tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70451536238690449312024-03-05T20:56:29.254-06:00Cart Before the HorseChronicle of a mom's journey with her family to embrace a creative life.Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16207965002138357928noreply@blogger.comBlogger89125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7045153623869044931.post-16997539356137275692014-09-05T17:33:00.000-05:002014-09-05T17:33:26.810-05:00Guest Blog By Pops: Winging It!<div class="s4" style="text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Because I have gone back to work full time and have not yet figured out how to manage my time, and because <i>someone</i> should be writing on this blog, my dad has stepped in to guest blog today! Fear not, he's a great writer and you will enjoy it. And now, without further ado, take it away, Pops!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="s3" style="text-decoration: underline;"><span class="bumpedFont15">World’s greatest paper airplane</span></span><span class="s3" style="text-decoration: underline;"><span class="bumpedFont15">!</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="s5"><span class="bumpedFont15">(According to an</span></span><span class="s5"><span class="bumpedFont15"> </span></span><span class="s5"><span class="bumpedFont15">8 year-old </span></span><span class="s5"><span class="bumpedFont15">grandaughter</span></span><span class="s5"><span class="bumpedFont15">-</span></span><span class="s5"><span class="bumpedFont15">engineer</span></span><span class="s5"><span class="bumpedFont15">)</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">OK, daughter Emily</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20"> has work, to prep for school</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">year;</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20"> </span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">her husband, Eddy, </span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">is traveling</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">,</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20"> </span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">so we have granddaughter day duty. </span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">That’s</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20"> pretty good, when they like to cook, fish, go to the square in Denton, etc. with Pops and </span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">Cici</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">All very cool, casual, and </span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">low impact, </span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">till</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20"> </span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">8 year-old granddaughter </span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">says, “Hey let’s make a paper airplane.”</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">No need to ask an </span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">old flight instructor</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">, twice.</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20"></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">We </span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">quickly l</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">iberate a stack of printer paper</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20"> and w</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">e are off. Little</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20"> did I know</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20"> my co-designer was</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20"> a</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20"> </span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">four</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">-foot </span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">tall </span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">aerospace</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20"> </span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">engineer.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">I start </span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">with the simple</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20"> and true design of my youth, while she is practicing origami, in search of something that might aviate. Her advanced design looks </span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">way</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20"> cooler than mine, but that’s not the point is it? </span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">She regards my basic </span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">50’s</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20"> era effort with amused affection </span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">and has started her next model</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">,</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">while I admire my </span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">time-tested work.</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20"> I know right then</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">, this will be more process than play, more science than fluff, and</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20"> it will </span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">challenge dinnertime, now hours away.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">Ultimately, we come up with </span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">8</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20"> different designs. From brutally simple, </span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">to a YouTube construction</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20"> that seems to involve hundreds of arcane folds. </span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">Pretty sure</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20"> I finished it in about the man-hours taken</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20"> for development of the Wright Flyer. </span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">How to evaluate the best design?</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20"> Enter the </span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">8 year-</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">old test engineer.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">She has been busy drawing matrices</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20"> on sheets of paper that I </span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">discover are “</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">test-cards,</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">”</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20"> just </span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">like</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20"> flight test </span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">engineers</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20"> use to evaluate </span></span><span class="s8" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="bumpedFont20">real</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20"> </span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">airplanes. Huh?</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">She proceeds to lay out </span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">5</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20"> separate flight test scenarios</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">—flight</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20"> through a </span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">target </span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">doorway, flight down a </span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">straight </span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">hallway, </span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">height drops from second floor balcony, flight through a room, and flight over an obstacle. Each airplane will receive a rating from</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">1</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20"> to 10, based on performance on each test. Results </span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">are recorded</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20"> on the matrix sheets for each model and test. </span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">All 40 tests!</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20"> Final empirical </span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">totals</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20"> </span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">are tabul</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">ated and recorded, before she forwards the results</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20"> to NASA,</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20"> I assume. </span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">Holy crap!</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">When I was </span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">an </span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">8</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20"> year-</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">old</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">, we sat on the floor either staring at baseball cards or trying to figure out how to steal wooden matches from some Mom’s kitchen, so we could burn stuff.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">The paper airplanes are not the issue. Predictably, some flew with the grace and aplomb</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20"> of a </span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">falcon on the wing</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">, w</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">hile others flew </span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">like </span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">a </span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">corny dog</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20"> thrown across a room. One of my designs had the distinction </span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">of getting zeros across the board, from the child. She even laughed as it tumbled drunkenly on its 2.5-foot</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20"> plummet</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20"> to oblivion. At least it </span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">didn’t</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20"> burst into flames, I said. That counts for something. “Zero,” said the flight test engineer.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">When the exhaustive evaluation was complete, and all records recorded, I was amazed at the</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">thoroughness</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20"> and precision of the process. </span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">Want to see what scientists and engineers look like as 8 year-olds?</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20"> Watch this kid. She not only saw the entire process through to completion, but her methodology and process control was meticulous. Detail piled upon detail. </span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">All with serious intent.</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20"></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">Pops was, </span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">lets</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20"> just say, impressed, familial relati</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">onship notwithstanding. N</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">ext</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">,</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20"> </span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">I think </span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">she wants to see if the Uranium-235 isotope </span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">can be isolated</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">fr</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">om Vienna sausages</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">, in the microwave.</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20"> </span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">Or</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20"> maybe </span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">determine</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20"> the probabilities of </span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">futu</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">re canine diabetes </span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">by counting tail wags, during dog sleep. I </span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">don’t</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20"> know.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">I do know the time</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20"> was </span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">great </span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">fun.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">And</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20"> she is beautiful. </span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">And</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20"> she breaks my heart.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">And</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20"> God is good for giving an old man times like this</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">, with a heartbreaker</span></span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20">. Thanks to her and Him.</span></span></span></div>
Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16207965002138357928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7045153623869044931.post-40630563293320077122014-07-08T23:00:00.000-05:002014-07-08T23:00:24.519-05:00Game On!<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If the summer slump has got you down, you can always try to entertain
your kids by yourself. Like the mom I saw at Wal-Mart today. She had given her
fourish-year-old son a frying pan and he was swinging it like a baseball bat.
In the light bulb aisle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Or,
you can do what we like to do and let your children entertain you. Dance monkey
dance. No, just kidding. It really is entertaining when they come up with their
own games for everyone to play. The youngest is particularly adept at this
skill. It’s a cool thing. Her father’s
company should go ahead and get her under contract now. She’s pretty much the
best games designer I know. His company does have a decent track record with
games so I think it would be a win-win.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I mean, I have no <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Clue</i> if they will get upset about her
copyright infringement with the name of her most recent game. I am sure she
would say she was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sorry</i> about it. I
guess they do kind of have a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Monopoly</i>
on the games market, what with them <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Connect</i>ing
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">4</i> of the biggest game companies
together and forming one big company. I think she wouldn’t have to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Scrabble</i> around too much and wrack her <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Cranium </i>to come up with a new name, so
that’s probably a moot point anyway. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So, I am finished with my
super-excellent-company-name-disguising now. I am NOT a name-dropper!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The child in question is
eight. If you followed my blog way back in yesteryear when I actually wrote
semi-routinely, you would have seen some of her earlier work with full-scale
whole-house candyland (lower case to show how different it is from the
commercially-sold game).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This time she was even
more inventive. She dove into the craft room with paper and scissors and glue
galore. Snippets of paper were flying everywhere, cats were camped out under
the table to bat at each new piece.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Later in the afternoon,
she began taping letters to the breakfast nook blinds. Where we tape our
hastily scrawled “Happy Birthday (your name here)” banners before the birthday
person makes it down to breakfast. We are such planners.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The letters looked like
this:</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgny3vsfqSSh_cEoJGzP6gJOQPqJh2pO37WPcLeHk1zOmlGUA_dk6mihgsVtHdUHfblfMp0rR4FPesA4I3XcNqIAHryj0hbhkZPUB5u2xhu8X1RiTIII0cRnVXTX7lrjpmAmpI4YWBDXG5p/s1600/IMG_9374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgny3vsfqSSh_cEoJGzP6gJOQPqJh2pO37WPcLeHk1zOmlGUA_dk6mihgsVtHdUHfblfMp0rR4FPesA4I3XcNqIAHryj0hbhkZPUB5u2xhu8X1RiTIII0cRnVXTX7lrjpmAmpI4YWBDXG5p/s1600/IMG_9374.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBc4iK34iYk69_ZnAtp3X7j06FYcmmJ7mS70jBj9ME8i_-61DTpmJFFJXHq7S6cPjzvBXrcYBAG8OT1g_nacJ3PIRSYDTP9VPUfAgb_ALSEt97ObvlZ4Dvbs5FUuEGcWqIZJUbnBd1jv7T/s1600/IMG_9376.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBc4iK34iYk69_ZnAtp3X7j06FYcmmJ7mS70jBj9ME8i_-61DTpmJFFJXHq7S6cPjzvBXrcYBAG8OT1g_nacJ3PIRSYDTP9VPUfAgb_ALSEt97ObvlZ4Dvbs5FUuEGcWqIZJUbnBd1jv7T/s1600/IMG_9376.JPG" height="119" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Yes, she does
semi-copyright her game on the sign, despite its incredible likeness to two
different and previously copyrighted games. </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Details.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Kahoot is a website and
app that will let the user create a quiz and then allow others to “join” the
quiz with the use of a specific password. The quiz is viewed on a main device
and participants have to log their answers on their personal devices. In this
application, she used a laptop as the main quiz device and we all logged in
with tablets or phones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The kicker is
that the full answers appear only on the main device, with a corresponding
shape that shows up on your personal device. You have to be able to view the
main device.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tricky!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I think that most of the
free world and 96.8% of the people in undeveloped nations know how to play
traditional Candyland. I will not describe it here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The child has mad skills.
She knew we were having friends over to eat dinner and, therefore, she gained a
captive audience. They knew something was up, because this was greeting them
when they first came in the house:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhvdmlhVXMWSi186OOrJkHniji9U1BvqoGO3cNlBoQeU5hKyChm2XQ18e3hKWq_kqDrnXt031SF_8mg8qVkWtZMIwUkIdtwbT-tbpuspC8vK6ppbWm1puJyQ3oatFzcTMRHG_VpAHhz2q4/s1600/IMG_9383.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhvdmlhVXMWSi186OOrJkHniji9U1BvqoGO3cNlBoQeU5hKyChm2XQ18e3hKWq_kqDrnXt031SF_8mg8qVkWtZMIwUkIdtwbT-tbpuspC8vK6ppbWm1puJyQ3oatFzcTMRHG_VpAHhz2q4/s1600/IMG_9383.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Is the panda reeeeeally
necessary???” asked one of her super-supportive older sisters.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Yes. The panda is necessary
because pandas are awesome.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Um,
duh!?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Since there was a plethora
of adolescents in our party, there were plenty of devices. After dinner, she said
nonchalantly, “Does anybody want to play a game?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She was sweetly using her
status as the youngest.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Sure!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Awesome, I’ll be right
back!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She sprinted to the craft
room to retrieve the game board, cones, and many baggies. She also had various
construction-paper shapes that were our game pieces. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“You can all choose what
you want to be. You can be a stick, a pyramid, a beach, the grasslands, a monster, the sky or a Rocky
Mountain.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAozh7dxvtEmTqtkNjAX-2GUaq9obKFWYksZWg1oc1yMqqoFo7XnnCfHLYWuQzxo6EF2lH1cbtgfvEPHn07hVeJloBIW3QYv8RSVk9ow073CFqyJCLj_NbLJMkBv3Wi69OMe8953UCno3p/s1600/IMG_9391.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAozh7dxvtEmTqtkNjAX-2GUaq9obKFWYksZWg1oc1yMqqoFo7XnnCfHLYWuQzxo6EF2lH1cbtgfvEPHn07hVeJloBIW3QYv8RSVk9ow073CFqyJCLj_NbLJMkBv3Wi69OMe8953UCno3p/s1600/IMG_9391.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">She returned and directed
us all to log into the Kahoot quiz she had created. Actually, it was the first
of three quizzes. We would answer the questions on Kahoot via our devices.
Whoever answered each question correctly would get to draw from the “forward”
cone. Small, colored paper squares with numbers on them filled the cone.
Whichever square you drew determined how many spaces you moved on the board.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt_ZIdAu4HfiwLDkjrRd4bEw49W9hbyf6bTWXkcOEJv7QNSta6i2Jvak5SQ0e7u3c9S04LECjEAt35657X_9mtctxU2ZntA7hetEtKo8fpg1NkfyDFQ_hUADd_-EtI91Ah-OgcrZjS_7YV/s1600/IMG_9378.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt_ZIdAu4HfiwLDkjrRd4bEw49W9hbyf6bTWXkcOEJv7QNSta6i2Jvak5SQ0e7u3c9S04LECjEAt35657X_9mtctxU2ZntA7hetEtKo8fpg1NkfyDFQ_hUADd_-EtI91Ah-OgcrZjS_7YV/s1600/IMG_9378.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“So, that is really the
funnel of fun,” asked one of the teens.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“It is the forward cone…
If you get it wrong you draw from the backward cone.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“So, the cone of shame?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Really the teenagers were
quite merciless to the sweet little one. Her revenge was swift.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Okay, get ready. Here is
the first question.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What is 100,245 minus
25,107?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I kid you not. She designed the quiz herself and wrote all of the
questions. And you have only a few seconds to answer. And your point value
drops the longer you take. Luckily we weren’t playing traditional Kahoot. This
was Kahoot Candyland. Points didn’t count.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjP1GIyphwMhC7OYvqCyrrnI-f37gCVWdj8Snd-q_aKunOD_o3Jeho4PZ4bLY-fSOKDn3UHW2dc2NKWZNGeVi9QL5y6jg07P2qyolkvz7ATqzL1DX19o9zfurHbN8ENVVnqgEVvsyoextR/s1600/IMG_9386.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjP1GIyphwMhC7OYvqCyrrnI-f37gCVWdj8Snd-q_aKunOD_o3Jeho4PZ4bLY-fSOKDn3UHW2dc2NKWZNGeVi9QL5y6jg07P2qyolkvz7ATqzL1DX19o9zfurHbN8ENVVnqgEVvsyoextR/s1600/IMG_9386.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The game progressed forward (with a few having to dip into the cone of
shame) and we completed the five questions in the math quiz. Up next was the
animals portion.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Witch animal has 12
kinds of it's kinds?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">*Spelling has not been changed to support the authenticity of Kahoot
Candyland.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We moved through the board, people uttering phrases like, “can you
please move the stick up three oranges?” and “I need the monster to move one
blue.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We finally reached the end (after a whirlwind "summer" quiz) and a winner was announced. Hooray!!!!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And
then we had to play for 2<sup>nd</sup>-7<sup>th</sup> places. Hooray…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When we finished, she disappeared for a short time and we could smell a Sharpie in use.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I have to add something now that I know who won,” she yelled to us.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When she returned, she handed out a
baggie with a certificate that read:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“First place? Congrats! Way to go! You must know a lot about math,
animals, and summer.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And the baggie contained a rubber-band bracelet and a certificate for:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“3 free sissy time and breakfast in bed.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She tailored the prizes to the winners after she saw who won. So
customized!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Second place? I'm no slouch myself! I mean, I’m not 10 like the winner,
but…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Just barely way to go.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“3 free mommy and Sammy time.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Yep. That’s what my certificates said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Third place got a certificate that was elegant in its simplicity. It
read: “Almost.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But it did include a bracelet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Fourth place elicited a “good try” and a “Three free sissy time”
certificate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Fifth
place, “nice try” and a bracelet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sixth
place said “You’ll get ‘em next time.” and seventh got lost before I could
write down what it said. I know they both included bracelets. Seventh probably
had a platitude like, “Wow! You’ve got a pulse,” or, “Who’d have ever thought
you would have known the names of the colors on the board? Kudos!”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In
all, we had a great time. The game was well planned and executed, personal and
detailed. And fun. Success!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Are
you taking notes, company that doesn’t make Barbies?????</span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16207965002138357928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7045153623869044931.post-62646020687839053552014-04-21T14:43:00.002-05:002014-04-21T14:43:27.680-05:00This Post is Long…But You Won't Dye if You Read it All!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Hi-Ho, Emily-The-Mom here!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A nod to the great Kermit the Frog. I like him, even if my
youngest refuses to see his newest flick.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I don’t want to see it! It’s just a creepy version of the
Muppets!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“That’s the point, though…a bad guy is impersonating Kermit
and they have this huge case of mistaken identity, and the last Muppet movie
just had a bunch of creepy Muppet-wannabes in a band that were trying to
dethrone the real Muppets and you never complained about that movie and…oh,
sorry, you quit listening.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So instead, we forced the three darlings to watch <i>Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure</i>. Ha! Take that, defiant kid!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sorry, HUGE left turn from where my blog was planning to go
today. I really wanted to share the fun pre-Easter-dying-party we held at our
casa this week. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The kidlets had two days off of school and we burned one
going to see the Texas Rangers play a day game. They won. The Rangers and the kids. I am shocked by how much ice cream, cotton candy and hot chocolate they can put away in such a short time. That's right-ice cream and hot chocolate. Texas weather!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So, on the second day off of school we held our dying party
with some friends, while the dads went to golf. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I know! Golf
instead of tie-dying shirts and dip-dying eggs? Ludicrous!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">On the docket for the day was also Peeps-Jousting. Please
see <a href="http://cartbeforethehorse.blogspot.com/2013/04/shout-out-to-my-peeps.html" target="_blank">this</a> for the breakdown of this lesser-known, non-UIL-sanctioned sport. Bad luck that our microwave broke and we the
new one isn't in until next week. No microwave, no Peeps-Jousting. A travesty!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I told the kids we'll Peeps-Joust next week. Trust me, I
may have helped the Peeps peeps (see what I did there) make their yearly quota.
We have plenty of Peeps!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">On another in a seemingly never-ending stream of side
notes, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/18/marshmallow-peeps-easter-facts_n_5147153.html" target="_blank">here</a> is a great article I found that really delves deep into the world
of the Peep. Enjoy!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The basic ingredients of our dying party are as follows: one day
off of school, three moms, seven kids, pizza, eggs, dye, shirts.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I will not get into the minutiae of the tie-dying process
today. If you click <a href="http://cartbeforethehorse.blogspot.com/2012/02/shirts-tie-dye-for.html" target="_blank">this link</a>, you can go to a more detailed tie-dying post.
What is important is that the kids and moms enjoyed
being together, we may be replacing our carpet so there was a
certain lackadaisical approach to reigning in the dye…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The younger kids scampered upstairs to rainbow-loom their fingers off as soon
as they finished eating because the older kids had fully locked down the
X-Box. Wasn't the X-Box one of the earlier-mentioned
ingredients? No?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We, the stalwart mothers, cleaned up the food and started soaking
t-shirts in soda-ash. 42 eggs boiled merrily on the sink as we soaked the
shirts and contemplated life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After the requisite 10 minutes had elapsed, we called the older kids to come do their shirts. They were very eager. We noticed that their
color choices have started trending toward their sports team affiliations. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaI9QmDyNgNa7kzNr6FNxFcA619RDID4zlFOAje1WACtJFMINr3xDcaILlBNna0c8jOLC9a2G5nRFfNo7cIQiZb5z6s0ViNrL8vDbS-a8dzYoBcFTVRnaSBcWefT1WJ5_aHovKngdP8eCO/s1600/dye+choice+options.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaI9QmDyNgNa7kzNr6FNxFcA619RDID4zlFOAje1WACtJFMINr3xDcaILlBNna0c8jOLC9a2G5nRFfNo7cIQiZb5z6s0ViNrL8vDbS-a8dzYoBcFTVRnaSBcWefT1WJ5_aHovKngdP8eCO/s1600/dye+choice+options.jpg" height="200" width="154" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Example shirts to show styles and colors-cuz Lisa is da bomb!</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My oldest child decided to go with Seattle Seahawks colors while dripping some extra black around the shirt just because “It will probably
look cooler this way.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">They made quick work of their shirts, precisely pointing and
shooting dye (you’d think they had done this before) and we figured out
that they had yet another dye-free agenda. This time they wanted to go shoot
baskets at the school. Aghast! Leave the dying-party to go have fun playing
sports with your friends on a beautiful day??? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjyjGBd3MBFDFKwGJTL7cKNq8l1hjsKQKbxtqa0d1uNEn1RLCekTY1LE-gMyrL8SQXZ3pDTDHSX2Pby-4VHXX0ZQPlcx0Goj_Sz7YJ-Tdcqph6tli3z6szH2crT8n6i1qNDwQeOOJyht9K/s1600/kids+dying+shirts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjyjGBd3MBFDFKwGJTL7cKNq8l1hjsKQKbxtqa0d1uNEn1RLCekTY1LE-gMyrL8SQXZ3pDTDHSX2Pby-4VHXX0ZQPlcx0Goj_Sz7YJ-Tdcqph6tli3z6szH2crT8n6i1qNDwQeOOJyht9K/s1600/kids+dying+shirts.jpg" height="200" width="148" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUhqnEPRWBtyZv9N_MR3YUFxQ2lanuh9HwooD2QSfKvVcBYmuLcd_YhOqBpOwKkcit0MIY1tQN6v6xOehMwsGDtb2ql4M-c4iFXs0chfYxh54VqXvzAPSpRCa6GH74YMX-EtKdX1JMqNy_/s1600/mke+cc+tie+dye.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUhqnEPRWBtyZv9N_MR3YUFxQ2lanuh9HwooD2QSfKvVcBYmuLcd_YhOqBpOwKkcit0MIY1tQN6v6xOehMwsGDtb2ql4M-c4iFXs0chfYxh54VqXvzAPSpRCa6GH74YMX-EtKdX1JMqNy_/s1600/mke+cc+tie+dye.jpg" height="200" width="146" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Obviously we said yes. We aren’t monsters. Caveat: they had
to take their siblings. Wha-wahhhhhhhhhhhhh!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The younger set came downstairs and gloved up. They were
mostly fascinated with the link between doctors and rubber gloves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And how if you were a doctor you would be
rich enough to buy so many rubber gloves that you wouldn’t have to reuse them
as we were reusing them. And how if you were a doctor someone else would put
the gloves on for you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The youngest child and one of the boys decided to fill a
glove with water and freeze it to see what would happen. The odds were
seriously in favor of them ending up with a hand-shaped icicle, but the
“experiment” proceeded anyway.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvBM0hNVHK0ljl-GVkPuTz-hk2UGm2MV-0KZ9cARJHMfvCz5aonI0Dga8y1Y5DRE8_Qq7r5YBjFF3FXN1DSF0xE4vTZuA3p_d8mZNTWW9NyLdB1uriuQ1EbzXtV5wPX-IVGZWit7C-uXlD/s1600/using+a+lot+of+dye.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvBM0hNVHK0ljl-GVkPuTz-hk2UGm2MV-0KZ9cARJHMfvCz5aonI0Dga8y1Y5DRE8_Qq7r5YBjFF3FXN1DSF0xE4vTZuA3p_d8mZNTWW9NyLdB1uriuQ1EbzXtV5wPX-IVGZWit7C-uXlD/s1600/using+a+lot+of+dye.jpg" height="200" width="148" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJsjEKtq-neMqA3T4oIBJ9Znsf-7TtIBxNmqtSGYUf7WBV_3ywrannaEcR9YYv5zAp-6tvrBmJV3_Ygc-Z5slI4kM0M7hH7kjYO2WJNMGHCU6ahOdFAFs9YsU5lsUxNGaJX-kG_ySvAzi1/s1600/hard+at+work+dying.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJsjEKtq-neMqA3T4oIBJ9Znsf-7TtIBxNmqtSGYUf7WBV_3ywrannaEcR9YYv5zAp-6tvrBmJV3_Ygc-Z5slI4kM0M7hH7kjYO2WJNMGHCU6ahOdFAFs9YsU5lsUxNGaJX-kG_ySvAzi1/s1600/hard+at+work+dying.jpg" height="200" width="151" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We were prepared for the probability that the younger kids
would need a lot of help. We were wrong. Except for their exuberant attempts to
start dying before paper towels were put down, they pretty much had a handle on
the process. They quickly dyed their way through the shirts and immediately
asked when they could rinse them out and see the patterns.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Tomorrow afternoon.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Tomorrow afternoon? Awwwww, man! That’s so far away.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Indeed.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And, dyed and bagged, the shirts went off to mellow and the
kids went off to shoot baskets and run amok. Ahhhhh, how refreshing to be able
to send them out as a herd and not to have to go too! Freedom!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The eggs had finished by this point and only seven had
cracked. Seriously! Seven cracked! What a beating! What a crisis! What a
first-world problem!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We dyed them anyway.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We, the moms, readied the egg dying. I bought mini egg cartons on a cute little website called
<a href="http://www.shopsweetlulu.com/" target="_blank">Shop Sweet Lulu</a>. Adorable! Each kid could have their own. (I am not being paid by these people, I just like their site).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJcjhLr-S2_D11AFivVLiQj9fioEt8DOMHGEnBc-viel9aI8luz17f0Lsn0EXdT9vWEu3t-gueVJZln0UKWfhna4W6MbttGjpKtowlOz9bssp3wAEka8ZpuVqNG7Z1uUemwTB79tv94SMr/s1600/egg+dying.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJcjhLr-S2_D11AFivVLiQj9fioEt8DOMHGEnBc-viel9aI8luz17f0Lsn0EXdT9vWEu3t-gueVJZln0UKWfhna4W6MbttGjpKtowlOz9bssp3wAEka8ZpuVqNG7Z1uUemwTB79tv94SMr/s1600/egg+dying.jpg" height="200" width="148" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjikmnrNHdZcTOFB4D_FrSdY-FWYk9J8oMbXRTwlCuq5n5-aMFTQ5cfsXHdQeWIrUAv2x80GfZkQTjMkre0HTk2Kdpo-YmRD0hSt0wlmBG8YQu3wR85nPvrOFHs6-nvrdGeVKcvSFMcEVPr/s1600/dye.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjikmnrNHdZcTOFB4D_FrSdY-FWYk9J8oMbXRTwlCuq5n5-aMFTQ5cfsXHdQeWIrUAv2x80GfZkQTjMkre0HTk2Kdpo-YmRD0hSt0wlmBG8YQu3wR85nPvrOFHs6-nvrdGeVKcvSFMcEVPr/s1600/dye.jpg" height="132" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLVHYPV9ugVTyCeT_OcJBDzbptAbfX_n8-g7X9Pb-Ctk-ey8kIaYUjvEFvP5EizdBv7zLwU0APnzwIT2jve_cLbbZuSB1xRUGrVJoSisv2A_fxKnuO1fpoK3Di0Z5v0d1TOdIhQ8Uiuk8p/s1600/ry%253D480.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLVHYPV9ugVTyCeT_OcJBDzbptAbfX_n8-g7X9Pb-Ctk-ey8kIaYUjvEFvP5EizdBv7zLwU0APnzwIT2jve_cLbbZuSB1xRUGrVJoSisv2A_fxKnuO1fpoK3Di0Z5v0d1TOdIhQ8Uiuk8p/s1600/ry%253D480.jpg" height="200" width="148" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">When they returned all sweaty from the trek, we got them
settled for egg dying. This took more time than the t-shirt dying. Seriously. A
few of the kids were not that concerned with the way their eggs looked. A few
kids became Monet in an instant. Or egg-Nazis. Woe to the one who touched their eggs in the
bowls. One child, who shall remain nameless (but not photo-less) glittered her egg completely.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_bPvYpWn_pX1S-I21Jkuxgfs3189924a-jktfsxRQnwxjFUKGI30SXLA2lb6FFv8SO9zxnBAGZa0kT1AKkDXPpRpRk93gJNkqs3RBW3rzGgFV3sQZTFDQvTgBFTF9h8Mxy7ALJSeH9hcL/s1600/glitter+hands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_bPvYpWn_pX1S-I21Jkuxgfs3189924a-jktfsxRQnwxjFUKGI30SXLA2lb6FFv8SO9zxnBAGZa0kT1AKkDXPpRpRk93gJNkqs3RBW3rzGgFV3sQZTFDQvTgBFTF9h8Mxy7ALJSeH9hcL/s1600/glitter+hands.jpg" height="200" width="144" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After the 42 eggs were summarily dyed, collected and boxed,
the party had to come to an end. Parting is such sweet sorrow. All good things must come to an end. Any other cliches?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We had a great time, got stained fingers and ended up with a
lot of masterpieces. And next year, Peeps Jousting!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16207965002138357928noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7045153623869044931.post-27717990585265684182014-03-10T11:39:00.000-05:002014-03-10T11:39:43.638-05:00Spring Break Project: Suet Seed Balls for Frozen Feathered and Furry Friends
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<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2tUw75G64J7d62otSWpqDj2Z0sBBsRZq7AFT6ex9BiWg53m4mEE79baakV6xolEsTDAW5GtcfPg0vpXdNuTRcSudIf-CgpSYLf2OxIp6cN2quHh3whOLhZj1ipkZdrcLaqwCguqBKPl5g/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2tUw75G64J7d62otSWpqDj2Z0sBBsRZq7AFT6ex9BiWg53m4mEE79baakV6xolEsTDAW5GtcfPg0vpXdNuTRcSudIf-CgpSYLf2OxIp6cN2quHh3whOLhZj1ipkZdrcLaqwCguqBKPl5g/s1600/images.jpeg" height="149" width="200" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I sort of feel like Anna in <i>Frozen.</i> After the glorious experience of finally being released
into the freedom of the great, sunny, warm outdoors, she is relegated to shivering in the
bitter cold and ice as her world is plunged below freezing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Last week we were treated to temps up to 80 degrees. Shorts!
Short-sleeves! Bare feet! Fabulous vitamin D for everyone (which is nice
considering a drop in vitamin D is yet another in a stellar list of “getting
older” replacement pills. Seriously???)!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“The Window is open, so’s that door. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I didn’t know they did that anymore…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We were in the yard, the kids rode bikes and played
basketball outside. The car got washed, plants were planted. Not tomatoes
though. Nice try tomatoes. Not this time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I knew everyone felt that irresistible pull outside, to open
up the house and feel the spring-like air. Unfortunately the kittens, too, felt
the pull outside and we couldn’t leave doors open. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Behind it all, though was the uneasiness that came from the
forecast. The cold was “coming”. Foreboding and serious they spoke of arctic
chills and a rapid cold front reminiscent of the polar vortex. A plunge from 81
degrees to 17 degrees in 24 hours. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So, even though the veggies we had in the ground were winter
ones, 17 degrees with a wind chill below zero wasn’t doing them any favors.
Time to cocoon the farm. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Or residential lot…whatever!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The raised garden was covered with a double layer of plastic
sheeting, stretched over low hoops made of PVC pipe. The onions were covered
with wooden crates and then wrapped in burlap.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieTlFSmceRjJ4FqHbRA5EaFSy_8x10vuJH4p080am2451BAkcw4qJnowFwJCSkioxP6-ShCpfwZ98BnwX0iA-g1-ojuSI4gN8LSGv0Er9oR3L_gYhQlLxQxeSH7i8bXVDa8CqfrClA17D-/s1600/IMG_6725.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieTlFSmceRjJ4FqHbRA5EaFSy_8x10vuJH4p080am2451BAkcw4qJnowFwJCSkioxP6-ShCpfwZ98BnwX0iA-g1-ojuSI4gN8LSGv0Er9oR3L_gYhQlLxQxeSH7i8bXVDa8CqfrClA17D-/s1600/IMG_6725.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM2mqlh58o6pwHsWhAb2OhMSjeXVagLrnIihw2-2SJSFXEFRpTlm5KSJKj6mDfo6ZR7HImVvFR5YtOi66j5oC1sRjilHSzynFA8QdeCWbHk11KLdKboCQWQZLM34P2Uc6WFl0MTp8xWdzW/s1600/IMG_6726.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM2mqlh58o6pwHsWhAb2OhMSjeXVagLrnIihw2-2SJSFXEFRpTlm5KSJKj6mDfo6ZR7HImVvFR5YtOi66j5oC1sRjilHSzynFA8QdeCWbHk11KLdKboCQWQZLM34P2Uc6WFl0MTp8xWdzW/s1600/IMG_6726.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkJw4ihw2P1KWPTMP3qCnwG6HYYuXj_tNKXtoibYfaCpupErzsd4c54-9Fg0vJ0KI3JE9IM86VZHrq0xTzU4NbYgVckdziNZbKFKiumGSjzET62y5I3Ib_V1WrUE1yGFXNpOTFn5b536Pg/s1600/IMG_6728.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkJw4ihw2P1KWPTMP3qCnwG6HYYuXj_tNKXtoibYfaCpupErzsd4c54-9Fg0vJ0KI3JE9IM86VZHrq0xTzU4NbYgVckdziNZbKFKiumGSjzET62y5I3Ib_V1WrUE1yGFXNpOTFn5b536Pg/s1600/IMG_6728.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXcuEK2lt3ZPkDnbJ_KzE7-cWCSg17L34_QnsOJynUJMaoxmvXqwKeZwUyCN-hAjTPy_8He3if1zlzi62X3Qz_YNoPmzBb7B35XcGjRRs8OlSML2gOSy43CCfD2Ntt0umzvknCqJbjzBgc/s1600/IMG_6730.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXcuEK2lt3ZPkDnbJ_KzE7-cWCSg17L34_QnsOJynUJMaoxmvXqwKeZwUyCN-hAjTPy_8He3if1zlzi62X3Qz_YNoPmzBb7B35XcGjRRs8OlSML2gOSy43CCfD2Ntt0umzvknCqJbjzBgc/s1600/IMG_6730.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The blueberries would have been fine in the ground where the
heat from the earth would have protected them, but in containers the roots were
too close to the freezing air. Layers of burlap and towels went around the
pots.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvVgXDwPPoGm0nZ7qB7C8knMGbdlfoinZ-a6QE2R-xj3njVLTJsX_d_hc-d_sHgz5cfZhnuAungmpmsy2N6Of4o2wsm8AGn80SeTgoScs25Aq8vJpdRl5rs_nBr1PqwxAnX64pOFndOsAL/s1600/IMG_6744.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvVgXDwPPoGm0nZ7qB7C8knMGbdlfoinZ-a6QE2R-xj3njVLTJsX_d_hc-d_sHgz5cfZhnuAungmpmsy2N6Of4o2wsm8AGn80SeTgoScs25Aq8vJpdRl5rs_nBr1PqwxAnX64pOFndOsAL/s1600/IMG_6744.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Our new apple trees went into the garage. I decided not to
risk it. With good reason, we got our sleet and snow and sub-zero wind chills. Our school garden was a 100% loss, despite the double-burlap cover.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We have done this yo-yo weather dance for weeks now and we're over it. The oldest child and a friend camped out in the backyard this weekend in short sleeves but the next morning a near-freezing drizzle fell for a few hours!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvv865h8Iwe7pbYpJOL4nqz-CaE200-NGVDMpPyZB3eQN12i-RmwFd8Amac2RE8bvGOcU847ER6YvKV8sUbPqfF87vVNHj-lO5iCaLRB5Qo9_AtLm4wYyS1Uolzo5H8_pdmPebaDqhHnVM/s1600/IMG_6799.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvv865h8Iwe7pbYpJOL4nqz-CaE200-NGVDMpPyZB3eQN12i-RmwFd8Amac2RE8bvGOcU847ER6YvKV8sUbPqfF87vVNHj-lO5iCaLRB5Qo9_AtLm4wYyS1Uolzo5H8_pdmPebaDqhHnVM/s1600/IMG_6799.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A great project/craft we whip up occasionally to help our furry and feathered friends make it until spring is Peanut Butter S</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">uet Balls.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Nuke 1 C. peanut butter and 1C. shortening in a
microwave-safe bowl until soft enough to blend thoroughly together.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Stir in 1 C. sugar, 1 C. cornmeal, I C. birdseed and 1 C. oats. Add raisins if you feel like it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Stir until blended or ditch the spoon and mix well with your
hands.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Roll 1-2” balls and set on a plate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Take them outside and put on a feeder, on the forks of
trees, on fences. Wherever your cold little friends will find them and high
enough that they won’t get eaten while trying.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">These provide a lot of fat, protein and nutrients the birds
lose in the winter. Some people render suet but the vegetable shortening will
work. We have made them a few times over the winter. Every time the weather turns icy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Because spring break is this week and the eldest is on a mission trip (yea, kids! being the hands and feet of God this week!) we decided to whip up a batch of these before our next freeze.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigP2BnI2bwt3h7VFJjvz3ah41114aUx1YMGXijBSdFqDOSJfzQZWcSGrvnYDOhCZkGSmShUWGN60jjki12Cvblzi8qHUyK9UmY6ezu5CzocBUr97hNzIfhmARd6wPaVv7hzgD8BQb-c4OO/s1600/IMG_6817.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigP2BnI2bwt3h7VFJjvz3ah41114aUx1YMGXijBSdFqDOSJfzQZWcSGrvnYDOhCZkGSmShUWGN60jjki12Cvblzi8qHUyK9UmY6ezu5CzocBUr97hNzIfhmARd6wPaVv7hzgD8BQb-c4OO/s1600/IMG_6817.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Here's how this went with the younger two:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">"These are like irresistible peanut butter cookies for birds."</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">"Tell Daddy we're making peanut butter cookies. Hee </span>hee, hee hee!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">"Let's guesstimate, shall we."</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl7i-8peIE0idkIFrXI53Xz1w3QpLb_gDYvVITpGL8aXbAbcNeZutEAvCXy6kyF7zX8fqfl12ixUlOLO6_jMbKRy4SEEi_7jco3PyZBYnNUd3ERgi8tan-6weOuxHzvGXa5QNJm1deAFRW/s1600/IMG_6819.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl7i-8peIE0idkIFrXI53Xz1w3QpLb_gDYvVITpGL8aXbAbcNeZutEAvCXy6kyF7zX8fqfl12ixUlOLO6_jMbKRy4SEEi_7jco3PyZBYnNUd3ERgi8tan-6weOuxHzvGXa5QNJm1deAFRW/s1600/IMG_6819.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">"Oooh, this shortening looks like ice cream. Eat some!"</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">"What's shortening."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I then had to delve into the nuances of rendering lard, replacing animal fats with vegetable ones and frying chicken....maybe not the best example since we were making treats to <i>help</i> birds...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And, for the melting of the peanut butter and shortening, a song.<br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">"We're nuking it, we're nuking it, we're nuking it in the microwave!"</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"It looks like white whipped peanut butter."</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd79ZvNsUBPtRXpd9lnBPO_B8vZZj1arEsTEcC5-quwFUSUmvjp_UVZWxkiCEsLyoOD7g4v8aXqm4lit_57PY3gKswEdyUp1Z6YqdloWA2R37pXE9PF-z1Cqp1aHqcbp6VHwOLbyThVmTE/s1600/IMG_6832.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd79ZvNsUBPtRXpd9lnBPO_B8vZZj1arEsTEcC5-quwFUSUmvjp_UVZWxkiCEsLyoOD7g4v8aXqm4lit_57PY3gKswEdyUp1Z6YqdloWA2R37pXE9PF-z1Cqp1aHqcbp6VHwOLbyThVmTE/s1600/IMG_6832.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">After adding in the yummy "stir-ins" they were a little surprised. I guess they missed the sugar when we made these before.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">"Wait we're sugaring the birds up?"</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I told them the sugar is added to winter suet to help the birds stay nice and fat and active until spring, but we don't add it in spring-fall suet balls.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">"I've always wanted to see birds on a sugar high!"</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Me too.<br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I used a cookie dough/ice cream scoop to give them the right potions to roll up in their hot little hands. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhulNm3qjwP3lDi0Rp_T-gTy_vcbdYqQy8Xumx5UjtthbyfXcUALPxC-bYB7o1626_YR7GhrMjT_4e8fPuIuSOV6UFpFRP5BuZeG408tC7plOpDogmdjg2UEhJ8ggJ7RYVVwDh-qKubL6rc/s1600/IMG_6833.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhulNm3qjwP3lDi0Rp_T-gTy_vcbdYqQy8Xumx5UjtthbyfXcUALPxC-bYB7o1626_YR7GhrMjT_4e8fPuIuSOV6UFpFRP5BuZeG408tC7plOpDogmdjg2UEhJ8ggJ7RYVVwDh-qKubL6rc/s1600/IMG_6833.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWpGWvcfQxqw9hr-8PTSUXVrI5qT1EOGAC69JySEMzPcNZ6HEVBitKi9Ys5dLZXOgGPm7i9mQRsFa2LOTh1RFDRWfbNX7HZtryWrfpCfWuq3t9G6lXwzEX5QMzEZ4T1ZkEfmPJTDKuUZTy/s1600/IMG_6834.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWpGWvcfQxqw9hr-8PTSUXVrI5qT1EOGAC69JySEMzPcNZ6HEVBitKi9Ys5dLZXOgGPm7i9mQRsFa2LOTh1RFDRWfbNX7HZtryWrfpCfWuq3t9G6lXwzEX5QMzEZ4T1ZkEfmPJTDKuUZTy/s1600/IMG_6834.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHcGAlIGltQorpmyrb3ALKRO0U8aykxp4OlOkQlqo8KNko_DAMDK7eCvXg6qKBpXK946L0X0G8ebGG7mUXRc-UuauAVBmGkeQvMLbH3Dgxr_4B5Q8KgeIgdPCw_9XycGo7QvYifw7pnJMg/s1600/IMG_6735.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHcGAlIGltQorpmyrb3ALKRO0U8aykxp4OlOkQlqo8KNko_DAMDK7eCvXg6qKBpXK946L0X0G8ebGG7mUXRc-UuauAVBmGkeQvMLbH3Dgxr_4B5Q8KgeIgdPCw_9XycGo7QvYifw7pnJMg/s1600/IMG_6735.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: center;">"The birdies are going to love these."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"And the squirrels!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Right.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">"They feel really gritty from the cornmeal and sugar."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Wait for it...</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">"Oh! When were done we can rub this all over our hands for a sugar scrub!"</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">You knew the middle child would work a beauty treatment in here somewhere!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">"Making all of these balls reminds me of our <a href="http://www.cartbeforethehorse.blogspot.com/2013/04/guerrillas-in-mist-earth-week-seed-balls.html" target="_blank">seed balls</a> we made with the clay."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">I told them we could go toss a few of those around over spring break. Help the world wake up a little prettier once the freezes were over. We may even lapse back into an older project and whip up a few blessing rocks to leave around. Nothing brightens a dreary day like a sweet heart painted on a random stone!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Hopefully these treats help. We have a family of
woodpeckers nesting in a branch of our oak. The poor tree is in it's final days but we cant bear to pull the trigger yet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqd1Fo1LdLEihZrXsVkpk2gVr9ExrxF48xBKt8DdCUhtIKpaPJjCDEGEq-iqgiNwNWf1z4Zr_dhbd3kEe7-d2ku9ZbeooPfqgZ0HtL7oxX4PKUbYNPoOQFvmrei9DmcPtgbkEw4fqPuMUP/s1600/IMG_6835.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqd1Fo1LdLEihZrXsVkpk2gVr9ExrxF48xBKt8DdCUhtIKpaPJjCDEGEq-iqgiNwNWf1z4Zr_dhbd3kEe7-d2ku9ZbeooPfqgZ0HtL7oxX4PKUbYNPoOQFvmrei9DmcPtgbkEw4fqPuMUP/s1600/IMG_6835.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Once we soak the last tiny
bit of warmth from the next few days, we are resigned to another cold imprisonment
inside.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">At least we have each other, firewood and yummy (fattening) winter food to keep us cozy. And the birds do too...well, not the firewood.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I guess Olaf said it best:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Winter’s a good time to sit close and cuddle…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBkQEZg-whaz5Oxwy0M8g7RQ1FvmHRyClfuvNYwUx2h_0vUfLy_VDvbUo-W9iHw81MJ4o1naKrcyIofXsA7B0beWMQbzP_0tfXPkKfOpsru4ra6fK08N6vhtlLxspRa9qyP-e61Bgcjrji/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBkQEZg-whaz5Oxwy0M8g7RQ1FvmHRyClfuvNYwUx2h_0vUfLy_VDvbUo-W9iHw81MJ4o1naKrcyIofXsA7B0beWMQbzP_0tfXPkKfOpsru4ra6fK08N6vhtlLxspRa9qyP-e61Bgcjrji/s1600/images.jpeg" height="200" width="101" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He was right! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--EndFragment-->Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16207965002138357928noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7045153623869044931.post-42008313348265430412014-02-17T12:25:00.000-06:002014-02-17T12:25:12.741-06:00Huge Presidents Day Sale on....Oh Wait, It's Just a Craft!
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I had the chance to do craft last night at our church kids’
program. This particular group of kids is all third and fourth graders who are
hilarious, creative and silly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We have only a short time to do our craft before they rotate
to the next activity so the craft has to be easy, quick, age-appropriate and
following the theme of the badge they are trying to earn. Even loosely.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Okay, the scene is set.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I started the night with a question. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Who is out of school tomorrow?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Most said they were. We paused to consider the sad kids from
a neighboring ISD who didn’t have the day off. However, since they had an earlier
snow day we didn’t have, resulting in their having to attend school the next
day, I assured them that they weren’t being robbed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So the holiday is just for fun, right? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I asked the kids why they are out of school and the
responses varied.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I dunno.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Valentine’s Day?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Just ‘cause.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Then the bright shining example of childhood genius who
said, “Presidents Day?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Yes!!!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I asked them if they knew what presidents or why we honored
them in February.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Their birthdays!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Excellent job teachers, they are listening to you! So we
made president magnets to honor the day. I mean, these guys are being
immortalized with fabric and mattress sales and $1.00 foot-long hot dogs. The
least we could do is craft them. Right?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Right.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">At that point we started laying out the pieces of our
presidents. The craft consisted of the following “ingredients”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaBr0tHDPVm4gzWxXdFXwBkemK_CQSy7Kc5MzYhlNTHK9rQZYvwqE9Ugq1a6zAlF9ayY1HjOBWALaikYeMuCJsINcWOrODFzQUYGvjGVyWcO2rDqAR__aRI4WFkWMqx-clipKZYSyZHBDJ/s1600/IMG_6551.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaBr0tHDPVm4gzWxXdFXwBkemK_CQSy7Kc5MzYhlNTHK9rQZYvwqE9Ugq1a6zAlF9ayY1HjOBWALaikYeMuCJsINcWOrODFzQUYGvjGVyWcO2rDqAR__aRI4WFkWMqx-clipKZYSyZHBDJ/s1600/IMG_6551.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Pretty standard really.</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">(Sorry, a little Dr. Evil there)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I had to pre-paint the clothespins due to time restrictions.
Each kid got a blue and a black clothespin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">To be honest, for the rest of the pieces I had no template.
I made this thing up as I went along. I freehanded some roundish shapes from
cream-colored felt. Feel free to trace and precisely cut out your shapes if
that’s how you roll. I consider each of these to be one-of-a-kind artistic
gems! Ha!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I made a pile of white bell-shapes, a pile of vaguely
anvil-shaped blue “hats” and then cut rounded “u” shapes out of white that I
later “hollowed” out to be puffy powdered wigs for George.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">For Honest Abe, I cut more of the cream-colored head shapes,
black rectangles for the stovepipe hats, skinny rectangles from black for the
hat brims and white triangles for his shirt pieces. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4MJcNOkvYkKIbqGtE_GIor8-sAEKkcC-fwcTP6B5HBpSI6CH_NC9-Eg-FL-mueC0tg7KvFZb3VH0Vza-RZmej9JdnaSA8HVXsmdp-YZLu1qxuIOv2ywPlt0_7A1Cv23_ObKFBGj4UlNmm/s1600/IMG_6555.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4MJcNOkvYkKIbqGtE_GIor8-sAEKkcC-fwcTP6B5HBpSI6CH_NC9-Eg-FL-mueC0tg7KvFZb3VH0Vza-RZmej9JdnaSA8HVXsmdp-YZLu1qxuIOv2ywPlt0_7A1Cv23_ObKFBGj4UlNmm/s1600/IMG_6555.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I made some thinner “u” shapes from black that got hollowed
out to make his beard/burns combos.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">See photo progression here:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvXcDPV-ixYlWI-LjEXGbyGWGwbPBb-tUoQn6rIsXMKvjkAQSxn9m8aZ4df2UXeMdWFqBSDKIM8A6B64Xjry_V6vT8Xt-suxtnGEPyxX4TM62_6sOLO8KmvU7sdNsD2-J8D0lQFPfQpqSD/s1600/IMG_6562.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvXcDPV-ixYlWI-LjEXGbyGWGwbPBb-tUoQn6rIsXMKvjkAQSxn9m8aZ4df2UXeMdWFqBSDKIM8A6B64Xjry_V6vT8Xt-suxtnGEPyxX4TM62_6sOLO8KmvU7sdNsD2-J8D0lQFPfQpqSD/s1600/IMG_6562.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The kids immediately had questions.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Why do we have to do the blue clothespins for George
Washington? Did Lincoln never wear blue?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Did Lincoln have hair? Should we make him hair?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“So Lincoln only had a beard and Washington only had hair?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Does the white shirt thing have to face down? Why aren’t
they the same?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You will notice that Washington gets more of a
cravat-looking piece of white felt to mimic the ruffles, or “puffy shirt” as
our friend Seinfeld would call it. I explained that, due to there being decades
between their presidencies, the fashion had changed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I further explained that we just have more pictures of the
two presidents in those particular colors and it helps us differentiate between
the two. I told them they were welcome to vary the wardrobe. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Also, Lincoln probably had hair, some photos show it
thinning. He has hair on the penny. Washington may have grown a beard at times.
Maybe over long weekends when he didn’t have to hit the office. Or on game day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">They seemed satisfied.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We wrapped the whole thing up with drawing on faces and
attaching the magnets and they went along their merry ways-a little wiser about
former presidential facial hair. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihPz2VkSlPKJopcsRq7r8kobpgOcWLH7PcSwUcMbAHbFqMymXdz-tk0Egcb8IdRbNevtvfKfC59-1Ry8xmkdw0jU9FLF3PC-CfGQfHmL78RG0ss4J9i_L1tUQI8t20ii10WjkwVm68GohU/s1600/IMG_6563.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihPz2VkSlPKJopcsRq7r8kobpgOcWLH7PcSwUcMbAHbFqMymXdz-tk0Egcb8IdRbNevtvfKfC59-1Ry8xmkdw0jU9FLF3PC-CfGQfHmL78RG0ss4J9i_L1tUQI8t20ii10WjkwVm68GohU/s1600/IMG_6563.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHSB-qlSh0FdbVBi5laoinNA8J2i5BU5tfoeahVJJ23XDyfYXaiuGaq0qd1gAm26wJb5Cd5XzN3rL5kjPl1_ED4Jxv6rjXzmGvQHIicmTWqpsCbqG_PwFx8uOJxw8vMcvP02haNqaCiAnb/s1600/IMG_6564.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHSB-qlSh0FdbVBi5laoinNA8J2i5BU5tfoeahVJJ23XDyfYXaiuGaq0qd1gAm26wJb5Cd5XzN3rL5kjPl1_ED4Jxv6rjXzmGvQHIicmTWqpsCbqG_PwFx8uOJxw8vMcvP02haNqaCiAnb/s1600/IMG_6564.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Hopefully this will give you a little inspiration the next
time you feel like buying a new mattress doesn’t quite get the “Thanks for
being born, founding fathers,” message across! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB-uKUVeWharJyMvNOlI8g0A0r9EkM8K3IzyyEK_6tiOoXWAq7In_EmIMsJoY2utNhLvIm9K5WsB2uBm0rsFV9svQKCcpCBDCKx2FuILPdy8xddQcFDnJT1ladwlpnVZNCR93TOSplw7QK/s1600/IMG_6568.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB-uKUVeWharJyMvNOlI8g0A0r9EkM8K3IzyyEK_6tiOoXWAq7In_EmIMsJoY2utNhLvIm9K5WsB2uBm0rsFV9svQKCcpCBDCKx2FuILPdy8xddQcFDnJT1ladwlpnVZNCR93TOSplw7QK/s1600/IMG_6568.JPG" height="200" width="112" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>one of my very creative friends, Bella, made these guys!</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16207965002138357928noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7045153623869044931.post-1296043356013630862014-02-11T11:17:00.000-06:002014-02-11T11:17:36.152-06:00What I am Doing Until Curling Comes on Tonight
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<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3WMnyM5JQUVplHwFuDncCTNbWyzQPGpKg0v9ppfnGCyXGmOAz4FKxOtxMcVy0qAhwaXg4VhLLzUT-Xi4loQ39SfZm1YJgsjWD4cIbTXP72A1qukB2FqqW0gN85PlPJuAxqZkyJIQ75S-y/s1600/image+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3WMnyM5JQUVplHwFuDncCTNbWyzQPGpKg0v9ppfnGCyXGmOAz4FKxOtxMcVy0qAhwaXg4VhLLzUT-Xi4loQ39SfZm1YJgsjWD4cIbTXP72A1qukB2FqqW0gN85PlPJuAxqZkyJIQ75S-y/s1600/image+copy.jpg" height="159" width="200" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As I sit here on another “not-snow-day” during the coldest
winter in history, I felt it necessary to put in the classic film, <i>Spies Like Us. </i>Also fitting, considering
the current Olympics in Sochi. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Well, maybe that’s a stretch. Nevertheless, I
felt it an appropriate Cinematic choice. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As I sit here and write, I have a lovely view of our
fireplace. It makes me very happy. It
may not be Pinterest-worthy but it is Evans-worthy so we’re all good. I should be writing for work, but the fireplace is inspiring me to write this first.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">On the last “almost-snow-day” when the kids were released 20
minutes early but there was really only ice to play with, the youngest child
and I worked on lightly decorating the house for Valentine’s Day. We just used
what we had on hand.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I am not suggesting that everyone has on hand what we have
on hand. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have a problem. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I admit it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We have a pretty well stocked mini-Hobby Lobby in the front
room.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Anyway, to make our paper heart garlands I got out some
different shades of pink card stock and some card stock printed to look like
old letters. I sliced them up into strips about 11” long. They were roughly an
inch wide. I didn’t measure. I eyeballed. Measuring takes patience, time and
caring that they are all an inch wide. I had none of those things.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGJnsycAOvoEAseHVlhYT7g77Ue-pWNm2QCQ59e26BernZFJ-eskMGKDgQANaKSH7PQto8JqfDA2_B3qW-OQEMLfz5A_Hs5MSpS4F68QcMcFefJO1GY7Ns2DR-JDtOegk7TQ_s9AJEpQ1-/s1600/IMG_6213.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGJnsycAOvoEAseHVlhYT7g77Ue-pWNm2QCQ59e26BernZFJ-eskMGKDgQANaKSH7PQto8JqfDA2_B3qW-OQEMLfz5A_Hs5MSpS4F68QcMcFefJO1GY7Ns2DR-JDtOegk7TQ_s9AJEpQ1-/s1600/IMG_6213.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTp1WaJC_wpJCPaCXBPH7w6Qk8HUV6Lf2ENq3R99HisNolPg-9jWZkPEheAhV5rDeNgy9kdrB6hYUE6mSOLXA_VmmYfKTGxBw9MBRQkUyOiZNpXBQa3l8t0B-8nl70Rzw3_WO9eYPgy8Cc/s1600/IMG_6214.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTp1WaJC_wpJCPaCXBPH7w6Qk8HUV6Lf2ENq3R99HisNolPg-9jWZkPEheAhV5rDeNgy9kdrB6hYUE6mSOLXA_VmmYfKTGxBw9MBRQkUyOiZNpXBQa3l8t0B-8nl70Rzw3_WO9eYPgy8Cc/s1600/IMG_6214.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I started this process while the kids and their friends were
out playing in the “snow”. That ended fairly fast and they came back in for a
cocoa break. Well, it started as a cocoa
break. It ended up as a “We don’t want to go back out there at all for the rest
of the night,” break. It was pretty stinkin’ cold.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv_aMjnmjarkg9t0sYMF43i-fRF8lZ2W6CLTGD6AxzaxyNrCMofw-T7kP0lHvgmlaT8hHlGqNKI6n6lsbim81BPdLO_WOj2nOnasZcUh4mWOZ3U2uWghB-i6rofBXO9x2-UVJlVuhcVBAp/s1600/IMG_6191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv_aMjnmjarkg9t0sYMF43i-fRF8lZ2W6CLTGD6AxzaxyNrCMofw-T7kP0lHvgmlaT8hHlGqNKI6n6lsbim81BPdLO_WOj2nOnasZcUh4mWOZ3U2uWghB-i6rofBXO9x2-UVJlVuhcVBAp/s1600/IMG_6191.JPG" height="200" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Doesn't Molly look cold?</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">*Neighbors to and from the north, this side note is for you:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We know that 19 degrees is balmy, t-shirt weather for
you. We know. <i>We know!</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But for us, 19-degree weather is hibernate and put on
forty-five layers, like Randy from <i>A
Christmas Story,</i> weather. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Please do not email me scathingly condescending comments
about our wimpiness. Talk to me in August when you are melting in 85 degrees and we are doing yard work in 114.
So there! (Sorry, the cold makes me grumpy)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So as the mass of kids downed their cocoa and took off around the house, the decorating continued.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghNCvix4jfU3O_oOU00piQM4itoxlzAgGsWcKafpATbXJVNSnCaB_2tEme5sp0rrkp-RtaoHahgR2ra3tkYHfLEELQW_E9duRTv6ezRy047WL0XmVddBFc_vYNaNxGUdQihZdILt4433uX/s1600/IMG_6202.JPG" height="200" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>How cute are these marshmallows???</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghNCvix4jfU3O_oOU00piQM4itoxlzAgGsWcKafpATbXJVNSnCaB_2tEme5sp0rrkp-RtaoHahgR2ra3tkYHfLEELQW_E9duRTv6ezRy047WL0XmVddBFc_vYNaNxGUdQihZdILt4433uX/s1600/IMG_6202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p> </o:p>The youngest child, who can sense any crafting in a
fifty-mile radius, appeared out of nowhere.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Can I help you?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Yes”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Can I punch holes?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Yes”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“We can set up a system. You can fold the strips and I can
punch the holes in them.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Sounds good.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So we did. I folded all the strips in half and passed them
to my hole-punching comrade (see what this movie is doing to my vocabulary?).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaqQyo4ZkjvDEnghM26yzfJ42Qx1attEzj5npJIZeibk363fHT1OskcZ1_Qm54ChfMjsi-05Q0aLwsL2sLYWthv7Uj-NBY2WDFLSQJhy_2toSYYVz0lcRXYN2EYJ1O_OL0qBs_9aAsxFkV/s1600/IMG_6216.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaqQyo4ZkjvDEnghM26yzfJ42Qx1attEzj5npJIZeibk363fHT1OskcZ1_Qm54ChfMjsi-05Q0aLwsL2sLYWthv7Uj-NBY2WDFLSQJhy_2toSYYVz0lcRXYN2EYJ1O_OL0qBs_9aAsxFkV/s1600/IMG_6216.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCVsRlAhiRur-WSEvNglBXeHVgd7z-gKwzktZYNZTANBBQrWJQzJfndVQkHl27JMHerRCcvH5m29DAVLTBfGDTD21eL2OEY1rEW0ZXMgqYxhZJA3pVkTk69tm9QS6mwQRDuK-L3RhkIeRQ/s1600/IMG_6217.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCVsRlAhiRur-WSEvNglBXeHVgd7z-gKwzktZYNZTANBBQrWJQzJfndVQkHl27JMHerRCcvH5m29DAVLTBfGDTD21eL2OEY1rEW0ZXMgqYxhZJA3pVkTk69tm9QS6mwQRDuK-L3RhkIeRQ/s1600/IMG_6217.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The next step was to twist the strips in and glue each end
to the other with glue dots. This makes the heart shape.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjruni9wyfxZR1WX5ekgJhpJ-GOKULHvKYb_1E4mGthNsYOr4fjCJBA9L-pq-ynRr1UFp4D7cBdtXgW3fKNRU5jddzm6yq7HtgQcz6w3U7Ks055yat9cxDvj89rk9Otp364UQSwHJ-YFpw7/s1600/IMG_6220.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjruni9wyfxZR1WX5ekgJhpJ-GOKULHvKYb_1E4mGthNsYOr4fjCJBA9L-pq-ynRr1UFp4D7cBdtXgW3fKNRU5jddzm6yq7HtgQcz6w3U7Ks055yat9cxDvj89rk9Otp364UQSwHJ-YFpw7/s1600/IMG_6220.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDQTsN443_cZaA-AwWXBZ2k2_ysB0CjKH8QzElkPclW0bKn7EEhyYs1XRVsRtYKkBpI7BAURKZmEG4s32KWBXahNpNMA4PVUF8L_jv9-tuTpD-3pBdIiC0YlGlD-Gd4WHoWORIFgMv4kLR/s1600/IMG_6221.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDQTsN443_cZaA-AwWXBZ2k2_ysB0CjKH8QzElkPclW0bKn7EEhyYs1XRVsRtYKkBpI7BAURKZmEG4s32KWBXahNpNMA4PVUF8L_jv9-tuTpD-3pBdIiC0YlGlD-Gd4WHoWORIFgMv4kLR/s1600/IMG_6221.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjADONyiZ_G96WFnRO6h02DA1AScF8SZ5NO4lXU6EhIXnuPmNWoA6VHJz8WV7zzT2PPlHv1Z-tpx9O1YLrWayWWRvWrabfCZJgQxTz5n9hO8KTHwyM6-YTw-Xll7jhWhPJ88hPHNb_llRgi/s1600/IMG_6222.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjADONyiZ_G96WFnRO6h02DA1AScF8SZ5NO4lXU6EhIXnuPmNWoA6VHJz8WV7zzT2PPlHv1Z-tpx9O1YLrWayWWRvWrabfCZJgQxTz5n9hO8KTHwyM6-YTw-Xll7jhWhPJ88hPHNb_llRgi/s1600/IMG_6222.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My plan was to string the hearts on twine through the center
hole and they would hang all catawampus. I have made a paper heart chain like
this before, but quickly realized that I had used much thicker twine so it
worked better that way.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTi-FNvUvWlhDuMHAS4X1ViFEu_1C9ajGQgUZxUVnkvFzmCvH75se40ny1_-mfxjZGbSi-S3xEkwOHFVI3Cs6dzYnd5rTOJscF3q5u5j4tX6PHN6cS3mk6e1jIbR7sLxoLWEXRrZBzE043/s1600/IMG_6223.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTi-FNvUvWlhDuMHAS4X1ViFEu_1C9ajGQgUZxUVnkvFzmCvH75se40ny1_-mfxjZGbSi-S3xEkwOHFVI3Cs6dzYnd5rTOJscF3q5u5j4tX6PHN6cS3mk6e1jIbR7sLxoLWEXRrZBzE043/s1600/IMG_6223.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As I tried to come up with a solution that wouldn’t make the
hearts all clump up on the thinner bakers’ twine, the youngest child said, “Why
don’t we punch holes on each side, too. Then they will line up and not bunch
up.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Ah, the orderliness of this kid’s brain both scares me and
fills me with pride.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She may also have just been trying to punch more holes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“We can save all of these paper punches. They are really
pretty and look like ice cream sprinkles,” she said. “My art teacher needed
these this year for our ice cream project so we can save these so next year she
won’t have to use glitter.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlw2BYW6nQcAcYfiVujncr2Jq0WpkmTU2gjMbSEi9olPjpKUYwgYnKpDootmUfYW3deYTUN4MXi5OFePVob8smxou4EPT_Oi5mCMPzMj_QoS6Adv-ubRv3zWkrLHOJEl0bJ9TA2kUdv3Z3/s1600/IMG_5963.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlw2BYW6nQcAcYfiVujncr2Jq0WpkmTU2gjMbSEi9olPjpKUYwgYnKpDootmUfYW3deYTUN4MXi5OFePVob8smxou4EPT_Oi5mCMPzMj_QoS6Adv-ubRv3zWkrLHOJEl0bJ9TA2kUdv3Z3/s1600/IMG_5963.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Shout out, Mrs. Lake! We have paper punches for you. You
just need another fifteen cups or so and you should have enough for school!
I’ll get the child right on that.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She was right, the hearts strung much easier on the twine
with the extra holes on the side. She punched, I strung, and kittens batted and
swatted the finished hearts. Soon, we had enough to wrap the bannister and
string on the fireplace.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhldEfa4IjXHVJlbyK3SuP7BfS34_8DK-liUKEiahMPElgNBHdmvToKuUpyRTyHIYkIthUvSE56xhZdi5eea_rIqwFp4pYDa-dU-M6-yfi6-FAen4kx-MvkTtlHF203ls_6_NMmAFjCyJVv/s1600/IMG_5962.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhldEfa4IjXHVJlbyK3SuP7BfS34_8DK-liUKEiahMPElgNBHdmvToKuUpyRTyHIYkIthUvSE56xhZdi5eea_rIqwFp4pYDa-dU-M6-yfi6-FAen4kx-MvkTtlHF203ls_6_NMmAFjCyJVv/s1600/IMG_5962.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrps9pHrL-ISdW6MOTN8urKWZiREcma_yQiHyZnDhMFsP8qDpLtUstxA4FYMqbnjER8dFc0X37NWkx1lziC3_vWT5H8N6jj-zowFBIsKeTyAaoOlHK3gqmSDt2kwdb-cnALKbjKOt2zXGC/s1600/IMG_6141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrps9pHrL-ISdW6MOTN8urKWZiREcma_yQiHyZnDhMFsP8qDpLtUstxA4FYMqbnjER8dFc0X37NWkx1lziC3_vWT5H8N6jj-zowFBIsKeTyAaoOlHK3gqmSDt2kwdb-cnALKbjKOt2zXGC/s1600/IMG_6141.JPG" height="200" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0RfvqP2Iv27KtdmuoXGPf2Q-avtfeyDsKqdwwp093WG0ClskptoUOFv_O3WBSficOtC2qRRo00NE-uJ1gW9ZHZUCD6NKQHClVEpBlD-aB5u-hagJlv7i_vH6_83IItgUHONklgq-FUFgr/s1600/IMG_5964.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0RfvqP2Iv27KtdmuoXGPf2Q-avtfeyDsKqdwwp093WG0ClskptoUOFv_O3WBSficOtC2qRRo00NE-uJ1gW9ZHZUCD6NKQHClVEpBlD-aB5u-hagJlv7i_vH6_83IItgUHONklgq-FUFgr/s1600/IMG_5964.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></span></div>
<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_prIlpk_ULRW5wyJHKtw_q2rzL9oMUlF11qQGCdNYJWfSPCVFbNDJ_3O72R6h8Ai5LktqcmrWGcR2DcsxwAIg6Bm3OT0pB7I-73jx7U2rUeKDVNQv-YBfj8i7FZAUTdz3jmyrGozxMXo4/s1600/IMG_5969.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_prIlpk_ULRW5wyJHKtw_q2rzL9oMUlF11qQGCdNYJWfSPCVFbNDJ_3O72R6h8Ai5LktqcmrWGcR2DcsxwAIg6Bm3OT0pB7I-73jx7U2rUeKDVNQv-YBfj8i7FZAUTdz3jmyrGozxMXo4/s1600/IMG_5969.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheTbzZjgRO0XTuK6Ui2r3mci9QgdPzyWG2-la9HCSGO6Eh8nZlhdBgqyLTpgDxEPrEdmAljQG43BGQ0SjGAvIrC7mhfuWIDj3FteKxyeMHSLchpC7lB7q1nVqoECnXT3vJR2QjB03BORMw/s1600/IMG_6208.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheTbzZjgRO0XTuK6Ui2r3mci9QgdPzyWG2-la9HCSGO6Eh8nZlhdBgqyLTpgDxEPrEdmAljQG43BGQ0SjGAvIrC7mhfuWIDj3FteKxyeMHSLchpC7lB7q1nVqoECnXT3vJR2QjB03BORMw/s1600/IMG_6208.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_mCGfz0HWcr4Rbnlc0jTn46nMQq7V2pzn6CVxLkGUI0amvAUbBvkJ7F_D59b_XYnYUzwt20lV2usowQWwSteEuy6OLFzCIIpFtxs6L8lRR9ZEq9JVg923qJHUbqzd8L32sUjAmNA62WAb/s1600/IMG_5972.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_mCGfz0HWcr4Rbnlc0jTn46nMQq7V2pzn6CVxLkGUI0amvAUbBvkJ7F_D59b_XYnYUzwt20lV2usowQWwSteEuy6OLFzCIIpFtxs6L8lRR9ZEq9JVg923qJHUbqzd8L32sUjAmNA62WAb/s1600/IMG_5972.jpg" height="200" width="185" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">"What are you people doing down there?"</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A few punched-out hearts taped on our “fake” candles on the
mantel added an extra detail for about two minutes worth of work.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The canvases the girls already painted last year are already
perfect for the theme.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg737SfhqokcP5D8XtNk7rXtECeRgu3MtyEPiq0kFOkXEOfg1YoSlavMbcr4YAlP9fM_5bzeWLrgnLo4MBNnojAo6uuCcuAgl3KkMkZrr7U0uuDDOZKqvyCxqQjMGsQJlCz5Lk6cC2wQiL7/s1600/IMG_6272.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg737SfhqokcP5D8XtNk7rXtECeRgu3MtyEPiq0kFOkXEOfg1YoSlavMbcr4YAlP9fM_5bzeWLrgnLo4MBNnojAo6uuCcuAgl3KkMkZrr7U0uuDDOZKqvyCxqQjMGsQJlCz5Lk6cC2wQiL7/s1600/IMG_6272.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The youngest child was very happy to have helped make the
house “beautiful”.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“This is a really good project for kids to help make,” she
said. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">True.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Perfect for icy, cold, stuck-inside days.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The little burlap banner was easy, too, but took a little
more work, wonder-under, an iron and sewing. I can share if anyone is
interested.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfJYeDzejVcUakz6qH4kRnD2wo7KPmU2HX_Y6gSSPFMziWys5n_CxsME1Ha8QUl9_u6MXBzxys6W9jctl0TonWvTyrLimXw2xN_I1Y-aWMYKAorI5z-5fXl1iMOx1jWNIsaQ7MURfoBQB1/s1600/IMG_6303.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfJYeDzejVcUakz6qH4kRnD2wo7KPmU2HX_Y6gSSPFMziWys5n_CxsME1Ha8QUl9_u6MXBzxys6W9jctl0TonWvTyrLimXw2xN_I1Y-aWMYKAorI5z-5fXl1iMOx1jWNIsaQ7MURfoBQB1/s1600/IMG_6303.JPG" height="200" width="200" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Have a Happy Valentine’s Day!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16207965002138357928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7045153623869044931.post-11219071256575928992014-01-26T14:24:00.001-06:002014-01-26T14:24:48.266-06:00Under Pressure (You Know, The Song Vanilla Ice Didn't Rip Off-Wink Wink)
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<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">About two years ago I started this blog. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Seriously, two?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I know! Time flies when you are wasting vast amounts of precious
cleaning time making even more messes! Heaven!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Over the last two years there has been a metamorphosis of the purpose
of the blog. Not unlike a caterpillar turning into a beautiful butterfly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Okay-actually nothing like that. At all. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">However, there were distinct stages:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Stage 1.</b> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I am so optimistic! I will blog every day and do a gazillion
projects with the kids and chronicle them all with love and witticism and there
will be beautiful photography and I will also get everything else in my life
done on time and at the end of each year I will print out and bind copies of
the blog that my family will cherish forever and ever and the extended family
can read the blog and feel like they are here with us!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Exhausted yet?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Stage 2</b>. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Wait, maybe the blog can steer us toward a greater purpose. Maybe
we can aim for one charitable project a month to handmake together. We've done
blankets. We've done pillowcases. We can do this! We will make dresses for
girls in Africa and beanies for preemies. And surely I will blog a few times a
week. And no pressure...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Stage 3.</b> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Well, the kids are on to me. They notice as I take furtive notes
and photos and ask things like, "Is this for the blog?" It is
harder to capture organic moments in lieu of "performance crafting."
But I will blog at least once a week. Cross my heart and hope to...wait, what
was I writing about?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Stage 4.</b> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A lot of people have told me I should try to get advertisers
for this thing. "Look at all the blogs out there making money," they
said. "You are just as good as they are." They said. So I
investigated. I brainstormed a list of potential projects to have in the queue, and even made a Pinterest board of blog fodder. I researched taking the blog
private and changing the name. And wrote at least one blog that month.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Seeing a trend yet?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Stage 5.</b> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm tired. Tired of coming up with cool ideas that WEREN'T
from my Pinterest board and having people say, "Oh, is that from
Pinterest?" </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">No! From my brain! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Tired of the pressure from Pinterest-esque
culture that sneaks around in my subconscious saying, "Is that really a
cool enough project?" Tired of forcing posts to get something on the blog.
Tired of trying to make the blog "awesome".<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Guilt. Did I blog? Did I remember what the girls said correctly? Did I
get enough pictures? I have to do that tonight. Have to. Have to.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Strayed from the original heart of the blog. Tsk tsk tsk.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Burnout, party of one? Burnout?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I am now throwing the blog in the category of my Etsy shop. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I LOVE TO DO THIS BUT OBVIOUSLY NOT COMMERCIALLY!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Do you have something that calms you, gives you joy, makes other
people happy and warms your heart? What happens to that when you HAVE TO do it?
Does it shrivel up and lose its luster? I get it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So I took a hiatus and enjoyed my family offline. Crazy, right?!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Stage 6.</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I am starting
afresh, determined to return to the beginning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Vizzini told us to go back to the beginning!"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Like Inigo and Fezzik I am back at the beginning. Chronicling
adventures with the fam. Actually a little less pressure than stage one. Certainly
I now have no delusions that I will blog daily. Ha!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It will be fun and not forced. Organic, not manufactured or rushed. It
will be on our family's timeline. I still make things for gifts and for friends
to give as gifts but then I know it is personal. And that makes it fun.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I am happy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I hope you are, too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Happy New Year!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Emily</span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16207965002138357928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7045153623869044931.post-13289028610909171502013-12-10T22:00:00.000-06:002013-12-10T22:00:52.372-06:00Icepocalypseageddonapalooza 2013
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Allow myself to introduce…myself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Wait, have I used that one already? One of the last times I
took F-O-R-E-V-E-R to blog? Well, if I did, then you already know who I am.
Welcome back!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We have been recently enjoying, hibernating, coping,
suffering (pick your most realistic experience-I like people to feel
comfortable here) through the Icemageddon 2013. Or Icepocalypse 2013. Again,
pick your poison.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">For those who haven’t been watching the extreme
second-to-second weather coverage here in the metroplex, we had an ice event.
Not snow, ice. We had two days out of school and any semblance of normal life, bookending
a weekend. Four days of extreme togetherness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL9e_t5D76S-fgIc8pjUbSp-VlHd0rBYsHHdevzd0NobO1QoyU_7Gchax1IXFRx03gNi1cckexuv1ese-IYvl8ifeWPE69KAAoRfBichyCOCWEJDuQKKbHdjFKwZUl5Qpc_mcXmMuv78o9/s1600/IMG_4901.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL9e_t5D76S-fgIc8pjUbSp-VlHd0rBYsHHdevzd0NobO1QoyU_7Gchax1IXFRx03gNi1cckexuv1ese-IYvl8ifeWPE69KAAoRfBichyCOCWEJDuQKKbHdjFKwZUl5Qpc_mcXmMuv78o9/s200/IMG_4901.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Car is in, ice can fall now!</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmubkCdTua6344lcd6q9W0Q8eqctViZueolzW4Tr0dwUK6VgUZ4znFGGWXwqv454LY1B9Oq0rx3sQaWMPMgpQBI-oexG_RaeVDSPab6_e7omHE7PzZzYshWiKFfdhDqOeXYBJzuIfCUE7t/s1600/IMG_4892.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmubkCdTua6344lcd6q9W0Q8eqctViZueolzW4Tr0dwUK6VgUZ4znFGGWXwqv454LY1B9Oq0rx3sQaWMPMgpQBI-oexG_RaeVDSPab6_e7omHE7PzZzYshWiKFfdhDqOeXYBJzuIfCUE7t/s200/IMG_4892.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The garden is ready for the sleet!</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We started this adventure by doing the age-old “Is it
cancelled?” dance. We have upgraded from staring at the crawl at the bottom of
the news to staring at the crawl down the feed of our Twitter pages. We are so
advanced.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">At the point Thursday night that they finally called no-joy
on school for Friday, my heart leapt with joy. The joy of no alarm and no
making lunches. I hate making lunches. HATE it. H.A.T.E. it! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I digress.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">While the sleet and freezing rain fell, we ate hearty,
cold-fighting soup and pizza sandwiches. We watched the live version of <i>Sound of Music</i> snuggled under blankets
in our jammies by the roaring fire. Cue the idyllic music you hear in your head
when you look at a Norman Rockwell painting…wait, it probably sounds something like
the <i>Sound of Music</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4-Fvs2Ds_AuhoOKnXFCnmAMiwCiQxvsRbCcBsmJrfVBODGwiZt28843UWI-lcvF9-prYsaBufyT1JQ5_SMRJW-aLm62RxmYF8VMEL3nmsS8ek28y1FybVutq69FOuxT3ZqqsjHz4EFU9h/s1600/IMG_4904.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4-Fvs2Ds_AuhoOKnXFCnmAMiwCiQxvsRbCcBsmJrfVBODGwiZt28843UWI-lcvF9-prYsaBufyT1JQ5_SMRJW-aLm62RxmYF8VMEL3nmsS8ek28y1FybVutq69FOuxT3ZqqsjHz4EFU9h/s200/IMG_4904.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR5pMX-9xfCLHTdxZCXku5Rxt83cjT4h3apjmzPbbfXnJytY1o4DRPP1SbDgvG9lUAQrfUmOAS80WiLgmmgWLMFigTf8yNvcel_qK0pOqLL0BsEADl8kTA5QHhq5Ab-k0WXy4fj9eMfl1Y/s1600/IMG_4907.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR5pMX-9xfCLHTdxZCXku5Rxt83cjT4h3apjmzPbbfXnJytY1o4DRPP1SbDgvG9lUAQrfUmOAS80WiLgmmgWLMFigTf8yNvcel_qK0pOqLL0BsEADl8kTA5QHhq5Ab-k0WXy4fj9eMfl1Y/s200/IMG_4907.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Everyone fell asleep mid-show from apparent boredom and lack
of a stellar lead performance (though I must give a shout-out to the Mother
Abbess, Audra MacDonald. Killer pipes! Saved the show!) Carrie Underwood can
sing, but maybe not the best choice…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Snow (ice) Day One: We spent it sans the hubby, who was still
wending his way back from Hong Kong. It was fine, I had done the
Texas-prepper-grocery-store-stock-up the day before. We were replete with
movies, firewood, cocoa and, thanks to the school fundraiser, frozen cookie
dough. Oh, I also got milk and bread. I’m pretty sure it’s the law.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpskWD0ozFKG4rwYrPS-y6EDfLbBgrGe0UBHfAjfKwt0LqFznYBq820kIVjAEz_mIj4EyRbjipcZhRgYOTl43kwASq3MCJ-Q4OQqg7G_ZiakCMHqD4_bh1c1kSJ-5g6Ea6u-uMVsz7AcfN/s1600/IMG_4914.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpskWD0ozFKG4rwYrPS-y6EDfLbBgrGe0UBHfAjfKwt0LqFznYBq820kIVjAEz_mIj4EyRbjipcZhRgYOTl43kwASq3MCJ-Q4OQqg7G_ZiakCMHqD4_bh1c1kSJ-5g6Ea6u-uMVsz7AcfN/s200/IMG_4914.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs4uWUH1dqSHUGPZm7qXIckRPSfdZry3McfvlwtIO2g1Addbg9Hbts14VuEgiVgawtleOY6BWrgkNbomi8Tq9CJs2TXepA9kdlt0BvvOinG1-YroLikOTtYqM4L2GGgME0Os6nahTQYiCx/s1600/IMG_5018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs4uWUH1dqSHUGPZm7qXIckRPSfdZry3McfvlwtIO2g1Addbg9Hbts14VuEgiVgawtleOY6BWrgkNbomi8Tq9CJs2TXepA9kdlt0BvvOinG1-YroLikOTtYqM4L2GGgME0Os6nahTQYiCx/s200/IMG_5018.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilBn_Fc9GHrEr-JdMIX9P3u6-CR6qAIQFpuAnQ4u8Hx5eqFPbv5GrMwagxC4T2evQUbU4SBlEAeHV4Lm9_le2FBFaHBsp23_AeXqvanE5EE9x-gQ4nGX7W24SeiRuxd-BIBPfTdOFT36iS/s1600/IMG_4912.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilBn_Fc9GHrEr-JdMIX9P3u6-CR6qAIQFpuAnQ4u8Hx5eqFPbv5GrMwagxC4T2evQUbU4SBlEAeHV4Lm9_le2FBFaHBsp23_AeXqvanE5EE9x-gQ4nGX7W24SeiRuxd-BIBPfTdOFT36iS/s200/IMG_4912.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The day dawned grey. The air was filled with a frosty chill
and the sound of tiny ice shards bouncing off of the windows and roof. I know
because I was there. Awake. Because all three kids slept in until, oh I don’t
know, 6:45????? In the A.M. Seriously? The middle child actually ran around to
her sisters’ rooms yelling, “Hey! It sleeted!”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Ummm…was someone not paying attention last night?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And it began. The sleds Santa brought a few years back came
out. The kids got dressed like Randy from <i>A
Christmas Story</i> and went out to sled down the street. They met up with friends to sled, looking like
little hobo gangs, wrapped against the arctic chill. I mean, really, nobody
around here has appropriate, coordinated winter gear. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxwjWTVFbP8KONKIr3tZRPVr08ZVf4OELvI7s8ANv1jxmLPQuVXjNtjN0PNkAOoh63iLJ-4W_860usIXcNkTIxUptFomQv3LgWuprkL-25MvRg6PSwrXGvYD7Jyq2EKoz4gw6X6xtWkTu0/s1600/IMG_4928.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxwjWTVFbP8KONKIr3tZRPVr08ZVf4OELvI7s8ANv1jxmLPQuVXjNtjN0PNkAOoh63iLJ-4W_860usIXcNkTIxUptFomQv3LgWuprkL-25MvRg6PSwrXGvYD7Jyq2EKoz4gw6X6xtWkTu0/s200/IMG_4928.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheO1KHm9b0RU2z65UDT9g4R4ruz9NIQiEIPNkoTkJ_JqzD_QOLk-_cXdoZZB5f7vw-OjxqDqeqLKG9TUaV9J8HnioRNqCG3Jf2WRNWkOXcGMPAzzOiRAswbcMW7Tp8ISo7ixWxHtj_sDag/s1600/IMG_4954.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheO1KHm9b0RU2z65UDT9g4R4ruz9NIQiEIPNkoTkJ_JqzD_QOLk-_cXdoZZB5f7vw-OjxqDqeqLKG9TUaV9J8HnioRNqCG3Jf2WRNWkOXcGMPAzzOiRAswbcMW7Tp8ISo7ixWxHtj_sDag/s200/IMG_4954.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitFJnzlYCelt01WofBkcDVnyuH6nCf6QUrdYEYYGdRpEjfpUvWxidy16nMTnw0Aw1QiuP7faZ0P0SfGFiXKmQ8LYdRqFOxPtg6zBhxALSnXXjQmWV5wc9SKovjpgv6s-SvMtwrwZ_PpTXe/s1600/IMG_4938.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitFJnzlYCelt01WofBkcDVnyuH6nCf6QUrdYEYYGdRpEjfpUvWxidy16nMTnw0Aw1QiuP7faZ0P0SfGFiXKmQ8LYdRqFOxPtg6zBhxALSnXXjQmWV5wc9SKovjpgv6s-SvMtwrwZ_PpTXe/s200/IMG_4938.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxrIL5ci8hepuqTneD7wU_4JCy7bGehFTQYQ4K9naQx2WYg9EaGu5HQT8VbTbCNOwuVT_7hZeQJCRnhCRUScQRhDb5xU4MeaKRN-dHulvrUTgO65sKt0BZGaX75BRFVUZjldpywE6EMVe7/s1600/IMG_4967.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxrIL5ci8hepuqTneD7wU_4JCy7bGehFTQYQ4K9naQx2WYg9EaGu5HQT8VbTbCNOwuVT_7hZeQJCRnhCRUScQRhDb5xU4MeaKRN-dHulvrUTgO65sKt0BZGaX75BRFVUZjldpywE6EMVe7/s200/IMG_4967.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>This ice tastes awesome!</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiABlOEe1ZVunZrGSGHFVc4WUB7Z-ZpQjQINCukXW6AJ_m0pgqZldiblU9ZJgzv4iwElcE5z8nQ79aON69G0_mL_LOyMd674C0EpJwkxVjBEWDRsICetcFGqfARVJrJ4z9TXx6YMYor37Za/s1600/IMG_4989.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiABlOEe1ZVunZrGSGHFVc4WUB7Z-ZpQjQINCukXW6AJ_m0pgqZldiblU9ZJgzv4iwElcE5z8nQ79aON69G0_mL_LOyMd674C0EpJwkxVjBEWDRsICetcFGqfARVJrJ4z9TXx6YMYor37Za/s200/IMG_4989.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9RSqDBRzIzFr-j94uFCQExkuGel5rX8MUUgTGEb1GQ3VNLzoG0BoBvXAEUMMP0KTzJRYJ004iN0MgWQwF_wpWgSoYmV5OCDVI9E7NLF1wa5fnEXs4JgEOiiBbsqWQ6B5mT-OkL-oqW8kI/s1600/IMG_4993.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9RSqDBRzIzFr-j94uFCQExkuGel5rX8MUUgTGEb1GQ3VNLzoG0BoBvXAEUMMP0KTzJRYJ004iN0MgWQwF_wpWgSoYmV5OCDVI9E7NLF1wa5fnEXs4JgEOiiBbsqWQ6B5mT-OkL-oqW8kI/s200/IMG_4993.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So went a full day of sledding, sledding faster, eating
cookies, drinking cocoa, sledding more, eating soup, sledding into cars,
falling off sleds, crying, watching Christmas movies, eating cookies, drinking
cocoa, sledding again, eating pot roast, thawing by the fire and passing out on
sofas. Day One, Out.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKz5muOb9RXMkPwZeab0Bc5y6p-VW0zfvYFcXbo3jNwY4LCDMSnV5G5vhh51eZIT3yKjhP5haDKfZPTeTCvXdS1H5a-JY256DQ-CpfoRh4fu5havxLOoqP5k5t4BeiQLwhz2aEwhzpnkmi/s1600/IMG_5008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKz5muOb9RXMkPwZeab0Bc5y6p-VW0zfvYFcXbo3jNwY4LCDMSnV5G5vhh51eZIT3yKjhP5haDKfZPTeTCvXdS1H5a-JY256DQ-CpfoRh4fu5havxLOoqP5k5t4BeiQLwhz2aEwhzpnkmi/s200/IMG_5008.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>This is the one who sledded into a car.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy641Wrn32r9TmdsFSU-0IdYCoHBbhnOpV3-euwTAbQmzdgJyivfEIYRHreSTqpqBxw16I4xwJaW3Q_tBj3VD6_qTWKWKVqU7Be1fTtygWR2jbHgHfFpcPH0RLmabij1lCWxG4thTkQqK_/s1600/IMG_5020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy641Wrn32r9TmdsFSU-0IdYCoHBbhnOpV3-euwTAbQmzdgJyivfEIYRHreSTqpqBxw16I4xwJaW3Q_tBj3VD6_qTWKWKVqU7Be1fTtygWR2jbHgHfFpcPH0RLmabij1lCWxG4thTkQqK_/s200/IMG_5020.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5mNeaM8Qg4hiV7hxt2ofIYgreWdY4G4Oz4rWge6Ca0F_0MseNAwXodiGM-5JK1cxCYTDBNqik1fFQ8G4uzasrvTplVlTR-X1_y0L1hH6cYyd0-ZI0sNeDBQVIjcA25dn5ARwC3vhUkFQi/s1600/IMG_5034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5mNeaM8Qg4hiV7hxt2ofIYgreWdY4G4Oz4rWge6Ca0F_0MseNAwXodiGM-5JK1cxCYTDBNqik1fFQ8G4uzasrvTplVlTR-X1_y0L1hH6cYyd0-ZI0sNeDBQVIjcA25dn5ARwC3vhUkFQi/s200/IMG_5034.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The hubby made it home after a treacherous several hours in
a cab and hiking up our icy hill after being ditched by the cabbie (to be fair,
the hill was soon littered with abandoned cars-we have quite the hill). Yea!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Day Two: See day one, minus the treacherous drive from DFW.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif3gjlb7xt4Q5JAxvReYNzVLXngvtvfAIIwyYRbY9SkDGTT0-6OpnmHoRr9yKITNEOdBmQLNjRhVN9vhv8W_adelfj-aJZh4FFXBw4x-Xn5Bgw8UxomBMqSP-v-f_UIveKOq_6_EJ6ncEi/s1600/IMG_5002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif3gjlb7xt4Q5JAxvReYNzVLXngvtvfAIIwyYRbY9SkDGTT0-6OpnmHoRr9yKITNEOdBmQLNjRhVN9vhv8W_adelfj-aJZh4FFXBw4x-Xn5Bgw8UxomBMqSP-v-f_UIveKOq_6_EJ6ncEi/s200/IMG_5002.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzGriaBM7ArBU9ILcZOZCJDozvCaEKXHV_GGA0KLZDmw6AbH6gIQKSHF84kbLoSPFoaeJjFnHHsMiDQ7bbjde_t639ET2NujC_ab8dzLmMbE1wCsOj8gm6xSmpM_-pNwvKMW7KZP0-TjKJ/s1600/IMG_5014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzGriaBM7ArBU9ILcZOZCJDozvCaEKXHV_GGA0KLZDmw6AbH6gIQKSHF84kbLoSPFoaeJjFnHHsMiDQ7bbjde_t639ET2NujC_ab8dzLmMbE1wCsOj8gm6xSmpM_-pNwvKMW7KZP0-TjKJ/s200/IMG_5014.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP34hcvn5CVWvY-zH37TG3L0P5Jz3HPXN3-OEooNqOLbNPRyPR5f7IhCWY80IYHklFDpM9dXi1rT6Lfld2EQTIw19YrN4J8JAN9iZA8eAiGzTXvv8TMJqGaPOq5bkrll5CfFHpPgi3XV1C/s1600/IMG_5071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP34hcvn5CVWvY-zH37TG3L0P5Jz3HPXN3-OEooNqOLbNPRyPR5f7IhCWY80IYHklFDpM9dXi1rT6Lfld2EQTIw19YrN4J8JAN9iZA8eAiGzTXvv8TMJqGaPOq5bkrll5CfFHpPgi3XV1C/s200/IMG_5071.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Day Three: Christmas decorations came down from storage and
we watched the movie </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">White Christmas</i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">
as we do every time we put up the tree. The kids passed out again at 8:00-they
were tuckered out!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Day Four: No school again! I confess I was pretty stoked.
The hubby had to work from home and we did have to go to the orthodontist and
gymnastics, but there was more sledding, cocoa and cookies. And we went out to
dinner! Ahhh, Ye Olde El Chico!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">All in all we had a great break. An enforced slowdown. We
played together, created together, decorated together, ate together. We cooked
at home, did crafts, shared traditions and made some new ones. I never knew
that many rainbow loom creations could be made in one long weekend!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Some people were struggling with being “trapped” with their
families and having too much togetherness. I know I don’t know everything going
on in everyone’s lives, but I have to say I loved the time of snuggling
together in front of the fire with nowhere to go.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">People on Facebook said we would “Rue the day” they
cancelled school again and “curse these days” in the spring when we had to make
them up instead of being off in good weather.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">First of all, I rarely “rue the days” I get to spend with my
family, free from obligations. Even the holidays are rife with “have-tos”.
Secondly, the make-up days are May 23</span><sup style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">rd</sup><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, two weeks from the end of
school and stretching Memorial Day weekend into four days. No thanks! And June
6</span><sup style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">th</sup><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, the day after school was supposed to get out and probably 95
degrees already.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The kids went back to school today and I was a little sad. I didn’t miss the ice but I missed them. I’ll be okay. Only 10 more day until Christmas Break!</span></div>
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<!--EndFragment-->Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16207965002138357928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7045153623869044931.post-16431378122196872292013-11-05T12:06:00.004-06:002013-11-05T12:06:59.419-06:00Punkin Pandemonium 2013<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It all started back in 2012. October 31st, 2012 to be exact. It was a balmy day, about 20 degrees warmer than today, but with a light breeze. Something about the impending night of candy and costumes had me feeling nostalgic. Nostalgic for the old days of pumpkin carving, kids playing and neighborly fellowship. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So I wracked my brain for a solution. What to do? I had a few hours before the kids got out of school so I thought I would run to the store for some good old-fashioned punkins and throw together a shindig. It turned out like <a href="http://cartbeforethehorse.blogspot.com/2012/11/punkin-pandemonium.html" target="_blank">this</a>, as you may remember.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This year I had experience on my side, time to plan. I stocked up on punkin carving paraphanalia post-halloween at low, low prices and took some time over the year to collect nostalgic wares for the day.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What I failed to foresee was the apparent "Flower-Plex Punkin Shortage of 2013".</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I waited until the day before to get the punkins so they wouldn't be moldy or rotten inside. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Side note: I <i>know</i> I have been spelling it 'punkin' and not 'pumpkin'. Thank you for noticing!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">On the day before Halloween, there were no punkins left in our neck of the woods. None. Wait, no...there were some at that punkin patch but this was after closing time and I had no time on Halloween to get some. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I checked the top two grocery chains-3 stores each. All out.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The mecca of discount groceries and their red-bullseye counterpart: no mo' punkins.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I went to warehouse stores, hardware stores, even natural grocery stores. I called Corinth, Denton, everywhere!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Finally I found some at the Market Street in Coppell. Yep, this is an endorsement. Because they saved my Punkin Pandemonium. Thank you Market Street.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwI6TQbJlOGS4hJ3jrL6WRxi9ce6F32ZaZJeaWSmIEZUHmXgHb1x1IJx4gDxCNdcxIwlI35PbaJDjmawoO9JudBaZSffb8tt9yjvFoMXMtXh1qV0BjhPZOrlkdc7hy8kvq0jrhMvLhU1hP/s1600/IMG_3897.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwI6TQbJlOGS4hJ3jrL6WRxi9ce6F32ZaZJeaWSmIEZUHmXgHb1x1IJx4gDxCNdcxIwlI35PbaJDjmawoO9JudBaZSffb8tt9yjvFoMXMtXh1qV0BjhPZOrlkdc7hy8kvq0jrhMvLhU1hP/s200/IMG_3897.jpg" width="150" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So, punkins in hand, I forged ahead. I opened the event up to other friends in case they had a little time and a spare punkin, then gathered candy, snacks and beverages-all in the Halloween palette of black, orange, purple and green.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghPo_Ks20DJgiN964yX_JsC1ZTVPktMlYQhHbpgeJKdsQovjxv1TOW3DWRx2uS5ijX5xYXHs-8nd_GZWzYVvVh82XSX2H0jyvyPwf9LPSKWinwJLEu6oU5CxbI__JqWy58rVeCthlOySyc/s1600/IMG_3907.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghPo_Ks20DJgiN964yX_JsC1ZTVPktMlYQhHbpgeJKdsQovjxv1TOW3DWRx2uS5ijX5xYXHs-8nd_GZWzYVvVh82XSX2H0jyvyPwf9LPSKWinwJLEu6oU5CxbI__JqWy58rVeCthlOySyc/s200/IMG_3907.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyaa1MQPzeaBDK2cvx3cxVeYUHQtUO9peGxNtWLqpeD32Xr-4lwrYbC7nN9T_l0sL4gerxNVN2VkX-FSqGiWv-FwpLoJ3HUCJZSGYyHhRqwLZKygYX0a3kqzeR59H45YfdE4qYdsGzWqcw/s1600/IMG_3906.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyaa1MQPzeaBDK2cvx3cxVeYUHQtUO9peGxNtWLqpeD32Xr-4lwrYbC7nN9T_l0sL4gerxNVN2VkX-FSqGiWv-FwpLoJ3HUCJZSGYyHhRqwLZKygYX0a3kqzeR59H45YfdE4qYdsGzWqcw/s200/IMG_3906.jpg" width="150" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-KYGbpznr4-pbJl-dB45GAL1bO5ZtsZM-g6xoeh6GC7_ZPeOJIKKPc07RtrScQeYH08PCA1bRSV4YtMPC-lRE3CcQfgfaySsBw-qc5nO1lBePqBIunFLSu-V2iSkA9Eb5VNNJAAJxvk1M/s1600/IMG_3898.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-KYGbpznr4-pbJl-dB45GAL1bO5ZtsZM-g6xoeh6GC7_ZPeOJIKKPc07RtrScQeYH08PCA1bRSV4YtMPC-lRE3CcQfgfaySsBw-qc5nO1lBePqBIunFLSu-V2iSkA9Eb5VNNJAAJxvk1M/s200/IMG_3898.jpg" width="150" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I threw down a tarp, set up a "gut-bucket" and waited for the kids. We also planned a pot roast and salad thingy for post-pandemonium-pre-trick-or-treat nourishment. That isn't fun to look at so I didn't take pictures.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The kids came and ate. Spooky music played. Punkins were carved. Only one little mishap with a scraper. A quick triage and a few bandaids and we were good to go. Back in the game.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We did discover that the more detailed the carving, the more people had to work on it. Our family wound up with four punkins instead of five, but they all looked fine.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When I asked them each their favorite part of the soiree, all three kids, independent of each other, made the comment, "That was a good idea to just tape the number over the 2 so you didn't have to paint a whole new sign." Sooooo, that was the take-away? Sigh...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Well, I think it was successful anyway. There was plenty of laughing and fun. We will do it again. and next year, I will start the punkin hunt earlier. At least a day earlier anyway!</span><br />
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<br />Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16207965002138357928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7045153623869044931.post-69659689292586988822013-10-08T13:05:00.000-05:002013-10-08T13:05:18.984-05:00Arrrrrrr You Ready For Talk Like a Pirate Day?<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
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<!--StartFragment-->
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So, again we find ourselves together. If you are reading
this while sipping coffee, we are sharing a cuppa together, because I wrote
this while enjoying my own java. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My Gramma used to send me tea bags in the mail when I was in
college. Her notes read, “Now we can share a cup of tea together.” I could call
her and we would sip our tea together over the phone. I kind of wish we had
Facetime then. Still a sweet memory.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I digress. The title of this post is “Arrrrrrr You Ready For
Talk Like a Pirate Day?” We are paragraphs in and no pirate talk. I apologize.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A few weeks back (yes, I am super-tardy on this) was the
annual “Talk Like a Pirate Day.” September 19 to be exact. I know, because it’s
the same day every year-its that organized. You may have heard about it from
David Letterman or seen it on Facebook. An aside about Facebook-you can
actually change your default language to Pirate English. For Real! “Avast me
hearties, eighteen landlubbers be admirin’ that post”, and “2 scallywags be
havin’ a birthday’, etc. Genius!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I’ve loved this day for about 11 years now, since a former
co-worker opened our eyes to the day's greatness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This year, in the spirit of having fun/embarrassing my kids
whenever possible, I decided to go whole hog. I bought some cheap pirate hats
and eye patches, plastic pieces of eight and decided to start the day with
gusto.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1iEekLbK0sqvsky75dseaGFizLTY48O8R1umMJLgBNl5Ak-rAhn1A0iym4TkuF-_9T3MEBfV3nFa1VmG23aDW1l8too3_AEK4dPiMBqWPl7jqokXkCTSBrSrATtiFaKy4bs7GN29PYQxh/s1600/IMG_3445.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1iEekLbK0sqvsky75dseaGFizLTY48O8R1umMJLgBNl5Ak-rAhn1A0iym4TkuF-_9T3MEBfV3nFa1VmG23aDW1l8too3_AEK4dPiMBqWPl7jqokXkCTSBrSrATtiFaKy4bs7GN29PYQxh/s200/IMG_3445.JPG" width="149" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As the kids stumbled downstairs, one at a time (we aren’t
reeeeally morning people) they were greeted with blaring theme music from
Pirates of the Caribbean-“</span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Yo ho, yo ho, a
Pirate’s Life for Me!</i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">” and a sign that read:</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Avast, me hearties!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It be Talk Like a Pirate Day!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Eat up yer cannon balls, briny banana muffins and drink yer
arrrrr-ange juice or you’ll be walkin’ the plank!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I mean, how can you not have Arrrrr-ange juice?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I was a little lame on the other food. Grapes=cannon balls
and banana muffins=barnacles? Bilge? Nothing really sounded too appetizing. I
settled on Briny Banana muffins out of give-upedness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0uqIAM95qcfTh0SPa2UdGudslm7v0cEPHnuNCIPV3Wa3QTlPCcO4X3K8LXOCy_TeDifC11h6dy5CNpDkuok9phhP2BhkDsJXnQSIZCF-2BeopXs6-QOJdvSroKGeulxfI5XVQySWbkdZ-/s1600/IMG_3446.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0uqIAM95qcfTh0SPa2UdGudslm7v0cEPHnuNCIPV3Wa3QTlPCcO4X3K8LXOCy_TeDifC11h6dy5CNpDkuok9phhP2BhkDsJXnQSIZCF-2BeopXs6-QOJdvSroKGeulxfI5XVQySWbkdZ-/s200/IMG_3446.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">One of the kids got into the spirit and began pirate talk
and behavior immediately. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO5J8vmMLqX-9ZjRaXUyZtdUhVrh9HLb7IhzcS7-y_9VIPT2hxLKnfLpVZq01XFroI9p44XjmPyB4Pl9BfySdCLyugLgq1ldBqTtJxzLyuVcDoaZTwZbeeBjCRb8efwSGlAPztWEW2Gg7m/s1600/IMG_3448.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO5J8vmMLqX-9ZjRaXUyZtdUhVrh9HLb7IhzcS7-y_9VIPT2hxLKnfLpVZq01XFroI9p44XjmPyB4Pl9BfySdCLyugLgq1ldBqTtJxzLyuVcDoaZTwZbeeBjCRb8efwSGlAPztWEW2Gg7m/s200/IMG_3448.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And one child acted like I had donned a clown wig and tutu and danced in a public water fountain.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And not the kid you would think!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It was the middle kid-the one who is NINE!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I am NOT putting that hat on! It will completely mess up my
hair!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Oh, no she didn’t!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGrHX-chLdL66QyRmEl9TgE0A1LJ9hvV2nJEDwKpE9erNGyLDEvgT5gnK_HnA9sqGDF3lM7lpYPo52MzzAgJJK7fUcuLqsqMt0nt2ydWGZzi0oCGrRLyn0SCVTXMMQ6YxJ5Gpqw3kXiESq/s1600/IMG_3449.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGrHX-chLdL66QyRmEl9TgE0A1LJ9hvV2nJEDwKpE9erNGyLDEvgT5gnK_HnA9sqGDF3lM7lpYPo52MzzAgJJK7fUcuLqsqMt0nt2ydWGZzi0oCGrRLyn0SCVTXMMQ6YxJ5Gpqw3kXiESq/s200/IMG_3449.JPG" width="149" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“Pirates? Really Mommy?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Okay, point of order. If a child still calls you Mommy,
shouldn’t they still get into the spirit of things like “Talk Like a Pirate
Day” (TLAPD henceforth)?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Aye, Pirates. Fer real.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Ughhhhh!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Ye should be havin’ fun, ye landlubber or ye’ll be
keelhauled and swab the decks!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Insert teen-worthy eye roll here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“It be only happenin’ once a year.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I wish it happened NONCE a year!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">To which the youngest chimed in:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“You’re boring. You should walk the plank!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Nine year-old tongue firmly stuck out at sister.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I handed them their snacks for the day, goldfish packets
with “pirate catch of the day” written on the sides. They just shoved them in
without reading them. Oh, well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So, fast-forward eight minutes to when we had to leave for
school. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8W-Xiuq11UnaT3F9Mkfx7S5nc6-LIVfWqwrJppJPX9vzQ6polQdBkkl29P3dsOzjCgbIE4ahyphenhyphenoWyOsFrHlEhTUFaLunvuJgkebzkcgTq_K1w5KtuB3b2zDZZ1yvpn-88rZauHja8IS189/s1600/IMG_3452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8W-Xiuq11UnaT3F9Mkfx7S5nc6-LIVfWqwrJppJPX9vzQ6polQdBkkl29P3dsOzjCgbIE4ahyphenhyphenoWyOsFrHlEhTUFaLunvuJgkebzkcgTq_K1w5KtuB3b2zDZZ1yvpn-88rZauHja8IS189/s200/IMG_3452.JPG" width="149" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“You aren’t wearing that hat to drop us off are you?” middle
child said with horror.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Ummmm, I totally am now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Another aside here, I am not about child-shaming.
Dog-shaming? Knock yourself out because that is hilarious. But I won’t dress
down my kids in front of their peers, ridicule them or publicly discipline them
to excess. I don’t agree that that helps anyone. What I will do is go
old-school geek-parent on them. I will channel the curlers and bathrobe of old,
hanging out the car yelling, “Make good choices, sweetie!” when a kid gets too
big for her britches. And no-one. NO-ONE will suck the joy out of TLAPD!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And thus we went to school, the middle child making record
time exiting the vehicle. The youngest child sporting her hat and eye-patch. Awwww!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The eldest child came down to eat, put on the hat and I even
saw the flicker of a smile. It was like that cruise commercial where they
secretly film the teenage daughter and capture the elusive smile for posterity.
She even said, wait for it, “This is actually kind of cool.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Fanfare please. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">No, really, I would love to hear trumpets because this is a
huge deal! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm7UoChsmvT57nxZC5daO1U7wMCvJu4Hj6snGDWtm0SfRrKc5O8CzP6MYY36iFGvc-DQ4F6dMuBrom1QxtzUAh4roVcqFT3bUynbR8FVzyMn69jz-RAU6a3kOrBvTZ_qOEAmaFtuqpKdhT/s1600/IMG_3450.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm7UoChsmvT57nxZC5daO1U7wMCvJu4Hj6snGDWtm0SfRrKc5O8CzP6MYY36iFGvc-DQ4F6dMuBrom1QxtzUAh4roVcqFT3bUynbR8FVzyMn69jz-RAU6a3kOrBvTZ_qOEAmaFtuqpKdhT/s200/IMG_3450.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She had an eye exam/dilation later in the morning and even
threw on an eye patch over her little sunshade doohickey. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsac90XEUGbGk573y4KqHDDRXXVB-43Cqw0nj2uNUkmAx2VfVtEaGrTYAkfgVmYmzr8iG3WY5LGWSFf07XdJONMxnmmNmObKfY8iUtObQ4Qwv1YoahFjIf-ZEQDh96okA0JW-MSSMEkFIp/s1600/IMG_3453.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsac90XEUGbGk573y4KqHDDRXXVB-43Cqw0nj2uNUkmAx2VfVtEaGrTYAkfgVmYmzr8iG3WY5LGWSFf07XdJONMxnmmNmObKfY8iUtObQ4Qwv1YoahFjIf-ZEQDh96okA0JW-MSSMEkFIp/s200/IMG_3453.JPG" width="149" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I spent the day reveling in Piratey glee. Exchanging
pirate-isms with my fun friends and plotting my school pick-up revenge.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I waited patiently in the parking lot, resplendent in my
pirate hat and eye patch. iPhone in hand-again queued up to pirate music. I
stood outside the car. I have no shame (please note that I have, on several
occasions, dressed like a cow to get free food at Chic-fil-a and Chipotle.
Uh-huh.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I saw the middle child come around a bend and pushed play on
my phone. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“<i>Yo ho, yo ho, a
pirate’s life for me…”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Ahoy! It be the scurvy landlubbers back from school!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Oh. My. Goodness. If a pit of fire could have opened up
under me and consumed me and my wretched phone of doom, she would have danced
with glee. She looked very much like she wanted me banished forever. Success!
Sometimes you just gotta’ bring the crazy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The youngest child re-donned her pirate garb and sang along.
Aye, it be heartwarmin’ to hear!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As the middle child got in, grabbing for my hat, she said
“Did you have to write that stuff on my goldfish?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Lame.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Later, we swung by to grab fast-food. My pirate-food
creativity stalled out after breakfast and the hubby was out of town. Where did
we go? Obviously-Arrrrrrr-by’s! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As I pulled up to the window, I said “Arrrr-by’s! How many
people talked like a pirate to you today?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The previously-bored teenage boy stared at me and said,
“None. Until now. But that’s funny.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sigh.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Well, he’ll know next year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Signing off for now. Captain’s log complete. Read up me
hearties, yo ho!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGb-lo8YTB4HBqHM-IEWJMpbIiDUt0IJCMZIidtejbWZOEMWZsCdH3le626Clz_ZDUlQWory7KXYkXBUYXFU_kNCOfheeecakTYIWGeamF8rX_i5JtyCDtHTk3pifie7LwyYgA7G-P19ZS/s1600/IMG_3451.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGb-lo8YTB4HBqHM-IEWJMpbIiDUt0IJCMZIidtejbWZOEMWZsCdH3le626Clz_ZDUlQWory7KXYkXBUYXFU_kNCOfheeecakTYIWGeamF8rX_i5JtyCDtHTk3pifie7LwyYgA7G-P19ZS/s200/IMG_3451.JPG" width="149" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Every pirate needs a trusty companion!</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16207965002138357928noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7045153623869044931.post-69639417712893637152013-09-12T10:22:00.001-05:002013-09-12T10:22:39.218-05:00Run, Run, Run, As Fast As You Can. You Can't Catch Me, I'm The Gingerbread Man
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<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It’s time to get serious. I mean really serious. You have
heard me mention it before, but…my name is Emily and I have a pumpkin
addiction. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Whew! I feel so much better. It’s almost like the act of
baking or eating something with pumpkin magically conjures fall. As long as I
stay inside and out of the 95-degree heat…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtq4xycVAlrcQdjlGbx3zPqC4SjuuWLy8c07YufDX3TqEIQIsKSgY1XqffUrmuvgTBsi_z44x3eM5YogHfxyFZqCceSKNJAWLeEJ4DLxyNkg2eY-xFtXa2J8a-mgj8Q8tqMwcxoSxoulTl/s1600/IMG_3033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtq4xycVAlrcQdjlGbx3zPqC4SjuuWLy8c07YufDX3TqEIQIsKSgY1XqffUrmuvgTBsi_z44x3eM5YogHfxyFZqCceSKNJAWLeEJ4DLxyNkg2eY-xFtXa2J8a-mgj8Q8tqMwcxoSxoulTl/s200/IMG_3033.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNtppd1kWIeyOwA1JX1mYwbGVGRofLvDZXTVue-ATYMtbWwTM-yEq0OZXiILZAd1-mpcHMobD5hEBYUC_QVF6pIRG7VyGIowfOV_QbWz4dllgu3eT1NdjFBVL2ZlPEBzdO9nqOv8e3Sm7H/s1600/IMG_3034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNtppd1kWIeyOwA1JX1mYwbGVGRofLvDZXTVue-ATYMtbWwTM-yEq0OZXiILZAd1-mpcHMobD5hEBYUC_QVF6pIRG7VyGIowfOV_QbWz4dllgu3eT1NdjFBVL2ZlPEBzdO9nqOv8e3Sm7H/s200/IMG_3034.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Today is not about pumpkin, however. Today is about
gingerbread.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Whaaaat? Are you nuts? Are you one of those
psychotic-forget-about-fall- Columbus Day-Halloween-Thanksgiving-freaks who
starts listening to Christmas music in August and decorating after July 4<sup>th</sup>?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">No, but I did sneak in an early screening of “Elf” (It was
on cable, I didn’t actually put in the DVD) and I have my Christmas playlist
ready to add to my phone when the time is right. Just in the interest of full
disclosure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So the gingerbread thing? Don’t get too excited with visions
of yummy, spicy recipes. This is a craft. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Whomp-whaaaa….. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Stick with me, it’s a cute story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The youngest child, as you may know, likes to make her own
fun. Often. And bring us all in with her. We are often willing, because it’s
always interesting. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This kid comes up to me out of the blue and asks if I know
the location of her gingerbread man paper.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Seriously, she asked, “Mommy, where is my gingerbread man
paper?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I, being the omniscient mother, said, “What gingerbread man
paper?’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She looked at me with pity and disappointment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“The one my teacher gave me last year.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Oh. That one.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Here is where I kinda went into a Seth-and-Amy-style rant. I
kept it short.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Really? A paper you got last year? Really? When you can’t
even find the papers that you got at school yesterday? Really? Really?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I want to do something with it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Excellent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So, I used my bat-phone to call for help. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Actually I just texted her 1<sup>st</sup> Grade teacher and
asked if she had any idea what the child meant. She did. In no time, she texted
back a picture of the gingerbread man sheet. A little bit of me secretly hoped
she had no idea what I meant. But, the craft fates had other plans for me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcD6uKQfWekyiVVr3G7OT1UT-BjNnZdNYur9efO5s_0pj8wYWqPozNmcawpfR1mTUCphYcgTVZ-K6ZpmbtD4UKapSHm8YuYinCKf_Nx_6es0ZlOoDuPIDghrPUtz1809mcck6Gel91tDca/s1600/IMG_3051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcD6uKQfWekyiVVr3G7OT1UT-BjNnZdNYur9efO5s_0pj8wYWqPozNmcawpfR1mTUCphYcgTVZ-K6ZpmbtD4UKapSHm8YuYinCKf_Nx_6es0ZlOoDuPIDghrPUtz1809mcck6Gel91tDca/s320/IMG_3051.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I forwarded the photo to the child’s iPad and said, “There
it is! The gingerbread man paper!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Thank you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">That, I thought, was all. Soooo wrong. A few days later, I
saw her skulking outside her father’s office door, clutching the iPad to her
chest and humming. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“What’s goin’ on over there? You look a little sketchy.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I’m just waiting for daddy to get off the phone.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Okay, stalk away.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It became obvious after a few minutes that the conference
call would go on for a while. She left her post and disappeared into the craft
room. Shortly after her departure, the hubby came out of the office with a
sheet of paper in his hand-fresh off of his brand new printer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Did you print something?” he asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Nope,” I answered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Something about a gingerbread man?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You. Have. Got. To. Be. Kidding.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The youngest child skipped into the kitchen, said, “Oh,
that’s mine!” and skipped out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Let me assure you that we had never printed anything from
the iPads to a printer in our house because we lacked a printer with Wi-Fi
capabilities before that week. And the other point is that the child is seven.
I guess when you want to craft, you don’t want to wait. Necessity is the mother
of DIY I.T.? Something like that?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So a while later, there was an announcement:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Everyone please come to the kitchen. We will be doing a
family project.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We slowly complied, a little hesitant. After the printer
scene earlier, I was afraid her project might be to hack into the NSA as a
family. Turns out she just had stacks of cut construction paper, scissors and
glue. Whew! Low-tech project. Good deal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She picked up the gingerbread man paper and read the
instructions, handing each of us a piece of brown paper.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Draw your gingerbread man shape on here and cut it out
first. It can be a gingerbread girl or boy, I don’t care.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We all started sketching our ginger-people and cutting them
out. Occasionally, someone would say “Oh, mine has reeeeeeally skinny arms,”
or, “Wow, mine had a super-goofy body!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The youngest child continued.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Okay, now listen to all of my instructions and do what I
say.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Yes, ma’am.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“First, if you are a girl, cut out pink eyes and if you are
a boy cut out blue eyes.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Poor daddy, he’s all alone!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Next, if you are six, make an orange nose. If you are
seven, make a red nose. If you are eight, use green and if you are nine use
yellow…wait, only two of us are young enough to be on this list. Okay, if you
are over 10, use blue.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Logical. Good, quick fix.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipDKshLafeLFeu2nNh3HwbrpJRxx2O79e5iJ7DTfndnYRLiq3qwSN5psZrZXngOxxny1BYWVEkvFDlb8EW_HNywsvCDx7fQA_P2luvV56xtQE6Adccm-KSQmZKeB63IjilDGxxytK0u4e2/s1600/IMG_2723.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipDKshLafeLFeu2nNh3HwbrpJRxx2O79e5iJ7DTfndnYRLiq3qwSN5psZrZXngOxxny1BYWVEkvFDlb8EW_HNywsvCDx7fQA_P2luvV56xtQE6Adccm-KSQmZKeB63IjilDGxxytK0u4e2/s200/IMG_2723.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She proceeded down the sheet (You can read the steps on the
instruction sheet above for all the details) and we followed along. We cut and
glued and cut and glued. We wound up talking about family and hobbies, likes
and memories. It really turned into a fun and special project. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">For each band of white on an arm or leg, we talked about our
sibling represented there. When we got to the mouth, we had to choose which pet
we like best and make the corresponding mouth shapes. That got real, yo. “You
actually like Wesley better than Flash and Molly?” the youngest asked the
oldest, incredulously. “I like all of our pets the same.” So diplomatic.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">At the end, we all had a gingerbread person as unique as
each of us. I hung them on a magnet board by the front door to welcome people
to our home. A reminder of our fun day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--EndFragment-->Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16207965002138357928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7045153623869044931.post-47216286548475350242013-09-10T12:09:00.000-05:002013-09-10T14:54:28.430-05:00Bagging a Few Fall Crafts<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Okay, I am on creativity overload and spinning myself into a
craft/sewing vortex! Maybe I just need to get a real job…maybe. Let’s not go
crazy yet, just threw it out there. If I did that though, how would I run the
sweet mom-taxi? I can’t possibly deprive the kids of the daily joy of hearing
mom rock the “80’s on 8”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Since the kids went back to school, I’ve tried to be
productive (read, I spent some time drinking coffee, reading, watching old
awesome movies and ignoring the laundry monster).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I did plant some plants, pull some weeds, make a chore/food
plan and scrub the kitchen floor. On my hands and knees. For real. Who knew
that floor wasn’t a faux stone finish? It’s actually a fairly uniform light beige,
Huh! If that grosses you out, probably don’t look at my carpet.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The one thing that fall brings to the table (along with
school and pumpkin spice lattes) is the desire to craft. Why? Why is it so tempting?
It is certainly not the weather, since we’ve been simmering near or above 100
for the last millennia. It is just something that pulls me to the craft room and
the sewing machine. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Maybe it’s that Christmas gift giving is around the corner,
tempting us with the illusion of cooler weather. Maybe it’s the need for Halloween
costumes. Or that my kids really need some new cute stuff for football season. I
mean, we really haven’t been utilizing chevron to it’s fullest extent-we are so
behind. I may get kicked off of Pinterest. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Whatever the reason behind the autumnal craft urge, I’m
fully immersed in it. I have just found a super cute <a href="http://www.danamadeit.com/2013/06/new-pattern-kid-shorts-are-here.html#comment-213140" target="_blank">shorts pattern</a>. New shorts
in September? Please see above note on temperatures. I also got a new sewing
book with a pretty easy zipper-bag pattern, and Hancock Fabrics had a sale on
zippers the same day. Kismet! I have been a little busy the last week or so.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0rmxAfR0eKDqsg1jgy7VTE1OjsUwS_0er9WVa_y-3-9_u2S6K-Wmn-FTEISZIkRjRB-jX0yCapOHPZBhc8vm6YNjiFuridO5MhIWwrQP9ICC4ha1nKGUakJ07Wbi6prRqlnzrQWa21CFT/s1600/IMG_2894.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0rmxAfR0eKDqsg1jgy7VTE1OjsUwS_0er9WVa_y-3-9_u2S6K-Wmn-FTEISZIkRjRB-jX0yCapOHPZBhc8vm6YNjiFuridO5MhIWwrQP9ICC4ha1nKGUakJ07Wbi6prRqlnzrQWa21CFT/s200/IMG_2894.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ZOPAv7cPrL_3PGVI9kyQK1gXthCzoTZPfszWA2vkEAwdr9f8-reIwO6T1rOrTkzm8liXQ-Dz-y7h-5or_Y_sIcWXE2rYM9zWpLSunj-tzP6zVO0ai5BtGOVqPGn_hTjQ2O79_LXY082Y/s1600/IMG_2893.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ZOPAv7cPrL_3PGVI9kyQK1gXthCzoTZPfszWA2vkEAwdr9f8-reIwO6T1rOrTkzm8liXQ-Dz-y7h-5or_Y_sIcWXE2rYM9zWpLSunj-tzP6zVO0ai5BtGOVqPGn_hTjQ2O79_LXY082Y/s200/IMG_2893.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYaAMYgORMho0iW6X6mFurahe8jE3B7A7guAX0HOdqDGE51QFU3jLAe_t6qttxgE-VmlWAkIPRzPCwR48kqDz2TnXJymhYGe7PlrLTB7nio5SEamigrCYF4sbRgcXQ2TF-G3p1gc3xdKef/s1600/IMG_2939.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYaAMYgORMho0iW6X6mFurahe8jE3B7A7guAX0HOdqDGE51QFU3jLAe_t6qttxgE-VmlWAkIPRzPCwR48kqDz2TnXJymhYGe7PlrLTB7nio5SEamigrCYF4sbRgcXQ2TF-G3p1gc3xdKef/s200/IMG_2939.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The middle child was invited to a birthday party for her good
friend and I guess she was bitten by the craft bug too, because she decided
that she wanted to make some zipper-pouches herself as a gift. Excellent!
Simple pattern, straight lines, we’re golden, right? Oh, but there is that pesky
zipper. No worries! If she’s never tried to put in a zipper or been told it’s
hard, how would she know? She didn’t, and so it went very well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She combed through the fabric stash and found her favorites
for the project-yep, chevron. Look at us spreading the trend! She opted to do
one bag with denim on the outside and chevron inside and the other bag
reversed. I showed her the wide range of zipper colors and she said, “I think
we should just use white so that we don’t add too many colors to the scheme.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“The scheme.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She actually said it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I was taking some pictures of the project and she looked up at me, in all seriousness, and said, “It’s okay if you blog about this but please don’t do it until after I give her the gifts. It should be a surprise and I don’t want her mom to read your blog and tell her.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Like we have a super-secret, mom-plot designed to spoil all fun. Sheesh!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Anyway, she continued to make the pouches, rotary-cutting the fabric (with close supervision), pinning the fabric to the zipper and getting ready to sew. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV-uOXaXlHM_OwsppVrx3Y-JM_sctlXtMllS8QsgD-gUld9GTXm78nguJiLh1yIwQKxTE_ICQmA5tyE7VVrrgatNQ25iePeAee5JNUpZPGPMTaWEu9MFqa7wvNJW4Hv8RzQxx_qIf-5-VP/s1600/IMG_2922.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV-uOXaXlHM_OwsppVrx3Y-JM_sctlXtMllS8QsgD-gUld9GTXm78nguJiLh1yIwQKxTE_ICQmA5tyE7VVrrgatNQ25iePeAee5JNUpZPGPMTaWEu9MFqa7wvNJW4Hv8RzQxx_qIf-5-VP/s200/IMG_2922.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We hit a small snag when she realized she couldn’t reach the sewing machine foot pedal.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I’ll just add a box, no problem!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She set up the box and started to stitch.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“I love this zipper-foot! It’s so cute and little.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Slowly but surely she stitched her way around both pouches.
At each pin she stopped, rolled the needle down into the fabric, removed each
pin and then started again. She turned them right side out and ironed them
flat. Actually she didn’t want to iron so I did that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She was so proud of the pouches and plans to make more and
then some purses. Stay-tuned!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_mkRoeTiQjaFWfcrj0dSenhWLzL6t_dSdcpUmMiyISI4ZIV2Cc6PKbW0FS9KthT3luV5by2_KlO_4_6YbaJxyO0rFZpRFRFq050Mnde1jSCgljojCz5VYtfhlAfGgoVH7sSU9DM4ZJ3cK/s1600/IMG_2936.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_mkRoeTiQjaFWfcrj0dSenhWLzL6t_dSdcpUmMiyISI4ZIV2Cc6PKbW0FS9KthT3luV5by2_KlO_4_6YbaJxyO0rFZpRFRFq050Mnde1jSCgljojCz5VYtfhlAfGgoVH7sSU9DM4ZJ3cK/s200/IMG_2936.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Well, I have to go-probably should clean up the craft room so
I can make some more things… I probably need a pumpkin latte first.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--EndFragment-->Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16207965002138357928noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7045153623869044931.post-21529173229424613672013-08-23T09:41:00.000-05:002013-08-23T09:41:21.549-05:00Back to School Organization-Hope it Sticks This Time!<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“They're coming to take me away, ha-ha!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA;">They're coming to take me away, ho-ho, </span>hee hee, haa haa.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA;">To the happy home w</span>ith trees and flowers and chirping birds,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA;">and basket-weavers who sit and smile a</span>nd twiddle their thumbs and toes,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA;">and they're coming to take me away, ha-hahaha...”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Okay, soooooo you may think I’ve lost it. I haven’t
really. I just keep thinking of the lyrics to this song as I sit and try to
navigate all the back to school forms and websites and schedules, etc. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Three kids. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Three sets of online forms (11 pages each). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Three new activity schedules. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Three requests for spirit wear. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Three pair of new shoes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Three new backpacks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Three new water bottles.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Three new lunch boxes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Three bedtimes to slowly back up. Ha!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Three morning routines to slowly creep earlier. Ha,
Ha!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Two pair of new activity shoes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Two sets of new activity clothes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Two schools’ PTAs to join again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Two meet-the-teacher nights.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Two school-provided iPads to set up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Two crazy parents!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA;">I know, I know-everyone deals with it. And we only have three kids-other people have more kids and have to deal with more. In an effort to wrangle in all of the start-of-school
flotsam and jetsam that all parents contend with, I decided to get organized at
home. Or try. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA;">I know at seven, nine and twelve, the girls are a little old for real chore
charts. And let’s face it, I’m really not the best person to keep up with the
daily workings of a chore chart. we have tried laminated, magnetic, sticker charts. We have tried marbles and paper slips and more. I’ve never found a system that works for us. I usually just yell something like, "Seriously, clean your rooms or you will never leave the house again!"<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Effective.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA;">I am semi-organized. We have a magnetic fridge calendar
that corresponds to my phone’s calendar. It has color-coded activities for each
family member and is mostly up to date. It has eight weeks at a time and is the perpetual kind. You erase a week when it ends and add it to the bottom of the calendar then move everything up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA;">We also have a working lunch sheet that makes mornings a
little smoother. I will continue to roll that out each week this year. I
pre-print a list for each child at the start of the week. It has everything we
currently offer for school lunch choices and they circle what they want each
day. Catagories include Main Entree, Fruit and Veggie, Dairy, Grain, Snack and Drink. Circle one in each catagory. Easy Peasy, Lemon Squeezy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Xqsvto3ifyjatQUDRyY4EReqbZIdQpnhmfcTDKtfChpt1-vqQPaqgbi2OuW991exBK25LbSTt0yX9cPw80I-zSwazoIqxRP-fdgNQAUkjTnOHKbRdirV29wzVu14-Q5zh69XqWI4p8lH/s1600/menu+sheet+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Xqsvto3ifyjatQUDRyY4EReqbZIdQpnhmfcTDKtfChpt1-vqQPaqgbi2OuW991exBK25LbSTt0yX9cPw80I-zSwazoIqxRP-fdgNQAUkjTnOHKbRdirV29wzVu14-Q5zh69XqWI4p8lH/s200/menu+sheet+pic.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikhyzCcz2FEbtf4u7C4dj2rkObSlOgTnVj5xN9XyoqafgRZcNQzJqve_hkqaByla2QRFzlu6u1842bLGMtF3qjjmr-D5kNOQTB1EskxpVaghCPlK_h6zbUaCBwi-9GmAcwTo7ruLw-8Ask/s1600/fridge+lists+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikhyzCcz2FEbtf4u7C4dj2rkObSlOgTnVj5xN9XyoqafgRZcNQzJqve_hkqaByla2QRFzlu6u1842bLGMtF3qjjmr-D5kNOQTB1EskxpVaghCPlK_h6zbUaCBwi-9GmAcwTo7ruLw-8Ask/s200/fridge+lists+pic.jpg" width="150" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In that vein, I added a dinner menu, asking each
family member to provide their top five favorite meals. I compiled the meal choices, printed the list on patterned paper and put it in a cute frame. Each week we can make a quick dinner
list by everyone choosing one meal, using a dry erase marker on the glass. Next week,
wipe it clean and start again. The parents can choose the remaining two meals, making them "try a new meal" or "wild-card" picking one off the list at random. There is space at the bottom of the list to write in the "other" meals we choose if they aren't on the list.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIzs_5nRwoUoN6u99IhA3hN2vialRoVXj0jffA8_f6b7FVkoYum7bhMVpKMr-f8WvVvQbru7gKIzc-A1d99-kFuhBzpKF6ZIx6EcNPaL08tNUw-_3NJtg1TMTp-a6ibVnIcOLNldgWSI1z/s1600/framed+menu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIzs_5nRwoUoN6u99IhA3hN2vialRoVXj0jffA8_f6b7FVkoYum7bhMVpKMr-f8WvVvQbru7gKIzc-A1d99-kFuhBzpKF6ZIx6EcNPaL08tNUw-_3NJtg1TMTp-a6ibVnIcOLNldgWSI1z/s200/framed+menu.jpg" width="150" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I made a grocery list off of the lunch and dinner lists,
adding in other regular items we use and have it posted on the fridge. People
can circle an item when it runs out.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The eldest child was trying to describe this process to friends and said, "If we want food we have to..." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The remainder of her explanation was lost as they started laughing. I guess it sounds a little regimental if you don't get the whole story! I told her to describe it like this: "We get to choose the meals we eat as a family." Better?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA;">But chores.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Ack, chores!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA;">We all hate them. But what we hate more is the
constant, “Please do your chores. Did you do your chores? When are you going to
do your chores? If you don’t do your chores…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA;">We also don’t want to pay people for doing what they
should be doing as part of the family.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Dilemma.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Hence, the new system. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Using about 150,000 Pinterest influences, plus some of my own ideas, I mashed up a new system for us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA;">I made an Excel sheet of the basic daily and weekly
things the kids should do. Responsibilities. Part of being a member of this family
stuff. This is easy, doesn't-need-to-be-printed-on-a-list-at-all-really stuff, but to reboot our organization, I spelled it all out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA;">I printed it out on cute paper like the dinner menu
and framed each one. When their jobs are done, they can be checked off on the
frame glass with a dry erase marker. I assigned a $1.00 bonus for completing
all weekly responsibilities.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9TispXZg7_AKDs7bg62q51Uodd1ud-7uTwxWNG_p-BNk5myk9VwvQlOsN0SBBktEaexhs_Koq2-EorNBVIYH9hg-aB3dMypBY__DeENSKCiZ6z455n8cuAXVAwG1PYVXXmPyCir3Q21vS/s1600/framed+chore+chart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9TispXZg7_AKDs7bg62q51Uodd1ud-7uTwxWNG_p-BNk5myk9VwvQlOsN0SBBktEaexhs_Koq2-EorNBVIYH9hg-aB3dMypBY__DeENSKCiZ6z455n8cuAXVAwG1PYVXXmPyCir3Q21vS/s200/framed+chore+chart.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I posted their names above each one and hung the frames in an easily accessible space.</span></div>
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</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9FbSOFdq_E-jit1Vhzxe9Vv0WVABkCXTHOplw80DL7kHXnLAwMY1GzYQRP19RWFAVdcjUnx-x0cyYlSNmChpO6EbeV2tKgxNTXQud7m-UaybY1AS99wcPOjDHJvwERR16GWvTD-AvLD-c/s1600/chore+chart+wall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9FbSOFdq_E-jit1Vhzxe9Vv0WVABkCXTHOplw80DL7kHXnLAwMY1GzYQRP19RWFAVdcjUnx-x0cyYlSNmChpO6EbeV2tKgxNTXQud7m-UaybY1AS99wcPOjDHJvwERR16GWvTD-AvLD-c/s200/chore+chart+wall.jpg" width="150" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I then made a list of additional household chores
above their responsibilities. I assigned a cash value to each of these jobs
“for hire”. I wrote each job and the fee on a clothespin. The clothespins went
into a jar marked “For Hire”.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2woqejDjS3lQTeUTdKKuesjfEpa5A6VsLWNSj-eaFXCC_Km91ENNpKjBj4iRV90E6nxfFo3sQkb1v2lmgYbpotvHqsHA3Zlv4MhVCs6ilARSBxgnZiEBzjE-jTlUKufBfKwlD6B_gQ6lZ/s1600/for+hire+jar+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2woqejDjS3lQTeUTdKKuesjfEpa5A6VsLWNSj-eaFXCC_Km91ENNpKjBj4iRV90E6nxfFo3sQkb1v2lmgYbpotvHqsHA3Zlv4MhVCs6ilARSBxgnZiEBzjE-jTlUKufBfKwlD6B_gQ6lZ/s200/for+hire+jar+photo.jpg" width="150" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAd8XBT2XJaprFOeqqMY6PXCIHG7GMqZwBSHhyphenhyphen_AzZ7CzRCXlXfhukPTlLpNOhv4cqtadjf8e708pFZgupFIIASJtBybqggI6X8WSD5IAa_nxxPN9JRoGl3XxhNH7gQhf39DrmxTdrJodO/s1600/clothespins+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAd8XBT2XJaprFOeqqMY6PXCIHG7GMqZwBSHhyphenhyphen_AzZ7CzRCXlXfhukPTlLpNOhv4cqtadjf8e708pFZgupFIIASJtBybqggI6X8WSD5IAa_nxxPN9JRoGl3XxhNH7gQhf39DrmxTdrJodO/s200/clothespins+pic.jpg" width="150" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">On each of the girls’ responsibility frames, I tied a
loop of jute twine. When the girls want to earn a little extra cash, they can
pull a clothespin from the “For Hire” jar, complete the task, have it approved
and then clip the clothespin to their loop of twine on their frame.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiASHYZePUSGbaxSPgUpFb5TEtIizcAp18a4uDbx-YVs6PIA33RntRmGvY3j8xNrTGlmmDR9WI9AApzDI28KVKZnqay23-aX2uXqcuTBdrFaNv-NVgpcp1TFBTk3EkCU84AQw5rgIrQaj2g/s1600/clothespins+on+frame.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiASHYZePUSGbaxSPgUpFb5TEtIizcAp18a4uDbx-YVs6PIA33RntRmGvY3j8xNrTGlmmDR9WI9AApzDI28KVKZnqay23-aX2uXqcuTBdrFaNv-NVgpcp1TFBTk3EkCU84AQw5rgIrQaj2g/s200/clothespins+on+frame.jpg" width="150" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">On Sunday evenings, we will total up the money earned
on all of their clothespins and pay out accordingly. I will do the remaining
jobs in the jar for a Starbucks drink! Yay me!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The hubby and I have another list of chores that we feel are beyond the girls at this point or that we should just do because we are the parents. Things like cleaning the fridge and mowing are still on us. I made the daily and weekly breakout for us, too, but ours is on our phones.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA;">After the great weekly reckoning, and the doling out of the cash, the clothespins will go back in the jar for the next
week and the responsibility charts will be wiped clean for a new week.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA;">The dinner menu will be wiped clean and new lunch
sheets will be put up and we will Finnegan begin-again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Here’s to a great new school year and hopefully a
successful and stress-free organizational plan! Let me know if you have
something that works for you!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16207965002138357928noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7045153623869044931.post-76585882824731018012013-08-22T10:16:00.000-05:002013-08-22T10:30:32.987-05:00The License Plate Game is Soooo Last Roadtrip!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Whew, time to dust off the ol’ blog and crank out a new
post. Sorry. We’ve had an action-packed summer and not a lot of down time! The fun musical <i>Annie </i>occupied most of the time until our road trip to the World of
the Mouse.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Which was going swimmingly, mostly because the hubby had
us on the road by 4:45-in the a.m. Also, technology is a wonderful, mesmerizing
thing. I have to give some serious props to the kids, though. Five people in a
car, 965 miles in one day, and virtually no fights? It’s a record! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9_j1YW_yVhhDOqZ-IJCMNCWYgV4XvbsX6OIg77bNNzu5-wz8QsVaaCgCPDwMbZyEfgqT5hkSQYZQXAfBpaXukEkV0Jr4CrTqQGM2RCTFh2oYaj7wUmg8abvrtuobyRc_rTfrtF45zGVjA/s1600/car+pic+roadtrip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9_j1YW_yVhhDOqZ-IJCMNCWYgV4XvbsX6OIg77bNNzu5-wz8QsVaaCgCPDwMbZyEfgqT5hkSQYZQXAfBpaXukEkV0Jr4CrTqQGM2RCTFh2oYaj7wUmg8abvrtuobyRc_rTfrtF45zGVjA/s320/car+pic+roadtrip.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>"Pretzels in the youngest's mouth. Nice."</i> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Remember the Griswolds? Remember the conversation between
Clark and Roy Wally about road trips? We had a little bit of that. I know I
referenced feet on a few occasions. We even pulled out of the driveway with
“Holiday Road” blaring. Had to. That was just for us, the parents.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8aDv4WZZ0Os4EYyGB_c0uqgVvCa6cCZi3wfm54RKFv1oDn8mpCmMiVn2eLQ21BqujwAP5EsjBcUmCcclUEaM-kjrsdG_JNtprnsgIxRUyz98RZsX0NejTjGVCiCLbjitsQUn0lmqyeNUj/s1600/vacation+movie+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8aDv4WZZ0Os4EYyGB_c0uqgVvCa6cCZi3wfm54RKFv1oDn8mpCmMiVn2eLQ21BqujwAP5EsjBcUmCcclUEaM-kjrsdG_JNtprnsgIxRUyz98RZsX0NejTjGVCiCLbjitsQUn0lmqyeNUj/s320/vacation+movie+photo.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p> </o:p>We had sailed through four states and were halfway down the
long panhandle of Florida when the natives started getting truly restless for
the first time. It was dark, we were an hour-and-a-half out from our hotel, and
they were hungry. It was getting desperate.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Then from the third row, the middle child piped up with a
suggestion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"I have an idea for a game until we reach the hotel.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Bring it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Everyone makes up a new sport or uses regular sports
smashed together to make new sports.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Great concept.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“On each round you have to add on one new rule for your
sport until you can't anymore. The one who makes up the last game rule wins.
I'll go first"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Of course.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“My new sport is Rythmic Gymbling. It is a combination of
rhythmic gymnastics, gymnastics and tumbling.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Okie Dokie. First rule?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“You have to be able to do a pirouette or any turn and go
into a back handspring with rhythmic gym ribbon in your hand.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Riiiiight... Next?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The youngest child was ready: “Soanceer-soccer, dance and
cheer. While doing a back tuck, you kick the soccer ball then jump out and
catch the ball.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So far, I couldn’t play ether of these sports.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The oldest was next: “Swimlerball-whirley ball and swimming.
You get into carts that work under water and get the ball. You have
lacrosse-looking sticks with a button on them to extend them. You have a magnet
on the end that you have to reach down and get the ball (it’s metal) and all
the other players’ sticks vibrate when someone gets the ball.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Wow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The hubby had a more aggressive sport: “MMSoccer-Soccer and
MMA. Played on regular size soccer field but caged in with walls to have no
out-of-bounds like MMA. Defense can play full contact if the man has the ball.
There is a safer, non-contact version for kids.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">That was decent of him. What a good dad!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I jazzed up a contact-free sport. No, I didn’t rip off <i>Caddyshack II</i>. Much. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Mine was Grugby-Golf and Rugby. “When all players get on the
green, there is a scrum to determine first to putt.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The rounds continued. I wont do this thing round by round.
That took us nearly the rest of the drive. And gave me finger cramps as I tried
to type it all on my phone!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Rhythmic Gymbling: “On beam you have to do a back tuck while
balancing stick thing on your nose. On vault you have to do a round off back
handspring with your feet touching the springboard, you go up and do a double
full and land on the ground with the hula hoop still on your waist. On bars,
you have to do kips while balancing the rhythmic ball going down your legs and
balancing perfectly on your head. Then you have to do a monkey giant then jump
to high bar. The ball moves to between your hands and feet and when you kip up
the ball moves down like a ramp and pops up and when you back hip circle and
front tuck off it rolls down your back and lands in your hands and you finish.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Ummmmmmmmmm, okay?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Soanceer: “So, there’s a soccer ball off in a corner and
ballet shoes in a corner diagonal from each other. Do a back handspring to get
soccer ball, hold it and do a back handspring and get ballet shoes. Kick soccer
ball while doing ballerina spins then do a front handspring and then kick
soccer ball again. Repeat three times. Put the soccer ball under one arm with
your hand on your hip, and put on your beautiful ballet shoes. Your hair is
pulled back and you are wearing beautiful cheer clothes. You do cheer moves
then kick out the soccer ball then bounce it on your head and then it lands
between your feet.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Have these kids heard of gravity?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Swimlerball: “There is a box next to the switch that
lengthens your stick. It shows who you are supposed to guard when someone on
the other team gets the ball. Specially created pools are big enough and
square. There are a bunch of bumps on the bottom so it is hard to get around.
The ball sinks so it is hard to get it from someone because it sinks right
away. Your head isn't under water, just the carts.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">MMSoccer: “In the league, players are allowed to push off
against each other when nobody has possession and they are going after free or
50/50 balls. Goalie for each team is the only player on their side that gets to
wear full pads. You can only attack the player with the ball.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Grugby: “Other players may tackle the guy teeing up after
five seconds if he doesn’t hit the ball. The points are scored higher not
lower. Sand is replaced with mud. Higher points for landing in mud traps. You
get to tackle opponent in mud pit like on tee box. Higher points scored in mud
pit than on tee box.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">I think technically the
middle kid won. Surprise, surprise, surprise! If you want to start any of these
leagues in your neighborhood, please let me know</span><!--EndFragment-->
Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16207965002138357928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7045153623869044931.post-37593521633119313402013-07-14T23:44:00.000-05:002013-07-14T23:58:29.690-05:00104 Days of Summer Vacation? Maybe Not, But It's Still Pretty SweetIt has been a whirlwind summer for us so far. Not too many of the lazy days of summer here. Or are there?<br />
<br />
Seattle beckoned the morning after school got out. The eldest went straight to church camp two days after we returned. Next we careened into VBS. And now, I'm rehearsing for the musical <i>Annie</i> at our church and preparing for church camp with the middle child. We have another trip in August right after <i>Annie</i> wraps.<br />
<br />
Gymnastics, basketball and tumbling continue to energize and distract the kiddos as well, with day camps fit in here and there. Work and managing the chaos keeps us busy but we've also had plenty of friend time to fill in the spaces around these events and I am very thankful for the fellowship, fun and memories.<br />
<br />
Pool time, sprinkler and popsicle time. Museum, family and treats time. Train rides, American Girl Dolls and <i>Just Dance</i> time. Library, golfing and trampoline time. Coffee and chatting time (Discussions of Dawgs and Dawters of cawse!) Thrift shop shopping time (I don't think we popped any tags, but I'm not really sure). Dinner, movie and laughter time (I'm talkin' to you: The Guru, Pork Chop, T-Bone, Sewer Rat and Queso Grande! We need to give The Nurse/Maid a nickname too!)<br />
<br />
All of this has made Summer what it is supposed to be. Running kids in the dusk, sweaty and laughing, hoping to evade their bedtime for a few extra minutes. Damp and sticky faces, fresh from the swimming pool and otter pops. If fireflies could survive our blistering July heat, I know my kids would have jars full of them by now.<br />
<br />
They definitely have bellies full of junk food-thank you Free Slurpee Day, Cow Appreciation Day and Happy Hour slushes! Junk food is even better when its free. Don't get all crazy, we have been slipping a steady diet of fruits and veggies in them this summer too. Some from our garden and some from gardens around the world, but all better in the summer-especially if they are shared with friends.<br />
<br />
We continue to ignore piles of papers and clothes in favor of, well, anything else, but there will be plenty of time later for that. For now, we have just about six weeks left to "live deep and suck all the marrow out of life," so to speak. We don't get the luxury of Phineas and Ferb's "104 Days of Summer Vacation," but we can make the most of the 80 we do have. I am thankful for our friends and I hope you make some memories this week too!<br />
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<br />Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16207965002138357928noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7045153623869044931.post-46503801953714227212013-07-10T09:20:00.002-05:002013-07-10T09:20:21.016-05:00Duck, Duck, Loose! Part 2 - Return of the Mallard
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well, as luck would have it, I can’t leave well enough
alone. Remember our little duck friend from the other day? Good. I did too.
That’s the problem. It was eating at me that we had so harshly turned our back
on her when she needed help. I didn’t like the way the other catty, mean-girl
ducks were quacking as we left her. They didn’t like her. You could tell.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, we went back up to the pond the next day, to just look
from afar and see how she was getting along in her new setting. We walked
everywhere, man, we walked everywhere. No duck. She just wasn’t there. Feeling
especially crummy and bad duck-neighborish, we went home. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was nagging at me for a few hours so I rallied the
troops, aided by my super-supportive and loving hubby who truly is a, “good man
Charlie Brown”. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We rolled off in the family truckster, armed with water and
little cups of ice cream to placate the whiners. Oh, and bug spray. Always bug
spray. After choking our way through the DEET cloud, we walked down to the
pond. While it seemed a fruitless pursuit after the afternoon’s failed excursion,
we forged ahead anyway. After seeing no duck (did I mention we named her
Yvette? Long story but it stems from the genius movie <i>Clue</i>) we stopped to have some water. I saw something moving on a
nearby tennis court. Low and behold, it was Yvette!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How and why she made her way to the court is beyond me. The
youngest child was busy sinking up to her knee in sludgy mud, the eldest
preoccupied with her iTunes and headphones and the middle child wanted to climb
the middle-school football obstacle course. Very concerned for the duck. I went
and picked her up and filled my hand with water. She gulped it down for what
seemed like forever. I don’t know how long she had been up on the court, but
she was a pretty hungry and thirsty little duck.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioeXwrh1EhFcKLorQoTjI1kUF-Q8n90hBuNSgG2QF5ynL9lmIcIX9JUhXLs7nvCf5d6A4V7gWGCz4Ti_wAAA31W9ccT1j5MLW1K4sg0PRXkfbayl3g7S9mqOckOEXGGnNEEGpfNUZM0Z9e/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioeXwrh1EhFcKLorQoTjI1kUF-Q8n90hBuNSgG2QF5ynL9lmIcIX9JUhXLs7nvCf5d6A4V7gWGCz4Ti_wAAA31W9ccT1j5MLW1K4sg0PRXkfbayl3g7S9mqOckOEXGGnNEEGpfNUZM0Z9e/s200/photo+1.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We headed back to the car, successful, Yvette peeping along
behind us. The unfortunate thing was that she had been rejected by the other
ducks. Now what? Home, I guess.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We put her back in the sandbox pond in our yard, dug up some
worms and caught a moth and some grasshoppers (this nice July weather must have
them sluggish or something) and she gobbled away.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCeduWQJfUIxy9RgHXTYWGTh_9OmXtYV9xeZNspNpuJwvHM1wYKKAIHWQW-RWG7pLLqI3mOxwHWRmKx9GNhLKFQYy-dIqUkVfKyNunMlFAz8KzsmQAVzd-nN3qJw3AgFvNstGGrIU6zGeJ/s1600/photo+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCeduWQJfUIxy9RgHXTYWGTh_9OmXtYV9xeZNspNpuJwvHM1wYKKAIHWQW-RWG7pLLqI3mOxwHWRmKx9GNhLKFQYy-dIqUkVfKyNunMlFAz8KzsmQAVzd-nN3qJw3AgFvNstGGrIU6zGeJ/s200/photo+2.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“That little girl is pretty hungry! She ate the biggest
earthworm I ever saw,” said the youngest. “Well, almost the biggest. There was
that one we saw in the rain that time and it got all stretched out because it
was wet and the rain washed it on to the concrete and it was trying to find the
dirt so it got really long and it was going to die because the sun was coming out
and it couldn’t get to dirt so I moved it before the birds of the sun could get
it. Do you remember?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yes, there was that one.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After a bit of splashing, snacking and preening, we tucked
her in to an old cat kennel with a towel and a small dish of water for the
night, hoping she would rest easy and get some strength back. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-PcSluDMNhyLhVuE9FaS55RucqF4-7qDjs_0_AAVUdxQG9QfOqnNhERTb4xrqHf-OEpFEMjsmgZVLd0nTYZVmJARcpLpPGao39TDEr1xLKmQA5K8hVsfwSbw2Z9qAWCqLrsB_CvNHSPPk/s1600/photo+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-PcSluDMNhyLhVuE9FaS55RucqF4-7qDjs_0_AAVUdxQG9QfOqnNhERTb4xrqHf-OEpFEMjsmgZVLd0nTYZVmJARcpLpPGao39TDEr1xLKmQA5K8hVsfwSbw2Z9qAWCqLrsB_CvNHSPPk/s200/photo+3.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We called a duck rescue the next morning to set up a
delivery. The nice lady is a teacher who lives on property with a pond. She
rescues ducklings and raises them for release into the flock on her property
and lets them make their way from there. She was delighted at the prospect of
Yvette as she had a duckling, Mallory, that really needed a friend. (Yes,
Mallory the Mallard).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We met at the PetsMart parking lot-seemed perfect for the
drop. It was here that the youngest child staged her mutiny. Flinging herself
over the kennel, she wailed, “I want to keeeeeeeeeep herrrrrrrr!!!!!!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I explained the obvious and logical facts:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Yvette
is a duck and we are not.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Ducks
are social and need other ducks.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">We
have dogs.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Dogs
eat ducks.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">We
have no pond.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Ducks
like ponds.</span></div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Yvette
is a mallard and mallards migrate so in 6 months, no more Yvette.</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That did the trick, right? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Have you met the youngest? She’s got a bit of a stubborn
streak.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Nooooo, don’t take her! She loves us! I want to keep her!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicK1_-EbSvtKi2VjJdy0NOly_-XW2RexZp73lnmFftKUBVkRdiF09-ZopLd3kqng_380PF5764Y0yiHh-rwDgzwmnbDpxLO1qjzlRVVbMRwOLiKUBy8iAKykAD635VWtUDOLeXWxbtUKiF/s1600/photo+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicK1_-EbSvtKi2VjJdy0NOly_-XW2RexZp73lnmFftKUBVkRdiF09-ZopLd3kqng_380PF5764Y0yiHh-rwDgzwmnbDpxLO1qjzlRVVbMRwOLiKUBy8iAKykAD635VWtUDOLeXWxbtUKiF/s200/photo+4.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I had to pry her off to get the kennel out of the car. The
nice duck rescuer and her daughter took Yvette out to transfer her to their
kennel. She commented on how imprinted on humans Yvette was and how gentle.
“She was probably somebody’s child’s pet and when she got bigger, they just let
her go.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sad.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At only about a month old, she still needed a mother’s
guidance. For another month at least. The nice rescue folks said they would
feed and love her until she started dismissing them in favor of other ducks.
Then she would move out to the pond.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For the next three hours, the youngest intermittently cried
and fell into despair. “I miss Yvette!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We took them for ice cream and it seemed to get a little
better.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkWzzV_YNdmXkX7n05MPEtLBcernhCyertr9ob4umbV3B4_dX-6wNdI47mZJqHBc9kT1muMEKD1uuNlW0A9xCJhB_lR0atJItGWpqiG1ljIx5EJm295h6J-Z9WVPaRaOg4OEeDRWLlqWyv/s1600/photo+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkWzzV_YNdmXkX7n05MPEtLBcernhCyertr9ob4umbV3B4_dX-6wNdI47mZJqHBc9kT1muMEKD1uuNlW0A9xCJhB_lR0atJItGWpqiG1ljIx5EJm295h6J-Z9WVPaRaOg4OEeDRWLlqWyv/s200/photo+5.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Good luck Yvette! We know you will have a great life at the
Duck Spa. Don’t forget to write!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16207965002138357928noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7045153623869044931.post-89900357844562253612013-07-02T22:03:00.002-05:002013-07-02T22:03:49.285-05:00Duck, Duck, Loose!
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<br />
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<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Yesterday we were
minding our own business, just driving along on a sunny summer afternoon. But
there in the road was a duckling, and it was decidedly out of the pond. Was it
fate that I was wearing my “Happy Happy Happy” shirt yesterday? Perhaps. At any
rate, we parked the car, crossed the road and cornered the little duck. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She was very sweet, and
once we saved her from the street and got her calmed down we took her over to a
pond and let her get a drink and forage around in the muck. She seemed
very happy. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgafRGSFiHgMalW1gi-W7FsI63C-4wkfngtoOcHp5opqjSDMdlYVUtvStK5A0NPApSUNI80rpvnB9FvruVejtflX3i3XvJqDvK8nGWTF8AtqNPKB5MbRP8TOVYmBISC9Fh7I7qEKrC8SxuN/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgafRGSFiHgMalW1gi-W7FsI63C-4wkfngtoOcHp5opqjSDMdlYVUtvStK5A0NPApSUNI80rpvnB9FvruVejtflX3i3XvJqDvK8nGWTF8AtqNPKB5MbRP8TOVYmBISC9Fh7I7qEKrC8SxuN/s200/photo+1.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="color: #353535; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Happy, Happy, Happy.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You knew it was coming
again-this story is perfect for <i>Duck
Dynasty </i>references.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Anyway, what was most
interesting was that she didn’t seem scared. She took us like a duck to, wait
for it… water!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We searched the area
for places she may have come from. No doubt she had already reenacted scenes
from the book <i>Are You My Mother?</i> You
know, the one where the baby bird goes to everything from a ditch digger to a
big dog, asking, “Are you my mother?” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We took her on our own
tour, going from one pond to another. A stop in at our vet elicited the terse,
“We don’t do ducks.” Ummmmmm, okay. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXmZYI2CNKy6H7D9-xfPAWuluOx3kSQNmV7Vp8XA9UXTO4MaLCps-IRE86IqowlE_q5AE9cic5VT4PhhRlQ4V2tVMPe2Cq2SgWqd9iKfSs_d1ATHkL4C9cqedEtpVCNUtLOI5hBQM0-9Pk/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXmZYI2CNKy6H7D9-xfPAWuluOx3kSQNmV7Vp8XA9UXTO4MaLCps-IRE86IqowlE_q5AE9cic5VT4PhhRlQ4V2tVMPe2Cq2SgWqd9iKfSs_d1ATHkL4C9cqedEtpVCNUtLOI5hBQM0-9Pk/s200/photo+2.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeon5kdSCmsdfAzTuUM04nxajz5y-_VgtsMXFBBUqzNrsvlHe_aKmB4IxvqWTEG2HHeq61uUUpmwm3TKV2YZKlRpor0KQSlSypRXE8KpcznO473aJatzT5z8644KINWy-nCSQJG9CmCsrB/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeon5kdSCmsdfAzTuUM04nxajz5y-_VgtsMXFBBUqzNrsvlHe_aKmB4IxvqWTEG2HHeq61uUUpmwm3TKV2YZKlRpor0KQSlSypRXE8KpcznO473aJatzT5z8644KINWy-nCSQJG9CmCsrB/s200/photo+3.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>"Yes, I ride in cars now."</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: #353535; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We checked the shops
where we last saw a mother duck and four babies of about that size. The last
time we saw them there was plenty of green space but yesterday big construction
equipment had torn up half of the place to build apartments. So the baby duck
could have easily played out that scene from the book with the “Snort”.</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Seriously, people, if you don’t remember
that book, just go look it up. It’s a classic and you should re-read it for
posterity.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhncqvWDzb66ud7tuUmvUMEZrdHXh8tyWGUEEp39NZaHwr_p6y-8Xz28l_EDzk7sMFNnRmuFErLI9gSV5sdyjtizFHtY7Ana39g39GfHkYO4qLlaB85Oz67Wiwb4P1NLJp5Mg3o5mEYT7SU/s475/are+you+my+mother.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhncqvWDzb66ud7tuUmvUMEZrdHXh8tyWGUEEp39NZaHwr_p6y-8Xz28l_EDzk7sMFNnRmuFErLI9gSV5sdyjtizFHtY7Ana39g39GfHkYO4qLlaB85Oz67Wiwb4P1NLJp5Mg3o5mEYT7SU/s200/are+you+my+mother.jpeg" width="144" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We went back to the
first pond near a mother duck with a few ducklings, but the mother took her
babies and swam away. Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on how you look
at it) she seemed to imprint on us as her new family. As we left the pond,
hoping she would stay with the ducks, she followed us. All the way to our car. She
toddled along, peeping cheerfully as she went.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Hoooooowwwwww do you
argue with that?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We decided to take her
home (shocking) and do some more research on what to do with orphaned ducks.
After a cursory Google search, I discovered that mallard babies aren’t on their
own until they have feathered wings and can fly. Our little one only had little
stumps with pinfeathers and some fuzz but no true feathers yet. She was able to
hunt and get food on her own but couldn’t fly away if there was danger. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We put her in the back
yard, after making sure the dogs were in the house-because you know they love a
good snack. Fortunately we had acquired a new sandbox for the backyard but had
not yet acquired sand. We filled the sandbox with water and got some slices of
bread. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The hubby was very
excited to see that we had brought home another wayward animal! I'm sure he
was. At least I think he was. Was he? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This may or may not
have been the first time I have tried to rescue or bring home a sad castoff or
abandoned animal. Soooooo, maybe there's a trend. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We had to run around to
pick up and transfer kids, so I put her in our fenced garden to see if that
would keep her comfortable while we were gone. Lately we’ve had plenty of caterpillars
and grasshoppers to squelch even the heartiest of duck appetites. She got to
work quickly, running under the green beans and snagging grasshoppers. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This could be the start
of a beautiful relationship, little duck! When we got back the duck was happily
nestled underneath the fig tree and seemed to be no worse for the wear. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Every time I walked
away, she started the high-pitched peeping like I’d abandoned her again. All of
the kids brought their friends over to stare and pet the duck. And everyone's
opinion was that we should keep her forever. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After much debate and
research we determined that really we weren’t made to raise a duck. After all,
we aren’t ducks. Also, we have dogs. We got a lot of glares from our offspring.
What was that in their eyes? Disappointment? Betrayal? Sadness? Maybe all
three. The eldest picked up the duck and we got back into the car. We tried again
to find her mother. I suggested we take a “gander” around the shops. I didn't get
a rim-shot from the eldest. I think I got more of a withering, “Reeeally?” type
of a glance. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We went to a pond and
put her down near some other ducks. Our hope was that they would take her in
and help her survive another few weeks until her wing feathers grew in.
Instead, she turned and sprinted after us as fast as her little webbed feet
could take her. High-pitched peeping the entire time trying to get us to come
back and get her. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We took her back and
she kept following us. Luckily a couple nearby intervened. We walked away and they
stopped her, feeding her bread and continuing to return her to the water. They acted
as a buffer until we were out of eyesight. They came over and told us she was trying
to climb out of the pond and come after us. Some ducks were swimming towards
her though. Hopefully they would try to take her, wait for it, under their
wing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #353535; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So we walked away sad. Sad to not have her follow us around, peeping in
recognition. We hope she finds her place with the other ducks. The eldest child
said, “Well, she’ll have a good story to tell the other ducks now." True.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #353535; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho7QFrqzO2fCWonK98O6P2-iOFCMNpwxcLOgPas1GdQAzQNdfb57udsFR09h7IjKkHg_EiVr_XzaSsH1ooO6zsrjbTkX1SUe-BRJI3OYk-XZ2WMagFu1anP7hDjCIhz7SiEWA-1-rDIxu-/s1280/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho7QFrqzO2fCWonK98O6P2-iOFCMNpwxcLOgPas1GdQAzQNdfb57udsFR09h7IjKkHg_EiVr_XzaSsH1ooO6zsrjbTkX1SUe-BRJI3OYk-XZ2WMagFu1anP7hDjCIhz7SiEWA-1-rDIxu-/s200/photo+4.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #353535; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span>
Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16207965002138357928noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7045153623869044931.post-77484024870924756772013-06-25T22:53:00.000-05:002013-06-25T22:53:15.152-05:00Slowing Down At The Spa
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So, recently I found
myself spinning in a tornado of chaos. I know, you are probably saying, “You?
Chaos?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Right.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #353535;">Well, it was the
countdown to VBS. Remember <a href="http://www.cartbeforethehorse.blogspot.com/2012/06/goin-back-back-back-to-school-again.html" target="_blank">my hiatus</a> </span>last year from the blogging world? Or one
of them? It has been that time again and the final push at that. The hubby was
absent for work and we had just been out for a week in Seattle. Time crunch
city. Wish I had Hermione's time-turner (shout out to my HP-Geek homies!)</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It is in the midst of
thus that my darling seven year-old asked “Can we do a spa today?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Of course, my busy mom
answer was, “Ummmm, not today. Juuuuust a bit of stuff going on in case you
missed it!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Okay!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The next day, “Can we
do a spa today?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Seriously? Are you
trying to make my head spin around? I’m not reeeally sure how we can fit that
in around gymnastics and parties and decorations builds and work and…and…and…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Because of course we do
it all for the kids, right?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So, she says okay and
we spun on toward our next thing. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The next day, I woke up
to HUGE. BLUE. EYES. Boring a hole into my eyelids. She’s lucky I didn’t clock
her. I don’t wake up well. Not proud of it, I just don’t.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Oh, you’re awake!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Shocking.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Yes, I’m awake. May I
help you?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Come downstairs.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Okay,” I grumbled in
the pre-coffee, barely-rested voice that I have before ten-ish.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I went downstairs and
found this:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://www.cartbeforethehorse.blogspot.com/2012/06/goin-back-back-back-to-school-again.html" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCcoRfWqBLlfMrGBmKvEEMfkhWKo9yVT78uTiydZ3yrwZJqCYB7wAeSlrhXCrvKa2OkKnMkVujm7Lyh_p5ARZiy_mJ8LjNAUWxl_yrUU3Psiz6pfNm13y-odDa_OSdI_-IijVM2bw7Iveh/s200/IMG_0124.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4HyScY3gdV9OoGpX9BrVwoAhNT-6OZkTskqEMjnQe3l4cldiTX2nq80MeNcH-on-GC6PCAEKd1APACrWtUD6VBpvfYDinbMUrXiPTydfDwf5b9kI1IAoGyZt7awflV7IzvWC8bMx_n409/s1600/IMG_0126.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4HyScY3gdV9OoGpX9BrVwoAhNT-6OZkTskqEMjnQe3l4cldiTX2nq80MeNcH-on-GC6PCAEKd1APACrWtUD6VBpvfYDinbMUrXiPTydfDwf5b9kI1IAoGyZt7awflV7IzvWC8bMx_n409/s200/IMG_0126.jpg" width="136" /></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So obviously, we,
(everybody in unison) DID A SPA!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She had enlisted the
middle child (the eldest was at camp) as a “Nail Specialist” and they were both
gracious enough to allow me a quick coffee break.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I was handed a piece of
paper as I headed for the K-Cups.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3iYXwP-7qwl8vLJk6XWI54n4UAazgP4OvYQokm531PPXHMY3Njl57oC3hftHtAoqZYbld49253t7tFnpf_sYK09_oT5A9BfJyEeLmInFx-4ee6w3RcFdR4pLDMX-HO7KZlXE56_x0qcId/s1600/IMG_0125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3iYXwP-7qwl8vLJk6XWI54n4UAazgP4OvYQokm531PPXHMY3Njl57oC3hftHtAoqZYbld49253t7tFnpf_sYK09_oT5A9BfJyEeLmInFx-4ee6w3RcFdR4pLDMX-HO7KZlXE56_x0qcId/s200/IMG_0125.jpg" width="150" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Nail Specialist
came in the kitchen and instructed, “Please get your coupon and proceed
directly to the Sammie Spa.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I took my coupon and my
caffeine and headed toward the spa. Through the office. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Nail Specialist
said, “Please go around the other way, madam. And don’t forget your coupon.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Okie Dokie. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I went the other way
and was met by the owner at her “desk,” where she had placed a tablet like a
check-in station.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaEHXhrIfqSxSEjKMeGkW-Py6h7E7cy3TPeYEixGps52ICIsS9M-TO9jUnyT2VgPN9olAxopeBYOYWxBwzMM3LsnujNxTz9-P3oGcIjQMZwyY9jMQg6v3-gJMq_QoWKoJgqIa75jVyVrRz/s1600/IMG_0127.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaEHXhrIfqSxSEjKMeGkW-Py6h7E7cy3TPeYEixGps52ICIsS9M-TO9jUnyT2VgPN9olAxopeBYOYWxBwzMM3LsnujNxTz9-P3oGcIjQMZwyY9jMQg6v3-gJMq_QoWKoJgqIa75jVyVrRz/s200/IMG_0127.jpg" width="150" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Are you going to be doing
everything at the spa? Hair, nails, massage and lotion?” she asked.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUydKCw48w1a27U9seZZvneMu5_BFoZJashfCqgSk5Oxkmk8cmVMBr0aXBc7sUM6SQK3mt-HNfi1YbAGb3RdUKkQekLiKHRykMCVLOYLasXG0qMMxT2P6__z_6d_qUIG8mq3RgY1IW9PCY/s1600/IMG_0129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUydKCw48w1a27U9seZZvneMu5_BFoZJashfCqgSk5Oxkmk8cmVMBr0aXBc7sUM6SQK3mt-HNfi1YbAGb3RdUKkQekLiKHRykMCVLOYLasXG0qMMxT2P6__z_6d_qUIG8mq3RgY1IW9PCY/s200/IMG_0129.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL6R9XVPy8ApXhxzmt_Iv7VLyzIAjcqE6CGvBCU7wUtFQCYNJd3FSMBQY4xW-aaMWBgA-UOC6GFKDGPXG8zPevWaap7LP-nsimDnl_XDJYrhjW1rJt_oOlFTg-8Pk6ZJ2Xs9cbbVr0TZpz/s1600/IMG_0128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL6R9XVPy8ApXhxzmt_Iv7VLyzIAjcqE6CGvBCU7wUtFQCYNJd3FSMBQY4xW-aaMWBgA-UOC6GFKDGPXG8zPevWaap7LP-nsimDnl_XDJYrhjW1rJt_oOlFTg-8Pk6ZJ2Xs9cbbVr0TZpz/s200/IMG_0128.JPG" width="200" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Yes, I think so. Can I
bring my coffee?”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Of course. Will you
want to rent a cubby for your shoes?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Seriously? Did these kids start sneaking
out to spas when I wasn’t paying attention?!<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I would love a cubby.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“That will be one extra
hug.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So, to catch you up if
you didn’t read the coupon closely, the fees for this spa would be hugs and
kisses. (Insert adorable awwws here).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Yes, I would still
like a cubby. Thank you.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“So that will be one
kiss and two hugs with the coupon for you, mother.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The middle child, I
mean Nail Specialist, said, “When did you start calling her mother?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">With a withering
glance, the youngest said, “Today. Well, every once on a while I do it.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I gave the hugs and kisses then looked around and had
a quick question. “Why are there American Girl dolls here?” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">They both looked at me
like I had, in fact, just fallen off the turnip truck.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“They have free child
care at the spa!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Duh!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I finished checking in
and proceeded to my towel for the massage portion. The two canine family
members decided to lie directly on me for the treatment.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_VVIm7l6ApGyBXo43K5pWKCRBP9Bh_6XQfG9_JdOf0I7UqxS7PVPRwuKKnf4-oOWH05nixK4JfQNSUip2W6cxdaIiO9EmbjUep49XZRMnFV7F8TqIU25v5QvrlR6xSSIBCacnNKjXR70N/s1600/IMG_0131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_VVIm7l6ApGyBXo43K5pWKCRBP9Bh_6XQfG9_JdOf0I7UqxS7PVPRwuKKnf4-oOWH05nixK4JfQNSUip2W6cxdaIiO9EmbjUep49XZRMnFV7F8TqIU25v5QvrlR6xSSIBCacnNKjXR70N/s200/IMG_0131.jpg" width="161" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikBvEO8jesPLnKbEmfYXN7aYqnfV7Deng0FYtyeq5Qcq3Ocxzfj6RouPMBtmR8jaZz5MnSgNkrrC-CLmeiwJccOpJ0yAmsyVIjCp5G4sxy8bJfE8wNfSflLo1Rt8eOo0N7bpNQULZrE55b/s1600/IMG_0139.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikBvEO8jesPLnKbEmfYXN7aYqnfV7Deng0FYtyeq5Qcq3Ocxzfj6RouPMBtmR8jaZz5MnSgNkrrC-CLmeiwJccOpJ0yAmsyVIjCp5G4sxy8bJfE8wNfSflLo1Rt8eOo0N7bpNQULZrE55b/s200/IMG_0139.jpg" width="150" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“All dogs get massages,”
said the staff masseuse (youngest kid).</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“And if you don't wash
your hands after the dog licks you, you have to re-register for the whole membership
and repay.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Weird rules at this
spa, but I planned to wash my hands anyway.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As the massage
progressed, the Nail Specialist interrupted.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Anyone for a
complimentary strawberry banana yogurt parfait? Good because we only have
strawberry yogurt. Oh and can you open the banana for me?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I did and continued to
surreptitiously write down these quotes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“The parfaits won't be
fancy like Paula Deen’s,” she said. In case I thought they might be. “And they
will all be different.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“That's how our spa
works. Not all the same,” said the purveyor of pampering. We're all unique!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We each received a
parfait, some with yogurt-covered raisins and some with cheerios. Each
different, as promised. I had to set one aside as the waitress handed it to me
because it was for the Nail Specialist and clearly, she wasn’t the Nail
Specialist-she was the waitress. Not the same.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBbg7TPEHZECF1O7nwtjZGf_aqWP1wkdJKFXMcufu43FxmcqJhKh-gXfYM8mrImDxVhaIb3T9oNjvxw7ENmM89MFmLDzrcqKy0xPj_stdLb-WObnmL1mbikJFl9nSrQRRkUb9EpibZ8qsZ/s1600/IMG_0140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBbg7TPEHZECF1O7nwtjZGf_aqWP1wkdJKFXMcufu43FxmcqJhKh-gXfYM8mrImDxVhaIb3T9oNjvxw7ENmM89MFmLDzrcqKy0xPj_stdLb-WObnmL1mbikJFl9nSrQRRkUb9EpibZ8qsZ/s200/IMG_0140.jpg" width="150" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I then moved on to the
nail station. Despite the fact that she had hired a Nail Specialist, the owner
of the spa stepped in and took over.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“You can do my nails
but I’M doing Mommy’s. I mean, this lady’s.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I said "Let your
sister help if you have a problem.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The middle child/waitress/possible
Nail Specialist says, "If you have a problem, yo! I’ll solve it, check out
my hook while my DJ revolves it.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I couldn’t make this
stuff up.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As the youngest shook
the polish and rolled it to mix it she said, "Shake it, shake it, to the
floor, show them, show them, how you roll.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My kids are so street.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">These are the colors
that were chosen for me:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Blue Wants to be a
Millionaire<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">How I met Your Magenta<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sage in the City<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Pronto Purple<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Lightning<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“They are perfect to
match the colors of VBS!” said the current nail artist. And they were.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSKr0gkxNltWT6hBI0l4M4U5qa9zt6R623Ex053S-oyKvnqnEWuXhNGIYJOZ1o303Etkw1m0XgiIRNCIzTHwfID37GSN5otL3FqaEamA7WTdD7Wt3H81KAFfWZEaWxH-N4lA8QQl4KPxYB/s1600/IMG_0150.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSKr0gkxNltWT6hBI0l4M4U5qa9zt6R623Ex053S-oyKvnqnEWuXhNGIYJOZ1o303Etkw1m0XgiIRNCIzTHwfID37GSN5otL3FqaEamA7WTdD7Wt3H81KAFfWZEaWxH-N4lA8QQl4KPxYB/s320/IMG_0150.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I’m glad these two “specialists”
stepped in and yanked me from the chaos tornado. Why do I do all these things?
For them. Why am I a mom? Because of them. Who should I be spending time with?
Them. Who reminded me of what is important? Them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Blessed.</span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16207965002138357928noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7045153623869044931.post-48306895259866701712013-06-08T10:40:00.000-05:002013-06-08T10:40:43.640-05:00First Class Adventure to Seattle<br />
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1370701532419_2053" style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So I haven't blogged in a while. I got called out on it by my sweet friend so I think I will check back in. I am writing this on a flight to Seattle, obviously the best thing to do on a flight to Seattle. I probably wont get to post it until tomorrow but just writing it feels good! </span></div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1370701532419_2053" style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I drew the long straw and am sitting with one child-the middle child. The hubby is comfortably ensconced between the other two. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"But Emily, aren't there six seats across?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Yes, yes there are. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Kudos to Jim, a nice man who flies Lear jets for private clients and was heading North to catch his next job. He was the lucky recipient of "the magic seat".</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">On the aisle between All. Of. Us. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sorry Jim.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We have been relatively kind thus far, and he has been more than accommodating, passing milk and gum across the aisle. He even got up for our initial compulsory potty trek. Not the last one, Jim. Just sayin'.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">That initial loo visit was to first class. Yup, we went there. Sorry privileged ones, I had a seven year-old with a bladder that's no match for the beverage cart and its snail pace. We had to go forward.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We were met at the door by Nurse Ratchet of the skies.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Please do not go forward now. I can't have a line in first class!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Yes, my two young children and I are clearly a line of rabble that would affront all behind the imposing "curtain". It really is a good thing they have that mesh curtain there. how else would they keep the likes of us from rushing forward to claim the hot towels we deserve!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So anyway, we queued up in what my kids call "second class" and made those poor people put up with our presence for at least four or five minutes. Gasp!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">*I would like to point out that as we went, one at a time, past all the first class passengers, with an air of humble gratitude that they would deign to allow us to use their facilities, not one of us burped or appealed "Please sir, may I have some more?" Applaud our restraint!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In other news, we were treated to the excellent and kid-friendly flick "Beautiful Creatures." Awesome. Thanks AA for that good choice. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Mommy, that doesn't look appropriate." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"You're right, it doesn't."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The nine year-old gets it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Fortunately, the child with me chose to read most of the trip. We are in a big Harry Potter phase right now (yes!) and I am pretty stoked that, given the option of a fully-charged ipad, she chose the book. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Tear! I'm so proud!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">All of that came after we were sidelined at security. Apparently, liquids under 3.4 ounces means "non-food" liquids under 3.4 ounces. When you try to take a few GoGo Squeezes (3.2 oz. each) they flag you, make you open one, wave a litmus paper over it, add liquid to the paper, and decide if it will blow up or not. Nice. By the way, news flash, they were just applesauce, not nitroglycerin. Stand down, security!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We had prepped for this trip by installing several seasons of "Phineas and Ferb" on the iPads. The episode the middle child started off with was "Meapless in Seattle". Timely, and I highly recommend it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In the interest of full disclosure, I am writing the rest of the blog in the rental car on our way to the hotel. I know I said I was writing on the plane-just wanted to be clear. Trust is important.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Upon landing safely in Ye Olde Seatac Airport, we disembarked and made the trek to baggage claim. We witnessed what was about to be a ridiculously cute</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">moment. A grandma was walking out of the gate area into baggage claim and her toddler grandson ran to her with flowers, crying, "Grandma!" only to be nearly clotheslined by a TSA agent.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"He can't cross that line! Back him up! Ma'am, gather your belongings and then cross-move out of the way!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Really?!?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The joy on that baby's face should have melted anyone. Yikes!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So leaving the airport finally, we hopped in our rental minivan-because we are nothing if not cool hipsters-and drove straight to coffee! Happy happy happy!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Here are a few pics from the last day of school. They all had a great time and now we are off on our Seattle adventure! Wedding, exploring, geocaching, hanging with family. Should be awesome. Oh, and did I mention there's coffee? Bliss!</span></div>
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Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16207965002138357928noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7045153623869044931.post-38489218553780819932013-05-01T19:42:00.000-05:002013-05-01T19:42:03.325-05:00Guerrilla Gardening Golf Galore
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Mayday!” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">That’s what I yelled this evening.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Well, it is May Day. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Maybe the better thing to have yelled
was “Fore!” because we were golfing at the time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Golfing may be stretching things a bit. As I mentioned in
the <a href="http://www.cartbeforethehorse.blogspot.com/2013/04/guerrillas-in-mist-earth-week-seed-balls.html" target="_blank">last post</a> about Earth Truffles, the hubby wanted to try his hand at
guerrilla gardening golf. Since today is National Sunflower Guerrilla Gardening
Day (I know, I didn’t send cards either!) we took to the green space near our
house with golf clubs and a mess o’ seed balls.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8SBH5OIwa6dhxlizQSImjd5wrdkFS9RRXEXvKA3JIxjrq5zvl2Z0yTriRl36ezSChYKA3cC9qxk8_CO31Qe1XFinCwqoo6XRsGMzk3hNSC4w645nioQpfy4y5yPTSRaje8y0UH4M4IGNq/s1600/IMG_8824.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8SBH5OIwa6dhxlizQSImjd5wrdkFS9RRXEXvKA3JIxjrq5zvl2Z0yTriRl36ezSChYKA3cC9qxk8_CO31Qe1XFinCwqoo6XRsGMzk3hNSC4w645nioQpfy4y5yPTSRaje8y0UH4M4IGNq/s200/IMG_8824.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The sunflower seed balls I made today were not dry yet so we
opted to toss those. The hubby tried to hit one of them first but it evaporated
in a damp clay shower. The seed balls we made the other day had hardened enough
to launch into the great wide open. Everyone lined up and got ready to hit.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjnuSN2iaFDlBZDERofCpSBkVz8vAMNlpMOIdiLda2u1JFW8T_cDCsIBOov7YPZfJ8QDTYBw-h7kxByhQ4tat6mklCug2tyXw6-TSp_O-_N6xxAgpm_nQAlkJDL45mFc3uDxAzbQlNizjv/s1600/IMG_8820.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjnuSN2iaFDlBZDERofCpSBkVz8vAMNlpMOIdiLda2u1JFW8T_cDCsIBOov7YPZfJ8QDTYBw-h7kxByhQ4tat6mklCug2tyXw6-TSp_O-_N6xxAgpm_nQAlkJDL45mFc3uDxAzbQlNizjv/s200/IMG_8820.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwL9MraRVKa-WjxrPoAZnF9zIwHRAooJsaQhttCkE2HkMa4TfKslILoe8s0ZnhSFG0buVsMdWUzoSKISyzgdU6WTeeIEx5yO7_MNpEmo5Oubx6uWPlB3TkRNA2D2sJnFvCnwAxick2av-u/s1600/IMG_8823.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwL9MraRVKa-WjxrPoAZnF9zIwHRAooJsaQhttCkE2HkMa4TfKslILoe8s0ZnhSFG0buVsMdWUzoSKISyzgdU6WTeeIEx5yO7_MNpEmo5Oubx6uWPlB3TkRNA2D2sJnFvCnwAxick2av-u/s200/IMG_8823.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“Putter up!” said the youngest, then snickered.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We did our best, definitely dispersing seeds far and wide. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMy7IvR19bCJp1CnEdbIiko088B6Etn39lh6cn-y_gQ7xzSw-HGhvZZO9UMmSZ6tSdfeXYV1CTbHLhHFokWRqxlX7w71uhJS6vkHAbAbcYj3C3MwPW8uBZZ1ruTLa31HjMmFZnykBAKSBn/s1600/IMG_8827.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMy7IvR19bCJp1CnEdbIiko088B6Etn39lh6cn-y_gQ7xzSw-HGhvZZO9UMmSZ6tSdfeXYV1CTbHLhHFokWRqxlX7w71uhJS6vkHAbAbcYj3C3MwPW8uBZZ1ruTLa31HjMmFZnykBAKSBn/s200/IMG_8827.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“Is this the proper way to guerrilla garden?” the middle
child asked skeptically.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“We are putting wildflower seeds into a place that needs
them, so yes,” I answered. Unconventionally, perhaps, but true.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Do we need a tee?" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The eldest was a bit late on this since we were already ready to go. Maybe we should have thought of that at home.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Despite being tee-less, we continued to send seed missiles into the green space, the
hubby assisting the girls with their golf swings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIY510LZs03q3ZnIicgLMYEssjopL1IfI_NPtlG9W6zgLGXyunrwMup9_R9E7bcZqktnnjNYEHG_z9Vfl11kmg1Vvh1IEGDeCi00LdtTdT0zCHh80k90QFQ5DCbPUKgELtWAnU-dggW3Uo/s1600/IMG_8826.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIY510LZs03q3ZnIicgLMYEssjopL1IfI_NPtlG9W6zgLGXyunrwMup9_R9E7bcZqktnnjNYEHG_z9Vfl11kmg1Vvh1IEGDeCi00LdtTdT0zCHh80k90QFQ5DCbPUKgELtWAnU-dggW3Uo/s200/IMG_8826.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixvRn7jLh60nsgAv-3N2abUh2mnzhnx0KHz1NGFh5ckhjaCcDDceqdBIKJc35QmJNFBLeeFf3KXvAkYW0Wyg9InaOp25FMOtZMzqpevKlrTfSWaspBvQae4raI45E2qqTXQpQLoMTVsXAc/s1600/IMG_8829.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixvRn7jLh60nsgAv-3N2abUh2mnzhnx0KHz1NGFh5ckhjaCcDDceqdBIKJc35QmJNFBLeeFf3KXvAkYW0Wyg9InaOp25FMOtZMzqpevKlrTfSWaspBvQae4raI45E2qqTXQpQLoMTVsXAc/s200/IMG_8829.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The eldest is a softball player, which was proving
problematic. She kept pulling the club back like a bat. After one particularly
softballish swing, the youngest yelled at her:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDy_93AggbiDzXAPnMbrTS7cN4rEE-EM_mwF3fL3aFf8l8D3zrpQdFOjfwTGLjSg5pkJeEBQi9DSHNDT5jwLU4p9wnFW9XQtcTg9WYDe7-9SX-rk09NCdCIDfNyo5WI_pseQjkWwLFHgJX/s1600/IMG_8828.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDy_93AggbiDzXAPnMbrTS7cN4rEE-EM_mwF3fL3aFf8l8D3zrpQdFOjfwTGLjSg5pkJeEBQi9DSHNDT5jwLU4p9wnFW9XQtcTg9WYDe7-9SX-rk09NCdCIDfNyo5WI_pseQjkWwLFHgJX/s200/IMG_8828.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Steeeerike!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Then ran to get out of reach. Smart decision.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After a bit of practice my sweet hubby determined that, “A
5-iron works better than the 3-wood. We’re in a bit of a rough here.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He then determined to set the “land speed record” for a seed
ball on rough turf. He may have made it. I can neither confirm nor deny. What I
do know is that it got tough to be successful at guerrilla gardening because
the kids started fetching the seed balls and bringing them back for him to hit
again. Then they even pounded a few into the dirt with their clubs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Seriously?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl16HpbzIdMDF86n3li8YanCwHJQLPrCst9yMjsstDQNM8dY_Zs2jz5yOvaFxLMNqehfLdcqnDLgGGmwmt2X3e-jlrviDWpyZv3WR7fpopLxFfG7a3tXkTmniWSjPNmGyYLVX3LXmnU3V3/s1600/IMG_8832.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl16HpbzIdMDF86n3li8YanCwHJQLPrCst9yMjsstDQNM8dY_Zs2jz5yOvaFxLMNqehfLdcqnDLgGGmwmt2X3e-jlrviDWpyZv3WR7fpopLxFfG7a3tXkTmniWSjPNmGyYLVX3LXmnU3V3/s200/IMG_8832.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh12eOOwAe1fpWrAiW5yFh0z_kor83a2AZVG2mpQBpREC8OlQSswwR_-W8H7fxvsCa_wrSGaEloZI8QYhEnuLOv0KwGOKOJ48ETRp7mJhBFiNp9K_yk3mpRM1nmHxWPi_BJycuIZp3eI1yj/s1600/IMG_8835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh12eOOwAe1fpWrAiW5yFh0z_kor83a2AZVG2mpQBpREC8OlQSswwR_-W8H7fxvsCa_wrSGaEloZI8QYhEnuLOv0KwGOKOJ48ETRp7mJhBFiNp9K_yk3mpRM1nmHxWPi_BJycuIZp3eI1yj/s200/IMG_8835.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Finally, all were thrown, hit, tossed, and otherwise
released into the wild. We turned toward home, successful. Keep an eye out for
sunflowers and other native wildflowers along the greenbelts here. Maybe they
will brighten your day!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXZnwel9OZvaMQCLIzDA1QrQL9so0FqMXE0qa-8E1EOo1lgQvaZi6FAZ4pGx-JS7Ix1ggQJrFQzV1IUezazMAEvD6RF5zdKCxqtc_cNymScKGoWv8VLi04aKGXd3deVh8jFQxztS22FtMr/s1600/IMG_8833.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXZnwel9OZvaMQCLIzDA1QrQL9so0FqMXE0qa-8E1EOo1lgQvaZi6FAZ4pGx-JS7Ix1ggQJrFQzV1IUezazMAEvD6RF5zdKCxqtc_cNymScKGoWv8VLi04aKGXd3deVh8jFQxztS22FtMr/s200/IMG_8833.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>winecup</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoQwPuyBoKPB2RvNCT2vVqV3TDDRuC1hWr9iaqwqliXd9VfeWNNExgdFPxUP3eGKE6sNvdAnfRvEw0B5k7jabfNsLpYFdfF9XuwIe6azAmOFaRVeDSTuaHyynCT5VUOIBiN4PYr2zZDdIF/s1600/IMG_8810.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoQwPuyBoKPB2RvNCT2vVqV3TDDRuC1hWr9iaqwqliXd9VfeWNNExgdFPxUP3eGKE6sNvdAnfRvEw0B5k7jabfNsLpYFdfF9XuwIe6azAmOFaRVeDSTuaHyynCT5VUOIBiN4PYr2zZDdIF/s200/IMG_8810.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A sunflower in captivity at our house</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
If you are interested, read more on the origins of May Day <a href="http://www.holidayinsights.com/other/mayday.htm" target="_blank">here</a>. </div>
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<!--EndFragment-->Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16207965002138357928noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7045153623869044931.post-74814378861796372602013-04-28T21:44:00.000-05:002013-04-28T21:44:50.385-05:00Duct Tape and Free Time
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sometimes I am
concerned that a lack of free time in general is going to produce fewer
inventors in our kids' generation. Overly structured time leads to less idle
brain noodling, right? Seems logical. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I am less worried today
than I was before, because if there are more kids like my youngest out there,
we should be just fine. I came upstairs this Sunday morning, after watering the
garden, to find her deep in the middle of a serious activity. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I thought she had gone
up to the playroom to watch TV, but I heard her talking to herself in what
sounded like a judge’s scoring explanation. Seated in a corner of the playroom
(she must have had to shovel a clear space first) she had a piece of paper and
pen and a ton of duct tape rolls. They were all different patterns and colors.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiskkJ1ZOcY220P1zc57cAKUnNv_7ZxS1rM2EysAmRS8cubJzKpO9XzYf7v-ydLzwqyALTr3uMv87jcOxIb7R2wb-CMem-ecQ1li2gMl16P4JomjOWhfySqT9CtjHccAvzYGB46h67bk-WM/s1600/IMG_8795.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiskkJ1ZOcY220P1zc57cAKUnNv_7ZxS1rM2EysAmRS8cubJzKpO9XzYf7v-ydLzwqyALTr3uMv87jcOxIb7R2wb-CMem-ecQ1li2gMl16P4JomjOWhfySqT9CtjHccAvzYGB46h67bk-WM/s200/IMG_8795.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As I got closer, I
could see it wasn't haphazard. It rarely is with her. She was rolling the duct
tape rolls to see how far they would go. She then was pairing up the rolls with
like distances and scoring the distances of their combined rolls. She was
keeping careful track of the results on her paper.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDZur_-MOVQlrIY_kocBdQ6bq7aY4T108HpD_Z-XnxHyDZMMuccNbd1BtY0USJqa1oETvpvOOGaAfYYDWtIEkeB-o9ca66qCxI-QcI4QCgix1xrrzepuWyoJAA4NOtkp3ElZ7W1BILaKmy/s1600/IMG_8796.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDZur_-MOVQlrIY_kocBdQ6bq7aY4T108HpD_Z-XnxHyDZMMuccNbd1BtY0USJqa1oETvpvOOGaAfYYDWtIEkeB-o9ca66qCxI-QcI4QCgix1xrrzepuWyoJAA4NOtkp3ElZ7W1BILaKmy/s200/IMG_8796.jpg" width="150" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I'm doing an
experiment,” she said, not looking up at me but sensing my presence. “I’m
seeing how far the different duct tapes will roll and which ones will roll the
farthest.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She kept going with her
experiment.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“They have different
amounts of tape on them so they roll different distances,” she explained as she
rolled.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Ah,” I said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“This is very confusing
because this rolled a two and that rolled a two and that rolled an 8 and that
rolled an 8 so now they have to verse each other. These two rolled a five so
they have to verse each other. Wait, I'm losing track. Add that to that and
they got a 13 and that got a seven. Oh wait, orange and pink got seven and four
so they got an eleven! I have to see which got third now.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfPgP1Oh9Vzf6FQnlq2ueAe343b-IBdsFFL9UFAg_s-jIqMyyvkSAqjkFZDj2cl17s0G4UaVWdW6NTlFgTBx7zCcn2OKm57Uz_BA5E5e_WW2BjXhmvzwEXWi5yEiuoMrYOjzTxo8O5Slvi/s1600/IMG_8797.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfPgP1Oh9Vzf6FQnlq2ueAe343b-IBdsFFL9UFAg_s-jIqMyyvkSAqjkFZDj2cl17s0G4UaVWdW6NTlFgTBx7zCcn2OKm57Uz_BA5E5e_WW2BjXhmvzwEXWi5yEiuoMrYOjzTxo8O5Slvi/s200/IMG_8797.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYEWw22QmvBu9ji2343XfYtgrhVRmtP5ZECvQ1CAgozMqX10-8X5VxVYlKoPDEVVNMaEu8hhMOY1QqCjacglsdYnHSVw7BBm9FZStwdZkRllA34ACzsBLrpqk4gqIT1SR1OKdzaghcyxCb/s1600/IMG_8798.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYEWw22QmvBu9ji2343XfYtgrhVRmtP5ZECvQ1CAgozMqX10-8X5VxVYlKoPDEVVNMaEu8hhMOY1QqCjacglsdYnHSVw7BBm9FZStwdZkRllA34ACzsBLrpqk4gqIT1SR1OKdzaghcyxCb/s200/IMG_8798.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">All in one breath
without looking up. Impressive.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“First place is orange and
pink, second is denim and Hello Kitty, third place is zebra, cheetah and
rainbow, and last place is purple and grey.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I was pretty impressed
by her tracking skills.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“It took some thinking
to add up all their rolls,” she said with a sigh. “The orange and pink have the
least tape on them and they have less weight and rolled further.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She made some marks on
the paper.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“The grey and purple
have the most tape and the most weight so they didn't roll very far.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She is seven, ya'll. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Like I said before, I'm
not as worried as I was before. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Have a great week!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16207965002138357928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7045153623869044931.post-49902597616664076092013-04-25T23:37:00.000-05:002013-04-26T11:09:38.705-05:00Guerrillas in the Midst: Earth Week Seed Balls<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Guerrilla Gardening.
Sounds a bit odd. I picture a housewife from the '50's (read June Cleaver)
sporting greasepaint on her face and a camo apron, stealthily slinking through
her petunias, spade raised at attention. Beware aphids, everywhere!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In the real world, guerrilla gardening refers to a growing movement of
urban hipsters (read Zooey Deschanel) who surreptitiously green up nasty vacant
lots and other bare places in their concrete jungles. Often moving under cover
of darkness, they clean up trash, pull weeds and plant flowers. Some places
sport high, razor wire topped chain link. Alas! But wait, the guerrilla
gardeners have developed a work-around. Undaunted, GGs (soooo tired of typing
guerrilla gardeners. Drat-did it again!) have come up with recipes for little
seed-filled missiles to toss nonchalantly over fences. Wherever they land blooms
after a few rains. This does, of course, assume no scary junkyard dog runs off
with them.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span></span><span style="color: #353535; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So, back to me. I know,
I know, so needy! I don't live in an urban environment. I live in the 'burbs.
Not far enough out that I can have chickens but far enough that I've had a wild
turkey in my yard. And yes, the bird, not the booze.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Anyway, you would think
out here that everything is verdant, lush and landscaped. That beauty abounds
and flowers flourish.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I say nay, nay.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There are still ugly
strips of weedy neglect, frontage road wastelands, parking lot medians that
need a little something extra. So there is room for improvement, even out here.
Plus, who doesn't like to see an unexpected burst of flowers?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We decided to fix that
by making our own seed balls.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJzFtJjBJ_c8k9nmT609L3zMhSJ8yxJTpEP9aiaq6922cdZDAUAhsZu3ffs35eBhTk4sh0lCLK6tqNLcD6HPrvwf2PeqeiHNAwLxWYCqxQcRgCZItS0aY3TDecXFnj2YMWZ1NwPlcFKiMW/s1600/IMG_8681.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJzFtJjBJ_c8k9nmT609L3zMhSJ8yxJTpEP9aiaq6922cdZDAUAhsZu3ffs35eBhTk4sh0lCLK6tqNLcD6HPrvwf2PeqeiHNAwLxWYCqxQcRgCZItS0aY3TDecXFnj2YMWZ1NwPlcFKiMW/s200/IMG_8681.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">One of the girls' pals
was in my elementary school garden club last year. She shares our affinity for
growing things and so we invited her to join our <i>Secret Society of the Green Thumb</i>. Okay, we aren’t really called
that but it sounded cooler that way.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In honor of Earth Day,
and the eventuality of spring, we gathered to mix up a batch of these little
flower grenades.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After poring over <i>many</i> recipes, I came up with a hybrid
that seemed to be the best fit for us. Here is how we made our seed balls, er
bombs, er grenades…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWCvv3XbCmeX3CSB93pEnTCge_RsuZCsK7X0-Ke3a-ihJ4PTOu9XMQUnvTWCC3tdClBkJEnqjTwTvjf6DbmcEnOMfQ7xG3HXHknGSQELOm-Puhxi6Mep1tPDuvp_baZlUIKam-GKd9ky2r/s1600/IMG_8670.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWCvv3XbCmeX3CSB93pEnTCge_RsuZCsK7X0-Ke3a-ihJ4PTOu9XMQUnvTWCC3tdClBkJEnqjTwTvjf6DbmcEnOMfQ7xG3HXHknGSQELOm-Puhxi6Mep1tPDuvp_baZlUIKam-GKd9ky2r/s200/IMG_8670.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span></span><span style="color: #353535; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Clay: We used Crayola
air-dry. It was too chilly this morning to dig up native clay, but if we do
this again, that's the route I will take. Some recipes call for powdered or dry
clay, but breathing in the silica particles if the powder gets in the air is
dangerous so I wouldn't use that method with kids. Buy it at Hobby Lobby or
Wal-Mart.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy0MSyHQNToW5y21of5FURhsc5PesYAIwzJrGn5RGTZmKzPPe9UMcFNGWRzoDZxc0TNCrsyvEtb8Mf4_VHZBUNBYH8LBy2nw25J5UaAduVU6KqvMKWk0XMnLXna62mzi7bfEFUIBGjfcWa/s1600/IMG_8673.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy0MSyHQNToW5y21of5FURhsc5PesYAIwzJrGn5RGTZmKzPPe9UMcFNGWRzoDZxc0TNCrsyvEtb8Mf4_VHZBUNBYH8LBy2nw25J5UaAduVU6KqvMKWk0XMnLXna62mzi7bfEFUIBGjfcWa/s200/IMG_8673.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span></span><span style="color: #353535; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Organic compost: Some
folks don’t have any hang-ups about the compost being organic or not. I use
organic gardening products in our home garden because we eat out of it so I had
organic. You can get some at Lowe’s or Wal-Mart.</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1d7sdV8vypdVKUL7_9B6w_lqg6cH4E58tVYG99XsQ8N8NuZDikk4SDIHBp8DXA6w4oid8LPXb5fYp7zyJiD7lf26eyLwl2EfHXQgcJwpmyntXpkW9Df16Sk430KdltNv0ykAbZf01aMXI/s1600/IMG_8671.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1d7sdV8vypdVKUL7_9B6w_lqg6cH4E58tVYG99XsQ8N8NuZDikk4SDIHBp8DXA6w4oid8LPXb5fYp7zyJiD7lf26eyLwl2EfHXQgcJwpmyntXpkW9Df16Sk430KdltNv0ykAbZf01aMXI/s200/IMG_8671.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span></span><span style="color: #353535; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Seeds: I think you
should always use native species when doing this with flower seeds. That way
you don’t do more harm than good. We chose native Texas wildflower seeds from Lowe’s.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTWzzQG1cgbLWHeCX4OVRWlb0BAwJi_fJCc6jOx2nNEbluKk70PsDx5DATUBggndOhKcCyD8gvstfamVYYY_WT5WgEETJ5LxoycppC3xInKoQ3LninaRC_0SdAYYaMHS50Wj9oGbKxE4RI/s1600/IMG_8672.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTWzzQG1cgbLWHeCX4OVRWlb0BAwJi_fJCc6jOx2nNEbluKk70PsDx5DATUBggndOhKcCyD8gvstfamVYYY_WT5WgEETJ5LxoycppC3xInKoQ3LninaRC_0SdAYYaMHS50Wj9oGbKxE4RI/s200/IMG_8672.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span></span><span style="color: #353535; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Water:
Self-explanatory.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiklKkLr8yynrbZzI0_pDwnXSlHNpZRqbVxmI218AuYF-uAkhejXjd35Dg-JCU3L3iQL1RqvBbDneXjC2t_BS3RVSpfuXS3xrnY8M2i36jmnreLPdHHdnym2lSQVQ1V0OGXzYM6ajXpMZXa/s1600/IMG_8674.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiklKkLr8yynrbZzI0_pDwnXSlHNpZRqbVxmI218AuYF-uAkhejXjd35Dg-JCU3L3iQL1RqvBbDneXjC2t_BS3RVSpfuXS3xrnY8M2i36jmnreLPdHHdnym2lSQVQ1V0OGXzYM6ajXpMZXa/s200/IMG_8674.jpg" width="150" /></a></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Butter knives for
portioning.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">That’s it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Now for the fun part.
My friend Amber and I gathered our three youngest girls (the older two joined
when middle school let out) together on our driveway. I spread a plastic
tablecloth on the ground for a smooth, non-porous surface and assembled all the
ingredients.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After a quick tutorial
(to follow) the girls took off. Cranking out missiles like pros.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I kept up with jotting
down quotes until my fingers were too caked with clay to handle the phone. I
lost track of who said what, but here are the highlights.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">First, cut off a chunk
of clay and flatten it into a pancake-not paper thin but not ¼” thick.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_fcBCb76GXPujzcvfk95PEjmDD75qEpPCHjpRue8upWX3s_OxaJCSs-W4Z1nOol4zGEEIhvvVnAPOXKdDfUK-6R9dULbfv4mnTxASDxyKsTEW6NRkUTrjboRB21CJO17TZtIIGi1jWp4i/s1600/IMG_8675.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_fcBCb76GXPujzcvfk95PEjmDD75qEpPCHjpRue8upWX3s_OxaJCSs-W4Z1nOol4zGEEIhvvVnAPOXKdDfUK-6R9dULbfv4mnTxASDxyKsTEW6NRkUTrjboRB21CJO17TZtIIGi1jWp4i/s200/IMG_8675.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span></span><span style="color: #353535; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“Ooh, it’s like we are
making a pizza,” one of them instantly said.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Next, sprinkle a layer
of seeds on the clay.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUxUF0Em1UjqlmuLS9XlbG2F0Kk2aYYC1e6Zj6dh9Ta0gbSEqi20xz9zwoV4u-p57-69qtD6nJGrzxwipj-Bv2WBN30Uk9xgV2BY-kUGAcqVyif7KgpD26hnYwC7cKTQiDTuvzuLRcRg0h/s1600/IMG_8676.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUxUF0Em1UjqlmuLS9XlbG2F0Kk2aYYC1e6Zj6dh9Ta0gbSEqi20xz9zwoV4u-p57-69qtD6nJGrzxwipj-Bv2WBN30Uk9xgV2BY-kUGAcqVyif7KgpD26hnYwC7cKTQiDTuvzuLRcRg0h/s200/IMG_8676.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span></span><span style="color: #353535; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“This is like granola,”
another said. “It can be a dessert pizza!”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Like we added granola
to white chocolate dough.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Or it could be
sugar-cookie dough crust,” suggested their pal.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Now add a generous
layer of compost.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-8KN7glo5YeWSFEfqX4c8Sg5A3xwSR85-e2r7CwehZLqbogSjNKh0KbQqKFALRTsxn6yWw8EDn-VSCraLs1Kw4NAMQZZ5iDTqwPUW0DdRWVYQ4HaKfKnhrir7N7HufY5fpYz0U2OvJgrr/s1600/IMG_8677.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-8KN7glo5YeWSFEfqX4c8Sg5A3xwSR85-e2r7CwehZLqbogSjNKh0KbQqKFALRTsxn6yWw8EDn-VSCraLs1Kw4NAMQZZ5iDTqwPUW0DdRWVYQ4HaKfKnhrir7N7HufY5fpYz0U2OvJgrr/s200/IMG_8677.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>sorry, fuzzy pic.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="color: #353535; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“Now add the chocolate
to the top.”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Then drizzle a little
water into the mix. Not enough to goop it up, just to dampen the compost.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXGW35IjlvyNTzMJUkDeEZSDcHSN1Z1fVxuVgM21b0f0Sj-Q__EshlQT5_mdJ6nmI0IaL6iWdasi4G6CmOwKQ9nxZcBJHuYXqspd6bMlhE7jHfc3wviExuzBc0Ll-B9_daI5CWIghGlzNE/s1600/IMG_8678.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXGW35IjlvyNTzMJUkDeEZSDcHSN1Z1fVxuVgM21b0f0Sj-Q__EshlQT5_mdJ6nmI0IaL6iWdasi4G6CmOwKQ9nxZcBJHuYXqspd6bMlhE7jHfc3wviExuzBc0Ll-B9_daI5CWIghGlzNE/s200/IMG_8678.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span></span><span style="color: #353535; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“Now you drizzle on the
chocolate syrup.”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I told them to use the
knives to cut the “pizzas” into quarters.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“What is quarters?”
asked the youngest.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Cut it in half and
then in half again.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Oh, in fourths!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Right.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“So this is like a
math, gardening, cooking show,” said the youngest. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Scraping the dough up
carefully, ball up each pie piece, containing the soil and seeds in the center
of each ball. Then roll the balls in
more compost until they are coated. “I lost my Earth Truffle,” said the
youngest as she dredged one in compost. “Oh, whew, I found it!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEbXI6smlW5Uz_D2s6jjaxr_HFXru9x4n7WNnM5JdMo1sDdn7xuCVh5HZx4bDCHfDyvA3PnghhZKB9wEmTew-erpgdYfZbfMXwkpGB89D3o5eWOZeRoKq-LWFARLzVSttreR5cfsBMcQo6/s1600/IMG_8679.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEbXI6smlW5Uz_D2s6jjaxr_HFXru9x4n7WNnM5JdMo1sDdn7xuCVh5HZx4bDCHfDyvA3PnghhZKB9wEmTew-erpgdYfZbfMXwkpGB89D3o5eWOZeRoKq-LWFARLzVSttreR5cfsBMcQo6/s200/IMG_8679.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span></span><span style="color: #353535; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The compost will feed
the seeds as they grow and the clay will hold it all together and keep birds
from eating the seeds too soon.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Of course, as we
reached this step and the balls started accumulating, they started discussing
what else they looked like.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKmjdNnPSMjCgQXSNpMuneZPYs2Xu40NpB4IFtzihpJBNlcWf124dIMzHbR1qWpDFaV1faafbAIRQ-7ceLEa7HjudP97Q4LEWzfRCvES4Pw7xhIyQtIWFllRjdAPsF9NL-88PSXNK7FGmo/s1600/IMG_8685.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKmjdNnPSMjCgQXSNpMuneZPYs2Xu40NpB4IFtzihpJBNlcWf124dIMzHbR1qWpDFaV1faafbAIRQ-7ceLEa7HjudP97Q4LEWzfRCvES4Pw7xhIyQtIWFllRjdAPsF9NL-88PSXNK7FGmo/s200/IMG_8685.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span></span><span style="color: #353535; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“Ummmm, it looks like a
big rabbit came by here with a stomachache,” said one of the girls. (Aren’t
girls soooo much more delicate than boys?) They all dissolved into gales of
giggles.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And then, just when I
thought I had lost them to potty humor, the middle child said, “I'm gonna teach
my kids how to do this.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Melting Mommy!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">On that note, we
wrapped it all up. We now have a good stash of truffles. I’ll post back about
how we dispersed them. The hubby has a really great idea involving a golf club
and a vacant lot…we’ll see!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">P.S. The youngest wants
me to remind you that even if they look like truffles you can’t eat them!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--EndFragment-->Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16207965002138357928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7045153623869044931.post-40750458844524995002013-04-22T22:35:00.001-05:002013-04-22T22:39:51.500-05:00My Village People<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I know a song that gets on everybody's nerves,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Everybody’s nerves, everybody's nerves.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I know a song that gets on everybody's nerves,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">and this is how it goes.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I know a song that gets on everybody's nerves,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">everybody's nerves, everybody's nerves.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I know a song that gets on everybody's nerves,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">and this is how it goes.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I know a song that gets on everybody's nerves,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">everybody's nerves, everybody's nerves.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I know a song that gets on everybody's nerves,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">and this is how it goes.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Got it? Great. Repeat
that for about 15 minutes. Getting the picture more clearly now? Ahh, cringing
a bit aren’t you? This is the water boarding-esque torture that my uberpatient
friend Amber endured while ferrying my normally sweet youngest to gymnastics
today. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In her very kind way
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didn’t breathe the whole time.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I must applaud her for
the fortitude to not stop the car and leave my seven year-old, inanely singing, on the
side of the road. But that’s what we do. We help our friends, even at the risk
of going mad. What would we do without our friends? It truly does take a
village.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">With a hubby that is
frequently on the road and three VERY active children, my village saves my life
daily. Whether it is with a kid taxi, meal suggestion, lunch invite or an ear to
listen to whining about the daily grind. All are valuable and I am blessed
to receive all from my myriad of pals.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We have to help each
other or we would lose our minds. We no longer live in a world where we can just
send Janie and Johnny out the door with a PB&J and a smile, calling out “see you when
the street lights come on sweetie!” and collect our wits (and dust bunnies)
while they are gone. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We shuttle to
activities, games and classes because it isn’t really that safe to let our kids
run wild anymore. I try to give my three as much outdoor time as possible, but
they just don’t have the type of freedom I enjoyed as a child. Consequently,
there is stress. Stress to get from place to place in a timely manner. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Do we
have the right leotard/shoes/hairband/water bottle/snack/bat/glove/bag/mouth
guard/vest/etc. we need for the four places we have to be on Tuesday?" </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Is there
gas in the car?" </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Can I be in McKinney, Flower Mound and Lewisville all at the
same time?" </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The answer to those questions is very often “No!” but we do our
best.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We pre-prepare, we
plan, we set the phone alarm five minutes sooner, we double check, but we still
slip up. Someone ripped her tights, a jersey is dirty, a water bottle spills on
homework, or a snack hits the ground.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Life happens.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Often in those moments when it feels like either Mayhem or Murphy (you know, the one with the Law) is stalking you, it's a maternal angel who swoops in to save the day. A friend, a fellow mom,
bringing spare bobby pins or an extra Caprisun to the rescue. A ride home or a
pair of eyes on a dropped-off child to ease my worries when I leave. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">These are the folks I know will see dirt on my floor and laundry on my couch and still hang out and share a cup of joe anyway. So thankful for their grace! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">These are
the ladies who are my support system and my team. They are my village and my
joy. I am thankful for and blessed by all of you-this and every week. May I be there for you when you need help too. And maybe, just maybe, together we can come up with a song that gets on our <i>kids' </i>nerves!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEb99zjEIIad6-EniS9SWORbMPlL33eq4viwP_xnb5IScHHXXhdPYnjPp5_GGCwfbwZp6esDUBHUFCbLz8uvkHChyphenhyphendleVJqVTHC3ExCbk1BliKsC0Fg7GpD10iL7O5ACBsZsaokRE9Z-Sn/s1600/tumblr_lunrv97L001qzs3uqo1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEb99zjEIIad6-EniS9SWORbMPlL33eq4viwP_xnb5IScHHXXhdPYnjPp5_GGCwfbwZp6esDUBHUFCbLz8uvkHChyphenhyphendleVJqVTHC3ExCbk1BliKsC0Fg7GpD10iL7O5ACBsZsaokRE9Z-Sn/s200/tumblr_lunrv97L001qzs3uqo1_500.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>"Ever feel like this?"</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16207965002138357928noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7045153623869044931.post-11011244374575374102013-04-19T19:14:00.001-05:002013-04-19T19:17:05.154-05:00Faith and Hope in The Face of Tragedy<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This has been a bad week. A tragic week. Historically, too, this
has been a tragic week. The assassination of President Lincoln, the
sinking of the Titanic, the Oklahoma City bombing and Columbine.
All happened this week. Now the West, Texas factory explosion and the terrifying events
in Boston make it a sad and scary time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Having young children makes this also a week of dichotomies.
On the one hand, you want to keep an eye on the events unfolding. On the other
hand you want to shield your children from the questions, the pain and the
innocence-robbing insanity. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You want to save them from watching the
explosions-accidental and intentional. The constant barrage of images that
evoke tears and questions you can’t always answer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You want to show them, too, that America is a nation that
comes together to bring fugitives to justice, to serve and protect, to donate
blood and open homes. It is important to explain to the kids how we should
behave in those moments of barest humanity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">On this week of tragedies, past and present, we still have
reasons to celebrate. Celebrate life, family and community. Reasons to
celebrate God. I tend to go out into nature, to my garden to cope with the
stress. I look at the beauty God has created and the amazing ways He has designed
it all to work. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We released ladybugs today and they immediately began
foraging for food, devouring the gnats that were sheltering under the romaine
leaves. They came out of their mesh bag, their captivity that was all they had
known, and instantly went to work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I took the kids out there to divert them from the TV crawl.
They were able to release these beautiful creatures and learn about why we need
them. They were able to look closely at a beautiful caterpillar on the parsley
that will soon become an even more beautiful butterfly. They were able to pick
fresh broccoli from the plant and snack as they observed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Innocence and beauty and perfect design. All preferable to
horror and fear, pain and sadness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Perhaps the greatest reason to be glad this week is that the 6th graders at our church, including our own sweet girl, are being Confirmed tomorrow. I can't think of a better time to equip these precious children with the knowledge and assurance of their God. In a time of terror and sadness, to know you can reach out and find comfort in the arms of your God is more powerful than any disaster.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8qiSFiSU6WVZZSbhPadBKZ5GCiNqcitj7kK6p3BSRQr-pmcz9_FoPrQAElHBQqn124sdUA5PVwoJmdAVeM165R6ht5xF9iQ8ZxuVd_6gi7b0NpuXDyiFNbRHF3geTUce6mhv9X_Fl1hJE/s1600/IMG_8496.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8qiSFiSU6WVZZSbhPadBKZ5GCiNqcitj7kK6p3BSRQr-pmcz9_FoPrQAElHBQqn124sdUA5PVwoJmdAVeM165R6ht5xF9iQ8ZxuVd_6gi7b0NpuXDyiFNbRHF3geTUce6mhv9X_Fl1hJE/s200/IMG_8496.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Our prayers and hearts go out to the people whose lives were
shattered last night in an explosion in West, to those whose victorious moments
at the finish line of the Boston Marathon turned to shock and terror. To those
who have huddled in their homes all night and day in Boston, unsure of the location
of a madman. Prayers, too, go out to people across the nation that struggle to
know why these acts of terror continue to threaten and assault us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My faith is in God and I pray for comfort. For the words to
tell my children. For the words to tell myself. I am thankful for the journey that over 80 kids are about to embark upon to grow their faith in Christ, and know the peace that comes with that faith. God, please grant peace.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I leave you with some images that give me peace. I hope they
provide some for you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">God Bless.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So, I have said before that I think I was born in the wrong
century. I like to hand quilt, cook, garden and build stuff. I love that I
picked an entire big bag of swiss chard, collards and romaine right out of my
backyard garden today. I love that there are little peas forming on our plants
and the okra is just starting to peek through the dirt. I love that my daughter
woke up this morning under a blanket I made myself. I love to cook a full meal
and make my own strawberry jam.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghoZJUEd-XBif_RaQ5JoKZ4MsYinWcgsFg6rCYtVhc4xXbgttXLZCcYnmJ1beK4WPcetne3Kwz2ZPZKog7zaFtQvbRzQAYlSOx3edRybxPuaWF66JxDaR24WDCQGIEVCUF6U_m7O0C8uBo/s1600/IMG_8547.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghoZJUEd-XBif_RaQ5JoKZ4MsYinWcgsFg6rCYtVhc4xXbgttXLZCcYnmJ1beK4WPcetne3Kwz2ZPZKog7zaFtQvbRzQAYlSOx3edRybxPuaWF66JxDaR24WDCQGIEVCUF6U_m7O0C8uBo/s200/IMG_8547.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDaxhIattS00ITbF_gqzHSDd6hPZh3-0bCERyWLqlHjVaYvl9cA89BbTMSkBtjkbFmRP2WQk9oSGw-nXAQiVxIYha_T7GDPiSBOCuTx8-te28OkVtMooJ4G6GO85_44D0ioweXqxi1A_Jc/s1600/IMG_8548.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDaxhIattS00ITbF_gqzHSDd6hPZh3-0bCERyWLqlHjVaYvl9cA89BbTMSkBtjkbFmRP2WQk9oSGw-nXAQiVxIYha_T7GDPiSBOCuTx8-te28OkVtMooJ4G6GO85_44D0ioweXqxi1A_Jc/s200/IMG_8548.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqFR0Gw5WAyD568XKxhOtxWZhVByPgtCC7Z4UxKGJK-LqHkjKTrSiMmbUNnwZPidXuePqs-XoKAPnq_xKetrEIfucCRlRAJeeAkKJ5mEE1p82_MrUZzoO5Zv26NVzBX87DlCuRI4yicFju/s1600/IMG_8550.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqFR0Gw5WAyD568XKxhOtxWZhVByPgtCC7Z4UxKGJK-LqHkjKTrSiMmbUNnwZPidXuePqs-XoKAPnq_xKetrEIfucCRlRAJeeAkKJ5mEE1p82_MrUZzoO5Zv26NVzBX87DlCuRI4yicFju/s200/IMG_8550.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I do hearken back a bit to the “good” old days, but need to
remember that there were both pros and cons to them.</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Pros: No makeup, you didn’t hear people refer to their
quilting companions as their “besties”, and no Justin Bieber. Cons: Having to
boil many kettles of water for your kids’ weekly baths (gag), no movies, and no
giant coffee mecca (gasp!). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">While I like to perpetuate some old-fashioned practices, I
learned this week that I really <i>don’t</i>
wish I lived in another time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We’ve had one of those “Texas” Aprils. The kind where it’s
freezing and you’re covering the garden one minute, (remember the last blog
post?) and it’s pushing 90 degrees the next. Seriously, weather? How many times
can people really use the phrase “Well, that’s Texas weather for you!”? Clearly
they can use it a <i>lot</i> of times.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Just for fun this week, our remaining 27 year-old AC unit
decided to throw in the towel. Like really throw it in. Not like the other
times when the warranty company has recharged it, slapped a band-aid on it and
we moved on. It was D-E-D, dead. Consequently, the ambient air temp in the
upstairs was a crisp 88 degrees. Ahhhh….sweating yourself to sleep…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I am not into sleeping in a sauna and neither is my family.
Back in the old days we would have built our house to take advantage of the
crosswind and breezes, not just stuck it wherever it would shoehorn in with the
rest of the houses. We might also have a lovely sleeping porch. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We have no lovely sleeping porch, so downstairs we all
trooped. Splayed out all over the living room like a dysfunctional slumber
party. We have been doing this for several nights now and we all are over it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgurrHmizgZdbyybnxe_SywBFmrbbscvAaGERPD0A-29-e1pFutm52s7DL5LMEOq58BR78iEoQhehHm6MOHkCDYvHkqY6lxeHRYpj7Ldz81f2Jgdyj7M0y-fT_XFNsScpRiiy70HJDI2VVy/s1600/IMG_8551.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgurrHmizgZdbyybnxe_SywBFmrbbscvAaGERPD0A-29-e1pFutm52s7DL5LMEOq58BR78iEoQhehHm6MOHkCDYvHkqY6lxeHRYpj7Ldz81f2Jgdyj7M0y-fT_XFNsScpRiiy70HJDI2VVy/s200/IMG_8551.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtgltyjVgFunMH5Oc59I0f9cdXnuB1u5fNCODCbV2GdIInAh-Tfw5jVVvznQd1nE9GJWGncshKNkAZBefGIL1Crde3Kefkn5Ge8ql4ZW-a33HM2Ick5k9iajlKHs7ZcgtqPSoT_q5ctjW0/s1600/IMG_8534.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtgltyjVgFunMH5Oc59I0f9cdXnuB1u5fNCODCbV2GdIInAh-Tfw5jVVvznQd1nE9GJWGncshKNkAZBefGIL1Crde3Kefkn5Ge8ql4ZW-a33HM2Ick5k9iajlKHs7ZcgtqPSoT_q5ctjW0/s200/IMG_8534.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Even the seven year-old said, “Can I sleep in my bed soon?
That air mattress is really making my back hurt.” So imagine the back pain of we
who are not seven. We are doubly spoiled due to our recent memory-foam
acquisition. That mattress is awesome. Way better than hay or horsehair, I bet.
Hmmm…seems like modern day wins another round.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Obviously modern times are better in so many ways. I like
healthy, organic meat and dairy. While the old days were full of it, I would
not have enjoyed the procuring process. I like to feed chickens and would love
it if we could have some here for all the fresh eggs. On the flip side, my
chickens to show up in my fridge already deceased and featherless. Not sure I
could stomach the in between bits.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I like to crochet and knit things for fun, but having to
knit dull, coarse yarn into necessary items might take the fun out of it. Perhaps
not, if there were no DVR-ed episodes of <i>NCIS
</i>or <i>Cougartown</i> to watch in the
waning hours of the day. Maybe knitting boring yarn into socks was high
entertainment at the fireside. Who knows?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Back to the AC mess. When it comes to modern day living, I
think that I like the good stuff and hate the bad stuff. Novel concept, right?
I’m a rocket-scientist (nobody would have used that phrase back in the day). I love
my air conditioning and refrigerator. I love having electricity power my sewing
machine instead of my foot. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I hate working behind a desk in an office without windows or
with windows that don’t open. I love working outside in the dirt or inside at
my craft table. I hate cleaning and think there was probably a lot less of that
going on back in the day, with smaller houses, less stuff and no indoor
plumbing…well, that last part is a serious one-up for 2013. I do like the
indoor plumbing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">While there was backbreaking work and many children to keep
up with (yes, probably more than I have now), there was also a simpler life. In light of recent horrific events, that seems even more idyllic that it probably was. However, there was a greater reliance on God to provide and a stronger family emphasis.
Neighbors came together to bring meals, care for children, finish a barn or
bring in a crop. We are blessed to have neighbors and friends who do help in so
many ways, but not everyone is so lucky. It isn’t the pervasive nature of our
culture anymore.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Then again, along with today comes doctors who can keep my
kids healthy, schools where girls can be educated and go on to college, cars
that can run us to the grocery store when something is needed. All good things.
I have to think my counterparts hundreds of years ago would have enjoyed those.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I guess when it comes down to it, you should be happy wherever
and whenever you are. God put you there for a reason. Embrace what you have now
and borrow a bit from the past. Try to make your life the best you can make it. In the immortal words of the great philosopher Billy Joel:</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<pre><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"The good old days weren't always good,
And tomorrow ain't as bad as it seems."</span></pre>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Oh, and be thankful for the AC!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16207965002138357928noreply@blogger.com4