tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59382148200662021822024-03-13T06:09:37.043-04:00Mundane to MemorableJaNaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11244328645677172391noreply@blogger.comBlogger214125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5938214820066202182.post-79282292625525755852015-01-13T13:53:00.002-05:002015-01-13T13:53:45.539-05:00Bursting Point<span style="font-size: large;">This morning my kids attempted to adjust to a normal school schedule after almost a week of school being delayed each day for 2 hours. It's been kind of cold around here :) </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">As I faced this morning my mind swirled with ideas of how I could help each child kick off a happy morning. How could I help Maya not feel rushed (because that will send her into a heap of frustration which will then slow her down and make her more rushed...repeat cycle). How can I get Hayley to choose to get up and get ready instead of laying in bed with her latest good book, waiting to fight with me when I prod her along? Alice has been obsessed with American Girl audiobooks and coloring her detailed color-by-number pages everyday. Can I somehow help her feel like it's her choice to get ready before turning on her book and coloring? </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Knowing each child's weak points and struggles is such a privilege and a burden. I hold such power to influence because I understand the minute details that may derail them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I chose to hide Hayley's book last night without her knowing. It worked. Not seeing it sitting there as she woke up meant she didn't think about reading before getting ready. Happy morning. No door slamming. No running for the bus. No fights. Even an "I love you" on the way out the door. I paused to appreciate that success. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">2 more kids, 1 more hour...</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Earlier, after scriptures and family prayer, I had cautiously pointed out that this morning will feel more rushed because there is no delay for school. I asked Maya and Alice what we needed to do differently so that we aren't frustrated and rushed at the end. I guided them to feeling like they were choosing to do "first things first". They even came up with a fun plan to give each other high fives after they each did a chore. Yes! They were off...</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I moved through the motion of morning always observing where everyone was. Keeping a pulse on emotions and distractions. Helping keep people on track when I saw possible squabbles or tempting diversions. Things seemed so good. I walked a room away to finish doing my hair and listened to the high fives and bustling going on. And then I started to hear it...</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The intensity of happiness was increasing exponentially and it hit me. I should be happy--it sounds so good. But I know something they don't know. This intensity is too much and there's going to be a bursting point. (Is this normal? Does anyone else know what I'm talking about here?!) I tried to insert myself back in the middle to be the grounding force for all those little excited happy feelings that were getting away. But they barely even noticed me. So I waited...</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Not even 10 minutes later it came. One minute over zealous best friend sisters. The next minute: nemesis's. I don't even remember what the trigger ended up being but I heard the inevitable screams at each other. The footsteps rushing to tattle. The "she always..." "why can't she ever...". I knew they'd hit that bursting point. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I separated kids. Tried to remain un-emotional. Waited for the explosions to pass. Then went about finishing the things that had to happen. Made lunches. Reminders. Backpacks. Coats. Kisses. Done.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Intensity. It's what family life is. At least in our home. The joys are intense. The sorrows are intense. I guess I could wish for a less intense existence. Instead, I probably need to bask in the moments of intense joy and not always brace for the explosion. I do wish I couldn't see it coming quite so clearly....or that everyone else would gain my perspective (or find my warnings very wise!), so that together, we could divert from the bursting point.</span><br />
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<br />JaNaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11244328645677172391noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5938214820066202182.post-7085448004562486422015-01-06T15:26:00.000-05:002015-01-06T15:26:02.820-05:00Dipping my toes in...<span style="font-size: large;">It has been almost 2 years since blogging was a regular part of my life. So many mundane and memorable things happened in those 2 years--I hope to remember them even without a trusty blog. Lately I have spent a lot of time analyzing what blogging does for me and wondering if I can make it a part of my life again. Time is precious and as my kids grow and life gets continually more busy I am ever so careful about long term commitments that take my time. The decisions I make directly affect my whole family and I feel the weight of that. But the more I consider this option the more I see why I <i>need</i> to blog and why my family will benefit from the record keeping and the outlet that it provides for me. Life is a trade off so I understand that something else will get sacrificed to make space for this, but I am so excited for how this blogging thing changes me as a mother and a person. I love reading the simple stories that are recorded (and would otherwise be forgotten). I love how I can see my own growth of character as I write about my struggles and triumphs. Most importantly I love how blogging makes me acutely aware of the good & happy moments in life. It's magical! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Last month I gathered with a group of friends and we discussed <a href="http://powerofmoms.com/2012/04/realizing-life/">an article</a> written by Catherine Arveseth, a mother of 5 young children. In it, she talked about how it is so easy to live life in the past and in the future--always troubled about what happened or preparing for what is coming up next. The swirling chaos never seems to halt. That feeling resonated with me and I knew immediately I would regret being stuck in the midst of that chaos someday. I knew I was missing something that I need. For some, finding joy in life comes more easily than others (no matter their role). Finding joy is not a gift I have, but I know that it is a skill I can get better at. Motherhood is the primary role that I have chosen to experience these years of my life through, and I am determined to develop this skill so that I don't have to regret merely surviving the demands and chaos. I want to feel joy and wonder and gratitude at the blessing it is to raise little people and influence their lives. As I considered how I could make a big change to the way I experience life right now, blogging is the answer I have landed on. Having a reason to notice the present makes me happier. I slow down. I take pictures. I smile and laugh when I would normally despair and cry!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I know blogging is no longer the "in" thing that everyone does and I have all sorts of doubts...like...will I fail? While I have decided to keep things public, I have no grand schemes to solicit a large audience. I blog for myself and my family. But the possibility of an audience makes me feel accountable. I have found every excuse for weeks now to not kick things off. I need to update the header, write a summary of 2 years, find cute pictures of everyone and get them downloaded to the right computer, think of something fun to say. But then I realized, this isn't about perfection. So I found 15 minutes of (almost) quiet and that's enough. Ready or not I'm back!</span></div>
JaNaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11244328645677172391noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5938214820066202182.post-71166640271302776022013-06-21T14:20:00.000-04:002013-06-23T17:31:33.662-04:00Deliberate Motherhood Retreat<br />
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(I'm going to get back to the everyday kind of blogging soon...so much has happened in the last couple months...but for now I need a place to post all about this event!)</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We did it! We hosted our first Power of Moms Retreat in the DC area! This is definitely a dream come true for me. I've had a lot of Power of Moms posts on my blog in the past year. I've gone from being an avid fan to a board member and now I'm so excited to be one of their trainers as they try to keep up with the demand for more events all over the country and world. It's something I believe in and it's been a fun journey for me personally. I'm so grateful for the excitement and purpose it adds to my already wonderful life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Our mini-retreat was held at the beautiful home of Margaret Archibald in Maryland. Saren Loosli (Co-founder of Power of Moms) was there to present and I had the privileged of being mentored by her as I helped to co-presented for the first time. It was so much fun!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">What a wonderful experience it is to gather with other moms that are trying their darnedest to be <i><b>deliberate</b></i> and<b><i> intentional</i></b> about their parenting experience! My only regret was that it was so short--3 hours!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We covered some awesome topics. </span><br />
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Peace, Purpose, Order and Joy. </span></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It's really hard to only spend 30 minutes or so on each topic! I wanted to soak up all that each mother had to say as she processed new ideas and shared wisdom that she had gained through hard experiences. Instead, I enjoyed watching the<i> <b>light, laughter</b></i><b> </b>and sometime<b><i> tears</i> </b>in<b> </b>their eyes as we covered the things we thought would make the biggest impact on their journey into being more deliberate!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">One thing we talked about was how important it is to<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> find purpose and joy</span></b> as we mother. We discussed how we find ways to merge some of our passions and pursuits with raising kids and other times how we lose the guilt and step away to have goals that we follow outside of mommy-hours. It seems that most of the time when you ask another mother what they like to do--they giggle nervously--then say something like, "Well, I haven't really thought about that for a while...I take care of kids." Sometimes those moms are already doing exactly what they love and enjoy <i>with</i> their kids, (hiking, biking, reading, swimming, teaching, etc.) but<i> if we don't recognize it</i> and allow ourselves to<i> feel the joy</i> of it, then it doesn't enhance our lives. It's fun to be in these discussions and watch those moms dig into the deeper recesses of their memory to think of things that truly bring them joy. There's something so empowering about <b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">having dreams</span></b> and working towards them little by little. It keeps a spark of life, excitement and joy amidst the more mundane parts of the day!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Somewhere in the middle we took a break and enjoyed delicious fruit and muffins. A big thanks to our sponsors!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We try to give as many ideas and tools as we can in our time together. But my favorite part is when we get a chance to split into small groups. That's when the real learning happens as we all process the ideas and apply them to our current situations and problems.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">As I sat at this retreat I was<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b> exhausted and overwhelmed</b></span>. (Sound familiar?!) We just finished a hectic move. By finished, I mean we are in the new house--with a lot of work waiting for my attention every day! My kids were 2 days away from summer vacation and I was feeling less than prepared. My 5 year old and I can't seem to figure out how to get along very well right now and that weighs heavy on my heart. I just took on an assignment at our church to head up the program that is provided for the teenage girls--and their summer camp was starting in 4 days. And, although it sounds unimportant, my 2 year old is teething molars and having a rough time with it. She also averages about 22 minutes to get into her car seat (by herself!) which is testing my patience many times a day!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">That was my story that day as I sat there. I know each person had their paragraph of "things" going on. There's something so reassuring to just sit next to others that understand where you're at...even without sharing any details. I think that's one of the beautiful things about motherhood. It can be a lonely career until you open your heart to the support and understanding all around you. It takes a special group of moms to be able to offer silent empathy and support without judgement. Women that understand that each mother is doing her best no matter what you see on the outside!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>What a great day...</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>...such a joy and so much fun!</b></span><br />
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JaNaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11244328645677172391noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5938214820066202182.post-87338033641010461072013-04-24T22:40:00.000-04:002013-04-24T22:40:27.743-04:00Power of Moms Retreat...Looking for a location<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Do you know the perfect Northern Virginia/DC/Maryland location for a Power of Moms Retreat? </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Earlier this year I joined Power of Moms as a board member. It is something that I love to do and I am so excited that we are planning a retreat in my neck of the woods this summer! I'm hoping you can help me with some details...please forward this page to anyone that may have a lead for me...Thanks!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We're holding a Power of Moms Mini-Retreat Saturday morning, June 15th, and we're still looking for just the right place. If you have any ideas, I'd love to hear them!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>What are Power of Moms Retreats?</b> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Since June of 2010, The Power of Moms has held 22 Retreats and Mini-Retreats around the country and world. <a href="http://powerofmoms.com/empowering-opportunities/retreats/">This page on our website describes the Retreats in greater detail</a>, but our main goal is to gather mothers to a beautiful location and give them an opportunity to strengthen each other, participate in meaningful discussions, and return home armed with ideas and inspiration to help them build great families.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">A 1/2 day Retreat lasts about 3 hours, and it includes presentations by certified trainers or the Power of Moms Founders, April or Saren (with lots of audience participation), small group discussion and nice refreshments.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We focus on topics such as taking care of the person inside the mom, establishing family systems, moving good ideas forward, and keeping a healthy perspective on motherhood. Each Retreat has been incredible. Not because we think <i>we're</i> incredible, but because the mothers who attend are deliberate, sharp, wonderful women who want to create strong families. Simply being in a room with so many good women who simply want to grow and learn from each other is powerful. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The retreat we are planning for June 15th will be an inspirational morning entitled, "Live Deliberately: Dare, Dream, and Do". A past event description can be found here.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Here are the details on our location search:</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">What are we looking for? While we are considering some beautiful hotels and event centers, we would love to find <b>a large home that can seat between 40 and 90 mothers.</b> (We won't be bringing our children, so it will stay very clean!) By holding the Retreat in a home, we are able to keep the costs down and enable more mothers to attend. There is also something beautiful about being in a home atmosphere.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Location:</b> Northern Virginia, Maryland or DC. Our ideal location is somewhere near Vienna so it is easily accessible to the beltway and central for participants coming from Virginia, Maryland and DC. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Ideal amenities:</b> Convenient parking, space for small discussion groups to form (can be in the same area as the main meeting), two restrooms, and the ability to bring in outside catering for refreshments.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Date and Time:</b> This Mini-Retreat will be Saturday, June 15th from 9:30 am to 12 pm. We'll need to set up the day before or early in the morning, and then we'll stay to clean up, so it will probably be more like 8 am to 2 pm with set up on Friday, June 14th sometime.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>What will The Power of Moms provide?</b> Chair rental (if needed), catered refreshments to be brought in, clean up after the Retreat, plus all the set-up, logistics, etc. Basically, if a homeowner is kind enough to co-sponsor this Retreat, we will take care of all the details and do our best to create as little disruption as possible.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Here are a couple of photos from our Retreats:</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">If you can think of a location that would be right for this event, would you please email janae.messick (at) powerofmoms.com and let me know about it?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thank you so much!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Love,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">JaNae</span><br />
JaNaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11244328645677172391noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5938214820066202182.post-45040030720944118062013-02-17T18:44:00.001-05:002013-02-17T18:44:47.926-05:00Precious<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">My baby.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I'm so thankful that she's a cuddly little one!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Is there anything better than a soft, warm little body sleeping soundly on you during church?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Once her head relaxed and she drifted off I struggled to hear anything being said...I just got lost in gazing at her perfect little eyelashes and cheeks. I couldn't resist pulling out my phone and snapping pictures. In the middle of the lesson. I'll never regret it!</span></div>
JaNaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11244328645677172391noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5938214820066202182.post-48220289678858889392013-02-11T20:50:00.000-05:002013-02-11T20:50:24.975-05:001st Annual Messick Day<span style="font-size: large;">We started a new tradition this month...</span><span style="font-size: large;">We decided to celebrate our family!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Saturday was the 1st annual Messick family </span><span style="color: cyan; font-size: x-large;">"We Love to be a Family" Day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It wasn't my idea but I shamelessly copy brilliant people to enhance our family life! <a href="http://powerofmoms.com/2012/02/a-valentines-tradition-your-family-will-never-forget/?utm_source=The+Power+of+Moms&utm_campaign=9f016acd63-2013_2_6_General_Campaign2_5_2013&utm_medium=email">Here</a> is a post about the original idea and tips for planning your own (it's not as hard as you think...we decided to do ours 2 days before!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It was so refreshing to pause all the other "important" things that steal our attention and keep us multi-tasking 24/7, to remember how much we love each other. We celebrate all kinds of other holidays during the year...why not make time for the most important thing to us? Our family. Our plan was to celebrate our family by doing things that we like to do together... </span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P9x6GuJq_mQ/URk6XbMNb9I/AAAAAAAAC9w/UDMETx4qm_o/s1600/IMG_6341.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P9x6GuJq_mQ/URk6XbMNb9I/AAAAAAAAC9w/UDMETx4qm_o/s640/IMG_6341.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Ryan whipped up this treasure map with some paint and a brush at 10:30 the night before! I added hearts that had our surprise activity scribbled on the back (you could get really creative with clues, poems and riddles...but this was our first attempt...simple!)</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eE_sn-8dmYU/URk6XebgAjI/AAAAAAAAC98/YvAsschX0Uk/s1600/IMG_6407.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eE_sn-8dmYU/URk6XebgAjI/AAAAAAAAC98/YvAsschX0Uk/s640/IMG_6407.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We started off with a little discussion about why families are important to us and covered some of our <a href="http://mormon.org/plan-of-happiness">religious beliefs</a> about the purpose of life and where we came from. </span><span style="font-size: large;">We talked about how lucky we are to have each other to experience life together. It's good to remind us all that even though kids fight like crazy sometimes, we really are each other's best cheerleaders and truly want each other to be happy!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Then the girls and I got silly "striking a pose" for the camera!</span><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hhg6eJxyK1w/URk8ih9vNyI/AAAAAAAADBI/JRZQdDLEpBE/s1600/posing_collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="456" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hhg6eJxyK1w/URk8ih9vNyI/AAAAAAAADBI/JRZQdDLEpBE/s640/posing_collage.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Then it was time to start discovering the secret plans on our treasure map...one heart at a time...</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">#1: Time for a Heart Attack! Decorate the kitchen with family love.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We do this activity every year around Valentine's day anyways. We hadn't done it yet, and it was a great way to start the day off. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">Everyone started cutting out hearts and filling them up with all the things they loved about each other. I love how involved even Audrey stayed the whole time. She and Alice were our expert wall designers...they filled that wall up as fast as we could pump them out!</span><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h2d4hUebYrg/URk8iQkXeeI/AAAAAAAADBE/4ohlEBFVpd0/s1600/heart+attack_collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="456" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h2d4hUebYrg/URk8iQkXeeI/AAAAAAAADBE/4ohlEBFVpd0/s640/heart+attack_collage.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> #2: Call Great-Grandpa Jolley just to tell him we love him. Sing some favorite songs to him.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We are so lucky to have my Grandpa living in Virginia with my parents right now. The girls have fallen in love with him. They were so sweet on the phone and he was thrilled to get a call on his slow Saturday morning! We even sang "Twinkle, Twinkle" at Audrey's request!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">#3: Take Treats to some friends that just moved back to our area. Welcome Home!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> <img height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_l4bZ_ORIBc0/TVHkNCOBLOI/AAAAAAAABVE/4ceCe62O6eo/s640/brownies+and+clouds+028.JPG" width="640" /></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">#4: Watch a movie as a family (while Audrey takes a nap!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It's always amazing when we all sit down and take time to laugh together. It seems like normally when a movie comes on I take advantage of the time to accomplish things that I can't do with kids under-feet. It sure was nice to just be snuggled up with everyone in the middle of the day!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">#5: Make an official 2012 Family Playlist/CD</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I'm so excited about this part!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Everybody got to pick 3 songs. Then we had a little space left (CD) so we all agreed on a couple more that had been big hits when it was time to clean recently. I'm not sure if this screen shot is the final version but it's close!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We love music and singing and dancing in our house! You'll notice from the playlist that we have a few Taylor Swift fans. It was funny to hear them debate the songs. They all agreed that c</span><span style="font-size: large;">ertain songs that were suggested were "so last year"! I think it will be so fun to be able to go back to see what music was the soundtrack of our lives 10 or 20 years ago.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Drumroll...</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">#6: The finale! </span><span style="font-size: large;">CiCi's Pizza for dinner</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The kids have been begging to go to CiCi's pizza for quite some time. We knew this was an easy way to end on something they'd be ecstatic about. I mean what kid isn't in heaven with all you can eat Mac&Cheese pizza?!?!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Of course I was so excited about this quality establishment that it slipped my mind to take pictures. But you know what kids look like when they zone out to cartoons while they are eating! Ryan and I enjoyed a decent dinner conversation!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I'm not sure how the date will be determined each year. I'm certain that the activities will stay simple but won't necessarily be the same each year (except that playlist!). We were definitely disappointed that we couldn't do one of our favorite family activities of hiking because the weather was so bitter cold and windy that day...maybe next year we'll wait until March? </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">But...what a great experience! I love how traditions and rituals are the glue that keep us together as families. I think this one is already one of our favorites and a definitely keeper!</span></div>
JaNaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11244328645677172391noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5938214820066202182.post-36454393432034208552013-01-25T22:42:00.000-05:002013-01-25T22:42:43.906-05:00The Power of Moms<a href="http://powerofmoms.com/affiliate/idevaffiliate.php?id=1080_0_1_7" target="_blank"><img alt="The Power of Moms" border="0" height="91" src="http://powerofmoms.com/affiliate/banners/pom_logo.png" width="516" /></a>
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<span style="font-size: large;">A little over a year ago, I discovered a little gem of an online community & support network. I want to make sure you know about it because it has changed me in so many good ways!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This site is run by two amazing women who have put together a fabulous place for mothers to find tools, learn skills, and feel support. I love that I feel validated during the hard moments of motherhood. But I also feel safe because the site keeps an upbeat, positive message about motherhood. When I am am tempted to travel a negative road and want to give up I know that the Power of Moms will steer me back to a place of hope and purpose!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The tag-line of their name is: "<i>A gathering place for deliberate mothers."</i> I love the concept of being </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">deliberate</span><span style="font-size: large;">. Thanks to the many articles that are posted on their site, I have shifted my attitude towards the daily grind of mothering (most days!). I am slowly changing how I view my role. It is an opportunity to grow and improve--not just endless trials I must survive. I am slowly becoming deliberate in many parts of my parenting. It feels so good to have purpose. To <i>choose</i> how and why I want us to move through an experience instead of just surviving it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here's a short list of some of the resources that The Power of Moms offers:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Daily articles.</b> So uplifting! They always end with a challenge that help you apply them to your life and make change.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Podcasts.</b> My favorite. I listen on the go & make use of the empty spaces of my day...like long drives to doctors offices! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Mind Organization for Moms (M.O.M) program</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">One truth I have learned is that life never really slows down. Next week? Next month? I always hope for that magical blissful time. But the beauty is that life is packed full! I have always been an organized person, but had never thought it possible to have peace of mind in the midst of such busy-ness!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Mind Organization for Moms program has taught me a better way to direct the flow of information and thoughts that are flying around my head and my house! It took me a little while to get it all flowing smoothly but now I feel like I'm not dropping balls all over the place. I'm actually moving forward on projects and my priorities are defined so that I can make better choices about what I spend my time on (I can say "yes" and "no" to people with more confidence!) My favorite part (besides no mountain of papers on my desk) is that it doesn't feel like one more thing to do...it is simply the way I function and I can't imagine ever doing it differently. The full program costs money but here's a free way to get started on the basics!</span><br />
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<a href="http://powerofmoms.com/affiliate/idevaffiliate.php?id=1080_5_1_18" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Free Programs from the Power of Moms" border="0" height="120" src="http://powerofmoms.com/affiliate/banners/advert_5_steps_220x120.png" width="220" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I love helping people get started so if you ever need to bounce questions around as your figuring it out...it'd be fun for me!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Learning Circles</b></span><br />
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<a href="http://powerofmoms.com/affiliate/idevaffiliate.php?id=1080_3_1_16" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="The Power of Moms Learning Circles Program" border="0" height="200" src="http://powerofmoms.com/affiliate/banners/LC_badge200x200.png" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">A group of friends that meets once a month to discuss an assigned article. Part girls night out (fun!), part book club & motherhood course, part support group. This is the most meaningful girl-time I could have. Through the monthly assignments I am slowly making real progress on myself and my mothering. I have been part of a learning circle for almost a year now and I see the changes in me and my home and family!</span><br />
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<a href="http://powerofmoms.com/affiliate/idevaffiliate.php?id=1080_0_1_11" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="The Power of Moms" border="0" height="150" src="http://powerofmoms.com/affiliate/banners/pom_button_notag_150x150.png" width="150" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">If you sign up for a free account you get access to several things for free. So go sign up. Become the mother you dream of being and find joy in your busy, imperfect, beautiful family!</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XcqCRaGg8RM/UO8IqzOWaFI/AAAAAAAAC3o/S5nqR0GKRqA/s1600/Messick+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XcqCRaGg8RM/UO8IqzOWaFI/AAAAAAAAC3o/S5nqR0GKRqA/s640/Messick+%25282%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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In interest of full disclosure I have decided to be an affiliate of the Power of Moms and I am super excited to start volunteering for them to help support other mothers. Being an affiliate basically means that if you click on the buttons on my page before you purchase something on their site, they give me a small percentage of the purchase price. My motivation is far from financial. Its something I am passionate about and I hope it can change your life as much as mine!</div>
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JaNaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11244328645677172391noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5938214820066202182.post-37238497958377811902013-01-19T17:23:00.000-05:002013-01-19T17:23:13.349-05:00You Matter to Me!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">As much as I love recording life through pictures, journal-ing, or blogging...my ability to get pictures of my kids on the wall is nothing to brag about!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It usually takes my current 2 year old noticing that they are missing in the family pictures that we walk past every day to motivate me to get things up to date! Sad, I know!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I improved when #4 was born. I think I added one baby picture of her to our family arrangement by the time she was 6 months old. Although she's coming up to 2 years old now and she still doesn't appear in the family pictures....gonna work on that this week!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Earlier this year, I found Alice (almost 5) taping a snapshot that she found on her wall. It was a baby picture of Hayley with dad. I used to print pictures for scrapbooking back when Hayley was younger so they are around! I asked Alice if she knew that it was Hayley not her. She said "Yes, but I like to pretend it's me!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Knife to the heart!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Ugg!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Big old "F-" on that grade, Mom!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So I tried hard to compensate this Christmas.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I made these beautiful posters for each girl. They are a collage of pictures from their growing up years.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">They love them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Each poster hangs above the appropriate bed. I love how their eyes light up as we talk about how cute they were.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It's so important for them to know how precious their presence in our life is!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So anyways...I have to show off...</span></div>
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(from <a href="http://www.papercoterie.com/">Paper Coterie</a>: they sold coupons that were about 70% off last July...score! Get on that mailing list!)</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Then I was on a roll...so I created these journals for them. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hayley got the standard journal + a book to write her songs in. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">She's quite the song writer right now, and I don't want her to ever lose those songs!</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7dt7RfNvF04/UPhBFNIoLTI/AAAAAAAAC8k/HD0qA2IXpAg/s1600/IMG_6184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7dt7RfNvF04/UPhBFNIoLTI/AAAAAAAAC8k/HD0qA2IXpAg/s640/IMG_6184.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This is a new idea that we're going to try out. It's a pre-teen/teen journal. I've heard this idea from a few parents and thought we'd give it a shot. This is a journal for Hayley to pass back and forth with notes and conversations between Dad and/or Mom and herself. We're hoping it helps to keep communication open as we embark on this exciting growing up time!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maya Journal: front cover</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maya Journal: back cover</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Maya will probably be the most consistent journal writer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">She's requested a pile of baby pictures (just loose 4x6s) for her birthday too!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alice Journal: front cover</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alice Journal: back cover</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">When we ask Alice what her favorite Christmas present was--this journal is it. Plus the pile of loose 4x6 baby/toddler pictures that we gave her.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The picture on the back cover is her absolute favorite picture in the world: Daddy happens to be her favorite person in the world. And being silly is the #1 priority in her book!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">She's so proud of her little smiling journal. Takes it everywhere. She can't write sentences independently yet but she finds things to mark, draw and copy in it. I love that it makes her feel valued and important.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I thought I had learned long ago how important 'knowing their story' is in the life of a child. But it was reinforced to me again this year. I just don't think we can ever tell too many stories about the good times, or have too many pictures of our kids growing up! What do you do to display stories in your life?</span></div>
<br />JaNaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11244328645677172391noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5938214820066202182.post-90457438221044453802013-01-13T15:46:00.000-05:002013-01-13T15:46:02.530-05:00Capturing this moment: Family Pictures 2012<span style="font-size: large;">Why do we do it to ourselves? Is it really worth it? Family pictures again? </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I ask these questions of myself when the time rolls around each year. The baby is guaranteed to not nap at the right time. The older kids who are normally quite cooperative in public situations will decide that today is the day to experiment with hyperactivity. Someone will refuse to wear the outfit that I have stressed over for weeks. Someone else will fall and scrape their knee. There will be tears over hair not looking right. Fights. Bribes and more bribes. Threats. Frustration. Tension. </span><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: x-large;">Smile! </span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Yet we forge ahead...determined to capture this moment in our family!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">A few months ago in October 2012, Ryan's sister, Rhonda was in town visiting. She has a booming professional photography business in Los Angeles: <a href="http://rhondaharrisphotography.com/index2.php#/home/">Rhonda Harris Photography</a>. I have seen her work--follow her blog--and am always in awe. But I hadn't had the pleasure of witnessing and benefiting from her talent first hand. She was incredible! You could tell that she loved what she did and didn't let the inevitable whims of children dampen her excitement and joy. Her relaxed, fun attitude was contagious! I normally worry every time a child doesn't cooperate and feel that it's my job to "fix" their mood (yeah, right!) But not with Rhonda. She knew just how to tweak poses to take the pressure off of a kid that was anxious and was happy to move on and come back when things weren't working. It was almost fun! Besides the results were amazing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, are annual family pictures worth it? Yes! Even the ones that weren't so fun are treasured masterpieces to me. I love the millions of candid snapshots that we have crammed on computer hard drives. But the annual family pictures are milestones to me. Pictures that we will treasure and display forever that will help us to remember the good and happy parts of this episode of our family.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So enjoy...these are just a few...</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fcUaS9Eeftg/UPIrMxPOmAI/AAAAAAAAC4Q/XzLgJET1YTE/s1600/Messick+%252810%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fcUaS9Eeftg/UPIrMxPOmAI/AAAAAAAAC4Q/XzLgJET1YTE/s640/Messick+%252810%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--gTCaC-Pn8o/UPIrT8yuWuI/AAAAAAAAC4g/vwKCSeAaT5s/s1600/Messick+%252819%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--gTCaC-Pn8o/UPIrT8yuWuI/AAAAAAAAC4g/vwKCSeAaT5s/s640/Messick+%252819%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a>JaNaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11244328645677172391noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5938214820066202182.post-56862524998548845092012-12-16T16:33:00.004-05:002012-12-16T21:22:13.119-05:00Alone with Audrey<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Audrey</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">December 2012: 21 months</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Audrey & I have a few precious hours each week when it's just the two of us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I will often use that time to get errands done. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Shopping with one "helper" is way easier that 2 or 4!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Audrey has sensitive little eyes and always tells us when it's "bite! bite!" (bright)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Her sunglasses save the day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I love that she will wear them through a whole store </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">or carefully position them on her head just like Mom. </span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wbRPxwyfzls/UM44M0_V-yI/AAAAAAAACys/Wkx6mAFdRk4/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wbRPxwyfzls/UM44M0_V-yI/AAAAAAAACys/Wkx6mAFdRk4/s640/001.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Audrey is talking up a storm.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We love her singing too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">She'll sing Twinkle, Twinkle to herself when she's just hanging out.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JExYQF5fyQI/UM44kSsbG-I/AAAAAAAACzE/arKRaoVcpwU/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JExYQF5fyQI/UM44kSsbG-I/AAAAAAAACzE/arKRaoVcpwU/s640/004.JPG" width="425" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This week she's been really excited about baby dolls & strollers. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I think we had 5 strollers set up for a day or two. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I love watching her be a little mommy to her dolls.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IfHFkWCQ8rY/UM44llEqWPI/AAAAAAAACzM/H6yRdNh-1Aw/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IfHFkWCQ8rY/UM44llEqWPI/AAAAAAAACzM/H6yRdNh-1Aw/s640/006.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SKoIW_SNz7E/UM44mkmTdQI/AAAAAAAACzU/0-ScbidYfPY/s1600/009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SKoIW_SNz7E/UM44mkmTdQI/AAAAAAAACzU/0-ScbidYfPY/s640/009.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eomnV2-GMFk/UM44noA-ugI/AAAAAAAACzc/Lw_ds8Fu9N0/s1600/014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eomnV2-GMFk/UM44noA-ugI/AAAAAAAACzc/Lw_ds8Fu9N0/s640/014.JPG" width="425" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">She was determined to get diapers on every doll!</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0wVpz7ORe5o/UM44o5fQkcI/AAAAAAAACzk/lYi5_jJ3Bjc/s1600/015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0wVpz7ORe5o/UM44o5fQkcI/AAAAAAAACzk/lYi5_jJ3Bjc/s640/015.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--sSpLmB6Ch8/UM44p8HPHQI/AAAAAAAACzs/MA0G97jo5xM/s1600/018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--sSpLmB6Ch8/UM44p8HPHQI/AAAAAAAACzs/MA0G97jo5xM/s640/018.JPG" width="425" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Another favorite distraction right now is marbles. Audrey could play with these all day!</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wefKbaD4-dE/UM44-_W2EzI/AAAAAAAAC0M/vP4w1O_hSIc/s1600/034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wefKbaD4-dE/UM44-_W2EzI/AAAAAAAAC0M/vP4w1O_hSIc/s640/034.JPG" width="425" /></span></a><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-me7lr8wwodI/UM4403CJ0eI/AAAAAAAACz8/Ck1EWgQryDA/s1600/028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-me7lr8wwodI/UM4403CJ0eI/AAAAAAAACz8/Ck1EWgQryDA/s640/028.JPG" width="425" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">She rolls them down her car garage ramp over and over again!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Picks them up with tongs, puts them in and out of ice cube trays </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">and of course rolls them under couches, the piano, and into every corner. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Choking hazard? Sure...but just think of those fine motor skills!</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GPdkWXr54lQ/UM44151mZdI/AAAAAAAAC0E/wIlbvMoug4s/s1600/029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GPdkWXr54lQ/UM44151mZdI/AAAAAAAAC0E/wIlbvMoug4s/s640/029.JPG" width="425" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-12CMvhmhH1Y/UM45I8UQPRI/AAAAAAAAC0Y/Pe4NHnrLyNI/s1600/054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-12CMvhmhH1Y/UM45I8UQPRI/AAAAAAAAC0Y/Pe4NHnrLyNI/s640/054.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This cute little kid walked to the bus stop with me the other day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I'm a pretty lucky mom!</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i0svn_G_X8s/UM45J957XeI/AAAAAAAAC0g/tuCEHOWZpdM/s1600/057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i0svn_G_X8s/UM45J957XeI/AAAAAAAAC0g/tuCEHOWZpdM/s640/057.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div>
<br />JaNaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11244328645677172391noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5938214820066202182.post-61733052794501228422012-11-08T14:34:00.000-05:002013-01-28T20:35:30.358-05:00Storm Rolls<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: center;">We have a tradition that we're all really loving...</span><span style="text-align: center;">"Storm Rolls"</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wHG-oL63Z08/UJwFl5mzg9I/AAAAAAAACxY/2lggM_-2qjA/s1600/064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wHG-oL63Z08/UJwFl5mzg9I/AAAAAAAACxY/2lggM_-2qjA/s640/064.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Snomageddon" </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Winter 2009-2010</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It started a couple years ago when we got snowed into our house for several days twice in the same winter.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We happened to have ingredients for Cinnamon rolls so we made a bunch. The kids took invites to lots of neighbors (who had no excuse because nobody was going anywhere!). It was such a fun excuse to visit with neighbors! I highly recommend you adopt this tradition. Sure makes me want to get snowed in more often!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VymHm7ghCnI/UJwFdmPXVSI/AAAAAAAACxQ/kEXXru1YQBU/s1600/IMG_2624.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VymHm7ghCnI/UJwFdmPXVSI/AAAAAAAACxQ/kEXXru1YQBU/s640/IMG_2624.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">2010</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So when we heard that hurricane Sandy was on it's way last week we checked our ingredients and decided we were all ready for the big storm! (we made sure we had more important stuff too!)</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sT9YZk6wfig/UJl9zmvxvEI/AAAAAAAACw0/OJGinyPmNXA/s1600/018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sT9YZk6wfig/UJl9zmvxvEI/AAAAAAAACw0/OJGinyPmNXA/s640/018.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I might be biased....there's nothing good-for-you about them....but these are YUMMY!!! Cinnamon rolls are starting to become a signal to me that it's time to snuggle up with my family and love every second of slowing down! Bring on the winter!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>CINNAMON ROLLS</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Start:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">3 TBS dry yeast</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">3 c. very warm water<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">1 c. sugar</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Mix with wire wisk.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Let sit for 10 minutes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Add:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">¼ c. vegetable oil<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">1 TBS salt</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">8 cups flour</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Dough should be soft, yet not too sticky. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Put a little oil in a large bowl, make the dough into a ball & cover it with oil. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Let rise for an hour with a towel covering it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Roll dough out with rolling pin onto a flour covered surface into a rectangle shape. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Topping:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Spread ½ c. softened butter over entire area with spatula. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Mix together& spread evenly:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">1 ½ c. brown sugar </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">2 TBS cinnamon. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Roll dough into a log. (I cut it into two rectangles so the rolls are smaller) </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Cut slices about 1-1 ½ inches wide (I use thread to cut). </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Place onto a ungreased baking pan and let rise for 30 more minutes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Bake @ 350 for 12-15 minutes or until tops are golden brown. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Frost immediately with cream cheese frosting.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="font-size: large; white-space: pre;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Cream Cheese Frosting</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">8 oz cream cheese softened</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">1 stick butter softened</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">2 tsp vanilla</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">1 box powered sugar</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Beat ingredients with electric mixer until smooth. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Add small amounts of milk for desired consistency.</span></div>
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JaNaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11244328645677172391noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5938214820066202182.post-64821677653300320842012-10-30T21:27:00.000-04:002013-01-28T20:34:05.699-05:00A little breeze<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I guess when they give the wind a name it might do things like this...</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lA3jkcSsPcU/UJB8QXutEYI/AAAAAAAACvs/D4i1ZxTMYOM/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lA3jkcSsPcU/UJB8QXutEYI/AAAAAAAACvs/D4i1ZxTMYOM/s640/002.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But really, this happened before the real wind even got started! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our poor tree was dead. We were just hoping that next spring it was going to miraculously come back to life! I guess we won't have to make the hard decision of cutting it down any more...</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6GyNnNJMb0c/UJB8qR0rvcI/AAAAAAAACv8/thnw1frJgVE/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6GyNnNJMb0c/UJB8qR0rvcI/AAAAAAAACv8/thnw1frJgVE/s640/001.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">5 amazing neighbors came out to join Ryan as he chopped it up and hauled it away. They did it in record time! We are so grateful for so many kind people that live nearby!</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Zb6di6Onuw4/UJB8rKp8lPI/AAAAAAAACwE/Lt-dogdOwH8/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Zb6di6Onuw4/UJB8rKp8lPI/AAAAAAAACwE/Lt-dogdOwH8/s640/004.JPG" width="426" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Our poor house looks so bare without a big tree in front of it! The kids each kept a small piece of it...we have girls...things like this are emotional!</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EIhp0eLPb9w/UJB8r2WifAI/AAAAAAAACwM/t9VLr0AtPew/s1600/013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EIhp0eLPb9w/UJB8r2WifAI/AAAAAAAACwM/t9VLr0AtPew/s640/013.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The final up-rooting! Thanks to our neighbor's green machine!</span></span>JaNaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11244328645677172391noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5938214820066202182.post-23474507350594984942012-10-18T12:50:00.000-04:002013-01-28T20:33:44.426-05:00A Window to My World<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is our front window. This is our life! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It started with one picture that she was really proud of. We really love the new neighborhood art gallery!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Coloring is Alice's passion right now. She colors from sun up to sun down. In the car. On the couch. At the table. In her bed. This week's flavor is Halloween pictures. It buys me a quiet time. Then I usually color a couple with her after quiet time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">On the same day that I decided to take pictures of Alice's art work, Audrey decided to make sure that her art was picture worthy too! Soon after the pictures above, Audrey woke up and the older girls got home from school. I was trying to be the engaged, present mom I want to be by sitting at the kitchen table and talking with the school kids about their day. Audrey left snack time after a few minutes. Little did I know, there was a box of markers in the front room...</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oCf3BfaeNrs/UIAvxKJSpeI/AAAAAAAACvI/ZK386Y__vEE/s1600/IMG_5280.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oCf3BfaeNrs/UIAvxKJSpeI/AAAAAAAACvI/ZK386Y__vEE/s640/IMG_5280.JPG" width="426" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But she's so darn cute it's hard to be mad! And it all came out (phew!)</span>JaNaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11244328645677172391noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5938214820066202182.post-36405400682517867242012-10-14T16:54:00.000-04:002013-01-29T08:59:03.642-05:00Student<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">About 10 years ago I was accepted...</span><br />
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...to the most rigorous training program known to man.</span><br />
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Motherhood</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It wasn't on a whim. It was something that I wanted with my whole soul. I had felt the heartache and tears of applying and being denied. I waited longingly for that acceptance letter! I was thrilled about my new future and more than willing to commit to a life-long program.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I felt confident, scared, excited, and complete.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was determined to do it all right. To master this role.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My heart was filled to the brim with love for my new baby...that cute little bundle reaffirmed that this was my mission. I loved her. I loved how she changed our family. I loved being her mom.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">But, despite buckets full of </span><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">love</span><span style="font-size: large;"> in my heart, I was shocked at how often I felt a little lost in my new role. I was surprised at how unfulfilling the hard days and weeks were. At how quickly I </span><i style="font-size: x-large;">stopped noticing</i><span style="font-size: large;"> the good moments and </span><i style="font-size: x-large;">couldn't forget</i><span style="font-size: large;"> all the hard moments. At how foggy my brain became without enough sleep! I wondered what I had gotten into.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But we bumbled along...sometimes enjoying the ride...sometimes surviving. I remembered that this wasn't a course I could quit. Which was good--because some days I would have handed in my notice and missed the amazing journey of growth that I am still on!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Since then we've signed on to more complex training programs...adding more babies one by one. It's been an intense and satisfying journey.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When baby #4 was born I was stretched to my limits for a little while. I wasn't sure if I was going to make it! But, sure enough, after some time, my role started coming back into focus. I think I truly started to understand some of the most important truths about motherhood for the very first time! I'm sure some mother's are a little quicker. I'm pretty stubborn and determined. So it took 4 kids and 9 years before I stopped just plowing ahead--determined to succeed! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The first and most important realization that I accepted was this:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I thought</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> <span style="color: yellow;">I was there to love, mold, shape and train my children</span></span><span style="font-size: large;">. I knew I wasn't perfect, but I thought that my adult status made me completed. As my true role as a mother started to come into a crisp focus, I finally started to "get" the fact that while this was about assisting my little ones in their own journey, this was one amazing opportunity </span><span style="color: yellow; font-size: x-large;">for me to be loved, as <i>I</i> was molded, shaped and trained.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are so many ways for us to experience life. We can seize countless opportunities that will challenge us and help us to develop and internalize characteristics and skills that improve us as human beings. We all have so many ways we can grow, improve, expand, and become more balanced people. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: yellow; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">My choice was to experience my life through motherhood.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm not sure if I'm a slow learner compared to others on this journey, but I am happy to say that I am finally at the beginning of that course that I started on many years ago. Because I am finally here as a student. I am ready to learn. To seek out and master new skills and learn new tools.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I believe that I have a spiritual inner compass that helps guide me as a mother. I believe in prayer. I believe in miracles. But I also believe that it is my job to fully immerse in my new-found student status. I am hungry for knowledge and skills. Sometimes my resources are "experts". Sometimes I reference friends. Often my husband and I have brainstorming sessions that give me enough material to practice and tweak for a month!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My goal is to take on the attitude of a student--which is harder said than done in mothering. I am trying to look at what I need to change about me and my reactions before I assume it's my kid that is a lost cause! I have learned that as I learn new skills and find tools, I am a more effective mom. If I mess up (which I do often) I am trying to adopt the attitude of a scientist instead of a highly emotional woman! I want to step back and say "Huh! That didn't work--what could I do differently next time?" I search for tools to help me with my weaknesses. <i>I</i> am a project that I am fine tuning.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I loved this quote that I stumbled on...</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I am so grateful for the opportunity that I have to learn and grow in the safe environment of our family. This is a life-long process. Just because I am an adult, doesn't mean I am finished with my schooling! I sure hope that my kids can feel safe in their environment as they tweak their weaknesses and learn, fail and succeed at new life skills.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have learned that family is a powerful laboratory. They love me even when I fail. They make me laugh even when I'm at my wits end. They help me remember to enjoy the process instead of wishing it were all over.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">This isn't a course that I'm taking just for the diploma at the end.</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> It's the way I've chosen to experience my life. I've finally learned that "doing it right" and "mastering this role" isn't about perfection in the moment. It's about letting myself be changed through the process so that I have no regrets about my schooling.</span>JaNaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11244328645677172391noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5938214820066202182.post-32998456963702308762012-10-01T13:33:00.000-04:002013-01-28T20:32:51.629-05:00A Blissful Bedtime<span style="font-size: large;">(written sometime during summer 2012...before I was ready to publish and commit to this blogging thing)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I just want to remind myself that tonight my heart was full of gratitude as I experienced a [rare....almost unheard of] bedtime.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Our bedtimes are generally miserable....have been for quite some time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We are typically very proactive parents. When we recognize a problem we are quick to put our heads together and brainstorm, search, ask for advice, implement and execute a plan then tweak until it works. But in the bedtime department our efforts have seemed pointless. Positive results from all our experimenting are few and short-lived. I have wondered why we continue to fail in this area. It makes me sad to feel frustrated every night as we end the day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Typical bedtime involves:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">asking kids to do the list of things they do every night and yet can't seem to do on their own...asking again...losing a kid somewhere...fighting over senseless things because they are tired...whining...my patience running thin...finding a kid that's suppose to be brushing teeth out on the trampoline...firmly reminding them what they should be doing...wishing we were just curled up reading together...someone inevitably gets hurt...more whining...someone refuses to go potty...I know we'll be up at midnight taking her potty...another fight...losing a kid again...this time she's reading a book two flights down in the basement...tired of running up and down the stairs carrying a baby that has to be held...wondering why one kid still hasn't brushed her teeth...asking...waiting...tired...</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">...and by the time they manage to lay their little heads on their pillows, I am at a breaking point. Frustration rules. Not cuddles and love like I dream of. Regrets.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So in an effort to continue to try to fix our little problem we spent many hours last week moving everyone's bedrooms around. We have 2 small bedrooms for the kids. There are only so many options. But we found a way to stop using the top bunk which will allow me to be closer, lay in bed, scratch backs and cuddle easier with one of my girls.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Just in case it never happens again, let me outline my dreamy bedtime tonight. I have seriously dreamed about this for a long time!</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mb507AvSNiE/UGnTIGlGGfI/AAAAAAAACtU/eV_fyHpy_P4/s1600/IMG_1729.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mb507AvSNiE/UGnTIGlGGfI/AAAAAAAACtU/eV_fyHpy_P4/s640/IMG_1729.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">-Everyone completed their evening responsibilities with support from mom but minimal nagging (cleaning up a small area of the house--their zone, plus normal bedtime drill)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">-Everyone climbed in their bed without protests and early enough to read for a while.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">-At one point the older 3 were all reading books on their own in silence while I read books to Audrey on the floor. I was stunned!!! (This is usually the time that they are fighting for attention and I don't have enough to go around)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">-Ryan took Audrey (it's always easier with 2 of us!)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">-I spend the next 45 blissful minutes having one on one time with each child. They talked my ear off and I loved every minute. I sang them their favorite lullaby "Baby Mine" and smiled when each girl smiled and helped me insert her name in the last line. I scratched backs, rubbed necks, rubbed feet and gave hugs and kisses.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">-I soaked up and enjoyed every second of it.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">-I walked away. 2 little hops out of bed but right back. No fighting. No frustration. Everyone fell peacefully asleep. Bliss.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Tomorrow night probably won't go like this but for now I'll live on a hope that it is possible and we'll keep striving to enjoy our last minutes of each day together.</span>JaNaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11244328645677172391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5938214820066202182.post-66453502217714466122012-09-27T21:09:00.000-04:002012-09-27T21:09:16.298-04:00Cheese<div style="text-align: center;">
It was a busy afternoon and evening.</div>
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There were some unplanned changes to the schedule.</div>
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Then the "crazy" in me made a bad decision.</div>
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Since we were driving past Costco on our 3 hour after school jaunt...</div>
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might as well run in for milk!</div>
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But it was almost bedtime, the kids were running on snacks & hoping for dinner soon.</div>
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It wasn't a disaster but left me wondering why I try to squeeze too much in?!?!</div>
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When we finally got home I stuck this fussy baby on the counter next to me </div>
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while I whipped up an amazing 5 minute dinner.</div>
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She's a smart kid.</div>
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Why wait 5 minutes when you have a block of cheese next to you?</div>
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Go to town baby!</div>
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Flashback 12+ years.</div>
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Ryan & I were married in England. </div>
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It was a double wedding with my brother & wife (for convenience not cuteness!)</div>
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I'm the second oldest of 11 kids.</div>
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I had siblings all the way down to 2 years old at the wedding.</div>
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Plus 2 families of in-laws.</div>
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It was a zoo..a happy wonderful zoo!</div>
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At some point in the happy chaos Ryan and I walked into a room and found my 2 year old brother in fetal position on the floor. We tried to coax him to tell us what was wrong. Eventually we found out that he was simply guarding a large block of cheese that he had managed to escape the kitchen with. It was carefully nibbled around all the edges.</div>
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I'm sure glad to know that kids are resourceful when our mothering falls short.</div>
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And I always need to keep a block of cheese in my fridge!</div>
JaNaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11244328645677172391noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5938214820066202182.post-15454630308373822202012-09-22T21:35:00.000-04:002012-09-23T09:25:37.909-04:00Day of DatesAbout 4 years ago Ryan and I took ballroom dance classes and had a blast! We totally had fun stepping on each other's toes but also enjoyed every second of having a weekly date that we were committed to showing up for! We've reminisced and wished for the last 4 years that we were still doing that...other priorities got in the way (like baby #3 and baby #4! and various other excuses!)<br />
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Well we finally decided we were going to somehow carve out the time and money to make it happen again. Hallelujah! As life gets more chaotic we see each other less and need these dates more and more just to stay connected. Plus it really is fun to waltz around the room with no babies hanging on our legs! So, we started our weekend off with our awesome weekly date!</div>
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<a href="http://learnballroomdancingnow.com/wp-content/themes/thesis_16/custom/rotator/dreamstime_12327662.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://learnballroomdancingnow.com/wp-content/themes/thesis_16/custom/rotator/dreamstime_12327662.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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We are blessed to have the most wonderful family for neighbors. She and I help each other out all the time with quick runs to the grocery store and other child care helps. In the spirit of trading back and forth they offered to send us out on a date before they have another baby and we get our turn to babysit. So we took them up on it!</div>
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We took Hayley out on a date with just Dad & Mom.</div>
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This was the "big talk" that we've been dragging our feet on forever! Yeah...kind of meant to check that box at 8 years old. Amazing how easy it is to procrastinate. After 10 years of dreading this "talk" I'm wondering now what I was worried about?!?! It was perfect--no awkwardness--and I'm not worried about the next 3. I'll post more details later for those of you that still have a few years to squirm and don't know how to handle this. But the short story is that we hung out at Panera Bread for breakfast then found an empty field, laid out a blanket and talked!</div>
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Man! She's growing up!<br />
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Then because we still had willing babysitters and time on the clock Ryan & I escaped for a quick hike doing one of his favorite things...<a href="http://www.letterboxing.org/">letterboxing</a>!<br />
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After we returned it was my turn to take Alice out. A slurpee date at Target (you know those errands that masquerade as dates?!) Alice is my silly & fun kid to hang out with. 4 years old is hard though....on me and her! So one-on-on time with no whining or battles is much needed therapy for both of us. I stole this little trick from <a href="http://www.valuesparenting.com/">Values Parenting</a>. I told her 10 things I loved about her/things she was good at, while writing the first letter of each thing on her fingers. Sometimes it's good to stop and remember the good stuff! </div>
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After all that Ryan took Maya on a date [trip to Lowes] so everyone ended up with love buckets filled...</div>
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...and yet we still had a cranky bedtime! Thank goodness for pictures to remind me of all the good moments!</div>
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JaNaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11244328645677172391noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5938214820066202182.post-83817274404690225802012-09-20T14:45:00.001-04:002012-09-20T14:45:28.917-04:00Recording My Messy Journey<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Summer 2012: Tie Dye Shirts!<br />
Hayley (9), Alice (4), Maya (6)<br />
Audrey (18 mos)</td></tr>
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It's been a while...so let me start over. I am a mother of 4 beautiful, growing daughters. I am the wife of a devoted husband and father. I love to organize and plan. I love to learn and perfect things. I love to share ideas and improve lives. On my own I enjoy reading, watching the news, and scrap booking online. With my husband I love our ballroom dance classes, cooking together, and watching whatever show or movie we are both completely hooked on. As a family I love it when we are outdoors playing or hiking. I love one-on-one moments with my girls--board games, experimenting with hairstyles, coloring & reading.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Maya, Hayley, Alice<br />
September 2012</td></tr>
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My oldest is 9 1/2 years old. My baby is 18 months old. I am grateful for the things I have learned & the ways I have grown up in the last 10 years! But the last 18 months of mothering have changed me more than all the years before that. Maybe it was because I reached my limit and had to stretch. Maybe I was just ready to completely submerse myself in this journey of motherhood and grow from it instead of just surviving on the surface.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Audrey<br />
September 2012</td></tr>
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I'm here to record my journey. Not because it is impressive, heroic, or tragic. I want to record it for myself and my children and whoever else chooses, because I think it's a normal, everyday story. I read of mother's who are required to be much more heroic than me. I know of mother's who have mastered more skills. But I want to write about <i>me</i> because I have grown. I don't want to forget that process because it was hard! I need to grow more. I am learning to appreciate and love and be patient with the process that is <span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">me</span>!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">August 2012</td></tr>
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I disappeared from the blog-o-sphere soon after Audrey was born. When she was about 6 weeks old I took a nose dive into post-partum depression. This was a first for me. I was lucky that it was like someone flipped a switch one day. It was so black-and-white obvious that within 2 days of starting to cry all day and have panic attacks about dumb little things I was getting help. My husband saw it immediately and gently encouraged and supported me as we experimented to "lift" me back up. My mother swept in and rescued my kids on days that I couldn't function. The worst of it was short lived. And I know that I am so lucky and am so grateful for that! I don't know how our family would have survived me for much longer!!!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">March 2011<br />
Audrey: 2 weeks</td></tr>
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Since then, I have learned to say no to many things. I have protected myself from becoming overwhelmed and tried to just focus on all the basics because having a functioning wife and mother is too important to a family!<br />
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I have chosen not to blog for a while partly because I wasn't in a happy place but also just to preserve my resources for the people that are most important to me. But oh, how I have missed it! Lately I have been ready. Ready to embrace all the joy I get from regularly recording my experiences. I know that I see more good in my days when I am looking for moments to share. I pick up my camera more often when I know I might blog that picture. I laugh at the hard stuff quicker when I imagine it as a blog story. I love how spending a few minutes recounting a good moment erases hours of hard moments and hard work. After blogging I am suddenly ready to embrace the ups and downs of parenting and living life because I feel more confident that there will be more good and I can see the big picture more clearly.<br />
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So, if you choose to follow along...welcome! Someday these will be my treasured memories!<br />
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JaNaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11244328645677172391noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5938214820066202182.post-9870210596566476882011-05-20T15:14:00.000-04:002011-05-20T15:14:40.722-04:00Beauty<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ctGBmO39sWU/Tda9W3_zBkI/AAAAAAAAChc/VcVycXx4QGw/s1600/beauty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ctGBmO39sWU/Tda9W3_zBkI/AAAAAAAAChc/VcVycXx4QGw/s640/beauty.jpg" width="456" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Audrey</div><div style="text-align: center;">2 1/2 months</div><div style="text-align: center;">Picture from our awesome photographer...Grandma M.</div>JaNaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11244328645677172391noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5938214820066202182.post-44768020145133969292011-05-03T16:10:00.000-04:002011-05-03T16:10:00.736-04:00SundayApril 10th<br />
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Audrey officially ventured out to church for the first time a few weeks ago. And since everyone agreed to wear their matching dresses we captured a few cute pictures of all 4. I think this might be one of the first times we've caught them all together!<br />
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Preparations for the day...<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">We're all ready and happy!</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4iwPlet5_nk/TcBNQpVOghI/AAAAAAAAChE/x1J71qPVzuU/s1600/IMG_1190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4iwPlet5_nk/TcBNQpVOghI/AAAAAAAAChE/x1J71qPVzuU/s400/IMG_1190.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>JaNaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11244328645677172391noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5938214820066202182.post-51945448271923579022011-05-03T16:08:00.001-04:002011-05-03T16:09:01.116-04:00Weekend with the Cousins<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">April 2nd-3rd</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JZ14bp3msD4/TcBICxg7O6I/AAAAAAAACf4/KV6Z-UVYYHM/s1600/IMG_0996.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JZ14bp3msD4/TcBICxg7O6I/AAAAAAAACf4/KV6Z-UVYYHM/s320/IMG_0996.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Hanging out at Grammy & Grandpa's house with all the cousins is pretty fun!</div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Alice, Chloe & Nicole (Dean's kids)</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My parents moved into their new home about 3 months ago.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We're happily adjusting to all the many benefits of being surrounded by family!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We spent Conference weekend over there with my brother Dean's family.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's a Barbie and Lego playland going on here</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ySIuoZgdnn0/TcBIfnBfKPI/AAAAAAAACgg/r2maQrk9ZxM/s1600/IMG_1038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ySIuoZgdnn0/TcBIfnBfKPI/AAAAAAAACgg/r2maQrk9ZxM/s320/IMG_1038.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Down at the creek behind their house</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h5dm9YkqwHk/TcBIgSBqWkI/AAAAAAAACgk/6PkOGWRP6pE/s1600/IMG_1043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h5dm9YkqwHk/TcBIgSBqWkI/AAAAAAAACgk/6PkOGWRP6pE/s320/IMG_1043.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lego boat race in the icey creek water!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BNcbSuRKplg/TcBIG3UL6nI/AAAAAAAACgU/6DoBDmbrj50/s1600/IMG_1033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BNcbSuRKplg/TcBIG3UL6nI/AAAAAAAACgU/6DoBDmbrj50/s320/IMG_1033.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Audrey was kind enough to help several people get a good nap!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's her special skill right now.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sVpIBARBx0c/TcBIevgmJoI/AAAAAAAACgc/6RD3POps2P0/s1600/IMG_1037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sVpIBARBx0c/TcBIevgmJoI/AAAAAAAACgc/6RD3POps2P0/s320/IMG_1037.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">And I had a few lazy minutes to capture my little babe.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Zy37XVDpRDo/TcBIFVKFrrI/AAAAAAAACgI/ez-_k1DQPTw/s1600/IMG_1013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Zy37XVDpRDo/TcBIFVKFrrI/AAAAAAAACgI/ez-_k1DQPTw/s200/IMG_1013.JPG" width="133" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XzsCzLI86r0/TcBIErVBV7I/AAAAAAAACgE/mviRPD95TEE/s1600/IMG_1008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XzsCzLI86r0/TcBIErVBV7I/AAAAAAAACgE/mviRPD95TEE/s200/IMG_1008.JPG" width="133" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G13_apVk8xU/TcBIFwdwKdI/AAAAAAAACgM/LymJlXzG_tA/s1600/IMG_1015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G13_apVk8xU/TcBIFwdwKdI/AAAAAAAACgM/LymJlXzG_tA/s200/IMG_1015.JPG" width="133" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L4eeNopvy0g/TcBIGSSN_PI/AAAAAAAACgQ/5kyWAoB6-kw/s1600/IMG_1023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L4eeNopvy0g/TcBIGSSN_PI/AAAAAAAACgQ/5kyWAoB6-kw/s200/IMG_1023.JPG" width="133" /></a></div>JaNaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11244328645677172391noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5938214820066202182.post-67764708366429322902011-05-03T15:46:00.000-04:002011-05-03T15:46:00.694-04:00Amateur Photo OpMarch 31st<br />
<br />
We have a sudden and new fascination with photography in our house. It has increased exponentially since the day Audrey was born...and not just because Audrey is such a cutie!<br />
<br />
We bought a new and awesome camera. It arrived the day before she was born. We were literally figuring out how to use it while I was in labor (after the epidural kicked in!)<br />
<br />
One day I had fun capturing 3 of my sweet girls...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SmklvV1S5Ng/TbtrXUX_U_I/AAAAAAAACfM/6mXTVa7Pl2k/s1600/IMG_0945.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SmklvV1S5Ng/TbtrXUX_U_I/AAAAAAAACfM/6mXTVa7Pl2k/s320/IMG_0945.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XIaVWx2fQS8/TbtrX1VFeTI/AAAAAAAACfQ/K_mPcNizJGg/s1600/IMG_0954.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XIaVWx2fQS8/TbtrX1VFeTI/AAAAAAAACfQ/K_mPcNizJGg/s320/IMG_0954.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4zQ8QSElZ-Y/TbtrYac7igI/AAAAAAAACfU/SFjodsAoAmw/s1600/IMG_0968.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4zQ8QSElZ-Y/TbtrYac7igI/AAAAAAAACfU/SFjodsAoAmw/s320/IMG_0968.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E6-da3_TYgQ/TbtrYy1poQI/AAAAAAAACfY/-VXfvRPKclA/s1600/IMG_0974.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E6-da3_TYgQ/TbtrYy1poQI/AAAAAAAACfY/-VXfvRPKclA/s320/IMG_0974.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rSd5THbUB9w/TbtrZWFn6vI/AAAAAAAACfc/us4YdGZFZX8/s1600/IMG_0975.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rSd5THbUB9w/TbtrZWFn6vI/AAAAAAAACfc/us4YdGZFZX8/s320/IMG_0975.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jUD68jpry2E/TbtrZsc3m5I/AAAAAAAACfg/jnJq11bhyVg/s1600/IMG_0976.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jUD68jpry2E/TbtrZsc3m5I/AAAAAAAACfg/jnJq11bhyVg/s320/IMG_0976.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5Ap8Az138gM/TbtraCx_dPI/AAAAAAAACfk/SqYNWK1oukM/s1600/IMG_0978.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5Ap8Az138gM/TbtraCx_dPI/AAAAAAAACfk/SqYNWK1oukM/s320/IMG_0978.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yTxqQQQ5cOw/Tbtral7MfkI/AAAAAAAACfo/7aBrIfSHUl8/s1600/IMG_0983.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yTxqQQQ5cOw/Tbtral7MfkI/AAAAAAAACfo/7aBrIfSHUl8/s320/IMG_0983.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RdRT825i8U8/Tbtra-uVDII/AAAAAAAACfs/yZMaqVPBZqk/s1600/IMG_0986.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RdRT825i8U8/Tbtra-uVDII/AAAAAAAACfs/yZMaqVPBZqk/s320/IMG_0986.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R75LfZsnVsw/TbtrbQCXUFI/AAAAAAAACfw/i7AQgcglV38/s1600/IMG_0990.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R75LfZsnVsw/TbtrbQCXUFI/AAAAAAAACfw/i7AQgcglV38/s320/IMG_0990.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nabIr0DUmVA/Tbtrb7jIsYI/AAAAAAAACf0/NYTW48SqZKs/s1600/IMG_0993.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nabIr0DUmVA/Tbtrb7jIsYI/AAAAAAAACf0/NYTW48SqZKs/s320/IMG_0993.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>JaNaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11244328645677172391noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5938214820066202182.post-64606226574047815742011-05-03T15:45:00.001-04:002011-05-03T15:45:00.914-04:00Sanity Sewing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">March 24th</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I don't know about your house, but things get pretty intense around her for the month or so after a new baby shows up. We have roller coasters of emotions and everyone seems to have to re-learn how to get along as they fight for any type of attention they can get!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One night, out of desperation to have some peace, Ryan decided to proactively get everyone busy with a sewing project. Grandma happened to come visit that night and helped make it all a success.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They all had fun sewing their own pillow. And for an hour or so there was peace and happy giggles!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Hayley</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FIcuDEr8f6M/TbtobDch3bI/AAAAAAAACeo/AJyqLNVAO0M/s1600/IMG_0870.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FIcuDEr8f6M/TbtobDch3bI/AAAAAAAACeo/AJyqLNVAO0M/s320/IMG_0870.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FIcuDEr8f6M/TbtobDch3bI/AAAAAAAACeo/AJyqLNVAO0M/s1600/IMG_0870.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kOytvDG5XKo/TbtodoFNEgI/AAAAAAAACfA/yhNSo8yD7lQ/s1600/IMG_0894.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kOytvDG5XKo/TbtodoFNEgI/AAAAAAAACfA/yhNSo8yD7lQ/s320/IMG_0894.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b>Maya:</b></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3tL5Zvy6jtQ/TbtobrvHtZI/AAAAAAAACes/RDJt1Y1eEgY/s1600/IMG_0876.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3tL5Zvy6jtQ/TbtobrvHtZI/AAAAAAAACes/RDJt1Y1eEgY/s320/IMG_0876.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2NwNOolTKsk/TbtoeCHdzuI/AAAAAAAACfE/AIrwtwEOeGo/s1600/IMG_0896.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2NwNOolTKsk/TbtoeCHdzuI/AAAAAAAACfE/AIrwtwEOeGo/s320/IMG_0896.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b>Alice:</b></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p4h9FcwmQjg/Tbtoc92avmI/AAAAAAAACe4/ecWVtR-dhNs/s1600/IMG_0881.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p4h9FcwmQjg/Tbtoc92avmI/AAAAAAAACe4/ecWVtR-dhNs/s320/IMG_0881.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1EzyRUNOj_o/TbtodHqD9NI/AAAAAAAACe8/-SoMQ_yT9zo/s1600/IMG_0891.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1EzyRUNOj_o/TbtodHqD9NI/AAAAAAAACe8/-SoMQ_yT9zo/s320/IMG_0891.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>JaNaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11244328645677172391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5938214820066202182.post-70233801354982581452011-05-03T15:43:00.000-04:002011-05-03T15:43:06.385-04:00Growing: 2-3 weeks<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="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UU223oma5tw/TbtnDGBlalI/AAAAAAAACeg/agCqqPi9A6I/s1600/IMG_0850.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UU223oma5tw/TbtnDGBlalI/AAAAAAAACeg/agCqqPi9A6I/s320/IMG_0850.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2 1/2 weeks<br />
Grammy & Audrey</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ovl2GpaGY0U/TbtnDjR5o4I/AAAAAAAACek/wzEwHgHZpF0/s1600/IMG_0853.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ovl2GpaGY0U/TbtnDjR5o4I/AAAAAAAACek/wzEwHgHZpF0/s320/IMG_0853.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2 1/2 weeks<br />
Maya & Audrey</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FfiZcSAxnMo/Tbto7eFdaWI/AAAAAAAACfI/uaVtFl-ceCo/s1600/IMG_0940.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FfiZcSAxnMo/Tbto7eFdaWI/AAAAAAAACfI/uaVtFl-ceCo/s320/IMG_0940.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">3 weeks</td></tr>
</tbody></table>JaNaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11244328645677172391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5938214820066202182.post-32181387406018971602011-04-28T15:30:00.001-04:002011-04-29T14:29:23.331-04:00kids being kids<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vMFcvwBGnZU/TbXnZkTuCTI/AAAAAAAACd0/9dUEWg-MgM8/s1600/IMG_0796.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vMFcvwBGnZU/TbXnZkTuCTI/AAAAAAAACd0/9dUEWg-MgM8/s640/IMG_0796.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It cracks me up when kids contort their bodies and yet make it look comfortable!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Wouldn't it be great to be a kid again?</div>JaNaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11244328645677172391noreply@blogger.com1