tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17010906662519613722024-03-12T20:24:12.320-05:00Tending the Home FiresGlimpses of my family and thoughts on mothering as I tend our home and hearth.melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15690351350193667741noreply@blogger.comBlogger263125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1701090666251961372.post-22373372859132771262012-11-21T04:30:00.000-06:002012-11-21T04:30:02.751-06:00Pictures from Benjamin's Birth...And a Birth Story<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrXeoZef77VkhmzNdJM5tg1HI1pQSdo4-6tdfQxaG7DfE0i4yT-cVqoprWH9A-NgXUNGn_ddoP3QnoEQwOGAna4oLqNvTh0P6VIYpVym9wUE2TvhSJf7gMDPzqokOwpsC2qhz9HJ3fuQM/s1600/ben-birth-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>Seven months later..... ;)<br />
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I wanted to share some pictures from Benjamin's birth, even though I don't have his birth story written out to go with them. His birth was actually pretty difficult for me and that's partially why I haven't written it down, but also because life has been SO crazy and full of a lot of illnesses and injuries and convalescence since he's come. I don't feel like I've had time to just sit and think about his birth and write it out.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEima3045x0ZvE_gP3Ty5rgzxpti6YysqcK0rikAUgzmejEVHhrILg0vTkjl4iDMUAANaO5yWcfZHkM5PHlCPq4vubUhrgIjX6Iu0J_LsRaCtgIU09hUl-W6BdSxGg1y7_x6lyMeq4w3qPk/s400/IMG_0986.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In labor! Getting my blood pressure checked by Midwife Kate, with help from Clem.</td></tr>
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I'm not saying I had a "bad" birth experience, at all. It was a wonderful home water birth and had all the things I love about birthing at home - competent and compassionate midwife care, a calm and peaceful environment, no rushing or frenzy or checking in or monitors, no strangers, happy contented children, and really a somewhat festive and happy mood for the most part! I say it was difficult because for the first time I didn't have a labor that just "happened." Even with my very first baby, I've always had labors that just kicked into gear and never looked back. With Ben, it just sputtered and lagged and wouldn't HAPPEN. It was hard for me to have to DO THINGS to try to keep labor going! It was hard to have to work harder to make the birth happen, instead of the "contractions start-contractions get harder-need to push-push a couple times-baby's here" pattern I've always had in the past. Although it was nice to have longish breaks between sets of contractions, and lots of mild ones mixed in with the strong ones, it sucked to have things drag on.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgc7E2u3SXaTcDGf2pvJyeoCd9dwYwtx1GH-nKOEzCLpnQWkSrpp13sb9PhJZ2MndB5hIgtZ4CsGwcNXGA9uNNEOjNCkNPewlzf5uJpVvve_Q1C0lDz3FyQgjozvvFaSE_RWpq0rx_XWg/s400/ben-birth-49.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrXeoZef77VkhmzNdJM5tg1HI1pQSdo4-6tdfQxaG7DfE0i4yT-cVqoprWH9A-NgXUNGn_ddoP3QnoEQwOGAna4oLqNvTh0P6VIYpVym9wUE2TvhSJf7gMDPzqokOwpsC2qhz9HJ3fuQM/s1600/ben-birth-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrXeoZef77VkhmzNdJM5tg1HI1pQSdo4-6tdfQxaG7DfE0i4yT-cVqoprWH9A-NgXUNGn_ddoP3QnoEQwOGAna4oLqNvTh0P6VIYpVym9wUE2TvhSJf7gMDPzqokOwpsC2qhz9HJ3fuQM/s400/ben-birth-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and Grace and Nurse Megan - Midwives Melanie and Kate, Clementine with Grandma</td></tr>
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Besides my 2-week-early, artificially-induced 12 hour labor with Moses, this was my longest labor at 11 hours. I also had several episodes of prodromal labor during the 10 days before Ben's delivery as well, which were taxing. This labor didn't just carry me along like all the others, and it really threw me for a loop. At one point I just hit an emotional, mental wall and I don't think I could have overcome it without Richard's help and guidance. I really needed him to encourage me, support me and get me through the "I can't do this" to a place where I could focus on labor again. It was actually very interesting because I've never needed him to be that involved during labor before. In the past I've always just kind of wanted to be left alone to do my thing, but this time he had to really be involved and it was nice in a way, even though it sucked. ;)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1mLLQBr5nf2Jd-ySAWgbXhnYea1oxuuWa4S8_LioD6-sUWpxAmHfFY-7UZvAxOjizc-DXVAEo668gHIsqjHc8m6lKMY9wMCwvKOolXBizKtkXmkb_fO_w0PMAfsO81KoW_ZZ7yuyp2FI/s400/ben-birth-53.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw891CYlb-MjvnNJpzwG780nXgHT1LiCKP4breyMGhAeKY7GI0B65fxGU2oJIyul91zNhcTD4YJLnmKNTpvpiPFW6OLociPOGPQGfuPZRjva91VfkeOfpxR_pnGOQZjKxYiC_l2Efojgw/s400/ben-birth-59.jpg" width="400" /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjakmGpZatjvdvjQeHVZ7uJ27VUuBooCBRi7zekmQEPSdzo9PwlVuVQ33dNHvojHGmGhYFQOvn1cQ3zhFrbOrnWrWDG9CXkcd5MoTxPB37YL3nzUkBb3J2DIYOf8KahDXTcYSttq52xZTY/s400/ben-birth-22.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
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I did get to spend a lot of time in the birth tub (YAY FOR THE BIRTH TUB! I love you, birth tub. Why did I ever have babies without you!?) although it tended to stall my labor and I periodically had to get out and walk around. See? That's what I mean about this labor just not kicking in! I've NEVER had labor stall out! Heck, once my contractions start they come on like gangbusters and there's no looking back! To have to get out and walk around just felt insulting. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixNK-ujUwEM0lXmfIhWqlqUarqIpTlzdeu8uILCynF6ueKU2vSk8Gdp5IVCgCcKv-I0bcAJifC3QFH9rndBCFdT5RIP-DxZ-qeYXrJaIMxbh_w9ilnBoUM_6xVkasLu8DoPb4KV8bonHc/s400/ben-birth-8.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
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I've always hated the sensation of pushing - it's not that it's so painful, but it just always feels awful to me - the way my body just takes over and MAKES me push, and although I've never thrown up I always feel queasy and shaky and horrible. Ugh. Thankfully I've been able to rocket all my babies out in a couple of pushes and it's over! The pushing stage for Ben was so so awful. He was posterior for much of my labor (maybe all? I'm not sure if he was born posterior, but I think that had a lot to do with how his birth went, along with the fact that my uterus is probably shot to heck and has about given up on pushing any more babies out). So the pushing stage felt really different. Again, it wouldn't just "happen," I had to work at it so much more! Midwife Kate really had to encourage me to push, as well as putting me in different positions for pushing, etc.<br />
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I realize none of this sounds abnormal or bad or anything, but it was mentally really tough for me when I had 5 other births under my belt that felt like they had been easier. If this had been my first birth, I'm sure it wouldn't have felt so difficult! It was mostly my expectation that things would chug along like the others and bang, baby would arrive. Expectations.....oh how they get us into trouble!<br />
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Okay, well, since I've basically written Ben's birth story at this point, I'll add a few more pieces and then on to the pictures. The kids were hanging out at home the whole time, playing with my parents, talking to the midwives, and eventually going to bed. I loved that part! Clementine was in and out but the boys really weren't interested. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZEneuXUKNzbZ3aXzcwmSYgTob4p1m-glHYNfYUz57c_uKew9jEDdNk1cOzHV_JqX8qviQJ1ESZ-vgHmK0C9Om8IHtno2xa-UNKeVeit4ybq6TG_R7lufBZ_q60NfhR4wbQV07h-s5fgA/s1600/ben-birth-36.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZEneuXUKNzbZ3aXzcwmSYgTob4p1m-glHYNfYUz57c_uKew9jEDdNk1cOzHV_JqX8qviQJ1ESZ-vgHmK0C9Om8IHtno2xa-UNKeVeit4ybq6TG_R7lufBZ_q60NfhR4wbQV07h-s5fgA/s320/ben-birth-36.jpg" width="213" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB8fjwGJTmd6rx8bDRuuzTeUcWQnSX27NDtinnubecmoOCrjTFEfVv3hU7YKMTf7jO2-W5shWgusKJz9VToOOZxGW5hCtx9eEZ-opyR_ujIkgKUC-ltvB0VvG0vr_xYVd_9nlvH1cVwhE/s1600/ben-birth-29.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB8fjwGJTmd6rx8bDRuuzTeUcWQnSX27NDtinnubecmoOCrjTFEfVv3hU7YKMTf7jO2-W5shWgusKJz9VToOOZxGW5hCtx9eEZ-opyR_ujIkgKUC-ltvB0VvG0vr_xYVd_9nlvH1cVwhE/s400/ben-birth-29.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZXvg8_pj8ZJLvrS1BLGHSl2cD6cz_vu0keiIk1oXl00Nll_D56YrxishIbLil-9K2g5PW9YRTM0si8KdRCYpVEmNj0i_e6_JpxPw3kqR0RQfHml0QqmapzcN8wduUItUWrEMEOqlE5xE/s400/ben-birth-12.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Papa and Judah hanging out </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHVwuV58_qw9UVlNFE8hhGb1vE3Fcpz1LsVtXrQ7BDDJei5yuMb_3nsme4VyhR2oQZWIHoqOFwyEIBur3bATl_1G8Ion2U_zpcQSard_hBXmilW3JVuoEEvhswGKC_FDuq9VfkQ7UIoh0/s400/ben-birth-14.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moses getting ready to be a big brother again!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0V8pTZpNrkV_6XmeKJ4RVnN9KZZ4MQidHCpgzlorgrtqXc47rIiQNEqAtY_qDgljhAK7a4NPgtWzi_20Vu47poXuCAMC15RNS_qLsuIef6IhaUpRvwi7eU10nZKMUnHic8aiu7EM-3eY/s400/ben-birth-45.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My mom reading bedtime stories to the younger kids. Judah had already crashed out and didn't meet his new brother until the next morning.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4CYUTnl1HkPuworHVzs_HQJA7sb4QsyFyyPM_64FIVvKcndCZEycDR6Ij9RIp02MX5QrgtH1EGwn_6Vv_e4rPIRlxE7_LOpXfIEKnwAamjkFmNJheRb6ERB3SSRHyVN7I7NQY59-fWm8/s400/ben-birth-17.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snuggling in bed!</td></tr>
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Grace wanted to be with me through the whole labor and delivery this
time as labor support. It was precious to have her there holding my hand
through contractions and witnessing her brother's birth! My mom came in
at the end to help me with the delivery, as Richard was at the other
end to "catch" and Grace wasn't strong enough to hold my hands during
pushing. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg447lAB3-laVHlkr8883yMo99NPShoaWLz0R6WwKu9A2ieCL3vq2t01v1rP6VnRdYrKu2_Ms7wd6_tU5O-3tIEvdkFUhCA6ZINDWn-6gdeF9TYfPfQHMGhmeW-o6xhRViMjba1jxgFkhk/s400/ben-birth-68.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Laboring with Grace</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Cjos4kwzqhR5XnURdtaXJLOo2iLeyqBri8XCshj3-Bq4aIfpLIep__qbDVWAZ43R1sGkEQvE0IwwJPa0N2eNnEIduIanWK8j4xJcsY0YtZdVYmeWgnXlfrFVJbjKom9Ovsl0yxd2SxQ/s400/ben-birth-69.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="266" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Laboring with my mom</td></tr>
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Benjamin was my biggest baby at 8lbs 11oz. Maybe that was why pushing was harder as well? But when it came to the actual birth, it didn't take long. I found out later, I had pushed until he was crowning right to the middle of his head, like right at his eyes. Then I took a breather and with the next contraction I pushed him the rest of the way out! At the time, I didn't know how far he was out already, all I knew was
that I wanted this OVER and I was going to get this baby out already! I
just decided to push him out and be done with it. With a mighty roar, I
half rose up out of the water and pushed him out! (I remember Kate saying she hadn't seen anyone push that much of a baby out all at once.) He went shooting into the water of the birth tub and Richard caught him. <br />
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I was in a total "birth fog" right then, but clear as day I heard Kate's calm voice say, "Melissa, you need to sit down." I sat down and they passed Benjamin through my legs and I pulled him out of the water. We met our little (big!) boy for the first time!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Richard held Benjamin for the first time while I got out of the tub and got into bed. Then there was lots of snuggling with the baby while the midwives checked me out, cleaned up, and did their whole thing. Richard emptied the birth tub and got the room back into ship shape!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2JvosdO7j4yyoOP1BEZ3vbGgj6ycH84uk5jwuVTEoxhVKWupA3fHDnIkcs8fXItiy-QOnmIxSn2UpENBE2wyzvlKHN9qTRsPzSvQ6RLYiys3uQERPOiKCnNGLHwmjKf5yMYkNgUyQSfc/s400/ben-birth-87.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Meeting Benjamin</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZOWRiY11lZ7D1A3F4jba67VJa5MIkm9STsGfzJwd-_9NL53UOjEFJbIkCw-mrVjrn72G40tuq5Kl0YHXg8PnTnUi2oNp7aSEJKF5lVYXRYrao9S029Iff6uLkMBG0h2loWhul1XCwI1c/s400/ben-birth-102.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's okay, little one!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is bliss - absolutely the most amazing moment in life.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHfC5BexHS2Ar3pCG8t5DkYvhAbvUD0i16KdvyFsa_y5X-C08y0i1sExEOSS5NTrb8HnPGX_bo4MJapAMExLr16t-0cf2IqT9PRte8ri_m1Ejfi56ht5y4dI3QnHBDIzA47YcqolKXeMo/s400/ben-birth-95.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="266" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at this face! There is nothing like it - meeting your baby for the first time.</td></tr>
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The midwives checked Benjamin and after making sure we were all good to go, they left and we all went to sleep! The next day the whole family gathered to meet Benjamin.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clementine actually woke up the night Ben was born as was the first to meet him besides Grace.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-U6mltfAka-mPx4UN5h-iUx6ehpK8cJnUehkZhcyvXEhJuuCysPw7yH8_YShYLtDBfUNzPWouFwyixNmmUtr8_DYgLLdtwSE7pfOMZhZjHKwldDxivqqntgttTaCcDnhayn5d3pand_U/s1600/IMG_1021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-U6mltfAka-mPx4UN5h-iUx6ehpK8cJnUehkZhcyvXEhJuuCysPw7yH8_YShYLtDBfUNzPWouFwyixNmmUtr8_DYgLLdtwSE7pfOMZhZjHKwldDxivqqntgttTaCcDnhayn5d3pand_U/s400/IMG_1021.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He's an old pro at this by now, but still a proud papa.</td></tr>
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<br />melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15690351350193667741noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1701090666251961372.post-38349764053756095152012-11-17T09:34:00.001-06:002012-11-17T17:35:48.162-06:00Nature Walk<br />
These are from back in early October, but you don't mind that, right? Just some pictures of us getting out for a Nature Walk, i.e. a walk. ;)<br />
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We went to a cool little area nearby that has trails through the woods and some bridges over a stream. I did urge the kids to observe what they saw, heard, smelled and felt as we walked, but also let them just enjoy being out in nature.<br />
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I appreciate this article entitled <a href="http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/cms_content/1280321506?page=1813116" target="_blank">"The Love and Lure of Nature Walks."</a> The author mentions 7 benefits to get out into nature with your kids:<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
1. Gaining observational and life skills, as well as actually experiencing school lessons so that they become relevant <br />
2. Understanding the connectedness of life <br />
3. Experiencing camaraderie, intimacy, and the joy of making rich family ties <br />
4.
Developing a quiet heart . . . one that can actually be still now and
then, and one that can find benefits from moments of solitude <br />
5. Becoming aware of stewardship and conservation <br />
6. Creating a rich avenue for worship <br />
7. Learning that nothing in nature is “common.” </blockquote>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwP0-2MrVfF7iU22xJna0jreS47YBWg7fE9E_fSZi9YmYZeRiujarelFZZOWolhqWCvE9zywmH23PZnijKHyXPZ4uSJG2-OOXBHpFmcmIr_JpvKTq_iYXjzd9R_TELmhMi6jlOZ4nbgOI/s1600/IMG_3949.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwP0-2MrVfF7iU22xJna0jreS47YBWg7fE9E_fSZi9YmYZeRiujarelFZZOWolhqWCvE9zywmH23PZnijKHyXPZ4uSJG2-OOXBHpFmcmIr_JpvKTq_iYXjzd9R_TELmhMi6jlOZ4nbgOI/s320/IMG_3949.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Watching geese land in a pond</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyKo4Se6i9l7MaZ5nM4yxRtpTNiRtD2YYu5lumMj9pGyUfmzWi2jCd4o-QzZaNa_GbzqvHpA7921hyphenhyphen8SRpd2GlwiYGLB_855RMyT6wsg2I8w-9V5QpCOnb7az5yZFJXxyYeVjOiH1ch9w/s1600/IMG_3947.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyKo4Se6i9l7MaZ5nM4yxRtpTNiRtD2YYu5lumMj9pGyUfmzWi2jCd4o-QzZaNa_GbzqvHpA7921hyphenhyphen8SRpd2GlwiYGLB_855RMyT6wsg2I8w-9V5QpCOnb7az5yZFJXxyYeVjOiH1ch9w/s320/IMG_3947.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moses brought binoculars for better observation</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBinh5bS1ZVslC9tdhFrSOPkCcn2fuq_GBfN7ZvjZCdX-vFtaEFbzB5Tn1Rxhfcng_KY3twru-UWlk6JuftRokdvZ8n8K0x827LGtNBsFxUpw6H2fHmwiZzQ7XKalRpzQcYRKzdH5eD-4/s1600/IMG_3950.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBinh5bS1ZVslC9tdhFrSOPkCcn2fuq_GBfN7ZvjZCdX-vFtaEFbzB5Tn1Rxhfcng_KY3twru-UWlk6JuftRokdvZ8n8K0x827LGtNBsFxUpw6H2fHmwiZzQ7XKalRpzQcYRKzdH5eD-4/s320/IMG_3950.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the bridge</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmV848WJhnrwFUbCmgmR8NdonRLooGW4qJ6MyZyfcPqdsamVZ6Y59Kbo2LY84aLLFKgFpuU_FRM3ESR_x9tcWq9KX6F0Wza5gvXY-jhTcpHO0wqH2S8T8JAay2OcZcbKS1nxlHckLpKEE/s1600/IMG_3951.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmV848WJhnrwFUbCmgmR8NdonRLooGW4qJ6MyZyfcPqdsamVZ6Y59Kbo2LY84aLLFKgFpuU_FRM3ESR_x9tcWq9KX6F0Wza5gvXY-jhTcpHO0wqH2S8T8JAay2OcZcbKS1nxlHckLpKEE/s320/IMG_3951.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stream with a train trestle going over. A train came when we were under it! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivpMobS0V9_-M0QiCSDKK29m-zj3oSg4vSJmnweX4TOPi5_aruKyBRnUt_V7lUvc3r2UABM3M77x-UUg4m01vxyaExmMDARlvwivSX9ZlUngpNRHwku7T0YY84y0zcSnWUfCDD3FiR-Eg/s1600/IMG_3965.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivpMobS0V9_-M0QiCSDKK29m-zj3oSg4vSJmnweX4TOPi5_aruKyBRnUt_V7lUvc3r2UABM3M77x-UUg4m01vxyaExmMDARlvwivSX9ZlUngpNRHwku7T0YY84y0zcSnWUfCDD3FiR-Eg/s320/IMG_3965.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little birds in bushes</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baby tagging along</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidhdj8BvrAmV7q-YZRZtsidEvEhh25_ZCalhDM-qnMpeickCGoAbOGvbXfg1_T0nqurEFJok669wysUPWQXd-mVbvSvPXLwOQkvRTVBv3RgLSxZGm-15WShmoE73hEpn2_Eq41xTkzN1g/s1600/IMG_3974.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidhdj8BvrAmV7q-YZRZtsidEvEhh25_ZCalhDM-qnMpeickCGoAbOGvbXfg1_T0nqurEFJok669wysUPWQXd-mVbvSvPXLwOQkvRTVBv3RgLSxZGm-15WShmoE73hEpn2_Eq41xTkzN1g/s320/IMG_3974.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sleepy!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sassy pants</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">miss grace</td></tr>
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<br />melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15690351350193667741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1701090666251961372.post-21813976629172557962012-10-30T20:41:00.000-05:002012-11-18T08:29:25.293-06:00Clementine is Three<br />
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Wowsa, this little girlie is three! </div>
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Currently she's majorly, obsessively into pink and purple. I'm not sure where that came from (not me!) but it's pretty crazy! The funny thing is that she's also a little bruiser who has Han Solo for an imaginary friend....it's a funny combination of "girliness" and the rough-and-tumble influence of her brothers. (A classic example is her recent observation that "If Batman had pink undies.....that would be totally weird. We wouldn't want to see that.") Haha! Never thought I'd hear "Batman" and "pink undies" in the same sentence! <br />
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Anyway, it seemed appropriate to have a pink and purple themed Third Birthday Party for little Miss C. (Maybe it should have been a Pink Batman themed party??) It was a GORGEOUS fall day, so nice that despite the fact that I had decked out the dining room in pink streamers, pink balloons, pink pennants, etc....we ate outside on the deck! We had the aunts and uncles and grandparents over to celebrate.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Opening presents!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I made this tutu and appliqued shirt. =]</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghbLXTMW3dxjLDTOqri7Iqdv84s3zBWb9rNF6Ex-HxSasJye3S0DeZ-8ES7ilg0Se-UgdpAixzJ6yhwkw5Hj_K5a0dvNbmRoHjs-T5mmfPZYhrPDx0VYkc8NErvlOvRkAWxhT7ObQz7SU/s1600/IMG_4465.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghbLXTMW3dxjLDTOqri7Iqdv84s3zBWb9rNF6Ex-HxSasJye3S0DeZ-8ES7ilg0Se-UgdpAixzJ6yhwkw5Hj_K5a0dvNbmRoHjs-T5mmfPZYhrPDx0VYkc8NErvlOvRkAWxhT7ObQz7SU/s320/IMG_4465.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A froufrou apron from Aunt Steph and Uncle Chris!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpQjJyAVitHrd0xwkVpO313SsgfIXrTCRhffwpOdNMtK1eJCbvmT6A97gH-r9Qxn8AicjoRizZKUIaQ4DUmpCLD-nt0vz2AGaEsJkW9q-XWKmSizUT4CsqsuRvS2FgzYvM8k3fenkC8Bs/s1600/IMG_4466.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpQjJyAVitHrd0xwkVpO313SsgfIXrTCRhffwpOdNMtK1eJCbvmT6A97gH-r9Qxn8AicjoRizZKUIaQ4DUmpCLD-nt0vz2AGaEsJkW9q-XWKmSizUT4CsqsuRvS2FgzYvM8k3fenkC8Bs/s320/IMG_4466.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pink hairbrush...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbCavi8iQxmrOFFicI3JgTNJDVpwAAQUhsT87qEbSuGyweg_E3igEfqmgxu2u9GRiBFFPV2Xrlp-tgkNHFTW14j0OZnJ9uVPedF42hF-KVD4t5DKoaI2o9c7fE9jxJmh_eEWBslBFBgDM/s1600/IMG_4467.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbCavi8iQxmrOFFicI3JgTNJDVpwAAQUhsT87qEbSuGyweg_E3igEfqmgxu2u9GRiBFFPV2Xrlp-tgkNHFTW14j0OZnJ9uVPedF42hF-KVD4t5DKoaI2o9c7fE9jxJmh_eEWBslBFBgDM/s320/IMG_4467.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What else?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTqfW9MI-rJXbycuHL7vlGJaEiza3CvIN6pTjHI8GBY5Rzqb4eQqKFV7AJcude-MKiviyP4X8mBalBTyH32u0867ClmdF5CgDtMwokcLZKL5Hx2abYDf8qB7rXoVZP03ZLM_EiWAP8sdI/s1600/IMG_4469.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTqfW9MI-rJXbycuHL7vlGJaEiza3CvIN6pTjHI8GBY5Rzqb4eQqKFV7AJcude-MKiviyP4X8mBalBTyH32u0867ClmdF5CgDtMwokcLZKL5Hx2abYDf8qB7rXoVZP03ZLM_EiWAP8sdI/s320/IMG_4469.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">pink loofah!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEjA4X4_fvhvWlIT7cQcRzLSOpWS561cVroBYc6DpA70majTk0ff72w3_9sdd43Azk-qlqIVqqQaaVz7gUQ2SQkZ0OqCL-quzyRzcZbeBExR5Vo1XET7R4bxDMm11OngFS8Cz55jmXvbo/s1600/IMG_4470.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEjA4X4_fvhvWlIT7cQcRzLSOpWS561cVroBYc6DpA70majTk0ff72w3_9sdd43Azk-qlqIVqqQaaVz7gUQ2SQkZ0OqCL-quzyRzcZbeBExR5Vo1XET7R4bxDMm11OngFS8Cz55jmXvbo/s320/IMG_4470.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some money =]</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_UcXyPwaA8Q1ptlbQwbkJykRKCJwSVp_kB2yQwwPWBNt8mx7cpC3sW9owJ8grXF9SL4Y_Q481jYOms_6jjztxAelIsOywe_fkpV0XB6uw5yj2nj2RYh-F2UzM0KgMlXVe94fEhnXQ3JQ/s1600/IMG_4471.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_UcXyPwaA8Q1ptlbQwbkJykRKCJwSVp_kB2yQwwPWBNt8mx7cpC3sW9owJ8grXF9SL4Y_Q481jYOms_6jjztxAelIsOywe_fkpV0XB6uw5yj2nj2RYh-F2UzM0KgMlXVe94fEhnXQ3JQ/s320/IMG_4471.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aunty Steph with Ben. Haha, oh Ben, what a face!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX25vCuosakbQEKZUDq8XPGx6JuaC7rSvXRrof1FJ_O4FY46CTOIdT4ye3Fpoe2CDgx4RCd1f7BvBV0izlKOQ2grQje1u-lfVs_Sa6cTw_d84rDHDRhYCoTJ4BZVp9V1e9-La62y_y8-c/s320/IMG_4477.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPF6rlw_d603ZRTs_9pf5JHPTSRQIKw2ZVxu8WOVYJwF8frSbOL0fmArZ46bN2RbeJPhfXcXGtRp5mO6BnwLerugo12M8yN8QFxVhyphenhyphenmESxa91wIRiG1WNHT7Fum3uZ7XjmPTqqST1JuC8/s1600/IMG_4472.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPF6rlw_d603ZRTs_9pf5JHPTSRQIKw2ZVxu8WOVYJwF8frSbOL0fmArZ46bN2RbeJPhfXcXGtRp5mO6BnwLerugo12M8yN8QFxVhyphenhyphenmESxa91wIRiG1WNHT7Fum3uZ7XjmPTqqST1JuC8/s320/IMG_4472.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pink and purple markers! Clementine has stolen all the pink and purple crayons, markers and colored pencils from all the other children in the house, so this was a fantastic gift!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj10XQSaOoGiFVSeafkMqmUsxRHLUevaeVj7n6PFyuiUE4-KOTJJmuBjZmyJFExd0e7HTP385cClWVurh2joJfogEuNNr0rt4oBa_QtYvMSrycziUHR4l8WIKPk6m7d_cKT5Adn2h2wb7c/s1600/IMG_4556.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj10XQSaOoGiFVSeafkMqmUsxRHLUevaeVj7n6PFyuiUE4-KOTJJmuBjZmyJFExd0e7HTP385cClWVurh2joJfogEuNNr0rt4oBa_QtYvMSrycziUHR4l8WIKPk6m7d_cKT5Adn2h2wb7c/s320/IMG_4556.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Pinkie" the doll</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYHqHTYkLP9BDC_sp73FXkHSkL9xnJ4US-orkSmxUXs46oUpDM7cJ2ziqjnP7x9-ESaAm6qvJ4qKCgps3S7y2O2SOcZ88IcEzYPPTzbvoy1KX9QBzVwEPvfit70DoXvvorAzb3RahekNQ/s320/IMG_4387.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I made Pinkie using the free Black Apple Doll pattern and tutorial.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading downstairs for one more present!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7MZevLHArQIdly6p-Kc4p73eakFR-_Ep22-UiNUUU7Ylds-s0iwxKQh7tU7v6Oa1kFqU8XqWZunk8lmnVoXor0-ZEHYmZRxpZ-Q8a_UavL1-BhgNvkN0v_jr6JaU7D-lVCgmH1CZjhew/s1600/IMG_4474.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7MZevLHArQIdly6p-Kc4p73eakFR-_Ep22-UiNUUU7Ylds-s0iwxKQh7tU7v6Oa1kFqU8XqWZunk8lmnVoXor0-ZEHYmZRxpZ-Q8a_UavL1-BhgNvkN0v_jr6JaU7D-lVCgmH1CZjhew/s320/IMG_4474.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grace gave Clementine her American Girl doll Felicity, along with a whole bunch of accessories!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmBbrv6GsVzL6kzmjr1hZDDqYdO-nKwP0WMDy32UeyW7P-ApPx-S8yr20R9iKboQRkpjLn7f-XJhXK0rl1rQNFxG5aBDHSM2un3mNZBFIJ-u7IpSTcquUzNcxihaQJpYV8mVSLSC0EGwY/s1600/IMG_4475.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmBbrv6GsVzL6kzmjr1hZDDqYdO-nKwP0WMDy32UeyW7P-ApPx-S8yr20R9iKboQRkpjLn7f-XJhXK0rl1rQNFxG5aBDHSM2un3mNZBFIJ-u7IpSTcquUzNcxihaQJpYV8mVSLSC0EGwY/s320/IMG_4475.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She was so excited! Clem is always asking Grace to play with "Fayicity." Now she doesn't have to anymore!</td></tr>
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Clementine at three is full of spunk and spirit and cuteness! She's lively, talkative, imaginative, loves babies (especially her baby brother!) and playing outside and copying - at times her brothers and at times her sister. =] I'll share a few little video clips that are a great peak at who our little Clementine is right now:<br />
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Here she's all business, telling me to "Surrender or else go to jail! And that means get off your phone!" Scary!</div>
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She noticed the apples on our tree were turning red, and she thought they were tomatoes, which she refers to as potatoes. =]<br />
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Clementine singing "Clementine." She asks me if I don't like the "lost and gone forever" because I always make a sad face when she comes to that part. And yes, she pronounces her name "Hementine." ;)<br />
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<i>Past Posts:</i><br />
Clementine turns Two <a href="http://tending-home-fires.blogspot.com/2011/11/little-miss-two-year-old.html" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://tending-home-fires.blogspot.com/2011/10/clementine-is-two.html" target="_blank">here</a><br />
<a href="http://tending-home-fires.blogspot.com/2010/10/clementine-turns-one-today.html" target="_blank">Clementine turns One</a> and <a href="http://tending-home-fires.blogspot.com/2010/10/clementines-birthday-montage.html" target="_blank">First Birthday Montage</a><br />
<a href="http://tending-home-fires.blogspot.com/2009/12/clementine-birth-102209-at.html" target="_blank">Clementine's Birth Montage</a> and <a href="http://tending-home-fires.blogspot.com/2009/11/clementines-birth-story.html" target="_blank">Clementine's Birth Story</a><br />
<br />melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15690351350193667741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1701090666251961372.post-7058918126434050542012-10-27T20:37:00.000-05:002012-10-31T08:32:34.042-05:00Outdoor Hour Nature Study - Tree Study Grid<span style="font-size: normal;">This year for the first time I've really started to implement nature study and nature walks into our week. Nature Study is definitely an important part of a <a href="http://simplycharlottemason.com/basics/what-is-the-charlotte-mason-method/" target="_blank">Charlotte Mason education</a>. I have a great ebook from <a href="http://simplycharlottemason.com/" target="_blank">Simply Charlotte Mason</a> titled <span style="font-weight: normal;">"<a href="http://simplycharlottemason.com/store/hours-in-the-out-of-doors/" target="_blank">Hours in the Out-of-Doors: A Charlotte Mason Nature Study Handbook</a>" that has been really helpful, but what has helped me most to get outside and really dive into nature study has been the <a href="http://handbookofnaturestudy.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Handbook of Nature Study Blog</a>.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9NoZJaJoMCEzcjL9LPV5znSOVFM-vRHX6I_5KCYrNMRKTYo6TEBr3b7hYJ6eetPjtKwt3TYrfV_HKzYunYqYhzo9hCKX3MTqO3zHsC2uQaJwKjzNNBvltO37ap2pqAOUmQ8v8QOtGDkM/s1600/2554230385_267cdef370_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9NoZJaJoMCEzcjL9LPV5znSOVFM-vRHX6I_5KCYrNMRKTYo6TEBr3b7hYJ6eetPjtKwt3TYrfV_HKzYunYqYhzo9hCKX3MTqO3zHsC2uQaJwKjzNNBvltO37ap2pqAOUmQ8v8QOtGDkM/s1600/2554230385_267cdef370_m.jpg" /></a><span style="font-weight: normal;">Many homeschoolers are familiar with Anna Comstock's classic <a href="http://www.christianbook.com/handbook-of-nature-study/anna-comstock/9780801493843/pd/93846?item_code=WW&netp_id=154366&event=ESRCN&view=details" target="_blank">Handbook of Nature Study</a> (in fact, the copy I'm using is the same my mother used to teach me and my siblings!)</span> but because it's such a large, comprehensive book, it can be a little overwhelming to use. Enter the <a href="http://handbookofnaturestudy.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Handbook of Nature Study </a><a href="http://handbookofnaturestudy.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">blog</a> and the monthly Outdoor Hour Challenges! When you sign up for her newsletter, you'll get 4 "challenges" a month, along with page references for HNS, extra printables, and ideas to implement your nature study. Super awesome helpful!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: normal; font-weight: normal;">We've done a few of the Outdoor Hour Challenges through September and October, but this is the first one I've managed to blog about. I'm adding a link to the Outdoor Hour Challenge carnival as well so you can check out how other homeschoolers have used this great resource.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: normal; font-weight: normal;">On this day we were using the <a href="http://handbookofnaturestudy.blogspot.com/2012/10/outdoor-hour-challenge-tree-study-grid.html" target="_blank">Tree Study Grid</a> on our walk to the park. (You can see a picture or the Tree Study Grid<a href="http://handbookofnaturestudy.blogspot.com/2012/10/outdoor-hour-tree-grid-another-oak-and.html" target="_blank"> here</a>. It has a bunch of different fun things to do when you're out on your nature walks that all have to do with trees. You can get your own by signing up for the newsletter.)</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the activities was to find a tree with needles. Here Judah (age 4 1/2) is making a sketch in his nature notebook.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Most of the trees around here are already pretty bare.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Measure the distance around three trees." Check!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Judah sketching. We were supposed to compare the front & back of a leaf.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grace's sketch.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moses' sketch.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Benjamin doesn't sketch - he gets to swing.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0zipkyCSP17hw4XsrxLM4aoqlAMLmdf77sq5wZQJrJeiBvGQ9hRyJhNj2DXdg5frhS_oZ1jCrgvePRlfsNQCvxcWahlEdo15sJw7MpmPygk1t-VssEOX77gnuWJXFEkjRGrtpmqI1teQ/s1600/IMG_4311.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The kids were also supposed to take pictures of the different parts of a tree. Here's some roots!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roots</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trunk</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trunk & Branches</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjiVf8AuKmfPEEbLNQhN9QGbvd3vSdh8QMCLOrJhrakcYiecgyTPR3ZV-M8fRFVhhogYatIjuk2lWCIvccdTxOcQ9DezfLnuOTRtrwk6JKh2p2LHnoebiG-onxF-7rfdwCl5902cyA8q0/s1600/IMG_4316.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjiVf8AuKmfPEEbLNQhN9QGbvd3vSdh8QMCLOrJhrakcYiecgyTPR3ZV-M8fRFVhhogYatIjuk2lWCIvccdTxOcQ9DezfLnuOTRtrwk6JKh2p2LHnoebiG-onxF-7rfdwCl5902cyA8q0/s320/IMG_4316.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Branches</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0zipkyCSP17hw4XsrxLM4aoqlAMLmdf77sq5wZQJrJeiBvGQ9hRyJhNj2DXdg5frhS_oZ1jCrgvePRlfsNQCvxcWahlEdo15sJw7MpmPygk1t-VssEOX77gnuWJXFEkjRGrtpmqI1teQ/s320/IMG_4311.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leaves</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf7T40Y1DLe0hbUX1nClUDVPfX6ssJYPncfiqDHKfQbfwXk3eGOjwQ4Nom4tK1b4Lh9EKB_wqaWUH_fgwXKnbjz2Mi-Vz5L8G8ScriZIEPLkYPkYDkTRVrtNi1NFLbMuzCAk8n60djS6k/s1600/IMG_4318.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf7T40Y1DLe0hbUX1nClUDVPfX6ssJYPncfiqDHKfQbfwXk3eGOjwQ4Nom4tK1b4Lh9EKB_wqaWUH_fgwXKnbjz2Mi-Vz5L8G8ScriZIEPLkYPkYDkTRVrtNi1NFLbMuzCAk8n60djS6k/s320/IMG_4318.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtUUPMgnxYlmqp8PekIaEgQ6jNjju2xfzAFwQw6NmnjRt6Y1IQJc_3smE_kqdMbVvD6ViHEj8LaJlkes7CQ8Fz_O_cIBfY_vw1rStHXrXIkP8H46xdibmUw1fQEjuhoczC9qon6YH_k7c/s1600/IMG_4319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtUUPMgnxYlmqp8PekIaEgQ6jNjju2xfzAFwQw6NmnjRt6Y1IQJc_3smE_kqdMbVvD6ViHEj8LaJlkes7CQ8Fz_O_cIBfY_vw1rStHXrXIkP8H46xdibmUw1fQEjuhoczC9qon6YH_k7c/s320/IMG_4319.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grace & Lucy</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSZYg3s60PuGvoqFG_H8eLM4QYF612Oxdx49LfAuRWABQbhT1Nv1uPEEZm2G-cFs_syRHbWh_Sd0JH_6PDjBCzlM0LScxePf99YQHbr1SyUPSqK6hCru2VIv5Bpa0wKB6zHajgoPS4Z7w/s320/IMG_4312.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A few of the remaining trees with leaves</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5-Tc95Ys_76qxc0VMteBfor1jrYhN5BtnCfNkpNjqji6qxYOzAwWqV3oA8uYJueh11xUSgfB9EuSQOBRuVG0jot8IViC-RVA7WkOqL_I_pM8cWWBqk3QQYSjptI0_zijQcem2IyOHNI8/s1600/IMG_4320.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5-Tc95Ys_76qxc0VMteBfor1jrYhN5BtnCfNkpNjqji6qxYOzAwWqV3oA8uYJueh11xUSgfB9EuSQOBRuVG0jot8IViC-RVA7WkOqL_I_pM8cWWBqk3QQYSjptI0_zijQcem2IyOHNI8/s320/IMG_4320.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When we got home, a jump in the leaf pile was in order!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgggsE0WslfMbHaQnBdkbx2JZ268Zgzpc_-nb6tfO8m92MFixUluPldrUg0nJgjjlpuveZzgfa6DHgQwHbVcRNlJ0MHvLvrJkfdOGF7_wKd23_3mG7qY7OnIYrmVGp-ZhymnNO-VAzSkhc/s1600/IMG_4321.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgggsE0WslfMbHaQnBdkbx2JZ268Zgzpc_-nb6tfO8m92MFixUluPldrUg0nJgjjlpuveZzgfa6DHgQwHbVcRNlJ0MHvLvrJkfdOGF7_wKd23_3mG7qY7OnIYrmVGp-ZhymnNO-VAzSkhc/s320/IMG_4321.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Miss C in the leaves</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: normal; font-weight: normal;">This was a fun Outdoor Hour Challenge - there were some other things on the grid as well that I didn't get pictures of, like reading a library book on trees, learning about a tree close to your house, and observing birds in trees. The grid is easy to bring with you on walks and check off throughout the week! </span><br />
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<script language="JavaScript1.1" type="text/javascript"><!--<br>bc_width="300"; bc_height="645"; bc_color_text="#666666"; bc_color_link="#0000FF"; bc_color_bg="#FFFFFF"; bc_id=9182; bc_format=2;<br>// </script></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgouFfGuV947Q3undiH0TiCTPVfHPhVEvJa_pooKJm3FK4-05Exal75QantDKamg7fsHd8wy4L9PKO2B5YkVTLNyhZ4GWqAv9VST8u_MlaXQxTkPcv5TPe8AK6cWUDaUkCdIlMtoKapgtc/s1600/2554230385_267cdef370_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgouFfGuV947Q3undiH0TiCTPVfHPhVEvJa_pooKJm3FK4-05Exal75QantDKamg7fsHd8wy4L9PKO2B5YkVTLNyhZ4GWqAv9VST8u_MlaXQxTkPcv5TPe8AK6cWUDaUkCdIlMtoKapgtc/s200/2554230385_267cdef370_m.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">Linking to the <a href="http://handbookofnaturestudy.blogspot.com/2012/08/updated-outdoor-hour-challenge-instructions.html" target="_blank">Outdoor Hour Challenge</a>. </span></td></tr>
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melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15690351350193667741noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1701090666251961372.post-43671247829990602282012-09-01T16:00:00.000-05:002012-09-03T09:08:33.855-05:00Cloth Diapers on the Cheap<div style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVroXYc9QSWgOY4NT30ewo6moVFnn7J5HUGWD6TWsmQDtvtXhAqu9elliifzFeS9bgXaXIXk2OZ-pdvGKYM_59AHSgd171u-GJmAfAVV_Ehk9t7gtG1ckvc9Bme-eXaWDU0V9FuiavYCA/s1600/PICT0113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVroXYc9QSWgOY4NT30ewo6moVFnn7J5HUGWD6TWsmQDtvtXhAqu9elliifzFeS9bgXaXIXk2OZ-pdvGKYM_59AHSgd171u-GJmAfAVV_Ehk9t7gtG1ckvc9Bme-eXaWDU0V9FuiavYCA/s320/PICT0113.JPG" width="320" /></a>One of the biggest obstacles to switching to cloth diapers is the initial cost. Although the overall savings (not to mention the benefits for baby's health and the environment) are enough for many families to desire the switch, having to shell out many hundreds of dollars all at once can be a big deterrent. <br />
<span style="font-size: normal;"></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;">Here's a couple of ways that we have saved on cloth diapers, and some corners you can cut to make that initial expense (and any further expenses) a little less burdensome.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
<span style="font-size: normal;"><b>1. Buy Used</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;">This is obviously a big one, and the obvious first choice for many of us who already buy clothes at thrift stores and furniture off Craigslist. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: normal;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: normal;">Used diapers may sound gross, but many mamas treat their cloth diapers like fine linen - only using the best cloth diaper-friendly detergents, no bleach, line-drying, and sunning out all stains. The result is that you can buy used diapers that are in great condition for cheaper than new. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: normal;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: normal;">Most cloth diapers have great resale value, so treat 'em well and you could easily get some of your money back when you're done using them! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: normal;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: normal;">Stores that sell preowned diapers inspect them carefully and rate them according to quality, so you can be sure you're getting diapers in the condition you want.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><i><b>Some great places to look for used cloth diapers:</b></i></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;">Craigslist - ours usually has a couple pages worth of cloth diapers.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><a href="http://www.diaperswappers.com/">Diaper Swappers</a> - a great site to buy, sell and trade all things cloth! (Another option on this site: many mamas have an "In Search Of" list, and are willing to <i>trade</i> dipes for something on their list. See #3 for more about trading!)</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Fluffswappers" target="_blank">Fluff Swappers</a> on Facebook </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><a href="http://www.clothdiaperoutlet.com/cloth-diaper-outlet-used.html" target="_blank">Cloth Diaper Outlet Gently Used Items</a></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><a href="http://www.jilliansdrawers.com/products/clothdiapers/gentlyused" target="_blank">Jillian's Drawers Gently Used Outlet</a></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><a href="http://www.diaperjunction.com/used-cloth-diapers.html" target="_blank">Diaper Junction Preowned Diapers</a></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><a href="http://allaboutclothdiapers.com/how-to-successfully-buy-used-cloth-diapers/" target="_blank">How to Successfully Buy Used Cloth Diapers</a></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><b>2. Buy Clearance</b></span><span style="font-size: normal;"><b><span style="font-size: normal;"><b> Items</b></span> & Seconds </b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;">Many stores sell "second" quality items, overstock, discontinued or unused returned items for a deep discount.When diaper manufacturers come out with a new version of their diaper, the old ones need to be cleared out quickly - what a great way to get perfect diapers for cheap!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: normal;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: normal;">Usually seconds have minor flaws that don't effect the functionality of the diaper. I've gotten some great deals on seconds and haven't even been able to tell why they're less than perfect!</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><b> </b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: normal;"><b><i>Some places to find clearance and seconds:</i></b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><b><i> </i> </b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><a href="http://www.clothdiaperoutlet.com/cloth-diaper-outlet-new.html" target="_blank">Cloth Diaper Outlet New Clearance Items</a></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><a href="http://www.diaperco.com/store/c/22-Like-New-Seconds.html" target="_blank">Diaperco Like New & Seconds</a></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><a href="http://www.tinytush.com/diaper-sale.html" target="_blank">Tiny Tush Clearance</a></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><a href="http://www.swaddlebees.com/Products/Clearance" target="_blank">Swaddlebees Clearance Store</a></span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><a href="http://clothdiaperclearance.com/index.php" target="_blank">Cloth Diaper Clearance</a></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><a href="http://www.cottonbabies.com/index.php?cPath=51" target="_blank">Cotton Babies Clearance </a></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><b>3. Trade or Swap for Diapers</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;">Bartering is back! Even though cash may be limited, you may have items or skills that other people want! I've used Swap Mamas to get quite a few of my diapers. I've either traded items I have or sewn crafty little items to trade for diapers. Sometimes a diaper that just doesn't work for you is exactly what another mama is looking for! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: normal;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: normal;">There may be local diaper swaps happening in your area (check local natural foods co-ops, natural baby stores, and other baby-related businesses for swaps!). These are great places to meet other cloth diapering families and score some new-to-you diapers, while passing yours on to someone else.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: normal;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: normal;"><i><b>There are online swap groups as well:</b></i></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheFluffExchange?sk=wall" target="_blank">The Fluff Exchange</a> on Facebook</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/DiaperSwap" target="_blank">Cloth Diaper Swap</a> on Facebook</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><a href="http://www.diaperswappers.com/" target="_blank">Diaper Swappers</a> - buy, sell, trade!</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><a href="http://www.swapmamas.com/" target="_blank">Swap Mamas</a>- no money is exchanged on this site. You can "swap" for almost anything, but there's also a specific cloth diaper category.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><b>4. Trade In Your Used Diapers for New Ones</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwFI4-LVzvmiayYo9cFV9AVrxBRmPCxImErHlIRu1h55Lk28lIN7q_lGoZARmPgeGqwoPizqiq93CqN_hwdJiOnRvK4iiZuzl-ediM41CNh4wp7d7ax7XBC2JO7tyC8rZaOElEVgnwnbM/s1600/rrr-no-arc.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwFI4-LVzvmiayYo9cFV9AVrxBRmPCxImErHlIRu1h55Lk28lIN7q_lGoZARmPgeGqwoPizqiq93CqN_hwdJiOnRvK4iiZuzl-ediM41CNh4wp7d7ax7XBC2JO7tyC8rZaOElEVgnwnbM/s200/rrr-no-arc.gif" width="200" /></a>This is similar to trading and buying used. Some stores allow you to trade in your outgrown diapers to receive store credit for new ones. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: normal;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: normal;">Of course, if you're planning on diapering another baby, you might want to hang on to your outgrown diapers so your next baby can be diapered for FREE, but if you're diapering your last child or cash for new diapers is especially short, this can be a great way to "size up".</span><br />
<span style="font-size: normal;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: normal;">Keep this in mind as you use your diapers - you'll get a lot more value for your used diapers if you have kept them in excellent condition and stain-free. Line drying and sunning to remove stains are two of the best ways to extend the life of your diapers and maintain their value.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: normal;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: normal;"><i><b>Trade 'em in here: </b></i></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><a href="http://www.cottonbabies.com/index.php?cPath=137" target="_blank">Cotton Babies <i>Growing Up in Cloth </i>Program </a>- When your baby outgrows your cloth diapers, you may be able to trade them in for credit at Cotton Babies! </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><a href="http://www.clothdiaperoutlet.com/trade-in-cloth-diapers" target="_blank">Cloth Diaper Outlet Buy-Back Program </a></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><a href="http://re-diaper.com/pages/TradeYa.htm" target="_blank">Re-Diaper </a></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><a href="http://www.happybabycompany.com/Cloth-Diaper-Trade-In-Program_p_649.html" target="_blank">Happy Baby Company Trade-In Program</a></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><b>5. Try to Win Diapers!</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;">There are TONS of cloth diaper giveaways on the internet. Tons. If you have the time and desire, you could probably enter a dozen giveaways a day! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: normal;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: normal;">Most require things like leaving comments on blogs, "liking" Facebook pages, and signing up for newsletters. If those things aren't a problem for you, it could be a great way to get cloth diapers for free. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: normal;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: normal;">I personally have tried to win diapers on occasion but the amount of email newsletters and Facebook pages I had to join started to get to be too much. However, I do know that some people have built most of their stash via giveaways!</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><i><b>Here's a few places to start for giveaways:</b></i></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><a href="http://www.diaperjunction.com/Contests-Giveaways_bc_4.html" target="_blank">Feed Your Stash Fridays</a> at Diaper Junction</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><a href="http://www.clothdiapergiveaways.com/" target="_blank">Cloth Diaper Giveaways </a> </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><a href="http://www.clothdiapercontests.com/" target="_blank">Cloth Diaper Contests </a></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><a href="http://change-diapers.com/category/giveaways/" target="_blank">Cloth Diaper Giveaway Friday Roundup</a></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><a href="http://www.theclothdiaperwhisperer.com/search/label/Fluff%20Fridays" target="_blank">Fluff Fridays at</a> The Cloth Diaper Whisperer</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: normal;"><b>6. Watch For Sales</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAyC0pT4InGfMUc6KmIT7T3GELM2mBLsSp_pa88Pf8O_WfFfLNuLlR6F0V1MHHhhzCXlR7gZQz9-Y_S9gmmuO5YLTN6jFiQJWbtT2zSAe3wvFTMu1VL1LsURBxTCODcVYZooe_r4deFZU/s1600/B5G1_Product400x400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAyC0pT4InGfMUc6KmIT7T3GELM2mBLsSp_pa88Pf8O_WfFfLNuLlR6F0V1MHHhhzCXlR7gZQz9-Y_S9gmmuO5YLTN6jFiQJWbtT2zSAe3wvFTMu1VL1LsURBxTCODcVYZooe_r4deFZU/s200/B5G1_Product400x400.jpg" title="" width="200" /></a> </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;">This is pretty obvious, but it's worth mentioning. Online cloth diaper retailers almost always have sales going on! Signing up for their newsletters will give you a heads up on which items are currently on sale. Also, diaper manufacturers will often offer deals on their diapers, regardless of where they're sold - for example, BumGenius is currently offering a Buy 5 Get 1 Free sale. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;">Your local retail cloth diaper store will most likely have periodic sales as well!</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><b>7. Earn Reward Points for Free Diapers</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;">Many stores offer rewards programs to help you earn free diapers. Usually each purchase will reward you with a certain number of points, which you can redeem when you have enough. Sometimes you can also earn rewards for leaving product reviews, referrals, participating in polls, and signing up for their newsletter. Sometimes there's a time limit in which to use your points, and some products are excluded due to manufacturer regulations. Still, if you have a favorite site to buy diapers, a reward program can be a great deal! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: normal;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: normal;">One of <a href="http://www.peapods.com/page.cfm/Rewards.html" target="_blank">my favorite local cloth diaper retailers</a> also offers a rewards program. Be sure to check for similar programs at your favorite local cloth diaper store!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: normal;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: normal;"><i><b>A few online rewards programs:</b></i></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_186561785"><br />
</a></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><a href="http://www.diaperjunction.com/stash-cash.html" target="_blank">Diaper Junction Stash Cash</a></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><a href="http://www.kellyscloset.com/FREE-Diapers_ep_59-1.html" target="_blank">Kelly's Closet Free Diapers </a></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><a href="http://www.fuzzibunzonline.com/Diaper-Dollars_ep_71-1.html" target="_blank">FuzziBunz Diaper Dollars</a></span><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: inherit;"></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: normal;"><br />
</span></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqW4Wg713hVNb4fBzHwApBDfHm02bp42oKMKNTDraKYB6DGBggMOgDbDO_OrIDGY2xefC3Vb4hcsRXiq8OyAtNsy6QAO7dfg0ZWx6Pp-SMoqcrPF5u9oo1xvMYYeK2wW1wA5RDUftMiMo/s1600/PICT0062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqW4Wg713hVNb4fBzHwApBDfHm02bp42oKMKNTDraKYB6DGBggMOgDbDO_OrIDGY2xefC3Vb4hcsRXiq8OyAtNsy6QAO7dfg0ZWx6Pp-SMoqcrPF5u9oo1xvMYYeK2wW1wA5RDUftMiMo/s320/PICT0062.JPG" width="228" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clementine in a recycled wool cover.</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: normal;"><b>8. Sew Your Own Diapers </b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: normal;">Wow, there are so many resources out there for sewing your own diapers if you have a sewing machine (doesn't have to be fancy!) and basic sewing skills. Cloth diaper fabric is easy to find these days (even Joann's is selling diaper supplies, patterns and fabric now!) and there are many patterns for sale & for free online. Often times you can use thrifted material to make your own diapers too! (See my other post on <a href="http://tending-home-fires.blogspot.com/2010/04/recycled-wool-butt-sweaters.html" target="_blank">recycled wool diaper covers</a>). </span><br />
<span style="font-size: normal;"><b> </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: normal;"><i><b>Here's a couple great links to get you started:</b></i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: normal;"><a href="http://verybaby.com/" target="_blank">Very Baby</a> - a one-stop shop for sewing diapers! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: normal;"><a href="http://littlecomettails.com/patterns/" target="_blank">Little Comet Tails</a> cloth diaper patterns</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: normal;"><a href="http://www.diaperjungle.com/sewing-cloth-diapers.html" target="_blank">Mega-list of Sew Your Own Diaper resources</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: normal;"><a href="http://diapersewing.com/">DiaperSewing.com</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: normal;"><a href="http://www.verybaby.com/sew-a-prefold-diaper-the-real-way/" target="_blank">How to Sew a Prefold the Real Way </a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: normal;"><a href="http://katrinassqs.blogspot.com/2007/10/free-soaker-pattern.html" target="_blank">Katrina's Soaker Pattern</a> (I use this one to make ALL my wool diaper covers!)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: normal;">Knit or crochet your own diaper covers/wool longies! Many patterns can be found on Etsy. (Like <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/60009904/pattern-bundle-butt-knits-basic-longies" target="_blank">this one</a> and <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/107364807/odyssey-soaker-pattern" target="_blank">this one</a>).</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: normal;"><a href="http://prefold2fitted.blogspot.com/2011/08/basic-serged-prefitteds.html" target="_blank">Turn prefold diapers into fitted diapers</a> (I've used this tutorial on some of my prefolds and I love it!)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: normal;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKKFNdfHRpQ" target="_blank">Make Prefolds from recycled t-shirts!</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: normal;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: normal;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: normal;"> <span style="font-size: normal;"><br />
</span><b><span style="font-size: normal;">9. Buy Less-Expensive Diapers</span></b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: normal;">Kind of a "duh", but the easiest way to spend less on cloth diapers is to....spend less on cloth diapers. ;)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: normal;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: normal;">There are lots and lots of fancy diapers out there with lots of amazing features. But many times a big price tag comes along with the bling. The fancy diapers may be alluring, but going with something simpler will definitely save you money. When buying diapers, consider how much each diaper change is costing you. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: normal;">For example, Benjamin is 5 months old and I change him roughly 4-5 times a day. (He can make it through the night without a change). Now let's say I'm using <a href="http://www.diaperjunction.com/bumgenius-organic-all-in-one-cloth-diapers.html" target="_blank">BumGenius Elemental All In One diapers</a> (I do own one of these that I bought used and it's a great diaper!). These cost $24.95 new and are one of the fancier diapers commonly sold at retailers. You snap it on baby and go, and toss the whole thing to the wash after changing. So these diapers would cost me $25 a change, or $100+ a day. </span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR9uwxTAnFkRbVN4_mydfwWz55OuFQHEDUqRO-8WYnhdl4399V6bq0AmZzucobWGzO6GmhFmJt_qLfLDMp8i42Fc_E1zWBjAIldwz2l5vVIjdSVLvYq9q50RSWF2uXxUsJoyQAEV3ucwY/s1600/PICT0217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR9uwxTAnFkRbVN4_mydfwWz55OuFQHEDUqRO-8WYnhdl4399V6bq0AmZzucobWGzO6GmhFmJt_qLfLDMp8i42Fc_E1zWBjAIldwz2l5vVIjdSVLvYq9q50RSWF2uXxUsJoyQAEV3ucwY/s320/PICT0217.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Newborn Moses in a prefold & cover</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: normal;">Now lets say I'm using <a href="http://www.diaperjunction.com/diaper-rite-prefolds.html" target="_blank">Diaper Rite Prefold diapers</a> (which are my favorite and make up the majority of my stash!) in size medium, along with a <a href="http://www.diaperjunction.com/diaper-rite-diaper-cover.html" target="_blank">Diaper Rite Cover.</a> The prefold costs $2.59 and the cover costs $8.95, so each change would cost me $11.54 - less than half the cost of the BumGenius! But that's not all! Often times only the prefold needs to be thrown to the wash - as long as the cover isn't poopy, I can wipe it off and hang it to dry for the next diaper change. In this way, I can use just 2 covers each day instead of 4 or 5, so my cost-per-change is reduced even more! Using recycled wool covers or homemade prefolds would cut the cost of each change down to only a couple of bucks per change.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: normal;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: normal;">There's obviously a lot of variables in how much each diaper change costs based on what kind of diapers you buy. If you use all-in-ones or pocket diapers, the whole thing gets tossed to the wash each change. Using prefolds or fitteds with covers, or <a href="http://www.diaperjunction.com/all-in-two-cloth-diapers.html" target="_blank">all-in-two systems</a> allows you to sometimes reuse the cover for more changes.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: normal;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: normal;">I like to have a few "fancy" diapers to keep in my diaper bag for on-the-go changes, but have found prefolds and prefitteds with covers to be the most economical for the majority of our diapering.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: normal;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: normal;"><b>10.</b> <span style="font-size: normal;"><b>Special Discounts</b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: normal;">Some people in special circumstances can receive discounts or free diapers. There are <a href="http://www.diapermybaby.com/military-discount.html" target="_blank">military discounts</a>, <a href="http://www.cottonbabies.com/index.php?cPath=58" target="_blank">diaper grants for missionaries</a>, and <a href="http://www.givingdiapersgivinghope.org/" target="_blank">free cloth diapers for low-income families</a>. Check your area for local cloth diaper banks (like <a href="http://www.heinyhelpers.org/Heiny_Helpers/Home.html" target="_blank">Heiny Helpers</a>) if the ideas above are still out of your means. </span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">********</div><br />
<span style="font-size: normal;">And remember, if you care for your diapers properly, they should last for your next child to use! You could potentially diaper a second child for free! Now that's a cost-savings you can't beat. =] </span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Linking up with: </span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://gnowfglins.com/2012/08/30/simple-lives-thursday-111/#" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq2LmjKwqCmZrm_5lFGJLH5YJisbsQQ4vt6I5KCgb0hqnGtBgVxpdRloDuwLtqTCPRHbG-_occjhkJteyo7YTDamKLQk-eAgtKOVSSM3AGCVTocTQw7dE8LJ8QuJtMC4lwmWGlj2TSISs/s320/simple-lives-thursday1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><br />
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</span></div>melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15690351350193667741noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1701090666251961372.post-9134034669150690162012-08-29T18:14:00.001-05:002012-08-29T21:21:47.318-05:00Wrap LoveMy new Girasol wrap. I am in love.<br />
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For any babywearing aficionados, this is a Girasol Light Rainbow diamond weave, creme weft, size 6. </div>
melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15690351350193667741noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1701090666251961372.post-69414261328785675312012-08-22T11:11:00.002-05:002012-09-01T16:57:01.666-05:00Introducing HoneyBee Organic Unpaper Towels!I just wanted to share a new little venture of mine:<br />
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These are "Unpaper Towels" - the way-better-than-paper-towels, eco-friendly, cost-saving alternative to paper towels and napkins!<br />
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I initially just wanted some for myself, but I found such a good deal on the *perfect* fabric, that I bought extra and sold some to a few friends. But I had a ton of other requests, so I bought even MORE fabric and am whipping up as many as I can!<br />
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Here's my little website with info: <a href="http://honeybeetowels.weebly.com/" target="_blank">HoneyBee Organic Unpaper Towels</a><br />
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They get scooped up as quickly as I can make them, but I'm trying to keep up with requests!melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15690351350193667741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1701090666251961372.post-68978041911222901592012-08-21T14:26:00.002-05:002012-08-29T18:15:25.960-05:00Benjamin @ 4 MonthsHere's our chunker at four months old (beginning of August):<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP8kP9wuRnuhwddo27yTMwgWkowGNkdQkXxnBB466DAcjdPd5vF3OsTyy93OLiuyC0_dlwO2CzmzW9cjHPbxawdsuwSNrXZaVtdpVTGRv6iYrSady67BsOAJCbdVzNf_97pUBQKqsCgTk/s1600/IMG_3274.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP8kP9wuRnuhwddo27yTMwgWkowGNkdQkXxnBB466DAcjdPd5vF3OsTyy93OLiuyC0_dlwO2CzmzW9cjHPbxawdsuwSNrXZaVtdpVTGRv6iYrSady67BsOAJCbdVzNf_97pUBQKqsCgTk/s320/IMG_3274.JPG" width="320" /></a>• He's huge. HUGE. He was our biggest baby at birth (8# 13oz) and since then he's become obscenely obese. In a very cute, squishy, squeezable baby way. By 2 months he had already gained 7 lbs and now he has hit 20 lbs!<br />
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• He's a puker. Some of you may remember how Moses regurgitated tidal waves of puke for his 9 months of life. Benjamin is following suit - I'm *always* damp with upchucked curdled milk and I have burp cloths (okay, receiving blankets) strategically placed all over the house to be within arm's reach whenever a gallon of milk comes projecting out of Ben's mouth. Which is often.<br />
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• He's happy. All my babies have been happy, and Ben is no exception. He's sweet and cheerful most of the time!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikBUsjFdlq7WaPTr5UcHR05eAnqznUZT-BcHVdrB-MJUI94JBGVtLdqq2L0WkhRTUu_TVgVTk28Orfr4VQ1h662YUBT5CAi662Hi_WmYNRGg3thF1KfyWXsuxb6WrgpHbcTeBcmo4TA38/s1600/IMG_3162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikBUsjFdlq7WaPTr5UcHR05eAnqznUZT-BcHVdrB-MJUI94JBGVtLdqq2L0WkhRTUu_TVgVTk28Orfr4VQ1h662YUBT5CAi662Hi_WmYNRGg3thF1KfyWXsuxb6WrgpHbcTeBcmo4TA38/s200/IMG_3162.JPG" width="200" /></a>• He loves playing with toys, and he loves being in the midst of the chaos of the family. He really loves his sibs and seems to enjoy their attention.<br />
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• He's a terrible napper but he sleeps well at night.<br />
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• He can scoot around in a circle but he's no where near crawling <a href="http://tending-home-fires.blogspot.com/2008/07/he-crawls.html" target="_blank">like Judah was at this age</a>.<br />
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Month by Month:</div>
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<br />melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15690351350193667741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1701090666251961372.post-73789918017378988642012-08-17T21:17:00.001-05:002012-09-01T17:01:35.487-05:00DIY Repurposed Play KitchenWell this is a project we did way last December as a Christmas gift for the three younger kids. It was something I dreamed up and my husband brought to fruition. These amazing repurposed play kitchens made from entertainment centers, cabinet or tables are all over the internet, so it wasn't hard to figure out what I wanted to do. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjITcSgkM5dJ9fKv00StpsLdRG-KlpYfrGcMOWPHO8duVZW9RO1ZsOUMCoePp-cfP4wKh0NF7xmDDNkzYJ3ChP3IDFx6I3Zy_akJTY6QOvbpIUh0lmt2In8mzyEE4_PsD4lD9yCqHq1yjw/s1600/IMG_0372.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjITcSgkM5dJ9fKv00StpsLdRG-KlpYfrGcMOWPHO8duVZW9RO1ZsOUMCoePp-cfP4wKh0NF7xmDDNkzYJ3ChP3IDFx6I3Zy_akJTY6QOvbpIUh0lmt2In8mzyEE4_PsD4lD9yCqHq1yjw/s400/IMG_0372.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First, I found this entertainment center on Craigslist for $35. Finding
just the right EC took a while because it had to have the right elements
for what I wanted - a fridge, oven, and space for a sink and stovetop.
It also had to be solid wood - no cheapy veneer or MDF. This is a solid
piece and I think we got a good price on it. My husband *of course* paid
less than what they were asking. ;)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First thing's first - sanding! Richard sanded her down, after cutting a hole for the sink and removing the doors.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjig-_nvT2FGW8jyJZjvLGK-0aKWS7SJmfHUKqbzdayO4O9XuUJ86G1mVojWtauqVJZjv6X0jhHiqg6z9KEhDwP_4Xlu-YMytPCHKPGvKJkNn22iSIUks1Oda8XmaBYweScPbdWCU4NL5U/s400/IMG_0459.jpg" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nice work, honey.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX_QKGor0T2BoiNOtie08WaLjKIsHqrOEuwK6XhQDmto1tu6MiU0ZG3PF6y3DA0UZ08tCzBQ_oxp5YVMwAfylcmgmEyFtyXQW8-X8H7hmi8H4Jf4uSQQK8ZFJ1O74tUm4TKwKgIVJfhJU/s1600/IMG_0468.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX_QKGor0T2BoiNOtie08WaLjKIsHqrOEuwK6XhQDmto1tu6MiU0ZG3PF6y3DA0UZ08tCzBQ_oxp5YVMwAfylcmgmEyFtyXQW8-X8H7hmi8H4Jf4uSQQK8ZFJ1O74tUm4TKwKgIVJfhJU/s400/IMG_0468.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here she is all primed and ready to be painted! Richard refabbed one of the doors to turn into the oven door.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4g6p-4be2g0ZkfQzd8kv2zDckeVEPCN4pUlwwz7yV30JLALM6ceZdjRPTPgidQZ6PcCECqDdKOAQlDlZWsvX5VEidL_TY24feQvZTIo2cLIVK6lgy9z738cPDLYwyo0aGFctXBgnlW_Y/s1600/IMG_0633.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4g6p-4be2g0ZkfQzd8kv2zDckeVEPCN4pUlwwz7yV30JLALM6ceZdjRPTPgidQZ6PcCECqDdKOAQlDlZWsvX5VEidL_TY24feQvZTIo2cLIVK6lgy9z738cPDLYwyo0aGFctXBgnlW_Y/s400/IMG_0633.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's the pregnant mama painting the inside of the "fridge." We used a metallic paint for the fridge and oven for an authentic stainless steel look. =] (Don't worry - I really didn't paint much on this. Or sand, or anything. I was pregnant!)</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj-L5Rc7GQ7-KNpqqpsR_sXK7dQpJC9ZdlyOcItv_cHEPKc8S98GDAH7mM2m7a8aHo3NwXf_wwg-9jdCodSrgkUSb_O1gAcgS83qBchwBByuSuwG-wb9_t2x1hJ1qtAtVDsK7JfQnDk6U/s1600/IMG_0472.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj-L5Rc7GQ7-KNpqqpsR_sXK7dQpJC9ZdlyOcItv_cHEPKc8S98GDAH7mM2m7a8aHo3NwXf_wwg-9jdCodSrgkUSb_O1gAcgS83qBchwBByuSuwG-wb9_t2x1hJ1qtAtVDsK7JfQnDk6U/s400/IMG_0472.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All painted! We also painted the doors at this point. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRheupfsqxU_YMhyCxRMK5I1xequyhwHkwBHrmPHwra5d0KywFdjUeC2tvTn0RD0nTadEntUJsbrHX5ChoyYdUiI8zBUTjnNz0WJvjaobITaovzVKF4weMYBJw2CH81N2Njavxq9UxWCY/s400/IMG_0637.JPG" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A couple steps closer to completion!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQr1n01FYmyQoL9V3AgU-JaXd2g_HLioPyZ4wHOsiHeoGVTKp2p4xzZqvvJuqazmGwDdf7hxKrDqvQcqPgLBrjCTQ8MrlJca-LuzWCjAp2DeoXPH3j1LMsSTiqbsf9YLCfUrBdNKFrBw/s400/IMG_0640.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fridge shelves are in, as well as the oven rack.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilFYGLj8nA8Lt9lImG25DpkUR8VtEE0UjONOWljDCJbbFB71yDcbGhB_bwX9hZCnPOajv2Gsj48AA88PCfz40SmDssV6Q7IgCgc9IuHBk_79kZTgv71nCTwviT7_RooSQNYWfE9O1lTJs/s400/IMG_0645.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A couple details I love about this - Richard removed the large glass door and replaced it with some sheet metal. So the kids can stick magnets on it - yay! Also, he put plexiglass in the oven door so you can peek in and see your muffins baking. =]</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWqOqCXJUV148hyphenhyphenoUZHtEZ1Hm_0GW-7UJC-9PDl2bdbo_DJ803f1z1aZAdoE43nUIPH2VeB0CDS_Y1-allQrlkfKqF8i8PQVbxpKymfRQ1MZ9qDOHfChDY1v9LzPCSdk3cAQ_bUjtFCfs/s400/IMG_0647.JPG" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I wanted the little shelves on the sides for spice jars and whatnot. My husband really went the extra mile doing all the little details that I wanted for this kitchen! I made the ruffly curtain out of some fabric I'd had for a loooong time, waiting for the right project for it. I love the orange with the blue. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdt0PsxrZIF2W9OLVcEeDHviFUFSsODSj2opaDR5Bw2oRDODFikGgjgTLdN5D8ljUdkLPDpZe3V45RXrtSkgNrNXJP8RmiAFiShILut8CuFNATYdH6cwY-XuIiCN4giXqT-vec4ZXeR80/s400/IMG_0652.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Putting on the finishing touches - hooks, towel holders, a pennant banner...now I'm in my element!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgebx2Ss_eaNQ2XbcEZWV2nUq4KbJ25k3Ld7zD3LaKBUeDlLYC9Hq55hluaTx4iCD5XWtaChkBHCuNZa1teTQuNC5Sa8vGn7E11SjhDxLy5ZCVB7JXntYIPCAUbRwcppkhpdIFlVlQuv48/s1600/IMG_0477.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgebx2Ss_eaNQ2XbcEZWV2nUq4KbJ25k3Ld7zD3LaKBUeDlLYC9Hq55hluaTx4iCD5XWtaChkBHCuNZa1teTQuNC5Sa8vGn7E11SjhDxLy5ZCVB7JXntYIPCAUbRwcppkhpdIFlVlQuv48/s400/IMG_0477.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside the oven - muffins, anyone?</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5dWAunScxEkqRB6DhTgVUKr0UTuk33ERC6hnMPjCbgbzPV1g2GYcQueRS_pg4dy5TUuIRLDZfJmHVCgA8kfEP-elSIaEK6t1VesS2i3sjW2L1KOFrRPi2B2lM58H2XmvzUpacdqyg5yY/s1600/IMG_0476.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5dWAunScxEkqRB6DhTgVUKr0UTuk33ERC6hnMPjCbgbzPV1g2GYcQueRS_pg4dy5TUuIRLDZfJmHVCgA8kfEP-elSIaEK6t1VesS2i3sjW2L1KOFrRPi2B2lM58H2XmvzUpacdqyg5yY/s400/IMG_0476.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The fridge is ready to be stocked!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwax5L5Ca2sw42Z0M4gq3YblBr9ljT0wkYXMTXxCO28K-KWqIwshf_WcGZT5WDiM1tf12AMmvwUiqkmxlxlEeVBww5zLs9Nce6NLF59b-CJYOaxAcRUfCb8sBLaEukdcMUfyiM20xVqaE/s1600/IMG_0481.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwax5L5Ca2sw42Z0M4gq3YblBr9ljT0wkYXMTXxCO28K-KWqIwshf_WcGZT5WDiM1tf12AMmvwUiqkmxlxlEeVBww5zLs9Nce6NLF59b-CJYOaxAcRUfCb8sBLaEukdcMUfyiM20xVqaE/s400/IMG_0481.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Okay, so here we have the sink (mixing bowl from Target), a real kitchen faucet leftover from a job my brother was doing (thanks, Caleb!), and some knobs and heater elements from a real stove that my dad scored for us. (Thanks, Dad!) The hooks I had stashed away from like 8 years ago - finally found a use for them! The little jars, pot, bottles, fake flowers, salt shakers, etc. are mostly all from Goodwill.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbU-xGtk6i1iXPpU2S1s8SnAvR2t8HNB8Jdn9oVLzyjdWFw6MKyMQ0tD7vCuAWdpjU874m11UjiXLiCuqOIyE05Oa8mX4XMBGWSjx0OKX6rwEZJOVlRk71NbYNfrJmolqPrpW_bBTFZ1M/s1600/IMG_0483.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbU-xGtk6i1iXPpU2S1s8SnAvR2t8HNB8Jdn9oVLzyjdWFw6MKyMQ0tD7vCuAWdpjU874m11UjiXLiCuqOIyE05Oa8mX4XMBGWSjx0OKX6rwEZJOVlRk71NbYNfrJmolqPrpW_bBTFZ1M/s400/IMG_0483.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A little ruffly towel on this side.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBM5Gbv58Q3w_rDPbo5qtiP-QYVhK1ofmtjEEDxVfDzT8_oS6pAAqCQJvgNvh1U1zZ861UepbivFRoY6sgq6gqt6xvRKh6UjCqeGjBbyDkB1tBilTkmUlCjSboAKnPHh0NaIQ1PbOEpCI/s1600/IMG_0484.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBM5Gbv58Q3w_rDPbo5qtiP-QYVhK1ofmtjEEDxVfDzT8_oS6pAAqCQJvgNvh1U1zZ861UepbivFRoY6sgq6gqt6xvRKh6UjCqeGjBbyDkB1tBilTkmUlCjSboAKnPHh0NaIQ1PbOEpCI/s400/IMG_0484.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And a hook for aprons and towels on this side!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFnXDmva1Ns5DVuPXvhoXXqkJO_kTBdiet4Oe8DKnPmc2qnu-x4C9bQhuSRleviNzBHyZM_XNc6zYWss3dWpRbRX3-uxfCWMZD4r6GyQgmcYkpQD6F2qmenHne643yPvTTrHYrgwYG43U/s400/IMG_0682.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We put the play kitchen in the real kitchen on Christmas Eve, so the kids discovered it first thing Christmas morning!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT4vVBYg-Zey9BIEunEjdSsQfkLcKOOkQkr7QvB8fNV7e1JrEmvpZwrMLD4YCUsZ34saIRzPfnN1sld9O5_WXA9mfuEdyKOa5RQb41Kyal_xdeUtUzLFyGmh-9v0mDPTkBenfyjoFL9Q8/s400/PICT0054.JPG" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Discovering all the neat things....</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVioPZkOaZRWONz8-hyidzO_OdosFC53oBlekAySSG1nrF_NM0Qyv357KO-8VnISibE4EYwy5Qb9EeR_okqdXaY2RjjOjHEd8EpeTicqfyXXv8O3NsRuk1YC1yfqg5_OrqZTVFyrXGa2Q/s400/PICT0059.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What's in here??</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ6YmAVyOkD960NNJwg2uqhm84V3Aqexq8gHCjqk5cfBU5GK-3x-t2qjnPWtZIJiSNxvdWB9YwKaCBWwAyw532TUatC4evk7yCiKQzAQeZuvVnVNOcoNxRrurvlawPIsalA66LVSm5xH0/s1600/IMG_0485.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ6YmAVyOkD960NNJwg2uqhm84V3Aqexq8gHCjqk5cfBU5GK-3x-t2qjnPWtZIJiSNxvdWB9YwKaCBWwAyw532TUatC4evk7yCiKQzAQeZuvVnVNOcoNxRrurvlawPIsalA66LVSm5xH0/s400/IMG_0485.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here she is, fully stocked!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLNY151kRcyvVvZKTwKTUmR6xbICYcdtYNdcwVQnlfRoofkkcnAYyg_dpR0gKUYvC1-BBkcDw3Gz7ZkdZicpe-WxyjCR7NcJ6-7xUpc5b7iOnsW4WZHwzk3gztBpjJ3MlU2ZJbY69wxhw/s1600/IMG_0486.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLNY151kRcyvVvZKTwKTUmR6xbICYcdtYNdcwVQnlfRoofkkcnAYyg_dpR0gKUYvC1-BBkcDw3Gz7ZkdZicpe-WxyjCR7NcJ6-7xUpc5b7iOnsW4WZHwzk3gztBpjJ3MlU2ZJbY69wxhw/s400/IMG_0486.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wooden Melissa & Doug food in the fridge.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9FuAyHeOqiNlUGcqfCX4zOgDk44AiC9Wc0LNdoNcz60dE0NNkHhIysi_pxT1huNWjEeqQD741talt0KTyXRljWy3mFyE0o9CwVaNTLTeeQL4XJfqGovVl0InmhAmyCl4sClhzdYPFd8o/s1600/IMG_0487.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9FuAyHeOqiNlUGcqfCX4zOgDk44AiC9Wc0LNdoNcz60dE0NNkHhIysi_pxT1huNWjEeqQD741talt0KTyXRljWy3mFyE0o9CwVaNTLTeeQL4XJfqGovVl0InmhAmyCl4sClhzdYPFd8o/s400/IMG_0487.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ZsrFg8F36DTgQL9EzDadyGjoBunSeeTazFTKZ5EGvf3b_cRFFZnDzS79GSv6v6Nz4ClUxoghvNSlQbnk1gO5udgvBEPOsx8qkSO4VMdbC5m6JgkRqbC5EMYDnB2mExQeepo12B64yHI/s1600/IMG_0488.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ZsrFg8F36DTgQL9EzDadyGjoBunSeeTazFTKZ5EGvf3b_cRFFZnDzS79GSv6v6Nz4ClUxoghvNSlQbnk1gO5udgvBEPOsx8qkSO4VMdbC5m6JgkRqbC5EMYDnB2mExQeepo12B64yHI/s400/IMG_0488.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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All ready for some culinary magic!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's C playing with some magnets on the fridge.</td></tr>
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This was an awesome project, and so fun, but also a ton of work (basically all of which my husband did). But hopefully this little kitchen will last for years and years, and maybe our grandkids will be playing with it someday. =] <br />
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melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15690351350193667741noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1701090666251961372.post-15342421367843432522012-05-31T19:44:00.002-05:002012-08-29T18:15:54.415-05:00Stitchery<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Inspired by the section on embroidering with children in Amanda Blake Soule's book "<a href="http://www.soulemama.com/the_creative_family/" target="_blank">The Creative Family</a>", and seeing this <a href="http://www.thecraftycrow.net/2012/03/free-little-chick-embroidery-pattern.html" target="_blank">fun little free pattern</a> on The Crafty Crow, I decided to try embroidering with my kiddos just before Easter.<br />
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Embroidery is something I've recently learned to do myself. Some of my first projects were portrait bookmarks of my kids' drawings from <a href="http://mothering.com/resources/PortraitBookmarks_Soule.pdf" target="_blank">this tutorial</a>.<br />
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I had no idea what to expect with a 5.5 year old, 4 year old and 2.5 year old (Grace at 13 is already an intermediate stitcher.) Well it turned out to be more of a hit than I could have imagined! Moses and Judah both completed their entire projects in one sitting and pretty much just wanted to do "stitching" the whole week. They're both on their 3rd projects now (which got interrupted by the birth of little brother, otherwise I'd be willing to bet they'd have several more done by now.) Clementine didn't stitch, but she colored her chick and then organized all my floss, specifically the pinks and purples. =] <br />
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So first mama drew the outline on some linen fabric (I like linen because it has an open weave and is easy for the kiddos to poke the needle through) then they colored them in with crayons and colored pencils. Then I placed some scratch paper over the drawing and lightly ironed them to "set" the colors.<br />
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Then I let the kids pick out what color floss they'd like and threaded a big tapestry needle for them. (Tapestry needles are big and somewhat blunt - perfect for Littles.) I taught them a basic back stitch and they got it right away!<br />
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The finished products! Aren't they amazing!?<br />
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If you're interested in embroidery, here's a couple great beginner's tutorials:<br />
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<a href="http://wildolive.blogspot.com/p/embroidery-basics.html" target="_blank">Wild Olive Embroidery Basics</a><br />
<a href="http://www.sublimestitching.com/pages/tutorials" target="_blank">Sublime Stitching Easy Embroidery Tutorials</a><br />
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melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15690351350193667741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1701090666251961372.post-12476423117613137582012-04-07T18:01:00.001-05:002012-05-01T09:55:17.389-05:00Baby Benjamin is Here!<span style="font-size: small;">Little Benjamin Maccabee was born on his due date, April 3rd! We had another wonderful and peaceful homebirth. I hope to share his birth story soon, but in the mean time here's some amazingly cute baby pictures:</span><br />
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</div>melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15690351350193667741noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1701090666251961372.post-9766795452905937242012-03-27T20:54:00.002-05:002012-03-27T20:58:14.584-05:00Five Month Break, And Maybe Five More...Well wow, it's been about 5 months since I last posted on ye old blog! What can I say, life has been busy and other priorities have pushed blogging aside. Speaking of pushing, I have about a week until Baby Six is due, so I can't promise there will be many more posts for a while after this one either! <br />
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Honestly, I've felt like a bit of a hermit all winter. We haven't done much or gone anywhere. I've found myself pulling in, content to just be at home with the children, doing school, cooking and baking, sewing, reading books, being a family-at-home. I'm not sure if it's been because of being pregnant, or just the demands of a large family, or what, but that's what the last 5 months have pretty much been like.<br />
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It's a little crazy to think of a new baby joining us in a matter of days! God has had me on quite the journey this pregnancy. It went something like this:<br />
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<b>Spring 2011:</b> Having decided that our family is complete with 4 kids, I finally come to terms with "no more babies" and get rid of almost all my baby items, baby clothes, and maternity clothes. I grieve a bit, and embrace Clementine being my "baby", and start to love the idea of our family being "complete". <br />
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<b>June 2011:</b> I unexpectedly get pregnant. I can't wrap my mind around it. Richard takes it philosophically and moves on, while I scream "WHY!?" and am in complete denial. I've emotionally accepted and embrace no more babies, and now I have to do a complete flip-flop and get myself ready for another baby! I find this very difficult.<br />
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<b>August 2011:</b> I start having some abdominal pain and go in for an ultrasound. I'm sure I have an ectopic pregnancy or something else bad, but I get to see a tiny little 7 week old BABY with a heart just pumping away and it's pretty amazing and I'm happy that everything is okay. But still my heart's not 100% there and I'm totally anxious about how I'll manage 5 kids.<br />
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<b>Summer-Early Fall 2011:</b> I decide to just ignore the fact that I'm pregnant and deal with it when I can't ignore it anymore. Besides being tired, I don't even feel pregnant so it's pretty easy to be in denial for my whole first trimester.<br />
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<b>October 2011 (20 weeks along):</b> I hit the halfway point, and suddenly I'm gigantic and feeling VERY pregnant. I can't ignore it anymore, it's very noticeable and I have to buy maternity clothes and I start feeling uncomfortable a lot. I'm also feeling baby moving a ton - he or she will not be ignored any longer!<br />
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<b>22 weeks along:</b> We go in as a family for an ultrasound and see our adorable baby. Richard feels sure it's a boy, but we don't find out officially. I start feeling slight urges to buy baby things and being nesting...<br />
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<b>January 2012:</b> I'm in my 3rd trimester and I'm actually really excited for another baby! I begin collecting and making things for baby, making lists, thinking about projects I want to get done, etc etc.<br />
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<b>March 2012:</b> We have unseasonably warm, spring-like weather and it feels like the world is budding with new life. I am thrilled to be expecting another addition to our family and feel like 5 children will be no big deal! (What's one more at this point, right?) The kids are excited as well and we've gotten everything ready for Baby to come! Despite developing the worst case of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pruritic_urticarial_papules_and_plaques_of_pregnancy">PUPPPs</a> imaginable around 7 weeks before my due date, which involves vicious itchiness, millions of blisters all over my body and miserable sleepless nights, I find myself drawing closer to God and feeling thankful for the privilege of carrying new life.<br />
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So here we are! The next post will probably be to announce the birth of our next baby. I'm already looking forward to our first walk to the library with FIVE children. =]<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">7 week old Baby Six</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">20 weeks along and feeling gigantic!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baby Six at 22 weeks old</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf7fc3LJbcctY2zF4SoiUobetQVMxvNc-eSH2enUtK_yGQTFvvEJNUOh_-LI-qpQrR9QS1Vj-l2qa-cIALdB3Ou5cASkq6qG-JZY-3PPDkOLXmntGfyMWuerpOZCyirmVnbDN4i8KvPS0/s1600/IMG_0869.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf7fc3LJbcctY2zF4SoiUobetQVMxvNc-eSH2enUtK_yGQTFvvEJNUOh_-LI-qpQrR9QS1Vj-l2qa-cIALdB3Ou5cASkq6qG-JZY-3PPDkOLXmntGfyMWuerpOZCyirmVnbDN4i8KvPS0/s400/IMG_0869.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PUPPPS. You do not want this.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwOPzNA37b160-_Hm9Vga09pL49k97lp3oNRFYM9lqtWGJDcEzaZkCdfExD9RiBtvJ9uBd5zgAQIMiU2LC3HYfTrxPPSZ-6RrnZYUOMNZTpZooe-EvbkTKM6K85VNf7gYHSTRpJLG-tHU/s1600/PICT0064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwOPzNA37b160-_Hm9Vga09pL49k97lp3oNRFYM9lqtWGJDcEzaZkCdfExD9RiBtvJ9uBd5zgAQIMiU2LC3HYfTrxPPSZ-6RrnZYUOMNZTpZooe-EvbkTKM6K85VNf7gYHSTRpJLG-tHU/s400/PICT0064.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our family at Christmas.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15690351350193667741noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1701090666251961372.post-78951019749748420922011-11-05T14:08:00.001-05:002012-09-01T17:02:01.047-05:00Homeschooling Little Ones Together<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This year for the first time ever, I'm homeschooling more than one child! Grace is attending a private Charlotte Mason school for the 2nd year now, and Moses and Judah are doing school together at home! Moses is in kindergarten (he's 5 years old) and Judah (3.5 years) is doing a lot of what Moses is doing, except modified to more of a preschool level. Clementine is almost 2 years old and of course very "in the mix." <br />
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I honestly had doubts about how this year would go, even though Kindergarten and preschool are very fun, easy and simple "grades" to teach at home. With 3 very young children, would it be complete chaos all the time? Would I feel pulled in 3 different directions the whole time? <br />
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So far, it's been amazingly fun and has gone GREAT. Really great. I am LOVING it, the kids are loving it... we're all very happy!<br />
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melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15690351350193667741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1701090666251961372.post-2094778669833514062011-11-03T08:53:00.000-05:002012-10-28T11:04:26.835-05:00Little Miss Two-Year-Old!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcA5FCV8XHzBgm9dBEx_lhCGhwbow3nbcIdmmaT6TdPfEjOco8rCTMJPQpXeoiEktvwm0qtl-dJg5jipnpt0S5nXti0eykh-5xjxBT8xjtCqukQ1Lys5I1EUSflCHDcIKW3q3jrSWtJkM/s1600/IMG_0136.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcA5FCV8XHzBgm9dBEx_lhCGhwbow3nbcIdmmaT6TdPfEjOco8rCTMJPQpXeoiEktvwm0qtl-dJg5jipnpt0S5nXti0eykh-5xjxBT8xjtCqukQ1Lys5I1EUSflCHDcIKW3q3jrSWtJkM/s400/IMG_0136.jpg" width="285" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipaa-uVlbqddE2cvg5M-BombdRM2-bhpjua6dniPHKFZooOSbfL5tdINH1Nezv_MKuzV4OQrKGgAn_3Gua8g42HuiYefA7_LNrfbwzbrqovFRYuqTc11yHwfKty8o9TfWxZkkiDZxuutQ/s1600/IMG_0153.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipaa-uVlbqddE2cvg5M-BombdRM2-bhpjua6dniPHKFZooOSbfL5tdINH1Nezv_MKuzV4OQrKGgAn_3Gua8g42HuiYefA7_LNrfbwzbrqovFRYuqTc11yHwfKty8o9TfWxZkkiDZxuutQ/s400/IMG_0153.jpg" width="285" /></a></div>Yes, she's two. Yes, she's adorable. Yes, she has some serious attitude and says the cutest things. Yes, we love her to pieces!!<br />
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(Thank you Grandma Sue for the great sweater!!)melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15690351350193667741noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1701090666251961372.post-37720474447892381732011-10-22T07:12:00.002-05:002011-10-25T09:22:36.723-05:00Clementine is Two!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Birth</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One Year Old</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two Years Old</td></tr>
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She's not a baby anymore! We love you, sweet 2-year-old Clementine.melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15690351350193667741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1701090666251961372.post-81187463680179823752011-09-21T04:31:00.002-05:002011-09-21T04:31:00.128-05:00wordless wednesday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjngF0TJmY510PRyq-LowuxWJLUo-GilAEGsAw9RuPpeauK0iZsHcsCAoQZabyTodzoJ1Lav6L3a-mBUn8hAAsnODMHwsQphUaWtoEhKjZdgFz8Ob825Y5fDDSpewU5UTKRWBocmIB9GTU/s1600/PICT0056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjngF0TJmY510PRyq-LowuxWJLUo-GilAEGsAw9RuPpeauK0iZsHcsCAoQZabyTodzoJ1Lav6L3a-mBUn8hAAsnODMHwsQphUaWtoEhKjZdgFz8Ob825Y5fDDSpewU5UTKRWBocmIB9GTU/s640/PICT0056.JPG" width="456" /></a></div>melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15690351350193667741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1701090666251961372.post-13823041146509806192011-09-08T09:33:00.004-05:002011-09-21T17:27:07.487-05:002011-2012 Homeschool CurriculumI thought I'd share what we're doing for homeschool this year, as Moses is starting kindergarten and Judah is doing some preschool stuff. Moses is 5 years 3 months and Judah is 3 1/2 exactly. Clementine is 23 months and I'm sure she'll be joining in some of the hands-on stuff!<br />
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I have a lot of Grace's curriculum left over (wasn't it just yesterday that she and I were doing kindergarten at home together!?) so I'm using a lot of that for Moses, but as I am now realizing, not all curriculum used for a prior child is a good fit for subsequent children! The <a href="http://www.thephonicsroad.com/shop/index.cfm/category/2/level-one-materials.cfm">great phonics/grammar program</a> I used with Grace isn't going to work for Moses until at least next year. (I think I actually started it with Grace when she was 6, so that's perfect. Now that I think about it, how DID Grace learn to read anyway?? I think she just kind of picked it up!)<br />
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Because we're following the <a href="http://simplycharlottemason.com/basics/started/charlotte-mason-method/">Charlotte Mason method</a>, our kindergarten/preschool days will be of a more relaxed approach. The <a href="http://simplycharlottemason.com/2010/07/21/basic-charlotte-mason-homeschooling-skills-getting-started-part-3/">basic principles</a> that Charlotte Mason emphasized included short lessons, lots of nature/outside time, reading lots of "living" books, and training in good <a href="http://simplycharlottemason.com/planning/eyguide/eyhabits/">habits</a>, so that's what we're planning to do! The habits I hope to instill in these little ones this year will hopefully carry them on to be studious, industrious, lifelong learners in the future. <br />
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A couple of great resources that have helped me plan the year include <a href="http://simplycharlottemason.com/books/early-years-charlotte-mason-preschool-handbook/">The Early Years: A Charlotte Mason Preschool Handbook</a> and this <a href="http://simplycharlottemason.com/planning/eyguide/">Early Years Guide</a> from the Simply Charlotte Mason website. Here's a summary of the early years focus:<br />
<blockquote>Habits, outside play, read-alouds, and Bible are most important. If you concentrate only on them, you’ll be doing just fine. Reading, copywork, and math come next as the child is ready. (Some may not be ready until they are older than five; that’s OK!) Handicrafts, art, music, and poetry are simply add-ons that will enrich your child’s atmosphere and help him feel at home with those aspects of Charlotte Mason education when he starts “school work.”</blockquote>So here's the basic rundown of our school year/curriculum:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><b>Moses (5 years)</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Outdoors</b><b>: </b>Lots of free play and <a href="http://simplycharlottemason.com/2007/08/09/nature-study-in-a-nutshell/">nature walks</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Habits:</b> <a href="http://simplycharlottemason.com/2007/05/24/5-ways-to-cultivate-good-habits/">Habit Training</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Read Alouds:</b> From <a href="http://fiarhq.com/fiveinarow.info/fiarbooklist.html#">Five in a Row</a>, and <a href="http://www.homeschoolshare.com/VolumeIsuppbooks.php">“go-along” books</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Beginning Reading:</b> <a href="http://rainbowresource.com/prodlist.php?subject=5&category=823">"Explode the Code” books A, B & C</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Copywork:</b> Writing on lined paper, holding pencil correctly, <a href="http://blog.homemakersheart.com/2011/05/rowing-through-copywork-vol-1-freebie.html">copywork from FIAR books</a><b> </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Math:</b> <a href="http://www.christianbook.com/saxon-math-k-home-study-kit/9781565770171/pd/17001">Saxon Math K</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Science: </b><a href="http://www.homeschoolshare.com/five_in_a_row_volume_i_resources.php">Projects</a> to go along with FIAR books</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://simplycharlottemason.com/2010/12/01/7-benefits-of-homeschool-handicrafts-handicrafts-part-1/">Handicrafts</a>:</b> <a href="http://www.homeschoolshare.com/five_in_a_row_volume_i_resources.php">Projects</a> to go along with FIAR books </div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Art:</b> Displaying <a href="http://www.uni-prints.com/">large prints</a>, and games with <a href="http://store.doverpublications.com/by-subject-stationery--seasonal-books--gift-sets-large-format-card-books.html">small postcard prints from Dover Publishing</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Music:</b> Play works of great composers in background while working </div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Bible:</b> <a href="http://tending-home-fires.blogspot.com/2010/08/circle-time.html">Circle Time</a> and <a href="http://www.hopeingod.org/resources/scripture-memory/fighter-verse-program">Fighter Verses</a> with Mama, Bible Study with Papa </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">(The main way that we're organizing our Five in a Row studies is through the use of <a href="http://lapbooklessons.ning.com/video/1999465:Video:14">lapbooks</a>. I get all the free resources from <a href="http://www.homeschoolshare.com/">Homeschool Share</a>. <a href="http://www.homeschoolshare.com/resourcesping.php">Here's</a> what we'd do during our week of reading "The Story About Ping" and studying China and ducks. I'll try to post pictures of ours once we've completed some.)</div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Judah (3.5 yrs) </b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Outdoors: </b>Lots of free play and nature walks (Same as Moses)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Habits: </b>Habit Training (Same as Moses)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Read Alouds:</b> From Five in a Row, and “go-along” books (Same as Moses)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Beginning Reading:</b> Learn letter names and sounds while Moses does reading lessons </div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Copywork:</b> Trace upper-case letters with finger in sand, rice, or air, </div><div style="text-align: center;">dry erase markers on placemat, etc. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Math:</b> Learning along with Moses Saxon Math K</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Science:</b> Projects to go along with FIAR books (Same as Moses)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Handicrafts: </b>Projects to go along with FIAR books (Same as Moses)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Art:</b> (Same as Moses)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Music:</b> Play works of great composers in background while working (Same as Moses)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Bible:</b> Circle Time and Fighter Verses with Mama, Bible Study with Papa (Same as Moses)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I'm excited to try homeschooling 2 kids at the same time! I've only ever taught one child before, so I'm not sure how it will go to have 3 little ones all together, and 2 of them "doing school". But I'm sure we're in for a lot of fun. =] </div>melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15690351350193667741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1701090666251961372.post-86271995120764298582011-09-07T05:52:00.002-05:002012-09-01T17:02:09.007-05:00Another Reupholstering Project!Remember <a href="http://tending-home-fires.blogspot.com/2011/01/my-first-diy-reuphostery-attempt.html">my first reupholstery project</a>? Since it's still holding up so well, I found the confidence to tackle another similar project. My sister-in-law Mary had this gorgeous number at her garage sale for $3. (She actually gave it to me for free =]) It was very musty and dusty, but I knew it had potential.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-vK7EasECvOfpo6FGqyXwIvGhyV8stvYRV0L1nfb2jndKd5r-XTubWr7s7mlZlfGvwmh2OdGNTqthXmpBBerlqjrE7QGc2_Ag0mqH8tBYkRFV6SUcT-r99Q8vEIUDUt7wU7I11JJQku8/s1600/PICT0005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-vK7EasECvOfpo6FGqyXwIvGhyV8stvYRV0L1nfb2jndKd5r-XTubWr7s7mlZlfGvwmh2OdGNTqthXmpBBerlqjrE7QGc2_Ag0mqH8tBYkRFV6SUcT-r99Q8vEIUDUt7wU7I11JJQku8/s400/PICT0005.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We started with some sort of velvety brocade fabric and bronzy-gold metal legs</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDTIwnnDW5aSKIYoAnI81EUvdkgS2oUAZ7Do4UfIg43yG0Ilmqdo9WNdSBHFAy3G3ItxyvQNCOkTQYkrTYZ9CEm-H-4EizTDZ92Tk_ws8yJwtLzxT2kedByIbUopHZhIMOmyya_dEBC6Y/s1600/PICT0006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDTIwnnDW5aSKIYoAnI81EUvdkgS2oUAZ7Do4UfIg43yG0Ilmqdo9WNdSBHFAy3G3ItxyvQNCOkTQYkrTYZ9CEm-H-4EizTDZ92Tk_ws8yJwtLzxT2kedByIbUopHZhIMOmyya_dEBC6Y/s400/PICT0006.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Of course I started out by removing the nails to discard the old fabric</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfi2f61fYfqYv9hSt7738_ddOIyCXV6x6zl76HGFk3fogWKdTngWRNsXedSXni30SknNfaw56VPkoGKMQjd5NbPeNHbDlKDc3s1bhn0FF5GHFtQtrQAoGML6Hdm8DxqxVP6YMlzntmzCc/s1600/PICT0007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfi2f61fYfqYv9hSt7738_ddOIyCXV6x6zl76HGFk3fogWKdTngWRNsXedSXni30SknNfaw56VPkoGKMQjd5NbPeNHbDlKDc3s1bhn0FF5GHFtQtrQAoGML6Hdm8DxqxVP6YMlzntmzCc/s400/PICT0007.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I discovered this even lovelier fabric under the first!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYeC1G3TUFmWyMj20Lo9_bStGtfp6bi26Li-gpu7b2AIe_r8f6i_L9hs3MU2UiDtr3bMp2Kph5twV2pqrZaQ4IGacKy3YMA0OOitjz9tjbySN_F35FvmS3C4iGf2umWDAxvFluHTAcRWI/s1600/PICT0009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYeC1G3TUFmWyMj20Lo9_bStGtfp6bi26Li-gpu7b2AIe_r8f6i_L9hs3MU2UiDtr3bMp2Kph5twV2pqrZaQ4IGacKy3YMA0OOitjz9tjbySN_F35FvmS3C4iGf2umWDAxvFluHTAcRWI/s400/PICT0009.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And lo and behold, a THIRD fabric beneath that!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdXgLBfu8u9RL6YHnPf8-veeYATGduoXyga0KC-xunyWhsTS8FPPLtXwRtQd2vG0-_qokPyNkja6by6HVzptXBLwxD06hyjAanrfdrpj5w7nRhiYclLYiwFsYiYXp7vIqpUaMQT1OHYWY/s1600/PICT0053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdXgLBfu8u9RL6YHnPf8-veeYATGduoXyga0KC-xunyWhsTS8FPPLtXwRtQd2vG0-_qokPyNkja6by6HVzptXBLwxD06hyjAanrfdrpj5w7nRhiYclLYiwFsYiYXp7vIqpUaMQT1OHYWY/s400/PICT0053.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After I had removed THREE layers of fabric, I decided there were too many nail holes in the original piece of wood and had my dad cut a new one for me. It's nice and thick and sturdy.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ISESziwEZB0unIUCPV9wIeRD9yIBDgJdNhcR9XxKLMl3VTb6ZYSoHBhMGDUb8RrBqS_foTMp7HbVKsj79uORuN27j1VspXAhktUwodelpxUHZGTH3sTx8U7Uwq8O02vW5X-D7bxlcKg/s1600/PICT0054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ISESziwEZB0unIUCPV9wIeRD9yIBDgJdNhcR9XxKLMl3VTb6ZYSoHBhMGDUb8RrBqS_foTMp7HbVKsj79uORuN27j1VspXAhktUwodelpxUHZGTH3sTx8U7Uwq8O02vW5X-D7bxlcKg/s400/PICT0054.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's where I wing it. I don't have any foam on hand so I used foam-backed carpet.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKp3q2MNyQnD99KuKRNBlIZuVbIOPT2AhYq6i4wnVw5HyLnBDH7F86eQsNOFeSe-NXTHP9FNC5k6Jz4vscZI2povrjiXUbcR4qqhEDthGjj_zSJvajCdIck13ciyiIUz356x0GkKhBKnU/s1600/PICT0055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKp3q2MNyQnD99KuKRNBlIZuVbIOPT2AhYq6i4wnVw5HyLnBDH7F86eQsNOFeSe-NXTHP9FNC5k6Jz4vscZI2povrjiXUbcR4qqhEDthGjj_zSJvajCdIck13ciyiIUz356x0GkKhBKnU/s400/PICT0055.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Handy dandy staple gun</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPKZdVz3bNpJSSldHp9W-FD326e0d2tau0QCgXk9naYeRfhVPGW6VIRfI0tE5V6l1i6QtZy_2aF5jVBGKZz4NUw2VyIrWhY3aNKvWBxtAZ2IhEuEPX3v81t5e_8uOSDWGB-vTdOelKIPg/s1600/PICT0057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPKZdVz3bNpJSSldHp9W-FD326e0d2tau0QCgXk9naYeRfhVPGW6VIRfI0tE5V6l1i6QtZy_2aF5jVBGKZz4NUw2VyIrWhY3aNKvWBxtAZ2IhEuEPX3v81t5e_8uOSDWGB-vTdOelKIPg/s400/PICT0057.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Be sure to have a helper to hold your staples</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdJcUmTxJ_7oV-oNul60ejE8HWUD-CPANvIikXBmek4AyFUw2a0DOmV5s21d_wYBJ3pnCWn-VQdJnPMwKg6Sv2UOeniGML7bUO_h3-BAXWSoZgdojuefdaDlH6aFMCppR1pu44TDfYmqU/s1600/PICT0059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdJcUmTxJ_7oV-oNul60ejE8HWUD-CPANvIikXBmek4AyFUw2a0DOmV5s21d_wYBJ3pnCWn-VQdJnPMwKg6Sv2UOeniGML7bUO_h3-BAXWSoZgdojuefdaDlH6aFMCppR1pu44TDfYmqU/s400/PICT0059.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wrap batting over the foam (or carpet) and staple underneath</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdeXYfCQwmpWUbDeaNncNQAOh0-i5LemXWjoWBCAHpmv5vmNbG7eHCSM7WCySX4K0yVk1Jg4wpm_QzS1ZqA6VWjocGIhN_cGV7K7A7qu3cgcftpW3OZv0sxkqbH3ozHno8GGN5kD_9i_Q/s1600/PICT0060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdeXYfCQwmpWUbDeaNncNQAOh0-i5LemXWjoWBCAHpmv5vmNbG7eHCSM7WCySX4K0yVk1Jg4wpm_QzS1ZqA6VWjocGIhN_cGV7K7A7qu3cgcftpW3OZv0sxkqbH3ozHno8GGN5kD_9i_Q/s400/PICT0060.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's what it looks like from the top</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1HzKxtsuzcwUccFfG1yBHwFPsTpC-kWixuf38Qvi0HKa3yYXiAj_ntWLbNaj1kFRYQqIAM3auh4CItbXLWeA4XyuW4VQ_5Dao1XI9Pq01ED3Oj0xpWHbUZBNF3KKk85X7aVwGWh722E4/s1600/PICT0061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1HzKxtsuzcwUccFfG1yBHwFPsTpC-kWixuf38Qvi0HKa3yYXiAj_ntWLbNaj1kFRYQqIAM3auh4CItbXLWeA4XyuW4VQ_5Dao1XI9Pq01ED3Oj0xpWHbUZBNF3KKk85X7aVwGWh722E4/s400/PICT0061.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Position your fabric where you want it. I got this gorgeous piece of decorator-weight fabric at Walmart, of all places. I didn't even know Walmart sells fabric. I hadn't even been inside a Walmart for like 5 years or something. But this was a score. $3.50 for a yard.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTEzNIp7WpkQ1KF9CIUf3nSETpcLxpI1PEXzrCHqSe-1MT80dVoXpqHPV0XhWU1rjWe7LYVMx_mYL3py-W7yCkaa6F7KeYNuwiiEG-hvyDcm5G_ckJTap8jDuXHDIu0du6xZ2HDDpERSs/s1600/PICT0062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTEzNIp7WpkQ1KF9CIUf3nSETpcLxpI1PEXzrCHqSe-1MT80dVoXpqHPV0XhWU1rjWe7LYVMx_mYL3py-W7yCkaa6F7KeYNuwiiEG-hvyDcm5G_ckJTap8jDuXHDIu0du6xZ2HDDpERSs/s400/PICT0062.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Staple underneath</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3pMkK8LpcQgqDm5lhLPOW5FAIG3GmdeAyF2jnCWbLiSPCE7XXtj8demZW4Xc-CdVqdHh-cDqRH6WY0BJO7Bh4ttfr4TzBFkksHk2UegK460ZaoJX7JjW0eYs0MzF_APNIVBF_lAUq4CY/s1600/PICT0063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3pMkK8LpcQgqDm5lhLPOW5FAIG3GmdeAyF2jnCWbLiSPCE7XXtj8demZW4Xc-CdVqdHh-cDqRH6WY0BJO7Bh4ttfr4TzBFkksHk2UegK460ZaoJX7JjW0eYs0MzF_APNIVBF_lAUq4CY/s400/PICT0063.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs6PkBVO775fK5-0mqdqYx0aBE4G_pyyKq7oicyOq8TWgtU5WsNJk4QcaYetWdpW16pnISmykmVwvu5J_GiduQWRJlEzozbZDygIYkYYnAKTMH_ktw3CGbAbK5s0a6vlYtieVN3TVVXf0/s1600/PICT0064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs6PkBVO775fK5-0mqdqYx0aBE4G_pyyKq7oicyOq8TWgtU5WsNJk4QcaYetWdpW16pnISmykmVwvu5J_GiduQWRJlEzozbZDygIYkYYnAKTMH_ktw3CGbAbK5s0a6vlYtieVN3TVVXf0/s400/PICT0064.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Have your helper get her cute pudgy hand in the picture</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizNHko_TbUCdeKfQXukSOAf7mALDFUya21tsxrdZy4fNnbWX9zSwq7twiToU_3R5c0hgNs3x71dUXCniy-t6-_dMYOVQyg5F7O6bxQG9iVGi0iGTQATzOzoLH3NlcMvRecK7-1IDNPqwM/s1600/PICT0065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizNHko_TbUCdeKfQXukSOAf7mALDFUya21tsxrdZy4fNnbWX9zSwq7twiToU_3R5c0hgNs3x71dUXCniy-t6-_dMYOVQyg5F7O6bxQG9iVGi0iGTQATzOzoLH3NlcMvRecK7-1IDNPqwM/s400/PICT0065.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuTnSuH5tVC_U3RdduyH_aV92USAKaH8unm6oCZVzsoLztEBvwDqDtbEgs3wuWlfXAHPE4ybWHukMebob38WUOq8Iw7QkwGR2g2anSe-zQz2uqdzeWCRj5p0jb9gRe0acsukImwkxJ-h0/s1600/PICT0066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuTnSuH5tVC_U3RdduyH_aV92USAKaH8unm6oCZVzsoLztEBvwDqDtbEgs3wuWlfXAHPE4ybWHukMebob38WUOq8Iw7QkwGR2g2anSe-zQz2uqdzeWCRj5p0jb9gRe0acsukImwkxJ-h0/s400/PICT0066.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here it is done. Doesn't have to be pretty on the underside.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-9bBWp4sP6efXD0CuS7DcgWAYl9iDkpq1arJIjJCq9SBB7ZdkUkH5TFJepENcZXHe5arfqMqslcakpB2g2PnS3yf4KF65C4rXs-ntubxDXRaay-s-KAb1nIHBBFYDV6yU_fJElFo8EBE/s1600/PICT0067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-9bBWp4sP6efXD0CuS7DcgWAYl9iDkpq1arJIjJCq9SBB7ZdkUkH5TFJepENcZXHe5arfqMqslcakpB2g2PnS3yf4KF65C4rXs-ntubxDXRaay-s-KAb1nIHBBFYDV6yU_fJElFo8EBE/s400/PICT0067.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's the finished top!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2oz9YPRc63REkvAA5FT9AT8NlgYhyEd0EXdAFHUXQWtXDimJDnC0I2sN7_TIprOtxUN7ZNnmVEexo9urPu5mS05sz9SgIiiw0BcKY2ZDUrb9L1KI8NxvwPnnWKZEvDdFy_LkHJStc7Jw/s400/PICT0053.JPG" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Then I had Richard remove the legs from the old top</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He used his handy dandy sander thing to remove a couple spots of rust</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiptvAF7v7ziA2w8XijEug-h0fLz40eJFDietfs-1ESxeSx8brOjBe0RSDAYF942aGhD9a-XuD96FGklaiTL1hQintkvIPeWRl7X_4zLLp18q1agGq_Qn7y8G5Ik28g3ZTl-8xxkmHdSXQ/s1600/PICT0057.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiptvAF7v7ziA2w8XijEug-h0fLz40eJFDietfs-1ESxeSx8brOjBe0RSDAYF942aGhD9a-XuD96FGklaiTL1hQintkvIPeWRl7X_4zLLp18q1agGq_Qn7y8G5Ik28g3ZTl-8xxkmHdSXQ/s400/PICT0057.jpg" width="300" /> </a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgon7eir4k1aMpsEt_GfgMfn8IDebxj2N1Hto62cxb3BcxcRz7fnqnqcpAYbN2wY-ZeHYSo4I1YVqhx4JdmVembhjXGTEjNc__PoRLBw_36RxP5Ui6xdcIy7GuBdGpVnWMQ7hRWEywmlM4/s400/PICT0061.JPG" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I could have done this whole part myself but Richard likes to have an excuse to use his tools</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIL2jnck0ql5p-8SkXJ0RMCDsGBTGdpKeNgHOtfgOVCwMm_4cCHfkaJgAJfyhyphenhyphenhZQ5k3oHuQ7hUYQt393S0YrIVHWZ_QGtS-fQ9Uq0WflhPaK0HyASE23oqQJDoqPJRGUk4xMtnxAvBJg/s640/PICT0069.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Have your other helper hold the spray paint</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here it is primed</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yeah, it's for cars. But you use what's on hand, right?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXL3tMItVq7zommZ3nRo8fnmTZ1D-adcq9AyXhTaS6-CDjFPDhpAaIL8cBhEwGg42-dyTJ5W-W_MYIgmFil2bIISQUuLa3jaYgull7DY05R7rL3fc6-Mxym-OS637W9DvJ35DTVnnVFyk/s400/PICT0077.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Next comes the black paint</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih4lIo7zYQTUO1htr27jSjQcolcB-Gi55bih1_mRUx6qtTnT5CPbLi0wsvmP3ZiVG6_TA5sk6BFlfGXcOQr1V3JPb5u0za_Y6TiOKenGJdB-eMNEfEZAzD9cUf1uioSt0AiSaw3J19_yw/s1600/PICT0081.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih4lIo7zYQTUO1htr27jSjQcolcB-Gi55bih1_mRUx6qtTnT5CPbLi0wsvmP3ZiVG6_TA5sk6BFlfGXcOQr1V3JPb5u0za_Y6TiOKenGJdB-eMNEfEZAzD9cUf1uioSt0AiSaw3J19_yw/s400/PICT0081.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdxmAY7vGEuejbRiWgqhMsmT0akb4epTxILskpzR12yW5FsZK1syp2Xva7SuuIjSC5JwPGun4MSoR_ea5GvzVEmh8xQaYucVtfXabA6_qmMC5X8R7zle66BmMKu2gs1k1B5OTFuf8ph70/s400/PICT0082.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Then measuring to fit the top. This is where it would have been nice if I had kept the fabric closer to the edge.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw1lArvo9TuhIstwqYhvLE9jBPHFbITlvdA_WhVw1CvnrFBUx6dEFe5_F44pebDJC0tZ2FulqXxDKWCigGdZaHtQV8qOHXF8WuCfl75zpeZCixBkyjM9qytGAWAirUC9xKw35vbws7Vt0/s400/PICT0083.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was a pain to drill through the fabric and batting, but Richard did a great job and got the legs all even and stuff.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSAjomlW5TDzsB3gzaRFq97DHviP_oK1I-t-M_RmMUyL3GiOMUHC8tmQZHateG44M2HMDHwGHMGOGpf23gbDMxbTHy09OhSvLmKeXvGOFus0lULVErC7AwgGvdYlZJ0WBQB3bS5a-oTd4/s1600/PICT0100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSAjomlW5TDzsB3gzaRFq97DHviP_oK1I-t-M_RmMUyL3GiOMUHC8tmQZHateG44M2HMDHwGHMGOGpf23gbDMxbTHy09OhSvLmKeXvGOFus0lULVErC7AwgGvdYlZJ0WBQB3bS5a-oTd4/s400/PICT0100.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finished product in our living room!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglXkKAKNbZTZvjmtnie3Cm0f971XCOfQja1nl0iYHyTeO8DhBrb_338CgRueGKOkMyeucqtAn-_QvbXAry_dTWkRXtV1HOKHp_4EmFefoGyCmDUm0xpDG8WPpTpqc1WVi1kXhHfUE_6qE/s1600/PICT0111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglXkKAKNbZTZvjmtnie3Cm0f971XCOfQja1nl0iYHyTeO8DhBrb_338CgRueGKOkMyeucqtAn-_QvbXAry_dTWkRXtV1HOKHp_4EmFefoGyCmDUm0xpDG8WPpTpqc1WVi1kXhHfUE_6qE/s640/PICT0111.JPG" width="456" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love how it turned out, and how it looks with the other red accents in the living room.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_NeGRvUAfaYVlQkKTOVKoMmqIY12CYqwoAnP6LgM5fC33hhpRaImuRWpqMCL83hLtVGhF498mmw8MmL-uGnZDOrdhWzn3ThDFNGWWrc3TDfEfE-B8v5IYEsjzSZJgt1ohlrk4ubxr1fM/s1600/PICT0112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_NeGRvUAfaYVlQkKTOVKoMmqIY12CYqwoAnP6LgM5fC33hhpRaImuRWpqMCL83hLtVGhF498mmw8MmL-uGnZDOrdhWzn3ThDFNGWWrc3TDfEfE-B8v5IYEsjzSZJgt1ohlrk4ubxr1fM/s400/PICT0112.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's even comfy to use, too.</td></tr>
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<br />melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15690351350193667741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1701090666251961372.post-69737524058057177492011-09-02T11:09:00.000-05:002011-09-02T11:09:19.885-05:00Summer Recap Two - August Version<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here's our August fun!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Richard's brother and sister-in-law and their twin girls came to visit! The cousins are the same age as Clementine, and it was super fun to have them over! Of course everyone packed into the pool. =]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grace was big sister/cousin extraordinaire, and kept all the Littles happy with bubbles</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzRp0P12_-QtiXOzlgr6iyZjakFfaHEjSTRzOO4qMp-P0450I31rHE5aGrY50uJZpyJsVkGDQ9-94JoxaSliKWmR90PaEQGIi1YC0Z6KGLx-SYLzbsJ-GhszNXDHuOqdFd-jo4wKv4k3o/s1600/PICT0080.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzRp0P12_-QtiXOzlgr6iyZjakFfaHEjSTRzOO4qMp-P0450I31rHE5aGrY50uJZpyJsVkGDQ9-94JoxaSliKWmR90PaEQGIi1YC0Z6KGLx-SYLzbsJ-GhszNXDHuOqdFd-jo4wKv4k3o/s640/PICT0080.jpg" width="456" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at those three adorable little girls! (And one sweet big girl. And a handsome boy.)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv7QOOI6bKwJXTB2_YbXqs2INa3FCWOhMnCSFOvDi2Bnc6iVz53ff39a0QCu-l-_FPaKf7J4TVYPWs81hEGBiicjW-bxk9mHg_-a1GXl3HO4Nf9-ksg2NtrR_6imSm25p-beWeetZP_68/s1600/PICT0087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv7QOOI6bKwJXTB2_YbXqs2INa3FCWOhMnCSFOvDi2Bnc6iVz53ff39a0QCu-l-_FPaKf7J4TVYPWs81hEGBiicjW-bxk9mHg_-a1GXl3HO4Nf9-ksg2NtrR_6imSm25p-beWeetZP_68/s640/PICT0087.JPG" width="456" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I made some wool diaper covers for Clementine out of recycled sweaters. Got a little fancy on this one.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLltsM9r2RZHF1v3yJWFxtJCusM18eA79rWXGajrkWGj2r8Av9Y4qEdzuoH3y01DlNmRZoTl7-87p60KlKlfNT9tG9vYMO_78DK452SPmv1hJcqO6dXnl8BOhRU1S7kX5KiK7WSKKMWTs/s1600/PICT0062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLltsM9r2RZHF1v3yJWFxtJCusM18eA79rWXGajrkWGj2r8Av9Y4qEdzuoH3y01DlNmRZoTl7-87p60KlKlfNT9tG9vYMO_78DK452SPmv1hJcqO6dXnl8BOhRU1S7kX5KiK7WSKKMWTs/s640/PICT0062.JPG" width="456" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Off to catch butterflies in a new wool soaker!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIvzqd3j2FfsZlqnKtqF0ac8rDDJUMK8tWO2VTG36U57GjQgIsv1FyPcLcQ5QLSxapachVJOMLt1KJyEPzepxZKYoWSSSO3kg-q3YD8C68SAkghDQNdplq1Ni7igkLdh786PwDGDfvZiQ/s1600/PICT0068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIvzqd3j2FfsZlqnKtqF0ac8rDDJUMK8tWO2VTG36U57GjQgIsv1FyPcLcQ5QLSxapachVJOMLt1KJyEPzepxZKYoWSSSO3kg-q3YD8C68SAkghDQNdplq1Ni7igkLdh786PwDGDfvZiQ/s640/PICT0068.JPG" width="456" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">These three are just hilarious. You'll have no idea what they're talking about here unless you've ever played a computer game called Zoombinis. But it captures just how much of a little parrot Clementine is! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-picasa-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJKmqvHYhH5w2vdEk68_YDCO7yarzq5XjVvBk4QbM2ycsGp7TUKcJecacHpMQiMLGnqRHIke-ToZxy2OEdCtMb3dgny5Gb6clUCjPVswa06Ou60hyphenhyphenyNUERP5FZe2EDT8_a0MjeIUTDhYA/s1600/IMG_3688.MOV"><param name="movie" value="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fv15.nonxt2.googlevideo.com%2Fvideoplayback%3Fid%3D298f340f510131d3%26itag%3D18%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1314996257%26sparams%3Did%2Citag%2Cip%2Cipbits%2Cexpire%26signature%3DB02B6BDEBDC67F034AAD202153D8689D3F5D6C00.5364DC4E442F4B402F6E4357EBA50A2E66C3C61B%26key%3Dlh1" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fv15.nonxt2.googlevideo.com%2Fvideoplayback%3Fid%3D298f340f510131d3%26itag%3D18%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1314996257%26sparams%3Did%2Citag%2Cip%2Cipbits%2Cexpire%26signature%3DB02B6BDEBDC67F034AAD202153D8689D3F5D6C00.5364DC4E442F4B402F6E4357EBA50A2E66C3C61B%26key%3Dlh1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div><br />
<br />
We spent even more time in the pool and backyard! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbaViNPlo7-f7Icw2a3EtDRuYwz8BH5OnQYLY7Ef3BzIS16m8QO19fYdIJVRfGcPeqgwnOKtZ8JxpoJjXyNY9yXyDhwVF07QEtoYqI1PaExDArE-CsPh0cZpEytftRcO1fN6vDzW5t3p4/s1600/IMG_3690.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbaViNPlo7-f7Icw2a3EtDRuYwz8BH5OnQYLY7Ef3BzIS16m8QO19fYdIJVRfGcPeqgwnOKtZ8JxpoJjXyNY9yXyDhwVF07QEtoYqI1PaExDArE-CsPh0cZpEytftRcO1fN6vDzW5t3p4/s400/IMG_3690.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiK7yL9sGtMavuZGdW1duXyNIZzAkhYY1xTCz56XQdiiWO9H21XA1d_K-2lJ3S3X7WJVJaCjEbd575Pj7bF_CdEOLXWur3XghVHiA41m1rZJRgk6k2Z1AGjhXfz6yQHHPvg820Ft7_sGk/s1600/IMG_3691.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiK7yL9sGtMavuZGdW1duXyNIZzAkhYY1xTCz56XQdiiWO9H21XA1d_K-2lJ3S3X7WJVJaCjEbd575Pj7bF_CdEOLXWur3XghVHiA41m1rZJRgk6k2Z1AGjhXfz6yQHHPvg820Ft7_sGk/s400/IMG_3691.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Clementine figured out how to push herself on the swing. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-picasa-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6YTKB1AWLAsOrkxBrekafWBf9o_gbPfv2hqLzFtaGiBQF1U6yaWDhH0P9At304CCtLQJtHrBIfojzhtqbW-XkxopkOmYurV-g0pb0m2Ci6Njg0cdRr6_Bgrev2tfyxsnB7qIURxRF3Kg/s1600/IMG_3711.MOV"><param name="movie" value="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fv16.nonxt3.googlevideo.com%2Fvideoplayback%3Fid%3D3a8030fcb4c5aea1%26itag%3D18%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1314996341%26sparams%3Did%2Citag%2Cip%2Cipbits%2Cexpire%26signature%3D560B346F99C35058CF168A8296941F3573771763.57884667F28539CF3A81C9CF3B0225256813B797%26key%3Dlh1" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fv16.nonxt3.googlevideo.com%2Fvideoplayback%3Fid%3D3a8030fcb4c5aea1%26itag%3D18%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1314996341%26sparams%3Did%2Citag%2Cip%2Cipbits%2Cexpire%26signature%3D560B346F99C35058CF168A8296941F3573771763.57884667F28539CF3A81C9CF3B0225256813B797%26key%3Dlh1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object> </div><br />
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<br />
We went to church and the boys helped their little sister in a very adorable way. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXjduiWIJzX0MPRvHwi4bKFd-wt1DQ-UmEjVwoyXDwOebzi7FvSaWBaVyy5nVm7lrdA8uNtBwQyPigcY2ZFymtr9g75Td13P7TaDFB5Yk9hhOcT87eWvihraJjKlSyi1x7rYbSgxEqZW8/s1600/download1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXjduiWIJzX0MPRvHwi4bKFd-wt1DQ-UmEjVwoyXDwOebzi7FvSaWBaVyy5nVm7lrdA8uNtBwQyPigcY2ZFymtr9g75Td13P7TaDFB5Yk9hhOcT87eWvihraJjKlSyi1x7rYbSgxEqZW8/s640/download1.jpg" width="456" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioY8c_fFp412hSxnlCU6wzcPE5uyb9dAXGxkk4AtEbsXGKU7Vjym_y4PaLYKA-Exa9dFZZRh8ZGIs38R5jiU_OOXKiZxX0E3bojvTfHQy2npdQXajxaYrZqAInjmMxosQpWRTCzFm_OLw/s1600/download.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioY8c_fFp412hSxnlCU6wzcPE5uyb9dAXGxkk4AtEbsXGKU7Vjym_y4PaLYKA-Exa9dFZZRh8ZGIs38R5jiU_OOXKiZxX0E3bojvTfHQy2npdQXajxaYrZqAInjmMxosQpWRTCzFm_OLw/s400/download.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
BIG NEWS!! We were surprised to have this little one discovered lodging in Mama's tummy! We're expecting him or her to appear in early April 2012. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ZyK-peWUHBw5UncDSd9B3GyaQ4AxLOWeMTTQr7hRG_QXZiEYTGGN8r_sXu1nCklaAqPWuNL7qXUnKtPEJ8GTWzrENuL0uKfYFihFSGS5LE6LADykXq-I2rCZZT09-zByDLJJifVKWmU/s1600/1002177167_MAILLY_20110815_155206_0049.BMP" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ZyK-peWUHBw5UncDSd9B3GyaQ4AxLOWeMTTQr7hRG_QXZiEYTGGN8r_sXu1nCklaAqPWuNL7qXUnKtPEJ8GTWzrENuL0uKfYFihFSGS5LE6LADykXq-I2rCZZT09-zByDLJJifVKWmU/s640/1002177167_MAILLY_20110815_155206_0049.BMP" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">I *love* this little clip of someone that doesn't really resemble a baby yet, but definitely has a beating heart!! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-picasa-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguUI4AXUKTeOodeBCM7jXwgi2_0Kndn9Bf60MFPxUWTnPP1m2oVjvHPKqBNNGgNmgSSR6M1jelF1Ceqkq6zYCLkX4sypr7jW36vMXkSvd3Apyve4oET7OjJxvghdvn54yEfxJKmY_h8_Q/s1600/1002177167_MAILLY_20110815_155206_0055.AVI"><param name="movie" value="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fv15.nonxt1.googlevideo.com%2Fvideoplayback%3Fid%3Dcbd6f126e0558cfd%26itag%3D18%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1314996307%26sparams%3Did%2Citag%2Cip%2Cipbits%2Cexpire%26signature%3D281B4E4677A7E964632A3FFED4B81DE9E6C73DA7.CBEE64314E15B64F6AB86C61F25C2C16F116C262%26key%3Dlh1" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fv15.nonxt1.googlevideo.com%2Fvideoplayback%3Fid%3Dcbd6f126e0558cfd%26itag%3D18%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1314996307%26sparams%3Did%2Citag%2Cip%2Cipbits%2Cexpire%26signature%3D281B4E4677A7E964632A3FFED4B81DE9E6C73DA7.CBEE64314E15B64F6AB86C61F25C2C16F116C262%26key%3Dlh1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div><br />
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</div> We had a bonfire in our fire pit and enjoyed S'mores!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvRbagkOe9KvAKCSK9KHP3becC1cM01f5Xg_fT-FyU2CZ9F0uh_nWUFA0W64LLvBOCHM9cZhHgYvFpCQHOIWbJIcaO-8zkpPuO08Ez-ZFHK9b6CZXCX3cPp_RgVr0itKelnN7iYmvapPU/s1600/PICT0111.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvRbagkOe9KvAKCSK9KHP3becC1cM01f5Xg_fT-FyU2CZ9F0uh_nWUFA0W64LLvBOCHM9cZhHgYvFpCQHOIWbJIcaO-8zkpPuO08Ez-ZFHK9b6CZXCX3cPp_RgVr0itKelnN7iYmvapPU/s400/PICT0111.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1lN0Syu84kDy7-25YyO8HG6mJa47YmbUl-TllCrwaY58KrAaOAb3uWhwWMn1ETNagC_bBbhwGML7SkgUgMe8EDwAFSQs975NnmEpMW0Qq9wydHfGPBRWYLUH3BGNCaBGqmmlMb5ANLWw/s400/PICT0115.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Richard fanning the flames... our wood was a little damp</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZDWnKUZhwVzxGah-oXdn5YgvyTAK58ipE3S101yiE19Yx4lv3x9y6HwLgWNNOjkK1Q0sj_qNfaZp6R5ifCxCCIeVOuCZVK5xUTVm8xIUCGksk02UoeQfDn5XDCPjtByNCVl8CdUd9kVo/s640/PICT0092.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clementine took charge of the marshmallows</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi0oKvkua45LzdEwtmsZm3p8EGSJY6GhmLG7n-ROTTO5Bk6M3b9p8qWlvao-MXdMukYJXcYCi3Ck1aPkKJ-6Ms6UTcSsBngXnZxIRlZDrYFEA_w7bbvUx8jf5Fcn_u8C9aDvWHSWgYVK0/s400/PICT0098.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Judah had the chocolate</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNLkl4GzaXrJzkIzV8NzoY_OO9j-0XHflEHlY4Xin4MRjJXl1Pk3ykUAmOEJISTGSHLoaXtk_xdErmBniupo_x6YNwmGjmdTlY7deZuSvQW5sgkCf66oN19606EXuGzpvzCAOtkMdBUDw/s1600/IMG_3715.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNLkl4GzaXrJzkIzV8NzoY_OO9j-0XHflEHlY4Xin4MRjJXl1Pk3ykUAmOEJISTGSHLoaXtk_xdErmBniupo_x6YNwmGjmdTlY7deZuSvQW5sgkCf66oN19606EXuGzpvzCAOtkMdBUDw/s400/IMG_3715.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvqNvzO0BwGyL24Q2mAbVBAgB_6MCd3sBpdfRMUNZz9WWk6tDRWeiYM10iUceyGfvihr3ssnG6nM6V1VdFbd5bX1uzi8QoEdRZj47jyb6C6FlRvn6LD_WAHCJqk3NIhjh2kKjrwB7qe3A/s1600/IMG_3716.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvqNvzO0BwGyL24Q2mAbVBAgB_6MCd3sBpdfRMUNZz9WWk6tDRWeiYM10iUceyGfvihr3ssnG6nM6V1VdFbd5bX1uzi8QoEdRZj47jyb6C6FlRvn6LD_WAHCJqk3NIhjh2kKjrwB7qe3A/s400/IMG_3716.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXzRxb4nJoD19vsfEHyPbB2TLCpM8ISt7pOs4TMt5teU5NfnyfwqWHEWOuzrgxkzYX0xTIlOhUplFAmleNqaQvDFFu4fugErBMLu5l5GKK7spvHG4AVYQLXuSZ-TAZlOA8nb9Io8mYCZ8/s1600/IMG_3717.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXzRxb4nJoD19vsfEHyPbB2TLCpM8ISt7pOs4TMt5teU5NfnyfwqWHEWOuzrgxkzYX0xTIlOhUplFAmleNqaQvDFFu4fugErBMLu5l5GKK7spvHG4AVYQLXuSZ-TAZlOA8nb9Io8mYCZ8/s400/IMG_3717.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3Xx9chCWVljWalP6F4YA0Lpbq509S4lvOdcn8aafcQKNBp1BN8_5VKCP1kJBSGqtqUGgyhWHq3lsfaXZ-9LdumFHPtMqjt7nabosoBSXQjCD6aZHLfewja9J6uHpWjTQ6a4uDGkaKS8/s1600/IMG_3722.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3Xx9chCWVljWalP6F4YA0Lpbq509S4lvOdcn8aafcQKNBp1BN8_5VKCP1kJBSGqtqUGgyhWHq3lsfaXZ-9LdumFHPtMqjt7nabosoBSXQjCD6aZHLfewja9J6uHpWjTQ6a4uDGkaKS8/s400/IMG_3722.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finger-lickin' good!</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu4ZJeJeCMvdI5LoY5tdfjVKqfUOhyphenhyphene_cELoZgFJIMTiZmPhODIsUWVR5WYabp6kw1s1-0ygTFz4gec9WPJFp4ncJr3YgBmdiHE4wGcrAaG-YCbE3Hy5jyqMESBIkIutqtGXgO1Ly3IMM/s1600/IMG_3739.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu4ZJeJeCMvdI5LoY5tdfjVKqfUOhyphenhyphene_cELoZgFJIMTiZmPhODIsUWVR5WYabp6kw1s1-0ygTFz4gec9WPJFp4ncJr3YgBmdiHE4wGcrAaG-YCbE3Hy5jyqMESBIkIutqtGXgO1Ly3IMM/s400/IMG_3739.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheDRhIVXEiUZb0ywQ0a8dOF4pjkhgEEhJikjSao61doCnUBJ6hgGiJxC6t8lpP0UgqY4g84rW0Xe6nA5liuz8POkEbq48mGlWGcOwcHC0PqICw5V1s1NFTkueoQGS12-SBdgKaaVIPVOQ/s400/PICT0124.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not the greatest picture but don't these two look like twins in it? I usually don't see the resemblance so strongly.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grace and I attempted to make roasted apples in the coals. Charred apples would be understating what we ended up with.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNdKqiJ5bE1w5Sb-BUUatnHKVlvTf_DwgN6Bgjp4tfOd4LtOaQ7jKEHXaZqTPMX7zr9BIecbUEUoV969HNkulbtDO09QamrbY-FiF7PL22xDv1sUKefazOTJ00CB-w5-IsfePsbDI8u8Y/s1600/PICT0072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNdKqiJ5bE1w5Sb-BUUatnHKVlvTf_DwgN6Bgjp4tfOd4LtOaQ7jKEHXaZqTPMX7zr9BIecbUEUoV969HNkulbtDO09QamrbY-FiF7PL22xDv1sUKefazOTJ00CB-w5-IsfePsbDI8u8Y/s400/PICT0072.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sisters hung out by the fire</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitVA8W6c8hagHxtkbbQNoUwENkJaNifMhn1bFsLRmuyYrE22r-r-2xSwiqK-HGBcckwyOx1Stfepd8-T0i_ld5mHRujlJxSFPb_hoHfuStMqccQR5LdexZnMtkn47e1gIPe5i8KfArQ08/s1600/PICT0078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitVA8W6c8hagHxtkbbQNoUwENkJaNifMhn1bFsLRmuyYrE22r-r-2xSwiqK-HGBcckwyOx1Stfepd8-T0i_ld5mHRujlJxSFPb_hoHfuStMqccQR5LdexZnMtkn47e1gIPe5i8KfArQ08/s400/PICT0078.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moses pushed Judah on the swing while waiting for another S'more</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Contemplating the fire</td></tr>
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</a></div> We haven't done the State Fair since Moses was a newborn. It's just not quite our thing. (The amount of money dropped to go, the crowds, the sick tummies from eating too much fried food on a stick...) But we DID go to this Threshing Show in a more rural town northwest of us. Free to get in (thanks to a friend with an extra family voucher), a few greasy food stands but not too much, much smaller crowds, and still a lot of fun things to see and do!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLS8YSotlMG2vxt_n-dFkoBQiTfsguHBX-2GuDKu8nUejBVM8HSPY30eJofYPIduw0jvml55_70tCWyZZ3Z3iXH0zJbsY4qocv9bJDMTYHJGWrRGBHUSDP-Egk5FTPvAB-37OvweGU1gw/s1600/PICT0053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLS8YSotlMG2vxt_n-dFkoBQiTfsguHBX-2GuDKu8nUejBVM8HSPY30eJofYPIduw0jvml55_70tCWyZZ3Z3iXH0zJbsY4qocv9bJDMTYHJGWrRGBHUSDP-Egk5FTPvAB-37OvweGU1gw/s640/PICT0053.JPG" width="456" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This wagon is worth it's weight in gold.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9o9zNcgS-woCvEFX9dNTKOAF8W6a7E9FM5MWYh_rF2OAqtkNlzj75A8RK3tKWXqOliVVkoVxVScQuOwh6GO6Ms_eAbNGgtYO0zvMpAwUg39mmCn2D3tE9MErp10N6Iy79e8hZegZfmLY/s1600/PICT0054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9o9zNcgS-woCvEFX9dNTKOAF8W6a7E9FM5MWYh_rF2OAqtkNlzj75A8RK3tKWXqOliVVkoVxVScQuOwh6GO6Ms_eAbNGgtYO0zvMpAwUg39mmCn2D3tE9MErp10N6Iy79e8hZegZfmLY/s640/PICT0054.JPG" width="456" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Going to see the steam-powered saw mill!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFAdRmXyBuBkRog_tbQIRVe2QslmADpxEa4MV5mp02HE7JP_5HAsHQK6dpRkp-WUD5pzWx1z87K0QhTINZwMOJDBe5_LCy58u0jSJHQYf6jM3q1Kf2H2K8cg76h223d0qbZeQN890GMKo/s1600/PICT0058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFAdRmXyBuBkRog_tbQIRVe2QslmADpxEa4MV5mp02HE7JP_5HAsHQK6dpRkp-WUD5pzWx1z87K0QhTINZwMOJDBe5_LCy58u0jSJHQYf6jM3q1Kf2H2K8cg76h223d0qbZeQN890GMKo/s400/PICT0058.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This thing was powering the saw mill</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKSuBfV4pdYP9SR0Ex5VB6xQQekgjN3AUCjocvVxmt0eoGk6_faliYPV_vviu0Rkb7z57pyWzG0jjggtmaDUkaOjfFOtxp3l9myYabSSgLR4sj_GqZ4j_Jzq4wpgmLcdhKJD1By2gBD9Y/s1600/PICT0059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKSuBfV4pdYP9SR0Ex5VB6xQQekgjN3AUCjocvVxmt0eoGk6_faliYPV_vviu0Rkb7z57pyWzG0jjggtmaDUkaOjfFOtxp3l9myYabSSgLR4sj_GqZ4j_Jzq4wpgmLcdhKJD1By2gBD9Y/s640/PICT0059.JPG" width="456" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They had a pioneer area where the kids got to try their hand at pioneer games and chores</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRts-PqPokRUDn-LScRU90NjsKomD-cXq1FckED1rc-4AZJuJjrqLm3cuponmTgiNv-nvoMkHAZ88wBfHW95U3GRp0P7bl7JKrVyw5GgabWa3pF290jdtoQcX04ZOyHs8Wp6yp62-HhxQ/s1600/PICT0060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRts-PqPokRUDn-LScRU90NjsKomD-cXq1FckED1rc-4AZJuJjrqLm3cuponmTgiNv-nvoMkHAZ88wBfHW95U3GRp0P7bl7JKrVyw5GgabWa3pF290jdtoQcX04ZOyHs8Wp6yp62-HhxQ/s640/PICT0060.JPG" width="456" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grace was really good at the hoop rolling!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgLUbRIgphgtOPkh8RLCmymoei3rgTDOl_KUx4icsiWpB7S91JxQtSuhmljV75M79r_vdhqh0pKrHZJgCE0F8Kr3jcw3wznKXbP7qSguNL-m6zyD4zjxwLDMnue3PMbZvSx8jn42k0jzo/s1600/PICT0061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgLUbRIgphgtOPkh8RLCmymoei3rgTDOl_KUx4icsiWpB7S91JxQtSuhmljV75M79r_vdhqh0pKrHZJgCE0F8Kr3jcw3wznKXbP7qSguNL-m6zyD4zjxwLDMnue3PMbZvSx8jn42k0jzo/s400/PICT0061.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Doing laundry the old-fashioned way!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQaB1TzSLU50Mnr_lG5H4_bczJ8-5JQz6B0sPpYFG3ku_rYv5j5kT7189ECy2hd3a3sw0JlMWd6mEl2IRJm2lJcmKI5c1dE-_TunogYrIF5pRX4X0n9iIr-fuypHT5BWlS6mhzwKkg36U/s1600/PICT0062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQaB1TzSLU50Mnr_lG5H4_bczJ8-5JQz6B0sPpYFG3ku_rYv5j5kT7189ECy2hd3a3sw0JlMWd6mEl2IRJm2lJcmKI5c1dE-_TunogYrIF5pRX4X0n9iIr-fuypHT5BWlS6mhzwKkg36U/s640/PICT0062.JPG" width="456" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grace was quite good at it! We'll be fine if we ever have to live like pioneers.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqegxv9Ejjb2nxG2UrlrRorvG3QNakkmLE6Kr9BB_gF2Fz_dQ1RYTvbulskB5j2oeVkMGjzt83MQ2zcVrX69kmF5PZuj_whJePECpkYxGz1RJES8DZWt1qvp6hBBKeMt3G84mEXghSNlo/s1600/PICT0064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqegxv9Ejjb2nxG2UrlrRorvG3QNakkmLE6Kr9BB_gF2Fz_dQ1RYTvbulskB5j2oeVkMGjzt83MQ2zcVrX69kmF5PZuj_whJePECpkYxGz1RJES8DZWt1qvp6hBBKeMt3G84mEXghSNlo/s640/PICT0064.JPG" width="456" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A really cool decked-out chuck wagon. </td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1C8FfIYbh1V4CCiVW6qWOlxiDyrRWPVy9SpNA_29Ujbk6goK7L3fCiKPudI-4118d8GpUSf3SIfnJzOkZ70fFtXF54_b_YXn-6TQAX0iMWJbAU4p5vDZp5xUQd-DrtAOmcrDVV9yAQ7w/s1600/PICT0065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1C8FfIYbh1V4CCiVW6qWOlxiDyrRWPVy9SpNA_29Ujbk6goK7L3fCiKPudI-4118d8GpUSf3SIfnJzOkZ70fFtXF54_b_YXn-6TQAX0iMWJbAU4p5vDZp5xUQd-DrtAOmcrDVV9yAQ7w/s400/PICT0065.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEk3FHaLJCNn8TpG6vDvPcoEMjy6lgd9_6Tz9uzXSuG9SAo4LeijZ7ceUelGNMVMoIf0F4Ym15e8BwehaTUXmra8SVMQg1vqOmbveLLy2Kl27JsuCP4oOkEt-kRnjiWYPqQEEufcbqAcM/s1600/PICT0066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEk3FHaLJCNn8TpG6vDvPcoEMjy6lgd9_6Tz9uzXSuG9SAo4LeijZ7ceUelGNMVMoIf0F4Ym15e8BwehaTUXmra8SVMQg1vqOmbveLLy2Kl27JsuCP4oOkEt-kRnjiWYPqQEEufcbqAcM/s400/PICT0066.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH08NhZzxkoZUnZN4ZK93TnITi9OtYPJDPGrW5cHpMgDoypDelqhUfnI1nygqzccDEKn9qwFktIzFSoi2Ejr2sprXRKAcBIy1aEOs3SnAFEl-31mSw9hn0I3mwKqrPwE2XSMXVVtfCh9Q/s1600/PICT0068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH08NhZzxkoZUnZN4ZK93TnITi9OtYPJDPGrW5cHpMgDoypDelqhUfnI1nygqzccDEKn9qwFktIzFSoi2Ejr2sprXRKAcBIy1aEOs3SnAFEl-31mSw9hn0I3mwKqrPwE2XSMXVVtfCh9Q/s640/PICT0068.JPG" width="456" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU8gMVhLQYUGtpWCqm3CiMaBnLNTK2Zyv6v5i-A4DXnh2zsAK5tfGuyVw-h9IohU7Rh64Otw17MVYLtyUu1icnbcf0-5wa500ougxj9MSXZkJDC7VJ-T3C3NA-oa0ak3hYudJmg2Kmtg8/s1600/PICT0070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU8gMVhLQYUGtpWCqm3CiMaBnLNTK2Zyv6v5i-A4DXnh2zsAK5tfGuyVw-h9IohU7Rh64Otw17MVYLtyUu1icnbcf0-5wa500ougxj9MSXZkJDC7VJ-T3C3NA-oa0ak3hYudJmg2Kmtg8/s400/PICT0070.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grinding wheat into flour</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9oo40MiWpJAwNp4HafKezlusxbJsJuuN6eiRRJDVk8Z1MWCub9rg4gIFWTnnc9nKHhG5bRM6wOwwetTBNlrw0D3HzdtOENE4amGi3Y5B15psmy3-R_1-AoHWQrgTki_JSH1v1Hd-PEPc/s1600/PICT0072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9oo40MiWpJAwNp4HafKezlusxbJsJuuN6eiRRJDVk8Z1MWCub9rg4gIFWTnnc9nKHhG5bRM6wOwwetTBNlrw0D3HzdtOENE4amGi3Y5B15psmy3-R_1-AoHWQrgTki_JSH1v1Hd-PEPc/s400/PICT0072.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Judah took this very seriously, of course.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ECrF56QRJEzlKh6mdrehXhpd1hAkpvPh916sr5fV7YuTBJu1ToxsYgls-8fl-rVMGot8S0ggy0yTn_ep10cboxQ9idMyc9FJCVR9lk62MOx4VDcl7XZjgwe6KIsi27VTj1kdScS4KxQ/s1600/PICT0074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ECrF56QRJEzlKh6mdrehXhpd1hAkpvPh916sr5fV7YuTBJu1ToxsYgls-8fl-rVMGot8S0ggy0yTn_ep10cboxQ9idMyc9FJCVR9lk62MOx4VDcl7XZjgwe6KIsi27VTj1kdScS4KxQ/s400/PICT0074.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5HAwSofs6cfXdJ3OL4NLZNm0MW5BI7t3VbRqaBqZz-ev-Bb8L3iGZkXLSCxgZDROcNLDzVNERO9E3Vib4JkXxxEqLcSMvCmmD2N90bz_-Yf0bQvlVLyDJfBObbo__EPMehyf8ldrIsNs/s1600/PICT0075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5HAwSofs6cfXdJ3OL4NLZNm0MW5BI7t3VbRqaBqZz-ev-Bb8L3iGZkXLSCxgZDROcNLDzVNERO9E3Vib4JkXxxEqLcSMvCmmD2N90bz_-Yf0bQvlVLyDJfBObbo__EPMehyf8ldrIsNs/s400/PICT0075.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pumping water</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrzQb6ar3ZqU2tdac9uWzi4KtNRK3Ijz46XC1UGpf0sYfFiX5TC6nODP4R9QdW6GSqnDf2kvymmm6333JOLiNObcYYDm0kkSSDIz6oRLnKpLxuszaDHCOpvlfXVNEg-H-BNVbi1RzKON0/s1600/PICT0076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrzQb6ar3ZqU2tdac9uWzi4KtNRK3Ijz46XC1UGpf0sYfFiX5TC6nODP4R9QdW6GSqnDf2kvymmm6333JOLiNObcYYDm0kkSSDIz6oRLnKpLxuszaDHCOpvlfXVNEg-H-BNVbi1RzKON0/s640/PICT0076.JPG" width="456" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh95GTp3u9s061k5nboGotx5o4tpASFD4A2LhmRZfG0fYyDK8dTXuHHvFpnkANwVJe-sdPeefOJhaRNequf8bJ5peFDeO_XNv1aQLknipI0sq7HG7mAuGlTcszx1tdCX5yHkgxoSbjTZMo/s1600/PICT0078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh95GTp3u9s061k5nboGotx5o4tpASFD4A2LhmRZfG0fYyDK8dTXuHHvFpnkANwVJe-sdPeefOJhaRNequf8bJ5peFDeO_XNv1aQLknipI0sq7HG7mAuGlTcszx1tdCX5yHkgxoSbjTZMo/s640/PICT0078.JPG" width="456" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikPo9r9zqTKTbRpMJQHaZcgENjUUBq8QQbbnAsxpZgcysevFXDnVc9U7sMgUy9xrwuLWUFhPUPc6R1FcM0MTFG8XnpZKBpKz4_JTIBj5DU9JhqSG-6a5a8OAwzELF0svLWDoLLN7Gkuso/s1600/PICT0079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikPo9r9zqTKTbRpMJQHaZcgENjUUBq8QQbbnAsxpZgcysevFXDnVc9U7sMgUy9xrwuLWUFhPUPc6R1FcM0MTFG8XnpZKBpKz4_JTIBj5DU9JhqSG-6a5a8OAwzELF0svLWDoLLN7Gkuso/s640/PICT0079.JPG" width="456" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Here Papa, wash your hands!"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcPkFC_f4OcbUh8oOGsGtGGHRPGTXqDYu_PjWlkSiewI-zLK4gfJKtm58DthyphenhyphencgkMzNVbGlELKXiUTEPEyprUMu94MBv5V9VkA8Ideev4p_8gGxC9EPnLq6J6fm1op8l_SQO_a9K65b1o/s1600/PICT0080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcPkFC_f4OcbUh8oOGsGtGGHRPGTXqDYu_PjWlkSiewI-zLK4gfJKtm58DthyphenhyphencgkMzNVbGlELKXiUTEPEyprUMu94MBv5V9VkA8Ideev4p_8gGxC9EPnLq6J6fm1op8l_SQO_a9K65b1o/s400/PICT0080.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We watched the steam-powered rock crusher for a while but the kids liked climbing the rock pile better.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0u0HYrPbDNZdPbkZ0fYpjBU_zeKq9o0XUjZM93s-DirldyoUxNCkvrLPZtB8o69By3WXB3ju2h9N71WKQYFozl0rpUjuO-UpWtyfe1IYngbBWe9G4koE6OsyzMeOjhXpHEcMw4j59X_k/s1600/PICT0082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0u0HYrPbDNZdPbkZ0fYpjBU_zeKq9o0XUjZM93s-DirldyoUxNCkvrLPZtB8o69By3WXB3ju2h9N71WKQYFozl0rpUjuO-UpWtyfe1IYngbBWe9G4koE6OsyzMeOjhXpHEcMw4j59X_k/s640/PICT0082.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was their favorite - riding the miniature steam train!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggqHdOGDtam2bM5oHkt_Sp2XlsaVo-xDZ9hLiY5NTTSqMgDHG85DoSzWuhe1P_87EvjLOHGFM89x_CUE9z34lukKTa66FiesbyJGVYy2abbP0cw_3XhaDTgx9tPgeBcCqt5WgI7rspg7c/s1600/PICT0083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggqHdOGDtam2bM5oHkt_Sp2XlsaVo-xDZ9hLiY5NTTSqMgDHG85DoSzWuhe1P_87EvjLOHGFM89x_CUE9z34lukKTa66FiesbyJGVYy2abbP0cw_3XhaDTgx9tPgeBcCqt5WgI7rspg7c/s400/PICT0083.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was a really fun day and I think we'll go again in the years to come!</td></tr>
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A couple miscellaneous pictures:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUjSankAj9cZdar7KSrEn-aArF-VmX7DyiYP3hUEt9ye13DlA4fBQGWNPVUzoByxmYds-CA2NEMJ8_7ojs7Qahlo2q23qysyXiMEiq1fN4yRrhtGFwqMc9L2_GAQeFaJFAS0sVNeFIozs/s1600/PICT0055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUjSankAj9cZdar7KSrEn-aArF-VmX7DyiYP3hUEt9ye13DlA4fBQGWNPVUzoByxmYds-CA2NEMJ8_7ojs7Qahlo2q23qysyXiMEiq1fN4yRrhtGFwqMc9L2_GAQeFaJFAS0sVNeFIozs/s400/PICT0055.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I completed one of the several hundred home decorating projects I'd like to do. These pretties went into our bedroom. I got the huge embroidery/quilting hoops at Goodwill for 99¢ each and used them to frame some pretty Amy Butler fabric. I can't wait to paint our walls next!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsAWFy5KevazrXuLosMesEbYYv0PJIJRWhV_73dkJUwSCYG3LfTKB8NgEJisBsLV6TJceMSJBhnCflnciqOk7BCzhXtiFbQqUH1131d4wjnsaNIYYhDardpbCprKmzEmf-gvRmHZrtPZU/s1600/PICT0077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsAWFy5KevazrXuLosMesEbYYv0PJIJRWhV_73dkJUwSCYG3LfTKB8NgEJisBsLV6TJceMSJBhnCflnciqOk7BCzhXtiFbQqUH1131d4wjnsaNIYYhDardpbCprKmzEmf-gvRmHZrtPZU/s640/PICT0077.JPG" width="456" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moses got a tattoo and he's really tough and cool</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2gb1dBeaxdB9LPk3M7vA5NXpVgXCPq1hniqRmF3x9OQddIFJeYBNop-heIeaAF5EmscAjNN0LzmhGbY5bf6g8sz9U_FwXra2AoZGpVgVe6O2RTbz3ccrmul0pvqC0KXzllY7y5yyPvPE/s1600/PICT0081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2gb1dBeaxdB9LPk3M7vA5NXpVgXCPq1hniqRmF3x9OQddIFJeYBNop-heIeaAF5EmscAjNN0LzmhGbY5bf6g8sz9U_FwXra2AoZGpVgVe6O2RTbz3ccrmul0pvqC0KXzllY7y5yyPvPE/s640/PICT0081.JPG" width="582" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three little cuties with scruffy hair!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6W8CFyBBgqCECtjwgfvYnCS_6mbae6i0Hj62KMyh0f2m1yqW80-brtvhGqMpCJ4pr82YiOtNjssa2A3AtF7kme3bTTHHG9W6EIN3mHpcOFLWisA-_yGZyDFrLSUgX8ekz4IwTYGVbs1I/s1600/PICT0087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6W8CFyBBgqCECtjwgfvYnCS_6mbae6i0Hj62KMyh0f2m1yqW80-brtvhGqMpCJ4pr82YiOtNjssa2A3AtF7kme3bTTHHG9W6EIN3mHpcOFLWisA-_yGZyDFrLSUgX8ekz4IwTYGVbs1I/s640/PICT0087.JPG" width="456" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What can I say about this girl??</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGAeHYI0YgFoucF9Bx548-ROZbsrKNS8K0Mu9qnvl1HezCw-ljs8J3zRWO02myRcpjUawygqranhPmve9eStHKbT39EnLFaXaaKZRXgiZznIm04eEK2u4uxgJ1fTcYLZr6ztMb2kLQq1s/s1600/PICT0088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGAeHYI0YgFoucF9Bx548-ROZbsrKNS8K0Mu9qnvl1HezCw-ljs8J3zRWO02myRcpjUawygqranhPmve9eStHKbT39EnLFaXaaKZRXgiZznIm04eEK2u4uxgJ1fTcYLZr6ztMb2kLQq1s/s640/PICT0088.JPG" width="456" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She's adorable.</td></tr>
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More playing in the backyard:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl90tOLdnZDqgiRKMG1cbmg8eBogbtzsTQNuqWwc1E1f0GXSTEsdMq2n8arOjhbdYU5Z5Ay7GWWmQ6pG64Ibq2OoL2ZDOp-_51d0n88kwVX8kegu8_HMzglmn8XSzwiIlb9aMGJQxYZKo/s1600/PICT0063_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl90tOLdnZDqgiRKMG1cbmg8eBogbtzsTQNuqWwc1E1f0GXSTEsdMq2n8arOjhbdYU5Z5Ay7GWWmQ6pG64Ibq2OoL2ZDOp-_51d0n88kwVX8kegu8_HMzglmn8XSzwiIlb9aMGJQxYZKo/s400/PICT0063_2.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grace was teaching the boys the art of swordplay (her words)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They killed Grace</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHZ_vC20I9YadwCmqd5VZKwWgaSkbcyB6YGO-57zYIGYDvr2HiBrMpVkLscAbOAe3vk1X1FLzkt3Gu0zSlmQNTlll5t0zxaRvO97loBo5kV8_Q3K9B_ne58tFXAeGdZgAbkx_0mAaHN5E/s1600/PICT0086_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHZ_vC20I9YadwCmqd5VZKwWgaSkbcyB6YGO-57zYIGYDvr2HiBrMpVkLscAbOAe3vk1X1FLzkt3Gu0zSlmQNTlll5t0zxaRvO97loBo5kV8_Q3K9B_ne58tFXAeGdZgAbkx_0mAaHN5E/s400/PICT0086_2.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Sissy, are you okay?"</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF_iJltDeIZqZaitEz1Zgro-ODFNUCR2HtIA8K1KGaDylqGIs0_2zOWGYCsgU06TJ1f7yTiwp1udR1YRQam7YAJRlzSZ80Xj-gMwNuimqQvQJxWYqqT3WRId-z31HcdJZ0WN0Wchbjkhc/s1600/PICT0087_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF_iJltDeIZqZaitEz1Zgro-ODFNUCR2HtIA8K1KGaDylqGIs0_2zOWGYCsgU06TJ1f7yTiwp1udR1YRQam7YAJRlzSZ80Xj-gMwNuimqQvQJxWYqqT3WRId-z31HcdJZ0WN0Wchbjkhc/s400/PICT0087_2.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After a long day playing outside, it's nice to take a break and read a book with Papa. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibzQtT748eff3GMhx2rdaKuGkkv4J5ImaBY4IVQkf13NZ4507kgRfQdbkFLO4dvK2s7JPTbCSei3o1iXEKlmHHPneYtY3Y4JfmCpawsoAAj7dYdc4qvfTYS8Lj_uFI0fuTlSEBjx3NezA/s1600/PICT0060_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibzQtT748eff3GMhx2rdaKuGkkv4J5ImaBY4IVQkf13NZ4507kgRfQdbkFLO4dvK2s7JPTbCSei3o1iXEKlmHHPneYtY3Y4JfmCpawsoAAj7dYdc4qvfTYS8Lj_uFI0fuTlSEBjx3NezA/s640/PICT0060_2.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br />
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melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15690351350193667741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1701090666251961372.post-63719618277547673482011-09-02T09:30:00.002-05:002011-09-02T09:37:47.974-05:00Summer Recap One - July VersionWow, 1 post in July...one post in August. It's been busy and blogging has taken a very backseat! But I do want to recap some of the fun we've had this summer!<br />
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Here's July, briefly:<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">(Okay, this is technically the end of June, but I had to add it.)</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3fW_gGHZ3M3M0aVikZbGDBWQgbse6w_Vgl2vm0IvgOSJSNbpnaMya4x05ell2xV7eTBEA2yz_smcu5R5-ocppFDR_3vVJ5QbqQu_HN5w2ARIoTZMRrrczAqNklhMhVd_ng3UQzl2tyQI/s1600/PICT0056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3fW_gGHZ3M3M0aVikZbGDBWQgbse6w_Vgl2vm0IvgOSJSNbpnaMya4x05ell2xV7eTBEA2yz_smcu5R5-ocppFDR_3vVJ5QbqQu_HN5w2ARIoTZMRrrczAqNklhMhVd_ng3UQzl2tyQI/s400/PICT0056.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Richard brought home a turtle he found at work.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipRIVygzxyC8xZ6kmhyqto7Uy00zw5WxdOsX73_9tfwhq19QvYHWd4Y6Q9ZS7aBQmU3y14xXWSHwfIM-wsNHp8TPbssvsxHZcldEcVOFo68cNeHX3lr9XAEitZUo-JSDzwomSfAIcWxnM/s1600/PICT0057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipRIVygzxyC8xZ6kmhyqto7Uy00zw5WxdOsX73_9tfwhq19QvYHWd4Y6Q9ZS7aBQmU3y14xXWSHwfIM-wsNHp8TPbssvsxHZcldEcVOFo68cNeHX3lr9XAEitZUo-JSDzwomSfAIcWxnM/s640/PICT0057.jpg" width="456" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One little boy thought it was wonderful. </td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl-r25QniG4iOO0YtIpi1pRAT4_-6PuUNrBCcJz_4K3HcI9Qei0yuvVgRk_f-b_Cwb3yyhGcFBG7Z_SGFkfG-mxpeB_O_qO_UXbDGLrPMMt5Ss6NapsjUrqHYlPqhG2HBVMjBYifkKwyY/s1600/PICT0058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl-r25QniG4iOO0YtIpi1pRAT4_-6PuUNrBCcJz_4K3HcI9Qei0yuvVgRk_f-b_Cwb3yyhGcFBG7Z_SGFkfG-mxpeB_O_qO_UXbDGLrPMMt5Ss6NapsjUrqHYlPqhG2HBVMjBYifkKwyY/s400/PICT0058.jpg" width="285" /></a></div><br />
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July 4th weekend, we spent up north with my side of the family. Since our kids are getting bigger, there's not room for us to board with family members so we stayed in this fabulous lodge. It was a great weekend!!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZLrjRJ5oLvGKHGuLNkld1WgJPWsyRBPKZ5qbl98l25vQABVhtU65ZhudnV-6WiZNU1p9fttvS292BBg5Tux8v6L7caEkx2kQPMRGTpWEpEl6IrCcMu-JcuNF4dHha3cOITLHaRps_Jbo/s1600/IMG_3466.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZLrjRJ5oLvGKHGuLNkld1WgJPWsyRBPKZ5qbl98l25vQABVhtU65ZhudnV-6WiZNU1p9fttvS292BBg5Tux8v6L7caEkx2kQPMRGTpWEpEl6IrCcMu-JcuNF4dHha3cOITLHaRps_Jbo/s640/IMG_3466.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The little goofballs, ready for the day</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicFip2x0urj0viAfF62aCzgockcAjMEHfhm03_AZ049ckHzzwo1RI0rn-xPF1YGmLq34gD_xbtuEjZLFYdUTfS6n7xqslG0SbzSVjsKmnIfeT051ZKCY9lsgvmPOshlwYDEEnUacgikrM/s1600/IMG_3469.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicFip2x0urj0viAfF62aCzgockcAjMEHfhm03_AZ049ckHzzwo1RI0rn-xPF1YGmLq34gD_xbtuEjZLFYdUTfS6n7xqslG0SbzSVjsKmnIfeT051ZKCY9lsgvmPOshlwYDEEnUacgikrM/s640/IMG_3469.jpg" width="456" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVF8-qN4VEoLm89viN8Ct57DE4OeP2mLXoBTh507R2nHPcyXWYKCCjyPjOQ-cRFWgYwQWX5yc4jVuwlm6PSeFhHSuXc5yFeJ6lsmPAuE3pLZVO4KSBqH19rjud-hyIx4aT_9oErqQbjsw/s1600/IMG_3470.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVF8-qN4VEoLm89viN8Ct57DE4OeP2mLXoBTh507R2nHPcyXWYKCCjyPjOQ-cRFWgYwQWX5yc4jVuwlm6PSeFhHSuXc5yFeJ6lsmPAuE3pLZVO4KSBqH19rjud-hyIx4aT_9oErqQbjsw/s400/IMG_3470.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt7Kcdlj5PxLwnQGuCjjUSLmEH9-BKkI8kUr_TtAR1jdhyXL8t3al9eJPOLFnSQPjBjIvAtjiYyopwEMgMbdktz1LI8iJCHAPuCIRtpApC8QkYlme1INgVW8xgb1cJpu4SodOASx9xvqg/s1600/IMG_3479.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt7Kcdlj5PxLwnQGuCjjUSLmEH9-BKkI8kUr_TtAR1jdhyXL8t3al9eJPOLFnSQPjBjIvAtjiYyopwEMgMbdktz1LI8iJCHAPuCIRtpApC8QkYlme1INgVW8xgb1cJpu4SodOASx9xvqg/s640/IMG_3479.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Richard and the boys went fishing with Grandpa Mike</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmKfC78LfD1p7U2MfvpJIr1LtuVO6GsNKVFkeCUVaq9Sq9WCS1UU9DYkx3YJ4I9U9J6p-msaTSOa4EpgqF_CsKXi2wGcmxKIV8de51OQ_H9N2qZDqpHb2ml-Ohg99chI0f4gL-7_VezMU/s1600/IMG_3481.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmKfC78LfD1p7U2MfvpJIr1LtuVO6GsNKVFkeCUVaq9Sq9WCS1UU9DYkx3YJ4I9U9J6p-msaTSOa4EpgqF_CsKXi2wGcmxKIV8de51OQ_H9N2qZDqpHb2ml-Ohg99chI0f4gL-7_VezMU/s400/IMG_3481.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big catches!</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiahQvIlyRWxIw4LqHzObo6eFkvFpBe_uLYrxtXQUqVAUWMTFxEuhFffE1fXn1nJF6V9I7VbyanNtBUEzPXopS0786Z4GXxOtkW3GeDvvywRXCOu_uiAivz9IqvArq-kJK6rweiHFB8fak/s1600/IMG_3483.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiahQvIlyRWxIw4LqHzObo6eFkvFpBe_uLYrxtXQUqVAUWMTFxEuhFffE1fXn1nJF6V9I7VbyanNtBUEzPXopS0786Z4GXxOtkW3GeDvvywRXCOu_uiAivz9IqvArq-kJK6rweiHFB8fak/s400/IMG_3483.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgptAEuZmifRCmGRuDrKy42JhS636go1fYuUQTxuaTG7pw4tRA8oSboToF39oZ8r03YmdePRh9-DYRarASnYN568Z2-vjjcX-gXI7TibJI5uOzGZMmzN_s8VrS8BMc8nrRNJFEtksPRMKQ/s1600/IMG_3484.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgptAEuZmifRCmGRuDrKy42JhS636go1fYuUQTxuaTG7pw4tRA8oSboToF39oZ8r03YmdePRh9-DYRarASnYN568Z2-vjjcX-gXI7TibJI5uOzGZMmzN_s8VrS8BMc8nrRNJFEtksPRMKQ/s640/IMG_3484.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying the pontoon ride</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP8cFsbQazxy3TTCL0Z_EXJRWCps6g_TRU1B0bXYXj_BNKeda4NPluyT0LZWoLjLHQg4Xsi4m4vT9YjHscEYgwuyMXDmVM28LyyIh52pKMXQOWZAEK-mE-VVENMVS5dFuyR6zUKbxIsvw/s1600/IMG_3485.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP8cFsbQazxy3TTCL0Z_EXJRWCps6g_TRU1B0bXYXj_BNKeda4NPluyT0LZWoLjLHQg4Xsi4m4vT9YjHscEYgwuyMXDmVM28LyyIh52pKMXQOWZAEK-mE-VVENMVS5dFuyR6zUKbxIsvw/s640/IMG_3485.jpg" width="472" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coffee, anyone?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbG4SJVPVWW83QJTn6txVdzm3GLBXHUDBjuH0EkIURQxFTRcZ2FiPfnf-ZivR_OXPCx0S4QmL3yR2_qOoT2ZolFvAtZh5zBLGEBLnEYbyqQHm9UgMbklFTYNYIYGeoYyd97xGvnX0PqZI/s1600/IMG_3490.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbG4SJVPVWW83QJTn6txVdzm3GLBXHUDBjuH0EkIURQxFTRcZ2FiPfnf-ZivR_OXPCx0S4QmL3yR2_qOoT2ZolFvAtZh5zBLGEBLnEYbyqQHm9UgMbklFTYNYIYGeoYyd97xGvnX0PqZI/s640/IMG_3490.jpg" width="456" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The proud fishermen!</td></tr>
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We got a lot of use out of our little kiddy pool in July! It was HOT out! Sometimes the kids would get dressed in the morning and head right into the pool. I made an observation this year: I do a lot of laundry in the summer. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object class="BLOGGER-picasa-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidLG0PXwpVXsnFMe7DnzWQ7MZNyrGw7oKihiA2uJEawjD7H59CNcS3LUf2rZbxIUwQqL6kzSZPrQx38EREgLO391DSmT-GSKiBka9suUFT1srg6GtSzcR98TIoRmYmszIwV-uDveRIHN0/s1600/IMG_3504.MOV" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fv1.nonxt6.googlevideo.com%2Fvideoplayback%3Fid%3Df870335d00389a76%26itag%3D18%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1314993797%26sparams%3Did%2Citag%2Cip%2Cipbits%2Cexpire%26signature%3DD1B24A32E6CC6EE639E8677FA55F3002AED7EE4A.383C8895C65BCC485358168C206F4352484A3332%26key%3Dlh1" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fv1.nonxt6.googlevideo.com%2Fvideoplayback%3Fid%3Df870335d00389a76%26itag%3D18%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1314993797%26sparams%3Did%2Citag%2Cip%2Cipbits%2Cexpire%26signature%3DD1B24A32E6CC6EE639E8677FA55F3002AED7EE4A.383C8895C65BCC485358168C206F4352484A3332%26key%3Dlh1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div><br />
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Richard brought the work truck home with a load of dirt and we did some landscaping out front, in order to resolve a wet basement problem we've been having! Good thing we have such strong helpers.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvd66OWgDriAY2qDMget_BZjVAZkN6_tKw-Shy4AUUqoC4lT3oOzEOg7TiswrU_C0DYAV8neOCecd-OLX2_Lv7Tz4RRLj2HKgJJS3Pjv6kq8dO8eEQdtY4j2ecWjySw_uEoelcFOvk5IE/s1600/IMG_3537.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvd66OWgDriAY2qDMget_BZjVAZkN6_tKw-Shy4AUUqoC4lT3oOzEOg7TiswrU_C0DYAV8neOCecd-OLX2_Lv7Tz4RRLj2HKgJJS3Pjv6kq8dO8eEQdtY4j2ecWjySw_uEoelcFOvk5IE/s640/IMG_3537.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to start digging dirt and raking rocks!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqCbu3LcViFigvr03eLsU2BI9qzTIX9jbMK8B55ah0vbdJpvSOQmSx_-XDWv4wyZtPs4FM1NIRkCw23U2UXSWfjM8pIik2RfmepGRRlxKK93hmC9r23CB_45RQJR8RY0jYrq3ACKAqzsk/s1600/IMG_3540.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqCbu3LcViFigvr03eLsU2BI9qzTIX9jbMK8B55ah0vbdJpvSOQmSx_-XDWv4wyZtPs4FM1NIRkCw23U2UXSWfjM8pIik2RfmepGRRlxKK93hmC9r23CB_45RQJR8RY0jYrq3ACKAqzsk/s640/IMG_3540.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDni9Nx1xjJxQPvNToA7pzr6WKjcssDA-uqU5dKx9vLcbgCmFn659S2yU_BBQhG0Du42690ShmTY7s7e2HC1YcDmGxOigSS43xNLe7cGod4wATtZQpsakX34mhnojenW4qaW1yOWRFq_I/s1600/IMG_3545.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDni9Nx1xjJxQPvNToA7pzr6WKjcssDA-uqU5dKx9vLcbgCmFn659S2yU_BBQhG0Du42690ShmTY7s7e2HC1YcDmGxOigSS43xNLe7cGod4wATtZQpsakX34mhnojenW4qaW1yOWRFq_I/s640/IMG_3545.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the dirt pile....</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO4WwJVCEcHLJypTPQ2wOi3FU6Jhn5Frc1XnQGgqUZzqcEIZbF6uOljKeblGcEoyZO696MQHZ8ofCEUEdnpIDEuLiTyB3du5laNQSTJ1XSOXOOOvqtx9lGu3p02k8Qw6zLRhTZVsw6JY0/s1600/IMG_3552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO4WwJVCEcHLJypTPQ2wOi3FU6Jhn5Frc1XnQGgqUZzqcEIZbF6uOljKeblGcEoyZO696MQHZ8ofCEUEdnpIDEuLiTyB3du5laNQSTJ1XSOXOOOvqtx9lGu3p02k8Qw6zLRhTZVsw6JY0/s640/IMG_3552.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs5pCs1uWrtLp1YFReh6ghW6CbY0DnOs8fAgL8jN3xwlF4fR7KjkNYvw0-w-q6W09PNOBrxtGdXk4e6t8RTpVJH2P_8gmn38APLNjh4Sbj9c3Ql15NKEIjsvcvzH2DXPEintSci8tFNy4/s1600/IMG_3557.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs5pCs1uWrtLp1YFReh6ghW6CbY0DnOs8fAgL8jN3xwlF4fR7KjkNYvw0-w-q6W09PNOBrxtGdXk4e6t8RTpVJH2P_8gmn38APLNjh4Sbj9c3Ql15NKEIjsvcvzH2DXPEintSci8tFNy4/s640/IMG_3557.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwQnfgXhzgA0dRlkTYQ99cryadBlLissg4CGgfqJcrsPuIe7-gaZeTGyZ-vTNjwpgVyrFmWLOhn2oSp_1jMLWFKNPdmLeB2mA9wPgOkCMvDIc1z4ZFaatKTYdFpapyMyB3nW4BfXXdyL0/s1600/IMG_3561.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwQnfgXhzgA0dRlkTYQ99cryadBlLissg4CGgfqJcrsPuIe7-gaZeTGyZ-vTNjwpgVyrFmWLOhn2oSp_1jMLWFKNPdmLeB2mA9wPgOkCMvDIc1z4ZFaatKTYdFpapyMyB3nW4BfXXdyL0/s640/IMG_3561.jpg" width="456" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clementine wants to help too</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr2nbkt4EZDZTUurvkvVGpo-4NBx20o5CabbhZrd5hV5DyQcxwr3qiv9T-06mCCRD5_lByfI6xWZntmjS5WBj0ZcTUrlOgNpIXpNj-KsStSRRNbljkQQKBEWJhEL6WA5ZScUcKSiPo0nk/s1600/IMG_3563.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr2nbkt4EZDZTUurvkvVGpo-4NBx20o5CabbhZrd5hV5DyQcxwr3qiv9T-06mCCRD5_lByfI6xWZntmjS5WBj0ZcTUrlOgNpIXpNj-KsStSRRNbljkQQKBEWJhEL6WA5ZScUcKSiPo0nk/s640/IMG_3563.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They LOVE the work truck</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqeSSJ4grWneHXfXBvyRIVtUvHEbdf2ai0hXx-FHIe7ymzCMdzvNErP9PvE_QrYQMvPW_OniXV_JhfdzTcVzZEx0XQPRJnow-8tDObVp6SvdJvCuiCnHBTsfy_T_dHbtkbSek2q1lkksk/s1600/IMG_3573.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqeSSJ4grWneHXfXBvyRIVtUvHEbdf2ai0hXx-FHIe7ymzCMdzvNErP9PvE_QrYQMvPW_OniXV_JhfdzTcVzZEx0XQPRJnow-8tDObVp6SvdJvCuiCnHBTsfy_T_dHbtkbSek2q1lkksk/s640/IMG_3573.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Working together to maneuver the wheelbarrow</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Grace had to leave us for a week of vacation with her dad. We missed her terribly. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWirpH_sUMyhLH1Ry-p_uGMTsYnkSk8qGCtjSpISRG8iDbzVrFTgKaHdE3lG_3ZpWErBOPazkEJWAwCX7F-DhpVBHf0lj5HFY_0_gCypot4yZ-R1LXqNpn5gF1XjIwGrbSKjdp0al__No/s1600/PICT0053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWirpH_sUMyhLH1Ry-p_uGMTsYnkSk8qGCtjSpISRG8iDbzVrFTgKaHdE3lG_3ZpWErBOPazkEJWAwCX7F-DhpVBHf0lj5HFY_0_gCypot4yZ-R1LXqNpn5gF1XjIwGrbSKjdp0al__No/s400/PICT0053.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPgZVTlfHhjI9bwhIrJUWtNq_e9vRZSLbFyZN76URN9p040x43D-9_mYBqt266lLQiZbYMhn6yAA4uqS6IBJhRfh1b5z0eFNa9WCd78jJuT1Nb7DUPImuTWlmceHavJEzSK0GclTIUQb8/s1600/PICT0060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPgZVTlfHhjI9bwhIrJUWtNq_e9vRZSLbFyZN76URN9p040x43D-9_mYBqt266lLQiZbYMhn6yAA4uqS6IBJhRfh1b5z0eFNa9WCd78jJuT1Nb7DUPImuTWlmceHavJEzSK0GclTIUQb8/s400/PICT0060.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrYAVUAmmIel0ZuMH5LXRApXNy6047iHhz3wX4eOS4ycc1LveUOyWQz0K635vcT689Ac-3GdCBme48BIDU0QYVLt0r-UEGmzS4MYDitDgPfddfL3IhDUxmKLna4vnmkOxrMD1Nnbfi8sU/s1600/PICT0074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrYAVUAmmIel0ZuMH5LXRApXNy6047iHhz3wX4eOS4ycc1LveUOyWQz0K635vcT689Ac-3GdCBme48BIDU0QYVLt0r-UEGmzS4MYDitDgPfddfL3IhDUxmKLna4vnmkOxrMD1Nnbfi8sU/s400/PICT0074.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This girl is sweetness itself.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrO57BCC57L-oeV6SBBU9ce0fpR_sKwQ61tOEKmIwT-9sSlWNtFwc9lhnSXy6gAbSb4fv1xpNHsTxI_L1C976H9ziV4ardHYb7Yhpbw_juMR5cbhjGb5AYby4MPSm_QajeBC3IdsWRY8Y/s1600/IMG_3623.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrO57BCC57L-oeV6SBBU9ce0fpR_sKwQ61tOEKmIwT-9sSlWNtFwc9lhnSXy6gAbSb4fv1xpNHsTxI_L1C976H9ziV4ardHYb7Yhpbw_juMR5cbhjGb5AYby4MPSm_QajeBC3IdsWRY8Y/s640/IMG_3623.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Papa and Clementine enjoyed some quality time</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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We ate outside a lot, we played outside a lot, and we generally enjoyed our backyard to a great extent! <br />
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Clementine has learned to leave her hair decorations alone (mostly) and I had fun "doing" her hair. She seemed to appreciate it too! <br />
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We went to this great, FREE, wading pool/park in Minneapolis a couple times. Super fun!! <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ahhhh....</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1045Fc7X4kuVg9eRAgtfXyx7O7RuQuQtB0gn_HMYkbXcraU2aiOu9qkrRZCq5qUliI1LMvxu10OazY2bGquH_QLzBdadYSFQwTf_cixDUmLCQt80Ebvn0LyTvbGQLBUP8f1xiYL8klTY/s1600/IMG_3667.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1045Fc7X4kuVg9eRAgtfXyx7O7RuQuQtB0gn_HMYkbXcraU2aiOu9qkrRZCq5qUliI1LMvxu10OazY2bGquH_QLzBdadYSFQwTf_cixDUmLCQt80Ebvn0LyTvbGQLBUP8f1xiYL8klTY/s640/IMG_3667.jpg" width="456" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">chooo!!</td></tr>
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<br />
So that's what I have recorded in photographs for July! We've spent so much time enjoying our backyard, walks to the library and the park. We've done a lot of bike riding too, thanks to our new set of bikes! (See <a href="http://tending-home-fires.blogspot.com/2011/06/june-happenings.html">this post</a>). Richard celebrated his last birthday in his 30's in July as well.melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15690351350193667741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1701090666251961372.post-69769143857727189502011-08-09T04:43:00.007-05:002011-08-09T04:43:00.212-05:00i miss youI miss this little boy today! I often wonder what he would look like if he were here with us, what he would be like, who he is. Every year on his birthday we set a place for him at the dinner table, just as a reminder that part of our family isn't here and to show that we feel his empty spot. Last year God gave me a brief image in my mind of a brown haired boy, five years old, sitting at the table with the rest of us. He was a quiet, sweet, thoughtful boy with a gentle smile and deep, knowing eyes. The image came totally unbidden to my mind, just a flash and it was gone. But I think God understands my longing to know more about Matthias than the 2 day old baby that I remember. It was very sweet and I treasure that image, whether or not it's exactly what Matthias would be like.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixBeih9f5ZudvqaTnc3xpNCyOCqbvpOZcVVxLrH3UoNyR3mMq88PL_zDR3_9pkS2b823hyphenhyphenSMMIEjrBRyOtaMTj2S3jBruqnHBegasVeGlKvs3DZEtQgUDnqC5HPvfzLP9BVPF2cmO6uzs/s1600/matthias_1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixBeih9f5ZudvqaTnc3xpNCyOCqbvpOZcVVxLrH3UoNyR3mMq88PL_zDR3_9pkS2b823hyphenhyphenSMMIEjrBRyOtaMTj2S3jBruqnHBegasVeGlKvs3DZEtQgUDnqC5HPvfzLP9BVPF2cmO6uzs/s400/matthias_1.jpeg" width="281" /></a></div>It's often odd to me, to watch our large, rambunctious brood playing together or wrestling on the floor or reading books with us, and remember that one of our children isn't here. Our kids are all so wonderful, and all so sweet, and all so different. I can't help but wonder what it would be like to have Matthias in the mix. <br />
<br />
I believe his spirit is in Heaven now with Jesus, but I don't know much (I don't think anyone does) about what happens to baby spirits in Heaven. Does he grow? <i>Can</i> a spirit grow? Will his resurrected body be a baby still? Has he been cared for and mothered by heavenly beings? It's made me think about Heaven so much more than I would otherwise! But I'm settled knowing that Matthias is in perfect peace, fullness of joy, and without any sadness or pain. He's the happiest little heavenly spirit that he could possibly be. (Sweet boy! I'm so glad you are There, but I miss you so much!) I'm pretty sure he'll know me as his mother and I'll know him as my child when I see him again.<br />
<br />
In the mean time, I remember the very, very brief time I had with him. I remember the pain and shock of letting him go. I am thankful for the healing God has brought in our lives. And I rest in the sure and steadfast Hope we have in Christ!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="woj">"Therefore you too have grief now; </span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="woj">but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, </span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="woj">and no one will take your joy away from you."</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="woj">John 16:22 </span></i><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="woj"><a href="http://tending-home-fires.blogspot.com/2008/10/matthias-story.html">Matthias' Story</a> </span><br />
<a href="http://tending-home-fires.blogspot.com/2008/10/matthias-photo-montage.html"><span class="woj">Photo Montage of Matthias</span></a><br />
<span class="woj"><a href="http://tending-home-fires.blogspot.com/search/label/grief%20journal">My Journal Through Grief</a></span><i><span class="woj"><br />
</span></i></div>melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15690351350193667741noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1701090666251961372.post-9506146383559492182011-07-11T11:23:00.004-05:002011-07-11T11:28:41.129-05:00happy birthday husband father<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">I have to say happy birthday to Richard today. I'm glad he has no problem with me telling you that he's 39 today! That's one of the many things I love about him - he's not vain and he thinks getting old is cool. There's a lot more I love about him but I'll just list a couple:</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmj6gx8Gt0pkKqeUttrq3ZOvfybi36YCtxWQwI0C6T-bXfbWUdS39nGZ_4-U0p2N-bqZjjaV7rkkSfSLl0hYn2xUh3QadDhOHxM4sX9KaDjngl39JCLXsLeqfdLNtKiU-k3NC16xXy1tw/s1600/IMG_3183.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmj6gx8Gt0pkKqeUttrq3ZOvfybi36YCtxWQwI0C6T-bXfbWUdS39nGZ_4-U0p2N-bqZjjaV7rkkSfSLl0hYn2xUh3QadDhOHxM4sX9KaDjngl39JCLXsLeqfdLNtKiU-k3NC16xXy1tw/s400/IMG_3183.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> 2. Even thought he is pretty old, he still does fun stuff like this with his kids. And lots of other super fun stuff, like taking them fishing, working on their bikes, taking them to the park to fly kites, taking the boys on errands with him even though he'd get everything done more efficiently without them, playing in the sprinkler and pool with them, reading and watching movies, and of course lots of wrestling.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicmx7MIxyRjTIf5EruE4mGDlkH3BAkgWJSpZ-6eE5XhWVm5stC5Nb2yneJyD6Nxhbzs1hNwB2Tm-UY9VevXoFx1JbAYeDztlj4ZgBMSa1Bx5OmWZml4dG_c1rcqYJTuRno9rrgjWjzl2o/s1600/IMG_2970.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicmx7MIxyRjTIf5EruE4mGDlkH3BAkgWJSpZ-6eE5XhWVm5stC5Nb2yneJyD6Nxhbzs1hNwB2Tm-UY9VevXoFx1JbAYeDztlj4ZgBMSa1Bx5OmWZml4dG_c1rcqYJTuRno9rrgjWjzl2o/s320/IMG_2970.jpg" width="240" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">3. He loves his girls. He loves to be silly and sweet with them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq-ipx82tY1IB3lnhN__21OPPU4d5hSXPf79CyJZwzwJhRMH1pijx0ityucVxR_6qmFXbCqtZ22V9t_8lfmAqN8tzThobsKu3d0VnkytToHFl8zQe6CtPLWqg0wlo-KUIC_Zoz44s4-oU/s1600/Photo+on+2010-12-19+at+19.42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq-ipx82tY1IB3lnhN__21OPPU4d5hSXPf79CyJZwzwJhRMH1pijx0ityucVxR_6qmFXbCqtZ22V9t_8lfmAqN8tzThobsKu3d0VnkytToHFl8zQe6CtPLWqg0wlo-KUIC_Zoz44s4-oU/s400/Photo+on+2010-12-19+at+19.42.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> 4. He loves me a lot. He still likes to be with me best, even after 7.5 years of marriage. He still thinks I'm beautiful, even after 4 babies/20 extra pounds/some gray hair/all the other *wonderful* changes that come between the ages of 24 and 31. He likes my cooking, he appreciates the work I do, he supports me in my mothering. He's totally, 100% committed to me, which I sometimes find pretty amazing.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgODDahyiMP9S9HMqlTrb5141xW0d0ShDDLDPm_SjoAvNfoet_uB1P15xlCmGit5I2UfMj-kwj7hfUbaUQi8Bcq0jzdWh-HFSSJxNjwZhMzmbcnO44O27uJkGcS5OTk6ahlQJvWtE8g2t8/s1600/PICT0080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgODDahyiMP9S9HMqlTrb5141xW0d0ShDDLDPm_SjoAvNfoet_uB1P15xlCmGit5I2UfMj-kwj7hfUbaUQi8Bcq0jzdWh-HFSSJxNjwZhMzmbcnO44O27uJkGcS5OTk6ahlQJvWtE8g2t8/s320/PICT0080.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">4. He's pretty darn sexy.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">5. He loves Jesus more than anything. That's really the best thing I can say about him and the basis for all the other good things.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">6. He is an amazing provider and protector for our family. I know no matter what happens, he'll take care of us and he'll never leave us.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">7. He's insanely funny and we totally get each other's humor and he makes me laugh all the time. I asked him what it's like to be so funny and he said it's a gift and a burden. See what I mean?<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">8. He knows how to fix pretty much anything, and what to do about any problem, and he's really handy. That's a pretty good feature in a guy.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">9. When one of our kids does or says something super funny, he always glances and me so we can share a look that says, "these kids are insanely cute and amazing and we made them together and I'm so glad this is our life."<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">10. He changes diapers, even the most offensively foul poopy ones. No problem.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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11. He's cool, without trying to be.</div></div>melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15690351350193667741noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1701090666251961372.post-24094453384836194392011-06-30T10:50:00.001-05:002011-06-30T10:51:16.487-05:00A Little Babywearing Love<iframe frameborder="0" height="225" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/4477350?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="400"></iframe><br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/4477350">Kozy Carriers</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/karlajeandavis">Karla Jean Davis</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
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I love this little video and how it captures the joy of babywearing.melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15690351350193667741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1701090666251961372.post-40141537978188888322011-06-26T15:08:00.001-05:002011-06-27T08:57:51.646-05:00June Happenings Some of the things that have been going on here in the last month:<br />
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* Richard scored some great FREE bikes for every member of our family! These are high-quality bikes that just need a couple new tires and some minor tuning - it's really quite fantastic. In one of those weird quirks of life, both Richard and I had our bikes (and my bike trailer) stolen just before we got married, and we haven't owned bikes since then. Family bike rides were a highlight of my life growing up - lots of wonderful memories - and I'm SO excited to be able to finally make some of those memories with our kids. To top it off, I found a mint Schwinn bike trailer at a garage sale for $75, so we're basically set. (If we do a longer trip, Moses will have to ride in the trailer with Judah and we'll need a seat for Clementine, but for short rides he can handle riding by himself.) We are so pumped!!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moses has been practicing with training wheels for a while and he's really good.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRStOIHefGmf2O3ZXOsHXvi9nWkfQqwUm3158I4TIIZNtfyAHfnCiq4iMGwZU546E1GXWNbFVqAvH8wCnIsZjVFIjW29Le8T3lg1vhI2dM6wfM56qmcJpGQ2TD-AAweowCXm61UUJ0DM0/s1600/IMG_3364.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRStOIHefGmf2O3ZXOsHXvi9nWkfQqwUm3158I4TIIZNtfyAHfnCiq4iMGwZU546E1GXWNbFVqAvH8wCnIsZjVFIjW29Le8T3lg1vhI2dM6wfM56qmcJpGQ2TD-AAweowCXm61UUJ0DM0/s400/IMG_3364.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Judah just started on his bike and he's still learning.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was actually the only bike we bought - $8 at a garage sale!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2wtCtEZiLba3oEJPm2Z7dzfNml7oEgrtCElmGjvpaPK60glw56F0ssnuXaO7mZKtYrpe3UuVmnjaUjca53VqNutjpvn3_WM8SJ67YZJZw3rT-wOHrTA8t_IiUKdgUcadUv4amZSCsl2s/s1600/PICT0128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2wtCtEZiLba3oEJPm2Z7dzfNml7oEgrtCElmGjvpaPK60glw56F0ssnuXaO7mZKtYrpe3UuVmnjaUjca53VqNutjpvn3_WM8SJ67YZJZw3rT-wOHrTA8t_IiUKdgUcadUv4amZSCsl2s/s400/PICT0128.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bicycle bell is an important feature.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwyoJ9b6rfgwXtIl2T5ujIySOoZkoavfF6BW061tLynjIbQb70VyNy7e5pgKjhtcpdNf3n409-a6Ix57dMpCQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
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* Grace finished the school year at RiverTree with an AMAZING Shakespeare Festival. The 3rd-7th graders performed "Much Ado About Nothing" and the younger kids sang and recited sonnets. It was amazing. It was brilliant. Did I say it was amazing? Grace played the part of Don Pedro, a Prince of Aragon. (If you've seen the movie, which is great, her character is played by Denzel Washington. =]) Several of the girls had to play male roles and they did fantastic. I was so proud of how Grace got into character and really sold the part. She didn't merely recite her lines, she <i>became</i> Don Pedro. It was just an all-around wonderful play! I mean, some of these kids were THIRD graders, memorizing line upon line of Shakespearean English, and the oldest kids were only 13, memorizing up to 90 lines! There were touching scenes, inspiring speeches, hilarious banter, subtle humor... wow. It was just a great finale to the school year.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting her beard and sideburns applied.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I present His Grace, Don Pedro of Aragon!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The small play-goers, ready for the performance.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The girls in Grace's class, all of whom performed with incredible skill!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>* Clementine is 20 months old. That means she's the same age Moses and Judah were when the next new baby joined the family! But there's no new baby and so Clemmers gets to keep being Mama's baby. This is definitely a change for us - it's a little strange and sad not to have a new baby here - but it's also wonderful! I really, really love my sweet little girl being able to stay my little girl. Here's what Clementine is up to, 4 months before she turns two:<br />
<ul><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDufOgtZbns-3Y6JJagwFITRG-jiVtfuO0pcWw5T6_1EIuebT8tAII55OUSaYSjmprcuGDcLCkB3myR_mQFS-wPOpYE7XNPWxRkfuKqJr5O5paS9eZiGHg6cKrtsltNxIn1XcuJeaG_N8/s1600/PICT0123.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDufOgtZbns-3Y6JJagwFITRG-jiVtfuO0pcWw5T6_1EIuebT8tAII55OUSaYSjmprcuGDcLCkB3myR_mQFS-wPOpYE7XNPWxRkfuKqJr5O5paS9eZiGHg6cKrtsltNxIn1XcuJeaG_N8/s200/PICT0123.jpg" width="142" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXTwmKPbuRAHP6PUK0afqkBA3hZM4jsUsX1rAFAjodGPwUpQurDMDJypux5XUb3ut8J7wjGVbD12Kirr9qa2b6twprWttzc2-XY0rhnp515Z8OANHze3Ivn4W_MoyaTpKm-6P8eadBeFw/s1600/PICT0074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"> </a>
<li>She's a little spitfire! It must come from having 2 older brothers, but she can hold her own physically. She's not scared to get into the mix with her wild and rowdy brothers, nor to engage in a little hair-pulling or pinching, unfortunately. :-/ She can be sweet, but she can be pugnacious too!</li>
</ul><br />
<ul><li>She's a Mama's Girl still! She's definitely the baby of the house, and (although she can be feisty and independent) she loves to cuddle with Mama, be worn in the sling when I'm making dinner, and be rocked and nursed to sleep. She has Papa wrapped around her little finger too. =]</li>
</ul><br />
<ul><li><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXTwmKPbuRAHP6PUK0afqkBA3hZM4jsUsX1rAFAjodGPwUpQurDMDJypux5XUb3ut8J7wjGVbD12Kirr9qa2b6twprWttzc2-XY0rhnp515Z8OANHze3Ivn4W_MoyaTpKm-6P8eadBeFw/s1600/PICT0074.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXTwmKPbuRAHP6PUK0afqkBA3hZM4jsUsX1rAFAjodGPwUpQurDMDJypux5XUb3ut8J7wjGVbD12Kirr9qa2b6twprWttzc2-XY0rhnp515Z8OANHze3Ivn4W_MoyaTpKm-6P8eadBeFw/s200/PICT0074.JPG" width="150" /></a>Clementine loves to be where her sibs are, doing what they're doing. When she's not in the mood for a cuddle with Mama, she's content just to toddle around after her brothers. Especially now that it's [finally!] nice out, I won't hear from her for hours and hours! Playing in the sandbox with Judah, being pushed oh so gently on the swing by Moses, playing Orphanage under Grace's direction, or just running around in the back yard is enough to make her perfectly content.</li>
</ul><br />
<ul><li>She's talking up a storm! My last child said not a word until he was 2, and then it was another 6-8 months before he was coherent. So having a little girl who started saying words at around a year and now has a good 300+ word vocabulary is a bit... strange! She's putting together sentences of 3+ words and adding to her vocabulary every day. It's incredible the words she knows! A couple that have surprised me in the last few weeks:</li>
</ul>-dragonfly -yogurtstrawberries (a favorite breakfast) -popsicle -ship (when she made something out of Duplos) -dolphin -Lightsaber (no surprise, really!) -Monkey Baby (her name for one of her dolls)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKRNFzJuW6iONhOKq486xSUNN6QrRRkYYP_QcaU8q9aGE3bus8pUBPa2z6l2rigtXaL9n_yZQS46U-X1fCowiKPMd5uG4pcOSLyeFrQ5m7yLzJgD22DHF-Ca2nt0ct4bIUk25-o2pZXBQ/s1600/IMG_3106.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKRNFzJuW6iONhOKq486xSUNN6QrRRkYYP_QcaU8q9aGE3bus8pUBPa2z6l2rigtXaL9n_yZQS46U-X1fCowiKPMd5uG4pcOSLyeFrQ5m7yLzJgD22DHF-Ca2nt0ct4bIUk25-o2pZXBQ/s400/IMG_3106.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretending to be a puppy!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQGpdouxt7WjfZA8K8T-mDr1ygLQqn0xdDXVoC7vuPIFG5balvLykWQ9JIJ7m8Q16rLXLMdSjZyWibjl7r6HsjHlv_OxLjxgod1YlwvuFWvPpBHAbUmCb7Z8cU0BlY65HFssEOy3h1pg4/s1600/IMG_3157.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQGpdouxt7WjfZA8K8T-mDr1ygLQqn0xdDXVoC7vuPIFG5balvLykWQ9JIJ7m8Q16rLXLMdSjZyWibjl7r6HsjHlv_OxLjxgod1YlwvuFWvPpBHAbUmCb7Z8cU0BlY65HFssEOy3h1pg4/s400/IMG_3157.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik6VdPP9RmLxycFh9qC-3SGd8Px_VOCeM_o9-Idj3xrAGjiawjamTUVjZDAiKXg1EdVayVLg2r8_RgqqJhNcoouBBQ7xbtkmU1qpie4NOYFaunW4BYgA9zpMdrJpYmS6oZBlRGVJ4kquQ/s1600/IMG_3348.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik6VdPP9RmLxycFh9qC-3SGd8Px_VOCeM_o9-Idj3xrAGjiawjamTUVjZDAiKXg1EdVayVLg2r8_RgqqJhNcoouBBQ7xbtkmU1qpie4NOYFaunW4BYgA9zpMdrJpYmS6oZBlRGVJ4kquQ/s400/IMG_3348.jpg" width="285" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hamming it up with Papa</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4rc7MJ_6c0ughwj_uVygpg3caL5F-Fy2a3jrYW2L9d1AFYbpAjMdMVfv1is3UtlnySStiM_qQ2Hvtf4nqCT35k_JK17h8Ngb5_KsmMbnzL3Q48h0UP-znx0LyXPyfmcQ5wFzmzC3NEHI/s1600/PICT0064.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4rc7MJ_6c0ughwj_uVygpg3caL5F-Fy2a3jrYW2L9d1AFYbpAjMdMVfv1is3UtlnySStiM_qQ2Hvtf4nqCT35k_JK17h8Ngb5_KsmMbnzL3Q48h0UP-znx0LyXPyfmcQ5wFzmzC3NEHI/s200/PICT0064.jpg" width="132" /></a>Clementine's just pretty darn fun and cute. She has a bedtime routine where she tells everyone goodnight, "Nigh-nigh Papa, Nigh-nigh Sissy, Nigh-nigh Mo Mo, Nigh-nigh Doodah!" She'll beckon to you with her little hand, whispering, "Here! Here!" when she wants you to come see something. She'll [usually] apologize sweetly when she's clobbered you over the head with a toy. When she's being reprimanded for something she'll wrinkle up her nose and smile and laugh beguilingly, which is VERY naughty and VERY cute.<br />
<br />
*Moses turned 5 years old! It's always insane how fast your children grow. I'll never forget hearing him cry and holding him in my arms for the first time, how sweet that was after all the pain of losing Matthias and all the waiting for Moses to arrive. That first year of his life was so incredible, almost magical. I remember feeling in awe most of the time, that we finally had another child in our home and that he was as adorable and funny and sweet as he was. Five years and 2 more children later, it all feels a little more normal, but I <i>do</i> feel amazed at how big Moses has gotten and I LOVE watching him grow into a young man. He's really, really fun, and really, really cute, and smart and charismatic and full of wonderful things that delight a mother's heart.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc8-MNVbHAZnxOg_YqpVbPrbryOfrvHD-YmAj5zLLqgc5Tukcsc6CEz2EgbaJ-AioFVPX18ljFjkRkJvVk_L8jupjCxzDabnVEx1ea7wOeBfM2f7jdM802t9gH6j0m1AQV4KW9iVyKG_I/s1600/PICT0074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc8-MNVbHAZnxOg_YqpVbPrbryOfrvHD-YmAj5zLLqgc5Tukcsc6CEz2EgbaJ-AioFVPX18ljFjkRkJvVk_L8jupjCxzDabnVEx1ea7wOeBfM2f7jdM802t9gH6j0m1AQV4KW9iVyKG_I/s400/PICT0074.JPG" width="285" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Presents!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhspohq6qhFVCote927v7WD_GrYk9JUwXemRkBG0g64MMfmTyXProPgPs1FyWibfzUIQB7b6GD6TLosnv4ycVbEljH5m5Es6YSEF-jDZEAL4S3dcjzmyThbFTD5bEKCfRqMpj4dVhsn-Q/s1600/PICT0075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhspohq6qhFVCote927v7WD_GrYk9JUwXemRkBG0g64MMfmTyXProPgPs1FyWibfzUIQB7b6GD6TLosnv4ycVbEljH5m5Es6YSEF-jDZEAL4S3dcjzmyThbFTD5bEKCfRqMpj4dVhsn-Q/s400/PICT0075.JPG" width="285" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The birthday card with the light-up Lightsaber and Star Wars theme music was worth the $8.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcPDAVYekWIqvb-uCH9k8ptMJQY0TQcgsBrpj5p53Mh4g_3Xdp7mB9p_ilfb65Zlkig617_VMScdWlURaLKXQfmQSQBs5LQI4LQkb3SyXPnzg1kS6mX39HyKF2q7U9RarFOEsXXxa_bio/s1600/PICT0078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcPDAVYekWIqvb-uCH9k8ptMJQY0TQcgsBrpj5p53Mh4g_3Xdp7mB9p_ilfb65Zlkig617_VMScdWlURaLKXQfmQSQBs5LQI4LQkb3SyXPnzg1kS6mX39HyKF2q7U9RarFOEsXXxa_bio/s400/PICT0078.JPG" width="285" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's a fishing pole... and it's Star Wars.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikhGBQMSAQzUtrhP36okkBkPqdF6ABNy5VQUX0Ate0dDMI1WEqG-bqrJMrCvYp8mx0fSzsg1DGPL3T31_zTl32viBjP5pKCgwr4K2vtlbYFJ7OceKt-zwFsZW_VJHNi4iPNJpdooStuEI/s1600/PICT0079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikhGBQMSAQzUtrhP36okkBkPqdF6ABNy5VQUX0Ate0dDMI1WEqG-bqrJMrCvYp8mx0fSzsg1DGPL3T31_zTl32viBjP5pKCgwr4K2vtlbYFJ7OceKt-zwFsZW_VJHNi4iPNJpdooStuEI/s400/PICT0079.JPG" width="285" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I can't get over his shaggy, curly hair. Could Not Be Cuter.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFwXy1VOGtzM41sDfxYXTbGYGJ1zC8QWjOCx0fB5JaTKSO-WtPzBOlf-FBwgyq72hvvd1RM65VAvHNwunV89AHV5zRHeulz71AmSwwHBBFvMFdFUmqnA0HApxMeBLVF1vZvukAMKnjUFw/s1600/PICT0081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFwXy1VOGtzM41sDfxYXTbGYGJ1zC8QWjOCx0fB5JaTKSO-WtPzBOlf-FBwgyq72hvvd1RM65VAvHNwunV89AHV5zRHeulz71AmSwwHBBFvMFdFUmqnA0HApxMeBLVF1vZvukAMKnjUFw/s400/PICT0081.JPG" width="285" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaNWR6PU1OnksuXxSeiFkdCo_cWU1TjSKCIQmqTG2e_TpGSO-fPRdGRzS0nf6JorKrl9iRTqCKANwqgoNLtlAArua2VkPD9eQHqTcfkv5D25L9J1QUojjKDuBSiFwxv4TJALPV7LfhxIM/s1600/PICT0084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaNWR6PU1OnksuXxSeiFkdCo_cWU1TjSKCIQmqTG2e_TpGSO-fPRdGRzS0nf6JorKrl9iRTqCKANwqgoNLtlAArua2VkPD9eQHqTcfkv5D25L9J1QUojjKDuBSiFwxv4TJALPV7LfhxIM/s400/PICT0084.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seeing your friend's toys is almost as interesting as getting toys yourself!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1nghytjtq9wF22BISLlZM-FjwK3V-Utnq_FkMWUqQ1Pao_kg7hyphenhyphengkIKjeT5MP9agK6bmt3AhDjNw-1NdwcaiYTSBfn177YbEwFYrTYCfh5y7uBKWu2aJZuANXZGejSlclNLNLOhKKVFY/s1600/PICT0086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1nghytjtq9wF22BISLlZM-FjwK3V-Utnq_FkMWUqQ1Pao_kg7hyphenhyphengkIKjeT5MP9agK6bmt3AhDjNw-1NdwcaiYTSBfn177YbEwFYrTYCfh5y7uBKWu2aJZuANXZGejSlclNLNLOhKKVFY/s400/PICT0086.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicFirZiHhubAu3aRuI-m5ROw5kMMCL5s266Fe5OwtVuPS4vLjTL-YIc5mLPUJKU5yc7OnW_Le-P8ZJkw2s6l6GdrYus-Qmk6hQKtffOnyHOE_mJ3tXg2Cw_TEXa8mjRqNKEtIBks2no3Q/s1600/PICT0087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicFirZiHhubAu3aRuI-m5ROw5kMMCL5s266Fe5OwtVuPS4vLjTL-YIc5mLPUJKU5yc7OnW_Le-P8ZJkw2s6l6GdrYus-Qmk6hQKtffOnyHOE_mJ3tXg2Cw_TEXa8mjRqNKEtIBks2no3Q/s400/PICT0087.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFzC-L8dD3JqD0nOIWiwie7mQ57i3utW1IjmU9rH1VeyoKOY7HjRMfjdZAlVbo9l6AwcsXAtcVCDx4GBpgUGF1FLNNmhFbwR-SfR8dQE9FCL-cvwg_8xzOfhsqUQKYK6YxyWsxCmfwM9Y/s1600/PICT0099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFzC-L8dD3JqD0nOIWiwie7mQ57i3utW1IjmU9rH1VeyoKOY7HjRMfjdZAlVbo9l6AwcsXAtcVCDx4GBpgUGF1FLNNmhFbwR-SfR8dQE9FCL-cvwg_8xzOfhsqUQKYK6YxyWsxCmfwM9Y/s400/PICT0099.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Birthday Friends</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
* Judah Buddy hasn't had any big adventures or events happen this month, but in typical middle-child fashion, he's had a lot of fun doing what the other kids are doing.<br />
<ul><li>He went to Grace's play and seemed to like it.</li>
<li>He had great fun at Moses' birthday party, although the SHARING of the toys might be an ongoing issue...</li>
</ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiePfgvgagOvuIBX-VUq3_08Xc5e5IpB9QlWaALKJczI2pqMYDRRUtqCW4vfBLQwn5YfKOYW9159S5td-R50bdHPGN478HQMOSni92lATIGDY2l-gpFB3l56kzwcxbAK54uotmhRWMG7aA/s1600/PICT0092.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiePfgvgagOvuIBX-VUq3_08Xc5e5IpB9QlWaALKJczI2pqMYDRRUtqCW4vfBLQwn5YfKOYW9159S5td-R50bdHPGN478HQMOSni92lATIGDY2l-gpFB3l56kzwcxbAK54uotmhRWMG7aA/s200/PICT0092.JPG" width="142" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbygH7zXQtVCmAHwTNua4MDMQXbJlpuMW1ZPSsGzIPvvqTpChVCZogkUmO0elWSFEaq_f6Q45duMuMK43BxGSQJ5lds7_duzcSd2WCWOApVANW7jXh1Ahcm8G7RLbBbUPWo4UbZaVatpc/s1600/PICT0093.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbygH7zXQtVCmAHwTNua4MDMQXbJlpuMW1ZPSsGzIPvvqTpChVCZogkUmO0elWSFEaq_f6Q45duMuMK43BxGSQJ5lds7_duzcSd2WCWOApVANW7jXh1Ahcm8G7RLbBbUPWo4UbZaVatpc/s200/PICT0093.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAa7QLc4gjQUq7Uf1BuI7CSMgbQK5fyed8vcNjayyfZSMJsxwCHDCTxzyObROdQB8r9y7Z07g2uUrKkxbOUiK1cNsKEzf5uQkofDRtbRSxrtuHvHTAUWvmG2vMLE57j4o3CN_gRydn-nw/s1600/PICT0094.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAa7QLc4gjQUq7Uf1BuI7CSMgbQK5fyed8vcNjayyfZSMJsxwCHDCTxzyObROdQB8r9y7Z07g2uUrKkxbOUiK1cNsKEzf5uQkofDRtbRSxrtuHvHTAUWvmG2vMLE57j4o3CN_gRydn-nw/s200/PICT0094.JPG" width="142" /></a></div><ul><li> He's been Clementine's buddy out-of-doors as well as in. Sometimes they fight, but Clementine dishes it out as much as she takes it, so I have to instruct both of them in greater gentleness. But when they're getting along, Judah is very brotherly-protective and sweet to his little sister.</li>
</ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ6rUoaT5tSnGWVzEr678sKs3a6ERJsT5YhL8TJmpQc9e4SAUEhJ1phA6Y_4Jo6JsJ7hW78jTfu9NjceKoUSgY1T_cY1ErR04V_4OHQSMr1ibo34suG-S7xl0UT4ckbdLcrF5MsA6P_EY/s1600/PICT0110.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ6rUoaT5tSnGWVzEr678sKs3a6ERJsT5YhL8TJmpQc9e4SAUEhJ1phA6Y_4Jo6JsJ7hW78jTfu9NjceKoUSgY1T_cY1ErR04V_4OHQSMr1ibo34suG-S7xl0UT4ckbdLcrF5MsA6P_EY/s320/PICT0110.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><ul><li>He went fishing with Papa and Moses! What little boy doesn't love fishing? </li>
</ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1-Ev1-I3aISaABCUswO-BcKDWp7YtjmZSz4Q8HvLxlPkV6XSxT5v0ll_TDmfwpAflI66GIhL9MuGxoEwjpSKNdRC7lm81E-EMNuoOePvE5lRtxlpNea-bu3H5t32T444YQfaLDWd9aN4/s1600/IMG_3248.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1-Ev1-I3aISaABCUswO-BcKDWp7YtjmZSz4Q8HvLxlPkV6XSxT5v0ll_TDmfwpAflI66GIhL9MuGxoEwjpSKNdRC7lm81E-EMNuoOePvE5lRtxlpNea-bu3H5t32T444YQfaLDWd9aN4/s320/IMG_3248.jpg" width="227" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dylB_0nUZiswBVyxH0X4nftB-J19J40lD0pKE5dbUL27CwvZC2dFr4LDZ-ET1THYAlKWbFvkymCrJWuEOsm_A' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
<ul><li>He learned how to ride a 2-wheeler with training wheels!</li>
</ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcnQGkgIpW7xI0xFlnzzwOhSRVWmdvNzU8u2Bi8HU_mKh0vV06s9xaKV6H_VxImkENAWrwFZKlpIkt54ojmpHrrm6_H1EQnpiJQDMgVzRbou04OvhLfRE6S2LBKLkTfQCiIpa8WBID0Sk/s400/IMG_3356.jpg" width="284" /></div><ul><li>He's not at all squeamish about collecting all kinds of bugs, unlike any of the other kids. He especially likes "Junior Bugs" (June bugs) and "Boxer Brief Bugs" (Box Elder bugs). But he'll collect all kinds of worms, centipedes, spiders and various creepy crawlies. I think he's a budding naturalist.</li>
</ul><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Ev_RpRnC4M2H5UPzehfFrJepzE9HFNGKwymAVU-wED_tE6kGj9SDlGpeON8Ju9AKXixeHoIsenp9Tr5KC2aHoOWw7WcGQFkXYdFbCkHl3a9XkHQ_mM0sR_Hod7Jud8F5UV9WT7DI4RA/s1600/PICT0063.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Ev_RpRnC4M2H5UPzehfFrJepzE9HFNGKwymAVU-wED_tE6kGj9SDlGpeON8Ju9AKXixeHoIsenp9Tr5KC2aHoOWw7WcGQFkXYdFbCkHl3a9XkHQ_mM0sR_Hod7Jud8F5UV9WT7DI4RA/s320/PICT0063.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This means fun.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIg1HjXcZa7copI_dZ3aah6PswC1v0qcS-jq6TV3tQe1qKe66m3KlJGrQwHZxh-ZgpymxHc_GX4gBtmJe7-Yl2pPvBnzjtbQHiT6zlA_tC3eEyVLB5V9hD5GqTT8CoqmIy2mfwyVpE5Ls/s1600/PICT0062.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIg1HjXcZa7copI_dZ3aah6PswC1v0qcS-jq6TV3tQe1qKe66m3KlJGrQwHZxh-ZgpymxHc_GX4gBtmJe7-Yl2pPvBnzjtbQHiT6zlA_tC3eEyVLB5V9hD5GqTT8CoqmIy2mfwyVpE5Ls/s320/PICT0062.jpg" width="209" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GRUBBY! </td></tr>
</tbody> </table><ul><li>He loves to show me how fast he can run and how strong he is. He's still so baby-faced and stocky and short-legged! I LOVE how cute he looks when he runs. </li>
</ul><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzQnE0UGP3K6_ltrGHODx2TTHr2PK5nS1z4VYvb6GqYj0DimWPxAicAQ0gwj_PzKms7V5eh0IXxL0dlcIE2QVSGqg8HmS9tnXrUFL9JoVNvrrghYGx8JFFtC-vFZ_Nj8eMi0BLnCt7reM/s1600/IMG_3360.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzQnE0UGP3K6_ltrGHODx2TTHr2PK5nS1z4VYvb6GqYj0DimWPxAicAQ0gwj_PzKms7V5eh0IXxL0dlcIE2QVSGqg8HmS9tnXrUFL9JoVNvrrghYGx8JFFtC-vFZ_Nj8eMi0BLnCt7reM/s400/IMG_3360.jpg" width="283" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If you're not that good on a bike yet, it's faster to run.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><ul><li>He NEEDS to nap basically every day. But many days he has trouble obeying and laying quietly until he falls asleep. This is tough for both of us, but despite what seems like crazy naughtiness on his part, I've found that usually what he needs is not discipline but for me to rock him to sleep. I hadn't done that in many months, but apparently he still needs it, and I love the chance to cuddle my active, big boy for a little while.</li>
</ul><br />
<ul><li>Judah still needs lots of cuddles from Mama even though he tends to have a pretty stoic demeanor. He definitely challenges me the most out of all my kids but I think that's a good thing. It makes me really have to seek God for wisdom to parent him. He doesn't allow me to be nonchalant in my mothering, or lazy or careless. I can be that way with my other kids some of the time and get away with it, but not with Judah. With Judah I have to really pay attention and really be mindful of how I'm speaking to him, how I'm acting, what I say, etc. And most days I have to dig really deep to figure out how to deal with the situations that arise with Judah. One minute you think he hasn't even heard you because he's staring at you totally deadpan, and the next he's an angry, sad, weeping, yelling mess. But like I said, when I'm tempted to think of Judah as my "difficult child", I immediately cross that out from my mind and think of him as the child who's most challenging me to be a better mother. He's just not easy to figure out. There is SO much feeling IN him (but he tends to keep it in) and there's SO much going on in his mind (but again, he doesn't communicate a lot of it) and he just needs a very sensitive, mindful, wise mother. That's a good thing to have to learn to be.</li>
</ul><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPP1yFyqBhbIJ_oNVlpwiB7AfzpWrDIXA9xuZz1o_ciB1DsuKNk39TdLU5znyfTS2SJ9pj8lTSWY1Q2Th1rgVsuXIb3LaQmXqjUp_2WG4DwpbINPfhEANHlsitfj1iU9-pH0lziw0k14k/s1600/PICT0124.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPP1yFyqBhbIJ_oNVlpwiB7AfzpWrDIXA9xuZz1o_ciB1DsuKNk39TdLU5znyfTS2SJ9pj8lTSWY1Q2Th1rgVsuXIb3LaQmXqjUp_2WG4DwpbINPfhEANHlsitfj1iU9-pH0lziw0k14k/s320/PICT0124.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He's showing me how the brakes work</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcnQGkgIpW7xI0xFlnzzwOhSRVWmdvNzU8u2Bi8HU_mKh0vV06s9xaKV6H_VxImkENAWrwFZKlpIkt54ojmpHrrm6_H1EQnpiJQDMgVzRbou04OvhLfRE6S2LBKLkTfQCiIpa8WBID0Sk/s1600/IMG_3356.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcnQGkgIpW7xI0xFlnzzwOhSRVWmdvNzU8u2Bi8HU_mKh0vV06s9xaKV6H_VxImkENAWrwFZKlpIkt54ojmpHrrm6_H1EQnpiJQDMgVzRbou04OvhLfRE6S2LBKLkTfQCiIpa8WBID0Sk/s1600/IMG_3356.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
So that's kinda what's going on here. Richard's doing some work around the house, mostly yard/landscaping sorts of things, I've been fitting in a little bit of sewing and crafting (about 1% of the ideas and projects I'd LIKE to do!), and once all the kids are in bed, we like to sit on our deck and just feel thankful for our wonderful home and family.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_7R7xcKCdFxF6Ie1Id_grbhBmPBxQYklgI8rOsk6aJIOwawCj0BflALnpcbdYJoIQ5OKQunB_on7KAsNhLvbBMwyhXvv7nQREdq8oO4EOVgruo_CdGItyyhK-fQONLTB9fNAW831MWVM/s400/IMG_3183.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="266" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It won't make you feel any younger, but an occasional hogpile with your kids is a good thing.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTkgDPYrHkltY0Ch0F6Qz7lS7BwF8EBIa5SHtjxSEPMehnC9jh_4JK1eNzUUeyXLMTwtxAuKhZAWa6lyytPLAVH7t9ZYRjTlpEK5TSyj9mzsy7hIK1_WnrnXC4EiJW4Nfe2JGIyuFujD0/s1600/PICT0057_3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTkgDPYrHkltY0Ch0F6Qz7lS7BwF8EBIa5SHtjxSEPMehnC9jh_4JK1eNzUUeyXLMTwtxAuKhZAWa6lyytPLAVH7t9ZYRjTlpEK5TSyj9mzsy7hIK1_WnrnXC4EiJW4Nfe2JGIyuFujD0/s400/PICT0057_3.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the start of a scrappy quilt for Grace. Stay tuned. It'll probably be done sometime before she leaves for college.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_GBLo-nfe1u3sx-wOcgfkq6j84UUGW6ljJfPX0W6ltcMGAvp6wL3flOduAyHURU4tT_KG4hErRQMOoSNdVhwSk56krlVdyMcSaxWWJiMukeVfG7UdBXg6lH2nIiC2f77zlYDelbnWB5o/s400/PICT0063.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love looking out the kitchen window and seeing this.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15690351350193667741noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1701090666251961372.post-46476762259181543272011-06-22T12:10:00.000-05:002011-06-22T12:10:02.961-05:00Moses for Five Years!In honor of Moses' FIFTH birthday on Saturday, I made this Birthday Photo Montage! I think it really captures Moses - his bright and cheerful personality, his charisma, his goofiness, his sweetness - and how the adorable chubby baby grew into an adorable but maturing five-year-old boy.<br />
<br />
<div><embed flashvars="&p=e4eb9eb3a307e6266f4cbd&skin_id=701&host=http://www.onetruemedia.com" height="382" name="FLVPlayer" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" quality="high" salign="LT" scale="noscale" src="http://www.onetruemedia.com/share_view_player?p=e4eb9eb3a307e6266f4cbd" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="408" wmode="transparent"></embed><br />
<div style="font: 12px/13px verdana,arial,sans-serif; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; text-align: center; width: 408px;"><a href="http://www.onetruemedia.com/landing?&utm_source=emplay&utm_medium=txt0" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Make photo slide shows at <span style="text-decoration: underline;">www.OneTrueMedia.com</span></a></div></div>melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15690351350193667741noreply@blogger.com0