tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63981135848788540392024-03-05T08:00:34.053-08:00Branches and Blossomsthe Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08812279123995459632noreply@blogger.comBlogger108125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6398113584878854039.post-70848066843864776722012-07-17T13:50:00.002-07:002012-07-17T13:50:51.051-07:00Nathan's shovel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBj2CCuo9SKqJnQXMDxSxoa5KMG2BFQAIAOujjUOBiZjn3oPhv63czFmxpsZehcStrg8j_ANEHzUL4GAIuNFNwBwbDFss6GzU8e1xxjTycSQOaNxz0KVwhn3J17WxugcC8LVERgpmTZRg/s1600/IMG_4585.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBj2CCuo9SKqJnQXMDxSxoa5KMG2BFQAIAOujjUOBiZjn3oPhv63czFmxpsZehcStrg8j_ANEHzUL4GAIuNFNwBwbDFss6GzU8e1xxjTycSQOaNxz0KVwhn3J17WxugcC8LVERgpmTZRg/s640/IMG_4585.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXCVWc4qdxRADlGFzlFGvsj4gOLhYg5kSOxIAwIibibNNGM0iIFB69qqJpTw4ExV1a53TKalNJRWnyK2GiqINSOvCAG-dbNCauZUbx6LxU-r2DH6SiHHVnKIcp4pPIKnaEyo9HyQuyT-c/s1600/IMG_4587.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXCVWc4qdxRADlGFzlFGvsj4gOLhYg5kSOxIAwIibibNNGM0iIFB69qqJpTw4ExV1a53TKalNJRWnyK2GiqINSOvCAG-dbNCauZUbx6LxU-r2DH6SiHHVnKIcp4pPIKnaEyo9HyQuyT-c/s640/IMG_4587.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nathan and Brady clearing top soil from Grandpa's truck. Notice Nathan's hair. He has been begging me to spray paint it ever since Isaac colored his for crazy hair day.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Nathan christened his new birthday shovel this morning by shoveling an entire load of top soil from Grandpa's truck (with Brady's help of course). Then we raked and groomed the soil, and laid sod. What a transformation. Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07800229172000815316noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6398113584878854039.post-37814769422111600382012-07-17T06:16:00.001-07:002012-07-17T06:16:25.542-07:00Thanksgiving Point Dinosaurs<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
Our day started much the same as it has for the last few weeks. We got up, got dressed, then went out to work in the yard. I love having a yard for the boys to work and play and live in. Nathan and Brady helped Grandpa and I prepare a small area so we can lay sod tomorrow. They are such hard workers.</div>
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
When we finished with that, Grandma and Grandpa wanted to take Nathan to pick out his very own birthday present. His wish: a shovel that was just his size. They tried Target, but only emerged with a Lego (and a Lego for Brady. Grandparents are suckers for the sad looking eyes of the non-birthday child). But a shovel was still what he wanted the most, so we went to another store to make sure he got what he was really dreaming of. </div>
<br />
Then we visited the Museum of Ancient Life at Thanksgiving Point. What a fun place for little boys. There were bones, and claws, and petrified poop, and water and sand to play in. Heaven on earth I would say.<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqapprvGTA8rbjpBG0KkxAlWw9dlONXQEImrzrC8WPewCWCz_mzVKLxLpsRVCBS3R17CoZkFrILRFmeKqLQhq1f-wx2WG4FK61F4k8Ny00EWpE3_1fn0Mj1U8zSuiFJYviPHhfwhUlE1k/s1600/IMG_4530.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img $ca="true" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqapprvGTA8rbjpBG0KkxAlWw9dlONXQEImrzrC8WPewCWCz_mzVKLxLpsRVCBS3R17CoZkFrILRFmeKqLQhq1f-wx2WG4FK61F4k8Ny00EWpE3_1fn0Mj1U8zSuiFJYviPHhfwhUlE1k/s640/IMG_4530.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There was a great exhibit called "The Science of Sound" that we played around in before seeing the dinosaurs. The drums were Nathan's favorite. He totally got into it.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjecEFh_iH8YZNlTaoqwKbATS9Sfki2V17lC06hvBB-ArfT3mneedLAnl_ImKzIWGzgiBL0G2ZMyTrhEu1SaXppyvVnxSAimM7BcHFTQecfpOsIJ0CrvEKCHZlltLEeKPxGwwczdnMSk0I/s1600/IMG_4533.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $ca="true" border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjecEFh_iH8YZNlTaoqwKbATS9Sfki2V17lC06hvBB-ArfT3mneedLAnl_ImKzIWGzgiBL0G2ZMyTrhEu1SaXppyvVnxSAimM7BcHFTQecfpOsIJ0CrvEKCHZlltLEeKPxGwwczdnMSk0I/s320/IMG_4533.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUhyi7WDSEGmBpIJzww-qF0utMaqxPUm71W3LLWtROXMVFrNWxQ94kDegRJfWJLjpXC__9tLdCslFy6YX3oaORM5AxsQ1IgUTOltRvCOIcUfA9apaaRuCS3BAZpMNpRVcED8CvfQtVSVk/s1600/IMG_4535.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img $ca="true" border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUhyi7WDSEGmBpIJzww-qF0utMaqxPUm71W3LLWtROXMVFrNWxQ94kDegRJfWJLjpXC__9tLdCslFy6YX3oaORM5AxsQ1IgUTOltRvCOIcUfA9apaaRuCS3BAZpMNpRVcED8CvfQtVSVk/s320/IMG_4535.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcQjzMoDySBtFVMrIdc6nhIGJtPFy3c7ht3QqqjbrR3EV93tsEGUu6k2cStcZA0wbcA1-QofW4FsSngHM4l9RHZcjZVRCgLzLI9IMKUwbKz-St5JJWdetLSi00XWEXAaf0i7vwbTl4ieg/s1600/IMG_4537.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $ca="true" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcQjzMoDySBtFVMrIdc6nhIGJtPFy3c7ht3QqqjbrR3EV93tsEGUu6k2cStcZA0wbcA1-QofW4FsSngHM4l9RHZcjZVRCgLzLI9IMKUwbKz-St5JJWdetLSi00XWEXAaf0i7vwbTl4ieg/s640/IMG_4537.JPG" width="440" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP40gtdx6-ZdOKDbP-LnpwrNpHp1x4ffd1Yzzn8cUzIMAvcMvHyW2csLM6QmphXxmiBgJ8T_QqtevSYnfTClwExgdd9jsAAjV1CLHIhyDE8BIC_sbrEyNW0WfIynWlGGAe1aOa6bNSXHQ/s1600/IMG_4539.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img $ca="true" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP40gtdx6-ZdOKDbP-LnpwrNpHp1x4ffd1Yzzn8cUzIMAvcMvHyW2csLM6QmphXxmiBgJ8T_QqtevSYnfTClwExgdd9jsAAjV1CLHIhyDE8BIC_sbrEyNW0WfIynWlGGAe1aOa6bNSXHQ/s400/IMG_4539.JPG" width="266" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglOdH6QIPVNUUQ3o0SJHVhSuhnkcXmoMrE-UmOw_lzREbpN2l-5ZQUI0EjqLb65FEIT4ffYe20H_yvMIiYVK2qgwaeLnSo-ytdl_buxeL3PTTq4R8YahF2NIrLV0VHwu2ntQeXyZ-Tnfk/s1600/IMG_4554.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $ca="true" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglOdH6QIPVNUUQ3o0SJHVhSuhnkcXmoMrE-UmOw_lzREbpN2l-5ZQUI0EjqLb65FEIT4ffYe20H_yvMIiYVK2qgwaeLnSo-ytdl_buxeL3PTTq4R8YahF2NIrLV0VHwu2ntQeXyZ-Tnfk/s400/IMG_4554.JPG" width="263" /></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNaQ4vSIs-aFNl-bJrZZY2voPkCrEbhIuIzAtinkIAbszSM_hF3DLKXY5P0acI-M3ma1I0jqG3JF9spe2cwKnifzAxJD8H998ou-EHidMlo0aYbcf4mxiOIt-HPT7PQwfGdNp7NbMihSw/s1600/IMG_4550.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $ca="true" border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNaQ4vSIs-aFNl-bJrZZY2voPkCrEbhIuIzAtinkIAbszSM_hF3DLKXY5P0acI-M3ma1I0jqG3JF9spe2cwKnifzAxJD8H998ou-EHidMlo0aYbcf4mxiOIt-HPT7PQwfGdNp7NbMihSw/s320/IMG_4550.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBgD6RhKlrBEmgqJcbO0D4NM2Fpecjrexofv3OYrG3sRzozzMaR7_SmBgbe0hmbfrCMHd67fddm01nhobzbQjyTgq2N2_2saOcIlU9nsfniwtrTrTli-kIg8yJAW_wwV2-aPyg_JpZ624/s1600/IMG_4547.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img $ca="true" border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBgD6RhKlrBEmgqJcbO0D4NM2Fpecjrexofv3OYrG3sRzozzMaR7_SmBgbe0hmbfrCMHd67fddm01nhobzbQjyTgq2N2_2saOcIlU9nsfniwtrTrTli-kIg8yJAW_wwV2-aPyg_JpZ624/s320/IMG_4547.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS84hBiDfVE2L6TSVkeB5kK01A71ZvwNBd8uZu9XSHCBrYRF-oKhH7Uf6Z6PMusAgUbdyHAESl2vjVp3PTB8k1s86MLOR7An5WXRPRmuj6Mdh1F-r32fcsZ09oX501t6rnfpw3JId4-Os/s1600/IMG_4558.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img $ca="true" border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS84hBiDfVE2L6TSVkeB5kK01A71ZvwNBd8uZu9XSHCBrYRF-oKhH7Uf6Z6PMusAgUbdyHAESl2vjVp3PTB8k1s86MLOR7An5WXRPRmuj6Mdh1F-r32fcsZ09oX501t6rnfpw3JId4-Os/s320/IMG_4558.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuEi84hmMaSu-EDRHKSFMLXcp6uKLo3c87tZfG0fr_2zqj-YirynT3Ik9Fv9HtTzU1kuA4bkYHY78_mmR9RltksgnS1MvgQptzMh98mnfqIyg50SIV1HmyO9I0E1m_KMzWYQJGHUSGgWI/s1600/IMG_4544.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $ca="true" border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuEi84hmMaSu-EDRHKSFMLXcp6uKLo3c87tZfG0fr_2zqj-YirynT3Ik9Fv9HtTzU1kuA4bkYHY78_mmR9RltksgnS1MvgQptzMh98mnfqIyg50SIV1HmyO9I0E1m_KMzWYQJGHUSGgWI/s320/IMG_4544.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUjUuC0ZuIfA4QBqI0eqB9qF6I-_qe6XYMoZ4aqPGgl9KU59TMgYTUIi7jrKUYBjtENFg5sGE6jqu_Jzug_RxJCKnNQjmRdwxqO_9JMPU8h_ZHNGgML8Gzi15_p6wTQK3oxzRVNEIykJs/s1600/IMG_4555.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img $ca="true" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUjUuC0ZuIfA4QBqI0eqB9qF6I-_qe6XYMoZ4aqPGgl9KU59TMgYTUIi7jrKUYBjtENFg5sGE6jqu_Jzug_RxJCKnNQjmRdwxqO_9JMPU8h_ZHNGgML8Gzi15_p6wTQK3oxzRVNEIykJs/s640/IMG_4555.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The boys played in this sand and water exhibit for almost an hour, and would have stayed longer if I would have let them. They loved making and braking dams and watching the water bury their dinosaurs. Yummy was unsure about getting wet and dirty at first.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0mZW-t4khQwK7aK6jZy1DRz-eBZsbqTASQz_e_WgLneIgKrVoVWvM86b4VL5I2vletVjNt7_s9bvq8ja4HiHYfBo_p5LTOBvvbMVBvJD98Eo97gDgRD3Rm_219LRn-vFh_-c12bxaF58/s1600/IMG_4560.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $ca="true" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0mZW-t4khQwK7aK6jZy1DRz-eBZsbqTASQz_e_WgLneIgKrVoVWvM86b4VL5I2vletVjNt7_s9bvq8ja4HiHYfBo_p5LTOBvvbMVBvJD98Eo97gDgRD3Rm_219LRn-vFh_-c12bxaF58/s400/IMG_4560.JPG" width="268" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqYkXQ-2Ysgn_hnDHrBQegOmTCPag-8CGAwNrTkuZ9L4xutzps0Y1OCz4PYUhJ2jbiZnkInjgzwKTBuo6mCEsObqnC7FA1UlrS-gjTBipKCknyYez37tUb84dvFR2ACE8-s33LAUxNFWo/s1600/IMG_4562.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img $ca="true" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqYkXQ-2Ysgn_hnDHrBQegOmTCPag-8CGAwNrTkuZ9L4xutzps0Y1OCz4PYUhJ2jbiZnkInjgzwKTBuo6mCEsObqnC7FA1UlrS-gjTBipKCknyYez37tUb84dvFR2ACE8-s33LAUxNFWo/s400/IMG_4562.JPG" width="266" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqqg8_m-86MjLLGLs9xNTCptX3MjPew1Is0FFt51PGkJrSI5YMrvDA0ylwiVOJnEVLScAIuRLLk1PLdn5VGuc82HaLgXFgyxxAJvX3TW-kVv_JLKvECl2zACFalnxnpsdqNqT_UHcvqMc/s1600/IMG_4571.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $ca="true" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqqg8_m-86MjLLGLs9xNTCptX3MjPew1Is0FFt51PGkJrSI5YMrvDA0ylwiVOJnEVLScAIuRLLk1PLdn5VGuc82HaLgXFgyxxAJvX3TW-kVv_JLKvECl2zACFalnxnpsdqNqT_UHcvqMc/s640/IMG_4571.JPG" width="536" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi0g6Fiu_p7uZkuElCDrzb7IYtw-zE7l-4JJoCO2CVn9o5s3_u6dQKYNu97NkWNmnORX__gIfWRDHLL2o-M2sV4sBLUBbw3_3F8nvsAqvsJLd-KCb6ZaJG1QpbRNVWnyIN5bgzZnXHD7Y/s1600/IMG_4578.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img $ca="true" border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi0g6Fiu_p7uZkuElCDrzb7IYtw-zE7l-4JJoCO2CVn9o5s3_u6dQKYNu97NkWNmnORX__gIfWRDHLL2o-M2sV4sBLUBbw3_3F8nvsAqvsJLd-KCb6ZaJG1QpbRNVWnyIN5bgzZnXHD7Y/s320/IMG_4578.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioVnRqZOoUnY6X9g3ka4UzcNLADQvL6xKe0I1zgwKPt2ud6J5DioGKS7To3AvlNihA7DHLUxjLcgrR00sbfY_NZjmRu7cexHV2Yo-2q4OFpGUPAgjf7IYHBji53KyrdYq9BR1QDHYIpnQ/s1600/IMG_4567.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $ca="true" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioVnRqZOoUnY6X9g3ka4UzcNLADQvL6xKe0I1zgwKPt2ud6J5DioGKS7To3AvlNihA7DHLUxjLcgrR00sbfY_NZjmRu7cexHV2Yo-2q4OFpGUPAgjf7IYHBji53KyrdYq9BR1QDHYIpnQ/s400/IMG_4567.JPG" width="256" /></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxyV5Kc7gkxY-IVy8wttr5cbo_RyveD2wIRYcly9Oob8RuEdvvSOd-p3qJwq0Z-q9R5dn_MVmyfHc3yThFcAaCEpdp9lMNNeyd3ssehGSfwJgLoKhBMM0i9npSP5FOBuCwFGLnNH0frD4/s1600/IMG_4581.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img $ca="true" border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxyV5Kc7gkxY-IVy8wttr5cbo_RyveD2wIRYcly9Oob8RuEdvvSOd-p3qJwq0Z-q9R5dn_MVmyfHc3yThFcAaCEpdp9lMNNeyd3ssehGSfwJgLoKhBMM0i9npSP5FOBuCwFGLnNH0frD4/s320/IMG_4581.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07800229172000815316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6398113584878854039.post-1387646416430872392012-06-06T07:44:00.001-07:002012-06-06T07:47:21.763-07:00The last day of school, everYesterday John ended his 11 1/2 year long school career rather unceremoniously.<br />
<br />
We got up, fed the kids breakfast and carted them off to school. When it was time to take Nathan to school, we accompanied him to class so that we could deliver some un-birthday chocolate chip cookies and bags of candy, and his class could sing happy birthday to him (he was feeling left out because he has a July birthday, and school is not in session in July).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuca9oRH8hbT0AChLxu8roZEYK91mOeAcrlSBqz51ndg7mWSyBt5i8RKI7bIa2UEYcqOq_Q4RnBYnmyQ86tLQ9z_s1BHUs4Qwee12EKZFzoKVBUME3yP4Z07SPbDOA-mrnI5_DJPGuFw4/s1600/IMG_3951.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuca9oRH8hbT0AChLxu8roZEYK91mOeAcrlSBqz51ndg7mWSyBt5i8RKI7bIa2UEYcqOq_Q4RnBYnmyQ86tLQ9z_s1BHUs4Qwee12EKZFzoKVBUME3yP4Z07SPbDOA-mrnI5_DJPGuFw4/s640/IMG_3951.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJZpFdIa_D5q-f8DkDrs13EIZ-Gsk_LcMx3UXWXzWX6ru4JvqT9Tjwsqk20Sbd5YdhVJ2sF9KiA_xHHhBGatRh0Tyb9ZRFx4VJJ_8ee0lLJX14Qm7WnONBXIGl2AAlIeyshHO3bb8lVmM/s1600/IMG_3956.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJZpFdIa_D5q-f8DkDrs13EIZ-Gsk_LcMx3UXWXzWX6ru4JvqT9Tjwsqk20Sbd5YdhVJ2sF9KiA_xHHhBGatRh0Tyb9ZRFx4VJJ_8ee0lLJX14Qm7WnONBXIGl2AAlIeyshHO3bb8lVmM/s640/IMG_3956.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim21rE-CcW3VjoK9w63FRnTH22i5br3XL7-B-P_RcivU6xjcR9bM0BjwGN9VUug5OX9yoCYM67bTgYPdW5iRgZvD5k-LFl69lD2eag7B2TxmMmeHIuk_sZSx0qC8_iKwTQN6guj-zg5G4/s1600/IMG_3954.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim21rE-CcW3VjoK9w63FRnTH22i5br3XL7-B-P_RcivU6xjcR9bM0BjwGN9VUug5OX9yoCYM67bTgYPdW5iRgZvD5k-LFl69lD2eag7B2TxmMmeHIuk_sZSx0qC8_iKwTQN6guj-zg5G4/s640/IMG_3954.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimjN5YIsFvepELXERpF5AV6t9puqnmPori51Z6it1oRM87eutKq37U5P115COLE7x5GDrnDf6kjNOwXSB1eG0pZ0KXLlPeuYWDhdikUxaetN3KrKFBcAfHIZmbaweneYtxiWIq_-VgA3A/s1600/IMG_3959.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimjN5YIsFvepELXERpF5AV6t9puqnmPori51Z6it1oRM87eutKq37U5P115COLE7x5GDrnDf6kjNOwXSB1eG0pZ0KXLlPeuYWDhdikUxaetN3KrKFBcAfHIZmbaweneYtxiWIq_-VgA3A/s640/IMG_3959.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nathan and the best kindergarten teacher ever, Mrs. Moran</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Then we took Yummy and went to the beach in Winnetka. It was a little cool, so I enjoyed the warmth of the sun-baked sand on my feet, while John and Will threw rocks into the lake. We talked of Chicago, how our time here has rocketed by, and how we will miss it. Terribly, in fact. When you move as often as we have, it has a harsh way of making you realize how fleeting time is. I have learned that I have to enjoy every minute of every day that I have in a certain place, because then its gone. And we are gone, and in a new place.<br />
<br />
Anyway, then we went home. Yummers napped while John studied for his last final and I packed up the boys' Legos. When the kiddos came home from school, they played with the neighbors for hours, the girls playing American Girl and the boys hockey in the driveway. I picked up pizza for dinner because Isaac had missed his orchestra party at lunch time (he forgot about it, boooo), and was heartbroken.<br />
<br />
Then John went and took his final. Two hours later he was home. <br />
<br />
And he was finished. No more school. Ever.<br />
<br />
John does not love school, but he does love the Lord, and he has done what he felt Heavenly Father wanted him to do. It has taken a lot of sacrifice and even more hard work. I am so proud of him.Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07800229172000815316noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6398113584878854039.post-43574297383163330852012-06-01T11:15:00.000-07:002012-06-02T19:31:24.383-07:00Make Way for Ducklings (or geese!)Yummy and I went on a bike ride yesterday morning. The weather has been absolutely lovely here lately, and we have been enjoying spending some of our last days here outside. (I can't believe I said that! Where has the time gone?).<br />
<br />
The Canadian geese have returned from their winter vacations, which is both good and bad. Good: Will loves watching them eat bugs out of the grass while we ride. Bad: I hate all of the poop that they leave on the bike trail. <br />
<br />
We stopped to for while this morning to watch a bunch of them eating. They are not afraid of people at all, and will walk right around the bike and trailer. Again, good for Will, not so good for me. Yuck. Will kept saying "I yike it, boods." Translation: "I like it, birds."<br />
<br />
We saw a bunch of goslings waddling around after their mother. It reminded me of last year when Nathan, Will and I herded the ducklings in the Trader Joe's parking lot. It is located on the corner of Lake Avenue and Waukegan road, both very busy roads. I ended up calling John and getting the number for animal control. When they didn't help, I just called 911. John thought I overreacted. But a policeman did come out and stop traffic on Waukegan so that the mother duck could lead her 11 ducklings across the road and onto the pond and park behind the shopping center. <br />
<br />
Since then, Grandma Anthony sent us the book "Make Way for Ducklings." It has become one of Nathan's favorites.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikM1cyhLG5w2Qiz0k2WCapOrcVXEWO1tdcMfblUeg_0M4VpIwoAtHkjvsL1BLEMvl5B3yZ756ex5TrckahHc65vKwp1l_rTGyPcBh6Q6x1gA0CUfigXiMzynk9HnZbMFycxRh5cLzWudA/s1600/flood+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikM1cyhLG5w2Qiz0k2WCapOrcVXEWO1tdcMfblUeg_0M4VpIwoAtHkjvsL1BLEMvl5B3yZ756ex5TrckahHc65vKwp1l_rTGyPcBh6Q6x1gA0CUfigXiMzynk9HnZbMFycxRh5cLzWudA/s640/flood+005.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnU2zhzTDsOCfHBAgzBufnJ3ebrsaneFxE5zeYyFRDPc-JO_PYGd7v_dH_dAwbejQyCBtNo8JWpcJwKP0GZ2_T603o0DiyomyBJpiBECGsZgmJpStkTf5kESQsdU3Rq7ss1o-KRpjO5-Q/s1600/flood+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnU2zhzTDsOCfHBAgzBufnJ3ebrsaneFxE5zeYyFRDPc-JO_PYGd7v_dH_dAwbejQyCBtNo8JWpcJwKP0GZ2_T603o0DiyomyBJpiBECGsZgmJpStkTf5kESQsdU3Rq7ss1o-KRpjO5-Q/s640/flood+006.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-hNVSXavvUwLtiUkMToj4bCDT4Low4eOK-zcc_qPpd8wJwncpwxHb6XGOUXNcYc4lC28Ko7euhOMOPHAxl_5XMzJOzbSgwzl3BHhpNMqlbNbALQlPAxx0MR3tj9BUJHZ6h9A8Ocn_hiE/s1600/flood+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-hNVSXavvUwLtiUkMToj4bCDT4Low4eOK-zcc_qPpd8wJwncpwxHb6XGOUXNcYc4lC28Ko7euhOMOPHAxl_5XMzJOzbSgwzl3BHhpNMqlbNbALQlPAxx0MR3tj9BUJHZ6h9A8Ocn_hiE/s640/flood+007.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
In other news. . .<br />
<br />
We are trying to eat from our pantry so we don't have to waste anything when we move. Karen loaned me a book entitled "The Everlasting Meal" which I loved, loved, loved, and it has inspired me to get pretty creative with our meals. This morning I made a huge batch of granola out of left over grains and nuts I gathered from different cupboards and it turned out delicious!<br />
<br />
Yummy and I followed John out to his truck this morning so that Yummers could hear him rev the engine. He stands on the front porch and says "again, Dad, again" and John revs the engine over and over for him. (Nathan and Brady used to do the same thing when we lived in Dallas). Only this morning as John started his truck, it made a very sick sound, followed by billows of gray smoke. Hmmmm. I think maybe it wants to stay in Chicago.Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07800229172000815316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6398113584878854039.post-90149983295343668702012-05-28T19:41:00.000-07:002012-07-18T21:16:42.301-07:00A true Memorial DayFor a while now I have been feeling the need to instill a great deal of patriotism in my children. After all, the Pledge of Allegiance is generally ignored in schools (not in Texas, but not everyone can live in Texas now, can they?), patriotic songs that include any mention of Deity are banned from school, and my kids don't even know all of the words to our National Anthem. <br />
<br />
I want them to feel how I feel about living in such a great country. I still stand and sing during our National Anthem, very loudly, in fact. Even if no one around me is singing. And more often than not, I cry.<br />
<br />
I still stand and cheer loudly at a parade when any member of the armed forces goes by. And I even cry. I feel so proud, and so much gratitude toward them. <br />
<br />
A huge part of this may be due to the fact that when I was young, we loaded up the camper and drove across the country, and stopped at every single Civil War or Revolutionary War battle ground, cemetery or memorial. Some of those places had a lasting impact on me. Some were so painfully boring as a child, I have forced them into the background of my distant past. <br />
<br />
So this Memorial Day, I decided that we needed to go see one of our country's great patriotic sites: Springfield, Illinois. Not a battle site, I know. But it was the home to one of our greatest presidents, Abraham Lincoln, and they have a great museum dedicated to him, and to his fight to give freedom to all during the Civil War.<br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
We drove down on Sunday after church, and stayed the night with our wonderful friends Mike and Charlotte, in Mahommet. We love visiting them and catching up on each other's lives. And our kids love getting to play together. Charlotte's sister Julie was also there, and it was so great to see her again. I am so grateful for their friendship and hospitality.</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguJ3LgDE_mkC5usGZT-BYQmoY9yYlcHsxVrOkQP-qW82B5lmPqrcIGDBYEqj5znlanGm_ulAOMFyne0yqCASpjhWEG8qy32wke3MJSM_UV_DybDO9bbGjZfZH9bLDE9hzQS9xcyelrrRc/s1600/IMG_3893.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguJ3LgDE_mkC5usGZT-BYQmoY9yYlcHsxVrOkQP-qW82B5lmPqrcIGDBYEqj5znlanGm_ulAOMFyne0yqCASpjhWEG8qy32wke3MJSM_UV_DybDO9bbGjZfZH9bLDE9hzQS9xcyelrrRc/s640/IMG_3893.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the kids in Abe Lincoln's kitchen in Springfield.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQCxSzgaxAZW8BTb7LbjRI2cTm3oAGzghJU56w8wrpSJurtSYcAjEL6QoUXTOZI_6tQLAcM-QidZedNH3f7NKYSCGGHFOphHd2CBTWSVtaqbVc2vABcFBUXfUxwsVN6rBUI1tuNGy6IHs/s1600/IMG_3901.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQCxSzgaxAZW8BTb7LbjRI2cTm3oAGzghJU56w8wrpSJurtSYcAjEL6QoUXTOZI_6tQLAcM-QidZedNH3f7NKYSCGGHFOphHd2CBTWSVtaqbVc2vABcFBUXfUxwsVN6rBUI1tuNGy6IHs/s640/IMG_3901.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The crew, minus Yummers, at Abraham Lincoln's home</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic28d6f4iNSO27jFqdDPolstWHIJjIRSxN31Kyry5RMFn16RMj69Q_q-i0nXspAmKjQCWErHbnaWaqM6V0f6SxIjmHnTBFgdS-0kA4mvmo1PIIxj71ElOyr6GIRZMqb3T8Kf7PTRlAEH4/s1600/IMG_3916.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic28d6f4iNSO27jFqdDPolstWHIJjIRSxN31Kyry5RMFn16RMj69Q_q-i0nXspAmKjQCWErHbnaWaqM6V0f6SxIjmHnTBFgdS-0kA4mvmo1PIIxj71ElOyr6GIRZMqb3T8Kf7PTRlAEH4/s400/IMG_3916.JPG" width="266" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn15Vm0HU7RIEwNp5x07t7rPjUAr4IgwC8WW8ta6_HQEMePh-o8djawcSTmbVG4DqRfNlj0wbl6CvGVDEXSIzNfV5ARwq04xUYNrliLPM6B3s04mVJp8gncwFGT_bqhxlJD_GPGmAe8Qc/s1600/IMG_3908.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn15Vm0HU7RIEwNp5x07t7rPjUAr4IgwC8WW8ta6_HQEMePh-o8djawcSTmbVG4DqRfNlj0wbl6CvGVDEXSIzNfV5ARwq04xUYNrliLPM6B3s04mVJp8gncwFGT_bqhxlJD_GPGmAe8Qc/s400/IMG_3908.JPG" width="288" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj95rji7o00AEKfUW6mUnNCVq2IS2ZvpxDG0MQYKl4hNC1U75_5DKfhahBqsNeA8YqTbqTBcVkYm3dp0Msm795l3RnzFCnAtLR-6wr5sLQ6kktWhyNIGb6gMcQkwel7DYGskSRGbvUYN8M/s1600/IMG_3911.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj95rji7o00AEKfUW6mUnNCVq2IS2ZvpxDG0MQYKl4hNC1U75_5DKfhahBqsNeA8YqTbqTBcVkYm3dp0Msm795l3RnzFCnAtLR-6wr5sLQ6kktWhyNIGb6gMcQkwel7DYGskSRGbvUYN8M/s320/IMG_3911.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpxVCA4wIY7rEcYA0JuIFeuxyYhTEr8R_3d_VQoP5fXo6sgbK3TjKFzQ0fkrSEC5OKubbeOLPIch0SEFOo-6lEcga5wQAedHysvVrPS9VkTROeey-obhfz4Sj52BWMU8Oa3rISnJtdyKM/s1600/IMG_3920.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpxVCA4wIY7rEcYA0JuIFeuxyYhTEr8R_3d_VQoP5fXo6sgbK3TjKFzQ0fkrSEC5OKubbeOLPIch0SEFOo-6lEcga5wQAedHysvVrPS9VkTROeey-obhfz4Sj52BWMU8Oa3rISnJtdyKM/s320/IMG_3920.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBb1PSnHElPHWFCqF782q3dixgxWIs0nT-vLAKGq-LxLeJuGP6xFNr_MFf5NyM2k4PGzK2ztEATMb6QeVLXua_yyO42A_eDPsVtjArLrLEeOPsKLIdEwdrQLiq28M0lTyipmLeh-G8qoA/s1600/IMG_3924.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBb1PSnHElPHWFCqF782q3dixgxWIs0nT-vLAKGq-LxLeJuGP6xFNr_MFf5NyM2k4PGzK2ztEATMb6QeVLXua_yyO42A_eDPsVtjArLrLEeOPsKLIdEwdrQLiq28M0lTyipmLeh-G8qoA/s640/IMG_3924.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx-lj5EXoMaK85ZwlZBDQn1aj7-nnfGG2-mbLgFeOKTs3_K4Fq2sMvasXAxP2x5rWuI1bQ9o_QWiulhMqccP9AM58htvttC0iQ1xIwuNykkClGX_3ZePJ0gzKBz6tSk5XTM5uMZqRUlCA/s1600/IMG_3926.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx-lj5EXoMaK85ZwlZBDQn1aj7-nnfGG2-mbLgFeOKTs3_K4Fq2sMvasXAxP2x5rWuI1bQ9o_QWiulhMqccP9AM58htvttC0iQ1xIwuNykkClGX_3ZePJ0gzKBz6tSk5XTM5uMZqRUlCA/s400/IMG_3926.JPG" width="266" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia0wStZZGOCpjwnTXdXS5objNkBVVOam3CAQHlmNhxZBuzOkxNvJlxVxmm9dqPytkzEzsRlmx0yp7B202lhovmxUhAwygybr97BpVeiKUgJ3wlpDTDe9zrHJ-3dUspsqknAPoMH7Sg8ZM/s1600/IMG_3928.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia0wStZZGOCpjwnTXdXS5objNkBVVOam3CAQHlmNhxZBuzOkxNvJlxVxmm9dqPytkzEzsRlmx0yp7B202lhovmxUhAwygybr97BpVeiKUgJ3wlpDTDe9zrHJ-3dUspsqknAPoMH7Sg8ZM/s400/IMG_3928.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlrRHYHATlmVPv_jDUE7uXxnb3HERqRQO5rfKhXVJBWLu3eK2VwdBamajJNqgUYE63AAttoQbmAIYHiJGdkf2W5hddOV7o_LkW1AjxLX2FYU__QY4Za90M5TtuvzaaHp4577_OoMev4K0/s1600/IMG_3907.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlrRHYHATlmVPv_jDUE7uXxnb3HERqRQO5rfKhXVJBWLu3eK2VwdBamajJNqgUYE63AAttoQbmAIYHiJGdkf2W5hddOV7o_LkW1AjxLX2FYU__QY4Za90M5TtuvzaaHp4577_OoMev4K0/s400/IMG_3907.JPG" width="266" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE9mrUpCNzy9tYZp4qMRwjY7TVNooiVHDP8xn3WZC1E2Tw9BN1_9vW5U6NyYcklmievVkqqiJk0LvvUO14igvmAY_Ga42xFWA5aoeL_MJl85getZ27QtCKO1gubgh7UjdjRMpFBIxRTlc/s1600/IMG_3930.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE9mrUpCNzy9tYZp4qMRwjY7TVNooiVHDP8xn3WZC1E2Tw9BN1_9vW5U6NyYcklmievVkqqiJk0LvvUO14igvmAY_Ga42xFWA5aoeL_MJl85getZ27QtCKO1gubgh7UjdjRMpFBIxRTlc/s400/IMG_3930.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBHAyc5N-1rdUfstOhb4j6YRtOvC1htnAhJKBlpA1HxwEXdS2RG1kpIkNBRhm9AI7Nrslrp8lSArrlaJ32AFmY739l5DFaR5F_s4HSWSITxzQG4UdrxMz1nlsRUkZJ3L7T7mqmXbOMLb8/s1600/IMG_3944.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBHAyc5N-1rdUfstOhb4j6YRtOvC1htnAhJKBlpA1HxwEXdS2RG1kpIkNBRhm9AI7Nrslrp8lSArrlaJ32AFmY739l5DFaR5F_s4HSWSITxzQG4UdrxMz1nlsRUkZJ3L7T7mqmXbOMLb8/s640/IMG_3944.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With the Lincoln Family at the Museum</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07800229172000815316noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6398113584878854039.post-80600989803387121452012-05-17T21:54:00.000-07:002012-07-16T22:00:58.653-07:00Isaac's Orchestra Concert<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img $ca="true" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuYwxtvzXvmZLyNc8MWQsYN7v6r_GDAuT-cKJtxsrHOU-Mvue0UaCWw6rp-bhkPRLM4hLOF-urJCCYvRUHEgeJfWg3E9EGlsJrf0hBBaWxpjDGGn5xtaJKkkxOJAOydOgew4FPIMzki74/s640/IMG_3831.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="426" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What a charmer.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I am so proud of the progress Isaac has made this year on his violin. He has been so committed to practicing, and has really improved. He played wonderfully at his concert.Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07800229172000815316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6398113584878854039.post-56869011217323639552012-05-17T21:18:00.001-07:002012-05-17T21:28:27.141-07:00Praise. . .This morning I buckled Yummers into his little bike trailer and went for a ride on the forest preserve trail near our home. It was gloriously beautiful. While I pedaled, my mind thought in circles. <br />
<br />
And I was reminded once again of how blessed I am. How blessed we are as a family. We live in such a lovely corner of the world. Chicago has been a fun and vibrant place for our family to live. I would have never imagined myself living here, in such a big city, so far from everything that is familiar to me, but I have loved it. Not every minute of it, but most minutes. And Heavenly Father really planted us in the perfect location. We have a great ward, perfect school, wonderful neighbors, a yard (not an apartment, remember?), and a beautiful neighborhood near the forest preserve.<br />
<br />
I could smell the lilacs in full bloom, the Russian Olive trees and the dirt, and then I would pass some smell that I couldn't quite recognize, and wonder what kind of flower it was. My brother Garrett would know. He is a plant genius, and so kind and tender and generous. What a blessing to have such a brother.<br />
<br />
Then I would think about the rest of my family and extended family, which has truly extended in the last couple of years. Blessed is the only word I could think of. We are not close in proximity to any of them, but they are such a huge part of our lives. Parents and in-laws who come to help out at a moments notice, and who love my children regardless of their imperfections. <br />
<br />
Then the words of a song came to my mind.<br />
<br />
<br />
<em>Praise to the Lord, the almighty, the King of creation.</em><br />
<em>Oh, my soul, praise Him for He is thy health and salvation.</em><br />
<em>Join the great throng, psaltery organ and song</em><br />
<em>Sounding in glad adoration.</em><br />
<em><br /></em><br />
<em>Praise to the Lord! Over all things He gloriously reigneth.</em><br />
<em>Borne as on eagle wings safely His saints He sustaineth.</em><br />
<em>Hast thou not seen how all thou needest hath been</em><br />
<em>Granted in what He ordaineth?</em><br />
<em><br /></em><br />
<em>Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy way and defend thee.</em><br />
<em>Surely His goodness and mercy shall ever attend thee.</em><br />
<em>Ponder anew, what the Almighty can do,</em><br />
<em>Who, with His love, doth befriend thee.</em><br />
<em><br /></em><br />
<em>Praise to the Lord! Oh, let all that is in me adore Him!</em><br />
<em>All that hath breath, join with Abraham's seed to adore Him!</em><br />
<em>Let the "amen" sound all our praises again,</em><br />
<em>Now as we worship before Him.</em><br />
<br />
Let me give some background on this song. Clear back in January, we were sitting in Sacrament Meeting and the organ began to play the opening song. It was "Praise to the Lord, the Almighty". Before then, I had never really paid any attention to the words, but this particular time while we sang, the Spirit was so overpowering. By the end, I had tears in my eyes, as did many in the congregation. I felt impressed at that time that I needed to memorize the words to that hymn. So over the next few weeks, I listened to it repeatedly, until I had all the words down.<br />
<br />
Then Isaac got very sick and we found ourselves spending days and then weeks in the hospital. One night as I was driving home, after a particularly bad day for Isaac, the words of that hymn came into my mind. I was reminded, once again, of how complete and perfect God's plan is. He truly watches over us "as on eagle wings" and had provided every needful thing. We had competent doctors and nurses, and wonderful modern medicine to help Isaac get well. And when that failed, as it was failing then, we had prayer to call down miracles from heaven. And, if the answer to our pleas should be "no," then we had the promise of resurrection, and that our family had been sealed by the priesthood and was eternal. <br />
<br />
The words of that hymn are now etched into my heart. <br />
<br />
Then, as I pedalled, I thought about how we are mere weeks away from moving our family again to. . . who knows where. I find great confidence in the fact that because we were inspired to come here, Heavenly Father has it all worked out somehow. And even though the road that lies ahead may still be bumpy and long, He will eventually gently set us down right where we are supposed to be, and it will all make perfect sense. <br />
<br />
And I felt so blessed.<br />
<br />the Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08812279123995459632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6398113584878854039.post-53137001402170793762012-05-17T19:36:00.002-07:002012-05-17T20:32:12.938-07:00Isaac's Science FairIsaac has been madly working on his science fair project for the past few weeks. He chose to study "The Power of Suggestion", and began his presentation by saying "What if I told you that I could control your mind without you even knowing it?" Pretty fun. <br />
<br />
He wrote up a fantastic interview, asking people about popular books and movies. Meanwhile, as he was conducting the interview, he would scratch his head or knee, yawn, and clear his throat several times. Then, instead of keeping track of their actual answers, he kept track of how many times they mimicked his actions. (Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa Anthony for pitching in and interviewing several people for him.)<br />
<br />
His also produced a short movie, with background music, showing off his charts and graphs that he made. And, possibly the best part of all. . . I really did nothing! He did a fabulous job and I am so proud of his hard work!<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhweE59gl5ou8TffjEvpYy14bMYemWBqvIuwJJYRgSVO86RCaTGQ7Cvt1IJfvTTqXwXrDwlbsgzg1vY1EgDMtsBxaKGjI7YXp40liZEMnkdFJsJAyF716jXkUzBmA5wXpVBurGG8EXI2VA/s1600/DSC00242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhweE59gl5ou8TffjEvpYy14bMYemWBqvIuwJJYRgSVO86RCaTGQ7Cvt1IJfvTTqXwXrDwlbsgzg1vY1EgDMtsBxaKGjI7YXp40liZEMnkdFJsJAyF716jXkUzBmA5wXpVBurGG8EXI2VA/s400/DSC00242.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Avery and Isaac posing for a picture</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh07rLwyfiW4N0POo55NUENVsq_9kwLCx3vjaxMIgbHp5LeCG6j5Eh0HvuVwcat6-g0LyQgkOUMXuul6dk6lP0FgbTOn6x3S7O1abA69xQDATpKcD-qc-KbUrAE-d9H_8rPfLn37p19Ito/s1600/DSC00254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh07rLwyfiW4N0POo55NUENVsq_9kwLCx3vjaxMIgbHp5LeCG6j5Eh0HvuVwcat6-g0LyQgkOUMXuul6dk6lP0FgbTOn6x3S7O1abA69xQDATpKcD-qc-KbUrAE-d9H_8rPfLn37p19Ito/s640/DSC00254.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One very cute, very hard working boy!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
As a side note. . . while I am typing this, Isaac is talking, almost yelling in his sleep. He does that almost nightly, and is our only sleep talker. Usually I can understand a few words he says, but tonight it was pretty garbled. Very animated though!Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07800229172000815316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6398113584878854039.post-55962687254917609352012-05-17T19:22:00.002-07:002012-07-17T19:54:44.894-07:00A typical morning: snuggling and garbage trucksMornings around here are pretty routine. The littlest ones wake first. It is usually Nathan who is first to greet me in the morning, with his sweet, half-asleep, naturally scruffy voice. I am usually awake, but still in bed, either just laying there trying to come to terms with the fact that it is morning already, or I am reading. Either way, when Nathan arrives, he always climbs in bed with me and we snuggle for a while. He is an exceptional snuggler.<br />
<br />
Other mornings it is Will who wakes up first. I usually hear him squirming around in there, and then my sweet, very responsible Avery brings him in to me, all snuggled in his blanket. He doesn't want anyone else to get him out of bed in the morning. Only Avery will do. Then, when she has delivered her bundled package to me, we snuggle in bed, until Nathan arrives, or until Will demands to "watch trucks on your touch pad please, mom?" <br />
<br />
Then, this is what happens most mornings, at least for a few minutes until everyone gets going. What is it about my boys and garbage trucks? They could watch these YouTube videos of garbage trucks dumping garbage for hours.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYHdP3z_tXeo0Kg_F5SSMcPaozneR_c-tZ-0GEIgydUUbrHjYZfkrxco6bEMZtFOazCor75NUNMB8YEJeOE9KNYrHWC3wgQ3LJjhzkCUGdJt0z8aAv5Lg7Mxve4WFAM1_TMnnIxC_dG_E/s1600/IMG_0880.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYHdP3z_tXeo0Kg_F5SSMcPaozneR_c-tZ-0GEIgydUUbrHjYZfkrxco6bEMZtFOazCor75NUNMB8YEJeOE9KNYrHWC3wgQ3LJjhzkCUGdJt0z8aAv5Lg7Mxve4WFAM1_TMnnIxC_dG_E/s400/IMG_0880.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br /><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07800229172000815316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6398113584878854039.post-64907255956154433772012-05-15T11:42:00.002-07:002012-05-15T11:42:58.469-07:00Mother's DayMother's day was magical for me. John and I went on a real date on Friday night, sans children, to a nice restaurant, and to the temple. We don't get to go on "real" dates very often anymore, so when we do, it is a real treat.<br />
<br />
Saturday afternoon, we all converged on the Allen Center at Kellogg for a Mother's Day lunch. They dedicated a whole room to Kellogg Kids, probably so that the other's being wined and dined in the Allen Center didn't have to listen to a bunch of kids running around during their lunch. My children knew that this would be their last time eating in the Allen Center and were sure to take full advantage of the all-they-could-eat ice cream sundae bar. Yum!<br />
<br />
The kids had all made things at school to give me for Mother's Day and could hardly wait for me to open them. In fact, Nathan and Brady tried to open them for me on Friday. Instead, they all gathered around on Sunday morning, at a delicious breakfast that John had prepared, along with toast that Brady had prepared, and let me open their gifts. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiltk_n4jQFWjrG4OEF2eB8xEVw44uzQ3q29GZH_rZpARYpq-4gmj1TObjXXiWypUGqAqiqiucE5j624fLWpZEGMj6uKR_QXxlypMXvIwlqjnnlId5qqHefvpWbNqdHpZ1uIjkue2_aCEg/s1600/DSC00227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiltk_n4jQFWjrG4OEF2eB8xEVw44uzQ3q29GZH_rZpARYpq-4gmj1TObjXXiWypUGqAqiqiucE5j624fLWpZEGMj6uKR_QXxlypMXvIwlqjnnlId5qqHefvpWbNqdHpZ1uIjkue2_aCEg/s640/DSC00227.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
Isaac, teary eyed, admitted that he had not made me anything. Then he handed me his hand made clay cup that he had worked so hard on for himself during art class. What a sweet boy.<br />
<br />
Brady made a coupon book and a clay bowl with a lid, along with a checklist of why I am the world's best mom.<br />
<br />
Avery wrote me a very sweet note inside that cute purse card, along with a clay medallion to hang that read "Happy Mother's Day."<br />
<br />
And Nathan showered me, quite literally, with glitter. Inside he wrote why he loved me and drew a darling picture of the two of us. He also painted a planter for me, and gave me his butterfly coming out of it's chrysalis.<br />
<br />
It was a wonderful day, punctuated by a LONG nap, and a delicious dinner made entirely by John. It was perfect.<br />
<br />Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07800229172000815316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6398113584878854039.post-40082410332902813562012-05-12T19:42:00.000-07:002012-05-12T19:42:36.188-07:00A day off (for Nathan)Nathan has been rather fiery lately. He gets that way sometimes. Mostly when he is tired, or hungry, or stressed, or confused, or any number of things, actually. And even though his kindergarten is not quite a full day, it is long for him.<br />
<br />
So last Wednesday, I decided that we both were in desperate need of a break. After dropping off the other kids at school, I headed straight to his one of his most favorite places in the whole world: the farm. Wagner farm is a real, working farm right here in the middle of the urban suburbs of the North Shore. There are cows, horses, goats, sheep, pigs and chickens, as well as a barn with fun activities where children can learn how to milk a cow, slop a pig, and gather and sort eggs. <br />
<br />
We were the only ones there for the first hour. Nathan loved the horses, pigs and chickens. He is cautious about the cows. Will was scared of the sheep, which kept putting their front legs up on the fence, and loved the cows (which made Nathan nervous). We stayed for nearly two hours, visiting the animals, swinging on the tree swing, and getting very muddy.<br />
<br />
From there, our date moved on to Penny Park in Evanston.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2JRcf46Z41A/T6q0ZaDIvTI/AAAAAAAAAZc/8ZuT1_M6sXM/s1600/IMG_3806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dba="true" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2JRcf46Z41A/T6q0ZaDIvTI/AAAAAAAAAZc/8ZuT1_M6sXM/s320/IMG_3806.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qZuZTsnu-j4/T6q0d9KSEUI/AAAAAAAAAZk/GfAMVUxiFi0/s1600/IMG_3808.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dba="true" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qZuZTsnu-j4/T6q0d9KSEUI/AAAAAAAAAZk/GfAMVUxiFi0/s320/IMG_3808.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WA9Pzdcv25Y/T6q0g44q_VI/AAAAAAAAAZs/je79vSFjLNE/s1600/IMG_3815.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" dba="true" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WA9Pzdcv25Y/T6q0g44q_VI/AAAAAAAAAZs/je79vSFjLNE/s320/IMG_3815.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rWZO3Rc-4lc/T6q0TB3LpYI/AAAAAAAAAZU/WiXzvxqyKSE/s1600/IMG_3805.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dba="true" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rWZO3Rc-4lc/T6q0TB3LpYI/AAAAAAAAAZU/WiXzvxqyKSE/s640/IMG_3805.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
Nathan and I played the funnest game of kissing tag here on this wooden playground. Nathan suggested that we needed to bring the big kids back so that we could play laser tag.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-guqNZOUzpMs/T6q02NBDuaI/AAAAAAAAAaE/pVF4rPG76Ns/s1600/IMG_3820.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dba="true" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-guqNZOUzpMs/T6q02NBDuaI/AAAAAAAAAaE/pVF4rPG76Ns/s320/IMG_3820.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EYzDTL8Z0JY/T6q0qeINWCI/AAAAAAAAAZ0/pEEEYS_AP90/s1600/IMG_3818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" dba="true" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EYzDTL8Z0JY/T6q0qeINWCI/AAAAAAAAAZ0/pEEEYS_AP90/s320/IMG_3818.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_XpnYlkp3Vg/T6q01f9C9VI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/poEPCnMPIcU/s1600/IMG_3821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dba="true" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_XpnYlkp3Vg/T6q01f9C9VI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/poEPCnMPIcU/s320/IMG_3821.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FuY8dIOt_Ic/T6q0_bSNb6I/AAAAAAAAAaM/hVL5sJ-laeY/s1600/IMG_3822.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" dba="true" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FuY8dIOt_Ic/T6q0_bSNb6I/AAAAAAAAAaM/hVL5sJ-laeY/s320/IMG_3822.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jOJ1--4WnnM/T6q1B-5rUNI/AAAAAAAAAaU/fmLkLiiytG8/s1600/IMG_3830.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dba="true" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jOJ1--4WnnM/T6q1B-5rUNI/AAAAAAAAAaU/fmLkLiiytG8/s640/IMG_3830.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
This park and Nathan go way back. <br />
<br />
Over a year ago, we were delivering dinner to a friend of ours who had just had a baby. This friend lives very near Penny Park. As I was driving away from their home, I decided to go home a different way than I had come. I turned up a street, drove a few blocks, and turned a few more times. Somewhere along the way, as I was busy driving, Nathan saw this park.<br />
<br />
"A wooden park!" he screamed! "Just like the one in Texas!" But by the time my mind had registered to listen to what he was screaming, I was long past the park, and had no idea where I was. <br />
<br />
After that, he has mentioned finding the park over and over and over. I have actually driven around in the area, making half hearted attempts to find his beloved wooden park, with no success. Then, the other morning, while I was casing the streets of Evanston in search of John's stolen bike, I stumbled upon it, and was thrilled. I made sure to make note of where I was, so that I could surprise Nathan and bring him back to enjoy it.<br />
<br />
And we most definitely did enjoy it.Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07800229172000815316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6398113584878854039.post-86004802303402680302012-05-11T19:50:00.000-07:002012-07-16T21:53:49.851-07:00Ode to BradyLike most parents, I am usually inclined to think that my kids are pretty great. They are, in fact, the cutest bunch around. And did I mention, brilliant? They are that, too.<br />
<br />
So let me get on my soap box and brag about one of them for just a minute. Brady. Brady had two big events this week: his first grade program, and his very first orchestra concert. He excelled in both as expected! <br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEACcDnV9U4mrcg-6JH3qrWgqHP89JKk7cXyWcw-Wsl0W7V8ZXl8VNcNwjPUZWFd95CwSYtpL8SIBPa_69EW13kub3v7oavcl9jTJcIu0v1s7ueT65gZ6uv17hwCnshNpbf7Gv7GEg2T0/s1600/IMG_3879.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img $ca="true" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEACcDnV9U4mrcg-6JH3qrWgqHP89JKk7cXyWcw-Wsl0W7V8ZXl8VNcNwjPUZWFd95CwSYtpL8SIBPa_69EW13kub3v7oavcl9jTJcIu0v1s7ueT65gZ6uv17hwCnshNpbf7Gv7GEg2T0/s640/IMG_3879.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can you see the star? He is right in the middle. He smiled the entire time.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFFbKSwH2eUFOemMqijRpTARTHGif8bhTCeA6rJfjqsDEI9NdhcSRgoetbptODqxFmBReobRl1bEBFhVoYvUNhE3r-rNQs4nqWMqZwwIjWxdO-xSTr4gSfEPnHSyo0Oz9A0ca-5rGCUFY/s1600/IMG_3881.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img $ca="true" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFFbKSwH2eUFOemMqijRpTARTHGif8bhTCeA6rJfjqsDEI9NdhcSRgoetbptODqxFmBReobRl1bEBFhVoYvUNhE3r-rNQs4nqWMqZwwIjWxdO-xSTr4gSfEPnHSyo0Oz9A0ca-5rGCUFY/s640/IMG_3881.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yummy only wanted to sit with Avery and her friend Ashley the entire show.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3gnl7ZKOZ6dmvLQoM99Ur_lfjdI1ko82P8sb3LZ0YVR5pWnRpEilCEnuyBk3SpRre0VlS9YmxBVTKy1VW0BJ8YgQ2AxienO26OqpCD9arI1s3SWK2JKSiMHN_UcTsZ5uEW2sEXwQNJSg/s1600/IMG_3883.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img $ca="true" border="0" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3gnl7ZKOZ6dmvLQoM99Ur_lfjdI1ko82P8sb3LZ0YVR5pWnRpEilCEnuyBk3SpRre0VlS9YmxBVTKy1VW0BJ8YgQ2AxienO26OqpCD9arI1s3SWK2JKSiMHN_UcTsZ5uEW2sEXwQNJSg/s640/IMG_3883.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brady proudly showing off his Jack and the Beanstock display.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Le5PIRKRZjWVChsB2bUoJ4EPxvDj_QihbYr-TkDXYRY5K6FG2QvTXRmoWUOFX28OW4LYHk9yPYlWuuOO02OywLYIC4cR41E4WukRsoBupbIYx8asZflT0Se8y3NeQH8r_skUHUl2IgM/s1600/IMG_3885.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img $ca="true" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Le5PIRKRZjWVChsB2bUoJ4EPxvDj_QihbYr-TkDXYRY5K6FG2QvTXRmoWUOFX28OW4LYHk9yPYlWuuOO02OywLYIC4cR41E4WukRsoBupbIYx8asZflT0Se8y3NeQH8r_skUHUl2IgM/s640/IMG_3885.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brady concentrating so hard during one of the songs.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07800229172000815316noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6398113584878854039.post-15974812186823833772012-05-08T10:45:00.002-07:002012-05-08T10:45:59.387-07:00John's bikeI spent several hours this morning trolling the streets, and back alleys, of Evanston, looking for John's bike.<br />
<br />
It was stolen yesterday. <br />
<br />
Someone cut the lock and took it from the bike rack at school, in broad daylight. John went out after class and it was gone. Just like that. <br />
<br />
He thought for sure that he just was looking in the wrong place, that maybe he had forgotten where he had chained it. But after going over all of the bikes in the various racks, he remembered that he had chained it next to a similar bike. When he found that bike, there were others parked and chained in the very place his had been. <br />
<br />
My heart is so sad for him. He loved biking to school. He loved taking the kids to soccer on his bike. And when he was really stressed, he would go ride on the trail, to think, and ponder, and clear his head. He would always come back with a new outlook on things. And right now we cannot replace his bike. Maybe someday. But that someday will be long after we are moved from here.<br />
<br />
So now he is back to riding the bus. <br />
<br />
I am grateful that it is not something worse. A stolen bicycle is a trial that I can handle. It is not a sick or lost child, or something even worse. So for now, I will just be thankful.<br />
<br />
And I will keep my eyes peeled when I am roaming the streets of Evanston.Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07800229172000815316noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6398113584878854039.post-68689728259594287982012-05-07T21:45:00.001-07:002012-05-08T10:32:55.630-07:00Great Wolf Lodge, Part 2<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
When we weren't playing Magiquest, we were swimming, floating, or screaming down water slides!</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1VqI-RSsQRQ/T6iX2SbbgNI/AAAAAAAAATo/dHDGP5rdb_A/s1600/IMG_3467.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" mea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1VqI-RSsQRQ/T6iX2SbbgNI/AAAAAAAAATo/dHDGP5rdb_A/s640/IMG_3467.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IFgXpsvUG-Q/T6iX4YJ2FhI/AAAAAAAAATw/1dodK9Fu6nQ/s1600/IMG_3474.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" mea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IFgXpsvUG-Q/T6iX4YJ2FhI/AAAAAAAAATw/1dodK9Fu6nQ/s320/IMG_3474.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gSBE5nx24Nw/T6iX1iQXuGI/AAAAAAAAATg/_tljh1NRX0g/s1600/IMG_3475.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" mea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gSBE5nx24Nw/T6iX1iQXuGI/AAAAAAAAATg/_tljh1NRX0g/s320/IMG_3475.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SA8bwwxWWfU/T6iYM1OJZUI/AAAAAAAAAUA/F0E2kGNy9OM/s1600/IMG_3476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" mea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SA8bwwxWWfU/T6iYM1OJZUI/AAAAAAAAAUA/F0E2kGNy9OM/s320/IMG_3476.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MVVjYhAP13A/T6ibYedg5sI/AAAAAAAAAXY/6G6KTnapdYI/s1600/IMG_3759.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" mea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MVVjYhAP13A/T6ibYedg5sI/AAAAAAAAAXY/6G6KTnapdYI/s320/IMG_3759.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
Will's favorite part of Great Wolf Lodge was definitely the water slides. Any one would do, he was not picky. Anything he could slide down, the faster the better.</div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LxES7RpE-u0/T6iaonAocQI/AAAAAAAAAWw/q4VeG7wcIsY/s1600/IMG_3712.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="406" mea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LxES7RpE-u0/T6iaonAocQI/AAAAAAAAAWw/q4VeG7wcIsY/s640/IMG_3712.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oBLddTu5aQI/T6icri1vMlI/AAAAAAAAAZA/R0MzmJU8pI4/s1600/IMG_3785.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" mea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oBLddTu5aQI/T6icri1vMlI/AAAAAAAAAZA/R0MzmJU8pI4/s400/IMG_3785.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-awwLjbIaP7g/T6ickP4ZzTI/AAAAAAAAAYo/jr3sdnYUkVE/s1600/IMG_3782.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" mea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-awwLjbIaP7g/T6ickP4ZzTI/AAAAAAAAAYo/jr3sdnYUkVE/s400/IMG_3782.JPG" width="266" /></a> </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wdwuINw2-YY/T6icqF3He1I/AAAAAAAAAY4/2c-bcHnoGr4/s1600/IMG_3790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" mea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wdwuINw2-YY/T6icqF3He1I/AAAAAAAAAY4/2c-bcHnoGr4/s640/IMG_3790.JPG" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brady lost his shorts!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_-mLpBL7l-o/T6ickqbWRuI/AAAAAAAAAYw/MOK45662Myc/s1600/IMG_3778.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" mea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_-mLpBL7l-o/T6ickqbWRuI/AAAAAAAAAYw/MOK45662Myc/s320/IMG_3778.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VRmxJE99_Mg/T6icY3mmZlI/AAAAAAAAAYg/GwLKy7wdjBs/s1600/IMG_3775.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" mea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VRmxJE99_Mg/T6icY3mmZlI/AAAAAAAAAYg/GwLKy7wdjBs/s320/IMG_3775.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dIpZGMMaMkI/T6icRm98RDI/AAAAAAAAAYY/wPnu3Lri3P8/s1600/IMG_3776.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" mea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dIpZGMMaMkI/T6icRm98RDI/AAAAAAAAAYY/wPnu3Lri3P8/s640/IMG_3776.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dad trying to dump everyone off the log</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VVA5rkjIJQw/T6ibvJ8YV9I/AAAAAAAAAX4/tkc-0kHTJbM/s1600/IMG_3769.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" mea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VVA5rkjIJQw/T6ibvJ8YV9I/AAAAAAAAAX4/tkc-0kHTJbM/s320/IMG_3769.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vlF5DfbHj5g/T6ib4b-zdRI/AAAAAAAAAYI/3BkRL9tUKtY/s1600/IMG_3770.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" mea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vlF5DfbHj5g/T6ib4b-zdRI/AAAAAAAAAYI/3BkRL9tUKtY/s320/IMG_3770.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LRFVAHHtpLU/T6iblrgTbWI/AAAAAAAAAXw/yhUw0K2uvAM/s1600/IMG_3767.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" mea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LRFVAHHtpLU/T6iblrgTbWI/AAAAAAAAAXw/yhUw0K2uvAM/s320/IMG_3767.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Rkos2Iop5Kg/T6ibvbOHWsI/AAAAAAAAAYA/dFOYXwyWjNs/s1600/IMG_3765.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" mea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Rkos2Iop5Kg/T6ibvbOHWsI/AAAAAAAAAYA/dFOYXwyWjNs/s320/IMG_3765.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
I think Avery's favorite part of the trip was the lazy river. Every time we tried to leave, she would ask for just one more time around the lazy river, which included, of course, a trip down the water slide into the lazy river. She loved taking Yummers around with her.</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KTyuCF0ktyU/T6ibD4YrJxI/AAAAAAAAAXA/Eu_kKrXVpw8/s1600/IMG_3729.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" mea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KTyuCF0ktyU/T6ibD4YrJxI/AAAAAAAAAXA/Eu_kKrXVpw8/s320/IMG_3729.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bBs6EiHawqw/T6ibEh1h6WI/AAAAAAAAAXI/1sbuQ3jqjc0/s1600/IMG_3735.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" mea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bBs6EiHawqw/T6ibEh1h6WI/AAAAAAAAAXI/1sbuQ3jqjc0/s320/IMG_3735.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pLFVm9n2Wfs/T6ibbzjAOLI/AAAAAAAAAXo/Zb4kAJ9ks1A/s1600/IMG_3748.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" mea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pLFVm9n2Wfs/T6ibbzjAOLI/AAAAAAAAAXo/Zb4kAJ9ks1A/s320/IMG_3748.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VriVouZd5ps/T6ibH2azJ3I/AAAAAAAAAXQ/SQb_wSiBSbQ/s1600/IMG_3739.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" mea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VriVouZd5ps/T6ibH2azJ3I/AAAAAAAAAXQ/SQb_wSiBSbQ/s320/IMG_3739.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w2WMhFM2_hg/T6ibYhA_-MI/AAAAAAAAAXg/3CX6fRgfnHg/s1600/IMG_3750.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" mea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w2WMhFM2_hg/T6ibYhA_-MI/AAAAAAAAAXg/3CX6fRgfnHg/s640/IMG_3750.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">Brady, Avery, Isaac and Nathan (splashing into the finish line) at the end of their race</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
Isaac could always be found floating, or bobbing in the wave pool. I call him my little river otter because he loves to just cruise around the pool with his little head sticking up above the water.</div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GknokjiAzgA/T6iahAyg8DI/AAAAAAAAAWo/DYepy_iTZ4M/s1600/IMG_3717.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" mea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GknokjiAzgA/T6iahAyg8DI/AAAAAAAAAWo/DYepy_iTZ4M/s320/IMG_3717.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-psWjLWbrlYk/T6iaRGTLtjI/AAAAAAAAAWg/h3BYRm6cB_0/s1600/IMG_3677.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" mea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-psWjLWbrlYk/T6iaRGTLtjI/AAAAAAAAAWg/h3BYRm6cB_0/s320/IMG_3677.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vQzBjctGc-o/T6iatchdnkI/AAAAAAAAAW4/aUwrwi6J5bk/s1600/IMG_3690.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" mea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vQzBjctGc-o/T6iatchdnkI/AAAAAAAAAW4/aUwrwi6J5bk/s320/IMG_3690.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IaljOK9z0ZU/T6iZvXjBHDI/AAAAAAAAAWA/1vH1JpMn2L4/s1600/IMG_3639.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" mea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IaljOK9z0ZU/T6iZvXjBHDI/AAAAAAAAAWA/1vH1JpMn2L4/s320/IMG_3639.JPG" width="320" /></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HIFo4rEvPxo/T6iZ5MgagSI/AAAAAAAAAWI/gBvbo_-_DR8/s1600/IMG_3650.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" mea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HIFo4rEvPxo/T6iZ5MgagSI/AAAAAAAAAWI/gBvbo_-_DR8/s320/IMG_3650.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BORNWbvqhZw/T6iaH6lt-jI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/yfJsqf1PTrc/s1600/IMG_3665.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" mea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BORNWbvqhZw/T6iaH6lt-jI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/yfJsqf1PTrc/s320/IMG_3665.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JhxDahdZjb0/T6iaLTyuLQI/AAAAAAAAAWY/SaQs4iXYRUU/s1600/IMG_3668.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" mea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JhxDahdZjb0/T6iaLTyuLQI/AAAAAAAAAWY/SaQs4iXYRUU/s320/IMG_3668.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jAURO9_C-K8/T6iZUln31PI/AAAAAAAAAVg/jrXVcZiievk/s1600/IMG_3620.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" mea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jAURO9_C-K8/T6iZUln31PI/AAAAAAAAAVg/jrXVcZiievk/s320/IMG_3620.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_a50nHbykOk/T6iZX790H9I/AAAAAAAAAVo/rhAX6ELowow/s1600/IMG_3622.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" mea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_a50nHbykOk/T6iZX790H9I/AAAAAAAAAVo/rhAX6ELowow/s320/IMG_3622.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SAvkVr2sIb0/T6iZk8bH0vI/AAAAAAAAAVw/N-B08uVeBYE/s1600/IMG_3623.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" mea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SAvkVr2sIb0/T6iZk8bH0vI/AAAAAAAAAVw/N-B08uVeBYE/s320/IMG_3623.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UN0k0xYRWTA/T6iZtR4MVqI/AAAAAAAAAV4/ufwkxMT1KwY/s1600/IMG_3632.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" mea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UN0k0xYRWTA/T6iZtR4MVqI/AAAAAAAAAV4/ufwkxMT1KwY/s320/IMG_3632.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zFnM6zkWRkg/T6iY3ThkBSI/AAAAAAAAAVI/b1kjZoTMqns/s1600/IMG_3572.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" mea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zFnM6zkWRkg/T6iY3ThkBSI/AAAAAAAAAVI/b1kjZoTMqns/s320/IMG_3572.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iHUmj645oLg/T6iYzvPyyPI/AAAAAAAAAU4/IfPt4EaN1Wo/s1600/IMG_3577.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" mea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iHUmj645oLg/T6iYzvPyyPI/AAAAAAAAAU4/IfPt4EaN1Wo/s320/IMG_3577.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v7gGUKFMIH4/T6iY6yFkNKI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/MO24BQKdRIg/s1600/IMG_3580.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" mea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v7gGUKFMIH4/T6iY6yFkNKI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/MO24BQKdRIg/s320/IMG_3580.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d8duvxLOMag/T6iYnuGU4QI/AAAAAAAAAUo/nYxeSMu7VdU/s1600/IMG_3542.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" mea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d8duvxLOMag/T6iYnuGU4QI/AAAAAAAAAUo/nYxeSMu7VdU/s400/IMG_3542.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brady coming off of a water slide</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
Believe it or not, the "Tornado" ride ended up being Brady's favorite part of the entire trip! He had to be bribed (by Dad, with $3.00), to even try it. After that, we couldn't keep him away!</div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0E1biA1uUa0/T6iZGu8KBAI/AAAAAAAAAVY/B6Hn3PRf-vc/s1600/IMG_3584.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" mea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0E1biA1uUa0/T6iZGu8KBAI/AAAAAAAAAVY/B6Hn3PRf-vc/s640/IMG_3584.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fAiYjnlQdFI/T6iYgrMV9QI/AAAAAAAAAUg/u9ZIjqkzn7A/s1600/IMG_3547.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" mea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fAiYjnlQdFI/T6iYgrMV9QI/AAAAAAAAAUg/u9ZIjqkzn7A/s320/IMG_3547.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WLPZzlHKxTI/T6iYo2Al0QI/AAAAAAAAAUw/0IIZ0Tqdxak/s1600/IMG_3555.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" mea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WLPZzlHKxTI/T6iYo2Al0QI/AAAAAAAAAUw/0IIZ0Tqdxak/s320/IMG_3555.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zvHn2YmVjjQ/T6iY1w5Oe5I/AAAAAAAAAVA/AVNtMW89skI/s1600/IMG_3532.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" mea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zvHn2YmVjjQ/T6iY1w5Oe5I/AAAAAAAAAVA/AVNtMW89skI/s400/IMG_3532.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">Nathan paddling out of a water slide</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
Nathan just wanted to constantly be going down water slides. He didn't really care which one. The fact that he was big enough this year to go down any water slide was so exciting to him!</div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-atW7mPvE31U/T6iYWG6sKDI/AAAAAAAAAUI/WPe2OU-VEGU/s1600/IMG_3482.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" mea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-atW7mPvE31U/T6iYWG6sKDI/AAAAAAAAAUI/WPe2OU-VEGU/s320/IMG_3482.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MDs4FA8yLe8/T6iYYFT_nFI/AAAAAAAAAUY/bl7gs3nTVqQ/s1600/IMG_3489.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" mea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MDs4FA8yLe8/T6iYYFT_nFI/AAAAAAAAAUY/bl7gs3nTVqQ/s320/IMG_3489.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dhXc5QAramU/T6iYX-rcN9I/AAAAAAAAAUQ/bMgb7_qugsY/s1600/IMG_3511.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" mea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dhXc5QAramU/T6iYX-rcN9I/AAAAAAAAAUQ/bMgb7_qugsY/s640/IMG_3511.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Will clung to us the first day and screamed any time we tried to let go of him. By the second day, he was paddling around on his own<br />
. . . a regular fish.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07800229172000815316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6398113584878854039.post-52831912719838374082012-05-07T20:35:00.000-07:002012-05-07T20:35:31.698-07:00Great Wolf Lodge, Part 1Last week, we surprised the kids with a trip to Great Wolf Lodge in Wisconsin Dells. It was supposed to be a total surprise like last year, where we just loaded them in the car like we were going to school, but then kept driving. However, Wednesday night, Isaac was checking my email for some reason, and came across a reservation confirmation from Great Wolf Lodge and figured it out. I tried to get him to keep quiet about it, but that just doesn't seem to work with Isaac. He slipped, rather loudly, and told Avery. Brady overheard. John and I decided to just tell Nathan so he could be in on the excitement. <br />
<br />
We left early the next morning, stopping in Gurnee for their famous donuts and chocolate milk. When we arrived, they were renovating a bunch of their rooms, and they told us we could wait a few hours for the one we booked (the basic room), or we could take a different room (a HUGE family suite, for the same price). Hmmmm.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyzezR5fFiHmZJpYJEX1-1V8rvtsCfn6uofJC1EE8M4eRLoCq-6jaspL02RyOPHGd0PbZY8fcWOvzRRy_W11zg1bg3ngzQS94SJB5R-ckNDu3Pkwkf-A0tZ0eKtsH4m7CrJeTTc96Iu88/s1600/IMG_3432.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyzezR5fFiHmZJpYJEX1-1V8rvtsCfn6uofJC1EE8M4eRLoCq-6jaspL02RyOPHGd0PbZY8fcWOvzRRy_W11zg1bg3ngzQS94SJB5R-ckNDu3Pkwkf-A0tZ0eKtsH4m7CrJeTTc96Iu88/s640/IMG_3432.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our giant room!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
This year, we let the kids play Magiquest, which is basically a giant interactive scavenger hunt through the hotel with magic wands, and includes fighting a dragon and a goblin king at the end. It was hours of fun!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UNN8ufwBF_w/T6iQRF4GOlI/AAAAAAAAAR4/frZV3KXlMj0/s1600/IMG_3434.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" mea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UNN8ufwBF_w/T6iQRF4GOlI/AAAAAAAAAR4/frZV3KXlMj0/s320/IMG_3434.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WmBMSDh4XS8/T6iQRFHY-YI/AAAAAAAAAR0/m5EehYBumkM/s1600/IMG_3438.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" mea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WmBMSDh4XS8/T6iQRFHY-YI/AAAAAAAAAR0/m5EehYBumkM/s320/IMG_3438.JPG" width="213" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jIqERV3pg3Y/T6iQtjleGHI/AAAAAAAAASM/wfpHkRF3EkM/s1600/IMG_3444.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" mea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jIqERV3pg3Y/T6iQtjleGHI/AAAAAAAAASM/wfpHkRF3EkM/s320/IMG_3444.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PxjyMiZB7rI/T6iQdbt5wgI/AAAAAAAAASE/j9XRp-Z6QpI/s1600/IMG_3440.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" mea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PxjyMiZB7rI/T6iQdbt5wgI/AAAAAAAAASE/j9XRp-Z6QpI/s320/IMG_3440.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OP5GsUrlwYE/T6iQuwxl_AI/AAAAAAAAASU/w2l0akhva4w/s1600/IMG_3445.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" mea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OP5GsUrlwYE/T6iQuwxl_AI/AAAAAAAAASU/w2l0akhva4w/s320/IMG_3445.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9dpcs5YpvmM/T6iRGbfbL3I/AAAAAAAAASc/keg_b6wcVI4/s1600/IMG_3448.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" mea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9dpcs5YpvmM/T6iRGbfbL3I/AAAAAAAAASc/keg_b6wcVI4/s320/IMG_3448.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KVRS8vSNHsA/T6iRSnTWNmI/AAAAAAAAASs/0CIT35tnT6s/s1600/IMG_3452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" mea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KVRS8vSNHsA/T6iRSnTWNmI/AAAAAAAAASs/0CIT35tnT6s/s640/IMG_3452.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZfJ2OqI4M7k/T6iROahpMkI/AAAAAAAAASk/1aIOJdT9ftk/s1600/IMG_3455.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" mea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZfJ2OqI4M7k/T6iROahpMkI/AAAAAAAAASk/1aIOJdT9ftk/s640/IMG_3455.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--TV6Q3MMTj0/T6iRWzS_pgI/AAAAAAAAAS0/iZDZpaCYBAc/s1600/IMG_3457.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" mea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--TV6Q3MMTj0/T6iRWzS_pgI/AAAAAAAAAS0/iZDZpaCYBAc/s320/IMG_3457.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mDSA8nrg1mk/T6iRmYJyh4I/AAAAAAAAATQ/0Q98pUnn6m0/s1600/IMG_3460.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" mea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mDSA8nrg1mk/T6iRmYJyh4I/AAAAAAAAATQ/0Q98pUnn6m0/s320/IMG_3460.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uorVT0xtmfA/T6iRbcMEA6I/AAAAAAAAAS8/Wt-yY4ggxzY/s1600/IMG_3462.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" mea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uorVT0xtmfA/T6iRbcMEA6I/AAAAAAAAAS8/Wt-yY4ggxzY/s320/IMG_3462.JPG" width="180" /></a></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sTcxnE_NnAU/T6iRkOolFKI/AAAAAAAAATI/pYl8EgEnsaE/s1600/IMG_3463.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" mea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sTcxnE_NnAU/T6iRkOolFKI/AAAAAAAAATI/pYl8EgEnsaE/s320/IMG_3463.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poor Brady had some chaffing going on, and I couldn't resist!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
We had a little trouble figuring out the game at first, but once we did, the kids were all over the place, finding clues and gathering money. Isaac was a sweaty mess by the time we were finished.Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07800229172000815316noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6398113584878854039.post-55625522383221039632012-05-01T19:58:00.002-07:002012-05-05T11:40:09.782-07:00WeedsThis morning as I was fixing breakfast for the kids and trying to get them out the door to school on time, John mumbled something in the kitchen. It sounded like this "He wasn't there for the needs." <br />
<br />
"What?" I asked him. <br />
<br />
"Nothing," he reponded.<br />
<br />
Then, later on this morning, I was doing some laundry in the basement, and he came down to get some clothes. Again, he mumbled something. I couldn't understand it, but it sounded an awful lot like "I don't like weeds."<br />
<br />
"What?" I asked him.<br />
<br />
"Nothing," he reponded.<br />
<br />
At this point, I was beginning to wonder if it was my hearing, or his slurred speech.<br />
<br />
Later on today, he emailed me a <a href="http://speeches.byu.edu/reader/reader.php?id=7059&x=63&y=7" target="_blank">talk by President Henry B. Eyring</a> that he had read early this morning. The entire talk was fabulous. Here was the story that caught my attention though.<br />
<br />
<em>Let me encourage you by telling you a story. It was told to me by my father. He told it with the intent to chuckle at himself. It was a story about his trying to do his duty, just the way you try to do your duty. </em><br />
<em></em> <br />
<em>Now you have to know a little bit about my father. His name was Henry Eyring, like mine. He had done some of the things students of this university are preparing to be able to do. His work in chemistry was substantial enough to bring the honors some of you will someday have, but he was still a member of a ward of the Church with his duty to do. To appreciate this story, you have to realize that it occurred when he was nearly eighty and had bone cancer. He had bone cancer so badly in his hips that he could hardly move. The pain was great. </em><br />
<em></em> <br />
<em>Dad was the senior high councilor in his stake with the responsibility for the welfare farm. An assignment was given to weed a field of onions, so Dad assigned himself to go work on the farm. </em><br />
<em></em> <br />
<em>Dad never told me how hard it was, but I have met several people who were with him that day. I talked to one of them on the phone the other night to check the story. The one I talked to said that he was weeding in the row next to Dad through much of the day. He told me the same thing that others who were there that day have told me. He said that the pain was so great that Dad was pulling himself along on his stomach with his elbows. He couldn't kneel. The pain was too great for him to kneel. Everyone who has talked to me has remarked how Dad smiled, and laughed, and talked happily with them as they worked in that field of onions. </em><br />
<em></em> <br />
<em>Now, this is the joke Dad told me on himself, afterward. He said he was there at the end of the day. After all the work was finished and the onions were all weeded, someone asked him, "Henry, good heavens! You didn't pull those weeds, did you? Those weeds were sprayed two days ago, and they were going to die anyway." </em><br />
<em></em> <br />
<em>Dad just roared. He thought that was the funniest thing. He thought it was a great joke on himself. He had worked through the day in the wrong weeds. They had been sprayed and would have died anyway. </em><br />
<em></em> <br />
<em>When Dad told me this story, I knew how tough it was. So I said to him, "Dad, how could you make a joke out of that? How could you take it so pleasantly?" </em><br />
<br />
<em>He said something to me that I will never forget, and I hope you won't. He said, "Hal, I wasn't there for the weeds." </em><br />
<br />
So that was it then. "I wasn't there for the weeds." <br />
<br />
It is a topic that we have talked of often these last few months and weeks as we continue our job search. Why did we come here? What job does Heavenly Father want John to do? I don't know that answer, but I do know why we came here. It was because Heavenly Father wanted us to come. We're not here for the weeds, or the job, in our case.<br />
<br />
And I have decided that that answer is good enough.Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07800229172000815316noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6398113584878854039.post-82070418577392558022012-04-30T19:50:00.002-07:002012-05-01T19:16:56.045-07:00Tonight (or Yummy the Wild One)Yummers slept for 3 1/2 hours this afternoon. This is not totally unusual for him. But today, I didn't put him down until noon, and he dozed soundly until 3:30, when I brought his "guys" home from school.<br />
<br />
Once homework was finished, we played outside in the warm, fresh air until dinner time. The big boys played with the neighbors, and Yummy followed them everywhere: outside playing basketball, upstairs to build and wreck Legos, and even sneaking out the open gate to see his favorite Karen and her turtle Daisy (Karen even took him to play at her house and kept him for a bit so that I could finally get something done!)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
So, at 7:30 tonight, when all the other kids were tucked into their beds (with contraband flashlights and books later found with Isaac and Brady), Yummy was wildly jumping in his. He would hold on to the railing of his crib, and jump as hard as he could for several jumps, and then land flat on his back or little bum. And then he would laugh my favorite belly laugh and do it all over again. When he needed a little break from the jumping, he would pick up one of the many stuffed animals that live in his crib, and hurl it over the edge onto Avery, who was desperately trying to pretend she was sleeping. </div>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE3CSgBM2vBjMBG5ecZ_biwK9Xzk_z4QQjfmEOKDn0cKuxQxpEcG5TdtHuhhRGt98-jF-Sv-RW5vbPR752r32gDcRIu2SRn6XGvG58DliybunqvOcbi8-0d-BvCgpHm-bv8HRdBh37wwE/s1600/IMG_3337.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dba="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE3CSgBM2vBjMBG5ecZ_biwK9Xzk_z4QQjfmEOKDn0cKuxQxpEcG5TdtHuhhRGt98-jF-Sv-RW5vbPR752r32gDcRIu2SRn6XGvG58DliybunqvOcbi8-0d-BvCgpHm-bv8HRdBh37wwE/s640/IMG_3337.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A quieter moment in bed for Will</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I listened to this from my bedroom for about 20 minutes, at which point a very tired Avery came in, begging for some respite from her attacker. <br />
<br />
So Will and I retired to the basement for a little play time. I built a train track and he pulled around the trains, naming them each by name as he played with them. He loaded their cars with trees from the crane, and then systematically took each tree out and laid it perfectly side by side, just to repeat it again. <br />
<br />
I thought about how rare it is for him to just come down to the basement and play. The other kids used to play and play and play for hours on end with the toys, but not Will. He really just wants to follow me around most of the day. Then I realized that it is because the other kids always had each other to play with. Always another warm body around to bounce a ball off of or crash cars with. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
And it made me miss my little kids, who just seem to get older by the minute. </div>Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07800229172000815316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6398113584878854039.post-27153608640537015412012-04-25T21:20:00.000-07:002012-04-25T21:22:50.896-07:00Camping in the living room, and other weekend adventuresLast weekend we were supposed to go visit our friends Mike and Charlotte and their family in Champain. I was so excited to see them. I love Charlotte and even though it has been years since we have lived near each other (that was way back in Austin), we just seem to pick up where we left off. We had planned on spending the night at their house, then driving to Springfield to see all of the Abraham Lincoln related sites.<br />
<br />
Notice I said "We were supposed to go." <br />
<br />
Sadly, Charlotte called on Friday morning. Emily had been throwing up all night and that morning. Poor Emily. Sick kiddos make me so sad. And poor Charlotte.<br />
<br />
John knew how disappointed I was, and determined to make it a great weekend, despite having to stay home. So, while the kiddos were at school, John and I dragged out our gargantuan 10 person camping tent, rearranged furniture, and set it up in the living room. <br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8YY26W3Y6zvOZAFmUrE1UpGjOQAvj62vGNC5MQYBMPefJLE9z5uHDPzgUxqLKr0RRWxEk3qHwyKaXrbCJH25CFRxtsYNT_G0_rBFHtAsOmOGHz5Mk_0aJ7GImXMCiJw2Dh5xjaRTAtkI/s1600/IMG_3379.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8YY26W3Y6zvOZAFmUrE1UpGjOQAvj62vGNC5MQYBMPefJLE9z5uHDPzgUxqLKr0RRWxEk3qHwyKaXrbCJH25CFRxtsYNT_G0_rBFHtAsOmOGHz5Mk_0aJ7GImXMCiJw2Dh5xjaRTAtkI/s640/IMG_3379.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This tent is ridiculously huge, and I LOVE it. It was gifted to us by John's parents when they were moving from Colorado to Hawaii. We even ran out of room and had to leave two of the "wings" down. Huge I tell you.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
They were so excited when they got home! Nathan, Brady, Will and Little Isaac from next door jumped around in the tent until they got too rowdy, and I had to kick them out. Then they popped popcorn and ate it in the tent, along with Avery, Celia, Big Isaac and Aaron. Will mostly played with the popcorn, scooping it up with his front loader tractor, loading it into his garbage can, then dumping it into his garbage truck. </div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibQ7V7nPkjCfZRyza4b4sxhW4mNKFfglYk-RaKG5kVk8RTGLS1-H_HEop432BTDSLs-SzjUQVlkDrY1uniBCawe34wJCDnI66TdTzTpFc503a5XqXF-DpB-yEiaP189Gt2pzGLBUeDPDc/s1600/IMG_3381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibQ7V7nPkjCfZRyza4b4sxhW4mNKFfglYk-RaKG5kVk8RTGLS1-H_HEop432BTDSLs-SzjUQVlkDrY1uniBCawe34wJCDnI66TdTzTpFc503a5XqXF-DpB-yEiaP189Gt2pzGLBUeDPDc/s640/IMG_3381.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0GF6PMc76Nx8cKCbxk7yU57UIx_m51Ao7IbRVHQ_jXW5ruQGmzBH_7tCYMwOfRpPkiQJ-CDVKxYLI8AO8F9FDkYC8HOKIn8Wf4C68JakMMqueCtvD6LT7uGTGaGTF5ED8j4xl16sWdJE/s1600/IMG_3384.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0GF6PMc76Nx8cKCbxk7yU57UIx_m51Ao7IbRVHQ_jXW5ruQGmzBH_7tCYMwOfRpPkiQJ-CDVKxYLI8AO8F9FDkYC8HOKIn8Wf4C68JakMMqueCtvD6LT7uGTGaGTF5ED8j4xl16sWdJE/s640/IMG_3384.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
After dinner, we watched "Mr. Popper's Penguins" from the tent, then tried to get some sleep. Around 9:00, Yummers started asking for "Yummy's bed", so I took him up. About 10:00, Avery woke up and moved herself up to her bed, telling me that her bed was more comfortable (not hard to imagine that a mattress would be more comfortable than a sleeping bag spread out on hardwood floors). Around 10:30 I joined them upstairs. John was a trooper and stayed downstairs all night.<br />
<br />
Saturday morning was taken up by soccer games. Nathan and Brady were so excited to just be able to play, and they were so entertaining to watch. Not an ounce of strategy, just pure speed and energy.<br />
<br />
Isaac stood on the sidelines and dutifully cheered his team on. He is not allowed to play for another week because of his surgery.<br />
<br />
After that we ran home, showered everyone off, and dashed off to the dollar theater in Bloomingdale to see "Journey 2". (Just as a side note: I think it is totally crazy that even with gas prices as high as they are right now ($4.59 a gallon here), it is still drastically cheaper for me to drive all the way out to Bloomingdale, which is an hour away, and see a movie at the dollar theater out there, than to cough up the $9.00 per ticket that I would have to pay at our local theater. Forget being green and minimizing our carbon footprint by shopping locally. The almighty dollar still screams louder here.)<br />
<br />
It turned out to be a delightful weekend.Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07800229172000815316noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6398113584878854039.post-30937714452994655702012-04-25T20:41:00.000-07:002012-04-25T20:42:38.482-07:00Avery's Third Grade Pioneer CelebrationAvery came into our bedroom very late last Wednesday night. She said that she wanted to remind me that her third grade program was the next day. Yes, I knew, I reassured her. It was on my calendar. Long pause. Then, (what she really came in for) she proceeded to tell me that ALL of the other girls had real pioneer dresses with real pioneer bonnets to match. They wouldn't ALL have matching outfits with bonnets, I promised her. Besides, the only dress code specified by her teacher was a long-ish skirt for the girls, nothing about a bonnet. <br />
<br />
Then I had a flashback from my childhood. I was begging my mom to make me a last minute Easter dress/pair of shorts for a field trip/Halloween costume, totally oblivious to the amount of other more pressing matters that she surely had to get done. My bedroom was directly above her sewing room, and I remember many, many nights, falling asleep to the sound of her sewing machine busily buzzing away.<br />
<br />
So, I suppressed my natural tendency to lecture her about giving me sufficient warning and just dealing with what was available. Instead, I kissed her goodnight, and reassured her that I would figure something out.<br />
<br />
This is her very last minute real pioneer bonnet with a real pioneer skirt to match. Nothing fancy, but she looked so darling. And she felt confident and happy, which was all that mattered to me. At the end of the program, she sang "Happy Trails To You" in a trio. She sounded beautiful, and danced so joyfully, it was truly a treat to watch.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU-3CyQfYPo7R45VZvHgBFf2ChVsbG8VF-g9mVtiRBzJdGRjFifThcHpJeQOFsgV4uJMYoPVjvCvnBi80j0YvaorsGy_QFD6yR46HpxJimefSCySW-wT8IU3Vac0pAgUqchVcHwBi8URU/s1600/IMG_3346.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU-3CyQfYPo7R45VZvHgBFf2ChVsbG8VF-g9mVtiRBzJdGRjFifThcHpJeQOFsgV4uJMYoPVjvCvnBi80j0YvaorsGy_QFD6yR46HpxJimefSCySW-wT8IU3Vac0pAgUqchVcHwBi8URU/s640/IMG_3346.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAqBAjGk79zXIp6XPRQFwXuyk1wsKpZWq_FPNkkPC-U8PjFqKV7GBd7eL4EOhsaCnT5mKTBXySNJX1p1a-6ttyCy6jR0xdqKH-W8Bumsykul_C-D0tLTpl1aEETYUazQv53oJPaxZiX5s/s1600/IMG_3362.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAqBAjGk79zXIp6XPRQFwXuyk1wsKpZWq_FPNkkPC-U8PjFqKV7GBd7eL4EOhsaCnT5mKTBXySNJX1p1a-6ttyCy6jR0xdqKH-W8Bumsykul_C-D0tLTpl1aEETYUazQv53oJPaxZiX5s/s320/IMG_3362.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Jkf0nABwAYiOS8r0luK2HohunnLDimzaeS5AnUZUNa8dK11TATmG_gOOhCvTKm6hhIms2fPuCn3SRxlsb-W9k8ekMOpZ4mrsLUMLqbgag930xGFWvxJnKD-TZ1gF94ppVUQiqdZM4gM/s1600/IMG_3351.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Jkf0nABwAYiOS8r0luK2HohunnLDimzaeS5AnUZUNa8dK11TATmG_gOOhCvTKm6hhIms2fPuCn3SRxlsb-W9k8ekMOpZ4mrsLUMLqbgag930xGFWvxJnKD-TZ1gF94ppVUQiqdZM4gM/s320/IMG_3351.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvPwSGeDRyJQ6GNSBIHh1C8KTHVjvjJpXX_ucpR7H6AjQFDtbWoKiE9iahNqrA5dR4GaW_wWlES7DyuZy7y8ujDvDxdsftAI5Nj3pbQiejsUpNvBPzWRHQ2QoWKN8Vub9l9Cv6CmStFVg/s1600/IMG_3359.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvPwSGeDRyJQ6GNSBIHh1C8KTHVjvjJpXX_ucpR7H6AjQFDtbWoKiE9iahNqrA5dR4GaW_wWlES7DyuZy7y8ujDvDxdsftAI5Nj3pbQiejsUpNvBPzWRHQ2QoWKN8Vub9l9Cv6CmStFVg/s640/IMG_3359.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuvbK5ovVv9Kpy8VZAckocbjQOYlJWOv-meb8aEPW_TcdKLMK4CcSO2t9aUiW1vmGIGylw2ppYAbfSx30tjS4GeKCmHjppCOQ1yS4EruJbbz-WCmK7NBr3G217IRwGSHVV3RBg1w7at9w/s1600/IMG_3348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuvbK5ovVv9Kpy8VZAckocbjQOYlJWOv-meb8aEPW_TcdKLMK4CcSO2t9aUiW1vmGIGylw2ppYAbfSx30tjS4GeKCmHjppCOQ1yS4EruJbbz-WCmK7NBr3G217IRwGSHVV3RBg1w7at9w/s400/IMG_3348.JPG" width="285" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKzxDm9vPB8KDQf2DPxRisXk1x6wkV9i6SjbRbYGhiR_As0uES4_Nx6zuzXbXh9JdYsVzhyphenhyphenH-ocKaC8iGaTYghkCVX1Fop4ZzVmcDjHs9SXxPW_9CExt9I2Vh5grKHWi1HcpBdmWVvEKg/s1600/IMG_3367.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKzxDm9vPB8KDQf2DPxRisXk1x6wkV9i6SjbRbYGhiR_As0uES4_Nx6zuzXbXh9JdYsVzhyphenhyphenH-ocKaC8iGaTYghkCVX1Fop4ZzVmcDjHs9SXxPW_9CExt9I2Vh5grKHWi1HcpBdmWVvEKg/s400/IMG_3367.JPG" width="266" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQtbtM4XaQIUNAGg-FcDORfxHGbV9pou2WdbhLoxXmD0YMsTTSzNR3nnzkQosUaw9zPxS7x9sjD1ezniaALUO_R-fqBJ9FTvCUootNQidtWMJ4K_qLi97mZDV3Qx3xpnHa0rBMmm8h_Io/s1600/IMG_3369.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQtbtM4XaQIUNAGg-FcDORfxHGbV9pou2WdbhLoxXmD0YMsTTSzNR3nnzkQosUaw9zPxS7x9sjD1ezniaALUO_R-fqBJ9FTvCUootNQidtWMJ4K_qLi97mZDV3Qx3xpnHa0rBMmm8h_Io/s400/IMG_3369.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhP8yzBgbOsvO3cy7yKMRnVNl-KUljW3x8HPJZXKL9ob9kO5YxOPCp6wJhWel7oBcRLcOU_ZwqWKtYXifwcOdiNxm_-x3mtpcxiRXUY9A0S5qLLKxtb2dCIHrGkDXNAvnNOqsS1iQqxlg/s1600/IMG_3370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhP8yzBgbOsvO3cy7yKMRnVNl-KUljW3x8HPJZXKL9ob9kO5YxOPCp6wJhWel7oBcRLcOU_ZwqWKtYXifwcOdiNxm_-x3mtpcxiRXUY9A0S5qLLKxtb2dCIHrGkDXNAvnNOqsS1iQqxlg/s640/IMG_3370.JPG" width="425" /></a></div>Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07800229172000815316noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6398113584878854039.post-52544536898875049462012-04-24T11:18:00.001-07:002012-04-24T11:18:10.473-07:00Isaac's Arrow of LightThe people who invented Cub Scouts have hit the proverbial nail on the head when it comes to my boys. Patches, badges, pins, and more patches are the only incentive Isaac needs. Not that a boy really needs an incentive to learn how to start a fire or build a wooden car or swim a long distance, but the patches and badges definitely don't hurt. And now, after years of decorating his Cub Scout shirt with said patches and badges, Isaac has earned his Arrow of Light! Congratulations Isaac! You are such a good boy!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3GQcqb13ROCCvrrU8oUmOw-QrZxfTK0VmO5Smr1oo6t-C3MxAshY623LZm2GCFZoD-fy7TmP9leVIMpU6zp6jPSIhOyOoYI3UARYSXiJ-CZIy8YzIYc7fKeOtJotr_3riAhk2E5skExg/s1600/IMG_3219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3GQcqb13ROCCvrrU8oUmOw-QrZxfTK0VmO5Smr1oo6t-C3MxAshY623LZm2GCFZoD-fy7TmP9leVIMpU6zp6jPSIhOyOoYI3UARYSXiJ-CZIy8YzIYc7fKeOtJotr_3riAhk2E5skExg/s640/IMG_3219.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Each stripe on the arrow represents some award or patch Isaac earned during his Cub Scout career. A HUGE thank you to a very dedicated cub master for painstakingly measuring, calculating and painting each one!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07800229172000815316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6398113584878854039.post-81899610265737848942012-04-16T20:00:00.001-07:002012-04-16T20:00:30.847-07:00Ramses is number one<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgeKyfTmyeF2ZeXqLvtQgc4hznGieVySI0XQXceFyjLUwVbQHntftT1-PpADHqPEqsan-Z-2GiAj2Y4QPpSqzQjFjauTQaMnK5D15UgaT3elq1Kc2pbCYAuRMEd6RRJYmNkitCKzPPFN8/s1600/IMG_2873.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgeKyfTmyeF2ZeXqLvtQgc4hznGieVySI0XQXceFyjLUwVbQHntftT1-PpADHqPEqsan-Z-2GiAj2Y4QPpSqzQjFjauTQaMnK5D15UgaT3elq1Kc2pbCYAuRMEd6RRJYmNkitCKzPPFN8/s640/IMG_2873.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Notice Yummy's little finger helping out.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju9W_ovnqilOYXE1JAibGrT0XZXwp3pDKd-ukB-9A93zbPN7HaTWcqio-YQe1mLr1EG0bnqXKqoqLtdweNZfmkUCuRZuNGH-CUg_bRrd6CwRrHR1ufK1KMCoHlCBdzj-VUpuBi9SvubgY/s1600/IMG_2875.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju9W_ovnqilOYXE1JAibGrT0XZXwp3pDKd-ukB-9A93zbPN7HaTWcqio-YQe1mLr1EG0bnqXKqoqLtdweNZfmkUCuRZuNGH-CUg_bRrd6CwRrHR1ufK1KMCoHlCBdzj-VUpuBi9SvubgY/s640/IMG_2875.JPG" width="425" /></a></div>
<br />
When it is really cold outside, Nathan's skin gets so dry that he gets eczema all over his poor little back and arms. So every night, we slather him up with some oily cream to try and keep those itchy, dry spots from taking over.<br />
<br />
The other night while I was oiling him down, I could hear him mumbling something, but didn't really pay too much attention to what he was saying. Then I went in the other room to get something, and when I came back this is what I saw. Nathan, flexing those little muscles, occasionally rubbing his arms or chest, and still mumbling something. This time I paid more attention to what he was saying. "Ramses is number one. His arms are number one. His chest is number one. His muscles are number one. Ramses is number one." (From possibly the most random, but beloved movie at our house since Napoleon Dynamite, "Nacho Libre.") When I asked him about it, he just matter-of-factly commented that the lotion was making his muscles strong, just like the oil made Ramses strong in the movie.<br />
<br />Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07800229172000815316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6398113584878854039.post-83313103187558018462012-04-13T22:12:00.002-07:002012-04-14T06:51:32.142-07:00The end of the appendixIsaac is now appendix free!!!!<br />
<br />
He and John left for Children's Hospital this morning at 5:45 a.m. By 9:00, they had him prepped, tested for additional infections, and in the operating room.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hXOOMUkd-p4/T4kBnXYbodI/AAAAAAAAAPM/vKZ8iN1i-Ik/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hXOOMUkd-p4/T4kBnXYbodI/AAAAAAAAAPM/vKZ8iN1i-Ik/s400/photo.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J6lAXEDAvok/T4kBeifAfhI/AAAAAAAAAOs/i1koOG5q160/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J6lAXEDAvok/T4kBeifAfhI/AAAAAAAAAOs/i1koOG5q160/s400/photo+1.JPG" width="300" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sK7vfwHjUJs/T4kBlV3eenI/AAAAAAAAAO8/ZiKJ6huuf1Y/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" qda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sK7vfwHjUJs/T4kBlV3eenI/AAAAAAAAAO8/ZiKJ6huuf1Y/s640/photo+3.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And here is the culprit that caused so much grief. Thank you Dr. Madonna for the graphic photo.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Thanks to his MRSA infection, they again have their own room. Children's Hospital is great at trying to keep the kids pain free, so he is doped up on Lortab right now. Other than feeling a little loopy, he is fine. John said that he ate a little bit for dinner, and is just relaxing and enjoying his time being able to watch all sorts of dad-approved, mom-disapproved movies.<br />
<br />
As a pre-celebration, we went out for ice cream at Isaac's favorite, Oberweiss. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa Anthony! Even though the your get well card said to take Isaac out for ice cream when he was feeling better, he wanted to go while he still felt like eating. We all enjoyed it!Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07800229172000815316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6398113584878854039.post-88123386017789309382012-04-13T22:02:00.002-07:002012-04-13T22:02:31.105-07:00Boy BlissYesterday afternoon. . .<br />
<br />
Nathan, Will and I sat out on the front lawn and watched the landscaping workers in our neighbor's yard. Nathan brought out Goldfish crackers and fruit roll ups, and we sat and watched them thatch, edge, blow leaves, and mow for nearly 45 minutes. Brady came out and joined us, with his Wheat Thins and cream cheese of course. Pure little boy bliss.Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07800229172000815316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6398113584878854039.post-88939224179640700742012-04-13T21:58:00.000-07:002012-04-13T21:58:19.871-07:00Entertainment this weekHere are just some of the things going on at our home this week.<br />
<br />
Brady has decided that the vacuum is the newest electronic entertainment gadget. He and Will played with it for nearly 30 minutes on Monday, suctioning each others' clothing and body parts. Brady's favorite was probably his lips (yuck!) or his cheeks. Will's favorite was his arm, probably because it was the least invasive.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdLTREzeUrJVp0HQA1h91NBbaFdHOye4Fj3W3AuLP_zjQ7V39H8CRX6bzu5nfSPqvznL45nXauxxDZEhXGisFnOfzbKGMQP94Vl6OkaXhXIOpDIny9LDSXH9qyzylC1SiLqu1LAQBuA9k/s1600/IMG_3225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdLTREzeUrJVp0HQA1h91NBbaFdHOye4Fj3W3AuLP_zjQ7V39H8CRX6bzu5nfSPqvznL45nXauxxDZEhXGisFnOfzbKGMQP94Vl6OkaXhXIOpDIny9LDSXH9qyzylC1SiLqu1LAQBuA9k/s400/IMG_3225.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiySuYf1q0suPct8Rb7NCFatMzSFi7QRwQAwazNxfkXtlOmSyra7szHBqku1PaqSGfXaq5H3zJMTSjgDIyqJeLKJ5JIihSlTUZWLDgCZfJ79vrayBxLpQ7kktllyfB7C2u3CP6kDUEY2bA/s1600/IMG_3227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiySuYf1q0suPct8Rb7NCFatMzSFi7QRwQAwazNxfkXtlOmSyra7szHBqku1PaqSGfXaq5H3zJMTSjgDIyqJeLKJ5JIihSlTUZWLDgCZfJ79vrayBxLpQ7kktllyfB7C2u3CP6kDUEY2bA/s400/IMG_3227.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsUFMb7rNWVUpbG3OIBHgo7LufIYem_Q7JW6ClBR0AqzdBLYiQKXs57VHa1OBQ41fmj8k6EG3m5Rsmc7oU7OBSx9uIwwLr8Xez-3WNZ1Lu3ZFZh6stjtMPKdlHX8_TedTAElm3-ZtsDcE/s1600/IMG_3229.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsUFMb7rNWVUpbG3OIBHgo7LufIYem_Q7JW6ClBR0AqzdBLYiQKXs57VHa1OBQ41fmj8k6EG3m5Rsmc7oU7OBSx9uIwwLr8Xez-3WNZ1Lu3ZFZh6stjtMPKdlHX8_TedTAElm3-ZtsDcE/s400/IMG_3229.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Avery, Brady, and Nathan have been on a scavenger-hunt-for-mom kick. It is quite cute. Brady started the trend, leaving me clues around the house, ending with a sweet note under my pillow. Avery helped Nathan write several clues, and he even parted with some of his beloved Easter candy (a true sacrifice for this candy-loving boy), leaving me an egg with each clue, and a love note at the end. Avery then did her own, also with candy at each clue. I love their thoughtfulness and creativity.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KaLNarAJQjk/T4kBUxU_pDI/AAAAAAAAAOU/04D7Fo3Qmic/s1600/IMG_3319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" qda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KaLNarAJQjk/T4kBUxU_pDI/AAAAAAAAAOU/04D7Fo3Qmic/s320/IMG_3319.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pfrKGUYLH7c/T4kBb0S6laI/AAAAAAAAAOk/tMpHjAgmJ5o/s1600/IMG_3320.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" qda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pfrKGUYLH7c/T4kBb0S6laI/AAAAAAAAAOk/tMpHjAgmJ5o/s320/IMG_3320.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vPLYVFfslLI/T4kBWGkxpxI/AAAAAAAAAOc/dfAQWhkzl5Y/s1600/IMG_3321.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" qda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vPLYVFfslLI/T4kBWGkxpxI/AAAAAAAAAOc/dfAQWhkzl5Y/s320/IMG_3321.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uJZMkWc9pPM/T4kBnQ47UrI/AAAAAAAAAPQ/BY-XveGU67Y/s1600/IMG_3322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" qda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uJZMkWc9pPM/T4kBnQ47UrI/AAAAAAAAAPQ/BY-XveGU67Y/s320/IMG_3322.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GBX5hipYxHc/T4kBmDcOw7I/AAAAAAAAAPE/JEPl1ZIyyrI/s1600/IMG_3330.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GBX5hipYxHc/T4kBmDcOw7I/AAAAAAAAAPE/JEPl1ZIyyrI/s400/IMG_3330.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07800229172000815316noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6398113584878854039.post-86412352490197607092012-04-13T21:14:00.000-07:002012-04-13T21:14:20.948-07:00Easter highlightsHow time flies by with a busy family! So many things that I want to write down and document, but so little time.<br />
<br />
Easter arrived out of thin air this year, amidst the beginning of soccer season for 4 children, the beginning of a new semester for John, and the ongoing, seemingly never ending search for that elusive job. Oh, and did I forget to mention that somebody thought that planning a scout camp out for Easter weekend was a good idea. (I told one of my friends that it had to have been men planning that one, because no woman in her right mind would have done that. Women would know better than that. Then she told me that in her ward, they hold their annual fathers and sons camp out on Mother's Day weekend! Every year! Oh my.) But, since it was Isaac's first Boy Scout camp out, I put on a happy, excited, supportive mother face. Then I packed the back of John's truck full of goodies, tin foil dinners, and as much padding for them to sleep on as I could gather, kissed them both, and sent them on their happy camping way.<br />
<br />
They had a wonderful time, as expected. John and I both decided that we need to take the kids camping more often. John took some pictures on his phone, so eventually I will put some on here.<br />
<br />
I had barely recovered from the camping cleanup, when the Easter Bunny arrived very late Saturday night. Then, way too early on Sunday morning, the kids arrived in our room and announced that it was time. <br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_7vHLqbIREFMV0WAibx5hoUHciq2xApyTdI9lQx5qLSBJtXyMVe3RFvzyPm3WRLEsS66W8Pp7AIiORGGokA0bW8F3KkSv2WBaHkeTvC2rHIUlyx3jf1WOkKi6XkSW9drUxaCVGJppOuM/s1600/IMG_3339.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="472" qda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_7vHLqbIREFMV0WAibx5hoUHciq2xApyTdI9lQx5qLSBJtXyMVe3RFvzyPm3WRLEsS66W8Pp7AIiORGGokA0bW8F3KkSv2WBaHkeTvC2rHIUlyx3jf1WOkKi6XkSW9drUxaCVGJppOuM/s640/IMG_3339.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting anxiously to run down the very steep stairs</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We let Yummers come down first and look around, and of course sample the goods for a minute before releasing the older kids. <br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmpE-HjjERgg6WU1YkEeA_F5X8COKpYXUDq4tOlFVPGkzHJK6CdDKMfYL-QKqbjiX6aLGdBPknS5hqstFSocV4Lo4Kj13hQqQceMfXqRgr_5A6kmn7xYqV5vdLpwnRnRsg2f0LPHEsWko/s1600/IMG_3340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" qda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmpE-HjjERgg6WU1YkEeA_F5X8COKpYXUDq4tOlFVPGkzHJK6CdDKMfYL-QKqbjiX6aLGdBPknS5hqstFSocV4Lo4Kj13hQqQceMfXqRgr_5A6kmn7xYqV5vdLpwnRnRsg2f0LPHEsWko/s640/IMG_3340.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yummy trying to shove in as many Robin Eggs as he can.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizYmdwxI2C9YOPbXLN7EQUP1ap0gn-c7D7EQg79ck1dHeC5bgB514rjNdkC7SWKrkuDVriuF97hVkcG69QBQjdFbknta7myF5WefX0vNG0CK3Y-cN5PAD3ZK0E9wVYmWvVMsXBTM6W3zw/s1600/IMG_3341.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" qda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizYmdwxI2C9YOPbXLN7EQUP1ap0gn-c7D7EQg79ck1dHeC5bgB514rjNdkC7SWKrkuDVriuF97hVkcG69QBQjdFbknta7myF5WefX0vNG0CK3Y-cN5PAD3ZK0E9wVYmWvVMsXBTM6W3zw/s640/IMG_3341.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting to storm the stairs</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
As usual, the Easter Bunny littered his candy, and an unusually large amount of sugar free gum, all over the house. He also left new church clothes for the kids, and an Easter tie for John. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP1JbVjp1adMPiXaDIfltD1botZkrhTaN0EJBaXO-DDyZM1iPSI0mJjRfLNXZc5SzU2O2YnBRMvj4_pyyqVWlurGsasq_M_HfOnRQUD5m4b0kgVRoSnsP27NAvTqWR3EnKynHJJDcBWL8/s1600/IMG_3342.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" qda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP1JbVjp1adMPiXaDIfltD1botZkrhTaN0EJBaXO-DDyZM1iPSI0mJjRfLNXZc5SzU2O2YnBRMvj4_pyyqVWlurGsasq_M_HfOnRQUD5m4b0kgVRoSnsP27NAvTqWR3EnKynHJJDcBWL8/s640/IMG_3342.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiazRb2gh1_YnA0dNoE6EguqOeHJXgGGUr_GmvAV8eyfvEs2ghAxOa1EbL2UpO7AWGrtJ7Jb_xybFu-ELK-hG49kbRkjhuFscAQxQzYrdFZlRsQonJI5hcaU66KEXiRcbcopx-HNQK3DxQ/s1600/IMG_3343.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" qda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiazRb2gh1_YnA0dNoE6EguqOeHJXgGGUr_GmvAV8eyfvEs2ghAxOa1EbL2UpO7AWGrtJ7Jb_xybFu-ELK-hG49kbRkjhuFscAQxQzYrdFZlRsQonJI5hcaU66KEXiRcbcopx-HNQK3DxQ/s640/IMG_3343.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_4C09nsFexI8VNcGXHJmIFnbXTIXmTQWfgLcnwIlR6v6zolFa9o-9Y-RARwMzs2V5fgpK1rzZNX0gLvq-iBLphZmkh1614Uwdn4-rQmoasCUv03ugRHBDad_m1bIXCOF4MnzYVsObsmo/s1600/IMG_3344.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" qda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_4C09nsFexI8VNcGXHJmIFnbXTIXmTQWfgLcnwIlR6v6zolFa9o-9Y-RARwMzs2V5fgpK1rzZNX0gLvq-iBLphZmkh1614Uwdn4-rQmoasCUv03ugRHBDad_m1bIXCOF4MnzYVsObsmo/s640/IMG_3344.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Contraband candy was found in every child's scripture bag during church. And, despite the sugar induced chaos of primary sharing time, I felt the Spirit deeply. How grateful I am for my Savior and His immeasurable gift of the atonement and resurrection. It was a beautiful day.<br />
<br />Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07800229172000815316noreply@blogger.com0