tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12157669753510600132024-03-13T19:07:30.275-07:00The Harrisonssuddenly a family of fourJeff and Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17487383502550123806noreply@blogger.comBlogger92125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1215766975351060013.post-20725840583177903052012-12-22T15:23:00.002-08:002012-12-22T15:32:16.722-08:00Christmas Brunch<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Had a group of friends over for a Christmas Brunch today and someone (Nikki) had the great idea to do silly photos with props.</div>
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I think they turned out really fun!</div>
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Great time with great friends!</div>
<br />Jeff and Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17487383502550123806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1215766975351060013.post-64437013841822049062012-12-22T15:23:00.000-08:002012-12-22T15:23:20.042-08:001st Time at DisneylandWe had our first trip to Disneyland recently. It rained the entire first day but we still managed to get on quite a few rides. Luckily, we were able to go back to the park for a few hours the next day and enjoy some rides rain-free!<br />
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Notice the rain gear? Small World was an especially soggy ride.<br />
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The boys are looking forward to growing another inch so they'll be "tall enough for Disneyland". They just missed the height requirement for many of the rides. Maybe next time we'll enjoy better weather too. But all in all, it was a very fun trip!Jeff and Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17487383502550123806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1215766975351060013.post-14302368856030061692011-02-28T16:46:00.000-08:002011-02-28T16:46:03.411-08:00Beach Babes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">This was a golden moment...you know, a moment in time that is so perfect you wish you could just wrap it up and keep it with you at all times and then pull it out and relive it whenever you wanted? Some friends of ours just called us up one Saturday morning and asked us if we'd like to join them at Castaic Lake. They were going to feed the ducks. </div><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-SFy4f1aaeFA/TWwxpcdkY7I/AAAAAAAAA5A/swbPZZSrung/s1600/DSCN0561.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-SFy4f1aaeFA/TWwxpcdkY7I/AAAAAAAAA5A/swbPZZSrung/s320/DSCN0561.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It turned out to be such a beautiful day. We weren't prepared for how warm it would be...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bwLyVcNYAi4/TWU5k8Y1ahI/AAAAAAAAA4o/Gq2n0O6Pj5Y/s1600/Sammy2+2-12-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bwLyVcNYAi4/TWU5k8Y1ahI/AAAAAAAAA4o/Gq2n0O6Pj5Y/s320/Sammy2+2-12-11.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o94FyzR5LL8/TWU5mnEPNmI/AAAAAAAAA4s/EE_A5fpnRtU/s1600/Sammy+2-12-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o94FyzR5LL8/TWU5mnEPNmI/AAAAAAAAA4s/EE_A5fpnRtU/s320/Sammy+2-12-11.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Nor were we prepared for the beautiful beach full of sand for the boys to play in...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">so the long sleeved onsies and jeans were quickly shed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">We made some great memories sitting by the cool lapping water....</div><br />
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</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">digging around in the sand...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and having a picnic lunch.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">All in all, a perfect day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Jeff and Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17487383502550123806noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1215766975351060013.post-91831329634347017012011-02-07T21:45:00.000-08:002011-02-07T21:45:32.126-08:00Yahoo! We're 2!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I went a little nuts and decided to disregard the experts' guidelines for parties and children. I guess according to them we should only have invited four friends for the boys' birthday party but how do you choose??? Anyway, they had a blast and I would totally do it all over again. Only I might take more pictures next time. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We had the party at a place in LA called <a href="http://www.littlebarn.org/">Little Barn</a>. It was sooooo darn cute! We were allowed 30 children and we did invite the max but, unfortunately, it's cold and flu season so there were several children who couldn't make it. :( I guess that's just how it's going to be if we decide to celebrate near the boys' actual birthday.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TTzyOatwnmI/AAAAAAAAA4U/KvU4aRjLKTE/s1600/DSY_8317.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TTzyOatwnmI/AAAAAAAAA4U/KvU4aRjLKTE/s320/DSY_8317.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We decided to stick with the farm theme. Love the little cupcake toppers I found on Etsy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Glad I wasn't in the room when THIS was going on!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">The ball pit was the favorite for all the kids (little and big).</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TTzxgs2kw8I/AAAAAAAAA4M/lOdreNfWNKI/s1600/DSY_8480.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TTzxgs2kw8I/AAAAAAAAA4M/lOdreNfWNKI/s320/DSY_8480.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yup, that's my husband...and my sweet Sammy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TTzyj0xeJDI/AAAAAAAAA4Y/hHqh5ERDxXU/s1600/DSY_8270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TTzyj0xeJDI/AAAAAAAAA4Y/hHqh5ERDxXU/s320/DSY_8270.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The little bounce house was a hit too. Sam and Wes insisted on holding hands while they jumped around. Soooo incredibly sweet...that is until they bonked heads and ended up wailing and refused to go back in. Ah well!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">All in all a great day! I would definitely recommend this place for 2 year old birthday parties!!!</div>Jeff and Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17487383502550123806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1215766975351060013.post-14711312492564010412011-01-17T14:14:00.000-08:002011-01-17T14:14:36.952-08:00AWWWW NUTS!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TTS9kdfUgxI/AAAAAAAAA4E/ZYmtxeh3Ifg/s1600/IMG_7343_Harrison-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TTS9kdfUgxI/AAAAAAAAA4E/ZYmtxeh3Ifg/s320/IMG_7343_Harrison-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>You see that adorable little guy on the left? We had a little trip to the E.R. about 1 1/2 weeks ago after feeding him peanut butter. Boy was that fun. After taking him for allergy tests today we now know that Wesley is allergic to not only peanuts, but also almonds and even more so to cashews and pistachios. Sigh! I love cashews! But I will not be eating them again anytime soon.<br />
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I just finished clearing our pantry of all products that either contain nuts or are processed in the same facility as nuts per his doctor's instructions. Thus begins a series of lifestyle changes for the Harrison family. You see, we are a family who loves to eat out. We either eat out or order in on a very regular basis. According to the doctor, it is no longer safe for Wesley to eat restaurant food due to the possibility of cross-contamination of foods. Therefore, I need to start cooking at home more. Travelling will prove more of a challenge as well. <br />
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Please pray for us! This is both frightening and disappointing. On the bright side, we can take him in for allergy tests again in 12 months and maybe his body will have forgotten that it hates nuts. Who knows? Stranger things have happened, right?Jeff and Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17487383502550123806noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1215766975351060013.post-48052874823368787992010-12-18T21:39:00.000-08:002010-12-18T21:39:23.462-08:001st Visit to Travel Town<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm not sure what took us so long to get here but the boys sure loved those trains!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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It was a Baltic Cruise beginning in Copenhagen, Denmark, with stops in Estonia, Russia, Finland and Sweden, ending again in Copenhagen. It was a wonderful trip and the boys were <strike>totally spoiled</strike> well taken care of by grandparents the entire time. I really had no reason to worry, but somehow managed to fit that in anyway. I did much better than I ever expected for the first week. Then I had a bad dream and anyone who's a mom knows...that trip was over for me from there on out!<br />
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Here's what we saw in the meantime...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TMXYbMvdQ-I/AAAAAAAAA2c/RgtdGZ0P0Fk/s1600/DSS_2040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TMXYbMvdQ-I/AAAAAAAAA2c/RgtdGZ0P0Fk/s320/DSS_2040.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Copenhagen, Denmark</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TMXeCgqImeI/AAAAAAAAA2o/9V0WhexFdPQ/s1600/DSS_2490.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="313" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TMXeCgqImeI/AAAAAAAAA2o/9V0WhexFdPQ/s320/DSS_2490.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The real Little Mermaid statue was in China. Go figure! So we had to settle for her little sister at Tivoli Gardens.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TMZQXDmO9-I/AAAAAAAAA3Y/xHU5O22hkRE/s1600/DSS_2315.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TMZQXDmO9-I/AAAAAAAAA3Y/xHU5O22hkRE/s320/DSS_2315.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is Hamlet's Castle (well kind of anyway)</div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TMXd0ufROQI/AAAAAAAAA2k/L5NJ_Mu_wsE/s1600/DSS_2781.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TMXd0ufROQI/AAAAAAAAA2k/L5NJ_Mu_wsE/s320/DSS_2781.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The medieval town of Tallinn, Estonia</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">In St. Petersberg, we decided it would be best to go on a 10 hour tour of the city. At the beginning of our tour, our guide told us that according to Tolstoy, if you have not suffered you are worth nothing. I think we may have been worth a little something by the end of the day. (You'll see what I mean.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TMXfBgoCpaI/AAAAAAAAA2w/xAjgifTcBEU/s1600/DSS_3298.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TMXfBgoCpaI/AAAAAAAAA2w/xAjgifTcBEU/s320/DSS_3298.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The incredible Hermitage Museum. Our guide said that if you wanted to see the entire thing it would take you 8 years. As you can imagine, we had a bit of a whirlwind tour in our few hours there.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TMXfJjT25OI/AAAAAAAAA20/oZuReTHo2gg/s1600/DSS_3383.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TMXfJjT25OI/AAAAAAAAA20/oZuReTHo2gg/s320/DSS_3383.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The Church of the Spilled Blood. Apparently Ivan the Terrible didn't want to take any chances of this masterpiece being copied by anyone so he had his architects eyes gouged out after he designed this church. I guess that's why they called him the Terrible. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TMXfaE3V8WI/AAAAAAAAA28/P6I30lW41DA/s1600/DSS_3428.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TMXfaE3V8WI/AAAAAAAAA28/P6I30lW41DA/s320/DSS_3428.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We stopped here for lunch...(nice parking job, eh?) where we enjoyed traditional Russian fare, including beef stroganoff, caviar (big orange fish eggs), champagne and vodka. Nancy and I drank too much, NOT vodka, <u>WATER</u>. I downed two bottles of water not imagining that this might pose a problem later. We passed up the long line for the bathroom on the way out and were assured by our guide that there would be bathrooms at the next stop.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TMXgUd2D0sI/AAAAAAAAA3E/nKNnbE3zUMk/s1600/DSS_3486.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TMXgUd2D0sI/AAAAAAAAA3E/nKNnbE3zUMk/s320/DSS_3486.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> This is only about 15 minutes later but I'm already walking gingerly. However, I discovered that the only bathrooms at this stop required rubles to enter and I had none. In fact, all I had were some American 20 dollar bills. Fat lot of good that did me! So we went on to the next stop...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TMXgd7rO7dI/AAAAAAAAA3I/Y7lfpdgLc1I/s1600/DSS_3511.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TMXgd7rO7dI/AAAAAAAAA3I/Y7lfpdgLc1I/s320/DSS_3511.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> The Peter Paul Fortress was nice but by now I REALLY had to find a restroom or I was going to make a spectacle of myself. Nancy was about as bad off as I was at this point so we raced off in the direction the guide pointed us...I wish I had a picture of this but I don't. It was an old beat up trolley car that had been converted into outhouses. I guess they thought that was charming??? Or maybe it's just a mobile restroom for hire and they drive around to various tourist spots. I hate to think what would happen if they stopped fast on the road. But I digress. This place also took rubles and Nancy happened to have some from her last trip to Russia. It was physically painful watching the woman pick out the right change only to discover that several of the coins were not rubles and we didn't have enough. I would have gratefully handed over a $20 right there for the privilege of entering one of those teeny tiny little cubical outhouses but the lady showed us mercy and let us go through anyway. I don't know if I can fully describe to you how small these stalls were. I'm not exaggerating when I say that the toilet seat was two inches from the stall door. There were very small corners on either side where you could conceivably fit your legs. So it's really not surprising that they had to post this sign in each stall...</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TMZVZK7EdII/AAAAAAAAA3c/vblj2JSU-yY/s1600/P8250278.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nx="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TMZVZK7EdII/AAAAAAAAA3c/vblj2JSU-yY/s320/P8250278.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">On to the next stop...</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TMUDV4GoI7I/AAAAAAAAA2Y/kn8FXNeXZCs/s1600/P8270304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nx="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TMUDV4GoI7I/AAAAAAAAA2Y/kn8FXNeXZCs/s320/P8270304.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Stockholm, Sweden</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This was my FAVORITE. I loved Stockholm and could imagine being perfectly happy spending our entire week there. Someday maybe we'll go back.</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So we bookended our cruise with two 1 1/2 day stays in Copenhagen. During our last stay I was determined to go to a flea market. Don't ask me why but I've always wanted to do this. Nancy had two local friends who met up with us and showed us around so we did find a flea market and I DID buy something...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TMZNmOYbB6I/AAAAAAAAA3M/O7QvmSTrOiw/s1600/DSS_5390.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TMZNmOYbB6I/AAAAAAAAA3M/O7QvmSTrOiw/s320/DSS_5390.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> no, not these pictures but aren't they cool? I love antiques because I feel that the history and story behind them (whether I know them or not) adds to their beauty. How much more fabulous to look through antiques in a place like Denmark!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TMZNqsNiYfI/AAAAAAAAA3Q/7CJmwAsuKmc/s1600/DSS_5403.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TMZNqsNiYfI/AAAAAAAAA3Q/7CJmwAsuKmc/s320/DSS_5403.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm a sucker for little silver spoons. I found some that have that little Danish crown on them and was happy as a clam!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TMZOS2zDXDI/AAAAAAAAA3U/Vua9lPC-e4c/s1600/DSS_5401.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TMZOS2zDXDI/AAAAAAAAA3U/Vua9lPC-e4c/s320/DSS_5401.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Seth wasn't as excited as we wereheh heh heh!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Overall, it was an amazing trip. Jeff took a personal recordbreaking 3500 photos. We had a great time with our friends. We even got plenty of sleep at night.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When we got home we got to see this...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TMZfH_F8myI/AAAAAAAAA3g/Dq3iBgzBhUo/s1600/_DSP1886.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nx="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TMZfH_F8myI/AAAAAAAAA3g/Dq3iBgzBhUo/s320/_DSP1886.JPG" width="214" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and there's nowhere in the world I'd rather be.</div>Jeff and Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17487383502550123806noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1215766975351060013.post-85087354122541352902010-10-06T22:54:00.000-07:002010-10-06T22:54:09.233-07:00For Grandma Julia...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxO8O5uyrO0iutdiZrj9Bo3j7UPtaAEvC5107bB6EnJ_AfjhA---h4EzJx62VzfeD22xwY67YOv4B7tBohdPg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mmmmm...hamburger helper!</div>Jeff and Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17487383502550123806noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1215766975351060013.post-75899043236224904502010-10-04T21:55:00.000-07:002010-10-04T21:55:38.880-07:00Wardrobe Malfunction<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TKqvqQePByI/AAAAAAAAA2Q/h-bMHwphJ54/s1600/Wardrobe+malfunction.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TKqvqQePByI/AAAAAAAAA2Q/h-bMHwphJ54/s320/Wardrobe+malfunction.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Not quite sure how this happened.</div>Jeff and Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17487383502550123806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1215766975351060013.post-9095417343108970592010-09-23T16:15:00.000-07:002010-09-23T16:15:55.642-07:00Grandpa LeonI've waited awhile to write this post because...well...seems like there's been so much loss in our family lately, I've been dreading facing the reality of it. Besides, I don't want this to turn into a blog about grief. Last month I lost my darling grandpa...Leon Forrest Waldron. He lived 92 blessed years on this earth and is now with our Heavenly Father. I was just printing up some pictures for my cousins, two of his first grandchildren, and they're so adorable that I thought I'd share them. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TJvd19J9pPI/AAAAAAAAA18/srDB7gyDvMQ/s1600/kymmie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TJvd19J9pPI/AAAAAAAAA18/srDB7gyDvMQ/s320/kymmie.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Grandpa Leon & Cousin Kymmie</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Wasn't he handsome?! He was the dearest, sweetest, gentlest soul. To be honest, I wish I had known him better. He was always the quietly loving, hardworking, kind grandpa who spent time creating in his workshop and was always quick to do whatever my grandma asked of him. I'll always miss his "Hello, hello" greeting as we walked through the door of their home...the way he called me "darlin" and gave me big smooches even when the alzheimer's had progressed and he probably didn't really know who I was anymore...just his sweet presence. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TJvd6lfdioI/AAAAAAAAA2E/HjrhjV3cOHI/s1600/Mark2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TJvd6lfdioI/AAAAAAAAA2E/HjrhjV3cOHI/s320/Mark2.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Grandpa Leon & Cousin Mark</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Looking forward to seeing you again someday Grandpa!</div>Jeff and Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17487383502550123806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1215766975351060013.post-37504785555637400852010-08-11T16:35:00.000-07:002010-08-11T16:37:00.834-07:00Ta Daaaa!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">With the exception of cushions and window dressings that we have yet to pick out for the dining area of the kitchen, we are DONE!!! These aren't the greatest photos but, hey, this is no design blog either! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TGMqpLIVOGI/AAAAAAAAA0M/yxfmkll1qEw/s1600/_DSP1835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TGMqpLIVOGI/AAAAAAAAA0M/yxfmkll1qEw/s320/_DSP1835.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As you can tell, we are moved in and making full use of our new kitchen. Somehow, there are still things missing but I'm sure they will turn up soon enough.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TGMrM7hw8GI/AAAAAAAAA00/ZFioV5Wtz3M/s1600/_DSP1917.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TGMrM7hw8GI/AAAAAAAAA00/ZFioV5Wtz3M/s320/_DSP1917.JPG" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TGMrTqnw8aI/AAAAAAAAA08/VFd8jJDkycA/s1600/_DSP1916.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TGMrTqnw8aI/AAAAAAAAA08/VFd8jJDkycA/s320/_DSP1916.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TGMwNLHvTZI/AAAAAAAAA1U/V_ove-JiMgU/s1600/_DSP1941.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TGMwNLHvTZI/AAAAAAAAA1U/V_ove-JiMgU/s320/_DSP1941.JPG" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TGMv2b26MlI/AAAAAAAAA1E/u2-v0XoXDaA/s1600/_DSP1939.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TGMv2b26MlI/AAAAAAAAA1E/u2-v0XoXDaA/s320/_DSP1939.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Notice how we finally get to display Jeff's bundt pan collection? Nice, huh? (Did you even know my husband HAD a bundt pan collection?!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TGMrFVk1-oI/AAAAAAAAA0s/HlbICy7TwzY/s1600/_DSP1915.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TGMrFVk1-oI/AAAAAAAAA0s/HlbICy7TwzY/s320/_DSP1915.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And THIS is my pantry/laundry room/wrapping center/former kitchen!!! I LOVE this room!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TGMq8jTtxrI/AAAAAAAAA0k/frBX_gN6lLE/s1600/_DSP1914.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TGMq8jTtxrI/AAAAAAAAA0k/frBX_gN6lLE/s320/_DSP1914.JPG" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TGMq1UlsvNI/AAAAAAAAA0c/7aWN2ji-7c0/s1600/_DSP1913.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TGMq1UlsvNI/AAAAAAAAA0c/7aWN2ji-7c0/s320/_DSP1913.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">So I took all the dishes out of the buffet that is sitting in our living room and filled it with Sam & Wes's toys instead. Another bonus of the kitchen being completed is that we now have our living room, dining room and patio back. Oh, it's been so nice to be able to WALK through the house instead of CLIMB through (over the mountains of boxes and stuff).</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TGMwtXGAGfI/AAAAAAAAA1k/ezamTcyOC6o/s1600/_DSP1929.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TGMwtXGAGfI/AAAAAAAAA1k/ezamTcyOC6o/s320/_DSP1929.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Here the boys have pulled out all their toys and decided it's a great place to play.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TGMzY_ER1EI/AAAAAAAAA1s/Gb1RO8AGyw0/s1600/_DSP1926.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TGMzY_ER1EI/AAAAAAAAA1s/Gb1RO8AGyw0/s320/_DSP1926.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">It is just exactly big enough in there for them to stand up and stomp around. Wish I could figure out how to load the darn video on here.</div>Jeff and Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17487383502550123806noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1215766975351060013.post-18957875314519198802010-08-07T14:08:00.000-07:002010-08-07T14:08:27.265-07:00Caught in the Act<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TF3K9OgrquI/AAAAAAAAAz8/1GHJNR7MlFM/s1600/_DSP1830.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TF3K9OgrquI/AAAAAAAAAz8/1GHJNR7MlFM/s320/_DSP1830.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Wesley found a stray crayon and did a little tagging while we weren't looking.</div>Jeff and Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17487383502550123806noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1215766975351060013.post-67888245475639911862010-07-31T21:24:00.000-07:002010-07-31T21:24:24.465-07:00Exploring Our Feminine Side<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TFTxwSXM52I/AAAAAAAAAzs/Y1wjLlZxVwg/s1600/_DSP1778.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TFTxwSXM52I/AAAAAAAAAzs/Y1wjLlZxVwg/s320/_DSP1778.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Okay, now usually I can't get the boys to keep a hat on their head. They wouldn't take this one off!!! I wonder if they still have these at Target. I may want to get a couple.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TFTvyIoZJSI/AAAAAAAAAzc/28TAvN98Q6I/s1600/_DSP1796.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TFTvyIoZJSI/AAAAAAAAAzc/28TAvN98Q6I/s320/_DSP1796.JPG" /></a></div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Picking flowers.</div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">"Awww! For me?! Thanks Sam!"</div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TFT2DAal2II/AAAAAAAAAz0/CSRRMg51VGQ/s1600/_DSP1818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TFT2DAal2II/AAAAAAAAAz0/CSRRMg51VGQ/s320/_DSP1818.JPG" /></a></div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">I took the boys for a playdate with Miss Avery and they had lots of fun playing with all her great toys!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TFTt2ka3-zI/AAAAAAAAAzE/br7oLnYL4DQ/s1600/_DSP1823.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TFTt2ka3-zI/AAAAAAAAAzE/br7oLnYL4DQ/s320/_DSP1823.JPG" /></a></div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Here's Sammy dragging the pink wagon around the yard.</div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TFTuDVR5x4I/AAAAAAAAAzM/Ls495Mi4GF0/s1600/_DSP1827.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TFTuDVR5x4I/AAAAAAAAAzM/Ls495Mi4GF0/s320/_DSP1827.JPG" /></a></div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">And here are both of my boys screaming and crying over who gets to have...not the girl...but the pink wagon!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Jeff and Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17487383502550123806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1215766975351060013.post-45749808351329452222010-07-12T15:34:00.000-07:002010-07-13T11:20:47.787-07:00Thoughts on GloriaSo I now have all of my appliances installed and working in my kitchen and have begun the process of moving in. My new kitchen is coming together...and I am coming unglued. <br />
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Grief is such a strange and unpredictable thing. I can go an entire week and think that I'm doing just fine. My standard answer when people ask how I'm doing is "I'm okay." And really, I do believe this when I say it. But every once in a while, I'll be in some inopportune place (say at a barbeque in someone's backyard) and a friend will innocently ask, "How are you?" And just as my canned answer is about to come out of my lips...WHAM! A rogue wave of grief BODY SLAMS me and I suddenly find it difficult just to breathe much less answer the question. I try desperately to distract myself as the tears well up in my eyes and hope that the person asking doesn't notice the thickness in my voice as I lie..."I'm okay."<br />
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It's just never the right time or place. I see my children wail and cry in such a satisfying display of raw emotion over something as simple as his brother taking his toy, and I can't seem to allow myself to do the same...just let it all out. Instead it slips out a little here, a little there. I know it takes time and not much has passed since my beautiful auntie left us. I guess you can't schedule grief. You just have to roll with it when it comes.<br />
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One of my favorite books to read to the boys says at the very end "And if I had a million days, and time enough for all the praise, I couldn't tell you all the ways I love you." So today I'm going to write about one of the many things I loved about Auntie Gloria. Here's a really important one: she always strove to be beautiful on the inside as well as the outside.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TDuLsg3FjRI/AAAAAAAAAyc/g0VjnFfR0h8/s1600/scan0008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TDuLsg3FjRI/AAAAAAAAAyc/g0VjnFfR0h8/s320/scan0008.jpg" /></a></div><br />
When Gloria was a young child, my grandmother quickly saw that she was going to be exceptionally beautiful. Not wanting her to grow up spoiled by her looks, she would tell her "Pretty is as pretty does." Isn't that smart? I believe Gloria really took Grandma's wise words to heart. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TDuKLWI4tzI/AAAAAAAAAyU/nTcCbslVrv4/s1600/scan1235.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TDuKLWI4tzI/AAAAAAAAAyU/nTcCbslVrv4/s320/scan1235.jpg" /></a></div><br />
My mother recently shared with me that when she was little she asked her older and wiser sister "How do you make friends?" and Gloria answered, "Well, you just smile at everyone." How sweet is that? That is exactly what I always saw her do. She smiled and she listened and she responded graciously to others even when they were not being so nice themselves. I have often heard stories of how much people liked her who didn't even know her well. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TDuMEXoblXI/AAAAAAAAAyk/Q8npKzVKorA/s1600/scan23WD0005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TDuMEXoblXI/AAAAAAAAAyk/Q8npKzVKorA/s320/scan23WD0005.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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Like the man who used to go to my church. When he found out my mom was Gloria's sister he felt compelled to share that he had always liked her...that even though he wasn't one of the popular kids, she was always nice to him. That may seem small, but her kindness must have really impacted him to remember that decades after the fact.<br />
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This picture cracks me up because it is so pouty and so NOT the way I ever remember my auntie being. She was known as Allison by now and had begun her career in modeling.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TDuNMZRTFlI/AAAAAAAAAys/k0W5SnxwArQ/s1600/image-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TDuNMZRTFlI/AAAAAAAAAys/k0W5SnxwArQ/s320/image-3.jpg" /></a></div><br />
At her memorial, which was beautiful by the way, the one thing that was said the most about her was that she was a great listener and truly cared about what was going on in other peoples lives...that it was so apparent that their happiness was really important to her. No surprise that this was my experience with her as well. <br />
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I had the blessing and privilege of working with my auntie for several years. She is the one who got me the job where I still work to this day. I treasure the times I got to spend with her that never would have happened had I not taken that job. I got to know her not only as an aunt, but as a friend. Sometimes we would go out to lunch to catch up on life, but most of the time, we would just talk here and there as we went through our day. And she would always take time to really listen to how I was doing and what was going on in my life. Which leads me to wonder, did I do the same for her??? <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TDuTAN67OrI/AAAAAAAAAy8/LhUPmoxh9ig/s1600/SDC10324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TDuTAN67OrI/AAAAAAAAAy8/LhUPmoxh9ig/s320/SDC10324.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">(Here she's holding my children with her daughter, Kym.)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>I am often so distracted while talking to others, especially these days with toddlers running in different directions at all times. If I take my attention off of them for a heart beat, one of them inevitably ends up taking a nose dive off of some unacceptably high place. Scrapes and bruises, bellows and tears ensue. No. I need to set aside purposeful time and work to really listen to the people around me. I want to be more like Gloria(or Allison as I came to know her at work). I want people to walk away from a conversation with me feeling listened to and cared for. Something to strive for.Jeff and Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17487383502550123806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1215766975351060013.post-3153453454817691352010-07-08T22:27:00.000-07:002010-07-08T22:28:36.360-07:00Coming Soon...<div style="text-align: center;">Here's a picture of my almost kitchen...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TDasodrocII/AAAAAAAAAyM/dJ5Rd49O73U/s1600/P6230253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TDasodrocII/AAAAAAAAAyM/dJ5Rd49O73U/s320/P6230253.JPG" /></a></div><br />
Tomorrow I get my refrigerator and dishwashers. Now to begin the daunting task of figuring out how to organize my cupboards. And, of course, I'm going to have to change the way I shop and cook from pre-packaged, microwaveable to real recipe ingredients. Wooohoo!!!Jeff and Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17487383502550123806noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1215766975351060013.post-76315959479697537322010-07-05T11:20:00.000-07:002010-07-05T11:22:11.740-07:0018 months already???<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The boys turned 18 months last week. Jeff took them for their doctor visit by himself! Super Dad!!! </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TDIeeBlG5WI/AAAAAAAAAxM/pkQEN8PVv_E/s1600/_DSP1640.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TDIeeBlG5WI/AAAAAAAAAxM/pkQEN8PVv_E/s320/_DSP1640.JPG" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Of course I had to send him with a page full of questions for the doctor and instructions to write EVERYTHING down. He was very dutiful and I received a page full of notes at the end of the day.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Here's a recent picture of the boys since I haven't posted any for awhile...</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TDIew5d29zI/AAAAAAAAAxU/vMSWg7Z3F24/s1600/_DSP1604.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TDIew5d29zI/AAAAAAAAAxU/vMSWg7Z3F24/s320/_DSP1604.JPG" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">We can now officially move them into front facing car seats. We've really pushed it keeping them in the infant seats for so long but boy did we get our money's worth out of those! Besides, at their last appointment Sammy was just a hair shy of the required 20 lbs to be able to be forward facing. Now we are on the hunt for the perfect seats that will last them a long long long long time...seeing as kids apparently need boosters till they practically graduate highschool these days!!! Especially our two who continue to be very little for their age. I think they ended up in the 25th percentile for height (5th for weight). But they've got gigantic brains cuz their head size is in the 50th and 60th! Ha ha! </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TDIgHtktIfI/AAAAAAAAAxk/vq7eHYKIORQ/s1600/_DSP1679.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" rw="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TDIgHtktIfI/AAAAAAAAAxk/vq7eHYKIORQ/s320/_DSP1679.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TDIf1qk_9yI/AAAAAAAAAxc/MW0WmrhB7YA/s1600/_DSP1612.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" rw="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TDIf1qk_9yI/AAAAAAAAAxc/MW0WmrhB7YA/s320/_DSP1612.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">My little bobble heads!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TDIhdQXyLqI/AAAAAAAAAx8/9hBW3lxDPEI/s1600/_DSP1649.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TDIhdQXyLqI/AAAAAAAAAx8/9hBW3lxDPEI/s320/_DSP1649.JPG" /></a></div>Jeff and Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17487383502550123806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1215766975351060013.post-20794881060838757262010-06-30T11:40:00.000-07:002010-06-30T11:40:11.821-07:00ALIAKAThat's what was on the license plate of the little aqua blue convertible Mercedes my auntie Gloria drove for as far back as my memory goes. She was born Gloria Sharlene Waldron but became known as Allison once she began her career in modeling as a young mother of two. Aqua was such a perfect color too...it matched her fabulous blue eyes. I think that color will always remind me of her...my sweet spirited, stunningly beautiful, always gracious auntie. We lost her last week, to a heart attack, and I am heartbroken. <br />
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I hope you (my small handful of readers) won't mind if I sprinkle in posts about her now and then between pictures of the boys as I work through my grief and do my best to celebrate her life. She was so special to me, and these thoughts of her just keep swimming around in my head...around and around and around. They need to come out.<br />
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I have been looking through pictures of her for days now and have come across so many darling photos. This is the photo Cousin Wendy sent to me that we're going to use at her memorial service on Friday. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TCuPKV3vkfI/AAAAAAAAAxE/9Rd9S2JhyoE/s1600/Gloria3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ru="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TCuPKV3vkfI/AAAAAAAAAxE/9Rd9S2JhyoE/s320/Gloria3.jpg" /></a></div>This image has been surrounding me all week, on my desktop at work, blown up at home in various sizes, on my cellphone...I like remembering her this way. It's comforting to feel she's nearby.Jeff and Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17487383502550123806noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1215766975351060013.post-91191912495089935272010-06-17T22:48:00.000-07:002010-06-17T22:48:19.576-07:00Empty Nest SyndromeThe birdies have left the nest! It happened one Sunday morning. I peered outside the door and one of the babies was just flying BACK to the nest. The others were just hanging out around it but not exactly in it.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TBsDtSBZ19I/AAAAAAAAAwU/x4UjBwd5HaE/s1600/_DSP1129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" qu="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TBsDtSBZ19I/AAAAAAAAAwU/x4UjBwd5HaE/s320/_DSP1129.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TBsD4mTth_I/AAAAAAAAAwc/Q59DXaf5OKE/s1600/_DSP1139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" qu="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TBsD4mTth_I/AAAAAAAAAwc/Q59DXaf5OKE/s320/_DSP1139.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">"OH! OH! I better get my camera!" By the time I made it to the window, all four little birds were flying around our front lawn, resting on our bench, planter wall, grass, etc...just sitting there as if to say "Well what do we do now?!" And YES, you read it right...there were FOUR! I've never been so happy to be wrong in my life! Those two lifeless little ones I thought had died somehow made it. I noticed them several days earlier and thought I better not get my hopes up in case something happened but they survived and fledged! Sofie is the proud mama of quadruplets and she successfully fed and nurtured them till they left the nest! Good job Sofie!!!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TBsC9GFb_kI/AAAAAAAAAv8/sUKJaZ1cNjo/s1600/_DSP1094a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" qu="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TBsC9GFb_kI/AAAAAAAAAv8/sUKJaZ1cNjo/s320/_DSP1094a.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TBsC1Y4etqI/AAAAAAAAAv0/cRsqg7ELGxY/s1600/_DSP1089a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" qu="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TBsC1Y4etqI/AAAAAAAAAv0/cRsqg7ELGxY/s320/_DSP1089a.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">This has been bittersweet. I so looked forward to peeking outside to see what the baby birds were up to and how they had grown. Now when I walk out my front door I see that empty little nest and I am reminded that some day my little fledglings will also leave home. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">Here's my little Condor in training at the Bank of America Children's Discovery Room.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TBsIGVSUQiI/AAAAAAAAAw8/pckWYxcJer0/s1600/_DSP1149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TBsIGVSUQiI/AAAAAAAAAw8/pckWYxcJer0/s320/_DSP1149.JPG" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">Oh how I don't want that day to come too soon! </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TBsEkjwhxOI/AAAAAAAAAws/5gpXwmWf7ak/s1600/_DSP1174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TBsEkjwhxOI/AAAAAAAAAws/5gpXwmWf7ak/s320/_DSP1174.JPG" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TBsE2ZIChAI/AAAAAAAAAw0/c7PFb6AtaJM/s1600/_DSP1176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TBsE2ZIChAI/AAAAAAAAAw0/c7PFb6AtaJM/s320/_DSP1176.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">16 1/2 more years before you can even THINK about it</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">my little hatchlings!</div>Jeff and Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17487383502550123806noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1215766975351060013.post-42997682910384878452010-06-02T22:25:00.000-07:002010-06-02T22:25:18.338-07:00Security Breach<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TAc8BUiYcbI/AAAAAAAAAvU/yvn17YogtBg/s1600/DSJ_0358.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TAc8BUiYcbI/AAAAAAAAAvU/yvn17YogtBg/s320/DSJ_0358.JPG" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TAc8ds9cDEI/AAAAAAAAAvk/L2YA_k9p8p4/s1600/DSJ_0364.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TAc8ds9cDEI/AAAAAAAAAvk/L2YA_k9p8p4/s320/DSJ_0364.JPG" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TAc8Rfjl9RI/AAAAAAAAAvc/T6pnWYWIi8o/s1600/DSJ_0362.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TAc8Rfjl9RI/AAAAAAAAAvc/T6pnWYWIi8o/s320/DSJ_0362.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Soon he'll figure out that he can just plow right over this little floppy fence. </div>Jeff and Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17487383502550123806noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1215766975351060013.post-41372802364055698852010-06-01T10:56:00.000-07:002010-06-01T10:57:58.319-07:00Puddin FaceWe didn't go anywhere for Memorial Day weekend. We just stayed put. On Saturday morning we were planning to do a re-do of Mother's Day breakfast but ended up at IHOP instead with the intention of going somewhere nearby for pony rides for the boys. Instead we found ourselves looking for a last minute replacement for our kitchen sink. More kitchen drama. We're still a little ways away from a functioning kitchen.<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Anyway, we didn't have a chance to do the pony rides before the boys had to go down for their nap. Instead we decided to do...drumroll please...</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TAU75_5do_I/AAAAAAAAAsU/td15B80nJGM/s1600/_DSP0962.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TAU75_5do_I/AAAAAAAAAsU/td15B80nJGM/s320/_DSP0962.JPG" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">CHOCOLATE PUDDING FINGER PAINTING!!!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TAU-JAraJWI/AAAAAAAAAsc/X4-OxMB6hSk/s1600/_DSP0923.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TAU-JAraJWI/AAAAAAAAAsc/X4-OxMB6hSk/s320/_DSP0923.JPG" /></a>The boys follow instructions very well...<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TAU_B8mEWHI/AAAAAAAAAs8/iaZtORrLp-g/s1600/_DSP0970.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TAU_B8mEWHI/AAAAAAAAAs8/iaZtORrLp-g/s320/_DSP0970.JPG" /></a></div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Wesley, Sam, show me your tongues!!!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TAU-YqfJaVI/AAAAAAAAAsk/ShF1Srys28c/s1600/_DSP0937.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TAU-YqfJaVI/AAAAAAAAAsk/ShF1Srys28c/s400/_DSP0937.JPG" width="400" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TAU-mvx5u8I/AAAAAAAAAss/YZzq2jzdpnw/s1600/_DSP0938.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TAU-mvx5u8I/AAAAAAAAAss/YZzq2jzdpnw/s400/_DSP0938.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Can you lick your fingers?</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TAVB95RRsWI/AAAAAAAAAt0/cYWn2naB-hs/s1600/_DSP0943.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TAVB95RRsWI/AAAAAAAAAt0/cYWn2naB-hs/s320/_DSP0943.JPG" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TAU-zL4y1ZI/AAAAAAAAAs0/dOHAP6ElPiA/s1600/_DSP0947.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TAU-zL4y1ZI/AAAAAAAAAs0/dOHAP6ElPiA/s320/_DSP0947.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Now make a HUGE mess! Go ahead!!!!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TAVArI_SWuI/AAAAAAAAAtM/34CRwIraRQA/s1600/_DSP0981.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TAVArI_SWuI/AAAAAAAAAtM/34CRwIraRQA/s320/_DSP0981.JPG" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TAVCXXVeepI/AAAAAAAAAuE/Kg_OEnimMgc/s1600/_DSP0951.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TAVCXXVeepI/AAAAAAAAAuE/Kg_OEnimMgc/s320/_DSP0951.JPG" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TAVCJohI20I/AAAAAAAAAt8/GkVNNiE1Kg8/s1600/_DSP0971.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TAVCJohI20I/AAAAAAAAAt8/GkVNNiE1Kg8/s320/_DSP0971.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Nothing better after a puddin bath than nice cold milk!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TAVCmHe2BsI/AAAAAAAAAuM/xyZmR9ENdLs/s1600/_DSP0985.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TAVCmHe2BsI/AAAAAAAAAuM/xyZmR9ENdLs/s320/_DSP0985.JPG" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TAVBWfWEv4I/AAAAAAAAAtk/ZBMB-pg_QEw/s1600/_DSP0990.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TAVBWfWEv4I/AAAAAAAAAtk/ZBMB-pg_QEw/s320/_DSP0990.JPG" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TAVA9th6f6I/AAAAAAAAAtU/HiEki5EYgTU/s1600/_DSP0988.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TAVA9th6f6I/AAAAAAAAAtU/HiEki5EYgTU/s320/_DSP0988.JPG" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TAVBKzChq4I/AAAAAAAAAtc/ZrdobuZCNKU/s1600/_DSP0994.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TAVBKzChq4I/AAAAAAAAAtc/ZrdobuZCNKU/s320/_DSP0994.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Hey, Mom! You gotta taste this!!!<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TAU_bukG4bI/AAAAAAAAAtE/S7dHgYoJwAU/s1600/_DSP0972.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TAU_bukG4bI/AAAAAAAAAtE/S7dHgYoJwAU/s320/_DSP0972.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">So we contemplated swishing them around in the pool after this, but instead decided to wipe them down and let them go get good and dirty...</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TAVEGtYE-iI/AAAAAAAAAuk/LtA2sLqw5Zg/s1600/_DSP1033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TAVEGtYE-iI/AAAAAAAAAuk/LtA2sLqw5Zg/s320/_DSP1033.JPG" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TAVBxEGhMGI/AAAAAAAAAts/8CSLrz_Ypgw/s1600/_DSP1006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TAVBxEGhMGI/AAAAAAAAAts/8CSLrz_Ypgw/s320/_DSP1006.JPG" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TAVDVcXdP0I/AAAAAAAAAuc/h3XgsrcHEEo/s1600/_DSP1005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TAVDVcXdP0I/AAAAAAAAAuc/h3XgsrcHEEo/s320/_DSP1005.JPG" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TAVC4TXfc9I/AAAAAAAAAuU/H53aModmfyU/s1600/_DSP1009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TAVC4TXfc9I/AAAAAAAAAuU/H53aModmfyU/s320/_DSP1009.JPG" /></a>and hairy!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TAVFPqqGrLI/AAAAAAAAAvE/xDUauL-6XBM/s1600/_DSP1015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TAVFPqqGrLI/AAAAAAAAAvE/xDUauL-6XBM/s320/_DSP1015.JPG" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TAVE1xRmdII/AAAAAAAAAu8/DBHSQzHxoH0/s1600/_DSP1056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TAVE1xRmdII/AAAAAAAAAu8/DBHSQzHxoH0/s320/_DSP1056.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Josh came over to shoot some hoops.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TAVFaQxmrgI/AAAAAAAAAvM/TzphK8flrDM/s1600/_DSP1038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TAVFaQxmrgI/AAAAAAAAAvM/TzphK8flrDM/s320/_DSP1038.JPG" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TAVEmq7eKiI/AAAAAAAAAu0/HBDVYjGqMDE/s1600/_DSP1062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TAVEmq7eKiI/AAAAAAAAAu0/HBDVYjGqMDE/s320/_DSP1062.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Then Josh's mommy and I went shopping while the guys cleaned up the mess!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TAVEYDpebGI/AAAAAAAAAus/CXPT_Fa0hzY/s1600/_DSP1068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/TAVEYDpebGI/AAAAAAAAAus/CXPT_Fa0hzY/s320/_DSP1068.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Overall, a VERY good day!!!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Jeff and Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17487383502550123806noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1215766975351060013.post-78210149569280897072010-05-29T11:29:00.001-07:002010-05-29T12:00:21.708-07:00Poor SophieUpdate on the phoebe family living on our front porch. Yesterday I came home and snuck a peek at the nest full of fuzzy baby birds only to notice that they were no longer moving. I got a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach but tried to tell myself that perhaps they were taking a much needed nap. After all, my little munchkins can sleep pretty deeply during their naptimes in the middle of the day. Still I couldn't shake the gnawing feeling that something was wrong.<div><br /></div><div>Flashback to the day before, mommy and daddy bird were practically frantic the entire morning...racing back and forth darting after bugs and high tailing it back to the nest. The babies were singing their sweet little hungry tweets in unison "Mommy! Daddy! We're hungry!" Awwww! Every time I heard the chorus of chirping as I walked down my hallway I would melt at the cuteness of it all. "And I thought feeding twins was exhausting! These parents have quads!" I thought to myself as I went about my daily routine. How sweet!</div><div><br /></div><div>Later in the day yesterday as I peered through my living room window at the nest, still no movement. Worry, worry, worry...I'm good at that you know. A year and a half of being a momma and already I'm an expert. Finally, I see one little bird move! Hurray! Signs of life! Only still today when I peek at the nest (from a distance of course) I can spot only two baby birds moving...the other two remain in place, just as they were yesterday. I explained the sad news to my mom, an avid birdwatcher who happens to have volumes of information about all kinds of birds tucked away in her pretty little head, and she explained to me matter-of-factly that this is common in the bird world. Babies often don't make it. Aw shucks!</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm sad to say that the parents' best efforts to feed the babies probably wasn't enough for the nest full of four birds. Was this Sophie's choice? Did they have to decide which babies ate and which went hungry to guarantee that some would survive? Or did the stronger of the babies just happen to make it through the lean times? I hope it was the latter. I can't shake that sad feeling that not all the little fuzzballs in that nest have made it and there's no promise the remaining ones will either. Gone are my visions of four fluffy little birds fluttering out of the nest to make it on their own! Ahhhh, nature is cold and cruel sometimes! For now I'm still sad for poor Sophie!</div>Jeff and Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17487383502550123806noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1215766975351060013.post-38377015564695372462010-05-25T20:15:00.000-07:002010-05-25T20:58:40.649-07:00Spring Visitors<div align="center"></div><div align="left">We've had some unexpected houseguests this spring. For some time, this little pair has laid claim to our front yard as their home...and finally, they decided to build a home of their own under the eaves on our front porch. They're phoebes and at the moment they are my favorite bird. They eat the bugs around our pool and front yard and they are soooo adorable! I mean, how stinkin cute is he?</div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475413258270128610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 124px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 124px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/S_yTWTGnueI/AAAAAAAAArk/qE0TskFrCV4/s320/phoebe2.jpg" border="0" /></div><div align="left">Several weeks ago we spotted their splattered, muddy nest as we were walking out our front door and I thought "Oh I hope they have little eggs in there!" I got my wish and have been watching eagerly for signs of life ever since. We've been carefully avoiding our front door as much as possible recently because there are, indeed, baby birds in there now. Mom and Dad have no qualms about dive bombing you as you walk through the porch so we figured we'd give them their space. Today we were out in the front yard having an impromptu playdate with Josh so as long as we were disturbing the nervous parents anyway, I threw caution to the wind and snuck a picture of the little ones peeking out of their nest.</div><div align="left"> </div><p align="left"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475414943239959698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 208px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/S_yU4YGu9JI/AAAAAAAAArs/mqx7YY7AOa0/s320/Baby+Phoebes+4.jpg" border="0" />There are four babies in there!!! I don't know how they all fit, especially when the mommy comes and sits on them! The lighting for the photo was bad and I didn't dare get too close so I had to fix it up a bit...but isn't that the sweetest thing ever?! I soooo hope I get to be there when they fledge. I peek at them through my window constantly throughout the day to see what they're up to.<br /></p><p align="left">The boys, on the other hand, couldn't have cared less about what was going on in that nest. </p><p align="left"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475416372830414434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/S_yWLlvqJmI/AAAAAAAAAr0/8X7xbGZKAA0/s320/_DSP0899.JPG" border="0" /></p><div align="center"><br />Here's Sam chillin on the front bench.<br /></div><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475421140373704754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/S_yahGOjkDI/AAAAAAAAAr8/fcO4Qe6Yc7A/s320/_DSP0916.JPG" border="0" />Wesley chowing on his toy fish.</p><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475422365128838210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/S_yboYy7zEI/AAAAAAAAAsM/YxLJjPpWICg/s320/_DSP0918.JPG" border="0" /><br />Sammy sharing his ball with Josh.<br /></div>Jeff and Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17487383502550123806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1215766975351060013.post-58802683817998350112010-05-20T20:38:00.001-07:002010-05-20T20:46:19.924-07:00Kitchen Update<div align="center">The kitchen is beginning to take shape. Take a look!</div><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/S_YBHoAyxxI/AAAAAAAAArc/eqizglqIsGU/s1600/_DSP0833.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473563627626874642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/S_YBHoAyxxI/AAAAAAAAArc/eqizglqIsGU/s320/_DSP0833.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center">We have cabinets!!! </div><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/S_YAzjEGZSI/AAAAAAAAArU/1DpqGSdhMQQ/s1600/_DSP0832.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473563282701182242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/S_YAzjEGZSI/AAAAAAAAArU/1DpqGSdhMQQ/s320/_DSP0832.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Can you see the black granite counter top??? It's so purty!<br /><br /></div>Jeff and Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17487383502550123806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1215766975351060013.post-28076677929884839222010-05-18T10:40:00.000-07:002010-05-18T21:32:45.804-07:00Uncle DanIt's appropriately gloomy and cold today. Today we said goodbye to a very dear friend who is leaving us to move to Washington. Stupid Washington. They better appreciate what they're getting!<br /><br /><br />Dan came to live with us right about this time 5 years ago. Yes, Jeff and I were newly married and YES it was a crazy thing to do. But Jeff and Dan had a business plan and as a new wife I was eager to encourage my husband to explore his dreams (still am). The business never panned out but God had other plans for Dan being here.<br /><br />He was here through the tumultuous first year and a half of our marriage, lending a listening ear and helpful advice. He was here all through the agonizing lawsuit over our house that dragged on for years, supporting, helping, being an intermediary. He moved out of our home but stayed nearby...belonged to our church, came over on Tuesday nights for our game night, often joined us for dinner. He was here through the difficult pregnancy and birth of the twins. I still remember how ticked off I was trapped in a hospital room hoping to hold my twin babies in for several weeks more and finding out that Dan thought it would be funny to send an email to all of our family and friends announcing that I had given birth to triplets! (I have to admit that WAS kinda funny.) He has always been nearby...always been available...always quick to help, support, encourage, or just hang out. God used him in a lot of our lives down here.<br /><br />Dan is best friend to my husband, uncle to my boys, like a brother to me. I know he will continue to be all of those things...just from much further away now.<br /><br />So Dan, when you read this, know that you are very loved and will be sorely missed. We are praying that God's blessings will continually pour down on you...much like the rain in Seattle. (Sorry, couldn't resist.)<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472729972590203218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 251px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3ie7-dcuZ3Y/S_MK6g_fUVI/AAAAAAAAArM/EcluP0RFg2w/s320/Dog+Pile+on+Dan.jpg" border="0" />Jeff and Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17487383502550123806noreply@blogger.com3