tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41507360166293420332024-02-18T22:11:33.916-05:00Waiting For A Graceful MorningThis is the story of our journey to China to pick up our daughter Ava. Her Chinese name is Xiao Ting (Graceful Morning).Marciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00094185431178432778noreply@blogger.comBlogger88125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4150736016629342033.post-76727466939544432652010-07-25T10:18:00.005-04:002010-08-24T18:16:16.000-04:00Mosaic Trisomy 18<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrvoHh-yrw4y0bNWPDnR6uNzuhrfaUMYYoW-QfYhgkFx67ko47_thqOQTGkQDrj-QAzYXAnwjG48fgDLhrntXxySdm-HsajoSc3YDr6xAdGeQZZPm_8fRsSISQ3HraxF3Pm9YDeuudnWYT/s1600/IMG_4319.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrvoHh-yrw4y0bNWPDnR6uNzuhrfaUMYYoW-QfYhgkFx67ko47_thqOQTGkQDrj-QAzYXAnwjG48fgDLhrntXxySdm-HsajoSc3YDr6xAdGeQZZPm_8fRsSISQ3HraxF3Pm9YDeuudnWYT/s400/IMG_4319.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509004905680800434" /></a><br /><div>I want to share the story of my beautiful daughter, Ava, and her diagnosis of Mosaic Trisomy 18 so that someone else out there looking for information may stumble upon her story.</div><div><br /></div>My first experience with Trisomy 18 happened when I found out that one of my brother in law's best friends was expecting a child with T18 several years ago. They were told that the likelihood of their child surviving to term was small, and that if she did survive, her lifespan would be very short - as in weeks. They put their faith in God and chose to continue their pregnancy, a decision I so respect and admire. Their daughter, Claire, was born and they kept everybody informed about her in the most beautiful <a href="http://clairecox.blogspot.com/">blog</a>. I remember reading it everyday and I was so moved by their little Claire and the love that they had for her. Fast forward approximately 4 years - April 2010, I get the news that my 6 year old has Mosaic Trisomy 18. The first thing I thought of was little Claire and her short, beautiful life. The difference was that Claire had full Trisomy 18 and Ava was diagnosed with mosaic Trisomy 18. I searched all over the internet for information, but Trisomy 18 is very rare and mosaic Trisomy 18 is even more rare. So, while there is no plethora of information about Trisomy 18 (T18), there is next to zero about mosaic T18. T18 (Also known as <a href="http://www.trisomy18.org/site/PageServer?pagename=whatisT18_whatis">Edward's Syndrome</a>) is a genetic disorder which results when a person has 3 #18 Chromosomes versus the normal 2 in every cell. In mosaic T18, there is an extra #18 chromosome in only some of the cells. Geneticists can get an idea of the percentage of cells affected by blood testing, but from what I understand, this doesn't necessarily correlate with severity of symptoms. The only way to know which cells are affected are to test all of the cells, which obviously, is impossible. Of course, symptoms can give them an idea of what body systems are affected. Basically, anything that is wrong, you blame on T18. Ava's blood work came back showing that 50% of her cells are T18. <div><br /></div><div>We adopted Ava when she was 3 1/2 from China November 2007 (that story starts <a href="http://ava-li.blogspot.com/2007/09/we-sent-our-letter-of-intent-to-china.html">here</a>). She was on the special need's list for adoption because she was born with ventricular septal defect (VSD - a whole in the wall between the ventricles of her heart), but that had been repaired in China when she was 18 months old. In her medical report they also mentioned some muscle tone problems and difficulty walking. When we were first introduced to Ava, she did seem to have some balance/walking issues. We had her evaluated pretty quickly after getting her home and found out that she was globally developmentally delayed and immediately started physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy. At the time, we were still thinking a lot of her issues were environmentally related, which I'm sure was our wishful thinking that we could quickly catch her up to her peers. We took her from specialist to specialist, having her poked, prodded, scanned - you name it, to thoroughly check her out to make sure there were no medical issues causing any of her delays. We never really found any answers so we just kept up with her therapies. She was progressing, but it was much slower than expected. We finally found a developmental pediatrician, that another parent raved about, and she thoroughly examined Ava and listened to all of the issues, both cognitive and physical, that Ava had. She tested everything that came out of Ava's body - well, the blood had to be taken. We finally had a diagnosis! It wasn't necessarily what we wanted to hear, but we were glad to have answers. Now the main reason I'm writing this is not so much to share the journey, however, it has taught me to trust my instincts as a mother and to keep searching for the right doctor that will listen to me, but to share with you how mosaic T18 affects Ava's life. Mosaic T18, like I said before, is unpredictable in how it is expressed because it depends on what cells have the extra chromosome. This is how it has affected Ava's life, but another mosaic T18 child could be completely different. </div><div><br /></div><div>Ava is 6 years old and is diagnosed with general <a href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/151951.php">dyspraxia</a> (motor disorder), verbal <a href="http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/voice/apraxia.html">apraxia</a> (severe speech disorder), cognitive delay and malabsorption. She goes to a school for children with special needs, but if she went to public school, she would probably be in either a special need's kindergarten class or an inclusion class with assistance. She does not speak very well (mostly one word sentences), but she understands simple directions, knows her letters, colors, and some numbers. Most of her fine motor, gross motor and behavior are on about a 3 year old level. She is progressing on all of these areas, but it is slow. We still aren't sure what the future holds for her, but we want to give her every opportunity we can. As far as her malabsorption, she takes medication before meals as well as probiotics and supplements, but she eats a regular diet. Ava is a sweet, loving child. I can't imagine our lives without her. </div>Marciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00094185431178432778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4150736016629342033.post-12453630237366864422009-06-20T21:15:00.006-04:002009-06-20T22:28:09.866-04:00Ava's Dance Recital<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6oEO0lRJ3oiazTBYw8AAg4G-GprZyRX4lV0MecIFzuJSXpoOBGylLsbpR3IX6a1TsXjqQeYPL7Z8Bga0GzJiXRzalxX5gUPN2LLXCQNcJ68n0pq3z94xyFSbC6Id5nn1TfuffbbWw-oit/s1600-h/IMG_2471.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6oEO0lRJ3oiazTBYw8AAg4G-GprZyRX4lV0MecIFzuJSXpoOBGylLsbpR3IX6a1TsXjqQeYPL7Z8Bga0GzJiXRzalxX5gUPN2LLXCQNcJ68n0pq3z94xyFSbC6Id5nn1TfuffbbWw-oit/s400/IMG_2471.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349584957208277890" border="0" /></a><br />Ava had her first dance recital tonight. Ava loved it! It was hilarious to watch her. She loves to dance and any time she hears music, she has to dance! At the end of the recital, they had everyone sitting down on the stage to acknowledge some of the dancers. They started playing music and Ava got up and started dancing. She was the only one on the stage dancing, but they couldn't get her to sit down. We also saw her trying to get on the stage during a couple of the other dances. I had several people come up to me after the show to comment on Ava's performance. Here is the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2o-UqbPDUsU">link</a> on you tube.<br /><br />Here is the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJtC1X7N-mA">link</a> to her at the end of the show. I didn't get video of her at the beginning because I didn't know she was going to get up and start dancing. <br /><br />I am so behind on posting on here. I have a lot of pictues to post. I'll try and do that soon!Marciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00094185431178432778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4150736016629342033.post-82277307213584203982009-04-09T16:34:00.005-04:002009-04-09T17:23:59.046-04:00"I Love You"<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRPMo0yHZtAD5IGxiAzn41aqZDiGohAxAkrZFzJBQpg2kGZM1wDB-eZgoiGi12Ybk8ITATfAtXPdea-FN6bMz8Pyur9QlilvuTjtj2qEJHCAEmb9rtq6tvfPV6G9HK8ONQ2wRWR_TWhyD1/s1600-h/IMG_1819.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRPMo0yHZtAD5IGxiAzn41aqZDiGohAxAkrZFzJBQpg2kGZM1wDB-eZgoiGi12Ybk8ITATfAtXPdea-FN6bMz8Pyur9QlilvuTjtj2qEJHCAEmb9rtq6tvfPV6G9HK8ONQ2wRWR_TWhyD1/s400/IMG_1819.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322805172392318818" border="0" /></a>Ava goofing off with Grandma Nora's glasses<br /><br /></div><br />The sweetest three words I've ever heard. Yes, I heard them from Ava!!! Most children Ava's age (she will be 5 in May) have been saying these three words for several years. Ava has <a href="http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/voice/apraxia.htm">verbal apraxia </a>and has not said more than one word at a time until this past week. She is so proud of herself and so are we. Ava, we love YOU!Marciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00094185431178432778noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4150736016629342033.post-16826764386738087422009-03-05T09:07:00.005-05:002009-03-05T09:34:54.181-05:00Snow DayThis past Saturday Peter and I were in the car together and he mentioned something about the radio saying there would be snow tomorrow. I told him that I didn't hear what was said, but they were probably talking about somewhere else...it was in the 60's on Saturday. Well obviously, he heard correctly...<br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Ava loving the snow<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZNBnVBntFmStyidrZpsdxVdRL2UxK2t1IqFRXU5K8NwFVdqQ98yT_FYWVd5qxXslKeP8thIiITX_Lk_wlVsikLlrsPR2vbmQsIALJ7ynN5x0dA-fPWTz0YxxsqNqsWS_83hpyDAWWy5j_/s1600-h/IMG_1604.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZNBnVBntFmStyidrZpsdxVdRL2UxK2t1IqFRXU5K8NwFVdqQ98yT_FYWVd5qxXslKeP8thIiITX_Lk_wlVsikLlrsPR2vbmQsIALJ7ynN5x0dA-fPWTz0YxxsqNqsWS_83hpyDAWWy5j_/s400/IMG_1604.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309707167005709218" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJnz2XZ9yW6WV-RdOh2M1GsIM55uNytJSV-W3-BoiAjIwosMlPBj3kkQTeZnwX3h2Uxjsovb2iiVZ9Qj6DJBDLONEPslPIk4udevZYoDy4IzCd_iS1yc_MC83EamvMK0pyG-W4cHyizpco/s1600-h/IMG_1610.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJnz2XZ9yW6WV-RdOh2M1GsIM55uNytJSV-W3-BoiAjIwosMlPBj3kkQTeZnwX3h2Uxjsovb2iiVZ9Qj6DJBDLONEPslPIk4udevZYoDy4IzCd_iS1yc_MC83EamvMK0pyG-W4cHyizpco/s400/IMG_1610.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309707173598902306" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih68wtHYhqxaeqdBZyAIUutAf-rCHcstD5sdjUfnzjJDEwDeoYo7y2cVW6KHmLDS8NunmVOos78zVCVBVPZeoauk8vWAU9BX7sMlqadDFsUamQ2DAp-G-4U_zxZWSSc5AXq3Fng7TW93U/s1600-h/IMG_1611.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih68wtHYhqxaeqdBZyAIUutAf-rCHcstD5sdjUfnzjJDEwDeoYo7y2cVW6KHmLDS8NunmVOos78zVCVBVPZeoauk8vWAU9BX7sMlqadDFsUamQ2DAp-G-4U_zxZWSSc5AXq3Fng7TW93U/s400/IMG_1611.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309707178946171362" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Mom going for the weak<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLsOUea-3CfOU6KgGOTUTVpHCPVIjpc33Ao3XrNknzQ16QaIRipmywrUbSm7LWEWTjg_eejI_6ExSLSC951dCVQH0i4WzWun2M4t69jiKEql5NGJVjGbTA5pkcb6rnGYwUwLEP-Z6ohNwO/s1600-h/IMG_1605.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLsOUea-3CfOU6KgGOTUTVpHCPVIjpc33Ao3XrNknzQ16QaIRipmywrUbSm7LWEWTjg_eejI_6ExSLSC951dCVQH0i4WzWun2M4t69jiKEql5NGJVjGbTA5pkcb6rnGYwUwLEP-Z6ohNwO/s400/IMG_1605.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309710388590572034" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Peter throwing a snowball at mom<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHUyKb62bYbMJJEjq7NgG2yRN9UJGmKhw04q-iffSCQpq0AVrwHfH9o4aHxEge39F-ybqQt333m4jDJuiXJPsZcCUpooLj3mxxpYxKeHUYhbDav_Wnp8RjRzTp_7kd2c5QxPikZi_cOYWO/s1600-h/IMG_1609.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHUyKb62bYbMJJEjq7NgG2yRN9UJGmKhw04q-iffSCQpq0AVrwHfH9o4aHxEge39F-ybqQt333m4jDJuiXJPsZcCUpooLj3mxxpYxKeHUYhbDav_Wnp8RjRzTp_7kd2c5QxPikZi_cOYWO/s400/IMG_1609.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309707192421329714" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Daddy and Ben building Bob<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRZ8Un-2TEl_tydFpC7V8GV5efEv5QNUDtwu9dJCHVajUeD5cZ0BseKP0aL05LGZyP-9EF2MsjNq6Dg7seISr-av_PC9Pn9dYJjT-Mh0duYWX55t5eIcE4tu7w05OzvG_PV1AX8lkO64Bj/s1600-h/IMG_1614.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRZ8Un-2TEl_tydFpC7V8GV5efEv5QNUDtwu9dJCHVajUeD5cZ0BseKP0aL05LGZyP-9EF2MsjNq6Dg7seISr-av_PC9Pn9dYJjT-Mh0duYWX55t5eIcE4tu7w05OzvG_PV1AX8lkO64Bj/s400/IMG_1614.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309708031909273458" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Ben, Bob, and Daddy<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjtTm3hapY40Ge8hCvaZ_TMoVS3YP0YE0L0yiq9YCk3Uyt4-XCizcB1cDLXnz_GysYlQP3bwRRoVLvJccI_oQFpubZn-Cj5eIINMYi1GddJPfY_U3A4wc5K4R4TlsAosMeD5omgu_CY4xq/s1600-h/IMG_1615.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjtTm3hapY40Ge8hCvaZ_TMoVS3YP0YE0L0yiq9YCk3Uyt4-XCizcB1cDLXnz_GysYlQP3bwRRoVLvJccI_oQFpubZn-Cj5eIINMYi1GddJPfY_U3A4wc5K4R4TlsAosMeD5omgu_CY4xq/s400/IMG_1615.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309708036956494834" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />The next day the kids had the day off from school because of the snow. Ben was prepared for the arctic winds (It was in the 40's with the sun shining). Ava snuck out with him with no jacket, one of my gloves, and a pair of my socks with my crocks. She loves to be outside and she loves the snow. Peter was outside for maybe 10 minutes. One of Peter's quotes is that he likes winter because you don't have to go outside.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjirtXZl_5hfRfUsHc665mRsWD_h70ghEp3Pg9Q0-GsQa3mHf-DMjvsaphYO45Ks7ZAbadLq6ySOeqJJFfxupn2Ji04RfmUYbx5xWKSKevD0pf9OjCp6sASfnb9uPu2wNXwPpm-B7d3aYPM/s1600-h/IMG_1619.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjirtXZl_5hfRfUsHc665mRsWD_h70ghEp3Pg9Q0-GsQa3mHf-DMjvsaphYO45Ks7ZAbadLq6ySOeqJJFfxupn2Ji04RfmUYbx5xWKSKevD0pf9OjCp6sASfnb9uPu2wNXwPpm-B7d3aYPM/s400/IMG_1619.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309708048489885138" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWaWiLhC-1MuOsvDcDnUV9L6ClQbwlaprrKk94I_hYGn9qYraOL4ZyWPEYWrYB5Y3Zu3R0JiI4pdWkLUl5CqmdGZx-WAdhJE8V-nvAQO5sEHWGA0hGeuZqsdC1iP8fBjmdfrdxCoZPy-Lo/s1600-h/IMG_1618.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWaWiLhC-1MuOsvDcDnUV9L6ClQbwlaprrKk94I_hYGn9qYraOL4ZyWPEYWrYB5Y3Zu3R0JiI4pdWkLUl5CqmdGZx-WAdhJE8V-nvAQO5sEHWGA0hGeuZqsdC1iP8fBjmdfrdxCoZPy-Lo/s400/IMG_1618.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309708037700734514" border="0" /></a>Marciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00094185431178432778noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4150736016629342033.post-73886641308536728332009-02-18T11:52:00.007-05:002009-02-18T12:11:11.429-05:00Fun with Josie<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR_pqt3Qo2L0JrTyiiC9TnF4HTObep1Wq-jiG-THfurEDKEwBRhkCg31hdTacSQXtCsa5pq5hhIGNjjVD4IThxHh6qbMtC2Co7MNUhxVxgFO724VWTJ2OunAJKKaGXijNykZYYK9Pj3CyD/s1600-h/IMG_1590.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR_pqt3Qo2L0JrTyiiC9TnF4HTObep1Wq-jiG-THfurEDKEwBRhkCg31hdTacSQXtCsa5pq5hhIGNjjVD4IThxHh6qbMtC2Co7MNUhxVxgFO724VWTJ2OunAJKKaGXijNykZYYK9Pj3CyD/s400/IMG_1590.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304183905637545122" border="0" /></a>Jessica and Josie came and spent the week with us last week. We had a lot of fun visiting. The kids really had a good time with Josie and were sad to see her go.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcAi1Z7g50KK9bfYi3C5-ooREm2uyVCFHmd-wVywxmpxsuDWPjehI3h3smUAiAvynoDr1H3bZksMFEl1ACZCscFUW02SLEOQgHVYYX5w_ZzLpqjjuitO0wGy226Ak1OnVaIDv0bLqTPysi/s1600-h/IMG_1568.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcAi1Z7g50KK9bfYi3C5-ooREm2uyVCFHmd-wVywxmpxsuDWPjehI3h3smUAiAvynoDr1H3bZksMFEl1ACZCscFUW02SLEOQgHVYYX5w_ZzLpqjjuitO0wGy226Ak1OnVaIDv0bLqTPysi/s400/IMG_1568.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304183895108500130" border="0" /></a>Ava and Josie were holding hands on the way to the American Girl store<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6vKGui2iT7HudvDb7A-574qSd6HxNxqIHSh75S9NSqiXUyxrkpUq7A3yEs8mxCYd6Nx-0iNu4WDDwjgKgvQb-OuMkxWwSwDT00-sdkZssoUUMp-jUoQa-tYJdKWYPoa-C341WgKc8IrjY/s1600-h/IMG_1570.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6vKGui2iT7HudvDb7A-574qSd6HxNxqIHSh75S9NSqiXUyxrkpUq7A3yEs8mxCYd6Nx-0iNu4WDDwjgKgvQb-OuMkxWwSwDT00-sdkZssoUUMp-jUoQa-tYJdKWYPoa-C341WgKc8IrjY/s400/IMG_1570.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304183322804802306" border="0" /></a>Ava loved the American Girl store...she took out the doll that was in this stroller so she could push her doll around. I didn't think we were going to be able to make it out of there without the double stroller.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimbyUj3mFy7RvDEj_7CivnVNwyrKijFEzCLBie-BSVwX_TSMQpos0Qi9q-cULzSDc7YnLxuLExYfHIRX9fw-14XLVhRHU21VlFd8JsKYjaa4NZO6GTlBMlb0fSRHnRqMEwVwPm8FQz2Ii4/s1600-h/IMG_1574.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimbyUj3mFy7RvDEj_7CivnVNwyrKijFEzCLBie-BSVwX_TSMQpos0Qi9q-cULzSDc7YnLxuLExYfHIRX9fw-14XLVhRHU21VlFd8JsKYjaa4NZO6GTlBMlb0fSRHnRqMEwVwPm8FQz2Ii4/s400/IMG_1574.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304185363289535410" border="0" /></a>Ava feeding "Lilly" some noodles<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnfThLpmXMOqMlj8ilOUFg-mko_JPqQGzOm5jzmbdcRi8sMiPXlh1hLmuRjHJNTFqMdun0LzX6YMwjP5iVESMxEY9qyhDlscy_Xsd5FrUKU9xHfhO70z3_LUYHNOZyI7k3tUQDgH_4JGea/s1600-h/IMG_1577.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnfThLpmXMOqMlj8ilOUFg-mko_JPqQGzOm5jzmbdcRi8sMiPXlh1hLmuRjHJNTFqMdun0LzX6YMwjP5iVESMxEY9qyhDlscy_Xsd5FrUKU9xHfhO70z3_LUYHNOZyI7k3tUQDgH_4JGea/s400/IMG_1577.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304183310749592450" border="0" /></a>Josie feeding "Itty Bitty" some celery<br /><br /><br />Atlanta Zoo<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4MjX1a0R_D_v9vJYpETNPwz3HnHp2FYCZ_SvJeT8Kv0Ria7mdFHN_tR2kzrkfSVcAy5BMJkDIxbZ_jyKMvaw0gkkSDnWBiEX6CiMSfWI4T5FZ-s8U4Cu7-Ssf2kIKzGhoqm0n-cf3y87h/s1600-h/IMG_1584.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4MjX1a0R_D_v9vJYpETNPwz3HnHp2FYCZ_SvJeT8Kv0Ria7mdFHN_tR2kzrkfSVcAy5BMJkDIxbZ_jyKMvaw0gkkSDnWBiEX6CiMSfWI4T5FZ-s8U4Cu7-Ssf2kIKzGhoqm0n-cf3y87h/s400/IMG_1584.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304183308431861490" border="0" /></a>The girls checking out the flamingos<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ONXxC2WQri8-j7N7BnL19EZ1e1e47WTv6UwpzXpQX_fOYK2z4sy2McLSQE9W4tTgH9UX3Cpn8tNkuWWbm5ZMgEKHuvCwQn3QP3wODqdv-_KSqmGt7KaI3o4_ull3FhDRPX_k_MetmBDN/s1600-h/IMG_1585.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ONXxC2WQri8-j7N7BnL19EZ1e1e47WTv6UwpzXpQX_fOYK2z4sy2McLSQE9W4tTgH9UX3Cpn8tNkuWWbm5ZMgEKHuvCwQn3QP3wODqdv-_KSqmGt7KaI3o4_ull3FhDRPX_k_MetmBDN/s400/IMG_1585.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304184568447167506" border="0" /></a>Peter posing with Josie<br /></div>Marciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00094185431178432778noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4150736016629342033.post-17598466476300620782009-02-07T12:47:00.005-05:002009-02-07T13:11:31.901-05:00Pinewood Derby<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLd9WhOaMQ9OgHcBaNqo4gxubwjiySa1RCOqCV8gmgwZYrJHbZyp2DZ8PWM8e-WAZcWqOG6T3aQJpbpTI99LyVeIewmnPh0DTfIFzSsSjhRxGVsTEizT5b02xZ84COL9pvN6WN7qisGLXu/s1600-h/IMG_1562.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 395px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLd9WhOaMQ9OgHcBaNqo4gxubwjiySa1RCOqCV8gmgwZYrJHbZyp2DZ8PWM8e-WAZcWqOG6T3aQJpbpTI99LyVeIewmnPh0DTfIFzSsSjhRxGVsTEizT5b02xZ84COL9pvN6WN7qisGLXu/s400/IMG_1562.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300114075225454210" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Ben with his 2nd place trophy<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">We had our cub scout Pinewood Derby today and as you can see Ben won second place. Ben and Derek worked hard the last couple of weeks cutting, sanding and coming up with an idea for his car. Ben's car was called the "death squad" . Peter, Ava and I did not go but I did text Derek when I thought they should be done and he said that Ben did ok. Ben didn't want Derek to tell me about his trophy. When he came in, he walked into the living room with the biggest grin on his face and the trophy in his hand. He was so excited that he won.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglbgcEc_Jj5sRWmYk0pjj1cY1KsWKEreVVs6vrRKSo_yy5zcABOQBfROb4wgq2mctOdJf4yeU6zJ3Qn7xBpzysw9pEmP83hd107RApvL8IjNGEKKTYNchWR6_Y8tPMIWVmiMP_LWmStssW/s1600-h/IMG_1549.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglbgcEc_Jj5sRWmYk0pjj1cY1KsWKEreVVs6vrRKSo_yy5zcABOQBfROb4wgq2mctOdJf4yeU6zJ3Qn7xBpzysw9pEmP83hd107RApvL8IjNGEKKTYNchWR6_Y8tPMIWVmiMP_LWmStssW/s400/IMG_1549.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300118286752407154" border="0" /></a>The Death Squad<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguwTcr5adysZp-4-cEnxptcPKN9oCVfbsLyPEw3aiRJw2pFwy3D5rTZ8ByUxmbY3g3GGVsWty962sas27HdQNSXXB-xIf-1gSduvu_Mmci39pGWgM9VeRjaooeKZBW_yqA8yrUFb1ogfck/s1600-h/IMG_1552.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguwTcr5adysZp-4-cEnxptcPKN9oCVfbsLyPEw3aiRJw2pFwy3D5rTZ8ByUxmbY3g3GGVsWty962sas27HdQNSXXB-xIf-1gSduvu_Mmci39pGWgM9VeRjaooeKZBW_yqA8yrUFb1ogfck/s400/IMG_1552.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300118291485222018" border="0" /></a>Off to the race<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVEwtm56g9UNZPu7w8j6BprGoGDx1DC9EuO5SdB63YXgNwLefOWsERRxFNz3OGc7AgySsDByRXyVqukzKJsbit5nhKYXvyFeS1LoDvobJ1zo6fcNjq0WnjJc0H1vn9owua3vcGXrkIPeV9/s1600-h/IMG_1559.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVEwtm56g9UNZPu7w8j6BprGoGDx1DC9EuO5SdB63YXgNwLefOWsERRxFNz3OGc7AgySsDByRXyVqukzKJsbit5nhKYXvyFeS1LoDvobJ1zo6fcNjq0WnjJc0H1vn9owua3vcGXrkIPeV9/s400/IMG_1559.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300118295299935586" border="0" /></a>Ben and his friend, Jason<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0rAdfctRPQBekgJFfebt5kAw8ZzN_6oT1T6am43xSCNrrShca8Yh1ivsdb4-ViIC0bANk_xOb4UMpTVBXUXiTlqexuqNli_h9x0ro31cbqqR0Lz6-vXv6hdTK4hSyOUYMMCtA6iPQWnX-/s1600-h/IMG_1556.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0rAdfctRPQBekgJFfebt5kAw8ZzN_6oT1T6am43xSCNrrShca8Yh1ivsdb4-ViIC0bANk_xOb4UMpTVBXUXiTlqexuqNli_h9x0ro31cbqqR0Lz6-vXv6hdTK4hSyOUYMMCtA6iPQWnX-/s400/IMG_1556.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300118301653969890" border="0" /></a>GO!<br /></div></div></div></div>Marciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00094185431178432778noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4150736016629342033.post-9368740755666136922009-01-26T10:36:00.015-05:002009-02-03T13:52:22.196-05:00Merry Christmas, Happy Chinese New year, and Happy Birthday!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpRDdTywbfaSgORHxWzureFcR5pDDvHAP7W57uEo2WdKjaB1-Wc8cXvzGqQN4ZghwiAJVpuKsEgDXMEHoZPx4ClMn6jmdqDxqWQRbl_zi6S6P4_Dmzsr1T8iTDgOGLGigGmf2OLbAxwS1s/s1600-h/IMG_1271.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpRDdTywbfaSgORHxWzureFcR5pDDvHAP7W57uEo2WdKjaB1-Wc8cXvzGqQN4ZghwiAJVpuKsEgDXMEHoZPx4ClMn6jmdqDxqWQRbl_zi6S6P4_Dmzsr1T8iTDgOGLGigGmf2OLbAxwS1s/s400/IMG_1271.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298645882233461138" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">I wrote this about a week ago and was waiting to get my video to upload before I posted it. Well, that hasn't worked so here it is!</span><br /><br /><br />It has been a long time again since I have posted. But here are some photos of the past month. I have a few photos of Christmas. For some reason, we didn't really take a lot on Christmas morning, but we did do some video. We went to Derek's parent's house Christmas day and then we went to Gulf Shores to visit my family the day after Christmas. We were at the beach for about 10 days. As usual, I wanted to pack up everything and move to Gulf Shores after our visit! We are going to have to find a way to get Chapman Drugs down there!! The kids are at such a fun age to celebrate Christmas. It was a lot of fun this year.<br /><br />Gross boy tidbit: Ben said today that he wished his nose was a cave and he could pick out the stalagtites and the stalagmites ! Are all boys this gross???<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHuzSNpHnUc1SYI1XWQjjC3xFHOOIJKBVbspw2A95A51XX_1G5ISLF6mclq1VI5bM4BK75WLliPHOlsDpctudUxViSG20LLFCR1OIo1jquZxH-SGx-nTqDdl1cPJIdNYjKNLb60TRjblSy/s1600-h/IMG_1440.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHuzSNpHnUc1SYI1XWQjjC3xFHOOIJKBVbspw2A95A51XX_1G5ISLF6mclq1VI5bM4BK75WLliPHOlsDpctudUxViSG20LLFCR1OIo1jquZxH-SGx-nTqDdl1cPJIdNYjKNLb60TRjblSy/s400/IMG_1440.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298635646625796786" border="0" /></a>The kids ready to go downstairs to see what Santa brought<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg6p9HYR41KBrFHBWlm5grjTGgJ8pwGAWqOW0a3L3YaiL7IicPBAiIDPGgW32aRaSMvt-Wm9MzYdMRH3WQOCoF8i0-hQALyr29cP24rI3NZh5FkCe2ACiI2CccorA4D9Z-OrFTuEKXpJTu/s1600-h/IMG_1447.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg6p9HYR41KBrFHBWlm5grjTGgJ8pwGAWqOW0a3L3YaiL7IicPBAiIDPGgW32aRaSMvt-Wm9MzYdMRH3WQOCoF8i0-hQALyr29cP24rI3NZh5FkCe2ACiI2CccorA4D9Z-OrFTuEKXpJTu/s400/IMG_1447.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298635652313959234" border="0" /></a>Ava admiring her new blowdryer<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk1v8kKjrvyKao884yUGljGwlVc_KBZockCXYzNlKPoWW8EOYDKkBjYBsCvliJ2EHOhDTde0-f8KEpuE3bll0mMG6Tn0396A9jNfc1c6nMl11qby4GVXl5ZpfzcFlIEaX5zB3xjk_hSO_D/s1600-h/IMG_1448.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk1v8kKjrvyKao884yUGljGwlVc_KBZockCXYzNlKPoWW8EOYDKkBjYBsCvliJ2EHOhDTde0-f8KEpuE3bll0mMG6Tn0396A9jNfc1c6nMl11qby4GVXl5ZpfzcFlIEaX5zB3xjk_hSO_D/s400/IMG_1448.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298635656530129298" border="0" /></a>The boys sitting in their new chairs and showing off some new "stuff"<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkvelvp2RiLnGazT3Q1Wu4tCK1oB1Vkc3D-aDUg0Zb3kp4nzptE6YbIvbDATquNO5O1McyxxTQwe_v12QtgmDCd9NVumQYsIjao97dRiUhGtR_Klylw8SW3ql3ixHe1gKEcBL6SacbnWcm/s1600-h/IMG_1450.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkvelvp2RiLnGazT3Q1Wu4tCK1oB1Vkc3D-aDUg0Zb3kp4nzptE6YbIvbDATquNO5O1McyxxTQwe_v12QtgmDCd9NVumQYsIjao97dRiUhGtR_Klylw8SW3ql3ixHe1gKEcBL6SacbnWcm/s400/IMG_1450.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295954564554559554" border="0" /></a>Ava enjoying grandmama's Christmas cinnamon rolls<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvLkP6GvcsN7qGK_NtKVQCub-S3_3shx2WVQcyEtwcNWu1xP4zWLI1it4w0SsPqytrYtA1AWdB1eHFZKdQ6wgjmxJqCrcX-KiE4TfuOwyhnneLQg2PRxL_IiYIA6-3Eyrf5J89-8KBqtFk/s1600-h/IMG_1477.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvLkP6GvcsN7qGK_NtKVQCub-S3_3shx2WVQcyEtwcNWu1xP4zWLI1it4w0SsPqytrYtA1AWdB1eHFZKdQ6wgjmxJqCrcX-KiE4TfuOwyhnneLQg2PRxL_IiYIA6-3Eyrf5J89-8KBqtFk/s400/IMG_1477.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295954570199041810" border="0" /></a>The weather was great!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUmZi6gv8tT6QeXe6RXhrbezoEAojDpsfakeCn9OO9Pu_kPGPBPQN24zuZhc4CtpRbBSbagGjlsMFpAutSIb8cMXeBDNJQKM6y9-d54JTEa06EcPOIf2BZg3FFGeoFpj2tuD5ws9Bxj8xt/s1600-h/IMG_1479.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUmZi6gv8tT6QeXe6RXhrbezoEAojDpsfakeCn9OO9Pu_kPGPBPQN24zuZhc4CtpRbBSbagGjlsMFpAutSIb8cMXeBDNJQKM6y9-d54JTEa06EcPOIf2BZg3FFGeoFpj2tuD5ws9Bxj8xt/s400/IMG_1479.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295954572931003602" border="0" /></a>Ben loves to chase the birds<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXeGwLVO55uaJnDIRJf0oIBOIwERwHjHXKaY_s9fM1kaMaZXhTYhj0Syukm_MnvlDGUoSxX18Cl0MJLKc0xQVLqj3QpV0s4TCUeTXsQHxdYML9C-Trh-DBtm_FBQ3Xd9cebctiSljAB9lz/s1600-h/IMG_1486.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXeGwLVO55uaJnDIRJf0oIBOIwERwHjHXKaY_s9fM1kaMaZXhTYhj0Syukm_MnvlDGUoSxX18Cl0MJLKc0xQVLqj3QpV0s4TCUeTXsQHxdYML9C-Trh-DBtm_FBQ3Xd9cebctiSljAB9lz/s400/IMG_1486.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295957138832576226" border="0" /></a>Peter didn't bother going where the water was shallow to get to the sand bar<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7gfgEXJM1gXlBVmjKJwehT9vwdUheWNTKOndKp_KuHUM3HQd4kY7rWMyRN9gMWKFeLiXf7pRlIAWTbC6eBQtxEGB93LgWmz_3Bn7HK7T3ZUoXKa3UjElSCa8JtwioAzASwEBEUksmq5z8/s1600-h/IMG_1487.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7gfgEXJM1gXlBVmjKJwehT9vwdUheWNTKOndKp_KuHUM3HQd4kY7rWMyRN9gMWKFeLiXf7pRlIAWTbC6eBQtxEGB93LgWmz_3Bn7HK7T3ZUoXKa3UjElSCa8JtwioAzASwEBEUksmq5z8/s400/IMG_1487.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295957143316259298" border="0" /></a>I love his happy face in the picture<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSncLko8LgBnV1xOybjevAL1N9z6a2P5x3E01qgwap16kAuxiKx38kTsWRH7XMYDU4I-6iy0XZch4PjDCOGSQPS8B8ccglkiPsAKw4FMMmqLPzxBIVTBCm2fWkXpEqVpf_XDVvVziy2IQy/s1600-h/IMG_1491.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSncLko8LgBnV1xOybjevAL1N9z6a2P5x3E01qgwap16kAuxiKx38kTsWRH7XMYDU4I-6iy0XZch4PjDCOGSQPS8B8ccglkiPsAKw4FMMmqLPzxBIVTBCm2fWkXpEqVpf_XDVvVziy2IQy/s400/IMG_1491.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295957145398084546" border="0" /></a>The boys love the beach<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCTLKw4icaAfGMuaMGx5AxpHlhEIQSSUqR7Q42hOzJsnJafui-9JHZhtLPXZ64Jy6jZFflgzIu-wHdW6v8Q_c462c9kBmXM2aQnC4NZD5Gv2vYsk00HBRIannj0Zsnp7LvJJlChG6bi7wb/s1600-h/IMG_1494.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCTLKw4icaAfGMuaMGx5AxpHlhEIQSSUqR7Q42hOzJsnJafui-9JHZhtLPXZ64Jy6jZFflgzIu-wHdW6v8Q_c462c9kBmXM2aQnC4NZD5Gv2vYsk00HBRIannj0Zsnp7LvJJlChG6bi7wb/s400/IMG_1494.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295957153064390418" border="0" /></a>The start of our massage train<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWbM-yFVtT5CK9D9d6a2kseVzwmZJ16e36hKTv8GfbGzhFwLRxEdlyRKMPIM2ZvvTwWJQ4dj39wUuZ74W63rhCp2HPmpBVzeJdVWxEhpzccnVqoC6WR5UVLF23837P81xt5jEmi2gJZHjx/s1600-h/IMG_1495.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWbM-yFVtT5CK9D9d6a2kseVzwmZJ16e36hKTv8GfbGzhFwLRxEdlyRKMPIM2ZvvTwWJQ4dj39wUuZ74W63rhCp2HPmpBVzeJdVWxEhpzccnVqoC6WR5UVLF23837P81xt5jEmi2gJZHjx/s400/IMG_1495.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295957158036486306" border="0" /></a>Is Ben going to join us?<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJxMwdxHXaW2gePS1phFwTjZOmkg5Kye3w5F3Btl5ym9a3_78PB_uwcMTpHEA3oazDJXS5t_DY1ezRO-P57j1sYur34RjphUoOluM2-lGJBGEyDQmjlb4aLN6IiueFW4RPuRKpdLwRsMD6/s1600-h/IMG_1496.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJxMwdxHXaW2gePS1phFwTjZOmkg5Kye3w5F3Btl5ym9a3_78PB_uwcMTpHEA3oazDJXS5t_DY1ezRO-P57j1sYur34RjphUoOluM2-lGJBGEyDQmjlb4aLN6IiueFW4RPuRKpdLwRsMD6/s400/IMG_1496.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295958323665931362" border="0" /></a>Fun at the condo<br /><br /><br /><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:180%;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Happy Chinese New Year</span></span><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Jonathan and Susan came over with their girls so we could celebrate Chinese New Year. We made dumplings, decorated with paper lanterns and dressed the kids up. We had a lot of fun. We were not very successful in getting a group picture.<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd2UOqm0eKPZyX4Yko1TVv4irzBl4Tyocee9kOhe61VTlkSWEk8cJGGK45nAlFydlxCzpsGNZ7KePJ5k6ix6WJ7I0ol188_oswQDhtO5vHf0vlDm1Et4tF6br55QoXmlDvPt75gB1HEp07/s1600-h/IMG_1500.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd2UOqm0eKPZyX4Yko1TVv4irzBl4Tyocee9kOhe61VTlkSWEk8cJGGK45nAlFydlxCzpsGNZ7KePJ5k6ix6WJ7I0ol188_oswQDhtO5vHf0vlDm1Et4tF6br55QoXmlDvPt75gB1HEp07/s400/IMG_1500.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295958329325151106" border="0" /></a>Ava checks out Eleanor<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNZT1PbW4lxMlY9B0nFy6mhl9zxCZdjS4rAg9GWmSIWafT92eyQPbzwCAPMyOq8iigbgZC3kfD0JQqqYcRrzlqRnrslwuFozzaRyQwGtWHEHCQJVth97TuEZReww8CBkDUrLVODF2-fBwx/s1600-h/IMG_1502.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNZT1PbW4lxMlY9B0nFy6mhl9zxCZdjS4rAg9GWmSIWafT92eyQPbzwCAPMyOq8iigbgZC3kfD0JQqqYcRrzlqRnrslwuFozzaRyQwGtWHEHCQJVth97TuEZReww8CBkDUrLVODF2-fBwx/s400/IMG_1502.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298639820386165378" border="0" /></a>Ava checking on LilyKate<br /><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcCUNTcCCX1JXQq12baEMFaODl0fJBuQKeipPa-opahVeDb1FZQjJcG44pVYnj9-s4FeqZ2ItjMkvKMTCItz2N3vuaeF26x4IhU7ZtezODzw3z2LmWENT7pLic_sEWmbULkS56lgRMqVRb/s1600-h/IMG_1501.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcCUNTcCCX1JXQq12baEMFaODl0fJBuQKeipPa-opahVeDb1FZQjJcG44pVYnj9-s4FeqZ2ItjMkvKMTCItz2N3vuaeF26x4IhU7ZtezODzw3z2LmWENT7pLic_sEWmbULkS56lgRMqVRb/s400/IMG_1501.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295958329064001346" border="0" /></a>Oh well...not looking good<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br />Happy Birthday Ted, Lee, Derek and Christa</span></span></span><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF5A94lL1ArOVpVyZfQieLYuU244H3Zk9JN4ARyggfr8tpUE2F0xU7RsUeCokuTi61hH_eAPmD4Z6Uz0oulIb_-wREI6OTouznhMuyVo0lluZCdYXGzcWWajVBIAV1sf9hKVzEboEBu269/s1600-h/IMG_1505.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF5A94lL1ArOVpVyZfQieLYuU244H3Zk9JN4ARyggfr8tpUE2F0xU7RsUeCokuTi61hH_eAPmD4Z6Uz0oulIb_-wREI6OTouznhMuyVo0lluZCdYXGzcWWajVBIAV1sf9hKVzEboEBu269/s400/IMG_1505.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295958337483657954" border="0" /></a>The birthday group<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVAuV41KjcbNz-AxvvPDqMLOY_hxtpAhYIX_rbdQZMk7UeZ3hkBRUA8ultKfaPfBwI4girx0uA-0epg_1GFOlF4ng7hIpXUhMsgzwu3u0u00tBPLzKuLrf5J6kxCxYELpU8CSssMQJnw_1/s1600-h/IMG_1511.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVAuV41KjcbNz-AxvvPDqMLOY_hxtpAhYIX_rbdQZMk7UeZ3hkBRUA8ultKfaPfBwI4girx0uA-0epg_1GFOlF4ng7hIpXUhMsgzwu3u0u00tBPLzKuLrf5J6kxCxYELpU8CSssMQJnw_1/s400/IMG_1511.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295960011448845618" border="0" /></a>Daddy and his little girl<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYeadD6XRrIh2mt2ShHyLMYq0MC8uRRVnQo8sVyYwhOVS7aZ3jeYxVaZzvd2FgTNIxqCgUWEd6jawtNaHQA8J7SmVFZd8M9rf4NjT1GfiqrYVlJW_Xv1gYYh_d-ELk9OP1HyInfSQn0Dkj/s1600-h/IMG_1513.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYeadD6XRrIh2mt2ShHyLMYq0MC8uRRVnQo8sVyYwhOVS7aZ3jeYxVaZzvd2FgTNIxqCgUWEd6jawtNaHQA8J7SmVFZd8M9rf4NjT1GfiqrYVlJW_Xv1gYYh_d-ELk9OP1HyInfSQn0Dkj/s400/IMG_1513.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295960020916351842" border="0" /></a>Lee opening his exciting birthday presents<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBB1-_DQN75_-NDT5ucTXA617y1FfxR4oO8bdSvs89qkN9JIInXeQgAaHxYb7KisxpguRfEOmT5gaaDXUs5eYMPRpr9-OP3fUvH0o9w_QJtFz_SKyO_puM9ZDecS1-0lnnypkDbbICgivR/s1600-h/IMG_1519.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBB1-_DQN75_-NDT5ucTXA617y1FfxR4oO8bdSvs89qkN9JIInXeQgAaHxYb7KisxpguRfEOmT5gaaDXUs5eYMPRpr9-OP3fUvH0o9w_QJtFz_SKyO_puM9ZDecS1-0lnnypkDbbICgivR/s400/IMG_1519.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295960024930312290" border="0" /></a>Ted with his Georgia shirt and black and red gift bag<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7yJX0dbMs20iYH09v7tP1AeyOvXGST5lhioZIPUhTJ8_KAK9xpAIEbazqdQqgKdXn415GiMccFHXMqfKDj0_Is9L32odl07n9zSl3g-7IuIjJ_N0tskUVWfd10EQpHxcDmDeeuTJokkQ4/s1600-h/IMG_1520.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7yJX0dbMs20iYH09v7tP1AeyOvXGST5lhioZIPUhTJ8_KAK9xpAIEbazqdQqgKdXn415GiMccFHXMqfKDj0_Is9L32odl07n9zSl3g-7IuIjJ_N0tskUVWfd10EQpHxcDmDeeuTJokkQ4/s400/IMG_1520.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295960028413458434" border="0" /></a>Ava helping Christa with her presents<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8quCAMECmz1E8PY_ykXUIUGRRSywjFi3EM8JgSK0HiXJxQIJ-v7oGDqaedVBAqu4_f_fkLDNfm2iRXharbUi0_-ii92hAs0UkV-UditlqZM7F4yLEFc64acyjNNYY0cTprf1OmxZ7ZdB1/s1600-h/IMG_1526.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8quCAMECmz1E8PY_ykXUIUGRRSywjFi3EM8JgSK0HiXJxQIJ-v7oGDqaedVBAqu4_f_fkLDNfm2iRXharbUi0_-ii92hAs0UkV-UditlqZM7F4yLEFc64acyjNNYY0cTprf1OmxZ7ZdB1/s400/IMG_1526.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295960029333196498" border="0" /></a>My boys<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr7QCNY6I-L4KA_evi0JRngk55YYVVgva4193qcEA7exwP7aABgNczLGAHX2Mzd1NWZaCDxPceQgYMbJ0jTo_iNAVTZygRLUw_sZmfSaTSNSf3fhyJ3L1K-zcE0dadWpOgO9IenpmL539V/s1600-h/IMG_1530.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr7QCNY6I-L4KA_evi0JRngk55YYVVgva4193qcEA7exwP7aABgNczLGAHX2Mzd1NWZaCDxPceQgYMbJ0jTo_iNAVTZygRLUw_sZmfSaTSNSf3fhyJ3L1K-zcE0dadWpOgO9IenpmL539V/s400/IMG_1530.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295961050872913362" border="0" /></a>The wild party crew...I didn't get the one of them dancing on the tables.<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-aikj3GYmWKfzzNqM5YLlY1191WLoj9DiF3A4qIEBTh87daWG8OgY-9c6xHNcAC3RC0nkn5yzPtPqLfRCBvHg0b94ocxx2Uh7q1X1mWdpiO5ENz42MsRQHk62wuqL0rPMnwhsq3S278T2/s1600-h/IMG_1531.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-aikj3GYmWKfzzNqM5YLlY1191WLoj9DiF3A4qIEBTh87daWG8OgY-9c6xHNcAC3RC0nkn5yzPtPqLfRCBvHg0b94ocxx2Uh7q1X1mWdpiO5ENz42MsRQHk62wuqL0rPMnwhsq3S278T2/s400/IMG_1531.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295961056751498418" border="0" /></a>Ted, Jaime (with baby Tripp) and Terry<br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br />Awards Day at St. Johns</span></span></span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Peter got the responsibility award this semester at school. We are so proud of him. Ben was upset that he didn't get an award also. I told him that next year he will be eligible for honor roll and Principle's list since it is the first year he will get "real" grades. They also get acknowledged on awards day. Maybe this will motivate him to keep doing well in school.<br /></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr_4isC1mLqTc5Rpy1CEf83in-B_WDGYyW0UvTHsbutGCfNEQl2g1GL9j4CL07Sohcc75FPO0Vmrr8UHHcPkn-_Ct02YvJf0mlAd_H2bSF-a9Uaxxpdr5VGXRFiseAqYqEP-f6nNl8xb-E/s1600-h/IMG_1532.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr_4isC1mLqTc5Rpy1CEf83in-B_WDGYyW0UvTHsbutGCfNEQl2g1GL9j4CL07Sohcc75FPO0Vmrr8UHHcPkn-_Ct02YvJf0mlAd_H2bSF-a9Uaxxpdr5VGXRFiseAqYqEP-f6nNl8xb-E/s400/IMG_1532.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298635662172786658" border="0" /></a>Peter receiving his award from Ms. Vogtner<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxQaoZ7C7pwpJ5FgxQoIkHEN4GJxkTcus3v_HYKYbFpoYKdRj0z9P6YxjGJUXmGcu-c3oTVKCaC6cHYVRcCjYKTFhbJsEGRZkUzdBljA58N8EF4k1rID-8PkTD3S7dP1R1T9lBd53hd0KI/s1600-h/IMG_1533.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxQaoZ7C7pwpJ5FgxQoIkHEN4GJxkTcus3v_HYKYbFpoYKdRj0z9P6YxjGJUXmGcu-c3oTVKCaC6cHYVRcCjYKTFhbJsEGRZkUzdBljA58N8EF4k1rID-8PkTD3S7dP1R1T9lBd53hd0KI/s400/IMG_1533.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298635660475336722" border="0" /></a>Peter and the other kindergarten award winners<br /><br /></div>Marciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00094185431178432778noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4150736016629342033.post-13083698807184421512008-12-25T10:50:00.003-05:002008-12-25T10:53:59.114-05:00All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT4N7KqsN0QVkrqWKzhyphenhyphen6XWiaYAJzn8vr_T2cmt0GTeOn8D_YceCkQrMpXxMptekC8i7QZF09-fUMl3I6VcmGpOJGalCaVTcleodhKR8DOy-EAdEsHU_dPcrMviVehyE4k3TQM1oOc5MXf/s1600-h/IMG_1452.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT4N7KqsN0QVkrqWKzhyphenhyphen6XWiaYAJzn8vr_T2cmt0GTeOn8D_YceCkQrMpXxMptekC8i7QZF09-fUMl3I6VcmGpOJGalCaVTcleodhKR8DOy-EAdEsHU_dPcrMviVehyE4k3TQM1oOc5MXf/s400/IMG_1452.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283755951689236642" border="0" /></a><br />Peter lost one if his front teeth a couple of weeks ago, the same night his magical elf came. He lost his other front tooth last night, so he had a visit from both Santa and the tooth fairy. He likes for his magical creatures to come in pairs. I will post more about Christmas later. The kids are having one of the best Christmases. They are having so much fun! Merry Christmas everyone!!Marciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00094185431178432778noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4150736016629342033.post-50807541866847761962008-12-24T08:42:00.003-05:002008-12-24T08:47:55.712-05:00Merry Christmas!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzogn4s4imftQZPoK9S4rPXzjsAo69nu1WBjVFZf8zRWshqWOOv1ZxjvRF5qlbNbrr9XNWIO3FE7vOUmDHTgOd-kqJDWURGhuzdznGBuoTmU4JUKhdoEHCWl4ZeCRK9j8vzj79luSOB1vL/s1600-h/IMG_1410.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzogn4s4imftQZPoK9S4rPXzjsAo69nu1WBjVFZf8zRWshqWOOv1ZxjvRF5qlbNbrr9XNWIO3FE7vOUmDHTgOd-kqJDWURGhuzdznGBuoTmU4JUKhdoEHCWl4ZeCRK9j8vzj79luSOB1vL/s400/IMG_1410.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283352117180675906" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Merry Christmas everyone! I know we are going to have a great Christmas. The kids are SO excited. Peter can hardly stand it. He woke up this morning and said that he wishes we were in China so we would be going to bed soon. Ben is also trying to figure out how to make the time go by quickly. We have to go get a ham for work and a few other errands and Derek will be home early today. I have everything that I need for Christmas! I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas!!Marciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00094185431178432778noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4150736016629342033.post-64114478507700850492008-12-16T08:03:00.009-05:002008-12-16T09:51:06.255-05:00One Year, One Month, and One Day<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie5pjtBFs685PxMkccKXtKZaDOCOYg1GKyZJzckZGRfVJnBMOxAJo3oEBcHxChyphenhyphenJZDSwsJJpMaoDN4kiP0bdzV0wj017Wm-40wQh0vOyqFqy7CjIFmuFQ-x1fQXyogSU7HZlS6HE3Xcuy7/s1600-h/IMG_0605.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie5pjtBFs685PxMkccKXtKZaDOCOYg1GKyZJzckZGRfVJnBMOxAJo3oEBcHxChyphenhyphenJZDSwsJJpMaoDN4kiP0bdzV0wj017Wm-40wQh0vOyqFqy7CjIFmuFQ-x1fQXyogSU7HZlS6HE3Xcuy7/s400/IMG_0605.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280382351633817282" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPcv1wsEpK_BjDTduY8Dmnx6AW5RqPG7YWcjrjrgmSIT5KpKKyTiDsm36D-K21-jv0GuldnA4dOGk-a-PJ17qDvBzNSRwmwjDLIz1zfsLojYzwWtN052iRq3QFJKuB5UJC5YEbu5logjzp/s1600-h/IMG_0805-1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPcv1wsEpK_BjDTduY8Dmnx6AW5RqPG7YWcjrjrgmSIT5KpKKyTiDsm36D-K21-jv0GuldnA4dOGk-a-PJ17qDvBzNSRwmwjDLIz1zfsLojYzwWtN052iRq3QFJKuB5UJC5YEbu5logjzp/s400/IMG_0805-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280373296432459250" border="0" /></a><br />I'm a month and a day late to celebrate "gotcha day" but we have a lot to celebrate. We recently had a medical scare with Ava and we just found out that she is ok. She had an MRI of her brain in November because of her physical/developmental delays and they found a cyst on her cerebellum. The radiology report said that the cyst was having a mass effect and we were sent to see a neurosurgeon, but it took ~6 weeks before we were able to see him. That was a long, worry filled 6 weeks!! We finally saw the neurosurgeon last week and he said that it was a small cyst and that it was not affecting her and that we would get another MRI in a year to make sure it isn't getting bigger (he doesn't think that it will). He said that a lot of people are walking around with cysts like these and don't know it unless they happen to have an MRI for another reason. I am so thankful that she is not going to have BRAIN SURGERY!!! She has had enough surgery in her 4 years!! We are so thankful that we are lucky enough to be this sweet, loving little girl's parents. Thanks to everyone for all of your thoughts and prayers. This has been a difficult time for us and it was so nice to know that there were people out there thinking and praying for us. Keep her in your prayers. She has come a long way, but she also has a lot of catching up to do.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4-t3ffc212LCnkvJ9Q0tB5DITfk_N7Dc2r-rTc6JafubHb8K0b5t4Fo3R9F8lBg4gw_rW7bamU5cmyNkj5Q_edvJCDr1pgKCbR1syi2S8Q7MSOzLaEjqIjFZI4ZjcE06ciF9jiUzU0f2c/s1600-h/IMG_1263.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4-t3ffc212LCnkvJ9Q0tB5DITfk_N7Dc2r-rTc6JafubHb8K0b5t4Fo3R9F8lBg4gw_rW7bamU5cmyNkj5Q_edvJCDr1pgKCbR1syi2S8Q7MSOzLaEjqIjFZI4ZjcE06ciF9jiUzU0f2c/s400/IMG_1263.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280390378546503170" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXmKhMD69F4VeJqFMi1yvEUUW9iJ_OAgWhRwufHAAefcP4VEnOQrbBy3a_p85WcjoO7wuDeeQTkxba1cQzWon-bbzx6xR4NkD2EhXaEqn0DcphrT2T6NP00x7sgJhW6jcGk2_KluSphhyk/s1600-h/IMG_1360.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXmKhMD69F4VeJqFMi1yvEUUW9iJ_OAgWhRwufHAAefcP4VEnOQrbBy3a_p85WcjoO7wuDeeQTkxba1cQzWon-bbzx6xR4NkD2EhXaEqn0DcphrT2T6NP00x7sgJhW6jcGk2_KluSphhyk/s400/IMG_1360.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280384234729364930" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It is nice to have such great news during this time of year. Not only do we celebrate Christmas this time of year, but we also have three December birthdays in our family. Peter turned 6 on the 12th and he had a penguin, winter wonderland birthday. He picked out his cup cakes and he helped me decorate the dining room into Winter Wonderland...he was so excited! We started the celebration at The Varsity and had hot dogs and onion rings and then headed to our house for present opening and cake. He was so funny during his present opening...he didn't act excited about any present he opened, but he really loves all of them. His favorite present was Martian Matter (he has been making martians every day!), but he has played with everything he got. Peter is one of the happiest people I know!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Bring on the grease!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXdeMJCtDqnnYvPSugz8626x0Oc5xBcHwJM0HxkFf2TqWFzr-u6I9yZ8jPyjOYf7QYnHAZtMT09IBXu9qyAn34KRYV5EXQ4DzKStYgDXrFdd8-6FUXPVZVt8i9LgiWotqaptZtxw_tzFmi/s1600-h/IMG_1301.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXdeMJCtDqnnYvPSugz8626x0Oc5xBcHwJM0HxkFf2TqWFzr-u6I9yZ8jPyjOYf7QYnHAZtMT09IBXu9qyAn34KRYV5EXQ4DzKStYgDXrFdd8-6FUXPVZVt8i9LgiWotqaptZtxw_tzFmi/s400/IMG_1301.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280385671048280546" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix9KtiwiZSoSFw0hhwIUyDR5PIUZEoeVnsnBKIqqrVV4x7KiMUZowFHMn0QG6hLHfTH1595kxtNjoaSyy4B_i9v3pZNOpUPYhizT_11J7fuH2IR00FxuAWb5WV-phMJd9eW65bb9BXxOZY/s1600-h/IMG_1302.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix9KtiwiZSoSFw0hhwIUyDR5PIUZEoeVnsnBKIqqrVV4x7KiMUZowFHMn0QG6hLHfTH1595kxtNjoaSyy4B_i9v3pZNOpUPYhizT_11J7fuH2IR00FxuAWb5WV-phMJd9eW65bb9BXxOZY/s400/IMG_1302.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280385676517976642" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTg7a4l7E9mmlAGxPqAIURyo9A953fCttP1JrOmpN9EIst2PRH6DLROZZAgS5feRaahWVehEB0J2FKQReu4UntAE5fDqdSapA_LFzZWN_8AR-iNLQP3_a4k9DKXK3mbcR1yMedwENcwxoW/s1600-h/IMG_1303.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTg7a4l7E9mmlAGxPqAIURyo9A953fCttP1JrOmpN9EIst2PRH6DLROZZAgS5feRaahWVehEB0J2FKQReu4UntAE5fDqdSapA_LFzZWN_8AR-iNLQP3_a4k9DKXK3mbcR1yMedwENcwxoW/s400/IMG_1303.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280385685032919618" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh67yDeOWZWGM1saiSFeuN2MgsxNIYPZ0wjdjYsRwBlE6n8y1zYv6NQ5sUp-pxJWDJz65nEkEe_ya52sGukg373Wd0IUWyHBQqnacmQxKbL_7Pw71wiai4aowBOcvmyPwBOSWUUdZeJVsXd/s1600-h/IMG_1304.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh67yDeOWZWGM1saiSFeuN2MgsxNIYPZ0wjdjYsRwBlE6n8y1zYv6NQ5sUp-pxJWDJz65nEkEe_ya52sGukg373Wd0IUWyHBQqnacmQxKbL_7Pw71wiai4aowBOcvmyPwBOSWUUdZeJVsXd/s400/IMG_1304.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280385692745114450" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKR4a8_9UUghKdrsoczb5zNP9hK4vUxRCQ_5Lr5r03qq2HXxhv3ZsrNeke5_gZh1MZKfZSwJEUB2nVrzKR7R2DvElubasd7wGJ-O4kBx1vOUGuO3i7sMm_8g_mg4H85vjmri7A25DJdxZB/s1600-h/IMG_1306.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKR4a8_9UUghKdrsoczb5zNP9hK4vUxRCQ_5Lr5r03qq2HXxhv3ZsrNeke5_gZh1MZKfZSwJEUB2nVrzKR7R2DvElubasd7wGJ-O4kBx1vOUGuO3i7sMm_8g_mg4H85vjmri7A25DJdxZB/s400/IMG_1306.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280385702989990866" border="0" /></a><br />Welcome to Winter Wonderland<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzcBhXtisPy1Wq2L9Cz2KxAy4vwzjFqXwPhW_i3vcd5KJKIJofUcOLPY3boyj8GNpBmiRUjF89u35M84Phflc7J5SfsGvCnMhU-TvhlIclLAfyhzMGZMbVANfxlfpch7Mjk_gbGlTDssoF/s1600-h/IMG_1300.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzcBhXtisPy1Wq2L9Cz2KxAy4vwzjFqXwPhW_i3vcd5KJKIJofUcOLPY3boyj8GNpBmiRUjF89u35M84Phflc7J5SfsGvCnMhU-TvhlIclLAfyhzMGZMbVANfxlfpch7Mjk_gbGlTDssoF/s400/IMG_1300.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280386985979962610" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg45MLc20j0wWQevdzOr4caobr2wjeHCoPCzT1jsFUY1VnGUL1qbu69SusYCTnjf-OGfi5uBaZVFVqb2nCreMtVN6zF8Em6phSPQx9F2qDk0hKXnIW8ek-Q8esI-zSEZwGfJEe-HZiXh17s/s1600-h/IMG_1296.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg45MLc20j0wWQevdzOr4caobr2wjeHCoPCzT1jsFUY1VnGUL1qbu69SusYCTnjf-OGfi5uBaZVFVqb2nCreMtVN6zF8Em6phSPQx9F2qDk0hKXnIW8ek-Q8esI-zSEZwGfJEe-HZiXh17s/s400/IMG_1296.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280386990560862482" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit2i22RRHsmFHJbNKysWcdHWjDFOKAhEBUDypHuhFsMhIgkj4L6ZF9M8JgyP0-W0-WxvhA7MJYiojMA772bXjwbdgTh0zbdt2oz7hE-El9Q-Z61jtay9m9VKRmvNHNqAU935jCYlgv-wz3/s1600-h/IMG_1299.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit2i22RRHsmFHJbNKysWcdHWjDFOKAhEBUDypHuhFsMhIgkj4L6ZF9M8JgyP0-W0-WxvhA7MJYiojMA772bXjwbdgTh0zbdt2oz7hE-El9Q-Z61jtay9m9VKRmvNHNqAU935jCYlgv-wz3/s400/IMG_1299.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280386993246213890" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpIs8YOaINezBETqPnX9TcUgTc-n0_fNI_w1fkTAy9d2cBMtEhMPOLsdK6VF5MkfIY2jpqj2IlbcwPL8iTA71X-GB8t3WptE3K235UlMv0ak1ImBtI9and_V8xHv8N8z3h3qRxuWi1Fqt-/s1600-h/IMG_1319.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpIs8YOaINezBETqPnX9TcUgTc-n0_fNI_w1fkTAy9d2cBMtEhMPOLsdK6VF5MkfIY2jpqj2IlbcwPL8iTA71X-GB8t3WptE3K235UlMv0ak1ImBtI9and_V8xHv8N8z3h3qRxuWi1Fqt-/s400/IMG_1319.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280387004837142914" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0lHYQZdDcT0BqLMlnz5kQ6Q9AYE5FiJUhsBCPalG9vBJMmmaOwqA8mDtEHuHxrbCyIUokWAbVfsjmOnk45SGK3GCGknOkuTy7M7BHYvU_JplQG4zqxbZR6nI16wpsLmuva4DJGvmJQlz6/s1600-h/IMG_1318.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0lHYQZdDcT0BqLMlnz5kQ6Q9AYE5FiJUhsBCPalG9vBJMmmaOwqA8mDtEHuHxrbCyIUokWAbVfsjmOnk45SGK3GCGknOkuTy7M7BHYvU_JplQG4zqxbZR6nI16wpsLmuva4DJGvmJQlz6/s400/IMG_1318.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280387015037617394" border="0" /></a>The Birthday Boys<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrAqYdcuOWnACTgQPW7sJL0XF8Ir66w7PorFHfx1iUcXH7LHSil20-CmYD3_fEvzE-50_ssRPz1epYfaotCFf0RzEXdzmdrWC27Ugs4ily366bDROst0DHCZq89YtkzPtztRg6eazYwzE8/s1600-h/IMG_1309.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrAqYdcuOWnACTgQPW7sJL0XF8Ir66w7PorFHfx1iUcXH7LHSil20-CmYD3_fEvzE-50_ssRPz1epYfaotCFf0RzEXdzmdrWC27Ugs4ily366bDROst0DHCZq89YtkzPtztRg6eazYwzE8/s400/IMG_1309.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280387880336921970" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6rDkcC4FLWyyKrUSDmcFFC8eYdLS-J78V8hB8-ebZqLHE2VuVQbJHG31pJKCZPmEVBn2GIvHUsHWE71CSagMPVR0CVyb6yOnCnuyMZytFHshO2wg-i0FBSWZ0gfOy7AGKDe5L4_MUyo4w/s1600-h/IMG_1315.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6rDkcC4FLWyyKrUSDmcFFC8eYdLS-J78V8hB8-ebZqLHE2VuVQbJHG31pJKCZPmEVBn2GIvHUsHWE71CSagMPVR0CVyb6yOnCnuyMZytFHshO2wg-i0FBSWZ0gfOy7AGKDe5L4_MUyo4w/s400/IMG_1315.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280388283803281794" border="0" /></a>Grandaddy celebrated his 75th birthday!!!<br /><br /></div>I'm also going to post some pictures of the Secret Santa Shop at the boy's school. Every year the kids get an opportunity to shop for their friends and family. Kids can come in with any amount of money and buy gifts. I helped one little boy buy 9 gifts for five dollars. It is such a fun experience for the kids and they feel so good about picking out presents for their family. It was also a fun experience for all of the helper elves that got to help the kids and wrap their presents. The mom who was in charge of this no longer has kids at the school so this was her last year and she has passed the Head Elf job to me. This is what will be keeping me busy shopping at the after Christmas sales coming up and wrapping presents throughout the year.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieP0DZn24eoguL3kN7Dh63v5OhvxgUGhjQvsiAB_K6k6Yodi2ClrUMAAaFL7MraG7tjxqiXgvFm3rVEbt7ZGlQ_e3H45nPPCnRYS3cT3tZxzRCCBJggPEGEMYr9Om3j43ZHj0wSmlHHFv7/s1600-h/IMG_1275.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieP0DZn24eoguL3kN7Dh63v5OhvxgUGhjQvsiAB_K6k6Yodi2ClrUMAAaFL7MraG7tjxqiXgvFm3rVEbt7ZGlQ_e3H45nPPCnRYS3cT3tZxzRCCBJggPEGEMYr9Om3j43ZHj0wSmlHHFv7/s400/IMG_1275.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280389848876273442" border="0" /></a>All of the gifts<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxPBF6M9aMXjNMrHmAct4w26t-UDQZ-l1JuFB8xVs-yTHRugRM7jRv58uAo-99uzd1WfWd4T9opvp4pgUMUxY5pSeNZ9ca7MkGBG6UF87MsXyPisiOdRIBYJHIw16qUqPskOixS8bxh3Wv/s1600-h/IMG_1276.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxPBF6M9aMXjNMrHmAct4w26t-UDQZ-l1JuFB8xVs-yTHRugRM7jRv58uAo-99uzd1WfWd4T9opvp4pgUMUxY5pSeNZ9ca7MkGBG6UF87MsXyPisiOdRIBYJHIw16qUqPskOixS8bxh3Wv/s400/IMG_1276.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280394393534149186" border="0" /></a>The first group of shoppers<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy3ztiDbSH-EvzzWgs0FHkyM11mLaqKSw-NOI7zUVOfc_c4_FzhCQZZLUvs9L9MFVSpJ3920IlgjkWgv8Vme9-wlKuJ4KJqF_LlTkYa7k8wKYVzrwr6_Cy-v-TAnZtLLxyO4LS8QMPy_rX/s1600-h/IMG_1284.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy3ztiDbSH-EvzzWgs0FHkyM11mLaqKSw-NOI7zUVOfc_c4_FzhCQZZLUvs9L9MFVSpJ3920IlgjkWgv8Vme9-wlKuJ4KJqF_LlTkYa7k8wKYVzrwr6_Cy-v-TAnZtLLxyO4LS8QMPy_rX/s400/IMG_1284.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280394403194648594" border="0" /></a>Elves Yasna and Karen<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCg_2JAYiwKy3RUBchzdIg-YsGB_ZZ8oGpfvfQ20EEPhMbLhOUwAnDmnmK-wkkKDyObeNoLAhuBjHsCH8QMldqoJ3UYTH76b1f2TroFuCNItxg7WzX5lSCwea-bnbKiz9sFlDhcroMx7NC/s1600-h/IMG_1288.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCg_2JAYiwKy3RUBchzdIg-YsGB_ZZ8oGpfvfQ20EEPhMbLhOUwAnDmnmK-wkkKDyObeNoLAhuBjHsCH8QMldqoJ3UYTH76b1f2TroFuCNItxg7WzX5lSCwea-bnbKiz9sFlDhcroMx7NC/s400/IMG_1288.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280394407398451298" border="0" /></a>Elves turning the shop back in to the science lab<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Marciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00094185431178432778noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4150736016629342033.post-70024874163621604292008-11-28T10:57:00.022-05:002008-11-29T08:26:25.432-05:00Happy Thanksgiving<div align="left"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLaBMig_ZU4CjU3man0-ZulmGOoTWKRJ0CXLy2-DtF4rf9QedtB0E9HkAY4NhewdMo1AMNpCfNKtQwIuKz2Qr2TCAFoCYXGaunpitZntF2ZRXTWExqfYHtREOknYFvHW3_F0gzSXZFpxXb/s1600-h/IMG_1246.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273746399490666322" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 225px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLaBMig_ZU4CjU3man0-ZulmGOoTWKRJ0CXLy2-DtF4rf9QedtB0E9HkAY4NhewdMo1AMNpCfNKtQwIuKz2Qr2TCAFoCYXGaunpitZntF2ZRXTWExqfYHtREOknYFvHW3_F0gzSXZFpxXb/s400/IMG_1246.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br />The kids have been keeping us busy lately. Here are some pictures of the last couple of weeks.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihBETLPg3e0VVznQ5MD-E8L3iPmrekz7lUM1qYHWu2c_3ev2YacAdUvGi6ji6JWeyyahlCaeHFvdX03nd4o-Llv8udKqOPIwatUAQ44DVH5JJoZmi7y_SdlF7RlwZkrn4IXEiwTl4za2Oz/s1600-h/petermommy.aspx"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273741239216086706" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 300px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihBETLPg3e0VVznQ5MD-E8L3iPmrekz7lUM1qYHWu2c_3ev2YacAdUvGi6ji6JWeyyahlCaeHFvdX03nd4o-Llv8udKqOPIwatUAQ44DVH5JJoZmi7y_SdlF7RlwZkrn4IXEiwTl4za2Oz/s400/petermommy.aspx" border="0" /></a>Parents were asked to read to Peter's kindergarten class one day. Peter was so excited that I came to read.<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH6U2EwOGA7IpE8xrYM0Rx76X81u8lqXvwpmQf34uxLYTuqkAaC2Ozse6rrdOQOh4Azm59usD85UGWuoQjbVsdcqp1_M_zMMm_SBQ2LZnQAB8Nt5wnZBsbdZv3WIaW6XShqoe0B9IUdeWe/s1600-h/IMG_1221.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273745792973347058" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 225px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH6U2EwOGA7IpE8xrYM0Rx76X81u8lqXvwpmQf34uxLYTuqkAaC2Ozse6rrdOQOh4Azm59usD85UGWuoQjbVsdcqp1_M_zMMm_SBQ2LZnQAB8Nt5wnZBsbdZv3WIaW6XShqoe0B9IUdeWe/s400/IMG_1221.JPG" border="0" /></a>This is Ben after his hip hop performance at school. Here he is with two of his best friends, Blake and Leo.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8CdwVCyiHVNVN7D8i5Cx6t2XVDae1FQG0N7bZ3BMYuhUvIrk_94N15uzIXrQ7LFHMoALlXwQp7XsyjkQfMb8VSc13SKxsep1hpYPGJ_1G3KsSOt4i8am1VhdJjZ4Q2WgidALpbzSQD8oR/s1600-h/IMG_1136.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273745209016255986" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 225px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8CdwVCyiHVNVN7D8i5Cx6t2XVDae1FQG0N7bZ3BMYuhUvIrk_94N15uzIXrQ7LFHMoALlXwQp7XsyjkQfMb8VSc13SKxsep1hpYPGJ_1G3KsSOt4i8am1VhdJjZ4Q2WgidALpbzSQD8oR/s400/IMG_1136.JPG" border="0" /></a>Ava's pre-k class gave a performance for Thanksgiving.<br /><br /><br />The next four pictures are from our Cub Scout field trip to the police station...the boys LOVED it!<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd8s1bOb-M3BWecpWqecs6UvmO7W0C4jlAGPionn7pYudTz4nvDHo-3ApiBeJqHLlBDe4-L_0Fu_VkpO4dWogddeHUmUqmxB0Z0EmMigLlXXgEjX4h4Qfug1k9RF9X8dt5ClTXSotTksoR/s1600-h/IMG_1130.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273744048032449314" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 225px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd8s1bOb-M3BWecpWqecs6UvmO7W0C4jlAGPionn7pYudTz4nvDHo-3ApiBeJqHLlBDe4-L_0Fu_VkpO4dWogddeHUmUqmxB0Z0EmMigLlXXgEjX4h4Qfug1k9RF9X8dt5ClTXSotTksoR/s400/IMG_1130.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMxj4GXZc1EgA0Ql4smxtr8riaPMnAFAoU8HyV0GYsB7Nnv19Bp0-6DRJ-FrD2JLjhSQ7GRC6Wa5lVjo6J5vqwJZjrdA3A5daaIRfBhpknhZmtpIFLFvuqH77I_TNCJTWn1lVlCePpneNn/s1600-h/IMG_1129.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273744043677057554" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 225px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMxj4GXZc1EgA0Ql4smxtr8riaPMnAFAoU8HyV0GYsB7Nnv19Bp0-6DRJ-FrD2JLjhSQ7GRC6Wa5lVjo6J5vqwJZjrdA3A5daaIRfBhpknhZmtpIFLFvuqH77I_TNCJTWn1lVlCePpneNn/s400/IMG_1129.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPGLU_sPZtuY9wRsii_Bp0ScdcVAvkBIKJKkpxuTT5ESLv_GpP_hla6dg4iy2ck2K86M2n7QAC7U3LgPnYYD4BV4_CetQn2mpEjt8orRDGlpakNvQCJai69gaSemk4ncEl7GwV10pCECHE/s1600-h/IMG_1128.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273743331388466018" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 225px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPGLU_sPZtuY9wRsii_Bp0ScdcVAvkBIKJKkpxuTT5ESLv_GpP_hla6dg4iy2ck2K86M2n7QAC7U3LgPnYYD4BV4_CetQn2mpEjt8orRDGlpakNvQCJai69gaSemk4ncEl7GwV10pCECHE/s400/IMG_1128.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4d5YO5OPCBoUgyj_zJseh2F9L9EVOiSumZKvYwJ48b-1F9j-mkBbXug2vTvq-c-KxV8ASNbbjRxlZj7JBGG2x1zYlNIiCMKVQD8rvFLaKGAzt4LFlD-Zz8n4hw1hDcsr25UuWM2u1up8b/s1600-h/IMG_1124.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273743328096151906" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 225px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4d5YO5OPCBoUgyj_zJseh2F9L9EVOiSumZKvYwJ48b-1F9j-mkBbXug2vTvq-c-KxV8ASNbbjRxlZj7JBGG2x1zYlNIiCMKVQD8rvFLaKGAzt4LFlD-Zz8n4hw1hDcsr25UuWM2u1up8b/s400/IMG_1124.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div> </div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7nz_RUaaXtNAGbYjUAllP8nSTxfq4XywpXglnxStk9z5CXCAKzul6jHXEkMQQWikyYkU3D0pKtpz-3Aov9snH4SgkBvvg6R1nfSLMHuTz6LwMXVI-iil3hF-x1xTlWxrAawlnJUbAzd1O/s1600-h/IMG_1100.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273742537465493842" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 300px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7nz_RUaaXtNAGbYjUAllP8nSTxfq4XywpXglnxStk9z5CXCAKzul6jHXEkMQQWikyYkU3D0pKtpz-3Aov9snH4SgkBvvg6R1nfSLMHuTz6LwMXVI-iil3hF-x1xTlWxrAawlnJUbAzd1O/s400/IMG_1100.JPG" border="0" /></a>Here is Peter at Race for Education Day at school. This was during our week of sickness. Peter was just getting over his cold and Ava and Ben are sick at home.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqnr9ZqIcGT6CnlhSMMfIlgk2g6T2kts0A07Ops4EcN7aL6O7uO4dywgx3-GTraBE4OfutgkWVFBeWPuBtHso7cVpGeBIR1y_aBuZgMKXpbfva5-VctgiileuufCJbT-vfDjoNMwWRKmGH/s1600-h/Picture+040.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273749577973518530" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 300px; cursor: pointer; height: 400px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqnr9ZqIcGT6CnlhSMMfIlgk2g6T2kts0A07Ops4EcN7aL6O7uO4dywgx3-GTraBE4OfutgkWVFBeWPuBtHso7cVpGeBIR1y_aBuZgMKXpbfva5-VctgiileuufCJbT-vfDjoNMwWRKmGH/s400/Picture+040.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I just added this because it is so cute.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;" align="left"> </div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Here is a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmclBz2vXFM">video</a> from Ben's hip hop performance to "Beat It" and a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4FI3dp43x0">video</a> of Ava's class Thanksgiving show. I couldn't get them to up load onto blogger so I here are links to the videos on You tube. Please keep Ava in your prayers. We see the neurosurgeon Dec. 8th.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><br /><div style="text-align: center;" align="left"> </div><br /><div style="text-align: center;" align="left"><br /></div><br /><div align="center"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"></div></div>Marciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00094185431178432778noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4150736016629342033.post-65679157281152310242008-11-03T09:00:00.002-05:002008-11-03T09:07:46.130-05:00Not sure if this countsAva slept in her bed last night...yipee! But does it count if I slept in it too? Anyway, I may do this for a couple of days and then stop. I will have to stop soon though because my back was killing me this morning. The box spring and mattress are from the bed Derek and I slept in until we got a king size bed, which we didn't get until after Peter was born. I can't believe that we use to sleep in a double bed. Of course, that was before we had visitors in the night.Marciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00094185431178432778noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4150736016629342033.post-14191377403803160702008-11-02T15:39:00.004-05:002008-11-02T15:53:15.790-05:00Look who's in a "big girl bed" now!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMFqoTS9vDL7tM6tE6HAESKml3EJa3-I7hj2kfrL3CxbTYq27j2RLcR6I3drhVvu7I4n8gI5qGN1yAAgAjUvqX6H-k3vUypIU7NnxhMZag4mDW5fptNUbIykqQMnMgKyigcC6pA6lz5xne/s1600-h/IMG_1080.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMFqoTS9vDL7tM6tE6HAESKml3EJa3-I7hj2kfrL3CxbTYq27j2RLcR6I3drhVvu7I4n8gI5qGN1yAAgAjUvqX6H-k3vUypIU7NnxhMZag4mDW5fptNUbIykqQMnMgKyigcC6pA6lz5xne/s400/IMG_1080.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264165939067558930" border="0" /></a><br />Well, we will see how it works. Ava slept with her foster grandparents before we adopted her so to keep her from having so many changes at first we had her sleep with us. We were not going to have her in our bed too long but when we visited our social worker, she said not to push putting her into her own bed. She said it could take up to a year. Well, here we are a year later. We have had a toddler bed set up in her room and I think she has slept in it for about an hour this whole year. We lay down with her every night in our bed for a little while so we decided that to get her into her own room we needed a bigger bed. This bed was one of Ava's aunts when she was a little girl. She was so excited the whole time we were putting it all together. Now let's see if she sleeps in it!Marciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00094185431178432778noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4150736016629342033.post-72801159448627131542008-11-02T15:39:00.001-05:002008-11-02T15:39:59.387-05:00Look who's in aMarciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00094185431178432778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4150736016629342033.post-76549881600246807872008-11-01T19:58:00.007-04:002008-11-01T20:46:57.782-04:00St. Peter and Halloween<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg8KSzZf5pHpdYdBIYQKtVH4GD08J1EbR-ayUsKVU48MYYtDTTfVXgLcNoNqAq-v12kyfJrRIQRnQG5axpTA1xtl3FXqYMbwAGvhlh8mNLd4J6n6_tF5Ar8St2hU_P7qL3Bpjzpxt9aPi7/s1600-h/IMG_1029.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg8KSzZf5pHpdYdBIYQKtVH4GD08J1EbR-ayUsKVU48MYYtDTTfVXgLcNoNqAq-v12kyfJrRIQRnQG5axpTA1xtl3FXqYMbwAGvhlh8mNLd4J6n6_tF5Ar8St2hU_P7qL3Bpjzpxt9aPi7/s400/IMG_1029.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263843909467274034" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM80qZRus7xV6on4ChLUjUsr-65PcXdE3TUk8fK7qcnnf8wFeYlz2LMlIj6NiK2udxRn2zEzODwm4gAhkl0NcP0wySsBVQMmW4mBL3CHBQptPEQdQudnazLlCCpsBLJ32Klndwvu4l8DCa/s1600-h/IMG_1007.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM80qZRus7xV6on4ChLUjUsr-65PcXdE3TUk8fK7qcnnf8wFeYlz2LMlIj6NiK2udxRn2zEzODwm4gAhkl0NcP0wySsBVQMmW4mBL3CHBQptPEQdQudnazLlCCpsBLJ32Klndwvu4l8DCa/s400/IMG_1007.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263843909511807442" border="0" /></a><br />Every year at the boy's school, the kids in the kindergarten class dress up as saints for All Saints Day. They all have to memorize a couple of lines about their saint. Peter decided to be St Peter. The video at the end of this post is Peter reciting his lines and his best friend, Luke.<br /><br />Here are some trick or treating pix too. We go every year to Michael and Lisa's house to trick or treat. We missed last year though because we left for China on Oct. 31st. We always have a lot of fun with all of them and their family. This was Ava's first year trick or treating...she had a lot of fun. We missed y'all, Eleanor and LilyKate!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvtQVijT_5B77nc8abzeAZsx7G0BcpTTm8U-cdpayb5RnBr0hzDAOh5mtb7JmqCsFxZUXGXNKXtJJPVQ4VcwkJs3pipMVvYaaFkJFjUUsOaY9HK77qfxwdpdMHqbmgKdhV_7Zd2i3tq8OE/s1600-h/IMG_1042.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvtQVijT_5B77nc8abzeAZsx7G0BcpTTm8U-cdpayb5RnBr0hzDAOh5mtb7JmqCsFxZUXGXNKXtJJPVQ4VcwkJs3pipMVvYaaFkJFjUUsOaY9HK77qfxwdpdMHqbmgKdhV_7Zd2i3tq8OE/s400/IMG_1042.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263846800470018962" border="0" /></a>Dorothy and the Wicked Witch<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCnQHP0tLgAHuoSm_7LIlHpgsNsBxF4R9T9A1RDU7FG8LQZIZf8QKYJVaQCWGQTXpsgGUJQnJWYdd7j-T4D1iNS9gHpNm5Xa70pDyL9nhquMPCwEaauLhGwt8heYauHVgSrd6rRmfKHJcp/s1600-h/IMG_1045.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCnQHP0tLgAHuoSm_7LIlHpgsNsBxF4R9T9A1RDU7FG8LQZIZf8QKYJVaQCWGQTXpsgGUJQnJWYdd7j-T4D1iNS9gHpNm5Xa70pDyL9nhquMPCwEaauLhGwt8heYauHVgSrd6rRmfKHJcp/s400/IMG_1045.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263846807474811986" border="0" /></a>Iron Man (Travis), Bumble Bee (Matthew), Scream (Ben), Sharpay (Morgan), Jango Fett (Peter), Dorothy (Ava), Wicked Witch (Elphaba), Dora (Jackie)<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqasooMcC9WJZQ8NkwbN9kYThm7POkIEIFaEnm1QXNOZXzWY0oUEpAr6II38fFzVMD-m_EiiJmSQZq_LOsjNP4qypP0UsFMqcvSW1wp2dz06SbgolAuBgHx2gOSdxuuSJG4GBZULSh11wl/s1600-h/IMG_1049.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqasooMcC9WJZQ8NkwbN9kYThm7POkIEIFaEnm1QXNOZXzWY0oUEpAr6II38fFzVMD-m_EiiJmSQZq_LOsjNP4qypP0UsFMqcvSW1wp2dz06SbgolAuBgHx2gOSdxuuSJG4GBZULSh11wl/s400/IMG_1049.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263849510409059922" border="0" /></a>Peter and Morgan....Peter always has so much fun with Morgan<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTHOSnF7sGanF9xpze0OpYn8H8CZWXNe44AFrgPUN83JD_rPCBYzb3_Py31Zx_N_nb-wO3zjesYjEr5Sc8w_Q6Ebxdq5T9boKnmQbd99fvQWV_Yh7IPJ49X4p1kEGhDm2Y8Dov0Qm1JwSJ/s1600-h/IMG_1051.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTHOSnF7sGanF9xpze0OpYn8H8CZWXNe44AFrgPUN83JD_rPCBYzb3_Py31Zx_N_nb-wO3zjesYjEr5Sc8w_Q6Ebxdq5T9boKnmQbd99fvQWV_Yh7IPJ49X4p1kEGhDm2Y8Dov0Qm1JwSJ/s400/IMG_1051.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263846830611468466" border="0" /></a>Everyone in action<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3aly-Xj3eIwQyULRhX3GTSijl7eWNSF6-vbhME4C6rXKa3uVFa5XNlR5vtE9jgQEUbxnzy5KF078UBdQ4BjDWzFJC_Nj51onivK3gqQEQFYT9Rxl3GZN-F3fwI8GbTmCiJuNSl43KNAc3/s1600-h/IMG_1048.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3aly-Xj3eIwQyULRhX3GTSijl7eWNSF6-vbhME4C6rXKa3uVFa5XNlR5vtE9jgQEUbxnzy5KF078UBdQ4BjDWzFJC_Nj51onivK3gqQEQFYT9Rxl3GZN-F3fwI8GbTmCiJuNSl43KNAc3/s400/IMG_1048.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263849528610393090" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">One of the houses had this "vomit pumpkin" - it was a big hit with our crew<br /><br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj89vDef-4mJ__KP6S6Ar33615WZfC1xHi42HWmaEQgAQceOO0gTYXJug_5rVRhmJJUa8r31V5ld1qBHLXzudt__bifMrZPE9oMPY2QOq40LX9I0nsvBINZxanWvCt_P-O5yt3-QN3_57FE/s1600-h/IMG_1053.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj89vDef-4mJ__KP6S6Ar33615WZfC1xHi42HWmaEQgAQceOO0gTYXJug_5rVRhmJJUa8r31V5ld1qBHLXzudt__bifMrZPE9oMPY2QOq40LX9I0nsvBINZxanWvCt_P-O5yt3-QN3_57FE/s400/IMG_1053.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263849518315058770" border="0" /></a>Checking out all of the goods<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4gCd2Cx5GcSzOLOMQ-5ZsbQkBBUFMfU5vuB0DaAzfRdXs7HyOTV7ia8NsewROUeM3VJXvdW08TMecsl2kI42bCOYOpocvLK6tcMSx-nTpH9FUEzENHTW_i7mNZUFbdLXAVCter4a-3sdB/s1600-h/IMG_1055.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4gCd2Cx5GcSzOLOMQ-5ZsbQkBBUFMfU5vuB0DaAzfRdXs7HyOTV7ia8NsewROUeM3VJXvdW08TMecsl2kI42bCOYOpocvLK6tcMSx-nTpH9FUEzENHTW_i7mNZUFbdLXAVCter4a-3sdB/s400/IMG_1055.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263849531056071570" border="0" /></a>Worn out<br /><br /><br /><br /></div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwTP6XiLBiiFbUQG1XcsRvYEzvODAsdWqmG0IRtiC6NGT9CqgSwPBHNqhacoiwptfQWLE3OgWMv38JSu-mgsQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Marciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00094185431178432778noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4150736016629342033.post-42364410155944872032008-11-01T10:36:00.012-04:002008-11-02T09:09:29.610-05:00Thanks, Magi!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6_5uNSQwZ_uFeCA7Ay9Be6gKngppYi_koQcKsGKn0rkfsikj8DZMXiilyj15Wzv_-31mQsY6BTjanpeP_RFy6Xw-9rxFul4roeRRGkocuxy7XlodarPx9UoTin3_8IJLGddQPFV1DVo1s/s1600-h/Tagged.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 249px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6_5uNSQwZ_uFeCA7Ay9Be6gKngppYi_koQcKsGKn0rkfsikj8DZMXiilyj15Wzv_-31mQsY6BTjanpeP_RFy6Xw-9rxFul4roeRRGkocuxy7XlodarPx9UoTin3_8IJLGddQPFV1DVo1s/s400/Tagged.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263744392774167506" border="0" /></a><br />I am horrible at things like this but my super blogger sister, <a href="http://kaffee-klatsch.blogspot.com/">Magi</a>, "tagged me" so I guess I will give it a try. I'm sure she will be surprised that I did it.<br /><br />1. I am horrible at this because there is not much that I don't share with people. Unfortunately, I probably tell people too much about myself. But, I have this thing about putting things in writing...I can always deny I've said something, but it is hard to deny what is in black and white. In fact, I've given advice to people (mostly my younger sister) against writing personal letters to address issues.<br /><br />2. Okay, here it goes, and yes, I'm counting the above comment as number one. On the first day of my physiology class in college (one of many...colleges not physiology classes), when filling out the obligatory informational index card, I wrote on mine that I use to be male. I always hated trying to come up with something interesting about myself. The professor never said anything to me about it, but he taught physiology not anatomy...maybe he wasn't sure.<br /><br />3. I love to read! This is really no secret to anyone who knows me. I read almost every night before I go to sleep regardless of what time it is, how sick I am, or even how bad what I am reading is. I don't think of this as any great thing...I have wasted a lot of my life reading bad books. But, I hate it when people say that they don't read because they don't have time or really anything because they don't have time. It is not a time thing it is a choice thing. Maybe you just prefer to have a restful night sleep and that is ok.<br /><br />4. I spent a considerable percentage of my life (it will take several more years of aging for it not to be considerable) in college. I went to FSU, UF, Gulf Coast Community College (actually graduated), beauty school (one in Panama City, but graduated from one in Hammond, LA...sorry don't remember the name of either), and finally Auburn University. I goofed off at FSU and UF, but I went back to school (Auburn) at 24, and after 7 years, I finally finished. I have my bachelors and doctorate from Auburn, so it was seven straight years...not seven goofing off years. After seven years at Auburn, I am definitely an Auburn fan. War Eagle!<br /><br />5. I am in a group of women called the Pink Ladies. After graduating from Auburn, Derek and I both did residencies in Memphis, TN. I was at the VA hospital and was one of 7 female residents. We had the best time together. Six of us have kept in touch and have made a point of getting together every year. We are all great friends and email almost on a daily basis.<br /><br />6. I met my husband in pharmacy school. We got married three days after we graduated with our B.S. After our honeymoon of camping our way up to Maine, I moved into his lovely trailor where we lived until we finished our graduate program. I should clarify that at Auburn, most of the trailor parks are filled with college students (It is Alabama!!). Anyway, it was a very economical way to live while in school. Derek and I sometimes joke about how much money we would have if we still lived there! <br /><br />7. I have three sisters and none of us live near each other, not even in the same state. I would love for us to be able to live near each other and have our children grow up together.<br /><br />Okay, done! Now I have to tag some people. Sorry!<br />1. <a href="http://docsonthebay.blogspot.com/">Kati</a><br />2. <a href="http://minicook.blogspot.com///">Jessica</a><br />3.<a href="http://3leftsandaright.blogspot.com/"> Pam</a><br />4. <a href="http://violetthread.blogspot.com/">Kathleen</a><br />5.<a href="http://waitforlilykate.blogspot.com/"> Susan</a><br />6. <a href="http://wwwchinaladybug.blogspot.com/">Susan</a><br />7. I don't even know 7 people to tag!Marciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00094185431178432778noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4150736016629342033.post-55766345728115807152008-10-29T23:20:00.002-04:002008-10-29T23:23:37.205-04:00Tacky Day<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNfZUAzSKUV_BxcQJwyHWeJQ_caS-FXGt99_r0KVOcCVOlXXWnJndVPmhKyiu9vquFMcC295kwzZpWN1vLAN-LaYptcuOLxc9AKSBG5a0vrb1B9DTdepgdZDuGOi-W0kkKx793rYB58pSQ/s1600-h/IMG_0960.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNfZUAzSKUV_BxcQJwyHWeJQ_caS-FXGt99_r0KVOcCVOlXXWnJndVPmhKyiu9vquFMcC295kwzZpWN1vLAN-LaYptcuOLxc9AKSBG5a0vrb1B9DTdepgdZDuGOi-W0kkKx793rYB58pSQ/s400/IMG_0960.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262782372393217794" border="0" /></a><br />Yesterday was tacky day at school yesterday for the boys. They were so excited they actually got up right away to put their clothes on.Marciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00094185431178432778noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4150736016629342033.post-7628805894653987652008-10-28T08:25:00.002-04:002008-10-28T08:30:46.434-04:00Yes, this house is available.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD-w54KK7VX3vYFKOQsq2rIDdQJ3EIsR1jmR0G3wb7JpsZ5jdbtGRuAwTgh1XevN8DYNeF9h1vtDQthm0NYgJpoA_9y_JT7Vhr5ghmYJ4bs-hEVdIcDvy8gxGAICS6kL9Ws_jOXDhjZAam/s1600-h/IMG_0950.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD-w54KK7VX3vYFKOQsq2rIDdQJ3EIsR1jmR0G3wb7JpsZ5jdbtGRuAwTgh1XevN8DYNeF9h1vtDQthm0NYgJpoA_9y_JT7Vhr5ghmYJ4bs-hEVdIcDvy8gxGAICS6kL9Ws_jOXDhjZAam/s400/IMG_0950.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262181032564982498" border="0" /></a><br />But please give me several house warning before you come to look at it. I talked to two of my sisters on the phone yesterday and they were trying to compete with me over whose house was the worst so I told them I would send them a picture of just my living room. I would try to explain some of it, like why Ava has on feety pajamas (that aren't hers) at 3:00 in the afternoon, but it would take too long. So there, Magi and Jessica, beat that!Marciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00094185431178432778noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4150736016629342033.post-47950351956493579622008-10-27T08:19:00.010-04:002008-10-27T11:05:01.331-04:00Happy Halloween<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRNBjjQWg8XSDVjOTbjJO0PxdunPbLCdzZ-KmfwgcN74ZkDYvnq8g-Hhpqzxlo9xos6jfG-PKTpavLJ6WPkJItRJX1O1cGf1zGxkp-FgWgl3anzDCQcTJDbiVoWLR_X44-v_IGNI-oAZpz/s1600-h/IMG_0906.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRNBjjQWg8XSDVjOTbjJO0PxdunPbLCdzZ-KmfwgcN74ZkDYvnq8g-Hhpqzxlo9xos6jfG-PKTpavLJ6WPkJItRJX1O1cGf1zGxkp-FgWgl3anzDCQcTJDbiVoWLR_X44-v_IGNI-oAZpz/s400/IMG_0906.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261819260423195378" border="0" /></a>Ben is Scream fourth from left, Peter is Jango Fett second from right next to his friend, Sponge Bob (Luke)<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPgxDiHqlY7S8IBhkx47MFE6wVBL17SphOvIu1j4hHxSNaUsRbs87-LEd0vz-6FvwIKNF2Qqd9Kzil4GMb8XfjIspcVGAql_YgB7CXLBHydEWUfqlLA_plvgCGfJtjweM3NexL4EwEfCs8/s1600-h/IMG_0900.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPgxDiHqlY7S8IBhkx47MFE6wVBL17SphOvIu1j4hHxSNaUsRbs87-LEd0vz-6FvwIKNF2Qqd9Kzil4GMb8XfjIspcVGAql_YgB7CXLBHydEWUfqlLA_plvgCGfJtjweM3NexL4EwEfCs8/s400/IMG_0900.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261821295547120466" border="0" /></a>Rocker Girl<br /></div><br />I am sitting in my living room surrounded by stuff...stuff is EVERYWHERE! My house is a complete disaster area and I am not exaggerating. There is not a room in the house that is not a wreck. From where I sit, I even see clothes creeping out of the laundry room. So, instead of cleaning all of it up, I am here blogging. I guess that is one way to get me to blog...make the house too unbearable to clean. We have had a whirlwind weekend which led to the disaster. It started on Friday with Ava's MRI. She had an MRI scheduled for Friday at 1:00. I called them the day before because they had left me a message asking about metal in her body. I told them that I was pretty sure that she didn't, she did have open heart surgery in China but she had an echo done after we got home. Anyway, when we got there they contacted the cardiologist to get the echo results, but then decided they still wanted to do an x-ray to make sure there was no metal. I was happy to do the x-ray...I really wanted to make sure she had no metal in her body before they put her into a giant magnet! During all of this waiting, Ava was not very cooperative with the nurse so we decided to have them give her some Versed before they tried to put in the IV, which turned out to be an excellent idea!!! It was very hard for them to find a vein for the IV and she was not happy, but she would have been hysterical if she had not had the Versed and she would also remember it (thank God for the amnesia effect!). While we were there I asked them if we could get the Chinese rate. Before we adopted Ava, she had a CT of her head done and we had to pay for it. It was all of $26!!! I think that we might have spent that much Friday in parking and coffee at the hospital!! We did not pick a good year for a high deductible insurance plan, our out of pocket medical expenses this year have reached my residency salary!! Oh well, it is just money, we'll catch up eventually and thank goodness we are able to do all that we can to help our sweet girl.<br /><br />Well, when we got home Friday night, Derek watched our "drunk" daughter while I went to Mother/Son Game Night at the boy's school. It was a costume game night so we had to get dressed up. Peter was Jango Fett from Star Wars, Ben was Bloody Scream and I dressed as the Wicked Witch of the West (Elphaba)...unfortunately, no pix from that night. We had a lot of fun. Friday night was the beginning of the house disaster project.<br /><br />Saturday was another dress up day!!! Peter's best friend, Luke, had a birthday party with a costume parade and then trunk or treating at their church. On our way to Luke's house we stopped by Derek's parent's house where Peter and Granddaddy Chapman have been growing a pumpkin for months. We had a great time at Luke's party and the kids also had fun trunk or treating. This was Ava's first Halloween experience and she clung to me for most of the evening. Near the end, she finally let some people put candy in her "pumpkin" (actually a hello kitty bucket). More mess made today...no cleaning.<br /><br />Sunday was another crazy day. I didn't prepare too well for my sunday school lesson (I read it on the way to the party yesterday), so I got on the internet early and looked up some stuff. Teaching the high school class is a little more challenging than the 5 and under group I'm use to!! After church, we had a quick lunch because I had to get back up to church to help decorate for Family Fun Night (FFN). Before heading back to church, I had Derek taste test my chili for tonight's chili cook off to see if I needed to add anything. I also took a few pix of Derek and the kids carving the HUGE pumpkin. I found out while decorating that one of the comittees I am on at church was meeting at 5pm (FFN starts at 6), so I rush to get home at 4 to give Derek time to go get donuts (he is in charge of the donut eating contest) and quickly make my witch cookies. He gets home in time for me to go back up to the church (the kitchen is a disaster after chili making and witch cookie creating). My meeting was longer than expected so I didn't make it back home so thankfully Derek go everyone dressed and met me up there.<br /><br />FFN was a lot of fun though. The boys both won the pumpkin carving contest. Ben won for scariest pumpkin and Peter won for largest pumpkin (they each carved a side on the huge pumpkin) and I took home the third place price for my chili - woohoo! Ava was a little clingy, but she had a lot of fun too! Anyway, I had to drag everyone out of bed this morning to get ready for school (including myself) and now I am sitting here in a total disaster area!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiotSEWgAy0hxyvTj1jVPhogYQ2nhdsWTJIDpp4SF3uyqOzCkjQG_v5aPjF0uUxfs-tiAOmUPTo9stKeoetC2RUGMwsDaVHtgD7B3u941fs11U2QhDEsJw95rGMTF-x3dxoBIxl0gjNY_0I/s1600-h/IMG_0914.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 399px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiotSEWgAy0hxyvTj1jVPhogYQ2nhdsWTJIDpp4SF3uyqOzCkjQG_v5aPjF0uUxfs-tiAOmUPTo9stKeoetC2RUGMwsDaVHtgD7B3u941fs11U2QhDEsJw95rGMTF-x3dxoBIxl0gjNY_0I/s400/IMG_0914.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261824046746359938" border="0" /></a>Peter doing what he does best - supervising!<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZbUJHZJxusRnubb6wJ5ng8bHp2OLgI4lD5iQbscBapYEJehtyXN379icoC2Fs-ttMTEfw1Bmf4n5ch3j_42lAiAvXIVQXvCW3rMk5WrYxSiqKJCR-B1_dOrNsdxzn4Lp5DPEnRlXhsR04/s1600-h/IMG_0918.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZbUJHZJxusRnubb6wJ5ng8bHp2OLgI4lD5iQbscBapYEJehtyXN379icoC2Fs-ttMTEfw1Bmf4n5ch3j_42lAiAvXIVQXvCW3rMk5WrYxSiqKJCR-B1_dOrNsdxzn4Lp5DPEnRlXhsR04/s400/IMG_0918.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261824038528984306" border="0" /></a>Ben doing some detail work with his pocket knife<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBvk_YEZJAQi5fHkW0Lohd703JeMVl4mTidnFWI4sZ-hdZPmwe7aFZLLf04L82kfKZBADNStsgSseEtqEcz-b17ZG8kHxXcSRp8hgqhDiw00L9IF9WP1WSP2N9FM5cnEQs5CxnFmZFEKPE/s1600-h/IMG_0920.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBvk_YEZJAQi5fHkW0Lohd703JeMVl4mTidnFWI4sZ-hdZPmwe7aFZLLf04L82kfKZBADNStsgSseEtqEcz-b17ZG8kHxXcSRp8hgqhDiw00L9IF9WP1WSP2N9FM5cnEQs5CxnFmZFEKPE/s400/IMG_0920.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261824032187713266" border="0" /></a>Peter posing with his alien pumpkin<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx64w1fG6rhG2dSLh91TIb5yM9gHGqCFPrryTwUyDp4NmHUtR6_BWZhIa0ST5R8T08oJswCzWujP0kpuJKAMTjxKcR2xJKyJHCRjmEE6xRReP3sAL42mUE6rl6alsyq-sEwcZI2mgDcmDw/s1600-h/IMG_0921.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx64w1fG6rhG2dSLh91TIb5yM9gHGqCFPrryTwUyDp4NmHUtR6_BWZhIa0ST5R8T08oJswCzWujP0kpuJKAMTjxKcR2xJKyJHCRjmEE6xRReP3sAL42mUE6rl6alsyq-sEwcZI2mgDcmDw/s400/IMG_0921.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261824026031652962" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Mfn-zVEK5Y6nF6tZLpCCfkyrOXxxavBcjSA1WjP8_ZR89-XSQ5y-V6X0mxHBE8M4oEvO9-JKJY7hAFFn5eJAJHcLG3_EQLwIBtIyfqIq1kS_lWNMAAgKGInCxzwjZe-6OF95__j1JosX/s1600-h/IMG_0922.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Mfn-zVEK5Y6nF6tZLpCCfkyrOXxxavBcjSA1WjP8_ZR89-XSQ5y-V6X0mxHBE8M4oEvO9-JKJY7hAFFn5eJAJHcLG3_EQLwIBtIyfqIq1kS_lWNMAAgKGInCxzwjZe-6OF95__j1JosX/s400/IMG_0922.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261822813942511666" border="0" /></a>Ben posing with his Screem pumpkin<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKjE0Jwz77ltTfXLA7xPTVwHFft9U8PCZSReO36a67nT9ql33hSAK0Aao8rzxCuuEthPoXxwWFb7f0nuszpgBSPydLgAUW-gZuziBCt-skkpgw_ANdWXqvQSMHuP8uwCPJXR05zVQQHE-A/s1600-h/IMG_0923.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKjE0Jwz77ltTfXLA7xPTVwHFft9U8PCZSReO36a67nT9ql33hSAK0Aao8rzxCuuEthPoXxwWFb7f0nuszpgBSPydLgAUW-gZuziBCt-skkpgw_ANdWXqvQSMHuP8uwCPJXR05zVQQHE-A/s400/IMG_0923.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261822799013568690" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMZVKTvlegBI-twizPt9wtqAAWb8j_tsiCBJ4saScOWm3ydmaZjngYEM3IG-NlYf1XLYjHVcFjLZ-DtHawlMZ5nZPSFGXx6cc-go6obivkXkCKnxSXGeqdnYh1CGpQa6XCnWvU1DHtprs2/s1600-h/IMG_0924.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMZVKTvlegBI-twizPt9wtqAAWb8j_tsiCBJ4saScOWm3ydmaZjngYEM3IG-NlYf1XLYjHVcFjLZ-DtHawlMZ5nZPSFGXx6cc-go6obivkXkCKnxSXGeqdnYh1CGpQa6XCnWvU1DHtprs2/s400/IMG_0924.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261824016984634610" border="0" /></a>Ava loves to put on this mask<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb_AFiNSeK37QaUATi_aKXXpSwuDwMn7JVUtzlpo3EDwXxQKwC7WNsga_rFc9CMBaLhHd804fHOGAnuwoP-Omn5EoVyBdVWy7UjgUj_20WiS8VhXALBdcfmDol1PDIske05VrR8aMtkflG/s1600-h/IMG_0927.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb_AFiNSeK37QaUATi_aKXXpSwuDwMn7JVUtzlpo3EDwXxQKwC7WNsga_rFc9CMBaLhHd804fHOGAnuwoP-Omn5EoVyBdVWy7UjgUj_20WiS8VhXALBdcfmDol1PDIske05VrR8aMtkflG/s400/IMG_0927.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261822790488696914" border="0" /></a>The boys love their sister<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC5YehcLumFQf0F11yxNbB40UzCE5_0zmYnpiah2kAMAKFjd16oEa0zdTyr1-Z7gxbLP6YWnoGJo4gNdKsgYT6SHZNMx9z3BEWy6C_pUwlANEqfcNujA_eOzrZCYhyphenhyphenb8xF8fJtpMY2qBGb/s1600-h/IMG_0930.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC5YehcLumFQf0F11yxNbB40UzCE5_0zmYnpiah2kAMAKFjd16oEa0zdTyr1-Z7gxbLP6YWnoGJo4gNdKsgYT6SHZNMx9z3BEWy6C_pUwlANEqfcNujA_eOzrZCYhyphenhyphenb8xF8fJtpMY2qBGb/s400/IMG_0930.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261822786738274850" border="0" /></a>The final product on display<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz1eh3ELVXDP0A1f41B5IBvBYtDdRZMNU_VVF_Vx85kwtstF3Yz0ovmUQX8WJ1ntNsoQ8B6wzoOcC6Mg7czaAVn04Q6VW_Nidmnzwsgc0X-AxZzYW0f-kpg2K0dSff9tcBCuEn7pjH3TGb/s1600-h/IMG_0931.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz1eh3ELVXDP0A1f41B5IBvBYtDdRZMNU_VVF_Vx85kwtstF3Yz0ovmUQX8WJ1ntNsoQ8B6wzoOcC6Mg7czaAVn04Q6VW_Nidmnzwsgc0X-AxZzYW0f-kpg2K0dSff9tcBCuEn7pjH3TGb/s400/IMG_0931.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261822780315040370" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;">The Costume Parade</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLTbTmsRQA7i8UZi5hphyphenhyphen80jrWB2x94pbtLbLx4qUBcPtxsMo4RnK2NeJDoMNUSNcjz_hLMmyLtLKG1S0RWfVkbXrD5aYhdahAiR_WTLpxnGuJbcXDGGDtzOI4Mmv2xKoJzhGaEGALB95j/s1600-h/IMG_0932.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLTbTmsRQA7i8UZi5hphyphenhyphen80jrWB2x94pbtLbLx4qUBcPtxsMo4RnK2NeJDoMNUSNcjz_hLMmyLtLKG1S0RWfVkbXrD5aYhdahAiR_WTLpxnGuJbcXDGGDtzOI4Mmv2xKoJzhGaEGALB95j/s400/IMG_0932.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261830325565776370" border="0" /></a>Peter as Jango Fett<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmpcZ0SvmT-1JvVunv4rLtq_SWnemrbZLyFs_rARPj_PQyAIt5pZzw60JiACgVz5RzrFEghDuETJhJ7vh56EYUy9u0oDZ1Old4aEoU9qCi1_WLzPqXfY8lzTecs91vov_avoKPZNXJMjLA/s1600-h/IMG_0933.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmpcZ0SvmT-1JvVunv4rLtq_SWnemrbZLyFs_rARPj_PQyAIt5pZzw60JiACgVz5RzrFEghDuETJhJ7vh56EYUy9u0oDZ1Old4aEoU9qCi1_WLzPqXfY8lzTecs91vov_avoKPZNXJMjLA/s400/IMG_0933.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261821301260148626" border="0" /></a>Ava the Rocker Girl (she wouldn't go alone)<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9O98SlbdimXqvAURih-N4ft-tfPhdr8oN8HKR52ngN5zoSamQUkK2wL7Abg253KCfbntNDle2ZE4EFuTRWeLfYuuzpUnz60vuVDi_4MnHxCcpCNNxiPMpSyUF1oTasyoPEwsNNQzw-TOM/s1600-h/IMG_0937.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9O98SlbdimXqvAURih-N4ft-tfPhdr8oN8HKR52ngN5zoSamQUkK2wL7Abg253KCfbntNDle2ZE4EFuTRWeLfYuuzpUnz60vuVDi_4MnHxCcpCNNxiPMpSyUF1oTasyoPEwsNNQzw-TOM/s400/IMG_0937.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261821326041896914" border="0" /></a>Ben as a Sith Apprentice<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyoIzHTe0yOIScA9juWsBKmxEK_n10WXbnn3VZ5p-VRKVT4wpsAWWWHAWOUXWMkcbxn0SyzjBNZ8cfFaNmek18rSZLJ4B1x2ZT1CqEboK8Cnh3gLkDxzf75V66BKNBOeG1JDded_Ca6ALA/s1600-h/IMG_0934.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyoIzHTe0yOIScA9juWsBKmxEK_n10WXbnn3VZ5p-VRKVT4wpsAWWWHAWOUXWMkcbxn0SyzjBNZ8cfFaNmek18rSZLJ4B1x2ZT1CqEboK8Cnh3gLkDxzf75V66BKNBOeG1JDded_Ca6ALA/s400/IMG_0934.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261821304143083954" border="0" /></a>Peggy and Marilynn (Susan) with the puppies (LilyKate and Eleanor)<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQcTlUdd4k3NE5U_d9tnB5XRxM-fe25kM3Eq1DTgiLQTFuudeLK34P5jnB0VTnrfZ3DDFQd4NNrEd_donOftNnG829mZ9qLCgUVKDyG4VxM5sEdDRukEYBUzBfLxxbg6PS-1XBE6F17UAM/s1600-h/IMG_0935.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQcTlUdd4k3NE5U_d9tnB5XRxM-fe25kM3Eq1DTgiLQTFuudeLK34P5jnB0VTnrfZ3DDFQd4NNrEd_donOftNnG829mZ9qLCgUVKDyG4VxM5sEdDRukEYBUzBfLxxbg6PS-1XBE6F17UAM/s400/IMG_0935.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261821322630083266" border="0" /></a>Maddie Minnie Mouse and her dad, Billy<br /></div><br /><br />Here is a video of Ava rocking out to her adoring fans. <div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy8RdnjVpte-G3XrE7UgRotEWwJRBuWaiITRe9EeCQIdJezXPAfeH7REI48LhKB7MfGjtZjBqeWBU20bx7iSg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Marciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00094185431178432778noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4150736016629342033.post-20866481931548703692008-10-23T09:04:00.005-04:002008-10-23T09:30:37.442-04:00Two Days in a Row?!!!Yes, I am posting again. After I posted, I read <a href="http://kaffee-klatsch.blogspot.com/2008/10/family-time.html">Magi's post</a> about our time together. My posts are few and far between and don't include much detail. I hate to write and it is not something I am very good at. I think clever thoughts all day long, I just don't post any of them (at least that is my story) Anyway, Magi did a much better job of posting about our time together. Not just a better job, but a job because she actually mentioned it and posted pictures about it and I did not.<br /><br />Well, since I am already here I will post some cute pictures of Ava playing with her adorable <a href="http://www.creativekidstuff.com/calico-critter-townhome.html">Calico Critter's House</a> (I included this link so you can see how cute this stuff is - I know nothing about this particular store...it was just the best picture I saw). She got this last year for Christmas from her Aunt's, Donna and Debbie, but at the time she really was not interested. I brought it out the other day and showed it to her and she got so excited; it was the cutest thing. The house has a family of rabbits, and yesterday before school she was holding one of them and actually said bunny (it was actually bummy, but anyone who knows Ava knows that that is HUGE!!!). We have spent the morning playing with the house including putting in WORKING lights...too cute. I have also been putting stickers on all of the little pieces (butter, milk, cheese, etc...) to stock the refrigerator. It is the most adorable toy.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPV-H3pIkOVSiSHvIrhREsdhX3GRsCW7dbwbUstpfxQ3tOms1pH2nLhO_S8qc5Za7zjcwYehaVnJOLrOizvxtj16pjgUvc8lpv129YimQ0A0tn6njbUMM94aKUwGdOKndsoPYC6pU6tKpE/s1600-h/IMG_0894.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPV-H3pIkOVSiSHvIrhREsdhX3GRsCW7dbwbUstpfxQ3tOms1pH2nLhO_S8qc5Za7zjcwYehaVnJOLrOizvxtj16pjgUvc8lpv129YimQ0A0tn6njbUMM94aKUwGdOKndsoPYC6pU6tKpE/s400/IMG_0894.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260338996987729394" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyPqgZsmxN54WCHOo3RcM51_KQV20dGZsApI8l0-2XMDQTQfKMsOG9GHywLpSbTC54DlLxSrvsphUCZumAxWRbZlcTFA6y_R-6FjkPMUPuyBaLvgNfio0k-vguKBbyK2PBiQl8DUy6oasA/s1600-h/IMG_0890.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyPqgZsmxN54WCHOo3RcM51_KQV20dGZsApI8l0-2XMDQTQfKMsOG9GHywLpSbTC54DlLxSrvsphUCZumAxWRbZlcTFA6y_R-6FjkPMUPuyBaLvgNfio0k-vguKBbyK2PBiQl8DUy6oasA/s400/IMG_0890.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260338993566948882" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHr7XoV-xPEvkE4yI0df8CIhqjClvWvcxVTHJ0EfjjUpP9TJAAYB30ny7LLQEY_FIUpuBAE6IFGOKGm8N7EnG7hcdutdTw6ZAvIafAv4i6Aup-bqjlE_r1WxqK9QGcrwAoVNXYfw-V5C_Y/s1600-h/STA_0887.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHr7XoV-xPEvkE4yI0df8CIhqjClvWvcxVTHJ0EfjjUpP9TJAAYB30ny7LLQEY_FIUpuBAE6IFGOKGm8N7EnG7hcdutdTw6ZAvIafAv4i6Aup-bqjlE_r1WxqK9QGcrwAoVNXYfw-V5C_Y/s400/STA_0887.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260339007640750818" border="0" /></a><br />Well, I better run...it is Ava's therapy day and I just noticed that Ben left his lunch on the dining room table.Marciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00094185431178432778noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4150736016629342033.post-83955993807733852942008-09-29T10:26:00.020-04:002008-10-25T09:43:53.241-04:00Family Photos<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVi-Lng6asHCh8v4T-GNCJf7WL_6aIVceMroaWGC26oqnMnDAn3sgTq44626EUM1FUncHNe15enLmIyEgjm2Pa47oMoB9T-3nn-hupx_VDYlKbPr-wdtkHzPRBJiSgNiCW6sJWsOPbdDKp/s1600-h/IMG_0006.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVi-Lng6asHCh8v4T-GNCJf7WL_6aIVceMroaWGC26oqnMnDAn3sgTq44626EUM1FUncHNe15enLmIyEgjm2Pa47oMoB9T-3nn-hupx_VDYlKbPr-wdtkHzPRBJiSgNiCW6sJWsOPbdDKp/s400/IMG_0006.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251453856619901170" border="0" /></a>Ava's first Auburn Game<br /><br /><br /></div>Well, I officially stink at blogging!!! I am going to try and do a better job. Everyone is doing well. Ben is enjoying 2nd grade. He is in the cub scouts and he is also taking hip hop at school. They are practicing a routine with Michael Jackson's Beat It...I can't wait to see it! Peter still loves Kindergarten and he is really into Pokemon cards. In fact, he plans on being a Pokemon Card artist when he grows up. Ava is enjoying pre-k and she is doing SO well. Her teachers and therapists really think that she is going to catch up with her peers. In the last month or so I have seen so much improvement in her receptive language. I think her adenoid/tonsil/nut removal surgery has made a world of difference.<br /><br />I have uploaded several pix from the summer and this fall to try and catch up...here they are.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">This past weekend we traveled to see our China travel group for our first year reunion. It was so good to see all of the families and their girls. Everyone has is doing great and the girls were all adorable. I can't believe it has been a year.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd3bnLBmvDocSg_3d2C05oqx90vfLUJDMDc26ATswqOyBXqUNrN1_RB1PB61Yub9FffgLmlCIPJj4zpzRVBMrkHU18-NJ6QrtEtN0xMWN8jYjQIZChaPffrG-So_J10hUR_M496JgYwf7p/s1600-h/IMG_0842.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd3bnLBmvDocSg_3d2C05oqx90vfLUJDMDc26ATswqOyBXqUNrN1_RB1PB61Yub9FffgLmlCIPJj4zpzRVBMrkHU18-NJ6QrtEtN0xMWN8jYjQIZChaPffrG-So_J10hUR_M496JgYwf7p/s400/IMG_0842.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260025325897590466" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZWtpm175G-bC77MktFQIfHiFH1wCLpcPl1ThR6b2_YHh37OlhqAr0Rg0B_OUKWEv7XZvfT38bhS_ykmKfmuyA8BDMaebdbbmQfX8Pu20NJ1RGL0g-sdIXBNY5USf95NY01qvoAtwhzlTw/s1600-h/IMG_0846.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZWtpm175G-bC77MktFQIfHiFH1wCLpcPl1ThR6b2_YHh37OlhqAr0Rg0B_OUKWEv7XZvfT38bhS_ykmKfmuyA8BDMaebdbbmQfX8Pu20NJ1RGL0g-sdIXBNY5USf95NY01qvoAtwhzlTw/s400/IMG_0846.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260025352957240434" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyxKhy0xs6LU2yUl0K2Whyphenhyphenk-unoyQNGJxFI1dI1FEijrHEy_IGyDU4f6OHui-M5mbxX5Ikh0KK354ozhIfiF2yUw54Nu7inK49-KQP9r3BhAXPSWMdcXF9H4nTd3MFHJa9XYQyC6bhM0DB/s1600-h/IMG_0848.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyxKhy0xs6LU2yUl0K2Whyphenhyphenk-unoyQNGJxFI1dI1FEijrHEy_IGyDU4f6OHui-M5mbxX5Ikh0KK354ozhIfiF2yUw54Nu7inK49-KQP9r3BhAXPSWMdcXF9H4nTd3MFHJa9XYQyC6bhM0DB/s400/IMG_0848.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260025357451362882" border="0" /></a>October 2008<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhLj5p8hrurs231aosZIzA1Jtj3w9J5eLbYcoDftDS7-5aQZRzML0IpDDtdpkB7A-pwVcM_LLtyjOZ8gPKC9WwD85Y0dtzkWA1nEiwpc5FDdDeqXL-jV5FaWk6zlW0iGrzAViVa-8dwt74/s1600-h/IMG_0767.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhLj5p8hrurs231aosZIzA1Jtj3w9J5eLbYcoDftDS7-5aQZRzML0IpDDtdpkB7A-pwVcM_LLtyjOZ8gPKC9WwD85Y0dtzkWA1nEiwpc5FDdDeqXL-jV5FaWk6zlW0iGrzAViVa-8dwt74/s400/IMG_0767.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260023396545232194" border="0" /></a>November 2007<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge4HYItjBIvWd5ypvR2M-kybWulwaUMVOrfcl2Gh1RPjQ8G_rvsESqaBrz7J1X2xQFgSGHjqPb2pttYIvvsKJit74CUfTZ_aaGj8Jwqre6n5_COch0AJNODqDp6Xvi3oLkAV222xOEE5mu/s1600-h/IMG_0747.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge4HYItjBIvWd5ypvR2M-kybWulwaUMVOrfcl2Gh1RPjQ8G_rvsESqaBrz7J1X2xQFgSGHjqPb2pttYIvvsKJit74CUfTZ_aaGj8Jwqre6n5_COch0AJNODqDp6Xvi3oLkAV222xOEE5mu/s400/IMG_0747.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260023714697952226" border="0" /></a>Our Sweet Ava November 2007<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Here are several beach pictures from this summer<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikwI_jJQbxNdH4YCKWw7SsVox1bKYSeyD3_rUkC4iVnSYe5DDkcOKn-Ah4ntLnnU8dJOsVap3ob4EbR5XubeguZD8Hm7mZ6HZ5BXDEYZU2SycT45kPAQupQUhoShyphenhyphenu1ly-8S40VoGFvYRp/s1600-h/IMG_0426.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikwI_jJQbxNdH4YCKWw7SsVox1bKYSeyD3_rUkC4iVnSYe5DDkcOKn-Ah4ntLnnU8dJOsVap3ob4EbR5XubeguZD8Hm7mZ6HZ5BXDEYZU2SycT45kPAQupQUhoShyphenhyphenu1ly-8S40VoGFvYRp/s400/IMG_0426.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260017415800276194" border="0" /></a>Granddaddy helping the boys build their sand castle<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEOARrRhP9rrbSJV4h4JF-hNVZFKnH3Nd3nxZAlpFXQwn3m52eCpQudcHv8pFwgnrwCrtbUYdNGMJ1PBY3MAtRCJwUvbFDqw_vDeBn9NqyK3an1E9FJI22ClBSdBBTdZjgBEoEszcFFl7-/s1600-h/IMG_0427.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEOARrRhP9rrbSJV4h4JF-hNVZFKnH3Nd3nxZAlpFXQwn3m52eCpQudcHv8pFwgnrwCrtbUYdNGMJ1PBY3MAtRCJwUvbFDqw_vDeBn9NqyK3an1E9FJI22ClBSdBBTdZjgBEoEszcFFl7-/s400/IMG_0427.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260017421915833170" border="0" /></a><br />Grandmamma and Ava<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqy6skMCZvpVDg2RE2rJhCAtTLtMtM7O4x0DIuNXc4vbo3bsd-9NUqeRMFBu9XzlMJA7AAONxDKXrLJ9jJB1y8i45vK9DECJNTP5_Jew34Q281sGg670T3DasxFbNDthHR3fN00AVip9j5/s1600-h/IMG_0431.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqy6skMCZvpVDg2RE2rJhCAtTLtMtM7O4x0DIuNXc4vbo3bsd-9NUqeRMFBu9XzlMJA7AAONxDKXrLJ9jJB1y8i45vK9DECJNTP5_Jew34Q281sGg670T3DasxFbNDthHR3fN00AVip9j5/s400/IMG_0431.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260017425901406338" border="0" /></a><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLJNkhtQ8JucPic-4CymKjyMF6VT-lVCdI-ZjmANzZUbC-vDlb7MQmIdZwJTY0adUXhhoOzbLtWTrGNOvMlCj5l8WB6eO3H7xwaPrnfJrug20uh3ixtqqBY5ZaRF13fVl_8cfHKR-zlh2k/s1600-h/IMG_0408.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLJNkhtQ8JucPic-4CymKjyMF6VT-lVCdI-ZjmANzZUbC-vDlb7MQmIdZwJTY0adUXhhoOzbLtWTrGNOvMlCj5l8WB6eO3H7xwaPrnfJrug20uh3ixtqqBY5ZaRF13fVl_8cfHKR-zlh2k/s400/IMG_0408.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260016124175398322" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDT9n2RVFGSoYkZETeT1MOd5ZpmEk8OUzyMucacDeLgw9WQQ7_f0aQaa0F17Jp1xlE9y9hETbrCl7353lecxsIn1Cp55WGuhYtAmTdLvFDnHM1bEYpfGDc_cRC6QjW9jN3d-MFiE_aWCwF/s1600-h/IMG_0412.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDT9n2RVFGSoYkZETeT1MOd5ZpmEk8OUzyMucacDeLgw9WQQ7_f0aQaa0F17Jp1xlE9y9hETbrCl7353lecxsIn1Cp55WGuhYtAmTdLvFDnHM1bEYpfGDc_cRC6QjW9jN3d-MFiE_aWCwF/s400/IMG_0412.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260016127939790338" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPZH0Au4KYeKGCbD29SMUeQCre7Gks3aWq64Vu7Z8xr4CgFBhNuY4g_UZKTtpPa1Phw_v1V6bryo9ptb5xSQrO-vLwtxflLJIPpuRr1TB4JmJFS3dGCxRUTen981xw_GUZlCS2EWOuF0sG/s1600-h/IMG_0417.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPZH0Au4KYeKGCbD29SMUeQCre7Gks3aWq64Vu7Z8xr4CgFBhNuY4g_UZKTtpPa1Phw_v1V6bryo9ptb5xSQrO-vLwtxflLJIPpuRr1TB4JmJFS3dGCxRUTen981xw_GUZlCS2EWOuF0sG/s400/IMG_0417.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260016137097833314" border="0" /></a>Josie</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWZRQsOhDEOPn6kyRK_RW1Vy8dBumoH2lHdY8_YHd68z7ZznJW5zl3sAZwY4tU_aoRTuObMbPMy8XchWK-X2JbKFazF6kBuDUlzmcocW1kMaD__g0szhT-LqQ-LN05kOnqHX5Jlgb0eE7S/s1600-h/IMG_0419.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWZRQsOhDEOPn6kyRK_RW1Vy8dBumoH2lHdY8_YHd68z7ZznJW5zl3sAZwY4tU_aoRTuObMbPMy8XchWK-X2JbKFazF6kBuDUlzmcocW1kMaD__g0szhT-LqQ-LN05kOnqHX5Jlgb0eE7S/s400/IMG_0419.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260016140310181954" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7BkwzmMHhR_M3v8EWoXROpWUxmczzN4eCLAfYtsIZaNTZ_p8Q3_-07mI0OPdiqJVaIVAjSfFuzk-WM4o_HHO5xAfckyCc5HqiXBVwtEJW07rdIEkTy_pOl_-rMmaJyfyP7uj30V6CJPyd/s1600-h/IMG_0423.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7BkwzmMHhR_M3v8EWoXROpWUxmczzN4eCLAfYtsIZaNTZ_p8Q3_-07mI0OPdiqJVaIVAjSfFuzk-WM4o_HHO5xAfckyCc5HqiXBVwtEJW07rdIEkTy_pOl_-rMmaJyfyP7uj30V6CJPyd/s400/IMG_0423.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260016148961967682" border="0" /></a>Ava piling sand on Granddaddy<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrPkNj4d118wuP5a9hVzfKNRI6i1Z13nYW0j7a2WBGCoYOmaXvBN2FvQx51PvGwzLGLx_6fVIAlHmb2AGTQHCRQrgf8Z3HKGsOuURIzBF6jbtCCAlAXbS83_9HKN13UdZU_kVmE_WhmpfL/s1600-h/IMG_0383.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrPkNj4d118wuP5a9hVzfKNRI6i1Z13nYW0j7a2WBGCoYOmaXvBN2FvQx51PvGwzLGLx_6fVIAlHmb2AGTQHCRQrgf8Z3HKGsOuURIzBF6jbtCCAlAXbS83_9HKN13UdZU_kVmE_WhmpfL/s400/IMG_0383.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260014472199565762" border="0" /></a>Ava and Josie enjoying the tub<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiscqTMJvnKfcEyYeZHqDE6HaD9ZzD1o-Q_0ihIPwoK8cbA_z0KLtwPapI2xW8bHUWNhkXTYXHzQod_QyymwWhg1OXsIt7TS9JrNrHRKTLMU8AMUtFHSkbZJIAzTluCcL-AnEy9UW7d7xnH/s1600-h/IMG_0388.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiscqTMJvnKfcEyYeZHqDE6HaD9ZzD1o-Q_0ihIPwoK8cbA_z0KLtwPapI2xW8bHUWNhkXTYXHzQod_QyymwWhg1OXsIt7TS9JrNrHRKTLMU8AMUtFHSkbZJIAzTluCcL-AnEy9UW7d7xnH/s400/IMG_0388.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260014477020874530" border="0" /></a>The "triplets"<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvQG7FtnK8uZcENSgu0mqO_gXkOPtJ6-lV7P8EQGz069HHrF20UfJYw8CVU0O2ME-zi4LoLG5vQetvdBXFzui0IDMb4lF1NqzwjQ4AzpT0z5mKglq8-VCLI1RO56cex8GDy25G4-NuvqxE/s1600-h/IMG_0394.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvQG7FtnK8uZcENSgu0mqO_gXkOPtJ6-lV7P8EQGz069HHrF20UfJYw8CVU0O2ME-zi4LoLG5vQetvdBXFzui0IDMb4lF1NqzwjQ4AzpT0z5mKglq8-VCLI1RO56cex8GDy25G4-NuvqxE/s400/IMG_0394.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260014492325035986" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Ben went to drama camp this summer. There performance was from Dr Seuss<br /></div><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7LYpoGq1lsoKrB03FJt8lZKVvsm_eE_f-T5orIXA9QWprbGBlOADH0t1vn4JwA831iuE67EeryvoZqxB1e2dAwFXtz_7KcREPem9nk8ZyYPUXcEZzMk5uwpg4AkK26Wy_YiAlhWP_dsZH/s1600-h/IMG_0342.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7LYpoGq1lsoKrB03FJt8lZKVvsm_eE_f-T5orIXA9QWprbGBlOADH0t1vn4JwA831iuE67EeryvoZqxB1e2dAwFXtz_7KcREPem9nk8ZyYPUXcEZzMk5uwpg4AkK26Wy_YiAlhWP_dsZH/s400/IMG_0342.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260010647633228178" border="0" /></a>The Set<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik9v20kmH_jqtXlWsGXk6Igre6enoxr9V_zpByT8bn0qYv0gTPnWnhlf4FUN3Lwy3MzEgL4IDZ9grtbys3L6ceUMYSVl4_aul87OpewfGsY9fF-MqArKKD_2SfkzDdIGRsbL26ewKyTbXY/s1600-h/IMG_0344.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik9v20kmH_jqtXlWsGXk6Igre6enoxr9V_zpByT8bn0qYv0gTPnWnhlf4FUN3Lwy3MzEgL4IDZ9grtbys3L6ceUMYSVl4_aul87OpewfGsY9fF-MqArKKD_2SfkzDdIGRsbL26ewKyTbXY/s400/IMG_0344.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260012527604082018" border="0" /></a>peeking out at the audience<br /><br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3inNHeOdk9qDxKfmn250ujd-3BW__9Sdu3PK2ZBJDt_joiegKw54HmndZJxBLGoGS3-2NcS5MEqGUR-a8AAoR6kuY2-xuJk15Mj7OkkkkmE-Uue4wGt5yN99C3R30MOLBI2B97Ead41j6/s1600-h/IMG_0349.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3inNHeOdk9qDxKfmn250ujd-3BW__9Sdu3PK2ZBJDt_joiegKw54HmndZJxBLGoGS3-2NcS5MEqGUR-a8AAoR6kuY2-xuJk15Mj7OkkkkmE-Uue4wGt5yN99C3R30MOLBI2B97Ead41j6/s400/IMG_0349.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260012538160297394" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjHdbSHHu46vnEt2iMB-OF1hrxrvvWGhvwKR4yk2uZXwYG5J-9aneOve5xg7NiOdWXHvcGSea4dJe5POxso7Fh5p0xmcf1gDHKanJ1KYd9ZP7WpL_lZv8HXNgBLcABGx9ZN00SDOs5zqEV/s1600-h/IMG_0351.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjHdbSHHu46vnEt2iMB-OF1hrxrvvWGhvwKR4yk2uZXwYG5J-9aneOve5xg7NiOdWXHvcGSea4dJe5POxso7Fh5p0xmcf1gDHKanJ1KYd9ZP7WpL_lZv8HXNgBLcABGx9ZN00SDOs5zqEV/s400/IMG_0351.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260012543389888146" border="0" /></a>Ben beatboxing<br /><br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpeITVAikaWBZNRc6nDJpdVmQkhNbNoaI2MMZlscmyoxeJlmpsR6NFVA9aWYzMwy1UxTW4aRLyERhHBxZgqhyujYzA0oeG3gk6R3mTma3rCw0kmbc_VPC3wi-noteVFs1CvNYt7rocR3LF/s1600-h/IMG_0360.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpeITVAikaWBZNRc6nDJpdVmQkhNbNoaI2MMZlscmyoxeJlmpsR6NFVA9aWYzMwy1UxTW4aRLyERhHBxZgqhyujYzA0oeG3gk6R3mTma3rCw0kmbc_VPC3wi-noteVFs1CvNYt7rocR3LF/s400/IMG_0360.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260012548092968770" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBZNUxCKPnVJcQ_P6-0sTllMgoy0aI2o0C7MssF0NFOyiem3UOcj-R0TbbdBmUJ7m93VGR3Tk15h-ebQq3CcqWjZmJKNuPGCd2W6su7qp7vW5zTeJ3meFoUsYBt1M8YZfwTFpaTc7DVAf8/s1600-h/IMG_0361.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBZNUxCKPnVJcQ_P6-0sTllMgoy0aI2o0C7MssF0NFOyiem3UOcj-R0TbbdBmUJ7m93VGR3Tk15h-ebQq3CcqWjZmJKNuPGCd2W6su7qp7vW5zTeJ3meFoUsYBt1M8YZfwTFpaTc7DVAf8/s400/IMG_0361.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260012560577561970" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheGWtvDQj4hHy96_RoyemDe-FGvgsF4EU8nOtVe6I4ERyEa-zSpHBTNc17BeeHhgHD7vsYYnCxFTOR691xayBE-WDkw_5uIWrl5zcZ4PCzlvIHgX5EQskVeTfrNBO2mpg4KOb-xdxmRxse/s1600-h/IMG_0363.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheGWtvDQj4hHy96_RoyemDe-FGvgsF4EU8nOtVe6I4ERyEa-zSpHBTNc17BeeHhgHD7vsYYnCxFTOR691xayBE-WDkw_5uIWrl5zcZ4PCzlvIHgX5EQskVeTfrNBO2mpg4KOb-xdxmRxse/s400/IMG_0363.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260014471379403698" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">More beach photos...Ben's first golf outing<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ZGmShyuyDHJCkHoa7c9dbai1AC7perbYNAftT2lTHZHlidtAR5XZVEDcj08F1vo-vjV_c4eXMSeNcHZn7FPeonJ18DyExl2X-LCJbkUTfrmk0gy5Wo0csyVXxG2nK_Jv_SqNeybDpPa0/s1600-h/IMG_0329.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ZGmShyuyDHJCkHoa7c9dbai1AC7perbYNAftT2lTHZHlidtAR5XZVEDcj08F1vo-vjV_c4eXMSeNcHZn7FPeonJ18DyExl2X-LCJbkUTfrmk0gy5Wo0csyVXxG2nK_Jv_SqNeybDpPa0/s400/IMG_0329.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260010621815670498" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh6ZlfMPTtycH96X2Xn3BjII-7h0AB_3nrL9NareKDqXMw6yTdOUB19z6yYamcOUkI33iAD0bVoyzqp0-2Jj65wzq3cyNdUcKORzLYOhE4gPmU1HUwr7Pq2SuZXrLCQId-fAoGzhildJYL/s1600-h/IMG_0330.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh6ZlfMPTtycH96X2Xn3BjII-7h0AB_3nrL9NareKDqXMw6yTdOUB19z6yYamcOUkI33iAD0bVoyzqp0-2Jj65wzq3cyNdUcKORzLYOhE4gPmU1HUwr7Pq2SuZXrLCQId-fAoGzhildJYL/s400/IMG_0330.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260010628955115842" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs9NNwUAM6hzMluwceCUBCzt3qDTtJtzrHZAGEDKIXvbtbNGivBcsWTcsUzGB_ThN1sV9HOfFo0kBTdDixYl2dAR-NPQOFS5yFN3Yh0nfk0w8_Qc3WF-wuM8-VAa8tUyGs276hyPQpkQU3/s1600-h/IMG_0331.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs9NNwUAM6hzMluwceCUBCzt3qDTtJtzrHZAGEDKIXvbtbNGivBcsWTcsUzGB_ThN1sV9HOfFo0kBTdDixYl2dAR-NPQOFS5yFN3Yh0nfk0w8_Qc3WF-wuM8-VAa8tUyGs276hyPQpkQU3/s400/IMG_0331.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260010633244308098" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAnf9xeq1Stj3IszhjhlZl9kwvj-UFqhZCYHZfAF4B9KnG2jAGZ6YOhl61SrGIy7tScEiErQzNf1NnP1yioCHL-FA2T1N-LQpoC3P3xBfoXw9M7P77xZR8bqiRLvEEtWuhlwOrnmz3a945/s1600-h/IMG_0332.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAnf9xeq1Stj3IszhjhlZl9kwvj-UFqhZCYHZfAF4B9KnG2jAGZ6YOhl61SrGIy7tScEiErQzNf1NnP1yioCHL-FA2T1N-LQpoC3P3xBfoXw9M7P77xZR8bqiRLvEEtWuhlwOrnmz3a945/s400/IMG_0332.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260010642268538674" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Peter and Ava take their bath together...here are some of them the other night enjoying their bubbles:<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKNr1UgvEDOFkwaokH3yfQbOv1hbxpnelCKR_jpFWt_Wmu5eDHG4i34tg_FCjndWcbNN0L85FRns1guRKSh-7kzEQUgGyjDwwzT-jcrpv5DvCSpLv6bU22hhzKgAU9grkj9KBEOEht8xAW/s1600-h/Copy+of+IMG_0849.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKNr1UgvEDOFkwaokH3yfQbOv1hbxpnelCKR_jpFWt_Wmu5eDHG4i34tg_FCjndWcbNN0L85FRns1guRKSh-7kzEQUgGyjDwwzT-jcrpv5DvCSpLv6bU22hhzKgAU9grkj9KBEOEht8xAW/s400/Copy+of+IMG_0849.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260005679857838002" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCvkfis6Q_3pFf0_vpmm96ClGnk1W-QU4KjuiRVNDrZakTRDVZ5HvJSBOc-E_7B3W3hcyVmFme378CNU8ygyOsF7KiTaPJQp4zaF4VAc2GUY6REiW5qPx6DNg3Sk4XFxEFUNsRhcsuKj7D/s1600-h/Copy+of+IMG_0850.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCvkfis6Q_3pFf0_vpmm96ClGnk1W-QU4KjuiRVNDrZakTRDVZ5HvJSBOc-E_7B3W3hcyVmFme378CNU8ygyOsF7KiTaPJQp4zaF4VAc2GUY6REiW5qPx6DNg3Sk4XFxEFUNsRhcsuKj7D/s400/Copy+of+IMG_0850.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260005692360837026" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGQ7Y-yT53iBxFmOyYhVHadfDF3XwjhpsM5iYk60ThgpOMXNQaxA7R42d032AsNZdPApGKZHG8ED8fqxzTIP14hwb02bid3-CyeotLUZC5iSAcFEvcAjkGdt_HBq8-9NJx44bEyHYGBR8E/s1600-h/Copy+of+IMG_0851.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGQ7Y-yT53iBxFmOyYhVHadfDF3XwjhpsM5iYk60ThgpOMXNQaxA7R42d032AsNZdPApGKZHG8ED8fqxzTIP14hwb02bid3-CyeotLUZC5iSAcFEvcAjkGdt_HBq8-9NJx44bEyHYGBR8E/s400/Copy+of+IMG_0851.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260005694354873378" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">These are some pictures from Callaway Gardens...Peter was not happy to be in the tree<br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil4rJdIN4TG1-UTlHI-3zU6NwRQpT0ym1SIs3t3RmJ2jUTYdsR7WvOAzANvyCL4QrF2Z0r8fiL6IhOUlGRclqgHb1u7AjrQY3fwamf2cvJadK79YAHxXxkcWTD1ADR73lsZgMYhmlfqRB2/s1600-h/IMG_0007.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil4rJdIN4TG1-UTlHI-3zU6NwRQpT0ym1SIs3t3RmJ2jUTYdsR7WvOAzANvyCL4QrF2Z0r8fiL6IhOUlGRclqgHb1u7AjrQY3fwamf2cvJadK79YAHxXxkcWTD1ADR73lsZgMYhmlfqRB2/s400/IMG_0007.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251453859973196130" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFyVij95YheRvXlD8ZiNb7jzZCuClEBq6Sr0uNP7LZX7aqevCco85wzoXflma147r8taIg6MgVLQaLF3Xi8jzGOwyyPlLp8ZE0ZOv5yeoVEBniI3S9TUMTA9byT0TxcorRAi3MQDOUMGbD/s1600-h/IMG_0012.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFyVij95YheRvXlD8ZiNb7jzZCuClEBq6Sr0uNP7LZX7aqevCco85wzoXflma147r8taIg6MgVLQaLF3Xi8jzGOwyyPlLp8ZE0ZOv5yeoVEBniI3S9TUMTA9byT0TxcorRAi3MQDOUMGbD/s400/IMG_0012.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251453864672014002" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_pd3hq5LBxVaoKg6U-tT423bqCXuqZ3ESv5wBiuPtIkGdgFzJi3ZsCpnTFCKopHNt9tNn-Tv2Gy2gxhNifTMrtr6gytUjTcR9yACkAkz3yBf5IKEurqIyw_HgBn1q8kNB6ttMJ9Cspgbe/s1600-h/IMG_0022.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_pd3hq5LBxVaoKg6U-tT423bqCXuqZ3ESv5wBiuPtIkGdgFzJi3ZsCpnTFCKopHNt9tNn-Tv2Gy2gxhNifTMrtr6gytUjTcR9yACkAkz3yBf5IKEurqIyw_HgBn1q8kNB6ttMJ9Cspgbe/s400/IMG_0022.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251453870443709298" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Donna and Jim watch the kids during several football games in the fall. The boys<br /></div>started having fall festivals a couple of years ago and it has really grown. This year there was a hay ride, a scavenger hunt, a pine cone relay, a maze and even a wood chopping competition.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ErMetNbWLjQvIg_lEf9BLmcJIkRN6c_D8trLlR7SdYqs9VhajxwB2Fo0U6QuAFQhyHCJSyqNsvpJy2Y7fGC3VoW56kxt62FVUjGGH5ug35XZua-ApsHNkTuSna1Re2oApuLC9Vhyphenhyphen4O7m/s1600-h/IMG_0711.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ErMetNbWLjQvIg_lEf9BLmcJIkRN6c_D8trLlR7SdYqs9VhajxwB2Fo0U6QuAFQhyHCJSyqNsvpJy2Y7fGC3VoW56kxt62FVUjGGH5ug35XZua-ApsHNkTuSna1Re2oApuLC9Vhyphenhyphen4O7m/s400/IMG_0711.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251461343525470162" border="0" /></a>Kim and Ava<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLBysaiyaaifT1rL8AXvGP794mpZIMIWd0BdzVr2ZyiAMwyqgcWfd7fVIghWCmEisG63Z3weEQUfIKK6CvAqA9dDD0-Y1FMAwra8TDWxlmREiQzkChvOwhVwUSjWcercIHJZNZUKXhfs8J/s1600-h/IMG_0712.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLBysaiyaaifT1rL8AXvGP794mpZIMIWd0BdzVr2ZyiAMwyqgcWfd7fVIghWCmEisG63Z3weEQUfIKK6CvAqA9dDD0-Y1FMAwra8TDWxlmREiQzkChvOwhVwUSjWcercIHJZNZUKXhfs8J/s400/IMG_0712.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251461349332770882" border="0" /></a>Granddaddy and Grandmama (I forgot to add that there was a back drop for photo ops)<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8LM37Mv-z4G0WubJ0nCjo-l7gqTkTJUFaHe_qMSzzZ3LPyW5XFWHgx0vxdufbMsyOATxPf72F1DW3WLz-EFioRpOw3AQupuqcRG_tMQP_NK-uk9yIYz3NU4kpq5EmIoer3lrk7Ngtd7ft/s1600-h/IMG_0713.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8LM37Mv-z4G0WubJ0nCjo-l7gqTkTJUFaHe_qMSzzZ3LPyW5XFWHgx0vxdufbMsyOATxPf72F1DW3WLz-EFioRpOw3AQupuqcRG_tMQP_NK-uk9yIYz3NU4kpq5EmIoer3lrk7Ngtd7ft/s400/IMG_0713.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251461356085921906" border="0" /></a>Peter at the craft store<br /><br /><br />Here we are chopping wood<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqfpCvgre_Jt-mpAOmtnLGCbu53GUGQGpqa3-KLuNwTm5DWHXjS8YhVdnZowDR9cYK9Eg_Y_ODc_Cj-BKpoewhey7qPHMuWMxFzyU65bhE9rSO0dfhROplN_1xC9actHGnpmhmDPqjoo1H/s1600-h/IMG_0702.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqfpCvgre_Jt-mpAOmtnLGCbu53GUGQGpqa3-KLuNwTm5DWHXjS8YhVdnZowDR9cYK9Eg_Y_ODc_Cj-BKpoewhey7qPHMuWMxFzyU65bhE9rSO0dfhROplN_1xC9actHGnpmhmDPqjoo1H/s400/IMG_0702.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251460611905996546" border="0" /></a><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1bZf3sWL1u5j8niFUmuuGa3hI5njqze_JEw_ZzK3RaTdLgbGltVtW9eiCWpha15gl3zoBFFb_pv8rXAcZUSHNcqvBW_7AN2vqvv0fqN6784ZeNdAvTuLKTESxezb1EcZPEiQCwvWTtvRt/s1600-h/IMG_0703.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1bZf3sWL1u5j8niFUmuuGa3hI5njqze_JEw_ZzK3RaTdLgbGltVtW9eiCWpha15gl3zoBFFb_pv8rXAcZUSHNcqvBW_7AN2vqvv0fqN6784ZeNdAvTuLKTESxezb1EcZPEiQCwvWTtvRt/s400/IMG_0703.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251460625400710930" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZLswaDhhmh8zgpRhHMc33fHkWUynly5wal-dvJvWv2iI2g0T_aOAcJPmNEOmuRIvp3iHg2B492EBE8alV072WcBzFXZcruknXP1LA9zVTia-Gd2YUPtPcqMWwcm4_RuG6tJp2JKy450uU/s1600-h/IMG_0706.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZLswaDhhmh8zgpRhHMc33fHkWUynly5wal-dvJvWv2iI2g0T_aOAcJPmNEOmuRIvp3iHg2B492EBE8alV072WcBzFXZcruknXP1LA9zVTia-Gd2YUPtPcqMWwcm4_RuG6tJp2JKy450uU/s400/IMG_0706.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251460631596191634" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFeFlt1DWVTXYzhiHi9czxedlYbEK0T2df6QaFamzswwbvNWku2bMAMcPuFgJutLl-CyNfS7lQu4hzyD3-1TF1Wu3-x4T5gWyr-0YJveoTWIpT-8OzcnW2p-Wjuiu7S1NMc7QJhcCvsmnD/s1600-h/IMG_0700.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFeFlt1DWVTXYzhiHi9czxedlYbEK0T2df6QaFamzswwbvNWku2bMAMcPuFgJutLl-CyNfS7lQu4hzyD3-1TF1Wu3-x4T5gWyr-0YJveoTWIpT-8OzcnW2p-Wjuiu7S1NMc7QJhcCvsmnD/s400/IMG_0700.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251459051570006450" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUiDG-ZESiPdas7picKD4g1poqfjY5gQX7p73gNI76-6Flrk1xP3ALd9HoUgnMoGp6ZZ3UOPeM-wUz8qNdM77jjZxXCu-2lpOtDlyjM8PEYqtB34GSSC25w2IKc7JbPVTEMvl5Id205ycb/s1600-h/IMG_0701.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUiDG-ZESiPdas7picKD4g1poqfjY5gQX7p73gNI76-6Flrk1xP3ALd9HoUgnMoGp6ZZ3UOPeM-wUz8qNdM77jjZxXCu-2lpOtDlyjM8PEYqtB34GSSC25w2IKc7JbPVTEMvl5Id205ycb/s400/IMG_0701.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251459059387175762" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHJs6QzlEO8zpipLkTJJs-9mYwKTpe7OGtj7Ful9gQb8E5WiMFU9GGW-UK7BNizz63ghJzANHALvJTyZ1zkhn0-rWsRjVrO9zdilR6mV_ETm2RluIO3DWLWQppDi2ieu4Ea1KGyzD2VaGI/s1600-h/IMG_0708.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHJs6QzlEO8zpipLkTJJs-9mYwKTpe7OGtj7Ful9gQb8E5WiMFU9GGW-UK7BNizz63ghJzANHALvJTyZ1zkhn0-rWsRjVrO9zdilR6mV_ETm2RluIO3DWLWQppDi2ieu4Ea1KGyzD2VaGI/s400/IMG_0708.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251460636014037906" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXsahx3oV-6KrHzEl0F7ZYKr4xxQOnJczz3ummHKo9ccyIx7YqICtHnCjbTE4hE_k4MkQNnZgo-QNT9GyQNVA9MqsjD2L0nUl0bzwfbYSVCxqdI14J2-qwLCFHSliOQcoQIRifO5dOEkHD/s1600-h/IMG_0697.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXsahx3oV-6KrHzEl0F7ZYKr4xxQOnJczz3ummHKo9ccyIx7YqICtHnCjbTE4hE_k4MkQNnZgo-QNT9GyQNVA9MqsjD2L0nUl0bzwfbYSVCxqdI14J2-qwLCFHSliOQcoQIRifO5dOEkHD/s400/IMG_0697.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251459042697209890" border="0" /></a>Granddaddy shows us how it is done<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifa2DEgpcJHVnWdXtE-tjsE0IvXjS_qY_E83mu3sY3ASQ5AQPNVUd8MxWR9-sxFKIfp9i18dj-5tv7tvY1c8lbFVJ4iXsHTpXvEz9o71DtYReDp99rOZPdIDhz8AZS-MBc3H0fjZkLpxqY/s1600-h/IMG_0710.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifa2DEgpcJHVnWdXtE-tjsE0IvXjS_qY_E83mu3sY3ASQ5AQPNVUd8MxWR9-sxFKIfp9i18dj-5tv7tvY1c8lbFVJ4iXsHTpXvEz9o71DtYReDp99rOZPdIDhz8AZS-MBc3H0fjZkLpxqY/s400/IMG_0710.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251460647524724722" border="0" /></a>This was the free transportation<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEucW14OUbq91qyynmvSEknPS8GUkUgEUjPf5dSnyEcdiUGFuLbBxvCF3Wup-eHeaCfztYvoEENfFfwcrVJkJQvEiEGdMHradpfQrjvQs73RSiaSWk0LlXAVOk-XzuDDZ6YYqmuMWTij_M/s1600-h/IMG_0695.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEucW14OUbq91qyynmvSEknPS8GUkUgEUjPf5dSnyEcdiUGFuLbBxvCF3Wup-eHeaCfztYvoEENfFfwcrVJkJQvEiEGdMHradpfQrjvQs73RSiaSWk0LlXAVOk-XzuDDZ6YYqmuMWTij_M/s400/IMG_0695.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251459037123075170" border="0" /></a>Family Hayride<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM2bdJOWQwF9PNplYcYBF622K_erzfT6ZNLrPTnfeJ7nE9YADMRBQy_caSdYb-h5BGVAo0zEz9mPNfVU7eteqIQdOl1dYgulNZwy0B0S2kNhNr8t1imYePSP0NcGV1OG88DJL9wDlEjYr6/s1600-h/IMG_0694.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM2bdJOWQwF9PNplYcYBF622K_erzfT6ZNLrPTnfeJ7nE9YADMRBQy_caSdYb-h5BGVAo0zEz9mPNfVU7eteqIQdOl1dYgulNZwy0B0S2kNhNr8t1imYePSP0NcGV1OG88DJL9wDlEjYr6/s400/IMG_0694.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251459037187379138" border="0" /></a>Happiest boy on earth<br /></div><br /><br />Here is a video of the pine cone relay.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzPLbYF467YdBv_S4RhEslsyj6Dbxzy5YxKW7uu5AThuseyaMQRgPyb6yonh1jhgI1pT-PNkaussqfFqnupvg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Marciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00094185431178432778noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4150736016629342033.post-72272873071942176792008-08-11T08:48:00.007-04:002008-08-11T09:55:01.282-04:00First Day of School<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyNqeGjXahhHG0NH4nBXsxugFm1VbME0KpnE4srztrw1bLlriBntg69LAy1SBO1IGDT-uCqjfzjctiJhW9f-TjAg0wFZhuxrnMZI_tZ0yTb-qfCDeG4kljzjzaWvLAR_qRh8tBrX1YN7Wb/s1600-h/IMG_0478.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233242309069418114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyNqeGjXahhHG0NH4nBXsxugFm1VbME0KpnE4srztrw1bLlriBntg69LAy1SBO1IGDT-uCqjfzjctiJhW9f-TjAg0wFZhuxrnMZI_tZ0yTb-qfCDeG4kljzjzaWvLAR_qRh8tBrX1YN7Wb/s400/IMG_0478.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />I have mixed feelings about school starting. Part of me is thrilled that I finally may be able to accomplish some things around the house, but I dread the whole morning routine of trying to get everyone out of the door! We were able to get everyone to bed pretty much on time last night, but that still didn't matter to Ben. Both Peter and Ava were already in our bed and got up pretty easily. Ava was up and ready to eat breakfast and Peter was up and ready to have some chocolate milk. I woke up a groggy Ben and carried him into our room...he was very upset that it was still dark outside. I put him in my bed, turned on the t.v. and brought him some chocolate milk to ease him into the day. For the last couple of years that has been our morning routine for school. The boys would get in our bed and drink CM while watching t.v. Ben pretty much just uses that time for more sleep....today was no different. Once they were up, everything went pretty smooth. They got dressed, we took our annual pictures and headed to Ava's school first.<br /><br /><br /><div align="center">For some reason, the flash didn't work when taking the boy's pictures.<br /><br /></div><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcAAKIroCXsCyXJjg17myttZ9UyFmXSq_-PpyG9y6K_nf9cCL2CbPo9v-fLDilOWdLDKv5vr2Z47EOA2NEOnyJVknGCY_p3BYW_BzTPlVeto0XRDJyTVbrBqp7VTHEBzQPwDH8Rfi9vcDz/s1600-h/IMG_0474.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233242313107717362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcAAKIroCXsCyXJjg17myttZ9UyFmXSq_-PpyG9y6K_nf9cCL2CbPo9v-fLDilOWdLDKv5vr2Z47EOA2NEOnyJVknGCY_p3BYW_BzTPlVeto0XRDJyTVbrBqp7VTHEBzQPwDH8Rfi9vcDz/s400/IMG_0474.JPG" border="0" /></a> Ben went to morning asembly without a problem. He has been going to this school since pre-k, so he knows the routine. He is not one to let you know if he is anxious, but he did finally admit yesterday that he was a little excited about going back to school so he could see his friends. </p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmlbPh_a4vhRAhKx_kDdu7KTCfoDtuew-IGNiP-csAbZBA9FkQjDwsbpp_IFeuPVpPWoTggye8-1bDEj0tcVBvEdlYW9ny6KVKJcQHioC8scH0RLC6MP9s8FIMiyULm28m9obNvZEa2t5-/s1600-h/IMG_0479.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233242323026483170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmlbPh_a4vhRAhKx_kDdu7KTCfoDtuew-IGNiP-csAbZBA9FkQjDwsbpp_IFeuPVpPWoTggye8-1bDEj0tcVBvEdlYW9ny6KVKJcQHioC8scH0RLC6MP9s8FIMiyULm28m9obNvZEa2t5-/s400/IMG_0479.JPG" border="0" /></a> Peter has been excited about going back to school; he loves school and misses his friends...especially Abigail. I took him to his classroom and he put his book bag away, found his seat and got started on the puzzle on his desk. I was glad to see that he was seated next to Charlotte, the sister of one of Ben's best friends (Leo). Peter barely even noticed when I left.</p><p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinGgEa1RFcdxL3hLLYDncE6wxgyWK5xeKOOTUIFguXTqnGzhy4GMF9E0aXoITC9NC8XV8VGL1qGh5VCRbeVRu4qKWZJn5Dp8d33o2FOMFhFEpSrPoNemKmC7n0Bi_Rif_fbaaRnxaPhm4G/s1600-h/IMG_0472.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233242302465100834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 235px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 398px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="400" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinGgEa1RFcdxL3hLLYDncE6wxgyWK5xeKOOTUIFguXTqnGzhy4GMF9E0aXoITC9NC8XV8VGL1qGh5VCRbeVRu4qKWZJn5Dp8d33o2FOMFhFEpSrPoNemKmC7n0Bi_Rif_fbaaRnxaPhm4G/s400/IMG_0472.JPG" width="222" border="0" /></a> Ava was all smiles here, but it didn't last. She got very upset when I dropped her off. It broke my heart to see her crying as the teacher's aide took her away. The boys got very upset too. Peter started to cry and asked me why I was making her go to school on the first day. They were both so sweet. I know that she will have fun and like school once she gets into her classroom, but a part of me worries about what she was thinking when I dropped her off. I wanted her to know that I was going to be coming back to get her. She has gone through so much in her life and we are the fourth place that she has lived (as far as we know) and I want her to understand that we will always be her family. I don't know if she really knows that.</p>Marciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00094185431178432778noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4150736016629342033.post-39898072514803189752008-07-22T09:53:00.010-04:002008-12-09T00:22:09.620-05:00Summer Fun with Virginia<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1TSA3hZURMAleJHP3FzaXnSYGxeqcvgTShOlUeGtvsP3nr24otfhh9HCPbzO4bfqGdhwtzONYTQcxeCUQfyPZvX0pFiFDkHP3FS2oyWtLiuTAzBIkFYqbVDg0wvSHvFT1n7Se5u8ldFf7/s1600-h/IMG_0376.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1TSA3hZURMAleJHP3FzaXnSYGxeqcvgTShOlUeGtvsP3nr24otfhh9HCPbzO4bfqGdhwtzONYTQcxeCUQfyPZvX0pFiFDkHP3FS2oyWtLiuTAzBIkFYqbVDg0wvSHvFT1n7Se5u8ldFf7/s400/IMG_0376.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225845292794000978" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOHQNy9ykOeXQzW-NYh-Wg6dxhH4YQTrjsG7_mtoYhjLjIYryGX9pPUQo4F_14Mnvl5U6iIGKhhXUFdZHf_7FQCVkpF9h4e79UB3pU8zHtouDeoutZxJfx3dtc23-ZkiVNmu2xz-e9ePCc/s1600-h/IMG_0372.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOHQNy9ykOeXQzW-NYh-Wg6dxhH4YQTrjsG7_mtoYhjLjIYryGX9pPUQo4F_14Mnvl5U6iIGKhhXUFdZHf_7FQCVkpF9h4e79UB3pU8zHtouDeoutZxJfx3dtc23-ZkiVNmu2xz-e9ePCc/s400/IMG_0372.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225845286175580306" border="0" /></a><br />My sweet niece, Virginia, is here and the kids are having such a good time with her. When we are home, I actually hardly ever see them...they go down to the playroom and play for hours. Sunday we went to White Water and we all really had a good time. I didn't bring my camera, but if you've ever been to White Water, you know that some of the sites you don't want to remember (I just don't understand why every pregnant person now feels that they need to wear a bikini). Anyway, the kids were cute and they loved the rides.<br /><br />Kati happened to pack two dresses of Virginia's that Ava has so I dressed them alike for church on Sunday...they looked so cute. What was even cuter though was Peter and Virginia holding hands walking into church.<br /><br />We had a pretty busy day yesterday too. Ava has a door plaque on her door that I made that Virginia liked so after Ava's speech therapy, we went to the craft store to buy some stuff to make one for her. Virginia and Peter also bought some crafts to paint. On the way home, we stopped off at the drug store for some milk shakes and then off to Blockbuster for some video games and movies. So last night we did crafts for a while and then the big kids went downstairs to play and watch movies with Derek while I put Ava to bed. I forgot to mention that I also brought out the play-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">doh</span> for Ava to play with. So right now, I think that every room in our house is a disaster area. You always hear people say that with each child, you become more and more relaxed about what they do. Well, she is definitely the first one that I have let play with play-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">doh</span> in the living room. It dries up and actually comes out of carpet pretty easily. It is not like it is any worse than all of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">danimal</span>/<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">gogurt</span> spills that the living room rug has suffered. (please call 2 hours in advance before stopping by)<br /><br />I just got up and went into the boys room to tell them something and they are now grouping all of the stuffed animals and putting them on Peter's bed. Peter has a lot of stuffed animals...he has quite a large Care Bear collection. They are having so much fun so who cares that they are making a mess and that I just saw Ava walk by with green play-d0h in her hands.(please call 3 hours in advance before stopping by)<br /><br />Today we are going to take it easy and just hang out by the pool. Maybe I will clean up later.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Our Wall Art</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKvck601-_8MYNbdQHQgHur0k6_MJvxl8OqzPq1K4OluJCndAt0YUEnq7FT4iAsqiuBkHwtJ6rWMIJSSb8qtMZ1Qr28KXaIKFm8SPOXMt2XAEvqW0Mp11gN_FfX1_nJJE4OyVdcOS3QcGb/s1600-h/IMG_0287.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKvck601-_8MYNbdQHQgHur0k6_MJvxl8OqzPq1K4OluJCndAt0YUEnq7FT4iAsqiuBkHwtJ6rWMIJSSb8qtMZ1Qr28KXaIKFm8SPOXMt2XAEvqW0Mp11gN_FfX1_nJJE4OyVdcOS3QcGb/s400/IMG_0287.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225845312878294738" border="0" /></a><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5hxnLjDAAoKxJGWV9DosI2Di93Mc1Fhyphenhyphen7ax1HqbLBYIbg9P34l1iXtabz7pLid1XXs7k5nRBIwzukMkPiVWr61QZTAppkpvaE4qsJrF2zmNJeQpLbXarnZnAIgZCgHS3VIsP9dlTvDs0U/s1600-h/IMG_0378.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5hxnLjDAAoKxJGWV9DosI2Di93Mc1Fhyphenhyphen7ax1HqbLBYIbg9P34l1iXtabz7pLid1XXs7k5nRBIwzukMkPiVWr61QZTAppkpvaE4qsJrF2zmNJeQpLbXarnZnAIgZCgHS3VIsP9dlTvDs0U/s400/IMG_0378.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225845301190028514" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Peter wanted his on here too<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeMUnrVnhwpkLJ0U1mI_9sy8lntr2UpEf1dEbkqJ0XrZhQTkYr5LLEiF6qEJflmECWhUMHAnX9xfgk0gSPGvDFGPq66sOdxObOE80KSKsLGIPfHzOBDy2R7puGj-uhKFVa2GEPLae0wcCq/s1600-h/IMG_0294.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeMUnrVnhwpkLJ0U1mI_9sy8lntr2UpEf1dEbkqJ0XrZhQTkYr5LLEiF6qEJflmECWhUMHAnX9xfgk0gSPGvDFGPq66sOdxObOE80KSKsLGIPfHzOBDy2R7puGj-uhKFVa2GEPLae0wcCq/s400/IMG_0294.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225845307381765730" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Marciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00094185431178432778noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4150736016629342033.post-4469671941458978532008-07-18T20:09:00.005-04:002008-12-09T00:22:09.746-05:00Look Who Has Glasses Now<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbzm8rmXxR6asSaVNkfF_h8k3LWFjSLaAy4sGybV4FSXcjgU9x6H81-ybu8cfYo0sXFcHaIkRDo4hqgPP__97YdxyESp4-Tly6e_GY0zbvRWBNgEHqCKncdXVpBwB6Zsfwl36RUWYpudCr/s1600-h/IMG_0365.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbzm8rmXxR6asSaVNkfF_h8k3LWFjSLaAy4sGybV4FSXcjgU9x6H81-ybu8cfYo0sXFcHaIkRDo4hqgPP__97YdxyESp4-Tly6e_GY0zbvRWBNgEHqCKncdXVpBwB6Zsfwl36RUWYpudCr/s400/IMG_0365.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224510906633910642" border="0" /></a>Isn't she the cutest thing?!<br /><br /><br /></div> We took Ava to her follow up eye doctor appointment this week and she is now wearing glasses. The last time that we went, the doctor told us that she was far sighted, but just outside the normal limits for a child. He didn't think that she needed glasses at that time, but wanted to follow up in a couple of months to see how she was doing. It seems that she crosses her left eye when she tries to focus, this is called <a href="http://www.pedseye.com/strabismus_accommodative_esotropia.htm">accomodative esotropia</a>. Ben was given glasses (and patch) for <a href="http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=20150">amblyopia and anisometropia.</a> Really big words which mean that his eyes were seeing unequally and the brain was starting to favor the better eye. I never knew that there were so many long words to describe eye conditions. I was hoping (for both of them) that their vision would be corrected easily and they wouldn't need glasses long term, but it looks like they both will be wearing them for years. They both look really cute in their glasses. I wanted to take a picture of them together, but was only able to get Ava to cooperate tonight. Ben has had a few things not go his way tonight so he is not in the greatest of moods. On top of that, he just got home from spending several days at one of his favorite places, Jim and Donna's, and he is exhausted!Marciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00094185431178432778noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4150736016629342033.post-38823340397329293332008-07-06T17:14:00.029-04:002008-07-09T13:03:28.783-04:00New Found Cute Photos of the Boys<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.mtzumc.org/Pictures/VBS%202006%20-%20Treasure%20Seekers/orig_IMG_0466_JPG.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://www.mtzumc.org/Pictures/VBS%202006%20-%20Treasure%20Seekers/orig_IMG_0466_JPG.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.mtzumc.org/Pictures/VBS%202006%20-%20Treasure%20Seekers/orig_IMG_0473_JPG.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://www.mtzumc.org/Pictures/VBS%202006%20-%20Treasure%20Seekers/orig_IMG_0473_JPG.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=4150736016629342033&postID=3882334039732929333"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=4150736016629342033&postID=3882334039732929333" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Summer 2006</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ben is 5, Peter is 3</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I love our bug man (Richard). I know that is odd, but he is a really nice guy. He is from our town, but, until recently, he lived about 30 min. away. He has moved back to the area and the last time he was spraying our house he asked if our church had a website. I knew that we did, but I had never even looked at it. We have a pretty small church and we are pretty active in it so I never really felt the need to look at the website to see what was going on. After finding the website, I found some of the cutest photos of the boys at VBS over the years. I remember the first year Ben went to VBS and how much fun he had, especially during the games. This was our first year at the church. Everyone there was wonderful and welcomed us with open arms. It is a very small church, most of the members have been going there all of their lives and almost everyone is related. They have never made us feel like outsiders, but have included us as if we were family. Moving to this area has been challenging for me at times. I don't know what I would've done if we would not have found this church.<br /><br />Thank you Richard for leading me to our website and old photos of the kids enjoying VBS. It helped me to value what I do have here in a time that I really need it. I have been feeling really down and home sick lately. We just got back from visiting some of my family at the beach and it really made me want to move near them. I still wish that I could have some of my family around and I would really love to live near them. It would be wonderful to be able to see my sister's and their kids on a regular basis, but right now that is really not something that we can do. I am just thankful for the wonderful friends that I have made at <a href="http://mtzumc.org/">Mt Zion</a>.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">VBS 2004</span><br /><br /></span><span>Ben LOVING the freeze game<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.mtzumc.org/Pictures/VBS%202004/resize_VBS_2004_17.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://www.mtzumc.org/Pictures/VBS%202004/resize_VBS_2004_17.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.mtzumc.org/Pictures/VBS%202004/orig_VBS_2004_18.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://www.mtzumc.org/Pictures/VBS%202004/orig_VBS_2004_18.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Ben loves that his dad helps with recreation<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.mtzumc.org/Pictures/VBS%202004/orig_VBS_2004_19.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://www.mtzumc.org/Pictures/VBS%202004/orig_VBS_2004_19.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />This is the only picure we have of Peter that year. He is sitting on Lisa's lap across from Morgan on Christine's lap.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.mtzumc.org/Pictures/VBS%202004/orig_VBS_2004_03.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://www.mtzumc.org/Pictures/VBS%202004/orig_VBS_2004_03.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">VBS 2006</span><br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Ben loved digging for treasure<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.mtzumc.org/Pictures/VBS%202006%20-%20Treasure%20Seekers/resize_VBS%202006%20%28130%29_JPG.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://www.mtzumc.org/Pictures/VBS%202006%20-%20Treasure%20Seekers/resize_VBS%202006%20%28130%29_JPG.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Our group of "Treasure Seekers"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.mtzumc.org/Pictures/VBS%202006%20-%20Treasure%20Seekers/resize_VBS%202006%20%2822%29_JPG.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://www.mtzumc.org/Pictures/VBS%202006%20-%20Treasure%20Seekers/resize_VBS%202006%20%2822%29_JPG.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Lexi and Ben wrapped in newspaper<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.mtzumc.org/Pictures/VBS%202006%20-%20Treasure%20Seekers/orig_VBS%202006%20%28144%29_JPG.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://www.mtzumc.org/Pictures/VBS%202006%20-%20Treasure%20Seekers/orig_VBS%202006%20%28144%29_JPG.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Derek and Jonathan demonstrating the game<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.mtzumc.org/Pictures/VBS%202006%20-%20Treasure%20Seekers/resize_VBS%202006%20%2855%29_JPG.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://www.mtzumc.org/Pictures/VBS%202006%20-%20Treasure%20Seekers/resize_VBS%202006%20%2855%29_JPG.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Lexi and Ben as partners<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.mtzumc.org/Pictures/VBS%202006%20-%20Treasure%20Seekers/resize_VBS%202006%20%2858%29_JPG.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://www.mtzumc.org/Pictures/VBS%202006%20-%20Treasure%20Seekers/resize_VBS%202006%20%2858%29_JPG.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.mtzumc.org/Pictures/VBS%202006%20-%20Treasure%20Seekers/orig_VBS%202006%20%2863%29_JPG.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://www.mtzumc.org/Pictures/VBS%202006%20-%20Treasure%20Seekers/orig_VBS%202006%20%2863%29_JPG.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Peter making a silly face <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.mtzumc.org/Pictures/VBS%202006%20-%20Treasure%20Seekers/resize_VBS%202006%20%2852%29_JPG.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://www.mtzumc.org/Pictures/VBS%202006%20-%20Treasure%20Seekers/resize_VBS%202006%20%2852%29_JPG.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />The younger group gets to dig for treasure too. That is Morgan next toPeter...she is still one of his favorites at church.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.mtzumc.org/Pictures/VBS%202006%20-%20Treasure%20Seekers/resize_IMG_0470_JPG.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://www.mtzumc.org/Pictures/VBS%202006%20-%20Treasure%20Seekers/resize_IMG_0470_JPG.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Blowing Bubbles<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.mtzumc.org/Pictures/VBS%202006%20-%20Treasure%20Seekers/resize_VBS%202006%20%2877%29_JPG.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://www.mtzumc.org/Pictures/VBS%202006%20-%20Treasure%20Seekers/resize_VBS%202006%20%2877%29_JPG.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Peter and Morgan<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.mtzumc.org/Pictures/VBS%202006%20-%20Treasure%20Seekers/orig_VBS%202006%20%2874%29_JPG.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://www.mtzumc.org/Pictures/VBS%202006%20-%20Treasure%20Seekers/orig_VBS%202006%20%2874%29_JPG.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Unfortunately, no psychological testing is done on the leaders<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.mtzumc.org/Pictures/VBS%202006%20-%20Treasure%20Seekers/orig_VBS%202006%20%2878%29_JPG.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://www.mtzumc.org/Pictures/VBS%202006%20-%20Treasure%20Seekers/orig_VBS%202006%20%2878%29_JPG.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">VBS 2007</span><br /><br /></span><span>Peter joins Ben with the older group</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.mtzumc.org/Pictures/VBS%202007/orig_VBS2007%20%28127%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://www.mtzumc.org/Pictures/VBS%202007/orig_VBS2007%20%28127%29.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Derek and Johnny<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.mtzumc.org/Pictures/VBS%202007/orig_VBS2007%20%28195%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://www.mtzumc.org/Pictures/VBS%202007/orig_VBS2007%20%28195%29.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br />Doing the VBS "moves"<br /></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.mtzumc.org/Pictures/VBS%202007/orig_VBS2007%20%2896%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://www.mtzumc.org/Pictures/VBS%202007/orig_VBS2007%20%2896%29.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Patricia, Carol and Susan...I would love to know what they are looking at<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.mtzumc.org/Pictures/VBS%202007/orig_VBS2007%20%28315%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://www.mtzumc.org/Pictures/VBS%202007/orig_VBS2007%20%28315%29.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />I just thought this was a funny picture of Kim...I'm sure she will love to see this here!<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.mtzumc.org/Pictures/VBS%202007/resize_VBS2007%20%28271%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://www.mtzumc.org/Pictures/VBS%202007/resize_VBS2007%20%28271%29.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Marciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00094185431178432778noreply@blogger.com1