tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58637390942508333902024-03-12T16:53:31.028-07:00Sunflowers to CactiUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger219125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5863739094250833390.post-57928171363973808632012-02-26T20:33:00.001-08:002012-02-26T20:52:34.131-08:00the 2nd 1000 miles<p>Early morning of Sunday Feb. 12th we pulled the kids out of bed, loaded up in the packed van to depart one Atlanta headed toward another.  Kinda funny when you think about it. :)  The kids were zoned out or back asleep until Tulsa, OK.  Stopped there at a loyal QT to fuel up and help secure daddy's job by grabbing some donuts. :)</p> <p>Kids were pretty chipper the whole trip.  DVD player helps with that!! Aidan won the prize for number of times asking questions such as "are we there yet?"  "when will be be at our new house?" He obviously had no idea about the whole hotel livin' we had in ahead of us.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-gDMK07Xehhw/T0sHRdDm-DI/AAAAAAAADaU/KJauDjGBZZw/s1600-h/DSC008974.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC00897" border="0" alt="DSC00897" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-oRbfAwvI2qA/T0sHRpO-9EI/AAAAAAAADac/HHwZb2SIFYE/DSC00897_thumb11.jpg?imgmax=800" width="175" height="244" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-vOwBKZF87g0/T0sHSck323I/AAAAAAAADak/bWkLxnScr7U/s1600-h/DSC008994.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC00899" border="0" alt="DSC00899" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ssORL6wf2Eo/T0sHSyHcpfI/AAAAAAAADas/H7RKBr1weQk/DSC00899_thumb7.jpg?imgmax=800" width="163" height="244" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-vf9L1kHNsr4/T0sHTW6nXcI/AAAAAAAADa0/g2IHFT_St04/s1600-h/DSC009004.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC00900" border="0" alt="DSC00900" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ACMwnvpdISc/T0sHT7PBy_I/AAAAAAAADa8/G3BdlFYUUZU/DSC00900_thumb5.jpg?imgmax=800" width="170" height="244" /></a></p> <p>I drove through most of Arkansas.  Our short trip though Tennessee was my favorite.  Total travel time was maybe 10 minutes! :)</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ebsQ2rsh0tc/T0sHUq2X_3I/AAAAAAAADbE/9A5km0WmP6g/s1600-h/DSC009064.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC00906" border="0" alt="DSC00906" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-V2KiWXOcMXc/T0sHVpoYODI/AAAAAAAADbM/lqTVFt5Mi7w/DSC00906_thumb4.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="170" /></a></p> <p>Driving over the Mississippi River was cool.  Emma could see the cargo ships in the water.  Boys were impressed with the bridge. </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-CK2BisKf66Y/T0sHWGJdKII/AAAAAAAADbU/h_lbqs3A9ZQ/s1600-h/DSC009013.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC00901" border="0" alt="DSC00901" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-tyPQzNmYZ9g/T0sHWhrh2zI/AAAAAAAADbc/efh9P7T7_i4/DSC00901_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-JNGG4cy0p4c/T0sHXdCnW4I/AAAAAAAADbk/v2bFCqiotPY/s1600-h/DSC009023.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC00902" border="0" alt="DSC00902" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-CfpbAWmLmdc/T0sHXl5R-SI/AAAAAAAADbs/WSw32lbMSgs/DSC00902_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>One day on our trip we will have to stop and get a better look...kinda like I wish we had done in places through NM.  It was also interesting to watch the rail car "loaders" work.  Fascinating to think about who stuff gets from one place to another through various forms of transportation.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-o5B_-SWS8_c/T0sHYfePcvI/AAAAAAAADb0/kTvZxaYO3Ls/s1600-h/DSC009043.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC00904" border="0" alt="DSC00904" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-i6Np_Eh0V7U/T0sHYlhBhjI/AAAAAAAADb8/KvGFLNI2MJM/DSC00904_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-gfRxPi-d43g/T0sHZR0R8lI/AAAAAAAADcE/zMIjILWcHGY/s1600-h/DSC009074.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC00907" border="0" alt="DSC00907" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-g_z25ZHA0RU/T0sHZyGcQQI/AAAAAAAADcM/_EHP3hgcuKQ/DSC00907_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>One state after another.  Odd to pass through so many states in one trip.  KS to AZ was so dreadful at time b/c you drove the full distance of OK, chunk of TX, allllll.the.waaaaay.across NM and a hefty distance through AZ.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-XduS54986Ek/T0sHaiwJ4tI/AAAAAAAADcU/xG5QKRKyda8/s1600-h/DSC009114.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC00911" border="0" alt="DSC00911" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-wPIJWDzykWo/T0sHa_i6OHI/AAAAAAAADcc/iTvIwu7Ew4M/DSC00911_thumb4.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="186" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-1gBtPT6e1lA/T0sHbutjhqI/AAAAAAAADck/JRkw9IYqUhM/s1600-h/DSC009125.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC00912" border="0" alt="DSC00912" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-A_MuEeB2iN0/T0sHbxpgOkI/AAAAAAAADcs/KbJ44N16GOM/DSC00912_thumb8.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="187" /></a></p> <p>Started to see these green things popping up.  Very much reminds us of the trees in the mountainous areas near Flagstaff.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-XLqFFz4ggp4/T0sHcvvixLI/AAAAAAAADc0/cUuOxCo_F8A/s1600-h/IMG_13587.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_1358" border="0" alt="IMG_1358" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-FsiAak0dRZY/T0sHdBecOjI/AAAAAAAADc8/A5I4hHMBFjM/IMG_1358_thumb7.jpg?imgmax=800" width="416" height="279" /></a></p> <p>The trip went great.  I would say the last 4 hours seem to take an eternity.  Kids were more restless, we were tired and it was pushing supper time, yet we didn't want to make another full unload stop to eat.  A short 15 hours 11.3 seconds later we were "home".  I must admit it's a bit better than the 20 hours to the SW. Verdict still out on if this is a trip I could do solo with the kids straight through.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-yRC0Zceec3E/T0sHdRVYDGI/AAAAAAAADdE/xxhOPeJpFRQ/s1600-h/IMG_13622.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_1362" border="0" alt="IMG_1362" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-U3N8zYSLQ2g/T0sHd3cE-LI/AAAAAAAADdM/MUQrBNS5T7M/IMG_1362_thumb.png?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244" /></a></p> <p>Monday we slept in a bit.  Ran into Matt's work and had the Dr. in the clinic check Aidan out.  He seemed to be having some allergy/eye issue.  Lots of screaming later we walked away with some eye drops.  Monday afternoon started our pursuit of getting Emma enrolled.  Not so easy to do when you are new to the area and have no home address.</p> <p>Finalized all that paperwork and turned it in on Tuesday.  Did a little retail therapy to ease Emma's nerves.  She got a new out fit for the first day of school.  Daddy didn't quite get it saying "Emma no one knows you so all your outfits are new to them."  Hello daddy...a new outfit can make you feel like you can conquer the world!! Duh!</p> <p>I felt kinda bad dragging the boys around shopping for Emma & getting school supplies.  They were SO crabby and I was being SO NOT patient.  Then they did this...</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-GSSK4z3ON4A/T0sHeW0FeJI/AAAAAAAADdU/EeJTg3HBjZg/s1600-h/IMG_13713.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_1371" border="0" alt="IMG_1371" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-z8q8zwyrCcY/T0sHekxXA6I/AAAAAAAADdc/_4jLBvakPT8/IMG_1371_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-DDJnY300JEE/T0sHfKy0dSI/AAAAAAAADdk/t9WILROTn3s/s1600-h/IMG_13793.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_1379" border="0" alt="IMG_1379" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/--KpbuQC8ZPY/T0sHfv3E5DI/AAAAAAAADds/5an9kFQ19SA/IMG_1379_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p>and made me feel all bad and guilty.  Poor little guys were tuckered out!  My brother's comment "Posting pics of kids in a shopping cart... makes you look homeless. Oh. Wait.... sorry, forget I said anything."  Isn't he funny! :)</p> <p>One of the best investments and necessary items in hotel living thus far- dust buster.  A.  It's great entertainment for the boys. B. They are finally fighting for something good- cleaning. C. It's the only way to remain the least bit clean when they are eating around a coffee table!!</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-x3l09wDmTg8/T0sHgagmRkI/AAAAAAAADd0/j706wvZ0ZAE/s1600-h/IMG_13824.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_1382" border="0" alt="IMG_1382" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-pqE19ioyk5g/T0sHglTRy0I/AAAAAAAADd8/T-1ZG_8S85Q/IMG_1382_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="391" height="294" /></a></p> <p>Emma started school our first Wednesday here.  Gave her the chance to "get her feet" wet before having this week off for a winter break.  You can read more about her first day <a href="http://www.sunflowerstocacti.blogspot.com/2012/02/second-1st-day-of-2nd-grade.html">HERE</a>.</p> <p>We celebrated Valentine's Day with dinner out and a night here in the hotel.  Awful sweet of  me to get a hotel not only for the holiday, but the whole month.  It has many amenities...including 3 small, loud children.  The pool will be our saving grace.  Helps us ware them down for a <strike>good</strike> decent bedtime.</p> <p>I've become a bit more familiar with the area.  Tried to prove to our sweet British GPS guy that I didn't need him anymore taking Emma to school on her first Friday sans GPS.  Well I was wrong! Not only did I miss our exit I missed the next exit.  Which then took us on a 10 mile trip to make it back to our exit!  Luckily we had left with time to spare and she wasn't tardy! Whew! So I have resigned to the fact that it will take me far longer to learn to get around here compared to the grid Phoenix sat on.  Here I can seem to make 2 left turns yet end up where I started going full circle!?!  I can at least find  a couple Wal-marts, a Target & a few QTs so that covers the necessities! :)</p> <p>While Matt was gone we killed time at the Atlanta zoo. Their fav was the panda.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-YlJSC0HD3UU/T0sLUbZqYTI/AAAAAAAADeE/9WD0IM_phwo/s1600-h/DSC00964%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC00964" border="0" alt="DSC00964" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ALw3csgFRIY/T0sLU4WLwUI/AAAAAAAADeM/xWJ5Gq_Sq78/DSC00964_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="324" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ZyAiYBtmXrU/T0sLVROlaqI/AAAAAAAADeU/amtYx5dD0CE/s1600-h/DSC00990%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC00990" border="0" alt="DSC00990" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-hpjrOhsd4UY/T0sLVhQ0U3I/AAAAAAAADec/IOMuGTH4lsg/DSC00990_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="238" height="320" /></a></p> <p> Browsing a local mall...</p> <p>Once I was dressed for the day Emma changed to match me...we got lots of comments walking through the mall. :)</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-mNf6TFiCmnk/T0sLWdZHz_I/AAAAAAAADek/6pG-t8grsfA/s1600-h/DSC01023%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC01023" border="0" alt="DSC01023" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ILWAEMGhynM/T0sLWq__tZI/AAAAAAAADes/fHm8YjrVI-U/DSC01023_thumb%25255B8%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="215" height="277" /></a></p> <p>A ride on the carousel.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-caCfll3SewE/T0sLXcDMKfI/AAAAAAAADe0/Uy_HMb4k1vE/s1600-h/IMG_1407%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_1407" border="0" alt="IMG_1407" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-nLs-zgKPLn4/T0sLXpIGkLI/AAAAAAAADe8/dJKY1Pec0eA/IMG_1407_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Hx-M1HHZgaE/T0sLbDxKs4I/AAAAAAAADfE/oFLFSLO6FAQ/s1600-h/IMG_1408%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_1408" border="0" alt="IMG_1408" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-kcDpkv9nkvA/T0sLbeUSYbI/AAAAAAAADfM/u7U2ceU0GL4/IMG_1408_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-uwQdmhw4hkA/T0sLcC_NNdI/AAAAAAAADfU/3HcnAfQTKYs/s1600-h/IMG_1409%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_1409" border="0" alt="IMG_1409" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-osDDEuI2HoQ/T0sLcb4jB-I/AAAAAAAADfc/PU67w5TzQaU/IMG_1409_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p>The sole purchase was Emma's fake glasses.  She was in love with the idea of glasses.  At first.  Then she discovered how they slide off your face, get dirty and get misplaced. :)  She looks so much older when she wears them and giggles when we go out in them b/c I think she thinks people know they are fake.  I told her no one would be able to tell.  She said "REALLY?? They think they are real!?!"  Aidan had fun while sissy was picking out her glasses...</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-EmB8Vt_wbcg/T0sLcxG2eVI/AAAAAAAADfk/s8sDmYcx_7Y/s1600-h/IMG_1415%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_1415" border="0" alt="IMG_1415" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-xk7L0F5Lndg/T0sLdKbOA_I/AAAAAAAADfs/pblim0DqQC4/IMG_1415_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="239" height="317" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-15HaLfVasF8/T0sLdyGzRVI/AAAAAAAADf0/cCnmt23nASE/s1600-h/IMG_1414%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_1414" border="0" alt="IMG_1414" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-0bjSJ9vATmY/T0sLeFQnxqI/AAAAAAAADf8/PvhkT_BRP5g/IMG_1414_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="236" height="314" /></a></p> <p>We played with playdough & swam A LOT.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-WZNumK7Lt2Q/T0sLerNxp4I/AAAAAAAADgE/x8z28inV4Nc/s1600-h/DSC01013%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC01013" border="0" alt="DSC01013" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-7AFa_W75ezk/T0sLfAJtBrI/AAAAAAAADgM/d35z0WwM908/DSC01013_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-jXaq_XS5Cwg/T0sLfiaWUzI/AAAAAAAADgU/824knX6gY-g/s1600-h/DSC00961%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC00961" border="0" alt="DSC00961" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ZRCs_V3m2DI/T0sLgCgA0rI/AAAAAAAADgc/XmwLoMbT1E4/DSC00961_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="191" height="244" /></a></p> <p>After a very rainy Friday stuck in the hotel we drove to the airport to get Matt.  We were all so glad to have him back.  It had been a long week with lots of move arrangements being made. </p> <p>Today I was filled with the most...anxiety I guess you could call it.  Maybe 2 weeks here and Matt gone all last week got the best of me.  I probably should have insisted on getting out alone today. The space seemed to close in on me.  Matt wasn't feeling well.  Didn't make church. Kids were cRaZy.  Isaac is desperate for his naps. He still seems to want/need one each day, yet it's almost impossible with us on top each other.  He did snuggle up to me on the couch today and get one...which makes me feel better than what had been happening of him falling asleep from where ever we were driving to/from. Only left the room to swim downstairs. AHH! Ready for our daily "routine" with Emma in school. With only 36 more days in the hotel I am counting down every.last.day.</p> <p>Cooking with our set up is getting better.  Plan to work up some good crockpot meals this week. That will be nice.  Hate the feeling that the kids are eating so much "junk" kid food. </p> <p>QT has told Matt to look at other hotel options mainly b/c of the kitchen (lack of) set up.  But our research matches that of the relo company...nothing in this county seems to have a true kitchenette and we have to be in the county for Emma's school enrollment.  I really think we can make do. The biggest drawback is size of fridge & NO freezer.  It'll be an experience.  I figure I'll start making a list of the meals we are most craving that I can't make and that will be our menu for the first few weeks in the house! :)</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5863739094250833390.post-8911412251521925522012-02-26T20:27:00.001-08:002012-02-26T20:27:24.045-08:00Second 1st day of 2nd grade<p>Make sense?!? :)  Emma started school just 2 days after arriving here in the Atlanta area.  It was kinda quick when factoring all the time zones we had been going through, but we wanted her to get her "feet wet" with 3 days of school before having this past week off for winter break.</p> <p>She was SO nervous.  I tried my best to make the school aware and get all the proper docs in to the school so they could assign her a teacher and perhaps met her before the first day.  That didn't work out so we arrived early the first day to meet the teacher.  Her teacher Mrs. B seems very nice and well organized & informative. </p> <p>Upon arrival Emma was hugged and greeted by 2 little girls.  She quickly went in the room while I talked to the teacher.  I took my cue to leave when she shot me the "who is that crazy lady in the hall" look. :) </p> <p>I'm guessing it was harder on Mama than Emma.  Having never had to go to a new school, never moving and having some of the same classmates from Kindergarten through my senior year it makes it hard on me to feel as though I'm putting her through this "stress".  In actuality it's more stress for me than her.  She is not like her mama. I have often wondered why God gave me a little girl so different than I was.  Times like this I understand.</p> <p>Once I managed to find my way through the VERY organized & detailed pick up lane and only managing to clog the flow of traffic once I had my little girl back.  Boys were asleep so I got a great chance to visit with her about her first day.  She said she met a friend and her teacher was so organized.  "She had a place for everything".  Emma's 1st grade teacher was wonderful, but and organized classroom was not his priority. :)  Her AZ 2nd grade teacher was only there 4 weeks before maternity leave thus having a sub the rest of the time. </p> <p>She did say that she wasn't sure about her teacher at first b/c she "kinda yelled" at a kid. She said "I thought I'm going to have to tell Mama that I DON'T like this", but said she changed her mind as the day went on.  Made me laugh.  Her Kind., 1st & 2nd grade teachers were all very soft spoken people.  </p> <p>It took different conversations with me, Mimi, Gma & Daddy to hear all the bits and pieces of her day.  Interesting to hear all the different comments and observations she had and shared.  </p> <p>She loves her daily binder & agenda she brings home.  SUPER stoked that her school has Art class.  Very excited to be able to check out library books and bring them home.  She ate school lunch on Friday- duh, pizza.  Already asking about the different clubs they offer.  Here's a few shots of her on her 2nd 1st day of school for the year...</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-tSQC6m98zrQ/T0sGFrXHo-I/AAAAAAAADZ0/q3hXKrgYL8Q/s1600-h/Emma%252527s%2525201st%252520Day%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Emma's 1st Day" border="0" alt="Emma's 1st Day" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-fJ54ZaEYUM8/T0sGH5pcu9I/AAAAAAAADZ8/2Fuvs6llowI/Emma%252527s%2525201st%252520Day_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="371" height="279" /></a></p> <p>And here's a normal pose for my drama girl...</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-KDt5F_7xt3c/T0sGJLzWArI/AAAAAAAADaE/c2dR9gSfFoU/s1600-h/2nd%252520Emma%252527s%2525201st%252520day%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="2nd Emma's 1st day" border="0" alt="2nd Emma's 1st day" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-VsqlzrP37tA/T0sGKk3WoHI/AAAAAAAADaM/32qp7ZkNKrM/2nd%252520Emma%252527s%2525201st%252520day_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="368" height="277" /></a></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5863739094250833390.post-36339236804251857172012-02-25T21:52:00.001-08:002012-02-25T22:00:04.305-08:00Over the river & through the woods...<p>or over the desert mountains, through the skies to Kansas we went logging the first 1000 miles of our journey.  The kids and I took flight Thursday, Feb. 2nd for a previous planned trip to KS. (previous as in before the move decision) The plans was to visit family between our usual Thanksgiving & Summer visits.  It also happened to be the time of the bi-annual scrap crop I used to attend. Yay!  </p> <p>It was my first flight with all 3 kids since Isaac had turned two thus requiring a seat. That put Emma across the aisle from us.  She was a bit nervous about that but she managed with assistance from technology & snacks...<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Vbi6_V_dSVg/T0nIeqPlOyI/AAAAAAAADUE/AhX5nx6OB9A/s1600-h/IMG_13224.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_1322" border="0" alt="IMG_1322" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-0I_b_dfgMrM/T0nIfB7WxMI/AAAAAAAADUM/FJgySny5lxI/IMG_1322_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="377" height="284" /></a></p> <p>Aidan had a ball with wikki sticks.  I would HIGHLY recommend them as airplane entertainment!  An older woman behind him visited with him most of the way.  He shared his wikki sticks with her.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-PjEYsO_U9xc/T0nIftW1ioI/AAAAAAAADUU/ZufXRpydMH8/s1600-h/IMG_13164.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_1316" border="0" alt="IMG_1316" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-QuswwDsph1c/T0nIgONEtkI/AAAAAAAADUc/mQA_ocvDxuU/IMG_1316_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="387" height="291" /></a></p> <p>He was fairly certain we were above the artic and he could see icebergs.<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-1XSDNdh72jM/T0nIgtKy-bI/AAAAAAAADUg/ErCbDEUSHTc/s1600-h/IMG_13234.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_1323" border="0" alt="IMG_1323" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ObZtlsQzEpU/T0nIg5R3hPI/AAAAAAAADUo/1_UKe4dI1ko/IMG_1323_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="248" height="329" /></a></p> <p>Isaac decided the 4 am wake up to get to the airport required a mid flight snooze.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-yLxI0aKenDU/T0nIhqhHtmI/AAAAAAAADU0/E46II5y4HtE/s1600-h/IMG_13214.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_1321" border="0" alt="IMG_1321" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-wm7YPT0Nu0A/T0nIh1Z4LAI/AAAAAAAADU8/kCmHiX2l56c/IMG_1321_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="387" height="291" /></a></p> <p>Thursday night we had dinner with our friends who happen to also be family (the Cannons) at the bestest mexican food place ever.  The food was good, but the highlight of the night was holding my newest nephew.  He makes my uterus think bad thoughts.  So sad I have no picture of me holding him...but my hands were happily too full for a camera. :)</p> <p>The scrap crop was Fri – Sun and was tons of fun!  If it's hard for you to imagine 180 croppers together here's what it looks like:</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-dR8LM7B9vdI/T0nIi5f8yYI/AAAAAAAADVE/1Lgc-feAiuw/s1600-h/IMG_13265.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_1326" border="0" alt="IMG_1326" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-9TYjE0-Obqk/T0nIjZJP7HI/AAAAAAAADVM/50EK60z00Ig/IMG_1326_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="397" height="299" /></a></p> <p>You can see pics of my fav layouts from the crop <a href="http://sunflowerstocacti.blogspot.com/2012/02/cag.html">HERE</a>. Andy my first ever time at Ganza <a href="http://sunflowerstocacti.blogspot.com/2010/02/cropaganza.html">HERE</a>.</p> <p>Sunday after the crop I gathered the boys who were in a fruit snack coma from spending the weekend with papa to head to my parents.  This is the 2nd weekend crop Papa had boy duty.  They love their time spent together watching endless episodes of Power Rangers on  "Netfix" and eating kids food. :)</p> <p>We drove straight to my brothers where the fam gathered for pizza.  We got to meet Mimi's new puppy, Abby, which my dog-a-phobic kids ADORE! Uncle Adam hosted a sleep over letting us crash at his place.  Monday Mimi took the day off so we hung out at her house having a great time laughing at the kids & Mimi playing Xbox games.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-oWfSqI3Au2I/T0nIj52LVhI/AAAAAAAADVU/3HWngIxTsI0/s1600-h/DSC008883.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC00888" border="0" alt="DSC00888" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-RxKZOuLV5B0/T0nIkUdSlRI/AAAAAAAADVc/XCVa8_P3bcQ/DSC00888_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-toTm3XImc6Y/T0nIlDjJrFI/AAAAAAAADVk/RJVqdPpmysQ/s1600-h/DSC008864.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC00886" border="0" alt="DSC00886" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-StVOvdFq6Zc/T0nIlVFmafI/AAAAAAAADVs/6FmmWW2PR4Q/DSC00886_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="321" height="242" /></a></p> <p>Monday night my cousin Diane came from MO to visit.  It was great to see her and nice to have her company Tuesday while I watched my kiddos and my niece & nephew.  That night I hosted a dinner at my parents house.  Friend Michelle came as well as the whole fam. Monday & Tuesday was full of strange feelings to know that Matt was in AZ emptying the house. Strange to know that what seemed like a regular visit to KS was actually permanent.  We wouldn't return to our house...or more so our friends.</p> <p>Wednesday I took off from Melvern and drove south to my friend Karra's.  We spent the afternoon visiting.  Our visits always seem too short. Boo. By the time we made it to the in-laws Matt had already made the long drive to KS!! Yay!</p> <p>Thursday we hung out at his parents.  Chilled, relaxed. Grandma gave Matt & kiddos pedicures.  Isaac took a "bath"?!?</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-z4fY2iKkMXA/T0nImtRDj7I/AAAAAAAADV0/Tn_aAzNnH4M/s1600-h/IMG_13354.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_1335" border="0" alt="IMG_1335" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-OBpQDUdQmZ0/T0nIm9jHdNI/AAAAAAAADV8/t9poQL1s0Zg/IMG_1335_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="353" height="266" /></a></p> <p>Friday evening we had dinner with our friends the Koosers.  Another great, but too short visit with friends.  It's amazing how excited you can be to see old friends, yet forget to snap a single picture of your visit.</p> <p>We picked up our two nephews after our visit in Derby.  They stayed the night with our kiddos and played all Saturday morning.  I can't help but sit and watch my nephew Alex play and wrestle with my boys.  He's now 10 yet it seems like just yesterday was a baby himself. Emma & Dylan were like always.  Joined at the hip like a day hasn't passed since their last visit.  I think she was thrilled to have someone else to play "house" with...finally a "dad" to help boss around her brothers.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-RpSQqNGQflM/T0nInf9TdsI/AAAAAAAADWE/LCdyX6n9QsU/s1600-h/DSC008955.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC00895" border="0" alt="DSC00895" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-7U2R0v5i-M8/T0nIn3eottI/AAAAAAAADWM/kb4HSMJSU4Q/DSC00895_thumb6.jpg?imgmax=800" width="233" height="303" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-zJVQeRv-e3Q/T0nIoUBbnYI/AAAAAAAADWQ/OJSXcBCGrrU/s1600-h/DSC008965.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC00896" border="0" alt="DSC00896" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-rt5YqTJGSj8/T0nIogNCb9I/AAAAAAAADWY/iHce-GsNwvI/DSC00896_thumb8.jpg?imgmax=800" width="232" height="303" /></a></p> <p>The boys had to leave at lunch time.  That evening the Cannons came to see us.  The kids & cousin Libby had fun playing and I had fun with little Max! :)  Little guy is trying to find his voice...not sure you can hear it over my boys' commotion & Isaac's attempt to plug him with a pappy. :)</p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:1cdc5dad-3c40-4c05-8e0f-27c43798b0f5" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><div id="49dc0859-66a0-4fc5-adea-5637c56623f5" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline;"><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpvQJ6OOnFA" target="_new"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-EPDyNairZ_E/T0nIpH4B6UI/AAAAAAAADZs/zNtCQ2baRTQ/video59c7ef0238bc%25255B8%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-style: none" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('49dc0859-66a0-4fc5-adea-5637c56623f5'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = "<div><object width=\"448\" height=\"277\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/EpvQJ6OOnFA?hl=en&hd=1\"><\/param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/EpvQJ6OOnFA?hl=en&hd=1\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"448\" height=\"277\"><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" alt=""></a></div></div></div> <p>Someone was VERY jealous when his Mama was holding Mr. Max. Also if you can hear in the video Aidan is convinced Max is making a "snowman" (meaning snow angle...poor kid doesn't remember KS snow). And if it's not a "snowman" it's his "dance moves". :) </p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:ee172d93-5ad0-469f-9605-5c7724564cc4" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><div id="ca71a0df-a333-4ba4-82b1-40e1d59ddb45" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline;"><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCjPV3ZX0Zs" target="_new"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-t0RBYWaEbS0/T0nIpXLeioI/AAAAAAAADZw/OMCzSp9GBII/videoad16c7402121%25255B8%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-style: none" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('ca71a0df-a333-4ba4-82b1-40e1d59ddb45'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = "<div><object width=\"448\" height=\"277\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/HCjPV3ZX0Zs?hl=en&hd=1\"><\/param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/HCjPV3ZX0Zs?hl=en&hd=1\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"448\" height=\"277\"><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" alt=""></a></div></div></div> <p>So sad to think next time I see him  he will not only be cooing more but sitting, eating foods & probably crawling :( Boo.hoo.</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5863739094250833390.post-40843693862263132932012-02-01T21:46:00.000-08:002012-02-20T21:49:34.845-08:00Bye-Bye<p>Although there were days where we all felt this way:</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-2aVIQcw7bdM/T0MwFHLbPxI/AAAAAAAADPY/0-HjvLEnkEE/s1600-h/IMG_1192%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_1192" border="0" alt="IMG_1192" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ng_jwZBMSnc/T0MwFlg5McI/AAAAAAAADPg/PwETCSFjPxM/IMG_1192_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="430" height="324" /></a></p> <p>We all came around to the idea of moving and planned how we wanted to spend our short time left in AZ.</p> <p>Emma decided she wanted to have a tea party with some of her girl friends.  I can't emphasize enough how LITTLE I had to do with this planning.  I was swamped with moving things and while I wanted her to have a special time with friends I was also interested to see how she would do planning it all herself.  She amazed me!</p> <p>She made invitations and handed them out.  I was totally unaware she informed all the girls to wear pretty dresses because "that is how you dress to tea parties". EXcuuuuse me?! :)  So they all came dressed in their Sunday best.  She picked her outfit. She set the table and planned the menu.  All I had to do was make the little sandwiches.  She took their orders & served the food.  There was a bit of craziness from the girls for a bit so we hosted an impromptu Barbie fashion show using our stair railing as a catwalk. :)</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-vouhCeHOAIA/T0MwG-lDzDI/AAAAAAAADPo/tKkD6ePEFPQ/s1600-h/DSC00844%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC00844" border="0" alt="DSC00844" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-wPr37F079hg/T0MwHMsPEAI/AAAAAAAADPw/8NqEN2DZ2Uk/DSC00844_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="329" height="247" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-NWHvOQbCHHQ/T0MwINmAuvI/AAAAAAAADP4/Qv2IoGIb7eQ/s1600-h/IMG_1307%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_1307" border="0" alt="IMG_1307" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-OSvEbn6gEoI/T0MwIu0iI0I/AAAAAAAADQA/yM_DT1Gr_Qk/IMG_1307_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="229" height="326" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-5htQY03IGkI/T0MwKnpQ3GI/AAAAAAAADQI/cXL-YcaQxwM/s1600-h/DSC00836%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC00836" border="0" alt="DSC00836" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-InQIQWcJL2s/T0MwKxbtBSI/AAAAAAAADQQ/YBGOB6uw_q8/DSC00836_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="185" height="279" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-YFdET32FQyk/T0MwL5ERnII/AAAAAAAADQY/1gXGuk4u59k/s1600-h/DSC00843%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC00843" border="0" alt="DSC00843" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-pWH4AmMsUt4/T0MwMAv7XnI/AAAAAAAADQg/O0Yay9B-DvM/DSC00843_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="373" height="281" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ffb8_Bl8yVI/T0MwNGR4RVI/AAAAAAAADQo/2cORENx4T2k/s1600-h/DSC00838%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC00838" border="0" alt="DSC00838" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-3uJjO_lZDtk/T0MwNkeqtEI/AAAAAAAADQw/hcvBBkBf1QE/DSC00838_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="218" height="315" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-uVOyRoac9xI/T0MwOMgzr9I/AAAAAAAADQ4/VqNZcrqguBw/s1600-h/DSC00839%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC00839" border="0" alt="DSC00839" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-VgQhMhJnumA/T0MwOgrJvHI/AAAAAAAADRA/WXQrs32Leg0/DSC00839_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="228" height="318" /></a></p> <p>She had some of the sweetest friends.  She manages to find friends that are a pleasure to be around and come to play & I hardly notice they are there!  It's my prayer she finds another set of friends in our new area.  I hope the tea party will be something she looks back at with fond memories.  I think I might have a future party planner on my hands!</p> <p>Wednesday was their last day of school so I was sure to take some pics.  Aidan was convinced his friends, especially his buddy Michael was moving to GA too.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Lt8H7bNpHcM/T0MwP8b3awI/AAAAAAAADRM/-3znVV59LKY/s1600-h/DSC00845%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC00845" border="0" alt="DSC00845" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-CJ54FYD_bt0/T0MwQaM8mgI/AAAAAAAADRU/NhTsyCtxmaM/DSC00845_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="361" height="272" /></a></p> <p>He LOVED Miss Pammy!  Just so you know this IS the same teacher he told me had hair like Rapunzel after his first day of PreK.  As you can see with her DARK, SHORT hair he is either not observant...or perhaps has a great imagination!?!?!</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-EIPYoocT40o/T0MwRsQCs8I/AAAAAAAADRc/C70OecFpn9o/s1600-h/DSC00847%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC00847" border="0" alt="DSC00847" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-a_Cuwp4snMk/T0MwSHYJkRI/AAAAAAAADRk/4q31IanFdKw/DSC00847_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="253" height="334" /></a></p> <p>Here's Emma's  2nd grade class.  Mrs. Hanks was actually her sub, but considering her "real" teacher was only there the first month, took maternity and then decided not to come back Mrs. Hanks was more her teacher than the "real" teacher.  She loved Mrs. Hanks and her sweet disposition.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-TEgrpwKdi3w/T0MwS0RQV5I/AAAAAAAADRs/8UnhQnOUpu4/s1600-h/DSC00851%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC00851" border="0" alt="DSC00851" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-XS6OWMMyroc/T0MwTuWGp0I/AAAAAAAADR0/iZxCQ58n4qA/DSC00851_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="262" height="348" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-GoZiuZCo_BA/T0MwUmI6npI/AAAAAAAADR8/TttzT8t_jcg/s1600-h/DSC00852%25255B10%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC00852" border="0" alt="DSC00852" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-GePiSoE957k/T0MwVIlzI6I/AAAAAAAADSE/rvQ3lajFLvM/DSC00852_thumb%25255B8%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="233" height="345" /></a></p> <p>*FYI the pic w/Mrs. Hanks is one of those where I [GASP] and wonder who that BIG girl is standing next to that teacher?!?!?!??! Where's my sweet little preschooler in her Gymboree denim turtle skirt with matching turtle pony tail holder and knee socks?!?!?</p> <p>After school her friend Ashton's family invited her to go to a movie.  The movie actually canceled so they went bowling.  It was Emma's first time bowling so will hold a special memory in her heart.  Ashton and her family were such a sweet and caring family that we enjoyed having as neighbors.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-VfhF5v7PDq0/T0MwV2LTeaI/AAAAAAAADSM/76-ncYesO_k/s1600-h/DSC00855%25255B12%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC00855" border="0" alt="DSC00855" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-e-jA8foJYD0/T0MwWT5PqTI/AAAAAAAADSY/aV8RkNF9Ka8/DSC00855_thumb%25255B8%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="272" height="334" /></a></p> <p>While Emma was off bowling we got together one last time with the Mullins.  Our closest friends and neighbors in AZ.  God really blessed me with this friend.  Our kids were close in age and LOVED playing together.  She and I just "clicked".  Our friendship isn't anything I really expected to find in AZ making it even harder to leave.  Twice in my life I have had friends that strangers would ask if we were sisters...they were asking based on looks, but in both cases the girls were also 2 of my closest friends in the town I was living. </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-mdUiWab94JA/T0MwW_GUG2I/AAAAAAAADSg/rJVSKcdo3aw/s1600-h/Megan%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Megan" border="0" alt="Megan" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-zZP7QHe42o8/T0MwXUtSTdI/AAAAAAAADSs/KMUc2i_Ucr4/Megan_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="277" height="209" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-kZPCeEXPfoA/T0MwYQ8k7nI/AAAAAAAADS0/0m3V7A7oqR4/s1600-h/Mullins%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Mullins" border="0" alt="Mullins" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ieGswZ_dvKo/T0MwZZIackI/AAAAAAAADTA/Zxro0lKeypA/Mullins_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="275" height="207" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-zZBRCfyCLm8/T0MwZgAwCLI/AAAAAAAADTM/5tEOJX-aIhc/s1600-h/Big%252520boys%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Big boys" border="0" alt="Big boys" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-u_nZuYf67do/T0MwZ_aoHNI/AAAAAAAADTU/_2bRgLQyKHE/Big%252520boys_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="278" height="210" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-r24pLgARCCo/T0Mwa9AjTmI/AAAAAAAADTg/CGmswH_H7-A/s1600-h/lil%252520stinkers%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="lil stinkers" border="0" alt="lil stinkers" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Wyq-RLCj6wg/T0MwbV0StKI/AAAAAAAADTo/OzKJ_NL3qA0/lil%252520stinkers_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="272" height="205" /></a></p> <p>That final play date was bittersweet.  It was such a normal day for us.  Something we sometimes did 3-4 times a week.  Get together, sit at the end of the drive and watch the kids ride bikes, scooters, dig in the dirt, fight and climb trees.  So bitter knowing that at the end of the "typical" play date we would drag all our loot home to never return.  To never play as neighbors again.  The boys would not longer hang out and talk about transformers, power rangers, Mario, farting or poop as 4 year old little boys do.  Isaac & Ainsley would not again get to run up to each other to embrace excited to see one another to only minutes later be fighting like an old married couple.</p> <p>Don't want to say I doubted God would provide a friend for me there, but I guess I did since I seemed so surprised by it. And his timing in it was the most amazing.  We had been in AZ 3 months before we first met.  Their house was the last house we went to trick or treating our first fall there.  We chatted briefly but it wasn't until several weeks later that we met up at Walmart.  It was such perfect timing.  It was around that time Matt & I hit a rough patch and having someone to visit with even about everyday things & to get me out of the house was such a help to my spirit.</p> <p>It was so difficult to share the news with them that we were moving.  It was hard for the kids and hard on us.  But again in God's perfect timing her kiddos have a bit of a distraction b/c their newly retired grandma just moved into the neighborhood & we are able to sneak in extra play time while she was off school for winter break.</p> <p>Still seems surreal that we won't see them for a very long time. A bit different that KS friends we left but might get to see when we travel home. It sure would be nice to retreat to the beautiful weather of AZ to see them again!! :) </p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5863739094250833390.post-74683897895089628952012-01-09T22:28:00.001-08:002012-02-05T20:20:09.075-08:00Crazy Christmas<p>Amongst the craziness that has been life here lately we did remember to celebrate the bestest event ever!!! Our favorite Bday!!  Here’s his sugar overload cake…</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-5IErlHofvWc/TwvaYUZYCpI/AAAAAAAADMw/DTTGgPzmGCc/s1600-h/DSC09906%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC09906" border="0" alt="DSC09906" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-21X3jtwuVko/TwvaYpoun1I/AAAAAAAADM4/7JtlshdkJPU/DSC09906_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="276" height="208" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-B7660jen6rM/TwvaY-OjtuI/AAAAAAAADNA/m_cw5KwB5CA/s1600-h/DSC09910.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC09910" border="0" alt="DSC09910" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-l8B7Mmx4O90/TwvaZO7MADI/AAAAAAAADNI/bfAhLGpGU9U/DSC09910_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="274" height="206" /></a></p> <p>…and yes.  That is a votive candle.  It’s what Megan had and well…..we didn’t have thousands of candles laying around. </p> <p>Matt served several services Thursday and Friday at church.  Saturday I served and then we attended service for Christmas Eve.  A bit strange to not have service on Sunday, but I guess it’s not all about Sunday….but each and everyday. So here they are after evening church.  2 out of 3 are excited at least…</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-rHYyTDOe6l8/TwvaZUAkxhI/AAAAAAAADNQ/1V-I4c-owUg/s1600-h/DSC09790.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC09790" border="0" alt="DSC09790" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-O9t9swTwRFM/TwvaZlvS92I/AAAAAAAADNY/iW2Ug0fdFCM/DSC09790_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="249" height="327" /></a></p> <p>drinking Santa’s chocolate milk and eating one of his cookies made it all better…</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-aBTVy-ulMk8/TwvaaG8LL6I/AAAAAAAADNg/JoiwoEi8Mlk/s1600-h/DSC09800.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC09800" border="0" alt="DSC09800" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-fsCjtC8pT38/Twvaae-sISI/AAAAAAAADNo/1_0EqjfEugA/DSC09800_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="254" height="338" /></a></p> <p>Emma left her annual note for Mr. C…</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-c70wmcxz31c/TwvaarWt6OI/AAAAAAAADNw/ezpHKx8Maeg/s1600-h/DSC09795.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC09795" border="0" alt="DSC09795" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-gRBQn9c1YdU/TwvaazOfO4I/AAAAAAAADN4/FaHe8CnbOCo/DSC09795_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="242" height="321" /></a></p> <p>Emma was a good girl!! Her reaction to meeting the 3 new members of the Stout family.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/--apeoSL1Ngw/TwvabN_OtMI/AAAAAAAADOA/YO5-xsK2G2c/s1600-h/DSC09804.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC09804" border="0" alt="DSC09804" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/--o3L9ZsVxL4/TwvabWhlavI/AAAAAAAADOI/XImdw9HQIYk/DSC09804_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="351" height="264" /></a></p> <p>Aidan’s favorite- Hotwheels Wall Tracks.  It is very cool.  He loved it…until Gma & Papa brought their gift…a megazord. </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-xW1wMv4G5fg/Twvab7B8i8I/AAAAAAAADOQ/f8RVib9-q3g/s1600-h/DSC09820%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC09820" border="0" alt="DSC09820" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-hQyTcTpQf18/TwvacBzBbfI/AAAAAAAADOY/HARzM6YjxI4/DSC09820_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="270" /></a></p> <p>Isaac most super excited about the 10 cent dinosaur Sissy got him at her school store. Go figure.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-T3E-R8dyrg4/TwvacaIk8HI/AAAAAAAADOg/sS04B8EQ6A4/s1600-h/DSC09835.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC09835" border="0" alt="DSC09835" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-_4Kf1UCnhM4/TwvacmLnUgI/AAAAAAAADOo/lmnhotmUOtA/DSC09835_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="259" height="344" /></a></p> <p>A close up of the Stout family school of fish. RIP “Blackie”.  The sleigh ride took it’s toll on you, but luckily our new “Blackie” from Walmart is still afloat. </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-oIXqJ8yUHpM/TwvacxzSCII/AAAAAAAADOw/N_WY4Al6Kik/s1600-h/DSC09883.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC09883" border="0" alt="DSC09883" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-1PFM6NLNyp4/TwvadHmJKXI/AAAAAAAADO4/3QYTMCCVIhY/DSC09883_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="354" height="266" /></a></p> <p>I got Matt some new cloths, a new book in his series and a Facebook gift card.  Yes the very site he calls “from the devil” that I use for FREE he requested a gift card for.  So FYI if you see that I’m playing some Dragon game….I am not. HE is, but I am NOT. Haha!</p> <p>Matt got me a electric lap blanket.  Guessing that might come in handy in GA!  Also got some nice baskets that so happen to be filled with TONS of different chocolates! Yum!</p> <p>Christmas night we went to the neighbors for pizza.  The kids played with new toys and the neighbors new Wii.  Us adults played Outburst…the guys may or may not have stomped Megan and I…why can I not retain movie/actor/actress trivia like my husband!?!?!  It was a good time!!</p> <p>The next day Gma & Papa Stout arrived from KS.  Not sure I have too many pics from their visit.  We worked them to the bone getting our house ready to list and then ditched them for a week to house hunt.  So thankful for their help!!  Will try to post more on their visit later…</p> <p>It was a nice day.  Great time spent with friends and and awesome service at church.  But a cloud of sadness was in the air.  Our last Christmas in AZ.  No warm weather holiday traditions to continue.</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5863739094250833390.post-10567852029761616442012-01-08T21:58:00.001-08:002012-02-05T20:39:38.059-08:00So behind…<p>Where did the last three weeks go?  I’m constantly having to remind myself today that Emma has school tomorrow.  Being gone all last week and Christmas break before that I don’t know what day of the week it is and with “season-less” AZ there are times I don’t even know the time of year! </p> <p>I should have been prepared for the craziness that was going to follow our decision to relocate.  It snowballed so quickly this time.  I feel like I haven’t talked to some friends in forever.  Feel disconnected from visiting with my family.  Barely even seen the neighbor I hung out with several times a week. Behind on so many blog posts.  Given little thought to my upcoming trip to KS to scrap with friends.  One of my favorite events of the year.</p> <p>It’s all a blur.  I kind of want to escape back to the life “before”. So sad today to realize that it could be very likely that we only have a few more weeks left at our church.  We only have next week together as a family before Matt starts traveling, then the kids and I are in KS and then very possible that the movers will be here.</p> <p>That timing is all dependent on all the house mess.  </p> <p>Two possibly 3 offers on AZ home.  Plus all the people we witnessed pulling flyers today…may get more calls tomorrow.  Sounds like a good problem, but there’s such a mess on the declining value in the home.  It’s just money right?  Can’t take it with you. </p> <p>Then there’s the GA house.  All we want from the owners is a full disclosure on what they are removing from the property.  After knowing the housing market of short sales & foreclosures in AZ and now GA one can NOT assume that “normal” things are remaining in the home.  They are being very vague in what they are taking.  Apparently the bank allows them to take any and all things they wish. We aren’t necessarily demanding they leave certain things, we ARE simply asking for a clear list of what they are taking so we are aware of the funds needed to replace items. I understand the frustration they must feel toward the bank, but they must remember WE aren’t taking the house from them. WE aren’t the enemy. We simply need to know the financial obligation we will have to replace & install items they chose to take.  We consider that being financially responsible. We had a good “feeling” about the house and working with the owners. Pray we are right.</p> <p>It is bitter for us to go into a home that will already need many things replace/repaired as well b/c we already replaced LOTS in our AZ home due to mad owners stripping it as it went to foreclosure.  We are leaving behind those things we installed (every.last.appliance, all mini blinds, curtain rods, curtains, etc) b/c we think that they are normal things to be left.  Plus we are forced to leave as much as we can to attract buyers and retain value in our home.  Such a double edge sword. Praying someday we can buy a home where we feel we are getting the complete package of a home presented to sell by proud owners who are leaving the home in condition as we have so recently left 2 of our houses.</p> <p>Wish I had blogged my feelings last Tues/Wed when we were in the lowest of lows.  Low b/c of our lack of success in home finding in GA, bad news on the appraisal in AZ and some discouraging news on the timing of our move and timing of some other QT job positions closer to home.</p> <p>Wish I had put in writing the words and thoughts that helped me pull myself out of that rut. To use as a reminder to myself. I thought something.  Had a revelation of some sort.  What ever it was helped me support Matt.  I came to grips that the timing is not for me to know or understand.  I believe that the job is still the right position for Matt.  Despite all the housing mess, loss of money and stress I believe it’s the right thing.  But very much NOT an easy thing. </p> <p>Even went so far as to say that even if the ONE house we found didn’t work out that I had a good feeling and faith that something would come about. I believed it.  I really did feel it.</p> <p>But now there are so many questions.  So many things I don’t understand about the real estate process.  So many figures, offers and different scenarios to consider each with a different set of consequences.  So much that I feel my brain might explode. If there was a chicken exit I’d take it.  If I could jump and had a parachute to land me to a place of safety I’d jump. If I could phone home, click my heels or transport to the future I would. (Matt would be proud of my movie references here!)</p> <p>All of a sudden my desire for control and comfort is creeping up and taking me over.  But then the truth seeps in.  The realist side of me that knows life is not about my comfort.  If I only seek what is comfortable and all things I can control I am not living as He would have me live.  How does it  reflect on my life if I stand before Him some day and can’t recall times in my life where I fully stepped out on faith.  Fully relied on Him to work out large and small details of my life and then give Him the glory for such works. Why can’t I recall all those feelings of doubt I had when we left KS a short 18 months ago and then look now to see how perfectly God worked everything out.  He provided us a church we love.  Friends and neighbors so friendly, helpful and caring.  He did all of this in a very short time span.  I opened my heart, connected with others only to leave.  Why then do I allow doubt in my life?  Almost like I question if He will provide all of this for us yet again. Silly me.</p> <p>I beat myself up when I start to let the perfectionist control freak in me behave in ways that make me appear unfaithful and doubtful.  WHY does it have to be a cycle?  Why can’t I break it?  In a weeks time I go from extreme doubt, up out of the slump, praising Him only to allow stress to compile and fall right back into it again. Right back to being short.  Grouch with the kids.  Unable to swallow b/c I feel I could throw up at any moment. </p> <p>This is all random.  My least edited post ever.  A long winded and probably repetitive, verbal up-chuck of a post.  But a post for me.  To try to get it all out of my head.  Off my shoulders and released to hopefully find rest tonight.</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5863739094250833390.post-9876301321348916072011-12-30T23:27:00.001-08:002012-02-05T20:21:04.442-08:00Whooooo’s Eight???<p>My first baby is now eight.  One can’t adequately explain or express how so very true the blue-hair-ole-ladies are that stop you in the store and say “enjoy them while they are young, the time passes so quickly”.</p> <p>They of course seem to stop and say those things on the very day you’re ready to give your children away to the lowest bidder b/c they have been the naughtiest EVAH!! Or maybe that’s just me.</p> <p>She is an eight year old little girl that I feel is SO very different than I was.  She is very outgoing.  Not afraid to be super social.  Very fashion forward and discusses topics of clothing, fashion & design like a teenager.  She spends most of her time crafting.  Anything with paper, scissors, glue, stickers, GLITTER glue, beads, fabric or string are her things.  She has a memory that is amazing.  Constantly singing.  Remembers lots of songs, and isn’t afraid to make up words to songs if she’s not sure of the wording…creates some laughs for us! </p> <p>Any who.  We had her birthday party a bit early so her BFF who is moving back to TX could be here.  Wouldn’t be the same without sweet Aaliyah.  We had a great turn out for her late night OWL sleepover.</p> <p>Here they are. (LtoR) Ameil, Aaliyah, Ashton April, Jewels, Ainsley & Emma.<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-g947ThRdV3Y/Tv65OTMh16I/AAAAAAAADII/SiYlZ9uZkrs/s1600-h/DSC09714%25255B1%25255D%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC09714" border="0" alt="DSC09714" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-foelGPLrAKM/Tv65Oj_TngI/AAAAAAAADIM/pfljHjvIMcU/DSC09714%25255B1%25255D_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="528" height="397" /></a></p> <p>Although most of the night they looked like this:</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-6--omES7GxE/Tv65PLyobXI/AAAAAAAADIU/wZJq8tqfuTQ/s1600-h/DSC09716%25255B1%25255D%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC09716" border="0" alt="DSC09716" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-yyJpRurNcuM/Tv65PRsBLkI/AAAAAAAADIc/KxXa5kdb6Tw/DSC09716%25255B1%25255D_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="531" height="397" /></a></p> <p>Sweet little girl faces!!  She has the sweetest friends with the nicest families.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-52Wc-uFVEkU/Tv65PwyGgNI/AAAAAAAADIo/M_HBzBbNvP4/s1600-h/DSC09718%25255B1%25255D%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC09718" border="0" alt="DSC09718" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-8ldVAK6RFNk/Tv65QNpWBbI/AAAAAAAADIw/WU5OnEpYAls/DSC09718%25255B1%25255D_thumb%25255B9%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="423" height="506" /></a></p> <p>I made the cake.  First time making chocolate buttercream.  Where had that been my whole life!?!? A 9x13 trimmed in an oval “owl” shape frosted with above mentioned sinful frosting.  Homemade marshmallow fondant made up the eyes, bow, beak, leaves, feet & tree branch.  All was free handed and formed as I went along, so no patterns for plans for you. <font size="1">*Side note- very difficult to make brown fondant rolled and shaped to look like a branch/log shape without it looking like something that would make a preschool boy laugh in disgusting  delight! Use your imagination.  I found the key was to roll out the fondant and jelly roll it similar to rolling dough up for cinnamon rolls.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-5oU2ByJZIIY/Ty9VHrKyCtI/AAAAAAAADPM/bWHEbvbSL2w/s1600-h/DSC097013.jpg"><font size="1"></font><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-5oU2ByJZIIY/Ty9VHrKyCtI/AAAAAAAADPU/cN7jgJ6PB84/s1600-h/DSC0970117.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC09701" border="0" alt="DSC09701" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-zcrmYsXfxP4/Tv65Qwm9-vI/AAAAAAAADMo/MmyEOegcMLI/DSC09701%25255B1%25255D_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="435" height="327" /></a></a></a></p> <p>Emma now personally owns all craft, bead, jewelry making, glitter gluing craft set that have been manufactured….and a $10 bill that is burning a hole in her pocket.<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-MglV8gQdqfo/Tv65RM3RE3I/AAAAAAAADJI/F4f6D8Py8kQ/s1600-h/DSC09736%25255B1%25255D%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC09736" border="0" alt="DSC09736" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-FFs5Ja4PF2U/Tv65R8Em7-I/AAAAAAAADJQ/lUgADP7UFic/DSC09736%25255B1%25255D_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="340" height="257" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-hnk0kG5TE30/Tv65SBcqp7I/AAAAAAAADJY/QD-CyxUnjvY/s1600-h/DSC09740%25255B1%25255D%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC09740" border="0" alt="DSC09740" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-hFcQHrf2mXc/Tv65S-XuPpI/AAAAAAAADJg/Y3jPsAOMtDA/DSC09740%25255B1%25255D_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="177" height="259" /></a> </p> <p>Speaking of crafts we made an owl paper & hand printing paint craft…<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Xzul_fmDPLM/Tv65TEPAMjI/AAAAAAAADJo/mc_4SpFkOIE/s1600-h/DSC09732%25255B1%25255D%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC09732" border="0" alt="DSC09732" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-BWsqepFHOFk/Tv65Tet--II/AAAAAAAADJw/pWo0yPKwyuo/DSC09732%25255B1%25255D_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="450" height="338" /></a></p> <p>and “crafted” homemade personal pizzas.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-5mj51r9hLCU/Tv65T2asZGI/AAAAAAAADJ4/WsLpSmajIHk/s1600-h/DSC09709%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC09709" border="0" alt="DSC09709" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-zEy-GUcBYRw/Tv65UMUT6OI/AAAAAAAADKA/ptMOjhHintk/DSC09709_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="438" height="330" /></a></p> <p>Eight candles blown out…half way to a drivers license. I shall go cry now.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-OoFbiR3mHMo/Tv65Uf2suoI/AAAAAAAADKI/Q0GXNRvPnRc/s1600-h/DSC09760%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC09760" border="0" alt="DSC09760" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Ju8eNPN_HOU/Tv65U89ol1I/AAAAAAAADKQ/0tdFxHpsyrU/DSC09760_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="255" height="339" /></a></p> <p>And b/c no bday post would be complete without a trip down memory lane…</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-iPtKytWoooY/Tv65VGCSFrI/AAAAAAAADKY/rG25haBoWpI/s1600-h/NewfamilyCopy%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Birthday" border="0" alt="Birthday" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-JailFCwrS9s/Tv65VVWG3LI/AAAAAAAADKg/HyabAd80Whg/NewfamilyCopy_thumb%25255B9%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="181" height="261" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-pqbRuiWO9Ns/Tv65VwV2qdI/AAAAAAAADKo/aVO7-oMe9JI/s1600-h/EatingCake%252520%25252815%252529%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="1st Bday" border="0" alt="1st Bday" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-G_3IIZj9KYY/Tv65XtrRgkI/AAAAAAAADKw/sHgTQAgr6Qk/EatingCake%252520%25252815%252529_thumb%25255B8%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="183" height="260" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-6TnZJlGk0Og/Tv65XoekrPI/AAAAAAAADK4/Z85ctHVhXAE/s1600-h/12.31%2525202nd%252520Bday%252520%25252819%252529%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="2nd Bday" border="0" alt="2nd Bday" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-IyEqeH_jdrQ/Tv65X4y_RuI/AAAAAAAADLA/9ClJBj4TU-U/12.31%2525202nd%252520Bday%252520%25252819%252529_thumb%25255B10%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="161" height="256" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-LtOKMJg_Ing/Tv65YB-xDWI/AAAAAAAADLI/c9VK0pExyI8/s1600-h/Emma%252527s%2525203rd%252520%25252852%252529%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="3rd Bday" border="0" alt="3rd Bday" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-o2sQ_0akLCQ/Tv65YSM4sWI/AAAAAAAADLQ/z00mzLsQnCA/Emma%252527s%2525203rd%252520%25252852%252529_thumb%25255B9%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="179" height="248" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-iXVo3_h9seY/Tv65YuZGtAI/AAAAAAAADLY/fFY28h0l-ik/s1600-h/Emma%252527s%2525204th%252520%25252835%252529%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="4th Bday" border="0" alt="4th Bday" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Seo9YuIMQ2U/Tv65Y0-vGoI/AAAAAAAADLg/MiMKnXaVd90/Emma%252527s%2525204th%252520%25252835%252529_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="180" height="239" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-fZcNTwEEPA0/Tv65Z_MA3JI/AAAAAAAADLo/nNbd8apX1sY/s1600-h/12.31.08%252520Emma%252527s%2525205th%252520%25252823%252529%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="5th Bday" border="0" alt="5th Bday" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-XRHGpP219-s/Tv65aPmxWXI/AAAAAAAADLw/woWUm_Ld858/12.31.08%252520Emma%252527s%2525205th%252520%25252823%252529_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="170" height="244" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-xaz6j8KzGWk/Tv65aKhntVI/AAAAAAAADL4/Of1Ft6oz7hI/s1600-h/DSC02675%25255B10%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="6th Bday" border="0" alt="6th Bday" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-3En3xbXqHgA/Tv65aUWGK2I/AAAAAAAADMA/vN6NClmeiqU/DSC02675_thumb%25255B12%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="337" height="237" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-uafLhhnbKn0/Tv65a_9EHII/AAAAAAAADME/gLIFEphOX6w/s1600-h/12.30.10%252520Emma%2525207th%252520Party%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="7th Bday" border="0" alt="7th Bday" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-bcKlm8zFk9M/Tv65dEzlUMI/AAAAAAAADMQ/X9HQhk8I54g/12.30.10%252520Emma%2525207th%252520Party_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="161" height="244" /></a></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5863739094250833390.post-70133579228466317062011-12-13T22:34:00.001-08:002011-12-13T22:44:38.014-08:00{?!???say.what????!?!}<p>Here’s how the story unfolded for those curious…</p> <p><strong>Monday 12.5</strong>    Matt has an eval & meeting at work.  Casually mentions it when he called on his way home from work that night.  Said we would talk about it when he got home.  We didn’t b/c we were packing him for his business trip out of town early the next AM.</p> <p><strong>Tuesday 12.6</strong>    Text Matt during the day asking if we would get a chance to talk to him & commented I was sorry we didn’t get a chance to talk about his eval the night before. Attend Emma’s music concert. We chat briefly that night about his time in TX.</p> <p>Wednesday 12.7    After spending the evening  with my friend Megan & her kids I have another late night phone chat following his meetings in TX.  I again mention his eval as I sensed there was something not right in his voice.  His response had me worried something was wrong.  I of course go worse case scenario and worry he’s  “in trouble” or something.  He keeps saying “we’ll talk when I get home, I’d rather talk to you in person”.  That was NOT easing my mind.  I don’t like surprises and don’t like waiting.  He asks several times “are you sure you want to know?”.  Uh-yeah!!! Duh!!! Then shortly before midnight he says it…</p> <p>“I’ve been offered a promotion”</p> <p>Now in .9995 milliseconds I can tell by his voice that location of said job promotion must NOT be in a distance I consider “close” to home.  I quickly knew if it was a job SIGNIFICANTLY closer to “home” he wouldn’t have waited to tell me!!</p> <p>Atlanta.  No not his hometown in KS.  Georgia.  Land-o-Paula-Deen.  Peach state. Waaaaaay East state.  A state 2000 miles from where we are now.  2000 miles from where we JUST moved 17 months ago. Luckily several hundred miles closer to “home” state. </p> <p>I was in shock.  All I could do was laugh and shake my head.  Honored for him that they offered him an awesome position.  Proud that he works so hard that they would even consider him.  Proud he started years ago mopping floors and working the cash register, never imagining he would be where he is now.</p> <p><strong>Thursday 12.8</strong>    (wee-hours of the AM) I start my praying & researching.  That AM I call a friend & prayer warrior to start helping double timing the prayers. </p> <p>Later that morning I get a call from Matt’s lil sis.  We don’t talk on the phone nearly as often as we should.  I answer.  She’s calling to ask about my blood lab results from a few weeks back.  The ones that came back basically saying stress was causing lots of physical symptoms similar to early menopause/thyroid issues.  (Awesomeness…NOT)  She starts to reassure me by how the MOVE has been stressful.  Lots of changes with the MOVE.  I think she said MOVE about 10 times.  Or maybe not.  It seemed like it! Hehe.  So I bust out and tell her.  Poured it all out…then swore her to secrecy.  We were not going to get everyone stirred up before we could discuss and process it all.</p> <p>I had thought that day to call another friend who had been through moves with her husbands job and had counseled me though our move here.  Lots in common…and another strong prayer warrior.  I opt not to call.  Hours later I get a random text (as we don’t text often) from her asking for my address for Christmas cards.  I tell her and follow it with a “for now…”  We end up talking that day and she shares with me the prospect of them moving again soon.  Crazy timing!!</p> <p>Matt comes home that evening.  We don’t talk about it a lot.  Although I was feeling pretty positive about it.  He doesn’t seem to press the issue which made me feel pretty good and at ease.  I don’t like to feel rushed. </p> <p><strong>Friday 12.9</strong>    Crumble.  I crash.  A hot mess all morning. Panic.  Fear and full of doubt.  Super critical and angry at Matt. (all in my head…he was at work and unaware of the arguments we had in my head!! Ha!) Does he even care how hard this is on us?  He doesn’t deal with all the massive amounts of details involved in a move.  He doesn’t play constant contact with the relocation company.  Would he ever say no to something QT offered??  Has he prayerfully considered this or just flattered by the offer?!?! </p> <p>Hateful.  Mean. That was me. And I knew what I was thinking was not coming from a place of truth.</p> <p>Prayed lots.  Scoured the Bible for answers, but feeling so flustered I didn’t know where to go.  Nothing seemed to make sense.  I mean we followed God’s prompting to come here and were happy…only to leave again?!?! Then I stumbled across a passage in Genesis. (46:3,4 to be exact) The study notes on the verse hit me.  Who knew Genesis had more than the creation story. Hardyharhar.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-BXugcTynCLM/TuhDhRfberI/AAAAAAAADHI/E6zA6lgjPhU/s1600-h/IMG_11646.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_1164" border="0" alt="IMG_1164" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-refpNSd-4aw/TuhDhibKBZI/AAAAAAAADHM/vC2Tzr-EeBs/IMG_1164_thumb7.jpg?imgmax=800" width="619" height="185" /></a></p> <p>That last line was a kicker.  Thanks for the 2x4 across the head God. Why would I allow the fear and nervousness to overshadow ALL He has done for us in the last 1 1/2 years??  But I did.</p> <p>I forced myself to go to the park with Megan & another lady in the neighborhood.  Kids played and it did me good to get out. That night Matt & I had plans for dinner & finishing Christmas shopping.  Luckily by then I had made up with him in my mind.  I did alert him that “we” had had a bad day.  I didn’t like him much and had exchanged “words” with him!  Pretty sure he looked at me like I was crazy…but he best be happy he wasn’t home for it!!</p> <p>That night and at dinner I could feel a pull.  I could feel that this is where we were going.  I still kinda clung with white knuckles, clinched fists and stomped my feet like a tantrum throwing toddler.  But still felt it in my heart.</p> <p>We had the chance to share our concerns.  He shared with me some of the doubts he had.  We talked about what course this could put us on.  We talked about what the course could be if we stayed.</p> <p>On the way home I almost said “When are we telling our parents?” But then realized that meant we WERE doing this.  So I kept quiet. </p> <p><strong>Saturday 12.10</strong>   Better again today.  Teased that I couldn’t give him a YES. Still talked a lot of “what if, when, how,” and all those questions and theories.</p> <p>Emma and I spent the day shopping for her bday party stuff.  Hard for me.  I’m not good at keeping something and my biggest fear and most dreaded feeling is how this will effect her.  As a person that NEVER moved I feel we are asking her to do 2 and probably another 3rd time down the road to do something I never had to do.  We had chinese food for lunch and these were our fortunes…mine on top, hers on the bottom.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-OHva1g7fx_0/TuhDh04e5VI/AAAAAAAADHY/VEAUgLJ0p2s/s1600-h/IMG_11685.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_1168" border="0" alt="IMG_1168" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-s1CwkdPmSBQ/TuhDiWLuYxI/AAAAAAAADHg/M_JnN9d_fAk/IMG_1168_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="366" height="276" /></a></p> <p>Guess Budda is in on this too??</p> <p>Christmas parade in town Saturday evening.  Took Emma’s friend.  Cute to see what sweet friends she has made in the last year.  Sad to think this could be our last Christmas parade here.  In weather that makes a winter parade enjoyable. Probably only in southern AZ would this be in the Christmas parade…<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-KxTgEV8X1m0/TuhDigQbQzI/AAAAAAAADHo/mMoMtLpyXc8/s1600-h/DSC096734.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC09673" border="0" alt="DSC09673" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-w3ezysw2o7I/TuhDi1a7VoI/AAAAAAAADHw/GisNZEXfg78/DSC09673_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="390" height="294" /></a></p> <p>On the way home it slips out of my mouth…when are we telling our parents. AHH!! Noooooooooooooooo………….</p> <p>So the process begins.  Telling parents that their grandbabies will be still away.  Actually a couple hours closer, but unfortunately in a location where Allegiant Air does NOT fly thus = more $$ visits. Boo.</p> <p><strong>Sunday 12.11</strong>   Church.  Man I’m going to miss that church. LOVE the worship.  Enjoyed our time spent serving there.  Many of our friends here now attend PVC. After church scoured the town for a laptop.  My life line during our last relocation.  Old one went kaput right before thanksgiving.  This is NOT the time of year to buy a reasonably priced laptop.  No luck.  </p> <p>That evening went to a holiday tour of homes with my friend Megan.  So hard.  Hard to have this weighing on me and not tell her.  She had her finals for her semester of nursing school and didn’t want to hurt her focus on her exams.  SEVERAL times on the tour we were asked if we were sisters.  It has happened to us a lot. (Used to happen to a Derby friend & I too)  What do you think?</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-7Y85XaYxQJc/TuhDjH-hr7I/AAAAAAAADH4/H4ABDsmZMAQ/s1600-h/DSC096896.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC09689" border="0" alt="DSC09689" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-QMblr8rUPig/TuhDjpZxVHI/AAAAAAAADIA/YgVLL5iJ72I/DSC09689_thumb8.jpg?imgmax=800" width="336" height="252" /></a></p> <p>It stings when that night she posts on FB about our new Christmas “tradition” together. Boo.</p> <p><strong>Monday 12.12</strong>    Preschool for Aidan.  Dr. apt for me.  Matt at work long enough to do payroll and accept the job.  Then home sick.  Dread all day knowing I would tell Megan and my mom the news.  Hard to share news that will effect others when you are cursed with the middle child peacemaker roll and allow others reactions to effect you like I do.   </p> <p>Megan asks the boys and I to come over while Emma (big ears) is at Brownies.  Thanks God for the perfect opportunity to talk to her.  It was hard.  And sad.</p> <p>Then the evening rolls on to the call to my mom.  She is understanding and supportive.  Thank goodness! </p> <p><strong>Tuesday 12.13</strong>    It’s official.  QT announced the move.  Matt’s first work trip out there around Jan. 16th.  Our first trip for house hunting…around the 2nd.  In 3 oh-so-short weeks.  Ohmyword!</p> <p>And that’s that.  In a matter of 6 days I go from a content AZ resident to visions of boxes, house/insurance/packing forms & time with my new BFF (relocation agent). </p> <p>Now to figure out when & how to tell Miss Emma…….ugh. Prayers please.</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5863739094250833390.post-62157710012317711242011-11-12T19:14:00.001-08:002011-11-12T19:14:51.350-08:00Best Place On Earth…& randomness<p>Last weekend when we were all among the land of the healthy we went to the Phoenix Zoo.  The kids & I had been several times, but Matt had never been able to go with us.  He LOVES the zoo. Probably his favorite thing to do with the kids.</p> <p>The giraffe/African exhibit is really nice.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-TG94cxKcMIQ/Tr82C2OKXkI/AAAAAAAADDQ/Ik4pkb4rIus/s1600-h/DSC094312.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DSC09431" border="0" alt="DSC09431" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-4K87B3ekjxc/Tr82DB_XArI/AAAAAAAADDY/mJ27ikn6NRg/DSC09431_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-gvAOUMqTv3Q/Tr82DVwRgoI/AAAAAAAADDg/mWLvMnYCfEw/s1600-h/DSC094362.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DSC09436" border="0" alt="DSC09436" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-JYRt9XRFWE4/Tr82DuW7EZI/AAAAAAAADDo/tMhlxR_Koig/DSC09436_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>Isaac wanted to consult the map at all times and used his hands on his eyes to search for animals as we walked. :)</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-b6dustgB-70/Tr82D9BYn3I/AAAAAAAADDw/iFYcqHECPN8/s1600-h/DSC09433%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC09433" border="0" alt="DSC09433" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-oBbmiEXwxLM/Tr82EDdC-pI/AAAAAAAADD4/4hgCzXOoxbY/DSC09433_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="269" height="203" /></a>  <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-94fQoPp8jOc/Tr82EVi47WI/AAAAAAAADEA/jrwMB6R7LhM/s1600-h/DSC09437%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC09437" border="0" alt="DSC09437" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-gAGlPpo09Vs/Tr82Eq_coFI/AAAAAAAADEI/Y0TNdm-JwBw/DSC09437_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="281" height="203" /></a> </p> <p>I found this old palm tree trunk to interesting.  It was like an apartment complex of bird holes/nests.  This relative of a baboon had very unique coloring on his face.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-CNkfuz7qGok/Tr82E6IZkYI/AAAAAAAADEQ/-tTpUnCe1-U/s1600-h/DSC09439%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC09439" border="0" alt="DSC09439" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-6waU4LPRuGg/Tr82FTpQb9I/AAAAAAAADEY/k2uOT4tFAAg/DSC09439_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="230" height="306" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-W71fjTzlq_s/Tr82Fp7JJLI/AAAAAAAADEg/wVSBptt9eB4/s1600-h/DSC09441%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC09441" border="0" alt="DSC09441" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-N1o03yv06eI/Tr82F9q30xI/AAAAAAAADEo/oua88OsUdvk/DSC09441_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="227" height="303" /></a> </p> <p>Our attempt at a group shot. Between these 2 photos you can see the personality of my kids.  1st find my drama queen.  2nd find my lack-of-attention-span. 3rd find my one ready to move and find his next dangerous adventure. Seriously kids.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-OqxVQLqmlos/Tr82GEdhCbI/AAAAAAAADEw/z-Eg6Whjd6Q/s1600-h/DSC09442%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC09442" border="0" alt="DSC09442" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-49qY08f1jnM/Tr82GTvRpRI/AAAAAAAADE4/-2euyKTynXY/DSC09442_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="254" height="345" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-0paWRp8Svwc/Tr82Gi9if8I/AAAAAAAADFA/S2TGhBQScFw/s1600-h/DSC09443%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC09443" border="0" alt="DSC09443" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-BvgO8nA5dFw/Tr82G7nJq9I/AAAAAAAADFI/pHBOUAPKRJY/DSC09443_thumb%25255B8%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="251" height="345" /></a> </p> <p>The Phoenix Zoo is the same as the Sedgwick County zoo in one regard…the tortoise exhibit.  Oddly enough one of the slowest animals is consistently the most active of all animals in the zoo.  Luckily I took photos at the first exhibit, because the male/female pair in the 2nd exhibit were putting on a show that I felt like a perv to take pics of. OH MY!  The kids are all “they’re playing”.  Some guy walking up to the exhibit (unaware of what they were doing) says to his kids “hey look they’re moving!” Oh.yes.they.were!  Matt was all “you see how long they live honey…they must know a key to a long life!” <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-H_0Uswc8KO8/Tr82HE_CXNI/AAAAAAAADFQ/TtXkRwx-ycM/s1600-h/DSC09447%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC09447" border="0" alt="DSC09447" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-5t2NiRoTkA8/Tr82He0EVbI/AAAAAAAADFY/MYHKFZjCE2w/DSC09447_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="389" height="293" /></a> </p> <p>Speaking of the Sedgwick County zoo found this at the Komodo dragon enclosure….</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-9pM6I2CXCko/Tr82Hszby6I/AAAAAAAADFg/41U0ukp2JRs/s1600-h/DSC09449%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC09449" border="0" alt="DSC09449" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-7aUXefLVQQU/Tr82IHyM4HI/AAAAAAAADFo/7sR79C2Qzko/DSC09449_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="438" height="330" /></a> </p> <p>Aidan was VERY unsure of this statue…<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-y6aW4xdqk6E/Tr82IVytHcI/AAAAAAAADFw/K_8XTeUNW68/s1600-h/DSC09450%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC09450" border="0" alt="DSC09450" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-iG0Ctbvytm4/Tr82Iu7yH8I/AAAAAAAADF4/ndROZi1ThlI/DSC09450_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="436" height="328" /></a> </p> <p>We followed a beautiful day at the zoo with an oh-so-yummy lunch.<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-zhJ2GlzSIVU/Tr82IwtyuOI/AAAAAAAADGA/aqCoFeApb8Q/s1600-h/DSC09454%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC09454" border="0" alt="DSC09454" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-iCZDAuQVmcI/Tr82JGtzMfI/AAAAAAAADGI/IRLbfiRHWYM/DSC09454_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="388" height="292" /></a> </p> <p>One of Isaacs favorite things to play involves weapons, wrestling or hunting…I suppose you could say anything to do with “violence”.  His new skill is dying…or playing dead…in dramatic fashion…</p> <p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:1ca6a5af-34c0-4ede-b830-83a3df929eed" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><div id="1e363554-050c-4d4a-a31a-03fa51b668dd" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline;"><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgOBV7DWRUg" target="_new"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-P1eM4QORurs/Tr82JZEkzhI/AAAAAAAADGQ/nn8ePBckHKQ/video9d958ca03ce0%25255B13%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-style: none" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('1e363554-050c-4d4a-a31a-03fa51b668dd'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = "<div><object width=\"425\" height=\"355\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/sgOBV7DWRUg&hl=en\"><\/param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/sgOBV7DWRUg&hl=en\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"425\" height=\"355\"><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" alt=""></a></div></div></div> </p> <p>The rest of the weekend was full of relaxing.  Isaac also loves to play dress up as super man or HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUULLLLLLK (as he says it).<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-rKK5TKp-9_Y/Tr82JoklXEI/AAAAAAAADGY/EHCkZgX93kA/s1600-h/DSC09428%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC09428" border="0" alt="DSC09428" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-yh2BlMlZ06w/Tr82J6o42QI/AAAAAAAADGg/XKU7XY10e1o/DSC09428_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="394" height="296" /></a>  </p> <p>Aidan our perpetually difficult pooper showed that a mans “library” starts at a young age.  Silly boy! </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Vh8xncT-KsE/Tr82Kd4Eu9I/AAAAAAAADGo/OSrLI0rrP08/s1600-h/DSC09458%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC09458" border="0" alt="DSC09458" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-SIRgpsOn8Vs/Tr82Kr0PTvI/AAAAAAAADGw/az_Yk8mcXhE/DSC09458_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="275" height="366" /></a></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5863739094250833390.post-78746681183246229052011-11-07T22:37:00.000-08:002011-11-10T22:38:24.528-08:00Fall Fun ‘11<p>I had the pleasure of going to Aidan’s Fall Harvest party at preschool. I joined another mom in keeping 4 rowdy boys entertained.  They had LOTS & LOTS of different carnival games & activities for the kiddos.</p> <p>Decorate a pumpkin.                                                    Color their pumpkin w/verse.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-DhuvGTXliDw/TrzCw6Sd4YI/AAAAAAAAC9w/CvqJ-27dtrk/s1600-h/DSC09348%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC09348" border="0" alt="DSC09348" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-_BiOUhZfSp8/TrzCxKM8vhI/AAAAAAAAC94/u8zwRJ217Hc/DSC09348_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="329" height="248" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-JxjLmCDdvUI/TrzCxSi9k-I/AAAAAAAAC-A/pX7nntPq0qs/s1600-h/DSC09354%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC09354" border="0" alt="DSC09354" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-uGsIXHJStlQ/TrzCxicJbRI/AAAAAAAAC-I/GTIhE5RRXlU/DSC09354_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="223" height="248" /></a></p> <p>Even Isaac joined in on the party.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-SPTwDuWbxHI/TrzCx1oLvBI/AAAAAAAAC-Q/8R9k9PYsGZw/s1600-h/DSC09355%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC09355" border="0" alt="DSC09355" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-te-YnxYzp1E/TrzCyPDPIkI/AAAAAAAAC-Y/8jvZUFaRBg4/DSC09355_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="301" height="279" /></a></p> <p>Aidan played a couple games with tooooo much enthusiasm.  He would listen to us to toss the bean bag LIGHTLY, underhand to put it through a hole.  He was all about the overhand-fast ball!! :) </p> <p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:abe07b1d-c021-4faa-bb0a-80a93b86a29a" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><div id="8148f8e1-b168-4ccd-a26f-dd3ddc1282bd" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline;"><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EiX3uYr5wo" target="_new"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-7P7jyyHSfYo/TrzCyevJj5I/AAAAAAAAC-g/PBmsF5jBlE4/videob2dc790b7437%25255B30%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-style: none" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('8148f8e1-b168-4ccd-a26f-dd3ddc1282bd'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = "<div><object width=\"464\" height=\"387\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/4EiX3uYr5wo&hl=en\"><\/param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/4EiX3uYr5wo&hl=en\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"464\" height=\"387\"><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" alt=""></a></div></div></div> </p> <p>Same story on the ping-pong ball toss. Whew!  As you can see by the blur of his arm in the photo!!</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Vy3LG-0mewk/TrzCyhJ9i6I/AAAAAAAAC-o/p7IwkuyYLSc/s1600-h/DSC09343%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC09343" border="0" alt="DSC09343" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-q12i01VBC7E/TrzCy0Yp7GI/AAAAAAAAC-w/SKR_zZ4giE8/DSC09343_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="421" height="317" /></a></p> <p>A couple days later was time for trick or treating!! :)</p> <p>Emma’s version of a “rock star”.  Mind you it’s all clothing straight from her wardrobe. :)  I suggested she carry her microphone to which she replied “mom-don’t get carried away!”. So, to make it a bit more “special” and not appear that she was dressed to go to school I applied some make up.  She actually complained how long her lashes are!!! Silly little girl!!</p> <p>         <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-U0_CTvYV4Yc/TrzCzLwkFFI/AAAAAAAAC-4/QdjMza87zXc/s1600-h/Emma%2525202%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Emma 2" border="0" alt="Emma 2" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-HesQ6c3Hnao/TrzCzelp0TI/AAAAAAAAC_A/noHhv8WqZeo/Emma%2525202_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="253" height="347" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-QkY7cVDudvM/TrzCzksTnuI/AAAAAAAAC_I/2GRbuJM31HQ/s1600-h/Emma%2525204%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Emma 4" border="0" alt="Emma 4" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ihmMD1cpC4A/TrzCz3i68kI/AAAAAAAAC_Q/UCK1DUfK9b0/Emma%2525204_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="259" height="345" /></a></p> <p>My lil’ angry birds. :)  Aidan who snatched the pig & Isaac with his little birds that launch to fight the pigs!! :)</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-5qyvmUy2q28/TrzC0NZojLI/AAAAAAAAC_Y/HZZRPvtFVOY/s1600-h/Aidan%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Aidan" border="0" alt="Aidan" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Gy0gBx2zgjQ/TrzC0ec35EI/AAAAAAAAC_g/h3DmV-FmfdE/Aidan_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="267" height="355" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-aQ_--cUnzDY/TrzC0vePscI/AAAAAAAAC_o/f83QmJZujhU/s1600-h/Isaac%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Isaac" border="0" alt="Isaac" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Wsz2bPJBTYY/TrzC0kGUXlI/AAAAAAAAC_w/Ljgj3Waz6Q8/Isaac_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="261" height="355" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-qlvXCr4uW7U/TrzC1BoNsgI/AAAAAAAAC_4/lriyOyIZ0EE/s1600-h/Halloween%252520%25252711%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Halloween '11" border="0" alt="Halloween '11" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-iAXXjLl4IZ4/TrzC1exoi2I/AAAAAAAADAA/sxL4nwmL7Sw/Halloween%252520%25252711_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="271" height="370" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-YizfHDrxMZ4/TrzC1pW9PmI/AAAAAAAADAI/k6FzDiL7GtA/s1600-h/My%252520Trick%252520or%252520Treaters%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="My Trick or Treaters" border="0" alt="My Trick or Treaters" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-qHGYmAS92NM/TrzC13_l6QI/AAAAAAAADAQ/QjFm6ZxVYm0/My%252520Trick%252520or%252520Treaters_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="275" height="365" /></a></p> <p>Kids with our neighbor kids that we went trick or treating with. He was Iron Man and she was Wow-wow-wubbzy.  Isaac LOVED the idea of the older kids saying “trick or treat”, him getting the candy and all he had to do was say “shank shoe”. :) </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-MfMEiG5kgS8/TrzC2Am5GsI/AAAAAAAADAY/zkvqmDgPT3g/s1600-h/Halloween%252520Friends%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Halloween Friends" border="0" alt="Halloween Friends" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-oJapIO5x9q8/TrzC2fKSjDI/AAAAAAAADAg/7Xia0HDON_Y/Halloween%252520Friends_thumb%25255B8%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="345" height="230" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-3pxF2KMPuUk/TrzC2sSzI-I/AAAAAAAADAo/Rfl8gkIVTBg/s1600-h/Isaac%252520lovin%252520it%25255B12%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Isaac lovin it" border="0" alt="Isaac lovin it" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-_u1o4rQUj9A/TrzC28qx0rI/AAAAAAAADAw/RqzSM_7fPRw/Isaac%252520lovin%252520it_thumb%25255B13%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="212" height="231" /></a></p> <p>Halloween marked the anniversary of meeting our neighbors.  Last year their house was the very last house we stopped at and the kids hit it off right away.  They (well…she) is from the mid-west so we have that in common.  The kids are the same ages…boys are into the same things, and well their little girl and Isaac have a love & hate relationship!! :)  We love to visit, but seldom get uninterrupted  time without screeching children!! :)</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-M4hv1D6Emc4/TrzC3Cd95DI/AAAAAAAADA0/ue4TO_7fud8/s1600-h/the%252520Neighbs%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="the Neighbs" border="0" alt="the Neighbs" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-NUiPtIVddRU/TrzC3YppnMI/AAAAAAAADA8/g0kHDPvG5ok/the%252520Neighbs_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="207" height="312" /></a>     <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-tdZsAa5wnf0/TrzC3fiG3RI/AAAAAAAADBE/u5qX8alnBw0/s1600-h/Me%252520%252526%252520M%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Me & M" border="0" alt="Me & M" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/--t0g6IgdgJM/TrzC37KGmfI/AAAAAAAADBQ/Sugn94ZGLfI/Me%252520%252526%252520M_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="237" height="323" /></a></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5863739094250833390.post-80422897274205511852011-10-20T21:36:00.001-07:002011-10-20T21:36:51.586-07:00Me & My 2nd Grader<p>It’s always fun to see how Emma and I compare.  Last years comparison looked like <a href="http://sunflowerstocacti.blogspot.com/2010/09/1st-graders.html" target="_blank">THIS</a>. </p> <p>I sometimes don’t see that we look alike.  When she was younger, especially about 18 months, she looked JUST like her Aunt Mandy.  Yet I hear from others they now see how she looks like her Mama.</p> <p>        Me in 2nd grade.                             Emma in 2nd grade.<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Qk-frPERetA/TqD2371eWWI/AAAAAAAAC9Q/yxRgraM9bMA/s1600-h/Me%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Me" border="0" alt="Me" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-AFT5Gc4xFqg/TqD24EAFPpI/AAAAAAAAC9Y/YNZH2Q6aJxY/Me_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="179" height="266" /></a>             <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-zShc91Myp78/TqD24feFKWI/AAAAAAAAC9g/XRhcYG08TC8/s1600-h/Emma%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Emma" border="0" alt="Emma" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-d4dZgqx9ONs/TqD24kyhDdI/AAAAAAAAC9o/f_A4Fl62KPU/Emma_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="178" height="265" /></a> </p> <p>So what do you think? </p> <p>Hair color SAME.  </p> <p>Squinty eyes SAME. </p> <p>Snaggle tooth SAME.  </p> <p>The Mullet she has been spared.  I think if she still had bangs there might be more similarity. </p> <p>She’s growing up way too fast.  Makes my heart sad. </p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5863739094250833390.post-11131445169074212512011-10-20T21:27:00.001-07:002011-10-20T21:27:28.397-07:00The only thing missing…<p>is her chance to have the mic and thank the academy & her mother and father for their support. We’ve always assumed the day will come where Emma’s dramatics lead to an Academy award. For the time being her citizenship awards will have to do. :)</p> <p>This one made us chuckle.  In <a href="http://sunflowerstocacti.blogspot.com/2009/10/r-e-s-p-e-c-t.html" target="_blank">kindergarten</a> she earned the first girl citizenship award where they focused on Respect.  It was humorous to us b/c from her first day of Kindergarten she came home knowing more than ANYone.  We often struggled with her attitude & “respect” at home, yet she was a great student.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-uQcvA4k7vVc/TqD0qVnJ_OI/AAAAAAAAC8g/zBDJxRFGrZY/s1600-h/10.09Kind.award.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="10.09 Kind. award" border="0" alt="10.09 Kind. award" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Jp4c_lTqbyQ/TqD0qpnfxLI/AAAAAAAAC8o/xFRFfoTwLJ8/10.09Kind.award_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="333" height="441" /></a> </p> <p>Then came the first 9 weeks assembly at her new school in AZ.  We went to the assembly unaware she was receiving anything and unaware they even had citizenship awards each quarter.  She received the “Tigress” (girl) citizenship award the 1st & 4th quarters. She LOVED Mr. Dooen.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-kXlQvrQndto/TqD0qyisYDI/AAAAAAAAC8w/WQ66hmf8eSg/s1600-h/EmrD.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="E & mr D" border="0" alt="E & mr D" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-fJO2DLpwF_4/TqD0rZmhXHI/AAAAAAAAC84/PCqqsPsDZVw/EmrD_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="399" height="299" /></a> </p> <p>That brings us to this year.  On the way to school Wednesday she tells me “Yea.  I’ll get the Tigress award.  I always do.” (can you say humility?!?)  I think OH NO she might be in for some disappointment b/c I just assumed some other little girl would receive it. I mean what are the odds she’d get it again. I prepped her that she may not as it is very hard as a teacher to chose just one student when you have several great ones. </p> <p>Then comes the assembly.  All students lined up and they step forward as their name is called.  She received honor roll.  Good deal.  The teacher names the “Tiger” (boy) citizenship award and then I look at Emma as she is raising  her foot high to take a big step forward.  Even swinging her arm up in anticipation of taking a step.  </p> <p>I’m thinking oh-my-word!!! That’s kind of persumpchious!!!  Then the teacher calls her name!!! She of course has a huge smile on her face.  Unfortunately I was taming our 2 year old monkey and didn’t get a good shot and super sad didn’t get video of her antics.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-7AoKGfR3McM/TqD0rk6DdoI/AAAAAAAAC9A/Cd1DH0wNTp8/s1600-h/Emma%252520awards.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Emma awards" border="0" alt="Emma awards" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ZZbqevhLWMw/TqD0r1otfsI/AAAAAAAAC9I/XWqWM3DlUt4/Emma%252520awards_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="309" height="387" /></a>   </p> <p>I later learned the teacher had told her prior to the assembly she was receiving it…so that explains the full-body step forward!! :) </p> <p>Kinda worried about next year…at some point this streak might end…</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5863739094250833390.post-29433330158075134362011-10-09T21:52:00.001-07:002011-10-09T21:52:28.884-07:00Final Swim<p>Things seemed to cool off a bit sooner this year so I think the boys & Matt took their last swim of the season this weekend.</p> <p>Isaac suited up and ready.  My lil goober!</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-La0Z9eUEuts/TpJ59-H558I/AAAAAAAAC7Q/0MTYf7QRx04/s1600-h/DSC09291%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC09291" border="0" alt="DSC09291" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-HR0tpvLR2tM/TpJ5-IvAQBI/AAAAAAAAC7U/3teldjpLROs/DSC09291_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="331" height="440" /></a></p> <p>Well…not actually sure you’d call it a swim. More like a get in…</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-d88QgQE0exA/TpJ5-alxysI/AAAAAAAAC7Y/nzRn4CaJcoY/s1600-h/DSC09298%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC09298" border="0" alt="DSC09298" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-dHZWf3_Ci5k/TpJ5-kXzA2I/AAAAAAAAC7c/MMEY0VlPOVo/DSC09298_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="299" height="397" /></a></p> <p>then climb to the top of daddy’s head escaping the cold water.</p> <p>   <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-PajZ4L2Xczs/TpJ5-1g8HbI/AAAAAAAAC7g/VuFClA8YoTM/s1600-h/DSC09294%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC09294" border="0" alt="DSC09294" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-iWpoRb3RAZI/TpJ5_ec-OHI/AAAAAAAAC7k/s3w72YuK7yQ/DSC09294_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="266" height="353" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-1UQcdWRWnEw/TpJ5_neMl5I/AAAAAAAAC7o/hlA4ygd_Vw8/s1600-h/DSC09295%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC09295" border="0" alt="DSC09295" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-D5rO6wPfeUg/TpJ5_6zEnsI/AAAAAAAAC7s/JsVvx_G5W4A/DSC09295_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="266" height="354" /></a> </p> <p>Isaac a wee bit brighter opted out of water fun.  Instead he wandered around full of wardrobe malfunctions…</p> <p> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-7oiPmw23Jsk/TpJ5_-v1NlI/AAAAAAAAC7w/8BM2AkO9gHM/s1600-h/DSC09317%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC09317" border="0" alt="DSC09317" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-E7IkJcqyso0/TpJ6AP_2LqI/AAAAAAAAC70/VK-cTHPs98o/DSC09317_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="318" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-FPCN4Y6y3YA/TpJ6AXRtO4I/AAAAAAAAC74/MZEcrBc15l8/s1600-h/DSC09319%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC09319" border="0" alt="DSC09319" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-oTVSphfpypU/TpJ6Alvu13I/AAAAAAAAC78/JSI9M1I9FP8/DSC09319_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="230" height="318" /></a></p> <p>water so cold it’s best to drink it…or “lick” it as Aidan said.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-SEu1SyADVdQ/TpJ6A3v3HVI/AAAAAAAAC8A/3jthHh7QVgc/s1600-h/DSC09314%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC09314" border="0" alt="DSC09314" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-InbgnSKA3F0/TpJ6BLYNZPI/AAAAAAAAC8E/sdT9NdzdHzA/DSC09314_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="382" height="288" /></a>          </p> <p>watering plants…</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-7UciNfosWTg/TpJ6BdvfFII/AAAAAAAAC8I/pr3HVlfHUC8/s1600-h/DSC09304%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC09304" border="0" alt="DSC09304" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-6Qe06GqvUXQ/TpJ6BkvmN5I/AAAAAAAAC8M/ZG8nTJHaHy0/DSC09304_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="392" height="295" /></a></p> <p>throwing one last rock in the pool…</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-HpzG7Da7JHI/TpJ6B2gB_MI/AAAAAAAAC8Q/T_mNHkcMYHw/s1600-h/DSC09318%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC09318" border="0" alt="DSC09318" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-pBtP__NF_fg/TpJ6CF3SNBI/AAAAAAAAC8U/tzPu_AtU1hk/DSC09318_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="303" /></a></p> <p>and sunbathing!</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-P9fO0pLXvbI/TpJ6Csnl-nI/AAAAAAAAC8Y/M-LtBRjKro0/s1600-h/DSC09308%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC09308" border="0" alt="DSC09308" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-9V8NlICf-G4/TpJ6C66hOuI/AAAAAAAAC8c/WUNVe7NDCwk/DSC09308_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="343" height="456" /></a> </p> <p>So here’s to fewer towels to wash, less worries about sunburns and yay to playing at the park, riding bikes & cooler weather…until April or May then we’ll be so excited for the return of swimming!!</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5863739094250833390.post-53818941636332439112011-10-09T21:21:00.001-07:002011-10-09T21:21:47.389-07:00“Fall-less” Fun<p align="center">With the weather below melting points we venture outside to play a bit more.  Friday at the park Emma hopped on a friends bike (sans training wheels) and took off!!!  So first thing Saturday morning she had daddy take off her training wheels.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-r5UfjPmnRgE/TpJyyreEw8I/AAAAAAAAC6Q/97aUFUOvxhY/s1600-h/DSC09282%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC09282" border="0" alt="DSC09282" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ydaOZVOQEZQ/TpJyzJxJ3JI/AAAAAAAAC6U/sqvpnHW2eHg/DSC09282_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="411" height="309" /></a></p> <p align="center">Annnnnd she’s off!!! Isaac is Fred Flintstone-ing it as fast as he can to keep up with sissy.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-c2OAQ3TaCj0/TpJyzT7OacI/AAAAAAAAC6Y/bKFyfdHq2Ho/s1600-h/DSC09284%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC09284" border="0" alt="DSC09284" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-aEnvWWpV2H8/TpJyzk8GvQI/AAAAAAAAC6c/hVLHYCAOQe4/DSC09284_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="339" height="451" /></a></p> <p align="center">Practicing turning around…</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-RbAMMSEiEdk/TpJyz3UKwhI/AAAAAAAAC6g/BTAC9EKjiZg/s1600-h/DSC09289%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC09289" border="0" alt="DSC09289" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-DJHUHa56W6k/TpJy0NEgReI/AAAAAAAAC6k/y385x7a3XCo/DSC09289_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="235" height="339" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-XhoRnO5UfZg/TpJy0WxplwI/AAAAAAAAC6o/ib2F5CBJCQU/s1600-h/DSC09290%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC09290" border="0" alt="DSC09290" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-j65-dLa7f0o/TpJy0rGz7DI/AAAAAAAAC6s/KM5NJC2ZyJw/DSC09290_thumb%25255B9%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="236" height="336" /></a>   </p> <p align="center">Aidan joined in the fun on his new spiderman bike.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-VXs4Zs10lYA/TpJy0yRwXgI/AAAAAAAAC6w/CJ56iOLX6bY/s1600-h/DSC09286%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC09286" border="0" alt="DSC09286" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-vwL5tCAcMkw/TpJy1BJDmXI/AAAAAAAAC60/ZhpZp-HE5-0/DSC09286_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="444" height="334" /></a></p> <p align="center">Emma did great and never once took a fall!! For having NEVER rode anything other than his plastic big wheel bike Aidan did great too!!  By Sunday evening was peddling everywhere with minimal help!</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-d2FRWmYoJrU/TpJy1eznRVI/AAAAAAAAC64/bJA9X87A_68/s1600-h/DSC09285%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC09285" border="0" alt="DSC09285" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-s-EyBFNlYu4/TpJy1nqHzGI/AAAAAAAAC68/3xuL12_qI3A/DSC09285_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="276" height="366" /></a> </p> <p align="center">Isaac isn’t ready for his little spiderman bike yet so he took over Aidan’s big wheel. :)</p> <p align="center"> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-9aC2G8sL4JI/TpJy1zazPpI/AAAAAAAAC7A/UwFf15UK_s4/s1600-h/DSC09287%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC09287" border="0" alt="DSC09287" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-xm55yDQ7Ggc/TpJy2PfiizI/AAAAAAAAC7E/8IyMwnTEQxg/DSC09287_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="346" height="243" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-_gBC53MrxUM/TpJy2fMCVhI/AAAAAAAAC7I/BFUwworOlU4/s1600-h/DSC09288%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC09288" border="0" alt="DSC09288" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-OGC-hk94dXo/TpJy2qJ3O0I/AAAAAAAAC7M/pTLNHWdUt50/DSC09288_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="186" height="247" /></a>  </p> <p align="center">The cooler temps are sooooo very wonderful!!</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5863739094250833390.post-42476886763043904252011-10-03T21:48:00.001-07:002011-10-03T21:48:57.110-07:00My Tonka Boy<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbKOZ341KtXf9UKOf-Ot2dd3v1mnprn9ltBFXL08q0GK4O9IlqusDs0tof4x0kzrIq-poPCEZD1l3A1-48-zQez0-XD55QF3Vo5vwQAYv9req1YQaPWTVLAJgUiDCUehEh0eS0lcudhF6M/s1600/tonka+boys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbKOZ341KtXf9UKOf-Ot2dd3v1mnprn9ltBFXL08q0GK4O9IlqusDs0tof4x0kzrIq-poPCEZD1l3A1-48-zQez0-XD55QF3Vo5vwQAYv9req1YQaPWTVLAJgUiDCUehEh0eS0lcudhF6M/s640/tonka+boys.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Isaac was NOT wanting to swim the other day. All he wanted to do on a day
that was finally under 110 degrees was play with the outside toys. He was being
silly with this Tonka truck and I snapped a pic.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Then a couple days later I was sorting pics on the computer and came across
the pictures from his birth announcement.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Ugh. My baby fills that dump truck now! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Sometimes it feels like the boys in these pictures are two different
children. Time has passed so quickly and in such a blur that I hardly remember
his tiny features {as tiny as a 9 + lb baby can be}. Feels like forever ago.
Quickly, yet forever ago. Makes sense?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Love that little guy to pieces.</span></div>
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<img align="left" src="http://i565.photobucket.com/albums/ss99/colleenjobe/teresa.gif" style="border: 0;" /><br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5863739094250833390.post-72663925640816634382011-10-02T22:54:00.001-07:002011-10-02T22:55:50.870-07:00{Jewelry Box} Re-do for 97 cents<p>I had this old jewelry box from when I was younger.  I hadn’t been using it, and my fashionable 7 year old has her current jewelry box stuffed full and a tangled mess.  So I thought I could repurpose it for her and <a href="http://sunflowerstocacti.blogspot.com/2010/08/house-tour-meet-hot-pink-zebra-girl.html" target="_blank">her hot pink & black zebra room</a>. </p> <p>I completely forgot to take a true before photo…to anxious to get started.  So imagine this with glass in the doors with a “stained” glass pink rose in the middle. I used Walmart bags & painters tape to protect the fabric lining. Gave it a good coat on all sides with el-cheapo gloss black spray paint. <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Nitz2D20AMc/TolOCemTMlI/AAAAAAAAC50/-ARVNASMPtw/s1600-h/DSC09260%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC09260" border="0" alt="DSC09260" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-PVydGQZKsxQ/TolOCtG967I/AAAAAAAAC54/zN49FBxoGhc/DSC09260_thumb%25255B8%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="319" height="392" /></a></p> <p>I had planned to put zebra print paper in the doors, but didn’t have any on hand. So, I modpodged polka-dot print onto chipboard and placed it where the glass once was. </p> <p> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-hfcOjTzKF9E/TolOC0I9mxI/AAAAAAAAC58/mAIZSOJD90s/s1600-h/DSC09278%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC09278" border="0" alt="DSC09278" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-N3RcGJYB1VI/TolODK9PTdI/AAAAAAAAC6A/3ql0rAV_VZ4/DSC09278_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="311" height="414" /></a> </p> <p>My only regret was painting the door pulls and drawer pulls the same color as the whole jewelry box.  Unfortunately there was no way to remove the door pulls and I feared the tiny screws holding in the drawer pulls would strip out if I removed them. </p> <p><strong>Items used</strong>: wal-mart sacs (free), painters tape (had on hand), gloss black spray paint (97 cents), scrap chipboard (had on hand), scrapbook paper & modpodge (had on hand).  Not bad for about a buck. :)</p> <p>My little jewelry diva is happy…so that makes it worth my time & $. :)</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5863739094250833390.post-3936787438002714342011-09-06T09:23:00.000-07:002011-10-01T13:00:39.737-07:00Sea Life Aquarium<p>Labor Day weekend we sought out some AZ entertainment.  We learned our lesson from <a href="http://sunflowerstocacti.blogspot.com/2010/09/laborless-labor-day.html" target="_blank">last year</a> and went for something INDOORS=cooler.</p> <p>Located in Arizona Mills mall in Tempe is <strike>overpriced</strike> Sea Life Aquarium.  We made a day of it considering it’s not often we go to a “traditional” indoor mall like we’re used to from KS.    Did a little shopping, ate at the food court, toured the aquarium & hit up Auntie Ann’s for a pretzel afterwards.</p> <p>The aquarium didn’t allow flash photography so very few of my pictures turned out.  They kids loved it!  They have always had a fascination with sea animals.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-RMN2mCybPVw/TodxRfN_cWI/AAAAAAAAC30/BwI605sC-Y0/s1600-h/DSC091733.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DSC09173" border="0" alt="DSC09173" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-eOAGvVIoicg/TodxRm1-gYI/AAAAAAAAC34/t8ftne-jvFw/DSC09173_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="306" height="230" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-fr9Ph4aawUY/TodxR7zK2LI/AAAAAAAAC38/dedWx6Mcje4/s1600-h/DSC091743.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DSC09174" border="0" alt="DSC09174" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-aAyIBq8kx2o/TodxSRxgRMI/AAAAAAAAC4A/E88JLCdpiVM/DSC09174_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="229" height="304" /></a>   </p> <p>Touching starfish & other animals in the touch tank.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-1rbLY9Qud7E/TodxSXIE16I/AAAAAAAAC4E/jby5TEM_3Jk/s1600-h/DSC091884.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DSC09188" border="0" alt="DSC09188" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-sYAvTLgDKHU/TodxSoEWkII/AAAAAAAAC4I/o8DG-9-jyI8/DSC09188_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="425" height="320" /></a> </p> <p>Aidan’s biggest love next to killer whales…stingrays.  They had the BIGGEST rays I’d ever seen.  The tank was not too deep and they had a pier built above it you could go stand on to see from above. </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-IxVt6R5TvGE/TodxS3BZnrI/AAAAAAAAC4M/1E16jOTP8_E/s1600-h/DSC091974.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DSC09197" border="0" alt="DSC09197" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-VhDCw12jo8U/TodxTCyBpVI/AAAAAAAAC4Q/mZ_R8g9a_uo/DSC09197_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="350" height="263" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-NdRAM-Eff_8/TodxTdroDdI/AAAAAAAAC4U/neJfBAF_Rkw/s1600-h/DSC092024.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DSC09202" border="0" alt="DSC09202" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-RP9VKEi22Fk/TodxToecLmI/AAAAAAAAC4Y/XUy3nyG1jOs/DSC09202_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="205" height="273" /></a> </p> <p>Throughout the aquarium there were “bubbles” in tanks where the kids could look through and feel like they were in with the fish.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-25pHzvMk0LE/TodxT-48xPI/AAAAAAAAC4c/y_LYaBz-qLc/s1600-h/DSC092084.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DSC09208" border="0" alt="DSC09208" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-XFz8Iro_exs/TodxULiqW-I/AAAAAAAAC4g/tbqf8WAierM/DSC09208_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="275" height="207" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-2sXOBfEQB6U/TodxUkGMEKI/AAAAAAAAC4k/T11xa7YcO0s/s1600-h/DSC092104.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DSC09210" border="0" alt="DSC09210" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-xvPIUR3Dgsw/TodxU6mRMdI/AAAAAAAAC4o/B0jDZWR4sMQ/DSC09210_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="277" height="209" /></a> </p> <p>Largest crab EVER!!! Matt & Isaac in the tube surrounded by water & fish on ALL sides.  Isaac was not so sure.  Another mother pushed her son through in a stroller.  He was terrified clinging & gripping the edges of the stroller!!</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-zFzFv4NmQBE/TodxVPw0iWI/AAAAAAAAC4s/E_jxjd7MBxw/s1600-h/DSC092153.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DSC09215" border="0" alt="DSC09215" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-IbweiXKKW84/TodxVc3euQI/AAAAAAAAC4w/e32alpVEKD4/DSC09215_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="325" height="245" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-kVn-iX1iJ8s/TodxVifgU3I/AAAAAAAAC40/LmYkvFAiFP0/s1600-h/DSC092212.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DSC09221" border="0" alt="DSC09221" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-TFhS1dHf8F4/TodxV8VvC5I/AAAAAAAAC44/ZqNUbKZqjqE/DSC09221_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>The kids & I were standing behind a “U”  shaped aquarium…no flash = no good photo.  They each LOVED sticking their heads up the aquarium bubbles to see sea life up close & personal.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-m9sAe2GWgxI/TodxWK2mYDI/AAAAAAAAC48/-hlQDf1JDDM/s1600-h/DSC092243.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DSC09224" border="0" alt="DSC09224" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-8i2Aqfh9uuI/TodxWnTGVoI/AAAAAAAAC5A/p-9uKMwy2Lk/DSC09224_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="271" height="204" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-m7JFeAW3jWo/TodxWzQqOlI/AAAAAAAAC5E/4NxlH-QB8-E/s1600-h/DSC092293.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DSC09229" border="0" alt="DSC09229" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-aih5rpkxrng/TodxXMSHuSI/AAAAAAAAC5I/IkT08Ps8Wp0/DSC09229_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="279" height="210" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-sOr1J_nsCw4/TodxXR9CZhI/AAAAAAAAC5M/4vg221LZDKw/s1600-h/DSC092373.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DSC09237" border="0" alt="DSC09237" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-H-LaFLFLD00/TodxXlQkejI/AAAAAAAAC5Q/AaaP8E18-4I/DSC09237_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="271" height="204" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-3peqVZVvUts/TodxX_CZL0I/AAAAAAAAC5U/9tHfoYyhYwQ/s1600-h/DSC092343.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DSC09234" border="0" alt="DSC09234" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Vb03JmLuGPI/TodxYC-M83I/AAAAAAAAC5Y/LrGbL_DXIbo/DSC09234_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="277" height="209" /></a>   </p> <p>Not sure if you watched the show Tanked on Animal planet.  Aidan loves anything Animal Planet & sea animals so when this show was advertised he knew he wanted to watch it.  Since it has aired we’ve received several messages from people who know us claiming Matt looks like one of the Tanked guys….what do you think?  Often times in the show the guy (Wade) wears sunglasses on his head just like Matt.  Even some of their mannerisms are the same! Crazy!</p> <p> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-zgI4c-59BBs/TodxYcIc8aI/AAAAAAAAC5c/pAljLz-6TFY/s1600-h/DSC092303.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DSC09230" border="0" alt="DSC09230" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-BFgIl29aGS8/TodxYpNA26I/AAAAAAAAC5g/pefRRsa3st4/DSC09230_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="198" height="262" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-yNs75eziiVo/TodxY4x4IKI/AAAAAAAAC5k/pYZZaNtZxuI/s1600-h/tanked3.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="tanked" border="0" alt="tanked" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-wDVjQ_TWEIk/TodxZGQAKXI/AAAAAAAAC5o/qfBdv2vUxM4/tanked_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="293" height="245" /></a> </p> <p>We concluded our day in the gift shop where each kid picked a small toy.  Aidan got a snake (he calls an eel), Isaac got a stuffed shark, and Emma got a cup with fish on it.  No trip to a mall is complete without an Auntie Ann’s pretzel.  Isaac says “let’s destroy this clean white shirt with cheese sauce!!” :)</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-REQEnnd0VvA/TodxZbdJCAI/AAAAAAAAC5s/OxIvNUzpxrI/s1600-h/DSC092453.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DSC09245" border="0" alt="DSC09245" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-rMKc4w04_i8/TodxZhi-0mI/AAAAAAAAC5w/ATAL0z7BGSg/DSC09245_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="306" height="406" /></a></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5863739094250833390.post-48932060265966591252011-09-02T14:15:00.000-07:002011-09-30T14:21:21.328-07:00Pool Fun<p>Now that swimming is an everyday occurance I seem to forget to take pictures and record the memories.  The kids LOVE water.  Mid summer Aidan started swimming without any floatation.  Isaac goes back and forth between floating on the shallow platform or kicking around all over with arm floaties.  Emma’s a regular fish that can hold her breath a very long time.</p> <p>They especially love swimming with Daddy.  He can throw, flip & flop them all over the place. Such activity highly stresses mommy!!!</p> <p> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-73_JBwzQhIY/ToYxdICdl3I/AAAAAAAAC0A/7WeQHQbQzYk/s1600-h/DSC09147%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC09147" border="0" alt="DSC09147" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Ryzl79d8AjQ/ToYxdrJbl6I/AAAAAAAAC0E/SOoDu7uWuLw/DSC09147_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="261" height="346" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-7NnlzhDlCv8/ToYxd1fPwGI/AAAAAAAAC0I/gueCkoUA5YU/s1600-h/DSC09149%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC09149" border="0" alt="DSC09149" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-_qOitNz_7HM/ToYxeNPQovI/AAAAAAAAC0M/9bMPiWfZ6Iw/DSC09149_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="261" height="347" /></a> </p> <p>Isaac even joined in the fun although daddy caught him before going fully under water.  He’s not a fan of that. Such throwing caused some wardrobe malfunctions for him :)</p> <p> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-cWZbLAn-Nzc/ToYxeYuk_1I/AAAAAAAAC0Q/IJAGxo6J1dM/s1600-h/DSC09159%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC09159" border="0" alt="DSC09159" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-xkrUjrAF3gw/ToYxegRTFcI/AAAAAAAAC0U/9VWhMYraP4Q/DSC09159_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="268" height="356" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-_bTgJLggQ8s/ToYxexyDs7I/AAAAAAAAC0Y/crXxQ4HZigQ/s1600-h/DSC09157%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC09157" border="0" alt="DSC09157" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-0Qasy91EoO8/ToYxfPbNCzI/AAAAAAAAC0c/-ArKWx63tgo/DSC09157_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="267" height="355" /></a> </p> <p>Now for the funniest photo…I didn’t even catch how funny it was when I first took it.  But when looking at the pics for the blog post it hit me…do you see it?</p> <p>  <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-OkXfcUMnbDo/ToYxfQvyEbI/AAAAAAAAC0g/y2naggOMy5E/s1600-h/Isaac%252520peeing%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Isaac peeing" border="0" alt="Isaac peeing" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-4MLR6RZkkFw/ToYxfsT3PXI/AAAAAAAAC0k/zicppTzEocw/Isaac%252520peeing_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="578" height="435" /></a></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>Cute & funny Isaac is whizzing…even FUNNIER that Emma is looking on with her mouth OPEN in the water he’s peeing in!!!! Bwhahaha!  She’ll love this one later on in life….so will Isaac I suppose. :)</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5863739094250833390.post-43992340299357723042011-08-26T13:30:00.000-07:002011-09-30T13:35:34.021-07:00My Pabby, My Friend. By: Issac<p>My mom’s been behind on her blog & short on motivation so I thought I’d take a break from getting into things and do a guest post about one of my favorite things.  I’m needing help from any readers out there who can help me find my long lost friend…</p> <p>I was introduced to my friend pabby at an early age.  My parents like to call it pacci, pappy, plug, or “STUPID thing” depending on the moment and if they are looking for it at the time. </p> <p>The first one they gave me had a handy little hole in the end that helped me hold on to it…although sometimes I clung to my mama’s arm making her hold it.<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-6f6XcFozxvk/ToYntxK10ZI/AAAAAAAACy4/fukINUjBvmA/s1600-h/Hold%252520Pacci%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Hold Pacci" border="0" alt="Hold Pacci" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-7x-vTVyczBs/ToYnudGKbLI/AAAAAAAACy8/5CVX0j54-wU/Hold%252520Pacci_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="627" height="217" /></a></p> <p>The pabby has helped me catch lots of Zzzzzz’s in many different ways.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-TfLWbEhkrTQ/ToYnugQezAI/AAAAAAAACzA/DHGvle7J0kY/s1600-h/Sleepy%252520Time%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Sleepy Time" border="0" alt="Sleepy Time" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-iNlLRryXquo/ToYnvGn2GjI/AAAAAAAACzE/0tOh2lKw1Qw/Sleepy%252520Time_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="643" height="643" /></a> </p> <p>After the first hospital pabby the gave me this one that has a nice little “handle” on the end.  I have no preference if it is upright, sideways or upside down…so long as I have it!! :)</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-8vjxTcIADuM/ToYnvW0lV7I/AAAAAAAACzI/1hvT4Ua7YBE/s1600-h/Every%252520which%252520way%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Every which way" border="0" alt="Every which way" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-QjPIqEnnNDI/ToYnvqNisFI/AAAAAAAACzM/tMiBUXEiDxM/Every%252520which%252520way_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="716" height="440" /></a></p> <p>My parents started talking about taking pabby away when they noticed my beginning stages of pabby hoarding.  I like collecting and carrying them around in bowls, boxes or other random containers.  I showed my will to keep them by using more than one at a time.  Surely they know I’m serious….<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-PLZRsrYjUZY/ToYnvwdn7VI/AAAAAAAACzQ/oTLD1x4cpaM/s1600-h/Pappy%252520Collector%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Pappy Collector" border="0" alt="Pappy Collector" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-_8NnPCF75IU/ToYnwcbOSMI/AAAAAAAACzU/xSKDlcekGWQ/Pappy%252520Collector_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="408" height="606" /></a> </p> <p>Everyone once in a while I will replace my pabby…for something like a sucker. I’m no dum dum!! ;) I think my parents secretly like my pabby as much as I do…I mean they even chained it to me a time or two. When it is attached to me I noticed they don’t walk around saying “where is that stupid thing?” quite as much.<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-dI1MsuRKdKU/ToYnwrl-B-I/AAAAAAAACzY/IPtbZ-_zlRE/s1600-h/pappy%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="pappy" border="0" alt="pappy" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Ue8Inm1mrTE/ToYnw1ay6-I/AAAAAAAACzc/MfnHqEEX9-w/pappy_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="656" height="306" /></a></p> <p>My pabby has been there for me through thick & thin.  When mom found me emptying & climbing drawers I’m pretty sure the GASP she gave was b/c she was glad I hadn’t lost my pabby.  Even though everyone thought I shouldn’t have it any more I was super happy to have it keep me calm after my whole hit-by-car incident.  The nurse even said “we love pacifiers”.  I like nurses more than dentists. </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-oC5HxNoVq7M/ToYnxe4JSqI/AAAAAAAACzg/wJA0l59tvbw/s1600-h/companion%252520pappy%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="companion pappy" border="0" alt="companion pappy" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-9ErqviHjsYw/ToYnxheAcJI/AAAAAAAACzk/Tm016LVDJ6o/companion%252520pappy_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="580" height="390" /></a> </p> <p>My pabby made me look like a color coordinated tough Hulk.  I gave mama an ornery grin when on one attempt to take away my pabby I found the OLD hospital one and took to it like long lost friends.    <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Lr_VYXryWOU/ToYnyMNCBjI/AAAAAAAACzo/0Cz7iAxiNKs/s1600-h/Misc%252520pappy%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Misc pappy" border="0" alt="Misc pappy" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-O4_f6SmTra4/ToYnyUtrLhI/AAAAAAAACzs/G4rQKE_cIW4/Misc%252520pappy_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="547" height="547" /></a>   </p> <p>They’ve taken away my pabby 3 times.  Well…Papa Stout did it the first time.  Then mom & dad took it away after the dentist said “No-no!”  They only let me have it at night, but I started taking it out of my bed & I don’t think they even noticed!!! ;)  This last time daddy couldn’t find the lone surviving pabby one night when mama was gone.  He said “that’s it. we’re done with those things!”.  I couldn’t believe it!! I let  him know I was NOT happy.  I actually let them know for a couple nights that I did NOT approve.  I can’t believe they took it away from these big brown eyes…..<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-2aj4_qX5XYI/ToYnytyudzI/AAAAAAAACzw/6D3fY_F9cAg/s1600-h/cute%252520pappy%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="cute pappy" border="0" alt="cute pappy" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-HW-4qQ0_XS0/ToYny86dqGI/AAAAAAAACz0/JZ6FzVU1gH4/cute%252520pappy_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="616" height="616" /></a></p> <p>So I showed them.  You’re going to take away pabby? Fine…how’s this for convience?  Thought I was too old for a pabby?  Thought it was bad for my teeth?  How abouts a blanket shoved in my mouth and drug around on the ground?!?!</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-yz5VDfZWfIw/ToYnzD84cUI/AAAAAAAACz4/REGsp15Ow3o/s1600-h/8.31.11%252520No%252520pacci%25252C%252520now%252520blankie%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="8.31.11 No pacci, now blankie" border="0" alt="8.31.11 No pacci, now blankie" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-fW1wRmptd9A/ToYnzagyWqI/AAAAAAAACz8/_vl2Myyosls/8.31.11%252520No%252520pacci%25252C%252520now%252520blankie_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="256" height="371" /></a> </p> <p>Every once in a while Mama starts talking about how future orthodontic work might be cheaper than therapy for her so she gives me a pabby from her secret stash and I take a nap….but don’t tell Daddy! :)</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5863739094250833390.post-28926209494611788712011-08-14T22:23:00.000-07:002011-09-28T22:33:14.296-07:00Happy 24th Month!<p>Yes.  You read that right.</p> <p>24 months.  There’s no way all my babies have ages counted in YEARS.  So, we are going to count months forEVa with Isaac.  He will become start Kindergarten about 72 months, become a teen at 156 months, however we will NOT use the term “teen”…simply months.  He will drive at 192 months….you get the picture.</p> <p>He is a little boy in love with all things “ball-ball”.  His favorites are soccer balls, footballs & basket balls.  But really any spherical object that can be kicked or thrown he LOVES!  So naturally we planned a sports themed pool & bbq party.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-fNqGwFQg8h4/ToQDBe_EjTI/AAAAAAAACxA/NKpM4JXNgRk/s1600-h/DSC09102%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC09102" border="0" alt="DSC09102" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Nvd6Hq611Mk/ToQDBz9GmTI/AAAAAAAACxE/Pu9PDco9rhY/DSC09102_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="663" height="498" /></a></p> <p>His cupcakes decorated with cake ball – balls were the centerpiece on my homemade cupcake stand.  He loved blowing out his candles so he could eat the ball!!</p> <p> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-L8Qhd_9UTbQ/ToQDCKLg4fI/AAAAAAAACxI/_5GguM_3y-o/s1600-h/DSC09106%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC09106" border="0" alt="DSC09106" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-_pM_9z0FXBY/ToQDCUDdspI/AAAAAAAACxM/vInNXAyD4zI/DSC09106_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="477" height="359" /></a> </p> <p>*Note his big Sissy holding his hand back as to not get burnt. :)</p> <p>YUMMY, YUM, YUM!</p> <p> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/--qXjF7jFYR8/ToQDCiKo_6I/AAAAAAAACxQ/NFUbc2FXCWs/s1600-h/DSC09108%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC09108" border="0" alt="DSC09108" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-DA9q7m99tmQ/ToQDDC3LsUI/AAAAAAAACxU/6aFnGVpLarE/DSC09108_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="355" height="268" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-zIBF5ScroOc/ToQDDayORdI/AAAAAAAACxY/mVvCu2MlwJE/s1600-h/DSC09110%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC09110" border="0" alt="DSC09110" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-cYtDdjr4H4E/ToQDDhwxKqI/AAAAAAAACxc/avSkZaNebsI/DSC09110_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="198" height="263" /></a> </p> <p>Looks like such a big boy next to his presents from mommy & daddy!!<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-h6wevtoGGRo/ToQDD8hb0ZI/AAAAAAAACxg/pom7FHQ7shY/s1600-h/DSC09119%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC09119" border="0" alt="DSC09119" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-72wCcydPOKw/ToQDEAjJCZI/AAAAAAAACxk/GyBM6NQSdlU/DSC09119_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="570" height="428" /></a>  </p> <p>He wasted no time opening them either!!</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-8OP2F9HgYdA/ToQDESaHchI/AAAAAAAACxo/LrTflGCsl2A/s1600-h/DSC09121%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC09121" border="0" alt="DSC09121" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Q2yl4KlNl1g/ToQDE3bxXII/AAAAAAAACxs/hmrBb82JbcQ/DSC09121_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="278" height="370" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/--TNUmsBsMEw/ToQDFNyaRdI/AAAAAAAACxw/jSAHHELQ1iI/s1600-h/DSC09122%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC09122" border="0" alt="DSC09122" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ZCaKfdA5iBc/ToQDFayQVoI/AAAAAAAACx0/_wnImi5rsdI/DSC09122_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="276" height="366" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-KW1AanV4Z04/ToQDFoTmOlI/AAAAAAAACx4/1zWOuzY9f6o/s1600-h/DSC09126%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC09126" border="0" alt="DSC09126" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-XgKwjtDO57A/ToQDF3LhjwI/AAAAAAAACx8/iy4fvhMkJbo/DSC09126_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="341" height="257" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-EfGLnmiL5ek/ToQDGOyX2uI/AAAAAAAACyA/JVF3x_cNdTc/s1600-h/DSC09123%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC09123" border="0" alt="DSC09123" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-s1HamVte-_s/ToQDGRndIeI/AAAAAAAACyE/jEz6Xk5bCso/DSC09123_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="217" height="288" /></a>  </p> <p>We had great fun with our friends & neighbors that were able to celebrate with us.  Matt’s boss & his kids came too.  The kids had so much fun swimming & eating the party goodies!!</p> <p>Isaac at 2:  loves balls, all things Toy Story & Cars.  Eats very little and is super picky.  I think it’s a texture thing.  Eats ramen, corn, yogurt, cheese, crackers, apples, and raisins consistently.  Sometimes eats alfrado, raisin toast, bread, once in a blue moon might eat grilled chicken. LOVES his chocolate milk, pacifier and being read to.  He speaks very little although we’ve noticed him gaining a few words. (dada, mama, sissy, ball, chocolate, mimi, papa, grandma, cracker, ice)  Healthy little guy that is hardly ever sick.  Shows interest in using the potty.  Sleeps great at night from about 8 pm till 6:30 am with a nap for 1 1/2 - 2+ hours in the afternoon.  Wearing size 2T – 3T clothing and size 7 1/2 DOUBLE WIDE shoes.  Has the “me do it!” two year old attitude that I recall from Sissy…but Aidan didn’t really do. Looks JUST like his daddy.  Loves getting his light brown hair cut and sits perfectly still.  Eyes are a dark brown that have melting abilities with his mama.</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5863739094250833390.post-46944807552528193352011-08-12T22:06:00.000-07:002011-09-28T22:07:37.906-07:00DIY Cupcake Stand ~ on the cheap!!<p>At the last minute I decided I needed a cupcake tower for Isaac’s birthday cupcakes.  Surfing around online and on some of my favorite blogs I pieced together some ideas for making my own.  </p> <p>First stop Michael’s to get wooden spindles, dowels & spool components to add height and levels to the stand.</p> <p>Second stop Goodwill to find plates, platters or trays to use as the base for each level.  (Actually truth be told I checked other “dollar” type stores and didn’t find anything to my liking) I found these <strike>cheesy</strike> holiday trays.  I like how each one is a bit different.  The snowman has scalloped edges, the Santa higher raised edges & the train plate was just the right size for the top tier. </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-1Q70ttVXX5Q/ToP9CEGTfHI/AAAAAAAACwI/bsmJo3riGqY/s1600-h/DSC090753.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DSC09075" border="0" alt="DSC09075" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-YGau4FB_yEc/ToP9Cs9c1mI/AAAAAAAACwM/HdM7eNNyAWo/DSC09075_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="668" height="502" /></a></p> <p>First, I sprayed all the platters & wooden pieces with a white kilz primer and followed that with a coat of Semi-gloss white.  I connected one shorter & one taller spindle with a dowel rod through the center hole and a little E-6000 glue for stability. These connected pieces separate each plate creating the tiered levels.  The wooden napkin ring & wooden finial are glued together to decorate the top plate.</p> <p>I used the E-6000 glue to glue each platter layer & dowel connected wooden pieces together starting with the bottom.  If time had allowed (me=procrastinator) I would have like to find a way to make this  be able to be taken apart after each use…like maybe by drilling holes through the platters, inserting a dowel or bar with threads & nuts to secure. (???)<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-bqvMNlt6bRc/ToP9CzTsarI/AAAAAAAACwQ/aSDb2SWaBM8/s1600-h/DSC090883.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DSC09088" border="0" alt="DSC09088" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-XX2cLDyhgWw/ToP9DKhrR7I/AAAAAAAACwU/TU_0gUIOzWc/DSC09088_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="618" height="464" /></a>  </p> <p>Not too bad for less than $12 in supplies.</p> <p>Circles cut from sports themed scrapbook paper customizes bottom of each plate on the stand.  While you could modpodge the paper down I chose to not adhere the paper so the stand can be used and customized for any party theme.  {I personally think the stand needs a gloss paint coat or clear coat to ease with clean up.}</p> <p>   <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Z6_kgOAJXig/ToP9DuW0jEI/AAAAAAAACwY/6HV8rhBS9jQ/s1600-h/DSC090944.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DSC09094" border="0" alt="DSC09094" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-_icwpS1TO-I/ToP9D5vOXEI/AAAAAAAACwc/E5eXobtSlu0/DSC09094_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="271" height="360" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-58znzuaqtZo/ToP9EDFTwpI/AAAAAAAACwg/cpWz3lZxqCs/s1600-h/DSC090973.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DSC09097" border="0" alt="DSC09097" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Sewl_goa1qI/ToP9EWugecI/AAAAAAAACwk/29uE7R3wTcg/DSC09097_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="270" height="359" /></a> </p> <p>As far as the cupcakes I made regular white cupcakes, frosted each with green “grass” and topped with a cake ball - ball.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ZhMizPu-NhQ/ToP9EzNuPJI/AAAAAAAACwo/XL6MttuQTlY/s1600-h/DSC091023.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DSC09102" border="0" alt="DSC09102" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-jiklvTMqGkE/ToP9FDSMuOI/AAAAAAAACws/zPwOSUFTScs/DSC09102_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="599" height="450" /></a></p> <p>It helps to have a cute lil’ assistant chef & beater licker! :) Take note he doesn’t care to have his hands dirty….his face on the other hand….</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-lWe4LO63CN4/ToP9FZoR7II/AAAAAAAACww/mVKbmO5bX7Y/s1600-h/DSC090823.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DSC09082" border="0" alt="DSC09082" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-dsgrGeKJraw/ToP9F2MPLBI/AAAAAAAACw0/IHcZqNgmI7E/DSC09082_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="272" height="361" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-mgIq1iIzBYc/ToP9GDDDuiI/AAAAAAAACw4/JrthbcTVl-U/s1600-h/DSC090873.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DSC09087" border="0" alt="DSC09087" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-hZWNp3bY2Yw/ToP9GearD7I/AAAAAAAACw8/Ocl06TesJo4/DSC09087_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="270" height="358" /></a></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5863739094250833390.post-27132895766584446252011-08-08T08:48:00.000-07:002011-09-29T08:48:53.709-07:00School Days<p>School seems to start too quickly out here!! Seems like we no sooner got back from KS and recovered from the surgery mess then on to school.  E & A started school the same day.</p> <p>We started with E’s choice of funny face pancakes.  Here’s our version…</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-zWnci_n3Reo/ToSTVwcL5ZI/AAAAAAAACyI/AJNs7rsQ3MA/s1600-h/DSC09040%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC09040" border="0" alt="DSC09040" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Ds2UJicOSCU/ToSTWI9QXsI/AAAAAAAACyM/FgmAAx-ZIK4/DSC09040_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="402" height="302" /></a></p> <p>My cuties…excited and ready to go!<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-iB6hONp8GIw/ToSTWQlcn8I/AAAAAAAACyQ/ALkvdT1uttw/s1600-h/DSC09054%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC09054" border="0" alt="DSC09054" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-DI1wIjm8P2o/ToSTWvPWMeI/AAAAAAAACyU/1R4B4y68JCc/DSC09054_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="368" height="495" /></a></p> <p>E started 2nd grade this year in our neighborhood school.  Big girl…missin’ a few teeth yet! :)  I tease she is my little business casual dresser.  No jeans and T-shirts for this girl.  Absolutely REFUSES to wear jeans or athletic shoes.</p> <p> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-IbNUNNSgPW4/ToSTWwWqD2I/AAAAAAAACyY/smpCOE1Hyb8/s1600-h/2nd%252520Grade%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="2nd Grade" border="0" alt="2nd Grade" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-jsPGRe10hPU/ToSTXBXSqnI/AAAAAAAACyc/WG1XpCIFbHM/2nd%252520Grade_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="341" height="453" /></a></p> <p>Emma is loving school.  She is with mostly all children from her 1st grade class.  She has grown close to a little girl down the street that is in her class.  They love playing at school and after school.  Spelling tests are new to her this year and has surprised us at how great she is doing (genetically good spelling was NOT in her favor).  She is enjoying reading Junie B. Jones or Natalie books.</p> <p>A started his first year of preschool.  He goes twice a week.  Had we been in KS it would have been his 2nd year, but spent last year settling in & searching for a PreK.  He was happy to have his Buzzlight year backpack.</p> <p> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-wnk-drp1Wgs/ToSTXf965zI/AAAAAAAACyg/Cm0OFDlpb2Q/s1600-h/Aidan%252520PreK%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Aidan PreK" border="0" alt="Aidan PreK" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-lFxPt311iKY/ToSTXrVm3_I/AAAAAAAACyk/sLXuaB01uzk/Aidan%252520PreK_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="261" height="389" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-iFCob2vfh4g/ToSTYOhB9aI/AAAAAAAACyo/Lpmqg1hIxZI/s1600-h/Backpack%252520boy%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Backpack boy" border="0" alt="Backpack boy" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-AOCqV-TwpOk/ToSTYdXxNiI/AAAAAAAACys/zn8GywzPKGU/Backpack%252520boy_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="290" height="385" /></a></p> <p>He was super, SUPER excited for school…until we arrived.  Wasn’t sure about being away from Mommy. But Ms. Pammy is super sweet and the school is very nice.</p> <p>One last shot before I left and he said “Come right back after you run to the store mom.” .  </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-WQrIQbAdds4/ToSTY0J9jEI/AAAAAAAACyw/2f5HQg27qOk/s1600-h/DSC09062%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC09062" border="0" alt="DSC09062" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-BZoiZQ8UreM/ToSTZJIg7fI/AAAAAAAACy0/6bbSx1o1cvk/DSC09062_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="279" height="371" /></a>      </p> <p>Aidan’s report from his first day of school was this- disgust for not getting to play on the outside play set and commented on his teacher with “golden hair like Rapunzel”.  :)  Ms. Pam is somewhat blonde…but has shoulder length or shorter hair?!? :)</p> <p>Preschool days keep us busy.  We take E to school, have about 20 min to kill before it’s time to head to town for PreK.  Isaac & I try to kill time in town during preschool b/c the distance from home doesn’t really warrant driving all the way home before it’s time to turn around and go back to get A.  I enjoy the time with Isaac alone and love using the “quiet” time to work with him on new words…Mr. Nonverbal.  Isaac has been in mourning not quite what to do as the “only” for a couple hours a week.  The first couple weeks of school I couldn’t get him to even smile when it was just he and I.   :)  One day I tried taking him to McD play place and he didn’t know what to do w/out big brother to follow around! :)</p> <p>We did our annual homemade pizza night to celebrate the beginning of school (we do it for the last day of school too), but I TOTALLY forgot to take pics!! GRR!</p> <p>It’s unfair how quickly the years pass now that they are in school/entering school. Boo.  I want my babies back.</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5863739094250833390.post-91158969998939725842011-08-02T22:05:00.000-07:002011-09-28T22:06:19.766-07:00Under the Knife x2<p>We had to add two things to our “Summer Fun” list. Notice the word “HAD”.  They weren’t necessarily planned, but necessary I suppose.</p> <p>On Tuesday, July 19th I took Isaac into the ENT for a check on his ears.  He had tubes placed before we moved a year prior, but one ear still struggled and was blocked up with “gunk” that the Dr couldn’t determine if the tube was in, if it was working or if it was in fact in place just crusted over.  The Dr couldn’t do what was necessary in the office with Isaac awake, so we were scheduled for a 2nd ear tube surgery to sedate him and determine the course of action. </p> <p>After his appointment I took the kids to get donuts, ran some errands and took them to ToysRUs to browse.  While shopping I remember a wave of yuck coming over me.  Kinda sick to my stomach.  NOT hungry and plain blah feeling.  By the time we got home I was cramping something fierce.  It was concentrated on my right side & I knew that could mean appendix, but also felt it might be more female related.   I laid around all afternoon & evening.  Matt came home and tended to the kids & dinner.  I ate nothing, just didn’t feel like it and couldn’t walk standing straight up.</p> <p>Wednesday I actually wasn’t as hunched over in pain, but decided I might ought to find a Dr. just in case things started to get worse.  Not Dr would see me THAT day b/c I was a new patient.  They could see me 3 weeks later.  Um…NO.  Finally found a Dr that would see me Friday AM.  I really thought I’d go to get referred to an OB thinking it was girly issues.  Since I was feeling a bit better I decided to try to push it a bit to test how I was feeling.  Took the 3 kids to the store for a few things.  Not too bad.</p> <p>Went to Dr Friday AM.  Took all my energy and umph just to get showered & dressed for my appt. Matt took kids to breakfast.  Dr. scheduled a CT scan stat, but the CT office said it would take a day or two (stat=wait??) so I headed for home not sure what to do.  They said to go to ER if it got worse but it “appeared I wasn’t hurting too bad”. I did let the guy know that 2 days prior I couldn’t stand straight. Duh.</p> <p>I was with in 3 miles of home when they called and told me to return as they had an opening.  During my CT scan Matt took the kids for lunch and was in a stall & hold pattern waiting for the results. They quickly came out handed me a CD with my CT images and said leave now for the ER.  Then it all came crashing down.  What to do with the kids?!?!  Should Matt just take them home & I’ll be on my own?!?  Being kinda a baby I wanted someone there with me.  After a few calls we got our neighborhood friend to watch the kids.  Matt arrived at the hospital shortly before they began prepping me for surgery. After about an hour in surgery the attempt at getting me to wake from sedation began.  I am sllllllooooow to wake up.  Guess I like me some sleepy time!!  Unfortunately since I didn’t get all woke up for dinner I couldn’t take pain meds except morphine through the IV. Whew…that stuff is whack!!  Not to mention a less than nice nurse in the night shoved it in my IV really fast causing some issue where from that point on all fluids (including saline) put in either of my 2 IVs burnt, stung & make-me-want-to-chop-my-hand-off pain. Ohmyowie!  I’d rather have labor pain, contractions, epidural & birth than relive my surgery & IV issues. To this day (2 months later) my wrist still aches and has a knot in it?!?</p> <p>Recovery was slow moving and I ended up staying till Saturday.  I could have went home Friday, but the nurses agreed I didn’t look like someone ready to go home, and I felt I could have…but thought maybe should take another night to get rested.</p> <p>A week later Isaac was scheduled for his ear surgery.  Thank goodness it timed out to be on the day Matt’s mom & my mom’s visit overlapped.  Leaving Matt to take Emma to church camp, Peggy watch Aidan and Mom & I to take Isaac.</p> <p>He played cars & tried to put his bracelet on Mimi while we waited to be called back.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-aJiwsIRMs3k/ToPw7BlHe7I/AAAAAAAACv4/sJLGMO3QDSU/s1600-h/septupload0172.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="sept upload 017" border="0" alt="sept upload 017" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-T00iaeysfHk/ToPw9OUAIxI/AAAAAAAACv8/KZHR1o6ly9E/septupload017_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-qgFhAHlE50M/ToPw9wYPBgI/AAAAAAAACwA/-fkbXnQmqj0/s1600-h/septupload0142.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="sept upload 014" border="0" alt="sept upload 014" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/--fQHpscncI0/ToPw-p7GuAI/AAAAAAAACwE/wSdBmHDUMhI/septupload014_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a></p> <p>In what seemed like minutes the Dr. came in to report that the left ear had the tube already falling out & his right tube in perfect shape.  The decision was made that another tube in the left ear would be best.  Thus both ears having tubes.  For now…the other tube is probably falling out soon. :)   </p> <p>Isaac did SO well.  Even better than his first go around a year prior.  My biggest concern was coming out of sedation.  It went SO smooth.  He laid there with his eyes open, then mom picked him up and off we went.  None of the massive screaming & thrashing we had had the previous time.</p> <p>I was so grateful that my mom came out.  She hadn’t even unpacked from her 2 weeks in Alaska before boarding a plane to come help…on her BDAY!!  Then a week after my surgery and a day before Isaac’s my mother in law came to help with the other kids & while Matt was out of town on business.  So thankful to those two mothers who help us out at a moments notice!!! Grand parents are grrrrreat!!</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5863739094250833390.post-28874609050028858372011-07-18T11:21:00.000-07:002011-07-18T11:21:00.717-07:00One Year<p>Disbelief.  Amazement. Astonished…insert any other synonym and it would semi-adequately describe my feelings.  It was July 18th, 2010 we pulled out of Derby headed to the southwest.  The year has gone by so very, very quickly I can hardly believe it.  Some days it feels like forever ago, others it feels like just yesterday.</p> <p>Our homesickness has been eased with almost monthly visits by someone from the Midwest.  If I recall correctly we had contact with “home” every month except September and May.  <font size="2">{July ‘10 Dwain & Peggy, Aug. ‘10 Dwain & Peggy again, my mom, sister niece &  nephew, Chris & Mandy and our niece Libby, October ‘10 Dwain & Peggy, my mom & dad, Nov. ‘10 went to KS for Thanksgiving, Dec. ‘10 Dwain & Peggy for Emma’s bday leading into the new year, Jan. ‘11 my aunt Lisa & cousin Megan, February ‘11 the kids & I went back to KS, Mar. ‘11 my sister & her two kiddos came again, April ‘11 my mom came, June ‘11 my cousin Diane came to ride back to KS with me for my June/July KS trip.} Whew! </font><font size="3">I feel very fortunate that we have been blessed with as many visitors as we have.</font></p> <p>Besides terribly missing family & friends our move has felt like a long term vacation so far.  I for one don’t “work” anymore. Removal from our day in & day out obligations have freed us to find & enjoy down time with the kids to enjoy simply daily things.  It feels like a slower paced life.  We’ve been blessed to find a great church to worship & serve in.  Matt has taken a role in the Ushering ministry at church, and I am a small group leader in the 3-5 yr old classroom.  We have become friends with 2 of our neighbors, as well as another family in our neighborhood and my hair dresser all with children our kiddos ages.  Emma loves her school and has met many playmates.  Aidan will be starting at a preschool in town this fall.</p> <p>We have fallen into a great routine.  Church takes most the day Sunday and we end each Sunday evening with a Skype call to Grandma & Papa.  Not the “same” as seeing them each Sunday after church, but thankful for the technology we have to remain in touch.  We “go to town” Wednesdays for story time at the library & grocery shopping.  And that’s about it.  Kinda sounds dull compared to the hustle & bustle we seemed to live in KS.  But this time spent during the warmer months swimming pretty much everyday & the milder months spent at neighborhood parks playing with friends keeps us grounded & create happy times as a family.</p> <p>Here’s a few lists that sum up what I’ve learned this past year…</p> <p><strong><u>Things I Miss About KS-</u></strong>                                     <strong><u>Things I Do NOT Miss-</u></strong></p> <p>- trees & shade                                                      - humidity</p> <p>- friends & fam                                                       - unpredictable weather</p> <p>- church activities at FCC                                 - the pull of constantly going/doing</p> <p>- our babysitters                                                    - tornadoes</p> <p>- friends & family                                                    - ice storms</p> <p>- MOPS & women’s bible studies                      - hail</p> <p>- date nights with my hubs</p> <p>- being available to friends & fam in need</p> <p>- the smell of rain showers</p> <p>- seasons, especially Fall</p> <p>- grass, smell of cut grass</p> <p>- did i mention my friends?</p> <p>- our swing set</p> <p>- wheat fields</p> <p>- bday cakes from <a href="http://www.karraskakes.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Karra’s</a></p> <p> </p> <p><strong><u>Things I like About AZ -</u></strong>                                                 <strong><u>Things I Do NOT Like About AZ -</u></strong></p> <p>- may be hot, but predictable weather                 - scorpions</p> <p>- clear blue skies & sunshine                                       - stinky rain</p> <p>- new things to see & do                                             - family & friends not here</p> <p>- our pool                                                                         - haboobs</p> <p>- our beautiful home & it’s price ;)                           - rattle snakes</p> <p>- my free time to spend with my kids                      - 20 lanes of traffic</p> <p>- 75 mph speed limits                                               - doing laundry, thanks to scorpions</p> <p>- flip flops year round                                                    - lack of cold tap water</p> <p>- no fuss with coats & rarely jackets                        - brushing teeth w/above water</p> <p>- no ice or snow…or mud                                            - 80 degrees…indoors                  </p> <p>- my car stays clean (see above)                             - electric bills</p> <p>- mountain views                                                           - 5-5:30 AM sunrise</p> <p>- fall & spring break for school</p> <p>- lots of splash pads</p> <p>- clear, bright, starry night sky</p> <p>- diversity</p> <p>Not sure how the lists all total up, but I do know a year after taking the final step of obedience in moving that we still believe we made the right step.  We still see God working though our obedience to follow His will for our lives.  There have been hard days and moments of deep sadness, but I have found peace in trying to make life happy here, even though our decision to come caused others we left behind pain.  I try to not live for the hope of moving back, but to be content in where He has me.</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5863739094250833390.post-13520579857105297142011-07-16T10:09:00.000-07:002011-07-17T22:10:06.121-07:00A Good Week…<p>This was just a good week.  Nothing super exciting planned out in advance, but resulted in great times with friends & as a family.</p> <p><strong>Monday</strong> was down time at home.  Got things done around the house & went for a swim.  So glad Matt got the pool cleared up from the yuck of the great Haboob. </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ipUpvzdLhv4/TiG0763a3eI/AAAAAAAACmc/4AN_saEllbk/s1600-h/DSC08885%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DSC08885" border="0" alt="DSC08885" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-HmFVOKRdv7k/TiG08TPD1hI/AAAAAAAACmg/R89tXBFC-3c/DSC08885_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="447" height="336" /></a></p> <p align="center">{Matt cleaning the filters for the 2nd time in 2 days. Gross!} </p> <p><strong>Tuesday</strong>- A former co-worker from my teacher days was in the Phoenix area visiting her daughter & grandkids.  They were interested in taking the trek out our way to take a dip in our pool.  It was great fun to catch up and the kids played so well!  Her daughter Melissa & I have gotten to know each other over the years and she moved to the Phoenix area a couple years before we did.  Small world!  It’s always like having a slice of home when we visit with friends & family from KS!!  It’s also very comforting to know that should an emergency arise here in AZ that we have someONE to call!!   </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-T6_2LFMYrsc/TiG08giZZ5I/AAAAAAAACmk/qJqjZQVXGwc/s1600-h/DSC08896%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DSC08896" border="0" alt="DSC08896" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-IU5TBs4YKE4/TiG09eJq-eI/AAAAAAAACmo/egdRsouEcVg/DSC08896_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="454" height="341" /></a></p> <p align="center">{She has 4 ranging from going into 1st grade down to one a month younger than Isaac. We snagged all the lil’ fish for a quick pic}</p> <p><strong>Wednesday</strong>- Another day at home.  Enjoyed a morning swim after my treadmill workout.  Emma is very into “extreme couponing” so she clipped coupons all afternoon.  She sorted them into envelopes “Hare, suplis, food, cleening”. :)  I prepared a list for our shopping trip. </p> <p><strong>Thurs</strong>- We hit the library for (shamefully) our first trip of the summer.  They kids get so excited about checking out books.  Emma’s fav was a kids cookbook in which she claimed each item looked “delightful”.  Aidan’s fav was a Extreme Scary Spider book.  Full of large photos of spiders & even some nasty spider bites.  Wonderful considering Emma is just now off antibiotics for a spider bite souvenir she got in KS. :) Tackled the store for groceries & realized yet again I am NOT cut out for couponing. </p> <p align="left"><strong>Friday</strong>- Early start as Matt & I had to give a fasting blood sample at his office for our new health insurance changes coming up.  The kids enjoyed a QT donut from the break room & managed to rearrange & fingerprint up every surface in Matt’s pristine office. :)  We headed off to the splash pad where Matt could straighten his orderly office & enjoy the quiet that is office life. :)  We spent a large portion of the day at Westgate.  The kids LOVE it there.  Riding the outdoor escalator, throwing money in the fountains, splash pad, Which Wich for lunch & finally some Cold Stone to check off our <a href="http://sunflowerstocacti.blogspot.com/2011/07/more-summer-fun.html" target="_blank">Summer Fun list</a>.  </p> <p align="center">   <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-OHNlMt2f55U/TiG09tQMg1I/AAAAAAAACms/ujw-BYBRyCA/s1600-h/DSC08921%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DSC08921" border="0" alt="DSC08921" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-wI9zJiIScJU/TiG0-AxBqeI/AAAAAAAACmw/ZYq9bV2WY6o/DSC08921_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="236" height="355" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-1YPftR8RIvo/TiG0_Urxe6I/AAAAAAAACm0/jMQQ3v9wVSI/s1600-h/DSC08924%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DSC08924" border="0" alt="DSC08924" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-_Xsy_EwI3nY/TiG0_9yx_BI/AAAAAAAACm4/d2GFABB2T8w/DSC08924_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="263" height="349" /></a> </p> <p align="center">{Aidan karate chopping water & Isaac getting splashed in the face b/c he was constantly looking down wondering where the water went…JUST in time for it to shoot him in the face!}</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-LnPaLx1TqgM/TiG1ALkqRxI/AAAAAAAACm8/tXmCkejsIPk/s1600-h/DSC08929%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DSC08929" border="0" alt="DSC08929" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-cnt-0eqcpuU/TiG1ASoCPrI/AAAAAAAACnA/DH32OYZ0HnA/DSC08929_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="239" height="317" /></a>    <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-tWfA99PTaXU/TiG1AgXb3VI/AAAAAAAACnE/cOrgkQpXquU/s1600-h/DSC08939%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DSC08939" border="0" alt="DSC08939" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-2XUA5cXTrJs/TiG1BMvydCI/AAAAAAAACnI/VP-WZYfskdA/DSC08939_thumb%25255B13%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="220" height="318" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-VAAVYAtuYrc/TiG1BTOHPrI/AAAAAAAACnM/bqYFJE_62HQ/s1600-h/DSC08941%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DSC08941" border="0" alt="DSC08941" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-EaX8wvAReK0/TiG1ByQNXDI/AAAAAAAACnQ/n9mU9Or-7cA/DSC08941_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="235" height="312" /></a>  <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/--TxPbmx-zTI/TiG1Cdj18tI/AAAAAAAACnU/XDlX9Du3964/s1600-h/DSC08945%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DSC08945" border="0" alt="DSC08945" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-OMO6TDLlTTs/TiG1CvfHjaI/AAAAAAAACnY/eZ7hJal4cZk/DSC08945_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="236" height="314" /></a>  <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-KFw_325FGvs/TiG1CxzQ3MI/AAAAAAAACnc/v8-l-J161q0/s1600-h/DSC08967%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DSC08967" border="0" alt="DSC08967" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Da1_wY1GESY/TiG1DBR5lpI/AAAAAAAACng/jenp8HnlLuA/DSC08967_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="268" height="219" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-7_wQDDcnji8/TiG1DpxOchI/AAAAAAAACnk/ZhWgv4omGfk/s1600-h/DSC08947%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DSC08947" border="0" alt="DSC08947" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-xrR9-wTzho4/TiG1ECr80rI/AAAAAAAACno/AWwervDZxuU/DSC08947_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="285" height="215" /></a> </p> <p align="center">{Drying in the sun…as if my children have the complexion for “laying out”.  Aidan showing his watermelon & gummy bear ice cream. gRRRoss!}</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-p5jSjOLj6_c/TiG1En-zGXI/AAAAAAAACns/H-FtGSlmEQg/s1600-h/DSC08950%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DSC08950" border="0" alt="DSC08950" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ntd2mG5De0c/TiG1E1hHG_I/AAAAAAAACnw/Lotrok37ix4/DSC08950_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="326" height="246" /></a>  <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Eo8-_hWiVww/TiG1FDLbMII/AAAAAAAACn0/eV042z3QnSA/s1600-h/DSC08965%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DSC08965" border="0" alt="DSC08965" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-RojxTH4duoo/TiG1Fh8pP6I/AAAAAAAACn4/6rM43Gm6iqA/DSC08965_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a>  <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-U_oBy_6G_og/TiG1GPH1xaI/AAAAAAAACn8/WvQfjghIQRQ/s1600-h/DSC08968%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DSC08968" border="0" alt="DSC08968" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/--orFLAhrTAM/TiG1HO5SNDI/AAAAAAAACoA/3TLMeuG_dz8/DSC08968_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="276" height="208" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-4pdDogMd3G4/TiG1HaNzIKI/AAAAAAAACoE/V4lt9Y5j61I/s1600-h/DSC08977%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DSC08977" border="0" alt="DSC08977" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-jb_Ddjwarjk/TiG1Hm2jZYI/AAAAAAAACoI/ZuGP6C2ahrY/DSC08977_thumb%25255B17%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="281" height="207" /></a> </p> <p align="center">Any time Emma or Aidan would leave the water Isaac would come drag them back in.  He’d grab Aidan & pull, or say “"Mem-ma, MEM-MA” to lure Emma.}   </p> <p>Home in the late afternoon for them to rest & mommy to spend a couple hours on conference calls ironing out all the insurance issues surrounding Isaac’s accident.  I am thankful that God gave me an endless amount of patience today & the perfect timing with tired (quiet) kiddos to handle the endless phone calls.  We were given a wonderful claims person  through State Farm & another wonderful claims person through the other insurance company.  Both ladies ironically from Kansas!! :)  Hoping to have lots of answers the end of next week.</p> <p>Emma & I enjoyed a spontaneous date night at the Goodyear Ball park.  Once a month on Friday nights they show a movie that is out on DVD.  Tonight’s was Never Say Never.  Not a movie I initially thought was something Emma needed to see, but was told by a trusted friend that it offered some great opportunity for conversation. I could not have picked a better way to watch this with her.  Just she & I sitting together on a blanket in the ball field w/ no little brother distractions, or mommy cleaning & managing “household” chores thus not actually watching it with her. She had BEGGED to go, and once there it was much different than she expected.  It was kind of a documentary telling his life story, not him acting in a kiddy movie like I think she expected. :)</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-u890QKs1_Z0/TiG1HxjrlzI/AAAAAAAACoM/hc52kX-a7E8/s1600-h/DSC08981%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DSC08981" border="0" alt="DSC08981" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-7ju4sMoG3LI/TiG1IkmXmWI/AAAAAAAACoQ/Zroi5BR99kM/DSC08981_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="274" height="207" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-oOArSgBH1zY/TiG1JKkggcI/AAAAAAAACoU/j3PtDUZe6vc/s1600-h/DSC08983%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DSC08983" border="0" alt="DSC08983" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-CKHJNaiJoPo/TiG1JflZhxI/AAAAAAAACoY/VLDrMCoI35E/DSC08983_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="273" height="206" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-4Jt5ybRciQU/TiG1KEwiP1I/AAAAAAAACoc/J3kKFB_ZHyw/s1600-h/DSC08988%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DSC08988" border="0" alt="DSC08988" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-0C1zM15welg/TiG1Kkyp88I/AAAAAAAACog/0DLNCob9awM/DSC08988_thumb%25255B14%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="278" height="220" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-LGtvnRrvJeQ/TiG1K_dT7yI/AAAAAAAACok/FktE_alBDdA/s1600-h/DSC08993%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DSC08993" border="0" alt="DSC08993" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-_5VhlMnrEb0/TiG1LCDWSHI/AAAAAAAACoo/uv09lgppvbU/DSC08993_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="262" height="218" /></a></p> <p align="center">{Great convo on what is “popular”, the strains of becoming famous, the things he’s given up in order to get what he has, pointing out he gives God credit for the talents he’s been blessed with, seeing him not always be first, not always succeed, and have to make tough choices along the road.  We discussed how it will be interesting to see how his life goes as he gets older. Will he fall prey to the many pitfalls the world holds for those in the spotlight or will he hold true to his solid & moral upbringing? I predict & pray that he will stay true & make his family proud.  He’s surrounded himself with other artists that have kept their heads “attached”…Usher, Boys2Men, the Smith family, etc}</p> <p align="center">That’s my 2 JB cents!! :)</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0