tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63212426468750789812024-03-14T07:00:36.512-04:00Sox's Sunday FunniesMy life is a comic strip and my kids are real characters.Soxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12698256338800746492noreply@blogger.comBlogger273125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6321242646875078981.post-28344374009900556582020-11-27T19:24:00.004-05:002020-11-27T19:34:57.854-05:00Being Thankful<p> So, yesterday was Thanksgiving. It was also Blanket's 13th birthday. It was also quite memorable. </p><p>This year I have been reading so many things people are thankful for and contemplating the things for which I, too, am grateful. I was also thinking about what Thanksgiving is all about. The original gathering on which we base our current celebrations was about well-established people helping the newly arrived to survive, thrive and prosper. It is about being grateful to the ones who came before us who make our lives possible, easier, or more full. It's about those who share because they have, and we have not. It is a celebration designed not in solitude, but in gathering. Whether we gather as families, friends, or in spirit with those who make us who we are and help us along the way, Thanksgiving is about appreciating that none of us are alone and we all need help one way or another. <b>I am grateful for those that came before me and helped me along in any way.</b></p><p>Monday we had a tire go flat on our truck in our driveway. Tuesday we spent much of the day trying to find somewhere to get it fixed. We even drove several miles to have it looked at. They "fixed" it and we made it home. Wednesday it was flat again. BAR went about fixing it for real and did so: it held air overnight. On Thursday we headed across town to our friends' house where we celebrate the holiday. When we were most of the way there, the tire went flat again (on the freeway). We called and said we had a flat. They sent their son to pick us up so we could get the food there and get the kids there. While BAR was jacking the truck up so we could put on the spare it fell off the jack because of the slight incline we were on. I found 2 large pieces of wood in the forest just over the guardrail and was able to block the trucks wheels so we could put the spare on. We were able to get the tire back on and the truck working again just before our ride arrived. We made it to our friends' safely. <b>I'm thankful for motive transportation. I'm thankful for a husband who is great at repair and willingly changes a flat on the freeway on a huge truck. I'm grateful for large pieces of wood being stuck in the grass right where I needed them to be. I'm grateful for friends willing to come rescue us in a moment of need.</b></p><p>We (and our dog) had dinner with our friends and their dog. It was largely uneventful (no food fight this year). We commented how enjoyable the food is when you get to eat all the things you enjoy, but you only have to cook the ones that you like to cook (we always split the cooking). <b>I'm grateful for good food, good friends, and only cooking half the dinner.</b></p><p>Thursday was Blanket's birthday and so we had cake and ice cream for dessert. He is such a good sport about having his birthday on Thanksgiving and getting to share the festivities with others. Of all my kids, he's the one who would think overeating would be a great way to celebrate his birthday. <b>I'm grateful for my son and his love of playing games. I'm thankful he's mine. </b></p><p>We had pie (after the cake) and played with the dogs. We cleaned up a little and chatted a lot. We came home just as it was getting dark. <b>I'm grateful for a warm home and electric lights. </b></p><p>An hour or so after we came home Blanket told me he had caused the toilet to overflow: water all over the floor, etc. He knows how to plunge a toilet (he gets lots of practice because he clogs it regularly). So I asked him if he had tried to unclog it, he assured me that he had. He and I set about turning off the water to the toilet, removing water from the toilet, cleaning the floor etc. Then I tried plunging it. It would not clear. We cleaned and plunged for more than 30 minutes. Then we called in BAR. He was sure we were just not trying hard enough. He plunged and tried different tools and ideas for another 30-40 minutes to no avail. The toilet was still seriously plugged. I solicited my circle of people for a pipe snake and was rewarded with several offers. Pipe snake in hand, I was sure I could fix the offending porcelain appliance. After 40 minutes with the tool I had made the water flow acceptably well. My arms were exhausted from all the pushing, pulling, twisting, wringing and wiping. Blanket was made to wipe all the tools, clean the bathroom and wash the pile of dirty rags (on his birthday!!!). I showered knowing that tomorrow would be another day where I could find the energy to finish the job. <b>I'm grateful for indoor plumbing, and waterproof tile floors. Washing machines, hot water, showers, the right tool, and helpful friends are also things I am indeed thankful for. I'm grateful for tomorrows and second chances.</b></p><p>We ended the day sending the kids to bed late, watching 1/2 a movie and going to bed. <b>I'm thankful for warm beds, electric blankets and soft things to sleep on.</b></p><p>Despite the insanity of the day, I felt calm and truly relaxed and grateful through all of the trials and blessings. I never felt trapped, or stuck. I think my attitude of gratitude helped me see the way through the trial (not to avoid or change them) and appreciate what I did have.</p><p>End note: Today I spent 20 more minutes with the snake, the toilet, and the plunger. Now the toilet flushes like new. Blanket even came and pretended to bow down to me when he saw the magic I had worked in his lavatory. Apparently, I can work miracles (and I'm grateful for that too).</p><p>I'm also grateful for my cat, but he gets a post all his own.</p>Soxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12698256338800746492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6321242646875078981.post-8309679388760317782017-12-20T17:48:00.001-05:002017-12-20T17:48:27.943-05:00Here am I, send meAs I contemplate the Christmas season this year, I feel like I'm giving but not from my heart. I'm not giving from the heart; and I'm not giving of myself. I'm not celebrating Christ by following His example--giving. But how can I best give?<br />
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From the beginning Christ showed us the way to give:<br />
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During the Council in heaven when Heavenly Father presented a plan and a need for a Savior: Christ said, "Here am I, send me." He gave his life for us to be freed from sin and death. His life was spent serving us doing The Father's will.<br />
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Christ is not alone as an example of giving oneself for others. <br />
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Nephi when called upon to get the brass plates: "I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded." (1Ne 3:7)<br />
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Joseph when Israel asks him to go to his brothers: "Here am I." (Gen 37:13)<br />
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Samuel upon hearing the voice of the Lord calling him: "Here am I." (1Sam 3:4)<br />
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Isaac when Abraham took him to be sacrificed: "Here am I." (Gen 22:7)<br />
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Moses when God spoke to him out of the bush: "Here am I." (Ex 3:4)<br />
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The hymn <i>I'll Go Where You Want Me to Go (Hymns 270) </i>expresses this idea for our day: "I'll answer, dear Lord/with my hand in thine/I'll go where you want me to go."<br />
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Maybe my favorite example of this is Maria von Trapp: "The only important thing on earth for us is to find out the will of God and to do it." (<i>The Story of the Trapp Family Singers,</i> Pg 11)<br />
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When I think how I can best give today (and everyday) maybe my response shouldn't be "What can I give?" or "How can I give?" but simply, "Here am I, send me."<br />
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<br />Soxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12698256338800746492noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6321242646875078981.post-90709551824716503072015-08-24T14:28:00.000-04:002015-08-24T14:28:02.736-04:00Today I am grateful: I have been changed<span style="color: #cc0000;">This is a follow-up to the previous post. </span><br />
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Today I am grateful that through the Atonement of Christ I am able to be changed. Usually, when we think of the Atonement we the of the mercy that Christ shows us when we sin. We think of the power for Him to "remember [our sins] no more" (Heb 8:12). We think of forgiveness cleansing us from the effects of the choices we have made. We may even consider His power over sickness and infirmities (Alma 7:11-12).<br />
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However, the grace offered through the enabling power is what I am most grateful for today. The power not just to be washed clean, but to be made more perfect through the forgiveness process. I am grateful that as I have cultivated a relationship with the Spirit I have been changed.<br />
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I see myself as coming to earth with circumstances and personality that are unique. I came with unique needs and challenges to overcome. In order to become like Heavenly Father I would have trials to put aside the ways in which I am not like Him. Many of my challenges come because they are part of whom I was when I came to earth. Some things are a struggle between my opinions/feelings/pride and my faith. <br />
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When I think there are things that are incongruous between what I understand or feel and what God has commanded I find that it is my pride, not my faith at work. I forget that God's ways are not my ways (Isa 55:8). This does not mean I do not question when I don't understand. This does mean that when I question I try to do so humbly, opening myself up to the Spirit to be taught of Him. In faith I remember that God has all the truth, and that He is willing to share it with me (James 1:5, Moroni 10:5). <br />
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When I struggled with feeling like God was unjust towards women because He didn't allow them to hold the priesthood I had forgotten that He is GOD. He embodies all truth. All things are known to Him. He sees all. His ways are perfect. I was 6 when I first felt like I was being treated unjustly by God because I was not given the <i>exact</i> same opportunities as my brother and other boys. I felt that way for 17 years. Yes, all through Young Women, college, and while on my mission I felt that somehow I was missing out because men and women are different. <br />
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I am grateful today for <i>great</i> Young Women leaders who thoughtfully prepared lessons. They taught me truths that stayed with me: powerful messages that were brought to my rememberance when I was ready to understand and accept them. I am grateful for the good example and influence of righteous friends, roommates and mission companions. These women (and some men) loved me for who I was, where I was. Most were unaware of my struggles. <br />
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At 23, when my heart was ready, the Spirit spoke to me. He promised me that if I let go of my inferiority complex He would teach me my place in God's plan. He promised to heal me of feeling unhappy in my own skin, and to give me joy in who I am. I had a choice: I chose Him. This was not an easy choice. I had to lay aside 17 years of anger, indignation, and parts of myself I valued very much. I am so glad I did because He kept His promise. Through humility I received healing, and understanding. I gave up someone I thought I wanted to be to become what God wanted me to become.<br />
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I felt for many years that I wanted to be a boy. I felt like God had made a mistake. I had many natural-man feelings. I realize that each of these experiences is an integral part of whom I started out as. The person I used to be is very different from the person I am today. I hope that the person I need to become by the end of my life is as different from the person I am today as I am from the me of 25 years ago.<br />
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Today, I understand that the difficulties and challenges that I faced were important in developing empathy and understanding towards those experiencing similar feelings. I also have a deeper understanding of the workings of God and the power of Christ's Atonement. I can see how far I have come through the Atonement. I can feel the healing that has taken place in my life. I can see how I have been changed to become more like Him. This is the real power of the Atonement: to make space in our lives for Him to come in and change us to become like Him. Ultimately this is the goal of the Atonement-not just to forgive us and clean us but to improve (sanctify) us. When we chose obedience to Him and sacrifice of our natural-man we become like God.<br />
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Today I am grateful for Christ. Today I am powerfully aware that I have been changed. I am grateful for the atonement; for its ability to change me.Soxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12698256338800746492noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6321242646875078981.post-78229564080602033262015-08-17T16:07:00.002-04:002015-08-24T14:32:26.300-04:00Today I am grateful: My life has been hard.Today I am grateful that my life has been difficult. This has nothing to do with the ongoing kitchen renovations at our house that feel like two steps forward followed by one or more steps backward. Today I am grateful for my testimony of Jesus Christ and His atonement. Today I am powerfully aware that my life was difficult early and often. I am grateful that the Lord gave me these experiences when I was still young enough to be tethered to Him. I know that I chose to remain close because I was so young and had the faith of a child. I know that this closeness I found when I was young has helped me to remain faithful into adulthood and continue to choose the right. <br />
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As I see many of my friends or my friends' kids choose to leave the safety of the gospel, or "take a break" from commandment keeping I wonder how I got to be so lucky. I still have my testimony and I still choose righteousness. This is hard. Staying righteous and choosing to keep the commandments is not the easy choice, but is ultimately the best choice.</div>
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How did I get here? Why do I stay? Why have I not struggled to stay as I see those around me struggling now? Why/how am I sure that this is the right place to be?</div>
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I think the answer to some of these questions is that many of the trials that people I know are experiencing now I already struggled through, some of them many years ago. I will freely admit that I did not enjoy all the challenges that I have had. I did pray for many of them to be lessened and removed. I did not fully appreciate the value they would bring to me later. I am a product of these experiences. The person that I am today is a direct result of these many difficulties.</div>
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I didn't love that my mom couldn't volunteer at the school because she was at work. It (and many other things) made me feel different. I thrive today because I am comfortable being different-and I actually dislike it when I "fit in." </div>
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I am grateful that early on I had to confront my feelings that girls were "second rate" because girls' programs in the church didn't offer similar opportunities for girls and boys. I had to deal with being judged by how I looked and felt (which wasn't always like a girl). That I had a complex (as a child/teen/young adult) about women being less because they were not allowed to hold the priesthood. That I wanted, for many reasons, to be a boy. That I had loving leaders and teachers who took the time to prepare lessons, listen to the Spirit, serve me, and pray for me. I am grateful. </div>
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Today I am grateful I chose to stay anyway. That as a child and a pre-teen I felt anchored in my testimony even if it was made of only 2 or 3 powerful experiences.</div>
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As I prepared to go on my mission many people I came in contact with reminded me that I would have to wear a dress every single day-a fact that I was well aware of--even if a not so small part of me wished I <i>could </i>wear a suit. I had gone to serve the Lord partly because I wanted it to be a commandment for me like it was for priesthood holders. I also went because He needed me there. I was willing to serve Him on His terms whether or not I understood or agreed with them. I chose obedience and brought my non-conformist heart along for the journey.</div>
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I felt like my mission companions had burning testimonies that towered over mine. I felt they were on fire to share this knowledge, and I was not. It is hard for me to see some of these same people set aside the covenants they have made. I respect their agency in choosing to sin, and do not wish to condemn them. I love them. I ache for them and the trials they are facing. My testimony now has me desiring mercy, understanding and forgiveness for them. <br />
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Christ chose me. He kept me close and gave me opportunities to choose Him early and often. With child-like faith I chose Him through the extended illness and eventual death of my father. I chose Him when I was lonely in a family unlike all the ones pictured in Primary. I chose Him when depression enticed me to end it all. I chose Him when my family members stopped choosing Him. I chose Him when I didn't understand my role as a girl/woman in the kingdom. I chose Him when He took my daughter back to live with Him. I choose Him when chronic depression overtakes me. </div>
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I am grateful for the gift of the Holy Ghost and the spiritual gifts that we have access to through it. I realize that the events of my life have often left me feeling very alone and vulnerable. I sought the companionship of the Spirit as a balm for this. As I cultivated this relationship with Him I developed capacities beyond my own. I received blessings that I needed and the sure knowledge that I am known and never alone. Through the Spirit I have been taught my place in the kingdom and that as a woman I am not, nor have ever been "second class" to God. I have developed some of my spiritual gifts with a desire to perfect and strengthen these and others.</div>
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I am grateful that while I feel my testimony is not the intense blaze that draws people to it, it is a small very hot core that keeps warm for a long time. It does not come with big fanfare, but keeps burning long after the other has extinguished itself. My testimony is not made of kindling and small dry sticks--experiences which help us to feel God's love, but with limited lasting effects. Mine is not made of miraculous events alone-which give us intense burning fire that without continued nourishment will burn itself out quickly. Mine is made of many large fat logs which don't burn quickly. They take a long time to heat up. They keep the core warm, and they consume slowly. They feed the fire, but they do need some attention for maximum effectiveness. Mine may never be a raging testimony inferno, but it will be a place that always has a hot core, plenty of difficult trials to keep it going. There are many trial logs I can look back on and see how they have grown my testimony. Heat that I can draw on again and again as I look to burn through my new trial logs that will add to my testimony fire tomorrow. </div>
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I am grateful for being allowed to experience difficult trials and challenges early in my life. To be led and guided in those times to reach out and hold to the truth. In these times I know what I am, where I am, who I am and why I am here. I do not need to wonder what I will choose when the next challenge arises-I have already chosen. I choose Him. Today I am grateful that my life has been hard.</div>
Soxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12698256338800746492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6321242646875078981.post-76750162550939705242011-03-05T08:49:00.003-05:002011-03-05T08:49:00.360-05:00On Faith and Santa ClausMy kids believe in Santa. I spent 5 Christmases getting Tiger to understand the concept of Santa. Luckily, Blanket seems to have caught on this last Christmas too. <div><br /></div><div>Back in December there were a few posts on other blogs I follow (and blogs they follow, etc.) about teaching kids to believe in Santa. I thought a long time (its <i>March</i>) about why I teach [indoctrinate, deceive] my children to think that toys magically come from a fat man in a red suit. The answer is simple: Faith.<div><br /></div><div>Children have the greatest faith. They believe in things that are good. They <i>want</i> to believe in the good. They still have faith that the world and the people in it are good. For children faith in Santa is simple: Santa is a good man who will bring gifts to me if I am good. Basic cause and effect.</div><div><br /></div><div>The faith that we really want our kids to have is a lot more complicated than that. (Not that kids aren't capable of that kind of faith, it is just not as simple.) I see the faith in Santa as the simplest form of faith in Christ. Kids understand and want the reward that Santa is offering. That is not to diminish in any way the reward that Christ is offering, but eternal life with your family isn't as appealing (or as immediate) to a 5 year-old as the latest Thomas the Tank Engine.</div><div><br /></div><div>Our faith in Christ isn't instantly rewarded the way our faith in Santa is. (Though my kids may argue waiting for Christmas takes an eternity.) Faith in Christ is rewarded more fully, more frequently, and for longer than faith in Santa. </div><div><br /></div><div>Faith in Santa (for me) helps me get my kids to exercise their faith muscles. </div><div><ul><li>They believe in something they do not see.</li><li>They make choices that affect the reward they receive.</li><li>They exercise patience in gaining this reward.</li><li>They are granted grace (kids aren't perfect)</li><li>After much waiting, but at a pre-arrainged time, they are rewarded with something they really want.</li></ul></div><div>And once they grasp the whole Santa concept, then having faith in something bigger and more complex becomes easier. Practicing our faith on Santa helps my kids truly have better faith in Christ.</div></div>Soxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12698256338800746492noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6321242646875078981.post-36753653753876125152011-03-04T10:58:00.004-05:002011-03-04T11:15:23.542-05:00The 5 of the Tiger<div style="text-align: center;">Five years ago</div><div style="text-align: center;">you came to us</div><div style="text-align: center;">strong and mighty son.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrhKfpi09eZynKHxtPaso93c82uUCH9sy4nOWi7Uyz-MsY5KnIMczqERV370iGewdp5JUXPJMx1OKHl8fu0ZFzbF0WsSEVrs5mWWvXNgya1l2ipKzzRArPWwYjPUw1QRkFRQEtfmPYafrP/s1600/DSC01035.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrhKfpi09eZynKHxtPaso93c82uUCH9sy4nOWi7Uyz-MsY5KnIMczqERV370iGewdp5JUXPJMx1OKHl8fu0ZFzbF0WsSEVrs5mWWvXNgya1l2ipKzzRArPWwYjPUw1QRkFRQEtfmPYafrP/s320/DSC01035.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580256029891067298" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">We waited long</div><div style="text-align: center;">we wanted much </div><div style="text-align: center;">for you to join the fun.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsmDMZutCVjkXpeb7FGRI-Q0PUnohQZMP1uZlra83pn_GcQkecLWOBXgHONw2Igf94TKm7ZuGwPEUFEdsS71OW0BZ1-o5IiLT_UgIWaaM70gsOsyEU_TUA4dQg5fR1cFxiKlPoEMn15nKk/s1600/DSC03332.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsmDMZutCVjkXpeb7FGRI-Q0PUnohQZMP1uZlra83pn_GcQkecLWOBXgHONw2Igf94TKm7ZuGwPEUFEdsS71OW0BZ1-o5IiLT_UgIWaaM70gsOsyEU_TUA4dQg5fR1cFxiKlPoEMn15nKk/s320/DSC03332.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580255068840940418" /></a><div style="text-align: center; "><div style="text-align: center; ">A joy you are</div><div style="text-align: center; ">and brother true</div><div style="text-align: center; ">to those beneath your wings.</div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZaugLrxBZiqeXc9VxB4suZUnINHMKD0kLfDSHQRVXSISmix2MHDaL4xt4WfaMlC7RLNr_J36SU7bkgdVO9nr795Wr-OLFECVhScYjOTVEnA2u4kpLTaVQZ2lMyLI-pob2nldL8-laEkbP/s1600/DSC03331.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZaugLrxBZiqeXc9VxB4suZUnINHMKD0kLfDSHQRVXSISmix2MHDaL4xt4WfaMlC7RLNr_J36SU7bkgdVO9nr795Wr-OLFECVhScYjOTVEnA2u4kpLTaVQZ2lMyLI-pob2nldL8-laEkbP/s320/DSC03331.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580255065463971138" /></a><div style="text-align: center; ">Fun, funny</div><div style="text-align: center; ">leader, friend, example</div><div style="text-align: center; ">and a thousand other things.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjntiRcLoS2qrygM6sB3HwJ5YylEaZpuD5W8tsGlRGZFikD_RLkMMcG9JR3hneQvTnvjRF-pAAPny8MPws4IQzTU-VVu9jGb3jaFD5e72zAn0Ai7stXXmrqeoYNBRQGlN03Pt41paSlEyC7/s1600/DSC03330.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjntiRcLoS2qrygM6sB3HwJ5YylEaZpuD5W8tsGlRGZFikD_RLkMMcG9JR3hneQvTnvjRF-pAAPny8MPws4IQzTU-VVu9jGb3jaFD5e72zAn0Ai7stXXmrqeoYNBRQGlN03Pt41paSlEyC7/s320/DSC03330.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580255059515876418" /></a><div style="text-align: center; ">May you always be the best you know how to be.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Happy Birthday</div>Soxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12698256338800746492noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6321242646875078981.post-70798903015693074772011-03-04T08:41:00.002-05:002011-03-04T08:49:17.538-05:00Naughty in the potty<div style="text-align: center;">This is Mac's favorite place to play. </div><div style="text-align: center;">We have instituted a <b>close the potty and close the door</b> rule.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Tiger and Blanket are very good about following the rules.</div><div style="text-align: center;">B.A.R. is good about following the rules</div><div style="text-align: center;">Stitches needs improvement with following the rules, but she is the one who suffers the consequences of leaving the potty available to Mac.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-F98bQc078HoaEY4GThoEt1ifpncf-tWqjwwlxIngIHS11oQkyPGtGLMP5P8u2r6rGJzvtHeGD48hj8MBmM35kNRXJWo_CSA_KbQloPeHIcV7TcR2aaYhyphenhyphen8eyyXtlEsXbGoXue7slSZ9x/s1600/DSC03307.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-F98bQc078HoaEY4GThoEt1ifpncf-tWqjwwlxIngIHS11oQkyPGtGLMP5P8u2r6rGJzvtHeGD48hj8MBmM35kNRXJWo_CSA_KbQloPeHIcV7TcR2aaYhyphenhyphen8eyyXtlEsXbGoXue7slSZ9x/s320/DSC03307.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580219760127946386" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">splish, splash</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6rzZpqAS6FEoDbzGE2Ghu-z0UqjnMMrDxncDzdszoge-sVfb7BhyjN72DvgKZAHo3DZcT_nVq3UIq_giIvhD_IU0tlv8O72PX0r8X83VQJ8jSskig3DKdb4iEuu9hOjc4QMFaXKUsLLrr/s1600/DSC03308.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6rzZpqAS6FEoDbzGE2Ghu-z0UqjnMMrDxncDzdszoge-sVfb7BhyjN72DvgKZAHo3DZcT_nVq3UIq_giIvhD_IU0tlv8O72PX0r8X83VQJ8jSskig3DKdb4iEuu9hOjc4QMFaXKUsLLrr/s320/DSC03308.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580219753375183138" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">busted!</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv5Qy9nSEN9arPsdpTPrAzWdcgnZR5twWbXL8FVr_FhJcBAXarbSbUUCst2K352uA4CGbEyOkcARTNvd4ljBBw7LF5Vrn5nfbjbELZSwdcYImhzwb-zNp5e6YvhpCt2FtfaA3xlpIofHeA/s1600/DSC03309.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv5Qy9nSEN9arPsdpTPrAzWdcgnZR5twWbXL8FVr_FhJcBAXarbSbUUCst2K352uA4CGbEyOkcARTNvd4ljBBw7LF5Vrn5nfbjbELZSwdcYImhzwb-zNp5e6YvhpCt2FtfaA3xlpIofHeA/s320/DSC03309.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580219753043034242" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">if you're not going to stop me, then I'll go back to playing.</div>Soxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12698256338800746492noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6321242646875078981.post-18168239744428678542011-02-28T12:14:00.002-05:002011-03-04T10:51:13.972-05:00My latest creationI have been making a concerted effort to finish this quilt I started before Mac was born. I would work on it, and then it would get moved off the sewing table in favor of projects with a deadline. I decided to make it happen at the beginning of the year. I have worked on it, but I have also read 9.5 books since Mac's birthday too. I am so glad it is finished. <div><br /></div><div>I used a pattern called All Aboard from The Teacher's Pet. This quilt is for Blanket, and so much of the personalization is geared to him. I left the elephants out of the gondola 'cause elephants would <i>never </i>ride in a gondola.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYC2vt0dGju8HpD1CwL83IM_VaI3lvk_uTvbse9kJ4OiUCDa6t9abcjrATf2ceI5kyy7FrieTgHXMxBbJyOypGppJ_BewkhSG6m5hKGnv8Ey9TeB8FakAWDme1yv5W3p1X1alusjJxERF1/s1600/DSC03339.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYC2vt0dGju8HpD1CwL83IM_VaI3lvk_uTvbse9kJ4OiUCDa6t9abcjrATf2ceI5kyy7FrieTgHXMxBbJyOypGppJ_BewkhSG6m5hKGnv8Ey9TeB8FakAWDme1yv5W3p1X1alusjJxERF1/s320/DSC03339.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578790345299717538" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Close-ups of the quilting</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpwP2teMH8BGahk2X-3d5mhjH_maMBvJRPfsXiAIPtcTkbKdl1p2aXl9YQ3EjexvahjP1SialxTgsRQoRiAgTmTgwr7k2LK_3hPXq_P338hhi6PCb8WA0Z0UT-KLDK7Id-fDbty6R9Gc8r/s1600/DSC03340.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpwP2teMH8BGahk2X-3d5mhjH_maMBvJRPfsXiAIPtcTkbKdl1p2aXl9YQ3EjexvahjP1SialxTgsRQoRiAgTmTgwr7k2LK_3hPXq_P338hhi6PCb8WA0Z0UT-KLDK7Id-fDbty6R9Gc8r/s320/DSC03340.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578790340215294370" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">The big reveal</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLyduTSvLA2Rh-ZcZjSGpF1GJ6raPdianCc8Rb1Ap4-NzG39uRSB6nDhYx5D6FITHPuU73SldoCVJYea3T0g_ljEdtVpZ2hopLFzhQetH-M9j1-2__vp9ReelfT8PMCMHMnTmWBnjU6awd/s1600/DSC03337.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLyduTSvLA2Rh-ZcZjSGpF1GJ6raPdianCc8Rb1Ap4-NzG39uRSB6nDhYx5D6FITHPuU73SldoCVJYea3T0g_ljEdtVpZ2hopLFzhQetH-M9j1-2__vp9ReelfT8PMCMHMnTmWBnjU6awd/s320/DSC03337.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578790335623823138" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">It's hanging up right now if you want to come inspect it.</div><br /></div>Soxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12698256338800746492noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6321242646875078981.post-4719312231197833422011-01-13T18:02:00.002-05:002015-08-24T14:34:21.042-04:00This post needs a picture, and maybe it will get one later.<br />
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I noticed something today. Mac is lighter when he sleeps.</div>
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When he is awake he loves to be held. But it is almost impossible for me to hang on to him. He wiggles and squirms. He is looking at the floor, at the ceiling, at almost everything that is around him. He moves and bends and twists and dips and arches and curls and pushes and pulls and grabs and scratches and pokes and reaches. He is my baby who needs to be held, carried, and cuddled the most. He is also the one who is the most likely to make you want to put him down. 20 pounds of long, skinny, wiggly boy is quite a workout to hold onto.</div>
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Twice today (well 3 times if you count the middle of the night) he has fallen into a deep sleep and I have carried him. Both times I thought "he seems so light." It must be that 20 pounds isn't all that much if it isn't constantly being added onto by all sorts of directional movement.</div>
Soxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12698256338800746492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6321242646875078981.post-9536959446484647122011-01-10T14:00:00.000-05:002011-01-10T14:00:01.482-05:00Mac's 1!!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZniC_MAnisBgHnM4oOJTWZV418vNN4y6x8Fpv8Kq86HrZGm1x1FNvB_ikiCKIDmDJA939Ym_tm_JhcMtj6bJpATgZtZQJymVwHpGKJ_QWrWR20hzt0BGvdxIhtsZ79cWQVOXS5KTTUzpm/s1600/DSC03287.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZniC_MAnisBgHnM4oOJTWZV418vNN4y6x8Fpv8Kq86HrZGm1x1FNvB_ikiCKIDmDJA939Ym_tm_JhcMtj6bJpATgZtZQJymVwHpGKJ_QWrWR20hzt0BGvdxIhtsZ79cWQVOXS5KTTUzpm/s320/DSC03287.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558935961680375474" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2HZydZ7QtZAnN42aYq3T7TmuAYD8U7xcrpH2cg8ftlCzPKZBdo5TsQEgst8nRHzpzX5b7IqaEhyphenhyphenE5p-PQI8BzfaqvgeSrHb15UvL7MLwAAl2WWuwfOpG5gye58XayZ1cEE9CVVfCceu72/s1600/DSC03288.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2HZydZ7QtZAnN42aYq3T7TmuAYD8U7xcrpH2cg8ftlCzPKZBdo5TsQEgst8nRHzpzX5b7IqaEhyphenhyphenE5p-PQI8BzfaqvgeSrHb15UvL7MLwAAl2WWuwfOpG5gye58XayZ1cEE9CVVfCceu72/s320/DSC03288.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558935953299361362" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4GbCTL4u6XvCY0H5Jwhay2rh5Say_ZNYvchkCtRNfEqKwvXJkMzLJdB-O_cBCOWthHl1emgVjMuzmzNNBqyxOpLxh8p9tuBxmlgjGYC7xlK_d7yz5SIOFU1o9dREDHzhR9Ie3sl4yBE9k/s1600/DSC03289.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4GbCTL4u6XvCY0H5Jwhay2rh5Say_ZNYvchkCtRNfEqKwvXJkMzLJdB-O_cBCOWthHl1emgVjMuzmzNNBqyxOpLxh8p9tuBxmlgjGYC7xlK_d7yz5SIOFU1o9dREDHzhR9Ie3sl4yBE9k/s320/DSC03289.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558935953037841858" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1UmrARhc019JDoQTfk8LcLzY8qQE9r2ORFpv4pGrhciwRZ1r0w70alh7r6BNlbtvfUauO_yGFAqn8IosFjL9OrtmtT5FcWS4uLaHdxTcSgZ5cUgJNjusOdSeEWhVeUFJOtDP-w3U2RHhL/s1600/DSC03291.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1UmrARhc019JDoQTfk8LcLzY8qQE9r2ORFpv4pGrhciwRZ1r0w70alh7r6BNlbtvfUauO_yGFAqn8IosFjL9OrtmtT5FcWS4uLaHdxTcSgZ5cUgJNjusOdSeEWhVeUFJOtDP-w3U2RHhL/s320/DSC03291.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558935948370021634" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrHhNHqfumSv_TbQhNbXO2q15ozv76JsUGeS4xoSP7UQK9kyUXGNBxy9mG5TFMPnD6ZDBpccSsfU_gJaGSyn2BEKw5rJe00fr7v815dpYo7wmK93MeWsI0m3Vvqsx1z05p0qB3PBv2qBg1/s1600/DSC03293.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrHhNHqfumSv_TbQhNbXO2q15ozv76JsUGeS4xoSP7UQK9kyUXGNBxy9mG5TFMPnD6ZDBpccSsfU_gJaGSyn2BEKw5rJe00fr7v815dpYo7wmK93MeWsI0m3Vvqsx1z05p0qB3PBv2qBg1/s320/DSC03293.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558935942782961586" /></a>He doesn't have any teeth. He doesn't feed himself anything besides graham crackers. He did a great job destroying the cake, but didn't really like it when I put some in his mouth.Soxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12698256338800746492noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6321242646875078981.post-2278693866194585912011-01-09T14:00:00.000-05:002011-01-06T00:07:25.012-05:00Blanket's birthday<div>Blanket's birthday falls the same week as Thanksgiving. I was cooking for Thanksgiving and didn't want to have to make a cake too, so this year we kept it simple and bought a cake. He insisted on blowing out the candles more than once.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq1I_-IN2odxG0o3vunuVHQhfEUUZ0zGmG8FR77SmLKZWLpgbuARNMfTgRoYaPedwXS3VvUmZR7DsnZfFsc4LE0CiOkmg8kIamCiU6eJCaFiVocgxGco4Avz1Ryhj79QJufKD96aynl4vN/s1600/DSC03245.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq1I_-IN2odxG0o3vunuVHQhfEUUZ0zGmG8FR77SmLKZWLpgbuARNMfTgRoYaPedwXS3VvUmZR7DsnZfFsc4LE0CiOkmg8kIamCiU6eJCaFiVocgxGco4Avz1Ryhj79QJufKD96aynl4vN/s320/DSC03245.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558934042793846034" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_6VoTe4AxmhUkmcGDKybQDGnz6ZVk-GGmphJ5I9kJBCUW_022JE1rT_kf-EzUKBIqTkcqzdMcJWqzT9wca_IGxic3oPOhjju7EllPzuH3V12GefMJvmBrtzZaVCd0YEMkLi8unw3SMq_B/s1600/DSC03246.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_6VoTe4AxmhUkmcGDKybQDGnz6ZVk-GGmphJ5I9kJBCUW_022JE1rT_kf-EzUKBIqTkcqzdMcJWqzT9wca_IGxic3oPOhjju7EllPzuH3V12GefMJvmBrtzZaVCd0YEMkLi8unw3SMq_B/s320/DSC03246.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558934041701756466" /></a>Soxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12698256338800746492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6321242646875078981.post-26356180464833564072011-01-08T14:00:00.000-05:002011-01-08T14:00:00.251-05:00Elven Magic<div style="text-align: center;">These escapees from the north pole appeared on our Christmas card.</div><div style="text-align: center;">For those who didn't get a card here's the cheery photos.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJHlV14Hm2eIb6ZVcR4GXawjSSta3aefSCSLZUsPbDyINwaCjNajBA2n0eZUAA2dRh2KZJIY4b3vH7nOLuePNnq7YAxh6n_Jr4-W6lK781QrGzBvQiea1AyVLiHzSviGzXAZurFugTFo33/s1600/DSC03210.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJHlV14Hm2eIb6ZVcR4GXawjSSta3aefSCSLZUsPbDyINwaCjNajBA2n0eZUAA2dRh2KZJIY4b3vH7nOLuePNnq7YAxh6n_Jr4-W6lK781QrGzBvQiea1AyVLiHzSviGzXAZurFugTFo33/s320/DSC03210.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558932282797365058" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5aHLcax656Cu2l5nzq2uTmfiFnnFrW6E4bk6MErfngQEXJVF41u0vBAaV8xBt1WrAJpx4mqe0ke1ticLFDRjjtFqMQwSZ1_NxE1OUxmkpS5N2SDBT5nB0XMgcX_nlW2i6GzT0JzGUr60F/s1600/DSC03209.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5aHLcax656Cu2l5nzq2uTmfiFnnFrW6E4bk6MErfngQEXJVF41u0vBAaV8xBt1WrAJpx4mqe0ke1ticLFDRjjtFqMQwSZ1_NxE1OUxmkpS5N2SDBT5nB0XMgcX_nlW2i6GzT0JzGUr60F/s320/DSC03209.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558932278174169202" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheBCYnuCHm2rHmxdQ3oXoDYcwtxSP_Oh9lzIc7oK1xT73aMg2tw_UUZnQCHX0WW9MzxP-01xu-qw0bWKS0TAN0r7EsGM98pX5lvitV2gDpNYuVz7ELw0YIqKmjrEZsWq5fS9ndu2wW4zL8/s1600/DSC03205.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheBCYnuCHm2rHmxdQ3oXoDYcwtxSP_Oh9lzIc7oK1xT73aMg2tw_UUZnQCHX0WW9MzxP-01xu-qw0bWKS0TAN0r7EsGM98pX5lvitV2gDpNYuVz7ELw0YIqKmjrEZsWq5fS9ndu2wW4zL8/s320/DSC03205.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558932276611095442" /></a>Soxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12698256338800746492noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6321242646875078981.post-55805005467683943112011-01-07T14:00:00.000-05:002011-01-07T14:00:04.824-05:00S'mores and Hot Chocolate<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFs9C4wIwY7L7Guf8VoKl3Bbq2TKL56jWd7fyOjBnoa5d_1Df8aD7yakJ95auIFJL9sqSdWLaNkybGbzEewwrC6mo9AktS1ageeISuvrrtzX6wsq-c12vActcdmzWjaN9JZ5yfvLCfDcdI/s1600/DSC03264.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFs9C4wIwY7L7Guf8VoKl3Bbq2TKL56jWd7fyOjBnoa5d_1Df8aD7yakJ95auIFJL9sqSdWLaNkybGbzEewwrC6mo9AktS1ageeISuvrrtzX6wsq-c12vActcdmzWjaN9JZ5yfvLCfDcdI/s200/DSC03264.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558926698215576818" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU-l4pQP3Fo4eBDxeZhmA-TIXgIfvgT27NXtHHIYOHG1HP0FvDqgb3EEXmKdSbz3SJXm2rTTa-_guy_aDJhMT7osGTrJwKzDpTZvEA4_C4zvnbuZ6g8hRssmrGk50tf3g113ZNbUwTJVCh/s1600/DSC03266.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU-l4pQP3Fo4eBDxeZhmA-TIXgIfvgT27NXtHHIYOHG1HP0FvDqgb3EEXmKdSbz3SJXm2rTTa-_guy_aDJhMT7osGTrJwKzDpTZvEA4_C4zvnbuZ6g8hRssmrGk50tf3g113ZNbUwTJVCh/s200/DSC03266.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558926205437677682" /></a>We started some Christmas Eve traditions at our house. Our kids had never eaten hot chocolate nor s'mores. They were both a big hit.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimMwesftl41JpQxuE0GxCKFhOB0iV5wvB69v8TcHE2X5OJZoVsJ2bH2D1PBlQH7p2ehu0kcrzbNjQ3WzdCjo8yGwswqeEz5zxJIZwrvdjcV5CZmnql_uXDTLi4gVlae71kZjs4jbeJNWvL/s1600/DSC03261.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimMwesftl41JpQxuE0GxCKFhOB0iV5wvB69v8TcHE2X5OJZoVsJ2bH2D1PBlQH7p2ehu0kcrzbNjQ3WzdCjo8yGwswqeEz5zxJIZwrvdjcV5CZmnql_uXDTLi4gVlae71kZjs4jbeJNWvL/s200/DSC03261.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558926203459472706" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyBH-hVydDz5fXoSefMzax4IF5YAMPyZsELarM9iUtFTBaqivFbv5nhv7NT-02aqfmpdhQp1k7bqbQXf1DEmeK773Iltzqu_oOrhXYYw1cSRahSWmcG4LzWzu_ve4qMYhByaL8FaLkf3FA/s1600/DSC03265.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyBH-hVydDz5fXoSefMzax4IF5YAMPyZsELarM9iUtFTBaqivFbv5nhv7NT-02aqfmpdhQp1k7bqbQXf1DEmeK773Iltzqu_oOrhXYYw1cSRahSWmcG4LzWzu_ve4qMYhByaL8FaLkf3FA/s200/DSC03265.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558926197691564386" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5IspitLGsgGV-wxv9YXLrRaIdv-eymuLtYQBRR8keG731I8KQMMpXW4WsDdLgVYEBQeJDFtyEPiwrwoy64a3ckdpuTIQ0JmJ_c0VTiJEjtCELHinTR5-FMqsb7Kn5BskBmCPow35z0-oD/s1600/DSC03268.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5IspitLGsgGV-wxv9YXLrRaIdv-eymuLtYQBRR8keG731I8KQMMpXW4WsDdLgVYEBQeJDFtyEPiwrwoy64a3ckdpuTIQ0JmJ_c0VTiJEjtCELHinTR5-FMqsb7Kn5BskBmCPow35z0-oD/s200/DSC03268.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558926194008884050" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6AF32gVFNcx2qm0qY14CfXf5VOm8G1wA4YIy-D5_WWMogo5OFZKh8Vq-ZZyc4uooDmA2bl8aU1zWeoDwmDipiGrBscW0aEKRapRmYPJ_6g1NeUJfiwadpuCt_1iuAumxzNiFmYMm30_JU/s1600/DSC03269.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6AF32gVFNcx2qm0qY14CfXf5VOm8G1wA4YIy-D5_WWMogo5OFZKh8Vq-ZZyc4uooDmA2bl8aU1zWeoDwmDipiGrBscW0aEKRapRmYPJ_6g1NeUJfiwadpuCt_1iuAumxzNiFmYMm30_JU/s200/DSC03269.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558925549317217522" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSuWmhE5KKDOD1BIZmQ0NLqXkIrlMkisHkuquaKE0LPp-aMMW0K99Of6dx2wo_Dk0yy4BuogrbfH_v5iKUC8BEc2JIQHeFUCtLYW0ihp5qiPPdkWvpAeVN9ydUgrWMHxqXB-XC_wWJIhkB/s1600/DSC03271.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSuWmhE5KKDOD1BIZmQ0NLqXkIrlMkisHkuquaKE0LPp-aMMW0K99Of6dx2wo_Dk0yy4BuogrbfH_v5iKUC8BEc2JIQHeFUCtLYW0ihp5qiPPdkWvpAeVN9ydUgrWMHxqXB-XC_wWJIhkB/s200/DSC03271.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558925544667361154" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwWuUTaVy8Q4JYuYYSC1utaQRL9pqwqbbynrptmffvKiaRb11OwBKti6bic7n-0ESMLykH4M4Ybsqt0sFlR80jeMcolQhoQGvLezhXCVBMX6jqhXG_FcXfYnH7bleEWzajByXjQidQr1tF/s1600/DSC03274.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwWuUTaVy8Q4JYuYYSC1utaQRL9pqwqbbynrptmffvKiaRb11OwBKti6bic7n-0ESMLykH4M4Ybsqt0sFlR80jeMcolQhoQGvLezhXCVBMX6jqhXG_FcXfYnH7bleEWzajByXjQidQr1tF/s200/DSC03274.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558925539614515570" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglBT-86-v5fc9ZdltqLddrQUYFqLlIdeI3XZw4yCCi36lrOaW3i-v6kKeI8-ri7oqTIbTAOxlvrZh2ObwiGDs6EWWe8kfWyUnlO7-l_Lpx0K-h404MWLmUDgjfGw3IGOvttyr9677S2ZSd/s1600/DSC03275.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglBT-86-v5fc9ZdltqLddrQUYFqLlIdeI3XZw4yCCi36lrOaW3i-v6kKeI8-ri7oqTIbTAOxlvrZh2ObwiGDs6EWWe8kfWyUnlO7-l_Lpx0K-h404MWLmUDgjfGw3IGOvttyr9677S2ZSd/s200/DSC03275.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558925535466857490" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqGvjnFzha8Bv5EvB-R7u5B1ceWjvh2LFf2PATrbobSZ3MwewWU9NfcatAgzcQ9fOmtQmPgpdD4yPK1qrj9AMwm7JJZln8qIogPv_BQRP0l9g_QMqeBTKbdwNH517F1Naczi2UxX7xQ-I8/s1600/DSC03277.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqGvjnFzha8Bv5EvB-R7u5B1ceWjvh2LFf2PATrbobSZ3MwewWU9NfcatAgzcQ9fOmtQmPgpdD4yPK1qrj9AMwm7JJZln8qIogPv_BQRP0l9g_QMqeBTKbdwNH517F1Naczi2UxX7xQ-I8/s200/DSC03277.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558925531032539506" /></a><br /><br /><div>And afterwards we put out our stockings and then looked for Santa.</div><div><br /></div><div>No, really. That's what they told me they were doing standing by the door.</div>Soxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12698256338800746492noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6321242646875078981.post-52575812031816720132011-01-06T14:00:00.001-05:002011-01-06T14:00:03.413-05:00Fabric Creations<div style="text-align: center;">Here's the promised post about what I have managed to sew over the last few months.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlGEEzxGT4HKHpH4RnfOz_k5Roun1IpZNAs_JK-9sauaiUPZ5VzrplE9ut0PQ_Y9deLK91MbHiaXRLFPbEYLgqcNd7H_LLDbC-uA8IvAXs0PnuA0guc8so0OL-MPpEVbhDa_gOqUo1-C69/s1600/DSC03050.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlGEEzxGT4HKHpH4RnfOz_k5Roun1IpZNAs_JK-9sauaiUPZ5VzrplE9ut0PQ_Y9deLK91MbHiaXRLFPbEYLgqcNd7H_LLDbC-uA8IvAXs0PnuA0guc8so0OL-MPpEVbhDa_gOqUo1-C69/s320/DSC03050.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558919522137653842" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdfhI3pZYArCObSwmwSZ2mOzqrBpXFGtXc-7gr4A4clXEGJ1i7zDgnQXmlReaAeasAzS99sG9x7WMsrAgph4GwcvewC6D8z4acmdoqC2W3oebler4rlvC9dGc67XE2jrIdz6D8_T52l0ts/s1600/DSC03049.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdfhI3pZYArCObSwmwSZ2mOzqrBpXFGtXc-7gr4A4clXEGJ1i7zDgnQXmlReaAeasAzS99sG9x7WMsrAgph4GwcvewC6D8z4acmdoqC2W3oebler4rlvC9dGc67XE2jrIdz6D8_T52l0ts/s320/DSC03049.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558919517858864386" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Two quilts that were donated to <a href="http://firehousequilts.org/FDRcvdQlts092007.htm">Firehouse Quilts</a>. (scroll down to Littleton, CO)</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDkl-nVyalGneJJjNVdOic3YkJTWbam-dfxDSjiXvCYqUNm-zJi4R47bznibRZQuCbgKzk0c0VyZJmwHzj4rxcgnJxua3XxERRrnJ3B1nAkZIio0i40rEXrEZw8TrjvwUUlqWmoWOSwAGH/s1600/DSC03191.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDkl-nVyalGneJJjNVdOic3YkJTWbam-dfxDSjiXvCYqUNm-zJi4R47bznibRZQuCbgKzk0c0VyZJmwHzj4rxcgnJxua3XxERRrnJ3B1nAkZIio0i40rEXrEZw8TrjvwUUlqWmoWOSwAGH/s320/DSC03191.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558919515637639778" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Reversible apron for me.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnuiPveoh52iJm7cVTkwjSaycAnTUtsWqh1hzA8vXaw5Pr6rT1t54p2cS7AiRs760xkCBYwwTD9RtjIQkvSi2AH5ohmhUOvoDCysAs7U0Z-ceuA3alTM0QC432Y58BUegYdR7HBsuuTBFr/s1600/DSC03190.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnuiPveoh52iJm7cVTkwjSaycAnTUtsWqh1hzA8vXaw5Pr6rT1t54p2cS7AiRs760xkCBYwwTD9RtjIQkvSi2AH5ohmhUOvoDCysAs7U0Z-ceuA3alTM0QC432Y58BUegYdR7HBsuuTBFr/s320/DSC03190.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558918672188024738" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Apron for Grandma Stitches</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvlgc_5xRYkKveJ8yvX1OyXLM_Va8t0h-628PkoMqlNpBiUTM2GSUyOOL3ZwgGPPONGJFydXHIjSUhB2t8TTNeCozM-A0h46VoyLpaNrIticymeuoMPegNek_RbyXwLq9K_B50LiTfdUBm/s1600/DSC03189.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvlgc_5xRYkKveJ8yvX1OyXLM_Va8t0h-628PkoMqlNpBiUTM2GSUyOOL3ZwgGPPONGJFydXHIjSUhB2t8TTNeCozM-A0h46VoyLpaNrIticymeuoMPegNek_RbyXwLq9K_B50LiTfdUBm/s320/DSC03189.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558918671184448706" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Apron for Leprechaun (nephew)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizMENDVyKn5xLoKkeWgOUluQAH8zoAUsSS6DjZDBarp1h4r34-2ej5vbhgmhWxMuIRRbvsTbjwlyaj46De8rDqOtSnJ5cxpPs5z_qvpZpuqUBhLEygayhz0dbQ_jKu5eYd8ZTeenbivLmW/s1600/DSC03188.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizMENDVyKn5xLoKkeWgOUluQAH8zoAUsSS6DjZDBarp1h4r34-2ej5vbhgmhWxMuIRRbvsTbjwlyaj46De8rDqOtSnJ5cxpPs5z_qvpZpuqUBhLEygayhz0dbQ_jKu5eYd8ZTeenbivLmW/s320/DSC03188.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558918662773942466" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Apron for Froggie (my SIL).</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitAllTEGwx1iMiTtEExjbqiAsvKyL3i3zWSDHw73JjhuUOfFpKbVTMMAW3ialcwakFjcGoG-EbSQvLTRleZeF9qmhoWraUvHD-7FVVzwn9GpDjpcig5aw3wU9PMBDUZkT8aAskCdDteTUo/s1600/DSC03187.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitAllTEGwx1iMiTtEExjbqiAsvKyL3i3zWSDHw73JjhuUOfFpKbVTMMAW3ialcwakFjcGoG-EbSQvLTRleZeF9qmhoWraUvHD-7FVVzwn9GpDjpcig5aw3wU9PMBDUZkT8aAskCdDteTUo/s320/DSC03187.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558918657457791298" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Apron for Grandma B.A.R.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq31-pPw_K8vMnUMpDWSPaftcjXa21rN1EBL2TjCOs0pQz_Bb2vv5bT6IP0hp7zmMkWqH_MsB7ktn_FvyVmWoO4kK_YwdPCUxlkUpbb2K9b5CJX4yTdkZ4rfRuVCM4QIp1Ki1Sj6LHvxLM/s1600/DSC03186.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq31-pPw_K8vMnUMpDWSPaftcjXa21rN1EBL2TjCOs0pQz_Bb2vv5bT6IP0hp7zmMkWqH_MsB7ktn_FvyVmWoO4kK_YwdPCUxlkUpbb2K9b5CJX4yTdkZ4rfRuVCM4QIp1Ki1Sj6LHvxLM/s320/DSC03186.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558918653408076050" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Apron for Grandma Stitches.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Not pictured ('cause I was in to much of a hurry to get them mailed for Christmas):</div><div style="text-align: center;">Apron for Birdie (niece)</div><div style="text-align: center;">2 pairs each pjs for Leprechaun and Birdie</div><div style="text-align: center;">Work on a quilt for Blanket (photos when that is finished).</div>Soxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12698256338800746492noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6321242646875078981.post-22683571551648650252011-01-05T23:42:00.002-05:002011-01-05T23:48:27.038-05:00Sleep (Part 2)<div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilItIl52eZErYZsGh8wB1j1f8ftutDrMbi8M0I7cH3Q-sjGnMk9Jwf41pxp_L2_7_QgY4oQXlUwriTq4SQQMj9IS_j2AE2khbamj04APLkzYqN84N0qevcdvY2dX5WBU7riK0r2yLi-dOs/s1600/DSC03193.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilItIl52eZErYZsGh8wB1j1f8ftutDrMbi8M0I7cH3Q-sjGnMk9Jwf41pxp_L2_7_QgY4oQXlUwriTq4SQQMj9IS_j2AE2khbamj04APLkzYqN84N0qevcdvY2dX5WBU7riK0r2yLi-dOs/s320/DSC03193.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558929195421778898" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Some days even chocolate ice cream isn't enough to keep him awake.</div>Soxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12698256338800746492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6321242646875078981.post-45546028337014347712011-01-05T12:48:00.003-05:002011-01-05T23:41:09.775-05:00Track around the world.<div>Maybe not around the world, but around the house for sure. Way back in the summer Santa scored all this great Thomas stuff for a smallish price. Ever since we had wondered if there was enough to go "all the way around". All the way around our downstairs, that is. And since B.A.R. is out of town for the next few days (and I don't have to pick up toys for any good reason) I added on to the Brendham Docks and Tidmouth Sheds the boys had started with. Note: these are not all the buildings/track we have. 3 buildings, 1 bridge and about 10 little adapter tracks were not needed to build this.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Now for our tour</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0kjcdE98oSZDLf7c1CK2TqMPXrxnTxw9H5YGi69HoSEeT8KQmWVTOTX5LWvF3NDncfDyS0QWfrKcghNg81r7oHp47u2-qhXrJTbVqA1SIwoA3Av5VXUQfGZA5Y37O-DnZJIEEksbA1TPT/s1600/DSC03295.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0kjcdE98oSZDLf7c1CK2TqMPXrxnTxw9H5YGi69HoSEeT8KQmWVTOTX5LWvF3NDncfDyS0QWfrKcghNg81r7oHp47u2-qhXrJTbVqA1SIwoA3Av5VXUQfGZA5Y37O-DnZJIEEksbA1TPT/s320/DSC03295.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558761431717214482" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">We start at Brendham Docks and Tidmouth Sheds in the Front/playroom</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg95mIzGJ-Q7dINwlkIooH_XZVtayaRqdKoKQI4M-pTu-zeFiwv0XofnuHJV9Xdox73RoGjIbS1wNz_Wy5OQ9DP1iMGr2QfK5fe6iVVoHsAC94q2U2SynVQIr7RlopmeRbjixYYpwvOOc9Z/s1600/DSC03296.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg95mIzGJ-Q7dINwlkIooH_XZVtayaRqdKoKQI4M-pTu-zeFiwv0XofnuHJV9Xdox73RoGjIbS1wNz_Wy5OQ9DP1iMGr2QfK5fe6iVVoHsAC94q2U2SynVQIr7RlopmeRbjixYYpwvOOc9Z/s320/DSC03296.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558761423384504866" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Out to the junction and onto the hallway tile.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyzhoJ5WGWT3oYVmEGfBEAofQGLrruXwV9tDdv8fMzguyczRW6uIq1Ixm-NwvegVSerT5Ik7cPuYu9SABn_DG3nCMWksAcH8aOjmzS32JVwEYQB-7UeRyWyVI6GuzLvCUtSWCb2NWoh_qT/s1600/DSC03297.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyzhoJ5WGWT3oYVmEGfBEAofQGLrruXwV9tDdv8fMzguyczRW6uIq1Ixm-NwvegVSerT5Ik7cPuYu9SABn_DG3nCMWksAcH8aOjmzS32JVwEYQB-7UeRyWyVI6GuzLvCUtSWCb2NWoh_qT/s320/DSC03297.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558761419985540786" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Down the hallway, past the stairs, laundry and a broken-down train.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /></span></u></span></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiViYKVox139lBYZmcSC13pnXg7bdQDv0Tmf4IjnPPa4_cehISZ8gjuIjVf4ZN0OpAUI1aAlDYtRo83OpPI8hka4v88RihiqZcinv0STYrMrv4AdYAVPuhH9eU-0o3AqbAitZ6uoRhWoK9n/s1600/DSC03298.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiViYKVox139lBYZmcSC13pnXg7bdQDv0Tmf4IjnPPa4_cehISZ8gjuIjVf4ZN0OpAUI1aAlDYtRo83OpPI8hka4v88RihiqZcinv0STYrMrv4AdYAVPuhH9eU-0o3AqbAitZ6uoRhWoK9n/s320/DSC03298.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558760756212965250" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Past the basement steps and around the corner.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjkWzNfZiHEDonsE5je2OSro3OqB1yDEMHD9cp96sHlEBDW60XHk0JuR0fSzK9thTnQMZXTcsxd8wzze4zgkZgF4psNwTDF9uUcA6-VmX85-1SMPrxRyja5RjcwWxfV_Q960bpgaU6Nltg/s1600/DSC03299.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjkWzNfZiHEDonsE5je2OSro3OqB1yDEMHD9cp96sHlEBDW60XHk0JuR0fSzK9thTnQMZXTcsxd8wzze4zgkZgF4psNwTDF9uUcA6-VmX85-1SMPrxRyja5RjcwWxfV_Q960bpgaU6Nltg/s320/DSC03299.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558760755214408418" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Along the other hallway waving to the office and the bathroom as you pass.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhonwHco7-KsSljAz2h9lf8QTvE4VKO5aHsd2nhetjVjoRZEve1PjdMJP3K3R_d3In2nwzPayEbBiHcAgIm8fs7eklSzOIiJy6Op7zgeL2G44agebZeqcTubP4I071TqYMCUr8QPFdXouo9/s1600/DSC03300.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhonwHco7-KsSljAz2h9lf8QTvE4VKO5aHsd2nhetjVjoRZEve1PjdMJP3K3R_d3In2nwzPayEbBiHcAgIm8fs7eklSzOIiJy6Op7zgeL2G44agebZeqcTubP4I071TqYMCUr8QPFdXouo9/s320/DSC03300.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558760750512889618" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Down the step to the TV room (new <i>white</i> sectional shown) and turning the corner into the kitchen.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_U7aoMm53Ky7bNFY1-MB5aCy40qUCcJmZZMOfa3e1mvW0VLvp6x2Zkgb_cpJesJMVhlIWuj5BXwQ5Iz89LFtyFaIlQrkY9W_1gFaI-cO7zaZ370Bttyyzgc4iqkH9KJYQ3SP5S-ByLXcm/s1600/DSC03301.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_U7aoMm53Ky7bNFY1-MB5aCy40qUCcJmZZMOfa3e1mvW0VLvp6x2Zkgb_cpJesJMVhlIWuj5BXwQ5Iz89LFtyFaIlQrkY9W_1gFaI-cO7zaZ370Bttyyzgc4iqkH9KJYQ3SP5S-ByLXcm/s320/DSC03301.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558760744532594690" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Up the step and past the trash can.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbYYbndDZOr71jyFInDXmViEPsRGfKf5mPuSdhLYDEtUh4oz1TnwIpPL0CDP-4YAOgl8PKSAR8p3HyLyCRqPSeAmxbnRN8MPzR87ZwYe-SqRA5Yc6zQUKogJOrl_Ft_KaqCyguau287HF1/s1600/DSC03302.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbYYbndDZOr71jyFInDXmViEPsRGfKf5mPuSdhLYDEtUh4oz1TnwIpPL0CDP-4YAOgl8PKSAR8p3HyLyCRqPSeAmxbnRN8MPzR87ZwYe-SqRA5Yc6zQUKogJOrl_Ft_KaqCyguau287HF1/s320/DSC03302.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558760470420819218" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Kitchen hardwood covered and into the dining room.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYu9PrgHKcc-05zEsdzHHhsDOA5yKFf3-O6bJCcAvKngaR_b-u7ibRT2-FuDId3IgNHTxBtJCq0Aar8PRdQ8CYxk8b77JMXf0IiJJCiSAupLrVQdz6OkTSrbSOBO3gVgu_bGmOLM-S6h9H/s1600/DSC03303.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYu9PrgHKcc-05zEsdzHHhsDOA5yKFf3-O6bJCcAvKngaR_b-u7ibRT2-FuDId3IgNHTxBtJCq0Aar8PRdQ8CYxk8b77JMXf0IiJJCiSAupLrVQdz6OkTSrbSOBO3gVgu_bGmOLM-S6h9H/s320/DSC03303.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558760469170283122" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Final corner and dining table avoidance.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTfPjvmR94E4V3QAxkneP20a7UtBD1TzRtdV4uAe9nTUPiV-pAy7DlgjfWhNa7VFb047p_jp_IexNhVuHAPNr9QsC0q0NPma5uMNzbegOeQpGOVpcu8O-RqhH4dzP32SyALQwrx__8edm1/s1600/DSC03304.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTfPjvmR94E4V3QAxkneP20a7UtBD1TzRtdV4uAe9nTUPiV-pAy7DlgjfWhNa7VFb047p_jp_IexNhVuHAPNr9QsC0q0NPma5uMNzbegOeQpGOVpcu8O-RqhH4dzP32SyALQwrx__8edm1/s320/DSC03304.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558760456957145890" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Back to the playroom.</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUV5tatklk5-odJiBbl0vMuLQiSRk1fQFxY13vmjWr2vhK1OdNtRWxUEmHpg1n2danc3AqXHB3ZLWghII_BxRhaf24KUHXWXjpUGmNPjEWPs6ozKGgjUiycX4wNiS1GBkX4zoN-7A_bwr3/s1600/DSC03305.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUV5tatklk5-odJiBbl0vMuLQiSRk1fQFxY13vmjWr2vhK1OdNtRWxUEmHpg1n2danc3AqXHB3ZLWghII_BxRhaf24KUHXWXjpUGmNPjEWPs6ozKGgjUiycX4wNiS1GBkX4zoN-7A_bwr3/s320/DSC03305.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558760453343897442" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Stop at the carnival.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD20xs_Wm4SqOvJzAln7u-pF_JfxLf2NRsRJcMEotM1uiYZdW2gzRk7ei8tFQhIbReYl-1fd8UZ5v0YOahGyhsENIORfmj9hA_qB-H_ae5S20r0yQf0viVk9DRtoZE3UVvOGM_yIMbmvMM/s1600/DSC03306.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD20xs_Wm4SqOvJzAln7u-pF_JfxLf2NRsRJcMEotM1uiYZdW2gzRk7ei8tFQhIbReYl-1fd8UZ5v0YOahGyhsENIORfmj9hA_qB-H_ae5S20r0yQf0viVk9DRtoZE3UVvOGM_yIMbmvMM/s320/DSC03306.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558760451148391986" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Back to the junction. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Note the use of lots of curved track at the end because I was all out of straight track. Now back to my adult chores.</div>Soxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12698256338800746492noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6321242646875078981.post-77017415635996979482011-01-03T18:06:00.003-05:002011-01-05T23:41:20.133-05:00Reasons for my absence<div>These are my extended absence excuses. </div><div><br /></div>1. I have 3 children that are home all day and demand my attention (refereeing) most of that time.<br />2. Blanket got potty-trained.<div>3. Mac army crawls.</div><div>4. I read 19 books last year.</div><div>5. I sewed and sewed and sewed (see upcoming post).</div><div>6. I watched every episode of Glenn Beck since June. Most from my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">DVR</span> while I sew.</div><div>7. I survived Christmas, and all the preparations.</div><div>8. Mac had a baby blessing (way back in May).</div><div>9. I haven't slept 8 hours in a row in more than a year and a half. I am generally tired.</div><div>10. I keep finding interesting books that I don't have time to read or even listen to (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">audiobooks</span>).</div><div>11. We are painting our main floor and spent all of last week painting all the walls save one (I don't think I can take the TV down w/o breaking it so B.A.R. is asking his coworker to help him move it, paint behind it, and put it back).</div><div>12. It seems like Mac has had a cold since Labor Day (save a week or two) and has been cranky, consequently.</div><div>13. I have been following the news, not writing my own.</div><div>14. I stayed up all night watching election returns. No, really.</div><div>15. I applied for, and obtained a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">CHP</span>. I even went to the courthouse twice.</div><div>16. Two of my kids had birthdays.</div><div>17. I made a Halloween costume.</div><div>18. We did <a href="http://tiffanybuckmiller.smugmug.com/Family/Eveland-Family/14104267_ZqQsu">family pictures</a> in October.</div><div>19. We replaced 2 couches and a chair with a sectional (<a href="http://soxsundayfunnies.blogspot.com/2008/08/be-careful-what-you-ask-for.html">free of course</a>)</div><div>20. I looked high and low for 2 chronically missing toys (parts to shape sorter and alphabet toys) without finding them.</div><div>21. I found the two missing toys deep in the recesses of my mauve lay-z-boy (a month or so after the great toy quest). I also found a tube of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">neosporin</span>, 2 spoons, a pencil, a sucker stick, a dozen Q-tips and lots of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">unmentionable</span>s.</div><div>22. We disposed of the Lay-z-boy before it could hide any more treasures.</div><div>23. I changed out all my kids clothing for the next size (Tiger 5t, Blanket 2t, Mac 12 mo)</div><div><br /></div><div>I hope to blog more regularly in the coming months, but I realize I am a busy mom who likes sewing and reading as much as blogging (and sometimes more).</div>Soxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12698256338800746492noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6321242646875078981.post-1622937230394079412011-01-03T18:01:00.002-05:002011-01-05T23:41:26.355-05:00Mommy, I want to go there! {pointing fingers}I often get this remark when we drive by the toy store (on our way somewhere else) or when we drive by a friend's house or generally anywhere they enjoy being, and recognize. Blanket, however, said this to me this morning before I had gotten dressed. <br /><br />He ran up to me and pointed at my shirt "Mommy, I want to go back there!" I looked down to see what shirt I was wearing and saw him pointing at the IN-N-OUT logo on my shirt. <br /><br />My response: "I really want to go back there too. I am glad you remembered."<br /><br />I miss living in IN-N-OUT country.Soxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12698256338800746492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6321242646875078981.post-61780944130443733102011-01-03T17:53:00.002-05:002011-01-03T18:00:54.212-05:00CTWYesterday Tiger got a new primary class. Yesterday Tiger remembered what he talked about in Primary for the first time. He told me CTR means Choose the Right. He told me he wants to choose the right. <br /><br />Today we were getting in the car and he was mad about something and he hit Blanket on the shoulder. Then when asked he told me he didn't do anything. I told Tiger that hitting his brother was not choosing the right, and neither was lying about it. He responded with "I don't want to choose the right. I want to choose the WRONG!"<br /><br />I am glad he knows the difference between right and wrong. I am glad he has agency to choose right from wrong.<br /><br />P.S. This post reminds me of my seminary teacher Bro. Wilcox. If you had him you'll know why.Soxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12698256338800746492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6321242646875078981.post-18395120779169163882010-12-23T12:09:00.004-05:002010-12-23T12:22:22.269-05:00Big HairIs it 1985? Blanket came up and asked me the other day for "big hair." I obliged. <br />Well, I obliged as far as I could with his buzz-in-need-of-rebuzzing. The next day he asked for it again and Tiger chimed in for a similar 'do. I took photos. It should be noted that I do not like this style, but I let them make some of their own decisions. At least they haven't asked for it since.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUX-mNIO20QLmC3-Vg5y3iqFLhIhpRM7_OtwNeKB8BczhyEAFXtA2IrRcZDZ8gNW3CaHdVeDsYQ5Y69BZ2D-668L_ry_fgYWSL0WS8UTLSRNUDJdhPIrn0uK4EdnQHR3dRIBM5elnALkwM/s1600/DSC03250.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUX-mNIO20QLmC3-Vg5y3iqFLhIhpRM7_OtwNeKB8BczhyEAFXtA2IrRcZDZ8gNW3CaHdVeDsYQ5Y69BZ2D-668L_ry_fgYWSL0WS8UTLSRNUDJdhPIrn0uK4EdnQHR3dRIBM5elnALkwM/s320/DSC03250.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553926381019296690" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4DkvhyphenhyphenPTpH5-Tivw_UpwUXKy5UXN5ayIyyc5qu5183ufq_KV-oGu7Micyz1qpKTg-NHPYVItw-9NgUrP14y3eu-7AqltbXtrO63JI3FMEymv7ZXLOVjW6ma26wJWFShGlqKpsg5vIwfBr/s1600/DSC03251.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4DkvhyphenhyphenPTpH5-Tivw_UpwUXKy5UXN5ayIyyc5qu5183ufq_KV-oGu7Micyz1qpKTg-NHPYVItw-9NgUrP14y3eu-7AqltbXtrO63JI3FMEymv7ZXLOVjW6ma26wJWFShGlqKpsg5vIwfBr/s320/DSC03251.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553926380316162722" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7AyE3WgNOJ7hlW2FmAF9QAZuJnh89kYUBnUgvBnZZtgw5lZRgg5-JT5qcWb1zEPjWb6TCUJdoIqxesPGB0x2VuDUWU3K1fuRDo7rVZirR9w2YxrqM3VvEDIqDkmaKsBHsm3YrMrP48ZSY/s1600/DSC03259.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7AyE3WgNOJ7hlW2FmAF9QAZuJnh89kYUBnUgvBnZZtgw5lZRgg5-JT5qcWb1zEPjWb6TCUJdoIqxesPGB0x2VuDUWU3K1fuRDo7rVZirR9w2YxrqM3VvEDIqDkmaKsBHsm3YrMrP48ZSY/s320/DSC03259.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553926374572251442" /></a><br />As an added bonus: Mac still doesn't have enough hair to do anything with: no big hair for him.Soxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12698256338800746492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6321242646875078981.post-78236782601978322852010-12-16T13:33:00.004-05:002015-08-24T14:39:48.984-04:00Things I didn't know I didn't know.The stomach flu having come, and mostly gone is giving me a great chance to reflect on things I don't normally notice:<br />
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1. Cleaning jobs have a pecking order around here: Hazmat and biohazard, other wet cleanup, dishes, laundry, toys and general cleanup, vacuuming, kitchen cleaning, bathroom cleaning.<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>On biohazard: I didn't know that I could wake from a deep sleep at 11:30pm to clean an entire bathroom, bathe a vomiting Tiger, prep his bed for reentry, dress and readmit him to bed in less than an hour. Thanks also to Tiger, the downstairs bathroom also got a good cleaning.<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>On dishes: I don't like doing dishes. I don't. I tend to avoid it until necessary (I tend to unload, load, and run in one shot.) Yet I find myself willingly doing them before most other things which I enjoy doing significantly more. I have found that I dislike "shopping" for a clean dish in the dishwasher more than I dislike "shopping" for clean clothes in a laundry basket (folded or unfolded). I dislike dishes that have sat in the dishwasher more than a day. Laundry, on the other hand, waits patiently in the basket to be hidden away in its designated recesses. Staleness, here, is not a problem (though wrinkles tend to be). Though, the thing that makes me do dishes the most is not being able to use (and being forced to clean, or substitute another for) the one I want because it is waiting to be washed. <br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>On Laundry: I don't mind (and sometimes enjoy) the rhythm brought to a day by the regular loading and unloading of mechanized textile cleaning apparatuses. I like the sound of my top-load washer doing all the hard scrubbing (and I know, 'cause I did it by hand at one point in my life). I don't love folding, nor do I even like it, but I choose it. Rather, I choose something I want to watch while I fold the mountain I made during my weekly laundry dance. I like having folded/sorted clothes to choose from even if they hide in their basket for a few days (or until the next laundry day-but I try to avoid that).<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>On toys and general cleanup: I try to pick up the toys once a day or less, and let my kids do it (with much provocation) to do it the rest of the time. I keep my house moving, without keeping it super clean. As long as ALL the toys aren't out, I can deal with a fleet of 20 or 30 cars lined up nicely. Likewise all the blocks are fine if it doesn't also include all the trains and all the balls.<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>On vacuuming: I like to vacuum. Mostly I like to use <i><a href="http://www.sebo.us/pro-automatic-x.aspx">my</a></i><a href="http://www.sebo.us/pro-automatic-x.aspx"> vacuum</a>. But I hate picking up all the toys and clutter just to have the kids go behind me while I am vacuuming and make a mess either before or after I have vacuumed. Sometimes I make a game of it pretending the vacuum is going to suck up all the toys left on the floor, but then I am focused on the game and not on adequately vacuuming. Finding things I missed after I put the vacuum away is almost as annoying as messes being made while I am cleaning up. I vacuum regularly, though not as often as I would like because it is not as rewarding when the kids aren't keeping things orderly for me.<br />
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>On kitchens and baths: Cleaning my kitchen and my bath aren't on my list of things I ever want to do. I do get to them when the level of uncleanliness bothers me. That is the motivating factor, period. If you would like me to do something for you, just come clean my bathroom for me. The kitchen gets cleaned more frequently because of simple math: guests are more likely to see my kitchen sink than see the inside of my shower.<br />
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2. I have always suspected that if I had not been raised to shun addictive substances I would be dead or chronically addicted to everything bad for me. Normally, I have fewer than 4 cokes/caffeinated beverages a year. After this stomach bug I just wasn't recovering enough to be a functional parent for my kids, until I had some coke. It made it all better. All better except for the staying up all night-needing caffeine to compensate for the lack of sleep-needing more to make me feel normal-needing more to make me feel almost as good as the last can cycle. I can see I need to stay away from addictive substances, and why coffee drinkers aren't functioning well until they have had their java. Please be kind while I go through withdrawl.</div>
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3. Mac can be happy all day if fed and napped at appropriate times and placed in a room with lots of his toys and his brothers. Not having him constantly crying for attention when I was feeling dead was great.</div>
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4. Losing 5 pounds overnight is possible, while remaining somewhat hydrated. Though I wouldn't recommended it. And it's not pleasant at all. It also makes my skinny pants fall off. It will probably make me go down a dress size or two. </div>
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and finally:</div>
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5. <a href="ttp://www.holidaycardcenter.org/NRA?s=RF103497&r=10SERF">The NRA sells Christmas cards</a>. I bet you didn't know that.</div>
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Soxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12698256338800746492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6321242646875078981.post-23046566846830581612010-10-07T11:59:00.003-04:002011-03-04T10:50:34.724-05:00Instead of flowers<div>I don't like getting flowers. I think they are a waste: they stink, they die, they are very immediate. I would rather the money was spent on a more practical gift. I even keep a list on the computer so that B.A.R can know what I want in advance. It works great for us.</div><div><br /></div>I mentioned to him the other day that I liked something that I saw advertised in one of his magazines. Then he went out of town on business and came back with the item that I had mentioned. He even drove an extra 130 miles (65 each way) to go get it.<div><br /></div><div>What is the most interesting gift you have received instead of flowers?</div>Soxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12698256338800746492noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6321242646875078981.post-71147101299773745452010-05-28T12:56:00.002-04:002010-05-28T13:02:58.030-04:00Tiger's Conversation: DogsI was reading with Tiger the other day and we discussed getting a pet. He said he wanted a dog. I don't want a pet while I still have little kids that need to be cared for as much as a pet does.<div><br /></div><div>Sox: You can have a dog when you get bigger and you can take care of it. </div><div><br /></div><div>--Much moving around, wiggling, standing, stretching--</div><div><br /></div><div>Sox: Do you need to go potty?</div><div>Tiger: No, I am getting bigger so that I can have a dog.</div><div>Sox: But you need to get a lot bigger.</div><div>Tiger: (stretching) I am getting a lot bigger.</div><div>Sox: You need to get big enough to take care of a dog.</div><div>Tiger: No I don't need to take care of the dog.</div><div>Sox: Why not?</div><div>Tiger: The dog will take care of me. Can I have a dog now?</div><div>Sox: Um, No.</div>Soxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12698256338800746492noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6321242646875078981.post-28292758320489772982010-05-26T08:28:00.003-04:002010-05-26T08:56:56.124-04:00A Tiger Emergency."A lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part." Well, maybe it does if you are my son. Tiger had been reading <i><a href="http://www.shelfari.com/books/971141/Chicka-Chicka-1-2-3-(Book-and-Audio-CD-Edition)">Chicka, Chicka, 1, 2, 3</a> </i>and loving it. He saw on<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9JrGj8Zhyphenhyphenx1n-1L1Ta5nfcryYTEnnlS_Ht-JrM7G0zpOqNiuxmBJe17WrJh8_2oehOVsoVuBxsl9bQgRvZNC2x5GMpbF6jeKVRCW-XMmrqV7g3OuyDzfQcrayi6g5Sz0alRge4UwwE29u/s1600/51L152JDI6L._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9JrGj8Zhyphenhyphenx1n-1L1Ta5nfcryYTEnnlS_Ht-JrM7G0zpOqNiuxmBJe17WrJh8_2oehOVsoVuBxsl9bQgRvZNC2x5GMpbF6jeKVRCW-XMmrqV7g3OuyDzfQcrayi6g5Sz0alRge4UwwE29u/s320/51L152JDI6L._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475555370182361682" /></a>the back of the book a picture of <i>Chicka Chicka Boom Boom </i>and he wanted to read that. One day he demanded that I get it for him. I dutifully went to the library's website and put it on hold for him. About an hour later he asked me when we were going to go get it. I told him it would be ready in a couple of days. That was just not going to do. He <b>needed</b> <i>Chicka Chicka Boom Boom</i> today. It was an emergency!<div>Finally, at 4 o'clock, I'd had it with the daylong requests/demands to go to the library to get the book. I checked to make sure the library had one in stock and then I loaded the whole tribe into the car for a trip to the library when I should have been making dinner. I did manage to negotiate a return of <i>Chicka Chicka 1, 2, 3 </i>in exchange for the emergency check-out of <i>Chicka Chicka Boom Boom</i>. When we arrived one of our favorite librarians asked why we were there (usually we go in the morning) and I explained our "emergency." Liz quickly filled our request and I picked up a few more books for Tiger. We arrived home about 4:40 and started making dinner late. At least I didn't have a dinner emergency where I was out of a necessary ingredient and had to run out for that too.</div><div>I hate 4 pm emergencies, even when they don't involve a hospital.</div><div><br /></div><div>And for the record: Tiger reads <i>Chicka Chicka Boom Boom</i> 4+ times every day in the week that we have had it.</div>Soxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12698256338800746492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6321242646875078981.post-44861848913023901192010-05-25T10:16:00.002-04:002011-03-04T10:50:34.725-05:009 years of bliss'cause I love him. That's just how it is. I'm not perfect. He's not perfect, but we keep choosing<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiPqDQXCBl_RNBMm0qu7nyn-Jq9vhv0VZkHm5H1esQMPUKxPGI4STyI-bZHcZA2N8FuhiepqkyZAQw3bHkuVFoUJBma3GMEVp2IvciJTwBXaSFnGmoiM2b5aMdWoXECmE1S7WnTOSCdiWM/s1600/pict2.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 318px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiPqDQXCBl_RNBMm0qu7nyn-Jq9vhv0VZkHm5H1esQMPUKxPGI4STyI-bZHcZA2N8FuhiepqkyZAQw3bHkuVFoUJBma3GMEVp2IvciJTwBXaSFnGmoiM2b5aMdWoXECmE1S7WnTOSCdiWM/s320/pict2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475211511238629634" /></a>to be perfect together.Soxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12698256338800746492noreply@blogger.com2