tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63334774698286247502024-03-19T03:11:02.601-07:00Living the dreamOur dream of adoption came true, and now we're living our real life...Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089210902879095607noreply@blogger.comBlogger73125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333477469828624750.post-65960243085685110572012-12-08T22:58:00.000-08:002012-12-08T22:58:40.158-08:00Just some cutie-pies<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjELN8gZ5S9B9SajRB15bNkYphuvjNIPu06jHSy87Pyb3Ig3W2kygSgudyRK7PscULnvdxRcEIppf0cJRgkuYFFt3kb7EePfBoILUPnHgd0gSd8CecYnXGtZcqpcowVrwi3IpNIFVM5Q78/s1600/IMG_8421+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjELN8gZ5S9B9SajRB15bNkYphuvjNIPu06jHSy87Pyb3Ig3W2kygSgudyRK7PscULnvdxRcEIppf0cJRgkuYFFt3kb7EePfBoILUPnHgd0gSd8CecYnXGtZcqpcowVrwi3IpNIFVM5Q78/s400/IMG_8421+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"The great thing about a desk is that it has a built-in footrest."</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big Girl loves to look at books.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrTlCBDFCGgUwozqBUe3JuWsEzG968iua0Rg9gaCccxMsEWouyJgbms14PomESUMmH6mbn9kHLEzuPz8VhhXqEhaskG8gxpORCKuyKcnTJXvv_-rJiMZ55l8OwuReSVtsYW1t_A5-q_58/s1600/IMG_8439+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrTlCBDFCGgUwozqBUe3JuWsEzG968iua0Rg9gaCccxMsEWouyJgbms14PomESUMmH6mbn9kHLEzuPz8VhhXqEhaskG8gxpORCKuyKcnTJXvv_-rJiMZ55l8OwuReSVtsYW1t_A5-q_58/s400/IMG_8439+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She was studiously ignoring me.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVZFS8oDAC1c_SC_tG_6X9Psnj1Ru51dKLeKUG7290tRa6OoBp9BuNWrTR95Rkv9wJPIK3x5bEaSSIuPWiVinh5K4flyOjA56qBqPYr8eGDSQ65YU6oXEASiUDp07RP5Lw-uy8n4azIDg/s1600/IMG_8444+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVZFS8oDAC1c_SC_tG_6X9Psnj1Ru51dKLeKUG7290tRa6OoBp9BuNWrTR95Rkv9wJPIK3x5bEaSSIuPWiVinh5K4flyOjA56qBqPYr8eGDSQ65YU6oXEASiUDp07RP5Lw-uy8n4azIDg/s400/IMG_8444+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This one wouldn't let me take her picture until I told her I wanted to take a picture of her baby.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Then</em> I got a real smile out of her!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A happy little guy lately!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnO5sl675mw5oHvDobGbkinuili1YxnhL5I__XjCS06wnJF4dTZDkydZOyaFL_IupHd-sFOBJyCc1XnZqHnvZXGbGmj_n2FDANNp0RSxKVr0aIPrChFb9vT5fsBjuqDn54CiWtO6kE5MI/s1600/IMG_8475+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnO5sl675mw5oHvDobGbkinuili1YxnhL5I__XjCS06wnJF4dTZDkydZOyaFL_IupHd-sFOBJyCc1XnZqHnvZXGbGmj_n2FDANNp0RSxKVr0aIPrChFb9vT5fsBjuqDn54CiWtO6kE5MI/s400/IMG_8475+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Okay, my big kids can officially be jealous, because I never did any crafty stuff with them when they were little. Of course, there was the issue of the one daughter who had to use up every bottle of glue, glitter, and every piece of paper at one sitting...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQQyuG3Z2PbEen-u_oGnQV8HME2kcskMP-9lncbR_tPfxbsjpqjQs8Hg_s2K0rNF2Dhh_aQ94YaQ_MkSTQToZSherW_Ne2SN9LNktdgyF8TX4_xo0MV4r0qN9dLl2oQKKHmeyhLSLU8qQ/s1600/IMG_8480+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQQyuG3Z2PbEen-u_oGnQV8HME2kcskMP-9lncbR_tPfxbsjpqjQs8Hg_s2K0rNF2Dhh_aQ94YaQ_MkSTQToZSherW_Ne2SN9LNktdgyF8TX4_xo0MV4r0qN9dLl2oQKKHmeyhLSLU8qQ/s400/IMG_8480+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He really loves to cut. Not great at it yet, but tablecloths and other pieces of fabric are in danger...</td></tr>
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Life with these chipmunks is so entertaining! They really keep me on my toes. They are so fun, and have so much personality, but they are still soooooo much work! No rest for Mama! Little Girl constantly seeks attention, while Big Girl goes off by herself to dream, and drift off into her own world the minute I turn my back. <br />
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Little Boy is my best kid right now, and I never thought I'd say that. He's happy most of the time. He keeps himself very busy and entertained, always seeking out a new activity, and finding things in his environment to learn about. Daddy noted that Little Girl knows he's coming up on taking her spot as the cutest of the three. <br />
"Do you think she really knows?" I asked. <br />
"Oh yes!" he responded.<br />
"He is pretty cute these days," I agreed. <br />
We feel that developmentally he's really turned a corner. He's still behind the girls, as always, but he just feels so much more present than he used to be. He's very affectionate, and playful, and giggles a lot. He still thinks a lot of things don't apply to him, like clearing his own dishes off the table after a meal, but he likes other chores, like taking his dirty clothes to put in the laundry. He's still nonverbal, as well, but is spontaneously signing now. He does make lots of sounds, mostly for emphasis, and he likes to yell-- a lot. He also says, "mamamama-MAMAMAMAMA!!!" when he gets mad. Read that as pitch and volume going up! He has a sweet little talking voice, and likes to say, "buh-buh-buh-buh-buh..." in a conversational tone. So adorable!<br />
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Little Girl is still her strong-willed self, and out to make sure she gets her share (especially of attention.) If I tell anyone to go do something, she hops over there and does it. I've always had issues with kids taking other people's jobs, and I've still got it! She automatically assumes that she gets to try or do any new thing first, and usually just assumes that every new toy or item is brought here especially for her. She is always unpleasantly surprised when it's not. She has a signature sound, which is something like, "Aaangh!!!!" Read this as loud, and grating. Also, add a foot stamp to this. It wasn't long before the other two picked this up, although by nature, they are less likely to be unpleasantly surprised. <br />
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Little Girl also came up with the raspberry, to be sassy to her teen siblings. It evolved into a good means of communicating certain things to the other two little ones, though. They picked this up, as well. So, the raspberry now means: "I don't like you!" or "I don't like what you're doing!" It then became necessary to find a means to respond, and a strong, "meh!" with a dismissive hand wave fit the bill quite nicely. It means: "I don't care if you don't like me!" or "I don't care if you don't like what I'm doing!"<br />
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So, we have a lot of conversations around here that go like this:<br />
"Aaangh!!!" (foot stamp) "Pbbbth!!!"<br />
"Pbbbth!!!" "Meh!" (hand wave)<br />
"Meh!" (mutual hand wave, then grabs whatever is at issue)<br />
"mamamaMAMAMA!!!"<br />
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Little Boy likes to tease us big people by waving his hand at us, and saying, "meh!" while wearing an impish grin that says, "I don't really mean it, you know!"<br />
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I think Big Girl is very bored right now. I am wracking my brain to keep her occupied. She has always had issues with a little bit of stimming. Not surprising, considering six years in an orphanage, but for a while she seemed so excited about the big new world, and willing to learn whatever we threw at her. Lately, she doesn't want to try the games and toys, and just wants to hold them in her hand and flip them back and forth. She seems to be advancing, as she can do all of our puzzles now, and knows most of her colors most of the time. I can't get her to write or color, though, and obviously that's needed to perform schoolwork. She sings the alphabet over and over, and looks at the letters, but doesn't want any corrections, and doesn't want to try to trace them. She would be happy if I just let her watch educational videos all day long. She doesn't like any other kind of videos, and would even just watch the same one, and be happy if I never changed it. Little Girl would never stand for that, though, and won't watch one a second time. So, my answer to this has been the same as for Little Boy when he wanted only to play with toys that had push button lights and sounds, and he would do nothing else. I ended up taking them all away. So now no one is watching educational videos, even though I would like a break now and then, and the other two love them as well. I'm working with her to increase her skills to do some jobs around the house, since most people feel needed and useful when they work, but it's a long-term solution. Any ideas for right now?<br />
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Lest I end on a depressing note, tonight after I read a book to the girls, I looked over to see that Big Girl was animatedly reading the book to Little Girl, who was then reading it to her baby doll. Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089210902879095607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333477469828624750.post-67179237076299731412012-12-03T21:58:00.001-08:002012-12-03T21:58:34.762-08:00A Thanksgiving StarOkay, without meaning to, I heavily weighted the pictures from our Thanksgiving get-together in favor of Baby Boy. Sorry! No, I'm not. He's too adorable to hide under a bushel, right? We must let this star shine, and shine brightly. You're only 5 months old once, right? Of course, 6 months old might have just as many photogenic opportunities...
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzU5kFpNAaP3nxRO2askGTnv5MTWWFpPY1TQqkGDM4-h8olhRrd5kPzW3Lz7H7qwMJwMzTCR-GIEmJ2jctYXvVdcahjbLajPcoKDROMPcGrSoP1jjSI0QEVXalwojc349CyJiWLR_fXEQ/s1600/IMG_8411+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzU5kFpNAaP3nxRO2askGTnv5MTWWFpPY1TQqkGDM4-h8olhRrd5kPzW3Lz7H7qwMJwMzTCR-GIEmJ2jctYXvVdcahjbLajPcoKDROMPcGrSoP1jjSI0QEVXalwojc349CyJiWLR_fXEQ/s400/IMG_8411+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was the only picture that I ended up with that included L. Big Girl finds coloring boring, and these two were trying to inspire her. Thanks anyway, guys!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHZxcJ7LK5AMiwXPu4BZjQM2ioD9wkQ8d7ewVsE6pkpPnSq66fxm_q3YYimiDUSxYdILObzEzUxDrWPAfzIUZ04GjCp2FqyudgDMiRuzPx0GeH6viG34WACSCMT-aw8AZ2fU8TQ_dmNxk/s1600/IMG_8414+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHZxcJ7LK5AMiwXPu4BZjQM2ioD9wkQ8d7ewVsE6pkpPnSq66fxm_q3YYimiDUSxYdILObzEzUxDrWPAfzIUZ04GjCp2FqyudgDMiRuzPx0GeH6viG34WACSCMT-aw8AZ2fU8TQ_dmNxk/s400/IMG_8414+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, I find him delicious, too.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love his expression! You know he thinks he's all that!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">His hair doesn't look that red in real life, but in pictures it sure does!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs_nOepaahvFp1GJh9vzVPj476IajkpDTgrlw6pd_Z3RZZ9SsYFX_clhjQ7HykdqlsmxhUF4gf0ZBgC9-GTwGlCfTP9d825zUwzgnhoUkkxbGMX0Zlo0HGiJVk3K-O4mvxTtMJnxupy9g/s1600/IMG_8453+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs_nOepaahvFp1GJh9vzVPj476IajkpDTgrlw6pd_Z3RZZ9SsYFX_clhjQ7HykdqlsmxhUF4gf0ZBgC9-GTwGlCfTP9d825zUwzgnhoUkkxbGMX0Zlo0HGiJVk3K-O4mvxTtMJnxupy9g/s400/IMG_8453+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whatever one mommy did with her baby, another mommy had to do it with her baby.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It looks like he's crabby about being held by Big Girl, and maybe he is, but he was crabby anyway...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHgRE9LyYBfme10L3uQJqytntKDf37x6jA4_-tizz5EbtRv3-eTNrsuh3XxSsnMtSv_oACa7aKGhPnoeyDz1hQMhGijWNHGsjFgC53pMKhphQGV0QzI5Y2clq9qqkPbu5GXelFGqalaZ0/s1600/IMG_8464+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHgRE9LyYBfme10L3uQJqytntKDf37x6jA4_-tizz5EbtRv3-eTNrsuh3XxSsnMtSv_oACa7aKGhPnoeyDz1hQMhGijWNHGsjFgC53pMKhphQGV0QzI5Y2clq9qqkPbu5GXelFGqalaZ0/s400/IMG_8464+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's lots of baby-love around here these days!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi50_KHQXaG8lQVQYIt5qpetChQy3rsEpTqnygdoJ3sWKZdwr2YqEIJwYNmibrJiMWvlLkkeboSyvkqAgrtUMHIlBNxQjBGVYboMtZEXEAhhx4vZxANQ2Kyzb7kFL6TbiCrOgUhNA-9raM/s1600/IMG_8467+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi50_KHQXaG8lQVQYIt5qpetChQy3rsEpTqnygdoJ3sWKZdwr2YqEIJwYNmibrJiMWvlLkkeboSyvkqAgrtUMHIlBNxQjBGVYboMtZEXEAhhx4vZxANQ2Kyzb7kFL6TbiCrOgUhNA-9raM/s400/IMG_8467+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Special!</td></tr>
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<br />Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089210902879095607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333477469828624750.post-9574230652517691882012-11-25T22:57:00.000-08:002012-11-25T22:57:02.177-08:00Big Girl's birthdayTwo years ago, we had our gotcha day on the day before Big Girl's birthday. We never did celebrate her birthday that year, nor the other two kids who are both January babies. We were too busy coping with each day. The next year, though, we celebrated each of their birthdays, and boy, did they know what it meant! This year we celebrated Big Girl's birthday, and she understood very well. No problems opening presents, either (the first Christmas no one knew what to do with a present.) Just to show how far we've come, today I overheard Big Girl singing "Happy Birthday." Were the words understandable? No. Can she carry a tune? Not really. Was it completely recognizable as "Happy Birthday?" Absolutely!
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI6rIAnIkl6CZg8O-dcVThLOOyZJnYT16uf9xcb7Di6sOJCMKrNzyJb4Z2Bp30LpCrqtUBqMuNg5PPRSsFh3Eiu0qdc4W29hHHyYFFlQa0OsGR8QJBrv3bboppK40ZMbtMmXd95CBABdY/s1600/IMG_8375+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI6rIAnIkl6CZg8O-dcVThLOOyZJnYT16uf9xcb7Di6sOJCMKrNzyJb4Z2Bp30LpCrqtUBqMuNg5PPRSsFh3Eiu0qdc4W29hHHyYFFlQa0OsGR8QJBrv3bboppK40ZMbtMmXd95CBABdY/s400/IMG_8375+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Obviously, she needs help.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUJJopTjMVv9vJVEKfq42XnzZ_nfn8WOvmqgAVci_QR7872znKiz6fx0WHzruCEBGANWTq6aSOuhrNjM9QPCFmtyRMcaj0cbAWBYN3jRkwi5fhMMiWvRCq6wu56rcnBwoeo3hf3XtgGxM/s1600/IMG_8377+(1280x853)+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUJJopTjMVv9vJVEKfq42XnzZ_nfn8WOvmqgAVci_QR7872znKiz6fx0WHzruCEBGANWTq6aSOuhrNjM9QPCFmtyRMcaj0cbAWBYN3jRkwi5fhMMiWvRCq6wu56rcnBwoeo3hf3XtgGxM/s400/IMG_8377+(1280x853)+(2).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moving in!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgq3w1j711n2U1OmCzKcLWHJC4FgSvOEq-54Mh6VIh3CQqvba0pEZ4UxOiJoOGUHYzQNNeFoTizLI7YoGuC-6vMwzgvfr1SRQQOYzfYeg9sngzUfftJFanTXFesLS-a7SN_ntVAyEQK_I/s1600/IMG_8391+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgq3w1j711n2U1OmCzKcLWHJC4FgSvOEq-54Mh6VIh3CQqvba0pEZ4UxOiJoOGUHYzQNNeFoTizLI7YoGuC-6vMwzgvfr1SRQQOYzfYeg9sngzUfftJFanTXFesLS-a7SN_ntVAyEQK_I/s400/IMG_8391+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"I'll just rip this paper off..." Sanctioned ripping.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqBdi8KM4h_INOqYejdJK8xnw_ovKWpFg8kKCyM018EeuQQvpsiovlpsmCmCkeKsEDsuK0DwaomZWWyQ7gu_drAq8cpsCmA2DLKp8dY6rkGNOxnInrwJ4TeRWFgisUN6nnfnljT8as2BU/s1600/IMG_8355+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqBdi8KM4h_INOqYejdJK8xnw_ovKWpFg8kKCyM018EeuQQvpsiovlpsmCmCkeKsEDsuK0DwaomZWWyQ7gu_drAq8cpsCmA2DLKp8dY6rkGNOxnInrwJ4TeRWFgisUN6nnfnljT8as2BU/s400/IMG_8355+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everyone enjoyed these lip whistles. Yes, those are real glasses. These are the style we decided on after he repeatedly mangled the metal framed pair, and then stashed them somewhere--back of a drawer, under some furniture, in the garbage... who knows?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwOgG-FAowrMH-Ck3hyphenhyphen3MOGy3290eucdqbZsLm4GJSCZyc4o7KNvLqUpbtT8J9Q131tB7OnavYFWmT0uvJ8WeV4hEaVVdrQMrvONMoaCKTUq-7k7ligBcSogOxVw2g8FrunQV1heV0Dx8/s1600/IMG_8400+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwOgG-FAowrMH-Ck3hyphenhyphen3MOGy3290eucdqbZsLm4GJSCZyc4o7KNvLqUpbtT8J9Q131tB7OnavYFWmT0uvJ8WeV4hEaVVdrQMrvONMoaCKTUq-7k7ligBcSogOxVw2g8FrunQV1heV0Dx8/s400/IMG_8400+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A game everyone can play! We're starting to grow up, people!</td></tr>
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<br />Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089210902879095607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333477469828624750.post-37175257741961449652012-10-21T23:27:00.003-07:002012-10-21T23:27:53.094-07:00More pics from our tripI'm just going to keep sticking these pictures up here, since I have quite a few!
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJSiwMYv1q74-19OoCbRHIEtWMFQhM9rtUAyC974x0Rrkp-ax_p_MGTEaHZVupCT2ZGxF6TTCSTKBiOal1xLGhp3aaAtMEYwE6WBv51RgRpgWGW5bHBqo1X0zjxOBH62qtNtu1a5ada7U/s1600/IMG_8136+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJSiwMYv1q74-19OoCbRHIEtWMFQhM9rtUAyC974x0Rrkp-ax_p_MGTEaHZVupCT2ZGxF6TTCSTKBiOal1xLGhp3aaAtMEYwE6WBv51RgRpgWGW5bHBqo1X0zjxOBH62qtNtu1a5ada7U/s400/IMG_8136+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is just his speed, as this boy eats, sleeps and breathes small recreational-type vehicles.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFXIZ2b1UVdesUUqhjoWd7Uzxpy4ZvuB_fKMZGTcHtnx0AcdTSRCN0HWgKYdpUogBHslGOBWZlmVF8kE_EWJCwAYzo_917nySNfbeYdWBPO86S14A6R4hUQVFD2f3TTnKcnXEFTmWLrHM/s1600/IMG_8137+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFXIZ2b1UVdesUUqhjoWd7Uzxpy4ZvuB_fKMZGTcHtnx0AcdTSRCN0HWgKYdpUogBHslGOBWZlmVF8kE_EWJCwAYzo_917nySNfbeYdWBPO86S14A6R4hUQVFD2f3TTnKcnXEFTmWLrHM/s400/IMG_8137+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This pony ride was pretty fun, too.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwiPKCWdVqbbD5OIa6l1G6CaWY3hHdTwcMvvY0AHWjnFmZms55gJ_FtxkwALbqNMhZtj-ks6kdCcwMdaH7-z0MYI5_UfiDgAuDmZ8N_zvzFpAnuWlkX6xo6j7M6sHq2IpHVKTfXTncIw0/s1600/IMG_8144+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwiPKCWdVqbbD5OIa6l1G6CaWY3hHdTwcMvvY0AHWjnFmZms55gJ_FtxkwALbqNMhZtj-ks6kdCcwMdaH7-z0MYI5_UfiDgAuDmZ8N_zvzFpAnuWlkX6xo6j7M6sHq2IpHVKTfXTncIw0/s400/IMG_8144+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He grudgingly admitted that he might, finally, be starting to have some fun...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Lp6oAJjiKE6froKXPcED9xWqXjw57hZLjxAfjpmKcO9eOFxSgt-pFCMYbBJQBMh2RAh2zCX5VAe75mFwLlVxsk2oCqPV13P7CzxRpJI_HVhjC-yOZybuDAhkwX8hQb45BRel3-q6hIg/s1600/IMG_8148+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Lp6oAJjiKE6froKXPcED9xWqXjw57hZLjxAfjpmKcO9eOFxSgt-pFCMYbBJQBMh2RAh2zCX5VAe75mFwLlVxsk2oCqPV13P7CzxRpJI_HVhjC-yOZybuDAhkwX8hQb45BRel3-q6hIg/s400/IMG_8148+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This little pony wasn't scary at all.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDqLd22veLd0Qwi4I36EZR3ckBaHgDmf0QzwZiebsYblfDA5omWSrpVMwSVP44P73Z-_TN4B8ZezPZzwI7qlwfyxm0Par74iVMWUyBAetDIjuvOsFp5pVveW8d3xGrG6CACKWozi8JgFs/s1600/IMG_8152+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDqLd22veLd0Qwi4I36EZR3ckBaHgDmf0QzwZiebsYblfDA5omWSrpVMwSVP44P73Z-_TN4B8ZezPZzwI7qlwfyxm0Par74iVMWUyBAetDIjuvOsFp5pVveW8d3xGrG6CACKWozi8JgFs/s400/IMG_8152+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Such beauty!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQiaCvl8ldKvZwM9hPo0CueI3wLvM1QNTDllxTr_zsOIRLsSvpse0hC9mKjk_JiBC3JbbI5vtdUvWI5U8bZtdhd5jpCkuM5amMA9SDqqLz2gXzST0HCQXRB1SjcU0mSuv45Z4OSuDCZf4/s1600/IMG_8156+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQiaCvl8ldKvZwM9hPo0CueI3wLvM1QNTDllxTr_zsOIRLsSvpse0hC9mKjk_JiBC3JbbI5vtdUvWI5U8bZtdhd5jpCkuM5amMA9SDqqLz2gXzST0HCQXRB1SjcU0mSuv45Z4OSuDCZf4/s400/IMG_8156+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And cuteness!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8j4FgYhYuGCNhMTW-Sd1rhTXjFld1ptw3lMlf6kaIm4oxMfi1UYRQZOGHrZNyD9ocTot3qPtA4OOXCMfoONYKfkVm67wZcIourEq2sHqjM799iR34lACAJtQzcnb03oCN3Mx0u9G0bNM/s1600/IMG_8170+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8j4FgYhYuGCNhMTW-Sd1rhTXjFld1ptw3lMlf6kaIm4oxMfi1UYRQZOGHrZNyD9ocTot3qPtA4OOXCMfoONYKfkVm67wZcIourEq2sHqjM799iR34lACAJtQzcnb03oCN3Mx0u9G0bNM/s400/IMG_8170+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Haven't you ever heard of 'personal space,' Grandma?"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0-t0xg33GvA0nYK_SnIGPkhNgLmv996jmlDzp-UgbpvWNmEjK0b77Ht5sRJSvUyJ48ddxuok1Lxd2B1808IWo-j_0ZrfEIeJ9TemTgQ28bwV4IPXE5EYdfUMxoPiS8OjqEL9JLQgMUXw/s1600/IMG_8179+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0-t0xg33GvA0nYK_SnIGPkhNgLmv996jmlDzp-UgbpvWNmEjK0b77Ht5sRJSvUyJ48ddxuok1Lxd2B1808IWo-j_0ZrfEIeJ9TemTgQ28bwV4IPXE5EYdfUMxoPiS8OjqEL9JLQgMUXw/s400/IMG_8179+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"I like spending the night at Granny's and Poppa's!"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeeV-5l_Z0txPGB0I-nGZWC0EN8H_emEK4ROC_aec8rRpiEeBn66mUYsVhz1KtumYpPvnocby2drfa9CTm1-f3VIHGP6cTohOHmhDvQo3McHJgWsHrYeBWsCbDUpTcxzLRCTHr669Z4Rk/s1600/IMG_8181+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeeV-5l_Z0txPGB0I-nGZWC0EN8H_emEK4ROC_aec8rRpiEeBn66mUYsVhz1KtumYpPvnocby2drfa9CTm1-f3VIHGP6cTohOHmhDvQo3McHJgWsHrYeBWsCbDUpTcxzLRCTHr669Z4Rk/s400/IMG_8181+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Me, too!"</td></tr>
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<br />Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089210902879095607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333477469828624750.post-34344702716262109172012-10-21T23:10:00.003-07:002012-10-21T23:10:59.126-07:00Trip to visit parents/in-laws/grandparentsHere are some pictures from that trip to visit my in-laws. They showed us a wonderful time, and it was so refreshing to be with them again. They looked so healthy and happy, and that made us so happy (but not necessarily healthy.)
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkAsVg7jFRQyPBqg6WGVcKpM7IRx_J7wjQnJa8tG_uCd6LhdISqk9nMDnKxPu75n3QjqvieAXyzwuQAWbmfxxHojqLe8pZ5f6ZE5mjNi6iQay9x_peescg1vL42ye3d82vE8Wia0i_FcM/s1600/IMG_8113+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkAsVg7jFRQyPBqg6WGVcKpM7IRx_J7wjQnJa8tG_uCd6LhdISqk9nMDnKxPu75n3QjqvieAXyzwuQAWbmfxxHojqLe8pZ5f6ZE5mjNi6iQay9x_peescg1vL42ye3d82vE8Wia0i_FcM/s400/IMG_8113+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My beautiful daughter, who is a loving mother...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqr58wZkwRvKerSvdZIAEY8dZ07gNC5ir_WoBSHsKw9xPjVGDo-JsNx-2ZSTacYWOSa9xYrEwpFFxn3vpGDhkSZP92IwkeNs_VeBZymP-qY4i6LiHfBQS59kEIsYg1NdVg9KxkR0faxIU/s1600/IMG_8114+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqr58wZkwRvKerSvdZIAEY8dZ07gNC5ir_WoBSHsKw9xPjVGDo-JsNx-2ZSTacYWOSa9xYrEwpFFxn3vpGDhkSZP92IwkeNs_VeBZymP-qY4i6LiHfBQS59kEIsYg1NdVg9KxkR0faxIU/s400/IMG_8114+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I imagined that the carousel might be a good photo op, with bright colors, and happy smiles...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfrFEnb7BPndkt8VeTSAFYOeOwlD73Bv0l-OgbSJ_Mp6qY3vWZJF3zR46-aUvykZRb_aiLclfX4Cgp9QYfXG2vfO2GlNvS1xtUB4szTdqHoAFbppsCUwIfvMnoTqJjJTJ7VP_l7dPQ33I/s1600/IMG_8116+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfrFEnb7BPndkt8VeTSAFYOeOwlD73Bv0l-OgbSJ_Mp6qY3vWZJF3zR46-aUvykZRb_aiLclfX4Cgp9QYfXG2vfO2GlNvS1xtUB4szTdqHoAFbppsCUwIfvMnoTqJjJTJ7VP_l7dPQ33I/s400/IMG_8116+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The kids were a bit reserved, though, as this was the first time they'd ever been on one.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuvzvxQnCFQJCdNacIhE4VyBO1o8sTTLFpRs3Wd4msek-5Y56-2Z_Z2WRzgOChLixy3x4T9uei4IPeGKW9MX85NEGoSF0D0_iXRofvXMoUAIsqrNlHJ4PQxaXBnMY6X1BuIBm1jsSb7Y8/s1600/IMG_8117+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuvzvxQnCFQJCdNacIhE4VyBO1o8sTTLFpRs3Wd4msek-5Y56-2Z_Z2WRzgOChLixy3x4T9uei4IPeGKW9MX85NEGoSF0D0_iXRofvXMoUAIsqrNlHJ4PQxaXBnMY6X1BuIBm1jsSb7Y8/s400/IMG_8117+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was the first time Little Girl started smiling, in fact, as all the big plastic animals in this park were quite scary!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ7ojlXA_hyphenhyphencM0ENj0T482HNrnsKeo8yIEH6xR-Jeo0u44A11xEbDrTJlVkFOr4ZWjTkiQZGI_vQZEZw7TP5K2En_Vyx8YsnliceoDpScdB90ZfKts_LU8crY2mPXtBX6DnnwopiU67vY/s1600/IMG_8124+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ7ojlXA_hyphenhyphencM0ENj0T482HNrnsKeo8yIEH6xR-Jeo0u44A11xEbDrTJlVkFOr4ZWjTkiQZGI_vQZEZw7TP5K2En_Vyx8YsnliceoDpScdB90ZfKts_LU8crY2mPXtBX6DnnwopiU67vY/s400/IMG_8124+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Boy did not enjoy the ride, as he wasn't sure what the purpose of a carousel was suppposed to be. Better safe than sorry, he always says...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGh7G5tQPjFWCB90kzd__BPuTXrlghxE54aADqFaxIBt0O1u87s1BrzUA2vQLcOhFqj5H1d1TFYiBJ4pvlLaFT4aNXlOhKAdEIyzETU3XGEprkkfYfZR9DVStOCBmmR1EmmN_Z_cZSpz0/s1600/IMG_8127+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGh7G5tQPjFWCB90kzd__BPuTXrlghxE54aADqFaxIBt0O1u87s1BrzUA2vQLcOhFqj5H1d1TFYiBJ4pvlLaFT4aNXlOhKAdEIyzETU3XGEprkkfYfZR9DVStOCBmmR1EmmN_Z_cZSpz0/s400/IMG_8127+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big Girl was game to go on the ferris wheel with Daddy, though, and enjoyed it quite a bit, waving to everyone on the ground, when Dad pointed us out. She was braver than Mom!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-iu1g8eduU436Y33HGn5oe7zInccDm6AUnRs6MtCwJqN2B8aIM0tIXtMcsKwsFP2Hz1g1SRZmqkEtuE5lhTz-_5TGqL_3dY5dJhqhbqsLAzAxBiFxGsi9vmllbamQXspFQdVIEGNHhdM/s1600/IMG_8133+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-iu1g8eduU436Y33HGn5oe7zInccDm6AUnRs6MtCwJqN2B8aIM0tIXtMcsKwsFP2Hz1g1SRZmqkEtuE5lhTz-_5TGqL_3dY5dJhqhbqsLAzAxBiFxGsi9vmllbamQXspFQdVIEGNHhdM/s400/IMG_8133+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These two were braver than me, also. My vertigo was acting up.</td></tr>
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<br />Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089210902879095607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333477469828624750.post-38926192271744862012012-10-01T01:13:00.000-07:002012-10-01T01:13:03.526-07:00Back homeWe just returned from a cross-country trip to visit my in-laws, who hadn't had a chance to meet the adopted kids yet. We flew, and it took all day each way, three flights, and two layovers each way. Our 14 yr old, B., went with us, as well as our daughter, J., and her baby. <br />
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It was wonderful to have our daughter as a traveling companion, as she's an excellent companion anyway, and our son was so thoughtful of his sister, always switching seats with her, so that she could nurse the baby while sitting next to one of our family members, rather than strangers. (Interestingly, I saw lots of babies traveling, lots of them being breastfed, and not once did I see any mother give her baby a bottle. Awesome!) My two kids were such a help with the little ones, and it wouldn't have been as nice a trip without them.<br />
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Little Boy gave us a scare a couple of times (think: large crowds, interesting sights, child with no sense of ...well... sense.) The girls stuck pretty close to us, which surprises me, since they haven't always been so aware of the family unit, but they seem to be evolving that direction. There wasn't the random hugging of complete strangers by Little Girl, although at first Big Girl was inclined to trail a hand out, to brush against people as we walked. This has been an issue for some time, but after a few hours, I guess strangers looked less appealing, touch-wise. At any rate, Little Boy earned himself a ride in the umbrella stroller. Apparently, it's easy to forget you're strapped in, because he kept standing up and trying to walk away, with a giant stroller hanging off of his backside.<br />
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It was wonderful to be in the bosom of our family again, and the grandparents seemed to thoroughly enjoy all their grandchildren, as well as their new little great-grandson!<br />
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I don't know if it was becoming seasoned travelers, being cherished by their grandparents, or returning home to their well-loved toys and yard, but the children all seem to have turned a corner, developmentally. We've been calling them two-year-old triplets, but now I have to say that we're having a lot of three-year-old moments. They had quite the growth spurt over the summer, and now it seems they're having a brain growth spurt. I always noticed that with my first group of kids, that they grew up physically or they grew up mentally, but not at the same time. Like the body trades it off.<br />
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I'll just name off some of the new developments I've seen, since I've been saving them up to write about, if I can remember them... Little Girl can turn the outdoors faucet all the way in one direction, which requires turning, letting go, replacing your hand, continuing to turn in the same direction, until it doesn't turn anymore. Up to now, everyone grabs it, and twists it back and forth.<br />
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Little Girl and Big Girl are both able to climb the climbing wall on the playground, planning where to put their hand or foot next. Big Girl is able to climb the spiral, and step over onto the platform, which requires stepping out over open space several feet up in the air.<br />
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Little Boy likes to play with the other kids, and giggles a lot, like he thinks he's so funny, but the other day, he was doing something he thought was funny, and looked at me several times to see my reaction, like he was hamming for me. When Big Brother was playing with the kids, Little Girl started laughing so hard, that her face turned red, a vein stood out on her forehead, and her face looked like she was in pain. It was that funny! I've seen lots of people laugh that hard, but not her. <br />
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When I order the kids to do something, I always tell them, "Say, 'Yes, Mom!'" to which the girls reply, "m'Mom" and "Ma." Even though Little Boy doesn't talk, I always give him the opportunity by ordering him to say what I tell the girls to say. I figure someday he'll most likely start to answer. He's started answering now by signing, "mom." Pretty cute.<br />
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Big Girl likes to look at a book, and say what she thinks the picture is, often accompanied by a sign (sometimes her own made-up sign.) I don't understand her, often, but she will go through the entire book, reciting what she thinks it is, such as "apple!" "dog!" in this manner, drilling herself, then start over again. So, sitting at the lunch table, she started drilling Little Girl, who obediently recited the words and signs that Big Girl barked at her. It was funny because Big Girl pronounces milk, "naw!" and I don't care how many times you correct her, it's "naw!" If you try to get her to draw out the "m" sound, as in "mmmmm-milk!" it becomes, "mmmmm-naw!" She also uses the sign "horse" for "tea" because "horse" sounds like "juice" and juice and iced tea are close enough to get the same sign (I guess.) So Little Girl dutifully imitated all the signs and words that her big sister required of her.<br />
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I told Little Boy, "take off your diaper, and throw it in the garbage!" so he took off his diaper, and happily ran to throw it away. That's two-step directions. These are big developments for him, folks!<br />
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Tonight I had Big Girl repeat the alphabet after me, which she's pretty good at, although I don't think she could do it on her own. "W" is really cute the way she says it. Then Little Girl repeated it after me, although she wasn't really in the mood, so she didn't try very hard. She does a lot of contorting her mouth and tongue into weird configurations, I figure because I over-exaggerate the shape of every sound, hoping to help them figure out how to pronounce it. When it was Little Boy's turn he never repeated anything, but he did examine my mouth closely as if my lips were truly disfigured.<br />
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Here are some pictures from a few weeks ago. Forgive me for the dirt and grunge on my children. Oh well, it washes off, and I don't bathe them until the end of the day anyway. Certainly not just before they eat watermelon!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not bad for a kid who has sensory issues with touching or eating things with weird textures, and eating raw or fresh things. Well, it is watermelon, after all. What's not to like? </td></tr>
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089210902879095607noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333477469828624750.post-170471260875206162012-09-02T23:27:00.000-07:002012-09-02T23:27:20.749-07:00All about meI know my title sounds narcissistic, but I really don't write about myself that much. In fact, even though this post is about me, I won't post one single picture of myself! I might, if I had a flattering one, but...<br />
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So, as some of you know, I quit my fulltime job, and now work only occasionally. I've worked nightshift for at least seven years, and had been running on empty for awhile. My brain feels like an agile antelope now (comparatively) after resting and sleeping full nights for several months. Now I have some time and brainpower to chase down those interests I've had, but couldn't indulge. Everyone who knows me knows that I've always got some new thing going, and it may actually be some version of some old thing, but with a new twist.<br />
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For my summer vacation, I: <br />
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didn't have to go camping, not even once, because the resort where we always go had a storm with power outages to the whole county. Yay for me! Boo for them, 'cuz that's how they make their living. (I do have a heart, you know!)<br />
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found a juicer at a yard sale, and juiced up a bunch of apples for cider. Too bad they were transparents, which are the original non-sweet apple, and the cider was sour only.<br />
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researched everything I could find about fermenting vegetables, built a still (sort of) with the help of my son, and made my own sauerkraut, which was amazingly delicious, with all kinds of wonderful bacteria that increase the nutritional value of the veggies, and some pickled vegetables, which were disappointing. Edible, but that's all. The dill pickles got dumped, because they didn't cooperate. Using my newfound knowledge, I made some apple cider vinegar from my sour cider, and it was pretty darned good!<br />
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got a cold frame. Built it in the hottest part of the summer, so it was sweltering inside! This particular experience taught me something about myself. I'm the one who comes up with all the ideas, and my poor husband is the one who always ends up trying to implement them. Well, he is the one with all the tools. And the knowledge. Anyway, I also realized that I'm greedy, and between that, and being married to a cross between Tim the Toolman and Rube Goldberg, well, let's just say that big ideas get bigger while being brought to life, maybe too big, and then often don't get finished, or end up disappointing us. We gave ourselves a limit of finishing this project and one other, which was the next thing:<br />
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got a fence around the entire property. This is a big deal, as it's something that we'd wanted from the first day we moved here, twenty years ago. It took a big need to make it happen, and that big need was Little Boy, and his absolute refusal to recognize our right to establish boundaries. Well, we showed him! How is this about me? Simple. I now have peace, no adrenaline rush everytime I realize that he's out of sight yet again, and I can breathe easy. What is this worth? No way to put a price on it.<br />
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got really into raw milk. I've been trying to heal my skin naturally, with diet, for many years, because the constant handwashing with harsh soaps has been relentless, and I've struggled with contact dermatitis all this time. I haven't wanted to get steroid shots, but it was to the point that the steroid cream didn't help anymore. I recently read that Omega 6 fatty acids increase inflammatory response, and that we should attempt to get more Omega 3 fatty acids into our diets. I was ready to jump right in, until I discovered just how hard that actually is. Omega 3's are present in fish and fish oil, but you have to be careful of mercury in ocean caught fish, and farm fish doesn't really have much Omega 3, because of their diets. Same goes for beef and chicken, which have a lot of Omega 3's if they're pasture fed, and Omega 6's if they're grain-fed. Same with milk. Soy, peanut butter, canola oil, are all high in Omega 6's, and soy is hard for me, because it's in a ton of stuff I eat. Anyway, I've been trying to eat more ocean fish, but not too much, lots of fresh fruits and veggies, and less of the prepared foods which are high in Omega 6's. The bad news is that my skin isn't any better after all of this. I do feel like a million bucks, though, which could just be the sleep!<br />
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experimented with pastured poultry. All the rage, because of Joel Salatin. We've had chickens forever, but they've always been in a coop with a small outdoor run, and we fed them layer mash and kitchen scraps. They've always been super healthy, but our new chickens are living a different, better life! Now that the yard is fenced, they can run around the property all day, eating grass, insects, and whatever else they find. They love it, and won't go back in the coop or run except at night or to lay their eggs. And what eggs they are! Very thick, hard shells, even with no oyster shell offered, and the yolks are a deep orange color. The whole egg holds together very strongly, and it's a little work to whip them up for scrambled eggs, and when you pour them into the pan, it looks like you poured mustard in instead! It takes a little bit to get used to the flourescent yellow color. There's some good nutrition in those babies! They taste better, too.<br />
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started making my own butter. I use raw cream from the same dairy as the raw milk, and it's the yellowest butter, even with no food coloring. It has a very strong taste, though, which is hard to adjust to. When we were in Eastern Europe, to adopt the kids, we bought milk and butter, which tasted strange to me, but my husband thought they tasted wonderful, and not strange at all. I wouldn't eat it, though, so we had to search around a little to find some that tasted like American milk and butter. I decided that they must have a different breed of dairy cow, since I knew American dairies mostly have holsteins. Now I know that most raw milk dairies have jerseys, with their higher butterfat content, so I think that's probably the difference. My teens won't eat it, and my daughter says it tastes like she licked a cow's udder. I'm surprised that she knows what a cow's udder tastes like...! No problem getting the munchkins to eat it. They know good stuff when they taste it.<br />
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learned a lot about pasture, and grass fed animals. I needed to know for the poultry, and have gotten interested in maybe getting a cow for milk, and a calf or lamb to raise on grass for meat. We would have to get a mini cow, because we have a mini property. To increase the fertility of our soil, I planted a bunch of clover with the grass. We still have lots of weeds, but that's okay. Here's a patch of my pretty "pasture."<br />
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089210902879095607noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333477469828624750.post-38525910084550451532012-08-18T00:07:00.001-07:002012-08-18T00:07:31.739-07:00This post is for my daughter, who is shipping out, and wanted some new pictures before she doesn't have a good internet connection anymore. Here's to you, honey!
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw0iWvVcGNoqbcaozkR7hKotWKmdNRAGXxnPjFIazzlstZlaPrFll6RfQGYzh0_pl3eORcHwZISyO90UojbAIrDGFdjFuQDsSDK0vNbeUs_cbsq6ziT4QNUOGsjLrO5nt4RKpGkUqn1NY/s1600/IMG_7851+%25281280x853%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw0iWvVcGNoqbcaozkR7hKotWKmdNRAGXxnPjFIazzlstZlaPrFll6RfQGYzh0_pl3eORcHwZISyO90UojbAIrDGFdjFuQDsSDK0vNbeUs_cbsq6ziT4QNUOGsjLrO5nt4RKpGkUqn1NY/s400/IMG_7851+%25281280x853%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some old skin smooching on some new skin.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho0YIBGmDzatJhPTYgitNc47Z5to46UD1ADYaAcW18hQ006v008VDoPd5KGwBkk3fPSW9QfgNHDfpXDiyKXiurJzdCOvHrpGqQMr_1hUAyfT5bhqhOkKqL3oPKXc4RcdxEq6A1qTcjJA0/s1600/IMG_7854+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho0YIBGmDzatJhPTYgitNc47Z5to46UD1ADYaAcW18hQ006v008VDoPd5KGwBkk3fPSW9QfgNHDfpXDiyKXiurJzdCOvHrpGqQMr_1hUAyfT5bhqhOkKqL3oPKXc4RcdxEq6A1qTcjJA0/s400/IMG_7854+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What could be more precious?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSHWbQlX7CFs4iOVdy75EHGUBhm8imD8a34mDatvc1yMuRYg3JasbF2N7eh9gWP4HKl7q8g6ZkSGuDuvKgkFffxTCN0mie8UaEuCtCbuisTvXl56ueMmy5kVTzYMkdfmLtQlJJ2b7aVxU/s1600/IMG_7870+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSHWbQlX7CFs4iOVdy75EHGUBhm8imD8a34mDatvc1yMuRYg3JasbF2N7eh9gWP4HKl7q8g6ZkSGuDuvKgkFffxTCN0mie8UaEuCtCbuisTvXl56ueMmy5kVTzYMkdfmLtQlJJ2b7aVxU/s400/IMG_7870+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grandma wasn't the only one who thought she owned a new baby!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi21P6NCLB5GtdiHTEg4qJZ6xAyFTwgbsHxIYWfb2V9hGBOvZYVvKRJXXCA-lzKIHe-7yvI-t-hWeV4F-HEJXJj3Bgpkupxtv7P1kV74jvcJkEQOsUUb3GIzWFy3dYHXPP4W5ZV9ccm-eA/s1600/IMG_7874+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi21P6NCLB5GtdiHTEg4qJZ6xAyFTwgbsHxIYWfb2V9hGBOvZYVvKRJXXCA-lzKIHe-7yvI-t-hWeV4F-HEJXJj3Bgpkupxtv7P1kV74jvcJkEQOsUUb3GIzWFy3dYHXPP4W5ZV9ccm-eA/s400/IMG_7874+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just keeps getting cuter!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqXIEx79jvgdalIcDPUt10kceEe8Zu9PPUZ6IaNCv6aY7m3JIMg852PqZ8n8PspLaB635GsmE7F0WeH9epIte_3WqYoODhKZdPwfYOCOTdKNMW7uaQpGgLOmv_rx9ORFgyPMuZzTQf8Z0/s1600/IMG_7886+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqXIEx79jvgdalIcDPUt10kceEe8Zu9PPUZ6IaNCv6aY7m3JIMg852PqZ8n8PspLaB635GsmE7F0WeH9epIte_3WqYoODhKZdPwfYOCOTdKNMW7uaQpGgLOmv_rx9ORFgyPMuZzTQf8Z0/s400/IMG_7886+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These adorable hats came from Asia.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8VaLrzlXPZhNWKGym6pOnr1tAf8tdP8dAe5E4tUPiZcG1U7hJmWAmvs0-t-g6TuIVpYhVmGHqgBubAlRTeBfhmOa0Xg9C-YdDQWdGb9xopMHpazN0QeUyHzHD2fkZUp6N4zEA6g_tAI4/s1600/IMG_7892+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8VaLrzlXPZhNWKGym6pOnr1tAf8tdP8dAe5E4tUPiZcG1U7hJmWAmvs0-t-g6TuIVpYhVmGHqgBubAlRTeBfhmOa0Xg9C-YdDQWdGb9xopMHpazN0QeUyHzHD2fkZUp6N4zEA6g_tAI4/s400/IMG_7892+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I just wanted them to pose with their arms around each other, but they decided to hug full-on.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRz1kvomLFzCuc-H6D-4ilIc6r4rvXfkQNhT7JHhJ94XGfti4F3FogBznhP-kRcS2VbSfOBvef_K4YIs0sz4g4gt5nfgEoLQGhxHBIlJp0iP1zG-EJdRVlyqfaDC22ChC97Rb1zCXePok/s1600/IMG_7895+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRz1kvomLFzCuc-H6D-4ilIc6r4rvXfkQNhT7JHhJ94XGfti4F3FogBznhP-kRcS2VbSfOBvef_K4YIs0sz4g4gt5nfgEoLQGhxHBIlJp0iP1zG-EJdRVlyqfaDC22ChC97Rb1zCXePok/s400/IMG_7895+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cute little racoon boy</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgddBL9KJCGfAnr8e5hyphenhyphenjAulqtkVcCKrG566_5rETymjunudU3oT4tB907wjSF-w6US7Xf6OJ6C3SEyhoAyPEw6W1QVphmTyYZB6NuuxGRuy0TqfjUjfZI4xc7Ysu82XsJOMNEQyYDc2Uk/s1600/IMG_7915+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgddBL9KJCGfAnr8e5hyphenhyphenjAulqtkVcCKrG566_5rETymjunudU3oT4tB907wjSF-w6US7Xf6OJ6C3SEyhoAyPEw6W1QVphmTyYZB6NuuxGRuy0TqfjUjfZI4xc7Ysu82XsJOMNEQyYDc2Uk/s400/IMG_7915+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">To me, that smile is worth gold!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0nfHQXDpaiNSPCGkBQJuSt8Pm3o5NOWomi3SGItys1lNndX4wnnux3Nki5ikHCo1KF1wRg7Po42ARLUwUvCxowqmzFTPweUxVm7A9wewkSPDkytITv2096ZFxBuEevR1_b-uskc9FxPU/s1600/IMG_7877+%25281280x853%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0nfHQXDpaiNSPCGkBQJuSt8Pm3o5NOWomi3SGItys1lNndX4wnnux3Nki5ikHCo1KF1wRg7Po42ARLUwUvCxowqmzFTPweUxVm7A9wewkSPDkytITv2096ZFxBuEevR1_b-uskc9FxPU/s400/IMG_7877+%25281280x853%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our oldest son is now working full-time, and self-supporting (sort of!) Good job, honey!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy7t40OJrgexGC5OBCrSjcLAR3PZO63vvQEhIU-gxb1DC8JDwkICwsNPzX_4cRd4_hMoJrJHzKQhdaOhShtSL11QOkfJshmGB_NHNYZVMJCkpVUBXGV5gtnsFMhvF-9w8DJ1juc0-HcV4/s1600/IMG_7875+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy7t40OJrgexGC5OBCrSjcLAR3PZO63vvQEhIU-gxb1DC8JDwkICwsNPzX_4cRd4_hMoJrJHzKQhdaOhShtSL11QOkfJshmGB_NHNYZVMJCkpVUBXGV5gtnsFMhvF-9w8DJ1juc0-HcV4/s400/IMG_7875+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Smiley sisters<br />
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089210902879095607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333477469828624750.post-33828329239096437422012-08-17T23:33:00.000-07:002012-08-17T23:33:52.346-07:00Realities and dealingI've been reading lots of other people's blogs lately, and I'm seeing a theme, which is that some people have adopted children who were not what they expected. These parents (mostly mothers, since few fathers blog) have a lot of angst, and tend to feel guilty, since their children are not what they expected, and they feel they have not made "the connection" or they don't feel as though the child is really theirs, or they have thoughts about sending their child back or letting another family try, etc. Reactive attachment disorder is a very real concern, and no prospective adoptive parent should discount that possibility. Anyway, many of these parents have felt that other people have it all rosy, and they feel angry that by chance someone else got the fun kid, and they got the broken kid. I'd like to address this, not because I'm such a great adoptive parent, but because I have nine kids now, and 24 years of experience parenting biological, step, and adoptive children, and if anyone wants to listen, I have a little bit of opinion to impart.<br />
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I'll start by saying that I mostly keep a blog, so that other parents who are considering adoption, and specifically Down syndrome can come check it out, and get acquainted with the idea, and explore a bit vicariously, since for many it can be a foreign idea, and overwhelming. I learned most of what I know about Down syndrome through the blog network of Reece's Rainbow parents, and definitely was much more prepared for what we encountered with our children. I have tried to show the beauty of my children, which is what entrances me about them, and is why my photos are flattering, for the most part (I don't like unflattering photos of myself, so why would my kids?) I have tried to tell the down and dirty reality though, also, without scaring off poor innocent souls. I want people to understand that it is hard, hard work, and very, very slow progress, and can be discouraging (a lot) but also that if you want to jump in and try, you'll have beautiful rewards, and precious children.<br />
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As a parent, I've had a lot of correction of my expectations. My kids were much more beautiful than I expected, and my family says it's just me, that it's my eyes that see them this way, and that they're not any more attractive than the rest of the kids out there. There may be some truth to this, as I now think that I have the most lovely children with Down syndrome ever to walk the earth. I look at them and marvel, and am not surprised when strangers compliment me on how adorable they are, and I'm always surprised when people look at them askance. Can't they see what I see?<br />
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Back to expectations: I expected that homeschooling our children would produce little professors, and although they were mostly all good students, some of them ended up full of trivia, and some of them ended up being really interested in and good at stuff that we didn't actually teach them. I'm still disappointed that after all that handwriting practice, I'm not close to satisfied, we have no great spellers, and all those years of piano lessons were wasted (unless you consider how much the brain works both sides while reading music, and playing with both hands-- this is how I comfort myself.)<br />
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A big family was a lot more noisy than I anticipated-- actually painfully so, sometimes, and a bunch of my kids get along so much better than I ever hoped-- but some of them don't get along at all, and that hurts me so much.<br />
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When we first met our Little Boy, I felt quite comfortable diagnosing him with some form of autism, either intrinsic or at least institutionally induced. He let us know in no uncertain terms that we were not part of his world, not welcome in it, and the sooner we left, the better. He had classic characteristics: staring at lights, fascination with inanimate objects, spinning things and flashing lights, hand flapping, rocking, and forget about eye contact. I knew it the minute I saw him, and the first day we saw him was the day we were asked to decide if we wanted him or not. I had no hesitation in saying yes, because I'm always up to a challenge, had traveled around the world to get him, and wasn't going to go home without him if I could help it. Later I had doubts, lots of them, and expressed them to my husband. He's very unemotional about stuff like that, and said, "He'll be what he'll be. We'll give him the opportunity to come out of his shell, and get to know us, and if he does, he does, and if he doesn't, then that's his choice, and there's not much we can do about it. Either way, he'll have a better life than in the orphanage, and he'll have the chance to have an actual childhood. It's just our job to be obedient to God, and raise him the best way we know how." So, it's always been pretty black and white about Little Boy. I said, "It's a good thing we got three, because the girls make up for the fact that he doesn't give any warm fuzzies!"<br />
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Big Girl felt like mine from day one, even though she wanted to attack me to pull my hair. I knew she wanted to be loved, wanted to have a mommy who loved her dearly, and she was so affectionate, especially to me, and seemed to know that I'd come looking for her. It took no time to cure the hair pulling once we got home. She is the most socially awkward of the three, though, in spite of being much more people-oriented than Little Boy, because she doesn't know how to make a pleasing impression on people, and just wants to jump on them, "Love me! Love me!" She can be intimidating, believe me. She also makes a lot more weird sounds, faces, and mannerisms than the other two. Just makes me wonder if she has some medications in her past.<br />
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It took a long time for Little Girl to feel like she was mine, because she loved everyone, and expected everyone to love her back. She got a lot of attention for being so cute, and still does. As people often said, "She sure knows she's cute, doesn't she?" She has been very persistent, though, at treating me like a mother, and because of that, I know she's bonded to me, and I'm bonded to her. I'm the first person she wants, seeks out, follows and emulates.<br />
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I didn't feel warmly toward Little Boy for a long time. I felt like I was babysitting, but my two sons took him into their hearts from the first moment. A brother! I think that's all it was, and he was politely receptive of their enthusiastic overtures. To this day, the boys believe that he's the smartest of the three little kids, even though he consistently performs about 6 months behind the girls on most things, except talking and signing, in which he's way behind the girls. He is still not as emotionally available as the girls are, but we leave him to his own devices, for the most part, and little by little, he has approached the family unit, learning by watching others, and eventually taking part. He has finally learned to give a kiss. For a long time, this was not something he felt any obligation to do. He had no interest if you kissed him, and certainly wasn't going to waste effort trying to kiss you. But finally, he does. I can see that it makes him very happy to make that connection, and we are happy for these tiny things that he gives us. He would still rather play outside all day by himself, but surrounded by love and warmth, he is slowly responding. I don't want to give the impression that we require nothing of him. He is expected to respond when called, come to the table for mealtimes, hold hands and be quiet for prayer times, and take his turn at the potty. I had to insist that he learn how to dress himself, and he still likes to play helpless when it comes to that, but once he has mastered a skill, he is very proud of himself. It just takes a lot of crying, and tantruming first.<br />
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I hope this post helps some of the other parents who feel like their kid isn't what they expected. Sure, I feel like they do, in thinking that I'm not doing everything I can do to help them reach their full potential, but I'm also cognizant that some of these kids have a lot of healing to do before they can even start on the full potential path. After the healing makes it possible, many of them need to revert to an earlier age to fill in gaps. I think our three are at a two year old stage right now, with lots of need to be independent, need to figure it out for themselves, and not just take our word for it, which means lots of ignoring and even some defiance. "You don't know what you're talking about" is written right on their faces, but more often it's "You're not the boss of me!" Three kids with this attitude is a lot of hard work, and the world is a dangerous place for a kid with this attitude. It's scary, and I hope they grow out of it in a timely fashion, even though I know the Down syndrome clock seems to run on a different sort of time.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC9V0Qg3G-_0L95uhAWw1c0f26uTmfhcoDn-yE_mPIqitRMgtvYO3GFqxMFetZAPyXaELqng0ho6uqX65qGmEbhNxJPET38Fl9-CeTMo90qOofMOrs1FuMkzj9uPLUps5g7tU_OweeHsg/s1600/IMG_7846+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC9V0Qg3G-_0L95uhAWw1c0f26uTmfhcoDn-yE_mPIqitRMgtvYO3GFqxMFetZAPyXaELqng0ho6uqX65qGmEbhNxJPET38Fl9-CeTMo90qOofMOrs1FuMkzj9uPLUps5g7tU_OweeHsg/s400/IMG_7846+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Boy "helping" Dad.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitrns6ZxqhfHl_SD9dFjR3M1qL0nJzgxcEZ9D77E-Qtt4sZjNNGTQGKcAnaFhG5N5IMlSvs1NkIxrPJXn4GDoZ29xtEA6xVmml_OmUCaVi_GI4wFI1pFuX2_xKipM4-gpeJlXbVGoyliY/s1600/IMG_7849+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitrns6ZxqhfHl_SD9dFjR3M1qL0nJzgxcEZ9D77E-Qtt4sZjNNGTQGKcAnaFhG5N5IMlSvs1NkIxrPJXn4GDoZ29xtEA6xVmml_OmUCaVi_GI4wFI1pFuX2_xKipM4-gpeJlXbVGoyliY/s400/IMG_7849+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Actually, he's pretty much in his own world here. He loves water, and he loves being outside -- no boundaries. Can't keep shoes on him, either.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOdAwgXubG_aGaNEl5Lc_WW4h_PEgItgKrOgV4XLfQYA16r005v-APqYNsFxkqjgnsHN7yr-L48j44eMSWgIycnqMi0WOsdWRWO37BIBDBpPnhY2G0oH5s6d8BXEz-mIrXo_Pk4koFJ_Q/s1600/IMG_7850+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOdAwgXubG_aGaNEl5Lc_WW4h_PEgItgKrOgV4XLfQYA16r005v-APqYNsFxkqjgnsHN7yr-L48j44eMSWgIycnqMi0WOsdWRWO37BIBDBpPnhY2G0oH5s6d8BXEz-mIrXo_Pk4koFJ_Q/s400/IMG_7850+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I believe that nature is very healing, and offers an amazing array of ever-changing stimuli.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaA2l7yPaonZ-zxHsAwB9HK7JVWq2rwCzgxEtSooSZU7WiKfK2WogpX3Wiijo7BwtjFi9BSNFx5M5WeUge-GvXkWNmt0Gacl3K0Ohmox2xSf7F6yhAT9xZR_9EbC_Ynj_6D1GS4RJaUhg/s1600/IMG_7900+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaA2l7yPaonZ-zxHsAwB9HK7JVWq2rwCzgxEtSooSZU7WiKfK2WogpX3Wiijo7BwtjFi9BSNFx5M5WeUge-GvXkWNmt0Gacl3K0Ohmox2xSf7F6yhAT9xZR_9EbC_Ynj_6D1GS4RJaUhg/s400/IMG_7900+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This little girl pulled a television set over on herself. Fractured a clavicle and the top of the humerus. Orthopedics consult said a sling is the best way to go nowadays. No casting needed.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNC01Ltf86xkFn2A5fV2ErILiU6FIx0AAe9lQhdEXtD2vp2hAu5bnqYtSpJgkLnWO3NdJBv59qmq22LjdhcqLEhb-BDOX26tvnsGXJZCtd1F5TpWDuDlRPBStWTNKuofCskXtSbIGp5jM/s1600/IMG_7911+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNC01Ltf86xkFn2A5fV2ErILiU6FIx0AAe9lQhdEXtD2vp2hAu5bnqYtSpJgkLnWO3NdJBv59qmq22LjdhcqLEhb-BDOX26tvnsGXJZCtd1F5TpWDuDlRPBStWTNKuofCskXtSbIGp5jM/s400/IMG_7911+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Been something of a crab with her owies, but she adapted to the sling quickly, and learned how to do everything left-handed.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiblFZ4_4y2qxzjeSBi3tQE20WYpBa0AwSpQoL5WsAxJJxw_PVGCQfbFco5xoeH-vYl5XfxF7TCea32yrK2p04DuJga1SL5KpRV6EwFBQqJzJeOWg-zeiEaMsNm5OKFXJpsDJbWeP_Fydc/s1600/IMG_7918+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiblFZ4_4y2qxzjeSBi3tQE20WYpBa0AwSpQoL5WsAxJJxw_PVGCQfbFco5xoeH-vYl5XfxF7TCea32yrK2p04DuJga1SL5KpRV6EwFBQqJzJeOWg-zeiEaMsNm5OKFXJpsDJbWeP_Fydc/s400/IMG_7918+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's Big Girl, who's always happy to give Mom some smiles, although she starts to get over the top with the extra attention, and starts throwing herself around, and laughing like crazy.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZxGwO3fm79ons4hFHlTA-19Qy9pW7hXCrTfuw_d1_NHjT2nk4nrc-_UU7X7b-2YtUHC8mzeklp3Zw4PP2M3HkVd8ZX5cnY6tqVWIm47L8x1Y0WHnT0je3NI-_7dxAmtJ3BY6ZZ7TAMgg/s1600/IMG_7927+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZxGwO3fm79ons4hFHlTA-19Qy9pW7hXCrTfuw_d1_NHjT2nk4nrc-_UU7X7b-2YtUHC8mzeklp3Zw4PP2M3HkVd8ZX5cnY6tqVWIm47L8x1Y0WHnT0je3NI-_7dxAmtJ3BY6ZZ7TAMgg/s400/IMG_7927+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here she is manipulating something in front of her face, while singing and talking to herself. Is this something to worry about, or is it a way to defuse? I don't know. For now, I try to engage her in something more interesting, but this is a default of hers.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQR-zGnJzZmjKSWylWUvMBiRWoPOW03qlnoUWX2kaG1qZJvw6Yi4hbsZnv4m8toOLBKM9sIoBrmecaSnMZ03-ars8CkLxDFbS4yRDuE-t6doBOMvNBzQOTg0XNWUqStdJO7rULkpVI_ow/s1600/IMG_7928+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQR-zGnJzZmjKSWylWUvMBiRWoPOW03qlnoUWX2kaG1qZJvw6Yi4hbsZnv4m8toOLBKM9sIoBrmecaSnMZ03-ars8CkLxDFbS4yRDuE-t6doBOMvNBzQOTg0XNWUqStdJO7rULkpVI_ow/s400/IMG_7928+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One thing's for certain, this is a happy little girl who loves life, and loves her family. She is happy to be here, I have no doubt!</td></tr>
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089210902879095607noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333477469828624750.post-66072677432078303872012-08-04T23:04:00.001-07:002012-08-04T23:04:12.070-07:00Grandson visitWe had our oldest grandson here to visit for almost a week. How fun! He is very active, and very sweet. He loves to talk, ask questions, and he's always hungry, but not for cherries, blueberries, cheese, or anything else that I have around for healthy snacking.
"What does your mom usually give you at home when you ask for something to eat every hour?" I wondered.
"Oh, anything I want!" he answered breezily.
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwzT2rMqVV0b_QibZ8OGYdzRW3QY2q0JGnZudXugno4smIuWhNeHRuwJl7ZqOMrf9EBlyFqtddYJ8d0WhFLQ1bgBeEJmaUUDjGKp0wRkaF5XIsHBb3MGYAUQtW9W9LjNEx3tvhjOzqFIQ/s1600/IMG_7787+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwzT2rMqVV0b_QibZ8OGYdzRW3QY2q0JGnZudXugno4smIuWhNeHRuwJl7ZqOMrf9EBlyFqtddYJ8d0WhFLQ1bgBeEJmaUUDjGKp0wRkaF5XIsHBb3MGYAUQtW9W9LjNEx3tvhjOzqFIQ/s400/IMG_7787+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Someone new in the picture, who really enjoyed all the silly faces his big auntie was making.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjauZ3yoaNjTKe3pu5ChopiDe5-tbMNsXSPjA9husdqhio4kZCAOD1kEpCUw7y0XuHJK1qJWgI2bquKdj6j5TRpBqgmhN116vqXeMoAsKAmpPlhL16b_DoUZY2sIe7TN8edd0jzbWLIp98/s1600/IMG_7795+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjauZ3yoaNjTKe3pu5ChopiDe5-tbMNsXSPjA9husdqhio4kZCAOD1kEpCUw7y0XuHJK1qJWgI2bquKdj6j5TRpBqgmhN116vqXeMoAsKAmpPlhL16b_DoUZY2sIe7TN8edd0jzbWLIp98/s400/IMG_7795+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click on this picture to see some crazy long eyelashes. He was watching his big auntie curl her eyelashes, and he exclaimed, "Don't do that to me!" </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhip3ach6_9yN5v6m8PTdY9SLRtH4ACOC21tWTJY40V3WB7ou7BPr9SA_h0z2pwg823AVfb52RA5qUx8P9AdRaVVbVpbwAZdtvKekxh4z6yvpU3yPIYFgMgy_xYxxw_fZkuFtaplovQeW8/s1600/IMG_7802+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhip3ach6_9yN5v6m8PTdY9SLRtH4ACOC21tWTJY40V3WB7ou7BPr9SA_h0z2pwg823AVfb52RA5qUx8P9AdRaVVbVpbwAZdtvKekxh4z6yvpU3yPIYFgMgy_xYxxw_fZkuFtaplovQeW8/s400/IMG_7802+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wrinkling his nose...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWrH6BzhACWllIgoJivy90Ol3EE51ze9rtlg-cblV3C4XwRZgTW_S-VzlpAttB_68ANe_yJtDm_IK0UdZTK7Iu8GccBy6ZQcLisjxtIQLvJ-l9ia9Hgnk03m9rz6wOS085RDjqrBNo18g/s1600/IMG_7808+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWrH6BzhACWllIgoJivy90Ol3EE51ze9rtlg-cblV3C4XwRZgTW_S-VzlpAttB_68ANe_yJtDm_IK0UdZTK7Iu8GccBy6ZQcLisjxtIQLvJ-l9ia9Hgnk03m9rz6wOS085RDjqrBNo18g/s400/IMG_7808+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Those tongue exercises are really paying off! When I tell you that all three kids had such low tone that their tongues that felt like a piece of liver, you'll be impressed that she can do this now!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH5K_O7viXAsylIxVPFT0tGOA88eNyhBRCcWFFEcNn70RhH9psj-IFoo_Fmac6eCmpwk6uwyk1FuznpjOIVl7iz3zrOKIcirlgPAelz8z9R_Gp3mlzl5PiDklnFZ8SOS4zCd_0xWBnxY4/s1600/IMG_7811+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH5K_O7viXAsylIxVPFT0tGOA88eNyhBRCcWFFEcNn70RhH9psj-IFoo_Fmac6eCmpwk6uwyk1FuznpjOIVl7iz3zrOKIcirlgPAelz8z9R_Gp3mlzl5PiDklnFZ8SOS4zCd_0xWBnxY4/s400/IMG_7811+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our oldest grandson, and his beloved uncle, who got a little worn out from lots of questions. He's used to the kind of little kids who bug you without talking...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiEjC9lljBeIgnSte7cBxN0kAQjV2KvxjxSv7uZDPoGKade-DcYY3uE89fNamHnE2uYLjy6N9joh3ZkDhW2rEewBxGpoCo72tYQ9eLWFmOoHeb22E5ZuYOGUoQCsH2D4hSe-zC6SNiml0/s1600/IMG_7823+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiEjC9lljBeIgnSte7cBxN0kAQjV2KvxjxSv7uZDPoGKade-DcYY3uE89fNamHnE2uYLjy6N9joh3ZkDhW2rEewBxGpoCo72tYQ9eLWFmOoHeb22E5ZuYOGUoQCsH2D4hSe-zC6SNiml0/s400/IMG_7823+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at this girl! She learned this from our grandson. First run with the swing, then jump on, and straighten up to standing, while swinging.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRUFoh0BJBG4JEG2YCPakvmCaCoW9FjNqxkaqBcvHbCA1k3rk6bkkkZQesf86c5aaViXsKhufkC5cnGfygPocfG6oj69mIFlmyQE_jklYSJMd8w0ak2TTOBB-2r_dYHjIVvlPsxG6Qtyg/s1600/IMG_7834+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRUFoh0BJBG4JEG2YCPakvmCaCoW9FjNqxkaqBcvHbCA1k3rk6bkkkZQesf86c5aaViXsKhufkC5cnGfygPocfG6oj69mIFlmyQE_jklYSJMd8w0ak2TTOBB-2r_dYHjIVvlPsxG6Qtyg/s400/IMG_7834+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This takes some strength, and balance!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivIgUuycqt3lBl06uQCZugCtlu6PogWc2A9u1pmOaT98zXkG1GRefs1y6LZ26r8R-s6o-JTvM5GsnJAeQVEBxHHTshFqJSQxccKZSDdbJijYJg0bcSCoSo3Pe3iEdc9OB4mIOFrpm0wdI/s1600/IMG_7828+%25281280x853%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivIgUuycqt3lBl06uQCZugCtlu6PogWc2A9u1pmOaT98zXkG1GRefs1y6LZ26r8R-s6o-JTvM5GsnJAeQVEBxHHTshFqJSQxccKZSDdbJijYJg0bcSCoSo3Pe3iEdc9OB4mIOFrpm0wdI/s400/IMG_7828+%25281280x853%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ta-Da!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089210902879095607noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333477469828624750.post-40579846426726557582012-07-19T23:11:00.003-07:002012-07-19T23:11:50.924-07:00Pretend PlayA little update on how the kids are developing: I've continued to really push speech development, and the girls are talking more, or at least are trying harder. Big Girl is starting to say words so that they're occasionally understandable. She's talked a lot as long as we've had her, but we couldn't understand her. Now, I can figure out that she starts a lot of sentences with, "You have to..." I had a feeling she was probably pretty bossy, but now I'm becoming more sure.<br />
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Today I asked the girls, "Where is Little Boy?" (Of course, I used his name) and Big Girl answered, "You have to yell, 'Little Boy.' " (Of course, she also used his name, and said it in a falsetto, like you would if you were calling someone.)<br />
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Little Girl gestured toward two lawn chairs sitting in the middle of the sidewalk, and said something, and when I thought about it, I decided it sounded like she said "There's chairs." We're at the stage where no one hears what they say, except me, but I also have the most invested since I'm the one who's with them the most, and I do the mouth and tongue exercises, and work with them to pronounce words, so it could be my imagination, but I doubt it.<br />
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Little Boy picks a sound, repeats it for months, and then never says it again. Right now he says, "mama" but not like it's a name, or my name, but just like it's the sound he says when he wants to say something. He started with "yeah" using all kinds of inflections, then went to "gah!" and then "ba-ba-ba-ba" and now "mama." I say that he's trying out the whole alphabet before he decides to start talking.<br />
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He uses signs, occasionally spontaneously, so he does communicate, but he obviously feels that the burden of responsibility lies with the other person. There is no making him talk, that's for sure. I put him through the same exercises as the girls, but they are eager to please, and really make a good attempt, while he looks at me like I'm an interesting science experiment. I was trying to get him to say "cookie" and was right in his face, modeling the pursed lips for him, while slowly enunciating the word, "cooooo-kie" and he suddenly leaned in and planted a big smooch on my lips, so obviously we're communicating on some level.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOMX1Oq5AO3c9x8XGzd0obXiCMs6DIb8IMpb_KlzI7COlwygFC8xdHEZM537C2dBJ4Me_PgxSbrSORctQuN87ExMrRtFxI6VLUn7OX7pSr20MP8SiVPYun_Rpn6gz8gOhgX3qVerpWBco/s1600/IMG_7667+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOMX1Oq5AO3c9x8XGzd0obXiCMs6DIb8IMpb_KlzI7COlwygFC8xdHEZM537C2dBJ4Me_PgxSbrSORctQuN87ExMrRtFxI6VLUn7OX7pSr20MP8SiVPYun_Rpn6gz8gOhgX3qVerpWBco/s400/IMG_7667+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Girl is a champion pretender.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPVMc46gilcgAFCgU-z-S0xbf2GGDrtZUilp4a0ORaVshy7FFxBYcgK-33YY3ap-MzaZBNIHWft2Lc8ZUEMvz-1Qjwpl-EXJ_Pq-FeRcJDMSIy9emutYfw3dWZPRzbgE_wZ4rER6R9POI/s1600/IMG_7668+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPVMc46gilcgAFCgU-z-S0xbf2GGDrtZUilp4a0ORaVshy7FFxBYcgK-33YY3ap-MzaZBNIHWft2Lc8ZUEMvz-1Qjwpl-EXJ_Pq-FeRcJDMSIy9emutYfw3dWZPRzbgE_wZ4rER6R9POI/s400/IMG_7668+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another mom who blogs said she imaginatively named this game "bottles and lids."</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjZyl_fIikqjJyUL_FeBIZuNAwq6Nga3SfSrgIXCHMcuY_n2usOy6N5dpLWvG2alQX2TLzU9bdrknHmZCgnLAvWD-VbioemwPdDzX_XcvIHlwpPY92nk71OT3QrRNpzv5M69shDqnY2jw/s1600/IMG_7670+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjZyl_fIikqjJyUL_FeBIZuNAwq6Nga3SfSrgIXCHMcuY_n2usOy6N5dpLWvG2alQX2TLzU9bdrknHmZCgnLAvWD-VbioemwPdDzX_XcvIHlwpPY92nk71OT3QrRNpzv5M69shDqnY2jw/s400/IMG_7670+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I didn't get the idea from her, but because the play food was so unidentifiable, I thought they'd be able to relate to containers like the ones Mom actually uses. I don't drink out of the shampoo bottle, though, I promise!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFPucUu78nArweffvNOmGEtXqijqEyALx6WYRkwmp7iImJVhjFjUGgslb1fDBsHjpqtAAq_IGVbZh9r1_OrLAT8Eon6RwO1mkm8mRqxuFcRAplLjC06Su_bdx1_9HTBGbBeNPYf4kvC54/s1600/IMG_7754+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFPucUu78nArweffvNOmGEtXqijqEyALx6WYRkwmp7iImJVhjFjUGgslb1fDBsHjpqtAAq_IGVbZh9r1_OrLAT8Eon6RwO1mkm8mRqxuFcRAplLjC06Su_bdx1_9HTBGbBeNPYf4kvC54/s400/IMG_7754+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Different day, this little girl was so cute, pretending to feed the dolly.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwGjPNZnM2GWXqgI1c5qKDhc6XuPvAIIK3zd39LpCyP3aTb_fxfBBctz6XS-36yZyEXCkOKvQphSMIekl8epT0Vi54ZC9sQ_zGoCnjk6o4KijK-eIQ1sALmKKqRHzImRk14_pvhL80Ia8/s1600/IMG_7755+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwGjPNZnM2GWXqgI1c5qKDhc6XuPvAIIK3zd39LpCyP3aTb_fxfBBctz6XS-36yZyEXCkOKvQphSMIekl8epT0Vi54ZC9sQ_zGoCnjk6o4KijK-eIQ1sALmKKqRHzImRk14_pvhL80Ia8/s400/IMG_7755+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So cute, I couldn't resist, and had to join in.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJB0M4zcJIcRUnHwAD6h_7FuE_bKDlJnQWEUxzjanns1CEnB3UtuEULNI1XolPHXmnww3Fibg2kqtcuETYWvSGfjqm-1ug2_vb0ypSL2YftdQMtzWrw19ktf_gGAMfec_LyZIPxD7WeZ8/s1600/IMG_7757+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJB0M4zcJIcRUnHwAD6h_7FuE_bKDlJnQWEUxzjanns1CEnB3UtuEULNI1XolPHXmnww3Fibg2kqtcuETYWvSGfjqm-1ug2_vb0ypSL2YftdQMtzWrw19ktf_gGAMfec_LyZIPxD7WeZ8/s400/IMG_7757+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big Girl rarely pretends, but would rather sit and manipulate a toy in front of her face over and over again, while talking to herself. I've been meaning to work on teaching her to play, so we got her in the act, and brought in some more props...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfgseBz0pcLcYa9Lt0yR26WFC_O9T3k5nn0LR7TfDRDAZlvsJRjAJHKZ-kbWAW6iTKRMWP2vlHSrRJuFJbgFyxmq_xfWJJXhscO0raSkFx6tCW7XUNkxSufnf70cHFKp6TcUUSz7B7cFw/s1600/IMG_7759+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfgseBz0pcLcYa9Lt0yR26WFC_O9T3k5nn0LR7TfDRDAZlvsJRjAJHKZ-kbWAW6iTKRMWP2vlHSrRJuFJbgFyxmq_xfWJJXhscO0raSkFx6tCW7XUNkxSufnf70cHFKp6TcUUSz7B7cFw/s400/IMG_7759+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She was more than happy to join in, and jumped right in, pretending with the best of us.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzj38CI8gvMMekU4QXicUzgducMhiAA2Ocf-svlEZVN8bnRPp_lCT4zOZBaYe2EMNCV-ghVe8C5F1OGQFa15HRjk-DLbaP-9pTtrEy7t2jpcaQBhdfPi7FtGMEM70-cbkI-gKpz9yS_6k/s1600/IMG_7760+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzj38CI8gvMMekU4QXicUzgducMhiAA2Ocf-svlEZVN8bnRPp_lCT4zOZBaYe2EMNCV-ghVe8C5F1OGQFa15HRjk-DLbaP-9pTtrEy7t2jpcaQBhdfPi7FtGMEM70-cbkI-gKpz9yS_6k/s400/IMG_7760+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I didn't mention that S. saw we were having a tea party, and playing mommies to the babies, so she joined in, too. Once upon a time, she used to love tea parties for dolls with tiny porcelain dishes.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirZ7C5DOSPTUYU4jn10iK0ZhpUhkPDcPI6CiF_XJHEIseDW6KhlebKI_IdauS2d8P1PBZTP4fyf4lwztlPlfULsTMXQdL6GUkwN0Z-HFFnrQI59Wq8rJ1LKX_2y6sQbDLl4WEGlrrqo7U/s1600/IMG_7761+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirZ7C5DOSPTUYU4jn10iK0ZhpUhkPDcPI6CiF_XJHEIseDW6KhlebKI_IdauS2d8P1PBZTP4fyf4lwztlPlfULsTMXQdL6GUkwN0Z-HFFnrQI59Wq8rJ1LKX_2y6sQbDLl4WEGlrrqo7U/s400/IMG_7761+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It helps that we've been hanging out with our new Baby Boy, so taking care of babies is definitely current event.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTWd-Ho6LFSO0I19osClIvk1pCwHARDW_70ODcL9L_vbkjN2nG-Z8JIMD2Z0wDj8kZnymn-Cgga1ZoFFY8pEEzlQ4fXuH2FCoGTbjbsHh8Bf4quaKzbnoyZXYIDsOj3hde-WzepKLDKYs/s1600/IMG_7765+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTWd-Ho6LFSO0I19osClIvk1pCwHARDW_70ODcL9L_vbkjN2nG-Z8JIMD2Z0wDj8kZnymn-Cgga1ZoFFY8pEEzlQ4fXuH2FCoGTbjbsHh8Bf4quaKzbnoyZXYIDsOj3hde-WzepKLDKYs/s400/IMG_7765+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chief cook and bottle washer. She can often be found, whipping up something delicious on the play stove. Thanks to her big sister N. for the lovely play kitchen!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMTmIIlotySg13LcnbMD3MYJSBvOuPPrcqW7pAOMtzLm7606IOfiCYYK6ogGaT2w24jAa6zbppCqdkvgtpemXUoJN_coGryTD3sRfyujVf5YRxBDVplY7WIAGPMRboChVcXrCncFu0a2Q/s1600/IMG_7680+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMTmIIlotySg13LcnbMD3MYJSBvOuPPrcqW7pAOMtzLm7606IOfiCYYK6ogGaT2w24jAa6zbppCqdkvgtpemXUoJN_coGryTD3sRfyujVf5YRxBDVplY7WIAGPMRboChVcXrCncFu0a2Q/s400/IMG_7680+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meanwhile, the nature boy had better things to do, like discover the properties of water.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiROhW4v57CHRpkgBH-QVoabP_ifM-3zOQP_1E8Rt-EzIpaH6FisRQTQkqROaw3Nhyphenhypheno6Vvdhc_GkD_znQtGuOdcmw4sSZaFG3YAoVE6CYkJkCknSnP3lG0FnTrOb8dqZ8-Zr6s3NJZsaeQ/s1600/IMG_7682+(853x1280).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiROhW4v57CHRpkgBH-QVoabP_ifM-3zOQP_1E8Rt-EzIpaH6FisRQTQkqROaw3Nhyphenhypheno6Vvdhc_GkD_znQtGuOdcmw4sSZaFG3YAoVE6CYkJkCknSnP3lG0FnTrOb8dqZ8-Zr6s3NJZsaeQ/s400/IMG_7682+(853x1280).jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Actually, he did sit with us for awhile and pretend, but apparently play food doesn't measure up to real food. Besides, Little Girl got annoyed with him because he kept trying to give her doll a drink through her foot. Boys!</td></tr>
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089210902879095607noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333477469828624750.post-27318174041443623702012-07-19T22:01:00.002-07:002012-07-19T22:01:51.793-07:00Sum-sum-summertime!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR3aZhh3jHchC5suoshp451ojtC-sxpO-KbJpIWJarUk6gld7-PlBbH46XOH5QgVNyEdDLqBSOHw0TlydY1JLwJISelQGDKrNJVvvC7XUy2cqQy0D6fuDCGD141eXJVBvmeOrldpcY3VY/s1600/IMG_7738+%25281280x853%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR3aZhh3jHchC5suoshp451ojtC-sxpO-KbJpIWJarUk6gld7-PlBbH46XOH5QgVNyEdDLqBSOHw0TlydY1JLwJISelQGDKrNJVvvC7XUy2cqQy0D6fuDCGD141eXJVBvmeOrldpcY3VY/s400/IMG_7738+%25281280x853%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We live in a desert, and rarely see rain, so sheets of it like this are something to get excited about! S. spontaneously grabbed Big Girl, and ran with her out to celebrate. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinfLgkyjJlr3KCMmOtydSalw_KgyDrj4FlmPH-JIzoCUfaqMWu8Pb8eh9Eo96Grhiy0YwqdHMo5pirokRj4hBoh73oUYKvHsxq8cnf4R-cCCi3pK1fTaPQUylEC1HNKpOVFzl_xaxfAIQ/s1600/IMG_7740+%25281280x853%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinfLgkyjJlr3KCMmOtydSalw_KgyDrj4FlmPH-JIzoCUfaqMWu8Pb8eh9Eo96Grhiy0YwqdHMo5pirokRj4hBoh73oUYKvHsxq8cnf4R-cCCi3pK1fTaPQUylEC1HNKpOVFzl_xaxfAIQ/s400/IMG_7740+%25281280x853%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dad grabbed a kid, too, and rushed out!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDE-wdKKkPhAWhLG-5Ih2jGVIt7trLZxJ645BEcvZRb40EGDqQqpZVUQHNioJoh3TdPA67uL7ST_oi3_dQbYKnLTrQj_tZwDM_LgEmu7DA-bgD9lfKPbCvFjb4Ln1pvL7522xvqVAK-x8/s1600/IMG_7747+%25281280x853%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDE-wdKKkPhAWhLG-5Ih2jGVIt7trLZxJ645BEcvZRb40EGDqQqpZVUQHNioJoh3TdPA67uL7ST_oi3_dQbYKnLTrQj_tZwDM_LgEmu7DA-bgD9lfKPbCvFjb4Ln1pvL7522xvqVAK-x8/s400/IMG_7747+%25281280x853%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Afterwards, we actually had puddles! S. got to cavort like a little kid. Good to see she hasn't lost her childish enthusiasm!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQdC-BhEzXq8PXSpxhYsnGoip6FaAdYHe2q5t0P5oNvlhIyF9hyphenhyphenfPRazcFbeu8ei9gDsvYHthmAxd_JrMqiOrfplm0n712BLC7cyG71ERy-oZy0yaPRnKdyzCSqmLv4kIH-ali2_1RJvc/s1600/IMG_7751+%25281280x853%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQdC-BhEzXq8PXSpxhYsnGoip6FaAdYHe2q5t0P5oNvlhIyF9hyphenhyphenfPRazcFbeu8ei9gDsvYHthmAxd_JrMqiOrfplm0n712BLC7cyG71ERy-oZy0yaPRnKdyzCSqmLv4kIH-ali2_1RJvc/s400/IMG_7751+%25281280x853%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Girl didn't want the fun to be over, either.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKPwdwO9nIcnkzB9XQ1_BWzIoD8NrSbIn17bF6ULV5bPVERfCcet1Gz3gBpQxSCAsILORQ7rczM18I4jkoPTPFWYsdD-ygmk4SsyZs-QPnwrQGvu1DASEy1pq3t9o7gcuqmsnuPY9Ya6o/s1600/IMG_7753+%25281280x853%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKPwdwO9nIcnkzB9XQ1_BWzIoD8NrSbIn17bF6ULV5bPVERfCcet1Gz3gBpQxSCAsILORQ7rczM18I4jkoPTPFWYsdD-ygmk4SsyZs-QPnwrQGvu1DASEy1pq3t9o7gcuqmsnuPY9Ya6o/s400/IMG_7753+%25281280x853%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Precious Pet. Actually, more like Precious Pita. That's our family's euphemism for "'pain in the ---." Hey! You didn't hear me say it! This girl is a champion whiner lately, if that gives you any idea why I'd hint that...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_vqlNb221Y6aTp4RjPLJsuk1qPwv5y9-6A-BLMpQQ7VC66cEQaRblCrqQ5Iz0Vdd_xiHtQQKqb8zpAac_VGneaZHMN0McmHiyUX0_UqsaAEjeTWcI0FiEejLxmt-YPU3i9u4nv2Q5dqk/s1600/IMG_7781+%25281280x853%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_vqlNb221Y6aTp4RjPLJsuk1qPwv5y9-6A-BLMpQQ7VC66cEQaRblCrqQ5Iz0Vdd_xiHtQQKqb8zpAac_VGneaZHMN0McmHiyUX0_UqsaAEjeTWcI0FiEejLxmt-YPU3i9u4nv2Q5dqk/s400/IMG_7781+%25281280x853%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Did you ever think you'd see this? That's an apricot, by the way, which isn't the sweetest fruit out there, and let's face it, has a mushy texture. Plus, it's fresh! That used to be three strikes, but these days, he's more adventurous when it comes to fresh stuff.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCcTO18cv6GktFdDoHtMVe2dGPUDxc70B7aCOi1C0kqtkOnD6vf-kyZVkK7gcOY0Cbpm7EqH_rro-HE2CNCaDCgLhQrdCznbA-VP2jAhCkMf7cjfKMS56ht3wX7Sbmn6RYRZoAt5J-5c4/s1600/IMG_7778+%25281280x853%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCcTO18cv6GktFdDoHtMVe2dGPUDxc70B7aCOi1C0kqtkOnD6vf-kyZVkK7gcOY0Cbpm7EqH_rro-HE2CNCaDCgLhQrdCznbA-VP2jAhCkMf7cjfKMS56ht3wX7Sbmn6RYRZoAt5J-5c4/s400/IMG_7778+%25281280x853%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yep! He likes it! And he's even figured out how to take out the pit. Now for cherry pits...</td></tr>
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089210902879095607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333477469828624750.post-35527946412924318262012-07-19T21:43:00.000-07:002012-07-19T21:43:15.207-07:00Adorable baby<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNehyphenhyphenMzbabsLBCuvsyY911HQc5GpmbIBJ6cKgd-G80iZ74iTnU2OHnBdZfaIOdlSATipishX39xgd-TxodzqHhANwgSMHe8EoMKuTGOXBAKf7TMqwfe_2SqWsueEcDGnrt20aMtkOJZrw/s1600/IMG_7658+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNehyphenhyphenMzbabsLBCuvsyY911HQc5GpmbIBJ6cKgd-G80iZ74iTnU2OHnBdZfaIOdlSATipishX39xgd-TxodzqHhANwgSMHe8EoMKuTGOXBAKf7TMqwfe_2SqWsueEcDGnrt20aMtkOJZrw/s400/IMG_7658+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is it just me, or is Baby Boy especially scrumptious?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHPYoJEIZvk-mRH6B1XpnA3xVtdZhyphenhyphenbsQnzB2Gi1M9JnRrAC9_iDfyDhJjvJg6985AcYTrkxjVlyLB56-XqMRIiNx2e0eiAbWAtxizQ-LgOlPWNGh0aPeVEPkwI2OWOE_HWnnAblSk0g0/s1600/IMG_7660+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHPYoJEIZvk-mRH6B1XpnA3xVtdZhyphenhyphenbsQnzB2Gi1M9JnRrAC9_iDfyDhJjvJg6985AcYTrkxjVlyLB56-XqMRIiNx2e0eiAbWAtxizQ-LgOlPWNGh0aPeVEPkwI2OWOE_HWnnAblSk0g0/s400/IMG_7660+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He obviously shares Little Boy's disgust of lettuce.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzbCzsZwhBynqsiVZ06dfz5JEHFi1il4AZnwGaJbpii8PyYikVr4140VywpF0YTk5qu9YLHaYfnS8tCi3nypvZvoYqyrNAKygrgKrZbDsJoR6FUnMWsN0o7WiZKrnHO_xiwKxzPUSVESU/s1600/IMG_7661+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzbCzsZwhBynqsiVZ06dfz5JEHFi1il4AZnwGaJbpii8PyYikVr4140VywpF0YTk5qu9YLHaYfnS8tCi3nypvZvoYqyrNAKygrgKrZbDsJoR6FUnMWsN0o7WiZKrnHO_xiwKxzPUSVESU/s400/IMG_7661+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Holy Smokes! A fork! What do you want me to...??" <br />
He can relax. We want him to get fat on his mama's milk!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPHZGkOpe8F0D3FLdFztm-15_518L1CC9Jb22LuiphXLMpUpUAXlxIM60euDIa5HDMDo3urOmwcXjQdkLT-ePHBUg3KeMDaCO9AqImlCuCBOxJnkALCJXN8sAWV_CvvvpNUnFO8sMZIUk/s1600/IMG_7737+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPHZGkOpe8F0D3FLdFztm-15_518L1CC9Jb22LuiphXLMpUpUAXlxIM60euDIa5HDMDo3urOmwcXjQdkLT-ePHBUg3KeMDaCO9AqImlCuCBOxJnkALCJXN8sAWV_CvvvpNUnFO8sMZIUk/s400/IMG_7737+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We have been so blessed this year. We have eaten much homegrown produce this season, and we had a bumper crop of apricots. I made two batches of jam, and froze a ton to use in smoothies and cobbler. This was the last head of lettuce... sniff, sniff...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Z4_MrcTRYrhRwO4nDXUmyt9FnTFWDex_Uta7lUHzmRi2MNEvF_BL3slTOwWaP_OSDtx0i7zzHiSLkOjpCNnykeByM3wzU0ylNbvqh9ECu43oe7Jk2InwLcy3bZTM3eMPU51drdUXF80/s1600/IMG_7657+(640x427).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Z4_MrcTRYrhRwO4nDXUmyt9FnTFWDex_Uta7lUHzmRi2MNEvF_BL3slTOwWaP_OSDtx0i7zzHiSLkOjpCNnykeByM3wzU0ylNbvqh9ECu43oe7Jk2InwLcy3bZTM3eMPU51drdUXF80/s400/IMG_7657+(640x427).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was so hot, it was 130 degrees in the sun! You know that's right because it's "ACU-RITE!"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089210902879095607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333477469828624750.post-61116047051763415382012-07-08T14:29:00.000-07:002012-07-08T14:29:53.824-07:00Just having a little fun...Just having a little fun with the edit program, and making the pictures look old-timey. Do I have the prettiest babies, or what?
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB-huOu8XV1bndMjGLYHbMlFzB4CrmgIuLywSyysc1uzN6cdrRYbeXo8vNKTBOt-SQSx46eYrU2kK6RbcdgCsK70eSOwhmbLJi4SBcvrOhlSDQnbTsXtYVYBgjnBxPxJ3Louwo0iLESkQ/s1600/IMG_7585+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB-huOu8XV1bndMjGLYHbMlFzB4CrmgIuLywSyysc1uzN6cdrRYbeXo8vNKTBOt-SQSx46eYrU2kK6RbcdgCsK70eSOwhmbLJi4SBcvrOhlSDQnbTsXtYVYBgjnBxPxJ3Louwo0iLESkQ/s320/IMG_7585+(1280x853).jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1T86T7YkyRVszc5uf8fFn8eQSvmcMY_mntB5CFcNrxiPSc2ck1vGIFSUzBIGVxnhISNlHiyrBR6PfsBxVzCMdM3GW_TpZvETOLSKeGGPgewM76yodKjDnrsMcW-4ymVRCDXuoo-hjkqE/s1600/IMG_7616+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1T86T7YkyRVszc5uf8fFn8eQSvmcMY_mntB5CFcNrxiPSc2ck1vGIFSUzBIGVxnhISNlHiyrBR6PfsBxVzCMdM3GW_TpZvETOLSKeGGPgewM76yodKjDnrsMcW-4ymVRCDXuoo-hjkqE/s320/IMG_7616+(1280x853).jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6giwqc72KUk7Y66E1v3rJ_kTvh30FcDgKXfbESXQna-1-2tiBv4TAVQrsfoaAXYJlx44Rb1g1bqb6a8UplcMaSqRg6lSH3YhkS8QWwc8OxBk4zfXSdp6FEi6MJaQnXEiByHQyS_TLR9k/s1600/IMG_7644+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6giwqc72KUk7Y66E1v3rJ_kTvh30FcDgKXfbESXQna-1-2tiBv4TAVQrsfoaAXYJlx44Rb1g1bqb6a8UplcMaSqRg6lSH3YhkS8QWwc8OxBk4zfXSdp6FEi6MJaQnXEiByHQyS_TLR9k/s320/IMG_7644+(1280x853).jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089210902879095607noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333477469828624750.post-42541837959304041812012-06-23T00:00:00.001-07:002012-06-23T00:01:50.201-07:00Gardens and chickensThis post is #4 of 4 in the catchup posts. Busy days around here. Go back to look at the other posts, too.<br />
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A friend asked for more pictures of the chicken coop. I'm sorry, but she would be very disappointed, because it's very ugly. We have a very old shed, that we borrowed one room from, and added a fenced run on, and that was 20 years ago. It has housed many chickens over the years, and had fallen to pieces, a bit. Our son begged for chickens for two years, so we finally patched it up, and it has future egg-layers in it, once again. Instead of coop, I offer pics of chicks. We're working on a chicken tractor, so they can have access to greenery, instead of us carting it all to them.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUH3k_9yiLa2ttM9q5NxmeNv-uOy-VTva4TCn7Zp-0Iz1DPRznUoAcrLLryXkKknCySHHrLhszZJTAGF1FDgQOTbCU5kLvsdODhi4Thvo9o-srQJmuM-UyKmQTRCbjf6td7W3Swocq8L8/s1600/IMG_7342+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUH3k_9yiLa2ttM9q5NxmeNv-uOy-VTva4TCn7Zp-0Iz1DPRznUoAcrLLryXkKknCySHHrLhszZJTAGF1FDgQOTbCU5kLvsdODhi4Thvo9o-srQJmuM-UyKmQTRCbjf6td7W3Swocq8L8/s400/IMG_7342+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trying to tame the chickens...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPGJyRI3fbh2lFTrQ3kJhnLpHgBJZFAEXrDau3zekYxi89nWuDvIeRgfKbj81TANadzK8hij9XLdLZuKba46DMQj_e2u9pCzOAXJ1D4KCwMGDX9l5G0dhFXn_tpA61BSrXotA4LiqkzWA/s1600/IMG_7457+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPGJyRI3fbh2lFTrQ3kJhnLpHgBJZFAEXrDau3zekYxi89nWuDvIeRgfKbj81TANadzK8hij9XLdLZuKba46DMQj_e2u9pCzOAXJ1D4KCwMGDX9l5G0dhFXn_tpA61BSrXotA4LiqkzWA/s400/IMG_7457+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">B. was ecstatic to discover that he had a rooster. They were supposedly all pullets!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ehDG4EyckWblbmS7SSRbF34yoMQ4kUvMWZl2Y_y0CzeehgKWZaWwQR5WDgNvr-F8q4QGFvFsjLkgfubhehMsLTf519CwgHLLgTQp7SuU4-4La2T7S-YJ8ySQOZW3iexmkKxuF9b9sAY/s1600/IMG_7460+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ehDG4EyckWblbmS7SSRbF34yoMQ4kUvMWZl2Y_y0CzeehgKWZaWwQR5WDgNvr-F8q4QGFvFsjLkgfubhehMsLTf519CwgHLLgTQp7SuU4-4La2T7S-YJ8ySQOZW3iexmkKxuF9b9sAY/s400/IMG_7460+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">David has really kept up with the weeds this year.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrEahSMNw1vjLhoxngTvRoZSfq_NZDZCqOWWOwvRSASSqw0FfeUoDmAlcNs6P-t1NZBYxuFZFRJJSSrqlw325Dg3rlLDk9wrNjFXb3xPvDLhbUDqrzy5f0ZIrpOp2Sr9Sz9rSnY3JgubA/s1600/IMG_7462+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrEahSMNw1vjLhoxngTvRoZSfq_NZDZCqOWWOwvRSASSqw0FfeUoDmAlcNs6P-t1NZBYxuFZFRJJSSrqlw325Dg3rlLDk9wrNjFXb3xPvDLhbUDqrzy5f0ZIrpOp2Sr9Sz9rSnY3JgubA/s400/IMG_7462+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">His peas are in bloom, although they're snow peas-- not what he actually wanted...</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgehYlseAOzyMFi6O4dyvaHsC4JcTgvBQdJI5NFGed2rOiQvciizFtBh19ahmCKxxHGeY4yrqgPdSAAP_adUNQZ7ViS3Y12DETCU7yUtcbWji84fXenDC0MigpxWrfjNVurIulYNXE_cH0/s1600/IMG_7459+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgehYlseAOzyMFi6O4dyvaHsC4JcTgvBQdJI5NFGed2rOiQvciizFtBh19ahmCKxxHGeY4yrqgPdSAAP_adUNQZ7ViS3Y12DETCU7yUtcbWji84fXenDC0MigpxWrfjNVurIulYNXE_cH0/s400/IMG_7459+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This one is more my garden-- black plastic, and milk jug warm-caps. Lots of squash, cukes, tomatoes and peppers in there.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgucNhGB7lvRCsEYALBzW3TfpgdKwuK7tDFKEqC969lczi8PwsYxNj5l_dP-R6mtyJZu7vYaKGw7ymSGNNKVgDDzlckNYdJ3JzMiFT6in8GcjSTZB-8DWAUFGCbGvM3OLENXFxwkk6cx5E/s1600/IMG_7446+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgucNhGB7lvRCsEYALBzW3TfpgdKwuK7tDFKEqC969lczi8PwsYxNj5l_dP-R6mtyJZu7vYaKGw7ymSGNNKVgDDzlckNYdJ3JzMiFT6in8GcjSTZB-8DWAUFGCbGvM3OLENXFxwkk6cx5E/s400/IMG_7446+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view looking up into the cherry tree which has never borne fruit. It's a miracle! What a difference a "pollination partner" makes!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMmNa3c4YxM5zQA3rOCdVQAfEPE2BPnkdvAFJ-zOJC6quKcylCu1j0PjfMPyyvIfsEcCkFUXSJ54XPG5iwFhizNXsXRpAUimTL3UWGztSEOGM8RhC5SRFie-YHEgHietPl0X6W5ksw3VM/s1600/IMG_7414+(853x1280).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMmNa3c4YxM5zQA3rOCdVQAfEPE2BPnkdvAFJ-zOJC6quKcylCu1j0PjfMPyyvIfsEcCkFUXSJ54XPG5iwFhizNXsXRpAUimTL3UWGztSEOGM8RhC5SRFie-YHEgHietPl0X6W5ksw3VM/s400/IMG_7414+(853x1280).jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Having fun</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjCeqaXNRBBT6OyKnW6oVJHshiHOjNES8G_PX1rX3cV-jbKWtBx5q4OtROd1iA4lyGL5LxF3pFjv4tA7Rq3NYue0VqVW4-F2oCvZvBD4Dm6pauT9tYgfNjDNoe20U6lkIekGoF3nTtuGg/s1600/IMG_7427+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjCeqaXNRBBT6OyKnW6oVJHshiHOjNES8G_PX1rX3cV-jbKWtBx5q4OtROd1iA4lyGL5LxF3pFjv4tA7Rq3NYue0VqVW4-F2oCvZvBD4Dm6pauT9tYgfNjDNoe20U6lkIekGoF3nTtuGg/s400/IMG_7427+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So sweet, no need to add sugar! Not too many, though. I've never gotten many. Need to learn some things.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3-u_04FAlEUrFvqcxQmOLf2Slo6vk4D4Ag8Kz3duFW-GgZKvli3nckdEgsa7ctW4w03JI3RRLBXffJJloiyi88RSzQN98vNmXYXG6u9RWAEZQA-GeEy2BcBp5pDev2nIkVj5KKvPVpRA/s1600/IMG_7352+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3-u_04FAlEUrFvqcxQmOLf2Slo6vk4D4Ag8Kz3duFW-GgZKvli3nckdEgsa7ctW4w03JI3RRLBXffJJloiyi88RSzQN98vNmXYXG6u9RWAEZQA-GeEy2BcBp5pDev2nIkVj5KKvPVpRA/s400/IMG_7352+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"I love mud boots, 'cuz I can go out to the garden with Mom at a moment's notice!"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv6lPdRD6hUP_sTdTiNMW1t60YLTBymN3zW218vmslPd0mwnCtGHBBwHfhikEuPJ5Mn-u5dtsGSQiA6lJas6oiyWPma20S7m1uq0BpirQxNwhh_FZ5chlthPYdTJ8tfnWT7zdb1uJl_p0/s1600/IMG_7358+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv6lPdRD6hUP_sTdTiNMW1t60YLTBymN3zW218vmslPd0mwnCtGHBBwHfhikEuPJ5Mn-u5dtsGSQiA6lJas6oiyWPma20S7m1uq0BpirQxNwhh_FZ5chlthPYdTJ8tfnWT7zdb1uJl_p0/s400/IMG_7358+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"I love 'em, too!" Actually, it's just this year that the girls can even walk in them. Apparently, it's a challenge until you figure out how. Little Boy is just starting to get interested. He hates to wear any shoes, ever, though.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhudoBL9AHB9PIcwQIlX6_wF-oPwbqvoQP8wEzYYtd1j8lElXsgzrBplBFVrMQ4_C4JQ0ByAUmQ0q1owv-rXPJLcRnZR16ribugSCk3G4_InBKHKx3MamJOYuLNGPfM3n4-77sE306dUZg/s1600/IMG_7464+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhudoBL9AHB9PIcwQIlX6_wF-oPwbqvoQP8wEzYYtd1j8lElXsgzrBplBFVrMQ4_C4JQ0ByAUmQ0q1owv-rXPJLcRnZR16ribugSCk3G4_InBKHKx3MamJOYuLNGPfM3n4-77sE306dUZg/s400/IMG_7464+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some radishes, and our experimental potatoes. Only just that we wanted "new" potatoes, and didn't know when to harvest them. Plants are just starting to bloom, and I'd say we went a bit past "new." Tasted amazing, though, with a subtle undercurrent of flavor I didn't recognize. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnYWPB7zzDT22SsFZeEmNvemOCUeBqI-k-LbGCrwLuJxFiW5AnR61sfqAGnrWUKNUWc-faNNn7bOP_n3OVFWONA2-9nc8eXPcbkKQYicIEb8G6wYu3Wi11Hmr5hEqNFWZ5jHKJDjki67w/s1600/IMG_7444+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnYWPB7zzDT22SsFZeEmNvemOCUeBqI-k-LbGCrwLuJxFiW5AnR61sfqAGnrWUKNUWc-faNNn7bOP_n3OVFWONA2-9nc8eXPcbkKQYicIEb8G6wYu3Wi11Hmr5hEqNFWZ5jHKJDjki67w/s400/IMG_7444+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is my favorite rosebush, planted when I graduated from nursing school ten years ago.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBXL93d845-cpTZD0GFfmszApnuTRl3f0GI9_9STIuBvobCoqrB9MmXpVcohxVPd2MeCoYdcVqQ-0q0DQfBoRCLYr3KLn6VOqYeX9HoZqW_HIzsZK6DXywlrBLTggYTRlr7Xagc-HoBis/s1600/IMG_7445+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBXL93d845-cpTZD0GFfmszApnuTRl3f0GI9_9STIuBvobCoqrB9MmXpVcohxVPd2MeCoYdcVqQ-0q0DQfBoRCLYr3KLn6VOqYeX9HoZqW_HIzsZK6DXywlrBLTggYTRlr7Xagc-HoBis/s400/IMG_7445+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I don't remember the name, but it's an antique style, very fragrant cabbage rose, I believe.</td></tr>
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<br />Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089210902879095607noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333477469828624750.post-6093870434250286982012-06-22T23:21:00.001-07:002012-06-22T23:21:25.800-07:00Fish, Fathers, and some little kids<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqKKPFmYKTioh0ggNXB2h-Vdr7HPFLWcBTC5gJ_riSsjoK7UX7i8i1xSPB2FassqEyYc4W6OzrxwX_sQNEoA7M_8GFzhE07P4VIPXu-BK9eGTbynmhUegpijYxG-mSpiXR39NVlYyaziE/s1600/IMG_3747+(1280x960).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqKKPFmYKTioh0ggNXB2h-Vdr7HPFLWcBTC5gJ_riSsjoK7UX7i8i1xSPB2FassqEyYc4W6OzrxwX_sQNEoA7M_8GFzhE07P4VIPXu-BK9eGTbynmhUegpijYxG-mSpiXR39NVlYyaziE/s400/IMG_3747+(1280x960).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This boy has had some good luck this year!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0DYkw87AfYVa85epOgZLCMKm4ovqHKavF6gXdopEcE6Ujq-XnhvgGjKEBuMNGmhhnuJHXGgnKw8RXNDCeFvOJBlI5V6gJdl67xqG1bFJSflAAPRNsMpx_n37dsv-9aeUHbIDMoVgkekk/s1600/IMG_3801+(1280x960).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0DYkw87AfYVa85epOgZLCMKm4ovqHKavF6gXdopEcE6Ujq-XnhvgGjKEBuMNGmhhnuJHXGgnKw8RXNDCeFvOJBlI5V6gJdl67xqG1bFJSflAAPRNsMpx_n37dsv-9aeUHbIDMoVgkekk/s400/IMG_3801+(1280x960).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Really good luck!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4eVJgzLc9Ed708rRfj5Cfvi-ykAgVUhWkI6N0uVTqFhg0-LNmUb6jFPK07R8Lk5HdpBWyN2F57krlgOl05sYQQc_zkoGLUSNkQebvByRVd2viflOO6gBNrhQTg9Yt-nK5RE4gQd7EX_Y/s1600/IMG_7422+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4eVJgzLc9Ed708rRfj5Cfvi-ykAgVUhWkI6N0uVTqFhg0-LNmUb6jFPK07R8Lk5HdpBWyN2F57krlgOl05sYQQc_zkoGLUSNkQebvByRVd2viflOO6gBNrhQTg9Yt-nK5RE4gQd7EX_Y/s400/IMG_7422+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Like father, like son...</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXBcxfdcKd5cO0RadfSg4AutwryxJdJpalIgOecVwnu7j2X-0Dm6nQeWz-wH7SmgRCvQ1-1uXhYCs3lqxWqcYOVgf9m3QaSBu8EE6IKGYQ2HLQe-mO1uo0WwZxe3CwQeVOcmQ4t5RJkM/s1600/IMG_7424+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXBcxfdcKd5cO0RadfSg4AutwryxJdJpalIgOecVwnu7j2X-0Dm6nQeWz-wH7SmgRCvQ1-1uXhYCs3lqxWqcYOVgf9m3QaSBu8EE6IKGYQ2HLQe-mO1uo0WwZxe3CwQeVOcmQ4t5RJkM/s400/IMG_7424+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Like father, like son...</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEielL6LeVCe54KmPBqzakQdte_5vdAc1hmf1lE3hr1uh5Izmm9kKUVEPxJh_u-7c7LIb2tSn4drfZJB8FKZcyhfylEb-qJm-W77z00bPwjT0DvaBTtFPgGWtF20U8egJs_KwlRTqwueG90/s1600/IMG_7433+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEielL6LeVCe54KmPBqzakQdte_5vdAc1hmf1lE3hr1uh5Izmm9kKUVEPxJh_u-7c7LIb2tSn4drfZJB8FKZcyhfylEb-qJm-W77z00bPwjT0DvaBTtFPgGWtF20U8egJs_KwlRTqwueG90/s400/IMG_7433+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some great-grandparents on Father's Day. "Are you sure we're old enough...?!"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3UPPH0E8ADbx8Km_Y481WOsDDsGT4xIe8ZeViHzk1ITz8X0hnYnwU7PGSEaUZrbWqw8JquOFUNkjHMbODUpbx-sKo6pktt1oHVG-FAl7Qu5MpfQ0RoMBkfxUqLXBPwKg9JQ51tutvrTE/s1600/IMG_7430+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3UPPH0E8ADbx8Km_Y481WOsDDsGT4xIe8ZeViHzk1ITz8X0hnYnwU7PGSEaUZrbWqw8JquOFUNkjHMbODUpbx-sKo6pktt1oHVG-FAl7Qu5MpfQ0RoMBkfxUqLXBPwKg9JQ51tutvrTE/s400/IMG_7430+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So proud of my healthy, beautiful daughter.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuOznRKAIsgF94dFhqPEzLol7ouQP29BOavWmz_kB17RC8pyjYKDWwPSzihROw5FVugEysfUy9G8PqtEzX3MwWEnPr0fPDUvhH-CLSbUjFa5TmJLaYHljuYATwb4bEsoScX-ZwM3MXguo/s1600/IMG_7416+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuOznRKAIsgF94dFhqPEzLol7ouQP29BOavWmz_kB17RC8pyjYKDWwPSzihROw5FVugEysfUy9G8PqtEzX3MwWEnPr0fPDUvhH-CLSbUjFa5TmJLaYHljuYATwb4bEsoScX-ZwM3MXguo/s400/IMG_7416+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was a fun activity. Had some empty shakers, so filled with kosher salt, since the grains are bigger, it takes longer to shake out. The next day they emptied out the salt shaker and the pepper shaker when no one was looking. Be careful what you teach your kids!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5wEfU1hVyQUdMnJ9SoKtKPUGgOJ_Gv0K03rTBOkjKQm4BrGLNBzAMIQjPCUwogTWL8fBLLeqxyawY1vVT8P1Hl-NlWREArNSjh1f53aQ981T9RD-cPs7-n6RTDusZxBWu2PvKWaODKiQ/s1600/IMG_7410+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5wEfU1hVyQUdMnJ9SoKtKPUGgOJ_Gv0K03rTBOkjKQm4BrGLNBzAMIQjPCUwogTWL8fBLLeqxyawY1vVT8P1Hl-NlWREArNSjh1f53aQ981T9RD-cPs7-n6RTDusZxBWu2PvKWaODKiQ/s400/IMG_7410+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Totally posed, and you can tell because this girl never slows down for anything.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCn3RVuF_d7Ht13OUI6WHVTimcSG4ODTNRwWztmSGqmubG2gsXsJy213WxkWrZqp8tVtHM7wMSwO615r_y-o70R_vxaCuPlKNyhmRMQNessdLdYnHMwqgaEssliyZ7Ee5U0X8ckCEIuEo/s1600/IMG_7441+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCn3RVuF_d7Ht13OUI6WHVTimcSG4ODTNRwWztmSGqmubG2gsXsJy213WxkWrZqp8tVtHM7wMSwO615r_y-o70R_vxaCuPlKNyhmRMQNessdLdYnHMwqgaEssliyZ7Ee5U0X8ckCEIuEo/s400/IMG_7441+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A 7 yr old girl, helping out in the kitchen, by loading the dishwasher...</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsNkaZuytBwuS4W_7H6roZvQXXi9niR9hyO6FKmMfg7K7IK4HXtGxpaRIvNxu8PJbsFyV3_uSuYNUiNQafVA5HAwHGSfmJExKqUk-mgrah09x7DaZ_UvvpXeQLYY4kTQOOYw4Jl4d5zZk/s1600/IMG_7439+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsNkaZuytBwuS4W_7H6roZvQXXi9niR9hyO6FKmMfg7K7IK4HXtGxpaRIvNxu8PJbsFyV3_uSuYNUiNQafVA5HAwHGSfmJExKqUk-mgrah09x7DaZ_UvvpXeQLYY4kTQOOYw4Jl4d5zZk/s400/IMG_7439+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mom only had to rearrange a little. Spatial skills are not her long suit. Hey, though, they aren't mine, either!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089210902879095607noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333477469828624750.post-55108099053472063522012-06-22T22:53:00.000-07:002012-06-22T22:53:55.505-07:00Family meeting the Darling New BabyThis is number 2 of 4 of my catch up posts. Crazy how busy life can get! Lots of people to take pictures of these days, also. What a blessing that I have so many people in my life. I have so many pictures, and so little time to post them!
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4M0JuH5wgVkKm69k5TkroelvdgT8HSRIlg-WYiA1epaeK4RktMjhzXj1h_7MXLGo3e5EQwHbGxY_mAxqkXSomJLYC0qXwp71SJQtMB6IrzPR4rrSwLl7XH7TS9MWiupv1I22mDmbxINQ/s1600/IMG_7359+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4M0JuH5wgVkKm69k5TkroelvdgT8HSRIlg-WYiA1epaeK4RktMjhzXj1h_7MXLGo3e5EQwHbGxY_mAxqkXSomJLYC0qXwp71SJQtMB6IrzPR4rrSwLl7XH7TS9MWiupv1I22mDmbxINQ/s400/IMG_7359+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She thought he was pretty cool, but she kept trying to move his arms and legs in all kinds of directions, like she does with the baby dolls at home.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB3mzymWhlQ8riz305oFR_OA5bFV_7092z29RCznnZi4NqorLKNdribJJqB1WpECvPRGE5GtEUhmzCrXjSRdcfah-ugRxcKfEeIVdoClaKh4x4DDgqS0o0qyzBva4MjSCkUUvyd30OV3o/s1600/IMG_7371+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB3mzymWhlQ8riz305oFR_OA5bFV_7092z29RCznnZi4NqorLKNdribJJqB1WpECvPRGE5GtEUhmzCrXjSRdcfah-ugRxcKfEeIVdoClaKh4x4DDgqS0o0qyzBva4MjSCkUUvyd30OV3o/s400/IMG_7371+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This girl was enchanted with him.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgscIt_AxBrdo8DYW7hfa0vlKII_EpXr28JW_5_XWArTT0IQC_UG0ypPR9EJSTisgNzj23dAyXI02lOfoxMuf00P4CFAqLw6sDj3ayVgqLGoVkBotYy9OiBrs4E0mJGtIv3Zj57PBOQznU/s1600/IMG_7382+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgscIt_AxBrdo8DYW7hfa0vlKII_EpXr28JW_5_XWArTT0IQC_UG0ypPR9EJSTisgNzj23dAyXI02lOfoxMuf00P4CFAqLw6sDj3ayVgqLGoVkBotYy9OiBrs4E0mJGtIv3Zj57PBOQznU/s320/IMG_7382+(1280x853).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The proud grandpa</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBHyn4nF5JQ2qatBaGxt_TX-s54tBycSsgZtwmvrE-RZyGCeo69PnMRoEacO7-k4JC3h_9-C88FETIbAH2JRACrZ_0wbrG8Zph1P8Cs1eyQoKLuFhKOquKQRiIjLjfA-Yul-6dZfGpTCo/s1600/IMG_7366+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBHyn4nF5JQ2qatBaGxt_TX-s54tBycSsgZtwmvrE-RZyGCeo69PnMRoEacO7-k4JC3h_9-C88FETIbAH2JRACrZ_0wbrG8Zph1P8Cs1eyQoKLuFhKOquKQRiIjLjfA-Yul-6dZfGpTCo/s400/IMG_7366+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Just let me see how squishy his eyes are...!"</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWMik3l35zHVjS5Gid5i5U8RJffo6WGML9ZsifTjrA0e3Q8shBhM-P2DsJjSSMXyf7ls4Uzn6UCt69hu2VitJCZGsyTYps86G5B1hcvw5bWRabv4i0i35I4tiyNsbrvDfG2DcGU79omA0/s1600/IMG_7364+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWMik3l35zHVjS5Gid5i5U8RJffo6WGML9ZsifTjrA0e3Q8shBhM-P2DsJjSSMXyf7ls4Uzn6UCt69hu2VitJCZGsyTYps86G5B1hcvw5bWRabv4i0i35I4tiyNsbrvDfG2DcGU79omA0/s400/IMG_7364+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Precioso!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpB7FwNtH8jwpR9mE5te_frsnbqYN4HMDC7k6eBc1KAX3u976KehoZ21GloBRfI-MniRX4O9RMnOXC5L6YePBfHwdJPk2rD5tF04t0ku6zqTt5EpTnFf6CcZQtoGnkY7DIOo976qKIxOw/s1600/IMG_7400+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpB7FwNtH8jwpR9mE5te_frsnbqYN4HMDC7k6eBc1KAX3u976KehoZ21GloBRfI-MniRX4O9RMnOXC5L6YePBfHwdJPk2rD5tF04t0ku6zqTt5EpTnFf6CcZQtoGnkY7DIOo976qKIxOw/s400/IMG_7400+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another Super Uncle!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgguR_UtLR5I57ZUKTDqkUdsniGTvffsF4Y2LfFFmur-teJTH67XoucFRvt6VGeoP1cCu9u2mr2dxqvHtDgaVxgmEh0RPRp5xPrA5ZueYMTOvDyh7MXWptZi1KNGgYb2K3zfvPjnCT6MsQ/s1600/IMG_7397+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgguR_UtLR5I57ZUKTDqkUdsniGTvffsF4Y2LfFFmur-teJTH67XoucFRvt6VGeoP1cCu9u2mr2dxqvHtDgaVxgmEh0RPRp5xPrA5ZueYMTOvDyh7MXWptZi1KNGgYb2K3zfvPjnCT6MsQ/s400/IMG_7397+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The exhausted parents following the sage wisdom to "nap when the baby naps."</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOS7DUR84wkf9MgIDZEofJ_TFNiZ4YISHf0cdqi4JMfHmiHnXwAdD3yiSIgyJgNgp3S_j9uPHCdMduVkaFMJNZgpA9h9JB88d1Z5l9dO6TEcZI1_ciPwop-OgHdhYr9TSE-E-AQzglPx4/s1600/IMG_7385+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOS7DUR84wkf9MgIDZEofJ_TFNiZ4YISHf0cdqi4JMfHmiHnXwAdD3yiSIgyJgNgp3S_j9uPHCdMduVkaFMJNZgpA9h9JB88d1Z5l9dO6TEcZI1_ciPwop-OgHdhYr9TSE-E-AQzglPx4/s400/IMG_7385+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She found him utterly enchanting!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcl3G37oKBHmOAjItfpFx7S4tL6-4TqTpluq1lE8Uad1z-72Shyphenhyphen5TZ6e_dN5lPGSZvHuJyXZr9GgDo21MoixLGOu0g1DJmX4jNtePcjDtp7VR6DUIeI73fcOOXd-5hGXdCebk_oCaz8DY/s1600/IMG_7395+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcl3G37oKBHmOAjItfpFx7S4tL6-4TqTpluq1lE8Uad1z-72Shyphenhyphen5TZ6e_dN5lPGSZvHuJyXZr9GgDo21MoixLGOu0g1DJmX4jNtePcjDtp7VR6DUIeI73fcOOXd-5hGXdCebk_oCaz8DY/s320/IMG_7395+(1280x853).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"I'm done with that baby; I'm just going to wait for the fish to come out from behind the rock..."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089210902879095607noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333477469828624750.post-35259644159737611772012-06-22T22:23:00.000-07:002012-06-22T22:23:31.191-07:00New Baby!This is one of 4 catch up posts, so be sure to check out my others.<br />
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Yes, we finally have our new baby. Our daughter, J. and her husband had their first kiddo. This little boy is so welcomed with love and affection from all of us. He's simply beautiful. No other way to say it (eyes welling up.)<br />
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Well, the blogger loaded all my pictures in the wrong order, and I've given up trying to put them in the right order. Those of you who know me, know I like to tell a story in a certain order with my pics, but in this case, you'll just have to see them all jumbled.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4bL6saV8DVnB_6gQ5nsQGP9bigfs_aU1AzQTK207UfqnWllOqek75MAZ-1xud24LEpKz_7-uqfSjzOnxbKoNzcUaAO796DizH12H3tjQHowVodSb0xLTX39CvOVIdu5o5tQBlGlW9Wts/s1600/IMG_3773+%25281280x960%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgf0CiBnYQ9TlW_t_E4FgeGFvwULeX2f2ABXsdRobBpA20-IGQKDNTnybPZ69ZD-j56RAHAYxa9pBBlX2HE_kY6a2j_1zjWCtoM8vyf9omxTWUxrApXTsltAIZnRdVph5f0jG_2XW2MaU/s1600/IMG_3774+%25281280x960%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgf0CiBnYQ9TlW_t_E4FgeGFvwULeX2f2ABXsdRobBpA20-IGQKDNTnybPZ69ZD-j56RAHAYxa9pBBlX2HE_kY6a2j_1zjWCtoM8vyf9omxTWUxrApXTsltAIZnRdVph5f0jG_2XW2MaU/s1600/IMG_3774+%25281280x960%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgf0CiBnYQ9TlW_t_E4FgeGFvwULeX2f2ABXsdRobBpA20-IGQKDNTnybPZ69ZD-j56RAHAYxa9pBBlX2HE_kY6a2j_1zjWCtoM8vyf9omxTWUxrApXTsltAIZnRdVph5f0jG_2XW2MaU/s400/IMG_3774+%25281280x960%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The auntie who was on leave was thrilled to have the baby born before she had to go again, and he <em>was</em> sort of her birthday present...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnzww7aoPkApGPf1XSTZqx6vldsMuSHH5rZUYzGPbB6DIDQ3aQileD73NNS6SvuCUHhOSApnRC5qVy0MLIzWcl4nQVlfkyw1UQIJtNE4VxcRQS53O9zwl7bKT6m5c8txUdll0d6oOB1xM/s1600/IMG_3778+%25281280x960%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnzww7aoPkApGPf1XSTZqx6vldsMuSHH5rZUYzGPbB6DIDQ3aQileD73NNS6SvuCUHhOSApnRC5qVy0MLIzWcl4nQVlfkyw1UQIJtNE4VxcRQS53O9zwl7bKT6m5c8txUdll0d6oOB1xM/s400/IMG_3778+%25281280x960%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Super Uncle!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6eeDZUoTbXr2M3s8bP2mZ97t49Ve6I4IkG8MgeDE5hHozutFKTZ1q64JOX_BQl2buj5F3ZdZKl9j71madYgpm0RoScDglIVS1dEPNab14Z3mwmw_VXyQxXhKTyic8O6MrOh6Zmy6SMyg/s1600/IMG_3767+%25281280x960%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6eeDZUoTbXr2M3s8bP2mZ97t49Ve6I4IkG8MgeDE5hHozutFKTZ1q64JOX_BQl2buj5F3ZdZKl9j71madYgpm0RoScDglIVS1dEPNab14Z3mwmw_VXyQxXhKTyic8O6MrOh6Zmy6SMyg/s400/IMG_3767+%25281280x960%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Mama didn't let go of the baby for awhile...</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgos8awXCW49yguKPI0Sr8ZSvhNMiPAX9zdF00b__9kNbFFQSwUVOYraoRIGuisugM9USNjGL84VUqZ1VW4DV9jBLiPprRCr9N6MHumvzFt0hMQhDu3FLvezUIt0AM-n7q6NjwMUxiKgms/s1600/IMG_3779+(1280x960).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgos8awXCW49yguKPI0Sr8ZSvhNMiPAX9zdF00b__9kNbFFQSwUVOYraoRIGuisugM9USNjGL84VUqZ1VW4DV9jBLiPprRCr9N6MHumvzFt0hMQhDu3FLvezUIt0AM-n7q6NjwMUxiKgms/s400/IMG_3779+(1280x960).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Careful! Watch his head!"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4bL6saV8DVnB_6gQ5nsQGP9bigfs_aU1AzQTK207UfqnWllOqek75MAZ-1xud24LEpKz_7-uqfSjzOnxbKoNzcUaAO796DizH12H3tjQHowVodSb0xLTX39CvOVIdu5o5tQBlGlW9Wts/s400/IMG_3773+%25281280x960%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Proud Papa was overwhelmed by joy.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggJqutidw3Ipy1WyGXdP9i-06752khkUz9U9MauY0TSU2b-KD9JzMYCJ96sWk6dDuuGYc7uglF4P_VvpTIWgy7zpDV0UBXkQgFr2Eb3SuHLQgpAklNdqraB4IsAB8qrUWWAjL1Yj4D8kU/s1600/IMG_3780+(1280x960).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggJqutidw3Ipy1WyGXdP9i-06752khkUz9U9MauY0TSU2b-KD9JzMYCJ96sWk6dDuuGYc7uglF4P_VvpTIWgy7zpDV0UBXkQgFr2Eb3SuHLQgpAklNdqraB4IsAB8qrUWWAjL1Yj4D8kU/s320/IMG_3780+(1280x960).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She says she's not used to babies, but she looks like she's doing pretty good here...</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiCXkqeZufrAg7GT2wJ_Lrbw2IrXPOt-L0_GOLf8txpzmgnvw9EfynElrUs2bA0n4yQChxx3Wluun9oTFrTPx1EHhBe82KwqNXI5GgYu1NvJ3LViAJS9beRkG4Mm7IglRmuhhbbF_ydGc/s1600/IMG_3777+(1280x960).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiCXkqeZufrAg7GT2wJ_Lrbw2IrXPOt-L0_GOLf8txpzmgnvw9EfynElrUs2bA0n4yQChxx3Wluun9oTFrTPx1EHhBe82KwqNXI5GgYu1NvJ3LViAJS9beRkG4Mm7IglRmuhhbbF_ydGc/s400/IMG_3777+(1280x960).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They just had to drive in the middle of the night for two hours, to welcome their new nephew!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiISLmOR6mNjzT4yCN-35DzxehxvbfCoCDC7mc9_W3XsWjGj4ui6qTwogKaBjX7tHnYhCmJIOB5QlAGGZXLyw9zGJa2CErdZbdtkfOIDd7f10ZZj8lbP2WA55lsGUL-T61aYZFtn3kfEMs/s1600/IMG_3775+(1280x960).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiISLmOR6mNjzT4yCN-35DzxehxvbfCoCDC7mc9_W3XsWjGj4ui6qTwogKaBjX7tHnYhCmJIOB5QlAGGZXLyw9zGJa2CErdZbdtkfOIDd7f10ZZj8lbP2WA55lsGUL-T61aYZFtn3kfEMs/s400/IMG_3775+(1280x960).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The crowd! We got to be the family getting in everyone's way...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5pjujR6cr3Xebn7g5-DIFsT4kUiz8IJjhW9NK5mgj6Dfj9dJN0LtDSQp_86vu-9R-7wAW0__4vf9q4NgJQDhxLoXOsGqhPk9w1RxJJHBDI_f4KHsQjI51bcyGXpQ9tUaS0jD7Ziq5nFA/s1600/IMG_3781+(1280x960).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5pjujR6cr3Xebn7g5-DIFsT4kUiz8IJjhW9NK5mgj6Dfj9dJN0LtDSQp_86vu-9R-7wAW0__4vf9q4NgJQDhxLoXOsGqhPk9w1RxJJHBDI_f4KHsQjI51bcyGXpQ9tUaS0jD7Ziq5nFA/s400/IMG_3781+(1280x960).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"What's all the fuss?"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVUcsXL4w5vS4Q19KIg2OF3oJqNAcTNn1SFEJX4CJPNqGMOFym9_ZRKjb5I-JWngNYyvmzGc85KThG0l7af6b5AF1T03WIj-_OnootviWdHaz_Z0cnzAnNExGv3iolD5RD9G04-Eqc114/s1600/IMG_3798+(1280x960).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVUcsXL4w5vS4Q19KIg2OF3oJqNAcTNn1SFEJX4CJPNqGMOFym9_ZRKjb5I-JWngNYyvmzGc85KThG0l7af6b5AF1T03WIj-_OnootviWdHaz_Z0cnzAnNExGv3iolD5RD9G04-Eqc114/s400/IMG_3798+(1280x960).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ah! At last! Grandma gets plenty of baby-time!</td></tr>
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<br />Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089210902879095607noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333477469828624750.post-82753106941022041822012-05-27T14:41:00.000-07:002012-05-27T14:41:49.424-07:00Why I didn't make it to church...Our church had a speaker from Teen Challenge scheduled, which sounded interesting to me, and a potluck to follow, which sounded delicious, because I love to eat, and I love other people's cooking. So, even though it was just me and the littles at home, I decided to attempt the feat of taking them to church by myself.
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<br />
"Are you sure you can do it by yourself?" David asked.
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"I'm going to try!" I said with vigor.<br />
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Years ago, we used to have a system for getting a large family to church. It included getting up a bit late, David making a large, comfort food breakfast, then yelling "just leave it all!" as I tried to clean it up, so I wouldn't have to face it when we got home, him throwing the kids in the van, no matter their state of dress, me running around trying to find a pair of stockings that didn't have a run in them, and blowdrying my hair while he sat in the van with the children and honked. Then we'd drive 15 minutes in stony silence, until we started to soften up toward one another because, after all, we were going to worship the Lord. So, you can understand his concern.
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<br />
Around here it's been Baby Boot Camp lately, because I've given up my full-time job to be a per diem nurse, and hopefully, a much more present mother. And it's been no more Mommy Nice Guy, either. Behavior has become atrocious, and since everyone's had the chance to adapt to being loved, cherished and well-fed, it's now time to focus on learning to get along in society.
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<br />
So, last night I made cookies, and got all my ingredients ready for a main dish and a salad. Check!
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Everyone had clean clothes and shoes ready, too, including me. Check!
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Bright and early, I got up and started working on Getting Everyone Ready for Church. I enjoyed my morning coffee, while the little people ate a quick and easy breakfast of cold cereal. Then they played happily in their bedroom, throwing heavy toys at the mirrored closet doors, while I cooked my potluck offerings, and yelled at them from the kitchen to stop throwing.
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In our little world, Sunday mornings are often the time to connect with family members who are absent, as they are sometimes a bit homesick, or we're missing each other, and today was no exception. I chatted with my husband who is working out of town for a few days, and admonished/parented by telephone one of my teenagers, whom I hadn't seen for two days. Then I called my daughter-in-waiting who is daily expected to burst into the throes of labor and childbirth, and is the other reason I don't have my job anymore, so that I can be at her beck and call for the Momentous Event. Reassured that the birth is not imminent, I called my oldest son to make arrangements, so that in case the birth becomes imminent, everyone knows their job in taking over the care of my children, and knows where to find me. <br />
<br />
So, I actually know where that 40 minutes went.
What's not so clear, though, is the rest of the morning. I put on a movie so the little kids would be occupied while I showered, then got myself ready. Then, one by one, I bathed them, and dressed them. Bathing is not an option, since wet diapers overnight, and breakfast in the hair, make it a morning necessity. <br />
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By now I had realized we would not make Sunday school, but I was okay with that, because I'd still make the sermon.
While I was brushing and putting up the girls' wet hair, Little Boy got into some stuff on the porch. It's not really a kid zone, but it's not hard to get into, and he didn't make too much of a mess, but with my new hard-nosed approach, I couldn't let it go, so the discipline had to be done, and it did take some time... Back to finishing hair, and then turning off the movie, which had played three consecutive times (at least) followed by lots of crying from Big Girl who <i>loves</i> "Signing Times" (a fun and informative, but apparently addictive, series.)
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<br />
By the time I had loaded each kid into the car seats (what ever happened to those cool car seats with the easy-latch padded tray that slid down over the kid's head, that I had back in the eighties?) and loaded all the food in, with drinks, and snacks in case they couldn't make it to the potluck without a melt-down, I saw that it was very close to the time for the sermon to start. By now I didn't care. I made all this food, and got everyone ready, and nothing is stopping me from getting there! I'll just sneak in downstairs in the back, because we'll end up in the nursery downstairs anyway, since the kids can't tolerate sitting more than five minutes, and I'll be able to bring the food in while still keeping an eye on the kids (a logistic that had me worried, about making several trips to the parking lot while wondering what mischief they might encounter.)
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<br />
I was starting to sweat (how hot is it out here, anyway?) and I could feel my blood sugar dropping, as it does when I get stressed, and the two cups of strong coffee kicked in with the jitters, but as I drove away, I felt it all falling by the wayside. The cool breeze blowing in the window, the happy noises from the children, excited to be going somewhere, <em>anywhere,</em> cheered me. It's a thirty minute drive to church, so I knew I'd miss the sermon, but I'd make the potluck. Probably for the best, as a meal anywhere with the little kids can be a challenge, at least in the staying clean, not spilling anything department.
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<br />
Ten minutes out of town, I stopped, and stared at the sign blocking the road, which read, "End of the Road: Roadwork." How had I missed the first sign? Had there <i>been</i> a sign?
As I slunk back to town with my tail between my legs, the children began to make crabby sounds. The delicious aromas from the food filled the car, and it was, after all, past eleven, and they were <i>hungry!</i> So I took the opportunity of their cute church-readiness to take some pictures on the lawn, brought them in, set them at the table and promptly fed them. Myself, as well. It was a good, if lonely, meal. Would have been better with a bunch of other people...
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Here's what I made: chicken spanish rice, garbanzo-corn-tomato salad with Walla Walla green onions fresh from the garden, and cranberry-pumpkinseed-chocolate chunk cookies, which David decreed were "not horrible," so you <em>know</em> they must be good!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzP7CTqr8iMX1ywn1lFhk2d9f-HrGDgaHQi4qnMqSHYgh_aN1APd7Sp3oghapUQRD5zCJO3TBeHPNTHPDIsWuv9beOMZHotLe2vlQzji0mCLsqZlY0QEFVMCODUcH7_VwzvHOUZk7H6hM/s1600/IMG_7334+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzP7CTqr8iMX1ywn1lFhk2d9f-HrGDgaHQi4qnMqSHYgh_aN1APd7Sp3oghapUQRD5zCJO3TBeHPNTHPDIsWuv9beOMZHotLe2vlQzji0mCLsqZlY0QEFVMCODUcH7_VwzvHOUZk7H6hM/s320/IMG_7334+(1280x853).jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089210902879095607noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333477469828624750.post-22947859770550808052012-05-10T09:27:00.002-07:002012-05-10T09:27:33.530-07:00Spring fun II<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPgmEqtxAnZdn82YCL4UC8nawbRzWxJG9ODrP-7gR6bJ4v_7wn9TI7cwW07QKFerqTxt5NE5pHzIj6P-FxUHd7QVHZMqC5kyDH4XoY-0heSXdwH_ZeeRbPEanQDQ-jCk0xQSnlaxKvLZs/s1600/IMG_7168+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPgmEqtxAnZdn82YCL4UC8nawbRzWxJG9ODrP-7gR6bJ4v_7wn9TI7cwW07QKFerqTxt5NE5pHzIj6P-FxUHd7QVHZMqC5kyDH4XoY-0heSXdwH_ZeeRbPEanQDQ-jCk0xQSnlaxKvLZs/s400/IMG_7168+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Girl loves to swing, and just think...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_1LUO2r6pj3sRHNokrhMXYEuu8342lCYG_l8hN0-HfOyAiob7sF7quauT0MCdQ0i0fvXJ8iQHTaNAmcUUYr21OEtiPZqyyBUkAmDp50VFBILPZAN_v67CwbY0qXHdQhMcdzZEMZthwx0/s1600/IMG_7185+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_1LUO2r6pj3sRHNokrhMXYEuu8342lCYG_l8hN0-HfOyAiob7sF7quauT0MCdQ0i0fvXJ8iQHTaNAmcUUYr21OEtiPZqyyBUkAmDp50VFBILPZAN_v67CwbY0qXHdQhMcdzZEMZthwx0/s400/IMG_7185+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She loves to swing, and this is where she's happiest!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE3jmaoDFhuQYWj_wzfoR7dy99sziYRJZwiEQVzZcRZv9tj_ei_1dST9vGxz3z0tJCwxsovZ8zdm88DjZlng-5hqf0MMcIWukBtuxhdED2inYPDaWqrmxsLvfv7_P5VHx7v9mCxxMx4Yo/s1600/IMG_7190+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE3jmaoDFhuQYWj_wzfoR7dy99sziYRJZwiEQVzZcRZv9tj_ei_1dST9vGxz3z0tJCwxsovZ8zdm88DjZlng-5hqf0MMcIWukBtuxhdED2inYPDaWqrmxsLvfv7_P5VHx7v9mCxxMx4Yo/s400/IMG_7190+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the first time any of the three have felt secure enough to lay back and extend their arms like this. She was yelling and singing at the top of her lungs. What joy!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3SZ6AAXGdgZ47RoYQQacdJqN2S60n7OAxeERdBIfVh2qIJzaEXO0ZSAjB0vXrKt-ZK7jGE429UndAw0af08t8h6GekwuNOJULN3BkFrXI2T3J1k5F_JAqWJAUVulGhUE6P7AaUUFQNkI/s1600/IMG_7198+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3SZ6AAXGdgZ47RoYQQacdJqN2S60n7OAxeERdBIfVh2qIJzaEXO0ZSAjB0vXrKt-ZK7jGE429UndAw0af08t8h6GekwuNOJULN3BkFrXI2T3J1k5F_JAqWJAUVulGhUE6P7AaUUFQNkI/s400/IMG_7198+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big Girl loves to swing also, although not with the passion that Little Girl displays.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTD08Gy_P0S6vt8ObGHfL1OQN6-BT42uA4t0t9fgKqcmRtTyjQReEpB2CFiBjatvmE5Gi0nznSM7sHC6gY0sBvjB5_mV_UkQSGqXj0piCc5pu9qfTy-vC1oKJqlJt9NC_fD0vdKzBRPFY/s1600/IMG_7201+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTD08Gy_P0S6vt8ObGHfL1OQN6-BT42uA4t0t9fgKqcmRtTyjQReEpB2CFiBjatvmE5Gi0nznSM7sHC6gY0sBvjB5_mV_UkQSGqXj0piCc5pu9qfTy-vC1oKJqlJt9NC_fD0vdKzBRPFY/s400/IMG_7201+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can push this one really high. She's game!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5m86cqbonHzwhZ3llxA1XeYtnRGQKP4pGCrYOkrkQjAog4T6yjv1klXmze-e8P-udLfGVpE0gDaYr54-c6vh3ecleU6Xgz8dfrefl5eTLDUAEKRMIonB4-A_iGtxQEKryHvVQpRM8ZAE/s1600/IMG_7216+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5m86cqbonHzwhZ3llxA1XeYtnRGQKP4pGCrYOkrkQjAog4T6yjv1klXmze-e8P-udLfGVpE0gDaYr54-c6vh3ecleU6Xgz8dfrefl5eTLDUAEKRMIonB4-A_iGtxQEKryHvVQpRM8ZAE/s400/IMG_7216+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, he's a toughie. Yes, he'll beat you up.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCiAs0222K84e1nvGVFym1gbhj5hXj_EPoVGk3px9wQ402s4JJewcz6X5-nDBQKSxqHdIkOhXNBUaAekheyatvlWz51KMAaNGxGaweymBGMmbAz_dBl99eQRz-VqipTAywAZgashV7Iyk/s1600/IMG_7220+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCiAs0222K84e1nvGVFym1gbhj5hXj_EPoVGk3px9wQ402s4JJewcz6X5-nDBQKSxqHdIkOhXNBUaAekheyatvlWz51KMAaNGxGaweymBGMmbAz_dBl99eQRz-VqipTAywAZgashV7Iyk/s400/IMG_7220+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sassy look that gets her off the hook (sometimes!)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8RLEsqASEx0dwlXyVEFoNyHnt9JXylAsmO67DvILeGobPCXwfkGVZRYZfQ1t2-ysKwYGzjvTUdkd7-VN1sGQEbOmBB9Cz2tEjFaURPh4g41yu14Dz7tkC-Dlfljkmosi_Yb45biaYfzw/s1600/IMG_7237+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8RLEsqASEx0dwlXyVEFoNyHnt9JXylAsmO67DvILeGobPCXwfkGVZRYZfQ1t2-ysKwYGzjvTUdkd7-VN1sGQEbOmBB9Cz2tEjFaURPh4g41yu14Dz7tkC-Dlfljkmosi_Yb45biaYfzw/s400/IMG_7237+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The enigmatic princessa look...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089210902879095607noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333477469828624750.post-29853001749424736392012-05-10T09:15:00.000-07:002012-05-10T09:15:02.973-07:00Spring fun ILook who's got glasses! The girls are both slightly far-sighted, so the doc says they're okay without glasses for now. Little Boy is near-sighted, though, so he needs 'em. Challenge to get him to wear them, though. Screamed, and twisted while we tried frames on him, then ripped them off when the new glasses came in. Next day had to take them back because they were broken. Same thing the next day after they were repaired. We've taken them in six times, and he's finally up to wearing them for hours at a time. I think he really likes being able to see, but eventually, he just can't stand to have them on his face and ears.
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXVi9PzDJpbY_-uqEy0LAEs1t2xDCGBR4f6Du8ax2klaZEgDMXf9-3OReYVyXgVwjS5_Jd0Jm_kMUe2efzkdN1hkbEWfF857-xmYYoSZE32_yeHp2qI7YgaSWDcqlZyejrQhjBsNrWjpo/s1600/IMG_6973+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXVi9PzDJpbY_-uqEy0LAEs1t2xDCGBR4f6Du8ax2klaZEgDMXf9-3OReYVyXgVwjS5_Jd0Jm_kMUe2efzkdN1hkbEWfF857-xmYYoSZE32_yeHp2qI7YgaSWDcqlZyejrQhjBsNrWjpo/s400/IMG_6973+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oooo! The cuteness factor!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHgs-Mu7UKcwKxGglYzrgBDaB4t6QqgpVMWq7oKz6W_Z8CcfB4aCPsjIb-CPZU7A05FruEkptJTrNGjGEX_qX24X4PWBGkT6cBl-0_gsGzbYphFMMfrDyCe3tLvqSanb5ALRAZFGTPq_4/s1600/IMG_6981+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHgs-Mu7UKcwKxGglYzrgBDaB4t6QqgpVMWq7oKz6W_Z8CcfB4aCPsjIb-CPZU7A05FruEkptJTrNGjGEX_qX24X4PWBGkT6cBl-0_gsGzbYphFMMfrDyCe3tLvqSanb5ALRAZFGTPq_4/s400/IMG_6981+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the pursed-lip face he's started making since we started mouth exercises.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIE68AuXtagsUUGL5B_vsZv9t0Zfqdw6e5-2vVbSnboDe7_HU1HqXiXsc8JdU9fpuPzPSUgryBWkXGTvbPdwrDoh3xFVZ1ELZ7xrzzsQee5albHAHPwnR7eULoZN2u35CbfzQI0tmNDNc/s1600/IMG_6990+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIE68AuXtagsUUGL5B_vsZv9t0Zfqdw6e5-2vVbSnboDe7_HU1HqXiXsc8JdU9fpuPzPSUgryBWkXGTvbPdwrDoh3xFVZ1ELZ7xrzzsQee5albHAHPwnR7eULoZN2u35CbfzQI0tmNDNc/s400/IMG_6990+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Admit it! He's a pretty-boy! My friend asked me why I was growing his hair long, and I replied, "Because it's so pretty!" (And it's a three-person job to cut it!)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv9Ye5w7dzq_-0eVS0kieMCiHW_tmFktij0K03kXkB7lnfegEJjYDsYt7Skg4T-w9Dh6Pe9TFl1OyI-zETdw-CgylvingpVNqCD1a1vucPEdhc7zNrxh2LWIi-6Lpa5SeU7RZPu4d_13E/s1600/IMG_7145+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv9Ye5w7dzq_-0eVS0kieMCiHW_tmFktij0K03kXkB7lnfegEJjYDsYt7Skg4T-w9Dh6Pe9TFl1OyI-zETdw-CgylvingpVNqCD1a1vucPEdhc7zNrxh2LWIi-6Lpa5SeU7RZPu4d_13E/s400/IMG_7145+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L. had a birthday! Happy Birthday, darling!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZFwiQU9sKziPia5lOJio4XnxVTMScMEEj5FfbL26-NJQcxlci5BndCupXI6OVCvecTvYe28E-2k5-gdrNcvEI2_DM54-2C4uUE5LcwlnvTwc1TsChLxWxVQcP0tvx7jmp96xRvck4vFU/s1600/IMG_7099+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZFwiQU9sKziPia5lOJio4XnxVTMScMEEj5FfbL26-NJQcxlci5BndCupXI6OVCvecTvYe28E-2k5-gdrNcvEI2_DM54-2C4uUE5LcwlnvTwc1TsChLxWxVQcP0tvx7jmp96xRvck4vFU/s400/IMG_7099+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The boys were playing catch...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4dK7zJk6mlZq_A6Ylqan78yKSfSy0BImUfBx-j25iuCW5PtK8elPrESvQvk-CmtGLQLAdvKGxb55F6ygVK50vtnvoocTYJIJ1gm7jar0Ul0mpTciwWznowuiWhRW7x9qKUMJFZBKl8o4/s1600/IMG_7108+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4dK7zJk6mlZq_A6Ylqan78yKSfSy0BImUfBx-j25iuCW5PtK8elPrESvQvk-CmtGLQLAdvKGxb55F6ygVK50vtnvoocTYJIJ1gm7jar0Ul0mpTciwWznowuiWhRW7x9qKUMJFZBKl8o4/s400/IMG_7108+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">because B. is on a team.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYL_4V9GwA6c8kkIdyOrSUcDkPsJhdCp801Bdr_RlPmqTXpyyqaUql5AS042ZOZ9en-v8lr9OgNRHVfSeNtEmZq6zJbYoVBUzxvoB0AfUOEHuNIfXJL7YazfIMtGHjpZ4w7DjJzQEDrfU/s1600/IMG_7120+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYL_4V9GwA6c8kkIdyOrSUcDkPsJhdCp801Bdr_RlPmqTXpyyqaUql5AS042ZOZ9en-v8lr9OgNRHVfSeNtEmZq6zJbYoVBUzxvoB0AfUOEHuNIfXJL7YazfIMtGHjpZ4w7DjJzQEDrfU/s400/IMG_7120+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This one came running in to grab a mitt...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB4WsxYgGFrNKD5AVHU5zwq6LoGpqInD-WF5AJZzW80OXwwNK0nIlUTQjQNTZttV_4LFRXa22nXhiqne9B4f9GR_O8f_skVGxo1kWmytfQzgcykEz7mSFUK6tNl_PsQujw-_L5GAbM8Cg/s1600/IMG_7133+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB4WsxYgGFrNKD5AVHU5zwq6LoGpqInD-WF5AJZzW80OXwwNK0nIlUTQjQNTZttV_4LFRXa22nXhiqne9B4f9GR_O8f_skVGxo1kWmytfQzgcykEz7mSFUK6tNl_PsQujw-_L5GAbM8Cg/s400/IMG_7133+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and join the fun!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrKk3w-sYiuCr6eorfdVvzWh6VfJ4bernLSMkgwtBkPNY8YFt_Ka4E3nwpHyjJ9JqbVccl-LoabzwpS9qcjciWvljYMfni8s-w8euA7MBmcYaJwRyUq2o_5NK-tsrlVYOZn9LmSoXNebw/s1600/IMG_7136+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrKk3w-sYiuCr6eorfdVvzWh6VfJ4bernLSMkgwtBkPNY8YFt_Ka4E3nwpHyjJ9JqbVccl-LoabzwpS9qcjciWvljYMfni8s-w8euA7MBmcYaJwRyUq2o_5NK-tsrlVYOZn9LmSoXNebw/s400/IMG_7136+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She knows just what to do!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089210902879095607noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333477469828624750.post-17961369968293257602012-05-10T08:10:00.000-07:002012-05-10T08:10:53.529-07:00Spring projectsSpring is the time for projects, and we have projects a-plenty! First up was refurbishing the old coop. B., our son with the heart of a farmer, has been begging for chickens for two years, and this is the year we finally followed through on our promises. He has been a tender caretaker, and lovingly grown them this far.
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0UBH5119-GszUNYLa8Cx_1izIn71VKG9wboOEwfgN7uPWHGjvDXAGZw_NoQLQfuX8LiCvkQWkRBFfDFoKiNbVUjxJpQ2JlY2941ScebY5zl8iWAHbixSwchyd_N1ip430zj2ovNFElhU/s1600/IMG_7036+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0UBH5119-GszUNYLa8Cx_1izIn71VKG9wboOEwfgN7uPWHGjvDXAGZw_NoQLQfuX8LiCvkQWkRBFfDFoKiNbVUjxJpQ2JlY2941ScebY5zl8iWAHbixSwchyd_N1ip430zj2ovNFElhU/s400/IMG_7036+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#1 rule: measure twice, cut once!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEdgm4Neq7VzZokFShTrSUJYGX7gREG8Z6uLZ5lNT6evDHqGzFvB0eVRLG4PNwQXFhZhQ37-oov3fE7X9sSRnw8BDfORa_Ur4Iu56nqJ_ThSCJTyvC667JejhWgNV7XA6kTIdf6Dj8M8E/s1600/IMG_7021+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEdgm4Neq7VzZokFShTrSUJYGX7gREG8Z6uLZ5lNT6evDHqGzFvB0eVRLG4PNwQXFhZhQ37-oov3fE7X9sSRnw8BDfORa_Ur4Iu56nqJ_ThSCJTyvC667JejhWgNV7XA6kTIdf6Dj8M8E/s400/IMG_7021+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L. mixing concrete...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM57YovM9PHnDLvM6HcJbFuk7TFRCvCJo4ku7i_iUPruZxGDK8ikf050K5qfQAX23mIpCtrD11yGk-G0BKIfGlJSTYYoTweDKY_lt9XwjXsuYsfUn0ttbjM20P1pS_BLQwZUAhU6qVzuA/s1600/IMG_7015+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM57YovM9PHnDLvM6HcJbFuk7TFRCvCJo4ku7i_iUPruZxGDK8ikf050K5qfQAX23mIpCtrD11yGk-G0BKIfGlJSTYYoTweDKY_lt9XwjXsuYsfUn0ttbjM20P1pS_BLQwZUAhU6qVzuA/s400/IMG_7015+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">David laying a new floor...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjavu1tEqMFk8rJ2JuUl28zU6btWwgvhP16otLB2nW8cikNceQoE5FL7nD2yPYjdQIWjAnLb30x1wPkYq2Kl5EsZy6-U3p8cMHaKgpCI93phWLN2iev99Ti1N-I-9-Lvbk9VMudDIjXx-g/s1600/IMG_7016+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjavu1tEqMFk8rJ2JuUl28zU6btWwgvhP16otLB2nW8cikNceQoE5FL7nD2yPYjdQIWjAnLb30x1wPkYq2Kl5EsZy6-U3p8cMHaKgpCI93phWLN2iev99Ti1N-I-9-Lvbk9VMudDIjXx-g/s400/IMG_7016+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">B. putting finishing touches on the new gate...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZq_JcnWDhOcHsywsJ5oHuLcykSm-VmC9lNwGhWneyi_TPPvkLKqPMQjCwWmFkyPDCenVgD6DzoayvzjYciOb9ZMYh1dyR5OEg6jUaLZqpTVcv-oxZ35t9_5sLQYLxxrljCXIGFCjHpsE/s1600/IMG_7023+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZq_JcnWDhOcHsywsJ5oHuLcykSm-VmC9lNwGhWneyi_TPPvkLKqPMQjCwWmFkyPDCenVgD6DzoayvzjYciOb9ZMYh1dyR5OEg6jUaLZqpTVcv-oxZ35t9_5sLQYLxxrljCXIGFCjHpsE/s400/IMG_7023+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All that for these cute little critters!</td></tr>
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Our ten year old cherry tree is magnificent, and has never borne a cherry because it didn't have a mate. This is the year we finally followed through...
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB8UtN35WcvzbmhMaDBRze-n9vuZFkn3ktxD_jtis4PxxUNwp7MSfJUtdzktSWP31rvLarXUVweV6xb-sarCNu9_zwFYAsYpFd99G3AJRil0Wi6-sXiuow8Rc95FPwd43g072eCqUmp3A/s1600/IMG_7041+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB8UtN35WcvzbmhMaDBRze-n9vuZFkn3ktxD_jtis4PxxUNwp7MSfJUtdzktSWP31rvLarXUVweV6xb-sarCNu9_zwFYAsYpFd99G3AJRil0Wi6-sXiuow8Rc95FPwd43g072eCqUmp3A/s400/IMG_7041+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Voila! The "pollination partner!"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiau0RXsYqNveW7iD_F695M5wKP2EaacUwxquc4damlySVNT_0k27L527OaKnc3fC0d_MH6h5D6iMsQga2L-_lAD-qoXJ1B7qWmqXAASfULWgov12KxtL-mVJ-zy2plW7XlWkpsKp7Qlt4/s1600/IMG_7025+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiau0RXsYqNveW7iD_F695M5wKP2EaacUwxquc4damlySVNT_0k27L527OaKnc3fC0d_MH6h5D6iMsQga2L-_lAD-qoXJ1B7qWmqXAASfULWgov12KxtL-mVJ-zy2plW7XlWkpsKp7Qlt4/s400/IMG_7025+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's my "pollination partner!" Happy 24 yrs, honey!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089210902879095607noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333477469828624750.post-80347291430729753622012-05-01T23:02:00.000-07:002012-05-01T23:02:37.336-07:00New York, New York!David and I got to fly to New York to visit our lovely daughter, who has just finished two years of military training. She's excited to see the world now. We're so proud of her!
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We got to go to New York City, which was another dream come true for me. Little Italy and Chinatown for food, and a Broadway show were on my to-do list. We did eat in Little Italy, which was so good, but we settled for one of the many Chinese restaurants near our hotel, since everything was quite a walk, even riding the subway. Not surprisingly, the chinese food was excellent. Extremely affordable, too, unlike the italian food!
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R. and I went to see the Broadway show, "Mamma Mia" which was a real crowd pleaser, as the audience enjoyed singing along with the hits from "ABBA." I had seen the movie version, and wasn't impressed, but the stage presentation was so engaging that it made me cry during three different songs, mostly ones about mothers watching daughters grow up, and one about women getting older. I was happy that it was dark!
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We walked quite a bit, and saw many landmarks which we've seen in movies. At least David has. He kept trying to tell me which doomsday movies had which structure being digitally decimated. I guess I didn't watch them that closely. We went to Times Square, which was quite lit up, and had a large, cheerful crowd. The people were all nice that we met, and some asked us if we were visiting. We looked like tourists, I guess, with our camera. Everyone thought we meant Washington D.C. as our home!
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We even got to go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which was awe-inspiring. Imagine standing in front of a Renoir, a Picasso, a Monet, a Manet, a Toulouse Lautrec! I never imagined that I would be in the same room with so many famous paintings by so many famous people. There were many others, too, that I recognized, or names that I recognized. Gertrude Stein's collection was on tour there, as it just so happened!
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Much thanks to our daughter, J. for coming to hold down the fort, and take care of our little ones. She did an amazing and capable job. You're going to be a wonderful mother, sweetie. Our other kids, L., S., and B. also helped care for the wild things, and we are so thankful for them (even though we're always nagging them!) Everyone was super happy to see us return!
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigFdzvWqIYo8mjyIZTVJnm9bdxB_HKRi-nExfcJm6ZE4O9JRv-OUK9MoiDwjfm6feMVmHTde909nNm65WLSXztGFUrUclvfjdetDz10Ts2MEyHkUIN_AvW-DvgrjDh-fIGKuQDOdi4g_c/s1600/IMG_6870+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigFdzvWqIYo8mjyIZTVJnm9bdxB_HKRi-nExfcJm6ZE4O9JRv-OUK9MoiDwjfm6feMVmHTde909nNm65WLSXztGFUrUclvfjdetDz10Ts2MEyHkUIN_AvW-DvgrjDh-fIGKuQDOdi4g_c/s400/IMG_6870+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Together at last!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFVEgn8_sbg6OWsLHdiMx5WjaF8tRaR8uOeVZfad1LmAXqus5ndtN_5bTueDvy_tqR__tiT0AX7iDbKThCbFPJhgymrQsPzUp2qvngY9Ur2h3iIRd47eMJ7CC5mmx_6w_dZY05Kjwv6lo/s1600/IMG_6874+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFVEgn8_sbg6OWsLHdiMx5WjaF8tRaR8uOeVZfad1LmAXqus5ndtN_5bTueDvy_tqR__tiT0AX7iDbKThCbFPJhgymrQsPzUp2qvngY9Ur2h3iIRd47eMJ7CC5mmx_6w_dZY05Kjwv6lo/s400/IMG_6874+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So cute!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvT-9uUTrgiJbV5gQDjSWRJHttGlZ_g04unGue8DA3VdshIL6eTuWSD8oSqnamHTW3XcK2UYKNmBUY-EnKT076De2DW3EQEUVgRRNlgEUBKNuKoAB0Jxht-RrjJ__dpU9qfI1-8iDcM4k/s1600/IMG_6875+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvT-9uUTrgiJbV5gQDjSWRJHttGlZ_g04unGue8DA3VdshIL6eTuWSD8oSqnamHTW3XcK2UYKNmBUY-EnKT076De2DW3EQEUVgRRNlgEUBKNuKoAB0Jxht-RrjJ__dpU9qfI1-8iDcM4k/s400/IMG_6875+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loving father and darling daughter</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiePycX39zKgj83l42FJDpylseQbFG-Xyb7H37_qv-kFxQaWuehBoLc2ZTJcLyfPL2QNL4_1kPGQ2inlnTFpwlhdqHr1mu-uhFiVrv_AOYnkJ-DVM6WJtzloKF1UPJNUrG4Kklx5hWU6OU/s1600/IMG_6883+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiePycX39zKgj83l42FJDpylseQbFG-Xyb7H37_qv-kFxQaWuehBoLc2ZTJcLyfPL2QNL4_1kPGQ2inlnTFpwlhdqHr1mu-uhFiVrv_AOYnkJ-DVM6WJtzloKF1UPJNUrG4Kklx5hWU6OU/s400/IMG_6883+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grand Central Station! It was actually a beautiful building.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHQK7T3pKMw4aKenHuzIjjJWL5sQWuSxi8fmtlajt6pI90jzFMQwCTnLpouODmESSuW-NNnR1-PkAw9QVp8zLnI3uua6ka0pG7XMUL8ii6phmMR7IAROdf9BUhMqaTvBra2I3qDzjLzOo/s1600/IMG_6892+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHQK7T3pKMw4aKenHuzIjjJWL5sQWuSxi8fmtlajt6pI90jzFMQwCTnLpouODmESSuW-NNnR1-PkAw9QVp8zLnI3uua6ka0pG7XMUL8ii6phmMR7IAROdf9BUhMqaTvBra2I3qDzjLzOo/s400/IMG_6892+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from our window in the hotel.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqRv3SkiD_QXnr1J-MTMbTm69dsNe33ynWG3XuKzAyUL16lGvVFSwR-k2t16zonFl5u_vTeHPKipYHAHWIR_bRsNE2LF-3GgBSILQ_GkoLmYJwyYJLl3S7pm_Y2ISo6oBwPJxnaCsO4ks/s1600/IMG_6901+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqRv3SkiD_QXnr1J-MTMbTm69dsNe33ynWG3XuKzAyUL16lGvVFSwR-k2t16zonFl5u_vTeHPKipYHAHWIR_bRsNE2LF-3GgBSILQ_GkoLmYJwyYJLl3S7pm_Y2ISo6oBwPJxnaCsO4ks/s400/IMG_6901+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This famous actor's wax replica allowed me to pose with him. He does look a little annoyed...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPnnLwrub4ecdplHjlsyeJsh-fistOAek1GJQnxAq0oFKTI6g4D1biPUCNHLpo9aYK6dooSw3ZCh9cY1goK4UhveSsUnqhSJoewaiww9oiBBlkSa9tJBxInTmqgk96vpkhHlRUOi_Wwfc/s1600/IMG_6921+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPnnLwrub4ecdplHjlsyeJsh-fistOAek1GJQnxAq0oFKTI6g4D1biPUCNHLpo9aYK6dooSw3ZCh9cY1goK4UhveSsUnqhSJoewaiww9oiBBlkSa9tJBxInTmqgk96vpkhHlRUOi_Wwfc/s400/IMG_6921+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Delicious italian food in Little Italy. I enjoyed it a lot more than David did, and he's the actual italian!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglV1Qfg5qtT0UFyLZbxc9X4JY4XUMTq2VmUAqc9wDSKe7f2E8EsT2nYcfRdKxVcGmY5RdAGiB2iTXAlapPcZ0Vomk74lq3KyMVtNMrJksCsfh7qpZYizVAnM-JHU4JXPwTHWnyY1hGhnY/s1600/IMG_6942+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglV1Qfg5qtT0UFyLZbxc9X4JY4XUMTq2VmUAqc9wDSKe7f2E8EsT2nYcfRdKxVcGmY5RdAGiB2iTXAlapPcZ0Vomk74lq3KyMVtNMrJksCsfh7qpZYizVAnM-JHU4JXPwTHWnyY1hGhnY/s400/IMG_6942+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In Central Park. I'm not sure exactly what this spot was.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_nmPx_-Dw4IOVKPMZzaCBkc-1IueRz2HtRrtgocNLAOZsuhtsFN0fenA8rUVIRIEjBcO8bPfu9qhCaKI3jTox0AnQ4kAu8T-RF31mQ8AodLKloyRie3iy6pV3hDP-DVYSQpsi4_2QidU/s1600/IMG_6944+(1280x855).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_nmPx_-Dw4IOVKPMZzaCBkc-1IueRz2HtRrtgocNLAOZsuhtsFN0fenA8rUVIRIEjBcO8bPfu9qhCaKI3jTox0AnQ4kAu8T-RF31mQ8AodLKloyRie3iy6pV3hDP-DVYSQpsi4_2QidU/s400/IMG_6944+(1280x855).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amazing wisteria display in Central Park.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089210902879095607noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333477469828624750.post-79644633501315167692012-04-19T11:03:00.001-07:002012-04-19T11:12:38.889-07:00Advocating for RuslanWhen we adopted our kids, we met some other parents who were adopting from the same orphanage, and some who had already adopted from it, and in a way, it felt as if those kids were our kids' siblings. We got to see pictures of our children that other parents had taken when they were there to get their kids, and some of the children were in the pictures over and over again.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixiN1q1UEyEWyCsTd6FrnS69ruf-uD7TILPbfChO9cQQ2yG_wZrzVfYHQKD_W3b8AxL0OzUMdg0hHZTpwH6pnBZNP82MNRxd500H1Yu3CfRh7zqzOYK5IXq6zedSAyM0CEvsZEAf6Ybv4/s1600/ruslanatvorzel-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixiN1q1UEyEWyCsTd6FrnS69ruf-uD7TILPbfChO9cQQ2yG_wZrzVfYHQKD_W3b8AxL0OzUMdg0hHZTpwH6pnBZNP82MNRxd500H1Yu3CfRh7zqzOYK5IXq6zedSAyM0CEvsZEAf6Ybv4/s1600/ruslanatvorzel-2.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/1134/ruslan">http://reecesrainbow.org/1134/ruslan</a><br />
This is a little guy who was in some of the pictures of our kids from when they were younger. He also has Down Syndrome, and he aged out of the baby house, and was transferred to the mental institution. He is still available for adoption, and he would still be blessed to have a family to belong to, who would love him and cherish him for the unique person he is, made in the image of God.<br />
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For the last few weeks, he has been on my heart and mind, and I've been praying for him. I know that God knows the name of each one of these children, and I believe that he has put this child on my heart for a specific reason. <br />
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Apparently, I'm not the only one God has stirred for this child. On Facebook, Andrea Roberts, founder of Reece's Rainbow, sent out a post advocating for Ruslan, and I was startled that God was speaking to someone else about him. I guess I shouldn't be startled anymore, since I've seen God work in amazing and really big ways. Anyway, I thought that maybe I would ask her to make Ruslan the child of the month, although I thought it might be a long shot, since he's older, and his chances of being adopted would be slim. <br />
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Of course, with God, it's never about chances, is it? It's always about his will, and he will accomplish it as he chooses and pleases. I was amazed and excited to see that Ruslan is already the April child of the month for Reece's Rainbow.<br />
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If you are Ruslan's parents, he is waiting for you. <br />
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If you are able to donate, it would really help Ruslan's parents to accomplish their mission to bring their son home. If you are unable to donate, please pray for Ruslan, specifically. There are many children that I prayed for fervently, though I wasn't able to donate to their adoptions, and God was faithful to answer and brought them into families. Clearly, money is not the only currency in God's view. We are so grateful to the people who helped us accomplish our mission to adopt our children, and the love and support we felt really carried us during some difficult moments. Best of all, God is able to provide! When you are in his will, there is nothing insurmountable.<br />
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I don't want to sound Pollyanna, but that knowledge sustains me. When things have gone bad (in my opinion) I ask myself, am I in his will? If I can say yes, I am, then I know that he has a reason and purpose for allowing the situation, and whether I live or die, I know that he is in control. Very comforting in the midst of a storm.<br />
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Back to orphans; every one of these children changes like a butterfly when they are loved. That was my favorite part of following other people's blogs. To see a change so radical and beautiful, wrought out of something so sad and ugly, as a child with no family and no future. What a miracle! God believes in adoption, and he believes in children.<br />
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Witness: from this...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjok3AC2bn30lccv0F2UMt4V3oDcCjvOedJnF48BSKnQlCSgbEgVUJbIJWpsPt8AQQNmG0I1MZ5NP88AD3tms5-XkXRshXEt2IKCZB0DxR7SlwpMbBFs-mBelQFAc1P7SrdDH6QCRGjkBE/s1600/IMG_0418%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjok3AC2bn30lccv0F2UMt4V3oDcCjvOedJnF48BSKnQlCSgbEgVUJbIJWpsPt8AQQNmG0I1MZ5NP88AD3tms5-XkXRshXEt2IKCZB0DxR7SlwpMbBFs-mBelQFAc1P7SrdDH6QCRGjkBE/s400/IMG_0418%255B1%255D.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sad bug...</td></tr>
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to this!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik8JEOX2KRoot44z-CzgOaMjoKlkIiIMW3nZa21Z0hl9ISrUwacf5_XWfa7zcCrGzX0nNJPFyREdA_UCEJrfiG7M-26j4u0fMiagjZL3UtZtE-4rto9Z89sDTx4ZlvYYzJz9WrdNRqT90/s1600/IMG_6864+%25281280x853%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik8JEOX2KRoot44z-CzgOaMjoKlkIiIMW3nZa21Z0hl9ISrUwacf5_XWfa7zcCrGzX0nNJPFyREdA_UCEJrfiG7M-26j4u0fMiagjZL3UtZtE-4rto9Z89sDTx4ZlvYYzJz9WrdNRqT90/s400/IMG_6864+%25281280x853%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">happy girl!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Pa8uF67fg25Ozmg73W6VjE2Ua-l8dykIjG5m4PVAsgQjFcP2JfsUWqMVyo1L0unpH3NrvavvDNpcK76agQVRpfm9Rb16SnVGz9bk0l3-zQjBypaEk7Yg4b0eCnpjhMKPQralfYNdBmw/s1600/IMG_6865+%25281280x853%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Pa8uF67fg25Ozmg73W6VjE2Ua-l8dykIjG5m4PVAsgQjFcP2JfsUWqMVyo1L0unpH3NrvavvDNpcK76agQVRpfm9Rb16SnVGz9bk0l3-zQjBypaEk7Yg4b0eCnpjhMKPQralfYNdBmw/s400/IMG_6865+%25281280x853%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">beautiful girl!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnhiT5yHimkj4aC50hyphenhyphenNqyGX9q2HPdriB7xPRh8HVUkcPmxNMWGmVTXiO3I8fS9bvcNleed-Pe6CJlQQykHeVUH58T6p0L9MEpz4IgVuACcr0P3ICFUV6Rf4sOX5PDF2934ktgGAtoP-Q/s1600/IMG_6868+%25281280x853%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnhiT5yHimkj4aC50hyphenhyphenNqyGX9q2HPdriB7xPRh8HVUkcPmxNMWGmVTXiO3I8fS9bvcNleed-Pe6CJlQQykHeVUH58T6p0L9MEpz4IgVuACcr0P3ICFUV6Rf4sOX5PDF2934ktgGAtoP-Q/s400/IMG_6868+%25281280x853%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">treasured girl!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089210902879095607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333477469828624750.post-81433400393858432202012-04-09T23:01:00.000-07:002012-04-09T23:01:52.793-07:00Easter picsWhat joy there is in the knowledge of salvation! This year the big kids and Dad went to Easter sunrise service, and the little kids and I slept in, since I'm a night worker. I listened to Easter praise songs, and sang along in worship as we prepared our Easter family feast.<br />
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This year the egg coloring and hunt went a bit better. There is still room to grow, but all in all, people are starting to "get it." Sort of like Christmas traditions, right? <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTUBrPx4A3PvqeiEuuNCQcLiYsNDjlsz_bRkbtYzZF4Q9En0ZUDkR7g11CQUTyioVnvTAjT0IzKlI6zWtaqc238ypvY5BSnZ5_iLXxQeqDp-F72sXtyxbQjLG57MC_uzuFD1p19G8bMLw/s1600/IMG_6827+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTUBrPx4A3PvqeiEuuNCQcLiYsNDjlsz_bRkbtYzZF4Q9En0ZUDkR7g11CQUTyioVnvTAjT0IzKlI6zWtaqc238ypvY5BSnZ5_iLXxQeqDp-F72sXtyxbQjLG57MC_uzuFD1p19G8bMLw/s400/IMG_6827+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We called her "The Smasher," since she wanted to tap them with the side of her spoon until the shells broke.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmQn9SWVUyrp7wyTMz5CJ5GZbM8dq73AAW3TcEW79QxjX4wsRpM4GyZPXqETePuckbutyYr0w5Qq-rQLEOp3uvE1e5eb1PfFE8fymTMmRo5KU_sySNaQSdlnp_n2H5io01zCp80_m3FPY/s1600/IMG_6828+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmQn9SWVUyrp7wyTMz5CJ5GZbM8dq73AAW3TcEW79QxjX4wsRpM4GyZPXqETePuckbutyYr0w5Qq-rQLEOp3uvE1e5eb1PfFE8fymTMmRo5KU_sySNaQSdlnp_n2H5io01zCp80_m3FPY/s400/IMG_6828+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We called her "The Eater," since she wanted to eat the eggs, shell and all, off of the spoon, and enjoyed spoonfuls of the delicious colored vinegar water. Mm-mm!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJN3ZMELxZ2Zd-5UGe0OCP1uB_wQ5NaZDzmJY-_3blexLndZ2HbFI4EsJrnvhm-K9o-XchrnlKc1PNpVEnbnJX_O_5FhOcPl9jVjVPM10YcjoauxlTAHfkiMdhba2bQgs_Qw9pbOF5Hfc/s1600/IMG_6832+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJN3ZMELxZ2Zd-5UGe0OCP1uB_wQ5NaZDzmJY-_3blexLndZ2HbFI4EsJrnvhm-K9o-XchrnlKc1PNpVEnbnJX_O_5FhOcPl9jVjVPM10YcjoauxlTAHfkiMdhba2bQgs_Qw9pbOF5Hfc/s400/IMG_6832+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I make it sound crazy, but they really did do better this year than last!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF7EJ05vpxjrfgCljD68hmaqDzJXmfD-sxAMMNUIRpcW9eFFexdL_jqO-bCIxcxh1IyFfV0PyUrarP7I889l1b0dACgxf3ayNnkcwRPJYu5j-hEWOseoushWTfyXRkuBZL8hWiRuZpe6A/s1600/IMG_6835+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF7EJ05vpxjrfgCljD68hmaqDzJXmfD-sxAMMNUIRpcW9eFFexdL_jqO-bCIxcxh1IyFfV0PyUrarP7I889l1b0dACgxf3ayNnkcwRPJYu5j-hEWOseoushWTfyXRkuBZL8hWiRuZpe6A/s400/IMG_6835+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We called him "The Dropper," since he would pick one egg up with the spoon, and drop it onto the other one.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinkeQlgPUpn2Vvbb6ajKa6JnWq3DQqPi-anSL5G6cfiEWo4SBF8jUS41Z0py8tSKdgZw-KqqWDhYyo6vUxT_RTOKFArFvniNvwse5j8W3v9z1nNhHimzlbs6NsObPj6w3y6hsTyRlJkHc/s1600/IMG_6838+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinkeQlgPUpn2Vvbb6ajKa6JnWq3DQqPi-anSL5G6cfiEWo4SBF8jUS41Z0py8tSKdgZw-KqqWDhYyo6vUxT_RTOKFArFvniNvwse5j8W3v9z1nNhHimzlbs6NsObPj6w3y6hsTyRlJkHc/s400/IMG_6838+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last year, he wouldn't participate at all, and laid on the ground, looking at his basket.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7eylYLioc_4eg3qxyFvHZAPQGqrwuB2BpVR4JVVAG5xchkFaPiGpiUqXjtFPMSSDuGaxwiUdO99Y3K_F-4_q-7QqYjAn61OlAjgrgNDFe4cbygUSgdO1sYVN0zEopbHAK50mzi4qBaqY/s1600/IMG_6840+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7eylYLioc_4eg3qxyFvHZAPQGqrwuB2BpVR4JVVAG5xchkFaPiGpiUqXjtFPMSSDuGaxwiUdO99Y3K_F-4_q-7QqYjAn61OlAjgrgNDFe4cbygUSgdO1sYVN0zEopbHAK50mzi4qBaqY/s400/IMG_6840+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She was the queen of the hunt this year, and threw herself into it with enthusiasm.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc5fDKh6S_Zfc26cIfkZwzMHsI-PwYslcYQ3joVwVTPReF0rUOcwAdlbCeQ_AdhAVNFhSDLgW8jSyXHV5vK1D_abaKEkIhAox-vG5yplGC34cKed2Wv9X-vWR19MiRA1lMr6bWv7VKqfk/s1600/IMG_6842+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc5fDKh6S_Zfc26cIfkZwzMHsI-PwYslcYQ3joVwVTPReF0rUOcwAdlbCeQ_AdhAVNFhSDLgW8jSyXHV5vK1D_abaKEkIhAox-vG5yplGC34cKed2Wv9X-vWR19MiRA1lMr6bWv7VKqfk/s400/IMG_6842+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She had no problem finding the eggs; she just wondered why she needed to gather them up again.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5vVy9jcAc0qpVSpAAOXe7xWqiDf1LKfTbcGd1DJ9NDhAkP9zqvAlzOUOV-WmNhkxHd2bEp0O2X8higcXj7rafQi_1U-xS-BWIGTQL0lodigzXji13hkC9wCZDOglzWzUV4XfDU8yhUIg/s1600/IMG_6847+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5vVy9jcAc0qpVSpAAOXe7xWqiDf1LKfTbcGd1DJ9NDhAkP9zqvAlzOUOV-WmNhkxHd2bEp0O2X8higcXj7rafQi_1U-xS-BWIGTQL0lodigzXji13hkC9wCZDOglzWzUV4XfDU8yhUIg/s400/IMG_6847+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Okay, I have two here; now what?"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrMdlyJ_JQdG6UVg6mDR7Pw1lSNn6GiOmwcfV941kc-iHdbyHcpIc0Bc2tkosd35dL0lcNZ1u1S2wp3_Yfe1FSr1f8ggMpocLEs3IDnlY-UOpUtCdtFsSNnV_sb8TiqUcllGJ2BJdlE4g/s1600/IMG_6848+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrMdlyJ_JQdG6UVg6mDR7Pw1lSNn6GiOmwcfV941kc-iHdbyHcpIc0Bc2tkosd35dL0lcNZ1u1S2wp3_Yfe1FSr1f8ggMpocLEs3IDnlY-UOpUtCdtFsSNnV_sb8TiqUcllGJ2BJdlE4g/s400/IMG_6848+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She really got into it!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivN69RpUoutES3PvnmmHPBPjKFAJzMJPx1hZIT-7Q3gCO4kDEg1KgtLxb7krEKoqIUchYA1GRtghBhMa9pt0kWNmSiMCvSbhgA-Gct5YeqnDGnlxCS89ARtcjZmhKqQZtpOBuIC_71sAQ/s1600/IMG_6851+(1280x853).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivN69RpUoutES3PvnmmHPBPjKFAJzMJPx1hZIT-7Q3gCO4kDEg1KgtLxb7krEKoqIUchYA1GRtghBhMa9pt0kWNmSiMCvSbhgA-Gct5YeqnDGnlxCS89ARtcjZmhKqQZtpOBuIC_71sAQ/s400/IMG_6851+(1280x853).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After he'd gathered about six eggs, he started swinging his basket vigorously.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089210902879095607noreply@blogger.com1