tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1764335813771190032024-02-01T21:38:46.086-08:00the little bidwellsangehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16916635698834573983noreply@blogger.comBlogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176433581377119003.post-30314100927289493742011-02-06T23:24:00.000-08:002011-02-06T23:36:12.729-08:00latest and greatesttime just keeps slipping away! it's already february and i haven't posted at all. part of the problem is that my MYBOOK (external hard drive with ALL of my photos) is on the fritz, and I can't access them. I hate posting without photos, so I just haven't. however, i'm realizing now that it's better to have something up rather than nothing, so here i am. hopefully i can add photos to this later down the road, when the MyBook is fixed.<br /><br />November - my birthday was a lot of fun! my wonderful friends took me to see the So You Think You Can Dance show live (on tour) and we had a great time! We picknicked in the parking lot before hand and enjoyed a very fun show. We also spend Thanksgiving down south, which was, as always, busy and a total blast. i spent a fun day shopping with mom, spent some time with my sisters, and had lots of good conversations with poppo. the trip was not long enough, as per usual, but at least i knew that the christmas visit was coming quickly.<br /><br />December - we barreled through the month and ended up at dad's for christmas. we had such an amazing time. the kids put on their annual christmas show complete with singing and dancing. we even had a harry potter themed show. the kids were amazing. everyone but annabelle was very involved in making it happen, including 3 year-old ava! speaking of ava, we celebrated her 4th birthday on new year's eve, and then celebrated annika's 6th birthday on january 3rd. we also had a twilight movie fun night with our cousin sheila (don't ask) and a very entertaining new year's eve party with some friends.<br /><br />January - back to school and work, keeping busy, but the most exciting part about this month is that jacob learned to ride his bike without training wheels!!!! he picked up on it so quickly, like it just finally clicked, and within days he was able to start himself, wheel around every obstacle, and have a great time biking around with some of his friends that have been off trainers for a while. we are SO proud of him and let him choose a bell for getting rid of those trainers. now he loves to ride and even went around the 2 mile loop at the sports park on saturday without complaint! he's awesome!<br /><br />both kids are just amazing. jake is also mastering writing and has been doing SO much reading. it amazes me how he just picked it up and can decode almost any word now! it is very mood-dependent, however, so some days are better than others, but overall he is just running away with words and stories.<br /><br />annabelle is amazing us with her ability to use pretty much every word in the english language appropriately, and even comes up with some pretty funny stuff herself. her latest thing is to make sure everyone is happy so she is often, at 2 years old, asking me, "Mama, are you happy?" or, better yet, "Mama, are you fuss-tated?" she's very concerned with everyone's well-being. she'll even ask the cat!<br /><br />life is good and i'm grateful that ben and i are both working, though we hardly see each other during the week anymore, between his regular job and his teaching assistant job at the apprenticeship hall, and my regular job, tutoring center job and private tutoring job. things are really busy but i know it's for good reason and, come summer, things will slow down (in that realm) significantly.<br /><br />for now we look forward to a visit from steph, healthy, happy babies from pregnant friends, and continued health and happiness! (i am feeling not unlike a christmas card letter ... noooo!!!)<br /><br />:)angehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16916635698834573983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176433581377119003.post-51655116975259575322010-11-18T23:36:00.001-08:002010-12-14T23:29:07.913-08:00happy halloween!<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-family:lucida grande;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">happy halloween from our 'carry pie-ders!!'</span></span><br /></div><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-family:lucida grande;" ><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-1qKm1_l7FWWFxqWqV2LZ-lLOCCqOzQpf03DP651KhklyTXoPrbyMvZnwSdk3BTlv6PvktISX0UmnncCPAsv5HEXCfXhfBBBU5zsV31NqHNGSDqEeDs-rD6CiSMbKHOq1xsfpvJEjMZzx/s1600/scan0006.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 269px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-1qKm1_l7FWWFxqWqV2LZ-lLOCCqOzQpf03DP651KhklyTXoPrbyMvZnwSdk3BTlv6PvktISX0UmnncCPAsv5HEXCfXhfBBBU5zsV31NqHNGSDqEeDs-rD6CiSMbKHOq1xsfpvJEjMZzx/s400/scan0006.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541163894280721202" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-family:lucida grande;" > </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-family:lucida grande;" >our halloween was so much fun this year. grandma helped me make spider costumes for the kids, which turned out so cute. ben and i dressed up as spider prey - we wore wings and were wrapped up in webbing. we figure we are pretty much at the whim of our children, so it was appropriate. </span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-family:lucida grande;" ><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhQSWCvZsdeGMrFnUMMcBgZHslQpdICJh0SVzEyuo5buOItjPzy1BI47dfbgdktWfD5_RzfbIUMidUNB8kNmggjBAlqXyKVwcDFNFOnLWZyhS5BN0Q2wkB64-eD-cmNXD8rrFwAGsIjdfj/s1600/doll+11-16-10+150.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhQSWCvZsdeGMrFnUMMcBgZHslQpdICJh0SVzEyuo5buOItjPzy1BI47dfbgdktWfD5_RzfbIUMidUNB8kNmggjBAlqXyKVwcDFNFOnLWZyhS5BN0Q2wkB64-eD-cmNXD8rrFwAGsIjdfj/s200/doll+11-16-10+150.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541166061569354338" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-family:lucida grande;" >after our annual trip to the pumpkin patch...<br /></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-family:lucida grande;" > </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrFjmxjde0DPkJpNIxDDRF-LRisWTaElhSe0DIwfmkHrhPcPNDXzQUXuOigu_8ciEbaw6DvQF4AQ7ORO8cXRsHs1N5Xw3Dlny60qX7jK8ropXxY_OvKnr1MYCtjtQPpcI_wnvrg2B4JqVo/s1600/doll%2527s+pics+10-27-10+417.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrFjmxjde0DPkJpNIxDDRF-LRisWTaElhSe0DIwfmkHrhPcPNDXzQUXuOigu_8ciEbaw6DvQF4AQ7ORO8cXRsHs1N5Xw3Dlny60qX7jK8ropXxY_OvKnr1MYCtjtQPpcI_wnvrg2B4JqVo/s200/doll%2527s+pics+10-27-10+417.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541166033912536914" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-family:lucida grande;" ><br />was Jake's school's Halloween Parade! the high school band played as they walked through the neighborhood streets all dressed up in costume. it was awesome.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx438cJY1Y5gPMVtlktjyeA2lKcf-W70qYn2uTkfIDUT3sLulCJ21Tr27CgnkhXUhkp45hfx-fJTbnnZ3aTXPOwYx10MR_oJW1DByE_lMNbykzYDUqYLlJzIdjWHCcGa54zWHQoYPR_J52/s1600/doll+11-16-10+043.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx438cJY1Y5gPMVtlktjyeA2lKcf-W70qYn2uTkfIDUT3sLulCJ21Tr27CgnkhXUhkp45hfx-fJTbnnZ3aTXPOwYx10MR_oJW1DByE_lMNbykzYDUqYLlJzIdjWHCcGa54zWHQoYPR_J52/s200/doll+11-16-10+043.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541166041599345538" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-family:lucida grande;" ><br />the we officially started our halloween celebrations on friday nigh</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-family:lucida grande;" >t with our neighbor friends, the scruggs. we toasted pumpkin seeds and carved our pumpkins. even the daddies got involved and made some awesome jack-o-lanterns! it was so much fun to watch jake c</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-family:lucida grande;" >arve his pumpkin. he is old enough now to have a very firm opinion on what he wanted his jack-o-lantern to look like. he drew the face on the pumpkin, and ben and i took turns doing the carving.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglpnJcoZDNEQ8N1Uofc4Lo-VoFMLbut9oB6OJuaPwvIYS9dIrSSJDGu_RJhsSaP6dVVqEg6zXZwQFSljF8m432iVqv75IH_PPwRxQA-G1lpQliYxeLCrr7WQnTfKDTVm7LhqsxzJ_tvmGf/s1600/doll+11-16-10+087.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglpnJcoZDNEQ8N1Uofc4Lo-VoFMLbut9oB6OJuaPwvIYS9dIrSSJDGu_RJhsSaP6dVVqEg6zXZwQFSljF8m432iVqv75IH_PPwRxQA-G1lpQliYxeLCrr7WQnTfKDTVm7LhqsxzJ_tvmGf/s200/doll+11-16-10+087.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541166047569608962" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMITG23zro0vs0t5gfO-IHuPjh-WoaDr0fsKJ4AI2MXZZS1ZPTDavDpUVfFs8mDwnUxBQrfoWmQsjifFJ7ehBhfBj0HPihLs6Av_tOxnpj8zXnnOa6D9-KKRuw9DGuNwYdK782gCIhNZBB/s1600/doll+11-16-10+088.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMITG23zro0vs0t5gfO-IHuPjh-WoaDr0fsKJ4AI2MXZZS1ZPTDavDpUVfFs8mDwnUxBQrfoWmQsjifFJ7ehBhfBj0HPihLs6Av_tOxnpj8zXnnOa6D9-KKRuw9DGuNwYdK782gCIhNZBB/s200/doll+11-16-10+088.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541166052299561330" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-family:lucida grande;" >saturday night we visited a trunk-or-treat at our other neighbors' church. that was so different and so fun! the kids were all dressed up, spent an hour playing games and earning prizes, then went outside to trick-or-treat from trunks of cars that had been decorated. i've never seen anything like it!<br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-family:lucida grande;" >finally halloween came! we had grandpa, the shackelfords, the formolos and the scr</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-family:lucida grande;" >uggs over. we ate some pizza and, after meeting up with more neighbors, the eberhards, off we went to ring doorbells and stock up on candy. we were SHOCKED at how quickly the boys took off! one minute they are standing there, suffering through the photo op, then off!!<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxmChgy9ed-GHueiAuNBfIyvpfnAHyysOwBo3L033-PFkh2kn9AzJ4Y_PacAzfBoswvvRi9jtaKuTytgSaUhPiD1WC5LMVBOeiUvE-7RkscMTRhxqeRTMhaUO44-fAjHNev6FG3dvbru-A/s1600/doll+11-16-10+128.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxmChgy9ed-GHueiAuNBfIyvpfnAHyysOwBo3L033-PFkh2kn9AzJ4Y_PacAzfBoswvvRi9jtaKuTytgSaUhPiD1WC5LMVBOeiUvE-7RkscMTRhxqeRTMhaUO44-fAjHNev6FG3dvbru-A/s200/doll+11-16-10+128.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550805509598556258" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-family:lucida grande;" ><br />they are sprinting, ringing every doorbell in sight and bringing home far too much candy! i think we trick-or-treated for about two hours. we were absolutely exhausted by the time we came back home.<br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-family:lucida grande;" >i love halloween. i think it might be one of my favorite holidays. it's a reason to get together, get dressed up, eat a lot of reese's peanut butter cups, and not have to stress about the details of gifts, fancy dinners, and so forth. jake and i are already planning out next halloween...</span>angehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16916635698834573983noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176433581377119003.post-72276473596752685242010-09-12T22:07:00.000-07:002010-11-18T23:34:20.389-08:00Happy Birthday, Dear Annabelle!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrMbHJzwQvDhXZUU3vdcEBi2q7vZKE85-xW4cVIqb8YxQ6aODB5xArVuyZrZNcFoc6Iv9_e0EE4yXu74NQULBTgllzIQxoxNtxsVZiypJHaWvkdYo9M7qHWjX1aVwVTyiXfNAYYveZZtZD/s1600/IMG_1558.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrMbHJzwQvDhXZUU3vdcEBi2q7vZKE85-xW4cVIqb8YxQ6aODB5xArVuyZrZNcFoc6Iv9_e0EE4yXu74NQULBTgllzIQxoxNtxsVZiypJHaWvkdYo9M7qHWjX1aVwVTyiXfNAYYveZZtZD/s400/IMG_1558.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541153640578053826" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >Sweet little Annabelle is <span style="font-weight: bold;">TWO</span>!! We celebrated her birthday twice, because she is twice as wonderful as any little girl out there! (I might be a little biased.) We spent her actual birthday in Pinecrest with our neighbors/friends the Scruggs. We decorated the cabin, made cupcakes and spent the entire weekend celebrating her.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5iXOKQe4RAH2NtcKKAs-bYUVSUibeXJUuUGtq12KnFhvBKk4ScPM8eQwNNEek_BsA0VS7-Bc7a_BsVXJ95t0YBrDqg6ndCfH0AGOsVRHcnwnbDZQFeGxc7xS_NSbR8ZVPtBTIV0DvxEEW/s1600/IMG_1354.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5iXOKQe4RAH2NtcKKAs-bYUVSUibeXJUuUGtq12KnFhvBKk4ScPM8eQwNNEek_BsA0VS7-Bc7a_BsVXJ95t0YBrDqg6ndCfH0AGOsVRHcnwnbDZQFeGxc7xS_NSbR8ZVPtBTIV0DvxEEW/s200/IMG_1354.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541158000450652674" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-4Ns090dP1958sDihqVs6udONBJesnXjkQTT21dk52MqWTDaNHJ0IxnREDUpBErICrHrDJWK64-3pkihAAEIgqQrBB4rqDkqotbQGYWiru4sQn51UozruVQtd3LbCRRDVmzb9IcLOWVoi/s1600/IMG_1487.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 142px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-4Ns090dP1958sDihqVs6udONBJesnXjkQTT21dk52MqWTDaNHJ0IxnREDUpBErICrHrDJWK64-3pkihAAEIgqQrBB4rqDkqotbQGYWiru4sQn51UozruVQtd3LbCRRDVmzb9IcLOWVoi/s200/IMG_1487.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541158022614808674" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVXafpRoMxhVsp8vcj34E9XZTtZvO7YEJv5Z9kIeucEsOrEQaDnA3qyDsLATos_iymxBLKlB0zpL55TvI3ltekoSJHZfaLRGVsuq4tENP2uSq9SBO3En8Zypza5s7VOD0QCkz6U-NMfJcw/s1600/IMG_1293.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVXafpRoMxhVsp8vcj34E9XZTtZvO7YEJv5Z9kIeucEsOrEQaDnA3qyDsLATos_iymxBLKlB0zpL55TvI3ltekoSJHZfaLRGVsuq4tENP2uSq9SBO3En8Zypza5s7VOD0QCkz6U-NMfJcw/s200/IMG_1293.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541157990829483922" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrphi6_nmZ4INUsGPYFt0TibsMP8xuTsCRRLV4VlKCxNxDZ9XtUByCLXkPmGtObIlnJO-1hCNsrJAtg4Gv6ZxlJpNIRIZzRz4xERDpc3fahqcbfjykQ7Kk0MFdxPBrJok5k0-Zi3GoiqbL/s1600/IMG_1312.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrphi6_nmZ4INUsGPYFt0TibsMP8xuTsCRRLV4VlKCxNxDZ9XtUByCLXkPmGtObIlnJO-1hCNsrJAtg4Gv6ZxlJpNIRIZzRz4xERDpc3fahqcbfjykQ7Kk0MFdxPBrJok5k0-Zi3GoiqbL/s200/IMG_1312.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541157994758551250" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >That apparently wasn't enough so we did it again this past weekend! We invited a few of her friends and of course our amazing family to come celebrate again, luau-style. She loved it! She wore her "grass" skirt, suffered through her lei for photos, and reveled in all the excitement. She is definitely a little party girl.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyTLmvidtABpKwfLF45U7tWwDSXOUyA0mtIRx6yjKtylL2E-k0TBMI_-8rBaXSLcbvucctF3TsQ6GTr3_Q3ncmISgg4qzRo4BzuXKLm3IJ4lxOK_FHLlt_CYxN-7Jv7g6j3OVsuwEfumfE/s1600/IMG_1610.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyTLmvidtABpKwfLF45U7tWwDSXOUyA0mtIRx6yjKtylL2E-k0TBMI_-8rBaXSLcbvucctF3TsQ6GTr3_Q3ncmISgg4qzRo4BzuXKLm3IJ4lxOK_FHLlt_CYxN-7Jv7g6j3OVsuwEfumfE/s200/IMG_1610.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541154543060629490" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVVxPXLd75nZzYfaGSwy6ylXjGl-Ry-_CWItSXdmF-XUHR2nOnos-stH_hmCFt2qScreY187em6aA5OsXkaaUe7LrF1YPujboK39e4Q4bfRcySQndkyk4jEHTbNodihlKj3JOoCITKCWFP/s1600/IMG_1614.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVVxPXLd75nZzYfaGSwy6ylXjGl-Ry-_CWItSXdmF-XUHR2nOnos-stH_hmCFt2qScreY187em6aA5OsXkaaUe7LrF1YPujboK39e4Q4bfRcySQndkyk4jEHTbNodihlKj3JOoCITKCWFP/s200/IMG_1614.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541154549758319330" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" ><br />We can't believe how quickly the last two years have gone by. It would seem that it was just yesterd</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >ay that I poked Ben in the side whispering, "Doll, I think my water just broke" and him popping up saying, "NO WAY!" ... heading to the hospital, and, after a relatively smooth delivery, holding that sweet, screaming little bundle for hours. Days. Weeks? It just went by way too quickly for my taste, but we have been having a blast.<br /><br /></span> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghl4hyphenhyphenqUzVzvUq69Z52cG8CLxE4azTyVfeCb25JPMUIRGOAFjdxRe49cwwU2zIbjuJZe7Tt7-rOiJtW8C4lR-o81Wud52-CIDha3enlpTl3Yi1sAtgHLu1NXhKY3N6EFP4BpAdt4yafqI-/s1600/IMG_3355.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghl4hyphenhyphenqUzVzvUq69Z52cG8CLxE4azTyVfeCb25JPMUIRGOAFjdxRe49cwwU2zIbjuJZe7Tt7-rOiJtW8C4lR-o81Wud52-CIDha3enlpTl3Yi1sAtgHLu1NXhKY3N6EFP4BpAdt4yafqI-/s200/IMG_3355.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541159801236606642" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvn30hIMcA72L7-OpYI8xB0uSxJqPqaDo0PUzAyAf4PADbTUddyIdhrRlJUHG9vyjUBiCdmcXneE1_I7_4UWhe1Y3RkUDQiENShh2AABYok3zDKMYl4Ym-YYlMGkFIqDgN3ORAc6sZkOlq/s1600/IMG_1622.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvn30hIMcA72L7-OpYI8xB0uSxJqPqaDo0PUzAyAf4PADbTUddyIdhrRlJUHG9vyjUBiCdmcXneE1_I7_4UWhe1Y3RkUDQiENShh2AABYok3zDKMYl4Ym-YYlMGkFIqDgN3ORAc6sZkOlq/s200/IMG_1622.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541154518253246114" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" ><br /></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >Annabel</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >le </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >is quite the little character these days. She talks up a storm. I would say she talks more than Jake ever did at this age, but in looking back it would appear that maybe he actually said more, which is just shocking. She says EVERYTHING and sounds like a little girl when she says it! Not like a baby who just turned two!</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >I really need time to slow down now. This is all happening way too quickly. My two little peanuts are getting so big. It's impossible to imagine where the last two years have gone!<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvn30hIMcA72L7-OpYI8xB0uSxJqPqaDo0PUzAyAf4PADbTUddyIdhrRlJUHG9vyjUBiCdmcXneE1_I7_4UWhe1Y3RkUDQiENShh2AABYok3zDKMYl4Ym-YYlMGkFIqDgN3ORAc6sZkOlq/s1600/IMG_1622.JPG"></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_sxnoyMblMUB2LHA-QxauAcl3nxulBTTfdbH2Eu7FwRfs70NI6VPJxLroFChtPELISwBYbcoMMXdtAU1cwWkuBvTDvEEc3JmFb0H59oy494X8EALdouYLewZh3Mjk_y5lJtKKof7Cx9J0/s1600/IMG_1483.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_sxnoyMblMUB2LHA-QxauAcl3nxulBTTfdbH2Eu7FwRfs70NI6VPJxLroFChtPELISwBYbcoMMXdtAU1cwWkuBvTDvEEc3JmFb0H59oy494X8EALdouYLewZh3Mjk_y5lJtKKof7Cx9J0/s200/IMG_1483.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541158012096546066" border="0" /></a></div>angehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16916635698834573983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176433581377119003.post-29283233686745613292010-08-29T21:54:00.000-07:002010-08-29T22:09:01.662-07:00first day of KINDERGARTEN<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPZh8GmfIN1hfMma13xOzIZ7OUvfBnCahSkfzFV43N3xff9cpEEUs3F75CPic8iaebncJVQoOIyq-tVLkVgiyz9zWd1N-PmAqxV8fyuXA2GwQhT2enLIaQ5Y-mWqJ4n2456MP1pKRHyqP_/s1600/IMG_1114.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPZh8GmfIN1hfMma13xOzIZ7OUvfBnCahSkfzFV43N3xff9cpEEUs3F75CPic8iaebncJVQoOIyq-tVLkVgiyz9zWd1N-PmAqxV8fyuXA2GwQhT2enLIaQ5Y-mWqJ4n2456MP1pKRHyqP_/s400/IMG_1114.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511065293743184370" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >Jakey just had his first day of Kindergarten last week! I ju</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >st can't believe it. The ti</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >me has gone by so quickly. I was pretty much dreading it because I thought I'd be a mess. I couldn't help but think about how he would be away from me every single day now and it</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" > sort of felt like the beginning of the end, as awful as that sounds. On the other hand, of course I realize the value of it and how it will be our greatest adventure yet, but there's a part of me that is having a hard time letting h</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >im grow up! I'm sure every parent on this planet can relate.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvDAC2RNDYizglsCKOHLKcc-4FWLfsVzDkkxelNT_6NsmIff2119QKYDK0UGdls_70J_JRPo0HgUn9gz_4TVKMK23XvHV534ZXZfzv326tvMcyp98cGmaFdpoEXB75pgg1CG8ljtz8BffO/s1600/IMG_1103.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvDAC2RNDYizglsCKOHLKcc-4FWLfsVzDkkxelNT_6NsmIff2119QKYDK0UGdls_70J_JRPo0HgUn9gz_4TVKMK23XvHV534ZXZfzv326tvMcyp98cGmaFdpoEXB75pgg1CG8ljtz8BffO/s200/IMG_1103.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511064456169327906" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >Monday, August 23, we crossed the street and hea</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >ded to Jake's new Kindergarten classroom.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZoF7Z-VOoeSh5KCZE9BsmtHaayzBkg-JzzJYKedZjxuwV_Xu8QcE1fiumQQT-rWdeB6qKbGpU0D-CHKcQS8Rz1uHeBBkhOSy3XmiZCnZaK66XbVUbmKmZGFuObINyCtPwFQjTLfrVXyDx/s1600/IMG_1105.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZoF7Z-VOoeSh5KCZE9BsmtHaayzBkg-JzzJYKedZjxuwV_Xu8QcE1fiumQQT-rWdeB6qKbGpU0D-CHKcQS8Rz1uHeBBkhOSy3XmiZCnZaK66XbVUbmKmZGFuObINyCtPwFQjTLfrVXyDx/s200/IMG_1105.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511063971763682418" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >Unfortunately Ben couldn't join us as he was working in Fairfield that week (and he starts at 7am). But, lucky for us, Grandma and Grandpa came over and joined us!<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqq9GsK5SagSrRR4sSZ_n9xinz7fLghI4YP6guFMHpYEtlKg70Aa24d3TGZbu5NnWP1ky_jJSi-PoTewum88g5GyBUNwWqq5wPI1zHCpn_-Ab9BZrCXuD-VH-yF2pcCtCNXsjvYNzh-bDs/s1600/IMG_1106.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqq9GsK5SagSrRR4sSZ_n9xinz7fLghI4YP6guFMHpYEtlKg70Aa24d3TGZbu5NnWP1ky_jJSi-PoTewum88g5GyBUNwWqq5wPI1zHCpn_-Ab9BZrCXuD-VH-yF2pcCtCNXsjvYNzh-bDs/s200/IMG_1106.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511063978434935090" border="0" /></a><br /></div><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" ><br />We waited outside in the hot sun waiting for our turn to go through those doors. Grams and Gramps (and Annabelle) left us at the door, and Jake and I went in to meet his new teacher. </span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" ><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnaoap2Bey-0tCUw225YdCxqZu73LjY346ACa6wCPbO9bBIoomNgL_Kcn6MzN7u1wmL5Nhrw1T5VJXgg20oxnVxaNMmWMJunPe2pryJ0GhVhbc1NL8KN4SHYIGRlUEoE-lm_hcly1aWZVM/s1600/IMG_1112.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnaoap2Bey-0tCUw225YdCxqZu73LjY346ACa6wCPbO9bBIoomNgL_Kcn6MzN7u1wmL5Nhrw1T5VJXgg20oxnVxaNMmWMJunPe2pryJ0GhVhbc1NL8KN4SHYIGRlUEoE-lm_hcly1aWZVM/s200/IMG_1112.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511063987624590498" border="0" /></a><br /></div><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" ><br />Jake walked in like he owned the place! It was fantastic to see how comfortable he seemed in there. We looked around at everything and he sat down next to his buddy, Nathan, to color. Then all the kids were called to the carpet to take roll and get going. </span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >While they were on the carpet their teachers (there are actually two in the room, lucky for us!) told them to wave good-bye to their moms and dads. Jake waved, blew kisses, blew hearts and signed "I love you" and off I went.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir86drx5T1dOi7R4-yOQk7Nu-OX-2SklgKm6KC9ERW1PIgLRmuqaxZKpg30w-lbWXAV_FO1oS7yWubhx4jDrJC_jxWfG-JFyuxbijjr5qmlzcqqmFsD55oHsIgFKOdXKAkn2R0GrcdQdjZ/s1600/IMG_1125.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir86drx5T1dOi7R4-yOQk7Nu-OX-2SklgKm6KC9ERW1PIgLRmuqaxZKpg30w-lbWXAV_FO1oS7yWubhx4jDrJC_jxWfG-JFyuxbijjr5qmlzcqqmFsD55oHsIgFKOdXKAkn2R0GrcdQdjZ/s200/IMG_1125.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511064004598411266" border="0" /></a><br /></div><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" ><br />I was so proud of him and how grown up he looked there. I didn't feel sad at all, surprisingly enough, a</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >nd neither did he. It felt good and natural, which I know it is :), and I was relieved to have the buildup of the first day over with!<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuYXqbXlc2x9V3LDnvr5-xxDWuUuYneZf3lULST7RUye1HM7RYWb5sGE6YRAhuQK3mybcTL2b6uRuosUwl9iBcvydf1axNRo5TWLREkbpNWZg0gDGuEYiKpkh1h9JgsMK4bIDyO0ax4CfT/s1600/IMG_1128.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuYXqbXlc2x9V3LDnvr5-xxDWuUuYneZf3lULST7RUye1HM7RYWb5sGE6YRAhuQK3mybcTL2b6uRuosUwl9iBcvydf1axNRo5TWLREkbpNWZg0gDGuEYiKpkh1h9JgsMK4bIDyO0ax4CfT/s200/IMG_1128.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511064465110102610" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >Jake's now been a Kindergartener for a week and is just blowing us away. This weekend, both mornings, he got up before we did and went out to color in the living room while he w</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >aited for us to get up. This morning he told me that while he was waiting, he was "doing [his] homework!" They don't even have homework yet, but he was practicing his letters and numbers all on his own. I just couldn't believe it. He is such a good boy and we're so proud of him. We love him so much!</span>angehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16916635698834573983noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176433581377119003.post-64533295657337469612010-08-08T22:20:00.000-07:002010-08-08T22:49:47.683-07:00fernow!<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >we just got back from our annual fernow trip! we started in southern CA at mom's family reunion party. it was so much fun to spend time with everyone, but it is never enough time.<br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >i will take what i can get, though! </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" ><br /></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0hbBYu3tggu5JC9UoqtJjQzSsu88RVkaGYNw-svYWoQlDa1u7V1-nmOqmAp-MJXseuhtVjFb7-7QKxwkPaOrv2nO0wNeP9YXNltrGLhVGT_VIFnHZ94iG_BCxTnQHDkNkCVKGNxhRASdk/s1600/IMG_0424.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0hbBYu3tggu5JC9UoqtJjQzSsu88RVkaGYNw-svYWoQlDa1u7V1-nmOqmAp-MJXseuhtVjFb7-7QKxwkPaOrv2nO0wNeP9YXNltrGLhVGT_VIFnHZ94iG_BCxTnQHDkNkCVKGNxhRASdk/s200/IMG_0424.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503282471875620578" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" ><br />a few days later we headed out to prescott for a night and then out to the wilderness for 4 days! we stayed in a forest service cabin that is no longer in use, but that you can rent. it is tucked away from everything in the coconino forest, which is just beauti</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >f</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >ul.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8jIpjeirVLs2hP86RN1m9TsuOI3Kb4s95Xfa-uxzrsYlgUuL4aHLycM82UYK60FfTNKdtc7-m6jOJ13LL6Q2U8eMW303fiSzAAk3hGbjZnJYI0PsoUhMixFLTIqOL6EK3IgkGt3A1rsZv/s1600/IMG_0674.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8jIpjeirVLs2hP86RN1m9TsuOI3Kb4s95Xfa-uxzrsYlgUuL4aHLycM82UYK60FfTNKdtc7-m6jOJ13LL6Q2U8eMW303fiSzAAk3hGbjZnJYI0PsoUhMixFLTIqOL6EK3IgkGt3A1rsZv/s200/IMG_0674.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503279260339536770" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" > </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >we took walks, a long hike, tried to get up to the lookout tower (which was closed) but still saw some amazing v</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >iews</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" > of arizona.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" ><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiMLiMXSCywvO2Asghpd4jxCo6Lzm1-Qb9DDWUqIx43XxggYisHFBtuu4MaEYLYeSlN2yc1SEo4cScO0tY71icl3u2jDZGtcx4_t0o-5dlcQXEgrCc-VqCjoktjQxQRWBHfGJDbqb3j4hG/s1600/IMG_0689.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiMLiMXSCywvO2Asghpd4jxCo6Lzm1-Qb9DDWUqIx43XxggYisHFBtuu4MaEYLYeSlN2yc1SEo4cScO0tY71icl3u2jDZGtcx4_t0o-5dlcQXEgrCc-VqCjoktjQxQRWBHfGJDbqb3j4hG/s200/IMG_0689.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503279247975760754" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >we roasted marshmallows and sang songs by the campfire at night and even witnessed an incredible thun</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >dersto</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >rm our last night there.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmoypJ0h1edO3-XeiSDgXVDZh1DEyMg_-8w60wGRUTfaKbGYuVkouuCOKR0aQ9tRqpdEBbX82op0BfYD8oStVvDiEDdnadsHzqgp3OnDCFuIFzxBCh3xjKQ7CgHZRDmvNTFqL_nsaUaYK-/s1600/IMG_0611.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmoypJ0h1edO3-XeiSDgXVDZh1DEyMg_-8w60wGRUTfaKbGYuVkouuCOKR0aQ9tRqpdEBbX82op0BfYD8oStVvDiEDdnadsHzqgp3OnDCFuIFzxBCh3xjKQ7CgHZRDmvNTFqL_nsaUaYK-/s200/IMG_0611.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503279228533602050" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >the kids all </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >played so well together and had the best time. it's amazi</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >ng what kids come u</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >p with when you take away the tv, dvd player, i-pod, nintendo, whatever. no electronics whatsoever and they were completely entertained the entire time. they built clubhous</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >es, made a workshop, hunted for geodes, played house in a tent and rolled around in the mud and dirt until their clothes were caked!</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwI-9ZzV8n-Hl0pKoxuPrEGw6uV6hyphenhyphen5Avc_lkqQbamxkkRhf_XYBktfQO61n2KkXVyQyH5RzGHBds0deyFXJua92WoGZW8wRtfoMdYVwGO12gUyGF083JfRN_gvhcMztTsWN2xnj2lXmip/s1600/IMG_0670.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwI-9ZzV8n-Hl0pKoxuPrEGw6uV6hyphenhyphen5Avc_lkqQbamxkkRhf_XYBktfQO61n2KkXVyQyH5RzGHBds0deyFXJua92WoGZW8wRtfoMdYVwGO12gUyGF083JfRN_gvhcMztTsWN2xnj2lXmip/s200/IMG_0670.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503279240028191682" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" ><br />it was awesome. it went by WAY too fast and already i'm looking forward to next year's trip. i just wish we could stay longer!<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP-WBvVcnUkzjM3l3He7YgGgkILtc0NvvjQJ2Hil-TTvDuHAs8fPwhP1bGR2O-DGbLjROz_tISVnOhSFUIqLDU6nVd9J1awFye_A23QJlTBGyZwsi9F9RpW_cr_IfoRHNnwg_8AzkNLak-/s1600/IMG_0810.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP-WBvVcnUkzjM3l3He7YgGgkILtc0NvvjQJ2Hil-TTvDuHAs8fPwhP1bGR2O-DGbLjROz_tISVnOhSFUIqLDU6nVd9J1awFye_A23QJlTBGyZwsi9F9RpW_cr_IfoRHNnwg_8AzkNLak-/s200/IMG_0810.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503279232136165634" border="0" /></a>angehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16916635698834573983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176433581377119003.post-86223961237481031622010-07-19T23:26:00.000-07:002010-08-09T23:01:33.923-07:00summertime rolls<span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >we have been enjoying our summer to the f</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >ullest. we've been to southern california for a week and to pinecrest twice already. we have our annual flagstaff trip coming up in a fe</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >w weeks and another southern california trip for my good friend's baby shower. school will be back in session in no time. it's sort of amazing how quickly this has gone by! now i will spend an entire school year again looking forward to summer!</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" ><br /></span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >our trip to so cal was a blast. we watched stasia and av</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >a in a dance rec</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >ital, which was adorable. both jake a</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >nd annabel</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >le loved watching all the dancers.<br /></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJYRTvTz75rQ3RBraUQ_QXJZtehsThgUA8xAheUcrS_Iof4dNh7aW8h165chourDptEKlH4JZ6gh14RIqZySzGIiL9aZGOSUCny88ZjYqGd5fFnifBEuDEdkeh7-uYUXviEr_7WZktQInK/s1600/IMG_8876.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJYRTvTz75rQ3RBraUQ_QXJZtehsThgUA8xAheUcrS_Iof4dNh7aW8h165chourDptEKlH4JZ6gh14RIqZySzGIiL9aZGOSUCny88ZjYqGd5fFnifBEuDEdkeh7-uYUXviEr_7WZktQInK/s200/IMG_8876.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503652386641877698" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >we spent time with poppo, hobbie and bapu, and the aunties, uncles and cousins. we got to go to some of annika's end-of-preschool activities, which was really neat, and just spend time with all the girls. we swam, went to yoga classes, went to the Y, and even got to see the beautiful and pregnant kara and have lunch with my very best friend, hayley. we even managed to squeeze some time in with abby and her gorgeous boys!<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDmzZgPeRGlIFH0SMCAg4sv8pBlNFQZI3oLx3BhkLaPdPWCwN0Qh4AOAn1rtnUu9FBL3Ticsa5ictZOT2P7bH_6JembkaLpIcTSY8tzJxQTv_2ClehGmMgblGpEjU6V-L44BkSNs1s7MAj/s1600/IMG_8964.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 143px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDmzZgPeRGlIFH0SMCAg4sv8pBlNFQZI3oLx3BhkLaPdPWCwN0Qh4AOAn1rtnUu9FBL3Ticsa5ictZOT2P7bH_6JembkaLpIcTSY8tzJxQTv_2ClehGmMgblGpEjU6V-L44BkSNs1s7MAj/s200/IMG_8964.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503655088202243842" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtSnoMwTJ_zJb-mO72oLUszpnHOFGK6RL5eQktDfl_iIdqV4ESl7VSrpNxVhmh4-q9DBdchYCHWmfQ4CEdAb-TVDsO74CACCJqpAXZ5Nehqusz8Ov8ws0aQEdiXYxoOHtW6IWklGKbfihK/s1600/IMG_8911.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtSnoMwTJ_zJb-mO72oLUszpnHOFGK6RL5eQktDfl_iIdqV4ESl7VSrpNxVhmh4-q9DBdchYCHWmfQ4CEdAb-TVDsO74CACCJqpAXZ5Nehqusz8Ov8ws0aQEdiXYxoOHtW6IWklGKbfihK/s200/IMG_8911.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503652413408793586" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguchs78hxMjwRuasqiA0jZ1Ren10eQD5reeJEsUWPizA7EuNauaD6s5rYIMrqehnApXsmMyWH9K76UxraJhRULgZ0XgzxnIKjTM3GcqfzkkCnvQfaxhiYhrYbgiN3WpQWa6v2qVS4TtF4r/s1600/IMG_9022.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguchs78hxMjwRuasqiA0jZ1Ren10eQD5reeJEsUWPizA7EuNauaD6s5rYIMrqehnApXsmMyWH9K76UxraJhRULgZ0XgzxnIKjTM3GcqfzkkCnvQfaxhiYhrYbgiN3WpQWa6v2qVS4TtF4r/s200/IMG_9022.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503652393430309426" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >i spend a lot of time with each of my sisters, which was</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" > so much fun, and not enou</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >gh tim</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >e with my parents! :(<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdF3UNhF3ui032P2_ngXclGw_BM8waqjVGRhm6s7nBVCOF5-pyJFvA9YoZs8GzR_LDl-aYktktg9Ii1BXII-8TTmeQz1I4ZW3tB2WC2GvOAjY6t09IkU_t1Rn9_ftWrSvlOopzXWtNhCuA/s1600/IMG_9198.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdF3UNhF3ui032P2_ngXclGw_BM8waqjVGRhm6s7nBVCOF5-pyJFvA9YoZs8GzR_LDl-aYktktg9Ii1BXII-8TTmeQz1I4ZW3tB2WC2GvOAjY6t09IkU_t1Rn9_ftWrSvlOopzXWtNhCuA/s200/IMG_9198.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503652419784571090" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >3 days after getting home from so cal we left for pinecrest for 5 days with ben's parents, sister, her husband and their adorable little girl. it was so relaxing and beautiful and fun.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9DuShBLtAC4zKkmkhtN0Rk34N63QPS9u8wKsMT1CzEq1N2CdDYyzHe0hUka_Q_5Nm5XyVN2rdT3vcO55QkVw90v1hTAgPG9HIIwET3mzhlF7AmiKm9bWMG3i_fyG2idFINSbVXhhEcbkY/s1600/IMG_9645.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9DuShBLtAC4zKkmkhtN0Rk34N63QPS9u8wKsMT1CzEq1N2CdDYyzHe0hUka_Q_5Nm5XyVN2rdT3vcO55QkVw90v1hTAgPG9HIIwET3mzhlF7AmiKm9bWMG3i_fyG2idFINSbVXhhEcbkY/s200/IMG_9645.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503650191142616370" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >we kayaked, walked, rode bikes, and caught up on all the sleep we lost in so cal! i love it up there. i wish we could have stayed an extra week.<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIheTNE86zdn8IdZSbTlE5coLABRdSAfl1luTIq1znczwdFKtCQyV4SyOw2zEBLmKx3eyJ88zDuSJEz7PAdhd_dtbwOP0pTfMacfUEfmXb6VtyBXkTv6SvvUY4aHESSrErtyBR-LCtoxkR/s1600/IMG_9618.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIheTNE86zdn8IdZSbTlE5coLABRdSAfl1luTIq1znczwdFKtCQyV4SyOw2zEBLmKx3eyJ88zDuSJEz7PAdhd_dtbwOP0pTfMacfUEfmXb6VtyBXkTv6SvvUY4aHESSrErtyBR-LCtoxkR/s200/IMG_9618.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503650182052362498" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" ><br />we came home from pinecrest to mom, steph and her girls staying with us for a few days over the 4th of July. </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgrq_E9HqpFbgMeLldWswWfASVa4pDwcQp5YulDTx3aPqzlmOXfawdWlSRoDjMh470eK3Opv5Erjtyn5fGdXmHOMBtUeXOsY7i1cUA3FCoapqBBxglkeANM3csqJ_CqKLmI_7FC8BCrSaW/s1600/IMG_9740.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgrq_E9HqpFbgMeLldWswWfASVa4pDwcQp5YulDTx3aPqzlmOXfawdWlSRoDjMh470eK3Opv5Erjtyn5fGdXmHOMBtUeXOsY7i1cUA3FCoapqBBxglkeANM3csqJ_CqKLmI_7FC8BCrSaW/s200/IMG_9740.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503650151290133890" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >it was a lot of fun to have the girlie time and we all had a blast together!<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVqQW9uRhPJwacxYmc7ioJAtpCWyaODQMcOBxb7hyVX1H5gjSyw6PXIPf0TwQAPPzK7EaWJzoEiUwp4bbqMW50W3Yq5ojhEmap8vkwsyRr8oSZIQYtD8aHpEbA9oY7ylRrOY3U8W0Xx07f/s1600/IMG_9763.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVqQW9uRhPJwacxYmc7ioJAtpCWyaODQMcOBxb7hyVX1H5gjSyw6PXIPf0TwQAPPzK7EaWJzoEiUwp4bbqMW50W3Yq5ojhEmap8vkwsyRr8oSZIQYtD8aHpEbA9oY7ylRrOY3U8W0Xx07f/s200/IMG_9763.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503650177522289954" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" ><br />it was just sad that cat wasn't with us. </span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" ><br /><br /></span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >so to get more of my cat fix, we headed back up to pinecrest this past weekend to celebrate her birthday. we hiked around the lake, kayaked for hours, and roasted marshmallows over a campfire in back of the cabin.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPJ59K0623NS7aTUt5UCN1Mwp5kBL-a0O0iMRWncj7casZ9D6TURqEs95GzZgayIjUO81swrpSU3mEalkfXkhmLvydseExZDxx9EPWdwnGcLixcadPwE4nrLcY2U4utTZuIRM0EJBOZRs1/s1600/IMG_0199-2.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPJ59K0623NS7aTUt5UCN1Mwp5kBL-a0O0iMRWncj7casZ9D6TURqEs95GzZgayIjUO81swrpSU3mEalkfXkhmLvydseExZDxx9EPWdwnGcLixcadPwE4nrLcY2U4utTZuIRM0EJBOZRs1/s200/IMG_0199-2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503650138087545362" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >between the two pinecrest trips my wonderful friend jamie gave birth to her second little boy, and we've been so lucky to spend a lot of time with them!<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6sv3Bo3eJC0N_NZFJNxWifbN0qwcy_Yyd5R3jowzzoxZMExXDDJ8xNQQ3wNxezPcNjen9TnTkrgLXFxjySxdMom7jPWcUVX8i_lImPkQg-R2fswCGHWLQOKsjFpp0KmEvCFXreR2L6Ra7/s1600/IMG_9942-1.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6sv3Bo3eJC0N_NZFJNxWifbN0qwcy_Yyd5R3jowzzoxZMExXDDJ8xNQQ3wNxezPcNjen9TnTkrgLXFxjySxdMom7jPWcUVX8i_lImPkQg-R2fswCGHWLQOKsjFpp0KmEvCFXreR2L6Ra7/s200/IMG_9942-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503657049028678098" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >we've also caught up with our good friends hannah, tyler and julianna, as well as my pal sal, silly sara, andy & brooke, and some of the old st. philip moms. we have really tried to cram in as much as possible!</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" ><br /></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >wow. it just does not do any of it justice to give these little tiny blips about our adventures this summer! there's far too much to write so hopefully i'll get some pictures up one of these days and you can see for yourself!</span>angehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16916635698834573983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176433581377119003.post-28626044207312684602010-06-19T22:46:00.000-07:002010-08-09T23:32:01.131-07:00bye bye, preschool!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtqNnvOFgqChn9z-kzYUcxgXVRqJHMuwKtEUM8rORtJZ6qsw12fMwj6_rwRJJaG3Y0jsscdK6WXN-N3eybjuOjTUzP4BnRp0kS2OKDBCznb6Ex1dIHkgn5KEMAcHGlTfHi5BGb8fE6wBlw/s1600/IMG_8667.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtqNnvOFgqChn9z-kzYUcxgXVRqJHMuwKtEUM8rORtJZ6qsw12fMwj6_rwRJJaG3Y0jsscdK6WXN-N3eybjuOjTUzP4BnRp0kS2OKDBCznb6Ex1dIHkgn5KEMAcHGlTfHi5BGb8fE6wBlw/s320/IMG_8667.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495865203633054098" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" ><br />jakey graduated <a href="http://www.tskearsarge.org/">preschool</a>! i know for some this is not a big deal, especially when they've been through it a time or two, but this was a big milestone for us, for jake, and we are really enjoying watching who he is becoming. perhaps the saddest part of his graduation was saying goodbye to his teacher of two years, mrs. tetzloff (below, in the pink). she was absolutely phenomenal and i always felt like she had a special place in her heart for jacob. </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPVE0jguY7rNZMyYyngZ5nYqelPMdFZOAhHyi-IrG_6kbTO3_nOgB3WXlFXm9jjL2UMiq84KPNE8Ljv455LlbCl-fVkkaUJVZ1bDK5CwQzsHlpUQ99d9b2k_fS5pdozke59fE2FzTXbsSA/s1600/IMG_8713.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPVE0jguY7rNZMyYyngZ5nYqelPMdFZOAhHyi-IrG_6kbTO3_nOgB3WXlFXm9jjL2UMiq84KPNE8Ljv455LlbCl-fVkkaUJVZ1bDK5CwQzsHlpUQ99d9b2k_fS5pdozke59fE2FzTXbsSA/s320/IMG_8713.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495865222706280002" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" ><br />the graduation ceremony itself was very s</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >weet. </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >the teachers did their bloody best to make sure there wasn't a dry eye in the house by s</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >tarting it off with a slideshow of the last year played to a song titled, "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCuVHi_gwuY">let them be little</a>." then the kids stood at the front of the chapel and sang songs. it was so sweet, despite jake's absolute inability to stand still. he was all over the place - lounging on the railing, teetering off to the side... i was so mortified that i couldn't worry about being sad! to top it off, i finally make eye contact with him and mouth, "stand still!" and he looks back at me, thinks for a second, cocks his head to the side and signs (yes SIGNS) the letters N O to me.<br />and looks the other direction.<br />stinker! </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >anyway, overall it was such a sweet ceremony and i will miss the school a lot. i plan to send annabelle there in a few years so it's not really goodbye. jake learned so much from his teachers and from preschool and is now getting ready to enter the world of <a href="http://www.cces.srvusd.k12.ca.us/">elementary school</a>. this should be interesting. we'll try to keep the signing to a minimum. </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPkW-2eYgbDZa4TMuQmRioybxq_8o6fGIg2kuatzkZmIx1eHHEvTFUgp3MAUvErKmoqzvDQB1rlymltC0_mWwkcDbhK9E_ZMZ5k0UoDyRhyphenhyphenCYG_mqOGtms5jw9p1aAx8skc0kcy921_LeS/s1600/IMG_8698.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPkW-2eYgbDZa4TMuQmRioybxq_8o6fGIg2kuatzkZmIx1eHHEvTFUgp3MAUvErKmoqzvDQB1rlymltC0_mWwkcDbhK9E_ZMZ5k0UoDyRhyphenhyphenCYG_mqOGtms5jw9p1aAx8skc0kcy921_LeS/s320/IMG_8698.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495865213022757890" border="0" /></a>angehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16916635698834573983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176433581377119003.post-4450409013401392812010-05-12T20:49:00.000-07:002010-05-12T21:35:08.680-07:00Happy Birthday, Sweet Jake!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoPWOIout7DfHBluvFFOs5T-IGmWb8KDKxjvuCfey7NZqbKwXDYpYnbAlF-3fQZu_DeBIB55gNgvI5OZdqUK_pZtohvtOXWMa7wSJE5QOY0a2IoIZlQFAf2Hb0cgHJs4cZM2tAHL76yt-Q/s1600/IMG_7884-1.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoPWOIout7DfHBluvFFOs5T-IGmWb8KDKxjvuCfey7NZqbKwXDYpYnbAlF-3fQZu_DeBIB55gNgvI5OZdqUK_pZtohvtOXWMa7wSJE5QOY0a2IoIZlQFAf2Hb0cgHJs4cZM2tAHL76yt-Q/s320/IMG_7884-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470602496866237794" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:lucida grande;font-size:100%;" >my little guy just turned five. FIVE. how in the world did that happen? on the one hand he seems so grown up. he's very sweet and concerned with how everyone is doing and feeling, he loves to practice reading and writing, he loves to help out with chores (well, sometimes...) but then i look at him and he's so little still. his "s" sounds are still "eth" sounds, he still falls apart when he doesn't sleep enough or eat quickly enough, he still loves to be rocked and sang to (bless him!)... this is such a neat age. he's getting so independent but still needs us so much. thank God!<br /></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2hBaMPOe0SwLUMMQsCHo6R5PNAIkP1ukoDJhQmM1FnOdpDc99Oc6nJ0CswRV4T7IqUTsgqodzp6HPrKgFFwAKGJbkHEc_AQgo8nwvI1pvEBJ4x80CZV054_jggaYaoeLMkhcWLeP70HXc/s1600/IMG_7849-1.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2hBaMPOe0SwLUMMQsCHo6R5PNAIkP1ukoDJhQmM1FnOdpDc99Oc6nJ0CswRV4T7IqUTsgqodzp6HPrKgFFwAKGJbkHEc_AQgo8nwvI1pvEBJ4x80CZV054_jggaYaoeLMkhcWLeP70HXc/s320/IMG_7849-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470602515094929842" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:lucida grande;font-size:100%;" >for jake's birthday his cousins, stasia and ava, and auntie steph and uncle dustin came to visit. we had a dragon-themed party, by his choice. (frankly i was floored when he didn't say he wanted a <a href="http://www.thomasandfriends.com/usa/Thomas.mvc/Home">Thomas the Tank Engine </a>party! he STILL loves to play with his trains!) anyway, we went with <a href="http://images.clipartof.com/small/13899-Cute-Green-Dragon-With-Yellow-Spines-And-Spots-Clipart-Illustration.jpg">dragons</a>, which was a lot of fun. the kids made dragon spoon crafts and we slayed a big dragon cake for everyone to eat.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGFwvGEzlq6nTyN56MhRZYXND2ai38QT75U9ftFJyudCPe0Tz04AvGfI2it8oxApN30ILBNVigEa9YBKHGbM_O3v8gKShiJhmFZBGjgy_t4fbyl7LTSZki3AX6wuj7rpnn9ieOSsF4_NLz/s1600/IMG_7952-1.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGFwvGEzlq6nTyN56MhRZYXND2ai38QT75U9ftFJyudCPe0Tz04AvGfI2it8oxApN30ILBNVigEa9YBKHGbM_O3v8gKShiJhmFZBGjgy_t4fbyl7LTSZki3AX6wuj7rpnn9ieOSsF4_NLz/s320/IMG_7952-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470602522711563602" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:lucida grande;font-size:100%;" >a little background on this cake...<br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:lucida grande;font-size:100%;" >so last year we did a party with one of jake's best buds, <a href="http://joeyshack.aboutmybaby.com/">joey</a>. we had a <a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://images.meredith.com/parents/images/2008/06/ss_101212608.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.parents.com/fun/birthdays/themes/backyard-carnival-party/&h=250&w=300&sz=39&tbnid=1Bz4iiRXRUBMgM:&tbnh=97&tbnw=116&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcarnival%2Bparty&hl=en&usg=__6gXLr4i83OBKQj02Z4AOVHzEGDs=&ei=ln7rS_e5GIXOsgPhj9C2Dw&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=11&ct=image&ved=0CEoQ9QEwCg">carnival party </a>and jamie (joey's mom) made this insane <a href="http://joeyshack.aboutmybaby.com/photo/5638124">ferris wheel cake</a>. it was phenomenal. the year before we also had a combined party with him and she and her sister made these<a href="http://joeyshack.aboutmybaby.com/photo/3980458"> beautiful train car pieces of cake</a>. (make sure to click on the links so you can see her gorgeous cakes).<br /><br />so anyway, this was our first year not doing a party with them and the pressure was on. let's have a fun, unique cake! so i enlisted jamie's help and expertise and we spent about 3 hours making and frosting this stinking cake. oh, and to top it off i had been up until 1am at least EVERY night the week before cutting things for this "simple" dragon craft. now, i chose to do this so i don't meant to sound like i'm complaining, but it did take a ton of time.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhFYMIMqK9aLJJfGviETGfQvxxT8FSBYavHLa3pn2uHVF64gv4GZnjPu0vK1n_XGPvpdQJtrJWyGmqzRd0ObL9278ixgbQS9d50XLN5M_q4kpUK0JT2FQsk2GbjawBv_DAGdvRRohZZ6NF/s1600/IMG_7927-1.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhFYMIMqK9aLJJfGviETGfQvxxT8FSBYavHLa3pn2uHVF64gv4GZnjPu0vK1n_XGPvpdQJtrJWyGmqzRd0ObL9278ixgbQS9d50XLN5M_q4kpUK0JT2FQsk2GbjawBv_DAGdvRRohZZ6NF/s320/IMG_7927-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470602505406365090" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:lucida grande;font-size:100%;" >friday we are getting all ready for the party, cleaned up, getting the craft stuff together, three hours on the cake, fall into bed about 1am, dead tired. then, as luck would have it, 3am...<br />"mama, i don't feel very good."<br />this was the start of a 2-day vomiting spree for my poor little guy. he had a horrible stomach flu and was so sick. it was so sad! we had to cancel the party (mom & prasad had come all the way up for it), throw away the dragon cake and the extra cupcakes...but luckily we were able to have a "re-do" the following weekend. our amazing friends and family put everything aside and made sure to be there for his make-up party! so yes, another three hours on the cake, but worth every minute. jake was so thrilled and had such a terrific time with his cousins, his friends, aunties and uncles, grandma and grandpa... the party was a success and i'm so glad we were able to have one after all that madness.<br /><br />next year we'll be inviting two friends to the movies. no birthday party! </span>angehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16916635698834573983noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176433581377119003.post-85504748644827866942010-04-08T22:03:00.001-07:002010-04-08T22:46:37.767-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDPueYBV5Quj-wtfh_oSQsfpTvZn5GqW1WN_Wd2V0MWLC9raOQm0-Mbuc0OdQgkY1CQaf6OLqB1K1N2jdYwg5CnweYkl7rJYwla3KuPUfOsde1ZB4sr-yBTz-GczSb6jI5aKiIHpWy0Lwz/s1600/IMG_6318.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDPueYBV5Quj-wtfh_oSQsfpTvZn5GqW1WN_Wd2V0MWLC9raOQm0-Mbuc0OdQgkY1CQaf6OLqB1K1N2jdYwg5CnweYkl7rJYwla3KuPUfOsde1ZB4sr-yBTz-GczSb6jI5aKiIHpWy0Lwz/s400/IMG_6318.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458008504598818882" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >oh my. it has been quite some time since i've updated this thing. i'm not even sure anyone looks at it anymore! well, if you're out there, things have been fantastic, but incredibly busy. a bit overwhelming at times, but now we are in the middle of spring break and on the downhill slide into summer. i can't wait.</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >over the last few months ben lost his job, ben got a new job (which makes him much happier), i have received a pink slip for my job, we've registered jacob for kindergarten, annabelle is talking up a storm, jacob is learning to read and write...</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim0iL-UbqlHTy-5l7FetD_UpO0mbq9lVfo5etvmB2NvQqeElWtEpHcOT9fx4Zl16QqDbPWj9W79mDKJqk_qWdHoFimeQLsUR-ud7zVnHtl8pTinbh-f0DixjQP_XlDLrae612GFPQ2dyJ3/s1600/IMG_5788.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim0iL-UbqlHTy-5l7FetD_UpO0mbq9lVfo5etvmB2NvQqeElWtEpHcOT9fx4Zl16QqDbPWj9W79mDKJqk_qWdHoFimeQLsUR-ud7zVnHtl8pTinbh-f0DixjQP_XlDLrae612GFPQ2dyJ3/s400/IMG_5788.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458008495516197074" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >things </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >have been</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" > incredible! work has kept me very busy and i will say this again and again, i do not know how full-time working moms do it. i truly don't. i get so overwhelmed by the day-to-day stuff - dishes, laundry, dinner, toys - and i only work 40% of a full-time job. </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >my hat is off to the full-timers. shoot, my entire outfit is off to them. though you really don't want to see that...</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" ><br /><break> <break><br />annabelle</break></break></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" > and jake are the sweetest kids around. annabelle has such a fiesty little personality, but she is the most loving child. she is constantly giving kisses and hugs. she will take any chance she can get to plant one on you. she loves everyone. she loves to be "up" with daddy and me, but also grandma, grandpa, jamie ("mamie") and brian ("boo"), maria ("rias")... she has a lot of love to give. <break></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBrGM0-ZBzYI9KZCGLl8nzXxxtFwkJEaMfCaQlsQyJejBeHyTIHazv8SodW2Mv1jAuOTCriHLm5tUiu3wd3pcWzb_p-YSyN6mgmu3Bp_IyBh1EpmPuRIT2l1rmUYXAZy77fxWtKE6o650m/s1600/IMG_5666.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBrGM0-ZBzYI9KZCGLl8nzXxxtFwkJEaMfCaQlsQyJejBeHyTIHazv8SodW2Mv1jAuOTCriHLm5tUiu3wd3pcWzb_p-YSyN6mgmu3Bp_IyBh1EpmPuRIT2l1rmUYXAZy77fxWtKE6o650m/s400/IMG_5666.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458008490047421138" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" ><br /><break> <break><br />so does the little man. i just went in to tuck jakey in to bed and he was being so sweet and loving. he was holding and rubbing my arm, patting my face, hugging me over and over...just so full of sweetness. i said, "i love my best boy" and he said, "i love my sweet girl." i said, "how did you get to be so sweet?" and he said, "you taught me that, mama." ahhh - melt my heart! but then, to make sure i knew he was still a 4 year-old boy he said, "i smell alien slime." and i secretly hoped it wasn't my breath.</break></break></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs4U95oCulrOh27Ml7WG83ja-F6Y2SG0MYZxU_v-fn1dp1HYOyWI-75JJ4LFuV8zi7fpvAhL-Q19T-SUKFaQCeqCKVX5dxxAtgHz43y_kRlCTsrngJMvfepH-1R6-QdIhDsJME46r9jjy5/s1600/IMG_7276.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs4U95oCulrOh27Ml7WG83ja-F6Y2SG0MYZxU_v-fn1dp1HYOyWI-75JJ4LFuV8zi7fpvAhL-Q19T-SUKFaQCeqCKVX5dxxAtgHz43y_kRlCTsrngJMvfepH-1R6-QdIhDsJME46r9jjy5/s400/IMG_7276.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458009867605309170" border="0" /></a><br /><break> <break> <span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" ><break></span></break></break> <span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" ><break></span><break><break><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >i absolutely love being a mom. i truly have the two best children on this planet.<br /><break> <break> </break></break></span></break></break> <span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" ><break></span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" ><break></span><break><break><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >(someone remind me of this when i'm wrangling two screaming children through target next time...)</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >:)</span></break></break>angehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16916635698834573983noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176433581377119003.post-46309262947309878102009-11-29T22:48:00.000-08:002009-11-30T00:20:28.172-08:00Cousins<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibvQzJvx06z_ldGyuk-zno36eTBaB1ilw6tePq-Sb9OTldlfCqzUSLDKXuNoJeN9am3Vo75CUXsJxdBszXzdWoHcPTdF1vJYO_P5pp5ZDbbD93Hd7C2TyL531kYkNLo8haHTgVvznyzYbF/s1600/IMG_3804.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibvQzJvx06z_ldGyuk-zno36eTBaB1ilw6tePq-Sb9OTldlfCqzUSLDKXuNoJeN9am3Vo75CUXsJxdBszXzdWoHcPTdF1vJYO_P5pp5ZDbbD93Hd7C2TyL531kYkNLo8haHTgVvznyzYbF/s320/IMG_3804.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409786191005044146" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlfcqjIxVMRLd1Dsngny2XFBGNq8EgIIDGqk8-XjnrsPZ_6ExTbJiD1SkfRUGWBRkn8LaPxL0oXgSvgWHQ44EpIXAtGoAuM5yjhKXkNmEgeHIMRwr6aqSjprujkxjnDn_7T16YSJsq4aEa/s1600/IMG_3858.JPG"><br /></a> </div> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" ><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7fOjecjofytS35HudmGO_5ThI7ChwkbKDcfxQLnlIr5EPYCh_yXZHtUl_hbd49jfJ8a5YbL4qSY3QZkhdyq_AoD15A2Zf3BeDi-2SBak9RsdICJO5HvSMhex8ig7-a4xkMihTMq3srVj5/s1600/IMG_3858.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7fOjecjofytS35HudmGO_5ThI7ChwkbKDcfxQLnlIr5EPYCh_yXZHtUl_hbd49jfJ8a5YbL4qSY3QZkhdyq_AoD15A2Zf3BeDi-2SBak9RsdICJO5HvSMhex8ig7-a4xkMihTMq3srVj5/s320/IMG_3858.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409786371834688514" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >Today Jacob said, "Mama, do you know which cousins I love?" And I said, "Which ones?" And he said, "ALL of them! And I even love all my aunties and uncles!!"</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >And we do. We love them all!</span><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-origin: padding; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div>angehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16916635698834573983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176433581377119003.post-68698810210661459662009-10-28T13:03:00.000-07:002009-11-30T00:19:18.784-08:00little belles is one!<span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204); font-weight: bold;font-family:lucida grande;" >Then:</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGtE4-sI-Oa3IBaSCCaswOuAcVb55Q1BPDYPHLRM2sR64nLjk8xyO_2JKl9RLHLFJXek9QsgPbozygHNxlj-FV422jXCMJpYnQIn2K_OzIOZRQtuBa1q7m78fExkqKQgMU0OyEJAYHjoJC/s1600/IMG_3284.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGtE4-sI-Oa3IBaSCCaswOuAcVb55Q1BPDYPHLRM2sR64nLjk8xyO_2JKl9RLHLFJXek9QsgPbozygHNxlj-FV422jXCMJpYnQIn2K_OzIOZRQtuBa1q7m78fExkqKQgMU0OyEJAYHjoJC/s400/IMG_3284.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409803530876115154" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 204);font-family:lucida grande;" >Now:</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhemQaeoZeJzjhUPDDuj5RTImdjmWQHVX93-5XbQd0FM6FXkuReGkJxwhCjI1Bzrs87_pDYoHk69Zw3Ilr6-fR9DJvTZJ0m6TRVJO30a1XmjFJMu1i0qJSNcU1swutEl6y086DmFq-e0Q_5/s1600/IMG_1817.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhemQaeoZeJzjhUPDDuj5RTImdjmWQHVX93-5XbQd0FM6FXkuReGkJxwhCjI1Bzrs87_pDYoHk69Zw3Ilr6-fR9DJvTZJ0m6TRVJO30a1XmjFJMu1i0qJSNcU1swutEl6y086DmFq-e0Q_5/s400/IMG_1817.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409799290681630578" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);font-family:lucida grande;" >it has already been nearly 3 months since annabelle had her first birthday! we had a small little party in our backyard, which we covered in black and red decorations.<a href="http://prasadphoto.com/aboutus.html"> mom and prasad,</a> who were up visiting, helped with the kids so i could spend way too much time decorating little ladybug cupcakes for the guests.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLhUznT4Ex-ML5UqBouUU9fMziOPpwRVvlm6JMaGy9_m6KNHDqlFFeWm9pgUeURMQcdeUc1W-Vg_m5GDhr5e4p6xadkSMz6ixTMpW_tH1VsELnJzytFX_2KBEUkNuhuBXEeZvhIxsdvHZU/s1600/IMG_1841.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLhUznT4Ex-ML5UqBouUU9fMziOPpwRVvlm6JMaGy9_m6KNHDqlFFeWm9pgUeURMQcdeUc1W-Vg_m5GDhr5e4p6xadkSMz6ixTMpW_tH1VsELnJzytFX_2KBEUkNuhuBXEeZvhIxsdvHZU/s200/IMG_1841.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409802100303110914" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(102, 102, 204);">i made a separate little cake for annabelle, also decorated as a ladybug, so she could do with it what she pleased. i was putting this cake together, smiling at the memory of jacob and his first birthday cake. i remember him testing the frosting with one finger, realizing it was something not to mess around with, and, wasting no more time, plowing face first into the cake. i am laughing at this as i'm painting annabelle's ladybug cake with red and black frosting. i'm imagining how her chubby little cheeks will look after she nosedives into her carefully decorated cake. i have already mentally dressed her in the full-sleeved bib (courtesy <a href="http://gicquelsnj.blogspot.com/">bees</a>) and placed the highchair out in the backyard, where i know we can hose it off afterward. i was ready.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7JmUlwx-w9Wf9XLeHhx9-ocaE9qiVlaS_bX8_oNzL7kdoI_Vu2JkBo7DmFrtuhhP7hjlH_riPZrY06YLl6lISQU3W_vkLJSTnI1lJywXUp44Y0el_QKb_kpCO_XUMuxjM6iYxoM2uCg8A/s1600/IMG_1868.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7JmUlwx-w9Wf9XLeHhx9-ocaE9qiVlaS_bX8_oNzL7kdoI_Vu2JkBo7DmFrtuhhP7hjlH_riPZrY06YLl6lISQU3W_vkLJSTnI1lJywXUp44Y0el_QKb_kpCO_XUMuxjM6iYxoM2uCg8A/s200/IMG_1868.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409794890904106802" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfTPTAoPeUs6fcn2832DnoUc-235BiuohjMKKfaKS4nxXO2tBE3fGzb9wUSqs0W2p95ESvkfwFV_mJMd4ibyiowUaqvbElAal5lWLv_UDrJJO1Saxpv5gOXPW5gsGfyIiJ79sRO-BU-AQR/s1600/IMG_1887.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfTPTAoPeUs6fcn2832DnoUc-235BiuohjMKKfaKS4nxXO2tBE3fGzb9wUSqs0W2p95ESvkfwFV_mJMd4ibyiowUaqvbElAal5lWLv_UDrJJO1Saxpv5gOXPW5gsGfyIiJ79sRO-BU-AQR/s200/IMG_1887.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409794901237012850" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv-OcrJMYoE5euCbei23H0nKDPk9X7jrTR7YPrdgb7M66Ww0kvwtRGSBr5jthcs2d6TIapKJ3DFnLerPtx8FTG29-VcLLMTVO-uUOos4S3phg8JTk3KJYkGGXitee1ZMeaQbYAzAeL8yY1/s1600/IMG_1899.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv-OcrJMYoE5euCbei23H0nKDPk9X7jrTR7YPrdgb7M66Ww0kvwtRGSBr5jthcs2d6TIapKJ3DFnLerPtx8FTG29-VcLLMTVO-uUOos4S3phg8JTk3KJYkGGXitee1ZMeaQbYAzAeL8yY1/s200/IMG_1899.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409794918517008674" border="0" /></a></div> <div style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(102, 102, 204);"> </div> <div style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(102, 102, 204);"><br />we manage to gather all of our guests around our little bug and sing happy birthday to her. cameras are flashing, kids are grabbing for cupcakes, the wind is blowing the bloody candle out, and annabelle is just taking it all in. i proudly set the long-labored over ladybug cake in front of her and step back, grinning in anticipation of the nosedive. </div> <div style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(102, 102, 204);"> </div> <div style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(102, 102, 204);">she looks at me.<br />she looks at the cake.<br />she looks back at me.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjDZ8fhxZQcUKwL15zeMruRxmJoZmDlXAexXzieNXonr1Omqkv8AumpIwi6P1cka50Ss2IqcThjT0scsS8zPNLVWPIBCYo7hvzB3q1Dq8b5nPfFREONz_fX3dQJElZrLnT-Rhley9N7ZHE/s1600/IMG_1909.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjDZ8fhxZQcUKwL15zeMruRxmJoZmDlXAexXzieNXonr1Omqkv8AumpIwi6P1cka50Ss2IqcThjT0scsS8zPNLVWPIBCYo7hvzB3q1Dq8b5nPfFREONz_fX3dQJElZrLnT-Rhley9N7ZHE/s200/IMG_1909.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409802111299169058" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgurtMbmoTBmzyYZtOyHx5DMWoUiiwqd4KUQiokHKzHG0GLCcAGOm6Puj3Dq9jr5Fe3gjkK8v6ZPK4gLOdLQ1YEVAQgSXlYiTa2Lu6CbuXe4zuaJ15Np-ZeOOpiXtwuyVlJ5W9IZuDDqypZ/s1600/IMG_1902.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgurtMbmoTBmzyYZtOyHx5DMWoUiiwqd4KUQiokHKzHG0GLCcAGOm6Puj3Dq9jr5Fe3gjkK8v6ZPK4gLOdLQ1YEVAQgSXlYiTa2Lu6CbuXe4zuaJ15Np-ZeOOpiXtwuyVlJ5W9IZuDDqypZ/s200/IMG_1902.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409802092353755426" border="0" /></a></div> <div style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(102, 102, 204);"> </div> <div style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(102, 102, 204);"><br /><br />i'm still grinning, but can feel the corners of my smile starting to sag a bit. </div> <div style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(102, 102, 204);"> </div> <div style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(102, 102, 204);">she looks at the cake. she looks at me. </div> <div style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(102, 102, 204);"> </div> <div style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(102, 102, 204);">i stop grinning. i point to the cake. "look, annabelle! try it! it's yummy!"</div> <div style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(102, 102, 204);"> </div> <div style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(102, 102, 204);">she looks at me and starts to whine. reaches up to me with one arm. pick me up, mama. this isn't fun at all. </div> <div style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(102, 102, 204);"> </div> <div style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(102, 102, 204);">i swipe my finger through some icing and try to get a little on her mouth. i'm positive that once she gets a taste of it she'll go nuts. </div> <div style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(102, 102, 204);"> </div> <div style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(102, 102, 204);">she turns her mouth down and gets that look. both arms are now reaching toward me. </div> <div style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(102, 102, 204);"> </div> <div style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(102, 102, 204);">i see the look building on her face and i can feel all the people waiting around us. waiting, with cameras poised, for that classic 1st birthday cake dive. that cake dive that EVERY kid does. </div> <div style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(102, 102, 204);"> </div> <div style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(102, 102, 204);">except for mine. </div> <div style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(102, 102, 204);"> </div> <div style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(102, 102, 204);">the frown turns to a yell which i suspect will rapidly become a blood-curdling scream. she pushes the cake away and, red- and black-stained hands turned up, reaches to me again.<br />get me OUT of here, lady! </div> <div style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(102, 102, 204);"> </div> <div style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(102, 102, 204);">my shoulders slump. the crowd lets out a sigh. the baby starts crying. i look around, smiling to all the cameras and grandmas and grandpas and friends.<br /><br />but then i realize, this is the beauty of family and friends. they don't care about the "perfect birthday shot." (most of them, anyway...) They just want to see this cute, sweet little ladybug enjoy herself on her birthday.<br />so out she comes, down to the floor, and far away from all the little ladybug cupcakes and decorations. she heads back inside, where she is most happy, and spends the rest of the night laughing and playing and crawling and squealing.<br />you can't beat that.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhApMgIU-zzBTg_GoHRHjD4OGazn1-0MVv9aniWm-xSKZr2ze5kngj-9MahnMHcDTKFBQRkts1uQ3elb56RnEYbPtAIzlxLCB5t7-CeVKbBNW7ZhGyI1dHctGujcD3vSuLB3Ogvm9FHaGOj/s1600/IMG_1886.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhApMgIU-zzBTg_GoHRHjD4OGazn1-0MVv9aniWm-xSKZr2ze5kngj-9MahnMHcDTKFBQRkts1uQ3elb56RnEYbPtAIzlxLCB5t7-CeVKbBNW7ZhGyI1dHctGujcD3vSuLB3Ogvm9FHaGOj/s200/IMG_1886.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409794910036619490" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2WNkeTV1qT4cUsMPbf_R0mL0WAeOuDpkQ30fp0tFSqwGK2F9ar1yr8IFueuAqc_BG5NuXR62L8GObze_IEziCTfMI7Q5V-xyPobIYJY4kFLDzlJ60m3v8ITdWZrW9x7kagHD5BQ-utVOx/s1600/IMG_1953.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2WNkeTV1qT4cUsMPbf_R0mL0WAeOuDpkQ30fp0tFSqwGK2F9ar1yr8IFueuAqc_BG5NuXR62L8GObze_IEziCTfMI7Q5V-xyPobIYJY4kFLDzlJ60m3v8ITdWZrW9x7kagHD5BQ-utVOx/s200/IMG_1953.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409802075209969810" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5lilhsspXRjDvioUV332iBR-AuwLpqAVVISUWnfjSUYh0Hre3yqkZXPZYA-CFHUOkkdBAQRjLSSDMR9Vr2EL_b1_PBQu2jfhRJDqkcdSYTtUE6NjUzOS4ugTnSqalUN2wgu9nmVlma_6f/s1600/IMG_1972.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5lilhsspXRjDvioUV332iBR-AuwLpqAVVISUWnfjSUYh0Hre3yqkZXPZYA-CFHUOkkdBAQRjLSSDMR9Vr2EL_b1_PBQu2jfhRJDqkcdSYTtUE6NjUzOS4ugTnSqalUN2wgu9nmVlma_6f/s200/IMG_1972.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409802083055491714" border="0" /></a></div> <div style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(102, 102, 204);"> </div> <div style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(102, 102, 204);"> </div>angehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16916635698834573983noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176433581377119003.post-36816607870749256582009-10-28T12:36:00.001-07:002009-11-29T23:18:29.109-08:00fernow<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEPIevh-QyHhc8F2HPdrywJihU2DFL-GT-hQhhNM16bwDunFmJVyZJ6gOPYCxsuSv5Z6PPUDahrTLcPyXPfsDLcBSVq2npHYijH7m7BSSgfUxzJjJlXYDOz1UXkKYz29Y2dslPErQj6xtP/s1600/IMG_1113.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEPIevh-QyHhc8F2HPdrywJihU2DFL-GT-hQhhNM16bwDunFmJVyZJ6gOPYCxsuSv5Z6PPUDahrTLcPyXPfsDLcBSVq2npHYijH7m7BSSgfUxzJjJlXYDOz1UXkKYz29Y2dslPErQj6xtP/s320/IMG_1113.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409788701979745730" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">time keeps on ticking, ticking, ticking... and don't we all know it. it is already almost halloween (please somebody tell me how that happened), the weather is (finally) turning colder, the days are getting shorter and summer is now so far behind us. </div> <div style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"> </div> <div style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">it's about time i wrote about our last trip of the summer, to the fernow cabin in the mountains of flagstaff, arizona.</div> <div style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">i have been wanting to write about our trip to arizona for so long. it was so much fun. the 14 hour drive ended up not being as bad as we thought and the time we spent out in the wilderness in that little tiny cabin was unbeatable. </div> <div style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"> </div> <div style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">it all started in prescott, a cute little town with a beautiful town square where we managed to get out of the house by lunchtime ... once. you can imagine how easy it is to go anywhere with a group that includes 7 adults, 6 children under the age of 8 and 3 dogs. we were quite the sight.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKpCGaDvXRKi1Z2DPonNfWXEESIL3ai-N-BvDddpR04rhyxBOfkjI6faCmkTNEZiyrrg-9oXxgV4EDwjdA4Wf0zCCSG8vqAPtUFjT2eimY1lK5ZY-O9jjNxWCfyxAqj8oi45gmBAyex-bk/s1600/IMG_0950.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKpCGaDvXRKi1Z2DPonNfWXEESIL3ai-N-BvDddpR04rhyxBOfkjI6faCmkTNEZiyrrg-9oXxgV4EDwjdA4Wf0zCCSG8vqAPtUFjT2eimY1lK5ZY-O9jjNxWCfyxAqj8oi45gmBAyex-bk/s320/IMG_0950.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409790804357099234" border="0" /></a><br />we did drag the crew through a couple of thrift shops, per tradition, but that was the extent of our adventures in the three days we were in prescott. </div> <div style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">after a few days of civilization we were ready for the wilderness. we hauled the gang out to fernow, the old ranger's cabin in the forest. the last time we were there was in 2004 and there were only 2 children along for the ride (3, if you count annika in cat's belly). makenna, who was 3 at the time, nicknamed fernow "the rain cabin" because of a little rainfall we had one day that year. now the name will stick forever, thanks to day after day (and night) of rain. we did manage some sunny days as well, though, and none of us minded the rain too much. we did have to cram ourselves inside the creaky cabin walls a couple of times, but for the most part we dealt with the drizzle and hid on the porch or under the easy-up when necessary.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPptmFT9XK5ucpNr37jSVkLwMpKxOLUQDg7_35ws3qHQFgcUGHI2vc9X2keGUgOSfBVSw91lS0FdMCaEBsNKj2YDa8A_EEJtlFTbOnD1vxEadLGZNtDbfrSCtQxN2bvcA8qShP4UCqsjz1/s1600/IMG_0994.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPptmFT9XK5ucpNr37jSVkLwMpKxOLUQDg7_35ws3qHQFgcUGHI2vc9X2keGUgOSfBVSw91lS0FdMCaEBsNKj2YDa8A_EEJtlFTbOnD1vxEadLGZNtDbfrSCtQxN2bvcA8qShP4UCqsjz1/s320/IMG_0994.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409792343536131538" border="0" /></a>our days out at fernow started in the late morning with dad's cooking (he makes the best pancakes ever) and would eventually turn into a hike or walk of sorts. this, of course, could only take place after one kid napped, then another would need to nap right when the one woke up, the we would have to spend an hour packing up food, sandwiches, crackers, drinks, fruit... then another hour figuring out where we would go, then, just when 6 people were ready to walk, the other 7 were grabbing a jacket, going to the bathroom, changing a diaper... getting that group out the door was quite the feat! but we managed! </div> <div style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"> </div> <div style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">this, naturally, only left us with an hour or two to walk/hike, but we made the best of it. the kids walked for miles (mostly without complaint) and loved taking turns walking the dogs. the most exciting part of any of our walks was finding a "cave" (i use the term loosely) to play in. the kids could spend hours in there. the most amazing thing in all of this is that we had 6 kids, ranging in age from 11 months to almost 9 years, and they ALL managed to play together! annabelle didn't take part in too much of what the others were up to, but the other 5 played all together all the time. it was just wonderful. in fact, i think the 5 of them behaved better than any of us adults!! just kidding. sort of...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyOSjf5JIkJpWePPipbHrkZO5y39P98YMEyNa1KQ7HssKztWMnty2BPRsGSvVTHdpVMcqllhj-NYgAgDZsPQybfbQnCDJkp2iurJhVivx9PSyfvjC6Hggahf02bEMtU7fQIscCl_hB9MZC/s1600/IMG_1346.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyOSjf5JIkJpWePPipbHrkZO5y39P98YMEyNa1KQ7HssKztWMnty2BPRsGSvVTHdpVMcqllhj-NYgAgDZsPQybfbQnCDJkp2iurJhVivx9PSyfvjC6Hggahf02bEMtU7fQIscCl_hB9MZC/s320/IMG_1346.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409789598132368226" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div> <div style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">anyway, in the late afternoon we would all kind of do our own thing. us little bidwells would usually nap, steph and cat would take the big girls on a walk of sorts, the boys would read their magazines, nap or go accompany the girls on the walk, the littlest kids also napped, and poppo would go for a run. then we would somehow manage to make dinner for 13 people, we would eat and drink by the fire, put the tiniest kids to bed and keep the others up to roast marshmallows and sing campfire songs, accompanied by dad's guitar.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgihQLQ41E9v6zTjju61xnitFTqEWvV86wFU3TeNrwpbBv8RPAK3XstfB2RAqwYwXJp22C8bxNz8IarRxm4cKTr8U9ISFSc11Ur5T-6sFP-tPPIMUv5xeUyyiCvnDcevjRc9_WlE_dKm_wN/s1600/IMG_1267.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgihQLQ41E9v6zTjju61xnitFTqEWvV86wFU3TeNrwpbBv8RPAK3XstfB2RAqwYwXJp22C8bxNz8IarRxm4cKTr8U9ISFSc11Ur5T-6sFP-tPPIMUv5xeUyyiCvnDcevjRc9_WlE_dKm_wN/s320/IMG_1267.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409790789417006994" border="0" /></a><br />most of the family would trickle off to bed and cat, steph and i would stay up into the wee hours drinking wine, talking and hanging out.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOEWUZ5pCDFx1jZPBJHWptlXFeewsnzJYLj0Se8I4UpyrM92X-fZQkMalvK-25DaXKkLszoUrwFiFOX-UkkYQ20-JqsDMFPOqKKBGy50ZeUQ2YZBC5W6qcKIAeD2USZwa0W2lmvH_Pq6tI/s1600/IMG_0866.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOEWUZ5pCDFx1jZPBJHWptlXFeewsnzJYLj0Se8I4UpyrM92X-fZQkMalvK-25DaXKkLszoUrwFiFOX-UkkYQ20-JqsDMFPOqKKBGy50ZeUQ2YZBC5W6qcKIAeD2USZwa0W2lmvH_Pq6tI/s320/IMG_0866.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409790797217654082" border="0" /></a><br />we just had the best time. i can't wait to go again next year, despite anything i may have said in the meantime! :) i loved for the kids to be outdoors constantly and using their imaginations to play all sorts of games all day long. there were no phones, computers or electronics of any kind out there and, really, it was bliss. </div>angehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16916635698834573983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176433581377119003.post-16894049547427377982009-08-26T21:27:00.000-07:002009-11-30T00:26:11.883-08:00and so it is...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCpczlUW2MClWFSnDSyDfdsbODM0XXMLkI8mMzx_LcUB971L8mNhPWYnuRWM97R5yvZ5KrkbPBN4t5j88rXVG_n8yZSQ_yS2PiO5sIrfl_NbeBeNexYyaK-ynJqNCMZFTrFksXKLwWfIzg/s1600/IMGP3716.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCpczlUW2MClWFSnDSyDfdsbODM0XXMLkI8mMzx_LcUB971L8mNhPWYnuRWM97R5yvZ5KrkbPBN4t5j88rXVG_n8yZSQ_yS2PiO5sIrfl_NbeBeNexYyaK-ynJqNCMZFTrFksXKLwWfIzg/s400/IMGP3716.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409809999333554946" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8szUTKdglY43RTUGsCX88q82S7KM_HQcwg2b9iVLTO7-MHnED3hcyqkqYALg00nHlAyfI1UiCHCmxDszmgdl75ALEwsT5ZYZne90FUNBPjod90hozu_hIhNN7x-DUL4PP7tEYw5Tf38jv/s1600/IMGP3702.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8szUTKdglY43RTUGsCX88q82S7KM_HQcwg2b9iVLTO7-MHnED3hcyqkqYALg00nHlAyfI1UiCHCmxDszmgdl75ALEwsT5ZYZne90FUNBPjod90hozu_hIhNN7x-DUL4PP7tEYw5Tf38jv/s400/IMGP3702.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409810004161485202" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >we're back in action. i'm back to work, jakey is back to <a href="http://www.stphiliplutheranschool.com/">school</a>, ben is back to teaching twice a week on top of <a href="http://www.ibew.org/">working full-time</a>, and annabelle is approaching her <a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/files/u45/1stbirthdaycake.jpg">first birthday</a>. i feel a little like i'm in the middle of this <a href="http://library.thinkquest.org/03oct/01428/tornado_pics/Tornado3.jpg">tornado </a>and if i should stop for a moment and look around, i might realize how crazy everything is around me! i feel like i am skimming the surface of many things, not really finishing anything, and just waiting for a day with some down time to "do it all." HAH!<br /><br /><br />I'm only working part-time (though I am technically working 3 part-time jobs if you include the <a href="http://blog.prasadphoto.com/">photography blog</a> and the <a href="http://deansouza.com/home.asp">realtor blasts</a>) and I have put tutoring on hold for a couple of weeks (thank God!) so I should be able to handle it. There are moms out there who work full-time and have <a href="http://www.globalgiving.com/pfil/1543/Lots_of_kids_from_Crescer_e_Viver.jpg">more kids </a>than me. I honestly have no idea how they do it. And I have a lot of help!! my mother-in-law helps a ton when she's over here on tuesdays, and my neighbor down the street is awesome with the kids on wednesdays and thursdays... and still i feel very frazzled!<br /><br /><br />i also sound like a big, fat complainer. actually i like <a href="http://www.galenaparkisd.com/images/scopemain.jpg">my job</a>, so far, even though i have yet to meet with students. it's nice to be back on <a href="http://tces-srvusd-ca.schoolloop.com/">campus </a>and part of that community. i love my daycare options, i'm very lucky with that, and i have always loved being busy. and Lord knows i'm busy. so hopefully i can remember to send out pictures and update this blog every now and again. i'm dying to write about our trip to <a href="http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino/recreation/other-rec/recreation_room_with_a_view/fernow/fernow.shtml">arizona </a>with the family (such fun!) and other summer outings, but that will happen on one of those "do it all" days. and i'm positive i'll have tons of those :)</span>angehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16916635698834573983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176433581377119003.post-62854088559328628942009-08-03T19:28:00.000-07:002009-08-04T21:46:02.123-07:00time flies<span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);font-family:lucida grande;" >holy moly.<br /><br />it's already august, jakey is going into his second year of preschool, i am about to go back to work, and annabelle is almost 1!! we have had the craziest and busiest summer, but no one can accuse us of not taking advantage of the time, right? </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipc_oserwuZt5nVt3cxkzeqAE4-h3fibemNe8vxANkYKM8qKMBesLbiA-Hvi4L4K5On6acxwFs7-8o8PZQpc3YaKF2RnKD_FmTRsbCUuBi5VCnY6QzTfHl-K4hSTmx3YQFQK8nyy8OqKUm/s1600-h/IMG_0309.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipc_oserwuZt5nVt3cxkzeqAE4-h3fibemNe8vxANkYKM8qKMBesLbiA-Hvi4L4K5On6acxwFs7-8o8PZQpc3YaKF2RnKD_FmTRsbCUuBi5VCnY6QzTfHl-K4hSTmx3YQFQK8nyy8OqKUm/s320/IMG_0309.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366331887612824482" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);font-family:lucida grande;" >after <a href="http://littlebidwells.blogspot.com/2009_07_01_archive.html">pinecrest with ben's fa</a></span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);font-family:lucida grande;" ><a href="http://littlebidwells.blogspot.com/2009_07_01_archive.html">mily</a>, we headed up again with my sister, cat, and her family for her birthday. we spent a long weekend there and had a blast. We went kayaking, hiked around the lake, took walks and jogs and even swam. we usually don't brave the lake past our knees, so this was big! we spent one night around a campfire roasting marshmallows and eating s'mores. the weather up there was perfect.<br /><br /></span> <span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);font-family:lucida grande;" >the next weekend my other sister, steph, and her family came up to our house for the weekend. </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);font-family:lucida grande;" >we had so mu</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);font-family:lucida grande;" >ch fun with them. we took the kids across the street to the park where stasia learned to ride her bike without training wheels - in about 10 minutes!! she was amazing! we also headed to osage park for more walking and biking, and steph and i thought it would be a good idea to go 5 miles in the blazing 95 degree heat in the peak of the afternoon one day. but we made it fun! the kids had a blast hanging out with each other... and the cat.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS5iUY-M4Gr5Ku0gWjQwBWCn1aDqWskYH_YyTq2OAr2CNVDNgW780nzKvG0PuHxAc4kwWO6Hwp0xmEetySn3Kq-ySKqCnLzLYVh69nBoAbRAP-8mxiS_tfvBeR7aj4XGS1I4C2du1JgZ0P/s1600-h/IMG_0513.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS5iUY-M4Gr5Ku0gWjQwBWCn1aDqWskYH_YyTq2OAr2CNVDNgW780nzKvG0PuHxAc4kwWO6Hwp0xmEetySn3Kq-ySKqCnLzLYVh69nBoAbRAP-8mxiS_tfvBeR7aj4XGS1I4C2du1JgZ0P/s320/IMG_0513.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366331899685980498" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn2cLGnYoYnqmFC8yrXdrZTvIwYSdsjccCPJHmWokgEfdDkGy44IBm-upceIUNw5Tma0cyLTW8Vz4DRU3c3ijyrcQYUfCRJWqVIgNNK6okLi5_YgrHSzLCPC3-RBUFfMo4Dh6M2upDJOsL/s1600-h/IMG_0510.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn2cLGnYoYnqmFC8yrXdrZTvIwYSdsjccCPJHmWokgEfdDkGy44IBm-upceIUNw5Tma0cyLTW8Vz4DRU3c3ijyrcQYUfCRJWqVIgNNK6okLi5_YgrHSzLCPC3-RBUFfMo4Dh6M2upDJOsL/s320/IMG_0510.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366331897400506882" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);font-family:lucida grande;" ><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);font-family:lucida grande;" >t</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);font-family:lucida grande;" >wo days later my friend, jamie, and i took our kids (she has a 4 year-old, <a href="http://joeyshack.aboutmybaby.com/">joey</a>, who is one of jake's best buds), hopped in the car, and drove 8 hours down to <a href="http://turleysmill.com/aboutus.php">poppo's</a>. we swam a ton, hung out, ate some of poppo's fantastic cooking, and even went to <a href="http://www.legoland.com/">Legoland </a>with steph and her girls.<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHKNPfcqMnRpXVpUR5fMgBTG4hyHEU15TKjQeqNTB10iU4mLtOZ5ixPDXmuXmXdH-AmM8_F1Gd_h02dLuQML5eRXyfiFNDCvWBBN2o1XeRSqPhnxxb9VeSmxK3rxFV4SsYwAQx_ml79Sy_/s1600-h/IMG_0518.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHKNPfcqMnRpXVpUR5fMgBTG4hyHEU15TKjQeqNTB10iU4mLtOZ5ixPDXmuXmXdH-AmM8_F1Gd_h02dLuQML5eRXyfiFNDCvWBBN2o1XeRSqPhnxxb9VeSmxK3rxFV4SsYwAQx_ml79Sy_/s320/IMG_0518.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366331914417824482" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7X9K7BppR__Vb8Hwxt55CnzKXMo6Ku3zwDvpaS9ZFnuKBfuooCdEYg__Wiqir5OIiCYyi8HVyOjTG7OBORYbZ-uNbFtpML_j7iA34snCxYdIfXTMgVq6W4MMov1zc1cb9HYe-yxgpKkS4/s1600-h/IMG_0541.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7X9K7BppR__Vb8Hwxt55CnzKXMo6Ku3zwDvpaS9ZFnuKBfuooCdEYg__Wiqir5OIiCYyi8HVyOjTG7OBORYbZ-uNbFtpML_j7iA34snCxYdIfXTMgVq6W4MMov1zc1cb9HYe-yxgpKkS4/s320/IMG_0541.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366331919505727058" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);font-family:lucida grande;" >we had such a great time! we spent the night at cat's on the way back up and headed back home bright and early on sat</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);font-family:lucida grande;" >urday. it was such a whirlwind! </span> <span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);font-family:lucida grande;" ><br /><br />now we're back home for a week before we head out to the mountains of <a href="http://az.gov/webapp/portal/">arizona </a>for some glorified <a href="http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino/recreation/other-rec/recreation_room_with_a_view/index.shtml">camping</a> with my family. i'll be home for 4 days and then head back to <a href="http://www.tces.srvusd.k12.ca.us/">work</a>. </span> <span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);font-family:lucida grande;" ><br />where on earth has the summer gone??? </span>angehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16916635698834573983noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176433581377119003.post-49840770583163086222009-07-07T23:52:00.001-07:002009-08-04T21:48:55.179-07:00summer!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCl8Hl3Egzzgbc3pKuFgnP5tqh9hx86xLQU6Jb7D0FGbD2o2NHibM6NvxLownXOlpIM4sTR4Qi9bJl627mrVCfRy_y1h-cTAvhu0o7kBfGVECMtjcmDue-MTTlNNO6i2blqH5e9JjrkOdd/s1600-h/IMG_0032.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCl8Hl3Egzzgbc3pKuFgnP5tqh9hx86xLQU6Jb7D0FGbD2o2NHibM6NvxLownXOlpIM4sTR4Qi9bJl627mrVCfRy_y1h-cTAvhu0o7kBfGVECMtjcmDue-MTTlNNO6i2blqH5e9JjrkOdd/s320/IMG_0032.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355995663111152994" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);font-family:lucida grande;" ><br /><br />i love summer! even though it's still early july, though, i feel this sort of dreaded anticipation that it will be over as soon as it started. i know i shouldn't waste time that way, but i can't help it, espe</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);font-family:lucida grande;" >cially since i </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);font-family:lucida grande;" >will be going back to </span><a style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" href="http://www.tces.srvusd.k12.ca.us/">work </a><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);font-family:lucida grande;" >part-time in the fall. the summer before last just bled right into fall because i wasn't working, didn't have any deadlines or anything like that. it was phenomenal. then last summer i was </span><a style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" href="http://picasaweb.google.com/littleBidwells/BellyShotsBaby2?authkey=Gv1sRgCJ7Y8u-h-rS0ZQ#">pregnant </a><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);font-family:lucida grande;" >so i spent the summer waiting for annabelle to ar</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);font-family:lucida grande;" >rive. </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);font-family:lucida grande;" >both year</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);font-family:lucida grande;" >s were relaxed, no anxiety about the end of summer... it was fabulous. and now it's back to reality for me. i really can't complain at all, since i was fortunate enough to find a part-time job, and it's a job i'm really looking forward to doing, i just hate, hate, hate, hate leaving my kids. even though i'll only be away for 1 full and 2 half days, i feel like i'm going to miss so much. i love the relationship i have with my kids, i love the time i get to spend with them, i love all the activities we do. i hate the thought of leaving them! and jake will be in </span><a style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" href="http://stphilipchurch.com/spls/preschool.htm">preschool </a><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);font-family:lucida grande;" >three mornings a week, so my only two days off he will be in preschool in the mornings. oh well, i can't dwell on the negatives. it will be a good thing, right?</span> <span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);font-family:lucida grande;" >any</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);font-family:lucida grande;" >way!</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);font-family:lucida grande;" ><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuMmFdGO8Z56ocCWAhNxBW8QI94dzKME1zOJlOUsvfk14wm20_g0U9U7Wmv9THwyKWzQWngJepBbt2FL7md6sppeVQrpY7DCGMs_MJFZcE-hblehxRPeSPUHx_6o_80QenuENI1EZZ8OI0/s1600-h/IMG_0081.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuMmFdGO8Z56ocCWAhNxBW8QI94dzKME1zOJlOUsvfk14wm20_g0U9U7Wmv9THwyKWzQWngJepBbt2FL7md6sppeVQrpY7DCGMs_MJFZcE-hblehxRPeSPUHx_6o_80QenuENI1EZZ8OI0/s320/IMG_0081.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355995657861716562" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigRLS_xoJHmjW0X8xzBYy18olcQsmAe2uXNYm0_Mxt82ZlMkSxUrD5febD4qy7YaDGidrmw5F7W10ZALM8XVjh-ew-ozcisFyPujNy18v7cWMfRbLaK2re-Ec6YB9va3L2v69s8kMU0hSM/s1600-h/IMG_0109.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigRLS_xoJHmjW0X8xzBYy18olcQsmAe2uXNYm0_Mxt82ZlMkSxUrD5febD4qy7YaDGidrmw5F7W10ZALM8XVjh-ew-ozcisFyPujNy18v7cWMfRbLaK2re-Ec6YB9va3L2v69s8kMU0hSM/s320/IMG_0109.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366336743033069858" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);font-family:lucida grande;" >our summer so far has been super busy, as per usual! we went down south for a week and to </span><a style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" href="http://www.totalescape.com/destin/california-towns.php?tid=362">pinecrest </a><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);font-family:lucida grande;" >for 5 days. we have been having a great time and definitely making the most of our summer.</span> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFwKEc-SmlBGu4TOHNmk56c40D_kLTjqBsJvQgzeSXRsFym1QpCRUwFOOa17_6Fs2GXQYCognflDuZtmSYwAO-xxpqgSobrKvcK8IOJk37CAobjQDoQE2-uQfL7kZT4FrvhtQRPQ0ukGEe/s1600-h/IMG_9900.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFwKEc-SmlBGu4TOHNmk56c40D_kLTjqBsJvQgzeSXRsFym1QpCRUwFOOa17_6Fs2GXQYCognflDuZtmSYwAO-xxpqgSobrKvcK8IOJk37CAobjQDoQE2-uQfL7kZT4FrvhtQRPQ0ukGEe/s320/IMG_9900.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355996871076002130" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);font-family:lucida grande;" ><br /><br />jacob is taking </span><a style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" href="http://www.americanswimacademy.com/">swimming lessons</a><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);font-family:lucida grande;" > every week and just loves them. he hates leaving and tells me he "wants to stay at swimming lessons forever!" he had such an amazing time with all of his cousins and is excited to see his friends again, now that we're back. he has become quite the character lately. he says the funniest things and tries so hard to keep up with the adults. he is also so sweet and loving. he tells us he loves us all the time. last night he told me, "i love you and daddy and annabelle more than the whole world!" he is always hugging and kissing us, especially his sister. he is so good with her, i just love watching them crack up together.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcKZdUn-YhKPRBkuEqc-uij6RWZAeGivQxMVxZA6Utjwc24pF17Z20tB63hq7qMsYhyY1An_w4ADv-7uQW7kWfc3gxozhH_LxNX62FC9Hum5U0NAD7JKs859oz3E4YyvwGxzjEVWHCVGhf/s1600-h/IMG_9944.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcKZdUn-YhKPRBkuEqc-uij6RWZAeGivQxMVxZA6Utjwc24pF17Z20tB63hq7qMsYhyY1An_w4ADv-7uQW7kWfc3gxozhH_LxNX62FC9Hum5U0NAD7JKs859oz3E4YyvwGxzjEVWHCVGhf/s320/IMG_9944.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355996871565834418" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);font-family:lucida grande;" ><br /></span> <span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);font-family:lucida grande;" >annabelle just turned 10 months and is also quite a character. we've been calling her the </span><a style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRsxGQmjj6M">velociraptor</a><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);"> <span style="font-family:lucida grande;">lately because she makes this crazy noise that sounds like some prehistoric beast! she is hilarious, and also very cuddly and smiley. she claps and waves (she's been perfecting her princess/parade wave), has two teeth finally, and is crawling all over the place. she loves to crawl up to my biggest plant and just pluck all the leaves off. poor plant. she just learned to sign "more" but will only use it when it involves </span></span><a style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" href="http://www.cheese.com/">cheese</a><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);font-family:lucida grande;" >. that's my girl.</span>angehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16916635698834573983noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176433581377119003.post-11612309925450778872009-06-02T23:18:00.000-07:002009-06-02T23:33:51.273-07:00my big boy<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtHS6K1GygC4zxzUbqKr5bYjZXTf2CkRCWUi4CmaoHGq2OFrFwpY8kBR7r1tM8Bngg5xIzw4-zSl7ivSFpG3S9i9XQoAev50c9u9_q9cTzyGLcjuMbgvv1bg9i0y4_NdYXh8gR6GjF44L-/s1600-h/IMG_3096.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtHS6K1GygC4zxzUbqKr5bYjZXTf2CkRCWUi4CmaoHGq2OFrFwpY8kBR7r1tM8Bngg5xIzw4-zSl7ivSFpG3S9i9XQoAev50c9u9_q9cTzyGLcjuMbgvv1bg9i0y4_NdYXh8gR6GjF44L-/s320/IMG_3096.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342984468186655298" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 204);font-family:lucida grande;" >first day of preschool, August 2008 </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMTLJHUUOoed8k0gjbc7qsA-3PGHBmzVtEjk-_OlVKLWprHxawMvcvFkkpfH9CkEW84oqD_o4Y4jW2AWD43TA9q4E5miFcK02PsFRImgCzzOabA2HtDOoJdT5LPgL34Kw7xewdVCMcYeau/s1600-h/IMG_9259.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMTLJHUUOoed8k0gjbc7qsA-3PGHBmzVtEjk-_OlVKLWprHxawMvcvFkkpfH9CkEW84oqD_o4Y4jW2AWD43TA9q4E5miFcK02PsFRImgCzzOabA2HtDOoJdT5LPgL34Kw7xewdVCMcYeau/s320/IMG_9259.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342984456802438114" border="0" /><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 204);font-family:lucida grande;" > </span></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 204);font-family:lucida grande;" ><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />last day of preschool, June 2009</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 204);font-family:lucida grande;" ><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 204);font-family:lucida grande;" >today was jakey's last official day of his first year of preschool! he is finished in the 3s class and will start in the 4s class in the fall. the year went by so quickly! i was hugely pregnant when he started and he was so sad those first few weeks when we would drop him off. now he can't get in the door at school any faster and he has a sister who is almost 9 months old! he loves his teacher, mrs. tetzloff, and has made so many good buddies at school. we walk either to or from school almost every day (sometimes both) and have had a lot of good little chats on our walks. and jake has become quite a good walker - he can do a mile easily!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 204);font-family:lucida grande;" >a lot has happened this year and time has gone by far too quickly for my taste. but each end signifies a new beginning and i can't wait to see what's next.</span>angehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16916635698834573983noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176433581377119003.post-28998555998791680472009-06-02T14:07:00.001-07:002009-06-02T14:18:41.765-07:00my little leap-er<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRHByRI23dp1m46FnyPRv7T-3HQpwOIGKnpdA4XbY8SPUYHavp7jUop_VwZl7D7Ti7LCUZ37xKaAhQnTdtLfmj7E6dgbfIK7KCuvYuB6gGZy6mNPo5o0jc7HFUiyPZA-5xAMfPbhXZWQMi/s1600-h/jacobLEAPFROG.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 333px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRHByRI23dp1m46FnyPRv7T-3HQpwOIGKnpdA4XbY8SPUYHavp7jUop_VwZl7D7Ti7LCUZ37xKaAhQnTdtLfmj7E6dgbfIK7KCuvYuB6gGZy6mNPo5o0jc7HFUiyPZA-5xAMfPbhXZWQMi/s400/jacobLEAPFROG.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342842500820606738" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >jacob is in some of the demo videos for new leapfrog toys! in a post i wrote in april there's a picture of him holding a "Text & Learn" toy. he got that for "acting" in leapfrog's demo videos. i'm so proud of him! he even let me have a cameo. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >to see the demo, go to the</span><a style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);" href="http://www.leapfrog.com/toys/"> leapfrog website </a><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >(http://www.leapfrog.com/toys/)</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" ><br /><br />click on the movie clapboard on either the </span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >Scribble & Write</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >, the </span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >Text & Learn</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" > or the </span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >Learn & Groove</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >.<br /><br />He is the second or third demo for those toys. you have to click on the orange arrows on the right to scroll through the demos.<br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >we sure had a good time!</span>angehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16916635698834573983noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176433581377119003.post-11281202781126662962009-06-01T23:16:00.000-07:002009-06-02T00:22:47.805-07:00the month of may<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxwIak8JCmPspzCBO4lx-CBIvLcSmKqZPxBL_OwLwdpMUKGAdyavUeOaaB-XLwxlVMsusyeTnO0mi3JqBEqpzLUJVVagENQgMr8IpXPcQ_Co_YmB-p0rR9CnSX8NCgu-aZCjEqR0qCJOci/s1600-h/IMG_9045.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxwIak8JCmPspzCBO4lx-CBIvLcSmKqZPxBL_OwLwdpMUKGAdyavUeOaaB-XLwxlVMsusyeTnO0mi3JqBEqpzLUJVVagENQgMr8IpXPcQ_Co_YmB-p0rR9CnSX8NCgu-aZCjEqR0qCJOci/s320/IMG_9045.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342624507072706434" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9WEaj0tAnig4g8fEXwtnl6AmYLAG5vTp7g6g4iUD5OGzaXHtqx-Lz6wX-k7GwhtHuUKaMg06JAjk1lrU2QLs0z91zdzEhKmFCndLpwPig0mah-XZFVtz6GMuUgj_-qbvA4OW-mYLYPR3Y/s1600-h/IMG_9040.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9WEaj0tAnig4g8fEXwtnl6AmYLAG5vTp7g6g4iUD5OGzaXHtqx-Lz6wX-k7GwhtHuUKaMg06JAjk1lrU2QLs0z91zdzEhKmFCndLpwPig0mah-XZFVtz6GMuUgj_-qbvA4OW-mYLYPR3Y/s320/IMG_9040.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342613637694674130" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" ><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" ><br /><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >may was such a busy month for us! we did have some headway with the living room project, b</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >ut now it's at a bit of a standstill. we're waiting on crown molding, but i've no idea when that project will take place. but it's good for now.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSEJMK1_7UFwfBkhAxthgx0WPrXB6iwKHUhEaAr-dUUOK94BB2ShthsMPzKljHCX-iIPIdDAwOq79x238KHq9DMaEfPz5OfMfOMm-hjIlrab6Z5Wnnk91n1rSx2B2OK_ciIoGp5U1QC0Qf/s1600-h/IMG_9038.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSEJMK1_7UFwfBkhAxthgx0WPrXB6iwKHUhEaAr-dUUOK94BB2ShthsMPzKljHCX-iIPIdDAwOq79x238KHq9DMaEfPz5OfMfOMm-hjIlrab6Z5Wnnk91n1rSx2B2OK_ciIoGp5U1QC0Qf/s320/IMG_9038.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342613648865972258" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >on may 6th our little boy turned 4!! jakey is such a big boy now. he's a wonderful little helper and such a sweetheart. he loves to make annabelle laugh and loves to play with her. in fact, if he hears her laughing, even if he is across the house, he will come running and say, "what made her laugh? can i try?" and sometimes he'll cry when i have to put her down for a nap because he wants to play with her. cherish these moments, right? so precious.<br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU8hlS9hzkwS_CSyam6vLg_WOUuA8UqkgG_nd2cqufGTJQDLbUe7u5lHUmJluA16zBbGqFVCxIVN6zQItOt9bOTr7k9iHiJJhpZ5vgA4uo9AgF9HnlskgprdKIACtMKzH1NTj6g0QU-7z9/s1600-h/IMG_9053.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU8hlS9hzkwS_CSyam6vLg_WOUuA8UqkgG_nd2cqufGTJQDLbUe7u5lHUmJluA16zBbGqFVCxIVN6zQItOt9bOTr7k9iHiJJhpZ5vgA4uo9AgF9HnlskgprdKIACtMKzH1NTj6g0QU-7z9/s320/IMG_9053.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342626938607221458" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" ><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMv8u4GdUW_cnAmalZqGwd7Khtj6gQZ8MwDyWb7J6S5oxvg06ZP7wAzRbE8synI2MvM4YUX4p3XHbp4RWVn03l98rTnN7qCm0AtPrQfw9Mw4l2VAG94P8V-ghoCWqHbfz4UUCORrI-daPT/s1600-h/IMG_9010.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMv8u4GdUW_cnAmalZqGwd7Khtj6gQZ8MwDyWb7J6S5oxvg06ZP7wAzRbE8synI2MvM4YUX4p3XHbp4RWVn03l98rTnN7qCm0AtPrQfw9Mw4l2VAG94P8V-ghoCWqHbfz4UUCORrI-daPT/s320/IMG_9010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342615420135140418" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >for jacob's birthday my great friend, jamie, and i threw a carnival party. jake and joey are 11 days apart and this is the second birthday party they've shared. it was such a blast to plan with jamie (she was awesome! check out her ferris wheel cake below!) and the party was so much fun! </span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" ><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpTjTf6w4qKrlfVek5WxlwtbgTIyeUp9LYG4mvhfJeeL3HkL-vnnpDmIaGgIxyzKXHjuqLSfoiqlGWvcG1LZjr2ZQ7I-oFj-OK-l_EAuvP0AVJxb80gn4y7CQ409JxHfUDPf8AIrtxpyK-/s1600-h/IMG_9004.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpTjTf6w4qKrlfVek5WxlwtbgTIyeUp9LYG4mvhfJeeL3HkL-vnnpDmIaGgIxyzKXHjuqLSfoiqlGWvcG1LZjr2ZQ7I-oFj-OK-l_EAuvP0AVJxb80gn4y7CQ409JxHfUDPf8AIrtxpyK-/s320/IMG_9004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342616638107913170" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >annabelle has been growing up way too fast for my taste. i'm pretty sure she's our last but she is just getting too big too quickly! she is sitting up and moving around, but not crawling. she scoots her way across the floor somehow and is really working on manipulating her little body. she is such a good little eater and is now working on finger foods. she rebelled for a month or so, but now she's pretty good. little lady LOVES shredded cheese! has to be sharp cheddar... so picky! :)</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" ><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbEiDZc8TUihY8qA04vZk8Of_TNZmLL2f1g8Mqfnhrt2hiA8iKbHdV_q9UaIBcQIOg1g_s4oXo4Gnw3qSSPbq3tOqbAD4gmYfw6sYX88K3kzX1nUcS3FVUq42dwl0k3iN6M1yji38t1Znv/s1600-h/IMG_8898.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbEiDZc8TUihY8qA04vZk8Of_TNZmLL2f1g8Mqfnhrt2hiA8iKbHdV_q9UaIBcQIOg1g_s4oXo4Gnw3qSSPbq3tOqbAD4gmYfw6sYX88K3kzX1nUcS3FVUq42dwl0k3iN6M1yji38t1Znv/s320/IMG_8898.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342618470405965426" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >ben is working up at cal state hayward in some underground vault</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >s for the time being. thank God he has a job. i am still doing <a href="http://babybootcamp.com/">boot camp</a>, tutoring, <a href="http://blog.prasadphoto.com/">blogging for my mom & prasad</a>, fliers for <a href="http://deansouza.com/">dean souza</a> (realtor) and all the fun stuff being a mom involves.</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ-KBAXF07c8BESYU2oLe3ptxrtPAs_mxGKHuBulgh5I4OgVMtIG8i-4XxpnpJN7pSPcrWZXqoFzp0i71CShwt-Z05cjbEH3qWAWcCBlfusew14Xg-fJ6uTiOlnD2nnboBjWvqjZMCLGyB/s1600-h/IMG_8802.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ-KBAXF07c8BESYU2oLe3ptxrtPAs_mxGKHuBulgh5I4OgVMtIG8i-4XxpnpJN7pSPcrWZXqoFzp0i71CShwt-Z05cjbEH3qWAWcCBlfusew14Xg-fJ6uTiOlnD2nnboBjWvqjZMCLGyB/s320/IMG_8802.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342619588530827794" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" ><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >i feel like i'm writing one of those letters you send with a christmas card. </span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >we never send those letters. i guess now's as good a time as any for that!<br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >enough for now... every time i blog i say i'll be better from now on... i really will try! things have been so busy, but so good. i truly love my life!</span>angehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16916635698834573983noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176433581377119003.post-74661309335455578892009-04-20T22:26:00.001-07:002009-04-20T22:43:09.774-07:00house project<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyQYA-YzOd275c3o65J1aM9oEJiCY2nMk0zNs06HM6ITXgoaRzD-_t2n2kC8Y39x1pKxXDzYIr67CtKSiNv4ajKXm-sqyUY0o84HeVx7fMz63VoiiOO26cyW1u2P2JMbEwPReKNZQyYKq1/s1600-h/IMG_7810.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyQYA-YzOd275c3o65J1aM9oEJiCY2nMk0zNs06HM6ITXgoaRzD-_t2n2kC8Y39x1pKxXDzYIr67CtKSiNv4ajKXm-sqyUY0o84HeVx7fMz63VoiiOO26cyW1u2P2JMbEwPReKNZQyYKq1/s400/IMG_7810.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327015446641116914" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />here we go.</span></span><br /><br />we're in the thick of our latest housing project. i love projects and all, don't get me wrong, but the mess is killin' me. i know it will all be worth it, though.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">so a couple of weeks ago ben busted out and put recessed lighting in our living room. it looks so nice! he was able to complete the whole project in about a half a day. i love when he's motivated.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">after that he painted one wall (he had a little help from jakey). </span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuPMndUNOIkb5JG8RL3byP7s_yV_GiatM3Y8lK2Cm4BizFuJzA8bqbG1xuI9yrZ23eLXmqg6rT7mQoyfccwEZfpCOiC2D913G_mg8R3cCyAu68fxXB5sLP1VZOqV6oA61kJuc2kKv7YqT6/s1600-h/IMG_7885.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuPMndUNOIkb5JG8RL3byP7s_yV_GiatM3Y8lK2Cm4BizFuJzA8bqbG1xuI9yrZ23eLXmqg6rT7mQoyfccwEZfpCOiC2D913G_mg8R3cCyAu68fxXB5sLP1VZOqV6oA61kJuc2kKv7YqT6/s400/IMG_7885.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327014718713083394" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFEX2wd1KiyAHrwZ09E0R5PvOuQQhGYJ6LeMKI7WHH4NRCdCorZ3X_qQuu0dFc39mASFNw568niVD-HInSuZnZdKflJ_xC7b6i7Jb-5ONq0U9RBMd64rP5SrQxjLIwgn1fT8uICXvar83b/s1600-h/IMG_7886.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFEX2wd1KiyAHrwZ09E0R5PvOuQQhGYJ6LeMKI7WHH4NRCdCorZ3X_qQuu0dFc39mASFNw568niVD-HInSuZnZdKflJ_xC7b6i7Jb-5ONq0U9RBMd64rP5SrQxjLIwgn1fT8uICXvar83b/s400/IMG_7886.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327014901891289858" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">at first we didn't like it. it felt too dark compared to the white that we've had for the last 3 years. we left it that way for about a week, and now we love it. i'm so glad we didn't change it right away. the color is sort of a grey/green/brown i guess, but that sounds hideous. it's not hideous! it is not very dark but a nice tone. ben has painted almost all the walls. there is one wall that is yet unpainted because our giant wall unit is impossible to move, but once that's done the painting </span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">part will be finished. then onto the molding!</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">we picked out some crown and baseboard from home depot that we really like. i guess that project will be next. then ben is going to trim out the fireplace, then we're contemplating slip covers for the couches and new curtains. i'm so excited - i think it will look fantastic when all is said and done. i'm so glad and lucky to have such a crafty boy living here :) i think i'll keep him.</span>angehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16916635698834573983noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176433581377119003.post-82543189871161197622009-04-15T23:26:00.000-07:002009-06-02T23:30:30.732-07:00happy easter!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8S3cYT2ObkUlRtYnMENXK1FA5jPSAMZzwsAG7ubOWlJtueWF14dBlZszfUC5_AjTk9GSdTbPHJiVwSnpZKZEzf-H7LYBvomglZM0GFMG_84ofQdf0nku4U_NLyvDT74U_eoP5UR-jDExD/s1600-h/IMG_8097.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8S3cYT2ObkUlRtYnMENXK1FA5jPSAMZzwsAG7ubOWlJtueWF14dBlZszfUC5_AjTk9GSdTbPHJiVwSnpZKZEzf-H7LYBvomglZM0GFMG_84ofQdf0nku4U_NLyvDT74U_eoP5UR-jDExD/s320/IMG_8097.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325173880937657202" border="0"></a><br /><font style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" face="lucida grande">i started this entry tonight because i have been looking through my picasa folders for about an hour now looking for a picture of my family, just the 4 of us. what's really sad is the most recent one i have is the one we had done at picture people for christmas, and the only one before that is of us 4 in the hospital! this is terrible! i have photos of everyone with my kids and husband but me! i guess that's kind of typical, though. </font> <font style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" face="lucida grande">anyway, that wasn't very exciting so i thought i'd talk about easter. we had the most eventful easter ever! saturday we spent the day with our in-laws. ben's sister and her family were in town for the weekend, so we all got to spend a lot of time together saturday. it was so much fun seeing the three little cousins together. they did an egg hunt in karen and steve's beautiful and huge backyard. they had a blast. they all tolerated the photo op very well, too. sunday morning we had our own egg hunt here and i actually mentioned to ben that we should get a photo of the 4 of us before we left, but we were out of time. we went over to the shacklefords' for the most delicious brunch. after stuffing ourselves we headed over to uncle chris & aunt koleen's to stuff ourselves some more. such phenomenal food, as always!! the kids had so much fun, as did we. we have nicknamed uncle chris the baby whisperer. he calms annabelle right down every time. it's amazing. </font> <font style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" face="lucida grande">anyway, 4 egg hunts and LOTS of candy later, easter is over for another year. i love easter. </font> angehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16916635698834573983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176433581377119003.post-90240772295075030462009-04-15T00:11:00.000-07:002009-04-15T00:35:29.036-07:00love and (lack of) money<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIwsNtvCpl8ZztZLLgG1nkY60M2QU_1Ix3xKYia_mUSFY0HGzTxoZDa1u11elHsUZweFbxrcIn2wGWaxxLikvsWkPqJ6OnRTA3dtxcG_FTNxvbvVsn9-bVCInDfOEc-mHuiYo60puDtRrs/s1600-h/NEWSPAPER+photo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 350px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIwsNtvCpl8ZztZLLgG1nkY60M2QU_1Ix3xKYia_mUSFY0HGzTxoZDa1u11elHsUZweFbxrcIn2wGWaxxLikvsWkPqJ6OnRTA3dtxcG_FTNxvbvVsn9-bVCInDfOEc-mHuiYo60puDtRrs/s400/NEWSPAPER+photo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324818257448027570" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >well my good friend, </span><a style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);" href="http://theswirlgirl.com/">jessica</a><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >, is a writer for the </span><a style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);" href="http://www.bayareanewsgroup.com/">bay area news group</a><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >. she and i go way back, back to 1992 in fact. maybe even earlier. we met in </span><a style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);" href="http://www.lbusd.org/schools/lagunabeachhs/">high school </a><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >after both dating the same </span><a style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);" href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/16712103927839385024">guy</a><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >. she and i forged a very strong bond back then and remained close for several years. as things go, we parted ways at some point in </span><a style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);" href="http://ucsd.edu/">college </a><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >and just lost touch. when i was pregnant with </span><a style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rApKxmN7b5k">jacob</a><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" > we met up for dinner at a </span><a style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);" href="http://www.laultimadining.com/">mexican restaurant</a><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" > in </span><a style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);" href="http://www.ci.danville.ca.us/">danville</a><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >. we had such a great time, but managed to lose touch yet again. i suppose me having a new baby and her getting seriously ahead in her career had just a little to do with it.<br /><br />then came </span><a style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);" href="http://www.blogger.com/andreabidwell@sbcglobal.net">facebook</a><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >.<br /><br />ahh, facebook. i have a love/hate relationship with facebook, but one thing it did do for me was put me back in touch with jess! we met up again at a place in danville she was reviewing for her paper called </span><a style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);" href="http://easy925.eastbaysocial.com/">Easy 925</a><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >. (neat atmosphere and fabulous drinks, in my opinion... though it has been years since i've been out for cocktails!)</span> <br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >that's a lot of unnecessary information for the real story here. jess and i got to talking about the economy and marriage and how the economy is affecting our relationship. it started out as casual chatter, but then i made a comment about occasionally (and i truly do mean </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >occasionally</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >, ben!) sneaking a new t-shirt into my </span><a style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);" href="http://www.target.com/">target </a><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >purchases. she liked that line and apparently her editor did, as well, so the next thing we knew we were having our photo taken for the paper! our photo was on the front page of the TIMEOUT section of the </span><a style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);" href="http://www.contracostatimes.com/">contra costa times</a><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" > and the first few paragraphs of her article were about us! it felt a little silly being photographed in our pajamas with a glass of wine and a </span><a style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);" href="http://www.imdb.com/media/rm3220017664/tt0196229">movie </a><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >on (that we were too nervous to actually watch), but that is honestly our idea of a good date night and i guess that's what they wanted for the article! </span><a style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);" href="http://www.linkedin.com/pub/10/73/2a4">the man</a><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" > who came to take our photos took them of us putting the kids to bed, hanging out on the couch, opening the </span><a style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);" href="http://store.ste-michelle.com/shared/StoreFront/default.asp?CS=csm&StoreType=BtoC&Count1=322094142&Count2=239234566">wine</a><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >, etc. we didn't get to see any of them (and i'm assuming we never will) until we saw the photo on the paper. lucky for me my friend gina let me know the article had run, and even luckier was that my mother-in-law, karen, was able to run out and nab a few copies! </span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" ><br /><br />like i said, we felt a little silly, but it was also nice to know that she liked our story and thought we were relatable enough to put in the paper. enjoy the </span><a style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);" href="http://www.contracostatimes.com/search/ci_12118210?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com">article</a><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >.</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" ><br /><br />http://www.contracostatimes.com/search/ci_12118210?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com</span>angehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16916635698834573983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176433581377119003.post-29934751737058955372009-04-02T23:33:00.000-07:002009-04-21T23:49:35.051-07:00leapfrog<span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >I actually wrote this post about 2 weeks ago and just never got around to publishing it or posting photos. so here we go!<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0e_y2rdB8t0XUyL_E6EGktF8FGiSzyH261vm87iVl6g87MqxtkUEc6Km60OQ7fh9ogl2M28LxEPO2UyP-lIXDnfgSWPnqIsBZ-iIkW151LOkWvt6jz0a6cAqN70jPVC2l22Kb2NSdHgxp/s1600-h/IMG_7714.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 338px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0e_y2rdB8t0XUyL_E6EGktF8FGiSzyH261vm87iVl6g87MqxtkUEc6Km60OQ7fh9ogl2M28LxEPO2UyP-lIXDnfgSWPnqIsBZ-iIkW151LOkWvt6jz0a6cAqN70jPVC2l22Kb2NSdHgxp/s400/IMG_7714.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324812009588169266" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" ><br />Thursday, April 2, 2009</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >today jacob had a little video shoot for leapfrog! we went for a casting call last week and it was right during his nap time. i was sure he'd have a melt</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >down or just not be in the mood to do what they asked. i was wrong. he was so good, talkative, singing... he was terrific. so much so, i guess, that they decided to use him on their website! </span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >so today we drove into bernal heights to the house of one of the creative designers at leapfrog. his house was fantastic. one entire wall was a chalkboard. amazing. anyway, they took us upstairs and let jakey sit on the bed and play with some of their new products.</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" > he was having fun and i was just loving watching him. i was sort of hoping i would be able to sneak my camera out and get a photo of him in action, but there was just no way. so i'm standing there, watching, wanting to talk to him and get him doing some of the things the people were asking him to do. you know how it is, you feel like you have the right words and the right intonation that will really get him going. </span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >wrong! </span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >he will respond when he feels like responding. which wasn't too much at first. so they asked me to get in there with him, sit him on my lap, and play with him! me and my poufy hair, sloppy sweatshirt and all. but it was fun. a little nervewracking, but at least i could see all of this from jake's perspective. big camera right in your face, lights shining in your eyes, people telling you over and over what to do... it wasn't as bad as it sounds, but it definitely gave me some sympathy for when he just feels like he's done. </span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >anyway, it was interesting and fun. they said the videos should be up on the website in about a month, so keep your eyes out! i'll post the link as soon as i can find it. and we'll just wait to see if we get another call!<br /><br />(here's a photo of jakey with the new toy he got for being in the video - this is the text & learn, i think)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM4rW0SyO7nqLP-RkVqkKCbmB-SRhx5QI9I18wh28cO1nqJCL3XHLeVyHQTx-sNFLhW-nQeXmnLF1XFg8cWEiewgMsi2bj5M0ELIjcbTgioMlE6ijYF1nmQpjGtXuprJCh0IcAgaZmXfNy/s1600-h/IMG_7713.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 387px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM4rW0SyO7nqLP-RkVqkKCbmB-SRhx5QI9I18wh28cO1nqJCL3XHLeVyHQTx-sNFLhW-nQeXmnLF1XFg8cWEiewgMsi2bj5M0ELIjcbTgioMlE6ijYF1nmQpjGtXuprJCh0IcAgaZmXfNy/s400/IMG_7713.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324812007055305714" border="0" /></a>angehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16916635698834573983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176433581377119003.post-64500876738119864322009-03-26T00:29:00.001-07:002009-03-26T08:26:38.758-07:00sail on, silver girl<span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" ><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSpMIiGhjIw&feature=related">nonnie </a>passed away on march 9, 2009. it was a monday morning. steph had spent the night with her and left the room at 9:30am. At 10:00am she returned to find that nonnie had finally left us. two days before i drove down highway 5 with the two kids and my mother-in-law in tow. we plugged along in hopes that I would get to see nonnie while she was still coherent. i dropped Karen off at sarah's and headed on to mom's. I took a little nap and mom woke me up because my sisters had called. "They really think you should be down there," she said. so i packed the kids back up and headed down. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >when i arrived nonnie was sleeping. it took a while, but i finally got the nerve to go back to her room. for some reason i felt really nervous and intimidated. my sisters thought i should see her as she was before she woke up. that was good advice. i went into her room and stopped short upon seeing her. yes, she was 94, but she never </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >looked </span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >94 to me. she just looked like nonnie. nonnie, who said every day, "i have to put my face on!" i can remember her saying that years and years ago! and when i went back there that saturday she just looked so old. her hair was tied back (she had told stephanie she wanted a ponytail like hers) and her jaw was slack, her mouth hanging open. she looked so tiny and frail under her sheet with her yellow and white striped blouse on backwards. she was still wearing her watch. her nails still looked perfect. her skin was still really soft! </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >i stayed back there with her for a little while (thank you to my sisters who took over my parenting duties so i could be with nonnie for a bit) and started out with normal day-to-day conversation, trying to provide answers to questions i thought she might ask me. i talked about the kids and the drive and the cat, she always asked about the cat. she always said, "say hello to fiona." and she always put fiona's name in quotes in a letter:</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >i hope "fiona" is doing well.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >i loved that.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >anyway, after that i realized this might be the only chance i had to tell her what i really wanted to tell her. i won't bore you with the details, i'll leave that part of the conversation between nonnie and myself, but i'm so grateful i had the chance to tell her everything on my mind. i really loved her so much. still do. i miss her a lot. i think about her so much. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >anyway, later that night nonnie woke up in pain so my sisters and i ran back there. steph was a champion, acting as her nurse. she provided all the care, down to the nitty gritty. cat was so good with words, telling nonnie all the things any person would want to tell her, but may not be able to put into words. i just held on to her warm right hand and didn't say much at all. for a couple of hours, on and off, nonnie said everything I think she felt she needed to say to get her "pass" into heaven. by the end of that discourse, she was ready to go. she kept asking us to let her go, to turn everything off (she was on oxygen). finally she fell asleep and we all went to bed. i guess she woke up the next morning briefly and talked with steph, but she never woke up again after that. monday morning she passed. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >i feel like there's so much to say but a lot of it feels a little too private to just blab about on the web, so i'll leave it at this: nonnie was such a good person. she had an amazing heart and spirit and generations of us were so lucky to have her in our lives. i miss her every single day, have already dreamt of her twice, and just hope and pray she's at peace now. she was so ready to go, so i'm sure she's happy as a lark now. i miss her and will miss her voice and her calls. it's hard to realize those are gone for good. but she's where she wants to be now. and that makes me happy. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" ><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSpMIiGhjIw&feature=related">i love you, nonnie</a>.</span>angehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16916635698834573983noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176433581377119003.post-16945941117134508392009-02-24T13:50:00.000-08:002009-02-24T13:50:00.335-08:00nonnie<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVzIm6ZK5ulyOLaSTUx5S5GVG9q-rLIEN721YOjwWK1TCjS-orw25X7lHTHtaP4X2d9BJetfhAzAxkikDllXoO0LH8D1XZc7qCK5hgo1Dh1itcIkB6DLF4KRf-SusD1BdQP_D64E9zIvNm/s1600-h/IMG_5889.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVzIm6ZK5ulyOLaSTUx5S5GVG9q-rLIEN721YOjwWK1TCjS-orw25X7lHTHtaP4X2d9BJetfhAzAxkikDllXoO0LH8D1XZc7qCK5hgo1Dh1itcIkB6DLF4KRf-SusD1BdQP_D64E9zIvNm/s400/IMG_5889.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306279171845883282" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-family:lucida grande;" >so this post is not on such a happy note. my grandma, nonnie, is in the hospital. she has been since last sunday (so 8 days now). the bad news is that she took some pretty bad spills and even fell at home when there was no one there to help her up. it makes that disgustingly annoying commercial, "i've fallen and i can't get up" go from just plain irritating to really, really sad. </span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-family:lucida grande;" >i have only talked to her once since she's been in the hospital. she said, "oh dear, thank you for calling, but i am just so, so sick. I can't talk right now." she made s</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-family:lucida grande;" >ure i knew her room number and asked that i call dad and steph to let them know the new room, and that was it. i have wanted to call her all week but she doesn't want to hear from or see anyone. i was trying to find a way to go visit, but since she doesn't want to see anyone, i guess i'll wait. in fact, my sister was there and said nonnie barely made eye contact with her. nonnie is so, so depressed.<br /><br />the worst part of this is not that she is ready to go, ready to say good-bye to a long, healthy life and granddaughters that love her to death. no, the saddest part is how ready she is, but her body will not let her go.<br /><br />she has a <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.nfid.org/factsheets/pneumofacts.shtml">pnuemococcal virus</a><a href="http://www.nfid.org/factsheets/pneumofacts.shtml"><click> </click></a>that has spread to her blood and disabled her legs, but her counts are better, her vitals are better, and the doctor tells her this is not her time to go and she should be in rehabilitation for her legs. but she refuses. she does not want rehab, she wants hospice. she doesn't want to see anyone, she just wants to be able to let g</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-family:lucida grande;" >o of this life and move on. but her body will not let her. what might make it even worse is that her brain is 100%, or at least very close. i tell everyone she is "sharp as a tack" at the ripe old age of 94. so that just makes her acutely aware of everything and everyone she has already lost, and what her body will not let her do. here she has this amazing brain so she can know exactly how limited she has become physically. it just feels unfair.<br /><br />we are so lucky that we've had so many years with her. how many 32 year-olds can claim they have a grandma that they talk to almost weekly? that they traded jokes with up until two weeks ago? contemplated the state of our country and how amazing it is that she has lived through an ENTIRE century? she really and truly is so amazing, and for very selfish reasons I want her to get better so i can go see her again and resume our phone conversations. and this time i won't wait three days to call her back. I won't end the conversations, i'll let her do that. i want to squeeze in as much time as possible with her, but whe</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-family:lucida grande;" >n does it end? i know it's so selfish of me to want her to get better so i can talk to her, i can see her. me, me, me. when all she wants is to be done. while i really want to see her and hold her hand one more time and make her smile, i know the most gracious thing that could happen to her would be for her to fall asleep one night and not wake up the next morning. and for this to happen soon.<br /><br />it's just so sad.<br /><br />i just feel so imminently grateful that we had the chance to let her know we named our daughter after her. she is so important and will always be so important to us. i'm so glad annabelle can carry her name as her middle name forever. so, so glad for that. i feel so grateful for the memories of my times with her - a trip to hawaii when i was 10, laying on her couch and having her bring me tea and toast when mom dropped me off there on sick days, picking through her candy jar for all the non-pariels... i am so lucky to have had the relationship with h</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-family:lucida grande;" >er that i do: that we could tell each other we love each other every time we talk. that we could look forward to seeing each other every time i came down. that every christmas for at least the last ten years has been spent with her. i think with fondness of the <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.thejoyofeating.com/products.asp?id=131">coffee cakes</a><a href="http://www.thejoyofeating.com/products.asp?id=131"><click></click></a> she insisted upon making every year for christmas breakfast (sara lee!), and her <a href="http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1910,156174-224193,00.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">oatmeal crisp cookies</span><click></click></a><span style="text-decoration: underline;"> </span>that she always made from scratch. i can remember her taking her dog for a "drag" when he was so old that he couldn't walk behind her. how she would never dare eat more than a half a sandwich. the look on her face when the little kids got to screaming. how much she HATES the song </span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-family:lucida grande;" ><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPaGQEskSKM">"Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer"</a> and would say, "This song is just awful!!" with her little ACK! And we would laugh. And as frustrating as it was at the time, i can maybe even laugh at the towel fiasco that we endured over Christmas (long story).<br /><br />well, i'm off to say my prayers for nonnie now. i'll let you know what unfolds.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQR4GPwQ-DZjt-nrJrrCr44hCzIZrCGQ38Uqu-N-51IZRwoS-MOTCjpIZ8wWNmuyOhkvc0GkmynqNw7G2D4VfULRsNIAeovQlQeXPl8VO77D4P43EiUGYzO0Qg1s1Lcc9g_1EC0WD0r3V5/s1600-h/nonnie&us.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQR4GPwQ-DZjt-nrJrrCr44hCzIZrCGQ38Uqu-N-51IZRwoS-MOTCjpIZ8wWNmuyOhkvc0GkmynqNw7G2D4VfULRsNIAeovQlQeXPl8VO77D4P43EiUGYzO0Qg1s1Lcc9g_1EC0WD0r3V5/s400/nonnie&us.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306279287479428338" border="0" /></a>angehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16916635698834573983noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176433581377119003.post-63814729278020851782009-02-21T21:50:00.000-08:002009-02-24T00:01:47.368-08:00snow!<a style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3_6IGNret9z0Is2x2Ps8du3vvdebE_jvPWpv669bP05t1IGd5YLvTE6aXdCGzmQ74EBKWADeiq0zvDMgeS1Z_wvqwOsGH0aQ0Ew4soaAZueVuLMfJdTpgrNsZYsz5g9dDr7ToYnAnigKi/s1600-h/IMG_6719.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3_6IGNret9z0Is2x2Ps8du3vvdebE_jvPWpv669bP05t1IGd5YLvTE6aXdCGzmQ74EBKWADeiq0zvDMgeS1Z_wvqwOsGH0aQ0Ew4soaAZueVuLMfJdTpgrNsZYsz5g9dDr7ToYnAnigKi/s320/IMG_6719.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305540538955773650" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >last weekend we were so lucky to be able to go up to pinecrest for a few days. ben's parents went up before us and got it all ready for us (SOOO nice, thank you!) and then my sister and her family met us up there! it all came together so last minute but we had so much fun. the kids and ben had been sick all week before (read prior post) and we were all seriously crawling the walls. we needed to get out of dodge, so we went! </span><a style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTbo_S6ZSJenpcGkVwBa__SFxc3gEcIzhFWQb1iLdgxDE877nFKtumucomQnuVdrZdqbHZiNdRhjl9i2_OCeg9GeRHIh8t_R1iRqHkPMg6L-NW-VoXBOcjdDKn3Oq0dL-msTUCicUZKn2A/s1600-h/IMG_6694.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTbo_S6ZSJenpcGkVwBa__SFxc3gEcIzhFWQb1iLdgxDE877nFKtumucomQnuVdrZdqbHZiNdRhjl9i2_OCeg9GeRHIh8t_R1iRqHkPMg6L-NW-VoXBOcjdDKn3Oq0dL-msTUCicUZKn2A/s320/IMG_6694.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305540536613940018" border="0" /></a><a style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuyQ6cm7R0pP1LkpIsPYVA1gjyZ7zuHYsimE7dC5Y4wThE_kaHARFddBB7qPZdXGRbhInVHMz5OWF_HX8tB3BbXwIF1XFt0PtoFrSUKO2qR5U5WQwnelxMbJR2pDt_jgS6R6GMBPkncJex/s1600-h/IMG_6706.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuyQ6cm7R0pP1LkpIsPYVA1gjyZ7zuHYsimE7dC5Y4wThE_kaHARFddBB7qPZdXGRbhInVHMz5OWF_HX8tB3BbXwIF1XFt0PtoFrSUKO2qR5U5WQwnelxMbJR2pDt_jgS6R6GMBPkncJex/s320/IMG_6706.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305540535808748082" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >somehow my sister and her family were able to find the perfect rental car f</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >or an amazing deal and were able to get away for a few days, too! </span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >we arrived on friday and stayed through monday. the kids had so much fun in the snow.<br /></span><a style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh50tPhz5E4c1D4PNDPM7l9bK_QqGRaGqgFYY4kVsdSw6dsxKKcC9pCIhK5nrW34z_TOrnGz2SswigyCVJIDR2Yh6LmhswgA-okrlUPQgt_dWSr_XJ6KXMsqQGR9eA_lpO9XXJVnAnYl8Hx/s1600-h/IMG_6708.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh50tPhz5E4c1D4PNDPM7l9bK_QqGRaGqgFYY4kVsdSw6dsxKKcC9pCIhK5nrW34z_TOrnGz2SswigyCVJIDR2Yh6LmhswgA-okrlUPQgt_dWSr_XJ6KXMsqQGR9eA_lpO9XXJVnAnYl8Hx/s320/IMG_6708.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305540530484153170" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" > jake had a blast just fa</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >ce planting in the powder, rubbing it on his face, throwing snowballs at everyone... the girls preferred to shoot down the boat launch ramp on the snowboogies. cat and i ventured out on snowshoes (oy) in deep, powdery snow. what a workout. </span><a style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFidvTAsVtKOZpyI4vcbxgH1zCjnUZSt4tN-yafdP_W2PqRj5WN0w-Z-2HFvR7og2fmkeTO9KjzEeCVa2IduXw0U0e4rqIowkJL5RCGB2FqibhNIUuatU2ME1mXW_mBrN27Kc5auPK3czM/s1600-h/IMG_6715.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFidvTAsVtKOZpyI4vcbxgH1zCjnUZSt4tN-yafdP_W2PqRj5WN0w-Z-2HFvR7og2fmkeTO9KjzEeCVa2IduXw0U0e4rqIowkJL5RCGB2FqibhNIUuatU2ME1mXW_mBrN27Kc5auPK3czM/s320/IMG_6715.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305540540917072786" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >at </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >night we made fancy dinners (pink dinner for valentine's day, courtesy cat!) and busied ourselves with dominoes. </span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);font-family:lucida grande;" >we had such an amazing time. we're hoping to get back up there in a couple of weeks if ben doesn't have classes. i love the snow! (for a few days, anyway!)<br /><br />**UPDATE - I had to add a video that my sister, Cat, took while sledding down the boat launch ramp at the lake. The sweet giggles you hear in the video are her 4 year-old daughter's, Annika. This video makes me laugh every time!!<br /></span><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz0LPeI6XMpgxSjZUJKhbMlwGxXxJ2buHK7hDZyYn2Emwdc3mDiDTBFH9FnN7TIzNg4x3e2R172dMnmXISEpg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>angehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16916635698834573983noreply@blogger.com2