tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36379118506958984672024-03-18T21:14:02.240-07:00Our Simple Life.daddy.mommy.bubba.bear.bug.SonyaBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400924843906352417noreply@blogger.comBlogger303125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637911850695898467.post-60737313125323017702015-09-26T21:39:00.000-07:002015-09-26T21:39:03.266-07:00Homework!!I have done it!! I have started college through BYU's online program called <a href="https://pathway.lds.org/Home/Home/2064" target="_blank">Pathway</a>. It is an amazing program and I feel so blessed to be apart of it.<br /><br />
This week we studied the concept of Learn, Do, Become. I have gained a lot of insight into studying all subjects through this concept.<br />
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First we must Learn something from our studies. Even if you think you know it all already, you can still learn something new. For instance; in the beginning of <a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/1-ne/1?lang=eng" target="_blank">1st Nephi</a> we learn that the first vision that Lehi has is of a pillar of fire and God sitting on his throne. God comes first, always. He must come first because without him there is nothing. We Learn that Lehi has 4 sons - Lamen, Lemuel, Nephi and Sam. We learn his wife's name is Sariah. Lamen and Lemuel complain, a lot!<br />
What do we learn underneath the surface? What can we learn from the contrast of Lamen and Lemuels disobedience verses Nephi and Sam's obedience and devotion to the commandments of the Lord.<br />I pulled from this that Lamen and Lemuel whined and complained because they couldn't, or didn't want to see the big picture. All they saw was the fact that their dad pulled them out of their nice house, away from all their money and friends, and went on the never ending camping trip. They had become so obsessed with worldly possessions that their spiritual sight had been clouded.<br />Nephi was obedient to his father. He wanted to see the visions his father was teaching them about, so he did something about it! He learned from his father, and then took action.<br />
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Once we have learned something, what are we going to do with it? What action will we take? Information is no good to us unless we do something with it. I am taking this information and teaching it to our children. I will teach them that if they have questions, they can pray and their Father in Heaven will answer them and be there to comfort them. This is something we can also take and apply to our own lives. When we complain it just makes life harder and more miserable. I have a harder time feeling the companionship of our Heavenly Father when I allow Satan to take over my emotions. Everything I see is dark and dreary, and what I should strive for is to see the bright and beautiful world that has been created for us! We need to have faith that the Lord knows what's best for us and will lead us in the direction we need to go to become the person he needs us to be.<br /><br />Becoming more Christlike is the obvious goal. What will become of Lamen and Lemuel? A wonderful example of how to be miserable. They find someone to love them, they grow to have families, but they remain wicked and the cycle never ends.<br />If we are to become who Christ needs us to be we must first learn who that person is, then we must take action and do the things that the Lord has commanded. If we are given a commandment, it's not without a way to accomplish it. The Lord will always prepare the way if what we seek is righteous and true.<br />
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I am grateful for Nephi's example of Faith and righteousness. I am excited to learn more about the <a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/introduction?lang=eng" target="_blank">Book of Mormon</a> and become the person my Heavenly Father already sees me as!<br />
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<br />SonyaBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400924843906352417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637911850695898467.post-79435271014655186692015-02-02T09:25:00.002-08:002015-02-02T09:25:41.261-08:00Our genius! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This kid!!!!</div>
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THIS KID!</div>
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As part of his homework he had to memorize this:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJGxz3KSIIakwmEt2zaxjoFgh1lf9WZRFejXnuJKQEZBwfvY8JosfjWm3STOdxl7bw9ZOkU1GJDI2XO4YrlRiEUt2CTYBpPzH5tkhuNeS68Wm7xUJ-EN9H9Alz_H441WkJvx8_6cpyzqM/s1600/14228973277731779960635.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJGxz3KSIIakwmEt2zaxjoFgh1lf9WZRFejXnuJKQEZBwfvY8JosfjWm3STOdxl7bw9ZOkU1GJDI2XO4YrlRiEUt2CTYBpPzH5tkhuNeS68Wm7xUJ-EN9H9Alz_H441WkJvx8_6cpyzqM/s1600/14228973277731779960635.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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I have to admit, I had my doubts, but as a parent, it is my job to make sure he tries his best. So we started it. I heard that when you're trying to memorize something of length, your brain will retain it more effectively if you start at the bottom. </div>
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So, at the bottom we started with "ready to ride..."</div>
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Next we added "one of by land..."</div>
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Once he was wondering around singing that, we added "He said to his friend..."</div>
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This kid! He did that and add the rest all on his own! He surprised us all when he busted it out at breakfast this morning! </div>
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We are so proud of him! </div>
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SonyaBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400924843906352417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637911850695898467.post-38810879258441207422014-09-08T14:27:00.001-07:002014-09-08T14:27:32.805-07:00Sooo...What do you do?! I don't know if we've met, but I'm Sonya, and I'm (what some people refer to as) a S-A-H-M!<br />
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If you are unfamiliar with this term, it stands for Stay At Home Mom.</div>
Which means it is my "job" to stay at home, while my husband gets (yes I said "gets") to go out into the world, interact with other adults and single handedly (well....single handedly with both his hands) earn the money for our entire family, of five, to live off of.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5uWITKLkCEp8X2DNRXNknMRIFW4rbmuiLQTFuCUZe6S4PBHj_gOlCrowPWtw9F23pbjlMV1tSR7Ra4QZswYc8BVOgVu3KmCH_NBJEQfLx37NDbXHmGu_mZpDSMzoGLfeGVJUlBklUUO4/s1600/IMG_20140903_083252.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5uWITKLkCEp8X2DNRXNknMRIFW4rbmuiLQTFuCUZe6S4PBHj_gOlCrowPWtw9F23pbjlMV1tSR7Ra4QZswYc8BVOgVu3KmCH_NBJEQfLx37NDbXHmGu_mZpDSMzoGLfeGVJUlBklUUO4/s1600/IMG_20140903_083252.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a>Am I happy with this arrangement?! Not always. I envy his work relationships, his conversations that don't require him to ask if someone needs a snack or a run to the bathroom or why they thought burying their sister in the hole they just dug was a good idea. I envy, what I perceive as, a daily break from the chaos of running a home. I envy that he gets paid to do what he does all day - and I do what I do for the occasional penny my 6 yr. old decide to pay me for his Popsicle.<br />
I am not thrilled with the crooked look I get when people ask "So what do you do for a living" And I reply back with "I stay home with the kids" I would like very much to say to people, I went to school for (insert desired degree here) and now I'm working as a (insert specialized degree position here).<br />
But the truth of the matter is - I stay home with the kids, and there isn't enough time in the day to stand here and tell you all the things that I do, and am responsible for, but here's a taste of what I do:<br />
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It is my job to make sure everyone has clean, and tidy clothes to wear.</div>
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It is my job to make sure there are clean dishes to eat off of, and cook with.</div>
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It is my job to make sure everyone has eaten breakfast before school, and packed their lunch if their tiny little hearts desire a cold lunch that day.</div>
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It is my job to make sure that the homework (that dad helped them with the night before) is in their back packs, that they know where their back packs are!<br />It is my job to keep track of shoes and clothes - do they fit, are they worn out, do you need new ones?!</div>
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It is my job to make sure they make it to the bus stop on time, and if they don't I gotta bust some booty to get them to school on time.</div>
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It's my job to make sure there is food in the fridge and that the food in the fridge won't give you tunny aches, or kill you!</div>
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It's my job to make sure they have a safe place to come home to after school, and a clean place they can sit and do their homework.</div>
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It's my job to make sure they have a clean bed to sleep in, and a clean pillow to sleep on!</div>
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It's my job to make sure they grow up to be responsible adults, realizing these things don't magically happen.</div>
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It's my job to make sure they are nice to each other, taking turns - waiting their turn.</div>
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It's my job to raise kind, gentle and loving human beings who know how to stand up for them selves and always do what's right.</div>
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It's my job to make sure they understand that I will love them unconditionally - I will always be there for them.</div>
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I stay at home, because it is my job! That IS what I do for a living! </div>
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It is my responsibility as their mother, to make sure they know - no matter what, I am here. I am ready to help them, teach them, and learn with them!</div>
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I GET to do this! It's not always easy to realize, or remember that it's a blessing that I don't have to work to help support our family! I give out mass props to working mom's who work all day and STILL Have to do all of these things!! More power to ya!! I get to stay home and help our children learn. I get to be the one they come to when they've had a bad day at school, or if they've fallen off something I told them to get off of, and now they need a band aid and a hug (even if it comes with a bit of a scolding). Our children are my living - taking care of them is what I do all day. </div>
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In <a href="https://www.lds.org/topics/family-proclamation?lang=eng" target="_blank"> "The Family: A Proclamation to the World"</a> put out by <a href="http://www.mormon.org/" target="_blank">The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints</a>, it clearly states "By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners."</div>
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So while I don't always <em>like</em> my job, who actually likes their job 100% of the time? It is my job, and it is the most important job on the planet! It is a tough, messy, annoying and extremely rewarding job.</div>
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So to all my fellow SAHMs out there - Keep doing what you're doing! </div>
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Thank you for doing what you do! I know that we are where we're supposed to be, and our kids will thank us for all we do, even if it's not until they're older and doing what we're doing now.</div>
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SonyaBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400924843906352417noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637911850695898467.post-3559540804161359402014-08-28T10:09:00.001-07:002014-08-28T10:09:00.905-07:00Dear THAT Mom;<div style="text-align: center;">
We all know the mom I'm talking about. </div>
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The mom wandering the grocery store with her kids in their pajama's practicing their latest karate and WWE moves in the aisle while she stands there deciding if the budget allows for nutritional substance over price value. </div>
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The one who is barely dressed, with the zombie eyes - 1,000 yard stare, thinking of all the lovely places she could be relaxing with her best friend (be-it her hubby or best girl friend) instead of fighting with the children over which portable yogurt and juice pouches they want in their "back to school" lunches. </div>
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That mom who is on the verge of tears if one more thing goes wrong that day. </div>
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The one who is struggling to remind herself why she doesn't just go get a job so that someone else can fight with them all day.</div>
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I see you!</div>
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I hear you!<br />I'm with you!</div>
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Today, I was THAT mom with THOSE kids!</div>
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We all are at some point in our parental lives!</div>
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At some point, we are all that mom in the store who's kids might look a little homeless, because let's face it, getting dressed just wasn't a fight that was on the menu this morning. After cleaning up mess after mess after mess from the very inquisitive 2 yr old, at least all the children are fed and have some form of clothing on!!!!</div>
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It's ok to be her.</div>
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It's ok, if your kids are your least favorite people for a day....or two.<br />As long as we are still providing food, clothing, a hug and a good job through out the day, it's ok to have a bad day, to be a grouch and just want to crawl back into bed.</div>
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We are all human, and deserve a freebie day. A day where we can all just wear pajamas and if all we get done is the grocery shopping then, Good for you!! You accomplished something! Now go put you pajamas back on and find a movie that your kids will snuggle down too! After a shopping trip like that, it's all your kids really need - some popcorn, a movie and an hour and a half where their mom isn't too busy to snuggle them.<br />I gaurentee you, you will feel better, and they will be back on your top (however many people are in your family) favorite people list.</div>
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So, now that I've accomplished the grocery shopping, and done a load of dishes (I'm unstoppable today, I know) I will locate the Muppet Treasure Island movie, pop some corn for my munchkins and we are turning the rest of the world out....because I need a "mommy love" recharge!!!!</div>
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SonyaBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400924843906352417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637911850695898467.post-3125366628082081662014-08-19T11:09:00.001-07:002014-08-19T12:14:37.866-07:00An awfully big adventure<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
For our 10 year anniversary we decided to be adventurous and embark on a 15 mile (roundtrip) Backpacking hike up to Echo Lake. I dropped the kids off at my parents for their annual week of "Papa's Pirate Camp" and we shopped for fun camping stuff, and packed our packs and headed out Sunday after Church.</div>
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It's all very exciting and fun when you first start out!!!</div>
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Pumped up and ready for our adventure, we started down the trail!!</div>
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We hiked for about 2.5 miles before we stopped to camp, just past the 2nd Greenwater Lake. The spot we camped in was surreal. It was the kind of beauty you don't realize even exists until you are there to experience it. Picturesque doesn't even BEGIN to describe it.</div>
We had to cross a fallen log, over the river to get to this hidden gem of a spot, but it was SO worth it.<br />
We did take pictures of it, but the flash wasn't on, so they didn't come out.<br />
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We had to cross over the river, back and forth, many times. Not all the bridges were fun to cross, but at least some had a hand rail to hold on to!</div>
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The next morning we got up and got going about 9:45am. It was going to be about 4.5 miles, and a 1300 foot elevation climb, so we wanted plenty of time to do it. We took our time, stopping to rest our bodies (which are pretty out of shape) several times along the way.</div>
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This was one of the scariest bridges we crossed. The original bridge had been washed out, so the WTA was working on this new one...I don't do well with bridges w/o sides, but what's life without doing a few scary things once in a while, right?!</div>
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I made it across the bridge, and felt pretty proud of our accomplishments so far.</div>
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The rest of the hike was pretty brutal.</div>
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1300 feet in 4.5 miles, you can imagine how intense the uphill action was.</div>
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I don't know if you can tell, but we got pretty soaked with sweat (Shexy, I know)!!</div>
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There is a magical feeling that overcomes you, when you finally reach your destination. After such a treacherous climb, that moment we first saw the lake, we heard angels sing!! It was a magnificent sight to behold!</div>
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We made the rule when we started, "No pictures unless one of us is in it" When we reached the lake, we made an exception. After 5ish miles, It was amazing! </div>
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We hiked up to the tip of the lake and found a good spot to stop and have lunch about 2pm, before finding a spot to set up camp.</div>
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The beauty that surrounded us was breathtaking!!</div>
Almost....ALMOST made us forget about the hike, ok! Who am I kidding. We didn't forget, we just appreciated a place to sit and eat.<br />
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After lunch, we hiked back down to the base of the lake and found the most perfect spot to set up camp! The view of the lake was outstanding! We were able to set up our tent so that it was the first thing we would see when we opened the tent door. It was perfectly romantic and worth the hike!!</div>
We (and by we, I mean HE) set up the tent, filled water bottles, quickly got out snacks, hung our bear bag, set our sleeping bags out, took our shoes off (my feet literally sang with joy), and laid down!<br />
The feeling of relaxing was incredible. Our bodies were worn out, pushed to, what we thought was, their limit! Our bodies needed, and deserved this beautiful break!!<br />
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Loved this view!!</div>
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After about 30 mins of relaxing, we heard some people hike into the camp site. It was plenty big for 2 tents, so we had already decided that someone else could take the other half of the site, if they wanted to. Who doesn't enjoy making a few new (human) friends, while enjoying nature, right?!</div>
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They weren't fellow backpacking for the "fun" of it, they were forest rangers, coming to bring news of a forest fire "just on the other side of the ridge". We were asked to pack up and evacuate the mountain.</div>
My heart sank clean into my toes. My gut twisted as I turned around and saw the smoke, billowing up behind the trees. My brain went to mush. I couldn't think clearly, I was in full on panic mode.<br />
Luckily Greg sprang into action, getting everything gathered up, and letting me know what he needed help with. He packed my sleeping bag for me, I went and got the bear bag, and we loaded our packs back up. Fortunately we just filled our water bottles, so we didn't need to do that.<br />
It took us about 45 mins to get everything packed up and head back down the mountain, we made it out of camp around 4pm.<br />
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(Keep in mind that by this time we have already hiked close to 5.5 miles, if you count the 1/2 mile up and back down the lake)</div>
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The sun was emanating blood read beams, that shone on the trees as a terrifying reminder (as if we needed one) of what we were hiking away from.</div>
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We only had about 3-4 hours until it was dark, and 7ish miles until we were back to our car.</div>
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Forest fires is a huge fear of mine, well, getting caught in any fire is a big fear of mine. So needless to say, stress was running a bit high. I felt like we were running down the mountain. We weren't. We had to go at a somewhat slow pace, because of how narrow and rocky the trail was in some places, but we hiked down as fast as we were able to. We had to stop because our bodies were already exhausted and in pain, but we had no choice, we had to push on and keep going.</div>
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We made it down to the car about 845ish.</div>
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We were so exhausted. I don't remember ever feeling so, completely wiped out.</div>
In my mind, we still weren't in the clear, we still had an hour, hour and a half car drive home, that we needed to stay awake for....but, with each other, and a few prayers, we made it!!!<br />
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Through all of it, we never fought, argued or got cross with one another. We motivated and encouraged one another. It was an incredible bonding experience for us! We definitely made it out stronger as people and stronger as a couple. It is incredible what your bodies are capable of, the unknown limits they have. The ability to push forward until we got home, into our beds.</div>
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It was an experience we will never forget, and an anniversary story we'll probably never stop telling.</div>
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Here's to one decade down, and an eternity to go!!!!</div>
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<br />SonyaBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400924843906352417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637911850695898467.post-49936841212026340862014-08-06T20:55:00.002-07:002014-08-06T20:55:57.111-07:00Boredom is underratedI have been seeing a lot of "Summer Boredom Buster" posts lately, all captioned with something along the lines or "Don't let your kids get bored" or "Boredom doesn't exist in our house, here's why" or "Combat the Boredom Bug with these simple crafts". It got me thinking...<br />
Is being "bored" really that terrible for our children?!<br />
What are we doing?! We are killing ourselves all while pumping ourselves full of chemical mood enhancers...all for what?! So that our darling child, is constantly entertained?!<br />To this I say NO!<br />
Kids need to be bored. They need to learn how to self entertain! They need to know how to be sitting in a room, without the TV on, and be able to come up with an idea! If we are constantly telling our kids what to do, and spoon feeding them the next activity on the agenda, they will never learn how to think and plan for themselves. They will never figure out that it's ok to not have anything to do, and maybe that means you should read a book, take a nap, pick up some clothes, go outside and invent a new game......<br />
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I am no "expert" in child rearing, I have not formally studied psychology or child education, but I am a mother to 3 kids, who occasionally get bored. I don't plan out their summer with a list of 100 things to do. The entire school year is planed and scheduled out, summer vacation should be just that....a VACATION!! We fly by the seat of our pants. I don't tell the kids "tomorrow we're going to the zoo!!!!!" Because what if tomorrow comes, and Bubba didn't sleep well, or Bear woke up entirely WAY too early so he's going to need a nap, or we get an hour into our day and Bug decides that going potty in the toilet is overrated....I have the option of changing plans, and the kids are none the wiser. We go to the zoo a different day, a better day, and no one is mad at me because life happened and we had to change our plans. Some days are just meant to be TV/Jammy days.<br />
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While I believe that children need to learn how to be adaptable, they also should be spared disappointment when at all possible. <br />
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Am I saying you should never do fun crafts or activities with your kids? Of course not. Hanging out making silly animals out of cups is fun, but it's also fine if your kids are bored once in a while. Let them figure out what to do when there is nothing to do.<br />
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Now, if you will excuse me.....I have a mess or two to clean up....because I'm a mom, and my kids are messy.SonyaBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400924843906352417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637911850695898467.post-85778994227218842222014-07-09T17:50:00.000-07:002014-07-09T17:50:07.182-07:00Why Summer is the best ever<div style="text-align: center;">
Anyone who knows me knows I am a summer child. I live for summer! </div>
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I freeze all Winter, endure the depressing rain of Spring and Autumn, all because I know that just around the very long corner, is a glorious, hot day!!! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvleRWxL56l9-YzDYULKo8ku5vBBVAsCA8RSglEqyX7rgUiA52-CHzR6OiVobuSBU2H1j6Z3jip0Jf2EXxRQ02ZR_GSStCWqcmeO1JW0_Dr8fB6pHmCEZwq6ZCfWHMJa3linJIF6r_QNU/s1600/H2O+Baseball2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvleRWxL56l9-YzDYULKo8ku5vBBVAsCA8RSglEqyX7rgUiA52-CHzR6OiVobuSBU2H1j6Z3jip0Jf2EXxRQ02ZR_GSStCWqcmeO1JW0_Dr8fB6pHmCEZwq6ZCfWHMJa3linJIF6r_QNU/s1600/H2O+Baseball2.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a>Something magical happens in summer. Everyone seems to be happier. Even people who don't do heat are happier, because the sun is out!!! I love nothing more than filling up some water balloons and squirt guns and heading out to the back yard for some "at home water park" action!! The kids are screaming and yelling and giggling and laughing and no one cares, because all the kids are outside playing in the warm weather. The colors are magnificent!! Neon and jewel tones fill all the shops. Happy colors that say, "let's go out side and eat popsicles and drink from the hose. Let's go to the beach and play baseball in the park. Let's eat watermelon and corn on the cob. Let's roast marshmallows and cover ourselves in smooth and sticky melted chocolate from our S'mores. </div>
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Summer makes me happy to my very core. It makes every part of me want to run screaming and laughing as if I were a small child. It brings out the kid in me.<br />
I want nothing more than to wear my swim suit and flip flops every single day (that's about 80), because all you should have to do in summer is be outside playing. Boating, fishing, camping, watering, enjoying this amazing earth that our Heavenly Father has blessed us with. Given us to tend and enrich our lives!! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4dyamwFIYTPEjJHcbI3Hfb98qlm7FeNmSQfXDnsjfvTKtBcnRfSVveK0l8zwddvJjKq3CqRwulVVckVeaqcJIyi_prfLMcbXTSc8JqI-8tuIKTlhRTpQxt5nLCefJ4bqPpQ8zfEWtju8/s1600/H2O+Baseball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4dyamwFIYTPEjJHcbI3Hfb98qlm7FeNmSQfXDnsjfvTKtBcnRfSVveK0l8zwddvJjKq3CqRwulVVckVeaqcJIyi_prfLMcbXTSc8JqI-8tuIKTlhRTpQxt5nLCefJ4bqPpQ8zfEWtju8/s1600/H2O+Baseball.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a>No chores! The house shouldn't be that messy because you're never in it!! No dishes because you only eat outside on paper plates and napkins you burn that night over the campfire. No laundry, except the swim suits and towels after dinner, because that's all you wear anyway! </div>
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Sunscreen and water balloons should be permanent items on your grocery list because you go through them so fast!</div>
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Summer is like a great big, giant hug. Just don't let it kiss you, that can get a bit painful.</div>
SonyaBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400924843906352417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637911850695898467.post-25412665441478247932014-02-18T20:34:00.000-08:002014-02-18T20:34:14.145-08:00L.O.L<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Every Monday night we have <a href="http://www.lds.org/topics/family-home-evening?lang=eng" target="_blank">Family Night</a>. It is a night where we gather as a family, and have a uplifting and spiritual lesson.<br />We try to make them fun for the kids and try to include some sort of game or fun concept to work on for the rest of the week or month.</div>
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This month we talked about relationships and the different kind of relationships there are;</div>
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courteous, affectionate and intimate.</div>
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We decide the boys are old enough now to be in charge of the lesson with some help from mom and dad.<br />Last night it was Bear's turn to have the lesson and Daddy helped him</div>
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The concept we are working on is Loving Out Loud. Bear cut out letters and we pinned them to the dinning room wall where we can always see them.</div>
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We played a game with the hearts and then added them to help us remember what LOL stands for</div>
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We brainstormed things we can be doing for each other that will show our love</div>
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Things like:<br />Letting Mommy sleep in</div>
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No hitting</div>
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Hugging</div>
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Helping with homework</div>
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No name calling</div>
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Helping Mommy clean the house</div>
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Listen and talk, but more listening</div>
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Be patient</div>
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Read to each other</div>
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It's something that we need to work on. The kids have been arguing a lot lately, for reasons still unknown, except for the fact that they're brother's and sometimes that's what they do. So it's been nice to have this up on the wall as a constant reminder that we need to constantly be finding ways to express our love for each other.</div>
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To learn more on Family Home Evening and how we, as Latter Day Saints support families visit <a href="http://mormon.org/">Mormon.org</a><br />
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SonyaBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400924843906352417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637911850695898467.post-58536329028730174912014-02-09T15:30:00.004-08:002014-02-09T15:30:56.579-08:00Consult the "experts"<div style="text-align: center;">
<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Disclaimer - I am NOT an expert in anything except being a tad sassy and a snarky relief from life!</span></em></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Just a mother of three crazies trying to figure out life in this world of "experts"</span></em></td></tr>
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Now then, on that note....I would like to know how you become an expert in something. </div>
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It seems that every other day there is a new article on "the best way to raise your kids".</div>
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The one I can't stand are the experts telling us to quit telling our daughters they are beautiful, or that our kids doing a "good job" While I agree that we need to raise well rounded kids, who know that looks and a mediocre effort aren't everything. I also believe we need to raise - well - well rounded kids!<br />Girls are girls, plain and simple. They want to know that they are beautiful. I want my daughter to grow up believing she is a beautiful girl. Inside and out, she won't believe any future husband when he says "You are the most beautiful girl I have ever seen" if she doesn't believe it herself. I'm not saying she needs to be self centered, or that beauty has one specific look, but she needs to believe that she is worth, and deserves a prince charming type guy!!</div>
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I have always been self conscious. Everyone has always been better looking than I am. My parents are amazing and they fought me tooth and nail to get me to believe I could be the kind of girl, and woman they saw in me (essentially, who I am today). I didn't believe them, so I didn't believe anyone else. <br />I want my daughter to believe it when people say she is a beautiful person. I want her to know what that means. I want her to believe she is smart and talented. I want her to grow up to be confident and successful in her family and whatever else she wants to do. I don't want her to settle for someone because she thought she didn't deserve someone better.</div>
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I want her to marry the kind of man I did. The kind who treats her like royalty and gives her what she needs, and provides for her and their children. The kind of man who believes in her, and supports her in all her endeavors, no matter how crazy they are to him.</div>
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I want my sons to grow up being confident gentlemen, who know what a beautiful woman is, how she acts, how she treats herself and others, how she will stand up for what she wants and believes in. I want them to know that they deserve a woman who is confident and compassionate, one who will support him and stand by him. </div>
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So from the outlook of a simple mother of 3 - Here's my thought on the matter.</div>
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*If you see a girl, no matter what she looks like, tell her how nice and pretty she looks that day! Girls want to hear they're pretty. That they look nice! It's not the only thing they hear and it's not going to damage their outlook on life. In addition, tell them they are smart, they are capable of whatever they want to do, whether it's coloring or rock climbing. They can do whatever they put their mind to!</div>
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*If you see a boy, allow them the opportunity to be a gentleman. Let the 6yr old boy at church, the store or wherever hold the door open for you. As a mother of 2 boys, I encourage them to run ahead and hold the door open, obviously they are not a door stop, but they are gentlemen. </div>
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*Take your kids, all of them, to the opera, ballet, musical, concerts, church, movies, museums, the zoo, the park, library and the mall. I believe that kids are smarter than most people give them credit for. They know and understand FAR more than we think! At age appropriate times they are able to comprehend that there is a time and a place to be crazy loud, and a place to sit quietly. Both are fun, both are necessary life skills.</div>
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*Tell them "Not right now". Nothing is more important than your kids. Dishes will still be there, the laundry doesn't need to be started right this very moment, the bathroom will still need to be scrubbed after the game, but at some point - you're out of dishes, every one looks homeless, and you now need to don a biohazard suit just to open the bathroom door. </div>
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There is always the argument, "that's what nap time and school is for", but I was raised in a "self cleaning house" You make a mess, you clean it YOURSELF! Kids need to understand that if they want mac and cheese for dinner, they need to let you take 10 mins and get the dishes loaded into the dishwasher. If they want to bathe and do their business in a clean bathroom, they either grab a rag or give you 5 mins to wipe it down. If they are tired of being out of clean pants, then give me 5 mins to roll the laundry, and if you help me fold it, I'll be done sooner.</div>
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*If you did your best, you get a good job! This one is the one that gets me. I read that you shouldn't tell your child "<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2011/LIVING/07/12/dont.say.to.child.p/index.html" target="_blank">Good Job</a>" here's why; "<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2011/LIVING/07/12/dont.say.to.child.p/index.html" target="_blank">Tossing out "Great job!" for every little thing your child does -- from finishing his milk to drawing a picture -- becomes meaningless. Kids tune it out. They can also tell the difference between praise for doing something rote or simple and praise for a real effort."</a></div>
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I always like to try things out, especially if an "expert" says so, I like to give it a whirl. So for one whole day, I tried to be careful with my "good job" handouts. I have never, NEVER in my entire life seen so many crushed faces. At one point my 5 yr old, big eyed, little bear, literally said to me "did I do a good job?!"</div>
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"Good job" is something kids also need to hear!! I have found it builds their confidence, it reassures them that you love them and are proud of them! </div>
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So there it is, for what it's worth - Those are my 5 parenting tips. Kids want to hear that they are good lookin, smart, capable kids, and that they are doing a good job!</div>
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If all else fails, you can always count on Aibileen Clark from The Help "You is kind, you is smart, you is important" and for kicks, just to stick it to those "experts" tell them their pretty or handsome! Cuz you know they are and they need to know it too!</div>
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SonyaBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400924843906352417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637911850695898467.post-36613983217547031302014-01-16T17:26:00.002-08:002014-02-09T15:41:28.689-08:00There's a rocket in my gutter!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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These are my kids. I love them dearly.</div>
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My kids, and anyone who has spent at least 1 day with me knows this: I am not a morning person, and my kids are. </div>
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They like to get up before the sun, I like to wait until the sun is confidently above the horizon before I roll my snooze deprived, worn out, mom body out of bed.</div>
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I, however, enjoy a bit of peace and quite in the morning. You know, that magical moment when the husband has left for work, everything is still and silent, except the few mouse ticks and keyboard clicks, and all of your precious angels are still precious and angelic because they are still asleep. That one moment you have the house to yourself and you can hear your own thoughts, and then just about the time you get bored and lonely - you hear a bed squeak. The next few moments are just as magical. First the bed squeaks, then a thump as their tiny, groggy feet hit the floor, then the door knob twists and the sound of tiny, stumbling steps gets closer, and closer. If you are anything like me, and your kids are anything like mine, the next thing you hear is "Why are you up so late Mom?"<br />
Why am I up so late?! <br />
It's not late at all. See. My kids know I am not a morning person, so when I am up before them, they just assume it's still night time and I must be up late into the night. The next conversation goes something along these lines<br />
"I'm not up late dear, it's morning."<br />
"But the sun isn't up"<br />
"Then why are YOU up?"<br />
"Uhmmmmm my body told me it was time to get up....?"<br />
"Probably because it is. Good morning!"<br />
"Good morning Mom, What's for breakfast?"</div>
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Why must they get up so early?! </div>
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Why do I force my worn out, tired body out of bed before it's ready?! </div>
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Because I am their mom.</div>
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We all do things for our kids that are more than unpleasant. We also get to do the fun things with them.</div>
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Friday night, Isaac took me out on a date. He is 6. He came to me and said "Mom, would you like to go on a date with me?" And then upon whipping out a gift card from Cold Stone (I'm assuming came from his Dad's secret stash of gift cards) continues with "I'm paying!"</div>
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So hand in hand we were off to Cold Stone for a Mother/Son date I won't soon forget, complete with awkward silence.</div>
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After the 2ish minutes of awkward silence I did what any good girl on a date would do, I reached over - turned off the radio and asked him how he was doing.<br />
He replied that he was good, and I could hear the smile on his face.</div>
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I began to ask him about how school was going and after about 3 randomly vague questions, the flood gate opened and I got to hear all about his 6 yr, almost 7 yr old world. Who plays with who at recess, where he sits for lunch, who gets hot lunch all the time (and wishes they could have cold lunch), who always brings a cold lunch (and wishes they could get hot lunch once in a while) and how apparently he has it the best because he gets to pick his hot lunch days and gets cold lunch the others. I, as many parents do, "mmmhmmm'd" and "uh-huh'd" my way through his tangled, random comments and remarks. Then it dawned on me. As I sit here, admittedly pretending to listen, but thinking about the 1,000 other things that need to be thought about, a thought came to my mind;</div>
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This is his life. It may seem petty and unimportant to a "grown up", but to an "almost 7 yr old" Who gets the swivel chair in class is headline news!! The new game at recess is what's on the sports channel!! This is his life you are pretending to listen too!</div>
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Being a parent is more than just making sure your kids have a house to come home to after school, it's about making sure that when they are in that house they know and understand that the responsible adults in that house care about them, love them and will listen to them when they need to talk.</div>
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Being a parent is about listening to the seemingly small details and realizing that they are huge deals to these children you brought into your family. This is their LIFE they are talking to you about. This is their life you are <em>pretending</em> to listen too. It's about more than just recess and lunch and swivel chairs. This is their real world. They seem small to us, because we are looking at mortgage payments, vacations and what the next pay check looks like. Their tiny world isn't as big and grown up as ours. Every year it gets bigger and more grown up and if we don't listen to recess, and classroom stories now, what makes you think they will want to talk about boys/girls, dances, dates, drugs and school schedules when they are older?!</div>
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They won't.</div>
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If we don't fix the broken train tracks, or get the Nerf rocket out of the gutter now, they won't come to us when they're failing a class or when they just got back from the worst date EVER!!</div>
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Being a parent is redundant, your kids never stop needing you.</div>
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Even as a grown woman, I still call my mom almost daily. My mom still takes time out of her busy life to stop whatever she's doing and talk to me, or put me on speaker phone and do what she needs to do while I yap on the other end. I vent about the not so new and latest thing Ashley has decided to get into and ruin. I vent about how loud and high strung Gary can be. I vent about how sassy and 7 Isaac is getting.</div>
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But I also get advice on how to handle these things in strides, and about how it's a nuisance now, but in reality, it will all be over in a moment. She laughs when I complain about the very thing I did when I was "that age" and she reassures me when she can tell I'm having a bad day and just need someone to remind me that I'm doing the best I can.</div>
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I call my mom because I've always been able to talk to her about anything and everything. From the time I was 7 to tomorrow.</div>
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Talking is more than just communication. Talking to your kids is parenting. You will never know their struggles or heartaches if you don't listen to them.</div>
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The words "grab a towel and dry these dishes" were not uncommon in our home growing up, because after the 2nd or 3rd plate, you just start talking and pretty soon you're spilling your emotional guts to your parents and they are there and seem to have all the answers, because they too were there once.</div>
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Am I a perfect parent?! OF COURSE - <em>She said sarcastically!</em></div>
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My goal this year is to listen to my kids. Really take the time to hear what they are saying. Encourage them to "grab that towel and dry", go on more dates with my kids where it's just the 2 of us to talk and listen. I want them to understand that their parents are here for them no matter how small the problem or exciting news is to us, we care about their lives and what is breaking news for them!!</div>
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<br />SonyaBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400924843906352417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637911850695898467.post-20367393583107761692013-12-31T22:33:00.001-08:002013-12-31T22:33:17.495-08:00In a nutshell!We have come to the conclusion of yet another year. It was pointed out to me today that I left you hangin this year and for that I apologize!! 8 posts in one year is shameful! Especially since just 3 years ago I managed 88 posts in a year!! So, in an attempt to get back into your good blog graces - I thought I would give you a little synopsis of our year! Sounds fun huh?!!!! =D<br />
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January - Ashley's hair was finally long enough for pig tails. It's now long enough for a regular ponytail and when it's dried, her curls are hitting the bottom of her shoulder blades!!<br />
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February- February was filled with pirates and pixie dust, which I'm still vacuuming up in some areas!!<br />
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Marc- Ashley discovered the joy of apples and the relief they could be on her teething gums. It's hard to believe that she now has full set of teeth - just workin on those darn 2 yr molars.<br />
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April- We added to our family. 2 fish! We've tried to add more but these two little guys have held true and killed off any buddies we've tried to give them.<br />
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May- Mother's day! So many homemade gifts and cards!!<br />
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June- Isaac's first school concert!!!<br />
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<br />July- Our little slugger got his very own baseball equipment so that he can achieve his dream of playing for the Mariners some day!<br />
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August- VACATION!!! Girls camp, a week at my moms, and camping in Or. It was definitely the highlight of the summer!!<br />
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September- BACK TO SCHOOL!!! 1st grade and preschool!!! Both are top of their classes! I am one proud mama!!<br />
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October- Halloween was fun with these 3!! They were amazing everyone LOVED Their costumes!<br />
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November- Thanksgiving at mom's!! This was taken durring a movie....or a football game....either way. We know how to snuggle down and have a good time!<br />
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December- Our princess turned 2!!! It's hard to believe she's 2 and potty training like a big girl! She is VERY vocal and definitely has her own opinions about life and how it should be run! She's also a smidgen stubborn....not sure where that came from!<br />
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So there you have it! The Buchanan's year in a nutshell!</div>
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I promise next year to be better. At least once a month would be nice eh?!</div>
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See ya next year!</div>
SonyaBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400924843906352417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637911850695898467.post-40364703799500782782013-10-27T22:20:00.002-07:002013-10-27T22:23:56.309-07:00300!!!!<div style="text-align: center;">
In honor of this being our 300th post, I'll keep it short and sweet.</div>
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We have West Side Children!!! They are definitely their daddies kids.</div>
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I was raised on the east side, where the sun shines, and it's warm.</div>
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My sister and I would lay out.....because it recharges our battery!!! </div>
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We go to the lake, because it's hot, and the sun is shining, and the lake is cold and feels good!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Nephew T. We're buds.</td></tr>
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The sun makes me happy. </div>
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It's like a hug from my Heavenly Father.</div>
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We live on the West side. All of our kids have been born and raised on the West side.</div>
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They do not share the same infatuation I have with the sun shine.</div>
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They share the same "let's play hide and seek, you just don't come find me" relationship that their father has with the sun.</div>
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At least we can agree on one thing....</div>
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SonyaBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400924843906352417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637911850695898467.post-8315260219541576322013-10-22T15:11:00.001-07:002013-10-22T15:11:44.985-07:00Pocket Knives & Waterfalls<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Camping is fun. Camping with kids can be challenging. <br />Fortunately our kids are getting older so they are able to do more picaresque camping activities, which is making camping a little more fun each time we go.<br />
This summer was filled to the brim with camping for our kids. They first spent 2 weeks at Nana and Papas while I went to be a leader at the Girls Camp for our <a href="http://mormon.org/" target="_blank">Church</a>. It was so fun and it was nice to have a glimpse of teenage (12-17 yr old) girls from an adults point of view. When we picked them up from Nana and Papa's, we went straight down to <a href="http://www.oregonstateparks.org/index.cfm?do=parkPage.dsp_parkPage&parkId=151" target="_blank">Silver Falls</a> to go camping with Greg's family.<br />
We decided that they boys are old enough to learn pocket knife safety and how to whittle. They LOVED IT!!!<br />
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They were so careful and handled it perfectly. Making sure no one was in their way, or within range of getting hurt!! </div>
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It was a rough camping trip for Ashley. The play pen didn't get packed so we tried to get her to sleep with us, or on a bed of blankets and she wasn't having it. So she was up all night and a bit moody, although you can't tell it from any of the pictures.</div>
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Grandma and Grandpa brought walkie-talkies and the boys loved playing with those. They would take turns coming with me to take the garbage down to the dumpster so that they could use the walkie talkies.<br />
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Silver Falls is an amazing place to go on hikes!! There 10 waterfalls and a hike for everyone, ranging from a mile or two to the full 9 mile hike around all 10 waterfalls!!!<br />We went on the short one, because we had littles who wouldn't make it the full 9 mile hike.<br />Ashley was excited to be able to walk and not be carried the whole way, however, we did bring the carrier for the tricky parts or for when she got tired of walking.<br />
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They boys had fun learning about animals, plants and waterfalls along the way. There was a big poster to see who's wing span matched yours.<br />Isaac is an American Crow<br />
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Gary is Broad winged hawk!<br />
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Or so they say........<br />
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This is probably the most famous water fall because the trail goes behind it. The boys were apprehensive at first, but after being convinced they wouldn't fall, continued on our journey.<br />
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As you can see, Isaac still isn't convinced that this is the safest plan...being behind the water fall and all.<br />
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I tried telling the boys that if they were quiet they would be able to spot a leprechaun, as they like to live behind waterfalls, but all we found was a bear in a cave.<br />
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When Greg and I were dating we hiked the falls. This was our first time back since then. It was fun to show our kids something that we did before they were even a twinkle in our eye.<br />
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This encompassed 3 of my favorite things:<br />Waterfalls<br />Hiking<br />Family<br />
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The kids were tired, which resulted in a tantrum here and there, but all in all they had a really fun time and they are still talking about "hiking the falls". I love seeing them work together, and encourage each other when the hill was a little steep for their liking.<br />
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They really do love each other and I love doing things with them that just build upon the friendship that is being formed.<br />
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We have pretty awesome kids!!!<br />
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Of course the kids LOVED cooking over the campfire. We have been very blessed with kids who have common sense when it comes to fire and cooking. They are very careful and help other little kids be careful!!<br />
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We were blessed to have their Great Grandma come down for dinner, as she lives close to the park.<br />
Ashley loved the snuggles and songs that her Great Grandma sang to her. It was so sweet to see them together.<br />
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Greg's Grandma is a pretty amazing lady. She loves her family and loves spending time with them. Her stories are fun to hear. It's fun to hear stories from someone as experienced as her.<br />
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The boys had to practice their whittling every chance they had! If there was a moment of free time, they had their knives.<br />
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We decided, after the long day (yes, that was all in one day) we didn't want a repeat of the sleepless night before so we packed everyone up and tag teamed the drive home.....and by tag team what I mean is, Greg drove home while we all slept.<br />
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It was the highlight of our summer!! The kids LOVE camping, and while it is beyond exhausting to camp with little ones, the memories and the bond it creates in your kids is 1,000% worth every exhausting minute.SonyaBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400924843906352417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637911850695898467.post-50616309980287470882013-08-11T16:34:00.001-07:002013-08-11T16:34:26.315-07:00Let them be kids!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfPbZQGX4NBZzUlRPjLyYbgg0MAMCR9L6dhNrJwfOzXENVC3YO1SlTY_mb0bXrwCAk42Cp1SATaliXKx_xk1iqZjB_HEzUIUqEc5vpoUBLO6XA8MowcE4Yw6lxcTZ33FOEFIOsZqYoEMY/s1600/IMG_6901.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfPbZQGX4NBZzUlRPjLyYbgg0MAMCR9L6dhNrJwfOzXENVC3YO1SlTY_mb0bXrwCAk42Cp1SATaliXKx_xk1iqZjB_HEzUIUqEc5vpoUBLO6XA8MowcE4Yw6lxcTZ33FOEFIOsZqYoEMY/s320/IMG_6901.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
I heard this weekend, the best thing you can do for your kids to help them be successful in life, is to let them be kids. Allow them to figure out what they want to do. Try a taste of everything and see what feels the best.<br />
I feel like this is something we are doing. Maybe we're not the best at it, but who doesn't have room for improvement.<br />
We took a little trip last week to my <span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(Sonya's) </i></span>parents house, during which, my kids received a little lesson in being kids.<br />
My Dad LOVES fishing and loves to take the canoe out. I have many fond memories of fishing from my dad's canoe out on the lake. This is a memory I would love to pass on to my children.<br />
Fishing on the lake with Papa.<br />
In order to have a memory like this, a few lessons need to be taught first.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmYUSPk2vA7Bhs51WbzhTiWZoaZ004GvgvR4yxddQKUGXkvQddKYLOi191-2rxUyiFXkhWcAAsgy6v4Pm_2KuBj66k_GfvAbBM6fAyCJoXOHsqavv3G49KRoKcT4pH_9PYluEw4Tc-5j0/s1600/IMG_6904.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmYUSPk2vA7Bhs51WbzhTiWZoaZ004GvgvR4yxddQKUGXkvQddKYLOi191-2rxUyiFXkhWcAAsgy6v4Pm_2KuBj66k_GfvAbBM6fAyCJoXOHsqavv3G49KRoKcT4pH_9PYluEw4Tc-5j0/s320/IMG_6904.JPG" width="320" /></a>Lesson 1 - How to fish. This has been done. It is a tradition in our family that when you turn 4, you get your first fishing pole and you, then, are deemed old enough and responsible enough to go fishing.<br />
Lesson 2 - The proper way to sit and ride in a canoe. This is done at the age of 5.<br />
The best way to teach this is inside of a pool. It's controlled, if the fall out the can touch the bottom, and it's a place they are already comfortable and familiar with.<br />
My dad doesn't mess around when it comes to proper canoe <span class="st">etiquette. He has no problem dumping you into the pool because you stood up when you weren't supposed to. It scares the kids<i> (and the onlooking parent)</i> but it's effective, and it's usually the last time they stand up in the boat.</span><br />
<span class="st">He teaches them how to properly move around in the boat, he teaches them how to retrieve something outside of the boat, and he teaches them how to climb back into the boat if/when they fall out. It's a fun, slightly intimidating lesson. But if you listen, and do what you are told, then you get to go out on the lake for a little ride.</span><br /><span class="st"></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCsZfBZFLXHwQSkvkTlBz73rImzITysdMpHcznrMOjqWRMQvBCOWh2g0hUXA49W6nocZRaJMIfDZ8qL69I0mou497YBK7D2ZZR2z6zG_r5yf2onrzietKudN15vovXAqCXCUVROB0BoXs/s1600/IMG_6907.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCsZfBZFLXHwQSkvkTlBz73rImzITysdMpHcznrMOjqWRMQvBCOWh2g0hUXA49W6nocZRaJMIfDZ8qL69I0mou497YBK7D2ZZR2z6zG_r5yf2onrzietKudN15vovXAqCXCUVROB0BoXs/s320/IMG_6907.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nothin says lunch at Nana's like a PB/Nutella sandwich<br />and Chocolate chip cookie when you get out of the pool.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvypB9GtMFDqPA27FdcOf9WIjzedqemeUgAVRX0B51PNiWViYcDo_tbf3nf95xTPsE5YUxrFfA0RFMrVjpEIff15hNR0AsS4FSlG5a1DKM9VdEF2pPsfoCByVQUF0C06yQCHx-Hzchi7k/s1600/IMG_6921.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvypB9GtMFDqPA27FdcOf9WIjzedqemeUgAVRX0B51PNiWViYcDo_tbf3nf95xTPsE5YUxrFfA0RFMrVjpEIff15hNR0AsS4FSlG5a1DKM9VdEF2pPsfoCByVQUF0C06yQCHx-Hzchi7k/s320/IMG_6921.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
It's an exciting thing to go for a ride out on the lake.<br />
There is a certain rush of anxiety you get when you first dawn the life jacket, made in just your size. There is a special kind of smile that takes over your cheeks, and doesn't seem to want to leave.<br />
There is something magical about going out into the middle of the lake, knowing there are hundreds, possibly thousands of fish swimming underneath you, and yet, you are perfectly dry.<br />
A certain amount of trust is required to experience this enchanting adventure.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWvNBnvPSSNTEaf9EdonIQxv2r9sPELogaNT61ltMt9dk6gkwB38GBd6TPuWSvo-KSo4EVH47TG8RprYYqFOM9g6AtuD7N2kSoEbEVJ91viqWRr6kDDr2H_hTA3Rra038Aqyqu3Vd6cpM/s1600/IMG_6927.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWvNBnvPSSNTEaf9EdonIQxv2r9sPELogaNT61ltMt9dk6gkwB38GBd6TPuWSvo-KSo4EVH47TG8RprYYqFOM9g6AtuD7N2kSoEbEVJ91viqWRr6kDDr2H_hTA3Rra038Aqyqu3Vd6cpM/s320/IMG_6927.JPG" width="320" /></a> When a child is allowed to feel everyone of these emotions, and experience the feeling of complete trust in someone other than his parent, they grow up just a little bit.<br />
It's a sad and exciting step to watch your child grow up. Being able to trust others, completely, without a second thought is rewarding. Knowing that they still posses the innocence and unending love that we all should have.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitvrcoISg0avtyfya4GAKU1TqV0txBHvS4PgUr1adXKQN13vee0YOu-MupmuSvsn7FpXbQWCNO5qd6V7XZ2n_ki_5WxDUEEazHOGUXjDV6KFr3xrGu3zAnBNiE3Y0SoMtalrP40ZZthg8/s1600/IMG_6949.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitvrcoISg0avtyfya4GAKU1TqV0txBHvS4PgUr1adXKQN13vee0YOu-MupmuSvsn7FpXbQWCNO5qd6V7XZ2n_ki_5WxDUEEazHOGUXjDV6KFr3xrGu3zAnBNiE3Y0SoMtalrP40ZZthg8/s320/IMG_6949.JPG" width="320" /></a>Allowing your children to be child like is not always easy, and can be slightly scary, but in the end it's what is best for our children.<br />
Some days I wish everyone could look at children and see what treasures they are. It makes me sad, and scared that the world we live in takes these preciousness tiny spirits for granted.<br />
I wish we could all see the world through the eyes of a child.<br />
A world that has no reason to be untrusted. <br />
A world where everyone is a good person.<br />
A world where words like "please" and "thank you" possess magical powers.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUqPomEfVARm3U8ayY-BadD7nLX0dHJzrYj8V2n72FZPqhceQeotOuV47tnYdLqEWFPgiWt2cPo1ZdTn3TnvmnqS1HhSepyVDsqKwvzMnBRlDSQx5YK21JVv2PEy9IM0-jZBuBFCDvPNE/s1600/IMG_6913.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUqPomEfVARm3U8ayY-BadD7nLX0dHJzrYj8V2n72FZPqhceQeotOuV47tnYdLqEWFPgiWt2cPo1ZdTn3TnvmnqS1HhSepyVDsqKwvzMnBRlDSQx5YK21JVv2PEy9IM0-jZBuBFCDvPNE/s320/IMG_6913.JPG" width="320" /></a>A world where it's an odd thing for someone to be grumpy or angry.<br />
I admire my children and cherish the lessons they teach me about trust, and how to have a good time. My children love everyone and see no reason why they shouldn't. I admire that in them.<br />
I wish I didn't have to protect them from bad situations, or people, or even bad dreams. I wish my children could just be children for the rest of their lives.<br />
How wonderful it must be to live in a perfect space where the worst thing you have to worry about is if there are any pink otter pops left.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGXH-iDmLtct0NEd07rYnzPx280X59yVcB_kSNtxkzrYQsHupE0n_62YKybI-MexKl130FfmswSmOtni8UehSI_aBK4ZMow4InxsD_TdJHTya3ohUHu58A6MdlvwnQijmGdxD5gjWCOIo/s1600/IMG_6917.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGXH-iDmLtct0NEd07rYnzPx280X59yVcB_kSNtxkzrYQsHupE0n_62YKybI-MexKl130FfmswSmOtni8UehSI_aBK4ZMow4InxsD_TdJHTya3ohUHu58A6MdlvwnQijmGdxD5gjWCOIo/s320/IMG_6917.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
When I was little, I was allowed to be a kid. We played outside when we wanted. Playing outside was more fun than playing inside. If we were inside we helped Mom clean the house. We played in the street, down the street with people we didn't know. It wasn't uncommon for us to play in the cow pasture behind our house and the lady on the corner always had apples and carrots for us to feed the horses. The old people that lived next to us were referred to as "Grandma and Grandpa" even though there was not blood relation, and they always had Ice cream for us. We came in the house for very few reasons, to go potty, get a band aid, or because the street light came on. When we were in trouble we knew it, when we were being good, life was good. My parents were stricter than other parents, but it was for our benefit, and it only made us better adults. My sisters and I fought, but we are now best friends. My brother and I have always been more like twins than anything. My parents allowed us to get hurt, and fall down and fight with our friends and siblings, because they knew it would make us stronger and teach us how to solve our problems with out having someone else do it for us.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCAnRcetE1Dbk7we_Fm3t8e7qnO3qtfxVurMV0D0CISoOBDsNQcG2b3I2AHahE_eWWuojVIztlmJ6SSLFNKN67VV0c1g9oYnaq5OljupDx9n1drxeAhtOeKuly6wJEXOWVIuxFTvOfg64/s1600/IMG_6929.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCAnRcetE1Dbk7we_Fm3t8e7qnO3qtfxVurMV0D0CISoOBDsNQcG2b3I2AHahE_eWWuojVIztlmJ6SSLFNKN67VV0c1g9oYnaq5OljupDx9n1drxeAhtOeKuly6wJEXOWVIuxFTvOfg64/s320/IMG_6929.JPG" width="240" /></a> To a certain extent, we need to allow our children to fight with each other. We need to allow them to play out a scenario even though we see they will eventually get hurt in the end.<br />
We do our children an injustice when we solve each and every problem for them.<br />
How will they ever learn to be problem solving, independent adults if we are constantly intervening whenever there is a problem. We as the "grown ups" have more, and better common sense then our children do. We didn't get that from being carried around on someones shoulders our whole life. We learned through experience that if you mess with an ant hill, ants get mad. When ants get mad, they bite you. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfI_1voTUKOy1ZpKHF-KcCbRsPDuwLdfEkUJwamIrTwm7_UlFRHKV0fj_s-6IGCjt-kUw2Qm08x_2m91BmrBi9uU7KSeYq27uUWhmM0HOS4avIleM3sQjySJRBW8YTgFY-i1fYB2elmIc/s1600/IMG_6932.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfI_1voTUKOy1ZpKHF-KcCbRsPDuwLdfEkUJwamIrTwm7_UlFRHKV0fj_s-6IGCjt-kUw2Qm08x_2m91BmrBi9uU7KSeYq27uUWhmM0HOS4avIleM3sQjySJRBW8YTgFY-i1fYB2elmIc/s320/IMG_6932.JPG" width="240" /></a>Certain things need to be, and will be experienced that we have no control over. Some kids need to learn for themselves what happens when you touch something hot. There will be times that you give your children ample warning and they don't listen. These are the lessons they need to learn through experience.<br />
If you stand in the canoe, it will tip over.<br />
If it tips over, you need to ask Papa to help you climb back in.<br />
You need to wear your sandals because they will float so you don't loose them in the lake.<br />
If you can't see the bottom of the lake, take smaller steps so that you don't step on something sharp, or fall into a hole.<br />
If you don't listen to Papa, you don't ride in the canoe.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv-YeV5WTfN-dhz2A-ohfUm58xv3oI6l7amjYpiZWys8XjWygMEMqGWD8gwh7QAf6YZgxXrMFhUwUkXC1QPvIw3e4xn-nEE1iQlnBeenCSFTXJRTOAjmT5TN6ko5sE3dWQU6RKA7PHMOk/s1600/IMG_6931.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv-YeV5WTfN-dhz2A-ohfUm58xv3oI6l7amjYpiZWys8XjWygMEMqGWD8gwh7QAf6YZgxXrMFhUwUkXC1QPvIw3e4xn-nEE1iQlnBeenCSFTXJRTOAjmT5TN6ko5sE3dWQU6RKA7PHMOk/s320/IMG_6931.JPG" width="240" /></a>We are big fans of choice and consequence. Every choice comes with a consequence.<br />
If you choose to eat your dinner, the consequence is you get dessert.<br />
If you choose to take a nap, the consequence is you get to stay up and have campfire.<br />
If you choose to splash me, I WILL splash you back, even if I know you don't like to be splashed.<br />
If you choose to be adorable when you are mad, the consequence is I will most likely make you mad on purpose, just to see you say "I'm not talkin to you"<br />
If you choose to go past Auntie Sonya in the lake, the consequence is, I will hold your hand for 10 mins, and don't pretend you don't like it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWQI-Um1yQO9SoarlMSk7VR93yYxEa6Sp-6Wxsca2WdaGdVkrVanHyaWHkppo6JvCXg0t2NfNRhF6HYvRL_kr0VNbrH9fiq-VD3oQTz6R4NaAbL0QGmiOfNs8ZDy71IiGDmnXZeGHKJCA/s1600/IMG_6934.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWQI-Um1yQO9SoarlMSk7VR93yYxEa6Sp-6Wxsca2WdaGdVkrVanHyaWHkppo6JvCXg0t2NfNRhF6HYvRL_kr0VNbrH9fiq-VD3oQTz6R4NaAbL0QGmiOfNs8ZDy71IiGDmnXZeGHKJCA/s320/IMG_6934.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
Children are fun. They need to be. We, as adults, need fun in our lives, and that's where children come into play. Literally. I have found that it's when I am the most stressed out, or feeling overwhelmed, that is the very moment that my kids run, screaming and giggling and playing into the room. Most of the time it's annoying and, lets be honest here, I yell at them to take their noise elsewhere. But maybe we should work on recognizing their cue to remind us to find our inner, carefree child and join them in their game of pirates or super heroes or ninjas or princesses, or whatever it is that your children love to play.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgPTbbPMepMijoXtk62FnCDjVHyNk0YKO3K0aO17nerJI5XWjlUeIy79Ax6kXnOY5MJIka35ucLu-UuF835V5Tc8D41P9of8MmGRXOgeSeaw3hwRWr_1OjukoaD6MiqYKZJ34G-GQC2WM/s1600/IMG_6942.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgPTbbPMepMijoXtk62FnCDjVHyNk0YKO3K0aO17nerJI5XWjlUeIy79Ax6kXnOY5MJIka35ucLu-UuF835V5Tc8D41P9of8MmGRXOgeSeaw3hwRWr_1OjukoaD6MiqYKZJ34G-GQC2WM/s320/IMG_6942.JPG" width="240" /></a> "The dishes/laundry/housework can wait" is a popular phrase among more experienced Mom's and Grandma's. My response to this has always been. Yes, it can wait. But you can only put it off to play with your kids for so long before everyone is out of clean underwear and there are no bowls or spoons for breakfast.<br />
There is a balance that needs to take place. My boys are now old enough, and big enough to help me with these tasks. We have taught them how to unload the dishwasher, fold their clothes and put them away. They can both run the vacuum and know the basics of wiping down the bathroom. My children are in the process of learning the balance of play and work. The have basic, minor responsibilities that expand them and help them realize that Mom and Dad have things that need to be taken care of before we can play so that life is bit more comfortable. Can the dishes wait?! Yes the can, but if your 5 yr old helps you with them before you play baseball together, the game is more fun.<br />
Can the laundry pile wait?! Yes. It will still be there when you get back from the lake. But if you get your kids to help you, it goes by quicker and the trip to the lake is much more relaxing.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRV3OSplDqhgfjHfbcSbJQDGTaxYknaZQ-aJhCnf-brihvX4B4EM9zNiuXC_kH_a6k94xJaFQ46oHOlgDDBTBj9J4IwcP-pRURiijbR9n9vQRId2qRKFsY__iOb5ezk6lbSFxpaCKRNKk/s1600/IMG_6944.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRV3OSplDqhgfjHfbcSbJQDGTaxYknaZQ-aJhCnf-brihvX4B4EM9zNiuXC_kH_a6k94xJaFQ46oHOlgDDBTBj9J4IwcP-pRURiijbR9n9vQRId2qRKFsY__iOb5ezk6lbSFxpaCKRNKk/s320/IMG_6944.JPG" width="320" /></a> Kids love to help. They love to help anyone who will let them. My kids love the feeling of being responsible for something. There is a sense of pride that washes over their whole being when you say to them "thank you for helping me, now I have nothing left to do except go play" Knowing that they were there for you when you need it is a rewarding emotion. You can see it on their faces. Not to mention, playing is 100x more fun when you know that the house has been taken care of first.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj90wvhjX4KIKig-e_kkVyEu-yuGzgZY2CoK9ANbfW5rJJ7M2Uoh_GTTNmtZIjDCTALHjWubz4XGbm2dcX0J-KHb6WpbcjgGuPn-vdBWZEKWDVGjVRnyuejcGQDmyngOKCZuEWN73zG1IE/s1600/IMG_6954.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj90wvhjX4KIKig-e_kkVyEu-yuGzgZY2CoK9ANbfW5rJJ7M2Uoh_GTTNmtZIjDCTALHjWubz4XGbm2dcX0J-KHb6WpbcjgGuPn-vdBWZEKWDVGjVRnyuejcGQDmyngOKCZuEWN73zG1IE/s320/IMG_6954.JPG" width="320" /></a> Kids want to be kids. And why shouldn't they. I want to be a kid.<br />
At the end of the day, is it really worth the stress of constantly standing over them watching their ever move. How are they supposed to know what it feels like to dip their face in the water if we don't let them. Who knows, maybe they'll like it. How are they supposed to know what it feels like be so dizzy they fall over if we keep telling them to "stop because you might fall over" How are they supposed to know what rain on their face feels like if they are constantly told to come inside when it starts raining.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdZzf8wYPytjnbUaIMLYHstQcG5RMGWXMn7Ucbtp0-IGB9IB8Uz-zB3DRNTEtMc6nTKskYnntBCzEu6f3E4sUATHzPm7u_t0PN9nUjtYQCXYFXfRhotbf29NxDc33LuBYaLkIZTXCGtow/s1600/IMG_6955.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdZzf8wYPytjnbUaIMLYHstQcG5RMGWXMn7Ucbtp0-IGB9IB8Uz-zB3DRNTEtMc6nTKskYnntBCzEu6f3E4sUATHzPm7u_t0PN9nUjtYQCXYFXfRhotbf29NxDc33LuBYaLkIZTXCGtow/s320/IMG_6955.JPG" width="240" /></a> Kids should be allowed to experience life. Get hurt, break something, experience every emotion so that they know how to handle every emotion.<br />
Teach them how to be angry and what to do when you are.<br />
Teach them how to be sad, happy, frustrated and excited.<br />
Teach them how to handle anxiety and what to do when you're nervous.<br />
What does it mean to be scared or so excited you want to scream? How does it feel, and what do you do about it?!<br />
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Children are in a constant state of being educated, and so are we. Who better to have a lab partner in life than our own children. Experience new things together. Be excited with them, be nervous. Giggle uncontrollably and cry when you are sad.<br />
Teach them that emotions are OK and that it's a part of life. It's how you handle those emotions that really matters.<br />
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Teach them that cousins are really just distant siblings. Sleep overs are fun, but you can't have a sleep over if you don't sleep.<br />
Aunties are just a 2nd Mom and you should love them as much as your real mom. And you should listen to them as if they were your mom. They just let you get away with more stuff, which makes them slightly cooler than your real mom!<br />
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Teach them that family comes first. Your family is there for you 100% no matter what time of the day or night it is. Silly is fun, and if your family is silly, your kids will be comfortable in their skin. </div>
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They will be comfortable being who they are.</div>
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They will have fun being KIDS. </div>
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<br />SonyaBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400924843906352417noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637911850695898467.post-51992002658880611162013-07-25T13:48:00.000-07:002013-07-25T14:01:05.830-07:00Little Bear turns the big F.I.V.E!!! I love this little bear. He is my mini me, my little boy and makes me laugh every day!!!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1st birthday</td></tr>
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He is a ham and LOVES the spotlight. He will do anything for a laugh, even if it's not very appropriate.<br />
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He's always....ALWAYS been a snuggler. and LOVES his blanket!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjuEpbDRvrLD848H-o2bmScp1YEumsb-2TG17iDusyllogG9SkfWRyeTd_l6fAVQag1mUcLg3K-niEz-ppd4xhDHEb6FUm9qSjFXBh7W9UbzdQ-Q-U6LlcgSEsQYdV6QOetFFZgmGYbX2F/s1600/0825090950.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjuEpbDRvrLD848H-o2bmScp1YEumsb-2TG17iDusyllogG9SkfWRyeTd_l6fAVQag1mUcLg3K-niEz-ppd4xhDHEb6FUm9qSjFXBh7W9UbzdQ-Q-U6LlcgSEsQYdV6QOetFFZgmGYbX2F/s320/0825090950.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5VdiPpcNgFsh825umfpAYtE339hD-W3Mwop5PPen9YKQwA2A-_C5p9QFzl3p4a3pUEVjWIv1nmK-lQRlEguJqn0QhehorzVUd8XAc0tWB3fwdOZGoVlwGOlGWgo5eql-y5OMQ4dxk6K5D/s1600/0625091623.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5VdiPpcNgFsh825umfpAYtE339hD-W3Mwop5PPen9YKQwA2A-_C5p9QFzl3p4a3pUEVjWIv1nmK-lQRlEguJqn0QhehorzVUd8XAc0tWB3fwdOZGoVlwGOlGWgo5eql-y5OMQ4dxk6K5D/s1600/0625091623.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>He has always been a climber. (kind of like someone else I know).</div>
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He can also be a little destructive, rarely on purpose. But he's a rough kid, and when you're a bit rough, things get broken. <br />
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He likes to feel "cool". He's my rock and roll kid. <br />
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He rolls with his own style. He knows what he wants and he doesn't care what other people think of it (or at least he doesn't want you to know he cares)<br />
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There is no happy medium. He's either loud and crazy, or calm and almost asleep...those are the moments I love the best. When he just wants to snuggle and love.<br />
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He is my protector. He wants nothing more than to keep his momma safe. At all costs. I hope this never changes.<br />
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I love this little boy of mine. He holds a special place in my heart. His heart is full of love and he wants nothing more than for everyone to be happy with him.<br />
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He's very creative!! No matter what it is, he will find something creative to do with it. He loves to draw, and color, and paint, and create. No matter the tool, no matter the canvas.<br />
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And now he's 5. <br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><u><i><b>5</b></i></u></span><br />
My little Bear is 5!!!<br />
He's five and will be starting pre-school in just 7 weeks!!<br />
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Greg took him out to breakfast at 5am (no. that has nothing to do with the age he is turning. when one has to leave for work at 7:30, and a certain birthday boy comes into your room at 4:30 and has ZERO intention of falling asleep, there is nothing else to do but go out with your dad for a Birthday breakfast). We made him a shirt the day before and at 5am they headed off to breakfast!!!<br />
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We made the puffy paint, so as the day went on, it chipped off. but it still looked pretty cool!!<br />
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Monday night we had a nice little family celebration where he got his cake and his big gift from his family. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiVDbZSE2YzBEtYnknw7xsVQ9Tg8KE1Tax9-VKiP_WmoA3Gff6gZpzEckOjftuPMjC40gZq8jwG0UKFQl5k7wC8JBsDAiGKJwI6upXqC1StVrY-Z5nD_OzAyeVfq4E6whBRh2cRqjALvGa/s1600/IMG_6688.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiVDbZSE2YzBEtYnknw7xsVQ9Tg8KE1Tax9-VKiP_WmoA3Gff6gZpzEckOjftuPMjC40gZq8jwG0UKFQl5k7wC8JBsDAiGKJwI6upXqC1StVrY-Z5nD_OzAyeVfq4E6whBRh2cRqjALvGa/s320/IMG_6688.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Real baseballs</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7OC8NecIr3AfNJnrgHnthd12otPW8Co-x0R4dRjhSKXhogL7D_zkDyE61oXAMvivl3N_PYOaG3Lr9GPLRnJLrdaQ_B1_XlBRPjyPrJL7FKaFKnvGjUad8cPWQa8r-NsQGDO-LD_q_XUBR/s1600/IMG_6689.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7OC8NecIr3AfNJnrgHnthd12otPW8Co-x0R4dRjhSKXhogL7D_zkDyE61oXAMvivl3N_PYOaG3Lr9GPLRnJLrdaQ_B1_XlBRPjyPrJL7FKaFKnvGjUad8cPWQa8r-NsQGDO-LD_q_XUBR/s320/IMG_6689.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A REAL wooden bat</td></tr>
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Nothing is better to this little boy than a game of baseball. Baseball is is love and his life!<br />
It makes me a bit sad that we are turning in blankets and binkys for baseball bats and mitts. But I love that he's found something he's passionate about and wants to do.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1BXsunpMRsJ5gFgN5JgMfobO_bWoWIqC1dtgN9FgHxOeoXpl9TpetKOLmu1iM7n_NBFtQ2tosciYRAbMnrdkbiZCX8g-QcGBTsUp_tyqhv1aCvLHnO4TwM9vi8sMHpfGGd4hFp0D_b_65/s1600/IMG_6690.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1BXsunpMRsJ5gFgN5JgMfobO_bWoWIqC1dtgN9FgHxOeoXpl9TpetKOLmu1iM7n_NBFtQ2tosciYRAbMnrdkbiZCX8g-QcGBTsUp_tyqhv1aCvLHnO4TwM9vi8sMHpfGGd4hFp0D_b_65/s320/IMG_6690.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhZFPNNRbESVXdiaIMYtiKE1Fxk_b_bm67aB3lcaQmhKNqHqtYtKZOMfHsO8ejJn9apFdlTEalDESQ0j0rhqHSjmbVIzB34s1tR0FHilh4ooyBHHAwUBahTqOGfZcuXXhLR1o0TSunMQ-Z/s1600/IMG_6692.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhZFPNNRbESVXdiaIMYtiKE1Fxk_b_bm67aB3lcaQmhKNqHqtYtKZOMfHsO8ejJn9apFdlTEalDESQ0j0rhqHSjmbVIzB34s1tR0FHilh4ooyBHHAwUBahTqOGfZcuXXhLR1o0TSunMQ-Z/s320/IMG_6692.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A throw back net</td></tr>
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He loves to be in the backyard practicing. He loves playing catch with anyone who will play with him.<br />
If you've never heard of a throwback net, no fear. I hadn't either, so when Greg said that's what he wanted to get him I trusted him and we went with it.<br />
That thing is AWESOME!!!!!!!<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrbJlSf9hMlewUGZIW4KjgqNN9mar8z-SfhneENnylEB_muvCgtnQ7aUGn62CAdkUjHhWalip2Pt8M50uWuLaVMfgbJTWU9_tM3Ls3E7wup0-t-TViFQlAfJteY2DBdlnObKtRUkZhSIbd/s1600/IMG_6697.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrbJlSf9hMlewUGZIW4KjgqNN9mar8z-SfhneENnylEB_muvCgtnQ7aUGn62CAdkUjHhWalip2Pt8M50uWuLaVMfgbJTWU9_tM3Ls3E7wup0-t-TViFQlAfJteY2DBdlnObKtRUkZhSIbd/s320/IMG_6697.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pitching</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6gm2s-Pjy_SKCMmzi3LxePPdGl5QbNtAn4cBiFn2muBxtaIhu9dOMpUKoUKQUxzOPWG7cfO5adwuX3lGJD4iLm4pIbD6Smb8bNR5yaQLlShLpaudox4kmvaGMNxwCSSSE3VA2tNH6avdx/s1600/IMG_6698.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6gm2s-Pjy_SKCMmzi3LxePPdGl5QbNtAn4cBiFn2muBxtaIhu9dOMpUKoUKQUxzOPWG7cfO5adwuX3lGJD4iLm4pIbD6Smb8bNR5yaQLlShLpaudox4kmvaGMNxwCSSSE3VA2tNH6avdx/s320/IMG_6698.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NOTHING smells better than a new baseball</td></tr>
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He has quite an arm on him. When you play catch with him and he tells you to get a mitt, he's not kidding!! That kid can throw a ball! Someday we're going to get a hold of a radar gun to see how fast he can throw them.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiopuP2AgCWdw_W26H6iD0mRF2KMCKKRw2aXdvfdRRrLkz1TO7EVu7v08yF-NOHiHTyAY8zodsMYX-6va3W-1z2kHh8Bny-lWQesiZcXrfsMKZH_FAAKXjMwuXGemrkkTS17x9k1CIPdWpX/s1600/IMG_6702.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiopuP2AgCWdw_W26H6iD0mRF2KMCKKRw2aXdvfdRRrLkz1TO7EVu7v08yF-NOHiHTyAY8zodsMYX-6va3W-1z2kHh8Bny-lWQesiZcXrfsMKZH_FAAKXjMwuXGemrkkTS17x9k1CIPdWpX/s320/IMG_6702.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
A little cake and baseball while Daddy sets up the Throw-back net! <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdTNSeuW5lHjQqOlhBS-HoYKsUAwzqEZIF0xSBmZBk1HAowLtIWt0ASecfSOiqq2sfarClnLTcPyAghYybgCHfEjE_NsuriQuJSDjGWy5B4ONSf_hmTOpASn0bIphN1YXgkoUwSDsxejSh/s1600/IMG_6703.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdTNSeuW5lHjQqOlhBS-HoYKsUAwzqEZIF0xSBmZBk1HAowLtIWt0ASecfSOiqq2sfarClnLTcPyAghYybgCHfEjE_NsuriQuJSDjGWy5B4ONSf_hmTOpASn0bIphN1YXgkoUwSDsxejSh/s320/IMG_6703.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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The more you help the faster it gets set up! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8RB-pfin1aGfBBmZ_JWvG7DT_OKnZN_TSNimVwlNYWIgUAfWGDNnielVD1Zr2zsSsuWV2Buc0JQemvKfFP7OEC9IPhnoPNNxZgwSPjkmGoQkJSIEfkZV2tsREDbIfkQm-cuT5Eq4b-A-w/s1600/IMG_6708.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8RB-pfin1aGfBBmZ_JWvG7DT_OKnZN_TSNimVwlNYWIgUAfWGDNnielVD1Zr2zsSsuWV2Buc0JQemvKfFP7OEC9IPhnoPNNxZgwSPjkmGoQkJSIEfkZV2tsREDbIfkQm-cuT5Eq4b-A-w/s320/IMG_6708.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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It took him about 10 mins to get the hang of it, but after he did, he LOVES it and uses it every day.<br />
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We have been very impressed with the dedication he has when it comes to baseball and practicing.<br />
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I can't wait until we can get him into little league!! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEtCMVyQRyAIi4xZw5jwq7fA41yncfKso5We208sQKCpTspSiTMGkOMOEYFu1JlkEpc90TYvsJLOC4AphYPiLF4TO0tKf5rKVXbrFIgMVycThGloqGj_7Ra2d8rUoMu1VJAu0JKdn7d5Yv/s1600/IMG_6714.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEtCMVyQRyAIi4xZw5jwq7fA41yncfKso5We208sQKCpTspSiTMGkOMOEYFu1JlkEpc90TYvsJLOC4AphYPiLF4TO0tKf5rKVXbrFIgMVycThGloqGj_7Ra2d8rUoMu1VJAu0JKdn7d5Yv/s320/IMG_6714.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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However, it's all fun and games until someone get's knocked in the nose.<img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwiYtoGihhaw2bgBzUt-3baN3f3M8hpcPQprSZicIC50IzxuCviyrUMPLlvG5_sD-1PZnoo8BbwGnq3Sk713nvgrvGIp5u8djcMRRtcYysW6ot9Zv164dPIelJQx3KaErFDfSYz2mNH9qG/s320/IMG_6718.JPG" width="320" /> </div>
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so while Gary was being consoled, Isaac decided to try is hand at the net and had so much fun!!! </div>
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Meanwhile, Gary learned why it's important to put his mitt in front of his face, instead of always having it in "grounder" position.</div>
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Did he fix his mistake?! <br />
Not right away,</div>
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But he can now confidently catch a ball that's coming right for his nose. </div>
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I typically go all out decoration wise for his birthday, I stay up late and start after they've gone to sleep. This year Greg had the GENIUS idea of just hanging balloons from the ceiling with streamers rather than string the streamers from one corner of the room to the other (like I normally do)<br />
It was WAY better!!!! <br />
When Gary got up he said it look like "raindrops not falling"</div>
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<i>sidenote:<br />we got caught. while hanging streamers from his door he woke up and came out, he saw what we were doing, smiled the biggest smile, said "it's ok that I saw what you were doing because I haven't seen the rest of it yet!" and then went right back to bed!</i></div>
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Isaac really wanted to make something for Gary for his birthday. So I found <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/892787/sharpie-tie-dye-t-shirt" target="_blank">this</a> tutorial by Martha Stewart and decided to give it a try on the white pillow case for Gary's long pillow..</div>
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Just so you know. You really do need the 90+% Isopropyl alcohol. Ours was only 70% and it didn't work that great...still looked coole enough for my little boys, just now what <i>I </i>was hoping for.</div>
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For his birthday PARTY, we apparently planned it on one of the busiest weekends, so only Greg's parents could attend, so we decided to take them and go bowling, another favorite activity of Gary's. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gary did a really good job</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isaac got a little excited at times,<br />
but also did a really good job!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Ashley had fun being passed around and held by everyone, or just sitting in the big chairs!</div>
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Call me crazy, but I think bowling shoes, especially little kid bowling shoes are the coolest shoes EVER!!! </div>
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Greg tried the whole game to get his m.p.h over 20. He finally did it at 21.07mph!!! </div>
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At the end of the day, Isaac won both games when it came to the kids.</div>
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1st game - Isaac 72 -- Gary 53</div>
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Greg 117 -- Sonya 99 </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(I rarely break 100. Bowling is not my strong suit, but it's one of my favorite things to do)</i></span></div>
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2nd Game - Isaac 79 -- Gary 54</div>
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Greg 135 -- Sonya 112<br />
Grandma and Grandpa smoked us all BOTH games.<br />
It's like they were playing a completely different game!!!!! <br />
<i>I think it's because of the bumpers we got for the "kids"</i></div>
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I was very happy the bowling ally we went to allowed us to bring cupcakes.</div>
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He was treated with Funfetti cupcakes with Nutella frosting. </div>
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Ashely patiently waiting.</div>
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She was so good the whole day!! </div>
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He loved his pillow case! </div>
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Grandma and Grandpa got Gary some new bases </div>
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and his very own "NEW MARINERS SHIRT!!" </div>
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And his very own "Mariners BALL!!" </div>
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All in all it was a very successful Birthday!!<br />
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And now he's five.<br />
And big.<br />
But he still wants to sit on my lap and snuggle at the end of the day. So, I Guess, until he's done snuggling with his momma he's not big just yet. He's just getting there.<br />
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<br />SonyaBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400924843906352417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637911850695898467.post-1375902099827766332013-07-11T09:38:00.002-07:002013-07-11T09:38:52.096-07:00There was a little girl...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Who had some little curls,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">all along the back of her head,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And when she was good,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">She was very, VERY good!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And when she was bad..... </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">She was horrid!!!!</span></div>
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and now you know why I've been MIA.<br />
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<br />SonyaBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400924843906352417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637911850695898467.post-72681168320630196142013-05-29T13:09:00.000-07:002013-05-29T13:09:59.024-07:001 for all<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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How do you make your kids be best buddies?<br />
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I don't think you can.<br />
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I think it's something that just happens.<br />
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I think it happens through a series of events.<br />
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Events that no one can plan or force on them<br />
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It happens through sleeping on top of each other in the car.<br />
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It happens through family movie night.<br />
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It happens through eating popcicles on the porch<br />
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I think it comes from being allowed to be silly together.<br />
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It comes from being allowed to fight with eachother, and learning how to work it out by your self.<br />
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I believe it happens when you set an example as parents of what bonding and cooperation looks like.<br />
They don't learn how to communicate unless they see what communication looks like.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0E7Q98XjTouyTayXpQyClXeEPAqi98jHm1goseQOCakNNPSXgqLjHPi7htAhS2ivHNs2d_Ya56HcgfozvXaR0qRhi9gWKifXridccf4dRzT8sp3OO6HpgpmTgx9lLC76Wx-U4xF_61AUq/s1600/IMG_6112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0E7Q98XjTouyTayXpQyClXeEPAqi98jHm1goseQOCakNNPSXgqLjHPi7htAhS2ivHNs2d_Ya56HcgfozvXaR0qRhi9gWKifXridccf4dRzT8sp3OO6HpgpmTgx9lLC76Wx-U4xF_61AUq/s320/IMG_6112.JPG" width="320" /></a>You can't force kids to do anything, believe me, I've tried.<br />
I think the trick is allowing you kids to be their own person, and not making them into someone you think they should be.<br />
Kids need to be allowed to make their own decisions (within reason). How are they to know what making a wrong choice feels like, if they aren't allowed to make wrong choices?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg39K_3Vt-rlWfhclLCTv4-ZAw7A5G368rjrx743mrjNJa8HXSgKL9aUPYKK94dooUBXlkW485Z5fkOGG1t3pJ6qhcNGY6ExzE0jvossr6AEh9EUpClK2bMO_woftsPsaWBbH-Dx_fuYOFI/s1600/IMG_6175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg39K_3Vt-rlWfhclLCTv4-ZAw7A5G368rjrx743mrjNJa8HXSgKL9aUPYKK94dooUBXlkW485Z5fkOGG1t3pJ6qhcNGY6ExzE0jvossr6AEh9EUpClK2bMO_woftsPsaWBbH-Dx_fuYOFI/s320/IMG_6175.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Siblings become buddies because, like adults, they have formed a friendship with each other. They have been taught to love and then given the opportunities to show that love, and feel that love from each other.<br />
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Siblings form an unbreakable bond from fighting, making up, picking on each other, and sticking up for each other.<br />
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There are moments, everyday, when I wonder if they will ever get it. If they will ever form that unbreakable bond.<br />
And then something happens, everyday, when I see that they have.<br />
They stick up for each other, they protect each other, they love each other.<br />
When one is down, the other 2 know, they care, and it makes them sad. It's makes my heart smile and I like to call that "pay day". It's moments like these when I look at my 3 amazing kiddos and realize that no matter what happens down the road when they have grown and gone, they'll be OK because they have each other and they have the unbreakable bond that only siblings can form.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><u><b>One for all and all for one.</b></u></i></span></div>
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<br />SonyaBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400924843906352417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637911850695898467.post-69966286117324224522013-02-21T15:19:00.000-08:002013-02-21T15:19:02.875-08:00Pets<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
There comes a time in every parents life when they have to address the subject of pets.</div>
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Our time has come. </div>
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The boys understand that both Greg and I, and what turns out to be them too, are severely allergic to cats. They also understand that they like their outside toys to much to let them be chewed up by puppies. We also like having grass in our backyard, and not having to scoop poop.</div>
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So last Saturday Isaac comes to Greg with this notebook written with the question:</div>
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"Can we buy a fish today?"</div>
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Greg, sadly had to tell him "no. not today"</div>
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To which Isaac responded with the sad face below it.</div>
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When Greg and I were first married we had a fish tank. It was lovely. I had fish to take care of, he bought himself some time in the baby department. I named all the fish funny names like Spot, Speedy, Booger, Slime face, and Twinkle. Some would die....one actually physically jumped out of the tank, which we found when we moved....Ewww. He would occasionally buy me a new one.</div>
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When we had Isaac I discovered I couldn't handle cleaning the tank and taking care of a baby and being pregnant again all at the same time. So we sadly flushed the fish, I cried, and the tank went into storage.</div>
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When we moved into the house, the boys were so tiny and we were considering getting pregnant again, so we sold the tank to on of our neighbors. </div>
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Well.....Now that neighbor has an adorable dog and they are done with the fish......</div>
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Needless to say we are talking about considering taking on the task of fish once more.</div>
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Ahhhh Parenthood! </div>
<br />SonyaBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400924843906352417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637911850695898467.post-38133073167920932342013-02-19T10:21:00.000-08:002013-02-19T10:21:17.437-08:00Toddle Toddle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Look who decided that Valentine's Day would be a good day to walk?! </div>
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Yes. That puts her at 14 1/2 months. A whole 5 months past Isaac and almost 4 months past Gary! </div>
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This little girl just continues to prove that things will be done in her time, and her time alone!!!</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/WvjixCExkw4?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />Gary picked her her hairdo this day!</div>
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So the story is this:</div>
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Ashley will take steps for Greg. Several steps at a time. But when I tried to get her to walk this is what I got:</div>
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<img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-aeJb_ULpYljTgdsb9XfeJgCAhesO89I7IQA9yCmDd_QnPUon1-3ZWfHFLrZ5BZPVueGxgd05TA2O1iMjYpgS6LChZ1qVAdC8HeTskjXkOS8idkidgZWmNCjIsyEPYV1h5Bl2QJMNKnsk/s320/IMG_5410.JPG" width="240" /> </div>
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Laid out flat! Refusing to walk anywhere. *don't ya just love that binky?!*</div>
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So Valentines Day I'm at my friends house getting my hair done and Ashley decides that she needs to be at the couch, so she stands up, and walks over to the couch. Now she's walking all over the place. Not in great distances but she is at least 60/40 walking/crawling.</div>
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In other news. Guess who is missing several teeth?!</div>
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<img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1E9caruz3NFtrnuXr4i8mz6KXIItwJL61LmYC9MppUfux7VM-AwtgFQ6fUB_YrX87SKX9uTdhuL-814UDtdftloqZwBZ-dsr1VwgFOvhJP-Jp_zVMYqJ83Y9udQt58KP9LyYrXNJM_lBM/s320/IMG_5452.JPG" width="240" /> </div>
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This guy just can't seem to keep em in!!! the tooth fairy is about to go broke at this rate!!</div>
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This one he swallowed. yep. He was eating some toast for breakfast and when he was done, the tooth was missing....straight up GONE!! So I think he swallowed it. He was worried at first but after I assured him the Tooth Fairy would still leave him something he felt better about it.</div>
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Life has been fun and crazy....I'm ready for winter to be over so that everyone can warm up and finally start feeling better. I'm over the constant cough and runny noses. </div>
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<br />SonyaBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400924843906352417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637911850695898467.post-47484418483823078022013-01-22T13:33:00.002-08:002013-01-22T13:33:25.859-08:0028<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Everyone has that defining year. That year that you really seem to get it together and take care of yourself, for once.</div>
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28 is that year for me! I am only 4 months in and already so much has happened that has made me feel more grown up.</div>
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It started off Great with doing my first 5k with my Mother in law and my Best friend!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7mZ9HRm-vPew7kblaqrbVzIpZ-WBQkFR4hM3VtDa2i9YYaAgqFMNuS0pynmZvcoqblPXV_Tw_l5LF7r22EP6Oqdy3OVifYQfNaPhiCdm4NjgAsrEATXDUC7s7sbF77Z-LpoB7TTgQWdL7/s1600/Rampage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7mZ9HRm-vPew7kblaqrbVzIpZ-WBQkFR4hM3VtDa2i9YYaAgqFMNuS0pynmZvcoqblPXV_Tw_l5LF7r22EP6Oqdy3OVifYQfNaPhiCdm4NjgAsrEATXDUC7s7sbF77Z-LpoB7TTgQWdL7/s320/Rampage.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I have never considered my self athletic or really into exercising or anything fitness related. When we signed up to do it I started running, every morning for about a mile. The week of the 5k I ran 3 miles every morning. I had so much fun running with my friends that I haven't stopped looking for which one I'm going to do next.<br />
I have also decided that I want to be in better shape for the next run, so my 2 best friends and I have started working out every day. We really dove in head first and we are doing the <a href="http://www.beachbody.com/product/fitness_programs/insanity.do?code=SEMB_GOOGLE_SAN&extcmp=g5771707371674a8&s_kwcid=TC|17312|insanity||S|e|18784321093&gclid=CLTtgL_o_LQCFUjZQgodf38A3w" target="_blank">Insanity Program</a>. It is Crazy hard and so much fun! I find myself looking forward to working out in the morning!! I'm trying to decide if I want to start it over when I finish or do one of the other 10 workout programs we own, but have only done for about a week....<br />I'm so happy with the results I'm getting and I've only done it for 3 weeks. We are at the beginning of week 4.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSV3JCBEQ-l4fRFz3fN3TgZnETKuM_ulmJHw11bytr5IXQme2i-UizZQu1_8w4vBlfzBFibIcuvZkONHe4bfCAq6UGxUqgRzaeOnBLLmUTV7c8WRQ3xPJzMm7NsclT4gXapwl_1W6gGsxN/s1600/IMG_4190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSV3JCBEQ-l4fRFz3fN3TgZnETKuM_ulmJHw11bytr5IXQme2i-UizZQu1_8w4vBlfzBFibIcuvZkONHe4bfCAq6UGxUqgRzaeOnBLLmUTV7c8WRQ3xPJzMm7NsclT4gXapwl_1W6gGsxN/s320/IMG_4190.JPG" width="320" /></a>We are also busy with Isaac being in Kindergarten. He is LOVING it and I am loving being able to help out in his classroom twice a month. I love to see him in class soaking up every bit of knowledge he can. I love being able to see how he interacts with the other kids and who his friends are. I love being able to put a face with the names of the kids he talks about, and I love that his friends are now starting to recognize me and say Hi to me when we drop him off at school! It's fun to watch him grow into his own person and have his own opinions and feelings about different things.<br />
Isaac also lost his first tooth this past year and I never realized how that effects a mother. It's exciting, and kind of scary to pull a tooth out of your little one's face, or to have him walk up to you with a tooth in his hand and a hole in his face. It makes you feel older to realize you are old enough to have a child with missing teeth and in Kindergarten!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3YPkAGpaRvce-DuqrK7xdO0w1TPk8zUz_7w9ojlHjt9WtP0ZtipB2W-b7Kc3jySCj7ekXeQVPQ9eBe6jtd1h4GPDYSTCVs029jHcSbbPGICD1FuO4S6PBcDxjtM2ZGvDVCdHYvRnykxaY/s1600/IMG_4621.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3YPkAGpaRvce-DuqrK7xdO0w1TPk8zUz_7w9ojlHjt9WtP0ZtipB2W-b7Kc3jySCj7ekXeQVPQ9eBe6jtd1h4GPDYSTCVs029jHcSbbPGICD1FuO4S6PBcDxjtM2ZGvDVCdHYvRnykxaY/s320/IMG_4621.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgjuKkYi4FXE2DPW0UIsSYGPQrIzXpw0AQwnR7Mi6MW2rSD1GQqJx2sKlQgD8TfBJ697uUU2CNsAQYbHRgmm865b8Egit89cX-3IuRpaZU4E8bN57QnhM2jnQQJzd9PXZP0SUrxlb9V4Vk/s1600/IMG_4902.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgjuKkYi4FXE2DPW0UIsSYGPQrIzXpw0AQwnR7Mi6MW2rSD1GQqJx2sKlQgD8TfBJ697uUU2CNsAQYbHRgmm865b8Egit89cX-3IuRpaZU4E8bN57QnhM2jnQQJzd9PXZP0SUrxlb9V4Vk/s320/IMG_4902.JPG" width="240" /></a>Another big deal is that Ashley turned 1!<br />
Our last little one.<br />
There is a certain reflective feeling you get when your last child turns 1.<br />
It's the last 1st birthday party you get to throw.<br />
It begins the year of the last first word, the last first step, the last first cupcake.<br />
The feeling of completion you get when you look at your family and realize that this is the last pair of tiny shoes that will litter your hallway.<br />
It's kind of a sad thing to realize, but it's liberating to know that you are happy with life and happy with how it's turning out.<br />
Your body created these 3 perfect little people who have everything they need and some of what they want. They are taken care of, and loved, and happy! It feels good to be in a place where you are able to take care of your family and know that they are there to take care of you too.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfvtiNpSWvtdJYkiXzCjSqEiNjCzewTxxT_HdQeI1u52zJhpGGaVeMW4GVkDLRIqhf-iBbfMT7OBOHxAlmzVfDM5N2U1um8bUolvTi4ZH094lfhIZiXFZxtuTx0OZwtbcbNMZN_6Mr0eXh/s1600/IMG_4201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfvtiNpSWvtdJYkiXzCjSqEiNjCzewTxxT_HdQeI1u52zJhpGGaVeMW4GVkDLRIqhf-iBbfMT7OBOHxAlmzVfDM5N2U1um8bUolvTi4ZH094lfhIZiXFZxtuTx0OZwtbcbNMZN_6Mr0eXh/s320/IMG_4201.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
Gary is my little man. He is me (as a kid) in boy form. He is loud, and crazy, and sometime uncontrollable. But if you need something, he is THERE!!! He is helpful, and loving, and just wants to be included in everything!<br />
He needs to be allowed to run, and yell, and do crazy, dangerous things. He is daring, and sweet, and loud as all get out, but bless his heart, he is there with a great big bear hug if your day is swirlin around that drain!<br />
He has shown me a lot about what it means to have the love of God towards everyone. That kid loves everyone! <br />He is our Little Bear and he loves it. He makes me feel like screaming and singing all at the same time. He has really taught me how to have more patience and try to understand things better. Most of the time (as I'm sure it is with all kids) he melts down before you can figure out what the problem is. And as long as you don't yell or get frustrated with him, it's pretty easy to figure it out and solve whatever is upsetting him. He has learned which buttons to push to get Isaac upset and he's learned how to react to Isaac to get Isaac into trouble. He is clever and very smart, although he's very good and acting likes he's not.<br />
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Kids have a funny way of helping you grow up. They fight and fight all day long but at the end of the day, they are the best of friends who can't go to bed without each other.</div>
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They teach you patience, and problem solving. </div>
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Love and understanding are required when you are a parent.</div>
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They define you. They are apart of you and they make you who you are. You wouldn't be "Mom" without them.</div>
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<img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZO6TaobUp-VUCngEs8jwyef7uKs9Z5WiBihf3i4uulRrCrlXPOUBAgRF8NH84Rvd9W9xotHWHQY6ortkipqE27s6znL22cmTtaxHSkZEmPlv5Ij7JTCKLMq6qASRbqM7hxEgElsTWGaIA/s320/IMG_5085.JPG" width="320" /> </div>
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There are moments when I think "why did I want this so badly" and then they come to you with a simple problem that they can't solve them selves. </div>
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Tie my shoe.</div>
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Zip my coat.</div>
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What's 3+3?</div>
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I need a drink. </div>
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Can I have a snack?<br />Where's my bunny. or puppy. or teddy. or buddy.</div>
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Can you please come put the blankets back on me?</div>
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And then I look at them and remember, oh-yah. Because I wanted to be the one called "mom" to tie the shoes and zip the coats and snuggle them into bed at night. I wanted to be the one to dress and feed and clean and take care of the little ones. I wanted someone who relied on me to survive. I wanted little ones who would love me even when I'm a hot mess. I wanted to be the responsible one who made sure they have clothes and food and snuggles. Beds, pillows, blankets, and a little stuffed friend to keep them safe. </div>
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And in order to claim all of those privileges you have to claim the role of referee. You have to take the fights to get the love. The whining to get the kiss. The tantrum to get the smile.</div>
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These past 4 months of being 28 has really been crazy, and fun, and scary, and exciting. I love having "Ah-Ha" moments that show me things I have been missing, but didn't know. </div>
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Everyone reaches their "grown up" year at a different age....mine seems to be 28.</div>
<br />SonyaBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400924843906352417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637911850695898467.post-28471544530239233742012-12-19T21:19:00.000-08:002012-12-19T21:19:18.413-08:00LeT it SnOw<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwiWxhDE9VrWyIhNF-jwl6AWaL2xMokGv5-WNzizJftqZSg1ke1ygKJJMk6JIsxRF-S5iBPtrLyy-fGhogJWrKORgx55aJiKsmRSdZG7fKryKsZDJo5HPU6-m-0hxUUVSWuoRA1Ueh_P6L/s1600/IMG_5065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwiWxhDE9VrWyIhNF-jwl6AWaL2xMokGv5-WNzizJftqZSg1ke1ygKJJMk6JIsxRF-S5iBPtrLyy-fGhogJWrKORgx55aJiKsmRSdZG7fKryKsZDJo5HPU6-m-0hxUUVSWuoRA1Ueh_P6L/s320/IMG_5065.JPG" width="320" /></a>It snowed!<br />Our first snow of the season!<br />It's always a magical thing....the first snow.<br />You wait, and wait, and wait...and when you finally see those fluffy white flakes falling from the sky something happens inside your soul that you can't describe. --- You can try. <br />You can try to describe it as, the kid in you coming out, but what if you are a kid...<br />You can try to describe it as, a peaceful blanket covering the earth as if it was time for the whole world to go to bed under a big, white, down<br />comforter....but it's cold...<br /><br /></div>
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But somehow, no matter how hard you try. You just can't describe the magical thing that happens when it snows for the first time.</div>
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All you can do is try to enjoy it.<br />You try to build a snowmen....even if it's not the right kind of snow...</div>
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You walk, just to see your foot prints, and explore your whole new yard.</div>
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You find all the toys that didn't get tucked away some place warm, that are now buried in their cold down comforter of snow. </div>
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Or maybe you just sit and watch.</div>
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Maybe you are unsure what to do. You don't want to contaminate it with silly things like foot prints or snow men. </div>
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But then, when you do decide to brave the cold and unknown, it's fun.</div>
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Maybe it makes you scrunch your nose and giggle a bit.</div>
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Maybe you just want to stand there and experience this new, cold, fluffy, crunchy, stuff that has taken over your yard. </div>
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And maybe you get cold. </div>
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The thrill of it wears off because now your pants are wet and your hands are cold. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh_H0FxE7xWx4nAPR4EfcpfvqOPy26YhQTI9K7-1_a3Ud-crzUYepdaOgMUWSJnzlDZHqCskEJ8TKOoj58VoSIFlVB6wjVRH8p-L_ZBG5mijkCCTwOv_u9KP7SRqV_WXZOKD6Rq2FmIw31/s1600/IMG_5077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh_H0FxE7xWx4nAPR4EfcpfvqOPy26YhQTI9K7-1_a3Ud-crzUYepdaOgMUWSJnzlDZHqCskEJ8TKOoj58VoSIFlVB6wjVRH8p-L_ZBG5mijkCCTwOv_u9KP7SRqV_WXZOKD6Rq2FmIw31/s320/IMG_5077.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWpuknV6WUXJLUVuLyUNmHn8CpjZ1Yp7gmUPvWotbGNj-uQnrzplYg8fsdZJNEGERoPfakXILFfWlsBXvEFn9BuxcjnCwKa_NFaR0ErYzFyyYpYrP5T2Q8dIYe8tTYGsjkBiVae8EgFwZ6/s1600/IMG_5085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWpuknV6WUXJLUVuLyUNmHn8CpjZ1Yp7gmUPvWotbGNj-uQnrzplYg8fsdZJNEGERoPfakXILFfWlsBXvEFn9BuxcjnCwKa_NFaR0ErYzFyyYpYrP5T2Q8dIYe8tTYGsjkBiVae8EgFwZ6/s320/IMG_5085.JPG" width="320" /></a>Whatever it is. Something happens. Something you can't describe, and something you can't stop from happening. Something inside you scrunches their nose, giggles and needs to go out into those fluffy white flakes falling from the sky. Something inside you is taken over by the crisp, white blanket. Something that calls for hats, gloves, fluffy coats and hot cocoa!</div>
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Snow does something indescribably wonderful! </div>
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<br />SonyaBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400924843906352417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637911850695898467.post-52055836033619353702012-12-17T13:18:00.001-08:002012-12-17T13:18:43.208-08:00Ashley turns 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Ashley is now 1 year old!</div>
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She is amazing! She is so funny and so sweet!<br />She is the princess and she knows it!<br />And because she is our princess I felt the need to throw her a part that only an mother can appreciate!<br />It was way to much for a 1 yr old party and it was Perfect!</div>
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Since she was born on December 1st with red hair, she has acquired the nickname of being our redheaded snowflake.</div>
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So one of my best friends and neighbor came over and helped me make these snowflakes out of Popsicle sticks!</div>
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Here she is in her hand made tutu (by me) and hair bow (by Jenyka)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUQh5cEgPgsXhA7EH7qLJhl_euDe9Z0Wdcdn0Uu6HyJyXViFquzc8yqcpxD-8otCGBjUXOF5T6gaH_WuYxSAsPnQJ8q3vnXqIeO7DdE7ylz1VRXr_pqqZY31hajyNCPdXAoqNuyKWMDkN2/s1600/IMG_4902.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUQh5cEgPgsXhA7EH7qLJhl_euDe9Z0Wdcdn0Uu6HyJyXViFquzc8yqcpxD-8otCGBjUXOF5T6gaH_WuYxSAsPnQJ8q3vnXqIeO7DdE7ylz1VRXr_pqqZY31hajyNCPdXAoqNuyKWMDkN2/s320/IMG_4902.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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We didn't do much (HA) in way of food. But what we did have was YUMALICIOUS!!!</div>
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Eggnog cookies, Carmel Filled, Apple Cider cookies, Mint Truffle kisses, Candy Cane kisses, and Candy canes!</div>
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We even did Snowmen filled with hot chocolate mix and marshmallows for the party favor! </div>
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Enjoying her birthday cupcake! </div>
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Playing with her new blocks </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHKuMuFNTXovVGaYTyA8S4vwsy_gOdAta5Qhim5ofKEH7ihyphenhyphenp7GCgxrfBYhmR0cNtuengO8AAzWjFliDgsBnDH2pwbP7sWhme6Q8ETcxgSqAqM5Q9gXA9hnYYLyvjlRRUpFMN9vadHihQn/s1600/IMG_4956.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHKuMuFNTXovVGaYTyA8S4vwsy_gOdAta5Qhim5ofKEH7ihyphenhyphenp7GCgxrfBYhmR0cNtuengO8AAzWjFliDgsBnDH2pwbP7sWhme6Q8ETcxgSqAqM5Q9gXA9hnYYLyvjlRRUpFMN9vadHihQn/s320/IMG_4956.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is what happens when you have a mom who thinks it would be funny to put your tutu on your head! </div>
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Wearing her new hat playing with her new toy.<br />how a birthday should be spent</div>
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Her Birthday/Christmas dress from her Papa. </div>
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I can't believe our BABY is 1. She has grown so much in the past year, and it makes me a little sad that this could very well be the last 1 yr old birthday party I get to throw. In the same breath I Love our little family and we feel completed and our home is bursting with love, laughter, and loud! I wouldn't want it any other way!SonyaBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400924843906352417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637911850695898467.post-64525866116170781042012-12-17T13:07:00.002-08:002012-12-17T13:07:27.676-08:00Who does that?!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Who goes 2 months without updating their blog!? Apparently, I do, and I am sorry.</div>
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Here are some random updates.</div>
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Ashley rocked her first Halloween like a pro! She was a ghost and her brothers were super heroes.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTFSUJW5XY8lNF-Sfgrlax9eyUgoWdbaQTvnSP6k6GzkudeBv1IW0qURyCfhQuZYTZt-6eSIwonuWhYyNwIaWkfHn4FuJIwUR63fFmymULmUtF1-zhVA8I1t8xn2Ud_gA8I3KJd2HZrImC/s1600/IMG_4647.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTFSUJW5XY8lNF-Sfgrlax9eyUgoWdbaQTvnSP6k6GzkudeBv1IW0qURyCfhQuZYTZt-6eSIwonuWhYyNwIaWkfHn4FuJIwUR63fFmymULmUtF1-zhVA8I1t8xn2Ud_gA8I3KJd2HZrImC/s320/IMG_4647.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isaac likes to fall asleep wearing hats. He says they're his "night caps"</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguKPPSxYKX6_igc60f_WZ320JhVbz2yWOtPw0rEfAirK0ihhHBAm8FhxBW4GTosy-P6l8BexRiW3ypbUdGSg9OsPDOSVx7CFD0NrNuyPZBarU2xw5z4K7oQwUyseepxaFHQYN0jmh5Iyn8/s1600/IMG_4721.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguKPPSxYKX6_igc60f_WZ320JhVbz2yWOtPw0rEfAirK0ihhHBAm8FhxBW4GTosy-P6l8BexRiW3ypbUdGSg9OsPDOSVx7CFD0NrNuyPZBarU2xw5z4K7oQwUyseepxaFHQYN0jmh5Iyn8/s320/IMG_4721.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You know you're doing something right when this is what you see at breakfast time</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjom1DpxkNDulzzy72u3W3XgdBRJX3tyLOMsaEh5yuru2kQTcksIFNOElM3VmX5OaZOU58xtfhUJ5vf086NN1D6HxiLj0oCDWYl4ThlIXwu__fBnIiLgqGJRq1QmoN4vUguBd8prrZLJGIF/s1600/IMG_4722.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjom1DpxkNDulzzy72u3W3XgdBRJX3tyLOMsaEh5yuru2kQTcksIFNOElM3VmX5OaZOU58xtfhUJ5vf086NN1D6HxiLj0oCDWYl4ThlIXwu__fBnIiLgqGJRq1QmoN4vUguBd8prrZLJGIF/s320/IMG_4722.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isaac won an award for honesty at school</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhosx92P8RToI1uHZXqvMFGxotHzYTlhPBI5M-uv-SWq2NjnLHiZwrpm5UT8oxPOtrvA5HoIBEl8j-xIYOlbmsZbhIyWJRmdGypo_juoCkUs3MtZ5gLqGzq793AdRHScA9CAnvtS_zWx_yq/s1600/IMG_4737.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhosx92P8RToI1uHZXqvMFGxotHzYTlhPBI5M-uv-SWq2NjnLHiZwrpm5UT8oxPOtrvA5HoIBEl8j-xIYOlbmsZbhIyWJRmdGypo_juoCkUs3MtZ5gLqGzq793AdRHScA9CAnvtS_zWx_yq/s320/IMG_4737.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ashley likes to make funny faces</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPgWu6cpaOMAElOvj0i1wnIpulGO8_YT8dJHP7aOZpV0L0ow67cR0ytbNTFj5zzcA-_08OmXil_inxagBTjl08xjOZ9iI7KkTWKFkdgt-_xqDLQsTyTpucKth6LediXGbNz6vo9zuwy20k/s1600/IMG_4784.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPgWu6cpaOMAElOvj0i1wnIpulGO8_YT8dJHP7aOZpV0L0ow67cR0ytbNTFj5zzcA-_08OmXil_inxagBTjl08xjOZ9iI7KkTWKFkdgt-_xqDLQsTyTpucKth6LediXGbNz6vo9zuwy20k/s320/IMG_4784.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love this face!!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCw_Qlk2sVU4ebhmNdPhQuU4Ge-bYczUgqlcKZaFFaLtfcwRj4Hrm7EEIrJ3ArM8sLLSxJ2-9DWUt8mrA8-7SZUm07vQbwbetXyZedfZlyp8qWd9L1aK3yi1RiLrrOr2JiPRhtXnsuzB4b/s1600/IMG_4787.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCw_Qlk2sVU4ebhmNdPhQuU4Ge-bYczUgqlcKZaFFaLtfcwRj4Hrm7EEIrJ3ArM8sLLSxJ2-9DWUt8mrA8-7SZUm07vQbwbetXyZedfZlyp8qWd9L1aK3yi1RiLrrOr2JiPRhtXnsuzB4b/s320/IMG_4787.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isaac reading bedtime stories</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh03nzIgDclFcvnWr49-5kAKBrdxBpOGQZM_w4iGcxeXcbkD5OgQqr1fUpTEd3awqXK-PMdgfbATXhIviu9whpSJ1sj1sOXOm0UpO6Dmo0wXpjJq2Qvzw6UBX2NuZWMSgvoyDqx4T2SUE2/s1600/IMG_4842.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh03nzIgDclFcvnWr49-5kAKBrdxBpOGQZM_w4iGcxeXcbkD5OgQqr1fUpTEd3awqXK-PMdgfbATXhIviu9whpSJ1sj1sOXOm0UpO6Dmo0wXpjJq2Qvzw6UBX2NuZWMSgvoyDqx4T2SUE2/s320/IMG_4842.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ashely enjoying her 1st Thanksgiving meal<br />*thedayafterforlunch*</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibvdtzb6xPzb_s1Vv888B541dcZEnKB5j77Ojy3QIOuLUh6JIXI_f1TYGmjAw7hhIrjql2qWJw5J9YMbSXLNrUNmGbqUIFatWaTD2dxhoaPrNRrc0laAEO0fwmsobzU0HUEWqrTCp6wdfJ/s1600/IMG_4854.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibvdtzb6xPzb_s1Vv888B541dcZEnKB5j77Ojy3QIOuLUh6JIXI_f1TYGmjAw7hhIrjql2qWJw5J9YMbSXLNrUNmGbqUIFatWaTD2dxhoaPrNRrc0laAEO0fwmsobzU0HUEWqrTCp6wdfJ/s320/IMG_4854.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The boys putting up the tree</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSUxjzkwWczovmmM3l8T3GPTx3MBjWuyELQTyzqhhx6IwtVHonJbkaQURlbmNZAMWwIFtQV5V8DG45gVOe6KghuD6w2dpSR32OnPnD5KTsd3WlquApsEG9XAZL93mKHcBGSvZW_vCXhf9R/s1600/IMG_4857.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSUxjzkwWczovmmM3l8T3GPTx3MBjWuyELQTyzqhhx6IwtVHonJbkaQURlbmNZAMWwIFtQV5V8DG45gVOe6KghuD6w2dpSR32OnPnD5KTsd3WlquApsEG9XAZL93mKHcBGSvZW_vCXhf9R/s320/IMG_4857.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ashley "helping"</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwrUcnYl1vLrWO3jleEP5O0on4NKvKJqlfAJCmhOq_PV4w3lnpDRtjdCrQN-X9Bbho-4IkCfKdLF8y7-WjtgViYi9Dy5zQo9rkbz4ih4uCoQLAEuBRysLIO883wZdZqYvmdP5zuxhWq3pP/s1600/IMG_4977.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwrUcnYl1vLrWO3jleEP5O0on4NKvKJqlfAJCmhOq_PV4w3lnpDRtjdCrQN-X9Bbho-4IkCfKdLF8y7-WjtgViYi9Dy5zQo9rkbz4ih4uCoQLAEuBRysLIO883wZdZqYvmdP5zuxhWq3pP/s320/IMG_4977.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is what happens when you have crackers and Ashley wants them</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZekgLA9Brlm0t5xbBlDP6GYC2DlwvNdhJBzw6li_9mQQRONEZweNglQ5Pd9QLdM9CsWBULzptidcgKAScrjcoJvq_WejLQe5swt-8bItsUl4lYPObhE-7RYC8JD9Tlu0mXOxkNlueVDj9/s1600/IMG_4978.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZekgLA9Brlm0t5xbBlDP6GYC2DlwvNdhJBzw6li_9mQQRONEZweNglQ5Pd9QLdM9CsWBULzptidcgKAScrjcoJvq_WejLQe5swt-8bItsUl4lYPObhE-7RYC8JD9Tlu0mXOxkNlueVDj9/s320/IMG_4978.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is what happens when she doesn't get said crackers</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0sP7ao24FFINMed174gJ0twVOgmuALm2qXgihHToCAXcJjxNvtR-y6V5Uzid8KW5Ptj5LQmIAOZkTUfINfcQKzLUvatX3ZzQypeTnwFQlIUlxHSAQYHaa6j-TzT2su-gVQG5hagmwWfyS/s1600/IMG_4991.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0sP7ao24FFINMed174gJ0twVOgmuALm2qXgihHToCAXcJjxNvtR-y6V5Uzid8KW5Ptj5LQmIAOZkTUfINfcQKzLUvatX3ZzQypeTnwFQlIUlxHSAQYHaa6j-TzT2su-gVQG5hagmwWfyS/s320/IMG_4991.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ashely rockin the bedhead</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLOcQYWW2RQ9MPmMHmm6ietSgA_uwAuLV2u_2MxHiI8cbSHfxeX4unVj5X8rQ65E4H0XRoXXgaokw8kwy3fpi0xggojbDTFvLGdHiwWXClrDL_YUu4uPy_WKCzA49HgByI9bpsVZQa2-uk/s1600/IMG_4999.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLOcQYWW2RQ9MPmMHmm6ietSgA_uwAuLV2u_2MxHiI8cbSHfxeX4unVj5X8rQ65E4H0XRoXXgaokw8kwy3fpi0xggojbDTFvLGdHiwWXClrDL_YUu4uPy_WKCzA49HgByI9bpsVZQa2-uk/s320/IMG_4999.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rockin the Pig tails</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
We went to the fire station to see Santa and the boys were terrified and Ashley screamed. But on the way out they LOVED the fire truck and the fireman!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMC_pBaWCDsLJWGvvAizbGDxnnSwuJu_HYQBASxolccFYYlVkM6RDRdnFwPBR0M-DRyUxysmhyOoC0U97RvKWoIe-sEuRAo4278Eha7rboeozvWIWOh8bc5Hdjpf8vLE4QDb0ary__ZdPu/s1600/IMG_5048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMC_pBaWCDsLJWGvvAizbGDxnnSwuJu_HYQBASxolccFYYlVkM6RDRdnFwPBR0M-DRyUxysmhyOoC0U97RvKWoIe-sEuRAo4278Eha7rboeozvWIWOh8bc5Hdjpf8vLE4QDb0ary__ZdPu/s320/IMG_5048.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isaac writing his letter to Santa.</td></tr>
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<br />SonyaBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400924843906352417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637911850695898467.post-75219749964746642612012-10-20T22:06:00.003-07:002012-10-20T22:06:43.609-07:00Glitter and Sparkles<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Can I just say, I love being the tooth fairy?! My job is soooo cool!! I get to bust out the fairy dust and my ninja sneakiness and make kids happy!! Tonight, a little boy lost his very first tooth!! AMAZING Right?! I love the first ones. So cute. So tiny. So scared. So excited!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">He had his tooth in a little plastic bag <span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(maybe someone should work on a tooth pillow for him) </i></span>neatly tucked under the corner of his pillow, which made it easier to find. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">I heard that his brother was very sad that it was not his turn for me to visit so I made sure to leave him a little note too, letting him know that his turn would come and to be patient. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">I always like to write down the date of each tooth and where I gathered it from. I've heard it makes a nice little gift later on in life.....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Being the Tooth Fairy is a pretty awesome job and I wouldn't trade it in for the world.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Now if you don't mind...hopping around on these letters is exhausting so I must be off. other kids have teeth that fall out!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">xoxo - The Tooth Fairy </span></div>
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SonyaBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400924843906352417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637911850695898467.post-11532641855853513292012-10-20T20:08:00.000-07:002012-10-20T20:08:12.124-07:00Otter Pops & Tooth Fairies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It was bedtime in the house. There were tears that come when a super fun day has come to an end. The kind of day that that's filled with birthday parties and cake, jumping in bouncy houses with friends, playing and dancing in the rain and a family movie night. After a day like that some tears are to be expected.</div>
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As he threw himself into bed he suddenly sat up in shock! The tooth that had been wigglier than a worm on a hook had been knocked so loose it was hanging by a thread....or root, take your pick.</div>
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His parents, thinking it not safe to sleep with such a wiggly tooth, gave it a gentle tug and out it came!!</div>
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And so it is that their oldest, their Ace, lost his very first tooth!!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUpu2LNMRDmnTqz5AJw2cGKFPaLVlNiX_6pv7Y2VeTEnfYHWzNpVqtFiWBD2pX9i89YXUKAicwVspPCkMWlzJkdZKwOs-SJC3iI6pWAN33cKlm4qj_ElVV1aM8ieV1wYUXSVg1tPBGnxsq/s320/IMG_4621.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A little scared at the thought that his tooth just came out, there were tears</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUaQFtHScYjKyyFGmt-kTtsBTJBkKlsFJOLzrCZ9AUhH-Tn0iMUce01acpRtvhLgbkHBUtkFEvsw4KOeiXR_RuYLXlVcrPA44uARxttkO3myD_Z4JpTXCYlsnSZyzyaL2PAk0uaAvDdRuQ/s1600/IMG_4622.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUaQFtHScYjKyyFGmt-kTtsBTJBkKlsFJOLzrCZ9AUhH-Tn0iMUce01acpRtvhLgbkHBUtkFEvsw4KOeiXR_RuYLXlVcrPA44uARxttkO3myD_Z4JpTXCYlsnSZyzyaL2PAk0uaAvDdRuQ/s320/IMG_4622.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After a cold rag and an otter pop, he's much more excited</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoX9SY7dc5qtxGhiQjwnmZ7acxuLiu9TFbUX4iWzyzecIhOxs-8D4xGYOVRo1sVNGJOckxHttkk0DhddhT1Szvd6lmrC-eXJF2tFsFsjeYU9JfvUCJQIXFOEKO8xoYbWMsmE0KgMmwdFmr/s1600/IMG_4624.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoX9SY7dc5qtxGhiQjwnmZ7acxuLiu9TFbUX4iWzyzecIhOxs-8D4xGYOVRo1sVNGJOckxHttkk0DhddhT1Szvd6lmrC-eXJF2tFsFsjeYU9JfvUCJQIXFOEKO8xoYbWMsmE0KgMmwdFmr/s320/IMG_4624.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bring it on Tooth Fairy</td></tr>
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And so it is.....as the boys would say "today is the first day the tooth fairy comes to our house!"</div>
SonyaBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400924843906352417noreply@blogger.com0