tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63034504859325237252024-02-07T16:13:58.836-08:00A Friendly HomeA joyful home is filled with the love and laughter of Friends.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03807549835143586427noreply@blogger.comBlogger118125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6303450485932523725.post-84681140335306419232015-07-07T06:59:00.000-07:002015-07-07T06:59:18.189-07:00The Gratitude Project: September in JulyIt's pouring down rain outside, and inside it's cozy. It's pumpkin spice latte weather in July. I have a steaming mug of coffee next to me and I'm wrapped up in a blanket on my couch. My inbox has more work than I can do and my fingers are ready to get typing.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03807549835143586427noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6303450485932523725.post-72658509291347762702015-07-01T13:23:00.003-07:002015-07-01T13:23:37.383-07:00Reasons my two year old might be cryingReasons my two year old might be crying:<br />
I buckled her car seat.<br />
Her brother is talking to her.<br />
Her brother is looking at her.<br />
She's not a kitty cat.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03807549835143586427noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6303450485932523725.post-11423210003831216452015-06-30T17:42:00.001-07:002015-06-30T17:42:29.757-07:00Is there a psychological condition for this?Heidi: "I want to watch the Doctor Who with the scary dolls! Please can we watch the Doctor Who with the scary dolls? That one's my favorite! Momma, why do the scary dolls touch Amy and turn her into a scary doll? Momma, if the scary dolls touch little kids they turn into scary dolls and then they turn other little kids into scary dolls! It's my favorite!"<div><br></div><div>Uhhhhhh.....</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03807549835143586427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6303450485932523725.post-71271186970204078102015-06-28T11:41:00.005-07:002015-06-28T11:46:11.826-07:00It's all a matter of perspectiveGratitude changes the way you see the world. I've been doing a Gratitude Project for a few months now, finding things to be grateful for. Sometimes it's hard to be grateful. Sometimes I just plain forget. Sometimes the best I can do is "I'm alive," and sometimes it's hard to even feel grateful for that.<br />
<br />
But slowly, I'm getting better. And life is getting better. Not that actual circumstances are changing, but that I'm beginning to see them in a better light. And when I can see hope in the world, I react better and create better circumstances for myself and for all of us.<br />
<br />
And really, it's amazing what a difference gratitude can make in the way the world looks.<br />
<br />
For example, there are two ways I could describe what is happening in my house today.<br />
<br />
1) The kids are going crazy and are playing with dirty outdoor stuff that's not even proper toys. The ambient sound in the house is equivalent to a heavy metal concert and just as unpleasant. We're going to be eating hot soup on a hot day because our diets no longer allow for normal sandwiches and we don't have salad in the fridge at the moment. The house is a total disaster and all the shoes are in the living room.<br />
<br />
Or<br />
<br />
2) Heidi is crowning Ion with the "Crown of Truth," which is a broken tricycle tire, because childhood imagination is amazing. Rori is trying on all of our shoes pair by pair because childhood fashion is also amazing (as is the getup she chose for herself this morning. She managed to find an entire multi-layer outfit full of items that don't match each other in the slightest.) Emory is sleeping peacefully in the back bedroom. There is broccoli cheese soup simmering on the stove because Bear Creek Soup is the gods' gift to busy families everywhere. Ryan has converted the kitchen table into a makeshift shop and is drilling out some sheet metal to fix the running board of our van. We have a massive van that fits our whole family, and we're not paying the dealer hundreds of dollars to fix it because Ryan likes to tinker with stuff. Basically, we're the Weasleys without the wands and I always wanted to be them. I'm living my dream, I just didn't know it came with so much noise.<br />
<br />
See? The difference that gratitude makes.<br />
<br />
I could go for having the Scourgify spell though.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03807549835143586427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6303450485932523725.post-56050007079094590542015-06-27T11:08:00.001-07:002015-06-27T11:08:52.456-07:00Equality for our children, equality for allThis conversation happened yesterday:<br />
<br />
Me: "Heidi, something very important happened today. Now you are free to love anyone you want. You can marry a girl or a boy."<br />
Heidi: "I don't wanna marry a girl or a boy. I wanna marry a prince."<br />
Ion: "I wanna marry a fire truck!"<br />
<br />
You do you, Bubba.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03807549835143586427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6303450485932523725.post-4610856568294515902015-06-24T08:34:00.001-07:002015-06-24T08:43:02.296-07:00Love and marriageToday I am grateful for 6 wonderful years with my love! What incredible things these six years have brought - four beautiful babies, millions of hopes and dreams, and so many lessons in how to love. Here is to 6 more years, and then 12 after that, and many many<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> more years of learning and loving together. I love you more than I ever manage to tell you. </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03807549835143586427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6303450485932523725.post-66207583072711693352015-06-22T20:04:00.001-07:002015-06-23T06:59:17.899-07:00The Gluten-Depression Link, or Why I Cried Over A Tricycle This Morning<a href="http://celiac.org/blog/2014/07/17/gluten-may-cause-depression-people-non-celiac-gluten-sensitivity/">There's</a> a <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/evolutionary-psychiatry/201410/is-gluten-causing-your-depression">lot</a> of <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-breakthrough-depression-solution/201105/is-gluten-making-you-depressed">information</a> out there that <a href="http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/824492">links </a><a href="http://blogs.psychcentral.com/depression/2014/04/gluten-and-depression-is-there-a-link/">depression</a> with <a href="http://celiacdisease.about.com/od/symptomsofceliacdisease/a/Gluten-And-Depression.htm">gluten sensitivity</a>. Now I'm not a doctor, or a scientist, though I've got some friends who have mad microscope skills, so I generally go with what Doctor Google tells me when I have health-related questions.<br>
<br>
Doctor Google or my in-laws. It's excellent to be related to people in the medical profession when you have an emergency question at 3 in the morning.<br>
<br>
But about gluten sensitivity, I go to my other in-laws, who actually deal with Celiac disease on a daily basis. And they've told me that gluten sensitivity causes all sorts of problems one might not think about. Like depression.<br>
<br>
But taking gluten out of one's diet is a majorly huge pain in the butt, which is why I did it for a few weeks 2 years ago and then quit. And ever since I've been wondering if I might feel better if I weren't eating gluten.<br>
<br>
So a couple of months ago we decided to cut gluten out of our diets again. I've been feeling good. Decently high baseline. Avoiding gluten is still a pain in the butt. And things that contain gluten are really, really yummy.<br>
<br>
So yesterday I ate a whole two crumbs of a cake we'd gotten for everybody (except me) to celebrate Father's Day. (I'd gotten my own GF treat so don't go feeling sorry for me and my left-outness.)<br>
<br>
And this morning Ryan, um, bumped the tire of the kids' tricycle when we were taking the kids to school. And I burst into tears. I may have yelled. I just might have gotten really really mad.<br>
<br>
That tricycle was the symbol of a better life. I imagined the kids riding it up and down the driveway in front of our dream house. I REMEMBERED when Rori got that tricycle for her birthday. It was THE KIDS' TRICYCLE. And now it was BROKEN. And we were NEVER GOING TO GET OUT OF THIS HOUSE and life was NEVER GOING TO BE BETTER and I just might as well stop even trying because what was the point? Life was going to be hopeless forever because a tire on a tricycle got bent.<br>
<br>
The replacement part costs $5.<br>
<br>
I had a complete breakdown because of a $5 tricycle tire.<br>
<br>
It took chocolate to get over it.<br>
<br>
Two crumbs, guys. That's all it takes to go completely insane. Two freaking crumbs.<br>
<br>
No more gluten for me.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03807549835143586427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6303450485932523725.post-67456542883276812272015-06-20T07:31:00.001-07:002015-06-20T07:31:11.524-07:00LoloHeidi has been working on her Ls. She's learned that they say "L-L-L-L" and not "y-y-y-y". This causes all sorts of confusion since the "y" sound still exists. <div><br></div><div>For example, it took me five minutes to figure out that a "Lolo" is a yo-yo. </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03807549835143586427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6303450485932523725.post-26609432681559334422015-06-19T15:00:00.001-07:002015-06-19T15:04:21.931-07:00Conversations with my 2 year oldMe: Rori, please get in your seat. <div>Rori: No. </div><div>Me: Yes, Rori, please get in your seat.</div><div>Rori: No. </div><div>Me: Ooooooone... Twoooooooo... Threeeeeee... Fooooooooourrrrr....</div><div>Rori: Twenty!</div><div><br></div><div>Sassy pants</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03807549835143586427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6303450485932523725.post-82906228604497496502015-06-19T09:26:00.002-07:002015-06-19T09:28:04.969-07:00The world is getting youngerWhen I was in college, I remember laughing about how the freshmen got younger each year. Every September the babyfaced little newbies would take over the campus. Every year it was a shock.<br />
<br />
But I've been out of the whole school thing for a while. My peers have been getting older at the same rate that I am, which means we're still all the exact same age. We're having kids because that's what the cool kids are doing ... man, some babies are having kids too. "What do you mean, you're pregnant? You're, like, 23. That's ... that's how old I was when I conceived my first baby. But you're just obviously way too young. Stop being silly."<br />
<br />
There's a silver-highlighted woman using one of the computers at the university library. She's wearing mom jeans and carrying a massive tote bag. She is totally the right age for undergraduate classes. Of course. Why wouldn't she be? She's my age. The sunglasses on her head are stylish and I want them. Totally legit for college classes.<br />
<br />
And a troupe of prospective college students just traipsed through said university library. They look like they still need help tying their shoes. I have to fight the urge to ask if any of them need to go potty.<br />
<br />
Everybody needs to stop getting so darn young. It's really throwing me off here.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03807549835143586427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6303450485932523725.post-35071554099254242352015-06-18T15:57:00.001-07:002015-06-18T15:57:01.438-07:00BillTropical storm rain is the best sort of rain because it doesn't come with tornadoes. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03807549835143586427noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6303450485932523725.post-9465692005430567452015-06-17T19:30:00.002-07:002015-06-17T19:30:23.339-07:00Bedtime 2One baby snores in the bed next to me while the other snores in her crib across the room. The northernmost fringes of Tropical Storm Bill drum on the window. I'm sipping green tea with a generous helping of coconut sugar. The dim light from my laptop screen illuminates my fingers as they blather on about something having to do with tree trimming. I'm getting paid for this.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03807549835143586427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6303450485932523725.post-38031616790659341022015-06-16T20:54:00.002-07:002015-06-16T21:00:46.880-07:00Facebook Withdrawal *twitch twitch*I noticed that I was starting to exhibit some addictive behaviors regarding Facebook, so I decided to quit. Again. Only this time I didn't delete everything because I really regret that I did that last time. So I just put my goodbye note up, asked my dear husband to change my password and under no circumstances to tell me what he changed it to, and directed all my beloved Facebook friends and followers to my poor old neglected blog.<br />
<br />
Which is probably just going to replace Facebook as my addiction. It's slightly healthier though because it doesn't have a Newsfeed. Or notifications. Or a million snarky political memes. (Seriously, that Donald Trump "We Shall Overcomb" one? Presidential race comedic gold, I'm telling you.)<br />
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So, to make a long story short, I'm quitting Facebook cold turkey and I am already starting to suffer. You might be able to tell by the fact that I'm rambling on with a blog post at 10:45 pm instead of going to bed ... because I'm used to being on Facebook and gosh darn it I can't handle it. I need my spoon-fed media like a junkie needs ... uh, their drug of choice. </div>
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So I've admitted I have a problem and I've jumped straight to replacing that problem with another one which will hopefully have less positive reinforcement and far fewer addiction-fueling stimuli. Of course, the real purpose of quitting Facebook is so that I can focus on writing for my job, because every time I'm not typey-handsing in a Microsoft Word document I feel guilty:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPtnYfcea4aSPrnv3po3OxBCwog-sW4OZvkHWOrBgKiCnZo7OZgbzv7V3UfWiSypW9qaSsJI-rulwwHZop8ioDmfVW3tm7hv7iHcFwB4TkzQXij2MLQkBaXe6EiSfLYQnyk2N3LsZyG7f_/s1600/you+should+be+writing+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="doctor who" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPtnYfcea4aSPrnv3po3OxBCwog-sW4OZvkHWOrBgKiCnZo7OZgbzv7V3UfWiSypW9qaSsJI-rulwwHZop8ioDmfVW3tm7hv7iHcFwB4TkzQXij2MLQkBaXe6EiSfLYQnyk2N3LsZyG7f_/s1600/you+should+be+writing+1.jpg" title="you should be writing" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSFW6kiXm7A8fnOK21eBwCShIhGgbDH3mU44mVWpPDpR0BeESXD6IyBOdUk2C5l9nxvgkR-RxqBvqmz5IfZXR2Q51jh-g5_1lX-JhrPlZvY5NlGcWOaRvbtUYtWCspE8dQcirY6wY0FsSa/s1600/you+should+be+writing+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="firefly" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSFW6kiXm7A8fnOK21eBwCShIhGgbDH3mU44mVWpPDpR0BeESXD6IyBOdUk2C5l9nxvgkR-RxqBvqmz5IfZXR2Q51jh-g5_1lX-JhrPlZvY5NlGcWOaRvbtUYtWCspE8dQcirY6wY0FsSa/s1600/you+should+be+writing+5.jpg" title="you should be writing" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Ay2JINb_fBaeQHtU_nbHWy6NHjVEqv0wCOcDiExHBYGov0IgNdXD-ts2cbN5fcc_7GXg4Tn8LgJunUosUDdHqgU6_N2FVMwHFKdUnZedyvi1QwpQgGUWxqaeq0tBpHRX8qVsH0Z1uC3p/s1600/you+should+be+writing+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="sherlock" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Ay2JINb_fBaeQHtU_nbHWy6NHjVEqv0wCOcDiExHBYGov0IgNdXD-ts2cbN5fcc_7GXg4Tn8LgJunUosUDdHqgU6_N2FVMwHFKdUnZedyvi1QwpQgGUWxqaeq0tBpHRX8qVsH0Z1uC3p/s1600/you+should+be+writing+2.jpg" title="you should be writing" /></a></div>
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But at least writing a blog post is more productive than scrolling through one's Newsfeed for hours, right? That's what I'm telling myself at least. Now please comment, because I'm about to get really lonely over here without my <strike>crack</strike> Facebook.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03807549835143586427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6303450485932523725.post-18379729400090898052015-06-02T21:48:00.001-07:002015-06-02T21:48:07.082-07:00BedtimeNothing sweeter than going to sleep on clean sheets, with crickets singing outside the open window and a little boy hiccuping in his sleep next to you. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03807549835143586427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6303450485932523725.post-61243479290129251462015-05-25T07:34:00.003-07:002015-05-25T07:34:41.874-07:00Magical Orange Vinegar Cleaner<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<br />I am always and forever chasing my kids away from the cleaning chemicals. I am also always and forever scrubbing up the messes my kids make, because sticky.</div>
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We've also been buying a lot of oranges recently.</div>
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So I've been soaking the orange peels in vinegar, which makes a practically free, concentrated, nontoxic cleaner that smells fabulous.</div>
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And this morning when Heidi and Ion were squabbling and Rori was trying to get into the (sealed) container of OxyClean, I had a brainwave. Fill up 3 bottles with orange cleaner, give each kid a bottle and a rag, and let 'em go.</div>
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The coffee table is now soaking wet, the entire kitchen is swimming in orange vinegar, and they're going after their toy shelf with a vengeance. Ninja mom level: master.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03807549835143586427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6303450485932523725.post-37207644604796149912015-05-21T19:34:00.000-07:002015-05-21T19:34:06.586-07:00Grateful for chaosToday I am grateful for the chaos that my life sometimes is. It means that I have four beautiful, creative, energetic children who aren't afraid to ask for (and sometimes insist) on what they want and need in life. It means that I have food to feed them, even when that food is scattered all over the table. It means that we are blessed enough to have a choice in food, so they have the luxury of being picky eaters (and therefore scattering their food). It means they love each other and want to play with each other, even when that means someone steps on someone else, or when it means that Ion insists on being Ana instead of Kristoff and Heidi (who also wanted to be Ana) is stuck without a love interest. It means that they have beds and blankets to make a mess of, and they have clothes to wear or pull out of their drawers and leave in piles all over their room.<br />
<br />
Chaos means a lot of things that many people in the world don't have. So since my choices are to be grateful for it or to cry about it, I'm going to be grateful for it. And then I'm going to drink a tall glass of blackberry wine (something else to be grateful for) and start to work on cleaning it all up.<br />
<br />
#thegratitudeprojectAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03807549835143586427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6303450485932523725.post-73879777675295807522015-05-20T10:29:00.001-07:002015-05-20T10:29:10.778-07:00The Castle of Muskogee Check out my guest post on <a href="http://ryanfriend.com/2015/05/19/the-renaissance-festival-at-the-castle-of-muskogee/">Ryan's blog</a>! We went to the Renaissance Festival at the Muskogee Castle, and I wrote about it!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQamrVmcHJOmO-S8jRFXZ3crg2ps0LMELxgY1kBnZEa4qexGKP4lFaclNUnSqRDLCSQRgrkUh0fwuUNQXMZBfrs4YbTrsdtAQKfkQ0OQkEloiKIrCZLjs09EuZVhhyphenhyphenW1Kx0rTTIp0pemDA/s1600/DSC_2914.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQamrVmcHJOmO-S8jRFXZ3crg2ps0LMELxgY1kBnZEa4qexGKP4lFaclNUnSqRDLCSQRgrkUh0fwuUNQXMZBfrs4YbTrsdtAQKfkQ0OQkEloiKIrCZLjs09EuZVhhyphenhyphenW1Kx0rTTIp0pemDA/s320/DSC_2914.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03807549835143586427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6303450485932523725.post-85564442662535700212015-04-04T14:46:00.001-07:002015-04-04T20:34:15.172-07:00Rainbow CakeThe day before Easter seems like the perfect time to make a rainbow cake! (actually, Heidi had just been asking to make one forever and we finally capitulated.)<div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEielhRC2FejzZ2QAq151GZYfuqqp5vZAKJvL2aQ_PbZPWffGQ4Va9E_OntpXCeJ2wOqXDRWB09b_lvPWcWDF7wy7tuJ_tMAUVYJdY11SybSpZdj8nOVyKfCQsDVNnpUQeSK8SAaTrXWAV5a/s640/blogger-image--232834219.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEielhRC2FejzZ2QAq151GZYfuqqp5vZAKJvL2aQ_PbZPWffGQ4Va9E_OntpXCeJ2wOqXDRWB09b_lvPWcWDF7wy7tuJ_tMAUVYJdY11SybSpZdj8nOVyKfCQsDVNnpUQeSK8SAaTrXWAV5a/s640/blogger-image--232834219.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">You could do this with regular white cake mix but we got Duff Goldman's tie-dye cake mix because that way we knew the food coloring colors would mix and be pretty, instead of turning muddy. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu-8E09b9otzVX-WOYoFySDaRDsV8xlmbzwwSBKz0cA8NO_8vGL0S5AwDNMZH_oiZVWiMZz5P8OkKN64oH_uGw3b5i4ICTxJ1igTu5ThRQ8eg1KS0LiWKtW97F_Xiugkqr7JfHxWsNZBm7/s640/blogger-image-388804935.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu-8E09b9otzVX-WOYoFySDaRDsV8xlmbzwwSBKz0cA8NO_8vGL0S5AwDNMZH_oiZVWiMZz5P8OkKN64oH_uGw3b5i4ICTxJ1igTu5ThRQ8eg1KS0LiWKtW97F_Xiugkqr7JfHxWsNZBm7/s640/blogger-image-388804935.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Heidi helped. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNxlwVMbsxAcb_r4k6xcQrnAvguHzozlWkGqbcCGkmgXr8eGtJzVFgEqTZ2-a6S-WYg3VEe0sK5UtysecXOtJy5dd0zyRuy1xhdxSq55WZHKpxV2-h9XOUhyphenhyphenCMFbHSQcnFpnBhr4A76MSM/s640/blogger-image-305880002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNxlwVMbsxAcb_r4k6xcQrnAvguHzozlWkGqbcCGkmgXr8eGtJzVFgEqTZ2-a6S-WYg3VEe0sK5UtysecXOtJy5dd0zyRuy1xhdxSq55WZHKpxV2-h9XOUhyphenhyphenCMFbHSQcnFpnBhr4A76MSM/s640/blogger-image-305880002.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">A lot. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR5FI_Z-_9RMAU_k6Sz6YQ0hv30HxinFNu27DYUFWmk7qkVvj_OA7xAsjDzNiRG2rUxRxt21wHQY1TiXSzWqFSl4hxXVgQ4BgF2C_sCrWyybIwP4B2E-pfftlYCjWs3fAkbHm9jxZx83ps/s640/blogger-image-1088464518.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR5FI_Z-_9RMAU_k6Sz6YQ0hv30HxinFNu27DYUFWmk7qkVvj_OA7xAsjDzNiRG2rUxRxt21wHQY1TiXSzWqFSl4hxXVgQ4BgF2C_sCrWyybIwP4B2E-pfftlYCjWs3fAkbHm9jxZx83ps/s640/blogger-image-1088464518.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">So did Ion. Super helpful. Those beaters weren't going to lick themselves. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">(please ignore the just-played-outside shirt. His only involvement in food prep was licking the beaters. No sweat or mud got in the cake.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIFgoFzI3HT51Ey9d8WGnI3vXf3qzWnXD81GkWu8rZ0DBhlnoNB1rs0DQBHsyoOf2tkF84TQ6jm851h0UDZb6N5g1FUjbUO_tsw2zefELPTNFpyQJKWxLPi9q1AQ6PdlkjXlHrU3zOq8Xy/s640/blogger-image-1667932846.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIFgoFzI3HT51Ey9d8WGnI3vXf3qzWnXD81GkWu8rZ0DBhlnoNB1rs0DQBHsyoOf2tkF84TQ6jm851h0UDZb6N5g1FUjbUO_tsw2zefELPTNFpyQJKWxLPi9q1AQ6PdlkjXlHrU3zOq8Xy/s640/blogger-image-1667932846.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Separate the batter into 6 bowls and let a child help you mix your colors. If said child sneaks bites, you will be able to tell by the blue stains on her lips. </div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiO2713nlw7o2wanT7tNfvEPGHr9-pAhuIqo8-3V6doPHUxktdeDSr1qEBATgj59u2sH9AE69rpzbpnKNyZ1Zd65zBE6udK5B6C8WFqZl7TBmBBPp3DNd6TlKeZIBg0LMcxM2lRUm8Ohkw/s640/blogger-image--1841093617.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiO2713nlw7o2wanT7tNfvEPGHr9-pAhuIqo8-3V6doPHUxktdeDSr1qEBATgj59u2sH9AE69rpzbpnKNyZ1Zd65zBE6udK5B6C8WFqZl7TBmBBPp3DNd6TlKeZIBg0LMcxM2lRUm8Ohkw/s640/blogger-image--1841093617.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Separating out the batter and mixing the colors was kind of more time consuming than I like food prep to be, like, ever. But the kids thought it was AWESOME and I got to sneak in a lesson about the color wheel. A delicious color wheel. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Some lessons die hard when you're the child of an art teacher. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">By the way, using the food coloring that came in the box was the right choice. Look at how not-muddy those colors are!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Then you pour the batter into the pan in order (red first, then orange on top, then yellow on top of that, etc.).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm4RevCzl9oyVgakIrKndNdMdsDNp9Nyg6l4XDEGmdFrjhxGwLeUe6IcaRsLu_HhMbjKtqaC8YsmegoKQQ5YpJz5WBTedc9Cdv2iCn3clNDu_rfWS0eiGgkSid5POky9NIp5pJImg6zPK0/s640/blogger-image--1046776527.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm4RevCzl9oyVgakIrKndNdMdsDNp9Nyg6l4XDEGmdFrjhxGwLeUe6IcaRsLu_HhMbjKtqaC8YsmegoKQQ5YpJz5WBTedc9Cdv2iCn3clNDu_rfWS0eiGgkSid5POky9NIp5pJImg6zPK0/s640/blogger-image--1046776527.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAdgjtYjCbA0nQce-DuLO9dWzTZbP-gE00aFhkKH3Tn6kLbvRYCFNN8VnMNc0Tg4rpb6c65Us-1hs3yAXhytmhFIGqV3FOUUj8L63R_aj9g7oDQv39ZZsdLDKoPzXpdgkNVCQfhL-sC_1k/s640/blogger-image-194741097.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAdgjtYjCbA0nQce-DuLO9dWzTZbP-gE00aFhkKH3Tn6kLbvRYCFNN8VnMNc0Tg4rpb6c65Us-1hs3yAXhytmhFIGqV3FOUUj8L63R_aj9g7oDQv39ZZsdLDKoPzXpdgkNVCQfhL-sC_1k/s640/blogger-image-194741097.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">No after-baking photos - they stuck to the pan a bit (user error - we were out of Pam and I used butter) so we ate 'em. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">DELICIOUS. This cake mix is totally worth the price. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We'll try again in the morning and see if we can't get them to come out of the oven pretty enough to decorate.</div><br></div> </div></div></div><br></div><br></div><br></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03807549835143586427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6303450485932523725.post-43260186239490754312015-04-04T12:00:00.001-07:002015-04-04T12:42:05.817-07:00Plantable Easter baskets!You wish your husband were as creative as mine. Admit it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtUKISeLMLNorAqIVX-1kbjgbjcRoS1GlUf9-rEzNfOsRVT_DkyDrHjvLgiAC0dT2LBoog9VdmXmkpVDnTu5V5_sy9cWqC11-8L_0kNJlLTo2Ly537amocxzeJcI-Oj2jMI0hbv_SvBB7v/s640/blogger-image--953703006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtUKISeLMLNorAqIVX-1kbjgbjcRoS1GlUf9-rEzNfOsRVT_DkyDrHjvLgiAC0dT2LBoog9VdmXmkpVDnTu5V5_sy9cWqC11-8L_0kNJlLTo2Ly537amocxzeJcI-Oj2jMI0hbv_SvBB7v/s400/blogger-image--953703006.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Ryan came home from the store today with brightly colored flower pots and a bunch of perennials. Tomorrow we'll decorate them with pretty stickers and let the kids use them to gather eggs. Then we'll plant flowers in them. </div>
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A much better way to honor the return of life to the earth than throwing plastic baskets into a landfill, don't you think?</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03807549835143586427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6303450485932523725.post-28989168109558941862014-07-31T20:41:00.001-07:002014-07-31T20:57:14.703-07:00Vacation 2014 Part 3: The Zoo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We went to the Tulsa Zoo! And I got to play with my nifty new zoom lens!</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-awvlPAVDKkc/U9XaYLCd5wI/AAAAAAAAC_A/QWYZwIV783w/s1600/Vacation+783.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-awvlPAVDKkc/U9XaYLCd5wI/AAAAAAAAC_A/QWYZwIV783w/s1600/Vacation+783.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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They loved the carousel. They would have ridden it fifteen times if we'd let them.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PWVdzfgtbsE/U9XanTXaO8I/AAAAAAAAC_I/RppxbOV0V-0/s1600/Vacation+787.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PWVdzfgtbsE/U9XanTXaO8I/AAAAAAAAC_I/RppxbOV0V-0/s1600/Vacation+787.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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Note to self: this lens captures all the glow of a sweaty hot day in a way that might not be completely attractive for portraits.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QXHQv6LCOeQ/U9Xa3ihGgiI/AAAAAAAAC_Q/NtxLRoObJB4/s1600/Vacation+788.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QXHQv6LCOeQ/U9Xa3ihGgiI/AAAAAAAAC_Q/NtxLRoObJB4/s1600/Vacation+788.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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Rori rode a giraffe.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SdDkc1F7B40/U9Xb1VbOnyI/AAAAAAAAC_w/GQXFFUSLjB4/s1600/Vacation+813.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SdDkc1F7B40/U9Xb1VbOnyI/AAAAAAAAC_w/GQXFFUSLjB4/s1600/Vacation+813.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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I was actually really far away from this bear.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zM4Z1x7U4Yc/U9XcbTXlL0I/AAAAAAAADAA/jLsjeBZLeyc/s1600/Vacation+819.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zM4Z1x7U4Yc/U9XcbTXlL0I/AAAAAAAADAA/jLsjeBZLeyc/s1600/Vacation+819.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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The kids were asking if they could go over the fence and pet the bears. I told them NO.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N30KQwIQUyo/U9Xc5gI5TwI/AAAAAAAADAY/mtTVuBgHR-M/s1600/Vacation+832.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N30KQwIQUyo/U9Xc5gI5TwI/AAAAAAAADAY/mtTVuBgHR-M/s1600/Vacation+832.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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I was really far away from this flamingo too.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--WndeUWfbH4/U9XdMi94tqI/AAAAAAAADAo/Cadt2mPiHp4/s1600/Vacation+842.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--WndeUWfbH4/U9XdMi94tqI/AAAAAAAADAo/Cadt2mPiHp4/s1600/Vacation+842.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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Sea lion!</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LrHEsa77Kz0/U9XdiyxEm8I/AAAAAAAADA4/mdY9jPRPIg8/s1600/Vacation+850.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LrHEsa77Kz0/U9XdiyxEm8I/AAAAAAAADA4/mdY9jPRPIg8/s1600/Vacation+850.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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Playground!</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ylm6lJ2Y_CQ/U9XdwJY_S-I/AAAAAAAADBA/7JtLRBihkdY/s1600/Vacation+853.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ylm6lJ2Y_CQ/U9XdwJY_S-I/AAAAAAAADBA/7JtLRBihkdY/s1600/Vacation+853.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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Pretend choo choo train!</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yhZ1Dodlg_s/U9XehLdc_OI/AAAAAAAADBY/FdLF082zmDk/s1600/Vacation+883.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yhZ1Dodlg_s/U9XehLdc_OI/AAAAAAAADBY/FdLF082zmDk/s1600/Vacation+883.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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DINOSAURS! COMING TO GET YOU!</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f8FDBGjR1pg/U9XePADDGhI/AAAAAAAADBQ/0w_-HPyFIKk/s1600/Vacation+869.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f8FDBGjR1pg/U9XePADDGhI/AAAAAAAADBQ/0w_-HPyFIKk/s1600/Vacation+869.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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I feel that the juxtaposition of rhinoceros and Coca-Cola machine is really some sort of postmodern critique of life, or maybe of the spectatorship of nature.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FnqkeNjO_sE/U9Xe1a_jdyI/AAAAAAAADBg/cHVRnx6ErZc/s1600/Vacation+921.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FnqkeNjO_sE/U9Xe1a_jdyI/AAAAAAAADBg/cHVRnx6ErZc/s1600/Vacation+921.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is an albino alligator? crocodile? I never can remember the difference and it really doesn't matter, since they would both be equally unpleasant to meet in a swamp.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xPOcWHQ-7tc/U9XfekBgqPI/AAAAAAAADBw/a5wn7LguZes/s1600/Vacation+948.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xPOcWHQ-7tc/U9XfekBgqPI/AAAAAAAADBw/a5wn7LguZes/s1600/Vacation+948.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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And this is a desert cat which, if it were found in a living room, would be completely indistinguishable from a regular cat.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kQ-HwgTUBJQ/U9XgI_s3HWI/AAAAAAAADCA/S9KM6C_UCDQ/s1600/Vacation+959.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kQ-HwgTUBJQ/U9XgI_s3HWI/AAAAAAAADCA/S9KM6C_UCDQ/s1600/Vacation+959.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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I don't know what kind of bird this is.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--7XOtbpu6K8/U9Xgd1krwYI/AAAAAAAADCI/61iACVg6fjA/s1600/Vacation+960.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--7XOtbpu6K8/U9Xgd1krwYI/AAAAAAAADCI/61iACVg6fjA/s1600/Vacation+960.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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Or this one.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0ltbxqCrYQo/U9Xg0R_vSpI/AAAAAAAADCQ/9vVAnWgFjNg/s1600/Vacation+961.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0ltbxqCrYQo/U9Xg0R_vSpI/AAAAAAAADCQ/9vVAnWgFjNg/s1600/Vacation+961.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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Or these.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2JK_h3Eo15M/U9XhHGbTHJI/AAAAAAAADCY/E5af7Gp2e7E/s1600/Vacation+966.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2JK_h3Eo15M/U9XhHGbTHJI/AAAAAAAADCY/E5af7Gp2e7E/s1600/Vacation+966.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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But they're really pretty.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oloMV3NEx0A/U9XiSTptJzI/AAAAAAAADC4/0kLlchxEbpY/s1600/Vacation+1002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oloMV3NEx0A/U9XiSTptJzI/AAAAAAAADC4/0kLlchxEbpY/s1600/Vacation+1002.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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Heidi and the bear had fun making the same face.</div>
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And Ion wanted to be friends.</div>
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I was far away from this butterfly.</div>
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And I was really far away from these chimps. Don't worry, I'll stop telling you how amazing my new lens is soon.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xi0rNXbTAXA/U9nI6IvCHMI/AAAAAAAADFg/Fa1mG5cbxSc/s1600/Vacation+2+013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xi0rNXbTAXA/U9nI6IvCHMI/AAAAAAAADFg/Fa1mG5cbxSc/s1600/Vacation+2+013.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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Heidi is a lot smaller than a chimpanzee.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hzHJB3MPbAE/U9nJX1CJn7I/AAAAAAAADFw/ljVhrx33DOQ/s1600/Vacation+2+020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hzHJB3MPbAE/U9nJX1CJn7I/AAAAAAAADFw/ljVhrx33DOQ/s1600/Vacation+2+020.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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Elephant!</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iP3Ue66T46Q/U9nJ1xSZnZI/AAAAAAAADF4/9kJLHZLO9HU/s1600/Vacation+2+045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iP3Ue66T46Q/U9nJ1xSZnZI/AAAAAAAADF4/9kJLHZLO9HU/s1600/Vacation+2+045.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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Is YOUR zoo cool enough to have Ganesha in it? I DIDN'T THINK SO.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kexBBA-WF9k/U9nK1q_TVVI/AAAAAAAADGA/xCsLVahYbLQ/s1600/Vacation+2+095.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kexBBA-WF9k/U9nK1q_TVVI/AAAAAAAADGA/xCsLVahYbLQ/s1600/Vacation+2+095.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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Don't worry, he got away.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-atxLgxitSgo/U9nLjq_TtyI/AAAAAAAADGQ/PvUDDcLSdmc/s1600/Vacation+2+128.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-atxLgxitSgo/U9nLjq_TtyI/AAAAAAAADGQ/PvUDDcLSdmc/s1600/Vacation+2+128.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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There's a statue of an owl if you look where the statue of the man is pointing.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5cVBu3O9Kk8/U9nMJd_vimI/AAAAAAAADGg/Kehe4f8Lf0Y/s1600/Vacation+2+140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5cVBu3O9Kk8/U9nMJd_vimI/AAAAAAAADGg/Kehe4f8Lf0Y/s1600/Vacation+2+140.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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Heidi wanted to climb to the top of the big rock.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U45jO10lDe8/U9nMiutBgZI/AAAAAAAADGo/2ThOZ3c15Cc/s1600/Vacation+2+148.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U45jO10lDe8/U9nMiutBgZI/AAAAAAAADGo/2ThOZ3c15Cc/s1600/Vacation+2+148.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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We had adventures in the rainforest.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FdhIyn_EASo/U9nNGxYZ0aI/AAAAAAAADG4/yujgf78yeUc/s1600/Vacation+2+167.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FdhIyn_EASo/U9nNGxYZ0aI/AAAAAAAADG4/yujgf78yeUc/s1600/Vacation+2+167.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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Photo credit: Ryan</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RKhH5gNUQ5w/U9nNfeGgdJI/AAAAAAAADHA/TOxfbmxFBZ8/s1600/Vacation+2+185.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RKhH5gNUQ5w/U9nNfeGgdJI/AAAAAAAADHA/TOxfbmxFBZ8/s1600/Vacation+2+185.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-55l0IvlWeXU/U9nOOnzM05I/AAAAAAAADHY/yyCoaRhVjKU/s1600/Vacation+2+215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-55l0IvlWeXU/U9nOOnzM05I/AAAAAAAADHY/yyCoaRhVjKU/s1600/Vacation+2+215.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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And we played in the petting zoo.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2WOHD30CSMM/U9nOsoCzmvI/AAAAAAAADHo/75_LNNqMlF8/s1600/Vacation+2+225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2WOHD30CSMM/U9nOsoCzmvI/AAAAAAAADHo/75_LNNqMlF8/s1600/Vacation+2+225.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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Ion wants to be in FFA.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fKZ13EshbOs/U9nO83xc3pI/AAAAAAAADHw/F61H7ZWdGfY/s1600/Vacation+2+230.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fKZ13EshbOs/U9nO83xc3pI/AAAAAAAADHw/F61H7ZWdGfY/s1600/Vacation+2+230.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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Feeding animals is the BEST.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O_1AhI7RQEQ/U9nPLFYn04I/AAAAAAAADH4/Ez4H2aCt3Q0/s1600/Vacation+2+240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O_1AhI7RQEQ/U9nPLFYn04I/AAAAAAAADH4/Ez4H2aCt3Q0/s1600/Vacation+2+240.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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There is a baby monkey in this picture!</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8vGMngI-Lj0/U9nPjwESNtI/AAAAAAAADIA/ur0QDy3coGs/s1600/Vacation+2+259.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8vGMngI-Lj0/U9nPjwESNtI/AAAAAAAADIA/ur0QDy3coGs/s1600/Vacation+2+259.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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And we saw Hedwig.</div>
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I officially wish we lived close enough to the Tulsa Zoo to become members and go every weekend. Ah, well, I guess we'll keep crossing our fingers for a farm and let the kids grow up with livestock that way.</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03807549835143586427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6303450485932523725.post-39140832456597411032014-07-31T07:00:00.000-07:002014-07-31T07:00:00.029-07:00Vacation 2014 Part 2: At the Park<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We vacationed at Sequoyah State Park, an amazing state park 30 minutes away from Tahlequah. It's close enough to be convenient (read: we didn't freak out about whether we'd forgotten anything), but far enough away that with a room at the resort we felt like we were away from it all.</div>
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We went on the Watermelon Hay Ride, in which we got all itchy from hay while we trundled behind a tractor, and then ate Farmer's Market watermelon until we were all ready to burst.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aLwAmCcJ4gY/U9XPzNufObI/AAAAAAAAC6k/QbzrCS5ZfV4/s1600/Vacation+453.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aLwAmCcJ4gY/U9XPzNufObI/AAAAAAAAC6k/QbzrCS5ZfV4/s1600/Vacation+453.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qoCQR-0MxWE/U9XRAz5ahsI/AAAAAAAAC7I/DmG1aU0UmSc/s1600/Vacation+495.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qoCQR-0MxWE/U9XRAz5ahsI/AAAAAAAAC7I/DmG1aU0UmSc/s1600/Vacation+495.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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We went on hikes. Lots and lots of hikes.</div>
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And more hikes. And in between hiking we did nature prints on tshirts. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kIOZleFpN_c/U9XUfXtRMMI/AAAAAAAAC8w/Bkb2OpUcM3E/s1600/Vacation+642.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kIOZleFpN_c/U9XUfXtRMMI/AAAAAAAAC8w/Bkb2OpUcM3E/s1600/Vacation+642.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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We went on tram rides around the park. The kids thought we were on a choo choo train. </div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">Or, as Ion says, a too too wain.</span></div>
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And as Heidi says, chugga chugga choo choo comin' fwoo.</div>
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We flew airplanes.</div>
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And we played in the dirt.</div>
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And we went on more, more hikes. And picked up rocks. And did some more hiking. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q-DjBYooYKA/U9XaIpYmc3I/AAAAAAAAC-4/l_RDzpLcDxk/s1600/Vacation+768.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q-DjBYooYKA/U9XaIpYmc3I/AAAAAAAAC-4/l_RDzpLcDxk/s1600/Vacation+768.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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And we rode horses and swam and played on the splash pad and ate ice cream and made necklaces and did so many things that I was frankly too tired to take pictures of. And we slept soundly every night. Except the first night. 20 limbs in 2 double beds is quite crowded, but I'm pretty sure we could have all been on the floor and still slept soundly. Having fun all day with toddlers is a way more effective sleep medicine than Ambien, let me tell you.</div>
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Tomorrow: we went to the zoo a few times too.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03807549835143586427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6303450485932523725.post-18002240875873214092014-07-30T20:38:00.001-07:002014-07-30T20:38:13.015-07:00Vacation 2014 Part 1: Fourth of July<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I'm belatedly blogging our vacation at Sequoyah State Park, since I finally got around to culling and editing all my photos. The first activity of vacation, after dumping our bags in the room, was to go out to MeMe and Pop Pop's for the Fourth of July.</div>
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The Fourth of July fun started with discovering that 3 little cousin girls had shown up in the same dresses!</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QJJYUNYWWPQ/U9XLZVe_bmI/AAAAAAAAC4c/uwg6EuHHNv4/s1600/Vacation+086.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QJJYUNYWWPQ/U9XLZVe_bmI/AAAAAAAAC4c/uwg6EuHHNv4/s1600/Vacation+086.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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All girls need a Barbie Jeep, of course.</div>
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Cousin fun in the ball pit turtle</div>
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BB guns (far away from the little kids, and always with proper gun safety practices. His dad's a vet, guys, don't freak out. The only things in danger were the squirrels.)</div>
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Pa Pa, Me Me, and Nanny chatting on the porch with baby Jax, while the kids have fun.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a9fh8Hu7bls/U9XN8LgydoI/AAAAAAAAC5s/3iPZ0XQAHiw/s1600/Vacation+203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a9fh8Hu7bls/U9XN8LgydoI/AAAAAAAAC5s/3iPZ0XQAHiw/s1600/Vacation+203.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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If either of these babies' parents were in the picture, there would be four generations here.</div>
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MeMe, Pops, and their grandkids</div>
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Great-grandparents, grandparents, and a whole crowd of grandkids!</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_U_F-_fg8WQ/U9XPadaP89I/AAAAAAAAC6U/alNPSjfsNsw/s1600/Vacation+392.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_U_F-_fg8WQ/U9XPadaP89I/AAAAAAAAC6U/alNPSjfsNsw/s1600/Vacation+392.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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Then it was time for fireworks...</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4hWSx4fOTJc/U9XPnO1t-aI/AAAAAAAAC6c/UREwV8cEdtE/s1600/Vacation+404.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4hWSx4fOTJc/U9XPnO1t-aI/AAAAAAAAC6c/UREwV8cEdtE/s1600/Vacation+404.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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...mostly little smoke bombs and sparklers since it was still daylight...</div>
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And then it was time to head back to Sequoyah for a hay ride and a very disturbed night of sharing 2 lumpy double beds between 2 adults and 3 toddlers. Stay tuned tomorrow!</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03807549835143586427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6303450485932523725.post-23694797311646122782014-05-24T10:27:00.003-07:002014-05-24T10:47:42.626-07:00The Castle in Muskogee: Renaissance Faire 2014I love the Ren Faire so much. I wish real life were like a Ren Faire all the time.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DnoT-3_vtnA/U3oUwx3WgHI/AAAAAAAACWI/faCJDE7BlTU/s1600/DSC_8375-MOTION.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DnoT-3_vtnA/U3oUwx3WgHI/AAAAAAAACWI/faCJDE7BlTU/s1600/DSC_8375-MOTION.gif" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>and that this was how we solved all our disputes, complete with fake death and magical monarch-ordained resurrection at the end.</i></div>
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I think my favorite part is how people dress up and create this fantasy world that we all kind of wish were true but don't want to admit it in the drab light of day, only behind the Castle walls nobody is in the least bit embarrassed about it. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tD_SCH65Cns/U3hAi1aYg0I/AAAAAAAACMs/GzyehijfsIE/s1600/DSC_8253.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tD_SCH65Cns/U3hAi1aYg0I/AAAAAAAACMs/GzyehijfsIE/s1600/DSC_8253.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Yes, ladies, I'm talking about you.</i></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kW9R78uUT18/U3hB2BM2EuI/AAAAAAAACNs/5ICRVufrbUU/s1600/DSC_8291.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kW9R78uUT18/U3hB2BM2EuI/AAAAAAAACNs/5ICRVufrbUU/s1600/DSC_8291.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>And you, too, dearest friend from earliest childhood memories. Except I've known you too long to think you wouldn't wear those in public if you felt like it, so maybe you're a bad example.</i></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GRpgee_HPbo/U3hBWYP1jcI/AAAAAAAACNM/NzZmc_DCpDk/s1600/DSC_8274.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GRpgee_HPbo/U3hBWYP1jcI/AAAAAAAACNM/NzZmc_DCpDk/s1600/DSC_8274.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Also, the Doctor.</i></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YPv1ElBEtXY/U3hBl7jSoUI/AAAAAAAACNc/foor2t2vhcQ/s1600/DSC_8286.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YPv1ElBEtXY/U3hBl7jSoUI/AAAAAAAACNc/foor2t2vhcQ/s1600/DSC_8286.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>This little girl, on the other hand, has not yet learned to be embarrassed about being a princess, thank goodness.</i></div>
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My oldest friend from before either of us could toddle or pee in the toilet came to join in the festivities, and I introduced her to the magical Castle of Muskogee. I hadn't seen her in years. Probably 10 of them. And the last time I saw her we were chased by evil geese, which is another story altogether.</div>
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I didn't get a picture of the two of us together because I fail as a friend, but Heidi was quite taken with her and gave me lots of photo-ops. In fact, Heidi is looking over my shoulder right now and saying, "That's Dylan!"</div>
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Heidi got to go on the Queen's Quest and find the ribbons that were hidden all over the Castle this year. Last year she wouldn't curtsy, and that is the requirement to go on the quest, so this year we practiced our curtsy so that she would be a pro at it. She got to meet the Queen and was made a lady, and we were given a royal command to call her Lady Heidi for the rest of the day.</div>
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There were many adventures all day, and if the repeated chorus of "Princess Castle, please!" ever since is anything to judge by, I'm not the only one who wishes real life were more like this.</div>
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<i>Dylan, I'm going to conscript you as my child photography assistant to make funny faces behind my back all the time.</i></div>
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<i>This dear childhood friend of mine hadn't been in my house 30 minutes before she taught my kids to touch their noses and say "phbbbbbbbbbbt!" which hasn't stopped being hilarious to them since.</i></div>
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<i>My babies want a hobbit house, oh, so much. </i></div>
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In short, in the stories about people being whisked away to Fairyland, if it is anything like a Ren Faire, I can see why those people stay there.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03807549835143586427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6303450485932523725.post-3191425378913875942014-05-13T17:13:00.003-07:002014-05-13T17:13:55.895-07:00BeautifulHeidi ran up to me, face full of joy and sparkly colorful raccoon eyes. "Momma, look! Momma, look!"<br />
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I looked. I breathed in, halfway. I stopped. I swallowed. I breathed in the rest of the way. I closed my eyes. I forced a smile onto my face. I said, "Did you make yourself beautiful?"<br />
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"Yes, I did! I'm so beautiful!"<br />
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"You are such a beautiful little girl. Now let's go clean up the mess you made."<br />
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But upon inspecting the bathroom, all I could find was a single eyeliner on the sink. "Heidi, where is the rest of my makeup bag?"<br />
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"In the closet!"<br />
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And I'll be darned if it wasn't. There may have been powder and eye shadow all over the bathroom, but by golly, that makeup bag was put back away.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03807549835143586427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6303450485932523725.post-61098403347366785662014-05-11T20:17:00.001-07:002014-05-11T20:54:13.131-07:00Catchin' up: Easter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Did you know Picasa made gifs? Because I didn't, but I shall henceforth upload all my rapid-capture shots and have it auto-gif them instead of just picking the best ones.</div>
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Anyway. Ahem. Kindly ignore how incredibly late I am at posting Easter pictures, and hang on for the next two posts too in which I will show off a) my beautiful family which you clearly have never seen before, showcased by my friend's excellent photographic skills and b) my friend's beautiful family, showcased by my rather more bumbling photographic attempts. In the meantime, here's Easter!</div>
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Also, thanks to Google's awesome and somewhat creepy software, here a gif demonstration of why you will probably never see a picture of my children in which they are all looking.</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03807549835143586427noreply@blogger.com0