tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-330847672024-02-19T02:10:36.071-08:00then all this became historyRachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16244475172254514356noreply@blogger.comBlogger161125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33084767.post-84222060466028924552013-07-16T22:33:00.002-07:002013-07-17T07:47:25.314-07:00The Week the Grown-ups Stopped Being Boring and Nobody Did Any Chores.<div style="text-align: justify;">
One of the kids asked earlier this week, why grown-ups are so boring, why don't they just goof off and have fun all the time like kids do? The next day I found myself urging, admonishing, everything short of threatening them to get their few and simple chores done before we could go out and have some fun. And the lightbulb went on: Maybe <i>that's</i> why! Maybe I spend way too much time on the chores. Maybe we should just stop doing them altogether. What would happen if nobody had to do any chores they didn't want to for a week?</div>
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The kids were game, so we set up some simple rules: <br />
1) Nobody has to do any chores they don't want to do, including Mom and Dad. <br />
2) It's a "No Chores" week, not a "No Rules" week, we still have to be safe and kind and go to bed on time. <br />
3) We cannot inconvenience others outside our family with our little experiment; i.e. we can't skip scheduled lessons just because getting ready and driving there is a chore, because that wouldn't be fair to our teachers.</div>
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And then, we stopped doing chores.</div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Day 1</span></b><br />
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Please keep in mind, none of these spaces was pristine when we started, we do live here after all. And what did we do for fun? Watched TV. All day. We'd already planned to have dinner at Grandma's so the dishes weren't much of an issue today. And I'd just finished washing a whole bunch of laundry when we began, so everyone still has clean underwear!</div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Day 2</span></b><br />
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A horse-riding lesson and a play date in the city took us away from home for most of the day. But packing snacks and in-car entertainment was too much of a chore so we went without. One of the kids said to my friend, "I like it when I don't have to do chores, but I don't like it when Mom doesn't have to do chores." </div>
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For dinner, the kids worried until they remembered they know how to use the can opener and microwave, and made a simple version of bean dip. And then they discovered we didn't have any corn chips. They recovered quickly and just ate it with spoons. Nice save, kids. Nice save.</div>
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We have had plans for a family camping trip in my in-laws' backyard for a while, and everyone was left to their own devices to pack what they needed. I went as far as to write a list on our blackboard pantry door, and I confess I did cheat a little bit and remind the 6-year-old to pack clean underwear (because we'll be gone for 3 days, and every mama has her limits). </div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Days 3, 4, and 5</span></b></div>
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These days were truly FUN days. Mostly. We had to modify the "rules" of our game since we were going to be spending so much time 1) away from home and 2) at someone else's house. We had promised to bring certain things to share for meals with the rest of our extended clan, so Robert went grocery shopping the night before we left. And we did have to actually help prepare those meals, and clean up after ourselves in Grandma's kitchen. But the kids made their own sandwiches at lunchtimes and washed their own mess kits without much complaint. </div>
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We all learned the lesson that when nobody <i>has to</i> do chores, it usually means that everyone ends up having to do more, at least for themselves. </div>
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The kids had decided they wanted to have their own tent this time, and since we were just in Grandma and Grandpa's backyard, I was happy to oblige. As long as I didn't have to set it up, of course. All of us were pleasantly surprised that they actually managed to do it! They worked together with very little coaching from us (they only asked for help when they got to the rainfly) and did a great job. Calvin exclaimed "I never knew how easy it could be!"</div>
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Taking the tent down was a different story entirely. It was definitely a chore. A miserable chore. They fussed and whined and growled and spoke harsh words at each other. I was convinced they wouldn't get it done at all. Finally we did intervene, and had a talk with them about how we know it's frustrating, we know it's hard, and how even if they did get the tent all rolled up neatly in its sack, if they couldn't be kind to one another and work together they would not have succeeded in their task. And after that, even though it was still hard and frustrating, they actually made much more progress much more quickly, and eventually the entire tent made it fairly neatly into the sack. Sadly, I didn't get a photo. We were all ready to be as far away from that tent as possible as quickly as we could.</div>
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In the meantime, we went to the Marine Science Center in Poulsbo and got to see an octopus that had been hiding for the last 2 weeks, even the staff was so excited they let us stay after closing time to watch it. </div>
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We went geocaching with cousins, and when that didn't go <i>quite</i> as planned, Robert made a special treasure hunt for the kids. </div>
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And right when we were ready to head for home, we lingered for a little while longer to play a kid-version of baseball with the uncles.</div>
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On the way home, we had a long discussion about what makes something a chore: whether it's intrinsically a chore, or becomes one through our attitudes. We talked about how many unpleasant tasks can be really quite fun when we all pitch in together with willing hands and cheerful hearts. How a little gratitude can go a long, long way. It got a little heartbreaking when one of the kids realized that Mom still wasn't going to be making dinner when we got home. Reality is a hard, hard thing when you're exhausted from playing with cousins all day and staying up way too late for two nights in a row. We talked about ending our experiment early.</div>
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We only unpacked what was absolutely necessary.</div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Day 6</span></b></div>
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The Day of Rest. </div>
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I had early morning meetings at church, so didn't get to experience the morning getting-ready-ness. We are late to church more often than not, so you can imagine my surprise when Robert and the kids walked in 20 minutes early! He said later that he just gave them a we're-leaving-ready-or-not time and let them get themselves ready. And it worked! Miracles really do happen.</div>
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A friend at church peeked into my classroom to ask if I'd cleaned my house yet.</div>
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After church, rather than getting busy with distractions, we took naps. We sat in the sun. It was really lovely.</div>
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While out in the yard, some guys drove up in a van and asked us if we were giving away the stuff on our sidewalk. No, it was just some lemonade dishes my daughter hadn't yet put away. It was a perfect teaching opportunity.</div>
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We had a talk about whether we wanted to end our experiment a day early. The kids seem to go back and forth, depending on what's facing them right at the moment. Eventually, they decided that it wasn't worth having to do chores again. </div>
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Still, one (but not both) <span style="text-align: center;">of the kids continues to wish I would just make dinner (stating quite passionately: "I don't like this Fun Week!"). And I realized: Even though I haven't gone shopping for almost a week, and we have (with the exception of our camping trip) been eating mostly canned food and crackers, there is still plenty. There is still food that my small children can procure for themselves. There are millions of children all over the world who only dream of such things. We are abundantly blessed, indeed.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Day 7</span></b><br />
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The Last Day.</div>
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At the end of the day, we all sat around and had a nice, long chat about our week. We asked the kids what they liked and didn't like about a week where nobody did their chores. We discussed everything from how mold grows, to the impact of taking care of our surroundings and our things, on ourselves, on those around us, and on the global environment. We believe that our house is akin to a temple; we talked about spirituality in the context of our week-long mess. </div>
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This week was supposed to help my kids learn the value of the work we ask them to do in our home, but I learned a few things, too.</div>
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* I learned that my kids are far more capable than I sometimes give them credit for.</div>
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* I learned that even though a Really Big! mess makes me anxious, it's not the end of the world; that letting go can be a very good thing.</div>
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* I learned how important family time around the dinner table really is to me.</div>
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* I learned where my husband's mess-tolerance threshold is! (It's usually slightly higher than mine, so I don't get to see it often.)</div>
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* We all learned the value of contributing to something; something as simple as being a part of a household, a family. That every-man-for-himself really stinks.</div>
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We ended our conversation by asking the kids to highlight on a list of chores, the ones they would be willing to do. It won't mean they never have to do any others, but their input will hopefully help us shape some new habits around here.</div>
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Our experiment doesn't officially end until the entire house is clean. Which is what we will be doing tomorrow.</div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It's Over!</span></b><br />
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Some Before:<br />
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This took us 8 hours. </div>
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We went top to bottom, with the most important rooms first - beginning with the kids' bed- and play-rooms, and ending in the living room. (By the way, you might have noticed that I didn't photograph my bedroom or the bathrooms: my room pretty much stayed the same the whole week because I personally can't stand it ever getting too messy; and the bathrooms ... well, I figured you can picture your own bathroom grossness.) </div>
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We filled and emptied our little recycling bucket 2 or 3 times; we threw out or donated a whole lot of toys, and rearranged the play room to better suit ... well ... playing. </div>
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We had laundry and dishes going all day long (at this end-of-day posting, the laundry is still not done). </div>
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And after all that hard, hard work, I cooked ... haha, no way! We went to Taco Time.</div>
<br />Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16244475172254514356noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33084767.post-47574274513269089182013-07-10T17:59:00.002-07:002013-07-10T17:59:25.257-07:00Highlights<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I know I always say this, but wow it's been a while! Before I jump into our recent happenings, here are a few highlights from the last almost-year:</div>
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For her 7th birthday, Charlotte asked all her friends to bring clothes for our local clothing bank, instead of any gifts. It was completely her idea.<br />
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She also lost her first tooth!</div>
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I got asked to be our ward's YW Camp Director - the first time I'd been to camp since I was about 15. Oh goodness, things are a lot different when you're the one in charge! I absolutely adore these girls, can I just say? I love serving with them.<br />
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Calvin started Kindergarten, making my days a whole lot quieter.<br />
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For Halloween, they were Spaceman Spiff and a fox. I had so much fun figuring out and making these costumes!<br />
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We started a new night-before-Thanksgiving tradition: we watch the Charlie Brown Thanksgiving special and then we eat dinner the way Snoopy made it!</div>
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The annual family Christmas photo was an adventure in itself.<br />
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Last fall Charlotte caught a HUGE caterpillar in a jar, and it started making a cocoon before we could set it free. On the first day of spring, it emerged: a giant, beautiful polyphemus moth. (We set him free soon after.)</div>
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For Calvin's 6th birthday we went to see Caspar Babypants play some of his songs with members of the Seattle Symphony. We went with friends (these are two of Calvin's very best), then we all went out for lunch and cupcakes.</div>
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And Charlotte helped me with my BIG summer project, demolishing the old rotting deck and building a cement patio in its place. It's still under construction.</div>
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And that's where we're at!</div>
<br />Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16244475172254514356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33084767.post-3945155328694314852012-10-13T11:58:00.000-07:002012-10-13T11:58:20.410-07:00Winter and SpringHere are some more photos of our doings last year, from November to April:<br />
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<b>Thanksgiving Tables:</b></div>
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<b>Around the House:</b></div>
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<b>Projects!</b></div>
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<b>Easter:</b></div>
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<b>More Projects!</b></div>
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<b>A Strange New Bird in the Garden:</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b>Calvin Turns 5!</b></div>
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<b>Our Hallway Art Gallery (old maps edition):</b></div>
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<b>Charlotte's New Quilt (made from her baby clothes):</b></div>
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<br />Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16244475172254514356noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33084767.post-30406820139356075672012-10-11T20:44:00.000-07:002012-10-11T20:44:16.500-07:00A Year Ago in PicturesBecause I am exactly a year behind in blogging, here's what we were doing this time last year!<br />
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<b>End of Summer Garden:</b></div>
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<b>First day of School:</b></div>
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<b>Family Trip to Booth's Cabin on Whidbey Island:</b></div>
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<b>Camping with Friends at Alder Lake:</b></div>
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<b>Puyallup Fair (Calvin's First Time on Rides!):</b></div>
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<b>And Halloween!</b></div>
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<br />Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16244475172254514356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33084767.post-86398721407309470252012-02-18T09:21:00.002-08:002012-02-20T21:55:17.120-08:00Family, Reunite!<div style="text-align: justify;">Okay, here's my first flashback to Summer 2011, photos from the family reunion!<br /><br />One major highlight was a 2-hour horseback ride up this mountain and then back down. This was Charlotte's big thrill - Calvin stayed behind and played with cousins, as horses are not really his thing (and I think you had to be at least 6 years old). At first I worried, because somehow Charlotte ended up about five horses ahead of Robert and I and I thought she'd be nervous without us. Haha! Who was I kidding? Every time we got to a climb and she was a little higher than us, I could hear her merrily chatting away with the trail guide ahead of her like she'd been riding a horse all her life.<br /></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDBQphqnN_RNQ0x7Y0ddo8GJvdczQd2Ve5E2u5CI972h_QzpLnWGQSXZbm7zszmeCIkU0VkR030QtUc0xQBlKlBk6iq1Lz1rN0utg1wXnrTU3UJTKLLS5G9unIM2v1NL9V8JZO/s1600/IMG_4750.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDBQphqnN_RNQ0x7Y0ddo8GJvdczQd2Ve5E2u5CI972h_QzpLnWGQSXZbm7zszmeCIkU0VkR030QtUc0xQBlKlBk6iq1Lz1rN0utg1wXnrTU3UJTKLLS5G9unIM2v1NL9V8JZO/s320/IMG_4750.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710532644832498418" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVfFfGeDAdu5IdPtVU8UPjcvxtdF8Gp7rSBdlAEIU0skO5xyf_AReKdMHcCJmx1ajmyaHjDmZg3ezZjwQemuQgSrFwiSI4Lqc4e1hHCzp26p8uSPOc290wZgpvLYroRj-dk3jd/s1600/IMG_4746.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVfFfGeDAdu5IdPtVU8UPjcvxtdF8Gp7rSBdlAEIU0skO5xyf_AReKdMHcCJmx1ajmyaHjDmZg3ezZjwQemuQgSrFwiSI4Lqc4e1hHCzp26p8uSPOc290wZgpvLYroRj-dk3jd/s320/IMG_4746.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710532637591582690" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbeqLtVxvMHkT5cCm1EWio20_3G5ZFq1UnGuHcrzTGbkGDGO5ntOdGElF3SvCuXywBDDQNUlT_KHR94BEJjYrNes2fmCjg-9v6RrSitSaPosQZihKAr6_7XvJCQZS5HLMMPw-K/s1600/IMG_4710.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbeqLtVxvMHkT5cCm1EWio20_3G5ZFq1UnGuHcrzTGbkGDGO5ntOdGElF3SvCuXywBDDQNUlT_KHR94BEJjYrNes2fmCjg-9v6RrSitSaPosQZihKAr6_7XvJCQZS5HLMMPw-K/s320/IMG_4710.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710531633335475986" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfGPo1fmmtFLJTGCtOF7IhpV8QCKtat7AMRMOVsy1ymEj2aQkkBNkK3AHlGDcSLHp1yOkeU00l7JyoMI3x76sq64Jfs1F7NtBFex_wLxfWapqVUej94IrkEVQIe5WX99B70GlD/s1600/IMG_4735.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfGPo1fmmtFLJTGCtOF7IhpV8QCKtat7AMRMOVsy1ymEj2aQkkBNkK3AHlGDcSLHp1yOkeU00l7JyoMI3x76sq64Jfs1F7NtBFex_wLxfWapqVUej94IrkEVQIe5WX99B70GlD/s320/IMG_4735.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710532629926272978" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2923S7onJcR63VJTdFdp8D1ftK7-XiZPRhbqWAfJc_bASNqWBiqdsLda0HvWIqM9eI4uQIUm01BL4w7Mfr2eMNLenTUW_ZZtgfcBcMx9jO_XDzSRUxcYQ8a9effp4NnusKX67/s1600/IMG_4754.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2923S7onJcR63VJTdFdp8D1ftK7-XiZPRhbqWAfJc_bASNqWBiqdsLda0HvWIqM9eI4uQIUm01BL4w7Mfr2eMNLenTUW_ZZtgfcBcMx9jO_XDzSRUxcYQ8a9effp4NnusKX67/s320/IMG_4754.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710532652892852290" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">We also got to spend an hour or two at this awesome little museum ... they had skulls and skins and specimens of just about every kind of animal you might see in the Idaho wilderness. It. Was. So. Cool.<br /></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx4hgfcFkMNYSxf4IpEWiNKpHbUSZjBHuOXjeRbNr8M7hK6it4HIHG7L7cjn-yyDYKUjNT2yvEpESKp6QuYCZ4a646shscnWkxhs0PeHDioIWVBi3yqtV5_8wPRQWNwUNzPu7B/s1600/IMG_2809.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx4hgfcFkMNYSxf4IpEWiNKpHbUSZjBHuOXjeRbNr8M7hK6it4HIHG7L7cjn-yyDYKUjNT2yvEpESKp6QuYCZ4a646shscnWkxhs0PeHDioIWVBi3yqtV5_8wPRQWNwUNzPu7B/s320/IMG_2809.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710531621618924354" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkXRA7ClFjfHYqsw7rOJ7p7yru9OKG7q7l5OizH54HVTeUGQ_t_VkWJ-dWuBvShrdpSrX0ENYJ_hLeq16K4YDAAGF3oEOpgyINhP0fOxonn7fVRyQEkv9o2H0AapqR4qeyYmdG/s1600/IMG_2798.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkXRA7ClFjfHYqsw7rOJ7p7yru9OKG7q7l5OizH54HVTeUGQ_t_VkWJ-dWuBvShrdpSrX0ENYJ_hLeq16K4YDAAGF3oEOpgyINhP0fOxonn7fVRyQEkv9o2H0AapqR4qeyYmdG/s320/IMG_2798.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710531614400972018" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />We also hiked to these gorgeous water falls and took millions of photos there.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ZJNKy9KB7reC-_C987zMERHB08RjlYKiBkXWY_1Tx12MRHqMWlKiuamsvr21TeYniGRi22zPpOO6tNwrknhsAexm_WH2JbuYXzexTvzR-D1QVOXyj3urG7bNQw9FCZ5U7mh5/s1600/IMG_2746.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ZJNKy9KB7reC-_C987zMERHB08RjlYKiBkXWY_1Tx12MRHqMWlKiuamsvr21TeYniGRi22zPpOO6tNwrknhsAexm_WH2JbuYXzexTvzR-D1QVOXyj3urG7bNQw9FCZ5U7mh5/s320/IMG_2746.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710531598755333234" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcj_qzFYU1bSXzJjZWgo3ljyvs8ZlLpO-5HGOFn0GpsmJvUIXujORDcorqTsWW3ULkXQdfjlMZTu427J-kZDdiEUkj8fLQtZJ1G4NQE8ncPZTI4SDmh9E-108CdoQ40Uc5Yy3F/s1600/IMG_2767.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcj_qzFYU1bSXzJjZWgo3ljyvs8ZlLpO-5HGOFn0GpsmJvUIXujORDcorqTsWW3ULkXQdfjlMZTu427J-kZDdiEUkj8fLQtZJ1G4NQE8ncPZTI4SDmh9E-108CdoQ40Uc5Yy3F/s320/IMG_2767.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710531604293064722" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Ron and Kathy - Robert's parents</span><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd0nbEjz0Y7FGh2meSWWWMgf-dQCRWEfngehhqUPFbAF0RQ2cwENudICpj6rpHuMAEd1Qvy-7DXBLYlVjEtQoCLCjiho1eBxvnwDZ047bEP2jOSl__SZK4mVSNkfaVWqFMhdHj/s1600/IMG_2730.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd0nbEjz0Y7FGh2meSWWWMgf-dQCRWEfngehhqUPFbAF0RQ2cwENudICpj6rpHuMAEd1Qvy-7DXBLYlVjEtQoCLCjiho1eBxvnwDZ047bEP2jOSl__SZK4mVSNkfaVWqFMhdHj/s320/IMG_2730.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710530435357661410" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Kathy and Kristine</span><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqHJ4LPUdG_drCqZuRcKz93HTp8-BQIKwPMUfyp0j9IRBvjofjVaMj-A0c7Bi_lprPvBLXNwrLS8fpNCNV6ap-j6L2E5owFL8JTIAA3GGu6zNrXeZfnkNciUgbdEmTHDxbNkMV/s1600/IMG_2724.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqHJ4LPUdG_drCqZuRcKz93HTp8-BQIKwPMUfyp0j9IRBvjofjVaMj-A0c7Bi_lprPvBLXNwrLS8fpNCNV6ap-j6L2E5owFL8JTIAA3GGu6zNrXeZfnkNciUgbdEmTHDxbNkMV/s320/IMG_2724.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710530428777723058" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Us! <br />(No, we did not have another baby, Robert's carrying our baby niece Anna.)</span><br /></div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdYewDHYZJmHPojTlqjatggJeHccJKq1GhF7EyyJtm2OiPjCtnLiPe6a89G5EOi9vsBZzJu0ESNwYcc8qGg5LL2MBXmO1VzlW7khdEVM1CHKj6ZCqtkVZSN6hF3sBVbHP4zFKv/s1600/IMG_2740.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdYewDHYZJmHPojTlqjatggJeHccJKq1GhF7EyyJtm2OiPjCtnLiPe6a89G5EOi9vsBZzJu0ESNwYcc8qGg5LL2MBXmO1VzlW7khdEVM1CHKj6ZCqtkVZSN6hF3sBVbHP4zFKv/s320/IMG_2740.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710530459540264194" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjuH5M0cIOM6nBqJfN0rPeOwFs6u4b8YdB2gzqDUteTlbcdhePaFKdlbSr4XBT2amAIEQUzhg25Sqx1YWp__nwJPP_gqrtSoOaJvnZsDLyzx0Gs33WebY6W8OaO4KT0reztUU3/s1600/IMG_2738.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjuH5M0cIOM6nBqJfN0rPeOwFs6u4b8YdB2gzqDUteTlbcdhePaFKdlbSr4XBT2amAIEQUzhg25Sqx1YWp__nwJPP_gqrtSoOaJvnZsDLyzx0Gs33WebY6W8OaO4KT0reztUU3/s320/IMG_2738.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710530448917230386" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Tired kids.</span><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk8Nk48lO4AgAAPdc24xgYWR0VKmXUXrS6XjlypptahXUR5sYD82E17bVPkhxHMj-dwyMFwmssT4Sb5oZFdSUlElknDvHl5q5b9rCSlfggi4m7Dy4V7lyGfBWp49ngqJROfDDG/s1600/IMG_2742.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk8Nk48lO4AgAAPdc24xgYWR0VKmXUXrS6XjlypptahXUR5sYD82E17bVPkhxHMj-dwyMFwmssT4Sb5oZFdSUlElknDvHl5q5b9rCSlfggi4m7Dy4V7lyGfBWp49ngqJROfDDG/s320/IMG_2742.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710530467367748034" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Haha, just kidding!</span><br /></div><br /><br />There were giant marshmallows ...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGLSbrYXFrcoF0-gXKFAFjTo49QD9rZrSYFmr4n-Tg4dw3OGIYLvKw3Va4Pjxijslli66VJRdIoC03n6hL-GCP_rJW1hlTwDOOeb30zRKYtHngXW6LcxzFPT2sOcn15mSkFZ-q/s1600/IMG_2685.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGLSbrYXFrcoF0-gXKFAFjTo49QD9rZrSYFmr4n-Tg4dw3OGIYLvKw3Va4Pjxijslli66VJRdIoC03n6hL-GCP_rJW1hlTwDOOeb30zRKYtHngXW6LcxzFPT2sOcn15mSkFZ-q/s320/IMG_2685.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710529162630521986" border="0" /></a><br />And unsure about the fire ...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhzs1qezSg_dcF9Avb4D0qEO0bJw_QkMB1vgM8DOAV7UxATwELWq0PfWvBMGemxJP6nU02Ks95hY-FB354rLzP3vJ3BUPfT8mK6nch4Pq87iBk_2hKXgWr2u2Fvzq9gK5WZ1Y5/s1600/IMG_2701.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhzs1qezSg_dcF9Avb4D0qEO0bJw_QkMB1vgM8DOAV7UxATwELWq0PfWvBMGemxJP6nU02Ks95hY-FB354rLzP3vJ3BUPfT8mK6nch4Pq87iBk_2hKXgWr2u2Fvzq9gK5WZ1Y5/s320/IMG_2701.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710529203383164354" border="0" /></a><br />... he'd rather just play with a stick!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7PgdSMAvX3aSSx0NkwnPoNa8Udh4E1iuvP8Lr4VNIJZELGErVZu3YuLu_JjMSvwm_oaeHSD95-c3zLRVN-3BXNW3e6gYEfYw_imyTg5nwIJw-dBCcDuRVdAypJNGw4sUsHN_g/s1600/IMG_2691.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7PgdSMAvX3aSSx0NkwnPoNa8Udh4E1iuvP8Lr4VNIJZELGErVZu3YuLu_JjMSvwm_oaeHSD95-c3zLRVN-3BXNW3e6gYEfYw_imyTg5nwIJw-dBCcDuRVdAypJNGw4sUsHN_g/s320/IMG_2691.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710529194528148594" border="0" /></a><br />Or learn to play checkers!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDldCwicpmZoLAxqK1kfVY01wava2jiZzPVvmAWK50_kJBJHxNquTQKO7LhIWf0eIwr85l3YiNjVbmcd1HfYV_Oha61Zdvtbg5tFgDjeTjLFJR9nB1-lfbqKeYrIjSqCmyBkY8/s1600/IMG_2677.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDldCwicpmZoLAxqK1kfVY01wava2jiZzPVvmAWK50_kJBJHxNquTQKO7LhIWf0eIwr85l3YiNjVbmcd1HfYV_Oha61Zdvtbg5tFgDjeTjLFJR9nB1-lfbqKeYrIjSqCmyBkY8/s320/IMG_2677.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710529148705445170" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Of course, there was also the whole re-uniting with family thing going on!<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX1zhrln5rgVIrJIm8NElwcbkE5Z6DynRglNPH4oYUOPuOfbc60-BAbJxT8GA2rP4Qi75P5_NQchyiZ4g34QSAwr0FzkQgwMvl1yFzYG-gzPY2u611XJmUbiR7wmwRAc1Osq4V/s1600/IMG_2666.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX1zhrln5rgVIrJIm8NElwcbkE5Z6DynRglNPH4oYUOPuOfbc60-BAbJxT8GA2rP4Qi75P5_NQchyiZ4g34QSAwr0FzkQgwMvl1yFzYG-gzPY2u611XJmUbiR7wmwRAc1Osq4V/s320/IMG_2666.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710527982701290626" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Robert had some quality time with his Uncle Ed.<br /></span></div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZLd7vtY2CpHUBnXzL5JLEpuuNS96H3VbUjhuNZDGeKK9DKW9-vFL22AIIaAnEa8c_7joECGd-ai-YKeUvjLlgIqqOoHNy7sBrbCZyVUycFOHBX_i8G5bEQ47GF29Bvep-jjvo/s1600/IMG_2663.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZLd7vtY2CpHUBnXzL5JLEpuuNS96H3VbUjhuNZDGeKK9DKW9-vFL22AIIaAnEa8c_7joECGd-ai-YKeUvjLlgIqqOoHNy7sBrbCZyVUycFOHBX_i8G5bEQ47GF29Bvep-jjvo/s320/IMG_2663.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710527968563055426" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNE1SdRSLZvP55X6wj46t7-n577xGMqBgICAzfzUBnk5xA1ff1buYkukNP62VF5hrLaYIuC1sDhyM4f_Z7_vOkhbGqHYgTBC5SU2f99TbL3kQQs_QQGPIqnVdheGfSardx8R66/s1600/IMG_2659.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNE1SdRSLZvP55X6wj46t7-n577xGMqBgICAzfzUBnk5xA1ff1buYkukNP62VF5hrLaYIuC1sDhyM4f_Z7_vOkhbGqHYgTBC5SU2f99TbL3kQQs_QQGPIqnVdheGfSardx8R66/s320/IMG_2659.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710527960838662178" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7qh65HK648OPI8-iCiHX5HosNoP_NcbCCUxaaPal-H0q5pBt-h4PNstWwnpe2lVMQPSyc3j5HV7nchNIYg1JauEyp6GYB9np7po3WNOWrvmNB6am6VsSGpmreMakFmOuJIkiT/s1600/IMG_2647.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7qh65HK648OPI8-iCiHX5HosNoP_NcbCCUxaaPal-H0q5pBt-h4PNstWwnpe2lVMQPSyc3j5HV7nchNIYg1JauEyp6GYB9np7po3WNOWrvmNB6am6VsSGpmreMakFmOuJIkiT/s320/IMG_2647.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710527954633687522" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHEeGa7JmZ2KT6pB43s7iJGg4VkhpoF6CLx0dVUitKbB_ZvchmooxvXdUegt2omEH121KFPu0OHzfw0awzRoaVfVSglISwlQNVSYGMLuYFXluuIa__Vy98qOOZoBoYlTvaXYTM/s1600/IMG_2669.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHEeGa7JmZ2KT6pB43s7iJGg4VkhpoF6CLx0dVUitKbB_ZvchmooxvXdUegt2omEH121KFPu0OHzfw0awzRoaVfVSglISwlQNVSYGMLuYFXluuIa__Vy98qOOZoBoYlTvaXYTM/s320/IMG_2669.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710527989152529970" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;">And gaming ... lots and lots of gaming. :)</span><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS0ftAoq6MKyZpmXT1myartTGlYXdYYFfPnUx2eChhU4seNQ5I4rfVBhoqJjzXDCcEXvsJWL3Xl7j8cowPCKL57vincWZ7V5QG7gweP2Bw93L38dNzuT9lnmLJSekA5altc9Hr/s1600/IMG_2682.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS0ftAoq6MKyZpmXT1myartTGlYXdYYFfPnUx2eChhU4seNQ5I4rfVBhoqJjzXDCcEXvsJWL3Xl7j8cowPCKL57vincWZ7V5QG7gweP2Bw93L38dNzuT9lnmLJSekA5altc9Hr/s320/IMG_2682.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710529154468654018" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Everybody, everybody!<br /></span></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16244475172254514356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33084767.post-32102124582931563782012-02-17T15:02:00.000-08:002012-02-17T15:53:52.780-08:00Home Making<div style="text-align: justify;">Last Sunday I taught my Beehives a lesson about homemaking. At first I didn't know what I was going to teach them that would be meaningful for their age (12- to 13-year-olds). Eventually, we distinguished homemaking from housekeeping, and then talked a lot about President Monson's <a href="http://www.lds.org/ensign/1988/11/hallmarks-of-a-happy-home?lang=eng&query=hallmarks+%28name%3a%22Thomas+S.+Monson%22%29">Hallmarks of a Happy Home</a>. I don't know about the girls for sure, but it gave me a lot to think about. It really struck me that our homes really should be patterned after the temple, that they really are that sacred. Of course I revisited the verse in D&C 88:119-120:<br /></div><br style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic;">Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic;">, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God;</span></div><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic; text-align: center;" class=""><a class="bookmark-anchor dontHighlight" name="120"> </a><span class="verse"></span>That your incomings <span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span>may be in the name of the Lord; that your outgoings may be in the name of the Lord; that all your salutations may be in the name of the Lord, with uplifted hands unto the Most High.</p><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">These verses are about building a temple, but it makes sense that if our homes should be like the temple, we can use these verses as a pattern, as well. I've always had a hard time with that "house of order" part, though, because sometimes my house is, well, disorderly. And then it occurred to me that in the scriptures "order" really doesn't ever mean "keeping things neat and tidy all the time just in case someone stops by" - it almost always means "putting the most important things first". And it made me feel better.<br /><br />Anyway, we talked a lot about what the girls can do <span style="font-style: italic;">right now</span> to help <span style="font-style: italic;">make</span> their <span style="font-style: italic;">homes</span>. And I brought along a photo I have of my bedroom when I was about their age. The other leader mentioned that she wished she'd done that - taken photos of her old bedroom. It made me think about how glad I am that I took that photo. It's fun to remember just how it was. And so I decided I'd take some photos of our house - just the house, the spaces we live in right now. And maybe someday later we'll be glad we have them.<br /><br />I took photos of my bedroom first, since it was my bedroom that made me think of it. It was then, and still is, the most important room in the house to me. Whenever I'm cleaning the house top-to-bottom, it's the first room that gets my attention.<br /></div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS6cfahCeRAV2a-zjS7JWerYKpGpc25c7fp2cdM2BzkWA_CXCxVwjqDjfV1-yK10CS2WTcsaZj31vsFXT0h0iLEWihyphenhyphenuJvoK7Ai8Eux2j8Je_gzoKBiFojLVQ-gVWUbkRWCdOg/s1600/IMG_3619.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS6cfahCeRAV2a-zjS7JWerYKpGpc25c7fp2cdM2BzkWA_CXCxVwjqDjfV1-yK10CS2WTcsaZj31vsFXT0h0iLEWihyphenhyphenuJvoK7Ai8Eux2j8Je_gzoKBiFojLVQ-gVWUbkRWCdOg/s320/IMG_3619.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710244917485134146" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyJX788udthPOLZrWzMibcTJjRJa6HAZf1L7eNTMDTOM-_pQV753UUIzabe4DeUq937ISc-LUf0QvxLWAWpJCu5prb2AfMGcEh2baKh0uuuwtONoJzppjfsFDl6SILC1hTyMhl/s1600/IMG_3621.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyJX788udthPOLZrWzMibcTJjRJa6HAZf1L7eNTMDTOM-_pQV753UUIzabe4DeUq937ISc-LUf0QvxLWAWpJCu5prb2AfMGcEh2baKh0uuuwtONoJzppjfsFDl6SILC1hTyMhl/s320/IMG_3621.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710244933538246274" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">And since it's closely connected, and since we spent last fall re-flooring it and painting the cabinets, here's the bathroom too:<br /></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDbGG-Cqj6gvVM63FR4z9pJEZpQZFTf2ON8BojWeKPi3JVQchCCdUGwf8WaejzlpUrN7lXyZ6L2C6Jut8ercApAsbgb6w0vIQvAYiDnJG34j0nek3kbvPjdNADf8AHcUqA_Dbe/s1600/IMG_3613.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDbGG-Cqj6gvVM63FR4z9pJEZpQZFTf2ON8BojWeKPi3JVQchCCdUGwf8WaejzlpUrN7lXyZ6L2C6Jut8ercApAsbgb6w0vIQvAYiDnJG34j0nek3kbvPjdNADf8AHcUqA_Dbe/s320/IMG_3613.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710244913613455858" border="0" /></a>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16244475172254514356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33084767.post-63514580873102764372012-02-15T11:42:00.000-08:002012-02-15T11:47:39.619-08:00Back in 2009, a few of my best friends on the planet and I started a blog together, called <a href="http://lovelypraiseworthy.blogspot.com">Praiseworthy</a>. I was just clicking through some posts over there, when I landed on the very first one I ever wrote for that blog ... we were all writing introductions, just to get started. I wanted to save this for myself, so here it is ... a little about me from way back in the 00's:<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWcY4Qb8dOUsHRbcRxFRpStsqbDVPe4nUoDjwk-OKmfnZYCJG2MTn2hCA9RqSfdf3cctNUon7t15NbmTcRR8xs89Ltbv8C3z-nODo7vgHGzFGwT85sQcECKJpCmji3burrCSADXQ/s1600/IMG_1779.JPG"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406807319745168098" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWcY4Qb8dOUsHRbcRxFRpStsqbDVPe4nUoDjwk-OKmfnZYCJG2MTn2hCA9RqSfdf3cctNUon7t15NbmTcRR8xs89Ltbv8C3z-nODo7vgHGzFGwT85sQcECKJpCmji3burrCSADXQ/s320/IMG_1779.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" border="0" /></a><br />Hi. I’m Rachel.<br />I am a wife, mother, sister, aunt, <span style="font-style: italic;">great</span>-aunt (!), and friend.<br />I am a doula.<br />I left my heart in the city when we moved to our small town, but I’m growing to love it here.<br />I have two small children, two large cats, four backyard chickens, and <span style="font-style: italic;">just the best</span> husband.<br />I love to cook, but I hate the monotony of making dinner. every. day.<br />I am a Scorpio, but I don’t really act like one.<br />When it comes to creative spaces, I do love a fabulous mess. Sometimes our entire house becomes a creative space.<br /><br />I recently read: “Each person who ever was or is or will be has a song. It isn’t a song that anybody else wrote. It has its own melody, it has its own words. Very few people get to sing their own song. Most of us fear that we cannot do it justice with our voices, or that our words are too foolish or too honest, or too odd. So people live their songs instead.” * I love this.<br /><br />I am a quilter, a crafter, a novice gardener, and a sometimes writer, scrapbooker and amateur photographer. I don’t love to knit.<br /><br />I am a fan of Indian food, dahlias, independent radio, social justice, and my mom.<br />I sometimes like to play with my kids’ toys after they’re asleep.<br />I wish I knew how to dance.<br />I believe in little things.<br />I worry too much.<br /><br />I love words like grace, and balance, and pinafore, and nonsense, and welcome. Best of all, welcome. To our humble blog, <span style="font-style: italic;">welcome</span>.<br /><br />I hope you will feel at home.<br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><br />(*Neil Gaiman, in his novel Anansi Boys)</span>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16244475172254514356noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33084767.post-34049928372763256672012-02-14T17:26:00.000-08:002012-02-14T17:32:50.166-08:00Begin Where You AreI am right now in the middle of making dinner, and I really don't have time to blog. And that's been the story of my life these last 6 months, and I keep thinking that I ought to get back to it. I haven't, mostly because there's so much to catch up on, and I really <span style="font-style: italic;">really</span> don't have time to do a good job of that. So rather than wait until I can get to the last half-year - which might just take another half-year to happen! - I've decided to take some good advice and just begin right where I am. I'll get those missing months filled in eventually, I promise. They were good, full months and I don't want to forget them. But for now, I'm going to make dinner. And go to the PTA meeting. And then get the kids to bed. And then maybe I'll blog! I'm excited! I've been missing this place.Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16244475172254514356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33084767.post-12878058937803174352011-08-28T20:44:00.000-07:002011-09-28T19:52:05.316-07:00All Summer in a Day .. or so.<div style="text-align: justify;">One of our first summer experiences was that our trusty camera finally gave up the ghost. Robert tried to fix it, but it didn't work.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh38pT6SgB96gE2sw821idJoh66wuYEqdYIyVsevmxpsGuYCmGI3JigZmmY9tYvcRMDmCmm3e_ROP5jIb7BvozGONpQiFv9RG9eMuk-aJ4gqtNBfhX-sd-9Eu1K99EMIZVOcQNS/s1600/IMG_0359.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh38pT6SgB96gE2sw821idJoh66wuYEqdYIyVsevmxpsGuYCmGI3JigZmmY9tYvcRMDmCmm3e_ROP5jIb7BvozGONpQiFv9RG9eMuk-aJ4gqtNBfhX-sd-9Eu1K99EMIZVOcQNS/s320/IMG_0359.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646125017976459826" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We do have a smaller, less-fabulous camera though, so don't worry this blog post won't be all text! And we are at the moment gratefully borrowing a nice camera from Robert's mom. So hooray!<br /><br />On with summer! In June we celebrated our 9th wedding anniversary with a simple trip to the temple grounds and family dinner out.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ_Vn86Il2OF_iVzd-nq51kKU6Qz83g_zeM72C6fyiAxEMq3Tg355AoO-k-8K9TQ0H-nLuNZXtAc4S8GrK7BFuYORnQun1DQGL5_eURF6zFZj-0M1JOHh25IU0tdszjSTKjyaA/s1600/IMG_4415.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ_Vn86Il2OF_iVzd-nq51kKU6Qz83g_zeM72C6fyiAxEMq3Tg355AoO-k-8K9TQ0H-nLuNZXtAc4S8GrK7BFuYORnQun1DQGL5_eURF6zFZj-0M1JOHh25IU0tdszjSTKjyaA/s320/IMG_4415.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647624384266631826" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjogxmll1uxuJo6B9Y2q3u39QbWi3xqrckVgaL1yOYEggcehLSa0Rtr7i72Fy-qaUv1a879ztqz0xJ2nVjU-tC5NS9zUSD1pY4m1tIkeR2ZLi1xWBUXm1HDLg5cy0kj8o8HP3pg/s1600/IMG_4419.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjogxmll1uxuJo6B9Y2q3u39QbWi3xqrckVgaL1yOYEggcehLSa0Rtr7i72Fy-qaUv1a879ztqz0xJ2nVjU-tC5NS9zUSD1pY4m1tIkeR2ZLi1xWBUXm1HDLg5cy0kj8o8HP3pg/s320/IMG_4419.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647624388497206418" border="0" /></a><br /><br />In July we celebrated Charlotte's 6th birthday. The BIG surprise for her was a new member of our family:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-URUggqkM6ZWS4tdoHUhzYAyrg83dhG4h8lbw6H_VMvcqESzBO5tXMka9nFYShWkxx9PeWKCH5whLKh8jZCqE2ejKY9IhvN6csOXFSroCH_-gF_pHgvHi0aGGGlrrTls5xPus/s1600/IMG_0299.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-URUggqkM6ZWS4tdoHUhzYAyrg83dhG4h8lbw6H_VMvcqESzBO5tXMka9nFYShWkxx9PeWKCH5whLKh8jZCqE2ejKY9IhvN6csOXFSroCH_-gF_pHgvHi0aGGGlrrTls5xPus/s320/IMG_0299.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646125016497975106" border="0" /></a><br />We presented her as a family pet, but that Charlotte got to settle on her name. So meet Flora! We also told Charlotte that while Flora isn't strictly hers, she has the opportunity for Flora to <span style="font-style: italic;">become</span> her own pet if she can get to the point of being in charge of all of Flora's care.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN_myt9mxJRk-XPs8G8zUDudoleSworaGCk8w9lXw4uC0qC1UKvnWknCnIftOxc4lFenLdQiTxEP4lRI1QJu4W2SxuNGAgx3zSjYLzZWdxDNpIt0cRok91BKckfIPjYDp1Wlqw/s1600/IMG_4671.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN_myt9mxJRk-XPs8G8zUDudoleSworaGCk8w9lXw4uC0qC1UKvnWknCnIftOxc4lFenLdQiTxEP4lRI1QJu4W2SxuNGAgx3zSjYLzZWdxDNpIt0cRok91BKckfIPjYDp1Wlqw/s320/IMG_4671.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648680991020131954" border="0" /></a><br />Robert built this awesome hutch so that we can keep Flora inside the house. The kids love to greet her in the mornings, and she comes out and hops around the family room and kitchen for about an hour or so every day.<br /><br /><br />Our garden did pretty well this year, too. Robert built raised beds for almost everything and we had good success with potatoes, strawberries, onions, pumpkins, beans, peas, beets, carrots, and broccoli (until the aphids and cabbage moths discovered it - then it was all over for the broccoli). The kids each got their own raised bed to plant whatever they wanted in, which was a great learning experience for us all! We're planning to keep it going throughout the winter months if we can.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3vXjt6oL7PfXEWoXNfCIPvi9JZewrpKDrQuFH_q5tXfaTbPhDXv7Fe0sm0z8wNbIHOcbakPgp1VBHA7hWcleSMUQDc_AQ9dI8W2C-pWvK8NdoitcH62EcuKwq4lidX5SbbbHc/s1600/IMG_0352.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3vXjt6oL7PfXEWoXNfCIPvi9JZewrpKDrQuFH_q5tXfaTbPhDXv7Fe0sm0z8wNbIHOcbakPgp1VBHA7hWcleSMUQDc_AQ9dI8W2C-pWvK8NdoitcH62EcuKwq4lidX5SbbbHc/s320/IMG_0352.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646125014981333490" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1uYQqMZCMmyh3HaNKeGqVHdfMQVD5YdwauiboHvkpmwwNtH1nnHsXuhC1tStn-WIf5uW3BJY0v6Rp1Pwzr8wCZkRQo1xZioaXZ0pGjdDxDIprbILu_3PQf69vhMDec-rSbLjE/s1600/IMG_0284.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1uYQqMZCMmyh3HaNKeGqVHdfMQVD5YdwauiboHvkpmwwNtH1nnHsXuhC1tStn-WIf5uW3BJY0v6Rp1Pwzr8wCZkRQo1xZioaXZ0pGjdDxDIprbILu_3PQf69vhMDec-rSbLjE/s320/IMG_0284.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646125012196205922" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9uJ-1PEDsZXl4S4n9NPMvdSL-PhR_5OjRV8CdLTempsC9nRqPYj12xAu-EIW9NYdZtUF2s7ByYd38kYh_u7uXkUZTtpRyjBtIS7Ym94n2-3FSbNsbYBLIdMfHmNEk7mFepSAC/s1600/IMG_0275.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9uJ-1PEDsZXl4S4n9NPMvdSL-PhR_5OjRV8CdLTempsC9nRqPYj12xAu-EIW9NYdZtUF2s7ByYd38kYh_u7uXkUZTtpRyjBtIS7Ym94n2-3FSbNsbYBLIdMfHmNEk7mFepSAC/s320/IMG_0275.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646125009474078514" border="0" /></a><br />Our big adventure came in August, with a family reunion in eastern Idaho. We decided to make it really great and visit Yellowstone National Park while we were at it.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIIF1vxfizcOV3uVNOKFL_uaMH8WT1sbNPPRPDEpOi0OFMnntLobgK7j9NuFVXMV0PpyzUbYCG6HuvBrbm331WcN691GJuHpJ5I-7YxePd8SCuPqjDsJWzgfONOuf24zMQWgIh/s1600/IMG_2234.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIIF1vxfizcOV3uVNOKFL_uaMH8WT1sbNPPRPDEpOi0OFMnntLobgK7j9NuFVXMV0PpyzUbYCG6HuvBrbm331WcN691GJuHpJ5I-7YxePd8SCuPqjDsJWzgfONOuf24zMQWgIh/s320/IMG_2234.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646125938549666354" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpm8omkWjorb9hEj_xCQ-McbaXgFHaTL5zhuuVDghiblTAGEia6xZzTVTfFz-0a4VcojBS80YsTXfzEN6fbgmiDlYnCpckhHobOdkobNNtOdmc1EMSt6Vb-Ii6YkAkXWWVdM1n/s1600/IMG_2536.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpm8omkWjorb9hEj_xCQ-McbaXgFHaTL5zhuuVDghiblTAGEia6xZzTVTfFz-0a4VcojBS80YsTXfzEN6fbgmiDlYnCpckhHobOdkobNNtOdmc1EMSt6Vb-Ii6YkAkXWWVdM1n/s320/IMG_2536.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646136987234690114" border="0" /></a><br />We camped all the way there, while we were there, and all the way home again. It was so much fun and such a great way to see places we wouldn't have from a hotel room.<br /><br /><br />We hiked around a little here and there...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWnCTuBbQdfOFaAVn5hTssF0dJLkwL9uK6XSfdqLhPINmwoRvx9MhAbMl8Yb1jLQpc3RfAr2_fEkW6p_UzB0qmXDCn4uW2-STieJ4cPvnfhUYKkx0LoDv8QelZ32WuJAtiv06G/s1600/IMG_2249.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWnCTuBbQdfOFaAVn5hTssF0dJLkwL9uK6XSfdqLhPINmwoRvx9MhAbMl8Yb1jLQpc3RfAr2_fEkW6p_UzB0qmXDCn4uW2-STieJ4cPvnfhUYKkx0LoDv8QelZ32WuJAtiv06G/s320/IMG_2249.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646125947301807010" border="0" /></a><br />waited out a thunderstorm in our tent ...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG3lRDocy4By-90b29xDJJUcPtoNHpmgGi1kWbYe8ZJrsjNfGhmehPCfhPmbV1xc4cESD6MS4pRcN9okiMLclxpVFCvfdksN_si2lXG7R4oPxlLR7Ltew0yDhr5cwcrkB1A2R8/s1600/IMG_2272.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG3lRDocy4By-90b29xDJJUcPtoNHpmgGi1kWbYe8ZJrsjNfGhmehPCfhPmbV1xc4cESD6MS4pRcN9okiMLclxpVFCvfdksN_si2lXG7R4oPxlLR7Ltew0yDhr5cwcrkB1A2R8/s320/IMG_2272.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646126886408195042" border="0" /></a><br />made campfire pizza ...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCsmChO4l76jfbHZ-KdYUX_V9Q6R97K050j3GQiVzoeNRswaE7W97aU_YpxlmLUnAHBUckZwiSeqvjg2J4WEtjYaaibc9TL1IrnjJj8Xx-HivUm0gS3g7_AWkQrwVTEQkBJa87/s1600/IMG_2289.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCsmChO4l76jfbHZ-KdYUX_V9Q6R97K050j3GQiVzoeNRswaE7W97aU_YpxlmLUnAHBUckZwiSeqvjg2J4WEtjYaaibc9TL1IrnjJj8Xx-HivUm0gS3g7_AWkQrwVTEQkBJa87/s320/IMG_2289.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646131423061080050" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ3Qo_MiTsUHK_c4QejSxeLiVxeO8YewJZW0Wg0Ez0cJsCJcx49RPSgNdLH1c8gRbsmTFEL0UEHAL_qbNLUYE9iwzZr6zCQUabLJo9aIKjD2TnDB9XCM6W_6DC2Luufhp9KIyr/s1600/IMG_2279.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ3Qo_MiTsUHK_c4QejSxeLiVxeO8YewJZW0Wg0Ez0cJsCJcx49RPSgNdLH1c8gRbsmTFEL0UEHAL_qbNLUYE9iwzZr6zCQUabLJo9aIKjD2TnDB9XCM6W_6DC2Luufhp9KIyr/s320/IMG_2279.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646126893319872946" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6BHf_GzmJJdv9D2DrakC8ZEzFFEw6SkIN_MBA7qoH1mfElF0w0whxlJkoh0pd1YTWAw96ZDVqnZ9UkUP8CW71_m8VOX4RX9yF4N0B5vbkcmeCxF63s5HKhtvzJHIXDuPcVfjE/s1600/IMG_2287.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6BHf_GzmJJdv9D2DrakC8ZEzFFEw6SkIN_MBA7qoH1mfElF0w0whxlJkoh0pd1YTWAw96ZDVqnZ9UkUP8CW71_m8VOX4RX9yF4N0B5vbkcmeCxF63s5HKhtvzJHIXDuPcVfjE/s320/IMG_2287.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646129485368057394" border="0" /></a><br />(they didn't like it).<br /><br /><br />We climbed rocks ...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6C6QrhKU7b1SkGP6EUG9LZZz7z2p5TuwwglqP4j3EsFHUS15H3uhG_fdnTNIpHnSC2zKzz5UWDiGlGVT1msXr10S9TfwhF2vcL_dPLLrA19QeRA_0DxAJdLaXtVogZJE4Q04E/s1600/IMG_2626.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6C6QrhKU7b1SkGP6EUG9LZZz7z2p5TuwwglqP4j3EsFHUS15H3uhG_fdnTNIpHnSC2zKzz5UWDiGlGVT1msXr10S9TfwhF2vcL_dPLLrA19QeRA_0DxAJdLaXtVogZJE4Q04E/s320/IMG_2626.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647618763848954402" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinq-SoGRq2aep7GQh6EubjLZPBDLL54c0HkZpttLFGPZ1Dh95H5MKFZH8wKteSsRlTNiHjd9wbAqzjJuh3a8rQplw5jhQ2Og2C1Ji8AgOa1IiTKzampT3NjKDA0OMWkBao241i/s1600/IMG_2616.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinq-SoGRq2aep7GQh6EubjLZPBDLL54c0HkZpttLFGPZ1Dh95H5MKFZH8wKteSsRlTNiHjd9wbAqzjJuh3a8rQplw5jhQ2Og2C1Ji8AgOa1IiTKzampT3NjKDA0OMWkBao241i/s320/IMG_2616.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647618739157241234" border="0" /></a><br />and dipped our toes in freezing cold lake water ...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwuVkHNkpOakEG2O6vraLZwt8VaN10Plqhq8jutcuWJ4JQWti9_W8linGJOLPtZDgnlDzR6zhqJKkcVTMF-BOrgPL3kyVTzxxDQcOqyBxzfd27W45LKEk7QKqd3ILpkTDNTEu0/s1600/IMG_2559.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwuVkHNkpOakEG2O6vraLZwt8VaN10Plqhq8jutcuWJ4JQWti9_W8linGJOLPtZDgnlDzR6zhqJKkcVTMF-BOrgPL3kyVTzxxDQcOqyBxzfd27W45LKEk7QKqd3ILpkTDNTEu0/s320/IMG_2559.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646136993971385554" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsu0SrY6Vi6rZy49QK4tG1axJxIptIjkvzoW4dUngSf5VJRPFS-YHrdupyutIaIN9CPItTbxBpl1Czu9Z6mO2X697mtEuBk-yjKsFbNfPQ__WJoW1CzhhlsRlEluC5-5AvzE7g/s1600/IMG_2548.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsu0SrY6Vi6rZy49QK4tG1axJxIptIjkvzoW4dUngSf5VJRPFS-YHrdupyutIaIN9CPItTbxBpl1Czu9Z6mO2X697mtEuBk-yjKsFbNfPQ__WJoW1CzhhlsRlEluC5-5AvzE7g/s320/IMG_2548.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646136990428304834" border="0" /></a><br />and kept ourselves entertained during long stretches of car-riding - without the help of a DVD player!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Z9TDppCDe-2dF8m5eLnVRgCVCMZehk7P8Pu06w8MMo5wYHnOrYhYU28fGz8KFSawcM09ARVOhEGfJxNi0ud-JiYiYA1tW62WNlVdIzogwsuDLTtTw4JISzPTpBvGyt9tm29L/s1600/IMG_2632.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Z9TDppCDe-2dF8m5eLnVRgCVCMZehk7P8Pu06w8MMo5wYHnOrYhYU28fGz8KFSawcM09ARVOhEGfJxNi0ud-JiYiYA1tW62WNlVdIzogwsuDLTtTw4JISzPTpBvGyt9tm29L/s320/IMG_2632.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647618768829493762" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWraV8nfYWDOlxHC-ZQOzXUqQ1O2k6jOiH0kBeQM8fKr7PJI_gY7ZMswajIrvoar8uu4qubcKvqgup1yuJP-mcpWgsyRQO8nB1uWjtg1mZahyphenhyphenTQ4tQU-PmAYmGjEkv8xSABDaS/s1600/IMG_2631.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWraV8nfYWDOlxHC-ZQOzXUqQ1O2k6jOiH0kBeQM8fKr7PJI_gY7ZMswajIrvoar8uu4qubcKvqgup1yuJP-mcpWgsyRQO8nB1uWjtg1mZahyphenhyphenTQ4tQU-PmAYmGjEkv8xSABDaS/s320/IMG_2631.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647618766697200386" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />We discovered wildlife ...<br /><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0SHltiOa-3VwAYk8zzg9Kr11aBD8EsN0hHcc2bJCDqlEMDOI-llEd-HPyai_4mpNN-QOM8lmEoqJ6rhfLeuccntXabFZYuK2KJ9wGfkN-OyxhcY-MxC9S_jeUH4080OW3KhIf/s1600/IMG_2296.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0SHltiOa-3VwAYk8zzg9Kr11aBD8EsN0hHcc2bJCDqlEMDOI-llEd-HPyai_4mpNN-QOM8lmEoqJ6rhfLeuccntXabFZYuK2KJ9wGfkN-OyxhcY-MxC9S_jeUH4080OW3KhIf/s320/IMG_2296.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646132470752400002" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq3r3vTD69u9l4a0-9gZAp9cx5TfXFpAq7H0FLYaBCEaTyyG1eKAaGeV9OD74q6KujHkLAkbwHxWgPqiDJWDpkfJfuVSqWc-fC4hHb_4r7F8sRePCyEKfiD8c3Ku-owJOh7M3a/s1600/IMG_2257.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq3r3vTD69u9l4a0-9gZAp9cx5TfXFpAq7H0FLYaBCEaTyyG1eKAaGeV9OD74q6KujHkLAkbwHxWgPqiDJWDpkfJfuVSqWc-fC4hHb_4r7F8sRePCyEKfiD8c3Ku-owJOh7M3a/s320/IMG_2257.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646126877815444882" border="0" /></a>(that's a bat house in the middle of our campground)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoeQ5M17NKrOd02BUUgeQv2-91Hn6_OGPk8qT8Rpczlyw2tSoLkbdN0gO1qCNgIHid9hrjAnCsNuaci_2_ARH9g_6s5jN2uXi1a-2j5L7-PaDMAYYKerXs-SHkfBJx_lqxEJQ1/s1600/IMG_2248.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoeQ5M17NKrOd02BUUgeQv2-91Hn6_OGPk8qT8Rpczlyw2tSoLkbdN0gO1qCNgIHid9hrjAnCsNuaci_2_ARH9g_6s5jN2uXi1a-2j5L7-PaDMAYYKerXs-SHkfBJx_lqxEJQ1/s320/IMG_2248.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646125941592522866" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW1koD9cvE-htH_w-CinAOZOdwtlzpLh9xmDgd65_FHlfmySFpyy_BKDP6aDfzYr3A4YwnPTawPhPp_S0rf6ar_iKYH2sRgkrDNigweliN5bK8R7mda3fLl8M9xqE8XdrrHHJm/s1600/IMG_2293.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW1koD9cvE-htH_w-CinAOZOdwtlzpLh9xmDgd65_FHlfmySFpyy_BKDP6aDfzYr3A4YwnPTawPhPp_S0rf6ar_iKYH2sRgkrDNigweliN5bK8R7mda3fLl8M9xqE8XdrrHHJm/s320/IMG_2293.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646131433572514530" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbDvm4RkswicWrZaA9js0ona3Sjr4UNCo1pLdLS80UY-uVqcJ1xuTrJGRlcchHz5TNFJc_c9R0knil13wkN6c_SipzqpJI6HiDyvpkeHtVVX_sTvYpiUB5VlIZitBV6pNQ3cuo/s1600/IMG_2292.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbDvm4RkswicWrZaA9js0ona3Sjr4UNCo1pLdLS80UY-uVqcJ1xuTrJGRlcchHz5TNFJc_c9R0knil13wkN6c_SipzqpJI6HiDyvpkeHtVVX_sTvYpiUB5VlIZitBV6pNQ3cuo/s320/IMG_2292.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646131427199067890" border="0" /></a><br /><br />and played in the dirt. A lot.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtkIefXaT11ODAlQlTSaukPrvahcvFDdnk1eIfS1upEaTZ0QNd1SHwPoNs_Vx2Tnfils8khA6smPkBw_k4tMaKwMblrSHVuiZjUpcqeE03BikGHxSGmb_GiZA8CpBQega6H5gR/s1600/IMG_2847.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtkIefXaT11ODAlQlTSaukPrvahcvFDdnk1eIfS1upEaTZ0QNd1SHwPoNs_Vx2Tnfils8khA6smPkBw_k4tMaKwMblrSHVuiZjUpcqeE03BikGHxSGmb_GiZA8CpBQega6H5gR/s320/IMG_2847.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647622119922205106" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIsx9KhnNapSOpMealLLvNf-s2cLYCx7xhVzUvoNZnV1e-GJdEa5WS_Y4QPs4hgJLPnePObx6WlmWqhBImylPZmS4tj6vrFiaxvfY1ec-MHWzlps0qJyQoQ45T4LNHemhtXFkz/s1600/IMG_2901.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIsx9KhnNapSOpMealLLvNf-s2cLYCx7xhVzUvoNZnV1e-GJdEa5WS_Y4QPs4hgJLPnePObx6WlmWqhBImylPZmS4tj6vrFiaxvfY1ec-MHWzlps0qJyQoQ45T4LNHemhtXFkz/s320/IMG_2901.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647624361889129810" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5EZFDU_i9wTPzq9HIaglwOXW70jB2eJaZr7mddIFrS0rxP5Q2eE7OvDsbCSqXynkEIv-6A3EpymazmnSIWjJdGF_FEl6c9TWcLFTHqCu1ORgK7AskJFSLj-wV_d_0iu0LmQ2y/s1600/IMG_2911.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5EZFDU_i9wTPzq9HIaglwOXW70jB2eJaZr7mddIFrS0rxP5Q2eE7OvDsbCSqXynkEIv-6A3EpymazmnSIWjJdGF_FEl6c9TWcLFTHqCu1ORgK7AskJFSLj-wV_d_0iu0LmQ2y/s320/IMG_2911.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647624370812722290" border="0" /></a><br /><br />At Yellowstone Park itself, we saw lots and lots of geysers and hot springs. No bears, though. Or buffalo. Or moose. Or wolves. Which was sort of alright with me.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8urdfbjw_W0sg0B5gqwS1L7dFfq4_WfBipU_ttPiuJfVvU08gGhXGH6WSay0Yb_N9BjDFI9xRpF5bG3vHjBj27Z5IcBoxfQ3rZRXwQ0XesxFF7s6rETX5A0GP04L8XwelaGX4/s1600/IMG_2342.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8urdfbjw_W0sg0B5gqwS1L7dFfq4_WfBipU_ttPiuJfVvU08gGhXGH6WSay0Yb_N9BjDFI9xRpF5bG3vHjBj27Z5IcBoxfQ3rZRXwQ0XesxFF7s6rETX5A0GP04L8XwelaGX4/s320/IMG_2342.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646133877198811346" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd8zeZigCEPIDfe8kLmJkGzxhTloCEoy6Zf5AZqtBA5Bd_yYHYTf7MTkV3c8Ouo7rdayW5mzxwFaNuYVQFjzXk74eLvAn15Q7axdoRSbXbwAinWC3vUM_Ng1F7To9jZG0G6zMc/s1600/IMG_2523.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd8zeZigCEPIDfe8kLmJkGzxhTloCEoy6Zf5AZqtBA5Bd_yYHYTf7MTkV3c8Ouo7rdayW5mzxwFaNuYVQFjzXk74eLvAn15Q7axdoRSbXbwAinWC3vUM_Ng1F7To9jZG0G6zMc/s320/IMG_2523.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646136978911168258" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsWYsNHL0wywHt2cwoywPBDD-f0_f-e_hBWqys_2EWAbs6OKdKsy_fCPck8szcIlw9p-KT3R5o8JqRMgRKTsGLSiDMfIUifHQviYY4-RhTcJHDomKQYOLcW8MWM2cUJedVDS_H/s1600/IMG_2485.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsWYsNHL0wywHt2cwoywPBDD-f0_f-e_hBWqys_2EWAbs6OKdKsy_fCPck8szcIlw9p-KT3R5o8JqRMgRKTsGLSiDMfIUifHQviYY4-RhTcJHDomKQYOLcW8MWM2cUJedVDS_H/s320/IMG_2485.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646135942656359874" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicLqOea4McMrjeuvjYcqHAfOMHf6mKYezwm4o7I0hEoZpoJwT1UmlpPRqTb6P02eiUerwK2Fg5l-5Hhz1eM7RuqujHr4iIzCyb3HPgAdjI5Srokq1EbWJShI-TPCM-niULt3wN/s1600/IMG_2509.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicLqOea4McMrjeuvjYcqHAfOMHf6mKYezwm4o7I0hEoZpoJwT1UmlpPRqTb6P02eiUerwK2Fg5l-5Hhz1eM7RuqujHr4iIzCyb3HPgAdjI5Srokq1EbWJShI-TPCM-niULt3wN/s320/IMG_2509.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646135942192796610" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEike0gMLQYetOUL0BOwnH5dLleUN4gQmIlT8thsLhtI6UEzHWWbM9clqg9tb9M619IHvstWHIsaOuc0MDkLTVLfqH1MUzu27gc4g0FipXPUhatDzyoX_On7nqkKIKUpCK5B_KV3/s1600/IMG_2327.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEike0gMLQYetOUL0BOwnH5dLleUN4gQmIlT8thsLhtI6UEzHWWbM9clqg9tb9M619IHvstWHIsaOuc0MDkLTVLfqH1MUzu27gc4g0FipXPUhatDzyoX_On7nqkKIKUpCK5B_KV3/s320/IMG_2327.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646133167041490050" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYq42NmRTl1SQsivNu8zKxaNhHxi71SkWsNzNk37zCw4-EFi-yXlyk8rSKjMB3yh5xs4f6VztnJZVfYBs8AkR1moB9JdAXkV9RCtCPqYJx_lmlW4NnoDIEHWt-L-dN_C2VjQyE/s1600/IMG_2416.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYq42NmRTl1SQsivNu8zKxaNhHxi71SkWsNzNk37zCw4-EFi-yXlyk8rSKjMB3yh5xs4f6VztnJZVfYBs8AkR1moB9JdAXkV9RCtCPqYJx_lmlW4NnoDIEHWt-L-dN_C2VjQyE/s320/IMG_2416.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646135927074637410" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwtTc9v2bMtJV5M2LQv2iFb0jsei9xj4L9SfguEcP0X4rlvIcUwCxOcxmYpcIUyXdCBE5pK3gcSL9ukuLqanJEycFmgByCEUJbFgK-aeViGMoxvHFYJoeUM9RKf7rjnCT0nWOk/s1600/IMG_2408.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwtTc9v2bMtJV5M2LQv2iFb0jsei9xj4L9SfguEcP0X4rlvIcUwCxOcxmYpcIUyXdCBE5pK3gcSL9ukuLqanJEycFmgByCEUJbFgK-aeViGMoxvHFYJoeUM9RKf7rjnCT0nWOk/s320/IMG_2408.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646135047480851794" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxSYRkMyWD0u_Vygz6MtHur0CFnB5OVKU5fgckBtx1lsOzWEg9Q_nxLviztcMy1-5el1_nakbIQKJ_iUMF8RJDExCdbIJ__JQnMSDK5Hxq4lcWZ6Ys_IlhhiyeJ769eOoPWL5R/s1600/IMG_2413.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxSYRkMyWD0u_Vygz6MtHur0CFnB5OVKU5fgckBtx1lsOzWEg9Q_nxLviztcMy1-5el1_nakbIQKJ_iUMF8RJDExCdbIJ__JQnMSDK5Hxq4lcWZ6Ys_IlhhiyeJ769eOoPWL5R/s320/IMG_2413.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646135054279068242" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKZGUbMOGnsIEo4KhjbZbtx3Mx95ONQHQj9VzyYao0D2IBUvXnjO0pVFkq9GRQ_WUQD72Jm9CyPzI-EXkQ6FUTrjxw_YnnCiL8vp2skjtbp65edVM30m5t2GSOXK0d9irRBV9L/s1600/IMG_2310.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKZGUbMOGnsIEo4KhjbZbtx3Mx95ONQHQj9VzyYao0D2IBUvXnjO0pVFkq9GRQ_WUQD72Jm9CyPzI-EXkQ6FUTrjxw_YnnCiL8vp2skjtbp65edVM30m5t2GSOXK0d9irRBV9L/s320/IMG_2310.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646132481859160242" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRqZvcMK9qpaHGm3OQgPhqgSmlQDibrxqdTFjx1aPVnDR-m3-6W_ca_Mwz5Npj-K4CJjYS91Em9eHZk7HegA_wTHk_BDB5_oxb34mRNASaWO2-jRxn-AOLEzikWSc-aGE-JWHy/s1600/IMG_2426.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRqZvcMK9qpaHGm3OQgPhqgSmlQDibrxqdTFjx1aPVnDR-m3-6W_ca_Mwz5Npj-K4CJjYS91Em9eHZk7HegA_wTHk_BDB5_oxb34mRNASaWO2-jRxn-AOLEzikWSc-aGE-JWHy/s320/IMG_2426.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646135931740726498" border="0" /></a><br />The kids loved working on getting their official Yellowstone Junior Ranger patches, it was a great introduction to the park, and we had a lot of fun working on it together.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkCijq7PNqasKm4yzs-smFwOR81qFeDssVt6UwqCLCZ-YzjEufZ2-KE3zUdbFtb2payCwg8XXuHAaDX08PXIl_rR3NwrE4uu3yHnhJDBY6mrMNN5Onrq2_YdvOAtCXNbdKKTF0/s1600/IMG_2389.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkCijq7PNqasKm4yzs-smFwOR81qFeDssVt6UwqCLCZ-YzjEufZ2-KE3zUdbFtb2payCwg8XXuHAaDX08PXIl_rR3NwrE4uu3yHnhJDBY6mrMNN5Onrq2_YdvOAtCXNbdKKTF0/s320/IMG_2389.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646135042070726242" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXCsAvhHxJGzeHoGsW-9nmqTxuMRq1n6xgreCgFEv1RnpGk3RiS0EM3HqiggCWfXM_0Dwg_ewLMPFsM3NUQ3ekyRkwKV46TwQFp5T5OZ4XjbF4I6UC6_ujVp6cjkR_laG-p-TN/s1600/IMG_2350.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXCsAvhHxJGzeHoGsW-9nmqTxuMRq1n6xgreCgFEv1RnpGk3RiS0EM3HqiggCWfXM_0Dwg_ewLMPFsM3NUQ3ekyRkwKV46TwQFp5T5OZ4XjbF4I6UC6_ujVp6cjkR_laG-p-TN/s320/IMG_2350.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646135030205300738" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvnl58WW5pBjR8Yv9mz6FWJoTT4QWfqqvpUj2X70NTf2GhOXYU6FeRnR93UVkzCsKMZy1OAbyAvUv1mgeezyvvgxnqGV0DuZYnEy2o6fphbrdxjwyZewcltmblV7aF8DJjfcBf/s1600/IMG_2383.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvnl58WW5pBjR8Yv9mz6FWJoTT4QWfqqvpUj2X70NTf2GhOXYU6FeRnR93UVkzCsKMZy1OAbyAvUv1mgeezyvvgxnqGV0DuZYnEy2o6fphbrdxjwyZewcltmblV7aF8DJjfcBf/s320/IMG_2383.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646135039719999442" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ9JBddLVP84NW0MExhTJ2biDfLednnH47Lk4SvhIBX5wFSWk6PhzGRFDVY_hGB9_2HlUZf2ePylo1gjkCw1anGb8JS9Ho_VfmJ0k_aqeUJK9EENCSqbnG2G4guFlbKfboZW0I/s1600/IMG_2451.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ9JBddLVP84NW0MExhTJ2biDfLednnH47Lk4SvhIBX5wFSWk6PhzGRFDVY_hGB9_2HlUZf2ePylo1gjkCw1anGb8JS9Ho_VfmJ0k_aqeUJK9EENCSqbnG2G4guFlbKfboZW0I/s320/IMG_2451.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646135935677190274" border="0" /></a><br />And some random family/people shots:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFsKx7Lc8SKFMroUrOZ2xq6IJxWCn56lIDb8EmPBPUywYsAQldWI7xGw_yf5ejBYFNcZFbxkewUYRK2KIBFkn7kbvCniyjFsrAR5xQ3pdnDkTuTuiIDFU5DjgwY9mwbxjpJfaw/s1600/IMG_2344.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFsKx7Lc8SKFMroUrOZ2xq6IJxWCn56lIDb8EmPBPUywYsAQldWI7xGw_yf5ejBYFNcZFbxkewUYRK2KIBFkn7kbvCniyjFsrAR5xQ3pdnDkTuTuiIDFU5DjgwY9mwbxjpJfaw/s320/IMG_2344.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646133879064457986" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0kod68fQiiXxMG8yTprD2hxqxwxjCwmOrWBz1ElIQcvH0xgfFM1Ry_gOV3PvWGG8-krUfYgrw7t_M_hUhT4O3BjMMekWNKDe8fMvBhlg4W9_G3mJj0GReHP6TFet_CDdTVn8r/s1600/IMG_2337.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0kod68fQiiXxMG8yTprD2hxqxwxjCwmOrWBz1ElIQcvH0xgfFM1Ry_gOV3PvWGG8-krUfYgrw7t_M_hUhT4O3BjMMekWNKDe8fMvBhlg4W9_G3mJj0GReHP6TFet_CDdTVn8r/s320/IMG_2337.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646133171527803378" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht552rfksyYWukE9Nxudf9W3XqERt_ILX7WNDfJ-In3jEocRrADi80TNj4O2NQE8EF8EhqjIq9GtJgGqy-S8A5PPCazs1YeYHE7yn3BtAxS2wLEShZqN01zmFIPae67Vd2r18r/s1600/IMG_2314.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht552rfksyYWukE9Nxudf9W3XqERt_ILX7WNDfJ-In3jEocRrADi80TNj4O2NQE8EF8EhqjIq9GtJgGqy-S8A5PPCazs1YeYHE7yn3BtAxS2wLEShZqN01zmFIPae67Vd2r18r/s320/IMG_2314.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646133162679228866" border="0" /></a><br />Okay, that's it for now. Next up is the actual family reunion, but I think this is a long enough blog post for now, don't you? Whew!<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCpIayuaCLkYmIcUJOENu0FWPBExq1RGrwiXS-HeXFOVH2dbgS7oGqS2eMu_0zTRpjmB2V9F44VdVwzGMCi1AJOhjRpu-j1qOT16gWxYP0SWQYkIrhmmNVu8AzLjVlI5Bk5npj/s1600/IMG_2924.JPG"><br /></a>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16244475172254514356noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33084767.post-26455604300943722412011-05-29T21:41:00.000-07:002011-05-29T21:58:11.281-07:00"A book, a challenge, a blessing." And a new journal!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://30daybomchallenge.blogspot.com/"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 74px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlUGsmxLQewkk0-aidKhMtY33spGt3oUDikFnN-CIZrY9lXY115zx4tm5Vit1QvDSN6mgVpOp3BHhMsLcZq7MX6F3wKmWJjiiJDHfhM67F0lnAAd5gf5_BFaonssexne10O3-s/s320/Book+of+Mormon+Challenge+Blog+header+Final+r1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612364853789238338" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">So my good friend Cortney is hosting <a href="http://30daybomchallenge.blogspot.com/">a reading challenge</a> - to read the entire Book of Mormon in 30 days. It begins on June 1. I'd already decided that I wanted to read the Book of Mormon from start to finish over the summer, so that works out to just about perfect.<br /><br />I have to confess, though. I couldn't wait. I started reading already yesterday. And I realized that getting it done in 30 days is not necessarily going to be my greatest challenge. Because in addition to my scriptures, I settled in with a new journal and pen, and all of my Book of Mormon study guides and reference books, some of which contain more pages in them than the Book of Mormon itself. I figured I was all set, and then realized that my biggest challenge this month is going to be just ... reading. Just the scriptures. Without getting all caught up in commentary. Because I love my reference books. I love insightful commentary. But this time - just this once! - I want to keep it real and simple. Just the Book. Oh, okay, and my journal. So I can write down my own, you know, insightful commentary. <br /><br />Alright, also because I simply cannot resist a new journal.<br /><br />Anyway, anyone want to join me/us?<br /></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16244475172254514356noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33084767.post-80792739166674662362011-05-23T21:53:00.000-07:002011-05-24T20:00:38.638-07:00In the GardenHere's just some stuff that's been happening in our garden this week. I took these photos yesterday and already it's different today! (We planted flowers in the kids' "garden labs" in addition to their seeds, and I planted and re-arranged a bunch of our pots.) I love love LOVE this season of change and growth!<br /><br />Our old backyard picket fence - recycled!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFZJrH_2t891UdiTiq83aOPqnDF3nxpJ6hOSYPtxoO-4Sl9Sydn_qCmTMKUyJEl4pr1chhsxjyZQmSrZlVoZiMTRK3Oub1ml98CG88RIP4UHMFtgP-kFQd9juxGrDNSp7FpTyS/s1600/IMG_0451.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFZJrH_2t891UdiTiq83aOPqnDF3nxpJ6hOSYPtxoO-4Sl9Sydn_qCmTMKUyJEl4pr1chhsxjyZQmSrZlVoZiMTRK3Oub1ml98CG88RIP4UHMFtgP-kFQd9juxGrDNSp7FpTyS/s320/IMG_0451.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610144536006869570" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrEhE-ExwGbUbzJBhvFgXtMOV32gkWhnswGPWdGgYM8dvDeEJJUK1-Katx8Ku77N3jIHAtvJCIv0joeT7VShfC8SNjHFRNIpxoAa0jWPzIsCgVIm7t3SSJKF6LmWC5waS2wl3U/s1600/IMG_0458.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrEhE-ExwGbUbzJBhvFgXtMOV32gkWhnswGPWdGgYM8dvDeEJJUK1-Katx8Ku77N3jIHAtvJCIv0joeT7VShfC8SNjHFRNIpxoAa0jWPzIsCgVIm7t3SSJKF6LmWC5waS2wl3U/s320/IMG_0458.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610144528622764738" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib04LxtfG2Atd4F6GyV_ARHrxvFcvzUAiuwx-FPn1tVfifTKZlwvqBLWvIcSjRtEmRMxHxXMwzhL5xuuiIqTlAnNK8QGyN8D3gYUvq8OI3vvdmfWAqfWlm_SN4FYxQQbzSh9ti/s1600/IMG_0463.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib04LxtfG2Atd4F6GyV_ARHrxvFcvzUAiuwx-FPn1tVfifTKZlwvqBLWvIcSjRtEmRMxHxXMwzhL5xuuiIqTlAnNK8QGyN8D3gYUvq8OI3vvdmfWAqfWlm_SN4FYxQQbzSh9ti/s320/IMG_0463.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610144506389980610" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg6S4EvaYl7eKWXQHJ0KH7LIZnm2gSsClI0qJpVNzYRFCqpiNqU8YDxAGV2CGBdZ_Mlcyl4dQ3z_emAW5EHzh9xjKcJ_gGVu72Um4zc62nYL-wmzn4Pa7qNBuK-YA5jf9zSha4/s1600/IMG_0462.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg6S4EvaYl7eKWXQHJ0KH7LIZnm2gSsClI0qJpVNzYRFCqpiNqU8YDxAGV2CGBdZ_Mlcyl4dQ3z_emAW5EHzh9xjKcJ_gGVu72Um4zc62nYL-wmzn4Pa7qNBuK-YA5jf9zSha4/s320/IMG_0462.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610144517719642242" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb2LRDSEOygG45R2lTjZNBfhjuuySQk3Vy1XZZX8pSy5LqTmNWdvtGgB0cBLlv5ImHbadfmTMXYspm8a7WYAIpISJdszjrrwOYq0Z6dQ5vNwJtuWLA5_S45-fCopsTWmCpWHyy/s1600/IMG_0469.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb2LRDSEOygG45R2lTjZNBfhjuuySQk3Vy1XZZX8pSy5LqTmNWdvtGgB0cBLlv5ImHbadfmTMXYspm8a7WYAIpISJdszjrrwOYq0Z6dQ5vNwJtuWLA5_S45-fCopsTWmCpWHyy/s320/IMG_0469.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610143533502465122" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfUiEObYV5SnURwQWNNJBs9zYHGU6OVy7V_yAMsUMOqol43dk_gWDy0WTS6xcJA7mfQk3t9AObFj6waDD6F3DFWgnddXcz2Luzw5v6HZineMFEhKrdTwBqbu-No80dpCn2esKI/s1600/IMG_0470.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfUiEObYV5SnURwQWNNJBs9zYHGU6OVy7V_yAMsUMOqol43dk_gWDy0WTS6xcJA7mfQk3t9AObFj6waDD6F3DFWgnddXcz2Luzw5v6HZineMFEhKrdTwBqbu-No80dpCn2esKI/s320/IMG_0470.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610143521963206050" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEyxh2v5u8TNKQAIBWPvoY0cV965N_TQdmN-Eyg0oTRPxWlLRBEg7eUzZ8z3OYa_vvRHIQX0V9Y7kHEQLyHW6HLPeCabuc3QOUK__yqzz2qIaodzPpyUqvGo4jqnQ8bZPMauA2/s1600/IMG_0465.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEyxh2v5u8TNKQAIBWPvoY0cV965N_TQdmN-Eyg0oTRPxWlLRBEg7eUzZ8z3OYa_vvRHIQX0V9Y7kHEQLyHW6HLPeCabuc3QOUK__yqzz2qIaodzPpyUqvGo4jqnQ8bZPMauA2/s320/IMG_0465.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610143546331875362" border="0" /></a><br /><br />A lesson in physics and engineering.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8V1zQfb66KmCHtEy_rnFfXLZ9Hp6dse7ruUL2iHlryBHzIsxTJNftdofv6C0nHXZr9jR_0VhUkknghwywz81lPOfFZ1QllDeZTjuyI05bxzVg7m_pmgARamIRHjJfGGsJf2ng/s1600/IMG_0482.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8V1zQfb66KmCHtEy_rnFfXLZ9Hp6dse7ruUL2iHlryBHzIsxTJNftdofv6C0nHXZr9jR_0VhUkknghwywz81lPOfFZ1QllDeZTjuyI05bxzVg7m_pmgARamIRHjJfGGsJf2ng/s320/IMG_0482.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610143511365447122" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The vegetable beds. Notice the progress on our new fence!<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhiHIMwgynyob9wfMVHNJujld14QltsIf9cZ7Z8HqQ0PwfLLshAkjnfNqy7cOY1e0FoT74XTiHkWH45i3f9uJSQDWY4_Dqb3VhQXhTy1nJwbDatF9Q-X3u0KOrKiwx4-zFylG2/s1600/IMG_0483.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhiHIMwgynyob9wfMVHNJujld14QltsIf9cZ7Z8HqQ0PwfLLshAkjnfNqy7cOY1e0FoT74XTiHkWH45i3f9uJSQDWY4_Dqb3VhQXhTy1nJwbDatF9Q-X3u0KOrKiwx4-zFylG2/s320/IMG_0483.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610142371696575714" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXN9CMifsnTRIdzaIjtlrjp1OEwivJhPMA2hgSjBPVuxQ6U4iNucRpA5sEWqq2nFrFSEhKKbA4oo4VuYEQbDXC686ehxVa2x7aMZM-wBNSgfPljmHMS0jdOq11vy0LyIcwBYHn/s1600/IMG_0484.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXN9CMifsnTRIdzaIjtlrjp1OEwivJhPMA2hgSjBPVuxQ6U4iNucRpA5sEWqq2nFrFSEhKKbA4oo4VuYEQbDXC686ehxVa2x7aMZM-wBNSgfPljmHMS0jdOq11vy0LyIcwBYHn/s320/IMG_0484.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610142358151347586" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZj3CwEVQBUh15jaiKsNgVKbz88Fs_qWpJP_8QiisdXDW9fVWHK8iAXRSZxsT78RA8zhqcT_ju1pv-SwTJu_6WYgIgCcx3aPKE_wlAkuYZXIALOiSJp_bSUsl680r-gfqZ9KIs/s1600/IMG_0485.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZj3CwEVQBUh15jaiKsNgVKbz88Fs_qWpJP_8QiisdXDW9fVWHK8iAXRSZxsT78RA8zhqcT_ju1pv-SwTJu_6WYgIgCcx3aPKE_wlAkuYZXIALOiSJp_bSUsl680r-gfqZ9KIs/s320/IMG_0485.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610142355629773186" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Apple blossoms.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFIFau2vCjFjzmYwywd42gbBQ_hLa3D3yfvDHBi65FrOudsgRa1xb9Gyb3ZNwhJ1a7pPiDjwvPTpmZAXJ1ERBFBBwFnb4O1gnGUPbrrZpJU13pIoUlN5AAanAqeK6TloJgN-fg/s1600/IMG_0487.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFIFau2vCjFjzmYwywd42gbBQ_hLa3D3yfvDHBi65FrOudsgRa1xb9Gyb3ZNwhJ1a7pPiDjwvPTpmZAXJ1ERBFBBwFnb4O1gnGUPbrrZpJU13pIoUlN5AAanAqeK6TloJgN-fg/s320/IMG_0487.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610142346843423474" border="0" /></a><br />Kids' "garden labs." Where they get to do pretty much whatever they want with minimal parental direction.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1kP8g8fV54jctpzGvJoxnHwbKd5oe0Ojfx_3EpOWB-GFIraGtRY-GEjFZXhE0IvD-o_66GiHal2I-gOTJ3MrWQP_vFTz7mwV4FTuAIfkaUyDYU-t2c_zl_jlNVZtV-bLT4lZS/s1600/IMG_0488.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1kP8g8fV54jctpzGvJoxnHwbKd5oe0Ojfx_3EpOWB-GFIraGtRY-GEjFZXhE0IvD-o_66GiHal2I-gOTJ3MrWQP_vFTz7mwV4FTuAIfkaUyDYU-t2c_zl_jlNVZtV-bLT4lZS/s320/IMG_0488.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610142339710465970" border="0" /></a><br />Ahh ... I love Spring.Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16244475172254514356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33084767.post-16499657345166353652011-05-23T21:35:00.000-07:002011-05-23T21:45:58.743-07:00Calvin Turns Four<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCHMaj3nT3lJnTc85qY-XdrF_RJocf9-SKMrpE7qRq1kbswOAETu0GL-H3ndU4t0ZApckXyRzvr5YKNFr6QlK0gb2USpZiKNE-QYv1_xt3Lfw_20hHC1UTlCUHof3zkAcwQN0r/s1600/IMG_0421.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCHMaj3nT3lJnTc85qY-XdrF_RJocf9-SKMrpE7qRq1kbswOAETu0GL-H3ndU4t0ZApckXyRzvr5YKNFr6QlK0gb2USpZiKNE-QYv1_xt3Lfw_20hHC1UTlCUHof3zkAcwQN0r/s320/IMG_0421.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610137538082942386" border="0" /></a>Calvin turned 4 on Mother's Day. We were both treated to Robert-made cinnamon rolls in the morning - hooray!<br /><br />The following weekend, we had his party. A planet themed party, with a solar system cake - complete with asteroid belt ... um ... bowl. Also, I noticed my mistake with Neptune and turned it on its side later.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkiSGVgKJ6qBSITXQnXuiwWdToc_6OgY1G3_SpGWcZbhIRHdEU0_GQu38LhWJOqCeE5WvryZG-C99cANF_cwI6NepgeYirMkw134eVkEB9ZMrshe1bfGufckNckm-GgKF5AFuv/s1600/IMG_0424.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkiSGVgKJ6qBSITXQnXuiwWdToc_6OgY1G3_SpGWcZbhIRHdEU0_GQu38LhWJOqCeE5WvryZG-C99cANF_cwI6NepgeYirMkw134eVkEB9ZMrshe1bfGufckNckm-GgKF5AFuv/s320/IMG_0424.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610137524813531906" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We hung paper stars up everywhere ...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjrxV2ZIyfNKaoU52masHl9tPiXPYzu81Aemd1-2WGpcojSn_UyTadE0iKkvx-wz4StEQPAztNE8bVaIyGzNLoxsF7aSsbqGOI6n-Jhaz6XeHf4p5Nf_e5Ry_lxEMRanKmjdUo/s1600/IMG_0425.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjrxV2ZIyfNKaoU52masHl9tPiXPYzu81Aemd1-2WGpcojSn_UyTadE0iKkvx-wz4StEQPAztNE8bVaIyGzNLoxsF7aSsbqGOI6n-Jhaz6XeHf4p5Nf_e5Ry_lxEMRanKmjdUo/s320/IMG_0425.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610137515233407250" border="0" /></a><br />And I made this "<a href="http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/comet-toss-670084/">comet toss</a>" game, but we didn't officially play it. A few of the boys tossed comets at it, but we didn't keep score or anything. Still, Calvin thinks it's pretty cool so maybe we'll hang it in his room ...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji7P38r0hCLn8boVcxt72VOsxRN5pwJ7HMCL0YmeXr1-zYVKGa79pZQYWmWtDXLE8o_u0hSia7U1OyDgXiMYd2AN1Rrp-EcGXwCx6KLPxn-JMDbXR7PA5lVu_BjduvIZoL0X-j/s1600/IMG_0427.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji7P38r0hCLn8boVcxt72VOsxRN5pwJ7HMCL0YmeXr1-zYVKGa79pZQYWmWtDXLE8o_u0hSia7U1OyDgXiMYd2AN1Rrp-EcGXwCx6KLPxn-JMDbXR7PA5lVu_BjduvIZoL0X-j/s320/IMG_0427.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610137506416037586" border="0" /></a><br />I can't believe how much sooner this makes both kids in school feel. Yikes!Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16244475172254514356noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33084767.post-71158771951213936702011-05-23T21:17:00.000-07:002011-05-23T21:35:53.807-07:00Conference, Easter, and Science!So here was my brilliant idea for keeping us focused over Conference weekend (completely stolen from someone else, of course):<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhijeME8AXk3-Ce18GkOJ-gODkMLLoV8Om52jdDccY29NtoPZNVo0bXwKPWxmbHB9gxYTO3HxsIhfFTKMpedwuZC7aPPfOuuH_MXsnaZnXOEsviZJSeWpjbIPz0Q5dJtNecT7Tp/s1600/IMG_0330.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhijeME8AXk3-Ce18GkOJ-gODkMLLoV8Om52jdDccY29NtoPZNVo0bXwKPWxmbHB9gxYTO3HxsIhfFTKMpedwuZC7aPPfOuuH_MXsnaZnXOEsviZJSeWpjbIPz0Q5dJtNecT7Tp/s320/IMG_0330.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610133037976594754" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHqQhD3Tro_o8PTtxTsmBIp_9l_CoO1lWhXvyJpBvh1aztigozGqkd9me6et1UkIMWFdRm5okC71n1zmA7JcKMRnR0q5RW0h-XIUyf5UuOavHsLXaAqJ_jltBUz4eeEVvWIqo-/s1600/IMG_0331.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHqQhD3Tro_o8PTtxTsmBIp_9l_CoO1lWhXvyJpBvh1aztigozGqkd9me6et1UkIMWFdRm5okC71n1zmA7JcKMRnR0q5RW0h-XIUyf5UuOavHsLXaAqJ_jltBUz4eeEVvWIqo-/s320/IMG_0331.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610133049101762018" border="0" /></a><br />Friday night we read the story of King Benjamin's tower, how he gathered all his people together and they pitched their tents all around so they could listen to him. Then after the kids went to bed, I put up our tent in the living room. It took up the <span style="font-style: italic;">whole</span> living room. I decked it out with all the spare pillows in the house, blankets, and we set up the laptop on a chair in the corner. We had coloring and Conference Bingo (with snacks as prizes). And did you notice Charlotte's portrait of President Monson there on the armoire? I don't know if he ever really wears bow ties, but she was pretty proud of her rendition. A good time was had by all. <br /><br />Well, almost all. We were also harboring conjunctivitis. I don't know about anyone else, but I was uncomfortable and exhausted pretty much all weekend, and barely took notes during any of the talks (I usually take lots of notes). We spent pretty much all of the following week down with Pink Eye. All of us except for Calvin - the lucky duck!<br /><br /><br />For Easter, I made Charlotte a new dress, and Calvin his first ever tie. Here's Charlotte modeling her dress. Calvin, while he proudly wore his tie for all three hours of church, didn't want to wear it for a picture (that's him in the corner rolling around on the floor).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNNwdY_dKkJl1_gmr-cnxR__RPDH2i4gPqO0NGjUAkTjDIAtRo9rqpKDUMR_ioqeb_yTGrjLiypvJdNdCamvuNfgLSQ1MyeHjv_K-BXnf0mBQ7vfm8eEf1Y7bwB10cxcBOCGbk/s1600/IMG_0348.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNNwdY_dKkJl1_gmr-cnxR__RPDH2i4gPqO0NGjUAkTjDIAtRo9rqpKDUMR_ioqeb_yTGrjLiypvJdNdCamvuNfgLSQ1MyeHjv_K-BXnf0mBQ7vfm8eEf1Y7bwB10cxcBOCGbk/s320/IMG_0348.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610133087757189122" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizChS1nsVGJWEnNk1kmPkLQ2zTepfK_ExaGNuHL9O18xklNkYFKLj95Xxy5wfezkt36-l9Wc9jCSOhwHVFNFfU52Zx5-MM_2jW4odlfZEt1jfr9DUbzI0VmHNVU4xLxhciEsUw/s1600/IMG_0346.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizChS1nsVGJWEnNk1kmPkLQ2zTepfK_ExaGNuHL9O18xklNkYFKLj95Xxy5wfezkt36-l9Wc9jCSOhwHVFNFfU52Zx5-MM_2jW4odlfZEt1jfr9DUbzI0VmHNVU4xLxhciEsUw/s320/IMG_0346.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610133062307485666" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxmotm-tT-IyOyKTb84_4qq17OCHPzLLH-FvC1w9CzTRIkxsd1rmbyuuJGdrfq9agr9Zj1hcShIMiuZeIu1mItHyw_9UfJykkkC1Q4hrd5UXt-9oXVAUcxZj9HfzPOei8G9jfe/s1600/IMG_0347.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxmotm-tT-IyOyKTb84_4qq17OCHPzLLH-FvC1w9CzTRIkxsd1rmbyuuJGdrfq9agr9Zj1hcShIMiuZeIu1mItHyw_9UfJykkkC1Q4hrd5UXt-9oXVAUcxZj9HfzPOei8G9jfe/s320/IMG_0347.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610133074041046322" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And somewhere in there, just for fun, we made colored carnations with food-colored water. Always a classic household science experiment.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMkVT7GWQu-35Llif9FBZE_az-4fqwT3e3WkLxjZRCIR7cjtDoWNws01MSd2glTutZgeiL7iQKIfwNQ8mASvITHBVM4sFHIDKdo2zKEGu4z78ggkS8aPKeXIK2eg3NYxf3X47W/s1600/IMG_0411.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMkVT7GWQu-35Llif9FBZE_az-4fqwT3e3WkLxjZRCIR7cjtDoWNws01MSd2glTutZgeiL7iQKIfwNQ8mASvITHBVM4sFHIDKdo2zKEGu4z78ggkS8aPKeXIK2eg3NYxf3X47W/s320/IMG_0411.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610133358848608402" border="0" /></a>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16244475172254514356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33084767.post-32519134928649940092011-01-10T21:02:00.000-08:002011-01-10T22:05:21.176-08:00The Rest of 2010First of all ... SNOW!!!<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdQqZwOIuPK0E5Gbd5pXVjJ2poRAIL2W7neLn-e_gM7-QOvvrgXUTH3VrRtQFO6AlQCHBfgiMlLw6NLEyP6QDRhi3UkEoQUUKBlczSYuyIe-tsUXXuj-xM70UBPe-2F_WjDnGV/s1600/IMG_9960.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdQqZwOIuPK0E5Gbd5pXVjJ2poRAIL2W7neLn-e_gM7-QOvvrgXUTH3VrRtQFO6AlQCHBfgiMlLw6NLEyP6QDRhi3UkEoQUUKBlczSYuyIe-tsUXXuj-xM70UBPe-2F_WjDnGV/s320/IMG_9960.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560794397423420498" border="0" /></a>Our grassy snowman was so heavy he fell over not long after this photo. We didn't even get a chance to name him ...<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2jgNxeeah-maKVdmqVKn2y7R_3u-46TOfGBDOzqmApyPvJXyRPkUVJz4jJ5IRJR8a7-Nf6N_h52WF1fzt9IEg5rrnKKryqh6O12YCpQf1QVtGOdkd0o6K0O5uHCCRqHdMbB29/s1600/IMG_9964.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2jgNxeeah-maKVdmqVKn2y7R_3u-46TOfGBDOzqmApyPvJXyRPkUVJz4jJ5IRJR8a7-Nf6N_h52WF1fzt9IEg5rrnKKryqh6O12YCpQf1QVtGOdkd0o6K0O5uHCCRqHdMbB29/s320/IMG_9964.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560795520131068722" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9zmcb4ZG8_ka-Y1cedRYSrcOF8uDWdBpVaG7ATcFn1hQzjQDMbGMS5JDvzapJQrP32RklltbSWvOsW_raq_jujB1RfVzItEDZQG7QBgFLSsnsS8PkL4_prpsKpaQMHGP_s8av/s1600/IMG_9976.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9zmcb4ZG8_ka-Y1cedRYSrcOF8uDWdBpVaG7ATcFn1hQzjQDMbGMS5JDvzapJQrP32RklltbSWvOsW_raq_jujB1RfVzItEDZQG7QBgFLSsnsS8PkL4_prpsKpaQMHGP_s8av/s320/IMG_9976.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560795531759561538" border="0" /></a>The snow day got Calvin's seal of approval, with a wink and a thumb's-up.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXcUk_G4A5cXsEI1vMcPpEIVl6EA5sVG085bcETDXlPBiGfzaoHtVquRtR6AE9gSMZlfB4BzqiWwXgMdmghOPWf5uK17JryIGeBvDEexMkp4mvt9Gb_l6IuXPFlvmCc__y1azM/s1600/IMG_9980.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXcUk_G4A5cXsEI1vMcPpEIVl6EA5sVG085bcETDXlPBiGfzaoHtVquRtR6AE9gSMZlfB4BzqiWwXgMdmghOPWf5uK17JryIGeBvDEexMkp4mvt9Gb_l6IuXPFlvmCc__y1azM/s320/IMG_9980.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560795535943425410" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWzHX60PExn3k32ZKNcYxogfTuRQ15sRMn_TUCGUuij3zGo_VlTXSScWCa8UuSqjzjIjewRe_eX9ZvLh7vqe3tag1WLGQDC-oOII2Vty-1ciNyUCwvq1ME4XbasB5xodRijqrM/s1600/IMG_9981.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWzHX60PExn3k32ZKNcYxogfTuRQ15sRMn_TUCGUuij3zGo_VlTXSScWCa8UuSqjzjIjewRe_eX9ZvLh7vqe3tag1WLGQDC-oOII2Vty-1ciNyUCwvq1ME4XbasB5xodRijqrM/s320/IMG_9981.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560795540102026290" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY6b9mYufhsf47dTIDy8m9492IRiEWdqsIzeuELhrr7CrL5nY2TVeNLfE2_UBKJhaefZm648g6ovHTM54CHq8v8BgInBh8haFNTxKgJoeuAqBDpwCjlj4zB-Mtdb5b0MfOHwW9/s1600/IMG_9985.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY6b9mYufhsf47dTIDy8m9492IRiEWdqsIzeuELhrr7CrL5nY2TVeNLfE2_UBKJhaefZm648g6ovHTM54CHq8v8BgInBh8haFNTxKgJoeuAqBDpwCjlj4zB-Mtdb5b0MfOHwW9/s320/IMG_9985.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560795546438895442" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Mx0wZWvcFkhAKnT-YUiEMRvWuiXuzYf6n3dHpfr9vQRp8PGNS4aBKF8vFgDe80haPQ33zUgANQrWKdxwvDYm4fkvx9TFYJrLewhIasopWT_PKEEIhrKyNqJc9y0LGzgIZGto/s1600/IMG_9995.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Mx0wZWvcFkhAKnT-YUiEMRvWuiXuzYf6n3dHpfr9vQRp8PGNS4aBKF8vFgDe80haPQ33zUgANQrWKdxwvDYm4fkvx9TFYJrLewhIasopWT_PKEEIhrKyNqJc9y0LGzgIZGto/s320/IMG_9995.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560796591266377858" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvSvP6WeK0ieqhD7Bc4Kl5f46jPPs7nVT4Urv4_vRhT3y-1572r31Ph3zBFoqMtl7boOK-KKK8S7Ca27qipMF4t27amSJYz-0Oxhb4tNp7YJGm8ptB4KRtqVsebZ3g6Hsh2IGU/s1600/IMG_9997.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvSvP6WeK0ieqhD7Bc4Kl5f46jPPs7nVT4Urv4_vRhT3y-1572r31Ph3zBFoqMtl7boOK-KKK8S7Ca27qipMF4t27amSJYz-0Oxhb4tNp7YJGm8ptB4KRtqVsebZ3g6Hsh2IGU/s320/IMG_9997.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560796594788970290" border="0" /></a>I filled some spray bottles with colored water and we painted the backyard until the kids got too cold.<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuurw7KQNMJwXAEo45ul3usviz4MaWZ4D2oTP1JeIIT0fDTgJKlhwGxk7DWA6FXlRTWRq9yPc8nfy6cOBOWDEb7BF86oMC11yqtIx7-83m6qytmUaQk5_txiz9R0hRaGXQGa9Q/s1600/IMG_9991.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuurw7KQNMJwXAEo45ul3usviz4MaWZ4D2oTP1JeIIT0fDTgJKlhwGxk7DWA6FXlRTWRq9yPc8nfy6cOBOWDEb7BF86oMC11yqtIx7-83m6qytmUaQk5_txiz9R0hRaGXQGa9Q/s320/IMG_9991.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560796581981985346" border="0" /></a>Later, we found Gromit cozied up and ready for a long winter's nap. Would any other cat let their kids do stuff like this to them?<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY6b9mYufhsf47dTIDy8m9492IRiEWdqsIzeuELhrr7CrL5nY2TVeNLfE2_UBKJhaefZm648g6ovHTM54CHq8v8BgInBh8haFNTxKgJoeuAqBDpwCjlj4zB-Mtdb5b0MfOHwW9/s1600/IMG_9985.JPG"><br /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJBxoiAASDr045cyk5NkS_8ujBnTGSH-wsotwxfO7KHhg7uIGH5nGi7H0cJmIVg6maj_C1g966TK8WjW_oeQ9_0Kt0ROg9CqTCadH3iWgaCVjAhh_pSwK0oXYc_qG8Rkwli14y/s1600/IMG_0101.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJBxoiAASDr045cyk5NkS_8ujBnTGSH-wsotwxfO7KHhg7uIGH5nGi7H0cJmIVg6maj_C1g966TK8WjW_oeQ9_0Kt0ROg9CqTCadH3iWgaCVjAhh_pSwK0oXYc_qG8Rkwli14y/s320/IMG_0101.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560792910765527170" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim024MArpCoLoLfkZpYmnvu0ZMQxMQJAo0GE_DuOHvrKt8oX5thmfgntBwBVLlwUoy56QUfwCx9zbkPFObrrdVxIS2SQUW9A6thvmsRC4yjtSUHzVdhAjw7ll_jSCw5bSzWezh/s1600/IMG_0103.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim024MArpCoLoLfkZpYmnvu0ZMQxMQJAo0GE_DuOHvrKt8oX5thmfgntBwBVLlwUoy56QUfwCx9zbkPFObrrdVxIS2SQUW9A6thvmsRC4yjtSUHzVdhAjw7ll_jSCw5bSzWezh/s320/IMG_0103.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560792912566429346" border="0" /></a>We celebrated St. Nicholas Day, as is our tradition. The kids woke up to find their stockings filled, and a gingerbread boy and girl waiting for them at the table.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXcUk_G4A5cXsEI1vMcPpEIVl6EA5sVG085bcETDXlPBiGfzaoHtVquRtR6AE9gSMZlfB4BzqiWwXgMdmghOPWf5uK17JryIGeBvDEexMkp4mvt9Gb_l6IuXPFlvmCc__y1azM/s1600/IMG_9980.JPG"><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5BttCwVuZoUAjyJBIjno8jsKHWMtoQ-i_mWuX7k7llxw3mGoL7dZRLSt0tyxcRw37CCAQHn0z7Chv6soHzXuq8uVS2fOV6yotGboSpd_PpU881UN0s4My2LGrXAZ5QHeIpAsY/s1600/IMG_0054.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5BttCwVuZoUAjyJBIjno8jsKHWMtoQ-i_mWuX7k7llxw3mGoL7dZRLSt0tyxcRw37CCAQHn0z7Chv6soHzXuq8uVS2fOV6yotGboSpd_PpU881UN0s4My2LGrXAZ5QHeIpAsY/s320/IMG_0054.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560792894439155506" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOwNpqq8gBRdMui7lVmbyCCvuTjGuwz_1cxQder3zfkbrKpTBkt_RnPscBHX6r5mmE1GTdTTdjtDqEd1SagmW2Fz44fBslYBB91SdxdXL1Bbvold9wmKHlBrYhBZRkGSLTUhl2/s1600/IMG_0063.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOwNpqq8gBRdMui7lVmbyCCvuTjGuwz_1cxQder3zfkbrKpTBkt_RnPscBHX6r5mmE1GTdTTdjtDqEd1SagmW2Fz44fBslYBB91SdxdXL1Bbvold9wmKHlBrYhBZRkGSLTUhl2/s320/IMG_0063.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560792895527954898" border="0" /></a>Charlotte also got invited to go roller skating with our neighborhood friend. She'd never been on a playdate quite like that, so I tagged along for moral support and to snap a few photos. <br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9zmcb4ZG8_ka-Y1cedRYSrcOF8uDWdBpVaG7ATcFn1hQzjQDMbGMS5JDvzapJQrP32RklltbSWvOsW_raq_jujB1RfVzItEDZQG7QBgFLSsnsS8PkL4_prpsKpaQMHGP_s8av/s1600/IMG_9976.JPG"><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF3_1mwSRj9nZhnsFOs-PXtwvsc0uq2DNsPxRWiByUHDCxiY4UU6IbEUyJRWlESF718pcYVmZ0x6jktK7PkLAKo5r7VKCV_NU72CvjqcHxkrh5fYA14muHUq3NSuB-gC1QXiLU/s1600/IMG_0074.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF3_1mwSRj9nZhnsFOs-PXtwvsc0uq2DNsPxRWiByUHDCxiY4UU6IbEUyJRWlESF718pcYVmZ0x6jktK7PkLAKo5r7VKCV_NU72CvjqcHxkrh5fYA14muHUq3NSuB-gC1QXiLU/s320/IMG_0074.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560792902856620738" border="0" /></a>The other mom and I did the YMCA, leaving my 5-year-old daughter completely embarrassed. I feel a little bad for how much I'll probably humiliate her in 8 - 10 years (and I won't even have to dance in order to do it!).<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2jgNxeeah-maKVdmqVKn2y7R_3u-46TOfGBDOzqmApyPvJXyRPkUVJz4jJ5IRJR8a7-Nf6N_h52WF1fzt9IEg5rrnKKryqh6O12YCpQf1QVtGOdkd0o6K0O5uHCCRqHdMbB29/s1600/IMG_9964.JPG"><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRj-cIYY29-Llu-etorIuOmPCxwwsfXP1muyy7pKF-GWpp_ZcWsuc3ilvrrD4BdMGzrlgLlkl9gnmnK7m-AQSrak4ICEXZhfr3rJMaUT1LIP5sH2J_c70QMG-h1PSy4TasnrrS/s1600/IMG_0153.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRj-cIYY29-Llu-etorIuOmPCxwwsfXP1muyy7pKF-GWpp_ZcWsuc3ilvrrD4BdMGzrlgLlkl9gnmnK7m-AQSrak4ICEXZhfr3rJMaUT1LIP5sH2J_c70QMG-h1PSy4TasnrrS/s320/IMG_0153.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560794364772528914" border="0" /></a>The kids were a big help making Christmas treats.<br /></div><br />Christmas itself was a bit of a happy blur, and the very few photos I took turned out ... well, they didn't really turn out at all. We spent Christmas Eve with Robert's family, then drove back so we could wake up to Christmas morning at our own house (and we actually all slept in a little! Yay!). Then we hosted Christmas dinner for my family after all the flurries of wrapping paper and kids getting super spoiled by aunts and uncles and grandparents. After that, we celebrated my mom's birthday, then my brother's birthday, and had such a rockin' New Year with friends that we didn't come home until after breakfast the next morning.<br /><br />Whew!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTHwNua-QNf8YFcL_pqyeWX4IuwiOmLEkmofEculpIVFlNcADO-S0XxVcYGNhfLAL5jcWcHFAviilvveLILXO6pi6_SwnEZCZTKAAb2g2pZor4kXZR5Ue43m1swwYcTEwnTkbu/s1600/IMG_0173.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTHwNua-QNf8YFcL_pqyeWX4IuwiOmLEkmofEculpIVFlNcADO-S0XxVcYGNhfLAL5jcWcHFAviilvveLILXO6pi6_SwnEZCZTKAAb2g2pZor4kXZR5Ue43m1swwYcTEwnTkbu/s320/IMG_0173.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560794370317885666" border="0" /></a>We then welcomed Bird E. Bird (mostly known as just Birdy) to our growing menagerie. Birdy has been a fixture at Robert's parents house ever since he was found in one of their trees about 13 years ago (?) Our house is equipped with plenty of noise and kid antics for him to enjoy from his perch high in the corner of our playroom. And we've been enjoying his chirps and funny bird ways, too.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ53CBj1iZwhpxxeJqC9y3JE5UrnUDSBCidqGBXjzOY1AFi5zDrL8IEQaJz2USuooSugXsJYF94PJqcb5nowtJhzVucQDc5hUM8OxgqInMtL5tLLzIo9VBvO8mstoa5LqV8SGF/s1600/IMG_0195.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ53CBj1iZwhpxxeJqC9y3JE5UrnUDSBCidqGBXjzOY1AFi5zDrL8IEQaJz2USuooSugXsJYF94PJqcb5nowtJhzVucQDc5hUM8OxgqInMtL5tLLzIo9VBvO8mstoa5LqV8SGF/s320/IMG_0195.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560794388770058498" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlqzNZpOB-OFeX3JDCuOpvaogN30EYL7vUrttOXNIRzYxIGLbFYU9HJmFUbrJoCsVbcCzwfTBZXHMJtr0BXN9xdnJ_4EIfLh8Mv0bdC8bWk6lryzn1oYOqgseNVTn7jz5pSp52/s1600/IMG_0192.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlqzNZpOB-OFeX3JDCuOpvaogN30EYL7vUrttOXNIRzYxIGLbFYU9HJmFUbrJoCsVbcCzwfTBZXHMJtr0BXN9xdnJ_4EIfLh8Mv0bdC8bWk6lryzn1oYOqgseNVTn7jz5pSp52/s320/IMG_0192.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560794377859725122" border="0" /></a>Finally, a couple of things I made this last week. The first is a storyboard made from poster board, clear contact paper and packing tape, to help the kids reinforce storytelling and "beginning, middle and end". The second are a gaggle of cupcakes for Charlotte's class, to celebrate her half-birthday (since she has a summer birthday). I took the idea from Hello, Cupcake! ... and while they're not as good as the photo in the book, I still think they're pretty cute! And definitely delicious (I used the frosting recipe in the back of the book that uses Marshmallow Fluff).Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16244475172254514356noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33084767.post-87818322253730651872010-12-29T21:20:00.000-08:002010-12-29T22:03:31.254-08:00Project 31: The Grand Finale! Finally!Finally ... the rest of October! <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Saturday, 23 October</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguc1rziP9sq9T035Onj3FrkAHykz5AUKHY3kypv3BKMo6paTVPw1jCyi4t79b6bPoZDFGfs2OisKChO5Xx_xPMO7CgUWr3swC1VRXV1I03aPbnNlIN1J92FkXN9a1tHX-R52Ic/s1600/IMG_9920.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguc1rziP9sq9T035Onj3FrkAHykz5AUKHY3kypv3BKMo6paTVPw1jCyi4t79b6bPoZDFGfs2OisKChO5Xx_xPMO7CgUWr3swC1VRXV1I03aPbnNlIN1J92FkXN9a1tHX-R52Ic/s320/IMG_9920.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556342672881772050" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I found this great recipe for dinner rolls made with pumpkin (or other winter squash) in Sunset Magazine and I made them again and again and again ...<br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sunday, 24 October</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">In my written book-style journal, I sometimes will come across a page or two left accidentally blank. I don't mind it; it reminds me of the white space I need in my life sometimes, that space just simply to breathe and be. Today was one of those days.<br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Monday, 25 October</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIBuqEeGzpRUH7cRGDe-W90AXlcf38iCIrNHlcxE5PF_RWFUCRL1aer32drCDWAUhHg0gVU56v7L8Y19sDoyZq8xqliwYaBmTDDTHzFxF6jx-U6rtdM1ku19hYhiV-mZVqJDsm/s1600/IMG_9921.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIBuqEeGzpRUH7cRGDe-W90AXlcf38iCIrNHlcxE5PF_RWFUCRL1aer32drCDWAUhHg0gVU56v7L8Y19sDoyZq8xqliwYaBmTDDTHzFxF6jx-U6rtdM1ku19hYhiV-mZVqJDsm/s320/IMG_9921.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556342677227136546" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">We harvested the last of the green onions from our garden! I chopped them up, tossed them in jars and put them in the freezer to use all winter long.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4xqOGYXNaj4AKCnM3zYbx0iMrDuzCdyFYUpvPROJduGfCOAlpNex3t-hAjOMUbXMZIDkwl8HQH0Akz6TeSQYg5Ru7vSz1ixUSYbNqK6OERtsH_sqKgiReSXHsEHUr8L5oYfZ_/s1600/IMG_9923.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4xqOGYXNaj4AKCnM3zYbx0iMrDuzCdyFYUpvPROJduGfCOAlpNex3t-hAjOMUbXMZIDkwl8HQH0Akz6TeSQYg5Ru7vSz1ixUSYbNqK6OERtsH_sqKgiReSXHsEHUr8L5oYfZ_/s320/IMG_9923.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556342690064447714" border="0" /></a>Also, I bought the kids some learner's chopsticks on a recent trip to the I.D. in Seattle. Frozen blueberries are their favorite things to "practice" with.<br /></div><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tuesday, 26 October</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdx9tfFTr7bklkDVub7OQbeoHv_5aLu566zeAd8R5voi37lmVAO05C6MTIK0RK_Aq11xejzwtOCeoj01l_VVnnJAujG1Lrr3ZfilLaI3KjehsmzMZErFSoV9dV0oSU1KppnMmS/s1600/IMG_9932.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdx9tfFTr7bklkDVub7OQbeoHv_5aLu566zeAd8R5voi37lmVAO05C6MTIK0RK_Aq11xejzwtOCeoj01l_VVnnJAujG1Lrr3ZfilLaI3KjehsmzMZErFSoV9dV0oSU1KppnMmS/s320/IMG_9932.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556342690572383410" border="0" /></a>Robert and Charlotte learned how to play Tiddlywinks ...<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJs6MyE0GKy8uhwqx3vh_BwYHElJ_DSZcY4N9XPdH-ZiH6vTY5foc1KktUOqSfbgNfnygwUa4UHff-tcFwgDPxSjUJIeUAliQzmoMDTBesLdWS1VVlemFNN-QK04mWCybMkyzV/s1600/IMG_9935.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJs6MyE0GKy8uhwqx3vh_BwYHElJ_DSZcY4N9XPdH-ZiH6vTY5foc1KktUOqSfbgNfnygwUa4UHff-tcFwgDPxSjUJIeUAliQzmoMDTBesLdWS1VVlemFNN-QK04mWCybMkyzV/s320/IMG_9935.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556342695541573362" border="0" /></a>... while Calvin helped me do some baking!<br /></div><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Wednesday, 27 October</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyYIc_T2bW9PmSStv3eah0_kbezJ5OWAGrgrHyO8Jn3K4sdeWZpmXk4BA8hKAkJ51OyZVh-6LLwx5Elzy01ktpB1X2KqUXXFv_IkbQH7_zB1E1DJJ67A_aEx0sewfx3yJri2Kc/s1600/IMG_9942.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyYIc_T2bW9PmSStv3eah0_kbezJ5OWAGrgrHyO8Jn3K4sdeWZpmXk4BA8hKAkJ51OyZVh-6LLwx5Elzy01ktpB1X2KqUXXFv_IkbQH7_zB1E1DJJ67A_aEx0sewfx3yJri2Kc/s320/IMG_9942.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556343849744071762" border="0" /></a>I learned how to make <a href="http://sewritzytitzy.blogspot.com/2008/11/from-annas-gardenfabric-flower-tutorial.html">these cute little fabric flowers</a> to teach the Relief Society sisters in November. (Post-November: these flowers are now the latest trend in our ward! The Sunday after I taught how to make them, I couldn't believe how many girls in Primary were wearing them in their hair!)<br /></div><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Thursday, 28 October</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFfrdw8CURY5Yx2cDbm5zmHlfmCyouVaJdTrxe0lIjvLKyMOZMJPkDsysFqZNl697FdHORH_NDaYdRsCkvay5PhsKS4OVP6ikSW6avWRaABFoaUblLXEQMTmqSAwqIN0unASM2/s1600/IMG_9943.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFfrdw8CURY5Yx2cDbm5zmHlfmCyouVaJdTrxe0lIjvLKyMOZMJPkDsysFqZNl697FdHORH_NDaYdRsCkvay5PhsKS4OVP6ikSW6avWRaABFoaUblLXEQMTmqSAwqIN0unASM2/s320/IMG_9943.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556343851056251810" border="0" /></a>Playing Uno with Uncle Scott.<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiwtlgz2I9ZA-FHrEfXlhPAJad6Qdir8hEdmKQ6hgKRUjzxTG04TVW_3FTd5ABEO0TxKjVvc73U9DnehX8R_a27bMdm42-OnqbPpVnNJkhlQh3NT5ZyDJ1ZVxIg6EB64EOwAB6/s1600/IMG_9947.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiwtlgz2I9ZA-FHrEfXlhPAJad6Qdir8hEdmKQ6hgKRUjzxTG04TVW_3FTd5ABEO0TxKjVvc73U9DnehX8R_a27bMdm42-OnqbPpVnNJkhlQh3NT5ZyDJ1ZVxIg6EB64EOwAB6/s320/IMG_9947.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556343858969470290" border="0" /></a>And Mama's new coat hooks! Bought with birthday money from my mother-in-law. I love looking at them every day. Thanks again, Kathy!<br /></div><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Friday, 29 October</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvDzrk0FPoxr-K8IMLac50M1Zw-N9ME3kCKOXOREKFBQOLmfrRpSRb3lQn1eYgylBssCiwVfgoFtAK1NTTczmxTUofZQXaEmrReqJ7EMYjaEfGV4Rmx-7Tfn8p57l4QTqXGnFx/s1600/IMG_9949.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvDzrk0FPoxr-K8IMLac50M1Zw-N9ME3kCKOXOREKFBQOLmfrRpSRb3lQn1eYgylBssCiwVfgoFtAK1NTTczmxTUofZQXaEmrReqJ7EMYjaEfGV4Rmx-7Tfn8p57l4QTqXGnFx/s320/IMG_9949.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556343866962162882" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVXZPn3MqQ47PYGvVDhnIScHsMx51nHjSVTIz5Ye0FvILMsGEHj_AmaJEw3-aNgJt19ra7oP-NQEl69NtbmZpTXAhd_dlewga6qtjhr_amVScs9ZKVRxcjvR1IdvQ4fvxtc6oR/s1600/IMG_9952.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVXZPn3MqQ47PYGvVDhnIScHsMx51nHjSVTIz5Ye0FvILMsGEHj_AmaJEw3-aNgJt19ra7oP-NQEl69NtbmZpTXAhd_dlewga6qtjhr_amVScs9ZKVRxcjvR1IdvQ4fvxtc6oR/s320/IMG_9952.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556343876568264530" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Both kids were bumble bees for Halloween this year; this was just the day Charlotte got to wear her costume to school. They were the easiest costumes ever: black pants, yellow shirt with electrical tape stripes (comes right off, so they can wear their shirts later!). I loosely stitched some tulle in to the back of the shirt for wings, and the antennae are headband+pipe cleaner+pom-poms. Robert went as a beekeeper and I was a flower garden. We got lots of "oh, that's so cute!"'s at the ward trunk-or-treat.<br /></div><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Saturday, 30 October</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXSajHmQUulKCsgZF-BTrJ-VGr3CsLGVm04VGT9vfkKDc8XqUaRc_i5VNjT1X6_btbKJ0AhZDjNSDdSm7cKTf9UZefbQUTHbXP_3m9N9vheO8aZkajHsJ57gioMsgTReJdw7ID/s1600/IMG_9953.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXSajHmQUulKCsgZF-BTrJ-VGr3CsLGVm04VGT9vfkKDc8XqUaRc_i5VNjT1X6_btbKJ0AhZDjNSDdSm7cKTf9UZefbQUTHbXP_3m9N9vheO8aZkajHsJ57gioMsgTReJdw7ID/s320/IMG_9953.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556344227215727842" border="0" /></a>We celebrated my birthday a day early. Robert made me this to-die-for chocolate cake. Which is pictured in plastic because that's how it was when I remembered to get out the camera, and I was in a near chocolate coma and wasn't thinking straight enough to take the plastic wrap off. Oh man, I still dream of this cake.<br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sunday, 31 October</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAyMVtOEJ_b5HGu_i3jKkgIG19VPc6v4kl_6Y3VdWemuyD4xpOHX3QkUOnOAEZQ5TCehj0BpopBN4yahQT_giKfLLsyA3wUerTj1W2LT78QvN0lzd9A7av4yy2aLrIhiEEK1ta/s1600/IMG_6602_edited-1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAyMVtOEJ_b5HGu_i3jKkgIG19VPc6v4kl_6Y3VdWemuyD4xpOHX3QkUOnOAEZQ5TCehj0BpopBN4yahQT_giKfLLsyA3wUerTj1W2LT78QvN0lzd9A7av4yy2aLrIhiEEK1ta/s320/IMG_6602_edited-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556344580795637314" border="0" /></a>And finally, since Halloween was on a Sunday this year, we decided not to go trick-or-treating, and instead partied with our dear friends the Warners. I totally stole this photo from Jenni's blog post of that day, because I brought my candy-corn apron but not my camera. And because it's a rare photo of me that I actually like. I don't look 33, do I?<br /></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16244475172254514356noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33084767.post-46745683895891089002010-10-22T14:32:00.000-07:002010-10-23T22:00:12.476-07:00Project 31 Continued<span style="font-weight: bold;">Thursday, 14 October</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL62Z56XmPGWh6uvQ5IRBFCNLJwOscwEj95BWiYM2RU8O8FPkkVgJWINZYrYVPN6BPTEGL1D7ALxeUQs_DAw-r4Rai1qtgEUtrXepX_f3cSX8vBUhcgTlIGVqRlJH0oq4Z3672/s1600/IMG_9854.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL62Z56XmPGWh6uvQ5IRBFCNLJwOscwEj95BWiYM2RU8O8FPkkVgJWINZYrYVPN6BPTEGL1D7ALxeUQs_DAw-r4Rai1qtgEUtrXepX_f3cSX8vBUhcgTlIGVqRlJH0oq4Z3672/s320/IMG_9854.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530987716254413074" border="0" /></a>Late night baking for tomorrow's breakfast. It was <a href="http://www.teeplespeoples.com">Cortney</a>'s mom's baked oatmeal, one of our favorites.<br /></div><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Friday, 15 October</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihavBWkUMNo7kG6BnVbFLfS2QoQnNk59j5V3mnF0nmRrDwBj69nrFkVo1UmxpIIV6ZkCVV_GOv1pw8rheboR7DJiBI-QtyoiUmiJOmpAVepaOnRf3eodvEZvxSfBQlckNwtFT4/s1600/IMG_9415.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihavBWkUMNo7kG6BnVbFLfS2QoQnNk59j5V3mnF0nmRrDwBj69nrFkVo1UmxpIIV6ZkCVV_GOv1pw8rheboR7DJiBI-QtyoiUmiJOmpAVepaOnRf3eodvEZvxSfBQlckNwtFT4/s320/IMG_9415.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530987712182337330" border="0" /></a>A <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/pumpkin-chocolate-tart">pumpkin chocolate tart</a> for <a href="http://markjenniandthecuteness.blogspot.com">Jenni</a>'s birthday. To nobody's surprise, it didn't turn out as pretty as Martha's, but it tasted lovely!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Saturday, 16 October</span><br /><br />It's pumpkin patch time! The patch we like has so many fun things for kids to do, we totally spaced taking a photo of the actual pumpkins in the patch.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipBqM-nHx0HTi4Hxbtl2fx2_f_q74P44JuLkwcIImn540F85skoQqTkmLFyHeOfjD1h6tv0IDiS45YNDhsRzy4tjgqAlEcyBD8p0O19tgFX1uN-6R_hKMtp1cRWml3ml5UNJsT/s1600/IMG_9856.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipBqM-nHx0HTi4Hxbtl2fx2_f_q74P44JuLkwcIImn540F85skoQqTkmLFyHeOfjD1h6tv0IDiS45YNDhsRzy4tjgqAlEcyBD8p0O19tgFX1uN-6R_hKMtp1cRWml3ml5UNJsT/s320/IMG_9856.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530987725572853154" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizJNPFtSJX3Ertbae7DxN8_eaBApPC880mTy1fKbaHm7tAw6An2JHBtVIkEqL-_-ombROFhoqqxnw605DLafxZp7kffM3RZMV6h1qS9LY1FvA8rE5StvDNaPQozC9C40sN54vK/s1600/IMG_9858.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizJNPFtSJX3Ertbae7DxN8_eaBApPC880mTy1fKbaHm7tAw6An2JHBtVIkEqL-_-ombROFhoqqxnw605DLafxZp7kffM3RZMV6h1qS9LY1FvA8rE5StvDNaPQozC9C40sN54vK/s320/IMG_9858.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530987736420658434" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvt21RbbhjbcVaanSioWFQmo7AKmTT4_A__GpeisrtzQysiLwMVscy5E9jS8U_xA63NUsVDuuZZolRhAiNEgNPDiWID3yuOZTfUBBvs6rjOM-5nreJ5mwnVWCWYhHZeq0Gt0uv/s1600/IMG_9860.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvt21RbbhjbcVaanSioWFQmo7AKmTT4_A__GpeisrtzQysiLwMVscy5E9jS8U_xA63NUsVDuuZZolRhAiNEgNPDiWID3yuOZTfUBBvs6rjOM-5nreJ5mwnVWCWYhHZeq0Gt0uv/s320/IMG_9860.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530987739139277730" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp-esfU5PqX_lmIilc0uBlcIQeuWlGRChFd-EIJgm_T9go54fnEWRVtNV6anaGVhPnRNVPVgsp__zM1NLvLMtVN1tyiEPZKtL0KeaGXIcPdsEKu-O4g3ipHFZSzCl3OPM7dsRd/s1600/IMG_9865.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp-esfU5PqX_lmIilc0uBlcIQeuWlGRChFd-EIJgm_T9go54fnEWRVtNV6anaGVhPnRNVPVgsp__zM1NLvLMtVN1tyiEPZKtL0KeaGXIcPdsEKu-O4g3ipHFZSzCl3OPM7dsRd/s320/IMG_9865.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530989894353605202" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo-CXQov_x_BVyy2wJ8LYmt9NCKRR4P-OxNtcgwulDmoUxkXQJAcBTHyizmeWbuS2ML464gkYvgzCXGsLPueGafwcy9JyDm_mGXex61R9rmI0nfdB3nRzbDerlNfUWXlCRnMBN/s1600/IMG_9874.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo-CXQov_x_BVyy2wJ8LYmt9NCKRR4P-OxNtcgwulDmoUxkXQJAcBTHyizmeWbuS2ML464gkYvgzCXGsLPueGafwcy9JyDm_mGXex61R9rmI0nfdB3nRzbDerlNfUWXlCRnMBN/s320/IMG_9874.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530989905343865458" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFtD9Cj4vT1KDq0tTZeq6jVS8PLRTdjwprImuIVQaMnKI6O7wcEpnuWiCsSydQYzECGonA27IJq6WnEtQK4Iv_T4WnllIpESuxXhyphenhyphen_kgZ_C7otCJED1-xvEAqU3BzJUxlkzbFn/s1600/IMG_9879.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFtD9Cj4vT1KDq0tTZeq6jVS8PLRTdjwprImuIVQaMnKI6O7wcEpnuWiCsSydQYzECGonA27IJq6WnEtQK4Iv_T4WnllIpESuxXhyphenhyphen_kgZ_C7otCJED1-xvEAqU3BzJUxlkzbFn/s320/IMG_9879.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530989909197424722" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZwVjAbl0h65N4hY9jZXyq-614UYW-G8XEgXhMVo80wLSBbahyphenhyphenhHnl14y5PyvjcEy84kYfxBj0PfKvzaO3S_EUALKap-fTWEmYOMcDPsfVJ6LnSg47rFPzI8LLvaLbDHgJUlsq/s1600/IMG_9884.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZwVjAbl0h65N4hY9jZXyq-614UYW-G8XEgXhMVo80wLSBbahyphenhyphenhHnl14y5PyvjcEy84kYfxBj0PfKvzaO3S_EUALKap-fTWEmYOMcDPsfVJ6LnSg47rFPzI8LLvaLbDHgJUlsq/s320/IMG_9884.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530989917670781426" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Also: Party in the Playroom! I had already picked up the dinosaurs before thinking to document the festivities.<br /></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcJNhYT0HPNJjUcyoZKUnw5PI97LeAv7YrZUKcGzS_iLqjSEF1Am11IvLy_KTbfYH4ItQobnoDopDi6kLpoRDYKcoamvQxaF6bciDik_XbNmNC0sBtwfGSaIKh6_yFW4-urtJr/s1600/IMG_9887.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcJNhYT0HPNJjUcyoZKUnw5PI97LeAv7YrZUKcGzS_iLqjSEF1Am11IvLy_KTbfYH4ItQobnoDopDi6kLpoRDYKcoamvQxaF6bciDik_XbNmNC0sBtwfGSaIKh6_yFW4-urtJr/s320/IMG_9887.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530989923761543538" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sunday, 17 October</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_FjKOgwWsSq_3X9yk3QYeYYUdhmsYs_LS803UTelDzgAw9UUrohXIU1zMeEU4H0M8zJmDnj6HEWBvGd82Pc97Ywuq5oVZYHEikeGAXCjT_BaDtbY8BciLF1OxH4WsxnL4yd7m/s1600/IMG_9889.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_FjKOgwWsSq_3X9yk3QYeYYUdhmsYs_LS803UTelDzgAw9UUrohXIU1zMeEU4H0M8zJmDnj6HEWBvGd82Pc97Ywuq5oVZYHEikeGAXCjT_BaDtbY8BciLF1OxH4WsxnL4yd7m/s320/IMG_9889.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530990988909424738" border="0" /></a>The kids confused everyone they talked to at church when they said "We're decorating a gingerbread house today!" I guess the haunted gingerbread house tradition hasn't yet caught on in these parts (actually, this is the first year we've done it, but it was so much fun I think it may become annual)!<br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Monday, 18 October</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi-IDtXdnJSaQ2QsVWZzCD91wL4oPwjRfYFnB4FtXpjiJfubACm9EdZHt-kCcw4W7EtPWHLiWhkcmyoFqFjG9afcIOcpyphVPqro3MM0emnuJeiuSADtGBRmSoBQcJKsB4Crsn/s1600/IMG_9890.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi-IDtXdnJSaQ2QsVWZzCD91wL4oPwjRfYFnB4FtXpjiJfubACm9EdZHt-kCcw4W7EtPWHLiWhkcmyoFqFjG9afcIOcpyphVPqro3MM0emnuJeiuSADtGBRmSoBQcJKsB4Crsn/s320/IMG_9890.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530990989365059234" border="0" /></a>Smartypants.<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tuesday, 19 October</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifCUbCi-GFxFLlZ5E3aT81xngwH_IP3nhTS6ZdJgRuH3OZwmbsdKGn-MM9apU7DK50E4dPV3_rHrZPL86971qDqseoYJTsR5G7aS_W6QNG6JANEGIf-ASKaZu6HGqMaRxUyjpE/s1600/IMG_9897.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifCUbCi-GFxFLlZ5E3aT81xngwH_IP3nhTS6ZdJgRuH3OZwmbsdKGn-MM9apU7DK50E4dPV3_rHrZPL86971qDqseoYJTsR5G7aS_W6QNG6JANEGIf-ASKaZu6HGqMaRxUyjpE/s320/IMG_9897.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530990996665538946" border="0" /></a>Sibling bonding over video games! <br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS3qG-APxTpm6wjoRHTU7e7xIHSKXIcZCJIPRTuZwixukAUZReiy98AOkyaW3YUeP9T5h63AXlQCQnvjAHj3QQClJ_tfOEZJpPfhSOrapctXm8wA0rlMf-zSo2-hrYWRMW-c6t/s1600/IMG_9898.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS3qG-APxTpm6wjoRHTU7e7xIHSKXIcZCJIPRTuZwixukAUZReiy98AOkyaW3YUeP9T5h63AXlQCQnvjAHj3QQClJ_tfOEZJpPfhSOrapctXm8wA0rlMf-zSo2-hrYWRMW-c6t/s320/IMG_9898.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530991002600211330" border="0" /></a>And this is why I don't exercise. Rolling out 16 homemade tortillas was quite a workout in itself.<br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Wednesday, 20 October</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsHGRdxh6S9l9zVR9BjyIjquFnfpjoM7qNyvKIe1tpeikY6y7O9WewdBpR0Ku19pcZOjhmASfOxjVY6OPzuOK3Jx9wuLORCkX1OeWHyRQEZ_BjZu4KbsXvbhY8iNVCmzRWD07y/s1600/IMG_9902.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsHGRdxh6S9l9zVR9BjyIjquFnfpjoM7qNyvKIe1tpeikY6y7O9WewdBpR0Ku19pcZOjhmASfOxjVY6OPzuOK3Jx9wuLORCkX1OeWHyRQEZ_BjZu4KbsXvbhY8iNVCmzRWD07y/s320/IMG_9902.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530991006211130322" border="0" /></a>I woke up to this little balloon dancing in the air from the heater vent. I pointed it out to the kids thinking they'd be in awe. But they weren't. "Oh yeah, Mom, it was doing that yesterday." Drat.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguZdrREUrkyGzP2muT3JNJBW40UQEoeW32wz48tJgEmqFT58cFDqarmmrCUnKdPAGOFFj-3_uDCJFnNG86wQ_FS5kAEmpZwtoXxMfsvWUB7uKLAvp111Cu9NRbHoXuOlOg1rCe/s1600/IMG_9905.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguZdrREUrkyGzP2muT3JNJBW40UQEoeW32wz48tJgEmqFT58cFDqarmmrCUnKdPAGOFFj-3_uDCJFnNG86wQ_FS5kAEmpZwtoXxMfsvWUB7uKLAvp111Cu9NRbHoXuOlOg1rCe/s320/IMG_9905.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531087604198099618" border="0" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">Also, I made the paneer for the first time ever (usually it's Robert). When I was done, I had all this whey I couldn't deal with throwing out. So I've been using it in our bread instead of water.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Thursday, 21 October</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuTl-3WntyT3EixYOJKF_rCYkTSASKAdzz-H4Jcr1FAvgAOR8lx5iRVhAoIw9KbaY49Ao-oA33a2jhkY0dw6SAYqybzw6AuzNl_3TpLSMh_ZlebNKekM9lMxqJqjrDrKLOmRwL/s1600/IMG_9911.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuTl-3WntyT3EixYOJKF_rCYkTSASKAdzz-H4Jcr1FAvgAOR8lx5iRVhAoIw9KbaY49Ao-oA33a2jhkY0dw6SAYqybzw6AuzNl_3TpLSMh_ZlebNKekM9lMxqJqjrDrKLOmRwL/s320/IMG_9911.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531087608753246338" border="0" /></a>A visit from Alicia and Trixie!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Friday, 22 October</span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF_t7TmnDOzGsIxpqfW2Gn5QDZXI0w8afA4wzzjyHN2p17lKpHgTYr5dLPJ3HZMPNUN-JYu2YE3At0l2f6tt_D9nGMJhdgl8Ap79_fVOWPuUlgDqfS5J9InmLoZyj30majmiaw/s1600/IMG_9915.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF_t7TmnDOzGsIxpqfW2Gn5QDZXI0w8afA4wzzjyHN2p17lKpHgTYr5dLPJ3HZMPNUN-JYu2YE3At0l2f6tt_D9nGMJhdgl8Ap79_fVOWPuUlgDqfS5J9InmLoZyj30majmiaw/s320/IMG_9915.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531087614224048530" border="0" /></a>Playing dress-up! He's a dog, and Charlotte is a fancy lady taking him out for a walk. Not pictured are a pair of purple fuzzy slippers. Because you need those when you're a dog. Of course.<br /></div></div></div></div></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16244475172254514356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33084767.post-84871584805959693282010-10-13T20:40:00.000-07:002010-10-13T21:29:59.706-07:00Project 31I have been thinking, really since the first of the year, about doing a 365 Project here. But it seemed so daunting and I didn't feel like I could commit to a whole year. Enter the creative rut I've been in for the last couple months. It's time to climb out of it and start taking photos again, at the very least. So I decided that I could do a Project 31 ... one month (my favorite month!) of taking photos (at least one every day) and posting them here. Yes, that I can do. And so.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Friday, 01 October</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGA_vBjzbodGKEy78VIHLj96f2o_nfTAhrS9xgCXSoL1So921Z61CYK-DCdPVxahuMs7uss2Kjnf5FwCRI08D2lMhp_15-GcwPhKR5tAJycOAHImZkdL87ar-tIcz6L2AVWlpN/s1600/IMG_9769.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGA_vBjzbodGKEy78VIHLj96f2o_nfTAhrS9xgCXSoL1So921Z61CYK-DCdPVxahuMs7uss2Kjnf5FwCRI08D2lMhp_15-GcwPhKR5tAJycOAHImZkdL87ar-tIcz6L2AVWlpN/s320/IMG_9769.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527742449694275090" border="0" /></a>Newly arranged family photographs in my newly painted bedroom!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9e2ivfvCaMjHmcyckh-KhDoDvmIa95GM5vhZekSOUhZ5XBmZ5z-1fMSOAu6TCaolNhMTJfS0DxDJcgEd4tjMQj9SkGXMfcspYoiYyk-NX1_n5rVU9NS58mLKZVHwJaDOiA7qa/s1600/IMG_9780.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9e2ivfvCaMjHmcyckh-KhDoDvmIa95GM5vhZekSOUhZ5XBmZ5z-1fMSOAu6TCaolNhMTJfS0DxDJcgEd4tjMQj9SkGXMfcspYoiYyk-NX1_n5rVU9NS58mLKZVHwJaDOiA7qa/s320/IMG_9780.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527742456609645234" border="0" /></a>One of my favorite spots in the house. The cabinet is an old Westinghouse radio cabinet my mom found for me at Goodwill. I replaced the knobs, and plan to re-do the speaker screens in something colorful. My canning supplies are stacked in front, and the laundry mountain is just around the corner - but this little spot in the kitchen always makes me happy.<br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Saturday, 02 October</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYZtZxuGsKFvBar0wKaY5qz3KigcJCJXxV4Il1NMBkzeEEM1uHVuWnep7QELFOE8kkQz81w1z1cFWthP9mqwkytnek8rMcp7muHpsJ1ZbJ8nOwtKbIDgO7F7tIv-mjqCGS0nSk/s1600/IMG_9784.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYZtZxuGsKFvBar0wKaY5qz3KigcJCJXxV4Il1NMBkzeEEM1uHVuWnep7QELFOE8kkQz81w1z1cFWthP9mqwkytnek8rMcp7muHpsJ1ZbJ8nOwtKbIDgO7F7tIv-mjqCGS0nSk/s320/IMG_9784.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527742462757753666" border="0" /></a>We watched General Conference today, here in our living room. We don't sit together as a family in this room nearly often enough. Today was so good for that.<br /></div><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sunday, 03 October</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg62_gCtBDnKpdzvkRfXwtnzLSp1OmbgVrfkkXDJLtjsQbVWh9KKvVYnNrFnAJVdBwtgjTujrHMDtllBP-274pJTqhVnRctJ5jQ7N0FBflsS_X2f7-TsG6ZVY1xdg8jqDvYxVHg/s1600/IMG_9788.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg62_gCtBDnKpdzvkRfXwtnzLSp1OmbgVrfkkXDJLtjsQbVWh9KKvVYnNrFnAJVdBwtgjTujrHMDtllBP-274pJTqhVnRctJ5jQ7N0FBflsS_X2f7-TsG6ZVY1xdg8jqDvYxVHg/s320/IMG_9788.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527742471462991762" border="0" /></a>He looks fierce, and he'd like you to believe that he really is.<br /></div><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Monday, 04 October</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQVX1c3E3rg9iDm5Z_hmpPE2EWvAKHyvs3KsLbmwGo8uMZ4KVwmB_J9qsIbBZmk1e6qoVWMsoOY0XfOUfvF_EdG2Y8zvxQTdFs9nRAsQZJJdGS1iyQ1mKgkWL35zaDILwh7AxO/s1600/IMG_9793.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQVX1c3E3rg9iDm5Z_hmpPE2EWvAKHyvs3KsLbmwGo8uMZ4KVwmB_J9qsIbBZmk1e6qoVWMsoOY0XfOUfvF_EdG2Y8zvxQTdFs9nRAsQZJJdGS1iyQ1mKgkWL35zaDILwh7AxO/s320/IMG_9793.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527742473374898178" border="0" /></a>Homemade peppermint lavender laundry powder! Yes!<br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tuesday, 05 October</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtDXSF3rK8otr1_yztUxi1iYZjpfasyLTMszfVCKXiJy1vK4d8oFVd7jMy_DKwEWUdSscgTwQBsrJFi8Y0vaLls6RPDIl3J3bfm-CzzhbCOsCTvi-YdeRSjLwV9M6ExalXsKOb/s1600/IMG_9796.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtDXSF3rK8otr1_yztUxi1iYZjpfasyLTMszfVCKXiJy1vK4d8oFVd7jMy_DKwEWUdSscgTwQBsrJFi8Y0vaLls6RPDIl3J3bfm-CzzhbCOsCTvi-YdeRSjLwV9M6ExalXsKOb/s320/IMG_9796.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527746236279442962" border="0" /></a> I see this time of day more often than I should. Also, I need to dust.<br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Wednesday, 06 October</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf1Fq1XcMgJ3aftMgN8S2nfRzpdqRp7wgt6zxsOBSbt-JqAnsF0WTi3bA99rIBm5IvSbQJVrVbkq_sZqARqOwIQGXYXZJ82oAz4eW1wdU3xqazmMUGzz9cq5fCMls0kcZKGysj/s1600/IMG_9800.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf1Fq1XcMgJ3aftMgN8S2nfRzpdqRp7wgt6zxsOBSbt-JqAnsF0WTi3bA99rIBm5IvSbQJVrVbkq_sZqARqOwIQGXYXZJ82oAz4eW1wdU3xqazmMUGzz9cq5fCMls0kcZKGysj/s320/IMG_9800.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527746247652772786" border="0" /></a>A view of my children from the kitchen just before dinnertime.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOJ8aVOKeW1hJeObKtKZ2Sj39JORwU2JBnDnbJk7sBOIgZbctiFEeJI7KrC8lhLh3lUOxf3V11n5B0nF33XLsNt875Ix-XdH-9oDIM5HjYsHPqByl6r5YtNi-SCsdywu5AkvrQ/s1600/IMG_9801.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOJ8aVOKeW1hJeObKtKZ2Sj39JORwU2JBnDnbJk7sBOIgZbctiFEeJI7KrC8lhLh3lUOxf3V11n5B0nF33XLsNt875Ix-XdH-9oDIM5HjYsHPqByl6r5YtNi-SCsdywu5AkvrQ/s320/IMG_9801.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527746254778091170" border="0" /></a>Today's harvest!<br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Thursday, 07 October</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxBlqPHvsQ38J4Rg0C1uKQ0XGqdYj3tlNCECUubYF6zJEUTuoUBPjw4NJiygeGL_V5NP7W1rhpWz5OFTDX3fduUasOcuV36LDdt9LSpTuFr2jd4_XDRRetzzrICmSw-9B6Or3p/s1600/IMG_9803.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxBlqPHvsQ38J4Rg0C1uKQ0XGqdYj3tlNCECUubYF6zJEUTuoUBPjw4NJiygeGL_V5NP7W1rhpWz5OFTDX3fduUasOcuV36LDdt9LSpTuFr2jd4_XDRRetzzrICmSw-9B6Or3p/s320/IMG_9803.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527746258860583122" border="0" /></a>Charlotte's teacher inspired us to walk around the neighborhood being "spiderweb detectives".<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGhbYI6xirBLXbJjdlr7wPMMluDOgs9cRJJND9hGrDWkCXHeO7Ihba7ONlE98SbjCw01kgvxy46YfcZaZI6T8gYgTjKci47nJJv9nlmrVpDBcexf2GZ3usUsdPcD50cNG2fo5P/s1600/IMG_9816.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGhbYI6xirBLXbJjdlr7wPMMluDOgs9cRJJND9hGrDWkCXHeO7Ihba7ONlE98SbjCw01kgvxy46YfcZaZI6T8gYgTjKci47nJJv9nlmrVpDBcexf2GZ3usUsdPcD50cNG2fo5P/s320/IMG_9816.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527746262395183666" border="0" /></a>We brought our magnifying glasses (or, as Calvin would say: "fine-a-mine" glasses) and everything!<br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Friday, 08 October</span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiywxw4viGLxhYmGMHpaSCklVZQzYRQOSDxBnhsKi5bCRea5RPUqVCh5n_9zLzv5n-Zc8iHJisoaaqDosmO2JVlsD-4y4coEvRCKp9GWuWeCn_vQCaVnJnoR-1JXJk34gp3udWd/s1600/IMG_9818.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiywxw4viGLxhYmGMHpaSCklVZQzYRQOSDxBnhsKi5bCRea5RPUqVCh5n_9zLzv5n-Zc8iHJisoaaqDosmO2JVlsD-4y4coEvRCKp9GWuWeCn_vQCaVnJnoR-1JXJk34gp3udWd/s320/IMG_9818.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527747200837353250" border="0" /></a>A visit to Grandma and Grandpa Miller's house while Grandma was making soap.<br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Saturday, 09 October</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLPW7DiCSwX6t-WEnaNI5Ndgmd0cuY97aOrGOqCidOti-lWD6WuyWgWdcHi1VwtZRkv7hsTzjHdcYxoMZSL5IhaKGBfZJkWEu5tQt-FRAlCGitdFfToadB_lihk_g2IFm1_JBu/s1600/IMG_9830.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLPW7DiCSwX6t-WEnaNI5Ndgmd0cuY97aOrGOqCidOti-lWD6WuyWgWdcHi1VwtZRkv7hsTzjHdcYxoMZSL5IhaKGBfZJkWEu5tQt-FRAlCGitdFfToadB_lihk_g2IFm1_JBu/s320/IMG_9830.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527747209686821842" border="0" /></a>Kittens at Grandma's house!<br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sunday, 10 October</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Lq1eo00QhnlCRETOFvoAE67LVMA3otCg4qxlr-FD0ErKXVCF6BcUbLirXrBW2utPnMyz-tcuFQ0WuAHlyfyDtC8rPaohpwAXHA4vg8fpPy4xohDk_PcukFZN-F-ippCdwv3i/s1600/IMG_9833.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Lq1eo00QhnlCRETOFvoAE67LVMA3otCg4qxlr-FD0ErKXVCF6BcUbLirXrBW2utPnMyz-tcuFQ0WuAHlyfyDtC8rPaohpwAXHA4vg8fpPy4xohDk_PcukFZN-F-ippCdwv3i/s320/IMG_9833.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527747220039675378" border="0" /></a>Grandma and Grandpa Ennis are back in town. And they brought Uncle Scott with them! Auntie Jess was here for a couple days, too, so we had Uncle Aaron and Auntie Chrys come on over, too, for a lovely family dinner and visit.<br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Monday, 11 October</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTamt5sJyExLAj4eJB3uxnyy7DJfqTW8_RWf97pHe9lfNW_79TMxhUjpzcGgRoyxeJHawwzdCuREfVmRGYJtF9FKyaF5BTREpg6344A4rk7FHJryYW54RB-7mGUuaw0QShdMSK/s1600/IMG_9844.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTamt5sJyExLAj4eJB3uxnyy7DJfqTW8_RWf97pHe9lfNW_79TMxhUjpzcGgRoyxeJHawwzdCuREfVmRGYJtF9FKyaF5BTREpg6344A4rk7FHJryYW54RB-7mGUuaw0QShdMSK/s320/IMG_9844.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527747226075912994" border="0" /></a>We decided to move FHE to Tuesday nights for the next few weeks so that Charlotte could take a jazz dance class with her beloved Miss Stephanie. It's quite different from ballet and she isn't loving it as much as she thought she would. I hope the next 7 weeks aren't too horrible for her!<br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tuesday, 12 October</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ObJL6llfbNmtmPzK-3LJnYZ2niTW2Os7oCWzu3V6VFj3ASHgmq124BgzfnyMIgbX91QYNMQiLLoMmdp5iU76pj5EAd1rzwtwdsVrAqp6kg9CwP12lV5jQYUa1sdZMv78CSAe/s1600/IMG_9846.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ObJL6llfbNmtmPzK-3LJnYZ2niTW2Os7oCWzu3V6VFj3ASHgmq124BgzfnyMIgbX91QYNMQiLLoMmdp5iU76pj5EAd1rzwtwdsVrAqp6kg9CwP12lV5jQYUa1sdZMv78CSAe/s320/IMG_9846.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527747855081540306" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihhBr_Qt1PrSKynu7YxAluyjtBptwD56JouNqgH803bugkHpvL80t7o4MzBv2AHOzlJWPjGxrYrh55oKKwGgh1OP4o-qNd47p1GQ2Av6AD2ADKczeCUCZ-TjUDqMuQkvOytKt1/s1600/IMG_9848.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihhBr_Qt1PrSKynu7YxAluyjtBptwD56JouNqgH803bugkHpvL80t7o4MzBv2AHOzlJWPjGxrYrh55oKKwGgh1OP4o-qNd47p1GQ2Av6AD2ADKczeCUCZ-TjUDqMuQkvOytKt1/s320/IMG_9848.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527747864996465378" border="0" /></a>I found a new use for all the many many mason jars in our garage - science experiments!<br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Wednesday, 13 October</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpow_NrBdDGUrmGV8lSK-vb6CJt1TFYb4scnadngZ1LVNN2c-u7vONZiGjK4E7JDtbkWH8QRKg7h_3S-K5H7lD8wz0IU2l8ojcORQfyzAfZ-vLD_V1pdg6yDNZVnSXcSkLkhO-/s1600/IMG_9853.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpow_NrBdDGUrmGV8lSK-vb6CJt1TFYb4scnadngZ1LVNN2c-u7vONZiGjK4E7JDtbkWH8QRKg7h_3S-K5H7lD8wz0IU2l8ojcORQfyzAfZ-vLD_V1pdg6yDNZVnSXcSkLkhO-/s320/IMG_9853.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527747868841412162" border="0" /></a>There's really only one reason why I would be drinking teabag tea from a mug with honey. (I prefer it loose, in a cup, straight up.). We've caught a cold. <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">To be continued ...</span><br /></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16244475172254514356noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33084767.post-76251221283242272152010-10-03T21:25:00.000-07:002010-10-07T21:09:19.068-07:00Summer 2010: Part 2Here's Part 2: Washington, DC<br /><br />We went to DC to visit family: Jess and Drew (plus Kami and AJ); Scott (and even got to see Daniel and Rachelle!); and Mom and Dad who have been there all summer to help Scott after his accident.<br /><br />Here are photos!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOqDjArrwyVztwPqj5-WaUXrVS3PAwqQVR9Az5mLhxP-TmQR4MdmwPINZiKIWi9M0q8Gaz9v0jpVB046oPUYT8yosuc2AR3-jsQcEkxSRwNu_x2AJuE7F6Vfd_u6qu3UJXiasv/s1600/IMG_4053.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOqDjArrwyVztwPqj5-WaUXrVS3PAwqQVR9Az5mLhxP-TmQR4MdmwPINZiKIWi9M0q8Gaz9v0jpVB046oPUYT8yosuc2AR3-jsQcEkxSRwNu_x2AJuE7F6Vfd_u6qu3UJXiasv/s320/IMG_4053.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525511522886834530" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Robert and Calvin at the biggest pencil ever! :)<br /></span></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT7AALCXDDijb3_BAEQd9HQWPdXzj26HRVZSoIjfcPlE_thUvY_5FLLDg_MsmbiDm-c0HeDzN72AEjt4MTdfSdZS7Aj3TgI0McbPXhfFF2pGQjwYIkNp86AG2Qz6io3CuxSDzX/s1600/IMG_4118.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT7AALCXDDijb3_BAEQd9HQWPdXzj26HRVZSoIjfcPlE_thUvY_5FLLDg_MsmbiDm-c0HeDzN72AEjt4MTdfSdZS7Aj3TgI0McbPXhfFF2pGQjwYIkNp86AG2Qz6io3CuxSDzX/s320/IMG_4118.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524047892770893106" border="0" /></a>While walking down this pathway between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Monument, we got caught in a sudden downpour. It was awesome! It's August in DC, so the rain was warm (not like our frigid northwest rain) and the drops were huge. The kids were miserable, so I decided to sing. Yes, I became that person. I totally sang "Singin' in the Rain" and "I Don't Care if the Sun Don't Shine" at the top of my lungs, because my kids were so grumpy and there was nothing else I could do about it: we didn't have a car or an umbrella, and the closest shelter was waydownthere at the Lincoln Memorial. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyxDOmvMh5xxlDUxBe4p9aAfMxMlFqky1-X6bnl9AQTLBYpumW5lS9iX39Jh_RZZNYHKiEVIhQ4Qa_As0nPS6kJebs7EuafBrSuRhlqp68fnjQJi2ssnhVMlTthPQEZQ5fD83A/s1600/IMG_4131.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyxDOmvMh5xxlDUxBe4p9aAfMxMlFqky1-X6bnl9AQTLBYpumW5lS9iX39Jh_RZZNYHKiEVIhQ4Qa_As0nPS6kJebs7EuafBrSuRhlqp68fnjQJi2ssnhVMlTthPQEZQ5fD83A/s320/IMG_4131.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524047898278346850" border="0" /></a>We were soaked through and through by the time we got there, and smiling for the camera was definitely not going to happen.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWW7yFg2yxXD_0L0xUI89dXEHdEqGXmvUnFIogkCbEAN03JiFgtyr643kXP4LNRp3O-g5WVZF8rGdKyQq8rMixydsOxc4z9HvHYhYpopW71U91vyZHqj7ac0lLjKpLFM3ow6py/s1600/IMG_4142.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWW7yFg2yxXD_0L0xUI89dXEHdEqGXmvUnFIogkCbEAN03JiFgtyr643kXP4LNRp3O-g5WVZF8rGdKyQq8rMixydsOxc4z9HvHYhYpopW71U91vyZHqj7ac0lLjKpLFM3ow6py/s320/IMG_4142.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525511518937471122" border="0" /></a>The rain stopped on our way back toward the "pencil", walking along the other side of the reflecting pool. I love this photo - that little flash of happy pink against the lonely old WWI memorial.<br /><br />We also went to the Museum of Natural History, where I let the kids have one of the cameras. I think this is my favorite shot:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwe8vpYK3XWpKwOpxgt2Z2si10uP1raKrTjL7gWvk2qvo_KKRLqnohpBGccqqdtXU9Aa_KPea-tSNEMhesqzW03HMtI2IH7q_1dsMpif-HAZ8tVyg08Uz1z-2ZDkUfDBAupGId/s1600/IMG_9323.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwe8vpYK3XWpKwOpxgt2Z2si10uP1raKrTjL7gWvk2qvo_KKRLqnohpBGccqqdtXU9Aa_KPea-tSNEMhesqzW03HMtI2IH7q_1dsMpif-HAZ8tVyg08Uz1z-2ZDkUfDBAupGId/s320/IMG_9323.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524049702087252786" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8yaM6kDUKOn9Hl6SvoK26fkCgNZeagk1_i6bwF7TBJvV-qxIp9GGhpMgnziWorGqy57MFzX0Av0oIbVj0PoT-2uy8IeBo6yQHxC2FRxZ0b-H1beIMGBcaX4rh3UUY5WJFtg1k/s1600/IMG_9340.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8yaM6kDUKOn9Hl6SvoK26fkCgNZeagk1_i6bwF7TBJvV-qxIp9GGhpMgnziWorGqy57MFzX0Av0oIbVj0PoT-2uy8IeBo6yQHxC2FRxZ0b-H1beIMGBcaX4rh3UUY5WJFtg1k/s320/IMG_9340.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524049705403383650" border="0" /></a>They have a fossil lab there, with windows all around so you can see the scientists at work. This guy actually opened up his window and talked to the kids about what he was doing - they were totally captivated! Charlotte wanted to know if he was a real paleontologist. So I encouraged her to ask him! She did - but he said he was actually a chemist. Super cool, because then we talked about how all different sorts of scientists work together.<br /><br />They had a really great butterfly exhibit, which Kami, Charlotte and Calvin went to with Jess while Robert and I stayed with A.J. and watched a movie about a chrysalis. I love this cousin shot inside the exhibit:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc0q1_Bwozp8cR_1rn9mi5lbZYIcTzQP94h29z5YeHt_B1ucb3d_9FlBvMk71X_wRJOsnRyin0zp-TU0gJF428Pl0vS5W76HPxl1TCXQz2_yD3pVwKX9OnTfHZu78qvZ9KGyYt/s1600/IMG_9353.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc0q1_Bwozp8cR_1rn9mi5lbZYIcTzQP94h29z5YeHt_B1ucb3d_9FlBvMk71X_wRJOsnRyin0zp-TU0gJF428Pl0vS5W76HPxl1TCXQz2_yD3pVwKX9OnTfHZu78qvZ9KGyYt/s320/IMG_9353.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524049710649485698" border="0" /></a><br />And of course Jess and I had to go see the Hope Diamond! It was gorgeous, but I'm more impressed by its history than the actual rock:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjZX4zJyxR29xkjPZOO2Tr_rCxv_t8tn7IRg0WQ8Z5WUytGfcC5wMaxzXPXbh35K7RQ5dZ1mnGSwyH5bZ9I78Fo5wvNsQnEMRekQIMFoUvuk-hBOQgZ8srvoHsO2OOXicn6AMl/s1600/IMG_9343.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjZX4zJyxR29xkjPZOO2Tr_rCxv_t8tn7IRg0WQ8Z5WUytGfcC5wMaxzXPXbh35K7RQ5dZ1mnGSwyH5bZ9I78Fo5wvNsQnEMRekQIMFoUvuk-hBOQgZ8srvoHsO2OOXicn6AMl/s320/IMG_9343.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524050788468078658" border="0" /></a><br />We visited George Washington's home at Mount Vernon:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrgVzjD3wP-vAd7rnHHzUzy4dILjmaj3pseOuREeiw-Zqch3Yy-froeDZMgPNTG1NXTpCiEbbJbN_XSL4DF1nql0dZdWxOL2HoCKQWBnAkSIauc6qTrIbiQSInbScrs42JR1zA/s1600/IMG_9404.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrgVzjD3wP-vAd7rnHHzUzy4dILjmaj3pseOuREeiw-Zqch3Yy-froeDZMgPNTG1NXTpCiEbbJbN_XSL4DF1nql0dZdWxOL2HoCKQWBnAkSIauc6qTrIbiQSInbScrs42JR1zA/s320/IMG_9404.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524050801038270418" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBZ_8jwaC_QUkalVTkqx1FgsKdHqkWZnPEsmenR7kwemM8x8Inhg1UG4fhW4rEhyBE8YFGbHlg7u2GVKgSly3oyHnuJLE8w0o9GGQiN-2C-R9jYYRDJzh-FrIPuW_rtYPHe6M6/s1600/IMG_9372.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBZ_8jwaC_QUkalVTkqx1FgsKdHqkWZnPEsmenR7kwemM8x8Inhg1UG4fhW4rEhyBE8YFGbHlg7u2GVKgSly3oyHnuJLE8w0o9GGQiN-2C-R9jYYRDJzh-FrIPuW_rtYPHe6M6/s320/IMG_9372.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524050796939454866" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWjqiLp9lSHgqcY0-kqeZU5KOvpJE-9AWPG6rZieY9w24TAlMgYQAt58D8ZtEcklPwI8XHJTSMNXi0e3RQRkZ6rgxxKzZYyz2QQFGMBLpAgzGdUBzsHaBzqeA_z0qOh6ca5O79/s1600/IMG_9360.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWjqiLp9lSHgqcY0-kqeZU5KOvpJE-9AWPG6rZieY9w24TAlMgYQAt58D8ZtEcklPwI8XHJTSMNXi0e3RQRkZ6rgxxKzZYyz2QQFGMBLpAgzGdUBzsHaBzqeA_z0qOh6ca5O79/s320/IMG_9360.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524049716465822338" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWc_Rjd55RAPdB1RHv4vmK-za4m68D9axhFTtFe1hfiM5AkpIaOEidB2AkJLEQbiqwmp3gsZkK4wsbcHBHrZMO6TAp6O7_RdUzbNILP5-lws2sr33psXr4BqdAGbIH9holTqr3/s1600/IMG_9424.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWc_Rjd55RAPdB1RHv4vmK-za4m68D9axhFTtFe1hfiM5AkpIaOEidB2AkJLEQbiqwmp3gsZkK4wsbcHBHrZMO6TAp6O7_RdUzbNILP5-lws2sr33psXr4BqdAGbIH9holTqr3/s320/IMG_9424.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524050806239313138" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Washington's innovative threshing barn; he had the horses actually trample the wheat, which would get sifted through small holes in the floor - the wheat berries would fall to the cellar below and the stalks stayed above.<br /></span></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCzy0d077uWxK4wkzuDmxpaKnXg9T7dajlFS8jl7_d2H78sakKdQUUfmPs4zDzDaO1fksVj0xJtarUyXZXPVqPROTSpmhiprCrvRwAK0Rd0HupHZ3-Tfvi__3pLRrcnRREIobj/s1600/IMG_9432.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCzy0d077uWxK4wkzuDmxpaKnXg9T7dajlFS8jl7_d2H78sakKdQUUfmPs4zDzDaO1fksVj0xJtarUyXZXPVqPROTSpmhiprCrvRwAK0Rd0HupHZ3-Tfvi__3pLRrcnRREIobj/s320/IMG_9432.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524050814949859714" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNTsC4HVxOk4jdmywrE4dAm6Vu0qIt9CQhKg2c0SppUkM2g-xrrQEltE9DR8JIy7NTPbh4VFDql-XrccIpo1jApqbmx1SNWATfzvAfENMYSWjlrGoyjEdXHSjE0rQNNqvFMavY/s1600/IMG_9455.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNTsC4HVxOk4jdmywrE4dAm6Vu0qIt9CQhKg2c0SppUkM2g-xrrQEltE9DR8JIy7NTPbh4VFDql-XrccIpo1jApqbmx1SNWATfzvAfENMYSWjlrGoyjEdXHSjE0rQNNqvFMavY/s320/IMG_9455.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524051801226532738" border="0" /></a><br />And we visited Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's home. Which was our favorite thing to see, I think. His entire house was so innovative, and the grounds were absolutely breathtaking:<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiABWvKTrj8JOKdeGQe8AQx4KVl8YIkSySHRmpJdXtrDC7uFlHupCE7fg7Uc-LW13hPTALyoLVyLqJCBmtS5SKdgMuTmchHZ7xGCt7fY7lqn0aCZLkyLPrWcxaBt8QjK_2QPc7/s1600/IMG_9594.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiABWvKTrj8JOKdeGQe8AQx4KVl8YIkSySHRmpJdXtrDC7uFlHupCE7fg7Uc-LW13hPTALyoLVyLqJCBmtS5SKdgMuTmchHZ7xGCt7fY7lqn0aCZLkyLPrWcxaBt8QjK_2QPc7/s320/IMG_9594.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524052738973569986" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">A ride in Grandpa's wheelchair on the way to the house.<br /><br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqxEL6ho23a6oOoL3QqDSxYvNUuBMiVBgdMHO-S4KThnmkg5o4r3wVZNRsxKm6YIhpk9ZSLoQlPJ9FQpOZNlbWu43bUQOr0HieongjjydMAXOpQNhPursYedb5YECg8-TwHh71/s1600/IMG_9608.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqxEL6ho23a6oOoL3QqDSxYvNUuBMiVBgdMHO-S4KThnmkg5o4r3wVZNRsxKm6YIhpk9ZSLoQlPJ9FQpOZNlbWu43bUQOr0HieongjjydMAXOpQNhPursYedb5YECg8-TwHh71/s320/IMG_9608.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524053825780528178" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVn2HN5HyiX7NZ0adh8D2JSZ8Y4IbVOTHseXqOblCFzIll5LQhS-XE61YPYXkV0suSWyCacXi6GpQNQM9Mn8JnHO0V4uaZzxSw_EZ3iRSc5WlWIDFt4niiXHWBaPxx_intX7a2/s1600/IMG_9601.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVn2HN5HyiX7NZ0adh8D2JSZ8Y4IbVOTHseXqOblCFzIll5LQhS-XE61YPYXkV0suSWyCacXi6GpQNQM9Mn8JnHO0V4uaZzxSw_EZ3iRSc5WlWIDFt4niiXHWBaPxx_intX7a2/s320/IMG_9601.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524052747516235874" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7wGpOUNzF5mdegKey2yeajHcqAOGuQIu4PpHqkL1afI5YXhuKCpJoeR3ItOhuZJpophvBzL3X95ES-JICMevlzsX7L1blLrPhPmuW6xBt-uZmml4MjN-2S7KjjgavGdN0AOu6/s1600/IMG_9644.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7wGpOUNzF5mdegKey2yeajHcqAOGuQIu4PpHqkL1afI5YXhuKCpJoeR3ItOhuZJpophvBzL3X95ES-JICMevlzsX7L1blLrPhPmuW6xBt-uZmml4MjN-2S7KjjgavGdN0AOu6/s320/IMG_9644.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524053827973213746" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Petting mimosa plants!</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpyVJtXJyBBeKMSfGaurlu7qT84OBNBEv6qvoZFNu0cQNDCPEhi0mBsXc6-mMl7ecjliTU3EPdq6JJuzcNMcFrHyuYe6aJWUwtdVALouLn1IOtoh5rgGowEAXDQqZeEBYXIymX/s1600/IMG_9652.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpyVJtXJyBBeKMSfGaurlu7qT84OBNBEv6qvoZFNu0cQNDCPEhi0mBsXc6-mMl7ecjliTU3EPdq6JJuzcNMcFrHyuYe6aJWUwtdVALouLn1IOtoh5rgGowEAXDQqZeEBYXIymX/s320/IMG_9652.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524053832090623154" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_M1Sic815kk2Zy4dq06DUR2_1sy8_by7x7X_vS751Alk8j4mlqlRm3ai3ZtocOV7edjMlN1O8tmrp_yq6jQdcJvpWqE_sNS7wVyCDjgaPfoGIY5jd7aUw8VmcJk_OWx02prtC/s1600/IMG_9653.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_M1Sic815kk2Zy4dq06DUR2_1sy8_by7x7X_vS751Alk8j4mlqlRm3ai3ZtocOV7edjMlN1O8tmrp_yq6jQdcJvpWqE_sNS7wVyCDjgaPfoGIY5jd7aUw8VmcJk_OWx02prtC/s320/IMG_9653.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524053837998979890" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlYVehQfPeaK5U1cFozJrxHqDXyUps_OpmsyRfTEJjI0HE-tWJQnIvdu71OVh4LojiGxK7hlcTcQI0W6fvAYiU4X45iIeTmTRy4yCjIlpQSTxYUcXcviR-a1-0-Br44xmTv_lR/s1600/IMG_9655.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlYVehQfPeaK5U1cFozJrxHqDXyUps_OpmsyRfTEJjI0HE-tWJQnIvdu71OVh4LojiGxK7hlcTcQI0W6fvAYiU4X45iIeTmTRy4yCjIlpQSTxYUcXcviR-a1-0-Br44xmTv_lR/s320/IMG_9655.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524053844116873282" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">I was a tiny bit ga-ga over the vegetable gardens.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGH50JFh6cHI0-ehfY2GqimTLEk7pNIqgBiS8DBfS8iPs9brUfCwt4BbO_WoR3VfxK1QoSTtZ-HXhba_AzNQobeT_OGLD45gfNGGGzsMJDBuI8sgpiifE8lUYFRemeOjvfess8/s1600/IMG_9660.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGH50JFh6cHI0-ehfY2GqimTLEk7pNIqgBiS8DBfS8iPs9brUfCwt4BbO_WoR3VfxK1QoSTtZ-HXhba_AzNQobeT_OGLD45gfNGGGzsMJDBuI8sgpiifE8lUYFRemeOjvfess8/s320/IMG_9660.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524054802102683010" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyZ4Fza6319YFt28MpE30eBBXsW0iVoDtNBe7MPMAHQl5N3x32Sj54HeA49ZRZ7e9gTP-q2XyIxKAlSVG_jyEN2ikCTiN38PuGM3J2JCjMhPvDMDyViy2rRu3w5C2ZqTxvEr75/s1600/IMG_9663.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyZ4Fza6319YFt28MpE30eBBXsW0iVoDtNBe7MPMAHQl5N3x32Sj54HeA49ZRZ7e9gTP-q2XyIxKAlSVG_jyEN2ikCTiN38PuGM3J2JCjMhPvDMDyViy2rRu3w5C2ZqTxvEr75/s320/IMG_9663.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524054809890877842" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEOauk5m1a_UZ5ljmO2uKOStAsjQncHp8Pomf5e31bFry_QSjDVSNKeoJGCcSkbbAPwfwBFUjlkKmnzyBm0FzyjUECgtwGDrtYHoozCDhhcLSrahIM9nCi9ulAKZ_qswqbdcNo/s1600/IMG_9671.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEOauk5m1a_UZ5ljmO2uKOStAsjQncHp8Pomf5e31bFry_QSjDVSNKeoJGCcSkbbAPwfwBFUjlkKmnzyBm0FzyjUECgtwGDrtYHoozCDhhcLSrahIM9nCi9ulAKZ_qswqbdcNo/s320/IMG_9671.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524054818485044834" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp0DiXW-Uz-rOGFvTiJUfW-tiWRpKXxBObmPSs0T-rjYfD9-J9QvirT1QTp3JzEYeGMZdTgrMi5u-vR3CTvgqOKbs_XCubEhTYXNJKVu0jSK-tn44EgVMMsZ3dpJJCDtm93yeM/s1600/IMG_9672.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp0DiXW-Uz-rOGFvTiJUfW-tiWRpKXxBObmPSs0T-rjYfD9-J9QvirT1QTp3JzEYeGMZdTgrMi5u-vR3CTvgqOKbs_XCubEhTYXNJKVu0jSK-tn44EgVMMsZ3dpJJCDtm93yeM/s320/IMG_9672.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524054821415108226" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHArF9MK5gPvx2DeDrijJf4XZT6V7B3eaDnO_TAign7qLwW6rqO9TlRELgv6cnikKMDbRuEWJfyTLB7YgHJb6p4Pv1O2GhapuB7sjTShvlIu9Dvx3CzVHjMuapzu6nOzF4vIA4/s1600/IMG_9674.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHArF9MK5gPvx2DeDrijJf4XZT6V7B3eaDnO_TAign7qLwW6rqO9TlRELgv6cnikKMDbRuEWJfyTLB7YgHJb6p4Pv1O2GhapuB7sjTShvlIu9Dvx3CzVHjMuapzu6nOzF4vIA4/s320/IMG_9674.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524054823562100994" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">We saw some cool plant life on the forested walk from the cemetery back to the visitor's center, too. <br />Oh, New England forests are so magical to me!</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">We went to the National Zoo:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7PVtxwWP8UMsvRfN9fqtTxEgfZ9s4cr_xBsecx-6wHyx7sTpNfsINObfB6UNiFnwAdas7T3o2vEKPTPc5GEub1i597Gna8cplVl36UoldKPwLUT1A1pwWm8ee5E-onQ4MQaS7/s1600/IMG_9506.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7PVtxwWP8UMsvRfN9fqtTxEgfZ9s4cr_xBsecx-6wHyx7sTpNfsINObfB6UNiFnwAdas7T3o2vEKPTPc5GEub1i597Gna8cplVl36UoldKPwLUT1A1pwWm8ee5E-onQ4MQaS7/s320/IMG_9506.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524051822728634306" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOElfzTZjppRmIVLqAIphqtHXs72Jxleyv1EERRwqHsbNNi_3urxFVeNI0-ENFI-HgmUn5_T6pO2kHU-nA7YXflZnpQ8PBnERV5wr7mQn8I8TDJAUe4PeodZYqiGjfujQBhQb2/s1600/IMG_9511.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOElfzTZjppRmIVLqAIphqtHXs72Jxleyv1EERRwqHsbNNi_3urxFVeNI0-ENFI-HgmUn5_T6pO2kHU-nA7YXflZnpQ8PBnERV5wr7mQn8I8TDJAUe4PeodZYqiGjfujQBhQb2/s320/IMG_9511.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524052723496880530" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq52DNt68uO6RjTiQEI3amkLyPBThs-0fwHT1v586AmYHXyKigdoS_IZIQP-uV-DiB5Q_QyJkU4BJ9P6CJsyiFE3cfybw8Ief3PTIX3o611MMpLUwUDjT8xNDqIXXQtDy4ttKu/s1600/IMG_9514.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq52DNt68uO6RjTiQEI3amkLyPBThs-0fwHT1v586AmYHXyKigdoS_IZIQP-uV-DiB5Q_QyJkU4BJ9P6CJsyiFE3cfybw8Ief3PTIX3o611MMpLUwUDjT8xNDqIXXQtDy4ttKu/s320/IMG_9514.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524052728376863282" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgswOgK7_BQKLuxfKZTpebzr_gATFnVmqEt8Z-Y_03snGs9HZPUoFqyMWv6MzbJN_S2WyiNhwuMY0s6AfeW5k-Qlez6433uHGfUCYF3PsuTGyKNWrSYTDaNbxFmpSAVeD2eOZ-8/s1600/IMG_9528.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgswOgK7_BQKLuxfKZTpebzr_gATFnVmqEt8Z-Y_03snGs9HZPUoFqyMWv6MzbJN_S2WyiNhwuMY0s6AfeW5k-Qlez6433uHGfUCYF3PsuTGyKNWrSYTDaNbxFmpSAVeD2eOZ-8/s320/IMG_9528.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524052732224617554" border="0" /></a><br />And the Library of Congress:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpLWOhLthg7npgWp_dpetYEXW0xwYWoh0b5ipVLlPXBtvZ4KVHww_wp2fqwCeMe0noWRI1B3aiLjl1z49a4lnS08_1Hu6FTm8Fos0zqdt679g9sJssW4UaZ_ReLfOQT9Bv-uR7/s1600/IMG_9678.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpLWOhLthg7npgWp_dpetYEXW0xwYWoh0b5ipVLlPXBtvZ4KVHww_wp2fqwCeMe0noWRI1B3aiLjl1z49a4lnS08_1Hu6FTm8Fos0zqdt679g9sJssW4UaZ_ReLfOQT9Bv-uR7/s320/IMG_9678.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524055625101038594" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAof61pVvFEtOVAzbGEB_PZmEqbDC9fPuaRtaY0BLnlK4x6X2zEPFLokUICTk6cBfr0OzsrN9gKnGQ-jP-Iv5o5ghRo9DkCrYmQy8Bd6nxViQDfzCLUelpRLBMjbjpo89bYALR/s1600/IMG_9679.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAof61pVvFEtOVAzbGEB_PZmEqbDC9fPuaRtaY0BLnlK4x6X2zEPFLokUICTk6cBfr0OzsrN9gKnGQ-jP-Iv5o5ghRo9DkCrYmQy8Bd6nxViQDfzCLUelpRLBMjbjpo89bYALR/s320/IMG_9679.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524055626774525890" border="0" /></a><br />We actually were able to catch up with an old friend at the Library of Congress, and then we went walking around downtown (without the kids - they stayed with Auntie Jess). We passed by the Capitol:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0KTVSQZgSfyAq8S6WfyInC_hAq8vyBpYSh4AzouqYLrAj2swQVPKyYUmBpTWGIEY9diCgCphyzNlawBKtDat2jpKoaNhB00WsK35pIxLKLWCqIhWjr6KcZol0YkmTeEaCEHxd/s1600/IMG_9689.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0KTVSQZgSfyAq8S6WfyInC_hAq8vyBpYSh4AzouqYLrAj2swQVPKyYUmBpTWGIEY9diCgCphyzNlawBKtDat2jpKoaNhB00WsK35pIxLKLWCqIhWjr6KcZol0YkmTeEaCEHxd/s320/IMG_9689.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524055630795429314" border="0" /></a><br />and visited the National Archive, where we saw original copies of the Constitution, Declaration of Independence, and Bill of Rights, as well as the Magna Carta, and <span style="font-style: italic;">the</span> official documents that brought about women's suffrage. <br /><br />We also went to this great amazing French bistro. Oh my goodness, if you're ever in DC, you must go to <a href="http://www.bistrodoc.com/">Bistro d'Oc</a> and have the creme brulee. Months later, it still makes me happy to think about food like that.<br /><br />I had to take photos of the Navy Memorial, too, of course:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-OYvpK3CtWyaCm00bzj7_D3UG0X0QEmUmSErgkmia4Jgj31pr_RQdrB38cpki-CRT0UvJtbQbxIfYwgzOia264Fa-r4yG4TpQJgd1CQwbqB-cKZTz4ZOuvoOyH6xuBtURoes_/s1600/IMG_9708.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-OYvpK3CtWyaCm00bzj7_D3UG0X0QEmUmSErgkmia4Jgj31pr_RQdrB38cpki-CRT0UvJtbQbxIfYwgzOia264Fa-r4yG4TpQJgd1CQwbqB-cKZTz4ZOuvoOyH6xuBtURoes_/s320/IMG_9708.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524055639525686306" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_BaZLfDg9jYluvt4GSVjsazOsFNx4-gaUm6L3FJAj1z-BlZsm4kOrOqo0UVgymLuEHVm9hMwMI7tpVlitZbolm85vrXCPw9tJDMxFeaqKFQxBs-Dmaq5OEVLrp-LtovEejgMD/s1600/IMG_9709.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_BaZLfDg9jYluvt4GSVjsazOsFNx4-gaUm6L3FJAj1z-BlZsm4kOrOqo0UVgymLuEHVm9hMwMI7tpVlitZbolm85vrXCPw9tJDMxFeaqKFQxBs-Dmaq5OEVLrp-LtovEejgMD/s320/IMG_9709.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524055648491550258" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">This is pretty much, right here, my childhood image of my dad.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;">We spent time with family, of course:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkB0fsnot41KzfM1W9uyWvgGG0D06t_FX29n6TCJiCSLb4dG2D6ti4LZaHTJbJTBEqBydpses52IIzPz5Q8h7Lk5T6bnpSsqpPTeI32O46xQL9pmZqqPoCCR_3zNbTZlsqde6M/s1600/IMG_9472.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkB0fsnot41KzfM1W9uyWvgGG0D06t_FX29n6TCJiCSLb4dG2D6ti4LZaHTJbJTBEqBydpses52IIzPz5Q8h7Lk5T6bnpSsqpPTeI32O46xQL9pmZqqPoCCR_3zNbTZlsqde6M/s320/IMG_9472.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524051805630735778" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Watching Jeopardy!<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8RKiHx7rUvANHDeFurUhiyqFNcMYfers3dqan64CEMxKiihZyIxHF3dqgQXfnYM4ncP0n02sNmEQMmkAikXxKOVRrFZCPVKnAPVc8oPtq8MZJRbeJvyXmC7FPOjQoSyf_PdhZ/s1600/IMG_9476.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8RKiHx7rUvANHDeFurUhiyqFNcMYfers3dqan64CEMxKiihZyIxHF3dqgQXfnYM4ncP0n02sNmEQMmkAikXxKOVRrFZCPVKnAPVc8oPtq8MZJRbeJvyXmC7FPOjQoSyf_PdhZ/s320/IMG_9476.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524051810563095090" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD8yXjsGPtPCr3wJLnjmKFHKKrOiRET7GWysuLsofH5h9rYWBRFUxdLdm3lmQNMr5FMptvm4mPPTU2_J727RzJuGH8sZ6oVTa0tAHpiN02j0a_7XrU0rGLGoQxWO_5fcbQWJKv/s1600/IMG_9489.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD8yXjsGPtPCr3wJLnjmKFHKKrOiRET7GWysuLsofH5h9rYWBRFUxdLdm3lmQNMr5FMptvm4mPPTU2_J727RzJuGH8sZ6oVTa0tAHpiN02j0a_7XrU0rGLGoQxWO_5fcbQWJKv/s320/IMG_9489.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524051818847265506" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">And then we came home:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWSLIonZYWu7zRV1Hl-bTrDoQk1_Qs10ph1DoPFtj260KR5q3D3fw0weqbKshWSZcXOahYs7ZXvdVedRPAlEDGxHGeRCiTg8_gqc6b5B1uIS0y0UKnWdkBblXxmvDjJVM-G4nk/s1600/IMG_4220.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWSLIonZYWu7zRV1Hl-bTrDoQk1_Qs10ph1DoPFtj260KR5q3D3fw0weqbKshWSZcXOahYs7ZXvdVedRPAlEDGxHGeRCiTg8_gqc6b5B1uIS0y0UKnWdkBblXxmvDjJVM-G4nk/s320/IMG_4220.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525511510371847010" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJDd22QPQm9nIK8nIm3JiYjgQLRTZJffSeuMlOZA9a8ZBlvfRBrHoIq-raublQgop8Lm0HQlmvmK4Eb4irIT58MBH1Xd1NNsXzjblPLXut8qSiZ7HMu_Ug1OdNG2ID44mx3R6V/s1600/IMG_4214.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJDd22QPQm9nIK8nIm3JiYjgQLRTZJffSeuMlOZA9a8ZBlvfRBrHoIq-raublQgop8Lm0HQlmvmK4Eb4irIT58MBH1Xd1NNsXzjblPLXut8qSiZ7HMu_Ug1OdNG2ID44mx3R6V/s320/IMG_4214.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524047911963655970" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">This airplane ride will forever be known as "Washington-Chicago-Washington DC!"</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Maybe next time, we'll stop over for a while in Chicago! (I've always wanted to visit there ... )</span><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16244475172254514356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33084767.post-39835339819578114862010-10-01T17:01:00.000-07:002010-10-01T21:25:44.975-07:00Summer 2010: Part 1Oh, this is getting ridiculous! I can't believe it's already October and I still haven't blogged the rest of our summer. So many excuses ... But! I'm giving myself a new challenge this month, and it means I need to have everything else done first. So here I go, here's the rest of Summer 2010!<br /><br />To begin, after camping, the next big thing was a trip to the zoo with some of our dearest and sadly out-of-town friends who came for a quick visit!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiATu2tLluSqogAKCcxh8YADdiGg11HG34m1f-vwanqrewM0uoTI9xfVEWAjvMQPyyrr5fgL648mwrd77PnKaVa75XGu4ih0Ymr_Jh2UukUnwaji2GBWhj5nNQT3cXn5U4mizIG/s1600/IMG_8670.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiATu2tLluSqogAKCcxh8YADdiGg11HG34m1f-vwanqrewM0uoTI9xfVEWAjvMQPyyrr5fgL648mwrd77PnKaVa75XGu4ih0Ymr_Jh2UukUnwaji2GBWhj5nNQT3cXn5U4mizIG/s320/IMG_8670.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523237860352114130" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6E3liu0gGk5xV5De_8FkUPdl26_3tdA7G_0OA75mFnjfk-j5RFeUDTxUpHVuV4FP_RVhPBD9sn-JjOyMNm0et9rsbsFfa8D08O7c-K41o0LfY4nn7DnlH8DXlVZzCu6z5PsMg/s1600/IMG_8673.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6E3liu0gGk5xV5De_8FkUPdl26_3tdA7G_0OA75mFnjfk-j5RFeUDTxUpHVuV4FP_RVhPBD9sn-JjOyMNm0et9rsbsFfa8D08O7c-K41o0LfY4nn7DnlH8DXlVZzCu6z5PsMg/s320/IMG_8673.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523237866759303362" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil9cOqmUrD09mIpoj82JzHsn9slnMyP_JyqydlGAlrfm0X4BzaxmK-mfHFIAn4Xmwh1AWtwgbpRCwH0e6KhPItQ2hHglCZmkuErrBsSELtS8SPL4XGTnih7mU7PMhEuQIKhz6I/s1600/IMG_8685.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil9cOqmUrD09mIpoj82JzHsn9slnMyP_JyqydlGAlrfm0X4BzaxmK-mfHFIAn4Xmwh1AWtwgbpRCwH0e6KhPItQ2hHglCZmkuErrBsSELtS8SPL4XGTnih7mU7PMhEuQIKhz6I/s320/IMG_8685.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523237873944880162" border="0" /></a><br />I can't even begin to explain how awesome it was to see them (or how I managed to miss snapping any photos of Madam M!!) and to re-connect. They were the first friends Robert and I made as a couple after we got married. And we've seen each others' children get born - literally! There's definitely a special place in my heart for this cute family.<br /><br />Speaking of children getting born, Charlotte did that once! Five big years ago. So we celebrated! With a woodland theme pool party. Of course.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz67VtTYNxS1S43BiOxyaTK3pcnGKoXnBRC1vRHunXmnYjlBoq9tI7pBst8clF7eoEHQAwbE01vCwm6Y2Se2wkAfZOXknH7H30XVldt4NOhr12vVEZceEW_qLnW16ccs3oFVZt/s1600/IMG_8871.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz67VtTYNxS1S43BiOxyaTK3pcnGKoXnBRC1vRHunXmnYjlBoq9tI7pBst8clF7eoEHQAwbE01vCwm6Y2Se2wkAfZOXknH7H30XVldt4NOhr12vVEZceEW_qLnW16ccs3oFVZt/s320/IMG_8871.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523237879695995490" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">She was shy about getting sung to.</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdvky_6J5GHNmbsOwM06-FCGApe3iTXUlTpJLi74QLAwk5eNhbD39l0GXJ0HHW0L_tLcT4lr8CfAWFZmBgM5M1UbH2iA0Q1bn4G0KHFKRypOkmwnnKnQLJhBqNhIbi-yJAqJu_/s1600/IMG_8904.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdvky_6J5GHNmbsOwM06-FCGApe3iTXUlTpJLi74QLAwk5eNhbD39l0GXJ0HHW0L_tLcT4lr8CfAWFZmBgM5M1UbH2iA0Q1bn4G0KHFKRypOkmwnnKnQLJhBqNhIbi-yJAqJu_/s320/IMG_8904.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523237883623752194" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb9p3FqNuqMBZyLn0_ruKwhkWNzJk_aKjPSzLcmBxlvY-Y7xyjGET3m0YZNgVc0R8jBd3hYVqGtdpG7irUQZMIVGjUQ4Fccj2_6mmshWUjtFlbnKnbJe1Lk0iAjGMR77cbUJKx/s1600/IMG_8916.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb9p3FqNuqMBZyLn0_ruKwhkWNzJk_aKjPSzLcmBxlvY-Y7xyjGET3m0YZNgVc0R8jBd3hYVqGtdpG7irUQZMIVGjUQ4Fccj2_6mmshWUjtFlbnKnbJe1Lk0iAjGMR77cbUJKx/s320/IMG_8916.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523238561423503298" border="0" /></a><br />We also saw a whole lot of Caspar Babypants this summer. At the library, a high school theater, at the waterfront for a friend's birthday party, and on this big slab of shadeless concrete in the middle of one of the hottest days of summer.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicFBhxE8IyeGm7GCuKjl5MFiEzkCACc7pLGoeFmmRv3L6OY5ho2AekPoCm1t3kc7D2nJjb7G5WqSOr-IWLYaFURbl_hkZLxLXGnFP1SwJuAavhXI4tmtCBp8NayDc0HfJzaKrY/s1600/IMG_8929.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicFBhxE8IyeGm7GCuKjl5MFiEzkCACc7pLGoeFmmRv3L6OY5ho2AekPoCm1t3kc7D2nJjb7G5WqSOr-IWLYaFURbl_hkZLxLXGnFP1SwJuAavhXI4tmtCBp8NayDc0HfJzaKrY/s320/IMG_8929.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523238570965743426" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO9GfZoaLneL6n-rGP-Y36wLZFTaUu_BAoPt1Aa5Rb3pA8DBNnF9f7ztk4t_Yg9KboNhpPEoXLSvuF8rMMgF624Hq-iRHoPmLuS3JoVR4l9LRHJvAOTOdP1HJVklGkSdVSPxlG/s1600/IMG_8962.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO9GfZoaLneL6n-rGP-Y36wLZFTaUu_BAoPt1Aa5Rb3pA8DBNnF9f7ztk4t_Yg9KboNhpPEoXLSvuF8rMMgF624Hq-iRHoPmLuS3JoVR4l9LRHJvAOTOdP1HJVklGkSdVSPxlG/s320/IMG_8962.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523238588871748594" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd4BH9Fxzv3YSugJ88-6dP30ugJKg3X-5Cn2AbBRm_0d_7Dv4v9dyaFGhkG7s8mQQ0YvpIaIYJKjvpiutXRru8hcONgaD8d-dIbkRuwuZylWWHSepE49W8gEfHbOrcN-66F3r6/s1600/IMG_8961.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd4BH9Fxzv3YSugJ88-6dP30ugJKg3X-5Cn2AbBRm_0d_7Dv4v9dyaFGhkG7s8mQQ0YvpIaIYJKjvpiutXRru8hcONgaD8d-dIbkRuwuZylWWHSepE49W8gEfHbOrcN-66F3r6/s320/IMG_8961.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523238577979721570" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9mQ-0pCq_Q7XafWYpKs8NPFQdtbOgytlCbrPax9gtOUqW65NJCrrh15iGMoXxLw0jB2xq3tMP65OKfWexudhIGPx6mc_KUhyE4qh9nuiuHcjt4SGXLMf1DwWqEryd0yVPzfOh/s1600/IMG_8991.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9mQ-0pCq_Q7XafWYpKs8NPFQdtbOgytlCbrPax9gtOUqW65NJCrrh15iGMoXxLw0jB2xq3tMP65OKfWexudhIGPx6mc_KUhyE4qh9nuiuHcjt4SGXLMf1DwWqEryd0yVPzfOh/s320/IMG_8991.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523288264207093186" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Calvin and Charlotte had these little cardboard guitars, so we brought them along so they could "play" with the band. Calvin felt pretty special when Caspar commented on it (in a "nice guitar!" sort of way) from the stage.</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2_1zAv-0hagemvokxnriE3e51-V8UV-uSZg7tgo4iLJ0qRGruX_Gagu-KaU8R4fuCz0rDWttCzfo3uOB25PPRBevfVpdazURquIS71SWs7N5Bc0-g2NUSxfqhB7VngxwC9sf_/s1600/IMG_8950.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2_1zAv-0hagemvokxnriE3e51-V8UV-uSZg7tgo4iLJ0qRGruX_Gagu-KaU8R4fuCz0rDWttCzfo3uOB25PPRBevfVpdazURquIS71SWs7N5Bc0-g2NUSxfqhB7VngxwC9sf_/s320/IMG_8950.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523238573143639442" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDk0ZUwAS167tjxHz802PiaXxTnaMCUqDHs_Z1OiLQtLmU4VGtywECy6uo3zFmPalTgHH59OUv7WNRxgGoXPldTcMD8XR40PL36Obpg3nVOXSyTuPmm6f1eGglcecb94gR9d30/s1600/IMG_9049.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDk0ZUwAS167tjxHz802PiaXxTnaMCUqDHs_Z1OiLQtLmU4VGtywECy6uo3zFmPalTgHH59OUv7WNRxgGoXPldTcMD8XR40PL36Obpg3nVOXSyTuPmm6f1eGglcecb94gR9d30/s320/IMG_9049.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523288267533910674" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMjkhmXradXKITwTMhYKKfsnynig8qY3Z1FgPlHxvL6t_Pf54O7lFOB9e8mjIywgmwS8roFnD3krbmb9g6RwC8HNyDrM8ony8T2dILTOz2Kxu2p5d3Oyx7rEbgrKF4uq6R3pdH/s1600/IMG_8981.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMjkhmXradXKITwTMhYKKfsnynig8qY3Z1FgPlHxvL6t_Pf54O7lFOB9e8mjIywgmwS8roFnD3krbmb9g6RwC8HNyDrM8ony8T2dILTOz2Kxu2p5d3Oyx7rEbgrKF4uq6R3pdH/s320/IMG_8981.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523288258887591730" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Next! We had a whole Miller family hootenanny at Uncle Alex's family's cabin on Whidbey Island. The weather was perfect for kite flying, so we did!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTZLuO3-WBMCqYYkwpOyeqZYFBD0k0j_Scy-OxdlRsHLwz9YncSuXVsD6E3Inn8tUa_nODFBqDp7_ryuwYsrlkY549AzMMmLMM6-HX5KRhr7LAy-yj-QwwrncizUMUU3Yq3WzY/s1600/IMG_9117.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTZLuO3-WBMCqYYkwpOyeqZYFBD0k0j_Scy-OxdlRsHLwz9YncSuXVsD6E3Inn8tUa_nODFBqDp7_ryuwYsrlkY549AzMMmLMM6-HX5KRhr7LAy-yj-QwwrncizUMUU3Yq3WzY/s320/IMG_9117.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523295579756418114" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3IDCaRaPdKLHfUTFgK1IfWoJnUr40p27qFUls0JYPsK8bSnYS-FvAiVwzmN5NgtYcVjidd0x8-R4I4ulF8dM0XtH3r4vbdnIluR6gsFk5zirJe8MiAOoSZZ4l-kst5vzwQsCA/s1600/IMG_9132.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3IDCaRaPdKLHfUTFgK1IfWoJnUr40p27qFUls0JYPsK8bSnYS-FvAiVwzmN5NgtYcVjidd0x8-R4I4ulF8dM0XtH3r4vbdnIluR6gsFk5zirJe8MiAOoSZZ4l-kst5vzwQsCA/s320/IMG_9132.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523295582056634850" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW4YLD-_0QjnVkeGq_swh1MUr0Q8ioTrk5R4_eBdZovOoLyisQxCUiHRjJtcDF5VKXtvd3NJzAarvqfDCwKlfk28DQ0tBk57WSL-5vQWB2Ik_1NLtk8ZQJyo1v0U8akR_nsxrk/s1600/38968_10150245174915147_566595146_14048761_4348229_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW4YLD-_0QjnVkeGq_swh1MUr0Q8ioTrk5R4_eBdZovOoLyisQxCUiHRjJtcDF5VKXtvd3NJzAarvqfDCwKlfk28DQ0tBk57WSL-5vQWB2Ik_1NLtk8ZQJyo1v0U8akR_nsxrk/s320/38968_10150245174915147_566595146_14048761_4348229_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523296682235254466" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQsNg-tPQtyjxpFj0JNnXpNzmtiULk0DFZl7hnqMhg7QIj6lfPLbmcTEZUrcs67AQxhnwHuDUNLmU-vyFbyAISIk57vf1b2jjEepIsAGWZ-d-NYKWHsPyesPr4DCncjHotq4n-/s1600/IMG_9159.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQsNg-tPQtyjxpFj0JNnXpNzmtiULk0DFZl7hnqMhg7QIj6lfPLbmcTEZUrcs67AQxhnwHuDUNLmU-vyFbyAISIk57vf1b2jjEepIsAGWZ-d-NYKWHsPyesPr4DCncjHotq4n-/s320/IMG_9159.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523295592151287202" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3w-cbGzUYfALaAfxDEmVK8d31AFTBMSbxAsQxc8N1J0va8og7sE8VSwd60pdMrwbrsxNkqktZs77WY2viFwRzk6J5SWLvOqhOfoGbNx4dWBRulLjelXfxrdKDG9njxJ_N1Trd/s1600/IMG_9166.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3w-cbGzUYfALaAfxDEmVK8d31AFTBMSbxAsQxc8N1J0va8og7sE8VSwd60pdMrwbrsxNkqktZs77WY2viFwRzk6J5SWLvOqhOfoGbNx4dWBRulLjelXfxrdKDG9njxJ_N1Trd/s320/IMG_9166.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523295595033973474" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizkkvobWz0lVeeSr4GrhyJgHq0H3egw_7Z7Ojzlhvuj5Prxa_3jQx_cNoMxIDBMBvdIs77BTplm9tuiyifhZlFqVbwrXidpJ6U-rt29z0BKTpmP4VdbgD5FkG1v2FpW8-UJp-9/s1600/IMG_9174.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizkkvobWz0lVeeSr4GrhyJgHq0H3egw_7Z7Ojzlhvuj5Prxa_3jQx_cNoMxIDBMBvdIs77BTplm9tuiyifhZlFqVbwrXidpJ6U-rt29z0BKTpmP4VdbgD5FkG1v2FpW8-UJp-9/s320/IMG_9174.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523295597383244114" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">We had some great fun with all the driftwood. My favorite was trying to see if we could get from way down the beach back to the cabin without touching any sand - and yes, we did it!</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIQkymetRw7R0z9Ic60fOpCNl_eS_zdJjVcRTJdexf8jROVXRP_hyPJjCKon_ixPe3sYPeC1KsH4s1C7ta7sDJWNi3pdsBS9r8sHMaZPBAdh4DzmDNUHBWzZUlQmwOmSiXsSmb/s1600/IMG_9226.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIQkymetRw7R0z9Ic60fOpCNl_eS_zdJjVcRTJdexf8jROVXRP_hyPJjCKon_ixPe3sYPeC1KsH4s1C7ta7sDJWNi3pdsBS9r8sHMaZPBAdh4DzmDNUHBWzZUlQmwOmSiXsSmb/s320/IMG_9226.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523296688807005106" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNXs5vmZNSEGEoemavUenVW84Z6uyeseIdu_oADuxR0kq0T4nA0p3Cw_rchy5_G7eD1cxY1TqlswHvEgXCwsFYnBsfYBa_EDTTiA1fmRgyLuE0tIeaKOFHHNNvKnD1RjRD0UAn/s1600/IMG_9230.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNXs5vmZNSEGEoemavUenVW84Z6uyeseIdu_oADuxR0kq0T4nA0p3Cw_rchy5_G7eD1cxY1TqlswHvEgXCwsFYnBsfYBa_EDTTiA1fmRgyLuE0tIeaKOFHHNNvKnD1RjRD0UAn/s320/IMG_9230.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523296692941403618" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy0ZCQVIj1P0rdCsOg4om0_WSd4pEUIZ7gs9TES9XfJKxsI2EG2u3WyrmBCMnq4LzHk4fYloEJEjduErTv94bzEdqQwH2h5TBK6TK7cTo-l73WF4kStzXf130VabyF039nJDeF/s1600/IMG_9237.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy0ZCQVIj1P0rdCsOg4om0_WSd4pEUIZ7gs9TES9XfJKxsI2EG2u3WyrmBCMnq4LzHk4fYloEJEjduErTv94bzEdqQwH2h5TBK6TK7cTo-l73WF4kStzXf130VabyF039nJDeF/s320/IMG_9237.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523296703903750338" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Don't worry, I didn't leave him hanging there; I just had to take a photo-op break.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkyhZbeGDqMGIiyF1qqXf-Zr8jBanbMumivZgg4_BYLaZKnJDLz4tGnz-x05GxKy_O62-ghu81yVFqxvT61eOoy_fHYpnIJYJE5fW3vLLvAdw3eywBf5N-CekvXaVT2MwMuIds/s1600/IMG_9251.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkyhZbeGDqMGIiyF1qqXf-Zr8jBanbMumivZgg4_BYLaZKnJDLz4tGnz-x05GxKy_O62-ghu81yVFqxvT61eOoy_fHYpnIJYJE5fW3vLLvAdw3eywBf5N-CekvXaVT2MwMuIds/s320/IMG_9251.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523296711971511506" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhR37c5vyjiL7F8Da24u13VgSoKqp7SK7rwS4F8YSY8zAUF1NIYP2eX2u_m96-lW7RsSZqA6gPYvelEbT7LWG5Fz644aOCLRgygZK5_QllEHIO8IxubyjH6ZDuHOc92lOEHg1l/s1600/IMG_9284.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhR37c5vyjiL7F8Da24u13VgSoKqp7SK7rwS4F8YSY8zAUF1NIYP2eX2u_m96-lW7RsSZqA6gPYvelEbT7LWG5Fz644aOCLRgygZK5_QllEHIO8IxubyjH6ZDuHOc92lOEHg1l/s320/IMG_9284.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523297147311219202" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Hooray, the whole family!</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">To be continued ... </span><br /></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16244475172254514356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33084767.post-17823321298001812842010-09-01T22:07:00.001-07:002010-09-01T22:21:55.867-07:00And now for the obligatory Kindergarten post!I thought I was going to get our whole summer blogged before I had to write this post, but it just ain't happening. I'll get there, I promise!<br /><br />The important thing now is that CHARLOTTE STARTED KINDERGARTEN TODAY!<br /><br />Here's what I wrote on <a href="http://lovelypraiseworthy.blogspot.com/">Praiseworthy</a> yesterday, and it pretty much sums up how I feel about it:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I don't prefer happy endings. Don't get me wrong, I think they're great. I just prefer an ending that leaves me wondering what's coming up next. Because one thing I've learned from life so far is that nothing really ever ends.</span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br />Maybe that's part of what made today a really great day. You see, it's the very last day of my life as a mother without kids in school. My oldest starts kindergarten tomorrow. And like good mothers everywhere, I'm excited and nervous and sad and proud. I both can and can't believe how fast the time has passed, just like everyone said it would. I feel like everything I've ever learned from or taught her in the last five years culminates here; that we will be leaving some important part of ourselves in today when it ends. And it's a bittersweet feeling - the kind of feeling I love the best. Because it leaves me dying to find out what's coming up next.</span><br /><br />As for how Miss Charlotte feels about it? I think the photos do the best talking:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE4ATK2aY1vy5VLS-N-JLwZZmy7j2LqsWIKQMBqugZf3cSEDou_Vb56kolHWIxKE_aJ_qbJ_CbCIVKYmuhTyq9bBOXEFBroN0z9aEJjxVGe1qHLiw415k56H6kBRFp57i99Xw9/s1600/IMG_9722.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE4ATK2aY1vy5VLS-N-JLwZZmy7j2LqsWIKQMBqugZf3cSEDou_Vb56kolHWIxKE_aJ_qbJ_CbCIVKYmuhTyq9bBOXEFBroN0z9aEJjxVGe1qHLiw415k56H6kBRFp57i99Xw9/s320/IMG_9722.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512179481295602994" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhztSnMhhJ8qkvCsw1oHtgz6J1k9kkahyphenhypheny1wkLwYii8wPviRBIFqQfgS3D11LnflW35Q7Rrjnr4aY8DyG-sG6mBMJZpxK_fpq0CfR0VSpevdofqeClypF6kB3m99OjXO5Z1uCsd/s1600/IMG_9723.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhztSnMhhJ8qkvCsw1oHtgz6J1k9kkahyphenhypheny1wkLwYii8wPviRBIFqQfgS3D11LnflW35Q7Rrjnr4aY8DyG-sG6mBMJZpxK_fpq0CfR0VSpevdofqeClypF6kB3m99OjXO5Z1uCsd/s320/IMG_9723.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512179488029403634" border="0" /></a><br /><br />After school we went out to a special celebratory lunch with one of her oldest and best friends, Payton (and his mama and sister), who also started Kindergarten today.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht8WjJN50-bhefJD_YyqLbqYrYYUpNduvMIPQuG5Fcor2r7-D_km15kN4b_FYVG5TXbitNfrePfv86O0PFDYheVX60XMoaSEkqsE7Zs7I7-_LenrkAQln1tBuNNSAMK91f11ph/s1600/IMG_9726.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht8WjJN50-bhefJD_YyqLbqYrYYUpNduvMIPQuG5Fcor2r7-D_km15kN4b_FYVG5TXbitNfrePfv86O0PFDYheVX60XMoaSEkqsE7Zs7I7-_LenrkAQln1tBuNNSAMK91f11ph/s320/IMG_9726.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512181193324957698" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Complete with chocolate-y ice cream, which is what's on her face. <br />That's my girl!</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdtQYidG91ma73vy5EIHmaK3-IAvxQeMVhGKqLY_r6I9HrvI087fF29j8yG9rMtiYyprBjNDD14U4LZaIR8JZBgp-1j4goC07ILKVDKvd4QwQm_NANhEiE9ksNoBxTggZx1YhE/s1600/IMG_9736.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdtQYidG91ma73vy5EIHmaK3-IAvxQeMVhGKqLY_r6I9HrvI087fF29j8yG9rMtiYyprBjNDD14U4LZaIR8JZBgp-1j4goC07ILKVDKvd4QwQm_NANhEiE9ksNoBxTggZx1YhE/s320/IMG_9736.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512181201488577762" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsrzGke7XWMTpY47ys6xUqglavyBcySVOHUIyY_XV1wHaIlA5qecebHd9IauerMVzin9iVbP8GKnBzOyiAb2uuX22GCKuWG-XO3S9XAMv8oAdYmebgyy4TiKUuSbnGaOUp49s_/s1600/IMG_9737.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsrzGke7XWMTpY47ys6xUqglavyBcySVOHUIyY_XV1wHaIlA5qecebHd9IauerMVzin9iVbP8GKnBzOyiAb2uuX22GCKuWG-XO3S9XAMv8oAdYmebgyy4TiKUuSbnGaOUp49s_/s320/IMG_9737.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512181216521787250" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">She decided that the bush made a really great back-scratcher. <br />Silly-awesome!<br /></span></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilNjQ-GjFlToQ1Jy5jHQVEG6wFunNVw1R-LC1Z3pWANEMG1bJ2uGhmyK96qgqjX9Y2OBYHvmeQl9t1uMgeqNekn-eMkD9h-yGDWjVL8T31JpGMdO6n8uHXUqtgxscxDZ1op3PW/s1600/IMG_9741.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilNjQ-GjFlToQ1Jy5jHQVEG6wFunNVw1R-LC1Z3pWANEMG1bJ2uGhmyK96qgqjX9Y2OBYHvmeQl9t1uMgeqNekn-eMkD9h-yGDWjVL8T31JpGMdO6n8uHXUqtgxscxDZ1op3PW/s320/IMG_9741.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512181229168561618" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Oh my goodness, how they grow!<br /></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16244475172254514356noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33084767.post-46887796234175897902010-08-09T22:35:00.000-07:002010-08-09T22:35:14.507-07:00Roughing It: or Still Life With Cheetos<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigiujQH0LYvUD1yxRuHHqXg03fii4AAptCQbsyXCDSq5QGOxW0fB93pCVjjWVMruippY0V4-VpwijJVfWd3ourKfreN0UeEADbT25rrLjw0DGnNLsRMECEZu4vjmyc0JcJaerj/s1600/908623592_img_2333e.jpg"><br /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF60Ai_xvqdWikXB2BjlxKoeskUrbRrRveW8p082KhgCZB1cz3WRuiu1mYi59vTmwKYBt9kftu3IUliKiPXxvdz4JOz4eu0CNW3ku_I4dkn7pe1vMeG_oU_sI4pZLBV7VgBy0L/s1600/909584364_teep6481.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF60Ai_xvqdWikXB2BjlxKoeskUrbRrRveW8p082KhgCZB1cz3WRuiu1mYi59vTmwKYBt9kftu3IUliKiPXxvdz4JOz4eu0CNW3ku_I4dkn7pe1vMeG_oU_sI4pZLBV7VgBy0L/s320/909584364_teep6481.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503634362692539634" border="0" /></a><br />It's been a tradition three years in a row to have a summer weekend camp-out with some of our most excellent friends, and I have to say it's one of the highlights of our recent summers!<br /><br />This year we ...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigiujQH0LYvUD1yxRuHHqXg03fii4AAptCQbsyXCDSq5QGOxW0fB93pCVjjWVMruippY0V4-VpwijJVfWd3ourKfreN0UeEADbT25rrLjw0DGnNLsRMECEZu4vjmyc0JcJaerj/s1600/908623592_img_2333e.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigiujQH0LYvUD1yxRuHHqXg03fii4AAptCQbsyXCDSq5QGOxW0fB93pCVjjWVMruippY0V4-VpwijJVfWd3ourKfreN0UeEADbT25rrLjw0DGnNLsRMECEZu4vjmyc0JcJaerj/s320/908623592_img_2333e.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493993387667062834" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV1kLa9QQOWWLZRg5WfK0uYTHZvcgrSvrAMp8HVWMLHGC693KSpSC9dQ9IFpZ7q3GpuTgaPgYWrMX-HVMtmvy-Tlp2WMX3ANnAg2Y9loy9AWMs0vbpcRDypi4N4oTyZzQD651y/s1600/909588880_teep6543.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV1kLa9QQOWWLZRg5WfK0uYTHZvcgrSvrAMp8HVWMLHGC693KSpSC9dQ9IFpZ7q3GpuTgaPgYWrMX-HVMtmvy-Tlp2WMX3ANnAg2Y9loy9AWMs0vbpcRDypi4N4oTyZzQD651y/s320/909588880_teep6543.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503637641272709506" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjblQvrZPMEhI4jaupoSLOFdWYSvy8ZeJIe9Jeqo4soy1AEZNPPygJUt3QxwcM-MgG9QGho15tc4k4oKDON9xwEcviSpRbF2EmFCDWIseM5nWOAz8tIiaP7cASGri93oTo2trBe/s1600/908626401_img_2483e.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjblQvrZPMEhI4jaupoSLOFdWYSvy8ZeJIe9Jeqo4soy1AEZNPPygJUt3QxwcM-MgG9QGho15tc4k4oKDON9xwEcviSpRbF2EmFCDWIseM5nWOAz8tIiaP7cASGri93oTo2trBe/s320/908626401_img_2483e.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493993426133309010" border="0" /></a>Roasted gigantic marshmallows<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmSn3XwhgStIgJ_19zKmvx7IOhSZgsLr-rouwrhMjo2iEUYKTfKBlH4y3hVTrJG2VZ0udcDJRiPy6SDyieF-iGDrtR2zQ053V71RYUlzTXI51JfaJvt4Z9wNPtU0hBE6NmGOMp/s1600/909596386_teep6663.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmSn3XwhgStIgJ_19zKmvx7IOhSZgsLr-rouwrhMjo2iEUYKTfKBlH4y3hVTrJG2VZ0udcDJRiPy6SDyieF-iGDrtR2zQ053V71RYUlzTXI51JfaJvt4Z9wNPtU0hBE6NmGOMp/s320/909596386_teep6663.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503639409553806242" border="0" /></a>and pineapple<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRcbjYRZDnhDXTaf0L7GCElTLXCAKwcGiGy-rLurMG2fpVWNQZZ4a9iBQc4clHKdYkByYTOMCDdydXUxwGL5Y9_6m_Vz0BmRKF-QwyUgNtJPHBCPMEZr49xC8VjC52_HatooZD/s1600/909549873_teep6140.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRcbjYRZDnhDXTaf0L7GCElTLXCAKwcGiGy-rLurMG2fpVWNQZZ4a9iBQc4clHKdYkByYTOMCDdydXUxwGL5Y9_6m_Vz0BmRKF-QwyUgNtJPHBCPMEZr49xC8VjC52_HatooZD/s320/909549873_teep6140.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503593079102436114" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGgI1DBSX-tRmQyap_QpanFIXgLDGOTezZnII2kSd29NiDExwe2UNiZZkoHrvEAaVF76vlTNXzVHBZKiwY_r0xZbcmNRf7DdlJf0eGj3qixiA2ZQo9r0YojohtjIaqd6MkBuh9/s1600/909596917_teep6671.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGgI1DBSX-tRmQyap_QpanFIXgLDGOTezZnII2kSd29NiDExwe2UNiZZkoHrvEAaVF76vlTNXzVHBZKiwY_r0xZbcmNRf7DdlJf0eGj3qixiA2ZQo9r0YojohtjIaqd6MkBuh9/s320/909596917_teep6671.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503640102137549794" border="0" /></a>Ate a whole lot of Cheetos, and then a few more - and then Cheetos and marshmallows together!<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVQn2cm1jU8Ba2kXHgQPYnNpJCXxr-xAERQR_lqgQizACtZe8NYKFqL8s8adRdDeRnWguhoJGiahdUHYLFWWT2mQwMWCeOACXXmQMdxWRYT5t2iRwPpftyhHvP1QwRYyxH5uVh/s1600/909593476_teep6638.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVQn2cm1jU8Ba2kXHgQPYnNpJCXxr-xAERQR_lqgQizACtZe8NYKFqL8s8adRdDeRnWguhoJGiahdUHYLFWWT2mQwMWCeOACXXmQMdxWRYT5t2iRwPpftyhHvP1QwRYyxH5uVh/s320/909593476_teep6638.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503638757522327762" border="0" /></a>What is that in my mouth - marshmallows or Cheetos? I'll never tell!<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy2zdvYrYksk1xddYLY-Uu5f2XHff8G4csJHE3w8_99tsmF0x4ZSyAXX4aGt0AaXD_jz4Ww0xysMiPzjQxzLjKXWD7UX2X0qm1YDVYL2LtmLwjWr7m2y6EkGlw_vgICPVvF6Qs/s1600/909540846_teep6093.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy2zdvYrYksk1xddYLY-Uu5f2XHff8G4csJHE3w8_99tsmF0x4ZSyAXX4aGt0AaXD_jz4Ww0xysMiPzjQxzLjKXWD7UX2X0qm1YDVYL2LtmLwjWr7m2y6EkGlw_vgICPVvF6Qs/s320/909540846_teep6093.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493993417420600834" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLB4JTUIfQW86bf-M37HdCfLVwK9EImBksjsCEHnoUg4yrvsVoxuGMAFB3q2FDy1IV7eCXuAnVJKUwaBeonliItErRybLNdmcxwLWRgq0seEFKTdVcYavyPYVRa6g81i5d7gcj/s1600/908625949_img_2500e.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLB4JTUIfQW86bf-M37HdCfLVwK9EImBksjsCEHnoUg4yrvsVoxuGMAFB3q2FDy1IV7eCXuAnVJKUwaBeonliItErRybLNdmcxwLWRgq0seEFKTdVcYavyPYVRa6g81i5d7gcj/s320/908625949_img_2500e.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493993402753458450" border="0" /></a>Brought the watercolors along - fun!<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7FlmY8YNmQS4TwrPm3SUTctl_Ysdomrex6QTbnCpoWKf_dkvJzRRfmQq8Sfk1XhTn-jUUdcFKLT5fhPAT6lElUoBqTkuwk9DlPYv7GekwdGTTPToZl1OpV5BR0kyYTQ3nS3An/s1600/908623763_img_2688e.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7FlmY8YNmQS4TwrPm3SUTctl_Ysdomrex6QTbnCpoWKf_dkvJzRRfmQq8Sfk1XhTn-jUUdcFKLT5fhPAT6lElUoBqTkuwk9DlPYv7GekwdGTTPToZl1OpV5BR0kyYTQ3nS3An/s320/908623763_img_2688e.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493993396395586402" border="0" /></a>Didn't mind the rain one little bit<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoMmciwVMF63bdURti1Lng3dbypQ1gBcwVDsC4uII0FIUPp5UV8hwZ669_0d0TdVVd2Aine6Wf9TpLC-bcf2A0vkhQkdDc4D_LdHnOwK-RyXupBQCOAb-MPqKyo3cnj8gu_rmq/s1600/909554303_teep6172.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoMmciwVMF63bdURti1Lng3dbypQ1gBcwVDsC4uII0FIUPp5UV8hwZ669_0d0TdVVd2Aine6Wf9TpLC-bcf2A0vkhQkdDc4D_LdHnOwK-RyXupBQCOAb-MPqKyo3cnj8gu_rmq/s320/909554303_teep6172.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503630406866054546" border="0" /></a>Seemed years and years older than she was just yesterday<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirPBcUaFtG3nBBO8YKGqc25xzvxGV5DmRR9uND9dcvxJJRl9eIF6KavWR41WzrOFZbn13xHbM2I5cfR4g_xyOpbT9AyaeFDfOW5ngHtyD6lPGzrGSlT8WIVMJ6oSG3t6vVg4BH/s1600/909576552_teep6357.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirPBcUaFtG3nBBO8YKGqc25xzvxGV5DmRR9uND9dcvxJJRl9eIF6KavWR41WzrOFZbn13xHbM2I5cfR4g_xyOpbT9AyaeFDfOW5ngHtyD6lPGzrGSlT8WIVMJ6oSG3t6vVg4BH/s320/909576552_teep6357.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503634352989073218" border="0" /></a>Increased our numbers (last year almost half these kids were babies - they just seem like <span style="font-style: italic;">more</span> as they grow!) We're may need more campsites soon<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3C9rsN2DSS2MZaRMwpcTypZqzPWOhzmKGvPzsOrVhUQzmb7vo9h1Mm-LkUswD_NGc9uk_Ui_mXdBP1xfJ9b0OQKIUT9MXoSsA6mZbYaDUCUVsBkuFge8WlROfgMnvrXyNpSpf/s1600/909590232_teep6581.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3C9rsN2DSS2MZaRMwpcTypZqzPWOhzmKGvPzsOrVhUQzmb7vo9h1Mm-LkUswD_NGc9uk_Ui_mXdBP1xfJ9b0OQKIUT9MXoSsA6mZbYaDUCUVsBkuFge8WlROfgMnvrXyNpSpf/s320/909590232_teep6581.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503638159147791730" border="0" /></a>Played with flashlights<br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi33ZL7i1Vui6hnJLG1apSwBPdnqvXHIR2vXOcRJOsaKT-NTRVZudztKOCG5LiwJkKtrY7a8v-vdJvRUN3lbWSH4HVZ_J71dhBm-G6Xpkhg02yPBw8ozuKaFOrlD51lncCUUK6g/s1600/909605865_teep6771.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi33ZL7i1Vui6hnJLG1apSwBPdnqvXHIR2vXOcRJOsaKT-NTRVZudztKOCG5LiwJkKtrY7a8v-vdJvRUN3lbWSH4HVZ_J71dhBm-G6Xpkhg02yPBw8ozuKaFOrlD51lncCUUK6g/s320/909605865_teep6771.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503640957768292418" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjgevB8uLxMp9Uck5yZJO7lj2JO6VmqMtu4kjLVFSoo5DGc_WUUOT8OgOT2a3bs3k0a5WCAViWHEEiWdRSmpbeiDsgGMCo1dAydEoNZbPiBgH857v2Vw6bYfQmrWRngLnh3lWV/s1600/909605431_teep6764.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjgevB8uLxMp9Uck5yZJO7lj2JO6VmqMtu4kjLVFSoo5DGc_WUUOT8OgOT2a3bs3k0a5WCAViWHEEiWdRSmpbeiDsgGMCo1dAydEoNZbPiBgH857v2Vw6bYfQmrWRngLnh3lWV/s320/909605431_teep6764.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503640458094722786" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE4MpWzy7R7I1EMadjIED1rZZ0MVoFGU9G9DwxzhNAa7CU4XwDHl5RV92_0vyfhPCwCOelbjM8sYIeexyc_xlg6HKwF9Pv9iOwT1Uwtt-cF8oTkEhPu6ve_thVfvkzuHWADfq0/s1600/909622053_teep7024.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE4MpWzy7R7I1EMadjIED1rZZ0MVoFGU9G9DwxzhNAa7CU4XwDHl5RV92_0vyfhPCwCOelbjM8sYIeexyc_xlg6HKwF9Pv9iOwT1Uwtt-cF8oTkEhPu6ve_thVfvkzuHWADfq0/s320/909622053_teep7024.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503642751231342818" border="0" /></a>and on the beach. I didn't even pull out my camera (all these photos were taken by our friends the Teeples) so you won't see how fully waterlogged our kids got after everyone else left; so glad we packed extra changes of clothes and some warm blankets!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUKYBsRCBzHmhVaIHjVSgTJlEHaeyQgOppMZsOszPk3tnxE5mhKC0wETPsBvxNfqZIqN_0PHSkxDgO5KzTQMAUiZyL_B-zT-RqNHFk4-mt8abwXYpnT1EDCtp-0kTI40EXGYyb/s1600/909623793_teep7056.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUKYBsRCBzHmhVaIHjVSgTJlEHaeyQgOppMZsOszPk3tnxE5mhKC0wETPsBvxNfqZIqN_0PHSkxDgO5KzTQMAUiZyL_B-zT-RqNHFk4-mt8abwXYpnT1EDCtp-0kTI40EXGYyb/s320/909623793_teep7056.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503643560555615026" border="0" /></a>The Dads<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPN4Tfc4a51tBA5iLHudG8y_ayEAx4CaZymqN4wCaSReb56oDede6dgQd3c7n6CW74MaF411cCRApODIro0KhWh5V2IUZwoMCprN4a-7ns1Xo_LYqXldRoe0jMyGvOFblgCbtP/s1600/909625871_teep7070.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPN4Tfc4a51tBA5iLHudG8y_ayEAx4CaZymqN4wCaSReb56oDede6dgQd3c7n6CW74MaF411cCRApODIro0KhWh5V2IUZwoMCprN4a-7ns1Xo_LYqXldRoe0jMyGvOFblgCbtP/s320/909625871_teep7070.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503644629856895970" border="0" /></a>The Mamas<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8FDRosfE9vAN88Ljwqaq-aS0jTEo9MHT6yAr4JZKVZR7orQr9VGXBn8EDz8buBvVbYUijl-Mpyhex7XrRFut0jYrSCL1g8fCLpPTJw_WAPy9EikN510kM5LqxRv4WQsQ_QSgg/s1600/909620439_teep6931.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8FDRosfE9vAN88Ljwqaq-aS0jTEo9MHT6yAr4JZKVZR7orQr9VGXBn8EDz8buBvVbYUijl-Mpyhex7XrRFut0jYrSCL1g8fCLpPTJw_WAPy9EikN510kM5LqxRv4WQsQ_QSgg/s320/909620439_teep6931.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503641643112363730" border="0" /></a>The coolest kids I know!<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjgevB8uLxMp9Uck5yZJO7lj2JO6VmqMtu4kjLVFSoo5DGc_WUUOT8OgOT2a3bs3k0a5WCAViWHEEiWdRSmpbeiDsgGMCo1dAydEoNZbPiBgH857v2Vw6bYfQmrWRngLnh3lWV/s1600/909605431_teep6764.jpg"><br /></a>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16244475172254514356noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33084767.post-38794469790906010712010-08-09T22:12:00.001-07:002010-08-09T22:15:07.134-07:00How I Spent My Summer VacationSo all summer, it seems, I've been failing to blog. Meaning to get around to it and <span style="font-style: italic;">actually</span> getting around to it, it turns out, are two different things. And SO! So ... so ... so ... the next few posts are a recap of what we've been up to instead of writing about it. And with about three weeks of summer left, yes there's more to come!Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16244475172254514356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33084767.post-72237213340294511502010-06-07T21:44:00.000-07:002010-06-28T20:22:17.893-07:00Let Your Light Shine On MeOh, it has been rainy! And cold! And dreary, dreary, dreary! Don't get me wrong, I love living in the northwest and embrace the rain and the gray winters. But this year, April showers brought ... May showers. Which brought ... June showers. Ugh.<br /><br />Good thing we know how to have a good time indoors, too!<br /><br />Charlotte's last dance recital of the year:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr9BtG0Brwej3ttEdSDYGtl-8w5t0JvO8G4gOqvxcik_tGO5hHuFe6wWklUNGolI5INWJeaOuu6-QpetlkIC9kgp5DAbe3qergu286jj0qE6ThfC_FsGRa4R547J028i7O4RTq/s1600/IMG_8609.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr9BtG0Brwej3ttEdSDYGtl-8w5t0JvO8G4gOqvxcik_tGO5hHuFe6wWklUNGolI5INWJeaOuu6-QpetlkIC9kgp5DAbe3qergu286jj0qE6ThfC_FsGRa4R547J028i7O4RTq/s320/IMG_8609.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480259938950703218" border="0" /></a>Next year, if she decides to dance again, she'll be in the older age group. Which is good, because although she adores her teacher and loves being on stage, I think she's been a little bored this session with the same steps she's been learning for the last year or so. It's time to move on. Calvin will be old enough for dance next year, too, so it'll be interesting to see how it goes if he still wants to do it!<br /><br />My brother Spencer, his wife Nancy, and their kids Josh and Vanessa came up for a week-long visit, too. And who didn't take any photos? That's right. Lazy little me. It was fun having them around, though. My brother tells some great Navy/Army stories, and it's always nice for the kids to get to know their cousins better.<br /><br />We also got to host some of Robert's family, though just for the Memorial Day holiday. Which happened to fall on his mom's birthday this year. Robert made yummy cookies and ice cream, and we all ate too much and had a nice visit. So glad they could come!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW0qQJYf5R3yZbspvTDBc-7PNSNE506jetidx5K40MdSQknPQPWmyV0VYs_eEInSTXkksbYf9eDbTTvXU52wT8QyrPTg7F3ibTTSp34pGmHVuGZ_VXt5JyrRh_gDUXrPef6ufb/s1600/IMG_8242.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW0qQJYf5R3yZbspvTDBc-7PNSNE506jetidx5K40MdSQknPQPWmyV0VYs_eEInSTXkksbYf9eDbTTvXU52wT8QyrPTg7F3ibTTSp34pGmHVuGZ_VXt5JyrRh_gDUXrPef6ufb/s320/IMG_8242.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480260473669839618" border="0" /></a>That's Robert's sister Kristine, her husband Alex (their baby, "cousin Robert" was sleeping), Charlotte sitting on (the birthday girl!) Grandma/Kathy's lap, Grandpa/Ron on the floor, Great-grandpa Parker, Calvin, another of Robert's sisters Diane, and me.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHuxbhyosQ5tcc7ZpNziO6fO80i-bAcHqJKbYWgJqaQIngj2Z451b5q7zJdx-qcWxyuiOmETfEjYrpTXPcbg0GL-2XJHlBYq6VuiUjNKNKrZRA0cTtb3ihDHGJQmTEhm2yb-K2/s1600/IMG_8237.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHuxbhyosQ5tcc7ZpNziO6fO80i-bAcHqJKbYWgJqaQIngj2Z451b5q7zJdx-qcWxyuiOmETfEjYrpTXPcbg0GL-2XJHlBYq6VuiUjNKNKrZRA0cTtb3ihDHGJQmTEhm2yb-K2/s320/IMG_8237.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480260469544311826" border="0" /></a>Here's one with Robert swapped in for Alex, who took a turn taking the photo.<br /><br />And some random candids from around the house:<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ4B18Jf1TRou9E-lJD9BMf1Zkw_kSexlVwpBx8A0ViRNwZCrwgWGKn9nwszpMDqSKcsltbBUiPJuDlamcBWRPirgJzbc1BqmghLE44TQLNeSzZ7EKxNBAo6b205cZISTPSata/s1600/IMG_8228.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ4B18Jf1TRou9E-lJD9BMf1Zkw_kSexlVwpBx8A0ViRNwZCrwgWGKn9nwszpMDqSKcsltbBUiPJuDlamcBWRPirgJzbc1BqmghLE44TQLNeSzZ7EKxNBAo6b205cZISTPSata/s320/IMG_8228.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480260462871138290" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Cousin Robert! Oh my goodness, he's so dang cute.<br /></span></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiGnhYrbzfuTb2clCBoaLxU0weVYuXPyn6zTeU7DDd7p_XKWvjA6p5g7iIY1uxR2B0Rajq8pNgOshMQuvhiRBPonNHeiLCywzQvxVx1CNwm8bwGSOJQL51cw1RVIxmdltvKh5G/s1600/IMG_8224.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiGnhYrbzfuTb2clCBoaLxU0weVYuXPyn6zTeU7DDd7p_XKWvjA6p5g7iIY1uxR2B0Rajq8pNgOshMQuvhiRBPonNHeiLCywzQvxVx1CNwm8bwGSOJQL51cw1RVIxmdltvKh5G/s320/IMG_8224.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480259951566045074" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim0RCUec5KM9ldBU2HxTMkYDjX_gG7GTeoLSwJnpVZDXbng4bAsz3LQKOC9x_Qu6MJu4RX4R6Kcp01SlE7QjtjHk4Q8xtxpQV8NUx4sWIdZ1RPyPIgr6laCFd71uCoz36r_don/s1600/IMG_8199.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim0RCUec5KM9ldBU2HxTMkYDjX_gG7GTeoLSwJnpVZDXbng4bAsz3LQKOC9x_Qu6MJu4RX4R6Kcp01SlE7QjtjHk4Q8xtxpQV8NUx4sWIdZ1RPyPIgr6laCFd71uCoz36r_don/s320/IMG_8199.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480259939614649138" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Oh, I love watching grandparents (great-grandpa in this case!) and babies interact.</span><br /></div><br /><br />Yes, it's been fun, but we still won't mind it if the sun ever does decide to come out for the summer!Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16244475172254514356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33084767.post-89476080599431229152010-05-14T21:40:00.000-07:002010-05-14T22:18:58.064-07:00A Grand Day OutEarlier this week Charlotte said she was sad because she didn't know very much about dinosaurs. We've checked out books and magazines and movies on the subject, so I thought it might be fun to go look at the real thing. We had a great time yesterday at the <a href="http://www.burkemuseum.org">Burke Museum</a> and then running around UW campus for a while. Here are some photos of a few of our adventures (no dino pics, though, photography isn't allowed inside the museum):<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihxiqnjAR480DJavkf2eqZuLCEXZt55Gxdy19ADHUcumf_3no-p7rdhT0beW3ReixJ3ruIQnCleT_psaAcRZ8ufNXL8Ax1q7CblchBCC84sS1BsF250gZUmQkn8c7DuPnNjzVK/s1600/IMG_8397.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihxiqnjAR480DJavkf2eqZuLCEXZt55Gxdy19ADHUcumf_3no-p7rdhT0beW3ReixJ3ruIQnCleT_psaAcRZ8ufNXL8Ax1q7CblchBCC84sS1BsF250gZUmQkn8c7DuPnNjzVK/s320/IMG_8397.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471355276817739218" border="0" /></a>After we oohed and aahed at the giant triceratops head, etc. etc., we picked tiny flowers. Handfuls of them, and then threw them up in the air. Didn't get a photo of that, sorry, I was too busy frolicking.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPkhvJ_2msRCf4THTr6r1_NTTB56gAc4IBI7FnWUeSxR3nJv40KyuEWExtksJfsg0AbkHxwlMM864KNtJbMjCa7twkO6kuMFy5S73E6M4IeqXjTpz1IkP1G07IUjQ0Is0zxr4Z/s1600/IMG_8400.JPG"><br /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCD07SH6mfd6zVWaZ4a4o1r-wLTIUTMTKlAqWKzafrX6OOy6Nje2W2fM5DNMOnnX8j6iFY8IdYDpHWpdNF98JdN6xCxXw3DgKAw21LYusCOEnWuOmpj5-atDlitj-JgMIk9xBU/s1600/IMG_8406.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCD07SH6mfd6zVWaZ4a4o1r-wLTIUTMTKlAqWKzafrX6OOy6Nje2W2fM5DNMOnnX8j6iFY8IdYDpHWpdNF98JdN6xCxXw3DgKAw21LYusCOEnWuOmpj5-atDlitj-JgMIk9xBU/s320/IMG_8406.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471355296472405570" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPkhvJ_2msRCf4THTr6r1_NTTB56gAc4IBI7FnWUeSxR3nJv40KyuEWExtksJfsg0AbkHxwlMM864KNtJbMjCa7twkO6kuMFy5S73E6M4IeqXjTpz1IkP1G07IUjQ0Is0zxr4Z/s1600/IMG_8400.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPkhvJ_2msRCf4THTr6r1_NTTB56gAc4IBI7FnWUeSxR3nJv40KyuEWExtksJfsg0AbkHxwlMM864KNtJbMjCa7twkO6kuMFy5S73E6M4IeqXjTpz1IkP1G07IUjQ0Is0zxr4Z/s320/IMG_8400.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471355287107406866" border="0" /></a>We played with public art ...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGW5OqbkWRpVXMrq-SwFNJfBcMqhQYsJeds1Gx4dvyHEFeg6Tsn5tmzEyc9fKe5Nme7FtGte58LMV_FCeSjtATlMszrDcWJNhyphenhyphenqxCTQAUOz551Zk_iVMvCCdRcEUFQHy37QADW/s1600/IMG_8425.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGW5OqbkWRpVXMrq-SwFNJfBcMqhQYsJeds1Gx4dvyHEFeg6Tsn5tmzEyc9fKe5Nme7FtGte58LMV_FCeSjtATlMszrDcWJNhyphenhyphenqxCTQAUOz551Zk_iVMvCCdRcEUFQHy37QADW/s320/IMG_8425.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471355306298994338" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhAKtz6MsS3wr0qqnzIkPEhByILgNZQHWsvy-L5X1fg2BwL4I19QFGTqYO0W4l9_HU4tWeiPxlbftLP1wJt-Qcb5F5mvSdDe8CJkcMF0kXnw5aVj0jm7zNejt3hn0glzoxMWB6/s1600/IMG_8500.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhAKtz6MsS3wr0qqnzIkPEhByILgNZQHWsvy-L5X1fg2BwL4I19QFGTqYO0W4l9_HU4tWeiPxlbftLP1wJt-Qcb5F5mvSdDe8CJkcMF0kXnw5aVj0jm7zNejt3hn0glzoxMWB6/s320/IMG_8500.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471356024935442226" border="0" /></a>... climbed up and sat under huge gorgeous cherry trees (where we also played tag and dodged the students lounging in the grass and professors hurrying along the pathways).<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4V7Fg_i7QkfAr-hO_7w4PKmXuRjsywy4RTze9r-3acTMrSrtU7pZDA1KrQWKbRdi6HbtqgYFNRRVuM2nFDgVCoFjjjn2XBXnd5mTQudvchLAmZRZR76Vzj6-Nx7XG4zqQ8lB_/s1600/IMG_8447.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4V7Fg_i7QkfAr-hO_7w4PKmXuRjsywy4RTze9r-3acTMrSrtU7pZDA1KrQWKbRdi6HbtqgYFNRRVuM2nFDgVCoFjjjn2XBXnd5mTQudvchLAmZRZR76Vzj6-Nx7XG4zqQ8lB_/s320/IMG_8447.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471355312781278962" border="0" /></a>We did some lounging of our own.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOyk2duQrLVzCgGkv9aCHjPlnn6fg2Voy5XOhzzktoLGP_uvDOp1xiV02IjUg6ZWCnjBCfiKClMpn2AhR_w07hswZFued5_KLE66bHpYour0HtrSsFu0nhtj06L5W7DZZlKOYr/s1600/IMG_8481.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOyk2duQrLVzCgGkv9aCHjPlnn6fg2Voy5XOhzzktoLGP_uvDOp1xiV02IjUg6ZWCnjBCfiKClMpn2AhR_w07hswZFued5_KLE66bHpYour0HtrSsFu0nhtj06L5W7DZZlKOYr/s320/IMG_8481.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471356011364115922" border="0" /></a>Hung out on lamp posts ...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjalj6ncUjhp7CdltXvavlpUSKFeLG0wPRKowp0FfnzbWLglc0hXBDzNzsj9sjeyqRWDa-zsJzDXQy5uwx2qagSIvQVqRfMV6shlkz2SeayONidON0lYntWpvLN4HbhOT-VlV_m/s1600/IMG_8456.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjalj6ncUjhp7CdltXvavlpUSKFeLG0wPRKowp0FfnzbWLglc0hXBDzNzsj9sjeyqRWDa-zsJzDXQy5uwx2qagSIvQVqRfMV6shlkz2SeayONidON0lYntWpvLN4HbhOT-VlV_m/s320/IMG_8456.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471355989025129602" border="0" /></a>... and were amazed by cool old architecture. I wanted to show the kids the UW library's children's literature section, which used to be in a whole big room by itself but isn't anymore, which made me a little sad. But we did go find a Winnie the Pooh book and read it by some big windows overlooking some ginormous rhododendrons. And we saw a familiar face, too! We ran into Robert's sister's husband's sister, which isn't as confusing as it sounds, she's the kids' Uncle Alex's sister. What a crazy small world!<br /><br />All in all, it was a really great day. The kids were even well-behaved enough that I dared a trip to U-Village and <span style="font-style: italic;">even</span> walked around Anthropologie a bit with them, where true to their promise they didn't touch anything!Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16244475172254514356noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33084767.post-91368931194001719012010-05-11T08:22:00.000-07:002010-05-11T08:26:34.908-07:00A Giveaway Over at Praiseworthy<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lovelypraiseworthy.blogspot.com/2010/05/baby-bib-gift-tutorial.html"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgILgD2OcXz1r_1BnQUk3NzLVjS4FxZkO0ahoWWzuhQT0gaiZArplnZvLSEcYnbbW2LEKIMgHLEG0BwihHcSoRpxkvGtkLvWYlVsz1bAu-Wc3GOKegNzCZ79h-iYUUnLEvClZOR/s320/IMG_1223.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470033913613133202" border="0" /></a><br />My friend and <a href="http://lovelypraiseworthy.blogspot.com/2010/05/baby-bib-gift-tutorial.html">Praiseworthy</a> blogger, Jenni, made these cute baby bibs and a tutorial on how you can make them, too! Just in case you don't want to, though, she's giving a couple of them away. Go on over and check it out!Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16244475172254514356noreply@blogger.com0