmed by all the excitement.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgquyPOE83WAF728qKAPavHFzUd9Y3DQaRklmYTBugx-p_DxGygH4HORjC2HW_j6HiuEypUWGyJIPrpON-8zm8GBDpRAwlNVdr_IF3jjpGrM0s-TQSVOyc8dYRu8jNOzFQXh7_u26RLgdU/s1600/december2010+027.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575852710493357714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgquyPOE83WAF728qKAPavHFzUd9Y3DQaRklmYTBugx-p_DxGygH4HORjC2HW_j6HiuEypUWGyJIPrpON-8zm8GBDpRAwlNVdr_IF3jjpGrM0s-TQSVOyc8dYRu8jNOzFQXh7_u26RLgdU/s320/december2010+027.JPG" /></a> SCORE!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj77dFjBqyFEH6JuGImk4An3XRhiLktS2wkcg0PRpAZJBFF0BFKbGY11HJlvinprUlGWgmdfHocQ58_QDK8-GsmEB2fSlGPEDlyMyqh3uWAVL07nVdtzO9v-2_NZ_B5yObhaW4PoT7VIJ0/s1600/december2010+030.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575852707457613202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj77dFjBqyFEH6JuGImk4An3XRhiLktS2wkcg0PRpAZJBFF0BFKbGY11HJlvinprUlGWgmdfHocQ58_QDK8-GsmEB2fSlGPEDlyMyqh3uWAVL07nVdtzO9v-2_NZ_B5yObhaW4PoT7VIJ0/s320/december2010+030.JPG" /></a> Obligatory Christmas morning family pic. Notice how Shawn and I are holding on to both kids by the arm. They were <em>very</em> interested in getting back to the toys ASAP.<br /><br />In fact, Ben was so interested in everything toy-related, that it was difficult to restrain the kid at all. He was in Cloud 9 from the get go, and his joy and excitement was something to watch.</div><br /><div></div><div>For example:<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjAHbZClqPXjWwuFgVYMWbGjtpD_1ffnHLF6DdhtLn3u1KRj_UZ8bZTAQ7xXALYxeqHruMjlfy7N7sV3aT0nkua_nuXlDeYkF3_TC5l6KpRcL9vW1nu8T-10TPpdA3ESl5n-0Fs3kIFFE/s1600/december2010+010.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575851807562372850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjAHbZClqPXjWwuFgVYMWbGjtpD_1ffnHLF6DdhtLn3u1KRj_UZ8bZTAQ7xXALYxeqHruMjlfy7N7sV3aT0nkua_nuXlDeYkF3_TC5l6KpRcL9vW1nu8T-10TPpdA3ESl5n-0Fs3kIFFE/s320/december2010+010.JPG" /></a> <em>Oh my gosh! Cars! Trains! More Cars!<br /></em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyphenhyphenCJO2eoVQAu4P3w3Or9qiu-r-WOfDe-9U4IPaj3q2ae8J02rYBTUyDd5cwjljv-Jz5LAfQsw3VdWfi2l9_9dyS3nrFZAxm6YE6DcIlGz4N8-61gW4mXPxQ9Dssd6v8mpCQxMoZpJyuI/s1600/december2010+028.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575851798953524770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyphenhyphenCJO2eoVQAu4P3w3Or9qiu-r-WOfDe-9U4IPaj3q2ae8J02rYBTUyDd5cwjljv-Jz5LAfQsw3VdWfi2l9_9dyS3nrFZAxm6YE6DcIlGz4N8-61gW4mXPxQ9Dssd6v8mpCQxMoZpJyuI/s320/december2010+028.JPG" /></a> <em>Okay, I'll turn and smile at you quickly, but I really want to get back to playing with my new Transformer.<br /></em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2We1aIsHT0xbSQI4Oekn8epukVFtcWn6pmvMewCVgtr1Moyqkr8_kHEic4NWOY7OHqRFg4c7R4Mc0vtiTOdUU4cYPS0t9XQt2_HuV81-64E4gtz1rG0dUFwzT0SQpAorT9vkz6AByv_M/s1600/december2010+031.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575851801682792930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2We1aIsHT0xbSQI4Oekn8epukVFtcWn6pmvMewCVgtr1Moyqkr8_kHEic4NWOY7OHqRFg4c7R4Mc0vtiTOdUU4cYPS0t9XQt2_HuV81-64E4gtz1rG0dUFwzT0SQpAorT9vkz6AByv_M/s320/december2010+031.JPG" /></a> <em>Jubilation!<br /></em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIdQtpaRMaMfea6t4gIXXeIRTm7R8W2nMAPAyrfXY0EsVcNoiNmPJzvYXz_F4MtbZaSQert2kA-2dFx5OGztmN1wo3YkxGU6mEDF36ltmuxEENu216_Rb11yYVj3Vw21HNpVUpwj6aF4Q/s1600/december2010+039.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575851796209583906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIdQtpaRMaMfea6t4gIXXeIRTm7R8W2nMAPAyrfXY0EsVcNoiNmPJzvYXz_F4MtbZaSQert2kA-2dFx5OGztmN1wo3YkxGU6mEDF36ltmuxEENu216_Rb11yYVj3Vw21HNpVUpwj6aF4Q/s320/december2010+039.JPG" /></a><br />And, finally, my favorite of the night:<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgri5t6iHfOpd9Tiw_VXtEqOtlTbEaF3JBRYpOl_6ud6kq2wgjj1LIJI9h8tosdDuwS4z1n4iQflN0WXvvcBTp0MYW3IqgVsyxOYcWvhrJhzMQcCztDhXV18w1cZJ6MbJxBhRLI7rSTNDo/s1600/december2010+047.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 258px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575851790828485666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgri5t6iHfOpd9Tiw_VXtEqOtlTbEaF3JBRYpOl_6ud6kq2wgjj1LIJI9h8tosdDuwS4z1n4iQflN0WXvvcBTp0MYW3IqgVsyxOYcWvhrJhzMQcCztDhXV18w1cZJ6MbJxBhRLI7rSTNDo/s320/december2010+047.JPG" /></a> Is that the face/pose of a happy, totally psyched kid or what? <em>Kachow!<br /></em><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghlvrQ_utDD7nm5ycYU4Ub8RuLHdxKPNvYj67Kv8v1ooBvmNjWuqlitaI2_vjbkQxt49jVmz-dB3xuHbPSqjQ1UY_3UUr_Ciha4c2SK0hFQYhJe9Bigq4tGp0w5TFjE89BAWeOqwC55j8/s1600/december2010+035.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575850802135517138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghlvrQ_utDD7nm5ycYU4Ub8RuLHdxKPNvYj67Kv8v1ooBvmNjWuqlitaI2_vjbkQxt49jVmz-dB3xuHbPSqjQ1UY_3UUr_Ciha4c2SK0hFQYhJe9Bigq4tGp0w5TFjE89BAWeOqwC55j8/s320/december2010+035.JPG" /></a> It was a very special Christmas for this little guy, that's for sure. He was totally into all aspects of it, and was so effusive in his joy and thanks for each and every gift he got. We heard lots and lots of "this is exactly what I wanted" and "thank you, I just <em>love</em> it" and "this is the <em>best</em> gift <em>ever</em>." He provided lots of entertainment.<br /><br />We love spending time with family while up in Ohio, but certainly one of the highlights for the kids is that they get to see their cousins. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I think I've mentioned before about despite Claire and Kayli being so close in age how radically different they are in their personalities. They get along great, but they really couldn't be more different.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>For example, here is Kayli opening the gift she asked for:<br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj90jHfm-2xtW2Y3zbEoKixOEXjcNY-IaFMBzMBHsoDB0yop2nNMPC8yy4tJCgH7gBqsPPo37nXssoolkVPE6MfeCssdTA7-FADJB6vtBIsFfW5JCvvnO-wuiNttaQVWVd0stIpypU7KxA/s1600/december2010+036.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575850801145433074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj90jHfm-2xtW2Y3zbEoKixOEXjcNY-IaFMBzMBHsoDB0yop2nNMPC8yy4tJCgH7gBqsPPo37nXssoolkVPE6MfeCssdTA7-FADJB6vtBIsFfW5JCvvnO-wuiNttaQVWVd0stIpypU7KxA/s320/december2010+036.JPG" /></a> That's a remote control tarantula, people. She was <em>thrilled</em>. Claire was perplexed.<br /><br /></div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRB8MxsADBm8e1WiTHG01wYiCIONnfPc5-vc5Mi_7965xoSBqVs_IZ9VExG-ZgOCfiMNYV4IVKf5MT5H58JHbm5JR_Sxnbr9dNshmk7bsxzFtuPKk-zATFVPvE2xha_kWb0WqcGvrHdOw/s1600/december2010+038.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575850792807712226" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRB8MxsADBm8e1WiTHG01wYiCIONnfPc5-vc5Mi_7965xoSBqVs_IZ9VExG-ZgOCfiMNYV4IVKf5MT5H58JHbm5JR_Sxnbr9dNshmk7bsxzFtuPKk-zATFVPvE2xha_kWb0WqcGvrHdOw/s320/december2010+038.JPG" /></a> It's not a family Christmas without a meal at the "kid's table."<br /><br /></div><br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyrO7yTr0bIgPzev3WhL8kZP7_8uz-KJIzqwujKZ80t6x00P6AdtInikRvUFfq2Mfz6yHR0RFF6kYZ0Z7C_77lMl-Svo95jlUhzHcFhSw7ZEfZkrPiKKRKzyeGHB0L8zJXqngsP5Q9VKQ/s1600/december2010+041.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575850792501321586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyrO7yTr0bIgPzev3WhL8kZP7_8uz-KJIzqwujKZ80t6x00P6AdtInikRvUFfq2Mfz6yHR0RFF6kYZ0Z7C_77lMl-Svo95jlUhzHcFhSw7ZEfZkrPiKKRKzyeGHB0L8zJXqngsP5Q9VKQ/s320/december2010+041.JPG" /></a> Ben and his cousin Zeke.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvXVgI5VGPhsQKuuxUR2sd1rvNMraxGbhC7IVDGxkZYhxrKgxWeRPqC8jPwG7pLiJcqBkHGylT6dXicKD40xhgdifk_Iyw5F4S68OhKMsdW3l_xtsZtrNSKxqaro-KukZVmXCAltXodXY/s1600/december2010+042.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575850787102441650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvXVgI5VGPhsQKuuxUR2sd1rvNMraxGbhC7IVDGxkZYhxrKgxWeRPqC8jPwG7pLiJcqBkHGylT6dXicKD40xhgdifk_Iyw5F4S68OhKMsdW3l_xtsZtrNSKxqaro-KukZVmXCAltXodXY/s320/december2010+042.JPG" /></a><em>Ben: Oh, I am so happy on this wonderful day, and I just LOVE my older cousin Zeke so much, but I really do wish that he would let me play with his hand-held game system! Yahoooo!</em></div><br /><div><em></em></div><br /><div><em>Zeke: This kid is a little weird. </em><br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheHMc1SNv-jdX3Xah_B9i6jhNb094xtrOYiV5iIh6pNlLdLzzh2tjqw844lfX7ZDIKKPqY9QQKaacyPhZ49xjPUq5IV5cBPuEqGBc2pnSjj91oB8b_KMbyQGIYgZXO-pfRpGjYhUcWw-g/s1600/december2010+043.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575849696652650978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheHMc1SNv-jdX3Xah_B9i6jhNb094xtrOYiV5iIh6pNlLdLzzh2tjqw844lfX7ZDIKKPqY9QQKaacyPhZ49xjPUq5IV5cBPuEqGBc2pnSjj91oB8b_KMbyQGIYgZXO-pfRpGjYhUcWw-g/s320/december2010+043.JPG" /></a> Uncle Jesse showing the boys how it's done.<br /></div><br /><div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6G3iruyxmumGqWYncFDWNG4_52BdEp9Jfg2pCJq3RwSf-9pn2373wTZ_b4sgGpIXF7jzevd5c-TWmy_LHTfx8Uwrc77oKa5VVsskFGzDJpWtZjOQKwDJg1R2EpHuUAd1msxZR2I9e9GE/s1600/december2010+044.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 238px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575849689843902386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6G3iruyxmumGqWYncFDWNG4_52BdEp9Jfg2pCJq3RwSf-9pn2373wTZ_b4sgGpIXF7jzevd5c-TWmy_LHTfx8Uwrc77oKa5VVsskFGzDJpWtZjOQKwDJg1R2EpHuUAd1msxZR2I9e9GE/s320/december2010+044.JPG" /></a> The family!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmd2Q8iyWBFGASUInbDaYuzYV-CG2cntjMu4EyVEG3UirUPyDauA0xsSi2UFCtMirqFO4jYUI33Br-cqZ-Qmyfd06lYAbq2yRQEmS6-aUVEYqAczyADHd1jVMe5fsmh_YRRFvwEsklKq4/s1600/december2010+045.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 242px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575849685296198898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmd2Q8iyWBFGASUInbDaYuzYV-CG2cntjMu4EyVEG3UirUPyDauA0xsSi2UFCtMirqFO4jYUI33Br-cqZ-Qmyfd06lYAbq2yRQEmS6-aUVEYqAczyADHd1jVMe5fsmh_YRRFvwEsklKq4/s320/december2010+045.JPG" /></a> And, the funny-face family. I'm thinking this one is probably more true to life.<br /><br /><br />Christmas Night was spent at my dad's house, and I just couldn't resist snapping a picture of this moment.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU0yh-FY6hauSOnf-IW3-co-1wwb80FC2DKAJxFtQepzXxA8v9QZcdf7yGxWNrJ3-NHwk3S-3OTQIm2ZUHCSPiuSfrltoCz8HRdk4rPsQDZ0ltpMBO_4b8z6vlpHTdMU2JdTeGUabvRkA/s1600/december2010+048.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575849681965363730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU0yh-FY6hauSOnf-IW3-co-1wwb80FC2DKAJxFtQepzXxA8v9QZcdf7yGxWNrJ3-NHwk3S-3OTQIm2ZUHCSPiuSfrltoCz8HRdk4rPsQDZ0ltpMBO_4b8z6vlpHTdMU2JdTeGUabvRkA/s320/december2010+048.JPG" /></a> Noah gets his first bike. Does that face say it all, or what?<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCrqenkk-fl9SJGIa3TDkDtbHlpj0ZAZ0DmCkI_njAF6FoTuWbd2118vFqRZyxe0n8YHJ7pJR8C8CGODAT2ed4mM3cWpdAx_T-sQSDWQZuSlIwQK3f7JttZuexkT562k0BYChA1hVhs_A/s1600/december2010+051.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 192px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575849679600243186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCrqenkk-fl9SJGIa3TDkDtbHlpj0ZAZ0DmCkI_njAF6FoTuWbd2118vFqRZyxe0n8YHJ7pJR8C8CGODAT2ed4mM3cWpdAx_T-sQSDWQZuSlIwQK3f7JttZuexkT562k0BYChA1hVhs_A/s320/december2010+051.JPG" /></a> The family.<br /><br /><br />The day after Christmas we were able to catch up with some friends from college. We haven't seen Olivia and Andy Koch in probably 10 years, so it was so nice to spend some time with them and their sweet family.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho45NVYohLh7RfbpxiAvHxBaEHwtOmMXuKGCOFO2COxvyf1ECXzUVSYZBnKSe96Pv2Uq-Sn9VUN8Uz2NWslYW2Dc8oVjc_NN2HqeOzGMvIpXycp4uEUja7fKFuANUjqivXAhD33Wt4rFM/s1600/december2010+057.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575848846536090178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho45NVYohLh7RfbpxiAvHxBaEHwtOmMXuKGCOFO2COxvyf1ECXzUVSYZBnKSe96Pv2Uq-Sn9VUN8Uz2NWslYW2Dc8oVjc_NN2HqeOzGMvIpXycp4uEUja7fKFuANUjqivXAhD33Wt4rFM/s320/december2010+057.JPG" /></a><br />The kids were all fast friends, and I am so regretting not having video evidence of the sweet Just Dance Wii performance that Claire and Caroline did for us. They were like 2 peas in a pod, and Ben is absolutely smitten by Sylvie. He still talks about how much he loves her.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ5CAhMgiCQ-JYbStnexl9bd0zfv1v3W4istUeWnPXh2u06SwEVJ18Fz9imxn3Bkgo6CjvbJ-rkaXpRjiTjO1nyb7ccKdnVyNeOKGClZyXHr75qMZTxQq8cwv5y6uXywVtPvX6DGWSGGk/s1600/december2010+053.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575848838718065842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ5CAhMgiCQ-JYbStnexl9bd0zfv1v3W4istUeWnPXh2u06SwEVJ18Fz9imxn3Bkgo6CjvbJ-rkaXpRjiTjO1nyb7ccKdnVyNeOKGClZyXHr75qMZTxQq8cwv5y6uXywVtPvX6DGWSGGk/s320/december2010+053.JPG" /></a> Claire, Caroline, Sylvie, Oliver, and Ben<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigpkdE7f-9HShBeanY-Uh55Nwz8jYrOtjYLZZ3tiSOEC5tdqNXlzcdaPVVrFpCgLFBU5IeBKxt6ixbklC793fKwkJqyiIDckPoqozrk3B5JS2g73sqZf5c0E9fT4HN7z7T7_UuCQIF7aE/s1600/december2010+054.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575848828270922274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigpkdE7f-9HShBeanY-Uh55Nwz8jYrOtjYLZZ3tiSOEC5tdqNXlzcdaPVVrFpCgLFBU5IeBKxt6ixbklC793fKwkJqyiIDckPoqozrk3B5JS2g73sqZf5c0E9fT4HN7z7T7_UuCQIF7aE/s320/december2010+054.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEefxeyo5jZrP26vS3-v1bv_euny7QGiQ9iyKptIZ_1qkOjHjFSXNLLn7E8Ijux11lIC7vrIw9mMzHEPkirBCRW_3KWw14wCRVJGOYMwTYp4vM8jr7qCsPRPhnHfZZPQ6AqNSf4NDMnh0/s1600/december2010+056.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575848818781658146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEefxeyo5jZrP26vS3-v1bv_euny7QGiQ9iyKptIZ_1qkOjHjFSXNLLn7E8Ijux11lIC7vrIw9mMzHEPkirBCRW_3KWw14wCRVJGOYMwTYp4vM8jr7qCsPRPhnHfZZPQ6AqNSf4NDMnh0/s320/december2010+056.JPG" /></a> Such cute girls.<br /><br />Before we left town, I snapped a few more shots of the cousins all together.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgodP7Tt2TZ-OBKhDeeJM8VZJXeMwzXDUMVmVV3Q2QehNDpSgStJkVhX4eZr2R-N7fe-ZmVvnHT8z4u0C9rJMk6Qh8M_QIqUFhM4oawTez0aU8f8mrsfNAWY-m9pPI5I-HXadCw4CFbk78/s1600/december2010+058.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575847798137098626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgodP7Tt2TZ-OBKhDeeJM8VZJXeMwzXDUMVmVV3Q2QehNDpSgStJkVhX4eZr2R-N7fe-ZmVvnHT8z4u0C9rJMk6Qh8M_QIqUFhM4oawTez0aU8f8mrsfNAWY-m9pPI5I-HXadCw4CFbk78/s320/december2010+058.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsshgNE7lr2LZZRh2NhsZWTaL5igx5Ii_XxLTT8zQjPeJXMcd9SkI1mrY1DmVeKnGeD00VUFjSaBzrRI-20AJffLbrtIjvfSGpIFJgheZ8R1rja1q3f3tZN3Qwb268zO0r2QhwVr45fV8/s1600/december2010+060.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575847787788006514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsshgNE7lr2LZZRh2NhsZWTaL5igx5Ii_XxLTT8zQjPeJXMcd9SkI1mrY1DmVeKnGeD00VUFjSaBzrRI-20AJffLbrtIjvfSGpIFJgheZ8R1rja1q3f3tZN3Qwb268zO0r2QhwVr45fV8/s320/december2010+060.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBz-cC6o9zgVLjeaEEhi5IaumDb52RX0hUQ4Qcu63XkdMYoVJZqPF8RO7UpslAciy0p2z62Ei9kW2VM2dRGlhiN5QQIxt3sDrSyPufUdSedwCZozA4HXpqBv1aH6mvdw-sKLjA9wnk2-I/s1600/december2010+061.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575847786178801074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBz-cC6o9zgVLjeaEEhi5IaumDb52RX0hUQ4Qcu63XkdMYoVJZqPF8RO7UpslAciy0p2z62Ei9kW2VM2dRGlhiN5QQIxt3sDrSyPufUdSedwCZozA4HXpqBv1aH6mvdw-sKLjA9wnk2-I/s320/december2010+061.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvLJQXygCB9EoBdYrUI2e5bR8P-2HxK6tCZ4MdC_M0drZgp3tNp45R2ek9fv4jyKA2T_aOxEh29cK9OHQId-HmnOCrOD8Ljv4jhT1ZryGVn1eOR7hl9-PRSUax5wuKtX2D6jq_8-JcWXI/s1600/december2010+064.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575847780060678482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvLJQXygCB9EoBdYrUI2e5bR8P-2HxK6tCZ4MdC_M0drZgp3tNp45R2ek9fv4jyKA2T_aOxEh29cK9OHQId-HmnOCrOD8Ljv4jhT1ZryGVn1eOR7hl9-PRSUax5wuKtX2D6jq_8-JcWXI/s320/december2010+064.JPG" /></a><br />And, finally, I leave you with this:<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMgITmW2xQQD0XHCDJroRBBfTPTcVKObnWfHwuG-5IFXORDSlIro3WNMFT23xwIns5tpMtapKd7kMfo0YyUpFueZL83ufMROWcL3stUw_XGxMmqjiZtuDahyphenhyphend6D9HgxzluV1S5OclW2bo/s1600/december2010+068.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575847779991642354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMgITmW2xQQD0XHCDJroRBBfTPTcVKObnWfHwuG-5IFXORDSlIro3WNMFT23xwIns5tpMtapKd7kMfo0YyUpFueZL83ufMROWcL3stUw_XGxMmqjiZtuDahyphenhyphend6D9HgxzluV1S5OclW2bo/s320/december2010+068.JPG" /></a><br />Classic Zeke.</div><div></div><div> </div><div>The end.<br /><br />Now, back to 2011!<br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07057717279489122900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561154339734315224.post-11653275555984999962010-12-30T16:27:00.001-08:002010-12-30T16:59:00.563-08:00Christmas CardThere's a story behind our Christmas card this year. It mainly involves a windy, snowy, 30 degree day, a very whiny little boy, and a kid tackle resulting in inconsolable wailing by whiny little boy thus cutting short our photo session. I can't even think about it without cringing. And, so I'm going to skip the long-detailed account of it. Suffice it to say, I was certain that we weren't going to have a Christmas card this year at all.<br /><br />Despite all of this (and thanks to the talents of Amber Gallimore), we were still able to get some great shots.<br /><br />These were the 2 we used on our Christmas card this year.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA9Mc4vhj3Dsr3Cd4uB8SZ1iD3WoY2A41rNHdIicN661mNOGbFniNQBvXSFW-QTwpzn2NotEoJwNpzuB5xbR3WeKKk5leOqpkI4jAyXGSBkxwA2qk3r54bcumzajqPlHTOcWsRs1QIZOo/s1600/DSC_9636.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556637690130181682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA9Mc4vhj3Dsr3Cd4uB8SZ1iD3WoY2A41rNHdIicN661mNOGbFniNQBvXSFW-QTwpzn2NotEoJwNpzuB5xbR3WeKKk5leOqpkI4jAyXGSBkxwA2qk3r54bcumzajqPlHTOcWsRs1QIZOo/s320/DSC_9636.jpg" /></a><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi72DOxAufl66M0r2DEGbHThyphenhyphenE9n1O7FxvB0A8VwXBXH3UPZdS8zqALbmqyujBN7FwLntTSS6CmMcn0yP_P-SIm7O2FLL7Fs3XYs3S5ncOoc2WODC4jiSUnXCiQN_e93GqUbHq3A_9grY/s1600/DSC_9603.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 224px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556637105888700066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi72DOxAufl66M0r2DEGbHThyphenhyphenE9n1O7FxvB0A8VwXBXH3UPZdS8zqALbmqyujBN7FwLntTSS6CmMcn0yP_P-SIm7O2FLL7Fs3XYs3S5ncOoc2WODC4jiSUnXCiQN_e93GqUbHq3A_9grY/s320/DSC_9603.jpg" /></a><br />We hope all of you had a very merry Christmas and send best wishes for a wonderful new year!</div></div>Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07057717279489122900noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561154339734315224.post-18001257066644720092010-12-13T06:32:00.000-08:002010-12-13T10:45:23.037-08:00Our Cracker Box ChristmasChristmas for us is generally spent up in Ohio with our extended families. Because we travel nearly every year, I am tempted to just forgo decorating for Christmas at our house. Because who loves coming home to a tree so dry it could impale you? No one. That's who.<br /><br />But, decorating for Christmas is probably as much fun for my kids as is Christmas morning. There's no way we could not do it around here. So, since our families never get to see our house at Christmas time, I thought I would post some pictures here.<br /><br />I'm also linking to <a href="http://www.thenester.com/2010/12/christmas-tour-of-homes-2010.html">The Nester's Christmas Tour of Homes</a>.<br /><br />Though, I have to say I'm a little nervous about that since most of those homes and pictures look like they've been done by professional stylists.<br /><br />Our home? Well, there's no rhyme, no reason for what we put out for Christmas. We put it up because we have in the past, and the kids wouldn't be happy if we didn't do it again. It's sorta like Santa threw up in the living room. Sounds wonderful, doesn't it?<br /><br />My dreams of a perfectly coordinated decorating scheme will have to wait.<br /><br />So, here we go.<br /><br />I don't know if it's an indication of my mood today, but this little guy is my favorite decoration right now.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg1tIODAMSVGUx84g5hXTzkHtlGZW9QBXPaQuDd7qPRC3SYngpjTRideSGinGm_EPxE8zrtlALpVTTe1Ix9VQ1pxjrEH0WtiWK_V5jarFOfrpt0J_FRt86WusTXFIdVElkeLhbnp-1mqg/s1600/december2010+035.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550232950832401890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg1tIODAMSVGUx84g5hXTzkHtlGZW9QBXPaQuDd7qPRC3SYngpjTRideSGinGm_EPxE8zrtlALpVTTe1Ix9VQ1pxjrEH0WtiWK_V5jarFOfrpt0J_FRt86WusTXFIdVElkeLhbnp-1mqg/s320/december2010+035.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /> What's even better is that if you push on his back, he does this:<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhL4OTWLsCqznm23HlrjbqUud9EGRNtCY83BEz-8tT7saiXVko41sBxAxoMNYWY3uVfURmdIRHGQGSCI0m-ainm6Tg11OqHW0KEbBSOMrZ4ufGUAxewUtMJZzIZXsZSgFuZeLqdwxS4qs/s1600/december2010+036.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 229px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550232938456347330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhL4OTWLsCqznm23HlrjbqUud9EGRNtCY83BEz-8tT7saiXVko41sBxAxoMNYWY3uVfURmdIRHGQGSCI0m-ainm6Tg11OqHW0KEbBSOMrZ4ufGUAxewUtMJZzIZXsZSgFuZeLqdwxS4qs/s320/december2010+036.JPG" /></a> I ran out of brown-colored jelly beans. Lucky you!</div><div> </div><div><br />Here's the living room. <br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq_NpwQM1e4wZW0ix-c_W_rbXeEzIUcvTjYfKVKpUwl4-bIhJFVqBZAXoDJTXju1WZrpOgWmtrLeUikBnwYJGKmXjFIfGPl8sov_R73qdwQP8gCWLRQleEH2PLW5jvFfTPJ2CzQsODfF0/s1600/december2010+014.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550191171956919506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq_NpwQM1e4wZW0ix-c_W_rbXeEzIUcvTjYfKVKpUwl4-bIhJFVqBZAXoDJTXju1WZrpOgWmtrLeUikBnwYJGKmXjFIfGPl8sov_R73qdwQP8gCWLRQleEH2PLW5jvFfTPJ2CzQsODfF0/s320/december2010+014.JPG" /></a> See that wreath against the window? That's actually what I was trying to capture in this horribly dark photo.</div><div><br /> </div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFv70gCfVrQiV-ZDshcEIoLsRwThVn82k-YGey-ngLS-GfjdGkS0LVBShkk4JUUJB1n2Bn8c-BW-dTwH8ci57mDJBqyzO8xeC4sAMmoeDJru9wJmfKPlgEfeFiwL4UfVSL-duQ2Oj4alg/s1600/december2010+019.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550191160510632162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFv70gCfVrQiV-ZDshcEIoLsRwThVn82k-YGey-ngLS-GfjdGkS0LVBShkk4JUUJB1n2Bn8c-BW-dTwH8ci57mDJBqyzO8xeC4sAMmoeDJru9wJmfKPlgEfeFiwL4UfVSL-duQ2Oj4alg/s320/december2010+019.JPG" /></a> A close-up of the wreath<em><strong> I</strong></em> made. Yes. I did. Glue gun and all.<br /></div><div> </div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQaKMys-q4t929pqIUzFemX7FRNPY4oGuRT32e5B7XNyw6elrwfYK1Vqq-J10_O7J5kMi9gy6g3ZYkLO7TOMCB8UvYe2egmY0D74gf9Ru1vOtvwsQBzLHvx3vUCo7apg56tZeXRzr_T1w/s1600/december2010+006.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550191152454926978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQaKMys-q4t929pqIUzFemX7FRNPY4oGuRT32e5B7XNyw6elrwfYK1Vqq-J10_O7J5kMi9gy6g3ZYkLO7TOMCB8UvYe2egmY0D74gf9Ru1vOtvwsQBzLHvx3vUCo7apg56tZeXRzr_T1w/s320/december2010+006.JPG" /></a> Our every color, crazy, hectic, ornaments-jumbled-too-close-together tree.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6GqhaG2hXDYkc6VmTz2yBn88HOSarrgvx3FtbPDO-S3Fk243Hl9RIwjvHYeV8tylcSQMnjRXJzFOTYXAcehOdLc2hMKQGEya0p-sNw_rqazQjM1bzYLu6tdG2Vr8ib3MupfFxys6KUVk/s1600/december2010+007.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550190082175599810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6GqhaG2hXDYkc6VmTz2yBn88HOSarrgvx3FtbPDO-S3Fk243Hl9RIwjvHYeV8tylcSQMnjRXJzFOTYXAcehOdLc2hMKQGEya0p-sNw_rqazQjM1bzYLu6tdG2Vr8ib3MupfFxys6KUVk/s320/december2010+007.JPG" /></a> I love it. Can't help myself.</div><div> </div><div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixXBDxjd9JIZyxydVlhkmn4bGuZc90A_PeHGNfQaKQz4672qr70LxfQrYaIYiSU1Ded1g2y-Fjo62R2eP_dhEMm9jr7uSHsUyzokY7P2m-00Ka2l_vaUpHcvah2Z_QLQe4IK71ieu7Tfg/s1600/december2010+010.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550190077801557410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixXBDxjd9JIZyxydVlhkmn4bGuZc90A_PeHGNfQaKQz4672qr70LxfQrYaIYiSU1Ded1g2y-Fjo62R2eP_dhEMm9jr7uSHsUyzokY7P2m-00Ka2l_vaUpHcvah2Z_QLQe4IK71ieu7Tfg/s320/december2010+010.JPG" /></a> Into the kitchen. Please pardon my wrapping paper and boxes in the corner!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgfnFFkCW5cJwKvwDyvc5aETIIQX7AzWpLFULqUeNGc33F7P-DycsrjzXlTJuml1TIv-TVQzR50ltGkD1HTKEWtsQLmrR6Qw9YQbYCuI4JhsOxsDxCjzx0vPLWm4BCaBvI8d_fQs3rVgU/s1600/december2010+008.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550190073824084850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgfnFFkCW5cJwKvwDyvc5aETIIQX7AzWpLFULqUeNGc33F7P-DycsrjzXlTJuml1TIv-TVQzR50ltGkD1HTKEWtsQLmrR6Qw9YQbYCuI4JhsOxsDxCjzx0vPLWm4BCaBvI8d_fQs3rVgU/s320/december2010+008.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8tlHfxrzr-mJqVy0fS5ogWHkRFRBGjEWYoC7wiokFLha9V8CD4y2LQ_Re_s7dto6h6DBD_cmC6Jxv7YH4V3398mxgz7yGOdOTxxASfp4K23Wgc9e7eCeq889mnoGfiAyT6E1xzWh855o/s1600/december2010+015.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550190066920327634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8tlHfxrzr-mJqVy0fS5ogWHkRFRBGjEWYoC7wiokFLha9V8CD4y2LQ_Re_s7dto6h6DBD_cmC6Jxv7YH4V3398mxgz7yGOdOTxxASfp4K23Wgc9e7eCeq889mnoGfiAyT6E1xzWh855o/s320/december2010+015.JPG" /></a> We started this tradition a few years ago. Each day, the kids open a door on the advent calendar and find a candy treat and a small ornament. They then hang them on this little tree. It's the first thing they do when they wake up every morning.</div><div> </div><div><br /><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA97MXqB9o20ePdIkuzgoh_RijqShbOBPbVn3J8Fxktk4kOn-3pONi-NZeg-G1DnTDdQh0wjiZ6JyXGg3QM8gyRujYjyXagxZUQjXY0tZUhZ37vEc-FtxDEeDf9pvZcvV1TM2Ld2caEI8/s1600/december2010+009.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550179093266718018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA97MXqB9o20ePdIkuzgoh_RijqShbOBPbVn3J8Fxktk4kOn-3pONi-NZeg-G1DnTDdQh0wjiZ6JyXGg3QM8gyRujYjyXagxZUQjXY0tZUhZ37vEc-FtxDEeDf9pvZcvV1TM2Ld2caEI8/s320/december2010+009.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfgElfz9JNBJAM8DNY10tNo3x3N8iKm0VK-qjbb1zzOBRenn7qXTq7VXfRaamMr15Atz7RqPIup_U13Be17MMhBNh-hPKOhtZmjV7fuerz63EnAER1Gg0Xz6eey5gdlSx46fcF2MgvlqE/s1600/december2010+026.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550179089926603970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfgElfz9JNBJAM8DNY10tNo3x3N8iKm0VK-qjbb1zzOBRenn7qXTq7VXfRaamMr15Atz7RqPIup_U13Be17MMhBNh-hPKOhtZmjV7fuerz63EnAER1Gg0Xz6eey5gdlSx46fcF2MgvlqE/s320/december2010+026.JPG" /></a> Hideously old-school, but I love this thing for some reason.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWhfmHpaTFQg4Tv-_OFpuGQkXtRlppAERCwuwo5nBf3i-hNjk1SwVIQto86fn5XkIukNcm4DhV78EdzhVEVtsLZo94YiWKsoLLflYIdx0buzd7Zx4YacYKjKhZq5I8zoyvdQyLm6LoSgo/s1600/december2010+024.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550179082762033298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWhfmHpaTFQg4Tv-_OFpuGQkXtRlppAERCwuwo5nBf3i-hNjk1SwVIQto86fn5XkIukNcm4DhV78EdzhVEVtsLZo94YiWKsoLLflYIdx0buzd7Zx4YacYKjKhZq5I8zoyvdQyLm6LoSgo/s320/december2010+024.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZcrB8Z3ZntKNpnEsI0Q9Z5H-wOzaZiUFS3_97mjxfbbzTJxi0xb9_hFGUqEqaHVQu3JnHmPcWEEdsBeSsAQjc3Ss25JBxhPPSSIwwh7gtP3wTvM5wxgVFYQCDPzcJKQjx9u-n2XcZBPw/s1600/december2010+025.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550179080929677970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZcrB8Z3ZntKNpnEsI0Q9Z5H-wOzaZiUFS3_97mjxfbbzTJxi0xb9_hFGUqEqaHVQu3JnHmPcWEEdsBeSsAQjc3Ss25JBxhPPSSIwwh7gtP3wTvM5wxgVFYQCDPzcJKQjx9u-n2XcZBPw/s320/december2010+025.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimZ9nDsi4zcyduyaQpUVE9eSmSY6rX9x9nSDXAZGMUq_ui5mAhJZJLSURgLI3Njas7pFp9gCnUwyD9ZE5DoKxaw5RMeZzFiVlFm8-hf1IHrC-gu2fEXGferNKGmHNGdQJmu_gOkTjl_ck/s1600/december2010+005.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550179075865220386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimZ9nDsi4zcyduyaQpUVE9eSmSY6rX9x9nSDXAZGMUq_ui5mAhJZJLSURgLI3Njas7pFp9gCnUwyD9ZE5DoKxaw5RMeZzFiVlFm8-hf1IHrC-gu2fEXGferNKGmHNGdQJmu_gOkTjl_ck/s320/december2010+005.JPG" /></a> Some of those things I <em>would</em> have kept in boxes, but the kids <em>had</em> to have them out.<br /><br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc2r4pd97tpxoKaTGtW1KEoNBlfJiie_olWQ5TAV_r_fI9_jli8LUYYcc6h6qaLD8pJxASuXd-wZnA6bgIhh3MvxandiR8mP2nPbjK1U9qokPAzICiiLbtd20YLMzacB29hsu94Hb2qIY/s1600/december2010+022.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550177942588937106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc2r4pd97tpxoKaTGtW1KEoNBlfJiie_olWQ5TAV_r_fI9_jli8LUYYcc6h6qaLD8pJxASuXd-wZnA6bgIhh3MvxandiR8mP2nPbjK1U9qokPAzICiiLbtd20YLMzacB29hsu94Hb2qIY/s320/december2010+022.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKJNFFveQYnBk4H1n3vSmsbzsnAW0Mg7dTb_ez_XJ0uuRpABm6Q8TPTl-hF1pq6fjcI-HIUr82sVNt_qbqb1ExZ_BhEB2jLByYgg4S-3B5r3WCoJpdZcsRR0PzVSGw4f0ekPjWtMKw6KI/s1600/december2010+004.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550177937950008002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKJNFFveQYnBk4H1n3vSmsbzsnAW0Mg7dTb_ez_XJ0uuRpABm6Q8TPTl-hF1pq6fjcI-HIUr82sVNt_qbqb1ExZ_BhEB2jLByYgg4S-3B5r3WCoJpdZcsRR0PzVSGw4f0ekPjWtMKw6KI/s320/december2010+004.JPG" /></a> Every home with young children should have this toy. It's a hit every year I bring it out.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOHHT-9CTLF6jsdjVjsXODIPFi9yWAbmeK4UStCNPju4KP1u50nlFfzUEOYJ27t4y2PiQT7QyS-LL-E3clSONoq4Zw48UdcZxvazr5FVe5MNffkLZieMebjy8cGjS0ZXT_ksMhMB-v1og/s1600/december2010+011.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550177933258026818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOHHT-9CTLF6jsdjVjsXODIPFi9yWAbmeK4UStCNPju4KP1u50nlFfzUEOYJ27t4y2PiQT7QyS-LL-E3clSONoq4Zw48UdcZxvazr5FVe5MNffkLZieMebjy8cGjS0ZXT_ksMhMB-v1og/s320/december2010+011.JPG" /></a> Our "Elf on the Shelf," Elfie decided to ride the reindeer this morning.<br /><br /><div> </div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqI945CPQ3B5dOAySC9Tq00F6v6QXQBGkKvSmCjDRDcLbXB96PllByZqPP1o67PpQAfYfzxMtn4gAd5Sm_BXqiPowPeaNLX9RcX8ovpiiKoD2qOYQWmQ6Z_lf3NZ4eIP1vm_BdHBwRvB0/s1600/december2010+012.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550176894780790978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqI945CPQ3B5dOAySC9Tq00F6v6QXQBGkKvSmCjDRDcLbXB96PllByZqPP1o67PpQAfYfzxMtn4gAd5Sm_BXqiPowPeaNLX9RcX8ovpiiKoD2qOYQWmQ6Z_lf3NZ4eIP1vm_BdHBwRvB0/s320/december2010+012.JPG" /></a> This was always out at my house during the Christmas season while I was growing up, and it doesn't seem right not to include it now.<br /><br /><br />And finally, some of my favorite ornaments:<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTZ1QHKx-TJ1j9AB_1esB17NZyoureMIEHZ4i4usaMSjhrp0ar1QqzsQInIe0n5KLBaT5YhR3ZNoIAeWZiUaVMjJOnDHKL596NmYnCk8XYayNyyLGbno6RuCq2zwDnNAvEHPTxeFHXons/s1600/december2010+017.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550176887814220418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTZ1QHKx-TJ1j9AB_1esB17NZyoureMIEHZ4i4usaMSjhrp0ar1QqzsQInIe0n5KLBaT5YhR3ZNoIAeWZiUaVMjJOnDHKL596NmYnCk8XYayNyyLGbno6RuCq2zwDnNAvEHPTxeFHXons/s320/december2010+017.JPG" /></a> My girl. Ugh! Was she ever so small?</div><div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg27H4q3Cxgr6Pd_6t9JiBzwE_NB4-Lmr4ZGUD802QCfa9-Mer9cnehznkkFKJ7MDEmeSztYQuJmKq89bG2LqvqSmdoakq9SIAYcoLJk2av58wO4BNpv9bK0dsXdU09C3Ayagh9WvCLO-w/s1600/december2010+018.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550176881865933346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg27H4q3Cxgr6Pd_6t9JiBzwE_NB4-Lmr4ZGUD802QCfa9-Mer9cnehznkkFKJ7MDEmeSztYQuJmKq89bG2LqvqSmdoakq9SIAYcoLJk2av58wO4BNpv9bK0dsXdU09C3Ayagh9WvCLO-w/s320/december2010+018.JPG" /></a> Geesh... we were infants!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-0e4GrBQ0BUYQUgW1smCmm-jGFNg5aCJgP6Q8KG4BVv1q1QTCo20RhRpiUauE7PKcpxJ3OCdHQ1aXeVWjdvqhhvCvLu0OkiApGR0a2Ekzfye5zhQPJySvcnJgVAduYB1gfyx_yb12s9o/s1600/december2010+027.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550176876315114674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-0e4GrBQ0BUYQUgW1smCmm-jGFNg5aCJgP6Q8KG4BVv1q1QTCo20RhRpiUauE7PKcpxJ3OCdHQ1aXeVWjdvqhhvCvLu0OkiApGR0a2Ekzfye5zhQPJySvcnJgVAduYB1gfyx_yb12s9o/s320/december2010+027.JPG" /></a> The kids love this one. Pooh and Piglet's sleigh moves around the circle when you pull the string on the bottom.<br /><br /><br />And, last, but not least . . .<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOget9JF5YxpXekqFTeeNkh_4sxdiKHQLHzjWqouEbyrpe_YUnAb8uj47R9Y1DHXyZwBe4fEVINBU87smxPPdQGk5sAHzpjqvA8nyY6lpCa7joL3J3yHO06BQAYZfmd3OBwU3Cabq7mmM/s1600/december2010+029.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550176867945868434" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOget9JF5YxpXekqFTeeNkh_4sxdiKHQLHzjWqouEbyrpe_YUnAb8uj47R9Y1DHXyZwBe4fEVINBU87smxPPdQGk5sAHzpjqvA8nyY6lpCa7joL3J3yHO06BQAYZfmd3OBwU3Cabq7mmM/s320/december2010+029.JPG" /></a>Guess who!</div><div> </div><div>Thanks for visiting our Cracker Box Christmas!<br /><div> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07057717279489122900noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561154339734315224.post-13391999248111862502010-12-11T15:11:00.000-08:002010-12-11T15:36:10.062-08:00And a Sheep Shall Lead ThemAnother article I wrote for our MOPS group:<br /><br />I think as moms we would all love for the holiday season to be a special time with our families when we come together to relax and enjoy each other while celebrating the birth of our savior, Jesus. We want it to be perfect. The perfect Christmas picture, the perfect gifts, the perfect memories.<br /><br />However, the reality is often very different.<br /><br />There's the Christmas shopping, party planning, cookie baking, program attending, card addressing, present wrapping, travel going, lack of sleeping, children whining, and a partridge in a pear tree.<br /><br />The perfect Christmas often gets lost in the shuffle, or we're simply too worn out to enjoy it. Do you know what I mean?<br /><br />This year, I'm trying (and not always succeeding) to remind myself and my kids to slow down, to enjoy the season, and to concentrate on our blessings rather than our wants. It's a constant battle. That's for sure.<br /><br />The fact remains, however, that no matter how we <em>do </em>spend our holidays, the memories made during this time will stay with our children for years to come.<br /><br />And now, just because it always makes me laugh to recall it, I would like to share one of my favorite Christmas memories.<br /><br />It involves one of my 3 younger brothers (please, feel sorry for me, I deserve it). Seth is the middle brother and has been stubborn since the day he was born. This stubbornness made itself known in a particular way one year during our church's children's program.<br /><br />Each grade level was assigned a part in the re-enactment of the Bethlehem story. The kids in my class (third grade?) were the angels. We totally rocked our pillow case dresses and cardboard wing ensembles, trust me. :-)<br /><br />The oldest brother's class (kindergartners?) were the shepherds, and Jesse (the oldest of the 3 boys) was totally thrilled to wear my dad's bathrobe and walk down the center aisle herding the "sheep." The "sheep" were the preschoolers - Seth's class. And their costumes were adorable. Each child came dressed in footed sleeper pjs and were given woolly ears and a woolly tail to wear pinned to their bums. Their whole part in the program was simply to crawl down the aisle "baaing" while the shepherds walked with them toward the manger scene at the front of the church.<br /><br />But Seth was totally NOT cool with his big brother being a shepherd while he had to be a lowly sheep with the other little ones. He pouted, he fussed, he threw a tantrum. But, my parents were determined not to give in to his antics, and he came to church that night in his sheep costume ready to go.<br /><br />Or so we thought.<br /><br />As I stood on stage singing "Silent Night" with the other angels, watching the cute little shepherds herding their sheep down the aisle, I started to hear some people laughing.<br /><br />I looked and saw the shepherds, their adorable little sheep crawling and "baaing" as they went. And then. THEN. I spied one adorable, vaguely smug, stubborn-as-all-get-out sheep standing up and walking as upright as he could muster - with his nose in the air all the way down the aisle. Seth was dressed a sheep alright, but he was determined to <em>walk</em> with the shepherds no matter the cost.<br /><br />While that program certainly didn't go according to plan, and my parents were probably mortified, that story has provided our family with many laughs for many years. I certainly can't tell you what I got for Christmas that year or really anything else about that Christmas, but my whole family remembers the moment when Seth the sheep was determined to be Seth the Shepherd. It's a family classic.<br /><br />So, when all your perfectly laid Christmas plan don't happen exactly as you would hope, don't worry. Chances are that the memories made during all the mishaps will still be invaluable.<br /><br />Merry Christmas!Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07057717279489122900noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561154339734315224.post-89120207382096888432010-12-08T08:23:00.000-08:002010-12-08T08:33:52.705-08:00Hello, snowSo what if he woke up with a horrible cough and a touch of a fever? He didn't care. When those first few flakes began to fall, all that mattered was getting outside to experience them.<br /><br />Because, to a kid, watching it fall through the window simply isn't good enough. Have you forgotten that?<br /><br />So, he broke out the winter hat. The BEST winter hat.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Y22rZSAXye5_snt8eA6OLH-MTjh0Gt-6LlRvqk29D46wwWnt6MmDpXx0T1M0aoOjOnc6FOGzvmO9W6cEK8mwXT7xcji1DSPm-Owv10adhgs_d3Tk9qWmsCJoAvQSLlo8hYwtrzmNYc0/s1600/december2010+002.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548348365957259570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Y22rZSAXye5_snt8eA6OLH-MTjh0Gt-6LlRvqk29D46wwWnt6MmDpXx0T1M0aoOjOnc6FOGzvmO9W6cEK8mwXT7xcji1DSPm-Owv10adhgs_d3Tk9qWmsCJoAvQSLlo8hYwtrzmNYc0/s320/december2010+002.JPG" /></a><br />And went to revel in the first snow of the season. That magical occurrence when everything gets better, prettier, quieter, and more awesome.<br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoXyBonCTbZvIgwE1UWFm26iV6eBrVBZ9WmWAnoJRvsd1fKrw0EG6ZlYBcnwCZpxTKNaK1_k6ChNwT8WneYBnvggqYONEj7dist9iSzdr4G48RwZ2_PFdsd_1ErE7wJn7rVi8P931WBek/s1600/december2010+005.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548348353739989314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoXyBonCTbZvIgwE1UWFm26iV6eBrVBZ9WmWAnoJRvsd1fKrw0EG6ZlYBcnwCZpxTKNaK1_k6ChNwT8WneYBnvggqYONEj7dist9iSzdr4G48RwZ2_PFdsd_1ErE7wJn7rVi8P931WBek/s320/december2010+005.JPG" /></a> Pure bliss.</p><p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh4IR0DrLL85U2APXf4C0CqnfYwkgouP6Y0QJu7IpjRm_Qxw2lhpZUxFKyxZ71b0yfCs9smbBUkoOYMf50fnLmwjgHYp8G5bf2C6pbveGn6fDKy4GIdSHFnfhvzL_8yit2JCNQSEnnyOM/s1600/december2010+004.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 262px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548348349962723954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh4IR0DrLL85U2APXf4C0CqnfYwkgouP6Y0QJu7IpjRm_Qxw2lhpZUxFKyxZ71b0yfCs9smbBUkoOYMf50fnLmwjgHYp8G5bf2C6pbveGn6fDKy4GIdSHFnfhvzL_8yit2JCNQSEnnyOM/s320/december2010+004.JPG" /></a> Pure exaltation.</p>Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07057717279489122900noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561154339734315224.post-25227628620122839132010-12-04T09:37:00.000-08:002010-12-04T10:03:55.677-08:00A JibJab Disco ChristmasBecause it's snowing outside, and I'm feeling particulary Christmasy today, I thought I'd share this little gem with you.<br /><br />Oh, who am I kidding.<br /><br />It just makes me laugh.<br /><br />Hope you like it too! Click on the link and enjoy!<br /><br /><a href="http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/0scbsNxAjQeGiJ3ju3Wf">The Black Family Disco Christmas</a>Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07057717279489122900noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561154339734315224.post-21592106352265757122010-11-30T07:02:00.000-08:002010-12-01T10:55:47.320-08:00Thanksgiving<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAGPzlrowAgN3QUE2m0xkHs_jqlDvYh9wYqU-wfDhyxZYf0SfFYdiPhSacxXOzTVURIPniTEED0Ce-kN0B8CBN0tDgA6fUuqw2xu1TARIIxQgih6afBBVy3G0gKbI7qTSSZshMp5BL71s/s1600/november2010+019.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 156px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545786724281329458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAGPzlrowAgN3QUE2m0xkHs_jqlDvYh9wYqU-wfDhyxZYf0SfFYdiPhSacxXOzTVURIPniTEED0Ce-kN0B8CBN0tDgA6fUuqw2xu1TARIIxQgih6afBBVy3G0gKbI7qTSSZshMp5BL71s/s320/november2010+019.JPG" /></a>Thanksgiving just might be my favorite holiday. Sure it's crazy getting all that food together, but oh the rewards of eating it!<br /><br /><div><div>I've been a little disgusted at how Thanksgiving seems to get overlooked more and more each year. It seems as though once Halloween is over, the Christmas season begins, and Thanksgiving just gets lost in the shuffle. Sadly, Black Friday gets more attention.</div><br /><div>But, we were determined to get the most out of this holiday because, truly, we have much for which to be thankful.</div><br /><div>It totally helped that these special people came to celebrate with us:</div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyJ5dPCvb5aDMKf8siGJ0sNgDSBZ_eTx2v8t0haTbK4D8HQ1mtkuOYVjj8ynIRbGrL5FnYR6WCZUYpjQb9eqc8Oo40qmG6SP1rf8-TjQKOr21ZjlsmGwyhCQrYYrtW9Hb1NRmF71p5Xk/s1600/november2010+020.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 277px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545774764802491138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyJ5dPCvb5aDMKf8siGJ0sNgDSBZ_eTx2v8t0haTbK4D8HQ1mtkuOYVjj8ynIRbGrL5FnYR6WCZUYpjQb9eqc8Oo40qmG6SP1rf8-TjQKOr21ZjlsmGwyhCQrYYrtW9Hb1NRmF71p5Xk/s320/november2010+020.JPG" /></a><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 254px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545774757845364386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfPlz2ywI-0nZ-vHNmj0IL4-IH_VHwffClEgui5Kpz_WwGbpthppeHHLTZxijIjPmyFtQxGLjYBuNND_7jXPGCluFNSew1-rkW1h-k3XUwewZm3yWBR2_zkyXzOGSaUJVvu3WRKe-e77s/s320/november2010+010.JPG" /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirprOXz7RKvAdAzuzzCEDPwP44q8uwVFEXCp124_HS4G-qp-kwPr1GFm7keMvERO9cuSeUBKtWUqRegbK1CfEOQSXFHHXxn8hQCwPClOYQITKg54_47LbIoqvgSW1msKMEkEaHJf9EEUY/s1600/november2010+011.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 238px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545774747428110130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirprOXz7RKvAdAzuzzCEDPwP44q8uwVFEXCp124_HS4G-qp-kwPr1GFm7keMvERO9cuSeUBKtWUqRegbK1CfEOQSXFHHXxn8hQCwPClOYQITKg54_47LbIoqvgSW1msKMEkEaHJf9EEUY/s320/november2010+011.JPG" /></a><br />We took the opportunity of having a few extra hands around to get a family shot. Not often these happen.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvTOTHEmoWRivgOdAvnr5aLBmZVdTk56-56cK_zplmB2x6v_cusUDrY2_iSW5ltY-c71h2Mf2zlt5dGbEzBM8IVWOh6xDqmRk-rItqdXVcLTSql1Ah_686nUdlBubFwP7BpTb-TT8X8mM/s1600/november2010+013.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545773433602729458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvTOTHEmoWRivgOdAvnr5aLBmZVdTk56-56cK_zplmB2x6v_cusUDrY2_iSW5ltY-c71h2Mf2zlt5dGbEzBM8IVWOh6xDqmRk-rItqdXVcLTSql1Ah_686nUdlBubFwP7BpTb-TT8X8mM/s320/november2010+013.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbY35vvisLqXH_HyBbHy1rjoidToQmwnjisB80anq1k-NWjNfKbqCrMSy9bS0Gt5fmRCkUMEsVTeY74qX9R6RoAsILhCrF9MmkQEhyphenhyphenvwoWppdn3PCvn8FB67uuXyzW6wmY6TwenK49dIE/s1600/november2010+017.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 247px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545773432539065282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbY35vvisLqXH_HyBbHy1rjoidToQmwnjisB80anq1k-NWjNfKbqCrMSy9bS0Gt5fmRCkUMEsVTeY74qX9R6RoAsILhCrF9MmkQEhyphenhyphenvwoWppdn3PCvn8FB67uuXyzW6wmY6TwenK49dIE/s320/november2010+017.JPG" /></a> Grandma also came, and it just wouldn't be Thanksgiving at our house without her.<br /><br /></div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC48qP9zWP5hkUGzEH3879Ck9e8cfNUmgqgxDOAPMN1OcGEyTVNjtb4TIu3xtZ7tYwAjhzT4vQNzDnf0JPA_-nxWy4YjGElamVnPYm5KSYiOLTwlpTJVIo-DIlS7cfp2yAy4f8dlpoCqY/s1600/Thanksgiving+Naomi%2527s+2010+007.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 180px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545773427585266306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC48qP9zWP5hkUGzEH3879Ck9e8cfNUmgqgxDOAPMN1OcGEyTVNjtb4TIu3xtZ7tYwAjhzT4vQNzDnf0JPA_-nxWy4YjGElamVnPYm5KSYiOLTwlpTJVIo-DIlS7cfp2yAy4f8dlpoCqY/s320/Thanksgiving+Naomi%2527s+2010+007.jpg" /></a> My dad took this one of me and my girl.<br /><br /><br />The Little Man led us in a Thanksgiving prayer that will go down in the history books for sure. If I can figure out a way to get a sound recording on the blog, I will post it for you here. There's just nothing sweeter than hearing a little voice:</div><br /><div><em>Come Lawd Jesus,</em></div><div><em>Awr guest to beee, </em></div><div><em>And bwess deez gifs bestowed by dee.</em></div><br /><div><em>Bwess awr loved ones evwewhere,</em></div><div><em>And keep us in yawr loving keeair.</em></div><div><em>Ahhhhhmen.</em></div><br /><br /><div>We clapped and cheered like Ohio State had just scored a touchdown or something.</div><br /><div>He grinned like he had scored that touchdown.</div><div> </div><div>Classic.<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Rp5wwD-PDjYOTyDLrTFVmRTuWuLZut1QKHC4LaA0K7SP9e46WcFVMZsWaufxXGqpieIBrwqfNldetxyz9hTcPoegFw5o8lVZP_suaQ2luZgJxri4_oA2Hj4I1jXp1w1hNcwxW2H53vQ/s1600/Thanksgiving+Naomi%2527s+2010+013.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 180px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545773418849793026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Rp5wwD-PDjYOTyDLrTFVmRTuWuLZut1QKHC4LaA0K7SP9e46WcFVMZsWaufxXGqpieIBrwqfNldetxyz9hTcPoegFw5o8lVZP_suaQ2luZgJxri4_oA2Hj4I1jXp1w1hNcwxW2H53vQ/s320/Thanksgiving+Naomi%2527s+2010+013.jpg" /></a>We had good food (including a seriously juicy, yummy turkey and 2 desserts!) and a good time with family.<br /><br />Truly, what could be better than that?<br /><div> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07057717279489122900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561154339734315224.post-4989246989554049982010-11-20T13:28:00.000-08:002010-11-20T19:14:30.709-08:00My Girl Has a Birthday (which also means she grows up. Boo!).So, something happened the other day.<br /><br />And, I'm not really thrilled about it.<br /><br /><br />Someone else, on the hand, couldn't wait for it.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMvdUTjllAq5hzVSBdYTAPgmUS19IY5zc0DtluE-_mW_OHcBkDw9YRSgS19eJlNpw7HVgyRnlMUCPnjBRvqW-ZN4YdgGb1U3IgoKU8Yg_E53ZQ-Nhy7ACCxMuAgPECdqhYqo0QxFZD8cw/s1600/november2010+011.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541756336256769634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMvdUTjllAq5hzVSBdYTAPgmUS19IY5zc0DtluE-_mW_OHcBkDw9YRSgS19eJlNpw7HVgyRnlMUCPnjBRvqW-ZN4YdgGb1U3IgoKU8Yg_E53ZQ-Nhy7ACCxMuAgPECdqhYqo0QxFZD8cw/s320/november2010+011.JPG" /></a> Apparently, she's dead set on growing up.<br /><br /><br />Little stinker refuses to listen to every argument I present encouraging her to stay little enough for me to snuggle forever. And she absolutely refuses to turn back into a little baby so I can sniff the top of her head and gnaw on her cheeks.<br /><br /><br />Why <em>is</em> this, I wonder? I mean, my <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">arguments</span> make perfect sense to me!<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3v8IA4E4HxeSP22q5YYMufwdJtzEY9sRVlwb4DTDTyNR_TzEDyorkA7D4oQqorpNhD4BM_p2RGtCPZMgvqGC_vPe1MtvO3JmejAKGniZl7vfmMbHBjTOoo8RPTPX4aB6Z0KrrUmqq5v8/s1600/november2010+013.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541755551051571426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3v8IA4E4HxeSP22q5YYMufwdJtzEY9sRVlwb4DTDTyNR_TzEDyorkA7D4oQqorpNhD4BM_p2RGtCPZMgvqGC_vPe1MtvO3JmejAKGniZl7vfmMbHBjTOoo8RPTPX4aB6Z0KrrUmqq5v8/s320/november2010+013.JPG" /></a> Seven candles, people! 7!!<br /><br /><br /><br />There was no nostalgia for my girl. She was all about celebrating her birthday with some of her special friends . . .<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgijyuIln8Ul0i1hWJqerk-Cohna8W435wXTlb2bnm_6zhvReHGz5iD5oeY12WZ-wMpYiMYOPO5ccf58Uv_Ji6Fhq0bvbv3GTkYgW4ve5NyIo6mxOh74xAiXjsyID8yaOvFVjZFfIQlIsU/s1600/november2010+014.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541755538684633394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgijyuIln8Ul0i1hWJqerk-Cohna8W435wXTlb2bnm_6zhvReHGz5iD5oeY12WZ-wMpYiMYOPO5ccf58Uv_Ji6Fhq0bvbv3GTkYgW4ve5NyIo6mxOh74xAiXjsyID8yaOvFVjZFfIQlIsU/s320/november2010+014.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj53wby2u9CYunPzJRWNXlSmAbAeVCOqfdHCZHgFEnVclkvsOnBP_oPbEYRW9sIQiqKLWHNSgL54gToFkJz6eHn6lKDRo2mazEVIkB03TAMasC_1XobyY9G57u2NV0t7Xf3SeuJnYC-p5w/s1600/november2010+015.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541755526290707410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj53wby2u9CYunPzJRWNXlSmAbAeVCOqfdHCZHgFEnVclkvsOnBP_oPbEYRW9sIQiqKLWHNSgL54gToFkJz6eHn6lKDRo2mazEVIkB03TAMasC_1XobyY9G57u2NV0t7Xf3SeuJnYC-p5w/s320/november2010+015.JPG" /></a> her dad, her brother, and . . . and a horse (of course!)</div><div></div><div><br />at the place that all little kid's call "heaven" and all parents call . . . well, you know.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyjsfQqZPpLLLmU_Q1kPZvT6uBdV6f8GhHldRUWiVMGkqx2ib4F1xlo47xCQzpKd_5BGN2rnnBdWhqqyKdBBfdjks_UK-RkAff8pVoPoC7b3JcFAa6X6khf_NK4kw8ep58gEG1p7CjN1o/s1600/november2010+017.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541755496565157426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyjsfQqZPpLLLmU_Q1kPZvT6uBdV6f8GhHldRUWiVMGkqx2ib4F1xlo47xCQzpKd_5BGN2rnnBdWhqqyKdBBfdjks_UK-RkAff8pVoPoC7b3JcFAa6X6khf_NK4kw8ep58gEG1p7CjN1o/s320/november2010+017.JPG" /></a>That's right.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyL0ENJHbQ4wwvw0BmhxpiBGvhEc1N3GZA4FhR5uODuPiTAwOcOlFqxfW2OLCuCLVECbTpeXa1oe28bO-pSONz28O5A8WrRnLAIRtOC2kSRYev64hfYI2CtCggPkC762zz5yxUrLlSdDE/s1600/november2010+018.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541755491072705778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyL0ENJHbQ4wwvw0BmhxpiBGvhEc1N3GZA4FhR5uODuPiTAwOcOlFqxfW2OLCuCLVECbTpeXa1oe28bO-pSONz28O5A8WrRnLAIRtOC2kSRYev64hfYI2CtCggPkC762zz5yxUrLlSdDE/s320/november2010+018.JPG" /></a><br />It was . . .<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib1W1R2EpfG9FiLtlui273ZHfRcJskkW8c85ZwmaFEzLTrBtDhiGyRgvL98Dccph_qxczWwePcupdF9fQZf_zS4bNKH13edYrZ33UPeacMh2Ad6aLCBQjyfPJO4vxdkKRIq2016tlWLcA/s1600/november2010+019.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541748015162436674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib1W1R2EpfG9FiLtlui273ZHfRcJskkW8c85ZwmaFEzLTrBtDhiGyRgvL98Dccph_qxczWwePcupdF9fQZf_zS4bNKH13edYrZ33UPeacMh2Ad6aLCBQjyfPJO4vxdkKRIq2016tlWLcA/s320/november2010+019.JPG" /></a> Chuck E. Cheese's!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidWKplM2YN2WNBnaRYmm1CP7A_qoDu4_6LitfzryAnIVeKkr7Zv7XipPp-b_rfqfXDh93iSsW61QD6xcuANcdAEx09fVEMvCKv7J-w47pkAwaQ92ZdwPjBxrMUQvylLimlTXoFr651e4s/s1600/november2010+020.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541748006507673986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidWKplM2YN2WNBnaRYmm1CP7A_qoDu4_6LitfzryAnIVeKkr7Zv7XipPp-b_rfqfXDh93iSsW61QD6xcuANcdAEx09fVEMvCKv7J-w47pkAwaQ92ZdwPjBxrMUQvylLimlTXoFr651e4s/s320/november2010+020.JPG" /></a> "Where a kid can be a kid . . . and some freaky, large-headed mouse makes you wear a silly blow-up crown in front of all your best friends!"<br /><br />Awesome!</div><br /><div><div>She had a blast though, and so did all of her friends.<br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBnJ28w7oBSyYczgORPpNKJQW3XSiog1Aa3sqQ3SbM3uVcY0VZ1Z05w9S043L70nY3OMrdMxhsOukz5Mb89xt2hZY1Vc9FfVptgXJyG-rDomfK2Mi6O6ksgFmzJGrPtK2bV2te1iKZL0w/s1600/november2010+025.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541747950755941890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBnJ28w7oBSyYczgORPpNKJQW3XSiog1Aa3sqQ3SbM3uVcY0VZ1Z05w9S043L70nY3OMrdMxhsOukz5Mb89xt2hZY1Vc9FfVptgXJyG-rDomfK2Mi6O6ksgFmzJGrPtK2bV2te1iKZL0w/s320/november2010+025.JPG" /></a> Her little brother and her dad did too.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I forgot to ask the horse.<br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipAQ_fKKUECC1Y5ymg1jnD0Z3MyeOdzxRBxumAB0mSiFxEywvk14RzarVoN2WcFyJUZyxt5vvP3KhHq0KOefcucSWs8Ow6vLpYvd2UPa0qDrBJQVPacCqiQS5H2fcvTTPCdRL08e0hEU4/s1600/november2010+027.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 246px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541747928546079538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipAQ_fKKUECC1Y5ymg1jnD0Z3MyeOdzxRBxumAB0mSiFxEywvk14RzarVoN2WcFyJUZyxt5vvP3KhHq0KOefcucSWs8Ow6vLpYvd2UPa0qDrBJQVPacCqiQS5H2fcvTTPCdRL08e0hEU4/s320/november2010+027.JPG" /></a><br />Meanwhile, I'm doing my best to reconcile myself with this getting older business. Apparently, she's going to do it, no matter what I say.<br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07057717279489122900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561154339734315224.post-75059061964204182392010-11-11T14:45:00.001-08:002010-11-11T15:53:58.652-08:00Thankful with AttitudeMy girl turned 7 last week.<br /><br /><br />I'm still reeling from the shock of it all, but I am working on getting a birthday post up someday soon (hopefully before she turns 8 which, at this rate, will be, like, tomorrow. THEY GROW UP SO FAST!).<br /><br /><br />Okay, I'm over it.<br /><br /><br />Anyway, I wrote this for our MOPS newsletter and thought I would post it here too. Sorry if you're reading it twice. :-)<br /><br /><br /><br />One of my mom's favorite "punishments" for her 4 whiny children was to order us to: "name ten things you are thankful for." (really, she probably only made us do it a few times, but to a kid that's a lot!). Sounds like she let us off easy, doesn't it? <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Seriously</span>, when my 2 start the whine fest, all I want to do is send them <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">somewhere</span> AWAY from me. I have a very low whine tolerance. It's the truth.<br /><br /><br />As kids, we were usually disgruntled and mad that we didn't get our way, and our typical first few "thankful <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">for's</span>" included things like, "the air," "my pants," "boogers," and other such sarcastic drivel.<br /><br /><br />But, what eventually happened, what always <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">happened</span>, and what my wise mother knew would happen (or at least she hoped!) is that by number 4 or 5, we really started to name those things that <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">truly</span> mattered, those things for which we were truly grateful - our family, our home, our health, etc. And, low and behold, the earlier gripes were forgotten, and our moods were lightened (usually, anyway!).<br /><br /><br />As a kid, I used to HATE doing this, and swore that I would NEVER make MY kids do this.<br /><br /><br />Well, never say never.<br /><br /><br />While I haven't yet employed the "thankful list" as a punishment per <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">se</span>, I have started to make an effort at encouraging my children to appreciate those blessings around them that they take for granted every day, and as Thanksgiving nears, we have begun a tradition in our home to help us be thankful more than just one day every year.<br /><br /><br />Two balls of Styrofoam, a pair of googly eyes, and a wattle and beak made from construction paper make up our very own Tom the Thankful Turkey. Every November he arrives in our home, and as each day passes, we fill out Tom's tail with construction paper feathers filled with "thankful <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">for's</span>" as we count down the days until Thanksgiving.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBlK65asunOyX3eVmDVbZrBfgT2fUxcf9nKuoBxarUgaUAEA8ltwXWLmEGOuxGe9J4FvHaIl1txbea-djy5YfdPze7RDKStHppn_nbXoCRE5MCS5CYYWsyQkz23VibY4F05o5zNdGDLdk/s1600/turkey+003.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538429523490665362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBlK65asunOyX3eVmDVbZrBfgT2fUxcf9nKuoBxarUgaUAEA8ltwXWLmEGOuxGe9J4FvHaIl1txbea-djy5YfdPze7RDKStHppn_nbXoCRE5MCS5CYYWsyQkz23VibY4F05o5zNdGDLdk/s320/turkey+003.JPG" /></a> The kids LOVE doing this each night, and the contributions are always entertaining. Ben's "thankful <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">for's</span>" are always my favorite: "homework, the sun, Big Doggy, apple crisp, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Popsicles</span>."<br /><br />My "thankful <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">for's</span>" of course always include my family, my friends, my home, but I also include things like "coffee," "chocolate," and this past week, I included "antibiotics" too. :-)<br /><br />What <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">are</span> you thankful for, and how do you remind yourself and your family to be thankful every day?<br /><br />There are many days the whiny little kid of so many years ago still shows her face in my mirror, and I'm always surprised at just how easy it is to forget everything for which I have to be grateful. Hopefully, with a little practice, we can all remember to be thankful for all our blessings without it having to be a punishment.Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07057717279489122900noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561154339734315224.post-70257378296567669102010-10-31T11:51:00.000-07:002010-11-01T12:07:36.011-07:00Guess what we were for Halloween 2010Can you guess?<br /><br />She's not a princess (it's a Halloween miracle!).<br /><br />She's not sparkly or glittery.<br /><br />There are no wings, wands, tiaras, or plastic shoes involved.<br /><br /><br />Can you guess?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhwBZs-IxdYRFglmBLY2ysKM-56S8sA6ziEeAQBUUizaC5EqNKIOYdr4In0zBGj0mDjow_FL1VqD_A0AMa2O-_7uWebSFc4RkwhPO6vohJK4jjSol0qtCbYd16-V9vixIILZRCu_-T6v8/s1600/october2010+011.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534656795352418578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhwBZs-IxdYRFglmBLY2ysKM-56S8sA6ziEeAQBUUizaC5EqNKIOYdr4In0zBGj0mDjow_FL1VqD_A0AMa2O-_7uWebSFc4RkwhPO6vohJK4jjSol0qtCbYd16-V9vixIILZRCu_-T6v8/s320/october2010+011.JPG" /></a>Whoa... what's up with the brown hair??<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE4VCucRmlBMoFRf5jOyDsKKgiMeBEObHg2Kq4bKMrWnZr7ywtTqZXWp9ytZ0eOYiAqqfOFiUCDKmypUhhiiZ82Ubd09jOG7AMuyRo8YDwjt87TQ8ln-DFPHN2D4OxlnmmfXqftIDTvkM/s1600/october2010+010.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534656790410422530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE4VCucRmlBMoFRf5jOyDsKKgiMeBEObHg2Kq4bKMrWnZr7ywtTqZXWp9ytZ0eOYiAqqfOFiUCDKmypUhhiiZ82Ubd09jOG7AMuyRo8YDwjt87TQ8ln-DFPHN2D4OxlnmmfXqftIDTvkM/s320/october2010+010.JPG" /></a> She's Dorothy from <em>The Wizard of Oz</em>, complete with Toto and the requisite red sparkling shoes (okay so there was a little sparkle involved. But, if you were to ask her, she would be quick to tell you that in actuality, Dorothy's shoes in the original story were silver! That's my girl!). Click those heels together, Dorothy! <em>There's no place like home. There's no place like home!</em></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>She got lots of <em>oohs</em> and <em>ahs</em> from people admiring her costume all night long. And though she didn't intend to, she totally freaked out her little brother.</div><br /><div></div><div><em>Mommy, I don't like Clairey in that costume.</em></div><br /><div><em></em></div><div><em>Why not, buddy?</em></div><br /><div><em></em></div><div><em>Because it doesn't look like she's my sister anymore. </em></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>And the little man?</div><br /><div></div><div>No masks, no fur, no Iron Man in sight (though it was a close call there!)<br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg92SSSpIRhjAlGUI1wj9JNNL1eZfIRyrFeK0ItO0iAOl6EmJqAMJcDkH6JdezvdFWzRK3m0-98CTE3ufCtoNlK_utAFsoyonZU_Ndz3J7B8J8EoNI7HYm3KyBEcCg5wMZqU0tdANgWjN4/s1600/october2010+013.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534656782711049362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg92SSSpIRhjAlGUI1wj9JNNL1eZfIRyrFeK0ItO0iAOl6EmJqAMJcDkH6JdezvdFWzRK3m0-98CTE3ufCtoNlK_utAFsoyonZU_Ndz3J7B8J8EoNI7HYm3KyBEcCg5wMZqU0tdANgWjN4/s320/october2010+013.JPG" /></a> The fake head/microphone was the clincher on the costume choice for this guy.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil11ZJtc7pZ3tp30h2cRcMo8qXOxEiVczeot5YkQ__q68ktDjzZ4nTfXArXX5Imd1HnWwR0NeD9qDZxOKwpkHXBmkvFsNDbfvW9iDpz7Q8BO4Rxg0OWjR-sbKjG7DTeaPQSlSuTNdgAG8/s1600/october2010+012.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534656770466701042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil11ZJtc7pZ3tp30h2cRcMo8qXOxEiVczeot5YkQ__q68ktDjzZ4nTfXArXX5Imd1HnWwR0NeD9qDZxOKwpkHXBmkvFsNDbfvW9iDpz7Q8BO4Rxg0OWjR-sbKjG7DTeaPQSlSuTNdgAG8/s320/october2010+012.JPG" /></a> Ka-chow! Hello Lightening McQueen Pit Crew Chief!<br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDtSUhyTaFZCQMpA1JPGNqWrK6TagRgPEtX_wbP0rikfD5k3CL3s1LL-NYOVInyQdqmyZDU_RHiNDNiyl_A3Ue9VQ1QH4ak4t2faVrniWJmGLNtd8-st9u3E6VPh4y-eg1lkl_DRAlnRc/s1600/october2010+009.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534656760456971826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDtSUhyTaFZCQMpA1JPGNqWrK6TagRgPEtX_wbP0rikfD5k3CL3s1LL-NYOVInyQdqmyZDU_RHiNDNiyl_A3Ue9VQ1QH4ak4t2faVrniWJmGLNtd8-st9u3E6VPh4y-eg1lkl_DRAlnRc/s320/october2010+009.JPG" /></a> Bring on the candy!<br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07057717279489122900noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561154339734315224.post-22872390009158531332010-10-18T15:55:00.000-07:002010-10-29T16:25:57.151-07:00The RaceI run.<br /><br />Okay, let's rephrase that.<br /><br /><br />I jog. Slowly trot. Move somewhat faster than a walk.<br /><br /><br />I do this for exercise, mainly because it's fast, and it doesn't require a fitness club or Y membership. Generally I get up before Shawn leaves for work in the morning to get my run in, and I feel great knowing that I have exercised for the day.<br /><br /><br />I've been doing this now for over a year, and while I enjoy it (to some degree), I have never considered myself a "runner" and have really never had a desire to run in races. Although, I will say that somewhere in the back of my mind I think it would be really neat to run a half-marathon<br /><br /><br />Well, about 2 months ago, I finally convinced Shawn that he needed to start exercising. He's always been super skinny, and weight has never been an issue for him (blast him!), but he's just recently noticed some of his pants getting a little bit more snug. (HA!) So, he decided to start running.<br /><br /><br />Of course, not more than a few weeks into it, he tells me we need to run a race. It must be a man thing. To run was simply not enough. There needed to be a competition.<br /><br /><br />I agreed, the only stipulation being that he run with me.<br /><br /><br />And so . . . we raced.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT81y67oduZBZSDjjeqqrD3k30v-JehQ2nhO8kQ6n7uNfAahXDENXaMlTti8u9B31WmihjtYnexcIp9k4HS8E-ISzd7vN8oqb2zBD5ndkwGLHOakYBQZRB4QjnhJPqv3g5PpgVZzrrcS8/s1600/IMG00125-20101016-0941.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533605788045377042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT81y67oduZBZSDjjeqqrD3k30v-JehQ2nhO8kQ6n7uNfAahXDENXaMlTti8u9B31WmihjtYnexcIp9k4HS8E-ISzd7vN8oqb2zBD5ndkwGLHOakYBQZRB4QjnhJPqv3g5PpgVZzrrcS8/s320/IMG00125-20101016-0941.jpg" /></a> Here we are about 2 minutes after I finished. Yes, I said <em>I finished</em>. Shawn's promise to stay with me lasted all of about 2 minutes.<br /><br /><br /><div><div><strong>Official 5K (3.1 miles) times:</strong></div><br /><div>Shawn - 25.17 minutes</div><div>Me - 28.47 minutes<br /><br />Now that we have a race under our belts, I'm happy.</div><br /><div></div><div>Shawn, on the other hand, has already scoped out 2 more races for us to run before Christmas.</div><br /><div>I've created a monster.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 286px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533605775061535234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0h0P6Tcp73FGwE3IW68AcRX2U-x6po9TDIXjmqeB2zircckVQ-jkYDxmLQQHl22XIbmJg6t9IrwFyvtJKCxA5PlekyWYSVv0j7U4ILGyikkg0U1GL9BrDgMMFCUIH3t9Y5OquJYML01c/s320/IMG00128-20101016-0948.jpg" /></div></div>Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07057717279489122900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561154339734315224.post-74692378746570513622010-10-12T14:55:00.000-07:002010-10-29T17:44:42.825-07:00The Fair Affair<div>Every October signals the arrival of the Dixie Classic Fair, and attending it has become a family tradition, dating back to those nearly forgotten days before children.<br /><br />But, there's no denying that it's all about the kids these days.<br /><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533633387383570706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5hKPtzcAalFWYA24QIaUGDXHqGqYMx7bSe0cINQfBiWDGfl6XJcH0jNaRu65qZUzzEyJ54jL4xN_VO24prBZLBnHnfJ7G-l_hIFov8sCORXygQ25vep8xSB7lLYByHnp5kqM1RE0kP3Y/s320/october2010+027.JPG" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhTTbAE2d79FRBQXywhaK3z2PTgxdfUtxppigPAgDmEAnI41Zcr_IJXD4qGIt4Cnjq76tAhqbfzc2u6S8vUHUGSNJvWiI3dXhCfsNLQjirDsmKSj8ZK3i3NWZZUnJZaMHY7w2G7_kY1Uo/s1600/october2010+005.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533603376932856866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhTTbAE2d79FRBQXywhaK3z2PTgxdfUtxppigPAgDmEAnI41Zcr_IJXD4qGIt4Cnjq76tAhqbfzc2u6S8vUHUGSNJvWiI3dXhCfsNLQjirDsmKSj8ZK3i3NWZZUnJZaMHY7w2G7_kY1Uo/s320/october2010+005.JPG" /></a> <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533603000014361874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFKZxsa6xTPz4TJMgMT91UcatvZCkZnxn37YXnGhajCt940g-G_qBrttQIFzfekqXEwaKVkFZ_HcJUD6uwvjTfWLzOfB2TZTvXYv8vix2343ofA0Bh7kIfi5Lokt-ZjZpcCnc2Vq8pkX4/s320/october2010+008.JPG" /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguEqfoDYMbtAcNKTeth5XpcZnPzhU2B3RIKIbboO06uGUmdv4XffYpCpdJRUbGPhc7-yxnKuvWfDSPjUh4uB0JFujyczVzlWud2K5v-cQhFbmhRxZQNUh0UBM_5jiexDVsVprGJaGT8l0/s1600/october2010+006.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533603368157642978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguEqfoDYMbtAcNKTeth5XpcZnPzhU2B3RIKIbboO06uGUmdv4XffYpCpdJRUbGPhc7-yxnKuvWfDSPjUh4uB0JFujyczVzlWud2K5v-cQhFbmhRxZQNUh0UBM_5jiexDVsVprGJaGT8l0/s320/october2010+006.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP_BRj9j4d-WpOu-4VZzyqSPZF8J1CJpYCEBEH9qHfZ2-shSd5kEPSdYxvtVO1MoZ1nTGY-u-OMH2A93Dm_Tle79UqMOh75gEfN6V1oj7EwPzY2FhN3f0VeYgvFhWG2ej-1LtIOEuA114/s1600/october2010+011.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533602992125252274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP_BRj9j4d-WpOu-4VZzyqSPZF8J1CJpYCEBEH9qHfZ2-shSd5kEPSdYxvtVO1MoZ1nTGY-u-OMH2A93Dm_Tle79UqMOh75gEfN6V1oj7EwPzY2FhN3f0VeYgvFhWG2ej-1LtIOEuA114/s320/october2010+011.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ5hOJMMm8Qlv2KL5Xsk6MaMgxYBNRnb7BM5UaSOdTFkONgNRO5BLjVQY8aJunO-tBuMypYb8XtvkNUZD4BHuBVFA5nRyd7MCijtlGrMRjULdMModryi35vRlpfnv-Kp6FNep2df81jh0/s1600/october2010+013.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533602986482382594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ5hOJMMm8Qlv2KL5Xsk6MaMgxYBNRnb7BM5UaSOdTFkONgNRO5BLjVQY8aJunO-tBuMypYb8XtvkNUZD4BHuBVFA5nRyd7MCijtlGrMRjULdMModryi35vRlpfnv-Kp6FNep2df81jh0/s320/october2010+013.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDj0KA-S3HU6hl_TEjiHlVDcqAQFegV6H4d_bdSgfRgfczWZ8cRlekRJahEtnpGMh2mVX8rNXlwrtZbHaMoVjQ9Dfg16UvoZEMAO3ZkJvs7g6NOb4peZeiuaWJrZoqMwWXCM90LS7dkq0/s1600/october2010+014.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533602974056889906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDj0KA-S3HU6hl_TEjiHlVDcqAQFegV6H4d_bdSgfRgfczWZ8cRlekRJahEtnpGMh2mVX8rNXlwrtZbHaMoVjQ9Dfg16UvoZEMAO3ZkJvs7g6NOb4peZeiuaWJrZoqMwWXCM90LS7dkq0/s320/october2010+014.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxfqTux1Fi9j9gv9pkuKis8nvuOWhAXv9jrzz-QwV6Dzzj923aKyzYnicES4jQ_vjLv0FNu5W4pQOeaXToT0MmyrLhXlH0NW_5wn5m1k4JD9ECbMzLf9g7OxoM2gI_0mRjgPJ_ALRPOyI/s1600/IMG00117-20101009-1324.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533602969515207938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxfqTux1Fi9j9gv9pkuKis8nvuOWhAXv9jrzz-QwV6Dzzj923aKyzYnicES4jQ_vjLv0FNu5W4pQOeaXToT0MmyrLhXlH0NW_5wn5m1k4JD9ECbMzLf9g7OxoM2gI_0mRjgPJ_ALRPOyI/s320/IMG00117-20101009-1324.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOdUvcLuc4SZ3k7Iinc77QyAhwd4E_StJoAkWVToia833X1T4tKzQ9D38qHqkUbc0l4pIYUivHE7tuLTbiGMT1nYjyBae6Y99i2edJ2Ir_jNUV6sZNCYIts48DUjkNU6Qsihh5Eap4gnE/s1600/october2010+016.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533601330632004162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOdUvcLuc4SZ3k7Iinc77QyAhwd4E_StJoAkWVToia833X1T4tKzQ9D38qHqkUbc0l4pIYUivHE7tuLTbiGMT1nYjyBae6Y99i2edJ2Ir_jNUV6sZNCYIts48DUjkNU6Qsihh5Eap4gnE/s320/october2010+016.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc5JYnBkoNAOBJbKDs59P9j4HTwi1TOiwdfcYmMaVyfhhX8P982Vr5xJ_H8GcoENvEvklPhbRSqi9-taRbLpFApES7HHlp8bCBof-tF8YESaek9kWXYdG9PkV4RGqDnFgE_4UOrQGBXeY/s1600/october2010+017.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533601327196084146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc5JYnBkoNAOBJbKDs59P9j4HTwi1TOiwdfcYmMaVyfhhX8P982Vr5xJ_H8GcoENvEvklPhbRSqi9-taRbLpFApES7HHlp8bCBof-tF8YESaek9kWXYdG9PkV4RGqDnFgE_4UOrQGBXeY/s320/october2010+017.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicL2UUmcNVJT7q2SVFc0QQ7DJjdF5s8RnWKMBXDaSk-fPs-5ta9C_-MBGJJJiR9E3ZswJJ9QVq30dtwH_o_2YbXsujxcAJk8-iF2J8_jbRN1-cK_ET1xqu3YKZBbArl4bPWIb1V5z2-mk/s1600/october2010+018.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; 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MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533591289119962402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO6FyFKRN5sVRHCV-KFpWiagaZjP4S7QnydXLmhUm-fzBf4HjSl6JOgBQpmngbnfBA5MHe1uRU9CJuiPjPanC5Qu60riDgmzx2g_y9L1KL9Q3b6PPk5CRcX-27kBlss3QFgjtLp3RN-TA/s320/october2010+020.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijl2mqy1gkqql7dnBmTvUT6psSjQXhk5lHXAWfmTL53TywH2WRORBGh_fGM57D4w21jZhyxnS5dxwiUMjvgK6kChmRjo6FdBIkmd663pLXYTHoRM2XTa4ipFnfW5xZbXYJATK-xIOUEXg/s1600/october2010+022.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533591286188219938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijl2mqy1gkqql7dnBmTvUT6psSjQXhk5lHXAWfmTL53TywH2WRORBGh_fGM57D4w21jZhyxnS5dxwiUMjvgK6kChmRjo6FdBIkmd663pLXYTHoRM2XTa4ipFnfW5xZbXYJATK-xIOUEXg/s320/october2010+022.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCidnXtIYSnEszwVgZPCSEO00MKvzBgMVtG6pArzITJnm9lrkbRkBocNM6Ux4go5YHV21LueZ0r7GT-j_7rUI_JW1Vn2w-E2InNVV733Sw1DOU-cJ_3dfanhesJzRoKRWBrSrWwqKasnQ/s1600/october2010+023.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533591275147383442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCidnXtIYSnEszwVgZPCSEO00MKvzBgMVtG6pArzITJnm9lrkbRkBocNM6Ux4go5YHV21LueZ0r7GT-j_7rUI_JW1Vn2w-E2InNVV733Sw1DOU-cJ_3dfanhesJzRoKRWBrSrWwqKasnQ/s320/october2010+023.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><br /><div>All that was missing from the day was a helping of fried butter with a side of fried beer.</div><br /><br /><div>And, yes, we could have bought them both.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07057717279489122900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561154339734315224.post-67516362708306735482010-10-12T07:19:00.000-07:002010-10-29T06:59:48.511-07:00StuffWe've taken a few "field trips" lately with the kids.<br /><br />First, the now annual Tobaccoville Celebration. This fell on Ben's birthday last year, and he thought all the activities were planned for his big day. It wasn't on his birthday this year, but the kids still had lots of fun.<br /><br />Can't beat it when it's free!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyvQeSWVJqYQsBbfYbqS_kAfFTEwlQKUxk2WqqBORgMQXZNE4YCGqSS0gydIKbZBgP7j8ZGZ_57VmimM9MQbqtHRBHc4UCgEzItVnONabhs73eArowO3wXcrhjZJhdtVulfFsBNbJ_460/s1600/September2010+015.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533464932501693778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyvQeSWVJqYQsBbfYbqS_kAfFTEwlQKUxk2WqqBORgMQXZNE4YCGqSS0gydIKbZBgP7j8ZGZ_57VmimM9MQbqtHRBHc4UCgEzItVnONabhs73eArowO3wXcrhjZJhdtVulfFsBNbJ_460/s320/September2010+015.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0k0D4vspbPWXcuyBhXmalyurxUQoRRcSltk2mW4HceZ62SkuCuOEhBGcy1It0pgOyT05xc1KkeRxZgWcKjPjBwUEsPiZ3zJPSmC0p_FaU0XxCGPVK_qotIo460_YsGl0rVS4QA-H1BNI/s1600/September2010+017.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533464924753750642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0k0D4vspbPWXcuyBhXmalyurxUQoRRcSltk2mW4HceZ62SkuCuOEhBGcy1It0pgOyT05xc1KkeRxZgWcKjPjBwUEsPiZ3zJPSmC0p_FaU0XxCGPVK_qotIo460_YsGl0rVS4QA-H1BNI/s320/September2010+017.JPG" /></a> I actually considered buying a pig after seeing this one.</div><div> </div><div>Seriously.</div><div> </div><div><br /> </div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533464922507876274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjyAcPjRWJRJtOsZgYTfjbN80dddvXhwjgN3e4BluHSBFsp6Toldw_IhKsaV7mXp70wd6Y_rbqDWbMqVzvywXlrWw06x1RJSMr03-kvZRiWEw29l9c3b7j9BKtisg2MK28Fn_WeR2UuHw/s320/September2010+018.JPG" /><br /><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8re1nMdTlST1DRLC-qkZIvOcZdqENzm9pDp5totkCDWXTCY4kCHw8VNmxlPelQoakck7z8vAAmKyRoO6sylbhhFt04yL9_7Nf8HmDzuZnI_cGRiagfPJ5qOzZK-vx1m-TMdoCVRzGcwU/s1600/September2010+024.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533464912403433666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8re1nMdTlST1DRLC-qkZIvOcZdqENzm9pDp5totkCDWXTCY4kCHw8VNmxlPelQoakck7z8vAAmKyRoO6sylbhhFt04yL9_7Nf8HmDzuZnI_cGRiagfPJ5qOzZK-vx1m-TMdoCVRzGcwU/s320/September2010+024.JPG" /></a></div><div>A sword and fire hat for brother . . . </div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ6WwCngIuASi1Wn77RjicIXDxw6Dz8EKFivClw_8kezDmO7zLUAtR6NbFx3I2ZULyaq5_wHaF-IEQz5MQ40yECUJ3aitVu-JyFR8K7S6hM5bMU59ysrWIiQss9hupDyt5NllONJxJM1w/s1600/September2010+025.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533464909631914034" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ6WwCngIuASi1Wn77RjicIXDxw6Dz8EKFivClw_8kezDmO7zLUAtR6NbFx3I2ZULyaq5_wHaF-IEQz5MQ40yECUJ3aitVu-JyFR8K7S6hM5bMU59ysrWIiQss9hupDyt5NllONJxJM1w/s320/September2010+025.JPG" /></a> and a butterfly for sister = good day!<br /><br /><br /><br />Ben and I took another trip with our MOPS group to a local butterfly farm.</div><div> </div><div>First they demonstrated the life cycle of the butterfly.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRkieLxqmst4WF_5xu-LVn1W1wwml91QfgAQdAtBA47PqTVr4bz48dmo2v9N-c_kfxQ2aBP0HercDZaZvnPv7Stgva_7uWil4vs0_83rpO95glQo-NslUcY1hB-1eC2Ny9c6khgJkgOoo/s1600/September2010+048.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527166512219899074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRkieLxqmst4WF_5xu-LVn1W1wwml91QfgAQdAtBA47PqTVr4bz48dmo2v9N-c_kfxQ2aBP0HercDZaZvnPv7Stgva_7uWil4vs0_83rpO95glQo-NslUcY1hB-1eC2Ny9c6khgJkgOoo/s320/September2010+048.JPG" /></a> "in the cocoon"<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWymhPGWHXicXGY9oIGeZO7T4eCfumY3FGeHIDSxO3fP-bFAeViQu6AZqMlh36Iovggey63lX_ZE7KRTGmKVjXaNgVUras6S_KLyCtag21S0FpEgkotb8Yl5MTyYZuXsaMk4rfXPyOBII/s1600/September2010+051.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527166456193349778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWymhPGWHXicXGY9oIGeZO7T4eCfumY3FGeHIDSxO3fP-bFAeViQu6AZqMlh36Iovggey63lX_ZE7KRTGmKVjXaNgVUras6S_KLyCtag21S0FpEgkotb8Yl5MTyYZuXsaMk4rfXPyOBII/s320/September2010+051.JPG" /></a> Kylie the butterfly. She looks thrilled, doesn't she?<br /><br /><br />And then it was off to the butterfly house to feed the butterflies.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2hUQw7tyXtYS34zArsN9PQuNbUJvY2aMl4ZFFBlJqzcmpo-3wxfbVC0lG8VgUCg6Hv26UaAWT00Boy5QaIU-Xq_LJMcC8Po97upfN5vNkG8__qshyfQRCUy92r5jnzhSOnKkWaq17-0s/s1600/September2010+052.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527166451749676722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2hUQw7tyXtYS34zArsN9PQuNbUJvY2aMl4ZFFBlJqzcmpo-3wxfbVC0lG8VgUCg6Hv26UaAWT00Boy5QaIU-Xq_LJMcC8Po97upfN5vNkG8__qshyfQRCUy92r5jnzhSOnKkWaq17-0s/s320/September2010+052.JPG" /></a> The white pads were soaked with sugar water to encourage the butterflies to land on us.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPlQHUI3AQylrHzUyHto5glir6ct5aBLOrRXeVUK-la_Y9C7LoNRy66CWglcqHrSdsiAGyJyWxUYqnbPIaJkYyBLYyPKt5G6gUzHiL3hOccw6xMbfKJsd8hjUaYCvWmAoy_VL4pFGcK_A/s1600/September2010+053.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527166436926498498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPlQHUI3AQylrHzUyHto5glir6ct5aBLOrRXeVUK-la_Y9C7LoNRy66CWglcqHrSdsiAGyJyWxUYqnbPIaJkYyBLYyPKt5G6gUzHiL3hOccw6xMbfKJsd8hjUaYCvWmAoy_VL4pFGcK_A/s320/September2010+053.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxyXqcbA8FlYE2MX68cvKSz21rkN0Uud3eFfs5jxqWNgBfeNdVzsx2M0nbYZO7ZY330_UjVkGe8WqUTTrOwg2WiB3x9t9RLzySyfMcaTVQXaCPiCamaRt4LGpn1NRvYpKR6zlC7wY868w/s1600/September2010+055.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527166435603557154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxyXqcbA8FlYE2MX68cvKSz21rkN0Uud3eFfs5jxqWNgBfeNdVzsx2M0nbYZO7ZY330_UjVkGe8WqUTTrOwg2WiB3x9t9RLzySyfMcaTVQXaCPiCamaRt4LGpn1NRvYpKR6zlC7wY868w/s320/September2010+055.JPG" /></a> New ones breaking out of cocoons.<br /></div><div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIjAcRsieD5qrwftn4O2wu-34S9YRnvtEUYF00I52TlHzdxaq2ULO5kAJ32uQA3U4TWsVJNcSDUdbn9xaVNBwCbYQihkhqiQ0OiuN4H526y2sqOCaaGXt9vIFSyja4SomS0ZatpLlztZE/s1600/September2010+056.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527165205014403794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIjAcRsieD5qrwftn4O2wu-34S9YRnvtEUYF00I52TlHzdxaq2ULO5kAJ32uQA3U4TWsVJNcSDUdbn9xaVNBwCbYQihkhqiQ0OiuN4H526y2sqOCaaGXt9vIFSyja4SomS0ZatpLlztZE/s320/September2010+056.JPG" /></a> This one is getting ready to start his cocoon.<br /><br /></div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgd7twbY3_fWS0XWao5rr0oyN874gWRZ2y-mXux0CflX6pl7jHGJ74QxKcAIiIfWIfiY1lxXjmB6cL8F8m4-AdQxcqkj8c1UTaunS_lcq6wwVSG4s_acL6UmK19ObKDD5MJgb2CpkTvdw/s1600/September2010+060.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527165201972196994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgd7twbY3_fWS0XWao5rr0oyN874gWRZ2y-mXux0CflX6pl7jHGJ74QxKcAIiIfWIfiY1lxXjmB6cL8F8m4-AdQxcqkj8c1UTaunS_lcq6wwVSG4s_acL6UmK19ObKDD5MJgb2CpkTvdw/s320/September2010+060.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Just when Ben started to get tired, look what happened!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTtgsHNhAg6LIgXqqJsgNUBs2j3E8bPE4m_KAMB3aMDrCv8Ada8kuI_Sq3YAGmkWn93yvg_mjCn2KLCdWIS-aSGTT9zMgJzwQN9sI_xahSXZoNxdjEOPbYtcTMG40pDkVVt0KAQWXb15k/s1600/September2010+061.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527165175741606562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTtgsHNhAg6LIgXqqJsgNUBs2j3E8bPE4m_KAMB3aMDrCv8Ada8kuI_Sq3YAGmkWn93yvg_mjCn2KLCdWIS-aSGTT9zMgJzwQN9sI_xahSXZoNxdjEOPbYtcTMG40pDkVVt0KAQWXb15k/s320/September2010+061.JPG" /></a> Love his face here.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO1cesjvQWxYkh-Kn5xMnSzof10yIKF-0-rw9GzFpZYKNZsSAl3qYeoNn98NrUl1j4OqOwG8AD-w7Nck5sllmhwlc4gxKtnAr2NiOr9rLv0pOmGTCOT7tUvysryrhfzbZElj_1nACQdWc/s1600/September2010+062.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527165171723398770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO1cesjvQWxYkh-Kn5xMnSzof10yIKF-0-rw9GzFpZYKNZsSAl3qYeoNn98NrUl1j4OqOwG8AD-w7Nck5sllmhwlc4gxKtnAr2NiOr9rLv0pOmGTCOT7tUvysryrhfzbZElj_1nACQdWc/s320/September2010+062.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTm6NDy4RCw0claDYNT1RHpqZwdHbrzUk6RQe7a-ky5qK5jqIPM7b5vG7heF9o3agCmT8i1ktvrPolJp2C6ti43YH6F5NdSApgnaGaLAVdsw0KXlKfz-KSeJl6MXNn0Vur31FAOA4KXbg/s1600/September2010+064.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527165167635366994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTm6NDy4RCw0claDYNT1RHpqZwdHbrzUk6RQe7a-ky5qK5jqIPM7b5vG7heF9o3agCmT8i1ktvrPolJp2C6ti43YH6F5NdSApgnaGaLAVdsw0KXlKfz-KSeJl6MXNn0Vur31FAOA4KXbg/s320/September2010+064.JPG" /></a><em> Ben, go stand next to that butterfly so I can take your picture.</em></div><div><em></em> </div><div><em>No, mommy, I don't want to.</em></div><div><em></em> </div><div><em>Well, just go over there and show me your muscles.</em></div><div><em></em> </div><div><em>Okay.<br /></em></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07057717279489122900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561154339734315224.post-11156045504270391302010-10-01T07:24:00.001-07:002010-10-06T13:09:05.764-07:00THE Birthday Party<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMDuQEhLgX7o0-a4gWqW9u5mv0Dezw-_Zj39w1NCHrTXxbxq-HKyG2s7P94JsB4kZ75lh5F1HWajQsUk2msJ7TpiAR6TdVBdQ8JNZAAVE1PzLMin0Soy4HCjz_Mvfl6Ll5rOSD5OpelJQ/s1600/September2010+040.JPG"></a>Ben requested a "firetruck birthday party" this year, and he insisted that we have it at our house. Thinking that this would be a great way to save some money, I wholeheartedly agreed.<br /><br />But then, I started seeing all these blog and facebook posts about moms going all-out for these theme birthday parties, and I started to get a little worried. Gone are the days of just inviting your friends over for cake and ice cream or having your birthday at McDonald's (my 6 year surprise birthday party at McDonald's totally rocked, man.)<br /><br /><br />But, I decided to give it a try anyway, and while I'm not at all creative when it comes to this kind of stuff, I am VERY good at stealing ideas from the Internet. :-)<br /><br /><br />So, here are some shots from Ben's firetruck fiesta!<br /><br /><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523212272579975426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMpQFUpAShZZU1mPtr26Tz0YnQn_kBgRIyeHwCYHSBZN06MXHvu3DH-o7VVHiKiFk9q5s7kb9kN9ruM42RysveDEAkHAjyu182FDki9W-3mQzvG5p337gI6MJDyhrkO36BrLvbOyEDj_c/s320/September2010+009.JPG" />Assistant fire marshal's. These two were BIG helpers during the party.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523212724136154722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3EfDMSPka3RQjAXy9UgU9vNG8U86HXRu3oPNq58xoPlvsIG2qJyMc-oVRsyupk78XIKCEVJ_JvsKkSTpaudlAJ9bBXbXCZF-Zsw-kx1lPzD8pO9IlqBSxyiJoPwwzY-U4ghKk7ZBPgic/s320/September2010+014.JPG" /> Lots of games set up in the backyard to keep little ones busy.<br /><div><br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxtiFpmIm8BYceypuLanSVHWf-K6X5JsAbHGLuRcKy3cxRRPQ6oxXxWy-5RFgosYfGa9yV7vXhKULMgC5khp3nyDqmlaaRkMhNpmiKMT1yy78y_H8Dkaz02mAtftVT9jDKShLj1kmtf3U/s1600/September2010+008.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523212266678662018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxtiFpmIm8BYceypuLanSVHWf-K6X5JsAbHGLuRcKy3cxRRPQ6oxXxWy-5RFgosYfGa9yV7vXhKULMgC5khp3nyDqmlaaRkMhNpmiKMT1yy78y_H8Dkaz02mAtftVT9jDKShLj1kmtf3U/s320/September2010+008.JPG" /></a> Decorate your own fire hat with foam stickers and markers! I found the fire hats at Michael's and the badge stickers came from the local fire house.</div><br /><div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523201310730857442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-k6J0iA0DcgjXtNQ4OdtAUA7XvUmOAPBDII56F69CKUQYyH14T_vtP0-CKy_yDFkVlrGZ7uLs4vclue8zso66B9d8rTbLnuNw2ol4wRXWDtjFNvxyBP_ET8dwRd2qGxXinXKYiZ8uTIg/s320/September2010+012.JPG" /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8lse_ffOlI26erNLaotGPUtu0IGuYDoMY3I9AJN7jSddOvzIzlv_tTDiXZhyYsMtXtvOgBfvifrUmpoCEXi9ZPJmBG67BqxF06bXXv1xBYPR_tpk79tHIuflc2dC2cduNdFj6yw1y_WI/s1600/September2010+010.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523212263594943266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8lse_ffOlI26erNLaotGPUtu0IGuYDoMY3I9AJN7jSddOvzIzlv_tTDiXZhyYsMtXtvOgBfvifrUmpoCEXi9ZPJmBG67BqxF06bXXv1xBYPR_tpk79tHIuflc2dC2cduNdFj6yw1y_WI/s320/September2010+010.JPG" /></a> The Four-Year-Old Fireman!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOKO_ArnBiif6PiSEK4uFbW1K1WSdaDAmMbIRqPSN4YOG2b-Lhe_C7aEemtPWF07JXUzYA21yNyyeRNi7YVlBJW8svK_K1K1isNynGTf32xNCfgGc9QdWcNSM0E7c5AYOlM-nlwS_DOFQ/s1600/September2010+011.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523212258867054482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOKO_ArnBiif6PiSEK4uFbW1K1WSdaDAmMbIRqPSN4YOG2b-Lhe_C7aEemtPWF07JXUzYA21yNyyeRNi7YVlBJW8svK_K1K1isNynGTf32xNCfgGc9QdWcNSM0E7c5AYOlM-nlwS_DOFQ/s320/September2010+011.JPG" /></a> Good friends!<br /><br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFvp1FgKGVJykgwMBhHl68aAeI5vyJ3Jow-wc_p9QE8gtd_qyUbq50cVEqpDFcwJsXn-ZeUd6zY6DaIeNwMNYaLDtrY3Hhyw7YVkD6zukznwpbHMoOoF8T3ZXC8E6IFYszpB6l2u5zrvQ/s1600/September2010+015.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523201296530872498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFvp1FgKGVJykgwMBhHl68aAeI5vyJ3Jow-wc_p9QE8gtd_qyUbq50cVEqpDFcwJsXn-ZeUd6zY6DaIeNwMNYaLDtrY3Hhyw7YVkD6zukznwpbHMoOoF8T3ZXC8E6IFYszpB6l2u5zrvQ/s320/September2010+015.JPG" /></a> Good fun in the backyard! The weather was perfect, thank the Lord. I don't know what we would have done if we had to be indoors.<br /><br /></div><div>The only structured game we played was called Rescue the Kitty. The bell would ring with a call that a poor kitty was stuck in a tree and needed to be rescued. Being the kind-hearted firefighters they are, the kids would put on their rescue gear . . .<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixfws7M1m0kDl2IJc38FmrKqQZp0f8iKomCjPkGBsP05QtPtT7RPagOOExZ2-qj63Wrx_E8MmIsRKwfJLBApZQ73R93IBz45-n7-paTMkA0J7mnkMxKf82JMCKUsOzgulh2t9povcS08c/s1600/September2010+024.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523201291081466578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixfws7M1m0kDl2IJc38FmrKqQZp0f8iKomCjPkGBsP05QtPtT7RPagOOExZ2-qj63Wrx_E8MmIsRKwfJLBApZQ73R93IBz45-n7-paTMkA0J7mnkMxKf82JMCKUsOzgulh2t9povcS08c/s320/September2010+024.JPG" /></a><br />Hop on the rescue truck . . .<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAZT28HKDFG1XEVY2rU0HuNi8f-UmQYYXi2KgUw2zJtu64NltZt_q9M8hyphenhyphenNR-FZZwDwOwlPCQMMCCWw38AyS4i4ikzSE1U9NjrndMRm4QOtTBCMuYq85F4nGqEg4yVtFpYACe3t9WeWHI/s1600/September2010+021.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523201286343198626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAZT28HKDFG1XEVY2rU0HuNi8f-UmQYYXi2KgUw2zJtu64NltZt_q9M8hyphenhyphenNR-FZZwDwOwlPCQMMCCWw38AyS4i4ikzSE1U9NjrndMRm4QOtTBCMuYq85F4nGqEg4yVtFpYACe3t9WeWHI/s320/September2010+021.JPG" /></a> and drive to the end of the road.<br /><br /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523199985214996082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhtJd72TqfNbERK3_cZHkOyR-ubdwYIQc_nPFC1_nzRDg6Yi2vqiaG52Z3RLGV_VBUw4RfENKXGiyjS_aO3A9Dt4KkggtQQS0HDIo4sE3bAKKo76UTwSHeJ5Wxkp1S0NLJKllmsD4DWGI/s320/September2010+022.JPG" /></div><br /><div>Then they would run to put out a "fire" with their super-powered "water hose." </div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYPEmF671wRZ06lxv_XErLloQ0vp2VzLAJudS-1xHB6V8SNdKG9aYSkMStHCxnbZ9Qv5gMO0WTrFxbFgsRSOuFrJS8whNsGhXhidUO55ib_r3e5dGnNDVaTc0d4CHg35TXDENlLLUG9AI/s1600/September2010+018.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523201282261647042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYPEmF671wRZ06lxv_XErLloQ0vp2VzLAJudS-1xHB6V8SNdKG9aYSkMStHCxnbZ9Qv5gMO0WTrFxbFgsRSOuFrJS8whNsGhXhidUO55ib_r3e5dGnNDVaTc0d4CHg35TXDENlLLUG9AI/s320/September2010+018.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div>Then, they would race to the tree . . . <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAfu619yBK_iacahxbRgb_B6Gw3wFNDY0Aosm1Zekf7q0mK34OPP6pnXG3HlABB2PddwnxE9PZGDB4H81HQYSzsprW3lWCX1ucNcp9xIMdb39CwyLpZ-jKDMGAko4-8RUWHSb5WTWZ-ss/s1600/September2010+037.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523199936417921666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAfu619yBK_iacahxbRgb_B6Gw3wFNDY0Aosm1Zekf7q0mK34OPP6pnXG3HlABB2PddwnxE9PZGDB4H81HQYSzsprW3lWCX1ucNcp9xIMdb39CwyLpZ-jKDMGAko4-8RUWHSb5WTWZ-ss/s320/September2010+037.JPG" /></a>and rescue the poor stuck kitten.<br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1lXcGasD4l_Kuqn_gp5tVZjoX5Y8J7oH40BbEBaxgfLu7VBa7z9DKYcXIuvxbtC4FstJ-HhLl-on-WAXogeL1Q6Re0uEG88JusLg-2z0aR5V4dFAZ7Y-C9WxH79CziL0Gvw2uVfpqFWU/s1600/September2010+031.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523199910038248290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1lXcGasD4l_Kuqn_gp5tVZjoX5Y8J7oH40BbEBaxgfLu7VBa7z9DKYcXIuvxbtC4FstJ-HhLl-on-WAXogeL1Q6Re0uEG88JusLg-2z0aR5V4dFAZ7Y-C9WxH79CziL0Gvw2uVfpqFWU/s320/September2010+031.JPG" /></a>and then bring him back to his owner.</div><br /><div></div><div>The game was a HUGE hit. The kids loved it, and several asked to play it again.</div><div></div><div><br />After the game, we had lunch - "hot"dogs, Doritos (because they are shaped like flames), grapes and carrots (because we have to have some healthful food) and finally cupcakes!<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfPid6-BctPYQ45g0RMHGVGNNo9MUS8Vhd7tyJi1glQB_hYlL-DIcyeUJGz_a-fTrjNjLrWg7eC0pnWVfNiGk6SEJsZCozyQttVGyBegv7FQ0SOAGidNhJfnnISFCfaVY_2rZlEiQ4f_I/s1600/September2010+039.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523099928282311522" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfPid6-BctPYQ45g0RMHGVGNNo9MUS8Vhd7tyJi1glQB_hYlL-DIcyeUJGz_a-fTrjNjLrWg7eC0pnWVfNiGk6SEJsZCozyQttVGyBegv7FQ0SOAGidNhJfnnISFCfaVY_2rZlEiQ4f_I/s320/September2010+039.JPG" /></a> After making the firetruck cake for his actual birth day, I decided cupcakes would be easier for the party.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgNwuRVBRV3qwx94DFZc2NaFJUx-Rhm9vDF3jtKA6GP4JLnNPtzzInLDx08IGI0wPFiaaiUD2YsJwh90GiUjl3jsvD3-CCoQ-sdZRh2dg6NN2Y7Zz0d0y-N92wFWsVwFecqwChqmNohkA/s1600/September2010+043.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523099923695953858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgNwuRVBRV3qwx94DFZc2NaFJUx-Rhm9vDF3jtKA6GP4JLnNPtzzInLDx08IGI0wPFiaaiUD2YsJwh90GiUjl3jsvD3-CCoQ-sdZRh2dg6NN2Y7Zz0d0y-N92wFWsVwFecqwChqmNohkA/s320/September2010+043.JPG" /></a> The "big" kid's table.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Mm-RPKJ0a-6RBmUM30EMkRThXt_3eMIHSEIEQTTY0ydPWtMUTRL8qnUycku6FTrUZrNRMEc8KNGqSzOduUHBasIcy96kqjUZiS8e-CchVsmNhbY8LiR5gMrf39C0AfRZOJwgY1CwuYI/s1600/September2010+044.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523099914818134706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Mm-RPKJ0a-6RBmUM30EMkRThXt_3eMIHSEIEQTTY0ydPWtMUTRL8qnUycku6FTrUZrNRMEc8KNGqSzOduUHBasIcy96kqjUZiS8e-CchVsmNhbY8LiR5gMrf39C0AfRZOJwgY1CwuYI/s320/September2010+044.JPG" /></a>The little kid's table. </div><br /><div></div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsQ19xnYLSIk-FzOAK-TnPcI9z1Nr8F6Qmjo43gAFDIKEG01kRzX3JskcCnrFRM5it3XQCLvQnOHVD2LpT8dDYP27EgGcIVTFsCUMsziRNJXOYz6pFeI1XTLaVzrPnkUTENptwDlzXCyM/s1600/September2010+045.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523099912033401586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsQ19xnYLSIk-FzOAK-TnPcI9z1Nr8F6Qmjo43gAFDIKEG01kRzX3JskcCnrFRM5it3XQCLvQnOHVD2LpT8dDYP27EgGcIVTFsCUMsziRNJXOYz6pFeI1XTLaVzrPnkUTENptwDlzXCyM/s320/September2010+045.JPG" /></a> <em>All done, mom. Can I go play now?</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4rdt6wXaD8PDh8BtClGxH5CaO7F3PLSx3tcbAlOUXomVUNM6ecsAY3pd1JYgogJNBpExq3KJ_te7v-d8k5hyqUEhvQTUpgvnyNeMexMRrWmElXF6EucWL9SoneFiCWot44FQkCdKng30/s1600/September2010+046.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523099905761988162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4rdt6wXaD8PDh8BtClGxH5CaO7F3PLSx3tcbAlOUXomVUNM6ecsAY3pd1JYgogJNBpExq3KJ_te7v-d8k5hyqUEhvQTUpgvnyNeMexMRrWmElXF6EucWL9SoneFiCWot44FQkCdKng30/s320/September2010+046.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLlXVK8w3zrAG8OqXsviH4pQ3KwKSHkDQ6-eokpfl-kBVf4tjezDSCiG6DBTK6FrqsqZKw8Xt_RPKLY_-DNp36e9Zkt7ZrrL-3Pf85EmxelWc8O4B8MaQCY6fG-7hjX7pHDJItsmtYLkU/s1600/September2010+047.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523084407719597906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLlXVK8w3zrAG8OqXsviH4pQ3KwKSHkDQ6-eokpfl-kBVf4tjezDSCiG6DBTK6FrqsqZKw8Xt_RPKLY_-DNp36e9Zkt7ZrrL-3Pf85EmxelWc8O4B8MaQCY6fG-7hjX7pHDJItsmtYLkU/s320/September2010+047.JPG" /></a> Me and the birthday boy.<br /><br /><br />Guests got treat bags stuffed with crayons shaped like firetrucks and badges, a firetruck coloring sheet, bouncy ball AND . . .<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc9f4ddwTief1U0E74Oihoj8ABlAwBS_Xr1DQcDqNmIBwNSY4yfPvZyus-mEFMP733nDliMpMQDvUfjmtRuNpcSTvGZkfeOL1cKonkVj_kSWUPabW6Jqab08jlka-o-zBsav6O-xBymJE/s1600/September2010+049.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523084398640583906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc9f4ddwTief1U0E74Oihoj8ABlAwBS_Xr1DQcDqNmIBwNSY4yfPvZyus-mEFMP733nDliMpMQDvUfjmtRuNpcSTvGZkfeOL1cKonkVj_kSWUPabW6Jqab08jlka-o-zBsav6O-xBymJE/s320/September2010+049.JPG" /></a> These! Sugar cookies!<br /><br /></div><br /><div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb8zUlndg18kW9AEnMqXCuALSP3PFKgV3JkkPQsGHFQhVrw_VPcXXyt3CIlSBVlvnkKNsUlBvnNxrB0ifWL5De3ltRzEluzrAGm3rCZB5ldl298dmyJrCVY9HqUHsDGVjEBhdyL3ul42o/s1600/September2010+051.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523084392591424850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb8zUlndg18kW9AEnMqXCuALSP3PFKgV3JkkPQsGHFQhVrw_VPcXXyt3CIlSBVlvnkKNsUlBvnNxrB0ifWL5De3ltRzEluzrAGm3rCZB5ldl298dmyJrCVY9HqUHsDGVjEBhdyL3ul42o/s320/September2010+051.JPG" /></a> And, of course, there were presents!<br /><br /><br />All in all, this whole theme birthday at home was WAY more work than I thought it would be, but it was also much more enjoyable than following your kid around at the house of the cheesy mouse.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>But, maybe the best part of all, was that we also had 2 very special guests at the party.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgolX_fKTEjvMtHzg1a1Ym2HfQ6H2_zSju1KqRKtOWjDNt7OgV8wglmx1k6FLrrWzn1NYuBVSPZkxRz9KDhxdAZjerSd-nGq21VegsH1tUgugQDbSdjGINBXhj61AOmdc2QkqG_lzveIsk/s1600/September2010+052.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523084388270095618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgolX_fKTEjvMtHzg1a1Ym2HfQ6H2_zSju1KqRKtOWjDNt7OgV8wglmx1k6FLrrWzn1NYuBVSPZkxRz9KDhxdAZjerSd-nGq21VegsH1tUgugQDbSdjGINBXhj61AOmdc2QkqG_lzveIsk/s320/September2010+052.JPG" /></a><br />Papa Bill and SueAnne were able to be there.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRvswcxIpiXYBbkO1Ct349eyzTRjH-XlWfdZIXcF9ZA4pWNEn-3H0SxxX_tmhYZyA9kFsB1k0zN_WFFVUzp313eHLsvQa00Mzf2-UYqO83n6mLfw2b4GhbrkK0RJnwX_IBKGjW1Op8pFw/s1600/September2010+054.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 175px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523084384155390018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRvswcxIpiXYBbkO1Ct349eyzTRjH-XlWfdZIXcF9ZA4pWNEn-3H0SxxX_tmhYZyA9kFsB1k0zN_WFFVUzp313eHLsvQa00Mzf2-UYqO83n6mLfw2b4GhbrkK0RJnwX_IBKGjW1Op8pFw/s320/September2010+054.JPG" /></a> And that made <em>everyone's </em>day special!<br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07057717279489122900noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561154339734315224.post-23925258914657542312010-09-29T11:27:00.000-07:002010-09-30T10:56:34.333-07:00BBB is 4!Our little man turned 4 this month, and it was a week full of celebrating this all-out-crazy-love you with my whole heart little guy. It's hard to believe he's been in our lives 4 whole years, but I cannot imagine life without him. He makes us laugh every single day, and is the most loving and thoughtful little kid I know.<br /><br />Biased? Who me?<br /><br />So the week of fun started with a party at Ben's new preschool. He just started here this year twice a week, and was totally psyched to share his special day with his new buddies.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522520694934379666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_MM8aJN_AkUVq7GUpkWJmcVo2R-6jf5jrur_Jsli6TnNbvVvkedqO0y7kSUCtxw2_nFfIXRvpsIyo40hnTVzxogZVg_pG8zajRQ-Hc3VtTZjFRSH5cD2Z_Rmipfmey3K7RKLceqGCRuc/s320/September2010+028.JPG" />See what I mean? TOTALLY PSYCHED!<br /><br /><br />We celebrated with a Cheezits, juice boxes, and a giant cookie cake decorated with a firetruck, ambulance, and fire helicopter. <br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522520685677126898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6SdvRxr-w57_jJPueplllZAj7OV1qs1RyZEScCc1ycX8cTxkfRizKqkquJqIr_hBiLQXTSUv5Xag1LeqKwp6K664oKmvjtshfm_aeddeIxrDYRWNRiuZKAkqJfnPwpolecfhozAg9D2I/s320/September2010+029.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522520116661170754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZATxtUGKqR8A5YZVqrSsY61ckL_4WYVeKppF7cv5opnQVjpx4B4eKSCKudXBGTjOxlbGFUZAswpenJPNmAjnal3ixy4u26LEZ_g6OcmfXS0yyeA1GAoEcD6nep60SBbtQaXuBqfMAJFc/s320/September2010+033.JPG" /> <em>How fast can I empty this juice box?</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522520132890362770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8A1wT90Qm9y8brFtQubi2JN3Yks2jXB9iL3BzYYH9qlPEL7EOox9Z07Ky-R9_9QOddDQCrK11tlHI168xlTHvYx7xMLrPifIrcaAJBz2h6Y0TZZzKYzLushdAu_26-f8E_fc_hqDfbp4/s320/September2010+030.JPG" /> <em>I'm, like totally chilled on my juice box and giant cookie sugar rush, man.</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522520125248314338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGnXo7SaG1gUqoX5Ky99LUsIjIvmW_rEve9QUDVm564wCdQigQWcs0ynn_-m5o-nzaEkqHTQuQ6zpZsucjvl-SFDIwlG62y80OPE2P73ubDbHoD2NoJdi41L1SYcle7OWr5J8DpdZwZH8/s320/September2010+031.JPG" /> <em>Napkin? I don't need a napkin!</em><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKOv5oiuLQjyEvnlhgEopRTDAmdnbnLg3kX8rJ_CGyhm1lwsQYrgp4OSNp5OlY-fs5iV9EgXxT0aNPPdXeipYuOhPChrxx0BrzadlwRnPyU-stO5Ew-KitXqSaVKYmA8I5_r56k5y4CaY/s1600/September2010+027.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522520698821839234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKOv5oiuLQjyEvnlhgEopRTDAmdnbnLg3kX8rJ_CGyhm1lwsQYrgp4OSNp5OlY-fs5iV9EgXxT0aNPPdXeipYuOhPChrxx0BrzadlwRnPyU-stO5Ew-KitXqSaVKYmA8I5_r56k5y4CaY/s320/September2010+027.JPG" /></a>No, there aren't only boys in Ben's class . . .<br /><div><div><div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRebARHyJXyzp56e96_YdWzjuk7PFWklyEVeXgS_hn7Or1ymc-EMHhp3acF0zrWiLQ0vkCg0us5lxs0rjdfgBCHXw1mYiUzlL7zw8tH958TbhOq5xgbsI5Fv7gm7engN_yt1KokDUnmKo/s1600/September2010+032.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522520123485912594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRebARHyJXyzp56e96_YdWzjuk7PFWklyEVeXgS_hn7Or1ymc-EMHhp3acF0zrWiLQ0vkCg0us5lxs0rjdfgBCHXw1mYiUzlL7zw8tH958TbhOq5xgbsI5Fv7gm7engN_yt1KokDUnmKo/s320/September2010+032.JPG" /></a> The girls just choose not to associate with them at snack time.<br /><div><br />Pretty sure I don't blame them.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Anyway, after daddy got home from work, it was time to open his presents from the family.<br /></div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0GRyDhOhSwEWZxfU2ZZ2F7j2xoBf_G5xTPUbduhMxEWgJBsvsGVLSeQ9lwNoLe_56ZnDNS9UAOuiULLxaKimjtA0yqTd30SUVakssBP51FQ8wQcYWRXE_HjvootsPIjCl4uJpKbUReKY/s1600/September2010+035.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522473659743327778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0GRyDhOhSwEWZxfU2ZZ2F7j2xoBf_G5xTPUbduhMxEWgJBsvsGVLSeQ9lwNoLe_56ZnDNS9UAOuiULLxaKimjtA0yqTd30SUVakssBP51FQ8wQcYWRXE_HjvootsPIjCl4uJpKbUReKY/s320/September2010+035.JPG" /></a> Reading cards.<br /><br /></div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUhXJ_rgI3uopQxkpDbmZ83iXNJ7hciOARbmQIyA_Wpc1FiQkBs_4jDE7Qv3fyctXPE2udHaRnkTiM2oE0gUgPrzR55mI0pNp2slGX8pR3Gz8TiPd_TUdNS_xIhHT7ra-dRlSBiUcUpSo/s1600/September2010+036.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522473654180391042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUhXJ_rgI3uopQxkpDbmZ83iXNJ7hciOARbmQIyA_Wpc1FiQkBs_4jDE7Qv3fyctXPE2udHaRnkTiM2oE0gUgPrzR55mI0pNp2slGX8pR3Gz8TiPd_TUdNS_xIhHT7ra-dRlSBiUcUpSo/s320/September2010+036.JPG" /></a> His new Lego firetruck set.<br /><br /></div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU5I-EQ_T42b1aHbe_gv7u-8-rPSUn7yvVuMKjNR6bi2cwKxfTtBNixMGCRg3v-1cpHENxLveuhbtop-acqeGagi5MnnNuW8OmpF02-V6l1-q31VfAGbz8F8OL_bEI67sdh0QAdenkeqo/s1600/September2010+037.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522473647525431122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU5I-EQ_T42b1aHbe_gv7u-8-rPSUn7yvVuMKjNR6bi2cwKxfTtBNixMGCRg3v-1cpHENxLveuhbtop-acqeGagi5MnnNuW8OmpF02-V6l1-q31VfAGbz8F8OL_bEI67sdh0QAdenkeqo/s320/September2010+037.JPG" /></a> New Thomas the Train DVD.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk5GcL6dp_DtHpQR0eAou6FcyoT_avRcf3O3ppZ-g5H1SaFx3TKfCykmc9y0c3q3TC6UjPUF-YAbytUXOi6gR5YWBcyPItGMSxwVhFAEhm3Cj2wTqgm7Ha8unmWxocidJtcLoUIEuD6Sk/s1600/September2010+038.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 202px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522473635134512370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk5GcL6dp_DtHpQR0eAou6FcyoT_avRcf3O3ppZ-g5H1SaFx3TKfCykmc9y0c3q3TC6UjPUF-YAbytUXOi6gR5YWBcyPItGMSxwVhFAEhm3Cj2wTqgm7Ha8unmWxocidJtcLoUIEuD6Sk/s320/September2010+038.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1-TuPw6cmPVH93eBQX-Lz-pQ2eG-vo2G3V32jstZq3QoZNFKM5txYbZ7tjSmDzuKfvKS_vd7s62TEl3VpiQzKZrF7oNajvWKi6_1K6gBHnQ61SuuYRMI29RGoAZQ93i79U3Aa0PUULw8/s1600/September2010+039.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 248px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522473633143680866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1-TuPw6cmPVH93eBQX-Lz-pQ2eG-vo2G3V32jstZq3QoZNFKM5txYbZ7tjSmDzuKfvKS_vd7s62TEl3VpiQzKZrF7oNajvWKi6_1K6gBHnQ61SuuYRMI29RGoAZQ93i79U3Aa0PUULw8/s320/September2010+039.JPG" /></a> See, they really do love each other!<br /><br /><br />Ben's doctor suggested getting him smaller Lego sets to help with his fine motor skills. So we did, thinking the firetruck set would be perfect for the boy who begged for a firetruck birthday.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggi31BzPVBU6_JODWcNpczfakZUQpvdba0k73LsQHd2F2DWomhp80-hdK48ZDRgpBVr6DhoiPBX51Zc385axX4d98uaqb8pwsPfrDVRGnihzFz_uiYyeQXFuvgAmGBU1B8F-oHhplblL8/s1600/September2010+040.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522407502947332242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggi31BzPVBU6_JODWcNpczfakZUQpvdba0k73LsQHd2F2DWomhp80-hdK48ZDRgpBVr6DhoiPBX51Zc385axX4d98uaqb8pwsPfrDVRGnihzFz_uiYyeQXFuvgAmGBU1B8F-oHhplblL8/s320/September2010+040.JPG" /></a> After emptying the box and opening all the bags, we quickly realized just who would be getting the fine motor skills practice.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEKJUXTJjGu-8RIZgoVx1Ak7R1uOnT2nDvaiUVdWdLA36epTtkplAgRXwA1Gh39h6I9RSuZme4lZuCjWoQNiVsSpoV6RBXPKVDNndJPujvCdwf-JG9VvF6BmcvgMgE0zXSx70T2l8uvPo/s1600/September2010+041.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522407493568629986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEKJUXTJjGu-8RIZgoVx1Ak7R1uOnT2nDvaiUVdWdLA36epTtkplAgRXwA1Gh39h6I9RSuZme4lZuCjWoQNiVsSpoV6RBXPKVDNndJPujvCdwf-JG9VvF6BmcvgMgE0zXSx70T2l8uvPo/s320/September2010+041.JPG" /></a> It wasn't Ben.<br /></div><div><br />Oh well.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>After presents, we ate dinner and had birthday cake. A birthday cake made by mom with the hopes that it somehow resembled the firetruck cake he wanted.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUriGeXnaEXkA-OfDVpibkTkOECBkrRaODdFvH5nMpKNRoc_BH-Nvh-3Wgcw3TJraynp0pNF2m0zPhiwZLrkRsC6ld8ojRcUIxQ8LGIGpXkDYnjb-rqcxJ3fCPnJtaznn76S7ftce3y_A/s1600/September2010+042.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522407488669349346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUriGeXnaEXkA-OfDVpibkTkOECBkrRaODdFvH5nMpKNRoc_BH-Nvh-3Wgcw3TJraynp0pNF2m0zPhiwZLrkRsC6ld8ojRcUIxQ8LGIGpXkDYnjb-rqcxJ3fCPnJtaznn76S7ftce3y_A/s320/September2010+042.JPG" /></a><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRMh9_B2ZBJCU2kJDhkJn5bb_UFbW5U4BkxFE2GeQg6r5mf7wWFHuye4vFWYrhvbtfhN0oIsR5GgPxdAuBo4w9N5hZOemLKd52j_vL8cBF05yL7ML39pMi26Ez2CIpTsUSGdw3xaPG_pk/s1600/September2010+043.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522407487501639138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRMh9_B2ZBJCU2kJDhkJn5bb_UFbW5U4BkxFE2GeQg6r5mf7wWFHuye4vFWYrhvbtfhN0oIsR5GgPxdAuBo4w9N5hZOemLKd52j_vL8cBF05yL7ML39pMi26Ez2CIpTsUSGdw3xaPG_pk/s320/September2010+043.JPG" /></a>It's not perfect, but I was pleased.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>And Little Man was over the moon excited about it.</div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqTGBAqY8Pkm1cZDM00MiL6nXIJ8SsUnIP6zEue8v_5FJSLJBW8yw-fpwvSXggMCyM17W8BNyfT7qHmvgS-VfipZWK4vv1COltTqluAFcGS399wIUD2hCkPqUExCCJsBBbe3Lh7Nfa-HQ/s1600/September2010+044.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522407481108331106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqTGBAqY8Pkm1cZDM00MiL6nXIJ8SsUnIP6zEue8v_5FJSLJBW8yw-fpwvSXggMCyM17W8BNyfT7qHmvgS-VfipZWK4vv1COltTqluAFcGS399wIUD2hCkPqUExCCJsBBbe3Lh7Nfa-HQ/s320/September2010+044.JPG" /></a> And that's all that matters.<br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07057717279489122900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561154339734315224.post-46342822065616473762010-09-21T08:00:00.000-07:002010-09-21T09:34:04.809-07:00Just like ShakespeareSeveral weeks ago, I began to notice how often I heard my children yell out, or mutter "Dang IT!" when they encountered a situation not to their liking or when they were upset about something.<br /><br />Knowing full well where they must have picked up that particular phrase (don't judge me. It SO could have been something worse!), I decided that it really wasn't appropriate for a 6 and 3 year old to be saying those words. No matter which way you slice it, hearing "dang it" from the mouth of your baby is a bit awkward.<br /><br />So, I encouraged the kids to come up with some other innocuous phrase they could use when they felt so inclined due to the frustrations of their little lives.<br /><br />And the phrase they settled on?<br /><br /><br /><em>"Oh, Tartar sauce!"</em><br /><br />I'm totally serious. I can only assume this is somehow inspired by <em>Spongebob</em>, but it was Ben's idea, and boy, have the two of them ever taken to it.<br /><br />Have to take a nap when you don't want to?<br /><br /><em>"Oh, Tartar sauce!"</em><br /><br />Get in trouble for hitting your sister?<br /><br /><em>"Oh, Tartar sauce!"</em><br /><br />Get put in time-out?<br /><br /><em>"Oh, Tartar sauce!"</em><br /><em></em><br />To get the full effect, you really need to say it putting a heavy accent on the first syllable: <em>"oh, TARtar sauce</em>." It's even better when said with a southern accent when "sauce" is pronounced more like "sawce."<br /><br /><p>One night, as I was putting Ben to bed, I smelled something foul. I asked Ben if he tooted, and after a moment of silence, I hear, very quietly, <em>"Oh, tartar sauce."</em> <strong>BUSTED!</strong><br /></p><br /><p>And while it's really pretty hilarious to hear that phrase muttered at anytime, I'm totally on board with "tartar sauce" being used as a sentiment of disgust. Because, really, is there a more disgusting condiment? I don't think so.<br /></p><br />So, anyway, my mom and Dave came to visit for a couple of days, and we were happy to see them and spend some time with them.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpvoDgI7vqbtrdZlMdIBb7oBVDsTg52qnGriOFrqGM-zkJD3yL4ybKBPEQieH0BCtRnIqDuhwmfXYA2cvV3OF2vI3XwFyZQqfOGfrksg90M4Uhsi1xxyoTXc1dcqha5ZfE0ZoSQGegjDI/s1600/September2010+007.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519073640265118962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpvoDgI7vqbtrdZlMdIBb7oBVDsTg52qnGriOFrqGM-zkJD3yL4ybKBPEQieH0BCtRnIqDuhwmfXYA2cvV3OF2vI3XwFyZQqfOGfrksg90M4Uhsi1xxyoTXc1dcqha5ZfE0ZoSQGegjDI/s320/September2010+007.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC3wn-iY_eu2ClqyqEdIffzgeQ-xlrAkiagQ0HaqR_k0GkwCwRN1Xz46-z_w02OP1uI-xYHfrwo2fFGsT2_rkJ05g1d88PYbkgg6RiCl8EGZDdmVV7tylihPvvEAZEtZf5AD4t2BBvr3I/s1600/September2010+008.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519073623562869298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC3wn-iY_eu2ClqyqEdIffzgeQ-xlrAkiagQ0HaqR_k0GkwCwRN1Xz46-z_w02OP1uI-xYHfrwo2fFGsT2_rkJ05g1d88PYbkgg6RiCl8EGZDdmVV7tylihPvvEAZEtZf5AD4t2BBvr3I/s320/September2010+008.JPG" /></a> And while they were here, I shared the "tartar sauce" story with them. They, of course, thought it was quite hilarious.</div><br /><div>In turn, we were discussing their long drive home, and my mom was sharing how Dave got a speeding ticket in West Virginia the last time they drove home from our house. </div><br /><div>And what does that have to do with anything you ask?<br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmo9gnknZCZiO1Whwe5mHFDdNCxFxuwVcNrEqF-l5dl_ozBUZtdwaWBfSiH60I7t56EdPLPc1DPpULcoFqoLVK62-PJYACWkDrnLdf-z3X-L7VlgdEcEjr80iwdCPWA1sHQPI7OGgYkQA/s1600/September2010+009.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519073613012779618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmo9gnknZCZiO1Whwe5mHFDdNCxFxuwVcNrEqF-l5dl_ozBUZtdwaWBfSiH60I7t56EdPLPc1DPpULcoFqoLVK62-PJYACWkDrnLdf-z3X-L7VlgdEcEjr80iwdCPWA1sHQPI7OGgYkQA/s320/September2010+009.JPG" /></a><br />About 3 hours after they left our house on Monday morning, I get a text from my mom.</div><br /><div><em>"West Virginia got Dave again. Oh, tartar sauce!"</em></div><br /><div>So, while Shakespeare is responsible for coining several common phrases in the English language, the Black family? </div><br /><div>We claim, <em>"Oh, tartar sa</em><em>uce!"</em></div><br /><div>It's a proud day, indeed.</div>Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07057717279489122900noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561154339734315224.post-29478728020633373912010-09-16T07:13:00.000-07:002010-09-20T06:28:58.541-07:00Some of us were more ready than othersSo, my girl started first grade a few weeks ago.<br /><br />She's been ready for this since school ended last year.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNbOV0PzfLGJYSM47omz7-kGmc4dseJv2G1EO1VA-vKERjupbWbzkZqEqlAZvXOAJtwGrKDoNrWWAs_1xrcYOKuNv-K17zuK9FQIs8QpZuiS_LM5AaTK8Bi1WFfHmChzGvlKvdc8eCdxs/s1600/August2010+010.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517516592035985378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNbOV0PzfLGJYSM47omz7-kGmc4dseJv2G1EO1VA-vKERjupbWbzkZqEqlAZvXOAJtwGrKDoNrWWAs_1xrcYOKuNv-K17zuK9FQIs8QpZuiS_LM5AaTK8Bi1WFfHmChzGvlKvdc8eCdxs/s320/August2010+010.JPG" /></a> She has inherited my love of buying new school supplies. Nothing is more sacred than the perfect backpack and matching lunchbox.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho7cnnFMGnqNV4GIzeiU1Mk1DYNfR8Pl7ykMs464ZVTtRz4FO_dM6_GIxr8eFRSAmzscLYvPUJFuG_yhYP5ntACNFqCbq1QISeyMcAOZMJ03klvkvOpx2UPqganjSKOBuz53lHBU_LRwU/s1600/August2010+012.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517516582229396402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho7cnnFMGnqNV4GIzeiU1Mk1DYNfR8Pl7ykMs464ZVTtRz4FO_dM6_GIxr8eFRSAmzscLYvPUJFuG_yhYP5ntACNFqCbq1QISeyMcAOZMJ03klvkvOpx2UPqganjSKOBuz53lHBU_LRwU/s320/August2010+012.JPG" /></a> The dress. The dress. It must be perfect.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3b4xBmNbV3AKuhEeL3IDLRwggYTX1br6ej47YyaD6mwWDwyhBgLXxNknNwk2cL486JrS7Hs8oQSzLkecXzSTf5ABRR3DI2HlhANxpqy7lwrLSGYMsWsq9gZsAvBK9iq9iZteLyvM7qy8/s1600/August2010+013.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517515424905196658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3b4xBmNbV3AKuhEeL3IDLRwggYTX1br6ej47YyaD6mwWDwyhBgLXxNknNwk2cL486JrS7Hs8oQSzLkecXzSTf5ABRR3DI2HlhANxpqy7lwrLSGYMsWsq9gZsAvBK9iq9iZteLyvM7qy8/s320/August2010+013.JPG" /></a> She was so excited to learn that nearly all of her classmates from last year are in her class again this year. She is in another combo class of first and second graders, and this seems to be a perfect fit for her.<br /></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>There's no doubt she is growing up though. No more kindergarten pictures with mom at her new desk. No sir.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcLWvCmyILN7vOb2Y-ymL-vx0X31wCoPALvxhbTz8aJRORRw0Ao70zob104PKIZ_iaQUDtIrpyr9Jaghp9q-ka9njnNYe2XcTYrnVb0Vt8n_0pXzSPAe0k0vH0bD0h2sMIhH_clI8mgI8/s1600/August2010+015.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517515415759094594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcLWvCmyILN7vOb2Y-ymL-vx0X31wCoPALvxhbTz8aJRORRw0Ao70zob104PKIZ_iaQUDtIrpyr9Jaghp9q-ka9njnNYe2XcTYrnVb0Vt8n_0pXzSPAe0k0vH0bD0h2sMIhH_clI8mgI8/s320/August2010+015.JPG" /></a> I just barely managed this one from the doorway.<br /></div><br /><div>I walked away, and while the tears threatened to flow, I was able to keep it under control this year. </div><br /><div>Guess mom's growing up too.</div><br /><div>Or not.</div><br /><div>Because my girl wasn't the only one going to school this year.<br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSMyJb-nqU_70xihWm9_9_R0JC2vuI0Ua7UwHatAKDcC5ynSolbnburKX24Hw7UmOKK6H9puZEtB9DBytmgQe6IA-h3DS3FxUFitzvV9JoyBFN1D0TBj8XAaXiD9pX8-sLoNy7kJ75yvU/s1600/September2010+010.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517515407786740802" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSMyJb-nqU_70xihWm9_9_R0JC2vuI0Ua7UwHatAKDcC5ynSolbnburKX24Hw7UmOKK6H9puZEtB9DBytmgQe6IA-h3DS3FxUFitzvV9JoyBFN1D0TBj8XAaXiD9pX8-sLoNy7kJ75yvU/s320/September2010+010.JPG" /></a> I'm sorry. But, there is just not a cuter "first day of preschool" picture in existence.<br /><br /><br /></div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP9dVQQYZZsTmmxe40l4z1Qd62-_9kWZsLj9qjqgIQq9A09fCydtVDDBGAM-_Fh9uM_87Th0D-A5B38_Vgd6XDdS9YYQXcfn8iq48qcathjRX2Z-QlGXJOcCVHF78uedkq99g1yZwBUrI/s1600/September2010+011.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517515393337384898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP9dVQQYZZsTmmxe40l4z1Qd62-_9kWZsLj9qjqgIQq9A09fCydtVDDBGAM-_Fh9uM_87Th0D-A5B38_Vgd6XDdS9YYQXcfn8iq48qcathjRX2Z-QlGXJOcCVHF78uedkq99g1yZwBUrI/s320/September2010+011.JPG" /></a> He was SO proud to be going to school like his big sister.<br /><br />But, he was just a little concerned that he would miss me too much. In fact, some days leading up to it all, he told me he would rather just stay at home with me. I was very tempted to let him.</div><br /><div>Ugh.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg32kNVj05789JiKXPeyGt-gQt1BCm3j3Bls0Ptl5EQdCbX719YOLj_MqTL8q2mPVqCF41Us6oywjs82RUI9hOCGy5ZGmoS0wZTV1ErpA7_oZU-vQJmR7SRV1nshG2FYb8pA1he8YStRfw/s1600/September2010+013.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517515385770973778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg32kNVj05789JiKXPeyGt-gQt1BCm3j3Bls0Ptl5EQdCbX719YOLj_MqTL8q2mPVqCF41Us6oywjs82RUI9hOCGy5ZGmoS0wZTV1ErpA7_oZU-vQJmR7SRV1nshG2FYb8pA1he8YStRfw/s320/September2010+013.JPG" /></a> But never fear. When I picked him up after that first day, he came running out of the door.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><em>Mommy! I had so much fun, and I didn't even care about you!</em><br /></div><br /><div>Sigh. </div></div></div></div></div>Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07057717279489122900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561154339734315224.post-49047781452648312792010-09-11T07:10:00.000-07:002010-09-13T19:13:27.705-07:00The Rest of the SummerAfter our trip to Ohio, we spent the majority of our summer here:<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5_tPCLeaeSedtS-A_ge6FYAygqvT3Gv0KRbh4pMlS2c0s3umxkpps4h60q1B-Xbrs3nAZQO_gHpF73c6vuMOwnhY5tp88Q9eOG8Q8UU3sgNuzppacy5jcMTBQIwxHiVzKNH4G39a1fbQ/s1600/june2010+062.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515659644121983266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5_tPCLeaeSedtS-A_ge6FYAygqvT3Gv0KRbh4pMlS2c0s3umxkpps4h60q1B-Xbrs3nAZQO_gHpF73c6vuMOwnhY5tp88Q9eOG8Q8UU3sgNuzppacy5jcMTBQIwxHiVzKNH4G39a1fbQ/s320/june2010+062.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Where the boy played.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMhIcVIH7HrI4nRXgGYqk9J_1HSGq3-0t9cBjM-5_vL2RbgP4V0yu4_1DR9JpL3HWm8lHAhkHjvyGY_oCpw1839OHlXhEpmn2JzglahSDRpqqmO0kZITEArBZDT-n-iFGi6TQ1lyFODh4/s1600/june2010+063.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515659638003632578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMhIcVIH7HrI4nRXgGYqk9J_1HSGq3-0t9cBjM-5_vL2RbgP4V0yu4_1DR9JpL3HWm8lHAhkHjvyGY_oCpw1839OHlXhEpmn2JzglahSDRpqqmO0kZITEArBZDT-n-iFGi6TQ1lyFODh4/s320/june2010+063.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div></div><br /><div><br />And big sister took swimming lessons<br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIdcLDwx6Xh_SLBao0KMVGqfRFIC9sN1aUwqucakkmUeDclxrSqLL3nxdfqwe_QxDxWzLpj2VcOrlp8DMn6Jk5u2-IcSXat_D7GYIt7JH94t40tB9MbMLlXN3XHxWRFxrU86sPBkEVG8o/s1600/june2010+064.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515659231578687282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIdcLDwx6Xh_SLBao0KMVGqfRFIC9sN1aUwqucakkmUeDclxrSqLL3nxdfqwe_QxDxWzLpj2VcOrlp8DMn6Jk5u2-IcSXat_D7GYIt7JH94t40tB9MbMLlXN3XHxWRFxrU86sPBkEVG8o/s320/june2010+064.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVlqgj6FzusH0-YeM7dbFWwxjvH3RQPn4s2__ExiZjDxs_stNMbaE6Au0gCbWSEwxAAjsgArcBnohcV3ttr6dg8he3KqI-TLAutnzetvEKPsIFfQDg9LFtZLBDJCoQI0sr1BFY06SGlYY/s1600/june2010+065.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515659226085747426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVlqgj6FzusH0-YeM7dbFWwxjvH3RQPn4s2__ExiZjDxs_stNMbaE6Au0gCbWSEwxAAjsgArcBnohcV3ttr6dg8he3KqI-TLAutnzetvEKPsIFfQDg9LFtZLBDJCoQI0sr1BFY06SGlYY/s320/june2010+065.JPG" border="0" /></a> Her backstroke is really pretty impressive for a 6 year old. And to think that last summer was the first time she willingly put her head under water! We are proud of our girl, for sure. There was talk of recruiting her for the swim team next year. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Seriously!<br /><br /></div><br /><div>At the end of the summer we also had a visit from Grandma and Aunt Becky. They spent a week with us, and we had a great time with them.<br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRSGjJmrtI_8WKQtGDrZFL9_2U0pQe54lgXwnVc2Jeh8NMH4uchQQyT4aUu8NrX90wzdB0uSynFl1iR9n_qieovehFxi-hMVRKAx2vZwYzPWAwj2GHvDwfCYrL8beTFhnoaYreNZ9MUOo/s1600/August2010+007.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515659221773964898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRSGjJmrtI_8WKQtGDrZFL9_2U0pQe54lgXwnVc2Jeh8NMH4uchQQyT4aUu8NrX90wzdB0uSynFl1iR9n_qieovehFxi-hMVRKAx2vZwYzPWAwj2GHvDwfCYrL8beTFhnoaYreNZ9MUOo/s320/August2010+007.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUZCcz4sj-ueMd0St4oYmFxW0-FVPy0TaTXWutP6DxfJ0OUUklxRN4q12fdpxvxJWJfvGGBHmpX1_jXVD1hKtj9OBwF3H4_kRT4svPi7lkhdX5eFMHwk6fmDz8iqP9KjKIFDTp9NYaFhY/s1600/August2010+008.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515659211689308450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUZCcz4sj-ueMd0St4oYmFxW0-FVPy0TaTXWutP6DxfJ0OUUklxRN4q12fdpxvxJWJfvGGBHmpX1_jXVD1hKtj9OBwF3H4_kRT4svPi7lkhdX5eFMHwk6fmDz8iqP9KjKIFDTp9NYaFhY/s320/August2010+008.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyApW6LrtDnZmJzjJbmx33UD6e55b0rFfin38UEslJmb2WPpjw7Ch8K4YdOHJ_hmB6uQpuRUFaSs0wcg4l3iopcvHbxdvlTC-BnM4tatq1ohae6slkLJh3PYnAEAd-RCkT2bBhayAOaP4/s1600/August2010+009.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515659203283796450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 204px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyApW6LrtDnZmJzjJbmx33UD6e55b0rFfin38UEslJmb2WPpjw7Ch8K4YdOHJ_hmB6uQpuRUFaSs0wcg4l3iopcvHbxdvlTC-BnM4tatq1ohae6slkLJh3PYnAEAd-RCkT2bBhayAOaP4/s320/August2010+009.JPG" border="0" /></a>Though it looks like Ben is trying to smack her in the face, the kids actually LOVE their Grandma!<br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07057717279489122900noreply@blogger.com1