tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27889494495878414172024-03-19T05:01:11.626-07:00Mom to StubbornnessIt might be a crazy life, but it's our life. :) Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2788949449587841417.post-61047580002402144592013-02-25T15:01:00.000-08:002013-02-25T15:01:04.125-08:00This birthday was bound to be epic.....A few months ago, one of my besties and I purchased a Groupon for Archers Afield in Tigard. It was a 30 minute private lesson for 4. We took our oldest boys and had a date night. If you are unfamiliar with Archers Afield, it's an archery store with indoor lanes and a separate room for private lessons. Upon entering, I saw "birthday parties" mentioned in the window. Guess where my soon-to-be-6-year-old wanted his birthday party?!?! So we finalized the guest list and got the Star Wars invitations sent. Then I started thinking...I'm going to willingly give 14 kids between 6 and 9 bows and arrows- wth was I THINKING?!?!?! I figured it was going to be epic- epic awesomeness or epic fail including ambulance rides. Friends, it was epic AWESOMENESS. It was amazing! The kids had a half hour lesson with Steven and they listened- focused the whole time! Then had snacks and cupcakes (while the parents got a turn!). Then another half hour of archery for the kids. All the kids said it was "the best party ever!"<br />
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Steven giving the lesson</div>
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My 6 year old taking aim.</div>
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The first round begins....</div>
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The targets- they actually put the balloons up and I had printed some Star Wars villains off for the kids to aim at. Prizes were given to any kid that hit and popped a balloon (each kid ended up hitting at least one) :-)</div>
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The food: </div>
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The main table- each kid had a water bottle with "Jedi Warrior" and their name on it. Clone Trooper helmets courtesy of my bestie and her sister (also a friend) .</div>
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Cupcakes- chocolate box mix with blue frosting and silver sprinkles for that "space" look. The toppers were Star Wars confetti glued onto black cardstock that I used the hole punch for and sandwiched a toothpick in between. There is a villain on one side and a good guy on the other. </div>
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The food table: from left to right is: Yoda Soda (green Kool-Aid), Light Sabers (skewers of cantaloupe, pineapple, and strawberry), Vader Veggies and Droid Dip (Ranch)</div>
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Continuing on we have Obi-Wan Kornobi (Popcorn), Wookie Cookies (Animal Crackers and Nilla Wafers), Ewok Snacks (Pirate Booty, Goldfish, Pretzel mix), and Galatic Grapes (who's name tag was forgotten.... grrr....) Along the back of the table were extra water bottles for the parents- their tags read "Jedi Council." </div>
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A closeup of the targets. </div>
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The after shot of all the kids. :) </div>
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I couldn't resist putting this one in either- it's a picture of my hubby and my youngest (2). It's so adorable, don't you think?!?!</div>
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I was amazed at this party- for the cost and what you received, excellent!!! </div>
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Happy Birthday my dear Sawyer. May this year be filled with wonder, amazement, and laughter daily. I love you. </div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2788949449587841417.post-18291923356962209042013-02-11T13:35:00.004-08:002013-02-11T13:35:36.421-08:00"Ameh" <div style="text-align: center;">
This is the Baby. </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Baby now sleeps in his toddler bed and has since right before he turned 2 and crawled out of the crib.... no big deal... Except now he isn't taking a bottle (which is TOTALLY fine) and we had to sit in his room until he fell asleep. (which totally sucks) Some parents would say "let him cry it out," (my hubby included), but that seemed a little extreme... So we've begun a routine: We hug and kiss and then I kiss all his stuffed animals in bed with him and then we do a prayer (short and sweet). I turn his music on and leave the door open, telling him I'll come check on him if he lays quietly. Last night, however, was part "ADORABLE!" and part "Procrastination"....</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I told him that it's time to pray and he folded his hands and squinted his eyes shut. I said "God, please let me sleep good tonight. Amen." After he said "More." Thinking that he wanted kisses, I oblige. He said "More." I ask, "More what?" He folds his hands and squints his eyes shut-he wants more praying!! So we pray " Bless mommy and daddy and CeCe (Sawyer)." I give him a kiss and he says "More" as he's folding his hands again. I tell him to try it on his own- say "Hi God. Amen." I leave the room and talk to Sawyer, overhearing "Hi Gah. Ameh" over and over again. Sooooo stinkin' cute :)</span></span></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2788949449587841417.post-65266502263572583462013-02-11T13:25:00.003-08:002013-02-11T13:25:35.859-08:00HiatusIt has been a very long hiatus from blogging. I don't know why. There have been a lot of crazy things in the past year and time just flew on by, completely forgetting this little blog. In August, I had surgery to remove a mass on my thyroid that was roughly 3/4 the size of your fist. That was a little scary..... I had to be put under general and I've never had that, so that was an interesting time.... :)<br />
My oldest began Full Day Kindergarten... I cried. Not going to lie. But I cried after I took him to school and left him in his class with his teacher, whom I ADORE! So that's showing restraint, I think. :)<br />
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(Thanks Pinterest for the chalkboard idea....) </div>
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I began my 4th year as director at the preschool and I still LOVE my job. I drive 30 mins each way- I wouldn't if I didn't love it :) </div>
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My hubby started a new job (finally!). He's driving a box truck making automotive deliveries all over Oregon. His company appreciates him and that's something he didn't have before. They told him "thank you" on his first day and he teared up- in the 5 years at the other company, no one ever told him that. Amazing how being considerate and polite will get you happier employees.... hmmm... :)</div>
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The baby turned 2. When did that happen?! The Baby and the Kinder have the same size waist... The Baby had a Train-themed party and it was a lot of fun. :) </div>
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Yes... that is a chip on his head.... Yes, I took the picture and then told him to take it off... at least it wasn't dipped in guacamole when he placed it on his head. :) </div>
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So that's the quick "what's-happened-in-the-last-few-months-since-I-don't-follow-you-on-Facebook" :)</div>
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I promise to write more. :)</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2788949449587841417.post-82768991817263784282011-12-06T14:04:00.001-08:002011-12-06T15:04:27.189-08:00Christmas Tree Shopping<div style="color: white;">
<span style="color: black;">I don't know what it is. Perhaps it's the crisp air, the trekking around on the mountain side, or just being out with my family, but moving up here has designated that we cut our own Christmas tree. When we lived in Arizona, we had the "box-it-up" kind, but that just doesn't fly up here for me :) This year we have moved the family room up into what was the "pool table room" (or living room if you didn't have a pool table...whatever), so that meant that we could get a HUGE GINORMOUS TREE!!!!! That is, until you remember that how ever tall it is, usually means that it's width also grows exponentially. So I dialed it down to BIGGER THAN LAST YEAR BUT NOT HUGE tree. :) </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT5G8PvBkiH2OAg3ma1PWI4-JJlFPV4-uX7AFoIzJ9uKfvG_GLlkVECEHSU0-e22iApse4cFX9JkRpzIhtMQUmj2wc6onYtRGgjad8tOiQq1Mk5cgn-K3JoCQLnsIzPzlgNdet0Ynb7aE/s1600/P1010402.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT5G8PvBkiH2OAg3ma1PWI4-JJlFPV4-uX7AFoIzJ9uKfvG_GLlkVECEHSU0-e22iApse4cFX9JkRpzIhtMQUmj2wc6onYtRGgjad8tOiQq1Mk5cgn-K3JoCQLnsIzPzlgNdet0Ynb7aE/s320/P1010402.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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We went to the place we found new last year. LOVE this place- $25/tree. Period. It's the Sunny Day Farms in Sherwood. Anyways, it began with a sleeping baby, lovingly placed in the Kelty (which hasn't been used in 3 years) and shifted ever-so-softly to my back (since my hubs is the one that cuts the tree down). Mittens placed upon baby's cold little hands and the hood of his jacket placed gently on his head..... which woke him up. After a 10 minute nap. Great. I should mention now that he HATES hats and mittens..... cause along the way of traipsing through the rows and rows (not in an orderly fashion either- just randomly cutting through the trees), he lost a mitten. Apparently he uses his teeth (which more came in over Thanksgiving) and pulls them off. Bye bye one mitten. I have no idea where he lost it and there's no way I'm going to carry a 25 lb baby in a 4 lb Kelty over rough terrain, backtracking to possibly find the one lost mitten. Carrying on, my parents were first to find their tree. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOpH1YgvEkKVCSiFibw9z-S4i4ivJVawCmAfzBUTI2hLEy3Cn7DroCznPSDOg5CGfMFrtwEDYkBc-caKBTGS1mb4ZIFL0HiyQ3Bg7fm0FLmKGU1QFefvaXLtrA-oeprocGmuy0Nh8rrDc/s1600/P1010403.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOpH1YgvEkKVCSiFibw9z-S4i4ivJVawCmAfzBUTI2hLEy3Cn7DroCznPSDOg5CGfMFrtwEDYkBc-caKBTGS1mb4ZIFL0HiyQ3Bg7fm0FLmKGU1QFefvaXLtrA-oeprocGmuy0Nh8rrDc/s320/P1010403.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Then it was our turn. We had a "tiny" problem finding a tall enough tree. Our front windows are like 12 feet tall... putting a 6 ft tree in front of it would look stupid. We went up the hill to the barn to regroup and have a hot chocolate break. Then back down to the other side to look for ours, finally settling on one that was tall enough and would work....</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5unY4_lOjkv_rZY527ZUfpmDqfnfk0my8-7kt2_Ffizwcwe1TqTvzpZSfQ71f9nIK6u2Gf_4eXgIoXUizGcoXDOYrYHpl7gJVqXC19IZS-4iNchsQW0gLN0rBk4QUU38LfHaAKSWmJk4/s1600/P1010407.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5unY4_lOjkv_rZY527ZUfpmDqfnfk0my8-7kt2_Ffizwcwe1TqTvzpZSfQ71f9nIK6u2Gf_4eXgIoXUizGcoXDOYrYHpl7gJVqXC19IZS-4iNchsQW0gLN0rBk4QUU38LfHaAKSWmJk4/s320/P1010407.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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It didn't look that big around on the mountain....</div>
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Anyways- Sawyer was a huge help holding the tree while the boys (my dad and my hubby) cut it down, but I'm not posting a picture of that.... I'm going to post an adorable picture of him instead. :) He is holding the tree, so I'm not really lying....</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgITBwkn1Jq6yV4hIF2EUOlgKHS9HpNMfVu4k4j6TgYI4s2bUSiEeUEi226DgEif51vbJOvfxARVC-g_Aero17PAz7FxuPI3u0YV3nwCtmCMIoGrXSmGDsXDk2LkM8707O6HJXibt_mPvQ/s1600/P1010412.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgITBwkn1Jq6yV4hIF2EUOlgKHS9HpNMfVu4k4j6TgYI4s2bUSiEeUEi226DgEif51vbJOvfxARVC-g_Aero17PAz7FxuPI3u0YV3nwCtmCMIoGrXSmGDsXDk2LkM8707O6HJXibt_mPvQ/s320/P1010412.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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See?!?!?!</div>
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Then, in an attempt to get a picture of the baby, I turned the camera around:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjigszceZx1tjT5Dfip2KxdXAjjYMNtkvPGx_hxspW0aom3py64kDJj3Z98Denlj1Ikw6UAu8hyYUAjzj_-LdQ1GLlh7URGqOGPp32c0HqXnQAr9-pcGYgPUK231UZUCGy8V2yuESmSgsg/s1600/P1010414.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjigszceZx1tjT5Dfip2KxdXAjjYMNtkvPGx_hxspW0aom3py64kDJj3Z98Denlj1Ikw6UAu8hyYUAjzj_-LdQ1GLlh7URGqOGPp32c0HqXnQAr9-pcGYgPUK231UZUCGy8V2yuESmSgsg/s320/P1010414.JPG" width="288" /></a></div>
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Hatless and mittenless..... *sigh*</div>
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Back up to the top of the mountain where we took a couple of family pictures. :)</div>
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I'll blog about the tree trimming in the next post. :)</div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2788949449587841417.post-74280865997401722032011-10-11T15:10:00.000-07:002011-12-06T15:04:43.179-08:00Aversion To Kindergarten<div style="color: black;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Sawyer enjoys having in-depth, heart-to-heart conversations with me. Usually on the way to and/or from school. While I'm trying to concentrate on driving. Yeah. So this morning's conversation was this:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">S: "I don't want to go to kindergarten."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Me: "why?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">S: "Because"</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Me: "Because isn't an answer."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">S: "Because there wouldn't be Kate." (his friend in Pre-K)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Me: "You'll make lots of friends and we'll see Kate at playdates."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">S: "I don't wanna gooooo...."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Me: "Is it because it would be a new school and new classes and new teachers and it might be a little scary?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">S: "Yes." </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Me: "Ok, but they have this thing. It's called the Kindergarten Roundup. You'll see the school, the playground, meet your teachers, everything. It's so cool. They do that so you won't be scared when you go to school. You'll get to ride the bus to school and everything. It will be so grown-up!" </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">S: "I don't want to go to kindergarten."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We'll pause now and remember that this school year has just started... we have another 10 MONTHS until Kindergarten! Yes, we are having this conversation.....</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Me: "You still want to be a fireman?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">S: "Oh, yes."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Me: "Well, you have to go to Kindergarten, then 1st grade, 2nd, all the way through elementary school, middle school, high school, and college- then you can become a fireman. But you HAVE to do Kindergarten in order to become a fireman."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">(Pause)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">S: "But MOOOOOOMMMMM!!!!!!!! There HAS to be a way that I can become a fireman and NOT go to KINDERGARTEN!" </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">ME: (trying to quell the laughter....) "Buddy? Can we talk about this later?" :) </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2788949449587841417.post-73086305560556699402011-08-14T23:32:00.000-07:002011-12-06T15:04:55.312-08:00Summer '11 Post #1<div class="separator" style="background-color: #9fc5e8; clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;">
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It seems as though we've been busy.... a LOT this summer, but I can't pinpoint exactly where the summer went or what specifically we did. My summer hours vary, so I worked those hours around camps, visits, etc. Sawyer has been involved in so many camps this summer! Two sessions of swimming, VBS, Zoo Camp, Tennis Lessons, and "Bug" Camp. Not really sure why we didn't think about this before... but Sawyer (the self-proclaimed Know-It-ALL) has now gone to 3 curriculum-driven camps.... so now we have a MAJOR Know-It-All. :) Sitting at the baseball field today watching a friend play, we noticed a bee buzzing around. Sawyer asked me what the bee was doing, I told him the bee was collecting pollen. He went on to inform me EXACTLY how the bee collects pollen and what he does with it, etc... It was so cool to sit and have this wonderful intellectual conversation with him. :) </div>
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So, in looking back on some pictures I've taken this summer, I thought I'd do a picture re-cap. I'm thinking that 3 months of pictures is going to take a while, so here's the first posting of our summer. :) </div>
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Clover Pictures:</div>
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The clover was out and I couldn't resist taking the boys out to shoot some pictures!</div>
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Sherwood Drive-In: Car show in downtown Sherwood. We love walking around and looking at all the different cars since each one of us has their own favorite era/make :)</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4L6dSs7nyOLVT3jORag3031nnSU39ho1rDtlzDkdNZxcDCcrAa_jBoI-7OTEHzVPafvk9vgM92rlnNo4HMG-vhS1WaaCQPpRXKlbPaM3sjKlwx2Rox9C8iQRgwPBn2tOp99Yr67skR7I/s1600/P1000620.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4L6dSs7nyOLVT3jORag3031nnSU39ho1rDtlzDkdNZxcDCcrAa_jBoI-7OTEHzVPafvk9vgM92rlnNo4HMG-vhS1WaaCQPpRXKlbPaM3sjKlwx2Rox9C8iQRgwPBn2tOp99Yr67skR7I/s320/P1000620.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Police Cars are Sawyer's favorite!</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;"></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;"></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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Father's Day: My grandparents were sick on Mother's Day so they couldn't come down to celebrate the holiday with us and decided to come for Father's Day instead. We converged on my parents' house, where Sawyer's "job" is to water the plants. </div>
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Some Generation Pictures:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrYU3A2NLIymZB705q26oO8ACzYf0KownczH2Y-LC03IKuV-jtoM8ZrwjZMHyQvXtc12SLCxs6YELyjyxTTBvQj7qQzOr3gTgNT_vfOHOZYVklTaWvgwO5NvZwSY2hfYbgtFbn-u9_kZg/s1600/P1000665.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrYU3A2NLIymZB705q26oO8ACzYf0KownczH2Y-LC03IKuV-jtoM8ZrwjZMHyQvXtc12SLCxs6YELyjyxTTBvQj7qQzOr3gTgNT_vfOHOZYVklTaWvgwO5NvZwSY2hfYbgtFbn-u9_kZg/s320/P1000665.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So clockwise from bottom left: Finley, (great) Grandpa (my dad's dad), Ivan, Papa (my dad), Sawyer. </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 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4OMqfZeHBgXMV3e078O8T3qa1ueEbbZ1aEXgPtBcUeaCvYGbWcSc298VcirXOpWe_3oZNI2tnqqbE9ye4ovKiU1pxcWNYfsfvIWUrVZb2EIFDjNyFp2LbkvJbfg90myFSCcFPs_DpyKA/s1600/P1000674.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4OMqfZeHBgXMV3e078O8T3qa1ueEbbZ1aEXgPtBcUeaCvYGbWcSc298VcirXOpWe_3oZNI2tnqqbE9ye4ovKiU1pxcWNYfsfvIWUrVZb2EIFDjNyFp2LbkvJbfg90myFSCcFPs_DpyKA/s320/P1000674.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finley, Sawyer, (Great) Grandma (my dad's mom), my mom (Ama), and me</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Finally pics of my boys just being themselves. :)</div>
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That's all for tonight and post number one. It's way past my bedtime and I need some sleep tonight. :) </div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2788949449587841417.post-31125706738907326312011-04-04T13:41:00.000-07:002011-12-06T15:05:01.770-08:00Just Because<div style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>I love baby feet. I really do. I don't know why, but it just what I love :) </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b> See what I mean?! :) </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>And two pictures of my boys... who are actually looking towards the camera... at the same time.... </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black;">Yeah... I kinda like them :) </span></b></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2788949449587841417.post-29487006510223278822011-04-04T13:36:00.000-07:002011-04-04T13:36:17.656-07:00Seafood Snatcher....<div style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">March 18th was my dad's birthday. Whenever one of us has a birthday, they get to decide the restaurant. Dad chose Red Lobster. (YES! I can have seafood!) So we all went. I order clam chowder to begin with. When it comes, Sawyer asks for some. </span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzfNcHXVw4L11YD6vPCqVHbVjTBUHFpw64FcEgVk3jGOwfPPnGOGlvm0PFbqEyq3V0pUEeCy-CyksVL1ywh6SSzsRGk3DuCtaviIRbC_A4hin8y2SOzFPRAgUQLUUPt-yHAvYaAUG95Ic/s1600/P1000181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZsLxTc6XSwe3ef0QCPPRYHF5cV9GgOcp-fECEAK81goCYvZvhb5zVYmuA-ZHcOqZI6a4pJd2rbfBWAYzbJjVohp0rczrhAmDeUscrG2AzE7Eue7NIxw4MYg36xCyECeXJvU1b9UuI2uc/s1600/P1000184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> So I let him have 1/2 of my bowl. He finishes it and asks for more.... serious?! I ordered another bowl and he ate 1/2 of that!</span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzfNcHXVw4L11YD6vPCqVHbVjTBUHFpw64FcEgVk3jGOwfPPnGOGlvm0PFbqEyq3V0pUEeCy-CyksVL1ywh6SSzsRGk3DuCtaviIRbC_A4hin8y2SOzFPRAgUQLUUPt-yHAvYaAUG95Ic/s1600/P1000181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzfNcHXVw4L11YD6vPCqVHbVjTBUHFpw64FcEgVk3jGOwfPPnGOGlvm0PFbqEyq3V0pUEeCy-CyksVL1ywh6SSzsRGk3DuCtaviIRbC_A4hin8y2SOzFPRAgUQLUUPt-yHAvYaAUG95Ic/s320/P1000181.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><br />
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</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Then I ordered crab legs (since I NEVER get them!). I'm thinking that it was because you have to use tools with your dinner and that holds a certain appeal for boys... but Sawyer came over to investigate and help. I informed him that if he cracked it, he had to eat it- those are the rules....</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZsLxTc6XSwe3ef0QCPPRYHF5cV9GgOcp-fECEAK81goCYvZvhb5zVYmuA-ZHcOqZI6a4pJd2rbfBWAYzbJjVohp0rczrhAmDeUscrG2AzE7Eue7NIxw4MYg36xCyECeXJvU1b9UuI2uc/s1600/P1000184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZsLxTc6XSwe3ef0QCPPRYHF5cV9GgOcp-fECEAK81goCYvZvhb5zVYmuA-ZHcOqZI6a4pJd2rbfBWAYzbJjVohp0rczrhAmDeUscrG2AzE7Eue7NIxw4MYg36xCyECeXJvU1b9UuI2uc/s320/P1000184.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">"DO NOT CRACK IT NEAR MY FINGERS!!!!!" </span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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</tbody></table><div style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Yeah... lost 2 crab legs to him too. I'm glad that he likes seafood. Really. I think next time, we'll just order one and split it. :)</span></div><br />
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</a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2788949449587841417.post-11037923123239629242011-03-22T22:19:00.000-07:002011-03-22T22:19:14.860-07:00Spring Break Adventure Day #2- Oregon Zoo<span><span style="background-color: white;"></span></span><span style="background-color: white;">Today's adventure is nothing new- the Oregon Zoo. We have a membership and love to go there. It was 'supposed' to be a mostly dry day... yeah, the weathermen don't know anything! It was drizzly... and fortunately only turned to rain after we were back in the car. This marks Finley's first 'real' trip to the zoo (the first was Zoolights and he was 3 weeks old and slept through the whole thing so it doesn't count!)</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDLzGv3YdkfRv8rz00UQU1nDI86urAtIc7QdVu0kt5_DmBRqDTkTRhvhvQ_EvYCUc7q2Dfxoi1R59vR9gedtoOx5tHSVJzwCbn_bhMgLqfzU7GX1p7ZZPa4Fod8lZv1RCBLHlRl3gzZU8/s1600/P1000249.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDLzGv3YdkfRv8rz00UQU1nDI86urAtIc7QdVu0kt5_DmBRqDTkTRhvhvQ_EvYCUc7q2Dfxoi1R59vR9gedtoOx5tHSVJzwCbn_bhMgLqfzU7GX1p7ZZPa4Fod8lZv1RCBLHlRl3gzZU8/s320/P1000249.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="background-color: white;">Off we go! </div><div style="background-color: white;">The lions are one of my favorites (must be high school brainwashing....) </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-color: white; 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/AVvXsEi-QR0XBbuBI4s3jIzHs_fJIj3tJu7djp3Bo-jWLpVzbQH1vUVGDG16zlVrDgO_EiBzKmOCbKAHPIYwMh-iQPK3EbkBXAJ8FN8StZl_TPXzF8mYQAB_OXScCwZ7MmZqx71rsLeZVAFM1Zs/s1600/P1000251.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-QR0XBbuBI4s3jIzHs_fJIj3tJu7djp3Bo-jWLpVzbQH1vUVGDG16zlVrDgO_EiBzKmOCbKAHPIYwMh-iQPK3EbkBXAJ8FN8StZl_TPXzF8mYQAB_OXScCwZ7MmZqx71rsLeZVAFM1Zs/s320/P1000251.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So beautiful!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="background-color: white; text-align: center;">This was also Finn's first trip sitting in the stroller rather than being in the carseat in the stroller.... he was good with it as long as it was moving!</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 />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6A5Avp0BgRepFwMQyRr-NFrMdTeoufkF-hw7iYSSZrdy9il1ihdOwoBBUZJucEsPeCWf79CBqBq4C3AOPhp61cr7rcNDEB4EnxVH2WW5iMk7mhzx-eQfI6Z9zI9BA5a3TNGnS3oJgq0M/s1600/P1000256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6A5Avp0BgRepFwMQyRr-NFrMdTeoufkF-hw7iYSSZrdy9il1ihdOwoBBUZJucEsPeCWf79CBqBq4C3AOPhp61cr7rcNDEB4EnxVH2WW5iMk7mhzx-eQfI6Z9zI9BA5a3TNGnS3oJgq0M/s320/P1000256.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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</tbody></table><div style="background-color: white;"> On to the Lorikeets... which I will tell you - I HATE! I don't like birds to begin with and then they are all flying around and dive bombing you and then you can buy these stupid nectar cups and walk in with it and let many of them land on you... at the same time... *shudder*</div><div style="background-color: white;"><br />
</div><div style="background-color: white;">Sawyer, however, LOVES them. The things you do for your children....</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg59vIsTFaSDHHSyH0j7QBa3A0b-seNER-kxZn3P1czgY0HcaMzALf9y3L2yMfDnzfbW8aBxyMNXUeFl2i8vJfmXEEi8WZyWHLl7zrMN1Kmn54PYouz8_5bF-gGlWbt5WnX29ZT71RhxTg/s1600/P1000263.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg59vIsTFaSDHHSyH0j7QBa3A0b-seNER-kxZn3P1czgY0HcaMzALf9y3L2yMfDnzfbW8aBxyMNXUeFl2i8vJfmXEEi8WZyWHLl7zrMN1Kmn54PYouz8_5bF-gGlWbt5WnX29ZT71RhxTg/s320/P1000263.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">me to Sawyer: "Turn JUST your head.... " </span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Then to the tigers and leopard. The leopard was snuggled up (he wasn't a fan of the rain (sorry-drizzle!) either!) Once Sawyer realized the leopard couldn't get through the glass, he was okay with me taking this picture: </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDx5xWBv2ze6fkRgCfCwVnTW0ETkmHwg29YptFA-f3ItvZuZ3auJuES-5iFDE2PgV-1zCUO8VGJQ7NvFH3L1rrKgyj3AG1pWrbvgg1DM38c5zdk8GjH73Rk6uO2A3D0dyocEczfRzItIk/s1600/P1000267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDx5xWBv2ze6fkRgCfCwVnTW0ETkmHwg29YptFA-f3ItvZuZ3auJuES-5iFDE2PgV-1zCUO8VGJQ7NvFH3L1rrKgyj3AG1pWrbvgg1DM38c5zdk8GjH73Rk6uO2A3D0dyocEczfRzItIk/s320/P1000267.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="background-color: white;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">:) Had to- it looks so cool!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="background-color: white;">Finn woke up in time to see the fish on our way out. I will say he LOVED the penguins. The others *shrug* not so much. :) (this time....) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_5jcYiAv5RyfkL3nLTILTDTD3QCTunsKcdhXbvXVQkdJ2nqDdXeno7V19kbsN7Xy-FLayML_jNkPSKWoXY0QC80iAKxZXxxaO2MAAleVicQ2k2_4UPJouCA0EUl63C3rIEBSrN013Q3c/s1600/P1000271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_5jcYiAv5RyfkL3nLTILTDTD3QCTunsKcdhXbvXVQkdJ2nqDdXeno7V19kbsN7Xy-FLayML_jNkPSKWoXY0QC80iAKxZXxxaO2MAAleVicQ2k2_4UPJouCA0EUl63C3rIEBSrN013Q3c/s320/P1000271.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="background-color: white;"><br />
</div><div style="background-color: white;">Our second stop was to take Ama out to lunch- at Guild's. LOVE Guild's.. they have an amazing dill macaroni salad- which Sawyer tells me "I want my OWN salad- I don't want to share with you." :)</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Sxw0iMPNebxf06g0FuG89D5MmiSdLFP539FqxvdrEHjRBTTslCAenQ7BvpENiai_aBTvPxxnTOM0t_FD_W7U51UEhce0LQgOTDfVkJEMY8kIL-inE12Cx3dp7zcJjGFNuQc4-7VZVsQ/s1600/P1000275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Sxw0iMPNebxf06g0FuG89D5MmiSdLFP539FqxvdrEHjRBTTslCAenQ7BvpENiai_aBTvPxxnTOM0t_FD_W7U51UEhce0LQgOTDfVkJEMY8kIL-inE12Cx3dp7zcJjGFNuQc4-7VZVsQ/s320/P1000275.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</div><span style="background-color: white;">Stay tuned for tomorrow's adventure: Oaks Park Roller Skating and Slappy Cakes Restaurant!</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2788949449587841417.post-15312989591668826022011-03-22T21:56:00.000-07:002011-03-22T21:56:29.815-07:00Spring Break Adventure Day #1- Bob's Red Mill<div style="color: black;">Today is Spring Break! YEY! Or not because I now have two children at home... all day... with nothing planned.... I decided that we were going to go out and do different experiences "adventures" throughout the week. Some of the ones we've done before, some are new. Here's our adventure day #1: Bob's Red Mill....</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;">We began by putting the address in and away we go.... </div><div style="color: black;">Bob's Red Mill is located in Milwaukie and it's open to the public for a tour from 10-11 am. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_YhjSejJCAlJyOY4dvbM28QwDK4ysIUvAro5wIVcGKgBmiEzxdpFZVWdHyHMJygUqDeffmTLcPW83QQhPrLyLaWYroHD88L1lWeGq7DaZMINsftqWqkMAs1xR2vu-9rF0ikMO7jdsLxs/s1600/P1000208.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_YhjSejJCAlJyOY4dvbM28QwDK4ysIUvAro5wIVcGKgBmiEzxdpFZVWdHyHMJygUqDeffmTLcPW83QQhPrLyLaWYroHD88L1lWeGq7DaZMINsftqWqkMAs1xR2vu-9rF0ikMO7jdsLxs/s320/P1000208.JPG" width="192" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="background-color: white; color: black;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting for the tour</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="background-color: white; color: black;"> The tour began with a 15 minute video about the mill, Bob, etc. Don't really remember it and neither probably did anyone else. Then our tour began in the gluten free area of the mill.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-color: white; 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/AVvXsEh6ZBQWlTzl_HgCqtbkiO2Z3bfJB3KEGcSDV0z1Cbmd-dlmPPn5VZprFaDtF_8e_mUqXRXHy2vFBnhWLgGmclv5oCWSLUa6l04eLju3dK-EZNMrXfWLVDmFoE6Uf3HWQ7td39wIxC84wvk/s1600/P1000211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ZBQWlTzl_HgCqtbkiO2Z3bfJB3KEGcSDV0z1Cbmd-dlmPPn5VZprFaDtF_8e_mUqXRXHy2vFBnhWLgGmclv5oCWSLUa6l04eLju3dK-EZNMrXfWLVDmFoE6Uf3HWQ7td39wIxC84wvk/s320/P1000211.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: white;"><td class="tr-caption" style="color: black; text-align: center;">Sawyer looking in the window watching the forklifts.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table><span style="color: white;"><span style="color: black;"> <span style="background-color: white;">We stayed in that area for 30 minutes. Now, if you are keeping timing, we're at 45 minutes of the 'hour' long tour. She was a great 'adult' tour guide, not so much on the 'kid-friendly' tour guide, sadly.... I ended up even losing interest. :) But then Al came in and took the kids aside to show them how to mill wheat. He gave them a piece of the wheat and let them bang and smash the wheat to get the seeds.</span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: black;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQGNs7LLT0Tmfr8AnaGaCzr-6qVTyRmY5jcAYCNrjRunYR4dBR68iemR0gFfZdF67k-5K4Vn_geXJyD5pjIlaLUb5soS7NihYOwxkvQRryXs44kV7YoIXp8HR7Wwk5_i-wM5qpHUk-8Sg/s1600/P1000231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQGNs7LLT0Tmfr8AnaGaCzr-6qVTyRmY5jcAYCNrjRunYR4dBR68iemR0gFfZdF67k-5K4Vn_geXJyD5pjIlaLUb5soS7NihYOwxkvQRryXs44kV7YoIXp8HR7Wwk5_i-wM5qpHUk-8Sg/s320/P1000231.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="color: black; text-align: center;">Smashing wheat = good way to take out frustration :) </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY-v8DeHwhI6O7EeQVH1i-j5K-FhhTSSGMpMPlnr26-hb4gmBBB0UOgrYA8NHyJF4PBh3nT4B3l52OmKUM9E6DplbJqfJMFUAxUh18m2Tc7OkeiaMDsfIoQR0XbvDnOvYyKzj0DMtzvrw/s1600/P1000228.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY-v8DeHwhI6O7EeQVH1i-j5K-FhhTSSGMpMPlnr26-hb4gmBBB0UOgrYA8NHyJF4PBh3nT4B3l52OmKUM9E6DplbJqfJMFUAxUh18m2Tc7OkeiaMDsfIoQR0XbvDnOvYyKzj0DMtzvrw/s320/P1000228.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Feeling the different flour textures based on the different milling. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table><div style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: white;">We moved on to the other side of the mill and got to look at some antique mill tools (which was the second most interesting part- the first being the kid's activity) About an hour and 15 minutes into the tour, Sawyer turns to me and says "I'm kinda bored- can we go now?" I heartily agreed with his statement and we left to the next place</span>.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-color: white; 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/AVvXsEierUAXCkwVgw1fX8O7ZjnYfPtzYf0ZqjKLGukY0gnpokaef6ot0OIfJCiDQ6jVbK38MN7sO3dIU4JYZH8vf7rlqimtSPzUaDw824eoGbQZJAlxeOnO4_ouZftVtL01lpJWcPYI1UH4uiQ/s1600/P1000218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEierUAXCkwVgw1fX8O7ZjnYfPtzYf0ZqjKLGukY0gnpokaef6ot0OIfJCiDQ6jVbK38MN7sO3dIU4JYZH8vf7rlqimtSPzUaDw824eoGbQZJAlxeOnO4_ouZftVtL01lpJWcPYI1UH4uiQ/s320/P1000218.JPG" width="283" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="color: black; text-align: center;">Many thanks to the homeschooling mom of 4 (now grown) kids who volunteered to take our picture!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div style="background-color: white;"> Our next stop on our adventure was to see the mill's products in action and so we ventured 2 miles down the street to the original Bob's Red Mill- now a restaurant and store. It is cramped in there! We found our way to the lunch counter and ordered our lunch- Sawyer: a PB&J, me: Grilled Cheese with a tomato basil soup (the weather totally called for it!). We climbed the stairs and sat next to the window. When our lunch arrived, Sawyer took a bite and exclaimed "This is the best sandwich ever!" </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH3J4oBK9FfCH3ntHgO0n3Nj7phkx-zBC3BKMvFydUrwjo1eM1Nrcn5KnbYIM_W7MpxMtrA3lcZFF7ONOFy0MCvRe3neER8XEWnE3eJ-fVpcVCpBB1fX3T6s4vnqGZIHF_TE8rhJWL9SE/s1600/P1000235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH3J4oBK9FfCH3ntHgO0n3Nj7phkx-zBC3BKMvFydUrwjo1eM1Nrcn5KnbYIM_W7MpxMtrA3lcZFF7ONOFy0MCvRe3neER8XEWnE3eJ-fVpcVCpBB1fX3T6s4vnqGZIHF_TE8rhJWL9SE/s320/P1000235.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="background-color: white;"><td class="tr-caption" style="color: black; text-align: center;">The hambone :) </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table><div style="background-color: white;"> After our delicious lunch, we stopped outside at the wagon wheel. Sawyer is in awe of water wheels now and asks questions all the time :) </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-color: white; 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/AVvXsEjmEyH-bXfhIXAR8Zm3Y-_4H1pxT9gCQPiyLnAG9Nd5o-htBQ-Id1A2aRoGVpJIOEC2XIa7TvgRI2E5Sn91lhUl61vPIflb2FKHCXs0iy3He4_b6_I8FrwvJPPbHSGkKnL99JOW6dGt-Tg/s1600/P1000237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmEyH-bXfhIXAR8Zm3Y-_4H1pxT9gCQPiyLnAG9Nd5o-htBQ-Id1A2aRoGVpJIOEC2XIa7TvgRI2E5Sn91lhUl61vPIflb2FKHCXs0iy3He4_b6_I8FrwvJPPbHSGkKnL99JOW6dGt-Tg/s320/P1000237.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: black;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The water wheel.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table><div style="background-color: white; color: black;"> We most definitely will be making this a lunch stop sometime this summer. I would like to have some time to go through the store and purchase some of the yummy bread, cake, and muffin mixes. </div><div style="background-color: white; color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="background-color: white; color: black;">Every night this week, we have enrolled Sawyer in a special Spring Break swimming session. He swims until 7:55, then gets into jammies, comes home and goes to bed. My thought? Get him tired so he'll sleep!! :) Must have worked since he didn't wake up until 8:30 Tuesday morning :) </div><br />
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<tr style="background-color: white;"><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWZ5xWFZ-Gtyi1t0I7IdPLEyk_d3gvuiUk_hXsOlvwwpKQTyA53RMF8fU8tmQnrUOSck3-Asy7T7HIv-v3aFe2Nchwx54KNHVUiGiIWgctAI9W5DEc5ARsvr5zRXGAw0xtSXsduV3R_kw/s1600/P1000247.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWZ5xWFZ-Gtyi1t0I7IdPLEyk_d3gvuiUk_hXsOlvwwpKQTyA53RMF8fU8tmQnrUOSck3-Asy7T7HIv-v3aFe2Nchwx54KNHVUiGiIWgctAI9W5DEc5ARsvr5zRXGAw0xtSXsduV3R_kw/s320/P1000247.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="background-color: white;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The fish. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2788949449587841417.post-78992133819756681982011-03-08T14:28:00.000-08:002011-12-06T15:05:23.987-08:00ok...<div style="color: black; text-align: center;">
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So to completely catch everyone up... we now have 2 boys in the house. :) Finley Rae Tjossem was born November 3rd, weighing in at 11 lbs 5 oz. I am now the proud mom to stubbornness times 2.... :)</div>
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I promise to keep it updated.... I really and truly promise.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv-AFsDbbO_XvuUSs0uzcXsRjRZzqkP_-jBJ-gsTgUxyQr3ORD9D-RMw9tUMFPeGK-HEX9rUQawYriC5Fpx_H9dQhhARCnLYQJvqjwmh_Bne9gbeivFwW0ucE2PH2QWdHRsWS5_Y4wi4g/s1600/0114111725.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581840211315871522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv-AFsDbbO_XvuUSs0uzcXsRjRZzqkP_-jBJ-gsTgUxyQr3ORD9D-RMw9tUMFPeGK-HEX9rUQawYriC5Fpx_H9dQhhARCnLYQJvqjwmh_Bne9gbeivFwW0ucE2PH2QWdHRsWS5_Y4wi4g/s320/0114111725.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 320px; width: 240px;" /></a></div>
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See? This picture is only a few weeks old... :)</div>
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<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2788949449587841417.post-81814002518233355082010-09-24T20:58:00.000-07:002011-12-06T15:05:46.007-08:00Fall....<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: white;"><span style="color: black;">Sadly it's upon us.... don't get me wrong- I LOVE fall. I love the crisp air, the falling leaves, the cooler weather. It's definitely Crockpot soup season and snuggling under a blanket at the end of the day. I'm just not READY for fall. Perhaps it's because we haven't really HAD a summer up here this summer. And wouldn't you know it- just as I'm ready to get into fall, the weather decides to climb back up into the upper 70's, possibly hitting 80 this weekend. Nevertheless, I did a fall project with Sawyer this afternoon. I went to Target with the thought that I would get a roll of brown packing paper to make a tree, double sided sticky tape to tape it to the front window, and then make leaves, etc to have them 'fall'ing off the tree. Brown packing paper- $4.99.... turn the corner and found a pack of manila colored construction paper- on clearance- 49 cents! :) Guess which one I got?! We also found gel leaf clings to add to the window. Then I got coffee filters for Sawyer to color so we could make more leaves. I put the tree up on the window this afternoon (in the direct sunshine and it was HOT!), then let Sawyer begin applying the gel leaves and the 'watercolor' leaves he made at school.</span></span><span style="color: black;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcBg5FHEcyp2JbF6iweCF6L4bz33E0-P0HtdGf0DqzdTyuweMSYhobTZsClpN6VvuM4nDFiL6-kwQNFFJRNMn1B4bJLNcIgavvWVkiI9wvvg2IgWPqSIjdz23uot1Pb93-iYkYwZTLwwk/s1600/tree+%232.jpg" style="color: black;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520698246218961266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcBg5FHEcyp2JbF6iweCF6L4bz33E0-P0HtdGf0DqzdTyuweMSYhobTZsClpN6VvuM4nDFiL6-kwQNFFJRNMn1B4bJLNcIgavvWVkiI9wvvg2IgWPqSIjdz23uot1Pb93-iYkYwZTLwwk/s320/tree+%232.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 320px; width: 240px;" /></a><span style="color: black;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsHjAs8yLNHh27TuiuN02UQTUbauvUcZ41w0TkIkh4Y1d4DKsj7KLOL6UANbDKcFdJbvs59Ktim9iaBMoCJQTvtCbMakHveqrxmrgjlpKQWv8sSjGBLzRkJKZCiXr-cYobB0JU1lJ6cg/s1600/tree+%233.jpg" style="color: black;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520698474730824594" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsHjAs8yLNHh27TuiuN02UQTUbauvUcZ41w0TkIkh4Y1d4DKsj7KLOL6UANbDKcFdJbvs59Ktim9iaBMoCJQTvtCbMakHveqrxmrgjlpKQWv8sSjGBLzRkJKZCiXr-cYobB0JU1lJ6cg/s320/tree+%233.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 320px; width: 240px;" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia;">Our coffee filter leaves are still drying and will be added tomorrow. But here are some pictures of his trees- he's so proud of them and clapped happily when we had to leave the house and he could see the tree from the outside. :)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEt69MMwipNiAftZ-QORDVQG2jPG4ABgzmxVtWdwlBRb_ZW2BEeXgmDiqtMzHxjgY1fFbBHNNB8lORplrs3P2j-oNfy_3NwSq8ncYZ0K6SOjBqi8JFxJBu5J1geGqfTsDwK7aGB6LV6B8/s1600/tree+%231.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520698714395916418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEt69MMwipNiAftZ-QORDVQG2jPG4ABgzmxVtWdwlBRb_ZW2BEeXgmDiqtMzHxjgY1fFbBHNNB8lORplrs3P2j-oNfy_3NwSq8ncYZ0K6SOjBqi8JFxJBu5J1geGqfTsDwK7aGB6LV6B8/s320/tree+%231.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 240px; width: 320px;" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2788949449587841417.post-53724343377163804052010-06-17T12:38:00.000-07:002011-12-06T15:05:58.778-08:00"Sawyer"-isms<div style="color: black;">
This post will be dedicated to the "Sawyer"-isms: the funny things he says and does. </div>
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July 23rd: </div>
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Tonight as we are watching America's Funniest Home Videos, there was a video of triplets. He was watching it and turned to me and said "I don't want THAT many babies."</div>
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While reading our nighttime book, he turns to me, puts his hand over my mouth and says "mom- stop talking. I have to bless you." HUH?????? OH!!! Sneeze! </div>
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At Sweet Tomatoes last week, I told him he could have either an ice cream cone there or popcorn once we got to Target. He told me he wanted popcorn. We continued our lunch.... then he says "mom, I changed my mind. I want ice cream." "are you sure?" I responded. "Yes." So we get our ice cream and go about our errands. We pull into the Target parking lot and he says: "Mom, I changed my mind again. I want popcorn." "Um, Soy? You can't change your mind AFTER you consume your decision!" </div>
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On wanting something at the store and me informing him we're not buying it: "It's okay, Mom- Dad has money."</div>
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Recently on a trip down to Wilsonville, I bumped into the median (while looking for the place I was going to) and knocked one of my hubcaps off. Sawyer gets out, looks at it and says "It's ok. Dad can fix it." </div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: white;">He wants to see 'his' baby.... he, however, doesn't understand that he cannot see his baby by looking down my shirt. :)</span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span style="color: white;">Sawyer and Ivan are roughhousing on the floor tonight.... "Dad- why your boobs coming out of your shirt?" (he was wearing a tank top....) we couldn't stop laughing... "Dad, Mom- why you laughing? What's so funny?"</span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span style="color: white;">Ivan and Sawyer went upstairs so Sawyer could get money out of his piggy bank to buy a new police car. Sawyer went into our room and tucked 'Blue' in. Ivan said "Oh, is Blue tired?" Sawyer: "No- Blue needs a rest. He gave me attitude yesterday." :) </span><br style="color: black;" /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2788949449587841417.post-26235593759876760352010-06-04T15:32:00.000-07:002010-06-04T15:38:19.024-07:00AH.... the blissful sound of....<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" >Sawyer is at a point in his life where naps are optional.... or so he believes. Thing is- if he doesn't take a nap, a meltdown ensues at 5 pm and it doesn't get any easier as the night drags on. By bedtime, he's so exhausted that his whiny, overtired voice grates on everything- and the procrastination! OMG! Those are the nights that Ivan and I come downstairs and don't talk to each other for about 30 mins to decompress. The days that we are active and he's needing a nap, I put him down and he screams for an hour easy.... then finally wears out and falls asleep. It's hit or miss if he wakes up happy too.... I wish there was an easier way to figure this out. It's wearing on all of us. Mommy and Daddy would really like to take naps too at some point.... </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2788949449587841417.post-43061270116405996882010-04-06T21:58:00.000-07:002010-04-06T22:06:06.405-07:00Proud Mommy Moment :)<span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:georgia;" >So tonight at bedtime, it was just Sawyer and I- Ivan was working out. I decided that more than our usual 2 book limit was fine (cause I love books and will do anything to instill a love of books in my son). He picked out "No, David!" and "Llama llama red pajama." We began with "No, David"- where my son takes the book from me and says "no, mom- I read." So I let him- and he did AWESOME! He "read" the book to ME. (yes, he has memorized it.... but STILL!) Then I read Llama llama red pajama to him. We then grabbed "Wake Up Night"- and again, he grabbed it from me, got cozy in his Elmo chair and read it to me (with just a smidgen of help from mom). I'm so excited that he is "reading"- or wanting to read to me. It was just a proud mommy moment for me and I needed to share. :) </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:georgia;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2788949449587841417.post-18763001926070727292010-03-18T21:41:00.000-07:002010-03-18T22:22:07.315-07:00My Children<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4_97Ij3Un8GwdIBzNmaTQJLw1kpz9Xy0U4pgbAV5spcsmYUFLdN-Newtbql4kpAU3e2YbVOhkUbtU35AwLQpWg9GTYQJJUePuO2rGBWATTol0WedpzyxU8WSp_Ze7-7qXGqrj_TKYVpY/s1600-h/213410.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 287px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4_97Ij3Un8GwdIBzNmaTQJLw1kpz9Xy0U4pgbAV5spcsmYUFLdN-Newtbql4kpAU3e2YbVOhkUbtU35AwLQpWg9GTYQJJUePuO2rGBWATTol0WedpzyxU8WSp_Ze7-7qXGqrj_TKYVpY/s320/213410.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450209357972551842" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxNNqy5MZm5zu02CcrS5w6RNptqCs9k5GsoN_1plSex7JnIx8ymtkgH6h-mVUWK6GyYpQ2d0I3aZR-08pGHNoOmsmYWrFu6csEOJInH7wiyID2UylAUiJaVYoeGK344adsPjbUDhdI7kQ/s1600-h/212712.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 287px; height: 215px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxNNqy5MZm5zu02CcrS5w6RNptqCs9k5GsoN_1plSex7JnIx8ymtkgH6h-mVUWK6GyYpQ2d0I3aZR-08pGHNoOmsmYWrFu6csEOJInH7wiyID2UylAUiJaVYoeGK344adsPjbUDhdI7kQ/s320/212712.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450209482989345314" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left; color: rgb(255, 204, 153); font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Yes, you read that correctly. My first "child" was given to me for my 13th birthday. I named him Snickelfritz. He was black with white stripes built into his fur- there was white down-like fur at the root and black on the tips and the longest tail I'd ever seen on a cat. We found out quick that he LOVED water. I would have to race him to the bathroom in order to shut the door before he could get in the shower with me. He was an adventurous child. One morning we all awoke to the sound of something being dropped on the piano. Turns out Fritz was tightrope walking on the outside of the landing and fell onto the piano. We went out to see him look up at us, shake his head, and jump down. He loved pizza. There were many times when I would be sitting on the couch eating pizza watching TV and all of a sudden see this black paw coming in to swipe my pizza. He'd always cause trouble and magically not be there when we went in to yell at him. :) He also loved red licorice. My mom used to keep it in her nightstand... until she caught him trying to get in to the drawer to get it out. :) As a kitten, he slept on my head, with his claws in my hair to keep me from moving around. He graduated to sleeping on my chest and I began falling asleep while petting him as his loud purr rumbled against my chest<br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;">. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhufMzdfPIyouDev5Umkdy9GVeqbK5d6fv_Hh_wioYhJNYhw8FJrYpRraqQHOFy5YTEApNzDqIdGVViQbmXX4vY1ipLFJTiXRk2vrv2L5xodEy2Y2y0SA2ex2a6u6Hxs5AHcUTBiKnneaY/s1600-h/212643.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 288px; height: 217px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhufMzdfPIyouDev5Umkdy9GVeqbK5d6fv_Hh_wioYhJNYhw8FJrYpRraqQHOFy5YTEApNzDqIdGVViQbmXX4vY1ipLFJTiXRk2vrv2L5xodEy2Y2y0SA2ex2a6u6Hxs5AHcUTBiKnneaY/s320/212643.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450209797780061874" border="0" /></a></span></div></div><span style="font-family: georgia;font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 153);">He was there when I broke up with my high school boyfriend and spent hours crying- he kept head-butting me and coming in to snuggle. He was my child and I was his. When Sawyer was born, the dynamics changed a bit. I no longer had one child, I had two. They avoided each other for a while, but eventually Fritz came around to the fact he wasn't going anywhere. It seemed that I no longer had two children, but another parent to help me with Sawyer. He started sleeping with Sawyer at nap time and every time Sawyer would move, Fritz would move along with him.</span><br /></span><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 204, 153); font-family: georgia;"> <span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjms9zivOXEQBDJnrssxUFt1se7B80HVZgTIhyphenhyphen36ANRphLaxwlLApr7ICTu6N9zOjEBYlD86BLiw13-0RtSrGJe8SLegLkb1H7mZQFbG94o7ptX8Q6eVPQep2swLzFnPjTba7Sy_UBA3cg/s1600-h/212741.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjms9zivOXEQBDJnrssxUFt1se7B80HVZgTIhyphenhyphen36ANRphLaxwlLApr7ICTu6N9zOjEBYlD86BLiw13-0RtSrGJe8SLegLkb1H7mZQFbG94o7ptX8Q6eVPQep2swLzFnPjTba7Sy_UBA3cg/s320/212741.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450210041145647634" border="0" /></a><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 153);">He'd follow Sawyer around and vice versa. When Sawyer got old enough to begin "helping" around the house- he chose to feed the 'mimi's'- (cats). Last night Fritz wasn't doing so well healthwise and I sat with him 2 hours yesterday evening. Sawyer would play for a while, then come over, pet Fritz, kiss him, kiss me, then leave to go play. We informed him that Fritz was sick and very old. I ended up sleeping on the family room floor with Fritz and Bailey last night- Bailey and I wrapping Fritz in our love. Fritz passed away early this morning. He'd been my baby for 18 years. I picked Sawyer up from preschool this afternoon and he was telling his teacher about his pets. He said "I have a doggy. His name is Bosco. I have 2 cats- Frizzy and Bailey." I got down to his level and said "Sweetie. We only have one kitty now. Remember? Fritzy was really old and very sick. He's in heaven now." Sawyer turned back and said "Yes. Fritzy no sick no more." I lost it- huge alligator tears and God-bumps all over. We had never mentioned what heaven was. Amazing.</span><br /></span><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 204, 153); font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJnuj6RnMINyQdhcIG2_AmbUrDAmXIAWNTFYkc3fbUJGUeVcW47eDVmY9KBAUHmH3RqTYk16a1d-xUTuGXPyHQ7sPzOBwRwwtlr4siCHyQGP3w0XVQy7dgkoSMB8Nlrw5h1J_KgBaBIdw/s1600-h/213253.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJnuj6RnMINyQdhcIG2_AmbUrDAmXIAWNTFYkc3fbUJGUeVcW47eDVmY9KBAUHmH3RqTYk16a1d-xUTuGXPyHQ7sPzOBwRwwtlr4siCHyQGP3w0XVQy7dgkoSMB8Nlrw5h1J_KgBaBIdw/s320/213253.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450208967552030322" border="0" /></a><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;font-size:130%;" ><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 153);">Fritz has passed on his stubbornness to my child. His spirit will live on in all of us.</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2788949449587841417.post-79884289945054667132010-03-09T19:42:00.000-08:002010-03-15T22:16:27.719-07:00Bedtime Chart<span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 102);font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">We started a bedtime chart for Sawyer about 2 weeks ago. We started it after an especially hard night getting him ready for bed- much yelling and screaming and obstinacy. We came downstairs and, while listing to the screaming upstairs, mentioned that there HAD to be an easier way that what we were experiencing each night. I jumped online and started googling bedtime + toddler and came across a couple of ideas. This was the combination of a couple.</span><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip0JIRgh_o0fxKmr7-M4vBgPssmBsF9qZUQ0yyNldoDr0ofJY6DkVbxZ2kYIWcxfjsf8C9g09E4dQtHQgI-Bn8d7-czkFsWfFlvkT1tmlGUL1EotqqasO2rvxOm9Lo8WPrNswjlsl0JaI/s1600-h/DSCN2443.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip0JIRgh_o0fxKmr7-M4vBgPssmBsF9qZUQ0yyNldoDr0ofJY6DkVbxZ2kYIWcxfjsf8C9g09E4dQtHQgI-Bn8d7-czkFsWfFlvkT1tmlGUL1EotqqasO2rvxOm9Lo8WPrNswjlsl0JaI/s320/DSCN2443.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446860402737602658" border="0" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 153);font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204);">The chart I already had- it was an alphabet chart leftover and not used from work. The cards I found online at Nick Jr and the backs were coloring sheets online (oh yeah, and I laminated them too). The premise was- we had 6 cards, 5 things he had to do before bed and 1 that mommy and daddy turn over based on how he actually goes to sleep. The 5 he had are: put ice in his water bottle (a nightly procrastination- we figured we'd just take care of it BEFORE it became a problem!), use the potty, brush teeth, pajamas, and read a book. The 6th one is the 'Lights Out' one- the one mommy and daddy turn over. We decided that if we go in once to his calls, it's ok. If we go in more than one time or end up screaming, the last card doesn't get turned over.</span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left; color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2EhyTjhe6BvGVu_VZqeL0pfkQV_3bTb9vPWXCQwgvL5SNfcs62oPh6Q-Zo6XVbW4p5joFi6yKaxDW24ukXgK4fCTTpfY4lNHqJrTqKij9IWbzBNwF1OGrSHWQfRmXxh5xEcHKa9TeqY8/s1600-h/DSCN2444.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 302px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2EhyTjhe6BvGVu_VZqeL0pfkQV_3bTb9vPWXCQwgvL5SNfcs62oPh6Q-Zo6XVbW4p5joFi6yKaxDW24ukXgK4fCTTpfY4lNHqJrTqKij9IWbzBNwF1OGrSHWQfRmXxh5xEcHKa9TeqY8/s320/DSCN2444.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446859191871292018" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjWlM4AY8_9Z-bnIr93vRzOnAdjT4Ub2XIDQKlzbK48T79bISwE7XieYxC7ZbTpGFW7bQc6QslwGpguIhdBabk8_EeTsbrhgN14yjwwAdDEZdSWnjjW75n1l-amv1zDb2eO2RnqClWKZU/s1600-h/DSCN2445.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 298px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjWlM4AY8_9Z-bnIr93vRzOnAdjT4Ub2XIDQKlzbK48T79bISwE7XieYxC7ZbTpGFW7bQc6QslwGpguIhdBabk8_EeTsbrhgN14yjwwAdDEZdSWnjjW75n1l-amv1zDb2eO2RnqClWKZU/s320/DSCN2445.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446859750958463874" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs3qnx0C1J1auaw9Y_2OqncoBM4PE3qQsEmndT4NUTI33WGD4y5k4FM7nammYLp29afdseytLRlBH0yovWZs5lCuMHM_h035JY6BI9fXbfuyF3ViApLuwUEN-EmPodvSyq2fyevjOru2I/s1600-h/DSCN2443.JPG"><br /></a></div> </div><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 102);font-size:130%;" ><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Once he does one card, he turns it over (except the 6th one, of course!). In the morning, if all the cards are turned over, then he gets a sticker to put on a letter in his name. Once all the letters are covered, he gets a dollar and gets to take mom or dad to Dollar Tree and pick out something special. Tonight he decided to take daddy and he got Gummy Bears. There are nights that he doesn't get the last card turned over, and there are nights that he has decided he doesn't want to go potty or brush his teeth and so those cards don't get turned over. The first night it didn't happen, he threw a small fit. But after reminding him that it was his choice to go to bed quietly and since he didn't, it didn't get turned over, all was well and the next night went better. I like the chart because he learns what he needs to do in order to go to bed. It's a routine, which is helpful, but he gets to decide which order we do things. So it's a win-win situation.</span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="color: rgb(255, 255, 102);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBnjanFq7EJWOVflgkuRBwDmxa5tPjdOZyPqaaGFhyWRHk0rfdsqFAbMRrTVrMElGpisq5T3sfnIDCUSJzgEDfMpFFgEzLQe3-ON-aj9JcjsGlZ7nrCZ-AZeosasniKNpKXBgdHIraFag/s1600-h/DSCN2439.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBnjanFq7EJWOVflgkuRBwDmxa5tPjdOZyPqaaGFhyWRHk0rfdsqFAbMRrTVrMElGpisq5T3sfnIDCUSJzgEDfMpFFgEzLQe3-ON-aj9JcjsGlZ7nrCZ-AZeosasniKNpKXBgdHIraFag/s320/DSCN2439.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446861667424015618" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2788949449587841417.post-16080141433105386392010-03-03T21:18:00.000-08:002010-03-03T21:40:03.337-08:00Pilot In Training<div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU7tc1b9u7FCTGNrBNvKalydXfo6asWfezF8xp1DVDmw64E_0fOYBgrK3OWyGMVdCgrjMy0wCmT8cb6zRE88_6WQkBFM3tPgIMqkHuuZc9GwVBqk6FxRAQBmfdU2t0wqTyKkRSSPCa0Dk/s1600-h/P1000128.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU7tc1b9u7FCTGNrBNvKalydXfo6asWfezF8xp1DVDmw64E_0fOYBgrK3OWyGMVdCgrjMy0wCmT8cb6zRE88_6WQkBFM3tPgIMqkHuuZc9GwVBqk6FxRAQBmfdU2t0wqTyKkRSSPCa0Dk/s320/P1000128.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444648058460663634" border="0" /></a></div>
<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:130%;" >My dad has his private pilot's license and enjoys flying on the weekends. Sawyer has been infatuated with planes forever! In fact, when he was just about a year- he saw a plane in the air and said "Papa." We had only told him once that Papa flies airplanes! Papa and Soy have really bonded over the airplanes, even reading the AOPA magazines. Papa bought an airplane book recently that has over 300 different airplanes in it. The same day they looked at it for the first time, Sawyer could flip through the book and find the plane that Papa flies. So Papa decided to take him down to the airport he flies out of and show him around the plane, let him sit in it, etc. We've already decided that Sawyer has to be 5 before going up with Papa- it's a maturity thing. 3's just too early. So Papa, Ama, and Soy went to the Aurora Airport. They began inside the building looking at the topography maps. One of the flight instructors was there and of course, Papa had to show Soy off:
<br />Papa: Sawyer- where are the wings on the airplane Papa flies?
<br />Sawyer: On the top!
<br />Papa: Sawyer- how many engines does it have?
<br />Sawyer: ONE! (proudly showing one finger)
<br />Flight Instructor to Papa: Start saving your money now- he's going to be a fly boy!
<br /></span><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:130%;">So Papa and Sawyer went out to the plane. Papa showed Soy all around the plane and sat him inside. Sawyer got to play with the buttons and the steering.
<br /></span></div><span style="font-size:130%;">
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3bUVSzLk7q6Zlm2Qd68K9p-CxaZTClIeluiJe_JoEM7bTzPuIJoe2e5tRhicJRTkVvHfLcAeK6rxmpvEelQBdXEepCvgHn5FTBPFUKQHH25lB4RyU0aM6Ih5oLq44JdK9wQH4Ejls_-8/s1600-h/P1000127.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3bUVSzLk7q6Zlm2Qd68K9p-CxaZTClIeluiJe_JoEM7bTzPuIJoe2e5tRhicJRTkVvHfLcAeK6rxmpvEelQBdXEepCvgHn5FTBPFUKQHH25lB4RyU0aM6Ih5oLq44JdK9wQH4Ejls_-8/s320/P1000127.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444648419036690530" border="0" /></a>
<br /></span></div><span style="color: rgb(0, 204, 204);font-size:130%;" >
<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">He kept asking Papa to take him up. :) Then Papa needed to take off, so Sawyer and Ama watched Papa take off- and Sawyer kept wanting to watch Papa (even when he was out of sight).</span>
<br />
<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">So now we're going to have a fireman who will be flying on the weekend.... adrenaline junkie in training? Perhaps instead of saving money for flying lessons, we should save money for hospital bills..... </span>:)</span><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><link style="color: rgb(0, 204, 204);" rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CMUSTAR%7E1%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section</style><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >
<br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2788949449587841417.post-11419771086157788152010-03-03T20:49:00.000-08:002010-03-03T21:13:24.511-08:00Oh The Thinks You Can Think!<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoc-LIsoy47bP4WzfpI_0EkVCyyjFsQkkG_W8oaPJi6iZdKVKTwcobLlNbvRyoKbUbv0gBHUJCqjsxSOYYnysSQjgMCu8kpFbML0vvyWnkKp40XWTpz5VRR799L1ujCBTWc-kZggZ3Fi8/s1600-h/DSCN2437.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoc-LIsoy47bP4WzfpI_0EkVCyyjFsQkkG_W8oaPJi6iZdKVKTwcobLlNbvRyoKbUbv0gBHUJCqjsxSOYYnysSQjgMCu8kpFbML0vvyWnkKp40XWTpz5VRR799L1ujCBTWc-kZggZ3Fi8/s320/DSCN2437.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444639993185691970" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" >Did you ever a feeling there's a nink in the sink?<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Or a wocket in your pocket?</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" >Perhaps we should Hop On Pop?<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Yes, it was Dr. Seuss' birthday March 2nd.</span><br />Celebrations ensued </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" >all day long-<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">I made deviled Green Eggs for my teachers</span><br />and you got to wear your pajamas to </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" >playschool<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">and watched Horton Hears A Who.</span><br />For dinner I made you: green eggs and ham and </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Cat In The Hat striped pancakes.</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div face="arial" style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZRkU6nm4lwmC6HctEZUM9M7EVoVtPTwmVrDuod-yCHuX18l6fjbnwWrUYnRJmo6b0FcX8jNqehYP44GmBhjMicQrhrkniMAcMoqgyFlQwfo5uZp7wr8s2CcUY26Jv8wFCycG3G8t2jHk/s1600-h/DSCN2436.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZRkU6nm4lwmC6HctEZUM9M7EVoVtPTwmVrDuod-yCHuX18l6fjbnwWrUYnRJmo6b0FcX8jNqehYP44GmBhjMicQrhrkniMAcMoqgyFlQwfo5uZp7wr8s2CcUY26Jv8wFCycG3G8t2jHk/s320/DSCN2436.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444639540730042994" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-size:130%;" >Did you like green eggs and ham?<br />Yes you did like green eggs and ham! </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-size:130%;" >You ate them here and there.<br />Sawyer- you ate them everywhere! :) </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-size:130%;" >I also made Cat In The Hat striped<br />graham crackers for dessert.<br />"Dr. Seuss" called you too!</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-size:130%;" >It's just too bad daddy was in the bathroom at the time-<br />he missed the whole phone call!!! </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-size:130%;" >But you and daddy read 2 Dr. Seuss books after dinner :)</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >Oh The Places You'll Go! :) </span><br /></span></div><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Author's Note: Yes, I know I did a lot tonight for dinner. But it's a cool thing to celebrate and we got to have fun with it. Yes, I know I'll have to do this every year. Yes, I'm okay with it. In fact... I think there's a "Green Eggs and Ham" cookbook......</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2788949449587841417.post-9911382170820295732010-02-21T22:07:00.000-08:002010-02-21T22:36:12.304-08:00Soy's Birthday Party<div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Today began with bagels.... followed my a stressed-out mom with 100 things to do before the party and less time to do them in! Three hours of cleaning and last minute grocery stop and daddy pitching in to do whatever I threw at him.... and we're ready to party! When we asked Sawyer what he wanted to do for his birthday, he said "go see the we-ooo, we-ooo" (fire truck). So I scheduled the tour (which they didn't know about even though they had plenty of notice... anyways...) and we began the party at the fire station. The kids loved climbing in the trucks and seeing the living room, kitchen, and bedrooms. They saw the computers, but really just wanted to see the trucks and the ambulance. So us adults (parents and firemen) hung out and let the kids run around the garage for a while. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ZT45CJ3dVNLu57nSx0oL82XHxV9e3PkI7nHCl2FC670-LK3GbvY60bodUQ_to1F3bOc6OoZ1cs-w0UiVgJrFjxqQFNuhsPzgp7PrAttfA1DVFrFxpUwiSrMivhAoZ0HncCEVHffrBno/s1600-h/26957_1200253936121_1521733818_30408518_2607707_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ZT45CJ3dVNLu57nSx0oL82XHxV9e3PkI7nHCl2FC670-LK3GbvY60bodUQ_to1F3bOc6OoZ1cs-w0UiVgJrFjxqQFNuhsPzgp7PrAttfA1DVFrFxpUwiSrMivhAoZ0HncCEVHffrBno/s320/26957_1200253936121_1521733818_30408518_2607707_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440947242773646642" border="0" /></a>Then it was back to the house. We started with the fire truck pinata... too much fun.... although the broom handle that was twice as long as the child was tall and swinging it too close to the Jeep brought up thoughts of auto repair, but no accidents ensued. :) Then for the major surprise....... the most major of all surprises.... the thing he will remember ALL of his life.... (I hope!)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtW4r_NcqrzODQqNUZ1JHePkIm_GWFySNttQSbgj0W7kHcfEJ8_xTuL9bDPJfTFK9jbxYRthg-Zt1wuzulSmhlmcIv7AJwhkXCxqBl70PDSsl7thNU-vFPU2GNkqLl0Um0iMDUjdUzS0E/s1600-h/26957_1200254296130_1521733818_30408527_6644192_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtW4r_NcqrzODQqNUZ1JHePkIm_GWFySNttQSbgj0W7kHcfEJ8_xTuL9bDPJfTFK9jbxYRthg-Zt1wuzulSmhlmcIv7AJwhkXCxqBl70PDSsl7thNU-vFPU2GNkqLl0Um0iMDUjdUzS0E/s320/26957_1200254296130_1521733818_30408527_6644192_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440948016561297266" border="0" /></a><br />Oh YES we did! Thanks to a friend of a friend, we got a REAL fire truck to come to the house! Lights, sirens, the whole NINE yards! :) Doug was awesome! He gave Soy a little matchbox fire truck and Soy got to wear a hat and coat.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVZI-7mHOnpq_AIz6Ay0cc1PAzphXQxMrQL_J8oSdS-EAqJgSLOEIkXYuXFSyYQnGN4gbKMRvsxH7QMQGs9ihJcImIK3IMZcE40m6CfFFwz76wG8Fwg98gutyxi12JEmpVNsV7_pkFbWc/s1600-h/26957_1200254496135_1521733818_30408531_5795375_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVZI-7mHOnpq_AIz6Ay0cc1PAzphXQxMrQL_J8oSdS-EAqJgSLOEIkXYuXFSyYQnGN4gbKMRvsxH7QMQGs9ihJcImIK3IMZcE40m6CfFFwz76wG8Fwg98gutyxi12JEmpVNsV7_pkFbWc/s320/26957_1200254496135_1521733818_30408531_5795375_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440949251390613858" border="0" /></a>Then we all got to ride on the fire truck. Thought we were going to go around the neighborhood, but since there is an elementary school right around the corner, we decided to go there and unleash the hose. :) So- me, Soy, Liam, Ben and Ivan climbed on up. (really, is there any other time in your life that you will ever get to ride on a fire truck!? How could we say no??!) So- not only did the kids get to do the hose, but the "big kids" did too- after Doug turned the pressure up a little more. :)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPvxsqG0DxuQKBrZ138kRQEqbVMzSe519LfrfbdQUWGWZu4cm_zuEzu0OSxaBMAtXIxmxDDETTMch3kttv0q7DhU6TSxmfjw58MIipmy8EvL6mX_sfaMJRsJsMxzgWbkvoDqhTXppQock/s1600-h/26957_1200254936146_1521733818_30408541_2890030_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPvxsqG0DxuQKBrZ138kRQEqbVMzSe519LfrfbdQUWGWZu4cm_zuEzu0OSxaBMAtXIxmxDDETTMch3kttv0q7DhU6TSxmfjw58MIipmy8EvL6mX_sfaMJRsJsMxzgWbkvoDqhTXppQock/s320/26957_1200254936146_1521733818_30408541_2890030_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440950250074002850" border="0" /></a>After saying a reluctant goodbye to Doug back at the house.... (although Soy got to flip the siren on when we turned onto our street!), we went inside for a couple of fire truck themed games, then a yummy dinner of pizza, lasagna, salad. Presents followed and no party would be complete without CAKE! My friend Christy made the cake for Soy and did an amazing job! <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuLrzlYTWmrdsoAO1FCw1dhyphenhyphenB8wnti5i_H9-bh5RLJJjctfBFkH9NN0Z5dtBay6UfAey2_XNxhJ_WUO9-IAjiQBbsEi3ese9IF6p0mTO2Cebvba83uxjyRnPCmiMZtJ_8QJzgDzhU9VgU/s1600-h/26957_1200255496160_1521733818_30408554_4040330_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuLrzlYTWmrdsoAO1FCw1dhyphenhyphenB8wnti5i_H9-bh5RLJJjctfBFkH9NN0Z5dtBay6UfAey2_XNxhJ_WUO9-IAjiQBbsEi3ese9IF6p0mTO2Cebvba83uxjyRnPCmiMZtJ_8QJzgDzhU9VgU/s320/26957_1200255496160_1521733818_30408554_4040330_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440951295944128162" border="0" /></a><br />Everyone left around 8 and Soy went to bed shortly after. No nap today meant constant talks about "attitude adjustment" - so it was no surprise that he fell asleep in 5 mins :) <br /><br />I'm glad we did this for his party. Was it over the top? Most definitely. Will he remember this forever? Most likely. Was it worth it? ABSOLUTELY! We won't do this every year, but it was a fun party and I'm sure I'll be planning more in my future :)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2788949449587841417.post-62142054302288887932010-02-17T21:49:00.000-08:002010-02-17T22:12:56.002-08:00A Birthday Letter to Sawyer<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhHcQg4WIM7RiQIWd2HnCecJpelD6HnBtdiBdoIqxw3Ab_6KFQXZnt4QqsQNyFvtdCnUCLvCCHfGGAp8yNYW5oGU4lK2eJoHqgB_EFTigcCwazSapMvqzIGUUDsbkKEPYDW0qUq2fcUZY/s1600-h/Sawyer.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 280px; height: 210px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhHcQg4WIM7RiQIWd2HnCecJpelD6HnBtdiBdoIqxw3Ab_6KFQXZnt4QqsQNyFvtdCnUCLvCCHfGGAp8yNYW5oGU4lK2eJoHqgB_EFTigcCwazSapMvqzIGUUDsbkKEPYDW0qUq2fcUZY/s320/Sawyer.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439462187277190914" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: georgia; font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: georgia; font-weight: bold;">Well my little man- you are 3 today. There were days when I wondered if we all were going to make it through unscathed and days that I wish could have gone on forever. The good days, the bad days, and the in between days are what makes you the wonderful, stubborn, amazing you. You have learned SO much this past year! You stopped using your booster seat shortly after turning 2, saying you were a big boy now and didn't need it. :) You potty trained in one day- looking at me like it was no big deal when I was loudly cheering you on. :) You started Noah's Preschool and a little bit of my heart crushed as I watched my baby walk in to school on his own with his backpack on. You started Play to Learn Preschool too and more mornings than not, I left in tears and called your teacher to make sure you were okay. I love the fact that you have grown even the last few months, especially with school. You happily go into school, sometimes forgetting to give me a goodbye hug and kiss! You spell your name and count to 20. You spell "S-T-O-P", know all your shapes, colors, and letters, and use scissors very well. You know the traffic light colors and their meanings (sometimes to my dismay!) You are working on spelling 'Mom', 'Dad' and reading small words like 'yes' and 'no.' I am amazed at how much you have learned this year. You love a challenge- be it intellectually or behaviorally! You've outgrown your trike in one year and have learned you can now bike faster than mom and dad can run. You are extremely polite when you hold the door open for us. You are extremely compassionate and kind to animals. You love doing your chores and are great at them- feeding the cats and dog, taking the recycling out, and letting the dog outside. You love to sing and do so.... often.... loudly :) I wouldn't change it for anything in the world! Your favorite song is "The Wheels On The Bus" and often put new words into the tune to make up your own song. You are an amazing person, inside and out and even though there are really bad days, I wouldn't change anything about you. I love you when you are happy and laughing; and when you are sad and crying. I love you when you are stubborn and pouting; and when you are asking "Why" all the time. I love you because you are you. Happy Birthday Sawyer. May this year be filled with even more wonder and amazement. - Love Mommy</span><br /></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2788949449587841417.post-62716734656371321252010-01-24T22:40:00.000-08:002010-01-24T22:48:13.935-08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheQEYGNJ9TXjpCwhwTIAo9xV4JwbpceTsjh3y0NWew3JHal7VXmYD-jzrJR5O1RPyLLY5DLlf8HPfwdxkfdB_Xp4a35pKJJPYbZfm0ULr7OzKhtGxYGevYubFGfnysukj4YlaNeGsr7dQ/s1600-h/0122001347a-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheQEYGNJ9TXjpCwhwTIAo9xV4JwbpceTsjh3y0NWew3JHal7VXmYD-jzrJR5O1RPyLLY5DLlf8HPfwdxkfdB_Xp4a35pKJJPYbZfm0ULr7OzKhtGxYGevYubFGfnysukj4YlaNeGsr7dQ/s320/0122001347a-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430563853996562690" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: courier new;">Ah, the Children's Museum.... where you can:<br />1)splash random children in the water area<br />2) throw recycled rubber chips in the construction area because other children are doing it and not getting yelled at<br />3) forget to go to the bathroom (accident ensued.... daddy found a pair of pants in the car- but he ended up going commando and wearing his dry sock on the other foot because his other foot, sock, and shoe were... um... wet. But we didn't just spend $8 per person to leave after 20 mins....)<br />4) Paint your face with as much face paint as you want (mom controlled this one REAL quick!)<br />5) Have a fun afternoon (even though a nap was severely needed...by parents and said toddler) :)<br /></span></span></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2788949449587841417.post-91056199767997377612010-01-24T22:33:00.000-08:002010-01-24T22:38:52.404-08:00Working Out<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 51);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-size:130%;">So Ivan and I have been working out pretty regularly this past year.... ok, Ivan much more than me. Anyways, it's almost always one of us staying home with Soy and one goes to work out. Last Thursday, Sawyer and I were on the way home from work/school and Sawyer asked if daddy was home now. I said "Yes he is. He didn't have to work today. But he was going to go out and go running." Reply from Soy: "Running where mommy?" Me: "Running to Albertsons I think." Response from toddler..... "SILLY DADDY! No RUN to store! Take CAR!" *sigh* All our healthy intentions just flew out the window....</span>.. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2788949449587841417.post-68929210275209534572010-01-03T19:43:00.000-08:002010-01-03T19:53:53.070-08:00Bad Doggy<span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 153);font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-size:130%;">After coercing Sawyer to eat one freaking bite of chicken and a piece of broccoli (lovingly called 'Dinosaur Trees') we decided to go have TCBY for dessert. I love TCBY- they always have a sugar-free option for me and 'blue' ice cream for Soy. Ivan usually gets his White Chocolate Macadamia Nut. So we left. We also left Bosco at home, which isn't unusual. I ran in to TCBY and got the ice creams and since we were going to eat them in the car on the way home- Sawyer got vanilla with sprinkles (images of blue, pink, and yellow ice cream on the car seat prompted this!), I got sugar-free chocolate, and Ivan, of course his usual. None of this is really important to the story, just thought you should have the background information (and possibly make you want ice cream....) We get home and walk in..... scraps of dog cookie and cat cookie packaging.... all over the floor.... everywhere.... Apparently Bosco, feeling left out about going to get ice cream, decided to help himself to the pantry and get out his cookies as well as the cat's and eat them. Soy walked him, took one look at the floor, looked at Bosco and said "BAD BAD BOSCO! NO MESS MY HOUSE!!!!" Ivan and I had to try so hard not to laugh out loud! Sawyer then proceeded to tell Bosco that again while picking up the cookie packaging remains. Ironic when the toddler (who makes most of the mess in the house) is telling the dog not to mess his house. :</span>) </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2788949449587841417.post-69726766989464300742009-12-21T20:10:00.000-08:002009-12-21T20:26:26.070-08:00Christmas Time<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEMQ6hX4TfdXnaCQRaTEg1vI8uxvTjKawiiDSRgjedxU2tqWoPqfOetqem6WxYE_K-u7dK7vRrd_8qKe-kW10wcNlxzczhssb82pD0SiXVL0Bih34ir_EeJZ8cMzUwnc0TS_VkKCOfUPE/s1600-h/DSCN2140.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 247px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEMQ6hX4TfdXnaCQRaTEg1vI8uxvTjKawiiDSRgjedxU2tqWoPqfOetqem6WxYE_K-u7dK7vRrd_8qKe-kW10wcNlxzczhssb82pD0SiXVL0Bih34ir_EeJZ8cMzUwnc0TS_VkKCOfUPE/s320/DSCN2140.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417912112660419842" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">So, now Sawyer knows "Jingle Bells", "Away in a Manger", a few words of "Do You See What I See", and now... "Frosty The Snowman." It really is just "Frosty the Snowman, really happy soul" followed by a bunch of made up words. But cute nonetheless. I don't have a video up yet, but I'm working on it. I will say that most of the shoppers with me at the mall last Friday got a front seat view as he was singing them (one right after the other) pretty much at the top of his lungs! One lady laughed- I told her that at least he wasn't crying! (which is usually how the shopping trips go- especially if he is confined in the stroller or at Kohl's). </span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Tonight we went to see Santa- rather Santa Don, as we call him. We love Santa Don- he attends our church, his wife (Mrs. Claus) is our church secretary. Ivan and I decided that we would dress up on the thought that we might have to be in the pic, but were hopeful we wouldn't. All week long, Sawyer has been talking about Santa and telling us what he was going to ask Santa for. We thought "Right on- we'll be ok...." Yeah.... no. Sawyer RAN in to the mall, so excited to see Santa: "I see Santa now, I see Santa now!" Right up to Santa- then stopped dead in his tracks. So, as you can see- it was a family picture with Santa this year. Last year, no picture due to snow. Perhaps, next year a Sawyer alone with Santa pic??</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0