tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50924444499037952362024-03-05T01:38:18.175-08:00Embracing His PlanStephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07244889894919739177noreply@blogger.comBlogger202125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092444449903795236.post-22966958624033033072011-10-29T19:39:00.000-07:002011-10-29T19:39:15.937-07:00Funny Fall FellowsSorry I've been missing again. I think that is just going to be the norm. You just never know when I'll pop in! <br />
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We went to Red Top Mtn Park to scout out some spots for pictures. Of course I grabbed a couple of nice sweaters so that I could have some pictures of my boys looking like respectable young men instead of always looking like scraggly street urchins! There really is no point in putting little boys in nice clothes. <br />
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Unless it is for pictures.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Seriously - I know they are mine. But really. Really.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEja1BagpBEVLyJpvTuFVjfBD21AEfsKgwBI3wENzDofiDRehA8chEVfUvu6n7X94N_x_yFayHKX_S5GzKaOWJ0aq-_Q8rWJwO8ywdUKqW5aq0wlunNHYfXW2RpYjB5bwd-lxO7NuNL1w/s1600/storyboard004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEja1BagpBEVLyJpvTuFVjfBD21AEfsKgwBI3wENzDofiDRehA8chEVfUvu6n7X94N_x_yFayHKX_S5GzKaOWJ0aq-_Q8rWJwO8ywdUKqW5aq0wlunNHYfXW2RpYjB5bwd-lxO7NuNL1w/s640/storyboard004.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Standing on the fence. Falling off the fence.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2bAluNPEYhLQWbAlZh0D25TGonBdUMdGVzjkDLL09Vvv8wZSmxXFB_czRAdTEzLn-Oh1fbPqpR5WH6VqAUX0hBOJ5h_yuxTVKkElFTDWnJwAblUMlElZOVpniMne9FTJ_qPE7eh7vgIY/s1600/storyboard002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2bAluNPEYhLQWbAlZh0D25TGonBdUMdGVzjkDLL09Vvv8wZSmxXFB_czRAdTEzLn-Oh1fbPqpR5WH6VqAUX0hBOJ5h_yuxTVKkElFTDWnJwAblUMlElZOVpniMne9FTJ_qPE7eh7vgIY/s640/storyboard002.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I love them so. I didn't like them so much though when we were trying to get this shot. The words, "Look at the camera and smile!" to my boys means, "Look anywhere but the camera and look bored." </div><div style="text-align: center;">But this picture was worth the <strike>yelling</strike> coaxing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh5LhTfs4bjTk-E9AfA1fE5Bh4ElxnlsK7tOP7Hct7oYlf2GDcNGATYvwV3OCqM_-Ja5vyU6P6Gxr7COjEXpxw0_gpOGv8Z0qDO_dHu0E-3jc28q5z7h1V-MWhl_ifwr-p2jL6ofaHD5Y/s1600/storyboard005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh5LhTfs4bjTk-E9AfA1fE5Bh4ElxnlsK7tOP7Hct7oYlf2GDcNGATYvwV3OCqM_-Ja5vyU6P6Gxr7COjEXpxw0_gpOGv8Z0qDO_dHu0E-3jc28q5z7h1V-MWhl_ifwr-p2jL6ofaHD5Y/s640/storyboard005.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Typical Caleb face. Delaney loves her "Cabub"!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixUFH77xyujlD3V7D15mX75tnJ9KEda19JzkZQh_2SQGI47QJe1D39ZIJviOEnf4p05AKx1MGzL_AhmeObR6Geoy0Q45hyYzyKfERnDzMwLThM_nlWwmXJlXUT3FuA9cfYmlRxJmNutBw/s1600/storyboard006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixUFH77xyujlD3V7D15mX75tnJ9KEda19JzkZQh_2SQGI47QJe1D39ZIJviOEnf4p05AKx1MGzL_AhmeObR6Geoy0Q45hyYzyKfERnDzMwLThM_nlWwmXJlXUT3FuA9cfYmlRxJmNutBw/s640/storyboard006.jpg" width="640" /></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/AVvXsEicroS1xuKYCCxXKYuX8u2C06kH49u6hK3eb_CP2gpDkTc9aXd3r6dNjbo3f5TG9caMJBk0bm3HLnlExkz9zr8_PJY9whjZ8LCQKMi_lu9_2QiXLD67X3JZNHVL6NWZNU5hnS7Lp2tEN7s/s1600/storyboardcomp002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicroS1xuKYCCxXKYuX8u2C06kH49u6hK3eb_CP2gpDkTc9aXd3r6dNjbo3f5TG9caMJBk0bm3HLnlExkz9zr8_PJY9whjZ8LCQKMi_lu9_2QiXLD67X3JZNHVL6NWZNU5hnS7Lp2tEN7s/s640/storyboardcomp002.jpg" width="476" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"> We pretty much lost them after this shot. As you can see by the following pictures. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Photo. Shoot. Over.</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/AVvXsEgiUz3iTdpVQvbH42SZTUmUhSIMCDtH0z-l_6aXxBs6x02gq2Lip99a5if5Mq7JbLURmKZqxY8fkLlFM5xQeiI2pD2eIRZMQbTXkyNFNMbJpNEFLP3_rTvT7ghpsdIELIpduokHf1kmvB4/s1600/storyboardcomp005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiUz3iTdpVQvbH42SZTUmUhSIMCDtH0z-l_6aXxBs6x02gq2Lip99a5if5Mq7JbLURmKZqxY8fkLlFM5xQeiI2pD2eIRZMQbTXkyNFNMbJpNEFLP3_rTvT7ghpsdIELIpduokHf1kmvB4/s640/storyboardcomp005.jpg" width="636" /></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;">Go play you crazy kids!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXpsLn79qPM0WWZlBZnN9nxf7Lhr1vEGvXHbR1rAaR7lM6IEBIihFlQitjJbrYReh88FEvZ5QXtW10Zc_4ijrqAih0Is_EAQpI1M1HV4GuhC7j6eJedEjVZ8ZiB7NFChSxxahsLx3CvB8/s1600/storyboard014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXpsLn79qPM0WWZlBZnN9nxf7Lhr1vEGvXHbR1rAaR7lM6IEBIihFlQitjJbrYReh88FEvZ5QXtW10Zc_4ijrqAih0Is_EAQpI1M1HV4GuhC7j6eJedEjVZ8ZiB7NFChSxxahsLx3CvB8/s640/storyboard014.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Oh my. Oh my, oh my, oh my. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivlXr2Q5kiKjgJ27Ek8mHPMedbAHESHjP60dhl9fDUe602z7I8XRKIFQdqdWD6e2YuJvAiUJ2KYH6FsMRghbAudakKPMcFAmQFEIA3oYgHrd2W5ArL7604LE2lpvCpD2MJ3cYlx_ATWLg/s1600/storyboardcomp003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivlXr2Q5kiKjgJ27Ek8mHPMedbAHESHjP60dhl9fDUe602z7I8XRKIFQdqdWD6e2YuJvAiUJ2KYH6FsMRghbAudakKPMcFAmQFEIA3oYgHrd2W5ArL7604LE2lpvCpD2MJ3cYlx_ATWLg/s640/storyboardcomp003.jpg" width="636" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And lastly, Daddy has to do silly hair pictures. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> Good thing because I cut their hair today.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBo0ozG31rHTmIh6YBI7yyD5g_SY7lXX_ZLOSrHuw8apc4LKfP_P4SFoBlrpvReLMet8WoGVWQKg2iwADhkfjLnyEAzvcL1MZ7Gb5XAMvf03BHep_8y5wY5s1ShtBvUtw8IfNLEAVUrlM/s1600/storyboard009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBo0ozG31rHTmIh6YBI7yyD5g_SY7lXX_ZLOSrHuw8apc4LKfP_P4SFoBlrpvReLMet8WoGVWQKg2iwADhkfjLnyEAzvcL1MZ7Gb5XAMvf03BHep_8y5wY5s1ShtBvUtw8IfNLEAVUrlM/s640/storyboard009.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07244889894919739177noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092444449903795236.post-40971238270403083312011-08-28T04:54:00.001-07:002011-08-28T04:54:05.451-07:00MIA but BIS <br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/08/28/1071.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/08/28/s_1071.jpg' border='0' width='320' height='320' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /> Caleb at our creek<br /><br />I know you think I died. My family and friends have written me off as a no show.<br /><br />I've been Missing In Action but now I'm Back In the Saddle!!<br /><br />I will update my blog! I will, I will.<br /><br />Because life is too interesting around here to keep it to myself.<br /><br />And because I can't remember what happened yesterday so I'd better write it down somewhere!<br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/08/28/1072.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/08/28/s_1072.jpg' border='0' width='320' height='320' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />Like Caleb drinking a sour blue raspberry icee and how every time he took a sip he scrunched his face up and put his hand just in front of his mouth. Crack us up!<br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/08/28/1073.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/08/28/s_1073.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />Or taking the boys to Escalade Climbing Gym and after 4 tries Carter making to the top and hitting the buzzer! I found out they have homeschool days so we will be back every month, the boys had a blast!! <br /><br />Well, they had a blast in the kiddie area. <br /><br />Caleb never made it much above my head climbing.<br /><br />I will post about how homeschool kindergarten is going soon, I promise.<br />But this should give you a clue. Friday we watched our 4 yr old neighbor for a few hours in the morning so I told Carter we didn't have to do school right then if he wanted to play. So when said neighbor came over I overheard Carter say,<br /><br />"Mommy says I can skip school this morning if I want to because you are over but I don't want to. I love school! It is my favorite thing in the whole world."<br /><br />Yes, I cried. <br /><br />And then squeezed the ooey gooey stuffing out of him!!!!<br /><br />- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad<br />Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07244889894919739177noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092444449903795236.post-46813231370791704952011-04-24T18:39:00.000-07:002011-04-24T18:39:20.058-07:00No Easter BonnetsSo I made bow ties and belts.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2QkUpzGdrdWkY0oE0bKd9PNqJ8XF4FqHWQ1lz-tk5TWNGK8rDzQ86DQJSuO30HVBFxT0K3iYmaDkUcjg9YUC-FY7PjdcvmTIMNPYALJCkuDjdrjhzDup_0FGtQOeHj_QsrLAEKqerJHY/s1600/%25281104Family_514%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2QkUpzGdrdWkY0oE0bKd9PNqJ8XF4FqHWQ1lz-tk5TWNGK8rDzQ86DQJSuO30HVBFxT0K3iYmaDkUcjg9YUC-FY7PjdcvmTIMNPYALJCkuDjdrjhzDup_0FGtQOeHj_QsrLAEKqerJHY/s640/%25281104Family_514%2529.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
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I don't have little girls to dress up so on Christmas and Easter I dress up my boys. And seriously, aren't they the cutest things ever!! Thanks to <a href="http://deliacreates.blogspot.com/2011/03/lil-mister-bow-tie.html">this tutorial</a> for the bow ties and my own basic belt idea, I think they are pretty spiffy. And yes, I even learned to tie them myself.<br />
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I see more bow ties in our future.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsDJ26yOxNeVKEivwoWdzHVtSd5It56vOXaJPUMhQWC-ezqjvoqgndwhmV-YengOU_S7oiCNKYibsN4_c5q39W3hw7AUEu8SM-zEmh42UHqwF7x0oc6_TXUorQuut_MV1TnM02AwKbW08/s1600/%25281104Family_469%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsDJ26yOxNeVKEivwoWdzHVtSd5It56vOXaJPUMhQWC-ezqjvoqgndwhmV-YengOU_S7oiCNKYibsN4_c5q39W3hw7AUEu8SM-zEmh42UHqwF7x0oc6_TXUorQuut_MV1TnM02AwKbW08/s640/%25281104Family_469%2529.jpg" width="425" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So typical Caleb.</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;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4j0Bm93b8NLx2U72u4UACMft50AuQAUoULGk5u8yNKpPa5X9KbC6g2AThQEmm9l6FMsfAm9T-0iphM1EJUctCILz8WHh0EnwoAvyYHm3tz5ylq6ut_QPHfJbhVtCt4LDbcNrNHh1S4Mo/s1600/%25281104Family_477%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4j0Bm93b8NLx2U72u4UACMft50AuQAUoULGk5u8yNKpPa5X9KbC6g2AThQEmm9l6FMsfAm9T-0iphM1EJUctCILz8WHh0EnwoAvyYHm3tz5ylq6ut_QPHfJbhVtCt4LDbcNrNHh1S4Mo/s640/%25281104Family_477%2529.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">I cry a little every time I look at this picture. So sweet and too old.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: auto;"><br />
</div>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07244889894919739177noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092444449903795236.post-21363856613343754232011-04-15T16:05:00.000-07:002011-04-15T16:05:47.176-07:00Made you laugh<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeRiKUg3MHAq2COEP_Jk1WeEHNYHD-lbKS9LKo0zQklwuvqc932DLmLaJGYkSyThICtNTHkVPAid76UMCCcD9fHHJml_cFyG_2clnDIRLPTBOngujpEkjv7LclNxEiz78feu_ZVroG2uk/s1600/Family-1182008.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeRiKUg3MHAq2COEP_Jk1WeEHNYHD-lbKS9LKo0zQklwuvqc932DLmLaJGYkSyThICtNTHkVPAid76UMCCcD9fHHJml_cFyG_2clnDIRLPTBOngujpEkjv7LclNxEiz78feu_ZVroG2uk/s640/Family-1182008.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07244889894919739177noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092444449903795236.post-30867219553204378052011-03-30T05:14:00.001-07:002011-03-30T05:14:32.576-07:00PatienceSomething one needs lots of when parenting young children. When do I lose my patience?<br /><br />When they don't do what I want them to do as quickly as I want them to do it.<br /><br />When they interrupt what I am trying to do.<br /><br />When they need me to be a good parent and I don't want to. <br /><br />It really comes down to I lose my patience with them when I am being a bad parent!<br /><br />I get frustrated when I am trying to email someone and they can't find a toy they NEED and whine because I can't tell them exactly where said toy is located. I get angry when they are being silly boys and I am running late, trying to get to church somewhat on time. I get impatient when they are talking at the table instead of eating.<br /><br />Why is it all about me? Isn't my job to PARENT them? Isn't it my mission to lovingly train them in the ways of the Lord? Am I giving them a vision of a loving God or a vision of the self-absorbed Other Guy?<br /><br />I'm afraid it is too often that Other Guy. As parents we need to give ourselves grace when we fail, but not excuse ourselves. Will I lose it with my kids today and speak harshly? Probably. But I must truly seek the Lord's help to NOT act this way. It must be a constant battle for me. <br /><br />I want to be a graceful parent? I must actively train myself to be a more graceful parent. <br /><br />How do I attempt to fight this battle?<br /><br />Music - My Grooveshark praise playlist, Pandora Hymn station or classical music is almost always playing at my house. It is harder for me to yell at my kids when Chris Tomlin is singing, "How Great is our God" in my ear.<br /><br />Scripture - Some friends and I are memorizing the book of Colossians this year. I try and carry around my verse for the week in my pocket and when my blood pressure starts to go up, I stop and read over the verses.<br /><br />Play - Put down the dishcloth and pick up a Matchbox car.<br /><br />Books - Again, put down the dishcloth and read to them (am I the only one who feels like I clean up the kitchen a million times a day?).<br /><br />Touch - When I need to discipline or when they are whining or I am tempted to commit child abuse, I caress them. This is hard because I am tempted to smack them :) but in touching them with a loving hand I am better able to speak words of grace. It is also much more effective to discipline face to face than to yell from the next room, not that I ever do that! :)<br /><br />Do I have responsibilities? Yes.<br />Do I want them to think the world revolves around them? No.<br /><br />But I do want them to know that our Father loves them and is full of grace and holiness.<br /><br />Parenting is a balance.<br /><br />Speaking firm words in a graceful voice.<br />Being responsible for my daily work, not my daily computer addiction!!!<br />Listening to my children with my full attention and then turning THEIR attention to what they need to do.<br /><br />I have discovered that I must have a time in the morning before they get up to cozy up on the couch with my coffee and my Bible.<br /><br />Feeling very convicted of my behavior this morning and praying for the patience that only He can give me.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad<br />Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07244889894919739177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092444449903795236.post-38862956627258315592011-03-14T18:47:00.000-07:002011-03-14T18:47:26.155-07:00Rollin' rollin' rollin'<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/SsziflCMvFY" title="YouTube video player" width="640"></iframe><br />
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Costco.<br />
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$30.<br />
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Yes, I tried it.<br />
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SOOOOOO much fun.Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07244889894919739177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092444449903795236.post-22291960818747986602011-03-14T18:38:00.000-07:002011-03-14T18:38:17.812-07:00The effects of having a big brother<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/3KVe465XvxQ" title="YouTube video player" width="640"></iframe></div><br />
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When Carter was 4.5 he was proficient with the training wheels so we decided to pretty much force him to learn to ride with out them. It took a week or so and then he was able to ride by himself. I thought this was pretty good for a 4.5 year old.<br />
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However Caleb, at 3.5 years old, decided that Carter was pretty cool with his non training wheel bike, so yesterday (Sunday) afternoon he told us he wanted to learn to ride without training wheels. We took him down to the cul de sac and on his first try he was riding. <br />
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I was shocked!<br />
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We then went down to the ball field parking lot and I ran up and down trying to keep up with him and keep him from falling. <br />
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He was too fast. <br />
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Within fifteen minutes he was riding around by himself but still couldn't start or stop well.<br />
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This morning he said he wanted to go down to the cul de sac and practice some more. We got down there and I got him going. He proceeded to ride around and within minutes was starting and stoping on his own. Turning, playing, even standing up and pedaling! <br />
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Our boys may be wussy, whiny and cry easily -<br />
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But we can ride bikes!Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07244889894919739177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092444449903795236.post-41582741513721551822011-03-12T05:10:00.001-08:002011-03-12T05:10:55.774-08:00TestingSo I have been slack about my blog.<br /><br />I know.<br /><br />My family says they know more about my blog friends' lives than they know about my own.<br /><br />It is the iPad's fault. I couldn't post from my iPad and have been lazy about getting out the old, big laptop.<br /><br />However, this new app may be the answer! <br /><br />Let's see.<br /><br />Did it work? And if so, now I need to figure put how to get pictures in.<br /><br />Technology. It just makes everything more difficult.<br /><br /><br />- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad<br />Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07244889894919739177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092444449903795236.post-48635856105587727992011-02-02T11:14:00.000-08:002011-02-02T11:14:58.018-08:00Do you hear what I hear?Carter's version of the Lord's Prayer<br />
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"Our Father, who jarts in heaven<br />
How it be thy name.<br />
Our kingdom come,<br />
I will be done,<br />
On earth as it is in heaven..."<br />
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I finally corrected him after several weeks, yes weeks, of him saying this during bedtime prayers because to be honest with you, by bedtime, I really need a good snicker.<br />
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Trying not to be MIA anymore! <br />
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More posts to come!Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07244889894919739177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092444449903795236.post-33240978215308796082010-12-25T20:13:00.000-08:002010-12-25T20:13:32.735-08:00May Your Days Be Merry and Bright<div style="text-align: center;">And may ALL your Christmases be WHITE!!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhczLMmPPjtaCjDhh_PVNxCBFY_ouR8msueKk_HbeEJTUZg87aluF8x8V6CVxfztjTpc1MUH8go7-tDGmOomh1-0MPKB3rMxuQQYXU77YIxhJs21i2k1X3C0knCgfOD66FptCSGcblx0mU/s1600/%25281012Family_476%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhczLMmPPjtaCjDhh_PVNxCBFY_ouR8msueKk_HbeEJTUZg87aluF8x8V6CVxfztjTpc1MUH8go7-tDGmOomh1-0MPKB3rMxuQQYXU77YIxhJs21i2k1X3C0knCgfOD66FptCSGcblx0mU/s640/%25281012Family_476%2529.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">May you always remember what it was like to get that special train.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYbD7jioauzkq72XhwrvxM1qwQXuow5CqNIkgjm7teCloAtxsGxvCkCJsPg_U5u8Kn69M6VJaiMR87t_XLdrdy8ANhXw1MDKjLu5DAifZyfsHdRFQpd9DFutq1V1FwGnilEJHtzX9XOe4/s1600/%25281012Family_355%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYbD7jioauzkq72XhwrvxM1qwQXuow5CqNIkgjm7teCloAtxsGxvCkCJsPg_U5u8Kn69M6VJaiMR87t_XLdrdy8ANhXw1MDKjLu5DAifZyfsHdRFQpd9DFutq1V1FwGnilEJHtzX9XOe4/s640/%25281012Family_355%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Or train station.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl6HmO_blJelnUk8QNNwNqAKnGDPSV7d3IK31R7HAI9JQEp9nFmgD46Bj2reoKYDRUm_NKKtaDECo858DQ2VHzL6Qd7g7Sx2aFy8S6DAwQjW_y2bMbqARXnhlIBBou7rtG3o0NKO8apbs/s1600/%25281012Family_372%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl6HmO_blJelnUk8QNNwNqAKnGDPSV7d3IK31R7HAI9JQEp9nFmgD46Bj2reoKYDRUm_NKKtaDECo858DQ2VHzL6Qd7g7Sx2aFy8S6DAwQjW_y2bMbqARXnhlIBBou7rtG3o0NKO8apbs/s640/%25281012Family_372%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"> May you always love playing in the snow - especially CHRISTMAS SNOW!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLwOSAFqMxTOZ5UiWAATFT6R4JcFgPAPIVD4oUknR3svymstB4KzKnb-yHO-yjyJN_kVQg-_LDWjDqY9ZGeKVxjcXB12yp0LdGk1SNX23-_rB5HdVIgI9xHC6Icp79QKBFj83dKy-OrMY/s1600/%25281012Family_469%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLwOSAFqMxTOZ5UiWAATFT6R4JcFgPAPIVD4oUknR3svymstB4KzKnb-yHO-yjyJN_kVQg-_LDWjDqY9ZGeKVxjcXB12yp0LdGk1SNX23-_rB5HdVIgI9xHC6Icp79QKBFj83dKy-OrMY/s640/%25281012Family_469%2529.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">May you always see the beauty of God's miracles and thank Him for The Miracle.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjanIYZiCN_ZoDwGQ5nKrJltb8Cj8wj-TneXTKk3kO04-SnmZESoMq7Gk3-8aN28YUVadVVRQQ9qoIKbvnK6AXTAm8dRyMepkWUh13D_I4Hd7VHMj6ddRfC87l0Ogi74j2mURnrPLEswHs/s1600/%25281012Family_486%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjanIYZiCN_ZoDwGQ5nKrJltb8Cj8wj-TneXTKk3kO04-SnmZESoMq7Gk3-8aN28YUVadVVRQQ9qoIKbvnK6AXTAm8dRyMepkWUh13D_I4Hd7VHMj6ddRfC87l0Ogi74j2mURnrPLEswHs/s640/%25281012Family_486%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">May you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjanIYZiCN_ZoDwGQ5nKrJltb8Cj8wj-TneXTKk3kO04-SnmZESoMq7Gk3-8aN28YUVadVVRQQ9qoIKbvnK6AXTAm8dRyMepkWUh13D_I4Hd7VHMj6ddRfC87l0Ogi74j2mURnrPLEswHs/s1600/%25281012Family_486%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbdR1vzJ-mZpmw6jHRBfVyW1geIgneV0zL18ELwQ_6m-ARAqMpY6EXIq6RdrjCo7tdBglRVYeoKVva9kpObtp9-SRzWZ3KcyUYjPIb275SyL5i2sJgFDkCk-5UZ9LCTH4DniW6gMl84iw/s1600/%25281012Family_445%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbdR1vzJ-mZpmw6jHRBfVyW1geIgneV0zL18ELwQ_6m-ARAqMpY6EXIq6RdrjCo7tdBglRVYeoKVva9kpObtp9-SRzWZ3KcyUYjPIb275SyL5i2sJgFDkCk-5UZ9LCTH4DniW6gMl84iw/s640/%25281012Family_445%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">May you remember The Christmas Story through the eyes of children.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/kWq60oyrHVQ?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/kWq60oyrHVQ?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07244889894919739177noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092444449903795236.post-47122682571380418002010-12-07T20:19:00.000-08:002010-12-07T20:19:04.985-08:00What's a kid to do?When it is 26 degrees outside with a windchill of 18 and only expected to get up to 36 degrees? And you have been trapped inside pretty much for the last several days and can expect more of the same for the next several days?<br />
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Well luckily my boys have their inventive daddy.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgetyXlsso3WOqkxl5hI56M3sDMhxSPEFVAS2pBGFoMCbvf1nZJa7IyT-N2gH_AKvUzBBzx7Syc4sT6l9QWri0m78Dzwh-MW6q-iRRiwO8IEJGSbv4tt6dSBoIijxC9rIQO45k10AfHxZg/s1600/%25281012Family_034%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgetyXlsso3WOqkxl5hI56M3sDMhxSPEFVAS2pBGFoMCbvf1nZJa7IyT-N2gH_AKvUzBBzx7Syc4sT6l9QWri0m78Dzwh-MW6q-iRRiwO8IEJGSbv4tt6dSBoIijxC9rIQO45k10AfHxZg/s640/%25281012Family_034%2529.jpg" width="426" /></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/AVvXsEjw77XgD5pbgAp-T11Wsl0dnhpvOnVMXrHzLmPjILiERMAl358llogOaKUsJFspENXAoHMrCTEVymPzWrc8sn4UrY0wtdZujCeACmu30FDlsfHBuewyvx1aJkGbolEE2USo2yIODCNH2ZA/s1600/%25281012Family_067%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw77XgD5pbgAp-T11Wsl0dnhpvOnVMXrHzLmPjILiERMAl358llogOaKUsJFspENXAoHMrCTEVymPzWrc8sn4UrY0wtdZujCeACmu30FDlsfHBuewyvx1aJkGbolEE2USo2yIODCNH2ZA/s640/%25281012Family_067%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5TftsnLFr6SYdlbt59Z5RLUekZ25WK7BmOGxgCgJOCUo8Vamk_YE2Rzp4Czk8P__UNpDtblriRU4T4XpSASCkg-7pd-MNZEl_DGeK3H2hWW_MtRalTLFCIocicJ6UnImb0PX3Fewy_cY/s1600/%25281012Family_075%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5TftsnLFr6SYdlbt59Z5RLUekZ25WK7BmOGxgCgJOCUo8Vamk_YE2Rzp4Czk8P__UNpDtblriRU4T4XpSASCkg-7pd-MNZEl_DGeK3H2hWW_MtRalTLFCIocicJ6UnImb0PX3Fewy_cY/s640/%25281012Family_075%2529.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07244889894919739177noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092444449903795236.post-36559654240224515952010-11-19T19:09:00.000-08:002010-11-19T19:09:37.488-08:00Berry Patch FarmOur annual trip to the farm. Yes it was the normal 75 degrees and yes I made them wear their fall sweaters. It's a tradition at this point!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ1O-Zr1s8gr1e7F9D58dRcXHEtmdiMZk7zwJwbQTCn5echpbkD3WU6QFB_4b5RsEGyR4mwoH-6NMiLL1HQ0byQiChdNEVF1Qaqo-A8Ol7Vi64lSOv6FGmfRtzfvTg1h-BSa8boft15vM/s1600/%25281010Family_581%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ1O-Zr1s8gr1e7F9D58dRcXHEtmdiMZk7zwJwbQTCn5echpbkD3WU6QFB_4b5RsEGyR4mwoH-6NMiLL1HQ0byQiChdNEVF1Qaqo-A8Ol7Vi64lSOv6FGmfRtzfvTg1h-BSa8boft15vM/s640/%25281010Family_581%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Fried pies, free hayride and a couple of little punkins. <br />
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Oh, we bought a few small pumpkins too.<br />
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Played torture the farm animals.<br />
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Tried to get a picture of three wiggly boys.<br />
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Chilled and ate treats.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiApJvBic1or2S396b9TzrfwBBQ6rL76IGvVosdTCcZXwAgI2-owtPbGVgVvqp7aPSLxRyHm36Ns8l2IKfsLB6BVz7YBsptm9wcLORNv045I5cxGMRkuZzT8zhvB6TE4ME87-ArJV8UQzk/s1600/%25281010Family_483%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiApJvBic1or2S396b9TzrfwBBQ6rL76IGvVosdTCcZXwAgI2-owtPbGVgVvqp7aPSLxRyHm36Ns8l2IKfsLB6BVz7YBsptm9wcLORNv045I5cxGMRkuZzT8zhvB6TE4ME87-ArJV8UQzk/s640/%25281010Family_483%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Blew some bubbles.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd75XWCUL4qqAWPfR5o6dQfU_VGSIOaRtt_0dPs7I8JuCozOWpYUXPS-2o9etTcPLxQmLJ0n_rA0TvPBcWtShyphenhyphenX-ARTIooHOSiCkVJDcf50TvPG79HWFB4mEJ5ggnRNuLfzK2W24rNY9s/s1600/%25281010Family_486%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd75XWCUL4qqAWPfR5o6dQfU_VGSIOaRtt_0dPs7I8JuCozOWpYUXPS-2o9etTcPLxQmLJ0n_rA0TvPBcWtShyphenhyphenX-ARTIooHOSiCkVJDcf50TvPG79HWFB4mEJ5ggnRNuLfzK2W24rNY9s/s640/%25281010Family_486%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirV2WRTeqMgY1BiOkojBDNh3lMxwnMd4yJQVh8FPZrKDiioItCpZwMm390x89AykwFzy5bWI8tgMrxaYp6DDkcpoHu2NwXAM9pDrWo_TCPCkMX3y9np1kke5Cf1ohj8LfJ9jMdEG0fq2U/s1600/%25281010Family_487%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirV2WRTeqMgY1BiOkojBDNh3lMxwnMd4yJQVh8FPZrKDiioItCpZwMm390x89AykwFzy5bWI8tgMrxaYp6DDkcpoHu2NwXAM9pDrWo_TCPCkMX3y9np1kke5Cf1ohj8LfJ9jMdEG0fq2U/s640/%25281010Family_487%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Attempted to take neighbor's family picture. Ha ha!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrgrRURlO4pvN-t2KY6WUvgKspX51YuSOEngeZzGJHKsGjYnB_5hwJaTutu3jYXhf0QhnHz-fuRSi-X2axHYHevBnmUiAxqB6FzzaVmqXDIDGSTW2ByMreNdErkE-t9ZUXQIaCQcYaHDA/s1600/%25281010Family_559%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrgrRURlO4pvN-t2KY6WUvgKspX51YuSOEngeZzGJHKsGjYnB_5hwJaTutu3jYXhf0QhnHz-fuRSi-X2axHYHevBnmUiAxqB6FzzaVmqXDIDGSTW2ByMreNdErkE-t9ZUXQIaCQcYaHDA/s640/%25281010Family_559%2529.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
Did what we always do when we are outside - run around and fall on the ground.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJIsnJ9216IrwcHhSSsZ3DMgW5f5N9GhKaSgUYrEetN5zP7WD64OASb5Jfx_otUOoRHZzehxyrMWpC1CpbCxmysRL3q3p4piM-UrQSzLRcctE_4xdNi8o49wZlR3BOuCbv42i4LMeXdkU/s1600/%25281010Family_600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJIsnJ9216IrwcHhSSsZ3DMgW5f5N9GhKaSgUYrEetN5zP7WD64OASb5Jfx_otUOoRHZzehxyrMWpC1CpbCxmysRL3q3p4piM-UrQSzLRcctE_4xdNi8o49wZlR3BOuCbv42i4LMeXdkU/s640/%25281010Family_600%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Got dizzy and almost threw up (thanks to Daddy's gift of motion sickness to Carter )<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxBfXfwomwGzszoYhUaljnXLypdRytLJw4kTr9RtiqZIt6fBrWkKuHGgqkCtpTkeNjyNCRkDMPefzjGy7k0B9w-uLnOziZtKUI3Z-GY7fSP1a0pIrxsXgDnoxov3S9T2KY_0hUGQEYyWE/s1600/%25281010Family_609%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxBfXfwomwGzszoYhUaljnXLypdRytLJw4kTr9RtiqZIt6fBrWkKuHGgqkCtpTkeNjyNCRkDMPefzjGy7k0B9w-uLnOziZtKUI3Z-GY7fSP1a0pIrxsXgDnoxov3S9T2KY_0hUGQEYyWE/s640/%25281010Family_609%2529.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
And ended the day on an up note!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL2SVxGnOywHtDTI0YQdeXDPAVUw8-ahEuFJHKD2-miZzWjiT7wuR9ZzzKaW3o-rJNoncCkqVB3H4Y77eJoVeBYDCdOFWc88HtlTKgdPzLceiL62smva25HWT7f5ROgcXF2vhYjSzMdew/s1600/%25281010Family_619%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL2SVxGnOywHtDTI0YQdeXDPAVUw8-ahEuFJHKD2-miZzWjiT7wuR9ZzzKaW3o-rJNoncCkqVB3H4Y77eJoVeBYDCdOFWc88HtlTKgdPzLceiL62smva25HWT7f5ROgcXF2vhYjSzMdew/s640/%25281010Family_619%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07244889894919739177noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092444449903795236.post-12844213492873909402010-11-19T18:55:00.000-08:002010-11-19T18:55:16.439-08:00One fish, two fish...Yes, I've been a little slack about the blog. Sorry - lots going on in life and in my head.<br />
<br />
So, here are some pictures from our trip to the Aquarium. My parents were down for a family birthday bash and stayed a few days. We scored cheap tickets and free parking, avoided taking out a loan by eating at the CNN Center instead of at the aquarium and saw some cool fish.<br />
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A good time was had by all.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlpKu2wsiTVmHrk3AzspbbGscMZCLIJNvbUKIaBhwNsjTk0G10qb7UO72eb_CAxxZyew4Y6fn7mIPkwZYl_RqOsJpeUTD_rbPFx2MHiRchBXf5SqPwQsnlDyeHJ4y2iyHqw0lkyA3Pl-w/s1600/%25281010Family_062%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlpKu2wsiTVmHrk3AzspbbGscMZCLIJNvbUKIaBhwNsjTk0G10qb7UO72eb_CAxxZyew4Y6fn7mIPkwZYl_RqOsJpeUTD_rbPFx2MHiRchBXf5SqPwQsnlDyeHJ4y2iyHqw0lkyA3Pl-w/s640/%25281010Family_062%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> "Are the fish eating him?"<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieEhpxe4K47f6k_xHeecF8vdLVldJFqQ0sE7ekIrbHUkdO0StC7EcZY-vpVMIL-1VloRk5UvFXB-6AoiQnhyphenhyphenheZXjAr9VPSk6xN1fdXe9YBDzoG3SlaBVPohyphenhyphenwW0wx7QXwaRoD0nQaPW0/s1600/%25281010Family_072%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieEhpxe4K47f6k_xHeecF8vdLVldJFqQ0sE7ekIrbHUkdO0StC7EcZY-vpVMIL-1VloRk5UvFXB-6AoiQnhyphenhyphenheZXjAr9VPSk6xN1fdXe9YBDzoG3SlaBVPohyphenhyphenwW0wx7QXwaRoD0nQaPW0/s640/%25281010Family_072%2529.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_fq_Uq4cDw6ncQPAlGN9nB6yuI3VDkeKWR5Y0Xm_SsSRaL4kyC-tkmMrpBdqTSNoxY3fobdTHv78FPMRZ-pFvDsI4SKP9sC10KQUtcLPA8kbt_A_VZ4_qgVQ0IBPDxPCJESOFhGIW7Nk/s1600/%25281010Family_111%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_fq_Uq4cDw6ncQPAlGN9nB6yuI3VDkeKWR5Y0Xm_SsSRaL4kyC-tkmMrpBdqTSNoxY3fobdTHv78FPMRZ-pFvDsI4SKP9sC10KQUtcLPA8kbt_A_VZ4_qgVQ0IBPDxPCJESOFhGIW7Nk/s640/%25281010Family_111%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> "Da dum ... Da dum ..."<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQfnatjZxMso47W6jZhMERcdn_GHSgshhpcDDYLIwgtnah-Ny9R4mftGFOs55YNQ4g285jc6vuv6HdJRdsyhDq1tIgd86IowhPwgeC1qRDa7s7_p_5_AV-tnVcYCM9dPg-xVuPjFi7Xgs/s1600/%25281010Family_146%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQfnatjZxMso47W6jZhMERcdn_GHSgshhpcDDYLIwgtnah-Ny9R4mftGFOs55YNQ4g285jc6vuv6HdJRdsyhDq1tIgd86IowhPwgeC1qRDa7s7_p_5_AV-tnVcYCM9dPg-xVuPjFi7Xgs/s640/%25281010Family_146%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> "AAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!"<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0adrGe2nyXNhMvRlsPsM4NKm__4ZZmPUrb8uUUfxRB87HTCqlxqEVva7Q_DUrlnNd1xrE1M3H75WTrzyRxzfSpEvufXtiAih8BUu9-gcaSTL6gvjmIBZGNfUg_DnQZpxf5J8x9QHlF_Q/s1600/%25281010Family_180%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0adrGe2nyXNhMvRlsPsM4NKm__4ZZmPUrb8uUUfxRB87HTCqlxqEVva7Q_DUrlnNd1xrE1M3H75WTrzyRxzfSpEvufXtiAih8BUu9-gcaSTL6gvjmIBZGNfUg_DnQZpxf5J8x9QHlF_Q/s640/%25281010Family_180%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuT1vljnD2bdaDXsTT4O4vArdjYdrBZrJ2rqGJz6jrY3kSCVt9GULX0QBMPD5RDi096kvoatMue1-AX5p6AzQun-5KIIrneILo7vErXncTBhYcaZIv5Tw0UKCAvBUVXAMkNIgB7vf-Zss/s1600/%25281010Family_220%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuT1vljnD2bdaDXsTT4O4vArdjYdrBZrJ2rqGJz6jrY3kSCVt9GULX0QBMPD5RDi096kvoatMue1-AX5p6AzQun-5KIIrneILo7vErXncTBhYcaZIv5Tw0UKCAvBUVXAMkNIgB7vf-Zss/s640/%25281010Family_220%2529.jpg" width="426" /></a></div> "Whatta you lookin' at?"<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxXrxw65i4q5lykCjYJ8olcTEA9Cb6tCokRQZvAfjbEaBiWDR-k7J5BEJidihOY_-xU4KSyS-neuY35piMwlHjH6ihnC_HvlqJClCSBNpswk-suyjyo2DSuOpeiODIBuTIgALTNGccCGM/s1600/%25281010Family_238%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxXrxw65i4q5lykCjYJ8olcTEA9Cb6tCokRQZvAfjbEaBiWDR-k7J5BEJidihOY_-xU4KSyS-neuY35piMwlHjH6ihnC_HvlqJClCSBNpswk-suyjyo2DSuOpeiODIBuTIgALTNGccCGM/s640/%25281010Family_238%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFVZvuU62o34yr2A43Aaj0Doj2kD5ZxKMrigHpf-K8rIZe-xJL-5ZSEq_aGVzPxEsaKIrse4whYXF9uW0cRWmFYmeEoVr6zJe-VoEdlaRfgwQyNtR_p-n27BBh29q6cUD0iea-HN6UmT0/s1600/%25281010Family_245%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFVZvuU62o34yr2A43Aaj0Doj2kD5ZxKMrigHpf-K8rIZe-xJL-5ZSEq_aGVzPxEsaKIrse4whYXF9uW0cRWmFYmeEoVr6zJe-VoEdlaRfgwQyNtR_p-n27BBh29q6cUD0iea-HN6UmT0/s640/%25281010Family_245%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgNn6YIGCIt9PuI3GKGkLwGYbXKpcuy6t_MpauYqefVaXlI7Cx2pNmugvgpLGsdB9CFDpfQfpYBejX_zxF6JANDp84BIwUgWV6rVPrSffkJNRaQNaH984Mn9kalBg_xXSVwr2Ral0ZU9s/s1600/%25281010Family_308%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgNn6YIGCIt9PuI3GKGkLwGYbXKpcuy6t_MpauYqefVaXlI7Cx2pNmugvgpLGsdB9CFDpfQfpYBejX_zxF6JANDp84BIwUgWV6rVPrSffkJNRaQNaH984Mn9kalBg_xXSVwr2Ral0ZU9s/s640/%25281010Family_308%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>"Hmmm, shoes or a purse?"Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07244889894919739177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092444449903795236.post-55220193303871847892010-11-03T18:41:00.000-07:002010-11-03T18:41:53.994-07:00Becoming a better wifeThere are times God clues you into things. Sometimes He uses friends, sometimes a sermon, sometimes a blog.<br />
<br />
The other night God showed me a blog and opened my eyes to something.<br />
<br />
Becoming a better wife.<br />
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When I start grumbling down my mental list of things he isn't, remember that his mental list is as long as mine plus a few more.<br />
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When he says hurtful words to me, admitting I was silently saying the same thing to him. My heart says it's different but my brain tells the truth - it's the same.<br />
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When I sit looking across the table thinking "I hope our boys don't get their table manners from him", he is probably thinking "I hope they don't get ___, ____, ______ or _____ from her."<br />
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Accepting his version of romance, not Hollywood's.<br />
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Becoming a better wife means being justly mad but realizing you sinned first.<br />
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Becoming a better wife means judging myself, not him.<br />
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Becoming a better wife means acceptance, forgiveness, investing.<br />
<br />
Becoming a better wife isn't dependent on having a better husband. It is being dependent on the husband I have.<br />
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Becoming a better wife means embracing His plan. <br />
<br />
His plan for my marriage, His plan for my husband, His plan for Me. <br />
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Praying for him, praying for us.Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07244889894919739177noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092444449903795236.post-5033718573488653712010-10-21T17:51:00.000-07:002010-10-21T17:51:40.502-07:00A Southern DelicacySo last Wed I was enjoying not having to do too many of my daily chores as my house was still clean from the homeschool mom's meeting on Sunday. I decided to boil some peanuts for Sam to thank him for spending the next day (his only day off) picking up and setting up a bed I bought off Craigslist. I have never boiled peanuts but Googled it and looked at All Recipes and thought I had it figured out. <br />
<br />
Rinse, salt and boil for 4-9 hours.<br />
<br />
So I put them on to boil and went outside to weed the back yard.<br />
<br />
I put them to boil on high, on my high output burner.<br />
<br />
An hour later, my neighbor reports to me that she hears a strange noise coming from her monitor in which she can see the boys' room (we have the same video monitor and can see each others kids' rooms). <br />
<br />
I open the basement door and hear the smoke alarm, smell the smoke.<br />
<br />
I run.<br />
<br />
I am panicked.<br />
<br />
I hit the door at the top of the basement stairs, sure that I am going to see my kitchen on fire.<br />
<br />
I can barely see anything for the smoke, but there is no fire. Throw the pot out on the deck, holler at my neighbor that my house is filled with smoke and start opening windows and doors.<br />
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All the things they told you in school about smoke is true. I was coughing and choking, eyes burning. It was so thick upstairs I could barely see.<br />
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It was scary.<br />
<br />
I was also pretty scared about what my hubby was going to say about all this.<br />
<br />
Do you know what he said?<br />
<br />
He said that it would have been better if I HAD caught the kitchen on fire so we could have at least gotten a new kitchen out of it.<br />
<br />
Go figure.<br />
<br />
So I spent the next 4 days washing curtains, shower curtains, clothes, sofa cushion covers, bedding, dusting ceiling fans (is that soot or just 5 years of dust?) wiping cabinets, boiling vinegar and lemons and lighting candles.<br />
<br />
I used a gallon of vinegar, a bag of lemons, a box of Swiffers and a container of carpet deodorizer.<br />
<br />
My house still smells like smoke.<br />
<br />
Next week I am renting an ozone machine.<br />
<br />
In the meantime my mom spent this week with us, we went to the aquarium and celebrated a niece and nephew birthday.<br />
<br />
More on those later.Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07244889894919739177noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092444449903795236.post-41155944874863917572010-10-08T18:34:00.000-07:002010-10-08T18:34:28.572-07:00Can you tell...who is the second born? <br />
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I did no prompting or styling, I promise. <br />
<br />
This is all him.<br />
<br />
We are sooooo in trouble.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnQbElWRtzaFBU0kaGVocFmxkjzixCiWXtAbliFXD0qaCzZz5n0sHdHlI2r-rMZ_uxZpTqTiUh6pdP3OGi7lq-peyQrbQ1uHPKcfDdisHrJus5jTjiAK2k6gr4X4GQOSlsKS1SFOJVWqo/s1600/(1010Family_018).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnQbElWRtzaFBU0kaGVocFmxkjzixCiWXtAbliFXD0qaCzZz5n0sHdHlI2r-rMZ_uxZpTqTiUh6pdP3OGi7lq-peyQrbQ1uHPKcfDdisHrJus5jTjiAK2k6gr4X4GQOSlsKS1SFOJVWqo/s640/(1010Family_018).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYaYev7KvlB5MFx2Gw8-z_cvrLdGAJ8KZ2lf9sQvnmFIPiUYOJxfe_p9Y8JytsKAQrQHYd2-JFS9yIFmfT5JF4E4AsVVrFWGNsle5-a37OO3PUrAjvOu2jyD-7vN4mrMAgHHdW-ZatTng/s1600/(1010Family_020).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYaYev7KvlB5MFx2Gw8-z_cvrLdGAJ8KZ2lf9sQvnmFIPiUYOJxfe_p9Y8JytsKAQrQHYd2-JFS9yIFmfT5JF4E4AsVVrFWGNsle5-a37OO3PUrAjvOu2jyD-7vN4mrMAgHHdW-ZatTng/s640/(1010Family_020).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHExyEFl6CKc3obdd6qtD23O0Ojpo2WqamrS3QZOcNqWE785KTAmFiO-ruR7lDSiOzjqjiunnSQGiaVJjZJ64M3uQrfGmUMlKEjIHbIuhx0facPTH4YJOuDLsHMDtlin9r1Y-7IiMrW18/s1600/(1010Family_021).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHExyEFl6CKc3obdd6qtD23O0Ojpo2WqamrS3QZOcNqWE785KTAmFiO-ruR7lDSiOzjqjiunnSQGiaVJjZJ64M3uQrfGmUMlKEjIHbIuhx0facPTH4YJOuDLsHMDtlin9r1Y-7IiMrW18/s640/(1010Family_021).jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07244889894919739177noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092444449903795236.post-45698884979737669552010-10-08T18:28:00.000-07:002010-10-08T18:30:08.604-07:00A beautiful, difficult surprise<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwB5H5iU0txbwtz75Z1Fl4-H1NmGzIC6WEV1fWW-t4X8z9Noe-IlRmpC3UTxQO7fkjavDBiiWiMhLl9Rl-QFZ3M4xugc0xlHld0xeo7mVeR-cBuYplHo0LApmY8YXD6M90M_WwSu77LNw/s1600/(1010Family_007).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwB5H5iU0txbwtz75Z1Fl4-H1NmGzIC6WEV1fWW-t4X8z9Noe-IlRmpC3UTxQO7fkjavDBiiWiMhLl9Rl-QFZ3M4xugc0xlHld0xeo7mVeR-cBuYplHo0LApmY8YXD6M90M_WwSu77LNw/s640/(1010Family_007).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
For some reason I have never taken the boys to the park in Marietta Square. I don't know why it has never occurred to me. I mean, it should have been obvious.<br />
<br />
They have a train there.<br />
<br />
A train you can play on.<br />
<br />
My boys looooooooovvvvvvvvve trains.<br />
<br />
So Thursday I decided we would take a picnic (meaning pick something up on the way because I am lazy) and go to the park. I told them we were going to go to a new park and there was a surprise there.<br />
<br />
Carter immediately guessed a train.<br />
<br />
Spoil sport.<br />
<br />
I played innocent, got our stuff together and we headed out. <br />
<br />
As we pulled into the strange square traffic pattern (one way street here, not here, one way street again...), I saw them.<br />
<br />
The school buses and school children.<br />
<br />
They were everywhere.<br />
<br />
Great! I had no idea that the square had these Halloween displays that various schools had done and the kids had all taken a picnic lunch to see the displays. Oh, well. I drove around the Square looking for a parking spot and then they saw it.<br />
<br />
"TRAIN!!!!!! There's a train, Mommy!!!!!!!"<br />
<br />
Can no longer hear in my one good ear, thank you.<br />
<br />
Finally find a parking spot a block away from the Square (which required us to walk over the railroad tracks - boys in heaven!) and we made our way with Mommy loaded down with food and camera and blanket. Of course we had to go straight to the train.<br />
<br />
Then I see them.<br />
<br />
The painters.<br />
<br />
The orange plastic fencing surrounding the painters.<br />
<br />
They are painting the train.<br />
<br />
Seriously? Really? I finally think about bringing the boys down here and the train is closed?<br />
<br />
We weren't the only ones upset. There was a 2 year old near by with a very pregnant mommy who was acting exactly like my boys wanted to act.<br />
<br />
Kicking and screaming and trying to pull down the orange fencing and get to the train.<br />
<br />
So, disappointed and surrounded by yelling school children, we find a spot to eat, spread out the blanket, get out the food.<br />
<br />
"I need go potty!"<br />
<br />
Seriously? Really?<br />
<br />
Pack food back into bag, shake out grass infested blanket, go to find restroom.<br />
<br />
Find lots of signs on stores saying, "No public restrooms."<br />
<br />
Finally find public restroom, child goes potty, other child is forced to go potty.<br />
<br />
Go back to Square, get out food, eat.<br />
<br />
Then go play in the fountain! (Meanwhile Mommy realizes that she didn't go potty and now really needs to go.)<br />
<br />
Not such a bad day after all (said by Mommy writing this the day AFTER incident - not exhausted, frazzled Mommy day OF incident - a day makes a huge difference in perspective)!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Yes, I know this picture is blurry but he's just so cute.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWPNyOGWzc0rUANIvrUiakXXQe5Uf-lKpsQMjNsr5InpSRIjVaDgCL0WtgrZCU57yp6nHxrzSQ5oIXNoQQGCEWK8d-e4JsC8is0_bBWvjr6ikHZNeu_p-tDPjNIBXCAJsxwvpjltK96u0/s1600/(1010Family_001).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWPNyOGWzc0rUANIvrUiakXXQe5Uf-lKpsQMjNsr5InpSRIjVaDgCL0WtgrZCU57yp6nHxrzSQ5oIXNoQQGCEWK8d-e4JsC8is0_bBWvjr6ikHZNeu_p-tDPjNIBXCAJsxwvpjltK96u0/s640/(1010Family_001).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDaw0oLlDAobHoPNboAgb3CupL-3q8pxzs_6YGVePOMILd_gE93rSw49BXKRo0GefsWu1izymZTrtF1m6_M8cfgo8jYEPCyklg-C1Hkny_vEZX0z3Clwq6V8zZhXPFb_olZvTIGLYTwjM/s1600/(1010Family_013).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDaw0oLlDAobHoPNboAgb3CupL-3q8pxzs_6YGVePOMILd_gE93rSw49BXKRo0GefsWu1izymZTrtF1m6_M8cfgo8jYEPCyklg-C1Hkny_vEZX0z3Clwq6V8zZhXPFb_olZvTIGLYTwjM/s640/(1010Family_013).jpg" width="426" /></a></div>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07244889894919739177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092444449903795236.post-34186303032357009382010-09-27T18:01:00.000-07:002010-09-27T18:01:46.910-07:00Playing HookyThere is a dinosaur in the middle of my kitchen,<br />
a dirty pot in my sink that has been there for 3 days,<br />
clothes in the dryer,<br />
clothes on the chair,<br />
clothes on the floor of my closet,<br />
clothes in a basket in front of the bathroom,<br />
pillows on the living room floor and<br />
pictures that need to be edited.<br />
<br />
Instead of doing what I should do, I am going to work on...<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">sewing <a href="http://www.made-by-rae.com/2009/02/free-buttercup-bag-sewing-pattern.html">this bag</a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2p624MjldaOjRvanC9D0jvZbL-l1Sv54hmWaD_bZMXqH3nSnonSAAvCPwJki7wEPk-vhPIwd5DBUdx24hpe39-2rLGmHP3O0IAN5rh9FNGVUUHu9eCJeF04Dve9FPGpfKX0P5HUH138A/s1600/darlabuttercup1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2p624MjldaOjRvanC9D0jvZbL-l1Sv54hmWaD_bZMXqH3nSnonSAAvCPwJki7wEPk-vhPIwd5DBUdx24hpe39-2rLGmHP3O0IAN5rh9FNGVUUHu9eCJeF04Dve9FPGpfKX0P5HUH138A/s400/darlabuttercup1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">out of <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/48277070/robert-kaufman-glam-garden-stripe">this fabric</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje2feIWOHo4RVKUKqCMRknIXGWxx2frahRE9t811yFPA6eFsoB4_21seJ96sclM3Q8fDDDcHVFfpsBhQFXXjJbL1hBM_uoDosRDCnCS9d_SrViK3oj4cgxuxgJQzP3KGLkGqqJkYzzIyQ/s1600/il_fullxfull.147550372.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje2feIWOHo4RVKUKqCMRknIXGWxx2frahRE9t811yFPA6eFsoB4_21seJ96sclM3Q8fDDDcHVFfpsBhQFXXjJbL1hBM_uoDosRDCnCS9d_SrViK3oj4cgxuxgJQzP3KGLkGqqJkYzzIyQ/s320/il_fullxfull.147550372.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I am a bad girl. I'll do better tomorrow, I promise.<br />
<br />
(It's Amy's fault, she told me about <a href="http://whipstitchfabrics.com/">Whipstitch</a> in Midtown and I went there and spent too much money and now have yummy fabric that I want to make into yummy things.)Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07244889894919739177noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092444449903795236.post-24508187823915201472010-09-21T20:08:00.000-07:002010-09-21T20:08:38.355-07:00New around here<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So, what's new around here? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Well, I'm working on adding some different things. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Good things that I hope will add to our life.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Two things that I got from Ann at <a href="http://www.aholyexperience.com/">Holy Experience</a> we have added to our mealtimes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Candles and The Word. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I saw that Ann had candles on her table and thought, "That's a great idea!" So I started lighting candles at dinnertime and the boys love it. It makes dinner special and creates a little calmer mood (and heaven knows we need a little calm at dinner). And the boys and I had fun smelling all the candles at Wal-Mart to pick some more for our table. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One of them was "Ocean" and after Caleb smelled it he said, "That smells like a bath!" </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The other thing that Ann does that inspired me is that they read the Bible after every meal together. Now, we read the boys' Jesus Storybook Bible but I was waiting until they were older to read the real thing. But I decided to try it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Of course, I edit.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And they love it. Well, Carter loves it. Caleb listens sometimes, wiggles a lot, and acts silly sometimes. But overall, it is a success. We don't always read after all 3 meals, but I try and read after at least 2. I am excited about reading through the Bible with them (appropriate and non tedious parts left out, of course) and am thinking about making a notebook where we write and draw the major events and keep them in a notebook to give them a timeline of the Bible.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUFoN2qY3g1kCUAJxVi6-XWZD6s0E-rJhdT1nZY6wWWsee1beJB2uHCLCmZXhFnq-Gtp_91iXi3hQI4Rq2m02tELJXO_sq8VT71QJJYz4jrs4k-1EBz2CAgPuV2hLGyYKJmLsI5SY6jTs/s1600/(1009Family_165).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUFoN2qY3g1kCUAJxVi6-XWZD6s0E-rJhdT1nZY6wWWsee1beJB2uHCLCmZXhFnq-Gtp_91iXi3hQI4Rq2m02tELJXO_sq8VT71QJJYz4jrs4k-1EBz2CAgPuV2hLGyYKJmLsI5SY6jTs/s640/(1009Family_165).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Another new thing that I have added is Thorton Burgess' Adventure stories. We will be reading Burgess' Bird Book in first grade but I have several of his Adventure stories so we are reading Paddy the Beaver together, a chapter a day (each chapter is 1 page front and back) and we are so loving it! So, since Carter has quiet time (aka Mommy's Sanity Saver time) during Caleb's nap, I checked out <a href="http://librivox.org/">Librivox</a> (free downloads of audio books) and found they had several of the stories recorded. So I downloaded Adventure of Buster Bear and Adventure of Johnny Chuck. An entire book won't fit on a CD but I split it up for now. I've got an old ipod that I'm going to download them to so he can listen to the entire book. He absolutely loves these stories. He listened to Buster Bear over and over for a week before I downloaded Johnny Chuck. These are wonderful animal stories where you learn all about the animal, it's habitat, sound, and specific abilities, all in an adorable story. And the reader is GREAT!!! He does different voices for the different animals and has such a pleasant voice. Loving adding some good living books to our everyday!!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCDH9SU_2W6XrdO_HuUetF3PSx5nAuAw33bLFAPEeTRjBvgmBrVniTVyvs2zYa1kBKZgsNr0D3i_KcJWnm3fTSFfhhAfZenWJImOjwsZYhyphenhyphen4zuSXIpLuCOK2ae0e-duK_tSQZ7a-RKlpU/s1600/adventures_johnny_chuck_1009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCDH9SU_2W6XrdO_HuUetF3PSx5nAuAw33bLFAPEeTRjBvgmBrVniTVyvs2zYa1kBKZgsNr0D3i_KcJWnm3fTSFfhhAfZenWJImOjwsZYhyphenhyphen4zuSXIpLuCOK2ae0e-duK_tSQZ7a-RKlpU/s320/adventures_johnny_chuck_1009.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Now something we have taken away - the thumb. <br />
<br />
Well, we didn't get rid of his thumb, just the thumb sucking :) Unfortunately (or fortunately for our wallet), he can't decide on a train. Well, he did decide but Mommy and Daddy decided it was just too expensive of a train. We're trying to talk him into something a little cheaper.<br />
<br />
Another thing we are trying to take away is the whining and arguing. A couple of nights ago God gave me inspiration. I told Carter that starting the next day if he started whining or complaining or arguing that I was going to say a secret code word. <br />
<br />
That got him listening.<br />
<br />
Our secret code word, "Twinkle Toes".<br />
<br />
When I said "Twinkle Toes" he was to put his hands over his mouth and pray, "God, help me to stop whining, complaining and arguing."<br />
<br />
So we did a practice run.<br />
<br />
It made him giggle.<br />
<br />
Four days later, it's actually working.<br />
<br />
THANK YOU GOD!!!!!<br />
<br />
Isn't he just too grown up?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZb3IzQH1KndHup5UL2T5vZRWRpIY3yX6H4gb1aH4vrIqkBsr1JQ9S-6mUXmrEDys3px8LHzRtnNX_iN0_jGYn8OyKRGZ8IEZTd3sdyj7uC0zg_WxFRUCEZf7hVLQ0SqcC4B5NiWCWodM/s1600/(1009Family_020).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZb3IzQH1KndHup5UL2T5vZRWRpIY3yX6H4gb1aH4vrIqkBsr1JQ9S-6mUXmrEDys3px8LHzRtnNX_iN0_jGYn8OyKRGZ8IEZTd3sdyj7uC0zg_WxFRUCEZf7hVLQ0SqcC4B5NiWCWodM/s640/(1009Family_020).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
And of course we are always adding lots of cuteness.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnTSsoQZr-s5MGe1dvNdk4HDSyWLDZ5Rh0d0XgO9Ts5mysFWWlzOBJynWdP3mvLOtBFTL7_g1As-JRAZOziFFbxEacH0N4zsluQanO3vDVAbDCe4fZAxBSjoM-9vJkYiPxVmID7Xa7Kx4/s1600/(1009Family_023).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnTSsoQZr-s5MGe1dvNdk4HDSyWLDZ5Rh0d0XgO9Ts5mysFWWlzOBJynWdP3mvLOtBFTL7_g1As-JRAZOziFFbxEacH0N4zsluQanO3vDVAbDCe4fZAxBSjoM-9vJkYiPxVmID7Xa7Kx4/s640/(1009Family_023).jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07244889894919739177noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092444449903795236.post-78030457221584214062010-09-13T19:12:00.000-07:002010-09-13T19:12:17.415-07:00Searching my mothering heartIt's been rough around here. <br />
<br />
It seems like we have these phases, I'm sure all families do, where there just seems to be more crying and whining than laughing and loving.<br />
<br />
I'm weary.<br />
<br />
Weary of repeating myself (which I should not do), weary of disciplining, weary of tears, weary of validating my answers to my 5 year old (which I should not do).<br />
<br />
Weary of being mommy.<br />
<br />
Do you ever have those days, weeks? <br />
Times when you just want it to be bedtime? <br />
Times when you cut off the story that has no ending from your 5 year old? <br />
Times when you say "you're okay" to your 3 year old and walk away when he is in tears for the millionth time that day?<br />
<br />
I do not want to be this mommy.<br />
<br />
All I have ever wanted to be was a mother. I longed for 18 hard months to have the opportunity, shedding many tears when every month the test was negative. <br />
<br />
Then more tears when it was finally positive.<br />
<br />
And yet there are too many days when I find my voice is grating to my own ears! <br />
<br />
How much more so it must sound to my children.<br />
<br />
I do not want to be that mommy.<br />
<br />
The boys and I went to the park today and you would not believe how many moms I saw sitting on the bench texting while their kids played.<br />
<br />
Pushing a swing and looking at their phone.<br />
<br />
Pulling a wagon, pushing a stroller and texting.<br />
<br />
I do not want to be that mommy.<br />
<br />
I long to give myself to my kids and yet constantly fight my own cravings for "my things" and "my time".<br />
<br />
I have been falling in love with a blogger, Ann Voskamp, at <a href="http://www.aholyexperience.com/">Holy Experience</a>. If you have never read her blog, she is an excellent writer, farmer's wife and homeschooing mother to 6 kids. She writes about her heart and pierces my own. I was reading some old columns she used to write for Christian Women Online and came across this piece from April 2008. Be patient and read it.<br />
<br />
<div class="style44" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Houses may be bought, built, or borrowed. But homes can only be made, and that with ourselves. Or so the ducks told me.</div><span class="style44" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">They told me without a sound, just simply as they preened and nestled, oil on canvas. The children press in close too, for a better look at Alexander Max Koester’s painting Ducks, and I read aloud the caption below the brushes of color.</span><br />
<div class="style44" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">“Mother ducks pick feathers from their chests to line their nests.”</div><div class="style44" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">I pause and the children gaze thoughtfully at a clutch of plump white, blizzard of feathers fallen down. But it’s those words that mesmerize me: “pick feathers from their chests, to line their nests.”</div><div class="style44" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Eyes fixed on a duck breast puffed, mother plunging beak in deep, I question wondering self: “How else did you think nests were lined?”</div><div class="style44" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">With leftovers. With the discarded, the molted, the not-so-necessary feathers. I thought mother ducks picked feathers up from what was laying about, scraps, lining nests with what simply could be mustered after the fact.</div><div class="style44" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">But no. (Is that only the way of other mothers?) No, a mother duck plucks each feather out from the heart of her bosom, warm and soft. She lines the nest with bits of herself. The best of her, from the deep spots. She cups her young in her sacrifice. </div><div class="style44" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Children pull at the corner of the page, anxious to see the next painting, and, reluctantly, I move on. But for weeks, part of me lives among Koester’s ducks. (Koester, captivated, painted dozens of duck paintings throughout the course of his life. I’ve come to understand.)</div><div class="style44" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Days later, I am scrubbing out the arches of muffin tins after breakfast, the clock ticking insufferably loud in my ears. Children need books and learning, and I’m tuned for the expected chime of the doorbell, a service personnel’s scheduled visit. And the words rise near to the surface, “I don’t have time for this! No muffins tomorrow morning!”</div><div class="style44" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Pluck.</div><div class="style44" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">The words sharply sink. And I, learning, line this nest with a feather. Not a leftover. But one decidedly plucked. The service man meets me with muffin tins still in the sink, and a circle of happy young. Whose tummies next morning fill with another batch of muffins.</div><div class="style44" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">The sun’s perfect globe of glow nears the horizon when boys, glint in eyes, recalibrate vacuum cleaner to fire socks. Weary, I have food to find, laundry awaiting escort, math sheets to mark. They fire.</div><div class="style44" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">And I Pluck.</div><div class="style44" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Bellies jiggle, peals of giggles, as old mother chases after future men, wrestling them down, tying them up in tickles. We warm here in laughter. It feels good, wild and alive. So again they fire, and again I pluck, and we pile high, one atop the other, nesting down into sacrifice, soft and small.</div><div class="style44" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Some feathers for this nest have hurt, pain of the plucking lingering long. But why speak of the details? And was it really sacrifice, or just this too-tender skin? It’s done, it was necessary, it was for something better. Some nights, when all sleep, I feel along the hidden bald patches.</div><div class="style44" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">There are times, too many, when they call, “Read me a story?” “Wanna play a game with me?” “Can you come help me?”</div><div class="style44" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">And this mother refuses to pluck. Something, some task, someone (me?), rates as more pressing, more important. I deem the nest acceptable. Then comes the pecking, the scratching, the squawking. With lining wearing thin, the nest chafes hard. We hurt and cry. Nests need feathers deep.</div><div class="style44" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Someone must pluck.</div><div class="style44" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">When will I learn that down sacrificed settles and soothes? For scraps won’t suffice. Snippets of time, leftover me, a trinket, a diversion, tossed. Mother ducks don’t line nests with feathers, dirty and trampled, the molted and unnecessary. Why would I? Nests need feathers fresh, warm with mother’s life. </div><div class="style44" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Night descends and calls children to dreams. I lead them to their gate, arms and legs under quilts worn from the ride. I read stories, stroke hair, say prayers. Prayers to Him who plucked hard from His own heart. A sacrifice, staggering and true, for love of His very own. We learn love from His laid down.</div><div class="style44" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Tired heads nestle into pillows, pillows of down.</div><div class="style44" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">On feathers plucked, we rest.</div><br />
I cried.<br />
<br />
I don't want to give my kids the scraps, but my sinful heart sometimes fights for the feathers from my "chest". It hurts to give up what I want. It hurts to stop doing something that I "need" to do (which will have to be done later) and play trains. <br />
<br />
Yet I am sadly amazed at how my children light up when I just sit and play, and listen. At how our home is so peaceful after a time of stories and playing and snuggling and listening. <br />
<br />
This is what being a mother is about. <br />
<br />
About making my home, not by cleaning the toilets splattered by little boys, not by mopping up the cloudy, dried milk stains on the floor.<br />
<br />
Making a home means loving, molding, creating, instilling.<br />
<br />
And tomorrow is always another day to ask God to help me do a little better at making my home.Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07244889894919739177noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092444449903795236.post-41426003315498628472010-09-04T08:42:00.000-07:002010-09-04T08:42:26.607-07:00Whatcha been doing?Several weeks ago I decided to start cutting away at Carter's infamous fingernail. He wasn't too thrilled but allowed me to. After a couple of snips he said it was making his tummy hurt. I asked him if it felt like when he throws up.<br />
He said, "No, it feels like it does when I sin."<br />
<br />
The boys spent several days at my parents' house so Sam and I could have a "staycation" (it was wonderful, thank you soooooo much wonderful parents!!!!). Mom said that Caleb kept telling her she needed to have a baby. <br />
She finally told him she was too old, to which Carter replied, "But Sarah had a baby when she was 99!"<br />
<br />
A couple of days ago we were heading out to ride bikes and play in the woods/creek. I was trying to get together all our stuff and Carter kept asking me to read from his Bible. I told him we would read when we got back.<br />
He gave me his best disapproving look and said, "We're supposed to put God first, Mommy."<br />
<br />
I had been preparing Carter for the "you are 5 now and we are going to stop sucking our thumb at night" that was going to occur on the night after his birthday (I'm not cruel, I didn't ruin his birthday). We told him that if he stopped sucking his thumb at night he could get a real electric train (I figure a train is cheaper than braces). We put the band aid on his thumb that night, he crawled up in his bed and sobbed. <br />
<br />
It broke my heart.<br />
<br />
But I stuck to my guns.<br />
<br />
He ended up falling asleep just fine (with the help of a little cold medicine :) and slept through the night - although he was a little grumpy the next morning. We have now made it through 4 nights, however he whines every night and tells me how hard it is. Thursday night we talked about his train and that we could go to Hobby Town the next day and look at the trains, trying to encourage him. Then Caleb piped up, "I wanna train! Put a band aid on my fingers so I get a train at Hobby Town tomorrow!" I explained that you had to wear a band aid for 2 weeks to get a train. He insisted on a band aid. So, I put it on and again told him he would have to wear it for 2 weeks before he could get a train. He said, "I get a train tomorrow!" I told him, no, wear the band aid Thursday, Friday, Sat, Sun, Mon ...Thursday and then he could get one. He then held up his finger and asked me to take it off. <br />
I took it off and he said, "After Fri, Sun, Tues, Mon, Sat, Thursday you put it back on and then I go get a train."<br />
<br />
Hmmm, it doesn't work that way, but good thinking, buddy!Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07244889894919739177noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092444449903795236.post-68296442527588242582010-09-04T07:44:00.000-07:002010-09-04T07:44:42.259-07:00The beauty of the morning<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBvjlGb9PQfDYB-3yVlDLbJlNDEZIQ8ezi5Z6NFqD1vEPxbBZzCRhAmQ__vUIIm-1k_1AhErLxc9RpGhnKBcfh3AWJDqBHXw2Th87NccXb4YfTgZCD3aQJpYaWbYxQls2JrRRtqvb9I4g/s1600/(1009Family_130).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBvjlGb9PQfDYB-3yVlDLbJlNDEZIQ8ezi5Z6NFqD1vEPxbBZzCRhAmQ__vUIIm-1k_1AhErLxc9RpGhnKBcfh3AWJDqBHXw2Th87NccXb4YfTgZCD3aQJpYaWbYxQls2JrRRtqvb9I4g/s640/(1009Family_130).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">A chill in the air</div><div style="text-align: center;">as the trees bend and sway</div><div style="text-align: center;">Fingers of sunlight dance on the table</div><div style="text-align: center;">Warm muffins alongside the coolness</div><div style="text-align: center;">of strawberries</div><div style="text-align: center;">The Word, crisp in the air,</div><div style="text-align: center;">stories of old</div><div style="text-align: center;">teaching us, molding us</div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Feeding our souls </div><div style="text-align: center;">feeding our bodies</div><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">Comforting food with comforting words</div><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">The delightful feeling of fall</div><div style="text-align: center;">along with the dirt of summer</div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">And always,</div><div style="text-align: center;">the sillies of little boys.</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">August 7th, I was due on the 5th and quite unhappy that little mister hadn't shown up. Luckily I had convinced my midwife the day before to "help things get going" and ended up being admitted to the hospital on the 7th leaking fluid. Seeing that I was already 6cm dialated, it only took 4 hours for Caleb Adam to appear! All 7 lbs, 12 oz, 21 inches of him at 5:43 pm. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>We were excited for Carter to meet his little brother and were not disappointed. I watched the video on Caleb's birthday and cried seeing him so excited to hold "Baby Tayub". The minute we put Caleb in Carter's lap he put his head down and touched noses with him, then looked up at us with a huge grin. The relationship these two have is precious. They fight, yes, but they love each other. They play together. They even tinkle together :)!! <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Arguably more handsome than Clark Kent! Just watch out for the drool as he flies over.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4N1xwyAJ_DmpGuv3z7Raxj_kj29SuGeRmWaSS7Auy7cdFiRN-wySvxFXORWWBDaX9DNBpGmBmEimL5oViZgQaA12BWccrH8z29X7wtv2RrsCP3llyi-zTL-qclQUtAYtu4wye0ibXgiw/s1600/0710_Family454.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4N1xwyAJ_DmpGuv3z7Raxj_kj29SuGeRmWaSS7Auy7cdFiRN-wySvxFXORWWBDaX9DNBpGmBmEimL5oViZgQaA12BWccrH8z29X7wtv2RrsCP3llyi-zTL-qclQUtAYtu4wye0ibXgiw/s400/0710_Family454.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">First Christmas pajamas! Always so smiley!!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaxuyfOtuXfrVrilm5jXcKXzl5L2E6_6lgn2UE_X7R_-KVS-XT3bMTey6nWtOx1nqMH90YEppnyadUMYHrn-haIR7Z2Wy5hJO14jk7xfInlJlZzJ4hbvgEMI3clVXW60xHmw_c7DCFVjs/s1600/0712_Family202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaxuyfOtuXfrVrilm5jXcKXzl5L2E6_6lgn2UE_X7R_-KVS-XT3bMTey6nWtOx1nqMH90YEppnyadUMYHrn-haIR7Z2Wy5hJO14jk7xfInlJlZzJ4hbvgEMI3clVXW60xHmw_c7DCFVjs/s400/0712_Family202.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">6 months old</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEXr_p3c6eiTuK5nox6TuTvi3IN8cHfYCZZdZRo7v1is-IsTzGXL7XPCJWOoffRr4O53g6janeCgt6OmnP5j0oMGZoKVQRN0YyE4lU3BIxVrxh0OZVH-5lWJpTX95ka2i3FrNl0gF5Qzc/s1600/0803_CalebStudio6mo004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEXr_p3c6eiTuK5nox6TuTvi3IN8cHfYCZZdZRo7v1is-IsTzGXL7XPCJWOoffRr4O53g6janeCgt6OmnP5j0oMGZoKVQRN0YyE4lU3BIxVrxh0OZVH-5lWJpTX95ka2i3FrNl0gF5Qzc/s400/0803_CalebStudio6mo004.jpg" width="267" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">1st Birthday - loving the cake!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlkarnAnp-YEPTY922Z6d5hZTfBBfIMF_lJ52uZaJCJiOxbvmhRwloZD6HzGKWUvjlCn1OJIBH2TJzoPa2e_md6m1p4agovbLduXmxUprXlWtWsWeLF0wQzQwXsebBmvU3vZadKhvxHiE/s1600/(0808Family_060).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlkarnAnp-YEPTY922Z6d5hZTfBBfIMF_lJ52uZaJCJiOxbvmhRwloZD6HzGKWUvjlCn1OJIBH2TJzoPa2e_md6m1p4agovbLduXmxUprXlWtWsWeLF0wQzQwXsebBmvU3vZadKhvxHiE/s400/(0808Family_060).jpg" width="267" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">BEST COSTUME EVER!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw2_lfSOXTsRjFKQIODSDc7q1dE5e_kPRLXjBsrJd9J6DyzbyMf2emIenOvmdxKPQYutNzlLgjJWHEIk4_7FuINBLD0h4z5c-bs7XXccqhyphenhyphenhzgwUrZ0_NceaTio5w7aCGspXgW5QZRook/s1600/(0810Family_1402).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw2_lfSOXTsRjFKQIODSDc7q1dE5e_kPRLXjBsrJd9J6DyzbyMf2emIenOvmdxKPQYutNzlLgjJWHEIk4_7FuINBLD0h4z5c-bs7XXccqhyphenhyphenhzgwUrZ0_NceaTio5w7aCGspXgW5QZRook/s640/(0810Family_1402).jpg" width="428" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Dear Caleb,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You are three now, no longer a baby, but becoming a big boy. You keep us laughing with your antics and silly faces. Your sense of humor is beyond your years. Just the other day I was telling Grandma a story and wondering why she was suppressing laughter. I turn to see you imitating every hand gesture and facial expression I was making - all with a completely straight face. I had to laugh. You make "The Caleb", the expression when you ask a question, wrinkling up your forehead and tilting your head to the side. It makes us laugh. I try and talk to you about things you have done wrong and you start crossing your eyes. I go to "discipline" you and you say, "But I wuv you Mommy! I wuv you!" When I go get you in the morning you say, "I was vewee, vewee quiet, Mommy!" My little Elmer Fudd. You love playing trains with Carter and also love your airplanes. You love reading books and still love watching Little Bear. Your "Ka" (blanket) is still very much needed at naptime and bedtime, especially the tag on "Ka". This past year you decided to use the potty, thankfully earlier than your brother did, and don't even need a diaper at night! You are my "fruit boy" choosing blueberries or grapes, even prunes over many other foods. While we are having issues with being silly at the table and not finishing your dinner, normally you are a great eater. You currently love singing "Awesome God" with Carter and are very proud to get to go to the "big boy" Sunday School class with Carter now. You give kisses liberally and often tell me I look handsome. You say, "Tank you for dis good dinner, Mommy" even if it is just bowl of cereal at breakfast. You cuddle, love babies and jump on the bed. You want your way and obey only when I get up to discipline you. You are crazy, fun and so stinking cute ( I totally should have gotten you into modeling - I know I'm biased). I fear we have rebellious years ahead of us just because you really like to be contrary. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Right now, you are my Caleb Poo and I love you to pieces! Happy 3rd Birthday!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Love, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Mommy</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWUaVJnFAxt-gF_oshN9IcQvfnocY-RB4YRixRh6Euq3w92sQ4xkqWnMKqX0hRdG_shqVhvgGo5fnaA69u0j_JyWTwFIWTihLH-43jAbAjJMCYEr9Xp_CcdVbD4cU0j472JVW9pXJv47o/s1600/(1003Family_349).jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWUaVJnFAxt-gF_oshN9IcQvfnocY-RB4YRixRh6Euq3w92sQ4xkqWnMKqX0hRdG_shqVhvgGo5fnaA69u0j_JyWTwFIWTihLH-43jAbAjJMCYEr9Xp_CcdVbD4cU0j472JVW9pXJv47o/s320/(1003Family_349).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgzz5LQHkiu4-Ijk-PYaEoRvXkdRscZ3v76jcOVUln0AMnLrnd_SOT_355nGXejhTDGLoEC1sY7uXdSzYZvH2BqMF0viS2AqP0cCQJc6V5f03WnAM490wQjuHTbXFHZS_LJp-TAnuhwG0/s1600/(1008Family_088).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgzz5LQHkiu4-Ijk-PYaEoRvXkdRscZ3v76jcOVUln0AMnLrnd_SOT_355nGXejhTDGLoEC1sY7uXdSzYZvH2BqMF0viS2AqP0cCQJc6V5f03WnAM490wQjuHTbXFHZS_LJp-TAnuhwG0/s320/(1008Family_088).jpg" width="267" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtl08lOcurb7io6_zkrONDLHakJ0QYuUvcJtR3ruhx-aKRLiWc69tymtOR2ujHP5Q4AqDELGwozoI3wm0HY3v3aVQULJD5gliRvVoo7jkiXWmNY962962tRi52NyqBvx8-umGKmTjySac/s1600/(1008Family_068).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtl08lOcurb7io6_zkrONDLHakJ0QYuUvcJtR3ruhx-aKRLiWc69tymtOR2ujHP5Q4AqDELGwozoI3wm0HY3v3aVQULJD5gliRvVoo7jkiXWmNY962962tRi52NyqBvx8-umGKmTjySac/s320/(1008Family_068).jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07244889894919739177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092444449903795236.post-39414598765582972922010-08-18T19:24:00.000-07:002010-08-18T19:24:05.254-07:00A prophetic messageEveryone may not agree with this video or me. But this is my blog and I want to post this. If you don't agree, you don't have to watch it.<br />
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<object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/7wusgcG4rfo?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/7wusgcG4rfo?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07244889894919739177noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092444449903795236.post-75762522095550390932010-08-14T19:40:00.000-07:002010-08-14T19:40:25.539-07:00Term 1 PlaylistI made a playlist on Grooveshark of Ambleside's Term 1 selections for hymn, folksong (love Burl Ives' voice - reminds me of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer) and composer (Beethoven).<br />
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You are welcome to listen. I try and have this playing in the background during the day. The Beethoven selections are quite long so it's nice to just play and leave it.<br />
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<a href="http://listen.grooveshark.com/#/playlist/10+11+Term+1/32503147">10-11 Term 1</a>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07244889894919739177noreply@blogger.com0