tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58286363414381901562024-03-13T22:42:37.163-04:00...I love thata look inside the life I loveMaryBethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07882026246134724691noreply@blogger.comBlogger70125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5828636341438190156.post-45368544298577374552011-01-16T14:55:00.000-05:002011-01-16T14:55:41.198-05:00Am I on the "nice" list?Christmas gets more fun each year the kids get older. Alyssa is <em>really</em> into it now - everything from the advent calendar to putting out cookies for Santa. She wrote her Christmas list herself and when she went to visit Santa she was actually nervous about whether she would be on the "nice" or "naughty" list! But Santa told her she had been a good girl this year and that she was on the "nice" list, and after that she was walking about three feet off the ground. It was so cute. I can't believe any parent would skip the whole Santa myth. I tell my friends "it's getting a month of good behavior for free." Christmas morning came three days later and I've got her reaction all on video for you:<br />
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A few days prior she sang in church as part of the preschoolers choir, which also had the 5th/6th grade bell choir accompanying (and Grandma on the piano!). I was very proud of her. Being on stage with everyone watching sure seems like a recipe for "statue" Alyssa. But she sang every word! Watch:<br />
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This has been her favorite song ever since. I think we've heard it during 50% of our car rides at full volume for the last 3 weeks. It's not really sweet or endearing anymore (to me). Ahh kids...what was cute once is often not so cute the 629th time. Am I right?<br />
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</div>MaryBethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07882026246134724691noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5828636341438190156.post-2299536596604989072010-12-16T08:29:00.001-05:002010-12-16T08:41:25.042-05:00Hide and seekOh my gosh...they are just too cute sometimes. Evan has watched me play hide and seek with Alyssa about a million times and he got the hang of it. He's only 1 1/2 years old but just from repitition he has picked up numbers 1-15 (except 11 of course...that tricky #11). Have a look - it still makes me smile, even after the 20th time watching it.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='480' height='400' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxzlEVEfXEyFeL3RhUAGjIoHi_rHZ5NXzZFnXSRowEQ8hr3FWV8AnfKUe8Y-3zq4nZn8rJYUoTEuCxPF5Gj7w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>MaryBethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07882026246134724691noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5828636341438190156.post-36399161589572902812010-11-28T15:00:00.001-05:002010-11-28T15:02:13.364-05:00Weekend in Chicago<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU4H2JMYYL7pK3GedINOtzOAi2WEB2JoIuGO_5rgbcCA54WW2L_ZdicT0CpnNGjF9_3R8dJh_RpTFu0yr_CJ5JRuDbBG1gWET21cASYWi9dheTBSH3REooq_SxefOxGgZ9GsZwp99Tjac/s1600/IMGP1458.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU4H2JMYYL7pK3GedINOtzOAi2WEB2JoIuGO_5rgbcCA54WW2L_ZdicT0CpnNGjF9_3R8dJh_RpTFu0yr_CJ5JRuDbBG1gWET21cASYWi9dheTBSH3REooq_SxefOxGgZ9GsZwp99Tjac/s400/IMGP1458.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Eric and Alicia have been inviting us to Chicago for over a year now. I should probably apologize to them since we've never made it happen...until now! The weekend before Thanksgiving with kids in tow, we hit the road and arrived in the windy city at about 3pm. Our hosts were still busy at work so we delayed an hour or so at the Lincoln Park Zoo. <br />
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<div></div>We saw flamingos, lots of things with antlers, a few empty cages. But the gorillas were definitely the hit of the show. I assure you Alyssa was more enthusiastic than this photo would lead you to believe.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs21ashOv1fzdYZoov1Vl2JjKg4wexEt0MFZxYqNA_wMK7eM5KJnQID6Nzg6EHOpj0QNyk2mys4NnqdJKiOzuWL3YHfsm3oycW988BpVc_Pe8W-PEGc8_2a9EYz95W-FMVevfUTQq4xgs/s1600/IMGP1247.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543634018544809394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs21ashOv1fzdYZoov1Vl2JjKg4wexEt0MFZxYqNA_wMK7eM5KJnQID6Nzg6EHOpj0QNyk2mys4NnqdJKiOzuWL3YHfsm3oycW988BpVc_Pe8W-PEGc8_2a9EYz95W-FMVevfUTQq4xgs/s400/IMGP1247.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 266px;" /></a> There was a 500 lb silverback gorilla that was very active and we followed him around his habitat until eventually he went inside.<br />
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<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-vEh5sGZKmw6_n6hhjEuybgK1278D-DkffaBs_iCe9AZEtiEaySqVtqPtbP10LrsunRKmSTqhxsGNkB1S2VAiHYNHu_4oBZXEnoAoGrSHObZplZF4iRw8wl84pmpvYsQOKDze9DJqrUA/s1600/IMGP1251.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543634008002154946" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-vEh5sGZKmw6_n6hhjEuybgK1278D-DkffaBs_iCe9AZEtiEaySqVtqPtbP10LrsunRKmSTqhxsGNkB1S2VAiHYNHu_4oBZXEnoAoGrSHObZplZF4iRw8wl84pmpvYsQOKDze9DJqrUA/s400/IMGP1251.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 266px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIr1XRC5dNYEBuSEj8jbjzGm5CI2h4prJUeSu4qRKD2_Zpcpm_ox2R3tBS8mbzPFSw96Rh8oR3qGhqJOCfJzJ_TAlMtIV3dS_ICibchgHOtRpGmtEEfuzXdd2x5Sinxw7VzPffwebbPXs/s1600/IMGP1267.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543632816884025042" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIr1XRC5dNYEBuSEj8jbjzGm5CI2h4prJUeSu4qRKD2_Zpcpm_ox2R3tBS8mbzPFSw96Rh8oR3qGhqJOCfJzJ_TAlMtIV3dS_ICibchgHOtRpGmtEEfuzXdd2x5Sinxw7VzPffwebbPXs/s400/IMGP1267.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 266px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a> The kids tried his handprints on for size. Much larger than you might think!</div><br />
<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRwq_kZwcVDCTTKpmLiVD_Wu9Rig8nFjb-NirLjqG_L6qZBnObkgxQgx_PntThtcc69MOfkyOZ_iBa586Tc57eFHXIYwY0pQooxtZqyPCiYG4AG5885HQPmnT5Svlu0RsTI0gYx2sWhps/s1600/IMGP1277.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543632832390355714" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRwq_kZwcVDCTTKpmLiVD_Wu9Rig8nFjb-NirLjqG_L6qZBnObkgxQgx_PntThtcc69MOfkyOZ_iBa586Tc57eFHXIYwY0pQooxtZqyPCiYG4AG5885HQPmnT5Svlu0RsTI0gYx2sWhps/s400/IMGP1277.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 266px;" /></a> <br />
<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBxKOREehlywpgDbD-e9XDQtiPwXyjR3DLjMLqCHW2Ykua9rRtHKVnvbTNcuaRH-JFG2t2l4lHNg9gcxDK4BbLfD8DxjNSezeFyThH-h00_fSFqZuTWDqxGHbex8bHzKXmfjGHrcX7tI4/s1600/IMGP1271.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543632824230326802" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBxKOREehlywpgDbD-e9XDQtiPwXyjR3DLjMLqCHW2Ykua9rRtHKVnvbTNcuaRH-JFG2t2l4lHNg9gcxDK4BbLfD8DxjNSezeFyThH-h00_fSFqZuTWDqxGHbex8bHzKXmfjGHrcX7tI4/s400/IMGP1271.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 266px;" /></a> There was also a cute farm / barn area at the side of the zoo. We saw cows and a piggy. Evan started oinking for the first time! There was a neat kid's area with several hands-on demonstrations of farm "stuff." The John Deer in the middle of the room was cool - and it was hard to pry Evan out of there when we were ready to go.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br />
<div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0U4YcG3uaZB1r25QJyKqDb9GHT_D2yenEEIhYXsVFNJ15wt7H9SeQkHDO36IFaJpo1oC1um6Rf0AN9sr211Qua-hIvMXDyCByAgqBuJWKMPuhg-bl0COH-FX4OWT7Hr4NuadUV9W_e34/s1600/IMGP1298.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544679762548261314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0U4YcG3uaZB1r25QJyKqDb9GHT_D2yenEEIhYXsVFNJ15wt7H9SeQkHDO36IFaJpo1oC1um6Rf0AN9sr211Qua-hIvMXDyCByAgqBuJWKMPuhg-bl0COH-FX4OWT7Hr4NuadUV9W_e34/s400/IMGP1298.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 266px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a> <br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN21aCvYW8fKuxT1VtAoogciv8WrWIyMC3pAbStyOOI3ta0Xc-302oxhAl-q2MZUn9OjtV91GGjLsPdHxrPEqRn_gEC69m0KnTRCjTnFQ_n4YlBpJ4btiD8OL5YBosVNTiXMsoFQWCIeA/s1600/IMGP1315.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544678960151390530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN21aCvYW8fKuxT1VtAoogciv8WrWIyMC3pAbStyOOI3ta0Xc-302oxhAl-q2MZUn9OjtV91GGjLsPdHxrPEqRn_gEC69m0KnTRCjTnFQ_n4YlBpJ4btiD8OL5YBosVNTiXMsoFQWCIeA/s400/IMGP1315.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 266px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
Eric and Alicia's apartment is really cute and they've picked a nice, quiet area of Lincoln Park with a gate and a courtyard. They have a really neat service where you can pick the groceries you want online and the grocery store will bag and deliver them to you for $6! I really wish I had that... Anyway, that night we tucked the kids in their office on the floor and we inflated a bed in the living room to sleep on. It was cozy! The next day we visited Omama in Elmhurst. Evan did his usual thing and repeatedly asked for candles to be lit so he could blow them out. Omama obliged!<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">She provided us with a little spread of snacks and we enjoyed ourselves for a couple hours. That afternoon we took the train downtown to Navy Pier to visit the Children's Museum. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik2NOHKt7GQgzPydNDLAEfkCzRmhpOH9ioqyDEmM2S8w6hQobK9JV4Odeqax15tpZmWkkhx8-JXzykgcpYY0MxK1qeA7aVqIncGq5GBhhCEca-hqGXB703oTxt5y3MGgtib_319wUFWH8/s1600/IMGP1346.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik2NOHKt7GQgzPydNDLAEfkCzRmhpOH9ioqyDEmM2S8w6hQobK9JV4Odeqax15tpZmWkkhx8-JXzykgcpYY0MxK1qeA7aVqIncGq5GBhhCEca-hqGXB703oTxt5y3MGgtib_319wUFWH8/s400/IMGP1346.JPG" width="263" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTKKcHpLVbpRm8vHgRtBnkQt5XSIlxO4BCmUoWzMYfB7Vz80qgzlShL3931QhTDKLbYzq2I2Ce2C9QDAQi5rwZvTjFA2GUfUvGr2GxXHS79uyV5txn_ecYwSX3cONyX0cTIxDqRbjwtEY/s1600/IMGP1348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTKKcHpLVbpRm8vHgRtBnkQt5XSIlxO4BCmUoWzMYfB7Vz80qgzlShL3931QhTDKLbYzq2I2Ce2C9QDAQi5rwZvTjFA2GUfUvGr2GxXHS79uyV5txn_ecYwSX3cONyX0cTIxDqRbjwtEY/s400/IMGP1348.JPG" width="265" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Lots to do! A cool room where you put on rain coats and let loose with all sorts of fun water stations.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3sTjTOySIB5lh3kg5GtDnVIvQpzcWUoa3qpDR__mydhNMq8MCGiNkO7vzlIWqC_gB1BR6s_pIIn_vwkPdK3jO6U-N85LQLVfWu4kGccTEhgHss99GyL0Px9vWM4FeVlzY3BByYcMJvxU/s1600/IMGP1418.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3sTjTOySIB5lh3kg5GtDnVIvQpzcWUoa3qpDR__mydhNMq8MCGiNkO7vzlIWqC_gB1BR6s_pIIn_vwkPdK3jO6U-N85LQLVfWu4kGccTEhgHss99GyL0Px9vWM4FeVlzY3BByYcMJvxU/s400/IMGP1418.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoiU-pCaRmAkBlgY7DO6ZRaFmx49k1AALWJ8NVayjsJ9CKNNjptAt9jOe_UhTReFYBMzAxct4x8jYTW3o3HuDvK4uhOBSu-JtWOwYpsy7I34XoZ3fnK69W00LCyDvm096IaZyI384xpII/s1600/IMGP1395.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoiU-pCaRmAkBlgY7DO6ZRaFmx49k1AALWJ8NVayjsJ9CKNNjptAt9jOe_UhTReFYBMzAxct4x8jYTW3o3HuDvK4uhOBSu-JtWOwYpsy7I34XoZ3fnK69W00LCyDvm096IaZyI384xpII/s320/IMGP1395.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A dinosaur "dig" in a pit of shredded rubber bits:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkLKHlblup673lq_EmYtvBXeqlDGcBR7YOcWHeJHZekwLj2OlIULWydr_1FXBSV5aMCXHa1PUKHGw_qfL6qyNR6jKcdfAk0DJMETf4pvW9LWNoy13A2zCva2Hl9kCRhFAdMMF_CllUj9E/s1600/IMGP1425.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkLKHlblup673lq_EmYtvBXeqlDGcBR7YOcWHeJHZekwLj2OlIULWydr_1FXBSV5aMCXHa1PUKHGw_qfL6qyNR6jKcdfAk0DJMETf4pvW9LWNoy13A2zCva2Hl9kCRhFAdMMF_CllUj9E/s400/IMGP1425.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjswLSDy-hvVI9rUD_UI_bWy9YLq0NGwma4Xg62ryNVhJkHOMjDwrtxF6zwICG9c_aSKrBKE_rqBAB0Jz3luNc472oaS-rx1t2rJRmeqwCa0Yg3ZBa3-P6yXhBctOW1bNbHpCTH4ODt51A/s1600/IMGP1430.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjswLSDy-hvVI9rUD_UI_bWy9YLq0NGwma4Xg62ryNVhJkHOMjDwrtxF6zwICG9c_aSKrBKE_rqBAB0Jz3luNc472oaS-rx1t2rJRmeqwCa0Yg3ZBa3-P6yXhBctOW1bNbHpCTH4ODt51A/s400/IMGP1430.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There was "Kids Town" - complete with gocery store, cars, gas pumps, and a sewer system you can crawl around in. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkdl-IkAbUiS7CXqu2B8urNsDhveuKX1536pIoNJp7t3RHNZMUUdDLpWIyRzeUfOiaF0B3scMOtuZ4AzX9UNGhFgIW33xgUaLeQYvmnVYD0aa0FHwFcQzIF1lHjGWyup0ISeMLQPFN_Nk/s1600/IMGP1446.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkdl-IkAbUiS7CXqu2B8urNsDhveuKX1536pIoNJp7t3RHNZMUUdDLpWIyRzeUfOiaF0B3scMOtuZ4AzX9UNGhFgIW33xgUaLeQYvmnVYD0aa0FHwFcQzIF1lHjGWyup0ISeMLQPFN_Nk/s400/IMGP1446.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOiq_dHrcnbnoa2B1QaHj8KqOFl_KlxL-i12PJUm_V01nfnU02qx5RnRCTrdSN_FqHdnOeQDKnBo3qqwvKLBMjL1xNRPY-3jjNM6Aj7jbSY1FdTilrJYobVeSUQH92zRLHpVQXkufW32g/s1600/IMGP1445.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOiq_dHrcnbnoa2B1QaHj8KqOFl_KlxL-i12PJUm_V01nfnU02qx5RnRCTrdSN_FqHdnOeQDKnBo3qqwvKLBMjL1xNRPY-3jjNM6Aj7jbSY1FdTilrJYobVeSUQH92zRLHpVQXkufW32g/s400/IMGP1445.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We pretty well exhausted them...but we weren't done yet. We walked about half a mile back towards town to get to a restaurant right off the Miracle Mile. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuEvn_MOXCaUElaKAfw9rGrbkO9jHQhdKUyf8zoe5_48b8ZL8uA_rPv4g2jBmK4JMZ2FLcbSXyQfOTWs_rI8EuzGYnpWp5V1rkDmZzZha9SGp48JEKININHWfgxT8EPia8BdxoGcaErJs/s1600/IMGP1461.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuEvn_MOXCaUElaKAfw9rGrbkO9jHQhdKUyf8zoe5_48b8ZL8uA_rPv4g2jBmK4JMZ2FLcbSXyQfOTWs_rI8EuzGYnpWp5V1rkDmZzZha9SGp48JEKININHWfgxT8EPia8BdxoGcaErJs/s400/IMGP1461.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
They must have been deep in conversation because I couldn't get anyone's attention for a photo - except Alyssa! Thanks for smiling hun.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7L1gtQk4K493W85aqBDnvLPKcYc2zSefPzHy3YUh44cqnKFRjEERgiR3xxCoAoEwzJ3RVDG0gjBzOO_69SG5uKIRp8QGjUBrnH2pBd8IRNHme3G0etTK6qPZ_k2CraFBdF_1U467hfR4/s1600/IMGP1467.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7L1gtQk4K493W85aqBDnvLPKcYc2zSefPzHy3YUh44cqnKFRjEERgiR3xxCoAoEwzJ3RVDG0gjBzOO_69SG5uKIRp8QGjUBrnH2pBd8IRNHme3G0etTK6qPZ_k2CraFBdF_1U467hfR4/s400/IMGP1467.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The parade down Miracle Mile was underway and we threw ourselves deep into the crowd as we could. Alas, I fear only the kids on Eric's and my shoulders had any sort of show worth seeing. I really couldn't see any floats over other people's heads.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPlHqrcRONb6o5ohA_qP-8KxSjxxz7_pdEaP42fM0pPzAzL7dOI-Tu7N9NfngnT9rV5ss5MgCsEDbQ6JwhIQY9sF1QF8Kdl77ISGDlSOjoEcOjYy-TvM7hNGqme8LO1r3lIyLR22c175E/s1600/Photo+Nov+28%252C+2+49+33+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPlHqrcRONb6o5ohA_qP-8KxSjxxz7_pdEaP42fM0pPzAzL7dOI-Tu7N9NfngnT9rV5ss5MgCsEDbQ6JwhIQY9sF1QF8Kdl77ISGDlSOjoEcOjYy-TvM7hNGqme8LO1r3lIyLR22c175E/s400/Photo+Nov+28%252C+2+49+33+PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We <u>packed</u> ourselves onto a train to ride back to Eric and Alicia's place. It was quite a busy day, and I didn't even mention that it started at 8am with a 1 1/2 hour visit to urgent care to get Alyssa some antibiotics. That night kids went down without a peep (nice!) and we sat around a fire and just talked. Alicia kept the wine coming until a little after midnight when it was time to call it quits. The next morning we visited their church and had a great lunch that Alicia had prepared for us (wink ;). Then it was the long drive back to Midland. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thanks Eric and Alicia - we had a really good time with you. We are looking forward to Christmas!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">-Chris</div><div align="center"></div></div>MaryBethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07882026246134724691noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5828636341438190156.post-33556932610813247712010-11-06T11:03:00.030-04:002010-11-09T20:56:10.022-05:00It's Fall in Michigan<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg5AZIPzpp2Gi3cmzfdamXUbqqWA0F543PjzmMFzXeWGUGSy22_CrP45Tv52WbvMMQpCUd-60OupLs24KABzKHNPSlvnhS0HGBr7iFOU05YGUZvyAZyAohcWth68l1JxbKj10ysSgnsE8/s1600/IMGP1091.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg5AZIPzpp2Gi3cmzfdamXUbqqWA0F543PjzmMFzXeWGUGSy22_CrP45Tv52WbvMMQpCUd-60OupLs24KABzKHNPSlvnhS0HGBr7iFOU05YGUZvyAZyAohcWth68l1JxbKj10ysSgnsE8/s400/IMGP1091.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537731766091930130" border="0" /></a>I have a love/hate relationship with Fall. I absolutely love the four or five days of color, the cider, donuts, pies, and candles. Pretty much everything else is a bummer. The gray, the cold, the raking, and cleaning out gutters all seem to persist much longer than the benefits. An appropriately balanced blog post would show probably 30% photos from the first category 70% from the latter. But that sure seems like a waste of free online storage space. Plus, I don't take that many pictures of blah stuff. So here is just the good stuff - and consider yourself duly informed that life is only about 30% as pretty as depicted herein.<br /><br />I am pretty confident my kids enjoy the raking far more than we do. And the truth is, I enjoy it more when they are enjoying it.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlSHFZL6i30nDzjTGxkVsAa-FKXOFtIWntQYnel5vZOjc5snyIJYNmCIhWtx19rQEOQ-8_Rx7uzIop8RbrYZbgC22w_2QoH_Xs5O-NUFgyZDd9G9BudmWuWP_mEciEFMvI1lUjypGhaCk/s1600/IMGP0879+copy.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 290px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlSHFZL6i30nDzjTGxkVsAa-FKXOFtIWntQYnel5vZOjc5snyIJYNmCIhWtx19rQEOQ-8_Rx7uzIop8RbrYZbgC22w_2QoH_Xs5O-NUFgyZDd9G9BudmWuWP_mEciEFMvI1lUjypGhaCk/s400/IMGP0879+copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536457939837840354" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs4nsx71ACMoRBlPAVIPrua8oZVdWNy5DwK-Xb3GXEQNEFkBsEZMhYLLW0vH9vhKnq_lzA3EZvBU41loX0Y06AO0bsrpHJgZOrEa2d5ml5wbUClB6azcZPeDzlbhgN1oV6VuIMVXEzOVE/s1600/IMGP0930+copy.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs4nsx71ACMoRBlPAVIPrua8oZVdWNy5DwK-Xb3GXEQNEFkBsEZMhYLLW0vH9vhKnq_lzA3EZvBU41loX0Y06AO0bsrpHJgZOrEa2d5ml5wbUClB6azcZPeDzlbhgN1oV6VuIMVXEzOVE/s400/IMGP0930+copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536874691496394370" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY4kfNp136AMdLq10AUfgu5bol_aNrKbBa9YtBuq-nR52xDazB6yLH-HWRfRd0vZaPrIIafXqJ9lOiKm3zESzn4HqYrQ65bARNjeqk0tf53KnUPxXnoyW22X9v2FUUlXwH5xgM5GkGpuQ/s1600/IMGP0978+copy.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY4kfNp136AMdLq10AUfgu5bol_aNrKbBa9YtBuq-nR52xDazB6yLH-HWRfRd0vZaPrIIafXqJ9lOiKm3zESzn4HqYrQ65bARNjeqk0tf53KnUPxXnoyW22X9v2FUUlXwH5xgM5GkGpuQ/s400/IMGP0978+copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536876529252505010" border="0" /></a><br />But one can only work on the yard for so long. Then it's time to head out. There is an apple orchard in Freeland - Lehman's - that has a neat outdoor play area. It looks like they used common farm items to make a playground. There is a neat petting zoo on the side as well. We usually go to Bayne's but this year why not mix it up a little?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyV14pjJ8-0M0JIIRUqlYqHqhID4Q1soYzUib8HK-te2VMXRgLAOgP0a5zPQ2ALwPJabCN8npMoBg-lF9ozRYLct1BNEyYUsSnSH9yaoUM3ri_NhK6ZBO2cCjLmDX_E8TOeYsudyPavr4/s1600/IMGP0804.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyV14pjJ8-0M0JIIRUqlYqHqhID4Q1soYzUib8HK-te2VMXRgLAOgP0a5zPQ2ALwPJabCN8npMoBg-lF9ozRYLct1BNEyYUsSnSH9yaoUM3ri_NhK6ZBO2cCjLmDX_E8TOeYsudyPavr4/s400/IMGP0804.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537146588865140066" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_9P-oFMvorTQMjIfEdak9bB4ZNL5igWUrlsMANYEaBjZHEOlM5mjoRF_J8B7x3MpePKZa7N9zMHVCWHCNjtijIIqXsDzLTONVaw0afdY4RNFEC41KXIHCoLh15Qa40JhoXptz-GX1Gjg/s1600/IMGP0829.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_9P-oFMvorTQMjIfEdak9bB4ZNL5igWUrlsMANYEaBjZHEOlM5mjoRF_J8B7x3MpePKZa7N9zMHVCWHCNjtijIIqXsDzLTONVaw0afdY4RNFEC41KXIHCoLh15Qa40JhoXptz-GX1Gjg/s400/IMGP0829.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537147162274630866" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLno7xCixZdHyLv-c4Ok43XlHQLcbwZIt_XL99W1Q3EtMoXwFnN7PhWZnb7V1pHVP-gRS3teaI8UrinWA6e9hmt1RipDUvDyJk0eLnD9X7gSmPNiBrp2_NnY989O17mvEQt1dJVD2mLDY/s1600/IMGP0845.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLno7xCixZdHyLv-c4Ok43XlHQLcbwZIt_XL99W1Q3EtMoXwFnN7PhWZnb7V1pHVP-gRS3teaI8UrinWA6e9hmt1RipDUvDyJk0eLnD9X7gSmPNiBrp2_NnY989O17mvEQt1dJVD2mLDY/s400/IMGP0845.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537723121420167154" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKgpSkDvyea2Y4C0ZVyGgMHVIr6z7kW0mBNoJJW42Qv0g4OBXh7W1IHLBtM8T7mRjY3iyKNJb-0DUJVE6-wpsH88FJaNyltpBuU1PPf241MseJIdUU7ZHWbYWu_rI8jjPHrrExiXlLL2c/s1600/IMGP0839.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKgpSkDvyea2Y4C0ZVyGgMHVIr6z7kW0mBNoJJW42Qv0g4OBXh7W1IHLBtM8T7mRjY3iyKNJb-0DUJVE6-wpsH88FJaNyltpBuU1PPf241MseJIdUU7ZHWbYWu_rI8jjPHrrExiXlLL2c/s400/IMGP0839.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537722964809928546" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMZ5H3vHzcuM_k9bHF9HrRakvn464I5rHHdX_wZ_94IE9mI63HChpJaq4B_Jlh8abRbcAu3qixjjuE3gg3Bph_48_EihWsMuwHtV8du4F-R8vOGYv216Z52nTflQdvVFJkXnf8xUcBCuA/s1600/IMGP0823.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMZ5H3vHzcuM_k9bHF9HrRakvn464I5rHHdX_wZ_94IE9mI63HChpJaq4B_Jlh8abRbcAu3qixjjuE3gg3Bph_48_EihWsMuwHtV8du4F-R8vOGYv216Z52nTflQdvVFJkXnf8xUcBCuA/s400/IMGP0823.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537723730608770930" border="0" /></a>We really had fun that day. We also went back to Grandma's Pumpkin Patch. I don't know if it's becoming a tradition or what but this is the second year in a row where we met the DeRuyter's there on a Sunday afternoon in October. This place is cute too, perhaps busier and pricier, but still fun. While Alyssa was climbing on the tractors...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihgMIDdBaifNHqBGu4J3qyz1C2lh6L0Rz_z4CnxWnP8UJUmIR6Mus7hefcb05XAk3yY1oo7RESL5K5IKmWV__-ryRjCxDMdIVFXTpljk5VrXU6WxuY2IrencZfQzPW3hELAygzIHj6CDU/s1600/IMGP1048.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihgMIDdBaifNHqBGu4J3qyz1C2lh6L0Rz_z4CnxWnP8UJUmIR6Mus7hefcb05XAk3yY1oo7RESL5K5IKmWV__-ryRjCxDMdIVFXTpljk5VrXU6WxuY2IrencZfQzPW3hELAygzIHj6CDU/s400/IMGP1048.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537725988750534898" border="0" /></a><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span>...Evan was riding in the cow train.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixuAT9iP74EORX-XVDtsamoSLPfoSQ4eWV7l-pjbSHsfVh9Af4RLlk7n1gRTirPNWua-LreDMfReHInSt8JPbx0la5B2zqS4iFXeUH_DZb03fDMhA_6Y6EhsASZuiG1BBbOcykcj_IdtE/s1600/IMGP1052.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixuAT9iP74EORX-XVDtsamoSLPfoSQ4eWV7l-pjbSHsfVh9Af4RLlk7n1gRTirPNWua-LreDMfReHInSt8JPbx0la5B2zqS4iFXeUH_DZb03fDMhA_6Y6EhsASZuiG1BBbOcykcj_IdtE/s400/IMGP1052.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537726475250942882" border="0" /></a><br />Here is the only photo I have that proves the DeRuyter's were there:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCEmnXDnfTkmT5Shqxm8mfmqDa8lt3y6snkYi5L35CvrqpXxOrbhhiY_GmFrHbRZ5faa5d25My3xiTFmzmKPvmtGeXfEWw3Xlr0y298eilc9oR2R7vZYW4ZuoMbbuRdJlkmndMLqs2N5Y/s1600/IMGP1062.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCEmnXDnfTkmT5Shqxm8mfmqDa8lt3y6snkYi5L35CvrqpXxOrbhhiY_GmFrHbRZ5faa5d25My3xiTFmzmKPvmtGeXfEWw3Xlr0y298eilc9oR2R7vZYW4ZuoMbbuRdJlkmndMLqs2N5Y/s400/IMGP1062.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537728875239304338" border="0" /></a>This photo cracks me up. Evan wasn't quite prepared for the raw speed this innocent-looking slide offered. I think I broke his fall with my right foot about 1/10 of a second after I snapped this photo:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdnq4eD9xRCDOewXsUBKowFz0_rWdpWdgC1_LXhisvhWEZLzJ5oSnCglIRQ6FlLus4_uOhArj-3qH0EVExHokB-q57uZcc2Dudf8jf7v9yseoZzCmbrJoGFPoMAej1_qP-2HZFGm-LbY4/s1600/IMGP1045.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdnq4eD9xRCDOewXsUBKowFz0_rWdpWdgC1_LXhisvhWEZLzJ5oSnCglIRQ6FlLus4_uOhArj-3qH0EVExHokB-q57uZcc2Dudf8jf7v9yseoZzCmbrJoGFPoMAej1_qP-2HZFGm-LbY4/s400/IMGP1045.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537733297321805330" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPyPDONaezRCOsoiepr983AOd0uzxHm6iNj4hYetX-gKFGJJK8vxyflvDp0t8PWLvfEuHGda5Vk6ueKXzQHFwYiFR3_Tak6CcUdKiESgj46k88DKdVczxOo4tRarnY530-2YilBgYzXug/s1600/IMGP1068.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPyPDONaezRCOsoiepr983AOd0uzxHm6iNj4hYetX-gKFGJJK8vxyflvDp0t8PWLvfEuHGda5Vk6ueKXzQHFwYiFR3_Tak6CcUdKiESgj46k88DKdVczxOo4tRarnY530-2YilBgYzXug/s400/IMGP1068.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537726698928967106" border="0" /></a>There is this indoor watering trough (empty) with about a dozen baby chicks peeping around. The kids love to visit this every year but it's so hard for me to get good photos of it.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUQzh1BqHzyRfJEXcHDwgSlNl-dl8xGwV4aiV3moI1vQZZMzMA6qFYFyOj0q4OMwwTa7m80s9Fdli3bFyG1XFzX2ufUUhTsnwSAxHZ5fOltMaQ1N0hOYbDtKzlPOSiXC1Em2l-G4ZfrZI/s1600/IMGP1090.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUQzh1BqHzyRfJEXcHDwgSlNl-dl8xGwV4aiV3moI1vQZZMzMA6qFYFyOj0q4OMwwTa7m80s9Fdli3bFyG1XFzX2ufUUhTsnwSAxHZ5fOltMaQ1N0hOYbDtKzlPOSiXC1Em2l-G4ZfrZI/s400/IMGP1090.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537729988138415474" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_YfHVIl6rG0R0ICN6ufCSIU98hqm2WSmfzd-tdHuK5K98nRUG0Yh2MsDVKoGkxJk_Cz58n31Sl7tpE1UIITHZCc5Pxh9ENPeG3172kWhmD1RpHDSRZhfF939lfCDlF60CrFuineMpl-I/s1600/IMGP1082.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_YfHVIl6rG0R0ICN6ufCSIU98hqm2WSmfzd-tdHuK5K98nRUG0Yh2MsDVKoGkxJk_Cz58n31Sl7tpE1UIITHZCc5Pxh9ENPeG3172kWhmD1RpHDSRZhfF939lfCDlF60CrFuineMpl-I/s400/IMGP1082.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537729679690359042" border="0" /></a>If you scroll waaaay back in time you will find a blog post last year of me and Evan standing in front of the fire pit. Here is the 2010 edition of the same photo:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZFDOfplaQrGzp-R3gr6FcKFuDX2XfAuUzrlRVMaP9DK_US1jVkeE9DJiC54qiOmTvGIE7VtAUBNM2SnO5pOLHIijh9E1PMRzFC6L-9UNeo-HcNDBZ7sg6FbQ5vcypi7GQzpf3pEyvQII/s1600/IMGP1078.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZFDOfplaQrGzp-R3gr6FcKFuDX2XfAuUzrlRVMaP9DK_US1jVkeE9DJiC54qiOmTvGIE7VtAUBNM2SnO5pOLHIijh9E1PMRzFC6L-9UNeo-HcNDBZ7sg6FbQ5vcypi7GQzpf3pEyvQII/s400/IMGP1078.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537732677904667202" border="0" /></a><br />Well that's all. Sign us off, MB!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ4F17tpMQRvyOa8lLTpFQTDCodvtGadifFLxs0-ZneMKw_EzkjbmnZfOtepsPRiiXWcL_uyQwHyHbi6T7ZSGx-p7Soh9QA3Gd0AtJqZGlj3LNt6P7fniq6N_Vg8w-hyjwVat1p6QCeMM/s1600/IMGP1044.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ4F17tpMQRvyOa8lLTpFQTDCodvtGadifFLxs0-ZneMKw_EzkjbmnZfOtepsPRiiXWcL_uyQwHyHbi6T7ZSGx-p7Soh9QA3Gd0AtJqZGlj3LNt6P7fniq6N_Vg8w-hyjwVat1p6QCeMM/s400/IMGP1044.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537730636844009458" border="0" /></a>-ChrisMaryBethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07882026246134724691noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5828636341438190156.post-4136413122943325472010-11-03T20:53:00.027-04:002010-11-05T07:01:32.301-04:00Weekend in Charleston<div style="text-align: left;">Lindsey was getting married on 10-10-2010 and she stood in our wedding, so we flew to Charlseton, SC to see her wedding. I would say we don't normally travel to weddings, but this was sort of a last(ish) minute decision and we thought it would be fun to get away for the weekend. So we redeemed airline miles and Pricelined a downtown hotel.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It was a white-knuckle flight for the first jump to DTW. MaryBeth hasn't flown in a couple years and anxiety was running high. But she impressed me and got things turned around and by out 3rd leg it was no big deal, like she'd been flying for years.</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyXLNIPVlxxJrJVAni9tTZZ4Nl-My4q1EbaLRE8LgyM9oJ7UkbHlleHsRmmeXYcAonrnYcNFtQ5oQ6IUXfeDaBBNNqplD9xT0u7JmtI2sNCnrm1_NFdHXBkldL6WPsQzY9NBPZ8Ht5Aq0/s400/Photo+Oct+21,+9+33+44+PM+copy.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535654168791940658" /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>We pulled up to our hotel and while MB was enjoying the lobby's fine furniture, the front desk was telling me they were over-booked and had no rooms left. I was upset, tired, and hungry as we got back in the rental to drive across downtown to a Mariott Extended Stay. Not quite a fancy as we hoped, but a room nonetheless. No bar or restaurant was open, just a mini convenience store selling microwave food. So while I promised MB five-star downtown treatment, here we were two-star, outskirts of town, eating microwave pasta.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy4aLra8nm45gNA0UI281GJazUUWE5aJ-0KsIqo4C-c18mVa54OTm06B3tKp225YuOipMhEr4iTTGBN8Cl1Mp7hhyphenhyphen19S82J_4hdjgM8hbCcbKhsw7KE64B8Y3BzrQ1YFcAvXiDZM8yILs/s400/IMG_0018.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535653828780356402" /></div><div>I can laugh now, but at the time I was fuming. Anyway, 5 minutes on the phone with Priceline and we got a 50% refund. I would definitely book with them again. The next morning we drove back into downtown and shopped all morning. Very neat experience - there was a loooong arts and crafts type market with hand-crafted wares and then just two blocks away was a ritzy rodeo drive-type stretch with Louis Vuiton type stores.</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvXXSqmUQ1r9yXwb12-V-_bB63zqz0dWI4H7Lsx5w8EMLgca6gN904I7zmyON0tK1V0dxu091yKpOfi0Hw4_Lx-uD2pFt2vTEOCFtIbO6yZKQLJ_5QsAZyEaIPNbEMfOKUaJzPpe1Uxo8/s400/IMG_0553.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535860486122117570" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px; " /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3KxtD-vpAy_6Xl8MTW3n5KFF5hbFvatVKhTj04Vgfz5_pp0FYGLuHm0AhhDyObtKjAAqbsGxQn2JHSG5xtClRZ0vlTBvOLyhsa8Z3BgAoVR4JvlSUjKjSPI6Q4rQcjVrU9qpgcAwvrSs/s320/IMG_0555.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535879347366027570" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirA5WgxiHyl8wFw1Q1vBFPoytAktfGMIJ05uPXt5EDcn8MAvX8cz_gbF5sfTCvXr5m4dAc5z9q3R_tlSyupoTgcjsdIV4A9BUDC0JMCF5Hak2KmxQ19dNzpXYxLXs5WM-SYsOTrqlKtSw/s400/IMG_0563.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535860891516946946" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></div><div>We had lunch at this seafood restaurant with lots of...um...charm!</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKh5jJTOz6oZsnAiCH_krSSzofjiN2sP6mGk7FgtGLDAxLnr03YGDiAzKmDOhBxN9_zVafQq9zB1H0IOZx_S2dGMVtls59XxoqEBKuOrn4cfZlCwBZ1cU4aC7OaHGaC-AMhwPWXgietNs/s1600/IMG_0549.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKh5jJTOz6oZsnAiCH_krSSzofjiN2sP6mGk7FgtGLDAxLnr03YGDiAzKmDOhBxN9_zVafQq9zB1H0IOZx_S2dGMVtls59XxoqEBKuOrn4cfZlCwBZ1cU4aC7OaHGaC-AMhwPWXgietNs/s400/IMG_0549.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535861849001530002" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px; " /></a><br /></div><div>The wedding was at a tea plantation 20 minutes south of Charleston. I've never seen a tea plantation, so if you haven't either, here you are:</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjGVosUkdp041LmDbvzuiDDPy3rDb8vHAZsaEIOB5BWZc7pA0DCW74OYR-l9XRuFthqqKKWd8xc_Jx-Jd5bD0jdsedx-bqvfOjlewJXB4WVSWS89lPDmliINJ92RYaictJrIEvV0pJf_c/s400/IMG_0572.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535862478902062290" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK_SVcezBx_xn5matrpJJxejfQzczzCqbp2um_q9pn2ourduoJw6xyjbRl7bIkHXzBNpXtOQHowBqJgTSdYyYfGWgbg8z3D2Fagtnr3MBBFXkWeMR4pkBdYZqDq5VDMvhdEmp3_1cwq9U/s320/IMG_0574.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535862899683079778" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgepCe0TEwNEQpEq9LQ9VUon0XOPxyPwamJx34G0hPRYAV4pwDN4R6fYgUUXQZM5xK0b3l1iErwSrWFX8sHlua_oxS2-TJ_y0toEnMnvdGd6ok38Lt4Z5e7VqGHURNdXbhQ8O_fXVSmXMA/s320/IMG_0594.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535863590320770466" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px; " /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">That night the original hotel downtown put us in their 5th floor suite since they felt bad about the previous night's problems. The next morning during breakfast we received a call from Delta Airlines that our 12:00pm flight home was overbooked and they would be willing to give us vouchers if we would wait for the 4:40pm flight that had only two connections instead of three. We took it, and then spent the day seeing some more touristy sites in Charleston. We visited the Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon, which sits upon the old wall that used to fortify Charles Town from attack. It was fascinating to learn about the first colonists signing the first declaration of independence (treason!) right there in that room.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlb9ZS3XlQ62j2YyHXwdmCn7BtU5raIpld7KWKSk6U8RXTNlzqQr8sm25gWwrg07fNhrMdn4INOcnqkO40qqITGGCrS3TxGxQ-PfFlXxDYBEDoDvXrbkLqFsVM9DFCLq3Bhr_DjtqKHAs/s1600/IMG_0674.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlb9ZS3XlQ62j2YyHXwdmCn7BtU5raIpld7KWKSk6U8RXTNlzqQr8sm25gWwrg07fNhrMdn4INOcnqkO40qqITGGCrS3TxGxQ-PfFlXxDYBEDoDvXrbkLqFsVM9DFCLq3Bhr_DjtqKHAs/s320/IMG_0674.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535865579582820466" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 239px; height: 320px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBg36Kd6mgpz95lgJTTFf-cucNm3RgmjSO3HaV4lAhUz_ZKv95psDtbC-0qfqEwrcyYumg8jH98MTHmnQTA49QyFmszv8_zXuf603PNETV7bVUN9RXFzLCLtDprTeLQBJLz4Q6FK1aYX0/s400/IMG_0680.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535866104808003874" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px; " /></span></span></div><div>In the afternoon we visited the USS Yorktown, an out-of-service aircraft carrier, and the USS Clamagore, a WWII submarine. I would say the submarine was more impressive - I can't even fathom living onboard. It was strange - the boat was so cramped I had to duck the whole time I was on board, yet it went on for compartment after compartment and felt huge at the same time.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq66tFmq4qbMMh_1h6cJAxRFuG0-dPWAXKOb-l3vOe2D2yfbOOGOhr3AtARbOudpB7WoBYZ29WVqeSRGmNc_QXnPj0SNeq4-Iw73qkut9ZtWFj6_oswH2UZ8sV_IE8BsAa0_-zngYGfHk/s1600/IMG_0694.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq66tFmq4qbMMh_1h6cJAxRFuG0-dPWAXKOb-l3vOe2D2yfbOOGOhr3AtARbOudpB7WoBYZ29WVqeSRGmNc_QXnPj0SNeq4-Iw73qkut9ZtWFj6_oswH2UZ8sV_IE8BsAa0_-zngYGfHk/s400/IMG_0694.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535872302314854834" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLta-NDmKPzSFJ1iEa5OcuWdCOONppu059DCtRfdAA5pmbNdzMCBii8yNZtN4B8mVQzJpRulUSItOSPpzxkTimmR8ZHncipet_7NlgqJ0znz-hMuSg_sVNXi79rFMDqsK6na_5LVYo7nE/s400/IMG_0699.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535872565584268354" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3naMtsE17E0YiNaFP51ZQ9UNYVh-6bZa4bwH7PxseYf10YkbnxpmL2HDLFybS211Ib_w0gqMejVthRWLoJUItOErTpHYPXqyFlgu6z2DRwksgGMMBizMJOhD7tpmzEOwvTEHFNCyXHBM/s400/IMG_0701.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535872902374630738" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_OBOQE6ByzVBXJRDh6XUh2Hb2jbv3Bdf-0fTl0ZlEa27QWIRdeO4PMmNBa3t6d6DLL74KoTJFDzcdp3U8dknImqIb6e4U5UupGSUl-1xsYsvgLwkMRxZSXjHOzPjmkkXUqj_PHK2d8_M/s400/IMG_0065.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535873421834131714" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; " /></span></span></div><div>By a stroke of luck, we found a BBQ place "Sticky Fingers" and it reminded me a LOT of our favorite BBQ place back in Toledo "Shorty's." The food was really great and the parking attendant at Patriot's Point gave us coupons for free peach cobbler desert, one of MB's favorites. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGYEsAl6dyNhNeY4gKpsMHAQbmjz_-JLF6Oygi3VoRITnbxtptF9Y4fshb3hrSZjPshoMg7yxeuBYi0t4plUOIfuEiM0HQXWt0To6j_kFRVD2cXaSJ2ERoNGB6pVBY5uYJAIjWj8oNgA/s320/IMG_0070.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535878523182638114" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 239px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div>It was a packed 3 days but I had a really great time. I'd do it again in a heartbeat with you! -Chris</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD0cKZRiH67Hj1OH04ms8S798UsqTyi0DWheUyLtI0iTD0feDwdaB-C_qtOY6qLPZfwoV3J1YbhsTYK30yNfua1-AUe_9wbbuXCsC7uspZGgz5KKEyM9D1u0dtQ-S7h67SSQXMGDS0hg0/s400/IMG_0672.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535876418500433970" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>MaryBethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07882026246134724691noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5828636341438190156.post-44683850725398947582010-08-09T21:15:00.003-04:002010-08-11T17:35:15.266-04:00It is good to be 4!!!<div style="text-align: center;">We had a birthday girl here this weekend and it was fun! I love the anticipation that builds now that she understands what birthday's are! She had several special requests this time around... a party at the park, balloons, chocolate cake and Grandma, Nana and Papa. Despite a rainy morning, the sun came up and we got to have our picnic party at the park after church. The balloons lasted 2 minutes until the first gust of wind came along and pulled them off of the weight. (Thank you Kroger balloon man for not tying the balloons securely and causing the outburst that ensued as the balloons flew away). On a more successful note, I was able to make this year's birthday cake on my first attempt (you may recall these two fails...<a href="http://ilovethatblog.blogspot.com/2009/08/happy-birthday-alyssa.html">Fail One</a>,<a href="http://ilovethatblog.blogspot.com/2010/02/evans-first-birthday.html"> Fail Two</a>)! I'm pretty happy with the results...and as a bonus, it tasted great!</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRiIw3GjPggR6OMJJzUc14R32xu032qe_xodo6-6UFJa-IHZRnmMhgAFMNxlQyrAuUFCaABfaStZacCzfu-25MMW_6A0Q0dEBrqsdVWt-U6j7srtS2osjOkSAtyEeRdv_qeDY8GGmdUt8/s400/IMGP0583.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504254865356021682" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">In progress</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP8r9KWofVW34rwIOcNjTB_cUTOho7GTjSHiW6UaL9EBXVjBB7cWUppP2-dcNcXbIc-olQc83oKrwoQ01o80w7lwIwctI5KDGoEK5XZzGbK1BnqAh3cgKS7BE78AoA09d8w96tGdNLnO4/s400/IMGP0586.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504254869729856082" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">The final product!</span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;">The presents were definitely the hit of the day. And why not when Disney Princesses, Jay Jay the Jet Plane and a Rocking Horse made up only part of the list. Let's just say she faired quite well.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHDozftFvdsh7-s9RitTAuThRVY6BaRwp4lLKtx9JfY00Sh0hoeFnS9_mgjoBd4JwAxZruF0GhCOD3Kwo1d3E_l2SOGBEgK1nzGCGleD2lyDGFxykbDFCi4VmcjJrZ57youqPjY-eqYfQ/s1600/IMGP0618.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHDozftFvdsh7-s9RitTAuThRVY6BaRwp4lLKtx9JfY00Sh0hoeFnS9_mgjoBd4JwAxZruF0GhCOD3Kwo1d3E_l2SOGBEgK1nzGCGleD2lyDGFxykbDFCi4VmcjJrZ57youqPjY-eqYfQ/s400/IMGP0618.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504262446416390898" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /></a>What kitchen window is complete without Princess Gels...</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_8DZgYKLmo1vbhgPKGp99PP1TN8FCqwGv_8jELFEUsurNqDlL-ZylzsAGbqxVCVf6nHabWc8xbn4xjlOKTFr315_bSdv_sznIEwaZn9SrG-qVpxvYEZIZfEiAO-nVeZn8JUbx0LIdEao/s1600/IMGP0620.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_8DZgYKLmo1vbhgPKGp99PP1TN8FCqwGv_8jELFEUsurNqDlL-ZylzsAGbqxVCVf6nHabWc8xbn4xjlOKTFr315_bSdv_sznIEwaZn9SrG-qVpxvYEZIZfEiAO-nVeZn8JUbx0LIdEao/s400/IMGP0620.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504262442203027538" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></a>I'm not sure who was more excited here. Me,that I finally got to give her these planes she's been wanting forever, or her that she finally got them!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo7XzaikAuWSYmaDBHSfDeXuU2uwGq7fnMttIkbhIYo76O2LityiXS6YXAY8jT2KO48BN3ykKC8Lk7Bt50NZTCbmWWWpAecCCH72iX-VFR4Jv1MqBcbABV-zTOwc6iOMEfJy_fjudunxM/s1600/IMGP0633.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo7XzaikAuWSYmaDBHSfDeXuU2uwGq7fnMttIkbhIYo76O2LityiXS6YXAY8jT2KO48BN3ykKC8Lk7Bt50NZTCbmWWWpAecCCH72iX-VFR4Jv1MqBcbABV-zTOwc6iOMEfJy_fjudunxM/s400/IMGP0633.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504262440963497234" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /></a>Papa and Grandma gave her new earrings.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij07vJlkbjiOVHkpAF0MD-8O8PFjOB8RRRt9vI31XyA7RkJyYeQBOoWNTq_QumWvfUWUjLYtXgabCrMgxKBwPSSbBcA08VBexnuqBx11Xc11xq-uew0bdHClGl3KIIVUvlVyhrgXYFEHc/s1600/IMGP0636.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij07vJlkbjiOVHkpAF0MD-8O8PFjOB8RRRt9vI31XyA7RkJyYeQBOoWNTq_QumWvfUWUjLYtXgabCrMgxKBwPSSbBcA08VBexnuqBx11Xc11xq-uew0bdHClGl3KIIVUvlVyhrgXYFEHc/s400/IMGP0636.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504262428918182850" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></a>The American Girl Bitty Baby Double Stroller she's been longing for. Her babies will be glad they no longer have to pile three high.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoimDiXLhaV6FU8LA18_6P6-_GGgtkEkqZLVR8TgzjJktddt9FYNhvWqpmcWOuMo0KPEiMysTplPf2o2EgWC387X4pZrXfF-Zlw9hc9wMFtpiOiKsMcQWyXbapyttX_SJLRn29zFLOF9A/s1600/IMGP0644.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoimDiXLhaV6FU8LA18_6P6-_GGgtkEkqZLVR8TgzjJktddt9FYNhvWqpmcWOuMo0KPEiMysTplPf2o2EgWC387X4pZrXfF-Zlw9hc9wMFtpiOiKsMcQWyXbapyttX_SJLRn29zFLOF9A/s400/IMGP0644.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504262426439309986" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;">And the beloved rocking horse. She was so excited that she now has one "like her friend Edan."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); ">What a great birthday for a GREAT little girl. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); ">She's growing up, and I'm loving the little girl she's becoming. I can't wait to see what this years holds for her.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div></div>MaryBethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07882026246134724691noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5828636341438190156.post-63720390008931905612010-07-20T08:19:00.006-04:002010-07-21T22:31:54.653-04:00Timber...<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Last Sunday afternoon it was business as usual around here. Well, actually it wasn't. Chris and I had repainted the living room (same color, just fixing a couple of issues) and rearranged some furniture the night before and we were having Oasis group at our house in 4 hours...so I was rushing around to get things put back together. Macy hadn't been outside to go to the bathroom for a while, so I sent Alyssa out with her to make sure that she went. There was a chance of a storm, but no signs of it, so I really didn't think anything about it when I sent her out. 5-10 minutes later she came in and had had success with Macy. I praised both her and the dog. I then went back to straightening. About a minute later I went out to the garage to get something from my car. When I was out there I heard this huge gust of wind followed by a crash that could only have been one thing...a tree. I went inside to find Chris looking out the kitchen window at this:<div><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijgIjnbljHKDxMleij5GjDtEiXg8ak1Ncp4Xho2Feq2aV82DOGGR9nycwAq48j7-WlZK5wnYkqDR9Il9szHbzT81R3K0jIgKRv31iPZ5fuMXZ9_TX-r0T3y0s14oIRE6DcrKKknGT32lQ/s400/photo.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496547121934605698" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px; " /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">My first thought was literally "Thank you Jesus, Alyssa had just been out there!" That perspective made a ruined patio set seem like nothing.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Our Oasis group came that evening and helped us get it cleaned up and out to the curb for large trash day which was the next day. While we were out there cleaning it up, I asked Chris if he would chop down the remainder of the tree. He went in the garage and grabbed his ax and went to chopping...in his flip-flops...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">All of the sudden he disappeared and no one knew where he went. He came back outside many minutes later looking a little pale. Apparently there had been a little mishap with the ax...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcwM1Ng70mvv8Wa7Kj3aZGdYSTqloEgxFk6WnyLDosjIgCTfZJSaTJXRsJeCMtrRilsYoeBL7jLXLDR1AH5TC2mM_zAuWCOCBNe_dZpKWKS3ouzH-7uvRGCs-bugKupolXpaa69Ot_OYo/s400/IMGP0221.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496548392926919010" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">Behold, Chris' broken, badly cut big toe. Poor guy was in a lot of pain...especially when Alyssa jumped on it. He dropped to the ground and it took quite a bit to convince Alyssa she hadn't hurt his toe. </span>Chris has been such a good sport about this. He is in a post-op shoe for 5 weeks while the toe heals, and is having weekly appointments right now watching for infection since it was a "dirty cut." </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">We had a good chuckle last night as I was reading through a devotional. It was about taking risks, and the following three scriptures were sighted...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">"When you work in a quarry, stones might fall and crush you! When you chop wood, there is danger with each stroke of your ax! Such are the risks of life." </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">Ecclesiastes 10:9</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">"The wise are cautious and avoid danger; fools plunge ahead with great confidence." </div><div style="text-align: center;">Proverbs 14:16</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">"A prudent person foresees the danger ahead and takes precautions; the simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences."</div><div style="text-align: center;">Psalm 91:5</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Thank goodness God and Chris have a sense of humor!</div><div style="text-align: center;">(Love you sweetheart.)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div></div></div>MaryBethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07882026246134724691noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5828636341438190156.post-71500668024943023982010-07-12T19:52:00.010-04:002010-07-12T22:39:34.847-04:00May/June Recap<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Wow! May was a long time ago. Sorry inter-peeps for the delay. I would have sworn to you that nothing note worthy happened in May, but as I looked through the photos...there were some pretty good things happening!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA4iJxh4JrcNm8rtW0FMlEDApspzj-lnY8wJhnRPObPp4PoO6NyPBBD2mVVDz-QSsSSRzzY9pTxi65S1DDfFXkdDC_hmYf8mNtFKZBCC3Ov8TI06eoUyzdzdAPk1YRZ-caDDQJQHY7gCI/s400/IMGP9452.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493173234013975170" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">Alyssa finished up her first session of gymnastics. She loves it, and is really getting quite good. She practices new moves all the time and is always excited for an audience she can show "something really cool" to.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGNSRKnDdqVuxj29P2JqgEuoKavD5veIETPJAoebA4P5_Vt_j_NWPonq_rTbaPP9j3uOhne-8x481CvM2Z-E2EhTtGT_k8VG8wfLVHlMIXBX1U6CkA6KciNouaFI2TzgWq-ncQ6rSEfow/s400/IMGP9504.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493173235245019042" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLpe8HUZ7lTmm3Gu_5XtlcEI7g3sKwdg4Oh18PciDGfknzrIxzvZcYXvK3_YBYjbWyVnnDMXhyg1gTVQGKl-q69Ye-qS-lqVLmZ198onbeVset4KWseJHfGa8rXsKEj_-gF1-yB0uH-Zs/s400/IMGP9506.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493173246542763858" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">Andrew graduated, Kate finished student teaching and they got engaged!! They came over and hung out with us one last time before Andrew moved to Texas. Fun times. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "> We miss you Uncle Andrew and soon to be Aunt Kate!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyQvH-JNnjdinujqBMjvLtvTc-lME_OjG8XgHNo0G87UFbqFcYpBO1G1-B6WucJAtcCCkT5CcHO3Y8obDhqMCjycUXxLWCNUOgoQCS6aJtBEmGyUgX8-5iubKbN6filBE37_5dH_4mVdQ/s400/IMGP9526.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493173254160294562" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">For Mother's day I really wanted a bird feeder. I figured Chris deserved a year off from extravagant gifts after last years ring upgrade! You are looking at the first bird to visit my feeder. It's that little yellow dot on top of the shepherds hook. Turns out it takes them a while to find the feeder, so after weeks of waiting, I was super excited to take this picture.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZXf5JP-0KEdjeazP2hYqsoMAABGu8QKeb9Yw6F601WNajqEJI78C2yM5NBeJRqGTq1UPJf1tDBmba0Gi1fKzrHfa5GOEsDPLfECqKLhk5CgcRAHOhPeoQwvwkkyt8V6d3PQR9mmiKPI4/s400/IMGP9546.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493173268621984194" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; " /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This is Alyssa on the last day of 3's preschool. What a great year she had. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqt50W6K9u4XAAbgETWVYMqZf9Ngh9ZAllDGBi6D0RZsSntIW5HierVV5APFdJNEN5S_9J_VjiMdxHxv7OqM9E5UI1iLhY4CsikPv30gqvWlTV5zPR_93UdLTMGJ8SvfokHdwXQwClImY/s400/IMGP9566.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493174779516549602" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiZZneN4k8MBe9L_wm9wrX7ew5Y_Jpa7Yl5O6dQ4hz_XBAsUv3ZwnatW45v3xOyHgjVjeceZSLtJUUybgfqsrQsfROXiZ7ezCvGJlQI03Y_c7ed2PBzlkx5GFWAHZeajANND3GVzVDUkc/s400/IMGP9562.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493174875904859714" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">..and we can't forget Macy. Here she is on our way home from picking her up. We chose her based on her behavior around Evan. She was the only one not jumping up on the little guy, so she was our girl!</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">Perhaps June was the slower of the two months.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIKl3YbfQrgwkdM7NBOjhYHaW0dM2bbJw56K8qoQ126FQYSIw4khYLEfYxp-AwuXhXGJk_dMA6tkrOWLgDBQ8XAHnhn1hJ54X-_GJF5wD_x96r5vjznovfKlJSVjOBfiwHJFk4daDwGK8/s1600/IMG_4717+(1).JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIKl3YbfQrgwkdM7NBOjhYHaW0dM2bbJw56K8qoQ126FQYSIw4khYLEfYxp-AwuXhXGJk_dMA6tkrOWLgDBQ8XAHnhn1hJ54X-_GJF5wD_x96r5vjznovfKlJSVjOBfiwHJFk4daDwGK8/s400/IMG_4717+(1).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493182973219093938" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a>Alyssa finished session two of gymnastics. This time she got a "gold medal". Very exciting.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi01BSnxwf68iAeLA9wgCJK40_6GEQiAf3F83qAnNKUEat7nABigCBrVph-ubFQOmFcXR95Sfn000ADru0OkmUMf_ugVlSL0AwsvwaQRx3MGEcVpf3vHVwp5gSSbajzjEaNWLYnDHtgb_8/s1600/IMG_4732.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi01BSnxwf68iAeLA9wgCJK40_6GEQiAf3F83qAnNKUEat7nABigCBrVph-ubFQOmFcXR95Sfn000ADru0OkmUMf_ugVlSL0AwsvwaQRx3MGEcVpf3vHVwp5gSSbajzjEaNWLYnDHtgb_8/s400/IMG_4732.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493182965229893874" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">We hit up the local beach one spontaneous afternoon. Chris came home for lunch and just didn't go back that day...it was fun.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></span></div></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV2kiPt2YQvTaGz9wpyFuPj-4klueom4DO8e5dm51Z6vypOzcU4qOH1zA2uIlen6v7WtXfNNhs6scYhe9O8PrUWII5SNnejJGCI7lf_WwG0ZkUThH2PNgeeWl0rtVKkwfMq8cNA2up-OY/s1600/IMGP9609.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV2kiPt2YQvTaGz9wpyFuPj-4klueom4DO8e5dm51Z6vypOzcU4qOH1zA2uIlen6v7WtXfNNhs6scYhe9O8PrUWII5SNnejJGCI7lf_WwG0ZkUThH2PNgeeWl0rtVKkwfMq8cNA2up-OY/s400/IMGP9609.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493182457272069058" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></a>This...is just cute. I love this little guy.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-isqOwI-odeRgVtJrvdB-h9LQA5MyE56Z46xTmCvqTIV6Q19CvTOauzD2h0DgsdVIXoN3ocAXp2q9_Ss9Hf1UQ2GgAB_uFVTAzQdcdgAWMUf5ZtTI4x79FWTFwEJpk0dLad9PdADCbgw/s1600/IMGP9677.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-isqOwI-odeRgVtJrvdB-h9LQA5MyE56Z46xTmCvqTIV6Q19CvTOauzD2h0DgsdVIXoN3ocAXp2q9_Ss9Hf1UQ2GgAB_uFVTAzQdcdgAWMUf5ZtTI4x79FWTFwEJpk0dLad9PdADCbgw/s400/IMGP9677.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493182034347776082" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></a>...a little frog hunting at Chippewa Nature Center. Bless Alyssa's heart...she will hate that I put this on here someday, but it is so her.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid5hOxhmbu9SzEtwJ6RjY7mrpoBc4vyndozfO4fAU1V2HgsXOkpnAnIfPL_2pdAPcYweB51vdYQEmJ_D-7VzRouD-ootyYRt8JXn5T90TppZQ8foDXJuDS9h9_-fLv8SI80SG9ON1QQQA/s1600/IMGP9726.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid5hOxhmbu9SzEtwJ6RjY7mrpoBc4vyndozfO4fAU1V2HgsXOkpnAnIfPL_2pdAPcYweB51vdYQEmJ_D-7VzRouD-ootyYRt8JXn5T90TppZQ8foDXJuDS9h9_-fLv8SI80SG9ON1QQQA/s400/IMGP9726.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493182021529469170" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuWsIDtlCUjuV8tiHMejZsUHB0al7bFa1wJKJdTqHLzFB8k8_TMS1FIYT8VJMvs9h7azfK16nza1OLVG46gOR65kmknjO4DokWZpPMvMmI6QaK1nT9reXXOWlq69k-BjYBydkLdSZGxOA/s1600/IMGP9811.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuWsIDtlCUjuV8tiHMejZsUHB0al7bFa1wJKJdTqHLzFB8k8_TMS1FIYT8VJMvs9h7azfK16nza1OLVG46gOR65kmknjO4DokWZpPMvMmI6QaK1nT9reXXOWlq69k-BjYBydkLdSZGxOA/s400/IMGP9811.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493182010394206546" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /></a></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcAY61JESyqNcm4AlC4AFW_HR5yk7yaOV2LCy5yxV6RTsrMTYJQX1RLoHZVRUJhjokz6NDLzON-MfBO9ZRK1ldKiE1tUhypkabFgkkimx-j4OYzTSg0rvGXHk2RKS7p7H8bqjkudc_WyA/s400/IMGP9711.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493212160800567762" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuWsIDtlCUjuV8tiHMejZsUHB0al7bFa1wJKJdTqHLzFB8k8_TMS1FIYT8VJMvs9h7azfK16nza1OLVG46gOR65kmknjO4DokWZpPMvMmI6QaK1nT9reXXOWlq69k-BjYBydkLdSZGxOA/s1600/IMGP9811.JPG"></a>We visited Baby Acres, a local farm with friends from church. It's always fun petting and feeding the animals. Or if you're Evan, learning to milk a cow.</span></span></span></span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI1duH27CoSMwCESpVqVML64nektwab3mrNYHkg7ZljQpqA3SzWIXhn5WbO1UJDt7501mtZ8rSxQUJBb3HuxzMvDmX9YS-lOm6FxJawElrtBhFBSjhXyTcsPhToXL_K7Ew3ulNgyOVP3I/s1600/IMGP9863.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI1duH27CoSMwCESpVqVML64nektwab3mrNYHkg7ZljQpqA3SzWIXhn5WbO1UJDt7501mtZ8rSxQUJBb3HuxzMvDmX9YS-lOm6FxJawElrtBhFBSjhXyTcsPhToXL_K7Ew3ulNgyOVP3I/s400/IMGP9863.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493182009191655442" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /></a>Each year our street has a block party. This year they were having a bike parade so Alyssa and I went and picked out decorations for her tricycle and decorated it. She then refused to ride in the parade, so I had the privilege of escorting Evan. Doesn't he look good with pink streamers?!</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoJadtkIfP-1X-C9yN2L_mBAQwE0MYQfmadjv0FcxPEK1WkqxcBiVEl_UZcQ5t9ZQDn-8UrzouOvsW8p-fXPCRi7PKejTqGL2PAe-AHrK5ivZRB_q-Fw53aMtoOBG32fWHBL1ZhYHTwUE/s400/IMG_4754.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493212167704134098" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " />Alyssa has had going to the circus as a must accomplish sooner rather than later on her bucket list. So when we learned the circus was coming to town we hit it up. It was on one of the hottest days of the summer...but she has now been to the circus...moving on to the next item...going to Brazil to see monkeys!? (yes, that is a request of hers.)</span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIzwqxXjBtTMl3jj3UeGUWQjewpM-XXCRwL3g3ntmjO-tsNMd73bzR6ueL_r65zf57LEpJGdSpyeRxXCzKx154uYArREc5pSxxWU9e0osFZW0fMvER9QirVBaL8jyrQZgvkEQl2QXlV_E/s1600/IMGP9877.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIzwqxXjBtTMl3jj3UeGUWQjewpM-XXCRwL3g3ntmjO-tsNMd73bzR6ueL_r65zf57LEpJGdSpyeRxXCzKx154uYArREc5pSxxWU9e0osFZW0fMvER9QirVBaL8jyrQZgvkEQl2QXlV_E/s400/IMGP9877.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493181997756751586" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></a></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">My sweet husband must really love me because I do know how to come up with projects! I had the great idea to remove the steps from our kitchen door and install a larger landing with the steps so that I could manage the dirt on the kids and dog outside instead of in the kitchen. Well, he turned my vision into a mini deck off of the kitchen. I love it! He and his Dad worked so hard and it looks so great...sorry I don't have a pic of the finished product.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">...and now you are caught up to July. </div>MaryBethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07882026246134724691noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5828636341438190156.post-8151820437426453262010-07-07T10:34:00.003-04:002010-07-07T10:50:41.116-04:00Hello again!<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>So after multiple requests from many people, I'm back. I have to admit having the break has been nice and allowed me to really think about why I want or don't want to continue blogging. My final decision to continue came after Chris said that he really enjoyed looking back through the months and remembering things that had happened in our life. I had struggled with "keeping up with the Jones' " I guess...not feeling like everyday life was worth blogging about. Turns out in hindsight, everyday life looks pretty good. So my goal is once a week updates about life. I can't promise every week will be jam packed with fabulous outings and projects, but I can promise cute kiddos, a puppy, and a mom and dad who really do love this little life we've been given. Stay tuned, I'm working on a May and June recap.<div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-SLRqkaEAzeYq1OhK1KOFul20beQUtxHZnwrmdx8CqzvUvwfUCLUKYvbzuMG8D2XGSKdSaOmoK3Qbi7dF8IH2WAeUTcL9pppcnvyvFqVehXl1qtAHUQKiIATUY6W7gp-e0oWHEETrnNA/s1600/IMGP0181.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-SLRqkaEAzeYq1OhK1KOFul20beQUtxHZnwrmdx8CqzvUvwfUCLUKYvbzuMG8D2XGSKdSaOmoK3Qbi7dF8IH2WAeUTcL9pppcnvyvFqVehXl1qtAHUQKiIATUY6W7gp-e0oWHEETrnNA/s400/IMGP0181.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491176578485598642" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzVylTRiR8zls7qaxmkZF9lPXd3D_L7el9yrDMFGmm-_vNSp1bxx3umDKTvYTNAo0EC06O_anct6skmdwY75S2LfG2k_KLRvxDMGuk7kju_-7AaCfA3r4FAVroK9S2vC5BnjD1O2LmZ-8/s1600/IMGP0175.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzVylTRiR8zls7qaxmkZF9lPXd3D_L7el9yrDMFGmm-_vNSp1bxx3umDKTvYTNAo0EC06O_anct6skmdwY75S2LfG2k_KLRvxDMGuk7kju_-7AaCfA3r4FAVroK9S2vC5BnjD1O2LmZ-8/s400/IMGP0175.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491176577439484290" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>MaryBethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07882026246134724691noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5828636341438190156.post-30356814604755576312010-04-29T09:22:00.003-04:002010-04-29T09:41:04.137-04:00Glorious Spring<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">I think these pictures speak for themselves. Spring has sprung and we are loving it!!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiepEueREfdBJn3PqvkswEtIKmLJCgGA2rwmF1ZuXVRm7xO61UvcJpzo8cuQmfZ6E8qdDT5diszpzEkJMPt1LiCvrb4BKtSdFyZ96chN6JCqoWbXTUlXFWcdJJC5ZGwnoXvfbVfIw4V2yQ/s400/IMGP9082.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465552137385482546" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjya6TQlnFX4NxGwi17Z_3Sia_OhnV1h-EDZZKY51FF7tIVfU08H1wa1GAK-ZsJcZBOOqoG0Lx9kk_BNmFHsUNdZ6h6WNv8a9oXzgyqEmTkooVNVjZ382mR0apuOvvI_EJpMdm2e67hhfk/s400/IMGP9127.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465552145766029266" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs_irUi8DMb3Fbydu-L_tuze-Bq2sCPGup6P7s4aBtTiEPPfwJ0E8YQqD40-pjiNLSvmsYxAx665KvnrZTFFHjDaXxGNDjENi-QpIv3CGN44wnE_kXV-jroUGmb9dl5i1FYb0uGqMyF68/s400/IMGP9120.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465552144517192658" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU0n-yooGCrWpRyQz-yLhbjZNjlPHhseffs_PjTXe8Zw5RthOcqlK3GwVYFrQcrCv4TkGtxyNX4iw0OD2DlAk2NLhpueEJ5BXBHQWwFv1atPpAtLYrsxgGkptLtIjIq2S0bd5KzgL8Xhw/s1600/IMGP9128.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU0n-yooGCrWpRyQz-yLhbjZNjlPHhseffs_PjTXe8Zw5RthOcqlK3GwVYFrQcrCv4TkGtxyNX4iw0OD2DlAk2NLhpueEJ5BXBHQWwFv1atPpAtLYrsxgGkptLtIjIq2S0bd5KzgL8Xhw/s400/IMGP9128.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465552155514075106" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></a></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7162WbosesnN1g2335aqykXu36PX793Vz09nohGJroTPYFQD7Z-MwdNDPAmTIt1DL52x9BktmPVxACJBeAiat1sbli9fOouw_k0vhzTt9IlkZQa_eZi1AuxeQPRdIO767yiVjX8WzbJ8/s400/IMGP9284.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465552159936461186" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFaOJj-Ip-2GbpPebCPIhy0K5gzupDNDIxoanM_Lwq4CNMIxI5Re9hgUfGv5aPIEESBJB5dDnn5Wt4aMdIRu0cbe4p4j1YIpZLnWkH2RB8mKe8dqTHXVpBPluzXsFgPTumYfvOBUyysLw/s400/IMGP9309.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465552334809824626" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguBUKakG7N-kAJ966WYTP3XAfpulGqcT0FzV-0QKkRGiG09B_eUM-UwK7Z6-lAejfwOFwhAZIKBNJ6N4EO6iBkG0TJGcKNzekPs_6XHBb3LuDfyVBattFSluy8-8orPAVVxSCo5PIOrvE/s1600/IMGP9382.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguBUKakG7N-kAJ966WYTP3XAfpulGqcT0FzV-0QKkRGiG09B_eUM-UwK7Z6-lAejfwOFwhAZIKBNJ6N4EO6iBkG0TJGcKNzekPs_6XHBb3LuDfyVBattFSluy8-8orPAVVxSCo5PIOrvE/s400/IMGP9382.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465552353205312738" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3_fTigucIiGeL2NpVrU72qA40FDiIq6vIeM_yvafxFNA1pBM68smFH3r5GhT1DF44HRYNGUEmvN4nGIefvgU3PGIVdjQgv4ph7-HYOED7I9mk6VChLH3cLudc2ApaS8ESMU3Y-K1EK2s/s1600/IMGP9364.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3_fTigucIiGeL2NpVrU72qA40FDiIq6vIeM_yvafxFNA1pBM68smFH3r5GhT1DF44HRYNGUEmvN4nGIefvgU3PGIVdjQgv4ph7-HYOED7I9mk6VChLH3cLudc2ApaS8ESMU3Y-K1EK2s/s400/IMGP9364.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465552350771004226" /></a><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOnoxHAx6FPJM4VONa5uHqVwqeqRXxuHkmuGDruAU2kzs1CTeb6LfAYlpiEteWTA6vXEbGO4CBU2jqssmKYEyeKsT6EpAvlHf2CY0VmhHwR8zjtonAyUsDwLnxb7hjaFUZG2uDNtZHs2w/s400/IMGP9390.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465552362829096962" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyhK1bRtze0PZYSDiIHazJATxyZq6LDGIZT2pJL1nnWBus-EImNhGHxK28675C3Z4dr2u6KOZ3bNGoLtelrjbTMLk3Ao1OIuCf1aW6SxYp07R25xWveYTKLXbRXCQar-rbpNEjG-FSmvc/s1600/IMGP9353.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyhK1bRtze0PZYSDiIHazJATxyZq6LDGIZT2pJL1nnWBus-EImNhGHxK28675C3Z4dr2u6KOZ3bNGoLtelrjbTMLk3Ao1OIuCf1aW6SxYp07R25xWveYTKLXbRXCQar-rbpNEjG-FSmvc/s400/IMGP9353.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465552345400488450" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>MaryBethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07882026246134724691noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5828636341438190156.post-90242212097299049862010-04-22T11:56:00.003-04:002010-04-29T09:42:23.889-04:00Just keep swimming...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Meet Dorothy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw9TvuTtp6LRXU-XcLo2WFGnaxXdEup2crmKgriPWZQc8uXjAvc3U68YRUJYioUktwoPwAXyQuj0uxjgiRsp0PZB9sFdmi-eqnGDqbhNHvC6LnQG6M0lgmEEtK4wMn2tjmakb52bFaLvo/s1600/IMGP5050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw9TvuTtp6LRXU-XcLo2WFGnaxXdEup2crmKgriPWZQc8uXjAvc3U68YRUJYioUktwoPwAXyQuj0uxjgiRsp0PZB9sFdmi-eqnGDqbhNHvC6LnQG6M0lgmEEtK4wMn2tjmakb52bFaLvo/s320/IMGP5050.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Dorothy is the centerpiece on our kitchen table and has been for almost two years now. We love Dorothy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I took this picture last August because I knew that someday I would have to blog about her death. But folks, today was just not Dorothy's day to go!! I came downstairs and started to buckle Evan into his booster at the table. I looked down, and there was Dorothy on the rug below the table. I watched her for a minute and she was still trying to breathe, so I picked her up and put her back in the bowl. She floated on her side for a while, and I wasn't sure she was going to make it. But, after re hydrating she is swimming around just like her old self. I have no idea how she got onto the floor. The only thing I can figure out is that when Chris cleaned her bowl last night, he filled it fuller than usual. She must have jumped out, landed on the table and the flopped around until she fell off the edge. Poor little fish.</div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left;clear: both; "><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;">*****UPDATE*****</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;">Sadly, the next morning, Dorothy had died.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">While we're talking pets, meet Zoe.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEippPK_iyxFRpGWgq3rs0CUtsd5_Rw-nhMor558NNPkiNqRa00oEFbH9Z51WQ9NNE9tg8lZO9ytYUD3UCnP1w1cM2260roSPw_HELfX3tbRxROaaUTJdq-F_lZUJkhE-4AWjc2WWXMobNU/s1600/112-1283_IMG.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEippPK_iyxFRpGWgq3rs0CUtsd5_Rw-nhMor558NNPkiNqRa00oEFbH9Z51WQ9NNE9tg8lZO9ytYUD3UCnP1w1cM2260roSPw_HELfX3tbRxROaaUTJdq-F_lZUJkhE-4AWjc2WWXMobNU/s320/112-1283_IMG.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is Zoe in 2004 as a puppy. You may recall we were scheduled to move to Texas at the beginning of this year. Dow does not relocate pets, and as much as we loved her, I was not willing to drive all the way to Texas with two small children just to keep her in our family. So, last summer, we found a new family with young children for Zoe and said our good byes. This was much harder on Alyssa than I ever imagined. She has not stopped missing Zoe and has wanted a new dog ever since. Well, then we didn't move. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So...meet Macy<span id="goog_785958173"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyFQJmrvo8S7acrsxF22ht-t--KxEzQnQiUkeZUX4r156HbgwZWl1F5WuaQdHg9kbu5BT1K99h2gvH813O9pw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div>She's in there somewhere. This video is from last Sunday. Alyssa and I went to visit the puppies after church. They were two weeks old at the time and just learning to walk. Mom and Dad are both beautiful Goldens with all of their health clearances. We are so excited! We will be welcoming her into our family sometime this June! </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I think that's enough pet news for one post. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Yay Dorothy, we miss you Zoe, we're excited to get you Macy! </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>MaryBethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07882026246134724691noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5828636341438190156.post-1893994092020788642010-04-05T09:35:00.000-04:002010-04-05T09:35:58.185-04:00Happy Easter!Happy Easter everyone! We had the best day. Church was amazing, the kids were amazing, the food was amazing, our family was amazing...just a really great day. Alyssa started the day by finding the eggs and candy and umbrella the Easter Bunny left for her. She found this umbrella in a gift shop back in December and has wanted it ever since. I've held out waiting for the right season to roll around. I'd love to say she was so excited this morning when she got it, but she found it in the back of my car last week...grrr. She's pretty attached to that umbrella...if opening an umbrella inside really does bring back luck...she's in trouble! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEbOD26dO0EgJ2EX94-7ClxAiWHXdD_fUiNVdcyiZNr_YCruWV3UWOsVQsM0aHh4qOeXgHma_eQkTJGMNZpBRlWa2SG7FTjEUvkqWxieoUMMIi2gt4YLG-W19ehuU1PQgbz9ckBThUL3Q/s1600/IMGP9143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEbOD26dO0EgJ2EX94-7ClxAiWHXdD_fUiNVdcyiZNr_YCruWV3UWOsVQsM0aHh4qOeXgHma_eQkTJGMNZpBRlWa2SG7FTjEUvkqWxieoUMMIi2gt4YLG-W19ehuU1PQgbz9ckBThUL3Q/s320/IMGP9143.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We headed to church and then over to Grandma's house for lunch. The Easter Bunny at Grandma's house really knows what she's doing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipLVVOa6xTHl21bDEOCtlv_Vfw7gWcxRNwsEYtgaF_VuvSAnLi3CmJq8khhuICS9F82geIVI97kWZ42ZGHtEx7xzMzMUZTaIwpyl1L5oZ1C1npdM4SFJEzpMA_1uxZE9dlagEnJrkoil8/s1600/IMGP9169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipLVVOa6xTHl21bDEOCtlv_Vfw7gWcxRNwsEYtgaF_VuvSAnLi3CmJq8khhuICS9F82geIVI97kWZ42ZGHtEx7xzMzMUZTaIwpyl1L5oZ1C1npdM4SFJEzpMA_1uxZE9dlagEnJrkoil8/s320/IMGP9169.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">cupcakes!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVNPmK26jUDldlZ6cJ-UbkjKKGMSnvHRaPU1B1WtvrOkBBbADRETfmCyUsfm6IKkDUi_8Y0syOwlx0UIZNOMnsm-qrR31UHJGujZlC6HabZJDx2YKsPXhlaGx6q2d_zaKoUNxgskAeHhk/s1600/IMGP9171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVNPmK26jUDldlZ6cJ-UbkjKKGMSnvHRaPU1B1WtvrOkBBbADRETfmCyUsfm6IKkDUi_8Y0syOwlx0UIZNOMnsm-qrR31UHJGujZlC6HabZJDx2YKsPXhlaGx6q2d_zaKoUNxgskAeHhk/s320/IMGP9171.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A book with peek-a-boo flaps and sounds...perfection!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbsYM8tBIsRsi2UmJtVex_f2lNO2CeibV_d5bid3b4IwwUTlAsM2p7ttdVeg7JddwM7jq5-WhyphenhyphenNWILvn7AKQlfSIxlgAgVHc1fq19RJmaEoJAfygLUcJ3YTJRiUcXZxCKyux6vri19wZM/s1600/IMGP9195.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkV_i0Sh56tay_JhWnRkr6VaOrKGFZnIAtL5QcjMjcDQEYaalKyUqyzfUlx44SSp73kWzFC4chuIk5WJH_pwP95nXMX5dpmXeRKwyL0hlLFeuH8SAm3WsF2nD2ByEYPkWqCRwJzoaFEn4/s1600/IMGP9173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkV_i0Sh56tay_JhWnRkr6VaOrKGFZnIAtL5QcjMjcDQEYaalKyUqyzfUlx44SSp73kWzFC4chuIk5WJH_pwP95nXMX5dpmXeRKwyL0hlLFeuH8SAm3WsF2nD2ByEYPkWqCRwJzoaFEn4/s320/IMGP9173.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Gels! These are a huge hit at our house. We have a large window in our kitchen that is decorated very well by this three year old.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG6lLCjF-HnHuqsKyrvnAtqcT9-qQHMdwrKISKIFZWb3I6_9vKPEvR1TiIKf3HBaIoYrb7mGBvD0fQRL2PR0CtFmH3WUyLXEwk4gXV27rOxm4txu4H0HHg6Whypjq_aRvDPUtkN3MrY0s/s1600/IMGP9177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG6lLCjF-HnHuqsKyrvnAtqcT9-qQHMdwrKISKIFZWb3I6_9vKPEvR1TiIKf3HBaIoYrb7mGBvD0fQRL2PR0CtFmH3WUyLXEwk4gXV27rOxm4txu4H0HHg6Whypjq_aRvDPUtkN3MrY0s/s320/IMGP9177.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"The Magic Railroad." She has been wanting this Thomas movie. It has Diesel 10 and Lady in it...be still her heart...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhptCIDW3cLCokXW_O-gkxUa5l2ErZk026fi-VRzpPiI9l3tl98p7TFFcZiEDTZAAc90tpWR_oeGIvhy4gU19H_GeFeuVtGCy7CgV6EI0HteY2A3SzaXRna6eUzXgkwTELoltKcnzNH-kc/s1600/IMGP9178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhptCIDW3cLCokXW_O-gkxUa5l2ErZk026fi-VRzpPiI9l3tl98p7TFFcZiEDTZAAc90tpWR_oeGIvhy4gU19H_GeFeuVtGCy7CgV6EI0HteY2A3SzaXRna6eUzXgkwTELoltKcnzNH-kc/s320/IMGP9178.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">a snow globe,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj68XuSouFyygwcMxVIFJ6ZipVuKkTlWbc_G7rVXxkbRvXedXA6Mw_KNhyphenhyphenIwNsoaIIZwu4I8nM-RpskCouX-p2d8uL3H0AjvTjUPcX4d8Rd58MGgScsVl_Rc5JrBSIkaUFRWEK3kjnwxGM/s1600/IMGP9181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj68XuSouFyygwcMxVIFJ6ZipVuKkTlWbc_G7rVXxkbRvXedXA6Mw_KNhyphenhyphenIwNsoaIIZwu4I8nM-RpskCouX-p2d8uL3H0AjvTjUPcX4d8Rd58MGgScsVl_Rc5JrBSIkaUFRWEK3kjnwxGM/s320/IMGP9181.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and bubbles!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWCwDWkgt9Ks45dxxOVo1IqmjTe9FS_DwuwSfxvTbUCJQ7qSA1hgQbfGpLaXy3nIEvryY_BpQzRl51lkGrrR3KnPF9J8LPmo7SAGTyJ5O3KyZAOytge-hUb0i5nTmcbjE57ZxJVKhrwu0/s1600/IMGP9189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWCwDWkgt9Ks45dxxOVo1IqmjTe9FS_DwuwSfxvTbUCJQ7qSA1hgQbfGpLaXy3nIEvryY_BpQzRl51lkGrrR3KnPF9J8LPmo7SAGTyJ5O3KyZAOytge-hUb0i5nTmcbjE57ZxJVKhrwu0/s320/IMGP9189.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">pretzles...tell me, would you rather eat the pretzel or him...oh my goodness!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_3_9Mln1foajqzElWYqa9xdIZYy6m-EKVa_IWx3ZTLnwUQNSDVRUTM3Y7RryxdHs052vqPgqBETuDquZMZj77-4UbCIiOjvnMe0wQ2I-gnzh1HDoPRGPf6rRzAEXMvmCRW7JN3T_1CQw/s1600/IMGP9166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_3_9Mln1foajqzElWYqa9xdIZYy6m-EKVa_IWx3ZTLnwUQNSDVRUTM3Y7RryxdHs052vqPgqBETuDquZMZj77-4UbCIiOjvnMe0wQ2I-gnzh1HDoPRGPf6rRzAEXMvmCRW7JN3T_1CQw/s320/IMGP9166.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Sunglasses...ummm...what a little man!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI637Wwy7QRSGncFXYEpu_pziB7I05EfmW1scTqqJ9LhDhhwHPRI-EKoSBCyIZaIunx6JUHpMofuKaWe8fpkvwHSVMoOgyl9KMScjA3rn4-BDMABXA4TWC49Bt24iUbHgd1E88gc2Vq_w/s1600/IMGP9168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI637Wwy7QRSGncFXYEpu_pziB7I05EfmW1scTqqJ9LhDhhwHPRI-EKoSBCyIZaIunx6JUHpMofuKaWe8fpkvwHSVMoOgyl9KMScjA3rn4-BDMABXA4TWC49Bt24iUbHgd1E88gc2Vq_w/s320/IMGP9168.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">He's even got the moves already...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9OnKnkcjZTXnKH3h9-iZsVkBygOn2xD5og4k4nmPI-pp_F-I5bS2MVkgHCHiQEwNE2GuHXRRGb7c1ZbtB2RSvGLrFy1NBGLcKgp-RevC0QW-3C9CM7NjO6QmBuSB0yyoQas0mBN-uBCk/s1600/IMGP9184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9OnKnkcjZTXnKH3h9-iZsVkBygOn2xD5og4k4nmPI-pp_F-I5bS2MVkgHCHiQEwNE2GuHXRRGb7c1ZbtB2RSvGLrFy1NBGLcKgp-RevC0QW-3C9CM7NjO6QmBuSB0yyoQas0mBN-uBCk/s320/IMGP9184.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The aftermath.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We packed up and went home and took naps and then went over to Nana and Papa's. The Easter Bunny had been busy over there too! There were lot of eggs to find!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqx1yU0yreear4VJhVM7z71I0j-9ArqyiJGfVE-KO4rsCpvu6OazpLnYOrG7OqEXTyRO9PGD1lAGHLObv-GjM9JenqvL35QHJzij3wEkixIpl87jEYTbNioiahBfXLzYr9muFu7BCfx0Y/s1600/IMGP9211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqx1yU0yreear4VJhVM7z71I0j-9ArqyiJGfVE-KO4rsCpvu6OazpLnYOrG7OqEXTyRO9PGD1lAGHLObv-GjM9JenqvL35QHJzij3wEkixIpl87jEYTbNioiahBfXLzYr9muFu7BCfx0Y/s320/IMGP9211.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ok, I can't even look that good without a pretzel in my mouth...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOLZFN_Wt5mXQmMzVxl37IAm4PceGkG17g7r5TAKT0hM6bFOMNLzvcWYxwMPysmDasezJdzwYkfq-4YEKup0vmsdIkikdchKw3r6DLSRJlEalW40L6EKqOp-pLNn3twIkaOs2rO1lF4X4/s1600/IMGP9214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOLZFN_Wt5mXQmMzVxl37IAm4PceGkG17g7r5TAKT0hM6bFOMNLzvcWYxwMPysmDasezJdzwYkfq-4YEKup0vmsdIkikdchKw3r6DLSRJlEalW40L6EKqOp-pLNn3twIkaOs2rO1lF4X4/s320/IMGP9214.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">He spotted one.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt2d_EdTizqmXnUE4O2B6OIuTDn0NZdB5Nw1uMXJcIxcZdcEOffR8_MEBX0oJMhHYquNNNL0oKI7kjDeP6omoTunZzQKwwazWo0RC5XDXVHhe-KFQO3RrJiONZtLL0E903YOuSTV0HVn8/s1600/IMGP9226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt2d_EdTizqmXnUE4O2B6OIuTDn0NZdB5Nw1uMXJcIxcZdcEOffR8_MEBX0oJMhHYquNNNL0oKI7kjDeP6omoTunZzQKwwazWo0RC5XDXVHhe-KFQO3RrJiONZtLL0E903YOuSTV0HVn8/s320/IMGP9226.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">but she picked it up...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioU2fAlUluKiEInPxW4EQbrjG82dxgISHOuooTdEcDyhKeqlpbDXVc117-tJewmGsWjIufthb4nagecDUBaqefz7frzbjwcv2CZEuGDFm8om8aHIYBXTzxHMQRojWZ7TCzyk4aH0tyzCc/s1600/IMGP9236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioU2fAlUluKiEInPxW4EQbrjG82dxgISHOuooTdEcDyhKeqlpbDXVc117-tJewmGsWjIufthb4nagecDUBaqefz7frzbjwcv2CZEuGDFm8om8aHIYBXTzxHMQRojWZ7TCzyk4aH0tyzCc/s320/IMGP9236.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglhIBZQ82hIcPWTAW88NmED1_8Ll5RCvBMsa4G8gFu-UXC7vn97vPv5YlF1j-WYoQSEEZBATuiXoVSbbbXSATo38j8CvezouqacelWXRp4IemcqXMjZsnbjhc4upXX23zAmqcfou78nBk/s1600/IMGP9245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglhIBZQ82hIcPWTAW88NmED1_8Ll5RCvBMsa4G8gFu-UXC7vn97vPv5YlF1j-WYoQSEEZBATuiXoVSbbbXSATo38j8CvezouqacelWXRp4IemcqXMjZsnbjhc4upXX23zAmqcfou78nBk/s320/IMGP9245.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I love this pic.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS08V29hItIFm7HK-aEug1nW27pZCJ9qHChn9LK8rXZTFadJMOIz1SwV-GFn0cY25bDpVKNIJgKxa5lajEp9y6OZW8u8RvnI4QWh7fbWyCwrY6ovqRz2fQp3YcZXg2AYug7BsjpfIlinw/s1600/IMGP9247.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS08V29hItIFm7HK-aEug1nW27pZCJ9qHChn9LK8rXZTFadJMOIz1SwV-GFn0cY25bDpVKNIJgKxa5lajEp9y6OZW8u8RvnI4QWh7fbWyCwrY6ovqRz2fQp3YcZXg2AYug7BsjpfIlinw/s320/IMGP9247.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Time for a book with Nana.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi30ZmHNk1llH7fKr55lX38f2o4-PH9CXWHvJP6T6b2Ck5HPFlE-fXHlcYKIjAcbvYxxZu4N3lL3Uh4IBSpEnecbw9PSujWXLzDZq9yzFQcmGEXNVbZGQUo-hy-4C8GueJzG42BWCdoBhc/s1600/IMGP9256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi30ZmHNk1llH7fKr55lX38f2o4-PH9CXWHvJP6T6b2Ck5HPFlE-fXHlcYKIjAcbvYxxZu4N3lL3Uh4IBSpEnecbw9PSujWXLzDZq9yzFQcmGEXNVbZGQUo-hy-4C8GueJzG42BWCdoBhc/s320/IMGP9256.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Look at them checking each other out.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Ok, this next little exchange is priceless. I think Alyssa ADORES Kate.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDDYI0CzenKWeakgtF5UB_ZU3ONpBoG3Ou5sftmhljFBlZ26YW2GS1NfDWVhiImYcXaa9Eo0ZmQL0s1VshaEYD9yDi9aNE4mgUVchEY5S42J_exJ2vnNvOB_A8sLVDwpJeUuauMaQnhds/s1600/IMGP9266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDDYI0CzenKWeakgtF5UB_ZU3ONpBoG3Ou5sftmhljFBlZ26YW2GS1NfDWVhiImYcXaa9Eo0ZmQL0s1VshaEYD9yDi9aNE4mgUVchEY5S42J_exJ2vnNvOB_A8sLVDwpJeUuauMaQnhds/s320/IMGP9266.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What a girl...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sorry for the picture overload...I just couldn't narrow it down anymore. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div></div>MaryBethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07882026246134724691noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5828636341438190156.post-58668799662732783212010-03-28T21:20:00.002-04:002010-03-28T21:31:58.849-04:00<div>I feel it only fair to brag on Evan after the last post about Alyssa. The little man is changing so much and becoming so much fun as he gains more independence and tries to communicate more. Mom and I went shopping Friday night and got Evan his first official pair of shoes! Here he is checking them out...</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigyhfpsZScsaFt3bzkqM1S9Bg-Re7R09vXHXID_g44ro40xQRoq1gZV8PWhZuCVaPeP-Q3noDUsHuNcEUKbmeRUh7HX_rEp2wYyXspF-gZRsXOIJAC0_Y6E0MlK797hfRN_GXmywqOD1I/s400/IMGP9007.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453860695780893026" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 268px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZcNZChpwHhLSH8-N2WEgVJpB7UvbnVQ3B4A5Zik1_LovqM9XZXKjaUYpVtJ1soO4SjVvfHaJKGoWw8E11onXD316Ew1QtdbJmqbmeMRC0qri-W1xeoxrENCdpiNUcYqo3qT2HN2jMl9g/s1600/IMGP9010.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZcNZChpwHhLSH8-N2WEgVJpB7UvbnVQ3B4A5Zik1_LovqM9XZXKjaUYpVtJ1soO4SjVvfHaJKGoWw8E11onXD316Ew1QtdbJmqbmeMRC0qri-W1xeoxrENCdpiNUcYqo3qT2HN2jMl9g/s400/IMGP9010.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453860779754911858" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">He likes them!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeXUqSCcskVj9EP09CYeJ0bGKqOEbHuKTd_88uGPaDQvWpxstEmmBrL0F23kqiYpoT920s4NeeKyjbpBjRy5em4vE2u_GX2MR7IH_Q2C8FJvLkktEdEmjdv22iN-qIULAuXjTEmwwYlF4/s1600/IMGP8956.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeXUqSCcskVj9EP09CYeJ0bGKqOEbHuKTd_88uGPaDQvWpxstEmmBrL0F23kqiYpoT920s4NeeKyjbpBjRy5em4vE2u_GX2MR7IH_Q2C8FJvLkktEdEmjdv22iN-qIULAuXjTEmwwYlF4/s400/IMGP8956.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453860682454943378" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">He found his way into the pantry, pulled out the Cheerios and had a snack. He was entertained for much longer than it took me to clean it up, so I say...go for it!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgg0lNQCAHLnRzLg2mNKI1_nShytVFY3L4QBV9QwPeRfAPY9t5XhCDvj7jvNdl4RbnkdEEeemxxgtd4Sv6_6TX_ZwRU2SRzWp6BXrlJcbVTdgC9epIHc_l93Amuwz6cZJMMEc_FBW4dac/s1600/IMGP8970.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgg0lNQCAHLnRzLg2mNKI1_nShytVFY3L4QBV9QwPeRfAPY9t5XhCDvj7jvNdl4RbnkdEEeemxxgtd4Sv6_6TX_ZwRU2SRzWp6BXrlJcbVTdgC9epIHc_l93Amuwz6cZJMMEc_FBW4dac/s400/IMGP8970.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453860677964771266" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDwQenGpgtssp5zNKQckyvFFDrRrjq4sG9mHfqorYL4HFNOuPrDYuy-OnW-KOyVlJtnrwml0lZFY1X3dxmVzS4vajmrkF9M9YLd8eno_LLUy2avnR3ocguzCTvYcmDw8KGWJH_eK1HAwY/s1600/IMGP8971.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDwQenGpgtssp5zNKQckyvFFDrRrjq4sG9mHfqorYL4HFNOuPrDYuy-OnW-KOyVlJtnrwml0lZFY1X3dxmVzS4vajmrkF9M9YLd8eno_LLUy2avnR3ocguzCTvYcmDw8KGWJH_eK1HAwY/s400/IMGP8971.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453860670862778082" /></a>I just think he looks so sweet here. There's something about him in his pj's that melts my heart!<div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg14tQTXAOldIj9_rpRCfwHTp1XX5nGbBOPAf2WnzE5sk0xsAIlhulL-MtGXhghu2fCREcG8RAd32bvgx2Em7Zptc68a9udhqhyphenhyphen2gYqG-fSPdJEBGTKQLC0a5SHNr1TSSZDRNj1lKbIbEI/s1600/IMGP8978.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg14tQTXAOldIj9_rpRCfwHTp1XX5nGbBOPAf2WnzE5sk0xsAIlhulL-MtGXhghu2fCREcG8RAd32bvgx2Em7Zptc68a9udhqhyphenhyphen2gYqG-fSPdJEBGTKQLC0a5SHNr1TSSZDRNj1lKbIbEI/s400/IMGP8978.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453860668541563458" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Ok, how could you not love that face. What a little peanut. I love you Ev...</div></div>MaryBethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07882026246134724691noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5828636341438190156.post-44877901011636355632010-03-22T08:33:00.003-04:002010-03-22T09:17:46.699-04:00Are you still there???<div>If you're reading this, you're officially a faithful reader. Sorry it's been so long...I just haven't felt like blogging. Real life happens apparently... Since I've been gone, Spring has arrived, the snow is gone, Evan now walks almost exclusively, Alyssa started gymnastics, we went on retreat with the High School students from church, I turned 30!!!!!, Chris made me an AMAZING desk which I am currently sitting at. I L-O-V-E it! So yeah, we've been busy, but having a lot of fun.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRDWe0End7T63e4JhHFHcgkb_uehX9HMKxIm69tXm813TBubqPuXVF0x1MS1vNhOZHxn8n4Rv49P_q5mSiMaNTpJgD0phvLix1UyzsDn-A0VJju8XVXr0DhGxa6n6buYqmeLVb0bpNHW0/s400/IMGP8801.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451435543167221730" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here she is ready for her first gymnastics class.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1X70QzcodGWulJfi9kgLpxURCjV09lS4uwAu6n3WEVwFd3NTA7GXDQwz3v2-uMVealTGQOdVL-g-y44MrdPqbGlaW7uKBTZbWfRZT68k9mFsJiI7BHHHlvLYsxCGdSz3GxAeiDqUBVhI/s400/IMGP8787.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451435537031772194" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">Adorable...</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwNLR8eN-lkxQ47mS_24hwomj5ptGAplnvHLLCY1IQz1K7SW7EbR2yH6IE7sRHfB5tMq_B_jNMVQ9NeP3PM0QBkTbW8dJv6YH9gr5-lvYGcwK1XdoBaHkdJXnOtsX9frLmBSH1Ax91QEo/s400/IMGP8807.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451435548677169058" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">Oh that face...</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1eONEv6LxF-Enp9SUncOBYtSCBkacVAPDAe9x7KiDzZhu1D9Znq4gtBygFu2U06qU4_JhELcRRvlGomkt5i5EOe8MmlXuxeYoSN9I5TqSic6U3j1A8n-mVQ-tVNIJ0Qr_g_WGS1zfSGk/s400/IMGP8844.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451435551002219682" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">Nothing like a balloon, a swing set and the sun on an early spring day.</span></span></span></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJE2B96zC7Yi3lmstVt3ydCSZ_xOEiCMP8RV6TEQoztkDCzxBvf9Vltwa2GP-78EQ4c4df7A4sW9EbvOUNbtE4j9eETxgVBfjpGlpWTf9dfwzfm4_92CiB4NmRo2B1XBVvP5tfIcvGzjI/s1600-h/IMGP8901.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJE2B96zC7Yi3lmstVt3ydCSZ_xOEiCMP8RV6TEQoztkDCzxBvf9Vltwa2GP-78EQ4c4df7A4sW9EbvOUNbtE4j9eETxgVBfjpGlpWTf9dfwzfm4_92CiB4NmRo2B1XBVvP5tfIcvGzjI/s400/IMGP8901.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451435889206361330" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Ok, nothing like a Halloween necklace, a gymnastics outfit and a sandbox on an early spring day.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVIjwSCHs-FdGuJEKlw6s2f-_UnUY5EBmhuNamghgR6c2invnmWA1Vd0cGSOKNzJDOVYa1DbSaaMjsRczuskCiR_QfQRZiMV4daq976KjhsXvzZ3PX7uprVUHCxOquZ6ypOjEq2LjQBPY/s1600-h/IMGP8886.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVIjwSCHs-FdGuJEKlw6s2f-_UnUY5EBmhuNamghgR6c2invnmWA1Vd0cGSOKNzJDOVYa1DbSaaMjsRczuskCiR_QfQRZiMV4daq976KjhsXvzZ3PX7uprVUHCxOquZ6ypOjEq2LjQBPY/s400/IMGP8886.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451435878569785186" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Care to splash?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjbc6q8o-mo3p2vQgEzDawhtvV-jhaysM6zmZDMbQIoK86Dihf-UKU-TelQVMxl1teJzrKq79zcUqj9zQ9XmGagWkCT5f72wk93ioVk6AfnqKevwz1PliuhQQOl1OOWXcr4mk5RJnHbKE/s1600-h/IMGP8867.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjbc6q8o-mo3p2vQgEzDawhtvV-jhaysM6zmZDMbQIoK86Dihf-UKU-TelQVMxl1teJzrKq79zcUqj9zQ9XmGagWkCT5f72wk93ioVk6AfnqKevwz1PliuhQQOl1OOWXcr4mk5RJnHbKE/s400/IMGP8867.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451435561049960274" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Aly-G, you're the best...</div>MaryBethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07882026246134724691noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5828636341438190156.post-44840047343703451662010-02-27T20:40:00.002-05:002010-02-27T20:55:31.880-05:00Walking feet!Yesterday Evan took his first real steps!! We have been certain this would happen anytime now for weeks and yesterday was the day!<br /><br />Here he is in action. <br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw3qpRRlI-QfxMoPSSQGXUl6OccA_aK0gsqrafRLpqzkAMzk-F4bAh6bCEbNsBwfC1EqevbaGQ3iFEDU82ivA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />Isn't that great! Already today he is much more sure of himself and walking three times as far. His default mode is still crawling, but it won't be long until he's chasing Alyssa around. Could you tell the attention Evan was getting was just about to kill her? Oh they are fun.MaryBethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07882026246134724691noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5828636341438190156.post-81777110336095068502010-02-17T15:10:00.000-05:002010-02-17T15:10:03.350-05:00Winter Blues...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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I'm officially ready for winter to be over. I'm longing for the days of throwing the kids in the stroller and heading to the park. I'm longing for no more bulky winter coats. I'm longing for the sun...oh the sun... But alas, it's February in Michigan which means we have at least one if not two more months of this... Here are the latest pics and we try desperately to be entertained inside for just a little longer.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfkiGIH8l3NnIHcY_tvAILKmW-JEMRz87yUeGKvyg_QFcm35H-WtTKutp4ToHWkKEIbaEEId3S70qni9uTIr_0mr_wvTqdHaHUL8GHdViTlsCrf9g_fmBwBErtUgUkv33o5m8sKoIN43U/s1600-h/IMGP8682.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfkiGIH8l3NnIHcY_tvAILKmW-JEMRz87yUeGKvyg_QFcm35H-WtTKutp4ToHWkKEIbaEEId3S70qni9uTIr_0mr_wvTqdHaHUL8GHdViTlsCrf9g_fmBwBErtUgUkv33o5m8sKoIN43U/s320/IMGP8682.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Put the toys in a new basket and they look like new toys!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRtUJGnU42-CjgH9MRKSLMM1iWX2ZFVjoivaBEHB06XwJd0mDHF6cdbzpkBCpoUStQf05FYXFHmMH0JaKUqayRjbjhX1qqqdM2AbF7CAx6cJzEI26elAndXl_HOCg2Wig_4g2OTvVFZdE/s1600-h/IMGP8683.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRtUJGnU42-CjgH9MRKSLMM1iWX2ZFVjoivaBEHB06XwJd0mDHF6cdbzpkBCpoUStQf05FYXFHmMH0JaKUqayRjbjhX1qqqdM2AbF7CAx6cJzEI26elAndXl_HOCg2Wig_4g2OTvVFZdE/s320/IMGP8683.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuyNDC5tTjFDVHL9KR3zoWCTiKBPzX2hEfqM1wtF9eZPt6J2jd-SnLCDdEjS0tHO7AQ1_M1XiBhye09k1NTQDI8u-7nN3hhabREBQOy6uuMVakqrgvDL1TJfbFSgYE5WuU7Ig9zuvOb5Y/s1600-h/IMGP8687.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuyNDC5tTjFDVHL9KR3zoWCTiKBPzX2hEfqM1wtF9eZPt6J2jd-SnLCDdEjS0tHO7AQ1_M1XiBhye09k1NTQDI8u-7nN3hhabREBQOy6uuMVakqrgvDL1TJfbFSgYE5WuU7Ig9zuvOb5Y/s320/IMGP8687.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4vqcsW60sBXI_qExdOLdEaA-Q6peZCbbziQ1ZBqWyR6DQALY32Y9qjPYwOGehgCyHnH-21sBjAvN30nOLrG6JIRKkXBeWTlCGsJo7Vxfd0NqSnxz0jfi5SWdnxPd-DCGYu9VYQMBm2NE/s1600-h/IMGP8688.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4vqcsW60sBXI_qExdOLdEaA-Q6peZCbbziQ1ZBqWyR6DQALY32Y9qjPYwOGehgCyHnH-21sBjAvN30nOLrG6JIRKkXBeWTlCGsJo7Vxfd0NqSnxz0jfi5SWdnxPd-DCGYu9VYQMBm2NE/s320/IMGP8688.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Thank goodness they're easy to entertain!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieslN7pet3rbM_T_O64votxP1wWNy5wg-BzUzQEsAtIPS3evfH5Fi61EJcb2H_NA5WPp0PSqEhFJFi_vY9oaE6zOH8UD0I8mhHHysb_D2rBSwpYMR5TuHOQ5ZzbL5SxgvOX2foDEzv72E/s1600-h/IMGP8695.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieslN7pet3rbM_T_O64votxP1wWNy5wg-BzUzQEsAtIPS3evfH5Fi61EJcb2H_NA5WPp0PSqEhFJFi_vY9oaE6zOH8UD0I8mhHHysb_D2rBSwpYMR5TuHOQ5ZzbL5SxgvOX2foDEzv72E/s320/IMGP8695.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">See the two new teeth!! There are four more coming through on the top this week!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-fHo__WJ7oYTIUhDQA74N4ctcpHmJum_BWzmrtpWpthhJ1P4iLtHM6PPuzDtDhj2Z9DznHnYPFNHpg7uIcaQ9sgJKSNjNLdT7ctiEmBEmKQkvAU8lg5ocCc6Q0z-40yroTmrnFzGZLos/s1600-h/IMGP8697.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-fHo__WJ7oYTIUhDQA74N4ctcpHmJum_BWzmrtpWpthhJ1P4iLtHM6PPuzDtDhj2Z9DznHnYPFNHpg7uIcaQ9sgJKSNjNLdT7ctiEmBEmKQkvAU8lg5ocCc6Q0z-40yroTmrnFzGZLos/s320/IMGP8697.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Nothing like a good book.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A package arrived in the mail yesterday from Uncle Brian and Aunt Kim and saved the afternoon.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqEMOJwFGAw3gfTouSzoCfL4fuxtTq5xYd4wno6CulUilPLHLH44Tvk1jU9ITWKsBkVnCFCO4kxg8nJJSKMiJ_vAhjZKxwOzPHxKKuz7J43xg_wQG-gKqD-Mg8fciGRLiGoRsLz24wQLQ/s1600-h/IMGP8739.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqEMOJwFGAw3gfTouSzoCfL4fuxtTq5xYd4wno6CulUilPLHLH44Tvk1jU9ITWKsBkVnCFCO4kxg8nJJSKMiJ_vAhjZKxwOzPHxKKuz7J43xg_wQG-gKqD-Mg8fciGRLiGoRsLz24wQLQ/s320/IMGP8739.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge_5Xkl2cSUw_w0YneDLqEKTFS7NtBJY0t6R10fvm-lZu28ZCnx4mrs8FezJSGTt3YWLEw_wMXVJ729EWIp3G4zvJ0Q4eXNh6qnxhwRrVFiqnt7UMmZ2S10PmBkXjiw3k88N7xryieyfg/s1600-h/IMGP8740.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge_5Xkl2cSUw_w0YneDLqEKTFS7NtBJY0t6R10fvm-lZu28ZCnx4mrs8FezJSGTt3YWLEw_wMXVJ729EWIp3G4zvJ0Q4eXNh6qnxhwRrVFiqnt7UMmZ2S10PmBkXjiw3k88N7xryieyfg/s320/IMGP8740.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNOwtbpxO_g5qf-GB5d-0sOcXIHRTTe6_tF8hVHJLuhPytC8ZJP8lX0irFBgXmFZUVtqQXaw1xDoDdc-3bzAI4kcsNzrNkbPkNYu9L-OxhwYx8orUYLTY1bUJlSHGKBdyi9vSVkI021uc/s1600-h/IMGP8742.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNOwtbpxO_g5qf-GB5d-0sOcXIHRTTe6_tF8hVHJLuhPytC8ZJP8lX0irFBgXmFZUVtqQXaw1xDoDdc-3bzAI4kcsNzrNkbPkNYu9L-OxhwYx8orUYLTY1bUJlSHGKBdyi9vSVkI021uc/s320/IMGP8742.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Alyssa doing what she does best...lining things up!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga49I3VT9oqcUmbYiViUTZB1OqRFgvVNCLjtOB8i_SuJrdBIDi4Sjpax2hbhoAFcIMJOsxqNE_VWoTFdlx-P2rLueOVNdZQ1kmmNitRYXa8DGVwVQ6RbWnB8LBuoxVatqlCqgxx0J-DTw/s1600-h/IMGP8747.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga49I3VT9oqcUmbYiViUTZB1OqRFgvVNCLjtOB8i_SuJrdBIDi4Sjpax2hbhoAFcIMJOsxqNE_VWoTFdlx-P2rLueOVNdZQ1kmmNitRYXa8DGVwVQ6RbWnB8LBuoxVatqlCqgxx0J-DTw/s320/IMGP8747.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thanks guys!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here's to spring...come soon!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>MaryBethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07882026246134724691noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5828636341438190156.post-28612288510240893322010-02-07T22:37:00.000-05:002010-02-07T22:37:03.575-05:00Evan's First Birthday<div style="text-align: center;">I still find it amazing that in the course of a year babies go from this...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4XXvaCQNOxMY6UbQGZtoplXUNszx1UZ4b9Ba5_fYX_F-835HDq3Bu0rBoiaF6AHFy4qIQW-xNMY7Z2LqwL_59o6GQ_au2C26avCzwI-QgZhIzbVqUlhxL0tYSR7l3PJeVgpiB7Y67C9o/s1600-h/IMG_3671.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4XXvaCQNOxMY6UbQGZtoplXUNszx1UZ4b9Ba5_fYX_F-835HDq3Bu0rBoiaF6AHFy4qIQW-xNMY7Z2LqwL_59o6GQ_au2C26avCzwI-QgZhIzbVqUlhxL0tYSR7l3PJeVgpiB7Y67C9o/s320/IMG_3671.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">to this!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_oPzQLyChIeCOOw88cUqmkScLXZ2F2ZR0jagiJoSYqYsijQfC7wAmAQq8W-ZyiqFnsHPyqGZ1DgpH5tTzqy9jT_vT9KB6pOuDUmNHeJPaU_iDzQbhXz_IS5_ddUUvCK9NfRfVWfCVwa0/s1600-h/IMGP8651.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_oPzQLyChIeCOOw88cUqmkScLXZ2F2ZR0jagiJoSYqYsijQfC7wAmAQq8W-ZyiqFnsHPyqGZ1DgpH5tTzqy9jT_vT9KB6pOuDUmNHeJPaU_iDzQbhXz_IS5_ddUUvCK9NfRfVWfCVwa0/s320/IMGP8651.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I had so much fun preparing to celebrate Evan's big day. Who he is and what makes him tick has really started to show in the last month. Because of that, picking out presents was easier/more fun than even at Christmas. Toys that play music/flash were the big hits this year!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Alyssa picked out this star toy that turned out to be the fav. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi243v0BamRXL7bLn44PmtE7_jmp4NBqaRsThqHlU4x3jtrfmZrlKKXNwpash0yYFaNqDbqJt6UFlS_rJj96ma-EgcTKXITs6MLHcg6vyRQLNEpirzXtRGGSw3_XAYVa3KF1Ryd-C1bUfE/s1600-h/IMGP8620.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi243v0BamRXL7bLn44PmtE7_jmp4NBqaRsThqHlU4x3jtrfmZrlKKXNwpash0yYFaNqDbqJt6UFlS_rJj96ma-EgcTKXITs6MLHcg6vyRQLNEpirzXtRGGSw3_XAYVa3KF1Ryd-C1bUfE/s320/IMGP8620.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He also got several leap frog toys, a Thomas train, a puzzle and a chair for his room!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Ckty5T6OdBMgnjWJLtc1PM6oyPIk_3qjsfCeMS847jXSUKAlKliCGDp8MrZazGIjN10cRN_rDilJj_jMIGCLbbGGxqXNlTR0qt3VbcDzkeYp78IAXndP-uuWHGSU3fHgs9D0P2aDQR8/s1600-h/IMGP8628.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Ckty5T6OdBMgnjWJLtc1PM6oyPIk_3qjsfCeMS847jXSUKAlKliCGDp8MrZazGIjN10cRN_rDilJj_jMIGCLbbGGxqXNlTR0qt3VbcDzkeYp78IAXndP-uuWHGSU3fHgs9D0P2aDQR8/s320/IMGP8628.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG9K0C8wNFWTtKTVB0arEQeDetpoIq5HHW4YTfxqoif1XkR9-uwMY4vAZfOy6wOclj_DAh9J1BeH2uSPf4XUjvTz7dP2afNzDUFbBcWSwMow0SZ0T_Z4btMNmAO5krslmYHhqDG2m7VCI/s1600-h/IMGP8631.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG9K0C8wNFWTtKTVB0arEQeDetpoIq5HHW4YTfxqoif1XkR9-uwMY4vAZfOy6wOclj_DAh9J1BeH2uSPf4XUjvTz7dP2afNzDUFbBcWSwMow0SZ0T_Z4btMNmAO5krslmYHhqDG2m7VCI/s320/IMGP8631.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Cute, cute cute!</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">I had started out the day with Alyssa baking Evan's cake while he was napping. I checked it, thought it was done, pulled it out of the oven, flipped it over to release from the pan and...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNX7jm8hgSr_EfU2D7OQC9b1Ps-RtLFjN0BAmzVtLdUqM2bn321luY7SVdli_aSSA7evodY6XHzXO74-qWSDMnYWrG2osbVMEVePXauKnsepLezevi2loc063LKVWRv94YAiWMU74bQcA/s1600-h/IMGP8545.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNX7jm8hgSr_EfU2D7OQC9b1Ps-RtLFjN0BAmzVtLdUqM2bn321luY7SVdli_aSSA7evodY6XHzXO74-qWSDMnYWrG2osbVMEVePXauKnsepLezevi2loc063LKVWRv94YAiWMU74bQcA/s320/IMGP8545.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">oops!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Luckily, I had enough of all the ingredients and had started early enough in the day that I just whipped up another one. (Thanks mom for helping clean up!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Take two...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq5iC8sLoWyA1vYENNcCn586ZNhDKxC2G6fDzYok4K_JhOJCpMfFGHk9mcMEsDa60nHk2AvxhIvpCiJ8Um8uTUvyr-1F46B7FF5Urm9NUc-kxfdF9-eVUmQze2FuOVA8b1oeQMnA4mQns/s1600-h/IMGP8548.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq5iC8sLoWyA1vYENNcCn586ZNhDKxC2G6fDzYok4K_JhOJCpMfFGHk9mcMEsDa60nHk2AvxhIvpCiJ8Um8uTUvyr-1F46B7FF5Urm9NUc-kxfdF9-eVUmQze2FuOVA8b1oeQMnA4mQns/s320/IMGP8548.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The finished product...always worth the effort!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsc8mKvWSUo1aPX8sJPRYPfqIcB1m_f3gL64wfCvQ-DftJ9MVgAdPMjcxV2UWXOiWv019YTPWG03MsoI5AiE7N-f8a3TKKDKXBmx7tGMcDwCzh95XM0FWvzOVhklhY07UbDm7nvsdLggc/s1600-h/IMGP8577.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsc8mKvWSUo1aPX8sJPRYPfqIcB1m_f3gL64wfCvQ-DftJ9MVgAdPMjcxV2UWXOiWv019YTPWG03MsoI5AiE7N-f8a3TKKDKXBmx7tGMcDwCzh95XM0FWvzOVhklhY07UbDm7nvsdLggc/s320/IMGP8577.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhshvIcHuWC6TfGN8yiyH81OCltAvR1GD-hFCEq5W_U9y0fmFVvq0t5Zh7CasVmE8W8Hhzp4FBn86-dYS8IYQWIcwhH2YQbcdNdmpNtJkKfWSHCA5ySyT2rvnrLIPKalX9w6nC9xLImapY/s1600-h/IMGP8584.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhshvIcHuWC6TfGN8yiyH81OCltAvR1GD-hFCEq5W_U9y0fmFVvq0t5Zh7CasVmE8W8Hhzp4FBn86-dYS8IYQWIcwhH2YQbcdNdmpNtJkKfWSHCA5ySyT2rvnrLIPKalX9w6nC9xLImapY/s320/IMGP8584.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd3jlz3Sb8kccuSWLAZcpdbrggVbXTZBcJhAdnVUtOcZKMcEBNcUeFHroJ2rBxVxDY_NvUOKrPVF_UHuBzrjTk5RUiktIvUXmzjcsodaeLePl4cmfHhOg2IfaYMUBiRuAdXaYN23s65EU/s1600-h/IMGP8588.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd3jlz3Sb8kccuSWLAZcpdbrggVbXTZBcJhAdnVUtOcZKMcEBNcUeFHroJ2rBxVxDY_NvUOKrPVF_UHuBzrjTk5RUiktIvUXmzjcsodaeLePl4cmfHhOg2IfaYMUBiRuAdXaYN23s65EU/s320/IMGP8588.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What is this?<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpndX5xfZsw3jp6eyvw77O_BiEBNdNrFQXSbL5AOg4zzi9Kp9gBN_PaaxXM1KBK8gBQK8FxMI3c7EootYw-vJ30rt19Tw2_0mqLR5-j_JmHZ434yc4g_QZpbk3wtVw76585yBfkReTsuA/s1600-h/IMGP8590.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpndX5xfZsw3jp6eyvw77O_BiEBNdNrFQXSbL5AOg4zzi9Kp9gBN_PaaxXM1KBK8gBQK8FxMI3c7EootYw-vJ30rt19Tw2_0mqLR5-j_JmHZ434yc4g_QZpbk3wtVw76585yBfkReTsuA/s320/IMGP8590.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">are you sure??</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV5hCeJmwYW6ZnDjewXfOSQn8Ijv2QxufumnyK0yDqlylVtAf42mzS0IizQeiNsByScZA1W_MfxFXrSdXKCvd45OeBKrGVLiLLCMdf1R9KZya2H8cyXRM0l3ddYQfZjxdxGLIt4zRuueE/s1600-h/IMGP8606.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV5hCeJmwYW6ZnDjewXfOSQn8Ijv2QxufumnyK0yDqlylVtAf42mzS0IizQeiNsByScZA1W_MfxFXrSdXKCvd45OeBKrGVLiLLCMdf1R9KZya2H8cyXRM0l3ddYQfZjxdxGLIt4zRuueE/s320/IMGP8606.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I think there's more in here...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitEVvf_hr7ilUqPDAruHOh47EVZ5K-5-SaM1jf9Fw8_F49KxyE3wmxImXw1GwxhG4KX1JEBeaFrPKMNlQgDbtG9VI3RbU6-80yrv3m4vdNEYN14D12mXQVcg7Zo70tcsNMA6OFp3aMLuY/s1600-h/IMGP8609.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitEVvf_hr7ilUqPDAruHOh47EVZ5K-5-SaM1jf9Fw8_F49KxyE3wmxImXw1GwxhG4KX1JEBeaFrPKMNlQgDbtG9VI3RbU6-80yrv3m4vdNEYN14D12mXQVcg7Zo70tcsNMA6OFp3aMLuY/s320/IMGP8609.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Hello?!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjAtj_WWt6fiZHwa-HsrB11Je2pT0VE-JBPMnu9mAinfzQ4elBOL8EK2JV8TXkbDw9_Xwtdlupvr-7iOAuYwcn-hdhGTGAmZoI-Sb57PsEbgIJPSAaOSnofK17c3GPEqg5HhSSq_Vecqs/s1600-h/IMGP8612.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjAtj_WWt6fiZHwa-HsrB11Je2pT0VE-JBPMnu9mAinfzQ4elBOL8EK2JV8TXkbDw9_Xwtdlupvr-7iOAuYwcn-hdhGTGAmZoI-Sb57PsEbgIJPSAaOSnofK17c3GPEqg5HhSSq_Vecqs/s320/IMGP8612.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">This doesn't work like the phone...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So much fun! I'm so thankful for this little boy. He is such a sweet little guy. He lights up when he sees you in the morning and loves his big sister. Oh the conversations they will have. I can't wait to see what the next year brings...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>MaryBethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07882026246134724691noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5828636341438190156.post-71209946000108705132010-01-19T21:16:00.004-05:002010-01-19T21:19:38.179-05:00Weeee!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One of my favorite things about being a parent is being able to re-live the pleasures of childhood as they experience them. We took them sledding last weekend, and this was definitely one of those times. I had as much fun as Alyssa did...easily.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW2h-PTSsKkFhtbPt7dy6iRhnRzfWW39OpV56RgD4uHHVWsu6NwFUjof17Pmi4A8J77nqI5kdXtUdRyKeqvFHIgDKsp9aXqoU6NCYhfs4x_har03Yuf5IeMncFuJqVBVvV0kLvlpiurcI/s1600-h/IMGP8450.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW2h-PTSsKkFhtbPt7dy6iRhnRzfWW39OpV56RgD4uHHVWsu6NwFUjof17Pmi4A8J77nqI5kdXtUdRyKeqvFHIgDKsp9aXqoU6NCYhfs4x_har03Yuf5IeMncFuJqVBVvV0kLvlpiurcI/s320/IMGP8450.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Here we go!<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxSXlAJJwRpSFfrG2U67IEL_xF8ruSCbp-6Ek-O8ut55zVHdYX8CjdrJ7ZGr3uSiC4vkmKnUyho0aBKlxeVC7SUCExSkMpNjyVE3B6ZLTVjsmTDL7-jYA2quzKBZHV7fNuOHtrmAW1XL0/s1600-h/IMGP8454.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxSXlAJJwRpSFfrG2U67IEL_xF8ruSCbp-6Ek-O8ut55zVHdYX8CjdrJ7ZGr3uSiC4vkmKnUyho0aBKlxeVC7SUCExSkMpNjyVE3B6ZLTVjsmTDL7-jYA2quzKBZHV7fNuOHtrmAW1XL0/s320/IMGP8454.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Crash!<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-tqzwRO3YIqHMUNrFrLVGqsitcD3UfTXB_Jpv9BjJ71pzAv2Yz_FLYlJsxpkjQv8l-PSOSwlQCZ5XVdkhdbq7BDujxl41kVGFvW0uRl0MXPnp406f8kR4CUuk9UmarfGSGY0h2lWZY3U/s1600-h/IMGP8461_22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-tqzwRO3YIqHMUNrFrLVGqsitcD3UfTXB_Jpv9BjJ71pzAv2Yz_FLYlJsxpkjQv8l-PSOSwlQCZ5XVdkhdbq7BDujxl41kVGFvW0uRl0MXPnp406f8kR4CUuk9UmarfGSGY0h2lWZY3U/s320/IMGP8461_22.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"Hurry Mom!"<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrdbo8HmXLcwL3XzWx4Z-H2vWCMHKw91HgZkNH9wkzXoS5bqLAOs2whhkALdoQ17BCd2smu2puXsAha1RYmoA3TnlPB1XywITfOqSyzTYZw95UGTpew7ChvMxok_6hywPuFzGnRSa5YfA/s1600-h/IMGP8467.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrdbo8HmXLcwL3XzWx4Z-H2vWCMHKw91HgZkNH9wkzXoS5bqLAOs2whhkALdoQ17BCd2smu2puXsAha1RYmoA3TnlPB1XywITfOqSyzTYZw95UGTpew7ChvMxok_6hywPuFzGnRSa5YfA/s320/IMGP8467.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Again!<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNkQ3bKLZfT91iMypzFb_9nGkJ_bkjuk98LSGLNkMWXTDBsl-vomKjhnUjO-t9NOzth1EmNdmUoWBCcEYLBNcaWyZ75yInvy4oXfouK8wYwi-Vhay03VgSmzaFSfRtm4LhIHh-HdDfo0g/s1600-h/IMGP8468.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNkQ3bKLZfT91iMypzFb_9nGkJ_bkjuk98LSGLNkMWXTDBsl-vomKjhnUjO-t9NOzth1EmNdmUoWBCcEYLBNcaWyZ75yInvy4oXfouK8wYwi-Vhay03VgSmzaFSfRtm4LhIHh-HdDfo0g/s320/IMGP8468.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Uh-oh...<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPc-u0zAsli6OSqD5RCRfwr5_WWw2nnfG1qgMmr2JPLtn5SzOitbb0WdMfOQl-QTMmw11M0L2KSFF8O8bLCEoa-eepxJiTWXTt4EwsMMFAFYbkT7g06X8LGzUAai2kZPJTsNn9y8uVaDk/s1600-h/IMGP8469.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPc-u0zAsli6OSqD5RCRfwr5_WWw2nnfG1qgMmr2JPLtn5SzOitbb0WdMfOQl-QTMmw11M0L2KSFF8O8bLCEoa-eepxJiTWXTt4EwsMMFAFYbkT7g06X8LGzUAai2kZPJTsNn9y8uVaDk/s320/IMGP8469.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We're headed straight for Daddy...!<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3wNSh69DY-l_XTBIVapVXba5N5CjQDdpyUhGAe0rIDRSLJmPSoP7gv4a9DS508HzpzM-mgGCy9z4H7f24RRJsXoDSITct4xM9gfLiy_iEJQJ17AZHyHPN39xCSFZDyFPckmyBYn3yavo/s1600-h/IMGP8477.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3wNSh69DY-l_XTBIVapVXba5N5CjQDdpyUhGAe0rIDRSLJmPSoP7gv4a9DS508HzpzM-mgGCy9z4H7f24RRJsXoDSITct4xM9gfLiy_iEJQJ17AZHyHPN39xCSFZDyFPckmyBYn3yavo/s320/IMGP8477.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Evan's turn!<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8pOEB18dQWps4Ogb5A-jxGZliLdfTijQ2SbsTZCu4JBhqStZmrOcGC6cfCic2PnM-P9WbN7ylhbRkSAGcgIAEnjX7MJ0m2r1M1WGgEEJobDF5UOpAsHFQzXE0TAmt1k8BKv3s2qlsdYU/s1600-h/IMGP8480.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8pOEB18dQWps4Ogb5A-jxGZliLdfTijQ2SbsTZCu4JBhqStZmrOcGC6cfCic2PnM-P9WbN7ylhbRkSAGcgIAEnjX7MJ0m2r1M1WGgEEJobDF5UOpAsHFQzXE0TAmt1k8BKv3s2qlsdYU/s320/IMGP8480.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Cute boys make sledding so much more fun!!<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-3Ccm_n4yNxTctpAon5uW84IT6AGHgHq1H2xi6UBbXFqYepr7S0a5Ykz2dm219F_BdIO4dpFAeQuE9Ta7-LvukirDg4NHH_y9RrAnWs-rI0BboUAV2-DHYsSOGvx2r9FWvUGh85H_WyI/s1600-h/IMGP8481.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-3Ccm_n4yNxTctpAon5uW84IT6AGHgHq1H2xi6UBbXFqYepr7S0a5Ykz2dm219F_BdIO4dpFAeQuE9Ta7-LvukirDg4NHH_y9RrAnWs-rI0BboUAV2-DHYsSOGvx2r9FWvUGh85H_WyI/s320/IMGP8481.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Off to check out the ice.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFl8kzwpU4ReWEOVeeInAKAP-fdIPvjF8PwsUI6iWWRfbg8IjNJo0-U5HFZnlYhBDItueAqgLD2UZ3wj3l2ECnED4zwViYD-4R5AzIZj2m7pVxkorIrDnOFEc5XKLEL9Oqf6ACavrrj3c/s1600-h/IMGP8484.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFl8kzwpU4ReWEOVeeInAKAP-fdIPvjF8PwsUI6iWWRfbg8IjNJo0-U5HFZnlYhBDItueAqgLD2UZ3wj3l2ECnED4zwViYD-4R5AzIZj2m7pVxkorIrDnOFEc5XKLEL9Oqf6ACavrrj3c/s320/IMGP8484.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Getting the hang of it.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6SRv9sJvWg-HspDuuYBUwIIUpQQrL4Akhu3UvkHGLJHoAvZEwQVORia5X9F5cEuOJoT2LTPZeeeb2fBsUZ3Liqcnqewy41UuiKT0sve9pGB1iFEWIndV9jR2e4E4uGCRUuWJVyyr_fSI/s1600-h/IMGP8486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6SRv9sJvWg-HspDuuYBUwIIUpQQrL4Akhu3UvkHGLJHoAvZEwQVORia5X9F5cEuOJoT2LTPZeeeb2fBsUZ3Liqcnqewy41UuiKT0sve9pGB1iFEWIndV9jR2e4E4uGCRUuWJVyyr_fSI/s320/IMGP8486.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and we're skating.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRJ2h2lYYC7f2j2Tej98LuNqWpo8nsaEcyeWJSbITaizE-ZRoMGOIVy6WmGGpDb8EA_wGxyCkd-Z27qvbVpzoV_ajzjXnpS_GrB9j6mXaNlTrv7649OrjpkmjUiJ2wHnlgR2B4N6cnU3U/s1600-h/IMGP8487.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRJ2h2lYYC7f2j2Tej98LuNqWpo8nsaEcyeWJSbITaizE-ZRoMGOIVy6WmGGpDb8EA_wGxyCkd-Z27qvbVpzoV_ajzjXnpS_GrB9j6mXaNlTrv7649OrjpkmjUiJ2wHnlgR2B4N6cnU3U/s320/IMGP8487.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Crash!<br />
</div>MaryBethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07882026246134724691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5828636341438190156.post-34929975665789565512010-01-15T17:48:00.000-05:002010-01-15T17:48:42.291-05:00well...make that another first...If you haven't read today's earlier post, read that first...<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Remember I said I'd rather have gum in the hair than scissors to the hair...<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiquyffmTgZ9DAxKaNAu8rwfqo3iDDeHwQsc4b0WbS9Rmm_4QtXADezhfDppN-KEQ0ZU759__n2DsfiXCRS_jlIDgJcWlMe0ZR7NAFcWlNTgfdOG5IQr5NR3y2rzSvWpz8HSsZXuU4DkRY/s1600-h/Picture+007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiquyffmTgZ9DAxKaNAu8rwfqo3iDDeHwQsc4b0WbS9Rmm_4QtXADezhfDppN-KEQ0ZU759__n2DsfiXCRS_jlIDgJcWlMe0ZR7NAFcWlNTgfdOG5IQr5NR3y2rzSvWpz8HSsZXuU4DkRY/s320/Picture+007.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Guess I should have put the scissors away after I got the gum out.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Good thing we already have a haircut scheduled for tomorrow.<br />
</div>MaryBethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07882026246134724691noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5828636341438190156.post-24361093379739943432010-01-15T09:22:00.000-05:002010-01-15T09:22:51.860-05:00A first for us...So, I guess this is a parenting rite of passage. If I had to choose between this and scissors to the hair, I'd choose this. But still...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDU7b1nWZVEPWaqze8Q0oATNvvW1wKyqvKl-5SDzuvaI8h6bVPoUcQlAk5_TQQiGspKrpw6gDcuvNnQGkDX6hp5IbijnWpVjAeqVOsx7SCNfpTL8ItpLgGDaWcvBjACdf-0Q1HI7SjMPU/s1600-h/Picture+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDU7b1nWZVEPWaqze8Q0oATNvvW1wKyqvKl-5SDzuvaI8h6bVPoUcQlAk5_TQQiGspKrpw6gDcuvNnQGkDX6hp5IbijnWpVjAeqVOsx7SCNfpTL8ItpLgGDaWcvBjACdf-0Q1HI7SjMPU/s320/Picture+001.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">gum in the hair... yuck...really good placement though!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGeOw3dpYvwKbZDFECMTupMgbEgrfoIQ4bCylcjYikIQyYduNEItcHp4gdkVFeY6Y2MY35x3ttkwR6ZMuZHuYJ6OvuVBXyGXn9933XuPsSveOKYcCL1R4J2TnsXEByN-OktlbLHBnsv4c/s1600-h/Picture+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGeOw3dpYvwKbZDFECMTupMgbEgrfoIQ4bCylcjYikIQyYduNEItcHp4gdkVFeY6Y2MY35x3ttkwR6ZMuZHuYJ6OvuVBXyGXn9933XuPsSveOKYcCL1R4J2TnsXEByN-OktlbLHBnsv4c/s320/Picture+002.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">examining the evidence...<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxsYAA0jFwmFrc2NyEisaqTaRSyTWJTygqfevlUkfcJiAIg4aj1g3cZGxkazfX-pgXj4Z5qaNVzmbiOnFuD3ltCiww7KWn1rdm_O-0Q6aJYlh71mGea9u3OpqrcHvdQdi8BNvG9Pk235E/s1600-h/Picture+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxsYAA0jFwmFrc2NyEisaqTaRSyTWJTygqfevlUkfcJiAIg4aj1g3cZGxkazfX-pgXj4Z5qaNVzmbiOnFuD3ltCiww7KWn1rdm_O-0Q6aJYlh71mGea9u3OpqrcHvdQdi8BNvG9Pk235E/s320/Picture+004.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">proud of herself?<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">Oh, and here is Evan this morning...<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTRMcTlUVNLVQFD5JRpx_UaVzxczPAt6_18C4kEmpZAUJrEwlWnc02qcE-kwfOEkYjXUTJAaocn1yK8vKPtvPHUUEfghZHQCK8egMUl8BJccmxHBVbVweC3GPfw7fp5TADp4cmvM0WG0Q/s1600-h/Picture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTRMcTlUVNLVQFD5JRpx_UaVzxczPAt6_18C4kEmpZAUJrEwlWnc02qcE-kwfOEkYjXUTJAaocn1yK8vKPtvPHUUEfghZHQCK8egMUl8BJccmxHBVbVweC3GPfw7fp5TADp4cmvM0WG0Q/s320/Picture.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm soooo glad it's Friday!!<br />
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</div>MaryBethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07882026246134724691noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5828636341438190156.post-20330688158809298052010-01-10T21:48:00.000-05:002010-01-10T21:48:25.050-05:00A trip to City Forest<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
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</div>We had some free time this weekend and decided to take the kids Tobogganing. Alyssa had seen "tofrogganing" as she calls it, on an episode of "Calliou" so she was quite excited. Last minute we decided to take Mom with us. The toboggan that we have was originally my parents. She said they bought it in 1976 when they first moved to town. They gave it to Chris and me when they moved from the house I grew up in. Chris and I were living in Ohio at the time. When we moved back here, we forgot that it was in the attic above our garage and did not have the movers pack it. Months later, we remembered and contacted our old neighbors who went over and ask the new home owners about it and then brought it to us. Phew!! Anywho...we went tobogganing. It was so much fun. Mom giggled the whole way down the first run. When we got off she said she had forgotten how much fun it is. I don't have the best pictures because you can't really take your camera with on the toboggan ride, but you'll get the idea.<div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL6RaYncKgKjCDnMi-FqjYkaGgN1xCMjGtUWkXfackqFToEZMi9u_6r_Lfcvzap4bfqX3xDhag8UzC20NqtQgkV_VUAiHvzBbMkKuPa3i1Mp5VKvs1KlsXa-7WDEeC2r3Wqsm_N4cjiU4/s1600-h/IMGP8411.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL6RaYncKgKjCDnMi-FqjYkaGgN1xCMjGtUWkXfackqFToEZMi9u_6r_Lfcvzap4bfqX3xDhag8UzC20NqtQgkV_VUAiHvzBbMkKuPa3i1Mp5VKvs1KlsXa-7WDEeC2r3Wqsm_N4cjiU4/s320/IMGP8411.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3AbMU4_JBasAA_2ly-H6MtawQqPo2AfpeGdS41x3nSRRZjv8jOJKFCd7glp_qO954yY9ExCFgtSb16-0FyCjj66JmHa_Kq_-xReh9xq4sFaxUnbmF1uyYtw4NjaO-orOkaD3Fe6py-Fo/s1600-h/IMGP8412.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3AbMU4_JBasAA_2ly-H6MtawQqPo2AfpeGdS41x3nSRRZjv8jOJKFCd7glp_qO954yY9ExCFgtSb16-0FyCjj66JmHa_Kq_-xReh9xq4sFaxUnbmF1uyYtw4NjaO-orOkaD3Fe6py-Fo/s320/IMGP8412.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here is the toboggan run on one end of the forest.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdPtenzGXM0T-N9QOzS2-NBK0mY_5E_5KwiFWk0lOIGtc0f25wLLQ-dF1_RJ0QYJWPZ48NQItJZoRoznIo4156ZwF0SdKi6zb7BPp9n-nyi4OndaBh2GBTFGhAxFU18FB5jRT9yKnDYhk/s1600-h/IMGP8414.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdPtenzGXM0T-N9QOzS2-NBK0mY_5E_5KwiFWk0lOIGtc0f25wLLQ-dF1_RJ0QYJWPZ48NQItJZoRoznIo4156ZwF0SdKi6zb7BPp9n-nyi4OndaBh2GBTFGhAxFU18FB5jRT9yKnDYhk/s320/IMGP8414.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Aly G with her cold cheeks.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm glad we're not in Texas!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>MaryBethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07882026246134724691noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5828636341438190156.post-88665448515970338802010-01-07T08:23:00.000-05:002010-01-07T08:23:23.939-05:00Our Family...by Alyssa<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEc90Gw_23M4NIwrb3N882_EgIu0ra3GbEgN-XrUQazVbPyp4qaHWqLVLl_5qc0714ohfhVHmFbG7AFYlRn1atrbyx2oEZkh4k2hM74vWhRjadaVMGi1fL4PXkL8JL7hoF-4jHbwRcGPA/s1600-h/IMGP8404.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEc90Gw_23M4NIwrb3N882_EgIu0ra3GbEgN-XrUQazVbPyp4qaHWqLVLl_5qc0714ohfhVHmFbG7AFYlRn1atrbyx2oEZkh4k2hM74vWhRjadaVMGi1fL4PXkL8JL7hoF-4jHbwRcGPA/s320/IMGP8404.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">How great is that?<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">You may notice there are 5 of us...no, this is not an announcement, the extra person is Edan her best buddy. In case you don't recognize us...from the left: Edan, Chris, Evan, Me, Alyssa!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnwNedBcdj9Bk-9VcY_bhrq0UrNc9FAdK6bFxGAuvv7QMKMSsT42LxIQjh1zzvHLTFjJvBDyPJYaEtQp1qqxfoMUAve9b_pvZMLHyaelLeJ9e_wZvSxUxXKrFabmhOzso5ADeeKHPgXFM/s1600-h/IMGP8364.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnwNedBcdj9Bk-9VcY_bhrq0UrNc9FAdK6bFxGAuvv7QMKMSsT42LxIQjh1zzvHLTFjJvBDyPJYaEtQp1qqxfoMUAve9b_pvZMLHyaelLeJ9e_wZvSxUxXKrFabmhOzso5ADeeKHPgXFM/s320/IMGP8364.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Little man giving it a try!<br />
</div>MaryBethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07882026246134724691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5828636341438190156.post-12413838109397240182010-01-05T10:44:00.001-05:002010-01-05T10:46:53.330-05:00Christmas Wrap UpSo I realize this is oh so late, but I feel the need to put up a Christmas post to wrap up the season before moving on to things of the new year! <br />
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Chris' family traditionally celebrates Christmas on Christmas Eve so we packed up gifts and headed over to his parent's house mid afternoon. Eric and Alicia and Andrew were all in town and Brian and Kim joined via Skype later in the day. We started the festivities off with a little "cheers" as Alyssa refers to it. She was quite excited to have her own mini champagne flute. (Don't worry mom, we're both drinking sparkling grape juice!)<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQnSJyPxJFJJjZNK9qKkzHNzzPgnX_I2C-XuBQhHeGaDk_2nNbsJ9ZOCbcTr-4wKLGAOs0Y0VKusvuE8mtffMCPzDwiuhbmOhZ-y-hE3BCrQVCP_jpnn0-oMsee0EBmSr3eAlYcTnIbXg/s1600-h/IMGP8212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQnSJyPxJFJJjZNK9qKkzHNzzPgnX_I2C-XuBQhHeGaDk_2nNbsJ9ZOCbcTr-4wKLGAOs0Y0VKusvuE8mtffMCPzDwiuhbmOhZ-y-hE3BCrQVCP_jpnn0-oMsee0EBmSr3eAlYcTnIbXg/s320/IMGP8212.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Jan put together a fabulous appetizer spread complete with these prawns that we decided were really more like lobsters because of their size.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh69BxY3pzo9C-GDJzS7Z0yJ3-vHqd51lx3uCNxmxF4wF3JOWwGOH0WQZuaaGqUAuMbdFXwiVyZ_7K-VHhjKPZ1xA2HqCnKI4Ru9aJvo4GUuomIuCtp9ooytIOxTB39qQrdGamlmeSYu1Q/s1600-h/IMGP8219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh69BxY3pzo9C-GDJzS7Z0yJ3-vHqd51lx3uCNxmxF4wF3JOWwGOH0WQZuaaGqUAuMbdFXwiVyZ_7K-VHhjKPZ1xA2HqCnKI4Ru9aJvo4GUuomIuCtp9ooytIOxTB39qQrdGamlmeSYu1Q/s320/IMGP8219.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A quick celebration of Alicia's birthday...<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrlockJTFJGWNHV5ocnKkmj6EhmtdB2mrmJCbb-w5Zl-iO-EUubdiH0i_-9gwvmhD6fKpnp-ZbVxWRi0PlZlTp6CayrtHjKsJ37tYfXkai15Jh3dIONQlMuPdLfTmzIL7-yqwl3XUs08Y/s1600-h/IMGP8231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrlockJTFJGWNHV5ocnKkmj6EhmtdB2mrmJCbb-w5Zl-iO-EUubdiH0i_-9gwvmhD6fKpnp-ZbVxWRi0PlZlTp6CayrtHjKsJ37tYfXkai15Jh3dIONQlMuPdLfTmzIL7-yqwl3XUs08Y/s320/IMGP8231.JPG" /></a><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">...and we were off to open presents.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaVjKXn98hlP8do3q88UN3kjj3qB-T6rxcKiBuTlsIiASA1_AnRYU7e2QLJ49WmS3tU0Jn2rmmME9LqlHNw-28Z9839hx7U28e9tQxI5tKGMPXSZA0m1jsdKtfBfQa1ejFgvlnc58yN0k/s1600-h/IMGP8244.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaVjKXn98hlP8do3q88UN3kjj3qB-T6rxcKiBuTlsIiASA1_AnRYU7e2QLJ49WmS3tU0Jn2rmmME9LqlHNw-28Z9839hx7U28e9tQxI5tKGMPXSZA0m1jsdKtfBfQa1ejFgvlnc58yN0k/s320/IMGP8244.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Alyssa opening "Hero of the Rails!"<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ6VjqzpfUjFmV7n8lTyjWLUBQq7iNFE1ayyzZoIFofPsAvIYvoiQ9THf9N2OHtGZNSb297jvNWQWb3fmETpL8i97nvrvvdYdJ9MvpOdJn5RPBdwUyb_X_lth2PZPMr1tahi_3tpvra0o/s1600-h/IMGP8249.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ6VjqzpfUjFmV7n8lTyjWLUBQq7iNFE1ayyzZoIFofPsAvIYvoiQ9THf9N2OHtGZNSb297jvNWQWb3fmETpL8i97nvrvvdYdJ9MvpOdJn5RPBdwUyb_X_lth2PZPMr1tahi_3tpvra0o/s320/IMGP8249.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Andrew showing his new fishing pole to Brian and Kim<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKOOYu2iFzw5HKe7G49n-48DIdv-TQPBynEdLjcrTMtFDH3MkkVW9XA-ilLa3AceuFwUvSCfPE5XzlQcgGpjn7x3E-tfJFZcjH5WH5jG1WA3mJb1ym9AS6nPNxlfCG5fb5caOQ5nvq5Io/s1600-h/IMGP8269.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKOOYu2iFzw5HKe7G49n-48DIdv-TQPBynEdLjcrTMtFDH3MkkVW9XA-ilLa3AceuFwUvSCfPE5XzlQcgGpjn7x3E-tfJFZcjH5WH5jG1WA3mJb1ym9AS6nPNxlfCG5fb5caOQ5nvq5Io/s320/IMGP8269.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Chris consoling a little one who really needed a longer nap.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">After the presents we ate dinner and then went to Christmas Eve service at church.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">I never did show you the tree that took up a quarter of our living room...so here she is in all her glory.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpQOcV9xDH2p4knYgkXUj0IbZZ-QZH3X8GEL0wkOIUz_JdaJlVYCNJExl0YTxtKWMyEQHqwCb55_n3dYx4p8-u67t0VHdkDops4sQPdwOABU8wgn3XoV0YH_BERFNoNJX8uaiQzfNO92g/s1600-h/IMGP8202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpQOcV9xDH2p4knYgkXUj0IbZZ-QZH3X8GEL0wkOIUz_JdaJlVYCNJExl0YTxtKWMyEQHqwCb55_n3dYx4p8-u67t0VHdkDops4sQPdwOABU8wgn3XoV0YH_BERFNoNJX8uaiQzfNO92g/s320/IMGP8202.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our eyes were definitely bigger than our room! This struck me again this morning when I saw our neighbors tree out at the curb...they were much more sensible!<br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Mom spent the night at our house that evening so she could wake up with us. We put our traditional breakfast casserole in the oven and then began unwrapping.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">The dragon Alyssa asked Santa for.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">Chris opening the clock Alyssa gave him for his workshop.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">Evan checking out his new Leapfrog table.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">Grandma opening her new photo magnets!<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">Evan in the aftermath!<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">Mom stayed and hung out the rest of the day and had dinner with us. Chris' parents and Andrew came over and joined us (almost) for dinner and a rousing game of...<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">Hungry Hungry Hippos...what else?!<br />
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</div>MaryBethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07882026246134724691noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5828636341438190156.post-33273506910134896592009-12-25T08:09:00.000-05:002009-12-25T08:09:24.045-05:00Merry Christmas<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Merry Christmas!</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEmZ-viGICgaxMOm9-Gmbvp1d1sdGkiLYCymWxWxbS-Kkz6qbm9hEgahgcSPwFxqSlqwPCBxSMKXxdLsqKdeNDzK44hLsWblg6N2gZgs7hQwaTm3oLYRT6_sO5SqAzDvz3s1JfZurG7Jg/s1600-h/IMGP8022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEmZ-viGICgaxMOm9-Gmbvp1d1sdGkiLYCymWxWxbS-Kkz6qbm9hEgahgcSPwFxqSlqwPCBxSMKXxdLsqKdeNDzK44hLsWblg6N2gZgs7hQwaTm3oLYRT6_sO5SqAzDvz3s1JfZurG7Jg/s320/IMGP8022.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div>MaryBethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07882026246134724691noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5828636341438190156.post-33333544492921616932009-12-24T09:19:00.000-05:002009-12-24T09:19:13.232-05:00Ho Ho Ho..<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We are fortunate enough to have the North Pole here in our town. Alyssa seriously believed that we drove her to the North Pole to visit Santa. The sign to prove it was icing on the cake! But seriously having an actual Santa House in our town is so awesome. <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU-ZMxC5T6cf0x7Yc_ok6JuyCI5X-zR7yyLHdqXoCb_xdeLLcFIMDgYq8kh7gFCQpYO-wbVyYwnadMwMWjNXLbBPVRXwHoIC_8qmCqApgjbnR0rROmUtmJ0es7EZJs2q_i-7fLyVKCQ7s/s1600-h/IMGP8100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU-ZMxC5T6cf0x7Yc_ok6JuyCI5X-zR7yyLHdqXoCb_xdeLLcFIMDgYq8kh7gFCQpYO-wbVyYwnadMwMWjNXLbBPVRXwHoIC_8qmCqApgjbnR0rROmUtmJ0es7EZJs2q_i-7fLyVKCQ7s/s320/IMGP8100.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This was Alyssa's first trip to see Santa. We began talking about what would happen, what Santa would say, and what she would say. You may recall we did the same thing on Alyssa's first day of preschool. She truly functions best when she knows what to expect...hmmm...wonder where she gets that...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6LIYR-Mt27klhnsOT-vwlUT0VE9b02lk7vfmFtGKz2LnZCU6RD4N2F4w2X_I2b4hQhstFnbU62MZ7dgu46HfzxspVR4k46hcr0L7I0sHeYucPJsatJsmN6qEnXQcO9uYeMFcClemP40E/s1600-h/IMGP8096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6LIYR-Mt27klhnsOT-vwlUT0VE9b02lk7vfmFtGKz2LnZCU6RD4N2F4w2X_I2b4hQhstFnbU62MZ7dgu46HfzxspVR4k46hcr0L7I0sHeYucPJsatJsmN6qEnXQcO9uYeMFcClemP40E/s320/IMGP8096.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It is truly magical inside. I didn't take many pictures because I couldn't stop looking around. But here is a glimpse of the detail that exists throughout the entire house.<br />
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</div><div>(There were lots of trains in Santa's house. Alyssa was super excited about that!)</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Absolutely mesmerized.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So despite our preparation, I have come to know that the more I want Alyssa to be excited about something, the less excited she ends up being. So, I wasn't convinced this Santa experience would meet my expectations but...<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI23i8gUNxcGpWGjn-h9obHPzkY4xYNYFQahtjXKTCEzReKwcHpqwE7e9e_OErTKsQgWbtOOmuSuqKrhJ0lg6YmXu4Hmzhd6HWY7AnpDeSsgL8WhiH-qsUw_W9cIXrxkgG_bFxxBELQ9U/s1600-h/IMGP8106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggonP4wIZ96oaswGavzXbw5joCQU-PyKNZ9Tvf3r6nLkNYWm3lEpcOFKgbGt8sTP_O_J9mIfKteuwtH5-z4HbL7q-T99Xs5pGJeJw93vwVQjRG5jvuKfm2VCLY5AXpz8lbJFdC280weZ0/s1600-h/IMGP8122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggonP4wIZ96oaswGavzXbw5joCQU-PyKNZ9Tvf3r6nLkNYWm3lEpcOFKgbGt8sTP_O_J9mIfKteuwtH5-z4HbL7q-T99Xs5pGJeJw93vwVQjRG5jvuKfm2VCLY5AXpz8lbJFdC280weZ0/s320/IMGP8122.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">SHE LOVED HIM!!!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Y1RBEU6yir6aA_4E2LLxXniOhBV2yzt2d91uWIXFgaBwMYZ3PbnziLSAJ6r23P2m-bMiCcQTDFzAeEK_YPCwpG2b_WziOeL2nrNXgEo96oRGrBs7BNX2MpH_o5rSatC42T6IrxCBKmU/s1600-h/IMGP8124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Y1RBEU6yir6aA_4E2LLxXniOhBV2yzt2d91uWIXFgaBwMYZ3PbnziLSAJ6r23P2m-bMiCcQTDFzAeEK_YPCwpG2b_WziOeL2nrNXgEo96oRGrBs7BNX2MpH_o5rSatC42T6IrxCBKmU/s320/IMGP8124.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She walked right up, sat on his lap, and here she is spouting off her wish list. "A dragon, trains and paint."<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvnbYyp6oX3dCUpoFIERdSuq0P3EhN7luEJLlkbuPMAXRNpgn9vCdTGkkr4aD6_g-SH2xxsAEBlf4dk8SSYhE4gnZrkIx1GSH_lk4BUVY7yDyyAoUcRIcKjb-rK8cq1jaupiJptpFUtrQ/s1600-h/IMGP8126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvnbYyp6oX3dCUpoFIERdSuq0P3EhN7luEJLlkbuPMAXRNpgn9vCdTGkkr4aD6_g-SH2xxsAEBlf4dk8SSYhE4gnZrkIx1GSH_lk4BUVY7yDyyAoUcRIcKjb-rK8cq1jaupiJptpFUtrQ/s320/IMGP8126.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Evan was quite taken by the big guy as well. I don't think he moved...just stared.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">Merry Christmas Eve!!<br />
</div>MaryBethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07882026246134724691noreply@blogger.com2