tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9177251213228792402024-03-14T10:03:40.341-04:00Just Another Speck in the Great Big Blogosphere#15http://www.blogger.com/profile/17957253697488582637noreply@blogger.comBlogger76125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-917725121322879240.post-63655914518753895242016-10-02T23:33:00.001-04:002016-10-02T23:33:57.800-04:00CONVERSATION BETWEEN SISTERS<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Two fraternal twin
infant sisters are on the floor of their parents' bedroom. One -- the smaller
one -- is laying on her back. The other is laying on her tummy beside her, head
up and looking over at her.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
AMY: <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>C'mon, roll over.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
GRACE: <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Why? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
AMY: <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>You can see more from up here.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
GRACE: <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Because you're like, what, 4 inches
higher off the ground than me? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
AMY: <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Four inches makes a difference.
Maybe the air is cleaner up here and that's why you're always getting sick and
I'm not.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
GRACE: <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>That's not really fair. I had RSV. My
lungs are naturally weak now.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
AMY: <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I was exposed to RSV, too.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
GRACE: <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Yeah, but you've always been bigger,
so that's why you probably didn't get it. You're bigger, I'm cuter. That's how
it's always been.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
AMY: <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Who says you're cuter? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
GRACE: <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Everyone does. It's probably my soft,
unblemished skin. Yours is rougher and all blotchy most of the time.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
AMY: <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I have baby eczema. I'll grow out
of it. Here, let me feel <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(reaches over to
touch Grace's face).</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
GRACE: <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(flinching
away) </i>Don't touch me! Sure you're growing, Miss Piggy. Just look at how
much you eat. You can't even make it through the night without a snack.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
AMY: <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And just because you can makes me
a pig?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
GRACE: <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Yes. The doctor said you weigh over
thirteen and a half pounds now. That's over half a pound heavier than me!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
AMY: <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Please. That's barely any
different than the day we were born. Plus, I'm a mover and a shaker -- I need
the calories. What do you do but lay there on your back waving your hands and
feet around all day?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
GRACE: <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Hands? Feet? What are those? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
AMY: <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Exactly. You don't even know. Hands
are these things. Great for grasping feet, like so. I'm not really sure what
else they are used for.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
GRACE: <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Huh, I wonder if I have those, too.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
AMY: <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>You do. They're also helpful for
pushing up when you roll over.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
GRACE: <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>How's that?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
AMY: <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>You know, when you're... oh, never
mind, you probably won't know what I'm talking about. I hardly see you roll.
Not on purpose, anyways.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
GRACE: <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Again with the rolling. It doesn't
seem so great to me -- how can you look at the fan with your head up like that?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
AMY: <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>True <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(rolls over on to her back and looks up at the fan with Grace).<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A few moments of silent contemplation pass
as they both admire the fan spinning.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
AMY: <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Mr. Fan -- always so dependable.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
GRACE: <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I agree.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
AMY: <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I heard dad setting up our cribs
the other day. Who do you think is going to get moved over first?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
GRACE: <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Probably me. You always go to bed so
early. Plus, mom already jury rigged James's light -- you know the turtle that
you like -- above the bed for you. I don't think she'll want to go through all
that trouble again if she can help it. I'm happy enough with the cow jumping
over the moon light.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
AMY: <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I can't wait until we get our own
rooms. You always take up more than your half of the bed when you sleep.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
GRACE: <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Do not! You're the one who's always
shimmying off your boppy in your sleep.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
AMY: <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I'm just trying to get away from
you. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(Rolls back to her front as she
speaks, ending up on top of Grace.)</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
GRACE: <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Hey! What the... get off me! Is this
your idea of getting away from me?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
AMY: <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(Trying to push herself off, but getting stuck.) </i>Sorry... I'm
trying... I can't... If only I knew how better to use... aargh... <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(lets her head collapse on Grace in
frustration).<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
GRACE: <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(Wailing)
</i>Dad!! Dad!! Amy won't get off me!!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
AMY: <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>So... tired...<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
GRACE: <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Daaaaaaaaaaaad!!!!!!!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
AMY: <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(Making one final effort) </i>There. I'm off. Happy?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Both pause to look around as they hear a click
and see a flash. In horror, they see Dad in the corner taking pictures.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
<br /></div>
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#15http://www.blogger.com/profile/17957253697488582637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-917725121322879240.post-54467040231324089362010-07-14T21:39:00.003-04:002010-07-14T21:49:07.549-04:00q2 call<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzuYHoTkPJIPZ3j5WoZ4ywOHLqTJKVooDCG17Se_tiUZtlNrrddRhXUugFNUeMfMAnj2J_-A9NdbWngvhjVBw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><div>Last week, I was at hospital overnight Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. Having to stay overnight at the hospital when there's not much going on, as sometimes is the case, gets tedious, so on Sunday, Annie brought the kids over for a couple of hours around dinnertime so we could all spend some time together. After dinner, we walked around the hospital a bit, and even though there's really not much to do, the kids still managed to find ways to amuse themselves. After days and days away, it was nice to see everyone, even if it wasn't at home! </div>#15http://www.blogger.com/profile/17957253697488582637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-917725121322879240.post-24913189388255930612010-06-28T22:54:00.004-04:002010-06-28T23:07:12.718-04:00The Badger<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw9q2vKVDG8BbYOvA6CzTFMcKTj0VvWd736KboIIz3EEODqGFEvXJZ4jd_Hol1MaiNN-QD1gyQhAfZRWGim2w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><div>Ethan just went to his first Cub Scout Day Camp for 3 days last week. On the second day, it rained for an hour, so we all retired inside for lunch and some... um... shall we say, inspiring, camp sing-a-longs?</div><div><br /></div><div>When it was nice outside, though, Ethan got to do all kinds of fun things, like the obstacle "Oh I Wish I Were Six Inches Taller" course, shooting bebe guns, and making posters, decorating buckets, and other fun things that boys 8-10 like to do!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN6u1Dog_Rn-dB2CAlSUnz7GxDhh2hOXg6gKyr05R5cC8ogQO1KhsqSLS0tA-7EQAasxKiKjwX7Rxv2yXyOtL5YXj3_32nRgPKycZTr-0kb-K_aLX5A7CORnGv_wM_903mp-NKBL0s2yRI/s1600/IMG00022-20100622-0924.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN6u1Dog_Rn-dB2CAlSUnz7GxDhh2hOXg6gKyr05R5cC8ogQO1KhsqSLS0tA-7EQAasxKiKjwX7Rxv2yXyOtL5YXj3_32nRgPKycZTr-0kb-K_aLX5A7CORnGv_wM_903mp-NKBL0s2yRI/s320/IMG00022-20100622-0924.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488025823296641138" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7nxP3c5j9gXANHdd5AX6oFV4rnBHmBw2tUkWf0TUqqM5BDYs5pGQmWqUCBq5S549ymY5O0CBVsMVBijaHH6rEUvO5XFrG9wBcXX6QeP9SkWH48ECz9gs480N2S_wRKiHK7iWPAaIoQ5Iw/s1600/IMG00024-20100622-1003.jpg"><img style="display:block; 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margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqTLcalFXqgZIEmku8BzU9fMH7QUwuMnAl5CyCLMB1OIq-XeeVKYpC0IzlLwIC44TvUfURe9dMeRRcq77YasHyrqmzL4R8KzyCtNgvD51iqu6vIXTng8V_8mhTWej2YlFEcBfMSL1oWGtU/s320/IMG00054-20100624-1440.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488025439741793394" /></a><br />My Emergency Room shifts (where I happen to be rotating right now) at the hospital just happened to allow me to accompany Ethan for half days as a parent... how fortunate! We had a lot of fun together -- I'm really glad I got to be there with him!</div>#15http://www.blogger.com/profile/17957253697488582637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-917725121322879240.post-8395584215427782692010-04-12T23:18:00.002-04:002010-04-13T18:38:25.051-04:00Happy Birthday from Auntie Mic!<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxbbu6eOwXmETxNixCzBwshxWyVha5nA3hANb5DcAjoZK2DNaiCpNrzg2EjptUIbYzDbgbnvZGR3Fa868JNmQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>#15http://www.blogger.com/profile/17957253697488582637noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-917725121322879240.post-23234628509956619232010-03-12T22:11:00.002-05:002010-03-12T22:15:10.607-05:00FootlooseWent to Ethan's elementary school performance yesterday evening -- whoa, James, Lilly, and Isaac -- will you take a look at dem moves! (And I thought it was just Ethan who was supposed to be performing! :)<br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/qtPoQi4tdp0&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/qtPoQi4tdp0&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>#15http://www.blogger.com/profile/17957253697488582637noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-917725121322879240.post-4649478304881576282010-03-11T20:43:00.004-05:002010-03-12T22:11:34.640-05:00Ethan's Baptism<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO2Hg7jZavgeZm5zC9szwztNguePveZCbzPYzB0KChkVIvTNc5RF8tNMgneauHKhd1RZG-Tich6_pX3iXPD2YuZSMq4iZ3AvNHCYzf74DZRRilhiEgaylx6mbFNdOIxXkPnQDpqys5_I8e/s320/DSC02620.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447561387569610578" /><div style="text-align: center; ">Arrived at the church early to fill the font (8 a.m.)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIUXdP1l9lpN5WDwExUsbStUhj1N-LNMl93_F4du_FWR-TTpsFACdCbW-ZpO2vXF8yZ7sppXlw7-TplaTWavA0iX8ASuFIvlZzpcJ-I_xIePejDN41q9y2axScX6in6uex66_C-J4P_f-p/s320/DSC02623.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447561391681430930" /><div><div style="text-align: center; ">Somehow, James thought I was filling up a personal bathtub for him and kept trying to get in...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpqtjI1Lr8apnadjt1iGocRzEjJQ8D6Dbw-QTrf8AtJlZM9uX_9Q0ZHy8OaxeN7FzhyphenhyphenjFVEcVMBtNQwwBTSEYafnGZGEzjtAZSsTKCwylWda4qpTxmsvUrDEO0cz3kwphyphenhyphenqEYTH7HfPjVD/s320/DSC_0762.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447950097576702098" /><div><div style="text-align: center;">Let the kids play piano with the innards exposed to keep them entertained.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfEV-BFewjkXRZfrf80KoLfklUPY1hQ6CGuacVjmbdTZtjfDpq6lRLaCiZJ4JJtePgGkyU0K7Edv28NUQ5XeBtbrOHWIrY90_JYURlXVt68WnRyv_sLlCFVY7tF-2EiTYU9gjrk9p-V5fl/s1600-h/DSC_0771.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfEV-BFewjkXRZfrf80KoLfklUPY1hQ6CGuacVjmbdTZtjfDpq6lRLaCiZJ4JJtePgGkyU0K7Edv28NUQ5XeBtbrOHWIrY90_JYURlXVt68WnRyv_sLlCFVY7tF-2EiTYU9gjrk9p-V5fl/s320/DSC_0771.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447561424023130738" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Gotta love the jumpers!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtd7tf2ATIl8xJYKWeSu4XUkYnY1YGHNM7lOKWhCWw3k2PfM30QcveR3eU_aYlCxCachYj7MRd4j6UBLaqgr2Sv81LdwOeaNA9WPFepCVc35_WzmH4GzeEfc6pjVgu4kQuAKmA33i4-Y55/s320/DSC02627.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447561399949876114" /><div style="text-align: center;">Definitely gotta love the food (dessert crepes with all the toppings -- thanks to Wifey Supreme!)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt5Rn-_dmaXyQFbSWJSuJfvyl4cVdHDXy8aVyZQS8-n8xLsyJe6WckV91Gv8xxGR-2m-tRqZiCaXGj8ClpuaQqH5Bp-FI_Hcgh6gF4H0GwDIfjHfb0be8XGn-D0rrXxAavWGCuI7QAB94J/s1600-h/DSC02630.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt5Rn-_dmaXyQFbSWJSuJfvyl4cVdHDXy8aVyZQS8-n8xLsyJe6WckV91Gv8xxGR-2m-tRqZiCaXGj8ClpuaQqH5Bp-FI_Hcgh6gF4H0GwDIfjHfb0be8XGn-D0rrXxAavWGCuI7QAB94J/s320/DSC02630.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447561409309298114" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Mmmmm... I love baptisms :)</div></div>#15http://www.blogger.com/profile/17957253697488582637noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-917725121322879240.post-41302072843201772182009-12-23T19:53:00.004-05:002009-12-24T01:42:31.502-05:00Speaking of Dentists...It's been a while since I've bragged about Wifey, but after today's performance, she definitely deserves some bragging rights. On Sunday, more-or-less on a whim, we decided to host all the dental types in our ward for brunch this morning (around 20 people besides our family, adults and kids included). I was thinking, you know, go buy some bagels, some mini muffins, some mini quiches, serve them up with a little bit of orange juice and cream cheese or something -- no, no, no, Wifey was not going to stand for such mediocrity. If we were going to throw a party, darn it all, we were going to do it right!<div><br /></div><div>This is what she made instead:</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbMl0b55-uFkA1Fh2oo2y5Gp_7qAPdtdu1xZNC__q6YSoX3khPLWlF3tmOQgCIW5RTEKo686HbyagNn1LtQAnhVQ2d2rhubsWJKC1_i1_3-naaT-1vC88yUmzn6GyUzqbLnrLuE-MSOCkG/s1600-h/DSC_0154.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbMl0b55-uFkA1Fh2oo2y5Gp_7qAPdtdu1xZNC__q6YSoX3khPLWlF3tmOQgCIW5RTEKo686HbyagNn1LtQAnhVQ2d2rhubsWJKC1_i1_3-naaT-1vC88yUmzn6GyUzqbLnrLuE-MSOCkG/s320/DSC_0154.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418600204826097810" /></a>In case you can't tell, that's four different kinds of juices, seven different kinds of fruits/berries, two kinds of quiches, two kinds of breakfast casseroles, two kinds of scones, and two kinds of homemade pastries. Hello yumminess!! Needless to say, if people didn't enjoy themselves while here, it certainly wasn't for lack of preparation on her part! She recruited some guests to bring some of the fruit and juices, otherwise, she pretty much made everything herself. From scratch, even. Wow.</div><div><br /></div><div>Didn't get any good photos of the adults, but here's a cute one of Lilly chatting up two brothers. Good times!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ7gLTbh5Oz4cbVFTFr9adL0xiCftQm3dsjCdAPot96En2TUGV0gGXD3694HQGubOrCB1iEhYHx1oIn53wBALfYQ6hPXLhWYAUNsl-Q79RD1ncZzg6PET-6s84KzkgjeXs7Z3CYL3cLrBc/s1600-h/DSC_0156.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ7gLTbh5Oz4cbVFTFr9adL0xiCftQm3dsjCdAPot96En2TUGV0gGXD3694HQGubOrCB1iEhYHx1oIn53wBALfYQ6hPXLhWYAUNsl-Q79RD1ncZzg6PET-6s84KzkgjeXs7Z3CYL3cLrBc/s320/DSC_0156.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418600217519267714" /></a><br /><br /></div>#15http://www.blogger.com/profile/17957253697488582637noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-917725121322879240.post-26824881963831193772009-12-23T19:42:00.007-05:002009-12-24T01:28:28.320-05:00A Very Merry Gingerbread FHE<p align="center"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz_K33XB7_Sfrl_IgBfdAomTGrG7A_hQNFJXveGBhTundxMyvl7Xm-MnUBZCbZ3NgZB946JTM5VANJu5VJqEA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><div>Last Monday night, one of the other families in our ward and us got together to eat candy for dinner -- I mean, decorate gingerbread homes, then attempt to eat a nutritious meal afterwards (yeah right!). Gotta love the final products, pictured here:</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsfCwRXKqh3ox2mJC1JK4sHfKkARv2KJF_d-QQ9yCnCg8gdXrinwUbtw1OSgQViD35vNkYc3K2S6FQeK5n22aX1RPlwytPChqWDlC7LALu2X8dxObz94uuf_3Sfx26SWSdVtLAtuLY35MY/s1600-h/DSC_0137-2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsfCwRXKqh3ox2mJC1JK4sHfKkARv2KJF_d-QQ9yCnCg8gdXrinwUbtw1OSgQViD35vNkYc3K2S6FQeK5n22aX1RPlwytPChqWDlC7LALu2X8dxObz94uuf_3Sfx26SWSdVtLAtuLY35MY/s320/DSC_0137-2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418597414744212098" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Lilly's House</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS5KvZkdLYGOp-aI8UykWyASDUK5dNYo4dJfFy9JJ1nF7VDmq8yvTdthnpsywlSPlwKdTT5pDidJpb9jlwrIkbQ9ksbZA9n3mEFon1zgfbQNn6h8fcLFlwtd8Uk0cs5vpZPMILw9PPDDE7/s1600-h/DSC_0136-2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS5KvZkdLYGOp-aI8UykWyASDUK5dNYo4dJfFy9JJ1nF7VDmq8yvTdthnpsywlSPlwKdTT5pDidJpb9jlwrIkbQ9ksbZA9n3mEFon1zgfbQNn6h8fcLFlwtd8Uk0cs5vpZPMILw9PPDDE7/s320/DSC_0136-2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418597405909782194" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Ethan's House</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvqgkog4eE-ft-N97SxOMV7J6cGn2sVzIJRWDodlAkZUhmWKuXAGqjSVwReNgxEndRo-7IKJts2LfFleBciGVgqx7r1qZtf0WDT_ulsj1320zcS_Lz-yp5P8jixlRVIKsFFynjcuQxlCOS/s1600-h/DSC_0134-2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvqgkog4eE-ft-N97SxOMV7J6cGn2sVzIJRWDodlAkZUhmWKuXAGqjSVwReNgxEndRo-7IKJts2LfFleBciGVgqx7r1qZtf0WDT_ulsj1320zcS_Lz-yp5P8jixlRVIKsFFynjcuQxlCOS/s320/DSC_0134-2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418597395031561730" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">James's House <-- you can tell where the majority of his candy went to (hint: not on the house!)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHpGLIchT0eR23pU40ul34K4vSIzzNdTvf4Ca1HQ9ComDAVZQviL4m7fXuatAgt4KIpSS8w5l2mQ9peOBi9MKBqkkAiZTH4achM2UqyPf-UblgaBnfO7BxcdUovHnp5B0ZBSy4iiUlj7da/s1600-h/DSC_0133-2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHpGLIchT0eR23pU40ul34K4vSIzzNdTvf4Ca1HQ9ComDAVZQviL4m7fXuatAgt4KIpSS8w5l2mQ9peOBi9MKBqkkAiZTH4achM2UqyPf-UblgaBnfO7BxcdUovHnp5B0ZBSy4iiUlj7da/s320/DSC_0133-2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418597383188122290" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Isaac's House</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Unfortunately, beautiful though they may have been, they didn't last very long:</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Iyk_PNielgMuvkl_oyMxc0G0UhWXVjeJlyLe5SDM5EZKlNBM_5xO2Pr0MHUbL9G3FJiKPpzNMvb6bSaZqGiRbvwyT8CX_ZXnhM4sAt7TWCurg8F11MjiwvSKOKpsAM_u9UMj0To37pbo/s1600-h/DSC_0144.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Iyk_PNielgMuvkl_oyMxc0G0UhWXVjeJlyLe5SDM5EZKlNBM_5xO2Pr0MHUbL9G3FJiKPpzNMvb6bSaZqGiRbvwyT8CX_ZXnhM4sAt7TWCurg8F11MjiwvSKOKpsAM_u9UMj0To37pbo/s320/DSC_0144.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418597421133476674" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">(18 hours later)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Poor kids -- so obviously candy-deprived! You'd almost think they live with a dentist or something :)</div>#15http://www.blogger.com/profile/17957253697488582637noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-917725121322879240.post-48612391397129048812009-12-17T20:34:00.004-05:002009-12-17T20:47:10.059-05:00Training for the Circus?I dunno what they're teaching these kids in gymnastics, but if one day I get back from the OR to find out that Ethan's gone to join the Shriners, all I can say is, "I guess I should have seen it coming!"<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz_luxEHI0COJl3GO692kz4KGmhvr8e0CsK5pPHwe8XJldV7Id0kbxPNMOzHDqa2vgZ2_ParJbcabv1UBGRKg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>#15http://www.blogger.com/profile/17957253697488582637noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-917725121322879240.post-23982790109908492002009-11-02T21:33:00.008-05:002009-11-03T12:07:50.973-05:00A Season for RememberingOne year tomorrow... still miss you, mom.<div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikYd6MFCA8fg4-Ffa4uWL_w4n318rF-4COybBiqKpOEMHxIXJcHrfa31UYHWdBS3AzoelWmKx9VzlN-Wg2eKSn8OiE7bBjXSLEs1rA-6Mx3Jz0txqXE2KJNgqZW58uKfrTMjzBTRYCEiQ6/s1600-h/babymom.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 243px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikYd6MFCA8fg4-Ffa4uWL_w4n318rF-4COybBiqKpOEMHxIXJcHrfa31UYHWdBS3AzoelWmKx9VzlN-Wg2eKSn8OiE7bBjXSLEs1rA-6Mx3Jz0txqXE2KJNgqZW58uKfrTMjzBTRYCEiQ6/s320/babymom.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399703212348407602" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN4dhosmNWx-uihyGQyih5uUjGPIXwITRl3D5O0MOc_HwiLKllTCro9vAbJY7kaanbHrNLaPYKL_GF7iTTbal6A_i1tY5tyakVYDUBKuM1nxH0TCCzRitNi86feyYw88k2HFB2ujGhBb3x/s1600-h/amy+tang+093.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 310px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN4dhosmNWx-uihyGQyih5uUjGPIXwITRl3D5O0MOc_HwiLKllTCro9vAbJY7kaanbHrNLaPYKL_GF7iTTbal6A_i1tY5tyakVYDUBKuM1nxH0TCCzRitNi86feyYw88k2HFB2ujGhBb3x/s320/amy+tang+093.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399703203004222994" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAQHYkuXPMvlG6HJ9sv3u1COcPMc6YFKGnCdeDkmhU3SCiHc-LsBRhQpV1xKEiwocSor6SnxGjqbva4-7-i3ueL6W21_ENqQ2eljJHI0m9rfoQ2MUnegia4AaBEBXkcKLQbYbAsP0o-zm3/s1600-h/amy+tang+098.jpg"><img style="display:block; 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margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 211px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEingXpLDD6fGfWi3Qwdj-lLV4EGqgZifnCrZu3mLuZK4DnFSra8zjewwgXdHwlixUFfwGMTxATSa1rSHkRhSCny83Io_DShcoVog899v4j7HFpnaSr9QCnDdGQIsGYjvixwoE30skqaYBTA/s320/amy+tang+027.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399702011102879346" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdSLna3si_43sZbMVNYO7iRzHDwYrPXWbfou3v6sNRF0GfNzPBplKJAMO6D_nNUkk2QkMmrafU5hunRKzt4FyeDf5O6MN59UirW7y0HoJp_IbwmYLqjzNBgpm4xeEvH6-Qr0-YyPteZOOZ/s1600-h/amy+tang+158.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 224px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdSLna3si_43sZbMVNYO7iRzHDwYrPXWbfou3v6sNRF0GfNzPBplKJAMO6D_nNUkk2QkMmrafU5hunRKzt4FyeDf5O6MN59UirW7y0HoJp_IbwmYLqjzNBgpm4xeEvH6-Qr0-YyPteZOOZ/s320/amy+tang+158.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399702007733273458" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkwoUc6cCkyxU4idd3R-6cwUlHRmUz-IlTXhacm_ToLA1sfu1-B40-gLI9ajdswXUGOenqUrRhpV8likHanAlzpRtJJ36h1iQ3mzkmx92x-_H1hCX_OFvT9BcLoqnjvsPDTS754fn4jJnK/s1600-h/amy+tang+081.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 218px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkwoUc6cCkyxU4idd3R-6cwUlHRmUz-IlTXhacm_ToLA1sfu1-B40-gLI9ajdswXUGOenqUrRhpV8likHanAlzpRtJJ36h1iQ3mzkmx92x-_H1hCX_OFvT9BcLoqnjvsPDTS754fn4jJnK/s320/amy+tang+081.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399702002155578178" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUo82mWr5VHE4QeDexZeu7SczYp7alFcYiRGyY2IbdHGDtBCdGqngUl_bVS7fct9LZ9rCJQmUfNR7xl6ydwQQQI-V6kXyBu5YVK0IaZ30OA1j-yGL0tagWw2lCc7ez0CfFKwgnD1gySEfO/s1600-h/amy+tang+165.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 217px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUo82mWr5VHE4QeDexZeu7SczYp7alFcYiRGyY2IbdHGDtBCdGqngUl_bVS7fct9LZ9rCJQmUfNR7xl6ydwQQQI-V6kXyBu5YVK0IaZ30OA1j-yGL0tagWw2lCc7ez0CfFKwgnD1gySEfO/s320/amy+tang+165.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399700928874219330" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj61nY_88fxhVQ0x2LAHK3ep4CIUQxk79GN3XbmzHPXBtXv6i7zW3dnovg3VtIDduHoGN7xeJzOxBOfkXUGv0LMXN43iVZmFVA8nzyTtvshhjbl568n64X2ofjsAyR7nVytqaVbsZl_OW4O/s1600-h/amy+tang+159.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 229px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj61nY_88fxhVQ0x2LAHK3ep4CIUQxk79GN3XbmzHPXBtXv6i7zW3dnovg3VtIDduHoGN7xeJzOxBOfkXUGv0LMXN43iVZmFVA8nzyTtvshhjbl568n64X2ofjsAyR7nVytqaVbsZl_OW4O/s320/amy+tang+159.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399700921594144098" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw701E2igv0LfhL40dm2mdlWJcHpvz_1tEuwIlkmWJSEwm7lqSjVKURio3ZVAUGqrpUQph-GQieCBQN4ZBbe9jlV6TF1SqkV6e6b5Uyd5DBX5j3azbFndIVAngAvO_poqYOZLr0xRlzUL-/s1600-h/family+photo2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 222px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw701E2igv0LfhL40dm2mdlWJcHpvz_1tEuwIlkmWJSEwm7lqSjVKURio3ZVAUGqrpUQph-GQieCBQN4ZBbe9jlV6TF1SqkV6e6b5Uyd5DBX5j3azbFndIVAngAvO_poqYOZLr0xRlzUL-/s320/family+photo2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399700918891535906" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ZyOiB1OK0BI6irqqia7xln6hV_kL51hAmgSGEtyCK5bafZZmBSAkMwLIhnK6hjZZaYnj_fx_AYPr4zrORRu7E0gv3U5qPukpuZWCcj5l1kE9zgCKMkUY6nXfrIrtAzE9V1vuYOYrKgMG/s1600-h/family+photo4.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ZyOiB1OK0BI6irqqia7xln6hV_kL51hAmgSGEtyCK5bafZZmBSAkMwLIhnK6hjZZaYnj_fx_AYPr4zrORRu7E0gv3U5qPukpuZWCcj5l1kE9zgCKMkUY6nXfrIrtAzE9V1vuYOYrKgMG/s320/family+photo4.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399700915882463842" /></a></div></div>#15http://www.blogger.com/profile/17957253697488582637noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-917725121322879240.post-40301732383949993942009-10-31T21:47:00.005-04:002009-11-01T20:12:17.813-05:00Church Face!<div style="text-align: left;">Mom had a "church face" that was characteristic enough to bear special mentioning by Steve when we all got together last year. I always thought it was something she'd picked up from all those years in church meetings, but I came across this photo (circa 1953) as I was cropping a bunch of scans I'd made of popo's photo albums:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 309px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZP28uHyR5Qr9lNGhYmZtoQm3Ymbzy18TjNMevr30CUWXm2rcYxeW6xN89TRyfaCjx442Lh8yu_CEz6P0v9s0b35XFGAY0ufKC-BWnQw0tVOyf3Dw3zc0M30YvILolFzLeYnL-s4z2DKZa/s320/amy+tang+150+church+face.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398948937421059154" /></div><div>In case you couldn't tell, mom's the kid in the back -- hello, church face!</div>#15http://www.blogger.com/profile/17957253697488582637noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-917725121322879240.post-52546869564018449162009-10-24T23:45:00.006-04:002009-10-25T00:01:03.207-04:00Um... WHAT kind of honey was that again?As I was working out downstairs today, I happened to glance over at the storage shelves, and what should meet my eye but this shocking sight:<div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZToufcl4tmZ6NF1YjyLR87JV7luB8RT8Zx9gDQMYbJGyQwVXjygtG8Bi-7MZJByi3lM_4rEGzwDBYjdATa2OlWRKo0b7MHKreXDBoXVzaCxv_ZcG1FGS2Azi8Nfl39v7QStOQmviG4RB-/s1600-h/PA240091.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZToufcl4tmZ6NF1YjyLR87JV7luB8RT8Zx9gDQMYbJGyQwVXjygtG8Bi-7MZJByi3lM_4rEGzwDBYjdATa2OlWRKo0b7MHKreXDBoXVzaCxv_ZcG1FGS2Azi8Nfl39v7QStOQmviG4RB-/s320/PA240091.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396379600415342738" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Gross!! I mean, I didn't even know this kind of honey existed! One thing's for certain -- no self-respecting Chinese family should ever consider patronizing this brand. I'm going to have to have a little chat with Wifey about this...</div>#15http://www.blogger.com/profile/17957253697488582637noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-917725121322879240.post-86766587922291139202009-10-13T21:00:00.007-04:002009-10-13T21:24:48.498-04:00Open Sesame!!<div>If only it were that easy! So, you already know about the trench that I made Ethan and Isaac dig for me over July, August, and September. Finished the trench and *poof!* went all my motivation to proceed further, until... free labor arrived on Sept. 26!</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBVFFeO-3ovQS8KY8mVZN7majqOc04hkBOGWIut2ldjdr5CypcJdx4_HlZik5nuxszvgivMV0Kcn9oE04VH7KUqlStuz9EWfiZrmahIEN8sJoiqDCLamydRiTO0wyAONwhFa9NE6q0qmh5/s1600-h/P9260018.JPG"><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBVFFeO-3ovQS8KY8mVZN7majqOc04hkBOGWIut2ldjdr5CypcJdx4_HlZik5nuxszvgivMV0Kcn9oE04VH7KUqlStuz9EWfiZrmahIEN8sJoiqDCLamydRiTO0wyAONwhFa9NE6q0qmh5/s320/P9260018.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392254794218361426" /></a>"Why certainly, Andrew, you are welcome to stay at my place for as long as you want... as long as..."<br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJqBpsyPqloNnzOn3qYp2TEX5zcQJMfD1ZdwTDwI4CpatuJGzePxQt-LIOmulCFy_QQXJvFQzqLViAxPtYcSH3n4hZCY01G_qxN1aEDyYlDjkgxPqdFKQhK02gb-a-YBJZ2tbSstBYvw0A/s1600-h/P9260019.JPG"><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJqBpsyPqloNnzOn3qYp2TEX5zcQJMfD1ZdwTDwI4CpatuJGzePxQt-LIOmulCFy_QQXJvFQzqLViAxPtYcSH3n4hZCY01G_qxN1aEDyYlDjkgxPqdFKQhK02gb-a-YBJZ2tbSstBYvw0A/s320/P9260019.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392254675423706146" /></a>Work harder slave!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVMNRyljKedOc-Orh-_sqaXtq6zHd-V9GWo1O5m0hOH9eubCX8wnhJ3WfSMPgnmybydRCL9n9G7snrw9EmHc9b8aze7llWGEedeAmu3gjdnVNlGynDVAtxUwtJao7RgJMprFeo4ddT1QXZ/s1600-h/P9260024.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVMNRyljKedOc-Orh-_sqaXtq6zHd-V9GWo1O5m0hOH9eubCX8wnhJ3WfSMPgnmybydRCL9n9G7snrw9EmHc9b8aze7llWGEedeAmu3gjdnVNlGynDVAtxUwtJao7RgJMprFeo4ddT1QXZ/s320/P9260024.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392254667228224002" /></a>What's that? Afraid of a little glass, you say? You wimp, keep working! Faster!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-3zMxkXtuCuuFk_6hDbNqUFfX13HOa43aHGMpbZLP77kHpICSY1caKP_Inx9Uyk6zdaCIJUeq7zdKT2c5tBGhB40O62-9DCBUDcXQ3tlkITWt45mtGtemrPWrGhg9txP_iPQ9SzLKdZqk/s1600-h/P9260025.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-3zMxkXtuCuuFk_6hDbNqUFfX13HOa43aHGMpbZLP77kHpICSY1caKP_Inx9Uyk6zdaCIJUeq7zdKT2c5tBGhB40O62-9DCBUDcXQ3tlkITWt45mtGtemrPWrGhg9txP_iPQ9SzLKdZqk/s320/P9260025.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392254654787396834" /></a>Okay, fine, so I did work a bit too -- introducing brothers Dai Pig Pen and Sai Pig Pen. (That concrete saw sure creates a lot of dust!) Unfortunately, we didn't isolate the work area very well and the concrete dust got all over the basement, so all we managed to get done that day was to knock out windows and make a few cuts in the concrete block. Then, Andrew and I spent the rest of the evening vacuuming pretty much the whole basement. I think we spent more time cleaning than we did working!</div><div><br /></div><div>A couple of weeks after Andrew left, I started knocking out the concrete block one evening after work. A scarily easy task, to be honest, considering this is what is supporting the entire house!</div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4CKOmfadO-yKf_7HtujXHJDgb_r9P1WBLzPKbn_Pnfbkuhi0SgqVdJIBDOwWSKNgXi6Tzz-lCCdjFv9Zgf3XjoAt-DicqaJAaCKW-C0u55tTQIOzSX33w95e1LyIAiosC0MU596fIDMg-/s1600-h/P9260011.JPG"></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4CKOmfadO-yKf_7HtujXHJDgb_r9P1WBLzPKbn_Pnfbkuhi0SgqVdJIBDOwWSKNgXi6Tzz-lCCdjFv9Zgf3XjoAt-DicqaJAaCKW-C0u55tTQIOzSX33w95e1LyIAiosC0MU596fIDMg-/s1600-h/P9260011.JPG"></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4CKOmfadO-yKf_7HtujXHJDgb_r9P1WBLzPKbn_Pnfbkuhi0SgqVdJIBDOwWSKNgXi6Tzz-lCCdjFv9Zgf3XjoAt-DicqaJAaCKW-C0u55tTQIOzSX33w95e1LyIAiosC0MU596fIDMg-/s1600-h/P9260011.JPG"></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0cbmuykGVnjeHuvIC10SJGlhwsLiIKw91ltc4UH9VN5n0m7-VRrHgTvctmMY8J1nBbha34BBoxQ5ZRZ4QtwGyYf8AuJ05ekXqld9wcbjtYtx4K2SmEV4WhAX8DEn94KP9_9pu1Dk_VZpv/s1600-h/P9290061.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0cbmuykGVnjeHuvIC10SJGlhwsLiIKw91ltc4UH9VN5n0m7-VRrHgTvctmMY8J1nBbha34BBoxQ5ZRZ4QtwGyYf8AuJ05ekXqld9wcbjtYtx4K2SmEV4WhAX8DEn94KP9_9pu1Dk_VZpv/s320/P9290061.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392254649844094082" /></a>Hello, daylight!</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXmaUMdhK9AHrl8PBEbDyaGhxAsscwIgU32KNs7EmkqdaPU9ecHZgn6LJpEPK0vfTWC6IeGKit4cm_F0ge-0uCeqqjshBzUqI8kjKcuSasieQ-lBe33b46pq2_MLjOdjmV9PI0AlYW5UTN/s1600-h/P9290063.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /></span><img style="text-decoration: underline;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXmaUMdhK9AHrl8PBEbDyaGhxAsscwIgU32KNs7EmkqdaPU9ecHZgn6LJpEPK0vfTWC6IeGKit4cm_F0ge-0uCeqqjshBzUqI8kjKcuSasieQ-lBe33b46pq2_MLjOdjmV9PI0AlYW5UTN/s320/P9290063.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392254644334401026" /></a>If it weren't for that silly grin, I'd say that coolie's pretty hot...</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7c__fowAPk4w3n7eFvnqwHA7m2L8YaCmqO55KQwXmdayXxs6UiefQNc7tgIPFvvPSv9fbVmnyDFjG1ZssctZjw47st5igXovslH9SiSVJj0TD1pHRo81aH_yoALHP196vRZ00Z1uji3T9/s1600-h/P9290066.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7c__fowAPk4w3n7eFvnqwHA7m2L8YaCmqO55KQwXmdayXxs6UiefQNc7tgIPFvvPSv9fbVmnyDFjG1ZssctZjw47st5igXovslH9SiSVJj0TD1pHRo81aH_yoALHP196vRZ00Z1uji3T9/s320/P9290066.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392254400102360162" /></a>...especially when he strikes a pose. </div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9v4d9FaHKhjsrNwww7Cr3Ab4CqrIgWcIkKgH7KkA_EcU13SSGOcLJ-LtFJ0aiQnXHLzJEx3DV7_llLCplv856WPFGz8vYUFcxe9QDlSdDS8AKJgAAWNogYPOigzR_ObbgVvX8ESU2Joyo/s1600-h/PA100075.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9v4d9FaHKhjsrNwww7Cr3Ab4CqrIgWcIkKgH7KkA_EcU13SSGOcLJ-LtFJ0aiQnXHLzJEx3DV7_llLCplv856WPFGz8vYUFcxe9QDlSdDS8AKJgAAWNogYPOigzR_ObbgVvX8ESU2Joyo/s320/PA100075.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392254389215383890" /></a>Last weekend (Oct. 10) we finally had a dry Saturday, which I promptly took advantage of to cut out the second window opening (much faster this time -- Sai Pig Pen must have been slowing me down, haha).</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxuUrZVaXAzhJRClHBaKgy8aWZ8LLFqtzQCcxuHn1ROl-MM57hhcso3F6H08UsociNyKCA9BH4wl9usTNX2Wq9wtFCCGb0eFebF2wgAz3L2IasxkZMe_TzM1HhfZMQH4r5uP7j6PbcJsmY/s1600-h/PA100083.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxuUrZVaXAzhJRClHBaKgy8aWZ8LLFqtzQCcxuHn1ROl-MM57hhcso3F6H08UsociNyKCA9BH4wl9usTNX2Wq9wtFCCGb0eFebF2wgAz3L2IasxkZMe_TzM1HhfZMQH4r5uP7j6PbcJsmY/s320/PA100083.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392254384637145026" /></a>Had enough time to frame the opening and install the windows that same day (night?). Ta-da!!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYO9-Kq6Qj1j-Vip5qnLloL380tqCn1S9RUHiq-K549wkz9vxnpMog4ee956ni1zZDrCF_Zwf9N31t37pl2MfzxXPQP5L1iQDJAfW6tWQx1fjyee5dbfy596cmafgve_7Ut8Ug8uXcTkVA/s1600-h/PA100087.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYO9-Kq6Qj1j-Vip5qnLloL380tqCn1S9RUHiq-K549wkz9vxnpMog4ee956ni1zZDrCF_Zwf9N31t37pl2MfzxXPQP5L1iQDJAfW6tWQx1fjyee5dbfy596cmafgve_7Ut8Ug8uXcTkVA/s320/PA100087.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392254377581268674" /></a>Outside view!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEt9DfgnsgPKm4sKwnGwHMpbT9tmzVIA2zo95yoZ9dL94T9BVLNypQBstBa-A3dzStVssh6eWzXXWXkD_e7KCvr7j6vA9BrDloy_SKWOO3uCpv77VzkwTVx12ggjESknu7GNfywWiGnYTi/s1600-h/basementtoompan.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 101px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEt9DfgnsgPKm4sKwnGwHMpbT9tmzVIA2zo95yoZ9dL94T9BVLNypQBstBa-A3dzStVssh6eWzXXWXkD_e7KCvr7j6vA9BrDloy_SKWOO3uCpv77VzkwTVx12ggjESknu7GNfywWiGnYTi/s320/basementtoompan.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392254367223441090" /></a><br /></div><div>Panoramic view of the basement bedroom, window and all!</div><div><br /></div><div>Now, to finish the window well... I'm thinking of waiting until spring, what do you think?</div>#15http://www.blogger.com/profile/17957253697488582637noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-917725121322879240.post-5826128649937480892009-09-19T14:27:00.004-04:002009-09-19T14:34:11.445-04:00And Then There Were Two<div style="text-align: left;">I even wiggled this one out on my own!! Dad and mom both offered to help, but (and how do I say this tactfully?) I guess I'd have to say they pretty much suck at pulling out teeth painlessly.</div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 179px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCit3YPMo9iJAsEKOsjjpfRXYHxAFAQfZVDOtcBFOUhVnH8bX4c_I-R_NgUPwKRy38iorZP_czJlVr824bs_6BvL3fJB23qMg8npI3pR_3eGwTjJpUDrioieRfINToDtXA0osf-hkmuZ2m/s320/P9180005.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383247497546492338" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYTXN-xqZfgeaOTGRVTZQMiSy0nytZ4fAbxAe-jXiCBphsnp-VMfiLyn8p9x6lGWv2aFrFmXBL8R__bJA-6EzKYLsWkBUYZPC11a7nt6kxxZAmkptzigJ6rWR5pIxKYGiOGW-roLmEgTEc/s320/P9180001.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383247502613931954" /><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: left;">"Dad, dad, take a picture of my teeth, too!!"</div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMyHbCoySmIQ19GkZvGNr7jvhVVF51HACJP_HVF-krRY5kvTOgr4YsfXXtE6oGtMjDMvTGb-E4CtQ57ViuAXTjNOnQ-5xHwVXIKfLBEPrazobmgjn0lp6lHKagLhGj1R46vT0XtCoso4KQ/s320/P9180007.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383247510819443346" /></div>#15http://www.blogger.com/profile/17957253697488582637noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-917725121322879240.post-26006310194350595332009-09-13T21:13:00.008-04:002009-09-15T07:08:05.461-04:00My Little SalmonA few days ago, daddy was reading to us a little bit about how salmon flip and squirm and wriggle their way upstream over rocks and waterfalls to get to their hatching grounds. We didn't know what that meant, so daddy gave us a demonstration -- looks like we learned our lesson well!<div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxG9n9kJYQ-n4vckUDW2pBKnioVrFLj_SKEsDsuUB1H-ZmDv20TelQ01breOxQaez5MJnAj-hBjUxYCR_YG' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Uklb8bQC3V3M6k_Q0mdg147gWCDWqBobBpl5cE98DLQs9K0MDuCgkJ1sZ-68us-S0d08hFZhBSKKu_VAEvaKVrjUG4VS5rMmno1bAtwMjZljEz458XmA5vq3ZOLjvej4wOtdy6AX4gmK/s1600-h/jamesbikesmile.jpg"><br /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Totally unrelated -- here's a funny random picture for you -- James's idea of, "Smile big for the camera!"</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Uklb8bQC3V3M6k_Q0mdg147gWCDWqBobBpl5cE98DLQs9K0MDuCgkJ1sZ-68us-S0d08hFZhBSKKu_VAEvaKVrjUG4VS5rMmno1bAtwMjZljEz458XmA5vq3ZOLjvej4wOtdy6AX4gmK/s1600-h/jamesbikesmile.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Uklb8bQC3V3M6k_Q0mdg147gWCDWqBobBpl5cE98DLQs9K0MDuCgkJ1sZ-68us-S0d08hFZhBSKKu_VAEvaKVrjUG4VS5rMmno1bAtwMjZljEz458XmA5vq3ZOLjvej4wOtdy6AX4gmK/s320/jamesbikesmile.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381130063446072306" /></a></div>#15http://www.blogger.com/profile/17957253697488582637noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-917725121322879240.post-14588390890218851302009-09-13T18:53:00.004-04:002009-09-14T20:24:37.854-04:00Good Thing Daddy's a DentistHurrah, Ethan finally lost his front tooth! (With a little bit of "coaxing" from his oral surgeon daddy, that is -- no worries, the sting only lasted a second...)<img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhzkFwXQDcfaVV5M4uaxF6dv2hxgjuxPx3w2TzrF4g30Yk8AfM-EQkfWlHWrNctbpa47vqsN4ew7upi7U_8pw3BNjOKrM2pLml6_et_beW_Ropozs2FSkmdCyTDX0UhBlO2iGOELzh7rLB/s320/ethanmissingtoothE.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381129418406285506" /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTYHRIu7xJSXEXvF_ksfqV-eESgNfXHpaI2pD_SdLfCgjSSWb4hle_LChsMO02vKru3iJOpsEYfCVNH1NRpB87sDpWJ-q49bjqO-nAFnxySI5PAjKttosY1JLLAruOeO-UiLNo2HIcdIa7/s1600-h/ethantoothE.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTYHRIu7xJSXEXvF_ksfqV-eESgNfXHpaI2pD_SdLfCgjSSWb4hle_LChsMO02vKru3iJOpsEYfCVNH1NRpB87sDpWJ-q49bjqO-nAFnxySI5PAjKttosY1JLLAruOeO-UiLNo2HIcdIa7/s320/ethantoothE.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381129430561967618" /></a>#15http://www.blogger.com/profile/17957253697488582637noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-917725121322879240.post-19148626988981494282009-09-13T18:51:00.027-04:002009-09-15T07:11:35.368-04:00Blackberry Loves U2... and so do the Tangs<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">U2 North America Tour, Chicago IL -- Opening Night!!</span></div><div><br /></div><div>I missed the Atlanta show of U2's Vertigo tour a few years back by a hair, much to my (and Andy Ewing's) chagrin -- that's a whole other story on it's own, actually, so I won't get into details here...</div><div><br /></div><div>Anyhow, to make up for it, Annie and I made the trek from Ann Arbor to Chicago for a night out (without the kids, even!) at U2's 360 Tour, which kicked off in Chicago last night (the North American leg of it, anyways). Here's our photojournal of the evening:</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We parked in a nearby downtown lot, grabbed a bite to eat at the first restaurant we came across (a yummy and affordable Japanese restaurant, as luck would have it) and walked over to the stadium -- in good company, as you can tell!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9wR3b8q0gktrpLSlTjJNMiwAOk4UoS8KPlo3xsrmcrrX0CD6UQF7mQUEIgK-9N4yPBH8rpBjuHScRwLvdEKSouXfhG9BMuAaJrC-xZxSezSDJ7MYCWf5JVJjeB2XPRhRjTyQs6YatgWEh/s320/u2theapproach.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381130619975787922" /><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">I can't really do it justice, but this panoramic hopefully gives you a sense of the stadium and just how gi-normous U2's 360 set was -- this huge 4-legged tarantula-spaceship thingy arching over a good half of the field. Biggest set for a rock show I've ever seen.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4T3MXdKit4RBdMUQPnEEl2UiyAsXHjbkgvm4d0qpNkIoXjZniKa9B3ECOhmdvayCWxobxCttYrBxNlJ4c2uRCSIH1iUrr8Bqt42x2MsBgSuMVi9eA2FgPueKqsPnzOQBRU8VEkaTVpQui/s1600-h/u2spaceship2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 140px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4T3MXdKit4RBdMUQPnEEl2UiyAsXHjbkgvm4d0qpNkIoXjZniKa9B3ECOhmdvayCWxobxCttYrBxNlJ4c2uRCSIH1iUrr8Bqt42x2MsBgSuMVi9eA2FgPueKqsPnzOQBRU8VEkaTVpQui/s400/u2spaceship2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381146223322002130" /></a><br /></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Check out where the cameramen get to sit -- 12 of them (3 on each arm) were hoisted up snugly against the legs of the spaceship before the show got started, and there they stayed throughout the whole gig.</div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNcL-igPlqhwTWbBtzlrZnpw35dT_e-bmIEakYkoh7QtRBQrri6FCSJZJoA1b4enABLbNG6Oz7_CwxoUL6NfHIp4dO3cdqsm4CQSE-xATEWFbzzOSY7AuiWCqWPENs2WbEuPi9Skusiw-x/s320/u2cameraguys.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381130317278617538" /><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Annie and I waiting fo the show to start. (Don't ask about the scar on left brow, that is, again, a story for another day...)</div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6WaZ2Toj3exivo5Lf_0rkSDuKSyw8Wq732LFK09lPUAWwbp1QndGo-mzNyRU3Joh1gjuzEbJNteU7l7JPTuzPALym9Cnj1szhv22B0VKZVqC_xp637QFm_A_X3gqNzNF9uGS4bJopy9IA/s320/u2us.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381130626182653714" /><div style="text-align: center;">The grand entrance -- the band kicked off things with "Breathe" from their new album.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzQ9rqd1rjZKPMFcuf_eLpv3o-htvDo4kwHQWopIRvbvtuNHft8IUxRLzJvSpRkV-vTECEDqraV5nfDPX6-Rg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The set is billed as a 360 stage, and it really is a good design, but there's definitely still a front and back to the performance -- we were sitting in back, which sometimes kinda sucked, but on the other hand, we 20% of the audience who were behind the stage felt really special when anyone from the band came around back to play -- just for us. Larry Mullen Jr.'s drums were even set up on this rotating lazy-susan-type thingy that every once in a while would spin around so he could face us for a song!</div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0cEskwhj_whRbWeKgPzqB_T-9lNQRAzWwZwAY4PHtqPrWh8OHJ8r3J81lFjvAQyYfzsNnaSP4-BlC6K2dImMhed24VI2tXiEvA9_eEqJxIjlTcHtah2NJuB6r1LY3OW8kHpai7wPdbxHv/s320/u2set3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381130604429196418" /><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Bono loves us!</div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7RphVzKFIEzGnRlZ_fOMLQDEb7j5qppUWBs9fb0hLueZ55UzQiI0t_TxjBiVCzFMK_3Ca952IZo5IG_hAXIv9wFEt-QrcnoNHCSqd0G630DgkTQBXR8iOnO1PPTdwIm5CnrF7aFsGmQQ1/s320/u2bonosings.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381130299656048946" /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_0U7UMa5WWElKdxkf1xGWkH16Mqr4gjW6Fx9TKDYwsAja24ji1c9sOA52Cs9PsuIkGPnEbfKjBIHIp0ZOC09YchKgFnoCgb_80kEXQOcb-128HdqDrurYz7EdGkpF6zg7Uk-08CHC9U8f/s1600-h/u2set2.jpg"></a></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">The video monitors on the set were honeycombed together -- during the concert they started up high, then expanded until they seemed nearly to touch the stage itself, and then collapsed back together again down low before lifting back into their starting position. This configuration is during their rendition of The Unforgettable Fire.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_0U7UMa5WWElKdxkf1xGWkH16Mqr4gjW6Fx9TKDYwsAja24ji1c9sOA52Cs9PsuIkGPnEbfKjBIHIp0ZOC09YchKgFnoCgb_80kEXQOcb-128HdqDrurYz7EdGkpF6zg7Uk-08CHC9U8f/s1600-h/u2set2.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_0U7UMa5WWElKdxkf1xGWkH16Mqr4gjW6Fx9TKDYwsAja24ji1c9sOA52Cs9PsuIkGPnEbfKjBIHIp0ZOC09YchKgFnoCgb_80kEXQOcb-128HdqDrurYz7EdGkpF6zg7Uk-08CHC9U8f/s320/u2set2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381130341147949218" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">And, if I remember correctly, this is during Where the Streets Have No Name.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLaUQ_mlClZTKk0AVwfn6M7a3mIdohtDLZJsfOHzjr3cHpX7cAbElzYJwfQ88cQz-O0f2acDiLJfEQXloJImjjhgK3sFcyq9lE7hSeVXJ6sszQJer2OcVu3tMkTnmm9UlDWct_0NZ38Y7m/s1600-h/u2set.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLaUQ_mlClZTKk0AVwfn6M7a3mIdohtDLZJsfOHzjr3cHpX7cAbElzYJwfQ88cQz-O0f2acDiLJfEQXloJImjjhgK3sFcyq9lE7hSeVXJ6sszQJer2OcVu3tMkTnmm9UlDWct_0NZ38Y7m/s320/u2set.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381130335531376642" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Nearing the end, Annie offered to take a shot of me with Bono singing on the monitors in the background, but I botched it and blinked when the red-eye reduction flashed me!</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgP5uLTWnQ2ouRizrbxVHBLUlh6blti9yhygu2URswtnelS2vOIrvKfq0Rkb2wz0YjMidVZFcHaTuQuNN8cIYZf22RMq9TAr7pvzFkvOUWo_VlWoweOx53fr8EkPkkmxYFhyphenhyphenH_9f_iWWeK/s1600-h/u2clarebono.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgP5uLTWnQ2ouRizrbxVHBLUlh6blti9yhygu2URswtnelS2vOIrvKfq0Rkb2wz0YjMidVZFcHaTuQuNN8cIYZf22RMq9TAr7pvzFkvOUWo_VlWoweOx53fr8EkPkkmxYFhyphenhyphenH_9f_iWWeK/s320/u2clarebono.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381130325568617746" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Alas, all good things come to an end... what a fun night though! Definitely worth the trip -- looking forward to next time!</div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwZg3t3ao2MW1a3cnx6u9S1gRPGx4rfmI0-nXZFatKvA7ZaqCmiS8Yz4wMN6LSxt8C-6ULe_ZThGaLmplV06A' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>#15http://www.blogger.com/profile/17957253697488582637noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-917725121322879240.post-90473446606630674792009-09-13T18:51:00.024-04:002009-09-15T07:10:00.513-04:00"Have You Found China Yet?"So, looking at this picture, you may wonder why we've accumulated such a extensive pile of dirt at the side of the house over the past two months (and this is only a small portion of it). The simple answer, as I explained to Lilly when she asked me that exact question, is, "Mom told me to."<img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 106px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk9N2_t3fR-P2q-su3fuYeByUcW20l_6H8DfBkyUzpVgB3tU1Ayq-1_Er277l2IaDOwBPo49cNzHtfy4vVSnLRuzaCwVaqxRqkwF4zrN_N6DONYoB29GTY0J0tczO1T6oaZE1sydPwsVQu/s320/dirt+pile+pan.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381129736966168978" /><br /><div><div style="text-align: left;">Here's the hole all that dirt came out of -- dug by hand, shovelful by laborious shovelful, 99% by yours truly (Isaac contributed maybe 2/3% and Ethan maybe another 1/3%). My neighbor, Dave, who has watched me with amusement as I've labored over the weeks, keeps asking me if I've found China yet. Hardy har har.</div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivsdG7D3MMROp9hp6W6MxRSFvb_AU_wOE1rBlgVZIdmPgkwUfxa9U_I32i3OQpQVkKJiszq6__yM9uTH9_VP6zEQrgS7-6sMF3rCDu2DPp8d8bbMDDsTx-3_5aiRkaUI-6VjrHlYKyKplv/s320/dirtholecloser.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381129747754791442" /><br /><div><div style="text-align: left;">And the reason why the big hole? I'm finishing the basement, and to make it a bona fide living space, one has to install an egress window. Annie figured, as long as you're going to dig a window well for that egress window, why don't we make a really big window well that'll let in lots of light? And, while you're at it, if you're going to install one egress window, why not two? (More on that in a second.) The red lines below outline the approximate size of the enlarged window (4x4 ft.):</div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-zjNU6Y3tjuHhcbDi1yQZhB2GrnB9hqiERkbHkPQWfA99XQPm83i2WXR4aHzbAGDgtYv25EsmEeOy252hfxpuzWf5BJIVogfEUWbnHPqx8lCRzEBFEE4U8-_aVIxJktU05knIz9SmU6yg/s320/egresswindow.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381129751769850034" /><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: left;">To meet the requirements of an egress window, it has to be a certain size. We picked 4x4 horizontal sliding windows. To install a 4 ft window, one has to dig a hole that's at least a foot deeper for drainage and whatnot, so the hole is 5 ft deep. Because of there'll eventually be two windows installed more or less side by side, I ended up digging one long trench for both of them - 20 ft long. Building codes dictate that the finished window well be at least 3 ft wide at its base, with a ladder or terraced steps built in for easy escape. Annie wants terraces, which I'll get to after the windows are installed. As it is, the walls slope upwards and outwards from 3 ft at the bottom to 6 feet on top, so, an average of 4.5 ft wide. So that makes it a 4.5 x 20 x 5 ft hole, or 450 cubic feet (16 2/3 cubic yards) of packed clay -- of roughly 250 wheelbarrows full of clay. Ouch.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Here are the boys standing in the hole for reference:</div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp0quNY41jvnStAT9Lded5o9CaegAN4hGEqlJfu_sITXXFRDHFAhhsqhhIFFds8q8PqLIhoBHmLgVimgS7EMzW8Y93XgjfF7EaSS4V8zkR0_dL3GxVY3qa5gn-CzJ1t_Ti7ZDsEF_b2oi8/s320/boysinthehole.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381129729254137698" /><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: left;">The boys wanted pictures of themselves sitting on the edge of the hole -- what fine-looking children! (Isaac was bitten by some kind of insect two days before this photo -- hence the swollen right eyelid.)</div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv2oQJLXyz96L040ZXgpNLloE2Nezd6niN1BcNSfvHJx6hUSy77_6zDjPs3eWlQcs6PJ_JDJZGyFiCfdBAScC4xXUhWbPz9khlNYFWP_AwoXUGgQu2uLnuo7Dko128TLgBryVr085cT8V6/s320/ethandirtportrait.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381129761118305586" /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja2ZhHdv0O8dRu1h5XB9EETVtSPayjPWQ8y4U_zhWAv6t16KSDXSyhz0u96jgSZMXbHql1_ffXB22v-qKxvSXlwieWl-pEG5-YFUks64j8e08tWu5JOJuGcOr06kUdTDoYf0LSOEQ_bnXa/s1600-h/isaacdirtportrait.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja2ZhHdv0O8dRu1h5XB9EETVtSPayjPWQ8y4U_zhWAv6t16KSDXSyhz0u96jgSZMXbHql1_ffXB22v-qKxvSXlwieWl-pEG5-YFUks64j8e08tWu5JOJuGcOr06kUdTDoYf0LSOEQ_bnXa/s320/isaacdirtportrait.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381129928580774706" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;">Here they are again!</div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxZOsLbiAg1tLoq_ncZ0pl2Idw35Sb_3Xau6DF8hJ8b6JAjWJfy2jQfyA_iO3qxRDTklrfompTPnE9p7wJZJg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div>I'll get more photos up when the windows are being installed!</div></div>#15http://www.blogger.com/profile/17957253697488582637noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-917725121322879240.post-37576071281152065692009-08-25T21:18:00.011-04:002009-08-25T23:13:57.580-04:00In Which James Tries His Hand at Poohsticks<div style="text-align: left;">I was off work most of today, so we took the kids canoeing this afternoon. Fun times, us and our little crew. Ethan tried his hand at paddling, as did Isaac and Lilly. We brought some treats and stopped at a convenient spot for a little picnic and some fun in the water. Took some photos...</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1BzCwVYfr_jQkNQOtY6Ua5w3x_DEmrae17jlAwJmBZHNmpLWoHS1oRnukfaCOdpXSfjUh4LUM3VomkCWnfpU0Os0a96w2dYQfyjTjPktOFkCnleP8I-eOfctYJIPKXNOl3vLawVK6-BS1/s1600-h/P8250020.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1BzCwVYfr_jQkNQOtY6Ua5w3x_DEmrae17jlAwJmBZHNmpLWoHS1oRnukfaCOdpXSfjUh4LUM3VomkCWnfpU0Os0a96w2dYQfyjTjPktOFkCnleP8I-eOfctYJIPKXNOl3vLawVK6-BS1/s320/P8250020.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374100688030616210" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Annie soaking up the sun</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVR3kqz8Mso69iameYi1NNbhst92pHoSdtIbstKObMpZLS_HZGGkLgowhu5eXRXI0icrx-_Gj-2y5Ozgudojv1NBhYVWGDhPTegHbW_5EEci2Wb6PKORuEwJ8ocCM85A1kOf9Q7wWO0u9i/s1600-h/P8250025.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVR3kqz8Mso69iameYi1NNbhst92pHoSdtIbstKObMpZLS_HZGGkLgowhu5eXRXI0icrx-_Gj-2y5Ozgudojv1NBhYVWGDhPTegHbW_5EEci2Wb6PKORuEwJ8ocCM85A1kOf9Q7wWO0u9i/s320/P8250025.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374100678972692482" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">James</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifbW1KSACzUiHAGkXry0hcXQWz3mFu2RypYtZVSKnjLpAI6CxibAvwCtSQVId5ePverwOGH6t23dl_7Tx-MgATMaT6d_ejAmRCTrPSUOh89Ekip5psAQuCF0uWvWoUR4rs_VRpvY5tAvVQ/s1600-h/P8250024.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifbW1KSACzUiHAGkXry0hcXQWz3mFu2RypYtZVSKnjLpAI6CxibAvwCtSQVId5ePverwOGH6t23dl_7Tx-MgATMaT6d_ejAmRCTrPSUOh89Ekip5psAQuCF0uWvWoUR4rs_VRpvY5tAvVQ/s320/P8250024.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374100673955230082" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Lilly</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoi4NT9sje8VyD8hcXO0CH4kDkyYx173D1zdmwq6EXMR7iqww5ABBxrYYGlX9L_0ICbDQGeBNNNN6vdLePYJtxJUZXdsJZo2vemWsYFb2da9zeaixR_PTXTZm3kBEN0a-DZhsdEXBgXmUf/s1600-h/P8250019.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoi4NT9sje8VyD8hcXO0CH4kDkyYx173D1zdmwq6EXMR7iqww5ABBxrYYGlX9L_0ICbDQGeBNNNN6vdLePYJtxJUZXdsJZo2vemWsYFb2da9zeaixR_PTXTZm3kBEN0a-DZhsdEXBgXmUf/s320/P8250019.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374100663608136146" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Huck Finn... oh wait, I mean, Isaac</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi12d33zPaDW2zgNDOQrOmjSOJ0Hv_g0Nfg3k_Vk6Hyy3LicrPncCC7PCsihR7JOjGSQe5cvAx2rsFxBROnkypetpQ0oH7NLwK8Qrfjmn6TqKHvowBUcvJcVdd3EHZncCy1OHBRICCmR7NI/s1600-h/P8250018.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi12d33zPaDW2zgNDOQrOmjSOJ0Hv_g0Nfg3k_Vk6Hyy3LicrPncCC7PCsihR7JOjGSQe5cvAx2rsFxBROnkypetpQ0oH7NLwK8Qrfjmn6TqKHvowBUcvJcVdd3EHZncCy1OHBRICCmR7NI/s320/P8250018.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374100655911360434" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">If Isaac's Huck Finn, I guess Ethan's Tom Sawyer.</div><div><br /></div><div>While they all played, I picked a shady spot on the shore and took some iconic photos (if I do say so myself :)</div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ5LIxi96VTcfo4rlkVyLQ1mhXi54Z21V-ByslIa6V5rOwJTgodvZgdFZ7P_XjtZfvOUknswbAYu2hsQWFaVy5teMC6c7btqg84C5wGIwJGEXiWpWtVyYP3ntvhKS5JzL5ijmL_jP_UnmS/s1600-h/P8250034.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ5LIxi96VTcfo4rlkVyLQ1mhXi54Z21V-ByslIa6V5rOwJTgodvZgdFZ7P_XjtZfvOUknswbAYu2hsQWFaVy5teMC6c7btqg84C5wGIwJGEXiWpWtVyYP3ntvhKS5JzL5ijmL_jP_UnmS/s320/P8250034.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374101992385000722" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsBcyTYr7iaaas1YnIvv1lvJ0rHznsBTH-byYlLdO5IR8jcRcvvZceSthBIcTplwE94BtyGoIGUPDqB__x0-5AMi_egkyNpuTJjj-weOhveWiv-2S8unCj5XBeEcviKJ63EFdjH4zhVvlc/s1600-h/P8250029.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsBcyTYr7iaaas1YnIvv1lvJ0rHznsBTH-byYlLdO5IR8jcRcvvZceSthBIcTplwE94BtyGoIGUPDqB__x0-5AMi_egkyNpuTJjj-weOhveWiv-2S8unCj5XBeEcviKJ63EFdjH4zhVvlc/s320/P8250029.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374101982822444418" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Then, as I was taking a series of stills each about 2 seconds apart...</div><div><br /></div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz_yGCmnhUaDVGTJOael4t5DMt75Z-KRp5FhgxzJuZ06Ir88A5Hjg9QwrfMaTJv1l3SlnN_zKoOEj7pfuoSlA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div>Needless to say, I dashed in and saved James's life (thank you thank you) -- now I know why Annie suggested I change into a swimsuit instead of the jeans I was wearing. Poor James! Here's a final shot (zoomed in) of him floating like poor Eeyore in Ernest Shepard's illustrations (slightly blurry because I think that's when I realized who that floating speck in the middle of the viewfinder was!).</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGpE_FPaaGoNDmZsz4gTRMspc709hQR9CbkYA0mQx5W8yyFBizm5IZTDpgBNaTQ7peM_kZQUv0YbEkuy-oBzRpi-KA9VJvnH_0FiY1n1qor2ksq6aVvIPkcaYLVXlNOkszfdAf4-beFqK7/s320/P8250042.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374103818367230322" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 232px; " /></span></div><div><br /></div><div>Huck Finn decided to swim home beside the canoe (j/k -- but he did want to get out in the deeper water for a while -- so did Tom, but I didn't get a photo of him, unfortunately).</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXS9jNnWj2nYkaD4i_9xQJTW4TnWFqDrR64jyr2kcGXS7xSQuwlkQDzjYXddPZm3hDBRSG8e5h0ycNu5Jq_KE2ZOy_77OkgwAmxkCbh7LRzVMcIVyxjwfr9GmXcrRdlz9r6TXqEfnCQMAP/s320/P8250043.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374102001061680722" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div>And here we are, safe and sound back on shore, all hands accounted for!<div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMaM67R0aAD0tKuukHCCJ93afTbsOR8nHqLF2dFu9NM3GU4w1w_AChLM41FYQUWKR6UMRfuxvHrvGTwJ6PBZmTlt7uUZrIb8DCL1qNNfkm03n98yWjb4qJoUq-aoICF8lSVknpMF8txYHt/s320/P8250047.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374103823341293634" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></span></div></div>#15http://www.blogger.com/profile/17957253697488582637noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-917725121322879240.post-60052529946241958612009-07-20T19:03:00.002-04:002009-07-20T20:18:09.879-04:00What is that Heavenly Sound?<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy6yD6bLPumhFYoL9NNp4mSstUIHTaFp7L0MbhkCtJPEIwIoqt4f48N-tIB4ZZr59HIbgWKDJ_pXdVNDqhoAw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>#15http://www.blogger.com/profile/17957253697488582637noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-917725121322879240.post-45730506749445164492009-03-01T10:50:00.001-05:002009-03-01T10:52:51.702-05:00Merry Christmas! (oh, wait, is it March already?)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8hpGyQVBAuPai1_hlue2AtyAYDuTN-AAgXbkLY-jdbFF6fuELbj4pec2u0aYSbI7EP_uMJ0pPzpLwhFAoMGmnUAfIsNCsANAS15RAh0cIy7TmVkJ_JkhLzZkxmkH1G5kterXc2HOYLIkj/s1600-h/ethanhead.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 104px; height: 105px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8hpGyQVBAuPai1_hlue2AtyAYDuTN-AAgXbkLY-jdbFF6fuELbj4pec2u0aYSbI7EP_uMJ0pPzpLwhFAoMGmnUAfIsNCsANAS15RAh0cIy7TmVkJ_JkhLzZkxmkH1G5kterXc2HOYLIkj/s200/ethanhead.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308237706601985714" /></a>Christmas has come and gone (whoa, can't believe I'm talking about Christmas way into March here!) But yes, Christmas, and along with all the good food, yummy candy, travel (to Niagara Falls), and guests (Auntie Nancy, whoo!), we of course got a fair number of presents. Here's my favorite present -- from mama and yeye to Isaac and I.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIaq6DcPdjkCdLpdHnOXusJtwYgiXpFLzChETqV5iZCTLXXyehedinBnxh4vtQ6CMP3BMumxZyL1AfUiRyDtd57rik5kAm31m1Rm5P6VNKbiW4tzGzHvGXsIabaQflWBHVhF25sjJT8YFL/s1600-h/P1220012.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 241px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIaq6DcPdjkCdLpdHnOXusJtwYgiXpFLzChETqV5iZCTLXXyehedinBnxh4vtQ6CMP3BMumxZyL1AfUiRyDtd57rik5kAm31m1Rm5P6VNKbiW4tzGzHvGXsIabaQflWBHVhF25sjJT8YFL/s320/P1220012.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303052246529017090" /></a><br /><br />But the presents haven't stopped flowing yet -- anyone recognize these?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqOluSbUC24Sg_RYDatZkcqFAyI__Jku-piFhWUcvrTdK8LeWjMPX_vJzx6Ui8-o8VaU7w5knk74rPnFHnTbX17-G8OBT75azEve_UTP_fYxLdg6bpBVB2CyAraauhOCsxB_jbzsONy8If/s1600-h/P1210008.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqOluSbUC24Sg_RYDatZkcqFAyI__Jku-piFhWUcvrTdK8LeWjMPX_vJzx6Ui8-o8VaU7w5knk74rPnFHnTbX17-G8OBT75azEve_UTP_fYxLdg6bpBVB2CyAraauhOCsxB_jbzsONy8If/s320/P1210008.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303052239858029874" /></a><br /><br />Soon after Christmas, dad found a set of these Encyclopedia Britannica for kids in pristine condition online -- the exact same set that mama got for dad (and his siblings) many years ago. They're long since out of print and now a bit hard to come by, so Dad was pretty excited when he found these! Dad has many fond memories of hours spent sitting in front of the bookshelf jumping from article to article in these books, and I look forward to doing the same. So cool, eh?<br /><br />Last but not least, we started piano lessons last month. Mr. Weston, my teacher, comes over to my place every Tuesday after school and puts me through my paces. I already knew him before, as he sometimes substitute teaches at Wines Elementary, so that was helpful. I love taking lessons from him! So far, I've learned the treble and bass clefs, how to read C and G above middle C, and F below middle C. I'm just starting on half notes, dotted half notes, and whole notes. Practicing every day gets to be a bit of a chore, but so far it's been very rewarding!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPgz90-HjQ65NAOgPg_umdhsZB-X_0SvR4LpMeWXcA_-bMF76RSxHcjDjGm7nmqPgG8BDxJU2FPSM_0b-8A4vY-3BHfh7GoU6SM6suDzqHMRIpbQSzzjZ2jXMBWT3WqLbbNjOtbssj74xZ/s1600-h/P2030052.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPgz90-HjQ65NAOgPg_umdhsZB-X_0SvR4LpMeWXcA_-bMF76RSxHcjDjGm7nmqPgG8BDxJU2FPSM_0b-8A4vY-3BHfh7GoU6SM6suDzqHMRIpbQSzzjZ2jXMBWT3WqLbbNjOtbssj74xZ/s320/P2030052.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303052245578316082" /></a>#15http://www.blogger.com/profile/17957253697488582637noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-917725121322879240.post-30788798150702855212009-03-01T10:48:00.000-05:002009-03-01T10:38:09.048-05:00All Grown Up<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzzhKDR3e_FgcmSyuIW1eJPh5Ufl8AFyhdyF_nzKwwIQ_u5N5JQ38R893amUiat84G218IasT_zhVsWvsuf2o_kasX8MXTfCOwT4Qik8epbmVJWw3zkbtivohmtvnWUUGg4xc71_hnH1vJ/s1600-h/jameshead.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 104px; height: 105px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzzhKDR3e_FgcmSyuIW1eJPh5Ufl8AFyhdyF_nzKwwIQ_u5N5JQ38R893amUiat84G218IasT_zhVsWvsuf2o_kasX8MXTfCOwT4Qik8epbmVJWw3zkbtivohmtvnWUUGg4xc71_hnH1vJ/s200/jameshead.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308224670141913218" /></a>If mama were still around, I'm sure I would have posted a lot sooner than this, as long before now she would have been emailing and calling to ask what I've been up to lately and bemoaning how quickly I change over the days and weeks she hasn't heard from me! <br /><br />You can hardly blame me, though -- I've been busy! After the embarrassment of having to report to my neurologist that I only know 10 or so words, and the humiliating offer of a referral to a speech language pathologist to help me ramp up my speaking, I've been diligently working on picking up more vocabulary, such as "I'm hungry," "Dada? Um..." (a la Isaac), "Help me," "Up," "Bounce," etc. I'm no Ashlyn (who at my age knew all her multiplication tables and square roots to 12), but I'm getting better at making my wishes known!<br /><br /><embed id="VideoPlayback" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=2461984740828187870&hl=en&fs=true" style="width:400px;height:326px" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed><br /><br />I'm also taking more opportunities to do things independently, like eating,<br /><br /><embed id="VideoPlayback" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=5148955710942145881&hl=en&fs=true" style="width:400px;height:326px" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed><br /><br />And bathing... well, not quite there, but I give it my best shot every once in a while. (If only my short stubby arms could reach above my head!)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUbMBfwoGDsuemRmDfSnArVl3URrOFQfZc9CsbPrP6TS_f7rmRMSv9f8HOi4pHkhVdq8kQcsseDDKkoOGzsLOrxjXnRqdI0g6qmLGvLevUE9PS8vC9sWYgWArwhX1KoTBGtyqyxFlLEzBP/s1600-h/P1300031.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUbMBfwoGDsuemRmDfSnArVl3URrOFQfZc9CsbPrP6TS_f7rmRMSv9f8HOi4pHkhVdq8kQcsseDDKkoOGzsLOrxjXnRqdI0g6qmLGvLevUE9PS8vC9sWYgWArwhX1KoTBGtyqyxFlLEzBP/s320/P1300031.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303051892697920402" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilMxTixnxQfm4ll7zY5yTsIlMLk-jLwC6z0XI7Mh8VbDzilD1NCPFjl8Bt4ivyWpzI3nioypY_0eCK3P2kXVtFKTwh74f_FBH8j3ls9xZCBe49hnkpefGF7PFeFDTkKmx9sxFtpxVx5jY_/s1600-h/P1300034.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilMxTixnxQfm4ll7zY5yTsIlMLk-jLwC6z0XI7Mh8VbDzilD1NCPFjl8Bt4ivyWpzI3nioypY_0eCK3P2kXVtFKTwh74f_FBH8j3ls9xZCBe49hnkpefGF7PFeFDTkKmx9sxFtpxVx5jY_/s320/P1300034.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303051893904056626" /></a><br /><br />One major step forward has been my move to a big boy bed, with a custom-built rail on the side so I don't fall out at night. I didn't know exactly what to do with it when I first got in, but I've since figured out how easy it is to get out whenever I want, and I grace my parents' room with frequent visits through the night -- not usually wanting anything but to be tucked back in bed, but hey, I do like to have the option!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAK8FjQsx1kzTkh8Ux39QtgLfxSi7GwcZj3uZoa4UyGHLTaNTIidalpgBN3_xq8t6Gn4eQm4JXBPSnK-n-CvNmYMTDpBHJMWSzu-K7XJnQkDfadUd1FhP0ybgx42dMUDlfMXOTT-a9AeNk/s1600-h/P1260026.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAK8FjQsx1kzTkh8Ux39QtgLfxSi7GwcZj3uZoa4UyGHLTaNTIidalpgBN3_xq8t6Gn4eQm4JXBPSnK-n-CvNmYMTDpBHJMWSzu-K7XJnQkDfadUd1FhP0ybgx42dMUDlfMXOTT-a9AeNk/s320/P1260026.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303051886619781954" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">What is it you want me to do in this big thing?</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqOiv3Rnwew4H4zJem93p7gHQqJbWiJHqjUvjWh1wUUflzT5D_oD3a6X95de-Hp44MSPxSKqalYT7YSmzTTD1-HgPkCQTIgJW1eAaJaHNrdKT6spZoYrK5RF7FiCH6-_Ex_9-mctvN2IDG/s1600-h/P1260027.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqOiv3Rnwew4H4zJem93p7gHQqJbWiJHqjUvjWh1wUUflzT5D_oD3a6X95de-Hp44MSPxSKqalYT7YSmzTTD1-HgPkCQTIgJW1eAaJaHNrdKT6spZoYrK5RF7FiCH6-_Ex_9-mctvN2IDG/s320/P1260027.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303051890414372322" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Bounce, anyone?</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_2vEK_mXJiTpBpg82OCg4mqtiQuwyWVJLEHgzJlKSPR2NFMdXeu9pq6IVbIgJx4-Ns5oH7YlYFJW73QiHwZaWXlSEUYc4QMUyKX6bS5lQCflzsFjJYrJz6WAlDeC2qeSYu0LAq0gv6MQS/s1600-h/P1260030.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_2vEK_mXJiTpBpg82OCg4mqtiQuwyWVJLEHgzJlKSPR2NFMdXeu9pq6IVbIgJx4-Ns5oH7YlYFJW73QiHwZaWXlSEUYc4QMUyKX6bS5lQCflzsFjJYrJz6WAlDeC2qeSYu0LAq0gv6MQS/s320/P1260030.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303051892123226610" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Oh, this is what you mean!</div>#15http://www.blogger.com/profile/17957253697488582637noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-917725121322879240.post-66024571150646815102009-03-01T10:40:00.000-05:002009-03-01T10:47:57.591-05:00Who Knew Letters Meant Something?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFc1Pd1eEM4Vlc8TmARC7E13mT0Pf47ymI31L5JyYHLULPeDnZMvUo4NKWKu5rCplsc4ZHzLhlON-8I_dPeMjEd1N4Xa2gg5yAloV7uOXONdtAiNTM6QSLhaWH42BW7DQL9XwCgqQQ4234/s1600-h/isaachead.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 104px; height: 105px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFc1Pd1eEM4Vlc8TmARC7E13mT0Pf47ymI31L5JyYHLULPeDnZMvUo4NKWKu5rCplsc4ZHzLhlON-8I_dPeMjEd1N4Xa2gg5yAloV7uOXONdtAiNTM6QSLhaWH42BW7DQL9XwCgqQQ4234/s200/isaachead.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308244690515057922" /></a>I'm going to have to call 2009 "The Year of Letters." Who knew letters meant so much? Suddenly, after Christmas, it occurred to me that maybe I could read scriptures like Ethan does, and I've since made great strides in reading my own verse when we read scriptures each evening. It's slow going, and I still need help with the big words, but I have caught on amazingly quickly to sounding out words I didn't previously know, and remembering them for next time come across it!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFUbn-gxm1yJLjHKNQi9fHG4wdlo3Wqpmt76vQvl_YVMkyEx7r1_ioSqv1BXGTnEyizvu55HxaWQ22ae346tJvMcWQqyRgA8JaI61ETdr_PudejIuyOxd-ox_JD5WCNvbFLKa2-HwFsGYk/s1600-h/P2060055.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFUbn-gxm1yJLjHKNQi9fHG4wdlo3Wqpmt76vQvl_YVMkyEx7r1_ioSqv1BXGTnEyizvu55HxaWQ22ae346tJvMcWQqyRgA8JaI61ETdr_PudejIuyOxd-ox_JD5WCNvbFLKa2-HwFsGYk/s320/P2060055.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303052854591339810" /></a><br /><br />I also started piano lessons in February, with my favorite substitute teacher Mr. Weston (who also happens to teach piano). Letters again! Only this time they mean notes on the keyboard. Middle C, G above middle C, G clef, F clef... letters are everywhere! My lessons aren't quite as long as Ethan's (his are 30 minutes long, while I can only manage to sit still for 15 minutes), but still, I love taking piano!<br /> <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCw-x7pL-VNUnezYQT4tbfq60zZOlHTcXOEJeledaK-W9oX3vAalpDEW0Av5z2biB5tqtm2QNeiu2XPHrQH94qoj-CEQP2WmDP9yI6WBmHw-Zy48c0QiFPJSQvUu-MfX4q6ze9-_xAdzgt/s1600-h/P2030053.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCw-x7pL-VNUnezYQT4tbfq60zZOlHTcXOEJeledaK-W9oX3vAalpDEW0Av5z2biB5tqtm2QNeiu2XPHrQH94qoj-CEQP2WmDP9yI6WBmHw-Zy48c0QiFPJSQvUu-MfX4q6ze9-_xAdzgt/s320/P2030053.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303052853709173298" /></a>#15http://www.blogger.com/profile/17957253697488582637noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-917725121322879240.post-38875773317977051832009-03-01T10:35:00.001-05:002009-03-01T10:50:43.622-05:00HandyTang<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH_rUUIDhYYvR0Z3t9NuSLO3bVNqdCvae2dMz7C20n3pHE9im0kqrAweN5L2Lrs3tjzfCBFY0DpZMIbCeNpXAkFm0XhFs7BXGXzL_APd50BnnY32a3meu4lIuo7aNwVFBuaCbKqnOXWsyE/s1600-h/clarencehead3.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 104px; height: 104px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH_rUUIDhYYvR0Z3t9NuSLO3bVNqdCvae2dMz7C20n3pHE9im0kqrAweN5L2Lrs3tjzfCBFY0DpZMIbCeNpXAkFm0XhFs7BXGXzL_APd50BnnY32a3meu4lIuo7aNwVFBuaCbKqnOXWsyE/s200/clarencehead3.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308237406381515602" /></a>While we were living in Edmonton, dad finished the whole basement right under my nose, and I, more interested in playing tennis and chasing girls at the time, didn't even lift a finger to help. Neither did any of my other brothers, for that matter, but Michelle, loyal daughter that she is, spent many an hour with my dad, if not exactly helping (besides handing him tools and helping to paint), at least offering him company and moral support.<br /><br />So, now I'm a homeowner, also with an unfinished basement, and, sadly, lacking much experience in being handy around the house. But, unwilling to let that be an obstacle, a couple of months ago, I made my first attempt at framing a partition wall with a pocket door. A smallish wall, and I'm glad for that, because it still took me all day! Call it my experimental wall, if you will, because I figured that if I could manage the small wall, I would press forward with framing the rest of the basement. So, here you have it, from beginning to end (well, the pictures actually pick up from middle of the project, but, oh well).<br /><br />Addendum: Crooked framing notwithstanding, I decided to call my first wall a success and have since framed the rest of the basement -- pictures to come later! Now stuck at electricity... will keep you updated!<br /> <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghuw35ZRYnV5ze7bf0anRwzjEStz0dTwCNEOXPJm2Dgo-e1HX6SegBDKRZjXS9dGMXcPJ49MmDiSBrGWxt8aUcUQpGKtkb-naUZ0cSyQz-RkNRYx8G46osAoqaXmlbucVv-Kqh-JZszrs-/s1600-h/P1170001.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghuw35ZRYnV5ze7bf0anRwzjEStz0dTwCNEOXPJm2Dgo-e1HX6SegBDKRZjXS9dGMXcPJ49MmDiSBrGWxt8aUcUQpGKtkb-naUZ0cSyQz-RkNRYx8G46osAoqaXmlbucVv-Kqh-JZszrs-/s320/P1170001.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303051513498790690" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA0ImmYIDEiNnbEgC_fEMXWgtJR6BIwvl7CK-mWn-Gs_tBoO_uqlaq29Z69qJKa5E6RO-RTabV73wIQZOvsQFUh1O6DEWuaWWGPy9PY-9eRlkrj-Mfm5_QperAxjFrzLab1DVj3s_pnPnD/s1600-h/P1170004.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA0ImmYIDEiNnbEgC_fEMXWgtJR6BIwvl7CK-mWn-Gs_tBoO_uqlaq29Z69qJKa5E6RO-RTabV73wIQZOvsQFUh1O6DEWuaWWGPy9PY-9eRlkrj-Mfm5_QperAxjFrzLab1DVj3s_pnPnD/s320/P1170004.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303051515347169762" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQKu21hlydH-r29BxOG_-FWdKFIKQLujk_t1DiN9ldEAeB2TXivYqaSp7Acy2FPnP-8tBfiZARZaLZOJXEb6yDfB3Bq6wxoY5TzbcKn7nZU2-32F4wXrVOPOD7KXcu04SF8GhknJaqi3dQ/s1600-h/P1220014.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQKu21hlydH-r29BxOG_-FWdKFIKQLujk_t1DiN9ldEAeB2TXivYqaSp7Acy2FPnP-8tBfiZARZaLZOJXEb6yDfB3Bq6wxoY5TzbcKn7nZU2-32F4wXrVOPOD7KXcu04SF8GhknJaqi3dQ/s320/P1220014.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303051518687380706" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGa9QTNlrMU8dhstNGuHbnbwuFoAEfZO8feOY_sNKxMchSdMy2_Il3m72Ip_wF7fHi3HMUvWrxQiFpeBO6oSf5OF64fYxrjFuptXJ9Dfrd74Q7FhoVY0s_HVABASSPfnby07XUQjbyPK7i/s1600-h/P1250016.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGa9QTNlrMU8dhstNGuHbnbwuFoAEfZO8feOY_sNKxMchSdMy2_Il3m72Ip_wF7fHi3HMUvWrxQiFpeBO6oSf5OF64fYxrjFuptXJ9Dfrd74Q7FhoVY0s_HVABASSPfnby07XUQjbyPK7i/s320/P1250016.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303051517687397282" /></a>#15http://www.blogger.com/profile/17957253697488582637noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-917725121322879240.post-13332740236324601182009-03-01T09:13:00.005-05:002009-03-01T11:19:12.796-05:00Texas<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipTjxSTSy-zTklHNYeaBrM4nS7zB6WTmHo3C7U9OxPoHSiu0RxQlJrieRGOyyA-wZ_zYy1IQD_LWGo9mxflbYgwW01wg9FaWieIWMptHo_WfNPJ4nluOyy0P_DYY3N1bl1PlpapodUOKUX/s1600-h/lillyhead.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 104px; height: 105px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipTjxSTSy-zTklHNYeaBrM4nS7zB6WTmHo3C7U9OxPoHSiu0RxQlJrieRGOyyA-wZ_zYy1IQD_LWGo9mxflbYgwW01wg9FaWieIWMptHo_WfNPJ4nluOyy0P_DYY3N1bl1PlpapodUOKUX/s200/lillyhead.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308248428697002018" /></a>We just got back from Texas a couple of days ago -- an incredibly long drive to and from, but still, worth it for the fun visit we had with grandma and grandpa. (Oh yeah, and Uncle Andrew and Uncle Aaron, too, but most of the time they were playing video games in their bedrooms, so I didn't get actually get to see them much.)<br /><br />Grandpa and grandma have been in Washington, D.C., for the past month while grandpa works on painting a big mural at Lockheed Martin Flight Service headquarters. It's the second one he's done for Lockheed Martin -- in fact, the reason why he got this job was because someone from up there saw the mural he painted at his workplace in Texas and thought it was so good, they wanted one up there, too! Here's us standing with grandpa in front of the mural he did in Texas. Isn't he a great artist?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDVijfkYrMxWmJpvyA-g65BtIzp4mYGIJnRAwhZXaRzKCChi69LMW0M5gCYVc0IbkjdAkMIDTVlpEx4-jbOhLVr2vvY0hNhDVVKCG65jBtcRAbErKIKhPJtpMK4arCdavZnZ7bYY9TgvA_/s1600-h/P2250039+copy.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDVijfkYrMxWmJpvyA-g65BtIzp4mYGIJnRAwhZXaRzKCChi69LMW0M5gCYVc0IbkjdAkMIDTVlpEx4-jbOhLVr2vvY0hNhDVVKCG65jBtcRAbErKIKhPJtpMK4arCdavZnZ7bYY9TgvA_/s320/P2250039+copy.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308222546522378690" /></a><br /><br />Artwork aside, the main reason for our visit was to welcome Uncle Shaun and Aunt Kari's new baby Olivia into the world. She came a couple of days after we arrived -- so the timing was just right! Mom doesn't want another baby of her own, but she sure was excited to be able to hold someone else's baby for a while (and then give it back when she was done!).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXcrmggYTHbBmft5yDQZ5_If8MSZ0ewU8vRYeE9OaNKALKAj5nK_QaZ6gw5AaUpGkh2AHVmJD9MLLI8mDzsPHXHcLo79R6KjXrgSiz-vcEw8mZ4DJCQUe6p3gIBybnjmwZ9kBuTF6kyj_y/s1600-h/P2240031+copy.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXcrmggYTHbBmft5yDQZ5_If8MSZ0ewU8vRYeE9OaNKALKAj5nK_QaZ6gw5AaUpGkh2AHVmJD9MLLI8mDzsPHXHcLo79R6KjXrgSiz-vcEw8mZ4DJCQUe6p3gIBybnjmwZ9kBuTF6kyj_y/s320/P2240031+copy.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308222538117039938" /></a><br /><br />We, on the other hand, only got to see her through the glass. No holding for us!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimzk8TBLaAiDsMLdWWUbWa8aIezJM-tIOoyG5bv1GmC_Fku1SfM2-NEudg2JvuHDNp8rZuPp-sKdvoLFiF7Zx4sZOz7V9UCUYiOUgNzZ94eppx-jalF0x722w_59M15Soa5rQDzMvnO4um/s1600-h/P2240016+copy.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimzk8TBLaAiDsMLdWWUbWa8aIezJM-tIOoyG5bv1GmC_Fku1SfM2-NEudg2JvuHDNp8rZuPp-sKdvoLFiF7Zx4sZOz7V9UCUYiOUgNzZ94eppx-jalF0x722w_59M15Soa5rQDzMvnO4um/s320/P2240016+copy.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308222537630766706" /></a>#15http://www.blogger.com/profile/17957253697488582637noreply@blogger.com3