tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64633291077010443022023-11-16T04:51:24.705-08:00Jewelry BoxNikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01792648847934893154noreply@blogger.comBlogger412125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6463329107701044302.post-40882743669212229372014-08-28T12:37:00.002-07:002014-08-28T12:37:39.298-07:00Update<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">So, I'm a little behind in my monthly wrap-ups. Life is just too hectic between my job, taking care of everything at home, and looking after Nate & Chelsea.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The plan I've hatched is to get caught up on my monthly posts in the next 2 weeks, finish out 2014 and then send this blog into the great unknown. Time to wrap it up and say adios.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Instagram has become my photo sharing source these days (em me for details and access).</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thanks for reading!</span></div>
Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01792648847934893154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6463329107701044302.post-29694813848035231772014-06-07T20:57:00.001-07:002014-06-07T20:57:17.725-07:00May<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now THAT is how an ice cream lover eats an ice cream cone!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We've been playing with a lot of Legos lately. Nate has enjoyed his subscription to Pley.com (rental service of Lego kits) I'm still on the fence about Pley -- several of our kits have had missing bricks.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Consistently warmer weather means more time outside and <strike>playing</strike> wrestling in our toy tent.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Sunflowers from this year's garden. The setting sun was hitting them just right for a nice picture one evening. Our 2014 garden has been a disappointment. More on that another time...</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Nate with his "body portrait" at Open House. Every year the kids paint a body portrait. It's been interesting to see how his skills have progressed each year. He likes to draw big eyes (!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Don't mess with <strike>Texas</strike> Chelsea. Seriously, this girl loves hats! She wears one every day -- Nate's Easter fedora, Burger King crown, bicycle helmet, winter ski cap, you name it.</span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I'm thrilled when my kids play in the sprinklers during the summer because (1) it's what I used to do as a kid and (2) it means I don't have to go to the trouble of blowing up the inflatable pool! #momneedsabreak</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We picked strawberries on an overcast Saturday during Memorial Day weekend. People kept referring to Chelsea as a boy (as if the pink shoes aren't a clue but whatever). She loved the animals at the farm and asked about the "goats" & "animals" for several days afterward.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">"I found one!" Nate would yell to us when he saw a red strawberry. He was a good little farmer. The strawberries were delicious.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">How did this little guy grow up so fast? Goodbye beloved preschool. We will miss you SO much! (maybe Mommy is going to miss it most of all.....) But of course, Chelsea will be there in 2015...</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Do you see Nate's response to the question? Please, Lord, help our sweet boy find a special friend or two or three!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Nate and 2 of his preschool buddies. This class really bonded...can you tell I'm feeling a little sad about leaving it???</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Nate and 1 of his 2 teachers on the last day of school. She started to cry when telling me about how terrific Nate is. Then I started to cry. What an emotional day!</span></div>
Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01792648847934893154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6463329107701044302.post-19482635568838319582014-05-01T23:32:00.000-07:002014-05-01T23:32:28.437-07:00April<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">One Sunday afternoon, I must have had a stroke. I say this because, on a whim, I decided to make fried chicken. I've never made fried chicken before. The recipe looked easy - only 4 steps - how hard could it be?? Hard, it was very hard. I have very little experience cooking with oil in this way. I think I will stick with baked, roasted, and grilled chicken and leave the fried birds in the hands of The Colonel and Paula Deen</span>.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My children don't fall asleep in random places. They are bed sleepers only. I can't remember what prompted this but Lee snapped this photo when Chelsea fell asleep in her highchair after lunch. I love how her hand is dangling there. A rare sight indeed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Our garden is growing! I will share pictures of it further into the summer. We were so excited to get some peas on the vine. Chelsea and I have eaten them. Sadly, the peas have become the first casualty of the garden. I think this early heat has been too rough on them. I'd like to plant some more soon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Nate called to me from the living room one afternoon and said he had a surprise for me. I went to the door and nearly jumped out of my skin to see a rather deflated Darth Vader costume laying on the floor. Ha! I love his attention to detail with the light saber right on the glove. It's Star Wars meets Flat Stanley.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Somebody is completely enamored by her stuffed snake and wears it like a feather boa around her neck. I should also document that Miss Chelsea's vocabulary has quadrupled this month. Her favorite phrases to say right now are "look at this, Mom" "hold that" "I win!" "thank you, gardener"</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We had a nice Easter lunch on the Saturday before Easter</span>. <span style="font-size: large;">I made the Pioneer Woman's grilled chicken salad and a yummy brownie recipe I found on Pinterest. Easy table runner idea -- I used a roll of discounted wrapping paper. I think it was just over 1 dollar for the roll. It added some nice color and was easy to clean up (no washing afterwards!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Ahh, that crazy Uncle Eric.</span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Is it possible to have too many Easter eggs? </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hey, is that money on the grass???</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Tulips! One of my favorite Spring flowers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I don't think I can remember any other year when we dyed Easter eggs and it was 90 degrees outside. Kinda took the joy out of it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Woo hoo! Grandma and I surprised Nate with a mid-week trip to Disneyland, thanks to a very generous friend. Chelsea and Daddy stayed home. Don't worry, she'll get to go sometime....in maybe 3 years.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Nate's favorite part of the entire Disneyland Resort? The Lego Store, of course.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">"My big brother goes to Disneyland and all I get is this lousy hat."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Have a happy May!</span></div>
Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01792648847934893154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6463329107701044302.post-24910148805569564142014-04-01T23:25:00.002-07:002014-04-01T23:25:36.839-07:00March<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Time to pack our bags and buy skirts for the boys....Lee's accepted a job in Samoa (I'll wait while you find it on Google Earth)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We're expecting Cook baby #3 AND #4 - wow, twins!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Nate knocked out a front tooth while dancing around to Pharrell William's "Happy" song. Nate, you gotta watch out for those doorways, buddy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">She won! Chelsea is Little Miss Coppertone 2014</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The answer? You'll have to wait until the very bottom of this post. No peeking!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In the meantime, on to my March round-up which isn't nearly as exciting as any of the above....</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Does anybody know that Walt Disney's cute little red barn has been moved to Griffith Park? It's open for viewing one Sunday a month and holds a huge amount of items related to his model train collection.</span> <span style="font-size: large;">I want to live here!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> A happy face in the morning!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Disney? Check. Star Wars? Check. Something that combines the two? Pretty awesome. A school friend of Nate's picked up these car window decals for us at Disneyland. I wanted to be Princess Leia in the 4th grade. Guess I can cross that off my bucket list.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> I'm giddy over these little feet in sandals.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">25+ pictures taken on St. Patty's Day and the best one might be when she tried to shove her finger up her brother's nose.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Doesn't look like much now but our vegetable garden has been planted. We've got cherry tomatoes, peas, zucchini, carrots, eggplant, beets, and corn! I've also planted Dahlia and Gladiolus bulbs. I'm excited to see what happens.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thought I'd share one of our favorite staples -- ham & beans. Actually, I switched out the ham for smoked turkey legs. It's soooo good. You can find variations of the recipe on Pinterest.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I always post happy pictures of the kiddos but there are other moments in our life too. "Sobbing at the Back Door" is an appropriate name for this photo. She was not a happy girl. Hitting me in the face and throwing stuff on the floor didn't buy her any sympathy. Just keeping it real....</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Matchbox Car Name Parade!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The brim of Chelsea's sunhat flipped up and I immediately thought of Scarlett O'Hara's wide-brimmed hat at the start of Gone with the Wind. Although, I don't believe Scarlett carried a sippy cup around Tara....</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Okay, so the answer to my question above is...April Fools! Hey, it ends in 45 minutes and I couldn't help myself. :)</span></div>
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<br />Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01792648847934893154noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6463329107701044302.post-18022566047725486582014-03-13T14:23:00.000-07:002014-03-13T14:23:17.304-07:00Book Review #2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Well, I haven't been reading as much as I would like now that Chelsea is more & more mobile (translation: trouble maker). Here are a few books I managed to eek out at the end of last year and into 2014:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It's been months since I finished <u>The Light Between Oceans</u> and I still think about it once in a while. It is exquisitely written; I haven't read a book with such vivid imagery in a long time. The plot captures your attention from the start and is, ultimately, heartbreaking. Discussing the particulars of the plot gives too much away so I'll leave it at that. I highly recommend this novel.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I was disappointed with <u>Beautiful Ruins</u>. Maybe my expectations were too high because, with such a beautiful cover, it has to be the perfect novel, right?? Well, the cover photo is very pretty but I found this book to be so-so. This is the first book I've read where I actually skipped a chapter (it wasn't totally relevant to the main plot). The chapters, in fact, jump around and cover different decades in the lives of the characters, which was an interesting literary device but I found it too distracting from the storyline. Also, I wasn't fond of the Hollywood/movie-making portion of the plot. I finished this book -- that's really the only good thing I can say about it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We made a super fast stop at the library recently and after checking out a dozen kid books, I decided to quickly swing by the "new book" shelf on our way out. With Chelsea squirming in my arms and Nate asking "how long are we going to be here?" I decided to grab a book and go, solely basing my item on cover photo and title. Yea for me. Anyhoo, this book was fascinating and I would recommend it if you're interesting in British history. Pamela Hicks is the great, great granddaughter of Queen Victoria and she's lived a very interesting, very privileged life among the upper-crust of British society. She was a lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth for a time, lived in India for a spell and was friends with Gandhi. I can only assume by the very abrupt ending to this book that Mrs. Hicks is planning a second volume to her autobiography. Fascinating story.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">What can I say about this book that hasn't already been said? I finished it 2 weeks ago and I think about it constantly. It will blow your mind. I can't decide who I love more -- Laura Hillenbrand or the book's subject, Louis Zamperini (I might love Laura a smidge more because Louis is a USC alum....) The movie based on this book comes out in December. I highly recommend reading this book first; Laura's attention to detail (research!!) is impeccable and there's no way the movie can cover the entire story unless it's a 4+ hour film. My only other comment would be to warn future readers that the POW abuse and other elements of the story wore me out at one point. It's difficult to read about someone's suffering day after day and not have it affect you. I had to put the book down for a couple of days because it was taking me to a dark place. After my self-imposed break, I finished the book just fine. I will definitely make my kids read this book at some point in their future ("20 books your mom wants you to read as young adults "-- hmmm, that's a list I need to start working on).</span></div>
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Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01792648847934893154noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6463329107701044302.post-74838849834905855502014-03-09T20:25:00.000-07:002014-03-09T20:25:56.207-07:00January and February<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I've fallen behind in my updates! But, honestly, there isn't too much to write about besides just typical daily life stuff. I'll let the pictures do the talking....</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We spontaneously decorated with some crepe paper and balloons before our family SuperBowl party. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">A rare moment of sibling affection.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">She wants to play with the big kid toys soooo badly.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Love this little guy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> A kick done in the spirit of fun....or is it???</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Working on a birthday banner for Daddy.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsIICZrwmH3Lnqjxz57rcIHwbakcfWkD9L5RKmO33Sq8JlpyvQNO6K05IYlui8rIYEbDS6T_7yOuRwYCzfJvVPGi-bnudsZSpiUrafcJwMgTgPQ2FW9iN-kTU5KhZYDLWFWg890zpfkwWr/s1600/DSC_0054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsIICZrwmH3Lnqjxz57rcIHwbakcfWkD9L5RKmO33Sq8JlpyvQNO6K05IYlui8rIYEbDS6T_7yOuRwYCzfJvVPGi-bnudsZSpiUrafcJwMgTgPQ2FW9iN-kTU5KhZYDLWFWg890zpfkwWr/s1600/DSC_0054.JPG" height="428" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Daddy's birthday cake and ice cream. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hey Chelsea, no feet on the table!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjieLth_Wal_uVvRXDyAP8I3RXtS330FKL_OpwzhdJmxggYGc2Qp6Ia_DX3oqGdAI5jo0ffXvK46imA-P6y2yRG9t3xfXJ2sm3EmWfMyVY79r6HwO5RU-ZQvxmfmCXiCCqQABzu_gZrwiHb/s1600/DSC_0145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjieLth_Wal_uVvRXDyAP8I3RXtS330FKL_OpwzhdJmxggYGc2Qp6Ia_DX3oqGdAI5jo0ffXvK46imA-P6y2yRG9t3xfXJ2sm3EmWfMyVY79r6HwO5RU-ZQvxmfmCXiCCqQABzu_gZrwiHb/s1600/DSC_0145.JPG" height="428" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Valentine's Day goodies for my little sweethearts.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYbHixLuxZb890h22SoguSs_IZtFlG3iDga_75BTBqQJu5HQjlwy5N9nScJrYGihArHzQY5-P0aRdAGBw0OOkI_nNsTLGgM4-JrArumeLe3c1r-mz8D_yKBAUoz8YmOOg5ie1Z7IIFZVrc/s1600/DSC_0148.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYbHixLuxZb890h22SoguSs_IZtFlG3iDga_75BTBqQJu5HQjlwy5N9nScJrYGihArHzQY5-P0aRdAGBw0OOkI_nNsTLGgM4-JrArumeLe3c1r-mz8D_yKBAUoz8YmOOg5ie1Z7IIFZVrc/s1600/DSC_0148.JPG" height="428" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I bribe my kids with food during photo shoots. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdpqFASEiYHfIVt9X91e28pT9nnnNHu_soS2kaYyut4vAFPfXJQfmxg_taVzBS0_AuT5o6L2t-fk5UzxCPpZZtD5Tf535mPvEKpHio9Ju3YpAs45WYUonH0kzNcMbh8a1ew-6CyKAfzSUa/s1600/DSC_0191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdpqFASEiYHfIVt9X91e28pT9nnnNHu_soS2kaYyut4vAFPfXJQfmxg_taVzBS0_AuT5o6L2t-fk5UzxCPpZZtD5Tf535mPvEKpHio9Ju3YpAs45WYUonH0kzNcMbh8a1ew-6CyKAfzSUa/s1600/DSC_0191.JPG" height="428" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We bought large planters at Costco and will be using them for some of our veggie crop this year. The kids have enjoyed playing with them too.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPaI2lP17xkDgbTGErbeY-_xx0AXz4VszqsM_J2TLAnZ3KCEI7dw7Nz_7Hq533gLI_Ze4Jod2Upg3ImzDpR9yV2QGW0fQLszCrmh-OUCcMAHCV1uMZwHCdgeVGRiglWFkQxI0_00SjIJ5R/s1600/DSC_0213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPaI2lP17xkDgbTGErbeY-_xx0AXz4VszqsM_J2TLAnZ3KCEI7dw7Nz_7Hq533gLI_Ze4Jod2Upg3ImzDpR9yV2QGW0fQLszCrmh-OUCcMAHCV1uMZwHCdgeVGRiglWFkQxI0_00SjIJ5R/s1600/DSC_0213.JPG" height="640" width="428" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">With the unseasonably warm weather, we've been breaking out the Spring hand-me-downs.</span></div>
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Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01792648847934893154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6463329107701044302.post-30471051706681835192014-01-16T21:19:00.001-08:002014-01-16T21:19:23.078-08:00Prime Time<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">After years of point-and-shoot, I saved up to buy a "grown-up" camera -- a Nikon D40x. That was 6 years ago. My Nikon has been a blessing and a curse ever since. A blessing by taking decent photos but a curse because I don't always understand how to use it! I'm still trying to grasp how to operate an DSLR (digital single lens reflex) camera. My main gripe every year is that my Christmas photos never turn out very good. All of the places we visit on Christmas day, including our very own house, have poor lighting which leads to poor photos. I want crisp, clear Christmas photos! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Most reviews of DSLR cameras say that the kit lens (the lens that comes with the camera) is decent but not great. I researched better lenses and came to the conclusion that I'd like a prime lens. A prime lens is the opposite of a zoom lens - the focal length is fixed. So instead of zooming the lens out or in to take a photo, I have to physically move forward/backwards to take a picture. Prime lenses have superior optical quality and have a high maximum aperture (smaller depth of field). Translation: clear pictures!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">A 35mm prime lens isn't cheap so I opted to search on eBay for one. I managed to get one for about $30 less -- not a huge savings but it's still something. I was a happy girl the day my prime lens arrived in the mail last month, just in time for Christmas. Honestly, I'm still trying to figure out how to use it properly but my Christmas photos were noticeably better than prior years. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here's a collection of photos I've taken with my prime lens to show you how it differs from other lenses:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnNijytZW1ZnaeCLxnP1lJcKE_V5HqCx66CKxgFHK58K8r-glGMZ8plxqMDT78rIh2WDRo6qBxL13Gd8iispvIjMmLLsxOY4oZ1367LYqm-wqJ_lKxLQwgPPgstQ3A6QGOJyL6Vv8-nEIf/s1600/DSC_0118+(5).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnNijytZW1ZnaeCLxnP1lJcKE_V5HqCx66CKxgFHK58K8r-glGMZ8plxqMDT78rIh2WDRo6qBxL13Gd8iispvIjMmLLsxOY4oZ1367LYqm-wqJ_lKxLQwgPPgstQ3A6QGOJyL6Vv8-nEIf/s1600/DSC_0118+(5).JPG" height="428" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Prime lenses are great for portraits. See how the background is blurry? I can increase my aperture (small f-stop) and get a shallow depth of field. Chelsea was actually walking toward me as I took this picture. That's a Ritz cracker crumb on her face :) </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0tB7wVFU4gv-1QbLHv9VQ19pj0zCKZKj3HjES3doty4gaN9pJ018ar8uD1FofiCaP1qhCOkz9tJUzB1KMduU9znDqCebGyABc-tpexeRZkhHmCavea4L9r3y_jC9G_PSCUPSOgYIYagFn/s1600/DSC_0125+(4).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0tB7wVFU4gv-1QbLHv9VQ19pj0zCKZKj3HjES3doty4gaN9pJ018ar8uD1FofiCaP1qhCOkz9tJUzB1KMduU9znDqCebGyABc-tpexeRZkhHmCavea4L9r3y_jC9G_PSCUPSOgYIYagFn/s1600/DSC_0125+(4).JPG" height="428" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Another shallow depth-of-field picture. I love how the fence and flags are blurry in the background.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvzrYRkLMXT6PlNDNiTw3zqQFQqhogRFUQWLvZzx9STrSUy5y2Q2YsGVWTSBWCagxGpi6SQ3-2F8h0UhHbVtCOLJeleitd1MbrT6ysTevCwniKMa8IyeuiHaDHH0l_1Y_tiGidNZu8WbAe/s1600/DSC_0141+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvzrYRkLMXT6PlNDNiTw3zqQFQqhogRFUQWLvZzx9STrSUy5y2Q2YsGVWTSBWCagxGpi6SQ3-2F8h0UhHbVtCOLJeleitd1MbrT6ysTevCwniKMa8IyeuiHaDHH0l_1Y_tiGidNZu8WbAe/s1600/DSC_0141+(2).JPG" height="640" width="428" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">A portrait of Nate, pre-haircut....hair is a little shaggy in this one.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnpW4vNQq3Sj4pxks8C78x0S6T32lnCq-qi-KpGClceuJPGOOkEtjqoYOKjiyF0m_mm5vPEOEiFk8hvoz-_v8-Z69xKGUv3Oc44-SBNgkwo-wWHq9Lhm85zrJgOtcFIsCjlZWH8r8znNe9/s1600/DSC_0159.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnpW4vNQq3Sj4pxks8C78x0S6T32lnCq-qi-KpGClceuJPGOOkEtjqoYOKjiyF0m_mm5vPEOEiFk8hvoz-_v8-Z69xKGUv3Oc44-SBNgkwo-wWHq9Lhm85zrJgOtcFIsCjlZWH8r8znNe9/s1600/DSC_0159.JPG" height="428" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I didn't do anything special to this photo -- no editing. This is exactly how it turned out. Plus, it was taken with natural light from my kitchen window. Pretty amazing detail.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidd4xTbar_SHGkuANI6L7RoyX2JiuiDSG86ezbS4d1lilB4H8SZrKfzaCQrfDjO-JY15t7mazfx9olhWXKNAg5C1eepF4yoHqP20tMcADmav4VZ8Wmrdq3hn9svxq9wI6Dakf3XBu11v2V/s1600/DSC_0160+(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidd4xTbar_SHGkuANI6L7RoyX2JiuiDSG86ezbS4d1lilB4H8SZrKfzaCQrfDjO-JY15t7mazfx9olhWXKNAg5C1eepF4yoHqP20tMcADmav4VZ8Wmrdq3hn9svxq9wI6Dakf3XBu11v2V/s1600/DSC_0160+(3).JPG" height="640" width="428" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimF4XaadsmjYYcnYEOEtnqn_gYG0ZSmZdRwEWKZq9Ni30SHdDwcVxB_h_st0U6DLvfc3Osiy6CIUuyLXXHhHnuNozpmkh7oOyBITvQz8hkGYczZYe7bBtubv8IuGfMEDcq1RCHm0IRtUMM/s1600/DSC_0162+(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimF4XaadsmjYYcnYEOEtnqn_gYG0ZSmZdRwEWKZq9Ni30SHdDwcVxB_h_st0U6DLvfc3Osiy6CIUuyLXXHhHnuNozpmkh7oOyBITvQz8hkGYczZYe7bBtubv8IuGfMEDcq1RCHm0IRtUMM/s1600/DSC_0162+(3).JPG" height="428" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Nate's Lego helicopter. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIiIQ1N0Ytlmu2cEHrT9iESlGRAhHSJrIhCNWaWNKM2k_bQsc4j7k2slmCh_Z60nQPV0BBp2DM9NoLPuz6vNYEue6F9_nG5xLJZvnUjhTmhs0L6AUXYH8pCmdk-Czl7TMRVnKAlm5tcxi0/s1600/DSC_0168+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIiIQ1N0Ytlmu2cEHrT9iESlGRAhHSJrIhCNWaWNKM2k_bQsc4j7k2slmCh_Z60nQPV0BBp2DM9NoLPuz6vNYEue6F9_nG5xLJZvnUjhTmhs0L6AUXYH8pCmdk-Czl7TMRVnKAlm5tcxi0/s1600/DSC_0168+(2).JPG" height="640" width="428" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And the helicopter pilot who</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Nate has named "Helicopter" (makes for confusing conversations.) He's standing on the bricks that edge our backyard grass....looks a lot more interesting in the picture than what's really there!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq7Jl8FrQ1h4_m8Q3QGrEtXvNTzdCEp9nrY2zD4pDz63jJufNaBBdw-eS9990xlzZj1wY7dwsUR3-HfvyOzCnxqf5HbyvKMZXn6gGKMrjeYCndP0NhpNaLaEOkQa4_Czff-kRjj-6Zx-MO/s1600/DSC_0227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq7Jl8FrQ1h4_m8Q3QGrEtXvNTzdCEp9nrY2zD4pDz63jJufNaBBdw-eS9990xlzZj1wY7dwsUR3-HfvyOzCnxqf5HbyvKMZXn6gGKMrjeYCndP0NhpNaLaEOkQa4_Czff-kRjj-6Zx-MO/s1600/DSC_0227.JPG" height="428" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Every year I take a picture of this house in our neighborhood and it's always under or over-exposed. I've always struggled with outdoor, night-time photos. This year's picture of the Christmas lights -- perfect!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgnE_muwB20eXjHThd_3hWLodC3fAuBlFuOP4KTUSZKnpgLGrysJjo3rnO7XsRpwyH-9wNmhI0SCX-w4igEdfzBHqt-POHHDBrT0FnzQeP9ziC34KKylcFkWzKlMUvVlT5X_o507mqwFAG/s1600/DSC_0237+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgnE_muwB20eXjHThd_3hWLodC3fAuBlFuOP4KTUSZKnpgLGrysJjo3rnO7XsRpwyH-9wNmhI0SCX-w4igEdfzBHqt-POHHDBrT0FnzQeP9ziC34KKylcFkWzKlMUvVlT5X_o507mqwFAG/s1600/DSC_0237+(2).JPG" height="428" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Not a great picture but an example of how I can have both kids in a photo and still focus on Chelsea shoving Cheerios in her mouth on Christmas morning.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So that's it. I think most photography novices such as myself think that a zoom lens should be at the top of your wish list. I'm here to say that a prime lens is the way to go. </span></div>
<br />Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01792648847934893154noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6463329107701044302.post-30113071672842426352014-01-13T22:32:00.002-08:002014-01-13T22:32:30.526-08:00December<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0PddL5ayND-JJ-u7mDNd9HCu9uKAEJqXHYeGWxVeup71Wyo1rQg87_uEhrnWxtsT9cWRUwtmfMVRAMSBITthhvp6-hTHCkvq1HUyLRSIl220Lh0A71cEeRhtMdu06fdiIhDjQ_Eg6Lzt2/s1600/DSC_0271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0PddL5ayND-JJ-u7mDNd9HCu9uKAEJqXHYeGWxVeup71Wyo1rQg87_uEhrnWxtsT9cWRUwtmfMVRAMSBITthhvp6-hTHCkvq1HUyLRSIl220Lh0A71cEeRhtMdu06fdiIhDjQ_Eg6Lzt2/s1600/DSC_0271.JPG" height="428" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;"><i>Christmas Day antics. I never said we were normal.</i></span><br />
<span style="text-align: justify;"><i>Be sure to check out my Shutterfly photo book at the end of this post.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; text-align: justify;">We put up our Christmas tree on December 7th -- I didn't want it to be soooo close to Thanksgiving but I wanted us to be able to enjoy it for a while. As I wrote in my previous post, the Ikea "ornaments" worked out great. I may even put them up next year! And while I missed the scent of a real tree, our artificial tree looked and felt great even after having our heater on for 20+ days straight. A real tree would have become a fire hazard, for sure, due to the chilly nights we experienced.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Lee used up the last of his vacation days the 2nd week of December and we were able to take advantage of doing some Christmas-y things during the week. We drove about 46 miles east to see Santa at the Bass Pro Shop (he really did look and act like Santa!) on Monday. On Wednesday, we took Nate ice skating after school at the new outdoor ice skating rink in our city. We had the entire thing to ourselves, which was fun but maybe a little boring. Go figure -- it was unusually warm and sunny that day. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The 3rd week of December was Nate's last school week before Christmas. The entire school hosts a short sing-a-long on Friday in the church sanctuary and it's adorable. Unfortunately, Nate woke up sick on Wednesday and stayed sick the remainder of the week. No sing-a-long for us in 2013! That was heartbreaking since it was his last performance with this school. Thems the breaks, as they say. And Nate was really sick so there wasn't much time to think about the sing-a-long between juice and Tylenol runs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">You know what's coming next....Chelsea developed a fever on Saturday, the 21st. It hit her fast but not as hard as Nate. Despite a milder virus, Chelsea also had to deal with bad diaper rash and some teething. She was not a happy camper. She and Lee missed out on our annual tradition of visiting Stats and picking out an ornament. Nate and I still had a great time. We loved the decorations, chatted with Santa and picked out an ornament on Chelsea's behalf.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">By Christmas Eve, Nate was feeling about 95% better and Chelsea seemed a bit more like herself. I had to work the first half of the day (boo!) and then we rushed like mad to get to church on time (we weren't) before decorating cookies for Santa and driving around & looking at Christmas lights with Grandma. Boy, we crammed a lot into that 12 hours. That evening, while Lee was at church until about 11:30pm, I cleaned up the house, baked some zucchini bread, and "played Santa Claus." Nobody tells you that as a pastor's wife, you'll be putting toys together yourself on Christmas Eve. Thank goodness I'm handy with a screwdriver! Every year the instruction manuals get more complicated :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">You know what's coming next....I woke up on Christmas with a scratchy throat. Double ugh. Time to power through - it's Christmas morning! Nate was super excited to see his toys and Chelsea got a kick out of the chaos. We enjoyed time opening presents at home before going to Grandma's house for brunch and Grandpa's house for dinner. A fun day. A tiring day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I had to work the day after Christmas with a flow-blown cold. Not fun. The fiscal year was about to end and, as a bookkeeper, I had a million things to do. Looking back on it, I wish I would have planned ahead and taken Christmas week off from work. Now that the kids are getting older, it would be nice to be with them for the entire holiday week. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">On Friday, we headed south to Newport Beach to visit with family. It was a really nice day visiting with family we don't get to see often enough.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Chelsea gave us a nice Christmas gift -- she started walking! She had taken a few steps here and there during the previous month but she seemed a little nervous about walking then. By late December, she felt more confident and -- boom -- took off without looking back. That's my girl!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The rest of December is a blur...I closed out the fiscal year and was home from work on New Years Eve by 5pm so we were able to eat dinner and drive a few blocks to see our city's entry in the Rose Parade. There weren't many people at the warehouse, which made it intimate and fun. I think Lee was impressed with the scale of the float and the flowers. You really do have to see the floats in person to appreciate all of the work that goes into them. Nate was really interested in seeing the float the next morning on tv so we watched the parade and ate our traditional New Years donuts (Chelsea's first donut!) It was a beautiful New Years day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And that's the end of December. What a great month. I had so much fun with my kiddos and we made some great memories together. The sick part wasn't the best but it comes with the territory and we tried to roll with in. We feel very blessed to end 2013 this way. I'm excited to see what 2014 has in store for us.....</span><br />
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Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01792648847934893154noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6463329107701044302.post-38246615902901255512013-12-15T22:52:00.000-08:002013-12-15T22:52:24.644-08:00I Called It!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Remember how I predicted this would happen??</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh7DTiQDfXsMLiR3-fdnYZbmWaoo0FAExhTcR6tqOM1Ov5-w1OhJ-AYB-Qc4KuhcP3cQwGkpxm5cDVe0c4G-dvRFdpLQ8CIywwbw6RcgVD9xUuSgTgtNu47N3X3Mhmc6-ez_w4MLIctPAx/s1600/DSC_0115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh7DTiQDfXsMLiR3-fdnYZbmWaoo0FAExhTcR6tqOM1Ov5-w1OhJ-AYB-Qc4KuhcP3cQwGkpxm5cDVe0c4G-dvRFdpLQ8CIywwbw6RcgVD9xUuSgTgtNu47N3X3Mhmc6-ez_w4MLIctPAx/s1600/DSC_0115.JPG" height="506" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Yes, that is one of my Ikea cardboard "ornaments." Miss Chelsea has eaten the tops off of 3 ornaments and pulled countless others off of the Christmas tree. But -- it doesn't bother me one bit. We're suppose to enjoy the tree with all of our senses, so why not add taste to that list???</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here's how the tree turned out:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRGQvVqoODOW0KKk9nVeWEsw8K8sTSk7U4HY-QHQpltJ6Ae4sx6qr8axdtEowNKc11DBT-slxVQ27nlFkpWURdaK6TOL0aVWlwv6qPeEfNCEtQcbzVjao6qIUKbk6FCivWd7e4VdtpbD3O/s1600/DSC_0173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRGQvVqoODOW0KKk9nVeWEsw8K8sTSk7U4HY-QHQpltJ6Ae4sx6qr8axdtEowNKc11DBT-slxVQ27nlFkpWURdaK6TOL0aVWlwv6qPeEfNCEtQcbzVjao6qIUKbk6FCivWd7e4VdtpbD3O/s1600/DSC_0173.JPG" height="640" width="428" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I really think this might be my favorite tree we've ever decorated. There are the Ikea ornaments, paper gingerbread men that Nate and I made, ornaments Nate made at school and a few sentimental favorites. All of that has created a colorful, festive tree. I love it so much. We have it lit every day from 7am until Lee and I go to bed. </span></div>
Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01792648847934893154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6463329107701044302.post-44279982696411650102013-12-05T09:28:00.001-08:002013-12-05T12:13:50.458-08:00November<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Wait, did November even happen? Because at Halloween, I blinked and suddenly it's December 3rd. What a blur. Am I the only one to feel this way? The end of the year goes into hyper speed and I don't like it. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Ek3Cjyic3UKTiCV8BovVpaILwN_bfoRzgLzQednYZfyawQ6CBrHiqTIa4E0GVzDpA3RcpXeuh9cz_sELyUmM4A8KtxdJuDpJqTMUwC5b4FVw8WLQMS79-5huFt50ntdzTelXdGtIUNRA/s1600/DSC00848.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Ek3Cjyic3UKTiCV8BovVpaILwN_bfoRzgLzQednYZfyawQ6CBrHiqTIa4E0GVzDpA3RcpXeuh9cz_sELyUmM4A8KtxdJuDpJqTMUwC5b4FVw8WLQMS79-5huFt50ntdzTelXdGtIUNRA/s1600/DSC00848.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Chelsea had her first ride on the Griffith Park Carousel. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It's a rite of passage in our house. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOoE6BenEZXSqHtkSaXrcyySguflrbTxH3odtk2dBeCkL6xs2XXbyd9pV0rv-dznDXhReL5YwNc9LvB14AeHFRA4qhrJG5VKNyW9xlaKx04FGGO1ySKbiaCyeQVULk8O52N8K5XMXKCson/s1600/DSC_0166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOoE6BenEZXSqHtkSaXrcyySguflrbTxH3odtk2dBeCkL6xs2XXbyd9pV0rv-dznDXhReL5YwNc9LvB14AeHFRA4qhrJG5VKNyW9xlaKx04FGGO1ySKbiaCyeQVULk8O52N8K5XMXKCson/s1600/DSC_0166.JPG" height="640" width="428" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I think Nate isn't particularly happy that Chelsea gets to play with his "younger" toys that I've been saving in the garage. I hear "hey, that's mine" a lot. He pushes her around the yard in this police car a tad too aggressively....oh boy.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1YP2PF3kSlL4eYDCemOPARhM8jiPKFUuY9Is3RWIBfzsTwQxm8qauQHUsOhjMGJib-GF1HwujnTQek9e2uKZI1mcl-QDBCfrbU0AIQB0iVM5tQdB1w0REpFyGGsDh-Vo9H1f9LWY80yGv/s1600/DSC_0169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1YP2PF3kSlL4eYDCemOPARhM8jiPKFUuY9Is3RWIBfzsTwQxm8qauQHUsOhjMGJib-GF1HwujnTQek9e2uKZI1mcl-QDBCfrbU0AIQB0iVM5tQdB1w0REpFyGGsDh-Vo9H1f9LWY80yGv/s1600/DSC_0169.JPG" height="428" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The ONLY good think about living near an airport is that on holidays such as Veterans Day, you get to see some pretty cool planes fly above your house.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBel6-1MxbDNBHt5iOhi1GH7MSI3Z_iEfUzN2lO_8hEm6gKwp5wKKLoAhTiBmC_wUTLII8oZ06Lc6VFZSBByoeX93Q4iIiPmT72wDSDSSz2-udz4BwQ-hlPwTjO4hQQJC8UZ6LHAdfLvk2/s1600/DSC_0189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBel6-1MxbDNBHt5iOhi1GH7MSI3Z_iEfUzN2lO_8hEm6gKwp5wKKLoAhTiBmC_wUTLII8oZ06Lc6VFZSBByoeX93Q4iIiPmT72wDSDSSz2-udz4BwQ-hlPwTjO4hQQJC8UZ6LHAdfLvk2/s1600/DSC_0189.JPG" height="428" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Old house meets new paint. Yippee! We went from terrible tan (I guess that's what it was) to gorgeous gray. I channeled my inner-gardener and prettied up the front too. Isn't that bench divine? My talented hubby made it for me. We needed a place for kiddos to remove their sand-filled shoes after school. Love it!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA5EwaUqCG8KMW2KvV0uMKrUxSU_jPBhYwHslnmErUuBlknfZ8F4XB8-rSBjYRz7zt80wHymWykuDWws7_pNzb_ZgeC-HU28jml8mm73TrxBn6UFo9qi27ladhD2kqQe3gCrxLxtNdEkuG/s1600/DSC_0226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA5EwaUqCG8KMW2KvV0uMKrUxSU_jPBhYwHslnmErUuBlknfZ8F4XB8-rSBjYRz7zt80wHymWykuDWws7_pNzb_ZgeC-HU28jml8mm73TrxBn6UFo9qi27ladhD2kqQe3gCrxLxtNdEkuG/s1600/DSC_0226.JPG" height="640" width="428" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The nice thing about gray walls is that</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> it makes a nice backdrop for portraits!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4drl7NrPHjFBBNuTOZKRgdCIY9Dt923BQG1P0Cu7Amwy5Rt_vd_3X6-UhLM5QABwirmwqqcViRaocqk2UQvs5ZHkbsuor-vbMqmNEv7GVOZ-IpbkbKDEZyW5jdhbEKlZ5OOMRXIkjD7ds/s1600/DSC_0241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4drl7NrPHjFBBNuTOZKRgdCIY9Dt923BQG1P0Cu7Amwy5Rt_vd_3X6-UhLM5QABwirmwqqcViRaocqk2UQvs5ZHkbsuor-vbMqmNEv7GVOZ-IpbkbKDEZyW5jdhbEKlZ5OOMRXIkjD7ds/s1600/DSC_0241.JPG" height="640" width="428" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Our new backyard adventure: T-Ball!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp9ZZmVKzN_AN08h5RhqhCOjbXOGaNTvc29_Y-HN9aL-e9hL8K8VLJ9LtVfKihoj7o49waEbBHWr1jCiFxaam5DeJyHrXK4KDQG6P4m-eijGFJmqP0sHBmJ76x9oUo1yMsm16w1tSoS10D/s1600/DSC_0261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp9ZZmVKzN_AN08h5RhqhCOjbXOGaNTvc29_Y-HN9aL-e9hL8K8VLJ9LtVfKihoj7o49waEbBHWr1jCiFxaam5DeJyHrXK4KDQG6P4m-eijGFJmqP0sHBmJ76x9oUo1yMsm16w1tSoS10D/s1600/DSC_0261.JPG" height="428" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Turkey Day! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-edSBYI9_MZUBKfxCEpj8kuEEZhYixEsDoVR8FaXA5UXLpn830YaXkZF9-pie7I6JNFpB-njlp2WtocP2FBRERjZf8eLQzRO5N9VBwETdLMktdD0s-c6K_mgCU_sboUO7IrmeXg5FzgE6/s1600/DSC_0287.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-edSBYI9_MZUBKfxCEpj8kuEEZhYixEsDoVR8FaXA5UXLpn830YaXkZF9-pie7I6JNFpB-njlp2WtocP2FBRERjZf8eLQzRO5N9VBwETdLMktdD0s-c6K_mgCU_sboUO7IrmeXg5FzgE6/s1600/DSC_0287.JPG" height="640" width="428" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Man boils oil. Man slowly lowers turkey into hot oil. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Turkey cooks in 45 minutes. Best. Turkey. Ever.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUtAO4Ys3ShLvCzu8Z9CDAgVRmLeoyUuRW3yfGC_JMxgprarqmY85NkGZHBQ4_ubHVDm74w3kuC3X-aY_ePzXfvQdVgBG7RYrjSW9W7iW8joS3Gz18EsOzPj8kYsKlqM4kS69AYIs9xLJk/s1600/DSC_0292.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUtAO4Ys3ShLvCzu8Z9CDAgVRmLeoyUuRW3yfGC_JMxgprarqmY85NkGZHBQ4_ubHVDm74w3kuC3X-aY_ePzXfvQdVgBG7RYrjSW9W7iW8joS3Gz18EsOzPj8kYsKlqM4kS69AYIs9xLJk/s1600/DSC_0292.JPG" height="428" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">New fried turkey fans</span>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdIwOiVfSumKVtN9Hzl_uW3QIHEO1wgc8TINS3A1kBoxBOQW6gu2z0G35Tsvdt0yn6frfyK3vAtupEm40R9lwB3f_RDMLEqZgTjZIhAVUSdwaBdUUMWqtr9yHKfhnu09yrNPSy5pFsSP1W/s1600/DSC_0294.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdIwOiVfSumKVtN9Hzl_uW3QIHEO1wgc8TINS3A1kBoxBOQW6gu2z0G35Tsvdt0yn6frfyK3vAtupEm40R9lwB3f_RDMLEqZgTjZIhAVUSdwaBdUUMWqtr9yHKfhnu09yrNPSy5pFsSP1W/s1600/DSC_0294.JPG" height="640" width="428" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We made a "thankful" tree and added leaves to it every night to show that, even when you're having a not-so-hot day, there's always stuff to be grateful for. The leaves said things like: Churros, running water, our health, playing baseball, family time, Jesus, etc. Nate's pointing to his favorite leaf that said Darth Vader and Samurai. Oh-kay....</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here's a preview of how I'll be decorating my toddler-friendly Christmas tree this year. I found cardboard drink coasters at Ikea that resemble Christmas bulbs (99 cents for 10). Thanks to my trusty hole punch, I now have unbreakable ornaments! Chelsea will still probably put them in her mouth -- I wonder what Swedish cardboard tastes like??</span></div>
Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01792648847934893154noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6463329107701044302.post-38356319652656797562013-11-20T21:24:00.000-08:002013-11-20T21:24:27.927-08:00October<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large; text-align: justify;">I'm not doing a very good job at writing these monthly posts in a timely manner. November is coming up! Oops.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The big story in October was obviously the 1st birthday of Miss Chelsea Cook. As per tradition, we had a relatively low-key birthday party with just immediate family. It was a warm day so we ate hamburgers outside and (thankfully) Chelsea made a mess of her cake outside too. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Halloween was not our typically Autumn holiday this year. We <i>did </i>attend a fun Halloween carnival at Nate's school and did other Halloween type things but for the actual holiday, we were in Las Vegas! I know, I know. Not exactly what you'd think of for a kid-centered holiday. But we made it as family-friendly as possible with our friends and their kids (a total of 6 under 5 1/2 years old). The trip was less about the location and more about us all being together at a resort where we could enter</span><span style="font-size: large;">tain the kids in the pool. Too bad the water was on the chilly side! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Spice cake with pale pink buttercream frosting. I was trying to be creative with the design and it turned out kinda weird. I do like my Lisa Leonard "Happy Birthday" pewter decoration. It'll be a new tradition for family birthdays.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Present time. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4TghSyOPsYy7F0jNmdMc_KKkIcdcGaNzxz-3NjiRn4y_jOSPLj99nTG_VS5WIbK0rJn5TeKek1B4dXdMYAGUk3MRUSCdOnOD1Y4ibjUFfdTab4GSuL2bg3gAD1-EKygJqeKUKLu-Hyhvf/s1600/DSC_0148.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4TghSyOPsYy7F0jNmdMc_KKkIcdcGaNzxz-3NjiRn4y_jOSPLj99nTG_VS5WIbK0rJn5TeKek1B4dXdMYAGUk3MRUSCdOnOD1Y4ibjUFfdTab4GSuL2bg3gAD1-EKygJqeKUKLu-Hyhvf/s640/DSC_0148.JPG" height="640" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">This was Chelsea's first time having something truly sugary and I wasn't sure if she'd like it (she doesn't like fruit. Go figure). Anyway, I was going to give her a small portion but everyone encourage me to give her a bigger piece. Girlfriend went bonkers for that cake! She ate the entire piece that was bigger than any other piece I served the adults. It went all over her clothes as you can see. We had to hose off her chair and change her clothes. Flies kept landing on her cake-covered hands. It was pretty gross.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Chelsea and Grandpa play with her new toys</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Chelsea is a little afraid of tall Uncle Eric. Nate was too. He got over it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">One of the school projects this year is that each child gets to bring home Corduroy for the weekend (the plush bear from the Don Freeman classic book of the same name). Nate was SO excited when it was his turn. Corduroy watched a Dodgers playoff game, went to Home Depot and Griffith Park, and helped us plant some lettuce in our garden. The collage above was what we added to the binder that was returned to school after the weekend and Nate had to give a brief "talk" to the class about his time with Corduroy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">A few weeks after I washed her birthday outfit (thank you Tide Spray! You performed a miracle), I put it back on Chelsea for a little birthday photo shoot. She wasn't particularly cooperative and I couldn't find a decent background with adequate lighting so this is what I got. Not bad.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Knight Nate dressed up for the school Halloween carnival</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"> Nate played every game they had. It was fun to see him interested in that part of it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">All packed and ready for the 4-hour drive to Vegas. We rented a crib for Chelsea when we got there. That saved us a lot of space!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">And inside the car, Nate is all ready for a movie marathon. I seriously think this is his favorite part of traveling. Poor Chelsea gets stuck being bored for 4 hours. She slept about 20 minutes on the way there -- she is not a car sleeper.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Woo hoo, we made it!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Swimming in the lazy river with Daddy. Would have been perfect if it had been about 10 degrees warmer outside.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Because Nate is interested in Egypt and King Tut, we visited the Luxor hotel.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">At The Bass Pro Shop, the Cook men compared facial hair with the Robertson Clan.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Family photo at Bass Pro Shop. This was our last stop before we headed back home.</span></td></tr>
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Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01792648847934893154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6463329107701044302.post-51617507231631885642013-11-10T22:52:00.001-08:002013-11-10T22:52:06.710-08:00Side-By-Side<span style="font-size: large;">I love to take similar photos of my kiddos and compare them side-by-side. Check this out:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw_YtrfASFpByHENDsG9cFhmXvmDjUZUnQZsyh9JUA1siADKwwJBAF_VaLwyvy-3-KseZACe61abNaKVoA-c0KJm_frTpzNKu36J-lWUoSQT5XIAEClGLF_O-Dlcm7xQWx75U5yRS-6XVp/s1600/Ribbet+collage+love+bug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw_YtrfASFpByHENDsG9cFhmXvmDjUZUnQZsyh9JUA1siADKwwJBAF_VaLwyvy-3-KseZACe61abNaKVoA-c0KJm_frTpzNKu36J-lWUoSQT5XIAEClGLF_O-Dlcm7xQWx75U5yRS-6XVp/s640/Ribbet+collage+love+bug.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Nate and Chelsea at about 1 year, wearing the same shirt. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ4wzLMclSTVvEVFgrY42gMT2eAKJwAxcxDYRlAie-_Vhhl6TT13-9iTw71AX0b8UOmXYGS5DLDEKiAS81zd56AN8_z1s_YXnFfNk9R-koLgEZT6IctJUV8lj_AAF7UhxbkLUtKzqFGr0S/s1600/Ribbet+collage+washer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ4wzLMclSTVvEVFgrY42gMT2eAKJwAxcxDYRlAie-_Vhhl6TT13-9iTw71AX0b8UOmXYGS5DLDEKiAS81zd56AN8_z1s_YXnFfNk9R-koLgEZT6IctJUV8lj_AAF7UhxbkLUtKzqFGr0S/s640/Ribbet+collage+washer.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We loved these PJs that had cassette tapes on them. It was a keeper so almost 5 years later, we put it on Chelsea and plopped her onto the top of the washing machine (new washer). She's a wanderer so we had to keep a hand on her back. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I took a picture of Nate watching Obama's first inauguration and then, of course, had to get a picture of Chelsea watching a presidential speech. It was just a way to capture history in my kid's lives...</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Self-portrait with a baby in a sling via the bathroom mirror. Classy.</span>Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01792648847934893154noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6463329107701044302.post-45456088220058957562013-10-30T22:06:00.000-07:002013-10-30T22:06:01.631-07:00My, How She's Grown!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Happy First Birthday, Chelsea Girl! </span></div>
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<br />Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01792648847934893154noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6463329107701044302.post-71110205132963013852013-10-22T11:28:00.000-07:002013-10-22T11:28:52.836-07:00September<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">September continued the sizzling late Summer heat that debuted in August. We kept the air-conditioning on 24/7 and took dips in the inflatable pool after school and on the weekends. It also brought about:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">A trip to the Los Angeles County Fair! We took Nate out of school on Wednesday, Sept. 11th and drove out to the fairgrounds. I had done extensive research online to know which areas of the massive fair would be entertaining for a 5-year old and walkable for those of us pushing a stroller. We had SO much fun! And the weather was a dream -- perfect, balmly, mid-80s. We really lucked out on that one....</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I joined the Parent's Committee at Nate's school and volunteered for a leadership position. Not sure what I was thinking when I raised my hand and -- bam -- added to my workload but it'll be fun to socialize with the other moms (and dads!) and I feel so strongly that this is the best preschool in our city, that I was compelled to give back.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Seasonal allergies! Achoooo! I think the Pepper Berry and Oak trees in our neighborhood are making all of our noses tickle. Poor Nate got it the worst but taking a Singular pill at night seems to be working great. In fact, we're all feeling much better.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I've really been good about meal planning this month. Yea for me! Pinterest has really become my go-to for great recipes. We've had some really winners and I'll hopefully share them here soon (famous last words).</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The month in photos:</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crazy girl on a Slip N Slide.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nothing builds up a young immune system like sucking on an old, dirty screen door. Ewww.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yeehaw! Hello L.A. County Fair!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First stop on this hot afternoon. Need to keep Daddy hydrated (wink wink)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boy, are these horses HUGE. I'm talking the size of a small dinosaur.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We saw this a lot. The fair is a giant ball of noise and was a little much for Nate. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv__-s0lDoJEWH4xaP1cL9qzqcaiaA9bFk-Q-QS2B_B-n_rTlZMmbQAQNxryvNEVSfHX1dgFd3bwOdTkkYPHnmDYe0rHEtjrxpEsx7OpcK2JBU7e_l-F_4pwM2JUZFbl1n4EtOJrjGYNrR/s1600/DSC_1502.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv__-s0lDoJEWH4xaP1cL9qzqcaiaA9bFk-Q-QS2B_B-n_rTlZMmbQAQNxryvNEVSfHX1dgFd3bwOdTkkYPHnmDYe0rHEtjrxpEsx7OpcK2JBU7e_l-F_4pwM2JUZFbl1n4EtOJrjGYNrR/s640/DSC_1502.JPG" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I loved the indoor pavilions with the kids contest submissions.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggNCR-acCTtIFMc_KoCtyw3RHkhpQRk6SfbdEAyFQjsSWbyFolVLtDNcXZIzOXkmKzUxrbdTK6Fa91uY3fqqTEr5Y6IyjBK-TzL-qP5LnjhBdOMcs3T0WFvu12v1xiSdspewWTbgiDJ6qV/s1600/DSC_1508.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggNCR-acCTtIFMc_KoCtyw3RHkhpQRk6SfbdEAyFQjsSWbyFolVLtDNcXZIzOXkmKzUxrbdTK6Fa91uY3fqqTEr5Y6IyjBK-TzL-qP5LnjhBdOMcs3T0WFvu12v1xiSdspewWTbgiDJ6qV/s640/DSC_1508.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_BGu9cw5IrN_WQHyzvNvGzPKamj_SdGvwRTDc9F-6urTQpt8AdXi1cNFTsNmtMo4I_yQoHIeYzgMyEVDhBHSi55N4FhcGCxHoILHgRrhZ0ElOoiaYdO5qR6XFkOtiY3T8QmpDu7LXMffw/s1600/DSC_1521.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_BGu9cw5IrN_WQHyzvNvGzPKamj_SdGvwRTDc9F-6urTQpt8AdXi1cNFTsNmtMo4I_yQoHIeYzgMyEVDhBHSi55N4FhcGCxHoILHgRrhZ0ElOoiaYdO5qR6XFkOtiY3T8QmpDu7LXMffw/s640/DSC_1521.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our boy LOVES the giant slide. A lot. He rode it about 6 times.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEqfav26WZInubodDKlm7_GGYlQl73n-NCrn1JquWTeXVDT8YOJ7ourDLNh8iJMwfzcZWT8HnDn5j0kbOFq79M54tDQnCO3Bxvj9LLsI_pDixbBaPv0fDfc64wFtWIG9dIvWwamX2FbCgF/s1600/DSC_1524.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEqfav26WZInubodDKlm7_GGYlQl73n-NCrn1JquWTeXVDT8YOJ7ourDLNh8iJMwfzcZWT8HnDn5j0kbOFq79M54tDQnCO3Bxvj9LLsI_pDixbBaPv0fDfc64wFtWIG9dIvWwamX2FbCgF/s640/DSC_1524.JPG" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Required eating - funnel cake!!!!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtzHObWHSClplTmUSTBooBlOeEeyXn5M2_mMaQIZK71Cq5sCjBJoCkGUDyryfI7dqZvImuodOuLzIZySu7EFeEPbR4ai3xoTH9HsjvJCI-VF4QSa8nU5d41FsaPdNVcr3IlMvBV7ouZNkg/s1600/DSC_1515.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtzHObWHSClplTmUSTBooBlOeEeyXn5M2_mMaQIZK71Cq5sCjBJoCkGUDyryfI7dqZvImuodOuLzIZySu7EFeEPbR4ai3xoTH9HsjvJCI-VF4QSa8nU5d41FsaPdNVcr3IlMvBV7ouZNkg/s640/DSC_1515.JPG" width="428" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKTXTIlFqw7GcCplbYEdZUCebmTyQLLF9SBciLMzqsENEjf8734zLRk73O5s4CrCK-X3bxJm9JB-CBoD7-tzZNsV6yXNWKPh09q44G_FsONDyUxwrjJgr8NC_7asgj5TJRwDJzcwSSTlwP/s1600/DSC_1544.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKTXTIlFqw7GcCplbYEdZUCebmTyQLLF9SBciLMzqsENEjf8734zLRk73O5s4CrCK-X3bxJm9JB-CBoD7-tzZNsV6yXNWKPh09q44G_FsONDyUxwrjJgr8NC_7asgj5TJRwDJzcwSSTlwP/s640/DSC_1544.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A dream come true for Lee.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpb-jeAjXqStQpJi43GaRVPTbQFQmcRsbgdAUIYuKphK6KEVhdXJ8WDOWgnYJKDLHd6vD-Or5l_se848b1AE1FpIuxJOtdlhspiapTeSYQr3mABnavpba52sSUPRaSUy9Chz6o8ow6UKKM/s1600/DSC_1553.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpb-jeAjXqStQpJi43GaRVPTbQFQmcRsbgdAUIYuKphK6KEVhdXJ8WDOWgnYJKDLHd6vD-Or5l_se848b1AE1FpIuxJOtdlhspiapTeSYQr3mABnavpba52sSUPRaSUy9Chz6o8ow6UKKM/s640/DSC_1553.JPG" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ninja warriors together at last.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKWClX7xjia7Pck8Kmi7gLNoksFKKBizuz-OmkrYpKZt5_nbgqm9AykcMkNGJGzkPsZ3gNU6R1YKvs3Kri7xDqk-2F5PFOQo034__8MQfFkqZZwmidP8AAG-czVz4alkOOu7Nn6MiEr5gs/s1600/DSC_1556.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKWClX7xjia7Pck8Kmi7gLNoksFKKBizuz-OmkrYpKZt5_nbgqm9AykcMkNGJGzkPsZ3gNU6R1YKvs3Kri7xDqk-2F5PFOQo034__8MQfFkqZZwmidP8AAG-czVz4alkOOu7Nn6MiEr5gs/s640/DSC_1556.JPG" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Had to get a picture with the Zoltar machine. "Big" is one of my favorite movies!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibcDimnNVZY4ARRtADQkFWAAIJIlggw7o6tf47J82iPj4jZ2UMdf-FnkRtyki_yCAQtfsolZB9EyLZsWpvWN5lRO0Z3sX-zoW7TP3Lz6U-vmoFmkJOVkqvXmAa-f-RHOJIF3K-Uv4n9F_u/s1600/DSC_1565.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibcDimnNVZY4ARRtADQkFWAAIJIlggw7o6tf47J82iPj4jZ2UMdf-FnkRtyki_yCAQtfsolZB9EyLZsWpvWN5lRO0Z3sX-zoW7TP3Lz6U-vmoFmkJOVkqvXmAa-f-RHOJIF3K-Uv4n9F_u/s640/DSC_1565.JPG" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nate loved the dress-up area.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEw6RnTLiwUq3RZSjtMXzfRc-QOVKn6XZeDZr28BiNksQCEW1vkBkZI_xspn8MvMPy38KzvYu8erGXk21wCNLaxHVgHXABLS5Gfw4zWk5IrEaHY0qbF-akA_T1QlRYi3jRWjitKuxDl_Sr/s1600/DSC_1586.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEw6RnTLiwUq3RZSjtMXzfRc-QOVKn6XZeDZr28BiNksQCEW1vkBkZI_xspn8MvMPy38KzvYu8erGXk21wCNLaxHVgHXABLS5Gfw4zWk5IrEaHY0qbF-akA_T1QlRYi3jRWjitKuxDl_Sr/s640/DSC_1586.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our last stop -- dinner! Just kidding. Who would actually eat that?? Photo-op only.</td></tr>
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<br />Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01792648847934893154noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6463329107701044302.post-68516473236909338452013-09-03T21:59:00.001-07:002013-09-03T22:18:17.305-07:00August<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The month of August wasn't a super exciting month but it gifted us with:</span></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">The end of Nate's swim lessons, followed by 3 weeks of "nothing" before school started. Nate told people he was "on a break."</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Nate's first day of Pre-K. We love his teachers!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Chelsea saying her first word ("dolly").</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">A new living room rug.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Hot weather finally arrived in SoCal. Boo.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Nate's first blood draw -- 3.5 vials -- to confirm tree nut/peanut allergies. Maybe I'll write a separate post on this. Or maybe I won't because it depresses me.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">A much needed haircut for yours truly.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">A birthday photo session for Nate that was about 3 weeks late. I'm in a constant state of lateness these days.</span></li>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju1r4ugFbrJObwtgHJ8Rbo0XitPmsaAkRd_ERnXrI1Ma4DaKPZxZbpVtbP6kNuH6wc2vuPscbLxrKjRA1hixbI_97mRqV_vKZtvYCc2Vf0PRtbtfQznI2v2xhKuBKSOGUfevJGbYeK_xB-/s1600/DSC_1028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju1r4ugFbrJObwtgHJ8Rbo0XitPmsaAkRd_ERnXrI1Ma4DaKPZxZbpVtbP6kNuH6wc2vuPscbLxrKjRA1hixbI_97mRqV_vKZtvYCc2Vf0PRtbtfQznI2v2xhKuBKSOGUfevJGbYeK_xB-/s640/DSC_1028.JPG" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The world would be a happier place if more adults ate dried cereal with empty Zappos boxes on their heads. <br>That's what Nate thinks, anyway.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaxF6OKck162DItEGdC2xH5Wn1VJoUSmtyD6GXHJeDu6Q7RxFZE46s5IyaLW0PFbAqPdhehoLOi_JmEOA1KUmZ-KN_K189TW_4IgWPHCwjBvRGAxGFzBVCBiKoUPpADlbsI05PM3BDwjZ1/s1600/DSC_1034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaxF6OKck162DItEGdC2xH5Wn1VJoUSmtyD6GXHJeDu6Q7RxFZE46s5IyaLW0PFbAqPdhehoLOi_JmEOA1KUmZ-KN_K189TW_4IgWPHCwjBvRGAxGFzBVCBiKoUPpADlbsI05PM3BDwjZ1/s640/DSC_1034.JPG" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My bathing beauties. This was Chelsea's first time swimming. She liked it!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMJ6rfRu3vQ2n6xLNn6WTvJNazlsDFsWvPUFc1c46qw8yODU_YYfsrKupFBMf63_r8Lo7oTJ5V9OJaw7P5SYNVHFcpyjyRKcc_Ve1qvgZKgCiCrCjUvuACgUIbQeFqyEqeJeqKdIRlmDdi/s1600/DSC_1099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMJ6rfRu3vQ2n6xLNn6WTvJNazlsDFsWvPUFc1c46qw8yODU_YYfsrKupFBMf63_r8Lo7oTJ5V9OJaw7P5SYNVHFcpyjyRKcc_Ve1qvgZKgCiCrCjUvuACgUIbQeFqyEqeJeqKdIRlmDdi/s640/DSC_1099.JPG" width="428"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I didn't realize it until I was looking in Nate's closet<br> that I bought him 4 plaid shirts in the span of 2 months (2 new, 2 thrifted). Weird.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9hcUk5GoARG_2ysOWjXZv7TBznuComDo3iPMdB52TiYIhP1uPk0DG4IAOloIIeEit0ANsCsf37vPX3tk-84rMggG13OBeCqu1SychPjcP7ZS7g8QzPeXF6Ir2yMYrEoMWFmbCISCwpSFl/s1600/DSC_1120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9hcUk5GoARG_2ysOWjXZv7TBznuComDo3iPMdB52TiYIhP1uPk0DG4IAOloIIeEit0ANsCsf37vPX3tk-84rMggG13OBeCqu1SychPjcP7ZS7g8QzPeXF6Ir2yMYrEoMWFmbCISCwpSFl/s640/DSC_1120.JPG" width="428"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One Saturday morning, Nate I went out for doughnuts and then I took his picture to mark his 5th birthday. I took about 75 pictures and maybe 10 of them turned out. Thank goodness for digital cameras!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQzkLtgehqz7qxMT9Gmf-YfUnzEYCTzM5-rAcK-JJXLfqoPbG4Uamj8igGg5NY63KFFw-Ctebih1TT9vLTV4qDbnyvKIuVVfAjgQHJUJBl3qckgaruRNgz6zoWUPa83fRV9_ugKeFfhoce/s1600/DSC_1267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQzkLtgehqz7qxMT9Gmf-YfUnzEYCTzM5-rAcK-JJXLfqoPbG4Uamj8igGg5NY63KFFw-Ctebih1TT9vLTV4qDbnyvKIuVVfAjgQHJUJBl3qckgaruRNgz6zoWUPa83fRV9_ugKeFfhoce/s640/DSC_1267.JPG" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New living room rug alert (if you can take your eyes off the cuteness).</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTds7Jh5QW370VHfcZCooatSIIMjMivwoaPTMO8hlX4HCPVKPc9tsk1hYJpmAMKFsaORyhE3biSpe_5vAqRTnuUke0llo8oQfjTbBMyI8o5JfEWa6ps1CePuPF8SBrGsqtfApxYbkbt5a4/s1600/DSC_1277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTds7Jh5QW370VHfcZCooatSIIMjMivwoaPTMO8hlX4HCPVKPc9tsk1hYJpmAMKFsaORyhE3biSpe_5vAqRTnuUke0llo8oQfjTbBMyI8o5JfEWa6ps1CePuPF8SBrGsqtfApxYbkbt5a4/s640/DSC_1277.JPG" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He loves to jump from the diving board but isn't thrilled about swimming in 3 feet of water. <br>Is that a boy thing??</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq56IpkvhbyyV0HUMxWvAN4MyiSDBaB1Bnb95wiM_zrwb0z7pktZ9Qly0KBi5764MuP48lNEczOgk9qGS4xEJSNj_PkfGJx0UQOOfeAx-hvmFiQZkXb9iQHHKtfial4W19S8wfu0UfQWIt/s1600/DSC_1311.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq56IpkvhbyyV0HUMxWvAN4MyiSDBaB1Bnb95wiM_zrwb0z7pktZ9Qly0KBi5764MuP48lNEczOgk9qGS4xEJSNj_PkfGJx0UQOOfeAx-hvmFiQZkXb9iQHHKtfial4W19S8wfu0UfQWIt/s640/DSC_1311.JPG" width="428"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We've enjoyed our subscription to Kiwi Krate. They ship us 2 craft/science projects <br>every month for a small fee. We made sea animals this month.</td></tr>
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<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKSWc8TCXlMbPM2ECqtf5eUN79u1vinaY16fk_MVZz-YL04v_u9tWDzP2dfpmwxd02MLlATHa2ejEHZa1yNzUS33nOzozxGMjsMdkfpkR3PQEK-sVp3asK2XVpdjIWJzAmBg9gKn16RO8B/s1600/DSC_1367.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKSWc8TCXlMbPM2ECqtf5eUN79u1vinaY16fk_MVZz-YL04v_u9tWDzP2dfpmwxd02MLlATHa2ejEHZa1yNzUS33nOzozxGMjsMdkfpkR3PQEK-sVp3asK2XVpdjIWJzAmBg9gKn16RO8B/s320/DSC_1367.JPG" width="214"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">First day of school. Boy, it was hot!</div>
<br>Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01792648847934893154noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6463329107701044302.post-49076767732684023582013-08-03T20:56:00.000-07:002013-08-03T20:56:55.760-07:00July<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large; text-align: justify;">The month of July brought about:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">A low-key and fun 4th of July with our friends, the Michel family. We ate, hung out in our backyard, and lit sparklers (adults only).</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The last week of summer school for Nate. He really loved all 4 weeks and we were sad to see it end. Especially Mommy and Daddy -- now how do we keep everybody preoccupied for a month and a half?!?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Nate turned 5 years old this month! Yippee. And yikes. Where did the time go?? And, I must say -- (this is for you, Jen) so far, I'm absolutely loving the 5th year. Nate's imagination has blossomed and he is the social butterfly of our house. I love having conversations with him and listening to how his mind works. Every day is a new adventure with this kid.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">VBS at church. Nate was hesitant at first but had a ball at VBS. And he is asking a lot of great questions right now that have led to us having some meaningful conversations with him. Here's a sample of what he's been thinking since VBS (some serious, some funny):</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> "Am I going to die?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> "God made McDonald's, didn't he?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> "Is there leprosy all over my face?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> "Where is my Father?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Chelsea has her first tooth at 9 months old. Actually, she has <u>teeth </u>now. Two bottom teeth came in together. I remember this stage with Nate -- my hardwood floors have a "film" on them from the pool of baby drool she leaves as she crawls around the house. With Nate, I cleaned the floors every night (blame the OCD) . That's definitely not happening with Chelsea. My cleaning standards have been lowered dramatically.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Nate began swim lessons in July and will wrap up in mid-August. He's doing great. I requested a female instructor and it's worked out perfectly because she has a mild manner that is perfect for my little people-pleaser. I've watched some of the young male instructors and they would have been too intense. His lessons are at the same swim school I went to when I was a little one.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxEQJvYDzc0909yz0AqFUrWA748skz9wweoNRfrH64Ym8142TR6CcidQ5TWT6MXTOgRD4LHbdx3WRZR4KEuUBmL6b89CagtUEtExl63xeQCihYBBA2Pz3m4dvo_N20SBJPV9vRtkTzItRr/s1600/DSC_0628.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxEQJvYDzc0909yz0AqFUrWA748skz9wweoNRfrH64Ym8142TR6CcidQ5TWT6MXTOgRD4LHbdx3WRZR4KEuUBmL6b89CagtUEtExl63xeQCihYBBA2Pz3m4dvo_N20SBJPV9vRtkTzItRr/s640/DSC_0628.JPG" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I put this up on Facebook but it's too good not to show again. Happy Birthday, America!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkLwtK9ZM05i2q2K0-sY-nCESpWP5no5P7xEbmXbnKLh0pV5tia6zqeUXbp4DJU3FeYL-enR5NukYrZ1qz7CKGx0PgK31eHb9sdwioSU3saCMRKMQLPyijxs7y7n7bWjbXIbo0FNBrKmmq/s1600/DSC_0756.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkLwtK9ZM05i2q2K0-sY-nCESpWP5no5P7xEbmXbnKLh0pV5tia6zqeUXbp4DJU3FeYL-enR5NukYrZ1qz7CKGx0PgK31eHb9sdwioSU3saCMRKMQLPyijxs7y7n7bWjbXIbo0FNBrKmmq/s640/DSC_0756.JPG" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He gets wet. My car gets washed. It's a win-win.<br /><br /><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUrlLJds7PS7KMs0pCK_JspEB875Cu3ERemR5689PgGYhNxuTBdpEToKLCZYkchyruRFhlsZIETaFqwmaPYMBWKJrlTg4tCYA5mfJpjlGOsfR67cK-BWaFIekMBDfORn3edmFKR5ZBcXxC/s1600/DSC_0791.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUrlLJds7PS7KMs0pCK_JspEB875Cu3ERemR5689PgGYhNxuTBdpEToKLCZYkchyruRFhlsZIETaFqwmaPYMBWKJrlTg4tCYA5mfJpjlGOsfR67cK-BWaFIekMBDfORn3edmFKR5ZBcXxC/s640/DSC_0791.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sneaky, sneaky girl. We have experimented with putting the baby gate in the hallway so she won't go in the bathroom or Nate's room, both of which are her catnip. She LOVES her brother's room. Things are already getting ugly when she touches his stuff.<br /><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2YFyiflSTRm8trllXcdHx9Ky1vCPL-k75ft6QNGBm1nNWjdJgSRmUt0MOrPvigUWoI74E4dkFWzGBEvy9_LfuRTsTQBx-R2x32joW7i52m94EJSK7c0sGRn01NIbhLd9EsMab-PZV6v2I/s1600/DSC_0795.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2YFyiflSTRm8trllXcdHx9Ky1vCPL-k75ft6QNGBm1nNWjdJgSRmUt0MOrPvigUWoI74E4dkFWzGBEvy9_LfuRTsTQBx-R2x32joW7i52m94EJSK7c0sGRn01NIbhLd9EsMab-PZV6v2I/s640/DSC_0795.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Legos have taken over my house. I think they multiply at night. Help!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6M3OXItv1r97N_hRPezbtqdHHZ-MIDb1FNiGeEvvdI5OsK017CI42UfN6zwQpP5codEducbvdy4ndPj7oyf1ozrLgJ2_klkF-MLBea4pVMIyJk_YuOyfe2qme_dYQXM4Ka5pEU5JHOwMM/s1600/DSC_0978.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6M3OXItv1r97N_hRPezbtqdHHZ-MIDb1FNiGeEvvdI5OsK017CI42UfN6zwQpP5codEducbvdy4ndPj7oyf1ozrLgJ2_klkF-MLBea4pVMIyJk_YuOyfe2qme_dYQXM4Ka5pEU5JHOwMM/s640/DSC_0978.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gotta get a picture with the red plate. It's tradition!<br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW5jVUzIAAOIPLLZGAssMs1mizZXb3RQ1IuLSy0afdu788xXKYiSf0w6LU0pkoj8lgAtB3dMfFNYdFhEYjXbPQ3IdqbJUnlsLTm0jC4HS9NKh0TwKxRWNpkXwhfFHGaCHMfZ32DtNvVPn7/s1600/DSC_0918.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW5jVUzIAAOIPLLZGAssMs1mizZXb3RQ1IuLSy0afdu788xXKYiSf0w6LU0pkoj8lgAtB3dMfFNYdFhEYjXbPQ3IdqbJUnlsLTm0jC4HS9NKh0TwKxRWNpkXwhfFHGaCHMfZ32DtNvVPn7/s640/DSC_0918.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Made my first rainbow cake a la Pinterest for Nate's birthday party. It was fun to do. Three layers was enough for my novice baking skills.<br /><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIMoDBzOFCUjQ9wvmQe16Vml98hoca0SvMEg8RS0hK5IYHUqi5XUusaGTphzapBrVp_9gos9GID6fQd9ADm7h-Rq23ZELJ3rbm_1-KrKHm4QxbjnXvLIfhDO2QV1SI8x-NACC3e4eGyvD9/s1600/DSC_0949.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIMoDBzOFCUjQ9wvmQe16Vml98hoca0SvMEg8RS0hK5IYHUqi5XUusaGTphzapBrVp_9gos9GID6fQd9ADm7h-Rq23ZELJ3rbm_1-KrKHm4QxbjnXvLIfhDO2QV1SI8x-NACC3e4eGyvD9/s640/DSC_0949.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I fully expected to have an entire garden of various colors of sunflowers. What a bust. This was the only plant that bloomed from the whole seed pack beyond the usual yellow and even those were sparse this year.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKlQ4fvhL_Z6sQZeO1b4IftGhE5xSjw3ieJwlEBlnqwnq3ssfRTlxPeCkqk4r2UIl0c7GGPIwXOqgKDxj3msAGN5p4Zb55CLTgZcLJJACzX-1JuP5CgyF0zzs83EUsMEU5ZkxdKwvSnFQa/s1600/DSC_0950.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKlQ4fvhL_Z6sQZeO1b4IftGhE5xSjw3ieJwlEBlnqwnq3ssfRTlxPeCkqk4r2UIl0c7GGPIwXOqgKDxj3msAGN5p4Zb55CLTgZcLJJACzX-1JuP5CgyF0zzs83EUsMEU5ZkxdKwvSnFQa/s640/DSC_0950.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lee, however, struck gold with his tomatoes.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga07LluTArXWxkenLqlkxk7sBjDiMXEERHDjQiks4AqmgQbixYSwrfbys4daTQQGzR9fhWmC6-AR9cq8ZXdyYFLT8151pf607RLEihEV8LguXZvgh_vs8Lgh8YjF90R10zCVwdYFHANYza/s1600/DSC_0985.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga07LluTArXWxkenLqlkxk7sBjDiMXEERHDjQiks4AqmgQbixYSwrfbys4daTQQGzR9fhWmC6-AR9cq8ZXdyYFLT8151pf607RLEihEV8LguXZvgh_vs8Lgh8YjF90R10zCVwdYFHANYza/s640/DSC_0985.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our little Michael Phelps.<br /><br /><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE0no16AgUeTTJ6ZwW8Q46NWavJ-gSuslPMtoOhjaQrj7pYzyRoHdGd0aVtGnykYrX2dukvaxyzpeiisEu2H6x-WaTXAbIvsvkxBO65qIwC4lpFuac03G3t8y2vZ0vvmqCJzkR0oyxTnZR/s1600/DSC00774.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE0no16AgUeTTJ6ZwW8Q46NWavJ-gSuslPMtoOhjaQrj7pYzyRoHdGd0aVtGnykYrX2dukvaxyzpeiisEu2H6x-WaTXAbIvsvkxBO65qIwC4lpFuac03G3t8y2vZ0vvmqCJzkR0oyxTnZR/s640/DSC00774.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yea for grown-up time. With grown-up food. And grown-up drinks.<br /><br /><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVhJRJ1vy9NYnmSOqfWIJbcjMbuDY1XtU2R6_En3cQkvmtK9px61Sx4h9ii-u_8f_-KtZHLF0AnMfv7TaYfFyzjEXw_QCHKSe_k3Q7zLQM2jxDYS8raU-9nfA7NcbMFYrEk7ua-07q4iuG/s1600/DSC_1015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVhJRJ1vy9NYnmSOqfWIJbcjMbuDY1XtU2R6_En3cQkvmtK9px61Sx4h9ii-u_8f_-KtZHLF0AnMfv7TaYfFyzjEXw_QCHKSe_k3Q7zLQM2jxDYS8raU-9nfA7NcbMFYrEk7ua-07q4iuG/s640/DSC_1015.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The weather has been on the mild side but certainly not cool enough for 2 jackets and mittens. This is how he greeted me at the front door when I came home from work one day. Crazy kid.<br /><br /><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJQDuHrtA2GJOJmYlZOjne3grqkPbrTgTMXe3xsZ83pwNRa0JcYzHJjm5pHqTgHbOXviXXpspXpewTMihqfsySzKhSOp33DtP_kXnUVtE5ae-gpNqOPLVCR7f13G2Zwq5htNZhmcQ4TY_i/s1600/DSC_1014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJQDuHrtA2GJOJmYlZOjne3grqkPbrTgTMXe3xsZ83pwNRa0JcYzHJjm5pHqTgHbOXviXXpspXpewTMihqfsySzKhSOp33DtP_kXnUVtE5ae-gpNqOPLVCR7f13G2Zwq5htNZhmcQ4TY_i/s640/DSC_1014.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We've been taking advantage of the nice weather and dining al fresco a couple of times a week. Yes, that's a pizza box. Don't judge. And I think 3 out of 4 pictures on my blog have poor Chelsea sitting in her highchair. We do let her down occasionally. Honest.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">PS -- this is my 400th blog post. Wow.</span></div>
Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01792648847934893154noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6463329107701044302.post-77830565832164152232013-07-23T21:03:00.002-07:002013-07-23T21:03:42.571-07:00Fabric Picture Pillow<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNy9rCAjCj3ZThev34A7aniG1SaYsup6yrBW_syni76VgolC1dArE9d5Z2pAXaYmkIgwQFM3yf5nrAQdZzkzN_A-pU8Lx2v44UzhzCoh249VauIBwCryYSKXIfTrQkTgiS365fROB0U_RF/s1600/DSC_0746.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNy9rCAjCj3ZThev34A7aniG1SaYsup6yrBW_syni76VgolC1dArE9d5Z2pAXaYmkIgwQFM3yf5nrAQdZzkzN_A-pU8Lx2v44UzhzCoh249VauIBwCryYSKXIfTrQkTgiS365fROB0U_RF/s640/DSC_0746.JPG" width="428" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I had some scraps left over from my Christmas quilt, so I decided to make a little soft Christmas ornament to give away as a gift. I took a photo Christmas card that we received last year and printed the scanned image directly onto fabric that had freezer paper on the back for stability. It was pretty easy to do and turned out great. Once the image was set onto the fabric, I cut it, sewed it up and stuffed it like a mini pillow. From start to finish, this little project took just an hour. Because the picture was on the larger size, the recipient may end up using it to hang over a doorknob at Christmas rather than as an ornament on a tree but that's just as festive! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This little guy is extra special because sweet D. passed away a month ago and this picture is of her and her great-grand babies. She loved those kids so much and I was happy to create this little Christmas memory for her daughter.</span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This is the perfect time to start thinking about Christmas presents -- fabric ornaments like this one are great gifts!</span></div>
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Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01792648847934893154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6463329107701044302.post-76883848804053934062013-07-11T11:21:00.000-07:002013-07-11T11:21:23.784-07:00A Long Wedding Post<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">At the end of June, we took our first family road trip to Mammoth Lakes. My brother and his fiance love Mammoth and snowboard there so they arranged to get married at the top of Mammoth Mountain (over 11,000 ft. elevation). It's a 6 hour drive from Southern California, skirting Death Valley with only a few stops along the way. Yes, that's 6 hours in a car with an almost 5 year old and an almost 9 month old. We planned to leave SoCal on Friday morning, arrive in the late afternoon in time for a family dinner, go to the wedding on Saturday, and head back down the hill toward home on Sunday. I'm exhausted just typing that out.... Anyway, here's the rundown of our trip:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Friday, 9:30am -- car is packed to almost bursting and we hit the road. Chelsea is already crying very loudly. Lee is grouchy (he's an anti-traveler). Nate asks after 3 blocks "when are we going to have food and drinks?" I laugh. Or cry. I don't remember now.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Outside of Los Angeles County, we make a bathroom stop at McDonald's in the town of Mojave. Take my advice -- don't add Mojave to your "must visit" list. Yuck. Lee admitted 2 days later that, while I was in the restroom, Nate made the following statement rather loudly in the middle of McDonald's: "Mommy's taking a long time in the bathroom. Is she going poo poo?" Good times.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We start driving through the desert. It's pretty barren and boring. Nate has been set up with a stack of movies and a portable DVD player so he's good for a few hours. Chelsea should be sleeping but after 45 minutes, she decides to wake up. I give her a few toys and she seems pretty content...and probably bored since she has to sit backwards in her car seat and can't see the rest of us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Eventually, the desert on US Route 395 (a 2-lane highway) becomes more interesting with beautiful mountains and rock formations. We pass Mount Whitney, the highest point in the contiguous United States (not in this photo).</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7ftSEDpDwZU/UdL2YqHNU9I/AAAAAAAACQs/HbZOptBKLxQ/s800/DSC_0772+%2528537x800%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7ftSEDpDwZU/UdL2YqHNU9I/AAAAAAAACQs/HbZOptBKLxQ/s640/DSC_0772+%2528537x800%2529.jpg" width="428" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And then....Hallelujah! Civilization! We pull into Lone Pine, a small desert/frontier town that must survive on the tourists driving to/from Mammoth, Yosemite and other points north.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I knew in advance that there was a small park at the edge of town where we could have a picnic lunch and the kids could play in the park's creek. It's plenty hot outside but the dry wind is nice and in the shade we feel fine. </span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_UNQECipvlQ/UdL2YjCdL3I/AAAAAAAACTs/EPalIheBnSQ/s800/DSC_0540+%2528800x598%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_UNQECipvlQ/UdL2YjCdL3I/AAAAAAAACTs/EPalIheBnSQ/s640/DSC_0540+%2528800x598%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We stay there for about an hour enjoying the surroundings. Nate, of course, cuts his foot in the creek. He then tries to play on the playground equipment but it's too hot to touch. The ladies restroom here is impressively clean for a park (okay, so if you are a parent, you know that trips are broken up by bathroom visits and, out of habit, you begin to rate them in your head for future reference). </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">From there, we drive through Independence, which is small and charming. I loved this courthouse:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM1H1e2cYsYX_ErPjYRsKqGSyMjf1bXpUifKhlhePUQQRhyhaZyNE7xWHxtpFJsQPGWn5SqQXymvOBjEOQlxkXnLmbVaJ5RGYe4PTWGIkIheR8RJPMSzrcnaE6ByXN90FE6wf2X4b0Bct9/s1600/DSC_0762.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM1H1e2cYsYX_ErPjYRsKqGSyMjf1bXpUifKhlhePUQQRhyhaZyNE7xWHxtpFJsQPGWn5SqQXymvOBjEOQlxkXnLmbVaJ5RGYe4PTWGIkIheR8RJPMSzrcnaE6ByXN90FE6wf2X4b0Bct9/s640/DSC_0762.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The next stop on the map is Bishop, the largest "city" in the Owens Valley. We thought we might stop here for a break but decide to push through to Mammoth. Bishop is nice and makes you wonder if you could live in a small town. Check this out:</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JfnSly0THWY/UdL2Yiahd7I/AAAAAAAACU0/oVeYU30Yuxk/s800/DSC_0759+%2528537x800%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JfnSly0THWY/UdL2Yiahd7I/AAAAAAAACU0/oVeYU30Yuxk/s640/DSC_0759+%2528537x800%2529.jpg" width="428" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Wow, coming from the land of mega shopping centers, this JCPenney made me smile. Hello 1950s. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Just outside of Bishop, the scenery dramatically changes from desert to mountain, as you quickly ascend 3,000 feet in elevation. It was beautiful. The weather cooled down to the 80s the higher we went.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X56C3scTLFk/UdL2YsDvieI/AAAAAAAACUY/SWObo0I-G-A/s800/DSC_0555+%2528800x537%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X56C3scTLFk/UdL2YsDvieI/AAAAAAAACUY/SWObo0I-G-A/s640/DSC_0555+%2528800x537%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We got to Mammoth Lakes between 3 and 4pm. Chelsea only slept 45 mins. the entire trip. Nate watched a ridiculous amount of movies. Our car's interior looks like a bomb went off. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here is our home for the next 2 nights:</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-23MjrsBl2lc/UdL2Ys6OsWI/AAAAAAAACV8/sXbZMIBh1a8/s800/DSC_0736+%2528800x537%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-23MjrsBl2lc/UdL2Ys6OsWI/AAAAAAAACV8/sXbZMIBh1a8/s640/DSC_0736+%2528800x537%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We had a nice 2-bedroom condo with a full kitchen. Mammoth Lakes is a winter resort area so that means no air-conditioning, which normally isn't a big deal but the Western US was experiencing a heatwave so there were moments that were pretty uncomfortable. But I'd rather be hot and sweaty in the beautiful mountains than back home so it wasn't too bad. This is the pool area, where Nate and I swam on Saturday morning:</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YFihumAtpFY/UdL2Ym1TYsI/AAAAAAAACRQ/NibUMWF-EW8/s800/DSC_0752+%2528800x537%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YFihumAtpFY/UdL2Ym1TYsI/AAAAAAAACRQ/NibUMWF-EW8/s640/DSC_0752+%2528800x537%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Back to Friday evening -- We cleaned ourselves up a bit and then headed down the road to the house where Ella was staying with her extended family. The dinner was delicious and we had a relaxing time visiting with everyone. When Chelsea started to meltdown around 8:30/9, we left and headed back to the condo to get some rest. Lee and Nate slept in one bedroom that had twin beds and Chelsea and I shared the other one (she was in the pack-n-play we brought with us). The kids fell asleep quickly. The adults didn't sleep very well. Figures.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hPO_EIknmJM/UdL2YlBpFVI/AAAAAAAACVs/D_OlNPsO6jU/s800/DSC_0554+%2528800x537%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hPO_EIknmJM/UdL2YlBpFVI/AAAAAAAACVs/D_OlNPsO6jU/s640/DSC_0554+%2528800x537%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Up at 6am!! Typical for our kids. We found some breakfast at a bakery and stopped at this park so Nate could work off some energy.</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jHkCwNF1QEw/UdL2Yhu23vI/AAAAAAAACSg/aZIWj-BKquw/s800/DSC_0557+%2528800x597%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jHkCwNF1QEw/UdL2Yhu23vI/AAAAAAAACSg/aZIWj-BKquw/s640/DSC_0557+%2528800x597%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H_xARhrnSAE/UdL2Yi27gaI/AAAAAAAACQE/CglKO68el-w/s800/DSC_0565+%2528800x612%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="488" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H_xARhrnSAE/UdL2Yi27gaI/AAAAAAAACQE/CglKO68el-w/s640/DSC_0565+%2528800x612%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">By mid-morning, Nate was dying to go swimming so we headed to the hotel pool while Lee and Chelsea napped. The water felt great and the view was so beautiful:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhySn8mhbWYVad_PvdtdSqEK95TEtu7WWnyud1CKfLAnF400lt5lPVyOo1b75tU_cAY7mFIkxcwEft4f-GDsmP90T5NmBQolEhKhh8pRgXZTEzqPHxtXA3JbHk5zXJ6M1BuH9clrhkYbk48/s1600/DSC_0751.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhySn8mhbWYVad_PvdtdSqEK95TEtu7WWnyud1CKfLAnF400lt5lPVyOo1b75tU_cAY7mFIkxcwEft4f-GDsmP90T5NmBQolEhKhh8pRgXZTEzqPHxtXA3JbHk5zXJ6M1BuH9clrhkYbk48/s640/DSC_0751.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Chelsea's nap lasted extra long,which was terrific since she'd be up late partying at the wedding reception later. So Lee and Nate picked up some lunch for us and brought it back to the condo. Not long afterward, we had to start getting ready for the wedding. We needed to be out the door by 2:45pm. Kiddos looking good here:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We caravan with the groom, best man & his wife, my mom, and 2 other friends of Eric's to the base of Mammoth Mountain. After meeting up with my dad and Grandma Janet, we all climbed into gondolas and rode up, up, up to the top of the mountain. I was a little nervous about the ride (I have a slight height phobia) but it wasn't bad. There was snow on the mountainside the higher we went but the temperature was nice. Very windy and only slightly chilly.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7ru4Qj96P4Q/UdL2YpZErpI/AAAAAAAACVQ/Ut2NVcfS7H4/s800/DSC_0597+%2528800x537%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7ru4Qj96P4Q/UdL2YpZErpI/AAAAAAAACVQ/Ut2NVcfS7H4/s640/DSC_0597+%2528800x537%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It only took a few moments to make some preparations before we waited for the bride and her family to arrive. Also, a couple people needed a few moments to get used to the altitude (11,000 feet). I wasn't bothered except that my legs got really tired really quickly trying to climb some stairs to the observation area. Chelsea cried a little bit and immediately fell asleep in the sling I was carrying her in. Lack of oxygen maybe??? She slept the entire wedding and didn't wake up until we were in the gondola going back down.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This is the view from where they said "I do":</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-synskVJJ4yk/UdL2Yj6EgkI/AAAAAAAACSc/otetHuDPows/s800/DSC_0604+%2528800x537%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-synskVJJ4yk/UdL2Yj6EgkI/AAAAAAAACSc/otetHuDPows/s640/DSC_0604+%2528800x537%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Nate was the ring-bearer! He did great. You can see Ella and her dad in the distance and that's the Best Man, Dave, with Nate:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The wedding officiant was a friend of the future Mr. & Mrs. Tony did a really nice job. Love Ella's wedding dress!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Such a unique and memorable wedding! And they had a few tourists watching too:</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vh-fXb8oQ5g/UdL2YjHqN4I/AAAAAAAACQk/C15Ms0CsYL4/s800/DSC_0630+%2528800x539%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="430" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vh-fXb8oQ5g/UdL2YjHqN4I/AAAAAAAACQk/C15Ms0CsYL4/s640/DSC_0630+%2528800x539%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Family photos were taken and silly faces were made:</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f5YhKqOt42k/UdL2Yrg5VnI/AAAAAAAACUA/Hgq0rRHK0ew/s800/DSC_0655+%2528800x537%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f5YhKqOt42k/UdL2Yrg5VnI/AAAAAAAACUA/Hgq0rRHK0ew/s640/DSC_0655+%2528800x537%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Gondola going down. And look who's woken from her oxygen-deprived coma:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvjuHUUHiDOJpMaaGooRcR0J964mLUyiJd_iozua3nV8PQvqbzB9MiSpGyEgLTfeT25xNI5jKyiVEDWnqAw6sJC4qjb5GfPpiq5cefXTz7Fx4quYFfOkfrlxffW-pHNuDuLv9awNp3ebhO/s1600/IMG_0305.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvjuHUUHiDOJpMaaGooRcR0J964mLUyiJd_iozua3nV8PQvqbzB9MiSpGyEgLTfeT25xNI5jKyiVEDWnqAw6sJC4qjb5GfPpiq5cefXTz7Fx4quYFfOkfrlxffW-pHNuDuLv9awNp3ebhO/s640/IMG_0305.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Next stop -- wedding reception. The newlyweds chose the restaurant Skadi as their reception site and we had the entire place to ourselves. It had beautiful windows that offered an amazing sunset view of the mountains. And, since my brother is a music aficionado and has already been to more concerts that I'll ever go to in my entire lifetime, we had "admission tickets" to the reception. So clever:</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-86t86oabDRA/UdL2YuVpB4I/AAAAAAAACU8/ejTDjWa0xRI/s800/DSC_0711+%2528800x587%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="468" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-86t86oabDRA/UdL2YuVpB4I/AAAAAAAACU8/ejTDjWa0xRI/s640/DSC_0711+%2528800x587%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The food was fantastic but, of course, somebody was waiting the entire time for wedding cake. Wonder who that was...</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JvwD2p2Ulfc/UdL2Yrx3xiI/AAAAAAAACS4/ejNVRfp_fNA/s800/DSC_0727+%2528800x537%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JvwD2p2Ulfc/UdL2Yrx3xiI/AAAAAAAACS4/ejNVRfp_fNA/s640/DSC_0727+%2528800x537%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Beautiful cake:</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hHlrC8v4M6U/UdL2Yuf5jJI/AAAAAAAACRE/A7vKf6g3-Kk/s800/DSC_0692+%2528800x537%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hHlrC8v4M6U/UdL2Yuf5jJI/AAAAAAAACRE/A7vKf6g3-Kk/s640/DSC_0692+%2528800x537%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Enjoying a nice dinner and getting to know each other better:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Nate loves his Auntie Ella. Almost as much as he loves cake.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It was a lovely evening but a long night for our kiddos. We headed back to the condo around 9:30/10 and immediately went to bed. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Sunday morning -- up again around 6:30. Why won't these kids let us sleep in?? Oh well, we need the time to start packing. But before we do, we all head to Mammoth Village for breakfast at a cafe. This is our last Mammoth excursion before heading home. We pack up the car (a lot faster this time) and start the long drive around 10:30am. I drove the first 3 hours and Lee took the last leg. We only stopped in Lone Pine again and went back to the small park for a picnic lunch but it was just too hot (105 degrees) to enjoy being outside. We were a sweaty, sweaty family.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I believe the temp maxed out at 115. XM Radio played an appropriate song for our drive through the desert: </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Barren desert highway. Zzzzzzzzzzz.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And that's it! We got home about 5:30pm to a very hot and very smelly house (note to self: take out trash before leaving on vacation). Poor Chelsea cried a lot the last hour of the drive -- if she could talk, I think she probably would have yelled "get me out of this car now!!" Once we put her down in the house, she took off and crawled everywhere. I've never seen her so happy! Nate and Lee were happy too. They're definitely homebodies. I wasn't looking forward to the mound of laundry I had in my future but such is life. Overall, it was a nice trip and I'm glad I can say we survived our first long road trip with the kiddos. We have 2 road trips looming in the Fall, both of which are a lot shorter than this. Piece of cake! We're pros now :)</span></div>
Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01792648847934893154noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6463329107701044302.post-55742500471860506872013-07-06T23:08:00.000-07:002013-07-06T23:08:02.425-07:00June<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The month of June brought about:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">A family wedding! My brother is now married. I'll post a separate entry on the wedding in a few days.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Summer school for Nathan. He's signed up for 4 weeks each with a different theme: camping, science, messy stuff, and music appreciation. It's been fun to be around different kids, teachers, and in different classrooms at his preschool.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My 42nd birthday. Not sure how I feel about that number. I had to work the day of my birthday but I received a lovely cake made by Nate and some beautiful flowers from Lee. Lee also gave me an entire day away from the house to sew. I took my sewing machine to my mom's dining room and never looked back. I was very productive and really enjoyed myself. Thanks, hon!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We had AT&T come out and install a phone jack near our living room tv, finally! We're debating wether to drop DirectTV and rely on the internet for our tv viewing (Netflix, Hulu). It would save us a bundle in cash and might get us motivated to watch less tv at night and do more creative things. The final decision hasn't been made yet.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My office took fancy headshots for our revamped website. It was fun having my picture taken by a real headshot photographer. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Chelsea is now very mobile. She crawls and scoots. She sits up and moves around from one positon to another. She's even started pulling up on furniture. Chels really wants to walk badly. Yikes. Not ready for a walking Chelsea yet. She's also moved into 9-12 month clothes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We upgraded our inflatable pool! It was time to say goodbye to our little whale pool and say hello to a larger pool then entire family could use. Nate loves it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We had our first official Summer Family Movie Night. After Chelsea goes to bed, Nathan gets to cuddle with us on the sofa and watch a family-friendly movie. We have popcorn. The first selection was Disney's Robin Hood. Animated motion pictures from the 1970s sure look dated compared to the fancy computer animated films of today. But Nate didn't care.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Lee's first Father's Day as a dad of two. He obviously had to get up early for church on Father's Day since it's a Sunday but we did our celebrating earlier. The kids gave Lee a copy of comedian Jim Gaffigan's new book <u>Dad is Fat</u>. It's a hilarious book! </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaOwFPN2smzWgCiNoIbbL-l_0S8CGOIWXVBgfFdKrgdbwlc6DKvoOR6RRldZuJNl7QyewXa5ST8bkzetYs56llD2EF_QCmgsSxqzOWVlPV_MjKx3li0-BH_mf_nQbVDDmlWgQB1OjpJqIN/s1600/DSC_0241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaOwFPN2smzWgCiNoIbbL-l_0S8CGOIWXVBgfFdKrgdbwlc6DKvoOR6RRldZuJNl7QyewXa5ST8bkzetYs56llD2EF_QCmgsSxqzOWVlPV_MjKx3li0-BH_mf_nQbVDDmlWgQB1OjpJqIN/s640/DSC_0241.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mommy's sun hat is a fun toy.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR9kpp8sbxbLsksSq7j3xaRmXUN4OqwJ1u6h5JgbldLoE4pzzsOhoUCxlCtyFteZ_UNje1FLd64zo0NzmVeIjXbvV64_kMuPi-Kqn__1xYmQYQHKJQll1bm7E2BlYT4cpkbAFiDi6rN16H/s1600/DSC_0275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR9kpp8sbxbLsksSq7j3xaRmXUN4OqwJ1u6h5JgbldLoE4pzzsOhoUCxlCtyFteZ_UNje1FLd64zo0NzmVeIjXbvV64_kMuPi-Kqn__1xYmQYQHKJQll1bm7E2BlYT4cpkbAFiDi6rN16H/s640/DSC_0275.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All 3 of our pools have had names. Nothing super original but names nonetheless. This one is called "New Pool."</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI0RsiZjOjZbV6-Cq5Nj1sTunzFpr3qyHrC4qp5FsF-Df8U58ovTB1PwtbHwsEIGdpK4AcyLXiYuqL8k8limX5jb-grkHtdqF9SCBVw44l3GQGX0KzrdBqvC0jZybf08ykK7ynZW3XzG_O/s1600/DSC_0311.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI0RsiZjOjZbV6-Cq5Nj1sTunzFpr3qyHrC4qp5FsF-Df8U58ovTB1PwtbHwsEIGdpK4AcyLXiYuqL8k8limX5jb-grkHtdqF9SCBVw44l3GQGX0KzrdBqvC0jZybf08ykK7ynZW3XzG_O/s640/DSC_0311.JPG" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: justify;">Yes, we experimented with the slide from the swingset in the pool. Yes, Mommy went down the slide too. I have a bruised shin to prove it.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A man, his guitar, and his adoring fans.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDd9PHqHWOvZXMHKMLz0iko53FX09PVEQQmODcovbGzzV5e1XBh_kMuvKdVgkHAjjqEHplIwW_zGqV7ppjHPeeSwhweM5leKKQSRYLVtXwCNwESjhthyphenhyphenW4B1Qca3hYTFdaya0fOUbS_cEv/s1600/DSC_0365.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDd9PHqHWOvZXMHKMLz0iko53FX09PVEQQmODcovbGzzV5e1XBh_kMuvKdVgkHAjjqEHplIwW_zGqV7ppjHPeeSwhweM5leKKQSRYLVtXwCNwESjhthyphenhyphenW4B1Qca3hYTFdaya0fOUbS_cEv/s640/DSC_0365.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A birthday cake isn't a birthday cake without sprinkles!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful birthday flowers. Dahlias are my favorite.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2yYId1olHli2eO5s7WRDsDnjqdFuPRZAILDg5MLAk4WQcrJuJxyTXuOYb00jFdEjTPuXRmwnWDz5Y4jin9hX-Vmg5e36JDfgQbnLstmBBh7rpMHjH9a8wDF-9LOWrmDYpVoquJkEKImgy/s1600/DSC_0386.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2yYId1olHli2eO5s7WRDsDnjqdFuPRZAILDg5MLAk4WQcrJuJxyTXuOYb00jFdEjTPuXRmwnWDz5Y4jin9hX-Vmg5e36JDfgQbnLstmBBh7rpMHjH9a8wDF-9LOWrmDYpVoquJkEKImgy/s640/DSC_0386.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We play with blocks a lot while Chelsea takes her afternoon nap.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir0Qaz44w1dZmIpD3iG7YGnkuYNu2UfLqaqcDxyZXFsu2J-xxMt8Nut1te0ZirlhDCwOC_PWTwV-3kJTV5qIIP6zqdJWcYKlapSvuxs0zvw9a4It-FqkCe9UMtBmilOOGVRxk0AbcxdxZ3/s1600/DSC_0397.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir0Qaz44w1dZmIpD3iG7YGnkuYNu2UfLqaqcDxyZXFsu2J-xxMt8Nut1te0ZirlhDCwOC_PWTwV-3kJTV5qIIP6zqdJWcYKlapSvuxs0zvw9a4It-FqkCe9UMtBmilOOGVRxk0AbcxdxZ3/s640/DSC_0397.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy Father's Day. Chelsea's t-shirt is one Nate wore 4 years ago.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRiUGPB_63KaJNCamgO5x5GQE7kWEb-TuP6b26zFAsC2m_fMTMLvrwdjKG12JU8QF8QUnx06ZQINl_hFLHezQ9RCnyJpPZtjyHlwfNngFOm5qwsYaAIoGcTMHK8KwEELje_MViR2ODrNK4/s1600/DSC_0405.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRiUGPB_63KaJNCamgO5x5GQE7kWEb-TuP6b26zFAsC2m_fMTMLvrwdjKG12JU8QF8QUnx06ZQINl_hFLHezQ9RCnyJpPZtjyHlwfNngFOm5qwsYaAIoGcTMHK8KwEELje_MViR2ODrNK4/s640/DSC_0405.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It wasn't cold on Family Movie Night. Nate loves to wrap up in a blanket. I was sweating!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGXj4zSFWVKDKd-18Mf0OGzttFyUxFj0dgjtWn2oQ5803LE6-MbEVFb2pGzTslQTgsSmrPAO_MGdpSZedVejSi5CbMPOj83DALX7hnGbzgLiuya2pg3-9UCU4x4cY4_ozVQMwJwth5Pt1X/s1600/DSC_0442.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGXj4zSFWVKDKd-18Mf0OGzttFyUxFj0dgjtWn2oQ5803LE6-MbEVFb2pGzTslQTgsSmrPAO_MGdpSZedVejSi5CbMPOj83DALX7hnGbzgLiuya2pg3-9UCU4x4cY4_ozVQMwJwth5Pt1X/s640/DSC_0442.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An empty pool makes an awesome outdoor playpen. Redneck or what???</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje_wTJBmIXJngKDYuAkJW7HmXOMTXKgGMQJ3rYRw3z_iZAqxegnrkhtdy6rUfPZbbIWmQ3gFcmZ_aExlpJRerngPcwlLB9kyglE3_vZkfCTDhxY9rOlNfiDttLSUAokUYFfU14PZOZtvd0/s1600/DSC_0443.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje_wTJBmIXJngKDYuAkJW7HmXOMTXKgGMQJ3rYRw3z_iZAqxegnrkhtdy6rUfPZbbIWmQ3gFcmZ_aExlpJRerngPcwlLB9kyglE3_vZkfCTDhxY9rOlNfiDttLSUAokUYFfU14PZOZtvd0/s640/DSC_0443.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We've reached the silly faces phase of childhood.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtcTVCqQqn3keqTqECnxkNvNk-mXcYk_GhhS86wdJOULCm5dc0KRpvqXu7-tGUm9RfRDfZF7Sb5o_OkbSSjXxJLKYlHkaSrRGG5bBAwFK5J8YO08fq4kQYRthY_7pmVr_AGFyUP6YjnLjT/s1600/DSC_0479.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtcTVCqQqn3keqTqECnxkNvNk-mXcYk_GhhS86wdJOULCm5dc0KRpvqXu7-tGUm9RfRDfZF7Sb5o_OkbSSjXxJLKYlHkaSrRGG5bBAwFK5J8YO08fq4kQYRthY_7pmVr_AGFyUP6YjnLjT/s640/DSC_0479.JPG" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm still super excited that I finished my 2nd quilt in June. Last pic, I promise.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhloe117ROfwNpSXwdivHRce7j9wRgRdvskAy-39jF0a65NBB_F6YDTj62GMAHKtIlqtnplQ1FtxYzN2NOJ9Xw-A1kevt9SaoTGuYmZFzOem3TaREvgWfSr0FdmCwwWwIFkRYScnLyAk0KP/s1600/DSC_0517.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhloe117ROfwNpSXwdivHRce7j9wRgRdvskAy-39jF0a65NBB_F6YDTj62GMAHKtIlqtnplQ1FtxYzN2NOJ9Xw-A1kevt9SaoTGuYmZFzOem3TaREvgWfSr0FdmCwwWwIFkRYScnLyAk0KP/s640/DSC_0517.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hey you. Stop standing. Stop growing. Stay little. I mean it!</td></tr>
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<br />Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01792648847934893154noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6463329107701044302.post-18362004327339459602013-06-27T10:53:00.003-07:002013-06-27T10:53:29.716-07:00Bye Google Reader. <span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/8083957/?claim=v4a3wpzgf59">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Don't forget that Google Reader closes its' doors in a couple days. I started using Bloglovin a few weeks ago and have found it to be really easy to use and a lot of fun. </span></div>
Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01792648847934893154noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6463329107701044302.post-29209003621268038372013-06-24T11:44:00.000-07:002013-06-25T16:00:50.271-07:00Quilt #2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"> My second quilt is finished! I purchased the fabric before Chelsea was born and began working on it in October of last year. I had hoped to have it done by last Christmas but knew that having a 2 month old at that point would probably hinder my sewing time. Ha! Did it ever! But no pressure. Instead of being 6 months late, I'm going to say it's 6 months early for THIS Christmas. Convenient, huh? I created a Christmas quilt because I wanted to start the tradition of bringing it out every year right after Thanksgiving. It'll reside in our living room during the month of December for evening snuggles. Then, during the week of Christmas, everyone gets a turn having the Christmas quilt on their bed with Lee and I getting in on Christmas Eve. Then the Christmas quilt will go back into hiding until the next year. I have a feeling I'll be the only one excited about the Christmas quilt but that's okay. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifk-v_dnVLmWWcnCQUdl-ZAj2nI1K7dVVtObEf1f-cCKH6eSNiUxLUvl9R5MwQq6gckxrJDKCLOGZ7K7VP3xq4DgP8bSUmfjV6WY_7bQy4Dwbix6j7HF_qXzOjS47fsPXkMyzoSfAbrn0E/s1600/DSC_0497.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifk-v_dnVLmWWcnCQUdl-ZAj2nI1K7dVVtObEf1f-cCKH6eSNiUxLUvl9R5MwQq6gckxrJDKCLOGZ7K7VP3xq4DgP8bSUmfjV6WY_7bQy4Dwbix6j7HF_qXzOjS47fsPXkMyzoSfAbrn0E/s640/DSC_0497.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2nzAIHzEVt2DjNM0EOXui-6VeqvZ1PDihF0dyj5ji2giRGLClqhflnLbmGbl5oKLGGsKUHWOZM4VeIcUbHPpqZ-Lk9eTo-hZGEfoLM01qqYD2yieNP381cQ_U7l8Wd04WYdPJchU0A7HF/s1600/DSC_0502.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2nzAIHzEVt2DjNM0EOXui-6VeqvZ1PDihF0dyj5ji2giRGLClqhflnLbmGbl5oKLGGsKUHWOZM4VeIcUbHPpqZ-Lk9eTo-hZGEfoLM01qqYD2yieNP381cQ_U7l8Wd04WYdPJchU0A7HF/s640/DSC_0502.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The quilt was intended to be lap size and measures upon completion 53 x 44. Those are kinda odd measurements but I didn't work from a pattern and I wasn't comfortable going any bigger since this was only my 2nd quilt. I used a layer cake of Kate Spain's Joy fabric line for Moda. The back is also from the Joy line. The binding is Flutter by Amanda Herring for Riley Blake. When you see a larger panel of it, it resembles an old-fashioned glass ornament shape (at least in my head it does). The front border is Kona Snow. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I followed a tutorial for a double slice layer cake quilt and used that as the focal point of the quilt front. It was SO easy to put those blocks together. I actually finished those last November. Then I couldn't decide if I wanted to add borders or not. I like the look of the white against the colorful blocks so it worked out okay. I had a lousy time making the quilt "sandwich" on this one. I'm still a quilting newbie and probably should have spent more time making sure my bottom layer was free of creases and wrinkles. When I went to do my straight line quilting, some parts of my back bunched a little. It was frustrating. I fixed some areas of it but left others because, uh, it adds character??? Lesson learned. I may stick with baby quilts and table runners for a while before trying a larger quilt again. Or I may have somebody else do the quilting for me on a larger quilt. I enjoyed doing the binding this time and 3 out 4 corners are mitered correctly so I'm getting better!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now I'm working on a wall hanging for Chelsea's room and I have a whole bunch of new fabric to play with. Gotta get started! It's great when you find your sewing mojo :)</span></div>
Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01792648847934893154noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6463329107701044302.post-68957507821754189642013-06-06T07:00:00.000-07:002013-06-06T07:00:01.019-07:00Books<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I have actually found time (or MADE time) for some recreational reading lately and it makes me so happy. I miss always having a book to read at night or on my commute home from work. Some of my favorite childhood memories revolve around the library and the summer reading program (nerd alert) so consider this my plug for reading a good book this upcoming summer.....</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I had heard about this book via a few mommy blogs. Melanie Shankle is a blogger herself and a Christian. The reviews I read raved about this book so I, of course, tried to keep my expectations in check. Luckily, I was able to download it to my Kindle for free on Mother's Day, which was appropriate since the book is mainly about Melanie's adventures with motherhood. I gotta say -- this book was a delight. Melanie is incredibly funny and some of her comments in the book made me wish we were best friends. I appreciated her weaving Scripture into the text in places that were less about laughs and more thought provoking. It's a short book and an easy read but very entertaining. Melanie's got a bright future ahead of her!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> This book was purchased on a whim because Amazon was offering the Kindle version for under 4 bucks (this is going to be a theme with my reviews -- I am cheap!). I wasn't necessarily interested in Hawaii but the book was "recommended" by my good friends at Amazon since I apparently like historical fiction (or so they tell me). The Amazon reviews were mostly favorable so I gave it a go. Sooo I enjoyed this book too. The story introduces us to a young girl in Korea in the early 20th century as she leaves her homeland to marry a stranger in Hawaii. The remainder of the book is about her life in Hawaii and how Honolulu changes dramatically over 50+ years. Alan Brennert includes a lot of history in this novel to the point where it becomes a little too much -- that's my only complaint and other Amazon reviews said the same thing. But if you like getting a history lesson while you read, then you'd enjoy this book. I think Lee got a little tired of hearing me say "Did you know in Hawaii....." every night during our reading time. I think he tuned out after the first dozen times I tried to pass along my new knowledge of Hawaii to him. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Ahh, Adriana Trigiani. I love you. I love this book. What's not to like -- Italy, New York, a love story. I actually cried a little during one part of this book while I was reading it on the subway. That's commitment, people. I could keep gushing but I think I've already overused the word "love" here. Read. This. Book. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyPB82gASmGh264K_65HDg3QQK0QkAIYm4jx6V_lm-UB_zEMggAg4vqhJ0Pc_XNpmwMK-pmW08t24N1Bj7EaVUg1w8Dzf8KMIMAda31LOSQ_yDU8iI46ppQK6QhyphenhyphensfE4DRie_DYI1paBR9/s1600/images2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyPB82gASmGh264K_65HDg3QQK0QkAIYm4jx6V_lm-UB_zEMggAg4vqhJ0Pc_XNpmwMK-pmW08t24N1Bj7EaVUg1w8Dzf8KMIMAda31LOSQ_yDU8iI46ppQK6QhyphenhyphensfE4DRie_DYI1paBR9/s1600/images2.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I checked this book out from the library and because it is new (at least, to the public library) I had to read it in 7 days. Yes, a 7-day loan. Talk about pressure. 300+ pages in 7 days was a challenge when you've got a job, kids, and other obligations. But I did it. Wouldn't want to do it again, but I did it. So as for this book -- <u>The Aviator's Wife</u> is about Anne Morrow Lindbergh. Historical fiction again only this time, the main character is obviously a real person. So that makes things a little trickier when you read a novel and wonder "did she really say that??" I liked this book but didn't love it. Whether it was because the real person/fiction thing was too weird for me or because Charles Lindbergh wasn't a likeable man, I'm not sure. Again, I enjoy learning about people, places, events, etc. while I read so that part of it was fascinating and I intend to read Anne's book <u>Gift from the Sea</u> soon. I also think the Lindberghs had sad lives and maybe the disturbing nature of their son's abduction and the way the family was hounded by the press made me sad for them. I suppose we don't have to always feel happy about a storyline in order to like a book (<u>White Oleander</u>!) but I think I prefer it. I get so little time for recreational reading, I prefer to read happy books.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hi again, Adriana Trigiani. Another winner here, my friend. Plot = a young, stylish clothing designer leads an interesting life in 1950s Manhattan. A fun read. Not a grand love story like <u>The Shoemaker's Wife</u> but there are only so many home runs in the literary world. Enjoyed it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So that's it. I am trying to figure out what to read next. Alan Brennert (<u>Honolulu</u>) has a new book out called <u>Palisades Park</u> that I saw at the library but it's a 7-day loan and you know how I feel about those. What books would you recommend? I'm thinking about adding some of these titles to my summer reading list:</span></div>
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<br />Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01792648847934893154noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6463329107701044302.post-73421986592288462742013-06-04T13:31:00.001-07:002013-06-04T13:31:23.260-07:00May<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">May brought about:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">A power surge that killed some lightbulbs and a few minor appliances.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Our first garage sale in years that yielded a paltry profit but was fun, none the less.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My first real haircut in over a year! Eww. About time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Chelsea's first illness -- a cold. Nate and I also got it. It was mild but lingered.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">An insanely hot Mother's Day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I recall being barfed on about 3 times by 2 kids this month.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">An insurgence of ants and spiders. Double eww.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">New flowers and plants in our front yard planted by yours truly.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Open House at Nate's preschool.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We have movement, people! Chelsea is scooting around.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Praise the Lord! Goodbye ugly green linoleum in the kitchen. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Nate's last day in Room 3 at BFUMCNS. Only 87 days until Pre-K starts. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Chelsea turned 7 months and is in size 9-12 month clothes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">A move of sorts -- Lee and I now sleep in the den (long story).</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Music Time. Maybe they'll be the next Carpenters. Yes, I am that old.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy girl showing off her dimples.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is what happens when you take a picture just as somebody sneezes. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kewpie Doll.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We water plants in our skivvies.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sir Nathan of Cook Manor.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The King of my heart.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Angry Birds come to life!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I used to exercise on this trampoline when I was single. Now my kid plays on it. Story of my life.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunflowers 2013. My 4th summer growing them.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She loves to wrinkle her nose at people. We call it Chelsea's "stink eye" look.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxnIx1cIbbo0GkcPbKMhwYNaDB1YZXFoVZ4UIWUzalHLivdTpFHuuXXeoEwAHyg7J7BcIFb_p5vvMCe-A-Qq1r5BgvzHGvJDflJLMxrW38NkPF4S4aNxDY1d8DdhP0FuEXRGeFiHJhSBLA/s1600/DSC_0157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxnIx1cIbbo0GkcPbKMhwYNaDB1YZXFoVZ4UIWUzalHLivdTpFHuuXXeoEwAHyg7J7BcIFb_p5vvMCe-A-Qq1r5BgvzHGvJDflJLMxrW38NkPF4S4aNxDY1d8DdhP0FuEXRGeFiHJhSBLA/s640/DSC_0157.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And there she goes. Gotta explore and put things in her mouth. Yea for us.</td></tr>
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Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01792648847934893154noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6463329107701044302.post-62556288822922156812013-04-21T20:14:00.000-07:002013-04-21T20:14:09.763-07:00Roseanne Roseannadanna<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I'm back! The Cooks have been computer-less while our beloved laptop has been to see Mr. Fixit for the past two weeks. How strange to be without a computer for 14 days. We felt cutoff from the world. My iPad (a gift from my former employer) kept us somewhat aware of goings-on but I don't care what Apple says -- a tablet does not replace a desktop/laptop!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So I'm suppose to be continuing with my post on photobook reviews but that'll have to wait. I feel like I need to update this blog with activities in the lives of the Cook 4. I have so many great photos of each of the kiddos, I feel they each deserve their own post. Expect to see a "Chelsea" and a "Nate" post soon...</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">In the meantime, I'll leave you with this little gem. Are you familiar with the term "Pinterest Fail?" Well, I had one of my own. I attempted to give my longer hair some beachy-like waves. This is how it turned out:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8w2sBwj-Xiomhj8swn7iEvd03i1TPhhUxIo7mdmxOsg0QcJamyFmri8yW1uzm_-I_EBFd3zRcu1LhthyJIR5e6A7Pyu0yYJ3ZHfeFbBfIhUiOtPRXFB95s69_3DiWmfbYvAvy9NYZc1K_/s1600/DSC_0223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8w2sBwj-Xiomhj8swn7iEvd03i1TPhhUxIo7mdmxOsg0QcJamyFmri8yW1uzm_-I_EBFd3zRcu1LhthyJIR5e6A7Pyu0yYJ3ZHfeFbBfIhUiOtPRXFB95s69_3DiWmfbYvAvy9NYZc1K_/s400/DSC_0223.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Which reminds me of this:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieNb0Wn_xW4q6uXoycqbtV22VXD0KfamIsLIbeacPi1wX-VjKZWCnz9HLQCCBAxQdx9IPW-c3c2IV9FLw8GNfAUcIT_nl1PFOuEQAwdE3Q9o5vaSG6pXqlb2qlxVeDL3N3YKM9kEk5-8fh/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieNb0Wn_xW4q6uXoycqbtV22VXD0KfamIsLIbeacPi1wX-VjKZWCnz9HLQCCBAxQdx9IPW-c3c2IV9FLw8GNfAUcIT_nl1PFOuEQAwdE3Q9o5vaSG6pXqlb2qlxVeDL3N3YKM9kEk5-8fh/s400/1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Guess I'll stick to wearing my hair straight...</span></div>
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Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01792648847934893154noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6463329107701044302.post-32666750862605980452013-03-28T09:27:00.000-07:002013-06-25T16:01:18.450-07:00Photobook Reviews: Intro<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB3EhCTAyn2gD-yGfIBsDjrPZU0TRigulxc9YYldrsI8qM3HIV5PpKcfwpA3LVuEcBukHszC-SeQgeWZT5JNEAb6K5O62aY1uIUHcQGhqoFGZIevrYFhaEu6RTwwiM4GRJaxGuMKcly9Oo/s1600/DSC_0220.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB3EhCTAyn2gD-yGfIBsDjrPZU0TRigulxc9YYldrsI8qM3HIV5PpKcfwpA3LVuEcBukHszC-SeQgeWZT5JNEAb6K5O62aY1uIUHcQGhqoFGZIevrYFhaEu6RTwwiM4GRJaxGuMKcly9Oo/s640/DSC_0220.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">One of the few hobbies I have stuck with (<span style="font-size: large;">goodbye jewelry making, so long scrapbooking, adios furniture redos) is photography. <span style="font-size: large;">My parents <span style="font-size: large;">took many pictures of my brother and I, so I <span style="font-size: large;">grew up with an appreciation for <span style="font-size: large;">document<span style="font-size: large;">ing our lives in picture form. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">As our family has grown from just Lee and I to the Cook Threesome and now the Cook Four, I have tried to adapt to the increase of photo<span style="font-size: large;">-taking opportunities. I originally printed pictures and put them in photo albums. It was a <span style="font-size: large;">fairly easy task; the hardest part was narrowing down the photos to a select few for each event and trying to<span style="font-size: large;"> put them in the albums in chronological order. B<span style="font-size: large;">ut <span style="font-size: large;">that didn't really <span style="font-size: large;">satisfy my creative juices so I <span style="font-size: large;">yearned for something else. I tried traditional and non-traditional scrapbooking but that took<span style="font-size: large;"> up a lot of time<span style="font-size: large;"> and space. <span style="font-size: large;">Then<span style="font-size: large;">, on a whim because of a Groupon, I tried digital photobooks. Bingo! I hit the jackpot. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Why do I love photobooks? First, <span style="font-size: large;">let's talk about cost. Photobooks are<span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><i>probably </i>going to cost more than just putting <span style="font-size: large;">pictures in a photo album.<span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span><b>But </b></span></span></span></span>I believe you should never pay full price for a photobook. There are deals galore out there that would either take a percentage of<span style="font-size: large;">f of the price or provide you with free shipping. It pays to shop around.<span style="font-size: large;"> Secondly, I love that working <span style="font-size: large;">on <span style="font-size: large;">a photobook </span>means just me and a computer. I don't have <span style="font-size: large;">piles of photos or scrapbooking materials sitting around <span style="font-size: large;">getting in everyone's way. </span> And lastly, I <span style="font-size: large;">think the effects (ba<span style="font-size: large;">ckground<span style="font-size: large;">s, graphic elements, etc) are more appealing than anything I would come up with on my own. This definitely satisfies my creative juices.</span></span></span> <span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">At this point, I <span style="font-size: large;">have a "set list" <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">of photobooks. I create an annual book <span style="font-size: large;">that has a <span style="font-size: large;">double-<span style="font-size: large;">page spread for each month and highli<span style="font-size: large;">ghts our activit<span style="font-size: large;">ies for each month. <span style="font-size: large;">I work on it through-out the year so that by December the entire book is complete and I've only had to spend limited time working on each previous month's pages (I have done the opposite and created an entire yearbook <span style="font-size: large;">in December -- too much work at once -- don't do it!!)</span>. I also create a separate book for <span style="font-size: large;">Christmas because <span style="font-size: large;">I take a <span style="font-size: large;">jumbo amount of pics in December. At some point, I want to<span style="font-size: large;"> create <span style="font-size: large;">books that compile all of our photos from <span style="font-size: large;">other holidays like Easter and Halloween. I also have a wedding book to create -- <span style="font-size: large;">it's about 8 <span style="font-size: large;">years late but who's counting??</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">And here's another thing I like -- <span style="font-size: large;">the projects remain on your profile <span style="font-size: large;">so I can slowly start buying multiples (taking advantage of discounts/coupons<span style="font-size: large;">!) <span style="font-size: large;">so that Chelsea and Nate each have a copy of every book to take with them when they fly <span style="font-size: large;">away from our little nest. Imagine having to <span style="font-size: large;">recreate old school photo albums for each child - nuts! With one click, both of my kids can have a library of books showing off their childhood in a fun format. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Are you <span style="font-size: large;">convinced this is fun now??</span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">So that's my intro. Stay tuned for some sample pages and <span style="font-size: large;">reviews of photobook websites. :)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<br />Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01792648847934893154noreply@blogger.com2