tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57869131197648111182024-03-18T22:51:29.703-04:00hinckley houseaprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15486220662265923979noreply@blogger.comBlogger233125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786913119764811118.post-28245547707082074212010-04-07T15:24:00.005-04:002010-04-07T16:05:51.936-04:00boston children's museum<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">we had a great easter weekend. the weather was beautiful. we had a great time as a family and then later visiting extended family.<br /><br />last thursday, we spent the night at a hotel near boston, mass. good friday was spent at the children's museum in boston. i don't think that even a hundredth of a second was wasted on boredom that day.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw-ak-lpTaG2yky66Coadb184wbh1Zk0ZOpL7IlNtMRByDrdLEeziPrlqoN_3wBX-YV-r2L9EpIp5Fv0gqnCnK674g4ohthind7OrktPQMiGHaA3NSJDzTt5uKUvRB1v9IWUh-ZdOWTdTO/s1600/2010+spring.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw-ak-lpTaG2yky66Coadb184wbh1Zk0ZOpL7IlNtMRByDrdLEeziPrlqoN_3wBX-YV-r2L9EpIp5Fv0gqnCnK674g4ohthind7OrktPQMiGHaA3NSJDzTt5uKUvRB1v9IWUh-ZdOWTdTO/s400/2010+spring.jpg" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">want to feel old? here's my soon to be six year old playing with the cash register the only way she knows how.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJVq0d6grr_3YyGLc_ItGyF33AAaWYzEO4-mBzrIdpOk31r6UaO5MPGXCe5FTftBcjxEVmu3s8ox8JpuyrQF00FWaR5tO-0V6OJdU7OTSmqZ9v5_s5_uAupXzTiOdjD8FELvzP8YY5a4Wu/s1600/P1040045.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJVq0d6grr_3YyGLc_ItGyF33AAaWYzEO4-mBzrIdpOk31r6UaO5MPGXCe5FTftBcjxEVmu3s8ox8JpuyrQF00FWaR5tO-0V6OJdU7OTSmqZ9v5_s5_uAupXzTiOdjD8FELvzP8YY5a4Wu/s400/P1040045.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">yes, that's right folks, she is scanning the food! it doesn't ever cross her mind that those buttons are there for a reason and could be pushed. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7HeALY3F1RB3sGVx7vkmx8uy44p2xlZ3qEf4mrxEZWhGBvmQ12UhpGLTi4orWe53W_QTUWppyluXrYQxQFu3HYai9Oh-A0IROCzPzG6Z2MQvRtK6pqMIvbhyKdJcV4SbCMNFJDUEyFzNo/s1600/P1040048.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7HeALY3F1RB3sGVx7vkmx8uy44p2xlZ3qEf4mrxEZWhGBvmQ12UhpGLTi4orWe53W_QTUWppyluXrYQxQFu3HYai9Oh-A0IROCzPzG6Z2MQvRtK6pqMIvbhyKdJcV4SbCMNFJDUEyFzNo/s400/P1040048.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">the girls wanted to spend an eternity at the hair salon place. i finally kicked them out when another girl returned for the second time to have a turn with the mannequins.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpB6d-7vRa7OLMTleY4F9l5tZEYRT_Eff2oqCq-hZmob4hrlMzkWlCBoIhdn8FxgcGnYdpjH3eGKW6rER-XCkdaTC_8zKEX6H_Bi_Zmf1SogtqVd9hYNjRaGORkdtLL7gPxX1ozzqxgLzK/s1600/P1040053.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpB6d-7vRa7OLMTleY4F9l5tZEYRT_Eff2oqCq-hZmob4hrlMzkWlCBoIhdn8FxgcGnYdpjH3eGKW6rER-XCkdaTC_8zKEX6H_Bi_Zmf1SogtqVd9hYNjRaGORkdtLL7gPxX1ozzqxgLzK/s400/P1040053.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="clear:both; text-align:CENTER"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a>fritzy enjoyed washing hair (which he also kept pretending to do at the pool that morning).</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtQJOo-crioS5cvN9lGaDjZb-fAvJh6NMYfvgb9M7YgDJWSUS6eKJ9wI85fJ5yFU_K8Qio6PKCLsgJkCXFZDq7B0CSlzIwBYApW97MUZ7EaDDX637g6CmPyxpG89TSmnQYjfs-5Th1Lm1I/s1600/P1040055.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtQJOo-crioS5cvN9lGaDjZb-fAvJh6NMYfvgb9M7YgDJWSUS6eKJ9wI85fJ5yFU_K8Qio6PKCLsgJkCXFZDq7B0CSlzIwBYApW97MUZ7EaDDX637g6CmPyxpG89TSmnQYjfs-5Th1Lm1I/s400/P1040055.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457480936670083554" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">the kids made it to the top and back twice in this three-story climb/rope thingy.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdsxCh85uj7Ttig1XWG9Xfd9XSBPBYxWjLfrNpqLlQNFN0Og2F6MnjkARMjJym-nGV0QxG7B4Gf17rTNZx3RJ2wm7P1SIltSyenGNvhAtJ7AfF2zTzDy8el3_vNvBa1nfQi3isFX2-Vh0c/s1600/P1040064.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdsxCh85uj7Ttig1XWG9Xfd9XSBPBYxWjLfrNpqLlQNFN0Og2F6MnjkARMjJym-nGV0QxG7B4Gf17rTNZx3RJ2wm7P1SIltSyenGNvhAtJ7AfF2zTzDy8el3_vNvBa1nfQi3isFX2-Vh0c/s400/P1040064.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457483509087631986" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtrPvvViEY3BmqejguT34GDr_8dK6ikv4XUJtYTvqwNGJzlg7McqvhnjOcMHddsBl0YcOBE_VOz2VA3SjSFRBLg5e2egu7qzBqHPIVP-JxkxshC4ksT2gLlNmzxXYtfgw8jJFerOAih7bW/s1600/P1040070.JPG"><br /></a></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcrDlWLvzI53Rd9iGF6v28vGYrFPm_k84zvhRVvjIKiZQcE3QPOPkyov7_b5R1WeSj81UOd_3zO0RA55VsWTaDOnLubsn9hzV5q2av6w6UJdcb3rvKNacLL45329YNqwe4RhRkEUf35YI5/s1600/P1040067.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcrDlWLvzI53Rd9iGF6v28vGYrFPm_k84zvhRVvjIKiZQcE3QPOPkyov7_b5R1WeSj81UOd_3zO0RA55VsWTaDOnLubsn9hzV5q2av6w6UJdcb3rvKNacLL45329YNqwe4RhRkEUf35YI5/s400/P1040067.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457483494424901122" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHAlVcTHZGlZKVoQrlYtU-GMjfDXcteAYtgFZFXSdmpdlcqQh3hXeQaWFaCLXaqwCPtu0A4MunciIMiQiFXYWSsaXZRLr_LahLGlmvwPdua7TQEyCmpDfVUUto6Tj6f9ZJ939SFhmHu6h3/s1600/P1040065.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHAlVcTHZGlZKVoQrlYtU-GMjfDXcteAYtgFZFXSdmpdlcqQh3hXeQaWFaCLXaqwCPtu0A4MunciIMiQiFXYWSsaXZRLr_LahLGlmvwPdua7TQEyCmpDfVUUto6Tj6f9ZJ939SFhmHu6h3/s400/P1040065.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457483484237499746" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">we got home late friday night, then headed to new york state for an easter egg hunt with the cousins at my parents' house. again, the weather was beautiful. (sadly, no pics).</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">sunday morning, in honor of <a href="http://www.lds.org/conference/display/0,5234,23-1,00.html">general conference</a> (a special semi-annual meeting for our church), we made waffles with strawberries and whip cream. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">i was so tired out by sunday afternoon that all i made for dinner was potatoes cooked in a frying pan with onions and sandwich meat ham. i then made more waffles for the kids. my brother informed me it was a most pathetic easter meal (i agree), but we were fed and the whole weekend was fun. did i mention how beautiful the weather was?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">actually, still is... sunshine warms my soul. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">happy belated easter, everyone!</div>aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15486220662265923979noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786913119764811118.post-17973860817702772952010-04-07T11:57:00.006-04:002010-04-07T21:20:10.061-04:00a little drama to go along with your play(**warning** this post contains <i>many</i> videos - i recommend "fritzy as tomatoes" and "fritzy as BBW part 2" if you're short on time.)<div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">you want great drama? well, at least as great as drama goes when it doesn't involve me or my girls. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">let me set the stage: we got up early to go swimming at the hotel before checking out, ate breakfast, saw the ducks, then got to the boston children's museum around noon.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">shortly after we had arrived at the museum, we went to a show. it was an interactive play where kids were chosen from the audience to participate. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">lily was called up first to be a glass of water. (we hadn't yet wised up to the option of hitting video on our camera though). </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicoeNpT8n7PhPOCA8KNTDlnMbKSzHrYYRu1NJrHCUcGv28fqGQLhse4PVJeMBJDIFlrhp2U1MBBE1QZrEwcs82q1Pdn1FNW8TBAq1Y7-xr4oUnJW2p8M9WsF8LzEraOdq04zIBfwcFgeHC/s1600/P1040017.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicoeNpT8n7PhPOCA8KNTDlnMbKSzHrYYRu1NJrHCUcGv28fqGQLhse4PVJeMBJDIFlrhp2U1MBBE1QZrEwcs82q1Pdn1FNW8TBAq1Y7-xr4oUnJW2p8M9WsF8LzEraOdq04zIBfwcFgeHC/s400/P1040017.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457462977407895138" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">then fritzy was called up to be a tomatoes. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/rJ2Elk4vKqc&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/rJ2Elk4vKqc&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">then we spent <i>six</i> hours at the museum. we still decided to bring tired (remember swam in the morning), but well-behaved kids to the 6:15 showing of the three little pigs.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">when we got to the theater, they seated us and then announced a 15 minute delay on the start of the play.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">from the minute we sat down, fritzy raised his hand to volunteer for a part in the play. he kept his hand raised for pretty much the whole 20 minutes that we waited for the play to start.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiP0oE44Dq3gPbuXg7VowBzzrdMKDNBo_JuRp9Mw7oyPtkk-B66ZxiUs-aP_0E_hdJZTIRR4PKYPSeM2-qG05h2_nayt0mjqPKebn86cqc7SitsBagz84zKYiwelmiqOnmOyDCmek8dcJA/s1600/P1040076.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiP0oE44Dq3gPbuXg7VowBzzrdMKDNBo_JuRp9Mw7oyPtkk-B66ZxiUs-aP_0E_hdJZTIRR4PKYPSeM2-qG05h2_nayt0mjqPKebn86cqc7SitsBagz84zKYiwelmiqOnmOyDCmek8dcJA/s400/P1040076.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457457187042085698" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">finally, two gentlemen come out to start the play. they need four children to volunteer for the various parts of the play. this time there is a full audience and the chance of any my kids being chosen is slim. but fritzy (and the girls) hand is determinedly raised.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">the first pig is chosen ....not fritzy.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">the second pig is chosen ...not fritzy.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">the third pig is chosen ....not fritzy.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">the big, bad wolf is chosen ...not fritzy.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">all the parts are filled.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">but wait, </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">...the child chosen to be the big, bad wolf has changed their mind</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">...and fritzy is chosen to be the big, bad wolf!!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">(two very happy parents in the audience give a huge sigh of relief.)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>fritzy part 1</div><div><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/kwNdOz4eRiw&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/kwNdOz4eRiw&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>fritzy part 2</div><div><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/J24WfQaUCQc&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/J24WfQaUCQc&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /></div>fritzy part 3<br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ACMka7_Ipic&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ACMka7_Ipic&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object></div>aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15486220662265923979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786913119764811118.post-31118793566238783832010-03-30T15:24:00.001-04:002010-03-30T15:25:12.262-04:00a prayerdear lord:<div><br /></div><div>please give me the strength to make it through gigi's opera singing phase.</div><div><br /></div><div>amen.</div>aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15486220662265923979noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786913119764811118.post-77892779430060390642010-03-28T17:02:00.003-04:002010-03-28T17:14:01.829-04:00daddy daughter dance<div style="text-align: center;">checklist for a daddy-daughter dance</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">1. have mom curl your hair</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEGb2cgwlefth8i5jcN5iJkLKCr-lJVCtrggHi_kNK8pAqvTf4jfwM8wb8bwl93IpWq6exut0deQYs7S0P5Mm6GfRVDRnuSA_7VT6JNsimohIPDxW0HhshF8gEGYeHXL9li6PEI_tg6_nP/s1600/P1030941.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEGb2cgwlefth8i5jcN5iJkLKCr-lJVCtrggHi_kNK8pAqvTf4jfwM8wb8bwl93IpWq6exut0deQYs7S0P5Mm6GfRVDRnuSA_7VT6JNsimohIPDxW0HhshF8gEGYeHXL9li6PEI_tg6_nP/s400/P1030941.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">2. make sure your dress can twirl</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuvkmWzyuvBK-87khw9Y5TC_9doMWWVjb0oDwY31CZDgAo8rzUA8m4zGyPGN5GFvUtkii1tnnSZ813ZLNVVrfeNTfGKl_9G4g0V3dCIVRdS1RUi0kBrfcobhAgix9_IeLRSC-W7faL51UO/s1600/P1030946.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuvkmWzyuvBK-87khw9Y5TC_9doMWWVjb0oDwY31CZDgAo8rzUA8m4zGyPGN5GFvUtkii1tnnSZ813ZLNVVrfeNTfGKl_9G4g0V3dCIVRdS1RUi0kBrfcobhAgix9_IeLRSC-W7faL51UO/s400/P1030946.JPG" /></a> </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">3. get a special surprise of a new dress from grandma hinckley just days before the dance. be sure to show off how beautiful your dress is. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoVTYAsDtVfBL6gyarnZlgQ_h2X9Ij7wIVaUy1R7-GZ_GzJK5f7kIx6yFTHpRJTF1vHEPMs-0QWfjPNGthI1_FJ1gRfFG_NS3N6wX8lKYFLEUznNh6tiAqyUk0sF5zeaCHH3bnl1Nugkcv/s1600/P1030949.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoVTYAsDtVfBL6gyarnZlgQ_h2X9Ij7wIVaUy1R7-GZ_GzJK5f7kIx6yFTHpRJTF1vHEPMs-0QWfjPNGthI1_FJ1gRfFG_NS3N6wX8lKYFLEUznNh6tiAqyUk0sF5zeaCHH3bnl1Nugkcv/s400/P1030949.JPG" /></a> </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">4. have your big sister put some make-up on your face.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRJqRQdO4W1CJqEjV5ePjzL8YYUITYELdUFfjct3zLOdFjfwsqW2HPTZO_76bOAAPxfcOl0uo9vBQ6iU-x7sik7L2MZWjMuoHVLIHW7ISkTlSy67kgDbBnYJ6rKD1vR4PgIlW2y7Jr7j3t/s1600/P1030962.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRJqRQdO4W1CJqEjV5ePjzL8YYUITYELdUFfjct3zLOdFjfwsqW2HPTZO_76bOAAPxfcOl0uo9vBQ6iU-x7sik7L2MZWjMuoHVLIHW7ISkTlSy67kgDbBnYJ6rKD1vR4PgIlW2y7Jr7j3t/s400/P1030962.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="clear:both; text-align:CENTER"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div><div style="clear:both; text-align:CENTER">5. don't forget to accessorize with purse and most importantly, dad!</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuf2q3zlFQE_xTNb385I4-SsImTolb53XAYFnE7Un2SXXXPG5sxUZOP7p1KmpY6rrp0h3WfupVhYcc2egnV0oRj-UsCKWH8_mcz1fKanukbVYZmQmfI0HltQVRE9IDkjCSnUOJ5eNzzXBW/s1600/P1030963.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuf2q3zlFQE_xTNb385I4-SsImTolb53XAYFnE7Un2SXXXPG5sxUZOP7p1KmpY6rrp0h3WfupVhYcc2egnV0oRj-UsCKWH8_mcz1fKanukbVYZmQmfI0HltQVRE9IDkjCSnUOJ5eNzzXBW/s400/P1030963.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453793546609892034" /></a>aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15486220662265923979noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786913119764811118.post-37953725287771916142010-03-28T16:57:00.000-04:002010-03-28T16:58:05.979-04:00grandma muz<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8TaUaj4vBBLXCd79_5EgARUmA90EyjrN1mN40UEKEiV98AQORsYkRp06Zw7ZeKahRg9JpKgSygGAzNax-Eaz96dXyiS8bF1ro9clKNEBydMicflOaAAVb2LD6PSw3uajTKAD1loj1q83Y/s1600/P1030672.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8TaUaj4vBBLXCd79_5EgARUmA90EyjrN1mN40UEKEiV98AQORsYkRp06Zw7ZeKahRg9JpKgSygGAzNax-Eaz96dXyiS8bF1ro9clKNEBydMicflOaAAVb2LD6PSw3uajTKAD1loj1q83Y/s400/P1030672.JPG" /></a><br />my grandma muz passed away on march 4, 2010. here she is at christmas with all the girl great-grandchildren. (when i printed out a copy of this picture before her funeral, fritzy said: "i wanted to be in that picture." i am sad that we won't have another chance for him to have his picture with "GGMa".<br /><br />anyhoo, grandma muz got ill shortly after christmas. she just kept going in and out of the hospital and the infection kept coming back. it is weird to think that she was ok at christmas and is now gone. i am very grateful that she had her wits about her until the end. she was 85.<br /><br />we lived 45 minutes away from her when i was growing up. i have many memories playing at the farm where they lived and having her make us dinners. she was a very thoughtful and generous person. i am grateful for her influence in my life.<br /></div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15486220662265923979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786913119764811118.post-70995486851949742692010-03-28T16:36:00.004-04:002010-03-28T18:09:14.206-04:00je regretsmy apologies for my lack of blogging and reading blogs. (turns out i don't like to visit my own blog when i haven't updated my own in forever). after repeatedly telling myself that i should take my blog down if i wasn't going to update it, i have decided maybe i should just. update. the. d*#$. blog. so here i am. i have indeed missed all of you. my thanks to those who responded on my most pathetic previous posts. (kayla, thanks for the kick in the pants; sorry it has taken me so long to actually respond with more.) hopefully, i will give you much better stuff to comment on in the near future.<div><br /></div><div>i have decided to start using nicknames for my children. if i could go back and get my last name out of my URL, i would. since i don't feel like going through the hassle of a new blog, i thought i would at least try and be discrete with their names and bury the old posts with their names on it through a mass pile of new posts. i also continually debate making the blog private, but for now i'll just hope my famine of posts have killed off any psycho strangers that may be reading. (psychos that i personally know and love are always welcome to read!)</div>aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15486220662265923979noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786913119764811118.post-74867982023188571422009-12-21T23:15:00.002-05:002009-12-21T23:18:09.381-05:00looking back<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">if i could go back for an hour, i would....</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">hinckley kids... circa 2005 & '06</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm20e8IOMDi3iNFd5SZTJXaF1b7c0D9ROJGdJUdWlEYRgOkdKOX-aOhZO5iNNyupdMGSnEABm_E-qADZ6gWbZASA7BcyhxGyG9ojBDDyO6NLBwYhEL6baHK4sZrp_sV8VeHEEyx9SWFXe1/s1600-h/2099+ted+family.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm20e8IOMDi3iNFd5SZTJXaF1b7c0D9ROJGdJUdWlEYRgOkdKOX-aOhZO5iNNyupdMGSnEABm_E-qADZ6gWbZASA7BcyhxGyG9ojBDDyO6NLBwYhEL6baHK4sZrp_sV8VeHEEyx9SWFXe1/s400/2099+ted+family.jpg" /></a> </div><p align="center"> </p><p align="center">one of my all-time favorites of grace<br /></p><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDG-qgA4mdBJdPhWSUA51ncsXpfQCRfgb43XFIr7tiHEcwfHh5qP6bIYZav58yjNY5Yfli3WHDdLkflDydLlcoPlnsizwJmCU4hyphenhyphenWpG9ZphAWO62a8-9BqNjmLpYU7cSLQs24ESePhaUxV/s1600-h/grace+at+DC+temple.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDG-qgA4mdBJdPhWSUA51ncsXpfQCRfgb43XFIr7tiHEcwfHh5qP6bIYZav58yjNY5Yfli3WHDdLkflDydLlcoPlnsizwJmCU4hyphenhyphenWpG9ZphAWO62a8-9BqNjmLpYU7cSLQs24ESePhaUxV/s400/grace+at+DC+temple.jpg" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; BACKGROUND: 0% 50%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial" border="0" alt="Posted by Picasa" align="middle" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" /></a></div>aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15486220662265923979noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786913119764811118.post-85637188820661691042009-11-08T17:26:00.002-05:002009-11-08T17:43:45.572-05:00a little something<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnHa69IQuSYFP-be3mcBWyyAu-lDI-8gv1T8EjqchUrvIx0DMQ13MlPirSSw1MJkZSNtGMKFnNIE2NicIO-J_AwNSHyFyOMrgcAOpsS7Qw1XLW5-L5YviMwzNKSmqtLq1TAd-qsXXeuWt9/s1600-h/il_430xN.100914604%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 312px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401867138089400066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnHa69IQuSYFP-be3mcBWyyAu-lDI-8gv1T8EjqchUrvIx0DMQ13MlPirSSw1MJkZSNtGMKFnNIE2NicIO-J_AwNSHyFyOMrgcAOpsS7Qw1XLW5-L5YviMwzNKSmqtLq1TAd-qsXXeuWt9/s400/il_430xN.100914604%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br /><div>hoping to re-enter blogland soon. (susan, i've a read a few of your posts - will comment as soon as i catch up on more of your musings.)</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>for now, this <a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=34041111">picture</a> at sarahjane explains how i feel lately. when did time start to go by so fast? i've started to continually beg my kids to "stop growing" for which they just laugh in my face or flat out ignore me. it was also pointed out to me about a month ago (by a dear, but honest friend) that i am now old enough to be the mother of a <a href="http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/background-information/missionary-program">missionary</a>. where has the time gone? while i can't say that i want to go back and relive much (except maybe when i wrote evan's name on his birth certificate), i feel a growing desire to slow down and savor moments more. now i just need to put that in action and stop let's say arguing with my 10 year old over the timing of a song which just might have happened yesterday when we were practicing for our an upcoming talent show!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div>aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15486220662265923979noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786913119764811118.post-8054194920995245262009-10-18T17:42:00.002-04:002009-10-18T18:07:33.738-04:00the color of the week<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">ok, boys and girls, here at the hinckleyhouse the color of this past week wasss..........</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:180%;color:#ff6600;">orange</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:180%;color:#ff6600;"></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">as evidenced when i dyed lily's socks <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#ff6600;">orange</span> </span>for her halloween costume....</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKXucatcQra_H-iG_p2P9PVtfdVt265l2M1hE9oeK-m5JsKQVUsX4vJeH2P8Dtvui6cj2KMW5zfjdfXUQCa8PkPb4PEUIiNVMK39CBU4tb9QHvrrZV9ZgfaQNdpLyaa8iWhmVuRgpCPb76/s1600-h/P1020940.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKXucatcQra_H-iG_p2P9PVtfdVt265l2M1hE9oeK-m5JsKQVUsX4vJeH2P8Dtvui6cj2KMW5zfjdfXUQCa8PkPb4PEUIiNVMK39CBU4tb9QHvrrZV9ZgfaQNdpLyaa8iWhmVuRgpCPb76/s400/P1020940.JPG" /></a> </div><p align="center">or when i dyed this girl's hair<span style="font-family:verdana;"> <span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff6600;">orange</span></span> for her halloween costume....<br /></p><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7jWI7JBZDigRt8NUWfQcwsTOoKc_1Dcom3Jq21YZmD8Wp7DSUaaRVBV83bMfIusZ8l-GlJBbF2vbu5uLkY8yItRn0u_3RmlDyT2JR9Ss2p5y-t_jPMgu4aTb1VkBa1b-PJjhy-pTm9JUt/s1600-h/P1020966.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7jWI7JBZDigRt8NUWfQcwsTOoKc_1Dcom3Jq21YZmD8Wp7DSUaaRVBV83bMfIusZ8l-GlJBbF2vbu5uLkY8yItRn0u_3RmlDyT2JR9Ss2p5y-t_jPMgu4aTb1VkBa1b-PJjhy-pTm9JUt/s400/P1020966.JPG" /></a> </div><p align="center">...and for when i completed my second half-marathon on oct. 10, 2009. ING sponsors the hartford marathon and their signature color is orange. among other things, we all got orange sunglasses which pat and i are sporting in this post-race pic. i have to say if you are feeling depressed, put on some orange sunglasses. they really brighten your view. it's fun seeing the world through <span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#ff6600;">orange</span>.</span></p><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg83mJj11E7zqQ489sjAk-gM7MrUyvzY3vcpYX8B2aOCYCqRlRkU400QqkpMbtb5B4OxCHb7GPF1yReDZ59lRBHibt3uveXtSyl2GBrC9u7W4Lshcx7bKGoabF282v8QwsNCLJmmgb3upVa/s1600-h/half+pat+ape.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg83mJj11E7zqQ489sjAk-gM7MrUyvzY3vcpYX8B2aOCYCqRlRkU400QqkpMbtb5B4OxCHb7GPF1yReDZ59lRBHibt3uveXtSyl2GBrC9u7W4Lshcx7bKGoabF282v8QwsNCLJmmgb3upVa/s400/half+pat+ape.jpg" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both">p.s. just for the record, jake's wheelchair is also<span style="color:#ff6600;"> <span style="font-family:verdana;">orange</span></span><span style="font-family:verdana;">.</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; BACKGROUND: 0% 50%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial" border="0" alt="Posted by Picasa" align="middle" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" /></a></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both"> </div>aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15486220662265923979noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786913119764811118.post-38683232022211898662009-10-18T17:37:00.002-04:002009-10-18T17:57:41.832-04:00race day<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">here are some race day pics that do NOT include me. </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">pat and the kids arrived early in the morning with me so that they could get parking (and wouldn't have to park in the next town over like last year). </div><br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghFrF4tEpb-9WFVbkgsx54zJ1duw_MfUOIjo2Nm889bYMiWWb4eQAYVzPcXAHFLzGZ_ASO3jp1_-wLBd1Otq5YsUsVCkRanS60CV9P6UdDxfBT33S6g_t5Er9R3lr4lDCzxmEEycLhmQv8/s1600-h/P1020870.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghFrF4tEpb-9WFVbkgsx54zJ1duw_MfUOIjo2Nm889bYMiWWb4eQAYVzPcXAHFLzGZ_ASO3jp1_-wLBd1Otq5YsUsVCkRanS60CV9P6UdDxfBT33S6g_t5Er9R3lr4lDCzxmEEycLhmQv8/s400/P1020870.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">fritzy ready to cheer</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"></div><br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBjGNs1Y3iYEFEf2A1wmqSzrv2tS85wL20IxgIKHhhDEZfakYI123XwN2AEaW5puw2GxRSiBMT8OfXQpquGgPmYGrNueNmcbPPYzdKRPDdHY1C9iq6qwR5nf0JRHhbA1CD_DwhiSOslHmH/s1600-h/P1020884.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBjGNs1Y3iYEFEf2A1wmqSzrv2tS85wL20IxgIKHhhDEZfakYI123XwN2AEaW5puw2GxRSiBMT8OfXQpquGgPmYGrNueNmcbPPYzdKRPDdHY1C9iq6qwR5nf0JRHhbA1CD_DwhiSOslHmH/s400/P1020884.JPG" /></a> </div>i guess the kids got to say "hi" to a fridge at the park. lily didn't want to meet the fridge.<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimpxlqffU_p3sK3-5OW8TsPrB3vRHl7NxuT4IkzDqHfPhP48YLaYfu4naoMsmLIF1Ql5Qio-M8Yz-trrhSmo6PWcvBkzd0BgDEkjLNC3UxGtQRsC1WNv1C3u402aQZQkLJxq0g1-zvnI6p/s1600-h/P1020888.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimpxlqffU_p3sK3-5OW8TsPrB3vRHl7NxuT4IkzDqHfPhP48YLaYfu4naoMsmLIF1Ql5Qio-M8Yz-trrhSmo6PWcvBkzd0BgDEkjLNC3UxGtQRsC1WNv1C3u402aQZQkLJxq0g1-zvnI6p/s400/P1020888.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">at bushnell park again ...my dad graciously came down to help pat with the kids.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivhz11CDHJTey-HEkxw2fEwnqZExsAIhHddIsFuNw-IZ6QIjCAOmkDNkLpzoaGS5lFtmlqiCRRQ21QpAx0liVcdpzOtSfNgjbEJvttu9chIq7I0mzSDnDRTqv4QRFLbBBa_F0IfibH5phq/s1600-h/P1020891.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivhz11CDHJTey-HEkxw2fEwnqZExsAIhHddIsFuNw-IZ6QIjCAOmkDNkLpzoaGS5lFtmlqiCRRQ21QpAx0liVcdpzOtSfNgjbEJvttu9chIq7I0mzSDnDRTqv4QRFLbBBa_F0IfibH5phq/s400/P1020891.JPG" /></a><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; BACKGROUND: 0% 50%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial" border="0" alt="Posted by Picasa" align="middle" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" /></a></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both">my dad, the kids and pat cheered me on from 3 different places on the race course. it's a great feeling having people cheer you on - even complete strangers.</div><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxnkcMVAMl4DG7EuU088CNUSF7RkqbVSHVO7w5BnbNCQ99QppSiIeF83oiaeiOUuSWk0sCsTJ-L1B_qprqET8cBZ-FgxaYw8Kq3lWMaUQrE0R6aZn-4pFAd5bSAO6f2A4IflK0D0hldcSH/s1600-h/half+bridge+cheer.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394060919564809074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxnkcMVAMl4DG7EuU088CNUSF7RkqbVSHVO7w5BnbNCQ99QppSiIeF83oiaeiOUuSWk0sCsTJ-L1B_qprqET8cBZ-FgxaYw8Kq3lWMaUQrE0R6aZn-4pFAd5bSAO6f2A4IflK0D0hldcSH/s400/half+bridge+cheer.jpg" /></a> </p><p></p><p align="center"></p><p align="center"></p><p align="center"></p><p align="center"></p><p align="center"></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIZ31M8r_xUecNv9LXa9u_hOW2c4Qk177nRO5pIUEfRfyIE7Xhrv2UutFx_o1EOl4M7T53YPdyxLwoIxOpMyiydN5krAhcGHnuiRwQTPRx5vyexrEVmBv0eZylLW4Xyj2dRCJz6Whn0xfB/s1600-h/half+jake.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394060905837306322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIZ31M8r_xUecNv9LXa9u_hOW2c4Qk177nRO5pIUEfRfyIE7Xhrv2UutFx_o1EOl4M7T53YPdyxLwoIxOpMyiydN5krAhcGHnuiRwQTPRx5vyexrEVmBv0eZylLW4Xyj2dRCJz6Whn0xfB/s400/half+jake.jpg" /></a></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxryCYtBVECTFfuQ5pk2T82YropxKF-Ld5fzck0HY9kkr7JPQOtvAEyb5eyP0CJzLLrftz7I8qzLu8G1OR16TgwcGvcOQx-TSUKty3RHSmBg00Ml8WBigX7mZxUuDRh6ZBYfasQKxW35zM/s1600-h/half+kids+cheer.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394060894581463474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxryCYtBVECTFfuQ5pk2T82YropxKF-Ld5fzck0HY9kkr7JPQOtvAEyb5eyP0CJzLLrftz7I8qzLu8G1OR16TgwcGvcOQx-TSUKty3RHSmBg00Ml8WBigX7mZxUuDRh6ZBYfasQKxW35zM/s400/half+kids+cheer.jpg" /> <p align="center"></a> the kids ready to cheer at the starting line which somehow ended up as the last pic for this post. (as always, no finish line pics of me.)<br /></p>aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15486220662265923979noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786913119764811118.post-3898971581072106062009-09-27T21:18:00.002-04:002009-09-27T21:22:12.943-04:00birthday present<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">pat's birthday was this past saturday. for his birthday, my good friend, <a href="http://clanolson.blogspot.com/">analia</a>, and i negotiated and then bought him his dream car - a mini-cooper S. i got to sing "big guy in a little car" (think chris farley in "tommy boy") to him and feel like i've assured his happiness for at least the next 10 years or so. here are some pics from when we picked the car up. my parents and my niece were with us (hence the extra child in the pics). later, my parents watched all the kids so we could take a drive and go out to eat.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpBuCV9E8nbAt3fGurNqsg5ZTRTTiMsj5WY-YBYv_tryqswKD8xDrRnFPH7m7wFM7IEN_a21mt909bieRboFJwJ_jjwcd0z-CE7JPm1_c0F5uTfz0hAbbHj69OOU4vtaiTSqeEPmrfeXTd/s1600-h/P1020805.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpBuCV9E8nbAt3fGurNqsg5ZTRTTiMsj5WY-YBYv_tryqswKD8xDrRnFPH7m7wFM7IEN_a21mt909bieRboFJwJ_jjwcd0z-CE7JPm1_c0F5uTfz0hAbbHj69OOU4vtaiTSqeEPmrfeXTd/s400/P1020805.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVSPyAKMOrT5YwQtkmXZ2ahwOSODD7QhPGCpdM71lI2cHZSUO7RzaP-kNEMwgq0FN7Wm6ykaNxcSTnrGSAASJfxAC9y1gbg45QDHDlpazfrk1ooO01LqJpwmASqpEbAOUWKGFJ8BwhVS7B/s1600-h/P1020808.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVSPyAKMOrT5YwQtkmXZ2ahwOSODD7QhPGCpdM71lI2cHZSUO7RzaP-kNEMwgq0FN7Wm6ykaNxcSTnrGSAASJfxAC9y1gbg45QDHDlpazfrk1ooO01LqJpwmASqpEbAOUWKGFJ8BwhVS7B/s400/P1020808.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS7KsUKbRFXT-dpKvMEJe9O_Mpx1wu9tu9lePtGNtkVPiTmceuk856twsGrmPWnizFcaFLYhjKTE-yLWTHsxuOPo_IyQVSQvjQU90naxK0mooPdbEleWv3zK6Y510ShagKfzWPnyz-gOrf/s1600-h/P1020815.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS7KsUKbRFXT-dpKvMEJe9O_Mpx1wu9tu9lePtGNtkVPiTmceuk856twsGrmPWnizFcaFLYhjKTE-yLWTHsxuOPo_IyQVSQvjQU90naxK0mooPdbEleWv3zK6Y510ShagKfzWPnyz-gOrf/s400/P1020815.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbmFpn21ptOgzD5lZPo07rKz43anQeHhE5_v0JYEUyf1g44CgLRc6XOofsoxqyKYXtZ-9kq4S6yeUpzCAIdox0Ul2LPtEzPDIKrfpJc02aVG06tC3vVm8ez7BKy614e9dr4j4oIWmCT5Xv/s1600-h/P1020837.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbmFpn21ptOgzD5lZPo07rKz43anQeHhE5_v0JYEUyf1g44CgLRc6XOofsoxqyKYXtZ-9kq4S6yeUpzCAIdox0Ul2LPtEzPDIKrfpJc02aVG06tC3vVm8ez7BKy614e9dr4j4oIWmCT5Xv/s400/P1020837.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; BACKGROUND: 0% 50%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial" border="0" alt="Posted by Picasa" align="middle" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" /></a></div>aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15486220662265923979noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786913119764811118.post-48304721709942989222009-07-08T17:43:00.003-04:002009-07-08T23:26:54.898-04:00diddle, diddle<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">diddle, diddle, dumpling, my son, jake</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">was dressed for school after he did wake</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq100BpBo8NKMEpE7ITyWMmkI2DcqpVVMGY3E_TYhRv64hWFwYqRtG64VJ98i3G8Rx5A-R9rOdd1eIPrUWVQ6Oid36iBGR52I7wxdjlE-F3_qbQ3hMZvZ_XQ-2qXJSmr38Dq4M7r50TsuY/s1600-h/P1020599.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq100BpBo8NKMEpE7ITyWMmkI2DcqpVVMGY3E_TYhRv64hWFwYqRtG64VJ98i3G8Rx5A-R9rOdd1eIPrUWVQ6Oid36iBGR52I7wxdjlE-F3_qbQ3hMZvZ_XQ-2qXJSmr38Dq4M7r50TsuY/s400/P1020599.JPG" /></a> </div><p align="center">with one shoe off and one shoe on,</p><p align="center">he was sent to school like dumpling john<br /></p><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJcAzuapTRa9aA4M578LZPhoHLKQ8wG0UlBOJ0D6Sl7jQf9BVTvZdBBU2qqaXeHpteOieB_RBFdzIAVnic_0kgrHUNY7TQp_kty41jo4Mn65RV86iGhy_QVvCxabrk5xWMaVX5w10Tl6a8/s1600-h/P1020601.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJcAzuapTRa9aA4M578LZPhoHLKQ8wG0UlBOJ0D6Sl7jQf9BVTvZdBBU2qqaXeHpteOieB_RBFdzIAVnic_0kgrHUNY7TQp_kty41jo4Mn65RV86iGhy_QVvCxabrk5xWMaVX5w10Tl6a8/s400/P1020601.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both">and while this rhyme is a tad bit lame,</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both"></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both"></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both">it's there to show that mom's to blame,</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both"></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both"></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both">and sometimes she just does not think,</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both"></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both"></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both">and dad must give her a knowing wink...</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both"></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both"></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both">(...after he comes home for lunch and sees jake's shoe on the floor. have i mentioned that a week ago sunday, we had to drive 2 hours round trip to retrieve my purse at a restaurant in rhode island? fun times at the hinckley household!!!)</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both"></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; BACKGROUND: 0% 50%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial" border="0" alt="Posted by Picasa" align="middle" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" /></a></div>aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15486220662265923979noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786913119764811118.post-2274429898371821852009-06-30T13:58:00.007-04:002009-07-01T00:11:52.256-04:00lessons learnedwe returned home from our vacation to wisconsin on father's day a week ago sunday. since then i've downloaded 300+ pictures on my computer, met up with my sister-in-law & her family in new york city and went to an air show at a military base in rhode island where we saw the blue angels, canadian snowbirds and the F-22 raptor perform.<br /><br />i still need to go through my pics of our vacation, but am all set to blog about our day in new york. my wonderful sister and her two kids agreed to take the train with me to NYC so i could meet up with pat's sister's family. it was an adventureous day, but a good one nonetheless. i used to have a poster that said: "all i ever need to know i learned in new york." while i can't say i learned many life lessons on our little adventure, i did gain many other tidbits of wisdom such as:<br /><ol><li>new york city is much more wheelchair friendly than paris. however, the man at the information booth at grand central station is not aware of this. new york locals are much more aware of which subway stations have elevators. this doesn't help when you have already gotten off the subway and are trying to exit.</li><br /><li>if in a pinch, i can take jake's wheelchair (with jake in it) up an escalator.</li><br /><li>it might, <em>just might</em>, be easier to drive into NYC and find parking for a vehicle that needs 9 ft. clearance than navigate the subways.</li><br /><li>you can fit a wheelchair, folded up double stroller, two adults, and five additional children in a very, tiny elevator.</li><br /><li>don't get off the elevator unless you are sure that you are on the correct floor (especially when you have all the aforementioned things in tow.)</li><br /><li>do follow that prompting to grab those rain poncho things that they gave you in niagara falls even though the weather forecast said no rain. (this was learned the hard way.)</li><br /><li>don't take your kids to a playground with a water park when you are expecting your amazingly talented <a href="http://stuckiphotography.blogspot.com/">sister-in-law </a>to take pictures of them. (it really wasn't that big of a deal).</li><br /><li>most new yorkers are willing to show their big hearts when they see someone needs help. (i.e. making room for a wheelchair in the subway, giving up their seats for the kids in the subway, helping you find the elevator to exit when you look lost, offering to help you find a subway station w/an elevator, just opening the door themselves and setting off an alarm when they see you waiting for someone to come open the gate so you can exit, suggesting an <em>inexpensive </em>chinese restaurant to eat at when you are trying to get out of the rain, etc....) we'll just ignore the two ladies who immediately pressed the close doors button after entering a (rather large) elevator; they didn't look like they were from new york.</li></ol><p></p><p>unfortunately i forgot my camera in the car at the train station, but my sister-in-law was all set to take pics. i had her do some of grace since i didn't have her do school pics this year. despite some craziness, we had a great time with <a href="http://stuckihouse.blogspot.com/">annie and brian </a>and especially enjoyed seeing their kids. (although i have no pics of jane.)</p><p></p><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGJODvMnKmdKzHBh9LJMLpok71_2zAJdMBxp6nkY96EErVdpIstPWChu0OpLil6qrliVkLAO8x7STr5TELfh-uUjINQ2Y0ejOUnSzu5sJ3AL_6O8UyuLdbI8VOmltqYqBz05oiY4OZXed_/s1600-h/grace+smile.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353226309214682306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGJODvMnKmdKzHBh9LJMLpok71_2zAJdMBxp6nkY96EErVdpIstPWChu0OpLil6qrliVkLAO8x7STr5TELfh-uUjINQ2Y0ejOUnSzu5sJ3AL_6O8UyuLdbI8VOmltqYqBz05oiY4OZXed_/s400/grace+smile.JPG" /></a><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6fRf4DsxchhopDF5IlN5nkBIpl-XgrPgQf7HyTFN65tseJ_FXzJrJXR8UYDc7dNkOAGwZD51xVe8KSsCBd3XwqlT-hGiL7hn7zIwFQBff8ZJhf_SRJJo4uiFPGsXNbc76F4e7xJqHKcG5/s1600-h/grace+1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 268px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353226308376125954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6fRf4DsxchhopDF5IlN5nkBIpl-XgrPgQf7HyTFN65tseJ_FXzJrJXR8UYDc7dNkOAGwZD51xVe8KSsCBd3XwqlT-hGiL7hn7zIwFQBff8ZJhf_SRJJo4uiFPGsXNbc76F4e7xJqHKcG5/s400/grace+1.jpg" /></a> i put this pic in just so you could see what annie had to deal with. fritzy worked hard to keep a frown on his face (even when i pretended to be shot in the bum) and lily was picking a scab in most of the others!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFQ73vGJq_m0wC8lgmlGuqyHQQnMU1uPbZyBJ2yUIdCz3JolJXQHR2d_j5J6r8T8hYANsJAHhlZDdCOni7cd-4DiRL_iq591EtBWjynl1ykBtUEqTCz1UL5XyHremcJeuQcVElCz-Ctod1/s1600-h/fam+pic+frown.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353226092352435618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFQ73vGJq_m0wC8lgmlGuqyHQQnMU1uPbZyBJ2yUIdCz3JolJXQHR2d_j5J6r8T8hYANsJAHhlZDdCOni7cd-4DiRL_iq591EtBWjynl1ykBtUEqTCz1UL5XyHremcJeuQcVElCz-Ctod1/s400/fam+pic+frown.jpg" /></a><br />i like this one a lot!!! it truly is amazing that annie got such a great shot in the very brief period of no rain.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwyyH2iI5bd7bcIkyawZYWXxLum3wuFfi1N_WZWsJvK3z5BVpx7wTnZA_BtxQ_foe83b29XNb9dGmqNtOcKSFS708c9_yOnNKtc76H-jZP_ogb7Ad-mC2BUmxhvYY-KdOHgMFUqlZmSPdY/s1600-h/fam+pic+1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353226088994553026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwyyH2iI5bd7bcIkyawZYWXxLum3wuFfi1N_WZWsJvK3z5BVpx7wTnZA_BtxQ_foe83b29XNb9dGmqNtOcKSFS708c9_yOnNKtc76H-jZP_ogb7Ad-mC2BUmxhvYY-KdOHgMFUqlZmSPdY/s400/fam+pic+1.jpg" /></a> evan likes to do lots of martial art like poses.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbXy5Ogi_61NuqnSNhWmXzQyP1XTJcOoVuWtx8mpVb6hVpuK4jKA4T-zUAXhQ3KYnkXVKJ_sJBhtaFNtblP_oqlJIiVoRnArTCcZeovbWovVp5EKvwdtBXD7Pb7GMFvnZ5hnhvwqkem-53/s1600-h/evan+karate+move.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353225778864174898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbXy5Ogi_61NuqnSNhWmXzQyP1XTJcOoVuWtx8mpVb6hVpuK4jKA4T-zUAXhQ3KYnkXVKJ_sJBhtaFNtblP_oqlJIiVoRnArTCcZeovbWovVp5EKvwdtBXD7Pb7GMFvnZ5hnhvwqkem-53/s400/evan+karate+move.JPG" /></a> <div>i mentioned there was a water park, right?</div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwT3XcGcFy5Q5qLC7PFoV65r34IMr7pu9DzpX7f05FKDZrVUrW64pSmlaX2rlFw_QC2nb18ggTbLE_-P1y6pDMNJ9Q0Fx2yFoYmrINXBlpDOIzX51hLmt2MXfz0XrPmgxHwJVDQ-H3s-Lx/s1600-h/water+park.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353225774067703922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwT3XcGcFy5Q5qLC7PFoV65r34IMr7pu9DzpX7f05FKDZrVUrW64pSmlaX2rlFw_QC2nb18ggTbLE_-P1y6pDMNJ9Q0Fx2yFoYmrINXBlpDOIzX51hLmt2MXfz0XrPmgxHwJVDQ-H3s-Lx/s400/water+park.jpg" /></a></div><div>annie's boy with my sister's girl<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxfdUQf_bGC7qmJwcaESHgrdul-7uA720OeGP63WcUYARAaobhq_vbZug8eQzmTxsiIf77RamcP1jItNa1UsaVOfIr0mGoQaCuL_Zy8E408TCF5zVmzVTq1q3OizA9JHVyS2oaJ_Sd78xD/s1600-h/colin+maddie.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353225769659711810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxfdUQf_bGC7qmJwcaESHgrdul-7uA720OeGP63WcUYARAaobhq_vbZug8eQzmTxsiIf77RamcP1jItNa1UsaVOfIr0mGoQaCuL_Zy8E408TCF5zVmzVTq1q3OizA9JHVyS2oaJ_Sd78xD/s400/colin+maddie.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis7zytPGu6lDDGcMkMYLNCOfIIUUZ3hCATEgXFJdhyphenhyphen4iqoItXNyGJpXcgYDkLeomlcUmaPjavMdtIGcX57VcxJLYtB7RE-FEQg7pCqKbuWpalsKAs6E-stMie4Mbh3Yyevbj_oscHOAlwq/s1600-h/andrew.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353225768973705746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis7zytPGu6lDDGcMkMYLNCOfIIUUZ3hCATEgXFJdhyphenhyphen4iqoItXNyGJpXcgYDkLeomlcUmaPjavMdtIGcX57VcxJLYtB7RE-FEQg7pCqKbuWpalsKAs6E-stMie4Mbh3Yyevbj_oscHOAlwq/s400/andrew.JPG" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div>aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15486220662265923979noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786913119764811118.post-24089574886427936902009-05-30T22:44:00.014-04:002009-06-01T06:59:41.682-04:00family day & the wonders of facebook<div align="center">before we headed off to family day for pat's work today, i remorsed on facebook about how i would be <a href="http://hinckleyhouse.blogspot.com/2008/06/family-day-2008.html">missing our friends </a>who usually join us for family day, but currently live in japan. anyhoo, scott (the dad) read that statement a mere 6 minutes later and called to say he was in town on business. he was able to come with us. we had a blast even though<em><strong> we <a href="http://ackroydsinjapan.blogspot.com/">missed his family dearly</a>. -APRIL, COLLEEN, BRIDGET & ASHLYNN - wish you could have been there too!!</strong></em><br /><br /></div><div align="center">here's a pic of scott with jake. scott was one of jake's first teachers at church when we moved to ct seven years ago.<br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwg7RFtt3eyNiRBzazIL315-Qkz6DBDTj-D7a6xDTnJgHOILa36N62CavTyB_fCNozrXVMSRaOhxg4_cAaSIyZdWE_gKnbB8bHXUd1yHV-_Soezj0aPZn9_VOb0q4EHaKswtVK4iWHx0eu/s1600-h/fam+day+scott+jake.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341817927435067778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwg7RFtt3eyNiRBzazIL315-Qkz6DBDTj-D7a6xDTnJgHOILa36N62CavTyB_fCNozrXVMSRaOhxg4_cAaSIyZdWE_gKnbB8bHXUd1yHV-_Soezj0aPZn9_VOb0q4EHaKswtVK4iWHx0eu/s400/fam+day+scott+jake.JPG" /></a></div><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center">lily was first on the bungee jump swing. here she is ready to take off.</div><div align="center"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAmzLFYc34b_9PxBAsmuciVaLJPWRWPa3yIhOiXCAKNkKUhaRybhawPfFc4s9tbJbQAuuyABvKgaQZ4xnZZ_RDfLbBqYDl0xGJx9LDJsUjLryYxFRlePeO5tMT6vyWGdGZxs-YLxZeBM4x/s1600-h/fam+day+lily+swing.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341817687568962338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAmzLFYc34b_9PxBAsmuciVaLJPWRWPa3yIhOiXCAKNkKUhaRybhawPfFc4s9tbJbQAuuyABvKgaQZ4xnZZ_RDfLbBqYDl0xGJx9LDJsUjLryYxFRlePeO5tMT6vyWGdGZxs-YLxZeBM4x/s400/fam+day+lily+swing.JPG" /></a><br />the rest of us waiting for our turn. (note the scowl on gracie's face. she thinks it the greatest injustice that i tend to make the older child wait and the younger ones go first).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNAe8XPNJA_NzqPUDE1i77yxsVay5WWBXyvq_pE6tZ5MgSawi1C_EqzNfzIUYa3T5QYM03JgSeSY0yIfrjQRtqwEaPnzx6Xo0ZiFq3Y6NW-yNpa5WqpVdc6DhKhy3cwKkSSKVLRqqfC5Lu/s1600-h/fam+day+wait+swing.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341817086888382162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNAe8XPNJA_NzqPUDE1i77yxsVay5WWBXyvq_pE6tZ5MgSawi1C_EqzNfzIUYa3T5QYM03JgSeSY0yIfrjQRtqwEaPnzx6Xo0ZiFq3Y6NW-yNpa5WqpVdc6DhKhy3cwKkSSKVLRqqfC5Lu/s400/fam+day+wait+swing.JPG" /></a><br />lily in mid-air.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjufbwthORtcpsL8afsmnYZCUMhpRoMMJx5ZIcb3l-HrpLzyQt67lSjKm8yUj3iVF_CSM-cVvbL-0sHx0-ucZ5Sl9bSd8PXfiIRO7ddNbNrKLN9qAUuRGUFZcpMivCdKNqijpstOTLhk2hO/s1600-h/fam+day+lily+swing+air.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341817080438147394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjufbwthORtcpsL8afsmnYZCUMhpRoMMJx5ZIcb3l-HrpLzyQt67lSjKm8yUj3iVF_CSM-cVvbL-0sHx0-ucZ5Sl9bSd8PXfiIRO7ddNbNrKLN9qAUuRGUFZcpMivCdKNqijpstOTLhk2hO/s400/fam+day+lily+swing+air.JPG" /></a><br />fritz, all geared up.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSZm-vx50GfRpxJ6NP71lTiZQZL5hHczmFfM8EkIjgVMYzH6OwUqhj3bPpA7hU6tL_4jualxrvJEwSTaVdMFP1qw8mHqBsUo8QFEtOvajVdLf2xebjoZd69lcue0RC4kXmP9qS43QaQZ84/s1600-h/fam+day+fritz+swing+ready.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341817072812526194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSZm-vx50GfRpxJ6NP71lTiZQZL5hHczmFfM8EkIjgVMYzH6OwUqhj3bPpA7hU6tL_4jualxrvJEwSTaVdMFP1qw8mHqBsUo8QFEtOvajVdLf2xebjoZd69lcue0RC4kXmP9qS43QaQZ84/s400/fam+day+fritz+swing+ready.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div align="center">fritz in the air. if you look up from him and a little over to the left, you can see grace doing a flip. </div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMukZ7RhYS3F9_Jex7HzJa7fOoJcr-U_SeyKIswgNYQ3WFIJaX13SA4DOUkYTtOzVwjOvHvPET2buo_oc529TcFidDMoEe7gHyv0anpFq4UAVOEkz6zyj-sz6rx_oq0M_9vFwRKLxhJwDB/s1600-h/fam+day+swing+gg+fritz.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341820216289961378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMukZ7RhYS3F9_Jex7HzJa7fOoJcr-U_SeyKIswgNYQ3WFIJaX13SA4DOUkYTtOzVwjOvHvPET2buo_oc529TcFidDMoEe7gHyv0anpFq4UAVOEkz6zyj-sz6rx_oq0M_9vFwRKLxhJwDB/s400/fam+day+swing+gg+fritz.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEOC74P6It4NSJo4j_y9HkRfMKMsqs2jakHy9Wr6D6O3V5apLEutlSNWMT1riFS9qjrrdfP70hiaWvob-Om_UVMBrMNHZAjCAhzTk0Wz3HizgeiG5WBX_RxUUp6-J8egOrOgCdDFkEJu2h/s1600-h/fam+day+fritz+swing+air.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341817066367752162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEOC74P6It4NSJo4j_y9HkRfMKMsqs2jakHy9Wr6D6O3V5apLEutlSNWMT1riFS9qjrrdfP70hiaWvob-Om_UVMBrMNHZAjCAhzTk0Wz3HizgeiG5WBX_RxUUp6-J8egOrOgCdDFkEJu2h/s400/fam+day+fritz+swing+air.JPG" /></a><br />i have absolutely no idea how much cotton candy my kids consumed this year. it's all they asked for; their wish was often granted. other times, a certain 5 year old would just sneak to the cotton candy booth while we thought she was playing in the playground.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA5KoN1aDHG7VmBPNBHfgTx4_cXeHsne4IOJWbSq2iIz_d8hHFfv8vLizq3PBN-wirvPqBs6vyVc1U8WKfrWmKa7BB9k-EylQa3t0aRKQFJiv-LyOMbCWps1Om-rTmhnN2lI4qz5-y8d-F/s1600-h/fam+day+cotton+candy.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341821099682913010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA5KoN1aDHG7VmBPNBHfgTx4_cXeHsne4IOJWbSq2iIz_d8hHFfv8vLizq3PBN-wirvPqBs6vyVc1U8WKfrWmKa7BB9k-EylQa3t0aRKQFJiv-LyOMbCWps1Om-rTmhnN2lI4qz5-y8d-F/s400/fam+day+cotton+candy.JPG" /></a><br /><br />ready for the rock wall.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdfLBvrE8LVjA0nbOvAYvBx5iXuVL6MQ_BZg3PVk-VkrcV6KCQWFG7HGNtCxbgMwPj0DxoJN3_uRYi0r5v7F9bH6k57ql0MFjbB7Ey7AsvZ762QLgqRj1Y32ekihEhGyULfP6lTkUDWk-U/s1600-h/fam+day+lily+fritz+rock+wall.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341815017426127266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdfLBvrE8LVjA0nbOvAYvBx5iXuVL6MQ_BZg3PVk-VkrcV6KCQWFG7HGNtCxbgMwPj0DxoJN3_uRYi0r5v7F9bH6k57ql0MFjbB7Ey7AsvZ762QLgqRj1Y32ekihEhGyULfP6lTkUDWk-U/s400/fam+day+lily+fritz+rock+wall.JPG" /></a><br />lily did really well on the wall and actually climbed up a good distance for her age.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFQvzU5N6a_8zkLfpkPLrK2XXQ4oXueXwFV1kdiswVftGRJLnrqZDt9zLLLPB-F9Q6d9F4QuJejrhV_-qCDWOIqjQu2VRPEoklSgguL3iXApulwaBsza7_pDQ4P75jOq0dytoChNiU9tEV/s1600-h/fam+day+lily+wall.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341815012819731218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFQvzU5N6a_8zkLfpkPLrK2XXQ4oXueXwFV1kdiswVftGRJLnrqZDt9zLLLPB-F9Q6d9F4QuJejrhV_-qCDWOIqjQu2VRPEoklSgguL3iXApulwaBsza7_pDQ4P75jOq0dytoChNiU9tEV/s400/fam+day+lily+wall.JPG" /></a><br />first swim of the season.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgen1fOSq_M-sQeTeMndMugXINr1XkgG-vdCUAe6uiF9F9iO0Vwj9UplmsKDuukberCiXHZhRzjwhalFgup3W-XG2g2dPYEqPI6bcfgPv0jlQTel3N8sM_XCzAhhvninxGkIYcKNVcbRwER/s1600-h/fam+day+gg+jump.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341815004334942834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgen1fOSq_M-sQeTeMndMugXINr1XkgG-vdCUAe6uiF9F9iO0Vwj9UplmsKDuukberCiXHZhRzjwhalFgup3W-XG2g2dPYEqPI6bcfgPv0jlQTel3N8sM_XCzAhhvninxGkIYcKNVcbRwER/s400/fam+day+gg+jump.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6LYbIbaFdTj8ax3qEo-fvMxJzGpuwkY2r6E9armqHexm6CEIXF9GYWg5FFsaMa0N8eLsARsvH6Z4JJ1kgYI8bYUUQTaWIVi-zo6ZlD0Z8iUywLMDpbZQ81xD1YdUllXJYljmeaQ6KVssS/s1600-h/fam+day+pool+kids.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341815000917353106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6LYbIbaFdTj8ax3qEo-fvMxJzGpuwkY2r6E9armqHexm6CEIXF9GYWg5FFsaMa0N8eLsARsvH6Z4JJ1kgYI8bYUUQTaWIVi-zo6ZlD0Z8iUywLMDpbZQ81xD1YdUllXJYljmeaQ6KVssS/s400/fam+day+pool+kids.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIrGF2s2xUuM7pcqqQwxihh2ymVL8NIKWm-GIbshXM9wQLyaVptjPUSOL6KmG6dCODPh1u9Fx5zYZYCdtcd4xdIvm028K94YQWSSI0_qFQm_VokUbD0b8qEubaGiUDOWPEhBVtKSVRkIhd/s1600-h/fam+day+gg+pool.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341814993103049122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIrGF2s2xUuM7pcqqQwxihh2ymVL8NIKWm-GIbshXM9wQLyaVptjPUSOL6KmG6dCODPh1u9Fx5zYZYCdtcd4xdIvm028K94YQWSSI0_qFQm_VokUbD0b8qEubaGiUDOWPEhBVtKSVRkIhd/s400/fam+day+gg+pool.JPG" /></a> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"></div></div><div>so, exactly how much cotton candy was consumed? ...enough to totally hide gracie's face, multiple times...<br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4QmaM-QIR4QMjBsSpR0zg7lJj648w8zYS9e_X9-hiJozvDAuycoSroxirblPdkuO93jbR61Gh6VP4gt4Jht4vi2bGm7CKwRz8NQCoYgHSaZ5ONe88l14b3UImZn27XeZJrG-xAq4xN4-0/s1600-h/fam+day+gg+cotton+candy.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4QmaM-QIR4QMjBsSpR0zg7lJj648w8zYS9e_X9-hiJozvDAuycoSroxirblPdkuO93jbR61Gh6VP4gt4Jht4vi2bGm7CKwRz8NQCoYgHSaZ5ONe88l14b3UImZn27XeZJrG-xAq4xN4-0/s400/fam+day+gg+cotton+candy.JPG" /></a> </div><div>...enough to make a beard...<br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM2bp5p-oZhCUaHsW-t1q5_g3JOjHNOoKacTMQym3VRE5bDO3nudlptK6L8zNX4zWGQ3gbeCgKNHI2TUJIO7TDDS-y9DIXO8WQsMyKa155vy6Y3F39VR5oJFJzV_laMUpBUYYP9H7LKcvi/s1600-h/fam+day+lily+beard.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM2bp5p-oZhCUaHsW-t1q5_g3JOjHNOoKacTMQym3VRE5bDO3nudlptK6L8zNX4zWGQ3gbeCgKNHI2TUJIO7TDDS-y9DIXO8WQsMyKa155vy6Y3F39VR5oJFJzV_laMUpBUYYP9H7LKcvi/s400/fam+day+lily+beard.JPG" /></a> </div><div>...and enough to make your kids go like this the minute you get in the car.<br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLkoHIqocxau-iK_RzVFwVJE240n9HYKAy7aEbzvcKMRD1veP9kWcS43WJTiPVCgB3WtqNJRHcEwM4c7QSdNl_uNdoJEL29isLyaELPpYhPWOl17gT-0xIo-g9cBQBVuuKkHZFoIvjf_BB/s1600-h/fam+day+kids+wiped+out.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLkoHIqocxau-iK_RzVFwVJE240n9HYKAy7aEbzvcKMRD1veP9kWcS43WJTiPVCgB3WtqNJRHcEwM4c7QSdNl_uNdoJEL29isLyaELPpYhPWOl17gT-0xIo-g9cBQBVuuKkHZFoIvjf_BB/s400/fam+day+kids+wiped+out.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">truth be told, there are lots of actions shots of me today; i played volleyball, did the bungee swing, climbed the rock wall and flipped off the diving board. another little or rather large truth would be that i've gained 40 lbs since i went to family day last may. it's still kind of schock when i see current pictures of myself with all the extra padding. so when we got home and downloaded pics, the plethora of pics of overweight me in so many mid-air shots had me in stitches from <em>laughter - </em>just imagine a beached whale trying to do a back flip in the water. (now i know fat jokes are not appropriate and i steer away from them - but it's ok, when you're talking about yourself, right?) while i got a good laugh out of those pics, i'm not humble enought to post them. this one pic of me almost reaching the top of the rock wall was actually decent (or rather hid my weight) enough to post. </div><div></div><div>oh, and come next spring, if i haven't lost the weight, will someone please remind me to try and restrain myself on the diving board? thanks.<br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Duyn0ZOpUM3EERTduPfXzY2Vsf_-YaFtVn0uyAJ_8LZ6jAJ9eATt6KkhaOipbQLIfzpIEz2BMvysQ-AI_dOKJhkdnLJo8DbvNEJDuGKQKZHjajuI-bkRaAyPWme4WyPXMhYQO0xS-0D5/s1600-h/fam+day+climb+wall.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Duyn0ZOpUM3EERTduPfXzY2Vsf_-YaFtVn0uyAJ_8LZ6jAJ9eATt6KkhaOipbQLIfzpIEz2BMvysQ-AI_dOKJhkdnLJo8DbvNEJDuGKQKZHjajuI-bkRaAyPWme4WyPXMhYQO0xS-0D5/s400/fam+day+climb+wall.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; BACKGROUND: 0% 50%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial" border="0" alt="Posted by Picasa" align="middle" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" /></a></div></div></div></div><br /></div>aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15486220662265923979noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786913119764811118.post-58473399854221015202009-05-28T10:46:00.002-04:002009-05-28T10:55:26.400-04:00science fair<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">grace and her partner, darien, won the science fair for their grade at school and placed 2nd in the whole district. her project was testing the different forces that affect flight. after reading their results, pat was a little worried how reliable the testing was, but the girls came up with a good question and evaluated their experiments well. they also did the project on their own. pat got them started, but the rest was all them.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCVlDdEhDKE-WSwTm3YPgANTv3G6tizK5pyLHLJWsuhZrFex9Poqn6_v_4r4TM717mh2yeP5RNX-c_Dc5nrW23x_wvm5CB2Oh72oPXa86l8JrxSOrP_vQBD1L31wGu8-GmzfC415oKdqN4/s1600-h/P1010695.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCVlDdEhDKE-WSwTm3YPgANTv3G6tizK5pyLHLJWsuhZrFex9Poqn6_v_4r4TM717mh2yeP5RNX-c_Dc5nrW23x_wvm5CB2Oh72oPXa86l8JrxSOrP_vQBD1L31wGu8-GmzfC415oKdqN4/s400/P1010695.JPG" /></a><br /><br />the girls with their teacher when they presented their project to the district for judging.</div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg__Tx1VGOw0ZEm76utFGIZOgG8HD3brOv2U1p2ZrX7cDOGNCiemrB36OiitALdqFvBSwrczFopemdM7sP_nx9MS1HBuIMrBe5GMpUJqpE-Ko-uFLJtns7jDogDDvJlAe-UwPygHVdiRRJT/s1600-h/P1010698.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg__Tx1VGOw0ZEm76utFGIZOgG8HD3brOv2U1p2ZrX7cDOGNCiemrB36OiitALdqFvBSwrczFopemdM7sP_nx9MS1HBuIMrBe5GMpUJqpE-Ko-uFLJtns7jDogDDvJlAe-UwPygHVdiRRJT/s400/P1010698.JPG" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">lily "patiently" waiting to hear what gracie's award will be.</div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirWaq0RnAq-KIyeTrUk0QZxcugNKl1kw0X0VHMzNBW3lpZkTBDfFdHed9uL2dVa8lWIJ-PeKdEfEQwRMc6RM0qnky6elWd8ptecEShV4NHLJ0XwFNvYZMVs0Z4tDR8BM34rAlb1za0pMgR/s1600-h/P1010828.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirWaq0RnAq-KIyeTrUk0QZxcugNKl1kw0X0VHMzNBW3lpZkTBDfFdHed9uL2dVa8lWIJ-PeKdEfEQwRMc6RM0qnky6elWd8ptecEShV4NHLJ0XwFNvYZMVs0Z4tDR8BM34rAlb1za0pMgR/s400/P1010828.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">getting their trophies - 2nd place - beat out by the tooth enamel experiment. </div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtrM93tUL6PnUfonb0Z4WR5Tvcm3I_x0OqsuzETL09VXqBcJc7XOP9VZ-rJPxlM8SaEpiC4fBunHTQxY_bARQ8EzUO3qQNjc1um4THgN7DzKLNENaECnRyXnquHNUZs0v9jSipBvnj7Q5E/s1600-h/P1010832.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtrM93tUL6PnUfonb0Z4WR5Tvcm3I_x0OqsuzETL09VXqBcJc7XOP9VZ-rJPxlM8SaEpiC4fBunHTQxY_bARQ8EzUO3qQNjc1um4THgN7DzKLNENaECnRyXnquHNUZs0v9jSipBvnj7Q5E/s400/P1010832.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; BACKGROUND: 0% 50%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial" border="0" alt="Posted by Picasa" align="middle" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" /></a></div><p align="center">the girls with their trophies, awards and younger siblings.</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS73_yn8GmZinFtjIWQwiYWe8iYXDzip66zUKuQSYgXUkECEfdJhxBg1t-T2tt9DyNg3KPOzN5CkJHPkHkfqCD8pFRFA_xCtYqxnENF3gmevm4uG50WHUeH_X_LuwNoF2EmQKTUdtnNR7l/s1600-h/P1010837.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340887265093183362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS73_yn8GmZinFtjIWQwiYWe8iYXDzip66zUKuQSYgXUkECEfdJhxBg1t-T2tt9DyNg3KPOzN5CkJHPkHkfqCD8pFRFA_xCtYqxnENF3gmevm4uG50WHUeH_X_LuwNoF2EmQKTUdtnNR7l/s400/P1010837.JPG" /> <p align="center"></a>grace also won her first math bowl and is now off to compete against another school next week. pat and i do find it interesting that she is a top math and science student at a performing arts school. that might help, but the girl is genuinely smart and has always had a burning curiousity and love of learning that i hope remains with her throughout her life.<br /></p>aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15486220662265923979noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786913119764811118.post-9548593846230999752009-05-28T09:16:00.012-04:002009-05-28T12:56:57.531-04:00memorial day weekend<div align="center">we had a great memorial day weekend filled with outdoor walks, exploration, quiet time, puzzles, mud, canoeing, s'mores & visits with family & friends. could you ask for anything more? </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">we took the scenic route on the drive up where we crossed three covered bridges, lily "saw china" and i saw a sign with the words: "3 kids for sale" on it (drove by too fast to actually read the descriptions of the kids). a third generation "harry belafonte fan" was solidified as that was all gracie listened to on the drive up and back; (i believe harry belafonte was pretty much required listening when pat was growing up.) </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">we spent the weekend at my good friend from high school (darlene)'s house near montpelier, vermont. darlene and her husband were gone the first couple of days, but caught up with us on monday. sunday was spent visiting with our niece, chelsea, and her husband. chelsea just graduated from vermont law school. saturday was spent on the stowe recreational path (after both pat and i took turns having late morning naps). the pictures pretty much tell the rest -<br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340865568178782850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi07jLtv42YmOnWOcux0_buPJAeaxglZ6svScHgHVJ_YityUgCeTj1R2njKS9GsVCFCSJ7mcc_609fh0S2WsSeRi0Bp5bRIC88dPU-LyPWbiHpq5wgv31iJGKasEpy_SLCyc_1z9iJlhdH/s400/P1010865.JPG" /><br /><p align="center">who knew a little foot bridge could be so much fun? i think we spent a good 20 minutes here while we walking the recreational path in stowe.<br /></p><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0OnmKwjl7TfyjQznCJ3p_fsET08t25mF2GAxWx2dNkCIZQ8vm8Jyvxs8PQin1ZPN4zcghnuvdBLXelNLaVdZQAKWUFQ6LN7CB9GKYqErhjNf0MjbCwo40wqE7Z3vHwoQk8igmpfHObxih/s1600-h/P1010854.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340880517441581858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0OnmKwjl7TfyjQznCJ3p_fsET08t25mF2GAxWx2dNkCIZQ8vm8Jyvxs8PQin1ZPN4zcghnuvdBLXelNLaVdZQAKWUFQ6LN7CB9GKYqErhjNf0MjbCwo40wqE7Z3vHwoQk8igmpfHObxih/s400/P1010854.JPG" /></a><br /><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9oJKYJq1VTNoL_1mW58y1zZNtQb4Uv0BB5IUr0djfA4HfAn5_mCq8FPMpjVWV_a0e0DwrejDV85ApTtkOdBEfUQRfFLhUtJK5qC4lODI7FY_ZMuqLTIHpvwDS7-CBGLrlQ6bYTydf3w9L/s1600-h/P1010861.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340865562739766962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9oJKYJq1VTNoL_1mW58y1zZNtQb4Uv0BB5IUr0djfA4HfAn5_mCq8FPMpjVWV_a0e0DwrejDV85ApTtkOdBEfUQRfFLhUtJK5qC4lODI7FY_ZMuqLTIHpvwDS7-CBGLrlQ6bYTydf3w9L/s400/P1010861.JPG" /><br /><p align="center"></a></p><p align="center">jake with a swollen bug bite at the top of his nose. we weren't in vermont for more than a few hours before he had a bite. the bugs have always loved him, poor guy. (when mosquitoes get in our car, i go after them with a passion that verges on maniacal because i worry they will just bite jake). </p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK0R94-H01sMxg9rWKi2ZpfwOeQbS7u2Zzcg0LU2FFsHpLavwOiV6w1h3EwJnN0ScIuh31hVsNRDkefPvFR31oKsLhyphenhyphen0nkhykewA9L1qj4zKVT2DJkhN9kAtNuhxby9dswqtp7nsMdzSSD/s1600-h/P1010884.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340881529818345698" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK0R94-H01sMxg9rWKi2ZpfwOeQbS7u2Zzcg0LU2FFsHpLavwOiV6w1h3EwJnN0ScIuh31hVsNRDkefPvFR31oKsLhyphenhyphen0nkhykewA9L1qj4zKVT2DJkhN9kAtNuhxby9dswqtp7nsMdzSSD/s400/P1010884.JPG" /></p><p align="center"></a>we also found a museum (??fine art store) off the path. it had a sculpture garden and fun stuff inside like this couch made of nickles. </p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnSjTtic0hR3Xdh0tZgpBwDCzmrlw1Jg64RObvO4bmiCHsnptLy4xXAZdkdCYmWUxIEV5NJKSXQHYSjjG-urY0_pgv0o1_1t3vOZ0zRUWVi6YCyKPeiJ3pMBAOy7r52mCiSglBJmZ5Psw9/s1600-h/P1010877.JPG"></p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340870585761584242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnSjTtic0hR3Xdh0tZgpBwDCzmrlw1Jg64RObvO4bmiCHsnptLy4xXAZdkdCYmWUxIEV5NJKSXQHYSjjG-urY0_pgv0o1_1t3vOZ0zRUWVi6YCyKPeiJ3pMBAOy7r52mCiSglBJmZ5Psw9/s400/P1010877.JPG" /></a><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirJ4FyCSNMRn2YZVqcdL480necJu2hJX8wg_ewATbQuH_Ml7JJHXkW0N2SYJ2ugcxsUS7WU7a10ZZYWX2ZJmGBAMhaWcsBghuplxBOBN72MPqtHJN52HRGCicBVlz4uBjuFVZ9V21aSrrY/s1600-h/P1010891.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340870582123130722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirJ4FyCSNMRn2YZVqcdL480necJu2hJX8wg_ewATbQuH_Ml7JJHXkW0N2SYJ2ugcxsUS7WU7a10ZZYWX2ZJmGBAMhaWcsBghuplxBOBN72MPqtHJN52HRGCicBVlz4uBjuFVZ9V21aSrrY/s400/P1010891.JPG" /></a> one of dar's cats, harry, totally clinged to us when she was gone. we were fully prepared to be completely ignored when dar returned on monday.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjU95TCULwQ-EjcqE1y4c-nWrfZK6WR3cBsHDGKwkkC5F8SbyRLpJ3Gigsa03SIJqevPBowzWOnATwqeJYdp3qDwNvR_imddw9x3Y-AWM7O5umSu6SzzWucqHVHsiReVLkp5oACs6ExUzW/s1600-h/P1010894.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340870580088921826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjU95TCULwQ-EjcqE1y4c-nWrfZK6WR3cBsHDGKwkkC5F8SbyRLpJ3Gigsa03SIJqevPBowzWOnATwqeJYdp3qDwNvR_imddw9x3Y-AWM7O5umSu6SzzWucqHVHsiReVLkp5oACs6ExUzW/s400/P1010894.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="http://lookitsthereynoldses.blogspot.com/">chelsea and jake</a> came over to eat dinner and roast marshmallows on sunday. they are cute couple and we've enjoyed getting to jake better through these visits. he's a good guy which chelsea more than deserves.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYrRwk9c0K6rygjgtzmUFrGqZBczwDcYgFKFYBtlJDhOV07Sb9wUQvzi_ZzosaXcaqdtVbh6xrAnzSdBrKebAehizFj1RZ2ebKT_siOFJDjLTuA_EvbAXJxDM1OxfmuSh9zYLCrGPUuf96/s1600-h/P1010900.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340870569658060050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYrRwk9c0K6rygjgtzmUFrGqZBczwDcYgFKFYBtlJDhOV07Sb9wUQvzi_ZzosaXcaqdtVbh6xrAnzSdBrKebAehizFj1RZ2ebKT_siOFJDjLTuA_EvbAXJxDM1OxfmuSh9zYLCrGPUuf96/s400/P1010900.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxWc31LR5_jUnmYCDlp8hN7k7FDn-cgfnsYzZ78RdHDBp4VsfQzIphy1tUjjuCCRWS6piJPvQ1wGFEccVBLtDI6vP9bNYUX5fulEo8FO5czH_pjNPt2m4LbglmpQrDuaJx7G1IvwVtXxb9/s1600-h/P1010905.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340868863110964546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxWc31LR5_jUnmYCDlp8hN7k7FDn-cgfnsYzZ78RdHDBp4VsfQzIphy1tUjjuCCRWS6piJPvQ1wGFEccVBLtDI6vP9bNYUX5fulEo8FO5czH_pjNPt2m4LbglmpQrDuaJx7G1IvwVtXxb9/s400/P1010905.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIx11sWhLdPk4NR_59_w0I_xSsinBbfvAihQelESxX-gBP02VU84buRiAxbQaJ0nuDkeFlcawATAIHb-RZvAZ_QXXKTp9pXZab0ytlygJI-_6R91FItQJeoMcm_vfx4UMtKklD7j3Whu9F/s1600-h/P1010903.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340868859747178514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIx11sWhLdPk4NR_59_w0I_xSsinBbfvAihQelESxX-gBP02VU84buRiAxbQaJ0nuDkeFlcawATAIHb-RZvAZ_QXXKTp9pXZab0ytlygJI-_6R91FItQJeoMcm_vfx4UMtKklD7j3Whu9F/s400/P1010903.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpMtYli0Gvy7CwB6R6nWRd0kKgaik-Of8-bhjyPAPbXObrkna_JzMKjk49wrS2y6yGs01JMYVlGCozi6kZR4aHiZ7H5gdUztz5dH-KiTwkkVybCV52sIGkE9XootJypycZvmgduiUdZ5zo/s1600-h/P1010907.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340868857273544018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpMtYli0Gvy7CwB6R6nWRd0kKgaik-Of8-bhjyPAPbXObrkna_JzMKjk49wrS2y6yGs01JMYVlGCozi6kZR4aHiZ7H5gdUztz5dH-KiTwkkVybCV52sIGkE9XootJypycZvmgduiUdZ5zo/s400/P1010907.JPG" /></a> we were able to complete 3 of the 4 american girl mystery puzzles. i was a little disappointed that the clues to solve the mystery were just written on the puzzle in glow-in-the-dark paint. i would have preferred a more challenging and subtle approach, but the puzzles were enjoyable to do nonetheless. during the first puzzle, grace did abandon me for other things (in fairness to her it was after a good amount of helping). it just reminded me of all the times, i had abandoned my dad on puzzles while growing up and came back after he had made progress to help finish things off. sorry, dad! but no worries, i'm getting my just desserts now.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTowD55H9hLDgvhC9C6bVmz-xFadl7llaUL4ktn6tIHpUMmcY2JUUf0xaBiervPXzYLLlvqKMPZU7LDfNBcFxvwF8akmf3GAQUj9SFtsGRxkdKY7NDye0TOSKtCwAk4EebDvdHK-uDDH1c/s1600-h/P1010912.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340868846354619778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTowD55H9hLDgvhC9C6bVmz-xFadl7llaUL4ktn6tIHpUMmcY2JUUf0xaBiervPXzYLLlvqKMPZU7LDfNBcFxvwF8akmf3GAQUj9SFtsGRxkdKY7NDye0TOSKtCwAk4EebDvdHK-uDDH1c/s400/P1010912.JPG" /></a><br />on monday, we went to the beachfront near dar and gerry's house. they have a canoe and we had fun going out on it. lily was scared to be on the canoe at first, but soon changed her mind and enjoyed it.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJDb-J0WYTkb_d0B2dxznTepR061YAWQsKpqfanQxnhB796Ubqo1r3IJK75uPJnrwj5GqHf5G0IrnsnS52YOOav_hjtQsonu6DhHpboPBmLMgDcOa256UUfDmox6o4abF3ViD5xMo5-gPt/s1600-h/P1010916.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340868842041874866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJDb-J0WYTkb_d0B2dxznTepR061YAWQsKpqfanQxnhB796Ubqo1r3IJK75uPJnrwj5GqHf5G0IrnsnS52YOOav_hjtQsonu6DhHpboPBmLMgDcOa256UUfDmox6o4abF3ViD5xMo5-gPt/s400/P1010916.JPG" /></a><br /><br />the men with the kiddos.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5XyEFyoHq5KzWvYWG35zjpfD5QGlFjSZb5jNFNjDhoBD9RPLEsFQ4wNVp2jzS48jiECVFnEk7eprCdYak7LjMBTmTGLsnh53LsW1CxxtCgxS_lKBHrkOEhLFTvgjgnEyJw2sG_cJd9T9e/s1600-h/P1010921.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340867023527308978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5XyEFyoHq5KzWvYWG35zjpfD5QGlFjSZb5jNFNjDhoBD9RPLEsFQ4wNVp2jzS48jiECVFnEk7eprCdYak7LjMBTmTGLsnh53LsW1CxxtCgxS_lKBHrkOEhLFTvgjgnEyJw2sG_cJd9T9e/s400/P1010921.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmIUY-WgH23wULSuU_EiR-PVdu3XLrnV3ycxCGtVxtr9IIEjoosB5VwLZcfpcxnlvqQHsvD_HRoZqif8iwjSbEIsjue-TyWa7Qq5FHJMnf8lX2S-U7SVIzbsuXpNob16oKqOhDBc7r-01h/s1600-h/P1010922.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340867018030699202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmIUY-WgH23wULSuU_EiR-PVdu3XLrnV3ycxCGtVxtr9IIEjoosB5VwLZcfpcxnlvqQHsvD_HRoZqif8iwjSbEIsjue-TyWa7Qq5FHJMnf8lX2S-U7SVIzbsuXpNob16oKqOhDBc7r-01h/s400/P1010922.JPG" /></a> fact of life #241: kids always gravitate to mud, n'est pa?<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3qja82lnLco8rBHmjGd01CGUq6yJ7XN6ummvt0gVF1VJdLOV5iu7GZVOGxMPN-w0j-wZSh0dyD8XIQiRa21Td_GYkIjZJwBqb2WKEY9E4lwAGs2ovM9BXp53_gLjlD0d-1g1x4PhzB5_X/s1600-h/P1010928.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340867010681290498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3qja82lnLco8rBHmjGd01CGUq6yJ7XN6ummvt0gVF1VJdLOV5iu7GZVOGxMPN-w0j-wZSh0dyD8XIQiRa21Td_GYkIjZJwBqb2WKEY9E4lwAGs2ovM9BXp53_gLjlD0d-1g1x4PhzB5_X/s400/P1010928.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfNkKNB11bfyXmWGGcb4nCye3nNaLeCLOAScbUgFn8sQXx5U8YMUeFAIuYou_xK9wjsiGzmAIgLwSHo_-TiWCZLKpRs4bNcTP9aUgvrbmFfEJ106ZN-RTO14EwuzIKBfhpZVAtHK3oNK3y/s1600-h/P1010931.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340867004701975746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfNkKNB11bfyXmWGGcb4nCye3nNaLeCLOAScbUgFn8sQXx5U8YMUeFAIuYou_xK9wjsiGzmAIgLwSHo_-TiWCZLKpRs4bNcTP9aUgvrbmFfEJ106ZN-RTO14EwuzIKBfhpZVAtHK3oNK3y/s400/P1010931.JPG" /></a>dar and i holding our own in the canoe. we had done canoe trips together when we were teenagers (CUE "Memories" music - not "Memory from "Cats" - but the other one - doesn't barbara streisand sing it?).<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvCE5NEO2Dob-wTc1iBa5qvL1cghb43NsLLEdh4VTeB-7Vhb_JtpPEZ-8kILLP6hOFSoEjsUoU8fQO93T-GJvr0U7PMdbhQcYKKQvNmnUWuddkJ4mZgN_iooKA-fA_8echT75subqpM6SI/s1600-h/P1010942.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340866996040347826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvCE5NEO2Dob-wTc1iBa5qvL1cghb43NsLLEdh4VTeB-7Vhb_JtpPEZ-8kILLP6hOFSoEjsUoU8fQO93T-GJvr0U7PMdbhQcYKKQvNmnUWuddkJ4mZgN_iooKA-fA_8echT75subqpM6SI/s400/P1010942.JPG" /></a> jake fell asleep on the blanket and got a sunburn on the part of his arm that we left exposed.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF8-qHADF0_nIWAf54kEkvFWJDXcOGVwsGjIsKbKsZU6_0BeU5dWSsjeTf2jo_wFJ3k603sHfoQ3Q7oSv0QJgQXKr04eORxnUUhaBXaLAJaA-jjrqOEIzY-doc_1xixOUMzknIzzIeoRZo/s1600-h/P1010959.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340879088560782962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF8-qHADF0_nIWAf54kEkvFWJDXcOGVwsGjIsKbKsZU6_0BeU5dWSsjeTf2jo_wFJ3k603sHfoQ3Q7oSv0QJgQXKr04eORxnUUhaBXaLAJaA-jjrqOEIzY-doc_1xixOUMzknIzzIeoRZo/s400/P1010959.JPG" /></a>grace and i went out together after this pic was taken. we did well until some high winds kicked in and struggled getting back to shore. but we made it once the wind died down - only to find out that dar was the only one who had faith in us returning. THANKS for the vote of confidence, DAR!!!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTPe7DxPE-GfbdbL6Ui32wUUwaUi5GuftYXJFR4Az87mzxdQXUcQIkuld0y27zoBDtCpbDvj8eozB2PDfum7bFuQ-EQaF2V_cEWLVtbtygcJGkAnLOxsQ2vzyJYl97Cqm2boaXpnnMEv06/s1600-h/P1010966.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340879077875489042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTPe7DxPE-GfbdbL6Ui32wUUwaUi5GuftYXJFR4Az87mzxdQXUcQIkuld0y27zoBDtCpbDvj8eozB2PDfum7bFuQ-EQaF2V_cEWLVtbtygcJGkAnLOxsQ2vzyJYl97Cqm2boaXpnnMEv06/s400/P1010966.JPG" /></a> </div></div></div><br /></div>aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15486220662265923979noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786913119764811118.post-85779310720869697422009-05-22T16:08:00.003-04:002009-05-22T16:14:41.023-04:00THANK YOU!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjtXo-Lr-S3hf_r-vDYOhwhh1a6K0IzyISc61RbBroI1_pvEAc8ZZQbsVmFgV8xFifKqXAsTMjRla23lhkLFce-AaWABVoIPJqQM4EguiOxDazw1v3699ZF29thGssqlyy6GfY781I8lwn/s1600-h/2009+spring-5.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338743855997610194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjtXo-Lr-S3hf_r-vDYOhwhh1a6K0IzyISc61RbBroI1_pvEAc8ZZQbsVmFgV8xFifKqXAsTMjRla23lhkLFce-AaWABVoIPJqQM4EguiOxDazw1v3699ZF29thGssqlyy6GfY781I8lwn/s400/2009+spring-5.jpg" /></a><br />my brother, jim, and his wife, amy, sent the whole lot of us birthday cards - (well, the whole lot of us who had birthdays). he gave each of the kids a dollar bill for how old they were (cute) and drew pics on the envelope. for my birthday card, he called me a dork and misspelled birthday, but it's ok - i still love him!<br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">THANKS FOR MAKING OUR DAY, JIM & AMY!!!!<br /></span></div>aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15486220662265923979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786913119764811118.post-40178781243723786092009-05-12T15:05:00.004-04:002009-05-12T17:19:45.027-04:00daily laughmy brother and sister-in-law sent this to me this morning. the text at the end of this commercial translates as: <span style="font-size:130%;">"your teeth also want to be white." enjoy!!!</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/qc1w6UDA6Cw&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/qc1w6UDA6Cw&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />still don't get it? maybe this next one will help.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/CGygVZk8xgI&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/CGygVZk8xgI&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15486220662265923979noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786913119764811118.post-9854742715797822672009-05-11T19:16:00.002-04:002009-05-11T19:20:53.037-04:00for ticei just had the following conversation with your son:<br /><br />tycen (handing me a wrapper): "here's garbage."<br /><br />me: "thank you, buddy!"<br /><br />tycen: "my name is tycen."<br /><br /><br />hope that made you smile since i certainly did.aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15486220662265923979noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786913119764811118.post-44160059438468490552009-05-10T09:26:00.011-04:002009-05-11T12:28:27.918-04:00for stacey...and <span style="font-size:130%;">megan,</span> you would like this too, and probably any of my<span style="font-size:130%;"> "wicked"</span><span style="font-size:180%;"> </span>(as in the musical, folks) loving<span style="font-size:180%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">friends</span> - <span style="font-size:180%;">Chess</span> in concert is coming to <span style="font-size:180%;">PBS in june</span>!!!<br /><br />i've been watching horrible copies of this on youtube for months. <span style="font-size:130%;">sooooo glad</span> it's finally ready to be released. i have to admit josh groban is not my favorite voice, but i think kerry ellis' voice is as beautiful as idina menzel. i will definitley be watching.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/V3w5yt4OTbY&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/V3w5yt4OTbY&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15486220662265923979noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786913119764811118.post-5921824381585563602009-05-03T18:58:00.002-04:002009-05-03T19:01:45.383-04:00FOUND!!...in the nursery, under the table, crammed well by the arms of one little boy and found by the loving care of a special nursery teacher. hallelujah!!!aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15486220662265923979noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786913119764811118.post-20898401789855225652009-04-30T14:10:00.004-04:002009-04-30T15:10:34.909-04:00easter in cali<div align="center">what are you looking at in the pic below? that would be 5,000 easter eggs scattered around the lawn. (yes, that is the correct amount of zeros.) my aunt and uncle took fritzy and i to the most amazing easter egg hunt while we were in california.</div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5_JEcUl3lDkQmQYKu8I2K0aHxP5vLe86UB9TiAy27mPMF-Hq_FV7lrDrZpzzoo1JACzZql8G1_Hgdmb9KwoQt717VA3d9zIOdTQmuOIMNNnF8hTzzLtGfRY85RtCxgdHjvddarE0enY9Y/s1600-h/2009+spring-4.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330551155818070434" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5_JEcUl3lDkQmQYKu8I2K0aHxP5vLe86UB9TiAy27mPMF-Hq_FV7lrDrZpzzoo1JACzZql8G1_Hgdmb9KwoQt717VA3d9zIOdTQmuOIMNNnF8hTzzLtGfRY85RtCxgdHjvddarE0enY9Y/s400/2009+spring-4.jpg" /></a> everyone was split into teams and given a huge garbage bag. the eggs had colored coins in them, not candy; some eggs were special prize eggs. here's everone gathered getting the low down. the woman in pink is one of the planners who does these hunts annually. they're goal for next year: 6,000 eggs!<br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNi84Z3p7_Mo5xbZAcbKlfn2jStfKqbY1Fw5L9kdC4XLVDriE8RmAeBbMU9aD-ZUdweE8suduH_VdPoJIEe4Od8yLJwiMZ9RpKi0VV7RLgi21H_7u79usJwTdGJ_czW1I3HTJz3gXSKDIO/s1600-h/IMG_1733.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330550735362886130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNi84Z3p7_Mo5xbZAcbKlfn2jStfKqbY1Fw5L9kdC4XLVDriE8RmAeBbMU9aD-ZUdweE8suduH_VdPoJIEe4Od8yLJwiMZ9RpKi0VV7RLgi21H_7u79usJwTdGJ_czW1I3HTJz3gXSKDIO/s400/IMG_1733.JPG" /></a> everyone lined up ready to go. it was a very fun sight.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyPPk1LjkTQFT30e3MRZ1G-De9x0vCcCRPm_IpYXvN8MyWT0KCKCE7NyHqTw2eKd0jLNzd5t6wlBhzhrNGWx2cNiRb9Ol_3iVi4r2UG6fadNzhm5bdnH7UZrvAt3IKM7vrmHRNPLFvIOaq/s1600-h/IMG_1735.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330550728231970978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyPPk1LjkTQFT30e3MRZ1G-De9x0vCcCRPm_IpYXvN8MyWT0KCKCE7NyHqTw2eKd0jLNzd5t6wlBhzhrNGWx2cNiRb9Ol_3iVi4r2UG6fadNzhm5bdnH7UZrvAt3IKM7vrmHRNPLFvIOaq/s400/IMG_1735.JPG" /></a><br /><div align="center">on your mark, get set, GO!!!<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxE_Zkma9_63XakifsRytT_ZeioMaf9eYO7rcE9EbRr26RnRZqEift3qhf2ZTUFDlDkUfNyZUWBysZi-9eqGMxUzhUnzBv4vpDp7ce7ZVe_EKnnVaTEPCMXcRICvS3S2NnJFDK1eTUXspI/s1600-h/IMG_1737.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330550725436384866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxE_Zkma9_63XakifsRytT_ZeioMaf9eYO7rcE9EbRr26RnRZqEift3qhf2ZTUFDlDkUfNyZUWBysZi-9eqGMxUzhUnzBv4vpDp7ce7ZVe_EKnnVaTEPCMXcRICvS3S2NnJFDK1eTUXspI/s400/IMG_1737.JPG" /></a><br />a special area was designated for fritzy so he didn't get trampled. i think the next oldest kid was 7 years old.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggr5OZPOpvJio8GURsEAL4m4rCTDAAQX2VVwNk_MG9-aRX4R7e0XxoszghcNdMqdZtOiKy4VdT1SNJ38xmc93J0SMakEPWPAR-UkBH7OtXrjHsVhyphenhyphenthPecTqfOTJs7vbIQapKeEyfTY9sX/s1600-h/IMG_1741.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330550722043097746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggr5OZPOpvJio8GURsEAL4m4rCTDAAQX2VVwNk_MG9-aRX4R7e0XxoszghcNdMqdZtOiKy4VdT1SNJ38xmc93J0SMakEPWPAR-UkBH7OtXrjHsVhyphenhyphenthPecTqfOTJs7vbIQapKeEyfTY9sX/s400/IMG_1741.JPG" /></a> </div><div>cleaning up the yard.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHnsXeLxDbMTL05_mYfEVc1JonrksOAKPLyMWnjvWUzqQfq_HzDSzcAfEN25PHqtEYk8L_kKBaYn0_gdCHvom6bJvBkaA_Hv-gRHcDBYLZhITie-vS4qu3scacZZdqQMlDK78RJdAo8kLX/s1600-h/IMG_1742.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330550718743122370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHnsXeLxDbMTL05_mYfEVc1JonrksOAKPLyMWnjvWUzqQfq_HzDSzcAfEN25PHqtEYk8L_kKBaYn0_gdCHvom6bJvBkaA_Hv-gRHcDBYLZhITie-vS4qu3scacZZdqQMlDK78RJdAo8kLX/s400/IMG_1742.JPG" /></a><br />he sure enjoyed himself!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq3jBGEZmQ__ZoJQQwnAPSnjxPaxjnIzWVTOYuAxZsiXMq2TUP_S0Yl6h-vpZ_tSUw6ZoPporfaWS4H2YzO8PosSbpBNKytipf_48CB56lOlV5HkKHCV_S7k0i6uZCUcWjcGQ1YEyVtU_2/s1600-h/IMG_1748.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330548936021864754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq3jBGEZmQ__ZoJQQwnAPSnjxPaxjnIzWVTOYuAxZsiXMq2TUP_S0Yl6h-vpZ_tSUw6ZoPporfaWS4H2YzO8PosSbpBNKytipf_48CB56lOlV5HkKHCV_S7k0i6uZCUcWjcGQ1YEyVtU_2/s400/IMG_1748.JPG" /></a><br />all the eggs your team collected were thrown in one big bag and weighed as teams. the team with the biggest weight, won. (previous years, they had everyone open and sort coins worth various points according to color.) everyone who came to the party was asked to bring a gift basket. the winning team got first choice, and so on until everyone had a basket. i believe fritzy's team came in third. he was very happy with the basket my aunt and uncle got him.</div><div> <br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkA_tp1lrR9_Iy-EZR49cAgNyKlOr43Al7410OptgG5eLXOSQVSEKcsOldlaW9KUTjFWUgi5TZbwYfv8aZw4NWT3lG-seKZHRoAJ5PJMmLSW7aa62VgylZRyoANiNUIun-2__eRBcfncZW/s1600-h/IMG_1749.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330548935164439186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkA_tp1lrR9_Iy-EZR49cAgNyKlOr43Al7410OptgG5eLXOSQVSEKcsOldlaW9KUTjFWUgi5TZbwYfv8aZw4NWT3lG-seKZHRoAJ5PJMmLSW7aa62VgylZRyoANiNUIun-2__eRBcfncZW/s400/IMG_1749.JPG" /></a> </div></div></div></div><br /></div></div>aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15486220662265923979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786913119764811118.post-67189937608338318622009-04-29T08:02:00.008-04:002009-04-29T15:15:00.398-04:00good witch againafter smoldering temperatures and feeling like i was the wicked witch of the west (read "i'm melting!") for the past few days, the temperatures have finally cooled down here and there is even a freeze advisory in effect for tonight!! hallelujah!<br /><br />in other news, this past sunday was one of those "horrible, terrible, no good, very bad days." my hubby was out of town so i brought all the kids to church on my own.<br /><br />to recap, it was the first day of the heat wave and i hate heat waves especially when they are disrupting my spring, i had to change jake's pants and diaper and clean up a huge puddle right as i told everyone head to the car, my soon to be three year old colored with a black crayon on the pew and wall while i was listening to a talk during sacrament meeting, 20 bazillion wipes couldn't take the crayon off and realized i would have to go home after church and get goo-gone, i had to separate an actual group wrestle among my younger three kids during sacrament meeting, my five year old didn't show london and france but definitely showed a bunch of people in manchester her underpants during said wrestle, i let my 2 year old go to nursery with his special blanket because i was just relieved he was actually going to go without a fight and i had to teach mother's day songs in primary, i was crabby while teaching those songs, ran home after church to get goo gone and other cleaning supplies, cleaned off the walls and pew in the chapel while trying to discourage my two year old from using microphone on the stand, gathered all the kids in the car and realized we do not know where aforementioned special blanket is, search the church twice looking for said blanket, finally leave church somewhat surprised how calm two year old is, actually start to leave church parking lot without blanket and two year old starts screaming, i think how wise i am that i have gotten him attached to two blankets and that he will be fine when i get him home to his other blanket, two year old wants nothing to do with other blanket and screams for the next hour while i call every mom of a baby at church and ask if they accidentally took home his blankie, was very crabby with husband on the phone when he calls that evening, forgot to watch my favorite show and i never forget to watch my show, finally give in and turn on the air conditioners on april 26th!!!<br /><br />the good news is that i was in bed reading by 9 pm that night, felt quite justified in turning on air conditioners considering what a bad day it had been, watched my show on monday (thank you cbs for finally putting amazing race episodes online), fritzy has been using his other blankie without complaint ever since his hour long "grieving" period, the kids and i were all seated while the prelude music for sacrament meeting was still playing and i was actually complemented by a dad at church at how quietly my children wrestled (that's a good thing, right?)!<br /><br />the bad news is that fritzy's blanket is still MIA (sorry tice, it wasn't outside). hopefully, it will be in the lost and found when we return to church.aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15486220662265923979noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786913119764811118.post-72305020948377891552009-04-29T07:51:00.003-04:002009-04-29T08:02:02.824-04:00for tice and natalie..or any other mom of a 8-10 year old daughter or son who has had the pleasure of seeing high school musical, i got a good laugh out of this clip.<br /><object width="512" height="296"><param name="movie" value="http://www.hulu.com/embed/-LprRStEX6CoCtxZw59Ufg"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.hulu.com/embed/-LprRStEX6CoCtxZw59Ufg" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="512" height="296"></embed></object>aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15486220662265923979noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786913119764811118.post-35953889518519368802009-04-09T09:49:00.003-04:002009-04-09T09:51:50.568-04:00twilight necklacesfor my twilight loving friends (hello, nat - i'm talking to you), go check out my friend <a href="http://5ericksonsplay.blogspot.com/2009/04/support-your-team.html">stacey's blog.</a> she's selling some mighty cute (and inexpensive) necklaces right now.aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15486220662265923979noreply@blogger.com4