tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4212759352199432072024-02-19T20:20:07.330-08:00The Garris Family AdventureEmilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10779611688973448920noreply@blogger.comBlogger150125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421275935219943207.post-6342783802035857002013-03-12T20:56:00.002-07:002013-03-13T07:46:59.236-07:00Letter to the guy who wrote about the "lavish" military lifestyle I lead.Dear Mr. Wood,<br />
<br />
I just read your article for the Huffington Post entitled, "After a Decade of Lavish Benefits, Military Personnel Fear Cuts". I have some questions for you. Are you a veteran, Mr. Wood? Did you serve our country in one of the branches of the military? Are you affilliated with the military in any way? Where did you get the information you used for your article? <br />
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My husband is a proud member of the U.S. Coast Guard. Currently, he is aboard a ship that is patroling international waters trying to stop foreign countries from smuggling drugs into our country, Mr. Wood. He has left me and our two children behind, Mr. Wood, for four months so that he can serve our country in this way. Our only communication, Mr. Wood, is via email, and sometimes that doesn't work. We live on an Army base in Northern California, Mr. Wood, in a modest 3-bedroom home that we do not own. My furniture, Mr. Wood, has been taken apart and moved five times in the past 10 years. The screws holding my furniture together, Mr. Wood, are stripped and worn, and might not make it through our next move. Our children have lived in five places in the last 10 years, Mr. Wood. Our eldest is 10 years old. I am, at the moment, wearing a pair of jeans that I bought in 2005. They cost me around $25, and are from Target. I am sitting, Mr. Wood, at a desk that my husband bought for $40 for from a warehouse that was going out of business in 2003. My laptop, Mr. Wood, is from 2007. The keyboard is broken, and the internet runs slow, but I plugged a cheap keyboard into it, and will keep using it until it dies. All the commissaries in my area are closed, Mr. Wood, and I shop at WalMart and Target for my groceries. All the exchanges in my area have closed as well, Mr. Wood. I shop at Target and Walmart for my household needs. My children, Mr. Wood, wear clothes from Old Navy and enjoy getting hand-me-downs from my friends with older children. My parents live in Washington State, Mr. Wood. They get to see their precious grandchildren maybe once or twice a year. I drive a 2006 Ford Freestar minivan. We own it outright. Not one payment was ever late or missed. I had to speak with my son's teacher today because she's worried my husband's deployment is affecting his schoolwork. I wrote to my husband about this issue via email earlier. I hope to hear back from him some time in the next day or so. In the meantime, I will deal with it the best I know how. <br />
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Mr. Wood, do you own your home? Are you married, Mr. Wood? Where does your wife or significant other shop? Do you have children, Mr. Wood? Where do they go to college? Do you have grandchildren, Mr. Wood? Do you have the privilege to see them frequently and maybe attend their sporting events or school events? What kind of car do you drive, Mr. Wood? Do you have nice furniture, Mr. Wood? Has it been torn apart and moved even one time in the past five years? How many times a week do you dine out, Mr. Wood? At what sort of stores to you purchase your clothing? How much did you pay for your last pair of pants? If your laptop keyboard broke, would you be able to go out and buy a new one tomorrow? Have you ever had to spend more than a week or two away from your family for work, Mr. Wood? If you have, were you able to call them every night to tell them how your day was and tell them you love them and that you hope they have a good night? <br />
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If my life seems "lavish" to you, then I guess you and I have two very different ideas of the definition of that word. I think you ought not judge unless you have walked a day in any member of any branch of our military's shoes, or those of their husbands, wives, and children. Trust me, you wouldn't call our lives "lavish" after you did. <br />
<br />
Sincerely,<br />
<br />
Emily A. GarrisEmilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10779611688973448920noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421275935219943207.post-50894119896157604742011-01-05T10:23:00.000-08:002011-01-05T10:37:14.908-08:00This is the kind of Mother I am...So this morning, the kids were really making me nuts with their arguing and bickering. It started the moment they got up. A lot of it has to do with the fact that Nate has no sense of the fine line between when something is funny and when it suddenly isn't any more. What he does is he knows when something is funny, so he ramps it up until suddenly it's over the top and not funny any more. Well, if something is funny, MORE is funnier, right? Louder is funnier, right? Crazier is funnier, right?? It makes for some interesting times for his sister, for sure. <br /><br />Anyway, they bickered all morning long, and I thought if I had to say, "Guys, STOP!!!" one more time my head was going to explode. They were arguing in the car and I was lecturing them about how irritating it was to have to listen to them argue all the time. Blah, blah, blah...I'm sure I sounded like the teacher on Charlie Brown...owa wa wawa owawa. Then, out of nowhere, this fine specimine of parental guidance flowed over my lips:<br /><br />"Whatever. How about this. When you're arguing about something, think about what it is you're arguing about. If it's not about something that's going to be of any significance in 5 minutes or even 5 seconds, stop the argument. But heck, if it's about something you're going to care about in 20 years, by all means, duke it out."<br /><br />We all started laughing and the rest of the ride was pleasant and argument free. At one point Nate started in with "Siss-EE!!..." and then after a split second to think about it, "Um, nevermind." <br /><br />Ahh...success. For now anyway. Stay tuned for more words of parental wisdom, folks. I'm full of it. I mean them. HA!!!Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10779611688973448920noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421275935219943207.post-90082791826501213642011-01-03T07:32:00.000-08:002011-01-03T07:41:36.495-08:00Back to RealityChristmas break is over, children. Nate doesn't want to go to school and I forgot what I usually put in Joanna's lunch. (She's picky, you know.) It's Monday and I have a pretty typical list of Monday errands and chores I have to do. I'm glad I went to Costco and Trader Joe's this weekend. That will save me a lot of time today.<br /><br />In other news...yeah...I got nothing. Hopefully since it's the first Monday of the new year, the Coast Guard will start getting some business taken care of and we can find out some stuff. So...<br /><br />Dear Coast Guard,<br /><br />Since it's the first Monday of the new year, maybe you could get some business taken care of. We would like to know some stuff. Like how many SKC's are you going to be making? At least 16 more, please! <br /><br />Thanks.<br /><br />Sincerely,<br /><br />E.G.<br /><br />Now that's a good way to start the new year, don't you think? Aren't you glad you tuned in for my random ramblings?? :) Gotta go get dressed and ready to get this party started. I'm out!Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10779611688973448920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421275935219943207.post-37579043672008971422011-01-02T08:37:00.000-08:002011-01-02T08:54:12.204-08:00Tap-Tap-Tap...Anybody out there?Hello. My name is Emily Garris. Remember me? I lived on a remote island in Alaska for 3 years and thought my somewhat daily ramblings were important and exciting enough to write about and publish here on this blog. Starting to sound familiar? I went to a hearing test on a military aircraft during a volcanic eruption...endured blizzard after blizzard...couldn't wait to leave...<br /><br />Well, I left. It's 2011, people! I no longer live on that remote island in Alaska. I live in the SF Bay Area in California, and guess what? We quite possibly might be moving AGAIN in 2011! That, folks is what has inspired me to start writing again. Because, the name of this blog is the Garris Family ADVENTURE, right? Not the Garris Family ALASKAN Adventure. Sure, Alaska was interesting and exciting. The SF Bay Area? Not so much. I go to Trader Joe's and Old Navy on a semi-regular basis. No volcanos or blizzards here, and my ear doctor is just a short drive across town. Despite the total 180 degree turn my life has taken from living in rural Alaska to living in urban (okay, maybe suburban) San Francisco Bay Area, I realized yesterday that just because Alaska is over doesn't mean our adventure is. So, here I am. Telling you all that you might want to stay tuned. 2011 is going to be an interesting year. <br /><br />Happy 2011 everyone! I hope your 2011 adventure is filled with love and happiness!Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10779611688973448920noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421275935219943207.post-39243245174513308972010-03-21T15:52:00.000-07:002010-03-21T16:16:32.223-07:00So DONEI can't WAIT to live in a NORMAL place where:<br /><br />1. I can buy yarn whenever I want. Not only that, but to live in a place where if the one Mom and Pop yarn store is closed, I can go to JOANNE FABRICS or MICHAEL'S on a Monday at 9:00 a.m. and they will be OPEN for me to buy yarn. <br /><br />2. Recycling isn't such a pain in the ASS! Where I won't have to have 7,000 recycling bins in my pantry and cardboard boxes from Amazon.com won't take over my life ANY MORE!! Where my good intentions are rewarded with big recycling bins that the city will provide for me to throw all of my recycleables in and then provide me with the courtesy of paying somebody to take it all away for me. <br /><br />3. I will have multiple choices of places to go grocery shopping. Where I won't be forced to shop at Walmart, a commissary the size of a shoe box, and the most expensive Safeway in the world. <br /><br />4. Any grocery store will have EVERYTHING I need and it will all be fresh, edible and not have an "expires on" date of 2 days ago. <br /><br />5. I can drive through town and not cringe and then want to go home and sanitize myself. <br /><br />6. The best restaurant in town is not Subway.<br /><br />7. I can shop at fabric stores that have more than just cotton quilting fabric and actually have (GASP!) PATTERNS!!<br /><br />8. If I do happen to crave snow, I can DRIVE to it and enjoy it from the comfort of a 5 star ski resort with a spa, casino and bar.<br /><br />9. My son will wear out his sneakers before he grows out of them. Where I won't buy him new sneakers only for him to wear them 2 times before the rain and snow come and he's forced to wear boots for the next 9 months straight. <br /><br />10. The expression "7 degrees of seperation" is true and not "2 degrees of seperation".Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10779611688973448920noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421275935219943207.post-13435470134915663782010-03-01T23:39:00.000-08:002010-03-02T17:13:31.672-08:00Nostalgia...As this last (yes, LAST!!) patrol's end is in sight, I really have been feeling a whole range of emotions about what it means to even be able to say those words. Last. Patrol. The magnitude of those two words is immense. I did it. I DID IT. We did it. We, my friends, have basically made it to the end. I have had many day dreams about what it would feel like to be here and to say those words. 3 years ago, heck, even 3 months ago, I thought it would never happen. It has happened. It's happening, and I am loving every single second of it. <br />
<br />
I DID IT!!!! I MADE IT THROUGH!!! I survived, and dare I even say thrived? I do say thrived. I insist upon saying that, actually. I'm pretty damn proud of myself. I'm proud of us. I'm proud of my kids. I'm proud of my husband. I'm proud of many fellow Munro spouses who transfer out with us this year who have also made it through. <br />
<br />
If you will humor me and my nostalgia for a moment, I can honestly say that I will never, ever forget the day we got THAT phone call. I was happily chatting away with a friend at Joanna's preschool in Port Angeles while we cleaned up glitter and glue off the tables while the kids played outside. My cell phone rang. It was Jake, and that was weird. He knew where I was, and he hardly ever called my cell phone anyway. I knew instantly that something was up. Indeed it was. That phone call put my life on a completely different course than it was on just mere seconds before. In an instant my pleasant life had come to a screeching halt and done a 180 degree turn. I literally thought the world was coming to an end. I know that sounds a bit dramatic, but that's how I felt. Kodiak, Alaska? ALASKA??? Not only that, but a 378??? What on earth had I done to deserve that horrific punnishment? Why was this happening to us?<br />
<br />
We considered going geo bachelor. For those non-Coast Guard people who might be reading this right now, that means the Active Duty member goes to the new duty location and the spouse and family stays behind. We wrote it all down. Pros and cons. On paper it seemed crystal clear. He would go and the kids and I would stay. We had such a nice, cozy little house. Our parents were close by. He would come home when the ship was not underway. It made sense. Jake was going to tell the detailer the next day that our decision was made. <br />
<br />
Then, when it was time to put the kids to bed, Jake took a little extra time to say goodnight to them. When he came out, he had a funny look on his face and said, "I can't do it. I know we might be miserable in Kodiak, but I'd rather be miserable with you there than miserable without you." I knew he was right. So, he made the call to the detailer the next day and said we'd all be coming along for the ride.<br />
<br />
And what a ride!! It really has been a series of incredible highs and lows. Will I miss living here? Will I finally make my journey back to the lower 48 and find that the old addage about the grass being greener on the other side is true? I honestly don't think so. For me, the simple fact that Jake will no longer be on the ship automatically tips the scale to the "Heck no I won't miss a darn thing about Kodiak" side. I will miss certain people. If I could pack a select few with me in my suitcase to California, I would! (You know who you are!) I think that's about it, though. Really!<br />
<br />
I guess the things I will truly treasure about my time here in Kodiak are not tangible at all, but will be all the life lessons I've learned. Sometimes I feel like I had to get conked on the head with orders here to get me to finally learn them. First and foremost, I've learned that I CAN DO ANYTHING! Anything from relocating my family to a strange, isolated place by myself and against my will (Yes, I came to Kodiak with the kids by myself), to taking apart the vacuum to clean out whatever is in there that's flapping around and making a noise (and then putting it all back together again)...and everything in between. I CAN DO ANYTHING! Yet, while I'm very proud of the fact that I have accomplished so many things by myself in the past 3 years and I pride myself on my self-relliance, part two of this lesson is this:<br />
<br />
While I am very aware of the fact that I am fully capable of doing just about anything on my own, I don't want to. EVERYTHING IS BETTER WITH JAKE. I mean everything. Even the most mundane things like doing the dishes or folding socks is better when he is by my side. I realize this sounds so cliche and lame, but it really is a heart-felt truth for me. And while I've always loved my husband with all of my heart, it took orders to a 378 in Kodiak, AK to truly make me aware of this. I can't help the fact that I love him, but I would (and do!) consciously choose to spend the rest of my days with him by my side through every sock-folding, dish-doing, kid-wrangling moment. He brings out the best in me, and I am beside myself with excitement to know that we will share our next adventure together as a family. Oh, and trust me, ye olde salty sea wives who are shaking fingers at me right now. I know what you're thinking. I am not dilusional in my thoughts and understanding of what it means to be a Coast Guard wife. I know the possibility is there that we may again do another tour on a ship. You know what, though? It's not this time around, and I'm going to enjoy every single ever-lovin' second of what California has in store for us! <br />
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That brings me to another important lesson I've learned while stationed here: GO WITH THE FLOW. Oh, wow, what a lesson, and it's one I'm still struggling with to this very day. In my opinion, ultimately we have no control over our lives, and to understand that, to fully comprehend that, and make choices to accept that has been one of the hardest things for me to do. I'm a Camagna, after all, and Camagnas plan. Camagnas think and play the "What if?" game over everything that life throws at us. Sure, we can choose to turn right or left at a stop sign. We can choose to have chicken or fish for dinner. Really, though, we don't actually have true control over much, and that, on a strictly human level is hard to come to terms with. For me, it is, anyway. <br />
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I can truly say that living in Kodiak has put such an interesting spin on this one for me on so many levels. Do you know that I have no clue how much gas costs right now? All I know is that I fill my van up when it's empty (every 6-8 weeks) here on base, and that is the best deal in town. Did I have a choice about Jake getting stationed in Kodiak on the Munro? I surely did not, but my choice was to make the best of it, and I believe I have. Has it been easy? HELL no, it hasn't! There have literally been times I've wanted to run out my front door and simply get on the next plane out of here even if the final destination were to be Timbuktu. There were mornings in the middle of December, when the sun doesn't even start to rise until 10:00, where I lied in bed and forced myself to count 10 blessings before I got up to start the day. Every time the ship got ready to deploy, I could feel my skin get a little thinner; the wound not yet healed completely from the patrol before. <br />
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Those days are no more, though, and I feel the need to dignify the good of Kodiak with a shout-out. The good in Kodiak lies with the people. I have never, in the 12 years of being affiliated with the Coast Guard, experienced such an amazing camaraderie in a community! In Green Bay, we had a very close-knit unit, but it wasn't like that extended out into the community. In Humboldt, it was all about my home-town friends and family. In Port Angeles, we pretty much stuck to ourselves and our parents. Here, though, community is almost like the bread of life. Without it, we would surely all perish. Everyone here is in the same "boat" (or plane/helocopter) so to speak. Love or hate this place, everyone who lives here surely can admit that living here has difficulties uniquely it's own, but we are all in it together, and that is what makes this place special.<br />
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One of my favorite lines in a movie is from "The Sound of Music" when Maria says (I think to the Reverend Mother): "When the Lord closes a door, somewhere he opens a window". I am not known to be a particularly religious person, but I love that quote, and have thought of it often during my time in Kodiak. When we got orders here, I felt like the door wasn't just closed on me, but rather slammed. Yet, I had to have that door slammed in order for me to learn what I've learned and meet all the wonderful people I've met. Each friendship I've made here has been a little window that opened and brought light when I thought there was none, and for that, I am forever grateful. <br />
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I still have several months left here in Kodiak, so this is in no way a "Goodbye Forever, Alaska!" post. It's just my way of processing the past 3 years and the flood of feelings I've been having lately. Thanks for reading my ramblings. There are probably more to come. :)<br />
<br />Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10779611688973448920noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421275935219943207.post-80320780775518255852010-02-16T17:32:00.000-08:002010-03-02T23:51:49.889-08:00Because I'm a slacker...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Because my husband's been harassing me to update (sheesh, you'd think he was far, far away out in the middle of nowhere or something), I now present you with a short montage of what we've been up to over the past month or so. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
These are my Valentine's Day Flowers. Aren't they lovely?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidZQtTOv67zL4iXvslCPMxwy7m80vMm8-Fx_b4gmXMm8HPL-IS1A6ek6znXjpjTH1ytVXJdPMCYqjG5RvFA-VhbZQJfscAv2l-M-4fQNttBzRzRXsRkKApzh-Kj6QxOo3u2xGZPAQLAngA/s1600-h/DSCF0159.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidZQtTOv67zL4iXvslCPMxwy7m80vMm8-Fx_b4gmXMm8HPL-IS1A6ek6znXjpjTH1ytVXJdPMCYqjG5RvFA-VhbZQJfscAv2l-M-4fQNttBzRzRXsRkKApzh-Kj6QxOo3u2xGZPAQLAngA/s400/DSCF0159.jpg" width="400" /></a>These are the cupcakes Audrey so kindly (and so much more expertly than I could have ever done) made for Joanna for her birthday at school. Aren't they amazing? <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7TmiOWNRa8GDmjHqyFUFVZjJeERroT82HVLX0s9Cvt7VqYAbMR-mq0fOs-hvFyKNJBq5iiZdiReDpfAUKVFbl_t71Hkz0Maf0eyc3MPY9vNVF626UYHqB8z-Ak6jkFR1KAkvr46-QeyjO/s1600-h/DSCF0122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7TmiOWNRa8GDmjHqyFUFVZjJeERroT82HVLX0s9Cvt7VqYAbMR-mq0fOs-hvFyKNJBq5iiZdiReDpfAUKVFbl_t71Hkz0Maf0eyc3MPY9vNVF626UYHqB8z-Ak6jkFR1KAkvr46-QeyjO/s400/DSCF0122.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEija_8OFAz5KSjZb2lJEs4hXAkmcR7JmZ7MbxPZX-q5DB4enD1OJTlGdqC05JkqvCi5dnOs_OFX6k__eAYrmZR9MXU9LqIs01d8Nqz4nZQTWWajESFvChMtIQ7QCevtf3x7m3FLJTJHXoMj/s1600-h/DSCF0123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEija_8OFAz5KSjZb2lJEs4hXAkmcR7JmZ7MbxPZX-q5DB4enD1OJTlGdqC05JkqvCi5dnOs_OFX6k__eAYrmZR9MXU9LqIs01d8Nqz4nZQTWWajESFvChMtIQ7QCevtf3x7m3FLJTJHXoMj/s400/DSCF0123.jpg" width="400" /></a>Joanna at school on her birthday.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVD1tDKaqNebwYSMpOeQE5qtXu4iIeWTqrvp2XiAfQGCXDvVdmHBEXIjJ8dnVg0Q87mtEKCcKeBJfMFk4qwQ_x7CCbzf22pOhk9hkRl5edD3VA5v0d9vPo2cukQQ6W8b9MYPE2LqsHjOQm/s1600-h/DSCF0124.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVD1tDKaqNebwYSMpOeQE5qtXu4iIeWTqrvp2XiAfQGCXDvVdmHBEXIjJ8dnVg0Q87mtEKCcKeBJfMFk4qwQ_x7CCbzf22pOhk9hkRl5edD3VA5v0d9vPo2cukQQ6W8b9MYPE2LqsHjOQm/s400/DSCF0124.jpg" width="400" /></a>Joanna and her friends. :)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEhxyAkBQznSx5nMePfmc9IvRbK1HoJNPmig9K87mK1RSd3vS8MGd_XbofrjLbLMA1qsp60Tt2dzP6MtRbPz_Mlkzn2Ztxi0h1kz6v-7YUiCm-04STMyItehqmWfrZkK5LW6uaCZcJWf8r/s1600-h/DSCF0125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEhxyAkBQznSx5nMePfmc9IvRbK1HoJNPmig9K87mK1RSd3vS8MGd_XbofrjLbLMA1qsp60Tt2dzP6MtRbPz_Mlkzn2Ztxi0h1kz6v-7YUiCm-04STMyItehqmWfrZkK5LW6uaCZcJWf8r/s400/DSCF0125.jpg" width="400" /></a>Eating a cupcake.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-XnA6ETrNqF6yCm2u09TRplHHUrAUaVqBBSX0hqXqDE2vazJr-gx4b_jkyh4Qlq8HsHV-2e78rVtsLNIHsIIHi6KspCHm3M_R6twnAjsYaj1f84enxNvVAA0grColIy3hINloFim8XH_L/s1600-h/DSCF0137.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-XnA6ETrNqF6yCm2u09TRplHHUrAUaVqBBSX0hqXqDE2vazJr-gx4b_jkyh4Qlq8HsHV-2e78rVtsLNIHsIIHi6KspCHm3M_R6twnAjsYaj1f84enxNvVAA0grColIy3hINloFim8XH_L/s400/DSCF0137.jpg" width="400" /></a>Sledding fun 2010!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikqoy1U-XJYbtU38JZptjxu_YU6EHMZxQfBHGQBdShqK-mnVXhJTK7z_BVIFun_PMDU-XfDkZPnjPwF4z03dfK0D76U2lw9qy_4KqsNY3iEMXULGdXY6IaRfOUhWwIrt9QmP8gh9fYfEqZ/s1600-h/DSCF0152.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikqoy1U-XJYbtU38JZptjxu_YU6EHMZxQfBHGQBdShqK-mnVXhJTK7z_BVIFun_PMDU-XfDkZPnjPwF4z03dfK0D76U2lw9qy_4KqsNY3iEMXULGdXY6IaRfOUhWwIrt9QmP8gh9fYfEqZ/s400/DSCF0152.jpg" width="400" /></a>BNF (Best Neighbors Forever!)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgn5aTgtZxz7zj-FGKlWiOKTM_pPpFZSVxgmZC4CpJwvYg7NoRcJYoUUbZiWeCC0_o91jENLCo9aMzA2xF6kWBySZAt4vOqATxR2lnd4g0_ScFeTLYe_DNCJycgT8qwATL5qxqAFsjz9_w/s1600-h/DSCF0153.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgn5aTgtZxz7zj-FGKlWiOKTM_pPpFZSVxgmZC4CpJwvYg7NoRcJYoUUbZiWeCC0_o91jENLCo9aMzA2xF6kWBySZAt4vOqATxR2lnd4g0_ScFeTLYe_DNCJycgT8qwATL5qxqAFsjz9_w/s400/DSCF0153.jpg" width="400" /></a>Hot chocolate deluxe afterwards.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiddWMOmGr0Kvlz16zDluKdREFZNm0tPa2TMTfISHJZzXJKag85i1E43DzeVSk9HlSLtSnD_FDMaKjP38LLzxhTDkTgULzrRGxLZk-j37LC3N9AdP6f3Goz-IYphgypAZB348kFM1Q5dxpE/s1600-h/DSCF0154.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiddWMOmGr0Kvlz16zDluKdREFZNm0tPa2TMTfISHJZzXJKag85i1E43DzeVSk9HlSLtSnD_FDMaKjP38LLzxhTDkTgULzrRGxLZk-j37LC3N9AdP6f3Goz-IYphgypAZB348kFM1Q5dxpE/s400/DSCF0154.jpg" width="400" /></a>"Deluxe" = marshmallows, whipped cream, sprinkles AND a cherry. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheVONoxc5bmPlS33u3FdXJnefe6OR0SrBGTT68QCkK2bmH8PWoO_g3bQDXjm7zAvkNB4JUiSSAiXLecYCyAFIdaYvufRlpk9-QNLigsnoBUq9D3ICt2W_i_tqwM_tGMA3nf0YC2HaSm9e4/s1600-h/DSCF0145.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheVONoxc5bmPlS33u3FdXJnefe6OR0SrBGTT68QCkK2bmH8PWoO_g3bQDXjm7zAvkNB4JUiSSAiXLecYCyAFIdaYvufRlpk9-QNLigsnoBUq9D3ICt2W_i_tqwM_tGMA3nf0YC2HaSm9e4/s400/DSCF0145.jpg" width="400" /></a>That was AWESOME!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNcTDVMQCDY6FFk_iubxgLyWO3NX6eCRPhEcCSGITmop8pG2QhVX8t0yu4VeT8QA-7NF9bhaYzmfsB1ppsxSOydeFIUuBRTdAHR8XAmmqzBLgPwJXilACUbSTuOZHuRWETOIiGHhkd_nkz/s1600-h/DSCF0149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNcTDVMQCDY6FFk_iubxgLyWO3NX6eCRPhEcCSGITmop8pG2QhVX8t0yu4VeT8QA-7NF9bhaYzmfsB1ppsxSOydeFIUuBRTdAHR8XAmmqzBLgPwJXilACUbSTuOZHuRWETOIiGHhkd_nkz/s400/DSCF0149.jpg" width="400" /></a>Cute. Just cute. :)</div>
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Well, have a great one, everybody! (and a big XOXO to the best husband ever!)</div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10779611688973448920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421275935219943207.post-30515060566549981872010-01-24T22:03:00.000-08:002010-01-24T22:03:03.883-08:00Back to bloggin'!So, yeah...got a little busy over the holidays and honestly didn't have much interest in blogging for a while. I don't even know who reads this thing anymore, but now that a certain someone will be relying on this for updates on how his children and wife are doing, I am going to start up again. You're welcome. <br />
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I was laughing earlier, because a certain phrase keeps popping into my head and out of my mouth or onto my computer keyboard tonight. First, I thought to myself, "I'm SOOOOO glad that the Vikings lost to the Saints today!". Then, in my nightly email to Jake, I wrote, "I'm SOOOO glad this is our last patrol!". And last but certainly not least, when I finally got a moment to myself and was enjoying a Skinny Cow ice cream sandwich (which, by the way are low fat AND only cost a measly 2 WW points) I thought to myself, "I'm SOOOO glad that someone invented these Skinny Cow ice cream sandwiches!". <br />
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SOOOO, in honor of all the things I have to be SOOOO grateful and happy for (is that annoying yet? I'll stop. You get the point, right?) I will now bore you with a list of things that fall into that category. I need this right now, so hang with me, okay?<br />
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I'll start the list with a recap:<br />
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The Vikings are NOT going to the Superbowl! HA!<br />
I never have to go through pre-deployment syndrome again in Kodiak, AK while stationed on the Munro!! I did it! I've reached the end!! The significance of that is mind-boggling to me right now. I will have to spend some more time processing that later, I think.<br />
Skinny Cow ice cream sandwiches really are the best thing to ever be invented. Really.<br />
My daughter is turning 7 tomorrow! What is up with that, anyway?<br />
My bed is super comfy and I can't wait to crawl into it in about 5 minutes from now.<br />
I'm ready to get orders and find out where the heck we're going in June.<br />
Ferry reservations are made and we're OUTTA here on June 15!!<br />
Don't think it's fair that I can't take people with me when I move. I want to keep everyone forever!!<br />
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I guess that's it for now. I had a very busy, tiring day, and I am going to bed. So, watch for more frequent updates from me...like tomorrow when I'll tell you all about Joanna's 7th birthday. Later, gators!!<br />Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10779611688973448920noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421275935219943207.post-43669658495289170842009-12-10T15:19:00.000-08:002009-12-10T15:19:58.301-08:00Scrooge: The Musical!So, for the past few months, we've been involved in a local production of "A Christmas Carol" called "Scrooge: The Musical". Joanna is in the Children's Ensemble and also got the role of Scrooge's younger sister Fan at age 6. The Ghost of Christmas Past takes Scrooge on a journey into his past and Joanna plays his sister as a child. If you are familiar with the story, you'll recall that Scrooge has a nephew named Fred. Well, Fred's mother was Fan (Scrooge's sister) who died during childbirth. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLTxLJ4yRpsEAek_mT6Eq7xSNpE4c_cRmM0qjNXGuG4LQTkk86fV3HAWk6cuElw4_vMRsU3m9NkGdWDl9_b2V6VfpLJ1nTWg3-zqkt89B9Oueooqf1EvwqID4rVj7Waw68hhBwtB1rRNHa/s1600-h/scrooge13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLTxLJ4yRpsEAek_mT6Eq7xSNpE4c_cRmM0qjNXGuG4LQTkk86fV3HAWk6cuElw4_vMRsU3m9NkGdWDl9_b2V6VfpLJ1nTWg3-zqkt89B9Oueooqf1EvwqID4rVj7Waw68hhBwtB1rRNHa/s320/scrooge13.jpg" /></a><br /></div>
We've had so much fun with both of the play productions Joanna's been in while here in Kodiak. It's such a great group of people, and I've been really impressed what this little community can put together! It is definitely something we'll miss next year after we leave. Hopefully we can get involved in the arts our next community has to offer! :)<br />Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10779611688973448920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421275935219943207.post-49636942110048666832009-11-16T09:28:00.000-08:002009-11-16T09:28:31.080-08:00Our 2009 family portraits!Click here to see some of our family portraits we had taken this weekend! A friend of mine here in Kodiak is an aspiring photographer and took some pictures of us in the snow this weekend! She did an awesome job! Check them out and let me know what you think! <a href="http://simplybphotos.blogspot.com/2009/11/emily-and-jake.html">http://simplybphotos.blogspot.com/2009/11/emily-and-jake.html</a><br />Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10779611688973448920noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421275935219943207.post-11624203887095298752009-11-08T13:19:00.000-08:002009-11-08T13:19:36.622-08:00Windmills<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPmPbxY3IcRtrG0Bw6Fo1ttS3Re5pd5Lc0LvvOl8ziKG0FQx8FIJJiTnVkssRveGXeYgIPfBkGBvzbIDP12Q9gHeY_XxTlrjsd0dLsovhyAi621oyY4APvpenrC6ljdfWRsMPrFD-yIy8w/s1600-h/windmills+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" sr="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPmPbxY3IcRtrG0Bw6Fo1ttS3Re5pd5Lc0LvvOl8ziKG0FQx8FIJJiTnVkssRveGXeYgIPfBkGBvzbIDP12Q9gHeY_XxTlrjsd0dLsovhyAi621oyY4APvpenrC6ljdfWRsMPrFD-yIy8w/s320/windmills+001.jpg" /></a>First of all, I need to say that I really dislike this new version of the Blogger editor. WHY do companies think it's cool to "FIX" things that do not need "FIXING"?? Really? What was wrong with the old version? Nothing, that's what! Now I've got this new version that's all stupid and I have no clue how to make my posts look the way I want. The pictures and words are all wonky, and I DO NOT LIKE IT!!! Lame. Just lame. ANYWAY! The kids and I ventured up to the top of a hill here in Kodiak that is famous for it's huge windmills. It's pretty smart of this town, actually, to have these things on top of this hill. They can totally take advantage of the outrageous winds we get here sometimes (well, often) and use it to make electricity! Smart. So, they're cool, and we drove up to see them in person. They were quite impressive. I looked directly up at one and almost fell over because it made me dizzy! The view was really neat, and it was a new adventure for us. Yay! :)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPOjV3q5dmBGcJ0VKMvFKKjSIlM5_k701xBJRw1E-nJ-UY71nxw__BXnRaFJYiHm1V2wIe1KbMzOU-MNZgefgKn8oR5Bm1UPNZSwKuZfBQFNVUPa2TZmMDyK4zflWe00m7W4-BEult2GBK/s1600-h/windmills+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" sr="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPOjV3q5dmBGcJ0VKMvFKKjSIlM5_k701xBJRw1E-nJ-UY71nxw__BXnRaFJYiHm1V2wIe1KbMzOU-MNZgefgKn8oR5Bm1UPNZSwKuZfBQFNVUPa2TZmMDyK4zflWe00m7W4-BEult2GBK/s320/windmills+002.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaKG8GafN6bGPHKLfzUY6h3wXfGW2AcIpyLRHT1kDbUZAcrRlbDf5qqseQ3XBwmCLVxp_HOUmwGmg_VL4Wpo8WGxocZRuF3dc8zcMG7XNvSWzu1iTHpSKIEyxF9AmfYJ4q8EhiAejsWN_k/s1600-h/windmills+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" sr="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaKG8GafN6bGPHKLfzUY6h3wXfGW2AcIpyLRHT1kDbUZAcrRlbDf5qqseQ3XBwmCLVxp_HOUmwGmg_VL4Wpo8WGxocZRuF3dc8zcMG7XNvSWzu1iTHpSKIEyxF9AmfYJ4q8EhiAejsWN_k/s320/windmills+003.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK2XOBH17JoEwLVKsQHShhkD66TPp7uECJGkGd-_DZCkpS9UwCMheEWx7DRR3cjdJR0KgkXo4Pg0BU7NeGGtYWE1Wt3ONMcZA3xR9g3-qrm5zCSu8BLS12ThpJhT2-EiCXlHO0B9S4j1vk/s1600-h/windmills+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" sr="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK2XOBH17JoEwLVKsQHShhkD66TPp7uECJGkGd-_DZCkpS9UwCMheEWx7DRR3cjdJR0KgkXo4Pg0BU7NeGGtYWE1Wt3ONMcZA3xR9g3-qrm5zCSu8BLS12ThpJhT2-EiCXlHO0B9S4j1vk/s320/windmills+006.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzsEyCACr-Hl6o-xljI-aazxSt9MpW-YP8q_cevwxpmpBnMfJFo4J3AXlrXS3I8mIs_XBObV4ozUKTjb-Zz1W6V-WAu7W81fvP_nqSrhC-3CmcvxTxUuM8KsbhS_aye8Svm3Fdr51dx7_d/s1600-h/windmills+007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" sr="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzsEyCACr-Hl6o-xljI-aazxSt9MpW-YP8q_cevwxpmpBnMfJFo4J3AXlrXS3I8mIs_XBObV4ozUKTjb-Zz1W6V-WAu7W81fvP_nqSrhC-3CmcvxTxUuM8KsbhS_aye8Svm3Fdr51dx7_d/s320/windmills+007.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJVIkHI2tqjHMB-IKuRPJwpsgUpUXAGZU_Wf5oYXYvpz46qUAEDm7B1Azx_fxEDPxW0vHR9LDUckpA_2r8vdGG5TZDZYMKm_HpVYD53wLpcn6EdTG8exzPUkPRgHyrdi2ZVpsby91IEmwO/s1600-h/windmills+008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" sr="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJVIkHI2tqjHMB-IKuRPJwpsgUpUXAGZU_Wf5oYXYvpz46qUAEDm7B1Azx_fxEDPxW0vHR9LDUckpA_2r8vdGG5TZDZYMKm_HpVYD53wLpcn6EdTG8exzPUkPRgHyrdi2ZVpsby91IEmwO/s320/windmills+008.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguij6_FqMLsz7GvZg_HfEc9qGD_hh8viD73MryhyphenhyphentqhTLrWUnzDUd7gPjaTmZSChjrZXPr0WmFUdpHoh48ts7cf0zoQK4N_oYwOaBc87liRbYj62b3kYv-ccmw7IKcAHqaFJiAvQoUH4T_/s1600-h/windmills+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" sr="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguij6_FqMLsz7GvZg_HfEc9qGD_hh8viD73MryhyphenhyphentqhTLrWUnzDUd7gPjaTmZSChjrZXPr0WmFUdpHoh48ts7cf0zoQK4N_oYwOaBc87liRbYj62b3kYv-ccmw7IKcAHqaFJiAvQoUH4T_/s320/windmills+009.jpg" /></a><br /></div>
<br />Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10779611688973448920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421275935219943207.post-86945138224419627132009-11-01T11:42:00.000-08:002009-11-01T11:42:37.652-08:00Halloween!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Last night was Halloween! We had a super fun time trick-or-treating around our neighborhood. It wasn't snowing or raining, but it sure was chilly! Nate was Luke Skywalker, but not just any Luke Skywalker. He was "Tatooine Luke Skywalker". You, know, because there's more than just one period in his life that one can portray. Ha! Stay tuned and see what Star Wars guy he'll be next year! :)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOvuo-QRO2uvsrBd6NsIraUIbpxddPphyiVLj43C3bngXJuJPOz4PztzQ1h1rgroJXW6YNbKIN3NPo8URB2yHKScsCT26VqnHCHdj6BkzcI1gsbtkW1q1s7K01TodSssvMV9Q1k4qyOoKs/s1600-h/Halloween2009+046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOvuo-QRO2uvsrBd6NsIraUIbpxddPphyiVLj43C3bngXJuJPOz4PztzQ1h1rgroJXW6YNbKIN3NPo8URB2yHKScsCT26VqnHCHdj6BkzcI1gsbtkW1q1s7K01TodSssvMV9Q1k4qyOoKs/s320/Halloween2009+046.jpg" vr="true" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil33ibiybSp3QGaPS0ome-XjGMCaK1GM0LMlT6z5XUw45utfV5OonmKH16AAfysV1Z76iiaEAVGjJ9X1amOa_lecB-FebqLw4bqtjS1VzatNL75Aq6LnbLlOYPx7BqhsdbXi-g2PAkT_wQ/s1600-h/Halloween2009+007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil33ibiybSp3QGaPS0ome-XjGMCaK1GM0LMlT6z5XUw45utfV5OonmKH16AAfysV1Z76iiaEAVGjJ9X1amOa_lecB-FebqLw4bqtjS1VzatNL75Aq6LnbLlOYPx7BqhsdbXi-g2PAkT_wQ/s320/Halloween2009+007.jpg" vr="true" /></a>We carved pumpkins.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIn_rwTtbEF86TASTTawlybCy1kKbyFPmt7_u_ZA7GphaXvQVgy4OdefmOxllkzqUZfd-171xGq6UYJPc7kBKW_VRJmKF0HkZqPzor4s7xDrpbxhlIettWjX84Gxi0MoA5rGMM7lJ-sYAF/s1600-h/Halloween2009+008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIn_rwTtbEF86TASTTawlybCy1kKbyFPmt7_u_ZA7GphaXvQVgy4OdefmOxllkzqUZfd-171xGq6UYJPc7kBKW_VRJmKF0HkZqPzor4s7xDrpbxhlIettWjX84Gxi0MoA5rGMM7lJ-sYAF/s320/Halloween2009+008.jpg" vr="true" /></a>Not too impressed by the "guts".<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGC_8QsJmyUsDMWEUbXWkIrM6FVtJ09qIQoyqf5Cz3hq5jYtZ9jONw9YMfUHERky703n7OQPC1cP_eVfIytWMcINa23gcQDpEeq5Md8vPESQqRMM3zb8VXe8FcgbJWJIXblfgfGPaSfL7x/s1600-h/Halloween2009+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGC_8QsJmyUsDMWEUbXWkIrM6FVtJ09qIQoyqf5Cz3hq5jYtZ9jONw9YMfUHERky703n7OQPC1cP_eVfIytWMcINa23gcQDpEeq5Md8vPESQqRMM3zb8VXe8FcgbJWJIXblfgfGPaSfL7x/s320/Halloween2009+009.jpg" vr="true" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2aRCOgJaVr9xhWuLJMG-1As6FTtEZietcrcZtj8GqhSagBk90UzAo9Vka9bonvHkqziJ8TahowbDQh5OU5lFzqnNwi7nAyDbef9vtrGB9TcFTPD5T6b77-Cf_8f2kEuVp8I9dGmxUTLBU/s1600-h/Halloween2009+010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2aRCOgJaVr9xhWuLJMG-1As6FTtEZietcrcZtj8GqhSagBk90UzAo9Vka9bonvHkqziJ8TahowbDQh5OU5lFzqnNwi7nAyDbef9vtrGB9TcFTPD5T6b77-Cf_8f2kEuVp8I9dGmxUTLBU/s320/Halloween2009+010.jpg" vr="true" /></a>Ewww! (I finished it up for them.)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgyk3907uSOZQ9caprpJ3-AURLwHkLER8h8Ax1IIX1qHxd1VMLHnWnOm0aWzWonjqx4Jedyh9a9bRKY4ccOD8TJ2KagleAA4QG8hZEa75x1pu201d4ZYCkCdTNeeOgqFlM-g0VdS_k4a6E/s1600-h/Halloween2009+011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgyk3907uSOZQ9caprpJ3-AURLwHkLER8h8Ax1IIX1qHxd1VMLHnWnOm0aWzWonjqx4Jedyh9a9bRKY4ccOD8TJ2KagleAA4QG8hZEa75x1pu201d4ZYCkCdTNeeOgqFlM-g0VdS_k4a6E/s320/Halloween2009+011.jpg" vr="true" /></a>The pumpkins! They drew the faces on themselves.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBa9otR0suy4YgJvopbyBqnryeq5X0_LKfT6f6rGEnZtihxWLhjgKFHFAWmjzIuEqCzRL-cvlhepnHAKv6mYJmk9IEP8MuwUyPv9J4ShZEnia5VZhmI1DEf6Ibtx5_OJaitGAkF95MDmQz/s1600-h/Halloween2009+013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBa9otR0suy4YgJvopbyBqnryeq5X0_LKfT6f6rGEnZtihxWLhjgKFHFAWmjzIuEqCzRL-cvlhepnHAKv6mYJmk9IEP8MuwUyPv9J4ShZEnia5VZhmI1DEf6Ibtx5_OJaitGAkF95MDmQz/s320/Halloween2009+013.jpg" vr="true" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBa9otR0suy4YgJvopbyBqnryeq5X0_LKfT6f6rGEnZtihxWLhjgKFHFAWmjzIuEqCzRL-cvlhepnHAKv6mYJmk9IEP8MuwUyPv9J4ShZEnia5VZhmI1DEf6Ibtx5_OJaitGAkF95MDmQz/s1600-h/Halloween2009+013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBa9otR0suy4YgJvopbyBqnryeq5X0_LKfT6f6rGEnZtihxWLhjgKFHFAWmjzIuEqCzRL-cvlhepnHAKv6mYJmk9IEP8MuwUyPv9J4ShZEnia5VZhmI1DEf6Ibtx5_OJaitGAkF95MDmQz/s320/Halloween2009+013.jpg" vr="true" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMbpcenYmJvTNG5pcMxG7VUGGTpy5iglpuXe-zRPTf_p5FfdZJKQDjZb5mO7XGPr9Z8DExxLSF_DZ4CFWqjeuSj4MpUenJ4gZtG1zCvAmnZoVGOwU1cuLA8WZ8LuHJoJRRR4RQ29rrI2p1/s1600-h/Halloween2009+015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMbpcenYmJvTNG5pcMxG7VUGGTpy5iglpuXe-zRPTf_p5FfdZJKQDjZb5mO7XGPr9Z8DExxLSF_DZ4CFWqjeuSj4MpUenJ4gZtG1zCvAmnZoVGOwU1cuLA8WZ8LuHJoJRRR4RQ29rrI2p1/s320/Halloween2009+015.jpg" vr="true" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhywWjhrl3-wkKQ_Hozrz2eBL8qk-b6TgVl5lSD0V5rxctn2hBIj002TDkCtMCNxourVSrYK46SxXkUh-drip1AAzOH9zmPBJhXeyzPvKcs1t4PaaBVbKvzbHFpIQuW-e7HyEWWUYqXXxkH/s1600-h/Halloween2009+016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhywWjhrl3-wkKQ_Hozrz2eBL8qk-b6TgVl5lSD0V5rxctn2hBIj002TDkCtMCNxourVSrYK46SxXkUh-drip1AAzOH9zmPBJhXeyzPvKcs1t4PaaBVbKvzbHFpIQuW-e7HyEWWUYqXXxkH/s320/Halloween2009+016.jpg" vr="true" /></a>Luke. Apparently "Tatooine Luke" doesn't have a lightsaber yet. He has a blaster, duh!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqUGTuVBQqmVjjcA41a38JtyIaRsTYamgjBQuldHOFzc2Lf-sOMHHklufDacp9uOKW1K2hIv49Nay_0n71KwDPnLIbGhPfh3EyzBsY6xgMGQUBBVxL1XP3rMpVfzKIyrDXvVcGe1BygHss/s1600-h/Halloween2009+019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqUGTuVBQqmVjjcA41a38JtyIaRsTYamgjBQuldHOFzc2Lf-sOMHHklufDacp9uOKW1K2hIv49Nay_0n71KwDPnLIbGhPfh3EyzBsY6xgMGQUBBVxL1XP3rMpVfzKIyrDXvVcGe1BygHss/s320/Halloween2009+019.jpg" vr="true" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Wnr8DQiAtKYsMrXls2Ad0ZFTzdNKwF83j_OUTKz80G9vESME49MQ3DJ-pzd3cuc3CAqLI4VL4B25QfpZj2aKtePRCuUBB-L2-kM4bFQEbclOCHBknp-o0EvS6uwOSgxpRmbLFExmBJqZ/s1600-h/Halloween2009+021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Wnr8DQiAtKYsMrXls2Ad0ZFTzdNKwF83j_OUTKz80G9vESME49MQ3DJ-pzd3cuc3CAqLI4VL4B25QfpZj2aKtePRCuUBB-L2-kM4bFQEbclOCHBknp-o0EvS6uwOSgxpRmbLFExmBJqZ/s320/Halloween2009+021.jpg" vr="true" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrwCd0yt0b1t2dFRS7W-NHa_Hcu0EgqFMHqBIzk7qddbDgERGQWjXTbbjyf1BcJbukxGNFX1iVRXF6ldz2q5rm8DhipZ2Mv0YIhhYsPpEk7YyuJRQK2gjzhw3HMu1m0Sl9iqqTk910iMoT/s1600-h/Halloween2009+022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrwCd0yt0b1t2dFRS7W-NHa_Hcu0EgqFMHqBIzk7qddbDgERGQWjXTbbjyf1BcJbukxGNFX1iVRXF6ldz2q5rm8DhipZ2Mv0YIhhYsPpEk7YyuJRQK2gjzhw3HMu1m0Sl9iqqTk910iMoT/s320/Halloween2009+022.jpg" vr="true" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtEwHJvezCopckokQYmMphDV9W7r06JJhztKw16ZJxHp52dwTha9pjZ3ELEX89-a2TW3ZpqgRJQuYbJm47smY1dBtE0hfzlVh-8Q-nfBHz83xuQG-5rjEXQCumBm6oafvBxccDg8vPsybF/s1600-h/Halloween2009+024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtEwHJvezCopckokQYmMphDV9W7r06JJhztKw16ZJxHp52dwTha9pjZ3ELEX89-a2TW3ZpqgRJQuYbJm47smY1dBtE0hfzlVh-8Q-nfBHz83xuQG-5rjEXQCumBm6oafvBxccDg8vPsybF/s320/Halloween2009+024.jpg" vr="true" /></a>So cute together!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_WawZa01RuiNAUSTqrDYBb2Bb95KQRaW47L4PoWoKCMFBcWVSYqPazVOoXsYQidUhyphenhyphenoK5d2fX7nYRKm_EHktZt55U5bPQ1knrjnMRK6Dyj0ZfA9s05xBr_75TRbjdAmw5wraguyt8KcM-/s1600-h/Halloween2009+026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_WawZa01RuiNAUSTqrDYBb2Bb95KQRaW47L4PoWoKCMFBcWVSYqPazVOoXsYQidUhyphenhyphenoK5d2fX7nYRKm_EHktZt55U5bPQ1knrjnMRK6Dyj0ZfA9s05xBr_75TRbjdAmw5wraguyt8KcM-/s320/Halloween2009+026.jpg" vr="true" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAZPr3n5-goGNxpOxfZDLuosfBASjbrdlbe8C4rTMfQqJI056wkaKeJA_OZnz4thOjmaESKL9L3oKY8378sg8Y-b8bKTrypc2aM9Zzne8qOjbGaKs50usds3oyS0R_owL40GnIEV8h9s3t/s1600-h/Halloween2009+028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAZPr3n5-goGNxpOxfZDLuosfBASjbrdlbe8C4rTMfQqJI056wkaKeJA_OZnz4thOjmaESKL9L3oKY8378sg8Y-b8bKTrypc2aM9Zzne8qOjbGaKs50usds3oyS0R_owL40GnIEV8h9s3t/s320/Halloween2009+028.jpg" vr="true" /></a>Do a little dance!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR8zyqSTRKVWZgrYi0xi9y4-8RrVZvn_rF1UU2hcpi63VZxDpHWz02tFGG7d_xPF0_qKmsbuvj-9IAwxQeblInbxgzIkrckLGSNgLMsZGeBlQMnBN5sst9MbXOyesUQqFNczFqTzxG4SDU/s1600-h/Halloween2009+029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR8zyqSTRKVWZgrYi0xi9y4-8RrVZvn_rF1UU2hcpi63VZxDpHWz02tFGG7d_xPF0_qKmsbuvj-9IAwxQeblInbxgzIkrckLGSNgLMsZGeBlQMnBN5sst9MbXOyesUQqFNczFqTzxG4SDU/s320/Halloween2009+029.jpg" vr="true" /></a>The scariest neighbors ever.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTn9Si52zMguDINoMK9uFiEF1mUiyjFHsaraeQiEHi9FvyJ6kdIHq2aRttVScdhacFHtD29AcPBgElkDjExbUNWBBNtcaImpr4xx3Ch7W_9UgrRRVvs9aILtOC7gJXQ-08mFZaeTvUQ6lQ/s1600-h/Halloween2009+030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTn9Si52zMguDINoMK9uFiEF1mUiyjFHsaraeQiEHi9FvyJ6kdIHq2aRttVScdhacFHtD29AcPBgElkDjExbUNWBBNtcaImpr4xx3Ch7W_9UgrRRVvs9aILtOC7gJXQ-08mFZaeTvUQ6lQ/s320/Halloween2009+030.jpg" vr="true" /></a>Quite a motley crew.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4kZ_xTrVEj2cvyaA6UJPDVazVd_7ceWxdSc5jbW_aRa-s2nDSJ8TCvgxyTjOIhIyWN6zCsca1O1hGLmGOyRk15DFoa2tqtjM4mhL_jYXEnv7lgFLSpU0qB_EDAOy9VDXNzgjMm65yDPXu/s1600-h/Halloween2009+051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4kZ_xTrVEj2cvyaA6UJPDVazVd_7ceWxdSc5jbW_aRa-s2nDSJ8TCvgxyTjOIhIyWN6zCsca1O1hGLmGOyRk15DFoa2tqtjM4mhL_jYXEnv7lgFLSpU0qB_EDAOy9VDXNzgjMm65yDPXu/s320/Halloween2009+051.jpg" vr="true" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc4VmERa0H4vSCYAOPXeS97qXSeMhWEzitJz3qO9K2lHXKTJjF11oFPpVoi8yF5AxLwmRZNezYgf5tRfziZsVS4sUDCN7VRBP3Or3vYSsrlWQuJQWBM-TzNtmRzvcURpFv5p9JpI2OxtkJ/s1600-h/Halloween2009+054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc4VmERa0H4vSCYAOPXeS97qXSeMhWEzitJz3qO9K2lHXKTJjF11oFPpVoi8yF5AxLwmRZNezYgf5tRfziZsVS4sUDCN7VRBP3Or3vYSsrlWQuJQWBM-TzNtmRzvcURpFv5p9JpI2OxtkJ/s320/Halloween2009+054.jpg" vr="true" /></a>A pretty mermaid!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl-6hRQgWPH82WbbchEWGZsZMCANSC6F2x_vRGoQtFRiWGEfYV2ySAJ0kmP43WEm1wBdhyghhIdlWxaC_lrDa315AkS68dDR9PVmDuvbglNjluGTO2yN94g283ZU3sV7JSw8j5B-_9wO8q/s1600-h/Halloween2009+033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl-6hRQgWPH82WbbchEWGZsZMCANSC6F2x_vRGoQtFRiWGEfYV2ySAJ0kmP43WEm1wBdhyghhIdlWxaC_lrDa315AkS68dDR9PVmDuvbglNjluGTO2yN94g283ZU3sV7JSw8j5B-_9wO8q/s320/Halloween2009+033.jpg" vr="true" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifokcJOSWkF7PBryFJ65JNiK5gHAmABWJ2aoUbBhx7XsTp05lhzGrTYE39CH_xGLQ_QFaN3wpL-pvL-pYYhebRbLTkJ9Hzvq-5Fz9nTp7tqDNjELe2TmfX3SghwBIXnZVuTV5C3XTpfsKQ/s1600-h/Halloween2009+037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifokcJOSWkF7PBryFJ65JNiK5gHAmABWJ2aoUbBhx7XsTp05lhzGrTYE39CH_xGLQ_QFaN3wpL-pvL-pYYhebRbLTkJ9Hzvq-5Fz9nTp7tqDNjELe2TmfX3SghwBIXnZVuTV5C3XTpfsKQ/s320/Halloween2009+037.jpg" vr="true" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirXtfmVxJTr8ILZEtz6iglLJUAh3I2ULlbiVBJPKW8d-RnCisytS1BpcCdffDh2NBkd2-66VJhCLYeh_0pe16UTAnk5ySzzyoLRQpBzxQMu8pf-m9OI5x6WEJe5SrudPUindbOvNFcynhx/s1600-h/Halloween2009+036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirXtfmVxJTr8ILZEtz6iglLJUAh3I2ULlbiVBJPKW8d-RnCisytS1BpcCdffDh2NBkd2-66VJhCLYeh_0pe16UTAnk5ySzzyoLRQpBzxQMu8pf-m9OI5x6WEJe5SrudPUindbOvNFcynhx/s320/Halloween2009+036.jpg" vr="true" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNYFk2EVR1zuS-8bFWIsmbAW73vsV_mo7bFDyiag8gfm2AlNFAp5MpWePEgNA7jkuhwruJa84LU03JwyB0idenycjDdaPFxgnQ0TX12oJ611PDQTYtyFiWxSWa5YidVgtcLgnY1nLaR-LR/s1600-h/Halloween2009+042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNYFk2EVR1zuS-8bFWIsmbAW73vsV_mo7bFDyiag8gfm2AlNFAp5MpWePEgNA7jkuhwruJa84LU03JwyB0idenycjDdaPFxgnQ0TX12oJ611PDQTYtyFiWxSWa5YidVgtcLgnY1nLaR-LR/s320/Halloween2009+042.jpg" vr="true" /></a>Look at our loot!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi21rKsqzYoIfVNhmuKPzCof9GC6b4jGa3YZjcGnnnZvhSVvrO3XrRIBcXK7ZXJDj3fdqawKywlvk2H0XEplxHA4K14WRIMebfdkT5yS2Kw_cVRmnGvpBDEqu8sK19EwdyYBQMUjYKsoPUp/s1600-h/Halloween2009+044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi21rKsqzYoIfVNhmuKPzCof9GC6b4jGa3YZjcGnnnZvhSVvrO3XrRIBcXK7ZXJDj3fdqawKywlvk2H0XEplxHA4K14WRIMebfdkT5yS2Kw_cVRmnGvpBDEqu8sK19EwdyYBQMUjYKsoPUp/s320/Halloween2009+044.jpg" vr="true" /></a>Gotta have a piece...Mom got all the Almond Joys...my FAVE!!! Happy Halloween!<br /></div>
<br />Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10779611688973448920noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421275935219943207.post-74887040304491042662009-09-30T19:13:00.000-07:002009-09-30T19:46:22.783-07:00I have to tell you about the day I had.Because, if I don't write it down, my head might explode! <br /><br />I woke up (6:30...was having a dream that I was in the show "Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian take Miami").<br />Got the kids up.<br />Got them ready for school.<br />Took Joanna and her friend to school (Nate went too.)<br />Came home.<br />Took Nate to school.<br />Went and picked up my co-ombudsman.<br />Went to Admin and attempted to get some information.<br />Mission failed.<br />Took co-ombudsman home.<br />Went to Joanna's school and helped with reading groups for an hour.<br />Came home.<br />Went to get Nate from school.<br />Came home.<br />Talked to Sarah on phone.<br />Wrote some emails regarding failed mission.<br />Got an offer on our house.<br />Talked on the phone regarding offer on house.<br />Got an email from agent with offer papers attached.<br />Printed it out (21 pages).<br />Managed to make a caprese salad with fresh mozzarella, basil, tomatoes, olive oil, salt and pepper. (One of the highlights of my day, I must say.)<br />Called Ms. Audrey to see if she had found Manny Bunny (you knew he had to be involved in my busiest day of all times, right?). She had. He was hiding in the little people barn.<br />Neighbor Jen called and I told her the boys could come over while she went to the doctor.<br />Joanna came home.<br />Joanna and Nate went outside with the neighbor girl from upstairs.<br />Brought bikes up from the basement for all children who were going outside.<br />Called real estate agent. Went over offer.<br />Signed where I was supposed to sign. I signed for Jake too. I have POA. It was weird.<br />Joanna and Nate came in.<br />Neighbor boys came over.<br />Neighbor girl came over.<br />Movie went on the tv (Monsters vs. Aliens).<br />Kids were good.<br />Started to fax 21 page offer back to real estate agent.<br />Doorbell rang.<br />Was neighbor across the street who has a teenage daughter I might have babysit the kids. Came to meet them.<br />6 kids still watching movie.<br />Talked with neighbor and daughter (her littler daughter also came over and started watching the movie while we talked.)<br />Neighbor left.<br />Littler daughter stayed to finish watching the movie.<br />7 kids watching movie. They were good.<br />Cracked open a Diet Cherry Pepsi.<br />Doorbell rang.<br />Was Audrey and her friend with Manny Bunny. <br />Told Audrey's friend step-by-step how to make ravioli.<br />Movie was over.<br />Kids got rowdy.<br />Told kids who were not being baby-sat by me to go home. (No, really. Those were my exact words.)<br />2 kids went home.<br />Audrey and friend left. Manny Bunny stayed. I think. Who knows with him, though.<br />Neighbor boys played.<br />Talked to co-ombudsman on phone about failed mission.<br />Threw pizza in the oven while I talked on the phone.<br />Neighbor boys went home.<br />Ate some pizza with (my) kids.<br />Helped Joanna with homework.<br />Threw kids in shower. Have two showers. One kid in each shower. At the same time.<br />Helped kids get ready for bed.<br />Read with kids. Joanna read to us.<br />Goodnight, precious children. Sleep tight.<br />Now I am going to put my pajamas on and go watch Top Chef. Then I will go to sleep so that I can wake up and start all over again! <br />Zzzzzzz.....Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10779611688973448920noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421275935219943207.post-19999812491276553872009-09-06T10:49:00.000-07:002009-09-06T10:55:55.237-07:00Talking to Grandma and PapaI snapped these pictures of Nate talking to Papa Carl and Grandma Mary the other day. Just kickin' back chattin' with his Papa! SO cute!! :)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIku1fYld11G-ZYzjcGUTtgQhIoHWTS3mr5j3G4C7QaIzGioQyjT0WqWY0qyIGkc9mMlqTnfeAdTFBCPE2PURiMZcD3I6OYG2YnCYnKlPWn8CedHL846SMa_wcIWPkW_LYYjJhqN3mT1tt/s1600-h/Nategoestopreschool+006.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378414122177680050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIku1fYld11G-ZYzjcGUTtgQhIoHWTS3mr5j3G4C7QaIzGioQyjT0WqWY0qyIGkc9mMlqTnfeAdTFBCPE2PURiMZcD3I6OYG2YnCYnKlPWn8CedHL846SMa_wcIWPkW_LYYjJhqN3mT1tt/s320/Nategoestopreschool+006.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoXpUz5K0bWnBmq1rBnnbuDdw3YeKEHrIevCqS2x1cwNHDitryKc3z2InS_bheNj8BrS9Evx-yIkSoDGBrBa0kwTrSdP3m44UndMWcYjzeJ2K_tnaT_PTu49lk8K3yxGl53oZR0P-GJkDM/s1600-h/Nategoestopreschool+005.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378414112998308738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoXpUz5K0bWnBmq1rBnnbuDdw3YeKEHrIevCqS2x1cwNHDitryKc3z2InS_bheNj8BrS9Evx-yIkSoDGBrBa0kwTrSdP3m44UndMWcYjzeJ2K_tnaT_PTu49lk8K3yxGl53oZR0P-GJkDM/s320/Nategoestopreschool+005.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie5maQeEEt5gxC4P1GcWRPpjglqpQnSqwVWmQp1z1GIT5oarc4axJLb5U2ueQSAik9ypsFtLeDG9AEQTCJozDx_XJRG9qNUlb0qPCNuksruDTgtKnl9eQ9d6wDZSJMGdj-GuzZXiC0Kr5W/s1600-h/Nategoestopreschool+004.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378414108039259874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie5maQeEEt5gxC4P1GcWRPpjglqpQnSqwVWmQp1z1GIT5oarc4axJLb5U2ueQSAik9ypsFtLeDG9AEQTCJozDx_XJRG9qNUlb0qPCNuksruDTgtKnl9eQ9d6wDZSJMGdj-GuzZXiC0Kr5W/s320/Nategoestopreschool+004.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpIPXz_0tSll2nJU4IhriaErNsuHLnWl0LaIhW0g6KeLAbv0hQVJfRv2LzFOp38zUHdExPTtdS-DpjvNNpc_iO4dA2lSXJj92-Mvy8BtJMIxY4Mzmm4relCQ68WrR0kyUT4aecyDY478rA/s1600-h/Nategoestopreschool+003.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378414100826787394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpIPXz_0tSll2nJU4IhriaErNsuHLnWl0LaIhW0g6KeLAbv0hQVJfRv2LzFOp38zUHdExPTtdS-DpjvNNpc_iO4dA2lSXJj92-Mvy8BtJMIxY4Mzmm4relCQ68WrR0kyUT4aecyDY478rA/s320/Nategoestopreschool+003.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10779611688973448920noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421275935219943207.post-16800912026857038132009-09-06T10:44:00.000-07:002009-09-06T10:49:18.677-07:00Nate goes to Ms. Audrey's!I remember when Joanna was 4 and went to Ms. Audrey's preschool. Now, two years later, it's Nate's turn! He had his first day this past week, and LOVED it!! We have been so happy with the kids' education here in Kodiak. It's one thing that I'm truly grateful for. Ms. Audrey and Ms. Toni's preschools have been amazing, and we've had such a good experience with Joanna at the public school (Peterson Elementary) here. Anyway, just thought I'd share some pictures of my handsome boy on his first day of school! :)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU9ZevwDaHzi4oT7Fuum_ErOY8wH4nrAfxQ-SJVQbnlpU3wnG4EBP9QPnP2hQx4aBWgxzmNgAXxsKcHafUxB7F8LpUb6f3aqRa37uKhEyHZWxBUYaFT-P6XldPF2oylr_6FfUqHd_c8CA4/s1600-h/Nategoestopreschool+002.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378411856810633154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU9ZevwDaHzi4oT7Fuum_ErOY8wH4nrAfxQ-SJVQbnlpU3wnG4EBP9QPnP2hQx4aBWgxzmNgAXxsKcHafUxB7F8LpUb6f3aqRa37uKhEyHZWxBUYaFT-P6XldPF2oylr_6FfUqHd_c8CA4/s320/Nategoestopreschool+002.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTnG-BpD_iBRZnCP-9twNEZ1C5z_Z6zOI1-q3lJgiMEGwVk6GTkfZwKlyR2OwoRSnHkhEpHBSN48nAt4ReJHvGj7W3O6Nr6Gxgix6NXw7sWPNNs58FFAY2m0F5sZUKpkQCP99VsG-7Lfl2/s1600-h/Nategoestopreschool+001.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378411852698332498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTnG-BpD_iBRZnCP-9twNEZ1C5z_Z6zOI1-q3lJgiMEGwVk6GTkfZwKlyR2OwoRSnHkhEpHBSN48nAt4ReJHvGj7W3O6Nr6Gxgix6NXw7sWPNNs58FFAY2m0F5sZUKpkQCP99VsG-7Lfl2/s320/Nategoestopreschool+001.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div></div></div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10779611688973448920noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421275935219943207.post-60566857918066855022009-09-06T10:33:00.000-07:002009-09-06T10:43:17.639-07:00Lazy SundayThe kids built a tent and were watching Robin Hood (Disney-style!) this morning. I thought you all might be interested in what we're up to this morning. The answer? A whole lot of nuthin! :) It's beautiful out, though, so we'll probably end up getting our act together and going outside at some point. Right after I clean the kitchen and do some laundry....which I can start doing right after I'm done goofing around on my blog (and Facebook...and Coast Guard wives online forum...)! Happy Lazy Sunday! :)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMjopsciiYUmOM0T5NVofblHWTtSbb3fnHed7PApXZsVWcN816fyRzO9PveFcnRoQJ5mCX2m33_1eY8As5yuidAElQXbg0cdtXw8UWN71VZ5jbj0rdSVVpqpdC4Hm3p6C6wPqSSgjA9IVJ/s1600-h/Nategoestopreschool+013.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378410476625437666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMjopsciiYUmOM0T5NVofblHWTtSbb3fnHed7PApXZsVWcN816fyRzO9PveFcnRoQJ5mCX2m33_1eY8As5yuidAElQXbg0cdtXw8UWN71VZ5jbj0rdSVVpqpdC4Hm3p6C6wPqSSgjA9IVJ/s320/Nategoestopreschool+013.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJdOL0UTvfwo59jDqHWHQ15LnxTqtWlV-N5zX09LAFHtiG7GxawpfXpiWBbf79Q0oW-wZz2M2z77Njkos8OAavRe8k-KTszW7ffL4oOhyphenhyphen2bpGkEd5cjlEckE4uRZ87xeiIO8_N7E2N3qb7/s1600-h/Nategoestopreschool+011.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378410470123638370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJdOL0UTvfwo59jDqHWHQ15LnxTqtWlV-N5zX09LAFHtiG7GxawpfXpiWBbf79Q0oW-wZz2M2z77Njkos8OAavRe8k-KTszW7ffL4oOhyphenhyphen2bpGkEd5cjlEckE4uRZ87xeiIO8_N7E2N3qb7/s320/Nategoestopreschool+011.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQSHPKkf8Lh-GJFKOmObKjODVay6i7D9VOEYTGM76wMq2zi9ty14vV7pxlR4a54UlPsYlVDCp8rZ_wVBpr9O-6t3kRIJlVdej_pXj6nQr_0F03bw_R4s7z__BPDmLGT1npzSkSfrT42Yhn/s1600-h/Nategoestopreschool+010.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378410467036912626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQSHPKkf8Lh-GJFKOmObKjODVay6i7D9VOEYTGM76wMq2zi9ty14vV7pxlR4a54UlPsYlVDCp8rZ_wVBpr9O-6t3kRIJlVdej_pXj6nQr_0F03bw_R4s7z__BPDmLGT1npzSkSfrT42Yhn/s320/Nategoestopreschool+010.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuGjIffPSP8xnRGq2O5M7DuQIM5this_G92_02sqgeCm6Tf_n0zCpk-etB6yMquxD2-gVRr91kwuFQwiZ8wBQaUxogwsBn1nOLEXVJhF5uIvMGtXMNAnQZGVvzoPS_gaigVHjizyadSsZk/s1600-h/Nategoestopreschool+009.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378410458103936146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuGjIffPSP8xnRGq2O5M7DuQIM5this_G92_02sqgeCm6Tf_n0zCpk-etB6yMquxD2-gVRr91kwuFQwiZ8wBQaUxogwsBn1nOLEXVJhF5uIvMGtXMNAnQZGVvzoPS_gaigVHjizyadSsZk/s320/Nategoestopreschool+009.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10779611688973448920noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421275935219943207.post-83702665487345699132009-08-29T09:49:00.000-07:002009-08-29T09:51:08.142-07:00FYII'm going to be goofing around with the look of my blog over the next day or so. I've never done anything with it, and I feel like it needs a new look. :)Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10779611688973448920noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421275935219943207.post-8064233797914606832009-08-26T09:46:00.001-07:002009-08-26T09:50:10.202-07:00Joanna's first day of first grade!!<div align="center">Joanna started 1st grade yesterday! It's big-kid stuff. They have desks. :)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeSNTlQ3g5nX23u-caTZqO7rkyVXOdrq3ZeJGS6dntY2x7q9_5xXyCvuAJ1r7NTpF6F48mR3QjF7f0dpyVVM8EvS7RfkauJWwnJyTxB2cEP9HNPyS8AaEUVxSZrWLkQKt3NDh_xyngrsPz/s1600-h/boatandfirstdayfirstgrade+019.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374315065653564610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeSNTlQ3g5nX23u-caTZqO7rkyVXOdrq3ZeJGS6dntY2x7q9_5xXyCvuAJ1r7NTpF6F48mR3QjF7f0dpyVVM8EvS7RfkauJWwnJyTxB2cEP9HNPyS8AaEUVxSZrWLkQKt3NDh_xyngrsPz/s320/boatandfirstdayfirstgrade+019.jpg" /></a> I don't know what's up with my camera. It's been taking blurry pictures. I think I accidentally pressed a wierd button or something.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhozJuVwGsHCjrULbHR-lRUgy21tsi0e1L-Kvtk_9M1es497JDyx3i3Ky5U3ZMXqugyg9dXt4duHpgho1y1aGBwLL45YER3QsqCaYhI6NLjYM5n99HAdnydkGZwijUExRBS206lDVMDgnar/s1600-h/boatandfirstdayfirstgrade+018.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374315060810194178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhozJuVwGsHCjrULbHR-lRUgy21tsi0e1L-Kvtk_9M1es497JDyx3i3Ky5U3ZMXqugyg9dXt4duHpgho1y1aGBwLL45YER3QsqCaYhI6NLjYM5n99HAdnydkGZwijUExRBS206lDVMDgnar/s320/boatandfirstdayfirstgrade+018.jpg" /></a><br />No matter. Blurry or not, clearly, she's the most beautiful first grader I know. :)<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKZ5Gonjvrni-zVOayRChaqcdryMzoHyoP8z3t2o9zcEcVFPoHxKJNkzZLqlp1H1cgHlOr950knKVni8X5spFfJElTxfB3Ymv5s09F5c_c57bqlyTEevT_6VbyuyJUs6ImHYByoqPVjgMP/s1600-h/boatandfirstdayfirstgrade+015.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374315047094062530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKZ5Gonjvrni-zVOayRChaqcdryMzoHyoP8z3t2o9zcEcVFPoHxKJNkzZLqlp1H1cgHlOr950knKVni8X5spFfJElTxfB3Ymv5s09F5c_c57bqlyTEevT_6VbyuyJUs6ImHYByoqPVjgMP/s320/boatandfirstdayfirstgrade+015.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div><br /></div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10779611688973448920noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421275935219943207.post-91613819271393035182009-08-26T09:24:00.000-07:002009-08-26T09:44:48.276-07:00Reliving the surf days...mini styleSo, way back when, Jake used to drive boats for a living. After Joanna was born, for his first father's day, I bought him this little mini r/c 44 ft. motor life boat. He had to have it. Fast forward 6 years later, Jake's a storekeeper and it was still sitting in the box down in our basement. Unused. Actually, we've never really had a good place to try it out and he's much happier not driving boats anymore, thank you very much. <br /><br />Anyway, there's this little lake here on base that I realized in one of my daily flashes of brilliance (Yes, daily flashes. I get them. Ask anyone.), would be perfect for sailing this little ship! So, Jake busted it out, dusted it off, charged it up and we were off! It was pretty fun!<br /><br /><div align="center">Nate having a go.</div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP8dLYJUhfnkdrkTizV0od5HbpezseAh0rxprZmIK7MHiXWygsKVuEiTbZDyTZew173FK1Uf4wh4lfR2ADuydc2a3RUEC75OPS6MmZej81GVHqyQBLMXO2tNYBFcsaSmfGp6g9wRKbRVbC/s1600-h/boatandfirstdayfirstgrade+012.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374310371587627218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP8dLYJUhfnkdrkTizV0od5HbpezseAh0rxprZmIK7MHiXWygsKVuEiTbZDyTZew173FK1Uf4wh4lfR2ADuydc2a3RUEC75OPS6MmZej81GVHqyQBLMXO2tNYBFcsaSmfGp6g9wRKbRVbC/s320/boatandfirstdayfirstgrade+012.jpg" /></a> Careful, don't run aground! We'll have to call the Coast Guard. Hee hee.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP0N80gSMlNjX7Xe3o7UZq5_AETcNT4njLnVowEN0m18SrRMzJzK8kGF3RMdWa1Y4jd60STsa5OnMgWyJVwRMtkRIdCCuPQzLHDyLzHCls9514YroQ9LTH_7l9m4bC1n7mZZvtPbXlCQw/s1600-h/boatandfirstdayfirstgrade+011.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374310366764797698" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP0N80gSMlNjX7Xe3o7UZq5_AETcNT4njLnVowEN0m18SrRMzJzK8kGF3RMdWa1Y4jd60STsa5OnMgWyJVwRMtkRIdCCuPQzLHDyLzHCls9514YroQ9LTH_7l9m4bC1n7mZZvtPbXlCQw/s320/boatandfirstdayfirstgrade+011.jpg" /></a>Joanna's turn!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmmxwJbMEY2cl_4KiBFrmbbDnlrdaPyF9xAteBsUMtd8QjdU71zn5PYXyN5QqzQTPo3YV0Wyi1KLhz5Go9R5NEc0aRecnzHxcNL6HzkLFib_TAYrB0IKarqw_xB-ATg7waR5Elh3NeEUw/s1600-h/boatandfirstdayfirstgrade+009.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374310356564578226" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmmxwJbMEY2cl_4KiBFrmbbDnlrdaPyF9xAteBsUMtd8QjdU71zn5PYXyN5QqzQTPo3YV0Wyi1KLhz5Go9R5NEc0aRecnzHxcNL6HzkLFib_TAYrB0IKarqw_xB-ATg7waR5Elh3NeEUw/s320/boatandfirstdayfirstgrade+009.jpg" /></a> Hmm. He's up to something, I think.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihy9dtDwlQIaxozX3JUT5RO58ikEZqLu1BICqA7o1b2IY4QWn0ckXR71dBBod4D5tQR1ZoofylHPNTAUfPFjD4A6ydp2Q3C7FrIUHytOSJNUqXtsq00bCuJYh-gCcAlqUlTAgQrJPHgEc/s1600-h/boatandfirstdayfirstgrade+007.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374309956338685954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihy9dtDwlQIaxozX3JUT5RO58ikEZqLu1BICqA7o1b2IY4QWn0ckXR71dBBod4D5tQR1ZoofylHPNTAUfPFjD4A6ydp2Q3C7FrIUHytOSJNUqXtsq00bCuJYh-gCcAlqUlTAgQrJPHgEc/s320/boatandfirstdayfirstgrade+007.jpg" /></a>My handsome husband. He's good at counting stuff and driving r/c 44 ft. motor lifeboats.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ557s8z28AIgkgdjuK2KRLkTKu5sBFeTFoU6tpxXUq8jaMJH0Tw8NOhbKd_epGXFBgPtf5nBniHrbJpYntYhAEdKmDATJC4vnrbAGSYcPAJBMcwCdhTJ8A9AwnkQZaZsWc1VQMMtBTgU/s1600-h/boatandfirstdayfirstgrade+004.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374309953207787154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ557s8z28AIgkgdjuK2KRLkTKu5sBFeTFoU6tpxXUq8jaMJH0Tw8NOhbKd_epGXFBgPtf5nBniHrbJpYntYhAEdKmDATJC4vnrbAGSYcPAJBMcwCdhTJ8A9AwnkQZaZsWc1VQMMtBTgU/s320/boatandfirstdayfirstgrade+004.jpg" /></a>Setting sail<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFzcUTy_ozTwQp_jYIdaqYNDH9amOPQYR5Znk8w6X7SRiwntjjgk9QtaS1d4qiaVrq8VYgv6HMF6HS6lk0L5KKZJSUHQa3OTpJiKMaEu6y_3X7QuPZC2gEUK9460JOjYTwhLhnh7aEIIM/s1600-h/boatandfirstdayfirstgrade+003.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374309944294174770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFzcUTy_ozTwQp_jYIdaqYNDH9amOPQYR5Znk8w6X7SRiwntjjgk9QtaS1d4qiaVrq8VYgv6HMF6HS6lk0L5KKZJSUHQa3OTpJiKMaEu6y_3X7QuPZC2gEUK9460JOjYTwhLhnh7aEIIM/s320/boatandfirstdayfirstgrade+003.jpg" /></a>Don't fall in! We'll have to call the Coast Guard.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5JwKPEJgmEU7LO0JnuSUrR0YCWL-lKKTE7JnTj6TA1WJbAAfyvdyNU57qhasPYOlBJBgBhtm-SpYzJlb_Msi7xhWixnh7QTYrM7Ux5OmFDSDvLZ-G8ky1zf5NZ5M0IAa2nsVKlH51Npw/s1600-h/boatandfirstdayfirstgrade+002.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374309934060037394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5JwKPEJgmEU7LO0JnuSUrR0YCWL-lKKTE7JnTj6TA1WJbAAfyvdyNU57qhasPYOlBJBgBhtm-SpYzJlb_Msi7xhWixnh7QTYrM7Ux5OmFDSDvLZ-G8ky1zf5NZ5M0IAa2nsVKlH51Npw/s320/boatandfirstdayfirstgrade+002.jpg" /></a>Hey Joanna! Smile!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKsXdzE88CVWpk33SNuwsIw9R01POeu0Kp5dEX2yxXO5sr4m-Q_cx9I24O7v9zB0n_Hlxb0EDiQvMIR6prvUzLT1xfF4H7XLv2tyIUs9BMVcyKjrTAEL3evk1q_iQcW4_87lGdg6thDMo/s1600-h/boatandfirstdayfirstgrade+001.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374309932768276002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKsXdzE88CVWpk33SNuwsIw9R01POeu0Kp5dEX2yxXO5sr4m-Q_cx9I24O7v9zB0n_Hlxb0EDiQvMIR6prvUzLT1xfF4H7XLv2tyIUs9BMVcyKjrTAEL3evk1q_iQcW4_87lGdg6thDMo/s320/boatandfirstdayfirstgrade+001.jpg" /></a> </div></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10779611688973448920noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421275935219943207.post-80305738788503389752009-08-20T15:46:00.000-07:002009-08-26T09:17:49.918-07:00Color therapyAren't these pretty? Joanna picked them last week. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjinKg05Iw9f_RRMZzUpoGmhrhnZNtdSzuZl9X_7Trqacw2tN9PWTbnQmWsnBTOU_afPd7KRbbl42pozh6cNRsuwhpD2WltUqxtUV1gcuIUaX2NF2l1C2Revf3iAMYPhb6xBMw85M8jyZ8/s1600-h/wildflowers+003.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372181425746834850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjinKg05Iw9f_RRMZzUpoGmhrhnZNtdSzuZl9X_7Trqacw2tN9PWTbnQmWsnBTOU_afPd7KRbbl42pozh6cNRsuwhpD2WltUqxtUV1gcuIUaX2NF2l1C2Revf3iAMYPhb6xBMw85M8jyZ8/s320/wildflowers+003.jpg" /></a> I love the colors. They make me happy. <br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDobzK2van1QrH6XRSeMw1YdwFESyFKjDEtu8wtonYE3O6DDf2ZYBlVoej6VdMhRiuIePbuUAYzFXpGy6O8LgBNE3_q_W0Ul1LUPGXRf3zUPkbAM3xit7kGxwAXqU-yBh4W53OdOxfCF8/s1600-h/wildflowers+002.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372181412343072418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDobzK2van1QrH6XRSeMw1YdwFESyFKjDEtu8wtonYE3O6DDf2ZYBlVoej6VdMhRiuIePbuUAYzFXpGy6O8LgBNE3_q_W0Ul1LUPGXRf3zUPkbAM3xit7kGxwAXqU-yBh4W53OdOxfCF8/s320/wildflowers+002.jpg" /></a> This bouquet has inspired me. I think I want to make a quilt with these colors in it. :)<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9CP_MjgTDncdrKJykRTtz17MU8sYdwZDSJ4DcJ51u9jB5gjWX9dN8BhR95VSmorNHC9FD-z6re5Z55HJl7pG8FK6MqA7L7RjpYEMokVMb3yJGVM2iNSTAuRrO_NJfZksnJhl8WXOKRzY/s1600-h/wildflowers+001.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372181407391783154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9CP_MjgTDncdrKJykRTtz17MU8sYdwZDSJ4DcJ51u9jB5gjWX9dN8BhR95VSmorNHC9FD-z6re5Z55HJl7pG8FK6MqA7L7RjpYEMokVMb3yJGVM2iNSTAuRrO_NJfZksnJhl8WXOKRzY/s320/wildflowers+001.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10779611688973448920noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421275935219943207.post-2537837169373914472009-08-12T14:03:00.000-07:002009-08-12T14:07:54.570-07:00Check this out...Are these two related, or WHAT??? I thought this was so cute!! This picture is Joanna when she was 2.5 years old. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicZFsYwfGfR10s5EZMKoAyAGlL8hR9Eg1GpWck53tDdxLw69kraccAaGPcWJBqIN3Zs1b7H5FGZpNlgfb3IPlr_jyO7l-lQsaDkN7pexur1xJ3CUBiZIw0LLreBETo2J7sVfsFuVt7Sx0/s1600-h/Joannaage2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369186341806409298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicZFsYwfGfR10s5EZMKoAyAGlL8hR9Eg1GpWck53tDdxLw69kraccAaGPcWJBqIN3Zs1b7H5FGZpNlgfb3IPlr_jyO7l-lQsaDkN7pexur1xJ3CUBiZIw0LLreBETo2J7sVfsFuVt7Sx0/s320/Joannaage2.jpg" /></a> This is Faith Olive (my niece, for those of you that are unaware). She's 1.5 years old. Check out the family resemblance!! Those Camagna genes just come a-shinin' through! Love it!! <br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXKXPqXRZwaANFEHlh07uJSPmS7NjtJEQHnVRD3BV5yphJDxDpeqxTCTmVwXh9sf0IUGKhSTC55YhPE6WLwZpsjPMrMC6ZRaz3Lrea7l0Kdms6w7TLfIdBjvQbTHOnhdM_3DD6a_qbzRM/s1600-h/FaithOlive.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369186330505811362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXKXPqXRZwaANFEHlh07uJSPmS7NjtJEQHnVRD3BV5yphJDxDpeqxTCTmVwXh9sf0IUGKhSTC55YhPE6WLwZpsjPMrMC6ZRaz3Lrea7l0Kdms6w7TLfIdBjvQbTHOnhdM_3DD6a_qbzRM/s320/FaithOlive.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div></div></div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10779611688973448920noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421275935219943207.post-23818128709475295482009-08-11T10:41:00.000-07:002009-08-11T13:27:56.138-07:00I ate bear.Yes, bear. Here's a visual to go along with my internal dialogue that I had going on while I ate it:<br /><br />You are not a vegetarian. You like beef and pork. Meat is meat. Why are some meats acceptable but others are not? You should definitely try this. It's hypocritical not to.<br /><br /><div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdLCSrPAcv-3688FNDXyI2MngDoM25SpmOVNxn-C63rMyhRblRhEZ-uPEx98k6LASPiDemheENClKbzqhkpDb1aTkwH41LM5WzW1n1b5pr0B4R_y0MTq2yGtPk5hCO5m7AD9GOAKhtrSk/s1600-h/iatebear+002.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368763258900402658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdLCSrPAcv-3688FNDXyI2MngDoM25SpmOVNxn-C63rMyhRblRhEZ-uPEx98k6LASPiDemheENClKbzqhkpDb1aTkwH41LM5WzW1n1b5pr0B4R_y0MTq2yGtPk5hCO5m7AD9GOAKhtrSk/s320/iatebear+002.jpg" /></a> But it's not beef or pork. It's bear. It was walking around in the woods minding it's own business and now it's on my plate, smothered in BBQ sauce, sandwiched between two buns and some cole slaw.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsjRB-GzcX8HrQyomKTOq1rfEzlp3S8gG9oAX30hsZJK5YGMWQmOUBQNNvmNqXK8wME2isK7uXNwoLfjJYPKUpOQcu4amZxKN6jY-M8spCR-XlSIpqfdDvsX4YR2RiAD_SRV2c7uqYLK4/s1600-h/iatebear+003.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368763256458553538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsjRB-GzcX8HrQyomKTOq1rfEzlp3S8gG9oAX30hsZJK5YGMWQmOUBQNNvmNqXK8wME2isK7uXNwoLfjJYPKUpOQcu4amZxKN6jY-M8spCR-XlSIpqfdDvsX4YR2RiAD_SRV2c7uqYLK4/s320/iatebear+003.jpg" /></a>Oh, you're such a dang hypocrite. You hate hypocracy. Just become a vegetarian already, will ya? Aw, poor little Yogi was walking around in the woods and now he's on your plate smothered in BBQ sauce. How is that different than the poor wittle piggy that had a short life in some dark, crowded pork farm and ended up on your plate as a ham sandwich? Eat it. Or don't. But you should definitely become a vegetarian if you don't. Meat is meat.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipyG8S4OUJZYYe3CnWi93FQhpA1nipzsr6lV2QTpJFvTBpFCo-klnv_9IY_cnNmG9ILmGGlM1-XQn9oo2lxLoU9-YBcEjQUXIfdRRHgQprtZX89mSPs16AQgCaz6R3X-Xf98B1ZqzBZ0g/s1600-h/iatebear+001.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368763245274982738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipyG8S4OUJZYYe3CnWi93FQhpA1nipzsr6lV2QTpJFvTBpFCo-klnv_9IY_cnNmG9ILmGGlM1-XQn9oo2lxLoU9-YBcEjQUXIfdRRHgQprtZX89mSPs16AQgCaz6R3X-Xf98B1ZqzBZ0g/s320/iatebear+001.jpg" /></a> But it's BEAR. That is definitely not the same as pork or beef. I can go to the grocery store and buy bacon and steak. I grew up eating bacon and steak. I am not used to eating wild game. Go easy on me, will ya? I'm a city slicker, okay? I admit it. Plus, Yogi and Bambi are cute. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjastGOqvK8nbLJqSZdi-SnH2Sqziut-31eBxEyx2h993MLeNdti3jZnS_FCEi-VaVZBwSz5R2TK-JSBXZh3zv0F1oWnvjvhz0OcDQjkVP1bM06o9anM5zSPVjaQhMFTsD6kfYQfINBvh4/s1600-h/iatebear+004.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368763284669228466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjastGOqvK8nbLJqSZdi-SnH2Sqziut-31eBxEyx2h993MLeNdti3jZnS_FCEi-VaVZBwSz5R2TK-JSBXZh3zv0F1oWnvjvhz0OcDQjkVP1bM06o9anM5zSPVjaQhMFTsD6kfYQfINBvh4/s320/iatebear+004.jpg" /></a> But not cuter than this. (P.S. I ate the bear.)</div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10779611688973448920noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421275935219943207.post-14514969925991153332009-08-02T19:54:00.000-07:002009-08-02T20:26:51.719-07:00My son...he's 4 going on 6???So, Nate has always been tall for his age. He was born tall and was a tall toddler. When he was 1 he wore a size 2T. When he was 3 he wore a 5T and now at the ripe old age of 4, he's - you guessed it - wearing a size 6!!! I went shopping in Anchorage with my friend Toni last week, and really thought about the stuff I was buying for Nate. His size 5 stuff is really getting short on him, but could he possibly be into a size 6? I bought it despite my doubts, and I'm so glad I went with my gut! When I brought home his clothes and had him try them on, the size 6 slim jeans fit him perfectly!! I'll repeat. He's 4 and size 6 slim jeans fit him perfectly. <br /><br />He has the same size feet as Joanna. <br /><br />I had someone ask me last week, "So, which one is your oldest?"...um...Joanna is. DUH!!! I've recently had people ask me if they're twins. Nope. I even had someone give me a snarky look during one of Nate's less pleasant moments and say, "He's a little bit OLD to be acting like that, isn't he?". HE'S 4, PEOPLE!!!<br /><br />Then, to put the icing on the cake, the dentist told me during his check-up this past week, that one of his bottom teeth is loose. I about hit the floor. Excuse me, Ms. Dentist? Ms. Professional who I believe to be an expert in such matters?? Could you have possibly just told me that my 4-year old son has a loose tooth??? Yes, indeed. I heard her correctly about that fine revelation as well as the discovery of his 6-year old molars trying to poke their way through the back of his 4-year old gums.<br /><br />Okay, whoa. Whoa, horsie. WHOA NELLIE!!! Who gave this child permission to be 4 going on 6?? What part of his cute, 4-year old brain is not getting the memos from me saying "HE'S NOT 6!!! HE'S ONLY 4!!!" It's crazy. Insanity, I tell you. I need to call the NBA right away and insist they get a talant scout over to my house pronto to discuss his future contract with the L.A. Lakers. Too bad I don't want to live in L.A. It's also unfortunate that I'm not a professional basketball fan. :)Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10779611688973448920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421275935219943207.post-49983935701364801592009-07-16T20:28:00.000-07:002009-07-16T20:39:15.883-07:00Another trip to Anchorage on a C130So, I had to go to Anchorage again to get my hearing tested. I won't go into the same old song and dance about how much I can't wait to live in a place that's civilized...where people DRIVE to such things...but I'll spare you. You're welcome. :)<br /><br />I took the kids with me. We went to Chuck E. Cheese's and had the entire place to ourselves! It was crazy and so much fun!<br /><br />Here are some pictures of all the action.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX4GZKrsBn2MwO1y0AuS5rso-A_vHLrIWIo8CSa63ZjaC5zIavrQnfzSGwdQMUZXUDfd8YeDeej-bk7S0dMS76qwcY5VlPtSXLSX1i_hOwwyPwLx8lGR2b3kutjYI9-ZpzyirvG3XB1jI/s1600-h/July2009+032.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359266250348875394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX4GZKrsBn2MwO1y0AuS5rso-A_vHLrIWIo8CSa63ZjaC5zIavrQnfzSGwdQMUZXUDfd8YeDeej-bk7S0dMS76qwcY5VlPtSXLSX1i_hOwwyPwLx8lGR2b3kutjYI9-ZpzyirvG3XB1jI/s320/July2009+032.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSwh8uYxEg6esFyMlhyphenhyphenPrRsudyc322zdOpKWhIeBQ1aJGPH117yy0AJNt3m1zcYqS3G0em3deQqmcVmYbCoxs6qR6isqBWki0RaZw2D00p2DkyVxNx-WaoR20sawNMsEFgxrQXywRmoZE/s1600-h/July2009+028.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359266243674784946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSwh8uYxEg6esFyMlhyphenhyphenPrRsudyc322zdOpKWhIeBQ1aJGPH117yy0AJNt3m1zcYqS3G0em3deQqmcVmYbCoxs6qR6isqBWki0RaZw2D00p2DkyVxNx-WaoR20sawNMsEFgxrQXywRmoZE/s320/July2009+028.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNkdNbCcod8egsoS8b31tej9wbrbE8nM3SHEY7OrAthf5npqJ3pSyQ5ZPxEhYafyXt9CGaJt8zXQCY9GwdnBqHajRKCHVJE_9ALXGmiEk8hOKeHTiKBlLBCeyDEY9hk-xNUpg0TUrpcTs/s1600-h/July2009+026.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359266242205994578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNkdNbCcod8egsoS8b31tej9wbrbE8nM3SHEY7OrAthf5npqJ3pSyQ5ZPxEhYafyXt9CGaJt8zXQCY9GwdnBqHajRKCHVJE_9ALXGmiEk8hOKeHTiKBlLBCeyDEY9hk-xNUpg0TUrpcTs/s320/July2009+026.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuNw2H7ibjic-_8fnCnu5aaaFgnskYunk8_ieSQUWvYOqCAovg_B1Nxnmsg9Ip0z6BaM6t1VJs0y3sq39fbaRZYcf7tlFrSeO4W82dpLAgwjXB2sxjTaDgVo31BvyZ9y2ShcbA9HT1KlE/s1600-h/July2009+024.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359266236975030770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuNw2H7ibjic-_8fnCnu5aaaFgnskYunk8_ieSQUWvYOqCAovg_B1Nxnmsg9Ip0z6BaM6t1VJs0y3sq39fbaRZYcf7tlFrSeO4W82dpLAgwjXB2sxjTaDgVo31BvyZ9y2ShcbA9HT1KlE/s320/July2009+024.jpg" /></a> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMbwyMkE6O_zIOCQFY9Kco8hC-hly0sG_6u1hXk5LEKkNpeFm4XB2FgLv16HYiZONGR7RnooSEnooHh5buGMA2jEiFa3cHAwvqDKnHtUxjmHLHSUo2vdrGbSB-sttCMRwj44QtUMHFjWc/s1600-h/July2009+019.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359266227645953938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMbwyMkE6O_zIOCQFY9Kco8hC-hly0sG_6u1hXk5LEKkNpeFm4XB2FgLv16HYiZONGR7RnooSEnooHh5buGMA2jEiFa3cHAwvqDKnHtUxjmHLHSUo2vdrGbSB-sttCMRwj44QtUMHFjWc/s320/July2009+019.jpg" /></a><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10779611688973448920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421275935219943207.post-79261166572715748102009-07-13T07:40:00.000-07:002009-07-13T08:04:18.201-07:00Joanna Hope: Little girl, big mind.So, every night, Jake and I each individually spend a few minutes with each kid while tucking them into bed. We sing songs, reflect on the day, repremand Manny Bunny for hiding 5 minutes before we say "Time for bed!" (kidding!), talk about Star Wars, school or whatever is on their little brains before they go to sleep. <br /><br />Well, lately, Joanna has been asking all of these really deep questions. She's asked such doozies as:<br /><br />"Who were the first humans on earth?"<br />"When I was a teeny, tiny baby, how did I get into your tummy?"<br />"How does _______ (insert any body part or function) work?"<br />"Who invented the first fan?"<br />"How is fabric made? Why are some soft and others not so soft?"<br />"How does a(n) __________ (insert any non-human animal)'s body work?"<br />"How does a cow make milk?"<br />"How does a lightbulb work?"<br />"Why do we carve pumpkins on Halloween?"<br /><br />I won't go into how I answered the first two, because they're personal, and because my main point is that my daughter has an amazing mind. She really does. I told Jake that we definitely need to make sure we have enough money to send her to a great college, because she is destined for great things, I can tell. She is always thinking. She's a thinker. Sometimes I can see that it burdens her and causes anxiety. I worry that she will struggle with anxiety when she's older. I've seen the signs in the past and I try very hard to make sure she knows that she can always talk to me and Jake about anything. We will always try to help her with her questions and problems, and if we don't know the answers, we'll make sure we find someone who does. <br /><br />Last night when all of the above questions came pouring out of her sweet little mouth, I suddenly remembered that she had a small notebook in her nightstand drawer. I got it out and said, "OOH!! I know! We'll write down all of your questions so we don't forget them, and tomorrow we can look them up on the computer! We'll see what we can learn about all of these things!". (Well, except for the first two, because I gave her my own personal answers to those.) <br /><br />So, as I sit here with her little notebook full of questions, I feel so blessed to have this little girl with rhe big mind in my life. She is so precious, and I really am feeling the calling to do all I can to nurture and support the big mind AND the little girl that holds it.Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10779611688973448920noreply@blogger.com1