tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91833298265133832442024-03-07T01:54:10.805-08:00The Brown Mama Chronicles"If you bungle raising your children, I don't think whatever else you do well matters very much." - Jacqueline KennedyUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger216125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183329826513383244.post-46417224143347294902013-04-26T18:49:00.000-07:002013-04-26T18:49:09.517-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Breaking blog silence to remember somethings about this squishable, delightful, challenging boy of mine.<br />
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He sings, ALL the time. Expecially driving in the car. It makes me so happy I could cry. The other boys didn't sing for a long time, and I swear Zephan could sing before he could talk.<br />
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And he does talk too! He is learning big long sentences. I wuh (love) you. No thank you. Chokit milk pwease.<br />
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He refuses to keep his socks and shoes on in the car. He is super ticklish. He loves any kind of meat. He eats Mini Wheats and apples, by chewing them up and then spitting them out.<br />
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He is a total violent bully who throws temper tantrums in public. I had it coming right? One outta four ain't bad, I guess. He is the kid who randomly hits other kids at the playground for absolutely no reason. He'll walk up to any adult stranger and pound on them with his tiny fists saying, "I beat you!" Perhaps the play-fighting and rough housing with his dad and bigger brothers is going a bit too far.<br />
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It's hard to stay mad at him though, when he is so snuggly and sunny and charming and delightful. He bestows us all with plenty of hugs and kisses. He loves to lay in my arms and say, "buckababy mom?" (Rockabye baby), in the sweetest voice in hopes that I'll sing to him.<br />
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He loves to tromp around the house in everyone's boots and shoes, and loves to wear his older brother's superhero capes and pirate costumes.<br />
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He loves to have a bath, and then be wrapped up like a burrito in his towel afterwards. I love it too, those springy curls all fragrant and delicious.<br />
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I adore toddlerhood. I can't help but be extra smitten with the kid who happens to be passing through this phase.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183329826513383244.post-64779747457917224912012-06-19T21:46:00.002-07:002012-06-20T10:48:22.506-07:00The last First Birthday.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: white;">Today was a sort of sad day for me. </span><br />
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My baby turned one. That's it for us. Our youngest child has moved on to his second year, and the first just went by in such a blur, that I can hardly believe it's over. <br />
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I wish there were some words to explain what a delight this kid is to me. He's sweet and gooey and soft and scrumptious. Kind of like one of my Auntie Pauline's legendary homemade fresh-glazed doughnuts.<br />
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He is at that perfect stage where his head full of soft little curls comes right up under my chin when we are snuggling. And lucky for me, snuggling happens to be one of his favorite ways to spend a minute or two. He is hilarious, like most of them at this age, and sharp as a tack. <br />
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He has six teeth, with an additional two halfway in. We are still nursing. (I'll let you draw your own conclusions here.)<br />
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He sings most of the words to "twinkle twinkle", in his barely decipherable baby babble. "Uppabubba" for "Up above the". I think he leans towards the chatterbox side of the family. His vocabulary consists mainly of hi, bye-bye, mum, dada, puppup, quack quack and his new favorite, "teeeeeeeethhhh" (with a lot of spitting).<br />
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Today in true one year old fashion, he crawled all over the house pushing a toy car making vrooom<br />
sounds. <br />
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He is not quite walking, but oh so close and pretty steady on his feet. <br />
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He is hilarious, full of antics and giggles. He is also starting to figure out what it means when mummy says, "no", in that special tone of voice usually reserved for his brothers. <br />
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Zephan is honestly the light of my life. I adore him, like I do his siblings, but with that special feeling reserved for whichever child is exiting this fleeting stage of babyhood. <br />
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Don't grow up too fast my sweetheart.... mummy isn't quite ready to give up her baby just yet. <br />
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Happy 1st Birthday Zephan. <br />
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<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183329826513383244.post-1759432042503478452012-01-18T01:06:00.001-08:002012-01-18T01:06:57.041-08:00Matthew 7:10<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">The boys are trying to participate in the children's bible study at church. Sometimes I wonder how much they are retaining and actually learning from our little study sessions. Question answered today, when Kashton said to me, quite out of the blue, "Mummy, if I ask Daddy for a fish, he won't give me a snake." <br />
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So cute, I had to come out of blogging retirement just to record that somewhere. <br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183329826513383244.post-26118081190565441522011-06-23T23:40:00.000-07:002011-07-11T13:52:43.019-07:00Introducing Zephan<div style="text-align: center;">Zephan Atlas Brown</div><div style="text-align: center;">June 19th, 2011 @ 8pm</div><div style="text-align: center;">8lbs,1oz and 20.5 inches</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Zephan finally made his arrival on Father's Day. He looks like his dad and both of his brothers. We adore him, and surprisingly enough, so do all of his siblings. I was prepared for some resistance or hesitation about having a new baby in the house from Kashton, but Kashton really loves him most of all. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183329826513383244.post-58383361450612731802011-06-01T22:43:00.000-07:002011-06-02T09:17:51.120-07:00A Mother of Convenience<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I am a mother because it is easy. Truly. <br />
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The hardest job on earth, is the easiest it has ever been. <br />
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If I lived in any other time, or in any other place, I'm not sure what kind of a mother I would be, because I sure complain now. <br />
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I mean we all do right? <br />
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About how tired we are, how the kids are driving us crazy, about our bodies, our husbands, our homes. We moan and groan about our disappearing waistlines, sex-lives and brain cells. We laugh and cry with each other, joined in sisterhood over the woeful tales of never-ending laundry, peanut-butter smeared walls and droopy boobs. <br />
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Except that I have felt so chastened lately when I think of how easy I really have it. <br />
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I remember when I was pregnant with Kashton, and I knew I was going to have babies a year apart, and I wondered how I would survive. I remember talking to my grandmother about her own experience, because she, a typical 1940s Canadian Farm wife, had also had babies a year apart.<br />
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Except she also had another toddler already to care for, so would have three under three. And while there are lots of women who even today have found themselves in a similar situation, it's not even remotely similar in reality. <br />
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Because my grandma didn't go to the grocery store for bread and milk. Every single meal, and most of its components came from scratch or hours of labour. Milk was well... milked. Bread was baked weekly, along with pies and cookies. Vegetables grown. Fruit canned for jam and preserves. There was no McDonalds drive-thru if she was too tired to cook. No pizza delivery on Friday night.<br />
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Food aside, there were no such thing as disposable diapers or wipes, just cloth ones that my grandmother felt lucky enough to be able to put in an actual washing machine, never mind the fact that she had no dryer for three small children and two adults, and that the clothes, wet and laid out all over the house, took days to dry in the winter. <br />
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There were no all-night pharmacies for croupy babies. No 24-hour health lines for fever symptoms and worried mothers. No Google. No coffee playhouses filled with baby-wearing mama's in designer clothes sipping $5 lattes. No sympathetic Facebook Friends to lend an ear at 2 am when the baby has been up crying from teething pain. No Gymboree classes or swim lessons. No girls night out or romantic tropical getaways to reconnect with Dear Husband.<br />
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What she did have were endless and isolating Canadian prairie winters and hot dry summers in which to be alone most of the day with her children and an endless amount of work.<br />
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She barely remembers the infancy of any of her children. The days were a blur. She was bone-tired, never sleeping through the night with young babies, and facing the day's chores, which included tending to farm animals (even while in labour) before the sun had even come up. She also never complained.<br />
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She speaks now with regret and a tinge of jealousy at the way mothers these days seem to enjoy their babies. But for all her busyness in their youth, it doesn't seem to have impacted the love her children feel for her in any way. My mom and her two sisters and brother revere their mom, and treasure her very openly. They must have had some innate sense, that this daily grind was truly done on their behalf. That their growing up fed and clothed and warm and clean was a true hallmark of self-sacrifice.<br />
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I have realized since, that what my Grandmother endured to raise her children, was not simply generational either. Women all over the world are still rising up to challenges in mothering that I cannot imagine, and will simply, never know. <br />
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Women who will never get to choose where or how they give birth. If it is with or without pain management. Women who will never even have control over their own reproduction, if they can have them at all, how many children they have or when they will have them. Women who will never just turn on a tap to bathe their infant, as many times a day as they wish, or to fill a bottle or pot or washing machine. Women who will never have to decide between breast or bottle, vaccinations or not, pre-school or playgroups, organic or jarred, because those choices are not even available to them. <br />
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And so, I realize that while I like to equate motherhood with sainthood that I am very far indeed from that pedestal. Of course I absolutely give credence to the real struggles mothers of even our time and clime come head to head with, but if I am honest, I am a mother because it's actually pretty easy. The scales are far more heavily tipped towards reward than they are to effort, and when I shut-up long enough to remember that, I am deeply, deeply grateful.<br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183329826513383244.post-78404315576608602542011-04-28T01:07:00.000-07:002011-04-28T01:07:58.070-07:00Home again, home again...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There were two little boys that were very happy to have their sister home today from "Potatoes". </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> (AKA Barbados.) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I think the feeling was reciprocal. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183329826513383244.post-46004201931017727652011-04-08T17:59:00.000-07:002011-04-08T18:04:31.706-07:00Weird little things I want to remember:<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">that my boys like chocolate milk....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">with a side of spoon. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183329826513383244.post-43141555710149186192011-04-05T09:05:00.000-07:002011-04-05T09:06:18.415-07:00Thirteen<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1JYC2A-XNAQ/TZs743Mw1wI/AAAAAAAABzA/s2N_VKQ7x34/s1600/DSC_0427.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1JYC2A-XNAQ/TZs743Mw1wI/AAAAAAAABzA/s2N_VKQ7x34/s640/DSC_0427.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christmas day, 2010.</td></tr>
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<br />
My little girl is 13 today.<br />
<br />
A bonafide teenager. (Even though she has looked and acted the part for much longer.)<br />
<br />
I could use this post to tell you how amazing she is, but I think you all know how I feel about that kid.<br />
<br />
So instead, I have been thinking about what I wish for Thyra, on this occasion, as she enters young adulthood. <br />
<br />
Firstly, as a mom, I understand even if I don't completely love the idea, that these years are years of independence. Of learning to navigate the world on your own. I hope that even as she desires freedom from us, and a chance to spread her wings, that her need of God only deepens. That she continues to understand that she requires His guidance to get safely through all the experiences and challenges the next few years may bring. I hope, as her mother that I will always point her in that direction and support her spiritual growth.<br />
<br />
I wish for Thyra a deep abiding confidence in who she is and what she believes to be true. I hope she never wastes her time or energy in trying to win the approval of her peers or boys, but instead knows a true longing to be approved of God. I hope she comes to understand that those who truly love her will love those same qualities in her that God desires.<br />
<br />
I hope she never loses the value of hard work. It's easy to give up the interest in working hard when there are friends seeking your attention, and boys to flirt with and all sorts of activities on the social calendar, but I hope she never abandons her work ethic for pure fun. I wish I had kept a little more of that in my teenage years. <br />
<br />
That being said, I hope she has lots of amazing experiences in the next few years and enjoys this time of her life as much as possible. The responsibilities of adulthood come upon us too soon, and I truly hope she takes full advantage of this brief, but special time in her life.<br />
<br />
I hope she always understands how incredibly special she is to me, and to Gavan, her brothers and to our families. Sometimes, when there are little kids around requiring constant help and attention, it is easy to overlook the capable bigger sister. I hope she always knows that we are here for her always, that her needs are no less important and that she is so special to us. Our family feels incomplete when she is not with us. <br />
<br />
I love this daughter of mine, with every fibre of my being, and wish her the absolute best as she turns thirteen. <br />
<br />
Wow.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w6w2BUY7QTI/TZs7-kF2vQI/AAAAAAAABzI/t0x7_Y0FJt8/s1600/DSC_0506.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w6w2BUY7QTI/TZs7-kF2vQI/AAAAAAAABzI/t0x7_Y0FJt8/s640/DSC_0506.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Playing with her little brothers in a lovely April Snowstorm.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B3zWdi7ZFww/TZs8EEAjSPI/AAAAAAAABzM/PKaIaANJJIw/s1600/DSC_0512.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B3zWdi7ZFww/TZs8EEAjSPI/AAAAAAAABzM/PKaIaANJJIw/s640/DSC_0512.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kisses for Tosh</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wALaJHjn4FM/TZs8J6frLCI/AAAAAAAABzQ/2E2-1SpB7Uo/s1600/DSC_0528.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wALaJHjn4FM/TZs8J6frLCI/AAAAAAAABzQ/2E2-1SpB7Uo/s640/DSC_0528.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She might be 13, but she still loves to be silly! She bought these mustaches on her recent trip to Victoria.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oNTLjwj-C2g/TZs8PejnhuI/AAAAAAAABzU/4DUrAmv5-F4/s1600/DSC_0529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oNTLjwj-C2g/TZs8PejnhuI/AAAAAAAABzU/4DUrAmv5-F4/s640/DSC_0529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The "Lanny McDonald" and the "Fu Manchu".</td></tr>
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183329826513383244.post-43362724654292256802011-03-29T23:54:00.000-07:002011-03-30T01:04:15.213-07:00Off the list.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One of the few goals I want to accomplish is to have both boys fully potty-trained before the baby comes. With Malachi not potty-trained until he was three, I didn't know if this was realistic, but luckily in our home we have a severe case of "Monkey See, Monkey Do" going on, and Kashton has nicely followed along in his brother's footsteps. They do have one little odd difference: Malachi insists on using the regular toilet, and Kashton prefers the potty seat. They have gotten to be experts at setting up the toilet, exactly how they like it, and Kashton has to flush every time, whether he goes or not. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We still have some things to work on, such as night-time training, but for the most part I am pretty pleased. And you can probably tell from these photos, that Kashton is pretty pleased too. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BdN1_baMbsE/TZLh0Z5nLEI/AAAAAAAABys/4gEjD4okVBg/s1600/DSC_0475.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BdN1_baMbsE/TZLh0Z5nLEI/AAAAAAAABys/4gEjD4okVBg/s640/DSC_0475.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifLEFoEjUFe11nRdKL9DFylzRZe38NnOQ9zknz1JfJpPyEgK0JVtx8yo4pocVcvri6-47Bh5uTJV-t_l6b0gMc72m0wdbd6BoDiiI4QJr6sX7J4K9dprGRL6pqYMsYiWX2Ku4nq3rQq6QG/s1600/DSC_0476.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifLEFoEjUFe11nRdKL9DFylzRZe38NnOQ9zknz1JfJpPyEgK0JVtx8yo4pocVcvri6-47Bh5uTJV-t_l6b0gMc72m0wdbd6BoDiiI4QJr6sX7J4K9dprGRL6pqYMsYiWX2Ku4nq3rQq6QG/s640/DSC_0476.jpg" width="514" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VKJTpo6MZek/TZLh_leVO6I/AAAAAAAABy8/ST53X81Sm04/s1600/DSC_0479.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="518" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VKJTpo6MZek/TZLh_leVO6I/AAAAAAAABy8/ST53X81Sm04/s640/DSC_0479.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183329826513383244.post-81923824037075887022011-03-05T07:23:00.000-08:002012-01-18T02:52:44.260-08:00In the dark<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">My little son stirred in his sleep tonight. I heard him let out a few little cries, and went in to see if he was waking. He had gone to bed with flushed cheeks... from fever or teeth or perhaps just chapped from winter's harsh wind. <br />
<br />
Like so many mothers before me, and so many to come, I laid my hand against his forehead in search of clues to his discomfort. Content with the feel of it, my hand travelled to cheek and then chest, hoping to comfort him back to deep sleep. <br />
<br />
Under thin pajamas and the tiny arc of his ribs, I could feel the steady thumping of his heart against my hand. A single organ, working tirelessly, without pause, to fulfill its solitary duty of pumping life through an unimaginable network of veins and arteries, keeping my child alive. <br />
<br />
In that instant, the simultaneous terror and miracle of life was before me. With one hand still on my sleeping child, the other sought out the swell of my belly, feeling for the stirrings of another child I have yet to meet. Another child with beating heart - miraculously alive within me and already terrifyingly precious, yet still unknown. <br />
<br />
With all I think I know and believe I have learned, with every formative experience of my youth and adulthood, it is truly this gift of Motherhood that has acted as a revelation to me of the true mystery and immensity of life; as though a heavy curtain were peeled back, revealing a night-sky full of glittering stars.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183329826513383244.post-18045872267525345122010-11-30T12:31:00.000-08:002010-11-30T12:31:40.936-08:00Boys are grossUpon smelling something kinda foul:<br />
<br />
Me: Who's poopy? Kashton did you poop?<br />
Kashton: I'm not poopy!<br />
Malachi: He's not poopy mom, I just tooted.<br />
<br />
and then after a little pause and with a big smile on his face<br />
<br />
Malachi: smells like stink!<br />
<br />
<br />
Pleeeeeeeeeeease let the next one be a girl... and a really dainty girl at that.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183329826513383244.post-38815615078079236352010-11-27T21:18:00.000-08:002010-11-27T21:18:03.661-08:00Finally<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TPHl6g2akrI/AAAAAAAAByM/DBAghMaKsag/s1600/DSC_0028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TPHl6g2akrI/AAAAAAAAByM/DBAghMaKsag/s400/DSC_0028.JPG" width="263" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
We have success....<br />
<br />
(well most of the time!)<br />
<br />
<br />
Malachi is doing super well and basically potty-trained last week. It took some Buzz and Woody, Thomas, and Lightening McQueen undies to inspire him, but he is doing really great. We have left the house for hours at time, and he has stayed dry.<br />
<br />
We still have some nighttime/naptime issues to sort out, but I'm not really in a hurry. For now, I'm excited because what I really hope this means is that by January I can actually sign him up for an unparented class or two.<br />
<br />
We did some crafts today and it was really apparent that there are some things that my 3 yr. old is ready for that my 2 yr. old is absolutely not. (Malachi finger paints, Kashton eats paint. Malachi puts glue on the paper, Kashton puts glue in his hair.)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183329826513383244.post-54018755493388377022010-11-17T12:56:00.000-08:002010-11-17T12:56:32.412-08:00Wintermakes me want to do two things:<br />
<br />
Bake or Nap.<br />
<br />
(and not because I like baking so much, I just like eating the product.)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183329826513383244.post-79352775371658954992010-11-04T16:05:00.000-07:002010-11-04T16:05:08.495-07:00What it isIt is<br />
<br />
Exhilarating<br />
Terrifying<br />
Exhausting<br />
Worrying<br />
Blissful<br />
and mostly<br />
Nausea-inducing<br />
<br />
to be pregnant again.<br />
<br />
But like they say, it is what it is.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183329826513383244.post-42113475871770290622010-10-04T02:21:00.001-07:002010-10-04T02:22:11.316-07:00Tosh is Two<p>I’ve kind of sucked at the birthday thing lately, but I managed to pull of a little event with Kashton and some of his best buds for his second birthday. </p> <p>Some of my friends and their little ones were coming over for a playdate anyway, so I decided to kill two birds with one stone, and had a little backyard fete for my boy. </p> <p>We had a bouncy castle, balloons, bubbles and ice cream.  (Not that you would know it by the photos I took!)  That’s all anyone needs for a successful party right? </p> <p>You’ll notice that almost all of these photos involve a child with food or a juice box, because that was the only time they were standing still long enough to have their photo taken. </p> <p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWcNraR8tFwWhzm5cGnt5mlkcxKZmzneMe22-OUSQAMwPJTSiJ7W27K4bB8akzwIJo9U7wyDCd0Kbb0Gk0IFxM9kdszZ-XJZ98MU1L60e-6b2pRcvOwRF84kioihanDeR67kl1beYbDRQ/s1600-h/DSC_0135%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0135" border="0" alt="DSC_0135" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmbvWdcj-I/AAAAAAAABrs/3rxdgRTL5Pg/DSC_0135_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmbwNtTe4I/AAAAAAAABrw/0pOD8zH_JAc/s1600-h/DSC_0118%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0118" border="0" alt="DSC_0118" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmbxIzySHI/AAAAAAAABr0/fbXcUp3qDI8/DSC_0118_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmbxWx39TI/AAAAAAAABr4/xGkTWbFAhHg/s1600-h/DSC_0114%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0114" border="0" alt="DSC_0114" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmbybaq0RI/AAAAAAAABr8/MER6cxZZgqk/DSC_0114_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmbzJ-YfVI/AAAAAAAABsA/ksXAZgbOwPk/s1600-h/DSC_0122%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0122" border="0" alt="DSC_0122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0BCgvfg161lYFvBugwJv0GIIkJGVvUrwMO3RhJIW0SLZSvdIx2wRLHRzFr7TqdX08hkENONy06G8QVYBb6_57PrulvTfBLwK1C-No2iKCBjLyZZZw8OYiBuPPxBt3BxR5scimxWcTIxY/?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmb0VGzPzI/AAAAAAAABsI/1bluhnifCaM/s1600-h/DSC_0148%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0148" border="0" alt="DSC_0148" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmb1DSAopI/AAAAAAAABsM/OMVLp0n47XQ/DSC_0148_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmb1p_3NWI/AAAAAAAABsQ/YTw5lllkciY/s1600-h/DSC_0126%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0126" border="0" alt="DSC_0126" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmb2VQVOzI/AAAAAAAABsU/pmgF0BEmjjs/DSC_0126_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmb3C8o7EI/AAAAAAAABsY/fxhisfTry7g/s1600-h/DSC_0151%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0151" border="0" alt="DSC_0151" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmb3pAF4OI/AAAAAAAABsc/MAI1Zy5SGJY/DSC_0151_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmb4RJNIQI/AAAAAAAABsg/UQsAKQFDRLI/s1600-h/DSC_0153%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0153" border="0" alt="DSC_0153" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmb5Hqb89I/AAAAAAAABsk/6SSHGZV5xG0/DSC_0153_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164" /></a>   <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmb6MXw8JI/AAAAAAAABso/fYhzPGa47wA/s1600-h/DSC_0142%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0142" border="0" alt="DSC_0142" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmb6ll49fI/AAAAAAAABss/Cvq7EE9SkiE/DSC_0142_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164" /></a>  </p> <p> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmb6wh7dTI/AAAAAAAABsw/a2TE7YlUnns/s1600-h/DSC_0131%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0131" border="0" alt="DSC_0131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixBFNLzXTWxsQkf3PNLnYs9hL529EHCwL_N0dddUYFtJ0S9AEjfgzaxJFcLgxpX13xUgTvMmYdzgZXTbcAexM8PC9JOR4h2OxqB5kcreFWu6h6yCVasAAIV9tcmrVFuuIhuF4qEOjILRk/?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmb8KALIzI/AAAAAAAABs4/d-P8STrLX4A/s1600-h/DSC_0138%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0138" border="0" alt="DSC_0138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-o3EQsiSQx930OwT3Q74D7JsYgF9r8GBKynvOW7LA1EZfo2Vi10JbFF5V297q-nXwhPc2xT3FnENovuIf5J6nlAtsPq6W2ZW5BmyDvwf1AIzgSy6kAPySohmtDhxD1yys8jsU0YhCaEc/?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmb89YYMlI/AAAAAAAABtA/hm00HSTXhbo/s1600-h/DSC_0130%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0130" border="0" alt="DSC_0130" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmb9aMYmWI/AAAAAAAABtE/WoC4kUH5Zvs/DSC_0130_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmb90-53CI/AAAAAAAABtI/ah5F8rhx2mU/s1600-h/DSC_0129%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0129" border="0" alt="DSC_0129" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmb-EMxQoI/AAAAAAAABtM/iqncKRZitsM/DSC_0129_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244" /></a></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmb-r_RyCI/AAAAAAAABtQ/7wGz0m2ivU8/s1600-h/DSC_0146%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0146" border="0" alt="DSC_0146" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmb_fZtWWI/AAAAAAAABtU/OXljr4M7jIk/DSC_0146_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p>The next day was actually Kashton’s birthday, and I have a little tradition where I take photos of the boys first thing in the morning of them waking up on their birthday.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmb_wUAQ6I/AAAAAAAABtY/B773N9btuLo/s1600-h/DSC_0156%20-%20Copy%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0156 - Copy" border="0" alt="DSC_0156 - Copy" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmcACWwAEI/AAAAAAAABtc/uw946uQ7GEU/DSC_0156%20-%20Copy_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164" /></a>    </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmcAkLGniI/AAAAAAAABtg/hNfKnAAMIQk/s1600-h/DSC_0158%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0158" border="0" alt="DSC_0158" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmcA9HV0hI/AAAAAAAABtk/tFYkClQnky0/DSC_0158_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244" /></a>  </p> <p>  <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmcBFFD7DI/AAAAAAAABto/svc7YRa_Jck/s1600-h/DSC_0157%20-%20Copy%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0157 - Copy" border="0" alt="DSC_0157 - Copy" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmcBvzX0kI/AAAAAAAABts/Zr3DDUraWL8/DSC_0157%20-%20Copy_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164" /></a></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmcB2TVKUI/AAAAAAAABtw/aGwYEP7ax1s/s1600-h/DSC_0159%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0159" border="0" alt="DSC_0159" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmcCaguzhI/AAAAAAAABt0/QPnyGY5XEXk/DSC_0159_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164" /></a> <p></p> <p></p> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmcCi33edI/AAAAAAAABt4/qf3_Z8gVHns/s1600-h/DSC_0161%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0161" border="0" alt="DSC_0161" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmcDI2czAI/AAAAAAAABt8/Q5MT7qb3DvI/DSC_0161_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="319" height="480" /></a> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmcDuWghII/AAAAAAAABuA/9pNI_KOkCgU/s1600-h/DSC_0160%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0160" border="0" alt="DSC_0160" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmcD3h8NDI/AAAAAAAABuE/9gkIEOZSWwM/DSC_0160_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164" /></a> <p>and then once he was up and because it was a beee-utiful fall day, we went and met Daddy for a picnic lunch at Riley park</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmcEIKwpTI/AAAAAAAABuI/6_MkknWVnC8/s1600-h/DSC_0180%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0180" border="0" alt="DSC_0180" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmcEjDBe4I/AAAAAAAABuM/lW-fxg5WYrs/DSC_0180_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmcFNANgpI/AAAAAAAABuQ/XBAhBWJotXI/s1600-h/DSC_0188%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0188" border="0" alt="DSC_0188" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmcFZpN_wI/AAAAAAAABuU/FyFR9_q-pRI/DSC_0188_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244" /></a>  </p> <p>   <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmcGAIy7vI/AAAAAAAABuY/pYnC9Dzlyeg/s1600-h/DSC_0221%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0221" border="0" alt="DSC_0221" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmcGf3iLLI/AAAAAAAABuc/EQoanh0XgbA/DSC_0221_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmcGwe-z1I/AAAAAAAABug/2_VOB6PzJB0/s1600-h/DSC_0227%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0227" border="0" alt="DSC_0227" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmcHZZA_BI/AAAAAAAABuk/2zE2gqleDMo/DSC_0227_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="640" height="426" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmcHyNvnvI/AAAAAAAABuo/IhxlEm9brFE/s1600-h/DSC_0228%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0228" border="0" alt="DSC_0228" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmcIWAX_wI/AAAAAAAABus/tsoYAWqnqLI/DSC_0228_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164" /></a></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>which was followed by a nap</p> <p>and then some more fun in the backyard with his favorite playmate</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmcI6s7_yI/AAAAAAAABuw/0BJ9IYD0hx4/s1600-h/DSC_0246%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0246" border="0" alt="DSC_0246" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmcJJPxM5I/AAAAAAAABu0/kJsI1x5-_6o/DSC_0246_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164" /></a>  </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmcJeDrHCI/AAAAAAAABu4/5DjVNExka3U/s1600-h/DSC_0247%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0247" border="0" alt="DSC_0247" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmcJ9na36I/AAAAAAAABu8/0MvaMJQqWIY/DSC_0247_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164" /></a> </p> <p>  <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmcKRQrlnI/AAAAAAAABvA/0FEoN4hF44g/s1600-h/DSC_0252%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0252" border="0" alt="DSC_0252" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmcKlARlPI/AAAAAAAABvE/I2evzGo2RWo/DSC_0252_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164" /></a></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoX1V6ZDnACsGCc4CXTY1mrLABM7IvCK6Nbl2mjpSGxO34vJ33ibgf9cKJ93dLq8y8OdRNQFwc7qja5WvvFvnOvOAWSKzvdz5xmKhbYplMkBMekX72c-mv_PD_93buX6uyYgYwRLGcD54/s1600-h/DSC_0251%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0251" border="0" alt="DSC_0251" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmcLUg3tMI/AAAAAAAABvM/O4oWYD5VomM/DSC_0251_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164" /></a> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmcLpYnYZI/AAAAAAAABvQ/bZX_xumMDRg/s1600-h/DSC_0253%5B12%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0253" border="0" alt="DSC_0253" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmcMOU_vTI/AAAAAAAABvU/iNzNLCPAiqc/DSC_0253_thumb%5B10%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="319" height="480" /></a> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmcMWZ09TI/AAAAAAAABvY/XrLpZv6PKjA/s1600-h/DSC_0286%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0286" border="0" alt="DSC_0286" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmcNBq_lmI/AAAAAAAABvc/fJg77xsrA3Y/DSC_0286_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244" /></a>  <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmcNvcggBI/AAAAAAAABvg/7SXh7unmY_s/s1600-h/DSC_0289%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0289" border="0" alt="DSC_0289" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmcOEH1EKI/AAAAAAAABvo/oxifDEgk05M/DSC_0289_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244" /></a>  <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmcOWa6K8I/AAAAAAAABvs/r6Ph0ib0ohs/s1600-h/DSC_0296%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0296" border="0" alt="DSC_0296" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmcO4SB4TI/AAAAAAAABvw/aR4j6mLL-3o/DSC_0296_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmcPFHWPWI/AAAAAAAABv0/Mz0mtIpeZ8k/s1600-h/DSC_0299%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0299" border="0" alt="DSC_0299" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmcPhPr4WI/AAAAAAAABv4/Uk53UaY741g/DSC_0299_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmcQLFOuUI/AAAAAAAABv8/b36Hq98v1jo/s1600-h/DSC_0301%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0301" border="0" alt="DSC_0301" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmcQq3k7CI/AAAAAAAABwA/wze_BpqGbKs/DSC_0301_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmcRJ1VkyI/AAAAAAAABwE/-lKKneZnrB8/s1600-h/DSC_0302%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0302" border="0" alt="DSC_0302" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmcR8SwLoI/AAAAAAAABwI/b9EjbofPNbU/DSC_0302_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244" /></a> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmcSTxHqNI/AAAAAAAABwM/EfTXbDkF9G0/s1600-h/DSC_0282%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0282" border="0" alt="DSC_0282" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmcTKwhNQI/AAAAAAAABwQ/v6ELcSG9HsA/DSC_0282_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="515" height="772" /></a> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>(oh diaper bum, how I will kind of miss you)</p> <p> </p> <p>which was then completed with his one and only gift (from us that is.  We are lazy and neglectful parents, I know).  </p> <p>It was still a hit.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmcTYkQsDI/AAAAAAAABwU/lvN0s8HtJs0/s1600-h/DSC_0344%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0344" border="0" alt="DSC_0344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnSN7UsBAbU6bRrLyjjN6f_ZEtNvStwnXc4QqU4ueZQHHoGDboG77OJIbtlnI70fwc59htVpamCe8ehBjNuOEA0sVFEQXsnnEAp2R-QrJd9xONVoS9t04QfjjdS_SYW4sssCJeJFgsotc/?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmcUYUNaFI/AAAAAAAABwc/cSlMvlbQalg/s1600-h/DSC_0346%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0346" border="0" alt="DSC_0346" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmcU2t4iSI/AAAAAAAABwg/J-LlGE6mewA/DSC_0346_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmcVBOCJoI/AAAAAAAABwk/0TpiOGTCKLI/s1600-h/DSC_0347%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0347" border="0" alt="DSC_0347" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmcVSH0gjI/AAAAAAAABwo/cToadnMtopQ/DSC_0347_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmcV3osERI/AAAAAAAABws/g8lNxwA7d1k/s1600-h/DSC_0348%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0348" border="0" alt="DSC_0348" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmcWK8smAI/AAAAAAAABww/c4QR3-LWY08/DSC_0348_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmcWpnzH9I/AAAAAAAABw0/0HeLryl3A6I/s1600-h/DSC_0349%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0349" border="0" alt="DSC_0349" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Bu4zCdQ9NJTcuawC61JNd7B4ORoprJ52VxrBfUHLv3yw1A8s_iPIKssjg-aqwsrkc_sQ-Uwz7_xSPktlo1ha9KuNuyXmQwP9faOsGEWkgIr6Bt5XnXRGHj0WnaX1CtnLVUvWhZZ83Ok/?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmcXRJLXYI/AAAAAAAABw8/9S1ck8B3onw/s1600-h/DSC_0350%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0350" border="0" alt="DSC_0350" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmcXwSLhyI/AAAAAAAABxA/deZKZI-xonU/DSC_0350_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmcYMm7ZAI/AAAAAAAABxE/VB39abtBC6Y/s1600-h/DSC_0359%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0359" border="0" alt="DSC_0359" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmcYbXfutI/AAAAAAAABxI/Fv-9mnHGU5s/DSC_0359_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmcZm95pKI/AAAAAAAABxM/RE-HBc10eq4/s1600-h/DSC_0352%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0352" border="0" alt="DSC_0352" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmcbPb57wI/AAAAAAAABxQ/c1sy-v-gLgA/DSC_0352_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="515" height="772" /></a>   </p> <p> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmccNiKdnI/AAAAAAAABxU/g5oFM5chutQ/s1600-h/DSC_0362%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0362" border="0" alt="DSC_0362" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmcc2JL2yI/AAAAAAAABxY/d596wig2eCs/DSC_0362_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEili8gFX0oMV5DiRuTdio5UWcJDvrwEdmdGxlig48D8T8JR_yH_40q47K_vZknvtkxrjghE4o5usnovmykezixVOwPmqAj27Q5RBa-gQGSo_1eJwLkwrpkX644if5K-434qQIAMZsQydqo/s1600-h/DSC_0363%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0363" border="0" alt="DSC_0363" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmceW17p4I/AAAAAAAABxg/5FE96W0rffg/DSC_0363_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmcesi6aXI/AAAAAAAABxk/lFtj32BTfGI/s1600-h/DSC_0364%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0364" border="0" alt="DSC_0364" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmcfOeRiuI/AAAAAAAABxo/gv2I8Tg6BUI/DSC_0364_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmcfb3ZseI/AAAAAAAABxs/0XZycawTooc/s1600-h/DSC_0361%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0361" border="0" alt="DSC_0361" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmcftUwRpI/AAAAAAAABxw/ApBDAC6g7Jw/DSC_0361_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmcgFeMg0I/AAAAAAAABx0/UprgwIaaurk/s1600-h/DSC_0360%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0360" border="0" alt="DSC_0360" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TKmcgtqQxoI/AAAAAAAABx4/TCLL8YWmf0M/DSC_0360_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244" /></a></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>Um, yes that is my baby opening his second birthday gift out of a plastic grocery shopping bag.  </p> <p>I have no shame people. </p> <p>(That’s what he gets for being the youngest.)</p> <p>Birthday: over and out. </p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183329826513383244.post-60333400094748693892010-09-08T12:52:00.001-07:002010-09-08T14:46:45.598-07:00Cardstock 2010<p>Back around Father’s day, I asked my husband what he really wanted for a gift. </p> <p>A new bike?  Some sort of computer accessory?  A new obscure board game? </p> <p>Well, to my surprise, and trepidation, what he asked for was that we all accompany him for one weekend in August, to a gathering of his group, <a href="http://www.gameartisans.ca">Game Artisans of Canada</a> at one of the member’s acreages, just west of Edmonton. </p> <p>I moaned and whined and complained for weeks on end, but the weekend finally rolled around, and off we went;  him – eagerly, me – reluctantly. </p> <p>Like most things in life, the weekend went much better than I anticipated. </p> <p>Our hosts were welcoming and hospitable, opening up their brand new home (of 3 weeks), to a whole bunch of people they basically didn’t know, and a bunch of rowdy, messy kids.  (Ok, so maybe the rowdy, messy kids were the ones belonging to me.)   One of the game artisans, Rob, generously donated his camper van to us to stay in, and inspite of the 4 degree temperatures, we were very cozy indeed.   </p> <p>The guys (and one gal, the brave Roberta who drove down from Terrace BC, with her 17 year old daughter, Sarah), tested their prototypes all day and night, breaking only for the necessities, like food (fantastic!), and the occasional breath of fresh air.  </p> <p>We women bonded over coffees and juice boxes, attending to the kids and meals.  The kids had an incredible time, with lots of space on the acreage to run around, and more new toys than they could have ever imagined to see in one place at one time.  Malachi came home totally an expert at shooting guns and wielding swords, complete with sound effects.  </p> <p>  <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimTSifK1pG0uaV-30RQE7R4pY0Ok0u2MVfQPEap4c0zzCmVVseHXg0msw6QhDJnentMqNDjt56ePTOYbtC5DvphRxDWW4qXjjNuF6ecFa7YDlxfpPl6RoUXTj4PVYxW2GPh9kHPAoDLo8/s1600-h/091%5B7%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="091" border="0" alt="091" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TIfpVR76pbI/AAAAAAAABpM/iFbtioXJWRU/091_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="640" height="426" /></a>  </p> <p>                                               Tom, Gavan, Matt, Orin, Dylan (top row) Rob, Mike, Paul</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TIfpWPX8mII/AAAAAAAABpQ/G3ZPwKZEg1U/s1600-h/086%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="086" border="0" alt="086" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TIfpWs6--nI/AAAAAAAABpU/gWOajVCHurQ/086_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="640" height="426" /></a> </p> <p>                                                         Christine fending off chip invaders</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TIfpXEpMzeI/AAAAAAAABpY/ZJIjo7eoKo4/s1600-h/088%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="088" border="0" alt="088" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TIfpXwjoLgI/AAAAAAAABpc/Y2zfQmAvgfY/088_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="319" height="480" /></a></p> <p>The talented Sarah provided the entertainment on her fiddle!</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TIgEQmHh5vI/AAAAAAAABrc/Gu3HIOLYuIA/s1600-h/101%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="101" border="0" alt="101" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TIgERAFuLaI/AAAAAAAABrg/-sK16WFqKBg/101_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="640" height="426" /></a> </p> <p>Christine and Tom</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TIfpZeAMNrI/AAAAAAAABpo/65LuhQJAoAw/s1600-h/111%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="111" border="0" alt="111" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TIfpZ_lDW0I/AAAAAAAABps/dJMHKWsCdYI/111_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="240" /></a>  <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2rrtXGsofAJd_OQAxGlwGUWMuTR8_3BsGOxjb8GXoyQKQdFflG6bYsgi2D31mnpNtBhIP5znrYBbeCQHdsxiFLgeXa0dbeROnJJ6kAnTeyB6LRR-hQbMo621LV4pmXZltmmdUM0CvS-Y/s1600-h/115%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="115" border="0" alt="115" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TIfpayG2HOI/AAAAAAAABp0/Wo6k3NBRETI/115_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="240" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TIfpbLO_o7I/AAAAAAAABp4/tYJKKTwwF4o/s1600-h/112%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="112" border="0" alt="112" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TIfpb5QAK5I/AAAAAAAABp8/i_L5co_yR4k/112_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="240" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TIfpcEHmxII/AAAAAAAABqA/tPeJj8AxTs8/s1600-h/116%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="116" border="0" alt="116" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TIfpcjgePmI/AAAAAAAABqE/hxrJUc50qtI/116_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="319" height="480" /></a></p> <p>Our hosts, Mike and Pam (Justin, Matthew and Lily)</p> <p> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TIfpdMGt0sI/AAAAAAAABqI/PqCmsaedETo/s1600-h/103%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="103" border="0" alt="103" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TIfpdiYjIRI/AAAAAAAABqM/g2RS_oSXuG8/103_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="240" /></a>  <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TIfpeAOhx0I/AAAAAAAABqQ/61PU7gSTIM0/s1600-h/123%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="123" border="0" alt="123" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TIfpeVCKTeI/AAAAAAAABqU/rBpkE0V5hGo/123_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="240" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TIfpe38KiwI/AAAAAAAABqY/7um9E75g4nk/s1600-h/119%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="119" border="0" alt="119" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TIfpfPYMjaI/AAAAAAAABqc/pfGRcJ0twvg/119_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="240" /></a></p> <p>Sweet Matthew and Lily who generously shared their toys with all and let us invade their space.</p> <p> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TIfpfnfWowI/AAAAAAAABqg/vvvINP6Ap7k/s1600-h/096%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="096" border="0" alt="096" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TIfpgDyE6OI/AAAAAAAABqk/jfZ55hxtTPk/096_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="319" height="480" /></a></p> <p>Dylan (a Canadian diplomat stationed in Shanghai)  was home for a visit with his family, wife Tomoko, and cute munchkins Kyrie and Juno.</p> <p> </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TIfpgbzTggI/AAAAAAAABqo/Qo-RadLlks0/s1600-h/097%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="097" border="0" alt="097" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TIfpg1gZ7eI/AAAAAAAABqs/P6eW1KZNfn8/097_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="640" height="426" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TIfphQlWgkI/AAAAAAAABqw/kmqGMHgCzcM/s1600-h/098%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="098" border="0" alt="098" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TIfphrQzF7I/AAAAAAAABq0/a_Q-YDyoovs/098_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="319" height="480" /></a> </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjopwzXej19jRbz1qilQg-mgV4MBKUCh1KgdL7PLr6i-n6vcY_hed-9167_1jgL4B_z562G8x5mQbHPMZWLTqzLDxtI2_TIJehMDBOBc8k8srqMpxy4IdKhODIMEP1I5YN93fDTzYev4cA/s1600-h/113%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="113" border="0" alt="113" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TIfpiogMTkI/AAAAAAAABq8/FBtucsPXZOA/113_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="319" height="480" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TIfpjMzLYtI/AAAAAAAABrA/D9WgqsCQQhA/s1600-h/114%5B7%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="114" border="0" alt="114" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TIfpjdM-67I/AAAAAAAABrE/7Vz6B8KCdvc/114_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="319" height="480" /></a> </p> <p>Juno aka Cutie-Pie, was a huge hit with my boys.  The first night, her and Malachi got cozy in the double kids camping chairs, and from then on, and even now, we hear about Juno a lot.  Mostly from Kashton, who now follows up every goodbye like this, “Goodbye Juno!”</p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TIfpkNZCXXI/AAAAAAAABrI/nqnwKMpEEKk/s1600-h/120%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="120" border="0" alt="120" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TIfpkqYjdpI/AAAAAAAABrM/i8XyNY2nfKI/120_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="319" height="480" /></a>  </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TIfpletoxqI/AAAAAAAABrQ/kg8W8gGhPSY/s1600-h/109%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="109" border="0" alt="109" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TIfplxAfR_I/AAAAAAAABrU/ybpgOzAJ0_Q/109_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="640" height="426" /></a> <p> </p> <p>We had a really great time, and I could even be convinced to do it again.   But sshhhh, don’t tell my husband, that will be his Father’s Day present next year too!</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183329826513383244.post-50950107898886193382010-09-07T16:30:00.001-07:002010-09-07T16:39:57.253-07:00Back to school sucks.<p> </p> <p>I do love autumn.</p> <p>The brightly colored leaves.</p> <p>The crisp clean air. </p> <p>The comfort food like apple crisp and butternut squash soup. </p> <p>I just don’t love it <em>yet</em>….</p> <p>not when we haven’t had summer</p> <p>and when it means Thyra has gone back to school</p> <p>and the boys and I are back to looking for things to do.</p> <p> </p> <p>So today, we resurrected an oldie but goodie</p> <p>and headed to Chapters.  </p> <p> </p> <p>Between the chai lattes (for moi) </p> <p>and the Thomas train table (for them)</p> <p>it was a pleasantly satisfactory</p> <p>September afternoon.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TIbK3iNg7DI/AAAAAAAABm4/c0Ssi3Tmu2M/s1600-h/DSC_0028%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0028" border="0" alt="DSC_0028" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TIbK4Efj-PI/AAAAAAAABm8/9pNKNM45b3Q/DSC_0028_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="319" height="480" /></a></p> <p>                                </p> <p align="left"> </p> <p align="left"> </p> <p align="left"> </p> <p align="left"> </p> <p align="left"> </p> <p align="left"> </p> <p align="left"> </p> <p align="left"> </p> <p align="left"> </p> <p align="left"> </p> <p align="left"> </p> <p align="left"> </p> <p align="left"> </p> <p align="left"> </p> <p align="left"> first things first </p> <p> </p> <p><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0007" border="0" alt="DSC_0007" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TIbK5PPrPDI/AAAAAAAABnE/NTDDylxJZU8/DSC_0007_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="319" height="480" /></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TIbK5o_hxQI/AAAAAAAABnI/4HR3kyTe5OY/s1600-h/DSC_0008%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0008" border="0" alt="DSC_0008" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TIbK6bUZWQI/AAAAAAAABnM/fc3Jhw4GcXo/DSC_0008_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="319" height="480" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p> </p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center"> </p> <p>  </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TIbK7AXfFYI/AAAAAAAABnQ/T_5TafYQaRk/s1600-h/DSC_0022%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0022" border="0" alt="DSC_0022" align="left" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf_xeTPZRFdxStRrWDN0myNX7qnNPWyH5trv69F9CvplD5rpKVXhkKF1Wx0owW30RN84NJY4UFiYZf0NE7qSPhLj08FnGVmt-fwIgBiU-F4uw8MysitUsA-pjCVJJQ8uhuuCAHeulGLSU/?imgmax=800" width="658" height="442" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TIbK8xZr1yI/AAAAAAAABnc/MP-l6ahxvEk/s1600-h/DSC_0043%5B7%5D.jpg"></a></p> <p>                                                 </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0042" border="0" alt="DSC_0042" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TIbK8SpArmI/AAAAAAAABnY/B1wBK4GWBNQ/DSC_0042_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="160" /></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TIbK8xZr1yI/AAAAAAAABnc/MP-l6ahxvEk/s1600-h/DSC_0043%5B7%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0043" border="0" alt="DSC_0043" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TIbK9XBRktI/AAAAAAAABng/l_S7dZiQmow/DSC_0043_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="160" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>Down the hills and round the bends</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TIbK99VlEYI/AAAAAAAABnk/X1i7sLSKSgc/s1600-h/DSC_0035%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0035" border="0" alt="DSC_0035" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TIbK-nBQDqI/AAAAAAAABno/fKa-5kWyjFM/DSC_0035_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="640" height="426" /></a> </p> <p>   CRASH!</p> <p> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TIbK_MojTiI/AAAAAAAABns/FXNz0D-iduk/s1600-h/DSC_0050%5B7%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0050" border="0" alt="DSC_0050" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TIbK_jz8-0I/AAAAAAAABn0/01YHcSzHLy0/DSC_0050_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="160" /></a><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0041" border="0" alt="DSC_0041" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TIbLAJyLTmI/AAAAAAAABn4/i5TPDHDNCp0/DSC_0041_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="160" /><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TIbLAkuq23I/AAAAAAAABn8/20cMpVKLwkc/s1600-h/DSC_0036%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0036" border="0" alt="DSC_0036" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TIbLBK_ooqI/AAAAAAAABoA/JvESvukLdg4/DSC_0036_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="160" /></a>  <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TIbLBtgXqaI/AAAAAAAABoE/giaQ2JU_OTU/s1600-h/DSC_0038%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0038" border="0" alt="DSC_0038" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEharIACc2qLrbW7fEn8f4yQafGAH0Oxd9g4yebFz_u_0NzdO0r2Q1oAItujVS3v2vmCMfHs5PFNCtVvAuDJ9XvA0ChXB5O4vwBe_87t6sMv0yaYKeYvR5fslGmZ-uXTQ45lLzR4JgDyBJ0/?imgmax=800" width="240" height="160" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TIbLDKrUWzI/AAAAAAAABoM/NLEAOVos7qw/s1600-h/DSC_0016%5B20%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0016" border="0" alt="DSC_0016" align="left" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_f2sti7DIYMLqaqZNsGBvwkkxF6INtLQF62dcek0eMEMsFxyvba1wCoxy9tWsssch9C7VrZGp-TE3nljeYgOjzzRAxi0cbcNoRW_mtO_wdyZnq0XBwWS23UbuVbSdT08J4i27MWKmqhM/?imgmax=800" width="640" height="426" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TIbLDKrUWzI/AAAAAAAABoM/NLEAOVos7qw/s1600-h/DSC_0016%5B20%5D.jpg"></a></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TIbLEqcidwI/AAAAAAAABoU/PqedTVdwux0/s1600-h/DSC_0011%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0011" border="0" alt="DSC_0011" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TIbLE2JYG9I/AAAAAAAABoY/tM2uxJ4RExk/DSC_0011_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="240" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TIbLFs-v6PI/AAAAAAAABoc/BDyxM5X98VQ/s1600-h/DSC_0014%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0014" border="0" alt="DSC_0014" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TIbLGBryFiI/AAAAAAAABog/l_h2PV5kyw0/DSC_0014_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="240" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TIbLGgve_9I/AAAAAAAABok/yv2xJO4JR_Q/s1600-h/DSC_0017%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0017" border="0" alt="DSC_0017" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TIbLHFTGqaI/AAAAAAAABoo/EogrR5Lqv9s/DSC_0017_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="240" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TIbLHqRli6I/AAAAAAAABos/7XFVBOgN2U8/s1600-h/DSC_0010%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0010" border="0" alt="DSC_0010" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TIbLIuDr8ZI/AAAAAAAABow/N28yCIa8uh8/DSC_0010_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="319" height="480" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TIbLJs5faeI/AAAAAAAABo0/WgEYfDzZ938/s1600-h/DSC_0056%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0056" border="0" alt="DSC_0056" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TIbLKHsDpRI/AAAAAAAABo4/CTaEZ_eCpbc/DSC_0056_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="319" height="480" /></a></p> <p>Zonked!</p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TIbLKnLOHCI/AAAAAAAABo8/YlQ1HhjVd0s/s1600-h/DSC_0060%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0060" border="0" alt="DSC_0060" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TIbLLB155rI/AAAAAAAABpA/JaCIWr4VgYA/DSC_0060_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="319" height="480" /></a></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183329826513383244.post-66205554534434248182010-08-30T15:39:00.001-07:002010-08-30T15:39:18.931-07:00Kickin’ it<p align="center">How I know these boys are mine…..</p> <p align="center">because they have a knack for relaxation, and can put their feet up like the best of ‘em.</p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij9RhwFBUUnIgfhX24RumB1QU6-Yif4p36Eg5V5FnzbMymnaNqoAQcbbBQxbsHR-2Eb_6VpDs0b0R6GfLgyNVeBZHRG_T7SdScuMB8sCzuTOurvXX-GGBYA6LLV2Jcq6ZgCFaN5r-U4sc/s1600-h/013%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="013" border="0" alt="013" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/THwzDArKfWI/AAAAAAAABmQ/Nk8icPJXbec/013_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="430" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/THwzDya85hI/AAAAAAAABmU/U-8rPIB4D90/s1600-h/014%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="014" border="0" alt="014" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFpMHaXgowuSSGGiZ0-LX5T7GkhHNnXLOcs6DZfgbtVB0OYHAHyVVYtVR81vLluBSO5jT-QgCXndjgj5Ox_UeXsAkKj12D2yMCBI218nxdqmTmcaR0gWVq-6YU2YdmS4PaI7oAHLT7rLc/?imgmax=800" width="644" height="430" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/THwzE5m8KDI/AAAAAAAABmc/fFtynlpFquA/s1600-h/015%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="015" border="0" alt="015" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/THwzFl6_ejI/AAAAAAAABmg/wV8f6ZEs_Bk/015_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="430" /></a></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183329826513383244.post-3046861159866132332010-07-12T12:53:00.001-07:002010-07-12T13:13:17.686-07:00One two three<p align="center">Three little girls</p> <p align="center">some with curls</p> <p align="center"><font size="4">all cousins</font></p> <p align="center">with personality to spare.</p> <p align="center">Who can resist the lure of </p> <p align="center">coordinated dresses and bare feet</p> <p align="center">on a summer’s day?</p> <p align="center">But more importantly,</p> <p align="center">who can get this little trio</p> <p align="center">to stand still for just a moment? </p> <p align="center">It’s so obvious to me</p> <p align="center">why child photographers cost what they do!</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TDtyujfIiUI/AAAAAAAABkc/Kr20W5OEE5o/s1600-h/DSC_0075copy%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DSC_0075copy" border="0" alt="DSC_0075copy" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TDtyvCEGOoI/AAAAAAAABkg/w85If0KmNz0/DSC_0075copy_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="660" height="483" /></a>    </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TDt1LzGstZI/AAAAAAAABlY/OoO66xM7FXo/s1600-h/girls1%5B9%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="girls1" border="0" alt="girls1" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TDt1MQruPLI/AAAAAAAABlc/P7Oh_qWXA-Y/girls1_thumb%5B7%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="660" height="470" /></a></p> <p> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TDtyvqUzSiI/AAAAAAAABkk/nIEi3PKdGDQ/s1600-h/DSC_0070copy%5B13%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DSC_0070copy" border="0" alt="DSC_0070copy" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjumLcxBYqpUP7yjQVXxpI-JujGfomvuBC_8R0e512XGBThm2OfE9d4lLMlHH_-obYizAFULRHG-G8iDOc_OlQC2ofBKQjMqnyM2o3zmSRSA-dDXddF6RPWYJ-4bXn6KH8BrxsG8E9Qj8w/?imgmax=800" width="660" height="446" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxfsSdJr5RRlLJhJCQR8JOI0gw5KQtlVYH1KEMX1NayP3PxPIW8yecxbSJaiz_Tp1g_ToFZW-Fl463qKlatWl2QHwCMhYuOWMlr9990O2ItkKUi_5pE50wgddRu0-nRZdyVX6lt5RgrDc/s1600-h/India1%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="India1" border="0" alt="India1" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TDtyxQ_GwcI/AAAAAAAABkw/gfllA333h1Y/India1_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="660" height="446" /></a></p> <p align="center">   <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TDtyxgifV5I/AAAAAAAABk0/ao5vkrBApnQ/s1600-h/india3%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="india3" border="0" alt="india3" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TDtyyR5w0NI/AAAAAAAABk4/0zQEu5yL4X4/india3_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="479" height="788" /></a>Peekaboo!  </p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TDtyzKsLEYI/AAAAAAAABk8/mr9nSbGJj7I/s1600-h/india2%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="india2" border="0" alt="india2" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TDtyzizPGCI/AAAAAAAABlA/9lSHOH6T1_k/india2_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="660" height="446" /></a>baby bums and bodies are so irresistable!</p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TDty0O1aO3I/AAAAAAAABlE/IC2RonJyY18/s1600-h/india4%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="india4" border="0" alt="india4" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TDty0r0F00I/AAAAAAAABlI/I_8kenUgLs8/india4_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="660" height="446" /></a></p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAgIUVpBh0GCnHR95RzamJx8XCEGwC4oJ9jM1TvrRczSSQudxK_IgXcO9bxEgmImd_EXuhTx2o7chV5mhXTAEjvc0Ds7K6kD2rogVxIMbQj_TgHpbSysd_ZwmVnrkZ00IMrYgMTUtGRWQ/s1600-h/azriah1%5B7%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="azriah1" border="0" alt="azriah1" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TDt3XDxgY9I/AAAAAAAABlo/g3mzf6JIO0Y/azriah1_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="339" height="500" /></a></p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TDty1JdyidI/AAAAAAAABlM/1aXDwQWYQ6s/s1600-h/DSC_0061%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DSC_0061" border="0" alt="DSC_0061" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TDty1-kW1HI/AAAAAAAABlQ/kM5kRPvC364/DSC_0061_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="660" height="446" /></a></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183329826513383244.post-21151050410775057122010-07-12T11:25:00.001-07:002010-07-12T13:22:05.764-07:00Garden Delights<p align="left">I am not a gardener.  Not by any stretch of the imagination. We are lucky to get our lawn mowed regularly most of the time.  Gavan and I have discovered that when you buy a 40 year old house, you either need to be the very hands-on, DIY type or you need to have the cash to fork over to the professionals.  We are and have neither.  </p> <p align="left">And so that leaves us with trying to learn a little about renovations and yard work and trying to live with the results of years of neglect until we can afford to really do something about it.   </p> <p align="left">So in the spirit of doing what we can to improve our home, two years ago I planted some perennials in a little bed that had sat empty in our backyard for the first couple years we lived there.  It is a sunny south-facing spot, and so the choices were endless, but I stuck to what I loved, roses and peonies in pale shades of pink and white. </p> <p align="left">The hardy roses did well from the get-go, and this year, I counted over 40 blooms, with another 30 buds still to come.  </p> <p align="left">The peony however, didn’t fare as well.  The year of planting, I thought I had killed it, and by the end of summer there was not a visible trace of it above the soil.  However last year, much to my surprise, one single stem shot up, but still no buds.  </p> <p align="left">This year, I was completely overjoyed to see a single peony bud sprout, and it became my daily obsession to check its progress and wait for the moment when it would erupt into, in my opinion, an unparalleled heady ruffled bloom.  </p> <p align="left">I was not disappointed.  I only wish the blooms lasted a little longer. </p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DSC_0026" border="0" alt="DSC_0026" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TDteEA9XtVI/AAAAAAAABkA/BaUBQ5yruXQ/DSC_0026_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="642" height="428" /></p> <p align="center">Hate ants in the house, but love them here!  Did you know they are necessary for a peony bud to bloom?</p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="007" border="0" alt="007" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TDteF-DzQLI/AAAAAAAABkE/QCOJuJ8srg4/007_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="642" height="428" /></p> <p align="center">My single bloom.  Isn’t it soooo pretty?  There is nothing like a peony!</p> <p align="center">  <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TDt5Y3HlDFI/AAAAAAAABlw/uGnd3UzRusc/s1600-h/074%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="074" border="0" alt="074" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TDt5ZZ9KSNI/AAAAAAAABl0/NX8UdLC9bU4/074_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="513" height="770" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjMad6HNkBQqxLWqWuVv36YV_63ppsJlmESepWCZqjsts6JL-0JClZqzToMN_zKv1ptqjjplqF278Bd82RcKD4gb4AX8XHAwM01Y4dh9EyF5VgpB-MGD7Oanc5T0vinsghPrg02dFMq90/s1600-h/071%5B8%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="071" border="0" alt="071" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TDt5aCX18QI/AAAAAAAABl8/ZdjRi-zIlAU/071_thumb%5B6%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="642" height="428" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TDt5a012k7I/AAAAAAAABmA/vo0CDcaGXUU/s1600-h/072%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="072" border="0" alt="072" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TDt5bY2SNJI/AAAAAAAABmE/tPwk9ZgTtuE/072_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="640" height="426" /></a> </p> <p align="center">Pretty Blush Roses </p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TDteJ9BRRhI/AAAAAAAABkU/2gxB79LhUCw/s1600-h/072%5B6%5D.jpg"></a></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183329826513383244.post-53976761291848640752010-05-28T19:19:00.001-07:002010-05-28T19:19:03.438-07:00yardwork<p align="center"> </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TAB5WYLqNuI/AAAAAAAABh4/RWrlob7pMAM/s1600-h/001%5B11%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="001" border="0" alt="001" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TAB5WwbtPbI/AAAAAAAABh8/cNll3NM5QeE/001_thumb%5B9%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="393" height="534" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TAB5XV9ME7I/AAAAAAAABiA/WcCjzr-LUcU/s1600-h/037%5B10%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="037" border="0" alt="037" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TAB5X3U0NiI/AAAAAAAABiE/rL_w_LMKvW4/037_thumb%5B8%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="591" height="412" /></a>testing out the trusty trike </p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center">     <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TAB5YgbWnJI/AAAAAAAABiI/HHBhS8LKIAA/s1600-h/006%5B8%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="006" border="0" alt="006" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TAB5ZdL3pgI/AAAAAAAABiM/5WI5wtNiDRQ/006_thumb%5B6%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="601" height="416" /></a></p> <p align="center">treasure hunt</p> <p align="center"> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TAB5Z-Bq3lI/AAAAAAAABiQ/IXMliuuUoHY/s1600-h/022%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="022" border="0" alt="022" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHhoQtwhiGqe7Tkj8uBPh88DsO6qpfFB_4LbMZDVF42juiM0-_oOgMC5PXtpSM9Z89Do4tX7VLlLYc-1tvclM6gX7XI0PURb9KTZYn3IzhD27tgAa4eiPs_SWbq9qzkW4UtKjg4W6xtw4/?imgmax=800" width="474" height="688" /></a>how to run “really fast!!”    </p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TAB5a30lWwI/AAAAAAAABiY/e3LODaWu0s0/s1600-h/007%5B11%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="007" border="0" alt="007" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TAB5bYKfmRI/AAAAAAAABic/lhvSTIVhzAc/007_thumb%5B9%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="224" height="302" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TAB5cPZyYSI/AAAAAAAABig/_OafdcfM9Qo/s1600-h/029%5B7%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="029" border="0" alt="029" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TAB5cVIQk1I/AAAAAAAABik/MH4h8lbvD8E/029_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="217" height="303" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TAB5ddcqHoI/AAAAAAAABio/c-bVAjmA4y4/s1600-h/008%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="008" border="0" alt="008" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TAB5d8jM_4I/AAAAAAAABis/Xafz4k8mzJw/008_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="212" height="307" /></a></p> <p align="center">helping mom with the heavy labour</p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TAB5eQwU_9I/AAAAAAAABiw/7SValQ2UV80/s1600-h/010%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="010" border="0" alt="010" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TAB5eqKiSwI/AAAAAAAABi0/-2wskQLm4s8/010_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="323" height="225" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TAB5fF18WoI/AAAAAAAABi4/Hk9gD0e0jqU/s1600-h/039%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="039" border="0" alt="039" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TAB5ffgWfCI/AAAAAAAABi8/39XvkgWEQgU/039_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="320" height="223" /></a></p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TAB5fwaAwdI/AAAAAAAABjA/OAwsNLjFng4/s1600-h/015%5B7%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="015" border="0" alt="015" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TAB5gQ3MY-I/AAAAAAAABjE/pb_jdrzgMo0/015_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="212" height="297" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TAB5giyzY2I/AAAAAAAABjI/wsFWbw08zv4/s1600-h/013%5B10%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="013" border="0" alt="013" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TAB5hOa2K3I/AAAAAAAABjM/0nXhz_qI1S4/013_thumb%5B6%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="210" height="295" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TAB5hTNxtBI/AAAAAAAABjQ/IJD3sGe3Iuk/s1600-h/014%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="014" border="0" alt="014" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TAB5h9EuT8I/AAAAAAAABjU/wTtPAH6KcDI/014_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="211" height="301" /></a> <br />Coffee break</p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center"> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TAB5iZLKdaI/AAAAAAAABjY/rmiZwmTSfBs/s1600-h/031%5B8%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="031" border="0" alt="031" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TAB5ioXVIsI/AAAAAAAABjc/UZtxavqIkp8/031_thumb%5B6%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="304" height="219" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TAB5jGzNbhI/AAAAAAAABjg/vtjrTD3XYsg/s1600-h/033%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="033" border="0" alt="033" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TAB5jT9JBuI/AAAAAAAABjk/dKCUaKfzMq4/033_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="319" height="220" /></a></p> <p align="center">watching cars go by</p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TAB5jhpsQOI/AAAAAAAABjo/BWC8UF8VvIY/s1600-h/048%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="048" border="0" alt="048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAk5XRZZgPIcZ-4GD0EaE9ejOumhkdp33Ni42ECo0MenCkwUlMbzNb1i5RYwrlp2CEOjLWtcuYAg_q2dmeX-Y2VDRPO8fh6KY4a9CeekaZiubKEQ2h6O548AR5ZThBfceOi7Z6gOUs-QY/?imgmax=800" width="312" height="216" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TAB5kp7YodI/AAAAAAAABjw/8DThq6_m1U8/s1600-h/047%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="047" border="0" alt="047" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNOQVx3tLUhe9TiTFyYp0_C-5gwEarzH9uu7YDC7qxwZjxqCemnaO0KF9n-7jIXlTGSPFeu3-EucXKoi6q2E1MK79hwQ_cQrcEXEyFMv1QVGuL7KU1MJ264k5ODbRdtzz5laRUrvLEg4g/?imgmax=800" width="318" height="219" /></a>  </p> <p align="center">I have never really noticed until I saw these photos that Malachi has my hands and feet… (poor kid!)</p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="030" border="0" alt="030" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/TAB5luQ4JtI/AAAAAAAABj4/fVd1y5rWUoY/030_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="652" height="446" /></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183329826513383244.post-52402000168442729592010-05-25T19:31:00.001-07:002010-05-25T19:31:11.063-07:00Two girls and a camera<p>What to do when it’s the long weekend, the boys are sick, and your daughter and niece (who is spending the weekend), are bored out of their minds?  Round them up and take them out for an impromptu photo shoot.   These two are old pros at the dressing-up-and-snapping some pics routine, although it usually involves a cell phone camera and some interesting outfits and poses.</p> <p>I’d like to maybe enlarge one of these for Grandma, so pick your favorite!</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S_yHe5R5noI/AAAAAAAABfA/jEwLezUbEjY/s1600-h/010%20copy%5B9%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="010 copy" border="0" alt="010 copy" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S_yHfWlxhhI/AAAAAAAABfE/ONLKVpDge5w/010%20copy_thumb%5B7%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="473" height="698" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S_yHfwfUHSI/AAAAAAAABfI/SfxJFN39sCo/s1600-h/061%5B7%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="061" border="0" alt="061" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S_yHgpYbkjI/AAAAAAAABfM/QJJVPUbPHKo/061_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="482" height="700" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S_yHhWTr0PI/AAAAAAAABfQ/CyFfuHGAiRo/s1600-h/020%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="020" border="0" alt="020" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S_yHh5gd0WI/AAAAAAAABfU/DbhynmihlAk/020_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="231" height="332" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S_yHiZUXLnI/AAAAAAAABfY/8wxLXKr0wT0/s1600-h/021%5B13%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="021" border="0" alt="021" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S_yHi2HAe-I/AAAAAAAABfc/l49EaK4ldXI/021_thumb%5B11%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="226" height="315" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S_yHjske-7I/AAAAAAAABfg/6jL2r0HWyNs/s1600-h/076%5B8%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="076" border="0" alt="076" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S_yHkCMvqCI/AAAAAAAABfk/n9Rinb6INgE/076_thumb%5B6%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="223" height="321" /></a> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWtdAQF7JkIvRTS4AB85HH-_HGZVoasCN76nILbr7krfsiKl4hWY-fQQ7-L1WyDXzkm9M0T17JGOAP6m6S3Kv1eU9fSWdFEh1ztCp5OYIjEXK6ICYYQRLNObyU0kfmMV0ZsNhA7JvBDks/s1600-h/033b%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; 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float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="054" border="0" alt="054" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S_yHoR-u7yI/AAAAAAAABf8/p_aMxUcof7k/054_thumb%5B6%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="471" height="678" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S_yHpZAWxgI/AAAAAAAABgA/fCFDtDDTWC0/s1600-h/055%5B12%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="055" border="0" alt="055" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S_yHqPVIMKI/AAAAAAAABgE/Wt4jFrO_7WI/055_thumb%5B10%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="466" height="672" /></a></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S_yHqsBcu0I/AAAAAAAABgI/O7L68IoXzpE/s1600-h/078%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="078" border="0" alt="078" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S_yHrRGKIKI/AAAAAAAABgM/wrAazzy6Clg/078_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="482" height="706" /></a>  </p> <p></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S_yHrxEGjbI/AAAAAAAABgQ/-YYw9QZ9FFs/s1600-h/023%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="023" border="0" alt="023" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S_yHsg6cOyI/AAAAAAAABgU/As7QQT-CIW8/023_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="666" height="455" /></a>  </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S_yHtcFVw6I/AAAAAAAABgY/FKvPbus5xwQ/s1600-h/075%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="075" border="0" alt="075" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju0e7D8zK0QpiEw0LK7ik6mzkkwL4pUHJga85I-irL30DHGmL0oT7l9kREyWRlvSKnORG4DEjTcBu8P39ksSQdBZpNPnEdyasFKzqY8VzCD3dNwvhDFF5uydwnXS5Y7lruGV7cmmoINvI/?imgmax=800" width="683" height="466" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S_yHujsXwMI/AAAAAAAABgg/ddm-2h0BkVs/s1600-h/081%5B35%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="081" border="0" alt="081" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S_yHvSomBKI/AAAAAAAABgk/_UNDSfzKUvM/081_thumb%5B31%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="693" height="472" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S_yHwAMCRvI/AAAAAAAABgo/mnS8FJY2F0w/s1600-h/038%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="038" border="0" alt="038" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S_yHwmoSAPI/AAAAAAAABgs/YXPm3GVOi0k/038_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="332" height="230" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S_yHxoRm6oI/AAAAAAAABgw/lUo7o8lj_XA/s1600-h/037%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="037" border="0" alt="037" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S_yHyXBWqkI/AAAAAAAABg0/ybVbSsTLYjQ/037_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="336" height="232" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S_yHzL7qlcI/AAAAAAAABg4/kOhMknktGhM/s1600-h/066%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="066" border="0" alt="066" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S_yHz-QHCyI/AAAAAAAABg8/CIkEITJVBDQ/066_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="345" height="234" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S_yH0V-je5I/AAAAAAAABhA/_3iHqBAzVcE/s1600-h/069%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="069" border="0" alt="069" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S_yH0iWoqYI/AAAAAAAABhE/u_vPPcU8_GA/069_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="334" height="226" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S_yH1bEiVSI/AAAAAAAABhI/G4Ny2ahbCHM/s1600-h/043%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="043" border="0" alt="043" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S_yH1yZLKfI/AAAAAAAABhM/VnOoeiCqP8c/043_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="336" height="228" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S_yH2jLoEBI/AAAAAAAABhQ/j27znc-KTA4/s1600-h/042%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="042" border="0" alt="042" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S_yH3ZsApFI/AAAAAAAABhU/kjK9v0Q0khY/042_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="357" height="244" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S_yH4Lg6klI/AAAAAAAABhY/Vlkd4AbiS-M/s1600-h/050%5B8%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="050" border="0" alt="050" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S_yH4t4tMeI/AAAAAAAABhc/kAze81lOOe0/050_thumb%5B6%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="367" height="260" /></a>  <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S_yH5Q4wkqI/AAAAAAAABhg/qVV2T7kRaqs/s1600-h/051%5B8%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="051" border="0" alt="051" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S_yH59LzYyI/AAAAAAAABhk/z7uPOXtns1o/051_thumb%5B6%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="330" height="234" /></a></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S_yH6p9dAPI/AAAAAAAABho/Il8w3A6T3lI/s1600-h/083%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="083" border="0" alt="083" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S_yH7QZjGHI/AAAAAAAABhw/ob2KZOQpxMg/083_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="491" height="338" /></a> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183329826513383244.post-45776456734779959162010-05-21T11:04:00.001-07:002010-05-21T11:04:45.937-07:00Old stuff from out of the woodwork<h5><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S_bLOQYxtaI/AAAAAAAABe0/NycLxpD0_i0/s1600-h/002%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="002" border="0" alt="002" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S_bLPP_pDuI/AAAAAAAABe4/x8WzSemWElI/002_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="432" height="297" /></a> </h5> <h5 align="center"><a href="http://dishing.blogspot.com/2005/01/daughter.html">Daughter</a></h5> <p align="center">Her apple blossom cheeks, <br />And eyes like tortoise shell, <br />The magic way she speaks,  <br />I’m captive in her spell.  </p> <p align="center"> <br />My face is rough and worn,  <br />My voice holds little thrill  <br />And very often scorn,  <br />But yet she loves me still. </p> <p align="center"> <br />Her tiny rosebud hands  <br />Stretch out like flowers in spring,  <br />Of me she naught demands,  <br />But joy is what she brings. </p> <p align="center"> <br />Yet little can I render  <br />Except the breath I give;  <br />And though it’s life I give her,  <br />It’s I who’s learnt to live.</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183329826513383244.post-87760748486784851872010-05-17T18:52:00.001-07:002010-05-17T18:52:17.338-07:00I survived A Day Out With Thomas…. now where’s my t-shirt?<p> </p> <p>What we did this weekend that had both my boys smiling from ear to ear, and shrieking like tween girls at a Jonas Brothers sighting (ok… maybe it was just Kashton doing the shrieking):</p> <p align="center"> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S_HyfuiRDzI/AAAAAAAABbU/aZZpYmlKLr8/s1600-h/024%5B7%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="024" border="0" alt="024" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S_HygYVR9VI/AAAAAAAABbc/JPDxqc86TZw/024_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="683" height="476" /></a> Malachi getting his first glimpse</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S_Hyg5EQUKI/AAAAAAAABbg/YO56jzGDNFI/s1600-h/028%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="028" border="0" alt="028" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S_HyhfNPeaI/AAAAAAAABbk/lwo5TV3sKGk/028_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="338" height="230" /></a>  <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S_Hyh0AO-kI/AAAAAAAABbo/eif2YH7wkoY/s1600-h/023%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="023" border="0" alt="023" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S_Hyiy_KWgI/AAAAAAAABbs/B-pUXH5HK9c/023_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="339" height="234" /></a></p> <p align="center">Kashton was blissfully asleep when we got there and had no idea what he was missing.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S_HyjcBMk3I/AAAAAAAABbw/HICBkr6maew/s1600-h/031%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="031" border="0" alt="031" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S_HykNH37xI/AAAAAAAABb0/BqSPD4uMCrY/031_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="693" height="478" /></a></p> <p align="center">Malachi meeting Sir Topham Hatt </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S_Hyk92iLcI/AAAAAAAABb4/Ggo6qrQizjc/s1600-h/029%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="029" border="0" alt="029" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguHF3LIvGYxOvFv1pDaRSqztIbmJJ46G2LNQA47jISmhvAFYt4dfPXMRfepmY7ysVmYLc1YbmebMKMs8obqUef6Jmx0iZPrz6JlUDQUSpfzcU2pp0-lq4bJKenZ35TCFD0Rc2JIkXZvxE/?imgmax=800" width="344" height="234" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S_Hyl5m7jOI/AAAAAAAABcA/lezy-ZqfDCw/s1600-h/030%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="030" border="0" alt="030" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S_HymSNBB7I/AAAAAAAABcE/LdDiv7CeFSw/030_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="345" height="237" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S_Hym5DT3tI/AAAAAAAABcI/fomjkO0i-Gs/s1600-h/051%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="051" border="0" alt="051" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S_Hyn79NNnI/AAAAAAAABcM/OOy24dzDfUg/051_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="349" height="243" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S_HyohrauXI/AAAAAAAABcQ/cvzrWh6CZn4/s1600-h/032%5B7%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="032" border="0" alt="032" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S_HypdCB65I/AAAAAAAABcU/MwwLLzF4aUU/032_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="346" height="246" /></a> </p> <p>As Thomas was making his rounds through the park, the little boys nearby would go running up as fast as they could to get a closer glimpse.  This was when Kashton would begin his high-pitched shrieking of “Thomas!!  Thomas!!”</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S_Hyp0Dte3I/AAAAAAAABcY/D7nRSshxweU/s1600-h/058%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="058" border="0" alt="058" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S_HyqTKBldI/AAAAAAAABcc/9FSteGi5Mos/058_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="342" height="241" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S_HyrMsEjYI/AAAAAAAABcg/vv1iMXsUNNU/s1600-h/077%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="077" border="0" alt="077" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S_Hyroiv5VI/AAAAAAAABck/23eYt1IegFk/077_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="341" height="238" /></a> </p> <p align="center">On the train with their Certificates</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMbgzgjB7kXVZSRCsMfyE2vBGVS5yVnxkRdKMvwKg5jeWlg86V0xq2QxQ8S2KiT9yhlJO26a7qVtLeb9j1D7rAPyqt5mgxB5xTtUbwuKZprqnPUmEcFRdz8M0idU7NoFzaN4jnIRdorx0/s1600-h/067%5B11%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="067" border="0" alt="067" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S_HysqSnwYI/AAAAAAAABcs/0sQayBbSL6I/067_thumb%5B9%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="346" height="477" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S_HytgqNF_I/AAAAAAAABcw/ZGYpweO9fcw/s1600-h/070%5B11%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="070" border="0" alt="070" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S_HyuMGUzXI/AAAAAAAABc0/iBylq3gH-rE/070_thumb%5B9%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="345" height="476" /></a> </p> <p align="center">The funniest part of the whole day was watching Kashie wave to all the bystanders the whole train ride… </p> <p align="center">he kept saying, “Bye Guys!” and waving with all his might </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S_HyvM1KJVI/AAAAAAAABc4/0IfzJ_o1mtE/s1600-h/081%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="081" border="0" alt="081" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S_HyvvoGkTI/AAAAAAAABc8/W5VYXAQxhQg/081_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="343" height="236" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNLgdfLUYI8BDjmnwsxK5681xXu6OwDw3F-RiGzUr5yByBLqT6TgisfFQwVWAASeoc7IeCH_fsdse-tEP5AeQb_eGjf4451PtVAYdKQs-Y7SY_807vCLKOkjcPwWv6tkcTd3c2TPd3b1E/s1600-h/082%5B7%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="082" border="0" alt="082" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKnsScxY-fwTtRzl9pG7qa_5WZY38s2HBV4Bh7uYqO__AlnlePpESoNhUsiLLUGNYn8593FN09xJd5jl1IM8LedWi68oMjZC6PBNXHfnUsnkyfWf6934jXsQyC5Z5TzezF4t-iNBj5le8/?imgmax=800" width="337" height="239" /></a> </p> <p>  <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S_HyxZhYCbI/AAAAAAAABdI/urNzwliFi4M/s1600-h/087%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="087" border="0" alt="087" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S_Hyx3QJdYI/AAAAAAAABdM/cVn-3smLqmA/087_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="329" height="471" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdhfJ5kvOvSqvdULObxalyGBvX404ZEA0-WBuwW2OFiHc0I8lBT5KhB0bqyVyjdD9ny49QYsrWDN5Nu_n9S7Rf9J4ElKYpiLbK6PS_OA7iCr_Oyh45I1r6tKuoH9MmvPl_crDEq8ZwJUk/s1600-h/089%5B9%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="089" border="0" alt="089" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S_HyyhlZdTI/AAAAAAAABdU/c3ih9QAIAic/089_thumb%5B7%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="337" height="469" /></a></p> <p align="center">The Number One engine with his number one fans</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S_HyzRLiufI/AAAAAAAABdY/BmIkYWEdmdg/s1600-h/090%5B9%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="090" border="0" alt="090" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S_Hy0Diwt-I/AAAAAAAABdc/6EEbtFzcYwk/090_thumb%5B7%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="679" height="967" /></a> </p> <p align="center">Ok seriously, could we just get one photo with everyone looking at the camera, eyes OPEN??</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183329826513383244.post-82859778683659751912010-05-12T09:32:00.001-07:002010-05-12T09:36:04.849-07:00Making TracksMy boys are quite obsessed with trains these days. Thomas and friends and anything else that choo-choos. <br />
Lucky for them, they have a doting grandmother that loves to indulge their every whims! <br />
Between the matching train jammies, and the train table set, looks like Christmas came early at the Brown’s this year. <br />
Thanks Granny!<br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S-rX_JIVDvI/AAAAAAAABZ8/fs0b7ZzQHb4/s1600-h/099%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="099" border="0" height="391" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S-rX_ngwRuI/AAAAAAAABaA/Do1JE2pfwnE/099_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline;" title="099" width="576" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S-rYAEdfgaI/AAAAAAAABaE/C1gjg0E5CFE/s1600-h/096%5B4%5D.jpg"><img alt="096" border="0" height="403" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S-rYAuyav3I/AAAAAAAABaI/C3nsFAXrigw/096_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline;" title="096" width="588" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S-rYBG00o_I/AAAAAAAABaM/4VGOp4Qusys/s1600-h/047%5B5%5D.jpg"><img alt="047" border="0" height="392" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S-rYBbR_aLI/AAAAAAAABaQ/Vej394NTTaw/047_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline;" title="047" width="568" /></a> <br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S-rYB3wTcxI/AAAAAAAABaU/X3zSsX-0uu0/s1600-h/097%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="097" border="0" height="408" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S-rYCFnadZI/AAAAAAAABaY/3HKr6O3AdR4/097_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline;" title="097" width="278" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinn4Ka-swM0x99czib97AcxTh0cx3AgE5yeopQtZ5CD7my2UZVg_cXRqgXEamy8iPlpvxDrBjPyA-M24FaOZUJ2T-xTSWJreRMUepidmi4aeiDXt5CietKoaaF70boifZCXeCs92A8VKI/s1600-h/044%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="044" border="0" height="400" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S-rYDN-r0_I/AAAAAAAABag/Yc_M1h8Xn2o/044_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline;" title="044" width="272" /></a><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S-rYD0EdexI/AAAAAAAABak/19JxLDZkzY8/s1600-h/038%5B4%5D.jpg"><img alt="038" border="0" height="394" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uN7ExvYTOFg/S-rYEZZd_6I/AAAAAAAABao/uo3BY8nb5I8/038_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline;" title="038" width="576" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3