tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-367254992024-03-12T22:23:36.688-04:00Chaos: Party of SixAnother day, another dozen diapersEmilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09257383770882314637noreply@blogger.comBlogger837125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36725499.post-22024743547854989442014-12-09T17:20:00.001-05:002014-12-09T17:20:57.837-05:00Tonsils, Lord help us<i>[I want this detail for myself in the future. No need to read if it's too much for your interest.] </i><br />
So. I know that I had vented back in the spring about the recurrent strep throat in our family, and how Luke was the carrier and they ended up taking out his tonsil (along with adenoids and placing ear tubes), because they were causing him some other issues, and we were hoping that that would take care of the strep epidemic in our household. We went from May-September without any strep and I was crossing my fingers, hoping and praying that that would do it. And then:<br />
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- September 21st - a Sunday, a trip to the urgent care, Katy has strep<br />
- October 30th - David has strep. I insisted they test Luke again to make sure he still isn't carrying it. Luke was negative (yay!). They make (another) ENT referral.<br />
- November 10th - see the ENT. He said both Katy and David would definitely qualify for tonsillectomies, but the final call was mine. We could either schedule them, or wait a couple of months and see if they get it again. I hated that it was my call. But I felt like we had already "waited and saw" twice prior and they kept getting it. Plus we've already met our insurance deductible for the year and now's the time to do it if we're going to do it. So I schedule the procedures for both of them on December 3rd, and spend the week doubting the decision, especially when one of the children is very much not on board.<br />
- November 13th - David has strep again. And this time he's really sick and misses 3 days of school. Feeling more confident about the decision every day.<br />
- November 17th - I finally give in to the strep throat that I haven't had in 15 years or more. It was awful, the sickest I have been in a long time. I couldn't get out of bed for 3 days. My mom had to drive me to the doctor. Now I'm sure...the surgeries are the right decision.<br />
- November 25th - last day of school before Thanksgiving break. Katy gets strep again, and this time she's really sick. (they've had it so much this year that sometimes for them it's mild and sometimes it's strong). Now SHE is on board. She doesn't care how hard the surgery will be. She wants these tonsils gone because she is really tired of being sick! Only 8 days away from surgery and realizing that she would still be on antibiotics when the date came, I spoke to the ENT that day and panicked when they said they might have to delay the surgery because of it. But by the end of the day, I had confirmation that as long as she didn't have a fever on the day of, they would proceed.<br />
- November 29th - five days before surgery, David is positive AGAIN. We caught it early, got him started quickly, and it was a mild case. But at this point I was just hoping and praying that nothing would delay the surgeries. I really didn't want to run into Christmas or have to wait until after New Year's to do it.<br />
- December 3rd - after 17 cases of strep in our family in 2014 (1 me, 1 Luke, 1 Anna, 8 David and 7 Katy), we had our 2nd and 3rd tonsillectomies of the year. Which will hopefully put a halt to the Year of Strep!<br />
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I was so totally impressed with how well the kids did leading up the surgery. Even going to school the day before, I assumed would be really hard (I remember from this summer that I was a wreck the day before my surgery). But they did really well. I think they were like me, just wanted to get it over with. And it helped all of us a LOT that we had just been through it with Luke at the same location, so we knew exactly what to expect. And it was a big plus for them that they were going to go through it together. They both mentioned it throughout the process, that is was great to have a buddy.<br />
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So the surgery center is really nice and they have everything down to a science. Katy and David were really excited to change into their scrubs and see what stuffed animal they would find on their bed. Then there was a lot of waiting. The waiting got hard for the last hour. And I was really thankful that they are able to give something to calm them down for the 30 minutes before surgery, otherwise that separation would have been really really hard.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XzhGQ4dkliM/VIdtiM-wkcI/AAAAAAAAHRs/ZY-T22Ebs54/s1600/2014-12-03%2B10.04.03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XzhGQ4dkliM/VIdtiM-wkcI/AAAAAAAAHRs/ZY-T22Ebs54/s1600/2014-12-03%2B10.04.03.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">David was literally looking forward to it. Oh, that kid. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nKy_iSn5iCs/VIdtj0gLV2I/AAAAAAAAHR0/zgRphvd0O7s/s1600/2014-12-03%2B11.01.49.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nKy_iSn5iCs/VIdtj0gLV2I/AAAAAAAAHR0/zgRphvd0O7s/s1600/2014-12-03%2B11.01.49.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The waiting. We will always remember this strangely bittersweet experience. </td></tr>
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So the surgery went well, Katy's were more scarred than David's and therefore harder to get out and more difficult to heal. Once we got home, the first 16 hours or so went really well compared to Luke. They were sore and tired, but they ate ice cream and drank plenty and took their medicine and watched movies. I was thinking maybe we got really lucky or something.<br />
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But on day 2, Katy especially took a hard turn, spiking a high fever and just being really sick and in pain. It was scary and no fun at all. I was talking to nurses and doctors and laying awake next to her at night. But on day 3, her fever was better, she perked up here and there, still in pain, etc, and things started to get a little better each day. By day 4, we had stopped using the pain med and just giving ibuprofen and tylenol.<br />
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But then it has continued to be a slow progress. Today is day 7, and I remember feeling this way at this point with Luke. Everyone said it would be 10 days of recovery, but in your head you thought they'd be feeling pretty decent by day 7. But they are still pretty sick. David is doing better, but even he was up in the night panicked with pain. Last night was a really hard night. Up a lot, not much sleep. Several things are hurting, etc. And this time, we have the added pressure of needing to get back to school. Tomorrow is supposed to be their first day back, according to my school excuse. I think David will go, but Katy is nowhere near ready. She still has a fever and is not up to a normal activity level at all. They already came home with a huge pile of work to do while they were gone, and I'm afraid of them missing more school. David has finished his pile as of today, but I know he has another packet waiting for him at school. And Katy has barely made a dent in hers. I just know it's going to take awhile to get back on track. And next week is the last week before break!<br />
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But the sweet part of the week is what Katy said best: "When you have surgery, people really spoil you!". It's so true. Friends and family have shown up at our doorstep with meals, popsicles, movies, boredom gifts for the kids, you name it. And everyone has been checking in and so supportive. I'm really thankful that these surgeries are available to us and for the great health care that we have access to. I know that this is temporary and by next week we will hopefully be back to normal. I'm just tired, and missing some fun Christmas stuff, and also needing to get a move on getting ready for our own holiday. But it will come.<br />
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This year I found a personalized ornament shop online and let the kids pick something out, instead of going to Hallmark (which was getting expensive and they always picked out these media characters.) I'm happy with the results! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QyAEp0Gt504/VIdtfCpxSmI/AAAAAAAAHRk/STPxW_aBhwc/s1600/2014-12-05%2B18.21.19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QyAEp0Gt504/VIdtfCpxSmI/AAAAAAAAHRk/STPxW_aBhwc/s1600/2014-12-05%2B18.21.19.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hard to believe this is only her 2nd Christmas. And that she'll be two in just a few weeks!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SlyW09lw4FE/VIdtmD3GY6I/AAAAAAAAHR8/QwvAkPXCMIE/s1600/2014-12-05%2B18.22.11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SlyW09lw4FE/VIdtmD3GY6I/AAAAAAAAHR8/QwvAkPXCMIE/s1600/2014-12-05%2B18.22.11.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The little heart says "Nanna," because that's what she calls herself. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NusgZSu2qlw/VIdto3DW3QI/AAAAAAAAHSE/pOiXohKS-eI/s1600/2014-12-05%2B18.28.18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NusgZSu2qlw/VIdto3DW3QI/AAAAAAAAHSE/pOiXohKS-eI/s1600/2014-12-05%2B18.28.18.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Legos for Luke, of course. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-20Um2kZ3rFU/VIdtp8HTptI/AAAAAAAAHSM/NyI5LJgUHWM/s1600/2014-12-05%2B18.29.22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-20Um2kZ3rFU/VIdtp8HTptI/AAAAAAAAHSM/NyI5LJgUHWM/s1600/2014-12-05%2B18.29.22.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Cub Scout shirt for David. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MuC2mT-Yt8g/VIdtsydFPmI/AAAAAAAAHSU/cO2SlQxfDWc/s1600/2014-12-05%2B19.29.21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MuC2mT-Yt8g/VIdtsydFPmI/AAAAAAAAHSU/cO2SlQxfDWc/s1600/2014-12-05%2B19.29.21.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gymanstics for Katy - she has been loving her class at the rec center and has really been improving! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xfX5Oobm9-U/VIdtvpMa67I/AAAAAAAAHSc/b2rYPXM-a7A/s1600/2014-12-07%2B16.20.04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xfX5Oobm9-U/VIdtvpMa67I/AAAAAAAAHSc/b2rYPXM-a7A/s1600/2014-12-07%2B16.20.04.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mommy and Anna</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PEi_2Tq4HiE/VIdtyY9SjtI/AAAAAAAAHSk/oOoGQfnOZok/s1600/2014-12-08%2B22.48.18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PEi_2Tq4HiE/VIdtyY9SjtI/AAAAAAAAHSk/oOoGQfnOZok/s1600/2014-12-08%2B22.48.18.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ever since the surgery, Luke has been sleeping alone in Katy and David's room so that Brian and I could care for Katy and David (each with one kid in bed with us). Last night we put him to bed and heard him moving around, but eventually he got quiet. When we went upstairs at 10:45, we found him sound asleep like this in the hallway. (That's his usual room where his feet are touching the door). I think he really wants to go back to his room. Poor little guy! </td></tr>
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<br />Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09257383770882314637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36725499.post-5907314557490836362014-12-09T15:57:00.000-05:002014-12-09T15:57:42.877-05:00November: 40th birthday, Toothless, Feasts, and Buckeyes<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="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L9fTY7M35Lw/VIcaHPDSl8I/AAAAAAAAHPM/ZbrBW-1IEaM/s1600/2014-11-05%2B08.35.57.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L9fTY7M35Lw/VIcaHPDSl8I/AAAAAAAAHPM/ZbrBW-1IEaM/s1600/2014-11-05%2B08.35.57.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This little stinker...she pushes stools up to reach whatever she darn well pleases. I have walked into the kitchen and found her with a carving knife in her hand, trying to open bottles of medication, spilling coffee all over, turning the water on in the sink, you name it! I am either holding her or she's getting into trouble...those are the only two modes of operation at this point. </td></tr>
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November brought another special birthday: Brian's 40th! We had a really good weekend celebrating. Unfortunately, I was a dork and didn't get picture of the two biggest events. Friday night we went out to eat with friends, which never ever EVER happens, because if we are lucky enough to land a babysitter for the evening, the chances of your friends also lining up a babysitter on the same night are practically none. So it was really fun, we ate a lot, we laughed a lot, and our kids were all spending the night with grandparents so no one had to rush home. It was awesome.<br />
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Then on the morning of Brian's birthday (Saturday), he and Katy ran a 5K together, her first. We had done that same race the previous year and she had done the kids fun run, but then noticed some kids her age running the actual race and getting medals. Well...that was that, she just had to do it. So they trained together this fall - and she ran the whole thing without stopping, which was her goal. I was so proud! The only disappointment was that they didn't give out medals this year - one very disappointed girl.<br />
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We did lunch and cake and gifts with the kids at home and went to church. Then that evening, Brian went out to a new-ish sports bar in our town with a few of his friends to watch the OSU vs. Michigan State game. It ended up being a great game and he had a blast. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Zy01BMpJQ6w/VIcaFocpDCI/AAAAAAAAHPE/WEWPUWRtLVQ/s1600/2014-11-06%2B07.32.01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Zy01BMpJQ6w/VIcaFocpDCI/AAAAAAAAHPE/WEWPUWRtLVQ/s1600/2014-11-06%2B07.32.01.jpg" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When Brian got to work that day, some of his co-workers had decorated his office to appear like a fish bowl - they really went all out, including photos of the kids and my faces floating around in the aquarium. Hilarious! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DQ8oviGJZ1s/VIcaK8lq8ZI/AAAAAAAAHPU/NNUsIZf3rXw/s1600/2014-11-07%2B23.22.18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DQ8oviGJZ1s/VIcaK8lq8ZI/AAAAAAAAHPU/NNUsIZf3rXw/s1600/2014-11-07%2B23.22.18.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some football chocolate covered strawberries from my Dad and Sue. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HInosC24o7I/VIcaMYfROhI/AAAAAAAAHPc/2u20muFzSu8/s1600/2014-11-08%2B08.30.08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HInosC24o7I/VIcaMYfROhI/AAAAAAAAHPc/2u20muFzSu8/s1600/2014-11-08%2B08.30.08.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to race! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nOQC5RT3S3c/VIcaQ8hLvzI/AAAAAAAAHPk/ZNN164szJV4/s1600/2014-11-08%2B09.23.50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nOQC5RT3S3c/VIcaQ8hLvzI/AAAAAAAAHPk/ZNN164szJV4/s1600/2014-11-08%2B09.23.50.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finishing strong! (I love this race, it is very close to us, very small, easy to park and get in and out.) </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8Zxkj4f_JLw/VIcaUSI8BgI/AAAAAAAAHP0/GRhSTW5R9sU/s1600/2014-11-08%2B12.48.02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8Zxkj4f_JLw/VIcaUSI8BgI/AAAAAAAAHP0/GRhSTW5R9sU/s1600/2014-11-08%2B12.48.02.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cookie-brownie! </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Now for some day-to-day stuff... <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xPiBVW0OUac/VIcaDbvbV1I/AAAAAAAAHO8/ubLTtpE_SXE/s1600/2014-11-06%2B08.01.59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xPiBVW0OUac/VIcaDbvbV1I/AAAAAAAAHO8/ubLTtpE_SXE/s1600/2014-11-06%2B08.01.59.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">For a long time (maybe 5 years?) we had been in the routine of letting the kids watch TV in the morning, which was especially helpful when I was preggo-sick or nursing babies in the morning and trying to shower, etc, before school. This was the only time of the day that they watched any TV. Recently I decided to try changing that routine to see if it would improve focus and behavior at school, especially for the boys. I thought it was going to be really hard to give it up. It wasn't at all, I was shocked! A couple of days in...I came down from taking a shower to find the boys writing their own Star Wars books that they had put together themselves, after they had already played Legos. I felt silly that I hadn't done this sooner, because I really think it has improved our school mornings. (They do still watch some TV on days with no school, but it's less). </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Girl Scouts has been really busy this fall. This picture is from our trip to the Art Museum. They were carrying those folding chairs around and parking them in front of the paintings that they liked and then answering questions about them on their clipboards. They ALL parked in front of this one, which was just too cute. This year many of the girls are going to different schools, but it is really nice to have the troop to keep them seeing each other, because most of them will still end up in middle school together. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hOae3jV-a-s/VIcaXroERII/AAAAAAAAHP8/QUooj2OzYso/s1600/2014-11-13%2B18.43.21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hOae3jV-a-s/VIcaXroERII/AAAAAAAAHP8/QUooj2OzYso/s1600/2014-11-13%2B18.43.21.jpg" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was very upsetting. One evening shortly after all the offices close, Anna was heading up the steps, following her siblings up there, and Brian and I were taking our time to follow her (she's about 98% accurate on the steps at this point, so we've gotten lazy about closing the gate.) So you know the rest of the story...we heard a big tumble and a thud - she fell, thankfully only 3 or 4 steps, but the hardwood is not forgiving. At first we thought she bit her tongue because she was bleeding so much, but then we discovered a gaping whole in the bottom of her mouth...and found the missing tooth on the steps. I just felt sick about it - hated that she had fallen, that there was nothing that we could do, and that she would now have a blemish until she's 6 because of it (but I'm glad it's not a top tooth that is more noticeable). I called the pediatric dentist on call to make sure I wasn't supposed to do anything, but I didn't hear back until the next morning, in which he apologized profusely that he didn't call back...the cleaning staff found his phone overnight in the building where he dropped it on the way out. But as Google had already old me...there was nothing they could do about a baby tooth anyway. They made sure that nothing else was damaged and that's that. :( </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mJg68mNl3Vo/VIcaYVqnBnI/AAAAAAAAHQA/V5BC-j8v6s4/s1600/2014-11-20%2B13.03.38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mJg68mNl3Vo/VIcaYVqnBnI/AAAAAAAAHQA/V5BC-j8v6s4/s1600/2014-11-20%2B13.03.38.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Luke has been absolutely OBSESSED with Legos lately. Specifically, he wants to follow the instructions to build all the sets that we have. And I've been blown away at how well he can follow the instructions. This truck above took him days - hours and hours, (so much of that time is finding the pieces that he needs once they've been mixed in with all the other Legos.). </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uVYmuobtziI/VIcaazLrxpI/AAAAAAAAHQM/D2gcTOkUSGo/s1600/2014-11-20%2B13.05.26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uVYmuobtziI/VIcaazLrxpI/AAAAAAAAHQM/D2gcTOkUSGo/s1600/2014-11-20%2B13.05.26.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just an example of the detailed instructions that he's following...about 90% on his own, to build these things. My grandpa says that Luke is going to be an engineer like he was, he recognizes that part of his thinking.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W9CFvsWCAQI/VIcae7vX_EI/AAAAAAAAHQc/ByMEzH_UOpg/s1600/2014-11-20%2B17.34.50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W9CFvsWCAQI/VIcae7vX_EI/AAAAAAAAHQc/ByMEzH_UOpg/s1600/2014-11-20%2B17.34.50.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Helping Daddy make calzones one night. This girl loves her Daddy - he is definitely the fun parent. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sLjroz15iyE/VIcacSNl2_I/AAAAAAAAHQU/ht7yaDdZ6Cc/s1600/2014-11-23%2B15.26.32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sLjroz15iyE/VIcacSNl2_I/AAAAAAAAHQU/ht7yaDdZ6Cc/s1600/2014-11-23%2B15.26.32.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Katy and David both earned a trip to the bowling alley as part of our "I Can Do Hard Things" campaign (Katy hates that name). I decided to try this new posh bowling alley and WOW. It was awesome. I'd like to go back there again with a big group of people. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5FkoIrhijl4/VIcagqmaJKI/AAAAAAAAHQk/SypTyX3L3Cc/s1600/2014-11-26%2B09.10.42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5FkoIrhijl4/VIcagqmaJKI/AAAAAAAAHQk/SypTyX3L3Cc/s1600/2014-11-26%2B09.10.42.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These two. They are the most cuddly of the bunch, which I think draws them to each other, and it melts my heart. Anna is such a sympathetic soul...when any kid is crying, she sprints over to pat them on the back and say, "It okay, Bubby, it okay." </td></tr>
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Thanksgiving weekend was a lot of fun, even with two more cases of strep throat (more on this in the next post). Our Thanksgiving Day was low key. Mom, Mel and I started the morning with a 5 mile Turkey Trot. It was really fun, but also reeealllly cold and windy. We have signed up to do a half marathon in May, and I'm hoping the weather will be a bit warmer (but you never know). Then we came home and ate casserole and watched the rest of the parade and relaxed. Then that evening we went out with the crazies and did a little shopping (Michael's and Old Navy). I know, I know...shame on us...but when my husband is off to watch the kids and my best two shopping buddies are also off work and available, you take what you can get.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dxwUAqgTUlY/VIcagrxgZcI/AAAAAAAAHQo/KyfHVtAaguw/s1600/2014-11-27%2B08.40.28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dxwUAqgTUlY/VIcagrxgZcI/AAAAAAAAHQo/KyfHVtAaguw/s1600/2014-11-27%2B08.40.28.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trying to stay warm before the race. </td></tr>
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Friday we had my mom and Greg's whole family dinner at mom's house. It was a lot of fun and the kids really enjoy playing with Abby's boys. We've gotten to see them more often this year with more things to celebrate, it seems. <br />
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On Saturday, after a quick trip to the pediatrician and the pharmacy, Melanie and I took the kids to Dayton to watch the Michigan game with my Dad and Sue. It was another awesome game with the exception of JT Barrett's injury...so sad. We ate a lot of good food and enjoyed the game together. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3-vqEi4Ww40/VIcakGi3g7I/AAAAAAAAHQ0/y7w2v5g_fRk/s1600/2014-11-29%2B13.59.01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3-vqEi4Ww40/VIcakGi3g7I/AAAAAAAAHQ0/y7w2v5g_fRk/s1600/2014-11-29%2B13.59.01.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is my dad's happy place. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EIkCUbZgUro/VIcal8-THKI/AAAAAAAAHQ8/9GPQqLhETxA/s1600/2014-11-29%2B14.55.34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EIkCUbZgUro/VIcal8-THKI/AAAAAAAAHQ8/9GPQqLhETxA/s1600/2014-11-29%2B14.55.34.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Luke found some Legos, and much to Sue's amazement, she still had the 40 year old instructions for this helicopter - only missing one piece! Aunt Mel was proud that they got this thing together. </td></tr>
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Meanwhile, Brian was <i><b>at</b></i> the game with his friend JT. They rushed the field afterwards, which took me back...Brian rushed the field after the Michigan victory back in 2002 that sent us to the National Championship - wearing a sombrero because it meant we were going to the Fiesta Bowl (which of course we won). And since I am writing this in December and know where we are headed...could this be...foreshadowing??<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eLngJPynoNE/VIcanasYh3I/AAAAAAAAHRE/gRY3IET0ozY/s1600/2014-11-29%2B15.44.53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eLngJPynoNE/VIcanasYh3I/AAAAAAAAHRE/gRY3IET0ozY/s1600/2014-11-29%2B15.44.53.jpg" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You still got it honey, just like when you were in your 20's!! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Zt9mWv3lts4/VIcap16h4BI/AAAAAAAAHRM/aQSLnksLzyQ/s1600/2014-11-30%2B15.49.05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Zt9mWv3lts4/VIcap16h4BI/AAAAAAAAHRM/aQSLnksLzyQ/s1600/2014-11-30%2B15.49.05.jpg" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And now it's time to get ready for Christmas...look what we found in our bin of Christmas decorations that we forgot that we purchased after season last year...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f4M34-O9PZk/VIcarRc0KAI/AAAAAAAAHRU/qwPooEZlXHQ/s1600/2014-11-30%2B16.29.39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f4M34-O9PZk/VIcarRc0KAI/AAAAAAAAHRU/qwPooEZlXHQ/s1600/2014-11-30%2B16.29.39.jpg" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I bet this girl will get into it more this year. She can say Ho Ho Ho but she wants NOTHING to do with Santa. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<br />Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09257383770882314637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36725499.post-72405665462214567252014-12-08T16:56:00.000-05:002014-12-09T10:29:15.722-05:00The rest of October: 90th birthday, apple orchard, HalloweenI'm so behind...it's' December 8th, but I do want to keep up with at least a minimum of sharing the major developments. So first, let me just finish up the rest of our happenings from October and then move on to November.<br />
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The biggest occasion in October was a special one. My grandpa turned 90 on September 24th and my Granny will turn 90 on January 7th. They celebrated 68 years of marriage in August. So we had a 90th birthday party for the two of them. They are two amazing people, and everyone who knows them loves them. As I posted on Facebook:<br />
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<i>Today I had the fantastic privilege of celebrating 90 years of life for both of my grandparents, Garl and Ruth.
They grew up together in small town, Indiana, were high school
sweethearts, but then Granny waited and worked while Grandpa flew
bombers in WWII (including Normandy on D-day, receiving several medals
of honor). When he returned, they married (68 yrs ago) and he went to
college on the GI bill and became an engineer. He built the two homes
they lived i<span class="text_exposed_show">n with his own two hands
while Granny raised my mom and uncle (and worked for Weight Watchers for
many many years). To this day, Grandpa rides his bike to get the mail
and chops his own firewood and drives back and forth to Indiana to fix
up their rental property. They are humble, loving, Godly people and
everyone who has known them has loved them. I love you so much and I'm
so fortunate to have you as grandparents. The greatest generation,
indeed.</span></i><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Py-_2Je7_5E/VIYTDfVhW8I/AAAAAAAAHMc/ANTvc798uT0/s1600/DSCN9647.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Py-_2Je7_5E/VIYTDfVhW8I/AAAAAAAAHMc/ANTvc798uT0/s1600/DSCN9647.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Melanie decorated the house with old pictures, it was really neat. The picture on the right side of this frame was taken one time that they dropped me off at college in Ithaca, NY. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MRn1gItLNzM/VIYTBUZiH1I/AAAAAAAAHMU/L4COijAzTRk/s1600/DSCN9648.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MRn1gItLNzM/VIYTBUZiH1I/AAAAAAAAHMU/L4COijAzTRk/s1600/DSCN9648.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Over the years with their kids...my mom and Uncle Neil. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ynb72XO87OI/VIYS_HwvOAI/AAAAAAAAHMM/KooHNuQ6dwU/s1600/DSCN9649.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ynb72XO87OI/VIYS_HwvOAI/AAAAAAAAHMM/KooHNuQ6dwU/s1600/DSCN9649.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We had to add a third string when guests brought more photos to the party. This was my favorite part, and I could tell that it meant a lot to my grandparents. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bT9gECrid3o/VIYTFTIOslI/AAAAAAAAHMk/4AdtKDDAnOI/s1600/DSCN9652.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bT9gECrid3o/VIYTFTIOslI/AAAAAAAAHMk/4AdtKDDAnOI/s1600/DSCN9652.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More photos...including some very stylish ones over the years. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FNyZREqejGY/VIYTID6KGyI/AAAAAAAAHMs/TqmjgZlwfIM/s1600/DSCN9661.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FNyZREqejGY/VIYTID6KGyI/AAAAAAAAHMs/TqmjgZlwfIM/s1600/DSCN9661.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aunt Mel, being Aunt Mel to Abby's boys, too. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NFwVjFYC_Hs/VIYTKZjo2bI/AAAAAAAAHM0/eTme3S53UWc/s1600/DSCN9664.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NFwVjFYC_Hs/VIYTKZjo2bI/AAAAAAAAHM0/eTme3S53UWc/s1600/DSCN9664.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The party...so nice to have time with everyone. On the far right is Granny's brother, Uncle Ward to me. He drove down from the UP in Michigan! Several other extended families members wanted to come from Indiana, but there happened to be two weddings in the family that same day: one of Grandpa's great nephews and one of Granny's great nieces. Who would've thought? </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-56CFUMpCuak/VIYTOie7yFI/AAAAAAAAHM8/Q0ul34Uzvzg/s1600/DSCN9667.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-56CFUMpCuak/VIYTOie7yFI/AAAAAAAAHM8/Q0ul34Uzvzg/s1600/DSCN9667.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Granny and Grandpa with their Greats. Luke, Nate, David, Gabe, Anna, and Katy. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ara8ZPz1RJo/VIYTP3brPqI/AAAAAAAAHNE/kOBMechL35Y/s1600/DSCN9673.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ara8ZPz1RJo/VIYTP3brPqI/AAAAAAAAHNE/kOBMechL35Y/s1600/DSCN9673.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is what 90 years of wisdom looks like. Love them!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0GrJqhCWu9E/VIYTR6zX2bI/AAAAAAAAHNM/bZvkk83e6kc/s1600/DSCN9674.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0GrJqhCWu9E/VIYTR6zX2bI/AAAAAAAAHNM/bZvkk83e6kc/s1600/DSCN9674.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With their grands. Abby, Mel, and I. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EHF0rUp29dM/VIYTUA-8FoI/AAAAAAAAHNU/HnzI9igNEK8/s1600/DSCN9677.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EHF0rUp29dM/VIYTUA-8FoI/AAAAAAAAHNU/HnzI9igNEK8/s1600/DSCN9677.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And of course with my mom and Neil. It was a special day!</td></tr>
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The following weekend we had a nice visit from Grammy and Papa John from Kentucky. We went apple picking and made apple butter and applesauce with my new Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer attachment (that thing is amazing!). The kids had a great time with them. <br />
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<span class="text_exposed_show"> </span><i><span class="text_exposed_show"> </span></i><span class="text_exposed_show">And then came Halloween, with all of it's festivities. As is par for the course for us this year, we were battling strep throat through Halloween...and just barely made it trick or treating and to class parties. (David was positive just hours before trick or treating, and I took him to school at noon the next day (after the 24 hour antibiotic mark) so he could go to his party. The 31st was party central for me - I went to 3 school parties in 3 buildings all at different times. Thank goodness that my mom has been available this month (in between jobs), because Anna would have been toast. </span><br />
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<span class="text_exposed_show">Also this year, I took the easy route for costumes. The thing is...the boys play with their costumes ALL the time. Almost daily, all year long, until they literally fall apart at the seams. So I decided that if there was superhero that they wanted to be, I would get a good coupon (got a 40% off at Target!) and just purchase the costume new, because they will get lots of play out of them. So...David was Darth Vader, Luke was Batman, Katy picked out a girl pirate (I'm just glad she didn't want to be Katy Perry just yet), and Anna was the 4th and final lamb (you may have seen the collage that Brian made of all 4 of them wearing it on FB). </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T_8TRGuJZMs/VIYbz4kRHbI/AAAAAAAAHOc/VKxudEQ1I9I/s1600/2014-10-30%2B18.06.02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T_8TRGuJZMs/VIYbz4kRHbI/AAAAAAAAHOc/VKxudEQ1I9I/s1600/2014-10-30%2B18.06.02.jpg" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I loved that Beggar's Night was the night before Halloween this year. We had perfect weather, and the kids weren't already completely worn out from class parties. Our neighbor Asher went with us, and he had borrowed our Wolverine costume (David wore it last year), so he literally seemed like one of ours. I kept thinking he was one of my kids all night. I just LOVE Beggar's Night. Because I love neighbors and everyone is out and excited and friendly. It's awesome. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rYaPW2cgmKI/VIYby3Uaj7I/AAAAAAAAHOU/xZE5jytJl50/s1600/2014-10-30%2B19.07.35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rYaPW2cgmKI/VIYby3Uaj7I/AAAAAAAAHOU/xZE5jytJl50/s1600/2014-10-30%2B19.07.35.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We went over to Oma's for the 2nd half. Katy really wanted to hand out candy and one of her good friends lives next door to Oma. They live on a busy corner in a neighborhood with lots of kids, so it is just really fun to be there. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tQBYXQ29cJM/VIYb2QwAnoI/AAAAAAAAHOs/eoLThsN4FEY/s1600/2014-10-30%2B20.30.54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tQBYXQ29cJM/VIYb2QwAnoI/AAAAAAAAHOs/eoLThsN4FEY/s1600/2014-10-30%2B20.30.54.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the scene for a solid week afterwards. Sorting, trading, counting, dealing. Until we do a candy draft, make them pick 10 pieces each and donate the rest. Because otherwise it would go on until Christmas. </td></tr>
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<span class="text_exposed_show"><br /></span>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09257383770882314637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36725499.post-52580725640433840022014-10-08T15:10:00.000-04:002014-10-08T15:10:54.889-04:00Fall catch-upWell I think this is a first for me - the entire month of September with not one blog post! But that is pretty much how I feel right now...behind, barely keeping up, running to this and that and all around. We are finally, about 8 weeks into the school year, feeling like we are catching our breath. Busy, but manageable. Used to the new routine. Adjusted. <br />
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Brian is happy in his new job. David is making it through a week of full-day school without exhausted meltdowns, and he's doing well in school (I wish for maybe a little less homework - he has the most we've ever had in 4 years of elementary school, about 45-60 minutes a night between math, spelling words, writing, and book-in-a-bag). Katy also loves her new school, adores her teacher, and her new friends. She is making progress in adjusting to the new year...it's two steps forward, one (and a half?) steps back. Luke, after a rocky start, is also liking preschool. He's learning to control his impulses and be a good friend, and he's finally interested in letters and writing, which he has never been before. And Anna is quickly approaching two years old. She says new words
everyday (latest: apple, sorry, airplane), and has NO problem standing
up for herself in this chaos. She screams A LOT. She has figured out
that that is a very effective way to get everyone's attention when she
is not getting what she wants. Eeeek.<br />
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We've been up to lots of things...photo dump!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3Daph3jEpn4/VDWGeTxAn6I/AAAAAAAAHKM/cuDO3gL3FeY/s1600/2014-09-01%2B11.01.31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3Daph3jEpn4/VDWGeTxAn6I/AAAAAAAAHKM/cuDO3gL3FeY/s1600/2014-09-01%2B11.01.31.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our annual Labor Day trip to Young's Dairy with Grandpa and Grandma Sue. It's such a good deal and the kids look forward to it like it's Disney. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DL7oCQuMzsY/VDWG7niDehI/AAAAAAAAHKU/rmnhlt2ZyTY/s1600/2014-09-01%2B11.28.14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DL7oCQuMzsY/VDWG7niDehI/AAAAAAAAHKU/rmnhlt2ZyTY/s1600/2014-09-01%2B11.28.14.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maybe not the best two in the family to swing metal clubs around. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t2yT-AD-U3Y/VDWG9NW0azI/AAAAAAAAHKc/U-YC097HdH8/s1600/2014-09-01%2B12.42.29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t2yT-AD-U3Y/VDWG9NW0azI/AAAAAAAAHKc/U-YC097HdH8/s1600/2014-09-01%2B12.42.29.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She LOVED feeding the animals.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s93UCRBNbk0/VDWHA4TW_sI/AAAAAAAAHKk/Tw7pRir1Jxs/s1600/2014-09-01%2B12.53.51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s93UCRBNbk0/VDWHA4TW_sI/AAAAAAAAHKk/Tw7pRir1Jxs/s1600/2014-09-01%2B12.53.51.jpg" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There are four of them, you just gotta. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T0Of33AbkcQ/VDWIlXb0CqI/AAAAAAAAHL4/QYofvn4PTJA/s1600/2014-09-03%2B08.41.18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T0Of33AbkcQ/VDWIlXb0CqI/AAAAAAAAHL4/QYofvn4PTJA/s1600/2014-09-03%2B08.41.18.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Luke's first morning of preschool. I just cherish this smile. He was SO excited, after all those years of taking his siblings to school. It was finally his turn! And he insisted on holding his "crocodile." </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i1LMkRABliE/VDWHE5q5QGI/AAAAAAAAHKs/JshAF9EfAus/s1600/2014-09-07%2B10.45.12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i1LMkRABliE/VDWHE5q5QGI/AAAAAAAAHKs/JshAF9EfAus/s1600/2014-09-07%2B10.45.12.jpg" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Really awesome local event called Cops & Kids Day. They have so much hands on stuff for the kids to do and lots of free things to give to them. We donated to the ALS foundation so Katy and David could throw balls to dunk our local chief of police into ice water. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IyFi3dka-CM/VDWHIaAMNGI/AAAAAAAAHK0/_32-yqMG2co/s1600/2014-09-09%2B19.12.43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IyFi3dka-CM/VDWHIaAMNGI/AAAAAAAAHK0/_32-yqMG2co/s1600/2014-09-09%2B19.12.43.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This pretty much sums it up. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YL20FwHMcmI/VDWHPuQe0jI/AAAAAAAAHK8/a0Pp7dsz_e4/s1600/2014-09-11%2B11.09.13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YL20FwHMcmI/VDWHPuQe0jI/AAAAAAAAHK8/a0Pp7dsz_e4/s1600/2014-09-11%2B11.09.13.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We all do our part to prepare for football season. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UhGJyRnjN5Q/VDWHRi2BuiI/AAAAAAAAHLE/-HdTSk-oD_0/s1600/2014-09-13%2B10.19.48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UhGJyRnjN5Q/VDWHRi2BuiI/AAAAAAAAHLE/-HdTSk-oD_0/s1600/2014-09-13%2B10.19.48.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This year David is old enough to join Cub Scouts. Brian was very involved in Boy Scouts, and our older neighbor boys are in Boy Scouts, so David was really excited to try it. We found a pack that has lots of boys from his school, and meets at the same time as Girl Scouts (so it's nice that it's just Scout night for the family). Brian ended up being Assistant Den Leader (of course he did). Here they are headed to their first camp-out (they didn't stay over night this time). </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ICNujAnkRT4/VDWHW1pwebI/AAAAAAAAHLM/uP8c2H0es7A/s1600/2014-09-13%2B15.30.06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ICNujAnkRT4/VDWHW1pwebI/AAAAAAAAHLM/uP8c2H0es7A/s1600/2014-09-13%2B15.30.06.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Katy and her friend Emily have gotten really into dolls (American Girl and the like). They've been doing chores around the house for a quarter each to save up and buy a new doll at Michael's with a coupon ($14). They finally got it and were so happy. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_g2vjGdLTSM/VDWHgFnW5wI/AAAAAAAAHLU/nUKnZgIDjMg/s1600/2014-09-17%2B10.31.22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_g2vjGdLTSM/VDWHgFnW5wI/AAAAAAAAHLU/nUKnZgIDjMg/s1600/2014-09-17%2B10.31.22.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Apple picking fieldtrip with his preschool. I am loving the tiny, very close by, loving preschool that he is attending this year. There are 27 kids in the school TOTAL. Our old preschool had 300. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D3SX4OcWWRI/VDWHjPCT2YI/AAAAAAAAHLc/c3NGhQ0c7Hw/s1600/2014-09-17%2B10.42.14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D3SX4OcWWRI/VDWHjPCT2YI/AAAAAAAAHLc/c3NGhQ0c7Hw/s1600/2014-09-17%2B10.42.14.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jtdhJqoaMII/VDWHmh543dI/AAAAAAAAHLk/E1GNE32PCSg/s1600/2014-09-22%2B18.37.16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jtdhJqoaMII/VDWHmh543dI/AAAAAAAAHLk/E1GNE32PCSg/s1600/2014-09-22%2B18.37.16.jpg" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">David with his new insignia. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OWAlkwmgXbs/VDWHqUy2GWI/AAAAAAAAHLs/TLn9ALTH4-U/s1600/2014-09-28%2B12.48.42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OWAlkwmgXbs/VDWHqUy2GWI/AAAAAAAAHLs/TLn9ALTH4-U/s1600/2014-09-28%2B12.48.42.jpg" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Uncle Joey comes for a visit. When we tell the kids that Joey is coming, they all yell, "Jooooeeeeeyyyyy!!!!!" (except now Luke calls him "Josie" and we all laugh hysterically.) </td></tr>
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Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09257383770882314637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36725499.post-50700867960928723182014-08-23T23:49:00.001-04:002014-08-23T23:49:24.643-04:00Change<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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Our family has seen lots and lots and LOTS of change in the past few weeks. I am not gonna lie - change is hard. It has been hard. We're in a bit of a period of transition, and I am trying to take deep breaths and remember that in a few months (I would say weeks but that feels optimistic at this point), this will all feel like the new normal. </div>
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Backing up a bit...Luke is completely better. I mentioned a set-back, but I didn't notice as much of a set-back as just more of the same misery. It really was just a solid ten days of a pretty sick boy, not doing much playing, not doing much eating, very slow progress, getting up a lot at night (he slept in our room), etc. Brian was off for week #4 of my recovery and the 2nd half of Luke's recovery. And it just wasn't a fun week, but we got through it. AND. I might be crazy, but I feel like we could tell a difference right away. He can DEFINITELY hear better (he was crying about the fly buzzing in the house because it was SO LOUD), his language seems to have developed overnight, he isn't waking up at night any more, and he just seems happier, better behaved, more loving. Who knew? Or am I giving the surgery too much credit? Either way, I love this crazy kid, and in a weird way, we grew closer over those ten days of recovery. </div>
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Week #5 of my recovery was a carefully calculated schedule of friends who brought their kids over and helped lift Anna as needed (after my mom covered the early morning hours). It was a really nice week, actually, as Luke and I were feeling well, and we had this revolving door of people coming to hang out with us, and we got to catch up with some friends that we don't always make the time to see. </div>
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Week #6, Aunt Mel worked from home at my house, bless her heart! Trying to work in this chaos is not easy, but she made it happen. It was really nice to still have her help this week because it was also the first week of school for Katy and David (starting Wednesday). It has been quite a transition for both of them, and I needed the support as I was trying to figure out how to transport the two kids to two schools. So Katy is in a new building and David is going all day for the first time. The good news is that they both have great teachers and friends in their class and I know they are both in a good place. But it's an adjustment, and there are challenges, and we're working on getting those smoothed out. Baby steps!</div>
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Also in week #6, it was a huge week for Brian. After holding his last work position for 14 years, he moved into a new position in a different department at the same university. Once you have been very comfortable somewhere for 14 years, it's easy to forget what it's like to start over. So that first week was also a big transition for him. But now at the end of week 2, he is already feeling more settled and happy and looking forward to the new adventures ahead. More change! </div>
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Finally, after 6 weeks, I am able to pick up this sweet baby girl! I am feeling really good and I'm so excited to be past my restrictions. I've been on my own this past week and it has been nice to be feeling like I'm (somewhat) in control of our days again. I'm trying to get back into exercise and healthy eating (really need it). And although Anna quickly figured out that I can hold her again, after all that time she has developed a close bond with her Daddy. If we're both in the room and she falls down and hurts herself, she'll run past me and go over to him. I'm glad that she has her Daddy, but I also hope we're able to get our bond back quickly. I miss my baby girl snuggles. </div>
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We've been working (and working and working) on teaching her not to dump her plate on the floor when she is done. On this morning, she ate a whole bowl of cereal without dumping it, and I tried to make a big deal about it by sending a picture to Daddy. She really seemed to get it and was proud of herself. :) Little victories. <br />
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Another thing that I want to remember...all this week, Luke asks me a zillion times a day when we can go pick up David from school (6.5 hours is a loooong time). When David comes home, Luke practically attacks him, he's so happy to see him. Then the two of them disappear into some game they made up. Eventually I need David to come to the table and do a little homework. Luke wants to sit right next to him and constantly asks, "are you done yet? how about now? why is it taking so long?" which makes the homework take twice as long as it should. Brothers! I hope they are always good friends. Luke starts preschool after Labor Day and he is SO excited. We pass his school every day (it's close to the house), and he shouts, "Bye, new school! See you in a couple of weeks!"<br />
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Three mornings a week with just me and Anna??? It's going to feel very strange. More change. <br />
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Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09257383770882314637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36725499.post-67968497929601390782014-07-27T16:48:00.002-04:002014-07-27T16:48:37.418-04:00Recovery #2<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pigtails are happening, and they are cute as ever. </td></tr>
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Week #3 brought my Dad and Sue to help, and then Thursday of this week was Luke's scheduled tonsillectomy. I was feeling pretty decent at this point, just tired, so we tried to do a few fun things with kids and grandparents before Luke's Big Day. </div>
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On Monday, we had well visits for Katy, Luke, and Anna, so here are some stats! </div>
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Anna at 18 months: 23 lbs, 10 oz (40 %'ile) and 31.5" (50 %'ile)</div>
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Luke at 4 years: 32 lbs (15%'ile) and 38.5" (15 %'ile)</div>
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Katy at 8 years: 45 lbs (5 %'ile) and 46.5" (5 %'ile)</div>
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My dad and I took the boys to see Planes 2 in the theater. It was okay, they really liked it. My dad and I were cracking up at the reclining leather seats - we don't get out much. :) </div>
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The next day Dad and Sue were up for a REAL adventure and we took all 4 kids to the pool (and I wasn't able to get in the water). It ended up being such a fun afternoon (except for the part when Anna had a total meltdown and I couldn't pick her up, so my dad was carrying her to the car screaming so we could take her home for a nap and I could come back). The weather was perfect and each kid made more progress in the water: Anna was putting her face in and bouncing up and down in water up to her neck. Luke was able to paddle around the kiddie pool on his own in his floatie vest. David went off the DIVING BOARD!!! And swam to the side by himself! He was SO proud. And Katy went down the big slide (she's still an inch and a half shy of the height requirement but we got permission from the manager and she was beside herself with excitement.) I got video of Katy and David's Firsts, but I can't figure out how to get them on here, so...</div>
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Finally came the day of Luke's surgery. I took him out the night before and tried to explain in basic terms what was going to happen - but the great thing about Luke is that...he just doesn't seem to get it, or at least he doesn't get worked up about it. So the morning of the surgery, we were walking into the (very convenient, very nice) surgery center, and he was skipping and singing, "Everything is Awesome!" He was just blissfully unaware, all the way into the OR. The only time he got a little nervous was when we entered this room with his bed...<br />
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The biggest surprise to me was how fast it went. From the time he left our sight until the surgeon was in the waiting room giving us a report was 25 minutes. What?!?!? The families who were there getting just ear tubes were in the waiting room less than 10 minutes. Crazy. But the surgeon said that his tonsils and adenoids were both huge, and that his ears were full of fluid, so she went ahead and put tubes in, too. She said we should expect to see an improvement in hearing, health, sleep, and possibly attention and growth. So that was really encouraging, making me feel like we made the right decision.<br />
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We had to be there at 7, the surgery was at 9, and we were home by 11:30. That first day he was out of it, but didn't seem to be in a lot of pain, just laid on the couch, ate some popscicles, even got down and played some. But at 10:00 that night, he woke up screaming and that started a very difficult couple of days. The day after the surgery was hard to watch and worrisome. He wouldn't move, refused to eat and drink, resisted his medicine, had a fever and chest congestion (apparently normal), just seemed awful. That night he threw up 3 times, but the next day he started to make some progress. He was sitting up playing the iPad, taking small bites of applesauce and sips of water, etc. Today is day 4 and he's eating a pancake and has been off the couch playing some. So he's much better. I'm bracing myself, for everyone has warned me of the setback that we can expect days 5-8, but I'm thankful that he's feeling better for now. <br />
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More to come....I will be happy to see August. <br />
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Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09257383770882314637noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36725499.post-52712479108795362792014-07-18T15:08:00.001-04:002014-07-18T15:08:48.995-04:00Recovery...I have been blessed to have so much support in the last week and a half since my surgery, and literally could not have done this without friends and family helping out, and I am so thankful. I wanted to write a little bit about the experience while it is still fresh in my memory, just so I have it for future reference.<br />
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This is my first experience having surgery. All day before and especially the morning of were just miserable with anxiety. I was surprised in the whole triage and pre-op process how much I could hear other people's conversations. And over and over, every patient talked about how nervous they were. I guess it is just scary to be that much out of control of your own body.<br />
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The surgery went smoothly, but due to an equipment malfunction, I was under anesthesia twice as long as they anticipated. my surgery was at 7, I was starting to wake up in recovery around noon, saw Brian and my dad briefly around 1pm, an was up in my room by 4. I did not anticipate how awful that first day would be. I didn't eat any solid food until late that night, didn't get out of bed at all until the next morning, and that was with assistance. I was discharged at 4pm on the 2nd day, and ouch...that was a rough ride home.<br />
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The first week was just one step at a time...every day was a little bit better - at first I was in bed all day except for a one-hour trip downstairs. The next day, able to sit up in bed and come down twice. The next day, eating full meals and just taking two naps. The next day, just one nap. By day 5, I was able to get dressed, go to church and drive home. <br />
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This second week, I'm feeling fairly normal, just tired and sore. The hardest part is realizing that I need to take it easy. The house is still bustling around me, and my mother-in-law is here this week to help, especially with Anna. But she really needs help, and I just cannot sit on the couch all day and watch her do it alone, so I do what I can. And after a few hours, my body hits a wall and I need to stop. But I'm figuring out how much I can do. Kathy has been a God send this week, and I literally couldn't have done it without her.<br />
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Poor Anna. Actually Anna is fine, I am the one having a hard time not picking her up. She falls down and is crying and I just want to scoop her up. I feel like I miss her and I'm afraid that she will feel rejected or something. But she really seems to be fine and happy, loving the extra daddy and grandma time. Four more weeks. <br />
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This week has also been VBS. We go to this fabulous program that is a little bit of a drive from us, but the kids love it, it is so well done, and we knows lots of families who go there, so there are lots of friends for the kids. But Katy has been having a hard time lately again, so I ended up being a classroom assistant 3/5 days in order to help her "conquer" VBS with success. That really wore me out, both physically and emotionally. But it's done. (Had I known this was going to be the case, I wouldn't have done this one week after surgery, I THOUGHT I was going to relieve our workload a bit by dropping 3 kids off for a couple of hours everyday.) <br />
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But the weather has been gorgeous, the kids have lots of neighbors outside playing, and friends have been bringing loads of food. Now starts the countdown to Luke's surgery: 6 days. I really look forward to mid-August when all of this recovery is behind us.<br />
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Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09257383770882314637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36725499.post-83736450956620363862014-07-04T16:37:00.001-04:002014-07-05T07:12:51.153-04:00Mini-meBrian found some old photos when he was fixing something in his mom's attic this week. I was shrieking when I saw some of them... We certainly gave Luke the perfect middle name (Brian)!<br />
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Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09257383770882314637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36725499.post-31346987325578741432014-07-03T21:49:00.000-04:002014-07-03T21:49:15.568-04:00Cousin swim at Grammy and Papa John's<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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We're back from our trip to Kentucky and it was a great time, as usual. We celebrated birthdays (Luke's, mine, and Kelly's), did some fireworks, watched late night movies, ate lots of good food and swam a LOT. The best part is lots of time with family, playing and chatting and catching up since we don't get to see them often. The kids are in heaven while we are there, and all the swimming wears them OUT. I always love how every year, that much time in the water means that every child reaches a new level of swimming independence:</div>
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-Katy swims all over the pool, shallow and deep end, without assistance or an adult needed in the water (we're still watching from the side, of course). She was doing this last year too, but it is just awesome when they get to this point. </div>
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-David was the most significant: this is the first year that he never needed any kind of floatie...he swam around the shallow end of course, but also jumping/sliding into the deep end and swimming to the edge like a pro. He also picked things up off the bottom of the pool in water over his head. He'll be able to do the diving board the next time we go to the city pool. </div>
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- The first day, Luke stayed on the steps and wouldn't do anything else. But eventually, he was wearing a floatie vest, moving all around the shallow end on his own, even without an adult next to him. </div>
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- Anna became quite the daredevil! She jumped off the side into my arms, and eventually she was pointing to the slide, wanting to go down. Sure enough, Brian took her down on his lap, and she wanted to do it again and again! (Pictures below). </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brian's gift to me: he got the first year of this blog printed and bound into a book! There's potential to finish the rest of the project, but it isn't cheap, so this was a very cool surprise. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At any given time, there's a handful of kids in the pool (and usually either Brian or I or both, too, since we have so many non-swimmers). </td></tr>
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(Aunt Kelly was testing the sports mode on her new camera for some of these)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He really thought he was smiling. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at that face! </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And she wanted to do it again and again!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brian's such a good dad - he's completely under water, trying to keep her head up and pass her to me. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carrie and Luke having a snack in the hammock. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We eat most meals outside in the gazebo. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grammy making snow cones. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is Luke's cautious face, he's nervous about the sparklers. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Watching fireworks</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cousins! L to R, Leah (11), Luke (4), Kim (14), Anna (1), David (6), Carolyn (10), Katy (8)</td></tr>
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Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09257383770882314637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36725499.post-47137873743377321712014-06-27T23:45:00.000-04:002014-06-27T23:45:29.381-04:00June<div>
Opa said it best recently - is there any month better than June? The whole summer is before us, the weather is beautiful (not too hot yet), there is so much to celebrate (birthdays, weddings, graduations), and there's a vacation mindset all around. I don't know what I was worried about with keeping busy this summer - we have really crammed a lot into the first half of summer (on purpose), and keeping busy has not been a problem. Of course, there have still been a few challenges: weather too cold for swimming lessons made those a challenge - but David still LOVED them and is really progressing, rainy and stormy weather hindered Girl Scout camp as well. But overall it has been a great month.<br />
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(Still figuring out how to combine pics from camera and phone - I notice that I can read the captions fine from my reader and in blogger, but going directly to the blog online and some of them you cannot read...) <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-yGHGR27dpW8/U64maE05jiI/AAAAAAAAHCM/zPpEAMljVhI/s640/blogger-image--716959924.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-yGHGR27dpW8/U64maE05jiI/AAAAAAAAHCM/zPpEAMljVhI/s400/blogger-image--716959924.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This child is obSESSED with books! I dug out the old board books for her (the ones that are left) and she is constantly begging someone to read with her. The great thing about older siblings is that she has several potential readers (for baby books, anyway). This has been fun because I think I mentioned that Luke is only recently interested in books - so it seems super cute for her to be interested as a toddler. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brian got me a pedicure for Mother's Day and I went to the salon with my mom. She wanted to take a picture to show Katy what she goes through to have the beautiful nails that Katy is always admiring. </td></tr>
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Over Father's Day weekend, Brian and I, Melanie, and Mom and Greg attended a wedding in Cincinnati. Dad and Sue watched the kids, and then we got to celebrate Father's Day with them. Then Brian and I took Anna back home and the big kids had an adventure in Dayton for a couple of days with Grandpa and Grandma Sue. They had a great time, and Anna and I enjoyed some quiet trips to Costco, the pool, and the library while they were gone. These pictures are ones that my dad sent me...</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-giAFpuBKdNc/U64u3q_i5cI/AAAAAAAAHEc/syNn21f7r5A/s640/blogger-image--623052914.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-giAFpuBKdNc/U64u3q_i5cI/AAAAAAAAHEc/syNn21f7r5A/s400/blogger-image--623052914.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's a small airport near their house and they went a couple of times to watch planes take off and land, and then some of them are on display so you can actually touch and take a look. We've been meaning to take them to the Air Force Museum sometime - but they probably enjoyed this as much as anything! They talked and talked about it for days. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dad and Sue RAVE about<a href="http://www.entertrainmentjunction.com/" target="_blank"> Entertrainment Junction</a>, if you are ever in the north Cincy area. It is a kids' museum that is train themed with all sorts of intricate models that demonstrate the history of trains. They also have a Coney Island exhibit with working rides! </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The kids also loved this new-to-them spray park. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Luke came home exhausted but happy. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">David finished his Tae Kwon Do class, they had a fun demonstration for the last class. It was more like TKD-themed fitness than actual martial arts. </td></tr>
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As a combined Luke & Mommy birthday celebration with Aunt Mel, Oma, and Opa, we went and picked strawberries and spent some time at the <a href="http://velveticecream.com/" target="_blank">Velvet Ice Cream Factory</a>. It was beautiful and relaxing and the kids really enjoyed it. One of the best parts of picking strawberries is that it makes for great photos. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She just kept picking them off the vine and shoving them in her mouth, before I could get the leaves off. Precious. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Velvet has a beautiful facility and grounds, you can spend some hours there. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Luke eats his ice cream with his whole heart. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rWo6o4bk_ro/U64tEfewLZI/AAAAAAAAHEE/WvWDEJcLb5M/s1600/DSCN9502.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rWo6o4bk_ro/U64tEfewLZI/AAAAAAAAHEE/WvWDEJcLb5M/s1600/DSCN9502.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(This is from actual birthday, pics are out of order) I have been seriously slacking in the cake decorating department! I totally improvised this design at the last second, because I had no plan. The best part of Luke's birthday was his genuine enthusiasm about everything. He was especially thrilled about opening presents, and was sincerely excited and thankful for each one. I think 4 will be a good year for him. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-4km88AtR2eM/U64mi2RjuvI/AAAAAAAAHCs/XIB7u3XrusM/s640/blogger-image--1109469795.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-4km88AtR2eM/U64mi2RjuvI/AAAAAAAAHCs/XIB7u3XrusM/s400/blogger-image--1109469795.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On our way out of Dayton on Father's Day, we stopped to see my grandparents, which is always a treasure. Katy has been really into making things out of duct tape and made my grandfather this wallet for Father's Day. He was really impressed, and I thought it suited him perfectly. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-f6ZMdQeRzQM/U64mm5bSRCI/AAAAAAAAHC8/Rausnslcd1M/s640/blogger-image-1159778047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-f6ZMdQeRzQM/U64mm5bSRCI/AAAAAAAAHC8/Rausnslcd1M/s400/blogger-image-1159778047.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anna loves to carry around her baby, push her in the stroller, and feed her graham crackers, etc. It warms my heart to see her toting around this doll that Katy used when she was a toddler too. (Although Katy was never much into dolls, Anna seems to have a little more interest). </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">During the day on Luke's actual birthday, we went to the zoo with his friend Rebecca. The kids had so much fun and I got to see the new Africa exhibit, which was really incredible. It was hot and crowded (for a Monday!), but all that matters is that he really enjoyed his birthday. When he opened this shirt from Aunt Mel (which says, "Everything is Awesome," a line from the Lego Movie that they saw with Dad and Sue), he read it: "Happy Birthday, Lukey [last name]." He's been showing his sweet nature since his birthday, it's like he flipped some sort of 4 year old switch. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-GahSxiEsLS8/U64mc8jQ0rI/AAAAAAAAHCU/PxI9yao3Gck/s640/blogger-image-1021242767.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-GahSxiEsLS8/U64mc8jQ0rI/AAAAAAAAHCU/PxI9yao3Gck/s400/blogger-image-1021242767.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mommy and Anna selfie on the carousel! I love that she is smiling behind the thumb in her mouth. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So Brian and the kids planted a raised garden this year - they planted broccoli, cucumbers, strawberries, and now peppers and watermelon. I think we just lucked out with the spot, because the little box has done better than expected! We've harvested all the broccoli, two cucumbers so far, and this is our first strawberry of the season. The kids have really enjoyed checking on it each day, and I think they all ate more broccoli than they would have eaten store bought. </td></tr>
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Up next...our annual trip to Kentucky, an early anniversary celebration for Brian and I, and then surgeries. We've certainly enjoyed our summer so far...</div>
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Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09257383770882314637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36725499.post-28534342842876976612014-06-01T23:11:00.000-04:002014-06-02T21:08:20.442-04:00May is the new DecemberHoly cow, is May a busy month or what? Every activity is wrapping up for the year with some sort of party/ceremony/picnic. We have several birthdays in the family, two weddings this May, a baby shower, Mother's Day, end-of-school craziness, etc etc etc. I have some pictures to share of course...<br />
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Also, we were in the process of making several (biggish?) decisions. The end result is that I am having surgery on July 7th, and Luke is having surgery on July 24th. It will be a challenge (especially since my lifting restriction will mean that I cannot lift Anna for 6 weeks!), but I am really hoping that by August Luke and I will both be in better shape for it! It ends up that Luke can benefit from removing his tonsils, adenoids, and possibly placing ear tubes for reasons beyond the strep carrier diagnosis. We're hoping that he'll be able to hear better, sleep better, and have better attention and focus. We'll see.<br />
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And our other decision was that Katy was invited to participate in a gifted classroom for 3rd-5th grade, but that required moving schools. At first, we were really hesitant to move her, because she is settled and happy and has a great community at our home school. But after much (much MUCH) conversation with people who know what they are talking about, it does seem like it would be a great program for her. And as it turns out, she does have a friend going there also, and we've already met a few of the new families who will be going and they seem great. So, big changes ahead for next school year - kids in 2 different elementary schools and 1 preschool. It's going to be a whirlwind.<br />
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OH! And not pictured...Brian and I got TWO NIGHTS AWAY thanks to our saint of an Aunt Mel. She offered to do this for us. We ended up not even leaving town, just staying in a hotel and doing all the fun things we never get to do right here in our own city, eating way too much food, relaxing and shopping and walking and walking and walking. It was the best, BEST two nights. So needed, and I really appreciate Mel for doing it. And she even took them to the zoo, with Oma and Opa to help. We Facetimed and texted a lot, and we were close by if needed. She said it was harder than she expected. Oh, man...Mel, what would we do without you?
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First up, the wedding of my dear friend Susan. We were figuring out post-college life in central Ohio together back in our 20's, and were roommates for a time. She met a fabulous man recently and I am thrilled for her. Plus, they got married at Ohio Village, where Brian and I got married! It was really fun to go back there again. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-x00WtuPpqfc/U22VWwQjgvI/AAAAAAAAG8U/aBexuDg8Fso/s640/blogger-image-821153493.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-x00WtuPpqfc/U22VWwQjgvI/AAAAAAAAG8U/aBexuDg8Fso/s640/blogger-image-821153493.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This a terrible picture, but it's the only one I took inside the church and where she is wearing *my wedding veil*. My veil was her "something borrowed," and she made it look so lovely. I was touched that she borrowed it. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-TyX82asyc6g/U22VOmERv2I/AAAAAAAAG70/hSBdDfNhBSM/s640/blogger-image--79322218.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-TyX82asyc6g/U22VOmERv2I/AAAAAAAAG70/hSBdDfNhBSM/s400/blogger-image--79322218.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kristen, Susan, and I were a trio back in the day - it's been really fun to see them more often lately with Susan getting married and Kristen expecting her first baby. We've been able to do lots of celebrating together. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-JzyVP2CrVRA/U22VSrBtk6I/AAAAAAAAG8E/uT_62u-iRPA/s640/blogger-image--1083428961.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-JzyVP2CrVRA/U22VSrBtk6I/AAAAAAAAG8E/uT_62u-iRPA/s400/blogger-image--1083428961.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After our end-of-year Girl Scout ceremony, Anna picked up Katy's sash and was trying to wear it around the house. I thought she looked adorable. She always knows what things are for and tries to imitate using them correctly. Hilarious. </td></tr>
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David came home from school one day SO excited because he lost a tooth at school. Apparently this is the envy of every kindergartener. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A shot from AWANA awards ceremonies...this is Sparks which is K-2nd grade so includes Katy and David this year. These kids work really hard for their awards, they are great kids!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bMcA78hOZA8/U4vYARDO58I/AAAAAAAAG9c/fsearNh1N_Q/s1600/DSCN9365.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bMcA78hOZA8/U4vYARDO58I/AAAAAAAAG9c/fsearNh1N_Q/s1600/DSCN9365.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Luke's Tuesday School had a graduation ceremony (I have to admit that graduation ceremonies for every little tiny thing drive me a bit bonkers. But darn it, those kids sure were cute singing up on stage in their pillowcases and paper hats. So we'll play along.) This child is so silly ALL the time, it is hard to get a good picture of him. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Katy turned 8! She had a couple of friends over to spend the night, which was a big event for her. We had trouble figuring out what to get her this year, it seems like an age of transition. Frozen soundtrack, Clue, hula hoop, Skip-it, etc. Oh, and giving her duct tape has kicked off this new obsession with making crafts with duct tape. She hasn't touched the rainbow loom in a week! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-riOHDUBDwAU/U4vYRgvNtTI/AAAAAAAAG9s/0qjzM0irf5U/s1600/DSCN9375.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-riOHDUBDwAU/U4vYRgvNtTI/AAAAAAAAG9s/0qjzM0irf5U/s1600/DSCN9375.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another sign of her growing up. When I asked what kind of cake she wanted, instead of characters, she said, "Chocolate with my name written in cursive." Done, girl. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-jnDHe6FInbQ/U4vOtQJLJSI/AAAAAAAAG8s/q2XZc6-bTPA/s640/blogger-image-366663833.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-jnDHe6FInbQ/U4vOtQJLJSI/AAAAAAAAG8s/q2XZc6-bTPA/s400/blogger-image-366663833.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We've had a turtle sandbox since Katy was 2, and they kids love it and play in it constantly. But recently, sometimes they were all 4 in the little turtle, so there was only a small area to play in the middle because all their feet took up all the room. I suggested to Brian that we could build a big one out of wood. Well, don't suggest something to Brian unless you want him to google it, find the supplies, and get it done. It is a HUGE hit. They are playing in it everyday. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">David with his kindergarten teacher, who we loved. Why is the last day of school so emotional? Every year... I think it symbolizes the passage of time, and if your kids had a good year at school (fortunately both of mine did this year), you feel a little nervous...will next year be as good? </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ExogUu4S1uc/U4vO1RAJJ9I/AAAAAAAAG9E/tOvksdhtCCE/s640/blogger-image-785228659.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ExogUu4S1uc/U4vO1RAJJ9I/AAAAAAAAG9E/tOvksdhtCCE/s400/blogger-image-785228659.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Katy with her teacher (side note: both Katy and David's teachers were named "Katie" and both had a brother named "David.") You cannot avoid loving this woman. When I said thank you, she teared up and said, "Truly the joy was all mine." And frequently I'd be going on walks by the school at 8pm and her car was still in the parking lot. She gives so much of herself to the kids. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nine am the first morning of summer break. All in their jammies with their blankies. So much potential ahead...swimming and slow mornings and playdates and parks and traveling to see family and hopefully just lots of healthy fun. Truth be told, I'm a little intimidated by the weeks ahead, but one week in, I think we will be fine. We will be busy and all will be good. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-krrQDjIfpYs/U4vZFHtUEWI/AAAAAAAAG98/Grwl8POGDaw/s1600/DSCN9392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-krrQDjIfpYs/U4vZFHtUEWI/AAAAAAAAG98/Grwl8POGDaw/s1600/DSCN9392.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Luke's little soccer class...so cute. He enjoyed it, but this is one of the reasons that I'm hoping that his surgery will help him. I notice that he struggles to follow the teacher's direction, and I really don't think he's being ornery, just having trouble hearing or attending to it. We'll see...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So, the short story is that a close co-worker of Brian's was getting married, and Brian and I planned to attend the wedding. Less than two weeks before said wedding, they were in need of a new flower girl and ring bearer, and asked if our kids would like the job. They both wanted to do it, so we said yes and did a little scrambling to get their outfits all put together in time. But in the end, they did a great job and really enjoyed it.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wYNjyOmJX10/U4vaOEJAPgI/AAAAAAAAG-U/33PEAgzoigY/s1600/DSCN9396.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wYNjyOmJX10/U4vaOEJAPgI/AAAAAAAAG-U/33PEAgzoigY/s1600/DSCN9396.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They were old enough to know what was going on and asked lots of questions. David is pondering which song he and I will dance to at his reception someday. :) </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0CU6lUxVbAs/U4vaKUnCSjI/AAAAAAAAG-M/OdHBMvesqnQ/s1600/DSCN9398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0CU6lUxVbAs/U4vaKUnCSjI/AAAAAAAAG-M/OdHBMvesqnQ/s1600/DSCN9398.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Presenting the rings. Everything was beautiful. It was also a bit of a trip down memory lane for me, because the church and the reception were in the (beautiful, historic) neighborhood where I lived when I first moved here in 2000. We walked by my apartment and through the park. Brian helped me move when I left the neighborhood in 2002. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-8Henk42-tg0/U4vO5LV2FvI/AAAAAAAAG9M/7Wt30d45R7Q/s640/blogger-image-1005762212.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-8Henk42-tg0/U4vO5LV2FvI/AAAAAAAAG9M/7Wt30d45R7Q/s400/blogger-image-1005762212.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Angelo, the groom. I could not get over how lovely the reception was. We were on this private covered 2nd floor patio that overlooked the neighborhood. It was gorgeous and the food was amazing. </td></tr>
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And finally...we had a family portrait taken on Mother's Day, it's been almost four years since our last one. A mom friend from the kids' school takes them as a side business and does it for friends for pennies. I was so thrilled to get these taken. Here are a few favorites...(photo credit <a href="http://kkielmeyer.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Kristen Kielmeyer</a>) <br />
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Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09257383770882314637noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36725499.post-22419809801393879702014-04-29T15:27:00.001-04:002014-06-02T21:14:20.692-04:00April Photo Dump<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-zJQFGYRaOtQ/U171C1n2KiI/AAAAAAAAG50/JYRXK_S9YkU/s1600/blogger-image-1655911306.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-zJQFGYRaOtQ/U171C1n2KiI/AAAAAAAAG50/JYRXK_S9YkU/s400/blogger-image-1655911306.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At a recent Girl Scout event. The best part of this troop is that they have really gotten close this year. They really enjoy being together. </td></tr>
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There is so much going on around here, and I am playing around with starting a post from my phone because... I got a Smartphone, and I'm really excited about it! Yes, I am arriving a little late to the party, but now that I have it, I am loving it. One of the best parts is that I always have my camera in my pocket - for photos or videos. SO I wanted to share some of those photos to get a glance into the month of April. (Haven't figured out how to post the videos yet, one step at a time.)<br />
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But the biggest news around here has to do with anticipating surgeries upcoming this summer. Our 2014 Strep Throat count is now up to ELEVEN documented cases. And you know, it's April. The big breakthrough was that I finally insisted that they test Luke - the only one of the kids who had never gotten strep throat, and voila! He was raging positive, which means he is a carrier (carries the bacteria and can pass it in close contact, but displays no symptoms.) So I thought that was the end, he took 10 days of super strong antibiotic, the other 3 were on one too because they all had strep for reals, we'd be done. But a follow-up last Friday revealed that Luke is STILL positive. So the next step is that he needs a tonsillectomy (even though he's never been sick! How crazy!). We are still debating whether to take Katy's out or wait and see if this was just one really bad winter with a germy brother in the house. Or....get them both done at once and have a significantly healthier future? Not sure what to do. In addition to those procedures, I am most likely having surgery over the summer to *hopefully* repair some damage with which I have been living since Luke was born almost 4 years ago. The biggest challenge with that is that I will not be able to lift Anna for 6 weeks. Which means I won't be able to home alone with the kids for 6 weeks. Which means I'm working on recruiting help from family.<br />
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I think the rest of the month can be summed up in photos...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SqhsrO5v-0A/U1708emb-rI/AAAAAAAAG5c/xFBVzVyWmS0/s640/blogger-image--679414188.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SqhsrO5v-0A/U1708emb-rI/AAAAAAAAG5c/xFBVzVyWmS0/s400/blogger-image--679414188.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">David happened to have strep throat on the day I got my new phone (no surprise there). Also, I finished decluttering and sold a lot of baby and kid stuff in a local consignment sale. I was happy with the results. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-FCTJbwj29Zg/U171Ew6IU1I/AAAAAAAAG58/H5WU79HBkoA/s640/blogger-image-566275041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-FCTJbwj29Zg/U171Ew6IU1I/AAAAAAAAG58/H5WU79HBkoA/s400/blogger-image-566275041.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brian rigged up the tree swing so that 2 kids can swing at once. Anna LOVES it. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GXkNfEjbGHk/U171HFMoxCI/AAAAAAAAG6E/YTuWouJrdXU/s640/blogger-image--505738850.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GXkNfEjbGHk/U171HFMoxCI/AAAAAAAAG6E/YTuWouJrdXU/s400/blogger-image--505738850.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our friends Brandon and Melanie came to visit for a weekend - Melanie is expecting a baby boy in July. We had fun catching up with them and anticipating the new baby. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-FLDALeQasUQ/U16l-ZZd0vI/AAAAAAAAG5M/8Z8wAgGK4ek/s640/blogger-image--36430614.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-FLDALeQasUQ/U16l-ZZd0vI/AAAAAAAAG5M/8Z8wAgGK4ek/s400/blogger-image--36430614.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The weather has finally been beautiful and we are spending tons of time outside. Anna thinks the bike seat is fabulous. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-tBQxYZ-4C7M/U171AuCYe9I/AAAAAAAAG5s/c99YfsjXjgA/s1600/blogger-image--1663541076.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-tBQxYZ-4C7M/U171AuCYe9I/AAAAAAAAG5s/c99YfsjXjgA/s400/blogger-image--1663541076.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On Arbor Day, Brian was honored with an award at work. He didn't know about it ahead of time, and they called and asked if we'd like to come and be there for it. It was fun to surprise him on the campus oval. We were the last people he was expecting to see that day! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zNxo-u3radI/U1_7DEWh1yI/AAAAAAAAG6U/8BgOf4aEu0Y/s1600/DSCN9259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zNxo-u3radI/U1_7DEWh1yI/AAAAAAAAG6U/8BgOf4aEu0Y/s1600/DSCN9259.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After decluttering their room, I asked her to vacuum, and she used this coping strategy for the noise. The irony is thick because as an infant, this same vacuum was the ONLY thing that would make her stop screaming. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zZo5MpDfGZM/U1_7G7UElqI/AAAAAAAAG6k/5AN4e0fybeI/s1600/DSCN9270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zZo5MpDfGZM/U1_7G7UElqI/AAAAAAAAG6k/5AN4e0fybeI/s1600/DSCN9270.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This poor girl. In addition to the scrape on her nose, you'll notice the rash all over her chin and cheeks. It's been there since December, we tried everything the doctor recommended and then he sent us to a dermatologist. FINALLY, it looks better now. Eczema is the curse of the fair skinned child. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P8b6BkSkPZI/U1_7FT5eRKI/AAAAAAAAG6c/JkskukC4prg/s1600/DSCN9274.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P8b6BkSkPZI/U1_7FT5eRKI/AAAAAAAAG6c/JkskukC4prg/s1600/DSCN9274.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He said, "Look, Mom! They are all waiting to pick their kids up from school". That is his life. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mtky02Dsa4Q/U1_7NcpZMMI/AAAAAAAAG6s/i6hX9tEIVDU/s1600/DSCN9289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mtky02Dsa4Q/U1_7NcpZMMI/AAAAAAAAG6s/i6hX9tEIVDU/s1600/DSCN9289.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Easter!! This is as dressy as we get! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9TjPb3BELhQ/U1_7QdVaByI/AAAAAAAAG60/0OlrIp83sbY/s1600/DSCN9295.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9TjPb3BELhQ/U1_7QdVaByI/AAAAAAAAG60/0OlrIp83sbY/s1600/DSCN9295.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anna is getting SO big. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IkttNM49JmQ/U1_7U3U8U0I/AAAAAAAAG68/qyVhwuHd6zI/s1600/DSCN9311.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IkttNM49JmQ/U1_7U3U8U0I/AAAAAAAAG68/qyVhwuHd6zI/s1600/DSCN9311.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I always feel frustrated with filling baskets with crap. So they each got one biggish thing this year. Luke: football, Anna: chalk, David: Star Wars characters, Katy: Frozen. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K065b2D9rL8/U1_7Z0eZHqI/AAAAAAAAG7E/FhcaG_ZTfok/s1600/DSCN9315.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K065b2D9rL8/U1_7Z0eZHqI/AAAAAAAAG7E/FhcaG_ZTfok/s1600/DSCN9315.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Egg hunt was over when she discovered the first egg contained jelly beans. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VAdbjz6XjqM/U1_7doBPptI/AAAAAAAAG7M/TKkEk2IvRDU/s1600/DSCN9318.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VAdbjz6XjqM/U1_7doBPptI/AAAAAAAAG7M/TKkEk2IvRDU/s1600/DSCN9318.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big boy. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-62xR8AJC0Ps/U1_7i3RWilI/AAAAAAAAG7U/is0Dp2mciLg/s1600/DSCN9319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-62xR8AJC0Ps/U1_7i3RWilI/AAAAAAAAG7U/is0Dp2mciLg/s1600/DSCN9319.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Definitely finds her share. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ih2HWJw462M/U1_7mREE6BI/AAAAAAAAG7c/LnKXbGSlWj4/s1600/DSCN9334.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ih2HWJw462M/U1_7mREE6BI/AAAAAAAAG7c/LnKXbGSlWj4/s1600/DSCN9334.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loved these mater teeth suckers in their baskets. Our neighbor Lisa tried to get Anna in the shot. :) </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uzpC78bSwn8/U1_7qSmC7iI/AAAAAAAAG7k/OuwXPl-6CkM/s1600/DSCN9342.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uzpC78bSwn8/U1_7qSmC7iI/AAAAAAAAG7k/OuwXPl-6CkM/s1600/DSCN9342.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dying eggs!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-BjbPNo4bBhM/U170-s9T6MI/AAAAAAAAG5k/sH5czGvRVMo/s640/blogger-image--1263458770.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-BjbPNo4bBhM/U170-s9T6MI/AAAAAAAAG5k/sH5czGvRVMo/s400/blogger-image--1263458770.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Luke and his buddy Landon are taking a soccer class together at a local rec center. They think they are hot stuff and it is hilarious to watch. Katy and David are taking gymnastics and Tae Kwon Do, respectively, at the same rec center, all on Saturday mornings. Simple scheduling for the win! </td></tr>
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Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09257383770882314637noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36725499.post-191502255477970182014-04-02T15:26:00.001-04:002014-04-02T15:26:22.243-04:00Stats, birthday, illnessWe're coming up from another round of hard and fast illness. Sunday evening at the end of spring break, I was completely fine one minute, and 10 minutes after that I was very ill. It happened so suddenly and so completely. And then 10 hours later, same things happened to Brian, so I had to get up and take care of the kids while I was still very sick. I called and begged Mel to take David to the dr to see if he had strep again (he did - this makes 3 this year for him) because I could not fathom leaving the house. It will go down in my memory as one of my most difficult parenting days. Blech. Then the next day (yesterday) Katy came down with strep again as well, which means that the tonsillectomy will likely be this summer. Boo. But knock on wood, we're approaching 72 hours since initial stomach bug, and the kids haven't gotten sick? Another 24 hours and I'll feel clear...I keep stomach flu at a distance, I don't trust it even with 72 hours in the clear...<br />
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David and Anna both had well visits last week (I took Anna early for her 15 month because there's a mumps outbreak at Brian's work, even with a confirmed case in his building. She was due for the vaccination in a couple of weeks so we bumped it up). They have both grown like weeds!!<br />
<br />
David at 6 years:<br />
50 lbs (75 %'ile)<br />
46.25 in. (70 %'ile)<br />
(he has gained 8 lbs and grown 3 inches in the past year...compared to Katy who has grown an inch and maybe gained 1-2 lbs? And I'd like to point out the significance of one of the children in our family being 70th percentile for height?!?)<br />
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Anna at 15 months (14.5):<br />
20 lbs, 14 oz (50 %'ile)<br />
29.75 in (30 %'ile)<br />
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David had a great birthday. The evening before his birthday, he had a couple of friends over to eat cake and watch Star Wars Episode 1. They had a blast and were so cute. I got them blow-up lightsabers, and they spent a great deal of time hitting each other with them during the movie, but then a certain scene would catch their attention (pod racing or lightsaber battle) and they'd freeze their eyes to the screen for awhile. Then go back to their own battle. They had a blast.<br />
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*side note: my photos have been terrible lately. I've been trying to figure out how to take photos in low light without flash, I looked it up but the setting I'm using don't seem to be right...urgh...anyone let me know if you have advice*<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dt-eKhsVLOE/UzxhWDMPKPI/AAAAAAAAG34/dC4D7d6Li10/s1600/DSCN9222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dt-eKhsVLOE/UzxhWDMPKPI/AAAAAAAAG34/dC4D7d6Li10/s1600/DSCN9222.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He was soooooo excited. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gotf4klUzWU/UzxhXkhbHjI/AAAAAAAAG4E/MOsXwTumIfs/s1600/DSCN9224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gotf4klUzWU/UzxhXkhbHjI/AAAAAAAAG4E/MOsXwTumIfs/s1600/DSCN9224.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Siblings hung out for the food but went to Oma's during the movie. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QkeJza4Hpik/UzxhV4FQcoI/AAAAAAAAG30/GxOGHRB45Qs/s1600/DSCN9225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QkeJza4Hpik/UzxhV4FQcoI/AAAAAAAAG30/GxOGHRB45Qs/s1600/DSCN9225.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I need to explain...he wanted the red icing, I had never used foil wrappers before and they baked differently. Not my best birthday cake ever, but it worked. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9DfKUn2dk_Q/UzxhciECIFI/AAAAAAAAG4M/rVWfDXg87Zg/s1600/DSCN9228.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9DfKUn2dk_Q/UzxhciECIFI/AAAAAAAAG4M/rVWfDXg87Zg/s1600/DSCN9228.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Warming up for battle...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b9MhkDNxlho/Uzxhf0WREYI/AAAAAAAAG4U/9w6s9fzwK-c/s1600/DSCN9239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b9MhkDNxlho/Uzxhf0WREYI/AAAAAAAAG4U/9w6s9fzwK-c/s1600/DSCN9239.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frank even came in full costume, he looked awesome. </td></tr>
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On his birthday, Dad and Sue met us at a big (awesome!) bounce place with laser tag and ball games and just lots of active things to do. The kids had a blast (while each of the grown ups took a turn going next door to buy running shoes...a treat for us as well). Then we had cake and gifts back at the house. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z0f_12DUVsc/Uzxhkr6Xd7I/AAAAAAAAG4c/04dO3BRDfKA/s1600/DSCN9244.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z0f_12DUVsc/Uzxhkr6Xd7I/AAAAAAAAG4c/04dO3BRDfKA/s1600/DSCN9244.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He was so excited to get roller blades like the big kids (and a skating helmet!) from Grandpa and Grandma Sue. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uw82BBzV4uU/UzxhoQNV3xI/AAAAAAAAG4k/XK1m3nK0-k8/s1600/DSCN9245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uw82BBzV4uU/UzxhoQNV3xI/AAAAAAAAG4k/XK1m3nK0-k8/s1600/DSCN9245.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Singing happy birthday never gets old at this age. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TESBjY89kno/Uzxhr7I-XMI/AAAAAAAAG4s/TNlniDZp0RI/s1600/DSCN9247.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TESBjY89kno/Uzxhr7I-XMI/AAAAAAAAG4s/TNlniDZp0RI/s1600/DSCN9247.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We got him this over-the-door basketball hoop and it has been a huge hit. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oqSzSx46Hk4/Uzxhv6j7NJI/AAAAAAAAG40/lPVnfrrV1Mc/s1600/DSCN9252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oqSzSx46Hk4/Uzxhv6j7NJI/AAAAAAAAG40/lPVnfrrV1Mc/s1600/DSCN9252.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This child LOVES Crocs, begs me to wear them all winter long. I loved these Lego Crocs I found online. </td></tr>
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Then Oma's birthday is the day after David's, so we grilled out and had another cake and gift session with them on Saturday. David's birthday is the week that never ends! And he got his beloved Rainbow Loom. Yes, the kindergarten boys are trading bracelets these days. Love him! <br />
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<br />Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09257383770882314637noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36725499.post-63003252138235055512014-03-24T15:43:00.000-04:002014-03-24T15:43:57.367-04:00Updates times sixLife feels very busy, but in a good way. We are on spring break this week, and we're getting ready to celebrate David's birthday. Grammy and Papa John were in town this weekend and the kids really enjoyed their visit. It doesn't feel much like spring break when it's 22 degrees in the morning! But overall lately we've been spending a good deal of time outside, which is a welcome change.<br />
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Anna:<br />
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Anna is running around everywhere now. She loves being outside and bangs on the door to go out. She's doing the typical one-year-old thing in which she clings to my legs crying for most of her waking hours (at least when we're at home), but she's so darn cute the rest of the time. She knows whose jacket and shoes belong to whom, and she'll pass them out to the appropriate person when we're trying to leave. She LOVES to "draw" (with a pencil is best in her mind), play ball, and dance to music.<br />
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Luke:<br />
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Fifteen months later, Luke is finally potty trained!! After over a year of making him go every 2-3 hours, we tried underpants again a few weeks ago, and something clicked and he started taking himself to the bathroom when he needs to go. He insists on going to the upstairs bathroom, for some reason, and then he just plays and waits for you to come up and clean him up, get him dressed, wash his hands. So he's still high maintenance on the potty front, but much preferred over accidents! He's such a happy kid, except when he's not (then he's really mad). He spends so many hours of the day running matchbox cars and superheros over every surface of the house. Oh, and he is now suddenly interested in books! I could not get him to sit and listen to a book for a very long time, but now he is ready. This kid does things when he wants to do them and not a moment sooner! He is so tiny, that Lukey-loo. Now that he isn't wearing pull-ups, even his 3T pants aren't staying up very well.<br />
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David:<br />
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Something has clicked on our street this spring, it seems, and there is a CONSTANT slew of children outside in front of our house, playing basketball on our neighbor's hoop (which is in the cul-de-sac). David is in hog heaven (all the kids are, but he especially loves hoops), and wants to be out there all the time. He is really excited to be turning 6 this week, and the big event in his mind is that we are going to allow him to watch Star Wars, Episode I. My kids are cautious movie watchers, so we have to be mindful about these things, but Brian and I read up on it and it seemed that his 6th birthday was good timing for this debut. He has really been into Star Wars. He's having a couple of friends over to have some cake and watch the movie together, so he's thrilled (and easy for me!). <br />
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David is also a budding reader which is so fun to watch. And...he lost his first tooth! He was playing with Luke and his friend Landon when it was suddenly hanging by a thread. I pulled it out the rest of the way and quickly took a picture - we were on our way out the door to take birthday treats to school on his last day before spring break! Then he was showing the tooth to Grammy and Papa John and lost it. We never did find it, so Katy transcribed this note for him to the Tooth Fairy. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">$1 is the going rate at our house, $2 for first tooth</td></tr>
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Katy:<br />
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Katy is doing well - happy at school, enjoying taking piano with my mom. When Upward ended a couple of weeks ago, her cheerleading squad performed a choreographed dance up on stage, I was really proud of her for doing it with confidence! The video is too big for blogger to handle, but I'm trying to put it on youtube for a short period of time so you can follow the link and watch it<a href="http://youtu.be/sruuc307540" target="_blank"> here</a>. If you only have one minute, the 2nd half is a better shot of Katy.<br />
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One things that has consumed our thoughts is that she has had strep throat 4 times in the past 8 months, so her doctor sent her to the ENT, who promptly wanted to take her tonsils out. For now, we are putting it off until summer (the recovery is pretty rough and she'd have to miss a week of school), and we'll decide for sure when that time comes.<br />
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Brian:<br />
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Brian's been working hard, as he always does with a full time job, a rental property, side work, a home, and 4 kids. This winter he rewired the basement lighting. Previously it was precarious large fluorescent structures dangling from the ceiling and you had to go down there to plug and unplug them. Now there is nice even canned lighting that can be turned on/off from the top or bottom of the stairs. He's also running several races this spring and summer, always challenging himself to be healthier.<br />
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Myself:<br />
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I've been working on 2 projects: one is to get rid of 4 babies worth of baby weight. I've tried to overhaul the family diet which is no easy task, and I'm exercising 4 times a week (a sacrifice for both myself and for Brian to put in the schedule). I'm happy with how it's gone so far, but I still have a way to go.<br />
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Secondly, I'm doing 40 bags in 40 days again this Lent. I did it 2 years ago, and it certainly collects and requires attention again. The rewarding part this time is that I am planning to sell all of my baby equipment in a local consignment sale that is happening right after Easter. Every time I put something in that pile to go to the sale, I feel a release. Of course I will miss the babies themselves, but all the equipment that clutters up the house...after 8 years I'm ready to part with it. :) Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09257383770882314637noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36725499.post-79886096332146839952014-02-25T10:46:00.000-05:002014-02-25T10:46:07.724-05:00On the MoveIt's been a very gradual process, but Anna is full-on walking now! It seemed that every day she walked just a little farther, then 2 days ago, she was walking more than she was crawling.<br />
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Timid steps just 3 days ago... (video) <br />
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And then today, tripping over her blanket and talking to her brother while he's in the bathroom - we're classy over here! (video) <br />
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<br />Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09257383770882314637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36725499.post-31650114944032306652014-02-12T14:13:00.000-05:002014-02-12T14:13:57.691-05:00Anna Update<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="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7QqegznMvPE/UvvAyjig2-I/AAAAAAAAG2E/mwGZN1WRe7o/s1600/DSCN9145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7QqegznMvPE/UvvAyjig2-I/AAAAAAAAG2E/mwGZN1WRe7o/s1600/DSCN9145.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last weekend, after confirming that Katy and David both had strep throat, we had four kids on antibiotics at once!! Yikes. Everyone is feeling well at the moment, but of course they are, they're all on meds. I hope it sticks this time. </td></tr>
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Everyone keeps asking if Anna is walking yet. Well....kind of. Several times a day, she takes a few steps, it started as 1, then 3, now she'll take 5-7 steps at once. But she hasn't gone across the room and figured out how to be fast. So for now. crawling is still her main mode of transport. But there are so many developments at this age.<br />
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She's down to one nap, which would be fine, except that PM kindergarten means that she has a very specific window for napping. So we've had some tired days trying to figure that out (she really wants to go down before 1:00, but if I put her down early, she's not awake yet when I have to take David to school. If I wait until 1, I'm waking her up on the other end of kindergarten. It will work itself out eventually.)<br />
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She's going through that stage where she wants to be held about 85% of her waking hours. And it's not just a preference, she insists. (Believe me, I try every avenue I can think of to put her down for a spell). I know it's developmental, because my blog archives confirm that each of my one year olds did this for a period of time. But how quickly I forget how draining it is! Everyday, performing all my daily tasks with a squirmy demanding toddler on my hip: preparing, serving, and cleaning up 3 meals a day for 6 people, trying to pick up the toys that the tornado of children leave all over the house, dressing and pottying my 3 year old (this is my favorite, by the way. Do you know that we have been full time acting-like-we-are-potty-trained for 14 months now, and he has not ever, not ONCE, said "I have to got potty" and taken himself just to pee. He will do that when he has to poop, but for pee? I force him to go every 2-3 hours, and if I forget, he has an accident. I'm past the point of thinking I did something to cause this - I think we've put in our time on this one.) <br />
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But Anna is at that super sweet, super cute, learning-like-it's-her-job age. She constantly does things that surprise me (like pick up a hairbrush and start swiping her hair). Recently we have discovered that she LOVES to "color." She will sit on your lap at the table with crayon and make very faint swipes on white paper forever. And she picks purple first - favorite color? The other day I handed her her blankie and I think she said "thank you" - it had the right intonation anyway. She seems to have a pretty strong will - she is always trying to grab our phones, and when we put it out of her reach, she lets us know how she feels about it. Once Brian handed her his phone, and she was swiping it with her fingers, like she knew that's what you were supposed to do! It scares me how much technology these babies are exposed to at such a young age.<br />
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The other day I got her hair cut for the first time. It's one of those things that I don't expect anyone else to notice or be able to tell a difference, but I really like it and it was bugging me before. So before and afters...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was getting scruffy and mullet-like along the bottom...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After (doing another favorite activity - emptying the recycling bin)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See how it looks like a little bob in the back? I think it will grow in more nicely now. </td></tr>
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<br />Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09257383770882314637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36725499.post-57296319326956672702014-02-04T10:52:00.001-05:002014-02-04T10:52:29.170-05:00In the future, let's just cancel JanuarySo we made it through January, in which we did NOT get back to our regularly scheduled program after Christmas, because we had 4 school days cancelled for extreme cold, 2 no school days for holidays and professional development, one 2 hour delay for snow, and my family added in a few sick days for various kids. In addition to school, all the bad weather and illness has led to cancellations for Awana, Upward, playdates, social gatherings, etc. Anna had pink eye and an ear infection last week and is congested this week. Luke is home from Tuesday school today with a fever (he's only been there ONCE since Christmas), and all the local weather experts are saying there will be no school tomorrow because a storm is coming through tonight. We have not had one normal week in....almost 2 months? We were supposed to have life group last week and five out of six families had at least one member sick. WILL THIS WINTER EVER END????<br />
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But somehow, we're still keeping busy. Girl Scouts is time consuming with cookie sales, meetings, and field trips (we went roller skating on one of the days it was 30 below zero - the parents were happy to have something to do out of the house). February is my busiest month with PTA responsibilities, with a Box Tops drive and Scholarship committee. And also...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SCwxAI6Cj00/UvEHp4b6H5I/AAAAAAAAG08/SsNCnJHd9ws/s1600/2014-01-26+14.13.47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SCwxAI6Cj00/UvEHp4b6H5I/AAAAAAAAG08/SsNCnJHd9ws/s1600/2014-01-26+14.13.47.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anna is WEANED. Let's let that sink in for a minute - after 8 years of almost continuous pregnancy or nursing, I am a free agent. All kinds of emotions about that. Katy, for one, is thrilled, because she's been wanting to give Anna bottles for a year. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anna was completely ready and is happy with the arrangement. It's amazing all the equipment that goes along with nursing that I'm piling up: nursing bras, nursing pillow, nursing pads, milk storage bags, breast pump, etc. Done. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When Grandpa and Grandma Sue asked what to get Anna for her birthday, I said that she had a lot of blank wall space in her room. They got her this beautiful tree wall decal. The kids had a blast helping us put up the flower stickers on the branches. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grammy and Papa John came for a visit to see Upward, and they took the kids to Mongolian BBQ one night while I was hosting my Recipe Exchange (group of school moms who exchange recipes and cooking ideas - fun!). The kids talked about eating at this restaurant for days afterward, they loved the foil helmets.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And they thought it was so fun to make their own "recipes" and then watch it being cooked. </td></tr>
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Most of you who read here already saw this on Facebook, but I wanted to put it here so I have it saved in journal fashion:<br />
<span class="userContent">In 2000: I wrote a thesis for my Master's.<br /> 2002: My adviser asked if I would revise the thesis into a chapter for a textbook he was putting together. <br /> 2002-2005: I wrote many revisions.<br /> 2006: I was informed that my chapter was cut from the <span class="text_exposed_show">textbook for length. <br /> 2008: He passed my chapter to another editor who was interested in it for her textbook, but this one "would take awhile." <br /> 2009: New editor brought in another author to update the content (wise).<br /> 2013: I was informed that the textbook went to print. I looked at it on Amazon just for kicks. <br />
2014: My hard copy arrived in the mail. 14 years later, after I haven't
practiced in the field for 6 years, I'm a published author. AND...they
spelled my name wrong. </span></span><br />
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<span class="userContent"><span class="text_exposed_show">(not including the picture of the chapter since it has my last name...even if it's spelled incorrectly...) </span></span><br />
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<br />Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09257383770882314637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36725499.post-50731856090662580422014-01-24T20:24:00.000-05:002014-01-24T20:24:31.226-05:00Record lowsDo you ever remember a winter like this? Continuous snow, bitter cold for weeks on end, lots of germs circulating around and around. Even when I lived in Ithaca for 5 winters, I don't remember winter being this relentless. We got lots more snow there for sure, but it wasn't bitter cold for so long. And it's still January!<br />
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Last week we had a sickie week. Luke had a fever virus that got better and then turned into an ear infection bad enough to burst his eardrum in the middle of the night. Then the very next day, David suddenly got very ill and was miserable all night and delirious to the point of now knowing who I was. He ended up having strep throat. Two boys on the pink stuff and we're all much better.<br />
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This week has been miserably cold and the upcoming week is supposed to be worse. People are already speculating about school closings for cold temps again. Between snow days, holidays, and sick days, we have yet to have a regular week since Christmas. <br />
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So we're keeping busy with all of our regular activities, huddled up in the house and bundling 4 children when we need to go out. I hope you all are keeping warm, I am ready for a little bit of a break - even 35 degree would be nice! Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09257383770882314637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36725499.post-10661484654280210392014-01-15T18:30:00.000-05:002014-01-15T18:30:00.296-05:00Winter SportsLast winter was challenging for many reasons, one of which was that I realized that boys with energy to burn who don't burn it get themselves into trouble. So I vowed to try a winter sport this year. David has always loved playing basketball in the street in front of our house (our neighbors have a hoop that all the kids on the street use), and this is the first year that he was old enough to play basketball with the Upward program. If you aren't familiar with Upward, it's a national sports program hosted by churches aimed at training kids in skill, attitude, and good sportsmanship. It's very well organized and offers different sports depending on the location. They also offer cheerleading, which Katy has been desperate to try, so we signed them both up.<br />
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They've each had a handful of practices and I was impressed with all they were learning, but the first games this past weekend blew me out of the water. They line all of the kids up behind a curtain, turn out the lights, turn on the smoke machine and the spotlight, and the announcer introduces them one at a time by name in a "Let's Get Ready to Rumble" type voice. At half time they have a lesson about good sportsmanship (or related topic). And then the methods of teaching the kids the game were really cool. Each kid wears a velcro band representing his position, and the ref was actually teaching the kids and high-fiving them as he blew the whistle (explained what they did wrong, why they can't do that, etc).<br />
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For the first game, we all 6 went to both David and Katy's games (and there was a 3 hour break in between), but we won't usually do that. It was too much to try to keep the Littles happy on the sidelines for all that time. But it was worth it to be there for the first time. David made the first basket of the game!! (after almost making a basket for the other team) And I happened to catch it on video!! He loved the whole thing and was so excited.<br />
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And Katy's reaction after she was done was that she LOVED it, and can't wait until the next game. I was also impressed with how many cheers they knew.<br />
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In this case, the videos explain it better than I could, so here you go: (David is #14, and Katy is the one in the middle but no ponytail. She cheers for older kids, so the game is a little more intense)<br />
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<br />Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09257383770882314637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36725499.post-66947557182283433612014-01-14T22:38:00.000-05:002014-01-14T22:38:24.311-05:00Anna's first birthday!Dearest Anna,<br />
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Your momma was having all kinds of emotions on your first birthday. My baby! Becoming a toddler! How did it (really truly) go so fast? In a way, I am ready - I love your little one year old self and can't wait to see what you will do next! But on the other hand, we've grown accustom to having babies in this house and it is strange for you to be leaving that stage. To be piling up your baby bathtub, door jumper, boppy pillows, and slings to be...given away. All of those things have rotated through our home for 8 years... <br />
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But you are such a sweet baby, and we ALL love you so so much! (Well, Luke is coming around. He's 3, and you get into his stuff and he doesn't understand, but he still looks out for you if you are approaching danger). One of my greatest joys is seeing how much your older siblings adore you. I could not have imagined it - they are completely smitten. You can do no wrong in their eyes, you are the perfect baby, they ooohh and aaahhh over you like they really <i>get it</i>. And even they were a little sad on your birthday because it means that you are growing up. And you love your Daddy - you go nuts when he walks in the door. <br />
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A snapshot of you at 12 months: you crawl at lightning speed and can climb stairs but can't figure out how to get down. You are<i> so close</i> to walking - you stand for 2 minutes at a time and even lean down to pick something up and stand back up. Close. I think you have about 3 words, even though they all sound like "da!". It's the context that let's me know whether you are saying "bye-bye," telling me you are "done" with your food, or calling for your brother David. I know there will be some skeptics reading this, but that is seriously what you mean. You love the dishwasher - come running whenever you hear it open. You suck your thumb a lot (as you can see in photos). You like to give kisses, especially through the railings as you go up the stairs for bed. We are in the process of learning to take whole milk from a bottle instead of nurse, and you are doing really well with that. You eat so many regular foods now - it started on our trip to Kentucky and you have never looked back. Maybe that's why you grew a little more for this well visit. Your stats at one year were 18 lbs 14 oz (35%'ile) and 28.5" (25%'ile). <br />
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You've taken awhile to warm up to people other than your immediate family (everyone jokes that you cry when anyone except me holds you). But you are really getting better: you just decided that you like the nursery at church! Just like that! No tears, just playing, 3 times in a row now. <br />
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Please don't think that just because you didn't have as big of a soiree as your older sister did for her first birthday that yours was any less important. That party back in 2007 was really more for your dad and I. We were really excited that we made it through the first year of parenthood and wanted to celebrate! For your first birthday, we just enjoyed being with you. (Unfortunately for a 4th child on a Thursday during the school year, that means we were working your birthday around sports practice, but it was still a good time.) <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's hard to come up with birthday gift ideas for a 4th child who also just had Christmas. But Grammy sent <a href="http://www.amazon.com/LeapFrog-Learn-Groove-Music-Player/dp/B00804BE8A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1389755674&sr=8-1&keywords=leapfrog+music+player">this</a> and it is a hit! The big kids love it, too. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not my best cake, but it tasted just as good. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Giving Oma birthday kisses!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We had this toy when we were little, and Oma had a Christmas ornament on her tree this year that looked like this toy, which you were obsessed with. You chewed the stickers right off of it and carried it around everywhere. So I thought this gift was a great idea. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I made you a family photo book for your birthday, with recent up-close pictures of your family members with nametags. I made a similar one in 2006, but it had gotten torn up and out of date. You just stare and stare at these photos - all of these people love you so much! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SBUuS464EK4/UtXw1J69kdI/AAAAAAAAGzg/10h1grUZTIM/s1600/DSCN9031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SBUuS464EK4/UtXw1J69kdI/AAAAAAAAGzg/10h1grUZTIM/s400/DSCN9031.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Singing</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grammy and Papa John watching the candle blowing via Facetime.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KDUYdsvVL10/UtXw9qpj69I/AAAAAAAAGz0/WXtCQrx8wi0/s1600/DSCN9039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KDUYdsvVL10/UtXw9qpj69I/AAAAAAAAGz0/WXtCQrx8wi0/s400/DSCN9039.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In support of your birthday</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UesUQHhN_II/UtXw9VVC8DI/AAAAAAAAGzw/O76jA5LGA40/s1600/DSCN9044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UesUQHhN_II/UtXw9VVC8DI/AAAAAAAAGzw/O76jA5LGA40/s400/DSCN9044.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She likes it! (mostly the icing)</td></tr>
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The next day the kids were off school (again! for professional development) so we continued the celebration with my dad and Sue. First we met them at the big Graeter's with the play area and the place where you can see how they make the ice cream. Very interesting process. Aunt Mel met us there and Daddy came on his lunch break. <br />
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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="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U05L35qu9NM/UtXxmZ5CsZI/AAAAAAAAG0A/8lmTWq0vMgY/s1600/2014-01-10+11.46.22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U05L35qu9NM/UtXxmZ5CsZI/AAAAAAAAG0A/8lmTWq0vMgY/s400/2014-01-10+11.46.22.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Banana split see saw </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="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HlSDNLTYNuU/UtXxpJRRgDI/AAAAAAAAG0I/HxvWk7lB1_U/s1600/2014-01-10+12.11.02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HlSDNLTYNuU/UtXxpJRRgDI/AAAAAAAAG0I/HxvWk7lB1_U/s400/2014-01-10+12.11.02.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First ice cream! You ate half of a scoop, I was really impressed. </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="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P_aCm5_0KbA/UtXxrpMJi_I/AAAAAAAAG0Q/Pw2h6giwhH0/s1600/2014-01-10+12.11.19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P_aCm5_0KbA/UtXxrpMJi_I/AAAAAAAAG0Q/Pw2h6giwhH0/s400/2014-01-10+12.11.19.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But you were really grabbing for Luke's chocolate. </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="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hUW9pKDawsQ/UtXxt-kS7aI/AAAAAAAAG0Y/cd8Xv4rFnmM/s1600/2014-01-10+12.11.39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hUW9pKDawsQ/UtXxt-kS7aI/AAAAAAAAG0Y/cd8Xv4rFnmM/s400/2014-01-10+12.11.39.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh, and did I mention that we pretty much had ice cream for lunch? It's just the way the timing worked out. </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="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GjMEvDUYIDI/UtXzRv9SNqI/AAAAAAAAG0g/Tw43dACl6lU/s1600/DSCN9055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GjMEvDUYIDI/UtXzRv9SNqI/AAAAAAAAG0g/Tw43dACl6lU/s400/DSCN9055.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Then we came home for naps, dinner, and gifts. Dad and Sue got you this cute rocking chair that you were really giggling about when we showed you how to rock. Look at all of these kids - so grown up - how did this happen?</td></tr>
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So it was a great birthday, baby girl! I can hardly wait to see what this 2nd year will bring. You will grow and change so much.<br />
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Love you,<br />
Mommy<br />
<br />Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09257383770882314637noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36725499.post-9424637012480999432014-01-06T14:23:00.000-05:002014-01-06T14:23:15.947-05:00LeftoversToday was supposed to be the first day back to school after break, but the outdoor thermometer currently reads 0 degrees and the windchill is supposed to be negative 25. Same forecast for tomorrow, so most likely we won't go back to school on Wednesday. And Friday is professional development day. And Katy missed the last two days of school before break. The great part is that Brian's university is closed today so he's home with us, too. The big kids are doing some schoolwork right now so their brains don't turn to mush. <br />
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(Just as I was typing that paragraph, I got the text that there's no school tomorrow.)<br />
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We've been back from our trip for a week, and we've been home for most of that time (Brian worked a couple of days). It has been REALLY nice to have the time off, but we're also ready to get back into a routine. And the weather this winter has been rough so far. David and Katy start basketball/cheerleading this week, church activities this week, Girl Scouts starts back up next week (cookie time!), and we're gearing up for a first birthday!! (I have no idea what to get that baby girl for her birthday. She's a fourth child and I just used all of my ideas for Christmas. I'm making her something, not sure if there will be anything else.)<br />
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A random story that I forgot to tell back when we went downtown for the Nutcracker: I was driving a couple of girls in my car, in a caravan with another vehicle, and we happened to pull into the surface parking lot (in the middle of downtown - we were the only vehicles there since it was the weekend) at the same time as 2 other cars in our group. So it was raining and cold and I was flustered trying to shove cash into the honor-system parking fee box while 12-ish people were waiting on me. So then we walked into the theater. After the show, I was in line for the bathroom when one of the parents called me: "Ummm...Emily? You rear passenger door is standing wide open in the parking lot. The seat is soaking wet so I think it's been open the whole time?" (that would be over 3 hours). So then I was panicked all the way to the car, wondering if someone had broken into the car (GPS and stereo are the only things of value) or if it would even start if the interior light had been on the whole time. So I made sure I had someone who could give me a jump start if necessary and headed back to the car. GPS and stereo were still there, car started right up. One of the girls must have left the door open when we got out and I was too busy and flustered to notice. Shew! But is it sad that I am SHOCKED that nothing was stolen while my car sat visibly wide open in the middle of downtown for 3 hours? Unless they assumed it had already been broken into?<br />
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Just 3 pictures... 2 of which are leftovers from our Christmas trip that were emailed to me by other family members.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vQOqOD-k2Zk/UssA3IiyDHI/AAAAAAAAGyg/Xs9jBBpaSpk/s1600/get-attachment.aspx2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vQOqOD-k2Zk/UssA3IiyDHI/AAAAAAAAGyg/Xs9jBBpaSpk/s1600/get-attachment.aspx2.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A cousin shot at my mom's house. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fGIX6BVBi6Q/UssA4z9IMLI/AAAAAAAAGyk/3kZ3_G99g6U/s1600/get-attachment.aspx.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fGIX6BVBi6Q/UssA4z9IMLI/AAAAAAAAGyk/3kZ3_G99g6U/s1600/get-attachment.aspx.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love this - Kim is so great with her much younger boy cousins - they adore her and follow her around everywhere. All the girls do a great job of playing with the little ones. </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="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oNbcLc1oL4I/UssA8YXSqlI/AAAAAAAAGyw/FNjfPkK9qJA/s1600/2014-01-05+13.00.27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oNbcLc1oL4I/UssA8YXSqlI/AAAAAAAAGyw/FNjfPkK9qJA/s1600/2014-01-05+13.00.27.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Keeping busy in this long cold stretch of weather. And they've given away so many...this is just what's left over. </td></tr>
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Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09257383770882314637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36725499.post-5746906481869048072013-12-31T22:24:00.000-05:002014-01-03T00:16:59.224-05:00Christmas Photo Dump<i>(backdating to go in 2013 archives) </i><br />
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Whew! We are back from ten days of celebrating Christmas with all of our families. We had a great Christmas, highlighted by the fact that we did NOT have the stomach flu! It's all about perspective, and once you've had the worst stomach flu of your life and infected your entire family over Christmas, every other year is going to seem pretty great.<br />
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Lots and lots of photos...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lfsSDflFn6c/UsYxSXBcE_I/AAAAAAAAGtw/3y0GCsUJbm8/s1600/DSCN8687.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lfsSDflFn6c/UsYxSXBcE_I/AAAAAAAAGtw/3y0GCsUJbm8/s400/DSCN8687.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First up - an extended family gathering at my mom's house. Katy and cousin Nate playing piano. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TxtQutytMsI/UsYxWaX3P0I/AAAAAAAAGuA/Z3qPB5Z3RWs/s1600/DSCN8690.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TxtQutytMsI/UsYxWaX3P0I/AAAAAAAAGuA/Z3qPB5Z3RWs/s400/DSCN8690.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My cousin Abby's boys play so well with my kids - it's always fun to get them together. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-er0o3qcRTk4/UsYxUIkVLHI/AAAAAAAAGt4/U8O2lTb66_Y/s1600/DSCN8697.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-er0o3qcRTk4/UsYxUIkVLHI/AAAAAAAAGt4/U8O2lTb66_Y/s400/DSCN8697.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anna gears up for her first Christmas!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N-9JtR5wiA4/UsYxoSZsmuI/AAAAAAAAGuQ/WR-MGN1Y-AE/s1600/DSCN8708.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N-9JtR5wiA4/UsYxoSZsmuI/AAAAAAAAGuQ/WR-MGN1Y-AE/s400/DSCN8708.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Standing in the back next to Opa is his daughter Mary and her boyfriend Craig. My grandparents are sandwiched in the middle of the pack (notice Granny without a neck brace - yay!), on the floor is my cousin Abby with her husband Stan and her boys Gabe and Nate. And next to David is my aunt Bonnie, then of course Mel, Oma, and my whole gang. We were only missing my Uncle Neil who unfortunately had to attend a funeral that day. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K1b9refw_Fg/UsYxlU9t2uI/AAAAAAAAGuI/OxQaBpUE7Hw/s1600/DSCN8710.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K1b9refw_Fg/UsYxlU9t2uI/AAAAAAAAGuI/OxQaBpUE7Hw/s400/DSCN8710.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great Grandpa spent quite a bit of time training my "future engineer" to fix broken toys. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3ueHg2ap74k/UsYxv14s6lI/AAAAAAAAGuY/_2AXGIfO5Lo/s1600/DSCN8735.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3ueHg2ap74k/UsYxv14s6lI/AAAAAAAAGuY/_2AXGIfO5Lo/s400/DSCN8735.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We made a trip out to Wildlights at the zoo with Oma and Aunt Mel. It was nice, but it also reminded my why we haven't gone in a few years. It's a lot of work to bundle everyone up and keep track of 4 kids in the dark and keep warm and fed and get home before meltdown and find the nursing station to feed your poor baby. This is one of those things that will be SO much easier in a few years. </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="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I7IkGzansFE/UsYx_ZPtdXI/AAAAAAAAGug/-wRxxp9oT-g/s1600/DSCN8739.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I7IkGzansFE/UsYx_ZPtdXI/AAAAAAAAGug/-wRxxp9oT-g/s400/DSCN8739.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This girl really was a trooper, considering how cold and late it was for her. She loved chewing on the knot in her hat. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YppIZKwCUYw/UsYyBpmBEqI/AAAAAAAAGus/6gQX1QIfkKM/s1600/DSCN8757.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YppIZKwCUYw/UsYyBpmBEqI/AAAAAAAAGus/6gQX1QIfkKM/s400/DSCN8757.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New tradition? We've not decorated cookies in the past because the task seemed too daunting to me. But someone told me about these pre-cut frozen cookies that you just pop in the oven and bake and then decorate - let me just tell you - they were delicious!! The kids had a ball decorating. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QVVGQGAZ2vs/UsYyXeIZMmI/AAAAAAAAGvE/72_6BGR2Fc4/s1600/DSCN8775.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QVVGQGAZ2vs/UsYyXeIZMmI/AAAAAAAAGvE/72_6BGR2Fc4/s400/DSCN8775.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We made up some plates to take to neighbors and sent Katy and David out to deliver. They did a great job. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p7xZmrk9lek/UsYyp10HEQI/AAAAAAAAGvQ/seST20u-Pco/s1600/DSCN8783.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p7xZmrk9lek/UsYyp10HEQI/AAAAAAAAGvQ/seST20u-Pco/s400/DSCN8783.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After Christmas Eve service at church - I love this dress because her sister wore it, too. I didn't get to participate in much of the service (nor have I for the past several months) because Miss Anna will not go into the nursery, and she's way too loud and active to stay in. So I was in there for the music but then in the cry room the rest of the time. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nDOMqNQ1G9M/UsYytxQQ0xI/AAAAAAAAGvg/xYQyFVVKeik/s1600/DSCN8784.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nDOMqNQ1G9M/UsYytxQQ0xI/AAAAAAAAGvg/xYQyFVVKeik/s400/DSCN8784.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oma brought over The Night Before Christmas to read. Katy also read aloud the advent book of the Christmas story (it's a bit long). </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Twrd0WAgQSk/UsYyq0BIVvI/AAAAAAAAGvU/SO7JwbbATFw/s1600/DSCN8795.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Twrd0WAgQSk/UsYyq0BIVvI/AAAAAAAAGvU/SO7JwbbATFw/s400/DSCN8795.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Setting out milk and cookies. </td></tr>
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I took a picture of Katy's letter to Santa, but I can't post it because she says her last name and address. But I want to remember this sweetness so I'll write it here:<br />
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<i>Dear Santa, </i><br />
<i>I have been relley good this year. My name is Kathryn [last name]. But pretty much evry one calls me Katy. I have a big family. I have two brothers, one sister, a dad and a mom. I live at [address]. </i><br />
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<i>You know, Santa. I want to let you know what I need to work on. This is what: bragging, tattleing, and saying excuse me [instead of interrupting]. But I've been good in ways two. I bought gifts, work hard in school and I have always been star student [school's term for no misbehavior]. </i><br />
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<i>Now all I have to tell you is what I want for Christmas. Well, I want a big art set and Rainbow Loom please. Please give my brothers transformers.</i><br />
<i>Love, Katy [last name]</i><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JxjGwzAOBoI/UsYy_AN-FzI/AAAAAAAAGvs/IPeotZveTwM/s1600/DSCN8804.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JxjGwzAOBoI/UsYy_AN-FzI/AAAAAAAAGvs/IPeotZveTwM/s400/DSCN8804.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">7am, Christmas morning</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XZhouD-rl5w/UsYy-xdIr8I/AAAAAAAAGvo/koZyDFLS7uQ/s1600/DSCN8828.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XZhouD-rl5w/UsYy-xdIr8I/AAAAAAAAGvo/koZyDFLS7uQ/s400/DSCN8828.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Luke loved his Angry Birds sleeping bag and slept on it for all of our travels that followed. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fzx3qGy111o/UsYzCg4XvbI/AAAAAAAAGv4/4kcm_SDOmPw/s1600/DSCN8840.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fzx3qGy111o/UsYzCg4XvbI/AAAAAAAAGv4/4kcm_SDOmPw/s400/DSCN8840.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oma had gotten the kids' matching jammies for Christmas morning. Katy's playing with Anna's one and only toy gift. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hvvEN3TzezA/UsYzX_x-2QI/AAAAAAAAGwI/AQ06h-PSCWE/s1600/DSCN8844.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hvvEN3TzezA/UsYzX_x-2QI/AAAAAAAAGwI/AQ06h-PSCWE/s400/DSCN8844.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christmas evening, we went back over to Oma's house to exchange gifts with them and have dinner - I didn't get very good pictures, but the kids continued to have a blast. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XRBsMUnPPDE/UsYzRV443rI/AAAAAAAAGwA/A3WX-vG4QKY/s1600/DSCN8854.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XRBsMUnPPDE/UsYzRV443rI/AAAAAAAAGwA/A3WX-vG4QKY/s400/DSCN8854.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oma gave the boys a set of tractors and they quickly discovered that the wheels come off. That was all they did the rest of the night. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_uZJU3PkVEc/UsYzal8JVvI/AAAAAAAAGwQ/wFa4_Ewhcnk/s1600/DSCN8855.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_uZJU3PkVEc/UsYzal8JVvI/AAAAAAAAGwQ/wFa4_Ewhcnk/s400/DSCN8855.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On to Kentucky, where the cousins wasted no time demonstrating how to make Rainbow Loom bracelets in the top bunk. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ggmxvzokQEc/UsYznG-b8II/AAAAAAAAGwY/OmvTwLOViKA/s1600/DSCN8859.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ggmxvzokQEc/UsYznG-b8II/AAAAAAAAGwY/OmvTwLOViKA/s400/DSCN8859.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And here it is - the gift of the year! (And yes, she's winking on purpose)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZdYsbglnVUk/UsYzsnGu9EI/AAAAAAAAGwg/LcvvzCJeLys/s1600/DSCN8863.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZdYsbglnVUk/UsYzsnGu9EI/AAAAAAAAGwg/LcvvzCJeLys/s400/DSCN8863.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another theme was nail decorating - here's their salon - David got toenails that looked like soccer balls. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pt-YKsMQ7TI/UsYz2B2kKkI/AAAAAAAAGww/7LmNmntLhYY/s1600/DSCN8869.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pt-YKsMQ7TI/UsYz2B2kKkI/AAAAAAAAGww/7LmNmntLhYY/s400/DSCN8869.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">David mid-jump to launch the stomp rocket. I think this gift was technically for Luke but David looooves it. With 4 kids close in age, it all runs together who got what. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NfCjY6HDOH4/UsYz02XM5HI/AAAAAAAAGwo/e5AqqDv8YRE/s1600/DSCN8895.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NfCjY6HDOH4/UsYz02XM5HI/AAAAAAAAGwo/e5AqqDv8YRE/s400/DSCN8895.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Feeding ducks during a trip to the park. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hWRTRKO0UbE/UsYz3-ize9I/AAAAAAAAGw4/QHi77AuKwK0/s1600/DSCN8898.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hWRTRKO0UbE/UsYz3-ize9I/AAAAAAAAGw4/QHi77AuKwK0/s400/DSCN8898.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taken just before Luke fell into the water. He only got his feet wet, but it scared me half to death. I got it on video, too, although you just hear me yell "Luke!" and can't see him go in. The water was less than a foot deep, but still. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gd33XEfgMLg/UsY0ARYQnAI/AAAAAAAAGxA/4q-yD3XQrVQ/s1600/DSCN8900.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gd33XEfgMLg/UsY0ARYQnAI/AAAAAAAAGxA/4q-yD3XQrVQ/s400/DSCN8900.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A new adventure - we've never taken this whole crew out to eat before. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hegGVBVB1fQ/UsY0COp5YzI/AAAAAAAAGxI/cDWwPSlrtRQ/s1600/DSCN8901.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hegGVBVB1fQ/UsY0COp5YzI/AAAAAAAAGxI/cDWwPSlrtRQ/s400/DSCN8901.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They did SO well because it was very very VERY busy and we were there for over 2 hours. But the food was excellent, and I think everyone had fun trying a new place. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UgzdplptQOA/UsY0EBqbE6I/AAAAAAAAGxM/os1etsjksXI/s1600/DSCN8903.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UgzdplptQOA/UsY0EBqbE6I/AAAAAAAAGxM/os1etsjksXI/s400/DSCN8903.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I could not believe how well this baby did. She sat in this high chair for over an hour eating every little morsel we put in front of her. Eventually I got up and walked around with her, but then she sat back down again and continued eating! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m_MYIMDjH9k/UsY0NbWJTCI/AAAAAAAAGxY/56vPSJ2CoxQ/s1600/DSCN8934.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m_MYIMDjH9k/UsY0NbWJTCI/AAAAAAAAGxY/56vPSJ2CoxQ/s400/DSCN8934.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A little bit of silliness while we sing an early Happy Birthday to Anna. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MKW4QaVXk9s/UsY0NqoY0HI/AAAAAAAAGxc/pkIm_2IKjtk/s1600/DSCN8938.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MKW4QaVXk9s/UsY0NqoY0HI/AAAAAAAAGxc/pkIm_2IKjtk/s400/DSCN8938.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love this picture. Look at this baby checking out her birthday candle - precious face. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gcwOgi3druM/UsY0Olu4DdI/AAAAAAAAGxk/1Ez2qxp_QQs/s1600/DSCN8947.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gcwOgi3druM/UsY0Olu4DdI/AAAAAAAAGxk/1Ez2qxp_QQs/s400/DSCN8947.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not sure at first...but not bad afterall. (For those of you coming to celebrate Anna's actual birthday - I hope you don't feel cheated out of the first cake experience. I'm thinking this was a good warm-up so she'll be ready to really smash the heck out of her next cake.) </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<br />
So I must stop and mention our trip from Kentucky to Dayton, where we were going to celebrate with my Dad and Sue. Our van had been vibrating off and on for the past several months, but hadn't done it much lately, and we had never gotten it looked at because it's a logistical nightmare to have the van in the shop (we can't all fit in the Corolla, so we can't drop the car off and come home in another vehicle, and then the whole time the van is in the shop, I don't have a vehicle and we can't fit in Brian's car.) So you can guess - the van's check engine light came on and the vibrating took a significant turn for the worse, when we still had almost 3 hours left in our trip. Brian was nervous to stop (what if it wouldn't start again? And it would take 2 vehicles for our family to come and pick us up), so we drove-thru for lunch, ate in the car and googled the problem on Brian's phone to see if it seemed safe to keep driving. Short story is that we made it, although it was a little stressful. We took it to a mechanic in Dayton (of course my Dad knows one, he knows everyone), and it took them until late the next day but they were able to fix it for less than $500. We were so relieved because the van is getting to the age where super expensive repairs start to make you wonder if it's worth fixing. But for now, we are just thankful to have our van back on the road and functional. Hoping that it hangs in there for another year or two.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8D_J6QzlqXQ/UsY0YglHqRI/AAAAAAAAGx0/IKNYpu-KWD8/s1600/DSCN8959.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8D_J6QzlqXQ/UsY0YglHqRI/AAAAAAAAGx0/IKNYpu-KWD8/s400/DSCN8959.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I got to stop in and see my friends Cindy and Dutcher for a bit while I was in town. Cindy's holding her new baby Amelia and I got to see Jen's son Will for the first time in ages. The both live on the west coast and are so dear to me. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LZR307cqRzM/UsY0Y3zsSLI/AAAAAAAAGxw/QOVnyl0IgT4/s1600/DSCN8960.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LZR307cqRzM/UsY0Y3zsSLI/AAAAAAAAGxw/QOVnyl0IgT4/s400/DSCN8960.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We had a nice celebration with Dad and Sue - although some of my pictures didn't turn out very well for some reason. Making Rice Krispie treat trees. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ClecZ29Gos8/UsY0bfzJ-mI/AAAAAAAAGyA/BlEFFuCDNSU/s1600/DSCN8962.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ClecZ29Gos8/UsY0bfzJ-mI/AAAAAAAAGyA/BlEFFuCDNSU/s400/DSCN8962.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">David was THRILLED about this Switch n' Go Dino. We had to send some things home with Aunt Mel because we were packed to the gills. David called her first thing the next morning to ask when she was going to bring over his Switch n' Go Dino. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ObhvcAFDCQA/UsY0imeQdtI/AAAAAAAAGyQ/vLn35HsIKZ0/s1600/DSCN8980.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ObhvcAFDCQA/UsY0imeQdtI/AAAAAAAAGyQ/vLn35HsIKZ0/s400/DSCN8980.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Making loom bracelets wherever we go...and David playing a new map game. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KtgyylhtaO0/UsY0g41CCrI/AAAAAAAAGyI/trQQsCsaETY/s1600/DSCN8981.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KtgyylhtaO0/UsY0g41CCrI/AAAAAAAAGyI/trQQsCsaETY/s400/DSCN8981.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aunt Mel keeping Anna happy while Brian and my Dad installed new closet doors and we waited on van news. </td></tr>
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Thanks everyone for a great Christmas! We are truly blessed to have all of you in our lives. Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09257383770882314637noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36725499.post-510449753606721132013-12-21T23:29:00.000-05:002013-12-21T23:29:32.488-05:00Pre-Christmas Round UpOur first Christmas celebration with some of our family begins tomorrow, so it seems like a good time to wrap up what's been going on around here.<br />
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The pattern lately is that we have a decent amount of activities in the evenings and some on the weekends, but the kids and I are home during the day most of the time. Especially Luke and Anna, of course. I can't believe how quickly Anna's birthday is approaching! She crawls like a madwoman, cruises, stands without support, and puts every loving thing she can find in her mouth. She's been cutting several teeth and wants to be held most of her waking hours. She's starting to wave and say something that sounds like bye-bye. She's completely precious and keeps me busy.<br />
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Until the middle of the month, we weren't sure if we were going to see Santa. His status seems to vary in this house from day to day. I think Katy knows the truth but wants to keep pretending so she doesn't ask any questions (very unusual for her - she is constant questions). David straight out asked me before Thanksgiving and I have always said that I wouldn't lie if they asked. So I answered his question truthfully and asked what he thought really happened and he guessed correctly. Add to that that Luke is terrified of Santa and Anna won't even let grandparents hold her and I figured there was no point. But then I remembered the line up of annual Santa photos that my mom has in my baby book, and decided that I did want a photo. So we went. And now David is talking like he believes? Also...it's not super convenient to take kids to see Santa after you've finished shopping for them. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2ywGrGwIlks/UrZAgxgO2oI/AAAAAAAAGsw/sH-JmH6-rRg/s1600/DSCN8646.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2ywGrGwIlks/UrZAgxgO2oI/AAAAAAAAGsw/sH-JmH6-rRg/s400/DSCN8646.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The line was so long. We felt limited in our choice because we wanted to go on a certain night. So we ended up at the mall and it was not a good experience. We waited 40 minutes, they said taking your own photos was discouraged, but then looked at me like I was crazy that I wanted all 4 of my kids in the same photo. The picture they took was awful (we didn't buy it). But I can't really complain when this is the best that I got...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y92yk-9zG0U/UrZAmor2nbI/AAAAAAAAGtA/YthuEqNsmVk/s1600/DSCN8656.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y92yk-9zG0U/UrZAmor2nbI/AAAAAAAAGtA/YthuEqNsmVk/s400/DSCN8656.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We couldn't get Luke to go near him so eventually they coaxed him into a rocking chair. And I don't think Anna realized that a person was holding her, it was almost like a chair I was putting her in. But once she figured it out, we were done. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AjrhHeivDd4/UrZAz11XYdI/AAAAAAAAGtQ/B4sjtnKLqc8/s1600/DSCN8668.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AjrhHeivDd4/UrZAz11XYdI/AAAAAAAAGtQ/B4sjtnKLqc8/s400/DSCN8668.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daddy and David Selfie</td></tr>
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We took our Girl Scout troop to see the ballet The Nutcracker. This was our biggest outing of the year, taking them downtown and attending a workshop before the show that explained the ballet and allowed them to see costumes up close. Lots of parents went along, which was great, but it was still a lot of work to coordinate. And of course it ended up being bad weather and roads, too. <br />
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The show was really neat - I had only ever seen it on TV, and I didn't realize that every ballet company has it's own rendition, so the one we saw is original to our city. Pretty cool! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zKeNcAOvV6M/UrZAxhaAhKI/AAAAAAAAGtI/qW_ZHnGCfOM/s1600/DSCN8659.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zKeNcAOvV6M/UrZAxhaAhKI/AAAAAAAAGtI/qW_ZHnGCfOM/s400/DSCN8659.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Katy and I before the show. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(posting this one because it's dark and you can't really make out faces) Our troop has grown this year - there are even 2 girls missing from this photo!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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We went to see the trains at the big library with Beth and Kate and crew. This group has grown, too! <br />
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Other happenings from this month:<br />
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- Katy and David are going to do cheerleading and basketball, respectively, this winter through a program called Upward. David, especially, needs something physical to do in the winter to burn energy, and I've heard good things about the program. They've each had a couple of practices and so far they love it. The nice thing is that their games will be at the same time and place. <br />
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- Katy had a headache/fever virus that kept her home the last 2 days of school before break. We can't catch a break on winter school parties - 2 years ago I was supposed to help but I was home with food poisoning, last year I walked into Katy's classroom just in time to see her throw up on the floor, and this year she didn't even make it to school. At least David got to enjoy his and Katy's teacher sent home a really nice bag full of fun stuff that she missed. So now she's better and I'm hoping that no one else gets sick as we approach Christmas. Ugh. <br />
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<br />Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09257383770882314637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36725499.post-88601616147532110172013-12-10T15:20:00.001-05:002013-12-10T15:20:48.608-05:00Early WinterUnless my memory is failing me, the last several Decembers have felt more like fall than winter around here. But THIS year, it seems like the dead of winter already. We've had several significant snowfalls, including one snow day and one day that should have been a snow day. Before Thanksgiving I had to dig out all the snowsuits and boots and tried to find enough of everything to fit each child, and now I have made 4 or more trips to the consignment shop trying to replace the things that have been outgrown. (Katy, who wears a size 13 shoe, was complaining that her snow boots were a bit tight. I looked: they're size 10. Oops.) But the kids are having a blast in the snow, and have even been sledding at the metro park already. Luke LOVED it this year, after being quite timid last year.<br />
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I'm sure I'll be singing a different tune in February, but at this time of year, I'm usually ready for a bit of cold and dark. There's something nice about being home at 5:30, and it's completely dark and freezing, so we MUST stay in the house. It's cozy for a change after the rowdy revolving door that is warm weather. But I know it will get old shortly after Christmas.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I posted this on Facebook and someone commented, "He is darling!" And that marks the 3rd time in recent weeks someone has mistaken her for a boy. Christmas gift idea: hair bows. </td></tr>
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Last Friday was a snow day, and I kept thinking how I'd like to make a list of all that we did that day, because it's unbelievable how much activity four children with short attention spans can go through. This is what I remember from that day:<br />
- Katy researching facts about remote islands off the coast of Russia that she found on an atlas that Opa gave her.<br />
- An elaborate Easter egg hunt in the basement with point systems redeemable for treats.<br />
- Two Christmas movies.<br />
- Snow play and hot chocolate.<br />
- Making paper snowflakes.<br />
- Decorating windows with holiday window clings.<br />
- Turning on Christmas carols while we clean up an enormous Lego mess.<br />
- Mommy trying to order some Christmas gifts online and get shopping lists organized so that I can run out in bits when I have an hour here and there over the weekend.<br />
- Katy reading books to her little sibs. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wNWh06RUDlA/UqdstwqUaBI/AAAAAAAAGsA/CVp053ZQFSg/s1600/DSCN8627.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wNWh06RUDlA/UqdstwqUaBI/AAAAAAAAGsA/CVp053ZQFSg/s400/DSCN8627.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anna is obsessed with this push car (which I retrieved off a neighbor's trash pile with a big ol' pregnant belly around this time last year). It's in the basement for the winter, and she will go to the basement door and cry for us to take her down there and push her around on it. Sometimes we bring it upstairs, which makes her bounce like crazy with excitement. </td></tr>
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David has become such a big helper, and he's really such a joy to have around. I'm really thankful that he just has afternoon kindergarten, because I like that he's still home with us in the mornings. He plays with Luke and helps me with Anna or with other things when I need it. On Tuesdays, we take Luke and Rebecca (Wendy's daughter) to Tuesday school and then come home and put Anna down for nap. Then David and I have about an hour that's just us. Sometimes we play a board game or do a puzzle, or when it was warm outside we were riding bikes or playing soccer. Today it had snowed again overnight, so when we got home, I said, "Will you get started shoveling the driveway? I'll put Anna down for a nap and be right back to help you." I don't know if you can tell in this picture, but while I was upstairs, he had done half the driveway! By himself!! <br />
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I went and helped him finish, and toward the end he was getting cold. I told him to go ahead and go inside and I'd be right in. He said, "No, I'll help you finish - it will get done quicker and then you can come inside with me." Then we went inside and I made him a cup of hot chocolate and he told me all kinds of things about school. He's a sweet boy. <br />
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This weekend my Girl Scout troop marched in the Christmas parade. It was an experience. First of all, it was freezing, and we had to line up over an hour before we started walking. So by the time the parade started, some of the girls were DONE. Cold, tired, and wanting to go home. Then they put us right in front of this high school marching band, and I'm here to tell you that I felt like I was being chased the entire time. We were trying desperately to stay in front of them, but they were not slowing down! I was walking fast, and the girls were trying to hand out candy and keep up. It was quite stressful to keep track of them, I just kept counting heads over and over and over. But then it was over before I could blink. I think our marching part lasted about 20 minutes maybe? The girls voted to do this for this year, but I really don't think they'll pick it next year. Maybe when they are older...<br />
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<br />I have a good video of Anna belly laughing at her siblings - really all I want is the audio...but I can't get it to load. I'll try again later. <br />
<br />Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09257383770882314637noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36725499.post-3883752003778040652013-12-02T15:16:00.001-05:002013-12-02T15:16:39.887-05:00Holiday game-changerThis very long holiday weekend was the first major holiday since I've been married that we did not a) travel and spend the night somewhere or b) clean and cook like a madwoman because I was hosting overnight guests and large meals. It was a game-changer. We enjoyed Thanksgiving on both Thursday (at my Dad and Sue's) and Friday (and my Mom and Greg's), and we still got to do laundry and shop Black Friday deals and get the Christmas decorations up and also just relax. So great. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Katy came home from school on Monday and proclaimed that she needed to dress like a pilgrim for a PLAY on Tuesday. I love Katy's teacher but communication to parents is not her strength. We had Girl Scouts that night and Brian was having a man-date at the OSU basketball game until 10pm, so at 7:30 the next morning, I tied a piece of felt around her waist and looked up "paper pilgrim bonnet" on Google images. And here you go. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Katy started off Thanksgiving break with a big haircut - she decided she was tired of brushing out her long hair and wanted it short. I think it looks great and it's so much easier. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A big change this year in our daily routine: most of Katy's homework is online. It really is a neat program that saves teachers so much time in copying and collecting and grading, and it also goes at the students' pace and doesn't move on from a concept until she masters it. But it's different to allow her on the computer every day, because we try to limit screen time. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First Thanksgiving at Dad and Sue's. In addition to our family, we welcomed several of their friends whose families are not in town. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ms-D1_Y3_HQ/UpzYlpYZwkI/AAAAAAAAGqA/KcbMAxC8MF0/s1600/DSCN8572.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ms-D1_Y3_HQ/UpzYlpYZwkI/AAAAAAAAGqA/KcbMAxC8MF0/s400/DSCN8572.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm realizing that the beginning of this post is quite Katy-centric, but I still want to share this picture of my dad and his friend Fred playing board games. Love it. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anna did SO well - she napped during the big meal but visited with everyone before and after. She's a mama's girl, and it's a compliment if she's smiling in your arms. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mYe6rcyeMsk/UpzYeMTuVBI/AAAAAAAAGp4/TY6XsmzvBEU/s1600/DSCN8579.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mYe6rcyeMsk/UpzYeMTuVBI/AAAAAAAAGp4/TY6XsmzvBEU/s400/DSCN8579.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Remember how I just mentioned limiting screen time? Well, part of grandparent spoiling includes allowing them to play games on their iPad. They think this is a real treat. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aunt Mel does a little Black Friday strategizing. She ended up deciding there wasn't anything she needed that badly and left the deal-hunting to me. To each his own! </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So happy to see my grandma. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dzLzIb4UxJo/UpzZBef5sEI/AAAAAAAAGqo/lRrP2DqmkJk/s1600/DSCN8589.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dzLzIb4UxJo/UpzZBef5sEI/AAAAAAAAGqo/lRrP2DqmkJk/s400/DSCN8589.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Every time we take one of these family photos with the timer I end up laughing so hard I have tears running down my face. </td></tr>
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After I shopped on Friday morning, we went to my mom's in the afternoon - have I mentioned that it is ONE MILE AWAY? I brought my casserole and my dessert and put the kids in the car without their coats. Game. Changing. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My cousin Abby meets Anna! She's a pro with babies. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4zMn7jjMCc0/UpzZUOAkTrI/AAAAAAAAGq4/rfO1OMofB58/s1600/DSCN8594.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4zMn7jjMCc0/UpzZUOAkTrI/AAAAAAAAGq4/rfO1OMofB58/s400/DSCN8594.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If you happen to be reading this on December 3rd, could you say a prayer for my sweet Granny? She has been wearing this brace (even while she SLEEPS) since Father's Day. Can you imagine? She's going in for another scan to see if maybe she has healed enough to remove it, and the biggest prayer is to avoid surgery. She has managed to keep her spirits up and I love her so much and really pray that her neck is healing. (Luke is sporting his cousin's too big coat in order to go outside, because as it turns out, I maybe shouldn't have been so hasty on the no-coat decision.) </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mom and Greg hosting their first Thanksgiving since 1999. It was delicious and cozy. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SX1YSBC_I-0/UpzZcmSasEI/AAAAAAAAGrA/6OSI7iXdsQI/s1600/DSCN8597.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SX1YSBC_I-0/UpzZcmSasEI/AAAAAAAAGrA/6OSI7iXdsQI/s400/DSCN8597.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Abby's boys and my kids needed to burn off some energy, so out in the snow they went. We actually got about 3-4 inches two days before Thanksgiving, and my kids had even built a snowman and went sledding in the yard in their snowsuits - in November! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X-K-SkA1VVU/UpzZe9Lq75I/AAAAAAAAGrI/Avu_lzwMDek/s1600/DSCN8602.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X-K-SkA1VVU/UpzZe9Lq75I/AAAAAAAAGrI/Avu_lzwMDek/s400/DSCN8602.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Greg's daughter Mary and Craig and Aunt Mel teaching the kids how to Etch a Sketch. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oAYzTpEPsGI/UpzZqUOHnRI/AAAAAAAAGrQ/Ow5d_7YDcVw/s1600/DSCN8605.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oAYzTpEPsGI/UpzZqUOHnRI/AAAAAAAAGrQ/Ow5d_7YDcVw/s400/DSCN8605.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Luke and our fifth child at the moment</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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I have to mention Simba. Luke received him for Christmas a couple of years ago from his cousins, when I suggested that he would love hand-me-down stuffed animals as gifts (because we certainly don't need to purchase any more stuffed animals from stores, am I right? There are too many of them in the world already.) Simba has spent most nights in Luke's bed along with many other stuffed animals who make the cut, but didn't stand out as a favorite until a couple of weeks ago.<br />
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All of the sudden, he is carrying Simba everywhere, talking to him like he's another child, insisting that he has a seat at the dinner table, that he needs his own plate, that he misses Blankie, that he needs a hug/kiss/drink, etc. He "talks" for Simba in this high pitched voice. The best part is that if, for example, you want Luke to go to bed and he is resisting, you can pick up Simba and say in a high pitched voice, "Come on, Luke, I am tired and want to go to bed!" and off he goes. Simba is magic, I tell you. <br />
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Finally, we decorated for Christmas and each of the kids selected their ornament. I was going to skip the Hallmark Keepsake part of the tradition because it's so expensive, but when I took them to Kohl's, they still picked the Hallmark ones, and with the Kohl's discount they were much more reasonable.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rQEsKznTQjw/UpzZyPLS_UI/AAAAAAAAGrc/uBSc9vQbEOA/s1600/DSCN8614.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rQEsKznTQjw/UpzZyPLS_UI/AAAAAAAAGrc/uBSc9vQbEOA/s400/DSCN8614.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fancy Nancy for Katy. This series of books is fabulous, and she just started writing chapter books, which is perfect timing. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jZNEhd0I5Eo/UpzZx4rKonI/AAAAAAAAGrY/b1BAq5WwBQA/s1600/DSCN8615.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jZNEhd0I5Eo/UpzZx4rKonI/AAAAAAAAGrY/b1BAq5WwBQA/s400/DSCN8615.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">David has been really into Star Wars AND Legos lately, and he loves Yoda. This was perfect for him. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vUXNc_QhTaU/UpzZ--VH56I/AAAAAAAAGro/EQD5aBk3ExI/s1600/DSCN8616.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vUXNc_QhTaU/UpzZ--VH56I/AAAAAAAAGro/EQD5aBk3ExI/s400/DSCN8616.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I just realized that each of my babies has a photo ornament for their first Christmas. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2qQpi2dSutQ/UpzZ_DRySeI/AAAAAAAAGrs/N3VUJHqkf2k/s1600/DSCN8617.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2qQpi2dSutQ/UpzZ_DRySeI/AAAAAAAAGrs/N3VUJHqkf2k/s400/DSCN8617.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I debated ordering Simba online for Luke, but it wouldn't have had the correct year. He picked Rex the dinosaur from Toy Story, which is also appropriate - he loves Toy Story (you may recall he got Buzz Lightyear in 2012). </td></tr>
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I hope your holiday season is off to a good start! <br />
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<br />Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09257383770882314637noreply@blogger.com1