tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73540337223039726532024-03-05T08:38:02.847-08:00The Juicy Roostaka
A Spot on the Sophajooleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18193793691205973384noreply@blogger.comBlogger209125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7354033722303972653.post-76045226097054716452018-11-09T17:22:00.000-08:002018-11-09T18:03:46.989-08:00Josie Posie's Puddins and Pies<br />
My kids are all wonderful in their own unique ways, but Josie feeds us.<br />
Often.<br />
<strike>Fattening</strike> delicious food.<br />
This morning she brought me coffee in bed,<br />
just the way I like it.<br />
And a buttery AND peanut buttery English muffin.<br />
mmmmmmm.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Josie refuses to cooperate for pictures.</td></tr>
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She later proceeded to make homemade oatmeal rolls</div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">These aren't from today, but still......</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small; text-align: center;">and a two layer white wedding cake</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small; text-align: center;">with beautiful swirls of homemade frosting.</span></div>
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She then volunteered to peel potatoes<br />
to go with my beer beef stew.<br />
<i>Because we sometimes eat something other than carbs.</i><br />
Tomorrow she will bake and decorate<br />
4 dozen gourmet cupcakes.<br />
Without complaint.<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">She made these fancy petit fours for a tea party last week.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Josie loves the kitchen.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">She is adorable in her apron. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">She thinks owning an immersion blender would be "heaven on earth."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">She asked for a food processor for her birthday.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">She makes hilarious jokes while peeking </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">at her dough rising under a towel in front of the woodstove.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: small;">"[She] likes big buns and she cannot lie....."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Then she raises her expressive eyebrows and giggles at her own joke.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">That kid.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a quick logo Addie sketched at a restaurant a few weeks back.</td></tr>
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<br />jooleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18193793691205973384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7354033722303972653.post-54744849918477609772018-11-04T20:08:00.000-08:002018-11-04T20:08:08.525-08:00My girls are fighting over a missing "coral mildliner." Essentially, a high quality and very specifically hued highlighter used for their Bible journaling and color coding their homeschool assignment books. <span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i>Because their assignment books are nothing if not pretty.</i></span> There is also some drama about the gross misuse of a bottle of Thieves. <span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i>The house DOES smell especially lovely tonight.</i></span> Ella, who we also suspect is capable of using half a bottle of conditioner during a single hair washing, has just announced that this essential oil combination smells a lot like eggnog. <span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i>Yes, we have been listening to Christmas music already.</i> </span><br />
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Now, the older girls snuggled together in Josie's bed are yelling to the younger girls in the next room to shut their door. Something about the Lauren Daigle sing-along being too loud.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Sigh.</span> This is my life. <span style="font-size: large;">My wonderful, chaotic, drama-filled life.</span> Admittedly, I get frustrated by the piles of fragile china strewn about the counters after yet another tea party and the disputes over who should get to wear that beautiful boho dress to church this morning. But truly, I couldn't have it any better. <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My girls fight over their Bible journaling utensils and the volume at which they belt out powerful worship songs, for Pete's sake! </span><br />
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There you have it, my lovely daughters. A short blog post. After a VERY long absence. No one blogs anymore but I'll make an effort to do this. For you. Because you've been begging. Because you love to look back at old posts and relive the big and little, silly and sweet moments of your childhood. Except now you're almost all teens. And I'm going to be posting things like the gorgeous senior pictures we got back today. And the photo of Gwen "tending bar" at last night's Veteran's banquet.<br />
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jooleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18193793691205973384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7354033722303972653.post-61418796504528416012012-08-14T18:42:00.000-07:002012-08-14T19:55:17.518-07:00The one where my sweet niece shows a spunkier sideMy super sweet soft-spoken niece, Chloe, has started a <a href="http://adventureatthefarm.blogspot.com/">blog</a>! I am so looking forward to more glimpses of her exciting life on the ranch and somewhat shocked by her unexpected sass as she recently <a href="http://adventureatthefarm.blogspot.com/2012/08/a-wild-saddling-up.html">publicly mocked me for my long blog absence!</a> (Though now that I think of it, that girl could talk some serious Farkle trash;) And so, after nearly an 11 month blog absence, at the urging of my lovely niece, I am ignoring the loud persistent call of Pinterest and taking a break from Instagram in an attempt to "bring it." Love ya girl!<br />
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I forget how to do this. Seriously.<br />
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I may have to regress to my lazy facebook ways and simply post way too many pictures..... <br />
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Look at this Katie Daisy journal I found while making a little stop in the adorable town of Galena, IL on our way home from our recent trip to Michigan!! I can't get enough of this happy artist:)<br />
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Coming home from our trip to a broken fridge/freezer full of rotting food gave me a good excuse to pull out my pretty new thrift store rubber gloves. They were much needed....uuugh!<br />
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The day after finding the fridge of rotting food, the girls found this disgusting rodent on the deck. It was much too new to get there himself and the cats were nowhere to be found.....it was almost more disturbing to me than the fridge! What was it (too big to be a mouse) and where had it come from? Was there a nest literally overflowing with baby rats in the eaves of our home and were they on the verge of falling from their nest onto my head or down my shirt? Heebeejeebees were all around.<br />
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On a more happy note, we were also welcomed home by a garden brimming with colorful veggies, trees laden with mini plums, and <i>almost</i> all my beloved zinnias....singing their bright infectious song. <br />
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Steve's hops now have cones!!!<br />
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Oh yeah! Found these letters at an adorable shop in Holland, Michigan. <br />
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Just the inspiration I needed to dig out my stash of vintage sheets and other pretty fabrics and start creating.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWtWCSj3nfLHc1dJI_UUroDZ1P5Ts0n7bm7Gn9S0RXv5dVMRUISxlElR42Tc2BdIlfqwTHPB7wYfPdwHG9zxB4wPPJfQyG99AtInB0jYYnVPVc7NbuidRq88215I8Fh-XqsS1jgfFkM9f8/s1600/4943.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWtWCSj3nfLHc1dJI_UUroDZ1P5Ts0n7bm7Gn9S0RXv5dVMRUISxlElR42Tc2BdIlfqwTHPB7wYfPdwHG9zxB4wPPJfQyG99AtInB0jYYnVPVc7NbuidRq88215I8Fh-XqsS1jgfFkM9f8/s400/4943.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
And finally, Addie was baptized! Something she had wanted to do for awhile and had included on our chalkboard summer to-do list! I got emotional and wanted to break out in song......just like the zinnias. OH HAPPY DAY!!!jooleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18193793691205973384noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7354033722303972653.post-39776356057412908312011-09-26T18:55:00.000-07:002011-09-26T20:40:16.398-07:00On being awesomeI was awesome today.<br />
And yesterday.<br />
And maybe even a couple days before that.<br />
<br />
There. I said it.<br />
<br />
If my self-praise rubs you the wrong way,<br />
perhaps try substituting the word "productive"<br />
from here on out.<br />
That may read a smidge less arrogant.<br />
But really, I WAS.<br />
I was productive and awesome!<br />
<br />
I posted a bit about my awesomeness on facebook yesterday<br />
but was gently reminded that it was the Lord's Day.<br />
Oops.<br />
*delete post*<br />
*hang head in shame*<br />
Seems my awesomeness doesn't always know<br />
when it's time to take a break<br />
from being so awesome.<br />
<br />
So.... ya wanna hear about it?<br />
My recent bout of awesomeness?<br />
Why don't I just type it up quick,<br />
Recent Awesome Accomplishments<br />
Resume Style.<br />
<br />
<br />
<ul><li>completed Seasonal Wardrobe Change et closet cleaning for all four girlies</li>
<li>made applesauce, apple butter, apple pie filling</li>
<li>canned applesauce, apple butter and pears</li>
<li>made meat pies</li>
<li>baked cookies</li>
<li>made delicious beer cheese soup</li>
<li>edited and ordered photos</li>
<li>had girls write letters</li>
<li>put letters and photos in the mail</li>
<li>made silhouettes for a friend</li>
<li>worked out at fitness center before picking girls up from school</li>
<li>catch that? (cross running and weight lifting off my list)</li>
<li>almost caught up on laundry</li>
<li>filled back of Suburban with donations</li>
<li>recovered two bulletin boards in girls' room</li>
<li>discovered fabulous grey, pink and yellow color scheme for master bedroom</li>
<li>hung photos and art in color scheme with hubby pronouncing it my "best work"</li>
<li>washed and french braided three heads Sunday night </li>
<li>found all girls' library books before library day</li>
<li>shaved legs</li>
<li>painted nails</li>
<li>filled out forms</li>
<li>removed make-up before bed</li>
</ul><br />
<br />
And this List of Awesomeness is<br />
not even all-inclusive!<br />
Wow.<br />
Sure feels good.<br />
Gettin stuff done.<br />
At this rate, I may come to the very end of my<br />
To-Do list<br />
(has that ever happened?)<br />
and have to take out an ad in the local paper:<br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Awesome for Hire.</span></b><br />
Because I am.<br />
Awesome.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/14357174_i3t5Qddz_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/14357174_i3t5Qddz_b.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Also, in case you still find</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">my shameless boastfulness</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">obnoxious.......</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I promise to soon share with you</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">some things that are in no way</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">awesome.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">About me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And my house.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And maybe my abs.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Because I am not always so awesome.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">But speaking of awesome,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">Steve is threatening to start </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><b>The Sing-Off </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">without me!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">Ben Folds.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">Sara Barellies.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">A cappella harmonies.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">AWESOME.</div>jooleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18193793691205973384noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7354033722303972653.post-53227082520783988302011-09-25T07:30:00.000-07:002011-09-25T07:36:14.079-07:00Happy Annibersary......Happy Annibersary!Yup. 13 years ago we headed on over to<br />
the Little Log Wedding Chapel of Gatlinburg, TN<br />
to get ourselves hitched<br />
with a ring from a quarter machine<br />
and our recently married BFFs<br />
as witnesses.<br />
<br />
We were happy.<br />
Relaxed.<br />
No huge event to stress over.<br />
Just us.<br />
And my hardy mum.<br />
And our love.<br />
And the rest of our lives together.<br />
<br />
Today I am home.<br />
Still too sick to care for the babies in nursery.<br />
So Steve is off<br />
with four excited little helpers......<br />
anxious to read and cuddle and build towers<br />
with all the little ones at church.<br />
I am so proud of my girlies:)<br />
<br />
They brought us breakfast in bed this morning.<br />
But I hadn't taken my thyroid pill.<br />
And neither of us really like PB and cinnamon toast.<br />
So they happily consumed the fruits of their labor<br />
and went outside to play.<br />
(the best gift possible;)<br />
<br />
This morning I will make meat pie.<br />
Just like Steve's grandma's.<br />
And maybe some kind of apple dessert.<br />
Steve will watch the Lions cream the Vikings<br />
(because he has money riding on it.)<br />
The kids will get along like angels<br />
and clean their rooms.<br />
(ha!)<br />
I will shave my legs.<br />
Steve will wear his cologne.<br />
<br />
And we will continue to live happily ever after.<br />
<br />
see photos of our big day in <a href="http://aspotonthesopha.blogspot.com/2008/10/thing-about-my-10-year-anniversary.html">this post</a>jooleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18193793691205973384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7354033722303972653.post-23182204228501626962011-09-24T18:42:00.000-07:002011-09-24T18:42:23.271-07:00Today.....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><li>I am sick. Burning cough of fire, tears streaming down my face SICK.</li><br />
<li>I am still not over the fact that this dumb cold kept me from Josie's field trip to Seed Savers Exchange and a fish hatchery on an absolutely perfect fall day. (Martha Stewart buys her seeds at SSE......only the best for Martha!)</li><br />
<li>I am feeling nostalgic......listening to Huffamoose, an amazing concert my insanely hot boyfriend took me to at the Blind Pig.....before we were married.......13 years ago tomorrow (the marriage part....not the concert).</li><br />
<li>I am hoping hubby wears a spritz of his very old Abercrombie cologne.....instantly transports me back to those crazy mad love days. *sigh*</li><br />
<li>I need to accept the fact that I cannot serve tacos to my family without the table looking like we have something against our plates. I mean, really, even Steve has to drop huge clumps of meat on my favorite freshly washed tablecloth!</li><br />
<li>I should be out picking pears with the rest of the family, but I'm really enjoying having the house to myself right now. </li><br />
<li>OK. I'll go out. Just to take a few pictures.......</li><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhok5MvzlEfKyWh_xUYS1sJ-wHJe_UCfFOO17JAMxRtljHpasMM4LiIYYPVWQJtd9qt40rqxDmZ1L8soMTIzR39AXbhKRhw3GV-WnZ_7_HYMNmMAov2o7D9uj58ujnflmeGco-u57Lv42Wd/s1600/P1210679.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhok5MvzlEfKyWh_xUYS1sJ-wHJe_UCfFOO17JAMxRtljHpasMM4LiIYYPVWQJtd9qt40rqxDmZ1L8soMTIzR39AXbhKRhw3GV-WnZ_7_HYMNmMAov2o7D9uj58ujnflmeGco-u57Lv42Wd/s400/P1210679.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Steve in a tree.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUBFK_7MyZAEZa4lcQs1XV31VwcHEikQOB9Dd5HD41epX41JPw8efHkxU1kyhNSvFIJRopPesS50IKzpSCwr8fEPu_4XIkhBfIUrc0IDTrSKnmh_xJLYOTpZGb3kvE7IGFtixUvpmg_Ihj/s1600/P1210683.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUBFK_7MyZAEZa4lcQs1XV31VwcHEikQOB9Dd5HD41epX41JPw8efHkxU1kyhNSvFIJRopPesS50IKzpSCwr8fEPu_4XIkhBfIUrc0IDTrSKnmh_xJLYOTpZGb3kvE7IGFtixUvpmg_Ihj/s400/P1210683.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Teamwork.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHGgkExvsytR3e25BacofgS07qRnYb4ffoJ9ZEhHLnetE2DMmPVN764L8KGruw8I6YN-jJgwZjWYcPEw6Ah1ku52lkIfQcShb7Scgqgnqq76sUIqXNqHhLgmV03DtWIbU-taM0V67ReylT/s1600/P1210693.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHGgkExvsytR3e25BacofgS07qRnYb4ffoJ9ZEhHLnetE2DMmPVN764L8KGruw8I6YN-jJgwZjWYcPEw6Ah1ku52lkIfQcShb7Scgqgnqq76sUIqXNqHhLgmV03DtWIbU-taM0V67ReylT/s400/P1210693.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The kids' favorite downed apple tree.</div><div style="text-align: center;">That still grows apples:)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWpfQDuGYqRp2iX0f3poGA3J3W1MLcIYklfpuDfPuS9hXqjYcPkaMtxqfF7s62pmA2h1GWNqOJop8EtROote17M2uExDkPC5VIUM1aVnxrBtMpHeEwZuC11UA0ormjbcDB7NhU_4KE5MPl/s1600/P1210695.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWpfQDuGYqRp2iX0f3poGA3J3W1MLcIYklfpuDfPuS9hXqjYcPkaMtxqfF7s62pmA2h1GWNqOJop8EtROote17M2uExDkPC5VIUM1aVnxrBtMpHeEwZuC11UA0ormjbcDB7NhU_4KE5MPl/s400/P1210695.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Good for climbing, jumping, and possibly occasionally peeing in!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD19NNKjrtl7pgz4bPpXWiw0jrhAB1oa5gdhSCRpBFzuiKs7JNzYIALY4Eey6ZBqtqEHtGfqvctDewbJszmHU17uAkTdgTocpmmD2SQxDb12e7j8ldiufhnBKdMHCpE85_DiavuJUMgcDw/s1600/P1210728.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD19NNKjrtl7pgz4bPpXWiw0jrhAB1oa5gdhSCRpBFzuiKs7JNzYIALY4Eey6ZBqtqEHtGfqvctDewbJszmHU17uAkTdgTocpmmD2SQxDb12e7j8ldiufhnBKdMHCpE85_DiavuJUMgcDw/s400/P1210728.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtqrIil8D8cZmfbOwqxhWyDSCrWzsb3v_DgGpKQWVyCARaH69AtYsju-2xlLUOCPvCzP-wYHSPcmTkL62XNUlXDv9arX4_1OruiacTT6vvMzz3JiINWQF6YO19nWX5O0J-cw9Snzr2vr8n/s1600/P1210686.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtqrIil8D8cZmfbOwqxhWyDSCrWzsb3v_DgGpKQWVyCARaH69AtYsju-2xlLUOCPvCzP-wYHSPcmTkL62XNUlXDv9arX4_1OruiacTT6vvMzz3JiINWQF6YO19nWX5O0J-cw9Snzr2vr8n/s400/P1210686.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>jooleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18193793691205973384noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7354033722303972653.post-61272368172388283062011-09-10T07:27:00.000-07:002011-09-20T07:21:39.781-07:00running overNo. I haven't actually started running.<br />
Though it IS on my To-Do list.<br />
Toward the bottom-ish.<br />
<br />
It is my cup that is running over.<br />
I am having an exceptionally joy-filled morning.<br />
We all slept in......<br />
until the girls came and piled in our king-sized bed.<br />
Except lil Gwen....<br />
who woke up, got dressed<br />
and immediately hiked thru the woods,<br />
balancing across that long downed log<br />
to their fort to retrieve<br />
the backpack she had dug out of<br />
someone's free garage sale box.<br />
Wow.<br />
If you only knew what that hike entailed...<br />
I swear.<br />
In my old age I have become<br />
a balance-impaired scaredy cat.<br />
When I crossed that log,<br />
Addie had to come back and hold my hand!<br />
Perhaps my hesitation is just intuition<br />
that my bones are becoming brittle.<br />
Ha! I sound like an old woman.<br />
Add lifting weights to my to-do list.<br />
<br />
Pears and apples are coming out of my ears.<br />
I picked just the surface last night<br />
under the light of the moon.<br />
While Steve "practiced" boiling a huge turkey fryer<br />
full of water<br />
over an open fire<br />
in preparation for next weekend's visitors<br />
and some home brewing.<br />
<br />
I am washing a load of adorable Baby Gap outfits<br />
I couldn't resist from a garage sale yesterday.<br />
A new with $34.50 tags<br />
pink and frilly heirloom dress<br />
for one dollar!?!<br />
Yes, please.<br />
As I was admiring my deals last night<br />
the girls were begging us to get a foster kid<br />
or adopt a baby.<br />
We love the babies!<br />
<br />
The air is cool and crisp.<br />
My favorite.<br />
Impossible not to be bubbling with joy<br />
over all God's simple blessings<br />
this delicious morning.jooleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18193793691205973384noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7354033722303972653.post-33581555401246588802011-08-23T10:34:00.000-07:002011-09-20T07:23:13.715-07:00an updateDon't worry.<br />
The tears have been replaced<br />
with lots of check marks<br />
on my to-do list.<br />
Who knew a girl could accomplish so much?<br />
<br />
Excuse me while I go finish<br />
assembling the lasagna for<br />
tonight's dinner.<br />
And yes,<br />
it is only 12:29 PM!<br />
<br />
Have a wonderful day!<br />
I know I will.<br />
<br />
(The girls have adjusted just fine as well<br />
.....to everything except the mandatory hot lunches)jooleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18193793691205973384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7354033722303972653.post-68821535393382472832011-08-18T08:05:00.000-07:002011-08-18T08:05:12.843-07:00all alone.I just dropped all four of my girlies off for their first day of school.<br />
Sorry. No cute photos documenting this momentous day.<br />
Couldn't find the camera:(<br />
They were excited.<br />
And a little nervous.<br />
Wanted to know everything that would happen.<br />
I didn't have all the answers.<br />
But I guess that's a part of growing up.<br />
Leaving the predictable routine of life at home<br />
and heading out into uncertainty of the real world.<br />
<br />
I know I am probably making this a bigger deal than it needs to be.<br />
<br />
On the long drive to town I gave them all a little pep talk.<br />
<br />
Be awesome.<br />
Let your light shine.<br />
Don't be shy.....<br />
because Mimi says that shy people are really just selfish......<br />
only thinking about themselves.<br />
Look for someone ELSE who is nervous<br />
and do your best to make THEM comfortable.<br />
Don't be afraid to ask questions.<br />
Don't be afraid of the bathrooms and pee your pants<br />
like I did when I changed schools in the middle of first grade.<br />
(they got a kick out of that.)<br />
Have no part of gossip.<br />
And don't necessarily believe everything they tell you.<br />
(We are not Catholic).<br />
Addie wondered if it was wrong to do the sign of the cross.<br />
I think that is what "the Father, Son and Holy Spirit" thing is called......<br />
<br />
I think I covered all the important stuff.<br />
But I am wishing I could be there to hold their hands.......<br />
Keep Gwen company in a crowd of strangers<br />
so she doesn't feel alone.<br />
Like I feel now.<br />
<br />
This will be a good change.<br />
I hope it will.<br />
I know it will.<br />
But for now, I am sad.<br />
Tears streaming down my face....<br />
Like seeing my little Addie struggle up the steep steps<br />
onto a school bus of big strangers for her first day of Kindergarden.<br />
Times 4.<br />
They are all growing up at once.<br />
<br />
Give me this day to be emotional.<br />
And then on my next day off<br />
I will conquer the world.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
jooleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18193793691205973384noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7354033722303972653.post-42665042442680232612011-08-04T09:44:00.000-07:002011-08-04T09:44:20.334-07:00a little more summerAfter much deliberation, we have decided to put the girls in private school this year.<br />
Big changes are ahead and my nest will soon be very empty,<br />
at least during the day.<br />
There are definite pros and cons<br />
to both homeschooling and private school.<br />
A con for private is that it starts mid-August.<br />
So we are busy trying to cram some summer fun<br />
into the next couple weeks.<br />
<br />
Here are some pictures from this past week<br />
along with lyrics to a Trace Atkins song<br />
that gets me every time.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi5C2fDhI8ZopJqOC4ulZn-u-uf5YFG7ilwDzEGXJbJD6lIG_RNZ4y6BQxVQNPO5WEXbZkZjO4RdL59fHTxhg9EhUNgwqdQvvBu_Dja7cl7D_R0Tq_wRanQKJU_qYtnnHbnZhK8fXlofK3/s1600/P1210067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi5C2fDhI8ZopJqOC4ulZn-u-uf5YFG7ilwDzEGXJbJD6lIG_RNZ4y6BQxVQNPO5WEXbZkZjO4RdL59fHTxhg9EhUNgwqdQvvBu_Dja7cl7D_R0Tq_wRanQKJU_qYtnnHbnZhK8fXlofK3/s400/P1210067.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;">I’m lost in her there holdin’ that pink rod and reel</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;">She’s doin’ almost everything but sittin’ still</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;">Talkin’ ‘bout her ballet shoes and training wheels</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;">And her kittens</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;">And she thinks we’re just fishin’</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;">I say, “Daddy loves you, baby” one more time</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;">She says, “I know. I think I got a bite.”</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;">And all this laughin’, cryin, smilin’ dyin’ here inside’s</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;">What I call, livin’</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;">And she thinks we’re just fishin’ on the riverside</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;">Throwin’ back what we could fry</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;">Drownin’ worms and killin’ time</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;">Nothin’ too ambitious</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;">She ain’t even thinkin’ ‘bout</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;">What’s really goin’ on right now</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;">But I guarantee this memory’s a big’in</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;">And she thinks we’re just fishin’</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;">She’s already pretty, like her mama is</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;">Gonna drive the boys all crazy</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;">Give her daddy fits</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;">And I better do this every chance I get</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;">‘Cause time is tickin’</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;">(Yeah it is)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;">And she thinks we’re just fishin’ on the riverside</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;">Throwin’ back what we could fry</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;">Drownin’ worms and killin’ time</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;">Nothin’ too ambitious</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;">She ain’t even thinkin’ ‘bout</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;">What’s really goin’ on right now</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;">But I guarantee this memory’s a big’in</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;">And she thinks we’re just fishin’</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;">She ain’t even thinkin’ ‘bout</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;">What’s really goin’ on right now</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;">But I guarantee this memory’s a big’in</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;">And she thinks we’re just fishin’</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;">Yeah, aww, she thinks we’re just fishin’</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;">We ain’t only fishin’</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;">(This ain’t about fishin’)</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYBI_MT2wTAfnQfL88sE6VcqtXlhVDnTVpN8D8xWQ1Q7nyGtLv6Elss192mmux9cbV67UozsxpGQZDaOWojC3ne41e0BP9iPVOvaCN5bV2SBM4Pn2R6ee1jQaykWmx9nRsKLxEz3ad_FNA/s1600/P1210073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYBI_MT2wTAfnQfL88sE6VcqtXlhVDnTVpN8D8xWQ1Q7nyGtLv6Elss192mmux9cbV67UozsxpGQZDaOWojC3ne41e0BP9iPVOvaCN5bV2SBM4Pn2R6ee1jQaykWmx9nRsKLxEz3ad_FNA/s400/P1210073.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiErnUWw6VB2nTBO75j59cl2Pjq7LqRxRCphhAmVPQtuOCgWoBADgFZz7C6r6WISXSC4DGpqaTs2jmjWzADKRPcxlUSdY8zFou7utPrunZrS7h1jiYFnYEUSFPxKFsp0r7jFFT_OmI8b-je/s1600/P1210079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiErnUWw6VB2nTBO75j59cl2Pjq7LqRxRCphhAmVPQtuOCgWoBADgFZz7C6r6WISXSC4DGpqaTs2jmjWzADKRPcxlUSdY8zFou7utPrunZrS7h1jiYFnYEUSFPxKFsp0r7jFFT_OmI8b-je/s400/P1210079.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgICWXG0G6Bnn9cCBPlB-qzs9cFzQ8kI4y-uL37u01bpYClxFIo4GI0tEwLb1F25UZP26U1ToEio_CXH9lp9ewRUUINhBh8mbnqPCkVbe_kGT5e4paPHh3-PwqKhicATlqLSp0FO9b1zWQB/s1600/P1210089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgICWXG0G6Bnn9cCBPlB-qzs9cFzQ8kI4y-uL37u01bpYClxFIo4GI0tEwLb1F25UZP26U1ToEio_CXH9lp9ewRUUINhBh8mbnqPCkVbe_kGT5e4paPHh3-PwqKhicATlqLSp0FO9b1zWQB/s400/P1210089.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQSu2tmVbA2i5HIBvJCnqa3atBnxf-AA0HYLKn7X-fc3gIFRumjahND8EWUghFJE8XLbjo2E10Yt6KfeqkP6bSO-_1bPbS4oiuHa2FGeVY6Go-LKWqUpGYZBDGvQwq0IT6_R67GUWVIwH1/s1600/P1210098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQSu2tmVbA2i5HIBvJCnqa3atBnxf-AA0HYLKn7X-fc3gIFRumjahND8EWUghFJE8XLbjo2E10Yt6KfeqkP6bSO-_1bPbS4oiuHa2FGeVY6Go-LKWqUpGYZBDGvQwq0IT6_R67GUWVIwH1/s400/P1210098.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Addie wanted company on a little island, </div><div style="text-align: center;">so she carried Gwen thru the muck.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ9xASuazvRS7PwkyIU5IqexIf6KxUXK3IcoxCUbS-FcYgHsS2NSLHh0b7dpgCnTM8cyP5rfH6kJuDQAvABBavg7RGBEvANw1Fdvn-3jVgGSeOyUfDJnxJnq7iiQ8sUC6iciUBFNwPu2v6/s1600/P1210100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ9xASuazvRS7PwkyIU5IqexIf6KxUXK3IcoxCUbS-FcYgHsS2NSLHh0b7dpgCnTM8cyP5rfH6kJuDQAvABBavg7RGBEvANw1Fdvn-3jVgGSeOyUfDJnxJnq7iiQ8sUC6iciUBFNwPu2v6/s400/P1210100.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">Ella slipped and fell....</div><div style="text-align: center;">leaving a big mud spot on her white shorts.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg49VtCnxIZKuQDNYfQiuOGfSv6KeDK_oHNYYqYyW2sHE3jtgIYO4d_kFGLG9as_1AWWYu19BU38gidKvgRB3-ted6B8gCRKdMircOCRZ69PY22W1Koqvi3aPGfoFX_eo9IIptjiEfbqpH9/s1600/P1210168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg49VtCnxIZKuQDNYfQiuOGfSv6KeDK_oHNYYqYyW2sHE3jtgIYO4d_kFGLG9as_1AWWYu19BU38gidKvgRB3-ted6B8gCRKdMircOCRZ69PY22W1Koqvi3aPGfoFX_eo9IIptjiEfbqpH9/s320/P1210168.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Josie tried to help me get a picture from behind....</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfrLswFQBSzeocErenVzsfdpdYZ3_LgrIrb7MWHvILgBzhQB1YRI-pAU6_x1hmGMfYApLlRyCxK1bQmJ_sl2keYstTJ0emBwPZk8tDnFeq7f0aAHCMBZYL7WVdQ0Kdx3qkwNJswCFJfpVn/s1600/P1210170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfrLswFQBSzeocErenVzsfdpdYZ3_LgrIrb7MWHvILgBzhQB1YRI-pAU6_x1hmGMfYApLlRyCxK1bQmJ_sl2keYstTJ0emBwPZk8tDnFeq7f0aAHCMBZYL7WVdQ0Kdx3qkwNJswCFJfpVn/s320/P1210170.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">....but Ella wanted nothing to do with such a photo.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju3-0p648EQ-GcesqjrinYmy9vF_gPHDsdkxYFe3oQaOKlCFdGu4TGmklah7TxKfhCSOuHh9yCdKTUDnNKiqAXu0rcMT9TbkHebuWY4vo8MYGeGdiZ4IgQ3W1goVU0T3PCYWX5K20uhpu9/s1600/P1210181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju3-0p648EQ-GcesqjrinYmy9vF_gPHDsdkxYFe3oQaOKlCFdGu4TGmklah7TxKfhCSOuHh9yCdKTUDnNKiqAXu0rcMT9TbkHebuWY4vo8MYGeGdiZ4IgQ3W1goVU0T3PCYWX5K20uhpu9/s320/P1210181.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sure wish I knew how to arrange photos.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Anyone know of a good tutorial?</div>jooleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18193793691205973384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7354033722303972653.post-37924446271053566662011-07-31T18:29:00.000-07:002011-08-01T06:39:15.634-07:00Barn Dance<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My wonderful friend and the girls' babysitter (still trying to think of a special name that describes what a blessing LaDeane has been to our family) invited us to her barn dance to celebrate her 30th wedding anniversary last night.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjENUSDuh7T0LPPhFfMC6ZDspYj_5JI6UIJQQrxj5_yZhTnULmjRVIyGq72cuYnsKy4AOCRiDxN7IFddQr3eBLKvqORjuXX2gC6qqv1MvGiBiHQ17pjJk5qt1Vej3noP2MDo2ApyFAbnIZb/s1600/P1210020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjENUSDuh7T0LPPhFfMC6ZDspYj_5JI6UIJQQrxj5_yZhTnULmjRVIyGq72cuYnsKy4AOCRiDxN7IFddQr3eBLKvqORjuXX2gC6qqv1MvGiBiHQ17pjJk5qt1Vej3noP2MDo2ApyFAbnIZb/s640/P1210020.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Decorating is not her "thing" so she agreed to let me add a few touches to their beautiful barn a few hours before the shindig started. Steve chauffeured me around the dirt roads Saturday morning, letting me out in the ditches to pick flowers in my mudboots and knees highs pulled up over my capris ensemble. I'm sure I was quite the sight. But one is not concerned with fashion when fighting her way through rodent/snake/insect infested foliage.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbc6jfW0a7ekx0Xp8OSKQJBQusJbYJ2gSpeBnv_82RwhnsStOlSh78s_9n9Jyz-5YG7vcTc3wN7gBTn2En1Qf8Y9hA_KQ9KrCkGk183_lRkKdXUQPoRP_VfKcX9qtCd_L5yTGNhNRZLN4G/s1600/P1210023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbc6jfW0a7ekx0Xp8OSKQJBQusJbYJ2gSpeBnv_82RwhnsStOlSh78s_9n9Jyz-5YG7vcTc3wN7gBTn2En1Qf8Y9hA_KQ9KrCkGk183_lRkKdXUQPoRP_VfKcX9qtCd_L5yTGNhNRZLN4G/s640/P1210023.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">The party was a wonderful excuse to pull out evidence of my "textile obsession." All my vintage tablecloths and patchwork quilts covered the tables and hay bales. My old floral hankies were strung from authentic (as in straight from the bale) twine along the white brick walls.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQWBbbxn5VJ8-HHRddGOE7AvIOMjiQcNLAFc9lGK8rvO9eRxPyamY3Q-pRPk8_kLVJFB22v9HN-BY_rCOelsKo5b0M5I5MmcoHxTp9fuC9av6ycdx0UbzrfotmnBF0Wh7JF9nOyusuZZTh/s1600/P1210025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQWBbbxn5VJ8-HHRddGOE7AvIOMjiQcNLAFc9lGK8rvO9eRxPyamY3Q-pRPk8_kLVJFB22v9HN-BY_rCOelsKo5b0M5I5MmcoHxTp9fuC9av6ycdx0UbzrfotmnBF0Wh7JF9nOyusuZZTh/s640/P1210025.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">My new $3 chalkboard was just the right size for the menu and my assorted 3s and 0s served as a reminder for the number of years Marvin and LaDeane were celebrating.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDoNfbEoJUqwxTkmMgj3ZucQWMk8mOkaQFcgdEEFRC3hYJaGMFlu5A6BHWFUyR50fbs6EoGg6l0y8YpdcSydMgJAs0J3b6-IKZl1lJ00pjoDmaz4fCpNNaineV3eI7dBltRa40F5GUXzho/s1600/P1210026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDoNfbEoJUqwxTkmMgj3ZucQWMk8mOkaQFcgdEEFRC3hYJaGMFlu5A6BHWFUyR50fbs6EoGg6l0y8YpdcSydMgJAs0J3b6-IKZl1lJ00pjoDmaz4fCpNNaineV3eI7dBltRa40F5GUXzho/s640/P1210026.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Josie was so excited to rock her new Goodwill cowboy hat.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq_hhNc38xc0mW9MjnDpAzDR4sQ6T7-eSljbDYp7_eaJDI9wPIXFgKPn7yMvo9ZM4YUPDc_hFHbekeIWRcIB5Va4UfiJ81HWmosm0f0Teg-EWKSptLi_5vSTqn4GDImyHbrlaP2R5ZlVh2/s1600/P1210031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq_hhNc38xc0mW9MjnDpAzDR4sQ6T7-eSljbDYp7_eaJDI9wPIXFgKPn7yMvo9ZM4YUPDc_hFHbekeIWRcIB5Va4UfiJ81HWmosm0f0Teg-EWKSptLi_5vSTqn4GDImyHbrlaP2R5ZlVh2/s400/P1210031.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Yeehaw!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_gMkLfo2oCo683JDwt81IsP0Dtb41l-YlFP8n6afuWHRG7gKRrAm7Sc4Tv5tzrLhxRRN0pAXeWzuQKvH-dhtnnk4P7sLlmmoQP5e_xeEuQjYB-FPR6t7k6aYpA22-v9hmsbAAwJiJRLyj/s1600/P1210036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_gMkLfo2oCo683JDwt81IsP0Dtb41l-YlFP8n6afuWHRG7gKRrAm7Sc4Tv5tzrLhxRRN0pAXeWzuQKvH-dhtnnk4P7sLlmmoQP5e_xeEuQjYB-FPR6t7k6aYpA22-v9hmsbAAwJiJRLyj/s400/P1210036.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Unfortunately we were unable to find any boots for the occasion.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxkrMZG6u8COnoVaUavNbWnwt5JBUPPsx4by-prOTRIJdAdJHkIqUnQWpFV8IeHvJRucPdqA5o-ZchsUgnuML-w1lNV0DA-qYQK5hTxHNvZb1kMFm7Z30beeX5Uak6p1sxgCnH6g-UoUIq/s1600/P1210041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxkrMZG6u8COnoVaUavNbWnwt5JBUPPsx4by-prOTRIJdAdJHkIqUnQWpFV8IeHvJRucPdqA5o-ZchsUgnuML-w1lNV0DA-qYQK5hTxHNvZb1kMFm7Z30beeX5Uak6p1sxgCnH6g-UoUIq/s640/P1210041.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The happy couple.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg97PT1T_bNZvtv6aIWdtjm_TaR5YIxagW8zPR1YihYJsLUj0xfFiKVU7sANXxUq4KDE_fI1XYCJcbiZ1GDhpDgffQoWvBEVgpORSGmycUftWaZes77vxUgzIOpOpD_Nx9io_Pe7Sqfe2of/s1600/P1210049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg97PT1T_bNZvtv6aIWdtjm_TaR5YIxagW8zPR1YihYJsLUj0xfFiKVU7sANXxUq4KDE_fI1XYCJcbiZ1GDhpDgffQoWvBEVgpORSGmycUftWaZes77vxUgzIOpOpD_Nx9io_Pe7Sqfe2of/s640/P1210049.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">A late night potassium refuel after all the dancing.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZAr__gLzWSycKd72VJ7aK6V337BzX3c6nu5WgKXmy2noMmifsaZnGudkIntR4PdBu60ebFsRDb8mgKg_gOLcQMrWEHkI-DXakjzEi2mqEwJtLBy9Re07NgNtUBIUMZWxmwY0WhO7fZc_d/s1600/P1210058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZAr__gLzWSycKd72VJ7aK6V337BzX3c6nu5WgKXmy2noMmifsaZnGudkIntR4PdBu60ebFsRDb8mgKg_gOLcQMrWEHkI-DXakjzEi2mqEwJtLBy9Re07NgNtUBIUMZWxmwY0WhO7fZc_d/s400/P1210058.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Our first ever barn dance.</div><div style="text-align: center;">It was a good thing.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Steve and I humiliating ourselves</div><div style="text-align: center;">with an incredibly failed attempt </div><div style="text-align: center;">at some Garth Brooks karaoke.....</div><div style="text-align: center;">NOT a good thing.</div>jooleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18193793691205973384noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7354033722303972653.post-73290820861040566242011-07-19T08:28:00.000-07:002011-07-19T08:55:55.871-07:00my little corner of the world<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">OK.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'll admit it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I am spoiled.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This morning's "breakfast" is a piece of pound cake </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">drizzled in my yummy raspberry sauce</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">with a dollup of Cool Whip.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Eaten in front of the computer </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">where I have been "pinning" like a crazy woman </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">while the girls "play" school.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Essentially, Addie is teaching Gwen to read.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thank you Hooked on Phonics</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(and Addie).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/mom24girlies/pins/">Pinterest.</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's my new latest obsession.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As <a href="http://superfluouslysabro.blogspot.com/">Sabrina</a> described it......</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"a glorious time waster."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Exactly.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Made me want to "pin" a few of my own</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">favorite corners of my world.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge2WJLPZx1wm3kG8fZ66Z5XxqewzePhU8vgehmzxZBlQ1B0onPq2lAA_DJ9fYycslwtigAA4qg2Q3Zy9Ut_2q19ZYLB3XzxVATyIttqtCsfPSco-gVm-sx4oaYchTe5rviWcwiYKqJdzIT/s1600/P1150819.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge2WJLPZx1wm3kG8fZ66Z5XxqewzePhU8vgehmzxZBlQ1B0onPq2lAA_DJ9fYycslwtigAA4qg2Q3Zy9Ut_2q19ZYLB3XzxVATyIttqtCsfPSco-gVm-sx4oaYchTe5rviWcwiYKqJdzIT/s640/P1150819.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">A homonym flashcard from a set I found at a garage sale</div><div style="text-align: center;">set in a $12 frame I found in the basement of our local antique store.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Hard to see.....</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">SEW</div><div style="text-align: center;">Mary can sew well.</div><div style="text-align: center;">SOW</div><div style="text-align: center;">The farmer will sow his seed.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">LOVE it because <a href="http://ilovemarysmakings.blogspot.com/">my friend with the book deals Mary</a></div><div style="text-align: center;">CAN sew well</div><div style="text-align: center;">and we are surrounded my farmers sowing their seeds.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYvEr-iia20367v_ha9SZg03EUkUqt9OUzdS16Dmv3Xq9kEdLfWtCEEc_EhRv_po9O0JxFCQi6-DJhakqAfzhwrHUF43IwZcMxTgP0osvyZfqdjrYYTxmifGwqkUHq_dvBgaQgd_rZsQ0w/s1600/P1170372.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYvEr-iia20367v_ha9SZg03EUkUqt9OUzdS16Dmv3Xq9kEdLfWtCEEc_EhRv_po9O0JxFCQi6-DJhakqAfzhwrHUF43IwZcMxTgP0osvyZfqdjrYYTxmifGwqkUHq_dvBgaQgd_rZsQ0w/s400/P1170372.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Until I can decide what I want to do with this lovely huge frame</div><div style="text-align: center;">it will provide a spot of color on our otherwise drab walls.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzGSE9P3bb52L6sjqv0NBXlik4lwCxKZy-_4y2nMz_Q-vtAXbl90Uc93CL-wRw5XYWsumlSuL9ILdxGWKEPmMLPKOXXKWEpGlHcIC_XtTburD0Zwn9AfsKQu25TQE_ewjxM-DruDlAQcaU/s1600/P1190563.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzGSE9P3bb52L6sjqv0NBXlik4lwCxKZy-_4y2nMz_Q-vtAXbl90Uc93CL-wRw5XYWsumlSuL9ILdxGWKEPmMLPKOXXKWEpGlHcIC_XtTburD0Zwn9AfsKQu25TQE_ewjxM-DruDlAQcaU/s640/P1190563.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">On top of our piano....</div><div style="text-align: center;">neat old books,</div><div style="text-align: center;">a recently completed silhouette of one of the girls</div><div style="text-align: center;">and a HUGE map of Duluth.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn7dTUujeF0X3FEpTtSzbE5hojkAxMkmaTcF9ukONgMzGfI96c2_klYQdZ6SjhYbaNF3lI3oyHM4AgWZnePj8qOQiiNN7vkWGNSBCWRTSgzwfzRLXwHP2FmCHxlSqWG9IE615NsmnlDF4n/s1600/P1190569.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn7dTUujeF0X3FEpTtSzbE5hojkAxMkmaTcF9ukONgMzGfI96c2_klYQdZ6SjhYbaNF3lI3oyHM4AgWZnePj8qOQiiNN7vkWGNSBCWRTSgzwfzRLXwHP2FmCHxlSqWG9IE615NsmnlDF4n/s640/P1190569.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Though not entirely functional </div><div style="text-align: center;">as it dims the light a tidge,</div><div style="text-align: center;">I used a bit of an old holy heirloom quilt</div><div style="text-align: center;">to top this super tall thrift store lamp.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJYGRHVF36UPQVxZFYzmvDYwrntqFQk-Jvld3N_dCdZ6qnTP-H2qmZydYiM0hMGYVgolFZf4CivOWrnNFUDjC6Csvf3skryxPp_cXgS0cbaGCJExDvlFwLN5BKRsWu0l9Hk2U807_bn_qc/s1600/P1190615.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJYGRHVF36UPQVxZFYzmvDYwrntqFQk-Jvld3N_dCdZ6qnTP-H2qmZydYiM0hMGYVgolFZf4CivOWrnNFUDjC6Csvf3skryxPp_cXgS0cbaGCJExDvlFwLN5BKRsWu0l9Hk2U807_bn_qc/s640/P1190615.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Truly, my current favorite corner of the house. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Color = Happiness.</div>jooleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18193793691205973384noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7354033722303972653.post-25936166077171756582011-07-16T20:42:00.000-07:002011-07-16T20:42:40.032-07:00Occupational BERRapY<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
Addie is improving, her appetite and energy level both increasing. </div><div style="text-align: center;">She is still quite pale due to her low hemoglobin levels </div><div style="text-align: center;">and is quite bruised from all the poking and pulling </div><div style="text-align: center;">of last week's interventions.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">But man, can that girl pick berries!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwxsZuJOu-d9sufMPd5iO6AoMw-jQ2ockKdRvSckqEaaMaKfC_49QZiY7smKvvwCo5Qi9uzcEpqobeT81O6K8e47wUIzsdCAgoDd_F_EqDyc-jmIMeuAUc-YDlj52nwco1OIL0Bn1WU4vw/s1600/P1190573.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwxsZuJOu-d9sufMPd5iO6AoMw-jQ2ockKdRvSckqEaaMaKfC_49QZiY7smKvvwCo5Qi9uzcEpqobeT81O6K8e47wUIzsdCAgoDd_F_EqDyc-jmIMeuAUc-YDlj52nwco1OIL0Bn1WU4vw/s320/P1190573.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Her sisters have gotten bored with the hunting and gathering.</div><div style="text-align: center;">But Addie is loving it!</div><div style="text-align: center;">She rushes to tell me every time she finds a new great spot</div><div style="text-align: center;">or fills a bucket.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I love her enthusiasm.</div><div style="text-align: center;">And after being stuck in bed for two weeks<br />
I am sure </div><div style="text-align: center;">it is quite therapeutic.<br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnLrLkO0FUlGHbIJpTWsouIrKCdamgiD4YIKTifJ0Kt6X0PMTn4Dg4lJy8tY4RIJvVkAaG-ER9LZEZsgcy_0BcTczbO5mGhI8Uq5LY-6SLPP2Wxqgh6PDHFIk_LMwczmhQXI0IfyYtXWyl/s1600/P1190575.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnLrLkO0FUlGHbIJpTWsouIrKCdamgiD4YIKTifJ0Kt6X0PMTn4Dg4lJy8tY4RIJvVkAaG-ER9LZEZsgcy_0BcTczbO5mGhI8Uq5LY-6SLPP2Wxqgh6PDHFIk_LMwczmhQXI0IfyYtXWyl/s320/P1190575.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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</div></div>jooleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18193793691205973384noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7354033722303972653.post-44748953688235184592011-07-12T19:48:00.000-07:002011-08-29T06:58:39.152-07:00all in a [few] day's workI am still processing the events of the past couple weeks in which Addie's "kidney infection" turned out to be a very scary case of hemolytic uremic syndrome requiring an ambulance ride to Mayo, 2 platelet transfusions, one blood transfusion, and two sessions of dialysis over our 8 day stay in the hospital.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtiTeRZAlU9d1HCRg6nYBkP_1tkYrtPiTUVXPzFTgfEJxqep6vZAART3zVJuzTF7f_pVaACVT3F-K47H-txOu9IIQUBBUSbmckSu40eQJm3hX0HU3F5wPUJWGNxmFvLDEnkuH-fg_CRzC2/s1600/P1190486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtiTeRZAlU9d1HCRg6nYBkP_1tkYrtPiTUVXPzFTgfEJxqep6vZAART3zVJuzTF7f_pVaACVT3F-K47H-txOu9IIQUBBUSbmckSu40eQJm3hX0HU3F5wPUJWGNxmFvLDEnkuH-fg_CRzC2/s400/P1190486.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">(detailed post to come)</div><br />
I have spent the last couple of days trying to manage my "post-traumatic" stress by scraping all the nasty linoleum and residue from the top of my latest find. As usual, in my excitement to transform something crusty into something beautiful, I failed to take a 'before' photo. You will have to take my word that it required HOURS of hand-cramping scraping with a screwdriver and a few coats of my new favorite turquoise paint to get this result.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNUDhCbZQMz5UvMkXXC5IJriNJCO3ovcbOHpmK4icED_dRASgddnU9svy9rl7grZoJDuh2yBQHZVHLStUEOBuZNhsGRQaYQbfbrAyiJOQxbk2SX4XZUm7a_vt0Rmlgz8Y547GkuG9RQj5W/s1600/P1190547.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNUDhCbZQMz5UvMkXXC5IJriNJCO3ovcbOHpmK4icED_dRASgddnU9svy9rl7grZoJDuh2yBQHZVHLStUEOBuZNhsGRQaYQbfbrAyiJOQxbk2SX4XZUm7a_vt0Rmlgz8Y547GkuG9RQj5W/s400/P1190547.JPG" width="225" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
I spent $20 on the furniture and just over $10 on paint and am quite pleased with the outcome. Plenty of shoe storage and lots of display potential. Originally I planned to cover the top in red gingham oilcloth, but I'm fine with the rustic look for now.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGna1tV9COYghnXNWCG0HjJljOmjp4IyhAlqASGRR_t_9NTcbA9I5m9EB_yq1BhnZQTOuDZDD0MfczqlGLhjkUbgGGP3F60LzglBgjfdl8VwN19wEvdTT3ttm9uEx4kT3ZDV_ZOg0hDHkg/s1600/P1190557.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGna1tV9COYghnXNWCG0HjJljOmjp4IyhAlqASGRR_t_9NTcbA9I5m9EB_yq1BhnZQTOuDZDD0MfczqlGLhjkUbgGGP3F60LzglBgjfdl8VwN19wEvdTT3ttm9uEx4kT3ZDV_ZOg0hDHkg/s640/P1190557.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
I made sure that hubby the kill-joy didn't even have to help carry my finished product from the pole barn to the house. You should have seen my four girlies and me heaving it up the deck stairs. I was so proud of them:) To be expected, Steve still insists it wasn't worth the $20 I paid.<br />
Sigh.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaIG7SQhEq3UOMDuLJ5t9QFLW9p6L9iTKhQCA6Rzw72aqyD30dj5in3vXx0isF-4PFbZ7Mo_eRyotSl4My2f4r3eh9_hh-2hqSNfjmM-KCiTkhXsAueU7qRjI37MOHFzA_G_oj4TBUy-4O/s1600/P1190549.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaIG7SQhEq3UOMDuLJ5t9QFLW9p6L9iTKhQCA6Rzw72aqyD30dj5in3vXx0isF-4PFbZ7Mo_eRyotSl4My2f4r3eh9_hh-2hqSNfjmM-KCiTkhXsAueU7qRjI37MOHFzA_G_oj4TBUy-4O/s640/P1190549.JPG" width="360" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I must show you some comparables to defend my decision making.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ii.sundancecatalog.com/sundance/images//products/en_us/detail/54190.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="319" src="http://ii.sundancecatalog.com/sundance/images//products/en_us/detail/54190.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sundance West Country Sideboard $1595</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.wisteria.com/images/w2264.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.wisteria.com/images/w2264.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Wisteria Stacked Sideboard $499</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A $32 turquoise sideboard. It's a good thing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>jooleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18193793691205973384noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7354033722303972653.post-54047780566135126892011-07-01T08:52:00.000-07:002011-07-01T08:52:54.390-07:00July heat.Can it really be July already?<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Am I getting a smidge predictable with my intros? </span><br />
<i>Where has the time gone?</i><br />
<i>Where have I been the past two months?</i><br />
<i>Is summer really half over?</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
Maybe if I were to be more diligent in my blog writing I could spare you<br />
the predictable laments over the passage of time<br />
and cut to the chase.<br />
<br />
As much as it saddens my heart,<br />
it IS July.<br />
And today's high is supposed to be 98!<br />
NOT counting all the humidity!<br />
Ew.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWmtxZEnytbMaqgvQ83pmZc5DpG15YDmx-hEO1L5SL2Kp1z4wF6S85yDpfzCD9Yrsl5ZrtQgeFJTuHItYITXE-ilu6c0E2voS8IYg-VWTMUb5faVfpB12SLMR4mHxlFvz-60vJKmxANpm-/s1600/P1190364.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWmtxZEnytbMaqgvQ83pmZc5DpG15YDmx-hEO1L5SL2Kp1z4wF6S85yDpfzCD9Yrsl5ZrtQgeFJTuHItYITXE-ilu6c0E2voS8IYg-VWTMUb5faVfpB12SLMR4mHxlFvz-60vJKmxANpm-/s400/P1190364.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">You can just see the heat and humidity in the air.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">We now have another fruit bearing tree!</div><div style="text-align: center;">(It blossomed last year, but no fruit.)</div><div style="text-align: center;">Nothing makes me feel quite as rich as </div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">pears on a tree.</span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">Evidence of Steve's latest "hobby."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<br />
<br />
Today I am incredibly thankful that we splurged on that pool<br />
that fits perfectly on our old silo slab.<br />
Sweet relief!<br />
<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Addie has been suspiciously absent from recent photos </div><div style="text-align: center;">as she is battling a kidney infection.</div><div style="text-align: center;">And possibly something else.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Poor kid hasn't been able to keep anything down since SUNDAY!</div><div style="text-align: center;">They put her on an IV yesterday and told us to come back today if she wasn't better.</div><div style="text-align: center;">So we are going in. again.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Praying for answers.......</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>jooleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18193793691205973384noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7354033722303972653.post-76066197435236609062011-05-24T09:30:00.000-07:002011-05-24T10:17:21.116-07:00more GweNIV translations<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">I tried to convince Addie to try out for a community theater production of</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">"Tried to convince" really means I bribed her with $100.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">What can I say, I am an encourager.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">I also tried to convince Steve to try out</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(there are lots of male </span><s><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">parts</span></s><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> characters)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">for the part of Pharoah, who sings like Elvis,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Steve's fave.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Gwen overheard me talking to him on the phone</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">as I told him the part had his "name all over it."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Once I had hung up, she asked,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"Does is say 'Daddy, Daddy, Daddy' </span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">or 'Steve, Steve, Steve'?"</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Gwen: Mommy, what's your favorite color?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Me: Oh, it depends on the day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Gwen: What day is today?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Me: Saturday.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Gwen: What is your favorite color on Saturday?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSGSeO5AoGVtV6B54x1i7GG8dmVZdggKJPLrAzGNpBEuOpvXP0DM5EdcDmseTq7a6rK2NIkpuoXoKUW1VZHBtrGykhoXiAGGbllhEnagGFmnQRSrccSR4E2E2mgn23IT1fPD36g9TFBWTp/s1600/P1180476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSGSeO5AoGVtV6B54x1i7GG8dmVZdggKJPLrAzGNpBEuOpvXP0DM5EdcDmseTq7a6rK2NIkpuoXoKUW1VZHBtrGykhoXiAGGbllhEnagGFmnQRSrccSR4E2E2mgn23IT1fPD36g9TFBWTp/s400/P1180476.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Gwen about to cut off lots of her thick beautiful hair.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I just couldn't keep up.</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">*Sigh*</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">My baby girl will be five this week:(</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
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</span></b></div>jooleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18193793691205973384noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7354033722303972653.post-90773179934939391332011-05-19T12:39:00.000-07:002011-05-19T12:39:54.212-07:00my new little pillsI just discovered I have a hypothyroid. I will spare you the details, but the past couple of months I've had some pretty bizarre and unexplainable symptoms leading me to believe I had a blood clot in my leg, a brain tumor and/or I was about to have a stroke. This past week was the scariest, leading me to the ER where I was sure I was about to die and yet was unwilling to be admitted due to a high insurance deductible. I think that qualifies me as a "die hard penny pincher." Give me the choice of a gamble with extinction or $1500 out of pocket, I choose the crapshoot of death. Afraid and wanting to be in capable hands in the event that I did stroke out, I stayed in the ER waiting room with my poor scared girlies who had just been quizzed on emergency cell phone usage until Steve was able to pick me up and take me to an open Dr. appointment down the road.<br />
<br />
Welp, after some testing that involved laying flat on my back with my naked "I nursed four babies" boobies hanging next to me (humiliation), peeing in a cup, and some blood work, the results were in. Phew! I am so relieved! At one point in the waiting room, one of the girls came over to hug me (I was in tears) and then another and then another and then another. It felt like a scene out of a tragic movie, and I was sure this was the last memory the girls would ever have of me. I'm getting emotional just thinking about it. Then again, emotional instability can be a symptom of hypothyroidism.<br />
<br />
There are many symptoms of a hypothyroid, making me confident that this little pill I now have to take every morning an hour before eating will change my life for the better. I thought I would share just a few of my expected results.<br />
<br />
<br />
<ul><li>I will effortlessly drop 30 pounds.</li>
<li>I will remember to mail every bill and birthday/thank you card on time.</li>
<li>I will stay awake for romantic comedies and Steve's late night ramblings about Bin Laden's death conspiracies.</li>
<li>I will have a full head of thick shiny hair and will no longer need mousse or Drain-o.</li>
<li>I will have the focus and energy to design and implement a weekly menu plan.</li>
<li>I will have healthy regular bowel movements.</li>
<li>I will have the mental clarity and discipline to become a fabulous guitarist.</li>
<li>I will be a Fun Mommy.</li>
<li>I will have the energy to coach Addie's softball team and dig up all the grass clumps still in our garden plot.</li>
<li>I will catch up on laundry.</li>
<li>I will post weekly blog entries that fall under the "witty" and "charming" categories.</li>
<li>I will have the focus necessary to read and understand my camera manual.</li>
<li>I will become a skilled hip-hop dancer.</li>
</ul><div>So, that's it. I have an answer. And a little pill that is about to rock my world:)</div>jooleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18193793691205973384noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7354033722303972653.post-77829217852227596552011-05-10T06:13:00.000-07:002011-05-10T06:21:57.196-07:00on deadlinesI have always needed a deadline to be productive. Yes, I was the one who waited till the night before a term paper was due to pull an all-nighter. I need to know that company will be arriving in few hours before I manage to collect enough dust bunnies from the stairs to stuff a body pillow. And I need a friend to link to my blog calling it "witty" and "charming" before I can barely manage to pull myself out of my <a href="http://aspotonthesopha.blogspot.com/2008/09/thing-about-afternoon-birthday-parties.html">"much too long" Mother's Day nap</a> stupor to post something non-whiney.<br />
<br />
Witty and charming. Ready. Set. Go.<br />
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<br />
Okay. That is too much pressure. Even for me.<br />
<br />
It is supposed to get into the 90s today! BLECK! I can already feel the humidity induced blemishes surfacing on my chin. On the other hand, I am absolutely giddy about the garden we have planned this year. I have seeds started both at home and at the nursing home where I work and my beans are already a foot tall! I have to say, I feel like a little kid when it comes to things growing out of the dirt. God is a fabulous magician, and even though I know the outcome of seed + dirt + sun + water, I still stand flabbergasted on the mornings the first little shoots have managed to poke their little heads above the soil. Amazing.<br />
<br />
<br />
And that's it folks. An incredible failed attempt at "witty" and "charming." And now I'll post a picture of my dream gardens so you forget how lame my blog is.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://fineartamerica.com/images-medium/zinnia-garden-randy-ricketts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://fineartamerica.com/images-medium/zinnia-garden-randy-ricketts.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm246/randerson08/Vegetable%20Gardening/CIMG2486.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm246/randerson08/Vegetable%20Gardening/CIMG2486.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>jooleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18193793691205973384noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7354033722303972653.post-52007040548591639232011-04-24T09:25:00.000-07:002011-04-24T09:25:55.539-07:00A post totally unrelated to Resurrection SundayIt is Easter Sunday and I am still in my jammies. Home with a puking Gwen and, to be entirely honest, not too sad to be missing the day's festivities. Having picked up more hours at work, along with the home schooling (and bill paying, and laundry, and dishes etc.), I am feeling a smidge overwhelmed. I welcome this day to stay home and do nothing, even if it means emptying the occasional puke bucket. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Though I DO hope she bounces back quickly.</span><br />
<br />
Once again, behind on my blog writing, I find it difficult to know where to begin. Much has happened these past few weeks. Our beautiful old barn burned down. I am still mourning that loss and dreading all the clean-up that is involved, if we could only find more time. I plan to write a post all about our big old barn one of these days, to help me work through my grief.....if grief is an emotion one can experience over the loss of a building.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSqiX-fu_M9GGBgJI9qtkC0TxJFW1WqaaarOyJXZ8uM36PvS6es-gBvhNxvon2xeOTUKBBjPCrsKPCIxw6bJtZRiMcRXnWUJDk8ElZU_bbTqwnMTnnoHn-GzZrGEPTt-P3qHc6tnZgRcU5/s1600/P1170913.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSqiX-fu_M9GGBgJI9qtkC0TxJFW1WqaaarOyJXZ8uM36PvS6es-gBvhNxvon2xeOTUKBBjPCrsKPCIxw6bJtZRiMcRXnWUJDk8ElZU_bbTqwnMTnnoHn-GzZrGEPTt-P3qHc6tnZgRcU5/s400/P1170913.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
One of our cats just had kittens. On Addie's 10th birthday, no less. It is such a miracle! I am amazed that Twix, not quite a year old herself, is such an incredibly selfless mother, constantly nursing and cleaning and cuddling......and purring the entire time! I could learn a thing or two from Twix about being content in my mothering. But then again, Twix isn't dealing with dramatic girls unable or unwilling to find matching dress shoes for church, unwilling to comb their snarly hair before putting it in a ponytail, or disputes over wardrobes. Ah, to be a momma cat!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2UvmM6Hk8eANEHqtkga898N_Qh-YEKCmpdWSHkHM7PSjX7d0ZxBXmjpVq3UU01b79AkfQ3AMSKzxqcsPorW_jF4R7-D4Rrbr7-XMVJBUitwh7JgZlVlUg7otGD3NxPQd7yTJlRVB_qjPW/s1600/P1180104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2UvmM6Hk8eANEHqtkga898N_Qh-YEKCmpdWSHkHM7PSjX7d0ZxBXmjpVq3UU01b79AkfQ3AMSKzxqcsPorW_jF4R7-D4Rrbr7-XMVJBUitwh7JgZlVlUg7otGD3NxPQd7yTJlRVB_qjPW/s400/P1180104.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The girls searched and searched before finding Twix and her new kittens in a hollow log in the woods. <br />
We have since moved them all to the warmth and safety of our basement.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOYeN41_qDhWPnD0Wq9qwsK0p9otKwJCE4Ug3svYwuLSQiqkyxH_JYheYTr1lZUkbg7Uz1t3nP0iz8292N3G634Vci0DuH7sdCwwjulrROJM5ovF26noPOP_3UkY0y7iZMrvLN2vi2oNSX/s1600/P1180122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOYeN41_qDhWPnD0Wq9qwsK0p9otKwJCE4Ug3svYwuLSQiqkyxH_JYheYTr1lZUkbg7Uz1t3nP0iz8292N3G634Vci0DuH7sdCwwjulrROJM5ovF26noPOP_3UkY0y7iZMrvLN2vi2oNSX/s400/P1180122.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cheetoh, Dorito, Sprinkles, Neo(politan), and Frito<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">Now, to find me a Cadbury egg.....</div>jooleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18193793691205973384noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7354033722303972653.post-47563975449437699062011-03-24T10:08:00.000-07:002011-03-24T10:08:16.159-07:00Something about MaryI have an amazing friend named Mary. In my world, all people with the name of Mary are amazing.......sweet, generous, thoughtful, and just plain <b>good</b>. This Mary is no exception. She is an excellent listener, sparkling conversationalist, thoughtful and generous, (several of my all time favorite gifts were from her!) and she has the heart......oh, her heart.......what animal has a huge heart? The heart of an elephant?!? Hmmmmm. She is always giving.......her time and money......to her church, her charities, her friends, and the beggars on the streets of Vegas. By comparison, this girl's heart makes me feel like the Grinch who stole Christmas......at the beginning of the story! She is amazing!<br />
<div><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHVsJJ5lweGJp5tkPINC9NReydtIA2T0ZxsEY5Md0sNnujxHw6-hS7OqdduTse0EJ_wmO1aCG0eyEjvOYI-Zugh-jkGZSyBOHysMhogJ9noVpZ0V7K8aFFXfHgX9DEHPodGslwDvzAYg6u/s1600/SDC10141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHVsJJ5lweGJp5tkPINC9NReydtIA2T0ZxsEY5Md0sNnujxHw6-hS7OqdduTse0EJ_wmO1aCG0eyEjvOYI-Zugh-jkGZSyBOHysMhogJ9noVpZ0V7K8aFFXfHgX9DEHPodGslwDvzAYg6u/s320/SDC10141.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mary and her hubby Troy<br />
last week in Vegas!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Another little something about Mary is that she is incredibly creative, crafty, artistic and disciplined. She may have <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">snagged not one, but two book deals</span></span>, is about to teach some crafty community education classes, and quite recently has started BLOGGING! Ever humble, when I mentioned that I would like to send all 5 of my readers in her direction, she begged me to leave out the part about the book deals and instead wanted me to tell you that she is DESPERATE to gain followers of her blog. So go! Check out <a href="http://ilovemarysmakings.blogspot.com/">my amazing friend Mary</a>! She blogs frequently and get this......it is all <a href="http://ilovemarysmakings.blogspot.com/">useful, how-to info you can use</a> yourself! <a href="http://ilovemarysmakings.blogspot.com/">Go! Follow!</a> I am so proud to call this gal my friend!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div><br />
</div>jooleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18193793691205973384noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7354033722303972653.post-90662386093714002752011-03-22T10:29:00.000-07:002011-03-22T10:37:44.025-07:00I fall. I trip. I am hooked on phonics.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD3fcXzEAFvs01B1tR-3xxXPfkva1nmg09nd93V71XOU73-_efzDWjyQ0XYe2pNk1hI3iaeJkSdVRtor1-s_L9ImUbZ0fba6-KtO5LI9oNJv8GYy_VIg0tvAxRpLKIH69fUaAAiF6ijQ8G/s1600/SDC10181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD3fcXzEAFvs01B1tR-3xxXPfkva1nmg09nd93V71XOU73-_efzDWjyQ0XYe2pNk1hI3iaeJkSdVRtor1-s_L9ImUbZ0fba6-KtO5LI9oNJv8GYy_VIg0tvAxRpLKIH69fUaAAiF6ijQ8G/s200/SDC10181.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><br />
We were lucky enough to spend the better part of last week vacationing with wonderful friends in Las Vegas. Without kids. (Thanks Mom and Dad!) I will spare you the details, but there was a big fall. Not even a second after this photo was taken. And there was tripping. I swear there was something sticky on the casino floors. And on some of the airport floors as well. Poor Steve. I fear I was a bit of an embarrassment. But now I am back at home in rural Iowa. Where I belong.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW1acoAEk58UstZ0dlpsONXH0xqbf3M9X5CS7BAZi9OGt8avsYKKgf2CS_Vxhyg14Pkc5T3_yCYmR3eGB9gppumsjXpsWC2YnV2UoAa-i0BYovpcldLC-y7TubQDr6NDXr17nOx2noNjau/s1600/SDC10251.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW1acoAEk58UstZ0dlpsONXH0xqbf3M9X5CS7BAZi9OGt8avsYKKgf2CS_Vxhyg14Pkc5T3_yCYmR3eGB9gppumsjXpsWC2YnV2UoAa-i0BYovpcldLC-y7TubQDr6NDXr17nOx2noNjau/s640/SDC10251.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And our sweet little Ella just graduated to the 2nd grade Hooked on Phonics curriculum!</div>jooleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18193793691205973384noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7354033722303972653.post-19673734326710234362011-02-26T19:50:00.000-08:002011-02-26T19:51:28.717-08:00on not being funRemember <a href="http://aspotonthesopha.blogspot.com/2008/07/fun-daddycrippled-mommy.html">this post</a> about Fun Daddy?<br />
Welp, nothing has changed since I wrote it.<br />
Steve is just as fun as ever.....<br />
and I know the girls love him more than they love me.<br />
At least in the way they understand the word love.<br />
And I guess, if I have to be, I'm okay with that.<br />
I know that everything would fall apart here<br />
if it weren't for the rules and expectations and non-fun<br />
that I bring to the table.<br />
It's a classic case of good cop vs. bad cop.<br />
<br />
Addie wrote <a href="http://addiesacademicadventures.blogspot.com/2011/02/family.html">a poem about my whole side of the family</a><br />
for our get-together last weekend.<br />
She just finished up verses about us,<br />
her immediately family.<br />
Notice, if you will, how FUN my whole family is......<br />
and then there is me.....<br />
who likes to have clean floors.<br />
path.<br />
etic.<br />
<br />
Maybe I chose the wrong day to freak out about the peanut butter<br />
and gatorade speckled chairs<br />
that we JUST BROUGHT HOME<br />
Tuesday night......after waiting <b>months</b> for them to be recovered.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">I haven't even had a chance to scotchguard them yet.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJpnIf40Kp5QbbSzsz3bj6KFndiVi0M-KNhycHzbxRXXstRgzTWmJ1uxd-GLN8HBs3P4by0GiyIHGpINCDkXFVluJWcktBcP7ydwn8MmcMMBWKqzFEZ7anrskqbKE4kaYhpz4TX2FmQ-O2/s1600/P1170728.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJpnIf40Kp5QbbSzsz3bj6KFndiVi0M-KNhycHzbxRXXstRgzTWmJ1uxd-GLN8HBs3P4by0GiyIHGpINCDkXFVluJWcktBcP7ydwn8MmcMMBWKqzFEZ7anrskqbKE4kaYhpz4TX2FmQ-O2/s640/P1170728.JPG" width="360" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Earlier this week Steve took Gwen to the high school basketball game.<br />
Just the two of them.<br />
He told me last night that they were running a bit late<br />
so he had scooped her up in his arms and run with her into the building.<br />
As he lowered her to the ground Gwen asked,<br />
"Do you know who my favorite person in our family is, Daddy?"<br />
Of course, it was him.<br />
She then asked <i>him</i> who <i>his</i> favorite was.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">She </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">feels</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> like she is Daddy's favorite.</span><br />
<br />
You can be sure I am not about to throw out<br />
our rules<br />
or chores<br />
or limits on TV and Wii playing.<br />
I am not about to give them free access<br />
to sugar<br />
or chips<br />
and paint supplies.<br />
<br />
But maybe.....just maybe......<br />
I should try harder.....<br />
shake my booty a little harder.......<br />
sing a little louder......<br />
go down in the pitch dark basement with them when they ask,<br />
pretending to care exactly HOW dark it <i>really</i> is........<br />
to prove to myself<br />
if not to them<br />
that <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">I AM FUN!!!</span></b>jooleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18193793691205973384noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7354033722303972653.post-87432040653166126662011-02-21T12:06:00.000-08:002011-02-21T12:06:22.640-08:00eating my words<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><s>Dear Winter,</s></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><s>Looks like we have to say goodbye. </s></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><s>I am not </s><i><s>really</s></i><s> sad about it,</s></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><s>but I </s><i><s>will be</s></i><s> excited to see you again...</s></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><s>when the time is right.</s></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><s>And if I start missing you before then,</s></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><s>I have these pictures</s></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><s>from one of your more attractive days</s></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><s>to remember you by.</s></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><s></s></div><s></s><br />
<s></s><br />
<s><div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; clear: both; font-family: Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><s>So long,</s></div><div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; clear: both; font-family: Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><s>Julie</s></div></s><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><s><br />
</s></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">munch. munch.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">chew. chew.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">swallow.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"></span></b></div><b></b><br />
<b><div class="" style="clear: both; font-family: Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Winter is back with a vengeance.</div><div class="" style="clear: both; font-family: Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">But at least I got to experience </div><div class="" style="clear: both; font-family: Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Jason and Becca's fabulous backyard ice rink</div><div class="" style="clear: both; font-family: Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">and my mom's </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">"way better than they used to make them back in the day"</div><div class="" style="clear: both; font-family: Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">ice skates.</div><div class="" style="clear: both; font-family: Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgltxGa6U94Yy4J1wKJaX_BuhFrrr-v3rgDPuI6KJ_Lz7AqSbrJX68WvBNBZap5vexQRklRooGw_-hE6iK_URaH7vhHVG8MWAeA2Yd1NVcdKcJu323KgiFOkY3HVMPXpCnweS3WRQL03yci/s1600/P1170662.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgltxGa6U94Yy4J1wKJaX_BuhFrrr-v3rgDPuI6KJ_Lz7AqSbrJX68WvBNBZap5vexQRklRooGw_-hE6iK_URaH7vhHVG8MWAeA2Yd1NVcdKcJu323KgiFOkY3HVMPXpCnweS3WRQL03yci/s400/P1170662.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhOxw5aSpKFpkhCXHoU6TOijm58cjaB-fO082Om66tXmf_oQmgPQrgyh93Xh7ADRYTRk_f1eW1ZnkwgFzhBv3oJ0hVh7qzZigcve7Y_JAji9e7ow4WOouNTFyryuF64B1-yyGcOcOfqI7G/s1600/P1170649.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhOxw5aSpKFpkhCXHoU6TOijm58cjaB-fO082Om66tXmf_oQmgPQrgyh93Xh7ADRYTRk_f1eW1ZnkwgFzhBv3oJ0hVh7qzZigcve7Y_JAji9e7ow4WOouNTFyryuF64B1-yyGcOcOfqI7G/s400/P1170649.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; font-family: Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Today, I am thankful that we are all alive.</div><div class="" style="clear: both; font-family: Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Because 13 kids and a few adults on ice</div><div class="" style="clear: both; font-family: Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">with broomball and hockey sticks</div><div class="" style="clear: both; font-family: Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">and a puck</div><div class="" style="clear: both; font-family: Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">might be considered a pretty big gamble.</div><div class="" style="clear: both; font-family: Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">As is making the long drive home </div><div class="" style="clear: both; font-family: Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">during the biggest blizzard of the season.</div><div><br />
</div></b><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeUb9_GisC1XsEJoxLtKiloiEORV5q2LUyycSWS79TssyuueasZfnCnULK7hHCNdAC12z2iyINTcUuS9ZYBVLclsBzuk2sILaZsB2MjONEYNXM5u5lBPlSlEJ7FRanZiGsyjyeDuVT3Yrp/s1600/P1170693.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeUb9_GisC1XsEJoxLtKiloiEORV5q2LUyycSWS79TssyuueasZfnCnULK7hHCNdAC12z2iyINTcUuS9ZYBVLclsBzuk2sILaZsB2MjONEYNXM5u5lBPlSlEJ7FRanZiGsyjyeDuVT3Yrp/s320/P1170693.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><s><br />
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</div>jooleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18193793691205973384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7354033722303972653.post-1508637194196153072011-02-17T13:38:00.000-08:002011-02-17T13:50:12.652-08:00Dear Winter,<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEqS6yYzn4_zn-mDDQyvCVqqH3TFStc1trdtTpjfKqHpk3SqkxGz8oNERwixvv6NdlAMRr2slNNEUkXPo1lOtfat_8b0Sdlb7tuNHbVR2NtTbjWLEr-MSloZ-JOSifBxNUvDAB6nd-KRDN/s1600/P1170483.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEqS6yYzn4_zn-mDDQyvCVqqH3TFStc1trdtTpjfKqHpk3SqkxGz8oNERwixvv6NdlAMRr2slNNEUkXPo1lOtfat_8b0Sdlb7tuNHbVR2NtTbjWLEr-MSloZ-JOSifBxNUvDAB6nd-KRDN/s400/P1170483.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Looks like we have to say goodbye. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I am not <i>really</i> sad about it,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">but I <i>will be</i> excited to see you again...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">when the time is right.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And if I start missing you before then,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have these pictures</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">from one of your more attractive days</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">to remember you by.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So long,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Julie</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSQzgyRcLYjVWeYP5n9ljwpUeqgx_NVSllYOW-EugbSD2w_MwdjB7fGb-szhF5BC3IEK3EEJ-7bl_Z9aKJ1xUkPWrvszAGBbYI4HNsp1rWuNgOq5-ZLXg9tv0gDHbtOIq89F7Qmy-J6RGG/s1600/P1170470.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSQzgyRcLYjVWeYP5n9ljwpUeqgx_NVSllYOW-EugbSD2w_MwdjB7fGb-szhF5BC3IEK3EEJ-7bl_Z9aKJ1xUkPWrvszAGBbYI4HNsp1rWuNgOq5-ZLXg9tv0gDHbtOIq89F7Qmy-J6RGG/s400/P1170470.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLR37rnq5z9W9707ZhmtDUa3-48aPCFs8CPxLZFvGqQU14inkz48cYKlJ8kU2ezJgbl6wi9jXadDHOc9izEXN0A8L5nNgjliMSj3-q3M2zS1N0Nr1OvliQHke7oiNl_gVbJgAb4gwFqieK/s1600/P1170474.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLR37rnq5z9W9707ZhmtDUa3-48aPCFs8CPxLZFvGqQU14inkz48cYKlJ8kU2ezJgbl6wi9jXadDHOc9izEXN0A8L5nNgjliMSj3-q3M2zS1N0Nr1OvliQHke7oiNl_gVbJgAb4gwFqieK/s400/P1170474.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKtsYp1j0mGd0Bi-65hAKa9xqlHZMKp8zTDWkk81i-oKR6RmrRQUiv9ESwa1RHvxzJDJ7ADiqib16dXdpfGOqTEJ6ryVIiDWNQ2j7jc9Vd7HErIxClrsJpLW5_aZO-BnLadpZc1pxXaSoI/s1600/P1170556.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKtsYp1j0mGd0Bi-65hAKa9xqlHZMKp8zTDWkk81i-oKR6RmrRQUiv9ESwa1RHvxzJDJ7ADiqib16dXdpfGOqTEJ6ryVIiDWNQ2j7jc9Vd7HErIxClrsJpLW5_aZO-BnLadpZc1pxXaSoI/s400/P1170556.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKXgvXL6v9lcJIBIvDznsN0aCx7wxEsvGlagvNujsdCL1AhiYd3HjcPKvIwi75FkEkahI_qTO1KWvmctpXGUgKuucbaGwboJeEkhpyG0BuCmgQjtNTQoh9DiPB7A_dUG4hKnCmi27uzvnh/s1600/P1170513.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKXgvXL6v9lcJIBIvDznsN0aCx7wxEsvGlagvNujsdCL1AhiYd3HjcPKvIwi75FkEkahI_qTO1KWvmctpXGUgKuucbaGwboJeEkhpyG0BuCmgQjtNTQoh9DiPB7A_dUG4hKnCmi27uzvnh/s400/P1170513.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjegl-P3uOwmZ75imJ-RcPoqAFqbfHJrHnhRcYM1Fk_767qf4wMCIq5auoLnPqITXVweEBoNG8mydOXGdL_UaRPbh6XwIHLSVS1iNVw1COLC28BEimYJMjz6ins0SPtnm-2Em5OFzTs44eX/s1600/P1170534.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjegl-P3uOwmZ75imJ-RcPoqAFqbfHJrHnhRcYM1Fk_767qf4wMCIq5auoLnPqITXVweEBoNG8mydOXGdL_UaRPbh6XwIHLSVS1iNVw1COLC28BEimYJMjz6ins0SPtnm-2Em5OFzTs44eX/s400/P1170534.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUfaQIpNpQkzPQlV5d7eauWjOAVovSCZyaPIcLrtAvx4VX7gihnV1lHWqXw_ov0pAz0_BIw32rstm40E2ql__o-YI8rCWYJfjVDd5brDQpVGZyEiHJLPDhP0Bd7hasf8WL7oPf0ABrI-Re/s1600/P1170486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUfaQIpNpQkzPQlV5d7eauWjOAVovSCZyaPIcLrtAvx4VX7gihnV1lHWqXw_ov0pAz0_BIw32rstm40E2ql__o-YI8rCWYJfjVDd5brDQpVGZyEiHJLPDhP0Bd7hasf8WL7oPf0ABrI-Re/s400/P1170486.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9DfQvEyHSrICB7d7dRodgv8tSUvcM7TZtiR-jlcJGQqNXcro4kAUAT_G3NKBrnntDNu6NgBlzD1Vf8aIVET5IvOUa3NOGu3_3g26b9TO4hirvxUFtME4mQJUAe-GcVtOLpoOvMGh9uN00/s1600/P1170561.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9DfQvEyHSrICB7d7dRodgv8tSUvcM7TZtiR-jlcJGQqNXcro4kAUAT_G3NKBrnntDNu6NgBlzD1Vf8aIVET5IvOUa3NOGu3_3g26b9TO4hirvxUFtME4mQJUAe-GcVtOLpoOvMGh9uN00/s400/P1170561.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>jooleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18193793691205973384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7354033722303972653.post-72707849827090281252011-02-16T05:59:00.000-08:002011-02-18T06:59:25.309-08:00Our day of loveIt started with a demonstration<br />
on the use of a Bible concordance.<br />
Of course <i>love</i> was the word of the day.<br />
The girls looked up a few of the familiar verses<br />
in their own Bibles.<br />
They each picked a favorite<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">or one short enough to be age appropriate</span><br />
and turned it into a poster.<br />
I even let them use paint<br />
because it was a holiday, after all.<br />
<br />
We did some school.<br />
It was warm.<br />
The girls played outside,<br />
if making beds on the deck and cuddling<br />
with the kitties in the sunshine constitutes playing.<br />
They stripped off all their winter clothes<br />
and went searching in the basement<br />
for their "summer" shoes...<br />
crocs and sandals.<br />
It wasn't THAT warm.<br />
<br />
I spray painted some old frames<br />
out in the melting snow drifts.<br />
I made a pound cake<br />
without the butter....<br />
I discovered today<br />
when I went to warm up my coffee in the microwave.<br />
Hello, bowl of butter.<br />
<br />
There was an inappropriate facebook comment from Steeb.<br />
I was not surprised.<br />
He likes to be inappropriate in public venues.<br />
<br />
I helped Josie make red jello for our special dinner.<br />
We didn't give it enough time to set<br />
but it still made for a pretty topping<br />
for our butterless pound cake.<br />
<br />
We each cleaned one room<br />
so Daddy would be proud<br />
and we could relax during the evening's festivities.<br />
Addie set the table.....<br />
removing a leaf for a more intimate meal.<br />
There were candles<br />
a tablecloth<br />
valentine napkins<br />
pretty china<br />
and our very last bottle of 75% off sparkling cider.<br />
<br />
There were love notes at each place<br />
from Mommy<br />
and the girls decided to wear their girliest pink dresses,<br />
the chiffon kind,<br />
not the Gap kind that I prefer.<br />
Hair was still <i>sort of</i> in French braids from church,<br />
something I was quite proud of.<br />
<br />
Steve grilled burgers and brats<br />
because it was so warm,<br />
making me very anxious for the <i>real</i> spring<br />
and all that goes with it to arrive.<br />
Afterwards, the girls wanted to recite their<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> love</span></b> verses.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOABM2KVV4qQEeh8e7y9B47xiQKgasAVGpxmrq3uxocpwsZ97mgXu4-t4xO_7wxlo9trWx3LCO0rW4Acd0F8_ilcJFk8XpR8-v8CB5ZPhCIJo1aGpknOcfEIEg87OAPUz-fDREpoYWzzNW/s1600/P1170584.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOABM2KVV4qQEeh8e7y9B47xiQKgasAVGpxmrq3uxocpwsZ97mgXu4-t4xO_7wxlo9trWx3LCO0rW4Acd0F8_ilcJFk8XpR8-v8CB5ZPhCIJo1aGpknOcfEIEg87OAPUz-fDREpoYWzzNW/s320/P1170584.JPG" width="312" /></a></div><br />
It got quite silly<br />
and turned into a dance party.<br />
The inappropriate kind.<br />
<i>They are their father's daughters.</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYHCw2cZiKBXfQN5_t6ULYJqbO084EsTh4UPp7psGUcGbetGQG8KaqYJ1UDvJ6ge88diU-6Wdt00c4fKp4dn-47g12_EFV8FNItKTNcRv3CvBeqBdT6TQ98FhpC1otwEb5-rdseYa_MeSe/s1600/P1170595.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYHCw2cZiKBXfQN5_t6ULYJqbO084EsTh4UPp7psGUcGbetGQG8KaqYJ1UDvJ6ge88diU-6Wdt00c4fKp4dn-47g12_EFV8FNItKTNcRv3CvBeqBdT6TQ98FhpC1otwEb5-rdseYa_MeSe/s320/P1170595.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh42cJ4y8CMjzrD6lrCat74IrsCbuOHor040F7dv7mkxgfgfdQgMFFYH6zlCJ2eW26pXleZkVHim8AttKitvZhvRxACxgqDZO55htGwWsUyfNKtrsDYk8hDoKeQQrPde6NOqRbfQbvHJkcJ/s1600/P1170599.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh42cJ4y8CMjzrD6lrCat74IrsCbuOHor040F7dv7mkxgfgfdQgMFFYH6zlCJ2eW26pXleZkVHim8AttKitvZhvRxACxgqDZO55htGwWsUyfNKtrsDYk8hDoKeQQrPde6NOqRbfQbvHJkcJ/s320/P1170599.JPG" width="272" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Next were games on the Wii.<br />
Have I mentioned we love our Wii?<br />
Ella and I sneaked off to my cozy bed to cuddle and read.<br />
There was talk of possibly piercing her ears<br />
and she asked if I remembered when she was "2 or 3"<br />
when I would pick up her pink blankie with my toes<br />
and throw it over my shoulder<br />
before carrying her upstairs for her nap.<br />
Of course I remembered.<br />
It was yesterday.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSvtK3PnMctsWIJMdjDv2ah5bNlX4RjohQvtteuuHqjl4W5IdMVqAukpXXIs5FSum5iULvGU1aCpr1N-IzV_NR5hfg2s_yUoWQ9XQ3oSsP9oAS0tlyfBftC9m_LSYXTjCwW45x2oYIxSAR/s1600/P1170611.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSvtK3PnMctsWIJMdjDv2ah5bNlX4RjohQvtteuuHqjl4W5IdMVqAukpXXIs5FSum5iULvGU1aCpr1N-IzV_NR5hfg2s_yUoWQ9XQ3oSsP9oAS0tlyfBftC9m_LSYXTjCwW45x2oYIxSAR/s320/P1170611.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gwen and her Daddy and the chubby cheeks she has become quite proud of.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Gwen, in all her rambunctiousness,<br />
found us in our hide-out<br />
and crawled way down under the covers<br />
ripping apart my bed.<br />
She pulled of my socks to give me a foot massage<br />
but ended up trying to pick the fuzz from between my toes.<br />
<br />
The Wii games ended.<br />
Daddy came to find us<br />
but we were fake sleeping<br />
like we always are when he comes to find us.<br />
Ella stayed "sleeping" even as Daddy threatened<br />
her belly with zerberts<br />
again and again and again<br />
he counted down<br />
breathing right on her without actually zerberting.<br />
It was torture to watch.<br />
But she stayed there<br />
still as a rock with a little smile peeking<br />
from behind her strategically placed<br />
sleeping hands.<br />
<br />
And THEN,<br />
I got a homemade Valentine!!!!<br />
Admittedly, it had taken him several attempts<br />
to correctly cut out a heart.<br />
The scraps he left on the table were proof.<br />
But it was homemade.<br />
And he was so proud of himself.<br />
Like a kindergardener bringing home<br />
a special gift for his mommy.<br />
I melted.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtyeLNPBAcabG0lI-pv4GM9yEPwJdROwf_y5PGh7_IeGijD36HwgPpTXU1Ej_Jn94J76k65XZHBpqb8xs3Y2Dl2S-CqNiOPB9ckr-bC7hxY183OBVfDp-BHpPWZQdFd0PuY9ATnN8o9cwZ/s1600/P1170619.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtyeLNPBAcabG0lI-pv4GM9yEPwJdROwf_y5PGh7_IeGijD36HwgPpTXU1Ej_Jn94J76k65XZHBpqb8xs3Y2Dl2S-CqNiOPB9ckr-bC7hxY183OBVfDp-BHpPWZQdFd0PuY9ATnN8o9cwZ/s320/P1170619.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Counting my blessings this Valentine's Day!</div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGs-a6gYYFUDpQdiDyfVJ1biqB9Xlrq8KSWaFh1aSCBv5_F-FUZEJ2iFCPELhfepqwozURVl99NgUK3QGK7a9yf4XzxbC-t7Mt3sNBD-HyxC-ufh0NQpWLpuufFStwLIJg1tsXkgh56WW8/s1600/P1170618.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGs-a6gYYFUDpQdiDyfVJ1biqB9Xlrq8KSWaFh1aSCBv5_F-FUZEJ2iFCPELhfepqwozURVl99NgUK3QGK7a9yf4XzxbC-t7Mt3sNBD-HyxC-ufh0NQpWLpuufFStwLIJg1tsXkgh56WW8/s320/P1170618.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I found an old $10 frame for some of my new letter press art!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>jooleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18193793691205973384noreply@blogger.com2