tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22094096032822283712024-03-13T12:42:03.509-04:00My Letters on LifeOne mother's exploration of her voiceKarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01035063888419026228noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209409603282228371.post-71556841238819201412013-07-21T11:14:00.000-04:002013-08-28T07:27:27.515-04:00High heeled babies and thoughts on being Mom<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The other day I turned the corner and saw this and then ran to get a camera. I rarely wear heals, only when dressing up. Why is it that when trying to be "grownup" both my girls put on my heels and walk around proudly doing "adult" things as uncomfortably as possible? Probably for the same reason they love to wear dresses, especially princess dresses. Like one of Jackie's favorite literary characters, Nancy, they like to be fancy! I also like how Bridget has dishes, food and a book in the basket and then cars and trucks in the bottom. She's well-rounded in her interests!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlDkCST4zJkUMilwNLbBA3PFTwmMMLaN_NrSS9HkfSkgGJyiWXMQUM_GUqquTBqhqq27r8NccSL_jfCM-aRkshccAiJ_uZNZeKuJxlZXKhSg-2ZrE_U9qvLf3I3yD9UM5LqXUhH3DQz-k/s1600/Bridget-6356.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlDkCST4zJkUMilwNLbBA3PFTwmMMLaN_NrSS9HkfSkgGJyiWXMQUM_GUqquTBqhqq27r8NccSL_jfCM-aRkshccAiJ_uZNZeKuJxlZXKhSg-2ZrE_U9qvLf3I3yD9UM5LqXUhH3DQz-k/s400/Bridget-6356.jpg" width="266" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia4wbHlMltEOcewFIUUMzEQM2hg5k4QuLufoAYmOf116abnNLu7mKAq9GG5yPaOoFW0PhE_1Xw9AZDmc1xuNCtzmix-Y2emgIK4xF_cPsGMQE0_jogeNkfQw4V7-j9QGD-ne_-cwLp4M4/s1600/Bridget-6361.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia4wbHlMltEOcewFIUUMzEQM2hg5k4QuLufoAYmOf116abnNLu7mKAq9GG5yPaOoFW0PhE_1Xw9AZDmc1xuNCtzmix-Y2emgIK4xF_cPsGMQE0_jogeNkfQw4V7-j9QGD-ne_-cwLp4M4/s400/Bridget-6361.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
Still, it's endearing that they seem to want to be like their mom. One of Jackie's favorite games to play with friends is Family and she and her friends fight for the role of Mom. I'm kind of surprised when I watch, because in the wide world out there it seems many find the role of Mom less glamorous than, well, anything that pays more. Still, just as I found my low-paying writing positions immensely rewarding, so do I find these moments I get with my girls. I was surprised when I had children at how rewarding, intellectually stimulating and demanding in a fun, creative kind of way, I found parenting. Of course, I was terrified of parenthood, half convinced it would ruin my life. I'm happy to report it hasn't, yet. There's a new rhythm to learn, though, with joy to be found.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01035063888419026228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209409603282228371.post-9784173654248724012013-05-25T10:36:00.000-04:002013-08-28T07:39:00.257-04:00A fourth birthday cake with pink, purple and red flowersMy daughter never forgot her dream for a fancy pink and purple cake, an idea that started while helping and watching me make a four layer Halloween cake for a service auction. So, despite the fact that we had just moved to our first-ever house and were getting ready to travel across the U.S. to visit family, I made her a three-layer cake with buttercream frosting and pink, purple and red roses on top.<br />
<br />
Jackie chose colors of the cake's flowers. Ask Jackie her favorite color and she'll tell you, "pink, purple, red" and then she'll probably go on to add whatever other color comes to her mind. But, it always starts with pink, purple and red. Once some adult asked her the favorite color question and received a very long response, leading me to ask Jackie: "Are all the colors your favorite?." "No, not black," she said. So, there are limits. While I didn't put in as much time as I had into the service cake, she seemed excited, and enjoyed sharing it with some friends from Ann Arbor and new families we've met at our new home.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHcPkfGFFxoxFB0oMatrS2BgvOyTHnCT0SK7r3UiAy0sjuB0d0vxouahEE_KEaW_oT01CGaJ79WdXpuoHACRb534noW7c9m5l5KcIrYqpRA9YACbHc0BLl472rcH3cml-2Q_BhUEIkS5o/s1600/birthday+1a-1115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHcPkfGFFxoxFB0oMatrS2BgvOyTHnCT0SK7r3UiAy0sjuB0d0vxouahEE_KEaW_oT01CGaJ79WdXpuoHACRb534noW7c9m5l5KcIrYqpRA9YACbHc0BLl472rcH3cml-2Q_BhUEIkS5o/s640/birthday+1a-1115.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd6bqo44AYSD8Tfj3wE_nGgezOS_mfPUgR0_NTpPd3U2XPBXdiZ0ynSkabuICSPZ_HjhO5aBhYCDDtgTEFDPHzMxoQaN_IcEklMgMAwlaU9vUQsXz0XKOkBwvCNA51w1rdR3oTq5NrUPI/s1600/birthday+1-1118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd6bqo44AYSD8Tfj3wE_nGgezOS_mfPUgR0_NTpPd3U2XPBXdiZ0ynSkabuICSPZ_HjhO5aBhYCDDtgTEFDPHzMxoQaN_IcEklMgMAwlaU9vUQsXz0XKOkBwvCNA51w1rdR3oTq5NrUPI/s640/birthday+1-1118.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnoO7Qk9EBkha32JknVZ5mbFr3WqaHK-SkpEsPM-SXnjQiZyRdSr8K3CYl5KjdDzOTy9HH0sibT-QmRsw6acwzOs-FAe5_Akye74eY19MBe4Nejiz6Sitbbf7uX7PWr9e2bV2xxzi6tl8/s1600/birthday-1122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnoO7Qk9EBkha32JknVZ5mbFr3WqaHK-SkpEsPM-SXnjQiZyRdSr8K3CYl5KjdDzOTy9HH0sibT-QmRsw6acwzOs-FAe5_Akye74eY19MBe4Nejiz6Sitbbf7uX7PWr9e2bV2xxzi6tl8/s640/birthday-1122.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01035063888419026228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209409603282228371.post-88414140279688932192012-11-02T15:05:00.003-04:002013-08-28T07:38:29.537-04:00Ghosts, bats and otherwise scary cake bakingAt a church service auction I donated an IOU for a homemade cake decorated in buttercream frosting, utilizing my skills as a certified level 2 cake decorator. My sister, Christie, and I once took two Wilton cake decorating classes together. Christie went on to make fondant wedding cakes for each of her siblings, along with baby shower cakes, birthday cakes, and anniversary cakes -- some out of love and some for pay. You can see what I mean on her site, <a href="http://www.lovescakes.blogspot.com/">www.lovescakes.blogspot.com</a>.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I on the other hand.... well, the classes were fun and I do like to dabble now and then! For the auction, I thought I was signing up to make a kid's birthday cake. Instead, an adult bought my item for her huge birthday party. Yikes! I mean, "No problem. I'll just make a quick phone call to my little sis'." The process took more than a week. First, Christie helped me find "manageable" cakes online and then suggested how to make the one the girl chose.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEV6h6qRdVeSpwmo1txRuINByzR52cUClaPB3vsXUmluzs4eUGeRzkP5Zy-AdSqHD5ljeyx4rl-zo_xZLBctnMYMxINPTzwDuTXpsSEOT4_rDXJaBZKc64jSS4HAGf7a_aHogM-wNZ6FM/s1600/cake-8101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEV6h6qRdVeSpwmo1txRuINByzR52cUClaPB3vsXUmluzs4eUGeRzkP5Zy-AdSqHD5ljeyx4rl-zo_xZLBctnMYMxINPTzwDuTXpsSEOT4_rDXJaBZKc64jSS4HAGf7a_aHogM-wNZ6FM/s400/cake-8101.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Making the decorations is somewhere between the art of a sculpter and a kid's urge to play with play doh. After making homemade fondant recipes for both <a href="http://cakecentral.com/recipe/rhondas-ultimate-mmf">white</a> and <a href="http://cakecentral.com/recipe/true-black-mmf">black fondant</a>, I rolled, molded and cut, making bats, a ghost, ribbon and cats. Satisfying!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxGTmbzrrW9Fpd5dJX9Y4pg6h7uWuJPs2LjCje1cd6XcYGqYA7zIcZS-xHR4tM4WEdalcQem6P0omaEQM449LDNJ7QQYe0zU_lFiVryuPJRsCweIRcNXoXFyXU_903HShokiUGlcWDy-w/s1600/cake-8102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxGTmbzrrW9Fpd5dJX9Y4pg6h7uWuJPs2LjCje1cd6XcYGqYA7zIcZS-xHR4tM4WEdalcQem6P0omaEQM449LDNJ7QQYe0zU_lFiVryuPJRsCweIRcNXoXFyXU_903HShokiUGlcWDy-w/s400/cake-8102.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I used real butter in the buttercream frosting for the orange background, which made it decadent. I also, with Christie's help, found a caramel filling recipe that made the <i><a href="http://cakecentral.com/a/caramel-filling">best caramel filling</a></i> I have ever had and another recipe for the <a href="http://cakecentral.com/a/darn-good-chocolate-cake">moistest chocolate cake</a> I've ever made. These cakes were heavy, moist and melt-in-your mouth. Mmmmm.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizBRTniosKm4TSL4YzIkGhUqgN64auHmIjeSkh9FRCVWi8_ufnUlYVb_wv8tpKaFW3Nqb1XyVkWPnLytBRtm-XmaxTAFDbFLF_GZ3NdxHnACaVcRKshT96AIjuw4xvt1NROICJv_1LBW0/s1600/cake-8105.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizBRTniosKm4TSL4YzIkGhUqgN64auHmIjeSkh9FRCVWi8_ufnUlYVb_wv8tpKaFW3Nqb1XyVkWPnLytBRtm-XmaxTAFDbFLF_GZ3NdxHnACaVcRKshT96AIjuw4xvt1NROICJv_1LBW0/s400/cake-8105.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
This turned out to be a four layer cake, with two 8" and two 6" layers. I only had oval-shaped 6"X8" pans and so had to trim the extra cake off the edges and then cover up everything in beautiful frosting and decor.<br />
<br />
I didn't think the final product looked too shabby, and even better those who attended the birthday party told me my cake tasted amazing. It should have, of course, with all the ingredients I used. The woman whose birthday party it was told me that if I ever wanted to make a business of it her guests seemed very impressed. Uh, no, I'll leave that kind of thing to Christie. But, it was a good bonding experience with my favorite (yes, only) sister ever!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjThv4PP7VLIt5bQXqaAGxOpN7fYYQGuWS3u8ocsPm93fZHkNe-rURYOYqnqZSQUlQ6qcerZPFWvI8_KDnAIdbRKWR4slkXUAo8cMz3bqs491sX3DCQBL42mM200i7nkBHGLP9J04Iv728/s1600/cake-8114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjThv4PP7VLIt5bQXqaAGxOpN7fYYQGuWS3u8ocsPm93fZHkNe-rURYOYqnqZSQUlQ6qcerZPFWvI8_KDnAIdbRKWR4slkXUAo8cMz3bqs491sX3DCQBL42mM200i7nkBHGLP9J04Iv728/s400/cake-8114.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqCoDIqrncrVSgUcDLjUudu1_XdVYDgeNgrDc2m1FbwoAdwV48Dasixi67MPRcBVfuWXnBOLxfJISlmsyLQ9VHvQmrFsYYHvH6VjC8KIbtJ6tqY-XovCoomb1kO_kfGtW0AX1HEmw7r74/s1600/cake-8111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqCoDIqrncrVSgUcDLjUudu1_XdVYDgeNgrDc2m1FbwoAdwV48Dasixi67MPRcBVfuWXnBOLxfJISlmsyLQ9VHvQmrFsYYHvH6VjC8KIbtJ6tqY-XovCoomb1kO_kfGtW0AX1HEmw7r74/s400/cake-8111.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0S_8rjAdSvdC8Bc9IJH4bzeanLRunIFHITCEcYZlVk3ujMtF-Z-jcso7TAZWciIHKoUvDeN3F9JJW9iEhhjYOzQHZ4nkno2NDU1nJkd80JvaCeiNL24c0v1OMXd_RHOHPd8Yxrqnd13Y/s1600/cake-8122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a> OK, OK, to share some more credit around. My daughter Jackie helped pour in some of the ingredients and my friend, Megan, helped me find a way to get the bats to stay on the wire (aluminum foil ball with toothpick through it, covered in fondant) and suggested the eyes and fangs on the bats.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0S_8rjAdSvdC8Bc9IJH4bzeanLRunIFHITCEcYZlVk3ujMtF-Z-jcso7TAZWciIHKoUvDeN3F9JJW9iEhhjYOzQHZ4nkno2NDU1nJkd80JvaCeiNL24c0v1OMXd_RHOHPd8Yxrqnd13Y/s1600/cake-8122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0S_8rjAdSvdC8Bc9IJH4bzeanLRunIFHITCEcYZlVk3ujMtF-Z-jcso7TAZWciIHKoUvDeN3F9JJW9iEhhjYOzQHZ4nkno2NDU1nJkd80JvaCeiNL24c0v1OMXd_RHOHPd8Yxrqnd13Y/s400/cake-8122.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Then my husband, Renn, drove 30 minutes to Canton to deliver the cake for the birthday/Halloween party, while I precariously balanced the cake on my lap and shuddered at every bump, and two babies slept in the backseat. Now that I'm ready to retire from cake making, my daughter, Jackie, has been inspired by our project and is already planning the purple cake with pink flowers she thinks I should make her for her birthday. We'll see what she thinks in a few more months.<br />
<br />Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01035063888419026228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209409603282228371.post-382872786519899342012-10-31T21:02:00.001-04:002013-08-27T10:57:06.670-04:00Happy Halloween: Little Bo Peep found her sheepThis Halloween Little Bo Peep and her lost sheep found each other. Here they are, with Jackie playing the part of Bo Peep and Bridget as the sheep or rather the lamb, as in Lamb-e-r-t. I'd found the lamb outfit at a yard sale in brand new condition and bought it, partly because I liked the pun on the last name. We made Jackie's outfit using what we had around the house, just purchasing some ribbon for her homemade staff (used a wood dowel and wire-covered newspaper, covered in fabric for the basic staff) and hair. We went to a trunk-or-treat at the church last weekend. This is right before we left:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw1ccsr9PFOatzRM5M7IN5zFMmCrb8sEfjSdQgTJwVhFEE5KkLL-pbECMoAZ-mX2nfZ9dREr-x1Iha_MBM4o-4r0HGiuwC1_ClsU1Ck-gU6CHu8KBt5yyOarSyzxn8_CGSSk9OaMm7Dds/s1600/kids-8140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw1ccsr9PFOatzRM5M7IN5zFMmCrb8sEfjSdQgTJwVhFEE5KkLL-pbECMoAZ-mX2nfZ9dREr-x1Iha_MBM4o-4r0HGiuwC1_ClsU1Ck-gU6CHu8KBt5yyOarSyzxn8_CGSSk9OaMm7Dds/s640/kids-8140.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Once there, the kids enjoyed chili and cornbread, the parade of the children, and candy.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl7e_Ksi-dzf0HPCuhVPdiWWGVd1kFe5jLHQ9mj75kugoKqZt6kuOmK8PLPOzQuaHAr8vxMp72i4uEKb7r_rYhjjaq40PVqK9DhNDwPs19BntjCGgHNiR3A9QSqjqeWjCn2pFxF0RV0xQ/s1600/kids-8180.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl7e_Ksi-dzf0HPCuhVPdiWWGVd1kFe5jLHQ9mj75kugoKqZt6kuOmK8PLPOzQuaHAr8vxMp72i4uEKb7r_rYhjjaq40PVqK9DhNDwPs19BntjCGgHNiR3A9QSqjqeWjCn2pFxF0RV0xQ/s640/kids-8180.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
This morning, we went trick-or-treating to downtown businesses. Tonight we just stayed inside where it was warm. It was a little disappointing that no trick-or-treaters knocked on our door. But, then again we didn't knock on other's either. I think some people, like us, have concerns about safety. Oh, well, Happy Halloween!Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01035063888419026228noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209409603282228371.post-66478603821650204052012-10-02T11:39:00.000-04:002012-10-08T06:36:51.224-04:00A best friend's wedding<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Recently, I had the chance to attend the wedding of the girl who was my best friend from fifth grade through high school. This is the person who sat with me at lunch every day in elementary school, listened for hours to my teenage angst, and dreamed with me about the future. She was a friend who in some ways was very different from me –– in religious perspectives, athletic ability, hair color, height. But, we had fun talking about boys, listening to music, and exchanging ideas. Sometimes with all our differences we marveled that we were such good friends, but somehow we stuck together and I believe made each other better. Our unique backgrounds seemed to make the friendship more interesting.</blockquote>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisw8ATFctKelwQp5RPMIxYlRGUqrJoUYahE_0XlDneb11D5_5oHMlKfwgTdeo40fpBpqYvWyxD8V3mAdZIECvW11FuSTU9cs9w5n5aX3vtHkLtBgEdieh41qlzxJpExzVAOtYsLPFiO3o/s1600/Lexi+closeup-7818.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisw8ATFctKelwQp5RPMIxYlRGUqrJoUYahE_0XlDneb11D5_5oHMlKfwgTdeo40fpBpqYvWyxD8V3mAdZIECvW11FuSTU9cs9w5n5aX3vtHkLtBgEdieh41qlzxJpExzVAOtYsLPFiO3o/s320/Lexi+closeup-7818.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Still, at moments during the last several months I questioned spending the money to fly from Ann Arbor, Michigan, to Utah for the wedding, partly because Renn and I are trying to save up enough for the down payment on a house and partly because, since we're not as close as we once were, I wondered if she'd really care. But, I suppose what was important is that I cared. I'm so grateful my husband never stopped encouraging me to go to the wedding, and that we were blessed that he got a new job that allowed us to afford to do so. I'm also grateful for my parents who babysat, sent their love, and loaned me their car. There was something so sweet about seeing such a significant person to me on one of her most important days. I was glad I could show my love and support in person.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl_Hp6yi0IQrwdvKvfDSXPkVB_X6fEaid9EDYn9aE9gas_qnNRKhGbrn6KZ3tuXdlbFdkYPhoEwGq_IlbreggmdppN1vltWx7RxBMu6lcrnjzbP89CABn4n4a5H-xQDLRx5S6nai9lqV8/s1600/Lexi-7780.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl_Hp6yi0IQrwdvKvfDSXPkVB_X6fEaid9EDYn9aE9gas_qnNRKhGbrn6KZ3tuXdlbFdkYPhoEwGq_IlbreggmdppN1vltWx7RxBMu6lcrnjzbP89CABn4n4a5H-xQDLRx5S6nai9lqV8/s320/Lexi-7780.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjof7QhYGOc86FTRAcB5_8fuYtm88OyRaOZhBXAVThDA4RW4K-F5zuX8hJFFFdVaokV5QYz2Oo6V_80sxEPLnBCBhvR9oU9o2I7Dqxij4br75Nx4tpdVWgGeEXC1hWLTlfAhaEl3R6tTO8/s1600/Lexi+together-7822.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></a>I was relieved when Lexi's mom immediately came up to me to thank me for coming when I arrived. Other of Lexi's longtime and newer friends, as well as her extended family members whom I'd met over the years, also welcomed me. So many memories came back and I felt touched as I saw the gentle grace with which Lexi handled her wedding. She chose what she did carefully, regardless of tradition, and decided instead of gifts to encourage donations to one of two charities, in the newlyweds honor and in honor of her new husband's mother who passed away recently. The blue wild flowers she chose for her bouquet matched her eyes and her outdoorsy, natural personality, as did her simple, elegant dress and jewelry. She kept her wedding small, which gave it an intimate, one-on-one feeling, which is the kind of person Lexi is. It also allowed her time to visit with her guests. Instead of a traditional wedding cake, she had her favorite, flourless chocolate cake. Her uncle, a minister, married her in an outdoor ceremony up Big Cottonwood canyon that emphasized Lexi's view of marriage as a beautiful, important life commitment.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjof7QhYGOc86FTRAcB5_8fuYtm88OyRaOZhBXAVThDA4RW4K-F5zuX8hJFFFdVaokV5QYz2Oo6V_80sxEPLnBCBhvR9oU9o2I7Dqxij4br75Nx4tpdVWgGeEXC1hWLTlfAhaEl3R6tTO8/s1600/Lexi+together-7822.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjof7QhYGOc86FTRAcB5_8fuYtm88OyRaOZhBXAVThDA4RW4K-F5zuX8hJFFFdVaokV5QYz2Oo6V_80sxEPLnBCBhvR9oU9o2I7Dqxij4br75Nx4tpdVWgGeEXC1hWLTlfAhaEl3R6tTO8/s320/Lexi+together-7822.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
I saw Vanessa, Laura and Sarah, whom I hadn't seen for years and it was fun to see what they were doing with their lives.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl_6AqnRqafPo373_YsqMfmVto3H3DAb2i46YMs4mFhGgzcrkzF45YLbfwQpVySfW2InJfi3MQuzHTz_oMmd9gnYnycRkfx78LjciAq6q0-N_eFdZolyjIpZXyyYmUvkUd0eVuM4Nyano/s1600/Lexi+friends-7949.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl_6AqnRqafPo373_YsqMfmVto3H3DAb2i46YMs4mFhGgzcrkzF45YLbfwQpVySfW2InJfi3MQuzHTz_oMmd9gnYnycRkfx78LjciAq6q0-N_eFdZolyjIpZXyyYmUvkUd0eVuM4Nyano/s320/Lexi+friends-7949.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
I also met the man Lexi married and liked him, and was impressed that his father and brother seemed like good, nice people. That wasn't a surprise since they are from the Midwest after all! From what Lexi has told me, his mother was an amazing woman as well. It was also nice to see my friend's parents, whom I hadn't seen for years, and who while I was growing up fed me endless plates of nachos, took me to University of Utah basketball games, and shuttled Lexi and me all over.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzsxN6nuKaMOxl80dfksjPXsLhBz95UdB-tsVLrccaZajQVdsFVt4VWcdtarh556I54y1yPSTZeY-sRTLAk_waQEHF2aS7gOuhw74pMlMEu2_Lc1a1hSySpKbIkpValfQTO4dAJdvB34I/s1600/Lexi+parents-7941.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzsxN6nuKaMOxl80dfksjPXsLhBz95UdB-tsVLrccaZajQVdsFVt4VWcdtarh556I54y1yPSTZeY-sRTLAk_waQEHF2aS7gOuhw74pMlMEu2_Lc1a1hSySpKbIkpValfQTO4dAJdvB34I/s320/Lexi+parents-7941.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
And, of course, I stayed to enjoy the dancing. I was glad I did, as it gave me some time afterwards to talk one-on-one with Lexi and connect with her on a deeper level. Plus, she thanked me for staying the entire time.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1xcieYWK98jv0EIVCyJik08YDj9TMQky4EjUu4of5Gt0gM8EIqkQySQa0rkkIsPhowbCjag_iw0TQQuxQS7twYzDVqi8ddc3X03wdvUbFYNGxPsdrJCLw3-hXzHuJJXcvQaGxr4B_47U/s1600/Lexi+the+dance-7906.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1xcieYWK98jv0EIVCyJik08YDj9TMQky4EjUu4of5Gt0gM8EIqkQySQa0rkkIsPhowbCjag_iw0TQQuxQS7twYzDVqi8ddc3X03wdvUbFYNGxPsdrJCLw3-hXzHuJJXcvQaGxr4B_47U/s320/Lexi+the+dance-7906.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I wish Lexi and Mason a courageous, joyful, beautiful life together.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2-D28tm0GyZMG1mze-RsqkjlBPfh0FlGraq3alap_8PiGBLG4DMbrzlIOpfyHRfK8eAWloCJlPQ1AOeVI289uS81SeUAfqnV6Ej3QkFBx3ksbvu9AnY5iSwTm3m5XcD0zXttbDVjySlo/s1600/Lexi-7847.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2-D28tm0GyZMG1mze-RsqkjlBPfh0FlGraq3alap_8PiGBLG4DMbrzlIOpfyHRfK8eAWloCJlPQ1AOeVI289uS81SeUAfqnV6Ej3QkFBx3ksbvu9AnY5iSwTm3m5XcD0zXttbDVjySlo/s320/Lexi-7847.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
I'm glad they've found a true friend in each other, and I'm grateful for the friend Lexi was to me during one of the most formative, and in some ways difficult, times of my life.<br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>"</i><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; line-height: 21px;">Hey, ain't it good to know that you've got a friend? People can be so cold.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><i>They'll hurt you and desert you. Well, they'll take your soul if you let them, </i></span><i><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">oh yeah, but don't you let them</span></i></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.</span></i></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>"</i> </span><i>– James Taylor</i><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01035063888419026228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209409603282228371.post-29610366178031416462012-09-27T20:24:00.003-04:002013-08-27T09:36:17.070-04:00A bedtime momentIt's 8:18 p.m., which means it's 18 minutes past my three-year-old's bedtime. She's sitting on our green, red and gold plaid couch cushion on the floor of our Ann Arbor townhouse, ready to jump on her make-shift trampoline, even though she's not supposed to jump on cushions. Mommy's feeding little sis' and tells Daddy to put the three-year-old, who didn't take her nap, to bed. Life in our new home here is good, but both adults are already looking forward to rest.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Go to bed, Jackie," Daddy says.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"No, I want to do my jumping," she says.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Renn looks at his iPad a while longer, while Mommy feeds Bridget and types, then Daddy tries to encourage Jackie to go to bed. Finally, Jackie issues these words of wisdom:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"I'm too tired to go to bed."<br />
<br />
That remark prompted me to <i>finally</i> update my blog. Meanwhile, Renn gets Jackie to go upstairs and a few minutes later, Bridget and I go up and see this:<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8pqtfp8Gf0BXohIE_qG3O6EjD7O82MN8ZfKsjAApmST2G2F2H_tM-hU5kn2vRW7UpjL2CfPDQiMX8k6qkrMrA1hmrBjv9GUYV2irRNvdMNj4hKpz-1pGjMS9ZGaTyLOv4uUO9RtHzlME/s1600/Jackie+and+Renn+asleep2-7979.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8pqtfp8Gf0BXohIE_qG3O6EjD7O82MN8ZfKsjAApmST2G2F2H_tM-hU5kn2vRW7UpjL2CfPDQiMX8k6qkrMrA1hmrBjv9GUYV2irRNvdMNj4hKpz-1pGjMS9ZGaTyLOv4uUO9RtHzlME/s640/Jackie+and+Renn+asleep2-7979.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">After writing this blog, Bridget and I went to check on Jackie and found her and her daddy sound asleep.</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01035063888419026228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209409603282228371.post-65504089113881080962012-04-28T19:03:00.000-04:002012-04-28T22:15:59.970-04:00A couple of graduatesThis was graduation weekend. Last night we attended two graduation receptions, with the kids. Jackie wasn't that impressed by the shrimp or scallops, but she did love the chocolate dipped strawberries and most of all the live band. She attracted attention of crowds of people because she planted herself in one spot and watched for around 20 minutes. When we wanted to move, she said she wanted to, "watch the music." This is a little girl who goes around the house singing songs and asking mommy to turn on the tunes.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN8nrEVDHcKCIYaaQI40WA3NMsVLh4Tqi8rp5YVW9HEyUqlE7U_ueHGyVX1gFZI_KvkzWVqO0sdxPwIdOLiZjP_q0ybIhgOFjyH89goUfSygloxs1iLVPYXFFkmOWIYAblEo0yTrIGi1Q/s1600/Jackie's+band-0142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN8nrEVDHcKCIYaaQI40WA3NMsVLh4Tqi8rp5YVW9HEyUqlE7U_ueHGyVX1gFZI_KvkzWVqO0sdxPwIdOLiZjP_q0ybIhgOFjyH89goUfSygloxs1iLVPYXFFkmOWIYAblEo0yTrIGi1Q/s400/Jackie's+band-0142.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
This morning Renn and I attended commencement. Renn graduated with his MS in environmental engineering, while I tried to watch and tried to manage two babies. Everyone who sat around us was very patient and went out of the way to be nice. Fortunately one of those, a friend of mine from Kenya with three kids, mostly older, was seated nearby and helped during the ceremony. Her oldest daughter sat with Jackie while I took Bridget out at first. After Renn got his diploma cover, I exited to a nearby lobby. As you can see the babies didn't find graduation too exciting. Here's us listening in the lobby while they read off names and handed people their diplomas (By the way, these two pictures were taken by a two-year-old boy with some help from me. Entertainment):<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU5wM6BY-REhVkOBJgoEPssDIi_aB_XSMsCHpvAK1ANfAYTngoVuN_4jGIuNyxms3H_CCl_05a6Ej9NUpnKXPv2Pia-hLLQKABNu8crh0w1rRRw5hdv4dJbzXI8yJekRgcPpmaLMv-qHg/s1600/Bridget's+break-0170.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU5wM6BY-REhVkOBJgoEPssDIi_aB_XSMsCHpvAK1ANfAYTngoVuN_4jGIuNyxms3H_CCl_05a6Ej9NUpnKXPv2Pia-hLLQKABNu8crh0w1rRRw5hdv4dJbzXI8yJekRgcPpmaLMv-qHg/s400/Bridget's+break-0170.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXYoGv3bc9agQJaJ599Oy8p6hlmLNO2T4WsLvkEmDeIzHXfq8s4APlj15cuo_AmyBECnJP8Rnlm-IdMjKxX_v0adk4zJcvL55VAPd_3RA59nzn26yIT0yXqPG6rA55rBpcP8legazhi-o/s1600/Jackie's+break-0166.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXYoGv3bc9agQJaJ599Oy8p6hlmLNO2T4WsLvkEmDeIzHXfq8s4APlj15cuo_AmyBECnJP8Rnlm-IdMjKxX_v0adk4zJcvL55VAPd_3RA59nzn26yIT0yXqPG6rA55rBpcP8legazhi-o/s400/Jackie's+break-0166.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Eventually, Martha's youngest boy, age two, was restless and we both found ourselves in the lobby. We decided to take the kids for a "wiggle walk." The kids raced around the hallways and I felt relieved to walk and talk with another mom who understood.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfbBg0HQYv8IaOfBbNtMnT7QUV1QabH5FCIpKEgWHYA8kviqVP4yMKvpL24jP8t8izoCAQjDjnCufCEcLxoW2ka-jDmqDBH9byCMlR8Ed74tJwaxlTevdUg7i7LQQYqFig3_4dMWytPUY/s1600/lobby-0177.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfbBg0HQYv8IaOfBbNtMnT7QUV1QabH5FCIpKEgWHYA8kviqVP4yMKvpL24jP8t8izoCAQjDjnCufCEcLxoW2ka-jDmqDBH9byCMlR8Ed74tJwaxlTevdUg7i7LQQYqFig3_4dMWytPUY/s400/lobby-0177.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Afterward, Renn's advisor met him, posed for a picture and took our pictures also. Then, he suggested some more people for Renn to contact in his job search and said, "See you Monday." Renn and I believe he's been fortunate to have a very good professor.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy3jj1ol3s1Go5oayksJ4390NgpExzLHZf7aWPJseAgh_FhVCZy575PswPUeb4eQFALht-2BOHOi8lZJXmFwe23vAHjILziouqNrL6BBBY1K9IjTqnxyk94KO_zC-4PwlrR2mRWRXEGko/s1600/advisor2-0182.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy3jj1ol3s1Go5oayksJ4390NgpExzLHZf7aWPJseAgh_FhVCZy575PswPUeb4eQFALht-2BOHOi8lZJXmFwe23vAHjILziouqNrL6BBBY1K9IjTqnxyk94KO_zC-4PwlrR2mRWRXEGko/s400/advisor2-0182.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhbYGinCatNraKM_9rVJY4sRAG1u26MRaK7hNffo3pakFWtZa5A27xmh3W7h63jTw92nSxyi0pCOUT5WPSRSnetDfPiD4LTLx7bdZ6F7m1EM07ktDPXrV-8l91apxUT22LMKH6dvDdbww/s1600/advisor-0190.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhbYGinCatNraKM_9rVJY4sRAG1u26MRaK7hNffo3pakFWtZa5A27xmh3W7h63jTw92nSxyi0pCOUT5WPSRSnetDfPiD4LTLx7bdZ6F7m1EM07ktDPXrV-8l91apxUT22LMKH6dvDdbww/s400/advisor-0190.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnRdA3aZ37xMQq9I5fixMHjjZj-TtqUsFEzYUuy_15q4mn7bTQDOZNdVIb00NLfgjwcoVC4uARtVaHjloLjdkPXArmg3LuzAj2bYBMbUGNPHBA-kUmSAa24Aqw7YFFuAA7n2lWk2Gy-m0/s1600/family-0187.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnRdA3aZ37xMQq9I5fixMHjjZj-TtqUsFEzYUuy_15q4mn7bTQDOZNdVIb00NLfgjwcoVC4uARtVaHjloLjdkPXArmg3LuzAj2bYBMbUGNPHBA-kUmSAa24Aqw7YFFuAA7n2lWk2Gy-m0/s400/family-0187.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
I took Renn's pictures with the kids.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF1I2DGn_wZEhMLuHpOCoYblB3Nb9fnZy4ka5ekNrAvXPD9vsQh0aDbQQZSWSQPp2oqDtKGcLf4iS_8ZhGsvQ6IVMXr53vGJmLQIKRioY-atP5_0dWwMNer0QAXqrY1ux5pgfOcRnVkQY/s1600/Renn+&+babies-0252.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF1I2DGn_wZEhMLuHpOCoYblB3Nb9fnZy4ka5ekNrAvXPD9vsQh0aDbQQZSWSQPp2oqDtKGcLf4iS_8ZhGsvQ6IVMXr53vGJmLQIKRioY-atP5_0dWwMNer0QAXqrY1ux5pgfOcRnVkQY/s400/Renn+&+babies-0252.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
Then, he offered to take "graduation" pictures of me in his cap and gown because my commencement is next weekend at Utah State University and we won't be able to make it. I'm disappointed because I didn't go to my undergraduate graduation either because I planned to go when I got my master's degree. So, I suppose today is my graduation in a sense also :) I changed the picture to black and white so that you can pretend my hood is Utah State blue!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBIZnVmVWMc4r68Ky6UumaaLc50jqoTU_4tfGZdtC9pU9BoJu7yyHUyni2UJ1d_1ZCOy5hejD8-2E4Qgl6heRa6kXNU-pD4q4g2YCV4_U7uEUpZnET6xGkWtUxozYVgx9nAtH2tLKjMY4/s1600/Karen-0298.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBIZnVmVWMc4r68Ky6UumaaLc50jqoTU_4tfGZdtC9pU9BoJu7yyHUyni2UJ1d_1ZCOy5hejD8-2E4Qgl6heRa6kXNU-pD4q4g2YCV4_U7uEUpZnET6xGkWtUxozYVgx9nAtH2tLKjMY4/s400/Karen-0298.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Here I am with the two future graduates:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhojyxt9IhA8Q93srZZXPF5FoyG1L3ZYVDP5m6F8vw_nvoI4xDU7TuOBWCfW9GoeICflVDE0sYJtbotUnRumJuHi3pJn8r27_WWT89h_8RBGCd1bqJmznVSbNlVWJB8EjOjp-kskeUEQNY/s1600/Grad+Jackie-0324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhojyxt9IhA8Q93srZZXPF5FoyG1L3ZYVDP5m6F8vw_nvoI4xDU7TuOBWCfW9GoeICflVDE0sYJtbotUnRumJuHi3pJn8r27_WWT89h_8RBGCd1bqJmznVSbNlVWJB8EjOjp-kskeUEQNY/s400/Grad+Jackie-0324.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01035063888419026228noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209409603282228371.post-3506674182795445912012-04-16T08:28:00.000-04:002012-04-28T19:51:14.476-04:00Pinata making: the paper mache hot air balloon and bunnyThe last month, Jackie and I have been making pinatas. It started when we made a hot air balloon for my Relief Society party. We got some old newspapers and mixed about 1 part water with 1 part flour to make a paste. Then we dipped long strips of the newspaper into the paste and flattened them over a large balloon.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil4ReX4e7DDRpfF7Fg7NuFMGRwWBueGXEEvzizhwIPYCKH1mAfrjjki2U4TSfynJsSVU-G9uzXEYp0cNIN-YrapiYr3WXdAZ_Us-9C2SvicU5XSK4BDjoElOjEyP7mrB6QhF4kpC2qAsw/s1600/Jackie-8043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil4ReX4e7DDRpfF7Fg7NuFMGRwWBueGXEEvzizhwIPYCKH1mAfrjjki2U4TSfynJsSVU-G9uzXEYp0cNIN-YrapiYr3WXdAZ_Us-9C2SvicU5XSK4BDjoElOjEyP7mrB6QhF4kpC2qAsw/s320/Jackie-8043.jpg" width="320" /></a><
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvMYnMz6YdgtcfgyWHa_l5wS8CDUgG84deFbg4nOcLVgFY5784M89ldLTSJgyym9gwYTvpkrDMpywg6apdD4DABhMDdxbTvPi98KDrOtvMObtH4sdtFwCyhXvEGUTbYIHxCovJtxhdSus/s1600/Jackie-8051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvMYnMz6YdgtcfgyWHa_l5wS8CDUgG84deFbg4nOcLVgFY5784M89ldLTSJgyym9gwYTvpkrDMpywg6apdD4DABhMDdxbTvPi98KDrOtvMObtH4sdtFwCyhXvEGUTbYIHxCovJtxhdSus/s320/Jackie-8051.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Jackie's friend McKensie came over to help with the second layer of paper mache, but the two of them got bored quickly and went to dress up as princesses and play with toys, which gave me lots of time to finish that layer.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFQcvUzvCmfQ7Y3cAxaz2LLNlZXUecDgMyj3EPxjqVTAAVAXEGvJcAJkB18OixBRaUM0B4M2vdCEuhAH_zijyk9Vf0NBbwJmiJ_OrzYbB359VmdGDy7wQcasJWqjb4qUf_FejViQRZdI4/s1600/Jackie-8328.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFQcvUzvCmfQ7Y3cAxaz2LLNlZXUecDgMyj3EPxjqVTAAVAXEGvJcAJkB18OixBRaUM0B4M2vdCEuhAH_zijyk9Vf0NBbwJmiJ_OrzYbB359VmdGDy7wQcasJWqjb4qUf_FejViQRZdI4/s320/Jackie-8328.jpg" width="320" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4HYUoFx13RrQPA0saC4meHoz5dy3EBc4F4nIjTPmaycfqNzgyuuz7VJb7uUbLqUT95QQbamSz_-WlYDcH4AVsmozXrRhkTkW4sbmeRLygxCP_Fyfl2AlzZzdPjfPYICiC8gyID7834Vg/s1600/play-8309.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4HYUoFx13RrQPA0saC4meHoz5dy3EBc4F4nIjTPmaycfqNzgyuuz7VJb7uUbLqUT95QQbamSz_-WlYDcH4AVsmozXrRhkTkW4sbmeRLygxCP_Fyfl2AlzZzdPjfPYICiC8gyID7834Vg/s320/play-8309.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Then I hung it up in the closet for two weeks. By the time I got back to putting on another layer, I was running out of time and had to use two large fans to dry it and then quickly decorate it for the party. Still, I was rather happy with how it turned out.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMoLeOlSqZFHQNT0BIABZV29Jg2pafuvPmwQmyb56SOyXe5vQaNu-ccBFcypqAQlLmPepw2j_fu7lFPi4ASCEqLzx60YimFCQ68dov-CBs7hXHunzL-S5_uVq0a9SASJQ1pyiqmo4RbO4/s1600/Jackie-9229.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMoLeOlSqZFHQNT0BIABZV29Jg2pafuvPmwQmyb56SOyXe5vQaNu-ccBFcypqAQlLmPepw2j_fu7lFPi4ASCEqLzx60YimFCQ68dov-CBs7hXHunzL-S5_uVq0a9SASJQ1pyiqmo4RbO4/s320/Jackie-9229.jpg" width="213" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLagJXwl-R0k0bZENG2pbUo-SOhLXdx5i4eInyw612DZ7jjcQm37c1ZvxG5Q3EZ14jkm87rAJR41yaEC5IrJoSPUVrAFwnN-9f99URIx7i78H3zsl5uy52IE0Lh_BVd_Ml2xnoonI7kq4/s1600/Jackie-9250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLagJXwl-R0k0bZENG2pbUo-SOhLXdx5i4eInyw612DZ7jjcQm37c1ZvxG5Q3EZ14jkm87rAJR41yaEC5IrJoSPUVrAFwnN-9f99URIx7i78H3zsl5uy52IE0Lh_BVd_Ml2xnoonI7kq4/s320/Jackie-9250.jpg" width="213" /></a>
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
But, Jackie was so disappointed when she saw the pictures of it broken open at my <a href="http://mylettersonlife.blogspot.com/2012/03/relief-society-birthday.html">Relief Society party</a>. So, I promised her that we'd make her her own pinata. She chose to make a rabbit and it formed the basis for a party with the other kids in our babysitting co-opt.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQEKWGTKmRarsk5ZnKke7HE8DaJmdYRtEYYtgDOgkXsP8J55uuBYTrizLBBXqtQy18Y27JYXfSvtJJvrf7ZeKcEHNSk48uyzL_YoqZ-Vn7eFyNXTJr7RvVateOhBT7iwQOOTJB0XBhkbc/s1600/pinata-9848.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQEKWGTKmRarsk5ZnKke7HE8DaJmdYRtEYYtgDOgkXsP8J55uuBYTrizLBBXqtQy18Y27JYXfSvtJJvrf7ZeKcEHNSk48uyzL_YoqZ-Vn7eFyNXTJr7RvVateOhBT7iwQOOTJB0XBhkbc/s320/pinata-9848.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
The kids seemed to have a blast (and it kept them entertained, which goes a long way when babysitting eight kids). Here's Sophia trying to crack open the pinata:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjz9MGloIP4Iff6gXJdjXv5yrx_9K5-3I83pvD82qUBEM1MNp6s5Sk5PVqjVggoXdQmZSA7TTmiiCBWuFrbWWj8kHzW-iiKMZB-uT8dJEyuSdpmmjq2k0lVGTVwS7jC5DemUojM-f0AtE/s1600/pinata-9730.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjz9MGloIP4Iff6gXJdjXv5yrx_9K5-3I83pvD82qUBEM1MNp6s5Sk5PVqjVggoXdQmZSA7TTmiiCBWuFrbWWj8kHzW-iiKMZB-uT8dJEyuSdpmmjq2k0lVGTVwS7jC5DemUojM-f0AtE/s320/pinata-9730.jpg" width="213" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAfs1_7FcCszd5Xt4sOJX09R41KW9B06h0jchBVJ-fP9KE9fP-PFnSsDErZNmaWZtxRvASub6lGIEFUvSrmzf0G9iuqWvocNFW6MISlbBe28cSoqBLBag3CvrkZydJkiJTpjuzMyttDA8/s1600/pinata-9745.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAfs1_7FcCszd5Xt4sOJX09R41KW9B06h0jchBVJ-fP9KE9fP-PFnSsDErZNmaWZtxRvASub6lGIEFUvSrmzf0G9iuqWvocNFW6MISlbBe28cSoqBLBag3CvrkZydJkiJTpjuzMyttDA8/s320/pinata-9745.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
Then Zoya gave it a try, while her brother lifted the pinata up and down on a rope.
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoqlLOQDiPx3cYCHY9d91CeobaT4RK6lSClppqLO2L9gsG4xyR9bPlNmbjp8d0zzb2OG-2G8DUqVVEfDbckjnAdPsZGShljhoJBEUGMVklJ_5IijlPr_gOmsYW7J2T5StXLpFo21Lpkgs/s1600/pinata-9749.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoqlLOQDiPx3cYCHY9d91CeobaT4RK6lSClppqLO2L9gsG4xyR9bPlNmbjp8d0zzb2OG-2G8DUqVVEfDbckjnAdPsZGShljhoJBEUGMVklJ_5IijlPr_gOmsYW7J2T5StXLpFo21Lpkgs/s320/pinata-9749.jpg" width="320" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghJkzVrKgd_10EQVsInrtU61dWvdPbXF7_HowiBnzw0EEZpjnzhgIkf230PzCoEoDoUF1QiaC874UrH09qr8921yseAQ864LloKM23WctjPaty9TXJaJsagcIgNAlIqLSNzVGEcWcaVMY/s1600/pinata-9784.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghJkzVrKgd_10EQVsInrtU61dWvdPbXF7_HowiBnzw0EEZpjnzhgIkf230PzCoEoDoUF1QiaC874UrH09qr8921yseAQ864LloKM23WctjPaty9TXJaJsagcIgNAlIqLSNzVGEcWcaVMY/s320/pinata-9784.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Tevin had fun on his turn.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7_7jptjcEXn7hez7VhnnUFdwKQIo4Zss5U-Y6KjkgaMSs4hB-e4q2YQ1sGngC34JYU808zNzvPIQR4hy7fFYBpDoaRIc7qexNcMfgZQ4fknY85abljwFlJx1grYDw15bAU04_zRythqg/s1600/pinata-9756.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7_7jptjcEXn7hez7VhnnUFdwKQIo4Zss5U-Y6KjkgaMSs4hB-e4q2YQ1sGngC34JYU808zNzvPIQR4hy7fFYBpDoaRIc7qexNcMfgZQ4fknY85abljwFlJx1grYDw15bAU04_zRythqg/s320/pinata-9756.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
My husband managed the two babies while I supervised and took pictures. Two babies are A LOT of work!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS0KAnf4uMg0be4HLDo4yGZf0BXQLe4UObws_FoM_E-2mFBr2wSlxdXE-TcJO8IpZ52dv2jUjvselNmDNAnGlQKE7rlQVGDUgYlsng9MCsSxtZxCkEdpNVIN_iS9V_-98n1GUNQu8XxAI/s1600/pinata-9793.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS0KAnf4uMg0be4HLDo4yGZf0BXQLe4UObws_FoM_E-2mFBr2wSlxdXE-TcJO8IpZ52dv2jUjvselNmDNAnGlQKE7rlQVGDUgYlsng9MCsSxtZxCkEdpNVIN_iS9V_-98n1GUNQu8XxAI/s320/pinata-9793.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
The pinata was hard enough we proceeded from youngest to oldest a few times before it broke.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi71DZY-oYmouAWH534qBzJMURx6_LHteAE_In-8_NLVFFQV6Q4cjbbv1zIaMw-MVq-I-DLwvy_DnfO7XnpuL0awSLiz2K3S2kaM-VXk5zj6PPyQbpSt2oblO6l73zNtT9HPie0stFIEqM/s1600/pinata-9804.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi71DZY-oYmouAWH534qBzJMURx6_LHteAE_In-8_NLVFFQV6Q4cjbbv1zIaMw-MVq-I-DLwvy_DnfO7XnpuL0awSLiz2K3S2kaM-VXk5zj6PPyQbpSt2oblO6l73zNtT9HPie0stFIEqM/s320/pinata-9804.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
Chloe put a hole into the pinata, after raising her stick, hitting the pinata with a bang and sending it soaring.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju3q0JeTB4BC9ijnje1XXtXB_AxwMFSSg7MMWZZV0ZQ_32pM_4f-mK9RDsIhW8xeCK9gVEmFzL8PNBrYNGhWqs-dZmkpG8z8OChBGyzdkid5nen546aRV-yQNda2YD3U7-gtJl2eCe_LE/s1600/pinata-9812.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju3q0JeTB4BC9ijnje1XXtXB_AxwMFSSg7MMWZZV0ZQ_32pM_4f-mK9RDsIhW8xeCK9gVEmFzL8PNBrYNGhWqs-dZmkpG8z8OChBGyzdkid5nen546aRV-yQNda2YD3U7-gtJl2eCe_LE/s320/pinata-9812.jpg" width="320" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpVNtuhDKylVj6o3uKyLNBq8NFuFXFnFfpAkjTuAeexdsOW-66o3d_de4-6Eh3cLR2yYYlazp0TATOxS8mvWp8w-KGqgrNLYaVE5MrUbIuZnSTCsTvVALu24EIFeD2K4fyRCJ4yBx7iCE/s1600/pinata-9813.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpVNtuhDKylVj6o3uKyLNBq8NFuFXFnFfpAkjTuAeexdsOW-66o3d_de4-6Eh3cLR2yYYlazp0TATOxS8mvWp8w-KGqgrNLYaVE5MrUbIuZnSTCsTvVALu24EIFeD2K4fyRCJ4yBx7iCE/s320/pinata-9813.jpg" width="320" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2HDUrj-N7LInivbpEVdEg1rgTVb-jgfWnXAUiG7eDqREsqGxdxWf9hdkRtIXHxPHaS7IUoAo2m6gaED3SFCgJwdE5hrt9B0Q9abDdbWHE6VD5PyPJoUKcSOnL4OdUiFbbTnb58AaclCg/s1600/pinata-9815.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2HDUrj-N7LInivbpEVdEg1rgTVb-jgfWnXAUiG7eDqREsqGxdxWf9hdkRtIXHxPHaS7IUoAo2m6gaED3SFCgJwdE5hrt9B0Q9abDdbWHE6VD5PyPJoUKcSOnL4OdUiFbbTnb58AaclCg/s320/pinata-9815.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
The kids were quick to check out the hole, but the candy still didn't come out.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiymPuKUegG9svra_ChkhEHpeBG7b9YTMqkSbDl3XVYNrbhprxHzl4St605zZKYn2YnGg9KEBY9tn9v6KrciNon_kpZr6mP4uRKIb1a0WYFv5PJO97ULGyEPAbTfjYNc-Nx74h58h3ZKqs/s1600/pinata-9828.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiymPuKUegG9svra_ChkhEHpeBG7b9YTMqkSbDl3XVYNrbhprxHzl4St605zZKYn2YnGg9KEBY9tn9v6KrciNon_kpZr6mP4uRKIb1a0WYFv5PJO97ULGyEPAbTfjYNc-Nx74h58h3ZKqs/s320/pinata-9828.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
On her turn, Jackie (the yougest, not counting the babies) barely tapped the pinata.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk9pNchHb1ifyUMHpeAErJWlJA4Caxb6PMqSfbHPbh4ClV5p8-U9zxMmlYs6XSnxJn0ZNp0T_0Ad30go8kB-hRLhtwULy9KtJHP6yqNuIjZVzWMqNBIzZK28GJSe-as1ZOmGjeOCUQA6s/s1600/pinata-9834.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk9pNchHb1ifyUMHpeAErJWlJA4Caxb6PMqSfbHPbh4ClV5p8-U9zxMmlYs6XSnxJn0ZNp0T_0Ad30go8kB-hRLhtwULy9KtJHP6yqNuIjZVzWMqNBIzZK28GJSe-as1ZOmGjeOCUQA6s/s320/pinata-9834.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Tevin tried to help her.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL4lLmzojLfpCrOw7-2nBXz76BQOqWf1rqNep8OB5Pn4J4gzt9TFkmTWWoj0bea0NcCSq7b4NECim4rvjYpxLJ76152nnB_dm2TavfWBGPgFma6L0YtPSAadb0L9r1HcpNSVF1hy0t4JM/s1600/pinata-9840.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL4lLmzojLfpCrOw7-2nBXz76BQOqWf1rqNep8OB5Pn4J4gzt9TFkmTWWoj0bea0NcCSq7b4NECim4rvjYpxLJ76152nnB_dm2TavfWBGPgFma6L0YtPSAadb0L9r1HcpNSVF1hy0t4JM/s320/pinata-9840.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Finally, Tevin did some major damage on his last turn.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilqktHwvazCIgCZlqiA42TVaHojb3A1WI9u7H9A_rsUcSsbZD57EdIaCeYAZ45ozLw3Tn-O2eLS00ZCY-90ZwD0M0KYSecTwOLXIy_J67i2jmVqJeX-_c74ekqmCEEXUzwoiRXJDYg0Js/s1600/pinata-9861.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilqktHwvazCIgCZlqiA42TVaHojb3A1WI9u7H9A_rsUcSsbZD57EdIaCeYAZ45ozLw3Tn-O2eLS00ZCY-90ZwD0M0KYSecTwOLXIy_J67i2jmVqJeX-_c74ekqmCEEXUzwoiRXJDYg0Js/s320/pinata-9861.jpg" width="320" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4IqD1Cfwgv4o3ZjwFEFC_dENld1MYUiqAYpa2eRYJJRR3VvEQ61Ak3mrMGPjJ-EaQYBnhxjbMZqrsOX0opV52CCaK8vGkLjGs4yKSM9EBhfk80MWek0UzHi_y5zfINazTR4k46ekXOEo/s1600/pinata-9862.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4IqD1Cfwgv4o3ZjwFEFC_dENld1MYUiqAYpa2eRYJJRR3VvEQ61Ak3mrMGPjJ-EaQYBnhxjbMZqrsOX0opV52CCaK8vGkLjGs4yKSM9EBhfk80MWek0UzHi_y5zfINazTR4k46ekXOEo/s320/pinata-9862.jpg" width="320" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu4u9dH8FP2Iy6RpMkurW3onzqESPk8MoKtZBRQpdnAUTtcILs8cXpFFVGRoxJQHdzq6DZu1UvNarRGHlaq-1W3Bl7zBQ3tj1WRmHr7WrrIgsQDH0oC0BkBH3bYfOqG7enc1rT9e1fjEI/s1600/pinata-9864.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu4u9dH8FP2Iy6RpMkurW3onzqESPk8MoKtZBRQpdnAUTtcILs8cXpFFVGRoxJQHdzq6DZu1UvNarRGHlaq-1W3Bl7zBQ3tj1WRmHr7WrrIgsQDH0oC0BkBH3bYfOqG7enc1rT9e1fjEI/s320/pinata-9864.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
Then Chloe prepared to finished it off.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQqjV5801OZ7umix267R43QN3gLp-saYZrhU04qaIpv3HbeQ4UZqkKp9ho2Qy0ZsPCk-jbCNFHdY-DG4E2Ew39JwEO30Tdort95TeykbxcL-ShQi36wQSDHmUKdYpZnJRIw3KGNjqeD3g/s1600/pinata-9869.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQqjV5801OZ7umix267R43QN3gLp-saYZrhU04qaIpv3HbeQ4UZqkKp9ho2Qy0ZsPCk-jbCNFHdY-DG4E2Ew39JwEO30Tdort95TeykbxcL-ShQi36wQSDHmUKdYpZnJRIw3KGNjqeD3g/s320/pinata-9869.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
She gave a powerful whack and down it went.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMN9lNUEgB5Dy74W9MmMxEVnuGZmxtM6OurC5UGAspgmP36-mxlGgLrMqHfmPSBuQFWngG8UMUlKmGKhXmrlrRjt-7YjRCsz1Yq81gRaOL_A6EErQ-NzblRl_IDrJ-195kGSbnzPuyqtU/s1600/pinata-9875.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMN9lNUEgB5Dy74W9MmMxEVnuGZmxtM6OurC5UGAspgmP36-mxlGgLrMqHfmPSBuQFWngG8UMUlKmGKhXmrlrRjt-7YjRCsz1Yq81gRaOL_A6EErQ-NzblRl_IDrJ-195kGSbnzPuyqtU/s320/pinata-9875.jpg" width="213" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAC5olb6pdbiPi2YmOEq9UKUwKMcdvdxBY-Rn_G-MT6dRg7Db2MKI3LwvVEyW2DTaz78sa3jfdUfAXhGjMF_kYedtCmhJYNTOfySjK6RfckdCX-A1OHZVbHO9Xi_L21iz06RVnEMdgh_E/s1600/pinata-9929.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAC5olb6pdbiPi2YmOEq9UKUwKMcdvdxBY-Rn_G-MT6dRg7Db2MKI3LwvVEyW2DTaz78sa3jfdUfAXhGjMF_kYedtCmhJYNTOfySjK6RfckdCX-A1OHZVbHO9Xi_L21iz06RVnEMdgh_E/s320/pinata-9929.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
The kids quickly gathered around and collected their candy.
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVRkGBLqlqbJSBz42sIKLT1a7-BrkUcU_3nj0K0HHmLc9-kYA4X4ld2WOzPnxSB-RriFyweZuEsPkkaCn_phSlA22gW2REEJkbthdB411i685M5zQpvQJDZIjBxHVMCH8UjUSKZW8cYOQ/s1600/pinata-9884.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVRkGBLqlqbJSBz42sIKLT1a7-BrkUcU_3nj0K0HHmLc9-kYA4X4ld2WOzPnxSB-RriFyweZuEsPkkaCn_phSlA22gW2REEJkbthdB411i685M5zQpvQJDZIjBxHVMCH8UjUSKZW8cYOQ/s320/pinata-9884.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYoa-_qzs-tuORMpbnG-2-q2ilFxhzCNEjAIYXDqgJKxCUw7y3BPJ2yP-GV5z_ljcRkJPUtsI5TpCgIW5SesZi_jGUvtN36Gd5j5nrcPPLu2gYAnsBql2Yp6oD1fTyNjDEup40qWi9nlU/s1600/pinata-9889.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYoa-_qzs-tuORMpbnG-2-q2ilFxhzCNEjAIYXDqgJKxCUw7y3BPJ2yP-GV5z_ljcRkJPUtsI5TpCgIW5SesZi_jGUvtN36Gd5j5nrcPPLu2gYAnsBql2Yp6oD1fTyNjDEup40qWi9nlU/s320/pinata-9889.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhUQqnAzJrcNwjHN0AIiGm-0rEry6Ou5rSdp4C1JccpIeqxiIOW4El3jTMjmFipsfSDf4jLVZQLcWloaSKUjcw0ytkCD4fMr0X7m9M8N4osA0YszzkNZ_oHpaILCqHdSQaOKcJXTlyPhs/s1600/pinata-9904.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhUQqnAzJrcNwjHN0AIiGm-0rEry6Ou5rSdp4C1JccpIeqxiIOW4El3jTMjmFipsfSDf4jLVZQLcWloaSKUjcw0ytkCD4fMr0X7m9M8N4osA0YszzkNZ_oHpaILCqHdSQaOKcJXTlyPhs/s320/pinata-9904.jpg" width="213" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMTFgkcBdnjHHSjU2gPxxJ0E04aanFopsm3uIbucyItIZxQE6tLU03_oxyAEfpGVShKtU1UaHkCkPwUno89Bj7PkXyUd3-cVXUow6Lo-rG5fyfLP_ct3KJZjbhueZs1DnL4v5KSH7GqCc/s1600/pinata-9910.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMTFgkcBdnjHHSjU2gPxxJ0E04aanFopsm3uIbucyItIZxQE6tLU03_oxyAEfpGVShKtU1UaHkCkPwUno89Bj7PkXyUd3-cVXUow6Lo-rG5fyfLP_ct3KJZjbhueZs1DnL4v5KSH7GqCc/s320/pinata-9910.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEpC4Zl_Ae7WCQeJ5EYjteVcLma0RGFs0Y-sNQAFnsdV10PaZnBwFwLeqdSNrtZ6rbqNzmFRyI_MQx7j26kMBAIDR7SEdE3kUrhUPFHKCwHlAVXp4cA3vi93BJcj6r0CWGsvGcboVkJ4M/s1600/pinata-9913.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEpC4Zl_Ae7WCQeJ5EYjteVcLma0RGFs0Y-sNQAFnsdV10PaZnBwFwLeqdSNrtZ6rbqNzmFRyI_MQx7j26kMBAIDR7SEdE3kUrhUPFHKCwHlAVXp4cA3vi93BJcj6r0CWGsvGcboVkJ4M/s400/pinata-9913.jpg" width="266" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnu9pYK7YkP70Bqz1R4GUVCLNMEuZjUsLq33X_BIDP5ChLzblc95y6BvEmI5zCh8pZQATwRT0OVvSXyizOMoo7b0kaLK8gqv1Sbeuo8y1opxHSXkt2-UmNvBOAupA39Laf-mLwdPrMkmk/s1600/pinata-9917.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnu9pYK7YkP70Bqz1R4GUVCLNMEuZjUsLq33X_BIDP5ChLzblc95y6BvEmI5zCh8pZQATwRT0OVvSXyizOMoo7b0kaLK8gqv1Sbeuo8y1opxHSXkt2-UmNvBOAupA39Laf-mLwdPrMkmk/s320/pinata-9917.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
Jackie had had a great party!
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXmencnrZ_PZl5UYDLQ-2M5nAkLvx9i7HWKtVxoqkUoGkGYOlNQygpxyJOQeoX0cSVXia6R-OO2LT_GlSNQjbg74nFdZdG5Sh2KoBvkAlhomzWSlMyFIUMzLi4mtxo9ucy-Mr6Wd3aGJE/s1600/pinata-9923.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXmencnrZ_PZl5UYDLQ-2M5nAkLvx9i7HWKtVxoqkUoGkGYOlNQygpxyJOQeoX0cSVXia6R-OO2LT_GlSNQjbg74nFdZdG5Sh2KoBvkAlhomzWSlMyFIUMzLi4mtxo9ucy-Mr6Wd3aGJE/s320/pinata-9923.jpg" width="213" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Gt65ofxqFV12kVRNSZ3jSx4N45-SCjB5h9OIghrAPsNid5L3_JsdImf3PCb4q2GZDfFdvQLaBpEIz99rFW-RiGa8ykmS29OPk-WuPtBYZbbo6FVqKaK_AGlpO7X1PFXWVeyHE4UfJXc/s1600/pinata-9927.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Gt65ofxqFV12kVRNSZ3jSx4N45-SCjB5h9OIghrAPsNid5L3_JsdImf3PCb4q2GZDfFdvQLaBpEIz99rFW-RiGa8ykmS29OPk-WuPtBYZbbo6FVqKaK_AGlpO7X1PFXWVeyHE4UfJXc/s320/pinata-9927.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01035063888419026228noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209409603282228371.post-33361984856830451112012-04-01T00:21:00.001-04:002012-10-02T12:02:33.659-04:00Happy birthday, Grandpa Steve!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Today, April Fools Day, is my dad's birthday. He's endured years of unflavored jello, beautifully wrapped empty boxes and frosted sponge cakes (made with real sponges). But, this year we decided to do something nice.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This last week, Jackie and I went to work to make him a birthday card. We sent it Thursday and amazingly we learned today that it arrived 27 hours away in Utah on Saturday. Since we didn't think it would arrive, we posted the electronic version, Dad. We love you and Jackie had a ton of fun coloring, drawing, painting, gluing and putting stickers on for this card. I put together the materials and came up with the ideas. It's our attempt to do better at honoring birthdays, which in the past have been lucky to merit even a simple phone call. I modified the song Twinkle, Twinkle because it's become Jackie's signature piece of late. She's been known to start singing and going on and on and on. Here's our new version:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>Twinkle, twinkle little star</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>how I wonder what you are.</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>Up above my Grandpa Steve so high,</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>like a beacon in the sky.</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>Twinkle, twinkle little star</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>how I wish I could travel far</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>to see my Grandpa Steve today </i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>and wish him a Happy Birthday!</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj2Ij2SVyv08KpwDlCwKoiXgLuIMOheiHzEff6wIKVnfdQM1damkbos8AKHW_DKG1WICr1aRRE1T0bv6LQFTEUE2_P264aqsVRkeRqb4IYCxIXjJM2bk4vzaN39MQSJHYZVRri0yzpjmc/s1600/Grandpa+Steve+card-9410.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj2Ij2SVyv08KpwDlCwKoiXgLuIMOheiHzEff6wIKVnfdQM1damkbos8AKHW_DKG1WICr1aRRE1T0bv6LQFTEUE2_P264aqsVRkeRqb4IYCxIXjJM2bk4vzaN39MQSJHYZVRri0yzpjmc/s640/Grandpa+Steve+card-9410.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01035063888419026228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209409603282228371.post-14680839811168922012-03-28T22:48:00.000-04:002012-04-16T09:31:09.145-04:00Relief Society birthdayLast weekend, my church celebrated the 170th birthday of the Relief Society, our women's organization. This year we decided to have a traditional birthday party, but with a Mexican twist. We ate tacos and strawberry cake, broke a pinata full of candy and played some fun games.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
As the president of the group in my branch, it kept me pretty busy planning and preparing. I made the cake (with supplies and ideas from <a href="http://beekuzmic.blogspot.com/">Trisha</a>) and the pinata (more on that later). <a href="http://andersonpinches.blogspot.com/">Jane</a> made all the food with some help from her husband and CharLee invented a game where people had to guess the word on their fancy paper headband (a name, place or concept from our church history) based on descriptions others gave without saying the actual word. It looked like everyone had fun!<br />
<br />
Here are some of the pictures:<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEintukIoFGnPBnbU8er20bSCdcjwTY3mlXRN7ZKWYivCjIicItj98OerEQZwxZpTcF9cmbe7Fea-Pb5tdDMGQM2dyGfCBb28FOAW9uHmajxIyNoxMLIXvuMtNm5P2yv4nEUaYr56HpDW8o/s1600/RS+bday-9321.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEintukIoFGnPBnbU8er20bSCdcjwTY3mlXRN7ZKWYivCjIicItj98OerEQZwxZpTcF9cmbe7Fea-Pb5tdDMGQM2dyGfCBb28FOAW9uHmajxIyNoxMLIXvuMtNm5P2yv4nEUaYr56HpDW8o/s320/RS+bday-9321.jpg" width="213" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWBZgNVW4AihfT3CtzMJSE5XJu-GPqb8JRZ-5UMQpI2Z6XdL9mstoVilnH3VwmWXeN7_Ihw_GkM0F4w2Cih1WBeZ5Ya8HTylff5yl7XAHTXr1C5VHDEmo7di67HQ43r3yOX3dXzdTR8Co/s1600/RS+bday-9323.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWBZgNVW4AihfT3CtzMJSE5XJu-GPqb8JRZ-5UMQpI2Z6XdL9mstoVilnH3VwmWXeN7_Ihw_GkM0F4w2Cih1WBeZ5Ya8HTylff5yl7XAHTXr1C5VHDEmo7di67HQ43r3yOX3dXzdTR8Co/s320/RS+bday-9323.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLaAvhWuS5GgUKbDKrAlzDPkYvbiXlWt_xxli440f2MtyN2fsGWgX_s01SVkkc1qrhKTnl_BCdaazpcrhI3h-MpIAs_P8kVcyhI9vPyr3ImvXc-o9sfpOjKjB8C5I-qsSNumWyFLnefeo/s1600/RS+bday-9322.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLaAvhWuS5GgUKbDKrAlzDPkYvbiXlWt_xxli440f2MtyN2fsGWgX_s01SVkkc1qrhKTnl_BCdaazpcrhI3h-MpIAs_P8kVcyhI9vPyr3ImvXc-o9sfpOjKjB8C5I-qsSNumWyFLnefeo/s320/RS+bday-9322.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNWqm3EdCFTRU5H6BgbtfX6v_2JSbEY-smsd7lfwfNzeA1OQC0cK1jghgkzzc7xfXIUX39tcArkOGlQYZ_w6cI2rHR2M1t6f77T-j34-e8efL1PAStif7GOA2nlhgWEbjcHlSfFrFuDMQ/s1600/RS+bday-9307.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNWqm3EdCFTRU5H6BgbtfX6v_2JSbEY-smsd7lfwfNzeA1OQC0cK1jghgkzzc7xfXIUX39tcArkOGlQYZ_w6cI2rHR2M1t6f77T-j34-e8efL1PAStif7GOA2nlhgWEbjcHlSfFrFuDMQ/s320/RS+bday-9307.jpg" width="256" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN6Mb-VMDwFOe9sl4MfwiGqROfJQZJIDDTRftF2JtSmdcwoXAT9bDsVWZkkC35vdOwm3TNd1JgqlX_NUSgB7xUuYuP8MdTeWIGGp1qjLRGonxC4SzNKpP9ezjUXe1P8Rssml1DqYkmTmA/s1600/RS+bday-9335.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN6Mb-VMDwFOe9sl4MfwiGqROfJQZJIDDTRftF2JtSmdcwoXAT9bDsVWZkkC35vdOwm3TNd1JgqlX_NUSgB7xUuYuP8MdTeWIGGp1qjLRGonxC4SzNKpP9ezjUXe1P8Rssml1DqYkmTmA/s320/RS+bday-9335.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF5ciJczR0oFRYgen9_F9t5cFYVs8NQGJYWFan83qrh43smi6XU1_kzyL66H7Z4ovuSmY3nDZcUY3x7IeqvMRCNgmEIUn1LpCjDLssGmQSH4CatyIQwrQdvQP-4DBBffM5q9d8HSXfork/s1600/RS+bday-9334.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF5ciJczR0oFRYgen9_F9t5cFYVs8NQGJYWFan83qrh43smi6XU1_kzyL66H7Z4ovuSmY3nDZcUY3x7IeqvMRCNgmEIUn1LpCjDLssGmQSH4CatyIQwrQdvQP-4DBBffM5q9d8HSXfork/s320/RS+bday-9334.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnLwlhXC9wB_yFLfhpSxCx-W6PiE4R0d81gnIFXcbISUOsUkJRLkpD18eiaNSDPy4a5ySwp_qxp2YgjdqQ17AoT4A3pl_EZdqU_lIO_KdCE0D0y8uhz13W_18Xu-WNwpIfKeTEq79oeEU/s1600/RS+bday-9340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnLwlhXC9wB_yFLfhpSxCx-W6PiE4R0d81gnIFXcbISUOsUkJRLkpD18eiaNSDPy4a5ySwp_qxp2YgjdqQ17AoT4A3pl_EZdqU_lIO_KdCE0D0y8uhz13W_18Xu-WNwpIfKeTEq79oeEU/s320/RS+bday-9340.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga94vVrYLfHxpCV00xs78kwh0b3KZR4ekH6SEmJnWhP8v5L0H8n2r4RzsNkKYavaHOAZcwj3I49oc3YRqHsH43pVhAW4Rvq_s9V-ETqLi0IIxQdWm4hVyPm8MSdxc7n9TNVxGNkvQuECg/s1600/RS+bday-9325.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga94vVrYLfHxpCV00xs78kwh0b3KZR4ekH6SEmJnWhP8v5L0H8n2r4RzsNkKYavaHOAZcwj3I49oc3YRqHsH43pVhAW4Rvq_s9V-ETqLi0IIxQdWm4hVyPm8MSdxc7n9TNVxGNkvQuECg/s320/RS+bday-9325.jpg" width="213" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhflACWEVD-5_NDwZIRSXhG3_jgBO5Xo5wN6u7D3iMaOOV7LHVZbkSgbYaTmq4i-v6vwKBUBX1kN61TZ6_xkMVcpUTdXtiW_1ceEjZj41NmPNYD4PZmEyeuLS6FeYgW8HlEowR2Mh2kIBg/s1600/RS+bday-9347.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhflACWEVD-5_NDwZIRSXhG3_jgBO5Xo5wN6u7D3iMaOOV7LHVZbkSgbYaTmq4i-v6vwKBUBX1kN61TZ6_xkMVcpUTdXtiW_1ceEjZj41NmPNYD4PZmEyeuLS6FeYgW8HlEowR2Mh2kIBg/s320/RS+bday-9347.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="text-align: center;">
</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDty-_EkPQcYY1LX3KLnHnjycVyzAVsKsdrFETzvhTF8y1iPMjreLm0cpUYHSm2TdIdcdJC1rDKpZKxUm0YRpOXhbXR21t6p1y-4Kd1dt7OHDuWzoG6LA2_iemkOShzacEAe_OvR1NJNk/s1600/RS+bday-9348.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDty-_EkPQcYY1LX3KLnHnjycVyzAVsKsdrFETzvhTF8y1iPMjreLm0cpUYHSm2TdIdcdJC1rDKpZKxUm0YRpOXhbXR21t6p1y-4Kd1dt7OHDuWzoG6LA2_iemkOShzacEAe_OvR1NJNk/s320/RS+bday-9348.jpg" width="213" /></a><span style="text-align: center;">
</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb6U85FXV0p9b_C6kxIIwC7lfVx_7FbPyozX9PYTmQycuzwCrgTlsft_Wm6coDSjxf3a8r6UsYU1B6fNmRbcJ8Hmo7FXPt3SQIFmcIkXdn4p2Av24Y7kdCMi3Z-NM5a98C1o3GauxRNtc/s1600/RS+bday-9351.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb6U85FXV0p9b_C6kxIIwC7lfVx_7FbPyozX9PYTmQycuzwCrgTlsft_Wm6coDSjxf3a8r6UsYU1B6fNmRbcJ8Hmo7FXPt3SQIFmcIkXdn4p2Av24Y7kdCMi3Z-NM5a98C1o3GauxRNtc/s320/RS+bday-9351.jpg" width="213" /></a><span style="text-align: center;">
</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUCiX49E7aFWrRpcmI_8rrJlMjOewsfzUVzxPhqCjPeL3JvB8qgL_JofYvyNEfNfoxIWYYoxSOJlYkhMSYC5qHpt36sEv_dKUl9WGLMvX_2jwKxAduA4PsIKaOHWreWyLAPwhqIvlDC18/s1600/RS+bday-9360.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUCiX49E7aFWrRpcmI_8rrJlMjOewsfzUVzxPhqCjPeL3JvB8qgL_JofYvyNEfNfoxIWYYoxSOJlYkhMSYC5qHpt36sEv_dKUl9WGLMvX_2jwKxAduA4PsIKaOHWreWyLAPwhqIvlDC18/s320/RS+bday-9360.jpg" width="213" /></a><span style="text-align: center;">
</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQaJKrh10OBJGPg1pff_Acc0ETmcgpTgS7LXZ3w7sxPoAglO2smnLIcN6aPiXZ8W8MxWgysP1ViujcIvfg-s0ePhf86GYabZIcm3RcJzVQc7Lfd4_f_tspGkOiYdM0YQ3LkWMvyE2e0IU/s1600/RS+bday-9361.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQaJKrh10OBJGPg1pff_Acc0ETmcgpTgS7LXZ3w7sxPoAglO2smnLIcN6aPiXZ8W8MxWgysP1ViujcIvfg-s0ePhf86GYabZIcm3RcJzVQc7Lfd4_f_tspGkOiYdM0YQ3LkWMvyE2e0IU/s320/RS+bday-9361.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="text-align: center;">
</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0yTQkcYbjj9WtkVaE9mAaclsDa_hv5GPmtBVMrevERiVl1yiJq4wTto5w0-bfFNmrBWh2bIgP7UoTJPlWEVhJ8IU95y12162cYokPSVihJbEq5jAYEqATkgwTBT_yTwuHxWwzX_5Bb68/s1600/RS+bday-9362.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0yTQkcYbjj9WtkVaE9mAaclsDa_hv5GPmtBVMrevERiVl1yiJq4wTto5w0-bfFNmrBWh2bIgP7UoTJPlWEVhJ8IU95y12162cYokPSVihJbEq5jAYEqATkgwTBT_yTwuHxWwzX_5Bb68/s320/RS+bday-9362.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="text-align: center;">
</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRwShnatXlnoWO2LvCOhtsNCE83w0tDT6uTEo_OK5qDn2ejOFWAkA5OCNYbSfv1R_-ekMS4h8UL2tcdOQgrF49XA5MEUzN2NcJM-ySJb2d5KqXSab7IB4B6HG8MZznhn5m_oNcmuFD9Qk/s1600/RS+bday-9366.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRwShnatXlnoWO2LvCOhtsNCE83w0tDT6uTEo_OK5qDn2ejOFWAkA5OCNYbSfv1R_-ekMS4h8UL2tcdOQgrF49XA5MEUzN2NcJM-ySJb2d5KqXSab7IB4B6HG8MZznhn5m_oNcmuFD9Qk/s320/RS+bday-9366.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="text-align: center;">
</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho9YXXgLU6mqb8-tx7NVr5wvIOQ_ne-2QIRSzbPgMoI5llh5TWj__c1NoSOuRZKl556PLFDmeUW9054LBVRLXgwqKgu4Oj0_RyWn_i2tK5yFgjUQ_ojY2wNgl2FvAAidLr70qkyMnbNMc/s1600/RS+bday-9368.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho9YXXgLU6mqb8-tx7NVr5wvIOQ_ne-2QIRSzbPgMoI5llh5TWj__c1NoSOuRZKl556PLFDmeUW9054LBVRLXgwqKgu4Oj0_RyWn_i2tK5yFgjUQ_ojY2wNgl2FvAAidLr70qkyMnbNMc/s320/RS+bday-9368.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="text-align: center;">
</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyENFbXB96o8TfdaPQ-XaP9yUNe9gN4SkuCMKBvEupNzND2e6_9_0jBGZa7LcOfAzGrMiTi2VWl4HLOxWfsXZLIFskl6P_ktPFvEwVZu9FDY-ah_p9HIgejQabUdtGPcCROBxzAFNd0o8/s1600/RS+bday-9369.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyENFbXB96o8TfdaPQ-XaP9yUNe9gN4SkuCMKBvEupNzND2e6_9_0jBGZa7LcOfAzGrMiTi2VWl4HLOxWfsXZLIFskl6P_ktPFvEwVZu9FDY-ah_p9HIgejQabUdtGPcCROBxzAFNd0o8/s320/RS+bday-9369.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="text-align: center;">
</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8LXzsA5NFcQXtxUGRaspCfed039QezR0dDzftLQ6n8UeoHpYlWMxwFogdcjzAAYWOQ4PqNY69QOjxsD168rHVnlmJa0SJEMnIsL3S-0nmkZWqGL9JFBu5vsqf61Ny1xvAk1ZbBIEMa0U/s1600/RS+bday-9371.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8LXzsA5NFcQXtxUGRaspCfed039QezR0dDzftLQ6n8UeoHpYlWMxwFogdcjzAAYWOQ4PqNY69QOjxsD168rHVnlmJa0SJEMnIsL3S-0nmkZWqGL9JFBu5vsqf61Ny1xvAk1ZbBIEMa0U/s320/RS+bday-9371.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="text-align: center;">
</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFXC8c04RVDSfgwWMAjs5PkFe9JzMQzbZpTpyxVnATMurb-xfyRtpCkgaiJNTh_q8t4qk6u1T3HUbl91uNnDDd28pa9AhSi9hLmcnGDSMKfg83PgpkyyqoclMSe2cbjTj5KkWKwh-PhDc/s1600/RS+bday-9372.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFXC8c04RVDSfgwWMAjs5PkFe9JzMQzbZpTpyxVnATMurb-xfyRtpCkgaiJNTh_q8t4qk6u1T3HUbl91uNnDDd28pa9AhSi9hLmcnGDSMKfg83PgpkyyqoclMSe2cbjTj5KkWKwh-PhDc/s320/RS+bday-9372.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="text-align: center;">
</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitxkkrXMfrh6mz_6MYhO0q3nEVclK4flwbHi6j-VbY4DEo2QdfYykGGn-P51A1-LYRLPA5UcwGAHqclvDVJOzur-L566llSR-t2Y8IR8yuIq-IIzG-TqjRDeCezbxSKTns_kHBGH_jfEs/s1600/RS+bday-9374.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitxkkrXMfrh6mz_6MYhO0q3nEVclK4flwbHi6j-VbY4DEo2QdfYykGGn-P51A1-LYRLPA5UcwGAHqclvDVJOzur-L566llSR-t2Y8IR8yuIq-IIzG-TqjRDeCezbxSKTns_kHBGH_jfEs/s320/RS+bday-9374.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="text-align: center;">
</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvubWfRyl0kMe1e0TTIFSkk3v0QxI79aWGQ3ZsQ6Hb1Ucteo4xDvyjePGLnxBeOqeU4abQivKIIlCioYodRU0ug8ZmPZQEtxySMevKPcDPhj-k14yv3YEkM2ClKeoZ30koYicU9-USXsM/s1600/RS+bday-9375.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvubWfRyl0kMe1e0TTIFSkk3v0QxI79aWGQ3ZsQ6Hb1Ucteo4xDvyjePGLnxBeOqeU4abQivKIIlCioYodRU0ug8ZmPZQEtxySMevKPcDPhj-k14yv3YEkM2ClKeoZ30koYicU9-USXsM/s320/RS+bday-9375.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="text-align: center;">
</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD3EBOSdECwpJq3wPvyhssNU1AZjYiAWbJkB6Yd-TQcf_8Yeap2yjxowXE-0CJ1i-KOS1tTvW8RrXl5tXI5nK9fZMcm7oDQFccJDUhKvtc8raw9-7qc6O44O9MBcdjtQZdqk7dgjn-KVg/s1600/RS+bday-9378.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD3EBOSdECwpJq3wPvyhssNU1AZjYiAWbJkB6Yd-TQcf_8Yeap2yjxowXE-0CJ1i-KOS1tTvW8RrXl5tXI5nK9fZMcm7oDQFccJDUhKvtc8raw9-7qc6O44O9MBcdjtQZdqk7dgjn-KVg/s320/RS+bday-9378.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="text-align: center;">
</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis73UPtBNucbSjk-fl4XCGiL7Vtkyg0wyeUCEbVTFFmyfEiEex63H1vW87dmTFF02NMkTVbt5QEQwp0ue8SfFfdxaAYx4LPKHuvb3ffYDgiw9d41-2E2T47SNz6qAvXqJP6999Zmu6Pno/s1600/RS+bday-9381.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis73UPtBNucbSjk-fl4XCGiL7Vtkyg0wyeUCEbVTFFmyfEiEex63H1vW87dmTFF02NMkTVbt5QEQwp0ue8SfFfdxaAYx4LPKHuvb3ffYDgiw9d41-2E2T47SNz6qAvXqJP6999Zmu6Pno/s320/RS+bday-9381.jpg" width="213" /></a><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9zYHsdDda-TxLULrgFT1g8l7ExBiz50jvK3d3faItE0t6t59rhejTOi1ibv_IeJo3PktBisfjYbVOtcSDnIcXkI8RI6oQLZ71xui-HObp8EOMcJtrIiCLv3p8DDtesBMBKkYg2m6V4W8/s320/RS+bday-9383.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="256" /><span style="text-align: center;">
</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgydTJqpDldL8Vt5tbG9z6pRa1wydOtDmNF73DzyL2pfYx-CCMkArnk78f633GtSoRCO1Z8Ky9_MJ8a_4Cl89E16R_YKEDXCm2DghJSeeia4uwfdwrheeRJCghS0VVGZ9UKypbHwsaASyI/s1600/RS+bday-9384.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgydTJqpDldL8Vt5tbG9z6pRa1wydOtDmNF73DzyL2pfYx-CCMkArnk78f633GtSoRCO1Z8Ky9_MJ8a_4Cl89E16R_YKEDXCm2DghJSeeia4uwfdwrheeRJCghS0VVGZ9UKypbHwsaASyI/s320/RS+bday-9384.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="text-align: center;">
</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm2Bmr6uwyK1lYJ4S3by8JdpKF8s0SY0VIR7TOnmLF_3PEmIi7C3I8W6xJhtY08hEBeJ89cZU6MN2unnjyFAmqUsJclAGJJeR7-BncLHwoWeYa8W9Qx_TgZrRwMk-Mbk7eKoFy4n9K1bE/s1600/RS+bday-9385.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm2Bmr6uwyK1lYJ4S3by8JdpKF8s0SY0VIR7TOnmLF_3PEmIi7C3I8W6xJhtY08hEBeJ89cZU6MN2unnjyFAmqUsJclAGJJeR7-BncLHwoWeYa8W9Qx_TgZrRwMk-Mbk7eKoFy4n9K1bE/s320/RS+bday-9385.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="text-align: center;">
</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvJtcRg8kaHtPe2bma4gdcWRN29OTsqDSowuBKp4PAEsuLGLb5Kt5nxM8FavhfHaNSEvjjeecSU9QVXcvk-twG9ksA7fVz8LcaYorOM_UjlkbJa7sU3I7-CzHQl6rkl05hk1k7CvCFLt4/s1600/RS+bday-9387.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvJtcRg8kaHtPe2bma4gdcWRN29OTsqDSowuBKp4PAEsuLGLb5Kt5nxM8FavhfHaNSEvjjeecSU9QVXcvk-twG9ksA7fVz8LcaYorOM_UjlkbJa7sU3I7-CzHQl6rkl05hk1k7CvCFLt4/s320/RS+bday-9387.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="text-align: center;">
</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJbektrhPkq-LpnFJWzViJ8wknDIw7DHv4QETjO6stMyzB4xcpGV8rU5rWGMt0peloGJkY-N06Z2zxoqUxeuxXbrw-hUeSIHhOM9LV0yucfw7CoMZITC6Tq24uYEv64iQYJVBtH0_-PnA/s1600/RS+bday-9396.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJbektrhPkq-LpnFJWzViJ8wknDIw7DHv4QETjO6stMyzB4xcpGV8rU5rWGMt0peloGJkY-N06Z2zxoqUxeuxXbrw-hUeSIHhOM9LV0yucfw7CoMZITC6Tq24uYEv64iQYJVBtH0_-PnA/s320/RS+bday-9396.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01035063888419026228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209409603282228371.post-28327146333773611732012-03-16T09:04:00.000-04:002012-04-16T09:30:59.450-04:00Something to celebrate: our six-month birthday traditionSometimes it's fun to do something totally frivolous, like celebrate a six-month birthday. My mother started the tradition, something that I never thought twice about until my mother-in-law got a kick out of this picture in my wedding video:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRRjUBRsb14aX3tZbqVYIXg2MWjFzYC1rPcXNHMxObHSh8LEUONemC6R7p5q67pYE6p_CbY9cS4qIAG9ZIyxkbhIXt2Mv1uijKZg-ohbNb-06ZPLMHGC_WktOg5r1VXfVCmSVknMlcaYE/s1600/Karen's+6-month+bday-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRRjUBRsb14aX3tZbqVYIXg2MWjFzYC1rPcXNHMxObHSh8LEUONemC6R7p5q67pYE6p_CbY9cS4qIAG9ZIyxkbhIXt2Mv1uijKZg-ohbNb-06ZPLMHGC_WktOg5r1VXfVCmSVknMlcaYE/s640/Karen's+6-month+bday-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The six-month birthday cake my mother made me</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<a name='more'></a>She said it's obvious I was an oldest child, which made me laugh as I thought for the first time of the oddity of someone making a cake to celebrate a six-month-birthday.<br />
<br />
But then, when my oldest, Jackie, turned six-months, I thought it sounded like a fun way to celebrate. I had a Marie Calendar chocolate cream pie I'd bought on sale and needed to use up anyway. We made pulled pork, mashed potatoes and vegetables and invited Jackie's cousin Lucy, Aunt Ally and Uncle Zack over for a party and dinner since they lived nearby. We made a paper birthday sign as that's how my husband said he and his siblings did it when they were growing up and we didn't have a half candle.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgykeYS-EJhxhuaGVOCZlr0FqXSCwCoIDzq5GUT3JRWCxqgHTZjd-NQRy3dws-EvdNwjEgIiicy5xQ0WnDEJVRufbMnG5Wr00jZDE11LuYSPjysZtHPieqXTvrEhSb6geSL3Of-RS3s6Bs/s1600/Jackie's+6-month+bday-5006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgykeYS-EJhxhuaGVOCZlr0FqXSCwCoIDzq5GUT3JRWCxqgHTZjd-NQRy3dws-EvdNwjEgIiicy5xQ0WnDEJVRufbMnG5Wr00jZDE11LuYSPjysZtHPieqXTvrEhSb6geSL3Of-RS3s6Bs/s640/Jackie's+6-month+bday-5006.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Jackie's six-month birthday dinner<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuRX45g-8I6UVwcSjpYKe0EK9sRAeQM2sfpOQu_OpTaX5z3eUdWHoFAgPViPyrPf8gLlDSjC3TEWiXF9fUI2v5SG0GDKKrMBkqXz637JB4GB9rINdyl6tRfYmgMZjRLpdER-S2AFTDnFY/s1600/Jackie's+6-month+bday-5024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuRX45g-8I6UVwcSjpYKe0EK9sRAeQM2sfpOQu_OpTaX5z3eUdWHoFAgPViPyrPf8gLlDSjC3TEWiXF9fUI2v5SG0GDKKrMBkqXz637JB4GB9rINdyl6tRfYmgMZjRLpdER-S2AFTDnFY/s640/Jackie's+6-month+bday-5024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aunt Ally and Uncle Zack holding their daughter Lucy (left) and Jackie.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTWkVr8lu7twpA7nCQwA3glSUNrjsRw2e0FuoHjcs6f1xpkWRWsk5EYm_yuomcC_zEsYGd86LA1AbwUJFej2VjRoVsr5RMDnZAB78CypyY0gPYdmu_OjvE28TKVLMorwJ5E1QEG8FAIHM/s1600/Jackie's+6-month+bday-5014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTWkVr8lu7twpA7nCQwA3glSUNrjsRw2e0FuoHjcs6f1xpkWRWsk5EYm_yuomcC_zEsYGd86LA1AbwUJFej2VjRoVsr5RMDnZAB78CypyY0gPYdmu_OjvE28TKVLMorwJ5E1QEG8FAIHM/s640/Jackie's+6-month+bday-5014.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jackie and her cousin, Lucy, when Jackie turned six-months-old and Lucy was not quite three months.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Bridget's the second child, but again, why give up the excuse for a party? I'd planned to make another chocolate cream pie as I prefer pie to cake, but then Tuesday at MOPS (a mom's group for mothers of preschoolers) we frosted miniature cakes as part of our everyone-birthday party. I decided to make cakes there for Bridget's birthday party Thursday. Here they are:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1b4NcWK2Hxi1M44MGCwlOr_PA6f6pfcz3UGKChiQeXJ74ruAcpCicw4cJpG6ikih6bLYHy2zKlhqA0GKPRbeqheKu4s48Vd4xgXa7C7Wk4xFhPGI775VHUC1nHziCw387DJOJXT5Ia-M/s1600/Bridget's+6-month+bday-8826.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1b4NcWK2Hxi1M44MGCwlOr_PA6f6pfcz3UGKChiQeXJ74ruAcpCicw4cJpG6ikih6bLYHy2zKlhqA0GKPRbeqheKu4s48Vd4xgXa7C7Wk4xFhPGI775VHUC1nHziCw387DJOJXT5Ia-M/s640/Bridget's+6-month+bday-8826.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cakes to celebrate Bridget's six-month birthday.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
For the celebration, I looked into my overflowing freezer and saw an opportunity to get rid of the turkey I'd purchased at a great deal right after Thanksgiving. I'd planned to use it for a holiday like Easter or an event like Renn finishing his thesis (he made me a turkey dinner for Mother's day when I was just about done with my thesis, in honor of both events), but I was tired of all the freezer space it was taking. It needed to go. So, we decided the turkey was to celebrate Bridget's six-month-birthday and Renn (basically) finishing up his Great Lakes paper, which is about half his thesis. He's still working to finish the second half, a paper on phosphorous bioavailability in Onondaga Lake.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6awwBRhqYbfyMZV-l_CR1o2oOSIQyCa2Pn2gZrfH3GDSi732YGqvwyBuTBLGFdCRDCbLmYzH7aczTh9pZVxDnl0ithPG8nFqhZKFFFnhxS_o5r768SrcCyiNzPIh3pxZaC-qkq0DChPU/s1600/Bridget's+6-month+bday-8844.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6awwBRhqYbfyMZV-l_CR1o2oOSIQyCa2Pn2gZrfH3GDSi732YGqvwyBuTBLGFdCRDCbLmYzH7aczTh9pZVxDnl0ithPG8nFqhZKFFFnhxS_o5r768SrcCyiNzPIh3pxZaC-qkq0DChPU/s640/Bridget's+6-month+bday-8844.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Renn carving the turkey while Jackie watches.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Since we plan to move in less than two months (Who knows where as we're still looking for jobs. We've applied at 52 so far. Anyone know of any good environmental engineering positions with an emphasis on surface water quality issues?) I'm working to clean out our freezer and pantry. I try to keep extra of everything on hand as that way I can buy on sale, not have to run to the store to cook a meal, and can be prepared for an emergency (my most common "emergency" is a bout of busyness which keeps me from getting to the store). So, we did our sides from what we needed to use up: a few potatoes left in a bag, a can of cranberry sauce and half a bag of frozen green beans. Mmmmm. It was good.<br />
<br />
<br />
Since we didn't invite anyone over for our makeshift party, we called Bridget's grandparents to talk on Skype.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivitWiqBwRxkONY9Q27BBtB-rMu8dyClH6c9D8gR5hm0S3Y6Sso0ptIpiEifuvzLZQM8_Mjpx5PwtcY0gAet6kwT0p8sQJ9TSb-q4YpctKlABnnhye2YoIOq6YQ3kmreiWAWycsyTOoWY/s1600/Bridget's+6-month+bday-8861.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivitWiqBwRxkONY9Q27BBtB-rMu8dyClH6c9D8gR5hm0S3Y6Sso0ptIpiEifuvzLZQM8_Mjpx5PwtcY0gAet6kwT0p8sQJ9TSb-q4YpctKlABnnhye2YoIOq6YQ3kmreiWAWycsyTOoWY/s640/Bridget's+6-month+bday-8861.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Renn, Jackie and Bridget talking to Grandma Trish and Grandpa Steve on Skype.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Bridget didn't get to eat any turkey or birthday cake, but in honor of turning six-months we fed her rice cereal for the first time. Before we fed her, she seemed starving and was crying. Then, she grabbed the bowl and spilled half the rice-milk before I had a chance to feed her. Still, once I started spooning the rice-milk into her mouth, she seemed to like it:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzreHKq-npML14FauW_rHRqw53mRFciuGPmNPqOMHmghmIrB8BHKO-2GA6dTHg8p4P2TLrh5-5zf072Du9E_w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
Happy six-month-birthday Bridget! We love you.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01035063888419026228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209409603282228371.post-89260206218483546702012-03-13T12:58:00.001-04:002012-04-16T09:31:25.464-04:00Jackie's marker tatoos, first snowman, Tech hockey, and other 2-year-old adventures<br />
<div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">
</div>
<br />
Over the last month, I've been jotting down memories and taking pictures, despite the fact I couldn't get my computer to upload them. Now it's time for some more catchup, with a post focused on my blog's greatest fan (she loves to see pictures of herself and family members!). Here goes:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Feb. 6 - Jackie and I ate a bowl of frozen blueberries -- that we'd picked fresh months earlier by Rice Lake -- they still tasted so much better than store bought and brought back a bit of summer. It was also kind of funny dying our fingers and mouths purple with berries mid-winter. Here's a picture of Jackie's mouth AFTER we tried to wash it clean:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJBwHMgm_J_DXgnS_wMw5pMa6uw1Fme4S9nv3PmKn9gsv_tPi9JnNTFZ9QRC6wgWveP2ft7xw1H_dz0b_F7wiFnlQFlZ_sIcTN_gDvdoCvJS_Z3IFsdDRJqWfZXNpTe7bW9lqjufd-WCg/s1600/blueberry+lips-7633.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJBwHMgm_J_DXgnS_wMw5pMa6uw1Fme4S9nv3PmKn9gsv_tPi9JnNTFZ9QRC6wgWveP2ft7xw1H_dz0b_F7wiFnlQFlZ_sIcTN_gDvdoCvJS_Z3IFsdDRJqWfZXNpTe7bW9lqjufd-WCg/s400/blueberry+lips-7633.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>Feb. 7 - Jackie's favorite phrase (aside from "No!") is "I do it." She'd do great in a Nike Commercial. Today one thing she wanted to do was play with stickers, which evolved into painting with water colors and then drawing with markers. When my back was turned for a moment she turned her attention away from drawing on paper to drawing on her arm and clothes. Fortunately, the markers are washable. This is NOT the first time... She called the lids hats and put them on each of her fingers.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga5KjeQVX66KsZ7Qhad6DEWKni6OX24FtZEyQMiCyP40DxyNNOKA6Y8fYrWm6HlF55Jd1s8P0rHozFBNmetrMgILrc_4Czh5DYONDMOftHvvl9Gfue1MG32NlTkyJJ_RZW3dLji4xbyx0/s1600/marker-7646.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga5KjeQVX66KsZ7Qhad6DEWKni6OX24FtZEyQMiCyP40DxyNNOKA6Y8fYrWm6HlF55Jd1s8P0rHozFBNmetrMgILrc_4Czh5DYONDMOftHvvl9Gfue1MG32NlTkyJJ_RZW3dLji4xbyx0/s400/marker-7646.jpg" width="266" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuxPqTXqEcWx6t2GXRwW8GNZHD8DOkPxpPYAwnWo9wAwsSESJY-ZBoRoViS_dBbNmSGjQ-WjvN-S-b2KGlAPgIQW-gH8YDmU_MRZIWBhxrklyq0NGy_KQrojPro_cJjwjAXo5SfRrI9_w/s1600/marker-7643.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuxPqTXqEcWx6t2GXRwW8GNZHD8DOkPxpPYAwnWo9wAwsSESJY-ZBoRoViS_dBbNmSGjQ-WjvN-S-b2KGlAPgIQW-gH8YDmU_MRZIWBhxrklyq0NGy_KQrojPro_cJjwjAXo5SfRrI9_w/s400/marker-7643.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
Feb. 15 - For the first time ever, Jackie took a nap in underwear. I wondered what kind of insane thing I'd done to myself, dreading cleaning up the mess, but to my surprise she woke up after about two hours, knocked on her door and said, "Need to go potty," and then completely dry went to her little toilet. If only it were always that easy. (The next day within a matter of hours, she had six accidents. Ugh. From best to worst).<br />
<br />
Feb. 21 - In a moment of weakness, I bought bags of Valentine's candy post-holiday at discount prices. I was just sneaking a Hershey's kiss and miniature Mr. Goodbar from the bag on the fridge, when my very observant two-year-old said, "want chocolate." I gave her a piece, in resignation, mourning my bad example, only to have her eat it joyfully and say, "want another piece." OK, I said, as I held two pieces in my own hand and felt I should be fair. But, since I was feeding her sister, I asked: "Can you be patient? Can you be a little patient (holding my fingers close together) or even a lot patient (holding my hands far apart)." "Little patient," she said, holding her fingers close together. Then in a moment of enthusiasm she said, "more patient," and held her fingers farther apart. I was pleased, but then her patience ran out. "No more patient," she said. As her sister was done eating, I went to get her more chocolate.<br />
<br />
Feb. 25 - After being here for two years, we FINALLY made it to a Tech hockey game. Bridget's wearing the outfit Renn's co-workers gave her when she was born and I'm wearing one of Renn's sweatshirts, so that we all had the school colors -- black and yellow. It was fun, but Bridget had to be taken out several times. I liked this picture because not only do they both look cute, but the logo behind Bridget looks like an angel wing. If you look really closely, you'll see another wing behind Jackie as well -- our two little angels!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnnV5URLxYkf-Oz1jr8TQmWKZWk8UH7GKSOaaD495fV8YHXHM1k6jY0AAiF8jNkQ72IAay61Uqbpf4kpqgPkh-jmEE1mLpzcndVt2rRwcgRYkFkl-8u4GTZO7mUkFvSen7PvmugELsP8w/s1600/Tech+hockey-05870.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnnV5URLxYkf-Oz1jr8TQmWKZWk8UH7GKSOaaD495fV8YHXHM1k6jY0AAiF8jNkQ72IAay61Uqbpf4kpqgPkh-jmEE1mLpzcndVt2rRwcgRYkFkl-8u4GTZO7mUkFvSen7PvmugELsP8w/s400/Tech+hockey-05870.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis4Pw9ffw58yInvc128R3zF2fa_lbniymlj8VARRkAJVkxkKOS1YJs117RfI-ao4n5jyQhhzCbrazTjXyr25zxNU2Gn4eT6u1CXzIUhbITAqilF6ACBk4pSobSxi1iztHRPp1Zkh_WfW8/s1600/Tech+hockey-05877.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis4Pw9ffw58yInvc128R3zF2fa_lbniymlj8VARRkAJVkxkKOS1YJs117RfI-ao4n5jyQhhzCbrazTjXyr25zxNU2Gn4eT6u1CXzIUhbITAqilF6ACBk4pSobSxi1iztHRPp1Zkh_WfW8/s400/Tech+hockey-05877.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFMt2NotCtLED7Q_3hd0Ei93OhshTYmGjKpsqECXAn_dXhODAsInDdW9nFeJUws5eahqu8kL4JyuPyXSB03y3q-W6WRaW6cKE7IwYFkePVe7MYm7WFSB63CaKWhZjg3brhyU1rMkL5_QI/s1600/Tech+hockey-05894.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFMt2NotCtLED7Q_3hd0Ei93OhshTYmGjKpsqECXAn_dXhODAsInDdW9nFeJUws5eahqu8kL4JyuPyXSB03y3q-W6WRaW6cKE7IwYFkePVe7MYm7WFSB63CaKWhZjg3brhyU1rMkL5_QI/s400/Tech+hockey-05894.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
March 2 - Jackie made her first snowman today with my help. We used broccoli for eyes, a carrot for the nose, a red apple slice for the mouth and at Jackie's request animal crackers for ears. This is also the photo I used for the weekly photo challenge "Looking Up" as I took the picture while lying on my back in the snow, with Bridget on my stomach in her Moby (talk about dedication, right?).<br />
<br />
I asked Jackie if it was a girl or a boy and she said a boy.<br />
Then I asked her the snowman's name and she thought before saying: "Karen."<br />
Then she thought a second longer and said, "It's a girl."<br />
After another moment's thought, she told me she wanted to make a Jackie snowman too. So far that's been put off for another day, however.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWN1nMbBz1hb3MuiT0A1OPQxg4pFG0rVkK8JKD8doC0OFjiiFZ9fuEuS8LKotTsAs7Dm0HBkOZTgCud4iBxQEyENQtX1BiNFkfEX00-ox-nOAOMdX-a3fImoex6NmMqVRo1bS3a74gZqA/s1600/snowman-8390.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWN1nMbBz1hb3MuiT0A1OPQxg4pFG0rVkK8JKD8doC0OFjiiFZ9fuEuS8LKotTsAs7Dm0HBkOZTgCud4iBxQEyENQtX1BiNFkfEX00-ox-nOAOMdX-a3fImoex6NmMqVRo1bS3a74gZqA/s320/snowman-8390.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
March 3 - I made blueberry muffins, trying to use up some of the frozen blueberries in our small and over-filled freezer, and ate way too many. So, by Saturday morning there weren't many left. Since I'd eaten far more than my share, I turned over the majority of the remains to Jackie and Renn, but then when my lone muffin was gone, I pouted. Jackie saw that her mommy was sad and broke off a piece of muffin and gave it to me. It was so sweet. I broken that piece in half and gave half back to her, feeling touched. Did I mention, I need to make more blueberry muffins?<br />
<br />
March 5, 6 and 9 - This week, Jackie and I discovered the Treehouse, an inside public play area, because we needed to leave the house Monday and Tuesday while our water faucets were replaced so that we would have hot, cold and most importantly warm water. We'd been having ongoing problems that eventually resulted in only hot water in the shower, which is not good for babies. Several people had told me about the Treehouse, but I'd cringed at the idea of paying money for Jackie to play. Monday I just bought a day pass ($5), but after being there for an hour and a half I decided to splurge while Renn's trying to finish up his thesis, for my sanity's sake. I went and asked if I could change that to a month pass and have my $5 go toward it ($20 total). The woman said yes. I loved the fact Jackie could run around and burn energy without freezing outside and that when she made a mess we'd all clean it up there and my whole house wasn't ripped apart. I also loved talking to the other moms and that there were other two-year-olds for Jackie to play with. Friday Renn took one day off for Spring break and I thought the Treehouse was so fun I suggested we all go there in the morning. Jackie enjoyed rock climbing, cooking in the play kitchen, playing with the dolls, going down the slide with Mommy and Daddy and wearing the princess dress.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh65tqG7OZGZOE96pXjZQstaf24ZBqxTSqNq-tBFzrL4n7UOBwSSInu2fatng845-bTKX1jmyQX82KY8Skxc6AnbbiBxhJfmXzE6qjwuSAZwhzmO1ki5cZr0TRilb_Hy1kmlDFxxN7gjnU/s1600/treehouse-8441.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh65tqG7OZGZOE96pXjZQstaf24ZBqxTSqNq-tBFzrL4n7UOBwSSInu2fatng845-bTKX1jmyQX82KY8Skxc6AnbbiBxhJfmXzE6qjwuSAZwhzmO1ki5cZr0TRilb_Hy1kmlDFxxN7gjnU/s320/treehouse-8441.jpg" width="213" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSZL2m9pi98IzIKMLehWuudT6EMgGysMYkDs6Nc_QG80CvXYVOuP-qaVQ74Kl-3JxVwf0_XOmieQoZmrndpzGZDJRm70kiudfpQ_k3uP5ssbk17yQ5sgr7VWYCWt7-m7g-2Q2wPM52DVE/s1600/treehouse-8457.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSZL2m9pi98IzIKMLehWuudT6EMgGysMYkDs6Nc_QG80CvXYVOuP-qaVQ74Kl-3JxVwf0_XOmieQoZmrndpzGZDJRm70kiudfpQ_k3uP5ssbk17yQ5sgr7VWYCWt7-m7g-2Q2wPM52DVE/s320/treehouse-8457.jpg" width="320" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFtjndbqHXmu375FgIiFtD-zGnc68aPzfMtn5w5fW-_d0IzeSh391DPzKJFECE_tXXTGEL2PecxwO-mXZg-q128rDdcQ2HbL05Jnxobc2ZkvGArhdcwX0c5O4NH1Fo544y5XxgZVkfMis/s1600/treehouse-8486.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFtjndbqHXmu375FgIiFtD-zGnc68aPzfMtn5w5fW-_d0IzeSh391DPzKJFECE_tXXTGEL2PecxwO-mXZg-q128rDdcQ2HbL05Jnxobc2ZkvGArhdcwX0c5O4NH1Fo544y5XxgZVkfMis/s320/treehouse-8486.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
March 11 - The snow is still here, but the cold left this week and in its place is warm sunshine and blue skies. Since we're also TRYING to exercise more and spend more time together Renn, Jackie, Bridget and I went on a walk after stake conference. Jackie loved running around without a coat on. But, when we got to the church, where we wanted to drop a few things off, she went right to the water puddles, ice and snow and proceeded to splash, slide (usually unintentionally) and stomp. She's full of two-year-old energy and loves to explore.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHO2QXljpV8hx8IP9bMGc2UkuV_wU9_U4l-7KefkcL8PMMgDqvAriRulARBy-CyfWhdiOOxgHr40zPXVG0Hs7Z1YQnnWmCC6zbfrLvalkigFBdYNep4yvybagf_kJZn9Y63Gwsdv3oRW8/s1600/walk-8645.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHO2QXljpV8hx8IP9bMGc2UkuV_wU9_U4l-7KefkcL8PMMgDqvAriRulARBy-CyfWhdiOOxgHr40zPXVG0Hs7Z1YQnnWmCC6zbfrLvalkigFBdYNep4yvybagf_kJZn9Y63Gwsdv3oRW8/s400/walk-8645.jpg" width="266" /></a>
</div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0AXEvNG3ZapmcB7NQqmUsyfFNN4wMjdxm3L5WCXz2drRG7neFaHCOEPSw28ybN_OTdjXyiBik_Fp_NAeV5CtjttIxOvdmGA9hfPSzyepqem_9ghA2rrxaxju7ZdhvudMVDAUN7XfZCsw/s1600/walk-8656.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi37n65U0WsZjoEsoRGG8NNqC2vkh774tewI7Uyl2sMH7PWp31UsOGb7RiFyaJ5n1KTGB_UBX0Itb_b4nW1rrglFmkFe7vXjhnMNCUfOpM6slynwS9giga-ZKpLneNTkwh6YdxeqU0W3E4/s1600/walk-8624.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi37n65U0WsZjoEsoRGG8NNqC2vkh774tewI7Uyl2sMH7PWp31UsOGb7RiFyaJ5n1KTGB_UBX0Itb_b4nW1rrglFmkFe7vXjhnMNCUfOpM6slynwS9giga-ZKpLneNTkwh6YdxeqU0W3E4/s320/walk-8624.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDk-PxTDw12hr133VIJhTluCLjAkJWxkws1dVegfrvMyD0B7RGSmfFhsfR4BDvdvFJNH_8dJ4wGun19FlEDVwqQD-hsLjxLXSwXPSpI_FshoEdUCAQ_LIkVqPXSlsrOYZppz5cgQjSFIM/s1600/walk-8632.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDk-PxTDw12hr133VIJhTluCLjAkJWxkws1dVegfrvMyD0B7RGSmfFhsfR4BDvdvFJNH_8dJ4wGun19FlEDVwqQD-hsLjxLXSwXPSpI_FshoEdUCAQ_LIkVqPXSlsrOYZppz5cgQjSFIM/s320/walk-8632.jpg" width="213" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2W7Ec9LqRZn4FAvTIE96ujI8-XGXbnRJhXUzEdWpo-t-sF2U6cmvlC3cQfIDPBZKXCloYIaToZ_pScuqNx4DN0txJPpY65d2s4lwtwYq_7IRnPWxnA1dRvyttDyC7c6laouPXRjuazHc/s1600/walk-8656.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2W7Ec9LqRZn4FAvTIE96ujI8-XGXbnRJhXUzEdWpo-t-sF2U6cmvlC3cQfIDPBZKXCloYIaToZ_pScuqNx4DN0txJPpY65d2s4lwtwYq_7IRnPWxnA1dRvyttDyC7c6laouPXRjuazHc/s320/walk-8656.jpg" width="213" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR-ZxJeHSu1lQngLu9wIfy19s2TTODIPpNhVTg96vqVxwkfvTRQRSPbOvcKQWzWvhwlX2E5jN0Uzbk-8KNbkWxSa7vJ11u2SY5x4wp96Expe50WfSEZoCGD52DSvtOc1eyPH5jmlbFRQo/s1600/walk-8662.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR-ZxJeHSu1lQngLu9wIfy19s2TTODIPpNhVTg96vqVxwkfvTRQRSPbOvcKQWzWvhwlX2E5jN0Uzbk-8KNbkWxSa7vJ11u2SY5x4wp96Expe50WfSEZoCGD52DSvtOc1eyPH5jmlbFRQo/s320/walk-8662.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01035063888419026228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209409603282228371.post-8880968180717861772012-03-04T23:31:00.001-05:002012-04-16T09:31:35.354-04:00Bridget's five-month milestones<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">According to Bridget's doctor, she was ready for rice cereal at four months, although Jackie's doctor had advised holding off until six months. Since Renn and I found the latter advice more in line with our philosophy, so far we've waited. We'll let her stay a milkitarian baby a little longer.</span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi11UWeIxPRNNNGB3sAoyqcSOzwviSYRFYIaBs_9_NNO9ttca0Mns3GZcLB5o3ElIohO6OisEWrmkRA-XC4CM03Qk0IkWl7XMN19yAVtxLRV0vWKNVpgf7OPcXXDliTsxPLy4tsbckU2xk/s1600/Bridget+growing-8037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi11UWeIxPRNNNGB3sAoyqcSOzwviSYRFYIaBs_9_NNO9ttca0Mns3GZcLB5o3ElIohO6OisEWrmkRA-XC4CM03Qk0IkWl7XMN19yAVtxLRV0vWKNVpgf7OPcXXDliTsxPLy4tsbckU2xk/s400/Bridget+growing-8037.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>At the moment I don't want to hurry her to grow up too fast. It's amazing to look at your child and marvel at how big she's gotten, only to realize you must have gotten older too. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYploHGa8Ry2YQ_oenmmGTgeJPXI1sMRrdwmR2gg7uzQpnJjQWDa9JPZSft6YtpflEH26be4C10YwYfNyri0ADLzlhUCJ3ihcNfUI85_3C42Vhu3NYMlkW-y5BYbO_PKFITjc7EPDVfS4/s1600/Bridget+growing-7631.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYploHGa8Ry2YQ_oenmmGTgeJPXI1sMRrdwmR2gg7uzQpnJjQWDa9JPZSft6YtpflEH26be4C10YwYfNyri0ADLzlhUCJ3ihcNfUI85_3C42Vhu3NYMlkW-y5BYbO_PKFITjc7EPDVfS4/s400/Bridget+growing-7631.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
For some reason, I remember the little milestones like smiling, cooing, laughing, fitting into the next size clothes (every three months!), getting ready for solid foods, and getting HUGE, happening more slowly with Jackie, perhaps because she was my first or perhaps because she was born in the summer when life was calmer. When school started in the fall after Jackie's birth, Renn and I traded off babycare shifts amidst the stress and chaos and so shared in all her first moments.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9aKkumCSrLyajPvevPa-DOjOx0-0YiQ20x8_9oPov0kGT_sDLaSsWoMyPkgq0TNTGqoshcbPhZplKd9TZd-9iCig4q7AUvH4G57cKyDRisNvRhnIVgpctYB_TrTR2bEMeO8RfqUIXeE4/s1600/Bridget+growing-17-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9aKkumCSrLyajPvevPa-DOjOx0-0YiQ20x8_9oPov0kGT_sDLaSsWoMyPkgq0TNTGqoshcbPhZplKd9TZd-9iCig4q7AUvH4G57cKyDRisNvRhnIVgpctYB_TrTR2bEMeO8RfqUIXeE4/s400/Bridget+growing-17-2.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
In contrast, Bridget was born in the school year, just after I'd finished my thesis, leaving me a fulltime mother. (Wouldn't that mean I have lots of time for savoring special moments?) The day after she was born, Renn went to class, Jackie went to the Anderson's and Neves' who babysat her, and I stayed in the hospital with the new baby. That night we went home as a family. The rest of that semester was a fight to prove to ourselves that our choice to have a second child during Renn's graduate school hadn't been a big mistake. Fortunately, we had some friends from our church with whom we traded babysitting and advice and who made everything easier, as did some family members and a friend who came to visit. I took over much of the parenting and Renn successfully earned two As and an AB that semester, while working on research, assistant teaching for two classes and attempting to write his thesis. Now he's completing an extra semester finishing his thesis. It wasn't perfect, but we've survived so far and maybe had a richer experience for the sacrifice.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0wuqhwQibTOSPFm-nI_M8a6e99qZItLGwkj-pDkrmxzq6Dm12NuEnHSDKWe_Vf1VhX_pQrXL5-xRp8gEFLX9FRg7e6u9Z_z9L00u3Fjzpu4PgPrmobSZfZTBWXxekj-K4ScEG7oTwLzg/s1600/Bridget+growing-7261.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0wuqhwQibTOSPFm-nI_M8a6e99qZItLGwkj-pDkrmxzq6Dm12NuEnHSDKWe_Vf1VhX_pQrXL5-xRp8gEFLX9FRg7e6u9Z_z9L00u3Fjzpu4PgPrmobSZfZTBWXxekj-K4ScEG7oTwLzg/s400/Bridget+growing-7261.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Still, when Bridget hit 14 pounds, I was shocked and wondered where my little baby had gone. Now she's just more than 15 pounds. Older people tell me that's how motherhood goes in general: It's over before you know it and so you should enjoy it while you can. That's one reason I'm grateful <a href="http://lalakme.blogspot.com/">Lara</a>'s class on blogging motivated me to start writing down memories before they're gone.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwAJjFVDktakX9929ORJPZX5zelSfMTPrF0BNsgZmdTfaafWTTWxQrFiMLQZQmELL1QBj-mjcYbPUqntkm7DvGbefEFj7_mN_AwW9zr4OKVg8di2AP-RWw2y_8zjZ4d5Pgk7XsuxFSrdQ/s1600/Bridget+growing-7325.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwAJjFVDktakX9929ORJPZX5zelSfMTPrF0BNsgZmdTfaafWTTWxQrFiMLQZQmELL1QBj-mjcYbPUqntkm7DvGbefEFj7_mN_AwW9zr4OKVg8di2AP-RWw2y_8zjZ4d5Pgk7XsuxFSrdQ/s400/Bridget+growing-7325.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Then on Thursday Bridget surprised all of us by rolling over four times. The first time I wasn't sure if I'd just forgotten I'd left her on her stomach. By Friday it was well established she could roll and then with her daddy watching, complaining about being on her stomach (her own fault), she decided to roll back from her stomach to her back. Sunday evening I caught her rolling from her back to her stomach on video:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy0MndJSaWxwSeLj3RDGnXI_sT6WSNfkdpidBUqm-H9LhGsYb-3iPSWYA6UZPL2Wjt6Urvq3DCOk6HHJjK-qA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I think her fiesty little personality is motivating her to learn new things, along with the fact that she's hurrying to catch up with her big sister!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWyROU47SGif1RSC68kKpm1QRZST49v1RWTFJ1dwtv7H3xhS_kAndyUM-N8E6Znq1foy56aEKpL_svdzhgVQ7hLqt8U1kVy3Y6g4B4ub7g8HTC5QfoFAWPS6YAIVyclnRDx12cFO_q1gw/s1600/Bridget+growing-8004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWyROU47SGif1RSC68kKpm1QRZST49v1RWTFJ1dwtv7H3xhS_kAndyUM-N8E6Znq1foy56aEKpL_svdzhgVQ7hLqt8U1kVy3Y6g4B4ub7g8HTC5QfoFAWPS6YAIVyclnRDx12cFO_q1gw/s400/Bridget+growing-8004.jpg" width="400" /></a>
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi0x-pAR9gtxvGDZalyYjAN0QvWRv8yNqgCZz4wBPoetyqpeQ9PhQICLuocc9x-DX6JoqoXiOCGTSKXcrrchheuKcAJgUQn5v_wNhO8AjUDXJydrUVBAjVqo4S9PH388Mtv6YqdoWZMes/s1600/Bridget+growing-8011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi0x-pAR9gtxvGDZalyYjAN0QvWRv8yNqgCZz4wBPoetyqpeQ9PhQICLuocc9x-DX6JoqoXiOCGTSKXcrrchheuKcAJgUQn5v_wNhO8AjUDXJydrUVBAjVqo4S9PH388Mtv6YqdoWZMes/s1600/Bridget+growing-8011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi0x-pAR9gtxvGDZalyYjAN0QvWRv8yNqgCZz4wBPoetyqpeQ9PhQICLuocc9x-DX6JoqoXiOCGTSKXcrrchheuKcAJgUQn5v_wNhO8AjUDXJydrUVBAjVqo4S9PH388Mtv6YqdoWZMes/s400/Bridget+growing-8011.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01035063888419026228noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209409603282228371.post-62635137088440810162012-03-03T13:35:00.002-05:002012-04-16T09:32:37.644-04:00Composition: Minimalism<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #352d16;">I'm rather late on updating my weekly photo challenges, and my blog in general, because my photo editing software wouldn't let me import my pictures from my camera. After messing around with the software, I'm still not sure what was wrong, but the photos will import again. So, now I'm playing catchup. Two weeks ago, I'd been focused on minimalist photography. </span></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #352d16;">Since Renn, the girls and I went snowshoeing along the </span><span style="color: #352d16;">ice covering Lake Superior, I again tried to complete my assignment there</span><span style="color: #352d16;">. Do you have a favorite? I kind of like the one of Jackie venturing across the banks of snow. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #352d16;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1s_bJFyhM7oQhK1YChozM8SPSmdxuo4WGeVXYH4cDYGYNCrrSb8AiJZtGJ0IdlNULoziJ2WkbZFtIbFESkhyphenhyphen_LMHxr3a6KbXALp2UInpRnEiOtPhNF47e6vfGX3R4EW2m3UR-kALsia4/s1600/PC+Simplicity-8173.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1s_bJFyhM7oQhK1YChozM8SPSmdxuo4WGeVXYH4cDYGYNCrrSb8AiJZtGJ0IdlNULoziJ2WkbZFtIbFESkhyphenhyphen_LMHxr3a6KbXALp2UInpRnEiOtPhNF47e6vfGX3R4EW2m3UR-kALsia4/s640/PC+Simplicity-8173.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXTlAR7Da8DxLYxx1jwuXBLnPOClrdIBLRvyIGBr1AhYPz1nkonneA7ncpMuxPzLwHecKCaiKXlXmUETH2Pmud68eLnprnEInXtZLmYnSt1Vqh93Ah8zpEBQckZT8xXjb7ftM7ai3tLsM/s1600/PC+Odds-8160.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXTlAR7Da8DxLYxx1jwuXBLnPOClrdIBLRvyIGBr1AhYPz1nkonneA7ncpMuxPzLwHecKCaiKXlXmUETH2Pmud68eLnprnEInXtZLmYnSt1Vqh93Ah8zpEBQckZT8xXjb7ftM7ai3tLsM/s640/PC+Odds-8160.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9dkORfJjQtdW4VJ7yf0DuagPMs3NOdneQEMDFtDgIFUx04UX3ih6VHp422govvgmbmicOxRcYob6fXwdXT5zvtqAI4itUAJxg_zpSWhlm_J2PqEQsF_8JvJs1ijc93O5dN65tXDlsLu0/s1600/PC+Odds-8289.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9dkORfJjQtdW4VJ7yf0DuagPMs3NOdneQEMDFtDgIFUx04UX3ih6VHp422govvgmbmicOxRcYob6fXwdXT5zvtqAI4itUAJxg_zpSWhlm_J2PqEQsF_8JvJs1ijc93O5dN65tXDlsLu0/s640/PC+Odds-8289.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: #352d16; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="color: #352d16; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSfCnNRdB2Q96gw3Pn73Vqb6JeFcmgd75i24K_my7_uHwa46zAJxae44bG0s-sHntEuhFc814fdip2rPMqZ5pxMtWaa4yNU_uUsWGaIRndBkLysxtoTe1a8XPsX2oIRb-E-hOtj6kRZUI/s1600/PC+Simplicity-8132.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSfCnNRdB2Q96gw3Pn73Vqb6JeFcmgd75i24K_my7_uHwa46zAJxae44bG0s-sHntEuhFc814fdip2rPMqZ5pxMtWaa4yNU_uUsWGaIRndBkLysxtoTe1a8XPsX2oIRb-E-hOtj6kRZUI/s640/PC+Simplicity-8132.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCVzCVGGkD9XlQ63vO04jI1VTpJib8vDSVGAnLlTni-ALdfNfaP0eQfQ5K1yuYvlMOJiLtI07ducAB0_C432GTYJ3CJMiW05lEVw07CDJhUBR4cOuzKYbMnyncQ5QVeFn8TS9NDspwawo/s1600/PC+Simplicity-8163.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCVzCVGGkD9XlQ63vO04jI1VTpJib8vDSVGAnLlTni-ALdfNfaP0eQfQ5K1yuYvlMOJiLtI07ducAB0_C432GTYJ3CJMiW05lEVw07CDJhUBR4cOuzKYbMnyncQ5QVeFn8TS9NDspwawo/s640/PC+Simplicity-8163.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #352d16; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">This picture of Jackie and me sitting on the overlook of the lake was taken by Renn. I wanted to be included in our snowshoeing memories! </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitTrE00AWi7WHShmK5ESZDFEKmHjxpW8p9U2UrDE7WVjDRWaN2mEWLw2noyKm2VHuIl9znc6STvhe28-eHtuXCobmFyLVO8UDq915ptlFSwI7w34TDXoqnyY1b8Im40rSEItbUADz5DaU/s1600/PC+simple-8210.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitTrE00AWi7WHShmK5ESZDFEKmHjxpW8p9U2UrDE7WVjDRWaN2mEWLw2noyKm2VHuIl9znc6STvhe28-eHtuXCobmFyLVO8UDq915ptlFSwI7w34TDXoqnyY1b8Im40rSEItbUADz5DaU/s640/PC+simple-8210.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #352d16; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">This picture of Bridget isn't exactly sweet simplicity, but it is sweet and I included it because it makes me laugh. This was Renn's first time carrying Bridget in the Moby. It looks like he's growing a second head.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaxHZiORNww_h93mKLHVSJw8ZK18iBojgSIMb_2Mm3hDQ06IO09YKGu1UXh_r0yHpOVNd4epcm_HG9rgrr6z_ILFGExeTFeFiS4w2CA5aGfcwThnaqrcEcXWGjwEfBHauoGBtnn6DLPRo/s1600/Bridget+growing-8069.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaxHZiORNww_h93mKLHVSJw8ZK18iBojgSIMb_2Mm3hDQ06IO09YKGu1UXh_r0yHpOVNd4epcm_HG9rgrr6z_ILFGExeTFeFiS4w2CA5aGfcwThnaqrcEcXWGjwEfBHauoGBtnn6DLPRo/s640/Bridget+growing-8069.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #352d16; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Also of note: Here is a comparison of snowshoe sizes:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6_Vpfc0M9Od0vdrQnRJsu80VlQrQK4iX1E_wAbK0vh3QHKfEeOJ8NcieNcO6zW0Jw2CdkqMS-WZG_Yk54JrrY-nAbR9GFb2FYeFosJGG8RSxBMJJOVXlsI5qJMrk9vXHapTg3Jn52-mU/s1600/PC+simple-8128.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6_Vpfc0M9Od0vdrQnRJsu80VlQrQK4iX1E_wAbK0vh3QHKfEeOJ8NcieNcO6zW0Jw2CdkqMS-WZG_Yk54JrrY-nAbR9GFb2FYeFosJGG8RSxBMJJOVXlsI5qJMrk9vXHapTg3Jn52-mU/s640/PC+simple-8128.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: #352d16; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><br /></b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="color: #352d16; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="background-color: white;"><br /></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #352d16; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><br /></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #352d16; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #352d16; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #352d16; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #352d16; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01035063888419026228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209409603282228371.post-48403668788878797522012-02-14T17:03:00.000-05:002012-04-16T09:32:51.768-04:00Photography Composition: Manmade repetitions and patternsThis week my <a href="http://digital-photography-school.com/forum/digital-photography-assignments/184878-assignment-composition-manmade-repetitions-patterns-feb-1-15-2012-a.html">photography challenge</a> was to find manmade repetitions and patterns. I had grand plans, as I drove through downtown Houghton and Hancock and noticed all the patterns in the buildings and streets, but I got a bit overly busy.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
At first, I considered the lift bridge, which I shot while picking up pizza at Little Caesars last week (the contest is actually open for two weeks, one week overlapping between assignments). I planned to come back for more angles, but never did.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8nxPClGGT9emLD1qQw9l9_iF-HqRkZLrMIuZ2pZTIEjmeHCkJpn4n1BDBGxwdsHi_OAREZdRRT_yOAPu7TV58YGfO2LKyrR5NJqjIpGhBJZsHmUqrfSRnWnfL-VeFqbMJVBhAGM4Uhcc/s1600/manmade+repetitions-7356.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8nxPClGGT9emLD1qQw9l9_iF-HqRkZLrMIuZ2pZTIEjmeHCkJpn4n1BDBGxwdsHi_OAREZdRRT_yOAPu7TV58YGfO2LKyrR5NJqjIpGhBJZsHmUqrfSRnWnfL-VeFqbMJVBhAGM4Uhcc/s400/manmade+repetitions-7356.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
The pattern made by a picnic area at McClain State Park also caught my eye that day.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9jPqjiC2mvlWxtCnCsG26BYteyI3d0KQyKp8JpnJZY1JXw4rB-YSAfTMr3SnJzYO1KAlZj4aZ0bXiOyUcuTYXdVnCT6UzAKnirNlACZYewv_nFIj3mpZiiwoMLt_W50cWSCozQauQuX4/s1600/manmade+repetitions-7396.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9jPqjiC2mvlWxtCnCsG26BYteyI3d0KQyKp8JpnJZY1JXw4rB-YSAfTMr3SnJzYO1KAlZj4aZ0bXiOyUcuTYXdVnCT6UzAKnirNlACZYewv_nFIj3mpZiiwoMLt_W50cWSCozQauQuX4/s400/manmade+repetitions-7396.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Last weekend, my husband and two daughters and I did make it out when we visited Winter Carnival and looked at some beautiful ice sculptures. One, of a cider press and apple orchard (complete with trees, pumpkin patch and tractor, as shown here), was full of manmade repetition. However, I struggled to photograph the white on white on white on gray statues in the low light available!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPfKZO5NHuCqlxcNCMYRFrXAHgOyRV5MD3s-qTVqawSGDQHug5UQABPEt_5o746RqyFrUlvLD5XIsgQz2IjjWv1vjtCA76igdz_FuyHowKWmN_Prnpdwc2CNHyETHeC91F-cvEalvIHSA/s1600/manmade+repetitions-7752.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPfKZO5NHuCqlxcNCMYRFrXAHgOyRV5MD3s-qTVqawSGDQHug5UQABPEt_5o746RqyFrUlvLD5XIsgQz2IjjWv1vjtCA76igdz_FuyHowKWmN_Prnpdwc2CNHyETHeC91F-cvEalvIHSA/s400/manmade+repetitions-7752.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwbPjY3JCecfCe6jV98IT9I2HI8FzJrZzdzM8yej5AoBfhFmY0BlZMEkz-UzAr0ed0k0ZJN1K0OKUbZ0no9nM3MMbYdFJEUV03OPGcaW3IdVTSFGTiJKiTCYD3B_cyp72G_LYhCsXV6v8/s1600/manmade+repetitions-7753.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwbPjY3JCecfCe6jV98IT9I2HI8FzJrZzdzM8yej5AoBfhFmY0BlZMEkz-UzAr0ed0k0ZJN1K0OKUbZ0no9nM3MMbYdFJEUV03OPGcaW3IdVTSFGTiJKiTCYD3B_cyp72G_LYhCsXV6v8/s400/manmade+repetitions-7753.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjORr0INWbVerbDqAvVz05jQLNPvbduxTYTIiy9GKgVNXQNCkuAmCzWPwV5bDNjwPbEo8TX0-d0w01k3HCDbYEtVaCV0i138_Yntv48jjbsJmiNNK6aCZFjBuKkGGMhlj4urYeHRBJ9GJA/s1600/manmade+repetitions-7782.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjORr0INWbVerbDqAvVz05jQLNPvbduxTYTIiy9GKgVNXQNCkuAmCzWPwV5bDNjwPbEo8TX0-d0w01k3HCDbYEtVaCV0i138_Yntv48jjbsJmiNNK6aCZFjBuKkGGMhlj4urYeHRBJ9GJA/s400/manmade+repetitions-7782.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
As I looked back over my pictures, I decided that the best way to show my composition skills would be a close look at the bridge. Since I don't own a telephoto lens, yet, I cropped down my shot. It should have been taken at a lower shutter speed and higher f-stop for more detail, but I do like the tight crop I chose and the repetition of the diamond cross beams and the cords. Here it is:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjIKniu2pIToYSdfTnN5dK_sCLw0mLRRilS5TMPpGVly6KvCRz89RLCPJdu3_UN11-pFlEORACl8ed7RpTppwtY0OGOeY8QPftYUAvjr-atgiQ5z_E6T8_D6zIXz712tUEo_36JuxYuLk/s1600/manmade+repetitions-7356-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjIKniu2pIToYSdfTnN5dK_sCLw0mLRRilS5TMPpGVly6KvCRz89RLCPJdu3_UN11-pFlEORACl8ed7RpTppwtY0OGOeY8QPftYUAvjr-atgiQ5z_E6T8_D6zIXz712tUEo_36JuxYuLk/s400/manmade+repetitions-7356-2.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
This coming week's ass<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">ignment: <span style="background-color: #edebe0; color: #352d16;">Composition: Minimalism. We'll see what I can find!</span> </span>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01035063888419026228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209409603282228371.post-16566051286416237872012-02-14T07:49:00.000-05:002012-02-16T16:08:45.071-05:00Cinderella goes to the ball after marriage and two children<div>
When Cinderella's fairy godmother appeared, did she also give her a bath? Do her hair? </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I wonder because Saturday when the clock struck 10 p.m. I finally did get to go to the ball, thanks to my fairy godmother (i.e. a friend and visiting teacher who offered to watch my kids).</div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8UeSRP4Dzb1CMqbquzS_znrYI5zwfeJrGinr9rOHbkNL-2j6o3mrdSZUrZ-4kKEFLgupZ8xWc-IDB7RPa_hyikBYdu781GT0TeJXWmsVZ1Q5lhtj9Hwe2BZfzzmPcI7s0D0tNR98aELA/s1600/gay+20120211-IMG_7922.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8UeSRP4Dzb1CMqbquzS_znrYI5zwfeJrGinr9rOHbkNL-2j6o3mrdSZUrZ-4kKEFLgupZ8xWc-IDB7RPa_hyikBYdu781GT0TeJXWmsVZ1Q5lhtj9Hwe2BZfzzmPcI7s0D0tNR98aELA/s400/gay+20120211-IMG_7922.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But before that happy moment, I spent a whole day with time running out.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
When the clock struck 7, 8 and 9 a.m. I was making biscuits for breakfast, helping the two sweet baby sisters eat breakfast, and taking a shower, hoping to go snowshoeing.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
When the clock struck 10 a.m. I felt weary, and just needed to sit down. Perhaps my lack of sleep, due to my nearly five-month-old was showing, because I felt a sort of exhausted sick. I ended up falling asleep and when I woke up I felt much better.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
When the clock struck 12 p.m. We still needed to get too many things done to go snowshoeing, in order to prepare for the ball! I began sweeping the floors, then warmed up leftover soup for lunch and fed children.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
When the clock struck 2 p.m. I somewhat grumpily attended a leadership meeting with my husband and my two children, hoping to go snowshoeing after.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
When the clock struck 4 p.m. it was over and the greater vision I had for life more than compensated for the lost two hours, but it had taken long enough we postponed our snowshoeing.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
When the clock struck 4:30 p.m. I was serving hotdogs for dinner and then was cleaning the bathroom.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
When the clock struck 6 p.m. I told my handsome prince that I needed to stop cleaning and start getting ready. He was still washing dishes, putting away laundry and placating children. Shall we call him Rennderella? But, there's a reason princes don't need fairy godmothers in the old stories. It takes them like 30 minutes to get ready. To look extra nice that evening Renn did spend an extra 30 seconds putting some gel in his hair.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2EvjFq_xaDrxwGW6uzdWtjuUMHAzauNbPJrO8KQa7ks_Gsg6tkwbzbBnfuegGCevnmFPyPztESJ3ROD_gomq-FgcEHjSHa0-o8TTFQqppDWQyPvYmkodCEJFI_LfkDikBGbt6QbB9zy4/s1600/renn+20120211-IMG_7924.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2EvjFq_xaDrxwGW6uzdWtjuUMHAzauNbPJrO8KQa7ks_Gsg6tkwbzbBnfuegGCevnmFPyPztESJ3ROD_gomq-FgcEHjSHa0-o8TTFQqppDWQyPvYmkodCEJFI_LfkDikBGbt6QbB9zy4/s400/renn+20120211-IMG_7924.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
As the clock struck 7:30 p.m., I had finished pumping milk for my daughter, and was in my bedroom feeding my baby, half dressed, thinking I'd failed with my hair, and then my fairy godmother arrived. I told the prince to tell her I'd be right out and I was. She said I looked great. I told her my dress had come for the magical price of $1 from Keewanaw Consignment where they were clearing out the old stuff, priced just right for a graduate student budget. She took our picture and we were off to the Library Restaurant, a wonderful kind of place where they decorate with books and letters of the alphabet.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYd1szYpXB1O8fYDGCCjBvwwFQ7vLr_jCRYmGZDWgxCV0Y686Z3Z4UONgKNoz0hnSR7o_vpGX98Nf75DIGd_NRX2eYClNVUnofHIA8XftVhYZEu8y2InOpwUqS809fH3kXpWOER48Br9s/s1600/books+20120211-IMG_7925.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYd1szYpXB1O8fYDGCCjBvwwFQ7vLr_jCRYmGZDWgxCV0Y686Z3Z4UONgKNoz0hnSR7o_vpGX98Nf75DIGd_NRX2eYClNVUnofHIA8XftVhYZEu8y2InOpwUqS809fH3kXpWOER48Br9s/s400/books+20120211-IMG_7925.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
At the Library Restaurant, I took more pictures, enjoyed a dinner of salmon and Mediterranean salad (my husband and I always order two platters and then split each in half),<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmWOd6O9ZgXm2bbrairBg84z3erUY3Q1TYM7gL3iNyFKNnOXMOfhYyakRQcdbyej4DKxa75HjXxHVUydQkAnPlnTNun-etCrkB8T-v0XoYitj7HQLmqKC4OUOuj4hMcGxYXU2xA28dVns/s1600/food+20120211-IMG_7954.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmWOd6O9ZgXm2bbrairBg84z3erUY3Q1TYM7gL3iNyFKNnOXMOfhYyakRQcdbyej4DKxa75HjXxHVUydQkAnPlnTNun-etCrkB8T-v0XoYitj7HQLmqKC4OUOuj4hMcGxYXU2xA28dVns/s400/food+20120211-IMG_7954.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLVvSVsjxmJZuorWoSXD9W3PE9FTFKl2wULIMfuq3IxBi26QmaB1agsgYq51qQPPsiI_C3E0ZzLQ0fCFCSiAXq0du0XHC9sqBijDHbCI-8qgqzQqTFO8exih-FF73-OyQf4bT-kHA-eug/s1600/food+20120211-IMG_7952.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLVvSVsjxmJZuorWoSXD9W3PE9FTFKl2wULIMfuq3IxBi26QmaB1agsgYq51qQPPsiI_C3E0ZzLQ0fCFCSiAXq0du0XHC9sqBijDHbCI-8qgqzQqTFO8exih-FF73-OyQf4bT-kHA-eug/s400/food+20120211-IMG_7952.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
and attracted the attention of a boy at the neighboring table who seeing me with my camera and fancy gown, asked if I was a spy.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8p2hthrlyIvgw5q79fNEJIw718wRRnXOFo0hWigjURqivS-iH4LH4i9s_SQMb_6P0mOrP0U_bpO63ks2uF1R2Vj6ehmJiYESqASZ6nUTHF5d4YOfe-73mIAiWOtc6jmB9lCmbs9Ga_DM/s1600/karen+20120211-IMG_7951.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8p2hthrlyIvgw5q79fNEJIw718wRRnXOFo0hWigjURqivS-iH4LH4i9s_SQMb_6P0mOrP0U_bpO63ks2uF1R2Vj6ehmJiYESqASZ6nUTHF5d4YOfe-73mIAiWOtc6jmB9lCmbs9Ga_DM/s400/karen+20120211-IMG_7951.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipybB34IWKpp_vzT8jiKkkDmiZhDo9-QVDrZr-f8fXV-LjGBRHQHCo4i5UcGN4Lu9vTzJZcNqHNpDvqlMWW4boYbRO9AUZVORAC-aQNfJ7-eB4OA97NIuC_0Tw2A_E9W3bDPQfiNGhgFw/s1600/renn+20120211-IMG_7937.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipybB34IWKpp_vzT8jiKkkDmiZhDo9-QVDrZr-f8fXV-LjGBRHQHCo4i5UcGN4Lu9vTzJZcNqHNpDvqlMWW4boYbRO9AUZVORAC-aQNfJ7-eB4OA97NIuC_0Tw2A_E9W3bDPQfiNGhgFw/s400/renn+20120211-IMG_7937.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Then my husband and I went to the Snow Ball -- frequented by first year students -- and at first thought all everyone did was sit at the tables and talk.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc14oArIQmoh_3e_Bs7lGDVD3xB-LxAARc1oR-ZneFp4Tfpkky3cE9-uHM19cPzKK27lxOWQud5uMUpPFM1t_mLA454UpXY9q6yHW_3TAdiFTY_cGVdluNe-9PmRe2ErlznLpdVcVR6yQ/s1600/dance+20120211-IMG_7973.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc14oArIQmoh_3e_Bs7lGDVD3xB-LxAARc1oR-ZneFp4Tfpkky3cE9-uHM19cPzKK27lxOWQud5uMUpPFM1t_mLA454UpXY9q6yHW_3TAdiFTY_cGVdluNe-9PmRe2ErlznLpdVcVR6yQ/s400/dance+20120211-IMG_7973.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
But, when the jazz band started their tunes the couples came out and turned, swang and swayed.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIY1yfNrHo-c9EKB9b7qv_h2Khdmgwvnwllr8NuGF2dajewSAUpYKtQo13Duip4RyyBzqt0GIqBUa04bMF6DjhcUuydYs-rvNsIGgAL7ROV3wvll0J0LXzUpskRFw6z1NiDq4pmlmk0nI/s1600/dancing+20120211-IMG_7983.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIY1yfNrHo-c9EKB9b7qv_h2Khdmgwvnwllr8NuGF2dajewSAUpYKtQo13Duip4RyyBzqt0GIqBUa04bMF6DjhcUuydYs-rvNsIGgAL7ROV3wvll0J0LXzUpskRFw6z1NiDq4pmlmk0nI/s400/dancing+20120211-IMG_7983.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Renn and I chatted with a retired couple who took a picture for us<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH5n6u7a-oS_4GlI63qyIehvUguoYMmjGo4nzMZIGnpuuYV3ik-VcGu4Z2BvEjtJpFtrEsjYImD_vjNBeTMjQCeeG35f8cunNno_Ngkv_OxD_4ydd-Vq3lv48wDL6wwmH25Qj8gWVDXEM/s1600/us+20120211-IMG_7984.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH5n6u7a-oS_4GlI63qyIehvUguoYMmjGo4nzMZIGnpuuYV3ik-VcGu4Z2BvEjtJpFtrEsjYImD_vjNBeTMjQCeeG35f8cunNno_Ngkv_OxD_4ydd-Vq3lv48wDL6wwmH25Qj8gWVDXEM/s400/us+20120211-IMG_7984.jpg" width="285" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
and then danced part of a swing song and all of a slow song, before hurrying home to get our kids before the clock chimed 10:30 p.m. We were late by about five minutes. Fortunately, I brought boots and slipped them on to walk through the snow to the door as my glass slippers vanished into thin air.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01035063888419026228noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209409603282228371.post-85810247977141352912012-02-06T16:41:00.002-05:002012-02-15T10:10:48.660-05:00Photo challenge: Patterns in nature<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
My daughters and I hiked along the frozen shores of Lake Superior as I sought material for this week's <a href="http://digital-photography-school.com/forum/digital-photography-assignments/184349-assignment-composition-repetition-patterns-nature-jan-25-feb-8-a.html">photo challenge: finding patterns in nature</a>. It was a warm day for early February and after all the work to bundle up the babies, I felt like I'd mounted Mount Everest, or something, to actually arrive at McClain State Park, only to discover they don't plow much in the winter. We parked by the front office (the only place to park), ate Little Caesar's Pizza (an unhealthy splurge) for lunch, and then with no cars around Jackie could venture out through the snow as slowly and in whatever direction she wanted. She inspected her footprints as she slowly followed me from place to place. Without my knowledge, she had brought a bracelet with her and she enjoyed dipping it into the snow and made me look for it whenever she dropped it. Bridget slept in my Moby, while I tried to look at the clouds, ice and trees with a photographer's eye. I pointed out what I saw to Jackie and together we inspected ice crystals, fungi and natural patterns in the tree bark and gentle curves in the snow. I was hoping to get a picture of frozen waves or large chunks of cracked ice in the lake, but the water was too warm for that Friday, and wanting to stay safe with two babies I stayed far from the shoreline. I think my favorite shot is the close-up of white ice crystals, perhaps covering some type of fungi, on the tree bark. What do you think?
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQLwjg_Wso_wpVjSenTAuOxvnD-p6fgVpX3mpbQAetlqhv83Scdw7O0kukdei68ZejMPTep275qkUqTbe1qWQibB2IhDydQo5-5h6dIC6xI4KSjDJMJZ553U6UaaatSoAGnUBcc8tzATQ/s1600/repetitions+in+nature-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQLwjg_Wso_wpVjSenTAuOxvnD-p6fgVpX3mpbQAetlqhv83Scdw7O0kukdei68ZejMPTep275qkUqTbe1qWQibB2IhDydQo5-5h6dIC6xI4KSjDJMJZ553U6UaaatSoAGnUBcc8tzATQ/s400/repetitions+in+nature-3.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyi09WypTKBZSwmuk5BbetYh2NhQNUnjkxTcUbl9WtIuXFIse0FcHYz4Qixhm_tdfOqsw3fgnXiqQH-xpVQjfiBUKacrc9y9lgNEXOqLO0jhbQm4nVOzgc9S_V_B47Kg9WQzGb7zAsrBg/s1600/repetitions+in+nature-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyi09WypTKBZSwmuk5BbetYh2NhQNUnjkxTcUbl9WtIuXFIse0FcHYz4Qixhm_tdfOqsw3fgnXiqQH-xpVQjfiBUKacrc9y9lgNEXOqLO0jhbQm4nVOzgc9S_V_B47Kg9WQzGb7zAsrBg/s400/repetitions+in+nature-2.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS21xIgaEOd33wnUoAVR-1nusDAlMXeu6Z1V6ae1q8-vpx4i7TeHueBcQW-_JcqGnvKcjf9aSTXP37-XwYGWwmluQfzFpaizqDw09Ejqpcx7OQpjFfKDAsPv52b-j5oWSfSivR8DN62tk/s1600/repetitions+in+nature-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS21xIgaEOd33wnUoAVR-1nusDAlMXeu6Z1V6ae1q8-vpx4i7TeHueBcQW-_JcqGnvKcjf9aSTXP37-XwYGWwmluQfzFpaizqDw09Ejqpcx7OQpjFfKDAsPv52b-j5oWSfSivR8DN62tk/s400/repetitions+in+nature-13.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCOdLC6Nnue_WsaY9BCufXh7TRpJyYziiqJjsEqLEmyHXyEMPNzNsiDtthjQG_WrKvlH6ZTiLU1WNlY_mzbrKA2pdh2y72qxkbCu6Jza32bsRuDG557-SsE1DpZM4p8jvONCrYKWOVEHc/s1600/repetitions+in+nature-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCOdLC6Nnue_WsaY9BCufXh7TRpJyYziiqJjsEqLEmyHXyEMPNzNsiDtthjQG_WrKvlH6ZTiLU1WNlY_mzbrKA2pdh2y72qxkbCu6Jza32bsRuDG557-SsE1DpZM4p8jvONCrYKWOVEHc/s400/repetitions+in+nature-12.jpg" width="400" /></a>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPzDulXg86jWXWkHuwhlBPRn_UjUiNGiLRKcPJpnx86n1061xDcGfi3Ydi0euMqKosdy4SRUUB0JSNVBarBiUmDxjtLtiKrNDXPNGwXmlJK7cjO4h2hlstFv8UAbpPph5AWLG1gZ-YEoU/s1600/repetitions+in+nature-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPzDulXg86jWXWkHuwhlBPRn_UjUiNGiLRKcPJpnx86n1061xDcGfi3Ydi0euMqKosdy4SRUUB0JSNVBarBiUmDxjtLtiKrNDXPNGwXmlJK7cjO4h2hlstFv8UAbpPph5AWLG1gZ-YEoU/s400/repetitions+in+nature-6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdIqHsfd31AgOVbg2qbe7HFtNxb9XeqkBQ2qraY1as_hwt0YBBOOt0o-F92j7AjF5B58udUF2dSkWqAZior1qkl1NvyuVabM-jHIK5EseI996ti9JVgWUSPHSLCGCBA3HZKm_dlO1-gtA/s1600/repetitions+in+nature-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdIqHsfd31AgOVbg2qbe7HFtNxb9XeqkBQ2qraY1as_hwt0YBBOOt0o-F92j7AjF5B58udUF2dSkWqAZior1qkl1NvyuVabM-jHIK5EseI996ti9JVgWUSPHSLCGCBA3HZKm_dlO1-gtA/s400/repetitions+in+nature-10.jpg" width="400" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOpIN6HSzPlOSEy1TKqStgOrcPpw_HQLsguRUifPjH6kYl2aK71-6vNXmwrWpY88qEfeZzPn7hnsd4aIxQ55Ax5TnxHsaZhSvl9VPkNROHTUqOYlaG4CJPvmN1zbYopT3-zVYLWBO0fzE/s1600/repetitions+in+nature-9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOpIN6HSzPlOSEy1TKqStgOrcPpw_HQLsguRUifPjH6kYl2aK71-6vNXmwrWpY88qEfeZzPn7hnsd4aIxQ55Ax5TnxHsaZhSvl9VPkNROHTUqOYlaG4CJPvmN1zbYopT3-zVYLWBO0fzE/s400/repetitions+in+nature-9.jpg" width="267" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdefAc8xluuxvZAgEtpDyiLVO5yka6f1x2ZcJHsym4Y_KaYSQykeG9Ok2c_EEnIcs8I3cJWQNVxUyyao_onW6XG_2XBfYZw9ZIVBSkBKw2ns9D9pDJvabUAbWeL3drNrz-1ceHfJiOUXY/s1600/repetitions+in+nature-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdefAc8xluuxvZAgEtpDyiLVO5yka6f1x2ZcJHsym4Y_KaYSQykeG9Ok2c_EEnIcs8I3cJWQNVxUyyao_onW6XG_2XBfYZw9ZIVBSkBKw2ns9D9pDJvabUAbWeL3drNrz-1ceHfJiOUXY/s400/repetitions+in+nature-11.jpg" width="266" /></a>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01035063888419026228noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209409603282228371.post-1031954684776421132012-01-30T23:50:00.000-05:002012-02-16T14:06:56.444-05:00Meme: Thoughts on bad weather, marriage, movies, motherhood and majorsI was <a href="http://lalakme.blogspot.com/">tagged by Lara</a> who responded to a meme. Now, not being an avid reader of blogs, I had never before heard of a meme. While, the concept seems similar to a chain letter -- something I'm not too keen on receiving and try not to forward -- the questions were interesting, and I was flattered to be tagged by a REAL blogger. Then I made my best effort to respond, only to struggle, write and rewrite, especially in response to the first question. So, sorry for the ongoing edits the last few hours. However, I'm finally happy with my response and don't plan to change it again. And, I found it satisfying to look around inside myself to try to understand my thoughts -- one of the reasons I love writing!
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">1. How do you cope with the yucky season where you live?
</span></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Right now the sky is a cool gray and it is cold. The day's half over and I don't anticipate much change in brightness or warmness, except that it will eventually get darker and colder. It will get better over the next month or two.
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
This is an interesting time in my life anyway. A great quiet after a torrent of busyness. For the last few months I've had the luxury of long, quiet hours with my two daughters. That sense of luxury can make even gray days beautiful. Some days as I soak in the warmth of radiant heating and look out the window above my row of fresh herbs growing on the sill, I dream of blue skies, warm afternoons and walks with my daughters, and berate myself that I don't bring them outside more. Maybe today. Still, the cold gives me a desire to stay in these small, warmly heated rooms. I will go out and hopefully soon. My husband and I go cross country skiing on date nights. (We found old-style skis for my husband and I for $10 a pair from a couple of snowbirds and were given a hand-me-down kid's pair for our two-year-old, and so it's not too expensive for our student budget.) We tried it once as a family, with Bridget in my Moby wrap, but it made me too nervous that I'd fall on her and she'd get hurt. She's only four months, after all. So, for the rest of this year if we take Bridget skiing, the person holding her will be on foot. However, the added stability of snowshoeing makes it something I can do with both my daughters. My two-year-old now owns her own snowshoes (her main Christmas present) and the younger one rides in my Moby when we go out. There are other things I love about this time of year. I enjoy watching the ice sculptures of palaces, people and imaginary beings rising up for Winter Carnival. Icicles, snowflakes, and dense forests seem almost romantic to me.
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Inside with our radiant heating, my two-year-old and I fill our day with art projects, music, reading books, and occasional television shows, and I stay busy administering breakfast, snacks, lunch, naptime, potty training, along with washing mounds of laundry, cooking dinner, calling relatives, taking care of baby Bridget, etc., etc. So, I suppose I cope by cultivating a sense of wonder for the everyday moments, and also finding time to continue to develop my talents. When I do feel fear, depression, worry and so forth, I try to set a new goal with my writing or photography, or perhaps forget myself and look for someone to serve. (My mother would always tell me that when I was feeling bad for myself I'd feel better if I'd spend more time thinking of others). Or, sometimes I just need to get out and go to the library or on a walk. Lastly, sometimes I just try to accept that there's nothing wrong with having a good, depressing day now and then -- and then move on.
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFYtf3SM_Kypue4qcaZhDUzJ0cRWRKzoeLuvnyzxzZS2OPdMK_LvIax78IJQJsZxxbikCjXaxn6EJX3ZwBvByp9yQxs8SClTIbU0LcEyJFL34fqGsMjEGMYNaPHBuflgn3p1jEc-7CZQQ/s1600/Skiing-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFYtf3SM_Kypue4qcaZhDUzJ0cRWRKzoeLuvnyzxzZS2OPdMK_LvIax78IJQJsZxxbikCjXaxn6EJX3ZwBvByp9yQxs8SClTIbU0LcEyJFL34fqGsMjEGMYNaPHBuflgn3p1jEc-7CZQQ/s320/Skiing-1.jpg" width="320" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8bCvgydbqoZ1IFND1JiAwuRun1YFnOv98YE36Jl3Y-QMm-nPWMC45KOVv76Bthere3cZdLA10CqjpUfYvJVMgZ2hlpA5ERjk8XQ6aEDxTJVqFj7omhDH7YI7Pn0fztLLf-D-dG1Y0FIs/s1600/two+girls-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8bCvgydbqoZ1IFND1JiAwuRun1YFnOv98YE36Jl3Y-QMm-nPWMC45KOVv76Bthere3cZdLA10CqjpUfYvJVMgZ2hlpA5ERjk8XQ6aEDxTJVqFj7omhDH7YI7Pn0fztLLf-D-dG1Y0FIs/s320/two+girls-1.jpg" width="214" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4qVZphWmNVy6OgTtvIzy0qX-uCEMDt7EN02w8uAcMypFyRGIs-LEHwTGAm69P-YZZbxRdpBTQd88J0CHIzko5PI_dojQZUKa8yhkcdij8a9wKFBqg1wnhdK8X0WQ4axXNP8tx8ifqy3U/s1600/Skiing-1-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4qVZphWmNVy6OgTtvIzy0qX-uCEMDt7EN02w8uAcMypFyRGIs-LEHwTGAm69P-YZZbxRdpBTQd88J0CHIzko5PI_dojQZUKa8yhkcdij8a9wKFBqg1wnhdK8X0WQ4axXNP8tx8ifqy3U/s320/Skiing-1-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<b>
</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">
2. Tell me something you like about me or my blog? (I need a little self esteem boost lately)
</span></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
You make your family a high priority and it shows in your life and in your blog. I admire your daughters' broad smiles when my daughter runs over to them in excitement and how they come up with funny games to play with her -- like Sophia letting Jackie push her and pretending to fall to the ground dead -- building up Jackie's confidence and helping her feel loved. I also admire their musical skills, cute personalities and fashion flair -- all a good reflection on their mother :) In addition, you have many talents, like singing, photography, and blogging, which you take the time to develop and use to serve others.
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
,</div>
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b>3. Name a movie you can quote several lines from.
</b>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
,</div>
I'm not a huge movie buff. So, I'll have to revert to the overquoted Princess Bride:
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
,</div>
"Maarrrriaage is what brings us together today."
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
,</div>
Oh, wait, I'm struggling to think of any more lines ...
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
,</div>
Did I mention I'm not a movie buff?
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
,</div>
<b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">4. Least thing you like about mothering.
</span></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
,</div>
Car seats have to be among the worst, especially when you have a five person coupe, that with carseats added only holds four. While I want my children to be safe, the frustration of leaning over the front seat and putting them into the car seat, often meeting a loud, "No," from my two-year-old, and then taking them out has the effect of making me not want to go anywhere (I still do go) and if I need to do an errand, I'll always choose the drive-through option, where before I liked to go inside and talk to people face-to-face.
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
,</div>
<b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">5. Favorite thing about being a wife
</span></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
,</div>
Always having a date. Of course, those dates go better because I was lucky enough to marry one of the nicest guys in the world. (So, cheezy, I know.) Plus, it's fun to work with him to raise our two daughters!
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
,</div>
<b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">6. If you could've majored in anything in college, without thought to what you'd do with it afterwards, what would it have been?
</span></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
,</div>
I was fairly idealistic in college and wanted to be a writer. That's why I majored in journalism and later earned a Master's degree in American Studies, with an emphasis in nonfiction writing. I became a writer and plan to continue to write. I enjoyed those majors, although sometimes I have a moment when I wish I would have chosen something like teaching high school, speech pathology, dentistry or medicine, which are quite marketable and present so many options. But, most days I don't regret my majors. I'd still like to complete a couple of others, given unlimited time. For instance, I would have loved to complete a degree in fine art as I want a foundation in art theory. I also wish I knew a few more languages ... Really, I just like to learn EVERYTHING. I also miss math and some days wish I could go back and take calculus, and maybe physics (somehow I haven't taken physics since around Middle School.) I'm sure that would lead to some fulfilling conversations with my dad and brother Brian, who majored in math and physics, respectively.
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
,</div>
This is where I'm supposed to tag someone, I suppose. Oh, wait, I hate sending on chain letters. I guess I'll tag <a href="http://markchristiefam.blogspot.com/">my sis', Christie,</a> and my <a href="http://huntsscavengerhunt.blogspot.com/">sister-in-law Tiffany</a>. They'll like me anyway, after all. (Sorry you two, I'm not even a professional blogger and so there's no incentive at all to comply :) But, if you feel like it, I'd love to hear what you have to say -- and it's kind of fun.)Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01035063888419026228noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209409603282228371.post-76644973119781651542012-01-27T12:23:00.002-05:002012-02-14T12:30:30.463-05:00A photography challenge to help me see the worldI've taken a greater interest in photography the past few years, perhaps partly because it allows me to express the creativity that art did as a child, without the messy paints and long hours required to capture detail. <span style="text-align: center;">With two young children, the art project could easily be destroyed. </span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">Working as a newspaper reporter, I often longed to better understand the cameras the photographer would sometimes hand me, when I needed to shoot my own art. I watched Troy's attitudes toward his work, the way he interacteded with people and tried to heed his advice, but had a shallow understanding of what I was doing. Well, the season has arrived to develop new talents. Photography is fast, so it fits my time schedule, while challenging my eager mind.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
I like that photography requires one to see beauty and attempt to capture it to share with others. I decided to take on the <a href="http://digital-photography-school.com/forum/digital-photography-assignments/183782-assignment-monochrome-color-jan-18-feb-1-2012-a.html#post1394417">weekly challenge</a> at the <a href="http://www.digital-photography-school.com/">Digital Photography School</a>, where I sometimes go to learn more about photography. This week's challenge is to capture a monochrome image, or something in just one color. Such a challenge turned out to push me to see better. Fortunate enough to have a sunny day here in this Northern winter land, I went on a short walk with my two daughters and my camera. One daughter sauntered along looking at stuff, while the four-month-old rode in my Moby wrap. This made it more difficult to take pictures, as laying on my stomach, crouching much, or turning my attention from my two-year-old for too long was not an option. Still, I began to see: the gray, ephemeral remains of a spider web, the crystals shining in the snow, an old cardboard box full of leaves, my daughter's and my shadows hovering over the snow and then, just before heading back for gloves because my daughter's hand's were cold, icicles glimmering in degrees of light blue against a forget-me-not blue sky.
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Of course, I still hadn't found a shot that entirely met my satisfaction. My daughter's and my shadow in the snow came closest, but there's nothing singular in our profiles to tell a story or bring the shot to a higher level. I like the idea of the shades of blue in the icicles, but the bright sun blew out the highlights in the shot. I continued to look at the world more carefully. While making dinner, (possibly for better, but more likely for worse), I noticed the split pea soup I was making was all shades of green. Then when babysitting, I looked at the little girl and saw all shades of pink. To entertain myself I had to take a picture of my red shoes on a red background and on the walk back to my apartment I took a picture of those icicles again. The quest continues....
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3IZXHDKf0dYX3ONGhBwD_ydvaaqY12s-IS-BF_x1NOTWRpKXtRbxoBf46Dd2_CDh4WVciHRiLctjKBwUxzTYD2TWMRvv8XnNZnkHhC82e_uXynf1aUpDSB-8sYfaoEV1ONC7hclDJswM/s1600/monochrome-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3IZXHDKf0dYX3ONGhBwD_ydvaaqY12s-IS-BF_x1NOTWRpKXtRbxoBf46Dd2_CDh4WVciHRiLctjKBwUxzTYD2TWMRvv8XnNZnkHhC82e_uXynf1aUpDSB-8sYfaoEV1ONC7hclDJswM/s320/monochrome-6.jpg" width="320" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjywFAtj3wlTanJx5JA5av8NqNqXg0kfGeHJLeSRhKpRsIjWYFqXBBuAtXN5md98fEGqD-S4s8FflacqPiaWdq_Jm86f5xYh5dWLflxwP1XP0A-bNHBzO-1Kb-waFEjZoJUCiKM_m5ekQE/s1600/monochrome-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjywFAtj3wlTanJx5JA5av8NqNqXg0kfGeHJLeSRhKpRsIjWYFqXBBuAtXN5md98fEGqD-S4s8FflacqPiaWdq_Jm86f5xYh5dWLflxwP1XP0A-bNHBzO-1Kb-waFEjZoJUCiKM_m5ekQE/s320/monochrome-8.jpg" width="214" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_3gIF9pLzfpUIna5J-TZItgIdljVqzisRCPhEkvp34epaXO1IPDeL4WyzSXNyagoO0I69a5xae-t_y7RlBuPazCfQDYPdLHUZY7K1v_PsNxDcIV17fkl0l15djRi_-lfUxfusfBU3vJY/s1600/monochrome-9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_3gIF9pLzfpUIna5J-TZItgIdljVqzisRCPhEkvp34epaXO1IPDeL4WyzSXNyagoO0I69a5xae-t_y7RlBuPazCfQDYPdLHUZY7K1v_PsNxDcIV17fkl0l15djRi_-lfUxfusfBU3vJY/s320/monochrome-9.jpg" width="320" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM_S5TXlFO9aGmA_fAxxdHwZmDYorODXgSsPpjJSOfhdo-hMCLCDMgB52nH68IYDEBruwooOB_XP9MDwcVFLezJd8bXOPXZIge5kdUDdbPP-NjAD9t_gyPF1HfHPSIerThTTvyyrZQGhM/s1600/monochrome-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM_S5TXlFO9aGmA_fAxxdHwZmDYorODXgSsPpjJSOfhdo-hMCLCDMgB52nH68IYDEBruwooOB_XP9MDwcVFLezJd8bXOPXZIge5kdUDdbPP-NjAD9t_gyPF1HfHPSIerThTTvyyrZQGhM/s320/monochrome-13.jpg" width="320" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4RZ4tCw_iXmvIyqkVt4SPpgBNyiDnkRIjsPqIIgTPvAjGGz0U849UJ_AqQ4AT-13ZvO21ZHxef5YL05FKTQo9lno4xubsJayH9GbC_z-TwUUcrr2NipOoehLT0jL7MJg1lDWj_VyN-ck/s1600/monochrome-20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4RZ4tCw_iXmvIyqkVt4SPpgBNyiDnkRIjsPqIIgTPvAjGGz0U849UJ_AqQ4AT-13ZvO21ZHxef5YL05FKTQo9lno4xubsJayH9GbC_z-TwUUcrr2NipOoehLT0jL7MJg1lDWj_VyN-ck/s200/monochrome-20.jpg" width="320" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8dajSZl2z093eclTRs5OUjYW-ajIeOTGKQB8scXWU7OVg3La3ynJOsyXtgO4tKJKFYd2O9sNUSJ9R3Q-vA78gWnroU6HYjbdXRCuxYWi_t69Xgbx0TlPwwVh_EJHIBuTUg0K9KZKaijc/s1600/monochrome-14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8dajSZl2z093eclTRs5OUjYW-ajIeOTGKQB8scXWU7OVg3La3ynJOsyXtgO4tKJKFYd2O9sNUSJ9R3Q-vA78gWnroU6HYjbdXRCuxYWi_t69Xgbx0TlPwwVh_EJHIBuTUg0K9KZKaijc/s320/monochrome-14.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01035063888419026228noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209409603282228371.post-75605420277208972382012-01-18T22:34:00.001-05:002012-01-31T12:30:37.255-05:00With all the changes, who am I?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8J7iyBpxWQnzzUHML6q8mTjyRHGPogaH2HTNiG0fYq0KLGSu2Z1arvUV7_UMU12rLek0BTsKEPI675bvCMG8CVdiw0JUndUqyaakLAcM9d1KR3sDORIoCtv0mH5Myh743p9yy5LK9_Fg/s1600/K.+Hunt+family-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:center; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8J7iyBpxWQnzzUHML6q8mTjyRHGPogaH2HTNiG0fYq0KLGSu2Z1arvUV7_UMU12rLek0BTsKEPI675bvCMG8CVdiw0JUndUqyaakLAcM9d1KR3sDORIoCtv0mH5Myh743p9yy5LK9_Fg/s320/K.+Hunt+family-1.jpg" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGZJ3LlYi-KkVTZdaysaJuAcWuaE4IINTh-pD5-8odsI13jNPg7xnLZlADJ3dL-0L5KIyvuYKAJ8hyYkCgm76lXy0m1QElZDuJ9FHXF0o3g25vUjUPjlIF_Em3stIPW7Wuy2w8OUTQ0-g/s1600/K+Hunt+family-1-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGZJ3LlYi-KkVTZdaysaJuAcWuaE4IINTh-pD5-8odsI13jNPg7xnLZlADJ3dL-0L5KIyvuYKAJ8hyYkCgm76lXy0m1QElZDuJ9FHXF0o3g25vUjUPjlIF_Em3stIPW7Wuy2w8OUTQ0-g/s320/K+Hunt+family-1-7.jpg" /></a></div>
Where before we were a family of three, we're now four.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">,</div>
And, where before I was a graduate student, now I'm not. I finished my graduate program in American Studies in Summer 2011 and my second daughter, Bridget, was born in September. Since then, I've enjoyed motherhood, complete with tons of laundry; time to read a book just because I want to; cooking up new ethnic foods, and trying to get my house in order. I've been so busy, I haven't had much time to think about what comes next. As I get to that question, I'm also wondering who I am now that I'm not earning money or a degree for my efforts. I'm not pursing a fulltime career right now because I value this time with my children.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">,</div>
Of course, I'm a child a God, wife, daughter, writer, sister, mother. That's if you define me by roles and relationships, which I believe is one important way to define oneself. But, what if you define me by what I do? I no longer have a neat job title that says it all for me. In fact, as I was reading today, a quote from a religious leader of my faith by the name of Ezra Taft Benson stuck out. He wrote that today followers of God, of Jesus Christ, must have "'a style of our own' pertaining to success and self-image."
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">,</div>
I'm still working on that. But, in the meantime, I'm cherishing the simple joys of motherhood. In fact, I've been so busy for the last year and a half, I never filled in the details for my vacation to Canada, just over the border in Sault Ste Marie two summers ago. But, who cares, really? Are today's blogs just like our grandparents' longwinded family slide shows, minus the popcorn and the togetherness on the couch? Sometimes I wonder... And yet, they do provide a place to write, to communicate a vision of what has been, what is and what might someday be. For a writer who no longer has a place to write, maybe that's something worth striving for, even if no one reads it, but my sister. Hey there, Christie, are you reading?
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">,</div>
But really, here are some new pictures from the last year. I'm thinking I might play around a little more with this blog thing and see if it's for me. (Thanks <a href="http://lalakme.blogspot.com/">Lara</a>.)Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01035063888419026228noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209409603282228371.post-91272175590444832502010-08-10T22:39:00.012-04:002012-02-01T10:49:41.115-05:00Camping across the U.S. border, in CanadaMy husband, daughter and I had never been to Canada. We decided we needed to change that and planned out the closest route to obtain our goal. Approximately eight hours of driving took us across the border to a campground where we spent two nights. We shopped at a Canadian dress shop where I bought a skirt and shirt and grocery store where we had to pay to checkout a shopping cart; and we went on bike rides in a beautiful, big park, where my husband scared the Canadian Geese and my daughter chased them, crawling toward them in mad dashes. Our trip also included a drive over the Mackinaw bridge, which connects the Upper Penninsula with lower Michigan. We camped nearby the bridge at a state park. As rugged Utah natives, we were surprised at the postage size campsites and the large lawnmowers used to cut the grass at such sites. This was not real camping :), but it was still fun.
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizFMin5IzY4wEPVDrLk6TCiRKnYxLIm_L0AfFCAx598ykHTh6K8qqDJP9LMv80gbQ3Pz9pQi3tEbSpOeyBc002ES3IG_7VBdNJzCD98wLPr5x39C0IFBlTibBozJq5Ls8mQyQRxZ3mUxg/s1600/camp.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503985566305610498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizFMin5IzY4wEPVDrLk6TCiRKnYxLIm_L0AfFCAx598ykHTh6K8qqDJP9LMv80gbQ3Pz9pQi3tEbSpOeyBc002ES3IG_7VBdNJzCD98wLPr5x39C0IFBlTibBozJq5Ls8mQyQRxZ3mUxg/s320/camp.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 214px; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNdF8dtq7bOob2BntsYSNnSarFAcRYK8vEp4VkHXTEbHpFxipRm35WiYEnzeFgoeyHEVf9Y0nOM_5RGl_9E6LfuBdYA94e11JZM0OD69-xmEczMaH076_Qqx1hZ1WwfErzK0jbom8whXY/s1600/camp2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503985439693094034" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNdF8dtq7bOob2BntsYSNnSarFAcRYK8vEp4VkHXTEbHpFxipRm35WiYEnzeFgoeyHEVf9Y0nOM_5RGl_9E6LfuBdYA94e11JZM0OD69-xmEczMaH076_Qqx1hZ1WwfErzK0jbom8whXY/s320/camp2.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 214px; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0x2pjtY5IrAHkI8kCDXJG1uhQIOE73dFtRxkWdNF1sHjGbjwuE8QA0gEuRVqAvyQ7DXN97HAm2WgStORsqHwWpZaxEyTO0jiOOii249qCu4mk-bVik5tRId2H5tj-KvbNemoGRWYnO30/s1600/flags.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503985433442492690" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0x2pjtY5IrAHkI8kCDXJG1uhQIOE73dFtRxkWdNF1sHjGbjwuE8QA0gEuRVqAvyQ7DXN97HAm2WgStORsqHwWpZaxEyTO0jiOOii249qCu4mk-bVik5tRId2H5tj-KvbNemoGRWYnO30/s320/flags.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 214px; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtQfdKedmrqfxhv16dkq4MxaHpmaHSlcp9zH6kCq59tRVuOmClnxwmBRwseKJ0ntDTlp5mz3mkcUAGiqajSf-z5rktGnSvIugmxyNETEUIrcFDEnw3ha5X_k5JTJBhmzAMPKlqMKKJ2lE/s1600/bridge+to+canada.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503985422257760082" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtQfdKedmrqfxhv16dkq4MxaHpmaHSlcp9zH6kCq59tRVuOmClnxwmBRwseKJ0ntDTlp5mz3mkcUAGiqajSf-z5rktGnSvIugmxyNETEUIrcFDEnw3ha5X_k5JTJBhmzAMPKlqMKKJ2lE/s320/bridge+to+canada.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 178px; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq_1bE8EFjyHTWNJDcA-txXq07-ZIPURCf1MLCVjYmwiDcCYe3T_3G1-PEhkXOkY4NQ4gQ_4a8ofw4TkdwFXZ25NdIZHfd4tBBKjB4wEr68FJD19kcHuxhr5yBn9jnKkmTzAzK2na9PBE/s1600/flower+field.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503985422764173042" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq_1bE8EFjyHTWNJDcA-txXq07-ZIPURCf1MLCVjYmwiDcCYe3T_3G1-PEhkXOkY4NQ4gQ_4a8ofw4TkdwFXZ25NdIZHfd4tBBKjB4wEr68FJD19kcHuxhr5yBn9jnKkmTzAzK2na9PBE/s320/flower+field.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 214px; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB9EBzPFAmZR0ksY_nB2rTVbThRTro-p9CKcbUGG6JanvyVlw6wdRaKN_3qe5GDhyJE9wPA7EsF_8cUN-luRlHwHkZtXkAY5CXL3dAeK3LmlatRh-7iiJlcDZWTlXZX6Yt6TIiuIPUJ-w/s1600/flag.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503985418640174786" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB9EBzPFAmZR0ksY_nB2rTVbThRTro-p9CKcbUGG6JanvyVlw6wdRaKN_3qe5GDhyJE9wPA7EsF_8cUN-luRlHwHkZtXkAY5CXL3dAeK3LmlatRh-7iiJlcDZWTlXZX6Yt6TIiuIPUJ-w/s320/flag.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 320px; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; width: 213px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR7rV1lmpRP94CdkJ7Yn9ld3g_Pr8LuORCXreGidEruEun6BDiNSRSeRUqdc6Tl0hv-ZzWV2TekOE4zm98ABd8i0_MSTyYniqTgPQbUxUQeqYT32Z9jXmRVLVyr82Wt0u330Oz8NlS8Gg/s1600/Jackie+and+me.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503976778333716370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR7rV1lmpRP94CdkJ7Yn9ld3g_Pr8LuORCXreGidEruEun6BDiNSRSeRUqdc6Tl0hv-ZzWV2TekOE4zm98ABd8i0_MSTyYniqTgPQbUxUQeqYT32Z9jXmRVLVyr82Wt0u330Oz8NlS8Gg/s320/Jackie+and+me.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 320px; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; width: 214px;" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZhUM3tnGZsrGyTW4z98Uc367HyIF5CSPb-IupYOXvncGdrc4gOMFwQtejj8PEywpVAXdil61IMEOvbzY1xeXgPDCXQTnsOi0SQ2_Z6yDeZR01ZQU8rwRBMPjW4RQ1DgBOKG5sUxYWsfk/s1600/jackie.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503976795158593234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZhUM3tnGZsrGyTW4z98Uc367HyIF5CSPb-IupYOXvncGdrc4gOMFwQtejj8PEywpVAXdil61IMEOvbzY1xeXgPDCXQTnsOi0SQ2_Z6yDeZR01ZQU8rwRBMPjW4RQ1DgBOKG5sUxYWsfk/s320/jackie.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 214px; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7flQnVNkZ9d4KJJO1BkEDQtARvnuN61-PJhGj9fjZcIVREnO6QsEX8l80wus6CddLfotBucT3WL-te38nxCF73Nj8WdOHVng311i65nZbMnb_8O-dtUeI9op4NKeCebBNgSAAfhwpJFw/s1600/lighthouse3.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503976788532806818" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7flQnVNkZ9d4KJJO1BkEDQtARvnuN61-PJhGj9fjZcIVREnO6QsEX8l80wus6CddLfotBucT3WL-te38nxCF73Nj8WdOHVng311i65nZbMnb_8O-dtUeI9op4NKeCebBNgSAAfhwpJFw/s320/lighthouse3.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 214px; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT_ebgCgbsL_AvG3i11aNB2KEkDDkFZyQkyEUjFEyTPviHUT4NKcwWjxliPCQWINMhIS1Fxndu2zDaw_sSdGN2FLCOJX7So2coA2hsizdTxvtmcCzOl4CGoTM1Ddy__hO2uGon8g8I7k8/s1600/bridge.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503977047944458274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT_ebgCgbsL_AvG3i11aNB2KEkDDkFZyQkyEUjFEyTPviHUT4NKcwWjxliPCQWINMhIS1Fxndu2zDaw_sSdGN2FLCOJX7So2coA2hsizdTxvtmcCzOl4CGoTM1Ddy__hO2uGon8g8I7k8/s320/bridge.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 214px; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6g8CI5lHfclYo01JosAUND57UB8b0Weec_fS8GQwT6VmxQ34aRDtnws1xZy2yHPliDjsGLiwucswIhmnG7EaJ-q7DbGBT0hn1AAbnSHXE12KkJrlop7G62Vb4oMCZxIkZDX3H_i8qyRE/s1600/bridge3.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503976796070126322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6g8CI5lHfclYo01JosAUND57UB8b0Weec_fS8GQwT6VmxQ34aRDtnws1xZy2yHPliDjsGLiwucswIhmnG7EaJ-q7DbGBT0hn1AAbnSHXE12KkJrlop7G62Vb4oMCZxIkZDX3H_i8qyRE/s320/bridge3.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 214px; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBrjqZcevLy24edG4g4HWppkfTtbsTCBV9NpHER1gKDDOSKud9PUlVZugCaJYT1BLfRdMidnpOOS9UcORj-PP1Vgu41jOg2NGQWZuLMQ9b3SKCqwZqMbzgThg2DxJ1s2R541NOKv_u8O0/s1600/bridge+at+night.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503980522028586338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBrjqZcevLy24edG4g4HWppkfTtbsTCBV9NpHER1gKDDOSKud9PUlVZugCaJYT1BLfRdMidnpOOS9UcORj-PP1Vgu41jOg2NGQWZuLMQ9b3SKCqwZqMbzgThg2DxJ1s2R541NOKv_u8O0/s320/bridge+at+night.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 214px; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq6KLxWUh6bhmp6p5iZlNyCxmyI9_OKrTOq-Cd6RIDDkXs64zIbm77S8TIQ2uv1v42rvkMwXnBBboDUfXKYG9byWp_rNOMdFd2novgNZs1Uka9trBUZGi47VYZvSYqrdTHC_LbS2PYM9s/s1600/lighthouse.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503977059634251154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq6KLxWUh6bhmp6p5iZlNyCxmyI9_OKrTOq-Cd6RIDDkXs64zIbm77S8TIQ2uv1v42rvkMwXnBBboDUfXKYG9byWp_rNOMdFd2novgNZs1Uka9trBUZGi47VYZvSYqrdTHC_LbS2PYM9s/s320/lighthouse.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 214px; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHnIlRwBp_LLL5XZiu4zub2-tPs2Ez7CXZFdteVwt_W97IE_uvObSTPk757QX6b7w6Z1I_WcdPpO7IZiw2xq2Po2fwA55Xm0xm9-S-mLU97LL3E9KtrH56KTLofoggYEvHGj2j39i5JG8/s1600/restaurant.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503980551382031986" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHnIlRwBp_LLL5XZiu4zub2-tPs2Ez7CXZFdteVwt_W97IE_uvObSTPk757QX6b7w6Z1I_WcdPpO7IZiw2xq2Po2fwA55Xm0xm9-S-mLU97LL3E9KtrH56KTLofoggYEvHGj2j39i5JG8/s320/restaurant.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 214px; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5mG7jLEzgsEKLaL3tiDtMSVdaOYc_nQ7mjBakt2_O11Zckbry1LFIxcX_QEEaWFDk9LcwSmxUbif3-aoJvr4vSGAUS0C_nIca1L-4GELiDKJZBuvfCbOpakGByhs-IaCaXpsmyxbuGKs/s1600/grocery+carts.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503980545004411602" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5mG7jLEzgsEKLaL3tiDtMSVdaOYc_nQ7mjBakt2_O11Zckbry1LFIxcX_QEEaWFDk9LcwSmxUbif3-aoJvr4vSGAUS0C_nIca1L-4GELiDKJZBuvfCbOpakGByhs-IaCaXpsmyxbuGKs/s320/grocery+carts.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 320px; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; width: 213px;" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRx_Bruh1aDmYIl9Vi1NtZiW2xUrlCbxZMBWFM_dqN6_R6sdPRnl7G0DVVAeMvjVAz_x9PTvFGH94J4v6NvXdQ6eJ3E0c4RGS1Q7aClz0pGxJTYitu3NVwn1QzjdcknfipXuTtEAcSg5w/s1600/butterfly.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503980534759709394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRx_Bruh1aDmYIl9Vi1NtZiW2xUrlCbxZMBWFM_dqN6_R6sdPRnl7G0DVVAeMvjVAz_x9PTvFGH94J4v6NvXdQ6eJ3E0c4RGS1Q7aClz0pGxJTYitu3NVwn1QzjdcknfipXuTtEAcSg5w/s320/butterfly.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 216px; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<br />Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01035063888419026228noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209409603282228371.post-91392761170251872372010-07-25T16:58:00.007-04:002012-02-01T10:50:25.821-05:00Finnish Reggae<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb7o4U8nJyS7tQ3H341Zb5STCvyA6grh_Rp-SrHq1n9C3ykRy2RQNJI1y_rygEiT3i_8p7LSXQ0zXbyHacd6q2Z7gfE6DF3JZpfOL-8p3EvAhxBEfY2EugR7gcEipy0kKfSDdzAa4urNc/s1600/conga+finn.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497964152937394594" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb7o4U8nJyS7tQ3H341Zb5STCvyA6grh_Rp-SrHq1n9C3ykRy2RQNJI1y_rygEiT3i_8p7LSXQ0zXbyHacd6q2Z7gfE6DF3JZpfOL-8p3EvAhxBEfY2EugR7gcEipy0kKfSDdzAa4urNc/s320/conga+finn.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 226px; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlFGzV-LRmd_MgeDYpPSyN8G_vJPElUPM2uEYVJnOc3tmGBy6EDwsMlZrONk-9ZA1Sp1SaxC9NjmFc1_3ZWD3YkRiTBuueW6x61NXGSbl0Yu7iVa1Q-RqnAj-TDPUrwCQ05MAJFSttlwk/s1600/Finnish+reggae.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497951916774663522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlFGzV-LRmd_MgeDYpPSyN8G_vJPElUPM2uEYVJnOc3tmGBy6EDwsMlZrONk-9ZA1Sp1SaxC9NjmFc1_3ZWD3YkRiTBuueW6x61NXGSbl0Yu7iVa1Q-RqnAj-TDPUrwCQ05MAJFSttlwk/s320/Finnish+reggae.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 214px; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2bJ9zCI5ds-SziLqoQfQnYhKZPWjXXXRqJ2a4Y3OAw5q3Yzy9au4Ux7usTDuCP-jr3-K39T6ynNEGHj2BovXK-itASBYmSPxNA-5KL5GqVz0N-luAHGvjRto5PCMlSe2XmsqiyKGWGiU/s1600/finnish+reggae+2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497951913870849314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2bJ9zCI5ds-SziLqoQfQnYhKZPWjXXXRqJ2a4Y3OAw5q3Yzy9au4Ux7usTDuCP-jr3-K39T6ynNEGHj2BovXK-itASBYmSPxNA-5KL5GqVz0N-luAHGvjRto5PCMlSe2XmsqiyKGWGiU/s320/finnish+reggae+2.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 214px; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLfQ1OjEkOfnIs7pZ_qAngHKF6JBzkyANHevNf4QUEHbl8OZFznepHyKeEXnPf4RHfobFLf9ku-UkASUCJZXxNFjYLiLTgii_6PghZBMDLUDikOu9JJq-JDXMZko-0X9cbkppfm9bzJ0g/s1600/finnish+reggae+3.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497951902979364690" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLfQ1OjEkOfnIs7pZ_qAngHKF6JBzkyANHevNf4QUEHbl8OZFznepHyKeEXnPf4RHfobFLf9ku-UkASUCJZXxNFjYLiLTgii_6PghZBMDLUDikOu9JJq-JDXMZko-0X9cbkppfm9bzJ0g/s320/finnish+reggae+3.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 320px; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; width: 214px;" /></a><br />
On a trip to Jamaica I discovered I really like reggae music. But, Finnish Reggae? Who imagined? Apparently the Finnish music has similar rhythms to Reggae and so musician Darrell Syria has combined the two for his band Conga Se Menne. He is 100% Finnish and spends many of his evenings touring with his band. In the daytime he drives a bus in order to get insurance and other benefits. His wife is a member of our church and went on the temple trip with us. As a result, we discovered some great music and went to a free concert in a nearby town -- one of many he was giving that week. Unfortunately it was moved into the community center from the park due to rain. As you can see, Jackie dressed up in her concert attire (outfit given to her by Grammy Lamby) and enjoyed the show.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01035063888419026228noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209409603282228371.post-90811074610781139032010-07-25T16:28:00.004-04:002012-02-01T10:51:10.702-05:00Chicago temple trip<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieEOaMunWig8vNZ7mIb6zmfpUDPUW9agqMq_piRhcW7hoFkG3vLG5CrjVYdMta-fj9JHcklbqx-3tHwS39Pvb2bTO7SfvOKzQNILCSKp-nvEUELkrS-8AzMxoaOJsVGXkY6FN2F48kKaQ/s1600/temple.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497949712748460738" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieEOaMunWig8vNZ7mIb6zmfpUDPUW9agqMq_piRhcW7hoFkG3vLG5CrjVYdMta-fj9JHcklbqx-3tHwS39Pvb2bTO7SfvOKzQNILCSKp-nvEUELkrS-8AzMxoaOJsVGXkY6FN2F48kKaQ/s200/temple.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 200px; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; width: 134px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjln-iSnGo-K931Ko1jIUwtb3T3L2Rwz-rqjAxOYlW662IIp-c6QWDJv8zNy7indX7ce8w7_EvWGeO7p7VDO7GC-Ijwh37MDRp3-dglQKTSJfvqicD3wY1L5wZQgK_TOGOXKxYM_a0_Sw8/s1600/temple+2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497949706336404994" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjln-iSnGo-K931Ko1jIUwtb3T3L2Rwz-rqjAxOYlW662IIp-c6QWDJv8zNy7indX7ce8w7_EvWGeO7p7VDO7GC-Ijwh37MDRp3-dglQKTSJfvqicD3wY1L5wZQgK_TOGOXKxYM_a0_Sw8/s200/temple+2.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 134px; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; width: 200px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0l6jvXYvoBTREsiKUmFDTguE5vFGifaBdWBb7KT2scUp4H-Dr1JHSq6RsQ5Eg4mSm4lkCaWHyaMUhNz8p8URh7ojcM5TzS0ArxhD-QO748WsB4oBG_fVTkU1dkqAc6AgJum1aRxB1ATo/s1600/temple+trip+3.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497949693852898914" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0l6jvXYvoBTREsiKUmFDTguE5vFGifaBdWBb7KT2scUp4H-Dr1JHSq6RsQ5Eg4mSm4lkCaWHyaMUhNz8p8URh7ojcM5TzS0ArxhD-QO748WsB4oBG_fVTkU1dkqAc6AgJum1aRxB1ATo/s200/temple+trip+3.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 134px; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; width: 200px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbFaFPxqyqdUxDZ5hE0qoN_GqmDeZedHBhfIm053szoQzYXanZfImN_qoY0c3a473CvUvfW1WB-akZObO_VLhSarTRDsqBvSspKTqmxlVn91yDPELCu9U7slqQWdXADqwVpR0xFS7xzzg/s1600/temple+4.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497949679587448162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbFaFPxqyqdUxDZ5hE0qoN_GqmDeZedHBhfIm053szoQzYXanZfImN_qoY0c3a473CvUvfW1WB-akZObO_VLhSarTRDsqBvSspKTqmxlVn91yDPELCu9U7slqQWdXADqwVpR0xFS7xzzg/s200/temple+4.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 134px; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; width: 200px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpkXiJXNs4VDCgzi9mF7-MRW-lP84sVjfPPx0BZ8HW7kkQTqw-QmVMpEO06CxnrDkz6jSb-8hFBJk-zqEH_3JKzKqBqXrmKszjyjDJI0vy6BtVQYkzCQ2bDTP5APoVxxOQVHVjsoDE-Lk/s1600/temple+6.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497948349891933602" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpkXiJXNs4VDCgzi9mF7-MRW-lP84sVjfPPx0BZ8HW7kkQTqw-QmVMpEO06CxnrDkz6jSb-8hFBJk-zqEH_3JKzKqBqXrmKszjyjDJI0vy6BtVQYkzCQ2bDTP5APoVxxOQVHVjsoDE-Lk/s200/temple+6.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 134px; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; width: 200px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiM3MIcG5fT8daFqrCRT9Bf2dy0tVqnjflBBbiIFp70xJiaSijh4qrWyzM9uj1jY8u4aZ-mAA1FtmjLMScNnfsC3bCPEZFwwyeEP3-dRLOAXPlTd9cXVCGC7ko9MR6G2iTPV67vf5TUZo/s1600/temple+7.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497948348666853042" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiM3MIcG5fT8daFqrCRT9Bf2dy0tVqnjflBBbiIFp70xJiaSijh4qrWyzM9uj1jY8u4aZ-mAA1FtmjLMScNnfsC3bCPEZFwwyeEP3-dRLOAXPlTd9cXVCGC7ko9MR6G2iTPV67vf5TUZo/s200/temple+7.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 134px; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; width: 200px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyNUXYR5jBu_D09P7QYdKXj2RKknxaTsX2khLNgUZR4SFbA47F0WI_tWZhUpdo2O0b5l4LoUqkqFwRM6Vbwo0l8GCXbXPBm4MHZAyf-egxRJbosrk7ykLzNcAOaaD9nQLEQKrCK-KkSMQ/s1600/temple+8.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497948332489256306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyNUXYR5jBu_D09P7QYdKXj2RKknxaTsX2khLNgUZR4SFbA47F0WI_tWZhUpdo2O0b5l4LoUqkqFwRM6Vbwo0l8GCXbXPBm4MHZAyf-egxRJbosrk7ykLzNcAOaaD9nQLEQKrCK-KkSMQ/s200/temple+8.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 200px; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; width: 134px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA4jO5lBU25Egq5f_5s8bG2OAMJAThMvQsr9FmsnbLO2C4CHsi8U9v13MMb114KiK79R-Urs0wPUUp_6hGJCBD1TODaZwVrn_qs6A3LK8QNcIdl-yB0l-_Poha9kI1tdsNl0AWgMAiihI/s1600/temple+10.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497948329895982130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA4jO5lBU25Egq5f_5s8bG2OAMJAThMvQsr9FmsnbLO2C4CHsi8U9v13MMb114KiK79R-Urs0wPUUp_6hGJCBD1TODaZwVrn_qs6A3LK8QNcIdl-yB0l-_Poha9kI1tdsNl0AWgMAiihI/s200/temple+10.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 200px; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; width: 134px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD3PQlh2FQveSYDTfjVRtYH8AWPhGuMtYKZDRI-tAkiWSwyAiOwTH9N2V1iuahPFLUGStZiCT_Y5fssVBvCOY0RnfMzSWiAgRc6nfqI8NI9AxOQGD_JMn_fSGgfJrBzlswI39UCmC6QtE/s1600/temple+11.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497948321517898226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD3PQlh2FQveSYDTfjVRtYH8AWPhGuMtYKZDRI-tAkiWSwyAiOwTH9N2V1iuahPFLUGStZiCT_Y5fssVBvCOY0RnfMzSWiAgRc6nfqI8NI9AxOQGD_JMn_fSGgfJrBzlswI39UCmC6QtE/s200/temple+11.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 200px; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; width: 134px;" /></a><br />
We took a big bus to the Chicago temple with other members of our branch. I watched Jackie while Renn went to a session and then Renn watched Jackie while I went to the session. Altogether it was two nights, and one and a half days time for one temple trip. It made me appreciate it more. It's a pretty temple too. We would have liked to see a little of Chicago, but there was no time for that.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01035063888419026228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209409603282228371.post-42468834806534507312010-07-18T18:36:00.017-04:002010-07-18T19:16:09.266-04:00Our softball team<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjSxwbfQeKKMEvMDE3yY8Ns1MI2kvotEdfKiddwfWdU0KSy12trotHQIP2WTEjos5f12xWzap3cTktysl3lGcs5uLFnBdX84UuRcDTOyE3kmqN5pS2VQCuZOjN2X1-m8OQTipjP0VQI88/s1600/baseball+2.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjSxwbfQeKKMEvMDE3yY8Ns1MI2kvotEdfKiddwfWdU0KSy12trotHQIP2WTEjos5f12xWzap3cTktysl3lGcs5uLFnBdX84UuRcDTOyE3kmqN5pS2VQCuZOjN2X1-m8OQTipjP0VQI88/s400/baseball+2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495383830783703922" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU55oFNDM35T41WiEOL8gfovjHMRqBZwKWsEh26uez7OTU77robAmlymVPQxctLAOXuPnA_C0WmZ6OOPe6EhMosznskDurVD6FYC4-NanrNPbPs7a3NvbtcWWE6vQ6xtl0e6d4_Szk5_I/s1600/baseball+4.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU55oFNDM35T41WiEOL8gfovjHMRqBZwKWsEh26uez7OTU77robAmlymVPQxctLAOXuPnA_C0WmZ6OOPe6EhMosznskDurVD6FYC4-NanrNPbPs7a3NvbtcWWE6vQ6xtl0e6d4_Szk5_I/s200/baseball+4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495381673524788338" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCKS8w5-8a0jP5kGqy4BeKRWkuLvAHPrO4B3JuwJpEzlBWVAuvIBIzF3MTCpAHXbZ2wyAHCkMXXxYtHWG4BaY84kToJAKcgc3SnDdhblZt5e5nyugeVJyYvLceAnneMOncKBTbemUNXSA/s1600/baseball+5.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCKS8w5-8a0jP5kGqy4BeKRWkuLvAHPrO4B3JuwJpEzlBWVAuvIBIzF3MTCpAHXbZ2wyAHCkMXXxYtHWG4BaY84kToJAKcgc3SnDdhblZt5e5nyugeVJyYvLceAnneMOncKBTbemUNXSA/s200/baseball+5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495381669147851922" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigQxXUMCKv9g2PfEdCIYQinS2-UnjQyLIDWRjuJSNiayTV4k1CUE_ckzMYi1OkU8oZYybOJkM1EuqGxiHiwdoQZHUDORpesemcCDPaCeKxREnYDSl_KTErzJuZcUidwsVxnN0mHFDt8SM/s1600/baseball+6.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigQxXUMCKv9g2PfEdCIYQinS2-UnjQyLIDWRjuJSNiayTV4k1CUE_ckzMYi1OkU8oZYybOJkM1EuqGxiHiwdoQZHUDORpesemcCDPaCeKxREnYDSl_KTErzJuZcUidwsVxnN0mHFDt8SM/s200/baseball+6.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495381665803122658" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqz6LgtjdqjxYhZBaJK0CgE8V5oN0im1B-TQ0k1X-N95WhYTxKsm2wPU8sxieEH7XPAObAGQHfxltiWIGOy-vNyFEzAeSjcBsN4z3k6xoGVkvzIqEKvOSFAugljAY7FamOTllL7AoI9Y0/s1600/baseball+7.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqz6LgtjdqjxYhZBaJK0CgE8V5oN0im1B-TQ0k1X-N95WhYTxKsm2wPU8sxieEH7XPAObAGQHfxltiWIGOy-vNyFEzAeSjcBsN4z3k6xoGVkvzIqEKvOSFAugljAY7FamOTllL7AoI9Y0/s200/baseball+7.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495381663577529010" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhycwlwxk0l3pnwPj1N_VcU0BZoPeof3xxG53r53iVIfDBamztNGDFxc7PKV-F8nbpNXfGzQKAl7iQgCxNbo2UafKFNJrsW9VrOgiy5YaRT5HyqGYjPd0yZ7kBrzFlmBgIAfzhMxSmqDj0/s1600/baseball+9.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 133px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhycwlwxk0l3pnwPj1N_VcU0BZoPeof3xxG53r53iVIfDBamztNGDFxc7PKV-F8nbpNXfGzQKAl7iQgCxNbo2UafKFNJrsW9VrOgiy5YaRT5HyqGYjPd0yZ7kBrzFlmBgIAfzhMxSmqDj0/s200/baseball+9.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495381353685416866" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyJhGRjUmEvNG-Mrfl7RLKMIlzg52V6xKstv8TwWXi5bJy6gQ4QPezCBbDn4q_yZqFRLnVpBmQCUD2vqxmnk62rlXpwkjryjJGgl8Xa0DOYT5QLa1J6S9NkZfZ5gtOe8w2l3pN7sJ3b28/s1600/baseball+11.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyJhGRjUmEvNG-Mrfl7RLKMIlzg52V6xKstv8TwWXi5bJy6gQ4QPezCBbDn4q_yZqFRLnVpBmQCUD2vqxmnk62rlXpwkjryjJGgl8Xa0DOYT5QLa1J6S9NkZfZ5gtOe8w2l3pN7sJ3b28/s200/baseball+11.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495381346981684802" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz_OeaVl56DLpaZ7ebspEiMgxzLZ6CFKp-Nngh_Zn9zBnxb5ur3RbWAcqOXsD4ZtE8E3HzHvviTuL7WWleThEclClKNhcjADPgD32CEsJ77alwms6iJj7yn2JTLvUf62q38Ad7dNHFSao/s1600/baseball+12.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz_OeaVl56DLpaZ7ebspEiMgxzLZ6CFKp-Nngh_Zn9zBnxb5ur3RbWAcqOXsD4ZtE8E3HzHvviTuL7WWleThEclClKNhcjADPgD32CEsJ77alwms6iJj7yn2JTLvUf62q38Ad7dNHFSao/s200/baseball+12.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495381344334500242" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMdoyqZw084-fGKXUimuATM8hvUIwvsz1fcSUOL6x7Y0S38fLl00mt3rXf4eV_nfAJUWV8HKEtR7ZV0MSK-McBiYuu5iPQAQq7EuqKpLeTU8lUkY-k96eJnNutF9u_WmuDBn2xoU-mbbo/s1600/baseball+13.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMdoyqZw084-fGKXUimuATM8hvUIwvsz1fcSUOL6x7Y0S38fLl00mt3rXf4eV_nfAJUWV8HKEtR7ZV0MSK-McBiYuu5iPQAQq7EuqKpLeTU8lUkY-k96eJnNutF9u_WmuDBn2xoU-mbbo/s200/baseball+13.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495381336773886082" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjex0y8OCo5J9dgK8REEopeh2pJciJgKdcWEFT-nT-FKVWMgOGzGnBHdGYJG6Rl4lEZ8rklIIJKECqxN0AS-3CrR2WqISiMQW9D9uaOglFI7KM4AVeMtXX47v-CvMMyrEzlqyb1QJ8MaFk/s1600/baseball+14.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjex0y8OCo5J9dgK8REEopeh2pJciJgKdcWEFT-nT-FKVWMgOGzGnBHdGYJG6Rl4lEZ8rklIIJKECqxN0AS-3CrR2WqISiMQW9D9uaOglFI7KM4AVeMtXX47v-CvMMyrEzlqyb1QJ8MaFk/s200/baseball+14.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495381158970179106" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5BNjc39mhoZvFB5P6Ep79zBte5d1ARVAVVk-JMe2_57GWVBb3HW0r6FbZKASNX1k7V5L2Eqnn8spPsFZo_R__ayKjbK1FwOseerzNSQNfrkEeojN85padnk-Ru7aFEbeAlikwVUTHXb8/s1600/baseball+17.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5BNjc39mhoZvFB5P6Ep79zBte5d1ARVAVVk-JMe2_57GWVBb3HW0r6FbZKASNX1k7V5L2Eqnn8spPsFZo_R__ayKjbK1FwOseerzNSQNfrkEeojN85padnk-Ru7aFEbeAlikwVUTHXb8/s200/baseball+17.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495381149281713442" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFu9Sq7jjqK-t4ner92xzh0ecVfHE_AIZnNtJG8LJfg5vC3GQrdCr7w0mBTI07VuvmM05oCaDCslCYU4DosjMk3T-AnS1WfQGKHTfGk_ibWmNW47MsJ1aeMbbxWgdsHhgGwUQeUtOQ_IA/s1600/baseball+karen.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 198px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFu9Sq7jjqK-t4ner92xzh0ecVfHE_AIZnNtJG8LJfg5vC3GQrdCr7w0mBTI07VuvmM05oCaDCslCYU4DosjMk3T-AnS1WfQGKHTfGk_ibWmNW47MsJ1aeMbbxWgdsHhgGwUQeUtOQ_IA/s320/baseball+karen.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495386591110919186" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXlRxIIQJZuw62lJCzZMb4ckHZqCYCznWEfVKK3nyrsPNCkZ9NeNj7JtBD6DyBU7eDferUZfbKisyMwE9n8GUuGVfIgzDEa3vmOkHzMcTk49LmtwlSD7j7oS9u5vencpSwptl3RTqlrKE/s1600/baseball+19.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXlRxIIQJZuw62lJCzZMb4ckHZqCYCznWEfVKK3nyrsPNCkZ9NeNj7JtBD6DyBU7eDferUZfbKisyMwE9n8GUuGVfIgzDEa3vmOkHzMcTk49LmtwlSD7j7oS9u5vencpSwptl3RTqlrKE/s200/baseball+19.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495381137041207298" /></a><br /><br />We haven't won yet, but it's just because we're saving it up for the finals, right? Jackie's the teams biggest fan.Team members' dogs are our mascots. Renn and I take turns playing and sitting with Jackie. There are no action shots of me because I'm usually the one who takes the pictures! Oh, and I'm REALLY BAD at softball.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01035063888419026228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209409603282228371.post-30190207906528931292010-07-18T14:28:00.018-04:002010-07-18T15:08:24.563-04:00Jackie visits Lake Superior<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuqCwlzazlPK0rMv5M-H_VXFYbb1AX_DV02hnfOBFe_kOoMy2OvvinJyds3yTUMdsD4G3LFxdK-ovUNvtqhw8JXdM6TboWzea-Cz8Mk5JN9720OelEkrkCK6yAFbaVmdQ3udhePvmmiI4/s1600/mcclain+final.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 133px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuqCwlzazlPK0rMv5M-H_VXFYbb1AX_DV02hnfOBFe_kOoMy2OvvinJyds3yTUMdsD4G3LFxdK-ovUNvtqhw8JXdM6TboWzea-Cz8Mk5JN9720OelEkrkCK6yAFbaVmdQ3udhePvmmiI4/s200/mcclain+final.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495319344778779714" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxAdY5FkJ7sSH2meF-jI9w5_-5ffLIMqnScnFDIJf1A_41NuJ_enx6VPkukvjqODpyYsd-4Iwe2-K4uXxq0JQu6O4Xw1c9A2uxzb-2bI2A6DdAeBu6vLMbOWfNuzjTxPG3Zoghc5ufPWM/s1600/mcclain+state+park2.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 133px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxAdY5FkJ7sSH2meF-jI9w5_-5ffLIMqnScnFDIJf1A_41NuJ_enx6VPkukvjqODpyYsd-4Iwe2-K4uXxq0JQu6O4Xw1c9A2uxzb-2bI2A6DdAeBu6vLMbOWfNuzjTxPG3Zoghc5ufPWM/s320/mcclain+state+park2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495316068840110914" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQhIcPGxIy13VGh66MNTl1qYzzeafR8D9pCDcBJ3hwaYmRk3O-CQHuo8JWw7PEaz48AU_RuHccN1QSUA5RknIkNV6buyw8qPLjXqrfcYbDLYz5XtF1K-Pe4-L832lQeMukCvyjuMWjF7I/s1600/mcclain+8.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQhIcPGxIy13VGh66MNTl1qYzzeafR8D9pCDcBJ3hwaYmRk3O-CQHuo8JWw7PEaz48AU_RuHccN1QSUA5RknIkNV6buyw8qPLjXqrfcYbDLYz5XtF1K-Pe4-L832lQeMukCvyjuMWjF7I/s320/mcclain+8.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495316375921501362" /></a><br /><br />We've visited McClain beach, which has beautiful shorelines along Lake Superior, several times since moving to Michigan. I'm fascinated by the idea of having so much water around after living in the desert all my life. Jackie liked to ride around in her stroller, while we looked at a small light house and walked along the beach. She also liked playing with rocks laying against her daddy's leg, and going on a piggyback ride on her mommy. She did not like touching the water.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01035063888419026228noreply@blogger.com0