tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40840831985026730552023-11-16T02:42:31.765-05:00Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah, BlogMarkie shares a few of her random thoughts - Enjoy.Markiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892999128918044808noreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084083198502673055.post-26515945250478564452010-07-15T19:32:00.002-04:002010-07-15T19:45:16.666-04:00YUMMERS!For dinner tonight, we had <a href="http://mylifeinfood-v.blogspot.com/2010/06/kale-and-mashed-potatoes.html">mashed potatoes with kale and scallions</a> (thanks, Valerie!), <a href="http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/pickled_beets/">fresh pickled beets</a>, and fresh blackberries. I am so in love with our farm share! I was a little bit apprehensive about putting kale in the mashed potatoes, but I figured that it would just be a vehicle to use up some of the great big bunches of greens we need to get through this week, and that at worst, the potatoes would at least partially mask any harsh or bitter taste. I was so very, very wrong - the kale added a great flavor that really complemented the potatoes. It makes me want to always have greens in my potatoes. And the scallions added that little kick that made them sing. Now, who has an awesome recipe for summer squash or radiccio?Markiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892999128918044808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084083198502673055.post-48637109081837039992010-04-22T13:51:00.006-04:002010-04-22T14:28:34.833-04:00Remedial GardeningOK, I'll admit it: I have a black thumb. I kill everything I touch. Not only do I have zero knowledge about how to care for plants, I don't much care. I love looking at plants, I seriously admire people who understand plants, I am incredibly grateful for plants as food and oxygen and beauty. But, I can't seem to translate any of those feelings into the desire to do anything with plants myself.<br /><br />But now we own a house and a house comes with serious yard responsibilities (especially as I'd prefer to not be known as "those neighbors" - said with a tiny sniff as if my sad yard make me smell a little bit and has driven down property values within a ten-mile radius. OK, no one has said anything remotely like that, but I'd like to avoid it). We contract out the lawn mowing, but I need some help on everything else.<br /><br />Mostly, I'm asking my super-horticultralist friend Michelle (so, 'Chelle, you have to answer on the blog, not via email, so that we can all have an open conversation about my plants), but I would love answers and ideas from everyone else too.<br /><br />Here are the ground rules (haha! 'ground' rules! I unintentionally crack myself up!):<br />1) Assume I'm an idiot. I don't know which ugly brown sticks are dead weeds and which ones are flowers. I don't know if I should cut them off or dig them up or leave them alone because they'll bloom gloriously in a few weeks.<br />2) Don't give me suggestions to put in any high-maintenence plants no matter how wonderful it would look- I know myself better than to think I'll suddenly become a gardener.<br />3) Be kind - I know the pictures are pathetic, and I know it's almost May, and I know I just asked you to assume I'm an idiot, but please just refrain from too much derisive laughter. Thank you!<br /><br />So, here's my front planter. It's right in my front yard and is one of the first things people see as they drive by or visit. What should go in it? Do I need to dig everything else out first?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCfxe8sCdcNR-iHwd_3CSCjIUIRbLqMFmNUkJJrTUPj06VRTDeajP_4sRJs4Br72si_0wGHMlH98weA68kT5fjE9eFcdsFOGrBteWrovKt8woeUFib8xu8EzpEUGzhn3Is3kU6aqZjP64/s1600/front+planter.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCfxe8sCdcNR-iHwd_3CSCjIUIRbLqMFmNUkJJrTUPj06VRTDeajP_4sRJs4Br72si_0wGHMlH98weA68kT5fjE9eFcdsFOGrBteWrovKt8woeUFib8xu8EzpEUGzhn3Is3kU6aqZjP64/s400/front+planter.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463026735783221746" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Here's two shots of our side plot. It's pretty shady most of the time.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7A0OAWspzVtT9fp4w8IaCgNsMqI3aErxxQxEfuhRrVXGbwVBIjq-phoTu5vLj34OmZPIly_WEP4jA75TIJegr1mhKEfB2Hrw7F8AcW-_TF5mCUIbM2Bg4EX6gRj4D6lG9rD-0fOtkaIs/s1600/side+plot+1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7A0OAWspzVtT9fp4w8IaCgNsMqI3aErxxQxEfuhRrVXGbwVBIjq-phoTu5vLj34OmZPIly_WEP4jA75TIJegr1mhKEfB2Hrw7F8AcW-_TF5mCUIbM2Bg4EX6gRj4D6lG9rD-0fOtkaIs/s400/side+plot+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463026729517824306" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQHs3MqUppEpGEg84nHN7maV1z2IYJaRyJq07hxgXvLfltHUKbtR0nvamwnLfx9_cFyfAjaopdrQhk9QT8uk4PdfHYEss_8MM8fvLZIsPUYHXvlsp9gCVubGAw4a24-gyXkbw7Ga-ACX0/s1600/side+plot+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQHs3MqUppEpGEg84nHN7maV1z2IYJaRyJq07hxgXvLfltHUKbtR0nvamwnLfx9_cFyfAjaopdrQhk9QT8uk4PdfHYEss_8MM8fvLZIsPUYHXvlsp9gCVubGAw4a24-gyXkbw7Ga-ACX0/s400/side+plot+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463026725798233042" border="0" /></a><br /><br />What should go in our front door pots (there are two of them, and they are both just as pathetic right now)? What about in the patch right next to the front porch?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFTC3a7MZJtsojbSeW7eM05YEySX0Tql8OygPty0vvp5eNWHfCaNV2uadOg5JDBE3hiL8xgk7fc9YNA1COEMGIvaWhuIdOZwrghII1OgCjXn0gP9wOvfQ8IJaSG15Nor65mfnsFnVr6A0/s1600/porch+pot.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFTC3a7MZJtsojbSeW7eM05YEySX0Tql8OygPty0vvp5eNWHfCaNV2uadOg5JDBE3hiL8xgk7fc9YNA1COEMGIvaWhuIdOZwrghII1OgCjXn0gP9wOvfQ8IJaSG15Nor65mfnsFnVr6A0/s400/porch+pot.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463026715161616546" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Last year, this was a glorious hydrangea bush (I think). Will it bloom again? What should I do to keep it healthy?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn_Wx_mGqx9yhbUhe1pr7Ag7oRpGmDrU-KQ6_eHNYkBJUQkWMZQs4PQY5A5PrDcFaMRWhSkV8w5TIlYKWfPQVE3e8bCp-N9aRrvVEt7hG0dN6ISRLt405yb73wTypc1NCWxxkicrDoQu0/s1600/hyacynth.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn_Wx_mGqx9yhbUhe1pr7Ag7oRpGmDrU-KQ6_eHNYkBJUQkWMZQs4PQY5A5PrDcFaMRWhSkV8w5TIlYKWfPQVE3e8bCp-N9aRrvVEt7hG0dN6ISRLt405yb73wTypc1NCWxxkicrDoQu0/s400/hyacynth.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463026711572562226" border="0" /></a><br />And Happy Earth Day everyone!!!Markiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892999128918044808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084083198502673055.post-59089810771264180272010-04-11T14:44:00.002-04:002010-04-11T15:01:08.806-04:00Another listThe last random list I made was so enjoyable that I thought I'd make another one, just for fun:<br /><br />1. The <a href="http://mjpeterson.hipidx.com/property/detail.cfm?search_mlnum=B359848&search_property_type=RES">house</a> across the street is for sale - who wants to come live next to me?<br />2. Sugary treats are yummy - I'm so happy Lent is over.<br />3. An enchilada-thon is also delicious (and not the same thing as an <a href="http://www.cafepress.com/+big_enchilada_classic_thong,372820875">enchilada thong</a>)<br />4. Thanks to Amber for having a birthday to give Diana an excuse to throw an enchilada-thon.<br />5. Spring makes me feel alive again (except when my allergies put me back into a fog. Do I sound like a Claritin commercial or what?)<br />6. <a href="http://www.datenight-movie.com/#/home">'Date Night'</a> was an awesome date night!<br />7. I need to send Michelle pictures of my yard so she can tell me if I've got annuals or perenials in my flower beds and what I need to do to make it look like I actually care about my yard.<br />8. I've loved spring break, but I'm ready to get back to teaching tomorrow (although I do not yet have their papers graded - sigh).<br />9. They're having an open house at that house across the street right now. I can't decide if should go over to take a look or if that would just be voyeuristic. <br />10. I'm still not sure how I feel about Pluto's demotion from planet to planetoid.Markiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892999128918044808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084083198502673055.post-21961233698103182072010-03-31T16:55:00.007-04:002010-03-31T17:21:35.497-04:00Easter PicsYes, I'm a big cheeseball and gave in to the crazy cuteness of matching Easter outfits for my kids (don't worry, I draw the line at anything matchy for me).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkEGC442clILhk6Ubg-a0Z0oqVAINCSlcJnxzHzkHh1x7RkCVQopH3iMalLd5XhRtnbLbWJ5fHcIsXUVOm_NVH_HvyqiwtQVf19889hm3aYQ3ACheynSiU_6MHaHtAmm2piFavmPbKnAU/s1600/Easter2010DanielLaurel.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 306px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkEGC442clILhk6Ubg-a0Z0oqVAINCSlcJnxzHzkHh1x7RkCVQopH3iMalLd5XhRtnbLbWJ5fHcIsXUVOm_NVH_HvyqiwtQVf19889hm3aYQ3ACheynSiU_6MHaHtAmm2piFavmPbKnAU/s400/Easter2010DanielLaurel.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454907212772751698" border="0" /></a><br /><br />But the cheese gets even moldier (and more delicious!). Not only do my kids match each other, they also match Ruth's daughter, and Go-go's best friend, Becca. How could we possibly resist setting up the perfect picture for their wedding video (circa 2029).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWzbcbxL-zhZpcXUHtUbm1ziB41UOUq8D_NittBPdjCjK1Bku637jss29B4r4mNgYFptY2va4-7Z5qMoJPLOvGok2KAi9zyhQ_LF8b6XteNARgxNqHwuhHGtE5_b5-ljE-mke2tfpGQcw/s1600/Easter+2010+Becca+Daniel.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 331px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWzbcbxL-zhZpcXUHtUbm1ziB41UOUq8D_NittBPdjCjK1Bku637jss29B4r4mNgYFptY2va4-7Z5qMoJPLOvGok2KAi9zyhQ_LF8b6XteNARgxNqHwuhHGtE5_b5-ljE-mke2tfpGQcw/s400/Easter+2010+Becca+Daniel.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454907215865282738" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And here's one of the trio. Mui-mui is in the wheelbarrow because she's terrified of Bunnies (I feel a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPplDPm2m4Y&feature=related">song</a> from 'Once More with Feeling' coming on (the Buffy the Vampire musical episode) - when in doubt, always go with the 'bunnies are evil' theory).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBgxnv76Cy0yAHlxSN6BjCUplfW8DFYJwVzhOBe3ToZ2Yl8aKPgbVEBx-QwDSIrH7WKLX708j-hsJ0nL251P2VSf2602_T1pym4B3LE_jUt8QwD7cBC6iIS7K7PeWicUEywFgMInYuIDs/s1600/Easter2010BeccaDanielLaurel.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 279px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBgxnv76Cy0yAHlxSN6BjCUplfW8DFYJwVzhOBe3ToZ2Yl8aKPgbVEBx-QwDSIrH7WKLX708j-hsJ0nL251P2VSf2602_T1pym4B3LE_jUt8QwD7cBC6iIS7K7PeWicUEywFgMInYuIDs/s400/Easter2010BeccaDanielLaurel.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454907205550035490" border="0" /></a>Markiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892999128918044808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084083198502673055.post-55640090326269295342010-03-30T12:38:00.000-04:002010-03-30T12:39:26.197-04:00<span dir="ltr" id=":138">Me: "Shall we have rice and chicken nuggets for lunch?" <br />Mui-mui: "No, juice........an<wbr>d chocolate!"</span>Markiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892999128918044808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084083198502673055.post-45483760769890464722010-03-15T17:47:00.003-04:002010-03-15T18:18:26.718-04:00Post for the sake of postingHere is a post just to prove to myself that I can actually publish a blog post. I've started a couple of posts lately, but they're just not working out (one is just boring and the other one is too intimidating), but it's been almost two months (criminal!), so here's what's up in my life:<br /><br />1. Pi day (3.14 - March 14) was awesome - pizza pi, berry pi, taco pi, coconut cream pi, chocolate pi, pink freezer pi - yum! Plus good friends, good conversation, and all-around general nerdiness.<br /><br />2. I gave up sugary sweets for Lent.<br /><br />3. No, despite teaching at a Catholic college, I didn't convert. It's a purely secular celebration (celebration? maybe observance or suffrance would be more accurate?) of Lent.<br /><br />4. How do I reconcile 1 and 2? I just ate the Pizza, the taco pi, and the (sugar-free) chocolate pi. I enjoyed the rest in my mind (and in the knowledge that we'll just have to celebrate Pi approximation day in July (22/7) and it won't be Lent then).<br /><br />5. Go-go sings an awesome version of "I'm looking over a four leaf clover that I overlooked before"<br /><br />6. I thought Relief Society culture was a unique Mormon phenomenon, but the Sweet Adeline chorus I recently joined is eerily similar - women who will kill themselves trying to serve, slightly over-earnest and cheesily sweet, people who can't help but proselyte to you about how wonderful it is to be a member, lots of meal delivery when someone has knee surgery or a baby, and being assigned a pair of 'sisters' who are responsible to answer any questions and make sure I'm progressing with the music and choreography. I guess most relief societies don't go out for a beer after rehearsal or have a lesbian R.S. president, but those are pretty superficial differences.<br /><br />7. I hate grading poorly written papers.<br /><br />8. Mui-mui is amazingly cute.<br /><br />9. My Grandma recently turned 95 and is amazing. I keep meaning to make Swiss bread in her honor, but haven't gotten up the gumption to do it yet.<br /><br />10. In honor of the Ides of March, we're eating Caesar salad.Markiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892999128918044808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084083198502673055.post-17262027006611619382010-01-27T11:55:00.002-05:002010-01-27T12:25:41.561-05:00I love schoolWhen I first got married and started to think about having kids, I thought that being a stay at home mom (SAHM) would be the right choice for me. I have a rather inflated opinion of myself and I think I'm incredibly competent, but I'm always losing my battles with laziness and inertia. Adding more things to my to-do list did not seem like a good idea. My mom always worked, but she somehow managed to be home when I needed her and have dinner on the table and keep track of everything we were up to. If there's one thing I'm confident of in this life, it's that I am not as together as my mother. I used to worry that she would think I was making a judgement about her working by making a different choice myself, but the truth is that it was a simple judgement of my own abilities.<div><br /></div><div>The reality of SAHM-ness is miles and miles (and miles) away from my imaginary world. My kids drive me crazy most days, but not even the kind of crazy I used to imagine. It's not so much the things they do (OK, sometimes it's the things they do) as the relentlessness of being with them and being solely responsible for them. Go-go is charming and clever and full of fun. Mui-mui is cute as a button and it's amazing to watch her figure out new things. After a few hours of cute and clever and fun, I just need them to leave me alone. Stop climbing on my head, stop asking if we can play one more game of Connect Four, stop climbing on the counter to get the cookies, stop demanding my undivided attention (pretty please)! </div><div><br /></div><div>Which is why I love school. Three mornings a week I get to get dressed (in professional clothes even), go talk to grown-ups (well, close enough to grown-ups), use big words (and explain the big words to my students), remember that I have a brain, and not be around my children. When my mom time is smaller and balanced with some grownup time, I am a much better mom. I have the sanity to paint with them, and do play-doh, and go play in the snow. And I've found that as I give them real attention, they stop being so demanding and momhood doesn't feel quite so relentless. For me, adding things to my to-do list actually makes the whole thing more manageable.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've taught on and off since Go-go was born, so this obviously isn't a new revelation. But it's been a solid year since I've had a teaching gig and I'd forgotten how much better I am as a working mom (even if it's very part-time right now). So, three cheers for the start of a new semester!</div>Markiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892999128918044808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084083198502673055.post-18195840463685121242010-01-21T16:22:00.003-05:002010-01-21T16:26:42.250-05:00Conflicted EmotionsEmbarrassment that my car is so dirty?<div>Pride in Go-go's fierce name-writing skills?</div><div>Worry for his future as a tagger? </div><br /><br /><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaiQ5fzqgn2aJ4TNH494E2_YOdyb4U9spnTjT6ZeYx0AkuTblqYtKBliuOzeDRgR6ISxpmqjRlLCOclGJT8wDMcVSTZmqIXRiftSP1mbOgB7CEK7ofiHC0D9ZzdvF6ETyLwT00onx5KUU/s400/dirty+car.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429307132192815522" />Markiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892999128918044808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084083198502673055.post-84462448482246489382009-12-25T11:43:00.001-05:002009-12-25T11:59:52.775-05:00Merry Christmas!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-6oZVdivUeAOQWd-p82jjJhy_XGILBO6u27b2pu3oFBMhFSxm3UgC8leHJCBmKnj0cDhoDO5ihivQre8Q_LcEgicTXrMy13NMjufTcVBrmnsrSTy08RGT5iUvuHNCA_AvCMuFRapJTws/s1600-h/CIMG4252.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 286px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-6oZVdivUeAOQWd-p82jjJhy_XGILBO6u27b2pu3oFBMhFSxm3UgC8leHJCBmKnj0cDhoDO5ihivQre8Q_LcEgicTXrMy13NMjufTcVBrmnsrSTy08RGT5iUvuHNCA_AvCMuFRapJTws/s400/CIMG4252.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419219589856132114" /></a>Markiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892999128918044808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084083198502673055.post-2908194313022160042009-12-05T22:42:00.005-05:002009-12-16T09:28:23.495-05:00Buffalo in the Snow<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTKn4Vt2gRVp_RXqIcx_40k4PI_oRJfKsCBeqkfWjAh55bUGxn5QlwLnSOTA9LjTnIiKmtBsk4qI-lB14dvPt__KNTDqK6BZZZgBjM81gNSLuXdABnQ3d7EGsOKYeFWIXrJwEEMmsEoIQ/s1600-h/buffalo-in-snow-by-car.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 353px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTKn4Vt2gRVp_RXqIcx_40k4PI_oRJfKsCBeqkfWjAh55bUGxn5QlwLnSOTA9LjTnIiKmtBsk4qI-lB14dvPt__KNTDqK6BZZZgBjM81gNSLuXdABnQ3d7EGsOKYeFWIXrJwEEMmsEoIQ/s400/buffalo-in-snow-by-car.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411963635444001314" /></a><div><br /></div><div>We had a wonderfully warm October and November here, but we finally got a little snow earlier this month (and the forecast is for a lot more this week). The kids couldn't wait to put on their snow pants and frolic in their own winter wonderland.<div><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPXjtu_FsIN8XqAAY47eWhamJpjaKoVkoQOGNAlmUNTQGmN6iV_cZGkImDC0kw8ucUg0YmixFsOEvvkGrQoeZ_o1dayNYzEpUOslZGdDwrKiy4Q4QzlDIjGsIKKnEKpS4GZxt-xPgRC4U/s1600-h/2009+December1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPXjtu_FsIN8XqAAY47eWhamJpjaKoVkoQOGNAlmUNTQGmN6iV_cZGkImDC0kw8ucUg0YmixFsOEvvkGrQoeZ_o1dayNYzEpUOslZGdDwrKiy4Q4QzlDIjGsIKKnEKpS4GZxt-xPgRC4U/s400/2009+December1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415839608359912898" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPfe26T_Ib4Xtr0_SHDnrB931im9vb6_mVV57BBsxYH6B7WBgzqX5RLXbne-sSEyXjoIEqye_pjLXBt7ziEKGcbYYxMBg87touPIEMFfRYS6UGjTixX58FK4ZFdyLMHJV6_eSirviuBDA/s1600-h/2009+December.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPfe26T_Ib4Xtr0_SHDnrB931im9vb6_mVV57BBsxYH6B7WBgzqX5RLXbne-sSEyXjoIEqye_pjLXBt7ziEKGcbYYxMBg87touPIEMFfRYS6UGjTixX58FK4ZFdyLMHJV6_eSirviuBDA/s400/2009+December.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415839596441178370" /></a></div><br /><br />Merry Christmas!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEYEBrOFv2EA8jpo3oHi2YJrl8jdgdFM4T-16DoUOAkDDClnYbZXdLkDsPN0Xjm3xlsDvIVHzTXPpZ0E1xbMhaof0ClFbvkh5aXYtwNwRdlds5kLIT9AYzgm0uz8Z1B6lTuv95NnO-xz0/s1600-h/CIMG4242.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 286px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEYEBrOFv2EA8jpo3oHi2YJrl8jdgdFM4T-16DoUOAkDDClnYbZXdLkDsPN0Xjm3xlsDvIVHzTXPpZ0E1xbMhaof0ClFbvkh5aXYtwNwRdlds5kLIT9AYzgm0uz8Z1B6lTuv95NnO-xz0/s400/CIMG4242.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415840135747430818" /></a>Markiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892999128918044808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084083198502673055.post-32765261491415789532009-11-17T20:21:00.016-05:002009-11-17T22:31:49.318-05:00FallIt doesn't seem fair to punish all of you for my blogging slacker-ness, but life is pain (anyone who says differently is selling something). So prepare yourself to absorb all of Autumn in one fell swoop (or, should I say, one fell blog post). We'll be covering Mui-mui's birthday, a visit from Grandma and Grandpa P., Halloween, a trip to the pumpkin farm, etc. Because I really do like you guys, I'll spare you the sagas of the craft fair from hell, the person at church who CTW (Chose the Wrong and stole my coat), and Erik's exciting business trips. Don't you feel better now.<div><br /></div><div>We'll start with Halloween. </div><div><br /></div><div>My brother-in law, Justin, made the coolest Optimus Prime costume in the world (here he is with my cute sister, Rainbow Brite - AKA Ellen):</div><div><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv7eWPpXrt1i5d401Dt8GAcpXmLZyXIAjSPaTXt_DzA4ctPVPZ8i1fPCClK80lyluMeqfpxK-DyjrASrMoKpZ9bX-EiR1WRPHq0hyphenhyphenn0F6c_Oz5bVR0FcyPowjsrjdXc4oDrd08kS_q_YQ/s1600/Ellen+and+Justin.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 341px; height: 296px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv7eWPpXrt1i5d401Dt8GAcpXmLZyXIAjSPaTXt_DzA4ctPVPZ8i1fPCClK80lyluMeqfpxK-DyjrASrMoKpZ9bX-EiR1WRPHq0hyphenhyphenn0F6c_Oz5bVR0FcyPowjsrjdXc4oDrd08kS_q_YQ/s400/Ellen+and+Justin.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405253296282764770" /></a><br /><div>So, I don't think it's possible to beat Justin, but I did make the 2nd best Optimus Prime costume in the world for Go-go (plus, it actually transforms - check out the video taken at his Preschool halloween party). Thanks to Libby for the awesome "Go-go Prime" shirt - he LOVES it:</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ahjlCrb-DgNqybNoYd1UZILubcUraMdeNdzTd6gH62Jw5mOofW5vwQTps0NzIUN1OHiDbTF4ygX7MxAWmShoBhzug-84Gf8M3Kb-gZMEB_oHgpVoQFlqkcHgnvKW7tpkOdjvTbcZY5Y/s1600/Go-go+Prime.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 297px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ahjlCrb-DgNqybNoYd1UZILubcUraMdeNdzTd6gH62Jw5mOofW5vwQTps0NzIUN1OHiDbTF4ygX7MxAWmShoBhzug-84Gf8M3Kb-gZMEB_oHgpVoQFlqkcHgnvKW7tpkOdjvTbcZY5Y/s400/Go-go+Prime.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405263462044594130" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxZLz_1TbfWFuZ75bSFl5J18pw3rJN0vqJ8H6A72xbA8Iafa1E2OjAwHQ0DmGJH5j1pYBMA_ndErXr4lG4o' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><div><br /></div><div>Mui-mui was a fabulous pumpkin at some parties and an adorable monkey at others. Sadly, these are the only picture I have (the back of the pumpkin head is her at her preschool party). I promise that I took others, but they're on my stolen phone (or on Grandpa's camera):</div><div><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz44eA3pvtBThOE_scDQHfhI6dXRSxJ3Y9U_ccYvaykWNc_SwLpf_Z7XvaLwaZ07SEvXxmSTCt9g9noyPtb6LWMrigcfmhLwVaOfDRlGZSsE2I9iejcBWysJQ9-ZrDxyfpjKChA-MZAdY/s1600/CIMG4190.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 297px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz44eA3pvtBThOE_scDQHfhI6dXRSxJ3Y9U_ccYvaykWNc_SwLpf_Z7XvaLwaZ07SEvXxmSTCt9g9noyPtb6LWMrigcfmhLwVaOfDRlGZSsE2I9iejcBWysJQ9-ZrDxyfpjKChA-MZAdY/s400/CIMG4190.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405264431242611522" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEo4aTnguGDGmZpi7n6nWmBwweKA7iF3Z-PSJs7aCPVRXbBQbEhrisNbFpxBQZ7W-HietVXyqBRMm99ckMyVcM6agoQM2OOYop-djzuz3ALqA4vskg8uPLKeFFqF-qrS6YpPg9rC7etvs/s1600/CIMG4189.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 297px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEo4aTnguGDGmZpi7n6nWmBwweKA7iF3Z-PSJs7aCPVRXbBQbEhrisNbFpxBQZ7W-HietVXyqBRMm99ckMyVcM6agoQM2OOYop-djzuz3ALqA4vskg8uPLKeFFqF-qrS6YpPg9rC7etvs/s400/CIMG4189.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405264427438706978" /></a><br /><div>Go-go's preschool had two parties, so he went as a pirate/cowboy on the day he wasn't Optimus (reversible vest)</div><div><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNw9N73OMQISbz7ePohpp46YTnRmJNVuDG5X2eK4rWq75IBTOUmTiqIme4Jdg2CdjieMWAeHm1RjLw6KeGglL8lgPg-yU7jzjRPY1K-sghMSq8TMhijiZv7Pe-vV8xLjuGEqe1FWmKATg/s1600/Reversible+Daniel.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNw9N73OMQISbz7ePohpp46YTnRmJNVuDG5X2eK4rWq75IBTOUmTiqIme4Jdg2CdjieMWAeHm1RjLw6KeGglL8lgPg-yU7jzjRPY1K-sghMSq8TMhijiZv7Pe-vV8xLjuGEqe1FWmKATg/s400/Reversible+Daniel.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405265621586054274" /></a><br /><br />His preschool also had a halloween field trip to a great pumpkin farm. Grandma P., Mui-mui and I came along too and the kids got to pet a chicken, milk a goat, brush a horse, ride a pony, take a hayride, and choose pumpkins. It was perfect weather on a perfect farm - all in all, a perfect day.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyiQReuaQSSOLs8DHV3egdKDDTbi_J2_MOZdFSw9J2lSFY9B5WN28FGtmh5R6FRBCDd9n0y8DhIUnYwylNz4POWrxdIweOb5dwOnF1wFiw6YEx-T0XGOoXaa1yw6PpIff0R7HbWDwZEDk/s1600/Pumpkin+Farm.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 250px; text-align: center; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyiQReuaQSSOLs8DHV3egdKDDTbi_J2_MOZdFSw9J2lSFY9B5WN28FGtmh5R6FRBCDd9n0y8DhIUnYwylNz4POWrxdIweOb5dwOnF1wFiw6YEx-T0XGOoXaa1yw6PpIff0R7HbWDwZEDk/s400/Pumpkin+Farm.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405267975177910610" /></a><br /><br />We did lots of other fun things while Grandma and Grandpa P. were here. We took a cruise on the Erie canal and got to go up and down through the locks, went to the Anchor Bar and Grill - home of the original Buffalo wings, and took a trip to Goat Island at Niagara Falls. It was so fun to see them and show them around our new house and neighborhood.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVM4VUnzEo4c7YBgnLfqNXfGONs7Tx_LHO1nKun-710kWrkEpJbBLaczyEk5Qq8VmZihdHIR8VAUt6W2JBDsi9D1OWUT5UK7o3GUcidu2hBuA1kSvM9azfC0DH0Ux-jwh5NVWfAKcW99E/s1600/Erie+canal.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVM4VUnzEo4c7YBgnLfqNXfGONs7Tx_LHO1nKun-710kWrkEpJbBLaczyEk5Qq8VmZihdHIR8VAUt6W2JBDsi9D1OWUT5UK7o3GUcidu2hBuA1kSvM9azfC0DH0Ux-jwh5NVWfAKcW99E/s400/Erie+canal.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405275401559997570" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjehxrTu3W9yFqw2F_6TU_WEZEDmvTALlkFiwVwdf-iBQ8D8cNGN6Tvs0LHX8tqMDEDzE0HB0cPEGbZtPOie5nA_eE6XI8tR_beTD4QOT00MWJM43DEEaLGVFQol7OT-xHyJLuJlMjll8Y/s1600/locks.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjehxrTu3W9yFqw2F_6TU_WEZEDmvTALlkFiwVwdf-iBQ8D8cNGN6Tvs0LHX8tqMDEDzE0HB0cPEGbZtPOie5nA_eE6XI8tR_beTD4QOT00MWJM43DEEaLGVFQol7OT-xHyJLuJlMjll8Y/s400/locks.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405275390834556914" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRb0govQ13PO119XNsCgUv_pPrkM-QsMRowvDA12sPit3U1PfZEbcp7NEt6C5mqH15RegcLd2pdJ_mAd5MdWzMW1KHAyRdo5ZykSRzZ_lrB-fxfXmyCTVoRfvDQLOK6hcn3dF8q6Pl-ng/s1600/Mui-mui+at+Anchor.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRb0govQ13PO119XNsCgUv_pPrkM-QsMRowvDA12sPit3U1PfZEbcp7NEt6C5mqH15RegcLd2pdJ_mAd5MdWzMW1KHAyRdo5ZykSRzZ_lrB-fxfXmyCTVoRfvDQLOK6hcn3dF8q6Pl-ng/s400/Mui-mui+at+Anchor.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405274682391490642" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm6vxsRl0IFDJl-B4yxf6OJZN-Tq1V5XiAghNmwGMdsWV-rePQ1m0voGAO7wm27cFk4XeGmnErqfKqMPvEmQEhjdfaZcsuHVvAq6q9EGciQQu8sxYrl3nQutV0fb6a4wjBfQZkmNJzB1s/s1600/Go-go+at+Anchor.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm6vxsRl0IFDJl-B4yxf6OJZN-Tq1V5XiAghNmwGMdsWV-rePQ1m0voGAO7wm27cFk4XeGmnErqfKqMPvEmQEhjdfaZcsuHVvAq6q9EGciQQu8sxYrl3nQutV0fb6a4wjBfQZkmNJzB1s/s400/Go-go+at+Anchor.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405274675486509666" /></a><br />October was also Mui-mui's birthday. I can't believe my little baby girl is two years old. She's talking up a storm and is just cute, giggly, and playful. Her Grandpa P. made her the most fabulous ducky booster seat ("duckie seat!") and Grandma and Grandpa got her lots of cute ducks to go with it (toys, purse, towel, and bath confetti). She gets a lot of practice saying "Quack!"<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCl2OrgeiH3ZVFfAacUJvvwkAoV9bQ13ywqAS2QrlhhsBsWm8Q9hAyfFbicZByvxvF_K8Z0J-CFwaNEP2sez6e_nFts9WeTKYXOI3k5e2diE3GOfixUCHlpw704SBQm-MEOtTn3n4A85c/s1600/Mui-mui+b-day+collage.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCl2OrgeiH3ZVFfAacUJvvwkAoV9bQ13ywqAS2QrlhhsBsWm8Q9hAyfFbicZByvxvF_K8Z0J-CFwaNEP2sez6e_nFts9WeTKYXOI3k5e2diE3GOfixUCHlpw704SBQm-MEOtTn3n4A85c/s400/Mui-mui+b-day+collage.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405277806538316354" /></a><br /><br />Grandma and Grandpa B. sent a great tea set which goes perfectly in the play kitchen we got her. She loves to pack the set in the cupboard then pull it out and "dink tea". When Go-go saw the kitchen, he declared that he had to give her a present that was as big as Mommy and Daddy's present. So he had a great idea to make a playhouse for the backyard - he wins - it's bigger!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMc6DPzdD9XZQrQllmEpg33lrH6X8hNQ90JzqlEqqKOXkdKVszOWmWmquShnNhV5R3uolV7eCeJ_mzxY613KmC9aQ74wEsKRSCWSG2tFIzoZbfxmcF-zHr0tFMG7l9bZYuz3koezY9Mv8/s1600/Go-go+present.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMc6DPzdD9XZQrQllmEpg33lrH6X8hNQ90JzqlEqqKOXkdKVszOWmWmquShnNhV5R3uolV7eCeJ_mzxY613KmC9aQ74wEsKRSCWSG2tFIzoZbfxmcF-zHr0tFMG7l9bZYuz3koezY9Mv8/s400/Go-go+present.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405278552861401426" /></a><br /><br />So, there's our fall in a nutshell. Grandma and Grandpa B. are coming for Thanksgiving, so I'm sure we'll have lots more adventures in the coming weeks. And maybe I'll actually blog about them sooner than two months from now. Tune in to see.Markiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892999128918044808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084083198502673055.post-64626964586299589352009-09-21T16:55:00.003-04:002009-09-21T17:47:48.733-04:00BoundariesThe past three days have been pretty hellish around here (from my perspective anyway). I've been caught in the grips of what I'm fairly certain is H1N1 and haven't been able to do much more than lie in bed in a fevered stupor wishing for the oblivion of death (or at least the oblivion of sleep uninterrupted by hacking, wheezing coughs). Erik has heroically been serving as both single parent and nurse this weekend, but today was the day I've been dreading - the day Erik went back to work and I somehow had to become responsible for the well-being of myself and two small children. To facilitate this, we put the blow-up bed in the living room for me, and the kids have been watching movies and jumping on the bed (and on mommy) while I lay there like a large, lethargic, blob of yuck. The two-year old decided that it would be fun to play hide and seek with all of the stuff on the shelves. So the cell phone was hidden down my shirt, I had a book up the left leg of my pants, and my waistband was stuffed full of 7 or 8 DVDs. And, yet, I barely registered that any of this was happening or that I might want to stop it until I heard myself saying, "No, Mui-mui, 'A Bug's Life' does NOT go in Mommy's underwear." After all, a girl's got to have some boundaries, right?Markiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892999128918044808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084083198502673055.post-53139760632470251532009-09-11T16:35:00.006-04:002009-09-11T16:48:44.830-04:00Just because they're cuteGo-go's first day of preschool at the YMCA:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtdZBIiyV7gCZJv61sVrDXJLSqJxJL6yDyOpcqxsvzfopsoG1O3_pdEdektuyfM_53GDtOZmX-aVHQeZustlFXBlSdwVBf-le5iS1xfD9nu1_5ufGhyU6j9YPK9TBf_Ck6_AABTMNfYQ8/s1600-h/Daniel+first+day+of+preschool.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtdZBIiyV7gCZJv61sVrDXJLSqJxJL6yDyOpcqxsvzfopsoG1O3_pdEdektuyfM_53GDtOZmX-aVHQeZustlFXBlSdwVBf-le5iS1xfD9nu1_5ufGhyU6j9YPK9TBf_Ck6_AABTMNfYQ8/s400/Daniel+first+day+of+preschool.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380311497215386722" /></a><br /><br />Go-go and Mui-mui playing at the window:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMEmsNmGwnuUCf4FzP5Q49ruSCWJ8GsHpJDIZ4VwBzYuUDCBo08sxJ_0cbRgFlOtbuGRDZITykv84IxhnVT_MZ-Ztu-7ymcc49C1EEqe2cA0u4-CDX2COvERv0kklLtCac6aj6dSyJtPE/s1600-h/Cute+Siblings.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMEmsNmGwnuUCf4FzP5Q49ruSCWJ8GsHpJDIZ4VwBzYuUDCBo08sxJ_0cbRgFlOtbuGRDZITykv84IxhnVT_MZ-Ztu-7ymcc49C1EEqe2cA0u4-CDX2COvERv0kklLtCac6aj6dSyJtPE/s400/Cute+Siblings.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380312927437922690" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL1A5AyUYvfX1blMGMsPytj8P5M3CaM9RkUuKLB-QBBRoQcrLiSsbvl441hGXiwoFlYIme43JYxYI7v9FIi8j7FDAFiXQK1kHdi3LW139tJiYagHwfRxL5sIB6XQZWarcsvBB8oHFVIFA/s1600-h/Laurel+in+window+3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL1A5AyUYvfX1blMGMsPytj8P5M3CaM9RkUuKLB-QBBRoQcrLiSsbvl441hGXiwoFlYIme43JYxYI7v9FIi8j7FDAFiXQK1kHdi3LW139tJiYagHwfRxL5sIB6XQZWarcsvBB8oHFVIFA/s400/Laurel+in+window+3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380312917879746194" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlfYgriRmCjahFkP-hsQApxK67IRcjP8goqQ_5BBu9bwLwiEzQBLINhkAJ1G7JbTxcqUJSYSN0-sMqQYHH-mOWtp0tSJpFMBrZCM8E16WwBgTCn9RdKF1IE45tsDtKIhOfht1Ksi0HLE0/s1600-h/Laurel+pretty+pink+dress.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlfYgriRmCjahFkP-hsQApxK67IRcjP8goqQ_5BBu9bwLwiEzQBLINhkAJ1G7JbTxcqUJSYSN0-sMqQYHH-mOWtp0tSJpFMBrZCM8E16WwBgTCn9RdKF1IE45tsDtKIhOfht1Ksi0HLE0/s400/Laurel+pretty+pink+dress.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380312912301589586" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7YEc4bSkpgtGw6vaWYwF9ykIpPwBcMX1ViAHd5hfuHjGzHuipbX5tQrM8fNocZNWCVCC2SrhEuFmjLPIIxe-C9EpBx2QYqKTuwUskiGsVumCVdEQUL1CES-6GRq3X25ULRqmabPsxWoI/s1600-h/Daniel+in+the+window.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7YEc4bSkpgtGw6vaWYwF9ykIpPwBcMX1ViAHd5hfuHjGzHuipbX5tQrM8fNocZNWCVCC2SrhEuFmjLPIIxe-C9EpBx2QYqKTuwUskiGsVumCVdEQUL1CES-6GRq3X25ULRqmabPsxWoI/s400/Daniel+in+the+window.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380312903287651586" /></a><br /><br />Super Kids!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikVWIlJpsvHPOwRDwaXiBYQm8-q5U7zcUNkNlofmp-JBBeu4AaKUUImLQNkiDWHvt3BKDbR7zad8rm8HHk0AMd8kpDeSsDtLWAfQEcYhQTUH3uX6vLRxfVKecJ7RjrQrX5exc6prn2-7w/s1600-h/CIMG4109.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 297px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikVWIlJpsvHPOwRDwaXiBYQm8-q5U7zcUNkNlofmp-JBBeu4AaKUUImLQNkiDWHvt3BKDbR7zad8rm8HHk0AMd8kpDeSsDtLWAfQEcYhQTUH3uX6vLRxfVKecJ7RjrQrX5exc6prn2-7w/s400/CIMG4109.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380313898740707730" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQGh7IaUuCqi-CicSDCnIgZEtIUVQD1SULx6P-4OEaI89dEp6E3aVf0giF4M-XGz3_SSLJup-0-XbP-tSYXFcKYHRs27HgEo0iiBU7aTpDBZFddNbyMiHdTrMZwL0efkh7xlWEtaeAJCs/s1600-h/CIMG4108.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 297px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQGh7IaUuCqi-CicSDCnIgZEtIUVQD1SULx6P-4OEaI89dEp6E3aVf0giF4M-XGz3_SSLJup-0-XbP-tSYXFcKYHRs27HgEo0iiBU7aTpDBZFddNbyMiHdTrMZwL0efkh7xlWEtaeAJCs/s400/CIMG4108.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380313602495366562" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgptr5KmFwMXDAcQZeOvH0DvpnFLCIPWvVmDCs-gwLV6W109a0Tw5POPeNTvRIK8X75xZKhDNNIXrtmjh1zltSWmjgeDg9hPEk8CKEiSDNBSMSI8ejGBBrl2znfkQX7IyEct1WKdbBDAQE/s1600-h/CIMG4112.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 297px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgptr5KmFwMXDAcQZeOvH0DvpnFLCIPWvVmDCs-gwLV6W109a0Tw5POPeNTvRIK8X75xZKhDNNIXrtmjh1zltSWmjgeDg9hPEk8CKEiSDNBSMSI8ejGBBrl2znfkQX7IyEct1WKdbBDAQE/s400/CIMG4112.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380313588152722274" /></a>Markiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892999128918044808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084083198502673055.post-73159247703571939052009-09-09T14:31:00.012-04:002009-09-09T19:12:26.658-04:00Great Weekend<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-72TntgDRAIH6NwRznfmz-s0R-Y2mafVCPs-DiUcYlvxvkCnJgxl9KvtCFjH_glHoWY0S27ddDDCqTGfkpJFKqGBa0vRu-1uUOidnDyBbZ03XL76gkVeaIT4Hf4xlDjojT-6A3fczxiY/s1600-h/ice+cream.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 228px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-72TntgDRAIH6NwRznfmz-s0R-Y2mafVCPs-DiUcYlvxvkCnJgxl9KvtCFjH_glHoWY0S27ddDDCqTGfkpJFKqGBa0vRu-1uUOidnDyBbZ03XL76gkVeaIT4Hf4xlDjojT-6A3fczxiY/s400/ice+cream.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379607367561365874" /></a><br />Any weekend that starts off with an ice cream party on Friday night has to be good. We walked a few blocks over to a neighbor's house where there was plenty of ice cream, lots of toppings, tons of kids (and their parents) from church, and good conversation. I started out feeling like I must be the Grandma of the ward - I definitely seemed to be the only person there over 26 or 27 - but as the night wore on, we met some great families (of assorted ages).<div><br /></div><div>And Saturday just continued the fun. The weather was perfect for a breakfast baby shower in the park and it was good to meet even more of the women in the ward. After it was over, three of us (Diana, Amber, and me) just sat under the pavillion and chatted away for several more hours. Eventually, we realized that it was 2:30 and that if we wanted to continue gabbing, we should do it somewhere with food. The obvious answer was endless shrimp at Red Lobster. YUM! Coconut shrimp, teryaki shrimp, garlic shrimp scampi, cajun shrimp - just keep it comin'. Mmm, makes my mouth water just thinking about it. The fact that Erik hates seafood made it all the better - no guilt at all about leaving him out of the fun.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Ulcpi3DhK-nbwoPuxPNbhK92BwIsSzIYlVsZWqvpMJ7rUCXtBEXR6PVo6qH11NlXSXHC-B_uZGHD9Vt3iZT8dGqCTURA6fRu4ueVvTib70wIMgroCRvQILwMURkxoxr-7z9YXqVpJzw/s1600-h/endless+shrimp.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 124px; height: 102px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Ulcpi3DhK-nbwoPuxPNbhK92BwIsSzIYlVsZWqvpMJ7rUCXtBEXR6PVo6qH11NlXSXHC-B_uZGHD9Vt3iZT8dGqCTURA6fRu4ueVvTib70wIMgroCRvQILwMURkxoxr-7z9YXqVpJzw/s400/endless+shrimp.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379568804647533074" /></a><br /></div><div>As soon as I got home, it was time for another party - and we didn't have to go far. They closed down the street in front of our house, had a bounce house, a rockin' band, a face-painting booth, food, and tons of people. The block party was just for the 2 blocks of our street, but I couldn't believe how many kids there are here (and I scouted a few potential babysitters as well). Go-go and Mui-mui loved it! Erik and I had a pretty spiffy time too.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGnx5xnfSocPLDYN0CgMkjinqoeAh5eWbLlFM7xgxEskgiMFYRuFGScCqWhsAzcIwcC900-v8U9kAfXZMfFd4APgdO8BlF8mcXRWjrpfFibzfkB2ULqUPfXbsALRW2mKN4S21_5yuNt-M/s1600-h/Block+party+chalk+1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGnx5xnfSocPLDYN0CgMkjinqoeAh5eWbLlFM7xgxEskgiMFYRuFGScCqWhsAzcIwcC900-v8U9kAfXZMfFd4APgdO8BlF8mcXRWjrpfFibzfkB2ULqUPfXbsALRW2mKN4S21_5yuNt-M/s400/Block+party+chalk+1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379556846402635650" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX5W1N7Mh8ThplATnmKxcLXVakvHbIFWzR9mqB66JEX6r6b5rBp7SRvTKfoGgzhIQzZs65YAtu5sQns6c1Rv-iIa_lRHQdNVp1-zqEGKB3h6yWglRR8r4n8E5z1WcCtVqqWEI5m8nlIbw/s1600-h/Block+party+chalk+2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX5W1N7Mh8ThplATnmKxcLXVakvHbIFWzR9mqB66JEX6r6b5rBp7SRvTKfoGgzhIQzZs65YAtu5sQns6c1Rv-iIa_lRHQdNVp1-zqEGKB3h6yWglRR8r4n8E5z1WcCtVqqWEI5m8nlIbw/s400/Block+party+chalk+2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379556834960445474" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiprKqRDJkIxhzAVpKXwUKIvB3vGn5NQdp9HThU46PODc420BQYgJpWCTdd8-9fFUVOs4ZEAXbw7vMHlDTeiDV6GkzfDpGa1sNH2Z7n1qZ7YUGgya8nHWySXiSBYOD9tTdR-hB7yQTcUiI/s1600-h/block+party+Laurel+hotdog.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiprKqRDJkIxhzAVpKXwUKIvB3vGn5NQdp9HThU46PODc420BQYgJpWCTdd8-9fFUVOs4ZEAXbw7vMHlDTeiDV6GkzfDpGa1sNH2Z7n1qZ7YUGgya8nHWySXiSBYOD9tTdR-hB7yQTcUiI/s400/block+party+Laurel+hotdog.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379556828772713538" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiOLSenDlLb_WWMMz2OAUpe8mENtysP1FuGPrj_LmyLZdzlIHemJUBsWHQvWqaYDHN_Hz5cPSWFcE36OScyGjjD9L_uIYxWHaYJL8z_ORRsJLIg68Jzrd4SIiWIRi7XZVmzGiIoGORhF4/s1600-h/block+party+daniel+watermelon.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiOLSenDlLb_WWMMz2OAUpe8mENtysP1FuGPrj_LmyLZdzlIHemJUBsWHQvWqaYDHN_Hz5cPSWFcE36OScyGjjD9L_uIYxWHaYJL8z_ORRsJLIg68Jzrd4SIiWIRi7XZVmzGiIoGORhF4/s400/block+party+daniel+watermelon.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379556822360634594" /></a><br /></div><div>The highlight of the evening was the traditional "gutter sundae". The kids all line up on the curb with their spoons at the ready (iphone camera at twilight equals fuzzy, dark photos - but you can hopefully get the idea):</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTDCP-yrFU7ngj_e6LgwDoIsrLfq2ERVpywTzg7tfqH-XDVnau0ZGGHIl_zZgqNa4vXwGiXE8I0HXY1EaGays7tJkGYgs7n0alzZBvW0K-d08ah41QaMnApuqRWXTHr9VMsxz9hYYoJfA/s1600-h/block+party+gutter+sundae+waiting.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTDCP-yrFU7ngj_e6LgwDoIsrLfq2ERVpywTzg7tfqH-XDVnau0ZGGHIl_zZgqNa4vXwGiXE8I0HXY1EaGays7tJkGYgs7n0alzZBvW0K-d08ah41QaMnApuqRWXTHr9VMsxz9hYYoJfA/s400/block+party+gutter+sundae+waiting.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379557126046609618" /></a><br /></div><div>Then the sundae is brought out in the section of gutter that has been passed down from year to year and family to family (and, I'm assured, thouroughly scrubbed) and it's time to dig in.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXeYMISYmguGAP4GBdrk1IsMueYGOEwTxZ8vXCIKmtotyaKQxDkdiPhv9o3k9t7mcgyvVaTVdDerj4mgqrs3jRPdEEOJceXgjmMrclNAR9j_fxWR9wVjb7pZYiw8_Y_gTeNhxa0cgLo7M/s1600-h/block+party+gutter+sundae.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 221px; height: 166px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXeYMISYmguGAP4GBdrk1IsMueYGOEwTxZ8vXCIKmtotyaKQxDkdiPhv9o3k9t7mcgyvVaTVdDerj4mgqrs3jRPdEEOJceXgjmMrclNAR9j_fxWR9wVjb7pZYiw8_Y_gTeNhxa0cgLo7M/s400/block+party+gutter+sundae.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379558492668455442" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5pvMPIiWGXfnkamvJfTZkNBpZdN5VRQOuDELxB_HkeXgrpLIs2MbjjyZ0XwBUeXAtRIUNVk2wmbT6dPZLTzhYRDlDPPwUZ0S1k4IQSIWZ1qEl7Bz9aWs1VI1oJUXVfq6hPjXTAEeG-ZM/s1600-h/block+party+gutter+sundae+3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5pvMPIiWGXfnkamvJfTZkNBpZdN5VRQOuDELxB_HkeXgrpLIs2MbjjyZ0XwBUeXAtRIUNVk2wmbT6dPZLTzhYRDlDPPwUZ0S1k4IQSIWZ1qEl7Bz9aWs1VI1oJUXVfq6hPjXTAEeG-ZM/s400/block+party+gutter+sundae+3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379558484829126258" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4IuH9tgDNe2XYz7cVIGtf1rl9-VfRAwaU5QFiE62I55kF9r0YaN3GFTeWM8fLUw0-dBGoYnvYelNy9Tn_3tbp4w1nSoKt4PzNXjqa9KqtbcWWU0_Em0XFx_KGWNROG0OizM_V1JE-4WA/s1600-h/block+party+gutter+sundae+2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4IuH9tgDNe2XYz7cVIGtf1rl9-VfRAwaU5QFiE62I55kF9r0YaN3GFTeWM8fLUw0-dBGoYnvYelNy9Tn_3tbp4w1nSoKt4PzNXjqa9KqtbcWWU0_Em0XFx_KGWNROG0OizM_V1JE-4WA/s400/block+party+gutter+sundae+2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379558476401644818" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVMkpGFlCbN9o7m71hhW-RJpNrOuQzEwdoFSPexQ5LW0fj5zKOjiZ6WNXgaqtuMkyBG-Am_V8IUjHREQ4xrzOI7-hK7JvKJtsWVoCRz5a2hKIq697NaZBmCTUx_1d__xjbwqlFQ9_tMwM/s1600-h/block+party+gutter+sundae+mob.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVMkpGFlCbN9o7m71hhW-RJpNrOuQzEwdoFSPexQ5LW0fj5zKOjiZ6WNXgaqtuMkyBG-Am_V8IUjHREQ4xrzOI7-hK7JvKJtsWVoCRz5a2hKIq697NaZBmCTUx_1d__xjbwqlFQ9_tMwM/s400/block+party+gutter+sundae+mob.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379558469844637362" /></a><br /></div><div>Go-go was the last one still going at it.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5V0pJs900ytur10t-MvCOktOI5TOLx-xGsYTV-f5HPHMh-W9JRRY3Ma73QKw231jO-iWdSyUTtacwd0RaYELumi5ekTZOWJ8BLDZffrJxTA8ogVgLIHT9DpoyIXh1_iiXR_8yM2Nezyo/s1600-h/block+party+gutter+sundae+Daniel+digs.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5V0pJs900ytur10t-MvCOktOI5TOLx-xGsYTV-f5HPHMh-W9JRRY3Ma73QKw231jO-iWdSyUTtacwd0RaYELumi5ekTZOWJ8BLDZffrJxTA8ogVgLIHT9DpoyIXh1_iiXR_8yM2Nezyo/s400/block+party+gutter+sundae+Daniel+digs.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379558781608149570" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Sunday was a day of rest. I stayed home with a sick Daniel (maybe too much watermelon and ice cream at the block party) and we just had a pleasant day. On Monday, we went to Rochester to the Museum of Play. It is the coolest children's museum I have ever seen. We've been there lots of times, but we never seem to make it very far. This time, we started at the end in Reading Adventureland where we climbed Jack's beanstalk, played in the giant's castle, had adventures in Robison Crusoe's treehouse, solved mysteries with Nancy Drew, and just had a great time. We also saw their amazing butterfly garden (it really was jam-packed with butterflies, despite the fact we didn't seem to catch any on camera).</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkAFFO2nulOxdYC9wsAlTCfszh9MxCXUwbOihiuCjT_nUzuXWz0699zvcxxyXtRQolO8TMbQw7WVvPGthUk8kWINiaw1svV0eblPfl0_xO3QJj9tJSXy4Ff3GKrVmHRLpraggs4c90A-U/s1600-h/princess+Laurel+1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkAFFO2nulOxdYC9wsAlTCfszh9MxCXUwbOihiuCjT_nUzuXWz0699zvcxxyXtRQolO8TMbQw7WVvPGthUk8kWINiaw1svV0eblPfl0_xO3QJj9tJSXy4Ff3GKrVmHRLpraggs4c90A-U/s400/princess+Laurel+1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379566874032974450" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Jpg1sc0gUxgOqLrHxCY6Bn-A6JFiYK6MjyBJlkIoDQxY5-MDGSEzTpGSZZKX775hZtrqrVkm16zxSRQvh3R6lWWRmCw2nkCL0nkVFgcfLze_dwos5K3nD7o-P3caruZ_7t7J7MhFA4I/s1600-h/butterfly+garden+3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Jpg1sc0gUxgOqLrHxCY6Bn-A6JFiYK6MjyBJlkIoDQxY5-MDGSEzTpGSZZKX775hZtrqrVkm16zxSRQvh3R6lWWRmCw2nkCL0nkVFgcfLze_dwos5K3nD7o-P3caruZ_7t7J7MhFA4I/s400/butterfly+garden+3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379566864004040434" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQDrHj10_W9c5GfOZnuD3osxpqRRU08PL5unSmSEH7dGtfLKYej3M9QrYRYQ5gIkRsESyO-FVvoRvubIxAIYQRBQ3ZFnVwZ2dWzThwfkbWjg19hnx1fRIR9CUO_iYJbU4-lbdfFWcpQE0/s1600-h/butterfly+garden+2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQDrHj10_W9c5GfOZnuD3osxpqRRU08PL5unSmSEH7dGtfLKYej3M9QrYRYQ5gIkRsESyO-FVvoRvubIxAIYQRBQ3ZFnVwZ2dWzThwfkbWjg19hnx1fRIR9CUO_iYJbU4-lbdfFWcpQE0/s400/butterfly+garden+2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379566858758281938" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEDRfkl_Ozu7gQW376CQj7YDazUp_6YqtT5iafhE7Q4Xfe0Or-yaRCF4qdZcIcDe-WIKUpTsAcuz8ImRlPfdUsn5oFN6cHshKxca0SD-k8JwpyZ1bJ397nFiL_J5eK3_VjvFRXlnOvehU/s1600-h/butterfly+garden+1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEDRfkl_Ozu7gQW376CQj7YDazUp_6YqtT5iafhE7Q4Xfe0Or-yaRCF4qdZcIcDe-WIKUpTsAcuz8ImRlPfdUsn5oFN6cHshKxca0SD-k8JwpyZ1bJ397nFiL_J5eK3_VjvFRXlnOvehU/s400/butterfly+garden+1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379566849362184530" /></a><br /></div><div>When we first walked into the museum, I noticed a familiar face in line just ahead of us. Then, two, and three, and four (and then all of their kids - a total of 10 familiar faces!)! It was our new friends Amber and Diana and their families. We felt a little like stalkers (although maybe it was them stalking us - they obviously didn't get enough of me at Red Lobster), but we had a great time all playing together at the museum, and then the park for a little while when the museum closed. Then we all headed to LeRoy, NY (birthplace of Jello) for some delicious chicken pot pie.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD8L5Rp37xk0vjzIY-pl-Z3OgAW2leO0MF_fajezfPKXWCiVQg_uCs0UGxnKJSfLf1Us-WtgvS3SR3NDmqoXZqWqumKh2lv6R2RsCyhVOqmB0plOsXBPeHczryaBZzSEqBJJojBN7V5UA/s1600-h/Laurel+park1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD8L5Rp37xk0vjzIY-pl-Z3OgAW2leO0MF_fajezfPKXWCiVQg_uCs0UGxnKJSfLf1Us-WtgvS3SR3NDmqoXZqWqumKh2lv6R2RsCyhVOqmB0plOsXBPeHczryaBZzSEqBJJojBN7V5UA/s400/Laurel+park1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379567255405345186" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4kHB-0zcQHVFaHqne04bv6u7YANrt9Ac-vs60eYOIAku6TWPVcZ_6-qVNSGypwu2axckh0NuRP1Y0kRE6n-QZyL7onut9u6XWQl4zYzdS_Fz1kSp4VvjCetyxCGqfOFiIp2EwGNKHd3I/s1600-h/Daniel+slide+3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4kHB-0zcQHVFaHqne04bv6u7YANrt9Ac-vs60eYOIAku6TWPVcZ_6-qVNSGypwu2axckh0NuRP1Y0kRE6n-QZyL7onut9u6XWQl4zYzdS_Fz1kSp4VvjCetyxCGqfOFiIp2EwGNKHd3I/s400/Daniel+slide+3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379567244178785922" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJru6HjdRY92P7JE8yPWko2bgSz8DGBf457E7DvEXf-XUL3UM6uLpasWNr9I9XQpQL2DtzMzdKUkAlqVUwBt0qvvLqfLMg3hCj4WDRuESVd3clZeiqrVBkPP6ZZ4v79Xr7svTh1igynYk/s1600-h/Daniel+slide+1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJru6HjdRY92P7JE8yPWko2bgSz8DGBf457E7DvEXf-XUL3UM6uLpasWNr9I9XQpQL2DtzMzdKUkAlqVUwBt0qvvLqfLMg3hCj4WDRuESVd3clZeiqrVBkPP6ZZ4v79Xr7svTh1igynYk/s400/Daniel+slide+1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379567580676378450" /></a><br /></div><div>All in all, an almost perfect weekend!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Markiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892999128918044808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084083198502673055.post-14781129978242434032009-08-29T20:23:00.008-04:002009-08-31T10:38:55.180-04:00Go-go Transforms!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZoZfpNPCZeR69mun7FV7QUdPh6Hpng762wCmzo69ReSBMEeDadA20wFnt7GgNEm22_YzLj2WLuhbGdCPP44259N28YtygyZKgXf0S7k9XpCSlhDk6xYGOOwfaeiuSupzUdGZieGMScNU/s1600-h/photo+5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZoZfpNPCZeR69mun7FV7QUdPh6Hpng762wCmzo69ReSBMEeDadA20wFnt7GgNEm22_YzLj2WLuhbGdCPP44259N28YtygyZKgXf0S7k9XpCSlhDk6xYGOOwfaeiuSupzUdGZieGMScNU/s400/photo+5.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376137298278392210" /></a><br />On Wednesday, Go-go transformed from a 3 year-old into a 4 year-old! It seems impossible that he has been around that long (although sometimes I have trouble remembering life before being a mom, so I shouldn't be too surprised that it's been a while). He's been looking forward to his birthday for about six months now, and (not surprisingly, if you've ever read this blog) has never wavered from his insistence that he will have "a Transformers party, with a big Transformers cake and Transformers game and I'll be Optimus Prime!" (you have to picture this being said with plenty of wild jumping and gesturing).<br /><br />Who am I to deny a boy his dream?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">So, on Wednesday, we had cake:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbgbL2KoTYyQQNLqBjjUksWd40oA7nV7_4igw6kkWzYuQchwEmBrZL1-l42Qd0V1NqA4H5eto5KawLKgDfRNSLGsb1gBNdMF4A685xt9AtOzei_cYzrck78rmRKdpPnZO_rYdVstORIus/s1600-h/photo+2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbgbL2KoTYyQQNLqBjjUksWd40oA7nV7_4igw6kkWzYuQchwEmBrZL1-l42Qd0V1NqA4H5eto5KawLKgDfRNSLGsb1gBNdMF4A685xt9AtOzei_cYzrck78rmRKdpPnZO_rYdVstORIus/s400/photo+2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375548682256602914" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitF_ye3b6iuflEwWnPkdnTRnp_4bIrcv2fcdSkZxtmHqEWjTTWJjUmk6uxpuSleUtYR6Se2CiYUfHTBYpFqyhZ_gvl8Lw614mebTGudWjOOd_siMlCISSvhaOdil2CzYSGHAb4eGdPvps/s1600-h/photo+4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitF_ye3b6iuflEwWnPkdnTRnp_4bIrcv2fcdSkZxtmHqEWjTTWJjUmk6uxpuSleUtYR6Se2CiYUfHTBYpFqyhZ_gvl8Lw614mebTGudWjOOd_siMlCISSvhaOdil2CzYSGHAb4eGdPvps/s400/photo+4.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375548668212136594" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCUvaCtb8X10C8jBI7MBuRNfbMyGhMPm0cPsp4LBLcvPQRWQQAGxCFV5lKqd7hTVMPs4adAxVe7IT9aN5lTPAzp46bbXM6U1G1v3w9FzG00LaBIsPkFJ-e_suKyqSaF-3DdGpCsiVJD4Y/s1600-h/photo+3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCUvaCtb8X10C8jBI7MBuRNfbMyGhMPm0cPsp4LBLcvPQRWQQAGxCFV5lKqd7hTVMPs4adAxVe7IT9aN5lTPAzp46bbXM6U1G1v3w9FzG00LaBIsPkFJ-e_suKyqSaF-3DdGpCsiVJD4Y/s400/photo+3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375548678646187186" /></a><br /><br />On Saturday, we had the friends' party. The plan was to do everything in the back yard, but our rainy Buffalo summer put a damper on that plan ('damp'-er, ha ha ha! - sometimes I crack myself up with very little justification!) Luckily, our couches didn't fit into the doorways when we moved in, so we have a big empty room that's just right for decepticon bowling, dance partying, musical pillow flopping, and general merriment-making.<div><br /></div><div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; ">Bowling for Bots</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE83y_-YO3sv-0_iUPnPfeUwTHlLr21Dp9UZGavy52E-rmuUUZJ1LVDZW8Wn-7U77yutZfQkJumUUveaWX2y8Hh8pdGFAYXyx93aw6e3KUb-eNoYtCXoAHFTisDdNOvvw2i5_cmWUVs3k/s1600-h/Bowling+for+Bots+copy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 297px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE83y_-YO3sv-0_iUPnPfeUwTHlLr21Dp9UZGavy52E-rmuUUZJ1LVDZW8Wn-7U77yutZfQkJumUUveaWX2y8Hh8pdGFAYXyx93aw6e3KUb-eNoYtCXoAHFTisDdNOvvw2i5_cmWUVs3k/s400/Bowling+for+Bots+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376121497318272402" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Decorating Cupcakes</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigtXv9ZnvyFIM0Eba2ZRZFTeCHANxJ06P7Izwvngnr500sq_YmtSV_203rfMzIpdvWS5FCyr7lW2Xhf3yHFCN7VdJ9TM78v6bTz7Nmz9NW0sollP9qqdK0dwOMjjAc6r7rdejK3p5T7QI/s1600-h/cupcake+collage+copy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 90px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigtXv9ZnvyFIM0Eba2ZRZFTeCHANxJ06P7Izwvngnr500sq_YmtSV_203rfMzIpdvWS5FCyr7lW2Xhf3yHFCN7VdJ9TM78v6bTz7Nmz9NW0sollP9qqdK0dwOMjjAc6r7rdejK3p5T7QI/s400/cupcake+collage+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376128249850052626" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; ">Making Personal Pizzas</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0pnsabKbFx4D8z8pPQfSQe_plvlQJIwo7VsQosQBqB8vE5FyTdjI7D99Q08oDs80Rk4q9weYBWMxlPAojk42VcSQ3F0mFrcMoHWaNOMiMXLXNd1R55eFemBE-XeMhW67_d3EYD_2anHU/s1600-h/CIMG4086.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 297px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0pnsabKbFx4D8z8pPQfSQe_plvlQJIwo7VsQosQBqB8vE5FyTdjI7D99Q08oDs80Rk4q9weYBWMxlPAojk42VcSQ3F0mFrcMoHWaNOMiMXLXNd1R55eFemBE-XeMhW67_d3EYD_2anHU/s400/CIMG4086.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376129064122290914" /></a><br /><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; ">Pin the Autobot Symbol on Optimus Prime</span></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg42wSe1mBRezP83zRqTRpUoBpjyyX5yVDwA2YQ1uSLlKsXnF8WJT762Oe5Sym3pcrKALINE9z6rgDMxJiAj0AN9ttTOzgQdkYN86c8UpyqW0fvQq6sNs9KlQbFn3zjgpdjoGPPT74VlY0/s1600-h/CIMG4085.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 297px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg42wSe1mBRezP83zRqTRpUoBpjyyX5yVDwA2YQ1uSLlKsXnF8WJT762Oe5Sym3pcrKALINE9z6rgDMxJiAj0AN9ttTOzgQdkYN86c8UpyqW0fvQq6sNs9KlQbFn3zjgpdjoGPPT74VlY0/s400/CIMG4085.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376130363372902786" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Opening Presents</b></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiJ5XmiGT3SFUVXzWHD_RPA1__n45ww60TLexvJcatEC5VszJG1Gk9BN3qq3lWaTR8mvi7RWGYBvrTp45AQHclOGbzu6s9cszqrZuEBpT7ksT7jP-wJZ8njeLBxc7dy_qF-Pxm-pz0PDQ/s1600-h/presentscollage+copy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 182px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiJ5XmiGT3SFUVXzWHD_RPA1__n45ww60TLexvJcatEC5VszJG1Gk9BN3qq3lWaTR8mvi7RWGYBvrTp45AQHclOGbzu6s9cszqrZuEBpT7ksT7jP-wJZ8njeLBxc7dy_qF-Pxm-pz0PDQ/s400/presentscollage+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376136739041305250" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b>And General Merriment</b></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSZ5AxTI6RE6dtrhCFfahQlvdhpS_ZSkYeXYpeyrY_-iHSw4yxYCrZDTad_1OqqjHGk-8tXHRTEmTV0ABHYWLZRRwS4YrX7g4lkkhMFHDXV6WeaPNU6xbdUzNpzw1sxRo1Q7ko0ZPviXA/s1600-h/General+Merriment+copy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 297px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSZ5AxTI6RE6dtrhCFfahQlvdhpS_ZSkYeXYpeyrY_-iHSw4yxYCrZDTad_1OqqjHGk-8tXHRTEmTV0ABHYWLZRRwS4YrX7g4lkkhMFHDXV6WeaPNU6xbdUzNpzw1sxRo1Q7ko0ZPviXA/s400/General+Merriment+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376133441071452354" /></a><br /></div>Markiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892999128918044808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084083198502673055.post-27154127125647972802009-08-25T20:08:00.008-04:002009-08-25T23:41:37.913-04:00Summer Fun<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin-y9Q6IbvC826LdfqeeX1xBlz2aZSBOi6EK1cxxIBbgu6FZO4Ywe5SkNuTyM6jCPOvyVudMT7zZgeR2z-XHZkZ8MIXxTDXcPD1K7me11YPjEzXI7iQm34hzn6trN2FgPvUqDNG_fiejI/s1600-h/photo+(3).jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin-y9Q6IbvC826LdfqeeX1xBlz2aZSBOi6EK1cxxIBbgu6FZO4Ywe5SkNuTyM6jCPOvyVudMT7zZgeR2z-XHZkZ8MIXxTDXcPD1K7me11YPjEzXI7iQm34hzn6trN2FgPvUqDNG_fiejI/s400/photo+(3).jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374061076250400178" /></a><br /><br />As you may <a href="http://markiefinallyblogs.blogspot.com/2009/04/by-popular-demand.html">remember</a>, my children adore blueberries. So, on Saturday, we headed off to the U-Pick farm to load up. We picked about 7 pounds and have been gorging ourselves on anti-oxidant goodness (of course, it's even better when you up the nutritional goodness with whipped cream - yum!). Most of our haul is in the freezer, which is good because the non-frozen ones are starting to get squishy, but bad because by tomorrow, I won't be able to just reach in the fridge and pop a few bites of sweet deliciousness into my mouth. Sigh.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAYjtA-Cy2ylCB2Tn53zCxt51pUkKCReilds6Hy8795TgKQbPb2NVNt-gfZK2LS6pjS2GXYxnVNhXnCot5G_LISA6LkEZijjjQUuLokTZ4YeT7IDv21eatlYgz1JaJZRTmro_8M_rbWy0/s1600-h/photo.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAYjtA-Cy2ylCB2Tn53zCxt51pUkKCReilds6Hy8795TgKQbPb2NVNt-gfZK2LS6pjS2GXYxnVNhXnCot5G_LISA6LkEZijjjQUuLokTZ4YeT7IDv21eatlYgz1JaJZRTmro_8M_rbWy0/s400/photo.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374061106190057090" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFfeB2ep-i0NIJGV42rDPBFkIw18_2FJb02DtulWKS338AyCiM62hEUbefg5xAXWSdqddW0kp4vhO6US0rZFLoj06c0pl2S3UpP33Qfko3HqO3LO0q0TcbK37TEqW2z2vZ4Us4RTHSEd8/s1600-h/photo+5+(2).jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFfeB2ep-i0NIJGV42rDPBFkIw18_2FJb02DtulWKS338AyCiM62hEUbefg5xAXWSdqddW0kp4vhO6US0rZFLoj06c0pl2S3UpP33Qfko3HqO3LO0q0TcbK37TEqW2z2vZ4Us4RTHSEd8/s400/photo+5+(2).jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374061097977149586" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ61UEvHcr0S7oC6U7CFYcYZgaguD8xhyphenhyphenJXKk9R59U_XxPfRGGgESI8RLZKTOwQBgRD8i-KnLUFJDKpPWL8_jshk1JefrkTR0EdbBABNuYbj0vN0zyUt5wmM2IxAjS85R02OAhfT4-T1I/s1600-h/photo+2+(2).jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ61UEvHcr0S7oC6U7CFYcYZgaguD8xhyphenhyphenJXKk9R59U_XxPfRGGgESI8RLZKTOwQBgRD8i-KnLUFJDKpPWL8_jshk1JefrkTR0EdbBABNuYbj0vN0zyUt5wmM2IxAjS85R02OAhfT4-T1I/s400/photo+2+(2).jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374061092011624642" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWVyKL09bDDoSrC9pms7R09jgyHI8cxrMeOKsmOToayWy0R8UitL_CcvQt4ptJAf0ISoCazYfk9guhZJR5bLQRR1OojOtpfo7Ui_yhzj6Pzi2eeAMhm6eC3vh9vU0_4DomoN1dymZ3SF0/s1600-h/photo+2+(3).jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWVyKL09bDDoSrC9pms7R09jgyHI8cxrMeOKsmOToayWy0R8UitL_CcvQt4ptJAf0ISoCazYfk9guhZJR5bLQRR1OojOtpfo7Ui_yhzj6Pzi2eeAMhm6eC3vh9vU0_4DomoN1dymZ3SF0/s400/photo+2+(3).jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374061084601142450" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwQw1R3wI5Em38LNG319DeYMjox9AXioy6n7-hG9aUnYLRbKK8gueKK1gqrZM6ydA4_chEezsfX-iZ4tCbqTM2mmSmORph4JgYbYG83XGndkq_uSbTtRCv1axtjfWra6ToafQPf4w6Hkc/s1600-h/photo+5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwQw1R3wI5Em38LNG319DeYMjox9AXioy6n7-hG9aUnYLRbKK8gueKK1gqrZM6ydA4_chEezsfX-iZ4tCbqTM2mmSmORph4JgYbYG83XGndkq_uSbTtRCv1axtjfWra6ToafQPf4w6Hkc/s400/photo+5.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374061550888507586" /></a><br /><br />Today, we went to a little beach on a lake for our ward playgroup. I snapped a picture of Go-go paddling a little canoe, but it seems that i didn't save it to my camera. I did, however, save this shot of Mui-mui eating our picnic lunch. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwe-wG7fBASHgcybFuaq8RAReqeZ2XSIm4MXes5sM3QyAcwNrWYS6wUXOEKJIfwvQriMJGsEA3ZTMnuZeu5L6WOjmkQsFt5RK8Cmj9gwi8NUx1Lw-zC7MPveOMUiGsUKpR_j6iTeEOzCM/s1600-h/0825091235a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwe-wG7fBASHgcybFuaq8RAReqeZ2XSIm4MXes5sM3QyAcwNrWYS6wUXOEKJIfwvQriMJGsEA3ZTMnuZeu5L6WOjmkQsFt5RK8Cmj9gwi8NUx1Lw-zC7MPveOMUiGsUKpR_j6iTeEOzCM/s400/0825091235a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374111950729289874" /></a><br /><br />Yes, you can all admire how I massacred her poor bangs this morning. In my (pathetic) defense, she fought me the whole time and refused to sit still. You can all vote as to whether A) I need to get her to a stylist ASAP, B) they're too short and wacked out for even a talented stylist to fix them - I'll just have to wait it out, or C) don't worry about it - if we didn't have funny looking pictures from our childhoods we'd have nothing to laugh about when we got old.Markiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892999128918044808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084083198502673055.post-72200358096305864082009-08-17T23:28:00.004-04:002009-08-17T23:58:42.836-04:00Moving lessonsI've moved many, many times in my life, so you'd think I'd have this moving thing down. But, every time is a little different and I learn new things each time I pack up. Here are a few things I've learned this move:<div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>-Kids are not helpful when packing</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>-Sending Go-go to YMCA daycamp for 2 weeks so that I could pack/move/clean, etc. was a fabulous idea. I loved it, he loved it, definitely a win-win.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- Everyone should have a 12-year old live at their house. Ruth lent me hers for a week and a half and Elizabeth was a lifesaver. She watched Mui-mui and kept her out of my hair, sorted and packed things, entertained Go-go when he got home from daycamp, and entertained me as well. She made me remember how much fun it was to be 12.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- Professional packers use WAY more boxes than I do. We have the same amount of stuff as we did last year (when we had packers), but we only used about a third of the boxes we saved from that move. But, if I was going to be held liable for any breakage, I might pack a lampshade by itself in a box with a ton of paper too.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- I missed having professional packers, but I did hire loaders. I've been grateful for a lot of Elder's quorum volunteers in my time, but they have enough poor students to move in and out of the wards this summer. And you can't sue them if they break your favorite bookshelf (You may be able to guess that I'm still a little peeved about the big chip out of my bookshelf that happened nine years ago in an Elder's Quorum move).<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- I love my new house. I love almost everything about it (although the doorknobs really need some help).<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>-Being in a house that I love actually makes it easier to get out the door (despite the problem doorknobs). Sounds counter-intuitive, I know, but feeling happier about everything makes it feel so much easier to go to the library, Target, the YMCA, whatever. Not to mention the fact that going to the playground is just walking across the street.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>-I love my new dining room table and chairs. I promise to post pics as soon as I get boxes out of the way. It makes me happy just to look at them.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- If Erik has to duck a little when he goes down the stairs, a queen-sized boxspring wil not fit up the stairs.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- On a related note, you can buy a <a href="http://www.michigandiscountmattress.com/box-spring-kd-foundation.htm">boxspring kit in a box</a>. It's really sturdy and it wasn't too bad to put together at all.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- Older houses also have narrow entryways. Luckily, our huge couches were stained, ripped, old, faded, and gross. So, I didn't mind too much that we couldn't get them in.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- Have I mentioned that I love my new house?<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I promise to post pictures of the house soon. In the meantime, if you're in need of visual stimulation, you can check out the pictures I put up in the two other posts (<a href="http://markiefinallyblogs.blogspot.com/2009/08/intense.html">Intense</a> and <a href="http://markiefinallyblogs.blogspot.com/2009/08/family-time.html">Family Time</a>) I wrote tonight. Happy reading!</div>Markiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892999128918044808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084083198502673055.post-49666256890549812322009-08-17T23:01:00.007-04:002009-08-17T23:53:44.727-04:00Family TimeAfter I got to <a href="http://markiefinallyblogs.blogspot.com/2009/08/intense.html">hang out with Ruth</a> in Utah for a week or so, I got to stay with my sister Ellen and her sweet hubby, Justin. Go-go has decided he is going to grow up to be Justin, mostly because of the 70+ transformers in Justin's collection and every posible transformers animated cartoon (from the 80's, 90's, and today!) on DVD. We played, I bopped around visiting random cousins and friends, and we went to see my Grandma. She's 94 and looking pretty great.<div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyclJ3zSQgfaBrK7K4Jf3X8EXlWir0xu0C6EabvHY1MvYdpXOsOxKsMBcRxqc5UiIHFSeJGvp4-TAoAfwgi_O9WlYQCZPQoTC5ooPjKcLb9_gfOsLH3tmqIaPQbY7AI_8D1uVG6dHzMuw/s1600-h/CIMG4027.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 297px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyclJ3zSQgfaBrK7K4Jf3X8EXlWir0xu0C6EabvHY1MvYdpXOsOxKsMBcRxqc5UiIHFSeJGvp4-TAoAfwgi_O9WlYQCZPQoTC5ooPjKcLb9_gfOsLH3tmqIaPQbY7AI_8D1uVG6dHzMuw/s400/CIMG4027.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371137158884068162" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2lhnLqqfKuexnNNN1Ueiy-FjjJh46gBSzpvhF9xNhVlOnEPRDegEuYhLsW45EmGSn-AVboWJXSpFx1QuDx4Mw0wgL3CoDPWtcIv5ZAaSSXFSHKhZKkMFXNADk7Qd9bXdvciOtjp-XgEk/s1600-h/CIMG4018.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 297px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2lhnLqqfKuexnNNN1Ueiy-FjjJh46gBSzpvhF9xNhVlOnEPRDegEuYhLsW45EmGSn-AVboWJXSpFx1QuDx4Mw0wgL3CoDPWtcIv5ZAaSSXFSHKhZKkMFXNADk7Qd9bXdvciOtjp-XgEk/s400/CIMG4018.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371137148045540722" /></a><br /><br />Then the whole clan came together. Doug, Amber, and the kids came down from Seattle, Mom and Dad came in from Vegas, Ellen and Justin live in SLC, and Erik flew in from WNY. Mom and Dad rented a big house in the mouth of Millcreek canyon and we had a great time hanging out, watching movies, going to Lagoon, having picnics, seeing the Aquarium (thanks for the tour, Evan!), and enjoying each other's company. Here are a few highlights:<div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR3k78wL_xJTI1AaZACwII8QSdwGWwWuAGOqMm5zQjT8VNQaEqbspgLJ_LJ6bmUx4vDvf6RvhmcXhLkRGOXqwu_mEDUHREOmpI5H7wbDyCBTs39hXmHDnWAjxkn_iXIsXKLjfm3WGtFGU/s1600-h/REUNION+007.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR3k78wL_xJTI1AaZACwII8QSdwGWwWuAGOqMm5zQjT8VNQaEqbspgLJ_LJ6bmUx4vDvf6RvhmcXhLkRGOXqwu_mEDUHREOmpI5H7wbDyCBTs39hXmHDnWAjxkn_iXIsXKLjfm3WGtFGU/s400/REUNION+007.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371139119163444418" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiw6fwIucS5xRJ83ZIS8uMcUnSBHI3S7gQ35NeAYn900_mgUyYb-lPCDAKPcfOSjfJDr4QdAZL_G8ZHvr4AbF99iFUyJxbEw5moLsTX6OBi03GUVs3zq340POw4SFxSTi_6sS0gBm260c/s1600-h/REUNION+005.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiw6fwIucS5xRJ83ZIS8uMcUnSBHI3S7gQ35NeAYn900_mgUyYb-lPCDAKPcfOSjfJDr4QdAZL_G8ZHvr4AbF99iFUyJxbEw5moLsTX6OBi03GUVs3zq340POw4SFxSTi_6sS0gBm260c/s400/REUNION+005.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371139110717214770" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiA89z4t05S-yBbg9AftqXozEhbPheiL3GX6xWtzR0U6-Q0Z-4xVoOm6Rtz0F6QYa_ULZBtWjjzLAg2VnD3w2am0fDVjZgv_gB7AFbkwUtgmR0Kp1AVz2MswFVLmOKqHaru2jNpqCT1AI/s1600-h/REUNION+009.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiA89z4t05S-yBbg9AftqXozEhbPheiL3GX6xWtzR0U6-Q0Z-4xVoOm6Rtz0F6QYa_ULZBtWjjzLAg2VnD3w2am0fDVjZgv_gB7AFbkwUtgmR0Kp1AVz2MswFVLmOKqHaru2jNpqCT1AI/s400/REUNION+009.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371139100851162514" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGGbSAumNGRoHKQcQf9apRefRN_vtsViQgTedFhHCR7t4yB208QksPhNAISvMRujWTUtQ4HcyCvStlCDlV7lNXhHkVEwYOHN5IZV6G1TDgVRFoGyVbzblwxqEzufgHPCdiwOnX_LjkDO4/s1600-h/REUNION+002.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGGbSAumNGRoHKQcQf9apRefRN_vtsViQgTedFhHCR7t4yB208QksPhNAISvMRujWTUtQ4HcyCvStlCDlV7lNXhHkVEwYOHN5IZV6G1TDgVRFoGyVbzblwxqEzufgHPCdiwOnX_LjkDO4/s400/REUNION+002.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371139094806141138" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSkeyrZCxwL9H2ll-GtoPJ3VU35mf1KHgteJpopBOgUA2WpzSmCvXaF6lPsUxNoDtUvWMoC96xmoscXa3tSj3RAbNunQnfXzN_MaYNbHKPFx9r-p14p3EC1CslXHNwwViiVYnDxjm928k/s1600-h/CIMG4052.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 297px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSkeyrZCxwL9H2ll-GtoPJ3VU35mf1KHgteJpopBOgUA2WpzSmCvXaF6lPsUxNoDtUvWMoC96xmoscXa3tSj3RAbNunQnfXzN_MaYNbHKPFx9r-p14p3EC1CslXHNwwViiVYnDxjm928k/s400/CIMG4052.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371139959596519074" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijsEsIu-DdvRkMCVwdaGwrT6TBtSDxW3Mm2xgCRw51i10C8wwbUEgnNyiSLwnoXAVQrI9ke0_JBjpc1k-P-EYd639NWu2STD8Jink3auAiUuwTievBRgniub-3RFUhaR9NQXQync8DksE/s1600-h/CIMG4049.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 297px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijsEsIu-DdvRkMCVwdaGwrT6TBtSDxW3Mm2xgCRw51i10C8wwbUEgnNyiSLwnoXAVQrI9ke0_JBjpc1k-P-EYd639NWu2STD8Jink3auAiUuwTievBRgniub-3RFUhaR9NQXQync8DksE/s400/CIMG4049.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371139954485188098" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8wXOGk9BBJlbOaPWJmtnduILGtuyjZQvB__Tb8EnCSG4X3ydm8sgP5yZlqc1rqAEdv6vRfAmeU1LOMViQ8kSyeeGGmBRlJKG5nhbbW6WSiSghDrugzuerqi6CA2d0FoCwJNAuDcaDiCk/s1600-h/CIMG4039.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 297px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8wXOGk9BBJlbOaPWJmtnduILGtuyjZQvB__Tb8EnCSG4X3ydm8sgP5yZlqc1rqAEdv6vRfAmeU1LOMViQ8kSyeeGGmBRlJKG5nhbbW6WSiSghDrugzuerqi6CA2d0FoCwJNAuDcaDiCk/s400/CIMG4039.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371139943017584690" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTjRrmjdyalvbBoWBFx4k1C6HLw7TryMWi2amjdH7e60SLDDlWhrgRNnYeMcCoGj_EK1RcNxkVXhyphenhyphenSrciX6rN1LKQa-r-vfif8H6ZRYPTJ6F2-t8hkPRSDmIieJH6vIxIurWx-GN5Bqr0/s1600-h/CIMG4051.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 297px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTjRrmjdyalvbBoWBFx4k1C6HLw7TryMWi2amjdH7e60SLDDlWhrgRNnYeMcCoGj_EK1RcNxkVXhyphenhyphenSrciX6rN1LKQa-r-vfif8H6ZRYPTJ6F2-t8hkPRSDmIieJH6vIxIurWx-GN5Bqr0/s400/CIMG4051.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371139937228203234" /></a></div><br /><br />I love my family!Markiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892999128918044808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084083198502673055.post-27005394765365100932009-08-17T22:18:00.007-04:002009-08-18T00:04:18.533-04:00Intense<div><br /></div>Or, should I say, "In Tents". <div><br /></div><div>Although I never want to be one of those people who travels around from fair to fair, it is fun to do a show every once in a while. Ruth and I were both going to be in Utah this summer for family reunions, so we did the Provo Freedom Festival over the 4th of July weekend. It was so fun to see two of my old mission comps at the festival (Howdy Simmons and Lucas!) and to meet the moms, sisters, and friends of my friends (I love viral facebook marketing, don't you?)</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5MFukECO8rgKp5W-Fmb621lrHLTafVUbMHFn1m_DDwCGNdcfU9bSMWyARIXYp2Z7_nARf7N-ETmL81P2glRK80L5-CagDUkeTM9er_hYLsmcQJq2jH-ThjckSdJkoJfg-L0f7JVevXyc/s1600-h/CIMG4006.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 297px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5MFukECO8rgKp5W-Fmb621lrHLTafVUbMHFn1m_DDwCGNdcfU9bSMWyARIXYp2Z7_nARf7N-ETmL81P2glRK80L5-CagDUkeTM9er_hYLsmcQJq2jH-ThjckSdJkoJfg-L0f7JVevXyc/s400/CIMG4006.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371133072020683490" /></a><br /></div><div>We sold all of our normal <a href="http://www.littlelit.com/">Little Lit</a> stuff, but also added play tents just for fun. Despite many a serger nightmare, we were able to make 20, and we sold every one (except for the one I pinned backwards that was horribly skew-wampus). We have fabric and supplies for 20 more, so we'll need to do another show of some kind next summer; but now we have a much better idea of how to streamline the process. The best part of the process was finding super-cheap, but super-cute fabric combinations. Most were one-of-a-kind (we had two duplicates) and I wish I had pictures of all of them, but these shots will give you an idea. Similar tents sell online for $288-$360 (<a href="http://www.teepeeforme.com/shop/index.php?cPath=3&osCsid=244253652b28747b7231f4892af3ea9e">I'm not just making that up!</a>). But ours have cool portholes to peek out of and sold for only around $60. <div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOE6uuFMcGO52kyUQwCGqjKX7Oun_sHU8QBNnWb1EgJ0k_q8pcGJiXt60ilj2rS_6JVJphKBC74BOrna6dMTNqllhy8o6chgYZs5mYfM6NCuFDHRjJe8o0uj2c32cV4QLF42XHewF1ynM/s1600-h/0704091644a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOE6uuFMcGO52kyUQwCGqjKX7Oun_sHU8QBNnWb1EgJ0k_q8pcGJiXt60ilj2rS_6JVJphKBC74BOrna6dMTNqllhy8o6chgYZs5mYfM6NCuFDHRjJe8o0uj2c32cV4QLF42XHewF1ynM/s400/0704091644a.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371128436253682194" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4HG-u5DihpjcIbjNjk4j1qJT5a04_DjBlgF86l0fNpCLMtOJgW4a1xWxhsNPSoxA8Ll3kdO5VTKt_oC6ulznMWRWux4AYgrEvXVa1cxR5u52vjqWgk_RHbf1i9_NZxHa7V4lyKmi5ybE/s1600-h/0704091644.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4HG-u5DihpjcIbjNjk4j1qJT5a04_DjBlgF86l0fNpCLMtOJgW4a1xWxhsNPSoxA8Ll3kdO5VTKt_oC6ulznMWRWux4AYgrEvXVa1cxR5u52vjqWgk_RHbf1i9_NZxHa7V4lyKmi5ybE/s400/0704091644.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371128424165810962" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh80eze887NYdR6EcomEo0p8u9pyt47_Qz7NzQN4w_w2HfyQ9u3LRTuwmnTWT-sxh4zD9Lcm5RgTZdOFEkEd7B4TEt5gW9LDFM4sn7ey5R0NLb_pQ0dZgd36yyo9Ia8Fb2MoRaZ_-SVvbY/s1600-h/CIMG4013.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 297px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh80eze887NYdR6EcomEo0p8u9pyt47_Qz7NzQN4w_w2HfyQ9u3LRTuwmnTWT-sxh4zD9Lcm5RgTZdOFEkEd7B4TEt5gW9LDFM4sn7ey5R0NLb_pQ0dZgd36yyo9Ia8Fb2MoRaZ_-SVvbY/s400/CIMG4013.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371128419365808578" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7flx25hyphenhyphenP5Oo6r2HQbPHIXXGZ8lzThXd1BcK22mdS1-gBfCBCJ8fduj0vmwyYzuW2aSlgptvSD12r-3fp_15mxQwPS3W9oITwupmQkIIc014KENwLzwoOdUkbeEpnJq-bZIlTNH-ZN5c/s1600-h/CIMG4008.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 297px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7flx25hyphenhyphenP5Oo6r2HQbPHIXXGZ8lzThXd1BcK22mdS1-gBfCBCJ8fduj0vmwyYzuW2aSlgptvSD12r-3fp_15mxQwPS3W9oITwupmQkIIc014KENwLzwoOdUkbeEpnJq-bZIlTNH-ZN5c/s400/CIMG4008.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371128406385500626" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk262MzweznGdgLISlON0xhbBaSCVrYT2fYhN2b9nVySiWQn_BUAJFmcsdH4YnkcrX3EfQr5MJVQ-upkgEirE9VZfjb_80x5hEQpj39QecIphbhFY6SNdzU9ECQAVezVZm5wqFU9sy-zs/s1600-h/CIMG4007.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 297px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk262MzweznGdgLISlON0xhbBaSCVrYT2fYhN2b9nVySiWQn_BUAJFmcsdH4YnkcrX3EfQr5MJVQ-upkgEirE9VZfjb_80x5hEQpj39QecIphbhFY6SNdzU9ECQAVezVZm5wqFU9sy-zs/s400/CIMG4007.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371128398753950370" /></a><br /></div><div>The stuff you see in the background is our nextdoor neighbor's booth. They ARE the kind of people who spend all summer traveling around the country from fair to fair. Their winters are spent making the hair do-dads and neck coolers they sell. But, they are experts at making cute princess hair (as evidenced by Emma, Becca, and Mui-mui. Yep, even Mui-mui who won't let me put a barrette in her hair for more than 3 seconds looked sweet in her twisty-bun. And it lasted for about 5 whole minutes - a true record).</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP5cVZDZ51opYyCpwShkazfikh4QTDfHB2PylViKYQ7HsFH8EKe6-GQDBO3EvBlUsmpNMMinUY0hQNCloasNbNdrVB_ymqD3pB_lvImFeoX9VLULpodG9EoSfGGEDt_mRQ-HYo7OhQfT4/s1600-h/CIMG4010.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 297px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP5cVZDZ51opYyCpwShkazfikh4QTDfHB2PylViKYQ7HsFH8EKe6-GQDBO3EvBlUsmpNMMinUY0hQNCloasNbNdrVB_ymqD3pB_lvImFeoX9VLULpodG9EoSfGGEDt_mRQ-HYo7OhQfT4/s400/CIMG4010.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371130870227149362" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy5D-8tdccrz7egPSuEnV_Lj7VI0r0Cd2MCJa0yHrt7xOVWsHiw7xsEI0A8VnIkYyXr7ZgRAiwJ-ocTyJqPC5BOSOkJQuxJHRCPc1jd6nr2Md1YgihcowAd7Tr-B4gzlhyphenhyphenJib2IM8H8HY/s1600-h/CIMG4012.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 297px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy5D-8tdccrz7egPSuEnV_Lj7VI0r0Cd2MCJa0yHrt7xOVWsHiw7xsEI0A8VnIkYyXr7ZgRAiwJ-ocTyJqPC5BOSOkJQuxJHRCPc1jd6nr2Md1YgihcowAd7Tr-B4gzlhyphenhyphenJib2IM8H8HY/s400/CIMG4012.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371130861393248738" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQS7kPp_fApCkjGFuJKWdbyWR6Raom8GiW7QMgoOUgYO1M2d46iBFgZInk4W9yh8TXvIGTjAeQKUgATIBBNwhkXRp6hKiTGxLLsJyVco8AHG3b9Yjftpstqp4m9uB7Km1U5GtUxVhEyV8/s1600-h/CIMG4015.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 297px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQS7kPp_fApCkjGFuJKWdbyWR6Raom8GiW7QMgoOUgYO1M2d46iBFgZInk4W9yh8TXvIGTjAeQKUgATIBBNwhkXRp6hKiTGxLLsJyVco8AHG3b9Yjftpstqp4m9uB7Km1U5GtUxVhEyV8/s400/CIMG4015.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371130854308706242" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTgEqe3bhbBAvqfBzxifb_UVyQjLUk0nF0AcsSWlQ93VPEYf4L0CXAvAKtVBqUt4s3K-U_g_mWLPg5SYELbvNTN_HN9a30o4Vb2B08xs6Q1V3noFknOzsCexs-EfWOVsLdPOuSCa0ifx4/s1600-h/CIMG4014.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 297px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTgEqe3bhbBAvqfBzxifb_UVyQjLUk0nF0AcsSWlQ93VPEYf4L0CXAvAKtVBqUt4s3K-U_g_mWLPg5SYELbvNTN_HN9a30o4Vb2B08xs6Q1V3noFknOzsCexs-EfWOVsLdPOuSCa0ifx4/s400/CIMG4014.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371130849500284194" /></a></div>Markiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892999128918044808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084083198502673055.post-63951638639664682052009-06-13T21:17:00.002-04:002009-06-13T21:20:15.827-04:00We all scream....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimdiaCJVeGeNBetw87vaiF7FBMKs-6Qit2KXdVvdYGkSd26ydmAv2W4Y3kCd6KFq4k0XpTVxryn3SZYsO0lUFlaxJ35H5LPN6a7LOhk4q8LelmYmkWil5yYNg0VH9kzELP8NDqK9VWek4/s1600-h/icecream3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimdiaCJVeGeNBetw87vaiF7FBMKs-6Qit2KXdVvdYGkSd26ydmAv2W4Y3kCd6KFq4k0XpTVxryn3SZYsO0lUFlaxJ35H5LPN6a7LOhk4q8LelmYmkWil5yYNg0VH9kzELP8NDqK9VWek4/s400/icecream3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346986789580950322" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijh7b0n8P-rWQ7qfbCFtBJcTsPK6_w8rS2mSGZzgVAPyBgFy0879SDi_vJLjEhJKwAnK0n7JbtBoPr3iQ1DGqkfd3ij4Pmy2VUVSobnQwFmcDBlkWLp56LoQ8i58nzMh7k4AGvvtuuBoM/s1600-h/icecream2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijh7b0n8P-rWQ7qfbCFtBJcTsPK6_w8rS2mSGZzgVAPyBgFy0879SDi_vJLjEhJKwAnK0n7JbtBoPr3iQ1DGqkfd3ij4Pmy2VUVSobnQwFmcDBlkWLp56LoQ8i58nzMh7k4AGvvtuuBoM/s400/icecream2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346986787793432274" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQyBLweIOMRDfQTcvUVtbV7nm_9lZ5j4hk-Cr62QkA16qVoDT2bhpgG27H6JhZYTqX1TsJlEN_oqWu7W9jHWcRj-0eVzs-f10G8k4aVE4RqnIhY10V8g6g_bdV9XzOckiHJhE-E7dAVXQ/s1600-h/icecream1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQyBLweIOMRDfQTcvUVtbV7nm_9lZ5j4hk-Cr62QkA16qVoDT2bhpgG27H6JhZYTqX1TsJlEN_oqWu7W9jHWcRj-0eVzs-f10G8k4aVE4RqnIhY10V8g6g_bdV9XzOckiHJhE-E7dAVXQ/s400/icecream1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346986783709920562" /></a>Markiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892999128918044808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084083198502673055.post-76815705471683931562009-06-08T09:42:00.003-04:002009-06-08T10:21:35.454-04:00Tag team training<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFgmn5iag-KTGsy9yGSaFZZhQD1i6F0PYGlrpr6-juHE7YKlq_RneAC8-Aj_MzlBNPORziRs2KB4N_rd2PIrwGb-F5uHFzR3dHtnNppWqvOvC0VkpNIX-Ntspb41JWw-rb8JbcF22cZlI/s1600-h/funny-pictures-the-toilet-trooper-KMX.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 311px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFgmn5iag-KTGsy9yGSaFZZhQD1i6F0PYGlrpr6-juHE7YKlq_RneAC8-Aj_MzlBNPORziRs2KB4N_rd2PIrwGb-F5uHFzR3dHtnNppWqvOvC0VkpNIX-Ntspb41JWw-rb8JbcF22cZlI/s400/funny-pictures-the-toilet-trooper-KMX.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344959460999017458" border="0" /></a><br /><img src="file:///C:/Users/Margaret/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot-3.jpg" alt="" />My recipe for successful potty training:<br /><br />1. Make sure that your child and his best friend are struggling with potty training at the same time.<br />2. Go spend a week at said friend's house.<br />3. Be generous in the allotment of skittles after each successful toilet experience.<br />4. The children will take care of gloating to each other that they got a potty treat.<br />5. Whichever one did not get the most recent potty treat will dash to the bathroom to earn his/her own reward (heaven forbid that Becca has more treats than Go-go! And there is no way that Becca is going to stand idly by while Go-go eats treats without her!).<br />6. Hope that it sticks after Go-go returns home (so far, so good).<br /><br />So, should I publish a book, or what? Doesn't everyone have a week to have a giant slumber party with their best friend? And forget the fact that Go-go will be four (!?!) in a few months - aren't I a prodigy (of course it's all about me!)? And, of course, we're also going to ignore the fact that we've only mastered #1 - I'll just write a sequel when I discover the brilliant and innovative method to tackle #2.<br /><br />And if you're one of those people who just roll their eyes whenever the potty training topic comes up, roll away. I'm rolling my own eyes as I type this post, but can't resist sharing my glee and relief that the silly kid who can tell us the difference between a noun and a verb can finally pee where he's supposed to! Hooray for Go-go (and Becca!) !!Markiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892999128918044808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084083198502673055.post-21414870581804583892009-05-22T19:26:00.002-04:002009-05-22T21:13:57.640-04:00Bedtime SongAs I put the kids down to bed tonight, Go-go asked for one more song. I started to sing my favorite lullaby, Edelweiss, but he cut me off and said, "No, Mom! A Jesus song!" OK, I know more than a few of those, so I thought this was an easy request. I started off with 'Tell Me the Stories of Jesus' which he listened to politely and then said, "No, Mom! Not that one." So I started to sing 'Jesus Once Was a Little Child.' This time, he only let me get through one line before telling me that I still had the wrong one. 'I Am a Child of God' didn't go over any better.<div><div><br /></div><div>By this time, I was running out of ideas. "What Jesus song do you want me to sing?" </div><div><br /></div><div>"Oh, you know, Mom. My Jesus song."</div><div><br /></div><div>"Well, remind me how it goes, OK."</div><div><br /></div><div>The tune was eerily similar to the song they play at the beginning of a movie with the dancing soda cups and hot dogs. You know, the one that goes, "Let's all go to the lobby, let's all go to the lobby, let's all go to the lobby, and get ourselves some snacks."</div><div><br /></div><div>Go-go proceeded to sing with gusto and at the top of his lungs:<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>"Jesus had a transformer!</div><div>Jesus had a transformer!</div><div>Jesus had a transformer!</div><div>And He likes to fight with it!"</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Markiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892999128918044808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084083198502673055.post-15333051324127696932009-05-21T00:27:00.013-04:002009-05-21T02:18:01.560-04:00Of Pilgrims and ProjectsI was about to start this post with the sentence, "I've always struggled to find my place in the church and in the world as a woman and as a Mormon," but I realized that, although I liked the sound of it, it would be a lie. In my early adulthood, I felt perfectly at ease with myself and my church. Granted, I was a Democrat at BYU ("What!?! I'm pretty sure it's in the temple recommend interview somewhere that you must vote Republican!"), but my testimony was fairly mainstream and strong. I'd heard of the feminist organization on campus (VOICE), but somehow never made it to a meeting to check it out. And I had never considered most of the issues I'm sure they were talking about at the time (long, long ago in an early '90's galaxy far, far away). I followed a fairly traditional path for a Mormon girl; I went on a mission, got married in the temple, graduated from college (finally), and had some kids (finally). True, I threw in a little graduate school along the way, but although that may not be typical, it certainly isn't way out there.<div><br /></div><div>Fast forward a few (OK, many) years later and I can say, "I currently struggle to find my place in the church and in the world as a woman and as a Mormon." Problems with a male-centric hierarchy that seemed normal and natural to me before, now grate on me. I find it confusing to love a church when I don't love everything it stands for or promotes. People I meet in the outside world make invalid assumptions about me when they find out I'm LDS, and people in my ward throw out casual comments about those apostate feminists and liberals. </div><div><br /></div><div>I was lucky to land in Pittsburgh around the same time that I was growing more into my own sense of self. There I met a group of amazing women who showed by example that it is possible to navigate the space that includes an awareness about and intolerance of sexism in the church and a strong testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel. A few weeks after I moved to Pittsburgh in 2000, a stranger (now my dear, dear friend Christine) invited me to a mini retreat held at a cabin up in the mountains. She described it as "a relief society gathering for liberals." What had I said to blow my cover?! How did she know?! Whatever I had done or said, she was right that I needed it. Here was a group of women who were not afraid to talk about anything and everything. Nothing was taboo, having questions was not considered a sign of doubt, and having doubts was not considered a sign of unworthiness. That spring, I attended a similar, but larger gathering in Indiana - the Midwest Pilgrims Retreat. It's been a good place to work out my frustrations, vent about my pet peeves, explore my doubts, renew my faith, connect with amazing women, and have a good time.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtYgoV6GvZTw5BGLFwe0cq4dUtC1y3GpLw7iZeRqAZ1p7DPK8Nx9SsQsjtjk0MYfwlKCXwPQXh4HaFCRqxr8d9XY21M5k95KkK38VmEL2jL9vW4MWxuZG7Kgkuo0HUFbS5IE36ZbE9PfA/s1600-h/gabbing.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtYgoV6GvZTw5BGLFwe0cq4dUtC1y3GpLw7iZeRqAZ1p7DPK8Nx9SsQsjtjk0MYfwlKCXwPQXh4HaFCRqxr8d9XY21M5k95KkK38VmEL2jL9vW4MWxuZG7Kgkuo0HUFbS5IE36ZbE9PfA/s400/gabbing.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338145751938131426" /></a><br /></div><div>This year, the group from Pittsburgh was in charge of planning Midwest Pilgrims Retreat in Chicago and it has been a great project for me. I put together the website (which you can check out <a href="http://littlelit.com/midwestpilgrims/index.html">here</a> if you're interested in the program we put on), ran registration, made a labyrinth (with Michelle - see below), and led one of the workshops. Having something tangible to plan and to do that also involved coordinating with lots of other grown-ups on a daily basis brought me out of a funk that had me in its grasp all winter. Yes, spring, sunshine, new house, and new neighborhood to look forward to all helped as well, but I have a renewed belief in the value of projects. </div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMGqTtseRVsV8qhijLSXqhyQQcZZJS-GKd7vVfEXAl_w0xwpWhNJSpONXebXyuIIhyphenhyphen54_FMpciSwVspEiOj8A_wvhn5pYC-Q6cRCB-ZW4kirhnGLUfACqIJtmM85g_6F1tPQtnIBwhRDE/s1600-h/labyrinth.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMGqTtseRVsV8qhijLSXqhyQQcZZJS-GKd7vVfEXAl_w0xwpWhNJSpONXebXyuIIhyphenhyphen54_FMpciSwVspEiOj8A_wvhn5pYC-Q6cRCB-ZW4kirhnGLUfACqIJtmM85g_6F1tPQtnIBwhRDE/s400/labyrinth.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338146180242628674" /></a><br /></div><div>The workshop I led was a discussion about an article in Dialogue: "How to Worship our Mother in Heaven (Without Getting Excommunicated)". Right about here is where half of my cousins have gasped and started to worry about my eternal soul (a few of them started worrying back when I talked about being a liberal feminist). But, don't worry, it was a great discussion and I learned many ways to incorporate this important and unique aspect of Mormon doctrine into my life and mind. And besides, I have so many questions and concerns about other things that many consider fundamental to salvation that a little speculation about the feminine divine is absolutely not even on the top ten list of things you should worry about with me (and a very special hello to my R.S. president who is probably reading this - Hi, Eliza!)</div><div><br /></div><div>The retreat itself was rejuvenating. So many of my friends who are still in Pittsburgh or who have moved away from Pittsburgh were there. Below is a shot of all the current and former Pittsburghers who attended (and two are missing from the picture). Twenty-two of the seventy-four attendees were from Pittsburgh (now or at some point in the recent past). I don't know that I'll ever find another group like this in a Mormon congregation, and I haven't had much luck converting even a small group in my current suburban ward (can't wait to try it in the city ward).</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKOVjSKeFf9G1_6YrynjjnX1daWhxInYtpaLPEidrzrCtZcFVGZHz0Iv9fwOy2mbDXlFgCHelJHsOeNp1N9RoGiBm80YwSc8Iqw4Zq7h8wiOMLEx50bFReshhlF1oV1qIYbrF-DtItKuY/s1600-h/Pittsburgh+diaspora.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKOVjSKeFf9G1_6YrynjjnX1daWhxInYtpaLPEidrzrCtZcFVGZHz0Iv9fwOy2mbDXlFgCHelJHsOeNp1N9RoGiBm80YwSc8Iqw4Zq7h8wiOMLEx50bFReshhlF1oV1qIYbrF-DtItKuY/s400/Pittsburgh+diaspora.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338145312821861810" /></a><br /></div><div>So, to sum up - I love my friends. I love my Mormon-ness. I love Midwest Pilgrims. I love my crazy ideas and ideals. I love Chicago. I love Pittsburgh. I love holding the camera at arm's length and hoping against all previous experience in my life that I'll get a decent shot (see below). I love a weekend without the kids. I love my family (liberal and conservative sides). I even love the struggle to find my place in the world and in the church. After all, how boring would it be to just go back to being comfortable.</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIgvXvsjbXxEIOpnbOYEchoujWCHinZqxzvwZXP8gXebDobj4hdkzBB5UnbKwdtppf28WGNbrn1N78Yx-IsCdS9L_UoasE4rOu6aVdewkEh8gu6lGEPb8J84C7FizMqKVuJnOys2iLApg/s1600-h/collage.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIgvXvsjbXxEIOpnbOYEchoujWCHinZqxzvwZXP8gXebDobj4hdkzBB5UnbKwdtppf28WGNbrn1N78Yx-IsCdS9L_UoasE4rOu6aVdewkEh8gu6lGEPb8J84C7FizMqKVuJnOys2iLApg/s400/collage.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338155280146488018" /></a>Markiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892999128918044808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084083198502673055.post-53813549301387795752009-04-27T00:26:00.007-04:002009-04-27T01:18:06.289-04:00Welcome to the American Dream<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtp1AO7oLbyGKRmlUdWsZPIgdlyQBPoglt7TMUzxkkHyp7KfB-uln0ZBs7vKlXWzp020dBN2CE2QlVk1058lZsPQCRyL-wwEco0E6KYCGaEuPASazByw6WRHMJrrcFe33Wtg4hEDDwLiI/s1600-h/Audubon+House+Outside"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 312px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtp1AO7oLbyGKRmlUdWsZPIgdlyQBPoglt7TMUzxkkHyp7KfB-uln0ZBs7vKlXWzp020dBN2CE2QlVk1058lZsPQCRyL-wwEco0E6KYCGaEuPASazByw6WRHMJrrcFe33Wtg4hEDDwLiI/s400/Audubon+House+Outside" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329232869490475890" /></a><br /><br />So, we did it! In the last whirlwind of a week, we've gotten word that the funding for Erik's dream job will be ongoing, got ourselves a real estate agent and pre-approval for a loan, looked at some houses, fell in love, made an offer, and bought ourselves a house!! Of course, everything is still contingent on the inspection, etc., but we are thrilled. <div><br /></div><div>The house has 3 bedrooms and a full bath on the top floor. On the 2nd floor are a living room, dining room, eat-in kitchen, pantry, half bath, bedroom (office), screened-in porch, and 2-car attached garage (something I never thought we'd get on the kind of older home we wanted). The basement has a finished playroom, an unfinished workroom (that I plan to finish as another office), laundry, and storage. It's on a corner with a fenced yard and it even comes with a swingset. It's a 1930's home which gives it all of the great character I love - hardwood floors, built in bookcases, lovely fireplace, archway between the living and dining rooms. But, the current owners have made a lot of great updates - new bathrooms, new roof, new windows, new boiler, etc. Plus, they have great taste in paint and decor - we can just move right in. It's on the smaller side of our square footage range, but the spaces are all perfect. It's got a very 'not too big house' feel to me - smart spaces with character and charm as opposed to big empty space for the sake of space. </div><div><br /></div><div>The neighborhood is great. We're right across the street from a tip-top rated elementary school with a fabulous playground. The library and some cute shops are a quick walk away (and there are sidewalks everywhere - the lack of which are a major source of stress in my current life). There are a TON of kids in the neighborhood - I've met the mom across the street who has two kids the same ages as ours. She assured me that Go-go and Mui-mui will never lack for neighborhood playmates. And we'll be changing wards - we'll be in the city ward which has a really nice vibe. </div><div><br /></div><div>The timing has been amazing and a blessing. We've seen a lot of houses online and have been doing the open house circuit for the past month and a half; we've seen several that had one or two things missing from our lists or could work if they had to. But this house came on the market just a few days after we decided we could go ahead and buy and we were able to get to it first. We'll close at the end of July. Here are some pictures (obviously not our furniture): </div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWr0QdNAImC4OUJFiIiwQFwDqK3RsCPp25t1m2mAyPRtqmM8S-BcRvI8D2I4y1tMuzykDqp1AHwZxB_ulsUWwatzOhfwMIKFI8EKuRFLcy5C9T-kXgzAlB-vHZdu55Z8dgoLqRKo0r3ws/s1600-h/Audubon+House+Outside"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPCAdX_0iMjHWT0egZ2ISofEMpTv1jAK1r3M58N2EKmo35wVVI6WJqjMQYkR64yYjD__cv7VtMtdntMc_khoQGeSic82BzGjMyy-Zq9XmOquNpUg-Qpr87H1F_fFRRJR5BxO_bVhQN2hg/s1600-h/Audubon+House+Living+Room"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 312px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPCAdX_0iMjHWT0egZ2ISofEMpTv1jAK1r3M58N2EKmo35wVVI6WJqjMQYkR64yYjD__cv7VtMtdntMc_khoQGeSic82BzGjMyy-Zq9XmOquNpUg-Qpr87H1F_fFRRJR5BxO_bVhQN2hg/s400/Audubon+House+Living+Room" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329232018774111090" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikkugw48HXcD6gpQrbqwlZTsAB2p1oLlwt5ctKiNjbQgQ7Wg1xZj85ElqiVBI76XSp33aqvrA4lEtO1fQ-_LcDymPsr_WwZykG2my6L7UggLHnoO-v1oy2m6jyEJImtwlZ7S6fuBi_zPc/s1600-h/Audubon+House+Dining+Room"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 312px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikkugw48HXcD6gpQrbqwlZTsAB2p1oLlwt5ctKiNjbQgQ7Wg1xZj85ElqiVBI76XSp33aqvrA4lEtO1fQ-_LcDymPsr_WwZykG2my6L7UggLHnoO-v1oy2m6jyEJImtwlZ7S6fuBi_zPc/s400/Audubon+House+Dining+Room" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329232015911916562" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtQXvUh92nTvGz3Yixso7yiYJffbQHYptljFwUQl6HWq8SpH_ocXSL4U3mGo_Q1_lO9lDJ_5NWqHQW0ker7zVOm9crtpyzqi2SQhSsHAJRDsAHfoZmm-J14zFPj7PdjM49rE3s3wrQ8eQ/s1600-h/Audubon+House+Kitchen+1"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 312px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtQXvUh92nTvGz3Yixso7yiYJffbQHYptljFwUQl6HWq8SpH_ocXSL4U3mGo_Q1_lO9lDJ_5NWqHQW0ker7zVOm9crtpyzqi2SQhSsHAJRDsAHfoZmm-J14zFPj7PdjM49rE3s3wrQ8eQ/s400/Audubon+House+Kitchen+1" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329231778258242866" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkKAoc6-Sbdn04bIferuWxlyEjHxnakxzk9i8yxaHyvEKdzTRq1KXf1EpXngxKhDywkwPtKc2TfcLBHmvoOD3zE5_D6OnjXuzQiQtqsGbbm9xBdUflvK_qj8HYLzgR-W2m0-RWuiHAi0A/s1600-h/Audubon+House+Kitchen+2"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 312px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkKAoc6-Sbdn04bIferuWxlyEjHxnakxzk9i8yxaHyvEKdzTRq1KXf1EpXngxKhDywkwPtKc2TfcLBHmvoOD3zE5_D6OnjXuzQiQtqsGbbm9xBdUflvK_qj8HYLzgR-W2m0-RWuiHAi0A/s400/Audubon+House+Kitchen+2" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329231779258564898" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnAQlv-FTJpb_Abt_JFE1Y6uv_pOfKnjVVoi6LkXO1RZdEIejvMyv96csxXYt4Bsj0LwC35ohAY3hg7xfXBkDiJTKpa1oXmi9O3NSGRGgkv4ENUQIWNYvU7zAtkz1jDr_OR9LRtQc7K3E/s1600-h/Audubon+House+Master+Bedroom"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 312px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnAQlv-FTJpb_Abt_JFE1Y6uv_pOfKnjVVoi6LkXO1RZdEIejvMyv96csxXYt4Bsj0LwC35ohAY3hg7xfXBkDiJTKpa1oXmi9O3NSGRGgkv4ENUQIWNYvU7zAtkz1jDr_OR9LRtQc7K3E/s400/Audubon+House+Master+Bedroom" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329231780293569282" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKT0zQMM_dFa5YSZBca6A58LL4XOk1X84ccLKyowpDbB1zGV5NHNzDhSxaCyxZMXyagdlkDeEwv79ORtez9prQlHdi3xB0ks6l8rQmrEf_6Y4O_eQ6DdFnyy4mFAtZ0ChfFvAMe1kwt7g/s1600-h/Audubon+House+Bedroom+2"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 312px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKT0zQMM_dFa5YSZBca6A58LL4XOk1X84ccLKyowpDbB1zGV5NHNzDhSxaCyxZMXyagdlkDeEwv79ORtez9prQlHdi3xB0ks6l8rQmrEf_6Y4O_eQ6DdFnyy4mFAtZ0ChfFvAMe1kwt7g/s400/Audubon+House+Bedroom+2" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329231777658405458" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8pw2XpGpbFBhr6mbwbtlSRGhgoNPakFRSFf7Nb7ov6ASapa3fdIWMZFo9GiAaolEdp2TdE7RqV0QGeYInFi_UjlZCVt6fthZiWbCxw7s7d37Lc167f2E59UnWAhEv60K2nYI1o8RpyCU/s1600-h/Audubon+House+Basement+Playroom"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 312px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8pw2XpGpbFBhr6mbwbtlSRGhgoNPakFRSFf7Nb7ov6ASapa3fdIWMZFo9GiAaolEdp2TdE7RqV0QGeYInFi_UjlZCVt6fthZiWbCxw7s7d37Lc167f2E59UnWAhEv60K2nYI1o8RpyCU/s400/Audubon+House+Basement+Playroom" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329231777427853714" /></a>Sorry to gush - we're property virgins and I was really dreading the whole process. So far it had been great and we both feel incredibly calm about everything. I'll let you know if I still feel the same way when we close.</div>Markiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892999128918044808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084083198502673055.post-16425343465401773802009-04-18T01:42:00.010-04:002009-04-18T02:39:23.302-04:00What I learned in SunbeamsEvery week, I pick Go-go up from his Sunbeam class at church. When he sees me in the doorway, he shouts, "Mommy!" and starts to run for me. <br />Every week, his teacher calls out, "Wait a second!" and hands him the picture he drew along with any other craft project or handout they did that day. <br />Every week, I ask him to tell me about his picture, and every week he replies, "It's a big monster!"<br /><br />A few weeks ago, I suggested that maybe he should draw a picture about the lesson they had in class, or maybe just a picture about Jesus.<br /><br />The boy does not disappoint. Here is his picture from last Sunday:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL9N2oQ4vSQuNJkpOCTsasAbdKi7Hz4SaXFffcHRM2v-YBwsbCk53iy-b9Nz_Py5QTtKfmK_O7zsOSA8SymlSW5if_Q5bfgnSJXZjUBvZ19pBvtqQ4H4GTewucO0pFNCaHfnQsIevCTF4/s1600-h/The+monster+who+scared+Jesus+Cropped.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 262px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL9N2oQ4vSQuNJkpOCTsasAbdKi7Hz4SaXFffcHRM2v-YBwsbCk53iy-b9Nz_Py5QTtKfmK_O7zsOSA8SymlSW5if_Q5bfgnSJXZjUBvZ19pBvtqQ4H4GTewucO0pFNCaHfnQsIevCTF4/s400/The+monster+who+scared+Jesus+Cropped.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325907015348117858" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">"It's the big monster that scared Jesus!"<br /></div>Markiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892999128918044808noreply@blogger.com