tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84170577863971547292024-02-07T18:31:16.949-08:00Nicolich CovenThe life of Bill, Emily, Sally and AliceEmily Nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15675464862972489536noreply@blogger.comBlogger101125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8417057786397154729.post-26783881762747113752012-04-10T22:03:00.002-07:002012-04-10T22:03:49.900-07:00Roman William NicolichIt started in the wee hours of the morning of the Spring equinox. I woke up at about three, which, in my very pregnant state, was not uncommon at all. I took my usual trip to the bathroom, but I just felt yucky. I feebly tried to go back to sleep, but some part of me rejected my own attempts; this was also a common occurrence. I decided to go down to Bill's computer to waste a little time until I started to feel the sleep deprivation. Between my games of Facebook Tetris I started to wonder if my feelings of yuckiness could be the particular yuckiness I was hoping for. I had read the very thorough (28 page) account of Sally's birth in the days previous and was hopeful; my crummy feelings seemed very similar to those in the account. I decided to start timing my icky feelings. They were anywhere from three to ten minutes apart. By about 5:00, after more Tetris, Zuma and many real vs. false labor Googlings later, I decided to try out some of my new found info by going for a walk. I woke Bill up briefly to tell him, grabbed my phone and jacket and was on my way.<br />
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I walked down the big hill in our neighborhood and back, all the while timing my special feelings. At the bottom of the hill, I decided they were actual contractions, and that I may be having a baby that day! When I got home, I started doing all the things I had been putting off; loading my phone with the labor playlist I had created, packing my bag, charging batteries. I told Bill I thought this may be for real. The contractions were still quite manageable, I could talk through them pretty easily, but they were regular and had picked up a bit in intensity.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQYzUy2iFoj4PIrHibfwJqd2oPni6nBFP0rAFIthNcLv_nOIrwRXan-ZX5aadAk4yf-BId5kaLI9TOwoozBZCbkT_Km9AJM5Zmi41QyEDmMh41_Bu3ZsiXSx7BvarI_FAKe9VvT2Jgg__n/s1600/march+2012+515.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQYzUy2iFoj4PIrHibfwJqd2oPni6nBFP0rAFIthNcLv_nOIrwRXan-ZX5aadAk4yf-BId5kaLI9TOwoozBZCbkT_Km9AJM5Zmi41QyEDmMh41_Bu3ZsiXSx7BvarI_FAKe9VvT2Jgg__n/s320/march+2012+515.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
Some time later, the girls and my mom woke up. I told them I thought this may be the day! Sally laughed in disbelief. My mom had predicted this would be his birthday from the moment she found out I was pregnant. March 20th is the birthday of my Grandma Barnes. My mom suggested that my grandma could be helping this little guy to come on this day; I wholeheartedly believe it.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj5QefGSzPbO7ZN2JpnfJaZVCUB-_UDa1syK4E60oLlux8Ua2yWsslftiFqqf8YSi3MPxSvnlv3zfa4rZjXesd3U6YyHRg99Z_xICaaq4PlWtywAYJl65-8QghvIyiAU_2hyMVr87zzNft/s1600/march+2012+566.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj5QefGSzPbO7ZN2JpnfJaZVCUB-_UDa1syK4E60oLlux8Ua2yWsslftiFqqf8YSi3MPxSvnlv3zfa4rZjXesd3U6YyHRg99Z_xICaaq4PlWtywAYJl65-8QghvIyiAU_2hyMVr87zzNft/s320/march+2012+566.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>With bags packed, showers taken, people informed, and big sister plans made, all that was left was for things to progress. Only, they didn't; at least not perceptibly to me. Things had gotten to the point where it was more difficult to talk through contractions, but I still could, I just had to speak slowly. I wasn't needing to rock or writhe or shimmy yet, I could stay still. That is where things seemed to stay. My contractions weren't getting any closer, longer or more intense. I started thinking that perhaps this really wasn't what I thought. The sleep deprivation finally kicked in , and I successfully napped. I woke with each contraction, but they had slowed down. Perhaps this really was false labor. Perhaps I didn't know what my body was trying to tell me. With my previous labors, things progressed, and then progressed some more. This stalling was making me question the validity of what I was experiencing. I was frustrated.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKM08y_YpBbmU0jEthjYG32B_3g7FMm62vzmC2HvA_Y-8SWr3GsAYqqKSiqhg4bVE0WTT061GbGxcqr0PYgYbwxaQEAbda22VVyZqFbRXFS3_pedw2uEYutuKgAOEOTpFXUiktvdWNnkRl/s1600/march+2012+427.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKM08y_YpBbmU0jEthjYG32B_3g7FMm62vzmC2HvA_Y-8SWr3GsAYqqKSiqhg4bVE0WTT061GbGxcqr0PYgYbwxaQEAbda22VVyZqFbRXFS3_pedw2uEYutuKgAOEOTpFXUiktvdWNnkRl/s320/march+2012+427.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>When I got up, I asked my mom if she wanted to go for a walk to see if that would help things pick up at all. This walk was less aerobic than my one earlier in the day. I had to slow down or stop all together with my contractions, and we were weary of the hills in the neighborhood and avoided what we could. Things were picking up from my nap stage, but had not progressed past the point they were at before.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-IqbxCD7W1BdyUA4qxoyq0Utnt4eUT1ACgFBlyITaM3OPLyx-qZF-HH7DZRPLQg0bl4SezuSfU8EzmCwcayj8YGVzYow3Uv9bM-elrAxWM3Clrg23vtFIDcO2LKaZb6IefSS1aC9ttVDl/s1600/march+2012+109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-IqbxCD7W1BdyUA4qxoyq0Utnt4eUT1ACgFBlyITaM3OPLyx-qZF-HH7DZRPLQg0bl4SezuSfU8EzmCwcayj8YGVzYow3Uv9bM-elrAxWM3Clrg23vtFIDcO2LKaZb6IefSS1aC9ttVDl/s320/march+2012+109.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Upon returning, I was feeling a bit let down. I wanted to know if my body was actually doing any work towards getting my baby boy here. I was still doubting how real this labor was, and decided to call my midwife. He (yes, my midwife is a man, the only 6' 2" midwife in these parts), said I could come into the office and he'd check me. I was comforted by the thought of at least knowing if this experience was for naught. I ate lunch and someone picked up Sally. When I sent her to school in the morning, I thought I would surely be hospitalized when she was finished.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIajHOhZQ9cI8yoLLB511cb6kRJsVzf5Vo4XcmmCRYo5HZejS7MC8FRDuPstyRkuJAp1rgVPOE5l2tm39MSg-8dYii-j2eg5IIl9TYLnvdrtU09d6vLZXQmmIFBuln3Hp6nod1ai74biad/s1600/march+2012+254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIajHOhZQ9cI8yoLLB511cb6kRJsVzf5Vo4XcmmCRYo5HZejS7MC8FRDuPstyRkuJAp1rgVPOE5l2tm39MSg-8dYii-j2eg5IIl9TYLnvdrtU09d6vLZXQmmIFBuln3Hp6nod1ai74biad/s320/march+2012+254.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>When she returned home, Bill and I were getting ready to go to the doctor's office. We decided to take our hospital things just in case we needed to go straight there. I was feeling a bit better about things, the contractions had gotten a little worse int he last hour. We ended up getting to the office at about 2:00. Jack, my midwife, saw us pretty quickly. He checked me and told me I was dilated to 5 cm, and that I was actually in labor! This news filled me with relief and excitement. Our baby boy was actually on his way!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_9avZLaSEluZNlzgLGF1nGL8aoHDMKXq810BWoFxf-_lu5WqV1UgmriyAOFyxYTQTVdDMDffVxD_cKZWCFkJWVQ65PAU1L38YXAnk_RtnuCfhC6VpOcikRQkzG4epOLN5ORJlPM5PlfMc/s1600/March+2012+080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_9avZLaSEluZNlzgLGF1nGL8aoHDMKXq810BWoFxf-_lu5WqV1UgmriyAOFyxYTQTVdDMDffVxD_cKZWCFkJWVQ65PAU1L38YXAnk_RtnuCfhC6VpOcikRQkzG4epOLN5ORJlPM5PlfMc/s320/March+2012+080.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>I was quite pleased with how I was handling things. On arrival to the hospital with Alice, I was dilated to a four and already moaning out with each contraction. With this labor, I would stop what I was doing and close my eyes or breath deeply, but really, it was very manageable still. This time around, I really wanted a natural birth. With both girls, I was close, but ended up getting a shot of Fentanyl. I recently read a book called Baby Catcher, by Peggy Vincent. It has all kinds of natural birth stories and it was very empowering. This time, I really wanted to try to not receive any medicine. I took the coping at five cm to be a good sign.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkmy-2ZNShpMh10py-Nbmkh-dLbl7RcjW2PMOin1barfJjopKUN4dQIlXzuBpalqzZ4-oXigc9cIbT4w055N61UWGUWZkwfvK4FMOw4JgDhb4qh-wk7FXEu0gxWgM2hCH_sGrnFGzEKxgf/s1600/March+2012+042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkmy-2ZNShpMh10py-Nbmkh-dLbl7RcjW2PMOin1barfJjopKUN4dQIlXzuBpalqzZ4-oXigc9cIbT4w055N61UWGUWZkwfvK4FMOw4JgDhb4qh-wk7FXEu0gxWgM2hCH_sGrnFGzEKxgf/s320/March+2012+042.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>While at the appointment, Jack also said he was anxious to see how big our baby would be. I was measuring small consistently, but an ultrasound done the day before predicted this would be an 8 lb 11 oz baby! Both Jack and another midwife were so surprised. They kept saying things like, "Where are you hiding this baby!" "I still think you look, and feel and measure small. Where is that baby?" They would soon have their answer as to how big he really was.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlzE0UgiWIY7FntV-R5CCNpiLvDf05sjss2f-2SC39egFUAqnwq2IEpl_pOSIkKnE4UkEQvNknXmygL9P9quXH_rNxsnz4Gf99vjtoe4jaHBwERn33TTy4B1Ac-RF15I7CCrbU7DYyWeSg/s1600/march+2012+115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlzE0UgiWIY7FntV-R5CCNpiLvDf05sjss2f-2SC39egFUAqnwq2IEpl_pOSIkKnE4UkEQvNknXmygL9P9quXH_rNxsnz4Gf99vjtoe4jaHBwERn33TTy4B1Ac-RF15I7CCrbU7DYyWeSg/s320/march+2012+115.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
We decided to go on to the hospital. We made final arrangements for the girls (Thank you Lunt family!), stopped for a burger, and continued on. Jack had called to let them know I was coming, so there was no hassle when we got there. They didn't even have to check me, I was able to go straight to the labor, delivery and recovery suite. And it was sweet! They had built a new women and children's building at the hospital since Alice had been born, so it was newer and nicer.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6QBQ26fqkcaIYEA6qhIxA3IIK7PcJfb83rmbpjjNSqVVfbY2Xn70kDD9SzR5kNe49gNHkuYYkWQhM5szKfUxgIv15lxyUvIoLQKbdDN7jXHJEeip4ATa4iJt4BIjvxfzB7bdMEhFVFub6/s1600/March+2012+011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6QBQ26fqkcaIYEA6qhIxA3IIK7PcJfb83rmbpjjNSqVVfbY2Xn70kDD9SzR5kNe49gNHkuYYkWQhM5szKfUxgIv15lxyUvIoLQKbdDN7jXHJEeip4ATa4iJt4BIjvxfzB7bdMEhFVFub6/s320/March+2012+011.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>We settled in and a few people came in to ask questions, or do paperwork, or draw blood. We met our nurse, Adrienne, who had left labor and delivery after working there for thirteen years. She was back for a time, and enjoying it. She put me on the monitors to get a 30 minute strip to see how things were going. Luckily, they had a mobile monitor available, so I was not confined to the bed. The baby's heart rate was looking great, and contractions were getting more regular and harder.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTDUNsyqhTByJ0lidwln2zfoKr3hW1IlcW_lkJtoOEOJZxi9yaNy8btcMAl05MIFWiQXdbFuItJdQ4UStXCST01qrN1DQm0LJAD_Fel16ej0p0gy3mPm-fZ3ctACJYtautbrc32Atw2RIg/s1600/2012+April+055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTDUNsyqhTByJ0lidwln2zfoKr3hW1IlcW_lkJtoOEOJZxi9yaNy8btcMAl05MIFWiQXdbFuItJdQ4UStXCST01qrN1DQm0LJAD_Fel16ej0p0gy3mPm-fZ3ctACJYtautbrc32Atw2RIg/s320/2012+April+055.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>With both the girl's labors, I wanted to be on my hands and knees. With this one, I wanted to be standing. My body wanted to be moving in between, and then I would lean over onto something, most often the bed. During the contractions, I would shift my weight from foot to foot and go up on the balls of my feet. Eventually, I would still lean on the bed with my hands, and lean against Bill with my head. He would hold my head, and rub my back, all the while cheering me on in a very soothing voice. "Good contraction," he'd say, and I believed him. I loved him holding my head; the way he cradled it and moved with me was very comforting. I felt secure with him like that.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiADvnrZvUSq4nTzRKX3wmqp4vO9MvGTsf1u-kWvzFAXad7i7oV0WGQbfYKxFfoaHWZw2VJBIF_KiC8w3NHvhc0HiJaY-ekoFE3181rnrZG3ihw9vlCZw7haqh9PVkSxVskgL_3wD1FZbe7/s1600/March+2012+032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiADvnrZvUSq4nTzRKX3wmqp4vO9MvGTsf1u-kWvzFAXad7i7oV0WGQbfYKxFfoaHWZw2VJBIF_KiC8w3NHvhc0HiJaY-ekoFE3181rnrZG3ihw9vlCZw7haqh9PVkSxVskgL_3wD1FZbe7/s320/March+2012+032.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>While I was still on the monitors, my mom came. I was so happy she had made it. I was concerned when she had booked her flight as close to the due date as she did, but she knew from the beginning that Grandma Barnes would have a hand in this. Adrienne, the nurse, was holding the monitor in place with her hand, as I was moving around too much to get an accurate read. I am grateful she was willing to let me move instead of making me lay in bed to get the strip At about 4:30, I asked to be checked. I was at 6 1/2, and still handling things pretty well, I thought. I still had a little time left on the monitors, but was antsy to get off of them and into the bath. Shortly after I was checked, I was standing again through another contraction when I felt warm liquid running down my legs. With Sally, my water was accidentally broken once when I was being checked. With Alice, Jack broke my water when I was about an eight or nine. This time, it just happened. After that, everything changed.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjMVy1qQnwSDNUi9SGQer1uTFp1f7YdGEW7tRD4XaW0M-mNasVtyEjPrpFTAeMKcf6Eb8pGmiytgVY-wKOg4Kdbd6JZK0jsA24I4E92hLEpu5Y8NDny7Kt4EQCCAX-ZWw6k2xBi6RCJL-v/s1600/March+2012+051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjMVy1qQnwSDNUi9SGQer1uTFp1f7YdGEW7tRD4XaW0M-mNasVtyEjPrpFTAeMKcf6Eb8pGmiytgVY-wKOg4Kdbd6JZK0jsA24I4E92hLEpu5Y8NDny7Kt4EQCCAX-ZWw6k2xBi6RCJL-v/s320/March+2012+051.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>The next contraction was like one from different realm of labor. So much more intense, so much stronger. I wanted to bite something. I wanted to scream. I think I did some of each. I also got incredibly hot with each contraction. Bill put a cool wash cloth on my head, which felt so good. He was still holding my head, rubbing my back, telling me I was doing a good job. At this point. I really wanted to have some of what I've heard called nature's epidural- the bath. As soon as she told me I was finished being monitored, I asked to get in. The nurse filled the bath, asking how hot I wanted it. I didn't know- I felt so hot, but a cool bath sounded horrible. She ended up filling it with a perfect temperature. She taped a rubber glove over my IV port, and I was at last allowed to get in.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQS3HuVQT-knM2MFEui7odXt6GlrV80QwaifMxv1mj9emyjksqNkhxqMUKLh3T1BUHNh251421uRylOfg2Hy5jifHrCR5zAvi3x4gdhFLZELvidi9s6RYQhvmO2j5qReYhMbgT3N1vBA6q/s1600/2012+April+123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQS3HuVQT-knM2MFEui7odXt6GlrV80QwaifMxv1mj9emyjksqNkhxqMUKLh3T1BUHNh251421uRylOfg2Hy5jifHrCR5zAvi3x4gdhFLZELvidi9s6RYQhvmO2j5qReYhMbgT3N1vBA6q/s320/2012+April+123.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>I think I stayed standing through a couple contractions in the bath, and then lowered myself in. It felt good, but these contractions were hard. I kept calling out things like, " I don't like this!" or "This one is too hard!" People in the room were laughing at me, which was okay. If I wasn't experiencing crazy pain, I would be laughing too. I am grateful I was able to see humor in the experience, especially in what was to come. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4QDJV_73ax2X7cNVDNPjvj5e1q4MvMEaUINgZ9xKDBd2Sqn_ImcLXnfSOS8AZUVat5cPur9yXMFNW-n7x71qvqCkUc6ujpN6HNWXRsBlaTIzeQfaROOceUaWWydCjvPQZhnmeSkEVMzZk/s1600/2012+April+078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4QDJV_73ax2X7cNVDNPjvj5e1q4MvMEaUINgZ9xKDBd2Sqn_ImcLXnfSOS8AZUVat5cPur9yXMFNW-n7x71qvqCkUc6ujpN6HNWXRsBlaTIzeQfaROOceUaWWydCjvPQZhnmeSkEVMzZk/s320/2012+April+078.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>In the bath, my positions varied quite a bit. I'd be on my hands and knees, or leaning over the side, or I'd sit back, or I'd do all three over the course of a contraction. When on my hands and knees, I remember wanting to put my face all the way under water. At first, I didn't feel like that was appropriate, so I'd just put my bangs in. The water dripping down from my wet hair felt good in between contractions, so the next time, I allowed myself to go all the way under. I'd blow lots of bubbles and move my head back and forth. I had my hair in two long braids and swished them around in the water. I knew this behavior was silly, but it just felt a little better to blow my bubbles.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWvbVCnpbKk518icfta6DWUcJXvi7Qv7JZw3bPP77V0H9ifo8S3EChqwialqm9Cenfonezc431tpbf_yUqF3waI_h4ABwyVcZoEOP4NaI7H1XTOLL3HsCL7btggK_7NMtKeC1H4lSj03QS/s1600/March+2012+008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWvbVCnpbKk518icfta6DWUcJXvi7Qv7JZw3bPP77V0H9ifo8S3EChqwialqm9Cenfonezc431tpbf_yUqF3waI_h4ABwyVcZoEOP4NaI7H1XTOLL3HsCL7btggK_7NMtKeC1H4lSj03QS/s320/March+2012+008.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>At the onset of contractions, I wanted to hit something, and no, not my husband for doing this to me. At first, I'd hit the side of the tub, then, on accident, I hit the water. The resulting splash was so gratifying! I tried to refrain from splashing through some of my contractions, but my accidental splash had left me wanting more. Eventually, I gave into my desires, a little reserved at first, and then, not at all. I'd raise my hands and hit the water with all the force I could muster. The entire bathroom was a splash zone. Again, I knew this was silly, and kept apologizing in between contractions. Everyone told me not to apologize, and I liked seeing their laughter. Bill, who was there through it all, would hold up a towel to shield himself, all while cheering me on.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinyhcGXY8ANeuzbbSHzm30XKH3skTbGl6yJH62cFHw4cNJNfj4Frvpn0QqfhJMgDT0T_HclQLKuB7kc1rT_j660hcDh32M0nKpOj4ew7XnmANa7Qt-ajbE95JIWC4yaIYO5CqnG2QFaJGg/s1600/2012+April+015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinyhcGXY8ANeuzbbSHzm30XKH3skTbGl6yJH62cFHw4cNJNfj4Frvpn0QqfhJMgDT0T_HclQLKuB7kc1rT_j660hcDh32M0nKpOj4ew7XnmANa7Qt-ajbE95JIWC4yaIYO5CqnG2QFaJGg/s320/2012+April+015.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>At some time during all this wet. bubbly madness, the nurse tried to check me. She said she couldn't tell for sure, but thought she only felt a lip of cervix left. She asked me to bear down with the next contraction. I tried, but my body definitely wasn't telling me it was time yet. The on call midwife then checked, asking me to change positions. She said I was an eight, and seemed grateful. She was a very nice, soft spoken lady, and I loved her smiles at my antics, but this was clearly not the kind of birth she was comfortable with. At one point, she told me she wanted me to get in the bed when it came time to push. When she checked me she seemed relieved and said, "Oh good. I think Jack is going to make it." My mom had called him a bit before, and he was coming, but from the office that was further away.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK-iLJn802nNTltAgWRgPVq_d28cc8Se4fQXaX_YvqTwNMjLBmG0LQ3cWAoJigXgTWk16lvq1wylTRfkKDSbw5WuRZGiLIBR5yih7XQJi4se8SfR2mBLvl0aKAApcFDxNgfcegMACyIRyI/s1600/march+2012+213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK-iLJn802nNTltAgWRgPVq_d28cc8Se4fQXaX_YvqTwNMjLBmG0LQ3cWAoJigXgTWk16lvq1wylTRfkKDSbw5WuRZGiLIBR5yih7XQJi4se8SfR2mBLvl0aKAApcFDxNgfcegMACyIRyI/s320/march+2012+213.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Things continued in this fashion, and as things got more intense, I got wilder. At some point, I asked my mom to turn on some music. I planned on, and still wanted Vaughan William's Fantasia on a theme by Thomas Tallis. If you are not familiar with this gem, you are doing yourself a disservice. It is a rich and lush string orchestra masterpiece. Listening to the sumptuous chords and melodic highs in this piece is really an other-worldly experience. The piece also has some interesting instrumentation: a full string orchestra, a small string orchestra and a string quartet. When the small orchestra is playing, it is often quite soft. With the speakers in the main room, and us in the bathroom wanting to hear the small orchestra, it was turned up quite loud. I loved hearing it, though I did miss some sections when I was blowing bubbles under water. At one point, close to the end, I called out that the apex of the song was coming at the same time the apex of a particularly hard contraction, which received smiles and laughter from my mom.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX6cbdvV369fuu1Iga4SCJJIKotaaZHY9qW9dWIscZoUrN_mwGqj1HZeqDwMkvE5qAg07jvkgnyLOkySrqPE8d-w2toglF-LwGOSeMicUdR9OMQ-TH3JosKZzaoiXtirQMo-2QnWOXK_Ew/s1600/March+2012+049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX6cbdvV369fuu1Iga4SCJJIKotaaZHY9qW9dWIscZoUrN_mwGqj1HZeqDwMkvE5qAg07jvkgnyLOkySrqPE8d-w2toglF-LwGOSeMicUdR9OMQ-TH3JosKZzaoiXtirQMo-2QnWOXK_Ew/s320/March+2012+049.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
So there I was, the crazy lady splashing in the tub, blasting classical music, about to have a baby. My nurse tried to check me a couple times during contractions, but her hand was bothering me too much, and I kind of swatted it away. She asked a few times if I needed to bear down and I didn't. Until I did.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqWZxE6b1DYxpTetVMw3IUv4SSs-N9XSSIQH5cbhnJ7o1gCagOjAAqw0dH1JGGPqqb0TeSh6n-Llp8OHCM7y92wzmc8WkTI8Z5FGr4gF9GWRywA2vlq3zvMMQaZXgAOMNIOr1DpNIDF8ap/s1600/march+2012+370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqWZxE6b1DYxpTetVMw3IUv4SSs-N9XSSIQH5cbhnJ7o1gCagOjAAqw0dH1JGGPqqb0TeSh6n-Llp8OHCM7y92wzmc8WkTI8Z5FGr4gF9GWRywA2vlq3zvMMQaZXgAOMNIOr1DpNIDF8ap/s320/march+2012+370.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>And just as the change had happened when my water broke, this change was abrupt. Suddenly, every part of me was wanting, no, needing to do its part to push the baby out. I yelled out that I wanted to push, which Bill yelled to the nurse. She came in, and I was leaning over the side of the tub, holding Bill's legs and pulling on his pants. At one point, I got some of his leg hair in my grasp, but he only gave a quiet "ow".<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXfxjaaI0QwFNK8yVyW03HGZiccTK9pcuTMKPlNFy0qiD-_ZPWj4EZWmbOdrrZgN0wz_1-MgPAt16RYckZurujSGPlmxtI56A8n8f1ns7KvbZa8EjFk61rsVEZInM1B1ufI0IEbwlOuIB9/s1600/march+2012+336.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXfxjaaI0QwFNK8yVyW03HGZiccTK9pcuTMKPlNFy0qiD-_ZPWj4EZWmbOdrrZgN0wz_1-MgPAt16RYckZurujSGPlmxtI56A8n8f1ns7KvbZa8EjFk61rsVEZInM1B1ufI0IEbwlOuIB9/s320/march+2012+336.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>I started pushing, moaning loudly out while doing so. During this first push, my knees were somehow together. My body was telling me to open my knees up, I did for a split second, and I could feel the burning, the unimaginable stretching, the searing pain. I gasped and snapped them back together. Quickly, I remembered what I was doing, and slowly opened them and embraced the pain. I knew he would be here soon. I yelled out that his head was right there, I could feel him coming- now! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxkeSI02ia7UToVvpjD7vAnxQYTAmvl8fHzkLSA4hyphenhyphenc1MbUvpQGPBoiDc7JJzmCIo3LU-9lbNdx73AHj2ME88lBb54lSm0upoTjQlm5f79Ybzu66_G83ch19eboGOgZE_2rMq1-w8WuE0j/s1600/March+2012+028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxkeSI02ia7UToVvpjD7vAnxQYTAmvl8fHzkLSA4hyphenhyphenc1MbUvpQGPBoiDc7JJzmCIo3LU-9lbNdx73AHj2ME88lBb54lSm0upoTjQlm5f79Ybzu66_G83ch19eboGOgZE_2rMq1-w8WuE0j/s320/March+2012+028.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Adrienne had come in, and pulled the drain plug in the bath. My bottom wasn't in the water at this point anyway. I was on one knee, still leaned over the side of the tub, gripping Bill's legs. My bottom was fairly high, and pointing to the back of the tub, away from where the nurse, or anyone really could get to it. Somehow, Adrienne reached in between my legs, under by body, and with the next contraction, I pushed with all my might, and his head was out. She asked me to push again, but I was spent, and felt like I needed to wait for the next contraction. I told her I couldn't. Again, she told me I needed to try, and something in her voice made me believe her. I tried, I really did, but it was like a toddler trying to open a jar of pickles, just not very effective. The next contraction started up again, and as it surged forward, so did my pushing power. Out slid my beautiful baby boy. Adrienne placed him in my arms immediately,and he was beautiful. Beautiful, but blue.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV7-1nSp4viMwCs2rJq60FeVKMkeRSAyfkcXbQdPLXvsAT-e749OqT4Dk9_dVtf0yvxu96MTyN0jGrtfXB2w0_SYbe6Y5Ch4EhGtvFOCiFYWhcmZUEk8MGkvtDNtFvc3dI6IebdEPQ0e_1/s1600/march+2012+119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV7-1nSp4viMwCs2rJq60FeVKMkeRSAyfkcXbQdPLXvsAT-e749OqT4Dk9_dVtf0yvxu96MTyN0jGrtfXB2w0_SYbe6Y5Ch4EhGtvFOCiFYWhcmZUEk8MGkvtDNtFvc3dI6IebdEPQ0e_1/s320/march+2012+119.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Time stood still. He wasn't breathing. I looked at his beautiful face and willed him to breathe. My body, my heart, my soul filled with silent prayers, pleading with my Heavenly Father to help him breathe. My mom later told me there was fairly well defined line running across his chest; he had normal color below that line, but above it, he was blue. Any pain I was in only a moment before was forgotten, all of me just wanted to hear my baby's cry. I was asking him, begging him to breathe. Someone told me to rub his back, which I did, but he was still silent.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkK6l-cEfSgRUriCFw6PlGhTCqupoLZvszsjK0X3L3zZMt0ptVnSCb4piXtLleZQ_Y3IRQlOMZCM9YHcZKq3v_imu6vpSajmpibnzuKJsC2DYp-RVfLhcZFqlZwRmnaFAiSTWNUZfbW3U_/s1600/March+2012+092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkK6l-cEfSgRUriCFw6PlGhTCqupoLZvszsjK0X3L3zZMt0ptVnSCb4piXtLleZQ_Y3IRQlOMZCM9YHcZKq3v_imu6vpSajmpibnzuKJsC2DYp-RVfLhcZFqlZwRmnaFAiSTWNUZfbW3U_/s320/March+2012+092.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>The nurse (it happened so fast, the midwife still wasn't there) told me she was going to get the clamps to cut the cord. She did so quickly and he was whisked from my arms to the warming table where there was suddenly a crew of people working on him. Not long after, I heard the most beautiful sound in the world, my baby crying. Time started again, and so did my heart. I was immediately filled with happiness and wonder and gratitude. The whole ordeal probably only lasted a couple minutes, but with time frozen, they were perhaps the longest minutes of my life. I looked up to see my loving husband smiling at me, telling me how beautiful the baby was, what an amazing job I had done. I was so grateful he was there for me at that moment. To see his big smile made me feel like things really were going to be okay.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxYFm1vqsCjy6skA9x2EAMqa-JFc77zfAIkKdE5mePLJkQ1WjwgfXA6AAIWxcBcx8whPZJaHIOSTtqieisI1jEzuEy5n7weekGVlnxoqP7qO4ZiofP_qlU2YOEkguTmN29bmwOADdR3gBU/s1600/2012+April+029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxYFm1vqsCjy6skA9x2EAMqa-JFc77zfAIkKdE5mePLJkQ1WjwgfXA6AAIWxcBcx8whPZJaHIOSTtqieisI1jEzuEy5n7weekGVlnxoqP7qO4ZiofP_qlU2YOEkguTmN29bmwOADdR3gBU/s320/2012+April+029.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
When he was actually born (at 5:26, only an hour after I was a 6 1/2), Me, Bill, my mom, and the nurse were the only ones in the room. Now, there were probably 15 people, circling around the baby, a couple attending to me. The midwife asked me if I was okay to get out of the now empty bath. I said I was, and walked over to the bed. I felt shaky, but good. Really good. Elated even. My 8 lb 1oz bundle was here! The Thomas Tallis was still circling in the air, but the real music was from the sweet cry I could hear. I just wanted to hold him. More than anything, I wanted to hold him. As I lay in the bed, delivered the placenta, and got stitched up, I kept waiting for them to bring him to me.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHMNvqUaZFTnYwWnuQF2KWWLbCe125r2c2ZjSaVD6PmQCHeo7zNzuihTj2AcY1qqjy_KvycFtHbfkdKjH-o8QRCTuSoGW_L0LvuepOcoNFH7OAL760RVwtGNkychVNyGLLh-NoDAILsgCl/s1600/March+2012+101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHMNvqUaZFTnYwWnuQF2KWWLbCe125r2c2ZjSaVD6PmQCHeo7zNzuihTj2AcY1qqjy_KvycFtHbfkdKjH-o8QRCTuSoGW_L0LvuepOcoNFH7OAL760RVwtGNkychVNyGLLh-NoDAILsgCl/s320/March+2012+101.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>After some time, Adrienne told me that his cry wasn't exactly a good cry. I couldn't believe it. It was the sound I was praying for. To my untrained ear, it sounded perfect. Apparently, though, it sounded labored. He was struggling to breathe and they wanted to take him to the intermediate nursery to be monitored. After giving him to me for one moment longer, they swept him away. Bill, the already doting daddy, went with him, which was what I wanted. I had to stay in my room to recover, have my belly mashed on (owie!) and have my own monitoring. My mom, who had been busy snapping pictures of little mister's first moments was going to stay with me. I am extremely grateful she was there. I think I would have gone crazy if it was just hospital staff. Jack got there 10-20 minutes after the delivery. He apologized, and told me he had run two red lights to try to get there. I told him it was fine, and was glad to see him. He saw the baby on the way to the nursery, and said he looked great.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_viW-nfBv8NE329anPhlPXbaBjZo-1DZxw-dpnRTKjfsORRUwF_M541EnWmtJ8UuJDbPrb9LlQ59ridLnTF2cH2vn1-Xt-fYKIx62o6vIcGOXhxb11_mZ8RBsDnUbVJMyI1HJrWAgLtek/s1600/March+2012+043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_viW-nfBv8NE329anPhlPXbaBjZo-1DZxw-dpnRTKjfsORRUwF_M541EnWmtJ8UuJDbPrb9LlQ59ridLnTF2cH2vn1-Xt-fYKIx62o6vIcGOXhxb11_mZ8RBsDnUbVJMyI1HJrWAgLtek/s320/March+2012+043.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
I had to be in the room for two hours. Those hours seemed incredibly long. All I wanted was to hold my new baby boy. I was on a high, and had just experienced something incredible. I talked and talked about it, saying the same things over and over again. I really can not imagine what it would be like if my baby had to go to the NICU, or anything like that. My sister, Amy's oldest, Sophie, was born at 28 weeks, and only 1 lb 12 oz. Amy wasn't able to hold her for a week, and then, only for a few days before Sophie got sick again. I really don't know how I would handle that. Not well. This experience, though, made me really chatty. I would have been focusing on the baby, but since I couldn't see him, I just talked, and talked some more about the craziness that had just ensued. My mom was great, smiling and laughing with me and showing me pictures she had taken.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjydl2SPa_EAIeszkRC0BVOoLcuOQB7GhY2oAv4OXDDlek1LFWXNK06JcCGa-4gaQkNoWDpspBgsq2aSSZneKGG5_J8aDSqegxat1yN1qJkDej_LgSeRQIGg8yxRpzshiLysmHZ1SBW_LwB/s1600/March+2012+037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjydl2SPa_EAIeszkRC0BVOoLcuOQB7GhY2oAv4OXDDlek1LFWXNK06JcCGa-4gaQkNoWDpspBgsq2aSSZneKGG5_J8aDSqegxat1yN1qJkDej_LgSeRQIGg8yxRpzshiLysmHZ1SBW_LwB/s320/March+2012+037.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>At about 7:30, we were able to go to the "Mother Baby room" where we would be for the rest of our hospital stay. We got there at just the same time Bill and our new baby got there. His breathing had been getting better and better, and they deemed him okay to come be with me. I immediately picked him up and took in his beauty. He was truly beautiful. In the delivery room, I kept hearing how badly his face was bruised, but it really didn't look very bad. My heart grew and made room for a new soul to love. He was warm, and sweet and perfect.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYLRZUVR_QSt5T1yW6_mRZsvR_BAuOLDWxZ-6t75T5Iumr3S3WMz-uhAwPm4-ify5wH2wJPNrJFNwB_m6TWaOVftays-cNC5QiMVvXNOQqGbcxAcQvgekgypr6FThH1tXV_5erN7RliMg4/s1600/March+2012+013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYLRZUVR_QSt5T1yW6_mRZsvR_BAuOLDWxZ-6t75T5Iumr3S3WMz-uhAwPm4-ify5wH2wJPNrJFNwB_m6TWaOVftays-cNC5QiMVvXNOQqGbcxAcQvgekgypr6FThH1tXV_5erN7RliMg4/s320/March+2012+013.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>It has been three weeks from that crazy day, and life has been amazing. I keep waiting to crash, but I've felt great! This perfect little baby fills me with such joy. We decided on his name the morning after he was born. Henry had always been my top pick, but it just didn't seem to fit. Roman, which was a latecomer to our name list, just felt right. Bill liked it's manly qualities, and I liked everything about it. It was definitely him.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix2As-_gxhPk9F0RADN3FYU6cfWBZJkCgEWl3dXtyRCG8-goXDTCmIPrbM0Huag-dFc2qcXFvqx-g-dmYMBsgSP31LZHfKXCdCmD_HCoZTvUStc89tYv_I810TfS8LvUOnnbSN7m7tCG8d/s1600/march+2012+330.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix2As-_gxhPk9F0RADN3FYU6cfWBZJkCgEWl3dXtyRCG8-goXDTCmIPrbM0Huag-dFc2qcXFvqx-g-dmYMBsgSP31LZHfKXCdCmD_HCoZTvUStc89tYv_I810TfS8LvUOnnbSN7m7tCG8d/s320/march+2012+330.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
He has been such a sweet baby. He loves to be held, and, lucky him, we love to hold him. His snuggles are sweet, and he gives them freely. Little grunts and squeaks some from him regularly, the cutest little grunts you could imagine. He eats like a champion nurser and is filling out. His little legs are less chicken-like and his cheeks are getting fuller. This baby smiles real smiles already. I am not crazy, he really does. At eleven days old, I saw him (so did my mom and Bill) do it three times. Since then, he has smiled in response to us every day at least once. Sally and Alice love him. They like to hold him and talk to him. In the hospital, Alice looked at him with complete amazement. I've never seen her so fascinated with anything. Sally has been really helpful. She gets me diapers and supplies and loves to try to entertain him. Alice tries to calm him down with sweet singing or talking to him. They are both really great big sisters. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs1tlu_f2WtMxXOQEoZXfsmKryEyEdCfL1GYBGcrLc9C8ezn83LdfVpVhHzD65353X546fRXeHS4hr52Xbo5QlNnjZD0ujF9kC6O-TD0714Gsto_hEKHVZHsXk6kESVn3D7Wd33xe7irHq/s1600/March+2012+031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs1tlu_f2WtMxXOQEoZXfsmKryEyEdCfL1GYBGcrLc9C8ezn83LdfVpVhHzD65353X546fRXeHS4hr52Xbo5QlNnjZD0ujF9kC6O-TD0714Gsto_hEKHVZHsXk6kESVn3D7Wd33xe7irHq/s320/March+2012+031.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>It amazes me how quickly a baby becomes so normal in your life. It's as if little Roman was meant to be here. I already can't imagine life without him, and it's hard to think of life before him. I know he is supposed to be in our family. We just love him so much! This year, our spring was brought in with new life. I look forward to celebrating that beautiful life at the beginning of spring every year. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUdKzqFnJ-MMwTLfRoUgzvN-aS70_rVVXA_-0eEvZusG2K1CBE8fBQKEC-1erQ0ojqvWskXctU2bBX7GAG4rIHhFlY9F1absmX84t6tMmDNQIbAV_y8VtAqmrRB8Hkv_B-uSsZZLzX4za7/s1600/2012+April+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUdKzqFnJ-MMwTLfRoUgzvN-aS70_rVVXA_-0eEvZusG2K1CBE8fBQKEC-1erQ0ojqvWskXctU2bBX7GAG4rIHhFlY9F1absmX84t6tMmDNQIbAV_y8VtAqmrRB8Hkv_B-uSsZZLzX4za7/s320/2012+April+005.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Emily Nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15675464862972489536noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8417057786397154729.post-88877278074703455212011-01-06T19:56:00.000-08:002011-01-06T19:56:41.350-08:00To Remember...I have been the lamest blogger this last year. Not that anyone really cares, but this is supposedly my journal, and I am doing a bad job keeping up on my journal. I blame facebook. It feels similar, but doesn't really record things the same way. Anyway, I wanted to record some of the things that I don't want to forget about this stage of my life. The pictures may or may not be related.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNZBh3NATNGaIc9ZuCWtS7cpRL-0pOGWGukgrk4MRuDXU3bnjJhFDkuJas0YWINSNQW-2Jk7iKUeTrE30J2MdJz8ZARYT7bgeuW8J8ms30aAF4ZcDx8p4KYBme-c4tq1ckOBToFiIzOFNI/s1600/december+10+048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNZBh3NATNGaIc9ZuCWtS7cpRL-0pOGWGukgrk4MRuDXU3bnjJhFDkuJas0YWINSNQW-2Jk7iKUeTrE30J2MdJz8ZARYT7bgeuW8J8ms30aAF4ZcDx8p4KYBme-c4tq1ckOBToFiIzOFNI/s320/december+10+048.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
-The combining of sounds just clicked for Sally- she's now a reader! She's reading all kinds of words- even some I thought may be a little tricky! I am SO proud of her!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGc3uoSyE1znG9auFQNv-1D7x7tF8H68pXYwywcemhFCBzYGWiNytKmHJWwO91Zv4QfdQrzdswKZGXgbKNJ_K-MGQmGr55dVkvCjwJl2tyF8kMFGZq4U0682llk0x1I5ySUQa9vseo148x/s1600/december+10+027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGc3uoSyE1znG9auFQNv-1D7x7tF8H68pXYwywcemhFCBzYGWiNytKmHJWwO91Zv4QfdQrzdswKZGXgbKNJ_K-MGQmGr55dVkvCjwJl2tyF8kMFGZq4U0682llk0x1I5ySUQa9vseo148x/s320/december+10+027.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>-The way Alice says, "Thank you. So much." Which almost sounds like "Bank you. So much." I love how the "so much" is said as its own sentence for extra emphasis. It is super sweet and never fails to make me smile.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Q8YdM0beSaJDjzsfeZD5SsfnszRR9kOV7wfnrM-APpYaWNVOGIOvtbVcqEKKzj21g9h_hsCu_ZgJZ17uLkmovFH-jdk7UtAiOgXaCnrmJHUKBU4jazKyt8MUovBK_EGE5bPzU1SEG1a9/s1600/december+10+025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Q8YdM0beSaJDjzsfeZD5SsfnszRR9kOV7wfnrM-APpYaWNVOGIOvtbVcqEKKzj21g9h_hsCu_ZgJZ17uLkmovFH-jdk7UtAiOgXaCnrmJHUKBU4jazKyt8MUovBK_EGE5bPzU1SEG1a9/s320/december+10+025.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">-Sally will not wear jeans, or khakis or courds or anything that has what calls "lines" in them. This takes out any pants with the adjustable waist band, which is tricky when you have a long legged skinny little thing like her.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvmLs2MsYpxcUdD1vnnwF3fmWjp_lX6fswYtY74oVb3VGtJiO_tQjkHQ9dE8wM91kNT1hiyG-UCocsi9LxVZJceX08zBvJwNS9nZzFov8EOelHoiS9DeyWQypgVrZjfhRErelfcr4BquWK/s1600/december+10+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvmLs2MsYpxcUdD1vnnwF3fmWjp_lX6fswYtY74oVb3VGtJiO_tQjkHQ9dE8wM91kNT1hiyG-UCocsi9LxVZJceX08zBvJwNS9nZzFov8EOelHoiS9DeyWQypgVrZjfhRErelfcr4BquWK/s320/december+10+006.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">-Alice's amazingly sweet and kissable cheeks. And the fact that she lets me kiss to my hearts content- well, most of the time.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip8Ki-ne9_MK1WoqZc1dd2Ut6vYxUsPJSO3tRfN9l6xST9RwswT9e0hTngyc3pwiCqfNYAiMjf6havyc89As48joGfnynFQyJh-JViLJi4etMZC840Znzcp5cLfzOb0ssqRw6_zajMW6B2/s1600/december+10+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip8Ki-ne9_MK1WoqZc1dd2Ut6vYxUsPJSO3tRfN9l6xST9RwswT9e0hTngyc3pwiCqfNYAiMjf6havyc89As48joGfnynFQyJh-JViLJi4etMZC840Znzcp5cLfzOb0ssqRw6_zajMW6B2/s320/december+10+012.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">- Sally's love for school. She wants to go EVERY day. Sometimes the promise of school is the best motivator.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxxTGIRepQ9v8ez44ZKsECIBXtBBE8-u8ytiBpE3gR8dvevV7G6_cSV2mR6v57SYONHZEIEuOyaBnG7alSXhZEoWlL-Rt0Kc9N36G9t-ukrEjPPDTxZd1f1mXy2RaOq3ByPqGsnjYw2AWe/s1600/december+10+059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxxTGIRepQ9v8ez44ZKsECIBXtBBE8-u8ytiBpE3gR8dvevV7G6_cSV2mR6v57SYONHZEIEuOyaBnG7alSXhZEoWlL-Rt0Kc9N36G9t-ukrEjPPDTxZd1f1mXy2RaOq3ByPqGsnjYw2AWe/s320/december+10+059.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">- Alice takes the food off her plate, onto the table where she mixes it, and only then (and only sometimes) will she use a utensil to eat it. Usually, it's done with hands, or using hands to put something on a utensil. She can use them, as she shows me when we have a brothy soup, but she much prefers This makes for a messy right sleeve for me since she sits to my right and her first choice for getting my attention is tugging at my arm.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrX3yWBZTs8i9bSETZrzK9CDJ32ywGVB5FkgWW7-Tqlt2zBxjFocA8DOrW8lF9AO34IXQWWJ4JgYy7A2h1nLEVer1Pj16WtiWfCSmJ4LIiCKlBG-F0krLGZCWF1J7iiw1cvpr7U_IqOUdU/s1600/december+10+051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrX3yWBZTs8i9bSETZrzK9CDJ32ywGVB5FkgWW7-Tqlt2zBxjFocA8DOrW8lF9AO34IXQWWJ4JgYy7A2h1nLEVer1Pj16WtiWfCSmJ4LIiCKlBG-F0krLGZCWF1J7iiw1cvpr7U_IqOUdU/s320/december+10+051.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
-We love the book "Guess How Much I Love You" at our house. I often tell my girls. "I love you right up to the moon...and back." To which Sally now replies, "I love you right up to the stars, and forwards." <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4dI1QsQfYpSpwcTxSioNOEQMtzj_aiESrQcfF0UBAfYaxvH6-9IIK1ShRwYbS7eNcOHKPnsjigC6RlFNspB6bjnt5H-qa0DRfIHTNzXLmptRj7N9EELVnKW5WxLr0EsCBo5YO-QSQwVPp/s1600/december+10+069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4dI1QsQfYpSpwcTxSioNOEQMtzj_aiESrQcfF0UBAfYaxvH6-9IIK1ShRwYbS7eNcOHKPnsjigC6RlFNspB6bjnt5H-qa0DRfIHTNzXLmptRj7N9EELVnKW5WxLr0EsCBo5YO-QSQwVPp/s320/december+10+069.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
- Alice swivels her hips as she runs.<br />
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-I love the feeling that I still get when Bill opens his arms, welcoming me in for some cuddles.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQK_g-CrbUkCD_k307OYWUkSoiURNhTgDFu46cLST8bptFwPaayV-swcLlvSsl3Y9J4OJtsTDCTqpjSWGL0XXrZhRAWgdP5heoKu7N3mPVndDHTo9PQw0ExOtV73TuXKtYrEy5-0Qd7xsc/s1600/december+10+032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQK_g-CrbUkCD_k307OYWUkSoiURNhTgDFu46cLST8bptFwPaayV-swcLlvSsl3Y9J4OJtsTDCTqpjSWGL0XXrZhRAWgdP5heoKu7N3mPVndDHTo9PQw0ExOtV73TuXKtYrEy5-0Qd7xsc/s320/december+10+032.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>-Sally will give lots of spontaneous hugs and kisses and the girl LOVES cuddling.<br />
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-I'm pretty sure Alice thinks the song Jingle Bells is about Tinker Bell.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpbVJ4uUxTPMtUmDItsmMAK-mGt54opBNG06zYBhG_NdE38WF_VkZ9e4az2FpePicJf0arv1XMrH1wmfcYDtbfiyTdVdqW9A4cB8UjjKS9bJfx-4FtyppYUjxcxCnf694XGoT0iLaIDosk/s1600/nov%252C+dec+2010+038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpbVJ4uUxTPMtUmDItsmMAK-mGt54opBNG06zYBhG_NdE38WF_VkZ9e4az2FpePicJf0arv1XMrH1wmfcYDtbfiyTdVdqW9A4cB8UjjKS9bJfx-4FtyppYUjxcxCnf694XGoT0iLaIDosk/s320/nov%252C+dec+2010+038.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>-Sally is one of the least shy people I know. She is willing to make friends with EVERYONE. She has such confidence and has no doubt that everybody wants to be her friend. There has been many a time I've seen her holding hands with a new friend at the park or at the chik-fil-a play place.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoZ3vhIO7SktfZR6kWwGKVbh-j64yV9ExBrHWSVU2ksNkmbPP0_8FTCBz6KQl6vFNrrqnREM-G7bhd_P4gMu_AkDW9eIXb5JbxLozpPVUFQuPu7d_-vbe3f0iV-cUth0ocALOItqn-1bNo/s1600/november+10+045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoZ3vhIO7SktfZR6kWwGKVbh-j64yV9ExBrHWSVU2ksNkmbPP0_8FTCBz6KQl6vFNrrqnREM-G7bhd_P4gMu_AkDW9eIXb5JbxLozpPVUFQuPu7d_-vbe3f0iV-cUth0ocALOItqn-1bNo/s320/november+10+045.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
-When Alice wants to get our attention, she often says in a loud voice, "Quiet! Quiet! Quiet!", over and over. When it's really important, she'll put her sweet little hands on both of my cheeks and tell me with great conviction whatever it is that needs telling. <br />
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-Sally has named most of her dolls something with Rose in the name. There's Rosie, Rose Petal, Rose Flower, Flower Rose, and then there's Fairy Leaf. Her mermaids, however, are named Sunshine and Perla. Santa brought Sally a doll house and it is such a joy to see her dolls go on adventure after adventure.<br />
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-I loved, loved, LOVED the time we got to enjoy with Bill working from home. I'm sad to see it go, but so grateful that we had that time. I am, however, looking forward to the new insurance!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy3KpxUk6TnB4NuE-JCyHR572wdsHr8DUKEaex60MU9Y0M7Ea-7-dmggcYMxNFWzMpM4ILOS25qv7Fti1gYaVhRdEO6I1D1BTn7zL98jE2pEQMXJwqp3WdqOBKcQmOIrPxk0xGHJcflLK_/s1600/december+10+014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy3KpxUk6TnB4NuE-JCyHR572wdsHr8DUKEaex60MU9Y0M7Ea-7-dmggcYMxNFWzMpM4ILOS25qv7Fti1gYaVhRdEO6I1D1BTn7zL98jE2pEQMXJwqp3WdqOBKcQmOIrPxk0xGHJcflLK_/s320/december+10+014.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>- Alice gets a little shy sometimes and it is pretty adorable. She purses her lips slightly and puts her head down a bit and looks up, but not at the offending persons eyes. A little sad, but so, so sweet.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiNfYLU8vjFO1ZacOHpgMAirm4QZpxzOClU9fqxEImsx9x19D104V2LRFGYKSuHEQxiLWjxxmBB3yK4rzX88X-8ZfsCba8oZ9PTJDAjcLWpetxSBXhQymwkm4EOwswXM61_HNzninwTzNT/s1600/november+10+046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiNfYLU8vjFO1ZacOHpgMAirm4QZpxzOClU9fqxEImsx9x19D104V2LRFGYKSuHEQxiLWjxxmBB3yK4rzX88X-8ZfsCba8oZ9PTJDAjcLWpetxSBXhQymwkm4EOwswXM61_HNzninwTzNT/s320/november+10+046.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>-I am continually amazed at how much real joy my family brings me. I am so blessed; so grateful.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP3SNVuS3SLan9LmUS2-j5ZK8Vd9LoYfyhTVk6OokNTjOmHrMa3ttp18YJksdp4pQxOL2mvpANvpgYU9tEiRukCdRKRONOXpmNIW7al3O9yNndf7cG_RbTb4G29RkcpTr0U16I4MhhtxlD/s1600/nov%252C+dec+2010+022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP3SNVuS3SLan9LmUS2-j5ZK8Vd9LoYfyhTVk6OokNTjOmHrMa3ttp18YJksdp4pQxOL2mvpANvpgYU9tEiRukCdRKRONOXpmNIW7al3O9yNndf7cG_RbTb4G29RkcpTr0U16I4MhhtxlD/s320/nov%252C+dec+2010+022.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Emily Nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15675464862972489536noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8417057786397154729.post-64070331100290866182010-09-29T07:19:00.000-07:002010-09-29T07:19:15.022-07:00Salt Lake City, baby!I love Salt Lake City. I love the mountains surrounding it, I love how the numbers in addresses actually correspond to something, I love the how it seems to be filled with incredibly hot moms running about in cute clothes and kids in even cuter clothes. Okay, maybe that last one is not so much a love. But, the people I know in Utah is definitely the biggest love of all.<br />
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We went out a couple weeks ago for a fantastic trip. Here are a few (or more than a few) details of our fun filled time.<br />
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We went to This is the Place Park, one of the days. It's a great place replicating what early Salt Lake was like. The staff is all in costume, and there are lots of early saint activities for the kids, as well as a train and pony rides. There's even a little Indian Village. I've only been at Christmas (which is also awesome) for many years, but it is such a great place! Just remember if you go to the BBQ restaurant there, be prepares to wait. And then wait some more. We waited for more than 45 minutes for BBQ sandwiches and hot dogs. Sally even fell asleep! Other than that, though, the day was fantastic.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy5kykUIjZmmB9um7KhV452-ZJKPv_Pi6VHDPbVNc_WDCfc-0GohI7pwRj_trxlnSuxWRQV-SvruX9mEpOCqkf1WU57FId5AXKE4bAMIWIF5rapQhwrIRIUZqPiIDMDBq7M2Id1f2X5qp7/s1600/IMG_3071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy5kykUIjZmmB9um7KhV452-ZJKPv_Pi6VHDPbVNc_WDCfc-0GohI7pwRj_trxlnSuxWRQV-SvruX9mEpOCqkf1WU57FId5AXKE4bAMIWIF5rapQhwrIRIUZqPiIDMDBq7M2Id1f2X5qp7/s320/IMG_3071.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVPaH1RUKEuxguV2EcLSI1-qr2D9kmRvTlhh6Uy3wdFFf9w0zQBuKE12a6GIPhmbFTgQeoPc0cA2zxdgbGjHAhvbsLwgWl7mIQokhgReRGm7tnLdzLkk0O1UKal-TGBG39ImPq7HwAjFVc/s1600/IMG_3072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVPaH1RUKEuxguV2EcLSI1-qr2D9kmRvTlhh6Uy3wdFFf9w0zQBuKE12a6GIPhmbFTgQeoPc0cA2zxdgbGjHAhvbsLwgWl7mIQokhgReRGm7tnLdzLkk0O1UKal-TGBG39ImPq7HwAjFVc/s320/IMG_3072.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>We spent no time wasted and put the kids to work plowing the fields.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUQIy8OkO4zRZ-RwMgsmL84L516V2RYwfpUGV8jvvRo82L1u0_5h6IdBpVLygfInrFlLSczVC17sxnZJqNB6OJSDkisErirpWO6vo74QJDlhYm-3CCGI-MUR4_SF2VhyphenhypheneZh5GjjKQ67PWr/s1600/IMG_3079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUQIy8OkO4zRZ-RwMgsmL84L516V2RYwfpUGV8jvvRo82L1u0_5h6IdBpVLygfInrFlLSczVC17sxnZJqNB6OJSDkisErirpWO6vo74QJDlhYm-3CCGI-MUR4_SF2VhyphenhypheneZh5GjjKQ67PWr/s320/IMG_3079.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>While Alice ate the authentic treat of Animal Crackers.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix4ThGWiPlYIcGNPwo3onONAEN4PJM6ALAlcy-GmGTywG2eONPJMdID6Oemsuj5xF_O-b7gaR6SRDdUDt8Wc50iNOwC6XRQbcDtn-x1lS0DWcWahA7lqDAcm0QzmhMzZGP85bv6opVxzaw/s1600/IMG_3080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix4ThGWiPlYIcGNPwo3onONAEN4PJM6ALAlcy-GmGTywG2eONPJMdID6Oemsuj5xF_O-b7gaR6SRDdUDt8Wc50iNOwC6XRQbcDtn-x1lS0DWcWahA7lqDAcm0QzmhMzZGP85bv6opVxzaw/s320/IMG_3080.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqbFvRatwqTbZyC-eSRzk7lpxvub1a2SHsZJAM2hE7Wf5AKYzhy7taBBBLP3G8yyO7FYDzXuwNXEcFYqGXrwlJt_n0ZqaAIjmXcPL-fPPwug3SXAA7t_6dQ_9WPdAt_8Kb7saETcGQHu8h/s1600/IMG_3080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">.</a>I don't remember what they are looking at, but it must be something cute, because they are adorable! Amy is always awesome, full of great conversation, great mommy skills (her kids and house are just wonderful), and it's all packed into a cute little body no mother of a 3 month old (now 4) should have. I'm lucky to have her as my sister.</div><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/AVvXsEjf_bjtCLcSYhUE23Nh-JCQI1WQOWTrOexf04QBAg8m4mjjVSZeAfC87b2-E9Omhd5weDHN4dkyRgLHPNs7oAVMd1OkUZlEEDFUjEY0BFbTC1webbu8w8AfPXUH3xm75EJxsJuI5_qq1O2Q/s1600/IMG_3081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf_bjtCLcSYhUE23Nh-JCQI1WQOWTrOexf04QBAg8m4mjjVSZeAfC87b2-E9Omhd5weDHN4dkyRgLHPNs7oAVMd1OkUZlEEDFUjEY0BFbTC1webbu8w8AfPXUH3xm75EJxsJuI5_qq1O2Q/s320/IMG_3081.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>She was so good! And they have a garden out back from which they produce all the dyes for the yarn. Super cool.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggbiXbVoQNGUPJk0DGauWQLcDJFw8tnnpAITyNxGZ8iCju6DSOLKu0Eug0u5NhltzVC88GqxiF1vvYo7lbzW3eGYM86TyeRM3LIpDjmCQzyg2uPhB6wLLjTzarIcT2svCQ_mgjGIH5GysG/s1600/IMG_3087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggbiXbVoQNGUPJk0DGauWQLcDJFw8tnnpAITyNxGZ8iCju6DSOLKu0Eug0u5NhltzVC88GqxiF1vvYo7lbzW3eGYM86TyeRM3LIpDjmCQzyg2uPhB6wLLjTzarIcT2svCQ_mgjGIH5GysG/s320/IMG_3087.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>They were beat!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOi3ILANBf9OMW6rh2hBBsjvpE8ThuaUVpBuk56OqadU0jTPukRZSZmCBS9zU1ETYyJrPcf1eyD5Lm39CJRAah11DKC22OQ4msB0XFAkno25esEsYXFr5cqUEa7HcbOmoztKzut5QX4JpZ/s1600/IMG_3093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOi3ILANBf9OMW6rh2hBBsjvpE8ThuaUVpBuk56OqadU0jTPukRZSZmCBS9zU1ETYyJrPcf1eyD5Lm39CJRAah11DKC22OQ4msB0XFAkno25esEsYXFr5cqUEa7HcbOmoztKzut5QX4JpZ/s320/IMG_3093.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Look at that yawn- it's bigger than Annie herself! I was SO happy to meet this beautiful little girl. She is very sweet and tiny and perfect. She liked me some of the time, but is a perfect angel for her mama. I was glad I got to see more of her at an awesome sleepover we had! The kids played, we played too, and talked and connected and it was all kinds of great. We also ate some delicious Indian food that night. Why is it that there are no Indian restaurants in Georgia? If anyone knows of a great one, let me know pronto.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJJl1e8bnIB2Op1tLdtYeJ-c1kPB3wpndSstDI1u3LldOLYFAGstCYbaLYQFa6VMPAYtuaGUlgfi77UkYuvyqvb-bm4eS4dmO_wWZWuq1zYVoWIJGCcK8ifacD2xVoWhUeDEcQiO7Mwdv-/s1600/IMG_3099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJJl1e8bnIB2Op1tLdtYeJ-c1kPB3wpndSstDI1u3LldOLYFAGstCYbaLYQFa6VMPAYtuaGUlgfi77UkYuvyqvb-bm4eS4dmO_wWZWuq1zYVoWIJGCcK8ifacD2xVoWhUeDEcQiO7Mwdv-/s320/IMG_3099.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Sophie is an AMAZING big sister. And loving oldest cousin. Sally is still talking about how cool she is. I love that girl.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6HSf0x1sp2dRxd7i21Mju3vC3SvidLsRxkpfjLRRm50JmUBtw5_8KdWLsGtsyyrw9EO40MSNezT3ZwGr3RoxFzRf2KgCRbJfMb1txep1l_zogWKWw2dj7lKUhTKX2uNO1MyELSTAVEn-Y/s1600/IMG_3100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6HSf0x1sp2dRxd7i21Mju3vC3SvidLsRxkpfjLRRm50JmUBtw5_8KdWLsGtsyyrw9EO40MSNezT3ZwGr3RoxFzRf2KgCRbJfMb1txep1l_zogWKWw2dj7lKUhTKX2uNO1MyELSTAVEn-Y/s320/IMG_3100.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Playing some sweet rock band. Sally is dancing here. She also very much enjoyed singing Dear Prudence, and the dear girl got some pretty good marks!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih_0xIf-IosidoeMNcXiMflxmfU0XA1yfpvyUQwCJkin5FwGz0ygKZjWDT7Bm4J5i-C9TgajuR0mLYIuIU6dtSVGlfBwzf20pYXN7_eBmg_6CqwHvN_xZw7F-ff1AFuh8DwxOLXKvxTchV/s1600/IMG_3102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih_0xIf-IosidoeMNcXiMflxmfU0XA1yfpvyUQwCJkin5FwGz0ygKZjWDT7Bm4J5i-C9TgajuR0mLYIuIU6dtSVGlfBwzf20pYXN7_eBmg_6CqwHvN_xZw7F-ff1AFuh8DwxOLXKvxTchV/s320/IMG_3102.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Look at those looks of determination! Here, Mari is pictured, she seems like a lovely girl- and so gorgeous.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiPzg3mzQC9zsrEn_Z1JPgdhEThp6Y2GZRW1zPcVVPGXQf3GNhVqXaTkcIZRB8yh3_bFc9WuviIbcVHr-RV09F7BBm5pQKR3o5cBW6H1RwMsXo3O21hAOJ3bp_KNCLnKCeXMQKcyK7Gh7e/s1600/IMG_3104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiPzg3mzQC9zsrEn_Z1JPgdhEThp6Y2GZRW1zPcVVPGXQf3GNhVqXaTkcIZRB8yh3_bFc9WuviIbcVHr-RV09F7BBm5pQKR3o5cBW6H1RwMsXo3O21hAOJ3bp_KNCLnKCeXMQKcyK7Gh7e/s320/IMG_3104.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Cute little Carson cracks me up. He's a funny kid and has one of the greatest voices a little boy could have.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikcEMkRTLK6ZReRjqIJ8Gtio6cOiKaLre-XQ-3WNIxuffrM8V-KcwwwLfYceJXUrvOgKxaPXOlaTx7GWlaMdy4ybhkF8YfqwWskwuIG5Rz2rsI8fGG0heR_LFBmnR2HX2aaY7YRw7AAzks/s1600/IMG_3107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikcEMkRTLK6ZReRjqIJ8Gtio6cOiKaLre-XQ-3WNIxuffrM8V-KcwwwLfYceJXUrvOgKxaPXOlaTx7GWlaMdy4ybhkF8YfqwWskwuIG5Rz2rsI8fGG0heR_LFBmnR2HX2aaY7YRw7AAzks/s320/IMG_3107.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Cameron. The adorable curly haired boy that I hear is fussy, but is always super sweet when I'm around. That's it. Reason enough to go to Utah many, many times each year.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ccIpyG9kd6BoeZYbfueo61jazlWojcb8eQfjU4xF7K0Sau8n6IvtgNz4IVQsFAm2Kij8O3FIip8xyA43eKXcBIYqTajWUvDz4bXlYJ5iKW9nOqJosmVQZD-gSfG_7h10lRLjVx5KaXmA/s1600/IMG_3110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ccIpyG9kd6BoeZYbfueo61jazlWojcb8eQfjU4xF7K0Sau8n6IvtgNz4IVQsFAm2Kij8O3FIip8xyA43eKXcBIYqTajWUvDz4bXlYJ5iKW9nOqJosmVQZD-gSfG_7h10lRLjVx5KaXmA/s320/IMG_3110.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>The kids made a kind of fort out of Grandpa's truck- don't worry, Dad, they were good,<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZySzI0adfMnFQAxA-9Muv04MSZ4o5uwJepMumSbxGf90Vh-UTNK56LAXkHTE2WnpxaAXNg9zYpPOCLapp2V_cCVfj4eis-kPl1W0qsndYV9OZsCkp_nt1yjoLiHz6VCnZWZfUi3A-AZ_N/s1600/IMG_3111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZySzI0adfMnFQAxA-9Muv04MSZ4o5uwJepMumSbxGf90Vh-UTNK56LAXkHTE2WnpxaAXNg9zYpPOCLapp2V_cCVfj4eis-kPl1W0qsndYV9OZsCkp_nt1yjoLiHz6VCnZWZfUi3A-AZ_N/s320/IMG_3111.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Alice liked the car too! I know it's hard to see, but she looks very cute here.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7nefL890NEY78upKinlU-qSZxnYuNdmRS55UgKK3iG3fFo7Ju20mT1AgWwbP5y_BOHbPziyxHWioM0DTuZ2KpjroWGbtHk9a0d406-aruAi_p0HrjzAtQ6aY2WCUWLMzXEx_uV9JXuYYE/s1600/IMG_3114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7nefL890NEY78upKinlU-qSZxnYuNdmRS55UgKK3iG3fFo7Ju20mT1AgWwbP5y_BOHbPziyxHWioM0DTuZ2KpjroWGbtHk9a0d406-aruAi_p0HrjzAtQ6aY2WCUWLMzXEx_uV9JXuYYE/s320/IMG_3114.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>One of the things on my list of things to do was visit the mountains. Now, going on a real hike is a little tricky wit kids my age, but there is a GORGEOUS trail around Secret Lake that is very family friendly, and did I mention beautiful? I love the mountains, and aside from the great people there, one of the things I miss most about Utah. I love it that the morning after we got in, Sally looked out the window, and said, "Whoah! Those mountains sure are big!" And they are. Big, terribly impressive, humbling mountains.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMMTz-y1_znLTSUDJVmullghZBPnB3jbOWad18lBw2m48mJHJRfnF2iZNn6H5yaG4spYMd_FYRrECwivs5ISu4nl6Oa40idvh1qg9QCbGXA9ebD54o6ca0EyCIrHEnGkx46yqCyEFDtqRc/s1600/IMG_3117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMMTz-y1_znLTSUDJVmullghZBPnB3jbOWad18lBw2m48mJHJRfnF2iZNn6H5yaG4spYMd_FYRrECwivs5ISu4nl6Oa40idvh1qg9QCbGXA9ebD54o6ca0EyCIrHEnGkx46yqCyEFDtqRc/s320/IMG_3117.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx5RFwu0TzVqWJEZiFf8GMgcNT9FbfCTUYr2lScPj-psyqhhtlCZCvKZfyeOtdUEGnvNjoej1RcMemwFtt_EYvqrSGP61yR3nQbQUHEYBJLtHDeKowEozrtNCUxBuqhcSqz0LcarzYVn3_/s1600/IMG_3118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx5RFwu0TzVqWJEZiFf8GMgcNT9FbfCTUYr2lScPj-psyqhhtlCZCvKZfyeOtdUEGnvNjoej1RcMemwFtt_EYvqrSGP61yR3nQbQUHEYBJLtHDeKowEozrtNCUxBuqhcSqz0LcarzYVn3_/s320/IMG_3118.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Look at that cute Grandpa! I LOVE my dad, and it is always so great to see him. One event that is not pictures, was a party we had with the people from his ward. He and my Mom are currently serving as missionaries in a Spanish ward. The people were great, and it is obvious they love my parents. My parents love them too- they just signed up for another 2 years! This is an amazing calling for my parents. They make real differences in these people's lives. My mom has said it's perfect for my dad, because it keeps him very busy- he likes to be busy. I'm sure it's also terribly fulfilling.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk1B8dzF81vdTUmFZbZUm67OSg3Mgeuw2mMIhs8_Skm-3QAxuLX0xZJTiEe50IwEbUmovGf1j9LS2nAvq_KZnI6SjsREGphBPOqawBGfAMDs7FJU4cDcDtKjhN-kZbpyQVsFRhCDR3YVn2/s1600/IMG_3120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk1B8dzF81vdTUmFZbZUm67OSg3Mgeuw2mMIhs8_Skm-3QAxuLX0xZJTiEe50IwEbUmovGf1j9LS2nAvq_KZnI6SjsREGphBPOqawBGfAMDs7FJU4cDcDtKjhN-kZbpyQVsFRhCDR3YVn2/s320/IMG_3120.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifrtDqTH1wxqL5vWYjesQ1EW_mNgNlFSHEVgTqWIMfwJ9xhcuxh9wEhT1LeEZjBtQ4mPQZ522s26cCQQAYNsT56jFZnqq2YkjwRw8d-keHI1vdQwergIexsSpjukza3uN1M4T4NLqyJMGo/s1600/IMG_3123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifrtDqTH1wxqL5vWYjesQ1EW_mNgNlFSHEVgTqWIMfwJ9xhcuxh9wEhT1LeEZjBtQ4mPQZ522s26cCQQAYNsT56jFZnqq2YkjwRw8d-keHI1vdQwergIexsSpjukza3uN1M4T4NLqyJMGo/s320/IMG_3123.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>The kids all collected great little bits of nature. Sally was VERY into this.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDzPwLPQjIb6pHqqQFigRtsEsnYsOGiYqaEMmTxi6AYUDSRvr3PX1ypFNylW_7_F5bcJ_1C7nikh9mNVeMJN9eQ3AVY3YBljaWuVLqTZHQWooFGSHTAz22QDQ1wAMrhMmUhJIy1Fsy02Ad/s1600/IMG_3124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDzPwLPQjIb6pHqqQFigRtsEsnYsOGiYqaEMmTxi6AYUDSRvr3PX1ypFNylW_7_F5bcJ_1C7nikh9mNVeMJN9eQ3AVY3YBljaWuVLqTZHQWooFGSHTAz22QDQ1wAMrhMmUhJIy1Fsy02Ad/s320/IMG_3124.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglKiYNQ1JSAa0UQmGqtQyCqbyxKtBNZaQTFUT767HyxaF-A97knPRq8bg0_Zeq2ZY65xVDtWgj3a7WPnMWa8m5NX_x_F7_CFX9WT_0LxiC-ncxWLBmorAsJuqkPdmEZr82IE-nWfE2pTLY/s1600/IMG_3130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglKiYNQ1JSAa0UQmGqtQyCqbyxKtBNZaQTFUT767HyxaF-A97knPRq8bg0_Zeq2ZY65xVDtWgj3a7WPnMWa8m5NX_x_F7_CFX9WT_0LxiC-ncxWLBmorAsJuqkPdmEZr82IE-nWfE2pTLY/s320/IMG_3130.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Alice, however, did NOT want to get out of the stroller. Which was fine, because neither did Annie.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUFIroSa12fj5YSrVRwAcf7RH7-6rZSvRay5UBxkV8iw4ygOFdouEAcdNqF8ItjO2HVRu3sfn7g07Jg6_9O41mQ2ddrUVfuWO0PzOs1uCnEKAZqJG4hYseTvmFwylcUuwlvajfj_B5qHUG/s1600/IMG_3138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUFIroSa12fj5YSrVRwAcf7RH7-6rZSvRay5UBxkV8iw4ygOFdouEAcdNqF8ItjO2HVRu3sfn7g07Jg6_9O41mQ2ddrUVfuWO0PzOs1uCnEKAZqJG4hYseTvmFwylcUuwlvajfj_B5qHUG/s320/IMG_3138.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Qz5FKuAyXJ2ndEDRhNtxpKDPVR9jZobenzB74c3tYp3BMoF6Zt6q_APN6bII1HUPJEa27ulqeuTHhfUrCyADUyCJLZUMeAy9G4-YJFXqvfLIP7akgR2raSSCtlMGqV1nq_SYJVROtmwa/s1600/IMG_3140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Qz5FKuAyXJ2ndEDRhNtxpKDPVR9jZobenzB74c3tYp3BMoF6Zt6q_APN6bII1HUPJEa27ulqeuTHhfUrCyADUyCJLZUMeAy9G4-YJFXqvfLIP7akgR2raSSCtlMGqV1nq_SYJVROtmwa/s320/IMG_3140.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Until she saw the ducks, she was and is all about animals. She loved feeding them- they would eat right out of her hand!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaNXatk-PDJj6OGQUZ8cWWDLDveheoZRwrvaocLCnRLdYii1D7Ycz8czJP_9TQGVkaDaCJZSRhyphenhyphenHfzwBu3LYjKRFfNxzczmbH1qcmHffVweIj863bRz2w5pR98qRe14CQaEEZB5Qh2rhUj/s1600/IMG_3146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaNXatk-PDJj6OGQUZ8cWWDLDveheoZRwrvaocLCnRLdYii1D7Ycz8czJP_9TQGVkaDaCJZSRhyphenhyphenHfzwBu3LYjKRFfNxzczmbH1qcmHffVweIj863bRz2w5pR98qRe14CQaEEZB5Qh2rhUj/s320/IMG_3146.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-qoPonVxfS58ylS69NVXXAPs8gk0vDopFA670s43UHOCaXSB6lR7YZMOjiOc_5sBB3fE_jbqr43-ap3PA4jgYmL4av6-YLoRsULokZ2VXSQPxT_FXLCbwoawR4ic3dsTgyPjvoCCKOoz4/s1600/IMG_3148.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-qoPonVxfS58ylS69NVXXAPs8gk0vDopFA670s43UHOCaXSB6lR7YZMOjiOc_5sBB3fE_jbqr43-ap3PA4jgYmL4av6-YLoRsULokZ2VXSQPxT_FXLCbwoawR4ic3dsTgyPjvoCCKOoz4/s320/IMG_3148.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>This is my dear friend Erika. I was SO glad to be able to spend some time with her. She's been my friend for ages- maybe 20 years!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipiRePPc25snqS6rYpQd86M8FVEdeZWDNGHQXRvS3HEuTc5E1pAwF4YXv7M4LGeKWmJklVEHuCTIlXb2qoqZKSrNP05patW48LvfKIAxgiq4RiJp5FXfazO2Cxb4kANhNtsVFi74dCAWa6/s1600/IMG_3149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipiRePPc25snqS6rYpQd86M8FVEdeZWDNGHQXRvS3HEuTc5E1pAwF4YXv7M4LGeKWmJklVEHuCTIlXb2qoqZKSrNP05patW48LvfKIAxgiq4RiJp5FXfazO2Cxb4kANhNtsVFi74dCAWa6/s320/IMG_3149.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpaf65O1veJKnVSdnkAPTK95RnDQUmSEy-JkuxnyCwX5CZuFz_sT2X1P_IZE_l9d47ETYt4xg53iuXAQg3tazhc6FajaDhSPwNAdy2MZlfvTXyq5h3BGMrP77fTYclTaW61s13IJqH8Suj/s1600/IMG_3157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpaf65O1veJKnVSdnkAPTK95RnDQUmSEy-JkuxnyCwX5CZuFz_sT2X1P_IZE_l9d47ETYt4xg53iuXAQg3tazhc6FajaDhSPwNAdy2MZlfvTXyq5h3BGMrP77fTYclTaW61s13IJqH8Suj/s320/IMG_3157.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>When we were young, we listened to a little Billy Joel. Or maybe Billy and were able to chat like old times. The picture I'm holding was taken when we were probably 13 or 14. We recreated it below...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAetgoCUcSY9Yq2H4pKpfYiraLSAyLdbGvpMADQf2XHifJz9S5Gg4WKSOVX5elLnpDyjiVSuHlvL4iLJc33FWVZIloXuvUC80X5POWuvutdskHrFqk5BfWnw_cZNTEktRZlcLT7i-A1UEB/s1600/IMG_3159.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAetgoCUcSY9Yq2H4pKpfYiraLSAyLdbGvpMADQf2XHifJz9S5Gg4WKSOVX5elLnpDyjiVSuHlvL4iLJc33FWVZIloXuvUC80X5POWuvutdskHrFqk5BfWnw_cZNTEktRZlcLT7i-A1UEB/s320/IMG_3159.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Cool, eh?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidKB9oFP-R2T01DGONemhTBx-AvdjinaElZ4hXc3FBl-VXve0rjzDDeiCUhZD5TU3BYXj7CeEaLeyQgpCZRM_uet52aHQYj4kfotoflinqjw5ZDR__oPx8k74H22JndeYQgnoblibpPvny/s1600/IMG_3162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidKB9oFP-R2T01DGONemhTBx-AvdjinaElZ4hXc3FBl-VXve0rjzDDeiCUhZD5TU3BYXj7CeEaLeyQgpCZRM_uet52aHQYj4kfotoflinqjw5ZDR__oPx8k74H22JndeYQgnoblibpPvny/s320/IMG_3162.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>We went to the Church history museum. It was neat- and free! We spent most of our time in the kids area, though the rest looked good also. It was a good thing we went when we did; they closed it to change it a couple days after we went.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCFTF3VmBJvUHWZLHe8MYgFWmGn7DJJYIIN6pHf4GbzDNHZ3bGGlr24Dp-xAY98KwOPOrHeh4xdxF_eFnVGM9FJvYuxEfs4Dr77MyMZYonSydvgotXnofUYXiAkcHVUxH-vE_Z0Q7Rieb7/s1600/IMG_3164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCFTF3VmBJvUHWZLHe8MYgFWmGn7DJJYIIN6pHf4GbzDNHZ3bGGlr24Dp-xAY98KwOPOrHeh4xdxF_eFnVGM9FJvYuxEfs4Dr77MyMZYonSydvgotXnofUYXiAkcHVUxH-vE_Z0Q7Rieb7/s320/IMG_3164.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Alice liked playing with the babies, even though some were heavy for her to even lift.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVQ0NXOOyaZ8z28RrGQHsh3UBlnCLxTulELS2qM6WgnxuJTf3dkG48GH4CPgO2-dJIETbnbzJa4CRu6vx4XLKcf5ElP5cXOqu1NhVoXuzfE8-S4rQptrPBVisDssdzAwUa_nqGmT04vJg_/s1600/IMG_3165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVQ0NXOOyaZ8z28RrGQHsh3UBlnCLxTulELS2qM6WgnxuJTf3dkG48GH4CPgO2-dJIETbnbzJa4CRu6vx4XLKcf5ElP5cXOqu1NhVoXuzfE8-S4rQptrPBVisDssdzAwUa_nqGmT04vJg_/s320/IMG_3165.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE7QA694kFo3jAtxyGthzPIMlr3gTFldJAsV3xWfUJJIGk47bOXfF-TjOp2Ojf_3EwqK3LyiRyBMVQxMGvgkQmSKE6f9-jHC27Wr0vLgGcRShPmVlEm4Kb6E7JPZJa9EamHhxwDVKTL2Wy/s1600/IMG_3168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE7QA694kFo3jAtxyGthzPIMlr3gTFldJAsV3xWfUJJIGk47bOXfF-TjOp2Ojf_3EwqK3LyiRyBMVQxMGvgkQmSKE6f9-jHC27Wr0vLgGcRShPmVlEm4Kb6E7JPZJa9EamHhxwDVKTL2Wy/s320/IMG_3168.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Sally was the cutest little Mary!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOePEBxvdp3_feYZSMJlmhLYVUNzWl0yz4HjrA1xnptJHa2aZ8vLz-0YHZC-4kvE822VV0Hb5Hm3KH-qkz6aTjWnXT10MEDActP7id9mbbP_EdneFAqR2eSkWPYKIJWZJKeasC2Q1GQr_e/s1600/IMG_3170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOePEBxvdp3_feYZSMJlmhLYVUNzWl0yz4HjrA1xnptJHa2aZ8vLz-0YHZC-4kvE822VV0Hb5Hm3KH-qkz6aTjWnXT10MEDActP7id9mbbP_EdneFAqR2eSkWPYKIJWZJKeasC2Q1GQr_e/s320/IMG_3170.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>I tried so hard to get a picture of all three cuties in costume- this was the best I could do.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga8ZQ_-3AQkpIDBl7MddUy-z7KQZbIli5NhDj7j9HETpCk3N0SrvKPdYkrg_EDW6vgYM7CpYf4bxETViJaogz4iYVOFfJ0b4Nubrilma5kqooGfQN2wNEJQwJMQ652xdeD6b_QtWP4yj8q/s1600/IMG_3175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga8ZQ_-3AQkpIDBl7MddUy-z7KQZbIli5NhDj7j9HETpCk3N0SrvKPdYkrg_EDW6vgYM7CpYf4bxETViJaogz4iYVOFfJ0b4Nubrilma5kqooGfQN2wNEJQwJMQ652xdeD6b_QtWP4yj8q/s320/IMG_3175.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>I think little Annie liked it too! Isn't she just adorable! Love that big smile.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqA-lasVToPemEjyzVaAlJGHWeM1DvCDAq_xpX5crmIfT-5lrt17rifDriYQoySPLxxzwQlanuINA0mxUfBzJsApQRRcQqC8FFgXxgPOAK9VTf9gyC1kmofbc2CbzABbngS2IwFf-u2kCd/s1600/IMG_3177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqA-lasVToPemEjyzVaAlJGHWeM1DvCDAq_xpX5crmIfT-5lrt17rifDriYQoySPLxxzwQlanuINA0mxUfBzJsApQRRcQqC8FFgXxgPOAK9VTf9gyC1kmofbc2CbzABbngS2IwFf-u2kCd/s320/IMG_3177.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>She sure is a little angel.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4tqI7vqipqXHx_vLg058OqA509DwiLOVr_5dNGJn11xyuvlIB9WlrvYTpb2pjd9A_AIeVSqp8UhSU0RpBBhOnL5sNSgNIIQ9Yq0XksBhClempu3OOicCxYw7REgk8JR6rmci_JGyHJURD/s1600/IMG_3194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4tqI7vqipqXHx_vLg058OqA509DwiLOVr_5dNGJn11xyuvlIB9WlrvYTpb2pjd9A_AIeVSqp8UhSU0RpBBhOnL5sNSgNIIQ9Yq0XksBhClempu3OOicCxYw7REgk8JR6rmci_JGyHJURD/s320/IMG_3194.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhONvDISZyoeNdJGzZtr98ugGrXLX2iZ-Kptz6RrKPlSFX2e3WMI4DilkeXzuEJ2-v7pJMUwVKHLJo4VQxLcJP1ubKRo64QAUA8uLM_8Qcd4v9u40c4_C0cN4FlW-cJ9FcwGz1xrIIWFBN/s1600/IMG_3195.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhONvDISZyoeNdJGzZtr98ugGrXLX2iZ-Kptz6RrKPlSFX2e3WMI4DilkeXzuEJ2-v7pJMUwVKHLJo4VQxLcJP1ubKRo64QAUA8uLM_8Qcd4v9u40c4_C0cN4FlW-cJ9FcwGz1xrIIWFBN/s320/IMG_3195.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Sally's walking on the strait and narrow path. Don't let go of that iron rod, Sally!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3yER49YO9KxD6s3GS8BjvLchCNijRbwGcJddYptVRlGwy9Q-RTz7RfX79c-yGe3ExaYnGzRCLhTwXx3pTHRH5e2xG29NFs4dbskda39aPXbK-DGzXiNtxaCOHy4VwTGIAPR_NZcejF1Kg/s1600/IMG_3196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3yER49YO9KxD6s3GS8BjvLchCNijRbwGcJddYptVRlGwy9Q-RTz7RfX79c-yGe3ExaYnGzRCLhTwXx3pTHRH5e2xG29NFs4dbskda39aPXbK-DGzXiNtxaCOHy4VwTGIAPR_NZcejF1Kg/s320/IMG_3196.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigd0hGvFVNbOm7V6sAwLiGADAuWXNxx2aHtPfvigDcT-uRbeZgPaXzAOw4kMPo5i1_jFQ7KZyA9XDESrc2xbT89zOxyNJs4dmPw_F7cPiy0HJDiQvzs-G7QKblQT__bqou6VszHJv5QjCg/s1600/IMG_3197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigd0hGvFVNbOm7V6sAwLiGADAuWXNxx2aHtPfvigDcT-uRbeZgPaXzAOw4kMPo5i1_jFQ7KZyA9XDESrc2xbT89zOxyNJs4dmPw_F7cPiy0HJDiQvzs-G7QKblQT__bqou6VszHJv5QjCg/s320/IMG_3197.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoRY0hZkysV_JpRx2JzCAgxGvKZcaaUzaXjG_Ufzty0TS2nZacGhr3G3wKdsf8DeZBDz4vvLA3jQGA2jAe14F5ftkDpaN984qYlR83Ld_3H22EuaFhRFdfy3qw24dBvPgq98K-hHZsgan_/s1600/IMG_3200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoRY0hZkysV_JpRx2JzCAgxGvKZcaaUzaXjG_Ufzty0TS2nZacGhr3G3wKdsf8DeZBDz4vvLA3jQGA2jAe14F5ftkDpaN984qYlR83Ld_3H22EuaFhRFdfy3qw24dBvPgq98K-hHZsgan_/s320/IMG_3200.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>DJ, Kerry Moore, and I did some recording while we were out there. We were able to do three hymn arrangements, one of which was Be Still my Soul, that Deej arranged. It is SO beautiful He is such a talented boy. His cello playing skills are amazing, and he is such a great young man. He's great to talk to, laugh with, and just be around. I'm so glad this talented boy is my brother.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc-ABHio1X7CnnEQ7NHIXC9-HXosRIEy9j7VBijvIW6LqttUTMaHipBwa91vQgvFTDYDBAprK2Xi_A7RyrG1tH_seiVMvcNV4ln57fTgQs4lQt9cI9j9ArOzw65lcEIRD4BRfah3GOfyhn/s1600/IMG_3201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc-ABHio1X7CnnEQ7NHIXC9-HXosRIEy9j7VBijvIW6LqttUTMaHipBwa91vQgvFTDYDBAprK2Xi_A7RyrG1tH_seiVMvcNV4ln57fTgQs4lQt9cI9j9ArOzw65lcEIRD4BRfah3GOfyhn/s320/IMG_3201.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4zFr5vVntxVG1vHR68gqKTQ-6BllxyI3bB3WdBqTGm-8ZQjU9l984hoQqCc3v3DkRYfIBhfj-28Mji_4IweyeD0DpF4spgqNJ1DwWV2uF6Ys1EBzYfyDulijk1ZgOUrAohZihej8nUQU9/s1600/IMG_3207.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4zFr5vVntxVG1vHR68gqKTQ-6BllxyI3bB3WdBqTGm-8ZQjU9l984hoQqCc3v3DkRYfIBhfj-28Mji_4IweyeD0DpF4spgqNJ1DwWV2uF6Ys1EBzYfyDulijk1ZgOUrAohZihej8nUQU9/s320/IMG_3207.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>These were taken at Thanksgiving Point. We went to the farm portion, I'd never been. It was fun and the kids loved seeing all the animals, and no one lost a finger.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP6yL4z_wKLmCO6QuSxHoj1246C15FfKyTW6quQlnBh1o4Cev6URLbkYn7TgQgkZ43hZo15Gw8MGx0Hq4_b_sjzYJ-Luc1qtERNFPVO4ulz_P5Ak34Jaip3VxJ-EjTT52kEuHbBHkAdUWI/s1600/IMG_3219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP6yL4z_wKLmCO6QuSxHoj1246C15FfKyTW6quQlnBh1o4Cev6URLbkYn7TgQgkZ43hZo15Gw8MGx0Hq4_b_sjzYJ-Luc1qtERNFPVO4ulz_P5Ak34Jaip3VxJ-EjTT52kEuHbBHkAdUWI/s320/IMG_3219.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Look at that cute little girl. She thought those bunnies were awesome.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ0iknwsRFjozLTLFpxqsHTcUsD5pJbNFeGfyaZpk-RIcP31Y5A3WhFpaJU9xpvjJBm2Poe75t36UF69t_VN0n2Tdv9-YuEL7u4UEm6cZNYS7irin2SYfnDYbUKU10xr5_zmP6OFMg7Wn5/s1600/IMG_3221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ0iknwsRFjozLTLFpxqsHTcUsD5pJbNFeGfyaZpk-RIcP31Y5A3WhFpaJU9xpvjJBm2Poe75t36UF69t_VN0n2Tdv9-YuEL7u4UEm6cZNYS7irin2SYfnDYbUKU10xr5_zmP6OFMg7Wn5/s320/IMG_3221.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Alice liked them too!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYcCWuTAymp1eInl06m_jN9efRXnl6NW6H2Gk-ajkimeQ_fwHs_q6JwGlbE_QbPTp9u7uum_YmMh2I4_uaJWy-bi2eXprFL0iHcomkbBZaXpAiof8mrM7UA2wskcj9K4TqOEojcUXwAXdd/s1600/IMG_3222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYcCWuTAymp1eInl06m_jN9efRXnl6NW6H2Gk-ajkimeQ_fwHs_q6JwGlbE_QbPTp9u7uum_YmMh2I4_uaJWy-bi2eXprFL0iHcomkbBZaXpAiof8mrM7UA2wskcj9K4TqOEojcUXwAXdd/s320/IMG_3222.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>So, I did not do the best picture taking this trip. Sadly, this is one of the only shots I got of my mom! But, there were lots of good times with her. I also didn't get any pictures of the ice cream social. Every year, <br />
there is a neighborhood ice cream making party and contest. Last year, my mom was the winner with an awesome key lime pie ice cream. She should have won this year too- she did a marzipan ice cream, with real pieces of marzipan and almond cookies in it. Man, it was GOOD! We also got to play a ton. My kids adore her and her fun ways. She is among my favorite people for sure.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLmaQ1QZUBmKTnj2bkqIARMdoJKAR8Yw2MDKck5k4_5H4j_eKn5eWQLx9r6ZrzHoyQXodXehxdkirOCDbSNZ0EqZijp8Zhk-q9J4eqiLTGnU9zIG46BB1gmqTQitCCLlioDPzBilFKtzyg/s1600/IMG_3231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLmaQ1QZUBmKTnj2bkqIARMdoJKAR8Yw2MDKck5k4_5H4j_eKn5eWQLx9r6ZrzHoyQXodXehxdkirOCDbSNZ0EqZijp8Zhk-q9J4eqiLTGnU9zIG46BB1gmqTQitCCLlioDPzBilFKtzyg/s320/IMG_3231.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Alice LOVED this portion. They had lots of places to "plant" all these fruit and vegetable cards, then you could harvest them. It was a cute idea, and I thought it was kind of cool, but the kids could have spent hours in there. They enjoyed it thoroughly!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieJl1sb9H1FVzC4sD05MDRoXi2fTLduhiTk6g2DdaVH65oFXq_M83qorQgsQ3Cr7lsYCSFMq7StC2ColUI-0NjtEEEaS75SqEqkP7pj2Zf_avLRtdfPFh_Z6OabhCmNaN6Fw8GYhdNVK8X/s1600/IMG_3236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieJl1sb9H1FVzC4sD05MDRoXi2fTLduhiTk6g2DdaVH65oFXq_M83qorQgsQ3Cr7lsYCSFMq7StC2ColUI-0NjtEEEaS75SqEqkP7pj2Zf_avLRtdfPFh_Z6OabhCmNaN6Fw8GYhdNVK8X/s320/IMG_3236.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Even little Annie liked it!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHHBfpczc2ZpuSpuugzOHaVupX7tfNxOH5oi419Jb0HshCxc27FiJCO5qbXtB44yJn-lbSsmTwC8SirjWoYbhIT3VeXCzRX6EdYxWzHYJj3PW6i6b69ZfQkv3s9d2AVMW3kisi3rn7Im6J/s1600/IMG_3238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHHBfpczc2ZpuSpuugzOHaVupX7tfNxOH5oi419Jb0HshCxc27FiJCO5qbXtB44yJn-lbSsmTwC8SirjWoYbhIT3VeXCzRX6EdYxWzHYJj3PW6i6b69ZfQkv3s9d2AVMW3kisi3rn7Im6J/s320/IMG_3238.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>I just thought this alpaca had an awesome hairdo, sometimes it would cover his eyes, and he;d look like a cartoon character.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioVPKIwqDcCfndi3EjYb-tvinA0HqgLmtKCTqbn6pf3kMuJha5zzjmzwMkL_YEjCBuISp96VHSnE7dolhlZjHUmGAxA03yDW6OGi6GNoyzyDAo11Kw2ApzPXkNipDI2pnjXfS614xM78kn/s1600/IMG_3239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioVPKIwqDcCfndi3EjYb-tvinA0HqgLmtKCTqbn6pf3kMuJha5zzjmzwMkL_YEjCBuISp96VHSnE7dolhlZjHUmGAxA03yDW6OGi6GNoyzyDAo11Kw2ApzPXkNipDI2pnjXfS614xM78kn/s320/IMG_3239.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I was happy to go see my friend Jessica and her cute boys in their new house. She is my friend from Georgia, and moved back to Utah a while back. It was great to spend a little time with her. She's awesome as always.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimQA2PZ_ofun47q9I6V4nIWqaNsySqORBQC37PxCBZxYiIX4lGrf0E8jj59SefUmQPPoGQuMQq9sIoB_qMglEm0RuZmuzC7ZJpSKdckWTnhnb1JmuLoHkLVlyCT63ld1908AD19zPKUMex/s1600/IMG_3240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimQA2PZ_ofun47q9I6V4nIWqaNsySqORBQC37PxCBZxYiIX4lGrf0E8jj59SefUmQPPoGQuMQq9sIoB_qMglEm0RuZmuzC7ZJpSKdckWTnhnb1JmuLoHkLVlyCT63ld1908AD19zPKUMex/s320/IMG_3240.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvs8dEQikx3rJmOvD_pfTe8XhyphenhyphenfruhCHQgf2DOqzcjoUn9UhmUd_gcJFn8SAjbt6IYpi4IREKDd2l0JBDr9Ng_AwmLfV4yp0LOUF36e3iGXVdBROpPlRQys0OQfR7n4_69kESKEy4AGX6-/s1600/IMG_3244.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvs8dEQikx3rJmOvD_pfTe8XhyphenhyphenfruhCHQgf2DOqzcjoUn9UhmUd_gcJFn8SAjbt6IYpi4IREKDd2l0JBDr9Ng_AwmLfV4yp0LOUF36e3iGXVdBROpPlRQys0OQfR7n4_69kESKEy4AGX6-/s320/IMG_3244.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Look at all those cuties! We also were able to see my dear friends Becca and her boys, and Darci. I really wasn't as "on" with the camera as I have been. Lame me. It was fun to see both girls. Becca had a baby the week after I saw her. Little Grace was small, but I couldn't believe Becca had a baby in there that was old enough to live on her own. Becca's belly was tiny! She's pretty much a hot, hot mama. Darci came the night before I left and got to watch me pack. Probably not that much fun for her, but I am super glad she did! She is an important lawyer, and her life seems filled with all kinds of grown up things. I hadn't seen her for a while, and I was so glad to hang out and chat with that smart beauty for a while. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiuCt1Cj3iUIGWF9613S0mFxmjLZAjYK79xUnfGupZpLJgcUpv4c6mPgfFnpB-zicf5hEMVOrqtmcv0aK9v_ibihXwliqd6-4QkthSDTb4b1Rh00DcE6rSBvFQQnIGIfNpN3G3E4s6dDaS/s1600/Oquirrh_Mountain_Temple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiuCt1Cj3iUIGWF9613S0mFxmjLZAjYK79xUnfGupZpLJgcUpv4c6mPgfFnpB-zicf5hEMVOrqtmcv0aK9v_ibihXwliqd6-4QkthSDTb4b1Rh00DcE6rSBvFQQnIGIfNpN3G3E4s6dDaS/s320/Oquirrh_Mountain_Temple.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My parents and I were able to go to the new Oquirrh Mountain temple. The Atlanta temple has been closed for a year, and I've only been able to go once in that year. This was on my list of important things to do while in SLC. We were able to do sealings, and it was perfect. Seriousy, perfect. Exactly what I needed. The spirit in the temple is amazing, our sealer was awesome, and the work was meaningful. My mom was a little wary of doing sealings because kneeling is not great for her back, but I felt strongly that sealings was what I needed to do. They let her use a chair and it worked out perfectly. This was one of the highlights of the whole trip. Ding something like that with people you care so deeply about is something special.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And so, that concludes this very long post on our Utah trip. Believe it or not, there were events that got no pictures . My dad had his birthday celebration, there was an extended family party, swimming, and lots of fun. I can't wait to do it again! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Coming soon, is the Portland leg of our trip. It will be another monster post, so beware.</div>Emily Nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15675464862972489536noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8417057786397154729.post-66065802218803400272010-07-14T19:30:00.000-07:002010-07-14T19:32:49.951-07:00Alice!So, I realize I've done 2 posts in the last six months or so, and they have both been about Sally. Poor, neglected second child. But, no more- this one is all Alice!<br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxzOuu1XIT32gIc3YyvraNwc2HStEBS9QLOGhyphenhyphenoAMlib5GmLI85phtg4TqLM5jpl_Q2T-B1JAFAXH_KCjSazQ-dJ7tBzAVVVoEQtFRfVKr7kV9cgU3CG5EusKnCvFCEVhLQKJq7v-uhUiO/s1600/junejuly2010+1026.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493576934066305506" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxzOuu1XIT32gIc3YyvraNwc2HStEBS9QLOGhyphenhyphenoAMlib5GmLI85phtg4TqLM5jpl_Q2T-B1JAFAXH_KCjSazQ-dJ7tBzAVVVoEQtFRfVKr7kV9cgU3CG5EusKnCvFCEVhLQKJq7v-uhUiO/s320/junejuly2010+1026.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p align="left"><br />I love the above picture for a few reasons. One, is her awesome hair. As it got more humid here,(currently, it is a steam room- we drink our air) her hair curled up. And it grew, lots and lots. Now, she has a the cutest little lion's mane you could imagine. I also love her smile, and that you can see her gap- it's adorable, right? This is also the view I get very often when she's climbing on me. It's fantastic to be climbed on by such a sweetie.<br /><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYZ6aSYvvq3S_rIkyvgQK_H4Uf1VAYDBvBuiuBwK9la9PQOHkxLv4VMaaHyncWXJ9DoJ64T1VzzY_Cj0zjz7xJFk3BGl2U3ZL3cRWpGGfGCv2stak8GsFQX3Rk2nWsTBR4zLZTg83ML0uB/s1600/junejuly2010+767.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493576926313896818" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYZ6aSYvvq3S_rIkyvgQK_H4Uf1VAYDBvBuiuBwK9la9PQOHkxLv4VMaaHyncWXJ9DoJ64T1VzzY_Cj0zjz7xJFk3BGl2U3ZL3cRWpGGfGCv2stak8GsFQX3Rk2nWsTBR4zLZTg83ML0uB/s320/junejuly2010+767.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><p align="left">Here she is looking a bit like a beach diva- in all the right ways. In her every day, she isn't a super diva, though. She's pretty laid back about some things, she's content to play by herself much of the time. She does have a very frustrated "mommy!" with a growl in it that I hear from time to time, especially if she wants food. She'll say in her angry voice, "Mommy!! Eat. Eat!" Sometimes, though it's "How 'bout eat." I prefer the latter. And when she wants to eat, she wants to eat. She'll eat most anything, but she is especially into meat. Our little carnivore will eat meat like a mouse eats cheese. The other day, we were at a friends house eating some delicious pulled pork. After we were finished, the cook was shredding the rest. Alice kept going back to him and getting mouthful after mouthful, this was after she ate as much as I did. We love a healthy appetite! She usually eats Sally's leftovers at dinner too. When she sees Sally get up, it's immediately "down! Down!" so she can climb up in Sally's chair and finish her plate off. </p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikhsQ-ucNqfQNjT7KwwYoSRJVfBpKb4SxIbaL6LW_DrLzNmqDpmYCUVf0b1ObnFqNmyo8CP00J13yzP36jIJ64eXghUCHLYpG8cd_wjtx7-rvR0Qjg1-CVEpPkCNS5EbuIQ2j-WPIO6zOj/s1600/junejuly2010+626.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493576913542354450" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikhsQ-ucNqfQNjT7KwwYoSRJVfBpKb4SxIbaL6LW_DrLzNmqDpmYCUVf0b1ObnFqNmyo8CP00J13yzP36jIJ64eXghUCHLYpG8cd_wjtx7-rvR0Qjg1-CVEpPkCNS5EbuIQ2j-WPIO6zOj/s320/junejuly2010+626.jpg" border="0" /></a></p>Alice is in the midst of a language explosion. She says new words every day. I'm understanding her more too. She often will have a string of words in the language of Alice, and throw in an English one at the end. It's obvious she understands a lot and is getting a lot better at making her desires known through words. She's getting less frustrated at my lack of understanding, because, well, I understand more. It is so fun to hear all the new words she says. Some of my favorites are "Peew", which she tells me whenever she has a stinky diaper, "Sally"- there's just something special about hearing one child call the other, "mess", which she tells me whenever she spills or has dirty hands, and "yes", which when she says it, it sounds like yesh, and it's adorable.<br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq32AMlqfCNLnKPvfuMBj5oBkLpA05I5dTDAlq5mv5stRncAR3jsthr03bZOZ9RUdYd_K917a9A6rosl12E3pMJdIybaOpBrhCc3zScR-8JnBU6IwJPsnBnYctZK9RbtNR11dQu0sk4GXn/s1600/junejuly2010+276.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493576894904117570" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq32AMlqfCNLnKPvfuMBj5oBkLpA05I5dTDAlq5mv5stRncAR3jsthr03bZOZ9RUdYd_K917a9A6rosl12E3pMJdIybaOpBrhCc3zScR-8JnBU6IwJPsnBnYctZK9RbtNR11dQu0sk4GXn/s320/junejuly2010+276.jpg" border="0" /></a></p>Here is a moment of sister fun. Our two girls, Salice, as they sometimes get called, have lots of fun together. Alice likes to play with Sally and be a part of what she's doing. Sally is okay with this. On occasion. Sally likes to play with whatever Alice has. Only because she has it. Alice is okay with this. Never. They really do love each other and have fun, but big sister is a bit of a "teaser weaser", (as she says). This has been an ongoing situation since Alice's birth, but now Alice can do something about it. Unfortunately, sometimes that means pulled hair or bonks on the head with whatever happens to be in her hand. We're working on it, though when I discipline her, she just looks at me and smiles. Lately, Sally loves to get Alice to repeat after her. Alice is happy to oblige, sometimes it's just random words, but sometimes she'll say things like, "Alice, say I" "I" "Want" "want" etc, until she says something like I want to watch a show. Then Sally runs to me saying, "Alice wants to watch a show! She just asked!" Sometimes She even gets Alice to say please. Pretty clever, but I'm onto you, little ones.<br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirhWyJcj0hv_jA_mNWLJHa3_OvQgkO3bL_3ipjqNd_ghg1BruEh-vBpCSniNIfaPuMLhoZ35UDyhrSHhlyfxWzoQDmM3I1EwOk865InrzHQ9qm1YQ0Ba1LnrKqERWhyphenhyphen5-ZaCi03tY-EtPx/s1600/junejuly2010+270.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493576891707013698" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirhWyJcj0hv_jA_mNWLJHa3_OvQgkO3bL_3ipjqNd_ghg1BruEh-vBpCSniNIfaPuMLhoZ35UDyhrSHhlyfxWzoQDmM3I1EwOk865InrzHQ9qm1YQ0Ba1LnrKqERWhyphenhyphen5-ZaCi03tY-EtPx/s320/junejuly2010+270.jpg" border="0" /></a></p>Alice is a pretty happy little girl. Sure, she gets upset, but is usually very easily consoled or distracted. She also doesn't seem too upset by little bumps, and bonks. She really has to be hurting for real to even make a sound. Otherwise, I just ask her if she's alright, and she says "yeah", and goes on with her playing.<br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWWWlbZrOYl8WI95bczqzL9TI4TJnNwofN1dmnGKIuQHQMetE_ZlpEnuudDaeitFTTiI8aVBRRVe2VHG6FWNnE7V1tZiLePVsA0oZ10UdwzYBSxjRIkmvSB9uiOdtqCz4MFua-KbctTkq3/s1600/junejuly2010+221.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493576078561375442" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWWWlbZrOYl8WI95bczqzL9TI4TJnNwofN1dmnGKIuQHQMetE_ZlpEnuudDaeitFTTiI8aVBRRVe2VHG6FWNnE7V1tZiLePVsA0oZ10UdwzYBSxjRIkmvSB9uiOdtqCz4MFua-KbctTkq3/s320/junejuly2010+221.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p align="left"><br />This was the first time since she was tiny that she fell asleep outside of her crib/carseat. I love it that she's wearing one stripey sock. When I do put her down in her crib, she goes down like a dream. I really only have to make sure she has a binky and her blanky, and she's good. She's been like that for a long time too. She is our little Linus around her. She is VERY attached to her blanky (me too- it was the last one my Grandma Barnes made), and she takes it EVERYWHERE. It's hard to get it washed, but in a pinch, she will do okay if Sally will let Alice use hers, but Alice knows which is which and much prefers her own. She is often seen dragging it around anywhere we go. We get a lot of Linus comments.<br /><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSOXEGVsXej2toYj4qUJYdb-GqWVXhX_a2DhmCiQnHPIcQuYEi_2O93Cu_ase4xnfrJl5j45iLgk3uBYJNZun4JZFHD1eyekzdwm7JFFxWYrfZUub2U3k6FyoHkBSrNNs-oU8vQv6pOvCs/s1600/junejuly2010+219.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493576060644148210" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSOXEGVsXej2toYj4qUJYdb-GqWVXhX_a2DhmCiQnHPIcQuYEi_2O93Cu_ase4xnfrJl5j45iLgk3uBYJNZun4JZFHD1eyekzdwm7JFFxWYrfZUub2U3k6FyoHkBSrNNs-oU8vQv6pOvCs/s320/junejuly2010+219.jpg" border="0" /></a></p>This is just because she's so pretty. Seriously, I think my girls are gorgeous. Both Alice and Sally get comments on how beautiful they are nearly every time we go out. I don't even mind that they look nothing like me. I just like looking at them.<br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOEbDlkEFxCKpOjgAo5MWvyW3V9hViBHNQIKTkOH7xbSJIoWidyhMYWdRQFlXT4BrA8gmOxpidi9NPwcs7xOdtzMJZgzPKqhCYBoKCI4pC1LJowrOmiqCdJ5JbmDUZIqhFKquaNHg83nyM/s1600/junejuly2010+130.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493576042750465458" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOEbDlkEFxCKpOjgAo5MWvyW3V9hViBHNQIKTkOH7xbSJIoWidyhMYWdRQFlXT4BrA8gmOxpidi9NPwcs7xOdtzMJZgzPKqhCYBoKCI4pC1LJowrOmiqCdJ5JbmDUZIqhFKquaNHg83nyM/s320/junejuly2010+130.jpg" border="0" /></a></p>Alice loves to make you laugh. She has several funny faces that she does often just to get some giggles. She also loves putting on clothes- especially shoes and socks. Here, she requested last year's swimsuit- over the jammies of course. She usually succeeds at getting some laughs out of me- she really is funny.<br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJOki_5oEK17tqc_vz5BCKMTWxxSeRKcTbSYXLKY3HMuLoHKpxk32Y8Islt6toe_xJO0O2Stj9KzpfHzCLgk3oPaOex0WmjYgsWU5RXRTX3-ERuMHEbdl3PaPLgsjSYruXSyD12Vz5fSrm/s1600/junejuly2010+014.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493576034750455762" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJOki_5oEK17tqc_vz5BCKMTWxxSeRKcTbSYXLKY3HMuLoHKpxk32Y8Islt6toe_xJO0O2Stj9KzpfHzCLgk3oPaOex0WmjYgsWU5RXRTX3-ERuMHEbdl3PaPLgsjSYruXSyD12Vz5fSrm/s320/junejuly2010+014.jpg" border="0" /></a></p>Alice has lots of energy, and especially loves to use it outside. She always wants to go out, even if it's raining or 1000 degrees. Running is a specialty of hers, especially if I'm trying to put a diaper on her little bottom. She tries very hard to jump, but it is more of a chest pump. She likes to dance and has some good moves. When we'd get to go into Sally's dance class, it was always a struggle to get her to stay with me- she just wanted to move. At Sally's dress rehearsal, Alice was spinning in the aisles with arms above her head in true ballerina style.<br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXRLkfiZsx-bVI4v6BOlNyWR75zGLJQtyefBao4FvVi8MNfsiJsTCIQnUSGKRW-qmSz-NCwebQNDVwhPKIL_8jnNGLMbLjN5PJz5ur8QOu9ngihg71dnX37Bt270pQDt1sd30-qqKfVtlG/s1600/junejuly2010+002.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493576020974661138" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXRLkfiZsx-bVI4v6BOlNyWR75zGLJQtyefBao4FvVi8MNfsiJsTCIQnUSGKRW-qmSz-NCwebQNDVwhPKIL_8jnNGLMbLjN5PJz5ur8QOu9ngihg71dnX37Bt270pQDt1sd30-qqKfVtlG/s320/junejuly2010+002.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p>Alice- is she a cool gal, or what?<br /><br />Here are 2 videos showcasing her awesomeness. The first, she is singing the ABC's. She does this a lot. The most amazing part to me, is that she has pretty good pitch. She is often singing little melodies- and I can tell what they are, even without words. I think she's a musical one.</p><div align="center"><embed name="FLVPlayer" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="http://www.onetruemedia.com/share_view_player?p=" width="408" height="382" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" quality="high" scale="noscale" wmode="transparent" salign="LT" flashvars="&p=b5bea1b59175e0adc9427e&skin_id=701&host=http://www.onetruemedia.com"></embed></div><div align="left"><br /><br />In this one, I was trying to get Alice to count. She never does 1 or 2, but after that she can go to 12, but usually stops at 9. Here, however, she had her own idea.<br /></div><div align="center"><embed name="FLVPlayer" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="http://www.onetruemedia.com/share_view_player?p=" width="408" height="382" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" quality="high" scale="noscale" wmode="transparent" salign="LT" flashvars="&p=b5beefb95e9d70ba0dc551&skin_id=701&host=http://www.onetruemedia.com"></embed></div>Emily Nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15675464862972489536noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8417057786397154729.post-17482524201764704052010-06-06T17:44:00.001-07:002010-06-06T22:52:30.910-07:00Sally's First Ballet Recital<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-alIGYBRBUUZ8mE0nzSfgZAktTCrxehNnS4cmxeE7i3o2ML7oXFu961GHkPValy_ttnSiGP-3-f8kfwkEdQLvKcqw8iUKeWx3kv9znCkSE23nyh0FuNezqrccgCNcWscp7KibNDG4oz_e/s1600/2010-+1st+half+1412.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479845438181489554" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-alIGYBRBUUZ8mE0nzSfgZAktTCrxehNnS4cmxeE7i3o2ML7oXFu961GHkPValy_ttnSiGP-3-f8kfwkEdQLvKcqw8iUKeWx3kv9znCkSE23nyh0FuNezqrccgCNcWscp7KibNDG4oz_e/s320/2010-+1st+half+1412.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Sally has been taking a ballet/tap class this year. She has LOVED it! She knows Tuesday is a dance day and is always talking about Miss Jennifer, her teacher. I signed her up just to give her some social time and to get some instruction from someone other than me. I'm so glad we did- it's been great for her! Their season ended with the annual spring recital, of which the theme was Flashback to the 80's. She's been talking about it for months, telling passersby, "Sally's going to be in a recital. Sally's dancing to We are the World." (yes, she sometimes speaks is 3rd person. Especially when saying something like that. I think she's aspirng to be Karl Malone.)<br /><br />Anyway, the day came, and it was awesome. I couldn't believe how excited/nervous i was for her. It was the same feeling I get when I have a big performance. I was SO proud of her, and i couldn't keep the tears from my eyes. She was so brave and beautiful and good. I love her so much, and I was reminded of the power of that love last night.<br /><div align="left"></div><div align="left">Here is her dance below- the dark time in the middle, the teenage girl actually is dancing. Lame lights guy. Anyway, it's pretty much the cutest thing ever.<br /></div><div align="center"><embed name="FLVPlayer" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="http://www.onetruemedia.com/share_view_player?p=" width="408" height="382" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashvars="&p=b16ff9e013c562f389d419&skin_id=701&host=http://www.onetruemedia.com" salign="LT" wmode="transparent" scale="noscale" quality="high"></embed> </div><div align="center"><br />Didn't you love it? They didn't have the polka dots the day before, she was very interested in them, and didn't notice it was time to dance. That and her hands were caught. Goodness, I love this.<br /><br />And here she is taking her bow and doing the finale dance- the best part is her doing the robot. So stinking cute!!!<br /></div><div align="center"><embed name="FLVPlayer" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="http://www.onetruemedia.com/share_view_player?p=" width="408" height="382" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashvars="&p=b170c09f260c2eb7c361de&skin_id=701&host=http://www.onetruemedia.com" salign="LT" wmode="transparent" scale="noscale" quality="high"></embed> </div><div align="center"><br />Sally supporters. Our dear friends the MacPhersons came to watch- it was great!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL7TEEYro0qR96LFMfAP-dwbzh4sAAYJO-MaSaA40Tey_gDpdIC8B0wMSwf0oxCteS3unCCmDAzk5VUQCOymss8UaXq2OCevprWYIHyr-xIhM5HUBzLRfbxLYsoTV0aXHbifM5p7GVsKYQ/s1600/2010-+1st+half+1454.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479846330435949650" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL7TEEYro0qR96LFMfAP-dwbzh4sAAYJO-MaSaA40Tey_gDpdIC8B0wMSwf0oxCteS3unCCmDAzk5VUQCOymss8UaXq2OCevprWYIHyr-xIhM5HUBzLRfbxLYsoTV0aXHbifM5p7GVsKYQ/s320/2010-+1st+half+1454.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">This was at the dress rehearsal, Alice SO wanted to join the big girls!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4CK37yGdrgHsI9Xr3sp8e54H43baBbp2-dtnRmvsOYNDapL4kg8TOQ1oOvSwywt-LtKiAiWbu6dhynh7YnaDaw5ohF_KzD_7eHV043X_AjJagoMIS4SswvCchlIBCNbHLUY9klRewkOTE/s1600/2010-+1st+half+1417.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479845455480294594" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4CK37yGdrgHsI9Xr3sp8e54H43baBbp2-dtnRmvsOYNDapL4kg8TOQ1oOvSwywt-LtKiAiWbu6dhynh7YnaDaw5ohF_KzD_7eHV043X_AjJagoMIS4SswvCchlIBCNbHLUY9klRewkOTE/s320/2010-+1st+half+1417.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div align="center">My beautiful dancer!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7gw2AUAXz2IcAhi03eNTOlc9b8t_FB5chRauQ20qUsb7c9-9iCFuBDXL-RI4HAE6rK37xiSoq1q_Vs0Rx9IUdxFE3ZfxSgii5sdNEjK2_cARxSFDDpE6NauQAzuGfgYlKxhXauUeQqFDG/s1600/2010-+1st+half+1433.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479846322914674386" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7gw2AUAXz2IcAhi03eNTOlc9b8t_FB5chRauQ20qUsb7c9-9iCFuBDXL-RI4HAE6rK37xiSoq1q_Vs0Rx9IUdxFE3ZfxSgii5sdNEjK2_cARxSFDDpE6NauQAzuGfgYlKxhXauUeQqFDG/s320/2010-+1st+half+1433.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />About half the girls in Sally's dance</div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNtHMTYPI4XOCLS1AgxlG3ie4Uy4GZP2iDc73Gk73tESol1gSD-vx1M0qHjpMwIwtSbNu4OBU2UW0IFvh-9mFsGtmYuUixOm0fZjv7MYHTpZYP2DPKtDdJAK8QPeKd3TFzeXNzCf17M5d0/s1600/2010-+1st+half+1429.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479845468151215602" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNtHMTYPI4XOCLS1AgxlG3ie4Uy4GZP2iDc73Gk73tESol1gSD-vx1M0qHjpMwIwtSbNu4OBU2UW0IFvh-9mFsGtmYuUixOm0fZjv7MYHTpZYP2DPKtDdJAK8QPeKd3TFzeXNzCf17M5d0/s320/2010-+1st+half+1429.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div align="center">This reminds me of a painting my parents have. Sally really digs the girl posing.</div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEzuxHmjMbhLNrKnJU5HHt7H3W0uKBg9gnGt2KWpkTFMRPCxwqSinMOQgnVGLmfpTpcmiGJrXf9BdvDJeZnTTYnXd5zNrHYymCl9429nDxLB4tX0SxKmWtUiFw-V9iajZU0W4-PeZV4HBt/s1600/2010-+1st+half+1419.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479845457603931106" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEzuxHmjMbhLNrKnJU5HHt7H3W0uKBg9gnGt2KWpkTFMRPCxwqSinMOQgnVGLmfpTpcmiGJrXf9BdvDJeZnTTYnXd5zNrHYymCl9429nDxLB4tX0SxKmWtUiFw-V9iajZU0W4-PeZV4HBt/s320/2010-+1st+half+1419.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi82b9kNVyqu8DQLatmkNVa5rDfteLc8uFfkAMJf_l8MHePRAS0b_OGnzL1nRtAlNPB7tLJFjydcWM1VGf04r-_xfHsUfnFytpHQDBDh-0iTcQBBi-vO9Didnj-5D55gJL2eoOG3He2ASfG/s1600/2010-+1st+half+1465.jpg"></a>Ugh. Sally is cute, but the mama, not so much. I swear my belly doesn't fill that shirt out. I think I'm trashing the shirt after seeing this.</div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQE9gAjZVxgQ59b-5cAELWp3ooSfrsf_7QLQ5G1BBVEfQrCI8qtA9ysBpk6rEbSD04K2fbifhFWyrp0rZ4Vx5hyphenhypheno1mwhFnmQLnHY5Fk4m-Dq9fH2q5_xKhg8r3vSkx8yrG5tzk3oYXLKkD/s1600/2010-+1st+half+1462.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479846346582898866" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQE9gAjZVxgQ59b-5cAELWp3ooSfrsf_7QLQ5G1BBVEfQrCI8qtA9ysBpk6rEbSD04K2fbifhFWyrp0rZ4Vx5hyphenhypheno1mwhFnmQLnHY5Fk4m-Dq9fH2q5_xKhg8r3vSkx8yrG5tzk3oYXLKkD/s320/2010-+1st+half+1462.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Daddy and Sally! She got a medal that she is quite proud of. Also, we planned on getting flowers there, but the lady in front of me got the last ones. The MacPhersons came with flowers just as I was calling Bill to tell him he'd need to run and get some. Did I mention how cool those MacPhersons are? </div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm2gdcjNfxz57LvqYTGKBBQvnZraGJgRzv98lBSlhbTf_9XyXysvgt6WoKqQK0vjwgUfLA-8LXhg0iCBiy7bZPhKUuymXkhGDErKr51gkyJK4O4rkGHO8NBIBlbFoTqtP7QfxeAewX_wqx/s1600/2010-+1st+half+1458.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479846334714039090" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm2gdcjNfxz57LvqYTGKBBQvnZraGJgRzv98lBSlhbTf_9XyXysvgt6WoKqQK0vjwgUfLA-8LXhg0iCBiy7bZPhKUuymXkhGDErKr51gkyJK4O4rkGHO8NBIBlbFoTqtP7QfxeAewX_wqx/s320/2010-+1st+half+1458.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Halle, Sally, and Baily, such cuties!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi82b9kNVyqu8DQLatmkNVa5rDfteLc8uFfkAMJf_l8MHePRAS0b_OGnzL1nRtAlNPB7tLJFjydcWM1VGf04r-_xfHsUfnFytpHQDBDh-0iTcQBBi-vO9Didnj-5D55gJL2eoOG3He2ASfG/s1600/2010-+1st+half+1465.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479846353733514018" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi82b9kNVyqu8DQLatmkNVa5rDfteLc8uFfkAMJf_l8MHePRAS0b_OGnzL1nRtAlNPB7tLJFjydcWM1VGf04r-_xfHsUfnFytpHQDBDh-0iTcQBBi-vO9Didnj-5D55gJL2eoOG3He2ASfG/s320/2010-+1st+half+1465.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><p align="center">The family<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFTD2leMFI1n_3krSj9CIYpdaA3x6_tbAYXZF9wth9Xdhcn8toDs2R7Sa5eUzvFvMCE2XPJ-_XGnkYHUzVoA9pTTgyUd9D9ysrpfejmH11dWIK-I7xQl__7_RtkjUctw6LyQfKUJSrT9uA/s1600/2010-+1st+half+1461.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479852548301025922" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFTD2leMFI1n_3krSj9CIYpdaA3x6_tbAYXZF9wth9Xdhcn8toDs2R7Sa5eUzvFvMCE2XPJ-_XGnkYHUzVoA9pTTgyUd9D9ysrpfejmH11dWIK-I7xQl__7_RtkjUctw6LyQfKUJSrT9uA/s320/2010-+1st+half+1461.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />One last one of my tiny dancer. So proud!!</p><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCxDm6cR7xfaNpdsOhwlt6g52WhVSR_vX_JNg2VVWoIWh2ut_pAsYpwR-a6xUEr96xYITXAJQ49StURFoy0OT4igZ_e7FI077V_gBD93pOzh6hPO_cwxsKTnVmGDvjLiUN6hPsM_okuspa/s1600/2010-+1st+half+1415.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479845446819821650" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCxDm6cR7xfaNpdsOhwlt6g52WhVSR_vX_JNg2VVWoIWh2ut_pAsYpwR-a6xUEr96xYITXAJQ49StURFoy0OT4igZ_e7FI077V_gBD93pOzh6hPO_cwxsKTnVmGDvjLiUN6hPsM_okuspa/s320/2010-+1st+half+1415.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div>Emily Nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15675464862972489536noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8417057786397154729.post-36303669834321261812010-02-16T17:46:00.000-08:002010-02-16T19:25:46.026-08:00Sally's first InterviewSo, I've been wanting to post for quite some time, but our computer network is all crazy and the computer with the pictures is not connected to the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">internet</span>. So, I will do a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">pictureless</span> post. I got this idea from a friend's blog, I even stole the questions. It's an interview. Sally loved it. So did I.<br /><br />What is your name?<br /> Sally Rosebud. (in song...) S-A-L-L-Y spells Sally.<br /><br />When were you born?<br /> In your belly.<br /><br />When?<br /> On Thursday. Is that right mommy?<br /><br />It was actually Friday, but you were close.<br /> Yes, I was born on Friday.<br /><br />How old are you?<br /> Fwee.<br /><br />Who is your Mommy?<br /> You<br /><br />What does she do?<br /> Primary work and we put gas in the car.<br /><br />What is your favorite thing to do with mommy?<br /> I like to play games like chest. (chess)<br /><br />Who is your daddy?<br /> Bill- Dada is spelled with two D's and two A's.<br /><br />Very good Sally.What does Daddy do?<br /> He works.<br /><br />What does he do at work?<br /> He works and we come to his work and he works on his computer. He gives me a yummy treat.<br /><br />What is your favorite thing to do with Daddy?<br /> Play with him and Alice.<br /><br />What is your favorite color?<br /> Pink, like my pink leotard and even my pink tights. All my tights are very beautiful.<br /><br />What is your favorite animal?<br /> Stomping, big elephants with trunks. I don't have any trunk at all I just have a cute nose. I am very cute.<br /><br />You sure are. What is your favorite food?<br /> I like to eat strawberry soup.<br /><br />Strawberry soup? Do I make that?<br /> No, I don't like it with vegetables, I like strawberry yogurt. And, I like green broccoli and meat and strawberries- those are my favorites.<br /><br />What do you want to be when you grow up?<br /> Well, I want to be a princess.<br /><br />Where do you want to live when you grow up?<br /> Well, I want to live in Georgia. Is this house in Georgia?<br /><br />Yes.<br /> And Salt Lake is where Grandma lives. Grammy lives in... Where does Grammy live again?<br /><br />Portland.<br /> Yes, Portland. Portland starts with P.<br /><br />What do mommy and daddy do after you go to bed?<br /> I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know.<br /><br />What is your favorite song?<br /> I'm a Single Ladies.<br /><br />What is your favorite movie?<br /> Tinkerbell.<br /><br />What is your favorite place to eat?<br /> At the dinner table. That's where we eat dinner. In the morning we eat breakfast and at night, we eat dinner.<br /><br />What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?<br /> Strawberry vanilla.<br /><br />Who is your favorite person?<br /> My favorite person is my mommy and my daddy and my baby sister Alice.<br /><br />Who is your best friend?<br /> Coleman is a cousin and my favorite friend.<br /><br />What does Mommy say?<br /> I love you.<br /><br />What does Daddy Say?<br /> Be careful<br /><br />What is your favorite book?<br /> Fancy Nancy Christmas, but we don't have it. We only have Fancy Nancy Valentime's Day.<br /><br />You mentioned your baby sister. What is her name?<br /> Alice Marie.<br /><br />Where did she come from?<br /> She came out of your belly. Alice lives on earth. But what do we do on earth? We get on earth and Jesus sent you to earth. Jesus even made you, but Jesus didn't make you. Did Heavenly Father?<br /><br />Yes.<br /> Heavenly Father made everyone.<br /><br />I love you Sally Rose.<br /> I love you too, mommy.Emily Nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15675464862972489536noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8417057786397154729.post-75720488640706979032009-12-07T19:19:00.001-08:002009-12-07T19:19:52.035-08:00<img style="visibility:hidden;width:0px;height:0px;" border=0 width=0 height=0 src="http://counters.gigya.com/wildfire/IMP/CXNID=2000002.0NXC/bHQ9MTI2MDI*MjE2NzcyMyZwdD*xMjYwMjQyMzg4MjIyJnA9NDE4ODEzJmQ9MjAzNTA5Jm49YmxvZ2dlciZnPTImbz*xNmNhYzFkN2FmN2U*N2I4YmUzMGNkYjJiOGUxYjg2YSZvZj*w.gif" /><div style='background-color:#e9e9e9; width: 425px;'><object id='A249913' quality='high' data='http://aka.zero.jibjab.com/client/zero/ClientZero_EmbedViewer.swf?external_make_id=expiz2WUYtIK96Qr&service=elfyourself.jibjab.com&partnerID=ElfYourself' pluginspage='http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' wmode='transparent' height='319' width='425'><param name='wmode' value='transparent'></param><param name='movie' value='http://aka.zero.jibjab.com/client/zero/ClientZero_EmbedViewer.swf?external_make_id=expiz2WUYtIK96Qr&service=elfyourself.jibjab.com&partnerID=ElfYourself'></param><param name='scaleMode' value='showAll'></param><param name='quality' value='high'></param><param name='allowNetworking' value='all'></param><param name='allowFullScreen' value='true' /><param name='FlashVars' value='external_make_id=expiz2WUYtIK96Qr&service=elfyourself.jibjab.com&partnerID=ElfYourself'></param><param name='allowScriptAccess' value='always'></param></object><div style='text-align:center; width:435px; margin-top:6px;'>Send your own <a href='http://www.elfyourself.com'>ElfYourself</a> <a href='http://sendables.jibjab.com/ecards'>eCards</a></div></div>Emily Nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15675464862972489536noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8417057786397154729.post-52178329582282414282009-12-06T18:49:00.001-08:002009-12-06T19:50:58.287-08:00Birthday for Bill<div>The day before my Birthday, Joe Grigg and I went to a Microsoft event in Alpharetta - about an hour away from our sleepy town of Braselton. A 4GB Zune MP3 player was raffled at the end - and I won it out of about 60 people! That was my first big win at a Microsoft event. What a nice early birthday present.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYoSe1rZjNKi31wQZak3KyXR4Kfo5rO7pYK7Pnx58tKUCCUyTuqCbZcKE7-TLQMX5ChUKrhbMmM0M0KMknTO5W6z3QYlwrRC-tHigtbEyNi2OZI_AFadRm4Vkv-afQrcjEx263SnpFVTI/s1600-h/1202091219.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412333020179726514" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYoSe1rZjNKi31wQZak3KyXR4Kfo5rO7pYK7Pnx58tKUCCUyTuqCbZcKE7-TLQMX5ChUKrhbMmM0M0KMknTO5W6z3QYlwrRC-tHigtbEyNi2OZI_AFadRm4Vkv-afQrcjEx263SnpFVTI/s400/1202091219.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div></div><div>Birthday morning, Emily made a grand slam breakfast. Lucky me.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBdkS4Lp_YdxDQa0Cjl2hI0ANHmt9WgJk0RfC24vrI4AhhD71kjHzfloQW2qkE1o3K-zHOUNrH6mEKperhDnpzizYDaBsWOvfMMqH8s4Od021OMHMMzJW7EAoZmghwJOgAfMog__UN5QU/s1600-h/1203090738.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412332437009088626" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBdkS4Lp_YdxDQa0Cjl2hI0ANHmt9WgJk0RfC24vrI4AhhD71kjHzfloQW2qkE1o3K-zHOUNrH6mEKperhDnpzizYDaBsWOvfMMqH8s4Od021OMHMMzJW7EAoZmghwJOgAfMog__UN5QU/s400/1203090738.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div>By special request, I asked Emily to make pinwheel cookies for my birthday. My Grandmother Messer would make these. I haven't had them in years. They are my favorite cookies, however.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSOIJY1pPGtuK6_0JZK61YE9hG9YL4bbmPRq57YnuGM56xjZbMZzXvlbnUH0KxJ9519csk-sF9rYuzojgeAR5im_exFRUGxZvmMdOPzhC7JbC_cd63CK-wsaLpMfVcGIg7iOhjU69vfvE/s1600-h/1203091728.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412331617145623170" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSOIJY1pPGtuK6_0JZK61YE9hG9YL4bbmPRq57YnuGM56xjZbMZzXvlbnUH0KxJ9519csk-sF9rYuzojgeAR5im_exFRUGxZvmMdOPzhC7JbC_cd63CK-wsaLpMfVcGIg7iOhjU69vfvE/s400/1203091728.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div></div><div>Also for my birthday, Emily arranged for me to do a "ride along" in a race car at Road Atlanta - a NASCAR race track down the street from us. It's a 2.54 mile, 12-turn world-class road course. I was intrigued by the idea but wasn't really excited about it. That changed when I strapped into the car and put on a helmet.</div><div><br /></div><div>The car I passengered is a restored 1966 Mustang. I think it's a pretty cool car. It's owned and built by the driver.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAFKDqCp7T-a1e9_ZFyEoM8-FPzFSj9HqmfnNo_SYYAPb6lHj9qE8wd8sbv2KyIleisYVCSVhl2bzWpG_wxyYVTCuMAD_rX1ydHzpekVf2kmvn7Rk67oQJ-7QJ8H0XLEzQWUG_l7mgwDY/s1600-h/1205091527.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412332437241940962" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAFKDqCp7T-a1e9_ZFyEoM8-FPzFSj9HqmfnNo_SYYAPb6lHj9qE8wd8sbv2KyIleisYVCSVhl2bzWpG_wxyYVTCuMAD_rX1ydHzpekVf2kmvn7Rk67oQJ-7QJ8H0XLEzQWUG_l7mgwDY/s400/1205091527.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div></div><div>My driver is an experienced race car instructor as a hobby. By day, he's a Web Designer and co-owner of a consulting firm. He's certified at level 4 - which means there are a variety of things he's allowed to do on the track that levels 1-3 aren't allowed to do. If you're level 1, then you can only pass another car on straightaways. So there's a scheme of priviledges meant to keep things safe and organized on the track.</div><div><br /></div><div>Anyhow - we were in a group of about 15 cars that were a mix of levels 3 and 4. So all were very experienced drivers. The cars were a variety of makes and models. All were fast obviously.</div><div><br /></div><div>We were lined up to get onto the track. We were third in line to go. Ahead of us was a newer Mustang model and in first position was a $400K car called a Ford GT 40. The car and driver recently raced at this year's Petit La Mans event and qualified - which is a respectable feat. The presence of this car affected the whole dynamic of the run. </div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-aMOBJzpQcev9O2TcZnzQS0Dwyj5EXZaoWZUwiV6AttxizAYLvI0KzODzmp4nRuqS2qP9XSBeeYwHr0dFb53yI-cpV_v3P60naTKvsuou6qidVqHs48aKDXiKTzeDK8eSR8aYwwg8kFI/s1600-h/1205091625.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412332445278049266" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-aMOBJzpQcev9O2TcZnzQS0Dwyj5EXZaoWZUwiV6AttxizAYLvI0KzODzmp4nRuqS2qP9XSBeeYwHr0dFb53yI-cpV_v3P60naTKvsuou6qidVqHs48aKDXiKTzeDK8eSR8aYwwg8kFI/s400/1205091625.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div>My driver told me he wanted to try to keep up with the expensive car for a lap to see if it were possible. I did not object.</div><div><br /></div><div>The race track consists of a long straightaway, a shorter one - and the rest of the track consists of s-curves, a z-curve and other nuances. The track is situated on rolling hills. So at one point, you go screaming downhill toward a sharp turn. At several points, the track climbs a hill and one can't see the track ahead until it's too late - so to speak. A driver really has to know the layout of the track - or else. <img src="http://www.roadatlanta.com/site_graphics/trackmap/esses_large.jpg" alt="road atlanta track" /></div><div><br /></div><div>So we tear off the line to try to keep on the GT 40. I couldn't believe how fast a car could go around turns without flying off the road. Motivated by the challenge - my driver was able to stay with the super-fast car for three whole laps. During that run, we passed the Mustang in front of us and tailed the GT 40 directly. Finally we started passing the slower cars and got into traffic that slowed us down. We went all-out, squealed around turns and the whole bit. It was like being in a real race. </div><div><br /></div><div>In summary, the quest was a bit insane - but I haven't had that much fun in a long time. Thanks Emily and the Caspers!</div><br /><br /><div>This birthday finds me sliding into the 2nd half of my 30's. Of course I want the 2nd half of my 30's to go well. I've got a few quests lined up that I think will make things interesting. Wish me luck.<br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /></div><div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8417057786397154729.post-77031619726963458812009-10-22T19:36:00.000-07:002009-10-22T19:37:23.882-07:00Happy Birthday Sally Rose!!!On the 13th of this month (I know, I'm behind) Sally Rose turned three! She is such a vibrant and fun girl! Here are some pics of her special day, also, good info about her as of late.<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkt7Buv_iRk5ANwwPu598Lsr3_pC8YmEx-fYmSQWlTDdfvt03GT7ILJJIhHmMJ8Mai3rnKp_RFCE1BlqmXd5NiYdegWwTDFpK9KdiB_Oa5RuCcOzzQ6zGtb_MLDJm_fbDBz9t8NUZxipat/s1600-h/October+09+400.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392886657306885922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkt7Buv_iRk5ANwwPu598Lsr3_pC8YmEx-fYmSQWlTDdfvt03GT7ILJJIhHmMJ8Mai3rnKp_RFCE1BlqmXd5NiYdegWwTDFpK9KdiB_Oa5RuCcOzzQ6zGtb_MLDJm_fbDBz9t8NUZxipat/s320/October+09+400.JPG" /></a> Here is our sweetie "whistling". this started because of an Air song that, well, includes a lot of whistling. I think she really believes she is whistling, however she is making more of a hoo sound. It's very adorable and it happens often. She also likes to sing, when she's in the mood. Her pitch can be pretty good, and it always makes me smile.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1cWd4lRgC5cVthT4u7tzyRuAjlkY9W4d5bVoIVlnAA_g03pavUMFe36U_vqcizQnyjQjrMsDrOuklMHRwN_hyphenhyphenp4JSYWSS8Pm_LMPdfDNackbA3dr4OZASQnAye4cYaUpLrN7HH2NvIRa1/s1600-h/october+09+009.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392886647769398946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1cWd4lRgC5cVthT4u7tzyRuAjlkY9W4d5bVoIVlnAA_g03pavUMFe36U_vqcizQnyjQjrMsDrOuklMHRwN_hyphenhyphenp4JSYWSS8Pm_LMPdfDNackbA3dr4OZASQnAye4cYaUpLrN7HH2NvIRa1/s320/october+09+009.JPG" /></a>Here she is opening a gift on the morning of her birthday with daddy. Sally and Bill have a special connection- it is so fun to see them interact. She brings out a side in him that is so sweet. They are always playing games. I get asked very often what daddy is doing or where he is throughout the day. "Is Daddy almost home?" She just can't wait! She adores him and gets very upset if a hug is missed<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzvWVlKFYMl3bSctrn_8DRJTy8BBVWNE2dNQnuVeqs21P6MD5cLYjPCgzkGkClopXCtg-_1IoOSQ88e_Ru3MObTKgYIhfDJ2ID5x7qxa-RpOZmQrh4kW3DTfJkL9Fl5pjUt6hv5eDk0jgK/s1600-h/october+09+030.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392886640810073106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzvWVlKFYMl3bSctrn_8DRJTy8BBVWNE2dNQnuVeqs21P6MD5cLYjPCgzkGkClopXCtg-_1IoOSQ88e_Ru3MObTKgYIhfDJ2ID5x7qxa-RpOZmQrh4kW3DTfJkL9Fl5pjUt6hv5eDk0jgK/s320/october+09+030.JPG" /></a> Here she is opening a trunk of princess dress up clothes the Utah grandparents sent. She is SO into princesses right now! It's amazing how girly she is. I don't consider myself super girly, and I haven't pushed princesses or pink or anything like that, but she is all about it. Princesses, mermaids and ballerinas make her life complete. Her favorite color is pink and she spins a lot when she gets excited. We read princess book after princess book and there are countless tales of a dancing mermaid princess named Sally. When I fix her hair, I need to ask which princess she'd like her hair to mimic. I like it when she says Bambi (who, in her head is DEFINITELY a girl). Sally is definitely all girl.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzcJxl-liEzn6z0SafiNHxkTCZ4QEJwYqF1uR-FquKm2NefNpUSthsAffjbEydfoA9HLo91qmQi3-3Nh9H4YAlMYdnAV0JaijxPkDa9eFvnAsXsSUbXoADRDwzVnS2VtAKjtp0eKjMsjMQ/s1600-h/october+09+025.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392886630198814194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzcJxl-liEzn6z0SafiNHxkTCZ4QEJwYqF1uR-FquKm2NefNpUSthsAffjbEydfoA9HLo91qmQi3-3Nh9H4YAlMYdnAV0JaijxPkDa9eFvnAsXsSUbXoADRDwzVnS2VtAKjtp0eKjMsjMQ/s320/october+09+025.JPG" /></a> Sally has been looking forward to her third birthday since she turned two. We have lots of pretend birthday parties. A couple moths ago, we received a birthday catalog in the mail. Sally became obsessed with it and took it everywhere- including Walmart, where it got left on a shelf. She was incredibly distraught over the loss of her "birthday book" and mentions it EVERY time we go to Walmart. She is very glad that another kid "bought" it from the store and is currently enjoying it.<br /><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1csrESy_nq88LbaR8ifzu5TbvRo8olFE-2-oM8ZPTIg5JEaDiaBT7mtLCDDTfIYZcRi1ooB_pAriMu4CjdSZFLI8G4Dv1tDVcnExlvpwp7l0RfsSP-aOQQYm6m_FwcXfiinUzX7QGGr-P/s1600-h/october+09+021.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392870123846848706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1csrESy_nq88LbaR8ifzu5TbvRo8olFE-2-oM8ZPTIg5JEaDiaBT7mtLCDDTfIYZcRi1ooB_pAriMu4CjdSZFLI8G4Dv1tDVcnExlvpwp7l0RfsSP-aOQQYm6m_FwcXfiinUzX7QGGr-P/s320/october+09+021.JPG" /></a> Here, Sally is so happy! Her emotions tend to run high, (I wonder where my little drama queen gets it from?) which makes it exciting to deal with her. She can get upset easily and sometimes shows some teenage-esque attitude, but also gets VERY excited and can be sweeter than cotton candy. When she's happy, she is very affectionate and loving. She's funny too!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUK-CHiPivWWaUZs9EKdPfKqcHXKQyU0wEZSi4BRMO6hjOGkKezgqVJnE6-CeXuCij2asGLmJEymmTAAu_o6xgkp0k662tEkoweP6-zh44hkRCiMdWdEdO8y1t-fMX3-UVGja-KrnXkXX7/s1600-h/october+09+044.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392870114976909442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUK-CHiPivWWaUZs9EKdPfKqcHXKQyU0wEZSi4BRMO6hjOGkKezgqVJnE6-CeXuCij2asGLmJEymmTAAu_o6xgkp0k662tEkoweP6-zh44hkRCiMdWdEdO8y1t-fMX3-UVGja-KrnXkXX7/s320/october+09+044.JPG" /></a>Later that day, Daddy and Grammy took Sally to the park. (I had to go to Nashville) Now, I wasn't there to see first hand, but I've been to the park with he plenty of times to see how social she is at the park. The world is her friend. She'll ask anybody to play and expects that everybody will see her as the amazing girl that she is. I'm continually impressed by her confidence and willingness to meet new people. She is like that everywhere we go. She is taking a dance class (yes, it is the cutest thing ever) and LOVES it, yes for the dancing, but she loves the social interaction she gets. It is so fun to see her hatch into this social butterfly.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCWa0hzXOKCYhT8eOnl6DV-_K19YD9NEsg6fhNEoTZXs9uh8vR0D_Kotm8yD8HRrtw-LZXuB3APh4BVy3mcebjyZJzq5DiPYJVCGbwhBDHiDQFQCdsbSd3VLIXAwhUeB7-THlftuZ-ny1j/s1600-h/october+09+058.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392870108213861666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCWa0hzXOKCYhT8eOnl6DV-_K19YD9NEsg6fhNEoTZXs9uh8vR0D_Kotm8yD8HRrtw-LZXuB3APh4BVy3mcebjyZJzq5DiPYJVCGbwhBDHiDQFQCdsbSd3VLIXAwhUeB7-THlftuZ-ny1j/s320/october+09+058.JPG" /></a>Yay for swinging! And can you see Alice here too? (Sally can almost pump, which is exciting!) I know in Alice's birthday post, I said a little bit about their relationship, which is fun, but I'd like to say a little more. She can be very thoughtful of her little sister, and often serves as her voice. If Alice is babbling away, Sally will do a high voice and "interpret." My favorite is when Alice "says" things like, "I think me and Sally need a cookie." More often is cute sayings like "I love dada!" Being a parent of two can be so rewarding and fun!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWgA0L2Sf3hWADIUa-NBdYMCC9vQmZao5zqC9QdQRnYFa6n8A_A8MrfErW-KJf9EC0MpzzNW4z2lCMmJaQy2CxTr0t_HB6sP7U3q20WBrpCbe7cazo3EDtpNKSH8HVsMAJF2qF8Rn086-i/s1600-h/october+09+065.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392870102423276642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWgA0L2Sf3hWADIUa-NBdYMCC9vQmZao5zqC9QdQRnYFa6n8A_A8MrfErW-KJf9EC0MpzzNW4z2lCMmJaQy2CxTr0t_HB6sP7U3q20WBrpCbe7cazo3EDtpNKSH8HVsMAJF2qF8Rn086-i/s320/october+09+065.JPG" /></a> I LOVE this picture! It embraces the essence of Sally. She is such a smart fun loving girl. I love the things she says, like "You have a choice. You can have a time out, or read me this book". I love the way she cuddles. I love to watch her evolve and grow. I love to see her smile and laugh. I love to see her dance and sing. I love to see her imagine and explore. I love to hear her pray. I love everything that is Sally Rose. It's amazing to me that she is already three, and yet, it's hard for me to really remember life without her. Things were just...different. Things have so much more meaning now. Things are better because I have my little Sally Rosebud.<br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Emily Nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15675464862972489536noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8417057786397154729.post-21736638663655912442009-10-08T14:44:00.001-07:002009-10-08T22:44:49.747-07:00Happy Birthday Alice!!Yesterday, or I suppose now 2 days ago, Alice celebrated her first birthday. My mind is having a hard time comprehending that my little baby has been here for a full year. It has gone by WAY too fast. The following are some pictures taken throughout the day, plus some fun Alice info.<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_0dk31V8c_M9coH71lwqWbnchU2iOKSb3U8rbCnL0nGLHO012pNyEMnW4c-BtyjhsWhOPcxyPDhM5WaXAwYw-i93xb5BBDh3BdqKPKeMf8PFD5wK4c4Y1yT-ydrhXMC2f3mqRJ86ZG-Eb/s1600-h/oct+09+314.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390355012821556962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_0dk31V8c_M9coH71lwqWbnchU2iOKSb3U8rbCnL0nGLHO012pNyEMnW4c-BtyjhsWhOPcxyPDhM5WaXAwYw-i93xb5BBDh3BdqKPKeMf8PFD5wK4c4Y1yT-ydrhXMC2f3mqRJ86ZG-Eb/s320/oct+09+314.jpg" /></a> You can see her cake caked little face, although pink frosting doesn't show up very well. Trust me, she was covered. Especially her bare belly. Alice has always been an excellent eater. Sometimes, she'll eat more than I do at a meal. She loves everything, (except goat cheese and capers...it will come) and lots of it. She'll let you know in no unsure terms when her tray is lacking. Often, you'll catch her putting food in her mouth with one hand, then the other, then the other, with barely a breath between. Food, it seems, is serious business to this little one.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSk-q703DBUJZvUr195b8SxnD7XCJ07AV_5UvVywWU2Y6wtPn5olslc2FPnJ-T2-cvoLoOsVaheWNPj7j3uk-lJ94kUZxAoLJyIUHKPix2bi9iskJe1SZI4xD5Kfqb-yaztRhkxm7IgdBz/s1600-h/oct+09+311.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390354815185945922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSk-q703DBUJZvUr195b8SxnD7XCJ07AV_5UvVywWU2Y6wtPn5olslc2FPnJ-T2-cvoLoOsVaheWNPj7j3uk-lJ94kUZxAoLJyIUHKPix2bi9iskJe1SZI4xD5Kfqb-yaztRhkxm7IgdBz/s320/oct+09+311.jpg" /></a>Alice held onto this <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">balloon</span> through the whole cake eating process- there was no way she was letting go. Alice also has a hard time letting go of her "silky". My Grandma Barnes made these fantastic <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">silky</span> blankets for all the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">grand kids</span> and great <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">grand kids</span>, Alice was lucky to get the last one she made, though my awesome mother has continued the tradition. Alice LOVES it! It soothes her swiftly and helps her sleep. She loves to play peek-a-<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">boo with</span> it and just feel it on her skin. I love it that she loves it.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkyIS7FQxSpphUHsbN94x3YKhofjNJ43GdQFI2Ig4YaD4jSaxtMuMZ4X5usX7nAGk4jbsCxr9vAb2cG_16oLUcRDm12AdJwrkvpzPZUu5K4TtyaDZxtCeimcy16fXPX4BPnJkGr7sUUJsn/s1600-h/oct+09+312.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390354813359035842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkyIS7FQxSpphUHsbN94x3YKhofjNJ43GdQFI2Ig4YaD4jSaxtMuMZ4X5usX7nAGk4jbsCxr9vAb2cG_16oLUcRDm12AdJwrkvpzPZUu5K4TtyaDZxtCeimcy16fXPX4BPnJkGr7sUUJsn/s320/oct+09+312.jpg" /></a>This is perhaps my favorite picture of the day. She's so happy! Alice has always been a very easy baby. She has had very few inconsolable sessions. even as a newborn. She smiled early and has been a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">smiley</span> baby ever since. She sleeps the night, and is dream to put down, (just make sure she has her <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">blanky</span> and her <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">binky</span>). She is pretty laid back, (except when eating) and is just such a complete delight.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhytWowj6rY9KJumvRkpGKelmHr1n79uZ6PVPlbHlqCJj9weOKSPbGMB9KcqQkNu-qNOckA4EN5LSbgsVGtEch8dhMJ5UOQchQrJ_-3WMQxS01k1J6SbN_2fyDe_fz_7uaDB-aVATLe8O16/s1600-h/oct+09+309.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390354803643033106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhytWowj6rY9KJumvRkpGKelmHr1n79uZ6PVPlbHlqCJj9weOKSPbGMB9KcqQkNu-qNOckA4EN5LSbgsVGtEch8dhMJ5UOQchQrJ_-3WMQxS01k1J6SbN_2fyDe_fz_7uaDB-aVATLe8O16/s320/oct+09+309.jpg" /></a>This is her ghetto cake. I'm only showing it because of it's ghetto charm. One day she might care. Today is not that day. Sally, however, talked to her <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">Grammie</span> (who is here now- <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">yay</span>!!) about the cake's beauty.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLC7RFXFSLr_PYecLmMobpvBuQ1uVKXjCWBP9By82EscS_htybbq0ah9QJyDF54OEsawBPmiXIRZLVvaaQvMzj7v9zAmw-NFZtxhaCVQCoK81vyUWtc_aj7TGFV7qjg2xlHLYKNsdPk4_q/s1600-h/oct+09+297.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390354796436529378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLC7RFXFSLr_PYecLmMobpvBuQ1uVKXjCWBP9By82EscS_htybbq0ah9QJyDF54OEsawBPmiXIRZLVvaaQvMzj7v9zAmw-NFZtxhaCVQCoK81vyUWtc_aj7TGFV7qjg2xlHLYKNsdPk4_q/s320/oct+09+297.jpg" /></a>Doesn't she look sweet? Alice is the epitome of sweetness. She loves to cuddle and give big open mouth kisses. She will crawl with excitement into open arms and has the softest angel skin. She gives the biggest <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Halloween</span> treat bag a run for the money when it comes to sweetness.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjatoszi82me1athRGJjL3ambyB4ZboIF11poSS7PaEa1wif5CWb2Xxcf_ktUacNroY-nclFuCHopNGmZbbN90V_0vLLGowQFhW4cPBxuOBREjgb0m6eO56Afnz34uWSTXycXvcbXGS-hfG/s1600-h/oct+09+293.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390354792683888322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjatoszi82me1athRGJjL3ambyB4ZboIF11poSS7PaEa1wif5CWb2Xxcf_ktUacNroY-nclFuCHopNGmZbbN90V_0vLLGowQFhW4cPBxuOBREjgb0m6eO56Afnz34uWSTXycXvcbXGS-hfG/s320/oct+09+293.jpg" /></a>Sally and Alice have an interesting relationship. They are both very interested in each <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">other and</span> usually very nice. Alice likes to follow Sally around sometimes and play all kinds of things with her. Sally likes to give all kinds of love to her <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">baby</span> sister and sometimes likes to help. Other times, she likes to slam doors in poor Alice's face or restrain her from pushing buttons or getting into things by laying on her. Alice is pretty much a champ through it all. She will whimper for a moment and then all is well for this little one. They really do love each other.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSFp4DJ6VMOIuSyqAQGa2PiUWIEx3qCRQ8NvHBBjvf3vbvs1SwsA1zL_R7Nn0cmQbHJtgDqBlFdJRCGt3i9Tg1X1Ewu9Fq2hMRVapeba-3rLA8syjOUbPFScbR6-k5Psf72UCpfwAQ3QZ-/s1600-h/oct+09+246.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390352565183268066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSFp4DJ6VMOIuSyqAQGa2PiUWIEx3qCRQ8NvHBBjvf3vbvs1SwsA1zL_R7Nn0cmQbHJtgDqBlFdJRCGt3i9Tg1X1Ewu9Fq2hMRVapeba-3rLA8syjOUbPFScbR6-k5Psf72UCpfwAQ3QZ-/s320/oct+09+246.jpg" /></a>Okay, maybe this is my favorite. She is just so beautiful! Alice is starting to say some things. She can say mama, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-error">dada</span>, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-error">muh</span> (more), uh-oh (this is ADORABLE), bubble, do a fishy mouth and a lizard mouth. It is so fun to see her progress. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">She</span> also babbles <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_16" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">quite</span> a bit and makes the cutest sounds. I even like one of her cries that almost sounds like a siren (if you are in my ward, you're well familiar with it) It's actually very cute.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_4ALDG1-_WVWEEYvu-ETMn7TL7cdj7iG-BYvTKCHzcxIwNMk0WpxOuSrWmm8uNvGUHv4Wm5Rc6d0v3zkkdMChDrzqLFsdCn5wOUs8mOmdfdoW8euBIKvDJsUt6cEdaHT5hG1w7P59Zfip/s1600-h/oct+09+232.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390352558262755042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_4ALDG1-_WVWEEYvu-ETMn7TL7cdj7iG-BYvTKCHzcxIwNMk0WpxOuSrWmm8uNvGUHv4Wm5Rc6d0v3zkkdMChDrzqLFsdCn5wOUs8mOmdfdoW8euBIKvDJsUt6cEdaHT5hG1w7P59Zfip/s320/oct+09+232.jpg" /></a>Alice is getting to be such a big girl! She can cruise along most anything and LOVES to walk with things (thank you Grandma for the cool "walker"- she loves it!) she can stand for quite a long time and has stepped with her right foot a handful of times. Sometimes, even two steps (both with the right foot, making her rotate around) She'll be really walking soon. I'm pretty impressed by the way she rarely gets hurt. She seems so aware of herself and her surrounding- she hardly ever bonks her head on anything. Bill said it nicely here, "One facet about Alice to note is her remarkable caution - which takes patience, focus and awareness - all traits that she shows daily. She hardly ever gets into accidents. I'm really impressed at her ability to do things like learning how to walk, do crawling to sit-up transitions, climb the stairs and to explore safely."<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPwG1RyxiQG-tdQIrdWzhyphenhyphenHOyzfWxziTwVG8I0zmrFlRN-FV95NwRaoc3_C4mnDsR4mVqab9tpzW1a5NzkmmMk2vF1vXPDddjb3wp9Skg_x7UtBF89FcfJOZ8MCowF0BnETehbA6uN9h77/s1600-h/oct+09+230.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390352551956838722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPwG1RyxiQG-tdQIrdWzhyphenhyphenHOyzfWxziTwVG8I0zmrFlRN-FV95NwRaoc3_C4mnDsR4mVqab9tpzW1a5NzkmmMk2vF1vXPDddjb3wp9Skg_x7UtBF89FcfJOZ8MCowF0BnETehbA6uN9h77/s320/oct+09+230.jpg" /></a>We went to the indoor <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_17" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">play</span> area at the mall and Alice LOVED it. She is a good size for all of the fun "toys" they have. She had a blast going through all the tubes and standing up to everything and cruising. She also went down the little slide about 2548 times. Now, she seems to be a "safe" baby, but she still likes to explore. She loves seeing new things and seeing what could be inside everything. That is evidenced in some movie cupboards we have. She loves to see what's inside the cupboard, and then what's inside each case. I'm constantly picking them up. Same goes for <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_18" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">CD</span> shelves, kitchen cupboards and any drawer she can find.<br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7zxPpPzbBEJxINQwI9ywDvO5HfrBu2lfd6s0unBrmpelgt83Io9YgINIgEILpcMcSY9jfmrpM0JWrq9VDNIbd0t61WeGA_MGL9QqbNPmqMYnZpVCf0cgPvqQXlKZuA4TqFwXu0-q0xghU/s1600-h/oct+09+215.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390352534465019602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7zxPpPzbBEJxINQwI9ywDvO5HfrBu2lfd6s0unBrmpelgt83Io9YgINIgEILpcMcSY9jfmrpM0JWrq9VDNIbd0t61WeGA_MGL9QqbNPmqMYnZpVCf0cgPvqQXlKZuA4TqFwXu0-q0xghU/s320/oct+09+215.jpg" /></a> Alice adds so much to my life. From her pensive expressions to her huge grins. From <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_19" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">irresistible</span> laughter to funny whimpers. She makes me feel so... warm. Like drinking steamed milk with a caramel shot, only so much more intense. She warms me even deeper than the marrow, to the place science has yet to discover. If only they could play with Alice for a little bit they would have no doubt there is so much more to us and to life. Her birthday is the day before mine and I am glad. I always know I have the greatest birthday present a person could have. A sweet, loving, happy, playful, adventurous, beautiful, fun, overall wonderful little Alice Marie.<br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Emily Nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15675464862972489536noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8417057786397154729.post-16403150156951186042009-09-19T19:25:00.000-07:002009-09-19T20:13:15.312-07:00It's Raining, It's PouringIt's been raining in Georgia. A lot. This afternoon we had small rivers on either side of our house. Sally and I took the opportunity to go run and play. And get soaked.<br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7NkDqXeOBIjznVX4nbdPcVEyYb0SSJXg3fdLbv-8RdD-iKEA3Vi5zbCqbgyozZIuLyoBIdnkGwnwzqiftNOg7elQQijom2BON0KQq34R8SLfkCpbNbbW_aFMoZZVukbNec_od3lOHAzWz/s1600-h/september+09+060.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383371885621837106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7NkDqXeOBIjznVX4nbdPcVEyYb0SSJXg3fdLbv-8RdD-iKEA3Vi5zbCqbgyozZIuLyoBIdnkGwnwzqiftNOg7elQQijom2BON0KQq34R8SLfkCpbNbbW_aFMoZZVukbNec_od3lOHAzWz/s320/september+09+060.JPG" border="0" /></a> She loved it!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHNSS9iMQTlpX-GDGcz47rCUj0jWW1MMnZSICm1DRPugckhaBNil7FfGpufvnMMCEIKddFMdzgER5aGvP7xxWmxRnfq6wH3l-9XzExChQSwbjg0Ej4rl8Myjl_8yBCW65tKMiskS6vL32D/s1600-h/september+09+062.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383371877522437650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHNSS9iMQTlpX-GDGcz47rCUj0jWW1MMnZSICm1DRPugckhaBNil7FfGpufvnMMCEIKddFMdzgER5aGvP7xxWmxRnfq6wH3l-9XzExChQSwbjg0Ej4rl8Myjl_8yBCW65tKMiskS6vL32D/s320/september+09+062.JPG" border="0" /></a>I got out the umbrella to take pictures and we ended up dancing all around with it. Sally thought this was a grand idea.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3_qqDNy9yWg_bo-wBJcX8mxhcKFKGeBYLcN2j2xkzeqxPRejJeSpPa4KALsRtWjlr1vADXQAowUj4WHQ4BObI05SKBP0Qn8-HpQlJMExM6vzf3upziJUBstqwSB0febfzWZ8kBlCK5k3C/s1600-h/september+09+063.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383371474865382466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3_qqDNy9yWg_bo-wBJcX8mxhcKFKGeBYLcN2j2xkzeqxPRejJeSpPa4KALsRtWjlr1vADXQAowUj4WHQ4BObI05SKBP0Qn8-HpQlJMExM6vzf3upziJUBstqwSB0febfzWZ8kBlCK5k3C/s320/september+09+063.JPG" border="0" /></a>Thogh it was bigger than she is.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRCLgsWDWqa-ab8D9CFF-C_qSR2gsibykRP_3N82ukmdpKLbkENE-19YWu35VWbABgRRvbnosrzPIjlBTRJcCXLFA8mzPwSKNUEGQsqPmaZPxfEkWrOPS3VCPTlDKLUbKVI0rv2VltyNL_/s1600-h/september+09+058.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383371471509573570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRCLgsWDWqa-ab8D9CFF-C_qSR2gsibykRP_3N82ukmdpKLbkENE-19YWu35VWbABgRRvbnosrzPIjlBTRJcCXLFA8mzPwSKNUEGQsqPmaZPxfEkWrOPS3VCPTlDKLUbKVI0rv2VltyNL_/s320/september+09+058.JPG" border="0" /></a>We played a game where we would send a flip flop of mine down the "river". The other would have to catch it, because the current picked up in the gutter. Luckily, I still have two shoes.</div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaMRF1xf4uJG0cCjS2WuqE4X3zA1uL_QbUYHX2HunfZ1DobI5SK48JquxQxWZP_UHIK8L4p1_D4wIN8X36mfsiPxvXYgza0VXEdNbgyHpr60OmKf5JHcqoQpXijGPCV1-aOJDjxUGmvC4J/s1600-h/september+09+057.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383371462205702066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaMRF1xf4uJG0cCjS2WuqE4X3zA1uL_QbUYHX2HunfZ1DobI5SK48JquxQxWZP_UHIK8L4p1_D4wIN8X36mfsiPxvXYgza0VXEdNbgyHpr60OmKf5JHcqoQpXijGPCV1-aOJDjxUGmvC4J/s320/september+09+057.JPG" border="0" /></a>It was really moving.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6b-1IK6oM9uccnzg0PRrcNX3tFaPZppeXfgr4Ndt5AYIeiwgN13tYpye5YKOjxi86qbssVG877Qa8MFqGwQ618MfpWCuVMtXKcigjF3l0VlCHfTp9qsgIcwXkK22zl0E5Lh5EQjFeSD56/s1600-h/september+09+050.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383371454521287858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6b-1IK6oM9uccnzg0PRrcNX3tFaPZppeXfgr4Ndt5AYIeiwgN13tYpye5YKOjxi86qbssVG877Qa8MFqGwQ618MfpWCuVMtXKcigjF3l0VlCHfTp9qsgIcwXkK22zl0E5Lh5EQjFeSD56/s320/september+09+050.JPG" border="0" /></a> You can see some of the speed here against her feet. She started with boots but opted for bare feet when she saw me without footwear- mine kept coming off with every step.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTQ3aIvBO2b2K-ZrlnT7FUJSWQr6W3qlI2kQLBZAvY3OezUxvn2-ncpBqOQ9t-4OXvC0O-C8JdY8R8S4tpM-oC54rG21e44wKC1PbQyIPsYrVP6nySduyReKwMe75F7D2Hs_asJIhWYeR1/s1600-h/september+09+048.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383371446849848658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTQ3aIvBO2b2K-ZrlnT7FUJSWQr6W3qlI2kQLBZAvY3OezUxvn2-ncpBqOQ9t-4OXvC0O-C8JdY8R8S4tpM-oC54rG21e44wKC1PbQyIPsYrVP6nySduyReKwMe75F7D2Hs_asJIhWYeR1/s320/september+09+048.JPG" border="0" /></a> Sally's skirt was so wet and weighted down it was falling off her little bum. We had so much fun, and were out there for quite a while. It was great to play like this with my special big girl.<br /><div><embed name="FLVPlayer" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="http://www.onetruemedia.com/share_view_player?p=" width="408" height="382" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" quality="high" scale="noscale" wmode="transparent" salign="LT" flashvars="&p=98ece23b93a889f7371a87&skin_id=701&host=http://www.onetruemedia.com"></embed> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Emily Nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15675464862972489536noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8417057786397154729.post-53985460825770665242009-09-14T20:06:00.000-07:002009-09-14T21:18:57.908-07:00Bombarded by PicturesI haven't been awesome about keeping up. Much has happened- a trip <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">SLC</span>, and a trip to Florida- those posts will come. This, however, is all about the everyday greatness that has been the last month or so. Be prepared for the bombardment.<br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq7H3V1JqHyapNTxYzR6opXal_AKaHqnejB1aIEJTYzfZt1QOAnp0UvUbXCaj4ue-5ErhLInJCAUJNHf7gNG6xfkUSDteRqxd4U083yEwdl9w8_bgJdZsuWrc5pOqxGEUuvCkoYbM9c-l9/s1600-h/july+09+060.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381538569185729906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq7H3V1JqHyapNTxYzR6opXal_AKaHqnejB1aIEJTYzfZt1QOAnp0UvUbXCaj4ue-5ErhLInJCAUJNHf7gNG6xfkUSDteRqxd4U083yEwdl9w8_bgJdZsuWrc5pOqxGEUuvCkoYbM9c-l9/s320/july+09+060.JPG" border="0" /></a> I think she looks pretty here- she's about to scale the mountain</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8mHN8iI7UxQUA9Sr8eJKq4xwCkWcj9ndgT3c6v_mL6b2B82rOMg_nu89DaDIzw1z_9V-xuzI5Oai3JeH2CpEa6rpa2QnOJD-6nwDwZNebg2ImPlVHo5thFS-OYmE1IUm4mszdthaHsG-h/s1600-h/july+09+068.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381538564125437058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8mHN8iI7UxQUA9Sr8eJKq4xwCkWcj9ndgT3c6v_mL6b2B82rOMg_nu89DaDIzw1z_9V-xuzI5Oai3JeH2CpEa6rpa2QnOJD-6nwDwZNebg2ImPlVHo5thFS-OYmE1IUm4mszdthaHsG-h/s320/july+09+068.JPG" border="0" /></a> She's climbing it- can you <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">believe</span> the altitude of that mountain? Laundry can get crazy.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9N38JDwmM-R2_4I51nL98XC0erICbC15Egs0CadZIItfUrJtVspjbzXoEauZgeuORnhJLZ7-vcxWl8G-K3GTl-cNST44zfkPYGTCa2i0NlUOMbG7GRnllpl0aPhGIwN7qWIy4Qtg6_gne/s1600-h/august+09+028.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381536961226110226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9N38JDwmM-R2_4I51nL98XC0erICbC15Egs0CadZIItfUrJtVspjbzXoEauZgeuORnhJLZ7-vcxWl8G-K3GTl-cNST44zfkPYGTCa2i0NlUOMbG7GRnllpl0aPhGIwN7qWIy4Qtg6_gne/s320/august+09+028.JPG" border="0" /></a> Alice is pulling up to everything and cruising when highly motivated. She can stand by herself for 15 seconds or so- I think those first steps are coming very soon.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj831xh7PrPcofvX5yWFLgyHhC087ZUmHqlEzYQboUykTpI451_8ZkSVItlt8yXslZISBxI6GMpaS0u2hOIivF7-hfHDTdIeGOwlLxdKOLYTKvIs4UB0ldMbELebtFUBaZvLY4s2if21Q3y/s1600-h/august+09+046.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381536958659400530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj831xh7PrPcofvX5yWFLgyHhC087ZUmHqlEzYQboUykTpI451_8ZkSVItlt8yXslZISBxI6GMpaS0u2hOIivF7-hfHDTdIeGOwlLxdKOLYTKvIs4UB0ldMbELebtFUBaZvLY4s2if21Q3y/s320/august+09+046.JPG" border="0" /></a> Sally can be SO happy sometimes!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCF_ZaI8RhE5W6Uf2KdA2KLHjjFVyp69d8gEmLsYGA7lcVjX8ZltMVLTAONDZdnn966J1jqkEBLzMJqA9mO0fA-eBY6LZ8TlkU3EBGYmOjaISpyJYeT3XLtclZQdZOKdK4Ecxf3Pxb5uyF/s1600-h/august+09+003.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381536947075082754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCF_ZaI8RhE5W6Uf2KdA2KLHjjFVyp69d8gEmLsYGA7lcVjX8ZltMVLTAONDZdnn966J1jqkEBLzMJqA9mO0fA-eBY6LZ8TlkU3EBGYmOjaISpyJYeT3XLtclZQdZOKdK4Ecxf3Pxb5uyF/s320/august+09+003.JPG" border="0" /></a>We tried to go to a water park and this is what we got.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkQfH8N5F1J0JhI9KiNyQUisitjWUg4AT8ODyTh8yXO2KAwfXQ0gyRUYaaWnKDD0_uwJxRu1BNMCO2JsxpSalHhllcr56tbk5R5xoJQj5MMQmCquTDQb9WKMLPvcZZXFiAGoio2rHXJCFX/s1600-h/august+09+001.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381536941278208082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkQfH8N5F1J0JhI9KiNyQUisitjWUg4AT8ODyTh8yXO2KAwfXQ0gyRUYaaWnKDD0_uwJxRu1BNMCO2JsxpSalHhllcr56tbk5R5xoJQj5MMQmCquTDQb9WKMLPvcZZXFiAGoio2rHXJCFX/s320/august+09+001.JPG" border="0" /></a>These are our friends <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">JK</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Naybi</span>. We'll have to try again.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu6jOFORDtSB8E9bErsNdXCOTSUGj9W2BmMvrwVoD6APCq3empHf03usV6N_M4lj3SJSj36iWdE5yLJ80WL0h3ld_7Np5oz72uKlzAUzp7S7WK4HMAwsqW9v6awvkjFdT_2JVCCBn5S8N7/s1600-h/august+09+188.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381536931207216914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu6jOFORDtSB8E9bErsNdXCOTSUGj9W2BmMvrwVoD6APCq3empHf03usV6N_M4lj3SJSj36iWdE5yLJ80WL0h3ld_7Np5oz72uKlzAUzp7S7WK4HMAwsqW9v6awvkjFdT_2JVCCBn5S8N7/s320/august+09+188.JPG" border="0" /></a>This is what Sally wore to her first dance class- she LOVES it! We now have more proper attire, but are back to finding a class. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">They</span> are all SO expensive and have crazy hidden fees. She absolutely adores going, though.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuopJ3TMN1ujnKmcz2GtTGaYnhW1q2jmHCpFc-0C4l3CD58SqR4Y2TB-HAZsafjHcCSwOJvhiJI_QifSh4saZ6P07AdtsMqLCeASd6OG6ZEil0idLKR_LyjbvKRSsDABL31LBxyqTG3Ha3/s1600-h/august+09+174.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381535421608057202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuopJ3TMN1ujnKmcz2GtTGaYnhW1q2jmHCpFc-0C4l3CD58SqR4Y2TB-HAZsafjHcCSwOJvhiJI_QifSh4saZ6P07AdtsMqLCeASd6OG6ZEil0idLKR_LyjbvKRSsDABL31LBxyqTG3Ha3/s320/august+09+174.JPG" border="0" /></a>She loves playing with my wallet. I love looking at her eyes.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3XPZqO2lKdbd0kvgTvzLeX5bew8Z4I-j_AYYFtjVf11mIvnuDKwAE8YtSEbjVYjwBDK3PS_3o1wKBl5bWU-nCIfwJlv8nL3LY8sNUkMSmAgdQkp-24mYjs9zWjtKTPIwkXA-R8DiuSUOr/s1600-h/august+09+172.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381535419669713874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3XPZqO2lKdbd0kvgTvzLeX5bew8Z4I-j_AYYFtjVf11mIvnuDKwAE8YtSEbjVYjwBDK3PS_3o1wKBl5bWU-nCIfwJlv8nL3LY8sNUkMSmAgdQkp-24mYjs9zWjtKTPIwkXA-R8DiuSUOr/s320/august+09+172.JPG" border="0" /></a>Sometimes I wonder if Alice's hair will curl. You can see the little curl ups by her ears here.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaWvv7TR7rGKadBkR0L_KV3nBusSkgFLhGUjVJLtEum_dQFqd4-lI3As5zu3jfniQscPGsnxKNbkSJCBQatjSDfHhy0JHVevKD5j5Xc7MLnvO2pr28KkogAkQPhLjt1z6Izh0EhKV-_5w_/s1600-h/august+09+138.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381535409437058418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaWvv7TR7rGKadBkR0L_KV3nBusSkgFLhGUjVJLtEum_dQFqd4-lI3As5zu3jfniQscPGsnxKNbkSJCBQatjSDfHhy0JHVevKD5j5Xc7MLnvO2pr28KkogAkQPhLjt1z6Izh0EhKV-_5w_/s320/august+09+138.JPG" border="0" /></a>Such sweet sisters.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgQD0-f7qRbPSX0FaFsMGYS3HpSYrVCFME3A2QNTHhBeMYcOatoXlk-ZFNDjrRXRWNJS5pEby4ovnjvx9eMEZAwVrRxRHVH9te0A21PzeysqzTt-vIKzxpxOWRJL4dCn5o7bp-wf4Qibvx/s1600-h/august+09+150.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381535405398816322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgQD0-f7qRbPSX0FaFsMGYS3HpSYrVCFME3A2QNTHhBeMYcOatoXlk-ZFNDjrRXRWNJS5pEby4ovnjvx9eMEZAwVrRxRHVH9te0A21PzeysqzTt-vIKzxpxOWRJL4dCn5o7bp-wf4Qibvx/s320/august+09+150.JPG" border="0" /></a>I love these girls SO much!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjurp4nUoQAnKhyphenhyphenq8fX5tbtablst6qJhJm0ryNzEH8yfuV5qplb2FMXUT_YQ8Yh09TAEbWpJttW0Jj0f589HOWqGopgHrIqaTtZNogEjOGDmoAovd9iSsO6FcihlKVeTv1GBFG67yTExVAD/s1600-h/august+09+109.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381535399772386930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjurp4nUoQAnKhyphenhyphenq8fX5tbtablst6qJhJm0ryNzEH8yfuV5qplb2FMXUT_YQ8Yh09TAEbWpJttW0Jj0f589HOWqGopgHrIqaTtZNogEjOGDmoAovd9iSsO6FcihlKVeTv1GBFG67yTExVAD/s320/august+09+109.JPG" border="0" /></a>Cute little Alice was so pleased to play with Sally's new rain boots.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Eg8ssqDr7uR3i1qrVkS82SyVblrloqaHHw1UPJ0BPSs6StVugVlEADOmsNbRXWz_9aEt01oqejUfnDQXIHAiyThvFpWc0DsN4WM2kDXEUPlsFCmLOZM4iAKlTzdsYRmqTN6SXVtqMFtQ/s1600-h/august+09+116.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381534268685094882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Eg8ssqDr7uR3i1qrVkS82SyVblrloqaHHw1UPJ0BPSs6StVugVlEADOmsNbRXWz_9aEt01oqejUfnDQXIHAiyThvFpWc0DsN4WM2kDXEUPlsFCmLOZM4iAKlTzdsYRmqTN6SXVtqMFtQ/s320/august+09+116.JPG" border="0" /></a>She's on her way down from a jump off the pig.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Z4chZL6hAGB0eZXFQLVCl9Th6PEIYVh9FYRijvhNxxuhc5ajD4snIcPSOHlJpcsA27p3edH8UQ5usS1VwbqTwoo8AIe-YSvSHNh0NGwdnz0pz5TB1N1LYY_4TrB634M00JtzYfFNzRKQ/s1600-h/august+09+107.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381534257630582914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Z4chZL6hAGB0eZXFQLVCl9Th6PEIYVh9FYRijvhNxxuhc5ajD4snIcPSOHlJpcsA27p3edH8UQ5usS1VwbqTwoo8AIe-YSvSHNh0NGwdnz0pz5TB1N1LYY_4TrB634M00JtzYfFNzRKQ/s320/august+09+107.JPG" border="0" /></a>Sally and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Naybi</span>- I think they are being butterflies.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3eKUDmOoGeO1e2_azQBURPswNGkUUFQZeOyi7d6O1WmzsHROIlePKJMSjfc0iz_lfpVt3c6iMwzvj0ZLiz_1iuG4_k9fNTINEMKe6pFQSvwkwQaMXWwdmbvZCbs8W3Mu-lY6761SEB0hD/s1600-h/august+09+082.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381534253042260658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3eKUDmOoGeO1e2_azQBURPswNGkUUFQZeOyi7d6O1WmzsHROIlePKJMSjfc0iz_lfpVt3c6iMwzvj0ZLiz_1iuG4_k9fNTINEMKe6pFQSvwkwQaMXWwdmbvZCbs8W3Mu-lY6761SEB0hD/s320/august+09+082.JPG" border="0" /></a>I LOVE this picture- she is so beautiful.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiosgivI0SC2qwpR2kTiDz4N2TGfvLNfPrMb4hHI8wybm3nxuEN4hpwUAewi0-hSwm8EEpsKrODEzb6n3lqAjzydU_lXlEEXimPHTPldmZ2IjdWABR7J38o41ht_WJMaZVX2DKc571QMUCt/s1600-h/august+09+072.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381534248596622146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiosgivI0SC2qwpR2kTiDz4N2TGfvLNfPrMb4hHI8wybm3nxuEN4hpwUAewi0-hSwm8EEpsKrODEzb6n3lqAjzydU_lXlEEXimPHTPldmZ2IjdWABR7J38o41ht_WJMaZVX2DKc571QMUCt/s320/august+09+072.JPG" border="0" /></a> Sadly, this is the most action all <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">these</span> cute undies get. She runs away and screams if I ask her about the potty. It will come.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Xjd2R_8Cg6M1DR6wMelC-rGQ8bCAdWsJtpBFl25DNcDu5SmGIM_UXtd12lgDZY9rX-KkheDZXcq3r8eFJ4HvAmapzx6dKryg8SdpnDHu4r7q7u-GuWybgyPOofceGWX8yE2i3_S97llC/s1600-h/august+09+065.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381534240223011362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Xjd2R_8Cg6M1DR6wMelC-rGQ8bCAdWsJtpBFl25DNcDu5SmGIM_UXtd12lgDZY9rX-KkheDZXcq3r8eFJ4HvAmapzx6dKryg8SdpnDHu4r7q7u-GuWybgyPOofceGWX8yE2i3_S97llC/s320/august+09+065.JPG" border="0" /></a> Alice found a cozy spot.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY03ZZjUpK60ybn9AFFEuHyJ6L4g5yLL9nuvyaTS_nVLcTDKKN9OStoR04M_62ugJ4vDbNqMGx1J2_Dxldu1baGW_l0fEoCguWUl1_bysswepqcNKdgPg6EsTk49KBsAt6ENtCcQBc1SnS/s1600-h/august+09+053.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381533178652390914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY03ZZjUpK60ybn9AFFEuHyJ6L4g5yLL9nuvyaTS_nVLcTDKKN9OStoR04M_62ugJ4vDbNqMGx1J2_Dxldu1baGW_l0fEoCguWUl1_bysswepqcNKdgPg6EsTk49KBsAt6ENtCcQBc1SnS/s320/august+09+053.JPG" border="0" /></a>She is so cute I can hardly stand it! I love that her tongue is twisted here- very true to life. She has enjoyed playing with her tongue from day one. If you ask her what a lizard says, she'll dart it out quickly. She'll also do a fish mouth.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG8Z4VGkqxvf90hH1gIr7Nr6SVXG9-MrE8L1OrQ1_utYXdytl3AC7GgyqyHBg12Bdiq3nU-sI-j-9COuMyvNKjzzFJlzcM7C0bD06kQs-tFGG_neVqam7qZhsrC65cT4ubAXpIV0NuSXwH/s1600-h/august+09+029.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381533169324929666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG8Z4VGkqxvf90hH1gIr7Nr6SVXG9-MrE8L1OrQ1_utYXdytl3AC7GgyqyHBg12Bdiq3nU-sI-j-9COuMyvNKjzzFJlzcM7C0bD06kQs-tFGG_neVqam7qZhsrC65cT4ubAXpIV0NuSXwH/s320/august+09+029.JPG" border="0" /></a>I love this little retro top Alice is wearing. I need to find some good thrift stores around here.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoLByk1qJKq7tc_8z2mc-sS5gqRzSUHx3xNlg6uhtA2n9SEE2fhMI6iHWPOVRR1lgKxQOSb2WioDwQdeEiFQcd2BgfRXxNFK04eaxEm8taO7GaCNKw1xhEVNH58mE_HicIPNwXJV3IvvVA/s1600-h/august+09+018.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381533165190932882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoLByk1qJKq7tc_8z2mc-sS5gqRzSUHx3xNlg6uhtA2n9SEE2fhMI6iHWPOVRR1lgKxQOSb2WioDwQdeEiFQcd2BgfRXxNFK04eaxEm8taO7GaCNKw1xhEVNH58mE_HicIPNwXJV3IvvVA/s320/august+09+018.JPG" border="0" /></a>They both think Daddy is a playground. He is so great with them.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaZW6_CvFQ5jATLaaSHHVgFhVQdXrSrt10FJPnRYqCYXEmSQ5DHTDd9FDSV45DTJdLU5G2DH5IlL-iJpea-ofaikED5YaODqXVRUa0uYI0q5-YqNNfjdM95Zyr8ztXBZ83fpQ0dM3Doh1O/s1600-h/september+09+033.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381533157774800610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaZW6_CvFQ5jATLaaSHHVgFhVQdXrSrt10FJPnRYqCYXEmSQ5DHTDd9FDSV45DTJdLU5G2DH5IlL-iJpea-ofaikED5YaODqXVRUa0uYI0q5-YqNNfjdM95Zyr8ztXBZ83fpQ0dM3Doh1O/s320/september+09+033.JPG" border="0" /></a>Here's Sally in her full Ballet gear- I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">lOVE</span> it!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwvw70L2TiXBeNlDKeVfqWC3fXw2wIT1W4jAUvDLmrILEZVP6RyTFH1sZjpqV9nxw-kZz9rFzqXnDItFlcTnxQ980tcUeBkRhKi_ZK3DWyT9kxjsrw0LVIFhU8xkUwMbJIc5T6VbwIVPxA/s1600-h/september+09+015.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381533145301348066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwvw70L2TiXBeNlDKeVfqWC3fXw2wIT1W4jAUvDLmrILEZVP6RyTFH1sZjpqV9nxw-kZz9rFzqXnDItFlcTnxQ980tcUeBkRhKi_ZK3DWyT9kxjsrw0LVIFhU8xkUwMbJIc5T6VbwIVPxA/s320/september+09+015.JPG" border="0" /></a>She is always doing "princess twirls" and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">tippy</span> toes. She is such a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">girly</span> girl. I am not what I would consider terribly <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">girly</span>, but it is fun to indulge that side of myself with her. It's all about the pink and princesses and ballerinas with her.<br /><br /><div> </div><div>There are two videos back to back. The first is Sally singing one of two Alice Marie songs that are sung A LOT in our house. The second, is Alice dancing adorably.<br /></div><div><embed name="FLVPlayer" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="http://www.onetruemedia.com/share_view_player?p=" width="408" height="382" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashvars="&p=9883a4d2b9b411ca523362&skin_id=701&host=http://www.onetruemedia.com" salign="LT" wmode="transparent" scale="noscale" quality="high"></embed><br /></div><div> </div><div align="left">Well, I'll bet if you made it this far, you are N<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">icolich</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">girled</span> out. I'm not, though. i can't wait to play with them in the morning. I love being a mom to these amazing children.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div>Emily Nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15675464862972489536noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8417057786397154729.post-59947035290303182002009-09-02T17:36:00.001-07:002009-09-02T18:38:12.275-07:00A Trip to the High Museum in AtlantaThe Monet water lillies exhibit was showing at the High Museum in Atlanta, so we made a visit.<br /><br /><a title="0822091539 by newfave, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/newfave/3872313053/"><img height="375" alt="0822091539" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2577/3872313053_e969c6c32f.jpg" width="500" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a title="0822091555a by newfave, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/newfave/3873100650/"><img height="375" alt="0822091555a" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3420/3873100650_7a796d85cd.jpg" width="500" /></a><br /><br /><a title="0822091554 by newfave, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/newfave/3872316511/"><img height="375" alt="0822091554" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3453/3872316511_cd75560799.jpg" width="500" /></a><br /><br /><a title="0822091538 by newfave, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/newfave/3873096472/"><img height="375" alt="0822091538" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2673/3873096472_afa3ca5752.jpg" width="500" /></a><br /><br /><a title="0822091537 by newfave, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/newfave/3873096252/"><img height="375" alt="0822091537" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2545/3873096252_20f61d9d16.jpg" width="500" /></a><br /><br /><a title="0822091523 by newfave, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/newfave/3873095502/"><img height="375" alt="0822091523" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2519/3873095502_a71deed9b1.jpg" width="500" /></a><br /><br /><a title="0822091556 by newfave, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/newfave/3872317109/"><img height="375" alt="0822091556" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2550/3872317109_5a6a5e0246.jpg" width="500" /></a><br /><br /><a title="0822091626 by newfave, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/newfave/3882327423/"><img height="375" alt="0822091626" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3418/3882327423_b61cbe4939.jpg" width="500" /></a><br /><br /><a title="0822091624a by newfave, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/newfave/3883121374/"><img height="375" alt="0822091624a" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2443/3883121374_b791fca98d.jpg" width="500" /></a><br /><br /><a title="0822091623b by newfave, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/newfave/3883121328/"><img height="375" alt="0822091623b" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3488/3883121328_f7300b1bb9.jpg" width="500" /></a><br /><br /><a title="0822091630a by newfave, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/newfave/3883130282/"><img height="375" alt="0822091630a" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2630/3883130282_dc7b90a4d6.jpg" width="500" /></a><br /><br /><a title="0822091637a by newfave, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/newfave/3883130406/"><img height="375" alt="0822091637a" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2473/3883130406_5242d4f65d.jpg" width="500" /></a><br /><br /><a title="0822091640 by newfave, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/newfave/3882336103/"><img height="375" alt="0822091640" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3512/3882336103_cf3f09233a.jpg" width="500" /></a><br /><br /><a title="0822091641a by newfave, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/newfave/3882337335/"><img height="375" alt="0822091641a" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3498/3882337335_742fd6b928.jpg" width="500" /></a><br /><br /><a title="0822091642 by newfave, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/newfave/3882337425/"><img height="375" alt="0822091642" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2481/3882337425_548cea90df.jpg" width="500" /></a><br /><br /><a title="0822091642a by newfave, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/newfave/3882343875/"><img height="375" alt="0822091642a" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3469/3882343875_06708041ba.jpg" width="500" /></a><br /><br /><a title="0822091644 by newfave, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/newfave/3882344985/"><img height="375" alt="0822091644" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3510/3882344985_7153836f83.jpg" width="500" /></a><br /><br /><a title="0822091632a by newfave, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/newfave/3882349439/"><img height="375" alt="0822091632a" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2429/3882349439_fd4a04e7f8.jpg" width="500" /></a><br /><br /><a title="0822091639c by newfave, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/newfave/3882349475/"><img height="375" alt="0822091639c" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3507/3882349475_51a29062ca.jpg" width="500" /></a><br /><br /><a title="0822091644a by newfave, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/newfave/3882349545/"><img height="375" alt="0822091644a" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2574/3882349545_8f298f02d6.jpg" width="500" /></a><br /><br /><a title="0822091649 by newfave, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/newfave/3883144086/"><img height="375" alt="0822091649" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2638/3883144086_335c616993.jpg" width="500" /></a><br /><br /><a title="0822091626 by newfave, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/newfave/3882327423/"><img height="375" alt="0822091626" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3418/3882327423_b61cbe4939.jpg" width="500" /></a><br /><br /><a title="0822091614a by newfave, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/newfave/3872319329/"><img height="375" alt="0822091614a" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3453/3872319329_2d14c1a63f.jpg" width="500" /></a><br /><br />Occasionally, when one dabbles in art and literature, these might converge unexpectedly - producing a psychic pause in the space time continuum. This happened to me with the painting shown above entitled Moonlit Market, 1874 by the American painter Johann Mengels Culverhouse.<br /><br />I've been reading the short stories of Anton Chekov. In the midst of this collection is the story entitled Easter Eve where the narrator exclaims "'What a restless night!' I thought. 'How nice!'" This was precisely the identical reaction I had to the painting. There's something about the painting that appeals to me perfectly.<br /><br />In addition to that coincidence, the Chekov story unfolds a very similar scene which takes place at midnight in a Russian village to that which is depicted in the painting. I'll quote here and allow you to judge.<br /><br /><em>I took a few steps through mud, but a little farther walked on a soft freshly trodden path. This path led to the dark monastery gates, that looked like a cavern through a cloud of smoke, through a disorderly crowd of people, unharnessed horses, carts and chaises. All this crowd was rattling, snorting, laughing, and the crimson light and wavering shadows from the smoke flickered all over it.... A perfect chaos! And in this subbub the people yet found room to load a little cannon and to sell cakes. There was no less commotion on the other side of the wall in the monastery precincts, but there was more regard for decorum and order. Here there was a smell of juniper and incense.</em><br /><br />Also note that above, I've photographed a painting of a cave island in the sea. This is entitled Fingal's Cave, Island of Staffa, Scottland by American painter Thomas Moran. Notice the similarity of this painting to the description above of "looked like a cavern through a cloud of smoke."<br /><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;color:#333333;"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8417057786397154729.post-50503132274272339772009-08-30T18:49:00.001-07:002009-08-30T19:09:17.334-07:00Date Night<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCaaLoKCITaeVnOmwwwVMPldcwsvkO-qrvIpvJM_occDkJsB5z1innK61C6Mo8Pfno9LTIqDtgX5CjKhyphenhyphentSYNRs6cqXjjrJDbFAg1Knb0Gl5Naxg4TLwKRuceKTPKp02PGe5qKPWH97UQ/s1600-h/0725092105.jpg"><img style="margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCaaLoKCITaeVnOmwwwVMPldcwsvkO-qrvIpvJM_occDkJsB5z1innK61C6Mo8Pfno9LTIqDtgX5CjKhyphenhyphentSYNRs6cqXjjrJDbFAg1Knb0Gl5Naxg4TLwKRuceKTPKp02PGe5qKPWH97UQ/s400/0725092105.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375939531397425938" /></a><br />Here's a picture of what I see every morning. I see a darling wife and two cute little girls who usually make their way to the big bed.<br /><br />Now on to the story. Recently, we went on a Date night. Emily had a great idea. We went laser-tagging. Mostly the patrons were young teenagers. Then there was us - yay! The establishment smelled like a roller-skating rink - a mixture of popcorn, processed snacks, sweat, video game exhaust, rainbows and unicorn droppings. <br /><br />Emily scored better than I did on both rounds. Later she revealed that one of her chief tactics was to exploit the weakest opponents the whole time - you know - shoot the "noob" over and over again. Why does this vest keep lighting up like that? Huh.<br /><br />I wished I could have set my own name - but apparently the laser tag software isn't that sophisticated. I would have been "The Bad Home Teacher."<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid55rgB5L7bnEkaIw84wlxta6xmAiNuVB_gyz7bHS3jHWMgQOMD7nIt-uys2x_s6PgNtQDlWLCCftXsGJLmIwUGzfTuZao0fOGL3TOwt9ORuxqNgxxRtxYN_IngEyWZSMqCcOJxSFCl50/s1600-h/0808092000.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid55rgB5L7bnEkaIw84wlxta6xmAiNuVB_gyz7bHS3jHWMgQOMD7nIt-uys2x_s6PgNtQDlWLCCftXsGJLmIwUGzfTuZao0fOGL3TOwt9ORuxqNgxxRtxYN_IngEyWZSMqCcOJxSFCl50/s400/0808092000.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375940502164211682" /></a><br /><br />We ate at my favorite restaurant: Yo Yo Ma. They've got three restaurants in one building - Chinese, Thai and Japanese. I had Coconut Soup from the Thai menu, shared sushi with Emily, and had mongolian beef for the entree. Delicious!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEmDF2R26EtzlgJW6sQ9pZseR18Hvld63VYKXLty59kIcrzBRR6vHutLOHG4arD1AJRC3g0e91qUtQmavGP9pVCeZCXpbt1k-VEzGUldWV8Xs4tZHqJb55Un18_Q1MsX9-TG39TW7vmFg/s1600-h/0808091912.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEmDF2R26EtzlgJW6sQ9pZseR18Hvld63VYKXLty59kIcrzBRR6vHutLOHG4arD1AJRC3g0e91qUtQmavGP9pVCeZCXpbt1k-VEzGUldWV8Xs4tZHqJb55Un18_Q1MsX9-TG39TW7vmFg/s400/0808091912.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375941200171348162" /></a><br /><br />Emily seemed to have fun too. I submit the following photgraph as proof.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjolr-K3wvQCdzVu5IhRd4XDYOslEoFK_yRFPMAUwZmabcxglLGR0_zCyiKCgkjrZ5e7JHVzAHbCriW0iYUFQpkwftadia67ndGqXXhmLBD0Yoy9G55pzRS6wkh4W5CTyE3U7IIk66Qu80/s1600-h/0808091912a.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjolr-K3wvQCdzVu5IhRd4XDYOslEoFK_yRFPMAUwZmabcxglLGR0_zCyiKCgkjrZ5e7JHVzAHbCriW0iYUFQpkwftadia67ndGqXXhmLBD0Yoy9G55pzRS6wkh4W5CTyE3U7IIk66Qu80/s400/0808091912a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375941534436653378" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8417057786397154729.post-62292934177603982992009-07-27T17:26:00.000-07:002009-07-27T18:51:48.542-07:00Trapped in the Bathroom<div><div><div>I'm behind. Catching up seems daunting, but I'm starting the process. It's not that there are tons of people out there chomping at the bit to see what I have to say, but this is my journal. Really, I need to find a way to store this stuff because I'm fully counting it as my personal history. Much has happened, but I'll start with this amusing little story.<br /><div><div><div><div> </div><div>A little while ago, I was in the bathroom. (you can tell it will be good, right?) Sally decided to come in with me, and Alice was crawling around just outside the room. The picture is what the set up of our bathroom is. The door on the right goes to the hall, the camera is in is the sink part of the bathroom, and the door on the left is the toilet and bathtub portion.</div></div></div></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggjmll7ls3cfYnQRB8jFC7P6vZBfQJdo_mjb8gkRgjLwFyiq96h221WU8VvR8rVY2oIPXc_Q-ZQJecyEvdoMBD8gfUrvI7bs0azJTGzrc2cj_slcAT1ETs0sc0QY5FnO-jpnAjWIUgKw8T/s1600-h/july+09+077.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363303635436457954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggjmll7ls3cfYnQRB8jFC7P6vZBfQJdo_mjb8gkRgjLwFyiq96h221WU8VvR8rVY2oIPXc_Q-ZQJecyEvdoMBD8gfUrvI7bs0azJTGzrc2cj_slcAT1ETs0sc0QY5FnO-jpnAjWIUgKw8T/s320/july+09+077.JPG" border="0" /></a> So anyway, Sally and i are in the potty portion when along comes Alice. She pushed the hall door all the way open, which created this situation.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPw2azHsrSgrP5L5OhQ32VMbTP-UwJgKm3Hk_lLg0kMfdkTEQI4OeYqncd43PUj-q_VfwyuiP0-wKQD6Qe0ihZDkha3qNFOBwaYcaPlRllKAp8KtCcpCSVGAAG0jK-cS6FpGckS0I7Ht-W/s1600-h/july+09+078.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363303640611594146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPw2azHsrSgrP5L5OhQ32VMbTP-UwJgKm3Hk_lLg0kMfdkTEQI4OeYqncd43PUj-q_VfwyuiP0-wKQD6Qe0ihZDkha3qNFOBwaYcaPlRllKAp8KtCcpCSVGAAG0jK-cS6FpGckS0I7Ht-W/s320/july+09+078.JPG" border="0" /></a>This picture was taken from the bathtub part of the room. Both doors here are fully open, and you can see the hall door is blocking the doorway out of the toilet chamber. This is no big deal, because Alice can't keep us in, right? There's no way a nine month old could trap her mom and sister. Except for this.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRYc2IImQFm8IXUxPoYX1uRmfAPq8Q1ODe6xePdoK6HbzPPY1cRekQnPaXsgVl_6o5BFvx7Js5zEpdpHn8SmO1PTPo1XiWsCgndd97sOOmX48vCeMQ6MXmkvRMRrgE6LxqxwqDXnMBmi7N/s1600-h/july+09+079.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363303644177637170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRYc2IImQFm8IXUxPoYX1uRmfAPq8Q1ODe6xePdoK6HbzPPY1cRekQnPaXsgVl_6o5BFvx7Js5zEpdpHn8SmO1PTPo1XiWsCgndd97sOOmX48vCeMQ6MXmkvRMRrgE6LxqxwqDXnMBmi7N/s320/july+09+079.JPG" border="0" /></a> This is taken from the doorway of the potty part of our loo. See those menacing drawers? Usually, they are not so menacing, but our sweet little Alice pulled the bottom drawer open; all the way open. This made it impossible for me to get out. So, I was stuck in the bathroom with this darling,<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk2Le0bjs2rPHAVdl8mnI1BcjdwXQzvwdhNeR-8XLtxj2BL9Thi4gDq1QeCk54ZJEru85rTcfX-XyGD9mgSUzIS-HS0LDUfEwMST3YJphrIrdAKOtJRfSC4jx5OV2HXnSUxIYXpQ1jR82l/s1600-h/july+09+001.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363303645353594354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk2Le0bjs2rPHAVdl8mnI1BcjdwXQzvwdhNeR-8XLtxj2BL9Thi4gDq1QeCk54ZJEru85rTcfX-XyGD9mgSUzIS-HS0LDUfEwMST3YJphrIrdAKOtJRfSC4jx5OV2HXnSUxIYXpQ1jR82l/s320/july+09+001.JPG" border="0" /></a> While this sweetie had the entire upstairs to roam. By herself.<br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaXoQzyKAyhfVoRH-z1iH7y9kQvWg_arsH83sS4szcdJrUCoIVT8303D8AbZwsxzdfuu-wfr1nM7kN80GTsWQwb1kYO7mbh0OKA6mPRB9ZvfqA88SihIW8lM2FT1mQhyphenhyphenNtrea4T5A63xmx/s1600-h/july+09+002.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363303646705568066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaXoQzyKAyhfVoRH-z1iH7y9kQvWg_arsH83sS4szcdJrUCoIVT8303D8AbZwsxzdfuu-wfr1nM7kN80GTsWQwb1kYO7mbh0OKA6mPRB9ZvfqA88SihIW8lM2FT1mQhyphenhyphenNtrea4T5A63xmx/s320/july+09+002.JPG" border="0" /></a> Luckily, she pretty much stayed by the door the entire time. </p><p>My first thought was to try to coax Alice into closing the drawer. Being nine months old, she didn't oblige. I then tried- many, many times- to reach my fingers through the crack and help the drawer closed. This never worked. I could get my hand painfully through, but it created more pressure on the drawer, and it wouldn't budge. I tried to get Sally and her smaller hands to help, but that wasn't working either. I tried using the handle of a toilet brush. I took down the shower curtain rod and tried to go over the top of the door. I tried folding a magazine and going under the door. I tried to comfort myself thinking perhaps Bill would be coming home for lunch. In about 3 hours. None of this worked. </p><p>Meanwhile, Sally is saying things like, "Oh no. This is so crazy!" and "We're never going to get out." Alice is crawling around, and mostly being pleasant, but starts to get weary of only seeing my fingertips after about fifteen minutes. After being in there for 25 minutes (and deciding to always take a cell phone to the potty), I decide we need help. Sally and I knelt down in the small space and we said a prayer.</p><p>About one minute later, two things happened. Alice pushed a thin <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">cardboard</span> tube (the kind that goes on a wire hanger) an inch or so under the door. She also bumped the drawer so that it closed a little bit. With the drawer in a bit and the with my new "tool", I was able to jimmy the drawer shut and open the door to our freedom. We were reunited at last! </p>Little Sally was relieved to be out,<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsGi9XdXB1HwPZtXCLHXRxlCalLlKbRnZHlZvSJhY6U1Crp73lu7X_yGbYCXdrYgVuKXWUeFhWjJDYEs3rW10Z5ykvbnxcIiLztCKiGMejLKfuDBbzDCaik9QVe2hXlbEtN-FRmukXsZmD/s1600-h/july+09+019.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363319866934868546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsGi9XdXB1HwPZtXCLHXRxlCalLlKbRnZHlZvSJhY6U1Crp73lu7X_yGbYCXdrYgVuKXWUeFhWjJDYEs3rW10Z5ykvbnxcIiLztCKiGMejLKfuDBbzDCaik9QVe2hXlbEtN-FRmukXsZmD/s320/july+09+019.JPG" border="0" /></a> And Alice was happy to be held and fed.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK3RikxsSMSRIs7fxq6ckbAMuQNhcMd8nB2SSwN8t0X71Dyms1l8WQpkEpmx5oiBxZ6Bxvwm45TQqofy4iTCQdYszrNFuHSofZERwtomEWyCduVa7QJMXDsXt9WIrAJuO3_mGT429zmCOn/s1600-h/july+09+017.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363319870857284626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK3RikxsSMSRIs7fxq6ckbAMuQNhcMd8nB2SSwN8t0X71Dyms1l8WQpkEpmx5oiBxZ6Bxvwm45TQqofy4iTCQdYszrNFuHSofZERwtomEWyCduVa7QJMXDsXt9WIrAJuO3_mGT429zmCOn/s320/july+09+017.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />They were happy to be together again.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp4kwBPKl_sGOM-7Le59nN6z4F1vI8Q6ubT2jwES_Kikd60ppNNgfNnpkSCh2vBshupki0_ClLWcYmVdvFJeCzy7fX3QcrVhZp7448Ctncn9J86qsiLZ59BMVDsU0EIU2jIVurcg-flDX8/s1600-h/july+09+003.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363319868586708386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp4kwBPKl_sGOM-7Le59nN6z4F1vI8Q6ubT2jwES_Kikd60ppNNgfNnpkSCh2vBshupki0_ClLWcYmVdvFJeCzy7fX3QcrVhZp7448Ctncn9J86qsiLZ59BMVDsU0EIU2jIVurcg-flDX8/s320/july+09+003.JPG" border="0" /></a></div></div></div></div></div><br /><p>I was the most relieved, I'm sure. It was good to be out, but even better to be reminded of the power of prayer. This was the kind of experience that kids have, and maybe it was for Sally's benefit, but I was completely floored. The answer to our prayer came swift and sure. I think Heavenly Father heard my plea, and decided I needed some help. I am very grateful for that help, and for the opportunity we have to communicate with our maker at any time. </p><p> </p><p>PS These pictures were from a little tea party we had. I dressed up too. We had special <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">petit</span> fours and pink milk for tea- delightful little lunch.</p>Emily Nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15675464862972489536noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8417057786397154729.post-47444749249059445542009-07-08T11:55:00.001-07:002009-07-09T06:36:42.456-07:00Battle with the Hornets<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyAPmsmdJigtk9dsVPScrEtx_DO_2F7c1PeA3PXKyIcobGedKk7bgoLjI8hkOpTs0f91ju7fMJiO2L7lMfpQc2D2UnHrYSF8TrbXE8wP693nz06PGHM16Q6UsSwVD-xXhKcXWsfBjuuYk/s1600-h/0708091421-754623.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyAPmsmdJigtk9dsVPScrEtx_DO_2F7c1PeA3PXKyIcobGedKk7bgoLjI8hkOpTs0f91ju7fMJiO2L7lMfpQc2D2UnHrYSF8TrbXE8wP693nz06PGHM16Q6UsSwVD-xXhKcXWsfBjuuYk/s320/0708091421-754623.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356165045195005330" /></a></p><p>Despite the sound advice made by some of you, I went ahead with the operation "Sting First."</p><br /><p>If you click the image you can get a better look. There are several hornets attached to the outside of the nest.</p><p>Although it's summer time in Atlanta, I put work gloves, a ski jacket with velcro sleves and a scarf--you know, to keep the hornets out of my jacket. I opened the window just high enough to get my arm out. Then I sprayed the entire can into the nest from about 4 feet away.</p><p>Hornets started streaming out of the nest. Some escaped and started hovering around. The operation was dicey there for a minute. There are still some hornets out that are not able to return to the nest.</p><p>From a downstairs window, some of the hornets can be seen. They are large and evil looking. You can see the stinger from a mile away.</p><p>Removal operations will commence on Monday.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8417057786397154729.post-61485860656338495822009-07-03T17:19:00.001-07:002009-07-13T06:36:18.583-07:00Computer Panel Explodes<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='400' height='326' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy40awnnb2vMOx-Tkt7THK8I2ObY2H37GEfeLIXt4_0P7ihoq_1fZFnCHSGb1irqHFBLS2M1WgQm3RzzoRzgw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><p>Imagine you're on the Starship Enterprise. Your sole job in life is to man a certain control panel, press the buttons and turn the dials when appropriate. Then an alien probe wanders by and implodes your control panel. Now what!? Aaaahuuhuuuuhhaahhuuuh!</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8417057786397154729.post-28779653370449837972009-07-02T19:06:00.001-07:002009-07-07T12:44:07.160-07:00Hornets: Not friendly.<p class="mobile-photo"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOtAPRD-sJkCNzkNjEosQInncRtSItLbVDUFvax0ghLGolrfWtHhe1GSjK62R14dTYk48IvN7HQ_Nm2ES90EYvL_gL4g5HYpVBXlQ5U02f3pthfPRN48b_UA9JK61qVsAtWg4DYTyWISA/s320/0702091954-718174.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354049617705132242" /></p><p>Does anyone want to help me do battle with this hornet's nest? This is on the second floor near the master bedroom window--so it's way up by the roof about 25 feet high or so.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8417057786397154729.post-26501538993928778322009-07-02T07:31:00.000-07:002009-07-02T07:37:12.772-07:00Snapshot of June<div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSVTN_X3Yk5PVVYoi7jGXYzrrL5ejvBm0IL8bsnxEUqEmn6ECTuaP2z82F-j3K1LBJQfLzD2rqPogkSotolWiRT5SUGfFVY6N5tLdy0n-JoZmMOkQ4hh_omaqrJGnjEc-tRH1DXNFwk41d/s1600-h/june+09+087.JPG"></a>So, I've been lame in the blogging world. I still haven't posted about when my family came to town, and I plan on it. It is even started, but so much happened, that it seems a little daunting. in the meantime, I thought I'd share some of my awesome kids' developments. I also didn't realize Bill was posting some things at the same time. Check out his below.<br /><br />Alice-<br /><br /></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLzWdrQ8SDw3aUkV5wSpSlUsFLP23axuuhT5P1NueMs8J6BVdcDHvkSonlqwK8kLqJxRGf3K8I_L9j5r2L6PtVpsltU4lXLNDAc8NvjD_5jSF6hbRmwg7agSU6XcZNo-8QJWgVqc8ok2TY/s1600-h/june+09+032.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353699192299035698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLzWdrQ8SDw3aUkV5wSpSlUsFLP23axuuhT5P1NueMs8J6BVdcDHvkSonlqwK8kLqJxRGf3K8I_L9j5r2L6PtVpsltU4lXLNDAc8NvjD_5jSF6hbRmwg7agSU6XcZNo-8QJWgVqc8ok2TY/s320/june+09+032.JPG" border="0" /></a>Alice is still about the sweetest little thing ever. She sleeps well, eats well, and rarely cries. When she does, it's short. She is laid back and beautiful and brings me so much joy every single day.<br /></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjD68nq8df3GzmSf_adObcMujwh7q5qUpPRBPASdg96RF-NQeYojLSmI8K5mWy03drIw48ENFrw63THccPhL1575KcW2uSfEiWq6RrhjEhTHhb6jnSrx_3let6IDKDRChYJ3L-ETM7dPIJ/s1600-h/june+09+138.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353704255058796610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjD68nq8df3GzmSf_adObcMujwh7q5qUpPRBPASdg96RF-NQeYojLSmI8K5mWy03drIw48ENFrw63THccPhL1575KcW2uSfEiWq6RrhjEhTHhb6jnSrx_3let6IDKDRChYJ3L-ETM7dPIJ/s320/june+09+138.JPG" border="0" /></a>This girl LOVES to eat. She can't get enough. The only think she's snubbed has been the baby food turkey that more closely resembles cat food. I understand her rejection of that. She also wants her food continuously. If you wait too long between bites, she'll let you know. We've been giving her lots of table foods, and she likes everything. Her love of food has prompted some communication. She is always signing more! Her version involves putting the tips of her thumbs together. It's so sweet.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCxMeiTXPtJSM96t9H9EZY6WAByM8F_T8-G7tI6H3L37_PNUcua-sDXCzepLsxihNUl31hzyqRjDSDesfqbsjMqIlline4w6B9cZnagVAx1cKggkBH6VICMuhZVfqIQBv19ciZyMgMG1gT/s1600-h/june+09+062.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353700980037195266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCxMeiTXPtJSM96t9H9EZY6WAByM8F_T8-G7tI6H3L37_PNUcua-sDXCzepLsxihNUl31hzyqRjDSDesfqbsjMqIlline4w6B9cZnagVAx1cKggkBH6VICMuhZVfqIQBv19ciZyMgMG1gT/s320/june+09+062.JPG" border="0" /></a> She has such beautiful eyes. And everything else. When we're out, I often get nice comments about her cuteness. Especially in the eye department.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR9SDdcrgXAJmusBdrMaQXbunyA1cuxg0fO0cAXtB9_Bvi2Or1xuxcv1HcurUV9BQEoUpsYwCLuRN89TNyDu63mPw0WS-SaV8RRgQNbxcZKpssWo_2KpeEzCA5cZuuTjqsmOjRGQdLfIv2/s1600-h/june+09+058.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353698082466467794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR9SDdcrgXAJmusBdrMaQXbunyA1cuxg0fO0cAXtB9_Bvi2Or1xuxcv1HcurUV9BQEoUpsYwCLuRN89TNyDu63mPw0WS-SaV8RRgQNbxcZKpssWo_2KpeEzCA5cZuuTjqsmOjRGQdLfIv2/s320/june+09+058.JPG" border="0" /></a> I love this face- she often has her eyebrows pulled in this quizzical look. I think she's really trying to figure everything out. I think this curiosity is good. She'll use it to learn all kinds of good things.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKdZ_ptkEPyKbnxdKBVO6Ycd2bpTtLVaEgPjzR48ZIXk6tWDoYOPy9i5tMNkBj0zzVsYh6OC6GfUTA7CP91hAslCy9sKKfyYv96lb7dvpf7KkPd6oHC5p-2WT2k4_jEhNkxstbyEXOV2fE/s1600-h/june+09+028.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353698074437662114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKdZ_ptkEPyKbnxdKBVO6Ycd2bpTtLVaEgPjzR48ZIXk6tWDoYOPy9i5tMNkBj0zzVsYh6OC6GfUTA7CP91hAslCy9sKKfyYv96lb7dvpf7KkPd6oHC5p-2WT2k4_jEhNkxstbyEXOV2fE/s320/june+09+028.JPG" border="0" /></a> This is definitely a water baby! She can't get enough. The second she touches water she kicks and splashes and gets very excited. She doesn't mind her face getting wet. It's so fun to see her! Here's a little clip of her splashing around. I love the legs!<br /><br /><embed name="FLVPlayer" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="http://www.onetruemedia.com/share_view_player?p=" width="408" height="382" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashvars="&p=9078f4f7d081901750b87d&skin_id=701&host=http://www.onetruemedia.com" salign="LT" wmode="transparent" scale="noscale" quality="high"></embed><br /><div style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 15px; MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 12px/20px verdana,arial,sans-serif; WIDTH: 408px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://www.onetruemedia.com/share_player_link?p=9078f4f7d081901750b87d&skin_id=701&source=emplay" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" src="http://www.onetruemedia.com/share_player_link_image/9078f4f7d081901750b87d/701.gif" width="408" /></a><br /><a style="TEXT-DECORATION: none" href="http://www.onetruemedia.com/landing?&utm_source=emplay&utm_medium=txt1" target="_blank">Make an on-line slide show at <span style="TEXT-DECORATION: underline">www.OneTrueMedia.com</span></a></div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKn2HhXo8ijMP63Lwmkxh7zz3qdpEX57HEA8cCAnwOnb44L6TWQ-OMvjxich1QjLcb5x2HvSwwVykG3ZkY9rXZFVCClcIwLpUU0S6KtGJ1CCfBrvoQuI1gLtn7OWc9B0s-VjVEVmmHNQnR/s1600-h/june+09+024.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353698065318364626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKn2HhXo8ijMP63Lwmkxh7zz3qdpEX57HEA8cCAnwOnb44L6TWQ-OMvjxich1QjLcb5x2HvSwwVykG3ZkY9rXZFVCClcIwLpUU0S6KtGJ1CCfBrvoQuI1gLtn7OWc9B0s-VjVEVmmHNQnR/s320/june+09+024.JPG" border="0" /></a> The biggest development in little Alice's life has been her ability to move. She's mobile now! Which is great, but changes my life quite a bit. She has the cutest little crawl. I can't decide if it's like an inch worm, or a frog. Either way, she's getting very good at it. She gets around wherever she wants to go, and leaves rooms with ease. Here's some footage of her in action.<br /><br /><embed name="FLVPlayer" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="http://www.onetruemedia.com/share_view_player?p=" width="408" height="382" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashvars="&p=9078232f3fd08f47ce56ec&skin_id=701&host=http://www.onetruemedia.com" salign="LT" wmode="transparent" scale="noscale" quality="high"></embed><br /><div style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 15px; MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 12px/20px verdana,arial,sans-serif; WIDTH: 408px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://www.onetruemedia.com/share_player_link?p=9078232f3fd08f47ce56ec&skin_id=701&source=emplay" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" src="http://www.onetruemedia.com/share_player_link_image/9078232f3fd08f47ce56ec/701.gif" width="408" /></a><br /><a style="TEXT-DECORATION: none" href="http://www.onetruemedia.com/landing?&utm_source=emplay&utm_medium=txt1" target="_blank">Make an on-line slide show at <span style="TEXT-DECORATION: underline">www.OneTrueMedia.com</span></a></div><br /><br /><div align="left">Sally-</div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrD_Scy7HZbxzfFKS3M-F1NcU2AiNSxz4zJTXoGZUaROYIKQGXrIEgygTi3_5aIcdPaDuL-zxgWebKmPoV5vbFeaBqj8NQg2dg159qyHGNTOGpjBWCH1KpaqdUw9D0kMJLdMsd8DCsNiFz/s1600-h/june+09+060.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353703275747991090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrD_Scy7HZbxzfFKS3M-F1NcU2AiNSxz4zJTXoGZUaROYIKQGXrIEgygTi3_5aIcdPaDuL-zxgWebKmPoV5vbFeaBqj8NQg2dg159qyHGNTOGpjBWCH1KpaqdUw9D0kMJLdMsd8DCsNiFz/s320/june+09+060.JPG" border="0" /></a> Sally is such a passionate fun girl! She loves life and wants to enjoy it to its fullest. She is outgoing and friendly and loves to learn. You never have to wonder how she's feeling, she'll let you know. She's also very affectionate and I routinely get cuddles, kisses, hugs and love affirmations from this cutie.<br /></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSVTN_X3Yk5PVVYoi7jGXYzrrL5ejvBm0IL8bsnxEUqEmn6ECTuaP2z82F-j3K1LBJQfLzD2rqPogkSotolWiRT5SUGfFVY6N5tLdy0n-JoZmMOkQ4hh_omaqrJGnjEc-tRH1DXNFwk41d/s1600-h/june+09+087.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353720474020393746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSVTN_X3Yk5PVVYoi7jGXYzrrL5ejvBm0IL8bsnxEUqEmn6ECTuaP2z82F-j3K1LBJQfLzD2rqPogkSotolWiRT5SUGfFVY6N5tLdy0n-JoZmMOkQ4hh_omaqrJGnjEc-tRH1DXNFwk41d/s320/june+09+087.JPG" border="0" /></a>I know this is blurry, but check out her face- she's plugging her nose with her upper lip- just like I can do. If only I could convince her to put her head in the water, she could put that skill to use. </div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMmNuZWTv2ZeytE5jvTECil6jwAzIGPKIhRxNmSPfsGsPPRFSfk9xnd84I74tv3PDvw2xIdkEt5cAX0XJ5TH7xRYzMkavZ9SC622sNAFhBkMKPmC_xLa4jM4tYXOyLSoLDdMkvoXjs2JpA/s1600-h/june+09+088.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353700969651258658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMmNuZWTv2ZeytE5jvTECil6jwAzIGPKIhRxNmSPfsGsPPRFSfk9xnd84I74tv3PDvw2xIdkEt5cAX0XJ5TH7xRYzMkavZ9SC622sNAFhBkMKPmC_xLa4jM4tYXOyLSoLDdMkvoXjs2JpA/s320/june+09+088.JPG" border="0" /></a>Just like above, but clear and no funny face. I like this picture- yellow is such a happy color.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZx_onIk3WTEKSa4sbH1FjdWcMVAqodhiiuUubUgBOEUEBcFHuPWE5D9ns_EMet0vlJYNH0J7qEsQH1iW30yW5XPN9cEUi9WeYa1NdVTRGicand2GTifgkv3TY5wxEsc2m5CYeex5bAxtx/s1600-h/june+09+045.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353703256091443794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZx_onIk3WTEKSa4sbH1FjdWcMVAqodhiiuUubUgBOEUEBcFHuPWE5D9ns_EMet0vlJYNH0J7qEsQH1iW30yW5XPN9cEUi9WeYa1NdVTRGicand2GTifgkv3TY5wxEsc2m5CYeex5bAxtx/s320/june+09+045.JPG" border="0" /></a>I know this picture has nothing to do with friendliness, but I'm using it to talk about that anyway. My grandpa used to say of me, "Emily knows no stranger". Sally is usually the same. She occasionally gets shy, but is usually ready to make friends with everyone around her. The other day at the playground, I was particularly impacted when she went up to some random kids and said, Hi, I'm Sally! Do you want to play with me?" She has no fear of rejection, just the desire to share her joy with others. Especially kids. She wants to be every child's friend.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguX7hATr_t_CAAbQOPGuRTCgX2Ony4sw99JaFWpOvElF4ZxWud_foMhJTLxZ1INnkFrWCp2lAMEB-nNGHjZc1LjmCcijOcEqWrv3VdU-gIO52AjkFt8Wknvj8ZI-9LidRJ2U_fzMmycxMT/s1600-h/june+09+039.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353703248988332530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguX7hATr_t_CAAbQOPGuRTCgX2Ony4sw99JaFWpOvElF4ZxWud_foMhJTLxZ1INnkFrWCp2lAMEB-nNGHjZc1LjmCcijOcEqWrv3VdU-gIO52AjkFt8Wknvj8ZI-9LidRJ2U_fzMmycxMT/s320/june+09+039.JPG" border="0" /></a>This is Sally sitting at the computer. She loves playing games on this thing. we'll go to pbskids.org, and if i let her, she'd stay there indefinitely. She can move the mouse and click on all anything she wants. She'll follow the instructions and figure it out. It's amazing that she is using a computer already. She's not even three yet.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLA50TNvvlGLPX7-Y5S3zZaIgvv98OHK8JCwNfXatHEIUuTgXgmuheC9FxbVDn9yGhPwif6bmgMvFxSbs_fr4zrzRgFr7VAvEfKrpqmiAauNuxz10CTXeW1sXR-npzhYky5o13xSIeu5AG/s1600-h/june+09+009.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353699183963434418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLA50TNvvlGLPX7-Y5S3zZaIgvv98OHK8JCwNfXatHEIUuTgXgmuheC9FxbVDn9yGhPwif6bmgMvFxSbs_fr4zrzRgFr7VAvEfKrpqmiAauNuxz10CTXeW1sXR-npzhYky5o13xSIeu5AG/s320/june+09+009.JPG" border="0" /></a>She has been all about books these days. She routinely wants to read 14 books in a row. She also likes to read them by herself. She has a few pretty well memorized (below is a clip). Lately, she's been wanting to put me to bed. It is so sweet. She reads, sings, says prayers, and gives me goodnight loves. I love it. I should say that the reason the video below is so shaky is that Alice was very interested in the hanging lens cap. She kept tugging at it.<br /><br /><embed name="FLVPlayer" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="http://www.onetruemedia.com/share_view_player?p=" width="408" height="382" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashvars="&p=90ab6797296471afab848f&skin_id=701&host=http://www.onetruemedia.com" salign="LT" wmode="transparent" scale="noscale" quality="high"></embed><br /><br /><div style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 15px; MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 12px/20px verdana,arial,sans-serif; WIDTH: 408px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://www.onetruemedia.com/share_player_link?p=90ab6797296471afab848f&skin_id=701&source=emplay" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" src="http://www.onetruemedia.com/share_player_link_image/90ab6797296471afab848f/701.gif" width="408" /></a><br /><a style="TEXT-DECORATION: none" href="http://www.onetruemedia.com/landing?&utm_source=emplay&utm_medium=txt1" target="_blank">Make an on-line slide show at <span style="TEXT-DECORATION: underline">www.OneTrueMedia.com</span></a></div><br />Here, I was trying to catch her singing. You can hear a little bit, but it's the overall behavior I find so funny.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzsR_4dh-sDLQURQTFHAyHyRczbNB_3J3KwfxHtBSo9GLnwwAr_buBdDIofCBlEqMsk4R9g-hzBkesCs00QJw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlQ9GP5J0XAvqYV00O9dU7n8E8pVddCEDkOZ-YLnECRQbRNDA30OtafopgIEtnNUE9jgJueMG3He2-LDBjvyhPj2TyTS5dT14Kqb3XYNzVOsDhbTMATXgCH_UzHNqT4USEPXIlMUw6Yym5/s1600-h/june+09+001.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353698062069558770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlQ9GP5J0XAvqYV00O9dU7n8E8pVddCEDkOZ-YLnECRQbRNDA30OtafopgIEtnNUE9jgJueMG3He2-LDBjvyhPj2TyTS5dT14Kqb3XYNzVOsDhbTMATXgCH_UzHNqT4USEPXIlMUw6Yym5/s320/june+09+001.JPG" border="0" /></a> Yes, she's asleep on the potty. So funny! This brings up two issues. Is Sally potty trained? No. She'll occasionally sit on the potty, but usually she wants nothing to do with it. She does have some cool panties that she likes to wear, and I think she really tries to keep them clean. mostly, though, she hold it in. I'm not pushing it super hard, because there's resistance and I don't want to make it a negative thing. It will come.<br /><br /><br /><div align="center">The other issue here is sleep. The reason she crashed here, was that she didn't get a nap this day. I'm torn, because she really needs a nap still- she does much better in the evening when she has one. (not to mention me needing her to nap) But she's having trouble settling down at night. She is often awake at 11:00 or later. In her room, but awake. We put her down, but she just wants to play. This doesn't happen when she doesn't nap. I've been trying to shorten her nap. I think that's the compromise we'll live with for now.<br /></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEqKecn3PE-m0xWpV9XfTK3954l4DDbae8wvhD1IWI3oz8bEQXAcKzu5IDw5pTa_Tq67yd5kMo6AdussPNBTrpPjOAJ-d1S6M_cwdPRO-qfPdLFjD1skA_1mT7IDRGKT0JWPzcSZ6dXDz2/s1600-h/june+09+058.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353703265893874562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEqKecn3PE-m0xWpV9XfTK3954l4DDbae8wvhD1IWI3oz8bEQXAcKzu5IDw5pTa_Tq67yd5kMo6AdussPNBTrpPjOAJ-d1S6M_cwdPRO-qfPdLFjD1skA_1mT7IDRGKT0JWPzcSZ6dXDz2/s320/june+09+058.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Together, the Nicolich girls are SO fun to be with. They love each other and life. They are so different, which is great. They both make me so happy.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2sMN8X9OEuAwZZNdF0DmOpylmWE9aD1qqfwjtbJcxItvUtTVxi13sKFHfTrm_JtPJLUXdQCT1IfcPyq18gTmSS9AdGtM3QmE0tGgWJKVF-srKrxbw5eu75tkTzYCg9sz9m8VUSC-3zqyg/s1600-h/june+09+057.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353703262571332274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2sMN8X9OEuAwZZNdF0DmOpylmWE9aD1qqfwjtbJcxItvUtTVxi13sKFHfTrm_JtPJLUXdQCT1IfcPyq18gTmSS9AdGtM3QmE0tGgWJKVF-srKrxbw5eu75tkTzYCg9sz9m8VUSC-3zqyg/s320/june+09+057.JPG" border="0" /></a> This is a typical picture of Sally mauling Alice<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaN_1zhYaSpCmOwU4eBvS9cOgKfENVTSatiS11bzbXjVy8Vkwa1ODudGUBTnGW78kiOkaoFdtFjC0JFWRSfedoiT5Kr4Qo-yZ18QlUaiGog_P-NlKW2EitzgFJleSEhpeM7WX7hnLUDsCg/s1600-h/june+09+010.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353700994806119394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaN_1zhYaSpCmOwU4eBvS9cOgKfENVTSatiS11bzbXjVy8Vkwa1ODudGUBTnGW78kiOkaoFdtFjC0JFWRSfedoiT5Kr4Qo-yZ18QlUaiGog_P-NlKW2EitzgFJleSEhpeM7WX7hnLUDsCg/s320/june+09+010.JPG" border="0" /></a> We've been doing lots of fun things lately. playground trips (when we can stand the incredible heat), swimming trips, and blueberry picking. And of course, lots of fun and games at the homestead.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSQB_uDwYvqoMDktU_oS7CBF9JURs8VcC54Wf2V9GBKAVd3t72B6LGxwU9HCRqfyzpo2KnNty6AKDNVUAVag_d43bo96qaNRjVCQf3El6nFC4YdAJ7rd7TBzwxGxPqvmgiIGugJ9F5xzrd/s1600-h/june+09+075.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353700986597196210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSQB_uDwYvqoMDktU_oS7CBF9JURs8VcC54Wf2V9GBKAVd3t72B6LGxwU9HCRqfyzpo2KnNty6AKDNVUAVag_d43bo96qaNRjVCQf3El6nFC4YdAJ7rd7TBzwxGxPqvmgiIGugJ9F5xzrd/s320/june+09+075.JPG" border="0" /></a>Sally loves these boots- even in this weather. I love her wearing them- super cute.<br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKhfUb-qSVmvLspIxQvmDCKuony2Y4_g0hyl8MyCBKtiU5fPUDN6BAXSz-jSawzfiNNm7hrYKdsEGzB7rYwXbZpa-lVIHkS8lCc5JEk_Y0JIKWzozEobqTCYNdHPN-fZ4i-mV5Ql8UjSML/s1600-h/june+09+034.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353698079037737122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKhfUb-qSVmvLspIxQvmDCKuony2Y4_g0hyl8MyCBKtiU5fPUDN6BAXSz-jSawzfiNNm7hrYKdsEGzB7rYwXbZpa-lVIHkS8lCc5JEk_Y0JIKWzozEobqTCYNdHPN-fZ4i-mV5Ql8UjSML/s320/june+09+034.JPG" border="0" /></a>One similarity between our girls is their love of all things daddy. And with good reason. He is such a fun and loving papa. We are all lucky to have such a great man in our lives. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div></div>Emily Nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15675464862972489536noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8417057786397154729.post-45235543071028277172009-07-01T20:31:00.000-07:002009-07-01T20:34:04.362-07:00Game Night<p>We had Chad and Julie over for blueberry cobler made by Emily and a game of Settlers of Katan.</p><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9aTbbzRHW9GPrSNPIMHnycxKqkD64kD82Ilz30KLWgoOf1TyKTJ68jY7sFfUYOd2fbsWcslKvV8qyVelVRb0plNnWKbt13rhB5UE4B1w6l0uMP15Ti82s0hY6XPtfTbPVYGgWkBR4nWo/s320/0628092205-752450.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352572725733916018" /><br /><p>Julie Won.</p><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8-b9MT0MEbUEv7dUBurs_8ZunBzB50ennMSjjdHbqbIP4r5eG4TFZ7hWMigWFKEsXTbpphLmY4vFCebIxrOKTs0KBGD_9zco2WhOf8NO6vE0Jxh_wD3O3BbqUaxjX8-RsSrLVfTFXPbo/s320/0628092230-776578.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352572395367729106" /><br /><br /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdvo8HCLzJeMFxCbqt_YWN0bXZcsJ3cCPGthMgtJ5TDeaLwkxWe78FgORIlgoNDA7qmcJAXAVamlz5jBKRI3jsUpbQsJXRJsq31ECR8jDp9zvUvcFVD5GBIh0dU88K_HK-6q4Em7BZZB8/s320/0628092230a-752525.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352571864950449650" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8417057786397154729.post-27440627964628426002009-07-01T18:43:00.001-07:002009-07-01T20:26:58.878-07:00Growing<p>I went to Alice's room one morning lately and found her sitting up. She has also held the top of the crib and "stood up" with her knees. Soon she'll be on her feet. So, it's time to move the crib bed to the lower position. She has grown a lot and is becoming mobile. Yay for Alice!</p><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9oqq32xR0QyfvP1SINfWlALTq1m4K1b44mKFbR00U2ewrDufSV2iIVOzwGD0PLJH4w65-GMeVkhdKE8OI_PnAZ4mHHVse4XpwuYrvnSuxVljgaat_vE8RTTHNV1OAs9K145GM-gIemmQ/s320/0701091832-714069.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353672501394719506" /><br /><br /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIaq9KuFhxlKuDjJb-Or7Z-7hmwSZJfBng8ON9N4hBLexcWl-oQKFENGRzaxUosEXLahNcTGEBvwDalCQ3a27gSAR1wC4vcHx4B8cBmUtEc0QiCxNH1GMJFjNymhvnwLiR6Qxeo2kc3XA/s320/0629090744a-773499.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352852846941238818" /><br /><br /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn9qhyphenhyphen0m8JOwG57xcYjYlvhcqugfShVMiIhssS6KawA8VIZDjenIoetBJjnCEyIOm1nyY0bAr0Z40aKBnf_kwLtWuHta9DxGzDOpdcKz2UkJAI-Hz_cM9i0ENexf_kBUfcnksd0eRyLr8/s320/0629090744b-709648.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352852141485504754" /><br /><br /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjru7LaPRhCtH57ciNmPSMEwuoP11-Kp-ammvzkS2I67RhX7HKhbgkeX7jdlA7tx4-hmLFcNT2TspGcOIi5ZGn978YrgduYRpPAgpcyU3tiChCzZb18LTYhjxWSpDKgZvjyLDw-n511Kww/s320/0629090744-765577.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352851092711472274" /><p>Good morning Alice! How are you today?</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8417057786397154729.post-32544719833856448352009-06-23T11:01:00.001-07:002009-07-01T20:10:36.031-07:00Wild<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIw9mlhJGffukA7eKFccl2Y5E-_Fk4WZIidiTKf45y39zgVD5bXpS0IwgTXf8rJYb-Hxki2uHZh99-MWxn2RkLy-_XHzIalYVFug0FnVBuWulZd5yV43DPwgp3kro8n3h8R98JYBgt1vw/s320/0612092016-785381.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350584723984906146" /><br /><p>On our property there are a few wild blackberry plants. Sally has helped me pick them.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8417057786397154729.post-42569100048884334332009-06-23T10:51:00.001-07:002009-06-23T11:00:59.230-07:00<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuCMeGd-y9i1Ez6Fd_8vA5OKkCbHl4kZI19gsLtldg9C_RqgXPa3w31Pm1tg-WEN7HUliwdeZNS4k-nV7wf_2j93FMBLrLjPBdXbtvdyoqjrmOM0zP-1et6BrFVBz0QZp53ACiMAbQnoY/s1600-h/0621090935-719706.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuCMeGd-y9i1Ez6Fd_8vA5OKkCbHl4kZI19gsLtldg9C_RqgXPa3w31Pm1tg-WEN7HUliwdeZNS4k-nV7wf_2j93FMBLrLjPBdXbtvdyoqjrmOM0zP-1et6BrFVBz0QZp53ACiMAbQnoY/s320/0621090935-719706.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350582292485262850" /></a></p><p>Emily made me a nice Father's Day breakfast. Lucky me! As part of my appreciation, I thought I'd take photos.</p><br /><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqAjLyoWr98h3rrkoTcEa3HC_8-8liOPAWFfMkqRNkPLq5KKDNyXJz6lAZShUlywYGVFzAjCtvXC7nfnqiHvp3L_8gSdr0gd58rr27jzKq9wvxPRVUrfZOH7qVeQEDB4v1tt91_LNolPk/s1600-h/0621091946-770124.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqAjLyoWr98h3rrkoTcEa3HC_8-8liOPAWFfMkqRNkPLq5KKDNyXJz6lAZShUlywYGVFzAjCtvXC7nfnqiHvp3L_8gSdr0gd58rr27jzKq9wvxPRVUrfZOH7qVeQEDB4v1tt91_LNolPk/s320/0621091946-770124.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350579505002305634" /></a></p><br /><p>Father's Day dinner was a bonus. Emily said she'd make me whatever I wanted. So, I requested bacon-wrapped filet mignon, "funeral potatoes" and green bean caserole. Wala. It magically appeared and was delicious!</p><br /><p>As part of the day I got to take a nap and read a book. I read a chapter from Neil Postman's "Technopoly." It's a really good book.</p><br /><p>Sally kept telling me Happy "Mother's Day."</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8417057786397154729.post-25053736468038078312009-06-16T12:01:00.001-07:002009-06-23T10:49:40.615-07:00<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioWE8U3GSZM0tCF6qhcN_lxmbtplKYHkRO2cfUxesZ32ykXI6z2chDQymal-BByLiHK9zSUcpV76IBWacFFOWZnQROCfT3CpGmZeOu-eiSwhnwqoN0XNmVgrTsJRGONGwgQB6-ylrvXCc/s1600-h/downsized_0601091726a-737794.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioWE8U3GSZM0tCF6qhcN_lxmbtplKYHkRO2cfUxesZ32ykXI6z2chDQymal-BByLiHK9zSUcpV76IBWacFFOWZnQROCfT3CpGmZeOu-eiSwhnwqoN0XNmVgrTsJRGONGwgQB6-ylrvXCc/s320/downsized_0601091726a-737794.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348020422179202626" /></a></p><br /><p>This is one of my garden helpers. Sally often asks if she can help water the plants. Recently she learned to put the water down by the roots instead of on top of the plants.</p><br /><br /><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguQnFakWZlhNIwE2EFXSNagQg6LcI60CEw2IAQABMS8bR7ROtnxJheJX_VBAMNiqf2fCgSmnUWt4ayxcc3gEhJVLGj-DMjdytojeuxnfPUlQV6KPi29hTsNI5gldr834Bg1qzwErpwqEY/s1600-h/downsized_0612091710-712186.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguQnFakWZlhNIwE2EFXSNagQg6LcI60CEw2IAQABMS8bR7ROtnxJheJX_VBAMNiqf2fCgSmnUWt4ayxcc3gEhJVLGj-DMjdytojeuxnfPUlQV6KPi29hTsNI5gldr834Bg1qzwErpwqEY/s320/downsized_0612091710-712186.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348002706634877682" /></a></p><p>First Pepper Crops</p><p>Our pepper plants are starting to yield some peppers. However, a majority of our pepper plants are showing signs of infection from a fungus that causes the leaves to wilt and fall off the plant. I've got at least one plant that has no leaves right now. Very sad.</p><p>What will I do about these pepper plants? Well, I've been watering them frequently, which I think has helped the fungus more than the plants. So, I'll stop watering them as frequently. I might experiment with a couple of plants by letting them go without water for a good bit of time to see if I can dry up the fungus that way--while hopefully saving the plant.</p><p>I spent a small fortune on these plants. I got them at Home Depot for about $3,29 each. Next year, nearly everything will be from seed.</p><p>I'm sad about the peppers, but I'm still hopeful about the tomatoes. Also, the four types of basil are turning in a good yield along with the Greek oregano, mint and lemon balm.</p><p>Also the beets and radishes I just put in are growing nicely.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8417057786397154729.post-64745052559067901472009-05-22T06:02:00.000-07:002009-05-22T06:03:30.053-07:00Lexington, Virginia<div align="left">So, last weekend, we were supposed to go camping. Then, our group opted out because of some scary weather forecasts. What's a Nicolich to do? Go on an impromptu trip to Virgina, of course. We decided at about eleven on friday night and woke up at four Saturday morning to go. I am very happy we went- it was a great time!</div><div align="center"><div><br /><div align="left">Why Lexington? Bill served a mission in Virgina 16 years ago. He hadn't been back before now, and we decided this would be a good opportunity. We got to see members of the ward, and people he taught. That was really great! There was one guy he taught, and then didn't know what happened to him. it turns out, he was baptized shortly after and has been a strong member ever since. We also chatted with some bluegrass musicians that he worked with. Who knows, maybe that will afford me an opportunity to play sometime. We also went to some caverns, saw a natural wonder called Natural Bridge, checked out the LDS standards school Southern Virgina University, checked out Washington and Lee university, saw the remains of Stonewall Jackson in a neat cemetery, checked out the remains of Robert E. Lee in a chapel dedicated to him and enjoyed lots of time with our little family.</div><br /><div align="left">Here's the breakdown of our trip. It's out of order. I hope that's okay.</div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF8_VLcN22zkpMYVAfOhO_dFMBFGrwfdRAaStc0_UC91XIPiNv3vXpumzfWrYjMTQ1Z6-gBDmr__F4KhEFZxuNR6xL1UPfHn4LSiBRmXcZZ1I-cUx615l6iFQ8jbv_VXYAcwInig660CuI/s1600-h/may+09+093.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337723401639057346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF8_VLcN22zkpMYVAfOhO_dFMBFGrwfdRAaStc0_UC91XIPiNv3vXpumzfWrYjMTQ1Z6-gBDmr__F4KhEFZxuNR6xL1UPfHn4LSiBRmXcZZ1I-cUx615l6iFQ8jbv_VXYAcwInig660CuI/s320/may+09+093.JPG" border="0" /></a>Sally sulking amongst some headstones<br /><div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjweyQ62FNux_fnfB3NvLuR7Pay9ldQu1MB12UeSh_TxX0CkG4_zk2Blla0fVRzWVbYMv5vCLs2Rlhh1p5BwQHcRqTQlCdDFFTZ1Fag-5a9TxBOMz_atm1NCcGfYHEC_stFtcWgDzm_aD5n/s1600-h/may+09+090.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337723391568303442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjweyQ62FNux_fnfB3NvLuR7Pay9ldQu1MB12UeSh_TxX0CkG4_zk2Blla0fVRzWVbYMv5vCLs2Rlhh1p5BwQHcRqTQlCdDFFTZ1Fag-5a9TxBOMz_atm1NCcGfYHEC_stFtcWgDzm_aD5n/s320/may+09+090.JPG" border="0" /></a> Cool gravestones<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI38nRzFSe-sy4GPTYRlVoEiXtRIrHTJOF7L3n4rEl8xB5Ik9ByAY09Cm5-8tju-1LO_BMFShEYnHiQwKOeXpvY-0LsMj5REc6n4niwhBkJF3Pv9E-lNeqELfO5DSoGaqf0wSF4BdrXiXG/s1600-h/may+09+087.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337723387397737538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI38nRzFSe-sy4GPTYRlVoEiXtRIrHTJOF7L3n4rEl8xB5Ik9ByAY09Cm5-8tju-1LO_BMFShEYnHiQwKOeXpvY-0LsMj5REc6n4niwhBkJF3Pv9E-lNeqELfO5DSoGaqf0wSF4BdrXiXG/s320/may+09+087.JPG" border="0" /></a> Sally had some rough moments. She's become...more difficulty lately. I'll post on this later and ask for tips. There will be a family post first- my parents are here! and Wendy and her fam will be here on Sunday!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOStDcrh6uhCH0QhDp9aaOgTxQxa-PCAyZZ-Fe7kh9Qq_beQuAz4VCy84Fz9HIrILYV6_BVIkdbVN1F3JjziuB9f9ExLbb282QKWA3bxNwiBcWG23UDgEewO-JqGc1KsTorIKGKj_cZJKX/s1600-h/may+09+068.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337723382140278482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOStDcrh6uhCH0QhDp9aaOgTxQxa-PCAyZZ-Fe7kh9Qq_beQuAz4VCy84Fz9HIrILYV6_BVIkdbVN1F3JjziuB9f9ExLbb282QKWA3bxNwiBcWG23UDgEewO-JqGc1KsTorIKGKj_cZJKX/s320/may+09+068.JPG" border="0" /></a>Handsome and ready to see people from his past<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYGxPFpTN1keBHcJqFXs4RlPU2LYMDIyEHQ30cPSUXP6-Pjk5U4HDSc42QtNDpoGsUfAU6f8xChuOjgOcG4fJCZxYmdqPE-h5-qnAL-_qHp7YcWaoX4MZpL2zIr5FKkLc7ccAC0lgibviK/s1600-h/may+09+070.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337722455266029682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYGxPFpTN1keBHcJqFXs4RlPU2LYMDIyEHQ30cPSUXP6-Pjk5U4HDSc42QtNDpoGsUfAU6f8xChuOjgOcG4fJCZxYmdqPE-h5-qnAL-_qHp7YcWaoX4MZpL2zIr5FKkLc7ccAC0lgibviK/s320/may+09+070.JPG" border="0" /></a>I'm always behind the camera, but i did snap this one of myself. Nice lips, right?<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeGSJssVT3gTSwq47L3uZGG0bGUR5coJEFTmfbxF8ohyoNpy8Z8hphVHNWmeyHPmMGyhrMlLEpbLc7VR_zOYFoULXiY5k1WFZYBM-df0OGGoyQZtdQgpO4dxVvmuYst4aKXotfhJVY_FAX/s1600-h/may+09+063.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337722447275009042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeGSJssVT3gTSwq47L3uZGG0bGUR5coJEFTmfbxF8ohyoNpy8Z8hphVHNWmeyHPmMGyhrMlLEpbLc7VR_zOYFoULXiY5k1WFZYBM-df0OGGoyQZtdQgpO4dxVvmuYst4aKXotfhJVY_FAX/s320/may+09+063.JPG" border="0" /></a> Alice fell asleep in Daddy's arms when we were looking at Natural Bridge<br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpcfis5V3k5u-RP_oMLB9oLI3cgu5DQbZIuUy1sjOYCr5_VZpdp2DP6OFlRQ65lfXkGDZ_JPe3q0AQj8KR5xue-GIOjU-wZMcwLr8nUOwOIwl0dyqNOrVK8kMF7fryPL-yUgyGaMHSCR7F/s1600-h/may+09+052.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337722438084743602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpcfis5V3k5u-RP_oMLB9oLI3cgu5DQbZIuUy1sjOYCr5_VZpdp2DP6OFlRQ65lfXkGDZ_JPe3q0AQj8KR5xue-GIOjU-wZMcwLr8nUOwOIwl0dyqNOrVK8kMF7fryPL-yUgyGaMHSCR7F/s320/may+09+052.JPG" border="0" /></a>Getting her toes wet<br /><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8jsLn8dLUjXxdBFDBCNp0VAbV7St8wCG-7-GzEZfA8Zrc-__FZQGZ3o2wPThsxIaRPSF6demKIbIFbZSuRfd6RIMfFMW7L25Ufek6yjvUrlGqeBC6arfZ1WHNUSE54aUkuDj9IUzirYpI/s1600-h/may+09+040.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337721604136978994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8jsLn8dLUjXxdBFDBCNp0VAbV7St8wCG-7-GzEZfA8Zrc-__FZQGZ3o2wPThsxIaRPSF6demKIbIFbZSuRfd6RIMfFMW7L25Ufek6yjvUrlGqeBC6arfZ1WHNUSE54aUkuDj9IUzirYpI/s320/may+09+040.JPG" border="0" /></a> Natural Bridge<br /><div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTiX26DSs8yyoUJWzYscxr1iHDdM8WypTSnLofWkR-9pTr67QKzTD_l-ErKbQW7mDKPfm-4laoRKRqMpn79SgIQrK-EM0C9kFX7bu_QJbABSubS7LjnuMnVZGWiYeUwUfaNW15Sozj8USb/s1600-h/may+09+014.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337721590726717890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTiX26DSs8yyoUJWzYscxr1iHDdM8WypTSnLofWkR-9pTr67QKzTD_l-ErKbQW7mDKPfm-4laoRKRqMpn79SgIQrK-EM0C9kFX7bu_QJbABSubS7LjnuMnVZGWiYeUwUfaNW15Sozj8USb/s320/may+09+014.JPG" border="0" /></a>Daddy and Sally in the caverns<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVKi5mHU9yMzWr5f579vLo3w8yDe4XWbtPcMuE59B1U0LryJ6yn8_bxSR0p7NKWupWJOHHCPZJxtlBCDLDA1CKm84ZnSIBocZmuZkWXdrCuaUFL2MDDyiLX-GFoVZYnCxUQ6hZuS7CbECi/s1600-h/may+09+003.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337721587910224642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVKi5mHU9yMzWr5f579vLo3w8yDe4XWbtPcMuE59B1U0LryJ6yn8_bxSR0p7NKWupWJOHHCPZJxtlBCDLDA1CKm84ZnSIBocZmuZkWXdrCuaUFL2MDDyiLX-GFoVZYnCxUQ6hZuS7CbECi/s320/may+09+003.JPG" border="0" /></a>Happy girl! </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9GlVvjrnpJdLZ30hozpeaIzm1U7RUTXPnUqgAlrUNItEvNcmgUI3PTEzc8c18IA8lBggppihTaRrpxeYNB2-c9ObQJnbwMRibKk4CwXvrbsLkLtJAe6u4c1lGvMssuRC9WfoJDtXeGoOT/s1600-h/may+09+188.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338630030650597186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9GlVvjrnpJdLZ30hozpeaIzm1U7RUTXPnUqgAlrUNItEvNcmgUI3PTEzc8c18IA8lBggppihTaRrpxeYNB2-c9ObQJnbwMRibKk4CwXvrbsLkLtJAe6u4c1lGvMssuRC9WfoJDtXeGoOT/s320/may+09+188.JPG" border="0" /></a> Poor Bill had an eye problem. He was hesitant about meeting people while having red eyes, but is super glad he did.</div><div align="center"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiTGXe21jWwUdMjbsJSqw9WDIGPoKt6nMPmdsvjZPfAr94nxonBcRkrqGKfzS5UCV1RiLstugLdfhpcmgBXinXBrCpjXj_md-xmDxYOnZ-TYi-4PNyWPq50TFXbq88B4k9UE9tHLsGC5Mn/s1600-h/may+09+171.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338628625720769314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiTGXe21jWwUdMjbsJSqw9WDIGPoKt6nMPmdsvjZPfAr94nxonBcRkrqGKfzS5UCV1RiLstugLdfhpcmgBXinXBrCpjXj_md-xmDxYOnZ-TYi-4PNyWPq50TFXbq88B4k9UE9tHLsGC5Mn/s320/may+09+171.JPG" border="0" /></a> Just a pretty Sally shot<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHYoakstOtGtKLpOdmEoOWIDrted0JZLKQobHYl30E3barodi8L8DGsbuo2OsPcri_seQiguyPgUXVasavQ4mnTnxFevao_nVZXLmj4gQ3e3nFpePstV7xDPBn3du7U7w-8CMKqSCyjjcG/s1600-h/may+09+159.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338628621405810562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHYoakstOtGtKLpOdmEoOWIDrted0JZLKQobHYl30E3barodi8L8DGsbuo2OsPcri_seQiguyPgUXVasavQ4mnTnxFevao_nVZXLmj4gQ3e3nFpePstV7xDPBn3du7U7w-8CMKqSCyjjcG/s320/may+09+159.JPG" border="0" /></a> She enjoys life to the fullest.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjevAVPN4__6iv8ryBSbYTUWLVFEkkT8bF3lT3fDdznDa5Mfb5gcYecLhYEeeTdPnUhkdbUBrbXlXwM8U_cuw2NAYBWKXeANyazwYTOp_by_7n7JIiDZmXIzjWhNDr3fmcLC2KchywQXhBy/s1600-h/may+09+147.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338628616843149826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjevAVPN4__6iv8ryBSbYTUWLVFEkkT8bF3lT3fDdznDa5Mfb5gcYecLhYEeeTdPnUhkdbUBrbXlXwM8U_cuw2NAYBWKXeANyazwYTOp_by_7n7JIiDZmXIzjWhNDr3fmcLC2KchywQXhBy/s320/may+09+147.JPG" border="0" /></a> Cuties<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpcaABO7-vTCwralQ-ipd6krQp1CV-ILpO_-8CgcMeBdhGhBQko2OxwiAQniWZdi4fjOc_hFAvZ9fdYz-izV-aIfOP2fb6wTxphqReKY4XPkUZyfLgQ0JT7-gULoohKiq69IoNvdxFa1rN/s1600-h/may+09+133.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338627803025808994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpcaABO7-vTCwralQ-ipd6krQp1CV-ILpO_-8CgcMeBdhGhBQko2OxwiAQniWZdi4fjOc_hFAvZ9fdYz-izV-aIfOP2fb6wTxphqReKY4XPkUZyfLgQ0JT7-gULoohKiq69IoNvdxFa1rN/s320/may+09+133.JPG" border="0" /></a> I think this is so pretty<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-vu8xP-bqiIDcQUnr4pK1RaD8vfHTJ50lTCbNi7Ne_Ajuqm3JhHyVpVFPr-OaQ2FLAwvSd3SGnoxqVfvGJCph_5a_ridXdrbyb6ekk_TrHFA8-eNa6jB3SVMhdpnnKn_hMwr46-zkOXJv/s1600-h/may+09+128.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338627802036144338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-vu8xP-bqiIDcQUnr4pK1RaD8vfHTJ50lTCbNi7Ne_Ajuqm3JhHyVpVFPr-OaQ2FLAwvSd3SGnoxqVfvGJCph_5a_ridXdrbyb6ekk_TrHFA8-eNa6jB3SVMhdpnnKn_hMwr46-zkOXJv/s320/may+09+128.JPG" border="0" /></a> My cute family. You know you're jealous.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXYzbJMLRPn1wAf5b04Y-sNmu2kX1kRUkW6uq3upnxj2vmqkaEoPNeEu4yjO5n4CIEdy_DmAF-ujpIPBLhq2gOPJUkIRoBqlZC9h69TLo_5L5eL80TNS2u3kk4jZ7FZw9UaOYE0kxBTkbb/s1600-h/may+09+116.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338627799827111218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXYzbJMLRPn1wAf5b04Y-sNmu2kX1kRUkW6uq3upnxj2vmqkaEoPNeEu4yjO5n4CIEdy_DmAF-ujpIPBLhq2gOPJUkIRoBqlZC9h69TLo_5L5eL80TNS2u3kk4jZ7FZw9UaOYE0kxBTkbb/s320/may+09+116.JPG" border="0" /></a> What a sweet girl.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6eXXuUD5-HKryDgKOSpr8wYCulO_RxOSPZ9rtZ2qi3x7JttS7lQ7roAm7mbUC6KWf4PZDBbFrFc9UHfi66q-r4gkFIAfjXcTrx9clkfP3t7XvhG8msfqQCboffgAZrq9A-RX0ngnaCy_i/s1600-h/may+09+104.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338627793686953042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6eXXuUD5-HKryDgKOSpr8wYCulO_RxOSPZ9rtZ2qi3x7JttS7lQ7roAm7mbUC6KWf4PZDBbFrFc9UHfi66q-r4gkFIAfjXcTrx9clkfP3t7XvhG8msfqQCboffgAZrq9A-RX0ngnaCy_i/s320/may+09+104.JPG" border="0" /></a> This is at Stonewall Jackson's grave/statue. People always put lemons there because he had a fondness for fruit. Weird. Also, confederate flags are weird to me. I do like this picture, though.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSir4kXQeM_N7Cpv6Hl74jdQuUzpQ-hvoNvCzYfjYTPoPa6nAfJZaKvVsmTW1P3VteOeeytlWrg92MFqZuEtL1BeUq1WusYTElQX1dGc0tKy7kowt0qEey42pOfy-mtegryF7Dvs2eFlws/s1600-h/may+09+083.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338627789466339378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSir4kXQeM_N7Cpv6Hl74jdQuUzpQ-hvoNvCzYfjYTPoPa6nAfJZaKvVsmTW1P3VteOeeytlWrg92MFqZuEtL1BeUq1WusYTElQX1dGc0tKy7kowt0qEey42pOfy-mtegryF7Dvs2eFlws/s320/may+09+083.JPG" border="0" /></a> Lots of pretty old gravestones</div></div></div></div></div><br /></div>Emily Nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15675464862972489536noreply@blogger.com4