tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12988802506174986782024-03-21T19:08:23.725-07:00The Blog Family Robinsonalisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07091786706652780066noreply@blogger.comBlogger250125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298880250617498678.post-35184599278204593642010-08-03T17:46:00.000-07:002010-08-03T18:04:01.614-07:00Summer in Oregon<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIXWHx-2DtFCbKwZE9zEllmwOkiO4rLCZgTdpTWecbPrFvytTPuzej0lVKeVPHCljZwH6GEp5CF9Z4n5nS9-LHAfrB6bapf776Yd3R09mh9ORgp9U0CqnP-klKKsVkU8lhMQ0jrh1cTIbU/s1600/IMG_0321.JPG"></a><div style="text-align: left;">The kids and I spent several weeks this summer with my family in Oregon, while John finished up his dissertation. Here's a quick view of the things we did there:</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQS70bv6gRa4xwBRl48LxjKonKUHfslpaHX8DOQ7vI3BMkHRYqH2MhKmkGoiQyszsMwQneTBQVnFP87RJTCtwUWqJZqeRAcqWHaY6kvVEGsgESU_VsZ4ncOHkS91LjU_h0V8ZjLX0RvUp3/s1600/IMG_0277.JPG"></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglGkhW463Ue6PsIXQNb-zYDijGNI3b6lFnXfiLTiDUGvHQ17KYqAdVC3LIWouzpl9BAlGylW6E60Hlh020ez6t1B717appKyODghbdyKy8LqKmMCYI2Iv70SnhO3k8qJAZo5llm12pNQX-/s1600/IMG_0269.JPG"></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2lNdBLvTiiSPrpjjfBuhbt1oLzJ4-vYvhLrIS61JF4cnu8ExZfF9Mg-5zTNGvZlrm_ouri7JhgQ_tz5jJvp6FlmjKbwI7A0q4CobVrvdzUHTZeGGGxNUUuYFuJBjRY9cysGJpJgpIDaLm/s1600/IMG_0241.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2lNdBLvTiiSPrpjjfBuhbt1oLzJ4-vYvhLrIS61JF4cnu8ExZfF9Mg-5zTNGvZlrm_ouri7JhgQ_tz5jJvp6FlmjKbwI7A0q4CobVrvdzUHTZeGGGxNUUuYFuJBjRY9cysGJpJgpIDaLm/s400/IMG_0241.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501350443759432098" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">Isaac's seventh birthday</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglGkhW463Ue6PsIXQNb-zYDijGNI3b6lFnXfiLTiDUGvHQ17KYqAdVC3LIWouzpl9BAlGylW6E60Hlh020ez6t1B717appKyODghbdyKy8LqKmMCYI2Iv70SnhO3k8qJAZo5llm12pNQX-/s400/IMG_0269.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501350446866173122" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;">Isaac and Jeremiah spinning Grandpa for pin the tail on the dragon. :)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiup1Q7q9jfsXmKkWE0PVtGXLTeW3wUlGk5rM6B4DQxmtqul7ZHw6oJGg4M0z_jy9H3uNmAVQwyY4E_b4Q4n5CE2jNiDWHad_u8X60uLQrVzYN7oS-A3coKOb7Q91ifFbKE8abS72fVQzbl/s1600/IMG_0229.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiup1Q7q9jfsXmKkWE0PVtGXLTeW3wUlGk5rM6B4DQxmtqul7ZHw6oJGg4M0z_jy9H3uNmAVQwyY4E_b4Q4n5CE2jNiDWHad_u8X60uLQrVzYN7oS-A3coKOb7Q91ifFbKE8abS72fVQzbl/s400/IMG_0229.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501350439008027922" /></a>Cuddling on grandpa's chair<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBaljiQKKnD9Dy3gnB4h_tO2qmj0TTPTO6fdoTPMU6OTi4_OmX_DxtiDZETwmM0z-lRxEtSWRUmxQJRat1e0ZMu1-Qj7CegFnUH_QLKr98IysFGIBrJn5ttJXJoxG8nK5zjgta3OniCFbt/s1600/IMG_0219.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBaljiQKKnD9Dy3gnB4h_tO2qmj0TTPTO6fdoTPMU6OTi4_OmX_DxtiDZETwmM0z-lRxEtSWRUmxQJRat1e0ZMu1-Qj7CegFnUH_QLKr98IysFGIBrJn5ttJXJoxG8nK5zjgta3OniCFbt/s400/IMG_0219.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501350429121980386" /></a>Kids playing bubble tag in the back yard</div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQS70bv6gRa4xwBRl48LxjKonKUHfslpaHX8DOQ7vI3BMkHRYqH2MhKmkGoiQyszsMwQneTBQVnFP87RJTCtwUWqJZqeRAcqWHaY6kvVEGsgESU_VsZ4ncOHkS91LjU_h0V8ZjLX0RvUp3/s400/IMG_0277.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501351749770000082" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">Leora on Independence Day. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ6x9OvFQ_Ut9GGQ45zSvrqMgfJvFCdBflt7NejgYwFvnBg6D8Y5QEHLIOUyR63G_tPtuUApEpIqZ9Wrc5UYFf9sHK4jjPPxtbBpPXT3fYVB_2jcP4SKqQb4QLdxQKS0TNk753NQwgSe22/s1600/IMG_0282.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ6x9OvFQ_Ut9GGQ45zSvrqMgfJvFCdBflt7NejgYwFvnBg6D8Y5QEHLIOUyR63G_tPtuUApEpIqZ9Wrc5UYFf9sHK4jjPPxtbBpPXT3fYVB_2jcP4SKqQb4QLdxQKS0TNk753NQwgSe22/s400/IMG_0282.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501351750360624226" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a>Isaac waiting (patiently?) for fireworks to begin. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgmaW5R2jgdmHVcCbfWyNUtQuHqoPVBpspERnJi4_aI1V79BlQ00sVfbtgk72fNPApOFM62YDXkzElZMwJBKnbr80aOR_gcrAp5MisHmu4_JJzW-BHiDFo_kKprfoismvOG81QugY-DNDO/s400/IMG_0288.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501351758150605842" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">Kids waiting for their swim lessons to begin.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLpp7lLT8e4SZBsBTTerbS4-W-kv-ppCr2IwfcO7FbIg0w-ivzic5yDfM3jgoSsqtuegELHLXP7DCzhy9Ub-cVoeZQKxvZgaSrqZeEjh3dACo1E6OPEWDG0XUSFuJypT2z3mhEsfziXEb2/s400/IMG_0304.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501351767221611842" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">Leora was THRILLED to be in swim lessons this year!</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZkOgTZsJY_FKegLyLHgqfzUWOoLS0OcqLkANU10kwDllBrHA5fUeB3Q93By4clgk6MuQxpHQGSXgy-RJl7KwIuvsjO4f6FCIEybf1Rd5uQvt0woc2qa-ro3ZcF3CwrBP1t9qKEBTRERzD/s400/IMG_0342.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501351768658615794" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">She is a super-duper floater.</span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIXWHx-2DtFCbKwZE9zEllmwOkiO4rLCZgTdpTWecbPrFvytTPuzej0lVKeVPHCljZwH6GEp5CF9Z4n5nS9-LHAfrB6bapf776Yd3R09mh9ORgp9U0CqnP-klKKsVkU8lhMQ0jrh1cTIbU/s1600/IMG_0321.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIXWHx-2DtFCbKwZE9zEllmwOkiO4rLCZgTdpTWecbPrFvytTPuzej0lVKeVPHCljZwH6GEp5CF9Z4n5nS9-LHAfrB6bapf776Yd3R09mh9ORgp9U0CqnP-klKKsVkU8lhMQ0jrh1cTIbU/s400/IMG_0321.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501353326848724642" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a>Isaac is a great under-water swimmer...and therefore we didn't get a lot of pictures of him. </span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxmrEDCvvA-5Hev4FBf88oK_1IB-tNMuWWgJQz2PB16_IIX1Lxf4SXiZ1ECHfS2NVSWDeoGu3GKq-LTaiGWmfQeVQL5OuBGim1MunN_4v8xl4DDBtP2IxC6vP9QoBpuP1NDeQdyQoeSbRP/s1600/IMG_0320.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxmrEDCvvA-5Hev4FBf88oK_1IB-tNMuWWgJQz2PB16_IIX1Lxf4SXiZ1ECHfS2NVSWDeoGu3GKq-LTaiGWmfQeVQL5OuBGim1MunN_4v8xl4DDBtP2IxC6vP9QoBpuP1NDeQdyQoeSbRP/s400/IMG_0320.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501353316073344194" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Jeremiah is a cute top-of-the-water swimmer.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd97WGKktMS7Wuf1dyOF0OFIY9e50bJ8CgdjmFezq63tlmoUt9kFiV-YD_AhTjNrYM4waSPT-u0vpWyVjHR-G9MyA2L0i7Hir7OGtmXaQ9-nQOWvHmtOWQOcszAfe8PlP9IRDa1uURoRAd/s1600/IMG_0350.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd97WGKktMS7Wuf1dyOF0OFIY9e50bJ8CgdjmFezq63tlmoUt9kFiV-YD_AhTjNrYM4waSPT-u0vpWyVjHR-G9MyA2L0i7Hir7OGtmXaQ9-nQOWvHmtOWQOcszAfe8PlP9IRDa1uURoRAd/s400/IMG_0350.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501353309907745138" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">And, he has a couple "grown-up teeth!"</span></span></span></span></span></div>alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07091786706652780066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298880250617498678.post-16702099140929479742010-08-02T08:25:00.000-07:002010-08-02T08:43:03.162-07:00Disneyland 2010<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpmfsL-q0ha_gJCROyX1ArqWPb9zXlmkSm_-zYrBGlUo5AG63wMiSqkIha6nadky_jKqvrRUTyc_lPtZUe5d2SeIIqe9ylcjI8-J3xarHEbdLYAEOs-FqOU5W5VM6MrgV8y8AnAVRKnTvT/s1600/IMG_0212.JPG"></a><div style="text-align: left;">I thought if I included "2010," maybe we'd go back sometime...</div><div><br /></div><div>We had a ton of fun going to Disneyland together! We went 2 1/2 years ago, right around Christmastime, and honestly, Isaac had a blast! Jeremiah was terrified of ALL rides he went on (Dumbo, the carousel...that's about it) and Leora was barely a year old and didn't really care. </div><div><br /></div><div>So, this time, we went on one of the last summer days that the ark closed at 8. It was a great choice. Hardly any lines, and we could do everything we wanted to! Yippee!</div><div><br /></div><div>Mostly the next few posts will just have pictures. Because my favorite father mentioned that wehaven't posted here recently. And I don't really have the time/current desire to write a ton. Since we're moving currently. We'll be in Wisconsin in 6 days! Which means moving out of our apartment and having everything packed and shipped and cleaned within the next 4 days...</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgqhdktCLSOyttAH4g6AgLhpOcWnGciqP6r2hMsPpYKSidDoaMkvswDMl7jY_hBnrH2RB-5oGtHLCcIgbyLEPwKnpB_gayuGWCPyb0KkZYyT3m6Cq-_ESGFGQYdM2f_HHa2mRpX93V9jKG/s400/IMG_0104.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500834470700485874" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_a_vW5J0XFkH2DOPU3a-aoJetAbi0BWmnJeTHrOjvR91SZpFE_FIq6Sf-WWnio4gGoqEWCx3CIOTYvNCrj50ufgta7_R77t5tLjusaUlVF6_yLBDkx4XliBtQSHLHbZ407He41iHPbTjq/s400/IMG_0116.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500834475178404866" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">The boys on the teacups.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlwA61khQx4il-I87HiL4haVfOBXaIOD63pLP5fi7NUnSHZRcVfGUfarjhgQH-LyiShNv2AzWVJzqg-esNeuuGLAN32kiAwNRacWVqEgcInLPRnBkTRkuAqcgsgAXLBgP5e9qNfamU0Ndg/s400/IMG_0118.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500834483565271106" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">Leora and John on the teacups.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4BI9NhCSheTQB1Rw-MrFmDCXlUW6LMpckSpr7ZznH4_qxI_U0CejiLN1PsGbam_JGzW91NOnP5sUto2EKHo8PktAwC8297Fl0enwMF5GsQ4urpoSMNdT_OMcsMDxrVJb-xJVLco2knKZo/s1600/IMG_0152.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4BI9NhCSheTQB1Rw-MrFmDCXlUW6LMpckSpr7ZznH4_qxI_U0CejiLN1PsGbam_JGzW91NOnP5sUto2EKHo8PktAwC8297Fl0enwMF5GsQ4urpoSMNdT_OMcsMDxrVJb-xJVLco2knKZo/s400/IMG_0152.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500834506390527618" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a>Isaac hanging out in jail in ToonTown.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikrZpV1JVdKQFG6RMh2WcM74E9g6SOvt0e6KrwRavIfADKT0F4eGN-wtogWI85swYle3LDPfkwoT7_wWPelfmvwxJrjA68gtaCEGuGLAqfXfNbsSevYVa_9GMleE2-MCbCh7FhzOmXtc7U/s1600/IMG_0135.JPG"></a></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikrZpV1JVdKQFG6RMh2WcM74E9g6SOvt0e6KrwRavIfADKT0F4eGN-wtogWI85swYle3LDPfkwoT7_wWPelfmvwxJrjA68gtaCEGuGLAqfXfNbsSevYVa_9GMleE2-MCbCh7FhzOmXtc7U/s1600/IMG_0135.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikrZpV1JVdKQFG6RMh2WcM74E9g6SOvt0e6KrwRavIfADKT0F4eGN-wtogWI85swYle3LDPfkwoT7_wWPelfmvwxJrjA68gtaCEGuGLAqfXfNbsSevYVa_9GMleE2-MCbCh7FhzOmXtc7U/s400/IMG_0135.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500834490928723074" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">Alison, Jeremiah and Leora sitting on a bench on the carousel.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM_Es50qNtlCjYwyfRecVw-JXqgPzbDE1idInty-oxZrFyNg9_H6DCn_kxeWnJiVrQNUVFAxs7ptbEFc-mH6JM2pePwS_ykfhPXVD_V_72HJUZoLxvHr2uArV1_UxiX5zA-sLPpE6KAXVW/s400/IMG_0171.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500837412867240882" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">Leora consulting the Disneyland map. :)</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEIooDfxtmYGol8QvEVJjilEuif4vCiI0viR0vG7su_H-LL3EXwdm9vwXAzrkAQUOyNJ2nLX5QczHWhviGmwHBZ4b73eIh96m7JEBJWQ84cUOhCRQyTLX8GlBDhiSgLfLj60v5OM1X5jbZ/s400/IMG_0175.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500837419036025058" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">Our family! At Disneyland!</span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXGoUsdCSHPi9Um_1L2zhYlITCQDtc7VVi4bmOHSe_v7wbGVdMGqPjracX3-PeZbYY3sG3V8P6WcecXMfpEPuL-zANkvrRGhiyJAKFwf2TCWRh4K3RJRSnRcAZ7LohNw5tcmwKM8ttwshr/s400/IMG_0188.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500837422107768098" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">Jeremiah and Isaac with Disney souvenirs!</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpmfsL-q0ha_gJCROyX1ArqWPb9zXlmkSm_-zYrBGlUo5AG63wMiSqkIha6nadky_jKqvrRUTyc_lPtZUe5d2SeIIqe9ylcjI8-J3xarHEbdLYAEOs-FqOU5W5VM6MrgV8y8AnAVRKnTvT/s1600/IMG_0212.JPG"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY0AvPBjO8fLjt2-cID64cxfnzoISYfm1oX9bHngPDBOkT7xE9d_IvtchGNv-Vbd7gtxrIe7FBKXZuICvPdO7t5x3PrtGprbjsGqtE8v3ZKrsFOlU_c1E3mWb2YysbBr8zHnIntIekigh6/s1600/IMG_0208.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY0AvPBjO8fLjt2-cID64cxfnzoISYfm1oX9bHngPDBOkT7xE9d_IvtchGNv-Vbd7gtxrIe7FBKXZuICvPdO7t5x3PrtGprbjsGqtE8v3ZKrsFOlU_c1E3mWb2YysbBr8zHnIntIekigh6/s400/IMG_0208.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500837430379820098" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">Leora with HER souvenir. We went into the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, and I fgured we'd get her a beautiful princess tiara or purse and gloves...but no. We found the best swords and shields ever!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpmfsL-q0ha_gJCROyX1ArqWPb9zXlmkSm_-zYrBGlUo5AG63wMiSqkIha6nadky_jKqvrRUTyc_lPtZUe5d2SeIIqe9ylcjI8-J3xarHEbdLYAEOs-FqOU5W5VM6MrgV8y8AnAVRKnTvT/s400/IMG_0212.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500837432926790514" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">Good-bye Disneyland!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07091786706652780066noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298880250617498678.post-55805598755565135592010-04-03T17:24:00.000-07:002010-04-03T17:33:23.008-07:00General ConferenceThis morning, I woke up early, which is to be expected when I go to bed at 8 with the kids. And I started making our traditional Conference breakfast: sour cream coffee cake (yes, I see the irony there, and we've had word of wisdom discussions with our kids because of it), sausages, and strawberries. Mmmm. Jeremiah woke up just a tad after me, and liked helping me stir all the batter for the coffee cake. He's a great helper. I had my recipe up on the laptop, and after mixing for a few minutes, Jeremiah was finished... and wanting to play a game on my open computer. But, he told me, he knew that we needed the recipe open, so could he "do the plus" to open a new tab? So cute. I love that kiddo. <div><br /></div><div>I had the bright idea last night that if I took the kids swimming between sessions today, they'd be worn out and therefore at least quiet, if not actually paying attention, for the afternoon session. It worked. I think. I'm not sure because I only made it through the first half of the afternoon session. Oh well. <div><br /></div><div>I'm just so glad that survived the last, oh, 5 years. I love my kids. They're great. It's taken a lot of work to get to this point. I'm so glad that I did it. I know I'll have more challenges and frustrations as these ones get older, but, it's just so satisfying to see how far we've come. </div></div>alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07091786706652780066noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298880250617498678.post-2023538624114200322010-02-16T05:14:00.000-08:002010-02-16T05:26:02.311-08:00Books I've Read RecentlyNot in any particular order, and I'll likely mention if I really didn't like it. If you're looking for great books to read, here are my most recent selections.<div><br /></div><div>Percy Jackson and the Olympians, juvenile series. </div><div><br /></div><div>Three Cups of Tea, non-fiction. There's a sequel I haven't yet read called Stones into Schools. Very powerful non-fiction. </div><div><br /></div><div>The Actor and the Housewife, fiction.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Color of Water, non-fiction.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Blind Side, non-fiction. The first 2 chapters are straight football, and I almost didn't make it through, but it was an amazing book. We just saw the movie last night, and it was also very good--and followed the book pretty precisely. It was fun to see what was straight from the book, and what was changed and embellished in the film.</div><div><br /></div><div>Evermore, juvenile series.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Guinea Pig Diaries, non-fiction. Not appropriate for a Relief Society book group, but hilarious. And highly recommended, with a grain of salt. :)</div><div><br /></div><div>Parenting with Love and Logic, non-fiction. (It's a parenting book.)</div><div><br /></div><div>And a couple books I have on hold at our library and am anticipating picking up are The Happiness Project, non-fiction, and The Help, fiction. </div><div><br /></div><div>Happy reading!</div><div><br /></div><div>I always accept suggestions. <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></div>alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07091786706652780066noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298880250617498678.post-49848560879472003022010-01-21T07:15:00.000-08:002010-01-21T07:24:12.126-08:00Princess Danielle<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKujhVn-S6-RalJvSnr0CjsTi2zMdPsif6Ju4cI-Xdr8YgTq85WdXWORfpS5F-UAHv0EX6jDPn4jL832lQ4ZbQ1WYcRojmiW2HbRHfu5OBY7tg9Cja3NFGTMi3erImPvn7BrGSkQbSHvV9/s1600-h/Princess+Danielle.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 140px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKujhVn-S6-RalJvSnr0CjsTi2zMdPsif6Ju4cI-Xdr8YgTq85WdXWORfpS5F-UAHv0EX6jDPn4jL832lQ4ZbQ1WYcRojmiW2HbRHfu5OBY7tg9Cja3NFGTMi3erImPvn7BrGSkQbSHvV9/s400/Princess+Danielle.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429212303990161170" border="0" /></a>Danielle opened 3 chests of princess dress-ups for Christmas. She is a very very happy princess these days.alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07091786706652780066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298880250617498678.post-12643682351419677482010-01-14T19:34:00.001-08:002010-01-14T19:37:40.962-08:00Christmas 2009<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWrzO7xmhtSwTTSrebbZriwsr0_dpmxuZWUbHyspxzmhgp-n2E71BZfqFhEjcTfGLGz3-T5VOeZIiwjY7Ni2k0HlBkmj-KJ0e4lTuv1kXYHSitX5llykfRPWQApxByfc9YGZqbMHN82bOk/s1600-h/Christmas+2009.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 209px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWrzO7xmhtSwTTSrebbZriwsr0_dpmxuZWUbHyspxzmhgp-n2E71BZfqFhEjcTfGLGz3-T5VOeZIiwjY7Ni2k0HlBkmj-KJ0e4lTuv1kXYHSitX5llykfRPWQApxByfc9YGZqbMHN82bOk/s400/Christmas+2009.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426805011793588610" border="0" /></a><br />The most Christmas-y of pictures of 2009. :)alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07091786706652780066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298880250617498678.post-14461378491383411272010-01-11T20:35:00.000-08:002010-01-11T20:43:52.557-08:00Danielle's 3rd Birthday!Happy Birthday, Danielle! <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiErxEeK60GyMbtgKvgkrZkWrjwFF-q91luBQUGA7ntGteA7us70FnGA7Gnj5N0A0DyHetjqbwiI2cwVrRKyNIVRrT4ZHKwJ2WNjWG_weeRHyd8CLbzEtj3mW4MvKnimP_UsCFvcrgI2joe/s1600-h/Danielle's+3rd+Birthday.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiErxEeK60GyMbtgKvgkrZkWrjwFF-q91luBQUGA7ntGteA7us70FnGA7Gnj5N0A0DyHetjqbwiI2cwVrRKyNIVRrT4ZHKwJ2WNjWG_weeRHyd8CLbzEtj3mW4MvKnimP_UsCFvcrgI2joe/s400/Danielle's+3rd+Birthday.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425707577649992418" border="0" /></a>Three things I love about Danielle:<br /><br />1. She's <span style="font-style: italic;">girly. </span>I absolutely love that she wants her hair up, me to paint her toenails, and that we pick out "make-up" together.<br /><br />2. She gives amazing 3-year-old hugs.<br /><br />3. She's silly! This girl makes me crack up every day. She's hilarious. And delightful.alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07091786706652780066noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298880250617498678.post-3978575806099437572010-01-11T11:07:00.001-08:002010-01-11T11:10:49.833-08:00Jeremiah's Photo Shoot<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRqZ5wLUWXENmX9n4dWBNCU3_DST4VITgr57-Ns6aLgLSFmvcrffhMF-DMUKnfk5xKMxYZT-SMTvR4YZlF1klGSj2M9CI55PpZI1Vtz5wmk97zVCZZZdyLA8ukieXRFQncAqz1z2lvwh_x/s1600-h/Jeremiah+Photo+Shoot.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 296px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRqZ5wLUWXENmX9n4dWBNCU3_DST4VITgr57-Ns6aLgLSFmvcrffhMF-DMUKnfk5xKMxYZT-SMTvR4YZlF1klGSj2M9CI55PpZI1Vtz5wmk97zVCZZZdyLA8ukieXRFQncAqz1z2lvwh_x/s400/Jeremiah+Photo+Shoot.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425561536886879938" border="0" /></a><br />While we were in Florida, Jeremiah, my camera, and I went on a walk/photo-shoot. And, after manipulating some of the cutest pictures on my computer and some learning curve involvement, here's what we (Jeremiah, my camera, my computer, and I) came up with.alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07091786706652780066noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298880250617498678.post-73849518024898875052009-12-15T15:21:00.000-08:002009-12-15T15:38:25.115-08:00tidbitsThe boys had their Kindergarten Holiday Concert this afternoon. SO CUTE!!! Very enjoyable. I teared up: Isaac surprised us by singing a solo!<br /><br />Today was a beautiful day for biking.<br /><br />Danielle is all-the-way potty-trained. Except she can't turn the light on by herself. I'll take it!<br /><br />Jeremiah can mostly sound out words. He was watching a word-less video John found him (on YouTube) and at the end of it, he said in his sweet little voice, "Clash of Fates." Yes, that is a little too random to be environmental print.<br /><br />Isaac's imagination continues to amaze me. He loves lincoln logs. He builds the typical log houses of various sizes and shapes, as well as fences and catapults and cannons. Sometimes the lincoln logs become standing soldiers defending Danielle's princess castle. He barricaded the castle door closed with tall lincoln logs and told Jeremiah it was time to knock it down...which Jeremiah proceeded to do quite happily.<br /><br />Jeremiah continues to destruct while the other children construct, in general.<br /><br />Isaac's being assessed for a gifted program at school, and has individual reading time with the reading specialist rather than typical kindergarten s-a-t.<br /><br />My children are very much not interested in the tasty, pretty scotcharoo wreath which my visiting teachee gave me this morning, and I'm happily consuming it.<br /><br />Zero Christmas presents under the tree have been opened.<br /><br />We have been doing our Christmas book tradition. Each night, one child chooses a book to unwrap from under our tree, and we read a Christmas related picture book together. We all love it. I love that John comes to see the pictures. :)<br /><br />The kindergarten teacher sent home "copies" of letters the boys wrote yesterday to Santa, in case the parents wanted to know what their kids wrote and what Santa might be leaving when he visits Christmas Eve. I'll just say that they have both been looking forward to these presents for a long time (for a child). Now to find out what Danielle wants...<br /><br />I'm certain there's more, but that's a little taste of what we have going on around here.<br /><br />Oh yes! That!<br /><br />John accepted a job at Viterbo, in La Crosse, Wisconsin! After one more hot summer, we're looking forward to a very long and cold winter!alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07091786706652780066noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298880250617498678.post-56870956243799688982009-11-02T14:25:00.000-08:002009-11-02T14:36:25.069-08:00Where the Wild Things AreThe night Jeremiah wore his wolf suit, he found a blue river in the bathroom and laid it out on the floor in the living room. He dragged out a blue boat from his room, made himself a flag, and climbed in, ready to adventure down the river and to the island...where the wild things are! His brother and sister came along, in separate boats, of course, with flags of their own designs. They all sailed through the evening and into bedtime, before they fell over and ran into their beds, where they found bedtime stories and pumpkin cookies waiting for them...and they were still warm.<br /><br />Since kids don't like hot food. Sorry Maurice, but it's true. They like to taste their food. Not have it burn their mouths.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ4FZg9aPmm9ybQJE1QuS3TxrpZCQV0C4piJoZpeQmWjnUq4Q5TaoVdyTqW-fPgsZDhMz9kVH4cI9V8t6AntX4xGbkfa0L7nZK_0t0eKCKTSbPfCzmy8xRp75UEoEebKU8yZxnoFreCFMu/s1600-h/DSC01799.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 181px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ4FZg9aPmm9ybQJE1QuS3TxrpZCQV0C4piJoZpeQmWjnUq4Q5TaoVdyTqW-fPgsZDhMz9kVH4cI9V8t6AntX4xGbkfa0L7nZK_0t0eKCKTSbPfCzmy8xRp75UEoEebKU8yZxnoFreCFMu/s320/DSC01799.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399638169443431218" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwbbL3R6rpgNhOZ9RpVWRRwDdf3s9r1K-sEmfAtSEtY4MI0Tn8cv8DOzQ5mfqy0Jww6UA2exqjhWS3pDny6wj22eepIlsaUYcohNfw2p2cvZz3GCn0jTeOdhYYeIHOXpA3K6CNct1ArR2v/s1600-h/DSC01807.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 181px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwbbL3R6rpgNhOZ9RpVWRRwDdf3s9r1K-sEmfAtSEtY4MI0Tn8cv8DOzQ5mfqy0Jww6UA2exqjhWS3pDny6wj22eepIlsaUYcohNfw2p2cvZz3GCn0jTeOdhYYeIHOXpA3K6CNct1ArR2v/s320/DSC01807.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399638177856666722" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0DCB4Zd4f1Q1jvBC8D0yDsnZcmIoUkqW3ppjxrwkPpYrQeLxEdj0zS9UovnOo2n8-Qj860MLZZvISk8jttEuvySRs5VNWR-ZRvNMickmHQGC-JsDmEU2qfL96gv-wOM4Z8i1idL3fqZmD/s1600-h/DSC01809.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 181px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0DCB4Zd4f1Q1jvBC8D0yDsnZcmIoUkqW3ppjxrwkPpYrQeLxEdj0zS9UovnOo2n8-Qj860MLZZvISk8jttEuvySRs5VNWR-ZRvNMickmHQGC-JsDmEU2qfL96gv-wOM4Z8i1idL3fqZmD/s320/DSC01809.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399638173841772418" border="0" /></a>alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07091786706652780066noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298880250617498678.post-13187778906766497112009-10-31T21:09:00.001-07:002009-10-31T22:42:58.460-07:00Halloween!!!This week leading up to Halloween has been a blast! My mom came out to play with us, which added to the excitement. :) We made Jeremiah a wolf suit like Max, from Where the Wild Things Are, and created bat wings to go with Isaac's ninja costume (um, he decided he wanted to be a "bat-ninja"?--apparently they sneak up to people and pull down others' pants, but we vetoed that action), and decorated Danielle's turtle shell, for her "little bitty ninja turtle" costume. We carved pumpkins and turned them into jack-o-lanterns, for the first time! We've decorated pumpkins and painted them before, but not carved. The kids were ecstatic to look at their jack-o-lanterns at night, all lit up. The boys had a kindergarten Halloween party and costume parade on Friday, and we went trick-or-treating and had carnival games and dinner at our church tonight. We've had a lot of fun!<br /><br />And now....for pictures!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWhbmhzhKtNFA09Hj7zipGOQgX1gIUO1eOHBmLDdGqqTtZQB-EwK0ADNoTk-vT02d9NRrLDBkodSS74menehMSQrKO6isl0gLQL2i8RYkwvgL5C_4X1niZSg6RyKMoJc29lR1UbWdbEdml/s1600-h/DSC01712.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 181px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWhbmhzhKtNFA09Hj7zipGOQgX1gIUO1eOHBmLDdGqqTtZQB-EwK0ADNoTk-vT02d9NRrLDBkodSS74menehMSQrKO6isl0gLQL2i8RYkwvgL5C_4X1niZSg6RyKMoJc29lR1UbWdbEdml/s320/DSC01712.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398990680378112034" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhErGAQKQHSU2l_2c5Xonz0y87WdmHMZEJSNQyicD6kTRCW-Ke27zOU6poC4PpkzNWOeIUU1VHuV8yCiou7LRv3FBSq9U3IvZ4DBPoKx2fNPFHuwdVB-qP4FGBX-_2GZo0V1ZlTgNLPRVis/s1600-h/DSC01720.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 181px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhErGAQKQHSU2l_2c5Xonz0y87WdmHMZEJSNQyicD6kTRCW-Ke27zOU6poC4PpkzNWOeIUU1VHuV8yCiou7LRv3FBSq9U3IvZ4DBPoKx2fNPFHuwdVB-qP4FGBX-_2GZo0V1ZlTgNLPRVis/s320/DSC01720.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398990686450595490" border="0" /></a><br />Three sweet children looking longingly into the flames of their jack-o-lanterns...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLf4eJuuo7Hx-F9YrHbsQNRk7d4PdvD2muqEKSudzou6Vob3dZQ4DXC0RtKmBsp5A0cHailBBCsC8yU9ibAsBaqaB5C3lML6e1Afh_33K6WOgw7qYIdU9XNaiUzbZsVA4Wh96AA8_HmEgn/s1600-h/DSC01752.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 181px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLf4eJuuo7Hx-F9YrHbsQNRk7d4PdvD2muqEKSudzou6Vob3dZQ4DXC0RtKmBsp5A0cHailBBCsC8yU9ibAsBaqaB5C3lML6e1Afh_33K6WOgw7qYIdU9XNaiUzbZsVA4Wh96AA8_HmEgn/s320/DSC01752.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398990702702042050" border="0" /></a>Ninja-Bat with his creation.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNEocsv2GOcNHI0PVy6RK9qcN5c7rzXymDFLsONXZaFcDy6DY8aj-LAusHthQZsBanI-d9pgsLClu4mH_YMUcociI0J9ggoOLQz3ajX77TcdBhiQDHk-W83Iohlm-qwPB3dHcUt76-AVgN/s1600-h/DSC01757.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 181px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNEocsv2GOcNHI0PVy6RK9qcN5c7rzXymDFLsONXZaFcDy6DY8aj-LAusHthQZsBanI-d9pgsLClu4mH_YMUcociI0J9ggoOLQz3ajX77TcdBhiQDHk-W83Iohlm-qwPB3dHcUt76-AVgN/s320/DSC01757.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398990700769040850" border="0" /></a>Max, making a scary face like his SCARY jack-o-lantern. :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh59kDVn_3Cy9mO_EO5Ug5j-720MhJOEQyZ_F5Z82rSmDbHGM5-t_tzeW6o3Y2OHbRjAUeJITx2P-I9ZrOgTX0jV746onf1a5LHOSBDB_3rhgFwwIo88L95cI-xHqldEsQvhzninm9Hg7CK/s1600-h/DSC01758.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 181px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh59kDVn_3Cy9mO_EO5Ug5j-720MhJOEQyZ_F5Z82rSmDbHGM5-t_tzeW6o3Y2OHbRjAUeJITx2P-I9ZrOgTX0jV746onf1a5LHOSBDB_3rhgFwwIo88L95cI-xHqldEsQvhzninm9Hg7CK/s320/DSC01758.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398990693792199890" border="0" /></a>And, a Little Bitty Ninja Turtle with her very happy pumpkin!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV084MXXEmlICMeeBH5XYSUAd2i9Xy7ZDZ1WZgIrDGtqA2O-T1DxrsBEmLn0VBIYRldIjNevIKif-AdgwoMDSh2y4-ZagVZPGNMMlV-9EjORVfWa9eLztLwtgtNARspVc4JexJ-wXEsSSm/s1600-h/DSC01771.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 181px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV084MXXEmlICMeeBH5XYSUAd2i9Xy7ZDZ1WZgIrDGtqA2O-T1DxrsBEmLn0VBIYRldIjNevIKif-AdgwoMDSh2y4-ZagVZPGNMMlV-9EjORVfWa9eLztLwtgtNARspVc4JexJ-wXEsSSm/s320/DSC01771.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398993896284523506" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRhRvKssORoHhZ5vQImLkETONxjWia375y-l5-VO8VYpuOCqvBHOoRRWlyyHFAHKpXcd2RRxgGyaXZx0OlZAVpXLxFdkcfwYhn-jEI_nLOrSEQnZbM4eDZG2_8PJl6o64f6n3hV3lA8rml/s1600-h/DSC01773.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 181px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRhRvKssORoHhZ5vQImLkETONxjWia375y-l5-VO8VYpuOCqvBHOoRRWlyyHFAHKpXcd2RRxgGyaXZx0OlZAVpXLxFdkcfwYhn-jEI_nLOrSEQnZbM4eDZG2_8PJl6o64f6n3hV3lA8rml/s320/DSC01773.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398993903651400386" border="0" /></a>More, perhaps better, views of their cute costumes. (Have I mentioned that I LOVE that these kids like to play together??)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7By4SamjT1ew7b0M_sUYbLHqxkLypXBI0O9X8JIDg1wb_TzVyLM5bwGUcO11K4u-EzqikxHxf9ZDt2Cl_iuoL4ZVgxRKpg3Myx7RVhBBW5zF0tbi-DFd8SY30A7Rzpnkksd_H8Re7t5B-/s1600-h/DSC01778.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 181px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7By4SamjT1ew7b0M_sUYbLHqxkLypXBI0O9X8JIDg1wb_TzVyLM5bwGUcO11K4u-EzqikxHxf9ZDt2Cl_iuoL4ZVgxRKpg3Myx7RVhBBW5zF0tbi-DFd8SY30A7Rzpnkksd_H8Re7t5B-/s320/DSC01778.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398992734361208226" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAkg7ryOGbueuIdT4SNC1ZPcptR5TLRYcXNrfpH7cqDWo7OqMl8YlBK_H3XMI987-7dpk8GNpsrBGm4cCpJ1wCEqwheStqaelnkvng26vw7XlFDk1SOAJHYt4tPJZev-BIsrKUPgL_Q07r/s1600-h/DSC01780.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 181px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAkg7ryOGbueuIdT4SNC1ZPcptR5TLRYcXNrfpH7cqDWo7OqMl8YlBK_H3XMI987-7dpk8GNpsrBGm4cCpJ1wCEqwheStqaelnkvng26vw7XlFDk1SOAJHYt4tPJZev-BIsrKUPgL_Q07r/s320/DSC01780.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398992742412240626" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkLrINUsrO1Gb4Bs57KRigljyz_X9lTkjbydfKwoJ_tLpfQ-FdaoP137vgN6GZH1BuYuq0gggwwwW3nm05tN-lgLTnZlfDeRsxBEKoCTvZX0YT_e6Uzo6EcNZ9VdJqQ_R8P_QQsyCgEqnh/s1600-h/DSC01779.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 181px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkLrINUsrO1Gb4Bs57KRigljyz_X9lTkjbydfKwoJ_tLpfQ-FdaoP137vgN6GZH1BuYuq0gggwwwW3nm05tN-lgLTnZlfDeRsxBEKoCTvZX0YT_e6Uzo6EcNZ9VdJqQ_R8P_QQsyCgEqnh/s320/DSC01779.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398992740276431586" border="0" /></a>At our church's Halloween party, while waiting on Daddy to serve us dinner. (If you really think staying with three kids while the other parent is getting dinner is the better half of the deal, you might want to think again!)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx8WMnRVmsJRkkezyU-NFSGVDsKXBlCT4Iu3HhFGZQUinJfXGoWatv5PDtZLUnenhPP4eem7yAnSNDKeegkl4MiiY1mq2WthH8HJrXf2tG2ODxNwSLH81VtKAGHkn1aAnpF4X3Ot8UcsXp/s1600-h/DSC01783.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 181px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx8WMnRVmsJRkkezyU-NFSGVDsKXBlCT4Iu3HhFGZQUinJfXGoWatv5PDtZLUnenhPP4eem7yAnSNDKeegkl4MiiY1mq2WthH8HJrXf2tG2ODxNwSLH81VtKAGHkn1aAnpF4X3Ot8UcsXp/s320/DSC01783.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398992730366768114" border="0" /></a><br />Jeremiah with his Sunbeams teacher! She's so great!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeICyu3JrMMi9SLmfJlOweFNf1JYZ6W9DWAlqkzAG-CjDn4_ZYcAUVfJ2mejEwRnwy_8y9on96kRuclZXO6Q_CAoztMYt6WUh-2fk-iGClkiSAwv9EKZp7qDD384AM1orPXNLVXuPwu54L/s1600-h/DSC01789.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 181px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeICyu3JrMMi9SLmfJlOweFNf1JYZ6W9DWAlqkzAG-CjDn4_ZYcAUVfJ2mejEwRnwy_8y9on96kRuclZXO6Q_CAoztMYt6WUh-2fk-iGClkiSAwv9EKZp7qDD384AM1orPXNLVXuPwu54L/s320/DSC01789.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398993887750924946" border="0" /></a>Ooohh! A ScArY math test! Run away! (John has wanted to be a math test for Halloween for years. :) He finally got a chance!)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb1uqPZTbF3aE5nEG_FP9rur6oMXGKgxtO47x_w7b6Na3B_pD1chH7Y6YfU6lUcH0PB0dPUiGH667Y3jhrvRNlm1f3Dy1zCxtuLB7qXMzqieH1XGOHlJmN66QoOmjI0mdmrnPtFUkEQnFJ/s1600-h/DSC01792.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 181px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb1uqPZTbF3aE5nEG_FP9rur6oMXGKgxtO47x_w7b6Na3B_pD1chH7Y6YfU6lUcH0PB0dPUiGH667Y3jhrvRNlm1f3Dy1zCxtuLB7qXMzqieH1XGOHlJmN66QoOmjI0mdmrnPtFUkEQnFJ/s320/DSC01792.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398993891378693922" border="0" /></a><br />Supermom! Here to save the day!alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07091786706652780066noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298880250617498678.post-46158997546154535202009-10-31T14:28:00.000-07:002009-10-31T14:56:47.443-07:00Trip to UtahWe went on a road trip to Utah earlier this month. We ended up leaving several hours later than we had intended on somehow. One of our rest stop stops had Jeremiah in heaven with the rocks and sand to play with. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKc_tvL8GU8IfSIFER-DjrtT2hJrGTEO12vblOR-44lb7jJ8USWeuj-xBesfQ-Bvxd3Vd7ELPxGnrotoF1DdOFDamND9xgLWbFwK-grCpsPT9_tTnOtW6YxHWuU8ZhpyRKIznICjoE5YcB/s1600-h/DSC01373.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 181px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKc_tvL8GU8IfSIFER-DjrtT2hJrGTEO12vblOR-44lb7jJ8USWeuj-xBesfQ-Bvxd3Vd7ELPxGnrotoF1DdOFDamND9xgLWbFwK-grCpsPT9_tTnOtW6YxHWuU8ZhpyRKIznICjoE5YcB/s320/DSC01373.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398880422147526786" border="0" /></a>And Isaac was thrilled with the viewing scopes. We were stopped (resting?) for a good 15 minutes, and those boys seemed perfectly happy to be there all day long.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYeMrZbjfEV8UOojVt_pnAToQForyHX143XNFTweUZDs34GbaWXJOKBJOpXIMgFZFciakhzfJdjBUUpP6LCRdtBiPvHZcLxDO6TXLzdu4g-k82fkmF2I7yHHf3jNsjgEOa-rBLxaUhqkHm/s1600-h/DSC01379.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 181px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYeMrZbjfEV8UOojVt_pnAToQForyHX143XNFTweUZDs34GbaWXJOKBJOpXIMgFZFciakhzfJdjBUUpP6LCRdtBiPvHZcLxDO6TXLzdu4g-k82fkmF2I7yHHf3jNsjgEOa-rBLxaUhqkHm/s320/DSC01379.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398880428676434914" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpsyBCHYCxICodKGu7N4ryeYPjMHwvEiLQmfrDmIwMaT3cq3cINJ3hMPuJ-PxD2TVSfWfrPWJ_AX7hN_2BohiSPyE3h76cp8s9sOtCsXL2US3yqRZwFPQpwmJWWphahct6EZsjEklIVdfZ/s1600-h/DSC01381.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 181px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpsyBCHYCxICodKGu7N4ryeYPjMHwvEiLQmfrDmIwMaT3cq3cINJ3hMPuJ-PxD2TVSfWfrPWJ_AX7hN_2BohiSPyE3h76cp8s9sOtCsXL2US3yqRZwFPQpwmJWWphahct6EZsjEklIVdfZ/s320/DSC01381.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398880426277066578" border="0" /></a><br />While we were in Utah, we celebrated Bill's wedding!, played with cousins and visited with family, and I took the kids to BYU. It was a great weekend!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggpHCZB_6HhIWgyCA37auYIEhWMCK3EK6ghBuGiLLnIAHoOvHF9-p6XnSfRTJdsvLqjdmEO1Ni4pHBp5ZNMdiZJ52E9CMbEEjf7amlaZRhBqhMDJbCEIYQyHVSU1DOQEe_GLI4p_N9Rih5/s1600-h/DSC01421.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 181px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggpHCZB_6HhIWgyCA37auYIEhWMCK3EK6ghBuGiLLnIAHoOvHF9-p6XnSfRTJdsvLqjdmEO1Ni4pHBp5ZNMdiZJ52E9CMbEEjf7amlaZRhBqhMDJbCEIYQyHVSU1DOQEe_GLI4p_N9Rih5/s320/DSC01421.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398883444838517506" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMdpI8FHqd6zGCbE2KQHZ1U3Xkp4616UpHNuL6T4gK7Sb1nKN_dM0McyovJAB77EiBpyH7WZBWAhvQsNp3h8RyaS0KbQqevZhH66nAe3V8M5LGIiK_M2CMxAjW3mkpF-iSmg1MmdAg4-gJ/s1600-h/DSC01418.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 181px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMdpI8FHqd6zGCbE2KQHZ1U3Xkp4616UpHNuL6T4gK7Sb1nKN_dM0McyovJAB77EiBpyH7WZBWAhvQsNp3h8RyaS0KbQqevZhH66nAe3V8M5LGIiK_M2CMxAjW3mkpF-iSmg1MmdAg4-gJ/s320/DSC01418.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398883441030466594" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv1euKM07vG3cbZkvW5YJx8aguB_ifo5x35VZxmFQdkScGOBbMiKuflQQvVFqOYrv1RkZ4ks1ew3C_B-1sFpYAGtk1kjhfPW4BgrTCcpoboO2nP9dBEB5fj3A08qUT6va2Cg6ofEk0t4q_/s1600-h/DSC01416.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 181px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv1euKM07vG3cbZkvW5YJx8aguB_ifo5x35VZxmFQdkScGOBbMiKuflQQvVFqOYrv1RkZ4ks1ew3C_B-1sFpYAGtk1kjhfPW4BgrTCcpoboO2nP9dBEB5fj3A08qUT6va2Cg6ofEk0t4q_/s320/DSC01416.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398883434096902706" border="0" /></a>On the way home, we camped just outside of Zion National Park. It was beautiful. Enjoying my children enjoying nature is right up with teaching them to love books, two of my absolute favorite parts of my life.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi97M7efyeviVGjybaryBlljMMgV8fQPAiBt4VDLgCt8_k8_V4vfDaAfJT4MsghQsPSj6whR4YDnUGhSMfG0uqxFd5G3vYEkNnedVvEU1DSfYEX69QE4f7QL0llt9-3ImH46_c51UGp2x_5/s1600-h/DSC01450.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 181px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi97M7efyeviVGjybaryBlljMMgV8fQPAiBt4VDLgCt8_k8_V4vfDaAfJT4MsghQsPSj6whR4YDnUGhSMfG0uqxFd5G3vYEkNnedVvEU1DSfYEX69QE4f7QL0llt9-3ImH46_c51UGp2x_5/s320/DSC01450.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398885424394267666" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmy9Yk18vtMIDDoIv2rHGq3VFkNVLshdwVk222X0Za7u0MnhqTijTqLj9Vsua2hd-0I7SY-qUPBdKOuFZ4vcJ-WGv2mz0BPJkSg1cF66s8-4AbQbskGYjXwJRz3TxUtO4jotJoDaXvQcDe/s1600-h/DSC01443.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 181px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmy9Yk18vtMIDDoIv2rHGq3VFkNVLshdwVk222X0Za7u0MnhqTijTqLj9Vsua2hd-0I7SY-qUPBdKOuFZ4vcJ-WGv2mz0BPJkSg1cF66s8-4AbQbskGYjXwJRz3TxUtO4jotJoDaXvQcDe/s320/DSC01443.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398885420055786498" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitIHm2ZY8syfVFpnqunJU-4scTN6bw55SRQD0ZzYdZO9tCnYjUKBS2GrMGPhoPuBHt1lyrGXqHYafGgxE6S2E3fuPcFeCNXS9lgth7BKZ3YIlGDAbL2qIG0TR9mla49nPKHcqkNeTH_aOU/s1600-h/DSC01479.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 181px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitIHm2ZY8syfVFpnqunJU-4scTN6bw55SRQD0ZzYdZO9tCnYjUKBS2GrMGPhoPuBHt1lyrGXqHYafGgxE6S2E3fuPcFeCNXS9lgth7BKZ3YIlGDAbL2qIG0TR9mla49nPKHcqkNeTH_aOU/s320/DSC01479.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398885430390087794" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOMoDSNr4etbr_nHknDwFoogb_5chRbUIXqTK_I7kJ4PhJUpsY2YGYKEXwrhFuB8kxdZu4qlgmfSpbXOFDkr8K3zvKiIUqr8bCfrtkv7DE7Z8Z6TjcDJV_zmB7HrMrZPJP44Suy3zYamUA/s1600-h/DSC01435.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 181px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOMoDSNr4etbr_nHknDwFoogb_5chRbUIXqTK_I7kJ4PhJUpsY2YGYKEXwrhFuB8kxdZu4qlgmfSpbXOFDkr8K3zvKiIUqr8bCfrtkv7DE7Z8Z6TjcDJV_zmB7HrMrZPJP44Suy3zYamUA/s320/DSC01435.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398885403208503042" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ODFOKvWBTvFn0broTpaebsIFwjbtXX9nK2KTdWTbIi3W-o95Owm-WOYO2_drSFn3hCfB5DOGo1QbJUbCCgIfVgbd8ZOr_K6KlWcZgj1gS2HFgma5zdD7R4ufFLkRenON0TRAp8AXyuOD/s1600-h/DSC01438.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 181px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ODFOKvWBTvFn0broTpaebsIFwjbtXX9nK2KTdWTbIi3W-o95Owm-WOYO2_drSFn3hCfB5DOGo1QbJUbCCgIfVgbd8ZOr_K6KlWcZgj1gS2HFgma5zdD7R4ufFLkRenON0TRAp8AXyuOD/s320/DSC01438.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398885410603945794" border="0" /></a>alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07091786706652780066noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298880250617498678.post-88792776342066496632009-10-31T14:24:00.000-07:002009-10-31T14:28:37.828-07:00The Button BagJeremiah brought home the Button Bag. He sorted the buttons by color.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0FceFoO6C95e1sIZeviLv1sh8pcXzelbCjJMNLGoGf69hUqzgUct8rMQMCdN-4QExJJ68bZ0j9U5-ZMeftX6C5_YkvPB2XECn_YBaodbKKMoajgRbXURSFJV-Mqk2Z8lPamZTcxliOaIS/s1600-h/DSC01364.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 181px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0FceFoO6C95e1sIZeviLv1sh8pcXzelbCjJMNLGoGf69hUqzgUct8rMQMCdN-4QExJJ68bZ0j9U5-ZMeftX6C5_YkvPB2XECn_YBaodbKKMoajgRbXURSFJV-Mqk2Z8lPamZTcxliOaIS/s320/DSC01364.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398878753760111506" border="0" /></a><br />And then he took a picture of his buttons. :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioKDiKkN4ABW_s59GmzlBXZUEFeYGZ5kBOlZp07Ml9TVITWR65PuLMXjdVnwBZeQFblJ6B7kgV_VpjAjk85sz6JEq0f-dtZTn6sLlkV_XerwUqwaF9uw3ABBMLkeLYZdqn1CSNib8lE_0M/s1600-h/DSC01360.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 181px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioKDiKkN4ABW_s59GmzlBXZUEFeYGZ5kBOlZp07Ml9TVITWR65PuLMXjdVnwBZeQFblJ6B7kgV_VpjAjk85sz6JEq0f-dtZTn6sLlkV_XerwUqwaF9uw3ABBMLkeLYZdqn1CSNib8lE_0M/s320/DSC01360.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398878762962252258" border="0" /></a>alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07091786706652780066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298880250617498678.post-53855547418668202642009-10-16T14:52:00.000-07:002009-10-16T15:18:09.850-07:00Jeremiah's Birthday!<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji77iCHbuMeBJcf-Oz8owxmxJwto6fbbXEsLmmKqpsFDaLOtr1_SbPRY5TrugjIhpVhJKAW7E_yXUTX0Mb3LvBjdaJCYf6y8rD3Lbp9h255KVHr1E-0GAJoH2HbU-jSKmWAIjA_JQ-aKNr/s1600-h/DSC01213.JPG">Here are Jeremiah's birthday pictures, just a couple of months late. Though he HAS been trying to convince us that his birthday is on Halloween. :)</a></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji77iCHbuMeBJcf-Oz8owxmxJwto6fbbXEsLmmKqpsFDaLOtr1_SbPRY5TrugjIhpVhJKAW7E_yXUTX0Mb3LvBjdaJCYf6y8rD3Lbp9h255KVHr1E-0GAJoH2HbU-jSKmWAIjA_JQ-aKNr/s1600-h/DSC01213.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 181px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji77iCHbuMeBJcf-Oz8owxmxJwto6fbbXEsLmmKqpsFDaLOtr1_SbPRY5TrugjIhpVhJKAW7E_yXUTX0Mb3LvBjdaJCYf6y8rD3Lbp9h255KVHr1E-0GAJoH2HbU-jSKmWAIjA_JQ-aKNr/s320/DSC01213.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393321064868253266" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It's always a bit tricky to get him to cheese it up for the camera...especially when there are infinitely more interesting things to be doing, like:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIkQghIcnki7Sbqvix34vdyjAzwT3QK135pmuZJkcCrOwFPm-GdLBDoqRz1EOvXufgmm8O-BDbca1RfdVVXAx18QRgqGB0aNdWcYTSmITWstBxLKPMTGIZjUBMm91GhCFuotz_RTWh0xl2/s1600-h/DSC01224.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 181px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIkQghIcnki7Sbqvix34vdyjAzwT3QK135pmuZJkcCrOwFPm-GdLBDoqRz1EOvXufgmm8O-BDbca1RfdVVXAx18QRgqGB0aNdWcYTSmITWstBxLKPMTGIZjUBMm91GhCFuotz_RTWh0xl2/s320/DSC01224.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393321080726094482" border="0" /></a>BUZZ LIGHTYEAR!!!<br /><br />And, feeding Buzz the brown cake with brown frosting which was specifically requested and left uneaten by the birthday boy.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGuK1ncEd3xrLJC5oW7kNnf-sbBp-zyQX08Q9OwoW0Ts9hcrrrycwzODIBJuucMdJgfkqJq0prALQIvZvYAF3hKfhuPrzLhZWEljORTdj5Db7YBD3SM_oQdAchGLi-TdS6yaeEdDHwmJB9/s1600-h/DSC01222.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 181px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGuK1ncEd3xrLJC5oW7kNnf-sbBp-zyQX08Q9OwoW0Ts9hcrrrycwzODIBJuucMdJgfkqJq0prALQIvZvYAF3hKfhuPrzLhZWEljORTdj5Db7YBD3SM_oQdAchGLi-TdS6yaeEdDHwmJB9/s320/DSC01222.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393321072560359026" border="0" /></a><br />Opening his birthday presents! Very exciting. :)<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyGNMZzZ9G7UEAPM9b3ADZx2WwL5YuhxUmpwEXJ2Dn7H2ieqXSqCjPTaP4YRlo2djUQNrFRVY7q71WZDsAigw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />And, lastly, blowing out his candles. Watch for the victory arms in the darkness.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzwEeOIEiPcFuKqND1ROK-mDRhbazMc_RTr2bWZjL2zRSiQ8I2I6JR2gvCsEX8aRfiCjWQkwZ5hycTnzVA5Aw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07091786706652780066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298880250617498678.post-84453460452958121662009-10-05T21:32:00.000-07:002009-10-05T21:39:29.794-07:00Bed-TimeI think things are going to be changing around here. I get really cranky around 7:25, which makes our hopeful 8 o'clock bedtime...well, not the happiest time.<br /><br />But, for some reason, our kids absolutely adore reading in their beds, which I discovered last night. So, <span style="font-style: italic;">if they can stay in their beds</span>, they can read for a few minutes. I was originally thinking maybe for 10 minutes, at 8.<br /><br />Now, though. Since they seem to like reading in their beds so much. (No other reason, of course!)<br /><br />Maybe, if they wanted to read for say, half an hour, <span style="font-style: italic;">why not?</span> They can go to their beds at 7:30, and then read for 30 minutes. I'm okay with that.<br /><br />A good, solid way to encourage avid readers would be to let them stay up later with a book. Which is pretty much the same as going to bed earlier with a book, right?<br /><br />I melt when I listen to little voices reading. And hearing three little voices at the same time? Priceless.alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07091786706652780066noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298880250617498678.post-81387629312043892472009-09-03T09:57:00.000-07:002009-09-03T10:27:24.008-07:00Important-UrgentJohn was making and organizing his to-do list. I decided to use the old Covey method to help him. The 2x2 of important/not important, urgent/not urgent. 8 were in the important-urgent square, 1 was in the important-not urgent square. Hmm. Not so balanced here, I think.<br /><br />He was so helpful, and just colored in the 2x2 for me. The things I do are either important-urgent, or not-important-not-urgent. :) Like decorating our blog...not-important-not-urgent. I'm not certain where cleaning, cooking, preparing, transporting, and such fall. Those are things that always can be done and should at some point, but dishes have more of a gray area between important and not, and urgent and not. I think my life sort of falls in a box around the intersection of the 2x2.alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07091786706652780066noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298880250617498678.post-26877273002506573892009-08-26T10:10:00.001-07:002009-08-26T11:42:48.980-07:00Yosemite!I took the kids to Yosemite for an extended family camping trip (it's annual, but I haven't been able to go for almost 10 years, so the kids have never gone), and while we were there we went on two beautiful hikes. The first was to see the Big Trees. And boy, were they big.<br /><br />Isaac went ahead with the faster majority of our group, and Alecia and my mom stayed with me, Jeremiah and Danielle. Everything fascinated them. Here's Jeremiah loving slowly walking across a wooden bridge.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho6dZPBM3yjuFucfsoxg74NMVmPJBOPRzKXHR0CR8sGr2MOgnAM_u2oIBNMRSKjQavHVQuDPc2xpK_yS-EtxkIcjpfP-cySFNtSPMkWi_3eqnMe8cpZ0Zri6f-MNraHK5A62mZ2dm0ZitR/s1600-h/DSC01027.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 181px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho6dZPBM3yjuFucfsoxg74NMVmPJBOPRzKXHR0CR8sGr2MOgnAM_u2oIBNMRSKjQavHVQuDPc2xpK_yS-EtxkIcjpfP-cySFNtSPMkWi_3eqnMe8cpZ0Zri6f-MNraHK5A62mZ2dm0ZitR/s320/DSC01027.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374322104907844914" border="0" /></a>Me and Jeremiah in front of the Fallen Tree.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSLfQxANgClZmppRO62HSl0k-B3LDYpzK-bBPYZfczganeil6MMphldYLH586smQurQorpkVRZ000TFyQxHU3mKhQZdrhIz0c1_yj7sN65jyIV44SuT9WT08TUI48TDHIXezYsmzbC48g3/s1600-h/DSC01029.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 181px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSLfQxANgClZmppRO62HSl0k-B3LDYpzK-bBPYZfczganeil6MMphldYLH586smQurQorpkVRZ000TFyQxHU3mKhQZdrhIz0c1_yj7sN65jyIV44SuT9WT08TUI48TDHIXezYsmzbC48g3/s320/DSC01029.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374322109924930626" border="0" /></a><br />Danielle pointing to show us how big the trees are!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijsIF9xddxEnufmESvves37M8McNTgx985xSjLu3qG52E0BWaOUdpCknNtCCP3isB5NPx8RwBQ_flt6SR9lOzfyU747LO7CX8ABdbIBlFOtOjac2KgQc8oFkqZ0bzuVqL3QqewWwWdu9Eg/s1600-h/DSC01031.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 181px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijsIF9xddxEnufmESvves37M8McNTgx985xSjLu3qG52E0BWaOUdpCknNtCCP3isB5NPx8RwBQ_flt6SR9lOzfyU747LO7CX8ABdbIBlFOtOjac2KgQc8oFkqZ0bzuVqL3QqewWwWdu9Eg/s320/DSC01031.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374322120131224466" border="0" /></a><br />Alecia "hiking" with Danielle.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdSiK5oAy8Jcp_ZlqDsd0l7me3aimBjQ75BNIlnzhrTcLf2rfzzyYT_dOLn23tO6SDEv8WsuC0shOcsJDdBI9VOsB1WsyNymwh43qMMaucftReXcE9gFY0P8E7oUkz7SCFydyWwfe5pbTG/s1600-h/DSC01037.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 181px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdSiK5oAy8Jcp_ZlqDsd0l7me3aimBjQ75BNIlnzhrTcLf2rfzzyYT_dOLn23tO6SDEv8WsuC0shOcsJDdBI9VOsB1WsyNymwh43qMMaucftReXcE9gFY0P8E7oUkz7SCFydyWwfe5pbTG/s320/DSC01037.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374324962175839602" border="0" /></a>Two cute kiddos "fishing" in a small stream.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDOwNGHq6b4q_TBBZHrN8sVRPjB02S_5HOEFLK26SumvijdtZvd6pQCPYsnGB3kZ8hAMuG_QSrZ68ceATMRfUfg6jt2qDOriaBJYOCJChsYnjRUug0_fhqxLYx1PrIHK0mTGqevKFiVEI2/s1600-h/DSC01039.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 181px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDOwNGHq6b4q_TBBZHrN8sVRPjB02S_5HOEFLK26SumvijdtZvd6pQCPYsnGB3kZ8hAMuG_QSrZ68ceATMRfUfg6jt2qDOriaBJYOCJChsYnjRUug0_fhqxLYx1PrIHK0mTGqevKFiVEI2/s320/DSC01039.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374322090379265362" border="0" /></a>Danielle asked her aunt if she could pick up the big pinecone. And if she asks so sweetly, of course the answer is going to be "Yes." But when she picked it up, it was covered with sap!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigZWwoXY7ysWjc7KuoQW0vNpD-dVBYwtX90xEiXZP5HLisY_citYxA1X3xn1a89J9qvGHf_FOkWfCfDGvKgrUTUU-w_4kM5F84JcCN6d-mszxxhpnm5ydgjZ9VObGeYXkZQqBewLDJZfo6/s1600-h/DSC01045.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 181px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigZWwoXY7ysWjc7KuoQW0vNpD-dVBYwtX90xEiXZP5HLisY_citYxA1X3xn1a89J9qvGHf_FOkWfCfDGvKgrUTUU-w_4kM5F84JcCN6d-mszxxhpnm5ydgjZ9VObGeYXkZQqBewLDJZfo6/s320/DSC01045.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374324981014483922" border="0" /></a><br />Jeremiah hiding inside a tree.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQO9Sa4Z7bELHuEV4u9BYBQ5Yl0YwrVQa2-pvcayxOMwf9iCnrtKhCD3VdNBhx-c-tQBA7qHXsvxjONxUo20_nrIYtvRKWxv_wFDThitiHztId2pe9oeQGSQNuRW5Y_I77AqpbA8o9Lgvh/s1600-h/DSC01043.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 181px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQO9Sa4Z7bELHuEV4u9BYBQ5Yl0YwrVQa2-pvcayxOMwf9iCnrtKhCD3VdNBhx-c-tQBA7qHXsvxjONxUo20_nrIYtvRKWxv_wFDThitiHztId2pe9oeQGSQNuRW5Y_I77AqpbA8o9Lgvh/s320/DSC01043.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374324972775893490" border="0" /></a>The Grizzly Giant.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyw8OVbddk5mRKLzdaqAkUWvY2dRBfd0oWyJL9EpnTzJj88Q8fBUVLvSPMDyzVfJg7OfQhrg9tlgusz7h9ipHSOLP5BoTV-HqsVKdpYkXOeRakWq_wYA6L1M1mOjl-AHOb67AmAF0XpDui/s1600-h/DSC01046.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 181px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyw8OVbddk5mRKLzdaqAkUWvY2dRBfd0oWyJL9EpnTzJj88Q8fBUVLvSPMDyzVfJg7OfQhrg9tlgusz7h9ipHSOLP5BoTV-HqsVKdpYkXOeRakWq_wYA6L1M1mOjl-AHOb67AmAF0XpDui/s320/DSC01046.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374324993811332802" border="0" /></a>Standing with the kids in the Tunnel Tree.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2MazShuCfBkVZtQKdYMPUHXwByQumOwpPLDWwjioSHHOWDvvUNm__pLBee5zHNvqrbdmE724bRRq_Qrz7Xz1YVo3CaFmz0lAN3f1cpveMBr4CJM8fMgZqG916wXyGAAYTV6YrQU25U-v0/s1600-h/DSC01050.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 181px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2MazShuCfBkVZtQKdYMPUHXwByQumOwpPLDWwjioSHHOWDvvUNm__pLBee5zHNvqrbdmE724bRRq_Qrz7Xz1YVo3CaFmz0lAN3f1cpveMBr4CJM8fMgZqG916wXyGAAYTV6YrQU25U-v0/s320/DSC01050.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374325003195892994" border="0" /></a><br />The boys sitting quietly with their sticks while we took a water break. (Prior to sitting quietly with sticks, I'll just say that they weren't sitting quietly with sticks and there were threats involved.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCnEbcFMxH8PmLljEr7imDHvyUrA0hKzpa-yWWTj_3IMYWEvVRn91jP59YVaqpN-Ll2rXj2OSMP9OKvDxO50hUbTSzuy1e7RZU6T6-niwe2LJ04UCPFIriEz9swvVsTCqfIBikMuq04pE-/s1600-h/DSC01051.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 181px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCnEbcFMxH8PmLljEr7imDHvyUrA0hKzpa-yWWTj_3IMYWEvVRn91jP59YVaqpN-Ll2rXj2OSMP9OKvDxO50hUbTSzuy1e7RZU6T6-niwe2LJ04UCPFIriEz9swvVsTCqfIBikMuq04pE-/s320/DSC01051.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374329111128174962" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The other hike we went on was to Lower Yosemite Falls, just me, my kids and my parents.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Q6_gut1-qmcSPk9T8GRKOzEPl7Zv6llzGWLhXnIOc0JI4Xy03YDjfgMbff97vtzfsp3KX715BWdLLU6KFa1Wel-wfDBvLnyAjKfcHQ3FiAu0Km0W17kEAtSUQgrlmwgc1Re79RH6Ewce/s1600-h/DSC01054.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 181px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Q6_gut1-qmcSPk9T8GRKOzEPl7Zv6llzGWLhXnIOc0JI4Xy03YDjfgMbff97vtzfsp3KX715BWdLLU6KFa1Wel-wfDBvLnyAjKfcHQ3FiAu0Km0W17kEAtSUQgrlmwgc1Re79RH6Ewce/s320/DSC01054.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374329120064225650" border="0" /></a><br />Upper and Lower Falls.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Ojeygsbqz3rARezpGcvJQghj7pHOyzONjtG0ho9ns2kOA2OGUlYVnKXVvU9QrsUoDRTkEG_TW1L4PBHx0HJEi3TgNMHwdodeWAA69031gfsyHFqPaWWoxC4FYFz8ukmQ_aNFwtmz7yc8/s1600-h/DSC01056.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 181px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Ojeygsbqz3rARezpGcvJQghj7pHOyzONjtG0ho9ns2kOA2OGUlYVnKXVvU9QrsUoDRTkEG_TW1L4PBHx0HJEi3TgNMHwdodeWAA69031gfsyHFqPaWWoxC4FYFz8ukmQ_aNFwtmz7yc8/s320/DSC01056.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374329123543961794" border="0" /></a><br />Holding hands with Grandpa.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSYmEHBUbD3_Lg-Gmi48HnhQ3JcGzrbehlv0Tu4i4_zoLCSid_TLiqN41Mhhm9tQJNvo60HPoya9t1iVLOXybAzZ1_kZHUVztM1jd2sEglJBFCuN9ktxhQBw6P3QPIJmDSis9iO3yleICd/s1600-h/DSC01058.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 181px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSYmEHBUbD3_Lg-Gmi48HnhQ3JcGzrbehlv0Tu4i4_zoLCSid_TLiqN41Mhhm9tQJNvo60HPoya9t1iVLOXybAzZ1_kZHUVztM1jd2sEglJBFCuN9ktxhQBw6P3QPIJmDSis9iO3yleICd/s320/DSC01058.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374329138102125762" border="0" /></a><br />Isaac an Grandpa kept getting ahead of us slow pokes, so they missed out on the very close and personal deer sighting. She was timidly grazing in the forest, and then suddenly leaped across the path. Stunning.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaSvMld3IWsBtcuD_DmuQZNX1E5oz6GIDcrfLTdUgg6WzXHnQrzvbzM5YQQK2qgGxqWvXFMsyzulfNQM6kV_vnGot8zawzyGzQJN7t7WzIoALZYxXADCk3qqmtjJvHWWrH_9Pe5HvwzCVa/s1600-h/DSC01061.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 181px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaSvMld3IWsBtcuD_DmuQZNX1E5oz6GIDcrfLTdUgg6WzXHnQrzvbzM5YQQK2qgGxqWvXFMsyzulfNQM6kV_vnGot8zawzyGzQJN7t7WzIoALZYxXADCk3qqmtjJvHWWrH_9Pe5HvwzCVa/s320/DSC01061.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374329147629205762" border="0" /></a>An up-close view of the Lower Falls.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5lFtbgy16lX9_b7Y2g5wAKVvFOEE4czPU075E2cbjKXUIAE7rVYZQ3EJv0hmsFYM5fC_GSBJvQ6gKMCZVgbz6CHWbidbcGUUWs-1EN-T7swx-bZYkVNndoLudygVGUaf7L4M0rbez0qpU/s1600-h/DSC01063.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 181px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5lFtbgy16lX9_b7Y2g5wAKVvFOEE4czPU075E2cbjKXUIAE7rVYZQ3EJv0hmsFYM5fC_GSBJvQ6gKMCZVgbz6CHWbidbcGUUWs-1EN-T7swx-bZYkVNndoLudygVGUaf7L4M0rbez0qpU/s320/DSC01063.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374331901147180162" border="0" /></a>Grandpa making Jeremiah crack up: It's getting me! Aaah!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHDSFJMH4aCmKPS0OYp48846p030Z3Z1KcRuGbBp_pf2Os8s2SaDw8N98kcBVrL44SW3Phd5hBL7ZDOHX0zoNNKI2R8pBu662yW0stNc0JNwmjFRlU_xwommB-JFsSZBy4bFspeKWN-e9q/s1600-h/DSC01065.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 181px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHDSFJMH4aCmKPS0OYp48846p030Z3Z1KcRuGbBp_pf2Os8s2SaDw8N98kcBVrL44SW3Phd5hBL7ZDOHX0zoNNKI2R8pBu662yW0stNc0JNwmjFRlU_xwommB-JFsSZBy4bFspeKWN-e9q/s320/DSC01065.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374331906004456402" border="0" /></a><br />A half-hearted attempt at a family picture.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwG6KPCHv74647jgZn7gyelCySrLEXRJkQqGSuaPeBa_z_nb-qg38dS0LeID2TDbH_q7Z8ZIcCzqA-siH7t4hQUmteAsc5t7e3vF-pv8Xtzmda6RH70qlL5LH-6CcpCWy9fr10grivvxvJ/s1600-h/DSC01067.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 181px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwG6KPCHv74647jgZn7gyelCySrLEXRJkQqGSuaPeBa_z_nb-qg38dS0LeID2TDbH_q7Z8ZIcCzqA-siH7t4hQUmteAsc5t7e3vF-pv8Xtzmda6RH70qlL5LH-6CcpCWy9fr10grivvxvJ/s320/DSC01067.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374331914550238098" border="0" /></a>Touching a huge rock that the path went around.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7999wMgdCCAyTSNcxey099esRGOp4NMAFgG8QQ5OXLrCKkY3XH43XZddW9753HEze9Y3cFDJue2NheIm0Hp9TzcWjs51qlzOPHPkCiMIrT5zg0YnoZngmhuMM3vLymKaY3DRK0SzPWunn/s1600-h/DSC01073.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 181px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7999wMgdCCAyTSNcxey099esRGOp4NMAFgG8QQ5OXLrCKkY3XH43XZddW9753HEze9Y3cFDJue2NheIm0Hp9TzcWjs51qlzOPHPkCiMIrT5zg0YnoZngmhuMM3vLymKaY3DRK0SzPWunn/s320/DSC01073.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374331930239209682" border="0" /></a>And Grandma, always at the end, with her princess. :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkl-Y_5o1fcd7NAQnWtrUbqijxH3IbQdLvgL8zUUJUGi2ohM0mWjANFxSzEYeEvunVZU12kJx1nyYkHs5Mu_0gwKyg3ct5DZRdMzRFW7gYoNXKGWeo5iizcAWEyQoRBrIevub35zl8JmBa/s1600-h/DSC01074.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 181px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkl-Y_5o1fcd7NAQnWtrUbqijxH3IbQdLvgL8zUUJUGi2ohM0mWjANFxSzEYeEvunVZU12kJx1nyYkHs5Mu_0gwKyg3ct5DZRdMzRFW7gYoNXKGWeo5iizcAWEyQoRBrIevub35zl8JmBa/s320/DSC01074.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374331939968073170" border="0" /></a>alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07091786706652780066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298880250617498678.post-35658746879024739962009-08-26T06:41:00.000-07:002009-08-26T06:55:58.766-07:00Summer Reading ProgramThe three kids all participated in our library's summer reading program this past summer. We loved going to the library to choose new books and get new prizes every week. I wanted them to be finished with the program prior to leaving for Yosemite and Utah, and they did it! Isaac and I read the first Harry Potter book together, which I consented counted as 5 stars, but other than that, every star he earned was for a book that he read by himself. I read aloud to Jer and Danielle, so, I didn't enter any books for myself. There was a lot of reading going on!<br /><br />We also had swim lessons for the boys. They pretty much lived in their swim trunks throughout May and June. In their library prizes pictures, you have permission to notice their cute suits and swim shoes. :)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ZAaV8hRo_CUklZoHt_Op0dwO3EWlVKubnEv0-j_uZt_J06kV4EZfZBDjls_ea1YPBkE-afEA2tSNPmknUDKzNn-syH-EDjJTNHQF_1ryPciVxPmUGXzE59n7wRskLJjSFvWws-4Pwoz0/s1600-h/DSC01018.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 181px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ZAaV8hRo_CUklZoHt_Op0dwO3EWlVKubnEv0-j_uZt_J06kV4EZfZBDjls_ea1YPBkE-afEA2tSNPmknUDKzNn-syH-EDjJTNHQF_1ryPciVxPmUGXzE59n7wRskLJjSFvWws-4Pwoz0/s320/DSC01018.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374269241662554322" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUqQCEqdCQbHU7M6fjW_bWx5WRwbX4jqxoKLZTE59eE5DfnOj3Sz_AQCdGhZ8XV2-WSWjei7OYtpobFJNYk6Qa8ZCOn1nKxyD87zU4idEarkFfmBusNKg_Yl4R6ZIHqY43QpgbDRnJrEVc/s1600-h/DSC01023.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 181px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUqQCEqdCQbHU7M6fjW_bWx5WRwbX4jqxoKLZTE59eE5DfnOj3Sz_AQCdGhZ8XV2-WSWjei7OYtpobFJNYk6Qa8ZCOn1nKxyD87zU4idEarkFfmBusNKg_Yl4R6ZIHqY43QpgbDRnJrEVc/s320/DSC01023.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374269250538828178" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmF5bwb_AqF1IXmXjDV3Jt7LCyrUGjbFnJIOYEReuDQ1GhZIYP6dWuCzVfJ7WUk4D68ntmYwhIy4n5YaPvWYvw5IJSyHXmJVaT4nT-pAOTnftVohQoZDwWvYE6eyeQtUW4w3H6n1TSHEiL/s1600-h/DSC01026.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 181px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmF5bwb_AqF1IXmXjDV3Jt7LCyrUGjbFnJIOYEReuDQ1GhZIYP6dWuCzVfJ7WUk4D68ntmYwhIy4n5YaPvWYvw5IJSyHXmJVaT4nT-pAOTnftVohQoZDwWvYE6eyeQtUW4w3H6n1TSHEiL/s320/DSC01026.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374269256663392514" border="0" /></a>alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07091786706652780066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298880250617498678.post-16656037287997461392009-08-26T06:27:00.000-07:002009-08-26T06:58:57.611-07:00Isaac's BirthdayWas way back in June. He's 6! Has been for a couple months now, and it's treating him well. :) We had a few different birthday celebrations. John wasn't around for his actual birthday, so we had ice cream the morning before, right before John left, and made cute cupcakes (which Isaac helped to decorate) on his birthday (probably not for breakfast but I don't remember).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifSlQQTtWtRyLXdd0Cwvry_mrdT2rvJ_vLY6J_-MULEcPESARVAGHtt2R0BFgzBVFpySqm1AOtr6lI7sIpJngRl9Xa7ikVZ3QnxPsIAsCGsqijxFpf9wTtdEkpXzWmYBUlt4qCBzL56Zyv/s1600-h/DSC00817.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 181px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifSlQQTtWtRyLXdd0Cwvry_mrdT2rvJ_vLY6J_-MULEcPESARVAGHtt2R0BFgzBVFpySqm1AOtr6lI7sIpJngRl9Xa7ikVZ3QnxPsIAsCGsqijxFpf9wTtdEkpXzWmYBUlt4qCBzL56Zyv/s320/DSC00817.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374265378761378098" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdITOuM2OQAb_4tiZn_mofkphSHmJQVoAT0shrV55tyuLyURfrLFeGOXj8-hwd65qszQkD4A3qupvPSNYwI19cRQI_KihmByAgcHAdBHUs7wuB9Z29l2fRhgYTieqVKxNd8B8Rz2RuxMvr/s1600-h/DSC00930.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 181px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdITOuM2OQAb_4tiZn_mofkphSHmJQVoAT0shrV55tyuLyURfrLFeGOXj8-hwd65qszQkD4A3qupvPSNYwI19cRQI_KihmByAgcHAdBHUs7wuB9Z29l2fRhgYTieqVKxNd8B8Rz2RuxMvr/s320/DSC00930.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374265391513196690" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH-ZmWLBfQXBDNRpFpRgYRFqgHuTnbsfoZjiClny4nd9mvNBypdfgMA0eRjxf8XYfVa5CQEzaQQYbc1UwR_BveKR6X4iu3SwUlbpPXMdtQ-OeaBqHXxLlsfxVP6yt-UoeIPa2QyEmWn9L5/s1600-h/DSC00931.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 181px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH-ZmWLBfQXBDNRpFpRgYRFqgHuTnbsfoZjiClny4nd9mvNBypdfgMA0eRjxf8XYfVa5CQEzaQQYbc1UwR_BveKR6X4iu3SwUlbpPXMdtQ-OeaBqHXxLlsfxVP6yt-UoeIPa2QyEmWn9L5/s320/DSC00931.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374265400213715602" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYSmRr1phzwXA1fQUmT_GT6xcl33KA2r1j_-V9iLwyU9a023DWDr4CXiySfPloObvV2_y5NoxNb1cjnHt0GR24AHtBeMLKaHguPZuvvZWEK17dtv0Y7JSzrZK73Y6NsI3bjxuDJ0_diAPY/s1600-h/DSC00932.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 181px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYSmRr1phzwXA1fQUmT_GT6xcl33KA2r1j_-V9iLwyU9a023DWDr4CXiySfPloObvV2_y5NoxNb1cjnHt0GR24AHtBeMLKaHguPZuvvZWEK17dtv0Y7JSzrZK73Y6NsI3bjxuDJ0_diAPY/s320/DSC00932.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374265411674026818" border="0" /></a>alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07091786706652780066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298880250617498678.post-50403813651957458262009-08-25T06:34:00.000-07:002009-08-25T06:38:44.806-07:00TelemarketersThe absolute best way to get rid of car insurance telemarketing: <div><br /></div><div><b>Oh, actually, we don't use a car. </b></div><div><br /></div><div>The easiest way to get rid of satelite tv telemarketing:</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Oh. We don't watch TV. </b></div><div><br /></div><div>And the best part is, those are both completely true!</div><div><br /></div><div>I think we might be cancelling our landline. We mostly use it to entertain telemarketers and a few collection agencies (not calling for us, but for S. Richardson and W. Robinson, neither related to us). A possible way to not have those telemarketers to get rid of. :)</div>alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07091786706652780066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298880250617498678.post-48983767780501663902009-08-24T21:17:00.000-07:002009-08-24T21:37:35.521-07:00Isaac-isms<div><br /></div>Isaac has been keeping us up with hilarious stories from school today. He was supposed to be going to sleep, but it's difficult to enforce when I can't even try to enforce. So, I'll share!<div><br /></div><div>Isaac had a time-out today. Because he was picking his nose, and his booger hit a kid's eye. No, actually it went by their shoulder, but it was sillier this way. He was just teasing us about the eye part. </div><div><br /></div><div>I biked the kids home from school today, and since Isaac hasn't been diligently eating his lunch (it takes time away from playing at Lunch Recess), I've been checking it as soon as I can to see if he wants to eat. Today he just had 6-8 grapes left. Me: Isaac, do you want to eat your grapes? Isaac: No, I'm saving them for daddy. Me: Isaac, Daddy's at his school, and he won't be home for a while. Isaac: I just like to save some of my lunch for daddy.*</div><div><br /></div><div>Isaac and I have been doing piano lessons after school, and he also has to do his music homework, kindergarten homework, and reading time (I read to him, he reads to me), and then he gets to have his 20-30 minutes of computer time. This is incredibly motivating to him. Today he chose "The Dragon Who Lived Downstairs" as the book he wanted to read to me, and silly mom that I am, I warned him that it was really hard and had lots of small words. But no, he wanted to read that silly book. I had read it to him twice last week. He did struggle with some words, but he actually read it very well--smoothly and quickly. Here's an excerpt. (The words he struggled with were daughter, irritation, and slightest provocation.) </div><div><br /></div><div><blockquote>Once upon a time, in a kingdom far away, there lived a king and a queen and their little daughter, Princess Mildred. As kingdoms go, theirs was a small and rather poor one, for although the king and queen were royal, they had very little money. This was a source of great irritation for the queen, who came from a long line of royalty. As a matter of fact, upon the slightest provocation, she would tell you how she was a second daughter of a second daughter of a king, who, in turn, was the second son of the second daughter of a king, and so on as far back as anyone could remember. </blockquote>He's enjoying school. His favorite parts are recess and lunch recess. </div><div><br /></div><div>*John's also been checking Isaac's lunch after school, and eating any leftovers. Since John enjoys eating Isaac's leftovers, Isaac now makes sure he saves some food for his daddy.</div>alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07091786706652780066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298880250617498678.post-8148673129235647902009-08-12T15:02:00.000-07:002009-08-12T15:09:00.265-07:00Time Flies...even with only one kid at home all day.<br /><br />This morning, I woke up, got dressed, got the boys clothes together, made chocolate chip pancakes, made up two lunch boxes, biked the boys to school, came back, drank tons of water, internally moaned on the couch for 20 minutes, did some dishes, biked Danielle to the church so I could practice the hymns for Sunday on the organ and learn something for a special musical number, biked her from the church to our local grocery store and went grocery shopping, got her some lunch, read her two books, and put her down for a nap.<br /><br />I'm supposed to have also accomplished cleaning the living room and finishing up the dishes and preparing dinner in the next 30 minutes when John will be back with the boys.<br /><br />Here I go...alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07091786706652780066noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298880250617498678.post-87805191900547283372009-08-11T13:30:00.001-07:002009-08-11T13:40:05.289-07:00Biking, Day 2John and I thought that transporting the boys to their school, which is 3 miles away, would be a great idea. Save on gas (we really don't get good gas mileage), mandate some exercise, do our small part to help the environment, be healthier examples for our children. And so on.<br /><br />This is Day 2. Last night we had Meet the Teacher Night, so we had a nice practice ride when we found out how long it takes to get there. About 35 minutes, including getting the kids out of the apartment and into the bike trailer. Driving would shave off about 15 minutes.<br /><br />Ow. Biking hurts.<br /><br />I have bruises. I have scratches. I drew blood. I know which shoes not to wear (that little metal clasp that's so cute hurts!). And I have very very sore muscles.<br /><br />I like to think I'm a runner. Really, I'm not. I used to be, but I'm not anymore. I do try to run 2-3 miles a few times a week...which results in running 2-3 miles a few times a week once a month. Slowly.<br /><br />We've ridden 14 miles in the last two days, I'm about to go pick up the boys alone. John's pulled the trailer until now, and I need to find out how long it takes me to ride the boys to Kindergarten solo so we can stop squishing 3 kids into a 2-kid trailer. I think it will be longer than 35 minutes.<br /><br />I hope that day 20 doesn't hurt so much. :)alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07091786706652780066noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298880250617498678.post-61177061479774075222009-08-09T15:54:00.000-07:002009-08-09T16:09:07.165-07:00Helmets"Where's my bike??!" Jeremiah happily started looking. He had seen helmets in the kitchen. Four helmets, two matching, bright blue with red spiders. He didn't find his bike in the kitchen, or the living room, or the hallway, or the bathroom, or his bedroom. "Where's my bike?!"<br /><br />Well... He doesn't have one. We have a new (Craigslist-ed) bike trailer, and are planning on biking the boys to Kindergarten, which is about 3 miles away. A little too far for a four year old to ride. Especially as he doesn't know how to ride a bike yet. But, we figured, as responsible parents, that the children should each wear a helmet as they ride in the trailer.<br /><br />He also discovered his new, fancy, zippered Spiderman lunchbox. "It will go in your backpack, and at lunchtime you'll open it up and there will be a sandwich and an apple and a juice box in it! Won't that be fun?" So, of course, now he wants an apple.<br /><br />I've been trying to implement the idea of going to school again in his cute blond head. <span style="font-style: italic;">Your teacher's name is Miss Wilson! </span>No, my teacher is Miss Rachel. My teacher is Miss Erica. <span style="font-style: italic;">You are so big, you get to go to Kindergarten [next week, in two days]! </span>No, I'm all done with school. I'm all done with school!! <span style="font-style: italic;">You get to go to a different school soon. <span style="font-style: italic;">Won't that be fun? </span></span>I'm all done with school.<br /><br />One of the hard things for me with Jeremiah is simply that he is so completely literal. His preschool had a graduation, his teachers told him he was all done with school. So, as noted above, he believes he is all done with school, never to return. I did take the kids around their new school, and the play equipment is definitely the winning factor. :)alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07091786706652780066noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298880250617498678.post-72815827871455355822009-08-09T15:43:00.000-07:002009-08-09T15:53:57.400-07:00Going Potty<span style="font-style: italic;">Note: This post contains potty language. If you are morally opposed to reading such, you have the power to not read this post. </span><br /><br />Danielle is informally potty trained. Meaning, every few hours she hollers "Mommy! I have to go potty!" until I respond and take her to the bathroom. I only help her with pulling everything up again, she essentially goes potty by herself. I'm slowly backing away from helping her (we don't need to hold hands to enter the bathroom anymore), but for now, I'm quite content to let her call out to me that she needs to go, and only have dry pull-ups to throw away (they get wrinkly and funny shaped after 24 hours).<br /><br />The boys start Kindergarten on Tuesday. Sometime after that, Danielle will learn to go potty all by herself.alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07091786706652780066noreply@blogger.com0