tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37453642060299751332024-03-18T00:03:01.782-07:00Life on DecaturUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger94125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3745364206029975133.post-4711956590964362832011-03-02T15:39:00.000-08:002011-03-02T16:45:02.474-08:00{on a wednesday}<div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fbsUjuZI0fM/TW7YAx_iwjI/AAAAAAAABmE/Hjm5_7ydr5w/s1600/068.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579634496290079282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fbsUjuZI0fM/TW7YAx_iwjI/AAAAAAAABmE/Hjm5_7ydr5w/s576/068.JPG" border="0" /></a> {this photo has nothing to do with my ramblings. just something i like to look at when i walk through my front door.}</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="center">It is 4:54pm and I am wiped. Wishing that when I quit the coffee 8 weeks ago, I kept the emergency bag of Starbucks French Roast instead of handing it off to sister. Should have known there would be days like this.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">My alarm went off at 6:15 this morning. It was still dark outside. We slept with our window open and when I woke, the dark sky and the morning chill quickly married and left me no other choice but to hit snooze and burrow under my blue fuzzy blanket. Best Christmas gift thus far. Maybe a tie with the Kindle Mr C gifted me.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">I reason with myself almost every morning. What time do I really need to be up? Am I working out today? If so then that allows for more time to burrow in bed. If not, then it's up for an early shower. Although that means getting up first and claiming the first shower with ALL of the hot water. That's like the house prize of the day. The warmest shower award. The first question out of Mr C's mouth in the morning is, "Do I have hot water?" I always answer with an enthusiastic, "YES!" all the while thinking in my head.."no babe, your shower is gonna suck."</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Today I did not work out. I had the hot shower instead.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">I had Morgan to chorus at 7:25. Bagels in the toaster by 7:30. And a pretty decent morning hug from Landon while I searched for matching socks in the laundry room.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">I finished readying myself for the day stopping once to climb on top of Mr C and wake him up. I always put my cold hands on his back and <strong>then</strong> ask if he wants to feel how cold my hands are. He always says no. I laugh every time because my hands freeze in the morning. </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Called the school to excuse Landon for his dental appointment and then headed towards Mikey's room to wake him up. </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">8:50 rolls around and I run Mikey to school. Try to get a little conversation out of him on the way but I got nothing. We took the kids to a hockey game last night and got home kind of late. Mikey was up late finishing Social Studies and Spanish and woke up feeling the repercussions this morning. Excuse for being cranky/quiet.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Mr C headed to the gym around 9:45 leaving me and Landon home. Landon took a 15 minute shower. I heard him singing Katy Perry. Couldn't bring myself to tell him to get out of the shower already.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Made the bed. {rarely happens}</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Head off to Landon's dental appointment and get 45 minutes to myself to read one of the 4 books I have going. </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">No cavities. Head to AJ's for a sugar cookie.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Home for 15 minutes before I head to the school to fetch Morgan. Extra early release Wednesday.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Home.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Off to get Mikey. Run through McDonalds for vanilla cones. Sunny and 80 outside. </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Welcome Spring.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Email from Morgan's sewing instructor. Bronchitis. No sewing. Awesome.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Blog surf/cry for 30 minutes before unbending craving for Mexican food takes over. </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Take out from Rosas in the form of enchiladas and bean burros with rice.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Satisfied and full.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Now it's 5:30. Still wiped and wishing for coffee. </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Going to close all blinds, change clocks and convince kids it's bedtime.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Goodnight.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="left"></div><div align="center"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3745364206029975133.post-1782275085328291912011-02-28T19:58:00.001-08:002011-02-28T20:32:58.879-08:00just like me<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rVZYXgKGLHQ/TWxvQSsU8-I/AAAAAAAABl8/QVq_ow_32HU/s1600/life%2B064.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578956364091552738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rVZYXgKGLHQ/TWxvQSsU8-I/AAAAAAAABl8/QVq_ow_32HU/s576/life%2B064.JPG" border="0" /></a> There have been so many times recently that I have thought to myself that Morgan is just like me. My sister says it on a weekly basis anymore....'she's just like you." How could I ever get tired of hearing that.<br /><br />She's the perfect amount of silly and creative...her mind does not stop. Just like me. Her bedroom floor is covered with craft supplies, stickers, scrappy pieces of paper that she refuses to throw away, scissors and the like. Her scrapbook is always open and being fancied in all sorts of ways. Her pages are never completely finished. She sees it...and then creates it. I'd love to just spend one hour in her mind while she's creating. <br /><br />She's overly sensitive when it comes to animals. Just like me. We both cover our eyes or change the channel when the commercials with the wounded and neglected animals comes on. Too much for us to handle. We grab our fuzzy dogs and hug them immediately. <br /><br />She takes her shoes off the moment she gets home. Just like me. Everyday gets better when feet are bare and naked. We both know that secret and discovered it when we were little. This is the reason why mr c comes home to all of my shoes next to his side of the bed (and that drives him nuts!).<br /><br />This girl is who I was when I was 11. Only, she's a lot more confident than I was. Thank goodness for that. I missed out on so much because I was <strong>so</strong> shy. If I could go back...I would change that first.<br /><br />It's the most amazing feeling to know that this girl that I made, made me too. The power that my motherhood has with her is great and my love for her is unbending. <br /><br />This girl is the best version of me.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3745364206029975133.post-37116686381522559002011-02-24T09:27:00.000-08:002011-02-24T09:40:34.706-08:00in the shop...<div align="center">currently in the <a href="http://www.dressedupboutique.com/">shop</a>:</div><br /><div align="center">my new favorite bag</div><br /><div align="center">i named it the</div><br /><div align="center">green with envy bag</div><br /><div align="center">perfect for spring...</div><br /><div align="center">great hardware and lots of usable interior space with a few</div><br /><div align="center">organizer pockets as well as zippered pockets...</div><br /><div align="center">it has the greatest cheetah interior lining too</div><br /><div align="center">inspired by jimmy choo</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">$45</div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lFAYNMo3-h4/TWaWDc67foI/AAAAAAAABl0/CyVOyjCOg_k/s1600/dresseupstyleandflirty%2B012.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577310174592073346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lFAYNMo3-h4/TWaWDc67foI/AAAAAAAABl0/CyVOyjCOg_k/s576/dresseupstyleandflirty%2B012.JPG" border="0" /></a> if green is not your color...</div><br /><div align="center">i just ordered it in apricot as well...</div><br /><div align="center">my favorite way to add to color to the wardrobe...</div><br /><div align="center">a stunning bag in a fabulous shade</div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://www.dressedupboutique.com/">shop here</a> </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3745364206029975133.post-29804220108002207632011-02-23T19:17:00.000-08:002011-02-23T21:02:49.597-08:00resurfacing...<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c0XnF-e6QP8/TWXP1kaK7fI/AAAAAAAABls/4Buepn6NhuM/s1600/107.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577092232781688306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c0XnF-e6QP8/TWXP1kaK7fI/AAAAAAAABls/4Buepn6NhuM/s576/107.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:verdana;">(</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">morgans birthday cake from 2 weeks ago)</span><br /><br /><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">i feel like i should go back a few months and play catch up and journal all that has been happening on decatur street...i just don't have that kind of energy, time or patience right now...</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">i almost feel lost right now, not knowing which direction to take my words...</div><div align="center">i think ill just resurface with some thoughts and updates...</div><div align="center">***</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">2 weeks ago we celebrated morgans 11th birthday...</div><div align="center">it was low key and exactly as birthdays should be in my book...family, a few friends, trays of food and a birthday cake from barbs bakery (if you live in phoenix then email me if you want the most delicious marble/butter cream layer cake. ever.)</div><div align="center">morgan celebrated with us...and then asked me if she could {finally} shave.</div><div align="center">what?</div><div align="center">i was a solid 13 years old before my mother let me pick up a razor and shave my peach fuzzed gams... mom was out of town when i was good and ready...so i had to ask my dad to call mom and get the ok...then my dad asked me if i needed help. i thanked him but turned down the offer and emerged out of the bath 3 band aids later.</div><div align="center">perhaps i should have taken dad up on the intro to shaving class...</div><div align="center">morgan only needed 1 band aid.</div><div align="center">***</div><div align="center">2 months ago mr c signed our family up for the gym around the corner...</div><div align="center">i have never been the sort of gal who frequents the gym...</div><div align="center">but i told mr c that he was not allowed to go and get all trim and foxy without me so i sort of had to start working out...</div><div align="center">i dont know exactly when or how it happened...maybe on the elliptical...but i got hooked...</div><div align="center">something in me clicked and i started to really get into it...truth be told here...i like the way i feel now that i'm working out and i think i might even have a different kind of energy in my day...</div><div align="center">it is very helpful with my workout routine to close my eyes and picture myself in a new bathing suit while at the beach...even more helpful now that mr c has booked our beach house for july</div><div align="center">***</div><div align="center">7 weeks ago i gave up coffee...</div><div align="center">cold turkey</div><div align="center">i had 5 very long days of excruciating pain in my head</div><div align="center">i was useless</div><div align="center">i was wiped out</div><div align="center">caffeine withdrawals are wicked man</div><div align="center">i told mr c to remind me how much fun that withdrawal was the next time i feel like hitting the java full time</div><div align="center">do you know that i frequented starbucks every single day, often twice a day at 5 bucks a pop?</div><div align="center">no thanks. im healed.</div><div align="center">***</div><div align="center">i have a new relationship with my day planner</div><div align="center">since opening our <a href="http://www.dressedupboutique.com/">boutique</a>...i have to absolutely scribble everything down on those white lined pages...i mean everything goes in there...</div><div align="center">since i am running our little shop from our home...it's really hard for me to carve out time for work...i get caught up in running the house, running errands, leaving to meet sister for lunch, spending time with mr c on his days off and when i realize how much shop work is to be done...it's time for bed...so now...i have to schedule the hours that i want to work down in my planner as well as schedule when ill work on the house and do errands and so forth...i am much more productive when there is a list staring at me waiting for its check marks...</div><div align="center">***</div><div align="center">last month mikey filled out his paperwork for his first year of high school..</div><div align="center">there is now way that i could have been prepared for that</div><div align="center">it was hard to let him choose his own classes and know that he was capable of doing so...</div><div align="center">i wanted to redirect his thinking and erase what he chose but i couldn't do it...</div><div align="center">i had to let him start to open those darn wings...</div><div align="center">***</div><div align="center">so now that i have a little less weight on my blogging chest...ill be updating <a href="http://www.dressedupboutique.com/">our shop </a>with some of the new spring pieces that arrived last week as well as ordering some more handbags.</div><div align="center">its really cool to be a boutique owner.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3745364206029975133.post-24305800050143724382011-01-13T13:26:00.000-08:002011-01-13T13:36:43.847-08:00polka dotted tights and right now...<div align="center"> </div><div align="center">right now i am:</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TS9uog_u8bI/AAAAAAAABlg/gVDIdrjG54I/s1600/060.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561785707156926898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TS9uog_u8bI/AAAAAAAABlg/gVDIdrjG54I/s576/060.JPG" border="0" /></a> wishing i could trade outfits with this little chicken today...</div><div align="center">up to my eyeballs in photos for <a href="http://www.dressedupboutique.com/">the shop</a>...</div><div align="center">planning 2 weeks worth of dinners today,</div><div align="center">have you done that?...it's time consuming but i hope it'll pay off and save time in the end...</div><div align="center">listening to landon constantly ask me run him up to the store...</div><div align="center">and ignoring, once again, the enormous pile of laundry waiting to be folded and put away.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><br /> </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3745364206029975133.post-81741180881435144182011-01-03T18:53:00.000-08:002011-01-03T19:34:28.130-08:00new business<div align="center">so...it's been awhile...</div><div align="center">and...</div><div align="center">when i say that lots of things have been happening around here...</div><div align="center">i'm not kidding...</div><div align="center">you see...in the past few months</div><div align="center">mr c and i have decided to follow a small but meaningful dream</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">we are the proud new owners of...</div><div align="center">Dressed Up Boutique</div><div align="center">a unique and eclectic online store</div><div align="center">we are still setting up our site...</div><div align="center">organizing photo shoots with all of the garments that</div><div align="center">we bought on our first buying trip in LA...</div><div align="center">we have ladies stopping by daily to buy right out of our home...</div><div align="center">have been invited to 6 vendor parties to sell our goods in the last month...</div><div align="center">have been ordering new garments from new suppliers in the fashion district...</div><div align="center">it has been busy...but so so good...</div><div align="center">we are so grateful for how well this little venture has started and for the support along our journey...</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">we plan to have our website up and running in the next couple of weeks...</div><div align="center">with a new blog designed just for our shop...</div><div align="center">right now...we are enjoying every baby step of this venture</div><div align="center">hoping that it leads to a big step into our own store front someday...</div><div align="center">but for now...our new 'clients' enjoy hosting parties where we bring our items to their home and set up a private boutique party for their friends...</div><div align="center">it's so much fun...</div><div align="center">i've spent about 15 years of my life dreaming about doing this...</div><div align="center">i'm thoroughly elated</div><div align="center">...</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><a href="http://www.dressedupboutique.com/">http://www.dressedupboutique.com/</a></div><div align="center"><a href="http://www.dressedupboutique.blogspot.com/">www.dressedupboutique.blogspot.com</a></div><div align="center">(still in the works...but coming soon)</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3745364206029975133.post-13091256713015611022010-09-07T17:28:00.000-07:002010-09-07T20:56:19.358-07:00seven....so a few weeks ago, we celebrated landon's 7th. and by postponing the celebration here on this little blog...maybe that was my way of not accepting that the boy is really 7. seven. all of his bits and pieces including that great big heart of his are indeed seven. how is it that my smallest is this big? all that i can do is plead...has anyone gotten closer to figuring out how to make time slow down or better yet, stand still?<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TIbfvhg-m1I/AAAAAAAABlE/R7E6LHRk-SA/s1600/315.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514340801305287506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TIbfvhg-m1I/AAAAAAAABlE/R7E6LHRk-SA/s576/315.JPG" border="0" /></a> our celebrating started early in the morning when the sun was just making it's debut on this hot august day...tradition in this house dictates one gift before school...just one little treat to tide over the tingling anticipation of unravelling all things wrapped in pretty packages all snug in their bows...<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TIbfHERVMUI/AAAAAAAABk8/f-2XV70V5jU/s1600/287.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514340106260263234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TIbfHERVMUI/AAAAAAAABk8/f-2XV70V5jU/s576/287.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TIbfG6ZPLWI/AAAAAAAABk0/USYyaCufRAc/s1600/297.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514340103609068898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TIbfG6ZPLWI/AAAAAAAABk0/USYyaCufRAc/s576/297.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />he had no idea that his little treat...his before school goodie was the grand prize...the itouch he has begged and pleaded case for since first laying eyes on his brothers...mama did good...<br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TIbfGVM0V_I/AAAAAAAABks/HFZPFu1uIQg/s1600/301.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514340093624866802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TIbfGVM0V_I/AAAAAAAABks/HFZPFu1uIQg/s576/301.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />we celebrated simply just as we did for mikey...and again, we did it well. simple does not mean missing out or forgetting about the little things...because those are the best bits of a celebration...the you can count ons and of course you'll wake up to a decked out house of streamers and cut out birthday numbers...<br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TIbfF2lDXqI/AAAAAAAABkk/lJT49noRT8E/s1600/320.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514340085405015714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TIbfF2lDXqI/AAAAAAAABkk/lJT49noRT8E/s576/320.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> <em>surprise balls full of trinkets</em></span></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">unwrap the crepe paper balls to find </span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">trinkets hidden in layers</span></em><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>big hit with the littles<br /></em></span><br /><br /></div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TIbfFev1rmI/AAAAAAAABkc/kXQ86qNS5KU/s1600/323.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514340079007805026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TIbfFev1rmI/AAAAAAAABkc/kXQ86qNS5KU/s576/323.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />birthdays mean celebrating the years of life under your belt, the years of life to come and everything wading between...and just when i stop to realize how fast <em>it is</em> all swooshing by...i am seriously thinking that we need to start celebrating more often and even bigger...how about a half birthday celebration?...</div><div></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TIbdJ7UDNgI/AAAAAAAABkU/HAbfFJ71i8s/s1600/380.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514337956372100610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TIbdJ7UDNgI/AAAAAAAABkU/HAbfFJ71i8s/s576/380.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />...because when i was pregnant with my first all those years ago, and every other mama that i talked to about motherhood said the same thing, "...enjoy it, it goes by so fast." ...and i listened but never absorbed it in my chest where all good bits of advise and memories burn inside of me...and it has. it has gone by so fast. so now...i live and breathe in my motherhood more than i ever had...and birthdays are up there on the tippy top of the scale of when i feel that burn the most. when i witness how a little effort mixed with streamers and love can take my littles so far and make memory of such a day. and i know and breathe this because i remember these days when i was a little girl...and the little efforts from my mother still sit on the shelves of my memories...ready to pull out and replay whenever i need them.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TIbdJJM70XI/AAAAAAAABkM/Zc0bsnvtbAU/s1600/388.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514337942920483186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TIbdJJM70XI/AAAAAAAABkM/Zc0bsnvtbAU/s576/388.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TIbdIOGa90I/AAAAAAAABkE/qZ22yDRyo7E/s1600/389.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514337927055472450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TIbdIOGa90I/AAAAAAAABkE/qZ22yDRyo7E/s576/389.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />and boy was it a day for making memoris.</div><div><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TIbdHb-WMYI/AAAAAAAABj8/BT4QxyogvXg/s1600/390.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514337913599832450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TIbdHb-WMYI/AAAAAAAABj8/BT4QxyogvXg/s576/390.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em><span style="font-size:85%;">do you see how small he is in that photo on the right, smack dab in the middle of brother and sis?</span></em><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TIbdGwOmiJI/AAAAAAAABj0/iKkDeCfIpQg/s1600/393.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514337901856852114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TIbdGwOmiJI/AAAAAAAABj0/iKkDeCfIpQg/s576/393.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TIbbVcSpWUI/AAAAAAAABjs/qY4iLjnWisw/s1600/404.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514335955179886914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TIbbVcSpWUI/AAAAAAAABjs/qY4iLjnWisw/s576/404.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TIbbUv-oPpI/AAAAAAAABjk/iP2DWpWLpng/s1600/417.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514335943284768402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TIbbUv-oPpI/AAAAAAAABjk/iP2DWpWLpng/s576/417.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />the children crowded around the table to eat pizza and nosh on candy and special treats...bites of chocolate and popcorn interrupted only by joke telling and laughing...<br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TIbbUFm62vI/AAAAAAAABjc/gbdxpvW6R4o/s1600/436.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514335931911035634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TIbbUFm62vI/AAAAAAAABjc/gbdxpvW6R4o/s576/436.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TIbbTh1gpOI/AAAAAAAABjU/m17b5fi7ats/s1600/442.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514335922308556002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TIbbTh1gpOI/AAAAAAAABjU/m17b5fi7ats/s576/442.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TIbbS2jQukI/AAAAAAAABjM/DRfkO_gACoc/s1600/456.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514335910689290818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TIbbS2jQukI/AAAAAAAABjM/DRfkO_gACoc/s576/456.JPG" border="0" /></a> and when i ask my little guy who is now officially 7 for a few photos for the books...he lets all of his good sweet love wash over me...he doesn't grant it in meager doses...he opens up the gates and lets all of that seven year old love and affection out...there is no shame in loving on your mama when you're seven. this changes, i know. i have a 13 year old who has replaced hugs in public with the fist bump. fist bumps are good too...when you can still get a hug at home.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TIbaBBnOaVI/AAAAAAAABjE/mMgqm8KrrjE/s1600/457.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514334504909433170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TIbaBBnOaVI/AAAAAAAABjE/mMgqm8KrrjE/s576/457.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TIbZ_xGpiQI/AAAAAAAABi8/q96Dn-5Rtj4/s1600/480.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514334483297962242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TIbZ_xGpiQI/AAAAAAAABi8/q96Dn-5Rtj4/s576/480.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TIbZ-wSjdWI/AAAAAAAABi0/7VzEqratJXI/s1600/491.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514334465899591010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TIbZ-wSjdWI/AAAAAAAABi0/7VzEqratJXI/s576/491.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />dear sweet landon...</div><div></div><div>keep those big blue eyes open and see it all...take it all in and know how you are loved...before grandpa roger left this big green earth...he told me that you were so curious in your world and that it would lead to something special. i am so eager to see what that is. you are inquisitive and wondrous and special and right now, you are laying on the floor below me singing secrets. it doesn't get any better than that. you are smart and funny and incredibly sensitive...a powerful combination for the world ahead of you. i love being your mama...i love our reading time at night and all of the questions that you throw out into the void daily. i hope you always feel how loved you are. thank you for always asking for just one more kiss goodnight, wishing me good days when i drop you at school in the morning and for telling me that i smell good. </div><div></div><div>love, mom</div><div><br /><br /></div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TIbZ98Xs_qI/AAAAAAAABis/Cf_e6DvvoDw/s1600/522.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514334451962543778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TIbZ98Xs_qI/AAAAAAAABis/Cf_e6DvvoDw/s576/522.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TIbZ9IRaIaI/AAAAAAAABik/tVNld9J_b8g/s1600/532.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514334437977498018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TIbZ9IRaIaI/AAAAAAAABik/tVNld9J_b8g/s576/532.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />happy birthday, buggie.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3745364206029975133.post-53264931742433307042010-09-05T19:12:00.000-07:002010-09-05T20:28:50.400-07:00our weekend was...<span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br />...extraordinarily ordinary...and that means it was pretty great. while the mr worked all weekend, the littles and i spent most of our time indoors...in our home...in our comfort. i am a homebody and my children follow suit. i have no shame to admit this here. it is as much of who we are as our eye color and fingerprints. when the temperatures are still reaching 107 degrees and the pavement holds the heat so close because she is afraid that if she let's it loose for a moment, it will be gone...then it is fairly easy to declare it a <em>lets be home kind of weekend.</em><br /><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"></span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TIRR0nfq6HI/AAAAAAAABic/hyclHOZgKZ0/s1600/223.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513621808205195378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TIRR0nfq6HI/AAAAAAAABic/hyclHOZgKZ0/s576/223.JPG" border="0" /></a> and that's fine by me. and by him. <br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TIRRg0bc4UI/AAAAAAAABiU/p0kJgFk_wkA/s1600/083.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513621468079776066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TIRRg0bc4UI/AAAAAAAABiU/p0kJgFk_wkA/s576/083.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />my 3 reasons to find the extraordinary in every day...worn right there...around my little neck.</div><div><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TIRRgfbDPZI/AAAAAAAABiM/QJWm7cu6QXs/s1600/346.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513621462440951186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TIRRgfbDPZI/AAAAAAAABiM/QJWm7cu6QXs/s576/346.JPG" border="0" /></a> and when it was time to sneak out of our walls for just a bit...we headed to share time and coffee with sister and cousins. catching up and running wildly through starbucks were on the agenda and happily, we have checked both off the list. respectively. <br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TIRRf6bcN1I/AAAAAAAABiE/NPz94Mf9Ndg/s1600/112.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513621452510476114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TIRRf6bcN1I/AAAAAAAABiE/NPz94Mf9Ndg/s576/112.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />and if this girl gets any prettier...there might be some trouble. i can declare that. i am her mother. and that means i am lucky. and maybe so is she. because nobody could love her like i do. <br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TIRRfVpAykI/AAAAAAAABh8/31vb4-qXaIA/s1600/088.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513621442635287106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TIRRfVpAykI/AAAAAAAABh8/31vb4-qXaIA/s576/088.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />and then wouldn't you know it. saturday night, the passed down trains and tracks made another debut right in the entry and all 3 of my littles played together. i don't know the last time that they all had interest in the same thing at the same time. those days are fewer and fewer as they grow...so i did what i had to at that moment. i breathed it all in. deep down to the bottom of my belly. i sat and watched them build and construct. and then take it all apart until the bits and pieces were built into something new. not one fight during that hour. not one. </div><div> </div><div>i love that my boys are sitting in the exact same way.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TIRRexogDVI/AAAAAAAABh0/0CLnSZBED2c/s1600/288.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513621432969465170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TIRRexogDVI/AAAAAAAABh0/0CLnSZBED2c/s576/288.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />nothing amazing or extra special happened this weekend. it was routine. but there was beauty made from the routine. if i look at it in a way directing myself to find it...it's there. it's in the time i layed on the sofa with morgan. just looking at her and really seeing how big she has gotten is enough to stop me right in my tread so that i can memorize everything about the way she is today. her long hair that is as golden as sunlight. pale skin with the leavings of freckles on her nose that take me right back to afternoons spent in the sun this summer. this girl, i tell you what.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TIRQb1AVPDI/AAAAAAAABhs/8DB7sG5TZ9s/s1600/199.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513620282823490610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TIRQb1AVPDI/AAAAAAAABhs/8DB7sG5TZ9s/s576/199.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />little moments like glittering stars with morgan today. and to have her quietly say to me, ''everything is prettier with glitter.'' <br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TIRQbYEszRI/AAAAAAAABhk/pwyCYklIigY/s1600/431.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513620275057184018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TIRQbYEszRI/AAAAAAAABhk/pwyCYklIigY/s576/431.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TIRQbEIhNWI/AAAAAAAABhc/6aenJO_iZW0/s1600/259.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513620269704492386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TIRQbEIhNWI/AAAAAAAABhc/6aenJO_iZW0/s576/259.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TIRQarjTfPI/AAAAAAAABhU/R0E6b3qjjRY/s1600/301.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513620263105953010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TIRQarjTfPI/AAAAAAAABhU/R0E6b3qjjRY/s576/301.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />so i sit typing tonight with landon snuggled in our billowy bed watching a movie while narrating every bit so that i won't fall behind in watching it. i just checked on morgan and she is stowed away in her very pink room, surrounded by paper and colors, sketching yet another owl picture for her book. mikey is hunkered down in the spare room with headphones and a computer behaving like today's teenager for the first time this weekend. i think he is battling what bad guys remain in his star wars game. routine and beauty.<br /><br /><br /></div><div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TIRQaLcTOmI/AAAAAAAABhM/1g9ezNkTA_Y/s1600/267.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513620254486641250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TIRQaLcTOmI/AAAAAAAABhM/1g9ezNkTA_Y/s576/267.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />and i haven't even mentioned the best part. we have a bonus day tomorrow. no school. no schedule. just open hours to turn into whatever we want. </div><div> </div><div>3 cheers for labor day.</div><div>hip hip horray!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:85%;"></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3745364206029975133.post-83111263885335931982010-08-25T20:15:00.001-07:002010-08-26T21:39:33.332-07:00sewing class<div align="center"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><em>a few weeks ago...i was driving home from the grocery store</em></span></div><br /><div align="center"><em></em></div><br /><div align="center"><em>when i looked to my right and saw a sign over the white gate that</em></div><br /><div align="center"><em></em></div><br /><div align="center"><em>sat in front of the blue house on brown rd.</em></div><br /><div align="center"><em></em></div><br /><div align="center"><em>i knew this house in passing...it was next door to the montessori school that</em></div><br /><div align="center"><em></em></div><br /><div align="center"><em>mikey attended years back...</em></div><br /><div align="center"><em></em></div><br /><div align="center"><em>the sign read...</em></div><br /><div align="center"><em></em></div><br /><div align="center"><em>sewing lessons for girls 8 and up...</em></div><div align="center"><em></em> </div><div align="center"><em>that's when it began</em></div><br /><div align="center"><em></em></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/THXd-2Yk60I/AAAAAAAABg8/5SSdYDbIsbI/s1600/038.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509553790977895234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/THXd-2Yk60I/AAAAAAAABg8/5SSdYDbIsbI/s576/038.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">i jotted the number down on the notepad of my itouch and called immediately when i got </span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"></span></em> </div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">home...</span></em></div><br /><p align="center"><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">i was so excited after my conversation with the instructor and couldn't wait to tell morgan..</span></em></p><br /><p align="center"><em>she was now signed up for sewing lessons</em></p><br /><div align="center"><br /></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/THXd-YXIMxI/AAAAAAAABg0/5xw5Vpd_zko/s1600/020.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509553782918755090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/THXd-YXIMxI/AAAAAAAABg0/5xw5Vpd_zko/s576/020.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">for the past 2 years...morgan has looked at my sewing machine that sits in the garage next to</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"></span></em> </div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">mr c's tools and</span></em></div><br /><p align="center"><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">has asked me to teach her to sew...</span></em></p><p align="center"><em>isn't that sweet...</em></p><br /><p align="center"><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">yep....there's only one little problem with this</span></em></p><p align="center"><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">i don't sew</span></em></p><p align="center"><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">at.all.</span></em></p><p align="center"><em>nada.</em></p><p align="center"><em>zip.</em></p><p align="center"><em>zilch.</em></p><p align="center"><em>and none.</em></p><p align="center"><em>i would really love to learn to sew...</em></p><br /><p align="center"><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">my sister and mother tried to teach me their skills once and i didn't work out so well...</span></em></p><br /><p align="center"><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">i don't think i have the patience to work with the machine that my parents gifted me for my</span></em></p><br /><p align="center"><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">birthday about 7 years ago...</span></em></p><p align="center"><em>the machine and i just don't get on so well...</em></p><br /><p align="center"><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><br /></p></span></em><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/THXdKYecj3I/AAAAAAAABgs/3f1mHq610fI/s1600/028.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509552889596252018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/THXdKYecj3I/AAAAAAAABgs/3f1mHq610fI/s576/028.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">so...</span></em></div><br /><div align="center"><em></em></div><br /><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">since i lack any skills or patience needed , but do have a checking account...</span></em></div><br /><div align="center"><em></em></div><br /><div align="center"><em>i decided to pay up and let someone else do the work...</em></div><div align="center"><br /> </div><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/THXdJmitc9I/AAAAAAAABgk/3V6vF2znSjU/s1600/031.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509552876192363474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/THXdJmitc9I/AAAAAAAABgk/3V6vF2znSjU/s576/031.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">morgan had her first lesson this week...</span></em></div><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><em>she was instructed to bring her own fabric and ribbon for her first project...</em></span></p><p align="center"><em>a sewing bag...and she would begin it only if her teacher thought she was ready</em></p><br /><p align="center"><em>i dropped her off to class, met miss diane, chatted for a minute and then headed home to start </em></p><p align="center"><em>dinner...</em></p><p align="center"><em>{not really, but that sounds better than home to sit on sofa with the mr and the new pup}</em></p><br /><p align="center"><em>45 minutes later when i returned to pick her up...</em></p><br /><p align="center"><em>i found her ironing her fabric and readying to sew her bag...</em></p><p align="center"><em>really?...already?</em></p><p align="center"><em>i love that her first project is an accessory...</em><br /><br /></p><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/THXdJM9uZcI/AAAAAAAABgc/MVpxKo4jCIU/s1600/040.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509552869326349762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/THXdJM9uZcI/AAAAAAAABgc/MVpxKo4jCIU/s576/040.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">first...she practiced on the machine sewing straight lines on paper...</span></em></div><em></em><br /><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">after only two run throughs on paper with straight lines and ovals...</span></em></div><div align="center"><em></em><br /><em>she was ready to work with her fabric...</em></div><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><em>i'm pretty sure i would still be trying to thread the needle at this point...or i would have been </em></span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><em>swearing at the sewing machine...but not this girl...she was sewing her bag and doing it well.</em></span></p><br /><p><br /></p><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/THXdIlmnAnI/AAAAAAAABgU/el4ctxLjfwE/s1600/042.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509552858760413810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/THXdIlmnAnI/AAAAAAAABgU/el4ctxLjfwE/s576/042.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />...<em>i don't want to put any pressure on her...but i could see her giving marc jacobs and </em></div><br /><div align="center"><em></em></div><div align="center"><em>christian dior a run for their money...and you can even through betsey johnsons crazy name in</em></div><div align="center"><em></em> </div><div align="center"><em> there...</em></div><div align="center"><em></em> </div><div align="center"><em>and when she is on the runway in new york city during fashion week...she'll stand up after her </em></div><div align="center"><em></em> </div><div align="center"><em>first show and thank her mother for signing her up for sewing lessons years back...</em></div><div align="center"><em></em> </div><div align="center"><em>you're welcome, morgan.</em></div><div align="center"><em></em> </div><br /><div align="center"><em></em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/THXdID8R6pI/AAAAAAAABgM/UkL6571owGo/s1600/047.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509552849724500626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/THXdID8R6pI/AAAAAAAABgM/UkL6571owGo/s576/047.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"> and then she'll say...<br /><br /></span>....it all started with a sewing bag. </em><br /><em></em></div><div align="center"><em><br />and that friends, is how it all began.<br /><br /></em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3745364206029975133.post-47675556321205266962010-08-25T19:33:00.000-07:002010-08-25T20:13:21.792-07:00steeler<em><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></em><p align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">ADOPTED</span><br /><br /></p><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/THXUAziJuMI/AAAAAAAABgE/ll_mvB5U8Og/s1600/040.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509542829456210114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/THXUAziJuMI/AAAAAAAABgE/ll_mvB5U8Og/s576/040.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"></span></div><div align="center"><em>meet steeler...</em></div><div align="center"><em>the newest member of our family...</em></div><div align="center"><em>i wanted to name him winston but the children out-numbered me in votes and decided on steeler...</em></div><div align="center"><em>after mr c's favorite nfl team</em></div><div align="center"><em></em></div><div align="center"><em>i think when your significant other feels sort of bad that you have</em></div><div align="center"><em>been trying for a baby for almost two years and have only sore thighs and</em></div><div align="center"><em>negative pregnancy tests to show for it...he lets you adopt a puppy to you know, </em></div><div align="center"><em>cheer you up a bit.</em></div><div align="center"><em></em></div><div align="center"><em></em></div><div align="center"><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/THXUAqfukFI/AAAAAAAABf8/tabCt4J7I1c/s1600/043.JPG"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><em><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509542827030122578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/THXUAqfukFI/AAAAAAAABf8/tabCt4J7I1c/s576/043.JPG" border="0" /></em></span></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><em><br />it worked...<br />i'm all cheered up<br />we were able to adopt this guy over the weekend and i am in love<br />l.o.v.e.<br /><br />i have had a few dogs to care for and they have all been big...huge dogs...and they have all been girls...this is my first time having a pup with dangly bits.<br />i have been mom to a rottweiler, and a german shepherd...<br />and we currently have our lab/chow mix, mandy who in my book is the perfect family dog...<br />at first...i was a little nervous to bring such a small pup home...but things are working out great...<br /><br /><br /></em></span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/THXUAGi7raI/AAAAAAAABf0/moHNrBJGw7s/s1600/030.JPG"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><em><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509542817379888546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/THXUAGi7raI/AAAAAAAABf0/moHNrBJGw7s/s576/030.JPG" border="0" /></em></span></a><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><em>this guy follows me from room to room and watches every move that i make<br />i can't get away with anything with him around<br />i think maybe that's why the mr brought him home to me...to keep an eye on things...<br />i might be onto something here<br />*****<br />in the past few days...i have tripped over him 64 times...<br />sent him sliding across the floors 57 times and i even accidentally stepped on him this morning...<br />he's tiny.<br />under 7 pounds tiny.<br />i'm not used to animals this small<br />the cats are bigger than him<br />but....<br />he's making his space in our family<br />mostly right between the mr and myself in the bed at night<br /></em></span><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/THXT_WuwqTI/AAAAAAAABfs/kCIUcjVJyTY/s1600/037.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509542804544596274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/THXT_WuwqTI/AAAAAAAABfs/kCIUcjVJyTY/s576/037.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><em>i think steeler is mad at us right now because we took him to the<br />vet to have his you know whats neutered today...<br />i wonder if a bag of frozen peas works for puppies too?<br /><br /></em></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3745364206029975133.post-36275267290033098692010-08-11T11:29:00.000-07:002010-08-11T11:35:50.359-07:00and they're off...<div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TGLsZF1GnyI/AAAAAAAABfc/YMOD1T1rvVA/s1600/1stdayofschool+005.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504221610405961506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TGLsZF1GnyI/AAAAAAAABfc/YMOD1T1rvVA/s576/1stdayofschool+005.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">the littles are back to school today...</span></em></div><div align="center"><em>the house is quiet...</em></div><div align="center"><em>and the routine is showing itself again</em></div><div align="center"><em>.....</em></div><div align="center"><em>still trying to get over how fast the summer went by...</em></div><div align="center"><em>i could have used a few more weeks...</em></div><div align="center"><em>that sleeping in thing was getting good</em></div><div align="center"><em>now what to do today...</em></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><br /> </div><div align="center"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3745364206029975133.post-92199497402957508142010-08-05T13:59:00.000-07:002010-08-05T15:28:29.535-07:00me: simplified<div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFso9bCcc5I/AAAAAAAABes/poF5_2csK8Y/s1600/facephotos+012.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502036405458334610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFso9bCcc5I/AAAAAAAABes/poF5_2csK8Y/s576/facephotos+012.JPG" border="0" /></a><em> </em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><em>simplifying. that is what we have been working on over here...on decatur street</em>.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><em>mr c and i have been engaging in long talks about future plans for quite some time now...we see ourselves in another house...a bigger home for our copious family...we see ourselves with complete and intentional financial stability...</em></span></div><div align="center"><em>we see ourselves retired early and vacationing with children and grandchildren...</em></div><div align="center"><em>in order to have those things and achieve those goals...we have decided to make movement now...and we are with full and uninterrupted intent...</em></div><div align="center"><em>.....</em></div><div align="center"><em></em></div><div align="center"><em>confession: this is harder for me than for mr c...</em></div><div align="center"><em>i am a spender...i love nice things...my taste...as my groom has put it...is a little expensive...</em></div><div align="center"><em>i have fallen victim to 'keeping up with the jone's' on several occasions...</em></div><div align="center"><em>i am an impulse shopper...i feel i need rather than want...</em></div><div align="center"><em>and i have put a stop to all of this.</em></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><em>a dead halting stop!</em></span></div><div align="center"><em>.....</em></div><div align="center"><em></em></div><div align="center"><em>we have decided together to make aggressive changes to the way we spend...</em></div><div align="center"><em>we are on a spending hiatus {somewhat hard for me to type...that sorta makes it official}</em></div><div align="center"><em>at first...</em></div><div align="center"><em>we agreed not to purchase clothes, shoes household extras and unnecessary items for 6 months...</em></div><div align="center"><em><strong>6 w h o l e m o n t h s</strong></em></div><div align="center"><em>then i decided to amend the new shopping hiatus and implemented a small but reasonable monthly personal spending allowance...</em></div><div align="center"><em>mr c rolled his eyes at me when i did this...i rolled mine right back at him.</em></div><div align="center"><em>.....</em></div><div align="center"><em>...as i transition myself into the saving more/ spending less system...i find that i am really jumping into the simplicity that accompanies this plan...</em></div><div align="center"><em>i have to be honest here...</em></div><div align="center"><em>we are grateful that we are not lacking or in need of anything...and</em></div><div align="center"><em>our closets and drawers and pantries are over flowing...</em></div><div align="center"><em>so when i freak out a little about not shopping...i really start to feel ridiculous and immature...</em></div><div align="center"><em>we have begun to clean out every room, closet, drawer, pantry and shelf...</em></div><div align="center"><em>we are ridding our home of the clutter...</em></div><div align="center"><em>purging is an amazing and cleansing feeling</em></div><div align="center"><em>it has led me to more space in our home...</em></div><div align="center"><em>it has led us to discussions and lessons regarding finance with our littles...</em></div><div align="center"><em>and in keeping honest...</em></div><div align="center"><em>it just feels good to make this change.</em></div><div align="center"><em>we know that our future plans will only come to fruition </em></div><div align="center"><em>if we start moving toward them today...</em></div><div align="center"><em>so this is my new journey...my spending hiatus.</em></div><div align="center"><em>i just hope nordstrom and starbucks don't go out of business while i'm away.</em></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><em></em></div><div align="center"><em></em></div><div align="center"><em></em></div><div align="center"><em></em></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><em></em></span></div><div align="center"><em></em></div><em></em>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3745364206029975133.post-85859424946008270212010-08-04T15:20:00.001-07:002010-08-04T15:34:07.480-07:00just a handful...<em><u><span style="color:#0066cc;"></span></u></em><em></em><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">...<em>that's how many days we have left until my littles go back to school...</em></span></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFnn5OIgsmI/AAAAAAAABds/wOeQDaL2O5o/s1600/038.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501683390042124898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFnn5OIgsmI/AAAAAAAABds/wOeQDaL2O5o/s576/038.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">...just a handful of days to enjoy the freedoms that come along with summer break...</span></em></div><div align="center"><em>i'm not ready for them to go back...</em></div><div align="center"><em>i'm really not...</em></div><div align="center"><em>summer has been so nice</em></div><div align="center"><em>and easy...</em></div><div align="center"><em>and just plain fun.</em></div><div align="center"><em></em>.....</div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">we have crossed out half of our summer list and are hoping to get to a few more things</span></em></div><div align="center"><em>checked off before summer break fades into the school year...</em></div><div align="center"><em>.....</em></div><div align="center"><em>this last week will mostly be spent preparing for school...clothes</em></div><div align="center"><em>shopping...finishing the school supplies list...new back packs and lunch boxes...and i am planning to have a </em></div><div align="center"><em>special dinner for the children to mark the beginning of the new school year...something that was inspired by <a href="http://nieniedialogues.blogspot.com/">nienie...</a></em></div><div align="center"><em>.....</em></div><div align="center"><em>we have exactly one week to prepare and savour...</em></div><div align="center"><em>one week left of summer break...</em></div><div align="center"><em></em> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><em></em></span> </div><div align="center"><em><br /> </div></em><div align="center"></div><br /><em><a href="http://nieniedialogues.blogspot.com/"></a></em>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3745364206029975133.post-34598566422924282762010-07-30T13:48:00.001-07:002010-07-30T16:59:48.395-07:00what i'm wearing...<div align="center"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><em></em></span></div><div align="center"><em></em></div><div align="center"><em></em><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFM7G-TS6bI/AAAAAAAABdk/Uogd08fZShs/s1600/019.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499804560938690994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFM7G-TS6bI/AAAAAAAABdk/Uogd08fZShs/s576/019.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">i must admit...i love when you ladies put together your style or what i'm wearing posts...</span></em></div><div align="center"><em></em></div><div align="center"><em></em></div><div align="center"><em>i have decided to jump on board and join the fun...</em></div><p align="center"><em>afterall...it's a good way to keep my look fresh and put a little more effort into it if i will</em></p><p align="center"><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">be sharing what i'm wearing...</span></em></p><p align="center"><em>so here it is...or rather...here i am...</em></p><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFM7GU0AIpI/AAAAAAAABdc/LWpjb_RJI7c/s1600/021.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499804549801583250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFM7GU0AIpI/AAAAAAAABdc/LWpjb_RJI7c/s576/021.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">i call this my birthday dress only because i wore it on my birthday shopping in san diego...</span></em></div><p align="center"><em>it had the wow factor in that when i walked out of the bedroom at the hotel into </em></p><p align="center"><em>the living room where mr c was...i got a big ol' wow!...</em></p><p align="center"><em>it's girly, ruffly and frilly...the 3 most important qualities in a dress in my book</em></p><p align="center"><em>today i wore it to run errands with my 3 little monkeys...</em></p><p align="center"><em>it's humid outside and only 94 degrees so i thought i would be the right</em></p><p align="center"><em>choice for a day that would be in and out of the car running to the library, grocery</em></p><p align="center"><em>store and of course, to starbucks...</em><br /><br /></p><div align="center"><strong></strong><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFM7F2FxteI/AAAAAAAABdU/6Bofhi00QGQ/s1600/023.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499804541554636258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFM7F2FxteI/AAAAAAAABdU/6Bofhi00QGQ/s576/023.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">the dress: urban outfitters in san diego {scored on sale for $30}</span></em></div><div align="center"><em>...</em></div><div align="center"><em></em></div><div align="center"><em>i paired it with my fav belt from target {scored on clearance for about 6 bucks}</em></div><div align="center"><em>...</em></div><div align="center"><em></em></div><div align="center"><em>the shoes: tory burch ballet flats {ok...they <strong>are </strong>pricey but sooo worth it...most comfortable flats of my life...and mr c just bought the black ones for my birthday...they are $195 and worth every penny...pinky promise}</em></div><div align="center"><em>.....</em></div><div align="center"><em></em></div><div align="center"><em>i must also mention that when i had this dress on in san diego...my slip did a peek a boo and showed itself...when mr c pointed it out to me so that i might fix it...his 15 year old daughter asked me what a slip was...i was floored...do girls these days really not know the importance of a slip?...</em></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><em>i never leave home without mine...does that make me sound old or what?</em></div><div align="center"><em></em></div><div align="center"><em></em></div><p align="center"><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"></span></em></p><div align="center"><br /><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><em>want to see what my sister is wearing...check her <a href="http://3includingme.blogspot.com/">here</a><br /></em></span></div><div align="center"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3745364206029975133.post-87710791723445968802010-07-29T21:37:00.000-07:002010-07-29T23:01:31.232-07:00celebrating mikey...<div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">....in a very low key way. it's been a few years since i have</span></em></div><br /><div align="center"><em>thrown a birthday party for mikey. he has sort of outgrown them, but i do like to </em></div><br /><div align="center"><em>recognize the day in a few special ways. i never want him or any of my children to look back and feel that their days were ordinary ones.</em></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFJdLxQqTmI/AAAAAAAABdM/yFq7Oy8Mr8Q/s1600/13thbday+003.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499560551755959906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFJdLxQqTmI/AAAAAAAABdM/yFq7Oy8Mr8Q/s576/13thbday+003.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">so..our day was scheduled by this guy. my teenager. i feel old just typing that...my teenager.</span></em></div><br /><div align="center"><em>we had lunch at his favorite...and my favorite...p.f.changs...have you had their crispy green beans?...a m a z i n g to say the least.</em></div><br /><div align="center"><em>mikey sat like this...with his head resting on the table playing on his itouch which was</em></div><br /><div align="center"><em>his birthday gift this year...teenagers.</em><br /></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFJcpLwPDdI/AAAAAAAABdE/h-wplZxu1Eo/s1600/13thbday+002.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499559957572292050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFJcpLwPDdI/AAAAAAAABdE/h-wplZxu1Eo/s576/13thbday+002.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFJco2mGPOI/AAAAAAAABc8/UABl0qD2So8/s1600/13thbday+005.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499559951892626658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFJco2mGPOI/AAAAAAAABc8/UABl0qD2So8/s576/13thbday+005.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFJcoAXdEgI/AAAAAAAABc0/Rs6kvIS8FEU/s1600/13thbday+010.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499559937335693826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFJcoAXdEgI/AAAAAAAABc0/Rs6kvIS8FEU/s576/13thbday+010.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><em>after lunch, we dropped mr c off at work and the kids and i headed over to </em></div><br /><div><em>see the movie the sorcerer's apprentice...mikey's choice</em></div><br /><div><em>we loved it...go see it...'nuff said.</em></div><br /><div><em>.....</em></div><br /><div><em>after our movie...sister and her boys headed over for a good ol' fashioned family party.</em></div><div><em></em> </div><div><em>nothing beats a family party in my book...</em></div><br /><div><em></em><br /><br /></div><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFJcnnoXzxI/AAAAAAAABcs/3P24NH-Qwv4/s1600/13thbday+018.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499559930695765778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFJcnnoXzxI/AAAAAAAABcs/3P24NH-Qwv4/s576/13thbday+018.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em>the plan was to grill italian sausage for dinner...</em></div><br /><div><em>i canceled that when the pouring rain made a visit and </em></div><br /><div><em>soaked my new shoes and bag...not very nice...i had </em></div><div><em></em> </div><div><em>not been to the market to pick up the sausage yet so we went to plan b:</em></div><br /><div><em>we ordered pizza.</em></div><div><em></em> </div><div><em>you can never go wrong with pizza at a birthday party.</em></div><br /><div><em>none of the kids complained.</em></div><br /><div><em>neither did the adults...even if it was just sister and myself as the adults</em><br /></div><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFJcnIw8ebI/AAAAAAAABck/Ff8LLvcipfU/s1600/13thbday+019.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499559922410224050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFJcnIw8ebI/AAAAAAAABck/Ff8LLvcipfU/s576/13thbday+019.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><em>we made a kids only table... </em></div><em><div><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">we just used items from the craft pantry and added a few jars filled with candy...</span></div><div> </div><div>the kids like it when the grown ups arent allowed to sit at the special table</em></div><br /><div><em></em><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFJbz1CO2EI/AAAAAAAABcc/yzm8TKPradc/s1600/13thbday+020.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499559040940693570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFJbz1CO2EI/AAAAAAAABcc/yzm8TKPradc/s576/13thbday+020.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em>it's kind of the 'im too old for birthday decor but i still want a little decor to celebrate' theme</em></div><div><em></em> </div><div><br /> </div><div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFJbzTbWMgI/AAAAAAAABcU/FGutYL-wRMo/s1600/13thbday+022.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499559031919227394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFJbzTbWMgI/AAAAAAAABcU/FGutYL-wRMo/s576/13thbday+022.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><em>sister caught some photos of the foxy birthday stud and myself...</em></div><br /><div><em>do you know how hard it is to get this guy to even look at my camera?...</em></div><br /><div><em>it would be easier to birth another baby without an epidural.</em></div><br /><div><em>on second thought...maybe not...im strictly an epidural kind of girl...</em><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFJby7hLUlI/AAAAAAAABcM/_MQO1J8K8t4/s1600/13thbday+024.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499559025501229650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFJby7hLUlI/AAAAAAAABcM/_MQO1J8K8t4/s576/13thbday+024.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><br />what do you think of my new bangs...i went for the long sweepy</em></div><br /><div><em>sexy bangs look last week...im still getting used to them...</em></div><div><em></em> </div><div><em>i think they have magical powers of persuasion over mr c...i've gotten away with a few things </em></div><div><em></em> </div><div><em>that make me believe this were true...</em></div><div><em></em> </div><div><em>how about a funky photo...</em></div><br /><div></div><div><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFJbyHcSfqI/AAAAAAAABcE/hXIzpnu7J3g/s1600/13thbday+028.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499559011522084514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFJbyHcSfqI/AAAAAAAABcE/hXIzpnu7J3g/s576/13thbday+028.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><em>so i offered to slave away in the kitchen for an entire</em></div><br /><div><em>afternoon baking the cake of my boy's dreams but he begged and pleaded </em></div><br /><div><em>for an ice cream cake from baskin and robbins</em></div><br /><div><em>or maybe it was me who wanted the ice cream cake...</em></div><div><em></em> </div><div><em>so i did what any good mother would do and put away all of the </em></div><div><em></em> </div><div><em>ingredients for the homemade cake and headed out the door to buy one...</em></div><div> </div><div><br /> </div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFJbxhXJlMI/AAAAAAAABb8/FW_Y_YhDoy0/s1600/13thbday+040.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499559001299981506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFJbxhXJlMI/AAAAAAAABb8/FW_Y_YhDoy0/s576/13thbday+040.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><em>mikey asked for a vanilla cake with chocolate ice cream...</em></div><br /><div><em>i brought home a chocolate cake with oreo ice cream...</em></div><br /><div><em>should not have gone to pick up the cake with an empty belly and menstrual cravings for </em></div><div><em></em> </div><div><em>chocolate in high gear</em></div><br /><div><em>no one complained</em><br /><br /></div><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFJatx5eJiI/AAAAAAAABb0/ztExBwbmXz0/s1600/13thbday+039.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499557837507798562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFJatx5eJiI/AAAAAAAABb0/ztExBwbmXz0/s576/13thbday+039.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><em>so i didn't bake the cake but i did place all 13 candles on my own...</em></div><br /><div><em>that counts for something, right</em><br />.....</div><br /><div><em>i love this photo below...the kid was seriously thinking about what to wish for...almost as if he</em></div><div><em></em> </div><div><em> knew it was going to come true</em></div><br /><div><em>.....</em></div><br /><div><em>i made a wish too...still waiting to see if it comes true<br /><br /></div></em><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFJatUjaNUI/AAAAAAAABbs/39xcUEXT9Nc/s1600/13thbday+053.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499557829630637378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFJatUjaNUI/AAAAAAAABbs/39xcUEXT9Nc/s576/13thbday+053.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFJas8SLloI/AAAAAAAABbk/jnHenrXgopg/s1600/13thbday+044.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499557823115925122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFJas8SLloI/AAAAAAAABbk/jnHenrXgopg/s576/13thbday+044.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">hands down... my favorite photo of this guy...peace out</span></em> <em>x's two</em><br /><br /></div><br /><div><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFJasXm9fXI/AAAAAAAABbc/2669w0NxwE8/s1600/13thbday+070.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499557813270969714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFJasXm9fXI/AAAAAAAABbc/2669w0NxwE8/s576/13thbday+070.JPG" border="0" /></a><em>i am that mom who snuck a cheeky kiss on my boy...and i promised him i would not post it on </em></div><div><em></em> </div><div><em>my blog...oops...youneversawthisphoto...<br /></em><br /><br /></div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFJasB8ObrI/AAAAAAAABbU/0h-Kx9ArAyo/s1600/13thbday+036.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499557807454580402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFJasB8ObrI/AAAAAAAABbU/0h-Kx9ArAyo/s576/13thbday+036.JPG" border="0" /></a><em> hope your birthday was as special as you mikey boy...</em></div><div><em></em> </div><div><em>♥</em><span >mom</span></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3745364206029975133.post-40795573547013353102010-07-29T10:58:00.000-07:002010-07-29T11:45:41.159-07:00thirteen...<em></em><br /><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">last saturday, i turned 35...</span></em><em>a pretty substantial age in my book.</em></div><div align="center"><em>today, my first born, mikey turns 13...</em></div><div align="center"><em>another very substantial age in my book.</em></div><div align="center"><em>my first teenager.</em></div><div align="center"><em>i was not ready for this...it happened way too fast.</em></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFHFNaImpEI/AAAAAAAABZ8/RmDfdWX0tCw/s1600/summer2010+031.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499393454140466242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFHFNaImpEI/AAAAAAAABZ8/RmDfdWX0tCw/s576/summer2010+031.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">i remember very well turning 13. i started thinking for myself and discovering interests on my own and my relationships with my parents changed. i remember thinking that my parents were so old. i checked with mikey earlier to see if he thought of me as old and he said no. that eased my mind a little bit because i am pretty weird about that whole getting older gig. i don't mind it...i just am not sure how to handle it yet...what am i too old for and too young for...i'm right in the middle of that.</span></em></div><div align="center"><em></em> </div><div align="center"><em>anyway...back to my birthday boy.</em> </div><div align="center"><em></em><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFHFMgFtYfI/AAAAAAAABZ0/oUuJ8hE-52c/s1600/summer2010+565.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499393438559068658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFHFMgFtYfI/AAAAAAAABZ0/oUuJ8hE-52c/s576/summer2010+565.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em>this kid is so great. he's smart...so smart. i have him do fast math for me in target all of the time. he computes really fast in his head...he did not get that from me. i still rely on my fingers to help me out sometimes. no joke there, sister.</em><br /><em>this kid is also very analytical and logical...if something doesn't make sense to him...he works it out in his head until it does. his mind is not lazy by any means. i am grateful for that. that will be key in him being successful.</em><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFHFMK6L8BI/AAAAAAAABZs/AtwTN4VV9OA/s1600/summer2010+107.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499393432873594898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFHFMK6L8BI/AAAAAAAABZs/AtwTN4VV9OA/s576/summer2010+107.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em>he is my first born. the one that i made most mistakes with as a first time mother. he is my trial and error kid in ways. he is a great older brother...and landon is convinced that mikey hung the moon. </em></div><div><em>he holds interst in the beach, creating his stop motion videos, constructing lego masterpieces, family, beef jerky, football, the patriots and the steelers, chocolate ice cream, nike kicks, fox racing sports hats and star wars.</em></div><div><em>this is seriously the coolest kid....that's exactly what my dad would say about mikey if he were still here with us.</em><br /><br /><br /></div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFHFLvsVGcI/AAAAAAAABZk/gn1-XtCnyZ0/s1600/summer2010+037.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499393425567717826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFHFLvsVGcI/AAAAAAAABZk/gn1-XtCnyZ0/s576/summer2010+037.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em>he starts 8th grade in just 2 weeks. he only has 5 years left of schooling before he heads off to M I T to be a famous engineer....that's my plan for him anyway...we'll see what he thinks of it when it gets closer...</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFHFLNNxM5I/AAAAAAAABZc/y5wlsJqkGgY/s1600/summer2010+008.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499393416312730514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFHFLNNxM5I/AAAAAAAABZc/y5wlsJqkGgY/s576/summer2010+008.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><em>happy 13th birthday mikey.</em></div><div><em>i love you more than all the stars in the sky.</em></div><div><em>you are the coolest kid around.</em></div><div><em>love, mom</em><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div></div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3745364206029975133.post-58457120315915833882010-07-28T15:01:00.000-07:002010-07-28T16:05:09.103-07:00beachy...<div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">so...our summer vacation came and went...</span></em></div><div align="center"><em>and now i feel like i can check the best part of summer off of the list,</em></div><div align="center"><em>and everything else just becomes a bonus.</em></div><div align="center"><em>our entire family looks forward to one thing all summer:</em></div><div align="center"><em>our beach trip to san diego</em></div><div align="center"><em>{that and my birthday!!}</em></div><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"></span></em><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"></span></em><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFCv8Bl2IYI/AAAAAAAABZU/0JSj7YXPTtQ/s1600/summer2010+097.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499088590773559682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFCv8Bl2IYI/AAAAAAAABZU/0JSj7YXPTtQ/s576/summer2010+097.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">this year was a little unique in that we had mr c's children for the entire month of july</span></em></div><div align="center"><em>so they were able to head with us to mission beach</em></div><div align="center"><em>i am still recovering from a month with 6 kids plus various friends/cousins and the like in and out of our home...</em></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFCv7gHGS6I/AAAAAAAABZM/0YWam_HE_nE/s1600/summer2010+034.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499088581786225570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFCv7gHGS6I/AAAAAAAABZM/0YWam_HE_nE/s576/summer2010+034.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">we stay at the same hotel every time we visit</span></em></div><div align="center"><em>the kids love the ducks that wonder freely and the talking parrots that repeat every word...even the bad ones</em></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFCv7OUpk5I/AAAAAAAABZE/hYjqAb_Dk8A/s1600/summer2010+044.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499088577011225490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFCv7OUpk5I/AAAAAAAABZE/hYjqAb_Dk8A/s576/summer2010+044.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">we have our favorite spots to eat at</span></em></div><div align="center"><em></em></div><div align="center"><em></em><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFCv6ZmtqwI/AAAAAAAABY8/qR34TQ4DJ0k/s1600/summer2010+269.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499088562859911938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFCv6ZmtqwI/AAAAAAAABY8/qR34TQ4DJ0k/s576/summer2010+269.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"> and...<br /></span>our favorite area of the beach to set up camp for the day</em><br /><em>can you imagine how much gear the 9 of us toted around each day</em><br /><em>did i mention that on top of mr c and i and our 6 kids, we also brought their cousin with us?</em><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFCv6DAhpnI/AAAAAAAABY0/LvHi3lnGhxA/s1600/summer2010+054.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499088556794160754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFCv6DAhpnI/AAAAAAAABY0/LvHi3lnGhxA/s576/summer2010+054.JPG" border="0" /></a><em>the photo above is mikey and mr c's little guy trevor waiting for the girls to get off of the roller coaster on our first night in town...<br /><br /></em><br /><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><em>the photo below is morgan right after we unloaded from the 5 1/2 hour drive with her flawless hair...</em></span><br /><em></em><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFCuCstGYcI/AAAAAAAABYs/tL-ySZuTzL8/s1600/summer2010+013.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499086506402668994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFCuCstGYcI/AAAAAAAABYs/tL-ySZuTzL8/s576/summer2010+013.JPG" border="0" /></a><em> unfortunately, we had issues with our hotel suite on the first day...lets just say that somebody who stayed there before us got sick and left their mark all over the living room floor...</em><br /><em>we were grateful to be upgraded to the 11th floor in a bigger suite with views like the one below<br /><br /></em><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFCuB_FyxzI/AAAAAAAABYk/-iJUJdPV8Oc/s1600/summer2010+940.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499086494158210866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFCuB_FyxzI/AAAAAAAABYk/-iJUJdPV8Oc/s576/summer2010+940.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><em>mr c...i could stare at the view of his backside all day<br /></em><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFCuBrNX3FI/AAAAAAAABYc/n3MIByuDpW0/s1600/summer2010+282.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499086488821292114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFCuBrNX3FI/AAAAAAAABYc/n3MIByuDpW0/s576/summer2010+282.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFCuBLka3WI/AAAAAAAABYU/EcGJzfAGpR8/s1600/summer2010+495.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499086480328023394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFCuBLka3WI/AAAAAAAABYU/EcGJzfAGpR8/s576/summer2010+495.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><em>this year was a very low key trip...</em></div><div><em>we didnt plan any excursions or trip to theme parks since there were so many of us.</em></div><div><em>we spent lots of time on the beach and at the bay</em></div><div><em>and i was able to spend my 35th birthday in my favorite place</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFCuAxzZX4I/AAAAAAAABYM/AnoaqWHiDdI/s1600/summer2010+519.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499086473411518338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFCuAxzZX4I/AAAAAAAABYM/AnoaqWHiDdI/s576/summer2010+519.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><em>i had morgan take the above photo to prove that i was actually there on vacation with my family...seems that the one who always snaps the photos doesn't make it into them much</em></div><div><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFCssT2i8xI/AAAAAAAABYE/q-lxH6upG4c/s1600/summer2010+557.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499085022262653714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFCssT2i8xI/AAAAAAAABYE/q-lxH6upG4c/s576/summer2010+557.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><em>landon is my beach boy</em></div><div><em>this kid is going to end up living on the beach</em></div><div><em>maybe as a surfer or life guard</em></div><div><em>he is totally at home in the sand</em><br /><br /></div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFCsrovAheI/AAAAAAAABX8/GrINFKIKP3I/s1600/summer2010+722.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499085010688312802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFCsrovAheI/AAAAAAAABX8/GrINFKIKP3I/s576/summer2010+722.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><em>on our first night...we walked down to luigi's pizza for this:<br /></em><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFCsrLD8ViI/AAAAAAAABX0/OnQi83JGrAA/s1600/summer2010+045.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499085002723055138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFCsrLD8ViI/AAAAAAAABX0/OnQi83JGrAA/s576/summer2010+045.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em>the biggest pizza i have ever seen...and seriously so good.<br /></em><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFCsqulAh6I/AAAAAAAABXs/ZeJ0i35XO2k/s1600/summer2010+183.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499084995077113762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFCsqulAh6I/AAAAAAAABXs/ZeJ0i35XO2k/s576/summer2010+183.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFCsqP72TLI/AAAAAAAABXk/Qq_oL0XnZXw/s1600/summer2010+176.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499084986851413170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFCsqP72TLI/AAAAAAAABXk/Qq_oL0XnZXw/s576/summer2010+176.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFCrSy99h0I/AAAAAAAABXc/uKvLlVe7ViA/s1600/summer2010+926.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499083484427028290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFCrSy99h0I/AAAAAAAABXc/uKvLlVe7ViA/s576/summer2010+926.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><em>the photo below might be one of my favorites from this trip...landon just got in trouble for trying to sneak back into the water while we were eating lunch...he has the best pouty face<br /><br /></em><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFCrSUFboNI/AAAAAAAABXU/tRwKiT3ZrH8/s1600/summer2010+921.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499083476136861906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFCrSUFboNI/AAAAAAAABXU/tRwKiT3ZrH8/s576/summer2010+921.JPG" border="0" /></a><em> see mikey below...he turns 13 tomorrow!</em></div><div><em>i have my first teenager...not sure i am ready for that</em></div><div><em></em></div><div><em></em><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFCrR5xmR7I/AAAAAAAABXM/9fj-cVdxgCU/s1600/summer2010+766.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499083469074352050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFCrR5xmR7I/AAAAAAAABXM/9fj-cVdxgCU/s576/summer2010+766.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"></span></em><br /><div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFCrRfI3SFI/AAAAAAAABXE/Lb6RBIIFop4/s1600/summer2010+560.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499083461924178002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFCrRfI3SFI/AAAAAAAABXE/Lb6RBIIFop4/s576/summer2010+560.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><em>not sure if i can wait an entire year to go back...</em></div><div><em>i love the feeling of being in the salty air and throwing the schedule out the window.</em></div><div><em></em></div><div><em>my kids start back to school in 2 weeks...</em></div><div><em>i think summer has gone by too fast this time and i'm a little mad at that...</em></div><div><em>we are going to squeeze as much into these last 14 days as we can.</em></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFCrRBkwL0I/AAAAAAAABW8/fBeKnSNccn8/s1600/summer2010+361.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499083453988089666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TFCrRBkwL0I/AAAAAAAABW8/fBeKnSNccn8/s576/summer2010+361.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3745364206029975133.post-73033031996648238732010-06-30T13:30:00.001-07:002010-06-30T13:40:08.505-07:00leggy...<div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">this is how i spent yesterday...</span></em></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TCup_Hc3AVI/AAAAAAAABUw/K1Oq4H3_sL4/s1600/037.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488667472678027602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TCup_Hc3AVI/AAAAAAAABUw/K1Oq4H3_sL4/s670/037.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />...<em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">and exactly how i plan on spending tomorrow.</span></em><br /><em></em><br /><em>saw eclipse with morgan this morning.</em> </div><div align="center"><em>i left team edward.</em></div><div align="center"><em>abandoned team jacob.</em></div><div align="center"><em>and...</em><br /><em>i might have a small crush on dr cullen and jasper now.</em><br /><em>did anyone out there see it?</em><br /><em>what did you think?</em> </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3745364206029975133.post-69963717069369987212010-06-29T08:49:00.000-07:002010-06-29T09:18:44.872-07:00spent...<em></em><br /><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">i would like to thank my daughter, morgan, for taking this photo of me and chopping off my upper half...despite the rockin curls sitting atop my head...</span></em></div><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"></span></em><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TCoYVoVGvkI/AAAAAAAABUo/jaRqXAgDSgU/s1600/011.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488225855786630722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TCoYVoVGvkI/AAAAAAAABUo/jaRqXAgDSgU/s576/011.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em>3:34 am is when i awoke today</em></div><div align="center"><em>i did not fall back to sleep despite the effort and 2 hours that i invested without return</em></div><div align="center"><em>i am exhausted, to say the least</em></div><div align="center"><em>i feel spent already and it is just 9:03 am </em></div><div align="center"><em>i promised the kids the pool today...</em></div><div align="center"><em>and they are already in bathing gear</em></div><div align="center"><em>damn! don't think i'm getting out of that one</em></div><div align="center"><em>i hope i don't fall asleep in the sun because there is an 'ozone warning' today...</em></div><div align="center"><em>we get those a lot in phoenix...</em></div><div align="center"><em>and i don't want to burn my skin... that is no bueno and my mother lectured me on the effects of skin damage yesterday...</em></div><div align="center"><em>i felt like i was 12</em></div><div align="center"><em>i have 2 days until 3 of mr c's children come to stay with us for a month</em></div><div align="center"><em>that's 6 kids for me while he is away at work</em></div><div align="center"><em>i'm tired just thinking about it</em></div><div align="center"><em>but...</em></div><div align="center"><em>we will have fun</em></div><div align="center"><em>{and i will have 2 built in babysitters!!!}</em></div><div align="center"><em>while unable to sleep this morning,</em></div><div align="center"><em>my thoughts wandered from my dad, to my mom, to my grocery list, to mr c, to our beach trip, to seeing eclipse with morgan tomorrow, to donuts, and then to my coffee...sometimes i feel like my mind never stops...just thoughts all of the time...</em></div><div align="center"><em>then i got up...readied myself...drove to dunkin donuts on mckellips and power and then to my starbucks...</em></div><div align="center"><em>off to the pool now...then home for a nap.</em></div><div align="center"><em></em></div><div align="center"><em></em></div><div align="center"><em></em></div><div align="center"><em></em></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><em></em></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3745364206029975133.post-68621300062552437152010-06-25T14:28:00.000-07:002010-06-25T15:47:27.238-07:00catching up...<em></em><br /><br /><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">finally some time to play catch up on my blog</span></em></div><div align="center"><em>right now the children are being somewhat quiet and have been banned from my bedroom</em></div><div align="center"><em>where the computer is...</em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">they are not at all happy about this, but sometimes a girl needs some space.</span></em></div><div align="center"><em>summer has been swinging in full gear and the triple digit temps are here to prove it...</em></div><div align="center"><em>i think it topped out at 113 yesterday</em></div><div align="center"><em>while it was scorching hot outside...we took the kids inside to do some of this...</em></div><br /><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"></span></em><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TCUjAe8DqKI/AAAAAAAABUQ/pdSZnYnlSAU/s1600/217.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486830212232751266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TCUjAe8DqKI/AAAAAAAABUQ/pdSZnYnlSAU/s576/217.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">a little family bowling day</span></em></div><div align="center"><em>i not only brought my own shoes...but i brought a pretty decent bowling game with me...</em></div><div align="center"><em>i left quite proud of my 138 score</em></div><div align="center"><em>those are my blue bowling shoes below...mr c hates them and thinks that they categorize me into some sort of nerd club for having my own shoes...but i am not sticking my feet into shoes that who knows how many people have worn...socks or not!</em></div><div align="center"><em></em><br /> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><em></em><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TCUi_qSNeeI/AAAAAAAABUI/V59amCao50o/s1600/237.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486830198098590178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TCUi_qSNeeI/AAAAAAAABUI/V59amCao50o/s576/237.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><em>lets see...what else have we been up to:</em></span></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> <em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">we spend many days in the week at the pool...</span></em></div><div align="center"><em></em><br /><br /> </div><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TCUi-3OUnII/AAAAAAAABUA/ujTXeGDzkIY/s1600/176.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486830184392072322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TCUi-3OUnII/AAAAAAAABUA/ujTXeGDzkIY/s576/176.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">this pool has been our saving grace...i don't know how i managed to buy one of the only homes in phoenix without one...</span></em><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TCUi-LwvXOI/AAAAAAAABT4/XEa_ZKsM1Hg/s1600/164.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486830172725271778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TCUi-LwvXOI/AAAAAAAABT4/XEa_ZKsM1Hg/s576/164.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><em>sister and i meet here and let the kids run free while we sit poolside sunning our bodies and sipping on homemade strawberry lemonades...</em></div><div><em>the days are just exhausting i tell you...</em></div><div><em>just exhausting</em></div><em></em><br /><em></em><em></em><br /><em>this is the reason why all of the ladies were sucking in their tummies the other day at the pool...me included.</em><br /><em>hello mr sunbather</em><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TCUiQhdcpXI/AAAAAAAABTw/v0o3ym-5tHg/s1600/202.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486829388275950962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TCUiQhdcpXI/AAAAAAAABTw/v0o3ym-5tHg/s576/202.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><em>i feel like summer is going by too fast so the kids and i sat down and made a big list of everything we wanted to do before they go back to school in august.</em><br /><em>some of the ideas are fun and easy like water fights and family flag football and then some are a little heavier...like a trip to the beach and a weekend stay at a local resort </em><br /><em>{those might have actually been my ideas and not the kids}</em><br /><em>in any case...i'm not ready for summer to move on so fast</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TCUhQgUXf4I/AAAAAAAABTo/Figo6RboFEA/s1600/195.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486828288457801602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TCUhQgUXf4I/AAAAAAAABTo/Figo6RboFEA/s576/195.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><em>we have also been to 5 movies</em></div><div><em>taken the kids out for chinese and to a sushi bar</em></div><div><em>we have shopped</em></div><div><em>we have had play dates with friends and sleepovers with family</em></div><div><em>i have somehow gotten hooked on all of this twilight business after i protested it for so long</em></div><div><em>{team edward}</em><br /><br /></div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TCUhP4MPvzI/AAAAAAAABTg/ml8QPVM0irY/s1600/196.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486828277686320946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TCUhP4MPvzI/AAAAAAAABTg/ml8QPVM0irY/s576/196.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><em>i have organized 2 pantrys and kitchen drawers</em></div><div><em>cleaned out my closet</em></div><div><em>had 2 really great dates with mr c</em></div><div><em>celebrated my nephews 10th birthday</em><br /> </div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TCUhPeUSGOI/AAAAAAAABTY/sSd6t1P3CA4/s1600/197.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486828270740707554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TCUhPeUSGOI/AAAAAAAABTY/sSd6t1P3CA4/s576/197.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><em>we have watched mr c play softball every sunday night</em></div><div><em>we have bbq'ed and eaten corn on the cob from local farms</em></div><div><em>the tooth fairy has visited our home twice already</em></div><div><em></em> </div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TCUhOhd3qII/AAAAAAAABTQ/UKuk7kUHzDY/s1600/198.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486828254406355074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TCUhOhd3qII/AAAAAAAABTQ/UKuk7kUHzDY/s576/198.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><em>it really has been so nice so far...</em></div><div><em>looking forward to next month when i turn 35 and we head to the beach...</em></div><div><em>i love celebrating my birthday...</em></div><div><em>and were doing it at the beach again this year.</em></div><div><em>we will also have mr c kids here with us for the month...</em></div><div><em></em><br /> </div><div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TCUhOD5sk6I/AAAAAAAABTI/s1UOUxEoHOs/s1600/199.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486828246470005666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TCUhOD5sk6I/AAAAAAAABTI/s1UOUxEoHOs/s576/199.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">if i could just teach my kids the value of sleeping in during summer and not fighting every other minute then we might be very close to perfect around here.</span></em></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3745364206029975133.post-61022507547693635782010-06-10T08:39:00.000-07:002010-06-10T10:11:07.842-07:00my heart is somewhere on the beach...<span style="font-size:85%;"> </span><span style="font-size:85%;"> .....<em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">and it's probably somewhere right between these two.</span></em></span><br /><br /><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"></span></em><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TBEUnVD9RaI/AAAAAAAABTA/VaC9f_IEaVE/s1600/094.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481184887387800994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TBEUnVD9RaI/AAAAAAAABTA/VaC9f_IEaVE/s576/094.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><em><br /></em></span><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>Right about this time during the summer is typically when I start to crave the beach. I mean...I literally crave the beach. I need for my toes to dig deep into the sand while my body faces skyward taking in the sounds and the smells of the ocean. I love to hear the children fight over the roars of the waves. I crave to feel warm and cool at the same time. I need to be at the beach in San Diego.</em></span></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em> </div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em> </div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">We hit 109 degrees the other day. That's just too hot. It's hard to be comfortable in that kind of dry heat so we are either in the pool or in the house. And bad news...it's only going to get hotter. Does anyone want to visit Arizona? I will trade you homes for the summer...or for maybe just a month...a week...anyone? </span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em> </div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em> </div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">I already began my campaign to get this summer's beach trip scheduled and on the books. Am still waiting for Mr C to give the okay as to when we can trade this desert for ocean. I also told him that if I did not get a timely reply...I would be heading over there without him. He did not like that text so much so I had to follow it with something sexy. I will not tell you what that one included...but it was sexy. Yes it was. </span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em> </div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em> </div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">I have even began my 'beach diet' because that whole look good in a bikini thing is really catching on. I even cut my white mocha intake to just two a day now...calories, calories. My summer tan is already in full swing...my legs look like cinnamon sticks...who says the sun isn't good for you? I am under the belief that everyone looks better when tan. </span></em></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em> </div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">So...while I wait for Mr C to approve this summer's trip...I'm going to go look through photos from last year. I'm even going to print a few of me in my bikini and put them in places for him to find...like under his pillow and on the seat of his car...maybe one in the shower...just as a reminder for how much fun the beach is. Maybe that'll get me to the beach a little sooner. </span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">wink, wink </span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3745364206029975133.post-2343090194200006012010-06-01T16:27:00.000-07:002010-06-01T16:50:26.137-07:00hello summer...<div align="center"><em></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">...i'm so glad you're here</span></em></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TAWXx1hvObI/AAAAAAAABS4/eHNN5Cz3oMo/s1600/summer2010+014.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477951404204046770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TAWXx1hvObI/AAAAAAAABS4/eHNN5Cz3oMo/s576/summer2010+014.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:85%;">{peonies arrangement from dinner with friends}</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:85%;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:85%;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">summer is here and i am so in love with it</span></em></div><div align="center"><em></em></div><div align="center"><em>i love that my schedule has been officially thrown out of the window...</em></div><div align="center"><em></em></div><div align="center"><em>it's gone...</em></div><div align="center"><em></em></div><div align="center"><em>it's been busy so far:</em></div><div align="center"><em></em></div><div align="center"><em>saturday was spent poolside and i came home with the sunburn to prove it</em></div><div align="center"><em></em></div><div align="center"><em>sunday night we hosted dinner with friends and a few of them stayed until 1 am</em></div><div align="center"><em>i have not had friends over that late in a long time</em></div><div align="center"><em></em></div><div align="center"><em>last night... sister came over for grilled shrimp tacos and scrabble</em></div><div align="center"><em>i have slept in two mornings in a row...unitl 9:30...</em></div><div align="center"><em></em></div><div align="center"><em>and then today...i snuck out of the quiet house early and headed to starbucks...</em></div><div align="center"><em></em></div><div align="center"><em>when i came back home...i jumped back into bed to canoodle and watch movies with mr c</em></div><div align="center"><em></em></div><div align="center"><em>after mr c headed off to work...the kids and i sat and watched alice in wonderland for the first </em></div><div align="center"><em></em></div><div align="center"><em>time...i loved it...every minute of it, and will probably watch it again tonight...</em></div><div align="center"><em></em></div><div align="center"><em>and now...i am ignoring the arguing going on in the family room...and the laundry piled high in</em></div><div align="center"><em></em></div><div align="center"><em>the laundry room...</em></div><div align="center"><em></em></div><div align="center"><em>kick your shoes off summer and stay awhile...would ya'?</em></div><div align="center"><em>♥</em></div><div align="center"><em></em></div><div align="center"><em></em></div><div align="center"><em></em><br /></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"></span></em></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3745364206029975133.post-85968844350610596642010-05-28T10:01:00.000-07:002010-05-28T15:44:35.215-07:00the magic of girls....<div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:Georgia;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><em>i love having a daughter in between my two boys</em></span></div><div align="center"><em>she makes me remember the magic of being a girl</em></div><div align="center"><em>the specialness that is part of who we are as little girls with dreams bigger than life</em></div><div align="center"><em>yesterday marked the end of the school year</em></div><div align="center"><em>so morgan and i decided to have a small but magical end of the year party</em></div><div align="center"><em>a party to celebrate the end of fourth grade</em></div><div align="center"><em>the guest list:</em></div><div align="center"><em>her best girlfriends</em></div><div align="center"><em>a small group of girls that i love having over</em></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TAA8KTc03LI/AAAAAAAABSo/AAdpuid03IY/s1600/magicofgirls+155.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476443294600060082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TAA8KTc03LI/AAAAAAAABSo/AAdpuid03IY/s576/magicofgirls+155.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><em> we tossed around a few ideas on how to celebrate...</em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><em>and last minute...we decided to have an outdoor picnic in the grass</em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><em>it was the simplest idea...</em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><em>easy set up and easy maintenance</em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><em><br /></div></em></span><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TAA8J1Q5vbI/AAAAAAAABSg/j5yaKgCC2yY/s1600/magicofgirls+010.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476443286496984498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TAA8J1Q5vbI/AAAAAAAABSg/j5yaKgCC2yY/s576/magicofgirls+010.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">the girls made their own homemade pizzas for dinner</span></em></div><div align="center"><em>one pepporoni and one cheese</em></div><div align="center"><em>{i get my pizza dough at trader joes and it's the best i've found}</em></div><div align="center"><em>we also had a summer salad with strawberry dressing and crusty french bread</em></div><div align="center"><em></em> </div><div align="center"><em></em><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TAA8Jti9BjI/AAAAAAAABSY/Vh5Sp1JV4EQ/s1600/magicofgirls+026.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476443284425213490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TAA8Jti9BjI/AAAAAAAABSY/Vh5Sp1JV4EQ/s576/magicofgirls+026.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">from the moment morgan's guests arrived...they were silly</span></em></div><div align="center"><em>and the entire night was their show</em></div><div align="center"><em>they behaved exactly how i did at my slumber parties when i was ten</em></div><div align="center"><em></em><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TAA8JOIMYEI/AAAAAAAABSQ/cWmtnbXeWwY/s1600/magicofgirls+036.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476443275991474242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TAA8JOIMYEI/AAAAAAAABSQ/cWmtnbXeWwY/s576/magicofgirls+036.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">i somehow turned into their waitress {that never got a tip from them} for the whole night...</span></em><br /><em>i was running strawberry lemonade and panna water back and forth for these girls</em><br /><em>i should have hired a real waiter or maybe even paid the boys to serve them...</em><br /><em>maybe next time...</em><br /><em>we set up our quilts and pillows right in the front yard...</em><br /><em>right under our big ficus tree</em><br /><em>we also brought out some trays and vases of flowers to pretty things up</em><br /><em></em><br /><em></em><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TAAASxWDV2I/AAAAAAAABSI/NBDsdXy6fBo/s1600/magicofgirls+053.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476377469365999458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TAAASxWDV2I/AAAAAAAABSI/NBDsdXy6fBo/s576/magicofgirls+053.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em>they spent the lot of the night outside under the big tree</em><br /><em>i love that they only came in for 'tinkle time' as they put it...</em><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TAAASvZ0JMI/AAAAAAAABSA/IiWW-U0_yyM/s1600/magicofgirls+061.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476377468844909762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TAAASvZ0JMI/AAAAAAAABSA/IiWW-U0_yyM/s576/magicofgirls+061.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><em>after dinner...they played all sorts of silly games that i played when i was their age...</em><br /><em>they talked about boys and i was glad to hear that <strong>for the most part</strong>...boys are still gross...but that doesn't stop these girls from thinking that gross boys are still cute...</em><br /><em>confusing, i know</em><br /><em>they played statue and truth or dare which actually just turned into dare...</em><br /><em>do you remember playing that?</em><br /><em>i think it would be more fun to play as an adult...</em><br /><em></em><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TAAAR6NH8lI/AAAAAAAABR4/TTXuZ4fzm4M/s1600/magicofgirls+084.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476377454564602450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TAAAR6NH8lI/AAAAAAAABR4/TTXuZ4fzm4M/s576/magicofgirls+084.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TAAARTG79RI/AAAAAAAABRw/NxtVn29MBBc/s1600/magicofgirls+089.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476377444069668114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TAAARTG79RI/AAAAAAAABRw/NxtVn29MBBc/s576/magicofgirls+089.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><em>i am so glad that morgan has this group of girlfriends</em><br /><em>i hope she has them with her forever...</em><br /><em>they already have their own very distinct personalities...</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TAAAQ1TFOII/AAAAAAAABRo/np3uqQIoBdc/s1600/magicofgirls+091.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476377436067543170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/TAAAQ1TFOII/AAAAAAAABRo/np3uqQIoBdc/s576/magicofgirls+091.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><em>they danced in the front yard until about 9 underneath the big tree...</em><br /><em>mr c and i hung tea lights in mini ball jars for the girls...</em><br /><em>it was the perfect amount of twinkle for the night</em><br /><em>the perfect amount of magic...</em><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/S__9NfaIxEI/AAAAAAAABRg/_XhfQWISsYc/s1600/magicofgirls+123.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476374080117064770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/S__9NfaIxEI/AAAAAAAABRg/_XhfQWISsYc/s576/magicofgirls+123.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/S__9M-eAuFI/AAAAAAAABRY/ew8A-kye4X4/s1600/magicofgirls+126.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476374071274944594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/S__9M-eAuFI/AAAAAAAABRY/ew8A-kye4X4/s576/magicofgirls+126.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">i learned last night that morgan thinks jake d is cute and nice...</span></em></div><div><em>and some boy named trevor b is not...</em></div><div><em>and one of the fourth grade girls has already kissed a boy!...</em></div><div><em>really....in the fourth grade</em><br /><br /></div><div><em></em><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/S__9MHgNwXI/AAAAAAAABRQ/AvzZqBqrDPU/s1600/magicofgirls+133.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476374056520237426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/S__9MHgNwXI/AAAAAAAABRQ/AvzZqBqrDPU/s576/magicofgirls+133.JPG" border="0" /></a><em>we finished off the night with chocolate cake...movies and snacks...</em></div><div><em>it is amazing how much food these girls can eat<br />when i left them and went to bed around midnight...they were playing rounds of MASH...do you remember that game?....</em></div><div><em>i used to play it with my sister and my girlfriends...</em></div><div><em>somethings just don't change...<br /></div></em><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/S__9Lb65J6I/AAAAAAAABRI/NVQ9QFerOJw/s1600/magicofgirls+163.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476374044820973474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/S__9Lb65J6I/AAAAAAAABRI/NVQ9QFerOJw/s576/magicofgirls+163.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><br />when they woke up {too early on the first day of summer break} we had chocolate croissants and berries with orange juice spiked with pellegrino water...</em></div><div><em>it gives the oj just enough bubbly and zip...you should try it...you'll love it too..<br /><br /></em><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/S__9K83CY8I/AAAAAAAABRA/VnyCeegXgmo/s1600/magicofgirls+176.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476374036483302338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/S__9K83CY8I/AAAAAAAABRA/VnyCeegXgmo/s576/magicofgirls+176.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><em>after her girlfriends were all picked up and dropped off...</em></div><div><em>i told morgan that we should have more parties this summer just because...</em></div><div><em>because isn't being a girl enough to celebrate...<br /><br /><br /></em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div></div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3745364206029975133.post-75666387308047876322010-05-23T13:52:00.000-07:002010-05-23T14:58:56.182-07:00bare toes in the grass...<div align="center">after a somewhat busied morning with picking up the one of </div><div align="center">the kids from auntie's and a few errands and housework...</div><div align="center">we put a stop to the day and invited a picnic into our afternoon...</div><div align="center">have you ever just done that?</div><div align="center">had an idea and you didn't think about it...</div><div align="center">you just did it?</div><div align="center">something i'm trying to work on...</div><div align="center">losing the regimented scheduling girl inside of me...</div><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/S_mYBB41u1I/AAAAAAAABQ4/zu2FN_I-Www/s1600/064.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474573965499677522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/S_mYBB41u1I/AAAAAAAABQ4/zu2FN_I-Www/s576/064.JPG" border="0" /></a> i'm getting tired of letting the clock run my day...</div><div align="center">so as summer is getting closer..</div><div align="center">and the days are becoming more lax...</div><div align="center">i've decided to let go a little</div><div align="center">so far...it feels pretty good...</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/S_mYA-STI2I/AAAAAAAABQw/YRyo_9cbaco/s1600/068.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474573964532720482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/S_mYA-STI2I/AAAAAAAABQw/YRyo_9cbaco/s576/068.JPG" border="0" /></a> we picnicked in the front yard on mikey's old quilt...</div><div align="center">it was warm and breezy...</div><div align="center">perfect weather for sitting in the sun with my 3 little bugs...</div><div align="center">we talked about college...dogs...summer plans...swimming and ants</div><div align="center"><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/S_mYAHV2Z5I/AAAAAAAABQo/yJ3vHbboGg8/s1600/072.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474573949783664530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/S_mYAHV2Z5I/AAAAAAAABQo/yJ3vHbboGg8/s576/072.JPG" border="0" /></a> there wasn't one fight...</div><div align="center">that always amazes me...</div><div align="center">{maybe because i threatened to cancel the picnic if the bickering started</div><div align="center">or maybe because i bribed them to behave}</div><div align="center">the only thing missing was mr c...</div><div align="center">but he was at work...</div><div align="center">somebody's gotta bring home the bacon</div><div align="center"><br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/S_mX_v8JxDI/AAAAAAAABQg/Pie7JO0NjxU/s1600/086.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474573943501866034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/S_mX_v8JxDI/AAAAAAAABQg/Pie7JO0NjxU/s576/086.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />i wish for these to be the memories that pop up in my children's minds when they are grown </div><div align="center">up with little bugs of there own...</div><div align="center">...i hope that they reflect back and think of the little simple things</div><div align="center">that they had during their childhood...</div><div align="center">these are the days that count...</div><div align="center">the days that left us with bare toes in the grass</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3745364206029975133.post-32976886245955606002010-05-19T18:22:00.001-07:002010-05-19T18:36:14.510-07:00do you know what this is...<div align="center">this is my bikini</div><div align="center"> </div><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/S_SPamBG4EI/AAAAAAAABQY/HIU_c58i5KI/s1600/033.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473157134206558274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ChjSda6oR0o/S_SPamBG4EI/AAAAAAAABQY/HIU_c58i5KI/s576/033.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />this is the reason...the only reason why i am eating brown rice and asparagus for dinner tonight<br />and every night to come<br />and why i will not have a piece of chocolate cake for dessert<br />this is my motivation for the summer that is just about here in phoenix<br />do you live here too?<br />so then you know?<br />if you don't...<br />then know this...<br />we will live in bathing suits and itty bitty sun dresses for the next 5 months<br />my first pool hours will be logged this saturday and...<br />i.am.not.ready...<br />there...<br />i said it....<br />not ready....<br />i am not one who works out in the gym<br />i don't mind running if i can find the motivation<br />but so far, motivation has yet to be seen around these parts<br />that is until today...<br />when i dug through the dresser drawer to find the above<br />and when i pulled it out<br />and hung it on the bathroom door<br />motivation came knocking pretty loud...<br />knock<br />k n o c k<br />k n o c k<br />so here we go...<br />time to get it back into a bikini<br />are you ready?<br />do you worry about this too...<br />and one more thing...<br />am i too old for a bikini?<br />35 this summer<br />what do you think?<br /><br /><br /><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5