tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54748168163947009792024-03-05T17:20:51.721-05:00B r e a t h e . . . .A-Kaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03825863588028289361noreply@blogger.comBlogger199125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474816816394700979.post-19847415065576408652014-01-30T00:12:00.000-05:002014-02-09T09:21:21.827-05:00happy 2014!!!!One of my resolutions was to post something new before the end of the first month of 2014. So...the pressure was on these last couple days of this month...and here I am! And where do I begin? So much to tell....<br />
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I left off on Anna Clara's birthday so I will begin with the boys' 3rd birthday since, frankly, their being 3 was a fairly big part of my year's struggles. I am, still, not a fan of 3 year olds. They are, still, destructive, whiny, disrespectful, have tantrums at a drop of a hat, have a love of potty talk to a degree that sometimes I think those are the only words they know, and they are CONSTANT, and I mean CONSTANTLY needy...to a degree that just about drives me to insanity. So, no, not much has changed since <a href="http://happykappys.blogspot.com/2013/03/my-life-interrupted.html" target="_blank">this post</a>.<br />
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But that's quite enough about my Tasmanian Devils. The good news is they are darn cute and make me laugh (almost) every day.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>My boys had their first day of pre-school ON their 3rd birthday -- because they qualified for free, public pre-school since they are so behind in their speech. It was the very best part of moving to Chicago -- discovering that pre-school is five mornings a week!!!! Seriously. Not kidding.</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>I made two cakes...one for ON their birthday and one for a celebration with daddy home.</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>I love how Niels "blows" the candles (yes, that is what he is doing with his mouth - blowing into his nose and not the candles). On the other hand, Anders is doing his darndest to get them blown out.</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>First day of pre-school!!!!</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Adorable backpacks from their Aunt Katie.</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Believe it or not, my brother wore the shirt Niels is wearing when he was little.</i><i> I love it so much and am so sad it doesn't grow bigger with him!!</i></span></td></tr>
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And then....there was the move.... The most concise summary is what I wrote for our Christmas card this year, so I will cut and paste it here:<br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i>The following is very loosely adapted from “The Twelve Days of Christmas”. There is no rhyme or rhythm to it because they are actual quotes from my true love (that would be Jim).</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">On the fifth month of May [2012], my true love said to me:<br />“I have some news....I was laid off.”</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /><span style="color: #38761d;">On the eighth month of August [2012], my true love said to me:<br />“I found a job. It’s in Chicago.”</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br />On the ninth month of September [2012] my true love said to me:<br />“We need to sell the house. I accepted the job. I start in two weeks.”</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /><span style="color: #38761d;">On the sixth month of June [9 months later], my true love said to me:<br />“We have an offer on our house!”<br />“No we don’t.”<br />“Yes we do!”</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br />On the seventh month of July [2013], my true love said to me:<br />“Our house is finally sold!!!!!”<br />“No it’s not.”<br />“Yes it is!”<br /> </span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: #38761d;">After the first 18-wheeler truckload full of boxes (on the last week of August), my true love said to me:<br />“What am I going to do with all this stuff?”</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>This doesn't even come close to showing how many boxes there were....</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #990000;">After the second 18-wheeler truckload full of boxes, my true love said to me:</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;">“What the h*** am I going to do with all this crap?????!!!!!!!”<br /> </span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: #38761d;">On the third week in our new home, my true love said to me:<br />“Does anything work in this house?”</span><br /> </span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;">On the fourth week in our new home, my farm boy said to me:<br />“I’m renting as much heavy equipment as possible and fixin’ the yard up good.”</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrHFMv-Nav8ykXO_Kx5jifczPoUKwLqitokFlEmvFgEELL6FIuyl5jn97wvMD62mGdfJwCaS4j5mETJauzrLud2OjViB-O_2dvtHH3Wny0tRJfQzmEMfqs-YgX9Sk_H5A5fHjeAcOmgUHT/s1600/bobcatfun2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrHFMv-Nav8ykXO_Kx5jifczPoUKwLqitokFlEmvFgEELL6FIuyl5jn97wvMD62mGdfJwCaS4j5mETJauzrLud2OjViB-O_2dvtHH3Wny0tRJfQzmEMfqs-YgX9Sk_H5A5fHjeAcOmgUHT/s1600/bobcatfun2.jpg" height="640" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>This could very well be the Picture of the Year for the Kappelmans. Yes, that is my True Love haulin' our kidlets in the bobcat he rented. Just another day with my Farm Boy.</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: #38761d;">After 12 months of living apart and 2 months of hard work on our new home <br />[it was a foreclosure house], my true love said to me:<br />“I need to pinch myself sometimes, I can’t believe we live here!”</span><br /> </span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;">And to that I responded to my true love:<br />“Hallelujah!! Good things come to those who wait.”<br /> </span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: #38761d;">On this 11th month of 2013, the Kappelmans say to you:<br />“Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas and have a Happy New Year!”</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;">******************************************************************************</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;">This was the first year I have every been able to send out my card before Thanksgiving. I had to since it was both my change-of-address card and holiday card. It was quite a relief to get it done and out before the holidays even began!!</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;">Here are some more of my fave pics from the rest of the year up to now:</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS5LMasTPHr1bdE3EbZlD1sOrIfWgo730ehuW-_7Gp0HGV1TuvCtz7vGPYrcBAFNhza1E_xk-8YtPnQhakUJRIwU68cLcdawK977zhEjgGOjtbyz_sFJ2tqBI-pfqEr-LNvYYcuwxZWKx7/s1600/Soren9bday23.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS5LMasTPHr1bdE3EbZlD1sOrIfWgo730ehuW-_7Gp0HGV1TuvCtz7vGPYrcBAFNhza1E_xk-8YtPnQhakUJRIwU68cLcdawK977zhEjgGOjtbyz_sFJ2tqBI-pfqEr-LNvYYcuwxZWKx7/s1600/Soren9bday23.JPG" height="427" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Soren's 9th birthday, and our last party at our New Hampshire home. Water guns for everyone! (boys don't need no gift bags with cutesy knick knacks...!)</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4VMU7NBeXXh4KdeqqbJqh5LbvYdZJHwEsVbJzGc7EPpc9uSyCOjqva6DnG0ndaF_V3goT7B_PgM-_6LUj7DvM7Z0tDHmvCgaI_mVTqyxNy8SLzwTw9zRQ8d9uu5D2wF70a_bLCuRqOhUo/s1600/162BigPaTwinsCandy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4VMU7NBeXXh4KdeqqbJqh5LbvYdZJHwEsVbJzGc7EPpc9uSyCOjqva6DnG0ndaF_V3goT7B_PgM-_6LUj7DvM7Z0tDHmvCgaI_mVTqyxNy8SLzwTw9zRQ8d9uu5D2wF70a_bLCuRqOhUo/s1600/162BigPaTwinsCandy.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>One of my favorite pictures from the summer. <br />I spent my summer at my parents' home in Hilton Head, SC while we were in between houses. It was one of my favorite summers ever because my children and I were able to spend it with my extremely positive, fun and generous parents. My dad, "Big Pa", loves handing out candy to the grandkiddos </i></span><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(usually right before bed time) </i></span>and they LOVE getting that candy from him -- as noted in this picture...could those faces (and hands) possibly express more joy?</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw5xbeIAawzgSpzmTqbG3Kt2TWMECOCRGmZT9lTXmO9f4ieH29w3-c4IvhEJ2Q7tqi43ETYh4xhRPwBGhSFInsepiUBYFWYtTvr8Uf8B4ozJH0PVIBpRTpvXPqOgidi3LBMXi8eoNOobCO/s1600/LZhome_newpaint5.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw5xbeIAawzgSpzmTqbG3Kt2TWMECOCRGmZT9lTXmO9f4ieH29w3-c4IvhEJ2Q7tqi43ETYh4xhRPwBGhSFInsepiUBYFWYtTvr8Uf8B4ozJH0PVIBpRTpvXPqOgidi3LBMXi8eoNOobCO/s1600/LZhome_newpaint5.JPG" height="427" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Our new home, after a fresh paint job with new colors.</i><i> <br />One of many, many, many, many changes we made to the house.</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCaPygXozylG0S8gJR60V4-FQze01g-dAUDRNTnTQZniFRRuokE_H9x4-EUDCV2n5nTMwhrRCUjuvCa3d5z_3f6NiWGiqT4OK7ei7hmassfD2kLgGSDC4n8bvwdxs6kdrICHHRBN8IkEwA/s1600/2013christmas25.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCaPygXozylG0S8gJR60V4-FQze01g-dAUDRNTnTQZniFRRuokE_H9x4-EUDCV2n5nTMwhrRCUjuvCa3d5z_3f6NiWGiqT4OK7ei7hmassfD2kLgGSDC4n8bvwdxs6kdrICHHRBN8IkEwA/s1600/2013christmas25.JPG" height="427" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Jim even decorated the island in the middle of the pond in our back yard.</i><i> <br />I love having a husband who gets into Christmas as much as I do!</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTXl966mslhFCuf2GePDfzDwh00GqMIHJzfnobfP6KRuBcS9e7EuE_nvGXT7PndWJfCytHUC-5wwmtiay5MVyAVwgFjzj-hQWeziIZC2shPwXsfu92cwPkVw_bFata29Nf3y1QtXAx5wqY/s1600/2013christmas29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTXl966mslhFCuf2GePDfzDwh00GqMIHJzfnobfP6KRuBcS9e7EuE_nvGXT7PndWJfCytHUC-5wwmtiay5MVyAVwgFjzj-hQWeziIZC2shPwXsfu92cwPkVw_bFata29Nf3y1QtXAx5wqY/s1600/2013christmas29.JPG" height="428" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>My four kidlets on Christmas morn -- right before opening gifts.</i><i> They are seriously cute.</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCCKAIgTlklpPJaF8GXxcXX2lKqzkl7T5KG2P_tPICh5PIMn44L_91efQXmlMqMlzSmcRPZnTB8zGe51yOlmPUJyQn24klgeWjs_uwPuItVJG77meOgz314frglqoWfo492m8fCN339w_J/s1600/1618453_10151822780551863_1962014605_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCCKAIgTlklpPJaF8GXxcXX2lKqzkl7T5KG2P_tPICh5PIMn44L_91efQXmlMqMlzSmcRPZnTB8zGe51yOlmPUJyQn24klgeWjs_uwPuItVJG77meOgz314frglqoWfo492m8fCN339w_J/s1600/1618453_10151822780551863_1962014605_n.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The view of the sunrise from my bedroom window. The pond is completely frozen over...not a surprise considering we live at the vortex of the Polar Vortex of 2014.</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;">There. I did it. My last post of 2013 and first post of 2014...and even with two more days left in January! Woo hoo! Check that off the list!! AND I actually fulfilled a New Year's Resolution!! I am breathing such a huge sigh of relief to have this done. It's been hanging over my head for a while. I'm hoping I will be updating more often in the coming months...although with such a long break I have probably lost all of my readers. Feel free to leave a comment to let me know who's out there...maybe you can help motivate me to post more often so I can keep my journal going. One of these days I will print this blog to have as a keepsake/album since I don't seem to print any of my pictures anymore....</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;">Ta ta for now...and <span style="color: orange;">HAPPY NEW YEAR</span>!! </span></span>A-Kaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03825863588028289361noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474816816394700979.post-8564063376598545372013-04-18T22:04:00.000-04:002013-04-18T22:09:18.867-04:00she's 7!She turned 7 on April 5th.<br />
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Today is April....18ish....if I actually complete this post today.
As per my last post, you have some idea of why I haven't posted anything until now. There have been about 3
showings a week at our house. Do you have any idea how hard it is to
keep a 4-story (including basement) house "museum clean" with 4 children
and a pup? You don't wanna know.....<br />
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So back to my sweet, kind, responsible, beautiful-inside-and-out little girl who just turned 7. <i>(She doesn't really like frosting, so I asked her if she would prefer another type of dessert, so she asked for her favorite cookie, Molasses. They are a fave with all my kidlings. I have my own recipe I made up to fit my need for a thick, chewy, scrumptious cookie like the ones they have at Starbucks -- but better, of course. I'll share it when I start my cooking blog...some day......)</i><br />
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We went to NYC for Easter the weekend before her birthday and I couldn't resist buying her an early gift. It was worth the "million dollar smile" (as her daddy says) to buy something she picked out.<br />
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I made cake balls for her class cuz her birthday was on a school day. Rebel that I am, I went against the "no birthday treats" and "healthy snack" rules at her school. They were a hit. Duh!<br />
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She loves the "I Spy" books and games, so I thought it would be fun to have an "I Spy" party. I thought it was an original idea...but of course it's not. Just check out <a href="http://pinterest.com/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a> and you can find ideas for any "original idea" you think up.<br />
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First we had a scavenger hunt with her six cute friends she invited.<br />
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Then some chatting and eating and coloring on the tablecloth.<br />
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The "centerpiece" was a random assortment of I Spy-ish shtuff.<br />
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She helped me decorate the cake.<br />
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That girl is dang cute. Her Nana made the dress for her cousin...she's the youngest girl cousin so she gets lots of adorable hand-me-downs.<br />
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The 8th candle for good luck in the coming year. I sure hope we have lots of good luck in our big year ahead! Regardless, I will always be lucky to be the mother of this girl.<br />
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A-Kaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03825863588028289361noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474816816394700979.post-80825965860522450272013-03-23T23:57:00.000-04:002013-03-28T22:54:49.765-04:00my life, interruptedI started this post a few weeks ago -- in my head. Then I started writing it a few days ago. Too tired to finish. This is my life right now...start something, interrupted; forgetting what I was doing, interrupted; not understanding simple concepts, interrupted; wanting to get something done at the end of the day, exhausted.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Part of the reason I'm exhausted is because I take this lil pup for a walk in the woods early every morning before all the kid<span style="font-size: small;">lings ge<span style="font-size: small;">t up</span></span>.</i></span></td></tr>
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Every once in a while I need to vent on my blog. This is one of those once-in-a-whiles. Since, by nature, most mothers remember the good times more than the bad (thank heavens!) -- often completely clearing their mind of the bad -- I want to make sure I remember the bad times of motherhood so that I can have full empathy for mothers with toddlers when mine have become grown-ups. And I hope, oh how I hope, I never, ever say to a mom with her young children, "Enjoy it now while it lasts cuz it goes by so fast! How I miss those days!"<br />
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No, you don't miss this. You miss the good stuff, which, I admit, is REALLY good, and for heavens' sakes I AM enjoying it as much as I possibly can. But you don't miss it as much as you think you do. And, most of all, why don't YOU enjoy what YOU have....grown-up children who don't need diapers changed, who aren't screaming demands every second of every day while you calmly reply, "Say please!", who can actually have a conversation, who don't spit raspberries at you thinking it's funny, who can play outside in the cold weather for more than 5 minutes....or even play outside without your neighbors telling you to "watch your children" (translated, "Could you please hover over your children like every other mother of the 21st Century?" Mothers didn't used to...we all have stories about playing outside with full freedom. What happened to that????)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The good news is that she doesn't like very long walks in the cold. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>Which is good because I need to get back to the little ones -- who are now climbing out of their crib. Goo<span style="font-size: small;">d times.</span></i></span></td></tr>
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For the past few weeks I have been desperately trying to put into words in my head, so that I could transfer them to my blog, how to describe my life right now...without being overly dramatic.<br />
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But I can't.<br />
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So...I'll give it to you straight. I really hate 2 and 3 year olds. They are a pain in every way. Except when they say cute things, or look at you lovingly with a smile, or give you the best hugs <span style="font-size: x-small;">EVER</span>, or make you feel the kind of joy and love so deep in your soul it almost hurts.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOFCcyTEwnvvXgVRafQZ_mu6Vw_6S5-2zEXJ7b4IkndDx9zVeoqbuIz2sWmt7g7wL4fc-Yw0XlUEuzzYGCJERs-fcSnAVd97N_M_3LPQQup9OqDuqFLEbya2YHoaT6mmLIMjIFIdoDclQt/s1600/IMG_0094.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOFCcyTEwnvvXgVRafQZ_mu6Vw_6S5-2zEXJ7b4IkndDx9zVeoqbuIz2sWmt7g7wL4fc-Yw0XlUEuzzYGCJERs-fcSnAVd97N_M_3LPQQup9OqDuqFLEbya2YHoaT6mmLIMjIFIdoDclQt/s400/IMG_0094.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Or when they have a bad case of bed head and have no clue so it gives you a much needed laugh.</i></span></td></tr>
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Other than that, they are nothing but noise makers and mess makers. And by noise I mean crying, whining, fighting, tantruming, screaming, wailing, bawling, shrieking noise. Not good noises. Seriously, that is all the noise I hear. All. Day. Long. Ok, so maybe not during nap time, but other than that, it's all about the noises. And the messes. Which I clean up during nap time. Yippee. And yet, I still look forward to nap time. Cuz at least it's quiet and nobody is demanding my attention every single dang second. No seriously. EVERY second.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjebdiYuZ2qlo974P9U8dwTl_Q_hxF_cKEqryVY23-6wCMonU9bk7m2gu1t8zZBL2fhXLoNn2-Ac1zx01Macr_4p7xeNspzx_GkE91hDaFP8ha7t6jXNJLPqZoihLm422hti-4DaT2QvUv_/s1600/IMG_0114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjebdiYuZ2qlo974P9U8dwTl_Q_hxF_cKEqryVY23-6wCMonU9bk7m2gu1t8zZBL2fhXLoNn2-Ac1zx01Macr_4p7xeNspzx_GkE91hDaFP8ha7t6jXNJLPqZoihLm422hti-4DaT2QvUv_/s400/IMG_0114.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Like when they crawl under a sofa and then get so stuck they can't get out. As you can see, Lambeau is so used to the crying, he doesn't even know there's a baby screaming behind her. And I'm so used to the crying, I grabbed a camera before I helped my helpless boy.<span style="font-size: small;"></span></i></span></td></tr>
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Which leads me to the <i>really</i> tough part that I have never experienced before in all my 8 years and four children of motherhood. Did I mention I hate 2 and 3 year olds? <i>(It's not "Terrible Twos" but very much "Terrible 3s...with the last few months of 2s")</i> Well, a -- as in ONE -- 2 and 3 year old I can -- and have -- handled just fine. But TWO 2 and 3 year olds are a freaking living nightmare.<i> (I told you I was going to be overly dramatic!) </i>There is ALWAYS one asking for something, crying about something, fighting for something, grabbing something, denting something, hitting someone, breaking something, ruining something, destroying something, throwing something, and, in short, needing attention -- from me. All. Day. Long.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnC_nVvAn_xRKMhGjZ9XXtouDDMpbNhhz5mBd46p4_hPhxdQVkQp0kDsfoh5k0QSUtT4mxZKg56C6bCkGXSpO5hilyRanCudSQUmQPqufRkCotE1SrgYs5cgVppv06FvXQLEJyehTFYqiD/s1600/IMG_0040.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnC_nVvAn_xRKMhGjZ9XXtouDDMpbNhhz5mBd46p4_hPhxdQVkQp0kDsfoh5k0QSUtT4mxZKg56C6bCkGXSpO5hilyRanCudSQUmQPqufRkCotE1SrgYs5cgVppv06FvXQLEJyehTFYqiD/s400/IMG_0040.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Remember, I have two other children too who need/want my attention. Like when Soren wanted to play this game he made out of recycled materials for Cub Scouts. How could I say "no" -- even when I had a million other things I needed to be doing?? Turns out, I tried to play, but I couldn't focus because I had two 2 year olds who were way more demanding, so he gave up and played by himself. Poo<span style="font-size: small;">r guy.</span></i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i> </i></span>Ok, yes, again with the nap time...while it is a break...a MUCH needed and appreciated break from the neediness of two 2-year olds...it is, at most, a 2 hour break which I frantically try to at least TRY to get perhaps one item on my to-do list done....which is usually laundry, making a meal, cleaning a mess, yada yada. <i>(How envious of my life am I making you right now?)</i><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMrYRr5ss8am_8uME29MGKt3hPRPTVU_HHVrmSIFblTpLKR-KxkTBOBtd700tInU1fuN3IoGeSJGLLfEsfSnE8bLHEnIBEUNqJ_-Cht1tByulFkk3c5A_seDiTAP9spnJ1YQSC0nI6PS_g/s1600/IMG_0109.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMrYRr5ss8am_8uME29MGKt3hPRPTVU_HHVrmSIFblTpLKR-KxkTBOBtd700tInU1fuN3IoGeSJGLLfEsfSnE8bLHEnIBEUNqJ_-Cht1tByulFkk3c5A_seDiTAP9spnJ1YQSC0nI6PS_g/s400/IMG_0109.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Who wouldn't be envious of a mother who had this cuteness a<span style="font-size: small;">nd love</span>????</i></span></td></tr>
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<i> </i>Ok. You get the picture. Sort of. This is not the kind of picture you can simply read about and "get it". You have to "live it" to "get it". I know that from experience. I have several mothers-of-twins friends who warned me of how much harder it gets as the days and years go by after having those two adorable lil babies. But I didn't think it would be this hard. Oh no....I did not. I had NO idea it was going to be this hard. And, the reason I keep saying, "2 and 3 year olds" is because my boys aren't even 3 yet. So it's only going to get harder. I have more than a year left of dealing with these <strike>screaming maniacs</strike> two toddlers. Lucky me.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD8zNujHu9RLzsbt0gAbF_580M1tx-89z_yXHe3bidKS-zCyXIx9t1T45zsAL75cjTXJ5eWVcEHhpblQlwfqiTeX1W3Xsz3N9lP4rujXJlel3N6JMkp6bR33fe41zVdy1nxauUCYdW_BOY/s1600/march2013storm.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD8zNujHu9RLzsbt0gAbF_580M1tx-89z_yXHe3bidKS-zCyXIx9t1T45zsAL75cjTXJ5eWVcEHhpblQlwfqiTeX1W3Xsz3N9lP4rujXJlel3N6JMkp6bR33fe41zVdy1nxauUCYdW_BOY/s400/march2013storm.jpg" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Anders is desperately trying to ride his car in the snow...before h<span style="font-size: small;">e came crying bec<span style="font-size: small;">ause "hands <span style="font-size: small;">code!!" (Does <b>any</b> toddler keep the<span style="font-size: small;">ir mittens on in freezing weather????)</span></span></span></span></i></span></td></tr>
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Now get those pantomimed violin strings ready to play "My Heart Bleeds for You"....<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiSy7LYs1xsmzOv54NGgyFWLDaKIjR3fge5XrDA1JatFEcRE8k02KaDKvAUgjGRjsqgwEQUfsQPyFhc6tzz7khvI63S2T9R7KyNM8zMZbDPWG-IrLAiBe_ZJ6uaR_itfvuZ2ZBCMulFOIF/s1600/Lambeau_sit.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiSy7LYs1xsmzOv54NGgyFWLDaKIjR3fge5XrDA1JatFEcRE8k02KaDKvAUgjGRjsqgwEQUfsQPyFhc6tzz7khvI63S2T9R7KyNM8zMZbDPWG-IrLAiBe_ZJ6uaR_itfvuZ2ZBCMulFOIF/s400/Lambeau_sit.jpg" width="263" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>How can anyone possibly feel sorry for me when I am surrounded by such cuteness? Puppies and babies, does it get any cuter????</i></span></td></tr>
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Add on top of this the fact that my husband lives in Chicago and we are trying to sell our house...all during a "record-breaking winter" (as in lots and lots of snow and storms). That's the stuff of really good fun, right?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrbjQhkBXZYzwHziXgQF0J37_dUaIkir1qhhU4tzYiCDiXlWwkplhKzLy4K9rvt_gEG4KmTHfPb4KDGmffIz9l4A7_7kWp6OrRDYgGpkXQtUMc4zwtKxB3kfNmc7dRSzjIk7lM2HLqFsDs/s1600/IMG_0046.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrbjQhkBXZYzwHziXgQF0J37_dUaIkir1qhhU4tzYiCDiXlWwkplhKzLy4K9rvt_gEG4KmTHfPb4KDGmffIz9l4A7_7kWp6OrRDYgGpkXQtUMc4zwtKxB3kfNmc7dRSzjIk7lM2HLqFsDs/s400/IMG_0046.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>My "man of the house" helping me shovel. No<span style="font-size: small;">t one complaint.</span></i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4RC4DZzezuXTXj525D1ppYzr4_RFtbAFHG6YNHTOrgzwwjjWgxiCEwg9mEc7yyTSis03XqUqnpc8dulrJHRmJcJpYlUjPuwwt9xgxPNXV3DXFs_FOgNaT2jT3O1fTAGX1m18gMPOsR5mv/s1600/IMG_0047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4RC4DZzezuXTXj525D1ppYzr4_RFtbAFHG6YNHTOrgzwwjjWgxiCEwg9mEc7yyTSis03XqUqnpc8dulrJHRmJcJpYlUjPuwwt9xgxPNXV3DXFs_FOgNaT2jT3O1fTAGX1m18gMPOsR5mv/s400/IMG_0047.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>And he did a really good job too! Without any help from me whatsoever.</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfp9XIXjPxn35r0-tgB7GCxtvG6B07j7f183CCxijrTaPBmvEhhZnaQM2c299wgcoe7Qv-eTkd8jLkZzsuZcIo0wJ7YV6lc4KOJkcsriKjEbq1kjLXP2WqCiJcwoW5NjQhImQkGLdT4-Xu/s1600/Feb24_storm.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfp9XIXjPxn35r0-tgB7GCxtvG6B07j7f183CCxijrTaPBmvEhhZnaQM2c299wgcoe7Qv-eTkd8jLkZzsuZcIo0wJ7YV6lc4KOJkcsriKjEbq1kjLXP2WqCiJcwoW5NjQhImQkGLdT4-Xu/s640/Feb24_storm.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>But it sure is beautiful<span style="font-size: small;">.</span></i><i> What a view from my kitchen window!!</i></span></td></tr>
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Remember all those messes and destruction I mentioned? Yea, well, every day I have it hanging over my head that I need to have the house "show ready" at any given day the realtor happens to call for an appointment to show the house. Given that we have only had 6 showings in 7 months -- 3 of those in the past week <i>(One calling at 10am to see the house at 12pm. That was fun.)</i> -- that doesn't sound so bad, right? Well, it is. Add to it the stress of having to lower the price of your home more...and more...and more...and STILL not selling your home (that you happen to <span style="font-size: x-small;">LOVE</span> and wish you didn't have to sell) and constantly wondering IF you will sell your home and WHEN you will ever live with your husband again -- who's living in a basement apartment eating tuna and beans out of a can for dinner and missing his fast-growing children like crazy.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzBFIaZif7ZvCs5gAvt1eDLXXl9pbLDA-WedQM5ZpBHLUXZ4bzG0aikrJbVJhyphenhyphenIx3LSBkJX6o7NmHN3XitP4zgeLOAS8_h1Ps-Id4ifzGjgN05giUHomcZWEAd0XdeD6u1Y1cFP8b3d8QZ/s1600/IMG_0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzBFIaZif7ZvCs5gAvt1eDLXXl9pbLDA-WedQM5ZpBHLUXZ4bzG0aikrJbVJhyphenhyphenIx3LSBkJX6o7NmHN3XitP4zgeLOAS8_h1Ps-Id4ifzGjgN05giUHomcZWEAd0XdeD6u1Y1cFP8b3d8QZ/s400/IMG_0002.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Missing events like the 3rd Grade Biography Fair when Soren dressed up like Orville Wright and displayed the resul<span style="font-size: small;">ts of his hard work</span>. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>How about that 'stache??</i></span></td></tr>
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Ok, I think I have vented enough for one post. More than enough, really, but I assume nobody held a gun to your head to read it all the way through? If you made it all the way through.....<br />
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Now I need to get back to "enjoying it while I can" and appreciating my four little ones....and maybe even a sunset.....<br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-OoIvgtuzs" target="_blank">After all, tomorrow is another day.....</a><br />
<i>(random link, I know...but her words and expression are so perfect for my overly dramatic feeling about my life right now....)</i>A-Kaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03825863588028289361noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474816816394700979.post-7381834891935165352013-02-14T22:30:00.000-05:002013-02-15T06:23:46.678-05:00happy valentine's day 2013!In case you are wondering, taking care of twin two year olds and a 14 week old puppy isn't easy. Yesterday was one of the worst days so far.... I felt like I was in a bad sitcom with way too many crazy things happening all at once and one right after the other. It was absolutely ex. haus. ting. It was all typical stuff...peeing and pooping puppy <i>(two feet of snow outside makes it <span style="font-size: x-small;">VERRRY DIFFICULT</span> to potty train a wee pup!!!!)</i>, screaming and whining babies, a crying and frustrated little girl after school, and all day -- <span style="font-size: x-small;">ALL DAY</span> -- cleaning up mess after mess...after mess....after mess.....now with added chewed up toys, boots, hats, mittens to the mix of toys...not to mention all the pee and poops everywhere -- on the floor, in the diapers....and more diapers.....<br />
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And, to add to the craziness....I made these for Soren and Anna Clara's valentines and Anna Clara's class party:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Nfw5O9Q_4qoFeUudpoJaJ5J1sqBXu8xMDRIxXa6jeHXkVYQBVl_JnVgfdeofjW8vCqdGduPDJV4rnjcKXwwxCuapDRTN3JAvz1HXDzzyy5Y4tM6vGeM1JSQCjN4P_AB9ZUvuyXvT-_lR/s1600/2013valentine3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Nfw5O9Q_4qoFeUudpoJaJ5J1sqBXu8xMDRIxXa6jeHXkVYQBVl_JnVgfdeofjW8vCqdGduPDJV4rnjcKXwwxCuapDRTN3JAvz1HXDzzyy5Y4tM6vGeM1JSQCjN4P_AB9ZUvuyXvT-_lR/s400/2013valentine3.JPG" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>lollipops for the valentines and cream-filled cookies for the class party</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT-u-duB2P3vzwc0hKz8wbN1o0ejjSUXZ2pT4sjxNx7GyTzGV3JW2AFWiR-bGv8SmV2sgVUub-IfwMsMLz24Vp3sI5MlaALUB7uCTqYYpOaEMCffLvGgDJnlUmws5QWQIq3ffv8z3Lofv0/s1600/2013valentine4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT-u-duB2P3vzwc0hKz8wbN1o0ejjSUXZ2pT4sjxNx7GyTzGV3JW2AFWiR-bGv8SmV2sgVUub-IfwMsMLz24Vp3sI5MlaALUB7uCTqYYpOaEMCffLvGgDJnlUmws5QWQIq3ffv8z3Lofv0/s400/2013valentine4.JPG" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Very surprising to me, Mr. Incredible sent m<span style="font-size: small;">e a dozen roses, 4 balloons for the kiddos and chocolates</span></i><i>. That's a first. Maybe he misses me in Chicago. Almost as much as I mis<span style="font-size: small;">s him</span>.</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOl1hJEIbIH2qmJj39t-bWo1vEFQyTZVJEMciqTA4-PbvFnRXlDN8v8Qpru8Yt0CLAVy8bkj1SNlO2ZscMooHXEbrIZDiwMNJZccXi_gy7VJUuPKtZ3-VK-WnE6DXxxdKQdB7ENDcmojRu/s1600/2013valentine7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOl1hJEIbIH2qmJj39t-bWo1vEFQyTZVJEMciqTA4-PbvFnRXlDN8v8Qpru8Yt0CLAVy8bkj1SNlO2ZscMooHXEbrIZDiwMNJZccXi_gy7VJUuPKtZ3-VK-WnE6DXxxdKQdB7ENDcmojRu/s400/2013valentine7.JPG" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The kiddos requested the lollipop valentines <a href="http://happykappys.blogspot.com/2012/02/happy-valentines-day.html" target="_blank">again</a>. They came home very proud that they were the only ones with homemade valentines. What? Remember when <span style="font-size: x-small;">EVERYONE</span> made homemade valentines??</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4VQe_7oRmAlCz9ohyphenhyphen70nfYgEne_KAYevVh5jot8lwJb4IRsIz1kSZzVWwlobykfGQQ5qGptUDhN9gAMK08MEQbGNW0SR-cZ2h47wkHadjJDhJULJGcqV9-OXFyqs_eMQQPz28PJqCEPU9/s1600/my2valentines3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4VQe_7oRmAlCz9ohyphenhyphen70nfYgEne_KAYevVh5jot8lwJb4IRsIz1kSZzVWwlobykfGQQ5qGptUDhN9gAMK08MEQbGNW0SR-cZ2h47wkHadjJDhJULJGcqV9-OXFyqs_eMQQPz28PJqCEPU9/s400/my2valentines3.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">The boys enjoyed the leftovers.</span></i></span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMgHR3Upy11vEP5NmGqCffJer7qwSDN635J9Tquobi2RNos6pwy1vWTE4jU_WS6sQHDtjHdRUUv2X051bacTY6kM1hZwxKK77-XyV6aWQQNYTaTp7kb86Q7sGPRcZ4ohUHZQ5EWAcy3iK3/s1600/my2valentines2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMgHR3Upy11vEP5NmGqCffJer7qwSDN635J9Tquobi2RNos6pwy1vWTE4jU_WS6sQHDtjHdRUUv2X051bacTY6kM1hZwxKK77-XyV6aWQQNYTaTp7kb86Q7sGPRcZ4ohUHZQ5EWAcy3iK3/s400/my2valentines2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglXMBadwLqw7pG8839D0ax8BUNbhKcWAs-yrxylmveidBQ6KEU5mYIaH59wLrLcdibu-5hQCuqQitNuNrkUHj9YYoRsXrHJhAijDP_DinCe_DieStNDfGyyHa5KrCdDNABHz7xd6ipBhVT/s1600/my2valentines.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglXMBadwLqw7pG8839D0ax8BUNbhKcWAs-yrxylmveidBQ6KEU5mYIaH59wLrLcdibu-5hQCuqQitNuNrkUHj9YYoRsXrHJhAijDP_DinCe_DieStNDfGyyHa5KrCdDNABHz7xd6ipBhVT/s400/my2valentines.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">When putting <span style="font-size: small;">the kidlings to bed last night </span>I asked them each what she/he was looking forw<span style="font-size: small;">ard to most about Valentine<span style="font-size: small;">'s Day. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Anna Clara</span> said, "the treats<span style="font-size: small;">."</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Soren said, "the day <span style="font-size: small;">after I get to see Daddy."</span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">H<span style="font-size: small;">e's a heartbreaker and a love of my, and daddy's, life.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbK-CeUgsxgImMX-Avxe7Pcjmje-rjgslq8_kSgGmxqH18795JsbiEWWe93i5YBMsBMBtc7UjwCRFDDeEmrIZunFesIBCTdXXITMNA1lNJEoJQjcs-ExzL_TA_kYHMzboM929owZdfPXQB/s1600/soren_fort.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbK-CeUgsxgImMX-Avxe7Pcjmje-rjgslq8_kSgGmxqH18795JsbiEWWe93i5YBMsBMBtc7UjwCRFDDeEmrIZunFesIBCTdXXITMNA1lNJEoJQjcs-ExzL_TA_kYHMzboM929owZdfPXQB/s400/soren_fort.JPG" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>He worked into the dark evening hours to build a fort and a snowman<span style="font-size: small;">. A boy after my own h<span style="font-size: small;">eart!</span></span></i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8_JpKVQBMDl34_1wVBK_UAd2CAv8RQKYiNneQzKW8OwAOYhRrC9Gwyf__ySB2HFTGAl97N02vkVrZEa9WnLAH5YvpmIao0yqoFj2H39nbx_DsenAoNSISSRYVST1kbnPk-laExOTtnWZo/s1600/soren_snowman.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8_JpKVQBMDl34_1wVBK_UAd2CAv8RQKYiNneQzKW8OwAOYhRrC9Gwyf__ySB2HFTGAl97N02vkVrZEa9WnLAH5YvpmIao0yqoFj2H39nbx_DsenAoNSISSRYVST1kbnPk-laExOTtnWZo/s400/soren_snowman.JPG" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">H<span style="background-color: white;">A</span>PPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!! </span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
A-Kaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03825863588028289361noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474816816394700979.post-66564139643986954532013-02-12T06:50:00.000-05:002013-02-14T22:31:27.863-05:00storm nemoSuch a funny name for a storm...but the Blizzard of 2013 was worthy of a name.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkqJPVdYz5indUCUmH66TLUgJ16Qhil6hU9n7ytgxt7lmwEv3hvD6A1tQBDJhGo-Kx9MeAVtbecG2TbF5yPvRvH5Tjlofc-M7aswO1LjoBpgizyVn871NVYJ08hs_RTJ8yir-41Ybn84Gl/s1600/stormnemo.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkqJPVdYz5indUCUmH66TLUgJ16Qhil6hU9n7ytgxt7lmwEv3hvD6A1tQBDJhGo-Kx9MeAVtbecG2TbF5yPvRvH5Tjlofc-M7aswO1LjoBpgizyVn871NVYJ08hs_RTJ8yir-41Ybn84Gl/s400/stormnemo.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Friday, February 8th at 10am</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYylJqORWRT9fJ_4DnQve6joPWvJ0LsViBj2VaM-mG-CXnMFtebZ8pzRBrji3F8__gRH0AkSJancn3SU3aIeBadwBEkzRKdrprm29Cp641hpBuF_FoMaVEoBSySU6mHMX1AEnW3f_4oQ0d/s1600/stormnemo3.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYylJqORWRT9fJ_4DnQve6joPWvJ0LsViBj2VaM-mG-CXnMFtebZ8pzRBrji3F8__gRH0AkSJancn3SU3aIeBadwBEkzRKdrprm29Cp641hpBuF_FoMaVEoBSySU6mHMX1AEnW3f_4oQ0d/s400/stormnemo3.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Saturday, February 9th at 10am (and more com<span style="font-size: small;">ing</span>!)</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvmpE9SKULHKM43SjszS-tLb9AfPoBnJ02tND3IQn3XAs_fZv6IhCyA86SMrlRHrHJShHn-OODw8Ku9u7Vnabjxm6TDhvjKrM2ZY6X2rEJcTeacpBs0UnhAjeEjN0Z_0SlcHEOWS5PPhcu/s1600/stormnemo2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvmpE9SKULHKM43SjszS-tLb9AfPoBnJ02tND3IQn3XAs_fZv6IhCyA86SMrlRHrHJShHn-OODw8Ku9u7Vnabjxm6TDhvjKrM2ZY6X2rEJcTeacpBs0UnhAjeEjN0Z_0SlcHEOWS5PPhcu/s400/stormnemo2.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Friday, February 8th at 10am</i></span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVE977ukpvMyqfWzcr-YvyZ4ufPqjjMT8lVFycOkhz4JYiKRMa0jT3gdJ8NfPdf7FFs46_bT1P8M6XukF4050KhYd6JLQAOcAColftyLfrKRamott3ojgyNaG9AnI0Ry1SzKU83DvT8rKx/s400/stormnemo4.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="267" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Saturday, February 9th at 10am (and still snowing)</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfbeFYxsYKtJrg7DsYsVGuBayQSSPNihxZttn41MKSf2NzXTxKwgDP60SuMzQDftw0TbuVhcTqXg1jRUb9IM88ydpuYh4YK0Vc6aSy7hQtz45uC66npnltiPPqErFSo-u_tPxoYxfKkLm3/s1600/stormnemo9.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfbeFYxsYKtJrg7DsYsVGuBayQSSPNihxZttn41MKSf2NzXTxKwgDP60SuMzQDftw0TbuVhcTqXg1jRUb9IM88ydpuYh4YK0Vc6aSy7hQtz45uC66npnltiPPqErFSo-u_tPxoYxfKkLm3/s400/stormnemo9.jpg" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>This is just after 24 hours of Blizzard 2013.</i></span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD4GPhZgawjD6RjWPkwdL5ogTG_wEwiovWvdxgbM8xMpXC5lBi5F8MrSULs6pLgLvo8ppnqf9Ekj5bHSkC76cH_VKzVrK048D-py4j4NOtiRny8Sy7RUgvXsVes61AHAz6U7nVHT1eXNzs/s1600/stormnemo10.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD4GPhZgawjD6RjWPkwdL5ogTG_wEwiovWvdxgbM8xMpXC5lBi5F8MrSULs6pLgLvo8ppnqf9Ekj5bHSkC76cH_VKzVrK048D-py4j4NOtiRny8Sy7RUgvXsVes61AHAz6U7nVHT1eXNzs/s400/stormnemo10.jpg" width="267" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlBTwZRLFpkydLdP9-oyjkQZFpyW_24hUC8kFGZCeO3STNAJZWFFwr4K2RyL_WqKxIag0PM0LCu1HRK0cGuMoubi5-clxCqK7iw7FdiFhWQskiwsvp4G6GQwaAkC6-kvFSh602krcnM4th/s1600/IMG_0146.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlBTwZRLFpkydLdP9-oyjkQZFpyW_24hUC8kFGZCeO3STNAJZWFFwr4K2RyL_WqKxIag0PM0LCu1HRK0cGuMoubi5-clxCqK7iw7FdiFhWQskiwsvp4G6GQwaAkC6-kvFSh602krcnM4th/s400/IMG_0146.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Soren building a fort in the driveway.</i></span> </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhET9EmEInx4zRlh7opYQ0y_OU4l3tGIC9exaQCmSSWFvZSzOAY7O27qUaCUkFkF9UhKIzxqJy3cUsZeYtfcEZNo66NoimPCEgx_u2ksw4blHCYFmNXRHl2ZkWa7buwF8uW7aCYFSQ3Pbi-/s1600/IMG_0145.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhET9EmEInx4zRlh7opYQ0y_OU4l3tGIC9exaQCmSSWFvZSzOAY7O27qUaCUkFkF9UhKIzxqJy3cUsZeYtfcEZNo66NoimPCEgx_u2ksw4blHCYFmNXRHl2ZkWa7buwF8uW7aCYFSQ3Pbi-/s400/IMG_0145.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Niels is helping.</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUC0Ie9mpqLJyz0xsUZ3GrTeEVx36iH09WTuvRCuJ0tBLXum5PdLGxJDrm7VpZ2cAjk9jaEOknV85FY5vkndOps0alsv91pPV71SB1K0c1esrzqRb8aZLJBuG8_fCbVnCrPNPZ_NqrGQzk/s1600/IMG_0149.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUC0Ie9mpqLJyz0xsUZ3GrTeEVx36iH09WTuvRCuJ0tBLXum5PdLGxJDrm7VpZ2cAjk9jaEOknV85FY5vkndOps0alsv91pPV71SB1K0c1esrzqRb8aZLJBuG8_fCbVnCrPNPZ_NqrGQzk/s400/IMG_0149.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Anders hates the cold. This is his reaction after only 5 minutes outside. As Jim said, "His Viking ancest<span style="font-size: small;">o</span>rs would be disappointed."</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLJ0RPY5ISjghsV4PL1va-gZnBn5D61bDwEI41OA4wuFk2l4mQFs2Pve0fD54idGG1ATta7JrH7XNCqT9vInv3wxO_fG9CRyiPytQvkRun1vfGQVBPXz4XUioGShTCfG848H5rzSnTXC4l/s1600/IMG_0151.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLJ0RPY5ISjghsV4PL1va-gZnBn5D61bDwEI41OA4wuFk2l4mQFs2Pve0fD54idGG1ATta7JrH7XNCqT9vInv3wxO_fG9CRyiPytQvkRun1vfGQVBPXz4XUioGShTCfG848H5rzSnTXC4l/s400/IMG_0151.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The snow at our garage opening just before I discovered our snowblower was broken...again...but I broke it this time. Oops.</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlQGtXFMC10V2RujKiHH0t11W8_a6GKtvaKOVFOogDgq61yCnst4F3R3OiGYtydac6DrZqCi3Vyy3KCPAsHNN__IH3HVagcoeFQqnhTBMVTgFoZlJuxXxFJdzZsqbsDvRO9rB3LFSFfN8e/s1600/IMG_0158.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlQGtXFMC10V2RujKiHH0t11W8_a6GKtvaKOVFOogDgq61yCnst4F3R3OiGYtydac6DrZqCi3Vyy3KCPAsHNN__IH3HVagcoeFQqnhTBMVTgFoZlJuxXxFJdzZsqbsDvRO9rB3LFSFfN8e/s400/IMG_0158.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The stairs made a great sledding hill and the snow made it difficult to swing on the swings.</i></span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ9dA8rQ4TGmISvGJ16hB9JesiFpwbCKxIKDoWjTjGy7BuEoJM7l3mds-bD7GqOQ4_Rezp3J07wqFJo3uua8Wy98zoHIEPRQkBcOUAFDagtdFSzZkmY5ialueXHHMIgvWP7ASE_5HqGJu9/s1600/stormnemo15.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ9dA8rQ4TGmISvGJ16hB9JesiFpwbCKxIKDoWjTjGy7BuEoJM7l3mds-bD7GqOQ4_Rezp3J07wqFJo3uua8Wy98zoHIEPRQkBcOUAFDagtdFSzZkmY5ialueXHHMIgvWP7ASE_5HqGJu9/s400/stormnemo15.jpg" width="267" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHqRTIiU02Seh29swVfkpYO-6eTfMiHsRGXicW1X37_2t05cnLyvrU50rAohZTzczzPdBEeon9KTVAAxtOpVKQDVpR1QkL6nXTfvzuLZMlfdprPk3Vs135UtUoJP8Q66aPEWSb1q-K5mot/s1600/stormnemo17.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHqRTIiU02Seh29swVfkpYO-6eTfMiHsRGXicW1X37_2t05cnLyvrU50rAohZTzczzPdBEeon9KTVAAxtOpVKQDVpR1QkL6nXTfvzuLZMlfdprPk3Vs135UtUoJP8Q66aPEWSb1q-K5mot/s400/stormnemo17.jpg" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>I love Soren's arm around AC in this pic.</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimzN9mt0FSS1Tbu-I0NxOYAUmRO_JDGF4OUrzR-KAtlCckUnpiJg9hQyxZoLRmzeWUI_43SQllUJGA4etwhtCl1qvsMxQaggI3wH5SitFTkk3QSo8r7iT9F_0UfixFWCz_L8NRU8mMrsRA/s1600/stormnemo13.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimzN9mt0FSS1Tbu-I0NxOYAUmRO_JDGF4OUrzR-KAtlCckUnpiJg9hQyxZoLRmzeWUI_43SQllUJGA4etwhtCl1qvsMxQaggI3wH5SitFTkk3QSo8r7iT9F_0UfixFWCz_L8NRU8mMrsRA/s400/stormnemo13.jpg" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>My kind and thoughtful neighborly neighbors came over, without my asking, to clear my driveway and path. It made my day. I love my kind and thoughtful neighbors!!!!</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUC0Ie9mpqLJyz0xsUZ3GrTeEVx36iH09WTuvRCuJ0tBLXum5PdLGxJDrm7VpZ2cAjk9jaEOknV85FY5vkndOps0alsv91pPV71SB1K0c1esrzqRb8aZLJBuG8_fCbVnCrPNPZ_NqrGQzk/s1600/IMG_0149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></i></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhyf9IOMHvO2m512j6xB8yPQ0a0TYpdleymzTDdBSdnzWIl5raBOO7GjyGH3Ku3nqtpjUG5noGula8a0aMLegY7pUv7L_OPKilWvjZ15xHiZ5KK5FJJ_xkF52ML35ejD_C7TEGFPrSCDOP/s1600/stormnemo14.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhyf9IOMHvO2m512j6xB8yPQ0a0TYpdleymzTDdBSdnzWIl5raBOO7GjyGH3Ku3nqtpjUG5noGula8a0aMLegY7pUv7L_OPKilWvjZ15xHiZ5KK5FJJ_xkF52ML35ejD_C7TEGFPrSCDOP/s400/stormnemo14.jpg" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>My two favorite baby girls.</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA9Oybiic5pOmyWYW0kF-PLzYHpF_GWJ3-7-76RaWKuZ3fk_5rHHKIn5XqecgVwDl5XVYtW2gnNUXZyodb__GkPtBSpxN8-nUx-1TbZklhcWWGqlvqjNMVJuXmlt_j0EUM2GqGkbOOY4n3/s1600/stormnemo5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA9Oybiic5pOmyWYW0kF-PLzYHpF_GWJ3-7-76RaWKuZ3fk_5rHHKIn5XqecgVwDl5XVYtW2gnNUXZyodb__GkPtBSpxN8-nUx-1TbZklhcWWGqlvqjNMVJuXmlt_j0EUM2GqGkbOOY4n3/s400/stormnemo5.jpg" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Anna Clara has got herself another playmate.</i></span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfbeFYxsYKtJrg7DsYsVGuBayQSSPNihxZttn41MKSf2NzXTxKwgDP60SuMzQDftw0TbuVhcTqXg1jRUb9IM88ydpuYh4YK0Vc6aSy7hQtz45uC66npnltiPPqErFSo-u_tPxoYxfKkLm3/s1600/stormnemo9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh_cGsdS65cJ4KU0mfSRyeBs-5CqQpGP8YyZgD8i-tdUgSx0RLWLBKfamPpWj6UHXUWMPIDZN_AoXuy-Sw3xHNg4ZXRUIkvQV3pe98QxRA08sL5if2fam5rfFHZCqw_okNsufV-qC2hUdv/s1600/stormnemo11.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh_cGsdS65cJ4KU0mfSRyeBs-5CqQpGP8YyZgD8i-tdUgSx0RLWLBKfamPpWj6UHXUWMPIDZN_AoXuy-Sw3xHNg4ZXRUIkvQV3pe98QxRA08sL5if2fam5rfFHZCqw_okNsufV-qC2hUdv/s400/stormnemo11.jpg" width="267" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfbeFYxsYKtJrg7DsYsVGuBayQSSPNihxZttn41MKSf2NzXTxKwgDP60SuMzQDftw0TbuVhcTqXg1jRUb9IM88ydpuYh4YK0Vc6aSy7hQtz45uC66npnltiPPqErFSo-u_tPxoYxfKkLm3/s1600/stormnemo9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The cookies I made for my kind and thoughtful neighbors<span style="font-size: small;">.</span> </i></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Exhausted after playing in the snow.</i></span></td></tr>
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Oh yes. The pup. The day before the storm I drove an hour and a half to MA to the place where I bought JoiVie to pick up this lil 14 week old puppy. I couldn't handle the hole left in our home. And, coincidentally enough, when I called to find out if they had any pups, they had only one female Golden Retriever available -- on the very day I let JoiVie go. I picked her up the next day and I'm so very glad I did. She has helped keep my mind off the huge hole in my heart. She is mellow, sweet, smart, loving and about as gorgeous as a pup can get <i>(I love how red she is!)</i>. I told Jim he could name her since he hated the name JoiVie <i>(too unmanly for him)</i>, so he chose "Lambeau" and the children approved. In case you don't know, Lambeau is from "Curly" Lambeau of Packer fame and the name of the Packers stadium. I love that it has the word "beau" in it -- French for "beautiful"-- in keeping with JoiVie's name origin <i>(not that I'm French or have any French ancestry, but it truly is a beautiful language, and I kinda have a love for foreign languages)</i>. Just don't tell my manly Cheesehead hubby that.... *wink*</div>
A-Kaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03825863588028289361noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474816816394700979.post-24448898502696474892013-02-10T23:33:00.000-05:002013-02-14T22:31:14.494-05:00my joy<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLuTU4Hy2LoR68p1JYKZAIzWw7w91-gO-t7cQE0NmFmICw-lMKhP7lao_Ddm_i8rO1hGnX9ZqvO5U1P2Ws2vsLDZNKCAB6Chczi3rN9Of_6pdD-vCGeD49pg3ILdAXEVaVHWPIqZ537WVJ/s1600/JoiVielastday15.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLuTU4Hy2LoR68p1JYKZAIzWw7w91-gO-t7cQE0NmFmICw-lMKhP7lao_Ddm_i8rO1hGnX9ZqvO5U1P2Ws2vsLDZNKCAB6Chczi3rN9Of_6pdD-vCGeD49pg3ILdAXEVaVHWPIqZ537WVJ/s640/JoiVielastday15.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
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13 years ago I needed a dog. I mean I reeeeeally needed a dog. I was going through the toughest time in my life, so far, dealing with so many things on my own. Totally on my own. So I got a dog so I wouldn't be completely alone. I named her "JoiVie" from "Joie de Vivre" -- "Joy of Life". I needed some joy. She brought me more joy than I ever thought possible from a four-legged friend. She lived up to her name in every way, for every single one of those 13 years of her life.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcHescdV-dqQsaTZ4-wfb5kNHHc-704D7jzScQtpz4dpzu4yDZVdxDVJp8FJw7UkW0NrxhYt_7Cb8RJj8OsOTyYoOWTqHucJTyk39jh5jsgJ2tfGHL0oohuoR4ytRYDJaWvYTaPemR8fxT/s1600/232323232%7Ffp47=ot%3E2325=%3C95=42%3C=65%3C;4;b242%3C3723=3232365-565;9nua%5BZ%5Bfj0mrj.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcHescdV-dqQsaTZ4-wfb5kNHHc-704D7jzScQtpz4dpzu4yDZVdxDVJp8FJw7UkW0NrxhYt_7Cb8RJj8OsOTyYoOWTqHucJTyk39jh5jsgJ2tfGHL0oohuoR4ytRYDJaWvYTaPemR8fxT/s400/232323232%7Ffp47=ot%3E2325=%3C95=42%3C=65%3C;4;b242%3C3723=3232365-565;9nua%5BZ%5Bfj0mrj.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>This was taken on her first birthday in my office.</i></span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicHqpVtai8yhkl3S550Z2mzps0o7e_DygRqWGhjInQhQK35KXRlwlq1K_xY_JhdMl-q4HJQhY-RXSexp3xE9MFsoTFyUglIaI_W71ppMpHCQmJdK5CWi9pbAnkwb3YARQ-88slMrh_04ec/s1600/232323232%7Ffp47=ot%3E2325=%3C95=42%3C=65%3C;4;b242%3C3723=3232365-565;%3Cnua%5BZ%5Bfj0mrj.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicHqpVtai8yhkl3S550Z2mzps0o7e_DygRqWGhjInQhQK35KXRlwlq1K_xY_JhdMl-q4HJQhY-RXSexp3xE9MFsoTFyUglIaI_W71ppMpHCQmJdK5CWi9pbAnkwb3YARQ-88slMrh_04ec/s320/232323232%7Ffp47=ot%3E2325=%3C95=42%3C=65%3C;4;b242%3C3723=3232365-565;%3Cnua%5BZ%5Bfj0mrj.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>The earliest photos I have access to right now.</i> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjENhBpSmN2VUt7TRMWtwgnF22_woKvXabcDaTjVIFt01nv8ti60LZQJphjJRjVhj8wSsy1EuWup8Bk9ZZCxWP23nfNQvMM9D-aiXczftnL67u-7eIaJrL9s7KODhfqd97d7NQ7XZntN1YV/s1600/232323232%7Ffp47=ot%3E2325=%3C95=42%3C=65%3C;4;b242%3C3723=3232365-565;8nua%5BZ%5Bfj0mrj.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjENhBpSmN2VUt7TRMWtwgnF22_woKvXabcDaTjVIFt01nv8ti60LZQJphjJRjVhj8wSsy1EuWup8Bk9ZZCxWP23nfNQvMM9D-aiXczftnL67u-7eIaJrL9s7KODhfqd97d7NQ7XZntN1YV/s320/232323232%7Ffp47=ot%3E2325=%3C95=42%3C=65%3C;4;b242%3C3723=3232365-565;8nua%5BZ%5Bfj0mrj.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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I don't have any digital pictures of her as a puppy (and I packed all my photo prints) because she came into my life before digital photos and cameras, Snapfish, blogs, iPhones, iPads, Facebook, Instagram; before Mr. Incredible, four bundles of joy, and the two most important roles of my life -- that of a wife and mother. She was my very first baby, she was totally and completely MY baby...she rarely left my side as she went to work with me, traveled to NYC with me, went on vacations with me...yes, I am one of "those" kind of dog lovers. I considered her to be a kindred spirit, a best friend, the love and joy of my life. To non-dog owners, this sounds a bit much. I don't care. To be able to have such a connection with another species besides a human is a gift and something as difficult to explain as love itself.<br />
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She was a part of me and has been, and always will be, a huge part of my heart. My last act of love to her was to put her to sleep upon discovering she had bone cancer -- before it became too painful. She was 13 and a half and had lived a full, healthy, happy life...no need to end it in unnecessary pain. It was an excruciatingly difficult decision to make, but there wasn't a doubt in my mind it needed to be done for her sake. I couldn't bear to have her be in pain when I knew I could give her a chance to die peacefully. And with our sweet connection, I knew she loved me for it...and for that I am oh so grateful.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRCE1bH9QnVi6w2T0NIBRhrmRctbYSyH_1xXePUPeDz6Tw2hczy8QajoFtirQx_CEUa176Xi3OLCM-JD0jFUQypdJaTmO399C_3VfN28fBxPVSXNp01cxx9aArz65-dnQwvwBOP5TDkzun/s1600/bond2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRCE1bH9QnVi6w2T0NIBRhrmRctbYSyH_1xXePUPeDz6Tw2hczy8QajoFtirQx_CEUa176Xi3OLCM-JD0jFUQypdJaTmO399C_3VfN28fBxPVSXNp01cxx9aArz65-dnQwvwBOP5TDkzun/s400/bond2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>My first two babies with my babe of a husband.</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyO54V2SmqzcRralH1wM7_Id-wEAf6ImGkOlu0EEc0o5LY-fMrcoEZ5KstFhsn34kX96AO3D1dsnmHP8Kicsvigj7nCC27Sfx7Veh94bXv5kpOYgc0gp_DdoUZMFvmgkR-hoJ3L5smZ77z/s400/jv_sck_play2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Soren, 1 year old; JoiVie, 4 years old</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJq_BifLqIT7kK4IUmoJyDZnJzig3no6FNe-JXczXWMC54pT6rM-dywVKmRQdxG1Po52ncy5FMd5_5KZZe3K_RpN-so-_Bn2AwHni3hT8Rf3nfUKWkC9c9fU-jgfCG7MEg6GHrELV5hvZU/s1600/000_1463.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJq_BifLqIT7kK4IUmoJyDZnJzig3no6FNe-JXczXWMC54pT6rM-dywVKmRQdxG1Po52ncy5FMd5_5KZZe3K_RpN-so-_Bn2AwHni3hT8Rf3nfUKWkC9c9fU-jgfCG7MEg6GHrELV5hvZU/s320/000_1463.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Anna Clara, 1 year old; JoiVie, 6 years old</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5EpWZALj3gOA7BnWVc1EaXFtrAdlBIZYehzrSsE5g07pzPQ9IFVC7VMq6JbgZRDD1Z0UknwVEkzWr_DrRmSnHui4meDcoRAnKKbSiTl401X75PG1WWFJa2rgfIZenwELxHLU894s0eirM/s1600/kapkidsOct07.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5EpWZALj3gOA7BnWVc1EaXFtrAdlBIZYehzrSsE5g07pzPQ9IFVC7VMq6JbgZRDD1Z0UknwVEkzWr_DrRmSnHui4meDcoRAnKKbSiTl401X75PG1WWFJa2rgfIZenwELxHLU894s0eirM/s400/kapkidsOct07.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>One of my very favorite pictures of my first three babies<span style="font-size: small;"> -- who always play<span style="font-size: small;">ed so nicely together.</span></span></i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2dkPHK5TisZzx4nmSA8C2T4XaETyZt35XgPy_UZqgJal-EgvG8B8o_-hgYKoWyIOTbbQC__ZOe-xih1cv2qYGaiLAj0_u9SbdzyUfSI7rMWYpRVr_s9uDD80HPblLdnoLoVlFzyrFvcmb/s1600/000_2054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2dkPHK5TisZzx4nmSA8C2T4XaETyZt35XgPy_UZqgJal-EgvG8B8o_-hgYKoWyIOTbbQC__ZOe-xih1cv2qYGaiLAj0_u9SbdzyUfSI7rMWYpRVr_s9uDD80HPblLdnoLoVlFzyrFvcmb/s320/000_2054.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Anna Clara was ALWAYS playing with her and for her. She called her "BA-bm"...how she came up with that na<span style="font-size: small;">me</span>, I will never<span style="font-size: small;"> know</span>...</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIu3-40FVt8p1ZDGVfkAvCKL4XtLiXZ8WVgtQEeIQ0W-IpbyoTuJyjAI-0DSBn48Ml8gK6KygSXm1lDcHfXLCQMfU6sHMHwsehfa2HMoQfqRGlCWaXDIPtGOs-eRUB6kVWcj0q_6rSdjBm/s1600/000_1950.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIu3-40FVt8p1ZDGVfkAvCKL4XtLiXZ8WVgtQEeIQ0W-IpbyoTuJyjAI-0DSBn48Ml8gK6KygSXm1lDcHfXLCQMfU6sHMHwsehfa2HMoQfqRGlCWaXDIPtGOs-eRUB6kVWcj0q_6rSdjBm/s320/000_1950.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>She was never far from the action.</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj69-guJlKdueTkUYKmLkEij1QAHAZvpjBaWUmdM3bTQjec_2PrnnXG9BKKLi6z0v0UJ5zD_X2543qko5BdJ7YzpX57skbjNXzNAZlzYXBsovlWO_BcbPPKKP5mQbOl3BBLNGL2BT8PJQCK/s1600/SCK_joivie3.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj69-guJlKdueTkUYKmLkEij1QAHAZvpjBaWUmdM3bTQjec_2PrnnXG9BKKLi6z0v0UJ5zD_X2543qko5BdJ7YzpX57skbjNXzNAZlzYXBsovlWO_BcbPPKKP5mQbOl3BBLNGL2BT8PJQCK/s400/SCK_joivie3.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>She loooved playing with rocks!!!</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPu2AQ0L8SIeeJIzHwLp4IxlklouR2Cx4kEx6EblBmQBWiklyc4_y50SIZI_90dmHHZhkko7yUmetkzwPYm8jXSVB32O1UT_VjtwkmGtHu8x6iUzP0s8McsXP2gMpBrOzjb_OOxyc1x5Hi/s1600/AC_JVoct08d.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPu2AQ0L8SIeeJIzHwLp4IxlklouR2Cx4kEx6EblBmQBWiklyc4_y50SIZI_90dmHHZhkko7yUmetkzwPYm8jXSVB32O1UT_VjtwkmGtHu8x6iUzP0s8McsXP2gMpBrOzjb_OOxyc1x5Hi/s400/AC_JVoct08d.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The most patient pup in the entire world.</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcSpcol_bNFlmVtWLHq_TsocY0Fu2hUZnCwVHPP0wEe8FJQ0qb0BeKQ9h1KxvChJ6XdwwWUuabwYvoe7HWUYRaVgZVvwD3hDAe_JO8ZtqTv6XJaz-IlXbZ96KSA6HZga8sVIg35LSuegIP/s1600/AC_joivie2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcSpcol_bNFlmVtWLHq_TsocY0Fu2hUZnCwVHPP0wEe8FJQ0qb0BeKQ9h1KxvChJ6XdwwWUuabwYvoe7HWUYRaVgZVvwD3hDAe_JO8ZtqTv6XJaz-IlXbZ96KSA6HZga8sVIg35LSuegIP/s400/AC_joivie2.jpg" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>And the most loving.</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2tFWToMlDpRUmOrM6yTKNbEZSsffDUG63-nXNo9Bc1kuX7DpgSblFFsTXWBMtnZG6f-1N7tY52uXGdWgt7MxDSIPZqOflmby8A-h4suVpZHLzfK3ylD86i2-lGXXu3od3kh0z9Uk0gML7/s400/AC2_readJoiVie.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>She loved "reading" to her pup.</i></span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvw1TT50GYh4EDPOWxQ2XRlRRjEos8ymL8623ynDlemEg8iKH2yq9C9K3mFeSGlc253MiZC9ylGiXjU0TkTjFfxxzgId3sgzjgB6JshX6Ri6cTgXsXQ7rxw1ATlInfcTsnbOUSQ8P_EBmZ/s1600/ac_joivie_draw.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvw1TT50GYh4EDPOWxQ2XRlRRjEos8ymL8623ynDlemEg8iKH2yq9C9K3mFeSGlc253MiZC9ylGiXjU0TkTjFfxxzgId3sgzjgB6JshX6Ri6cTgXsXQ7rxw1ATlInfcTsnbOUSQ8P_EBmZ/s400/ac_joivie_draw.jpg" width="400" /></a> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq79gsh5uRf8_kJeJTzGneN71Gg44flFS4K0_LV9YfnKbpQnIYtL-jhR5wxB0lJ0KrekobXhhpMciLKveBVCR1JLTbm3-Czx28qYCoR8RLsNUxfUUzVD3aRbL-YIMDvyxxR_b-K10py54l/s1600/jim42bday9.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq79gsh5uRf8_kJeJTzGneN71Gg44flFS4K0_LV9YfnKbpQnIYtL-jhR5wxB0lJ0KrekobXhhpMciLKveBVCR1JLTbm3-Czx28qYCoR8RLsNUxfUUzVD3aRbL-YIMDvyxxR_b-K10py54l/s400/jim42bday9.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrtNsHhdfBnPNeo-GarG8BfrHKzgbS2q2gRdDyPVQDnf4wuNQ99fiObvK1_pXfX8CPsA1cg8etrlukxYcY1dizbgKFjb3LAGO5-9-e-1yxARxIfy4-Wh_50jWz1XAjP6Hnqw_KarTHIKSZ/s1600/JoiVie_action_5x7.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrtNsHhdfBnPNeo-GarG8BfrHKzgbS2q2gRdDyPVQDnf4wuNQ99fiObvK1_pXfX8CPsA1cg8etrlukxYcY1dizbgKFjb3LAGO5-9-e-1yxARxIfy4-Wh_50jWz1XAjP6Hnqw_KarTHIKSZ/s400/JoiVie_action_5x7.jpg" width="285" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>She was as crazy about snow as her momma.</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZh_1ukBCAub334ou9qYHkFzwFNUacMVvLZKBOc_LZvu76F8E1dzH0nLz5SvjyJVkRj9jG1ia1KGUOj0ENBNuwIYaDEfnxABbXN_Xc8zIoup-DcvWzaUCFZBlzdIatSsJZcuZr6zR_Z3rm/s400/joivie_cheese.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="267" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Four-legged Packer Backer.</i></span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsW4IQoo_II3y6XWwXvU0I8dnAEZ0glAZwqT5dEoHBUGc6l7I0-yZDOI0_H5Mwhffrm3j_ct2Z-Xg80DFdRs0pCrhO7x7jp4dCJBKGrwCVHfD2u0tr5oo8bgtHR7v8PRt33GgTQbH3LwJ2/s1600/000_1396.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsW4IQoo_II3y6XWwXvU0I8dnAEZ0glAZwqT5dEoHBUGc6l7I0-yZDOI0_H5Mwhffrm3j_ct2Z-Xg80DFdRs0pCrhO7x7jp4dCJBKGrwCVHfD2u0tr5oo8bgtHR7v8PRt33GgTQbH3LwJ2/s400/000_1396.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoRc98RHGyVV1sEMhNnOE1lsLMK4r82xODlqTvuoyJnpUDDLUC-okzYhnhfFMU8FXAI28WoeSvuoxiDqI7P1SCFT7XCNYeZAVb9eBLsKGrRMmltNbeCBxizpAbPgHQC8wO809DOfEwjoGv/s400/22wkbelly4.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="243" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>She was by my side throughout every pregnancy.</i></span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPwpApM1kuJf4cRa0ecE-jszW07WAMKZM9mlGVxMAdQVB1lKTsBZwbEdby8V_OAWupOTYPicMwIU6zfMpyKY8j5P6S6CDAvihMj2Yggxils4rFzMt6LBQPblwmI_p-qjogO4OOICATX0sv/s1600/bumbos.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPwpApM1kuJf4cRa0ecE-jszW07WAMKZM9mlGVxMAdQVB1lKTsBZwbEdby8V_OAWupOTYPicMwIU6zfMpyKY8j5P6S6CDAvihMj2Yggxils4rFzMt6LBQPblwmI_p-qjogO4OOICATX0sv/s400/bumbos.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjboF1IWcPhx51c0zQCEqKothyAa4_sHP2wkhwvWmI5eNjOj1y7ADkEwTTIQ2P4VTdPGBDny__wuXpJc9teb6RH_6FoOMUwzEBk_vKXddb4DClbJPtDnGh_85ydFE6okB0KGCX7Mvr0Ir64/s1600/IMG_0107.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjboF1IWcPhx51c0zQCEqKothyAa4_sHP2wkhwvWmI5eNjOj1y7ADkEwTTIQ2P4VTdPGBDny__wuXpJc9teb6RH_6FoOMUwzEBk_vKXddb4DClbJPtDnGh_85ydFE6okB0KGCX7Mvr0Ir64/s320/IMG_0107.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>He sat with her and cried the day after we discovered her cancer.</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjebcQ-nz4NdcbLeB3Kabg27Q-_ZL-kuoiz_FMlrnsS_bE7DRc6g5dOxx99g3IUZ3F2oNM55ZXyL0nG8Fm_wp-TJQUdMgVt179DZeYFf1Gf0gpUgSqMo89JYqqqEc_5O38PwzvXFnisv3Lk/s1600/JoiVielastday.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjebcQ-nz4NdcbLeB3Kabg27Q-_ZL-kuoiz_FMlrnsS_bE7DRc6g5dOxx99g3IUZ3F2oNM55ZXyL0nG8Fm_wp-TJQUdMgVt179DZeYFf1Gf0gpUgSqMo89JYqqqEc_5O38PwzvXFnisv3Lk/s320/JoiVielastday.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>She sat with her as well...but saved her tears for the day she passed, when she couldn't stop crying.</i></span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjND8WL8hD5xZdnJcwLXo20XPXx1SR6MrchIq0n8e2Tdw3qokiiU2mAZjFsUDOJ_PsY4F2j6v9UNyARj70C3L4uGkDx1nnj5_YHC_-Tf7yKlUtGIwU-gpO5xZbEWv3twvKIDNdlbSq9VPOX/s1600/JoiVielastday9.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjND8WL8hD5xZdnJcwLXo20XPXx1SR6MrchIq0n8e2Tdw3qokiiU2mAZjFsUDOJ_PsY4F2j6v9UNyARj70C3L4uGkDx1nnj5_YHC_-Tf7yKlUtGIwU-gpO5xZbEWv3twvKIDNdlbSq9VPOX/s400/JoiVielastday9.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i>It snowed on her last day so she could enjoy it for the last time.</i></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP4ziUkZPJDH-K8L77njh_oEOG6147fbZFD10_KPgENrXNM9VBi0pYmlz1tts3Gyf_r5JNXlpKBCowGSgBTgFXS89KgwjwTazaIYS8NN0aMnTKSyq2yeUFEhIUPpVD5qdFe4jfZz9K-qln/s1600/JoiVielastday10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP4ziUkZPJDH-K8L77njh_oEOG6147fbZFD10_KPgENrXNM9VBi0pYmlz1tts3Gyf_r5JNXlpKBCowGSgBTgFXS89KgwjwTazaIYS8NN0aMnTKSyq2yeUFEhIUPpVD5qdFe4jfZz9K-qln/s400/JoiVielastday10.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>And she enjoyed every minute of it.</i></span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi847EJfohtByuEG7JxNASDTtZadOhr3JTMDZxRfeKGUkSi0e6MbqbQvlPkQI47BpsgKtdl3FvYhJvghk873op5qRONIJv2ORbPXRXyRCRE1nZVlFOizu_Wq2_4TD6vmanI-aIWTl5oQjLi/s1600/JoiVielastday17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi847EJfohtByuEG7JxNASDTtZadOhr3JTMDZxRfeKGUkSi0e6MbqbQvlPkQI47BpsgKtdl3FvYhJvghk873op5qRONIJv2ORbPXRXyRCRE1nZVlFOizu_Wq2_4TD6vmanI-aIWTl5oQjLi/s400/JoiVielastday17.jpg" width="267" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ6Dt5gXUjjq2Hx1LyX-JLrbUza2X9p36aWh9Dk1mWfI2nyhjJCrqPj16vcXr1CDxA4i53Dqqi9q_c5wc3DzS8FvQe5b1CGhmINqofPSxikE8Ll-kza-DR-XglCFnevnlJcVt6GY5y46fO/s1600/JoiVielastday19.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ6Dt5gXUjjq2Hx1LyX-JLrbUza2X9p36aWh9Dk1mWfI2nyhjJCrqPj16vcXr1CDxA4i53Dqqi9q_c5wc3DzS8FvQe5b1CGhmINqofPSxikE8Ll-kza-DR-XglCFnevnlJcVt6GY5y46fO/s400/JoiVielastday19.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Her all-time favorite pastime<span style="font-size: small;"> -- catching snow<span style="font-size: small;">balls.</span></span></i></span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCXmkKYKtHHYbyFC0Qa-DcKTef8RFgahoc06iZ5ij1ApDff62obYeYSrVOFzl_jmWSZuntpFIp9w98P-hlXbvUFP3enWQ66jch6a1q8yvxtIky7QYl3hVDI031E-gWXbdZ7SwPgF_jBknw/s1600/JoiVielastday16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaaUbMbYPkXpLTV91mG1OwS52oobeP1sbgC2yk1i2cak8-cjxrUoWFe-D2er66YkVb1Kc_qnZvTX2ct74D79fXrn8l2f2bfTdijZHmlo2tKxKigwPJ_ZZmIC6AiKDzPv9yYyJKvWAxx7Uh/s1600/JoiVielastday18.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaaUbMbYPkXpLTV91mG1OwS52oobeP1sbgC2yk1i2cak8-cjxrUoWFe-D2er66YkVb1Kc_qnZvTX2ct74D79fXrn8l2f2bfTdijZHmlo2tKxKigwPJ_ZZmIC6AiKDzPv9yYyJKvWAxx7Uh/s400/JoiVielastday18.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCXmkKYKtHHYbyFC0Qa-DcKTef8RFgahoc06iZ5ij1ApDff62obYeYSrVOFzl_jmWSZuntpFIp9w98P-hlXbvUFP3enWQ66jch6a1q8yvxtIky7QYl3hVDI031E-gWXbdZ7SwPgF_jBknw/s1600/JoiVielastday16.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCXmkKYKtHHYbyFC0Qa-DcKTef8RFgahoc06iZ5ij1ApDff62obYeYSrVOFzl_jmWSZuntpFIp9w98P-hlXbvUFP3enWQ66jch6a1q8yvxtIky7QYl3hVDI031E-gWXbdZ7SwPgF_jBknw/s400/JoiVielastday16.jpg" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Saying goodbye before getting on the bus. She watched them get on the bus every day.</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifIX7FVZxlDKPFX_slI1clVV5dFVV_PtRVLw3_DXVci5u7fcKJ-P8TUAxIACjOMbE0zVgfO72JtHuAT1gP2alHfu2OBLliHUrhGbNqIyWhhO6UqV1qVtpvobJXujBOVR8v2Dmh8dTrREv4/s1600/JoiVie_11yo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifIX7FVZxlDKPFX_slI1clVV5dFVV_PtRVLw3_DXVci5u7fcKJ-P8TUAxIACjOMbE0zVgfO72JtHuAT1gP2alHfu2OBLliHUrhGbNqIyWhhO6UqV1qVtpvobJXujBOVR8v2Dmh8dTrREv4/s640/JoiVie_11yo.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<b> <span style="font-size: small;">JoiVie</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;">08/16/99 - 02/06/13</span></b></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>"The only way to take sorrow out of death is to take love out of life."</i></span><br />
<br />
I am grateful to have had her to love as much and as long as I did.</div>
A-Kaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03825863588028289361noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474816816394700979.post-58916891488815235752013-01-09T14:39:00.002-05:002013-01-09T15:00:29.622-05:002013...here we areSince I finally got around to sending out my <strike>holiday</strike> <strike>Happy New Year</strike> Welcome-to-2013(?) cards today, I figure I'm on a roll, so I should update my blog with a Happy New Year post of some sort. So, per usual, I will summarize with pictures:<br />
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Before we entered 2013, we thoroughly enjoyed the joys of Christmas.....<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">PRE-CHRISTMAS</span></span></span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtqC9AQ2LFIxC320r20cbrJTVijA3aY4kVTYG74YGrHu4p7y3wkm-aezfAohwxnKFpATC27ye0_rqoNdLLPTCHA8vFpPweGj04j0J8DexyBYB25DrEh9OtEkQ_wNRmAgvU9RYCGk3vYqTI/s1600/AC6_gingabred.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtqC9AQ2LFIxC320r20cbrJTVijA3aY4kVTYG74YGrHu4p7y3wkm-aezfAohwxnKFpATC27ye0_rqoNdLLPTCHA8vFpPweGj04j0J8DexyBYB25DrEh9OtEkQ_wNRmAgvU9RYCGk3vYqTI/s400/AC6_gingabred.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
Someone won a raffle for a rather large, pimped out Gingerbread House at school...out of everyone in her K through 5th elementary school.... She was very happy. To say the least.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIoFa1Y8TbCh5EWX5uXxjjjk5UAnMNxh7gH_p1ynf8NfyA-5DEl7y3WBfr7vJsKOD_d1U4HeIpDrISNGPRZlol4Br7VU2olA5mDEJv_RJLlTIyzlhpKjPtDJ5ANRZID99sGYYb5J54UzvD/s1600/AC6_gingabred5.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIoFa1Y8TbCh5EWX5uXxjjjk5UAnMNxh7gH_p1ynf8NfyA-5DEl7y3WBfr7vJsKOD_d1U4HeIpDrISNGPRZlol4Br7VU2olA5mDEJv_RJLlTIyzlhpKjPtDJ5ANRZID99sGYYb5J54UzvD/s400/AC6_gingabred5.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> <i><span style="font-size: small;">I mean seriously...that is one Mac Daddy of a Gingabred Crib yo.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibPQl-2Za25b6urhiSazeibBA_bkulg5xzWHUefGbwrB1-n7LeT411chvYdwFSJ2yGClZA8wCrA7oJ7S1ZnTJJv_AAF_cKc9fS70RUQ6kkcSAF2R3G5v49Pa9WoWCyp4Xvu2Kd7MAqlQRK/s1600/AC6_gingabred3.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibPQl-2Za25b6urhiSazeibBA_bkulg5xzWHUefGbwrB1-n7LeT411chvYdwFSJ2yGClZA8wCrA7oJ7S1ZnTJJv_AAF_cKc9fS70RUQ6kkcSAF2R3G5v49Pa9WoWCyp4Xvu2Kd7MAqlQRK/s640/AC6_gingabred3.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"> If that isn't a classic Big Brother Creeper look, I don't know what is....</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwSHcFc8vX8xkC5-Xmkw_BFe-zAX3O3akkq3ktugNU8eB-kfRUbivK-59blMgzhz6AbaionfxRe44I24hMGIuxdQvoJbtNEOtv4lyonpvOICSAkggEPspIxMnUREOCyedh3qEMJhqQnLi_/s1600/boys_gbhouse12.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwSHcFc8vX8xkC5-Xmkw_BFe-zAX3O3akkq3ktugNU8eB-kfRUbivK-59blMgzhz6AbaionfxRe44I24hMGIuxdQvoJbtNEOtv4lyonpvOICSAkggEPspIxMnUREOCyedh3qEMJhqQnLi_/s400/boys_gbhouse12.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>This is what it looks like now. Hmmm...I wonder what happened?</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>If my mom had ever let me do this, I would have thought I had died and gone to heaven....</i></span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgShWDWyx9PNpW_m8-aEq4ogXjqj7NI6D8jKpBs_yhr8BZPu1JJClqOjWcpoHmqB8fFB5lCJMKUhLKo7ZwcFXMAUIVliCWdV6yX-jkH9w1rcE_7SPaA4ENZxiDVhQPx-8u-54uauy7HmB3u/s1600/boys_ducklings.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgShWDWyx9PNpW_m8-aEq4ogXjqj7NI6D8jKpBs_yhr8BZPu1JJClqOjWcpoHmqB8fFB5lCJMKUhLKo7ZwcFXMAUIVliCWdV6yX-jkH9w1rcE_7SPaA4ENZxiDVhQPx-8u-54uauy7HmB3u/s400/boys_ducklings.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
I went to Boston for a day to visit with a beloved friend visiting from across the country. Thankfully, my boys were able to play with The Ducklings in the <a href="http://www.boston-discovery-guide.com/boston-public-garden.html#axzz2HSFFdaSb" target="_blank">Boston Public Garden</a> before we moved....<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzQoryJEpLXpf5Sk3FjtisRItHOk47_n6KIJFhs07sSJ2T6p8Yla1mfVgoDTGABiodK4Zul_1k1XaPhwH8VGUMobwbre_mOZEnl67yO-qyvBxnrVet5iT-BzNL5-U0imwVije93RbteCk2/s1600/boys_ducklings4.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzQoryJEpLXpf5Sk3FjtisRItHOk47_n6KIJFhs07sSJ2T6p8Yla1mfVgoDTGABiodK4Zul_1k1XaPhwH8VGUMobwbre_mOZEnl67yO-qyvBxnrVet5iT-BzNL5-U0imwVije93RbteCk2/s400/boys_ducklings4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Make way for these ducklings!</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiongg5DS88RWUjydNLfD5FNROJwtHKsGPAXXjPR-xTA1p-yh_C6V27FENWqz8TJrah-DjW93rXk7xCs-axSRzV5jj-LQoGObfINtza2VaRT7uJ4M85m80airkDZFFfYFIUZlvReB9cTDu8/s1600/boys_ducklings5.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiongg5DS88RWUjydNLfD5FNROJwtHKsGPAXXjPR-xTA1p-yh_C6V27FENWqz8TJrah-DjW93rXk7xCs-axSRzV5jj-LQoGObfINtza2VaRT7uJ4M85m80airkDZFFfYFIUZlvReB9cTDu8/s400/boys_ducklings5.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>A kiss for his new friend.</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE54LQwJtjzyrhZ3HEQLqKW-zB3-4-AeNX3bFsSDdDGv9pzJUT_krwZyQ_a8_DZKqE2ha84JyEY1hV9W8mjj5-hYya-owrDGhrv-e_j9neyCd7j7ZStaNjiXVRmiDk718E0ME1f_Acseb7/s1600/boys_ducklings6.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE54LQwJtjzyrhZ3HEQLqKW-zB3-4-AeNX3bFsSDdDGv9pzJUT_krwZyQ_a8_DZKqE2ha84JyEY1hV9W8mjj5-hYya-owrDGhrv-e_j9neyCd7j7ZStaNjiXVRmiDk718E0ME1f_Acseb7/s400/boys_ducklings6.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Oh my goodness. The cuteness of it all.</i></span></td></tr>
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And of course there was the baking.....and more baking <i>(this is only the beginning)</i>....YUM!<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">CHRISTMAS EVE </span></span></span></div>
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<i> Well... 2 out of 4 listening to "Twas the Night Before Christmas" ain't bad....</i></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Cutest lil Santa. Ever.</i></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> </i><span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">CHRISTMAS MORNING </span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-zeOGiWtCfxhPtT0TJy0BSfi8j0nO4Im62fTcnYwarUP5_6bV1-lnp1VjfU5s3lfXI3hGZs19LwNT28Ll5Sz2S2o7WBaLH44t1xQ8Q-09O_ojT0EgwXoWvSZ043LZtk3pW7ZQ7VlXbyP9/s1600/2012xmas9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-zeOGiWtCfxhPtT0TJy0BSfi8j0nO4Im62fTcnYwarUP5_6bV1-lnp1VjfU5s3lfXI3hGZs19LwNT28Ll5Sz2S2o7WBaLH44t1xQ8Q-09O_ojT0EgwXoWvSZ043LZtk3pW7ZQ7VlXbyP9/s640/2012xmas9.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">(Note that Santa left the fireplace screen open and made a mess with the ashes. Naughty Santa.)</span></i></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Growing up, we always had to wait on the steps to see the tree and presents until Mommy and Daddy were good and ready. I have kept that tradition....<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-bpJV2L9ZPAHVKvQ7cGzwF5X2ncWpsCgCrW4nAP1ltWHDUNiG1CeiZi2u6GZOrii63M4FQJDIC1TLYFvdn5UyLc4JoCbwlCrUato2xm4Lx_qZDZ9u7HXxMBZY-ZzO5Qtj3vP_LKOqsjrv/s1600/2012xmas10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-bpJV2L9ZPAHVKvQ7cGzwF5X2ncWpsCgCrW4nAP1ltWHDUNiG1CeiZi2u6GZOrii63M4FQJDIC1TLYFvdn5UyLc4JoCbwlCrUato2xm4Lx_qZDZ9u7HXxMBZY-ZzO5Qtj3vP_LKOqsjrv/s400/2012xmas10.jpg" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Anders was expressing what the others were feeling -- just get me to the gi<span style="font-size: small;">fts!!!!</span></i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Daddy is trying so hard to make it better.</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf8ZxJUotUUwc4Agf4vPP7TgsrQwOSLvVsH8ffIyrR7JikMqwO76s_7s8rXZNvRhbFALFFvRPVKla_cS-WYHUFPeCMa7LhzOpipJOo0ybT3OR7xtUEG22WCJOC63pe7JCsCSMZCnRtnSc8/s1600/2012xmas12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf8ZxJUotUUwc4Agf4vPP7TgsrQwOSLvVsH8ffIyrR7JikMqwO76s_7s8rXZNvRhbFALFFvRPVKla_cS-WYHUFPeCMa7LhzOpipJOo0ybT3OR7xtUEG22WCJOC63pe7JCsCSMZCnRtnSc8/s400/2012xmas12.jpg" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>He's getting there....</i><i> (Obviously Niels is the only one who is keeping the faith on this one.)</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2j1KzJX-9dkOMfjipnNcr7MuWXH8whshsL1yx5yUONvdSpVjUr9Qj5J3LlDlTvfV-rtuJZoEPBiVdvRhYNyEr6Kpuuel1nI4lUre7WiDgfTwm8vqbihtnUCO1bdWg5w6r9UEy0t0lOyCT/s1600/2012xmas13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2j1KzJX-9dkOMfjipnNcr7MuWXH8whshsL1yx5yUONvdSpVjUr9Qj5J3LlDlTvfV-rtuJZoEPBiVdvRhYNyEr6Kpuuel1nI4lUre7WiDgfTwm8vqbihtnUCO1bdWg5w6r9UEy0t0lOyCT/s400/2012xmas13.jpg" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>So close.....</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Niels:<i> You're almost there Anders! You can do it! </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Daddy: </span><i>It's about freaking time he stopped crying.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Soren<span style="font-size: small;">:</span></span><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span>Can I just pleeeease go open some presents! Please?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Anna Clara:</span><i><span style="font-size: small;"> How about this smile?!</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">POST CHRISTMA<span style="font-size: small;">S</span> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><i> {All except the last two pictures below were taken with my new iPhone...which is really Jim's old iPhone until I get my new iPhone (long story). I've been experimenting with his phone since I've never had one and it's been fun doing things with it that I've observed others doing all these many years of the iPhone existence. And yes, it took me this long to be convinced to get one -- and I'm a Mac user!} </i></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Off to New York City!</i></span> <i>(Perhaps our last drive to my most favorite city during the holidays. *sniff*)</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Always the most beautiful tree in <strike>the</strike> my world.</i></span></td></tr>
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The sites of the City. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>New haircuts for 2013!!!!</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>No more mullet.</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">No more bowl cut.</span></i></td></tr>
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Daddy's last evening with us after 3 wonderful weeks having our whole family together....<br />
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Daddy planting the St. Joseph statuette his sister gave him so we would <a href="http://www.stjosephsite.com/SJS_Prayer_To%20sell%20a%20home.htm" target="_blank">sell the house</a>...maybe one of these days....<br />
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Here's to a year when everything falls into place just as it should...and perhaps even easily and perfectly,<br />
<i>if that's not asking too much.</i><br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: large;">HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!</span></span></span></div>
A-Kaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03825863588028289361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474816816394700979.post-66430488203690982022012-12-12T21:32:00.003-05:002012-12-18T19:00:28.228-05:0012/12/12<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">I just had to post on 12.12.12. Just cuz.<span style="font-size: small;"> But I also find it interesting that the number 12 is <span style="font-size: small;">symbolic in more ways than one...including the inexhaustable Christmas carol, "Twel<span style="font-size: small;">ve Days of Christmas". So here are some myths/legends/symbols surround<span style="font-size: small;">ing the nu<span style="font-size: small;">mber "12"<span style="font-size: small;">:</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.ridingthebeast.com/numbers/nu12.php" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Symbolism</span></span></b></a><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">~ Twelve is the number of what is completed, which forms a whole, a
perfect and harmonious unit. In the ancient civilizations, like
Oriental and Judaic, it corresponds to the plenitude, the completion and
the integrality of a thing. R. Allendy tells that it expresses the idea
that the Universe forms a whole, associated with the idea of
differentiation - 10 + 2.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">~ Represent the manifestation of the Trinity to the four corners of the horizon - 3 x 4.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">~<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>Symbolize the command and the good, and governs the space and the
time, that is to say the operation of the Cosmos, from where its
designation of cosmic number.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">~ Number attributed to the government of the world or the cosmos.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">~ It is the creative capacity, and in some religions, it expresses also the Divine Mother.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><a href="http://urbanlegends.about.com/od/christmaslore/a/12_days_of_christmas_meaning.htm" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Twelve Days of Christmas</span></span></a> </b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics. It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality which the children could remember.<br />~ The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">~ </span>Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">~ </span>Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">~ </span>The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">~ </span>The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">~ </span>The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">~ </span>Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit -- Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">~ </span>The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">~ </span>Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit--Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">~ </span>The ten lords a-leaping were the ten commandments.</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">~ </span>The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">~ </span>The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">There are also several (to say the least) <a href="http://biblemeanings.info/Words/Number/Twelve.htm" target="_blank">spiritual meanings to the number 12</a>.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">And<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">...it just hap<span style="font-size: small;">pens to be</span> the number of our favorite <span style="font-size: small;">athlete</span>.....</span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoQxEig8vgQc1BvrBDVqDjRLjFHw0xiHPoEbUu4xiJf-fnX6sIHOkLFtEz5GlKHCDtVM4jOSky3iDTe36Z-vbeBKKNpyq97mzESEWp_ul7qttZymZRvRrwQaTnisR7FR726UKO9EHeG7X4/s1600/12rodgersb.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoQxEig8vgQc1BvrBDVqDjRLjFHw0xiHPoEbUu4xiJf-fnX6sIHOkLFtEz5GlKHCDtVM4jOSky3iDTe36Z-vbeBKKNpyq97mzESEWp_ul7qttZymZRvRrwQaTnisR7FR726UKO9EHeG7X4/s400/12rodgersb.JPG" width="267" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Aaron Rodgers ain't bad either. <span style="font-size: small;">Heh Heh.</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Happy 12/12/12! The last of the trip<span style="font-size: small;">le<span style="font-size: small;">t<span style="font-size: small;"> dates </span></span></span>for another century....</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Oh and last, but certainly not least, </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">TWELVE MORE DAYS <span style="font-size: small;">'TIL <span style="color: #cc0000;">CHRISTMAS</span>!!<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> A-Kaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03825863588028289361noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474816816394700979.post-26511254096768902492012-12-06T23:31:00.002-05:002012-12-09T20:19:04.177-05:00limbo<span class="dnindex"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">In <a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/limbo?s=t" target="_blank">dictionary.com</a>, "limbo" is defined, in the third and fourth definitions, as:</span></span></span><div class="luna-Ent">
</div>
<div class="luna-Ent">
<span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">3. </span><i><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">An</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">intermediate,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">transitional,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">or</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">midway</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">state</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">or</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">place.</span></i></div>
<div class="luna-Ent">
<span id="hotword" name="hotword">4. </span><i><span id="hotword" name="hotword">A</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">place</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">or</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">state</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">of</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">imprisonment</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">or</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">confinement.</span></i><br />
<div class="dndata">
<span id="hotword"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="luna-Ent">
<div class="dndata">
<span id="hotword"> </span></div>
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<br />
Those are both pretty darn accurate descriptions of where I am right now. Only one potential buyer has come to see our home (only just this past weekend! After being on the market for 3 months!), Jim is home one weekend a month -- except for the bonus week Hurricane Sandy gave us -- and neither one of us have any idea how long our family is going to be apart...but we know it will be a very long time. We will be here at least until June since we may as well keep the kidlings in school until the end of their school year. After that, if we haven't sold our home, who the heck knows. Most likely we will lose quite a bit of money in the process of desperately trying to sell our home so we can afford to finally buy one in Illinois.<br />
<br />
It seems so strange to live in a home that feels so perfect for our family, in a location we love so much, with a garden so perfect for my farm boy, with so many friends we love and cherish, and know that we have to leave it all within the next year. It feels like when you try to slooooowwwwly take a bandaid off of a bad wound, rather than ripping it off and getting it over with -- it may be more painful, but at least the pain isn't agonizingly long and like the dang bandaid will never come off....while at the same time thinking maybe the longer it takes to get it off, the better it will feel????<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #333333;">Yep. </span>That's about right. <br />
<br />
So, as that bandaid has slooooowly been ripping off, here is a glimpse into the past 3 months without a husband living at home (since I know you are just dying to know....):<br />
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We had a very brief snowstorm early in November...and haven't had one since.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD-hIpcF5WtdBuTa8J2dc1Kgdds94zsthp2hqhyphenhyphenVFIVEzOtBTqvFSBRkLv2hEq5JBCCDBY1fGkdkS0Qmij_7p3qMexjSfseNpKRjn6m3wx4xd18KgG2uHqN1Ddihikiy2wh5npz1lVfwCC/s1600/1stsnow2012d.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD-hIpcF5WtdBuTa8J2dc1Kgdds94zsthp2hqhyphenhyphenVFIVEzOtBTqvFSBRkLv2hEq5JBCCDBY1fGkdkS0Qmij_7p3qMexjSfseNpKRjn6m3wx4xd18KgG2uHqN1Ddihikiy2wh5npz1lVfwCC/s400/1stsnow2012d.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Our first -- and only? -- snowman of the winter!</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5bgAj8fu1UV32PLaZ1f5ZUJUdsh9tAayi0GgO9jRIOIghenekcOo9TDhjDhWaSuX4tpSZ7lylXlbIIoQs1IBGvFVEKgwPj2Skxtk0hV1Wd9T8Oz-htb7krAPAVM5djSfwEelsLwuyMDCo/s1600/1stsnow2012.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5bgAj8fu1UV32PLaZ1f5ZUJUdsh9tAayi0GgO9jRIOIghenekcOo9TDhjDhWaSuX4tpSZ7lylXlbIIoQs1IBGvFVEKgwPj2Skxtk0hV1Wd9T8Oz-htb7krAPAVM5djSfwEelsLwuyMDCo/s400/1stsnow2012.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>My snow-loving pup.</i></td></tr>
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I have been canning jams and tomatoes like crazy...knowing they will be the last from our NH garden. I made peach jam from the very first peaches from our orchard...for the first and last time..... <i>*sigh*</i><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOtZW8HmKv3hUuPg_oCTPrw9b6fVbDNLgrsAv_pb3utDJhARZ8PFp9WYMTSefr-M7gs4P4fXJJsWd_eLtSJG_Qi50m6viBZNRooGxipOsE_Ot6TeXBYzjCrshxpJB_R_lCRckQyXEnNva0/s1600/2012jams.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOtZW8HmKv3hUuPg_oCTPrw9b6fVbDNLgrsAv_pb3utDJhARZ8PFp9WYMTSefr-M7gs4P4fXJJsWd_eLtSJG_Qi50m6viBZNRooGxipOsE_Ot6TeXBYzjCrshxpJB_R_lCRckQyXEnNva0/s400/2012jams.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>raspberry and peach jam</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlczRfQAEGA29IPbQ8hPz3E4Q-6htfBv1dgwgh-pmLyFOi74DsrzuzxOHPNHw1IwgIWUfDemxrUhTsc1_xlvvfITZMXVBFG4AIYb-cDk1ZStkAiXesjzoJKMDyR0hrA0HQvlkLdD7RGyAR/s1600/2012veggies.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlczRfQAEGA29IPbQ8hPz3E4Q-6htfBv1dgwgh-pmLyFOi74DsrzuzxOHPNHw1IwgIWUfDemxrUhTsc1_xlvvfITZMXVBFG4AIYb-cDk1ZStkAiXesjzoJKMDyR0hrA0HQvlkLdD7RGyAR/s400/2012veggies.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>This is but a sampling of the variety of veggies I cut up, pureed,
froze, cooked, canned, etc...etc...., but barely a handful in number
compared to the bushels and bushels and bushels and bushels and bushels
of veggies Mr. Incredible grew and picked...and left for me to prepare
for the winter.....</i></td></tr>
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I have also been doing quite a bit of baking to keep me sane...and well-padded for the winter.....<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtXRnCdZk49EG-5wdKJc9Uzdz6q00_ksL1Bu7Kgt9dGjCJydn38jHMesQzydt0VZohLE2O2-_nVAbnzhH2PMhyphenhyphenAAYdQcFE8s8VhE5z_DbH3juYtmNTlpOFPLTMiyR382elnIVTAXyXi9nm/s1600/3caramels.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtXRnCdZk49EG-5wdKJc9Uzdz6q00_ksL1Bu7Kgt9dGjCJydn38jHMesQzydt0VZohLE2O2-_nVAbnzhH2PMhyphenhyphenAAYdQcFE8s8VhE5z_DbH3juYtmNTlpOFPLTMiyR382elnIVTAXyXi9nm/s400/3caramels.JPG" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Three different caramels (apple cider, salted chocolate and regular) I made and mailed to some friends who have had an even tougher few months than I.</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_qVEoMg1GLQ_HOYAODU1-NPy0ov8tO6ZWpR1JwcLSQu-ayWCm0HP6Ewray6ToZUTS1WbmttV70xF5rI-6zTfbpeLjsilh17DIvjNBlRCMuI6L5SKnC86eSHA8qDgEe304tdN-diDyOnbl/s1600/punkindonuts2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_qVEoMg1GLQ_HOYAODU1-NPy0ov8tO6ZWpR1JwcLSQu-ayWCm0HP6Ewray6ToZUTS1WbmttV70xF5rI-6zTfbpeLjsilh17DIvjNBlRCMuI6L5SKnC86eSHA8qDgEe304tdN-diDyOnbl/s400/punkindonuts2.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The best pumpkin muffins in the entire world. I make them every fall...and as long as I have any frozen, pureed pumpkin I prepped from the garden. They are just as good with canned, store bought pumpkin though.</i></span></td></tr>
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And while I work in the kitchen, my boys make messes everywhere they go. The messes never -- <span style="font-size: x-small;">EVER</span> -- end.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiumygycorfRJWYuNNRb9MNBga8TYrDaO8noUhmNE1x-zPl07VfiVC5NhVB81DYQkYBXG_M6_CTcSgN4kxQ7IH003mYWYiUL9H_QL_TPud7gOt934Va9ercrmbff6kJvaqLAFu1HZLTGELv/s1600/tpfilledtoilet.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiumygycorfRJWYuNNRb9MNBga8TYrDaO8noUhmNE1x-zPl07VfiVC5NhVB81DYQkYBXG_M6_CTcSgN4kxQ7IH003mYWYiUL9H_QL_TPud7gOt934Va9ercrmbff6kJvaqLAFu1HZLTGELv/s400/tpfilledtoilet.JPG" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Yep. An entire roll of toilet paper in the toilet. Twice. In one day. The second time the consequences were a bit more harsh...therefore it hasn't happened since. But I ain't holding my breath that it won't happen again!</i></td></tr>
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Because it is December, it is time for constant, all day, every day Christmas music (<i>Hallelujah!</i> Oh how I love me some Christmas music!!!!) and the magic of Christmas with four little ones. I barely decorated this year since my storage space is jam-packed with stuff I had started to box up for the move...<span style="font-size: x-small;">that I thought would come sooner.</span>..and I couldn't get motivated enough to dig through the boxes to get out all the decorations...and then have my house look "cluttered" if a potential buyer were to actually come look at our house...... BUT, my children would not be able to live without their Christmas village our dear and generous friends gave us -- and add to every year. All four of them spend hours in this little spot. Unfortunately the boys have terrorized the village to the point where it looks a bit like Hurricane Sandy came through...they simply can not resist touching and <strike>destroying</strike> exploring. Besides, it's Christmas, and everything Christmas is meant to be thoroughly enjoyed.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg02LJzEU2bTIAhWYdipTwN6SWHdQ7Tk9rRLzzZ4ZzvlUhkO6iO5zJaNW9irppwToQ7Ei7KuFCEiGOmr2nMEO6z8S_QwyXYfRxV5-_yZv_SjSK45yWX-yGIVRyjc0SLJfzTv-bmbG4XGHV4/s1600/3boys_houses.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg02LJzEU2bTIAhWYdipTwN6SWHdQ7Tk9rRLzzZ4ZzvlUhkO6iO5zJaNW9irppwToQ7Ei7KuFCEiGOmr2nMEO6z8S_QwyXYfRxV5-_yZv_SjSK45yWX-yGIVRyjc0SLJfzTv-bmbG4XGHV4/s640/3boys_houses.JPG" width="640" /></a> <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPe7_NGEfwaNru21C3Ut8H56E-wWfYnR9Vtu-zkOnayoVNT0EcjYF6bbudblpCZ5YFtDVPWdWUBflM49Z8f6RxZTLiTIfg2yMm3cnK8vBc8UNnoHS8bIsLLtt-7kodzjSsHe0j4TS_mU7J/s1600/3boys_houses8.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPe7_NGEfwaNru21C3Ut8H56E-wWfYnR9Vtu-zkOnayoVNT0EcjYF6bbudblpCZ5YFtDVPWdWUBflM49Z8f6RxZTLiTIfg2yMm3cnK8vBc8UNnoHS8bIsLLtt-7kodzjSsHe0j4TS_mU7J/s640/3boys_houses8.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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At about 4pm every, single day, this is how I feel:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzD9bovW-DY3iLBicTJz5IlRAl3yf4EuKZuFV-eCnxQspRB9ALK1XFTE3ZRdKe1A3l6njK34h5oFWpXCNtnWZBujy326qX2MJ01Zbzyj98cMrMFWKxJarO8zlA1dsBJ0jqgIqjPfw3Gfti/s1600/niels2_joivie.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzD9bovW-DY3iLBicTJz5IlRAl3yf4EuKZuFV-eCnxQspRB9ALK1XFTE3ZRdKe1A3l6njK34h5oFWpXCNtnWZBujy326qX2MJ01Zbzyj98cMrMFWKxJarO8zlA1dsBJ0jqgIqjPfw3Gfti/s400/niels2_joivie.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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I simply want to drop down and rest and let the world pass me by.<br />
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But I don't...because, every, single day there is still homeworking, dinner prepping, feeding, cleaning, screaming, whining, reprimanding, crying, consoling, playing, cleaning, bathing, dressing, reading (x3...once to each age group), singing, rocking, praying, good nighting, kissing, hugging, one-on-one-ing, cleaning, and, finally, snuggling into my sweet, sweet bed......with my laptop so I can catch up on emails, reading, tivo'ing and, finally tonight, update my blog.<br />
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Sometimes, just sometimes, my little man (or little lady...who is learning to read so fast!) fills in for my big man and reads to my boys to lighten my evening load.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkD_oWxeSjCaEv5DZmQKGuOHpcUaTBJxGDrFyr410sWgeLS4yYAGophVRz7W2XXYEuVUiX4JkOXczBerIX28oGeZQwOPqgRiRtrGUlVb5gTewnlFezDDlVjjBJT4lvxLpsJeLw8f6RyA7K/s1600/sck8boysread2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkD_oWxeSjCaEv5DZmQKGuOHpcUaTBJxGDrFyr410sWgeLS4yYAGophVRz7W2XXYEuVUiX4JkOXczBerIX28oGeZQwOPqgRiRtrGUlVb5gTewnlFezDDlVjjBJT4lvxLpsJeLw8f6RyA7K/s400/sck8boysread2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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But I sure miss my big man. It's so dang lonely being a single mom. Kudos to all who do it, have done it and continue to do it without an end in sight. At least I know my Mr. Incredible is waiting for me in Chicago. Some day his wife and children will join him and we will be whole again. Some day.<br />
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In the mean time, I will try to appreciate all the moments of Christmas joy that I can with four lil ones. However, lately, I have been especially enjoying the Christmas moments when the children are nestled all snug in their beds.....<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnTjEgAS0j3b9-vONxQDpoAeojeXbxqwGXm4Q33QdGFdEWbiNauX7gUvR959enQlf043nVZFfGx9Qh_qNbbfUA63tvkyvkgWtbopVHgcWLnfzpm60c_CD6oZaCAf7I6yPnjjHgm05eDE-E/s1600/2boyssleeping.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnTjEgAS0j3b9-vONxQDpoAeojeXbxqwGXm4Q33QdGFdEWbiNauX7gUvR959enQlf043nVZFfGx9Qh_qNbbfUA63tvkyvkgWtbopVHgcWLnfzpm60c_CD6oZaCAf7I6yPnjjHgm05eDE-E/s640/2boyssleeping.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Out of the blue last night they decided they both wanted the same crib. So I let them both have it. And they slept just fine. Thank heavens.</i> </td></tr>
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Merry Christmas to all <span style="color: #38761d;">and to all a </span></span><span style="color: #38761d;">good night</span><span style="color: #cc0000;">!<span style="color: #38761d;">!</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">!<span style="color: #38761d;">!</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<br />A-Kaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03825863588028289361noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474816816394700979.post-52302729739438241782012-11-12T00:26:00.000-05:002012-11-12T08:19:02.151-05:00freedom isn't free<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjuM-ew4i3pqv986mfEIQQLQMza9lfEKnVlhWSA7ZZOkfDHPYgSMtLs3Q1Z43vhV9HzM8QwLtr1CUx2W0IS54RBPKfY835zaPuoTv3iuvHSZ0iro0ew-TEGG7Sp8WdYnV3rRsCwMQOaCb9/s1600/flags.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjuM-ew4i3pqv986mfEIQQLQMza9lfEKnVlhWSA7ZZOkfDHPYgSMtLs3Q1Z43vhV9HzM8QwLtr1CUx2W0IS54RBPKfY835zaPuoTv3iuvHSZ0iro0ew-TEGG7Sp8WdYnV3rRsCwMQOaCb9/s640/flags.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Each flag has a name tag in honor of a man or woman who gave their lives
serving our nation in Iraq or Afghanistan since September 11, 2001. C<span style="font-size: small;">reated by a local Scout tro<span style="font-size: small;">op and v<span style="font-size: small;">arious volunteers from our area.</span></span></span></i></span></td></tr>
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<b>Happy Veterans Day! </b><br />
<br />
After the past week of reeling from the election results (everything I felt is perfectly stated <a href="http://myvoiceonthewingsofchange.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">here</a> by someone I have never met and I know very little about other than what is on her blog), it is my hope that we do not lose what our countless men and women have fought for since our country was founded. The first and foremost being "freedom".<br />
<br />
Freedom of speech. All speech. Not just that which is "politically correct". Not just what the media chooses to frame for us -- often out of context and often not the whole truth. <br />
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Freedom of religion. All religions. All beliefs -- not just those that change with popular culture. (I include this not just because I happen to be religious, but because freedom of religion was one of the main reasons people first immigrated to this country...and, in many cases, continues to be a reason immigrants want to come. And, as we all know, immigrants are the heart and soul of our country! As long as they are legal and not a drag on our system....)<br />
<br />
Freedom to be successful and make all the money we want so that we
can, through our success, help others to be successful by teaching them,
helping them and guiding them. The wealthy "1%" are the people who keep our education costs down by paying full tuitions, who donate to museums, who create
jobs, who start businesses, who help FUND businesses so that they can
grow, who pay MOST of the taxes that pay for the growing number of entitlements....<br />
<br />
Freedom to be any color, any race, any nationality, any sexual orientation, any religion and be and do great things -- no matter WHAT our background, not BECAUSE of our background. This is, in a nutshell, what makes our country "exceptional". <br />
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Thank you veterans for your service and dedication to the importance of these freedoms, and so many more, which we Americans hold to be true and good. Freedoms inspired by our Founding Fathers and written into our country's <a href="http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/" target="_blank">"Charters of Freedom"</a> (Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights). My greatest hope is that your service and dedication won't be for naught. We, the ones who are not fighting on the battlefields but in the daily battles of political correctness and media-driven morals and values, must honor our veterans by not giving up or giving in, but fighting harder to preserve the things we know are right.A-Kaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03825863588028289361noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474816816394700979.post-22526177326603898882012-10-31T23:35:00.001-04:002012-10-31T23:42:04.510-04:00Happy Halloween 2012!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCM2wk3speuLK891ax-HZpf0ODIQkurmZFqemh0sEDt4c3VRYK5pk6XYu1cA4xglxqUlfPBNqb3xc4JU8XsJXrwga4G_zCES2KL-Mh9FDaWM0sFmN0anhdZqH6X6BO0FEAkfEJga1ystQ3/s1600/2012halloween.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCM2wk3speuLK891ax-HZpf0ODIQkurmZFqemh0sEDt4c3VRYK5pk6XYu1cA4xglxqUlfPBNqb3xc4JU8XsJXrwga4G_zCES2KL-Mh9FDaWM0sFmN0anhdZqH6X6BO0FEAkfEJga1ystQ3/s400/2012halloween.jpg" width="332" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Zombie Boy and Baby Doll</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiiFfOve8fElro1tGE_8x1iTtA5_CmjXR89I8V0YuBxL9jRr71GUlGAkQ2FxkkXmzc1pAqLxXxXP25BhpAvUgnAeKkrWxFDG-FrLVQ9NDl8-nFa-QxCoFLGaAlMsAqnBAzrDXiSix4nF8d/s1600/2012halloween2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiiFfOve8fElro1tGE_8x1iTtA5_CmjXR89I8V0YuBxL9jRr71GUlGAkQ2FxkkXmzc1pAqLxXxXP25BhpAvUgnAeKkrWxFDG-FrLVQ9NDl8-nFa-QxCoFLGaAlMsAqnBAzrDXiSix4nF8d/s400/2012halloween2.jpg" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Zombie Boy, Old Pup and Baby Doll</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt-9vsyh3JaZUgZKk3UnR1B584OclgcX9GeqD2cMlzlmwgMTXL8JQjoy_Hg1qgn3iy_AvQKq-RlvDuUFp4f3DR8pKW7id5HZyY_UNZ0eYyFwmDoLPdLIRUgWiLnxXIRdO6ncNPF37tW9yB/s1600/2012halloween3.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt-9vsyh3JaZUgZKk3UnR1B584OclgcX9GeqD2cMlzlmwgMTXL8JQjoy_Hg1qgn3iy_AvQKq-RlvDuUFp4f3DR8pKW7id5HZyY_UNZ0eYyFwmDoLPdLIRUgWiLnxXIRdO6ncNPF37tW9yB/s400/2012halloween3.jpg" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Scary Zombie Boy<span style="font-size: small;"> and</span> Cute Baby Doll</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-QDLKAKbnoiFWjseDw_e51mwfKpLEeM4XOuPThldAauWAZlWVL_mf6dkK0ufLjDhtvFPLe0y1DTtjNGMyThUuU9L8unoQlQZDzpw-WYp632oiTNBqOFdTKm3VSr-1qleZLKY38wZJpL5y/s1600/2012halloween4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-QDLKAKbnoiFWjseDw_e51mwfKpLEeM4XOuPThldAauWAZlWVL_mf6dkK0ufLjDhtvFPLe0y1DTtjNGMyThUuU9L8unoQlQZDzpw-WYp632oiTNBqOFdTKm3VSr-1qleZLKY38wZJpL5y/s400/2012halloween4.jpg" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Perplexed Packer Fan, Helpful Baby Doll, Angry Packer Fan, and Clueless Zombie</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLi97GESi4Ytu3iRibIvK6DcxowY419NxxyB3TtWo9H-5ftrMH4hJLzs-2EIOmfT5DuQZU9VYXTOXq0r8iMwB5oJX8PfOy96aCjp0LVb5zLiGMGKBzFkOsjuyoEVNNyqvbAOoc1iOimZ58/s1600/2012halloween5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLi97GESi4Ytu3iRibIvK6DcxowY419NxxyB3TtWo9H-5ftrMH4hJLzs-2EIOmfT5DuQZU9VYXTOXq0r8iMwB5oJX8PfOy96aCjp0LVb5zLiGMGKBzFkOsjuyoEVNNyqvbAOoc1iOimZ58/s400/2012halloween5.jpg" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Hence the reason my 2 year old tantrum boys had such simple costumes....</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTDBsd-M6bGThnJxJCzfKVEfozZ7-C13bVkBsCE5bFAlQZafNOBl5XOfNuHSlX0D_YB7wu8IjKHpRz5EVAOaRTgGmvZc-dkZ1GM6rnfBtUKp_D0NRbPH5KxE_PkrQudiMLfT3xaYKxKO_b/s1600/2012halloween6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTDBsd-M6bGThnJxJCzfKVEfozZ7-C13bVkBsCE5bFAlQZafNOBl5XOfNuHSlX0D_YB7wu8IjKHpRz5EVAOaRTgGmvZc-dkZ1GM6rnfBtUKp_D0NRbPH5KxE_PkrQudiMLfT3xaYKxKO_b/s400/2012halloween6.jpg" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Hold on to that smile Baby Doll...hold on to that tantrum Lil Packer</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKjXBJJmymB3jw5_oGGZY0Pgnu2nH8qRcoZ8712c__j40YwPQv4edzz-itg3YvGOZcTapbMM7ik927C5Tl4ca3dCFju4KY-lsc8Hx9Vhb2cbpi03m0I8811f7iwnihZrpo3mdFxK404Vl1/s1600/2012halloween7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKjXBJJmymB3jw5_oGGZY0Pgnu2nH8qRcoZ8712c__j40YwPQv4edzz-itg3YvGOZcTapbMM7ik927C5Tl4ca3dCFju4KY-lsc8Hx9Vhb2cbpi03m0I8811f7iwnihZrpo3mdFxK404Vl1/s400/2012halloween7.jpg" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Yep. Still Angry.</i></span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ddRnccs7jbLINHOUOxOoZDqB6UN43I9OO8v39sY6eSJYczGs4slHz4OKcg5P0zSqEzXe-0dZVfUKw7vlimn9BCJoEZCIfCCm0yfuX_IMoPxIzQIy38tfJ-p8BVjYIf8jVSUkWYB9uKuE/s1600/2012halloween8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ddRnccs7jbLINHOUOxOoZDqB6UN43I9OO8v39sY6eSJYczGs4slHz4OKcg5P0zSqEzXe-0dZVfUKw7vlimn9BCJoEZCIfCCm0yfuX_IMoPxIzQIy38tfJ-p8BVjYIf8jVSUkWYB9uKuE/s400/2012halloween8.jpg" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Most Patient Siblings Ever</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdGO9MTENJpDvERItw6CesKwdduvHKu7qTeJfW4KThpZFlS-c-he8sXhHaoyGED4HnEd4Zt24yi9IzekcUNwMyC4OnkEToIB6LND3Dk_E9YTzb_v-b74CH53o_l1yUVfWxwcI5fFVstor1/s1600/2012halloween9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdGO9MTENJpDvERItw6CesKwdduvHKu7qTeJfW4KThpZFlS-c-he8sXhHaoyGED4HnEd4Zt24yi9IzekcUNwMyC4OnkEToIB6LND3Dk_E9YTzb_v-b74CH53o_l1yUVfWxwcI5fFVstor1/s400/2012halloween9.jpg" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Finally calming down...as the first trick-or-treaters arrive</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8TN4rKpD5tf8t3uCaiDyvq2NE-AceQXcAyGdjzn38egEolVdGVkqn-zUYkLyROYHPExxoYPKQ838zsbGDXpdFgK9IHa-_A6hIFyJFGiVv3Wla61Tbxvk-GUCP12_89t04oCj9Ds1NCEEm/s1600/2012halloween10.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8TN4rKpD5tf8t3uCaiDyvq2NE-AceQXcAyGdjzn38egEolVdGVkqn-zUYkLyROYHPExxoYPKQ838zsbGDXpdFgK9IHa-_A6hIFyJFGiVv3Wla61Tbxvk-GUCP12_89t04oCj9Ds1NCEEm/s400/2012halloween10.jpg" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Best Big Bro Zombie and a Dazed Baby Doll</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7H7uquTETnTSeTWL4URAx_6Ouxcnwtu-xRd14axVV4PV4EFACIVsV6fpBoO5___bkbKdtkI74aB0JkR8JsRbRLUGEpRXYCOKdeqptGgyGy_2RymhTRkWX4jhjCFN5UAToJFpUF-uM4JH8/s1600/2012halloween11.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7H7uquTETnTSeTWL4URAx_6Ouxcnwtu-xRd14axVV4PV4EFACIVsV6fpBoO5___bkbKdtkI74aB0JkR8JsRbRLUGEpRXYCOKdeqptGgyGy_2RymhTRkWX4jhjCFN5UAToJFpUF-uM4JH8/s400/2012halloween11.jpg" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Big Packer Fan with his Lil Pack Fans</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6d2X6HbucY48LFhicLfJ9IwzA-Ua323wgVmJpeNm6zbpOlVywvMgUEdLi4oaX4AGCP8JcFKqx0onDdQEdQC6nlCooiJY2pI3xTbMX85dtqWe-nwhdWkMxmjoHGtpLfW0Ha6N5GBXRMsmq/s1600/2012halloween12.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6d2X6HbucY48LFhicLfJ9IwzA-Ua323wgVmJpeNm6zbpOlVywvMgUEdLi4oaX4AGCP8JcFKqx0onDdQEdQC6nlCooiJY2pI3xTbMX85dtqWe-nwhdWkMxmjoHGtpLfW0Ha6N5GBXRMsmq/s400/2012halloween12.jpg" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>P<span style="font-size: small;">roud Papa Packer Fan</span></i></span></td></tr>
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<br />
Hurricane Sandy gave our family a wonderful gift amidst all her destruction. Jim's Monday morning flight was cancelled and all the flights are booked all week, so he isn't leaving until next Monday. A bonus week with Mr. Incredible!! Yippee!!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6d2X6HbucY48LFhicLfJ9IwzA-Ua323wgVmJpeNm6zbpOlVywvMgUEdLi4oaX4AGCP8JcFKqx0onDdQEdQC6nlCooiJY2pI3xTbMX85dtqWe-nwhdWkMxmjoHGtpLfW0Ha6N5GBXRMsmq/s1600/2012halloween12.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>A-Kaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03825863588028289361noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474816816394700979.post-15264137245073858242012-10-23T22:11:00.002-04:002012-10-26T20:15:03.603-04:00a fall day<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3dGYmGOFUk6cRJHkrkNK15MauSwTAgWTkqQt6bPQh-ykQvmnNz_xRUVzt4EUg-u-LNwF3o9K9Jz7DcZtVdlbL0zGpd7Ui7H6Aut66C-EFPlB_nlRQj38AUYarHQh1Wu8eb_esQ3RHmK6B/s1600/2012fall11.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3dGYmGOFUk6cRJHkrkNK15MauSwTAgWTkqQt6bPQh-ykQvmnNz_xRUVzt4EUg-u-LNwF3o9K9Jz7DcZtVdlbL0zGpd7Ui7H6Aut66C-EFPlB_nlRQj38AUYarHQh1Wu8eb_esQ3RHmK6B/s640/2012fall11.jpg" width="427" /></a></td></tr>
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This past Sunday was a gorgeous fall day. (<span style="font-size: small;"><i>Aren't those colors spectacular??!!</i></span>) I had planned on spending it crossing off items from my daily "to do list". I have discovered that keeping a daily list is the only way I can get myself to get anything done these days. I have also learned that it is very difficult to motivate to do much when you are living in limbo; and by "limbo" I mean -- not knowing if and when we are going to sell our house, when we are going to move, missing my hubby and knowing he and my children are missing out on valuable time together...yada yada.....<br />
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Anyway...back to the gorgeous fall day..... I have seen pictures on Facebook and heard many families rave about going on hikes in the beautiful mountains of New Hampshire. I have been <span style="font-size: x-small;">DYING</span> to go with my kidlings on such a trip, but have felt that they are still a bit young for me to take them on my own...since my farm boy is usually, well, working on the farm on the weekends and now that he is working in Chicago, I really am alone...all the time...with four children under the age of 8....and, as fun as that sounds, it has been a bit intimidating to venture out into the wild with the four of them.<br />
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But I finally did it.<br />
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Oh boy, did I ever.<br />
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Apparently I haven't learned the valuable life lesson of starting slow and easy and THEN taking on the bigger stuff. Oh no. Oh no I haven't. I thought I was taking it slow by going somewhere within 15 minutes of my home. It's a place I had heard many people tell me about and have never been. It is called <a href="http://www.winnekenni.com/trailmap.html" target="_blank">"Winnekeni Castle"</a> and is a beautiful trail to a castle and around a pond and basin. Before I go on, I want to emphasize that I had never been there before. I also want to point out that hiking, walking and/or climbing mountains is just a bit addictive for me -- once I get started, it is very, <i>very</i> hard for me to turn around and go back...I <span style="font-size: x-small;">NEED</span> to keep going until I have reached a peak or gone a full circle without repeating any trails....<br />
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So now, having said that, here is a pictorial review of our walk in the woods on a gorgeous fall day:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW1OLVowzUQSRH1fIOtA2cFtHPsyPxmDpkT7aGzB5_DUdInCEisz99sXdhhjV6zqRZUkff8Zo_qWCqa4IHW4iOVyL7PvyID031afc9yi8eY9Ib7ynwoCfWjMaZwFLsWgmiion0lT9vbZcU/s1600/2012fall6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW1OLVowzUQSRH1fIOtA2cFtHPsyPxmDpkT7aGzB5_DUdInCEisz99sXdhhjV6zqRZUkff8Zo_qWCqa4IHW4iOVyL7PvyID031afc9yi8eY9Ib7ynwoCfWjMaZwFLsWgmiion0lT9vbZcU/s640/2012fall6.jpg" width="428" /></a></div>
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We started on our little walk and it seemed easy enough. With four little ones. And a dog. All by myself. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDTz4FErEAG1OW4iLCRJueQlYrWgkXi84ibJSP_o7CQ-RenPK-aYobMFmYwttSol1jWDGGZudxq1tpLE5mdv7gVRBq-K8EVVikA8irp1UA25jWt16kEf_KOl4N1iUqAaismuo7rudOWG27/s1600/2012fall13.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDTz4FErEAG1OW4iLCRJueQlYrWgkXi84ibJSP_o7CQ-RenPK-aYobMFmYwttSol1jWDGGZudxq1tpLE5mdv7gVRBq-K8EVVikA8irp1UA25jWt16kEf_KOl4N1iUqAaismuo7rudOWG27/s640/2012fall13.jpg" width="427" /></a></div>
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On such an absolutely <i>gorgeous</i> fall day.<i></i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4_iMVt8y5Vrfp4IGmCy1T-X0dx8LAGSFlW56mtk0FtOrQ4oLIVDzWBsZJ7URJtZ62JM2S1-mC_Abmxo0STWdUeqRCRg-LSKqm9HbjF5UgUwZ6osqpRg0Y2YQ4glZZ2Z3ilQ_aXuDYhI4m/s1600/2012fall2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4_iMVt8y5Vrfp4IGmCy1T-X0dx8LAGSFlW56mtk0FtOrQ4oLIVDzWBsZJ7URJtZ62JM2S1-mC_Abmxo0STWdUeqRCRg-LSKqm9HbjF5UgUwZ6osqpRg0Y2YQ4glZZ2Z3ilQ_aXuDYhI4m/s640/2012fall2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Up we walked to the castle...which I never took a picture of because there was a Halloween party going on and it was covered with tacky Halloween decorations...sad, but true.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvUh04RtILXVw20Mc5ietcUEAFOlfR-z574uI4KKuFU-iAtX-7UXtd9C_Z-7GHjvKKw_AS-yGHv0erpn0Te37oDSeSb98ctXJeUQPCgASGrMg9479YzaGst8jDgEFnL95GhTRbSZxY5YAl/s1600/2012fall14.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvUh04RtILXVw20Mc5ietcUEAFOlfR-z574uI4KKuFU-iAtX-7UXtd9C_Z-7GHjvKKw_AS-yGHv0erpn0Te37oDSeSb98ctXJeUQPCgASGrMg9479YzaGst8jDgEFnL95GhTRbSZxY5YAl/s640/2012fall14.jpg" width="427" /></a></div>
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One of us wasn't very happy for most of the trip.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwAeOzuDwMIMtNN6_cmB-D1gymnYwhRHKg43P7ANxjOPKu9aa21U5_lbjCc5kHD9BfM51FdtoAtdZM_TI0wnRSZFPwYn5YH7ey0h1pvGAeS97hOzQMesVnCl5_O-8wyH3G-IOy16GMq3At/s1600/2012fall15.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwAeOzuDwMIMtNN6_cmB-D1gymnYwhRHKg43P7ANxjOPKu9aa21U5_lbjCc5kHD9BfM51FdtoAtdZM_TI0wnRSZFPwYn5YH7ey0h1pvGAeS97hOzQMesVnCl5_O-8wyH3G-IOy16GMq3At/s640/2012fall15.JPG" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>whoah is me!!!!</i></span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5z-EmxsEPpB-ApsRCR88AizSyg5R_Wsrs7Oxs8EN-Loqt3vmy7z9UXcCoUoiD-gBPv8RXAhwX5XOtixZh8GwXqkY_ujVGChtpyyZEGJDwZTttoJ58PK6oThowgxWsTUjyfQkhxQ5QVoqW/s1600/2012fall16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5z-EmxsEPpB-ApsRCR88AizSyg5R_Wsrs7Oxs8EN-Loqt3vmy7z9UXcCoUoiD-gBPv8RXAhwX5XOtixZh8GwXqkY_ujVGChtpyyZEGJDwZTttoJ58PK6oThowgxWsTUjyfQkhxQ5QVoqW/s640/2012fall16.jpg" width="428" /></a></div>
I decided to take a different trail back from the castle...who wants to take the same trail back when there's another one that looked so appealing?? This trail brought us to another trail near the water...and what wee ones can resist walking by the water?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfSx9nwUTUNqKkYFYe_RNZQ5g11qNkqLInkmKoLTAC0O_zB36tin1-S9ViljqjDubHce0Deg-EUXTbCZ714eJyOSbTxD1_8xi3_uvzztWyziNG-s_cMhswkfkqeswY_f-ffIYcKRxXgydx/s1600/2012fall17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfSx9nwUTUNqKkYFYe_RNZQ5g11qNkqLInkmKoLTAC0O_zB36tin1-S9ViljqjDubHce0Deg-EUXTbCZ714eJyOSbTxD1_8xi3_uvzztWyziNG-s_cMhswkfkqeswY_f-ffIYcKRxXgydx/s640/2012fall17.jpg" width="428" /></a></div>
And what Golden Retriever can resist getting in that water? <i>(I stupidly allowed Niels to take the leash for a bit...and she took her chance and ran for it!)</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSpt1-rMB-2wmUorQng6XMokkrJ-c8KDep1AZYfOi4Vvz9o0jPzV1hj_Nlpke0zis0f3Ng57azgUNxeHQQvdSUpYC23fXn1SyF64Dgt_J4UdoGxHqOYIAbrFFZ5IEgjaBriA_BvoJD1o47/s1600/2012fall18.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSpt1-rMB-2wmUorQng6XMokkrJ-c8KDep1AZYfOi4Vvz9o0jPzV1hj_Nlpke0zis0f3Ng57azgUNxeHQQvdSUpYC23fXn1SyF64Dgt_J4UdoGxHqOYIAbrFFZ5IEgjaBriA_BvoJD1o47/s640/2012fall18.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
My pup stayed in the water a while...so it delayed our walk quite a bit...but these guys were amused.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPwB37FL9V3L0Ecxh5aoHXmWpm3Nst21JBWbtzeBdty99SIHJ3MSSwG8G4TzwR4NM0e_wNhP7pHH7vCLSEMpkEzRvezAeAiL4VkS-hRaZPmbjo5COtKhZBW0WRecJfh4aZAAv_3VsIg0Vb/s1600/2012fall19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPwB37FL9V3L0Ecxh5aoHXmWpm3Nst21JBWbtzeBdty99SIHJ3MSSwG8G4TzwR4NM0e_wNhP7pHH7vCLSEMpkEzRvezAeAiL4VkS-hRaZPmbjo5COtKhZBW0WRecJfh4aZAAv_3VsIg0Vb/s640/2012fall19.jpg" width="428" /></a></div>
Since we had been walking for quite some time, and they were all starting to complain about the length of the walk, we took a little rest here to play.<br />
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Anna Clara was especially tired apparently....<br />
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One of the few times Anders was smiling during the walk.<br />
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JoiVie was tuckered out as well. <i>(I can't believe she is 13 years old....)</i><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Anna Clara is constantly entertaining herself in one way or another....</i></span></td></tr>
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There were so many pictures I wanted to take, but I so rarely had my hands free since I was usually either holding a hand...or two...or, by the end, carrying a crying child...or two.... I fully realized the extent of my walking/hiking/exploring addiction when, two hours after starting the hike, I had two crying toddlers, one whining girl and a wet, stinky, tired old dog -- and, I can't leave him out, a constantly helpful and easygoing 8 year old boy -- and I STILL wanted to take another trail around the basin for the final stretch...which turned out to be way longer than I expected -- and way more difficult as I tried to carry two very heavy, crying boys.<br />
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But, I have to admit, regardless of the crying and whining around me, I couldn't help but thoroughly soak in the stunning beauty, appreciate the little hands in mine, the fresh air, and, best of all, a day off from my "to do list" to simply enjoy my five <i>(dog included of course!)</i> favorite little joys in the entire world. And what a beautiful world it is....<br />
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A-Kaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03825863588028289361noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474816816394700979.post-56958533590097300922012-10-04T00:30:00.001-04:002012-10-04T00:43:31.397-04:00summer 2012 fun<div style="text-align: left;">
I know...summer ended a while ago...and so did all the fun.... I've been a busy gal. But I'll get to that later. For now, let's focus on the fun.</div>
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First, we went to Wisconsin for a family reunion at <a href="http://www.mchistsoc.org/pinecrest.htm" target="_blank">Pinecrest Historical Village</a> where Jim's mom's family donated the "Sorenson House" (where Soren Sorenson lived, who is my Soren's namesake).</div>
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<i>Jim's mom would be so proud of this family of hers...we sure miss her!</i></div>
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<i> We also went to visit Jim's Uncle's dairy farm.</i></div>
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<i> 4th of July with the cousins.</i></div>
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<i> Some exploring during our 22 hour drive home from Wisconsin to New Hampshire. These two toddlers were NOT this happy in the car...not even close.....</i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">THE BEST</span> big brother. </i></div>
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<i> One of my fave pics of Anders.</i></div>
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Then we went to my parents' home in Hilton Head, SC.</div>
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<i>One of my fave pics of Niels.</i></div>
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Then we went to Nags Head, NC -- the fave family place for summer fun and relaxation.</div>
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<i>The cousins eating one of many meals together. </i></div>
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I awoke with my boys - and the sun - every morning and went to the beach so that my two 2 year olds wouldn't awaken the entire house of about 20 people (depending on what day it was since there were lots of comings and goings of family members). There are some benefits to little ones waking you up early on vacation...especially when the house you are staying in is right on the beach. Lucky me!</div>
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Sometimes we took a walk to the pier to play amongst the pillars.<br />
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<i> Who knew you could have this much fun under a pier?</i></div>
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<i> These two cousins were rarely not playing in the waves.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaCz2kLUXXOhMc3Iqm_GwPsMuXAfEefeKWdglASDjH04gXTjb8t-eYNxQSDRwW7NaH_uue6H25jFC4R2dEAA7rE5_j9ITR0TRVRQ9FKi5ReJz7CWOFzzfUAdJ6AkxHaolyWm0X7aH_YTvh/s1600/Niels2_NHbeach.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaCz2kLUXXOhMc3Iqm_GwPsMuXAfEefeKWdglASDjH04gXTjb8t-eYNxQSDRwW7NaH_uue6H25jFC4R2dEAA7rE5_j9ITR0TRVRQ9FKi5ReJz7CWOFzzfUAdJ6AkxHaolyWm0X7aH_YTvh/s400/Niels2_NHbeach.jpg" width="298" /> </a></div>
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<i>They caught some crabs with Big Pa.</i></div>
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Daddy joined us for the last week before driving home. Another very long drive with two very cranky 2 year olds. Not a good summer to have so many loooooong road trips....</div>
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I had a birthday.</div>
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A 3rd grader and 1st grader started their school year.</div>
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And now for the end of my summer fun...and why I've been so busy and preoccupied of late....</div>
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While I was in Nags Head at the end of August, Jim accepted a job at <a href="http://www.hospira.com/default.aspx" target="_blank">Hospira</a> in Lake Forest, IL. Yes, it is stupendous that he found a job within 3 months of being laid off. No, there is absolutely nothing stupendous about the fact that we have to move. I am sad...for so many reasons. I will miss all the incredible friends I have met here. I will miss living on the East Coast - and specifically my beloved New England. I will miss being within a 4 hour drive of NYC...where I can see my parents every once in a while in their beautiful apartment in that incredible city. And I will miss this home -- a place that seemed to be made for my family...inside and out.</div>
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<i>I don't like that sign. My heart sinks every time I see it.</i></div>
A-Kaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03825863588028289361noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474816816394700979.post-56392496513211728202012-07-25T23:27:00.000-04:002012-07-25T23:27:53.890-04:00my boy is 8<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A big birthday for my big boy! Lego cake (iced on a very humid evening...so a bit droopy), a few friends, lots of water gun fun for the boys (and wow -- boys in packs are out. of. control.) while Anna Clara and her friend stayed away...except during cake and gift opening.<br />
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Now back to the busy-ness of my summer.... This summer has been non-stop busy. Like crazy busy. Mostly because of two crazy -- like whacked out, off the charts, Terrible Two Crazy -- two year olds and two older ones who need and deserve a lot of attention. Four kidlets now 8 and under make all the gazillion comments from strangers about how busy I must be when they see me with the kap kids absolutely spot on. And, as I say to all those strangers, "Yup. I'm busy! And I love it!"A-Kaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03825863588028289361noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474816816394700979.post-78237404029540022532012-06-10T22:06:00.003-04:002012-06-10T22:16:53.897-04:00it's summer!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Nuthin' like a good roll in the grass.....<br />
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His first year playing on a team -- of any sport. He played on the Kingston Mets baseball team. Who the heck knows why there is a "B"/bee on his team shirt and cap.....<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAW0UxQ1Pm3EVAZecMhhyphenhyphenhTYm68_KEvpK_lqrDnhCwgF6D2yclqOZ_fzsqKvW1yWYZiPM5KwWR1mnkfMchwHLA3t1USmetcxdy_wkVN1hMwJaw5GZ3wAbwxLEfyT8oRLcb2ObCnmAAZldY/s1600/soren_baseball4.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAW0UxQ1Pm3EVAZecMhhyphenhyphenhTYm68_KEvpK_lqrDnhCwgF6D2yclqOZ_fzsqKvW1yWYZiPM5KwWR1mnkfMchwHLA3t1USmetcxdy_wkVN1hMwJaw5GZ3wAbwxLEfyT8oRLcb2ObCnmAAZldY/s400/soren_baseball4.jpg" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">My handsome lil man.</span></i></td></tr>
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Our strawberries are ready fer pickin'!!<br />
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And our lettuce....<br />
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And our stunning roses....<br />
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A summer afternoon enjoying some shaved ice.<br />
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I am so very ready for summer. No schedules, beach time, lots of s'mores and ice cream, trips to visit family in Wisconsin and South Carolina...I LOVE SUMMER!!!!<br />
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</div>A-Kaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03825863588028289361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474816816394700979.post-13021698373830089042012-05-27T21:24:00.002-04:002012-05-28T14:55:15.917-04:00rememberAs always, it is important to remember the reason for our holidays is not just to have a day off from work.<br />
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</div>A-Kaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03825863588028289361noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474816816394700979.post-72354524936928730502012-05-24T23:19:00.000-04:002012-05-24T23:19:59.355-04:00love<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
Love is a temporary madness. It erupts like an earthquake and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have become so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion. That is just being "in love" which any of us can convince ourselves we are.</div>
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<span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident. Your mother and I had it, we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two.</span><br />
<i style="color: #6aa84f;">~ Louis De Bernieres</i><br />
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Nine years ago today I experienced a "temporary madness" of being totally and completely in love with a man who happens to look like Mr. Incredible, and married him. Nine years later, that "earthquake" has subsided and I have made a decision to love this man no matter what happens...and one heckuva lot has happened. In nine years we have renovated an entire 1930s house, moved twice, Mr. Incredible has endured 3 different corporate environments, which were largely unpleasant, 2 bosses who were, in a word, horrid, a few others who weren't, but were all too temporary, he has lost both of his parents, sold the home and farm he grew up on, and, of course, what made all of this tolerable, we had 4 children who neither one of us thought we would, or could, have. And now, last but not least, we are both experiencing a loss of a job for the very first time. Yes, he has joined the unemployment statistics and has been laid off.<br />
<br />
So....the fortunate accident is that we found each other and our roots have grown together. We are one tree. And everyone knows that if you have good roots, anything can grow. We are excited, nervous, anxious, and worried, about the next few (hopefully "few"!) months of growth. I hope, pray, wish and beg that it is a really, really good blossom of a job for Mr. Incredible.<br />
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Happy 9th Anniversary to my farm boy <i>(hence the tractor that took us from the chapel to our reception)</i>! It feels like a lot more than 9 years...in a good way...I think.....A-Kaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03825863588028289361noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474816816394700979.post-81907006456322276072012-05-22T22:57:00.000-04:002012-06-10T22:22:59.512-04:00the boysI took these pictures of "the boys" a couple weeks ago and just had to share...since we are still in their birthday month 'n all....<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4xa7Oxcv9K3VsNZ1Dgms2gbhB3t_z6ujNihUPCv4CtuEwn_PqhtaD7I4w-qhkT9gSpuuW9C3JFZe-DcWDx3zg6WkMuifWQ-D-7Bw7ARheyxlIQRh7f4D11OvLK0y2wXal_xQ4_5wnBCZd/s1600/anders23m_curls.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4xa7Oxcv9K3VsNZ1Dgms2gbhB3t_z6ujNihUPCv4CtuEwn_PqhtaD7I4w-qhkT9gSpuuW9C3JFZe-DcWDx3zg6WkMuifWQ-D-7Bw7ARheyxlIQRh7f4D11OvLK0y2wXal_xQ4_5wnBCZd/s640/anders23m_curls.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<i> I love his curly hair. People ask me all the time(!) if I style their hair different so I can tell them apart. Whuh????? No, seriously....what the...are you </i>serious<i>????? Yes. Yes they are. (And can you believe it's more than one person who has asked??!!) Niels is actually my first babe with bone straight hair. It feels and looks like silk. But I do love the curls!</i><br />
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The boys love the fishies.<br />
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And they love the pup.<i></i><br />
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<i> She is SO incredibly patient. She's such a good lil pup...who will be 13 this August.</i><br />
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And, of course, they REALLY love to eat....<br />
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<i>It's very difficult to get a good smiley picture of Anders. These are some of my very favorites of him...if only his face were clean...although his handsome-ness does shine through!</i><br />
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<i>And then there's my always on-the-alert Niels. This is his most common expression.</i><br />
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<i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipFaf6x_u0GYWydAD4OuPcoU0ikaidyvmROLI7jmeotAbQd574vOH9h5XJaw_3aLLkiq6klkQqwV9MgXNTQE7S7e1dquACIiKvNooFhaLWd261ccdmhj6l9Osd6coI6cglY9fJflUAt6pL/s1600/spagettifaces15.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></i></div>
<i> When he's not laughing.....</i><br />
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<i>Ok mommy. That's enough. Let's get in the bath.</i>A-Kaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03825863588028289361noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474816816394700979.post-84618458879019785492012-05-14T22:40:00.000-04:002012-05-14T23:01:26.574-04:002 turn 2My boys turned two on Mother's Day this year. Other than the countless pictures and cards that my two older ones made for me, Mother's Day was truly all about my boys. And that was just fine with me.<br />
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<i> I made them oreo cakes.... I was going to make one big,
double layer one and my wonderful mom, who happened to be in town for just a bit of the weekend, suggested I make two with the two
layers. Why not?</i><br />
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<i>The charmer. He loves to laugh and his bright face could light up a room.</i><br />
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<i>He still loves to suck on his two fingers. He is not as quick to smile as Niels, but he has an old soul quality similar to his older bro. </i><br />
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<i>These growing boys do love to eat!! </i><br />
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Happy birthday to my two <i>big</i> bundles of joy!A-Kaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03825863588028289361noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474816816394700979.post-90525888659931708662012-05-07T22:37:00.004-04:002012-05-07T22:42:56.052-04:00spring is springingMr. Incredible is again in his element and creating beauty all around our home....<br />
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He was NOT happy when he discovered a deer had invaded his precious tulip display he was so looking forward to. He had planted them with Anna Clara last fall and he was very excited about them as he had proudly told me, "we're going to have a looooot of tulips out front this year!"<br />
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But, unfortunately one morning he walked into the kitchen extremely dejected and angry and said the deer had eaten all the tulips. I couldn't believe it...but, alas, it was true.... They ate them all up before we could even get a glimpse of their glorious spring beauty. The distinct hoof prints gave them away. Dang deer.</div>
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The other smaller circle with daffodils fared a bit better.... <br />
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A few tulips did escape the deer's destruction.<br />
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The deer never made it over to the mailbox, so those tulips were untouched and our mailwoman must love all of their welcoming bright petals.<br />
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Every year, my farm boy simply must add to the garden...whether it's more space to grow more food, another type of food (a couple years ago he planted 900 mushrooms...long story....but it was <span style="font-size: x-small;">QUITE</span> the ordeal to plant them, lemme tell you) or, like this year, a new home for the wildlife. He bought himself a big ole <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purple_Martin" target="_blank">Purple Martin</a> treehouse. I had never heard of such a thing, but my farm boy got it in his head to have one, so, well, now we do. And I absolutely love seeing it right outside my kitchen window. Now we just have to hope some Martins choose it for their home.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> The house has to be a minimum of 10-15 feet high and 40 feet from the house and trees.</i></span></td></tr>
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Have a happy spring everyone!<br />
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<br />A-Kaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03825863588028289361noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474816816394700979.post-31667083048833969982012-04-18T21:42:00.000-04:002012-04-19T08:55:31.211-04:00time flies...am I having fun?I would just like to share that sometimes, yes, sometimes, being home all day, listening to whining, fighting, crying, toddlers and cleaning up mess after mess gets, well, a bit old. Some days I just want to throw a punch at the gazillion people who have said to me, while gazing wistfully at my young children, "It goes by so fast...enjoy them now...."<br />
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As you know from reading this blog, I DO enjoy them. I appreciate them, I lap up every little funny, adorable, delicious bit of them. I feel lucky every day. Even on the bad days.<br />
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But.<br />
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There are days.<br />
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Ok, maybe weeks.<br />
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When this time of "going by so fast" doesn't feel fast enough.<br />
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I get sick and tired of cleaning up the messes.<br />
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Soooooo tired of those constant, never-ending, non-stop, every second messes I am cleaning up.<br />
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Day after day.<br />
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In the midst of preparing for <a href="http://happykappys.blogspot.com/2012/04/very-busy-week-in-april.html" target="_blank">birthday parties</a>, preparing meals, or maybe just trying desperately to do something creative and fun - for myself. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimfXeYb7OFbIcHXtbWo7A7RBhcEY7qNz4_0_ex5LaSSFAvCk4RESq2XZ3hyphenhyphenWFc4ZrfOtFM1AtyRIOeQNPXF34vF2JRn-EEbxZ3DMYCJ8M6Da797agga0lqTEseYtVK0RJNbkdlCcRaTTfS/s1600/boys22m_pans5.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimfXeYb7OFbIcHXtbWo7A7RBhcEY7qNz4_0_ex5LaSSFAvCk4RESq2XZ3hyphenhyphenWFc4ZrfOtFM1AtyRIOeQNPXF34vF2JRn-EEbxZ3DMYCJ8M6Da797agga0lqTEseYtVK0RJNbkdlCcRaTTfS/s640/boys22m_pans5.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>peek-a-boo!!</i></span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpmmm8EI6Zx47huuUJ4CoP3YbLLmbBviI3bxPAQo0fvsVL6ijoSOhSveF4Cl6aLdJazTX7letyGxzJNBr8fTNoJxBW5Kge5W_0bdOitM9ZotIqH6Nr-fRqgqXetU64Xk4IlvzyzJCVTKuY/s1600/boys22m_pans.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">I am constantly tiptoeing around messes as I make dinner.</span></i></td></tr>
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And
then there's the constant, never-ending, non-stop, every second crying,
whining and/or fighting. Sucha lotta crying, whining and fighting.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpmmm8EI6Zx47huuUJ4CoP3YbLLmbBviI3bxPAQo0fvsVL6ijoSOhSveF4Cl6aLdJazTX7letyGxzJNBr8fTNoJxBW5Kge5W_0bdOitM9ZotIqH6Nr-fRqgqXetU64Xk4IlvzyzJCVTKuY/s1600/boys22m_pans.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpmmm8EI6Zx47huuUJ4CoP3YbLLmbBviI3bxPAQo0fvsVL6ijoSOhSveF4Cl6aLdJazTX7letyGxzJNBr8fTNoJxBW5Kge5W_0bdOitM9ZotIqH6Nr-fRqgqXetU64Xk4IlvzyzJCVTKuY/s400/boys22m_pans.jpg" width="321" /></a><br />
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Buuuut.......then there are the times I know, without a doubt, I will some day think about as I wistfully say to a mom with young kidlets how fast it goes....<br />
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<i>Anna Clara had some fun playing dress-up with the boys....</i></div>
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<i>The boys plopped themselves down and did their thang.</i></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6dpIEAuIEXv7x0wXsAs_nW_xJoxP4CwVV-qrrlRZLk7qxy_9gTarYhDigJNnYzvqVmxEb2eDrpg54pLTt-MwEV-rEXS60H14Ovkvr0Kw2MapZqvhEV514iutz27QVe-fkT4k8gnGXi4EL/s1600/boys23mhugs.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6dpIEAuIEXv7x0wXsAs_nW_xJoxP4CwVV-qrrlRZLk7qxy_9gTarYhDigJNnYzvqVmxEb2eDrpg54pLTt-MwEV-rEXS60H14Ovkvr0Kw2MapZqvhEV514iutz27QVe-fkT4k8gnGXi4EL/s640/boys23mhugs.jpg" width="352" /></a><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: small;">I was taking pictures of the mess in the kitchen and
Anders went up to Niels and hugged him for the camera. I can't tell you
how many times I have tried to get a picture of them hugging. Every
time, by the time I get the camera, they break apart and move on to
something else. But this time they shared plenty of hugs for the camera. </span></i><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">And yes, these are the moments, and all the many good moments I record on this blog, that make all the messes, the crying,
the whining, the daily grind....worth it.</span>A-Kaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03825863588028289361noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474816816394700979.post-60928244324156897822012-04-09T22:13:00.000-04:002012-04-18T22:29:13.784-04:00a very busy week in april....Last week was one of the busiest I have had in a while. That's not saying much since my life is not a very busy one -- other than the daily busy-ness of chasing after two toddler boys -- but it was very much filled with planning, organizing, decorating, baking, screaming (at little ones making mischief), partying, eating (lots of eating...a bit too much on my part...lots of frosting was made, so lots of spatulas were licked...), cleaning, yelling at boys who then messed up the cleaning, list making (I can't function without lists), list checking, list re-checking and, finally, actually finishing up those lists.<br />
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<div style="color: #d5a6bd;">
<b><i>Here's what went down:</i></b></div>
Thursday was Anna Clara's 6th birthday and I surprised her with a princess/doll cake. I have never made one before and my mom used to make them for me and my sisters and we all, of course, loved them. I completely winged it. Apparently there's a kit for this cake, but I totally and completely winged it...I didn't have much spare time to be dealing with a kit or looking at pictures to work off of...I was a fairly frenetic momma last week with too much to do and too little time.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9b09bw9GzT2LRHWtz0H_rj-SnObZLx65g1rqDyJKvdJ0IugFB3O1j56wKOvVS3h4C7xkjQIHasoDCpntnkfRyTE8509tCLoYTsO-1lUykEXWOIdSa22oSm7EB-4O1CmynCxLnqknwpBW-/s1600/AC6bday.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9b09bw9GzT2LRHWtz0H_rj-SnObZLx65g1rqDyJKvdJ0IugFB3O1j56wKOvVS3h4C7xkjQIHasoDCpntnkfRyTE8509tCLoYTsO-1lUykEXWOIdSa22oSm7EB-4O1CmynCxLnqknwpBW-/s400/AC6bday.JPG" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Ta DA! Here she is!</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnduU-C6o5AGP2_N1EUovyMCsq0dM2apLD3Slo5cNg6oZUDALY3RigBfnXcRT_A6kDcuz4nmyIXHkTLscue_pUTFa6aKHPpAx_VlywmoFRGOfHRJ57hNtxkeiMzwwb3e3B7vSrNk4UqkHU/s1600/AC6bday3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnduU-C6o5AGP2_N1EUovyMCsq0dM2apLD3Slo5cNg6oZUDALY3RigBfnXcRT_A6kDcuz4nmyIXHkTLscue_pUTFa6aKHPpAx_VlywmoFRGOfHRJ57hNtxkeiMzwwb3e3B7vSrNk4UqkHU/s400/AC6bday3.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">I love the boys, and proud papa, in the background.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTap4i6VrVHZy61uykL4W282Dvrl5-e-8vztxCXGC_v4qZs3yfDZZXauRNVgJi8jBF4d7UTgjod5TxV6Dg_rFqdL6B7V5RCGvwCw1UTgQxhOc8lCplt80H7WhSt2oecJZ8oS607g5fxJEh/s1600/AC6bday4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTap4i6VrVHZy61uykL4W282Dvrl5-e-8vztxCXGC_v4qZs3yfDZZXauRNVgJi8jBF4d7UTgjod5TxV6Dg_rFqdL6B7V5RCGvwCw1UTgQxhOc8lCplt80H7WhSt2oecJZ8oS607g5fxJEh/s640/AC6bday4.JPG" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">The very happy birthday girl!!</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhspemLmUWVo9jvvJrtWAg2kMTNpfPH33pTMcLLJ6CEE5lNYdWabH8HaxQ9Jp2fdGJ2JTCRPr4KVRhEyuMVijzQEfpuTHgEbrgRa4r1SRRiLIYxkQUAoDgbCJXQpmGgfSHA_6waO4ckdFq_/s1600/AC6bday5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhspemLmUWVo9jvvJrtWAg2kMTNpfPH33pTMcLLJ6CEE5lNYdWabH8HaxQ9Jp2fdGJ2JTCRPr4KVRhEyuMVijzQEfpuTHgEbrgRa4r1SRRiLIYxkQUAoDgbCJXQpmGgfSHA_6waO4ckdFq_/s400/AC6bday5.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">She can not get enough of playing "school", so most of her gifts were school-work related.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOx_DaFsonatGNeUKCjQYlbg4Bcqsnq4NVqD9MfY9hfLlzOsnx_0-u9Cpz4oDgp4VP2t36nn_QsNAea60PggJWby08en4MRErMld295T_Yp1SkbnBag83hD7XnK1dQNcp48vvJPx5ipefk/s1600/AC6bday6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOx_DaFsonatGNeUKCjQYlbg4Bcqsnq4NVqD9MfY9hfLlzOsnx_0-u9Cpz4oDgp4VP2t36nn_QsNAea60PggJWby08en4MRErMld295T_Yp1SkbnBag83hD7XnK1dQNcp48vvJPx5ipefk/s640/AC6bday6.JPG" width="427" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>With her favorite doll dressed in the new pjs and bunny slippers I gave her.</i></span></td></tr>
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Then there was the tea party on Saturday with 6 of her friends....<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHEoxjmdUbZ2LKSVA7iN9CWnIb67oJDvjJK5Kk9AQLOY7n6YtsWZ5-WwIOOAUOgdz8-U6Fw3oJU6ZrhqQuL4Ti5Re1BM9y2fIKu6knHLQzYMrjBv1hSIFwRdSsgMhrKZyHTUoZWCM4_wB5/s1600/ACteaparty.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHEoxjmdUbZ2LKSVA7iN9CWnIb67oJDvjJK5Kk9AQLOY7n6YtsWZ5-WwIOOAUOgdz8-U6Fw3oJU6ZrhqQuL4Ti5Re1BM9y2fIKu6knHLQzYMrjBv1hSIFwRdSsgMhrKZyHTUoZWCM4_wB5/s640/ACteaparty.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Saturday morning prepping for the party was a nightmare. At least one boy was
crying pretty much the entire morning. Even while stuffing his face with cupcakes.</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1zXV0LwbEtLmfETAadmS-Lb9SD7DJzingEuRdSd4ABGZgUGXCbd3L6bXRNVENuohG9PGU2so3G1hCyfvFZjVz-QlXGEOUELL66oGoOPFwRtG7Z1Jx7opgzPs0GqO-TRXOvZSvXxYrvXFW/s1600/ACteaparty10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1zXV0LwbEtLmfETAadmS-Lb9SD7DJzingEuRdSd4ABGZgUGXCbd3L6bXRNVENuohG9PGU2so3G1hCyfvFZjVz-QlXGEOUELL66oGoOPFwRtG7Z1Jx7opgzPs0GqO-TRXOvZSvXxYrvXFW/s400/ACteaparty10.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The birthday girl.</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ1qgbwfKClqQubxYS3gqoqDjW2faUR_gQd7bwM-mwjFkWkGgZ0Xness7hFKsd0yX24oVSbqsYL81tWVEflN-_OBHyXCb7oLolGizgqkIUums_TqURotpZGpZURM8E07ZIt3oGzY02mKih/s1600/ACteaparty11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ1qgbwfKClqQubxYS3gqoqDjW2faUR_gQd7bwM-mwjFkWkGgZ0Xness7hFKsd0yX24oVSbqsYL81tWVEflN-_OBHyXCb7oLolGizgqkIUums_TqURotpZGpZURM8E07ZIt3oGzY02mKih/s640/ACteaparty11.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Mr. Incredible and I served tea sandwiches, pink lemonade and fruit.</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9SMxM9hTUT8t5y4RMWDyJkLJxNdN5ApTOe_Jgz1f8PaDQfy2KZtMm1e4vpb2z69CAJMuymU6MgpyvrztCqmcjpJt4iRR6tyhZ32eKJgbVSrGL_o7Ma3JOOmvQPVqKd1FvNKZV6w4JSo2s/s1600/ACteaparty12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9SMxM9hTUT8t5y4RMWDyJkLJxNdN5ApTOe_Jgz1f8PaDQfy2KZtMm1e4vpb2z69CAJMuymU6MgpyvrztCqmcjpJt4iRR6tyhZ32eKJgbVSrGL_o7Ma3JOOmvQPVqKd1FvNKZV6w4JSo2s/s400/ACteaparty12.JPG" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Check out that studly waiter!</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzLPgZftYZNKgtYEbKhQRusi6NCOARJcJT-EL-_6lTBNhY4UIYkOUEC3mxoezsGzxvTXel3pmR0sdZC3cQBv5ieLBEDqD7YQ6zRVwX5UwN4e4ugbAExlyYaQjFe4JoM1nq9Qo8F68HaU0d/s1600/ACteaparty14.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzLPgZftYZNKgtYEbKhQRusi6NCOARJcJT-EL-_6lTBNhY4UIYkOUEC3mxoezsGzxvTXel3pmR0sdZC3cQBv5ieLBEDqD7YQ6zRVwX5UwN4e4ugbAExlyYaQjFe4JoM1nq9Qo8F68HaU0d/s640/ACteaparty14.JPG" width="427" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The flower cupcakes I made were the centerpiece.</i></span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFqiwmwoehpVjydc7coUaLu_v36HzZQ_q3WaPtXFMLgz0q7iJepPdbllcUJOsCQNrZMsg68fRB0a1KJ3tu_psRlWzzj6YbGEeH08mXS2_N9RXkzYSlWS8MCGPlU_rxjpjjttv2x_8_9sOQ/s1600/ACteaparty15.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFqiwmwoehpVjydc7coUaLu_v36HzZQ_q3WaPtXFMLgz0q7iJepPdbllcUJOsCQNrZMsg68fRB0a1KJ3tu_psRlWzzj6YbGEeH08mXS2_N9RXkzYSlWS8MCGPlU_rxjpjjttv2x_8_9sOQ/s400/ACteaparty15.JPG" width="267" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1TJFBCsXoCA_d6NH7ZbriBZLW690Z8I9_v4f2QEs_ApmDR7L0YD6tOY1VafkqLH-jo_rBW4h1jGGJ0SfG-qaDZpxyct00-pdyG6HFThkliZ9Ne4PAeYqGkGuJIxC7uc6FGQSr6oV1QyFW/s1600/ACteaparty18.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1TJFBCsXoCA_d6NH7ZbriBZLW690Z8I9_v4f2QEs_ApmDR7L0YD6tOY1VafkqLH-jo_rBW4h1jGGJ0SfG-qaDZpxyct00-pdyG6HFThkliZ9Ne4PAeYqGkGuJIxC7uc6FGQSr6oV1QyFW/s400/ACteaparty18.JPG" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>JoiVie provided some entertainment.</i></span>..</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQq4v2asI7cL03h4_34yn_If6rWTO5pL56Qu8Y7dHhujZ9ix9TztBOGlWL7OUJYgOjMsw1IPCbEAsPpXzkpEzkxB0Xromhr_2Hth-kHVH62pjvq92Lgr5hAWiqVxd764t3Q7fQcomQKLuI/s1600/ACteaparty24.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQq4v2asI7cL03h4_34yn_If6rWTO5pL56Qu8Y7dHhujZ9ix9TztBOGlWL7OUJYgOjMsw1IPCbEAsPpXzkpEzkxB0Xromhr_2Hth-kHVH62pjvq92Lgr5hAWiqVxd764t3Q7fQcomQKLuI/s400/ACteaparty24.JPG" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>...and help with clean-up.</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyf25g0WjcOrMYueCM9OWdbY_XcGR_pQRwojdi4LnKB6W9yRjSW8DZNaaPvmSODGBK_8gTqJ_v-7urhlPbO7fNT1AORcB5iJZvXxIjei6qFBQr6KGs1aWd6P2YxMqtcnymXB2PShix0dzQ/s1600/ACteaparty26.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyf25g0WjcOrMYueCM9OWdbY_XcGR_pQRwojdi4LnKB6W9yRjSW8DZNaaPvmSODGBK_8gTqJ_v-7urhlPbO7fNT1AORcB5iJZvXxIjei6qFBQr6KGs1aWd6P2YxMqtcnymXB2PShix0dzQ/s400/ACteaparty26.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Opening gifts.</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1P_MtUfWNKQ9NbseSs6DZvlK_QGISmAM0SpbKM-AaIDVmMV2aJu-2fJx3jtduL4cytvcodKKHb6XbRFjFHQgs3O_h3nQeJLP7tycFmsmHheaDWBq3ZnIfrXTZz1ROzUOJ_ScvTMPgVtxh/s1600/ACteaparty28.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1P_MtUfWNKQ9NbseSs6DZvlK_QGISmAM0SpbKM-AaIDVmMV2aJu-2fJx3jtduL4cytvcodKKHb6XbRFjFHQgs3O_h3nQeJLP7tycFmsmHheaDWBq3ZnIfrXTZz1ROzUOJ_ScvTMPgVtxh/s400/ACteaparty28.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Making necklaces to take home.</i></span></td></tr>
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Then, after cleaning up from the party, I set up for egg decorating -- Easter was the next day.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The boys stuffed their faces with food (yes, they are </i><b>always</b><i> eating) while eggs were dyed.</i></span></td></tr>
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Unfortunately I didn't take one single picture on Easter day...and the kidlings were, of course, absolutely adorable in their Easter Sunday best. Eggs and baskets were found, candy was eaten, church was attended, a very small and very casual potluck was had at my home with a few wonderful friends who don't have family nearby...and my week was complete. I'm happy it is over, but I am happier that I was able to make it all happen. In another post I will reveal a few things that were going on as I was prepping for all of the above......and it wasn't pretty.......A-Kaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03825863588028289361noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474816816394700979.post-35461919449457586002012-03-26T09:43:00.001-04:002012-03-26T11:10:50.817-04:00the snowless winter days<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I took these pictures the first week of February and I never took the time to post them. They represent many a winter's day this year. It was an incredibly mild winter...and I'm one of those weird people who <span style="font-size: x-small;">LOVES</span> snow and a good nor'easter to pile up a few feet (yes, feet, not inches) of snow on the ground. </div>
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HOWEVER...I very much appreciated not having to bundle up my boys every day in full-body (and uncomfortable) snowsuits and that they were able to play outside so many days without whining about the cold and the scary snow everywhere (for some reason they are scared of walking on snow...maybe because this winter it was a very foreign substance.....). They probably spent more time outside this winter than inside. Fine with me! Fresh air is always good for some rosy cheeks and some long naps...and a lot fewer trips to the doctor!! </div>
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<i>I should also mention that last week was the first week of spring and we had record breaking, mid-80º temps for most of the week -- 40º above normal!! Shorts and t-shirts in the middle of March! It was too hot for me. But now it's back to normal with temps in the 40s this week. I enjoyed it while it lasted, but I'm glad the cold is back. I'm not a fan of sweating all day...especially when my wardrobe isn't ready for it.</i></div>
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Happy spring everyone!</div>
<br />A-Kaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03825863588028289361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474816816394700979.post-89977923935292333482012-03-25T22:19:00.001-04:002012-03-26T09:39:03.927-04:00a divine spring weekend<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqKYBpkMCu3pkcuz-ZMojvSE9VEobaNdgbG0JK-e8NOW5wj6F1KjeThSUiZbHIttusEdSDiO34qvMjNw98uSMeai9gsmHm8HkXGx_vmHSlOxInPSNlyg0rb1SSh8CvVCH00SCAtoUkHlYx/s1600/springseeds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqKYBpkMCu3pkcuz-ZMojvSE9VEobaNdgbG0JK-e8NOW5wj6F1KjeThSUiZbHIttusEdSDiO34qvMjNw98uSMeai9gsmHm8HkXGx_vmHSlOxInPSNlyg0rb1SSh8CvVCH00SCAtoUkHlYx/s640/springseeds.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Thank you to Soren for this spring picture!</i></span></td></tr>
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<br />A-Kaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03825863588028289361noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474816816394700979.post-29973284017676505452012-03-22T06:51:00.002-04:002012-03-22T20:37:35.379-04:00the joys of readingThere has been quite a bit of reading going on the past few months...so I had to share the joy....<br />
<i>(I myself just finished "The Hunger Games" and it was a very fast read...it was an intense, interesting storyline/idea, a bit warped and definitely engaging book. I can't wait to see the movie!)</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg71Qtr-loYzlViN3Y5HJk_ZROMKlt4r4XcfFqaOzDhBIJsk2kVQIbSG6SRRhc8p2sPqvVJvtoUmGC2A4tJNmsUvZGf1HvgyQxpRrZaxTHiHo0d1DlJWp99cszCwXmxMiMY5zxLUhWFsY7T/s1600/snowball_read2.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg71Qtr-loYzlViN3Y5HJk_ZROMKlt4r4XcfFqaOzDhBIJsk2kVQIbSG6SRRhc8p2sPqvVJvtoUmGC2A4tJNmsUvZGf1HvgyQxpRrZaxTHiHo0d1DlJWp99cszCwXmxMiMY5zxLUhWFsY7T/s400/snowball_read2.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
Soren
has begun to read chapter books and is soaking it all up. Reading has
become one of his favorite pastimes. As any mom would, I am <i>loving</i> it!! <i>(I
took this picture during the NFL playoffs...he picked this book out at
his library. He was into all things Packers...just like his daddy!)</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWA7o3J7nHkHxDhNhsZihg-g0e04-PMfjGclfNoVebLqbKruBX8uV4e2HXnN0OC98RSu-1pny6RT5ElqUxpCEuBxjBDyew4AY9bTM8ss2y_BlqYcej9f0psxYKSpV1i2dIVyyUBUB9FTxC/s1600/boys20m_ACread.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWA7o3J7nHkHxDhNhsZihg-g0e04-PMfjGclfNoVebLqbKruBX8uV4e2HXnN0OC98RSu-1pny6RT5ElqUxpCEuBxjBDyew4AY9bTM8ss2y_BlqYcej9f0psxYKSpV1i2dIVyyUBUB9FTxC/s640/boys20m_ACread.JPG" width="427" /></a></div>
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Anna
Clara LOOOOOVES to "read" (she's not quite reading yet, but she sure
makes an effort!!) to her brothers. This is a daily morning ritual in
our home as they eat their breakfast. She also "reads" to them at night
and any other chance she gets. She loves school so much she pretends
like she's in school even when she's not -- <span style="font-size: x-small;">CONSTANTLY</span>
practicing her writing (her handwriting is remarkable...as it should be
considering how much time she spends working on it!) and teaching her
students (her stuffed animals) everything she learned. She sounds <i>just</i> like her teacher too...it is dang funny.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSJOAVx8I-zzZebUMyKJwX49T2HcIB6gSR9QPT0oioRdjB4e-PLPe5g44UvVUrJ9oaTDc7_5_nYKbYoMOrmnBQTzwIOCsjRrxmxJhITydKsI_wpbHlkvAXIAZUr3DLx1L6EysCP0DnYlOL/s1600/boys20m_ACread3.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSJOAVx8I-zzZebUMyKJwX49T2HcIB6gSR9QPT0oioRdjB4e-PLPe5g44UvVUrJ9oaTDc7_5_nYKbYoMOrmnBQTzwIOCsjRrxmxJhITydKsI_wpbHlkvAXIAZUr3DLx1L6EysCP0DnYlOL/s640/boys20m_ACread3.JPG" width="427" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcZKhzMvIdyziR5qxcIoIUV9WehU1Upk7vPqVyBqOC-7bU5fnigO309blx-B9paRgCFRW7AMVwTvKECmz8HMlYMYLlzhu28hhsl7RTwu-nFvWBrSpPHPopaBK63Nh0IrLGsyuaKQXPPPCq/s1600/boys20m_ACread4.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcZKhzMvIdyziR5qxcIoIUV9WehU1Upk7vPqVyBqOC-7bU5fnigO309blx-B9paRgCFRW7AMVwTvKECmz8HMlYMYLlzhu28hhsl7RTwu-nFvWBrSpPHPopaBK63Nh0IrLGsyuaKQXPPPCq/s640/boys20m_ACread4.JPG" width="427" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYY5UD5APykYtRSvwjtPc-_7F4hlbvZJ8z737JUUhlFHMOjIev9o7eZidGoDBuhUwAO6JNvRJ19gpfkDApeHHk07R__C2LFWZAQI7M64SsC1rhFGuIw0bDhCY_dC267YltAhbZRxZ9K_o0/s1600/boys20m_ACread5.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYY5UD5APykYtRSvwjtPc-_7F4hlbvZJ8z737JUUhlFHMOjIev9o7eZidGoDBuhUwAO6JNvRJ19gpfkDApeHHk07R__C2LFWZAQI7M64SsC1rhFGuIw0bDhCY_dC267YltAhbZRxZ9K_o0/s640/boys20m_ACread5.JPG" width="427" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd4nAZxNZXgv4VRD1SRbj3881OGNH78B8zb39qP47cJTjPETVpKVZk-Va3uxFi52SuAzjtbceZ1LgByq8a7YOwpnXcR_pWBujqOdA4Yw0MCIYjXiwatiwMscdJGK11X8Z-IbBCeUQtswpU/s1600/boys20m_ACread6.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd4nAZxNZXgv4VRD1SRbj3881OGNH78B8zb39qP47cJTjPETVpKVZk-Va3uxFi52SuAzjtbceZ1LgByq8a7YOwpnXcR_pWBujqOdA4Yw0MCIYjXiwatiwMscdJGK11X8Z-IbBCeUQtswpU/s640/boys20m_ACread6.JPG" width="427" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixD3oE6uLfQEluzyAM6MVBCSLA3q8RxPj9fmETBdmDWnNLasKKqjsYGjFkSLQx432fyHnAWj5PyoQ0MyFIiBajTolI4ArRShyZuxkaXWAOVkkVAWdbBO1FGh4blxLLLpN45FyNi_cwUoRd/s1600/AC_kit_read.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixD3oE6uLfQEluzyAM6MVBCSLA3q8RxPj9fmETBdmDWnNLasKKqjsYGjFkSLQx432fyHnAWj5PyoQ0MyFIiBajTolI4ArRShyZuxkaXWAOVkkVAWdbBO1FGh4blxLLLpN45FyNi_cwUoRd/s400/AC_kit_read.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Reading to her favorite doll, Kit, before bedtime.</i></span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisS5cZe5UNrBlAOq9L9ilF8pyx22xyY3lEy12iai9mQHsF0uWKrmv3_PQ_MHPp0iOijJ_d28C8Yh0ZPLGTkCqOX9iHdLDJ2eoardgewNP8vuRsqnr-808lTWImq1KuTVMs0faJ4QgMjjo7/s1600/anders22m_read5.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisS5cZe5UNrBlAOq9L9ilF8pyx22xyY3lEy12iai9mQHsF0uWKrmv3_PQ_MHPp0iOijJ_d28C8Yh0ZPLGTkCqOX9iHdLDJ2eoardgewNP8vuRsqnr-808lTWImq1KuTVMs0faJ4QgMjjo7/s640/anders22m_read5.JPG" width="428" /></a></div>
Anders decided to grab a book and climb into his high chair to do a lil reading....<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFZG3oOPOqYhlYa5QnqAZCGhqQYMYDE1SEE3_TtT0fFQXD1ZqBXISQwwLwoRayqiEgYuUVqY0OttN3nVXacBzdpF6SjN6Pqc9LYV5trW3YBVMe3lNwgilKaESYLujSYUyq8uw4wNv0NTrI/s1600/anders22m_read4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFZG3oOPOqYhlYa5QnqAZCGhqQYMYDE1SEE3_TtT0fFQXD1ZqBXISQwwLwoRayqiEgYuUVqY0OttN3nVXacBzdpF6SjN6Pqc9LYV5trW3YBVMe3lNwgilKaESYLujSYUyq8uw4wNv0NTrI/s640/anders22m_read4.JPG" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Oh no! And then what happened...?</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfpowl0y6xxdMJYZSH87621bfN-poEgGpo_RGK9_EGQcU3YmD8NuIcUDnpOMk4eouTv_dDHycNADRpg2SwPWFDysRAwjzNldTBSksXiMner3dCYUFWO0bQWIF70Gics0mbMLH0mIdM69cc/s1600/anders22m_read2.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfpowl0y6xxdMJYZSH87621bfN-poEgGpo_RGK9_EGQcU3YmD8NuIcUDnpOMk4eouTv_dDHycNADRpg2SwPWFDysRAwjzNldTBSksXiMner3dCYUFWO0bQWIF70Gics0mbMLH0mIdM69cc/s640/anders22m_read2.JPG" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Yup, I'm reading "Snow White". You gotta problem with that?</i></span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSxBOuP-cbuAj6kDVnZ16cQIHRgtdlQQxOA4dnF_IRhYrAURxQMhrKZ3uJgSkD0lE2jo0-11FTtBimmgC4Xu6-HH98zSoNmxJD3i1ynhZ3P_LnVylfHlWtidFAoWDYdgmVtb7vp2bWhuSM/s1600/anders22m_read3.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSxBOuP-cbuAj6kDVnZ16cQIHRgtdlQQxOA4dnF_IRhYrAURxQMhrKZ3uJgSkD0lE2jo0-11FTtBimmgC4Xu6-HH98zSoNmxJD3i1ynhZ3P_LnVylfHlWtidFAoWDYdgmVtb7vp2bWhuSM/s640/anders22m_read3.JPG" width="428" /></a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgalDbjFP3p8phK49fgM3BsAdec-k8xylFgN4RvsnrofOEG6VVwrfMHKa1HjCGQUHRG2ubVLRHjnuOtKvxGrDEONhloxVAZc-el4GsxEkAcnwmXAWjURmRLUZn0Ep1mpUFAG_bItDb5pgfR/s1600/boys22m_read.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgalDbjFP3p8phK49fgM3BsAdec-k8xylFgN4RvsnrofOEG6VVwrfMHKa1HjCGQUHRG2ubVLRHjnuOtKvxGrDEONhloxVAZc-el4GsxEkAcnwmXAWjURmRLUZn0Ep1mpUFAG_bItDb5pgfR/s640/boys22m_read.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Soren picked this book out at his library in school just for his lil bros.</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>A-Kaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03825863588028289361noreply@blogger.com1