tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65587175738482932662024-03-19T03:50:59.954-07:00tee & beeJust an ordinary set of parents with an extraordinary set of kids.Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15654110465416126041noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558717573848293266.post-70120491827273033492010-07-18T17:35:00.000-07:002010-07-18T18:16:34.742-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOxvGDv8NuQFZ0H-I7Tg02Nh3kax1rs0_oJ6Hwetjy14RagGWvauq3kUOOo6TmZC1cFbmLdnip6Snc5E-S-jY20xuQjiVd59DRZVxbFPXwcLDFQliKj1cMU0wJuxwlEYyNqyNe47tZSgAp/s1600/014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOxvGDv8NuQFZ0H-I7Tg02Nh3kax1rs0_oJ6Hwetjy14RagGWvauq3kUOOo6TmZC1cFbmLdnip6Snc5E-S-jY20xuQjiVd59DRZVxbFPXwcLDFQliKj1cMU0wJuxwlEYyNqyNe47tZSgAp/s400/014.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Grandma and Grandpa Johnson</span></div><br />
After too many years, we finally made it back to Montana to see TC's grandparents. Karlee was just about the size of Zach when we were there last time so we were way overdue for a visit. Since we saw them last, Grandpa has had a very serious health crisis from which he is still trying to recover. He moves much slower and quieter now. Grandpa loves little kids especially kids right around Zach's age; he spent much of the weekend trying to win over his grandson. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKaTrPonoBLMpgzKV2kRniOHA2T6WEULPO8V6EQ2AGcDfzclRCSNgyCFiBqkG19CQqGbnusZwf44jVF3XCtfXC8Zt1QOr5WMzzTasdUHTG_fHkBzix7FHzSLV-yLJviGbtJLvBjXT4ERKx/s1600/024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKaTrPonoBLMpgzKV2kRniOHA2T6WEULPO8V6EQ2AGcDfzclRCSNgyCFiBqkG19CQqGbnusZwf44jVF3XCtfXC8Zt1QOr5WMzzTasdUHTG_fHkBzix7FHzSLV-yLJviGbtJLvBjXT4ERKx/s320/024.JPG" /></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Oldest to youngest.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div>We had a wonderful time with them and the other family members who cycled in and out of their house. TC lived with his grandparents for a couple of years when he was a teenager. Montana, his grandparents and farm-life are high on his list of favorite things. Other than any and all farm talk going completely over the head of this city girl, I have to agree that Montana and the relatives who live there are pretty great.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOjZlgWsviZlyqgZji9M-kv5GKUuyD5pJFMQVME9vElmRS-ooPXcUKuoiwx4K_27oX1hnr3D9riquiRO0aKs73vnuP4_JeV9XzUosIzHuYeeb5wwRjIIzHgQJ3-2OzG2gEJteejZhquPML/s1600/026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOjZlgWsviZlyqgZji9M-kv5GKUuyD5pJFMQVME9vElmRS-ooPXcUKuoiwx4K_27oX1hnr3D9riquiRO0aKs73vnuP4_JeV9XzUosIzHuYeeb5wwRjIIzHgQJ3-2OzG2gEJteejZhquPML/s320/026.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">TC's Aunt Jayne</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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Can you tell how much the girls loved everyone?<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">In addition to all the wonderful people to visit with, there were many awesome things to do on the farm. The only activity I don't have pictures of is gopher hunting. No one wants to see pictures of that!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The kids played on the haystacks so much that they constantly had hay in their hair and on their clothes. As our girls seem programmed to do, they made up games to play in the stacks and turned a few corners in to hideouts/clubhouses.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Another favorite of the weekend was the four-wheeler! Once a day or so we would all head out for short trips to find the horses, to watch the water coming down the canals or to go to the neighbor's house where a nine year old girl lived.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">And finally, there were the horses. On our last morning there, Tim, who works with Grandpa, and his wife brought their horses down for the kids to ride. It was their first time on horses; they have ridden on ponies at the zoo, but I am not even sure if that will appeal to them anymore now that they've been on horses. Tim kept saying that a couple of them seemed to really take to the animals and we would have an expensive and time-consuming activity on our hands. The likelihood of us getting into horse shows and such is microscopic, but it was a good first-time experience for the kids.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">We were very sad that we didn't have more time to stay and visit. TC had a hard time leaving Montana especially since we didn't get to go to the mountains. It's always a good reminder for me to see him in that environment. He loves farm-life; the openness, the hard work and the satisfaction of working the land. Of course it helps that Montana has no humidity and plenty of wind to keep you cooler on warm days. I doubt very much that he would love farming as much in Iowa.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">The next leg of our trip took us to see my grandma in American Falls, ID then on to Fish Lake, Utah for our family reunion. Stay tuned!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div>Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15654110465416126041noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558717573848293266.post-92153080181729308652010-01-25T08:59:00.000-08:002010-01-25T08:59:32.012-08:00BirthdaysMan, how behind am I?<br />
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Just a quick birthday post for oldest and youngest children, 10 and 2, respectively. Their big days are the 8th and 9th of November, but sshhhhhh, we won't dwell on how long ago that was.<br />
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Hannah is in the double digits! How did that happen? I do not remember authorizing this. She would without a doubt say that her favorite thing about her birthday was getting her ears pierced. She does look very cute with earrings, but now I just have to figure out how in the world to keep her from looking too grown up. She is turning in to a delightful young lady.<br />
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</div>Zach turned two and continues to act oblivious to the camera. Atleast this year, he cared about his presents. He loves all things cars, trains, and airplanes so there was definitely a transportation theme to his birthday. He is the funnest (I know that is incorrect but 'most fun' doesn't quite capture the essence of Zach) little boy ever!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Youngest and oldest. Their birthdays may always hold a little bit of melancholy for me. The passage of time and childhood and all that mushy stuff. But, in the meantime, look how cute!<br />
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</div>Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15654110465416126041noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558717573848293266.post-67741024898809952032010-01-23T17:51:00.000-08:002010-01-23T18:03:17.931-08:00First Reading Challenge<em>**Originally posted on October 10, 2009**</em><br />
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With due pomp and circumstance, I am signing up for my first book blogger challenge. It's all very exciting. I was surfing around trying to figure out the world of reading challenges and finally, heavens be praised, I found the site <a href="http://www.novelchallenges.blogspot.com/">A Novel Challenge</a>. I actually found several challenges I want to join but this is the first I am ready to join because it was so easy to copy and paste a list of books. Many of these books are ones I have had on my TBR list for a long time. Oh, and I just borrowed <em>The Graveyard Book</em> from the library on Thursday. Quelle chance!<br />
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I can't imagine the hours of work it took to put together this list and tally the votes. But my nerdy side is also envious of the time the ladies at <a href="http://jo-scrawls.blogspot.com/">Ink and Paper</a> and <a href="http://abibliophile.com/">A Bibliophile's Bookshelf</a> spent elbows deep in book titles and authors. The list is quite impressive; I plan on keeping it for future reference.<br />
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Anyway, this is the list of books I plan on reading:<br />
COLLINS, Suzanne – The Hunger Games<br />
SNYDER, Maria – Poison Study<br />
SHAKESPEARE, William – A Midsummer Night’s Dream<br />
GAIMAN, Neil – Coraline<br />
CARROLL, Lewis – Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland<br />
CARD, Orson Scott – Ender’s Game<br />
GAIMAN, Neil – The Graveyard Book<br />
BARRIE, JM – Peter Pan<br />
VERNE, Jules – Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea<br />
CHAUCER, Geoffrey – Canterbury Tales<br />
KAY, Guy Gavriel – Tigana<br />
MARTEL, Yann – Life of Pi<br />
GABALDON, Diana – OutlanderBrendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15654110465416126041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558717573848293266.post-32193247561975419302010-01-23T17:36:00.000-08:002010-01-23T17:59:23.690-08:00Brenda AKA Inhaler of Books<em>**For a few months, I was keeping a book blog called </em>Inhaler of Books. <em>I soon came to realize, however, that it wasn't for me and certainly not worth taking time away from this blog which is where my family would like to see me more often. So I am shutting it down, but there are some things I wrote that I want to keep. I am moving some posts over here and I will hopefully take the time to talk here about what I am reading once in a while.**</em><br />
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**<em>Originally written on October 6, 2009.**</em><br />
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My own space. A space to call my own. A space that is all my own even if I do have to be present at my laptop in order to gain access. A space where I can be creative and design to my heart's content. Okay, starting to sound a little like an HGTV show now.<br />
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It's been much too long since I've given real purposeful thought to what I read in books. I love reading and I love what I take with me from my reading, but I miss writing about what literature teaches me like I did in college. I had a professor whom I loved but whose name I now, sadly, can't remember who taught me to expand on the thoughts I have while reading. He wanted us to think on purpose and at length. Most of all he wanted us to write it all down.<br />
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I loved it! Many students complained about their reading journal but I truly got into the spirit of it. It became a wonderful exercise to me to start out with some thoughts on a poem, short story or novel and see where those thoughts took me. Without sounding too existentialist, I actually learned quite a bit about myself. I also was able to use it to vent my college girl angst. Very helpful since I was every bit as much a twit as the students I now teach.<br />
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Anyway, I am happy to have this space. I hope to use it well although I fully and firmly believe that life will get in the way of being here as much as I would like to be. Eventually I may reach out and put my URL out there in the comments box of some brilliant book blogger, but for now this space is mine all mine!Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15654110465416126041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558717573848293266.post-20125643728315993012009-10-21T11:36:00.000-07:002009-10-21T11:36:13.118-07:00Sunday at the park<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The weather was a little bit warmer this past weekend so we decided to take advantage of it by going to the park. I love going as the whole family because that means that Tee keeps an eye on Zach and I can take tons and tons of pictures and videos. Not to mention that Zach is happiest when he is playing with his dad so I get better shots of him than usual. Neither parent really felt like going to the park; we did it out of parental duty. Why are we always surprised by how much fun we have?<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Of course he was too busy playing to look at the camera.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Zach wasn't the only one too busy to look at the camera. Even with the blurriness, this is the cutest pic I got of Karlee<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Always willing to pose, isn't she sparkling cute?!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Typical.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">They don't look much alike, do they?<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Did you see how fast Karlee got going? And Hannah cheating by running across the finish line?<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Zach's favorite park game: kicking Mom and getting away with it.<br />
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</div>Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15654110465416126041noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558717573848293266.post-60965987383004473682009-10-10T05:53:00.000-07:002009-10-10T05:57:13.071-07:00Look!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR4Z1_ZiHxTbcGmOfy2Uua26Vm6r8iRPNbDWZcsvk-b__naP01Qd69GZG7GuIfF04XaYPs88NTY_P-MIpapkYfhEk6rv7gVQl-bgLVZLccDwsz1iY7Axkc0fSJwXOM58JngV3_SzPJAaAq/s1600-h/snow+001.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390954534082827506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR4Z1_ZiHxTbcGmOfy2Uua26Vm6r8iRPNbDWZcsvk-b__naP01Qd69GZG7GuIfF04XaYPs88NTY_P-MIpapkYfhEk6rv7gVQl-bgLVZLccDwsz1iY7Axkc0fSJwXOM58JngV3_SzPJAaAq/s400/snow+001.JPG" /></a><br /><div>It's only Oct 10!! There is something unholy and unclean about having snow this early.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Although, if I get some cute 'first snow of the year' pics later I suppose it will be worth it. Maybe.</div>Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15654110465416126041noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558717573848293266.post-57022073789720143032009-10-05T18:19:00.000-07:002009-10-05T19:03:27.959-07:00What a great weekend! Even though TC was out of town celebrating his brother's 30th birthday and it was just me and the kids, it turned out great. Of course, it was also Conference weekend. I love Conference and I love love love having it on TV. We haven't always had cable TV and are actually considering cancelling it when our contract is up. There are only two times a year when I really really want to keep it. Our family has changed in the two years since we got cable and I miss the way we used to be. But this post is not about that.<br /><br />Having Conference on TV at home means lounging around the house for two days straight occasionally picking up small child detritus so we don't get buried alive in it. It also means that the house feels smaller and smaller with every passing hour.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm98yGk6OaDehdPdHq3KSiSix6eGf_-fpBXugdtYIO36jLF3mfPr5jxF1segCQfZWXJJQ6UYX-idzqSgiVy2I1BZ1kuf3pc7LSPrR04FtwePfS9Mhz5H64Fa-Ldltao3no1kANY-eIJS7c/s1600-h/scan0002.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 311px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389294513435705234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm98yGk6OaDehdPdHq3KSiSix6eGf_-fpBXugdtYIO36jLF3mfPr5jxF1segCQfZWXJJQ6UYX-idzqSgiVy2I1BZ1kuf3pc7LSPrR04FtwePfS9Mhz5H64Fa-Ldltao3no1kANY-eIJS7c/s400/scan0002.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">Hannah's drawing trying to keep Zach occupied. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;"></span> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">It means letting the kids eat their weight in candy while playing Conference Bingo.</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">It means getting excited at the beginning of the Saturday morning session wondering where the new temples will be and if there will be any more announcements.</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">It means getting teary when President Packer delivers his talk from his chair and when it is obvious how skinny President Eyring has gotten.</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">It means trying really hard to listen with all the noise the kids are making even though they are trying (sort of) to be quiet and reminding yourself that you can always listen again later or read it next month in the Ensign.</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhszpUZ5Bp85Qg618qphjARDkLbkByiy-n6hTsAzThVnFDLA_fWZbeyVE53L3dKkoq7pDCYpasercWSX0HZlj12gXLhOP5IBgciSyP_2dz1kYM7c9XCAjk-4Y2TzO1KKrXlnBxjPZG14r1G/s1600-h/scan0001.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 311px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389291312973085138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhszpUZ5Bp85Qg618qphjARDkLbkByiy-n6hTsAzThVnFDLA_fWZbeyVE53L3dKkoq7pDCYpasercWSX0HZlj12gXLhOP5IBgciSyP_2dz1kYM7c9XCAjk-4Y2TzO1KKrXlnBxjPZG14r1G/s400/scan0001.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">Maddie's artwork of our family.</span> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">Most of all, it means listening to the Prophet of God and the Apostles relate to us the things that Heavenly Father wants us to hear right now and showing the kids by example how important it is to set aside two weekends a year to sit at the Prophet's feet - on the TV.</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">Having said all that, one nice thing about living out here is that Conference doesn't start until 11:00. There is time to get out and do something fun if you leave early enough and if *ahem* you get home at 11:45 and start watching Conference then - thank heaven for the DVR!</div><div align="left"><br /> </div><div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ynrHqDWPs87-QOkH1Bz-Qor0cVE2qOHqorhWw8ED_aC2YZpOtsHWBRnOviCPxYYLqqyhPNVtaV2WoMn2w8FZv_7Up1FncUedmzBdvOOWwnUbUoX1LC5VMMYheDIJqCoZQ-X_NPNB7W-D/s1600-h/015.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389291299599236098" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ynrHqDWPs87-QOkH1Bz-Qor0cVE2qOHqorhWw8ED_aC2YZpOtsHWBRnOviCPxYYLqqyhPNVtaV2WoMn2w8FZv_7Up1FncUedmzBdvOOWwnUbUoX1LC5VMMYheDIJqCoZQ-X_NPNB7W-D/s400/015.JPG" /></a><br /><br />We went to a little pumpkin patch here in town with another family in our ward. Even though it was quite small, all the kids had fun. Zach would barely let me put him down. At almost two years, he is very aware of all things scary. I think if I had tried to take him in the "Haunted House" (Haunted Tent, really) he would have gone all Tasmanian devil in my arms.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-kiUnbzhX_RgJ5elP72PGIi5AsxGdj2-Ww1Yue91nIp0Y_kTp_sMdraZj-LY6w_rhqWEzFiQB-ybo2DlizKzDkFQf7XM2H9QZJmoppMKfctx7wMrOp2FwwYnSseGe4KFeJC17BQv5XDC7/s1600-h/011.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389291292337239890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-kiUnbzhX_RgJ5elP72PGIi5AsxGdj2-Ww1Yue91nIp0Y_kTp_sMdraZj-LY6w_rhqWEzFiQB-ybo2DlizKzDkFQf7XM2H9QZJmoppMKfctx7wMrOp2FwwYnSseGe4KFeJC17BQv5XDC7/s400/011.JPG" /></a></div><div> </div><div>There was a corn maze and a little train that kept getting stuck in the mud. Hannah and Zach sat together in one car and the first thing Hannah said when they got back was, "Karlee did not stop honking her horn the entire time!" Which makes total sense since Karlee is constantly without stop ever not making some kind of noise. Maddie was in the car that got disconnected from the car in front of her. Not a big deal, but good thing it happened to the easiest going child there; she thought it was funny!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqDl1SE4zhS4z8ZSG0FUcMayOhs_PN0LXGbDWFooOEiOgqFfsJy0T9_WcB6yEhCIrvfJOhlhdJFlyZE4lYKQZmVvqXa_r-0ja0F7APuVCpe8cYn-pjbfL1ecpT29HDitx8728xbye3YrOP/s1600-h/005.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389291281552999794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqDl1SE4zhS4z8ZSG0FUcMayOhs_PN0LXGbDWFooOEiOgqFfsJy0T9_WcB6yEhCIrvfJOhlhdJFlyZE4lYKQZmVvqXa_r-0ja0F7APuVCpe8cYn-pjbfL1ecpT29HDitx8728xbye3YrOP/s400/005.JPG" /></a><br />All in all it was a very nice weekend. It is wise and merciful that there are these two weekends a year where we can take a break from everything and soak up the Spirit. Hopefully the soaking up of the Spirit will increase with the age of the kids!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div><br /></div>Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15654110465416126041noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558717573848293266.post-36447324698069363902009-09-21T15:21:00.000-07:002009-09-21T10:56:26.869-07:00Summer Memories with a Revisionist Twist<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz_BlJ40mqCp05C4UeJFpfnFBMEV2AqaxZ_DsUekkuruuZKAn1UURDl9gVS8uKD0Q2-S1mJ8p-8xdgT0zL9z8YNwJn2SNAT45LF1LAAjC41osfP7xO5zIPz-up3bz-fhS2uZdGll4fqfVZ/s1600-h/0813091134.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383969607920128194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz_BlJ40mqCp05C4UeJFpfnFBMEV2AqaxZ_DsUekkuruuZKAn1UURDl9gVS8uKD0Q2-S1mJ8p-8xdgT0zL9z8YNwJn2SNAT45LF1LAAjC41osfP7xO5zIPz-up3bz-fhS2uZdGll4fqfVZ/s320/0813091134.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQk6TzggwNtvz5tlsclrz8suknLH0g9WK03qaj8gVpM4zZNBHu0c5wAGRP6jtncQ7HCBz03Dmlv9Arl_zddNqMJ_9T3ZYFjxEYgSADrJtd37w4Xy7f-tdvw4CO8t5MeTV9_bF2kG3hme73/s1600-h/july09.jpg"></a><div><div><div><div><div><div><div>I really do love summer, really I do. By the time the end of the school year arrives, I just want to be with the kids and take a break from the crazy schedule we have all kept for 9 months. In other words, it's time to sleep in a little later and not hit the ground running every day the minute our eyes open. Since our kids aren't and never have been late sleepers, everyone is awake by atleast 8:00 which though only an hour is a much better hour than 7:00.</div><br /><br /><div></div><div>I love lazy mornings when at 10:00, a child who comes to snuggle with me still smells like sleep because said child is still clothed in jammies. I love seeing the kids play board games or computer games during those lazy mornings. The best vantage point is from the back with the clearest view of the bed heads. These are good mornings for book reading, net surfing and casual laundry doing.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>On the other hand, I also love those summer mornings when it's actually time to do chores and we get up and get productive. Mornings when, at 10am, there is already visible progress in the cleanliness of our home. With the promise of an afternoon outing to the pool or the museum, the kids chip right in mostly without argument or pushy parental persuasion.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I love summer days when the kids spend most of their time outside whether in the backyard with its many distractions or in the front with their neighborhood friends. I love seeing them come in all sweaty and red faced. They may complain about the heat but after a drink and an Ice P*p they go right back out again.</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYKmoLqK5tGk1plAIiQHqOOgZXXvh_23LoL_12vx4iR8ZNPuavglJ4XnssqEtQfGNETqxkHFo05ymZ0HUJV3-6o2sNwezzYfn_6DmSpD6FCiZiIMHbYGomAiS6p7Vt_5lrdiTu7X4Bb78Q/s1600-h/swimming+007.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383967589511857778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYKmoLqK5tGk1plAIiQHqOOgZXXvh_23LoL_12vx4iR8ZNPuavglJ4XnssqEtQfGNETqxkHFo05ymZ0HUJV3-6o2sNwezzYfn_6DmSpD6FCiZiIMHbYGomAiS6p7Vt_5lrdiTu7X4Bb78Q/s320/swimming+007.JPG" /></a> This summer had plenty of both kinds of days. Toss in several trips to Oklahoma and Colorado to see family and you have the recipe for a good summer, right?<br /><br /><br /><div></div><div>So why do I feel like this summer could have been so much better? I guess I never felt like I got a good grip on summer. In between trips I was busy and playing catch up on church stuff. When I finally got a handle on being home, managing housework and other responsibilies and taking the kids to do fun summer activities, it was time for another trip with its required prep time. Blech. I guess I am saying I have regrets.</div><br /><br /><div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgICUlOtPzRnz7kv6aHlXngOzCI7WO-cOw8PHAU31CB7ZrsxfTLPhVY-BHZGAL6MViGwQJk0UHsAT_N7HC5PiNOps5DiHhcH94YRIWIUExJHOxPYrf2Yz4yDHC6Tg-mwuu-z1liJ5cYAjI0/s1600-h/walk+along+creek+006+-+Copy.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383970860382940322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgICUlOtPzRnz7kv6aHlXngOzCI7WO-cOw8PHAU31CB7ZrsxfTLPhVY-BHZGAL6MViGwQJk0UHsAT_N7HC5PiNOps5DiHhcH94YRIWIUExJHOxPYrf2Yz4yDHC6Tg-mwuu-z1liJ5cYAjI0/s320/walk+along+creek+006+-+Copy.JPG" /></a><br /><div>But, guess what? These four little ones got to be carefree kids for almost three months. They got to go swimming a lot which, as every parent knows, is number one summer priority. They got to eat lots of popsicles and ice cream. They got to have a little bit later bedtime for crying out loud! </div><div></div><div>So, I don't think they have any regrets. And that is what counts.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy6fXxGKVJ3EuqM9K7ikonCb5n7pbKC-d7PttU1fboJaMtAz8vCnVtNSqL3YmrUdaIJ7nVDibV-KfhsKVg9d_W3cPYKgKM4EyTSNe-zmN0-TkCSuQ20G78iYoAFOXoXsZcjjwYNHRbGlR6/s1600-h/0813091134.jpg"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh696oLHRIOuOwiyfhJHUKHewP8JnPhXOF853lcZ5FxN6OxBf3Mh-86BwcTQLC12Qz2HS6AhBoCysP06az-vAGFMmd1kLIDcmU-PtNnUE594MuIkbUfwpMlQsAnNgiJxU9PgoDVjAXzdnrI/s1600-h/swimming+007.JPG"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh696oLHRIOuOwiyfhJHUKHewP8JnPhXOF853lcZ5FxN6OxBf3Mh-86BwcTQLC12Qz2HS6AhBoCysP06az-vAGFMmd1kLIDcmU-PtNnUE594MuIkbUfwpMlQsAnNgiJxU9PgoDVjAXzdnrI/s1600-h/swimming+007.JPG"></a></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15654110465416126041noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558717573848293266.post-74143346450634074932009-04-04T12:33:00.000-07:002009-04-04T13:59:12.498-07:00Middle girl makes it official<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn3xsGMpxq0V2JmmZhCYcrUP5qF2KzQYaugNMHrcG843qfycrrY0nPi4hUu_9iXhFXrD8Pov20kqlR18EkHm_3kiyzrXQQbvie5Z3RPqChIaxwjTEo8NeM3M-_-4KDvRbH9YHwFQlv7P07/s1600-h/maddie+baptism+023.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320934553233904754" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn3xsGMpxq0V2JmmZhCYcrUP5qF2KzQYaugNMHrcG843qfycrrY0nPi4hUu_9iXhFXrD8Pov20kqlR18EkHm_3kiyzrXQQbvie5Z3RPqChIaxwjTEo8NeM3M-_-4KDvRbH9YHwFQlv7P07/s200/maddie+baptism+023.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />This post is for all of those Grandparent/Uncle type people who, along with their respective families, would love to see a very happy and very beautiful 8 year old girl on her baptism day.<br /><br />That Sunday in March started out great. Middle girl wore her new white dress to church and got soundly praised for how pretty she looked. We had spaghetti at our house with Tee's family. She got a new <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">bracelet</span> from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Grammie</span> and Papa (which she wore to church that day), a new quad from Grandma and Grandpa with a lime green scripture tote that was not there yet because it was on <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">back order</span>. After pictures and generally fussing with the special girl we made our way to the church to get ready and to get the refreshments ready.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9FibA_T5jCeHtHdyTNyUr9TTSn9kBUODt8_-rE3Q4qzM4Fdadqq4npnOWtSZ8KnJerSZVTmMe7qWxZYpwmOIubTWbHRzmbuH91c6r0Y3fUx_BGKE45_TAppvwG7knrFEZiJKOBkIoOVUs/s1600-h/maddie+baptism+013.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320923003669120210" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9FibA_T5jCeHtHdyTNyUr9TTSn9kBUODt8_-rE3Q4qzM4Fdadqq4npnOWtSZ8KnJerSZVTmMe7qWxZYpwmOIubTWbHRzmbuH91c6r0Y3fUx_BGKE45_TAppvwG7knrFEZiJKOBkIoOVUs/s200/maddie+baptism+013.JPG" border="0" /></a> I will only give one short paragraph describing the horrible scene at the church when we got there. The font had overflowed into the hallway and two classrooms. The quietest missionary I have ever heard gave Tee the directions and because of the a<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">forementioned</span> quietness, Tee misheard him. After a half hour's hard work with two wet vacs, we were back on track.<br /><br />The rest of the evening went without a hitch with many many flood jokes thrown in for good measure. The girls sang a song during the actual baptism which was absolutely precious, but which we of course did not get on camera. I was playing the piano so I am not to blame for that oversight. Anyway, we gathered the girls back together to sing it again after. It's cute but not the spiritual preciousness I wish we had captured.<br /><br /><object id="mbox_player_3098daba1215eac2be" style="WIDTH: 358px; HEIGHT: 260px" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=" height="260" width="358" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000"><param name="_cx" value="9472"><param name="_cy" value="6879"><param name="FlashVars" value=""><param name="Movie" value="http://www.motionbox.com/external/hd_player/type%253Dsd%252Cvideo_uid%253D3098daba1215eac2be%252Caffiliate_name%253Dmotionbox"><param name="Src" value="http://www.motionbox.com/external/hd_player/type%253Dsd%252Cvideo_uid%253D3098daba1215eac2be%252Caffiliate_name%253Dmotionbox"><param name="WMode" value="Window"><param name="Play" value="0"><param name="Loop" value="-1"><param name="Quality" value="High"><param name="SAlign" value="LT"><param name="Menu" value="-1"><param name="Base" value=""><param name="AllowScriptAccess" value="always"><param name="Scale" value="NoScale"><param name="DeviceFont" value="0"><param name="EmbedMovie" value="0"><param name="BGColor" value=""><param name="SWRemote" value=""><param name="MovieData" value=""><param name="SeamlessTabbing" value="1"><param name="Profile" value="0"><param name="ProfileAddress" value=""><param name="ProfilePort" value="0"><param name="AllowNetworking" value="all"><param name="AllowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.motionbox.com/external/hd_player/type%253Dsd%252Cvideo_uid%253D3098daba1215eac2be%252Caffiliate_name%253Dmotionbox" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.adobe.com/go/getflashplayer" width="416" height="312" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" name="mbox_player_3098daba1215eac2be"></embed></object><br /><br />Middle girl is a very special child; she had prepared herself well for this day. It was a wonderful evening and one that I am sure she will remember. I actually think everyone should have a memorable marginally catastrophic event to help them remember their special day.Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15654110465416126041noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558717573848293266.post-8221933496522285602009-03-04T19:18:00.001-08:002009-03-04T19:21:30.618-08:00It's the new math.Lately at the dinner table, we have been enjoying giving the girls math problems to figure out in their heads. Don't worry, they love it and always ask for more. Tonight, however, Tee decided that they needed to give him a math problem. <br /><br />Oldest girl: What's infinity divided by...<br />Middle girl: Beyond!<br /><br />Anyone?Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15654110465416126041noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558717573848293266.post-84425296793176497572009-02-28T11:18:00.000-08:002009-03-01T18:28:57.074-08:00Growing painsSo my little family is growing. I suppose that happens doesn't it? I haven't posted since September. A little longer than I even projected, but honestly, even now I am kicking myself for taking the time to write this.<br /><br />Anyway, since September we have done quite a bit of growing. Oldest girl turned the so not okay age of 9. I mean, that is only one year away from double digits! Not. okay. Although I must say, she is getting more and more fun as she gets older. (Hey, you! All of you who have had teenage girls - stop chuckling!) It's true. She is funny, smart and a great conversationalist. The best part? She is a voracious reader, just like her Mama.<br /><br />Middle girl is getting baptized in a few short weeks. She is so good, like deep down good that she makes us feel bad. Wait, that's not true, she makes us be better. She cornered the Bishop at a ward party and asked him when she was getting her baptism interview. Well, he decided that it was in his best interest to get that done in a hurry! <br /><br />Littlest girl is not so little anymore. Remember when I didn't start her in Kindergarten in the fall even though she made the cutoff by ten days? Yeah, well, in about mid January she matured so much that, well, let's just say I wish that kids could start Kindergarten mid-year. She is beyond ready. I am pleased to report though that even with wisdom in her later years, she is still as sassy and spunky as ever.<br /><br />And baby boy? Even though I still call him that he is all toddler boy now. He is almost 16 months. He still brightens up any room and makes perfect strangers stop and drool. Just yesterday, he started giving me these 1000-watt smiles every time I looked at him. I really think he knew what it did to my gushy heart and decided to capitalize on it. He got to go outside in the backyard this week for the first time. He was in little boy heaven.<br /><br />Tee and I do our share of growing too, just not as fast and outwardly noticeable as the kids. We get a little wiser and a little stronger with time. Life gets in the way of US a lot, but we still find time to connect. We had our ten year anniversary this November. Ten years - a blink and a lifetime, both. He is my best friend and fan.<br /><br />My family - I think I will keep them.Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15654110465416126041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558717573848293266.post-58707496817936446382009-02-27T16:45:00.000-08:002009-02-27T17:00:03.774-08:00More cuteness<object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" width="416" height="312" id="mbox_player_309bdab31e13e8c0be"><param name="movie" value="http://www.motionbox.com/external/hd_player/type=sd,video_uid=309bdab31e13e8c0be" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="allowFullscreen" value="true" /><embed src="http://www.motionbox.com/external/hd_player/type=sd,video_uid=309bdab31e13e8c0be" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.adobe.com/go/getflashplayer" width="416" height="312" allowFullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" name="mbox_player_309bdab31e13e8c0be"></embed></object>Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15654110465416126041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558717573848293266.post-2439438448885927462009-02-27T16:11:00.000-08:002009-02-27T16:35:15.834-08:00Hey Grammie! My mom finally got some smarts!<object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" width="416" height="312" id="mbox_player_309bdab31d18e6c6be"><param name="movie" value="http://www.motionbox.com/external/hd_player/type=sd,video_uid=309bdab31d18e6c6be" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="allowFullscreen" value="true" /><embed src="http://www.motionbox.com/external/hd_player/type=sd,video_uid=309bdab31d18e6c6be" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.adobe.com/go/getflashplayer" width="416" height="312" allowFullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" name="mbox_player_309bdab31d18e6c6be"></embed></object>Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15654110465416126041noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558717573848293266.post-2184520544604924732008-09-21T16:33:00.000-07:002008-09-22T17:35:00.571-07:00Not FavoritismEarly this morning, I got to spend some time rocking the boy. He was awake even earlier than usual and desperately needed, for everyone's sake, to go back to sleep. He was restless and kept sitting up, looking around and then nose diving back to my chest to snuggle for a few minutes. Even though I was sleepy and really wanted that extra 45 minutes sleep before my alarm went off, I buried my face in his hair and breathed deeply of his baby scent each time. I reminded myelf that very soon baby boy would no longer be a baby. That these quiet times were swiftly coming to a close.<br /><br />Because of the all-to-soon ending of his babyness, I am choosing to talk about my son first. You know, youngest to oldest or something like that. Or maybe not even in that order. Could be that another moment in time will inspire me to write about my middle girl. I'm spontaneous and care-free like that. (stop laughing those of you who know better!)<br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDZsKRWzNgAUHCn-AZ6IPR-RBRotzyOJ8ciBmi5f7Ih3wlUANzIzKda9NRksTPKHH5F-C8z1EToK_V6gKTon7FYjXRna57b8TiwPVbyMUTAJDpQ0DulEYJSpABsVhCEfCCxec0UrJtSNKa/s1600-h/kids+036.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249004961039146290" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDZsKRWzNgAUHCn-AZ6IPR-RBRotzyOJ8ciBmi5f7Ih3wlUANzIzKda9NRksTPKHH5F-C8z1EToK_V6gKTon7FYjXRna57b8TiwPVbyMUTAJDpQ0DulEYJSpABsVhCEfCCxec0UrJtSNKa/s200/kids+036.jpg" border="0" /></a>This is one of my favorite pictures of baby boy. Look at those eyelashes! He is one of the happiest, cutest, most beloved babies you will ever know. Of course he can be grumpy, stubborn (from his dad of course) and now that he is crawling and pulling up, he loves getting his hands on anything in reach.</p><p>His sisters adore him, of course. He loves them too, mostly<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz3FsOYG5fjZEEopFxvGHWt0kngS50iwmXVYfOQVChs3CPCadaMr-CcBlbrerg0ZcPRuHDuw-wjBopl8rKL6RPdiK7hPe0H9E9qcSmqv9DFRJ96bIeTvXhE7-VtkIdgeVcMjO_JLwrh_GF/s1600-h/school2008+018.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248978632706974370" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz3FsOYG5fjZEEopFxvGHWt0kngS50iwmXVYfOQVChs3CPCadaMr-CcBlbrerg0ZcPRuHDuw-wjBopl8rKL6RPdiK7hPe0H9E9qcSmqv9DFRJ96bIeTvXhE7-VtkIdgeVcMjO_JLwrh_GF/s200/school2008+018.jpg" border="0" /></a>. From a distance, on his own terms, and when the planets are aligned. No, really, he does love them. When he and youngest girl are at the babysitters, the sight of his sister quiets his tears. His two older sisters love putting him in his backyard swing or taking him to their room to play house with him. So far, he doesn't protest being the baby in their game, but give him time.</p><p>I can't imagine life without our boy. I can hardly believe there was a time I considered not having a fourth baby. I had a hard time getting up the gumption to go through it all again. Which explains the 4 year difference between youngest girl and baby boy. Life was good; potty training was behind us, sleep was better than it had been for a long time and our home was free of baby clutter. I suppose I was just too selfish to give all that up. Not to mention that the idea of another c-section was very unpleasant.</p><p>But, through all that, I knew there was one more child for us. Four was our number. Girl or boy, we wanted to welcome that last spirit into our home. However, even though we were all, "Girl or boy, it doesn't matter," when the ultrasound tech turned her magic wand in just the right spot and 'baby' became 'baby boy' a whole new feeling came over me. A son. My son. Our son. I called him 'son' a lot at first. I felt humbled and awed looking in to his face and thinking, "This is my son." </p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJcjMksRpeWmPAYV2rh6d3UfP4Vw4pucTlBGRl246nfoski7ckNULtBWxRgmwQW23n5ywRajhIe9F2HU2dbfNIJ44noL_tOxRIROcrIiAlMmDLmadZbLpZTn2Gx1tiTO86Ha34T-5hjdrG/s1600-h/zach+10+months+029.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249002000095982290" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJcjMksRpeWmPAYV2rh6d3UfP4Vw4pucTlBGRl246nfoski7ckNULtBWxRgmwQW23n5ywRajhIe9F2HU2dbfNIJ44noL_tOxRIROcrIiAlMmDLmadZbLpZTn2Gx1tiTO86Ha34T-5hjdrG/s200/zach+10+months+029.jpg" border="0" /></a> <p>At times like this morning I still feel the same way. I love you sweet baby boy.<br /><br /></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p></p>Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15654110465416126041noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558717573848293266.post-10285003390285342612008-09-15T13:25:00.000-07:002008-09-15T14:45:43.658-07:001000 wordsI debated on using that picture of the kids or finding another one for our header. Finding another one would have involved changing computers or getting out my external drive and transferring pics onto my laptop. Yes, folks, I have only one cute picture of all 4 kids on my laptop. And yes, it was too much work to do any of the above so I kept that picture for now.<br /><br />The serious pros for changing the picture is that despite the aching cuteness of the kids, there are other less desirable features of that particular snapshot. Then, thought I, why not embrace the undesirable? Why not show our true selves? Why find a photo that is without blemish? And, more to the truth, is that even possible?<br /><br />And so, it is with relish that I turn your attention to the picture above whilst I take it apart. Learn about us what you can.<br /><br />First, breathtakingly cute children, right? First day of school for two oldest. 3rd and 2nd grades! Do I even need to add all the trite "I can't believe how fast they grow!" comments? Littlest girl is almost five and has already claimed that school lunch bottle as her own. Baby boy is nine months old and the center of every one's attention. So, cuteness covered right?<br /><br />There are empty pots that I could claim had beautiful annuals in them all season long but since school starts in August and not November I doubt you would believe me. So, I didn't get around to planting flowers this year. I blame a trip to Colorado in late June that would have resulted in dead flowers by the time we got home anyway and a cheapness that is bone deep. A cheapness that refused to let me buy flowers that were past their prime at the stores in July. So, to sum up, I was too lazy/busy/cheap to pot flowers this year.<br /><br />There is a slightly askew stroller carelessly set down after one of a hundred trips to the park, mall, playgroup, sidewalk, etc ad nauseam. We had a busy and happy summer but once we were home we couldn't be bothered with putting the stroller away in the garage. Many times I just threw it in the back of the van in preparation for the next outing, but it found a home there on the porch for the better part of the summer.<br /><br />Notice the homemade Huskers sign? That's right, we are proud Husker fans. Power of the red and all that. Still hoping that this is the season we make a comeback. Tee's family is from Nebraska and they are as hardcore as it gets. Screaming at the T.V., cussing at the calls, game-watching parties. Especially when they are all together. I will never forget Tee's Mom asking them to keep it down because oldest girl was taking a nap. THAT did not go over well. As for me, I am a Husker alumnus and spent many hours in a tiny graduate student office that overlooked the stadium. Once I heard the roar of the pre-recorded crowd that the football team practiced to, I was hooked. Those were part of the winning years too, 1997-1999. Good times.<br /><br />There is an overall feeling of not-doneness to the porch, wouldn't you say? Last year, I painted the trim that wonderful rust color that never ever should have been painted over in the first place. (Looking at you previous owners! When you painted over the perfect color for the trim on the house could you have at least not slopped your nasty forest green paint everywhere?) Ahem. On the docket for this year was to paint the white bricks which continue around the garage a nice tan color to tie the house together. But yeah that hasn't happened yet. But! I still get points for painting the trim last year. Did I mention I was pregnant at the time?<br /><br />The cement needs work or maybe even sandblasted and the patched together corner (previous owners!) of the grow box (again with the no flowers) should really be made more presentable. Oh and don't tell Tee but I keep slowly getting rid of the petrified wood. Ugly ugly stuff, that.<br /><br />Whew, I think I even learned something about us. Wanna know what I learned? Sure you do. I learned that none of that negative stuff really matters. So our porch isn't perfect, so what? Everyone knows there are much worse living conditions.<br /><br />What does matter is that we have a peaceful, loving home with happy kids. Funny, energetic and smart kids, too. Not to mention a strong, loving and respect-filled marriage to keep it all together.<br /><br />Life is very very good.Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15654110465416126041noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558717573848293266.post-54512638675164503062008-09-14T12:54:00.001-07:002008-09-14T13:19:57.648-07:00Well, everyone else was doin' it!All right, fine! Everyone wants a blog - you'll get a blog. You will get so much blog you won't know what to do with it! You will cringe every time you click on our site chanting, "please no update, please no update" under your breath. But there will inevitably be some inane completely superfluous update that will make you want to poke your eyes out so you won't have to read us anymore.<br /><br />Okay so none of that is true. What is true is that we will probably go weeks, nay, months without updating and you will eventually delete our link. Then, a year or so later you will wonder whatever happened to us and come back to find that we have moved and left no forwarding address. But you will hear from a friend of a friend's nephew that something kinda cool happened to us but you missed it because you deleted our stinking site!<br /><br />Consider yourselves warned.Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15654110465416126041noreply@blogger.com2