tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-250609382024-03-19T06:36:07.124-04:00Slice of HeavenThis is a page specifically designed for our family and friends to keep up to date with the many happenings in our corner of the world-our little slice of heaven that God has entrusted us with for our time here on earth. Enjoy!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger266125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25060938.post-12149644903082495792013-02-05T08:06:00.001-05:002013-02-05T08:06:21.609-05:00Birthday weekendEric and I just celebrated our birthdays. They happened to fall on the weekend of a swim meet so we didn't celebrate officially until the following weekend. <br />
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Not to be dissuaded from making the day special, since I was coaching all day at the meet on my birthday, Dennis and the kids brought me a Mylar balloon that I was instructed to carry around all day at the meet. I probably was wished happy birthday more times that day than ever before! <br />
Eric's 14 th birthday followed mine and he found a box of goodies at the bottom of his swim bag. He had fun opening that in front of his swim friends! <br />
So this past weekend he and I cooperated on a birthday breakfast and dinner menu and enjoyed a family celebration together. <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOdFAsT3D5bkuC0e4WK9pzd0VObiCaeo5rLjebLlhNeh1df93qc9K3OdHoGaVXZ39GXy-7zCvwxZnulZUZI2ZCg-IbGtLMRoLaKFbjENjhykXQP-8YmHSIW0Vh-eYeqW8E8_Bh/s640/blogger-image--2111821620.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOdFAsT3D5bkuC0e4WK9pzd0VObiCaeo5rLjebLlhNeh1df93qc9K3OdHoGaVXZ39GXy-7zCvwxZnulZUZI2ZCg-IbGtLMRoLaKFbjENjhykXQP-8YmHSIW0Vh-eYeqW8E8_Bh/s640/blogger-image--2111821620.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsL-dGxd1B3_1ckFKulW3ji0vpL0YIGCXzBVmQv0I0ghJuAugZmtzJAP_1lUVSYiNkP8LZmGsZwSSJ77ffi81a9Pu8pMEDzk0zMLL8zUBY7VmKschhlsYnDQgfD65cgfxmpToA/s640/blogger-image--2018640218.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsL-dGxd1B3_1ckFKulW3ji0vpL0YIGCXzBVmQv0I0ghJuAugZmtzJAP_1lUVSYiNkP8LZmGsZwSSJ77ffi81a9Pu8pMEDzk0zMLL8zUBY7VmKschhlsYnDQgfD65cgfxmpToA/s640/blogger-image--2018640218.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE47Y5QU51svCHEzhNfqZsOZRhptonj7Iof6HgnuMjETL5rSKOmF4xNIlTKYcOedm1uwzh9l04peQiuRcg9Nebb7dO1H5OQAIiwh0Ct4ufgReuFjGg5ukm_BY2O7ffillJRO-7/s640/blogger-image--946028002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE47Y5QU51svCHEzhNfqZsOZRhptonj7Iof6HgnuMjETL5rSKOmF4xNIlTKYcOedm1uwzh9l04peQiuRcg9Nebb7dO1H5OQAIiwh0Ct4ufgReuFjGg5ukm_BY2O7ffillJRO-7/s640/blogger-image--946028002.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_nYlllVgwcDdnrjjFrbxwS_KVdlmS-SoAxpiPr3pyKp7NnzpHtpGFNkY_hjg3hiIbWpECDJsiwqqCUqNjBtOmY3LAPw1vgeEmxSOkOMoFnpYTGp5A6fCv7bGJCGYaQKoov-f3/s640/blogger-image--1611393721.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_nYlllVgwcDdnrjjFrbxwS_KVdlmS-SoAxpiPr3pyKp7NnzpHtpGFNkY_hjg3hiIbWpECDJsiwqqCUqNjBtOmY3LAPw1vgeEmxSOkOMoFnpYTGp5A6fCv7bGJCGYaQKoov-f3/s640/blogger-image--1611393721.jpg" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25060938.post-7048654827088466012013-01-30T07:42:00.001-05:002013-01-30T07:43:07.867-05:00Science FairBay and Leah participated in our local science fair this year on a project they did together. We weren't even planning on it since we were gone over Christmas but they had done an experiment as part of their science and really got into it. Next thing I know they are telling me they want to enter the fair with it! How could I say no to that enthusiasm! <br />
They had a good time sharing their work with adults and friends, however leading up to the night Bay was feeling nervous. I overheard their conversation and Leah shared with her brother that he did not need to be worried because she had already prayed about it and God would help them do fine. I was blessed to hear this interaction and see that God is so real to Leah! <br />
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Not that we haven't had enough travel in our lives so far this year, but we just had to add one more big trip to the tally for 2012!<br />
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I am just now finally writing about our Christmas trip, even though it has been several weeks ago and seems like ages ago-I still want to chronicle highlights and a summary for posterity! </div>
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We really didn't initially plan on any type of big trip over Christmas, but things kind of fell into place, and my very generous parents gifted us a large portion of the trip, so how could we refuse?</div>
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It started out with Dennis' work-related trip to Seattle the week before Christmas. I always jump at any chance to accompany Dennis when he goes anywhere interesting, and we had some airline points to take advantage of, which made my portion of the trip virtually free. Our plan was for Dennis and I to be in Seattle for the week and then my parents would fly out with the kids at the end of the week to meet us out there. My brother, Andy, was also flying out during the week. Once we were all together, we would travel by train to Vancouver, British Columbia, and then from there, rent cars and drive up to Whistler, BC to go skiing for the Christmas week. It was a rather complicated plan, complicated by lots of baggage-skis, board, boots, bindings, helmets, ski clothes and everything else for 8 people. It was further complicated by having to get from hotel to train station to rental car facility and back to the airport with bags and people. In hindsight, we would do it all much more simply next time. </div>
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Dennis and I had a nice time in Seattle, once he got his root canal out of the way! Yes, a root canal on the first day we were there! He had an emergency dentist appointment right before we left and our dentist said it could not wait-good thing too-he was in pretty bad shape. By God's grace we found an endodontist Monday morning who could take him that same day-and located right next to our hotel too. Dennis felt immediate relief after the procedure, though it took the rest of the week for his infection to clear up, the extreme sensitivities were gone right away. In fact, he celebrated by going to get a milkshake right afterwards! He and I spent the rest of that afternoon in north Seattle at a hilarious novelty shop called Archie McPhee's. We then went out to Discovery Park and watched the sun set. </div>
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Some of the crazy type stuff at Archie McPhees!</div>
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Of course, he had to work the rest of the week, so I spent the rainy days exploring the area, and lounging by the fire at the hotel knitting to my heart's content. We had some very enjoyable nights out together-we spent one evening, one very rainy and cold evening, in Bellevue, watching a Christmas parade (in the pouring rain-they still parade every night, rain or not) and then a special dinner out to Ruth's Chris. We also got to take the ferry one evening over to Bainbridge Island where we met my old high-school friend and field hockey teammate, Wendy. She and her husband met us for dinner, and it was so fun to re-connect after many years!</div>
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Sun setting at Discovery Park-it was cold, but clear! So glad we took advantage of the clear day-it rained the rest of the week!</div>
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Knitting by the hotel fireplace</div>
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Seattle at night from the ferry</div>
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My friend, Wendy and me at dinner on Bainbridge Island</div>
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At the hat shop in Pike's Place Market, Dennis got this crazy hat, and he and Andy convinced me to get the viking hat. Yes, I wore it every day while skiing! I got many comments and funny looks!</div>
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We caught a ride on the Great Wheel at sunset-it was a little scary at first, but we soon got over that and enjoyed the view</div>
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Andy took a picture of us in the ferris wheel</div>
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The pouring rain in Bellevue-yes, they had a Christmas parade in this weather-kids in toy soldier costumes and drums parading up and down the street-singing, dancing-it was quite neat!</div>
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By Thursday, we were ready to see the kids and eagerly awaiting their flight out west with my parents. Unfortunately, their layover in Kansas City coincided with winter storm "Draco", which shut down that airport for about 2 hours. They had arrived at BWI, checked in and were ready to board when the announcement came through that their flight was cancelled. This was a difficult situation, not only because my parents were caught at the airport, close to Christmas, with 3 children, but also because Southwest did not have another flight that wasn't completely booked until 4 days later! Needless to say, it was a little distressing on our end-feeling helpless at the moment to be able to do anything. It was a good opportunity for God, however, to show himself faithful in calming my anxiety. Prayer, and some fast fingers on a computer at the Apple store at the mall we happened to be in at the time, found a flight on another airline, flying out of Philadelphia the next evening.<br />
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To add to the confusion and complications, we had to change our train reservation to a bus ride from Seattle to Vancouver. We contemplated just renting cars and driving the whole way, but were looking forward to the kids getting to ride the train on the way home.<br />
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Once everyone made it to Seattle, and we boarded the bus on our way to Vancouver, we breathed a collective sigh of relief! It was good to be on our way, together, to Whistler, for Christmas and for skiing!<br />
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Whistler was phenomenal-the snow, the surrounding mountains, the village, the Olympic history, and the skiing itself. Our condo was minutes from the slopes. Whistler is actually two mountains-Whistler and Blackcomb. They are joined midway up by the Peak 2 Peak gondola-the world's longest stretch of unsupported cable. Since our trip was cut short by 1 day up at Whistler due to the flight delays, we skied 5 days out of the 7 we were there. Bay and Leah had ski school on the first day, which always helps them tremendously. This was Bay's first time on a snowboard, and he picked it up very quickly. Dennis was on his snowboard for just the second time, so he also took a lesson the first afternoon, and by the end of the week was actually carving using both edges of his board going down the mountain!<br />
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Bay cruising-pretty much fearless<br />
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We found out that Whistler is a great place for families and other activities besides skiing as well. The base of both mountains is connected by an entire village of shops and restaurants, an ice skating rink and playground. We spent several afternoons and evenings just browsing the area-it was all pedestrian only. One night there was a free show put on by the ski school instructors called Fire and Ice. Snowboarders and skiers went off a ramp through hoops of fire and did tricks. The whole show included other bits of excitement and prizes-Bay even won a gift card to Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory for answering a question!<br />
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At mid-mountain-the main gathering place for hot chocolate and meeting up from the 2 mountains when we would get separated</div>
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walking through Whistler Village</div>
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Heather in her Viking hat probably showing off</div>
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One of our favorite things about spending Christmas away from home, and specifically at a ski resort, is not only the almost guarantee of snow on Christmas, but also getting away from all of the busyness that can distract from Christmas and being free to celebrate simply. We enjoyed on this trip a very simple Christmas celebration. Christmas Eve there was a caroling service at one of the mountain hotels put on by a local church. The conference room in which it was held was packed out. What was particularly neat about this service was the congregation of people there-people from all over the U.S., Australia, England and many other areas of the world, all gathered together worshiping God on the night that we remember the birth of his Son. I was struck by how glorifying this must be to God-in time zones across the world, every hour of the eve of Christmas, groups of people gathering together rejoicing over his gift.<br />
We spent Christmas morning opening our stockings-that was all we did for gifts this year (the trip itself was quite a gift already!) and having a special breakfast of pastries from the local market, Nester's. Then we went out skiing for the rest of the day. It was a beautiful way to spend Christmas day!<br />
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Waiting at the train/bus station. The luggage pile was enormous! 3 ski bags with boards and skis, 4 boot bags, 10 more bags of regular luggage and then everyone's carry-on backpack</div>
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The front of our condo-the piles of snow were such a welcome sight!</div>
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At the fire & ice show</div>
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Eric, Gramps, Granni on the slopes in the morning light</div>
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Riding the Peak 2 Peak gondola</div>
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clouds rolling in</div>
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Eric</div>
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Peak 2 Peak gondola-there were actually 3 gondolas on the mountain, but this one was the one with the spectacular views</div>
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Andy on his snowboard-he is much more accomplished on skis, but he did break out the board one day</div>
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Andy and Eric</div>
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Granni-no knee problems at all this trip!</div>
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Gramps</div>
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Dennis</div>
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Eric chillin at the base after a long day on the slopes</div>
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Andy</div>
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The street our condo was on, just makes me happy looking at it</div>
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Dennis and Bay</div>
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Leah tearing up the snow</div>
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Dennis</div>
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Bay and Andy riding a gondola</div>
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Hot chocolate break---every day</div>
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Bay and Leah</div>
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Eric is standing next to the Olympic Rings on the Dave Murray Downhill Slalom run</div>
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Views like this coming down all of the slopes</div>
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In the villages next to the skating rink, they had the Olympic Rings medal award platform</div>
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For our trip back to the states, we had anticipated the train ride from Vancouver, south. However, a mud slide along the tracks had completely derailed a cargo train and the tracks were shut down. We ended up, once again, on a bus, wishing we had just rented cars and driven the entire trek north in the first place. Hindsight-well, anyways, nothing else we could do except learn our lesson for next time!<br />
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Along the Sea to Sky Highway-from Whistler down to Vancouver-it was a beautiful drive</div>
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Once in Seattle, our family of 5 had decided to stay in the city for another 3 days while the Serb crew headed for the airport and home. We had a hotel downtown, and got to take the kids to many of the places that we have enjoyed on our (Dennis & my) trips to Seattle before. We took them on the Great Wheel (giant ferris wheel on Seattle's waterfront), Pike's Place Market, REI, and a ferry ride over to Bainbridge Island. The weather cooperated and was very un-Seattle-like. It was sunny, but cold both days we were in the city. We rode the monorail, city bus and did lots of walking since we didn't have a car! New Year's Eve we were treated to a wonderful surprise-our hotel bedroom window overlooked the Space Needle where they shot fireworks off at midnight! The kids stayed up and got to watch the fireworks from the comfort of our room!<br />
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On the water ferry heading towards North Vancouver</div>
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A street entertainer in Vancouver-his act was all about balancing-and he was very funny too!</div>
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The kids in front of the Space Needle-along our walk to City Center from our hotel</div>
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Of course, the market</div>
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Leah looking down at the fountain</div>
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on the ferry to Bainbridge-Leah is looking a little smothered</div>
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The sun is almost shining on the ferry ride!</div>
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View of Century Link Field, Safeco Field and Mt. Rainier in the distance</div>
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on the Great Wheel</div>
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Eric looking cool waiting for the bus to take us back from REI to our hotel</div>
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The next morning we took a shuttle ride down to the airport and flew home-no weather related delays at all. In fact, the morning of our flight was the clearest morning yet, and we could see Mt. Rainier clearly on our ride to the airport!<br />
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We arrived home and jumped full-swing back into our routine of swim, school, swim, church, swim! However we are always so thankful to look back on the time spent together on these trips and the many places we have been.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25060938.post-69833066240334981392012-11-04T12:39:00.001-05:002012-11-04T12:39:38.026-05:00Sandy and Halloween<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Last week, Hurricane Sandy roared through the Northeast. Our part of Maryland was very much spared the brunt of this storm-however, we were prepared for the worst. We spent the 2 days of rain and wind at home together-Dennis was able to work from home as his office was closed. I put away some fall produce from the garden, and the kids got ready for Halloween.</div>
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I had lots of peppers ready for picking. After seeing them everywhere in New Mexico, I decided to try out making a "ristra" with my peppers this year. I looked up several different ways and videos of making them and kind of combined a couple of different ways to come up with what worked. I made 3 medium sized ristras. Two of them are drying in my attic, the third is hanging in a doorway downstairs in the heat of the woodstove.</div>
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Dennis set up a mini office at home so he could continue to work despite the rain and wind. Amazingly we did not lose power even once! Although we have a generator for just such an occasion, we were surprised as we almost always lose power-even in a regular rainstorm we might lose it. </div>
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The kids set up a table in the kitchen (Since Dennis was using the dining table!) to carve their pumpkins. </div>
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Leah designed and completely carved hers by herself. She did a face on one side and a ghost on the other.</div>
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Eric did an owl on one side and a skull on the other. </div>
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Bay designed a tombstone with "RIP" written on the front. I helped him with the carving of the letters, but the design was all his!</div>
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Leah proud of the ghost she carved</div>
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Eric's owl</div>
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Bay's pumpkin</div>
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After swim practice on Halloween, Bay and Leah dressed up and visited a handful of families on our street for some trick-or-treating. We still enjoy doing this on our rural street better than any other event on Halloween. It is fun to stop by our neighbors' houses and use it as an opportunity to visit and say hello to people we only see every once in awhile. I know that our neighbors love it because they say so every year-how glad they are that we come by-they do love to see the kids growing. I think that they may get only 1 or 2 trick-or-treaters. We didn't have any at our house, so I know they don't get many. Even so, Bay and Leah's buckets were completely full to the brim with candy. They gladly divvied up their treats with Eric when he got home from his swim practice. </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25060938.post-57936660200298656432012-10-22T09:20:00.000-04:002012-10-22T09:20:18.815-04:00First Swim MeetThis past weekend, the boys participated in their first swim meet of the year-round swimming season. This was Bay's first swim meet of this kind, and Eric has not participated in one since he was Bay's age. Even after having about 8 weeks of no swim practice (while we were on our trip) and then just 2 weeks of practice before this meet, they both did REALLY well! Eric might not think so, as he only reached one of his goals for the weekend, but he has plenty of time to keep working on his times. We were very impressed with Bay, as he was the youngest boy competing on our team, and even though his first race was messed up at the start, and his heat had to start the race over again, he was not discouraged and swam well.<br />
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It is not possible to get good pictures at the indoor pool where we swam, but I got a few pictures of them on the deck in between races!<br />
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<u>Eric swam</u><br />
50 freestyle<br />
100 freestyle<br />
100 backstroke<br />
100 butterfly<br />
200 IM<br />
100 breastroke<br />
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<u>Bay swam</u><br />
100 freestyle<br />
50 backstroke<br />
50 butterfly<br />
50 breaststroke<br />
50 freestyle<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25060938.post-59462123425904360602012-10-19T13:28:00.003-04:002012-10-19T13:28:38.772-04:00Fall HappeningsIt really has been a long time since I posted on this blog. I can say, however, to my credit, that I posted every day for 37 days to our other blog, <a href="http://www.westwotwelve.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">West Trip 2012</a>, while we traveled across the country in our RV! I have been encouraged to post more often here and am starting today now that I am feeling mostly caught up from returning home.<br />
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We came home and jumped right into our school routine. Thankfully, I had spent the 2 weeks before we left getting the house and school-room in order so that we could jump right in without any extra work. School was all ready to go-the kids just opened up their books and we got started! Eric is in the 8th grade this year, Bay in 4th and Leah in 2nd. Bay and Leah do a considerable amount of their schoolwork together-everything except Math, spelling and Bible are done together. That includes grammar, science, vocabulary and writing. They could do Bible together, except that this year I got them a Bible curriculum that focuses on boys (for Bay) and girls (for Leah). Eric does the majority of his work on his own, but comes to me with questions or clarity on assignments. Of course, I check his work weekly to make sure he is not too far off in understanding, but he is very much self-taught. He enjoys the independence and I enjoy being able to give more time to Bay and Leah. It is hard to believe Eric will be in high-school in just one more year, but also good because he is maturing in so many ways and I am glad for him to be able to grow right into where he should be.<br />
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The weekend after we got home, we joined some of Dennis' extended family for a cookout and gathering in northern Maryland. His cousin, Alice, and family hosted. This was the first time that Bay and Leah got to meet their cousins of close age (technically I guess they are second cousins, but who's paying attention!) and Eric got to spend some time with Dennis' other cousin, Tony's, kids. We enjoyed hanging out, visiting, and the kids loved playing together-especially taking a walk into the woods and playing at the creek behind their house. The weather was perfect and it was a great way to spend the day.<br />
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The boys (Dennis, Eric, Bay and Gramps) also spent a morning splitting firewood outside. It was a beautiful fall morning, and they have quite a pile of logs to split before winter, so they got to work and knocked out a good portion in a morning. Dennis and Gramps worked on getting the logs that were split organized into piles, while Eric and Bay operated the woodsplitter together-Eric on the logs, Bay on the handle. They all make a good team out there and it is nice to have Bay old enough now to get out there and really be a help!<br />
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Eric got quite a work-out flipping, lifting and moving those logs!</div>
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Bay and his cousin, Andrew</div>
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Leah and her cousin, Julia with Brody in between them</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25060938.post-32642692064547063062012-04-09T13:57:00.001-04:002012-04-09T13:57:08.720-04:00Leah turns 7<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Our little girl celebrated her 7th birthday...it doesn't seem quite possible at times, and then other times it seems as if she's been acting 7 for quite a while now. She had quite a special birthday this year, and it all really started when I messed up on last year's birthday cake. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWO7ZZ6WQHck4sanbeq7-K5bxCkDu5jfwJXgPGRV8DuNYsZzPFZs9WTtv5-j_TB22ZjCaBPpbx0qsDB6J01ZKdtEUEcVC8GJTe94sUZkNqTN8zuLQX-Jla1lfV7v-aL_y6-ZCm/s1600/March+31+028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWO7ZZ6WQHck4sanbeq7-K5bxCkDu5jfwJXgPGRV8DuNYsZzPFZs9WTtv5-j_TB22ZjCaBPpbx0qsDB6J01ZKdtEUEcVC8GJTe94sUZkNqTN8zuLQX-Jla1lfV7v-aL_y6-ZCm/s320/March+31+028.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Last year, Leah requested a strawberry shortcake for her dessert, so I was happy to make Paula Deen's strawberry shortcake trifle, which our family has had before. However, after all of the singing and blowing out of candles, Leah told me that what she really wanted was a "Strawberry Shortcake" Cake. Oh dear--fast forward to this year...</div>
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With a little help from Leah, this Strawberry Shortcake-Cake turned into a Strawberry Shortcake Party. Leah made the list of who to invite and what activities she wanted to do at her party. </div>
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It must be mentioned that I joined Pinterest because of this party-not sure if that's a good or bad thing yet. But I found so many ideas there that it certainly helped me for the day!</div>
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The decorated table-lots of pink, red and green. It was a combination of Strawberry Shortcake the character, and just lots of strawberries.</div>
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We played strawberry bean bag toss into bushel baskets.</div>
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We played a game of "Catch the Purple Pie Man". Eric volunteered for this job-though he wouldn't admit it at the time, the prospect of a horde of little girls running after him could not be resisted!</div>
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I made each of the girls a simple little apron and we made strawberry freezer jam for them to take home as favors. I learned from this endeavor that it is advisable to only use fresh-picked strawberries for making jam, not the grocery store ones. They took FOREVER to crush!</div>
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And we played musical balloons-red balloons to look like strawberries with black seeds drawn on them with a sharpie. The girls loved this game!</div>
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Leah, who is quickly growing into herself...</div>
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...lover of animals-of the stuffed variety</div>
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...loser of only 2 baby teeth so far</div>
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...helper in the kitchen, but not so much for setting the table</div>
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...not so keen on keeping her room clean</div>
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...memory better than any elephant</div>
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...sweet card and note-maker</div>
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...never afraid to try something new</div>
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...adorer of her brother, Bay</div>
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...reader extraordinaire</div>
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...eater of Ramen noodles everyday for lunch</div>
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...beautiful girl</div>
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Happy Birthday Leah Rose!</div>
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<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25060938.post-45495530095639336772012-02-27T10:17:00.000-05:002012-02-27T10:17:00.677-05:00Order out of Chaos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Isn't this how God works too? My heart has been feeling kind of like Leah's closet lately. There are places for things, but they aren't adequate-</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUZ_gKeB4LKNzLvxXUm2taCrNCCRFnnLV-6nYLvP0Nd01We17WGdJ0G_qBsfWy6YiUeBSgjl-7XxZFWe9WwQsGo9ssqEmJG_pTcWWFyeg-5eHHutE3QJaSPu0bEknSWo_riO9D/s1600/February+26+026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUZ_gKeB4LKNzLvxXUm2taCrNCCRFnnLV-6nYLvP0Nd01We17WGdJ0G_qBsfWy6YiUeBSgjl-7XxZFWe9WwQsGo9ssqEmJG_pTcWWFyeg-5eHHutE3QJaSPu0bEknSWo_riO9D/s320/February+26+026.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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there's a shelf for joy, and a hook on which to hang forgiveness, mercy and grace offered to others, there are baskets somewhere in there for lessons in humility and submission, and even a place somewhere for using my gifts for his glory.</div>
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The only problem is, I have been having trouble finding those things when I need or want them, they are buried under a lot of other stuff. Stuff that doesn't belong-pride, anger, selfishness, and even doubt and fear make their way into my closet (heart). So God has been building a nice neat row of shelves in my heart. He started with his Word---lots of it-saturation-immersion--- and it's starting to take form. This is the hard part, cutting, drilling holes, sawdust everywhere. It's messy. He has been showing me the message of his Word-the message from the beginning to now-it's the same message. This combined with more focused prayer-the shelves are being hung-</div>
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And I'm just starting to be able to put some things on these shelves so that I can see them and access them right when they are needed. Forgiveness is sitting right next to mercy, joy actually takes up a whole shelf on it's own and is surrounded by gratefulness. I'm working on throwing out the things that don't belong. I really should just take them to the dump :)</div>
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This order is a work in progress in my heart, but it is so encouraging to know that God promised to bring order out of chaos when he restores all things to himself, the way he designed it to be. First the natural body and then the spiritual. 1 Cor. 15:53-57 ...but thanks be to God! He gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.</div>
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<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25060938.post-26684579441019610782012-02-24T19:22:00.000-05:002012-02-24T19:22:40.058-05:00Ice Skating Party<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Family birthdays around here are always lots of fun! Granni chose for us all to go to a skating rink for hers-</div>
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Eric hasn't been in several years, but he picked it up again very easily.</div>
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Leah started out VERY timidly-she wouldn't let Dennis let go of her skating walker for a second. She eventually let mom do it with her, and before we knew it, she was flying around the rink in the security of her green walker.</div>
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Scowls turned to smiles</div>
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The rink was very crowded with kids (it was family skate), so when one of our little ones had to go to the bathroom, an adult was left in charge of guarding the walker. Dennis and Bay are having a race I think.</div>
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Uncle Andy started a game of ice rink tag...always fun to sneak up on the unsuspecting.</div>
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Afterward we gathered for a nice family dinner, presents, cake and all 3 kids (who are now all taking lessons) gave Granni her own private piano recital.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25060938.post-78639195221006243542012-02-15T13:29:00.001-05:002012-02-15T13:29:47.948-05:00It's been a crazy winter!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Like most people in the eastern US, our winter has been quite unusual as far as temperatures are concerned. The wood stove is roaring one day, and then we have to let it die the next, because we are chased out of our 80 degree house! Though I do not like warm temperatures in the winter, and prefer dreary, snowy, gray days, we have tried to make the most of the days as they are given to us.</div>
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An especially warm weekday trip to play frisbee golf...</div>
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Dennis taking advantage of a warm day off work!</div>
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And then just to prove that it is winter, but really only to tease, a smattering of snow just a couple of times. This particular snow, the kids went out and played in it as if there were 2 feet on the ground! </div>
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I have been able to take advantage of the time indoors to organize parts of the home that have been neglected lately. This hallway in particular houses several small bookshelves. They were literally over-run with books and piles. I added a warm lamp and some linens and the end of the hallway looks so much more inviting now!</div>
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And on a completely different note...Bay and Leah participated in our local homeschool science fair in January. Leah did a display about her favorite subject, "Cats". She had a great time and did a fabulous job researching each of the wild cats, taking notes, and organizing/decorating her display poster. </div>
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Bay did a display about the "Life Cycle of a Star". This also was his idea as anything involving space interests him. The concepts that he was trying to display were certainly at times quite complex, and he really only hit on the basics as far as the life of a star goes, but it was a great learning experience for him. I think the thing that he learned most was the importance of knowing your material and practicing beforehand....over and over and over! </div>
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<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25060938.post-72290623563071878872012-02-07T10:49:00.003-05:002012-02-07T10:49:46.219-05:00Eric turns 13<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: center;">Eric turned 13 in January...officially</span></div>
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but he's been acting like he turned 13 quite some time ago! We have enjoyed seeing the many ways he has matured emotionally, physically and spiritually and academically over the past year.</div>
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Since this was a special year/number, Dennis took Eric and a friend snowboarding for a day as his present.</div>
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Eric commented that this was the best present he could ever ask for</div>
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We still had a small family celebration on his actual day...with special dinner (lasagna and red velvet cake for dessert)</div>
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Uncle Andy was here to celebrate too!</div>
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And to celebrate and remember how big our #1 boy is really getting, a few pictures from his past...</div>
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One of Eric's earliest and fondest memories from his childhood was when he was 3 and after an extended period of rain, I let him go out and play in the giant mud puddle that was our back yard. </div>
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When he turned 4 we had a really fun pirate party-games of walking the plank, treasure hunt-I had a lot of fun planning elaborate parties back then! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0V6YQTzY2dazPGcxwjYygwqmX8rgkMl2Ukezl0bxFIc1APfoAD-JQdlvuzF9d6lnv1SagAlXjXRRSy_NZ_We9qBjxjHdqI3CL7RZkpAk_rAH2cM3Jct2f8eoeEeulTiJChkZ-/s1600/P2190055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0V6YQTzY2dazPGcxwjYygwqmX8rgkMl2Ukezl0bxFIc1APfoAD-JQdlvuzF9d6lnv1SagAlXjXRRSy_NZ_We9qBjxjHdqI3CL7RZkpAk_rAH2cM3Jct2f8eoeEeulTiJChkZ-/s320/P2190055.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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He started out on skis...here he is at age 7. He switched to snowboard I think when he was 10.</div>
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Eric at age 8</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg_iov0Xo4I13Ze2V6TK7KcDx-Ggu-sijsOPiflCV3tz1ZCtUsmt6SgF0wl1agFpR1qElIT7yL8I8bLFLwiLrcglYGAzBLXRsoE78ArYoG42Ew0Zfj-ZkPJF4f1seNhfS5r1Yw/s1600/20110513_14.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg_iov0Xo4I13Ze2V6TK7KcDx-Ggu-sijsOPiflCV3tz1ZCtUsmt6SgF0wl1agFpR1qElIT7yL8I8bLFLwiLrcglYGAzBLXRsoE78ArYoG42Ew0Zfj-ZkPJF4f1seNhfS5r1Yw/s320/20110513_14.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Skip a few years to 2011- Eric the 12 year old. What a difference just a year has made-he grew 4 inches over the past year!</div>
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Eric at 13...almost</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25060938.post-91150189062513354682012-01-31T13:39:00.000-05:002012-01-31T13:39:01.963-05:00Knitting and other projects<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br />I have actually done a large amount of knitting...since before Christmas, and some projects have lingered afterwards. I am finally getting into knitting what I started learning to knit for in the first place...SOCKS! Although before Christmas, I made several gifts, but neglected to take pictures of any except one...yikes. There were 2 scarves, a ruffled cowl, and a hat. One of the scarves is pictured below. They were all pretty much very quick knits-1 or 2 skeins on large needles. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUTa8BCSKrh51X_rVx0MFiP_qSd5tcmZry-Px3bjvVfww2WuiCMbxnAsT4UlseII8Zemm01ef97gD79zJx_RpWiDKy_7vG-990ydKgLG6Vy_miZX-OB9DUJevQ4tDmi3GYWFQ2/s1600/Christmas+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUTa8BCSKrh51X_rVx0MFiP_qSd5tcmZry-Px3bjvVfww2WuiCMbxnAsT4UlseII8Zemm01ef97gD79zJx_RpWiDKy_7vG-990ydKgLG6Vy_miZX-OB9DUJevQ4tDmi3GYWFQ2/s320/Christmas+001.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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I also practiced knitting my first pair of socks for myself, but have no picture to show. They turned out very well, and so I went on to making a pair for Leah. They are sized <u>exactly </u>so she doesn't have much room to grow, so next pair will have a little more wiggle room. I am using the book "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Socks-Toe-Up-Essential-Techniques/dp/0307449440/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1328034966&sr=8-1">Socks from the Toe Up</a>" which I've read is the easiest way to knit socks-get the toe out of the way first. Anyways, there are many variations, and everyone in my family wants a pair, so I ordered lots of sock weight yarn from my favorite yarn store, <a href="http://www.knitpicks.com/yarns/Sock_Knitting_Yarn__L300106.html">Knit Picks</a>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCr0icLJcbnQxZx7pIIx5-TxBDlPBesTsM6LPIONSgxKHCDgAF5FKEPb5R_dQUWCIcNWC4zoO6jW6-v2R_cM9qmn4hEZI0_020SNrzv0Sz_140a1IYOKWRcPQ1wPit0sG_CJy_/s1600/january+2012+010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCr0icLJcbnQxZx7pIIx5-TxBDlPBesTsM6LPIONSgxKHCDgAF5FKEPb5R_dQUWCIcNWC4zoO6jW6-v2R_cM9qmn4hEZI0_020SNrzv0Sz_140a1IYOKWRcPQ1wPit0sG_CJy_/s320/january+2012+010.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCcSegGl9YAxrXQmI-HfrJkWQMKll3BKDKZh84dPvENr5vBak4Q5XlqLRbAq1bzhoILVdQAle_sJUtGtwTKEfOqH-tv6Jx7GhSWFOpYg2zlDsA89kR4FhpuQahnyq7ig9-wTyE/s1600/january+2012+040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCcSegGl9YAxrXQmI-HfrJkWQMKll3BKDKZh84dPvENr5vBak4Q5XlqLRbAq1bzhoILVdQAle_sJUtGtwTKEfOqH-tv6Jx7GhSWFOpYg2zlDsA89kR4FhpuQahnyq7ig9-wTyE/s320/january+2012+040.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Naturally, now I need a place to store my ever-growing stash of yarn. I though some fabric bins were in order. I found a great tutorial from <a href="http://ourmothersdaughters.blogspot.com/2012/01/crafting-it-can-now-be-told.html">Like Mother Like Daughter's blog</a>, measured for size where I wanted the bins to fit, found some leftover matching material from my ottoman slipcover, and they were a breeze to stitch up. The hardest part was making the pattern (which really wasn't that hard).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg87oj7WcLcvxpCTR1i2R-L_hKXGZy8brpoMtWrqxBhNPzSKSnVW7VD6Pc6HSbU7MrnALGgcTGU81Irfi3p-z4NhZsSTFjTbG-zrPACTTGrQYcC3DymQt9NIcQuh4Ymgo_EiaTn/s1600/january+2012+036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg87oj7WcLcvxpCTR1i2R-L_hKXGZy8brpoMtWrqxBhNPzSKSnVW7VD6Pc6HSbU7MrnALGgcTGU81Irfi3p-z4NhZsSTFjTbG-zrPACTTGrQYcC3DymQt9NIcQuh4Ymgo_EiaTn/s320/january+2012+036.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I did learn a few things for future reference. When making large bins (mine are 11x 11 x 7) I need to use a stiff interfacing. The first one I made did not-only the batting as per the instructions, and it flopped completely down. So I machine quilted the sides vertically, which added SOME stiffness, but really it needed more as you can see. Still too floppy for me.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwR12gKP3wEUvv3CGiWdW7EAFIq9l8voQpbQ3Cbm6kC7iZNd5fhkdCW1k-CAipiTG5ZmVIVWCTEDZc8LHpomWH9g9-HP-48pM5ksMcHU0MUqor9lkz0gkYF5C-I51Ww7fUW8hg/s1600/january+2012+038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwR12gKP3wEUvv3CGiWdW7EAFIq9l8voQpbQ3Cbm6kC7iZNd5fhkdCW1k-CAipiTG5ZmVIVWCTEDZc8LHpomWH9g9-HP-48pM5ksMcHU0MUqor9lkz0gkYF5C-I51Ww7fUW8hg/s320/january+2012+038.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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In the second one I sewed some super stiff interfacing to the lining before sewing together and it improved the stiffness quite a bit. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQvGjOAvdQkfn3MmwNHd_ArQTPTrlOI1oR8sd8FCHEnbNfKkVtvjY5ShFmC7uCe_3_3gNPlv2ySvBZxuEA8xGbkKqIv-Xqp_pYGPGZmH5RKKEG9l5lH6gUzHjzouvo6ZXbaYj4/s1600/january+2012+037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQvGjOAvdQkfn3MmwNHd_ArQTPTrlOI1oR8sd8FCHEnbNfKkVtvjY5ShFmC7uCe_3_3gNPlv2ySvBZxuEA8xGbkKqIv-Xqp_pYGPGZmH5RKKEG9l5lH6gUzHjzouvo6ZXbaYj4/s320/january+2012+037.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Either way, they hold my yarn quite well, and coordinate with my living room! I may make some in smaller sizes, which I expect will stand up a little better on their own. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFx7jucLVGeElgXzFUVgJVNdtev986afB46uc5kutrgsl42GEaQODESB_P5hqx_1jedoqMPwt5laRzeEXJaYZSLR1iY5djeOdpxzrC0pvscuY6xJZoPbwqciM6317EtfRENOHC/s1600/january+2012+039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFx7jucLVGeElgXzFUVgJVNdtev986afB46uc5kutrgsl42GEaQODESB_P5hqx_1jedoqMPwt5laRzeEXJaYZSLR1iY5djeOdpxzrC0pvscuY6xJZoPbwqciM6317EtfRENOHC/s320/january+2012+039.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25060938.post-8755617289922969732012-01-19T11:01:00.000-05:002012-01-19T11:01:29.137-05:00Flying<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Recently, a family friend who has a private plane took us up for a ride. It was a fabulous hour flight! I have always loved flying-especially in little planes-you really appreciate the sensation of flying. Of course, it is important to be with a pilot whom you trust, and Terry is a most reliable and conscientious pilot! Bay and Leah had never been up in a small plane before, so they were understandably a little tenuous. Eric, however, had done this before, so he was prepared.</div>
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A little recap...</div>
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Bay: "Mr. A, what happens if something goes wrong?"
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKo0yuGQWqkUNQnhA0e9hR-pfy3EGMaa2mZ2C7ltzgbOwKyFLAx5ULINvv4OnO0jisL6ZaIaGA0HopupR_oiwcw9ULlO_FGg52r-3EDNXgYQddhMsO-KxHXAC6GrCwd_APEK5J/s1600/Plane+Ride+January+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKo0yuGQWqkUNQnhA0e9hR-pfy3EGMaa2mZ2C7ltzgbOwKyFLAx5ULINvv4OnO0jisL6ZaIaGA0HopupR_oiwcw9ULlO_FGg52r-3EDNXgYQddhMsO-KxHXAC6GrCwd_APEK5J/s320/Plane+Ride+January+003.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Mr. A: "Bay, in my many years of flying, nothing has ever gone wrong. But, that is a good question. If something does go wrong, you just pull that little handle and the door will open for you to get out."</div>
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Bay: "Why would I want to open the door? Wouldn't I just fall to my death from up in the air?"
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Mr. A: "Okay, Eric, Let's go dive bomb that beach over there."</div>
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Meanwhile, we banked a big turn and felt a few G forces. I turned around and saw Leah with arms and legs outspread, holding on for dear life! She did not expect anything like that! She recovered well.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh794SeT1CYLT8Zy2TIV1U1NJ_z3Wh-lWLIfYOD_4hdlRmqn_TJhaJRUyJV-Ur2dSlpSzOay_sXiJIxx9YYx4bknJetzY7XuggKE0S_y4aIL_xtY2aqfXAdxDz-VrG4YQCipGa0/s1600/Plane+Ride+January+017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh794SeT1CYLT8Zy2TIV1U1NJ_z3Wh-lWLIfYOD_4hdlRmqn_TJhaJRUyJV-Ur2dSlpSzOay_sXiJIxx9YYx4bknJetzY7XuggKE0S_y4aIL_xtY2aqfXAdxDz-VrG4YQCipGa0/s320/Plane+Ride+January+017.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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A couple of views of our house, creek and the family compound as we like to call it! You can see our shared garden, my parents tear drop driveway , house and big barn in the field as well. Ours is the brown house.</div>
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Our gracious and accomplished pilot!</div>
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<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25060938.post-71705909111381727022012-01-04T16:22:00.000-05:002012-01-04T16:33:31.239-05:00Christmas Post<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I know this is a little out of order, however I am just now getting Christmas pictures organized. We had a fabulous Christmas break...the kids really enjoyed their time off from schoolwork, Dennis relaxed as much as he could (actually a couple of days he stayed in his pj's most of the day!), and I got LOTS of knitting done!</div>
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Leah makes little signs for herself and others all of the time-this one she made for herself to wear each morning. It says "Do not have sereal (cereal), Leah" For some reason she has decided she doesn't like cereal for breakfast, and so to make sure she doesn't forget her tastes have changed, she made a reminder to wear. Funny.</div>
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At first, the crew was a little tentative about changing up the morning routine to go to church on Christmas morning, but it worked out just fine and I think it really was a blessing to put the focus even more on Christ by going to worship him on Christmas Day. Usually we have our own time of worship as a family on Christmas morning anyways, but taking the bigger break to go worship with our church body was refreshing! The kids came out Christmas morning to a few presents under the tree. </div>
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I must comment on Bay's gift-the Build-a-Bear car. He and Leah are passionate about their Build-a-Bear animals. Bay has asked for this car for 2 years now. I found it on ebay for a fraction of the price in the store, and felt much better about getting it. He and Leah were so excited to have Pups and Spots (their dogs) get to ride around in the car. They also both asked for pajamas for their animals, and so I used scrap fabric to make the coordinating pj's...I guess I'd better get a picture of those up here too, eventually! This was the most exciting present for both of them. Fun to be able to get them what they want and make half of it at the same time!</div>
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Everyone got Christmas pajama pants of course....</div>
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Having Uncle Andy around the whole break was a special treat-he got lots of time in with everyone-working on a go-kart with Eric, playing nerf with the boys, target shooting at Dennis' brother's house, lots of help working on painting one of his boats.</div>
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Granni & Gramps (Gramps has on his knit hat from me)</div>
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Granni hoping her farmer's almanac is predicting snow here this winter!</div>
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<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25060938.post-9217335667947387012012-01-02T12:53:00.000-05:002012-01-02T12:53:05.734-05:00Out with the Old......in With the New!<br />
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It's a new year, and so time for a new mailbox of course!<br />
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Dennis really tried hard to relax over the Christmas break, and he did a wonderful job of doing just that. However, he couldn't let the time off go by without a little project in the wood shop. I think it's fabulous, and certainly was time to replace the other one which is old as our house! The old one is going to be re-purposed into a nice bird house!</div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25060938.post-28397785963820329692011-12-20T22:56:00.000-05:002011-12-20T22:56:02.224-05:00Gingerbread House Fun<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The gingerbread making was a huge success....though it took me the better part of today to roll, cut and bake the pieces to make the houses for each child, it was so very worth it. They each commented many many times that decorating the houses was MUCH fun-even better than watching movies!</div>
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What was so cool to me was to see the individuality of each house-</div>
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Granni & Gramps came over to help and it was perfect to have one of them helping each of the little ones-we decorated the houses for about 3 hours, and nobody had any idea how much time had passed!</div>
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They are on display on my kitchen island at least until Christmas and they are so fun to look at and find all of the details as I study them! Enjoy the pictures...</div>
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I had the houses assembled about 1/2 hour before they started decorating so the icing could harden</div>
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The key to making it work without falling apart as you go is to use Royal Icing-it hardens very quickly and is very strong. They just piped it out of simple plastic decorator bags.</div>
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Busy hands at work...notice Leah is eating her candy scraps-she finished decorating first.</div>
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Bay's House: there's a bonfire out front with a fish roasting over the fire on a pretzel.</div>
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Eric's House: He took the longest..notice the pink rocking chair on the front lawn!</div>
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Leah's House: She put Christmas lights (jellybeans) along the front of the house.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25060938.post-61188975148576684272011-12-20T15:00:00.003-05:002011-12-20T15:00:54.589-05:00It's Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
some Christmas happenings around here...</div>
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Bay and Leah after their Homeschool Christmas program</div>
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Enjoying a break from school and staying up late, sleeping in late, staying in our pj's way too long...</div>
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The crafting bug has hit our house-though I don't consider myself a big crafter, God has given me a lover of crafts in Leah, so I am learning to encourage her-Dennis is too-she even got him to do a craft with her this weekend!</div>
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Eric making a new star for our tree</div>
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Some of Leah's creations-mostly I require her to find crafts she can do on her own, such as making these bows....</div>
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but occasionally she convinces me to do one with her, like help her sew this stocking. She drew and cut out all of the applique, I just stitched them on.</div>
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The product of her crafting with dad</div>
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One of the activities all of the kids really wanted to do this advent was make real Gingerbread Houses-Eric got a cool book from the library for inspiration and the stockpile of goodies awaits.</div>
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The house smells delicious-I mean our house-the gingerbread cooking for the little houses. </div>
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Eric's finished star-3D popsicle stick art-fun with the hot glue gun</div>
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Bay wanted to get in on the hot glue gun action too, so he made a stable for the mud doll nativity set</div>
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<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25060938.post-80104997381287089282011-10-23T21:42:00.002-04:002011-10-23T21:42:45.290-04:00Amazing what a can of paint can do!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
By some amazing stroke of luck I remembered to take some "before" pictures before I did the painting! </div>
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Leah's bathroom is one of the 2 remaining rooms that hasn't been touched by paint since we moved in, now 6 years ago! </div>
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So I've been debating what to do with that pink tile! Certainly not the color I would choose, but I had to work with it and get rid of the off-white eggshell color on the walls that was standard throughout the whole house, trim and all. Plus, I really didn't like the oak cabinet under the sink. What I forgot to take a picture of was the HUGE medicine cabinet on the wall over the sink. 3 mirrored doors, dressing room style lights above-it just had to go. So we ripped it off the wall and got to work.</div>
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Gray paint, white trim, and a few accents that I had picked up over a year ago at the thrift store (pictures, lamp), clean tile grout and what a transformation!</div>
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All that's left is for Dennis to make a frame around a mirror and put a new vanity light up.</div>
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She's a very happy girl to have her bathroom back!</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25060938.post-3806917400315687262011-10-22T20:12:00.001-04:002011-10-22T20:12:48.772-04:00Fall Hike<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This afternoon we went for a wonderful fall hike with some friends at <a href="http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/southern/calvertcliffs.asp">Calvert Cliffs State Park</a>. The trail was an easy walk-about 2 miles-down to a beach on the Chesapeake Bay.</div>
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The kids had a blast all the way down the trail, running ahead, hiding behind trees, and then jumping out when we approached howling like a bunch of Indians! They also loved seeing all of the places where beavers had dammed up the creek. Evidently the park rangers have a full time job clearing parts of the dams away to keep the trail from being flooded!</div>
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Once we got to the beach the kids spread out, looking for shells, fossils and shark's teeth. </div>
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Someone had built a make-shift bridge over the inlet where the creek water was rushing out into the Bay. Here's Bay next to the Bay! We love saying that!</div>
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Tall grasses, sand and driftwood made a great place for a temporary fort. It was amazing to see the gang of kids play and run hard the entire afternoon. Even being wet and cold, they still ran and chased the entire 2 miles of trail back, and then played on the playground for another 1/2 hour. I think the fall weather really energized them- I know it does me!</div>
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Also, a little school project in this post from this week. Bay and Leah are studying land animals this year. One project was to look at tracks. So we went down to the beach where we see tracks all of the time. We took plaster of paris and poured it into the best defined ones we saw. They turned out amazingly well!</div>
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This day we found raccoon (on the left), house cats (on the right), as well as some type of bird. We think it was a crow print, based on our animal tracks book. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25060938.post-56962806096184112342011-10-19T14:30:00.000-04:002011-10-19T14:30:03.485-04:00Camping...Finally!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We finally managed to steal away for a weekend to a place not far from home-<a href="http://cedarville%20state%20forest/">Cedarville State Forest</a>. The weather was perfect fall weather.</div>
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Mostly, it was about doing a lot of nothing...campfire, hot coffee for the grown-ups, hot chocolate for the kids...sitting by the fire and catching up on reading...there was a little mountain biking done by the big boys though!</div>
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Cooking dinner over the fire (see Dennis' new/old hot dog cooker he got for his birthday? It was intended for the Ohiopyle trip, but now is the first time he's gotten to use it!) We love the hamburger cookers too-2 is not quite enough. </div>
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Even Elsa came along this time. There was plenty of room for her to roam on her long leash, and we found a nice big field by the playground for her to have some time running off the leash as well.</div>
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Bay and Leah always bring quite an assortment of toys, animals and such to create a miniature city outside. They really get into their imaginative play!</div>
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We also had a belated birthday cake for Dennis, since he didn't have one on his birthday. We stretched it out to last the whole weekend!</div>
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One afternoon we went to a local fall festival (which was really disappointing) but the kids did enjoy painting some medieval swords and shields. However they were dismayed to find out that their hard work and creativity was only going to be put on display...they couldn't bring them home! Oh well-sounds like a fun project for us to do at home anyways! </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25060938.post-83892677379862766242011-10-10T15:47:00.001-04:002011-10-10T20:03:09.113-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Smiling is over-rated anyways</span></div>
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Eric-my handsome and stoic 12 year old tries to convince me of this often</div>
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Especially when asked to stand still and get your picture taken. it's really just not worth it. See that fierce determination? He is a strong boy-inside and out-one of his better qualities. it may challenge me at times (many times), but I hold him in prayer that God will use this strength for his glory</div>
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Oh yes, strength, and also determination. He is determined to grow so quickly into a man-but he has so much childhood left. So much time for laughing, and forgetting about being serious and cool. He just doesn't realize that I am also fiercely determined to remind him of that!</div>
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I think he's breaking-he tries so hard, but the light in his eyes gives him away. </div>
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Don't look at me, Eric, or you will lose the serious face contest, because you know</div>
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smiling may be over-rated but it's always worth it in the end!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25060938.post-65186737568403281582011-10-10T15:35:00.002-04:002011-10-10T19:58:32.241-04:00Pumpkins!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Pumpkins!</span></div>
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Granni took the kids on their annual pumpkin picking trip to a farmer who lives very close to us. I just went along as official photographer since it was such a beautiful day. My instructions were clear to let this still be a special Granni/grandkids time-I was just the fly in the cornstalks!</div>
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The new siding on the big red barn was perfect for a backdrop-</div>
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Leah looking adorable</div>
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Leah has been practicing her sideways glances and funny looks on her dad lately-she gave me plenty today as well.</div>
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Bay-always ready to give a smile, and then a big hug after I took so many pictures, just because that's how he is!</div>
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Eric really is quite a bit taller than Granni, but not THAT much! I can't tell if she's leaning on him for support or what? Anyways, it's the captured smile on Eric that is priceless in this picture. More on that later....</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25060938.post-71369531263852353822011-10-07T08:55:00.000-04:002011-10-10T19:59:01.038-04:00Circles<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Circles</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiupoq34jE0rtzyAocOKOkSd0_LR_8kukBMC8KUjx-wr6pVARBG7V4bBTgNJRa2eSdc3MwPU2bwMEcwT81-h55IOyseuCtpMwvXDKe7ge49F8u21pqwuPUatXfZsV4DsaCsA-dT/s1600/P9130079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiupoq34jE0rtzyAocOKOkSd0_LR_8kukBMC8KUjx-wr6pVARBG7V4bBTgNJRa2eSdc3MwPU2bwMEcwT81-h55IOyseuCtpMwvXDKe7ge49F8u21pqwuPUatXfZsV4DsaCsA-dT/s320/P9130079.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At the middle school youth group meeting on Monday night, the
youth pastor talked about our knowledge of God being likened to a widening
circle. Imagine that everything that you know about God fits inside a circle. Everything
that we don’t know is outside of that circle. Over time as we get older and
grow in wisdom, experience more and learn more about God, what happens to our
circle? Of course, it grows larger. But what happens outside of our circle-what
happens to what we don’t know about God-what we don’t understand and can’t
comprehend? Why, as our circle grows larger, the outside also grows larger, not
smaller. It is a humbling thing to come to the point in life where I realize
that, in fact, the more I learn about God and life means that the more I
realize how much I don’t actually know, and how vast and limitless He is. I
have been so naïve fooling myself into thinking that God fits inside a circle,
and as my circle expands, his gets smaller. How tiny and immature I have been
in my thinking. I can only pray that God continues to humble me with faith and knowledge
of him that serves to increase Him and diminishes me.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25060938.post-89553319391272167912011-10-05T09:20:00.004-04:002011-10-05T12:06:26.770-04:00<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Irene and other stories</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I realize that I have been very absent from the blogosphere lately-life otherwise seems to have consumed us, but in good ways. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This, our generator, kept us operating at home for 5 days without power during and after Hurricane Irene. We did not have significant damage, but did have numerous trees down.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Notice the nice little shed Dennis built to keep the generator in. It doesn't look quite as nice now-on the first day he ran the generator, it vibrated itself too close to the shed and the exhaust caught the shed on fire! Thankfully, my mom's keen eyes spotted smoke and the fire was quickly extinguished, but the shed now has a nice large black hole! Lesson learned: secure the generator during use so it doesn't move around!</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMY5qz2rmGleTzI97RdPrn3wX00vii_rk7UGx6_mAo1LIHTttZhk_cKp-K9Wcj6NM4ZwgIG7A6PRMYbSktNX8_p8RjlvrUc4GDZSq5d_iE2h7bA34hBkOfSP2sxvrl4oiQwBBQ/s1600/P8260007.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMY5qz2rmGleTzI97RdPrn3wX00vii_rk7UGx6_mAo1LIHTttZhk_cKp-K9Wcj6NM4ZwgIG7A6PRMYbSktNX8_p8RjlvrUc4GDZSq5d_iE2h7bA34hBkOfSP2sxvrl4oiQwBBQ/s400/P8260007.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659998757930314690" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></a><div style="text-align: center;">Our very large Bradford Pear tree with the nice cedar bench around it did not make it through the storm. I'm sure the bench will be rebuilt at some point.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitO3jFlVB-tyBDrgzt7r_Wdm70v38xQpi232qf2W3hSUfqLbb-gkLl5QeejXs1Up2e6fDkQj8ADm4rYxPojk3Oi9wxUpEjjtsR4QZ-Mqx53tlA67RpjD3mKcfbzm3ul0gd3euF/s1600/P8280012.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitO3jFlVB-tyBDrgzt7r_Wdm70v38xQpi232qf2W3hSUfqLbb-gkLl5QeejXs1Up2e6fDkQj8ADm4rYxPojk3Oi9wxUpEjjtsR4QZ-Mqx53tlA67RpjD3mKcfbzm3ul0gd3euF/s400/P8280012.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659998751205759346" /></a><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><u><br /></u></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><u><br /></u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">I rescued our sunflower heads from the garden before the storm, and gathered all of the seeds out of them. In order to save the seeds for bird food, I roasted them in the oven at a low temperature. I'm sure the birds will enjoy the black oil sunflower seeds this winter!</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQe0Q3f4zaFh0nCXvEeemJsrJHtrrAZNgV6ylvxYyTqjZ_dJzssCZ5aylnz_ehg3QsF6Vc6OZsVAvBNDnm_yKDIm99pwV2yjQPt6clgXL5kAPn5GaPewboOd38SJ9ikAxEfLgw/s1600/P8260009.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQe0Q3f4zaFh0nCXvEeemJsrJHtrrAZNgV6ylvxYyTqjZ_dJzssCZ5aylnz_ehg3QsF6Vc6OZsVAvBNDnm_yKDIm99pwV2yjQPt6clgXL5kAPn5GaPewboOd38SJ9ikAxEfLgw/s400/P8260009.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659998746313088354" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Our basement suffered a bit of water seepage...Eric's room got the worst of it, and so the carpet had to be pulled and dried. Nothing a bit of steam cleaning and lots of fans couldn't take care of!</span></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVrGegiSZPdfgpF0HzYEFTeMENMGhr3cSSRujgsHpTgg_Z0ivs9qrncx0hq_LhjIKglOZbPS5w5Hvs_8B2TACo2PhV6YuEaINigiWUToJnAAOH-dKcNo3_tfSvmytKzbUj9geC/s400/P8280022.JPG" style="text-align: center;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659998744535788626" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><u><br /></u></span></div><div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><u>After Hurricane Irene was gone, we had a brief respite from the rain to celebrate Dennis' birthday. This year, the Blue Angels came and we went out for a sail on the grandparent's boat to watch. We all agree that watching from the boat is the way to watch the Blue's!</u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><u><br /></u></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><u><br /></u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVrGegiSZPdfgpF0HzYEFTeMENMGhr3cSSRujgsHpTgg_Z0ivs9qrncx0hq_LhjIKglOZbPS5w5Hvs_8B2TACo2PhV6YuEaINigiWUToJnAAOH-dKcNo3_tfSvmytKzbUj9geC/s1600/P8280022.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMY5qz2rmGleTzI97RdPrn3wX00vii_rk7UGx6_mAo1LIHTttZhk_cKp-K9Wcj6NM4ZwgIG7A6PRMYbSktNX8_p8RjlvrUc4GDZSq5d_iE2h7bA34hBkOfSP2sxvrl4oiQwBBQ/s1600/P8260007.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj59tQFXbVDMPtIeh1hLzQ7vP1xhdPfq3WRvbwtF4kHdRuGYcsRf-08IUg_0PehUgSElbjNSvF114ZjZC9VfwFUX3wzB_w9oONBPP4CwZtNvjNOxgUucVNIXPDeZ4VguVL7bzgK/s400/P9030044.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660029669055514786" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVrGegiSZPdfgpF0HzYEFTeMENMGhr3cSSRujgsHpTgg_Z0ivs9qrncx0hq_LhjIKglOZbPS5w5Hvs_8B2TACo2PhV6YuEaINigiWUToJnAAOH-dKcNo3_tfSvmytKzbUj9geC/s1600/P8280022.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMY5qz2rmGleTzI97RdPrn3wX00vii_rk7UGx6_mAo1LIHTttZhk_cKp-K9Wcj6NM4ZwgIG7A6PRMYbSktNX8_p8RjlvrUc4GDZSq5d_iE2h7bA34hBkOfSP2sxvrl4oiQwBBQ/s1600/P8260007.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5pHIqGvPvseTa_qsV5ukP8mnMOfav8AiDvTWKX2xe60YiOIQcbxP-0KHimgdabCleQrt_LYaGrmSwUsafYyRAMDjlbrHt2lGnaa8JqHHZtMgR7eTkoGlueiQxw2LxYLlvKs_Q/s400/P9030042.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659999305882908066" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><u>Our Labor Day Weekend was scheduled to end with our annual camping trip to Ohiopyle. Unfortuantely, rain was in the forecast for the entire week. Undaunted, we decided to go anyways, hoping for the best. We arrived, set up in the rain, spent the night listening to pouring rain, woke up to rain and read forecasts calling for 100 percent chance of rain all week as well as flood warnings. Both us and the family with us decided it was not a good use of vacation time, so we wimped out, packed up, and left. </u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><u>It turned out to be a good decision-there was heavy flooding in the area, as well as the danger of trees falling within the campground-so we are sorry we missed our big trip this year, but glad of our decision.</u></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><u><br /></u></span></div><br /></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25060938.post-60134105463477409482011-08-25T09:36:00.004-04:002011-08-25T11:13:06.189-04:00<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Getting Ready</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Last week I embarked on my annual "dump out the contents of the school room and put it all back together" spree. Dennis asked me if I really thought I could rearrange it all ANOTHER way? Really? Of course! </span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpx1rrivDqeIiaki-IEzGVX-PUJ2AP8pAv7GHst06D3KNpgigJpH63Yua8uD68R5ahsr2vh9LmCAcJnTUBTaZYwigrw0aVg1LQ0ZSFtqQI_6k41bNlaIiOnIdQPSAUYE29K8CX/s1600/20110817_01.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpx1rrivDqeIiaki-IEzGVX-PUJ2AP8pAv7GHst06D3KNpgigJpH63Yua8uD68R5ahsr2vh9LmCAcJnTUBTaZYwigrw0aVg1LQ0ZSFtqQI_6k41bNlaIiOnIdQPSAUYE29K8CX/s400/20110817_01.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644791756231451746" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">So the major changes from <a href="http://hdmacq.blogspot.com/2010/08/blog-post.html#links">last year</a> are: de-cluttering the walls, moving Bay and Leah into a couple of old-fashioned school desks, and getting rid of the large table from the room. It really opened up the room and feels much more spacious!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Leah has been in her desk every day, looking through her books and I think she is the most enthusiastic about school starting on Monday!</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigtNNEYf87klgzPSr97LKd8952BvrHDVt8Sy24n_ZtRsWvV4MfxKF9fe9wxc2BCi-ab3tZ645aKMAMYR0rugI8MSlJ0LtNt6wSebVkn92qgnSuu2vArNauh4HGNhHdP2DnK9GI/s1600/20110819_05.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigtNNEYf87klgzPSr97LKd8952BvrHDVt8Sy24n_ZtRsWvV4MfxKF9fe9wxc2BCi-ab3tZ645aKMAMYR0rugI8MSlJ0LtNt6wSebVkn92qgnSuu2vArNauh4HGNhHdP2DnK9GI/s400/20110819_05.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644791751617651970" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">We enjoyed a visit from Uncle Kevin. I am always amused at how our kids are all over their aunts and uncles like flies on flypaper whenever they come to visit. I hope that all of the aunts and uncles feel very loved when they come to see us-they certainly are!</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZkeAsOqkyFDNOW3c1jfC9r6NpjzriE15rHgtdwY0LVt-ax8BK0weK_TFLyo5C-H1LpsO5a4QSWsWFZN6BjZhiEOoa2vpADz3gjpa3F2e7lHusz8pajhaR3AB3RR7qsSXPezbx/s1600/20110819_04.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZkeAsOqkyFDNOW3c1jfC9r6NpjzriE15rHgtdwY0LVt-ax8BK0weK_TFLyo5C-H1LpsO5a4QSWsWFZN6BjZhiEOoa2vpADz3gjpa3F2e7lHusz8pajhaR3AB3RR7qsSXPezbx/s400/20110819_04.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644791741271511202" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">There have been lots of fishing trips lately since Gramps has had more time. Eric went out with him this week and they had a blast. They caught 3 rockfish, 4 spanish mackerel and 4 blues. We'll eat all but the blues-those go to the crabs and then we'll eat the crabs once they have fattened up!</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZv1lg-u6_kT1t2o-rTvhod_cAkK7DvcBkwdsiTdK07lwZLDcPmpoz2zvOAVa9u30b77x5dG6sSa4MVxXX1tvLnuYMHz3hhfDzYKNksco8AZypGHi0rdMI7psVpgbxjet2zjzO/s1600/20110823_08.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZv1lg-u6_kT1t2o-rTvhod_cAkK7DvcBkwdsiTdK07lwZLDcPmpoz2zvOAVa9u30b77x5dG6sSa4MVxXX1tvLnuYMHz3hhfDzYKNksco8AZypGHi0rdMI7psVpgbxjet2zjzO/s400/20110823_08.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644791738508430498" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">The happy fishermen-always a good day when you come home with this many fish!</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuFyaxAUOmnDlh8-txyaw2bSglWK7Y-lDQwnDR3ByuhDfpqESfqY7G1Nyiaf4esdtajKblabRS2cljFTCYqe691vCD7aiEz7bIoG17MpWVUMlS1eUVwRQtMbcov-oeZSS1kPs3/s1600/20110823_09.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuFyaxAUOmnDlh8-txyaw2bSglWK7Y-lDQwnDR3ByuhDfpqESfqY7G1Nyiaf4esdtajKblabRS2cljFTCYqe691vCD7aiEz7bIoG17MpWVUMlS1eUVwRQtMbcov-oeZSS1kPs3/s400/20110823_09.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644791732000859010" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">
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<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0