tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71161185037556006572024-02-18T21:59:28.632-05:00Bringing It HomeWe are the Sellers Family and are pleased you decided to take a glimpse into our lives. We are a family of 6 and we like a simple, no-frills lifestyle focused on our faith, family and love for our country.Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17038055983230810436noreply@blogger.comBlogger153125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116118503755600657.post-52895685371190371862011-06-17T21:48:00.004-04:002011-06-17T22:01:48.969-04:00Wildflower<div>This week, <a href="http://snapshotsaroundtheworld.blogspot.com/">Snapshots Around the World</a> has the theme <i>Wildflower</i>. I had to submit a picture of my favorite wild flower.</div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV10KhGqAyqfgBhU7QmgRiZsAllfaKQr2TErB_Mc1U_pnwgePfhsIMrDZa2dz0oKm82eJk6LR1-OSTMU14ZbdQjyTS2-PI04uUtH5enbUS5eHNCzLoLGfBIMQDG4_EdN3G9DwzQRYtV0LV/s1600/DSCN2581.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV10KhGqAyqfgBhU7QmgRiZsAllfaKQr2TErB_Mc1U_pnwgePfhsIMrDZa2dz0oKm82eJk6LR1-OSTMU14ZbdQjyTS2-PI04uUtH5enbUS5eHNCzLoLGfBIMQDG4_EdN3G9DwzQRYtV0LV/s400/DSCN2581.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619372215542853954" /></a><br /><br /><div>This is my oldest daughter, Lillee :) She has a unique spelling to her name because her paternal grandfather's middle name is <i>Lee</i>. We opted to incorporate his name into <i>Lillee</i>. This also matched her older brother's name for same number of letters in their first name and having a double letter in the middle (I like numbers and patterns...my geek side shines brightly!).</div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17038055983230810436noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116118503755600657.post-58365210923340576732011-06-06T18:51:00.004-04:002011-06-06T19:02:46.248-04:00Underfoot<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj71CUn839MSOm7D2pYfcJJTMgS7bIer3rgjN729wVEFt0iyqlJTvpy4EDrLTXxF95qWshlW_vbxcO48X7dzgw0zkf8CXYXyZld_X44r7bHSeQ4BHPamugnlha_AKFYiZJ4THtQGiZXhVfI/s1600/Family+16.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj71CUn839MSOm7D2pYfcJJTMgS7bIer3rgjN729wVEFt0iyqlJTvpy4EDrLTXxF95qWshlW_vbxcO48X7dzgw0zkf8CXYXyZld_X44r7bHSeQ4BHPamugnlha_AKFYiZJ4THtQGiZXhVfI/s400/Family+16.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615244992740698306" /></a><br /><div>This week, <a href="http://snapshotsaroundtheworld.blogspot.com/">Snapshots Around the World</a> has the theme <i>Underfoot</i>. I thought this picture fit perfectly!</div><div><br /></div><div>I did not take this photo, it is from our photo shoot with <a href="http://emilylargephotography.com">Emily.</a></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17038055983230810436noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116118503755600657.post-26097014125863415642011-05-16T21:20:00.008-04:002011-05-16T21:38:05.236-04:00Time for an update<div>Life has been busy...I know, your life has been busy, too! I try to check in on other bogs and often feel that I should update my own, but then someone needs me to get them food or clean up a mess or teach them math or just yell at them so they'll stop arguing with a sibling :)<div><br /></div><div>I have wanted to update my photos....we had a fun photo shoot recently and I'm so excited about all the great pictures that came from it! I know there are lots of pictures in the post, I just couldn't decide which were my favorites :) Enjoy!</div></div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxz1uuE0lYs7d-5UhOwupRgxDllB3gSNyqpa8WhkODS9J3hPHC1u2JfHNQ3fUzl_I-mS8xrTtF9OO5-nt5fHPV9SIcWZrGCrh2CX8kjsn6ESwDDW7iMiZ-0J397QCK3DXz62_SSDJw0lo2/s1600/Lillee+4.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxz1uuE0lYs7d-5UhOwupRgxDllB3gSNyqpa8WhkODS9J3hPHC1u2JfHNQ3fUzl_I-mS8xrTtF9OO5-nt5fHPV9SIcWZrGCrh2CX8kjsn6ESwDDW7iMiZ-0J397QCK3DXz62_SSDJw0lo2/s400/Lillee+4.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607493017421876290" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3lWR-_ytXdsk2HMn6B5ZiRqjAxfqTw2rD7S4CrXTLR0X_tmdgb8WSF4EgwRi9LMLyNu5TJbcjJF2Ie9-o15tFb-O0w8Ku1JE7JG5tidPBoa7REh-WlUnOwma_fDupGxZEKBgTLDiETjPa/s1600/Lillee+6.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3lWR-_ytXdsk2HMn6B5ZiRqjAxfqTw2rD7S4CrXTLR0X_tmdgb8WSF4EgwRi9LMLyNu5TJbcjJF2Ie9-o15tFb-O0w8Ku1JE7JG5tidPBoa7REh-WlUnOwma_fDupGxZEKBgTLDiETjPa/s400/Lillee+6.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607493011241518386" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG03PrY2TjQhj_5khL1jVVE-rBNU2UgOluKGH15WJRX88v3CwRvT7Wv2D-SkFMObkXoHHf-5OhnPEdeh7qgB58sso7SNGKzjyiAd7_gp_rDHKuwoOQvBQUAtfxmhIqHx4ciymxbReA1pBh/s1600/Lillee+7.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG03PrY2TjQhj_5khL1jVVE-rBNU2UgOluKGH15WJRX88v3CwRvT7Wv2D-SkFMObkXoHHf-5OhnPEdeh7qgB58sso7SNGKzjyiAd7_gp_rDHKuwoOQvBQUAtfxmhIqHx4ciymxbReA1pBh/s400/Lillee+7.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607493013842141634" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCs6hNfV7rBqPAWebUNc9OkD9MGsKryU6pWoTxbbdfoL3F6VqTzsCHS4APdxuKd5-o_oEgM4zXhQUCgnh9vrm37_77n_VyO8JMzqdVNafc5l-7t0ylsrVrvstKcPWJFs9KejIU1142bN0Z/s1600/Lillee+2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; 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cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2B7yk3_wF_O7wkw0Nf-_sOB5mj0btRbkMbARYxSxagj3VecOglLhbK_PzqeZGcMyM58b1SNbIuEreWVHe2-ALfv8fBaxX5sIMYNjXDNH5Wa0QvN6zPYBW8tF5DikS1z-2YlDOAFTjokp0/s400/Chase+4.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607490508945824098" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlb08M4t3Duq6pCmEaBRWgBdIDoE18ArKQM9mPuBdQC5VSx2dzGflhgvqeYN_HBIUAF83obe5ajgwP2mhAdLUv8vjbuQ5ejUtkmDEQbMYcjWtmyiMqIzBKhSZeZnMDtLU9CAiWjqk1SWKS/s1600/Chase+1+5x7.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlb08M4t3Duq6pCmEaBRWgBdIDoE18ArKQM9mPuBdQC5VSx2dzGflhgvqeYN_HBIUAF83obe5ajgwP2mhAdLUv8vjbuQ5ejUtkmDEQbMYcjWtmyiMqIzBKhSZeZnMDtLU9CAiWjqk1SWKS/s400/Chase+1+5x7.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607490504305652498" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiQlNhtgTcc-ZzMe2saKjyx6M-9NSMJ-Q1kUyyv6YiT-Vehv2X9EbqLVbA-qIX7m8rttiWrBxrIMrTz5eRlrhlunSK3gFubs_d2n-xFuSCaA2zEXIaJZrxRdomVNUAX7ikE5o9_C6LCPlw/s1600/A%252BA+6+8x10.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiQlNhtgTcc-ZzMe2saKjyx6M-9NSMJ-Q1kUyyv6YiT-Vehv2X9EbqLVbA-qIX7m8rttiWrBxrIMrTz5eRlrhlunSK3gFubs_d2n-xFuSCaA2zEXIaJZrxRdomVNUAX7ikE5o9_C6LCPlw/s400/A%252BA+6+8x10.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607490500923471186" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTvzPCpCPnFS3mPVDzS_rbUyJJacs-EDy0u3jmo1FhsxH8nsM_koat4ZlvDaB_ibDU037B2x93cH9jHgv3JL8os4K2Efdc4paE0_eIout5rr8RGp7CKuc2rGauihTbXyWLL4td9X-FWRSX/s1600/A%252BA+3.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTvzPCpCPnFS3mPVDzS_rbUyJJacs-EDy0u3jmo1FhsxH8nsM_koat4ZlvDaB_ibDU037B2x93cH9jHgv3JL8os4K2Efdc4paE0_eIout5rr8RGp7CKuc2rGauihTbXyWLL4td9X-FWRSX/s400/A%252BA+3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607490498487416178" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9uZICHQsMZclKty2ZgErIS5yxblJJ4tmKGPgizeI4GxEj3MM7WxIU8fv9CFSfIt7dn-oPuE8zw_GdgwYuHEHt43yisKB9qW41T9QCrMjY0xX__tbZ4VFlQI0eBvcNN7HERMqjCWxW9zVm/s1600/A%252BA+2+8x10+2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9uZICHQsMZclKty2ZgErIS5yxblJJ4tmKGPgizeI4GxEj3MM7WxIU8fv9CFSfIt7dn-oPuE8zw_GdgwYuHEHt43yisKB9qW41T9QCrMjY0xX__tbZ4VFlQI0eBvcNN7HERMqjCWxW9zVm/s400/A%252BA+2+8x10+2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607490494335445042" /></a>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17038055983230810436noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116118503755600657.post-26811097065776679012010-12-16T22:42:00.003-05:002010-12-16T22:55:00.319-05:00Christmas tree pod<div><div> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWy1FNlJ2egelcwNlkX6n4RvK6vy4uJUyNJUm4xzore1ZAIegDzlksIA00EgZcqWVog7K_P53U0adyB-pwcWCDNr7dGAYAlYku6W-4hzSV-JJ42FajUSDkD3SQ61oWOGYmiq3BqnV9TsEp/s1600/christmas+tree+and+strange+pod+069.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551494263157114786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWy1FNlJ2egelcwNlkX6n4RvK6vy4uJUyNJUm4xzore1ZAIegDzlksIA00EgZcqWVog7K_P53U0adyB-pwcWCDNr7dGAYAlYku6W-4hzSV-JJ42FajUSDkD3SQ61oWOGYmiq3BqnV9TsEp/s320/christmas+tree+and+strange+pod+069.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div>The night we decorated our tree, Lillee found a little gift under the tree as she was placing baby Jesus on a limb. I found her discovery the next morning when I was vacuuming pine needles from the carpet. It was this odd little pod. It had a texture similar to a wasp nest, but was shiny in places, not dull like a wasp nest. I thought it may be sap that had leaked from the tree because one end almost looked as if it has been oozing out of something. It was attached to a branch, not the trunk of the tree and felt very light, and I assumed hollow as I shook it and heard nothing.</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtyc8JbokDV6FkVOWHGOW5cxBMXOClXeufHPDRumZsGWEsqEPVZc5qzvoZYCCh3mUd-VpH-SxDm4PbpwmGEDm3ABY9p6hxiCJsyGimy62kmpbfobDm3LqbKVb5cyQoXXtLGvbAwy_WtmIb/s1600/christmas+tree+and+strange+pod+068.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551494268928115170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtyc8JbokDV6FkVOWHGOW5cxBMXOClXeufHPDRumZsGWEsqEPVZc5qzvoZYCCh3mUd-VpH-SxDm4PbpwmGEDm3ABY9p6hxiCJsyGimy62kmpbfobDm3LqbKVb5cyQoXXtLGvbAwy_WtmIb/s320/christmas+tree+and+strange+pod+068.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div></div><div>We decided to cut into it to see what we might find. I expected a worm, an insect, an egg of some sort. Instead, there were layers of the outer material and no room for a worm, insect or egg....so I thought. I squeezed it a bit and yellow fluid began to seep from the layers. Then I saw black specks coming through the yellow fluid.</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSq0N-qSTLhTpRtrNH2DoYCw2eKY-2Ql0DoF6gycgRtRojvoXVFADy-MWkV8ngolfEUd7tMwcOE1VjNaxATjtUlEdMR2l1aSpTSe4c2Psj4P_YKCHIHTXR44pUFUtxZxzL6WtgmI8NyI-Z/s1600/christmas+tree+and+strange+pod+066.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551494257434364706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSq0N-qSTLhTpRtrNH2DoYCw2eKY-2Ql0DoF6gycgRtRojvoXVFADy-MWkV8ngolfEUd7tMwcOE1VjNaxATjtUlEdMR2l1aSpTSe4c2Psj4P_YKCHIHTXR44pUFUtxZxzL6WtgmI8NyI-Z/s320/christmas+tree+and+strange+pod+066.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div></div><div>After further examination with a flashlight, we found the layers were actually divided into cells....fascinating!</div><div></div><br /><div>We searched for an hour on the internet, using very descriptive terms but came up empty handed. Within 5 minutes of posting on one of my homeschooling boards, someone told me it sounded like a mantid egg sac. Sure enough, it was a mantid egg sac!</div><div></div><br /><div>I love discovery, research and answers! Science is such fun and I hope my kids will continue to enjoy and have a love of exploration and the desire to find answers without fear.</div></div></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17038055983230810436noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116118503755600657.post-70576775159916099862010-12-16T22:28:00.004-05:002010-12-16T22:42:08.396-05:00Chase's first time playing in the snowWe had our first snow this year and Chase is finally old enough to bundle up and head out, especially since it was only 1-2 inches of snow.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizDPDZRQm-6_DG89NgYYY9lvoqXK7Nib6UDKH15UB5KmPr0TYVkVomk0z6eSyeN1gjeW9O3kNQgiOT1AIn04Gf0uumZJ6Ntb6k4Gf205w9C1gpCfl-u8JlBaY50Rrms_zJu_QlmRf_pq0t/s1600/christmas+tree+and+strange+pod+056.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551489773910746290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizDPDZRQm-6_DG89NgYYY9lvoqXK7Nib6UDKH15UB5KmPr0TYVkVomk0z6eSyeN1gjeW9O3kNQgiOT1AIn04Gf0uumZJ6Ntb6k4Gf205w9C1gpCfl-u8JlBaY50Rrms_zJu_QlmRf_pq0t/s320/christmas+tree+and+strange+pod+056.JPG" /></a><br />Chase all bundled up! He's trying to warm his freezing hands because he won't keep mittens on.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEPudceX9vXkI2HosfRLhsKVhgSCU-eQqhvmNKaj9kmw5gwcPopDJjApyqA60YTsJxz-iMdkbPP_YjGu802pj8Z8vVt1GEydRva13SgdQ_1QdZOy3RfWK_ukztRVyDJaQuXJhlYKGQ4mfx/s1600/christmas+tree+and+strange+pod+055.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551489771424784930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEPudceX9vXkI2HosfRLhsKVhgSCU-eQqhvmNKaj9kmw5gwcPopDJjApyqA60YTsJxz-iMdkbPP_YjGu802pj8Z8vVt1GEydRva13SgdQ_1QdZOy3RfWK_ukztRVyDJaQuXJhlYKGQ4mfx/s320/christmas+tree+and+strange+pod+055.JPG" /></a><br />We've not taken down the Halloween witch...she's pretty cute and the girls like her. So we topped her with a santa hat and now we can keep her up longer!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzocK60KeVIm_TEaVgEFvLW22CWu1VJZDb-bKi4r64HhrlUSxdA1FISEauEfDKZ3W7YORvFmHOpL5oqTyYxbmseonw7wdoPGFVlbSh50wqrRvAW7aT9h5RYGIHsI7AZukOkTWUEp5T3sT_/s1600/christmas+tree+and+strange+pod+049.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551489018292278306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzocK60KeVIm_TEaVgEFvLW22CWu1VJZDb-bKi4r64HhrlUSxdA1FISEauEfDKZ3W7YORvFmHOpL5oqTyYxbmseonw7wdoPGFVlbSh50wqrRvAW7aT9h5RYGIHsI7AZukOkTWUEp5T3sT_/s320/christmas+tree+and+strange+pod+049.JPG" /></a><br />The kids were cleaning sidewalks at our neighbors' houses as their daily service.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh43xUibnuehgn6Ab-QV0f1HKJgLb_mT808w7Z05fgSkEAE0Y4plPqAX1T5N3IFjfhWClacyYv9cmbve9R7LAu3FLLADbcxeXG56zE5mFNcmVDbb-Jb2VrLJckRuRa0d_RetuZkAy2sml4q/s1600/christmas+tree+and+strange+pod+043.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551489015360353826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh43xUibnuehgn6Ab-QV0f1HKJgLb_mT808w7Z05fgSkEAE0Y4plPqAX1T5N3IFjfhWClacyYv9cmbve9R7LAu3FLLADbcxeXG56zE5mFNcmVDbb-Jb2VrLJckRuRa0d_RetuZkAy2sml4q/s320/christmas+tree+and+strange+pod+043.JPG" /></a><br />Isabel tossing a <em>snowball</em> at the camera. Unfortunately, the snow was very powdery and the kids were disappointed that it would not stick together.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgING_C7AN6g11Sd_MGngfxSQEpUKhdrHHA1n5wJnoKSFr6pALq7EBF8mC37Wm0GPfgtcWzB4OqvMZv75LK11FJ-zwpuk2JlSUoPON5EWUQCvjXlR65IviXFyf7hkJBcT9k3EXynnUFgZCp/s1600/christmas+tree+and+strange+pod+046.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551489009492349426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgING_C7AN6g11Sd_MGngfxSQEpUKhdrHHA1n5wJnoKSFr6pALq7EBF8mC37Wm0GPfgtcWzB4OqvMZv75LK11FJ-zwpuk2JlSUoPON5EWUQCvjXlR65IviXFyf7hkJBcT9k3EXynnUFgZCp/s320/christmas+tree+and+strange+pod+046.JPG" /></a><br />Not sure what to make of it all...he kept batting hsi eyelashes to get the snowflakes off.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqE4eRyNy5Py0ISr7qZkh8Oy2ar7NYQk3JNnVWprI99FJFvKIZnz7cXLAHYUP60j4JqVYnYxYRdvULQDDWiGZhUWaCQWe6XuTUCC4YMwdjuhHe9J8OebRZF6tyglDoCQiP7AuSykDqOpxq/s1600/christmas+tree+and+strange+pod+050.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551489766230775362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqE4eRyNy5Py0ISr7qZkh8Oy2ar7NYQk3JNnVWprI99FJFvKIZnz7cXLAHYUP60j4JqVYnYxYRdvULQDDWiGZhUWaCQWe6XuTUCC4YMwdjuhHe9J8OebRZF6tyglDoCQiP7AuSykDqOpxq/s320/christmas+tree+and+strange+pod+050.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div>A true angel...love ya Belly!</div></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17038055983230810436noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116118503755600657.post-15068124694717002012010-12-16T21:51:00.007-05:002010-12-16T22:23:39.703-05:00Decorating the Christmas tree<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBoZgv3JLyeGVzdbQboPm9QXcKFExtdF2eU403jdzSMYE8xnZ4n3kVYpE0FZNebmAX-m89DebttrEUOSn8absPYRc1GMq2tC3A7g8ot1KB2ul71o4Mv0iYBi7gtxisZHCryl7KnmyXoMVz/s1600/christmas+tree+and+strange+pod+004.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551485073469987570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBoZgv3JLyeGVzdbQboPm9QXcKFExtdF2eU403jdzSMYE8xnZ4n3kVYpE0FZNebmAX-m89DebttrEUOSn8absPYRc1GMq2tC3A7g8ot1KB2ul71o4Mv0iYBi7gtxisZHCryl7KnmyXoMVz/s320/christmas+tree+and+strange+pod+004.JPG" /></a><br /><div>Chase didn't undecorate the Christmas tree, <a href="http://sellersathome.blogspot.com/2009/12/christmas-decorating.html">like he did last year</a>. It was a lot of fun! We put out the decorations, made sure they all had hooks and were ready to go before letting Chase at them.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeg3wy-0dTNG-xFqXyZv54RFA5wpJyoo2yv1PrBMWcwvOUNbcT05bv2AWss02KecLFMQlifflX-hosnpV29XnFSWa11TMBbP6UtrHhfkHxBr_IkHtBIExAT4saZDYY9mHQAzNOSM0hQZqe/s1600/christmas+tree+and+strange+pod+013.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551479934145464450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeg3wy-0dTNG-xFqXyZv54RFA5wpJyoo2yv1PrBMWcwvOUNbcT05bv2AWss02KecLFMQlifflX-hosnpV29XnFSWa11TMBbP6UtrHhfkHxBr_IkHtBIExAT4saZDYY9mHQAzNOSM0hQZqe/s320/christmas+tree+and+strange+pod+013.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvjpLxiN6MYmTXjUWXu6pUymOED6KMjfxdM6WJCCQFiTLuBD6mciT83SukKfaO06KMRH5JV2KDVQRH3tvio6bdV6vLiaDwE1k-V3ojJibdxDyn03PSP6cdCTqSDf8WMNOuJlnILfSNCpcE/s1600/christmas+tree+and+strange+pod+012.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551479931114192610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvjpLxiN6MYmTXjUWXu6pUymOED6KMjfxdM6WJCCQFiTLuBD6mciT83SukKfaO06KMRH5JV2KDVQRH3tvio6bdV6vLiaDwE1k-V3ojJibdxDyn03PSP6cdCTqSDf8WMNOuJlnILfSNCpcE/s320/christmas+tree+and+strange+pod+012.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoGcb_iXuW8QhhvJO3C4g9lkvuUi_bEmIOjs4MEJ3XE5whfm42vq40DLpF12DmXCdOBJW1MzSYdLvd6_lQAQGAD89tp83EwNBi3zgfw0HufwLmecqEjWV4IXYJD0kXVna9nv2_C__yDddV/s1600/christmas+tree+and+strange+pod+017.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551479941291659362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoGcb_iXuW8QhhvJO3C4g9lkvuUi_bEmIOjs4MEJ3XE5whfm42vq40DLpF12DmXCdOBJW1MzSYdLvd6_lQAQGAD89tp83EwNBi3zgfw0HufwLmecqEjWV4IXYJD0kXVna9nv2_C__yDddV/s320/christmas+tree+and+strange+pod+017.JPG" /></a><br />He carried these same 3 Christmas balls for awhile.</div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9mIO56zY5L7kgD1l7U7_X6wD0aDTuKZGd2fNTR2k6ki0IXZm_pl6F9AkqnQud2IPV0x6zgZ-ijkKqIaUvKr_GiANOq-hq36WgA2lf4eWU7Adac3uwzE5mlB6WeZl6g_s5cvE47aymBtM6/s1600/christmas+tree+and+strange+pod+022.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551479021811860354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9mIO56zY5L7kgD1l7U7_X6wD0aDTuKZGd2fNTR2k6ki0IXZm_pl6F9AkqnQud2IPV0x6zgZ-ijkKqIaUvKr_GiANOq-hq36WgA2lf4eWU7Adac3uwzE5mlB6WeZl6g_s5cvE47aymBtM6/s320/christmas+tree+and+strange+pod+022.JPG" /></a><br />And did not want to put them down! Surely his little fingers could hold more...<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDEz3WyxxSl0fhMwIpcGBWh9djXppC1M9KS1Z7XgQ082MnWNHc_dsD80nhFh-nE3TlZ5XXaI3KzR57Wn4CDgQQSIWYsJbe8s3Ncmvzzyfr8hgI-4loCb3T9TBqv7ILp-AnH7TTslR8LKE9/s1600/christmas+tree+and+strange+pod+009.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551479927019853970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDEz3WyxxSl0fhMwIpcGBWh9djXppC1M9KS1Z7XgQ082MnWNHc_dsD80nhFh-nE3TlZ5XXaI3KzR57Wn4CDgQQSIWYsJbe8s3Ncmvzzyfr8hgI-4loCb3T9TBqv7ILp-AnH7TTslR8LKE9/s320/christmas+tree+and+strange+pod+009.JPG" /></a></div><div> </div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbd3U6xSznFw0vtkmxl33I8aUpPyIfwnIQG9lFq8xT7poqFAZkUHHDvJ_QPv6d1cx9Pzij174Cva_bNaZwPgu_NgzDS6eME821q7dXYeX0NFkvjYLOY78IwtEtBAMtdtzKV2wSMbbgHW-c/s1600/christmas+tree+and+strange+pod+028.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551479024440762066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbd3U6xSznFw0vtkmxl33I8aUpPyIfwnIQG9lFq8xT7poqFAZkUHHDvJ_QPv6d1cx9Pzij174Cva_bNaZwPgu_NgzDS6eME821q7dXYeX0NFkvjYLOY78IwtEtBAMtdtzKV2wSMbbgHW-c/s320/christmas+tree+and+strange+pod+028.JPG" /></a><br />Connor is growing up so fast! Al and Chase left to run an errand and I was goign to start the tree decorating with the kids while Chase was gone. Connor refused to decorate the tree without Chase. He insisted that Chase be part of it all and the girls joined the chorus! I was so proud of them.</div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAjWV-s70lBkGH9oImOc4gNLLYSn4D4PWSs4wPTtp1IhDg9Jvh3ElhrJnkJiEfR9pbbPrbzejZlb_SOPoeAiCOmFbvAqrzxaVvvELyLo_NT6M8RQEm6kA5KOVBbyUJvi9w_Cof6CgpcBVq/s1600/christmas+tree+and+strange+pod+035.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551479030590927042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAjWV-s70lBkGH9oImOc4gNLLYSn4D4PWSs4wPTtp1IhDg9Jvh3ElhrJnkJiEfR9pbbPrbzejZlb_SOPoeAiCOmFbvAqrzxaVvvELyLo_NT6M8RQEm6kA5KOVBbyUJvi9w_Cof6CgpcBVq/s320/christmas+tree+and+strange+pod+035.JPG" /></a><br />Chase got the honors of topping the tree this year...it took awhile.</div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu9ViqfB2Nl7-DWNrkwoXuhiINYNDHoRafqtpI-5EKyxkQCMrO4MlIQgnn_-W6GclXe8sCbJolEjWrUqfVApRSZQAwXRi7xfgp4sVMNr5THIvDPyStqTn48So6qrnClB2j-N5yClG6oSo0/s1600/christmas+tree+and+strange+pod+039.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551479031953077330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu9ViqfB2Nl7-DWNrkwoXuhiINYNDHoRafqtpI-5EKyxkQCMrO4MlIQgnn_-W6GclXe8sCbJolEjWrUqfVApRSZQAwXRi7xfgp4sVMNr5THIvDPyStqTn48So6qrnClB2j-N5yClG6oSo0/s320/christmas+tree+and+strange+pod+039.JPG" /></a><br />And <em>finally</em> (with the help of grandma and daddy) he did it....applause please!</div></div></div></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17038055983230810436noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116118503755600657.post-78479569578728358092010-12-16T21:35:00.005-05:002010-12-16T21:47:00.911-05:00Temple and Visitor Center at Christmas timeWe were blessed with an opportunity to go to the temple to see the Festival of Lights with some friends, this year. Connor was our photographer for the event.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixpSEAAKcu2b6FWblu9i9ysoYDE1cIDfyCUJNLui31mEe2wWvG1GXjXjBQ5asu0x2zkcN7t9GKSfa3LBuk7qr5515pCFjLKAyGJK-NuMVj8BVj-HMT6W_S_oCL8ZZEWFpgsy8HIkLNiTj5/s1600/deer+class%252C+temple+lights%252C+Connor%2527s+hat+051.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551476004338398850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixpSEAAKcu2b6FWblu9i9ysoYDE1cIDfyCUJNLui31mEe2wWvG1GXjXjBQ5asu0x2zkcN7t9GKSfa3LBuk7qr5515pCFjLKAyGJK-NuMVj8BVj-HMT6W_S_oCL8ZZEWFpgsy8HIkLNiTj5/s320/deer+class%252C+temple+lights%252C+Connor%2527s+hat+051.JPG" /></a><br />There is a creche display that is fascinating! There are creche from all over the world that are on loan for this event each year.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGObSJenuIZMjDOzqmuQlPpin20Kdq3OeO4-em7WK52Sv4AQJLeic0xD19yHHqN-tl10s7PSssoOqLyPPgvST0NbZhjRoXoZInYaPKz_JIR82d6szi4Wmph1hOiqNZPtVFaGV_eURWB54C/s1600/deer+class%252C+temple+lights%252C+Connor%2527s+hat+049.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551476002213677058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGObSJenuIZMjDOzqmuQlPpin20Kdq3OeO4-em7WK52Sv4AQJLeic0xD19yHHqN-tl10s7PSssoOqLyPPgvST0NbZhjRoXoZInYaPKz_JIR82d6szi4Wmph1hOiqNZPtVFaGV_eURWB54C/s320/deer+class%252C+temple+lights%252C+Connor%2527s+hat+049.JPG" /></a><br />I liked this one because Connor caught his reflection in the mirror from the display.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKwRGonxSObQ8QTmjyGb3Pu5rrXgjBgsRgqGJrtBFqGy_dglqRaImygVPWkawfQcKJH_x7yT9XRvI9i-e0MFxSeLTxojNQKUKdzuIcyoRt7FGwj7BzWysE5jLHGxNIJidjjbsEBwBlGGht/s1600/deer+class%252C+temple+lights%252C+Connor%2527s+hat+084.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551475654872292610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKwRGonxSObQ8QTmjyGb3Pu5rrXgjBgsRgqGJrtBFqGy_dglqRaImygVPWkawfQcKJH_x7yT9XRvI9i-e0MFxSeLTxojNQKUKdzuIcyoRt7FGwj7BzWysE5jLHGxNIJidjjbsEBwBlGGht/s320/deer+class%252C+temple+lights%252C+Connor%2527s+hat+084.JPG" /></a><br />The outdoor, life-size nativity. BRRRRRRR<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjVy1zerjBDMuQ74XRmsGBEYBCBJQeu2a1VjmvFVZobiCIy9Vrgp7hY_3W_BxbuQeOGf3fSefBSB53qbtQwbFIolP5pKofGzx3XDdigPNwLyj7SAqMExMA1OiHGq69j2nuqm2Xs8SLlRyi/s1600/deer+class%252C+temple+lights%252C+Connor%2527s+hat+069.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551475648758455666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjVy1zerjBDMuQ74XRmsGBEYBCBJQeu2a1VjmvFVZobiCIy9Vrgp7hY_3W_BxbuQeOGf3fSefBSB53qbtQwbFIolP5pKofGzx3XDdigPNwLyj7SAqMExMA1OiHGq69j2nuqm2Xs8SLlRyi/s320/deer+class%252C+temple+lights%252C+Connor%2527s+hat+069.JPG" /></a><br />Beautiful Christmas trees inside the visitor center.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn7iOanpt5-7UdF9Hh0DeZXPyYVQL4y7aKCQ1JA6mfkhi9Pol-85T1kCVJgKtwXCWlgVyIw1fDHqaANdEKAinqNUp46WK4oJVIjVoOdaOBrA64csn8owvgniH4fNautT-daSGbATeYcYYw/s1600/deer+class%252C+temple+lights%252C+Connor%2527s+hat+068.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551475646366997234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn7iOanpt5-7UdF9Hh0DeZXPyYVQL4y7aKCQ1JA6mfkhi9Pol-85T1kCVJgKtwXCWlgVyIw1fDHqaANdEKAinqNUp46WK4oJVIjVoOdaOBrA64csn8owvgniH4fNautT-daSGbATeYcYYw/s320/deer+class%252C+temple+lights%252C+Connor%2527s+hat+068.JPG" /></a><br />Connor captured a great picture of the Christus.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl3z0Zj8PE8rQ4pOJhRtd08VtkPJcgEnbgKDyIdX-LpaiZRayXNt5LlOxq2Jbww8kaPDZkdfZRU9gJu60wxcoV0CiD35tZ5yR1bdC9a9IHSELqv3STPXup4pHHvXLXh-TR_7b2_4dfMnmJ/s1600/deer+class%252C+temple+lights%252C+Connor%2527s+hat+093.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551475026413581650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl3z0Zj8PE8rQ4pOJhRtd08VtkPJcgEnbgKDyIdX-LpaiZRayXNt5LlOxq2Jbww8kaPDZkdfZRU9gJu60wxcoV0CiD35tZ5yR1bdC9a9IHSELqv3STPXup4pHHvXLXh-TR_7b2_4dfMnmJ/s320/deer+class%252C+temple+lights%252C+Connor%2527s+hat+093.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Most of the outdoor pictures looked like this. It was very cold and hard to have a steady hand.<br /><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnH4tnU4DPx7h9jNY2irCIPaQfU12Q1WbEELzdGGTnQfTi_GjLI6xIAHg7Lief1nrdHPn-OXJUJ4DguGpJWajW6jrDfZzXaRSeUttxAagZQBiIG2MBjO0KaJbOWIqUJQtlaYgTe_JHC7vd/s1600/deer+class%252C+temple+lights%252C+Connor%2527s+hat+091.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551475015228619842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnH4tnU4DPx7h9jNY2irCIPaQfU12Q1WbEELzdGGTnQfTi_GjLI6xIAHg7Lief1nrdHPn-OXJUJ4DguGpJWajW6jrDfZzXaRSeUttxAagZQBiIG2MBjO0KaJbOWIqUJQtlaYgTe_JHC7vd/s320/deer+class%252C+temple+lights%252C+Connor%2527s+hat+091.JPG" /></a> </div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0A5cyW0quxc1jFWET7GCpgIlUwRGDkbuLcWsxTMgKa4urdEhbMNw8JxslbJOiD-3eE1yn9dPbTQIE4O1ZIDeQHBQamEVAJvJvwM9Yj39jTfLn1HZogJgvA-_8vP8DZ2YyyBER_240fjDZ/s1600/deer+class%252C+temple+lights%252C+Connor%2527s+hat+095.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551475031565825394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0A5cyW0quxc1jFWET7GCpgIlUwRGDkbuLcWsxTMgKa4urdEhbMNw8JxslbJOiD-3eE1yn9dPbTQIE4O1ZIDeQHBQamEVAJvJvwM9Yj39jTfLn1HZogJgvA-_8vP8DZ2YyyBER_240fjDZ/s320/deer+class%252C+temple+lights%252C+Connor%2527s+hat+095.JPG" /></a><br />Connor's final picture for the night was simply gorgeous!</div></div></div></div></div></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17038055983230810436noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116118503755600657.post-42828919768331794572010-12-16T21:23:00.003-05:002010-12-16T21:35:53.729-05:00Connor's 1st hat for the homeless<div><div>In my previous post about our <a href="http://sellersathome.blogspot.com/2010/12/its-most-wonderful-time-of-year.html">December Daily 5 <em>school</em> work</a> I had mentioned that Connor and Lillee have to put in 20-30 minutes knitting a hat for the homeless. Connor finished his first hat last week.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpcZKdTnEP0-_qGP5zl8OtilGkgAsuYGcMKUwf24viEbOAQd8taRas1YaLHCs_8M6S3FpaFf5hIxnPQALnaFrpvI05nuG51fwAgkbfRmpDeAjUu-GL9XF8IEOqg1jq-op30rMhz0lyTF4i/s1600/deer+class%252C+temple+lights%252C+Connor%2527s+hat+097.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551471981951658098" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpcZKdTnEP0-_qGP5zl8OtilGkgAsuYGcMKUwf24viEbOAQd8taRas1YaLHCs_8M6S3FpaFf5hIxnPQALnaFrpvI05nuG51fwAgkbfRmpDeAjUu-GL9XF8IEOqg1jq-op30rMhz0lyTF4i/s320/deer+class%252C+temple+lights%252C+Connor%2527s+hat+097.JPG" /></a></div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP3nIFL-ETU5w_PLvERjpTIf6_LHK5J4uDPVhVDtUgAFlEbPRSKppelOFOxrxB7DNTpgzQe3rbR7lH_DRkwLPrSSvxvXjnmgS84bRzpzb83fwTNsM_ccHuueR0e8aQiuJTfECmFfqfisnX/s1600/deer+class%252C+temple+lights%252C+Connor%2527s+hat+098.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551471985674539170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP3nIFL-ETU5w_PLvERjpTIf6_LHK5J4uDPVhVDtUgAFlEbPRSKppelOFOxrxB7DNTpgzQe3rbR7lH_DRkwLPrSSvxvXjnmgS84bRzpzb83fwTNsM_ccHuueR0e8aQiuJTfECmFfqfisnX/s320/deer+class%252C+temple+lights%252C+Connor%2527s+hat+098.JPG" /></a></div></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17038055983230810436noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116118503755600657.post-418646207518649512010-12-16T20:56:00.002-05:002010-12-16T21:21:07.758-05:00Lillee's 6th BirthdayLillee is 6, AMAZING! She is a beautiful child, not just on the outside, but she's truly beautiful on the inside. She is so loving, is intensely in tune with the Spirit and loves everyone she has ever met. She often reminds me of what we should be doing to be more Christ-like. She has her moments and drives me <strong><em>nuts</em> </strong>but I love her so much and can't imagine my life without her. She is a true blessing from God.<br /><br />On her 3rd birthday, I started a tradition....baking a special birthday cake. It has been fun and challenging each year to offe a special cake to each child, but we all look forward to it. After Chase's birthday this year I asked Lillee what she wanted for her cake (their birthdays are only 7 days apart). She started off by saying, "Hmmmm, I don't think I should ask that because you can't do it, Mommy." Boy, was I determined to do whatever it was she wanted! She told me she wanted an elephant cake. I thought, "Easy Peasy!"<br /><br />So here is her elephant cake...not so <em>easy peasy</em>. This cake took <strong>all </strong>day to create, but it was sooo worth it (see the video at the end of this post).<br /><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWgmeKZpsvmVE_NvTAIlI3CvXUG1jiDf3JheE3AIY-8TXxe1Q7EvO6SSs0kkoSYDQ9qQQaQ4nvOsbJRLyQYTRXZYVZoj9GX-uKe7vtdnMwEWT0J-isqsrw-4qJVMGcIO4miJLomLLORfL6/s1600/Lillee+018.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551464827970653218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWgmeKZpsvmVE_NvTAIlI3CvXUG1jiDf3JheE3AIY-8TXxe1Q7EvO6SSs0kkoSYDQ9qQQaQ4nvOsbJRLyQYTRXZYVZoj9GX-uKe7vtdnMwEWT0J-isqsrw-4qJVMGcIO4miJLomLLORfL6/s320/Lillee+018.JPG" /></a></div><div>This is no small cake! It was actually 3 cakes.</div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9yWilAsWwlSQmlBFh_a1IFBW0VK4wduXbWVC1Y0F-8E79RZblgxuobBhEwiUtbVDU0sz0r1ehIXJbfL2j_NX35fshUOA2e377V56M6yrhWpCK-y6bzCkkw1AhDFMdrFEOshDUtcENLCvX/s1600/Lillee+019.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551464837875483154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9yWilAsWwlSQmlBFh_a1IFBW0VK4wduXbWVC1Y0F-8E79RZblgxuobBhEwiUtbVDU0sz0r1ehIXJbfL2j_NX35fshUOA2e377V56M6yrhWpCK-y6bzCkkw1AhDFMdrFEOshDUtcENLCvX/s320/Lillee+019.JPG" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglpHPzkuSkfFT38pj48AFB2XoJ6yfvWDXoE5iVAmgYwxkqIvx1vFRxavnmhj5BxIsrGxLPMhrpHpxzZB0kzOcfEIIAwdGZePc44sCvanqjUfzN9vOaN2owmtVobw4CEVKaI-GFT2vldw_q/s1600/Lillee+025.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551464842149767314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglpHPzkuSkfFT38pj48AFB2XoJ6yfvWDXoE5iVAmgYwxkqIvx1vFRxavnmhj5BxIsrGxLPMhrpHpxzZB0kzOcfEIIAwdGZePc44sCvanqjUfzN9vOaN2owmtVobw4CEVKaI-GFT2vldw_q/s320/Lillee+025.JPG" /></a></div><div>The ears were made of chocolate, piped onto wax paper and then smoothed out and shoved in the side of the elephant head.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5c7H-OvhziQm-vPNPIId8qfBqbiHc_WOF8teTlxe-gJPe1MBbCbgOhB_jaZnvLcFuqbEOcJoxNH6T70sjIMQY_vdMABHTUhoddUfl5SA7VMbc8QxxoCQrZzELBHMmKCljOZbr4ff6518B/s1600/Lillee+028.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551465250584790674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5c7H-OvhziQm-vPNPIId8qfBqbiHc_WOF8teTlxe-gJPe1MBbCbgOhB_jaZnvLcFuqbEOcJoxNH6T70sjIMQY_vdMABHTUhoddUfl5SA7VMbc8QxxoCQrZzELBHMmKCljOZbr4ff6518B/s320/Lillee+028.JPG" /></a></div><div>Chase had to have a bite, too :)</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrYqoS5QKb2GO63Eib-s3MJiIsHp1mRTNexqmKk8K7Vdauz8FMgjj-iLl7yeVtGld9rAYFDZGD2FIqecCnq_u7pVgtfQuLzaHuGCVV6-Dd4d9m0ZxL_dQ9J93ARHM1AAvhfWf1ci3HzEaY/s1600/Lillee+038.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551465256668977746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrYqoS5QKb2GO63Eib-s3MJiIsHp1mRTNexqmKk8K7Vdauz8FMgjj-iLl7yeVtGld9rAYFDZGD2FIqecCnq_u7pVgtfQuLzaHuGCVV6-Dd4d9m0ZxL_dQ9J93ARHM1AAvhfWf1ci3HzEaY/s320/Lillee+038.JPG" /></a></div><div>best gift of the birthday...Grandma got her a Monchichi and I don't know if Lillee has put it down in the last week :) Happy birthday Beanie!!!!</div><div> </div></div><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz7jFLctEYI-9EZHWQ7ef-1lGNTDVYqFeyaK6NYdjZ2o1UzfMPm6afMLcR9WKHr0sH_HQVqqPYMpraDGaF7Sw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17038055983230810436noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116118503755600657.post-49054123216690758872010-12-16T20:07:00.008-05:002010-12-16T20:54:21.280-05:00Deer ClassThis post is not for those who can't handle blood, guts and such.... Turn away, now!<br /><br />The day after Chase's birthday Al, Connor, Grampy, Brother Affeltranger and I participated in a deer processing and usage class. I had been wanting to take this class for over a year, but I got very sick last fall and did not get well until January. So when fall came around this year, I contacted John Fishback, the biggest 10 year old you'll ever meet (I know it is hard to believe there is a bigger 10 year old than Al but he does exist!), set up the class and off we went for a day or skinning, deboning and wrapping venison.<br /><br />This was a LONG day, we arrived at 10:00 a.m. after a 1 hour drive and didn't leave until 5:00 p.m. Connor was in little boy heaven! He made all sorts of fun crafts and I think John had a great time showing Connor all of his cool stuff. Connor made a bone knife, tomahawk, bow with several arrows and a quiver, shield, belt to hang it all on and a blow dart gun with darts.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhchAAUr5B68ab-KWL_UVFoxIfYVv1cKGRQysxI5xiEncGFFmq89cg79ittMCUC90OBhf55yE64PLwCAwKSbidJ6OOtnlN8jjyVvkMnXzdo5O-4UWTZ_g18B9zEu1s9abtiWDrlUwd4L3Np/s1600/deer+class%252C+temple+lights%252C+Connor%2527s+hat+037.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551459726460034706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhchAAUr5B68ab-KWL_UVFoxIfYVv1cKGRQysxI5xiEncGFFmq89cg79ittMCUC90OBhf55yE64PLwCAwKSbidJ6OOtnlN8jjyVvkMnXzdo5O-4UWTZ_g18B9zEu1s9abtiWDrlUwd4L3Np/s320/deer+class%252C+temple+lights%252C+Connor%2527s+hat+037.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKnTOu5n8txTaEB4jsUaJn7LccVmTMu9ciWQRZr08n0iCJ4DHGe9OnvCPYzHicBW2dnLob5jWS32xAo9IA98OWBa0v6ICsoO99Rg6U0kVEzus9EgBW7KExr2GJjuSf54rkNx7Ql4vG-aSp/s1600/deer+class%252C+temple+lights%252C+Connor%2527s+hat+001.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551460219472227234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKnTOu5n8txTaEB4jsUaJn7LccVmTMu9ciWQRZr08n0iCJ4DHGe9OnvCPYzHicBW2dnLob5jWS32xAo9IA98OWBa0v6ICsoO99Rg6U0kVEzus9EgBW7KExr2GJjuSf54rkNx7Ql4vG-aSp/s320/deer+class%252C+temple+lights%252C+Connor%2527s+hat+001.JPG" /></a><br />We had 4 deer to process - 3 white tail deer and 1 sika deer.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhelddPXpkZmeKlhdZMsSvPsBcb9j-HF8_WnOxKhurkdnMGtFwdEVaZLfYC9hAN1JTR4CP4x9jaf0HpxwRGJ6s7eVQ5dTb1hXAFlizl5fKG5mOZi-0k9US9BAcHvdoKrr-hhg4NNLIJw544/s1600/deer+class%252C+temple+lights%252C+Connor%2527s+hat+002.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551460223345322082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhelddPXpkZmeKlhdZMsSvPsBcb9j-HF8_WnOxKhurkdnMGtFwdEVaZLfYC9hAN1JTR4CP4x9jaf0HpxwRGJ6s7eVQ5dTb1hXAFlizl5fKG5mOZi-0k9US9BAcHvdoKrr-hhg4NNLIJw544/s320/deer+class%252C+temple+lights%252C+Connor%2527s+hat+002.JPG" /></a><br />This was our first of the button bucks.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsK5U3LHdNQ12iULmwPfj7lBKm6jY0XLkNaUqr5CbUeFkCFw4LueRNuhfV0TA4SuNdZPKUiCKkF03r8ctTlKMnbOnZ7Wif1R-KEMMnnKJxC6HysavgWIhUYuf0qYiSve-l7svuzKZfZewt/s1600/deer+class%252C+temple+lights%252C+Connor%2527s+hat+035.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551459681319916786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsK5U3LHdNQ12iULmwPfj7lBKm6jY0XLkNaUqr5CbUeFkCFw4LueRNuhfV0TA4SuNdZPKUiCKkF03r8ctTlKMnbOnZ7Wif1R-KEMMnnKJxC6HysavgWIhUYuf0qYiSve-l7svuzKZfZewt/s320/deer+class%252C+temple+lights%252C+Connor%2527s+hat+035.JPG" /></a><br />This was a ball joint with the tendon running through it. We tried to tie in some science for the day since we're studying animals this entire year. We read all about deer before arriving.<br /><div><br />The crowning event for Connor was taking off the deer head, with a hacksaw, and then using the same saw to remove the antlers.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibMyHLAktQ68AAMuwXdmnSJNYA6AZkLKzrkltkETwhVPyG2buYEhw-t7tiUHfaDUK7pvMBmnroupkHwqdRHcxStoiRcxVdNMzo2Y-Ie6fRIbvLZgrVPo1XTrvzO0ch036A1FXck7WO7KUC/s1600/deer+class%252C+temple+lights%252C+Connor%2527s+hat+024.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551458774118933090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibMyHLAktQ68AAMuwXdmnSJNYA6AZkLKzrkltkETwhVPyG2buYEhw-t7tiUHfaDUK7pvMBmnroupkHwqdRHcxStoiRcxVdNMzo2Y-Ie6fRIbvLZgrVPo1XTrvzO0ch036A1FXck7WO7KUC/s320/deer+class%252C+temple+lights%252C+Connor%2527s+hat+024.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNSbHfbb9110sit6-WhvIlRIy1FJsdIDwlZdIdES3LPGzEO0t1wPsbcwyvAlwv5P0oKBLQncSP5FV19jVH9RypQIWnVyVfg-AygMeWKXgV3G_VFdjeuRhXgQCOX9hDKr_xKvneIwADvulP/s1600/deer+class%252C+temple+lights%252C+Connor%2527s+hat+026.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551458784014791458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNSbHfbb9110sit6-WhvIlRIy1FJsdIDwlZdIdES3LPGzEO0t1wPsbcwyvAlwv5P0oKBLQncSP5FV19jVH9RypQIWnVyVfg-AygMeWKXgV3G_VFdjeuRhXgQCOX9hDKr_xKvneIwADvulP/s320/deer+class%252C+temple+lights%252C+Connor%2527s+hat+026.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOaHVlHr6PyBJNybb8kqjS9Fz-dHrrSFN0BS1aPOxKeMdRttZJ49Qy026fqRex9K7Sx0HruWAicyDnOduR3ul9H5EMULCM30Ql-OkDBz-Wz2tQUAmvDfLzKVhMD-52BU1xYr810KoTKj9l/s1600/deer+class%252C+temple+lights%252C+Connor%2527s+hat+034.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551459306979389154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOaHVlHr6PyBJNybb8kqjS9Fz-dHrrSFN0BS1aPOxKeMdRttZJ49Qy026fqRex9K7Sx0HruWAicyDnOduR3ul9H5EMULCM30Ql-OkDBz-Wz2tQUAmvDfLzKVhMD-52BU1xYr810KoTKj9l/s320/deer+class%252C+temple+lights%252C+Connor%2527s+hat+034.JPG" /></a> </div><div></div><div>This is John Fishback :) He and Al were having fun looking at one another through the trachea...science, right?</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoZNvGvdNk5ztEIHzbO6oQDBGe560741jhoWENkf8ffszOmESuLyoYQRwALW3U-OZfVvygpz1YPYwXEn2wfQf1TIMRATvv66ALcOgknR-6jTae220P-eZFdaM5B0vazRSLZKMhhbnWTScn/s1600/deer+class%252C+temple+lights%252C+Connor%2527s+hat+027.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551459284047587106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoZNvGvdNk5ztEIHzbO6oQDBGe560741jhoWENkf8ffszOmESuLyoYQRwALW3U-OZfVvygpz1YPYwXEn2wfQf1TIMRATvv66ALcOgknR-6jTae220P-eZFdaM5B0vazRSLZKMhhbnWTScn/s320/deer+class%252C+temple+lights%252C+Connor%2527s+hat+027.JPG" /></a><br /></div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHXQVYFWL-uLpQafn0a0YDAMxDMHldTdj_IpM0Epi5hzoI0CzYnwScpWZbN4nGETV5VlGa5XzVkdkkzVTD57fNkZOXczWUhs5ldQWh9Y6tde2ZNVW5wi5uuc3kr_lJ8MIA5UFN_MFriTfm/s1600/deer+class%252C+temple+lights%252C+Connor%2527s+hat+009.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551458396753844498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHXQVYFWL-uLpQafn0a0YDAMxDMHldTdj_IpM0Epi5hzoI0CzYnwScpWZbN4nGETV5VlGa5XzVkdkkzVTD57fNkZOXczWUhs5ldQWh9Y6tde2ZNVW5wi5uuc3kr_lJ8MIA5UFN_MFriTfm/s320/deer+class%252C+temple+lights%252C+Connor%2527s+hat+009.JPG" /></a> </div><div>Connor helped with some of the processing, here he is helping to skin one of the white tail.<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO0-RFO_IzrRzlYEZcpKa6G3T4SqRhks82rVAlp2PHua9RqYR6kVH_sljMD7THtaetdAIkcV5UJca1DnfDEDb4eRH25UyBZZ4jFPfZu7E85b39-7of_-yXGmrZlVGpgK0R_8_CZ8P7ohmM/s1600/deer+class%252C+temple+lights%252C+Connor%2527s+hat+015.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551458388494259682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO0-RFO_IzrRzlYEZcpKa6G3T4SqRhks82rVAlp2PHua9RqYR6kVH_sljMD7THtaetdAIkcV5UJca1DnfDEDb4eRH25UyBZZ4jFPfZu7E85b39-7of_-yXGmrZlVGpgK0R_8_CZ8P7ohmM/s320/deer+class%252C+temple+lights%252C+Connor%2527s+hat+015.JPG" /></a><br />This is Brother Affeltranger having a grand ole time.</div><div></div><div>This class filled our freezer with yummy venison that we've been enjoying nearly every night!</div></div></div></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17038055983230810436noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116118503755600657.post-35778650732860838952010-12-16T19:22:00.006-05:002010-12-16T20:07:46.320-05:00Chase's 2nd BirthdayChase is now 2! Here are some pictures from the happy celebration, including the birthday cake.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJignMYvnaL2IXBtLTxoFr36jC6ZhgbNJn2icWkmOKgicXGxIOAlPYEFt8HG81zW-2nQmq-cy9iD0O02yd0f-6xtlhVF3QHvli0uWP8wEt4dJjVLGjOC9mb9zZo87PfWMmsOvI9uaNNR2-/s1600/Chase%2527s+2nd+Birthday+049.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551449810107115346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJignMYvnaL2IXBtLTxoFr36jC6ZhgbNJn2icWkmOKgicXGxIOAlPYEFt8HG81zW-2nQmq-cy9iD0O02yd0f-6xtlhVF3QHvli0uWP8wEt4dJjVLGjOC9mb9zZo87PfWMmsOvI9uaNNR2-/s320/Chase%2527s+2nd+Birthday+049.JPG" /></a><br />When your birthday is close to Christmas, you don't get birthday paper/bags, it is always Christmas stuff in our house. This was a gift from Connor. He cleaned out his <em>men </em>drawer and put them all into a bag for Chase. There were Star Wars figures, Rescue heroes, army guys...all sorts of men! Chase was very excited, but I think Connor was even more excited to be able to give a gift to Chase.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrrI4nBCUqRHQLxNlgT3NXOS2E7GAOcilIvOP_boPMvx0fYDTSzJj68kOW3xb6jJcJC3S4bj-0Jao3X5Z9vTNsp34MZrm4_q3TKsa5jP_vhSCZ4F_SDido0YrI1Wu3c10tdEpuCoBQWWqq/s1600/Chase%2527s+2nd+Birthday+080.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551449806303233506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrrI4nBCUqRHQLxNlgT3NXOS2E7GAOcilIvOP_boPMvx0fYDTSzJj68kOW3xb6jJcJC3S4bj-0Jao3X5Z9vTNsp34MZrm4_q3TKsa5jP_vhSCZ4F_SDido0YrI1Wu3c10tdEpuCoBQWWqq/s320/Chase%2527s+2nd+Birthday+080.JPG" /></a><br />Some favorite gifts included a <strong>very</strong> loud imaginext dragon and wooden train engine.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidHKSTVT4hb1fmSEu65Tj4q2jTrvurZkXPqZ312OoYS0EIKzwXmK3d-mnu0S-SZchdy7NpijtbLB0wxYjcLHNiEJTw5tVORlcxveiMBsFoBzzmD33RhvwbVEWia9aXKeNBbSSHMnZDkM2c/s1600/Chase%2527s+2nd+Birthday+033.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551449473005295858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidHKSTVT4hb1fmSEu65Tj4q2jTrvurZkXPqZ312OoYS0EIKzwXmK3d-mnu0S-SZchdy7NpijtbLB0wxYjcLHNiEJTw5tVORlcxveiMBsFoBzzmD33RhvwbVEWia9aXKeNBbSSHMnZDkM2c/s320/Chase%2527s+2nd+Birthday+033.JPG" /></a><br />Chase has been fascinated with <em>choo choos</em> lately so he got his very own train cake on a Rice Krispies track.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEzlWrGTGnGL8EPqmg_Zp56fQsMyJYpKYj6agALEtAaOoLh5wp3_4cdVQY6XHjrwuUX4vxWVZw64pwhZjHk_ZgrG32Ybpj6DwZ2gaJ0YjgREmM8eMoiXGIPij0pn0ET_gxSKXmfmBcPbMG/s1600/Chase%2527s+2nd+Birthday+032.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551449470550487330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEzlWrGTGnGL8EPqmg_Zp56fQsMyJYpKYj6agALEtAaOoLh5wp3_4cdVQY6XHjrwuUX4vxWVZw64pwhZjHk_ZgrG32Ybpj6DwZ2gaJ0YjgREmM8eMoiXGIPij0pn0ET_gxSKXmfmBcPbMG/s320/Chase%2527s+2nd+Birthday+032.JPG" /></a><br />He was pretty excited! i don't think he ate any cake, but he loved picking off the m&m's<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnhalxKwF5YPEtFmSnbEeVk4tegqdTEgvnO_3rAM7mrX10-j4nPgImHKxUGQ4GvaaP3mz5K9M6beRlxKM4zURum_wiioJSwSy54pnBGGKc3yW3xbAWiFLr8gdeqA4u7OFO5zQKGkDyssYs/s1600/Chase%2527s+Train+Cake+010.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551446993233453106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnhalxKwF5YPEtFmSnbEeVk4tegqdTEgvnO_3rAM7mrX10-j4nPgImHKxUGQ4GvaaP3mz5K9M6beRlxKM4zURum_wiioJSwSy54pnBGGKc3yW3xbAWiFLr8gdeqA4u7OFO5zQKGkDyssYs/s200/Chase%2527s+Train+Cake+010.JPG" /></a><br />All the kids helped me decorate it.<br /><br />Chase is certainly a handful, but he's also sooo much fun to have around. When he's happy, he's <em>really</em> happy and when he's not happy, he's unbearable!Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17038055983230810436noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116118503755600657.post-77051170509905547992010-12-03T08:18:00.003-05:002010-12-03T10:09:47.012-05:00Its the most wonderful time of the yearI love Christmas! I love the weather, I love the season and celebration, I love the feeling of Christmas...it is all WONDERFUL! I wanted to take some time to document some of our Christmas traditions and some new ones we're starting this year.<br /><br />We do daily service during December. We make a list of people we want to serve and then each day we choose someone from our list and think about what we can do for them...it's not very formal, but it gives us something to work from each day and keep in the spirit of giving.<br /><br />We knit hats for the homeless - The Original Pancake House in Rockville collects handmade scarves, gloves, hats, etc to give to the needy on Christmas morning. They serve Christmas breakfast to 400-500 people and on their way out the door they give them these handmade items to keep them warm. We use the <a href="http://www.provocraft.com/products/catalog.php?cl=knifty%20knitter&scl=looms">Knifty Knitter</a> so even Lillee can make hats on her own.<br /><br />We stop all "school work" for the month of December. During the school year, my kids work from individual charts that we call their "Daily 5" From a list of 9 or 10 options they choose 5 to do each day. Examples of a daily 5 may be 20 minutes of literature reading, 20 minutes of math, 15 minutes of creative writing. This allows the kids the opportunity to choose what they are in the mood for rather than me forcing a schedule on them.<br /><br />In December I make them a December Daily 5 that has no school work, but all Christmas focused options. For example, (1) 20 minutes knitting hats for the homeless, (2) 20 minutes building our Lego nativity (we are making a large Lego nativity this year - last year we made small, individual Lincoln Log nativities, but I wanted a larger family project this year), (3) prepare a daily service for someone outside of our home (we work from our service list mentioned above and since I have 2 kids in school we serve 2 people/families every day!), (4) personal enrichment (they have to spend 20 minutes doing something to help themselves grow in a positive direction - this could be exercise, quality reading, learning a new skill, the list is endless) and (5) Christmas music (20 minutes of practicing a Christmas song on the piano, singing or signing - the church website has some of the <a href="http://lds.org/cm/display/0,17631,7231-1,00.html">Children's songbook in ASL </a>signing videos).<br /><br />We also started the month off by sending presents to Jesus. We buy a dozen helium filled balloons (next year we'll do 18 so each of us can send 3 gifts...I love the symbolism and wish I had thought of it sooner!) and write our gifts to Jesus on slips of paper (we used these <a href="http://scriptures4kids.com/family-home-evening-ideas/74-christmas-meaning-of-christmas.html">cute slips</a> this year), laminate each one, punch a hole in them and tie them to the balloons. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIpSIotfeq3otdu9T96yCVwBTNkobMB3CFV70KRpusbJRuSdDaFsQlJoiZzJgNe71ctstRJ88YWSq0_sz-ZPzhrX6PlgHrIIFKmwBVXoCaoH_esi9qAKuBEPtJ3r4sYfwC00v401zEanpW/s1600/Jesus+balloons+010.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546450874380151586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIpSIotfeq3otdu9T96yCVwBTNkobMB3CFV70KRpusbJRuSdDaFsQlJoiZzJgNe71ctstRJ88YWSq0_sz-ZPzhrX6PlgHrIIFKmwBVXoCaoH_esi9qAKuBEPtJ3r4sYfwC00v401zEanpW/s320/Jesus+balloons+010.JPG" /></a><br /><br />I took pictures of our "gifts" to remind the kids (and us parents) throughout the year what we promised to do for Jesus.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKE7rgauFAOq4CerX5tbM00QcnFHoMuL6FPAdFLjnYHgX98TKwUCYnNrfsoL4boELpiuTxDq7hymleee6p7JaIU0BW3rmg3q0zAFJScQjddRPdOmpZqGx6byg9p0idv2kOwLSwFZPOzr1e/s1600/Jesus+balloons+005.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546450866311319538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKE7rgauFAOq4CerX5tbM00QcnFHoMuL6FPAdFLjnYHgX98TKwUCYnNrfsoL4boELpiuTxDq7hymleee6p7JaIU0BW3rmg3q0zAFJScQjddRPdOmpZqGx6byg9p0idv2kOwLSwFZPOzr1e/s320/Jesus+balloons+005.JPG" /></a><br /><br />We then go outside and release the balloons and the kids have a great time watching them float away.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1hgTRDWaoeTPPh0g7bF6GsPZ24eZFNjOxBjPniRviWuFQ7ac5MFhopSKGnW6PzE83ysuG0BZmUcJ0bY8L0Xq47jtrr08UamhbCHG3woVqtyT7hdrnhO5yLTXgG-cBxGXF7WZ_AE6BvsuU/s1600/Jesus+balloons+013.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546450879104629922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1hgTRDWaoeTPPh0g7bF6GsPZ24eZFNjOxBjPniRviWuFQ7ac5MFhopSKGnW6PzE83ysuG0BZmUcJ0bY8L0Xq47jtrr08UamhbCHG3woVqtyT7hdrnhO5yLTXgG-cBxGXF7WZ_AE6BvsuU/s320/Jesus+balloons+013.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT1aDG74-rNPwfLmDKjeJgTSXugvrsqqY0hf8rB95fkIeSGG268IzObEli51W3fX1_N4uRwnYvEfix1VxqrAlfHEOhj29QtXkws79W3KAT373M_arqw8r2CEK3tMS-_D7GpIoorHO37Fgs/s1600/Jesus+balloons+014.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546450885153137026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT1aDG74-rNPwfLmDKjeJgTSXugvrsqqY0hf8rB95fkIeSGG268IzObEli51W3fX1_N4uRwnYvEfix1VxqrAlfHEOhj29QtXkws79W3KAT373M_arqw8r2CEK3tMS-_D7GpIoorHO37Fgs/s320/Jesus+balloons+014.JPG" /></a><br /><br />The day after we released the balloons this year, the first thing Connor said when he woke up was, "Mommy, do you think our balloons have made it to Heaven yet?" How precious is that?<br /><br />Our <a href="http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=024644f8f206c010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=2f9db62c630dd110VgnVCM100000176f620a____">scripture advent</a> will begin 12 days before Christmas.<br /><br />We still have the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/LEGO%C2%AE-City-Advent-Calendar-2824/dp/B003F80KFO">Lego advent calendar</a>, which isn't Christ-centered, but is fun for a family that loves Legos.<br /><br />We seem to change a little bit at a time, but we're slowly getting on the path to a more Christ-centered Christmas.Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17038055983230810436noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116118503755600657.post-81518816610310343112010-10-11T08:50:00.002-04:002010-10-11T09:02:01.160-04:00Farewell to an Amazing ManMy friend, Stan, for whom I told you about a few months ago has passed on to be with his Heavenly Father. You may read about it on the <a href="http://themagicquilt.blogspot.com/2010/10/aloha-oe.html">Magic Quilt site</a>.<br />36<br />Stan and Lila have been such an inspiration to me in the 7 years I've known them. They have the most beautiful relationship and are truly best friends. My heart goes out to Lila as I know this is such a difficult time for her, but I am once again inspired by her strength, love and dedication to her husband. When she had hoped that Stan would slow down, stop working and just care for himself, she continued to support him as he went to work each day because that was what Stan wanted to do.<br /><br />I've had met many inspirational couples through the church I attend, but Stan and Lila are the two people I that hope Al and I can become most like.<br /><br />I am about to leave for Stan's funeral...my heart is heavy, but as my husband and I just reinforced a lesson on <a href="http://mormon.org/searchResults?theme=blue&query=forever+family">Forever Families</a> with our children, my heart is also full of joy with the knowledge we have of temple work and the opportunity we have to bind ourselves together here on earth so that we might be together again in heaven.Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17038055983230810436noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116118503755600657.post-47000852279803546322010-07-31T21:01:00.003-04:002010-07-31T21:09:30.698-04:00The Magic QuiltI wanted to share this <a href="http://themagicquilt.blogspot.com/2009/01/big-exciting-announcement.html">awesome project</a> with all who read my blog.<br /><br />I can't explain the magic quilt any better than having you visit these links and reading about it yourself. If you're interested in participating in the next magic quilt project, please contact me or join the sisterhood of the magic quilt.<br /><br />For anyone who knows Stan Tolman, he is the first recipient of the magic quilt and you can <a href="http://themagicquilt.blogspot.com/2010/05/we-found-our-first-recipient.html">read all about it here</a>.<br /><br />And here is the post of <a href="http://themagicquilt.blogspot.com/2010/07/where-in-world-is-magic-quilt.html">Stan receiving the magic quilt</a>.Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17038055983230810436noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116118503755600657.post-81713349515162112032010-06-22T20:56:00.007-04:002010-06-22T21:23:29.840-04:00Random favorite pictures I haven't postedThis is a hodge podge of pictures I've been meaning to post<br /><br />On June 19th, Lillee was in her first wedding as a flower girl. Unfortunately, the flower baskets did not arrive so Lillee walked down the aisle without scattering flowers, but she was very cute :) The other flower girl had to be carried down by her father.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIYAfRE3EeNJ4t8AbrxYQ4Comc1lSB6TEhVjoJTHJlQTPUIg4iv-qOA58HyECKrC6Z6m3yPMxvqL9KlmFatYLbJMp4wm15otn-hpR5lqQwky43EL6q94FmEySMOtTK4chEMFL48FhUCyae/s1600/IMG_3348.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485769177640871362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIYAfRE3EeNJ4t8AbrxYQ4Comc1lSB6TEhVjoJTHJlQTPUIg4iv-qOA58HyECKrC6Z6m3yPMxvqL9KlmFatYLbJMp4wm15otn-hpR5lqQwky43EL6q94FmEySMOtTK4chEMFL48FhUCyae/s320/IMG_3348.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Lillee had such a great time at the wedding and she thoroughly enjoyed the dancing! Here is Lillee dancing with the bride, Debbie.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBfeQ22essrQ01Ki7Ils2yWkQAttBy2u-px8xQqp6aVa6oO9qHzmKznZ2naquSVh3QqAxobhT4EOe4tV_AC-RO0b4XDJ_TLmlRN-HeSYcV4PNwoTnrf_YpVPRow0yPWS__A0jYq3h4wDpE/s1600/Lillee+at+Reiley+wedding+088.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485769953275793682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBfeQ22essrQ01Ki7Ils2yWkQAttBy2u-px8xQqp6aVa6oO9qHzmKznZ2naquSVh3QqAxobhT4EOe4tV_AC-RO0b4XDJ_TLmlRN-HeSYcV4PNwoTnrf_YpVPRow0yPWS__A0jYq3h4wDpE/s320/Lillee+at+Reiley+wedding+088.JPG" /></a><br /><br />and dancing without our friend Camilla<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_-4U0JgjVx07DVg_-DqkQbSzctAoGbKmcoBIaTzcv0FrDdtThTNuRwMvtOsrlxqThXXewEe20UNgQKobygrKg8NDuV7FPqijMba5yv7Yq7rwJmtuur3ibgyJaHXQRaYteJFlF46TTlFrY/s1600/Lillee+at+Reiley+wedding+084.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485769938935157634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_-4U0JgjVx07DVg_-DqkQbSzctAoGbKmcoBIaTzcv0FrDdtThTNuRwMvtOsrlxqThXXewEe20UNgQKobygrKg8NDuV7FPqijMba5yv7Yq7rwJmtuur3ibgyJaHXQRaYteJFlF46TTlFrY/s320/Lillee+at+Reiley+wedding+084.JPG" /></a><br />and dancing with our friend Jayson<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgml37uIcdbODbvvM55iNG7ih9sp8MVKvJRRBzmxktwBuxRU0LbuSVAK5nMeRz39d85c0JYRyb8fB5lCzWBqc2lprFrlP2u8Fq3iaHcngj6bF-WGVl_djq5UMrjJB8wPErRUJ-KW7JI1Joi/s1600/Lillee+at+Reiley+wedding+082.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485769741794827954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgml37uIcdbODbvvM55iNG7ih9sp8MVKvJRRBzmxktwBuxRU0LbuSVAK5nMeRz39d85c0JYRyb8fB5lCzWBqc2lprFrlP2u8Fq3iaHcngj6bF-WGVl_djq5UMrjJB8wPErRUJ-KW7JI1Joi/s320/Lillee+at+Reiley+wedding+082.JPG" /></a><br /><br />And then there was the cake!!!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6rpFyBnd_tWU2VATO3iyxQNQc0kZkEv686IDIBhJkPbNeD0z2UUFta7USsBFasTiSvbfHgIqmGSvD7_S91hsdnq9RxMGo1fRttDpURXYGMq_hpaGQ9U9jBrqAothxq8hvrkpbfLYltjBj/s1600/Lillee+at+Reiley+wedding+067.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485769720369600642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6rpFyBnd_tWU2VATO3iyxQNQc0kZkEv686IDIBhJkPbNeD0z2UUFta7USsBFasTiSvbfHgIqmGSvD7_S91hsdnq9RxMGo1fRttDpURXYGMq_hpaGQ9U9jBrqAothxq8hvrkpbfLYltjBj/s320/Lillee+at+Reiley+wedding+067.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCrYRj86M35hy8uzPm35YRGqEQBL_2ccezra5W4lK6MUdu7YnOUdi_goCpG8q3NCSAIH3UI5B0A2VC2BxWQDc24sCa5GFAN9uhtE6y1_Zk_QkE-pH4aBYIt-l6HjDIg7ogWyCmZmFUEOd3/s1600/Lillee+at+Reiley+wedding+068.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485769736800045826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCrYRj86M35hy8uzPm35YRGqEQBL_2ccezra5W4lK6MUdu7YnOUdi_goCpG8q3NCSAIH3UI5B0A2VC2BxWQDc24sCa5GFAN9uhtE6y1_Zk_QkE-pH4aBYIt-l6HjDIg7ogWyCmZmFUEOd3/s320/Lillee+at+Reiley+wedding+068.JPG" /></a><br /><br />And I'm sure, by the look on Grampy's face, that he's teasing her about her cake...probably something along the lines of, "You can't eat ALL of that by yourself, can you?"<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0iu-548eiRsWQzQhUUKlbLW7B-q0KccZ3qNCmle7D0nQyVC4ov7BKnraFnK3t9-tMiaI_Lj1cgKcJ9SGufb9LOR5vIHx8JE583Fpqp5Us3_5xqfyvtX3ImNAY5H7yd9kzy-brDJI7AiEa/s1600/IMG_3358.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485769209874269762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0iu-548eiRsWQzQhUUKlbLW7B-q0KccZ3qNCmle7D0nQyVC4ov7BKnraFnK3t9-tMiaI_Lj1cgKcJ9SGufb9LOR5vIHx8JE583Fpqp5Us3_5xqfyvtX3ImNAY5H7yd9kzy-brDJI7AiEa/s320/IMG_3358.JPG" /></a><br /><div><br />Lillee watching the bride and groom dance and wanting to be dancing<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXNuPQfImiSIZbaBri0c2DX3s9SlPHHYWM1ooYLqwJt2ohxrGS-Zy_4E5LuwepEoEwCSK56IaXI91iL67r_VwBG0yHuJV5DHGsMwC9Ts9FKuBLIOO6ugpJKXeiWWE3QhyrPDygWY3KRiH7/s1600/Lillee+at+Reiley+wedding+060.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485769712583265010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXNuPQfImiSIZbaBri0c2DX3s9SlPHHYWM1ooYLqwJt2ohxrGS-Zy_4E5LuwepEoEwCSK56IaXI91iL67r_VwBG0yHuJV5DHGsMwC9Ts9FKuBLIOO6ugpJKXeiWWE3QhyrPDygWY3KRiH7/s320/Lillee+at+Reiley+wedding+060.JPG" /></a><br /><br />So they indulged her and invited the ring bearer to join in.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpnLZMi2_oDOCltJaBVkMc4-4DIx4FSeQ79pIKoYdJdGXoO5fkOlP6GBz4Vbv45ucw9VYu2Khu1K6rEeSsF1CgGnpO-NfGHotwnjcDZqnXHH-Wv7YvobswgZMyaiUCHEs-S2A-nNDSC0T1/s1600/IMG_3365.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485769711795255346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpnLZMi2_oDOCltJaBVkMc4-4DIx4FSeQ79pIKoYdJdGXoO5fkOlP6GBz4Vbv45ucw9VYu2Khu1K6rEeSsF1CgGnpO-NfGHotwnjcDZqnXHH-Wv7YvobswgZMyaiUCHEs-S2A-nNDSC0T1/s320/IMG_3365.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><br />Lillee and I with her special rose that she carried around for 2 days.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjye26R3sfG0XJfaW4tQy2nWjFD6RopzZjwrBV6Gs4fN5AVvXKAeNGjNNSJkxRImqF8Smz7NzDNMfWq5s5enokZuq5xFxoMNp9LoDnQpZvnVdt-PwINQ4CEfkwy9jH9OubYmSP-gbgCAHyl/s1600/IMG_3355.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485769201815241170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjye26R3sfG0XJfaW4tQy2nWjFD6RopzZjwrBV6Gs4fN5AVvXKAeNGjNNSJkxRImqF8Smz7NzDNMfWq5s5enokZuq5xFxoMNp9LoDnQpZvnVdt-PwINQ4CEfkwy9jH9OubYmSP-gbgCAHyl/s320/IMG_3355.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Lillee and Debbie<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhyphenhyphen75Kaqmh5FxRbiyh5_dN0vu-ibiklUsYM8fCJMyaJdqmzrHDT0ZwYYWD8pGQM1cN9QuVS1n_oTgeJ4_ev5jv-YVE7fSijJl4UGOpAYv9JXJhL4Jb1qIBLjJdOjfv87CutTc9CbDp44hh/s1600/IMG_3351.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485769187257664658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhyphenhyphen75Kaqmh5FxRbiyh5_dN0vu-ibiklUsYM8fCJMyaJdqmzrHDT0ZwYYWD8pGQM1cN9QuVS1n_oTgeJ4_ev5jv-YVE7fSijJl4UGOpAYv9JXJhL4Jb1qIBLjJdOjfv87CutTc9CbDp44hh/s320/IMG_3351.JPG" /></a><br /><div><br />These are the girls that Lillee had over for her <em>Girl Party</em> a couple weeks ago. This group of girls are so cute together. They're all in Sunday school together (CTR 5) and they have such a good time but church class is structured for learning and there is no play time. So I felt the girls needed some play time. They came over for snow cones, cupcakes, playtime and bracelet making.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTLYxpPXamv_lrD1O5edXbw7NX3p2hVOEwU_OMWH4Spg2afB6Azd98SQJLESbBnFCEq8Tbce_PUufDz399xsQNA3qSgP773MCtBGlBaTrWlU_htDObZgoBeZmOuBGLbTDoTbRZdMUsv_Lv/s1600/IMG_0930.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485769167474574066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTLYxpPXamv_lrD1O5edXbw7NX3p2hVOEwU_OMWH4Spg2afB6Azd98SQJLESbBnFCEq8Tbce_PUufDz399xsQNA3qSgP773MCtBGlBaTrWlU_htDObZgoBeZmOuBGLbTDoTbRZdMUsv_Lv/s320/IMG_0930.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Just a cute Chase picture.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPbi1BxRixyFf-TwpQ1ooAoxLO8I03512W6_mPErmkABhDduqXUWa6W_5yUcarJqJ2DcMP_QrGx1jRpOpmAmBa8bp17FY_PqXI5-tpiP1JvZGcb3mDIP81uQk2WtBcX8Ok_Xzp6CfT_AP5/s1600/IMG_0896.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485767347863449058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPbi1BxRixyFf-TwpQ1ooAoxLO8I03512W6_mPErmkABhDduqXUWa6W_5yUcarJqJ2DcMP_QrGx1jRpOpmAmBa8bp17FY_PqXI5-tpiP1JvZGcb3mDIP81uQk2WtBcX8Ok_Xzp6CfT_AP5/s320/IMG_0896.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Another cute Chase picture.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYQn37v1aiTeKGqjOHxWmhbxu72sQR9sV1AatQtWNFXqND41ve2ZhozTZnzTw8biDFSNG2_DUOgFlLJSGPzQfIYBHG9VpnDRWs-zzXp1nGkRjU-BFUJMnex2-_gPSAevMkZ4eFNAgj6bg-/s1600/IMG_0788.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485767339876684322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYQn37v1aiTeKGqjOHxWmhbxu72sQR9sV1AatQtWNFXqND41ve2ZhozTZnzTw8biDFSNG2_DUOgFlLJSGPzQfIYBHG9VpnDRWs-zzXp1nGkRjU-BFUJMnex2-_gPSAevMkZ4eFNAgj6bg-/s320/IMG_0788.JPG" /></a><br /><br />And another cute Chase picture.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_5evEPxk_vgVIg2TF4fP_F21cCm_uSqzn2ehyphenhyphen1b4pQKCCKGrx9D4u4qxvFkYXEt4haWHtGE-qd0y9l7eoyBlrOTtZEIjKoMtKEsnZNxo8UQSyJtTaVUGTdsUCPzdcnsJsA6R8SGzKwvAD/s1600/IMG_0786.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485767335449324498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_5evEPxk_vgVIg2TF4fP_F21cCm_uSqzn2ehyphenhyphen1b4pQKCCKGrx9D4u4qxvFkYXEt4haWHtGE-qd0y9l7eoyBlrOTtZEIjKoMtKEsnZNxo8UQSyJtTaVUGTdsUCPzdcnsJsA6R8SGzKwvAD/s320/IMG_0786.JPG" /></a><br />My cute kids with awesome blue eyes.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvbqvoQfvx7MpoQcayX4OmuakM6FTihyphenhyphen2fVsqSFKG7p_9KN3dEfP-t51cFsA-x0zXyVrzKgu6ovC8QdHvBMEDvzYsb_WoLSEYLqJrOicfP4FhFY4zch_UM7DJLH_-h48eq7PpywMBt1EAv/s1600/IMG_0785.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485767331247804466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvbqvoQfvx7MpoQcayX4OmuakM6FTihyphenhyphen2fVsqSFKG7p_9KN3dEfP-t51cFsA-x0zXyVrzKgu6ovC8QdHvBMEDvzYsb_WoLSEYLqJrOicfP4FhFY4zch_UM7DJLH_-h48eq7PpywMBt1EAv/s320/IMG_0785.JPG" /></a><br /><br />A favorite one of Lillee.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLioYOWASloE5lSEGMSbAukknYb4hK-AwCTXTCiUUiseAMJGqZ0nheyGvW9EmM1ulKsfoUTG9hyuoiQAcpaTLAfxIca8SvEH-5qIzyBuYypWB-24E3I8uAWkeVH7poq9hP-o7myrAu5VGL/s1600/IMG_0776.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485767322648473250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLioYOWASloE5lSEGMSbAukknYb4hK-AwCTXTCiUUiseAMJGqZ0nheyGvW9EmM1ulKsfoUTG9hyuoiQAcpaTLAfxIca8SvEH-5qIzyBuYypWB-24E3I8uAWkeVH7poq9hP-o7myrAu5VGL/s320/IMG_0776.JPG" /></a> </div><div> </div><div><br />I made Al a father's day tie from this picture of all the kids.</div><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU_m_KfFxChtPyWvi2qcdbadKHRxkWAg11gvj-vG2e0nHTdiBcDCStTLjXdNRykgzolPPMVDX4q1-fVm4ewhUphIvKAV-saN3C1WAgjgyx1v0vF03Qyo_B1NP3wpg6GnYLcVyRUWBPwfnp/s1600/044.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 318px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485773337820306914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU_m_KfFxChtPyWvi2qcdbadKHRxkWAg11gvj-vG2e0nHTdiBcDCStTLjXdNRykgzolPPMVDX4q1-fVm4ewhUphIvKAV-saN3C1WAgjgyx1v0vF03Qyo_B1NP3wpg6GnYLcVyRUWBPwfnp/s320/044.JPG" /></a>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17038055983230810436noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116118503755600657.post-36362979004828031962010-06-18T08:27:00.004-04:002010-06-18T09:11:42.930-04:00A bee visitI visited the bees yesterday and they're doing so well! The hive body has 10 frames in it---5 from the original nuc and 5 empty, foundationless frames that I put in. I'm being a bit of a beekeeping rebel and not using foundation in my frames and the girls are doing very well with them. Here are some photos of their progress in the last 2 weeks.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE-0VQ8i43rBKq-RmSqdPSTgpcoT8XrpYxvVykVtOj4Xsgmvya25pMWJWlPwSgcbr-d4D0_1hNhhFN7iqzoNHHgsJDabJaTPTuGfkYyWbjygbELzBabCvxht57b_qfURdFulvZ9gtphm4X/s1600/Bees+015.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484091310014946242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE-0VQ8i43rBKq-RmSqdPSTgpcoT8XrpYxvVykVtOj4Xsgmvya25pMWJWlPwSgcbr-d4D0_1hNhhFN7iqzoNHHgsJDabJaTPTuGfkYyWbjygbELzBabCvxht57b_qfURdFulvZ9gtphm4X/s320/Bees+015.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyYER-6XoLok33KfueuAtaxEJuUg3u1igStcIiPO1FbEvU6cbwXAiKMsmy9soU5zzsW8NgSc8Ew57zEZD4X6hdZgh-6WoTt1xhlVZCwAUJ-SWSgEfpqadAr0uU1RV1DvvKih2FrtpNS3-z/s1600/Bees+014.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484091302250371506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyYER-6XoLok33KfueuAtaxEJuUg3u1igStcIiPO1FbEvU6cbwXAiKMsmy9soU5zzsW8NgSc8Ew57zEZD4X6hdZgh-6WoTt1xhlVZCwAUJ-SWSgEfpqadAr0uU1RV1DvvKih2FrtpNS3-z/s320/Bees+014.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSFu_yXuGl7SC07h5D_C2hqucevgvKLq3A5PU7g6SicXAEkWlArmcbupVSe4su0dYjW0E4eW9MxfF0KK3gxPt8KOBvQEcY8jNKK1uo5zRSuwa_0OzaymRrwEHNfrP2aTGLjf05pjTZF8bJ/s1600/Bees+013.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484091298484215330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSFu_yXuGl7SC07h5D_C2hqucevgvKLq3A5PU7g6SicXAEkWlArmcbupVSe4su0dYjW0E4eW9MxfF0KK3gxPt8KOBvQEcY8jNKK1uo5zRSuwa_0OzaymRrwEHNfrP2aTGLjf05pjTZF8bJ/s320/Bees+013.JPG" /></a> </div><div>These 1st three photos are all the same frame. You can see that the bees have almost completely drawn the comb to the inside edge of the frame. What you have here are cells for the queen to lay eggs and then all those worker bees are feeding the eggs with honey (carbs) and pollen (protein). The capped cells have brood in them that are in the later stages of development, the open cells may have an egg or larva or be empty. They can also contain honey for feeding the brood and workers.<br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu4ih2rADisu5vSVbCcq5Br-_b_T9w_7mNelONKSYA-3xcrAdLKHeTTO0xU2D9x1c3Ykmxaa-aBUpSraC8G7hFGu93oxkOGx6GEJuhk8BpTIenH_CnqkMqcUpUN8i3A3a8BbZ_VGjRTf1a/s1600/Bees+012.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484091290816687522" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu4ih2rADisu5vSVbCcq5Br-_b_T9w_7mNelONKSYA-3xcrAdLKHeTTO0xU2D9x1c3Ykmxaa-aBUpSraC8G7hFGu93oxkOGx6GEJuhk8BpTIenH_CnqkMqcUpUN8i3A3a8BbZ_VGjRTf1a/s320/Bees+012.JPG" /></a><br />An overhead shot into the hive.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBJs4_Za26AX13VSD1M_qb7kqxXSTsFsUCGOUGZEa9WjjlG-kjh_ga8ClIAMJclK5WTgDN_ZuFdHpg7W6g1rSwNKwFepeCBdUCp6gDp-PUJg_m7A5okDZcmo8eOADtBLRnZEWEtlPpdH1x/s1600/Bees+011.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484091279034111570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBJs4_Za26AX13VSD1M_qb7kqxXSTsFsUCGOUGZEa9WjjlG-kjh_ga8ClIAMJclK5WTgDN_ZuFdHpg7W6g1rSwNKwFepeCBdUCp6gDp-PUJg_m7A5okDZcmo8eOADtBLRnZEWEtlPpdH1x/s320/Bees+011.JPG" /></a><br />Here is a picture of some wavy comb, but you can see that it still fits within the frame. Because these frames do not have foundation, the bees have nothing to guide their comb building other than them being bees and knowing what they're doing instinctively.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnhsIa_KoVYarSOrqr6Jba6p4b4JKiyffb6FzztWH8x_zu8OCsciZa9IQEQsROiUAXDFjwEvC0hYyLmU1sSlKs5mf1OMGDj4re-21DiUBfzfmqZ5D7A8Do3b96XM3b6MCtUYdGlHgrPomB/s1600/Bees+010.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484090868873144978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnhsIa_KoVYarSOrqr6Jba6p4b4JKiyffb6FzztWH8x_zu8OCsciZa9IQEQsROiUAXDFjwEvC0hYyLmU1sSlKs5mf1OMGDj4re-21DiUBfzfmqZ5D7A8Do3b96XM3b6MCtUYdGlHgrPomB/s320/Bees+010.JPG" /></a> </div><div>A different view of the wavy comb.<br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicplVt3YGS71YV-8Hw8ypR19UxlVSVCE-9NgjrEwIaalr2gkwkmCwTAB3MwdkkK3EDb01kCAbF7Pim5JS2-jDdKr4HS0jAbn5bMKOKCaYmV0NQWiCqjsH9CZQ63n1-rBP_xYhyphenhyphenCHvTOXZf/s1600/Bees+008.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484090859963504546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicplVt3YGS71YV-8Hw8ypR19UxlVSVCE-9NgjrEwIaalr2gkwkmCwTAB3MwdkkK3EDb01kCAbF7Pim5JS2-jDdKr4HS0jAbn5bMKOKCaYmV0NQWiCqjsH9CZQ63n1-rBP_xYhyphenhyphenCHvTOXZf/s320/Bees+008.JPG" /></a><br />And yet a different view of the wavy comb. you can see they're attaching it to the sides toward the top. Being attached will help stabilize the comb during extraction (although this frames won't be used for honey extraction, they're for brood rearing.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2YkmeUsSqvdLHqY9zar-dkEYr4eQ3q3PaW5mXbeimZXK7Wi34z8k6ensOOW9U2Sj5AxDPLBUPxgz-yOtPwyScBgofXr3yoC1Mke4RlIdsuRTsAwNXE3ufm9UctUDHV0KcxNvOntvMg9k5/s1600/Bees+009.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484090856404487122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2YkmeUsSqvdLHqY9zar-dkEYr4eQ3q3PaW5mXbeimZXK7Wi34z8k6ensOOW9U2Sj5AxDPLBUPxgz-yOtPwyScBgofXr3yoC1Mke4RlIdsuRTsAwNXE3ufm9UctUDHV0KcxNvOntvMg9k5/s320/Bees+009.JPG" /></a><br />Another frame drawn out by the bees in the last 2 weeks.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHZpBWrNsghgkJ17IvIT1-heutYEdQ-PUHaTm2PkPBM0mW-4Ktlr2pTYvEuYcaKre9o8W8CW1PtbYzbv8KfOANaJif_1vCDi2XzHgPgMRFi1GSGHxm90L_3zZ5yAeLr4C48ymmG7MGYvr5/s1600/Bees+006.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484090847995396210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHZpBWrNsghgkJ17IvIT1-heutYEdQ-PUHaTm2PkPBM0mW-4Ktlr2pTYvEuYcaKre9o8W8CW1PtbYzbv8KfOANaJif_1vCDi2XzHgPgMRFi1GSGHxm90L_3zZ5yAeLr4C48ymmG7MGYvr5/s320/Bees+006.JPG" /></a><br />Another frame of drawn comb, not as far along as the others, but getting there.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs_xdcUpUdNF6C3gf8-xJ8jf73Wf7nEbZ7BmM2ng_KBkd4p_IpUXtdlVj_7tA22591G-0ny4GBEZ-HikgTlHgD-qxat1ltPfulR-0RoS93bMoUh8YniaBxI12dW5Br6SxMiQFrWVYqNHb7/s1600/Bees+005.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484090831120704834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs_xdcUpUdNF6C3gf8-xJ8jf73Wf7nEbZ7BmM2ng_KBkd4p_IpUXtdlVj_7tA22591G-0ny4GBEZ-HikgTlHgD-qxat1ltPfulR-0RoS93bMoUh8YniaBxI12dW5Br6SxMiQFrWVYqNHb7/s320/Bees+005.JPG" /></a><br />A shot from the top of the hive. The dark frames are the ones that came with the nuc. The lighter frames are the empty frames I originally added to the hive. In the three weeks that the bees have been in the hive they've drawn out 4 of the 5 empty frames and raised a buch of new bees.</div><div> </div><div>During my visit, I took out the empty frame on the far left of the above picture and moved it to the center, where the bees like to work. I also removed two of the drawn frames in the middle and placed them in another hive body that sits on top of this hive body in hopes that the bees will finish drawing the three empty frames in the lower hive body and move up to the 8 empty frames in the next hive body.</div><div> </div><div>Fun, fun, fun!!!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17038055983230810436noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116118503755600657.post-47804516250153447642010-06-15T19:41:00.005-04:002010-06-15T20:12:01.186-04:00Lillee's WeddingI would have never thought that I would hear my 5 year old planning every detail of her wedding, but it has happened!<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgChBRVO3DeTUWBgnvhAsSqRaR5dE87ojjiE6yKAQPmEC273cesfp3_rxYl9fJhGQe2ZSgrJf9FzO7oPOoiIMyEcT_muPTbbw7Iz24r_u5zOs6NpcF-09e_D-Szfi2SPOGHfPI-JKhmuH_x/s1600/Lillee+thinking.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 115px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483156474071826562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgChBRVO3DeTUWBgnvhAsSqRaR5dE87ojjiE6yKAQPmEC273cesfp3_rxYl9fJhGQe2ZSgrJf9FzO7oPOoiIMyEcT_muPTbbw7Iz24r_u5zOs6NpcF-09e_D-Szfi2SPOGHfPI-JKhmuH_x/s320/Lillee+thinking.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br />Lillee has been asked to be a flower girl this coming Saturday and as it gets closer and we fuss over her dress, her hair clip, how her hair will be put up, her shoes, etc then she's getting excited about all the hoopla. So tonight she announces, "I want Grandma Ros, Grandma (Jane), Mamaw and Mommy to be flower girls at my wedding." Can you picture it?!?!<br /><br /><br />So that's where the planning began and I had to furiously take notes because I did not want to miss a word of this future soiree. Lillee was so animated, talking non-stop (this is nothing new for Lillee), and planning every single little detail! She was seriously excited and completely serious about it all.<br /><br /><br />The flower girls (the above mentioned ladies) will make crowns, they can be all different colors and we'll draw them with pencils or paints and cut them (I love that this is how my daughter thinks of crowns). And then Lillee said she would tell all of us to buy pretty shoes and pretty socks (because G'ma Jane just bought her pretty sandals and socks for her flower girl dress). And our dresses would be brown, Lillee's newest favorite color, with smiley faces all over them.<br /><br /><br />Lillee really hopes G'ma Ros doesn't have to work that day. G'ma Jane promised Lillee that G'ma Ros would not be working that day LOL For those of you who do not G'ma Ros, that is Jane's mother. I won't reveal her age, but I will say...she is Jane's mother, you can figure out the math, generally.<br /><br /><br />Then Lillee continues her planning...."When I get big, I'll buy a sewing machine and I'll sew big, giant roses to go on your (the flower girls') heads and all of your head will be covered, except your eyes and mouth. And I'll make the fabric go all the way to your feet so your legs are together like the stem and your arms will be leaves, sticking out like this (she says as she throws her arms out to the side). Your face will be all yellow, except your eyes and mouth, and your head can be any color you want."<br /><br /><br />I couldn't write any more without bursting out in laughter and Lillee does not take well to being laughed at. So I told her what a wonderful idea it all was and she needed to get to bed. I know she's in there right now with a million plans running through her mind and she can't wait til morning to jumped from her bed to tell me all her plans. She's already scheduled for us to start making crowns in the morning :)<br /><br /><br />I love her! For all she drives me crazy, she is an amazing girl, such a nurturer, such a mother, so intune to the Spirit. I can't wait to see her grown, married with children, and planning every detail of everyone's lives. She's my <em>Mini Me</em>.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGaIX4921Ytyr2M54__r-Q1Oa6F2JSYQ87TMrlLOOycm5r8GRWBu6koTuftg5xRc7ERSbT85vH-tyyW7eygsjRZ9gt2At9Coj85w12J8lel5yhNlhldFtMngcBWTs7w6eHLN6Wstnvan0X/s1600/Lillee.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 127px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483156479190654162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGaIX4921Ytyr2M54__r-Q1Oa6F2JSYQ87TMrlLOOycm5r8GRWBu6koTuftg5xRc7ERSbT85vH-tyyW7eygsjRZ9gt2At9Coj85w12J8lel5yhNlhldFtMngcBWTs7w6eHLN6Wstnvan0X/s320/Lillee.jpg" /></a>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17038055983230810436noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116118503755600657.post-59071658028702187312010-06-11T20:01:00.006-04:002010-06-11T20:25:19.028-04:00Drive-by Blog PostingI'm out of time, yet again. But I know if I don't share what I have, I won't remember to do it later. So here is the quick and dirty version:<br /><br />We avoided another visit to the ER, but barely. I broke my toe last Friday night. I was walking along and somehow kicked the corner of the sofa...wanna see?<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCkJfoqDaJw_BO89_hf2ai7ZHEg9rGcG4bCjirlaoisF0PwIzT7mwXbyihZK6zVBRE9INRnrtgZjVrQO6SW3qzeWVc7UAkggSYMNwhBHwedaK8PKfHyKsNgD-LbVOd5SF2p2xxJ9chJmr7/s1600/002.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481672071194980098" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCkJfoqDaJw_BO89_hf2ai7ZHEg9rGcG4bCjirlaoisF0PwIzT7mwXbyihZK6zVBRE9INRnrtgZjVrQO6SW3qzeWVc7UAkggSYMNwhBHwedaK8PKfHyKsNgD-LbVOd5SF2p2xxJ9chJmr7/s320/002.JPG" /></a><br /></div><div> </div><div>Connor is folding a basket of towels for me and as he spread a towel on the table, he asked Chase is he wanted to help. This is Chase's way of offering a helping hand. This is typical in everything he does!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJNQ6jN4cf612OsMfxd_JHovV2KQ3tboh6rM4ke0SwO8caEtBAwJnQBLmRucE0S5Voiq6fKp7xsl93toMeq3P0DoIVfq0N_L-nn2Sigu0jZ5N6Y6dO7Sg8p55e2MYY4rJAB-c3HcLXPmy5/s1600/033.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481672103954991218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJNQ6jN4cf612OsMfxd_JHovV2KQ3tboh6rM4ke0SwO8caEtBAwJnQBLmRucE0S5Voiq6fKp7xsl93toMeq3P0DoIVfq0N_L-nn2Sigu0jZ5N6Y6dO7Sg8p55e2MYY4rJAB-c3HcLXPmy5/s320/033.JPG" /></a> </div><div> </div><div>We had a lovely afternoon flying kites. The kids were exhausted! This is our local sledding hill, you've probably seen it before while covered in snow.<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2zOJWyMHy_wMcgtV2mnrTjTafEAsqabyY4iIdRnqvLZViToeVU1DHld_8Ueu4i_qq-CAsjgkarJrBsv8y9T0MEuEHycozLVA_BS53dDV2n8ECw7D4ZIZ3CboQFGi9vl8HGISIU97kfYIW/s1600/023.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481672097358096770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2zOJWyMHy_wMcgtV2mnrTjTafEAsqabyY4iIdRnqvLZViToeVU1DHld_8Ueu4i_qq-CAsjgkarJrBsv8y9T0MEuEHycozLVA_BS53dDV2n8ECw7D4ZIZ3CboQFGi9vl8HGISIU97kfYIW/s320/023.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpotNeBdPzXHjyvkW5qj5G9-GszjYQJpZ4K9LIh57_uwHoYVaayU9IyRoOJMAftKM7can3h0NMFjU24JqoZ1wmvuOaFv3R_npxJrbjYXsvkTJngo5truzGxL6pg5SU1IzDI_HrG9z0iI2c/s1600/011.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481672089192078242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpotNeBdPzXHjyvkW5qj5G9-GszjYQJpZ4K9LIh57_uwHoYVaayU9IyRoOJMAftKM7can3h0NMFjU24JqoZ1wmvuOaFv3R_npxJrbjYXsvkTJngo5truzGxL6pg5SU1IzDI_HrG9z0iI2c/s320/011.JPG" /></a><br /></div><div><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Lillee</span> is going to be our scientist, or more specifically our entomologist. She loves all things bugs, worms, creepy and crawly. Here, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Lillee</span> has a lightning bugs (aka Firefly). She caught it the night before and put it in her bug specimen jar. In the morning, she wanted to let it go, but the lid flopped down on his rear section and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">mushed</span> his light. She bandaged him with scotch tape. It took my a good 5 minutes to try to gently unwind the tape so as to not damage the poor guy any further.<br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfyQYWtUpShgkpTzMRFyk9mjiEqpNGeZv-jPXieSe97BVGu1INfWSIDP5d3sKhyphenhyphenfBYztvsoKk8XW0TAU0qC3YZ5r7uoab0i2_j3uXPbsY6FwK3N2ws31OValYH4RlTXKEqIMDKUJqiPbUM/s1600/006.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481672081010853586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfyQYWtUpShgkpTzMRFyk9mjiEqpNGeZv-jPXieSe97BVGu1INfWSIDP5d3sKhyphenhyphenfBYztvsoKk8XW0TAU0qC3YZ5r7uoab0i2_j3uXPbsY6FwK3N2ws31OValYH4RlTXKEqIMDKUJqiPbUM/s320/006.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div></div><div></div><div>Today, I saw on a local message board that a guy we know had some bees in his shed and he wanted to know how to get rid of them without poisoning them. So I called him up and offered my beekeeping knowledge :) I headed over to diagnose the situation. When I arrived, I found the bees had burrowed into a piece of fiberglass insulation. Long story short, bumble bees make a hive in the ground, not like honey bees, and they substituted the fiberglass in place of dirt. I was able to get them all out of his shed and I felt like the hero beekeeper! Here is a picture of their hive.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDVk6V98__O2C-C74eCnXkknGL2VqrY_h6VBhy_QSbeO9GK2ycW9hroxIVxMdCI7S_pe31xZnVtCgHtqDFgIvF5RWxWPxZM1t65eBSHat4AIaEs8To0AihmoYT6eWQXXQq-v1GMCUfuS6o/s1600/047.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481672583172902514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDVk6V98__O2C-C74eCnXkknGL2VqrY_h6VBhy_QSbeO9GK2ycW9hroxIVxMdCI7S_pe31xZnVtCgHtqDFgIvF5RWxWPxZM1t65eBSHat4AIaEs8To0AihmoYT6eWQXXQq-v1GMCUfuS6o/s320/047.JPG" /></a><br /></div><div>These two boys have the most amazing bond. Connor was sleeping on the sofa one morning and when Chase saw him, he ran across the room, threw his head upon Connor's back and gave him the biggest hug saying, "<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Nonnor</span>, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Nonnor</span>, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">Nonnor</span>!" Connor is so patient and sweet to Chase, it's just wonderful to see my boys love one another so much.</div><div> </div></div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH-iayYgaqbGet99KvXCEZe_3JWddC1b_2Ee0qJv-oPkUwvsJOMQM0f-h4y2pttGKmzkQirQCtdVYf_w1s9V6eLDoUiKRQUanczYNYYKbbM41pA5_wByJoGAO5R9nSE1_G6h8mBOHbYb4w/s1600/045.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481672564275533218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH-iayYgaqbGet99KvXCEZe_3JWddC1b_2Ee0qJv-oPkUwvsJOMQM0f-h4y2pttGKmzkQirQCtdVYf_w1s9V6eLDoUiKRQUanczYNYYKbbM41pA5_wByJoGAO5R9nSE1_G6h8mBOHbYb4w/s320/045.JPG" /></a><br /></div><div>My 4 kiddos! Aren't they adorable :) <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Lillee</span> (5), Chase (18 months), Isabel (4), Connor (7)<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhbbOgFBbtP-Wl9OS6y2QuHPKfYHb_6qvZEU8IZTdYaxnAZ0uRIfrnyWlSP6UyBUVp-Mtl0WaXE6LlVhEhX9Dbvvk6zzOh0MCFAhJR56GsfKVjfpsMUC62ryA8PTAV7YZt5RXS4F1DpOJn/s1600/044.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481672558407706082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhbbOgFBbtP-Wl9OS6y2QuHPKfYHb_6qvZEU8IZTdYaxnAZ0uRIfrnyWlSP6UyBUVp-Mtl0WaXE6LlVhEhX9Dbvvk6zzOh0MCFAhJR56GsfKVjfpsMUC62ryA8PTAV7YZt5RXS4F1DpOJn/s320/044.JPG" /></a><br /></div><div>For those of you who have seen our pictures over the years...do you remember the picture of Connor on the floor with the eggs? here's Chase's version, with grapes :)<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCvEVGq58d30-tWaF_OwBmuZ40t19SHVZ73andUAtwnesnCQhXop4ojC65x81MyrX_YW0YiHTFizVQ8ZBFkHG0OrRtlP9mr2ABYhS4R6RiP_jH5uR8d_oRz-VJ95M9C5J4AEDhlyscOW7U/s1600/041.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481672549750506114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCvEVGq58d30-tWaF_OwBmuZ40t19SHVZ73andUAtwnesnCQhXop4ojC65x81MyrX_YW0YiHTFizVQ8ZBFkHG0OrRtlP9mr2ABYhS4R6RiP_jH5uR8d_oRz-VJ95M9C5J4AEDhlyscOW7U/s320/041.JPG" /></a> </div><div> </div><div>We're been super busy, but we're all well and enjoying life! We started our summer reading scripture challenge and the kids are encouraged to read some church history as we're planning our trip to Palmyra and Pageant next month! A busy summer ahead, full of exciting adventures and lots of time with family. Fencing class ends next week and swimming classes start the next week. Violin and piano are continuing sporadically through the summer as we're around. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">Lillee</span> will be a flower girl in a wedding next weekend and the list just continues. We may need to take some time off in August to have a break from our summer!</div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17038055983230810436noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116118503755600657.post-54004196708521486212010-06-03T14:55:00.003-04:002010-06-03T15:05:53.304-04:00There's nothing finer than fresh picked berriesI love this time of year...well, except for the heat and the humidity, I could do without those. But I could never do without the wonderful berries that start coming in this time of year. We made our first trip this year to our favorite orchard for some strawberry picking. The kids love it, strawberries are a favorite in our family and Chase is no exception, he could eat them all the time.<br /><br />Chase went picking with us last year but was too small to come out of the sling. This year he had a blast!<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNgFAB2QKjs_gpIau8oaD2n-LBee_cWi3rQQbEGq-ENlimt1xxgBXL-476KiNn10vqoI5-ZB11UuyNtAqFOQ7VULs2qB9f16RXsyVNL9mj3CPGONqeifYQCglnSqedkbnDFAnEh7fIKuXy/s1600/016.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478624434300269298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNgFAB2QKjs_gpIau8oaD2n-LBee_cWi3rQQbEGq-ENlimt1xxgBXL-476KiNn10vqoI5-ZB11UuyNtAqFOQ7VULs2qB9f16RXsyVNL9mj3CPGONqeifYQCglnSqedkbnDFAnEh7fIKuXy/s320/016.JPG" /></a><br />He was fascinated with the irrigation system and the hay.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJdVKSItrxWm2VV5B1pLIafXf9PBp5oStAjvEzzCtBAE2XUK302ZdLmTLkB-CMACePeh7efzfUI5PCFV8ZCedP27eBAV89sJUDR4iFq800meY3HkRlofySV-6FVptWf0bsMVgqyZiQjFtg/s1600/014.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478624449657494098" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJdVKSItrxWm2VV5B1pLIafXf9PBp5oStAjvEzzCtBAE2XUK302ZdLmTLkB-CMACePeh7efzfUI5PCFV8ZCedP27eBAV89sJUDR4iFq800meY3HkRlofySV-6FVptWf0bsMVgqyZiQjFtg/s320/014.JPG" /></a><br />Connor didn't want me to get a picture of his strawberry juice covered mouth.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhln6Yc11BXRwA3uIMgxHu8-nDAC9mHBM-iQyV_8ndVFTaRwS5OP8QMPW-zp3UQD2IvNEa1kl6Wv5ByUz6W7b87yj4g1l2WwN5Yzun2mxBu2xiK7Rb2XuUwtRRe_7qDHkDjtY8Z63bcq7wF/s1600/011.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478624438604253458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhln6Yc11BXRwA3uIMgxHu8-nDAC9mHBM-iQyV_8ndVFTaRwS5OP8QMPW-zp3UQD2IvNEa1kl6Wv5ByUz6W7b87yj4g1l2WwN5Yzun2mxBu2xiK7Rb2XuUwtRRe_7qDHkDjtY8Z63bcq7wF/s320/011.JPG" /></a><br />Lillee, Connor & Isabel were great pickers...Isabel was the most productive. Connor and Lillee ate most of what they picked.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Fjq6RE8wMuD__Ka-URVm3b4W9WvdPl1Jx-3bZDuxVov5NykKHZ749juJSslYGCh7o0YhCATFmjV9OaXu1Egk5pxz1O2kC2ElgtGj8sDSvST6hiG4e08numGfJl2jWBtH9aglAfLmeRlX/s1600/019.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478624458182148818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Fjq6RE8wMuD__Ka-URVm3b4W9WvdPl1Jx-3bZDuxVov5NykKHZ749juJSslYGCh7o0YhCATFmjV9OaXu1Egk5pxz1O2kC2ElgtGj8sDSvST6hiG4e08numGfJl2jWBtH9aglAfLmeRlX/s320/019.JPG" /></a> </div><div>We did not leave with many strawberries, I couldn't keep the kids out of them. This is not a picture of them putting strawberries in, they're removing them!<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4LzZV5HeVm_driEb5RPdBPBphd54DhSCVwD1GeV_OHaan2n_fLQMyUfzR0MKzoXcMBoOEpl3mUeE8q1eWjqYedY010lHX1Dbtgx-5RO5RM54aOUKM0l6uliqcbYeBKEp42lMZN4Eb06qp/s1600/021.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478624461669921218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4LzZV5HeVm_driEb5RPdBPBphd54DhSCVwD1GeV_OHaan2n_fLQMyUfzR0MKzoXcMBoOEpl3mUeE8q1eWjqYedY010lHX1Dbtgx-5RO5RM54aOUKM0l6uliqcbYeBKEp42lMZN4Eb06qp/s320/021.JPG" /></a> </div><div> </div><div>This is what happens on the way home, after a morning of hard work in the field.</div></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17038055983230810436noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116118503755600657.post-42644959497999183702010-05-31T12:15:00.003-04:002010-05-31T12:31:54.888-04:00What's another trip to the ER anywayIt's a holiday weekend and we had not been to the ER yet this week so why not make another visit to complete our 3 week streak.<br /><br />We went for a family bike ride last night when Isabel took a spill on her bike <em>right</em> in front of my bike. If her fall wasn't bad enough then I added insult to injury by running over her arm while she was sprawled on the pavement.<br /><br />She screamed and cried for a good 30 minutes until we were off the trail and in the car....and then she screamed some more. The only time she wasn't screaming was when Al started a movie in the car for her....then she just moaned and whimpered. So as you may have guessed, we headed to the ER. We're working on thier frequent visitor promotion---More visits, less stitches.<br /><br />After having x-rays we discovered her arm was not broken. WAHOOO!!!! She is badly bruised and extremely sore and the whimpering continues. I knew there was a problem when she wouldn't bend her arm to put her thumb in her mouth (Isabel is a SERIOUS thumb sucker). She can't move it to get dressed, open doors, lift herself onto a chair...it's very sad. Especially when she says every 5 minutes, "Too bad mommy rolled over my arm. Too bad we didn't stay home instead of riding bikes." She's not meaning to make me feel guilty but man, I do feel bad!<br /><br />I'm waiting for Social Services to give us a call, I'm sure we've triggered someone's interest with all our ER visits.Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17038055983230810436noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116118503755600657.post-85265682161778718212010-05-24T06:39:00.004-04:002010-05-24T07:41:21.219-04:00Phew...Moses Maze. CheckI'm glad to have last week DONE! Saturday was a fun and exciting day, but exhausting.<br /><br />We were up and out early Saturday morning to get down to the church to set up the <em>Moses Maze</em>. Our quarterly primary activity theme was "Scripture Heroes" and I chose Moses. We used <a href="http://www.theideadoor.com/">The Idea Door</a> as inspiration for the event and then each member of the primary presidency took a hero and created an activity. My maze was fairly complicated to set up so I arrived early to find the building was locked and the basketball players who are normally there <em>every</em> Saturday morning were not there <em>this</em> Saturday morning. While the kids and I waited outside the building a couple of teenagers came by and started playing tag with my kids. They seemed really nice and I was happy to have the kids occupied while I made some last minute notes for Moses (my father-in-law agreed to throw on some robes, carry a staff and say, "Let my people go").<br /><br />When the doors were finally open, I started grabbing bags and heading inside the gym to set up. Those teenagers didn't hesitate for a second, they grabbed bags and started carrying to. I began directing my family how to be helpful and those teenagers jumped right in, too. The girl was age 16 and named Kayla and her brother was 13 and even though he told me his name, I completely forgot it in the chaos. They are from Richmond and their parents were next door at the temple and the kids didn't have anything to do for 4 hours so they were happy to have a church building to go into.<br /><br />I started setting up by taping our burning bush to the wall, Connor and Lillee helped me paint it. At the burning bush, Moses is told to remove his shoes for he is standing on holy ground so all the kids take off their shoes and then were commanded to go to Pharaoh. I set up the table where Pharaoh was to rest for the day (he was a picture on an easel). After we visit with Pharaoh, we walk a few feet to begin the hall of plagues, Moses says, "Bring forth hail" and Kayla who is hiding behind a movable board, standing on a chair, with a bucket of mini marshmallows starts tossing them at the kids. After recovering from being pelted with marshmallows, Moses calls for the locusts which are really gummy bears that have been sandwiched between saran wrap on the floor (Kayla put this together! I handed her a roll of saran wrap and a huge bag of gummy bears and she made it happen). The kids walked across the <em>locusts</em> feeling them squish under their toes.<br /><br />We move on to a table where Moses turned water to blood (food coloring, of course). Then we moved onto the plague of darkness. I meant to make blindfolds, but ran out of time so I took a large piece of fleece from my fabric bucket and a pair of scissors with me to the church. I handed these to Kayla and she made blindfolds...she was amazing! I didn't have to explain, make a sample blindfold....nothing! She took the tools and made it happen. Once the kids were blindfolded, they held onto a rope and Moses led them through a maze.<br /><br />We went back to Pharaoh where he told us (the Israelites) to get out, he'd had enough. So the happy Israelites headed out of Egypt right into the Red Sea (a king sized blue bed sheet that Kayla and I held onto, rippling it to simulate water while Moses spoke). I split the kids into Israelites and Egyptians and lifted the sheet for the Israelites to go through. Once the Egyptians came through we pulled the sheet (water) down on them.<br /><br />I asked the Israelites if they were now a happy people since they were free and the Egyptians who were following them were gone. Of course, they were not happy...they were starving in the wilderness. So I made manna bread (sprouted wheat bread) and broke it into small pieces for the kids to try. I was surprised at how many kids actually liked it...it is just sprouted wheat, nothing else! No salt, sugar, honey, nothing!<br /><br />After having their manna bread I asked if they had everything they needed to survive the wilderness. Well, we needed one more thing. Moses slipped off behind the overflow curtain, a.k.a. Mt. Sinai, and came back with the ten commandments. I was impressed with my cardboard ten commandments. I painted in multiple layers to get a marbled rock effect and then painted the commandments using Hebrew (well, my Hebrew wasn't great and it was hard to do with a paint brush, but the one Jewish man that happened to be on hand at the Mormon church on a Saturday morning said it was passable Hebrew and if I took them to a synagogue no one would have a problem translating them....I felt accomplished).<br /><br />After the Israelites had a way to feed themselves and law to guide them then Moses sent them to the land of milk and honey....a table with vanilla ice cream (milk) and Honeycombs cereal (honey). While munching their milk and honey, we played <em>Name That Plague</em>. My amazing friend, Kathy, had all the plagues in jars from her days of teaching seminary.<br /><br />By the time we reached the land of milk and honey, Kayla had all the ice cream scooped for the kids. by the time they had finished eating she had the hail cleaned up and ready to throw again. She dumped the bloody water and had fresh food coloring ready to go, she stacked all the blindfolds and the rope for the darkness, had the sheet folded and ready to be water again and the ice cream bucket back in the freezer. She was amazing!<br /><br />I wasn't sure how I was going to do all of these things by myself, but I had yet another opportunity to see how Heavenly father always provides. Kayla was an angel sent to me this day! She was self-motivated, happy to help and a pleasure to be around. I kept telling her how wonderful she was and how grateful I was and she would smile and shrug it off as nothing, but it was HUGE. I could not have made it through one group of kids without her, much less 5 groups of kids (yes, we repeated the maze 5 times!!!). You see, Kayla and her brother weren't suppose to be there. Their parents had arranged for their older brother to pick them up and keep them for the day but plans fell through at the last minute so they got up at 6am on Saturday morning to drive 2 hours to Washington DC so their parents could go to the temple. And since they had gotten up so early, they threw on jeans and t-shirts and Kayla was not comfortable going to the temple visitor's center for the day in jeans and a t-shirt so they roamed around until they found the church building and stumbled onto my family stranded outside as I was thinking, "This is not a good start to the day." I was so wrong...it was a truly awesome day!<br /><br />I'll tell you about my bee adventure on Saturday in the next post.Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17038055983230810436noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116118503755600657.post-50929982144802082472010-05-21T22:53:00.004-04:002010-05-21T23:39:50.486-04:00Sailing on the Sultana<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnI1NzaFOgxlRCukUoAl1llkYhhyAnjURssaYcq_9q4RxQ2qemTeY7rz2clp1iTc1lCXbu1d-zN1V7lC5IFnFdP2f0yh1yLKWthyphenhyphen_givhDZwnKmFuvGfNYlGHjp6geC8trrjjTsbHpB96h/s1600/Sultana+002.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473923798472607874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnI1NzaFOgxlRCukUoAl1llkYhhyAnjURssaYcq_9q4RxQ2qemTeY7rz2clp1iTc1lCXbu1d-zN1V7lC5IFnFdP2f0yh1yLKWthyphenhyphen_givhDZwnKmFuvGfNYlGHjp6geC8trrjjTsbHpB96h/s320/Sultana+002.JPG" /></a> </div><div>This is the<a href="http://www.sultanaprojects.org/index.htm"> Sultana</a>, an almost exact replica of a British schooner that patrolled the North American coast just prior to the American Revolution. We sailed on her today. The weather was perfect for sailing! It was hot on the pavement, but once we were on the water there was a cool breeze. We were never hot, nor cold....it was truly perfect!<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyGzBwGz91xXR1LTMMRiSJzALBuIRnrmPw_NUY7TtFZtU9-ghFqLpF2ZyDAsGOk5oGPOtGOJ7tF9yXcMJ8x6HR8mR9Rg5kMFz4r7zenZHGLI7iBhk7s4igDAqU4bM2NwD_ZZrzziYRQxf3/s1600/Sultana+006.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473923808800213138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyGzBwGz91xXR1LTMMRiSJzALBuIRnrmPw_NUY7TtFZtU9-ghFqLpF2ZyDAsGOk5oGPOtGOJ7tF9yXcMJ8x6HR8mR9Rg5kMFz4r7zenZHGLI7iBhk7s4igDAqU4bM2NwD_ZZrzziYRQxf3/s320/Sultana+006.JPG" /></a><br />This is Captain Tonya giving the kids a life jacket demonstration. Connor is the little guy in the middle with the big hat.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb02F_es_luMGWfiH0tUT95KfzYfjdZVKczP2BfOlJyNGu5ZEp8enMdO5duKJjd6Lx_FzvIHTvSswtxibgTr1JgDBxfqpVWNUavGabzWQvPIZlDX6_QG2F-8ip5nVc7fZ64MeSSr89gAxT/s1600/Sultana+008.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473923813630441554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb02F_es_luMGWfiH0tUT95KfzYfjdZVKczP2BfOlJyNGu5ZEp8enMdO5duKJjd6Lx_FzvIHTvSswtxibgTr1JgDBxfqpVWNUavGabzWQvPIZlDX6_QG2F-8ip5nVc7fZ64MeSSr89gAxT/s320/Sultana+008.JPG" /></a><br />Eager kids, looking forward to helping out.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH5HjnXh_VCUMm5SZRXM8cc2DCfgPx0aniC3XYO7O6EnDsIdIHnEX0w6NOk-mRthsm9dzmKTPS2nmBjBIQgEH-Rr80oBuobGosdlM0F-PXFaqKsOiz0yQdcLLeZEVB-aJ4jkdHGcnu3vJ8/s1600/Sultana+017.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473923820915051682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH5HjnXh_VCUMm5SZRXM8cc2DCfgPx0aniC3XYO7O6EnDsIdIHnEX0w6NOk-mRthsm9dzmKTPS2nmBjBIQgEH-Rr80oBuobGosdlM0F-PXFaqKsOiz0yQdcLLeZEVB-aJ4jkdHGcnu3vJ8/s320/Sultana+017.JPG" /></a><br />This is Captain Tonya preparing the main sail to be hoisted.</div><div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRqEjm572A3P_p0NF2qNUtr3uAt6y8wOXwJrBYWcmSkQjb8qj2-7Kakb8tBuxxJB5K6vcfj1U6SLbFpbjZi-6Pxsru4etBSmTAJ341nUFxqXPPSCHUbTs6u1owmrEWdksn-oHXNz5FhxGp/s1600/Sultana+018.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473923826524168882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRqEjm572A3P_p0NF2qNUtr3uAt6y8wOXwJrBYWcmSkQjb8qj2-7Kakb8tBuxxJB5K6vcfj1U6SLbFpbjZi-6Pxsru4etBSmTAJ341nUFxqXPPSCHUbTs6u1owmrEWdksn-oHXNz5FhxGp/s320/Sultana+018.JPG" /></a> </div><div>This <em>is</em> a working ship so they put the able-bodied workers to work.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgROWGWvOxxSjbZKH13o3b80kaCE7LnVToXYDZD34xLT_a7HahHmeVMK4x-sze7NLMLxfiq5T0fo6auKhm3Ke4j07cJebilQT2XNB4iolasKn54vsXuVTQ0melgjNnO4m6bwGJNq2cBiaXH/s1600/Sultana+019.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473928512797016146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgROWGWvOxxSjbZKH13o3b80kaCE7LnVToXYDZD34xLT_a7HahHmeVMK4x-sze7NLMLxfiq5T0fo6auKhm3Ke4j07cJebilQT2XNB4iolasKn54vsXuVTQ0melgjNnO4m6bwGJNq2cBiaXH/s320/Sultana+019.JPG" /></a><br />The kids brought up the main sail.<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLLNiAM9ApKtYB2OsMyHZpxLZq1marrHOyDSH8p1AnF9w3v_Ys37AABMTWkIYl4yNdOXjHZ_1OUDU26CXJgrWC-sr_gYaAqi7PdCkotZ3l5kmmyMmB2oGrHtJR7f8TSFTlZ2Jybe0uM7BK/s1600/Sultana+020.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473925533069017954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLLNiAM9ApKtYB2OsMyHZpxLZq1marrHOyDSH8p1AnF9w3v_Ys37AABMTWkIYl4yNdOXjHZ_1OUDU26CXJgrWC-sr_gYaAqi7PdCkotZ3l5kmmyMmB2oGrHtJR7f8TSFTlZ2Jybe0uM7BK/s320/Sultana+020.JPG" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVbkw_Z_4tCeND4WEuSQLk1VIyDlfRXL2AuOBFz6PUHQxe18mRZBilOBmyoFFog5xkFoHOHVJA9v5OTPrldME9csMXAx9mXMQp125y2TMdZJsel50TjJP4F2cx9Ma1S7G3HpYEL9ovIXhf/s1600/Sultana+025.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473925538824202882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVbkw_Z_4tCeND4WEuSQLk1VIyDlfRXL2AuOBFz6PUHQxe18mRZBilOBmyoFFog5xkFoHOHVJA9v5OTPrldME9csMXAx9mXMQp125y2TMdZJsel50TjJP4F2cx9Ma1S7G3HpYEL9ovIXhf/s320/Sultana+025.JPG" /></a> </div><div>This is the top sail, the kids set all the sails on the schooner. </div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYoTfddlgU-STogEgcEo_uQoX-ycGslqzlu7KMRlCBiS0Fs9a1b-v2ov-RgGYA1X6DVB8P-GDY65dmWj9yFYnjNudJB1HHA22Y9t_9lZ09DXCs08i1RFQXUwlNhp0HMbkXlMQAW28oGFd8/s1600/Sultana+028.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473925549038885858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYoTfddlgU-STogEgcEo_uQoX-ycGslqzlu7KMRlCBiS0Fs9a1b-v2ov-RgGYA1X6DVB8P-GDY65dmWj9yFYnjNudJB1HHA22Y9t_9lZ09DXCs08i1RFQXUwlNhp0HMbkXlMQAW28oGFd8/s320/Sultana+028.JPG" /></a><br />This is below deck. The crew (4 women and 2 men) actually live on the boat, in these quarters except in winter. They work with one another all day then spend their nights together. I spoke with one of them about living and working together and she said that they don't know anyone when they go in to a port so they even hang out together when they're on land and off duty. In this picture you can see some of the games and medical equipment used during the time of the boat's operation.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRQSoTLn935A2oPSsQgLDns97e4xT-W6l8w2rJNQyQO1S6Oe8gE2rX4I_y_ZZHiljTx1Q2BYi5LEb-Wb1sQsxrRJBQc6DTX4Uedx798KSYJK8BGHZ2NgSH5jKL1lb1ujRJGZh1_XgxXOWE/s1600/Sultana+033.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473925551813050962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRQSoTLn935A2oPSsQgLDns97e4xT-W6l8w2rJNQyQO1S6Oe8gE2rX4I_y_ZZHiljTx1Q2BYi5LEb-Wb1sQsxrRJBQc6DTX4Uedx798KSYJK8BGHZ2NgSH5jKL1lb1ujRJGZh1_XgxXOWE/s320/Sultana+033.JPG" /></a></div></div>Connor was a willing participant. He was a crew member of the Sultana, working for the British King as a tax collector. He got a cut on board, the medic would wrap his hand and hope for no infection. Unfortunately, infection set in and now Connor's hand must be amputated. Here we see the tourniquet used to reduce blood flow and the saw for getting through the bone. you can see Connor's excitement :)<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSJkCO_4i-CEt_5z2p4ef10IiKXX4RTtQAWuKHe8-ttdTC88umBs8_FJa9TSsJGU9Y1P5ryjuqNX66YQTE7RDZ6CJ-Ke_FHh1BNhHSksxR70NNQi5PmeAzsZ4_C_vep2U4Az6OhJk2spSH/s1600/Sultana+045.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473929419269906418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSJkCO_4i-CEt_5z2p4ef10IiKXX4RTtQAWuKHe8-ttdTC88umBs8_FJa9TSsJGU9Y1P5ryjuqNX66YQTE7RDZ6CJ-Ke_FHh1BNhHSksxR70NNQi5PmeAzsZ4_C_vep2U4Az6OhJk2spSH/s320/Sultana+045.JPG" /></a><br />The kids were able to steer the boat using the tiller, under Captain Tonya's supervision, of course!<br /><div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRHTVoL7_OlYj0rn-A8B0YB8EYQvLj5V_tC61pTRwFCVT8VxVRPhrRCONVSxa2L2BjrwaGS26T7GE_bWJcJP_na0nYMeYEzxYFmrjSfrVsdDH8MYqavJWOZjjr7_VJpzmHzTqHu4JIL8LY/s1600/Sultana+048.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473929430991880562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRHTVoL7_OlYj0rn-A8B0YB8EYQvLj5V_tC61pTRwFCVT8VxVRPhrRCONVSxa2L2BjrwaGS26T7GE_bWJcJP_na0nYMeYEzxYFmrjSfrVsdDH8MYqavJWOZjjr7_VJpzmHzTqHu4JIL8LY/s320/Sultana+048.JPG" /></a></div><div>They learned some navigational skills, including reading charts.</div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh13LamFK-5V5qZeuKSNhOcxW75Kl9oTFrQP9IJGbOfWoOLjYUE9ZANAC4RcAq03Ojzj3cJYMhRw2ZqN7yy2NgMBt5zDXWC_JMsp4NKrG3SSS8QEzn_ZylhHBFLNeO3jOw3yp2IYVxQ7zCE/s1600/Sultana+050.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473929433223624466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh13LamFK-5V5qZeuKSNhOcxW75Kl9oTFrQP9IJGbOfWoOLjYUE9ZANAC4RcAq03Ojzj3cJYMhRw2ZqN7yy2NgMBt5zDXWC_JMsp4NKrG3SSS8QEzn_ZylhHBFLNeO3jOw3yp2IYVxQ7zCE/s320/Sultana+050.JPG" /></a></div><div>This is a lead for measuring depth of water.</div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBjpGz41jVxWF4l6nZNx4ISLHVOl_eLZmK8h7cty5TzvlORdSNc7mM5FCFRJKaNnT4Nn0pomzhHcG2yrWnLbVl0PYomN70CjdVNMfO6EkPw5gi7eyTx4UCuxytdQb0wuho9gVlSFVqEKfQ/s1600/Sultana+051.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473929438450615218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBjpGz41jVxWF4l6nZNx4ISLHVOl_eLZmK8h7cty5TzvlORdSNc7mM5FCFRJKaNnT4Nn0pomzhHcG2yrWnLbVl0PYomN70CjdVNMfO6EkPw5gi7eyTx4UCuxytdQb0wuho9gVlSFVqEKfQ/s320/Sultana+051.JPG" /></a></div><div>Yep, you just toss it over the side and let it sink. Pull it in and measure between the weighted end and the dry part of the rope. See that little swivel gun beside Connor? They fired one of those, too. No pictures though because the sound was so loud we had to cover our ears.</div><div> </div><div>What a fun day we had on the water in Annapolis. Sultana sails from several ports in the area and you learn about the ecosystem of each area. I can see us taking several Sultana trips in the coming years.</div></div></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17038055983230810436noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116118503755600657.post-79085551913140886482010-05-20T20:04:00.004-04:002010-05-20T20:46:48.979-04:00I have 2 seconds, want to see my girls???Life is CRAZY!!!!<br /><br />I have so many things happening all at once and I'm trying to keep my head above water, this week.<br /><br />We found out that my bees were finally coming so I was trying to do some last minute preparations and mental get myself ready for them.<br /><br />We're babysitting a guinea pig for some friends who are out of the country, just one more thing to add to our own personal zoo. While cleaning the guinea pig's cage on Wednesday, Chase fell down the stairs and split his head open. Al freaked out, I told him to calm down and then I took the baby upstairs so I could see the damage. Then I freaked out. Not like Al though...I started hearing a buzzing noise in my ears and my vision was getting dim...I had to call Jane to hold onto Chase so I didn't pass out.<br /><br />Al had just gotten out of the shower so and I was still in my robe so we both rushed around getting dressed because we knew he was going to need stitches. In the meantime, while Chase was sitting on the counter and Jane was holding him, he stops crying, looks around, sees an apple and starts eating it. The bleeding has stopped and he's hanging out, wondering what all the fuss is about.<br /><br />I was afraid to put him in his carseat since the split was on the back of his head. I didn't want it to open up from movement. So I strapped him in the front seat with me. We made it two blocks and there were 2 sheriff cars. Al pulled over to announce we needed to get to the hospital quick, hoping the sheriff would give us an escort. Instead the sheriff said he couldn't let us go, we needed to sit and wait for an ambulance. WHAT!?!?! Al was not happy hearing that. but we waited...law enforcement was telling us he wouldn't let us go and we do try to live life by the rules.<br /><br />Ambulance arrived, they strapped Chase into a car seat, put me across the ambulance from him and off we went. But not fast, nor with lights and sirens. We stopped at all the stop lights, just like everyone else. The ambulance attendant apologized that we were held up because of the sheriff insisting we needed an ambulance. He pointed out that there was nothing he could do to help Chase while he was being transported. Oh well, such is life.<br /><br />Long story short, he got 6 staples in his head, he's perfectly normal, had no clue they're there and fell on his head twice this morning. I think we'll have many ER trips with this kid. Actually, we had the same ER Dr & nurse we had last week. He actually asked if I wanted to go ahead and make my appointment for next week since we had been there on 2 consecutive Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m. Please pray with us that next Wednesday our only Dr appt will be to remove the staples!<br /><br />On top of that, Al is slammed at work (Hallelujah!!!!), Friday we have art class at 10:00 a.m. in Laurel, then Connor and I are off to sail for 3 hours (a 3 hour tour, a 3 hour tour....) in Annapolis before driving all the way back to Rockville and then shower and get ready for a graduation party at 8:00 p.m. Early Saturday morning, I have to be down at the church building to set up for a primary activity. And did I mention I had to get my bees while all of this is going on?<br /><br />Needless to say, we cancelled piano again this week and Lillee hasn't picked up her violin ONCE all week.<br /><br />So here are 2 pictures of my girls...all 5000 of them. They're currently housed in the small box on top of the hive (called a nucleus or nuc for short). This is how I picked them up from the apiary I purchased them from. The nuc contains a queen, 4-5 frames of drawn comb and a lot of worker bees (and hopefully some brood).<br /><br />I place the nuc on top of my empty hive, open it up and allow the girls to orient themselves to their new area (find nectar and water sources). In a day or two, I'll go back to remove the frames from the nuc, put the frames into the hive and then the bees will follow the queen into the hive (they can smell her).<br /><br />More to come, stay tuned!<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipVxrW86ByTiANVc9yTQw3wb3SsZu2nG2tbos1dqjf5Co-smh4O4o3nm_7lVIS3sAtPJWfEJPvAJVej3QyVVRvrvPIep53H4LVlwGZ4rhYVOgPeiHB3L3yUB2mZbNO6Tfr2IWKGrFMAsaz/s1600/bees+005.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473517194747796690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipVxrW86ByTiANVc9yTQw3wb3SsZu2nG2tbos1dqjf5Co-smh4O4o3nm_7lVIS3sAtPJWfEJPvAJVej3QyVVRvrvPIep53H4LVlwGZ4rhYVOgPeiHB3L3yUB2mZbNO6Tfr2IWKGrFMAsaz/s320/bees+005.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1yC3DtM1JAqAarr0Zk9-LmTQJ1EaYW8Ro2l3rucJDO2wHz3eptFPjkGq59yZrM6UMXYImRhKrUyJe7pEfA7DMDYx1r7l4ikAg_WBb2AA24adVSGmJ3faHrqcLSvcli50knnPwn5bB9UKC/s1600/bees+006.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473517200429249650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1yC3DtM1JAqAarr0Zk9-LmTQJ1EaYW8Ro2l3rucJDO2wHz3eptFPjkGq59yZrM6UMXYImRhKrUyJe7pEfA7DMDYx1r7l4ikAg_WBb2AA24adVSGmJ3faHrqcLSvcli50knnPwn5bB9UKC/s320/bees+006.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUwdTk3eQYRXTZy08AAKTvnTF-pHZkdDpsZWBCV3bY7weCSntdiL9H7jYmo-iseq3hyKn-NuBM1wNHz2uGabQGoRnj1QeNwwKBPp47RB6Eddq8PMlHxITglRbhfCIogjt9dIZCp1dkN3u7/s1600/bees+002.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473517201434265986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUwdTk3eQYRXTZy08AAKTvnTF-pHZkdDpsZWBCV3bY7weCSntdiL9H7jYmo-iseq3hyKn-NuBM1wNHz2uGabQGoRnj1QeNwwKBPp47RB6Eddq8PMlHxITglRbhfCIogjt9dIZCp1dkN3u7/s320/bees+002.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_q7UIRHzvjqa3dGhZ5UhJqwYeK2zqCPOD8vcSrweaPFCx8vC2kPGWTqM-D5lcA6cTrihXrjHrvrZOXM_u755pDFXDqgVjyOw7RUYGEWaolNZtMcuelDHqwPYQs3FH8jOcyI8bsXF_1q6k/s1600/bees+001.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473517216130062274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_q7UIRHzvjqa3dGhZ5UhJqwYeK2zqCPOD8vcSrweaPFCx8vC2kPGWTqM-D5lcA6cTrihXrjHrvrZOXM_u755pDFXDqgVjyOw7RUYGEWaolNZtMcuelDHqwPYQs3FH8jOcyI8bsXF_1q6k/s320/bees+001.JPG" /></a><br /><br />My hive is beside an established hive at my friend Amy's house. The bottom 2 pictures are of Amy's bees. The picture of a honey frame is exciting! This is Amy's first honey frame. The cells with white caps are honey that will age for a couple more months and then it will be ready for extraction. The other picture is a glimpse inside her hive. These pictures were taken by Connor. He took a sting to the face (I didn't have a suit for him) but he was brave and ready to head back into the hive! I was proud of him for wanting to go back after being stung in a sensitive place. He wants me to make him a bee suit, first :)Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17038055983230810436noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116118503755600657.post-76366580210167977862010-05-16T14:44:00.008-04:002010-05-16T15:31:30.188-04:00A month? A whole month?I'm failing in my blogging duties. I'm sure I've said that before.<br /><br />Have you been wondering what we've been up to? Well, here are a few of the things that have been going on.<br /><br />Remember our new landscaping logs and my currant bush with a few raspberries in the background?<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggrb0omkeWeFLh7OybuLCQvmxmBG9fEcHXV_LjtNjScM47sXg77ld-x7gZXKekbT9yP6rPHLR3mplyxh-dsH4WDg8xfegcO7FIxK5DkJCwNHxaPrzYjV69nhbuAvX2MxeGWpgy1TcbYJ9I/s1600/008.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471944262240308946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggrb0omkeWeFLh7OybuLCQvmxmBG9fEcHXV_LjtNjScM47sXg77ld-x7gZXKekbT9yP6rPHLR3mplyxh-dsH4WDg8xfegcO7FIxK5DkJCwNHxaPrzYjV69nhbuAvX2MxeGWpgy1TcbYJ9I/s320/008.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Here are the raspberries in May with a new trellis.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv65a14-TL39NKYZZLwfgsfYNqSg-B9ye7_Fm1uaqbNwFxkN_XsqJIWZsFapbdn3mdY8q2L5I4KWIRvjAxf6ASYo_qg-QxNJzf_2dKFht16UFu00YQQxYkuHXNcM0tmRBMnA-YzQSemz8R/s1600/Al's+birthday+and+skateboarding+023.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471944327625969954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv65a14-TL39NKYZZLwfgsfYNqSg-B9ye7_Fm1uaqbNwFxkN_XsqJIWZsFapbdn3mdY8q2L5I4KWIRvjAxf6ASYo_qg-QxNJzf_2dKFht16UFu00YQQxYkuHXNcM0tmRBMnA-YzQSemz8R/s320/Al's+birthday+and+skateboarding+023.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-zOqv2V-XXySUmN_GZyAoeXUJRBbAUmzw6MS-sGE_xRv14E2srICZvkZib4McvKwuI5YMnbZHLhIN4rV4eeTHXqfvNWP_NKsuxCN0gJasvPUFzoi0vhMFkR0QLkT-R81rkeUstjZ2USy4/s1600/Al's+birthday+and+skateboarding+024.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471944334639143858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-zOqv2V-XXySUmN_GZyAoeXUJRBbAUmzw6MS-sGE_xRv14E2srICZvkZib4McvKwuI5YMnbZHLhIN4rV4eeTHXqfvNWP_NKsuxCN0gJasvPUFzoi0vhMFkR0QLkT-R81rkeUstjZ2USy4/s320/Al's+birthday+and+skateboarding+024.JPG" /></a><br />And here is the champagne currant bush.<br /><br /><br /><br />Remember my straberry plants? Here's a tiny little flower on one in April<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglIgwF_XjlIRFaZyhpa1I57hgGRt0o2SscV2bGauLL-sIdVgyy28wGgRFCG_2G00PVY3qZ42T7Z7AqjxUahwM02nMkzpLg-8wv8gp3QNC5ErUW6QXd7rtIA01UN1U9ivM5orB_Is0Ghjkf/s1600/003.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471944253565950994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglIgwF_XjlIRFaZyhpa1I57hgGRt0o2SscV2bGauLL-sIdVgyy28wGgRFCG_2G00PVY3qZ42T7Z7AqjxUahwM02nMkzpLg-8wv8gp3QNC5ErUW6QXd7rtIA01UN1U9ivM5orB_Is0Ghjkf/s320/003.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />and here is what they look like now:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH8eGNNc9y2LPgD5WbrwOfMOjKmKmhvgMTrMsurezKWw20m81KsxNj5HP2tRwpLeZ0axGmMmH_S2ryT4SKRlI-SlfVbxUHw7mPdJE4KOOEMzFr12cDQit-bINRGHKiMAQj6OZ0bkGOZ3Uu/s1600/Al's+birthday+and+skateboarding+030.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471944268124583714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH8eGNNc9y2LPgD5WbrwOfMOjKmKmhvgMTrMsurezKWw20m81KsxNj5HP2tRwpLeZ0axGmMmH_S2ryT4SKRlI-SlfVbxUHw7mPdJE4KOOEMzFr12cDQit-bINRGHKiMAQj6OZ0bkGOZ3Uu/s320/Al's+birthday+and+skateboarding+030.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />We had a week of rain and Connor entertained himself with some Lego building. Here is a kitchen he created.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPsrRBc-7MNnifsHnkFIjxx3gz0-7EXxFXAbhzqfCxKPv7gXoS8pMJgGXHMoCcyUzSUxDSDPvYNyP2PH8EbEBfjR6s6oNX2WSYNEKhrJmqXXopG4jYmI9Pys_2vYamRVLJBpSTi4l5N4LD/s1600/006.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471943671500485010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPsrRBc-7MNnifsHnkFIjxx3gz0-7EXxFXAbhzqfCxKPv7gXoS8pMJgGXHMoCcyUzSUxDSDPvYNyP2PH8EbEBfjR6s6oNX2WSYNEKhrJmqXXopG4jYmI9Pys_2vYamRVLJBpSTi4l5N4LD/s320/006.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiku-g6HIzWMRWGwJr3Bl0gBVzvuALtZg2_OsOSpWVL2PP1cYWMnphu-x6V1IPpLPZ-He5_hMPJWFLVsPxcUhr6Se23jnA76XKdWmAnX9l8YHl_6zsA1tTCGcdwPo9H_SifcEAI7uIPEIqt/s1600/013.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471943682563961986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiku-g6HIzWMRWGwJr3Bl0gBVzvuALtZg2_OsOSpWVL2PP1cYWMnphu-x6V1IPpLPZ-He5_hMPJWFLVsPxcUhr6Se23jnA76XKdWmAnX9l8YHl_6zsA1tTCGcdwPo9H_SifcEAI7uIPEIqt/s320/013.JPG" /></a><br />See the details? The faucet over the sink, the hot and cold water tap, even a soap dispenser!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The kids have spent a LOT of time on this. It is so nice to have the kids in the backyard, entertained and not running up and down our busy street. The neighborhood kids come over so I never have to worry where my kids are :)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk4jJi1nQTEt3Wdz6cw7MpL3iGA6_HpRRuzqHo1IkRiwTt7eCYzacDkEpHHR1_1BBGO1Tzifmmy2uyJmuorWe9mBoEpAMVUqcCIdJSWnbdz5HDifLPv7iCRQzsNEDMsTtfTV97tl9VkxsX/s1600/022.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471943667911054834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk4jJi1nQTEt3Wdz6cw7MpL3iGA6_HpRRuzqHo1IkRiwTt7eCYzacDkEpHHR1_1BBGO1Tzifmmy2uyJmuorWe9mBoEpAMVUqcCIdJSWnbdz5HDifLPv7iCRQzsNEDMsTtfTV97tl9VkxsX/s320/022.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br />I caught Connor studying the periodic table late one night. He should have been getting ready for bed, but he was amazed with <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Periodic-Table-Elements-Style/dp/0753460858/ref=wl_it_dp_o?ie=UTF8&coliid=I12AWLYEGQUW8U&colid=2A4K384YFB0J4">this new chart</a>.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxq6Z71aHZtDd0AeNKQD3J0YqnnLGAkDMjSs2bj2u9mljsnqQu0wkqDpJQ_TYNBd803FbkceqcrKV45-IFKfzJhxW2GAH3mft4nVxt5CPBs_leLd1uVxd0S-w_fbX7ySP0s53Ov8dKy65V/s1600/018.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471943660680429266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxq6Z71aHZtDd0AeNKQD3J0YqnnLGAkDMjSs2bj2u9mljsnqQu0wkqDpJQ_TYNBd803FbkceqcrKV45-IFKfzJhxW2GAH3mft4nVxt5CPBs_leLd1uVxd0S-w_fbX7ySP0s53Ov8dKy65V/s320/018.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br />We spent a few hours at the Celtic Festival in Frederick. The kids had a great time. We saw caber tossing, Irish dancing, bagpipe bands and Lillee even joined one of the dance groups for a traditional dance.<br /><div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZwpZzNpVVSw9eed6CUAd2TJ_X9P1iAQeA6WLSN2401W2W-aBxCX_ucwnV69sdbrWAM90gtQMJyyytwJnZnf7Qr71HGKNVNODyQ2ghk_nTQimNYU5NgvkTwkTEBVNU57FcqrCBG8CfwLl-/s1600/030.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471942317501378018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZwpZzNpVVSw9eed6CUAd2TJ_X9P1iAQeA6WLSN2401W2W-aBxCX_ucwnV69sdbrWAM90gtQMJyyytwJnZnf7Qr71HGKNVNODyQ2ghk_nTQimNYU5NgvkTwkTEBVNU57FcqrCBG8CfwLl-/s320/030.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br />There has been a lot of skateboarding going on. We had visited the skate park a couple of times btu Connor was a little intimidated by the big boys. So Al built this ramp so Connor could practice a bit at home and hopefully be more comfortable at the skate park.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAKUCKxXcEufH1jc1n6jwtybPLDl0CqJIqIkxyV0j2koYuh_HOdECGC0ZdbQ-BWsZxPq7sLdNAFLsXLrLfm5Qkgv1JgZOEaHEhtg7UJYCpkTNVJHcI_ZWu8EOHeUGX3OsNrqW01xxfHfND/s1600/015.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471942305404896194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAKUCKxXcEufH1jc1n6jwtybPLDl0CqJIqIkxyV0j2koYuh_HOdECGC0ZdbQ-BWsZxPq7sLdNAFLsXLrLfm5Qkgv1JgZOEaHEhtg7UJYCpkTNVJHcI_ZWu8EOHeUGX3OsNrqW01xxfHfND/s320/015.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br />It worked. Here's Connor at the skate park. and Chase like to slide down the half pipes for entertainment.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7YgTxkfCnj_D4GH8yyzuOPZUuWpXIcLH1hw2d3u_7H6RyeM3QC4kG8ShgUNfc9K6ZBTvKaJgZLSmpPXc7Pvrwf7vcDVOpvCbx86eK2fSPCpulP39YwHmHcWuW70j40sg49oapXLRPMmF6/s1600/Al's+birthday+and+skateboarding+002.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471942296446192770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7YgTxkfCnj_D4GH8yyzuOPZUuWpXIcLH1hw2d3u_7H6RyeM3QC4kG8ShgUNfc9K6ZBTvKaJgZLSmpPXc7Pvrwf7vcDVOpvCbx86eK2fSPCpulP39YwHmHcWuW70j40sg49oapXLRPMmF6/s320/Al's+birthday+and+skateboarding+002.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrYMq6nyLZoNQdOarbhyivTTJDjIWqMybPDvxIE8IokpvOa7D6x7vlJXwrU5IYg8rFMvs4oxu3-NTuU5b68VbJ3uC5xqK8MohLj12KdTWUcSfE9ijcX2_ucTxg82YXLwew164bV1i9-WxE/s1600/Al's+birthday+and+skateboarding+008.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471942281099185426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrYMq6nyLZoNQdOarbhyivTTJDjIWqMybPDvxIE8IokpvOa7D6x7vlJXwrU5IYg8rFMvs4oxu3-NTuU5b68VbJ3uC5xqK8MohLj12KdTWUcSfE9ijcX2_ucTxg82YXLwew164bV1i9-WxE/s320/Al's+birthday+and+skateboarding+008.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br />Then Al decided he needed a skateboard, too. He continues to build equipment for he and Connor to practice on...Al is a little intimidated by the big boys at the skate park, too. OK, I won't joke at his expense. Al has actually been doing really well at getting back into skating for being such an old man (he turned 33 today, I'm cracking on him again). He aches and has trouble getting his body going in the mornings, but he's having a great time with Connor. Al comes home from work, puts on his skate shoes and heads out to skate with Connor until 9:00 or so. Connor got a new board and upgraded to glow-in-the-dark grip tape because it was yellow (his favorite color) and because they spend most nights skating in the dark. They are doing some major boy bonding while skating with one another so I can't complain :)<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghHkwlozFYSuM-cnNKc5zgqvaXvytX5K6CG589mltSPg4H-ago54unnFtAFbuZAFEHAGUVrsNxiqQVbl3ITGPklcMi5Zz1XMONSEv_74xMpmYrn6803VW6nECpQE9EEaA5SSJoEI3ziD38/s1600/Al's+birthday+and+skateboarding+041.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471942277212953218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghHkwlozFYSuM-cnNKc5zgqvaXvytX5K6CG589mltSPg4H-ago54unnFtAFbuZAFEHAGUVrsNxiqQVbl3ITGPklcMi5Zz1XMONSEv_74xMpmYrn6803VW6nECpQE9EEaA5SSJoEI3ziD38/s320/Al's+birthday+and+skateboarding+041.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Life is good...we're staying busy and trying to stay above water :)<br /><br />Chase had another asthma flare-up this past week that landed him in the hospital for 24 hours. We're battling his asthma with lots of medications and hoping to avoid these flare-ups in the future.</div><br /><div></div><div>I've lost 38lbs since January and I feel so good. I still have a lot to go, but I'm happy with what I've lost thus far. I do hate all the shopping that goes with weight loss, though. I find I'm constantly cleaning out my closet because things are too big. And for someone who doesn't like to go shopping, buying new pants every month or so is a pain. But I'll try not to complain too much :)</div><br /><div></div><div>I have a new calling as Primary Secretary and I'm enjoying it. I like knowing what the kids are learning in primary so we can reinforce it at home. And it is definitely helping to build my gospel foundation. I do find myself singing the strangest songs when I wake up on Monday morning, though :)</div><br /><div></div><div>I forgot to mention, I cut Isabel's hair. And then she cut it:</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQS5OBGgH6ChJUdg8a12e5nWyFHBzAyadg3x5MOpKFt-m_ugLT9Vj3CWnchXdTMvx0o3ROIAo46_Nmgw_crpsrIWSMmzUmS8RRBoE4VpWtU4Dpya2fnn1caJ9zsxVos4j1GVZj4o8ZQUIp/s1600/Isabel+cut+her+hair+001.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471952023777862194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQS5OBGgH6ChJUdg8a12e5nWyFHBzAyadg3x5MOpKFt-m_ugLT9Vj3CWnchXdTMvx0o3ROIAo46_Nmgw_crpsrIWSMmzUmS8RRBoE4VpWtU4Dpya2fnn1caJ9zsxVos4j1GVZj4o8ZQUIp/s320/Isabel+cut+her+hair+001.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_J6QvnYkcTWXOospbcAysT1HOoYs8JPVNbeGrTesDWlR4HiSJPD1c0ZJGUllAr9W-Fjys1p0yue7XfUP2HkIHwzGN2Ckp6XBvEaYnKTpy7Thg2TWHvfVokq3lN0lGG6cPfg32XAMg8FMn/s1600/Isabel+cut+her+hair+002.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471952017555007298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_J6QvnYkcTWXOospbcAysT1HOoYs8JPVNbeGrTesDWlR4HiSJPD1c0ZJGUllAr9W-Fjys1p0yue7XfUP2HkIHwzGN2Ckp6XBvEaYnKTpy7Thg2TWHvfVokq3lN0lGG6cPfg32XAMg8FMn/s320/Isabel+cut+her+hair+002.JPG" /></a><br /><br />If I part it just right and put a hair bow in it you can't tell.Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17038055983230810436noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116118503755600657.post-76272973371855630392010-04-21T09:01:00.003-04:002010-04-21T09:27:20.636-04:00Our Newest AdditionNo, we're not having another baby....but this one sure felt like it took forever to birth, like a baby :)<br /><br />We spent 4 days putting together this backyard monster, but it was worth it. the kids are loving it! We've not completed all the landscaping around it, but you can get the idea from the picture.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbUz7tFTP929E8h0w-kkaCCdTAaVsnc5wS9aUHHiWT23ODPcKmu0HhQvtyv1I8i1p4GAZ4SMVgi14Ji2tB72uzgUECcbhNgTk1vNPQXq3kZJIJIxVJ2OAdXfxWz6SXhXoi6RrYRqwetGvl/s1600/074.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462580008024661842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbUz7tFTP929E8h0w-kkaCCdTAaVsnc5wS9aUHHiWT23ODPcKmu0HhQvtyv1I8i1p4GAZ4SMVgi14Ji2tB72uzgUECcbhNgTk1vNPQXq3kZJIJIxVJ2OAdXfxWz6SXhXoi6RrYRqwetGvl/s320/074.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Here are some other outdoor projects I've been working on. We added a border around the house so I can plant there and hopefully keep the kids and dog out<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjecJHJuB6TlzXCKckR0jBPBG8BWc-MTo4i8Avr5d051XEihCcIG5MM8EhdnM-oMKMggC81iev4iGAXtkTYOKtmy69Q69X6YLCM2erpq87vsgdDlu-eJ0sIXrze_vqs015mlri7WhoS53tf/s1600/009.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462580040060179426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjecJHJuB6TlzXCKckR0jBPBG8BWc-MTo4i8Avr5d051XEihCcIG5MM8EhdnM-oMKMggC81iev4iGAXtkTYOKtmy69Q69X6YLCM2erpq87vsgdDlu-eJ0sIXrze_vqs015mlri7WhoS53tf/s320/009.JPG" /></a><br /><br />We added another boarder by the raspberries and currant bush. Added in some bird feeders and generally cleaned up the area.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinFe7LtDBzbIZu-XcE5go3kzoSDBnwxMpmsOr61INjJyIGcjeyATExZWTbILMJKJqMM4S2ALAgxHHuxpRZ2iL1RNqLbWOY2_AYpDypVIIbjDLjZ_Ci4NAGkj6KI8FGHNoWMtM3K2kD6z37/s1600/008.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462580030655848498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinFe7LtDBzbIZu-XcE5go3kzoSDBnwxMpmsOr61INjJyIGcjeyATExZWTbILMJKJqMM4S2ALAgxHHuxpRZ2iL1RNqLbWOY2_AYpDypVIIbjDLjZ_Ci4NAGkj6KI8FGHNoWMtM3K2kD6z37/s320/008.JPG" /></a><br /><br />I added 2 blueberry bushes, in a protected area so the lawn guys don't mow them down this year.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCkj3ZpNndXNaozBkCz0bwf1gvgmpFQHgQ68MUrqcCZ0tAtQ23HMUpFF7B681u1KnLSEWtpdISz2VzFagp6W90HtFwB58o-3pfYUVNGNcTWP4r-pcSzZeBjR0j96s8Uqu2DWkNPQTogyeY/s1600/007.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462580020915089186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCkj3ZpNndXNaozBkCz0bwf1gvgmpFQHgQ68MUrqcCZ0tAtQ23HMUpFF7B681u1KnLSEWtpdISz2VzFagp6W90HtFwB58o-3pfYUVNGNcTWP4r-pcSzZeBjR0j96s8Uqu2DWkNPQTogyeY/s320/007.JPG" /></a><br /><br />And here are some strawberries that I planted in a tub. I also have one of those <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Felknor-Ventures-TT041112-Strawberry-Planter/dp/B001WAL3XA">topsy turvy strawberry planters</a> with 30 plants in it.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgEGd166rKHWdenECYC9SNbti9DYXPxI8Dnw9y9QIM6Z0k2KBSxwWxCaOhWGzXM-U22J3EvvLSyyW3VWpGvWE-EzSEKAuS0iTNjL8AARqxAQydbRTAC8VZo5XRrsrP6EWu7DH1F5kdJf3M/s1600/003.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462580015725891746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgEGd166rKHWdenECYC9SNbti9DYXPxI8Dnw9y9QIM6Z0k2KBSxwWxCaOhWGzXM-U22J3EvvLSyyW3VWpGvWE-EzSEKAuS0iTNjL8AARqxAQydbRTAC8VZo5XRrsrP6EWu7DH1F5kdJf3M/s320/003.JPG" /></a><br /><br />I also added two rose bushes but forgot to get a picture of those. Now if I could just get the garden area tilled then I can start planting there!Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17038055983230810436noreply@blogger.com3