tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75673499863527537682024-02-19T06:57:43.454-05:00FishertalesUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger119125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7567349986352753768.post-11690799236384780342013-04-18T14:18:00.000-04:002013-04-18T14:54:05.058-04:00Parking Lot Mama<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisAG-TLQ6iUKNah_UaL4t7zOtU46oJmErfBMw8-0l_8kP_zi5XPWZ2kZbPw-idI9cf_FQGAGtGs2n-uG7gx6Dhc7yvgJnsliNY96QnmJLOt7J-5rhfxOT1-bOrb-TnP2pbwW0BVsp8qwNo/s1600/2013++Wash.+DC.Sophie-Mom+005-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisAG-TLQ6iUKNah_UaL4t7zOtU46oJmErfBMw8-0l_8kP_zi5XPWZ2kZbPw-idI9cf_FQGAGtGs2n-uG7gx6Dhc7yvgJnsliNY96QnmJLOt7J-5rhfxOT1-bOrb-TnP2pbwW0BVsp8qwNo/s640/2013++Wash.+DC.Sophie-Mom+005-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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This little lady had taken up residence in an open area between the parking spaces in Halibut's school parking lot. He found her on the day we were volunteering with the scouts to clean up the school grounds. She, of course, was angry at being disturbed by a bunch of little boys and was squawking mightily at them - even though she was about a 1000th of their size! She was so fierce! And he was mesmerized! <br />
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For weeks afterward, we would look for her every morning on the drive to school through the maze-like parking lot. Each morning he would see her, nearly camoflauged among the mulch/bark, and wonder that she was still there faithfully guarding her eggs amidst all the noisy traffic of cars and kids.<br />
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But today, we searched for her and she was gone. I actually parked the car and walked over to see if the nest was still there. No nest. No eggs. No babies. No mama bird.<br />
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I hope that some good Samaritan was able to move the nest someplace safer than the middle of a parking lot, and that she and the eggs are still doing well. But Halibut and I will definitely miss seeing her on our long weaves through the parking lot to get to the school door.<br />
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I hope he will remember how she protected her little eggs even against threats so much bigger than she was. I'm printing this picture for Halibut's room so he can to remember our brave and faithful Parking Lot Mama Bird (he took some other photos himself but they were a little blurry, but as far as I'm concerned, HE took this).Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7567349986352753768.post-36902995925615117132012-03-09T13:20:00.001-05:002012-03-09T13:22:00.227-05:00Love, Laugh, ListenMy girls at that weird 'in-between' stage: moving out of the 'talk-my-head-off" stage and into the "don't-wanna-talk-about-it" stage. I finally quit with the 20 questions and now, I just on put on music they like, share videos, especially comedian clips, etc.<br />
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They take off their headphones and listen. <br />
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Sometimes we just sit and listen together, sometimes we talk about the music or video. Which sometimes leads to talking about other things. We laugh more. I have learned a lot. There are so many musicians and comedians that we listen to (of course they have to pass the "mom-approved smell test'), but we probably play the Piano Guys every single day. And our favorite funny guys: Julian Smith and John Pinette have us rolling every couple of days. I owe them all big time!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3otZgUgGO9EqeJheVEyVaW5i87WTjzsPcPlvHhl7u-NXMkaxKjUojlb9WLZS1xEhjkbXgawxtxeOWsIdTOVjidL05IUQ6Tjj3rDGIsH0yeyq2f1VDYh4_vROIaz9UWzvNOITkGu-092Sr/s1600/Piano+guys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3otZgUgGO9EqeJheVEyVaW5i87WTjzsPcPlvHhl7u-NXMkaxKjUojlb9WLZS1xEhjkbXgawxtxeOWsIdTOVjidL05IUQ6Tjj3rDGIsH0yeyq2f1VDYh4_vROIaz9UWzvNOITkGu-092Sr/s1600/Piano+guys.jpg" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Music is the universal language!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYPqJi_v8cwVRNxWP9RFGaCdv-SsMQkMDmzx60OkFhp7W7mHCez-LPYTt8S-uWA5ENHBcyRfsAbwasDo81ACDhiTnOkmgzOUV30ybQSlRuDvycqMCSFIPXBWMxA8GEQ-y-osHFoAzC3PoW/s1600/Julian+Smith.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYPqJi_v8cwVRNxWP9RFGaCdv-SsMQkMDmzx60OkFhp7W7mHCez-LPYTt8S-uWA5ENHBcyRfsAbwasDo81ACDhiTnOkmgzOUV30ybQSlRuDvycqMCSFIPXBWMxA8GEQ-y-osHFoAzC3PoW/s200/Julian+Smith.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxTRAjkcdZkBUKYoz3vxxb_kaldIN1vjBaq_ggSDJCheJ2tCxvFcApl5j-6YQljRj7T-L87fsrt2TCQL5PHKHZrL72jOehlgkIsxpMKA2_S7iG-7fIhyhBzPDAlc3tglmMAV7J2kLqi0KL/s1600/Pinette+nay+nay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxTRAjkcdZkBUKYoz3vxxb_kaldIN1vjBaq_ggSDJCheJ2tCxvFcApl5j-6YQljRj7T-L87fsrt2TCQL5PHKHZrL72jOehlgkIsxpMKA2_S7iG-7fIhyhBzPDAlc3tglmMAV7J2kLqi0KL/s200/Pinette+nay+nay.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have also found that even an eight year old has the capacity to enjoy classical music (over and over and over) when light sabers are involved!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJQafeJH3_p2wgvhzgceTurmyDM8soOVAwZAhDP_Fi8Qplb6yFNnAACKT0poaFxhHuDJXfWBoXUmAWnuyIQQ7oDufl0U8FkFnL47dH2Ewo-IcOXjXoZH5ruR7vtGSGmrbnTLb4VqN1DSFu/s1600/Piano+guys+star+wars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJQafeJH3_p2wgvhzgceTurmyDM8soOVAwZAhDP_Fi8Qplb6yFNnAACKT0poaFxhHuDJXfWBoXUmAWnuyIQQ7oDufl0U8FkFnL47dH2Ewo-IcOXjXoZH5ruR7vtGSGmrbnTLb4VqN1DSFu/s320/Piano+guys+star+wars.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7567349986352753768.post-45750871155245323112012-02-29T15:17:00.000-05:002012-02-29T15:17:57.945-05:00Whole Lotta Laundry Soap!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0SeJQcwCSap_z1kMe0FI4vxEqXgM7YN4Q2lYW5rY1tIt_ZZ2ctlxREfLjQYoajTsc9q_bFNIUR7yoNvpcWvqPLMtal7yWZ4wWiQew3yefMfVrQ0A82SB0kadV0p5nKm7z9u8Pr1_azSba/s1600/2012+099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0SeJQcwCSap_z1kMe0FI4vxEqXgM7YN4Q2lYW5rY1tIt_ZZ2ctlxREfLjQYoajTsc9q_bFNIUR7yoNvpcWvqPLMtal7yWZ4wWiQew3yefMfVrQ0A82SB0kadV0p5nKm7z9u8Pr1_azSba/s320/2012+099.JPG" width="212" /></a></div><br />
A few weeks ago, Halibut and I tried an experiment. We actually made laundry soap out of three inexpensive ingredients. I was a little skeptical that it would clean as well as the commercial soaps I'd been buying. But since then, I've been pleasantly surprised! Here's how we did it:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9wWg6qnReWwlnEsXspCzHSs5E2mDM9d3DE19XMCG1VscD_wLPcfnGOySDGtvmPYgbcVC083sFStlk3aVxEIr78vJWjJ0rwETvwIL1pjH97VXJR0FraIVm6ovQVVOFLpkNWedsuatyJ4Eb/s1600/DSC_0605.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9wWg6qnReWwlnEsXspCzHSs5E2mDM9d3DE19XMCG1VscD_wLPcfnGOySDGtvmPYgbcVC083sFStlk3aVxEIr78vJWjJ0rwETvwIL1pjH97VXJR0FraIVm6ovQVVOFLpkNWedsuatyJ4Eb/s400/DSC_0605.JPG" /></a></div>Just a few ingredients:<br />
<ul><li>1 C Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda</li>
<li>1/2 C Borax</li>
<li>1 whole bar Fels-Naptha heavy duty laundry soap</li>
<li>Water</li>
<li><span style="text-align: left;">essential oil (optional) - example: lavender, rosemary, eucalyptus, lemon....</span> </li>
</ul><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div>**Must be WASHING SODA. Baking soda won't work, neither will Arm & Hammer detergent.</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP7cSwlwNtS6S1oTyUdb-nvMCIVNb4AW_ioZMimTvYA0utI8fmZg7eSlWZ71ffM_jK21kyGUL7eW8F81G1ebIttjwxgWkUa4f9qMwHsuUB_3vL6M4Cpsl0VdP-uWYgHEznxcDGooTuOTLb/s1600/2012+095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP7cSwlwNtS6S1oTyUdb-nvMCIVNb4AW_ioZMimTvYA0utI8fmZg7eSlWZ71ffM_jK21kyGUL7eW8F81G1ebIttjwxgWkUa4f9qMwHsuUB_3vL6M4Cpsl0VdP-uWYgHEznxcDGooTuOTLb/s320/2012+095.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Containers! </span></div><div style="text-align: left;">This liquid laundry soap recipe yields 10 Gallons. </div><div style="text-align: left;">So make sure you have plenty of containers </div><div style="text-align: left;">to store it in!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilfEz_WHWivlITq0yXAHo4f5sy10t7zvKBDkAcev8Gv4IDgArT5Ndrgl0gX1m-VYtDTnoD-zRF4xECO3aezYsQzA7R5mw7ktCEukHVC0Jlr37gzGvapDS1rJ_f0wTQRgiKRERy-8FUOzSl/s1600/DSC_0611.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilfEz_WHWivlITq0yXAHo4f5sy10t7zvKBDkAcev8Gv4IDgArT5Ndrgl0gX1m-VYtDTnoD-zRF4xECO3aezYsQzA7R5mw7ktCEukHVC0Jlr37gzGvapDS1rJ_f0wTQRgiKRERy-8FUOzSl/s400/DSC_0611.JPG" /></a><br />
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Grate the soap bar and melt in a saucepan with 4 cups of water<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixfkJZXQxOFl0UY4-tDaER7ON7lvIElHQKyDE_BwusV9WsDKXtFRBDooOciG3ds3wVNhkbOph3zpL90Lqj4aVR4zMnJeHYloHL-wConFeO2bgznKNiz06_mJFzOWpW23Rn7RR4-eZKyHl0/s1600/DSC_0612.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixfkJZXQxOFl0UY4-tDaER7ON7lvIElHQKyDE_BwusV9WsDKXtFRBDooOciG3ds3wVNhkbOph3zpL90Lqj4aVR4zMnJeHYloHL-wConFeO2bgznKNiz06_mJFzOWpW23Rn7RR4-eZKyHl0/s400/DSC_0612.JPG" /> </a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full with hot tap water. </span></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">Add melted soap, washing soda, and borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover, and let sit overnight to thicken.</span></div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3-D7LBpWrhTmWSuOqGA1B97hbu-nl0d2Q82w8T_p26rgDz7Z369RP4A1_adExksh7Ek7Q9cioZLuFxaAOjtI353leu4GGTEiNvJ7XmWNA8Xb-ggaHwTQE-NfcQmsKE20o-_hvHsl6MHTq/s1600/DSC_0613.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3-D7LBpWrhTmWSuOqGA1B97hbu-nl0d2Q82w8T_p26rgDz7Z369RP4A1_adExksh7Ek7Q9cioZLuFxaAOjtI353leu4GGTEiNvJ7XmWNA8Xb-ggaHwTQE-NfcQmsKE20o-_hvHsl6MHTq/s400/DSC_0613.JPG" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: NONE;">In the morning, the soap will have a thick, jell-like consistency. Fill the soap containers 1/2 full, and fill the rest of the way with more water! Shake or stir.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_G-qlyUW4pxZUl6r63ranYrOo90F52-fyh21u-guUwWkSmJGJoNwe4ZfRsTK4SRDGmxGKrDRmZ05M0MIU73hlyx4vA4mnMwijiT8YP8mwLU-UDA-_xSbqPBmK0zD8oxUL-M5rJboS9oY_/s1600/2012+096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_G-qlyUW4pxZUl6r63ranYrOo90F52-fyh21u-guUwWkSmJGJoNwe4ZfRsTK4SRDGmxGKrDRmZ05M0MIU73hlyx4vA4mnMwijiT8YP8mwLU-UDA-_xSbqPBmK0zD8oxUL-M5rJboS9oY_/s200/2012+096.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>If using essential oils, add them now. Use 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons of soap. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0SeJQcwCSap_z1kMe0FI4vxEqXgM7YN4Q2lYW5rY1tIt_ZZ2ctlxREfLjQYoajTsc9q_bFNIUR7yoNvpcWvqPLMtal7yWZ4wWiQew3yefMfVrQ0A82SB0kadV0p5nKm7z9u8Pr1_azSba/s1600/2012+099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0SeJQcwCSap_z1kMe0FI4vxEqXgM7YN4Q2lYW5rY1tIt_ZZ2ctlxREfLjQYoajTsc9q_bFNIUR7yoNvpcWvqPLMtal7yWZ4wWiQew3yefMfVrQ0A82SB0kadV0p5nKm7z9u8Pr1_azSba/s200/2012+099.JPG" width="132" /></a></div><br />
I used Grapefruit essential oil and red soap dye in this bottle. If you don't use dye, the soap will look something like egg-drop soup. But that's okay, it cleans just fine. Remember to shake the container before each load, though. It has a tendency to coagulate...<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> This could last us about 6 months, maybe more. Total cost about $2.00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSwsCeZwWy1MTU51kQygqxmPf_rMXvWNQIJMLDQlq0VtmS-z8Gk2jPeEUJeFBUyUUmUE4x9rWagQ39zhc_2qWB5y4ObZs9FW8hCwrawpv9gSH1W4epy9Ji_2TS7bC7IElK6AqRRpoieenh/s1600/DSC_0615.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSwsCeZwWy1MTU51kQygqxmPf_rMXvWNQIJMLDQlq0VtmS-z8Gk2jPeEUJeFBUyUUmUE4x9rWagQ39zhc_2qWB5y4ObZs9FW8hCwrawpv9gSH1W4epy9Ji_2TS7bC7IElK6AqRRpoieenh/s400/DSC_0615.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">To use add: 5/8 Cup per load for top load machine (approx 180 loads)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">1/4 Cup per load for front load machine (approx 640 loads)</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7567349986352753768.post-68687554301824553062012-02-15T17:14:00.005-05:002012-02-15T17:26:00.315-05:00When children's prayers are answered, it can be a little...embarrassing!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu6I3yqiTqtg4mbKjSbeo-Bn3W8PNxo-OpQ_0KyaxPkbH45wkT94pcUiOoFlDe0I-DVCgoKCgKY9WMzgeISEQWBCCvxE4nGnC3CrEN3xH5Dabgr2fcNIiD4gtQ2NEoZqGHp-SRtn6SqXxj/s1600/DSC04366.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu6I3yqiTqtg4mbKjSbeo-Bn3W8PNxo-OpQ_0KyaxPkbH45wkT94pcUiOoFlDe0I-DVCgoKCgKY9WMzgeISEQWBCCvxE4nGnC3CrEN3xH5Dabgr2fcNIiD4gtQ2NEoZqGHp-SRtn6SqXxj/s400/DSC04366.JPG" width="400" /></a> Nothing get's a child's attention quicker than Dad announcing "I'm taking Mom to the hospital." We found that out last night.<br />
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I'd been having sharp pains in my stomach, chest and back for about 5 hours by the time he got home from work. By then, I was on the bed, curled up in a ball. The pain just seemed to begetting worse. Still, I thought I could wait it out - and tried to send him and the kids off to their various activities. He resisted, canceled all of their plans, and loaded me in the car and off we went to the Emergency Room.<br />
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Dad had called home to tell the kids everything was OK, we still didn't know what was wrong, and reminded them to pray that their mom would get better quickly.<br />
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We waited for a little over an hour. The pain had changed a little, but not much. The doc finally came in and looked me over, rattled off a list of scary sounding things he wanted to rule out: pancreatitis, peptic ulcer, diverticulitis....and ordered an IV and a bunch of tests, including a CAT scan. <br />
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He left and we waited a little more. All of a sudden, the pain stopped. It was gone. Nothing.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5LWe_Ft7f7ZjfRTWp0GgUy2KGScsgl6Sdmffig1U9eToylmCfmT1dMiSl35NGO5fNT2DtdDgJqYcOsCPIbqUeTV4ciixNwEsTVWixFkUCZ0OmzbKFbLzrB9Ofp7u9D-80FAVQZdDLj3cn/s1600/photo.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5LWe_Ft7f7ZjfRTWp0GgUy2KGScsgl6Sdmffig1U9eToylmCfmT1dMiSl35NGO5fNT2DtdDgJqYcOsCPIbqUeTV4ciixNwEsTVWixFkUCZ0OmzbKFbLzrB9Ofp7u9D-80FAVQZdDLj3cn/s200/photo.JPG" style="height: 226px; width: 201px;" width="177" /></a>Well, the doc was stymied. After 7 hours of excruciating pain, I was back to normal. And I was pretty sure the tests would show that there was nothing wrong with me. All I can figure was that my wonderful children must have prayed real hard for me to get better. <br />
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It was a little embarrassing to get up and walk out of there after all the fuss. But I was so happy to be going home! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqkMU00uY3-f2nIrDKTPAryejXSddpshqJXn6NgaOX9B7shqLux0wrOpWxI3_8ZUV6lsSh3aitU8MHW3d1V2gwGoKwxu7ky-UPoGGK8ZKOdjLlzC6R1Z2FnMH-taXa-Wc126BIYPhXe1db/s1600/DSC_0486.JPG"></a><br />
<div style="clear: both;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img align="middle" alt="Posted by Picasa" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 50% transparent; border: 0px none; padding: 0px;" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7567349986352753768.post-10532124133392825222012-02-14T16:12:00.000-05:002012-02-14T16:12:53.980-05:00Be My Fruity Valentine?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbap6sl6fghsWW4a0xUVEqASQJtsIC8bxr7bifRjptp_xvxC3QlIhdu9bKjg6ZzuCL7JXePKjIBaUXy-e5QsdUPchT1ycK4ZfGi0_55O6YoAxKZvq70ysC2PfwIjgbGXT01e2zvizckbhL/s1600/DSC_0633.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbap6sl6fghsWW4a0xUVEqASQJtsIC8bxr7bifRjptp_xvxC3QlIhdu9bKjg6ZzuCL7JXePKjIBaUXy-e5QsdUPchT1ycK4ZfGi0_55O6YoAxKZvq70ysC2PfwIjgbGXT01e2zvizckbhL/s400/DSC_0633.JPG" border="0" /></a>Hugh and I made these little beauties for his two teachers for Valentine's Day today. <br /><br />So colorful! Basically a salad in a jar...maybe I should have mixed up some poppyseed dressing to go with them....<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTW6_4uHiFM2Us05m9lmV9q46nig2QV60FZlck5GBxVMv3zx75C7gunq6UGo8ZHAaWIzr-yM8IuUGHlwo9vBWW3IS5T0fn925GCowXxCeUDAJK6XJstKPn_Lyh1CfJljQZfTFeWcb4FsJb/s1600/DSC_0628.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTW6_4uHiFM2Us05m9lmV9q46nig2QV60FZlck5GBxVMv3zx75C7gunq6UGo8ZHAaWIzr-yM8IuUGHlwo9vBWW3IS5T0fn925GCowXxCeUDAJK6XJstKPn_Lyh1CfJljQZfTFeWcb4FsJb/s400/DSC_0628.JPG" border="0" /></a> <br />Not sure, but I THINK he actually skewered more than he ate! It was easy to get him to help once he realized strawberries were involved!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWhpCHO9qoVuTXHr38JzK9OV6xy23Mc3pwcVeaOSR_HUPVsj0ITCEsjFhR7CQkS8IkqDwC9U-kchkFLvCYBtORqsLCsKZS6yveCS458q82WT8Y3KfhthUKs2ZSZVJZl7E43JyVnKBFnyz4/s1600/DSC_0627.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWhpCHO9qoVuTXHr38JzK9OV6xy23Mc3pwcVeaOSR_HUPVsj0ITCEsjFhR7CQkS8IkqDwC9U-kchkFLvCYBtORqsLCsKZS6yveCS458q82WT8Y3KfhthUKs2ZSZVJZl7E43JyVnKBFnyz4/s400/DSC_0627.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />He was a little embarrassed to deliver them to his teachers and by the big hugs he got...expecially with the whole class watching!!! I hope he remembers how easy it was to make a lady really happy!<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJdGgyitMXNqcjwz5UfGJyGv0cAjRpN5szSIuwVV8NBqPfKomx-NKQwxzzOsglSTqs2GfKU-ZqZdJ_yuaq8-iWPVao228zY4nT11_z5ZkqCdWiHVnRV0lnJr3Z55lDzyslul4-VArQNWiU/s1600/DSC_0626.JPG"></a><div style='clear:both; text-align:NONE'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7567349986352753768.post-84439666315508967992011-06-20T15:08:00.000-04:002013-04-19T13:08:10.007-04:00Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7567349986352753768.post-73837395284538089132011-02-11T16:50:00.003-05:002011-02-11T23:21:50.352-05:00Profile Me<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbACfVEYK9PGRUC4t_mQhuq6gGkClEgsqqQtt1FDczR-tRhtl5vmdIv_4R0FB4t2FHQniOwJljxBAETFo6Fmdd2ZwyqkWQtGbyZNqy987uxki3YcVU8w-linu2FDtA8IuCLrLMCF_0BWSm/s1600/2011+246.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbACfVEYK9PGRUC4t_mQhuq6gGkClEgsqqQtt1FDczR-tRhtl5vmdIv_4R0FB4t2FHQniOwJljxBAETFo6Fmdd2ZwyqkWQtGbyZNqy987uxki3YcVU8w-linu2FDtA8IuCLrLMCF_0BWSm/s400/2011+246.JPG" style="height: 439px; width: 547px;" width="458" /></a> </div><br />
When trying to choose a "profile picture" for my Facebook page, I have a pretty hard time. For one, there aren't that many photos of me to choose from, simply because I am usually on the other side of the camera. Photos of me are usually 1) Christmas morning in pajamas, crazy hair, and dog tired form the nights' "festivities" - (ie. making sure Santa shows up and rummaging through all of our secret spaces hoping not to miss anything), or B). the 'hands' lighting the birthday candles during all the birthday parties we photograph. So, many times I just rely on a cartoon character, or a meaningful object to represent me..<br />
<br />
And then there are all those shots of me from the side view - and face it, what woman, after bearing 5 kids, wants to be remembered by her <i style="color: #741b47;">actual profile</i>??? I don't know what possesses my dear husband to take these photos from the side view!!!<br />
<br />
I just stumbled upon this one in the remnants of some of last year's beach photos. I had never seen it before. (I take so many at the beach, that it's easy to miss a few!) I'm guessing Big T took it with his phone.<br />
<br />
At any rate, this is the photo I think my kids would choose as representing "the real me": always bugging them to "smile" or "stay still" or "do that again". And since I've started photography classes, I can't just point, shoot, and depend on Photoshop to make my pictures look good. <br />
<br />
So I'll be holding that camera in front of my face a lot more!!! These days, even if I can't always be at the beach, <b><span style="color: #0b5394;">THIS</span></b> is me.<br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img align="middle" alt="Posted by Picasa" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 50% transparent; border: 0px none; padding: 0px;" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7567349986352753768.post-60412210739242685642011-02-11T16:15:00.002-05:002011-02-11T17:02:44.816-05:00Every House Deserves to be Loved<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ7jgOHqrPya9YpmuKbqf1TKqDZZPaGKsvUhPYNgyhQ7T75nccc4Dcg42D-Mp8m8FvSGDlOuKJ2A2wk60QhpJDjWSxrdmkSlhRYONUnTEDRRJdaa-mkznfZSMmJtOD2wGUFhUOmocAi_bm/s1600/1211.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ7jgOHqrPya9YpmuKbqf1TKqDZZPaGKsvUhPYNgyhQ7T75nccc4Dcg42D-Mp8m8FvSGDlOuKJ2A2wk60QhpJDjWSxrdmkSlhRYONUnTEDRRJdaa-mkznfZSMmJtOD2wGUFhUOmocAi_bm/s400/1211.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1J5L3L49NSONAx6DPQApAiMu_5s_Z8PUF0JRLaRZJOKTgJaG9KyXC2ZqZABh6eL-bFnCYTlcev3hrNh9vPEYWEOPWGlQYMb_8TJ3Jr3CGoTQbrGeoWemu0mdkmDWXRQ4NsnpoN-R04pW5/s1600/1212.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1J5L3L49NSONAx6DPQApAiMu_5s_Z8PUF0JRLaRZJOKTgJaG9KyXC2ZqZABh6eL-bFnCYTlcev3hrNh9vPEYWEOPWGlQYMb_8TJ3Jr3CGoTQbrGeoWemu0mdkmDWXRQ4NsnpoN-R04pW5/s400/1212.JPG" width="400" /></a> <br />
<br />
<div style="clear: both;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img align="middle" alt="Posted by Picasa" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 50% transparent; border: 0px none; padding: 0px;" /></a></div>There she is, weeding away in the front yard of some miscellaneous house that we looked at last year when we assumed (wrongly) ours would be sold. It was a foreclosed house, and had sat empty for some time. The yard was overgrown and the place was a vision of neglect. Sweet Orca picked up on the sadness of the abandoned house and began weeding.<br />
<br />
"Whatcha' doin' O?" asked dad. No response. When pressed, her response was: "Every House deserves to be loved."<br />
<br />
Yes, sweetheart, it does.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7567349986352753768.post-15211984692389623492011-01-24T13:05:00.001-05:002011-01-24T14:48:57.650-05:00Leftover MomI would venture to say that this post is actual proof of what I've been saying: "When it comes to being frugal, I have no pride". When I was growing up, I cannot say our family was poor. In fact, we enjoyed a lot of luxuries other families didn't, like one of the first Apple Computers on the market (a pain in the butt to use) and a big- screen projection TV. So I don't really know where my obsession with thriftiness came from. But, I do remember that one of my fathers big issues was not wasting food. Growing up in the depression-era, it's easy to figure out why he would have this hangup.<br />
<br />
So here's the rundown of my culinary delights of the day (...or more precisely: "what I ate today shows exactly how we can afford piano and cello lessons, birthday parties, and new camping equipment"):<br />
<br />
Breakfast:<br />
<ul><li>leftover peanut butter and jelly sandwich from Halibut's lunch on Friday (it sat in his lunchbox over the weekend)</li>
<li>Herbal tea</li>
</ul><ul></ul>Snack<br />
<ul><li>last bit of microwave popcorn left from yesterday's afternoon movie</li>
<li>handful of 'Cap'n Crunch" that was left in the bottom of the box this morning</li>
<li>remainder of Starfish's bottled water that she took out of her lunchbox this morning </li>
</ul><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqNzRmk7lwLTJMtIO2EqITkOysGXornVwuCGorct71n37SPcKCCD3FBUGYsfGIsRL8ArAaKGuQiOQdrP-GhuB3erllY5g2owMelxdtPy8_7elSgcu9BBUEf4CX9SDRFDQsM_EzL1KkX4tR/s1600/DSC03664.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqNzRmk7lwLTJMtIO2EqITkOysGXornVwuCGorct71n37SPcKCCD3FBUGYsfGIsRL8ArAaKGuQiOQdrP-GhuB3erllY5g2owMelxdtPy8_7elSgcu9BBUEf4CX9SDRFDQsM_EzL1KkX4tR/s320/DSC03664.JPG" width="320" /></a><ul></ul> Lunch<br />
<ul><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEWozgVw71PQEMLAwKFlwGvGs8DYussHmqsCtTEusf7ZHG4E26MQlWr2W4lcx6uNjsTwXZlB4giYlAh9o26XAAbuG0_3xbwJNLOeHSKIHBOir3FoYUB1O5aX88CMQLvWUYlSWDX057vnqY/s1600/DSC03668.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEWozgVw71PQEMLAwKFlwGvGs8DYussHmqsCtTEusf7ZHG4E26MQlWr2W4lcx6uNjsTwXZlB4giYlAh9o26XAAbuG0_3xbwJNLOeHSKIHBOir3FoYUB1O5aX88CMQLvWUYlSWDX057vnqY/s320/DSC03668.JPG" width="320" /></a>
<li>Cream of Wheat cereal with leftover blackberry juice (someone ate all the berries and put the container back inthe fridge) and cream </li>
<li>smoothie made from the last bit of orange juice and the banana from Halibut's lunchbox on Friday (it sat in there over the weekend and got overripe) </li>
<li>remainder of apple the kids didn't take in their lunches </li>
</ul><div style="text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1DoDqMIprLUNJGHS8_xFiH3LkLd_SX5ygFch-k72uF8-pv9ztACIFR_147bCMCaRfuvxrJkASimR6Rrp4EOw5SjpYFfgfQdnjesc_8b4iniY_16cUfl5V-qlkBVFJfKb0g-__DkKyCvEP/s1600/DSC03665.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1DoDqMIprLUNJGHS8_xFiH3LkLd_SX5ygFch-k72uF8-pv9ztACIFR_147bCMCaRfuvxrJkASimR6Rrp4EOw5SjpYFfgfQdnjesc_8b4iniY_16cUfl5V-qlkBVFJfKb0g-__DkKyCvEP/s320/DSC03665.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><ul></ul>Snack<br />
<ul><li>glob of cookie dough from the cookies we made for this week's Great Cookie Project run</li>
</ul>Dinner<br />
<br />
Ok, I actually had my own food for dinner - not the remains of someone else's. BUT, I did use some leftover rice from the fridge!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7567349986352753768.post-9391709237423170832011-01-08T23:21:00.002-05:002011-01-20T15:54:26.689-05:00Thankful<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYbTQ6-0b6eX94iUe91-zIkq9QLNd6R0hhp1CF6ZEsLKenaxHIEFxQhH39p31gQ5Fda7pFXvvpp_1Wl_6CNoiAIgQfLzbIG9IgJ6jT7dp1zyprUwYQEbT0e0ovh_P-a7UfnZDvx5nv9L_h/s1600/Sophie%2527s+thanksgiving+and+friends+071.JPG"><img style="width: 512px; height: 366px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYbTQ6-0b6eX94iUe91-zIkq9QLNd6R0hhp1CF6ZEsLKenaxHIEFxQhH39p31gQ5Fda7pFXvvpp_1Wl_6CNoiAIgQfLzbIG9IgJ6jT7dp1zyprUwYQEbT0e0ovh_P-a7UfnZDvx5nv9L_h/s400/Sophie%2527s+thanksgiving+and+friends+071.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br />We got an unexpected surprise this Thanksgiving. While we were up visiting Grandma and Grampa, we were able to visit with cousins <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);"><strong>Jessie</strong></span> and <span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);"><strong>Kelly</strong></span>, who we haven't seen in a very long time! Kelly just graduated from college in Utah and Jessie is in college in Boston. It wasn't very long, but it was a nice visit. We are happy that they are doing so well and hope we will get to see them again soon!<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none; padding: 0px; background: none repeat scroll 0% 50% transparent;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7567349986352753768.post-16436101803548694522011-01-08T23:08:00.001-05:002011-01-08T23:11:01.941-05:00Snaggle<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiN054zJ0IzkdZbv3vJJeluKzfvS4_L9f5X50gutzqjEpAnUuSzW9KmeQoGq6MgTdwzwYvoU8_fnBjUMUDDIVUJ3z7nUIXbhX6oYVmRRqp7u66n7WuxDU75ia350DO_AKN1aWY2kk5xpTG/s1600/2010+October+024.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiN054zJ0IzkdZbv3vJJeluKzfvS4_L9f5X50gutzqjEpAnUuSzW9KmeQoGq6MgTdwzwYvoU8_fnBjUMUDDIVUJ3z7nUIXbhX6oYVmRRqp7u66n7WuxDU75ia350DO_AKN1aWY2kk5xpTG/s400/2010+October+024.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Well, it took forever, but Halibut has finally lost a front tooth! It looks like the new one was already coming in before the old one came out. It just wouldn't give up! It is such a milestone in my little guys life - he is </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">GROWING UP</span>! <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">But I have to say, I'm a little sad to see these changes -</span> </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">I will miss his baby-teeth smile!</span><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none; padding: 0px; background: none repeat scroll 0% 50% transparent;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7567349986352753768.post-38005955627901117052011-01-08T23:00:00.001-05:002011-01-08T23:03:13.496-05:00BRAVO!<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcwnxpBvBhahvdmS0bvWmVcbrD5dZ_gtIVBF0pAlolVuGgmEkexRClTn6wk7_iKhnI5jRcTuM8cQo07WR5OGoszACvTknVb7tcMkDjAX9n1Yql8BdSvO51u6aIBeDCa_xFDIDV6zm8bCRP/s1600/2010-10-29+Soph%2527s+pics+and+Grace%2527s+concert.jpg"><img style="width: 531px; height: 317px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcwnxpBvBhahvdmS0bvWmVcbrD5dZ_gtIVBF0pAlolVuGgmEkexRClTn6wk7_iKhnI5jRcTuM8cQo07WR5OGoszACvTknVb7tcMkDjAX9n1Yql8BdSvO51u6aIBeDCa_xFDIDV6zm8bCRP/s400/2010-10-29+Soph%2527s+pics+and+Grace%2527s+concert.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><br />Gigi's first <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><strong>orchestra concert</strong></span> was a huge success! After just a few short months of playing the <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">cello</span>, she wasn't even as nervous as I thought she'd be! The whole production was very professional and we were able to see the huge difference between the first year players and those who have been playing longer. Gigi did a wonderful job and we are so proud of her for trying her hand at a new instrument and working so hard to develop her talents!<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none; padding: 0px; background: none repeat scroll 0% 50% transparent;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7567349986352753768.post-41698373300515230682010-11-20T03:44:00.001-05:002011-01-20T13:26:40.927-05:00Morning Walk<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"> </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTY_X0eOY6Wr4brvYl7TBL4PbeliKfRs7AwBBh5V8ypCbCZSGVeWR2ki8Y0_94efepE6amPOdxXWdJKlIU48QSYmijhQdKMpoauMHxcdxzLlZlV4Yt_ybZG9x3zSx3VzfNtqRmH9nivOSo/s1600/2010-11-17.jpg"><img style="width: 593px; height: 432px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTY_X0eOY6Wr4brvYl7TBL4PbeliKfRs7AwBBh5V8ypCbCZSGVeWR2ki8Y0_94efepE6amPOdxXWdJKlIU48QSYmijhQdKMpoauMHxcdxzLlZlV4Yt_ybZG9x3zSx3VzfNtqRmH9nivOSo/s400/2010-11-17.jpg" border="0" width="555" height="400" /></a><br /><br />YES, I took these! These were just a few things that caught my eye on a gorgeous fall morning. I am so glad I ran back in the house to grab my camera before going on this walk! It seemed like every time I would take a few steps on my walking path, I'd see something else that I had to catch with the camera. These images are now filed under the heading "More reasons why I love living here".<br /><br />I think it really is often the case that we really stop 'seeing' those things that surround us every day, simply because they are so familiar. Fall gives us the chance to notice everything again. Familiar places become riots of color. We take off our blinders and notice once a gain what a glorious world our Father in Heaven gave us to live in and how blessed we are!<br /><br />Only now I am faced with a pretty serious dilemma: Do love North Carolina more in the Fall or in the Springtime? Tough one...<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none; padding: 0px; background: none repeat scroll 0% 50% transparent;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7567349986352753768.post-35098669118535880182010-10-31T02:11:00.002-04:002010-10-31T02:23:11.769-04:00You're Somethin' Else<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyQ7uoDfYabF6NoeNenfGlhPkYHWx41WGkQ-3AeLx_GtuS4vHK0UR8Mu1Y6Nkt0sjqBVwR5sgyuo_j_TXnjsvh-ueXOfkNvz9DgffCTEQVflqGawDJM1CSTYPVe6Q-TaBGia-eWBdKzLvR/s1600/2010+October.jpg"><img style="width: 475px; height: 338px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyQ7uoDfYabF6NoeNenfGlhPkYHWx41WGkQ-3AeLx_GtuS4vHK0UR8Mu1Y6Nkt0sjqBVwR5sgyuo_j_TXnjsvh-ueXOfkNvz9DgffCTEQVflqGawDJM1CSTYPVe6Q-TaBGia-eWBdKzLvR/s400/2010+October.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><br />We had an excellent time at the 2010 Ward Halloween Party! I wonder what the chances are that next year we can get dad to dress up?<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none; padding: 0px; background: none repeat scroll 0% 50% transparent;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7567349986352753768.post-57222733857763919392010-10-31T00:30:00.002-04:002010-10-31T02:49:03.617-04:00Bullseye!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAI0GvFBZXvod_VdXrsT47RGxPYpu2vrd0IYsX9Df896O_wcBQivxu2JGsS2Gcv0jWqbQBMRmyi-UTbMxGQrM7hNJEJllbohWBRS6vEOZoG3h37jBCx_cucKRxv5fx2MLYjNtsuDQjBkE8/s1600/DSC03080.JPG"><img style="width: 423px; height: 317px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAI0GvFBZXvod_VdXrsT47RGxPYpu2vrd0IYsX9Df896O_wcBQivxu2JGsS2Gcv0jWqbQBMRmyi-UTbMxGQrM7hNJEJllbohWBRS6vEOZoG3h37jBCx_cucKRxv5fx2MLYjNtsuDQjBkE8/s400/DSC03080.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdb-Ee37aEuYn3VFHtn7ueWLhfiAJLPJLBlZ7cjMUq8vCDRWuElFnzaGOYPWfx8qJuvwguUs1ztIfN3n11LMzeOxmSvOjP3cp9WkKxxgxKgC0R0qXYcHucek3BReHKwSounepM96E54Q9g/s1600/DSC03108.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 373px; height: 435px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdb-Ee37aEuYn3VFHtn7ueWLhfiAJLPJLBlZ7cjMUq8vCDRWuElFnzaGOYPWfx8qJuvwguUs1ztIfN3n11LMzeOxmSvOjP3cp9WkKxxgxKgC0R0qXYcHucek3BReHKwSounepM96E54Q9g/s400/DSC03108.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534091066636451426" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Halibut has been working very hard at school. I always get really good reports from his teacher, but hitting the highest rung of the 'behavior chart' has proven a little difficult. On this day, October 4, 2010, he decided to memorialize the fact that he made it to "Exceptional" by writing it in a card (he "exed" out the other half of the card that was his birthday message from Grandma & Grandpa).<br /><br />A while later, he decided that we needed to have a behavior chart here at home. So he made one up himself for our family with everyone's name on it and posted it on the bulletin board. He is doing great around here now that his performance is tangibly recorded where it can be seen. We are very proud of him.<br /><br />Today, he even moved me to 'Super'! I feel pretty good about that...<div style="clear: both;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none; padding: 0px; background: none repeat scroll 0% 50% transparent;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7567349986352753768.post-24421079307885627652010-10-31T00:09:00.000-04:002010-10-31T00:09:40.778-04:00Pot Pie, oh my!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRJ8lDhpUKsTWTLMb6vOyDx5XGO64yJcLkqoNds_bNawsu60TpWiMKqRVkki6O9OITA_Whr9rt8nzKVqPrlcBFszcq3KY_ArDixWEj9a2fEC0uDE9BzVaFozKsH1d5H1JlmTKjJ4sIfk0Y/s1600/DSC03116.JPG"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRJ8lDhpUKsTWTLMb6vOyDx5XGO64yJcLkqoNds_bNawsu60TpWiMKqRVkki6O9OITA_Whr9rt8nzKVqPrlcBFszcq3KY_ArDixWEj9a2fEC0uDE9BzVaFozKsH1d5H1JlmTKjJ4sIfk0Y/s400/DSC03116.JPG" border="0" /></a> We love pot pie around here! The turkey leftovers were getting a bit tiresome after a week, but, it semed like they were always scarfed up when I put them in a pie. This one turned out especially pretty... so I had to show it off!<div style='clear:both; text-align:RIGHT'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7567349986352753768.post-32387940137196490792010-10-30T23:58:00.002-04:002010-10-31T02:47:09.269-04:00Wingnut!<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5z_IXZadKwWc2fqfip-o5csq2HJKpE42IPMghexVV5kfRELB8nj2AX2wIXXEpn7vyCwiS0vryNdh-7pYaWcF3qTZBxnbf3KK8cobVE0Nu816FPQDObzT7vCW9TediY_jDOkgqHTFYu3g6/s1600/2009+May+Band+concert+Legos+Grace.jpg"><img style="width: 541px; height: 432px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5z_IXZadKwWc2fqfip-o5csq2HJKpE42IPMghexVV5kfRELB8nj2AX2wIXXEpn7vyCwiS0vryNdh-7pYaWcF3qTZBxnbf3KK8cobVE0Nu816FPQDObzT7vCW9TediY_jDOkgqHTFYu3g6/s400/2009+May+Band+concert+Legos+Grace.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />There is nothing in the world I can think of that Gigi loves more that Wings! Looks like she's sure enjoying these, Wouldn't you agree?</div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none; padding: 0px; background: none repeat scroll 0% 50% transparent;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7567349986352753768.post-63999965583053925552010-10-22T23:27:00.010-04:002010-10-31T02:01:26.836-04:00Happy Birthday Princess G!<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhd_NlvngNDVqB-071FyPOc08wX6_aTcdjvWDaKVMof-jWFzhO13MjA8DlqWoZYXvs4XwnZAhLzo5KDYu5Vd30VaHuejhPVLGnhLS8xxE3sundnVarQVeRv69rWkCu3mkyCTH7KJSJuSFT/s1600/DSC01794.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 394px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhd_NlvngNDVqB-071FyPOc08wX6_aTcdjvWDaKVMof-jWFzhO13MjA8DlqWoZYXvs4XwnZAhLzo5KDYu5Vd30VaHuejhPVLGnhLS8xxE3sundnVarQVeRv69rWkCu3mkyCTH7KJSJuSFT/s400/DSC01794.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534085318456311698" border="0" /></a>I love this funny, Amazing, Beautiful girl so much! But can somebody please tell me how she can already be 12 YEARS OLD!!!! <br /><br />It is not possible!<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkUpTkrW2K3NSSWpeng2xykfSI91EjEbs_fVscpAK83dbKcvX7TZhrYfZ2IsZUC9t4Q-5Xcpf65oIK88BxUAZUHs0SoXPalc1uNUtDVfml57E2GBpmuhZ7jiqfzaTyJ8J1TVsEBoBiQLuY/s1600/DSC03128.JPG"><br /></a>It seems like just yesterday she was playing dress up and carrying all of her toys around in various bags and backpacks.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3fpZyGAkZAQUaJV5ROakvQ3p6EDmY6uWM-Q4qPxw2jR4DECPGjgnKS6wGhpeZRzrpNVuMRhPugQUyVlMK_fyQj_NVprlD7F_vykhcq5FSGBQn9YlZlyFGIfSQWgZfxTPDopFPqGUh_qLO/s1600/DSC02332.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3fpZyGAkZAQUaJV5ROakvQ3p6EDmY6uWM-Q4qPxw2jR4DECPGjgnKS6wGhpeZRzrpNVuMRhPugQUyVlMK_fyQj_NVprlD7F_vykhcq5FSGBQn9YlZlyFGIfSQWgZfxTPDopFPqGUh_qLO/s320/DSC02332.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534083733279693554" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixqJOVXnK7jwW0HEM4_h48l96LoHacElDebUgZyfK9rkMtpzUZ_p-af4nkXyS-WQ3V7jYRbTOw1lyrCei5a2t3HcseNrSjxbuuWJl0mJ3Hqc7j61FSl4EIClIrEjgqQVRe6LKltDZV-aed/s1600/DSC03518.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixqJOVXnK7jwW0HEM4_h48l96LoHacElDebUgZyfK9rkMtpzUZ_p-af4nkXyS-WQ3V7jYRbTOw1lyrCei5a2t3HcseNrSjxbuuWJl0mJ3Hqc7j61FSl4EIClIrEjgqQVRe6LKltDZV-aed/s320/DSC03518.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534083738632803602" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimVpeWbAwGHamLsFafOlyQKCHBYZTeGGioTxyDDc5TSDdvf8q2n0lEoAO01P816sFFRdSrmnedYNI_YJXUC72_ylR-fwUXVnVGQzMqm9a93Ri8-qmkCiQInWkL-6NCcmad_R2xpLuOvzSy/s1600/DSC00089.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimVpeWbAwGHamLsFafOlyQKCHBYZTeGGioTxyDDc5TSDdvf8q2n0lEoAO01P816sFFRdSrmnedYNI_YJXUC72_ylR-fwUXVnVGQzMqm9a93Ri8-qmkCiQInWkL-6NCcmad_R2xpLuOvzSy/s320/DSC00089.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534083729685656690" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRMkVJf_syNLjA2SbdznlYd-sf54Zt-uQl3QmORS2cFPZ-EvKVIl73uVn3VsF1y0VV1yyQ8wiZXPjL2bPB8AnoQp_V15lABb3uP5WpcqXFXw3tQfguyZuZ6vAPjQOPRnfp0uGONxwZm_yv/s1600/DSC01488.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRMkVJf_syNLjA2SbdznlYd-sf54Zt-uQl3QmORS2cFPZ-EvKVIl73uVn3VsF1y0VV1yyQ8wiZXPjL2bPB8AnoQp_V15lABb3uP5WpcqXFXw3tQfguyZuZ6vAPjQOPRnfp0uGONxwZm_yv/s320/DSC01488.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534083728689664178" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRXzCFEFmtLNJPSh1EvH7q8HRLcTI55l-nI0KnfRqv-eU8T4Q7Jw_7rV4FvBu0KEB1j6e4ybFh3ojnVAfS_myu7y0yX7SNzhGX0Z43c168v5VZmhnz020ZGID8XK7P7H-T50xhBN937SBI/s1600/princess+grace.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 446px; height: 334px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRXzCFEFmtLNJPSh1EvH7q8HRLcTI55l-nI0KnfRqv-eU8T4Q7Jw_7rV4FvBu0KEB1j6e4ybFh3ojnVAfS_myu7y0yX7SNzhGX0Z43c168v5VZmhnz020ZGID8XK7P7H-T50xhBN937SBI/s320/princess+grace.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531081447478163778" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJLVzjZz7GslJHPtwCFPhm9goV0d7nsQcon6LQXoE6gcZm53j-BnaEAi1gVHUeWGAEKrg9yD5phXMKldZ78aiT6SF2C11C3dlHxdKDCMgruhMD-4VFtWoLo_VEj5bPUCdEtb1zt8JszQcq/s1600/mom+%26+grace+nutcracker-1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJLVzjZz7GslJHPtwCFPhm9goV0d7nsQcon6LQXoE6gcZm53j-BnaEAi1gVHUeWGAEKrg9yD5phXMKldZ78aiT6SF2C11C3dlHxdKDCMgruhMD-4VFtWoLo_VEj5bPUCdEtb1zt8JszQcq/s320/mom+%26+grace+nutcracker-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531088460672932082" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ezidT5nTE0f-ymWlCGOf-OpHiYjUqkWcqwi2s5i55AMOp1ZDFfSd7ctSFCqm-uIOXOULRudGHs9dkzLeUjrPZSnjIn-m2wL6L0JCxa-obgL9DX9YIqHhxeK1u5BfUCjuHXQBbFz7gJ04/s1600/grace+curls.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 211px; height: 318px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ezidT5nTE0f-ymWlCGOf-OpHiYjUqkWcqwi2s5i55AMOp1ZDFfSd7ctSFCqm-uIOXOULRudGHs9dkzLeUjrPZSnjIn-m2wL6L0JCxa-obgL9DX9YIqHhxeK1u5BfUCjuHXQBbFz7gJ04/s320/grace+curls.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531087677305597250" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Gigi is such a joy to have in our family! her sweet spirit and loving personality is truly remarkable. <br /></div>Happy Birthday sweet girl!<br /></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkUpTkrW2K3NSSWpeng2xykfSI91EjEbs_fVscpAK83dbKcvX7TZhrYfZ2IsZUC9t4Q-5Xcpf65oIK88BxUAZUHs0SoXPalc1uNUtDVfml57E2GBpmuhZ7jiqfzaTyJ8J1TVsEBoBiQLuY/s1600/DSC03128.JPG"><br /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7567349986352753768.post-46760098646539128302010-10-06T16:05:00.002-04:002010-10-06T22:10:55.383-04:00So Excited for Scouts!<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCWcxPwwLxAhjNwQusuBpjHnF3YvvHCZ4RZ0TMItfImtwGiWQ1JfE1YvzPIAGALKFEDpgVgywnl3lNa4x5xIRnnvvcu8Ne7MRZuA08CuM5HuFqD6IT8nXDdjwJHA4MQQ0PlTjlyuamc24P/s1600/2010+October+026.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCWcxPwwLxAhjNwQusuBpjHnF3YvvHCZ4RZ0TMItfImtwGiWQ1JfE1YvzPIAGALKFEDpgVgywnl3lNa4x5xIRnnvvcu8Ne7MRZuA08CuM5HuFqD6IT8nXDdjwJHA4MQQ0PlTjlyuamc24P/s400/2010+October+026.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br />Halibut just can't wait until he is able to go to Scouts! Even though he has several months let before he can start, he decided to wear his Scout shirt to school yesterday and proudly showed it off to his teacher. He had a fantastic day and came home with a note saying he'd been "<span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><strong>Exceptional</strong></span>". He told me that wearing his uniform was what helped him be exceptional. Maybe what we wear does matter...<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none; padding: 0px; background: none repeat scroll 0% 50% transparent;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7567349986352753768.post-45386161909877394882010-08-23T11:15:00.020-04:002010-10-31T01:30:49.710-04:00Going Green<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEintwkd8qQOC0ICO10ygSaF3u4-1EoYaJHnHrszmVxvh2dkyw_O5jwrL_VjcU2hkX5wZ2mbhaRcv22zL3m-h9-WwOvxBLD-cnWdknYG3vcJRquHKEy2AHB1NVjqWY12ynSuP3PTuyflNfz_/s1600/DSC02801.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 323px; height: 310px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEintwkd8qQOC0ICO10ygSaF3u4-1EoYaJHnHrszmVxvh2dkyw_O5jwrL_VjcU2hkX5wZ2mbhaRcv22zL3m-h9-WwOvxBLD-cnWdknYG3vcJRquHKEy2AHB1NVjqWY12ynSuP3PTuyflNfz_/s320/DSC02801.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495393066538420114" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">'Going green</span>' in the summertime around here means fingers, toes, and hair (!) colored in the official colors of the Heritage Hills Hurricanes.<br /><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-S14hq9_CCt70iADN7HrIZsHVpRpIBjCfDBUSLZkKK9ssEilnD6UOMITur462mangaJhJJnibboamZ8Ltqg19JxPrwCZOkdo3jO_UU8r0Nv91EN6QO5e8lGBJpBffX6wfXpIcJo9LPbCx/s1600/DSC02788.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 290px; height: 368px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-S14hq9_CCt70iADN7HrIZsHVpRpIBjCfDBUSLZkKK9ssEilnD6UOMITur462mangaJhJJnibboamZ8Ltqg19JxPrwCZOkdo3jO_UU8r0Nv91EN6QO5e8lGBJpBffX6wfXpIcJo9LPbCx/s320/DSC02788.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495393034821438402" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJifJNT_CIxzN3lbBweuTfJYBhIRs-I-DjCxpI0epaf9i5QSRJNeGSfIVTfS0Ua57t0l9Dfk1RfBm3i8oAjKZEUO-ufVEMyaBpZWGYRQxCOEhayfimNZMmc9HfLnHh2Cj2FW2tNdqK6vr3/s1600/DSC02793.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 351px; height: 263px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJifJNT_CIxzN3lbBweuTfJYBhIRs-I-DjCxpI0epaf9i5QSRJNeGSfIVTfS0Ua57t0l9Dfk1RfBm3i8oAjKZEUO-ufVEMyaBpZWGYRQxCOEhayfimNZMmc9HfLnHh2Cj2FW2tNdqK6vr3/s400/DSC02793.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534073680567958178" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz9A_8fuXpSXeiOoeWvpot4uwGT-EfelSH44hm3kAjlPl__LNrOhu2nFPxuALMmHXbB1lyrmsoN-euZ_HoZX59lCmP_o35krZRs26iQ1jSN3axl68iF5AxzoOo6KqrHnQc3gkx1hRYz_G_/s1600/DSC02812.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 258px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz9A_8fuXpSXeiOoeWvpot4uwGT-EfelSH44hm3kAjlPl__LNrOhu2nFPxuALMmHXbB1lyrmsoN-euZ_HoZX59lCmP_o35krZRs26iQ1jSN3axl68iF5AxzoOo6KqrHnQc3gkx1hRYz_G_/s320/DSC02812.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534076854983951634" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Halibut was half-way to neon-green hair when he decided he liked his <span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51); font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >'beach-bum' bleached blond</span> locks well enough to stop right there.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPetJgKSzYwI3x21IApwVJoOMz13ikuL9ixs3qvAuxLwdRzs66Vm70U-Q0qlDU4pEjwoELL11c5giMWm0j-2AS0OfbUHWjvehYjGiJPgn8P3CB5PspwaOp3l1v1lrEkg322bbzvMvFNaaX/s1600/DSC02800.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 254px; height: 228px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPetJgKSzYwI3x21IApwVJoOMz13ikuL9ixs3qvAuxLwdRzs66Vm70U-Q0qlDU4pEjwoELL11c5giMWm0j-2AS0OfbUHWjvehYjGiJPgn8P3CB5PspwaOp3l1v1lrEkg322bbzvMvFNaaX/s320/DSC02800.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495393062034108962" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlcn6soPCUqnikoFq03qoaQxwJ0bJWIOZRWPherUd_n_NAcvPRI0pX6STJenCyitDqbUJc9NwZR5rxWC-JgVawzxoSUn28v60iVm5TLuJcWnHyIwc56QTvu1gJ6PNexQU8uvzfU-2WSmyb/s1600/DSC02799.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlcn6soPCUqnikoFq03qoaQxwJ0bJWIOZRWPherUd_n_NAcvPRI0pX6STJenCyitDqbUJc9NwZR5rxWC-JgVawzxoSUn28v60iVm5TLuJcWnHyIwc56QTvu1gJ6PNexQU8uvzfU-2WSmyb/s320/DSC02799.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534071323511870290" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />That's what the <span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;">Psyche -up party</span> is all about. Well, that and throwing pies at the coaches!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAJG_U_HSDSQLzbDAHxkOiErJMsBmh9uiLas86KAqc0B2s7skxvf2HFdewmfGUpovBbv-6XFOG8czrINC0rGXJHBwz0kuP2KLJmxj_fQrCb0VsTREjrbUiBxTHyNR0DTbEWreYdECTOj-g/s1600/DSC02804.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 388px; height: 291px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAJG_U_HSDSQLzbDAHxkOiErJMsBmh9uiLas86KAqc0B2s7skxvf2HFdewmfGUpovBbv-6XFOG8czrINC0rGXJHBwz0kuP2KLJmxj_fQrCb0VsTREjrbUiBxTHyNR0DTbEWreYdECTOj-g/s400/DSC02804.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534072137493325842" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7567349986352753768.post-22114470567761593652010-08-23T10:32:00.016-04:002010-09-06T22:38:59.661-04:00The Butterfly<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHZD6QPriMwjQdU_Z4NZ4QIuiYA8Ffkh37TmAP_Fivwjc-N6bqeTDabsuilA18DCvivQuf55-q2IXqPF1JxxflMj-QMJ82k-AI5JXS6YCehS8pt2uYo4joOXVFSGNP3fcyXbNglp7u_1oW/s1600/Sunlight-.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508614959161095986" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 631px; cursor: pointer; height: 404px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHZD6QPriMwjQdU_Z4NZ4QIuiYA8Ffkh37TmAP_Fivwjc-N6bqeTDabsuilA18DCvivQuf55-q2IXqPF1JxxflMj-QMJ82k-AI5JXS6YCehS8pt2uYo4joOXVFSGNP3fcyXbNglp7u_1oW/s400/Sunlight-.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">I'm still giggling over the phone conversation I had with Marlan a few weeks ago. If you know Marlan, you'll know why.<br /><br />She was lamenting the fact that she had promised to drive a friend to an appointment and back the next morning. The commitment would last about 4 hours. None of her other friends were in a position to extend this help to the girl for one reason or another. She was just realizing that this meant that she could not take off to her boyfriend's house <em>right now</em> like she really wanted to.<br /><br />I specifically remember her asking: "<span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><strong><em>I mean, when did I become 'The Responsible One'</em>?</strong></span>" When indeed?<br /><br />Our <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">adventurous</span>, <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">fun-loving</span>, <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">dramatic</span> Marlan has travelled a long, windy road of less-than-logical decisions and their consequences. We finally learned that a lot of her erratic behavior was being caused by MS. Unfortunately, her self-perception suffered as well as just about everything else.<br /><br />She has worked really hard and overcome tremendous obstacles and struggles during the past few years. She has made a lot of progress towards creating a stable, productive, and meaningful life. Which is what we all strive for in this life, isn't it?<br /><br />Marlan has always been smart. Sometimes too smart (for her parents!). But now she is able to harness all that brain power and focus it on her goals. <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">MS had been robbing her of that</span>. Our most recent conversation involved how she is working on tackling calculus and juggling a full load of classes and a part time job. <em>Calculus</em>?, yes, of course you have to pass calulus when you're majoring in <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);"><strong>Chemistry</strong></span>. <em>What? </em>Isn't that just about the hardest major in the college catalog?<br /><br />Marlan recently started a new medication which seems to be a game-changer for her. She feels better and seems to have more stamina than she has in the past. Such a blessing!<br /><br />Reclaiming faith in herself and in her Divine Nature as a daughter of God has been challenging. I want her to know how very proud her family is of her and how important she is to us. And I know His love for her dwarfs even ours.<br /><br />One of the most amazing things to watch in nature is <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">the butterfly emerging from her cocoon</span>. We are in awe...</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7567349986352753768.post-53933594008497123252010-08-11T11:10:00.011-04:002010-08-11T14:48:45.191-04:00Funny Little Things He Says<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjddmNuN1Hd6zOU8mHmw6zscMRPZLHOdymzMmijdBVkuI_u5mx4JE1qI18JZOfb_122RH8Cy3O8dTb1yj0pBmjmGKzOrOO9S_rQQ3mwHNfMWgZcRKLTA9DUfBKZr7wev6OytVgE2khwnFd-/s1600/Beach+7-1-10+586.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 658px; height: 438px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjddmNuN1Hd6zOU8mHmw6zscMRPZLHOdymzMmijdBVkuI_u5mx4JE1qI18JZOfb_122RH8Cy3O8dTb1yj0pBmjmGKzOrOO9S_rQQ3mwHNfMWgZcRKLTA9DUfBKZr7wev6OytVgE2khwnFd-/s400/Beach+7-1-10+586.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504221929073468978" border="0" /></a><br />It was blissful this morning as I lay in bed, lazily contemplating getting up at 9 am. <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);">(Just a few more weeks until school's in session and these kinds of mornings will just be a distant memory...)<br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" ><br /></span>Now, I don't normally consider myself a cranky person in the morning. Then why, I wondered was this the first thing I heard:<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;" >"Mommy, I'm going to play Wii, so if you hear something can you </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 204); font-weight: bold;font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;" >not</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 102, 204);"> mind</span>?</span><span style="font-size:130%;">"</span><br /><br />hmmm...now, for the rest of the day I will be wondering how, exactly, my children see me.<br /><br />**********<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK4UD4wHgJAnjnFCAaVp3s5MESSR-Dm9WBQA9g359gyg-NlmA27s3xEjEBibNpocwrg9p0EV5X_vbvtE12sbeCNK6mZkfbVJ6l4f76OY81Mx-RAiQ4C56du1qu9al2iDz9cwl8yHFdM3nX/s1600/millipede2.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 182px; height: 178px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK4UD4wHgJAnjnFCAaVp3s5MESSR-Dm9WBQA9g359gyg-NlmA27s3xEjEBibNpocwrg9p0EV5X_vbvtE12sbeCNK6mZkfbVJ6l4f76OY81Mx-RAiQ4C56du1qu9al2iDz9cwl8yHFdM3nX/s320/millipede2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504224956191381282" border="0" /></a>Last night I found an unwelcome visitor dining on some sort of goo that had spilled near the trash can in the kitchen. Apparently somehow it had squeezed under the door and come inside. It was about four inches long- <span style="font-size:130%;">HUGE</span> in 'girls&bug' terms - and at first I thought it was plastic 'fishing bait'....until I touched it and<span style="font-weight: bold;">...</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-weight: bold;">it curled up into a ball.</span><br /><br />Amidst the 'eew-ing" and "ahh-ing" of girls and Dad, we heard a quiet and very serious plea:<br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 0);">"Dad, I very, very want to collect that."</span></span><br /><br />sadly for him, the animal was released back into the wild...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7567349986352753768.post-46041314053685672572010-08-10T20:10:00.010-04:002010-08-23T20:55:53.361-04:00Compliments<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCELaLU20kUNpRrY4TIRfqVhR0spI83OZz-msCuX5qUMDBvAfBZPLJltiTSA3WEYsfpFbMH1X5yxSImRx6Q5PHQWV3lkcodIAo1CP5owmddsbuPxodkozv_I1gbf4oMtqZur2OPgXAg0wz/s1600/Beach+7-1-10+400.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCELaLU20kUNpRrY4TIRfqVhR0spI83OZz-msCuX5qUMDBvAfBZPLJltiTSA3WEYsfpFbMH1X5yxSImRx6Q5PHQWV3lkcodIAo1CP5owmddsbuPxodkozv_I1gbf4oMtqZur2OPgXAg0wz/s400/Beach+7-1-10+400.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503987028965552114" border="0" /></a><br />The other day as I was swimming laps in the pool a woman in the next lane asked me, "are you Starfish's mom" (Starfish was at home). "Yes, I am," I replied.<br /><br />"I thought so," she said, "you look just like her".<br /><br />Now, I've heard this comment many times from friends. This was a first coming from a complete stranger. And also the first time that I was soaking wet! I've even been told we are "twins" before.<br /><br />To me, this is the best compliment, ever!<br /><br />While I think there's a resemblance, I don't think we look <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">that</span> much alike..<span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);">.<span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">she gets her good looks from her dad, but she is even <span style="font-style: italic;">more</span> beautiful on the<span style="font-weight: bold;"> inside</span>!</span></span><br /><br /><br />I have to admit that I am totally flattered and never get tired of heari<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW7whEuSOYj0UxFg4KQ_Q8mWSdEzKDQTeYbFd1TV314Kef75lV5Nq07TzoG0FtoVuVXD4gyxb9TYT482cQFfbdC8W2FkMzJOX2jm9YIUfwkc5BQqvXA6HJRydncjwamZmRQrxFFPI9FAd1/s1600/Beach+7-1-11.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 634px; height: 424px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW7whEuSOYj0UxFg4KQ_Q8mWSdEzKDQTeYbFd1TV314Kef75lV5Nq07TzoG0FtoVuVXD4gyxb9TYT482cQFfbdC8W2FkMzJOX2jm9YIUfwkc5BQqvXA6HJRydncjwamZmRQrxFFPI9FAd1/s400/Beach+7-1-11.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503997815256354850" border="0" /></a>ng it!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7567349986352753768.post-23192383153590155432010-08-01T01:56:00.011-04:002010-10-13T13:20:32.572-04:00Trouble Sleeping<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7IKjAc5H1wGlj-IKVV-YZv1zizRhkKUwC3yXYHeFVugYXWrNHpWWtrxFExw33uu9aCH8G0NsuognJS61HRKb3b4GLp-sn4CbLZ9loUtmUJYqaq5c20ad1zEXQPObpVzftwOsmMlReNBvj/s1600/Beach+7-1-10+244.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 514px; height: 342px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7IKjAc5H1wGlj-IKVV-YZv1zizRhkKUwC3yXYHeFVugYXWrNHpWWtrxFExw33uu9aCH8G0NsuognJS61HRKb3b4GLp-sn4CbLZ9loUtmUJYqaq5c20ad1zEXQPObpVzftwOsmMlReNBvj/s400/Beach+7-1-10+244.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504001013768212706" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br />Dear Heavenly Father,<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">please help me not see stuff that isn't there</span>,<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">not have bad dreams,<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">and not be scared of the dark...</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />...oh, how simple and heartfelt are the prayers of a little boy who has faith.<br />(these are his actual words, not mine)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7567349986352753768.post-91040526400685966372010-07-26T23:59:00.012-04:002010-08-23T21:06:44.228-04:00Ya got Trouble<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjwn40uTjlheui5wLkBXpMpeQmcwYxiVpML0IqRnFqOYjcxkg7r82elqnhmzppAyiFPat1tQLZ_vdBLfmddu83W_q7kxBJGedb8LC00RXrC2KZzHkLoVfWnp1RiBJNe82hEUN6iH6OtVnw/s1600/Beach+7-1-10+304.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 640px; height: 427px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjwn40uTjlheui5wLkBXpMpeQmcwYxiVpML0IqRnFqOYjcxkg7r82elqnhmzppAyiFPat1tQLZ_vdBLfmddu83W_q7kxBJGedb8LC00RXrC2KZzHkLoVfWnp1RiBJNe82hEUN6iH6OtVnw/s400/Beach+7-1-10+304.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498437897383366418" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);">Ya got trouble,</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);"> Right here in River city!</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);"> With a capital "T"</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);"> And that rhymes with "P"</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);"> And that stands for POOL.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);"> We've surely got trouble!</span><br /><br /><br />I had a fun evening with Gigi tonight. We watched a Monty Python movie and listened to Broadway show-tunes on Pandora - noting the next classic musicals that we need to add to our DVD collection: <span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">The Musi</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">c Man, Fiddler on The Roof.</span><br /><br />A few wee<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhugcEd1rhQ46kzXPNAAxRY6k_R3W8ALUZrS33lbqjevhWF2Uudda4TT-rG-lI6loIieQV9k_R-BdPjCMCtwgcJ3ai5vGqWO42n2vcBy_2GZXju9MM_sgta2ooiUZsP7pxJYhXMaxh9AW9V/s1600/music-man-DVDcover.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 146px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhugcEd1rhQ46kzXPNAAxRY6k_R3W8ALUZrS33lbqjevhWF2Uudda4TT-rG-lI6loIieQV9k_R-BdPjCMCtwgcJ3ai5vGqWO42n2vcBy_2GZXju9MM_sgta2ooiUZsP7pxJYhXMaxh9AW9V/s200/music-man-DVDcover.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498453059598768034" border="0" /></a>ks ago we borrowed The Music Man from the library. It was quite a hit - but nobody took to it quite like my Gigi. She says that she watched it 5 times. <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">I think it was more. </span><br /><br />Tonight was like being in a place where there is usually a constant noise in the background, like music in a store or traffic near a busy street, noise I've become used to, but then having that noise stop, and realizing that there's something really wonderful going on that I haven't noticed before because it's been drowned out by the noise.<br /><br />Gigi is the classic 'middle child' caught between two remarkable sisters. She is very<span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">flexible, easy-going</span></span> and <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">independent</span>. Of all our kids, she demands the least of my attention, but she always, always has <span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204); font-weight: bold;">a smile and a hug </span>waiting for me. Well, tonight the other two girls were away. That background noise I'd become accustomed to was strangely absent.<br /><br />She quotes the movie at random times....like during dinner with the Missionaries the other day.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">Are certain words creeping into his conversation?</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"> Words like 'swell?"</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"> And 'so's your old man?" </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"> Well, if so my friends,</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"> Ya got trouble</span><br /><br />I never really thought about how funny she can be, how silly, how much she enjoys fun movies and music. She's the first to mimic Tevye's little jig with me: 'If I were a rich man, Daidle deedle daidle daidle daidle deedle daidle dum....' Only Gigi shares my Tim Hawkins addiction.<br /><br />When she found this song, 'Ya Got Trouble' from The Music Man, on the internet, she just lit up - singing and dancing around. <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">She knows most of the words..</span>.I think we just might have a Broadway Star in our future...<br /><br /><img src="file:///C:/Users/Mom/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot.png" alt="" /><img src="file:///C:/Users/Mom/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot-1.png" alt="" />This girl already shines!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0