tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87574187804490192632024-03-12T21:40:01.949-05:00Team AurandFor the love of Matt, Weston, and our lives together!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger128125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8757418780449019263.post-17174689818557891902011-05-29T20:51:00.003-05:002011-05-29T21:15:18.645-05:00GraduationSaturday marked the first graduation at North Paulding ever. It was bittersweet. While I have only taught these kids for two years, the relationships formed are still special. High school is so different from middle in the sense that I see these kids all year long instead of 9 weeks at a time. Even the kids I only taught for a year still come back to my class and hang out-- I have seen them grow over the past two years and I am excited for them to go to college, or at least their next stage in life. <br /><br />As a teacher, we were also required to attend graduation-- in our gowns and hoods. My hood had a brown lining with royal blue and a red stripe to denote my degree and college.<br /><br />The ceremony was a nice one and the weather seemed to cooperate-- it was quite pleasant.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QrxpCrOSRkU/TeL4v-9EjlI/AAAAAAAABxI/ZBjEzH4631o/s1600/DSCF0050.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QrxpCrOSRkU/TeL4v-9EjlI/AAAAAAAABxI/ZBjEzH4631o/s320/DSCF0050.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612321588893748818" border="0" /></a>before we walked out to the field: me, Mrs. Ford, Mrs. Conely, Mrs. Wilson, Mrs. Long<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4pzlmvPBN30/TeL4vhqIufI/AAAAAAAABxA/4r61LdKd3nA/s1600/DSCF0052.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4pzlmvPBN30/TeL4vhqIufI/AAAAAAAABxA/4r61LdKd3nA/s320/DSCF0052.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612321581029702130" border="0" /></a>Dr. Preston and Dr. Teirce leading the seniors down the hallway-- Dr. Preston broke out into a dance<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BeBYQ-y_csY/TeL4viyGpoI/AAAAAAAABw4/OQD_wuHAHoQ/s1600/DSCF0057.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BeBYQ-y_csY/TeL4viyGpoI/AAAAAAAABw4/OQD_wuHAHoQ/s320/DSCF0057.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612321581331555970" border="0" /></a>Rachel and Annaleise<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Omi7oZuPV4U/TeL4wMDXPLI/AAAAAAAABxQ/wLmelRZFYIU/s1600/DSCF0049.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 235px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Omi7oZuPV4U/TeL4wMDXPLI/AAAAAAAABxQ/wLmelRZFYIU/s320/DSCF0049.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612321592409799858" border="0" /></a>Me and Laurien<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fs_IbMzmWdI/TeL4hqg4DBI/AAAAAAAABwo/siJa9UQvlQc/s1600/DSCF0063.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 204px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fs_IbMzmWdI/TeL4hqg4DBI/AAAAAAAABwo/siJa9UQvlQc/s320/DSCF0063.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612321342888610834" border="0" /></a>Katie and the Chorus waiting to sing the National Anthem<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uyrRVpy6JA4/TeL4hMnnDRI/AAAAAAAABwg/lOVUF7KWnl4/s1600/DSCF0064.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uyrRVpy6JA4/TeL4hMnnDRI/AAAAAAAABwg/lOVUF7KWnl4/s320/DSCF0064.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612321334863793426" border="0" /></a>Walking in<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Li8mGdiJFic/TeL4hCmu3WI/AAAAAAAABwY/e7r_XImryZk/s1600/DSCF0071.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Li8mGdiJFic/TeL4hCmu3WI/AAAAAAAABwY/e7r_XImryZk/s320/DSCF0071.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612321332175756642" border="0" /></a>Afterwards, me and Katie<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZpEth54vV7o/TeL4gwMnevI/AAAAAAAABwQ/ecqmHTy8cq0/s1600/DSCF0072.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 319px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZpEth54vV7o/TeL4gwMnevI/AAAAAAAABwQ/ecqmHTy8cq0/s320/DSCF0072.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612321327234382578" border="0" /></a>Me and Kelly<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XmgxxUqsg_4/TeL4h_yGBzI/AAAAAAAABww/8W0TGh-vDKQ/s1600/DSCF0059.jpg"><br /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8757418780449019263.post-40771675841819632242011-05-25T20:39:00.000-05:002011-05-29T20:51:33.869-05:00WestonThis is just a spring update on Weston....<br /><br />Weston is binky free. He no longer requires the use of a pacifier for naps, bedtime, or fussy time.<br /><br />Weston can run.<br /><br />He will point at airplanes in the sky and wave at passing cars on the street.<br /><br />He will eat just about anything, but his favorites are steak and broccoli.<br /><br />Weston LOVES the water-- bath, sprinkler, pool-- you name it, he loves it.<br /><br />Weston can say Momma, Dadda, GO, "here you go," which also doubles as "dan doh"-- thank you.<br /><br />Weston loves the ladies and can flirt like there's no tomorrow!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yjRKgcfqkuo/TeL32VXpNAI/AAAAAAAABwA/YU8DfMvVDcQ/s1600/DSC_0278.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yjRKgcfqkuo/TeL32VXpNAI/AAAAAAAABwA/YU8DfMvVDcQ/s320/DSC_0278.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612320598478369794" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7AnzsZq6r5A/TeL32cggpjI/AAAAAAAABv4/HsL6Ld2uJ7o/s1600/DSC_0331.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7AnzsZq6r5A/TeL32cggpjI/AAAAAAAABv4/HsL6Ld2uJ7o/s320/DSC_0331.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612320600394606130" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KlUhWaQ1bps/TeL32hG9kmI/AAAAAAAABwI/qlAFwoDSAZA/s1600/DSC_0271.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KlUhWaQ1bps/TeL32hG9kmI/AAAAAAAABwI/qlAFwoDSAZA/s320/DSC_0271.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612320601629626978" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g_Fp0ZHPSqo/TeL3ve77cOI/AAAAAAAABvo/azih20utAbg/s1600/DSC_0341.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g_Fp0ZHPSqo/TeL3ve77cOI/AAAAAAAABvo/azih20utAbg/s320/DSC_0341.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612320480787394786" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MsciDIPKIMk/TeL3vLQG29I/AAAAAAAABvg/xP9ByAip0mU/s1600/DSC_0343.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MsciDIPKIMk/TeL3vLQG29I/AAAAAAAABvg/xP9ByAip0mU/s320/DSC_0343.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612320475503320018" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9pCltwfMy2s/TeL3u2CuipI/AAAAAAAABvY/ByFItzKzNGY/s1600/DSCF0014.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9pCltwfMy2s/TeL3u2CuipI/AAAAAAAABvY/ByFItzKzNGY/s320/DSCF0014.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612320469810055826" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kc-_Fm0KwJo/TeL3uwUIC_I/AAAAAAAABvQ/LeAm0-657bU/s1600/DSCF0074.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kc-_Fm0KwJo/TeL3uwUIC_I/AAAAAAAABvQ/LeAm0-657bU/s320/DSCF0074.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612320468272417778" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v0-C3U0PFwM/TeL3vppYHJI/AAAAAAAABvw/6iIgRqvy5xQ/s1600/DSC_0339.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v0-C3U0PFwM/TeL3vppYHJI/AAAAAAAABvw/6iIgRqvy5xQ/s320/DSC_0339.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612320483662371986" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8757418780449019263.post-31482100323925897882011-05-20T20:32:00.000-05:002011-05-29T20:39:34.117-05:00Bird feedersWhen we lived in our apartment, we had two bird feeders outside on our deck. Ever since we moved into the house, we have wanted to put up feeders, but never got around to it. Recently, we bought two rather large feeders and filled one with a "songbird" mix and the other with "fruits and nuts" mix. We were worried we wouldn't get many birds or that it would take them a long time to figure it out, but we were wrong. We have seen so many different types of birds-- we even had some humming birds come up to the feeders-- therefore, we promptly went out and bought a humming bird feeder.<br /><br />Weston loves looking at the birds-- almost as much as we do. It's so crazy how much we love our birds!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-snRl67HMepg/TeLz_hidxyI/AAAAAAAABvI/c5ABOj0w3xo/s1600/4x6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-snRl67HMepg/TeLz_hidxyI/AAAAAAAABvI/c5ABOj0w3xo/s320/4x6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612316358317295394" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8757418780449019263.post-5537336735077469762011-05-15T20:25:00.000-05:002011-05-29T20:31:44.253-05:00JosephineMy sister is now the mother of SEVEN amazing children. Baby Josephine joined the Cullom clan on May 2, 2011. I took a personal day to be at the hospital when she was born and I'm so glad I did. Tracy was taken back for a c-section and we waited. Everyone did very well and Josephine and Tracy are super healthy!<br /><br />They are home now-- didn't even have to stay in the hospital any longer than normal. She looks like the perfect combination of Luke and Laine. I suppose Tracy and Lee really had a set of triplets, but Josephine was a few years late.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--oCXmSw2kjk/TeLyc074bHI/AAAAAAAABu4/dRGZjkEzciI/s1600/lee%2Band%2Bjosey.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--oCXmSw2kjk/TeLyc074bHI/AAAAAAAABu4/dRGZjkEzciI/s320/lee%2Band%2Bjosey.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612314662717123698" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s6k9ox0pwHA/TeLycpreNbI/AAAAAAAABuw/I3A8uu-O75U/s1600/nana%2Band%2Bjosey.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s6k9ox0pwHA/TeLycpreNbI/AAAAAAAABuw/I3A8uu-O75U/s320/nana%2Band%2Bjosey.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612314659695506866" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DSxal6lAbS4/TeLycULjUvI/AAAAAAAABuo/KCu4tWkt3nY/s1600/josey%2Blooking%2Bat%2Blee.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DSxal6lAbS4/TeLycULjUvI/AAAAAAAABuo/KCu4tWkt3nY/s320/josey%2Blooking%2Bat%2Blee.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612314653924479730" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j3XPbhuoA0s/TeLydQMBuTI/AAAAAAAABvA/cslfFVHtAWg/s1600/josey%2527s%2Beyes.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j3XPbhuoA0s/TeLydQMBuTI/AAAAAAAABvA/cslfFVHtAWg/s320/josey%2527s%2Beyes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612314670032599346" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8757418780449019263.post-61558442296390845222011-04-24T13:11:00.006-05:002011-04-24T13:30:00.136-05:00Garbage Trees and then SomeOne of the covenants of our neighborhood HOA states that our garbage can should not be visible from the street. However, there is no place for us to keep our garbage can that is not in view of the street. If you remember, last year, Matt built a rather nice area for our garbage can just on the side of the house. This year, we started talking about how to conceal it from the street. It may take a few years to be in compliance, but we are trying....<br /><br />We decided to create a flower bed around the garbage "pad" and plant some small trees so that as they grew, they would obstruct the view of the can from the street. We planned and priced everything before making the large purchase, and while I was away one Saturday afternoon at a friend's baby shower, Matt planted (and cleaned up) everything!<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SSSRPNzBWTk/TbRpv9pyQFI/AAAAAAAABuQ/ITkpa-wWQW0/s1600/DSC_0120.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SSSRPNzBWTk/TbRpv9pyQFI/AAAAAAAABuQ/ITkpa-wWQW0/s320/DSC_0120.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599216509452959826" border="0" /></a>Before-- you can see in the grass where we painted the layout of the trees<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jBObHJpd4aA/TbRpvok1fDI/AAAAAAAABuI/mw0RNk7U5rI/s1600/DSC_0121.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jBObHJpd4aA/TbRpvok1fDI/AAAAAAAABuI/mw0RNk7U5rI/s320/DSC_0121.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599216503795055666" border="0" /></a>All of the building/planting materials ready to go<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Rp_Tp_T5o7Y/TbRpvVRaIzI/AAAAAAAABuA/4Tbe5WLCoF4/s1600/DSC_0130.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Rp_Tp_T5o7Y/TbRpvVRaIzI/AAAAAAAABuA/4Tbe5WLCoF4/s320/DSC_0130.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599216498613297970" border="0" /></a>The holes were dug as well as an outlying trench that bricks will be sunk into<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4SdlE-A2314/TbRpvAAx02I/AAAAAAAABt4/0T0YO6Oyo1w/s1600/DSC_0133.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4SdlE-A2314/TbRpvAAx02I/AAAAAAAABt4/0T0YO6Oyo1w/s320/DSC_0133.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599216492906402658" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-belGMxFLe8A/TbRpkv4GayI/AAAAAAAABtw/mnGx_lq1Gqc/s1600/DSC_0142.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-belGMxFLe8A/TbRpkv4GayI/AAAAAAAABtw/mnGx_lq1Gqc/s320/DSC_0142.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599216316776344354" border="0" /></a>two down, two to go<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LXvQpPIR2yE/TbRpkcXlGSI/AAAAAAAABto/ENCY1FcThYo/s1600/DSC_0149.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LXvQpPIR2yE/TbRpkcXlGSI/AAAAAAAABto/ENCY1FcThYo/s320/DSC_0149.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599216311539669282" border="0" /></a>We even bought a rain barrel that attaches to the downspout to catch rain so that we can later use it to water the garbage trees in the hot Atlanta summer<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-duCcWUKnATg/TbRpkKYHCrI/AAAAAAAABtg/rAk7KDkKkd0/s1600/DSC_0154.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-duCcWUKnATg/TbRpkKYHCrI/AAAAAAAABtg/rAk7KDkKkd0/s320/DSC_0154.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599216306710055602" border="0" /></a>Weston enjoyed playing in the dirt<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BmkEAVLKTxg/TbRpj81NOcI/AAAAAAAABtY/j6DKTLl3cf4/s1600/DSC_0155.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BmkEAVLKTxg/TbRpj81NOcI/AAAAAAAABtY/j6DKTLl3cf4/s320/DSC_0155.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599216303073999298" border="0" /></a>... and enjoyed helping daddy pour sand over the brick edge<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ADGg1oVYoAE/TbRpjynylYI/AAAAAAAABtQ/mGhOfBDEBew/s1600/DSC_0159.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ADGg1oVYoAE/TbRpjynylYI/AAAAAAAABtQ/mGhOfBDEBew/s320/DSC_0159.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599216300333372802" border="0" /></a>This is what I came home to!<br /></div><br /><br />Recently we have noticed Weston enjoying sitting in his pile of pillows on the floor. At one point we had to take his car seat out of the car to wash the padding and kept the shell of the seat in the den for him to play with. We watched as he would gather toys to take them back to his "seat" continually. Once we had to put the car seat back in the car, we thought it'd be nice if he had a chair of his own.<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x6cYB-3_ixQ/TbRrvooTyMI/AAAAAAAABug/8xUSQCVB2PE/s1600/clubchair.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x6cYB-3_ixQ/TbRrvooTyMI/AAAAAAAABug/8xUSQCVB2PE/s320/clubchair.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599218702832879810" border="0" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-43x7AQVsSPs/TbRrvXcdihI/AAAAAAAABuY/0b26KENzLgg/s1600/club%2Bchair.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-43x7AQVsSPs/TbRrvXcdihI/AAAAAAAABuY/0b26KENzLgg/s320/club%2Bchair.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599218698219784722" border="0" /></a>He will occasionally sit in it if his shows are on, but most of all, he enjoys climbing all over it!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8757418780449019263.post-64845996544126122512011-04-07T05:56:00.004-05:002011-04-07T06:44:55.444-05:00Mercy<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Our prayer and God's mercy are like two buckets in a well; while the one ascends the other descends. - Mark Hopkins</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="body"><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="body"><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">Mercy. <span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">I don't know if he always intended it to be a prayer or if he cried out for mercy as involuntarily as a sailor swears at the sea. No matter the situation: good, bad, frustrating, joyful, Granddad always asked for mercy. This past Tuesday, April 5th, he was granted mercy.<br /><br />This past fall Matt, Weston and I went to visit him with my Aunt Susan and Nana. After helping him sit down, Susan said to him, "Look Dad, it's baby." His response, "Well I'll be damned." I chuckled a little, glad that Weston could brighten his day, even if just for a fleeting moment. That was the last time I saw my Granddad.<br /><br />Though what I remember most about Granddad are the little things throughout my life... and the not so little things.<br /><br />He served us, he scolded us, he taught us.<br /><br />He mixed me my first drink, a "Granddad Special." It was special-- it had cherries in the bottom! As children, my cousins and I climbed the swiveling bar stools and sat on our knees to peer over the rounded bar in the basement-- Granddad on the other side tending it. He mixed a little bit of this with a little bit of that, added two cherries and served us a round of Granddad specials. They were gone in a matter of seconds; our arms stretched out for another, we usually got it.<br /><br />The playhouse in the backyard had a low sloping roof. We were not allowed to climb the roof-- makes sense now, but back then Granddad got so mad when he caught us climbing the playhouse roof. So we made sure to stay just below the peak of the roof so not to be seen. I don't know why we climbed the roof. Maybe it was just to see if we could get away with it.<br /><br />I know he just wanted the best for us-- when he wasn't mixing drinks or scolding us for doing something stupid, he was always trying to teach us something: silly German Songs about a musician, respecting our elders-- especially military service men and women, Civil War history during a road trip, and even how to ride a bike.<br /><br />Nana was at the beauty shop getting her hair done, when Granddad took the training wheels off of my bike. By the time she got home, I was a two wheel rider! I don't remember him holding my seat or giving me any sort of pep talk, but I remember he was there. He knew I could do it (otherwise he wouldn't have taken off my training wheels), and maybe just knowing that he had faith in me gave me the courage to ride my bike sans training wheels.<br /><br />They say it takes a village to raise a child. Even though we will miss him, he will always be with us because he helped mold us into the children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren we are today.</span><br /></span></span></span><span class="body"></span></div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Md4lf-zA_pM/TZ2jVJgKeOI/AAAAAAAABtI/G4V-T5_-_V8/s1600/grandkids%2Bat%2Bbar.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 227px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Md4lf-zA_pM/TZ2jVJgKeOI/AAAAAAAABtI/G4V-T5_-_V8/s320/grandkids%2Bat%2Bbar.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592805895987427554" border="0" /></a></div> <div style="overflow: hidden; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; border: medium none;"><br /><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8757418780449019263.post-44602257711906639652011-03-30T16:54:00.002-05:002011-03-30T17:49:15.664-05:00For my Sister, from my StudentsToday, while my students were working, I asked them a hypothetical question for them to mull over... then I came back and collected their answers. Here's the question....<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><<hypothetically>> If you were in bed for weeks-- and you have access to your computer and a TV-- what would you do?</hypothetically></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">1. Watch Twilight and Titanic<br />2. Read all of the Harry Potters... and Hunger Games<br />3. Paint a new picture every day<br />4. Play Words With Friends on your phone (just like scrabble)... Susan, Sarah, Martha, Sheila, Vicky, and I are all currently playing, so let us know when you sign up and we can play together. Just to warn you... Martha's kind of a beast.<br />5. Make friendship bracelets<br />6. Have the ultimate LOST marathon-- you're life will never be the same<br />7. Create and play your very own Sims game<br />8. Learn Arabic... or French<br />9. sleep<br />10. Play Tycoon games-- especially roller coaster tycoon, that way you can forget you are in bed<br />11. Netflix<br />12. Facebook<br />13. Get caught up on phone calls you have been putting off, though 5:00-6:00 is already taken<br />14. Do some random research, hot topics include, but are not limited to: underwater basket weaving, and camel spiders<br />15. angry birds<br />16. Update your iPod-- try listening to music from the year you were born<br />17. play <a href="http://www.madglibs.com/">Mad Glibs</a> -- the Mad Libs equivalent<br />18. Diagnose Charlie Sheen<br />19. Set up a Panera card<br />20. Plan your wedding if you could do it all over again-- and had no budget<br />21. Complete a Rubik's Cube<br />22. Plan a party and include a compatible playlist<br />23. Learn all of the President's names in order<br />24. Teach yourself to French braid your own hair-- <a href="youtube.com">You Tube</a> has TONS of tutorials<br />25. Play the state "game." Write down all of the states from memory until you don't miss any. Then learn all the capitals.<br />26. Watch Girls Just Wanna Have Fun<br />27. Learn Sign Language<br />28. Design shoes on <a href="Nike.com">Nike.com</a><br />29. <a href="weheartit.com">weheartit.com</a><br />30. <a href="dearblankpleaseblank.com">dearblankpleaseblank.com</a><br />31. <a href="addictinggames.com">addictinggames.com</a><br />32. Make matching family t-shirts<br />33. Read the entire Bible<br />34. Write to Ellen Degeneres and try and get on her show<br />35. Take a picture every day you are in the hospital so that you can create a scrapbook (can be digital) for Joey, so she knows exactly what you are going through for her... plus the book that you're going to write needs some pictures.<br />36. paint your nails-- try colors you would normally never go for<br />37. Try your hand at Origami. I learned how to make a fish last week.... needless to say, I have a bajillion fish in my room now hanging from the ceiling. SO get good at one thing and see if the nurses will hang them from the ceiling.<br />38. Prank Calls are always fun...<br />39. Create a new "Where I'm From" Poem-- then post it on your blog.<br />40. Fish tail braids are VERY in right now-- teach yourself on You Tube<br />41. Spider Solitaire<br />42. Download every free App. on your iPhone<br />43. Legos! They're endless fun<br />44. Call every radio show and try to enter EVERY contest they run<br /><br />okay, so today's list is a TAD more than 7. Now get on it!<br /><br /></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8757418780449019263.post-84670780743423470272011-03-29T21:11:00.003-05:002011-03-29T21:44:20.682-05:00For my SisterMany of you know, because you are my family, that my sister, Tracy, is pregnant. Right now she is 31+ weeks and is bed-bound in the hospital until baby Joey joins the family. In light of that, Tracy this is for you...<br /><br />Things to do while in bed... and unable to get out.<br /><br />1. Write a letter, or several. It's a lost art, and I love getting handwritten mail. <br /><br />2. Knit. Even if you've dabbled in the past... now you can get really good and learn to make socks!<br /><a href="www.learntoknit.com">www.learntoknit.com</a><br /><br />3. Write a book. You're going to be there for a while (we hope-- only because that's what's best for Joey)<br /><br />4. Read a book. You can create a Nook account on <a href="barnesandnoble.com">barnesandnoble.com</a> even if you don't have a nook-- you can read on your computer. If you do ever get a Nook, your library will be automatically linked.<br /><br />5. Surf the Web. Check out <a target="_blank" href="www.stumbleupon.com">www.stumbleupon.com</a>. This website asks you to list what you like and dislike to help find interesting websites for you. It can become addictive because you can find truly amazing information about the things and activities you love.<br /><br />6. Blog. You haven't done it in a while, heck, I haven't done it in a while, but you are better than I am, so get to it!<br /><br />7. Get caught up on your TV. <a href="Hulu.com">Hulu.com</a> can be your best friend-- watch past/current seasons of your favorite tv shows or find new shows to follow. (community is well worth the laugh)<br /><br />That's it for now... just 7. Maybe tomorrow I'll have 7 more for you. Maybe I will continue to have 7 ideas for you for the next 7 days. I think 7 will be your lucky number.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8757418780449019263.post-22744944009615492712011-03-06T19:26:00.002-06:002011-03-06T19:50:57.602-06:00Busy -almost- SpringSO many things have been keeping us busy these last few weeks and into the next few. I haven't even really had time to take any pictures. Here's the rundown of our lives so far and things to come...<br /><br />Within the last month or so, I have taken on the roll as Secretary for our neighborhood's HOA. With that comes what seems to be weekly board of directors meetings as well as our annual HOA meeting with all the homeowners yesterday. It has been a very slow, and at times, very difficult transition from the old board to the new board, but we have been making a lot of progress and hopefully will make a big difference in the perception of the other homeowners this year.<br /><br />Aside from the HOA, I am still gainfully employed, and love my job very much. Though the spring brings on a lot of shows, competitions, and contests that I have to beg and plead my students to finish work for. They are currently working on submitting work for the Paulding County School District show this month. Unfortunately, none of our student work was selected to be in the Dogwood Festival-- there's always next year. Since we were struck with some very severe winter weather the week after coming back from Christmas break, our school district decided to cancel our February break and another teacher furlough day to make up for the already missed days. That means no breaks what so ever from the 3rd week in January until the 2nd week in April. The kids (and I'm sure some teachers too) are going to get stir crazy!<br /><br />Matt is still enjoying his job as well, though he moved back 15 minutes in his work schedule so that means he doesn't get home until around 7. That doesn't leave a lot of Weston time in the evening, but he's usually up before Matt goes to work, so they get some good father-son quality time in the morning.<br /><br />Today Matt made some shelves for our golf bags to hang on the wall in the garage on either side of the garage doors, and underneath the bags, he made a shelf for our golf shoes as well. Last weekend we were able to play a round together (first this year), and while neither of us really shot a good score we each came out with some personal bests. I actually scored lower than Matt on the course, but he got an EAGLE on a hole! We were bother really excited!! Here's hoping our game improves over the summer.<br /><br />To help our game, and our physique, we are starting P90x (again), but this time we have a plan. March 1st we started the Ab Ripper video of P90x and have been doing it every other day and plan to continue this for a whole month. April 1st we will start the entire P90x routine and continue the Ab Ripper bonus every other day. We both just felt the first time we tried to start P90x, our core was not strong enough to really complete a lot of the other parts of the work out. So our goal is to strengthen our core before beginning so we can get the most out of it. Please wish us luck, especially in April (we will probably need all the encouragement we can get)!!!<br /><br />That's about it for right now.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8757418780449019263.post-49865715053460772522011-02-27T11:13:00.009-06:002011-02-27T14:32:14.733-06:00The end of Feb Recap!So it's the end of February and I haven't posted in a LONG time (sorry). We have been very busy... starting with going to see Thomas the tank engine at the train show at the Cobb Galleria with some great friends of ours, the Wolkows.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0W7HMa8Vj9s/TWqw_MIsqJI/AAAAAAAABtA/78ULkJeSerA/s1600/DSC_0072.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0W7HMa8Vj9s/TWqw_MIsqJI/AAAAAAAABtA/78ULkJeSerA/s320/DSC_0072.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578465688087734418" border="0" /></a>Darren and Tobin playing with the slot car train<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v2v9nz2XJcQ/TWqw-9JDPfI/AAAAAAAABs4/H83h-bO0BcI/s1600/DSC_0077.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v2v9nz2XJcQ/TWqw-9JDPfI/AAAAAAAABs4/H83h-bO0BcI/s320/DSC_0077.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578465684062682610" border="0" /></a>Tobin in the VERY back of the train-- Weston was just a little too little to ride by himself, maybe next time Thomas comes to town.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O9iJ3x0xnhk/TWqw-smnQ0I/AAAAAAAABsw/aC-P4V03BKU/s1600/DSC_0080.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O9iJ3x0xnhk/TWqw-smnQ0I/AAAAAAAABsw/aC-P4V03BKU/s320/DSC_0080.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578465679623275330" border="0" /></a>There's Tobin!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Tegs11Ar--M/TWqw3z0DkMI/AAAAAAAABso/ch80bBT5NyM/s1600/DSC_0081.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Tegs11Ar--M/TWqw3z0DkMI/AAAAAAAABso/ch80bBT5NyM/s320/DSC_0081.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578465561299620034" border="0" /></a>Darren enjoyed the festive free hats!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6WH_58BQJKY/TWqw3rO_hEI/AAAAAAAABsg/BIhxXsdiL-4/s1600/DSC_0082.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6WH_58BQJKY/TWqw3rO_hEI/AAAAAAAABsg/BIhxXsdiL-4/s320/DSC_0082.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578465558996681794" border="0" /></a>Matt carried Weston in our new backpack carrier--- but he got a little fussy, so Matt bought and pieced out a giant pretzel for him to munch on-- he was satisfied<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gz-F47nzRU8/TWqw3QZMtHI/AAAAAAAABsY/gX_R0aFHqmE/s1600/DSC_0085.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gz-F47nzRU8/TWqw3QZMtHI/AAAAAAAABsY/gX_R0aFHqmE/s320/DSC_0085.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578465551791731826" border="0" /></a>Matt also gave Tobin an Oscar Meyer Weenie Whistle... note to Matt-- loud "treats" need to be parent approved first.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f8r_0xD5jSI/TWqw3Rbd0vI/AAAAAAAABsQ/-GCnCxVFRnM/s1600/DSC_0091.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f8r_0xD5jSI/TWqw3Rbd0vI/AAAAAAAABsQ/-GCnCxVFRnM/s320/DSC_0091.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578465552069677810" border="0" /></a>There was a kids play place that just had a pile of plastic train tracks and a bunch of trains for the kids to play with-- Weston enjoyed playing with Thomas<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AKELDKwIBDY/TWqw3L5A-tI/AAAAAAAABsI/U2z1Il3jMhE/s1600/DSC_0095.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AKELDKwIBDY/TWqw3L5A-tI/AAAAAAAABsI/U2z1Il3jMhE/s320/DSC_0095.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578465550583003858" border="0" /></a>He also enjoyed tearing up other kids' train tracks<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XiTtPyRegck/TWqHMh50p5I/AAAAAAAABsA/WoiMGJEeG0Y/s1600/DSC_0106.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XiTtPyRegck/TWqHMh50p5I/AAAAAAAABsA/WoiMGJEeG0Y/s320/DSC_0106.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578419737780856722" border="0" /></a>Jamon just enjoyed conquering the mountain of tracks!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w9jPLoqV-Sc/TWqHMY9t99I/AAAAAAAABr4/7Na8MxkiOlY/s1600/DSC_0108.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w9jPLoqV-Sc/TWqHMY9t99I/AAAAAAAABr4/7Na8MxkiOlY/s320/DSC_0108.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578419735381276626" border="0" /></a>Weston made up for breaking this kid's tracks by "sharing" with him every single train he picked up. They hugged and made up-- but I wasn't quick enough with the camera to capture that moment<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-alk5A3EO2AY/TWqHMIf3SlI/AAAAAAAABrw/hcDfmy2oEjE/s1600/DSC_0115.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-alk5A3EO2AY/TWqHMIf3SlI/AAAAAAAABrw/hcDfmy2oEjE/s320/DSC_0115.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578419730961091154" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We also went to the Zoo with Tracy and Lee and their brood when my Dad and Carrie were in town last weekend.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4Jar3ObL4cQ/TWqHMAu4wHI/AAAAAAAABro/lX9RBKspI78/s1600/DSC_0123.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4Jar3ObL4cQ/TWqHMAu4wHI/AAAAAAAABro/lX9RBKspI78/s320/DSC_0123.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578419728876617842" border="0" /></a>Weston loves hanging on Dad's back!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jj0wcB565bA/TWqHL0NuWAI/AAAAAAAABrg/IUpxvftsFuc/s1600/DSC_0126.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jj0wcB565bA/TWqHL0NuWAI/AAAAAAAABrg/IUpxvftsFuc/s320/DSC_0126.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578419725516298242" border="0" /></a>Ryan, Laine, MC, Tracy, Luke, and Jake watching the flamingos<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hUzPXzJcOqs/TWqHBYvOIbI/AAAAAAAABrY/qDf8GxiY6HQ/s1600/DSC_0129.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hUzPXzJcOqs/TWqHBYvOIbI/AAAAAAAABrY/qDf8GxiY6HQ/s320/DSC_0129.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578419546341908914" border="0" /></a>Ryan showing Matt and Weston how to attract the birds in the bird house-- they gave out sticks with seeds on the end. We didn't attract any birds, but on the plus side, no one was pooped on either<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z3IzWqU_8eI/TWqHAQhCuII/AAAAAAAABrQ/EMI2tZ6_HvY/s1600/DSC_0134.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z3IzWqU_8eI/TWqHAQhCuII/AAAAAAAABrQ/EMI2tZ6_HvY/s320/DSC_0134.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578419526955088002" border="0" /></a>Sara's favorite part of the zoo-- the warthogs.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mhH1IIq3Ly0/TWqHAI6ItGI/AAAAAAAABrI/50qFQCVt_JQ/s1600/DSC_0156.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mhH1IIq3Ly0/TWqHAI6ItGI/AAAAAAAABrI/50qFQCVt_JQ/s320/DSC_0156.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578419524912854114" border="0" /></a>Sara had SOOOOOOOOO much fun at the Zoo. She often clung to the fences at each exhibit and cried when it was time to move on.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VDh0nwDS6tI/TWqG_9IRXDI/AAAAAAAABrA/VmfrRJeLTd8/s1600/DSC_0159.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VDh0nwDS6tI/TWqG_9IRXDI/AAAAAAAABrA/VmfrRJeLTd8/s320/DSC_0159.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578419521750916146" border="0" /></a>Ryan was being a good cousin and let Weston tug and pull and take his hat<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-doj23wW80es/TWqG_q8C8FI/AAAAAAAABq4/EOAJePaVjL8/s1600/DSC_0161.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-doj23wW80es/TWqG_q8C8FI/AAAAAAAABq4/EOAJePaVjL8/s320/DSC_0161.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578419516867801170" border="0" /></a>Matt took Weston to the petting zoo-- he liked the cross eyed goats... until a pig bit Matt! Seriously-- Matt was hog bit<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KRJXVT_EEXk/TWqGw63Gs0I/AAAAAAAABqw/qO_NzQg2UUg/s1600/DSC_0185.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KRJXVT_EEXk/TWqGw63Gs0I/AAAAAAAABqw/qO_NzQg2UUg/s320/DSC_0185.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578419263444005698" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EbMOHNK5yLg/TWqGws35XBI/AAAAAAAABqo/D_oyq1og7gw/s1600/DSC_0188.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EbMOHNK5yLg/TWqGws35XBI/AAAAAAAABqo/D_oyq1og7gw/s320/DSC_0188.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578419259689229330" border="0" /></a>Afterward we enjoyed a low country boil at the Culloms-- the best way to feed a mass of people. It was so yummy.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gqauY0wpWEY/TWqGwm8qQYI/AAAAAAAABqg/FAEWKm_NKAg/s1600/DSC_0197.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gqauY0wpWEY/TWqGwm8qQYI/AAAAAAAABqg/FAEWKm_NKAg/s320/DSC_0197.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578419258098598274" border="0" /></a>Notice Matt's face.... then notice the lone potato rolling off the table. He was devastated<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A2xAZNJ52pI/TWqGwLlcipI/AAAAAAAABqY/00CEz90uny8/s1600/DSC_0201.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A2xAZNJ52pI/TWqGwLlcipI/AAAAAAAABqY/00CEz90uny8/s320/DSC_0201.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578419250753473170" border="0" /></a>But he got over it. We found we prefer Dungenous crab over snow crab for the boil<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gc_w9Wq8HUc/TWqGvzWGnKI/AAAAAAAABqQ/b-Jym5gebYE/s1600/DSC_0203.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gc_w9Wq8HUc/TWqGvzWGnKI/AAAAAAAABqQ/b-Jym5gebYE/s320/DSC_0203.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578419244246670498" border="0" /></a>cousins at play<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0B2UyV_HiYE/TWqGmSa0zzI/AAAAAAAABqI/huAyhJbCv5E/s1600/DSC_0209.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0B2UyV_HiYE/TWqGmSa0zzI/AAAAAAAABqI/huAyhJbCv5E/s320/DSC_0209.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578419080789282610" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2WtgDVWE-Co/TWqGmVGxoOI/AAAAAAAABqA/YtZcEk8Z_eg/s1600/DSC_0210.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2WtgDVWE-Co/TWqGmVGxoOI/AAAAAAAABqA/YtZcEk8Z_eg/s320/DSC_0210.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578419081510494434" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QSDSvo6RaFQ/TWqGmEOh-XI/AAAAAAAABp4/qgcVo1xwraE/s1600/DSC_0218.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QSDSvo6RaFQ/TWqGmEOh-XI/AAAAAAAABp4/qgcVo1xwraE/s320/DSC_0218.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578419076979620210" border="0" /></a>This was just Weston being really cute one morning<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tPj4mkaqkMw/TWqGl893S-I/AAAAAAAABpw/fQlx1n1LCq4/s1600/DSC_0225.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tPj4mkaqkMw/TWqGl893S-I/AAAAAAAABpw/fQlx1n1LCq4/s320/DSC_0225.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578419075030666210" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uVuf6gniW2A/TWqGlhOhAxI/AAAAAAAABpo/cxZ1ktclOHk/s1600/DSC_0249.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uVuf6gniW2A/TWqGlhOhAxI/AAAAAAAABpo/cxZ1ktclOHk/s320/DSC_0249.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578419067584316178" border="0" /></a>I'm a WALKING boy! He is so proud of himself every time he takes a few steps on his own. It's precious!<br /><br /><br />***I apologize for the over use of the exclamation point in this post. Everything way just so exciting this month!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8757418780449019263.post-15902829018101018632011-02-08T19:45:00.005-06:002011-02-08T20:09:57.040-06:00WonderMan and the ShelfWe have these great 12 foot ceilings in our garage, but we haven't been using them to their fullest potential-- we have been using our basement for storage (like most people do), but since we would like to eventually finish our basement, we have to find a new storage place. Over the past year, we have slowly been accumulating identical clear plastic bins from Target and putting our storage-ables (I know it's not a word, but you get the gist) in them so that we can see what's inside. <br /><br />This past weekend Matt, aka WonderMan, devised a plan, proposed a budget, and created a storage shelf around our garage above the garage doors-- in two days (really just Sunday and Monday nights), without deviating from the plan, without going over budget, AND it only took one trip to Lowes (sorry Home Depot, you didn't have the wood we needed)! Below is documentation of just how awesome he is....<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TVHyu4mP2FI/AAAAAAAABpg/OI8S3sq6Jjo/s1600/DSC_0154.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TVHyu4mP2FI/AAAAAAAABpg/OI8S3sq6Jjo/s320/DSC_0154.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571501101314725970" border="0" /></a>the before picture<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TVHyk8Pc6lI/AAAAAAAABpY/bHvDCi9TQUY/s1600/DSC_0155.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TVHyk8Pc6lI/AAAAAAAABpY/bHvDCi9TQUY/s320/DSC_0155.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571500930494163538" border="0" /></a>the first frame<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TVHykvC6aeI/AAAAAAAABpQ/T2vIdQQvipQ/s1600/DSC_0157.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TVHykvC6aeI/AAAAAAAABpQ/T2vIdQQvipQ/s320/DSC_0157.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571500926951909858" border="0" /></a>the first half section installed<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TVHykaZeY9I/AAAAAAAABpI/PkByOUN5Tts/s1600/DSC_0158.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TVHykaZeY9I/AAAAAAAABpI/PkByOUN5Tts/s320/DSC_0158.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571500921409397714" border="0" /></a>measuring and installing the second section with the help of our awesome neighbor who came over to give Matt an extra hand or two<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TVHykL3M7oI/AAAAAAAABpA/RRKhA1jewEw/s1600/DSC_0159.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TVHykL3M7oI/AAAAAAAABpA/RRKhA1jewEw/s320/DSC_0159.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571500917507550850" border="0" /></a>night one done!<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TVHykBHs3LI/AAAAAAAABo4/MNeKTblS_PU/s1600/DSC_0161.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TVHykBHs3LI/AAAAAAAABo4/MNeKTblS_PU/s320/DSC_0161.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571500914623962290" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TVHyXdXFU9I/AAAAAAAABow/e1tOERFCq9s/s1600/DSC_0164.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TVHyXdXFU9I/AAAAAAAABow/e1tOERFCq9s/s320/DSC_0164.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571500698866373586" border="0" /></a>Night two, Matt's brother Mike, came over after work to help install the support beams (he had a compound miter saw that made things MUCH easier<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TVHyXACHp6I/AAAAAAAABoo/S6ut1RKrbGk/s1600/DSC_0165.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TVHyXACHp6I/AAAAAAAABoo/S6ut1RKrbGk/s320/DSC_0165.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571500690993817506" border="0" /></a>the top finished!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TVHyW1uBxtI/AAAAAAAABog/wndKAH0SdZA/s1600/DSC_0168.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TVHyW1uBxtI/AAAAAAAABog/wndKAH0SdZA/s320/DSC_0168.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571500688225191634" border="0" /></a>putting the first of many storage bins up<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TVHyWQYu_PI/AAAAAAAABoY/1BkD1isDk-Q/s1600/DSC_0170.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TVHyWQYu_PI/AAAAAAAABoY/1BkD1isDk-Q/s320/DSC_0170.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571500678203768050" border="0" /></a>admiring his handy work<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TVHyWRz7wbI/AAAAAAAABoQ/0bWNKsso1qw/s1600/DSC_0171.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TVHyWRz7wbI/AAAAAAAABoQ/0bWNKsso1qw/s320/DSC_0171.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571500678586286514" border="0" /></a>Voila! DONE!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">There's just enough space for two storage bins to stack so that they are not rubbing against the ceiling... hmmmm almost like it was planned that way (it was). So now all of our Christmas decorations are stored propperly and some of the clutter in the garage is off the floor-- we are waiting for some warmer weather to really reorganize the garage, then, hopefully our garage organization will be complete! </div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8757418780449019263.post-25613457650527426232011-02-04T17:06:00.004-06:002011-02-04T21:30:45.518-06:00AnxietyTomorrow three of my students are going to the state level of the Governor's Honor Program interview. For those of you unfamiliar, the Governor's Honor Program (GHP) is a highly competitive summer program for high school sophomores and juniors. Students are nominated in different subject areas and interview at the school, county, and then state level before being selected to participate in the 6 week summer program at Valdosta State. As such, it is a very prestigious honor to be selected. Art students have to not only interview well, but also submit a portfolio and take a written exam as well.<br /><br />I nominated four junior girls this year and all four went on from their school interviews to the county level. From there, three girls continued and are interviewing tomorrow morning at Pebblebrook High School. They have been working very hard outside of class assignments to build their portfolio and have stayed after school one day each week since the end of November to review material and fine tune art pieces.<br /><br />I know they are prepared well. I know they will do great, but I am still very anxious about their interviews. Even though <span style="font-style: italic;">they </span>are the ones interviewing, I guess I feel like their performance is a reflection on my teaching capabilities. I mean .... it is. So I'm anxious.<br /><br />Since I'm the only art teacher at my school and I don't get to really meet with the other high school teachers in my county, I sometimes feel like I'm in a vacuum. I think my students' work is good, maybe even really good-- but compared to who? So I have been trying to enter them in a series of student shows.... expose them to other high school artists. The Scholastic Arts Show was this fall and I had one student win a certificate of merit-- which sounds like a participation award, but not everyone who entered got one, so it's still kind of a big deal. I had another student (one of my GHP girls) win a certificate of merit and a Silver Key award. It was a good start.... tomorrow is the Paulding County Fine Arts Association Art Show. I have a handful of stuff I'm going to take down there and I'm hoping that my GHP girls will be done with their interviews in time to submit a piece as well. Another thing I am anxious about-- how well will my students do compared to other Paulding Co. students? Oh well.... it will be over-ish tomorrow.<br /><br />In the mean time.... this is a painting one of my GHP girls did and while it took her a long time to conceptualize, create, and eventually like it-- which she still waffles on, I really like it. The complementary colors are great, the subtle circles behind the angular branches creates an interesting contrast. I don't know... I just really like it. What do you think?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TUzEQlSYnTI/AAAAAAAABoI/KWLFULsvnw8/s1600/DSC_0115.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 264px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TUzEQlSYnTI/AAAAAAAABoI/KWLFULsvnw8/s320/DSC_0115.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570042628316634418" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8757418780449019263.post-71621184329886841262011-01-28T21:02:00.005-06:002011-01-28T21:18:02.462-06:00Nanny CatWhen we were pregnant with Weston, both Matt and I wondered what Tungsten would do with a baby in the house. Ever since we brought Weston home, we had no doubt that Tungsten would be just fine!<br /><br />When Weston was really little and still using the cradle during the day, Tungsten would cry and rub his head against the cradle when Weston wasn't home as if to say, "Where's the baby?" When Weston wakes up from a nap, Tungsten is ready to go fetch him, and constantly meows until someone goes to get the baby. When we give Weston a bath, Tungsten is never far behind, opting to lounge on the bathroom counter and over see the bath routine. Every night we put Weston to bed, Tungsten is in the room saying good night with us. During the day, if Weston is awake, chances are Tungsten is in the room somewhere..... a lot of times he channels E.T. and chooses to curl up with the stuffed animals, lest he be seen by Weston and become a target.<br /><br />He will tolerate Weston touching, grabbing, poking, and "petting" him, but he prefers to just keep a vigilant eye on the kid from a safe arm's length away. Unless, of course, it's meal time (Weston has been known to feed the cat).<br /><br />Below are just a "few" examples of our watchful Nanny Cat. See if you can spot him<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TUOF_tg9--I/AAAAAAAABn4/xl8sna6sNj8/s1600/08.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TUOF_tg9--I/AAAAAAAABn4/xl8sna6sNj8/s320/08.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567440893956193250" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TUOF_ZfWuYI/AAAAAAAABnw/feng1l49k-4/s1600/DSC_0001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TUOF_ZfWuYI/AAAAAAAABnw/feng1l49k-4/s320/DSC_0001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567440888580716930" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TUOF_EmRjsI/AAAAAAAABno/cFUihbRCmrQ/s1600/DSC_0008.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 306px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TUOF_EmRjsI/AAAAAAAABno/cFUihbRCmrQ/s320/DSC_0008.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567440882972593858" border="0" /></a>Making sure he gets up the stairs safely<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TUOF1vzdPHI/AAAAAAAABng/ZC7mV5O4iqA/s1600/DSC_0012.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TUOF1vzdPHI/AAAAAAAABng/ZC7mV5O4iqA/s320/DSC_0012.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567440722771917938" border="0" /></a>Leading him to his room for bedtime<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TUOF1X7MhuI/AAAAAAAABnY/KcDq68BrDeI/s1600/DSC_0020.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TUOF1X7MhuI/AAAAAAAABnY/KcDq68BrDeI/s320/DSC_0020.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567440716361926370" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TUOF1CYNvFI/AAAAAAAABnQ/pAzlSjJlMVE/s1600/DSC_0033.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TUOF1CYNvFI/AAAAAAAABnQ/pAzlSjJlMVE/s320/DSC_0033.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567440710578060370" border="0" /></a>"Cleaning" up after Weston<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TUOF04bGWNI/AAAAAAAABnI/XgQHh_h10vU/s1600/DSC_0054.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TUOF04bGWNI/AAAAAAAABnI/XgQHh_h10vU/s320/DSC_0054.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567440707905804498" border="0" /></a>They are both watching the door as Matt comes home... notice the bite size piece of food next to Tungsten courtesy of Weston!<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TUOF0oQi-eI/AAAAAAAABnA/EmywDJ92wpI/s1600/DSC_0062.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TUOF0oQi-eI/AAAAAAAABnA/EmywDJ92wpI/s320/DSC_0062.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567440703566576098" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TUOFn810v0I/AAAAAAAABm4/k6uGluLO4PY/s1600/DSC_0065.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TUOFn810v0I/AAAAAAAABm4/k6uGluLO4PY/s320/DSC_0065.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567440485753339714" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TUOFnnC4CUI/AAAAAAAABmw/zZUd3ljimjA/s1600/DSC_0119.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TUOFnnC4CUI/AAAAAAAABmw/zZUd3ljimjA/s320/DSC_0119.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567440479902501186" border="0" /></a>It's a staring contest<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TUOFm0s97oI/AAAAAAAABmo/h4Kn0AwvMF4/s1600/DSC_0338.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TUOFm0s97oI/AAAAAAAABmo/h4Kn0AwvMF4/s320/DSC_0338.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567440466388840066" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TUOFmn3-DSI/AAAAAAAABmg/gJCW5A5XvBA/s1600/DSC_0340.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TUOFmn3-DSI/AAAAAAAABmg/gJCW5A5XvBA/s320/DSC_0340.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567440462945324322" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TUOFme4EEoI/AAAAAAAABmY/yY4HL2wzOG8/s1600/DSC_0344.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TUOFme4EEoI/AAAAAAAABmY/yY4HL2wzOG8/s320/DSC_0344.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567440460529799810" border="0" /></a>Do any of you have a Nanny Cat... or dog?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8757418780449019263.post-54751775337903705142011-01-09T10:35:00.008-06:002011-01-09T11:25:33.177-06:00Weston's 1st Birthday!Weston is <span style="font-size:180%;">1</span>!!! Since his birthday is just 2 days after Christmas, we had his party on New Year's Day. Unfortunately, this meant that a lot of family and friends were unable to make the trip to celebrate with us. So I promised you all that I would take a ton of pictures so you could be apart of the day through the pictures!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TSnl-eU84CI/AAAAAAAABmQ/evPAJByPRkw/s1600/foyer.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TSnl-eU84CI/AAAAAAAABmQ/evPAJByPRkw/s320/foyer.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560228076421177378" border="0" /></a>Our decorations included a lot of balloons.... I mean A LOT!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TSnl-G_UlfI/AAAAAAAABmI/g_iDuANFk-E/s1600/orange%2Broom.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TSnl-G_UlfI/AAAAAAAABmI/g_iDuANFk-E/s320/orange%2Broom.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560228070156441074" border="0" /></a>The balloons spilled into the orange room-- we were also able to hang all of our picture frames before the party too.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TSnl4JX_UGI/AAAAAAAABmA/h0R222M1hgc/s1600/den.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TSnl4JX_UGI/AAAAAAAABmA/h0R222M1hgc/s320/den.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560227967717560418" border="0" /></a>Matt relaxed before the party began.... tons of balloons<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TSnl36LdzAI/AAAAAAAABl4/wqQ42DUH0fw/s1600/gifts.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TSnl36LdzAI/AAAAAAAABl4/wqQ42DUH0fw/s320/gifts.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560227963638500354" border="0" /></a>We staged the gift table in the dinning room... with more balloons<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TSnl3tm3JWI/AAAAAAAABlw/8DTREhkWUSQ/s1600/aunt%2Bdiane.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TSnl3tm3JWI/AAAAAAAABlw/8DTREhkWUSQ/s320/aunt%2Bdiane.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560227960263746914" border="0" /></a>Weston gave his Aunt Diane a HUGE face squeeze<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TSnl3ZPZaWI/AAAAAAAABlo/M_Tg5tAuSdI/s1600/ice%2Beater.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TSnl3ZPZaWI/AAAAAAAABlo/M_Tg5tAuSdI/s320/ice%2Beater.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560227954796620130" border="0" /></a>Even though we had a lot of new toys and even more kids at the party, Weston was the happiest when he was able to explore through the house-- sans baby gates and munch on fallen ice<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TSnl3DLPrbI/AAAAAAAABlg/y8PErF5hxCI/s1600/sheet%2Bcake.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TSnl3DLPrbI/AAAAAAAABlg/y8PErF5hxCI/s320/sheet%2Bcake.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560227948873625010" border="0" /></a>This was the sheet cake we ordered from Publix for everyone to enjoy-- Matt said his favorite part of the party was cutting GIANT slices for all the kids.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TSnlm3qsONI/AAAAAAAABlY/8vGs3e_t1Hs/s1600/smash%2Bcake.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TSnlm3qsONI/AAAAAAAABlY/8vGs3e_t1Hs/s320/smash%2Bcake.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560227670906386642" border="0" /></a>Publix gives free "smash cakes" for 1st birthdays with the purchase of a sheet cake.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TSnlmkDHwaI/AAAAAAAABlQ/TrOx4jywGcU/s1600/lion%2Bcandle.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TSnlmkDHwaI/AAAAAAAABlQ/TrOx4jywGcU/s320/lion%2Bcandle.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560227665640145314" border="0" /></a>Matt's Aunt Amy and Mimi bought Weston a collection of candle holders in the shape of circus animals. This year, we chose the Lion would hold the 1st candle.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TSnlmXwkVmI/AAAAAAAABlI/6lwd06OnkAg/s1600/cake1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TSnlmXwkVmI/AAAAAAAABlI/6lwd06OnkAg/s320/cake1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560227662341101154" border="0" /></a>Here we go....<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TSnlmWV9JiI/AAAAAAAABlA/KKIWjmAeGOM/s1600/cake2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TSnlmWV9JiI/AAAAAAAABlA/KKIWjmAeGOM/s320/cake2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560227661961045538" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TSnlmOu0rtI/AAAAAAAABk4/HTc_wx0NI-U/s1600/cake3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TSnlmOu0rtI/AAAAAAAABk4/HTc_wx0NI-U/s320/cake3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560227659917864658" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TSnlavhYQWI/AAAAAAAABkw/_JAwiBk-r9k/s1600/cake4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TSnlavhYQWI/AAAAAAAABkw/_JAwiBk-r9k/s320/cake4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560227462561415522" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TSnladntyAI/AAAAAAAABko/ulfsOtgiw7w/s1600/cake5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TSnladntyAI/AAAAAAAABko/ulfsOtgiw7w/s320/cake5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560227457756153858" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TSnlaS-oFNI/AAAAAAAABkg/4BRdBuVizo0/s1600/cake6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TSnlaS-oFNI/AAAAAAAABkg/4BRdBuVizo0/s320/cake6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560227454899459282" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TSnlZwQXGlI/AAAAAAAABkY/F05tl4DbeUY/s1600/cake7.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TSnlZwQXGlI/AAAAAAAABkY/F05tl4DbeUY/s320/cake7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560227445578603090" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TSnlZjRFzEI/AAAAAAAABkQ/5h-kYspnpiI/s1600/cake8.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TSnlZjRFzEI/AAAAAAAABkQ/5h-kYspnpiI/s320/cake8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560227442092002370" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TSnlQEVhwFI/AAAAAAAABkI/fOqwg86kGy4/s1600/cake9.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TSnlQEVhwFI/AAAAAAAABkI/fOqwg86kGy4/s320/cake9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560227279170289746" border="0" /></a>he likes icing!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TSnlP3LUojI/AAAAAAAABkA/TmvXTnvqYZ4/s1600/cake10.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TSnlP3LUojI/AAAAAAAABkA/TmvXTnvqYZ4/s320/cake10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560227275637826098" border="0" /></a>Uncle Mike video taped for us!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TSnlPwn-hhI/AAAAAAAABj4/5rKFCj2I4YY/s1600/cake11.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TSnlPwn-hhI/AAAAAAAABj4/5rKFCj2I4YY/s320/cake11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560227273878963730" border="0" /></a>and now the war paint has been applied... I'm having a Braveheart flashback<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TSnlPgNKLBI/AAAAAAAABjw/w3-LLlEVbbc/s1600/cake12.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TSnlPgNKLBI/AAAAAAAABjw/w3-LLlEVbbc/s320/cake12.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560227269471513618" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TSnlPdhhDKI/AAAAAAAABjo/80vaCxOTr8g/s1600/cake13.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TSnlPdhhDKI/AAAAAAAABjo/80vaCxOTr8g/s320/cake13.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560227268751592610" border="0" /></a>yep... he loves icing<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TSnk80QrioI/AAAAAAAABjg/_qwJM7cKRBY/s1600/sisters.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TSnk80QrioI/AAAAAAAABjg/_qwJM7cKRBY/s320/sisters.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560226948437478018" border="0" /></a>Sisters at the party<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TSnk816UCbI/AAAAAAAABjY/6jyBw7Ktc0o/s1600/ryan%2527s%2Btattoo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TSnk816UCbI/AAAAAAAABjY/6jyBw7Ktc0o/s320/ryan%2527s%2Btattoo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560226948880533938" border="0" /></a>We bought rub on tattoos for the kids at the party... Ryan enjoyed showing Tracy his "Mom" tattoo<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TSnk8pOzG5I/AAAAAAAABjQ/2-0ySdT0X2c/s1600/party%2Bgoers.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TSnk8pOzG5I/AAAAAAAABjQ/2-0ySdT0X2c/s320/party%2Bgoers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560226945476795282" border="0" /></a>two of the party goers-- the youngest sons of Matt's two best friends, Ian, who's Adam's son, and Jamon, who's Darren's youngest<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TSnk8UiEKvI/AAAAAAAABjI/9wxY0WVUL50/s1600/wolkows.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TSnk8UiEKvI/AAAAAAAABjI/9wxY0WVUL50/s320/wolkows.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560226939920460530" border="0" /></a>The Wolkow Family: Riva, Darren, Tobin, and Jamon<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TSnk8KgrX-I/AAAAAAAABjA/MbX-k_FoPfA/s1600/friends%2Band%2Bfamilies.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 218px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TSnk8KgrX-I/AAAAAAAABjA/MbX-k_FoPfA/s320/friends%2Band%2Bfamilies.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560226937230286818" border="0" /></a>Matt's two best friends from High School and their families-- the Aurands, Wolkows, and the Walkers<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TSnkJitCd4I/AAAAAAAABi4/e6VQhAbVpKI/s1600/boys.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TSnkJitCd4I/AAAAAAAABi4/e6VQhAbVpKI/s320/boys.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560226067551254402" border="0" /></a>Matt, Darren, and Adam<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TSnkJc3-_DI/AAAAAAAABiw/SxcBJHOr-Ck/s1600/playing.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TSnkJc3-_DI/AAAAAAAABiw/SxcBJHOr-Ck/s320/playing.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560226065986550834" border="0" /></a>Playing with the drum and other musical instraments Mom and Jim bought him for his birthday!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TSnkJPz7vgI/AAAAAAAABio/bClKplT1PHk/s1600/tunne%253B.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TSnkJPz7vgI/AAAAAAAABio/bClKplT1PHk/s320/tunne%253B.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560226062479900162" border="0" /></a>Playing with the caterpillar tunnel Darren and Riva got him<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TSnkI4a3kTI/AAAAAAAABig/VBf2ZWkxdZQ/s1600/tunnel%2Bexcitement.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TSnkI4a3kTI/AAAAAAAABig/VBf2ZWkxdZQ/s320/tunnel%2Bexcitement.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560226056200753458" border="0" /></a>excited about the tunnel<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TSnkI__RRoI/AAAAAAAABiY/I2sxbZSvP2M/s1600/keyboard.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TSnkI__RRoI/AAAAAAAABiY/I2sxbZSvP2M/s320/keyboard.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560226058232481410" border="0" /></a>We bought him a keyboard and a snare drum for his birthday-- he loves making music... making his daddy proud!<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8757418780449019263.post-82219610721690801262010-12-25T20:25:00.004-06:002010-12-25T20:35:01.374-06:00Christmas Day... con'tThe dishwasher is humming, the pans are drying, the remaining dishes are soaking, and toys are strewn across my living room floor. Yup, Christmas hit our house HARD! It was a perfect Christmas from start to finish. Mom and Jim came over in time to see Weston's first Christmas, we had dough boys for breakfast, Mike and Diane came over a little earlier than expected to try and beat leaving so late into the weather (more on that later), Weston finally took a nap, I didn't screw up the turkey-- in fact it was delicious-- and we had a white Christmas... picturesque in fact.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TRan9gZtoVI/AAAAAAAABiM/eCMcVNnvtFs/s1600/DSC_0193.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TRan9gZtoVI/AAAAAAAABiM/eCMcVNnvtFs/s320/DSC_0193.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554811865519726930" border="0" /></a>In the background you can see the tent set up that Mom and Jim got for dubs. He's playing with a t-rex flashlight that roars and lights up when you squeeze his tail.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TRan9MEMnVI/AAAAAAAABiE/TmUdlanb_Ws/s1600/DSC_0196.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TRan9MEMnVI/AAAAAAAABiE/TmUdlanb_Ws/s320/DSC_0196.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554811860060773714" border="0" /></a>Matt's showing Weston the flashlight<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TRan86oI9kI/AAAAAAAABh8/o1O9GdeKKUo/s1600/DSC_0198.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TRan86oI9kI/AAAAAAAABh8/o1O9GdeKKUo/s320/DSC_0198.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554811855379691074" border="0" /></a>taking off the bows to Uncle Mike's present<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TRan855mWEI/AAAAAAAABh0/CJdq3ZAPvfU/s1600/DSC_0206.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TRan855mWEI/AAAAAAAABh0/CJdq3ZAPvfU/s320/DSC_0206.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554811855184484418" border="0" /></a>playing with a stackable snowman<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TRan1ZtVhRI/AAAAAAAABhs/XazEs0ZQnRU/s1600/DSC_0209.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TRan1ZtVhRI/AAAAAAAABhs/XazEs0ZQnRU/s320/DSC_0209.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554811726284031250" border="0" /></a>My turkey in all it's glory!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TRan1KEJEzI/AAAAAAAABhk/Fya2Gwf0mzY/s1600/DSC_0212.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TRan1KEJEzI/AAAAAAAABhk/Fya2Gwf0mzY/s320/DSC_0212.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554811722084717362" border="0" /></a>The dinner table before we began... stuffing, mashed potatoes, home made rolls, buttered green beans, and turkey<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TRan09hk9rI/AAAAAAAABhc/he3-kaINkbA/s1600/DSC_0213.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TRan09hk9rI/AAAAAAAABhc/he3-kaINkbA/s320/DSC_0213.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554811718718518962" border="0" /></a>Matt carved it so perfectly!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TRan05RW_-I/AAAAAAAABhU/EZGK6edZhvM/s1600/DSC_0216.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TRan05RW_-I/AAAAAAAABhU/EZGK6edZhvM/s320/DSC_0216.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554811717576753122" border="0" /></a>Our white Christmas<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TRan0gslblI/AAAAAAAABhM/Y9UwF2ZUYgA/s1600/DSC_0219.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TRan0gslblI/AAAAAAAABhM/Y9UwF2ZUYgA/s320/DSC_0219.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554811710980058706" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We hope you all had a wonderful, family-filled, safe Christmas!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8757418780449019263.post-2915073785634844342010-12-25T10:56:00.006-06:002010-12-25T11:58:20.957-06:00CHRISTMAS DAY!!!My folks came over this morning before we brought Weston down stairs so they could see him enjoy his first Christmas. We had everything set up so Weston could just tear into his Santa gifts. Unfortunately, it was a little anticlimactic. Once his presents were opened, though, he loved the gifts inside. Santa brought him some stuffed animals, a dump truck, a fire truck, some block shapes, and the coolest toy-- a power wheels atv. Mom and Jim brought him a spinning top and the winner of all Christmas toys... a tent set up-- it has two tents and a tunnel that connects them. Love isn't a strong enough word to describe his feelings towards this tunnel!<br /><br />After presents were opened, Matt cooked some bacon and I made dough boys. Mom and Jim were in charge of the mimosas! Once breakfast wound down, Mom and Jim had to get on the road to Nashville-- so they packed up their goodies and headed out. Weston, meanwhile, should have taken a nap, but unfortunately, he was so excited, he could not fall asleep. It's 12:56 right now, the boy has been up since approximately 7:00 and he's in his crib trying to take a nap-- I think he's finally down.<br /><br />Matt's brother, Mike and his wife, Diane, are coming over tonight for dinner-- turkey dinner... more pictures to follow. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TRYivc069rI/AAAAAAAABhE/W4a4kZVvPEE/s1600/DSC_0137.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TRYivc069rI/AAAAAAAABhE/W4a4kZVvPEE/s320/DSC_0137.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554665388995442354" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TRYirtJ_L6I/AAAAAAAABg8/qYQJIbvDe6o/s1600/DSC_0142.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TRYirtJ_L6I/AAAAAAAABg8/qYQJIbvDe6o/s320/DSC_0142.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554665324659290018" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TRYirUvwAaI/AAAAAAAABg0/v1xWiV3VabE/s1600/DSC_0148.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TRYirUvwAaI/AAAAAAAABg0/v1xWiV3VabE/s320/DSC_0148.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554665318106792354" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TRYireo5mLI/AAAAAAAABgs/GrMi9165aQc/s1600/DSC_0149.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TRYireo5mLI/AAAAAAAABgs/GrMi9165aQc/s320/DSC_0149.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554665320762415282" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TRYirBQVjOI/AAAAAAAABgk/_Zz4B1v4b88/s1600/DSC_0150.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TRYirBQVjOI/AAAAAAAABgk/_Zz4B1v4b88/s320/DSC_0150.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554665312874761442" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TRYirNld_ZI/AAAAAAAABgc/No2vf91_KYM/s1600/DSC_0151.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TRYirNld_ZI/AAAAAAAABgc/No2vf91_KYM/s320/DSC_0151.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554665316184620434" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TRYif4XfZDI/AAAAAAAABgU/hl6hOwRhmvI/s1600/DSC_0153.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TRYif4XfZDI/AAAAAAAABgU/hl6hOwRhmvI/s320/DSC_0153.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554665121510286386" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TRYifkmx3bI/AAAAAAAABgM/Ry40LTRjk4c/s1600/DSC_0161.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TRYifkmx3bI/AAAAAAAABgM/Ry40LTRjk4c/s320/DSC_0161.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554665116205702578" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TRYifcHasMI/AAAAAAAABgE/2FoZJBqUtMw/s1600/DSC_0164.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TRYifcHasMI/AAAAAAAABgE/2FoZJBqUtMw/s320/DSC_0164.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554665113926676674" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TRYifbJHV8I/AAAAAAAABf8/3zegxYLOBrQ/s1600/DSC_0165.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TRYifbJHV8I/AAAAAAAABf8/3zegxYLOBrQ/s320/DSC_0165.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554665113665361858" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TRYifLwG7mI/AAAAAAAABf0/93AlwXvLeT4/s1600/DSC_0171.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TRYifLwG7mI/AAAAAAAABf0/93AlwXvLeT4/s320/DSC_0171.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554665109533945442" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8757418780449019263.post-65551744375114771702010-12-24T20:02:00.006-06:002010-12-24T20:35:22.212-06:00The Eve of ChristmasI have done a lot today. Not because I had to, though if I didn't, it wouldn't have gotten done. I was really just trying to stay busy and keep my mind off the fact that tomorrow is CHRISTMAS!! I am 27 years old and still get giddy at the thought of Christmas morning. It's going to be hard to sleep tonight. <br /><br />First up... get the turkey ready. I am planning a to roast a turkey in the oven for Christmas dinner-- something I've never done before. We usually fry a turkey because it's easy, incredibly delicious, and we have a fryer so why not use it? I have been searching online for the best way to do it so that the bird is moist and flavorful and the skin is brown and crispy. Everywhere online was talking about brining the turkey, whereby you soak it in a salt solution overnight. It's supposed to be to die for. Hopefully no one will die tomorrow from it though, I'd much prefer people just say, "wow that was yummy." So off to my local <a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2010/10/my-favorite-turkey-brine/">Pioneer Woman</a> site to find the instructions-- you can't go wrong with the Pioneer Woman. Below is a picture of my version of her brine.... note, my picture is different than hers because this was taken after the orange peels sank to the bottom after boiling. The aroma in the kitchen this morning was heaven!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TRVRlKefONI/AAAAAAAABfs/wC4oZ0acMcA/s1600/DSC_0058.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TRVRlKefONI/AAAAAAAABfs/wC4oZ0acMcA/s320/DSC_0058.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554435414340614354" border="0" /></a>While I waited for the brine to cool down so that I could pour it over the turkey, I made some trash, and by trash, I mean homemade chex mix. It's such a yummy snack to have and when you make it yourself, you can change the chex to other stuff ratio. I prefer to go heavy on the worcestershire sauce and chex. I also only put pretzels and peanuts in my trash. By the time the trash was done, it was time to work on tonight's dinner. I didn't have the for thought to take a picture of this process, but I made the EASIEST pot roast in the crock pot, and it was soooooo delicious! In a nut shell, I combined one packet each of dry ranch dressing mix, brown gravy mix, and dry Italian dressing mix. Then I sprinkled that mixture over a 4lb. rump roast in the crock pot. Next I added 1/2cup water around the roast in the pot and turned the crock pot on low for 8 hours. Once it was ready, I just added 4tablespoons of corn starch to the juices and viola... gravy! Goodness, it was so good. I also made peas with a garlic butter sauce and potato rolls.<br /><br /><br />But before dinner, and after the Viennese Torte I tried to make went to hell, Matt and I took Weston to the park. It was such a beautiful day, slightly chilly, but comfortable. Matt got such a kick out of seeing Weston on the swings and slides, etc.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TRVRg1yVEZI/AAAAAAAABfk/yPDfcpXiDVQ/s1600/DSC_0081.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TRVRg1yVEZI/AAAAAAAABfk/yPDfcpXiDVQ/s320/DSC_0081.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554435340067213714" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TRVRgnkbc3I/AAAAAAAABfc/aGBJBP4IVC4/s1600/DSC_0090.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TRVRgnkbc3I/AAAAAAAABfc/aGBJBP4IVC4/s320/DSC_0090.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554435336250815346" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TRVRgeiAM1I/AAAAAAAABfU/aiLQp_fZCzM/s1600/DSC_0097.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TRVRgeiAM1I/AAAAAAAABfU/aiLQp_fZCzM/s320/DSC_0097.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554435333824721746" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TRVRgOzeeXI/AAAAAAAABfM/R3Bqo9PQLgA/s1600/DSC_0098.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TRVRgOzeeXI/AAAAAAAABfM/R3Bqo9PQLgA/s320/DSC_0098.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554435329603041650" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TRVRfydufEI/AAAAAAAABfE/0_0mn1Y3gQE/s1600/DSC_0102.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TRVRfydufEI/AAAAAAAABfE/0_0mn1Y3gQE/s320/DSC_0102.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554435321995623490" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TRVRUxUvTJI/AAAAAAAABe8/QnkwT3Z6dLI/s1600/DSC_0105.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TRVRUxUvTJI/AAAAAAAABe8/QnkwT3Z6dLI/s320/DSC_0105.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554435132710931602" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TRVRUpjTpNI/AAAAAAAABe0/HEzr2yPJnSA/s1600/DSC_0106.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TRVRUpjTpNI/AAAAAAAABe0/HEzr2yPJnSA/s320/DSC_0106.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554435130624550098" border="0" /></a>Also, since it IS Christmas Eve, I thought I'd share some of our festive decorations since I haven't done so yet.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TRVRURt6eaI/AAAAAAAABes/xM1ZsSX4vj4/s1600/DSC_0114.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TRVRURt6eaI/AAAAAAAABes/xM1ZsSX4vj4/s320/DSC_0114.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554435124226587042" border="0" /></a>This is the door that goes to our basement covered in the cards we got this year!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TRVRUBpoA4I/AAAAAAAABek/RL-DhoNpdNc/s1600/DSC_0115.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TRVRUBpoA4I/AAAAAAAABek/RL-DhoNpdNc/s320/DSC_0115.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554435119913632642" border="0" /></a>We bought these giant ornaments from the greatest store ever, Costco, and hung them in our foyer with ribbon<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TRVRT7BLqQI/AAAAAAAABec/MPLTUMxRL9g/s1600/DSC_0116.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TRVRT7BLqQI/AAAAAAAABec/MPLTUMxRL9g/s320/DSC_0116.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554435118133389570" border="0" /></a>Christmas bells on our front door<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TRVRBpm43MI/AAAAAAAABeU/T8NpAarPFPY/s1600/DSC_0117.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TRVRBpm43MI/AAAAAAAABeU/T8NpAarPFPY/s320/DSC_0117.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554434804222057666" border="0" /></a>The dinning room table set for Christmas dinner-- I even broke out the good china!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TRVRBddAQHI/AAAAAAAABeM/UyF-ISfmgQM/s1600/DSC_0119.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TRVRBddAQHI/AAAAAAAABeM/UyF-ISfmgQM/s320/DSC_0119.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554434800959373426" border="0" /></a>Our mantel<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TRVRAj-O4fI/AAAAAAAABeE/fCmcZUr8Oh8/s1600/DSC_0123.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TRVRAj-O4fI/AAAAAAAABeE/fCmcZUr8Oh8/s320/DSC_0123.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554434785529487858" border="0" /></a>Danger baby playing precariously on his Thomas Train<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TRVRASLIp1I/AAAAAAAABd8/d3DBzIX7wc8/s1600/DSC_0129.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TRVRASLIp1I/AAAAAAAABd8/d3DBzIX7wc8/s320/DSC_0129.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554434780751767378" border="0" /></a>Our tree decided to fall over tonight at the EXACT time I was putting dinner on the table. Fortunately, we only lost one ornament and, from what we can tell, no presents were injured in the tumble. This is what it looked like after we cleaned everything up....<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TRVRAGnmHhI/AAAAAAAABd0/SWmvbQz01c8/s1600/DSC_0132.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TRVRAGnmHhI/AAAAAAAABd0/SWmvbQz01c8/s320/DSC_0132.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554434777649913362" border="0" /></a>...and this is what it looks like now, after Santa came.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">We hope you all have a very Merry Christmas tomorrow..... don't worry, I will post tons of pictures of Weston's first Christmas.... and my first turkey!<br /></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8757418780449019263.post-62996017202134230542010-12-06T17:05:00.002-06:002010-12-06T17:10:08.484-06:00SANTA!!For those of you that don't know, 5 years ago, Matt and I went to see Santa-- like we did every year we had been dating-- and he proposed when Santa asked him what he wanted for Christmas. Since then, we have had a son... so we took him back to see "our" Santa. Unfortunately, "our" Santa was not there, but the new Santa is still great, and as it should be, Weston loved him.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TP1shnrpoeI/AAAAAAAABdk/kdVW6mKu_b8/s1600/IMG_0042.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TP1shnrpoeI/AAAAAAAABdk/kdVW6mKu_b8/s320/IMG_0042.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547709640833868258" border="0" /></a>Giggling with Santa<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TP1sg3bRZLI/AAAAAAAABdc/8xvhK8dQqEo/s1600/IMG_0040.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TP1sg3bRZLI/AAAAAAAABdc/8xvhK8dQqEo/s320/IMG_0040.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547709627880268978" border="0" /></a>Deep in conversation (my favorite)<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TP1sgZmSqSI/AAAAAAAABdU/-8GhirNn-jo/s1600/IMG_0038.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TP1sgZmSqSI/AAAAAAAABdU/-8GhirNn-jo/s320/IMG_0038.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547709619873425698" border="0" /></a>"Seriously, you want me to smile?"<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8757418780449019263.post-88530291658453442282010-11-27T15:51:00.004-06:002010-11-27T16:17:19.610-06:00Thanksgiving in ReviewThanksgiving break has meant a week off of work for me, which has been GREAT-- I love spending time with my boy! Last weekend, though, one of our good friends was on her way into town for the week with her folks. She brought with her Will, her son of just over a year. Weston and Will enjoyed playing with each other!<br /><br />Thanksgiving Day, Matt and I headed up to Big Canoe with Weston and Matt's Mom, Nan, to spend the day with my family and some other family friends, the Johnsons. While we had our mishaps, the day was fun and the dinner was yum!<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TPF-wM-O2HI/AAAAAAAABdM/Su6wCHD-Q_U/s1600/DSC_1017.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TPF-wM-O2HI/AAAAAAAABdM/Su6wCHD-Q_U/s320/DSC_1017.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544351982850857074" border="0" /></a>Will and Weston<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TPF-vmRbjMI/AAAAAAAABdE/KJwADy7QSPo/s1600/DSC_1020.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TPF-vmRbjMI/AAAAAAAABdE/KJwADy7QSPo/s320/DSC_1020.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544351972462398658" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TPF-veOmZWI/AAAAAAAABc8/u0G1catO6Wc/s1600/DSC_1021.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TPF-veOmZWI/AAAAAAAABc8/u0G1catO6Wc/s320/DSC_1021.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544351970303042914" border="0" /></a>Mishap: The thermometer on mom and Jim's Big Green Egg wasn't working and the back up thermometer wasn't synced properly, so.... we had a crispy turkey this year--- if you look very closely, you will see a smile on mom's face. She took it in stride.<br /> <br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TPF-vOWkkkI/AAAAAAAABc0/8PDxwGGFgxQ/s1600/DSC_1024.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TPF-vOWkkkI/AAAAAAAABc0/8PDxwGGFgxQ/s320/DSC_1024.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544351966041510466" border="0" /></a>Luckily, though, all the yummy juices were seared into the bird and the meat inside was very good!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TPF-u50XsSI/AAAAAAAABcs/F4OIE7fxKEY/s1600/DSC_1025.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TPF-u50XsSI/AAAAAAAABcs/F4OIE7fxKEY/s320/DSC_1025.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544351960529350946" border="0" /></a>Tracy and Lee brought pvc pipes and joints to make marshmellow shooter guns!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TPF-V6DmXQI/AAAAAAAABck/q1tPg_Kv_7o/s1600/DSC_1026.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TPF-V6DmXQI/AAAAAAAABck/q1tPg_Kv_7o/s320/DSC_1026.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544351531096497410" border="0" /></a>Jim held Weston during the assembly process<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TPF-VQIq7gI/AAAAAAAABcc/Ygs85a2K_Ao/s1600/DSC_1027.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TPF-VQIq7gI/AAAAAAAABcc/Ygs85a2K_Ao/s320/DSC_1027.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544351519843479042" border="0" /></a>Two peas in a pod<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TPF-U1j7hLI/AAAAAAAABcU/G1aOfcQjX-o/s1600/DSC_1029.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TPF-U1j7hLI/AAAAAAAABcU/G1aOfcQjX-o/s320/DSC_1029.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544351512710055090" border="0" /></a>Shooting the marsh mellows<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TPF-UkTDmJI/AAAAAAAABcM/wIUijLM74aM/s1600/DSC_1032.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TPF-UkTDmJI/AAAAAAAABcM/wIUijLM74aM/s320/DSC_1032.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544351508075878546" border="0" /></a>Unfortunately, Jake came down with a cold, or flu, and spent the majority of the day quarantined, but he was able to make his own "gun" on the porch....<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TPF-UHMFR0I/AAAAAAAABcE/lpM0TgZBGSs/s1600/DSC_1033.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TPF-UHMFR0I/AAAAAAAABcE/lpM0TgZBGSs/s320/DSC_1033.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544351500262000450" border="0" /></a>Our contribution to Thanksgiving dinner-- aside from some other tasty treats, we brought mini turkey cakes!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TPF9pY5pNqI/AAAAAAAABb8/0pdRfE43JlM/s1600/DSC_1035.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TPF9pY5pNqI/AAAAAAAABb8/0pdRfE43JlM/s320/DSC_1035.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544350766282127010" border="0" /></a>We had chocolate with raspberry filling, yellow cake with strawberry filling, and marble cake with butter cream frosting throughout<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TPF9pPAysVI/AAAAAAAABb0/xB6rh18KPek/s1600/DSC_1036.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TPF9pPAysVI/AAAAAAAABb0/xB6rh18KPek/s320/DSC_1036.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544350763627753810" border="0" /></a>Tracy and Lee brought their dog, Sparky, who enjoyed his time in the woods as much as he enjoyed resting on the chair next to the kitchen!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TPF9ox0kSGI/AAAAAAAABbs/Y7NkSav_ldc/s1600/DSC_1037.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TPF9ox0kSGI/AAAAAAAABbs/Y7NkSav_ldc/s320/DSC_1037.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544350755791849570" border="0" /></a>Matt helped Weston take an afternoon nap.... or was it the other way around?<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TPF9o9F8H7I/AAAAAAAABbk/m2SH7YgSA50/s1600/DSC_1051.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TPF9o9F8H7I/AAAAAAAABbk/m2SH7YgSA50/s320/DSC_1051.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544350758817505202" border="0" /></a>Matt, Weston, and I headed back up to Big Canoe the next day to spend it with my folks and the Culloms-- Weston promptly peed on my as soon as we got there, so this was outfit #2 while mom washed his other one.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TPF9ooQMjaI/AAAAAAAABbc/gp8o4vCvloo/s1600/DSC_1057.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TPF9ooQMjaI/AAAAAAAABbc/gp8o4vCvloo/s320/DSC_1057.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544350753223380386" border="0" /></a>He loved playing with these dartless lawn darts!<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8757418780449019263.post-36604859339314101012010-11-25T11:57:00.002-06:002010-11-25T11:57:00.756-06:00ThankfulThis year is almost over, and as the holiday season is approaching (technically, it's here), I am forced to look back and count my blessings-- I have so many to be thankful for, so here it goes (I admit some of these may sound cavalier or petty, but I assure you, I am thankful for EVERYTHING on this list).<br /><br />I am thankful for...<br />1. Weston <span style="font-weight: bold;">never </span>having been <span style="font-style: italic;">really </span>sick-- he's had <span style="font-weight: bold;">a </span>cold, but nothing more than a stuffy nose<br />2. humidifiers-- the reason why Weston's cold wasn't anything more than that<br />3. family that will let us just "drop" in.<br />4. our <a href="http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2265745">sassy seat</a> which saves space at home and makes eating out very very easy!<br />5. hand knit hats from my Nana<br />6. other crying babies on airplanes-- takes the stress off of me believe it or not.<br />7. a job I truly love going to<br />8. a great Falcons' season<br />9. friends with other babies Weston's age<br />10. protective Tungsten<br />11. living in the country<br />12. a short commute to work<br />13. fall football<br />14. DVRs-- especially the kind where you can watch something recorded in one room on a DVR in another room!<br />15. Music channels (not VH1 or MTV.... true, music only channels)<br />16. friends that return phone calls<br />17. the Christmas music stations on XM<br />18. the fact that my nieces know it's CRAZY to have Christmas decorations up <span style="font-style: italic;">before</span> Thanksgiving!<br />19. Weston being able to take LONG mid day naps-- not to mention he's been consistently sleeping for 12 hours at night now for the last few days!<br />20. trivia nights at Mellow Mushroom (even though we haven't been in a while)<br />21. spell check<br />22. blogger<br />23. patience<br />24. facebook-- like blogger, it helps me stay connected<br />25. 30 minute comedies-- How I met Your Mother, Community, etc-- keep the comedy to 30 minutes, it's short and sweet and leaves you wanting more<br />26. google maps on my phone. I get so lost so often... it REALLY helps<br />27. real time traffic on my phone<br />28. my phone.<br />29. Costco memory foam mattress-- temperpedic comfort on a Costco budget.. LOVE it!<br />30. rain sensing windshield wipers<br />31. motivated students<br />32. video baby monitor<br />33. ALL of Weston's grandparents, who love him wholly and undoubtedly<br />34. sisters... they are ALWAYS there for you.<br />35. beautiful colors in the fall leaves-- it's not really fall unless the leaves change brilliant shades of red, yellow, and orange!<br />36. Cloudy days-- because it gives me hope. Hope that maybe it won't rain. Hope that maybe it will snow instead (even though it's 60 degrees outside). Hope that maybe it will rain, because sometimes you just need it to rain.<br />37. above all else, even though these were in no particular order... I am so thankful for my wonderful husband, who lets me sleep in when I don't have to go to work and he does, who always holds a hand or elbow out for me to hold when we're walking. He understands that sometime my stories don't have endings... they just end. He will watch tv shows he hates just because he knows I love the show and his company. He empties the diaper genies. He hides cotton balls at the doctor's office, or will walk in my line of site if we happen to go down that isle in the grocery store. He laughs with Weston. He doesn't mind changing a diaper or two or three. He makes the world's best fires-- and doesn't get mad when I try to surprise him with one and forget to open the flew. He eats my food even if, on an off chance-- because it really never happens, I happen to over or under cook it. He's patient, he's kind, he's funny, he's supportive, he's caring, he's trusting-- he's amazing and I am so thankful for him and the life we have made together!<br /><br />HAPPY THANKSGIVING!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8757418780449019263.post-37534556859090780632010-11-07T16:23:00.003-06:002010-11-07T16:35:45.557-06:00Weston's First Pro GameI'm trying to be a better blogger... We took Weston down to the Ga Dome today to see the Falcons take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with our friends Darren and Rive and their two boys.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TNcnvrVd3ZI/AAAAAAAABbU/mkwtrcqnS-s/s1600/DSC_0940.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TNcnvrVd3ZI/AAAAAAAABbU/mkwtrcqnS-s/s320/DSC_0940.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536937966915411346" border="0" /></a>However, it was a tad cold, so we bundled up little man good before leaving the parking deck. If he could talk, he would have said, "I can't put my arms down!"<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TNcnvSE7W1I/AAAAAAAABbM/hx0R8BSUX6A/s1600/DSC_0944.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TNcnvSE7W1I/AAAAAAAABbM/hx0R8BSUX6A/s320/DSC_0944.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536937960135154514" border="0" /></a>We got down there early so the boys could do the pre-game festivities at the landing.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TNcnuziCEfI/AAAAAAAABbE/YPi5fWTFqhU/s1600/DSC_0948.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TNcnuziCEfI/AAAAAAAABbE/YPi5fWTFqhU/s320/DSC_0948.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536937951935730162" border="0" /></a>Jamon, just hanging out while the bigger boys wait in line!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TNcnjh9RU4I/AAAAAAAABa8/-LMJKNhck0o/s1600/DSC_0954.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TNcnjh9RU4I/AAAAAAAABa8/-LMJKNhck0o/s320/DSC_0954.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536937758239576962" border="0" /></a>Darren and Tobin raced Matt and Weston...<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TNcnitgDuTI/AAAAAAAABa0/5W5-sUax2cg/s1600/DSC_0957.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TNcnitgDuTI/AAAAAAAABa0/5W5-sUax2cg/s320/DSC_0957.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536937744158406962" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TNcnh-Wo8AI/AAAAAAAABas/bPntFDgeSlc/s1600/DSC_0958.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TNcnh-Wo8AI/AAAAAAAABas/bPntFDgeSlc/s320/DSC_0958.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536937731502436354" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TNcnhICPmGI/AAAAAAAABak/5m-UCJckGlI/s1600/DSC_0960.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TNcnhICPmGI/AAAAAAAABak/5m-UCJckGlI/s320/DSC_0960.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536937716921374818" border="0" /></a>Matt and Weston won!<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TNcngJ19jzI/AAAAAAAABac/FJa8cw12ais/s1600/DSC_0961.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TNcngJ19jzI/AAAAAAAABac/FJa8cw12ais/s320/DSC_0961.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536937700226862898" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TNcnO-iQ1YI/AAAAAAAABaU/gSI4_hfWroc/s1600/DSC_0969.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TNcnO-iQ1YI/AAAAAAAABaU/gSI4_hfWroc/s320/DSC_0969.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536937405133673858" border="0" /></a>Chill'n after the big win<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TNcnOQADVkI/AAAAAAAABaM/qhE7IBw4L50/s1600/DSC_0981.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TNcnOQADVkI/AAAAAAAABaM/qhE7IBw4L50/s320/DSC_0981.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536937392642152002" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TNcnN4ApAVI/AAAAAAAABaE/8f8_zILYc2E/s1600/DSC_0985.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TNcnN4ApAVI/AAAAAAAABaE/8f8_zILYc2E/s320/DSC_0985.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536937386202169682" border="0" /></a>The Wolkows<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TNcnNZR0tkI/AAAAAAAABZ8/OtdtupAEGEI/s1600/DSC_0993.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TNcnNZR0tkI/AAAAAAAABZ8/OtdtupAEGEI/s320/DSC_0993.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536937377952740930" border="0" /></a>Team Aurand<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TNcnMFNRcHI/AAAAAAAABZ0/r8fy2UoSZw4/s1600/DSC_0999.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TNcnMFNRcHI/AAAAAAAABZ0/r8fy2UoSZw4/s320/DSC_0999.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536937355385073778" border="0" /></a>Finally! At the game<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8757418780449019263.post-55577163564298902092010-11-06T18:38:00.004-05:002010-11-06T19:02:47.538-05:00A Lot Going On Lately!We have had so much going on lately, I haven't been able to keep up. So I'm throwing it all together....<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TNXnywVZkAI/AAAAAAAABZs/kHnF8OJY-Qg/s1600/granddaddy+Al+and+weston.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TNXnywVZkAI/AAAAAAAABZs/kHnF8OJY-Qg/s320/granddaddy+Al+and+weston.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536586176076025858" border="0" /></a>Matt and I loaded Weston up and we drove to Memphis, by way of Nashville to see my Granddaddy Al.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TNXnyZAGR6I/AAAAAAAABZk/16Yk5bvUhgQ/s1600/nobles+family.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TNXnyZAGR6I/AAAAAAAABZk/16Yk5bvUhgQ/s320/nobles+family.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536586169812666274" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TNXnx1t-O5I/AAAAAAAABZc/tjAfazWyj5I/s1600/memphis.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TNXnx1t-O5I/AAAAAAAABZc/tjAfazWyj5I/s320/memphis.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536586160341400466" border="0" /></a>My cousin's daughter, Kate, enjoyed playing with Weston<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TNXnlxZP67I/AAAAAAAABZU/B1sgBTgqWWc/s1600/kate+and+weston.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TNXnlxZP67I/AAAAAAAABZU/B1sgBTgqWWc/s320/kate+and+weston.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536585953022307250" border="0" /></a>She even read to him from the Calloway catalog<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TNXnlBgTuKI/AAAAAAAABZM/AVFydmIWp2s/s1600/gt+game.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 184px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TNXnlBgTuKI/AAAAAAAABZM/AVFydmIWp2s/s320/gt+game.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536585940167014562" border="0" /></a>We took Weston to his first Ga Tech game when they played MTSU. The sun was in our eyes for the majority of the game, but he eventually fell asleep right after half time.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TNXnkptwWNI/AAAAAAAABZE/v6jUuZY-xf0/s1600/horses.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TNXnkptwWNI/AAAAAAAABZE/v6jUuZY-xf0/s320/horses.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536585933780965586" border="0" /></a>Two random horses roamed our neighborhood one Saturday afternoon. Matt called the police, who were grateful for the call-- they had a Sheriff looking for them<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TNXnkhSl1qI/AAAAAAAABY8/ZaDOW2xhvqo/s1600/new+toy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TNXnkhSl1qI/AAAAAAAABY8/ZaDOW2xhvqo/s320/new+toy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536585931519547042" border="0" /></a>We bought Weston a new toy and he LOVES it! Actually, we all do. Target has a great section for new "vintage" toys. Love it.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TNXnjgbuecI/AAAAAAAABY0/244HNUnYVP0/s1600/play+date+with+ella.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TNXnjgbuecI/AAAAAAAABY0/244HNUnYVP0/s320/play+date+with+ella.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536585914109557186" border="0" /></a>Weston's friend, Ella, came over to play last Saturday. Unfortunately, Weston needs to learn how to play "softer." He was so excited to see Ella that he shrieked, crawled as fast as he could towards her, and hooked her.... literally. He put his finger in her mouth to greet her. She didn't like it.<br /><br />Okay. I think that's it. OH! I almost forgot.... the winner of the pumpkin carving contest.... pumpkin #1... my pumpkin! So glad you guys liked my pumpkin!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8757418780449019263.post-29243171477840571262010-11-01T19:18:00.004-05:002010-11-01T19:32:08.179-05:00Halloween 2010 Carving ContestOkay, so we did it last year, and Matt won. He wants everyone to know he won. He is the reigning champion pumpkin carver.<br /><br />This year, things are similar... below are pictures of our carved pumpkins, you won't know which belongs to the carver. All you have to do is vote on your favorite pumpkin, and to do that, all you have to do is comment below and tell us which one you like the most.<br /><br />Since Matt's mom, Nan, is living with us, she is also a contestant in the contest... that's the only difference-- there are three to chose from this year.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TM9a5UxI7eI/AAAAAAAABYs/aLa-6_8yQy0/s1600/DSC_0903.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TM9a5UxI7eI/AAAAAAAABYs/aLa-6_8yQy0/s320/DSC_0903.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534742407935487458" border="0" /></a>#1<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TM9azqO-HJI/AAAAAAAABYk/15-eH7GpeUA/s1600/DSC_0904.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TM9azqO-HJI/AAAAAAAABYk/15-eH7GpeUA/s320/DSC_0904.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534742310618537106" border="0" /></a>#2<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TM9ayoSI59I/AAAAAAAABYc/xPCU_wsvEFo/s1600/DSC_0905.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TM9ayoSI59I/AAAAAAAABYc/xPCU_wsvEFo/s320/DSC_0905.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534742292915087314" border="0" /></a>#3<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TM9ax7bdG6I/AAAAAAAABYE/7zH4-4mG-ik/s1600/DSC_0906.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TM9ax7bdG6I/AAAAAAAABYE/7zH4-4mG-ik/s320/DSC_0906.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534742280874564514" border="0" /></a>Not actually a choice-- this is our family pumpkin... Go Jackets!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TM9ayQKsxvI/AAAAAAAABYU/TxCrggHkSA8/s1600/DSC_0911.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TM9ayQKsxvI/AAAAAAAABYU/TxCrggHkSA8/s320/DSC_0911.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534742286441432818" border="0" /></a>The front of our house decorated with giant spiders and their web!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TM9ayV3lwjI/AAAAAAAABYM/OO8rVQCCg1Q/s1600/DSC_0914.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TM9ayV3lwjI/AAAAAAAABYM/OO8rVQCCg1Q/s320/DSC_0914.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534742287971893810" border="0" /></a>All lit up in the dark<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">So which is <span style="font-style: italic;">your </span>favorite?<br /></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8757418780449019263.post-92193997228838649772010-09-26T09:30:00.009-05:002010-09-26T09:58:23.984-05:00Part 2 of our Duxbury VisitHere are the rest of the pictures from our Duxbury trip. Granted, this is an edited bunch-- we took several hundreds of pictures!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJ9ahJ5bEfI/AAAAAAAABXc/AvIQp85k6Kk/s1600/IMG_5894.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJ9ahJ5bEfI/AAAAAAAABXc/AvIQp85k6Kk/s320/IMG_5894.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521231193818468850" border="0" /></a>Family photo<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJ9ahAyjIXI/AAAAAAAABXU/isyEGKXR6WE/s1600/IMG_5895.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJ9ahAyjIXI/AAAAAAAABXU/isyEGKXR6WE/s320/IMG_5895.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521231191373717874" border="0" /></a>My Boys<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJ9agvu91dI/AAAAAAAABXM/vwihABmjsp8/s1600/IMG_5907.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJ9agvu91dI/AAAAAAAABXM/vwihABmjsp8/s320/IMG_5907.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521231186795288018" border="0" /></a>The Duxbury Clan- <span style="font-style: italic;">from left to right</span>- Amy, Betsy, Darryl, me, Matt, Weston, Mimi, Marissa, Remi, Clark, Paul, Nan<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJ9bvJysqlI/AAAAAAAABX8/2UvbTiw1jfQ/s1600/IMG_5918.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJ9bvJysqlI/AAAAAAAABX8/2UvbTiw1jfQ/s320/IMG_5918.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521232533820058194" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJ9buy8KRrI/AAAAAAAABX0/o_UUtEPT84I/s1600/IMG_5920.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJ9buy8KRrI/AAAAAAAABX0/o_UUtEPT84I/s320/IMG_5920.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521232527685732018" border="0" /></a>A little toss and catch<br /></div><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJ9aS8Pfq9I/AAAAAAAABWs/PrLJVjgFrAo/s1600/IMG_5923.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJ9aS8Pfq9I/AAAAAAAABWs/PrLJVjgFrAo/s320/IMG_5923.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521230949634780114" border="0" /></a>Giggling with Daddy<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJ9aSrwvGOI/AAAAAAAABWk/kKAQXlWiTII/s1600/IMG_5930.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJ9aSrwvGOI/AAAAAAAABWk/kKAQXlWiTII/s320/IMG_5930.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521230945210800354" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJ9aHnrpIgI/AAAAAAAABWc/0i8xeQds_lQ/s1600/IMG_5937.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJ9aHnrpIgI/AAAAAAAABWc/0i8xeQds_lQ/s320/IMG_5937.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521230755137135106" border="0" /></a>Amy and Marissa were feeding Weston and I got a kick out of his face!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJ9aGxOBlQI/AAAAAAAABWU/8wekIbXRJcI/s1600/IMG_5970.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJ9aGxOBlQI/AAAAAAAABWU/8wekIbXRJcI/s320/IMG_5970.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521230740517393666" border="0" /></a>Weston was all smiles with his cousin, Remi<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJ9aGl62lNI/AAAAAAAABWM/HX40pukIuxE/s1600/IMG_5953.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJ9aGl62lNI/AAAAAAAABWM/HX40pukIuxE/s320/IMG_5953.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521230737484190930" border="0" /></a>We also had a little birthday celebration for Mimi while Paul and Betsy were in town on Sunday<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJ9aGpCCWhI/AAAAAAAABWE/qNrcdOjmtZg/s1600/DSC_0862.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJ9aGpCCWhI/AAAAAAAABWE/qNrcdOjmtZg/s320/DSC_0862.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521230738319628818" border="0" /></a>Weston enjoyed playing with Amy's retired cell phone<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJ9aGaT_SvI/AAAAAAAABV8/AZ3QHcaiuBM/s1600/DSC_0866.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJ9aGaT_SvI/AAAAAAAABV8/AZ3QHcaiuBM/s320/DSC_0866.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521230734368393970" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJ9Z2dnQunI/AAAAAAAABV0/ld79F1RZnmE/s1600/DSC_0889.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJ9Z2dnQunI/AAAAAAAABV0/ld79F1RZnmE/s320/DSC_0889.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521230460376627826" border="0" /></a>Going for a morning stroll down the dock at low tide with Daddy<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJ9Z14UpXhI/AAAAAAAABVs/5PwWAcsyx7E/s1600/IMG_5988.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJ9Z14UpXhI/AAAAAAAABVs/5PwWAcsyx7E/s320/IMG_5988.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521230450366438930" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJ9Z16RhCMI/AAAAAAAABVk/f03M2APL0k4/s1600/DSC_0872.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJ9Z16RhCMI/AAAAAAAABVk/f03M2APL0k4/s320/DSC_0872.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521230450890180802" border="0" /></a>He's just too cute, I couldn't resist!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJ9Z1sOgIhI/AAAAAAAABVc/ANi2n6fPCYs/s1600/DSC_0947.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJ9Z1sOgIhI/AAAAAAAABVc/ANi2n6fPCYs/s320/DSC_0947.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521230447119442450" border="0" /></a>Amy and Mimi bought Weston these personalized high tops-- they say Weston by the toe!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJ9Z1CHFfoI/AAAAAAAABVU/EyAFw-FbBNM/s1600/DSC_0836.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJ9Z1CHFfoI/AAAAAAAABVU/EyAFw-FbBNM/s320/DSC_0836.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521230435814047362" border="0" /></a>Mimi and her great-grandson<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJ9Zp4lC4rI/AAAAAAAABVM/6ydQGsU5mAM/s1600/DSC_0888.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJ9Zp4lC4rI/AAAAAAAABVM/6ydQGsU5mAM/s320/DSC_0888.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521230244276789938" border="0" /></a>Taz, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.... he loved Weston... Weston couldn't have cared less about Taz, unless he was watching Taz play catch, in which case, he thought it was the funniest thing EVER!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJ9Zppgo8oI/AAAAAAAABVE/UyTJUjmXwfA/s1600/DSC_0783.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJ9Zppgo8oI/AAAAAAAABVE/UyTJUjmXwfA/s320/DSC_0783.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521230240231780994" border="0" /></a>The three of us drove into the city to see the aquarium and meet a friend of mine for lunch<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJ9ZpUYZoiI/AAAAAAAABU8/hEXkOmAUjhg/s1600/DSC_0788.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJ9ZpUYZoiI/AAAAAAAABU8/hEXkOmAUjhg/s320/DSC_0788.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521230234560078370" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJ9ZpIZaUNI/AAAAAAAABU0/rX7t4XBVIIA/s1600/DSC_0796.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJ9ZpIZaUNI/AAAAAAAABU0/rX7t4XBVIIA/s320/DSC_0796.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521230231343091922" border="0" /></a>This tiny Rainbow Painted Turtle was chasing after that fish that's at least as big as the turtle!<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJ9Zo6OVdhI/AAAAAAAABUs/M7BIbV4Iwu0/s1600/DSC_0799.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJ9Zo6OVdhI/AAAAAAAABUs/M7BIbV4Iwu0/s320/DSC_0799.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521230227538540050" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJ9Zb9_z-CI/AAAAAAAABUk/nPYFA6OG_w8/s1600/DSC_0811.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJ9Zb9_z-CI/AAAAAAAABUk/nPYFA6OG_w8/s320/DSC_0811.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521230005213067298" border="0" /></a>They have penguins! This was the couples rock!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJ9ZblVs1wI/AAAAAAAABUc/8k9gONH1s1I/s1600/DSC_0833.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJ9ZblVs1wI/AAAAAAAABUc/8k9gONH1s1I/s320/DSC_0833.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521229998593988354" border="0" /></a>See! I do have friends!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJ9ZbbXf_-I/AAAAAAAABUU/jfhEkjW0ME0/s1600/DSC_0951.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJ9ZbbXf_-I/AAAAAAAABUU/jfhEkjW0ME0/s320/DSC_0951.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521229995917180898" border="0" /></a>This is the front of Amy and Darryl's house -- they have done some remodeling since moving in. The upstairs was renovated so that every bedroom has a view of the water and the "Christmas Tree Room" is the addition on the right side of the house.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJ9ZbMjeg5I/AAAAAAAABUM/s2HZWLEhc20/s1600/DSC_0933.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJ9ZbMjeg5I/AAAAAAAABUM/s2HZWLEhc20/s320/DSC_0933.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521229991940883346" border="0" /></a>This is the back of the house.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJ9Za0I01TI/AAAAAAAABUE/cLPN6Qawi_k/s1600/DSC_0950.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJ9Za0I01TI/AAAAAAAABUE/cLPN6Qawi_k/s320/DSC_0950.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521229985386648882" border="0" /></a>This is where we stayed. It was a nice respite away, but we are glad to be back home!<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8757418780449019263.post-48453910949002372282010-09-22T05:31:00.007-05:002010-09-22T05:51:58.491-05:00Duxbury, MA visitEven though we had a short summer this year, everyone-- teachers, students, staff, and I'm sure parents were excited about this first fall break. Matt, having usually taken his long vacation earlier in the year, was more excited than anyone! So we loaded up baby and flew him to our family in Duxbury, MA.<br /><br />This was little man's first plane ride and also the first time seeing the rest of Matt's side of the family. The week, thus far, has been a very relaxing one!<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJndcT6j1FI/AAAAAAAABT8/ok9KL27BYhI/s1600/DSC_0842.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJndcT6j1FI/AAAAAAAABT8/ok9KL27BYhI/s320/DSC_0842.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519686296771220562" border="0" /></a>We waited to feed him once we got on the plane... his bottle was going to have to wait until take off though to help with the ears.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJnbsiztp9I/AAAAAAAABT0/2GYv0xcW8SM/s1600/IMG_20100918_133903.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJnbsiztp9I/AAAAAAAABT0/2GYv0xcW8SM/s320/IMG_20100918_133903.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519684376623687634" border="0" /></a>He slept for about half the flight after his bottle and then looked out the window with excitement the rest of the flight.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJnbcpzkNKI/AAAAAAAABTk/sJ9O6wbGs7k/s1600/DSC_0850.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJnbcpzkNKI/AAAAAAAABTk/sJ9O6wbGs7k/s320/DSC_0850.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519684103624209570" border="0" /></a>While we were waiting for the rest of the family to wake up one morning, Matt and I took Weston down the dock.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJnbcBN87JI/AAAAAAAABTc/qvje4Dp132c/s1600/DSC_0866.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJnbcBN87JI/AAAAAAAABTc/qvje4Dp132c/s320/DSC_0866.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519684092729027730" border="0" /></a>Getting in some quality snuggle time with cousin Marissa!<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJnbb8un8bI/AAAAAAAABTU/XZKg6V_dpXM/s1600/DSC_0886.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJnbb8un8bI/AAAAAAAABTU/XZKg6V_dpXM/s320/DSC_0886.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519684091523887538" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJnbbYd52gI/AAAAAAAABTM/f1kEfNtnix4/s1600/DSC_0900.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJnbbYd52gI/AAAAAAAABTM/f1kEfNtnix4/s320/DSC_0900.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519684081790081538" border="0" /></a>Taz, the family's Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, is completely zonked!<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJnbayoCJOI/AAAAAAAABTE/y-L9XBJRMls/s1600/DSC_0903.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJnbayoCJOI/AAAAAAAABTE/y-L9XBJRMls/s320/DSC_0903.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519684071632020706" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJnbPD4G3cI/AAAAAAAABS8/46ZPqSSzLiQ/s1600/DSC_0906.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJnbPD4G3cI/AAAAAAAABS8/46ZPqSSzLiQ/s320/DSC_0906.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519683870104411586" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJnbO3aIQeI/AAAAAAAABS0/r8Y0WD0zar0/s1600/DSC_0941.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJnbO3aIQeI/AAAAAAAABS0/r8Y0WD0zar0/s320/DSC_0941.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519683866757448162" border="0" /></a>My boys are the cutest!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJnbORrCW5I/AAAAAAAABSs/BHhNSygwz44/s1600/DSC_0953.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJnbORrCW5I/AAAAAAAABSs/BHhNSygwz44/s320/DSC_0953.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519683856627817362" border="0" /></a>I was feeding Weston the other night before dinner and he just thought it'd be nice to throw his foot up on the table! We will be working on manners soon.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJnbOA3LHiI/AAAAAAAABSk/h0fGqfPebug/s1600/DSC_0959.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJnbOA3LHiI/AAAAAAAABSk/h0fGqfPebug/s320/DSC_0959.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519683852115320354" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJnbNcZyf6I/AAAAAAAABSc/jh82xfz_lks/s1600/DSC_0978.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FT9-Xvysl3A/TJnbNcZyf6I/AAAAAAAABSc/jh82xfz_lks/s320/DSC_0978.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519683842328395682" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1