tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72488741807442347802024-03-13T03:14:02.231-07:00Reader FamilyReader Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11120942594507988645noreply@blogger.comBlogger129125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7248874180744234780.post-46238878632528108622011-11-24T19:29:00.000-07:002011-11-24T20:00:09.530-07:00so thankful.<h1></h1> <p>My heart is so full today.  I have so many things to be grateful for.  But today – and these past couple months in particular – this picture about says it all.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-63u6vNWM6pE/Ts8Ety17VbI/AAAAAAAABeI/SlawZ8T8-is/s1600-h/chiefofmedstaff_lg%25255B119%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="chiefofmedstaff_lg" border="0" alt="chiefofmedstaff_lg" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-WBWxzq5uin4/Ts8EuEM0lXI/AAAAAAAABeQ/MGXvC3ynvvQ/chiefofmedstaff_lg_thumb%25255B117%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="276" height="354" /></a></p> <p>It has been a tough couple months.  Seeing Crew go through so much. Knowing for the past couple months that my baby is in heart failure, and always wondering in the back of my mind if we’ll be able to see him grow up (although things are looking good now).  But then I think of the blessings that have filled our lives since September 19, and my soul is overwhelmed with feelings of gratitude for the reality of a loving God who doesn’t desert His children in times of trial.  I have felt His love so strongly as I have cried and prayed more in the past couple months than more at any other time in my life.  I’ve learned so much.  Maybe Crew had to go through this for me.  So Heavenly Father could teach me things He couldn’t in any other way.  I am grateful for the things I have learned…and the things I have yet to learn.  I go to bed each night and offer up prayers of gratitude for all that I’ve been given . . . and I’m sure to get up the next morning enjoying the profound and unceasing blessings of a new day.</p> Reader Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11120942594507988645noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7248874180744234780.post-69358735731176690912011-10-09T19:07:00.001-07:002011-10-09T19:07:10.394-07:00eight weeks old and an update.<p>And what a whirlwind these past eight weeks have been!  Parts of them have flown by, and some minutes have seemed like hours.  From adjusting to a newborn at home and becoming a family of 7 (it still blows me away that I have <em>5 </em>kids!), to a week in the hospital, and learning about Crew and his likes, dislikes, and little internal schedule as he is home and recovering.</p> <p>This is a day after coming home from the hospital (he’s off of oxygen now)-</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-MnYatKctocg/TpJTQWpBDRI/AAAAAAAABbw/yi_yjN12Ey4/s1600-h/blog%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="" border="0" alt="" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-EgAtg5lS-XQ/TpJTQzI73sI/AAAAAAAABb0/QYmD4L7ANn8/blog_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="642" height="482" /></a>  </p> <p>And yesterday when he turned eight weeks old-</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-KHa9_SyEQ0Q/TpJTRerQp0I/AAAAAAAABb4/cFWpDpDO3MA/s1600-h/blog4%252520-%252520colorized%25255B27%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="" border="0" alt="" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-RbwLkOQac78/TpJTRjmwglI/AAAAAAAABb8/DlmwokOnBvE/blog4%252520-%252520colorized_thumb%25255B25%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="642" height="409" /></a>  </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-NTlAccHoWhQ/TpJTSBOCudI/AAAAAAAABcA/cDYA3PQE5Zk/s1600-h/blog1%252520-%252520colorized%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="" border="0" alt="" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-UMTm1C7k5RY/TpJTSiXtiDI/AAAAAAAABcE/0Eda8WXYq_c/blog1%252520-%252520colorized_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="642" height="414" /></a> </p> <p>Isn’t he cute (I might be a little biased)? And do you see that slight hint of red in his hair?!</p> <p>We went to his follow-up appointment with cardiothoracic surgery on Wednesday.  It didn’t go quite as I had expected.  They took his weight (he’s gained almost a pound since he’s been home – you can even tell from looking the pictures above), checked his vitals, did a chest x-ray, and did an echo to check his heart function.  Then you meet with the doctor. Instead, three doctors came in, and each one examined him. They then left the room and came back a few minutes later. I would have bet they were going to tell me everything looked great.  Instead, they told me that Crew has a new heart defect called coarctation of the aorta.  They reviewed all of his past echos, and it didn’t show up at all.  It had developed in the past nine days since he had been home. This is super rare (as Crew’s heart apparently is) to develop it this late.  The echo showed it was fairly severe.  Normally, they would have admitted him and planned for surgery to correct it.  However, since Crew wasn’t showing any severe symptoms during examination, they wanted to wait a few weeks since there is a 5-10% chance it will correct on it’s own.  And since surgery is more likely than not, they felt the extra few weeks would help him build up some strength and reserve and maybe he’d put on another pound or two before they most likely have to operate again. </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-7uXYzMT5yIw/TpJTSwiAW1I/AAAAAAAABcI/pFYTd8LeUhY/s1600-h/COARCTATION%25255B8%25255D.gif"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="COARCTATION" border="0" alt="COARCTATION" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-JYtKFh90R-s/TpJTTY_j6SI/AAAAAAAABcM/KgJilV-s1kE/COARCTATION_thumb%25255B4%25255D.gif?imgmax=800" width="604" height="484" /></a> </p> <p>I’m not sure why this sweet baby has to go through all this, but it’s okay.  I don’t need all the answers.  I just need to have faith.  And I do.  I have faith that Heavenly Father’s Plan is perfect.  And this is part of His plan.  In the meantime, we’ll love on him as much as possible. :)</p> Reader Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11120942594507988645noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7248874180744234780.post-5403947465141661502011-09-21T11:25:00.000-07:002011-09-21T11:25:29.657-07:00the rest of the story...Wow. The last 48 hours has been a little bit crazy, to say the least. Here's the rest of the story... <br />
Cor triatriatum: First reported in 1868,<sup sizcache="324" sizset="38"><a href="javascript:showrefcontent('refrenceslayer');"><span style="color: #004276; font-size: x-small;">[1] </span></a></sup>cor triatriatum, that is, a heart with 3 atria (triatrial heart), is a congenital anomaly in which the left atrium (cor triatriatum sinistrum) or right atrium (cor triatriatum dextrum) is divided into 2 parts by a fold of tissue, a membrane, or a fibromuscular band.<br />
<br />
This is the diagnosis that has changed our plans a little bit this week. <br />
<br />
The past couple weeks, Crew's color had been a little 'off'. He was a a yellow color, but not a jaundiced yellow color. Then about a week ago, we started noticing he would have short periods of time throughout the day while he was sleeping that he would be pale and clammy. 'I'll just watch him,' I thought, as a few minutes later he would return to baseline. I checked his temperature a few times, and he didn't have a fever. 'Maybe that's just him,' LJ and I continued to think.<br />
<br />
However, over the weekend, he became a little more irritable than usual. And he wasn't eating quite as well, he would only eat while the milk came easily and then stop. L.J. set up a surprise visit from my mom and sister on Sunday to celebrate my birthday which was earlier in the week. I'm glad they came to see me, but looking back I know it was divine intervention. They spent the day with us and confirmed our suspisions that something was a little off with Crew, and I wasn't just being a paranoid mom. I called the clinic where we take him, and got an appointment for in the morning.<br />
<br />
The morning went on as usual, and we went to his appointment at 11:00. I went, 90% sure they were going to check him out, say he was okay, just to watch him, and send us home. Afterall, there were just a few little things that concerned me, but nothing was blatantly wrong. I would have been okay with that, feeling better that he was checked out by the pediatritian. <br />
<br />
The pediatritian checked him out and spent about 45 minutes with us. He said he heard a tiny heart murmur, but only because he listened really hard, and this wasn't too unusual for a newborn. He said with his coloring, he could have a liver issue, or with his irritability and lack of zeal to eat well, he could have some pyloric stenosis. He said, "it might just be nothing. But my gut is telling me that he needs to go to Primary's and get checked out." And I thank Heavenly Father everyday since that Dr. Gould listened to his gut.<br />
<br />
We went home and I grabbed some lunch and a book knowing that the wait in the ER could take a while. L.J. and a neighbor gave Crew a blessing. How grateful I am that I have a husband and we have neighbors that are worthy and willing to administer a blessing at a moment's notice.<br />
<br />
We arrived at the ER and talked with the doctor. He ordered lots of blood tests and a chest x-ray. The chest x-ray showed that Crew's little heart was very enlarged. They then did an echocardiogram to get a closer look at his heart. In the middle of the echo the cardiology fellow walked in to say hi, glanced at the screen for about 10 seconds, and asked the echo tech if it was 'cor.' She said that it was. He then explained to me that he was born with three atriums instead of two and there was a little hole in between two of the atriums. Due to the way the blood is pumped through the heart and lungs, his right ventricle (which does a lot of the pumping) was very sick, and a lot of the blood it was able to pump was not oxygenated. Blood was backing up and causing high pressures in the blood vessels to his lungs as well. They would admit him and do surgery on Wednesday. I asked the echo tech if this was common, and she said she had never seen it. I later asked the cardiology fellow how often he had seen this condition, and he said 'never.' I was so impressed that for having it be such a rare condition, they still knew exactly what is was.<br />
<br />
Several hours later they took us to the cardiac intensive care unit (CICU) hooked him up to more monitors, and drew more labs. About an hour later after some concerning lab results, they decided to take him to surgery that night. They took him to surgery at 11:00 pm. The surgeon told me there was a 5% chance of complications in surgery, but 100% risk of mortality if the surgery was not done. So in 12 hours we went from thinking they would just send us home from the pediatrician's office to emergent open heart surgery.<br />
<br />
We prayed and cried and prayed some more. How helpless you feel when your little baby is having his chest cracked open, and his heart stopped and circulation halted to his entire body. Knowing the only thing we could do was pray, that's what we did. We prayed and hugged and cried and prayed.<br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">At 2:30 am, surgery was over. It was a success. They did have to shock his heart once after the extra membrane was removed to get his rhythm back to normal, but he responded well. He did have a big pleural effusion, but that was expected. He told me the extra membrane in his heart had a hole the size of the tip of a ballpoint pen that that the blood was flowing through. He told me there are about 200 documented cases of this heart defect since it was discovered in 1868. Crew was the third baby in 25 years he had seen with his condition. Most die of heart failure before it is caught. He said that Crew should make a full recovery. He should not need any further surgeries. Recovery would be a few weeks at least so his heart and lungs recover and learn to function how they should without the extra membrane. I hugged Dr. Gruber (who happened to be the chief of staff of cardiothoracic surgery who was on that week) and told him thank you for everything.</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;">Post-op day 1.5, recovery is slow but sure. Crew is awake for short periods of time and making progess towards getting the breathing tube out. They are feeding him a tiny bit through a tube in his nose now that his GI system has enough blood to function properly. He is still on a lot of meds to help his heart function a little bit better, and control his pain, and has needed some blood transfusions. But he will do great. He know he is in capable hands. All of this is par for the course - of open heart surgery that is. They told me there is not really a par for him since his contition and surgery are rare. Every one new that comes in his room says something along the lines of, "oh, this is the special boy!" :) Yep, he sure is. </div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I know that he is still here for a reason. It's Heavenly Father's plan. Crew has such a noble spirit, and here to accomplish great things. We are overwhelmed with all of your love and concern and support. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for your prayers in his behalf. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>We love you little buddy, all 9 pounds of you. And we are so happy your broken heart is fixed. <3 <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;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-21JkD8aia3U/Tnoqd6uu3II/AAAAAAAABbs/JBw3BqW3iPY/s1600/cicu+day+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="240px" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-21JkD8aia3U/Tnoqd6uu3II/AAAAAAAABbs/JBw3BqW3iPY/s320/cicu+day+1.jpg" width="320px" /></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>Reader Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11120942594507988645noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7248874180744234780.post-16072389461155559502011-09-12T00:44:00.001-07:002011-09-12T00:44:00.635-07:00goodbye, summer.<p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-IMzc7EMw9d8/Tm23y-qturI/AAAAAAAABXc/jINQa6xMuoo/s1600-h/IMG_2290%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_2290" border="0" alt="IMG_2290" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-eaKcPJMHp_k/Tm23zWHnbpI/AAAAAAAABXg/89iVY6w6L7Y/IMG_2290_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="180" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-cekbr1B9CUY/Tm23zpTX_XI/AAAAAAAABXk/EnmsJp_j0dw/s1600-h/Addie%252520colorized%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Addie colorized" border="0" alt="Addie colorized" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-gnjP5U4sCp8/Tm230KcbOAI/AAAAAAAABXo/1a2XRO6gtN4/Addie%252520colorized_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="180" height="240" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-mt3FUIIjb3I/Tm230Xtd8gI/AAAAAAAABXs/IUyd7jxE9s4/s1600-h/IMG_0037%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_0037" border="0" alt="IMG_0037" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Zaia8BGErkU/Tm230jzzrOI/AAAAAAAABXw/XDE_uYg3e-w/IMG_0037_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="180" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-oqjHMLbN0zg/Tm23022wRmI/AAAAAAAABX0/K2wLYguZAmc/s1600-h/IMG_0103%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_0103" border="0" alt="IMG_0103" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-4lWiXclEiyI/Tm231HfQq_I/AAAAAAAABX4/Lmpn6uFec6s/IMG_0103_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="180" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-zEUodX6tM9w/Tm231v-ZgSI/AAAAAAAABX8/NVAokbtJ4Ac/s1600-h/IMG_0059%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_0059" border="0" alt="IMG_0059" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-TQscCmbQrHY/Tm231zui7WI/AAAAAAAABYA/XgdidIGV6-Q/IMG_0059_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="180" height="240" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-0pPq2USQuhA/Tm232ByS8BI/AAAAAAAABYE/hBChO3n05Cc/s1600-h/IMG_0104%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_0104" border="0" alt="IMG_0104" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Bd25dEUJsgI/Tm232XEV-bI/AAAAAAAABYI/sJlJFWwzfzU/IMG_0104_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="180" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-nlPE8pr5AX4/Tm232zXbneI/AAAAAAAABYM/wUhLYFsoNnU/s1600-h/IMG_0119%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_0119" border="0" alt="IMG_0119" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-PHNGW2nT8yU/Tm233OYzCyI/AAAAAAAABYQ/kVc9SW5qz0o/IMG_0119_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="180" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ecRiI6MKcBQ/Tm233Vab09I/AAAAAAAABYU/5tt3Lpy_yqg/s1600-h/IMG_0126%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_0126" border="0" alt="IMG_0126" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-aGSKLRRNzng/Tm23-iA39kI/AAAAAAAABYY/NSpwPaEAw7E/IMG_0126_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="180" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-nw1hJwp_YYM/Tm23-717v5I/AAAAAAAABYc/a_S3BmDaTLA/s1600-h/IMG_0138%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_0138" border="0" alt="IMG_0138" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-6RRF3_BntWQ/Tm23_LMEApI/AAAAAAAABYg/8hbbkrQq9eo/IMG_0138_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="180" height="240" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-bnttKjrhlHQ/Tm23_UOP-2I/AAAAAAAABYk/DCGkAZdUgNE/s1600-h/IMG_0139%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_0139" border="0" alt="IMG_0139" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-GxWCoGDW7wI/Tm23_s2xJnI/AAAAAAAABYo/5M4LqaK0nr0/IMG_0139_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="180" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-kUIGUY1Mqjg/Tm24AJW7q2I/AAAAAAAABYs/UH7CL5jAusk/s1600-h/IMG_0143%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_0143" border="0" alt="IMG_0143" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-KtHWIaHRZFY/Tm24ATmoNHI/AAAAAAAABYw/dX5cnN6laWs/IMG_0143_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="180" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-9x8EPCj2IW8/Tm24A_hK3OI/AAAAAAAABY0/84HkAOJeAFc/s1600-h/IMG_0147%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_0147" border="0" alt="IMG_0147" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-NRR9XW3QMik/Tm24BIPhZzI/AAAAAAAABY4/OrBZ9Nn4P-Y/IMG_0147_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="180" height="240" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-74g13RY6Y88/Tm24Bc6aL-I/AAAAAAAABY8/K3iTR3KW4qM/s1600-h/IMG_0157%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_0157" border="0" alt="IMG_0157" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-7vT72z7g8JM/Tm24B692HSI/AAAAAAAABZA/5PafN35QisM/IMG_0157_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-FyNjEKxrHQE/Tm24CLhOuOI/AAAAAAAABZE/ZsaOlT6N0CM/s1600-h/IMG_0163%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_0163" border="0" alt="IMG_0163" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-KJqlMoM_sjY/Tm24ChIIQNI/AAAAAAAABZI/LjRYzbxBVOA/IMG_0163_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-m-pvOgudbDY/Tm24C7D9jxI/AAAAAAAABZM/wVx3XTArjKs/s1600-h/IMG_0170%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_0170" border="0" alt="IMG_0170" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-rZzYuMeBJQ4/Tm24DPkT-YI/AAAAAAAABZQ/gkcbTlKwmQE/IMG_0170_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="180" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ebz67RnRxjU/Tm24DSBflpI/AAAAAAAABZU/nSaxMZtuVe4/s1600-h/IMG_0176%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_0176" border="0" alt="IMG_0176" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-IZki1Zu5O74/Tm24D_9aDBI/AAAAAAAABZY/xFg9JPJJpWY/IMG_0176_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="180" height="240" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-DdNK9DRbkRM/Tm24EKivbWI/AAAAAAAABZc/hnxutmpTtto/s1600-h/IMG_1783%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_1783" border="0" alt="IMG_1783" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-U9aafO0n464/Tm24EaLiZrI/AAAAAAAABZg/NsKVNJ9pppc/IMG_1783_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="180" height="240" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-JawUVc_RCf4/Tm24E7aTJqI/AAAAAAAABZk/cpHc9Eb7iAY/s1600-h/IMG_1935%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_1935" border="0" alt="IMG_1935" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-hNYT1zPyFFE/Tm24FFE2eaI/AAAAAAAABZo/latmLIkFLHo/IMG_1935_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="180" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-1B_kpuqWV-4/Tm24FpiWG-I/AAAAAAAABZs/BHKJlFqZuA0/s1600-h/IMG_1940%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_1940" border="0" alt="IMG_1940" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-AnSPTBT1yLU/Tm24F-j9DZI/AAAAAAAABZw/ugZiCWexmBY/IMG_1940_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="180" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/--i9mImAXKXQ/Tm24GCe2tyI/AAAAAAAABZ0/KFjSIdLcD8Y/s1600-h/IMG_1950%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_1950" border="0" alt="IMG_1950" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-8ifH5P67tg4/Tm24GhdQdoI/AAAAAAAABZ4/YHPGVGrs-p8/IMG_1950_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="180" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-8Nxn7E-BNrE/Tm24G1wLl3I/AAAAAAAABZ8/J0qo8Xn7hS8/s1600-h/IMG_1961%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_1961" border="0" alt="IMG_1961" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-G7trZc3al0Q/Tm24HNq4bdI/AAAAAAAABaA/p78wRTGnS80/IMG_1961_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="180" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-LDkv73DBM5I/Tm24Hqx4hwI/AAAAAAAABaE/iUme2VYgXS8/s1600-h/IMG_1982%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_1982" border="0" alt="IMG_1982" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ShhyihFDa_A/Tm24HxfiVJI/AAAAAAAABaI/LoIg-V8o0WI/IMG_1982_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="180" height="240" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-SXmq_hf9AVM/Tm24IFkd9qI/AAAAAAAABaM/G5rqFgWEvVE/s1600-h/IMG_2003%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_2003" border="0" alt="IMG_2003" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-rmMlhOkn1eM/Tm24IgKR29I/AAAAAAAABaQ/czTx9nd8mSI/IMG_2003_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="180" height="240" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-oGnxjV3A0Bg/Tm24I_uhQ6I/AAAAAAAABaU/7Ngl1nhpu44/s1600-h/IMG_2024%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_2024" border="0" alt="IMG_2024" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-otBgV91_swQ/Tm24JJbpq6I/AAAAAAAABaY/AQJz_6PyU2g/IMG_2024_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="180" height="240" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-rXKPTDS1Lxw/Tm24JtmPzkI/AAAAAAAABac/LaUQ6VE23qk/s1600-h/IMG_2082%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_2082" border="0" alt="IMG_2082" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-MpvK97SEWaQ/Tm24J0NnCKI/AAAAAAAABag/6fMGXgGJXf4/IMG_2082_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="180" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-JERxDZGo2YM/Tm24KCu6TlI/AAAAAAAABak/kHpT4EXs3xY/s1600-h/IMG_2112%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_2112" border="0" alt="IMG_2112" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ppso5D6qXzM/Tm24KvLNY2I/AAAAAAAABao/SeuM1p1_Yv8/IMG_2112_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-qHf5UALDPmQ/Tm24K7zFgeI/AAAAAAAABas/njLunewNrfM/s1600-h/IMG_2125%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_2125" border="0" alt="IMG_2125" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-NaALQ-Ma57Y/Tm24LCXUa9I/AAAAAAAABaw/kVYiMhwQj-c/IMG_2125_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="180" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-lDTHzQxcWp0/Tm24LrIuCtI/AAAAAAAABa0/MO4UM_cd9Cw/s1600-h/IMG_2143%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_2143" border="0" alt="IMG_2143" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-EnvopX0hKX0/Tm24L7XJeaI/AAAAAAAABa4/W4FIrjIcMt0/IMG_2143_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="180" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ZkUvwPzwPVU/Tm24MGrAyqI/AAAAAAAABa8/spnJz6hI4kQ/s1600-h/IMG_2156%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_2156" border="0" alt="IMG_2156" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-H6tEEzGYeZc/Tm24MRMi3ZI/AAAAAAAABbA/nSAphYf3WDU/IMG_2156_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="180" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-BO02IzJRVZU/Tm24MyWS6gI/AAAAAAAABbE/Lrtolgq9-Ak/s1600-h/IMG_2203%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_2203" border="0" alt="IMG_2203" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-1OWvYDicWZY/Tm24NOv7n4I/AAAAAAAABbI/-hkc34WyPNM/IMG_2203_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="180" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ulS4cTzAl3c/Tm24NbRLUNI/AAAAAAAABbM/V4pvIl3saSQ/s1600-h/IMG_2230%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_2230" border="0" alt="IMG_2230" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-_ge03d8Ho58/Tm24N5W2puI/AAAAAAAABbQ/TybYEdhCERk/IMG_2230_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="180" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Q8_lQ3O5vy8/Tm24OE_BGEI/AAAAAAAABbU/Ir4wvKIZCiQ/s1600-h/IMG_2238%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_2238" border="0" alt="IMG_2238" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Xqqe3OY5iUE/Tm24OrWsP_I/AAAAAAAABbY/FnMiM5YXkhU/IMG_2238_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="180" height="240" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-7EAR73A6y9w/Tm24O60QrhI/AAAAAAAABbc/nOQN9XhpOdM/s1600-h/IMG_2262%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_2262" border="0" alt="IMG_2262" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-wwYMGbZSTRY/Tm24PLyHfqI/AAAAAAAABbg/IaHWMzMuZB0/IMG_2262_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="180" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-yGgfnSaF-Wk/Tm24PWrouHI/AAAAAAAABbk/ORVY3KnpkbM/s1600-h/IMG_2280%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_2280" border="0" alt="IMG_2280" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-0mfcI5E-jXk/Tm24P5SUzvI/AAAAAAAABbo/o9oEt9jHD7I/IMG_2280_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="180" /></a> </p> <p> </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>hot summer nights</p> <p>playing with cousins</p> <p>sleepovers with grandparents</p> <p>camping</p> <p>riding bikes</p> <p>road trips with family</p> <p>the drive in movie</p> <p>staying up late</p> <p>flips flops</p> <p>campfire peach cobbler</p> <p>bbq's</p> <p>swimming, swimming. and more swimming</p> <p>fireworks</p> <p>parades</p> <p>bear lake</p> <p>birthdays</p> <p>playing with friends</p> <p>sleeping in</p> <p>getting ready for baby</p> <p>no schedule at all</p> <p>and </p> <p>just being together as a family.</p> <p>This summer has been a wonderful one.</p> <p>I am so sad to see it come to an end...until next year.</p> Reader Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11120942594507988645noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7248874180744234780.post-9217808888031261422011-08-27T14:49:00.001-07:002011-08-27T14:49:33.383-07:00he melts me…<p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-u5AErEHhDHM/TllmOIx1I-I/AAAAAAAABWc/1155HxaLvgY/s1600-h/2011-7290-1%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="2011-7290-1" border="0" alt="2011-7290-1" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Aa-1jekWFLc/TllmOQr4tiI/AAAAAAAABWg/SCKGGIZoRPA/2011-7290-1_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="345" height="482" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-AuH-ynqgMkM/TllmO2_oNRI/AAAAAAAABWk/nHOl-w-sKfs/s1600-h/2011-7290-5%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="2011-7290-5" border="0" alt="2011-7290-5" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-qMteUHNSe50/TllmWESIPPI/AAAAAAAABWo/czGTyySQyRU/2011-7290-5_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="345" height="482" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-PLeQKDrsv2Q/TllmWUxUdFI/AAAAAAAABWs/7em6d8AhRng/s1600-h/2011-7290-12%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="2011-7290-12" border="0" alt="2011-7290-12" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-r7DXmb2Hnus/TllmW14Zx1I/AAAAAAAABWw/ESrwGwv8Cko/2011-7290-12_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="642" height="459" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-VgiKHRE99eg/TllmXXRJ5TI/AAAAAAAABW0/vf5yavzSp2o/s1600-h/2011-7290-17%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="2011-7290-17" border="0" alt="2011-7290-17" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-fgpQvHr1tTQ/TllmXwz1VLI/AAAAAAAABW4/U3cF2Kf6jWY/2011-7290-17_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="642" height="459" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-XzI3wP2HTWI/TllmYC8a-SI/AAAAAAAABW8/lPAUFIPvQ_4/s1600-h/2011-7290-29%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="2011-7290-29" border="0" alt="2011-7290-29" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-boZRkfBLa7E/TllmYmzEaKI/AAAAAAAABXA/iQScyNOT7Go/2011-7290-29_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="642" height="459" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-19611OuE9z4/TllmZNoqKJI/AAAAAAAABXE/nct3jDZZpJg/s1600-h/2011-7290-35%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="2011-7290-35" border="0" alt="2011-7290-35" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-wq9EIl672Bk/TllmZUj-4dI/AAAAAAAABXI/o6Egy3k_aDE/2011-7290-35_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="642" height="459" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-XWu9364S4JQ/TllmZ10QUZI/AAAAAAAABXM/4ZUZS-LyoEY/s1600-h/2011-7290-13%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="2011-7290-13" border="0" alt="2011-7290-13" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-9LU7YuI9EMI/TllmaUP8jxI/AAAAAAAABXQ/Cl-n6-KEDjY/2011-7290-13_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="642" height="459" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-SsUjDj5799k/TllmamIcqgI/AAAAAAAABXU/09XURKbLY7o/s1600-h/2011-7290-45%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="2011-7290-45" border="0" alt="2011-7290-45" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-IPXssNDJBHI/TllmbOaeS0I/AAAAAAAABXY/fbacqN47VEo/2011-7290-45_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="345" height="482" /></a>  </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>…can you see why? :)</p> Reader Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11120942594507988645noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7248874180744234780.post-87601565883567635322011-08-21T20:44:00.001-07:002011-08-21T20:44:01.731-07:00he’s here!!<p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-dZQKakiRoUs/TlHQaLyvRRI/AAAAAAAABVc/9QzyhnIB49g/s1600-h/C%252520smile%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="C smile" border="0" alt="C smile" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-0TdI1Ppv98c/TlHQaWTL0cI/AAAAAAAABVg/4IMcITeLvb0/C%252520smile_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="642" height="481" /></a> </p> <p> </p> <p>Introducing…</p> <p>Crew James Reader</p> <p>August 13, 2011</p> <p>at 3:52 pm</p> <p>7 lbs. 6 oz. </p> <p>21 inches long</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-7qgiUlcD7v4/TlHQany0ILI/AAAAAAAABVk/AX9e3BCqQOE/s1600-h/C%252520cute%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="C cute" border="0" alt="C cute" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-WY91K2Xw2aA/TlHQbeVx0jI/AAAAAAAABVo/qCoDQvyP3Vc/C%252520cute_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="642" height="482" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-SikETNER_cs/TlHQb_ts6fI/AAAAAAAABVs/iZqlQrEsNZo/s1600-h/C%252520foot%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="C foot" border="0" alt="C foot" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-6wiEDXtOMR0/TlHQcJZGJjI/AAAAAAAABVw/pe4KiJz_mZs/C%252520foot_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="642" height="482" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-DH1rozApdu4/TlHQc4Kr6RI/AAAAAAAABV0/-QW0TZTTb-c/s1600-h/C%252520hair%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="C hair" border="0" alt="C hair" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-8L0p1lrvn4c/TlHQdHJuaFI/AAAAAAAABV4/LKtztcaeLos/C%252520hair_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="642" height="482" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-npESSu-4cAU/TlHQdQQKZgI/AAAAAAAABV8/FFWIyG6e2Pg/s1600-h/C%252520hair2%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="C hair2" border="0" alt="C hair2" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-6QNs7uPMWS0/TlHQdxEeaEI/AAAAAAAABWA/CIBX3XYsYw0/C%252520hair2_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="462" height="615" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-bYYTcx7jVGs/TlHQeEqGLDI/AAAAAAAABWE/yeV1XhAkFVE/s1600-h/C%252520fingers%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="C fingers" border="0" alt="C fingers" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-6dJJ-yv1aVg/TlHQeajxleI/AAAAAAAABWI/oD5-z6FsiT4/C%252520fingers_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="642" height="482" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-MARESCc_wxY/TlHQe0m-ecI/AAAAAAAABWM/hC54-otCMMA/s1600-h/C%252520hand%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="C hand" border="0" alt="C hand" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-OxZX27q2hnM/TlHQfFZ55vI/AAAAAAAABWQ/3_JfvlFeZzM/C%252520hand_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="642" height="482" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-W8cgz8l45UY/TlHQfyVKgSI/AAAAAAAABWU/XXPfgsjksmw/s1600-h/C%252520profile%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="C profile" border="0" alt="C profile" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-rzgVFXPudTQ/TlHQgFKDu0I/AAAAAAAABWY/k2ceEDrys5E/C%252520profile_thumb%25255B9%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="642" height="442" /></a> </p> <p>There is something magical about having a baby. Your baby. The way you know just how they like to be held. The way their eyes light up when you walk into a room. The way you can understand every noise they make. The way your heart feels like it just may burst out of you when you watch them sleep at night. I just can’t seem to get enough of him.  “There is something about a boy that just <em>gets</em> you,” moms of boys tried to tell me.  <em>Possible, but not likely,</em> I thought.  I<em> won’t know what to do with a boy, I know how to love baby girls</em>.  Boy, was I wrong.  When they laid him on my chest for the first time, I was completely overcome. I <em>knew</em> that he was mine, and I was his.  I am so excited to get to know him, what gifts he brought here with him, what motivates him, what makes him unique, and why God sent him to me. So blessed to be his mommy.</p> <p>So now we are home and adjusting to life as a family of 6. His big sisters cannot get enough of him and daddy is pretty darn happy to have another boy in this house. I am just so very grateful to have my sweet little baby boy home, safe and sound. He is the best and life is good.  </p> Reader Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11120942594507988645noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7248874180744234780.post-90892955211405011832011-07-19T21:31:00.001-07:002011-07-19T21:31:48.750-07:00no training wheels!<p>We’ve had such a fun, busy summer and I have been so bad at blogging!  I just wanted to do a quick post – Ellie and Addie can ride their bikes without training wheels now!  Ellie wanted hers off – it was kind of a random request last night as she had never mentioned it before.  Well, L.J. took them off, and she did great!  Not one crash, not even running along side her for a while.  He gave her a little push, and she took off (and this is the girl who trips over her own two feet and walks into things all the time).  We were surprised!  But so dang proud.  Well, Addie was not to be outdone, and wanted her training wheels off too.  We were not so surprised when she did great on her first try as well.  She’s a pro.  The girl is athletic and competitive.  And barely 4 (oops, need to catch up on birthdays too!).  Grant and Mace were there to cheer them on.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-dgHD-9UXPJU/TiZaIiQnDTI/AAAAAAAABU0/wYpilk2dtwI/s1600-h/IMG_2295%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_2295" border="0" alt="IMG_2295" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-j_ijBw0_ZT4/TiZaJM-F79I/AAAAAAAABU4/mnZvnSba_2A/IMG_2295_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="640" height="480" /></a>  </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-LoqaJ3QuIRE/TiZaJjqcRTI/AAAAAAAABU8/94UeAOXt4gM/s1600-h/IMG_2298%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_2298" border="0" alt="IMG_2298" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-79vqay_jeWY/TiZaJ9kW25I/AAAAAAAABVA/Ff0Ue86eIsA/IMG_2298_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="640" height="480" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Ma8xpaCdzTw/TiZaKb6UajI/AAAAAAAABVE/XxrKtBQUi8E/s1600-h/IMG_2294%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_2294" border="0" alt="IMG_2294" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-d9pxveMHhvE/TiZaK2lWa_I/AAAAAAAABVI/-z485KrFZFw/IMG_2294_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="640" height="480" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-hiY_GP4WhSg/TiZaLQ6zG9I/AAAAAAAABVM/HKFsXx8Wp2Q/s1600-h/IMG_2306%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_2306" border="0" alt="IMG_2306" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-kRMPw-TrNTI/TiZaLzCVf1I/AAAAAAAABVQ/3qxauNr-j7A/IMG_2306_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="640" height="480" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-hOoGfqHPOy8/TiZaMR0CSSI/AAAAAAAABVU/UC10e3496BM/s1600-h/IMG_2303%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_2303" border="0" alt="IMG_2303" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-WFkJVe5w5WU/TiZaMupLeiI/AAAAAAAABVY/jSG1LkcRl_8/IMG_2303_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="640" height="480" /></a>  </p> <p>What a fun night. :)</p> Reader Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11120942594507988645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7248874180744234780.post-32265761514919374322011-06-02T12:23:00.003-07:002011-06-02T12:33:34.474-07:00Overheard 4Just overheard in the last 24 hours:<br />
<br />
Macie fell asleep really early last night and decided it was time to get up and watch Dora at 5:30 am this morning. I was up getting ready for work anyways. When I was headed out the door, I gave her a kiss and a hug and said, "Bye Mace, I have to go to work now. I love you!" Macie said, "I go to work with you?" "No," I replied, "I have to go to the hospital and take care of the patients." She responded, "But (fake cough, fake cough)- I sick too!!" I sure wish I could bring her with me!<br />
<br />
Last night I was laying down by Ellie and she had her hand on my belly feeling the baby move. She said, "Mom, I just love our little baby so much, and I haven't even met him yet! But I am a little worried about one thing." "What's that?" I asked. "I'm worried I won't want to go to first grade because I will just want to stay home and kiss him all day!"<br />
<br />
Last night I was in the other room and Addie yelled, "Mom, you need to come here right now, or I start freaking out!" Thank goodness she warned me. :)<br />
<br />
This morning I was doing my hair and Macie walked over and pulled up her shirt. "Look at my belly blubbon, Mom! It's cute, huh?" she said.<br />
<br />
Last night I was doing some reading with Ellie and we were working on sight words. The flashcard said "<em>good</em>", but Ellie sounded it out and said "goed". "Ellie," I asked, "is goed a word?" trying to get her to think through it logically. "Umm, yeah, like we just goed to the pet store." Oh right. What was I thinking? :)<br />
<br />
Ellie was saying the prayer last night, and for about five minutes offered an extensive list of things we are thankful for and things to bless. She finally concluded the prayer by saying, "and please bless all the people that have died, and everyone in the city, and everything in the town. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen." I guess that covers it.<br />
<br />
Macie can't say the "s" at the beginning of words. Some of her words that have become part of our family vocabulary are "lurpee" (Slurpee), "poon" (spoon) and "prinklers" (sprinklers). <br />
<br />
I sure love these little girls. They crack me up and melt my heart every single day. :)Reader Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11120942594507988645noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7248874180744234780.post-72878896774647092032011-05-30T19:28:00.001-07:002011-05-30T19:28:10.058-07:00end of school hoopla.<p>School is OVER. And I am so happy about it.  Don’t get me wrong, I think school is great.  But I’m just excited to have my kids all to myself on my days off.  Go where we want to go and do what we want to do.  And we have big plans.    </p> <p>Time is going by way too fast.  Addie was in preschool two days a week with Miss Tara.  She did such a good job with them.  And as sad as Addie will be when she realizes that she doesn’t get to go to kindergarten next year (she is dying to go), I think she will be okay because she will be going back to Miss Tara’s class.  Their end of the year program plans got rained out, so they did it under a church pavilion instead.</p> <p>They sang and danced and it was super cute.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-LG2miWn80sA/TeRSJMQ90FI/AAAAAAAABT8/Hp2jyyM67x8/s1600-h/addie%252520school%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="addie school" border="0" alt="addie school" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/--bjSnuLP4l4/TeRSJixkYiI/AAAAAAAABUA/e16f99-3tPQ/addie%252520school_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="360" height="480" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-w5XgWD3pAHo/TeRSKN_kgKI/AAAAAAAABUE/qO8CPyNVCGM/s1600-h/addie%252520school%2525202%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="addie school 2" border="0" alt="addie school 2" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Hpjfr7Sqt9U/TeRSKQCkuuI/AAAAAAAABUI/uW1hTcr08rQ/addie%252520school%2525202_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="360" height="480" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-E8iuhkKsOig/TeRSKz88v-I/AAAAAAAABUM/zzJshwsjTtE/s1600-h/addie%252520school%2525203%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="addie school 3" border="0" alt="addie school 3" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-0ejx3Z02WPg/TeRSLCkYiMI/AAAAAAAABUQ/xiVIuTY8c5g/addie%252520school%2525203_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="640" height="480" /></a> </p> <p> </p> <p>Ellie’s last day of kindergarten.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-fhMksBMgAzw/TeRSLhaYExI/AAAAAAAABUU/XrQk5ICIEdM/s1600-h/Ellie%252520school%2525203%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Ellie school 3" border="0" alt="Ellie school 3" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-GYwSm_b366U/TeRSLykEpJI/AAAAAAAABUY/4F6ekWDxMx8/Ellie%252520school%2525203_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="640" height="480" /></a> </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Y0dCPMd_uio/TeRSMaqy_vI/AAAAAAAABUc/5gLdPYEFhxU/s1600-h/Ellie%252520school%2525201%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Ellie school 1" border="0" alt="Ellie school 1" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-PiWNhhyxS4k/TeRSMo0VZZI/AAAAAAAABUg/sILMcJURcmw/Ellie%252520school%2525201_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="640" height="480" /></a> </p> <p>Ellie with her teacher, Mrs. Hyre, who we adore.  So sad to leave her!</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-nULu-D-Qfik/TeRSNFsNhiI/AAAAAAAABUk/HZuBqfZvZC4/s1600-h/Ellie%252520School%2525202%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Ellie School 2" border="0" alt="Ellie School 2" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-KPS9f6ouDz4/TeRSNjYP7II/AAAAAAAABUo/7Sn2lYO6rx0/Ellie%252520School%2525202_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="360" height="480" /></a> </p> <p>(On a side note: see that freckle on Macie’s hand?  It is her only freckle and she is OCD about having her hands clean and wants it washed off all the time. :)</p> <p></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-VaSDibTdkoM/TeRSN9nVN-I/AAAAAAAABUs/Z4aevm0p6cU/s1600-h/Ellie%252520School%2525204%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Ellie School 4" border="0" alt="Ellie School 4" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-q53Y31U__Aw/TeRSOYylu5I/AAAAAAAABUw/BAKNgYE7SVE/Ellie%252520School%2525204_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="640" height="480" /></a> </p> <p>Aren’t they cute?</p> <p>Man, I love these girls.  And I  am still amazed that I get to be their mom. When I watch them sleep at night my heart still skips a beat. My heart overflows more than ever with love for who they are, and who they are becoming, and who they help me to be.</p> Reader Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11120942594507988645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7248874180744234780.post-84642462527634329772011-05-27T14:24:00.001-07:002011-05-27T14:24:50.109-07:00the bathroom is FINALLY done!<p>We started remodeling the girls’ bathroom two years ago.  And while it’s been functional and<em> mostly</em> done for about 23 months, there was always something missing, or something I just wasn’t happy with.  But now, I can honestly say that it is done and I love it.</p> <p> </p> <p>Here is the before…</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-bBqlz7c93ko/TeAWYoUbkiI/AAAAAAAABSs/HNTaqkmbvic/s1600-h/2007%25252012%25252021%252520097%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="2007 12 21 097" border="0" alt="2007 12 21 097" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-HoPZ7zqsc-M/TeAWZG-Wg1I/AAAAAAAABSw/WuMpjCSVy3Q/2007%25252012%25252021%252520097_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="579" height="435" /></a> </p> <p>and here is the after!</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-WMjkCppd9jM/TeAWZr07iSI/AAAAAAAABS0/UByQ6A03z3s/s1600-h/bathroom%2525201%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="bathroom 1" border="0" alt="bathroom 1" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-zQpU2VEsPFk/TeAWaP15-1I/AAAAAAAABS4/CQII3mngywk/bathroom%2525201_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="599" height="800" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-o64uDFiS6EU/TeAWaV63T-I/AAAAAAAABS8/7FSZsol8GCI/s1600-h/bathroom%2525202%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="bathroom 2" border="0" alt="bathroom 2" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-X9g6LZdueb8/TeAWa8s1tkI/AAAAAAAABTA/pODujTkrh50/bathroom%2525202_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="579" height="435" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p>I painted the cabinet and added some cute hardware.  Also got a new faucet and accessories to match.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-z7a7V4gIrzY/TeAWbCx137I/AAAAAAAABTE/LZef5WSuLXE/s1600-h/bathroom%2525205%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="bathroom 5" border="0" alt="bathroom 5" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-FZGw_xLmAxs/TeAWbrbDq9I/AAAAAAAABTI/zyK8EJumf10/bathroom%2525205_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="600" height="800" /></a> </p> <p>And a new mirror and a new light fixture installed by my own personal electrician. :) </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-VR2mQYwYIcM/TeAWcKxuUTI/AAAAAAAABTM/4nTc9LcfSVg/s1600-h/bathroom%2525203%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="bathroom 3" border="0" alt="bathroom 3" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-OZofUK-VmLs/TeAWcfXf-yI/AAAAAAAABTQ/i3IlFAuIm34/bathroom%2525203_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="579" height="435" /></a></p> <p>And this was the kicker to finish it all off – that cute shelf L.J. made for the girls’ towels.  And the best part -</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-1xgRy0OtB1s/TeAWc6kYkmI/AAAAAAAABTU/WGckpAltXaI/s1600-h/bathroom%2525206%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="bathroom 6" border="0" alt="bathroom 6" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-H4XtPE8_-dE/TeAWdMgaILI/AAAAAAAABTY/yFFG6r29Ams/bathroom%2525206_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="579" height="435" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p>they have their names on them so there is no longer any fighting over who gets the Mermaid towel and who gets the Cinderella towel.  My sweet neighbor made these for us, and I could just kiss her for it – bath time goes so much smoother now. Thanks again Laurel!!</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-dzEsLWE6OjM/TeAWdntgclI/AAAAAAAABTc/hF14UG-i9V0/s1600-h/bathroom%2525207%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="bathroom 7" border="0" alt="bathroom 7" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-KCdLI653ttk/TeAWeBtIthI/AAAAAAAABTg/EPdGPFqT9ms/bathroom%2525207_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="579" height="435" /></a> </p> <p>And just a couple more photos to show off L.J.’s mad skillz – these are some shower can lights he installed.  He also put four other regular cans in the other part of the bathroom.  When the girls are bathing they love to just turn on the cans above the tub and have the rest of the bathroom dark (they are on different switches).  They think it’s “magical.” :)</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-1u04bFQLu1w/TeAWelv65aI/AAAAAAAABTk/xKD2QYs-vfs/s1600-h/bathroom%2525208%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="bathroom 8" border="0" alt="bathroom 8" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-jmuLAK1wJHg/TeAWe_4u9mI/AAAAAAAABTo/W-t3_OFLz6w/bathroom%2525208_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="579" height="435" /></a> </p> <p>Here is a shot of the crown molding.  I love that he can do that, I think it just adds so much.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-BBK96HmouU8/TeAWfI86rzI/AAAAAAAABTs/a7GSXIKmWqI/s1600-h/bathroom%2525209%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="bathroom 9" border="0" alt="bathroom 9" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ya_h2yoQIS8/TeAWfg9eFvI/AAAAAAAABTw/BRD_I5IllxI/bathroom%2525209_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="600" height="800" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>And one last one of the tile.  He’s Mr. Fancy Pants.  When he does it, he does it good. :)</p> <p>I wish I felt the way I do about the bathroom about the rest of my house. :) One project at a time, I guess. On to the nursery!</p> Reader Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11120942594507988645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7248874180744234780.post-26192354109007502162011-04-18T17:00:00.001-07:002011-04-18T17:00:34.105-07:00soccer fever<p>We have some definite soccer fever going on at our house. 4 days a week!  Ellie is playing again this year-</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TazQiQSaeyI/AAAAAAAABR0/jw9Mrgu_Slk/s1600-h/Ellie%20Soccer%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Ellie Soccer" border="0" alt="Ellie Soccer" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TazQi3nwHhI/AAAAAAAABR4/cvPbppjHzic/Ellie%20Soccer_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="640" height="480" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TazQjDwzR7I/AAAAAAAABR8/dQHC0hVSNWc/s1600-h/Ellie%20Dad%20Soccer%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Ellie Dad Soccer" border="0" alt="Ellie Dad Soccer" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TazQj0vnclI/AAAAAAAABSA/CD1OS375Vqw/Ellie%20Dad%20Soccer_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="640" height="480" /></a> </p> <p>Aren’t they cute? :)</p> <p>And Addie is too! She has been so excited to play for the past year. Last year, every time Ellie would go to practice or we would go watch her games, Addie begged to play. We kept telling her, “You’re not old enough yet, just a little bit longer…” and then her day finally came for her first game! She was SO excited, and felt like a million bucks all dressed up in her own official uniform.  We arrived at the field, and no one from her team was there.  There were two older teams playing.  We called her coach to see what was going on, and he was out of town and had no idea… eventually we found out they changed the U5 schedules the night before – and most coaches/players didn’t know about it.  So she didn’t end up having a game, and this is what she did the entire time during Ellie’s game - </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TazQkGnPo8I/AAAAAAAABSE/ZrIVBDOE0co/s1600-h/IMG_1518%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_1518" border="0" alt="IMG_1518" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TazQkiZ_wtI/AAAAAAAABSI/AMX2Y6wzosM/IMG_1518_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="640" height="480" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>totally heartbroken with big old alligator tears running down her cheeks because she didn’t get to play soccer.  It was the saddest thing ever.  However, she was much happier last Saturday when she got to play her first game. :)</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TazQlCOW_AI/AAAAAAAABSM/D6RQXUExK9w/s1600-h/Addie%20Soccer%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Addie Soccer" border="0" alt="Addie Soccer" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TazQlqMx0rI/AAAAAAAABSQ/BemX6gADLqM/Addie%20Soccer_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="640" height="480" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TazQmC2T6ZI/AAAAAAAABSU/8RNw8X9QXaI/s1600-h/Addie%20Kicks%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Addie Kicks" border="0" alt="Addie Kicks" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TazQmr11BxI/AAAAAAAABSY/ySYwDnwSVNI/Addie%20Kicks_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="640" height="479" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TazQnMvs8qI/AAAAAAAABSc/aFRp5yNMXhk/s1600-h/Beehive%20Ball%20Addie%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Beehive Ball Addie" border="0" alt="Beehive Ball Addie" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TazQnl1EU6I/AAAAAAAABSg/cr6N_SdaCFA/Beehive%20Ball%20Addie_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="640" height="480" /></a> </p> <p>She was smiling the entire game – even when we had to go get her from the playground to sub in.  So glad we have a happy girl now. :)</p> <p>We have a happy dad too – he is playing soccer three days a week.  We has been playing indoor soccer on Tuesday nights -</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TazQn_sSlOI/AAAAAAAABSk/qGB42caYpsc/s1600-h/L.J.%20Soccer.%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="L.J. Soccer." border="0" alt="L.J. Soccer." src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TazQodTKAVI/AAAAAAAABSo/_ki3bnGjCfY/L.J.%20Soccer._thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="640" height="480" /></a> </p> <p>and has been doing so good he got recruited for an outdoor club team.  He’s loving it.  And kicking some butt. </p> <p>So Tuesdays L.J. plays indoor, Wednesdays Addie has practice at 5:00, and Ellie has practice at 5:30, Thursdays L.J. has games for outdoor, and Saturdays, Ellie and Addie have games and L.J. has outdoor practice.  So if you can’t get a hold of us, you can bet where we’ll be. :)</p> Reader Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11120942594507988645noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7248874180744234780.post-38548503300130249082011-03-23T22:32:00.001-07:002011-03-23T22:32:31.714-07:00the brother.<p>There is a celebrity at our house. He is here for nine days over his spring break.  And we are all head over heals about him.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TYrXZWA3ufI/AAAAAAAABRc/vW5SalmZTmc/s1600-h/Ellie%20and%20Grant%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Ellie and Grant" border="0" alt="Ellie and Grant" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TYrXZ-7fKHI/AAAAAAAABRg/NOVdsju0NGE/Ellie%20and%20Grant_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="640" height="480" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TYrXaGE2J9I/AAAAAAAABRk/QoGhJ0-lVtc/s1600-h/IMG_1426%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_1426" border="0" alt="IMG_1426" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TYrXaoe__QI/AAAAAAAABRo/FRmzov83E-w/IMG_1426_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="640" height="480" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TYrXawsepwI/AAAAAAAABRs/tWqJnyF3kHk/s1600-h/IMG_1443%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_1443" border="0" alt="IMG_1443" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TYrXbUpCFBI/AAAAAAAABRw/faNxPvB9pnc/IMG_1443_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="640" height="480" /></a> </p> <p>He doesn’t get a break.  We all want to be right by his side, and he almost always happily obliges.  Sometimes he even gets rewarded with back tickles.  Today Ellie was doing her homework and she said, “Grant, will you sit by me?” “Why?” he asked.  “I just want you to be with me,” she responded.  And he did.  </p> <p>We are soaking up every minute with this boy.  We love it when he’s here.</p> <p>P.S. If you haven’t heard, the girls will have another brother to swoon over in August. :)</p> Reader Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11120942594507988645noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7248874180744234780.post-71596001748389326322011-02-14T23:15:00.001-07:002011-02-14T23:15:50.883-07:00love.<p align="center">Valentine’s is one of my favorite holidays.  There is nothing like having a day or two to reflect reflect on how full your heart is.  And mine is SO full.  I adore my friends.  And family.  And this year, especially my kids.  To say the least, things have been a bit crazy around here lately.  So I decided that the way I could show my kids I loved them the most was to spend some good, quality, girl time with them.  So last Friday, (since I worked today), I made them pink heart shaped crepes and pink smoothies for breakfast.  Then we went for girls day out (plus Dad needed some time to tile without three little helpers).  First, they got their toenails painted at the nail salon (and I’m so mad – I brought my camera but left the memory card in the computer).  That was priceless.  They were SO giddy.  And the cute little oriental man was super cute with them.  Here are Addie’s nails – the other two were playing outside in this nice weather and didn’t want to come in. </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TVoZ932C7sI/AAAAAAAABQQ/lTLMMCN9jpo/s1600-h/addie%27s%20cute%20toes%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="addie's cute toes" border="0" alt="addie's cute toes" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TVoZ-eDJ0zI/AAAAAAAABQU/6pvb7SkEaCQ/addie%27s%20cute%20toes_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="375" /></a> </p> <p align="center">Next, I offered to take them anywhere they wanted to go for lunch.  Applebee's? Pizza Hut? Arby’s? Subway? Cafe RIo? No way José. Try as I might, I just couldn’t talk them out of McDonald’s.  But this day was about them, so I gave in.</p> <p align="center">Next we had an impromptu play date with some good friends, and then did some shopping.  We ended at the Purple Cow, this great children’s bookstore in town, and I let them each choose a book (and I may have chosen a couple too.  Why are children’s books so dang irresistible?).</p> <p align="center">We came home and had a snack, then headed with Dad to do one of their favorite things ever – go swimming.  </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TVoZ-o_BpaI/AAAAAAAABQY/T0vSq26rRgY/s1600-h/IMG_1325%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_1325" border="0" alt="IMG_1325" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TVoZ_AxLD5I/AAAAAAAABQc/I0pnrmt6cPw/IMG_1325_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="375" height="500" /></a> </p> <p align="center">(this picture just cracks me up – a swim suit and snow boots?? That’s Addie for you :))</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TVoZ_RRHt4I/AAAAAAAABQg/fsBIhKaaCPM/s1600-h/ellie%20swim%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="ellie swim" border="0" alt="ellie swim" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TVoZ_1KgGTI/AAAAAAAABQk/KSX4pXiOoQI/ellie%20swim_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="375" height="500" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TVoaAZe-h3I/AAAAAAAABQo/qBVuoywIokU/s1600-h/addie%20swim%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="addie swim" border="0" alt="addie swim" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TVoaAzRZeeI/AAAAAAAABQs/A7Bm6-S4Gd8/addie%20swim_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="375" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TVoaBBl4NeI/AAAAAAAABQw/2ZfwGqOcqGc/s1600-h/macie%20swim%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="macie swim" border="0" alt="macie swim" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TVoaBt2H-vI/AAAAAAAABQ0/HwWnbusORz8/macie%20swim_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="375" height="500" /></a> </p> <p align="center">Do you think they had fun? :)</p> <p align="center">It was such a great day.  Saturday, we made cupcakes (Mace was taking a nap).</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TVoaCHsKyBI/AAAAAAAABQ4/T9FdbMzWbds/s1600-h/cupcakes1%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="cupcakes1" border="0" alt="cupcakes1" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TVoaC2Uc5qI/AAAAAAAABQ8/8dl1B6xVDZs/cupcakes1_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="375" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TVoaDZ-3U_I/AAAAAAAABRA/rtD7cCW29q4/s1600-h/cupcakes2%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="cupcakes2" border="0" alt="cupcakes2" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TVoaDiLIPpI/AAAAAAAABRE/mJo43NFJprw/cupcakes2_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="375" /></a> </p> <p align="center"></p> <p align="center"></p> <p align="center"></p> <p align="center"></p> <p align="center"></p> <p align="center"></p> <p align="center">And we got the girls’ Valentine’s ready for school - </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TVoaEDUDtOI/AAAAAAAABRI/RWmqFqNlyno/s1600-h/Valentine%27s%20Collage%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Valentine's Collage" border="0" alt="Valentine's Collage" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TVoaEmy1U0I/AAAAAAAABRM/1baWI-7GkTs/Valentine%27s%20Collage_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="356" /></a> </p> <p align="center">We printed their pictures out wallet size, punched a hole in the corner, and tied it to a sucker with pink ribbon and curled the ends.</p> <p align="center">We sure had fun.  I adore my girls (and the Grantster).  But most of all, I adore my own, original Valentine. I'll just say that he fulfills my every need, he's the one behind everything good that happens in our family, and he's my very best friend in the whole world.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TVoaEyhFKXI/AAAAAAAABRQ/P01BbPfxU7k/s1600-h/hottie%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="hottie" border="0" alt="hottie" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TVoaFfcQz0I/AAAAAAAABRU/PFWqMP1o0gY/hottie_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="375" height="500" /></a> </p> <p align="center">Love you, Babe (even if you are dressed cheesy to cheer for your team, you’re still super hot). :)</p> <p align="center">Happy Valentine’s Day!</p> Reader Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11120942594507988645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7248874180744234780.post-77727860705088682852011-01-26T22:42:00.001-07:002011-01-26T22:42:08.111-07:00little miracles.<p align="center">Before I go any further, thank you soooooo much to everyone for all of your sweet comments and words of encouragement! It's been an overwhelming month to say the least, so it was nice to read through all of your congratulations. Thank you! Some days it feels totally normal that I'm pregnant, and then other days I still have those moments of, "What?!!?? Is this really happening??" It has been a crazy time. Pregnancy is not my favorite thing – but I could definitely have it much worse than I do . Now, when I say that, it doesn't mean I'm not grateful...I know there are many out there who would give anything to be pregnant. My back’s been ‘out’ for almost three weeks and I’ve had more nausea this time than ever before (maybe it’s a boy? :))   And I've especially felt the weight of that this time around while trying to take care of 3 little ones as well as myself. Let's just say that my husband is a lifesaver and the most patient guy ever!! He does way more than his fair share around here, so we are very very lucky girls!! We've had many a laugh about our situation right now...sometimes it's just easier to laugh about it all! <br /></p> <p align="center">I've been so focused on getting through feeling so blah and just asking myself the constant question, "Can I really take care of 4 children?" that I needed to be reminded of the absolute miracle that having a baby is. I loved all of my hospital experiences and remember the birth of each of my daughters perfectly. It is hard to believe that we'll be having another baby in August, but looking at these pictures of my precious little newborns is giving me something to look forward to.</p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TUEFoO39pII/AAAAAAAABPs/_DBV_V7yFbI/s1600-h/Ellie%27s%20Birth%20026%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Ellie's Birth 026" border="0" alt="Ellie's Birth 026" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TUEFomZGyWI/AAAAAAAABPw/Hx-Kk6w6D7k/Ellie%27s%20Birth%20026_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="660" height="500" /></a></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="CK_Alis_Hand_Official"><strong>Ellie Ashlyn – June 29, 2005 </strong></font></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TUEFpO3kpRI/AAAAAAAABP0/-tuAbbeD5Nw/s1600-h/Adelyn%20-%20Newborn%202007%20006%5B12%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Adelyn - Newborn 2007 006" border="0" alt="Adelyn - Newborn 2007 006" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TUEFprzCKjI/AAAAAAAABP4/93xJGdda1F4/Adelyn%20-%20Newborn%202007%20006_thumb%5B8%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="660" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="CK_Alis_Hand_Official"><strong>Adelyn Cate – May 25, 2007</strong></font></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TUEFqCGTH0I/AAAAAAAABP8/7lkGZewtYF8/s1600-h/CIMG5142%5B10%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="CIMG5142" border="0" alt="CIMG5142" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TUEFqnNljuI/AAAAAAAABQA/sG4pvKQhrlM/CIMG5142_thumb%5B6%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="660" height="500" /></a> </p> <p align="center"></p> <p align="center"></p> <p align="center"></p> <p align="center"></p> <p align="center"></p> <p align="center"></p> <p align="center"></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="CK_Alis_Hand_Official"><strong>Macie Abigail – August 31, 2008</strong></font></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TUEFrHTSbfI/AAAAAAAABQE/3kAqiPCs2ds/s1600-h/CIMG5095%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="CIMG5095" border="0" alt="CIMG5095" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TUEFrq2BKgI/AAAAAAAABQI/pxJ4L6BYKhM/CIMG5095_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="660" height="500" /></a> </p> <p align="center">And one of my favorite things ever – when they meet their new sister for the first time (look how stinkin’ little and cute they were back then!).</p> Reader Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11120942594507988645noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7248874180744234780.post-72679292844044522182011-01-04T12:37:00.001-07:002011-01-04T12:37:37.048-07:00one little word 2011.<p> </p> <p align="center">Last year I started doing “one little word” for the year (you can read about it <a href="http://readerfamily.blogspot.com/2010/01/my-2010-word.html" target="_blank">here</a>). It was great. Although I didn’t achieve all of my goals 100%, I made some definite progress, and am glad that I did it. This year, my one little word is smaller, and a bit more focused. With life getting even crazier this year, I needed something simple but important. My one little word is  </p> <p align="center"><font color="#008080" size="6">PRAYER</font>.</p> <p align="center">According to the Gospel Library: </p> <p align="center">‘The Lord Jesus Christ commanded, "Ye must always pray unto the Father in my name" As we make a habit of approaching God in prayer, we will come to know Him and draw ever nearer to Him. Our desires will become more like His. We will be able to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that He is ready to give if we will but in faith.’</p> <p align="center">I can’t think of anything more helpful in my life, my relationship with my husband, and in raising my kids than the blessings from sincere prayer promised here. </p> <p align="center">I also want to be super consistent with family prayer, and truly teach my kids how important prayer is.</p> <p align="center">Gordon B. Hinckley said:</p> <p align="center">‘I feel satisfied that there is no adequate substitute for the morning and evening practice of kneeling together—father, mother, and children. This, more than soft carpets, more than lovely draperies, more than cleverly balanced color schemes, is the thing that will make for better and more beautiful homes.’</p> <p align="center">I am so excited for the new year and all of the adventures and experiences it will bring. And I know it will be even better with consistent, meaningful prayer.  </p> <p align="center">Do you have one little word for 2011?  </p> Reader Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11120942594507988645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7248874180744234780.post-75346763324437129162010-12-29T22:29:00.001-07:002010-12-29T22:29:14.340-07:00sometimes….<p> </p> <p align="center">sometimes, when you think you've got it all figured out...things change.</p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center"> <br />...life throws you a curve ball, just to make things a little more interesting.</p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center"> <br />...an "accident" or a "surprise" if you will.</p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center"> <br />...'cause, you know. life isn't crazy enough already, so let's just make things a little bit crazier.</p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center"> <br /> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TRwYp2tXMOI/AAAAAAAABPk/uBt2hlOnneY/s1600-h/oops.%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="oops." border="0" alt="oops." src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TRwYqZ6s66I/AAAAAAAABPo/y9rINo_r6zc/oops._thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="466" height="480" /></a> <br /></p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center">ya. oops. <br /></p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center">this was the little "surprise" that L.J. and I received on Christmas Eve. <br /></p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center">wish us luck. 4 (and sometimes 5!) seems like a really big number to me right now!</p> Reader Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11120942594507988645noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7248874180744234780.post-56629292740986209552010-12-28T22:19:00.001-07:002010-12-28T22:19:39.105-07:00christmas magic.<p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TRrEuE8XCPI/AAAAAAAABN0/cdKzpnpwyws/s1600-h/IMG_1028%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="IMG_1028" border="0" alt="IMG_1028" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TRrEunEsbKI/AAAAAAAABN4/Sm9s_2lfb04/IMG_1028_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="484" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TRrEvCFkR_I/AAAAAAAABN8/xiUtyi1WTJ8/s1600-h/IMG_1082%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="IMG_1082" border="0" alt="IMG_1082" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TRrEvrdWdfI/AAAAAAAABOA/Ar4Ib55Bog0/IMG_1082_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="484" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TRrEvzSlwYI/AAAAAAAABOE/FaSFmNLWvQI/s1600-h/IMG_1124%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="IMG_1124" border="0" alt="IMG_1124" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TRrEwmsuq_I/AAAAAAAABOI/XVXBTyGK7bw/IMG_1124_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="484" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TRrExDw8QKI/AAAAAAAABOM/aWmrcugOp4Y/s1600-h/IMG_1136%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="IMG_1136" border="0" alt="IMG_1136" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TRrExnbx_3I/AAAAAAAABOQ/b55K328XvaM/IMG_1136_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="484" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TRrEyJRUXPI/AAAAAAAABOU/CMr9whBqFNo/s1600-h/IMG_1137%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="IMG_1137" border="0" alt="IMG_1137" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TRrEyiRGhcI/AAAAAAAABOY/wv0Oq0HOIrc/IMG_1137_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="484" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TRrEywKbuWI/AAAAAAAABOc/eXKKckLhpEw/s1600-h/IMG_1158%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="IMG_1158" border="0" alt="IMG_1158" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TRrEzXAOdsI/AAAAAAAABOg/z3IF_lAHFOU/IMG_1158_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="484" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TRrEz_oTh9I/AAAAAAAABOk/yoTBc3BVTKY/s1600-h/IMG_1173%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="IMG_1173" border="0" alt="IMG_1173" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TRrE0Ubr2zI/AAAAAAAABOo/kMiFWe2GnmY/IMG_1173_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="484" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TRrE05s5kqI/AAAAAAAABOs/0OHz89eSSM8/s1600-h/IMG_1178%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="IMG_1178" border="0" alt="IMG_1178" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TRrE1Z0AlcI/AAAAAAAABOw/JHtz3z4ma54/IMG_1178_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="364" height="484" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TRrE2IEcMmI/AAAAAAAABO0/hMwi9y_14yE/s1600-h/IMG_1179%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="IMG_1179" border="0" alt="IMG_1179" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TRrE2k-4ZeI/AAAAAAAABO4/6v0nymWM7GI/IMG_1179_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="364" height="484" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TRrE3Bm6rJI/AAAAAAAABO8/Ntd07WsVDRw/s1600-h/IMG_1181%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="IMG_1181" border="0" alt="IMG_1181" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TRrE3gKDEXI/AAAAAAAABPA/tliCpfsYDrA/IMG_1181_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="364" height="484" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TRrE4H5YfeI/AAAAAAAABPE/RQiNfvePCq8/s1600-h/IMG_1185%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="IMG_1185" border="0" alt="IMG_1185" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TRrE4ugQhDI/AAAAAAAABPI/cEOH9Dreo6o/IMG_1185_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="364" height="484" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TRrE5IAHCQI/AAAAAAAABPM/M9GUP_dqj-M/s1600-h/IMG_1191%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="IMG_1191" border="0" alt="IMG_1191" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TRrE5kx8TRI/AAAAAAAABPQ/lTWEdDHPkNc/IMG_1191_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="364" height="484" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TRrE51YrxjI/AAAAAAAABPU/YpiMnjlsG3s/s1600-h/IMG_1187%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="IMG_1187" border="0" alt="IMG_1187" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TRrE6daqXaI/AAAAAAAABPY/YnkFwXO1EZA/IMG_1187_thumb%5B6%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="343" height="484" /></a> </p> <p> </p> <p align="center">Our Christmas was magical. Visiting with Santa. Stewart family Christmas party. Christmas Eve dinner out then Temple Square.  Getting new fleece jammies to sleep in on Christmas Eve. Seeing what Santa brought and unwrapping presents. Playing. Homemade doughnuts Christmas morning. Family. Remembering Baby Jesus, and why that baby is so important. It was perfect. Hope yours was too. :)</p> Reader Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11120942594507988645noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7248874180744234780.post-9077459146186832972010-12-24T14:46:00.001-07:002010-12-24T14:46:36.547-07:00Merry Christmas!<p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TRUUuV6YI2I/AAAAAAAABNs/KPpM1z99wnw/s1600-h/001%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="001" border="0" alt="001" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TRUUuybaYTI/AAAAAAAABNw/LbBGVAm4FKk/001_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="640" height="457" /></a></p> Reader Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11120942594507988645noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7248874180744234780.post-43272918397196713912010-12-06T15:25:00.001-07:002010-12-06T15:25:50.314-07:00some pages.<p align="center">There hasn’t been anything too exciting going on around here, just work, cleaning , laundry, and getting ready for Christmas. But due to some complaints that I haven’t been posting very much lately (guilty!), I thought I would post some scrapbook pages I’ve done recently. I’ve had a few friends come over lately that want to get started in digital scrapbooking so I could show them how to get started and show them my favorite sites. If anyone out there is interested, I would love to show you too (not that I am a guru or anything, but I sure love it). Let me know. :)</p> <p> </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TP1itXOzR3I/AAAAAAAABMI/M0orBDo0eA4/s1600-h/addie%20duck%20jammies%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="addie duck jammies" border="0" alt="addie duck jammies" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TP1it4G5r8I/AAAAAAAABMM/UXCgm8IxFqs/addie%20duck%20jammies_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="484" height="484" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TP1iuQewxvI/AAAAAAAABMQ/kYExNWoFokU/s1600-h/addie%20favorite%20thing%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="addie favorite thing" border="0" alt="addie favorite thing" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TP1iukRGfyI/AAAAAAAABMU/VHRekbzzovo/addie%20favorite%20thing_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="484" height="484" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TP1ivO9m0EI/AAAAAAAABMY/_2V3J_NYLHg/s1600-h/schnuggling%20moments%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="schnuggling moments" border="0" alt="schnuggling moments" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TP1ivnXieRI/AAAAAAAABMc/WO_bQwHIKKE/schnuggling%20moments_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="484" height="484" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TP1iwHu9YLI/AAAAAAAABMg/tVffNbP_4Jk/s1600-h/Ellie%20beautiful%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Ellie beautiful" border="0" alt="Ellie beautiful" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TP1iwl8cZjI/AAAAAAAABMk/DhXtbksxYfE/Ellie%20beautiful_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="484" height="484" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TP1ixux8eWI/AAAAAAAABMo/wlJBg1WLcOk/s1600-h/macie%20sweetness%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="macie sweetness" border="0" alt="macie sweetness" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TP1iyAp3VCI/AAAAAAAABMs/OQDxckGqWJQ/macie%20sweetness_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="484" height="484" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TP1iyR6_jWI/AAAAAAAABMw/lWlrKbzyCmQ/s1600-h/so%20in%20love%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="so in love" border="0" alt="so in love" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TP1izn4zHVI/AAAAAAAABM0/5HoGW4yNmyw/so%20in%20love_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="484" height="484" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TP1iz_V_jUI/AAAAAAAABM4/7GUrmOCZExU/s1600-h/Grant%27s%20Bow%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Grant's Bow" border="0" alt="Grant's Bow" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TP1i07PLR-I/AAAAAAAABM8/kOErfMmGZmk/Grant%27s%20Bow_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="484" height="484" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TP1i1V-H2VI/AAAAAAAABNA/Lput4HN2Stk/s1600-h/4%20in%20the%20bed%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="4 in the bed" border="0" alt="4 in the bed" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TP1i2YwSaXI/AAAAAAAABNE/iXP5_4wNYs0/4%20in%20the%20bed_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="484" height="484" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TP1i28s3lcI/AAAAAAAABNI/BELcTmeWcoU/s1600-h/all%20dressed%20up%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="all dressed up" border="0" alt="all dressed up" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TP1i3X_MH7I/AAAAAAAABNM/gBwUrhR0V8w/all%20dressed%20up_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="484" height="484" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TP1i3xqq1CI/AAAAAAAABNQ/vS9FlJwbnTg/s1600-h/amazing%20dad%20-%20grant%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="amazing dad - grant" border="0" alt="amazing dad - grant" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TP1i4rf9ZyI/AAAAAAAABNU/INBbdgLULRU/amazing%20dad%20-%20grant_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="484" height="484" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TP1i5HUkufI/AAAAAAAABNY/Vc0yJgWoeuw/s1600-h/family%20portrait%5B7%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="family portrait" border="0" alt="family portrait" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TP1i5gnV8wI/AAAAAAAABNc/1qMYzPzjP_I/family%20portrait_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="484" height="484" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TP1i6uTxj1I/AAAAAAAABNg/wzanT_nghU8/s1600-h/meeting%20for%20the%20first%20time%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="meeting for the first time" border="0" alt="meeting for the first time" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TP1i7PXA2zI/AAAAAAAABNk/OLza-HKegcc/meeting%20for%20the%20first%20time_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="484" height="484" /></a></p> Reader Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11120942594507988645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7248874180744234780.post-59893639810873765712010-11-16T23:00:00.001-07:002010-11-16T23:00:08.494-07:00thankful.<p align="center">So, I LOVE Thanksgiving and the weeks leading up to it. It makes me, and everyone around me happy. We realize how blessed we are. And we're thankful. <br /></p> <p align="center">I'm thankful for the "regulars"...the givens. You know, our house, our clothes, our cars. So thankful. But this year I've been thinking a lot about all the little things I'm thankful for. <br /></p> <p align="center">Like how all of my girls say “don’t let the crocodiles get you!” every time they say goodbye to someone in person or on the phone.  </p> <p align="center">Or how Ellie will take it upon herself to “read” stories to Macie forever until Macie’s little heart is content.</p> <p align="center">I'm thankful for Grant and how he get so “into” things and they make him so happy (right now it is Bey Blades, before that it was origami, before that it was baseball cards…)</p> <p align="center">I'm thankful for digital scrapbooking.  That I can document our family history and photos and let my creative juices flow. I need that. And that I can make pages without making a mess. </p> <p align="center">I'm so thankful for the way Macie shakes her bootie (gotta get it on video), and how she cracks me up everyday.</p> <p align="center">I’m thankful for great co-workers/friends. If I have to be at work, at least I can hang out with them.</p> <p align="center">I’m thankful for disposable diapers and garbage bags.</p> <p align="center">I’m thankful for Ellie’s young, pure testimony. The other day out of the blue she said, “Mom, it is so cool that if we do something wrong, we can pray to Heavenly Father and he will forget about it, huh?”</p> <p align="center">I’m thankful for Addie and her big brown eyes and how they twinkle when she is really happy. And how she loves Elvis. Seriously.</p> <p align="center">I’m thankful that my kids genuinely love each other.</p> <p align="center">I’m so thankful for L.J. and what a great dad he is. That he takes time for the kids and that our family is his #1 priority. And that he backs my car into the garage every night so it will be a little warmer when I leave for work at 6:15 am.</p> <p align="center">I’m thankful for my (recently inherited from L.J.) iPod. I’m thankful that I can have my music, book, scriptures, day planner, kid entertainer in the store, and brain (notes) all in one teeny tiny place that fits in my pocket.</p> <p align="center">I’m thankful that I get to be a mom.</p> <p align="center">And most importantly, I'm thankful for my testimony of what I know is true....we have a loving Father in Heaven who wants us to return to live with him again some day. I'm thankful for the example of Jesus Christ in my life and that I can share all this with my kids.</p> <p align="center">And I’m thankful for my warm bed that is calling me.. :)</p> Reader Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11120942594507988645noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7248874180744234780.post-52553140044186820032010-11-04T21:23:00.001-07:002010-11-04T21:23:36.196-07:00cute.<p align="center">I think this is my new favorite photo.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TNOGxaTY66I/AAAAAAAABL8/hsEbpaPIzQE/s1600-h/Macie%20Piggie%20Blurred%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Macie Piggie Blurred" border="0" alt="Macie Piggie Blurred" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TNOGx6ILh4I/AAAAAAAABMA/atSOCdAy0uw/Macie%20Piggie%20Blurred_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="660" height="500" /></a> </p> <p align="center">This is typical Macie. Running around naked with some type of accessory – this day it happened to be a piggy hat. She cracks me up everyday. Wow, I love that girl.</p> Reader Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11120942594507988645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7248874180744234780.post-75687314206248904242010-10-27T22:15:00.001-07:002010-10-28T11:40:48.115-07:00booyah.<div style="text-align: center;">L.J. went hunting here - </div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"></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/_X39BbGfUxPA/TMkFPXJXYJI/AAAAAAAABLs/FCBKsvfcuXc/s1600/October+25+2010+014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" nx="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TMkFPXJXYJI/AAAAAAAABLs/FCBKsvfcuXc/s400/October+25+2010+014.JPG" width="400" /></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://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TMkFT0AtDhI/AAAAAAAABLw/8HS6_M2Jn_M/s1600/October+25+2010+015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" nx="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TMkFT0AtDhI/AAAAAAAABLw/8HS6_M2Jn_M/s400/October+25+2010+015.JPG" width="400" /></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;">And shot him. At 300 yards.</div><div style="text-align: center;"></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/_X39BbGfUxPA/TMkFYcSYKaI/AAAAAAAABL0/eZuzH9H9gIg/s1600/October+25+2010+077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TMkFYcSYKaI/AAAAAAAABL0/eZuzH9H9gIg/s320/October+25+2010+077.JPG" width="240" /></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;">Booyah.</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;">(Never mind the fact that I am all but vegetarian and forbid deer meat entering the doors of our home in any form other than jerky. I'm still excited for him :)).</div>Reader Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11120942594507988645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7248874180744234780.post-43397630813631520522010-10-12T14:28:00.001-07:002010-10-12T14:31:46.537-07:00i love my mom.<p align="center">My mom came for her monthly visit last weekend. And boy did we have fun. My kids LOVE it when my mom comes. It has become a tradition in itself. </p> <p align="center">We started off the fun with a visit to Gardner Village (it is Witchapalooza right now):</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TLTS0KuhVvI/AAAAAAAABKc/JgHtpQNGs1k/s1600-h/Gma%20and%20girls%20GV%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Gma and girls GV" border="0" alt="Gma and girls GV" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TLTS0kI-ltI/AAAAAAAABKg/i7J_sm9pN0Y/Gma%20and%20girls%20GV_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="640" height="480" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TLTS1GLUGbI/AAAAAAAABKk/wfwUrss_Qr8/s1600-h/DSCN1757%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCN1757" border="0" alt="DSCN1757" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TLTS1gcxGDI/AAAAAAAABKo/d6OgvQU_Sp0/DSCN1757_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="640" height="480" /></a> </p> <p align="center"></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TLTS2HWPCfI/AAAAAAAABKs/ws-WdLclMT8/s1600-h/Mom%20and%20Mace%20GV%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Mom and Mace GV" border="0" alt="Mom and Mace GV" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TLTS2ujgEAI/AAAAAAAABKw/wlYY-lvy3IA/Mom%20and%20Mace%20GV_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="360" height="480" /></a> </p> <p align="center">We had so much fun just hanging out and being together. That night we baked for hours. All sorts of yummy things, including a new recipe for <a href="http://www.favfamilyrecipes.com/2010/08/elises-homemade-vanilla-granola.html" target="_blank">homemade granola</a> (it is fabulous!).</p> <p align="center">The next evening we went to the elementary school Halloween Carnival. I loved that my mom could be there. The kids had so much fun playing games, playing in the bounce houses, and getting spoiled with all sorts of treats. </p> <p align="center">That night (after all that sugar!)  my mom watched the kids while LJ and I got to go  - are you ready for this? On a REAL date. With another couple. We had <em>fun. </em>Meanwhile, my mom and the girls played Pirates – a longstanding tradition that must take place whenever Grandma comes for a visit. I’m not really sure how it got started, but it is one of their favorite things <em>ever.</em> And each time my mom comes she has a new pirate accessory or new pirate tattoos. Grant’s bed is always the ship.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TLTS2zP7e8I/AAAAAAAABK0/x5a3BhSnmYI/s1600-h/Ellie%20mermad%20GV%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Ellie mermad GV" border="0" alt="Ellie mermad GV" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TLTS3Zq-pVI/AAAAAAAABK4/5bzdwA0u7r8/Ellie%20mermad%20GV_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="320" height="480" /></a> </p> <p align="center">Ellie was a <em>mermaid</em> princess this time – she is always Princess Pink.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TLTS36cfJ7I/AAAAAAAABK8/VdqOTg3k0ew/s1600-h/Pirate%20Addie%20GV%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Pirate Addie GV" border="0" alt="Pirate Addie GV" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TLTS4dy_l9I/AAAAAAAABLA/5qGiMBGpbyU/Pirate%20Addie%20GV_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="360" height="480" /></a> </p> <p align="center">Addie is Captain Jack or Princess Tiana depending on her mood. Here she is a little of both. :)</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TLTS497BS-I/AAAAAAAABLE/RYaAzfRl2sw/s1600-h/Macie%20pirate%20GV%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Macie pirate GV" border="0" alt="Macie pirate GV" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TLTS5eTvg0I/AAAAAAAABLM/iP3zHMzaBqI/Macie%20pirate%20GV_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="360" height="480" /></a> </p> <p align="center">And Mace is always Baby Button.</p> <p align="center">See pirate rules <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BQDc06nNhYY/TC3WQ-W5zrI/AAAAAAAAAA0/khaqiJM6fEA/s1600/Print+Pirate+Rules+2.jpg" target="_blank">here.</a></p> <p align="center">Although I’m just a <em>little</em> bit independent, my mom has always been there whenever I’ve needed her. One day, a few weeks after having Addie, my back went out really bad. LJ had to carry me to bed, because I couldn’t walk. About an hour later, LJ went out to get the mail, and a bee flew out of the mailbox and stung him. He knew he was allergic to bee stings, but hadn’t been stung since he was little, and he couldn’t remember how allergic he was. He immediately got some Benadryl in him, but it was only helping a little bit. And there was no way I could take him to the hospital. Finally, after 150 mg of Benadryl and a few minutes later, LJ was breathing normally but was out cold. In the meantime I was stuck in bed with a newborn and a 2 year old to try to take care of. So I called my mom. She was there in 2 hours (and she lives 1.5 hours away). She stayed for a few days and literally saved us.</p> <p align="center">We sure love her. My kids adore the non-stop attention, thoughtful activities, books read to them to their hearts content, movie nights, and falling asleep next to grandma. I love to watch them interact, and hanging out with one of my best friends.</p> <p align="center">I am so thankful for her. And all she does for us. I realize not everybody has that.  Sometimes I sit and wonder if my kids will ever realize how extremely blessed they are to have that...two sets of adoring grandparents who would do anything in the world for them.</p> <p align="center">Love you, Mom. </p> Reader Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11120942594507988645noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7248874180744234780.post-60011308987729910962010-09-17T11:08:00.001-07:002010-09-17T11:09:21.915-07:00check me out.<p align="center">So, thanks to a sweet friend I canned for the first time this year. And I’m pretty proud of all these jars.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TJOufys8siI/AAAAAAAABJ8/Dor7KOgKZJQ/s1600-h/Jars%5B10%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Jars" border="0" alt="Jars" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TJOugmNe9oI/AAAAAAAABKA/5I-F4InoCU8/Jars_thumb%5B8%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="640" height="480" /></a> </p> <p align="center">We canned spaghetti sauce, salsa, black beans, peaches, and peach jam.  74 jars of goodness. On a funny note, a few days ago I had gone to bed a little while before L.J., and had fallen asleep. When he got in bed he tried to snuggle me, but I guess I kept kicking and pushing him away. The next morning he asked me what that was all about. I dreamed he was smashing blanched tomatoes all over me.  “Too much canning,” was his reply. :)</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TJOuhcKrMtI/AAAAAAAABKM/7aNs-Fr60Jc/s1600-h/Jars%20Close%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Jars Close" border="0" alt="Jars Close" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TJOuiOMVOzI/AAAAAAAABKQ/WswIKaGRhHY/Jars%20Close_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="640" height="480" /></a></p> Reader Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11120942594507988645noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7248874180744234780.post-79002070393086581962010-08-31T18:34:00.001-07:002010-08-31T18:34:48.011-07:00kindergarten.<p align="center">So. The day has come. The day I’ve been dreading for five years. The day Ellie’s been head over heels excited about for the last six months. Today was the first day of kindergarten. </p> <p align="center">We started it off with Ellie’s favorite breakfast – crepes and smoothies.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TH2tliNVmLI/AAAAAAAABIs/ZCsTzxc7rlM/s1600-h/IMG_0221%20B%26W%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_0221 B&W" border="0" alt="IMG_0221 B&W" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TH2tmcovjZI/AAAAAAAABIw/PzT1sa-MlUo/IMG_0221%20B%26W_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="343" height="480" /></a> </p> <p align="center">Then she got ready – which took all morning. Good thing she is in afternoon kindergarten! Here is a girl ready to take on the world.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TH2tmuJVE1I/AAAAAAAABI0/KoVhSA76Y6c/s1600-h/IMG_0224-1%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_0224-1" border="0" alt="IMG_0224-1" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TH2tnoYInbI/AAAAAAAABI4/BEMb68lQugA/IMG_0224-1_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="548" height="768" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TH2tn7KkJeI/AAAAAAAABI8/CkMU8FT1y6s/s1600-h/IMG_0247-1%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_0247-1" border="0" alt="IMG_0247-1" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TH2tpLCjF2I/AAAAAAAABJA/D1eqXy91Suw/IMG_0247-1_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="549" height="768" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TH2tpr6bH0I/AAAAAAAABJE/Q9_JZAlewyA/s1600-h/IMG_0227-1%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_0227-1" border="0" alt="IMG_0227-1" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TH2tqBOrbJI/AAAAAAAABJI/V0kUnEzAMo4/IMG_0227-1_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="640" height="457" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TH2tqlAlBKI/AAAAAAAABJM/BWHFpqO5B0k/s1600-h/IMG_0235-1%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_0235-1" border="0" alt="IMG_0235-1" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TH2trRrpHyI/AAAAAAAABJQ/qEphV_m0pX4/IMG_0235-1_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="549" height="768" /></a> </p> <p align="center">Oh little-big girl. So beautiful on your first day of one of the Great Adventures of life. I am full to overflowing with <strong><em>pride </em></strong>(look at this person! this being of grace and intelligence and laughter and spirit!) and <strong><em>wonder </em></strong>(how did you get to be so big all of a sudden? you are so beautiful!) and <strong><em>anxiety </em></strong>(are you ready for this? have I prepared you enough? will this school experience be what it should be?), and I wipe a few tears, because what else does a mother have but a heart has expanded wide as the universe, and can’t be contained, and so it flows out her eyes?</p> <p align="center">And now, having had you almost literally all to myself for these five years, I feel a rush of hope - tinged with, what is that? sorrow? which sounds like the wind through new leaves as I lift and open my arms, and watch you fly…</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TH2tr24NYiI/AAAAAAAABJU/N_kMbYwHMgQ/s1600-h/IMG_0238%5B12%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_0238" border="0" alt="IMG_0238" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TH2tsqGwzGI/AAAAAAAABJY/jR9-Ub3cRIg/IMG_0238_thumb%5B10%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="576" height="768" /></a> </p> <p align="center">Alright, so everyone I have looked at or talked to for a week has given me that consolatory look - that mourning-with-gladness look that EVERY SINGLE MOTHER has who has sent a kid to kindergarten. I think you must learn how to give that look as part of the first day’s rites of passage.)</p> <p align="center">And here - my last view of her as she went into her new class – the beginning of the next 13 years of her life.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TH2ttD3R7gI/AAAAAAAABJc/eM7tCMRzZb4/s1600-h/IMG_0262-1%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_0262-1" border="0" alt="IMG_0262-1" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X39BbGfUxPA/TH2ttnJ7uMI/AAAAAAAABJg/vEHrpjsCPsI/IMG_0262-1_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="548" height="768" /></a> </p> <p align="center">As for her?</p> <p align="center">She climbed into the bike trailer at 3:30 and I said, “How was your day in kindergarten?”</p> <p align="center">She sat down with a supremely satisfied look on her face, and said, “It was pretty much great.”</p> <p align="center">Yeah, sweet girl. I knew you’d love it. It’s ME that we need to fix up. :)</p> Reader Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11120942594507988645noreply@blogger.com0