tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11511556617917655292024-03-13T07:14:23.398-05:00The Berke Fivejessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17826252555094322099noreply@blogger.comBlogger167125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1151155661791765529.post-15183202438135497302010-06-26T11:41:00.001-05:002010-06-26T11:42:30.454-05:00Look at those adorable children. How could they have been neglected for so long? <br /><br />BLOG POSTING ON THE WAY!jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17826252555094322099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1151155661791765529.post-21724826899474593552010-01-17T18:11:00.001-06:002010-01-17T18:11:20.869-06:00And the Winner is…<blockquote> <p>                                   <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/S1OmaaIzcZI/AAAAAAAABnM/Q8JfgdtAgH8/s1600-h/Spelling%20Bee%20champs%20058%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Spelling Bee champs 058" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="244" alt="Spelling Bee champs 058" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/S1Oma4zwo6I/AAAAAAAABnQ/oOz5kp3pRrU/Spelling%20Bee%20champs%20058_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" border="0" /></a></p> </blockquote> <p>I was working out of town this week, but my girl sent me a text to let me know that both she and her brother had won their respective spelling bees that day.  I was so excited, and so very sorry I had missed that.  Now they will compete against each other on January 27th.  And wouldn’t you know, I have to work.  I am desperately seeking substitute.  Is anyone available? </p> <p> </p> <p>And in other happenings: </p> <p> </p> <p> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/S1OmgwJ3UfI/AAAAAAAABnU/xwu7kehFcNs/s1600-h/Spelling%20Bee%20champs%20004%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Spelling Bee champs 004" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="184" alt="Spelling Bee champs 004" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/S1OmhLqhl-I/AAAAAAAABnY/Op3S5P58nKs/Spelling%20Bee%20champs%20004_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>Ethan is not the only member of our family that LOVES biscuits and gravy.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/S1Omh4XMW3I/AAAAAAAABnc/W7cHtud5PJY/s1600-h/Spelling%20Bee%20champs%20007%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Spelling Bee champs 007" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="184" alt="Spelling Bee champs 007" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/S1OmibEVgDI/AAAAAAAABng/VnGdKzV73xU/Spelling%20Bee%20champs%20007_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/S1OmoHcVmwI/AAAAAAAABnk/acNMhIfuvWQ/s1600-h/Spelling%20Bee%20champs%20009%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Spelling Bee champs 009" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="184" alt="Spelling Bee champs 009" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/S1OmoRMHMYI/AAAAAAAABno/AesZKDNp9LY/Spelling%20Bee%20champs%20009_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>Over the Christmas break John and I took the kids to Des Moines to visit some friends.  We had a great time together catching up.  Our friend Brian is half-nude only because he was the only parent devoted enough to get into the pool with the kids.</p> <p> </p> <div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:0bc37029-ed89-4ffb-ad26-b01799977817" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px"><div id="892d5397-13cb-4e91-947d-bcc94e38aadd" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline;"><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fQFEUu-PGY" target="_new"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/S1Omo2n7nEI/AAAAAAAABns/Yi30A0O-xUA/videoe1b63368111f%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-style: none" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('892d5397-13cb-4e91-947d-bcc94e38aadd'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = "<div><object width=\"425\" height=\"355\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/3fQFEUu-PGY&hl=en\"><\/param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/3fQFEUu-PGY&hl=en\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"425\" height=\"355\"><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" alt=""></a></div></div></div> <p>And Gertie learns to swim.  Well, we’ll <em>call</em> it swimming.</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/S1Omph4PCpI/AAAAAAAABnw/Wy_pJv2AWOU/s1600-h/Spelling%20Bee%20champs%20016%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Spelling Bee champs 016" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="184" alt="Spelling Bee champs 016" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/S1OmvG6kJrI/AAAAAAAABn0/2McnmcpMQyU/Spelling%20Bee%20champs%20016_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/S1OmvvQBKFI/AAAAAAAABn4/QhhkG6MzHvk/s1600-h/Spelling%20Bee%20champs%20012%5B5%5D.jpg"><img title="Spelling Bee champs 012" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="184" alt="Spelling Bee champs 012" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/S1OmwL6A1oI/AAAAAAAABn8/InHcvCf-2nU/Spelling%20Bee%20champs%20012_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/S1Om1yG4qTI/AAAAAAAABoA/er-9P3J7rjE/s1600-h/Spelling%20Bee%20champs%20017%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Spelling Bee champs 017" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="184" alt="Spelling Bee champs 017" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/S1Om2aNNufI/AAAAAAAABoE/y9hcEBblBzQ/Spelling%20Bee%20champs%20017_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a> I’m just throwing these in because I think they’re cute.</p> <p> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/S1Om8LXReHI/AAAAAAAABoI/B3wO2f2arA8/s1600-h/Spelling%20Bee%20champs%20038%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Spelling Bee champs 038" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="184" alt="Spelling Bee champs 038" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/S1Om8U41m4I/AAAAAAAABoM/VY2aXocNXd4/Spelling%20Bee%20champs%20038_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/S1Om8wcKvwI/AAAAAAAABoQ/xRxtLohVBGU/s1600-h/Spelling%20Bee%20champs%20041%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Spelling Bee champs 041" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="184" alt="Spelling Bee champs 041" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/S1OnCorSYZI/AAAAAAAABoU/21c99nOgVMs/Spelling%20Bee%20champs%20041_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/S1OnDSvEZvI/AAAAAAAABoY/da0fqJ_MEGY/s1600-h/Spelling%20Bee%20champs%20033%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Spelling Bee champs 033" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="184" alt="Spelling Bee champs 033" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/S1OnDyz599I/AAAAAAAABoc/ZvlumZEkg0w/Spelling%20Bee%20champs%20033_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/S1OmaaIzcZI/AAAAAAAABnM/Q8JfgdtAgH8/s1600-h/Spelling%20Bee%20champs%20058%5B2%5D.jpg"></a></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>And don’t you just love when big sisters spend a little quality time with their little sisters?</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/S1OnEaSH08I/AAAAAAAABog/gYGI7TdEmiw/s1600-h/Spelling%20Bee%20champs%20055%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Spelling Bee champs 055" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="244" alt="Spelling Bee champs 055" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/S1OnJ6t5wTI/AAAAAAAABok/KMaFn0dVKYg/Spelling%20Bee%20champs%20055_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" border="0" /></a> Gertie is all dressed up for church.  The sweater lasted on her body a total of 13 minutes.  Apparently, she doesn’t need to keep her torso warm.</p> jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17826252555094322099noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1151155661791765529.post-21517832696537637832010-01-05T14:14:00.001-06:002010-01-05T14:14:01.823-06:00Whoa. Back Up a Minute.<p>Its been a while for me.  I really offer no excuses.  I’ve been out here.  I’ve been watching you too closely to make my own news.  The problem is, there’s been plenty going on around here.  Now I offer this humble posting and hope I haven’t lost my already sparse readership.  (Actually, most of you are family, so really, you are stuck with me.  And I know that.)</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/S0OcL23b4yI/AAAAAAAABko/tMsRMUqjEAg/s1600-h/Grace%27s%20orchestra%20concert%20227%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Grace's orchestra concert 227" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="184" alt="Grace's orchestra concert 227" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/S0OcMdO4boI/AAAAAAAABks/fnC07sllPg0/Grace%27s%20orchestra%20concert%20227_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a>Here is one picture of my boy playing football this year.  His first year in pads.  This is one of about 300 pictures I took, and this is the best one.  That may or may not tell you something about my photography skills.  I just absolutely loved watching him play football.  </p> <p> </p> <p> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/S0OcM9nhsCI/AAAAAAAABkw/Sy2w_MAFCBE/s1600-h/EJ%27s%20Treasurer%20speech%20001%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="EJ's Treasurer speech 001" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="244" alt="EJ's Treasurer speech 001" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/S0OcNGiPSiI/AAAAAAAABk0/TSxG5LCn4UI/EJ%27s%20Treasurer%20speech%20001_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="179" border="0" /></a>And while we’re on the subject of Ethan, this is the speech that rocked the <strike>world</strike> Neveln Middle School and got my son elected treasurer of the student body.  </p> <p>  <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/S0OcS6xI6HI/AAAAAAAABk4/nUt2iRNY5p8/s1600-h/Grace%27s%20orchestra%20concert%20233%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Grace's orchestra concert 233" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="184" alt="Grace's orchestra concert 233" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/S0OcYkgOsNI/AAAAAAAABk8/uSGYdnPeE50/Grace%27s%20orchestra%20concert%20233_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a>This is what happens when you pile your kids into a van loaded with face paint and drive for 4 hours.  It was supposed to be for some football-player black-eye <em>the next day</em>, but I think they went a little overboard a little early.</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/S0OceZhNgeI/AAAAAAAABlA/2f4gDXDqr-I/s1600-h/Christmas%202009%20005%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Christmas 2009 005" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="244" alt="Christmas 2009 005" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/S0OckAGkzeI/AAAAAAAABlE/fz9zP6pUjqY/Christmas%202009%20005_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" border="0" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/S0OckqJoVMI/AAAAAAAABlI/TkKD9rkGmxo/s1600-h/Christmas%202009%20004%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Christmas 2009 004" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="244" alt="Christmas 2009 004" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/S0OcvXCXwkI/AAAAAAAABlM/6Ri_AR1d9xw/Christmas%202009%20004_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" border="0" /></a>  And then came Halloween.  We had been to a wedding out of town that day, and I really wasn’t sure when we’d be home, so I hadn’t stressed the whole Halloween thing that much.  But as we were driving home, the girls started talking.  We had this cute little ladybug outfit for Gertie, and Grace decided to go as a bug catcher.  It was actually a lot of fun.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/S0Ocv0oK7VI/AAAAAAAABlQ/K5TM5VVrwjs/s1600-h/Christmas%202009%20008%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Christmas 2009 008" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="184" alt="Christmas 2009 008" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/S0OcwUWaRFI/AAAAAAAABlU/WOJJNWYpzJs/Christmas%202009%20008_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a> Ethan protested the whole Halloween thing on religious grounds, but when we came home from trick-or-treating, this is where we found him, happy as a clam.  Those were some serious convictions  until the candy showed up.  He rolled right over and started begging.</p> <p></p> <div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:66721397-FF69-4ca6-AEC4-17E6B3208830:a45dd152-334a-4312-afa8-59a3f8486198" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px"><a style="border:0px" href="http://cid-6497db94ff422b26.skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?page=browse&resid=6497DB94FF422B26!222&ct=photos"><img style="border:0px" alt="View Happy Birthday, Berke Boy" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/S0Ocwr4hAPI/AAAAAAAABlY/PuqP5hWp4pA/InlineRepresentationc58fc210-c4d7-4d3d-854c-c352d438832d.jpg?imgmax=800" /></a><div style="width:340px;text-align:right;" ><a href="http://cid-6497db94ff422b26.skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?page=browse&resid=6497DB94FF422B26!222&ct=photos">View Full Album</a></div></div> <p></p> <p>And then he turned 11 on me.  Isn’t he cute?  They do that, you know; they turn 11 someday.  Some of you know just what I’m talking about.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/S0OcxN2FeLI/AAAAAAAABlc/Hhw-bua3SEc/s1600-h/Christmas%202009%20138%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Christmas 2009 138" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="184" alt="Christmas 2009 138" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/S0Oc2-AQpCI/AAAAAAAABlg/7jXkf-ifOXw/Christmas%202009%20138_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a>  <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/S0Oc3dnka1I/AAAAAAAABlk/eo-JKCrK63U/s1600-h/Grace%20as%20Annie%20001%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Grace as Annie 001" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="179" alt="Grace as Annie 001" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/S0Oc32dgkEI/AAAAAAAABlo/LOtebxuxD2A/Grace%20as%20Annie%20001_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a></p> <p>And this is Grace as Annie.  This was such an exciting experience for her, and she just did a great job.  I was so excited to see this performance, and we had a great time.  Gertie was crying while watching this production of awkward pre-teens play out the story of an orphan that finds a loving family.  She’s cried every time she’s watched the dvd of Grace as Annie.  And that’s a lot of times.</p> <p></p> <div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:66721397-FF69-4ca6-AEC4-17E6B3208830:5d094dcb-a706-4bbb-a2c4-cfce502e877a" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px"><a style="border:0px" href="http://cid-6497db94ff422b26.skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?page=browse&resid=6497DB94FF422B26!226&ct=photos"><img style="border:0px" alt="View Gracie is Annie" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/S0Oc9aqcTEI/AAAAAAAABls/1Nxe-Y82o6Q/InlineRepresentation4c86a345-2b64-43f7-a36f-f2cd0f0740ef.jpg?imgmax=800" /></a><div style="width:340px;text-align:right;" ><a href="http://cid-6497db94ff422b26.skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?page=browse&resid=6497DB94FF422B26!226&ct=photos">View Full Album</a></div></div> <p></p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/S0Oc-BUIvpI/AAAAAAAABlw/aaTiwV1W1us/s1600-h/Christmas%202009%20162%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Christmas 2009 162" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="184" alt="Christmas 2009 162" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/S0OdDpW8XsI/AAAAAAAABl0/jfv2x1zyAtQ/Christmas%202009%20162_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a>I snuck away to see my sister and her family in Arizona.  This is the one picture I took, which is ridiculous, considering the main attraction for the visit was my brand spanking new baby niece Amelia.  Do I have a picture of her?  No, I do not.  But the little cutie next to my my sister’s look-alike there is my cousin Katy’s girl, Amy.  I had so much fun spending days with my sister doing just average day-in-the-life things.  I really miss her and think she should consider the cooler temperatures of Minnesota when she’s suffering in the Arizona heat.  </p> <p> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/S0OdEB7iYZI/AAAAAAAABl4/kwl1C6E73Mo/s1600-h/Christmas%202009%20171%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Christmas 2009 171" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="244" alt="Christmas 2009 171" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/S0OdESfCE-I/AAAAAAAABl8/wnnKMzxLv6o/Christmas%202009%20171_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" border="0" /></a> And now Christmas.  Guess what Grace got?  She really shot big on her Christmas list, and Santa obliged.  How could you not get that sweet girl just what her heart desires?</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/S0OdKd1jqyI/AAAAAAAABmA/CpaciHMkNek/s1600-h/Christmas%202009%20174%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Christmas 2009 174" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="184" alt="Christmas 2009 174" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/S0OdK3nQHJI/AAAAAAAABmE/qt73RHhCn2c/Christmas%202009%20174_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a>And EJ has such a grateful heart for whatever comes his way.  In his case, this year, it was a Welker jersey.  Unfortunately, Welker just got hurt and won’t be finishing out the season, or maybe even be able to play next year.  We shall see.  We’ll have to have a picture of him in that jersey to follow soon.</p> <p> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/S0OdLiUiYpI/AAAAAAAABmI/QNMqWr9Csmc/s1600-h/Christmas%202009%20173%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Christmas 2009 173" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="184" alt="Christmas 2009 173" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/S0OdRYn5QDI/AAAAAAAABmM/GaXo5kSKHPY/Christmas%202009%20173_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a>And this?  Need I say anything about this?</p> <p> </p> <p> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/S0OdSOSjwoI/AAAAAAAABmQ/A6aVrjV7UEc/s1600-h/Christmas%202009%20172%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Christmas 2009 172" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="184" alt="Christmas 2009 172" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/S0OdaI6ohjI/AAAAAAAABmU/mdiHdHG0flY/Christmas%202009%20172_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a> Love the disaster photo after all the fun.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/S0Odanci4MI/AAAAAAAABmY/pQmHS01v2mo/s1600-h/Christmas%202009%20182%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Christmas 2009 182" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="184" alt="Christmas 2009 182" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/S0OdgBL794I/AAAAAAAABmc/EjqntIFNpJM/Christmas%202009%20182_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/S0OdgjrK5vI/AAAAAAAABmg/lCvZNIFilo8/s1600-h/Christmas%202009%20189%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Christmas 2009 189" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="184" alt="Christmas 2009 189" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/S0Odg8VIcjI/AAAAAAAABmk/JnEWXMmLT3s/Christmas%202009%20189_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/S0OdhYcKxLI/AAAAAAAABmo/gCYbtmkXWAY/s1600-h/Christmas%202009%20205%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Christmas 2009 205" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="184" alt="Christmas 2009 205" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/S0Odh8czZKI/AAAAAAAABms/3b1s5-1xfPI/Christmas%202009%20205_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a> Here we are having a bit of sledding fun.  We’ve sure had plenty of snow to play around in, and this was a beautiful day before the temperatures dropped to Arctic levels.</p> <p></p> <div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:66721397-FF69-4ca6-AEC4-17E6B3208830:f54e70a4-c2b8-4305-9ec6-7bace5bf3be4" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px"><a style="border:0px" href="http://cid-6497db94ff422b26.skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?page=browse&resid=6497DB94FF422B26!242&ct=photos"><img style="border:0px" alt="View Snow Play" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/S0OdiDmUMjI/AAAAAAAABmw/OadbeKlWWxw/InlineRepresentationbd97424f-f1e6-4c55-9b9f-02b6519a39cb.jpg?imgmax=800" /></a><div style="width:340px;text-align:right;" ><a href="http://cid-6497db94ff422b26.skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?page=browse&resid=6497DB94FF422B26!242&ct=photos">View Full Album</a></div></div> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p> </p> <p>So this brings me almost to today.  Hope you’re all snuggled in and staying warm.  </p> <p>I’ll try harder.  I promise.</p> jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17826252555094322099noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1151155661791765529.post-19530792303459824132009-10-22T20:53:00.002-05:002009-10-22T21:11:24.042-05:00My long lost bloggers are starting to resurface. It is inspiring to me. I am trying again as well.<br /><br />My little sister had her baby number 2 on the 21st. Her name is Amelia.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.edutopia.org/images/graphics/Amelia_Bedilia.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 245px; height: 283px;" src="http://www.edutopia.org/images/graphics/Amelia_Bedilia.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a>As in Amelia Bedelia. Remember her? <br /><br /><br />I just got lost on Youtube viewing some good old Amelia Bedelia pairing the vegetables and drawing the drapes and dressing the turkey. I love it. This is going to be fun!<br /><br />I am crazy in love with my kiddos these days. Grace is growing up so fast I just can't stand it. She's off to orchestra camp this weekend. Her legs are really getting long.<br /><br />Ethan is reading up a storm. He loves those Alex Rider books. He's doing great in school, and he's been an all-around honest, hardworking boy as of late. Well, mostly. Yesterday morning I took him to school, and he was rambling on about some sort of poop joke or something as he got out of the car laughing. I knew I wasn't supposed to think it was funny (and I didn't), but I really did love it that he was so happy, even with his cheesy boy humor. I love that kid.<br /><br />Gertrude has been doing so much better, really. She's getting nicer by the day. Except today, really. Today she was whiny and wanted to be carried all the time. She is three, you know. I don't think I should have to carry her around. And she seems to be very good at breaking dishes. Do you think this could be an inherited quality? I wouldn't have thought so, but I know I broke a few dishes in my day as well. I think we are on the third glass in two weeks or something.<br /><br />Now I'm going to spend some time with my husband. I like that guy too. <br /><br />I have to be up early for work tomorrow. Good night. Sleep tight.<br /><img src="file:///C:/Users/Parents/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot-1.png" alt="" /><img src="file:///C:/Users/Parents/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot.png" alt="" />jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17826252555094322099noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1151155661791765529.post-81649380936665988952009-09-05T22:05:00.002-05:002009-09-05T22:21:09.198-05:00A Minnesota Scrapbook<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqMnAsEtLdI/AAAAAAAABbc/onGDo4sOvRo/s1600-h/2009-08-15+Deerwood+MN+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left; clear: both;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqMnAsEtLdI/AAAAAAAABbc/onGDo4sOvRo/s400/2009-08-15+Deerwood+MN+2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />These are a few pics of the kids and I that I had taken while we were on a walk. I thought we got some cute ones.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqMnA3D5EiI/AAAAAAAABbk/UUb2PB_RTS4/s1600-h/Judy%27s+Deerwood.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left; clear: both;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqMnA3D5EiI/AAAAAAAABbk/UUb2PB_RTS4/s400/Judy%27s+Deerwood.jpg" border="0" /></a>And these are just a few miscellaneous shots that I liked throughout the whole week.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqMnBRLP_5I/AAAAAAAABbs/K-o5BLUpnZ0/s1600-h/2009-08-15+Deerwood+MN+21.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left; clear: both;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqMnBRLP_5I/AAAAAAAABbs/K-o5BLUpnZ0/s400/2009-08-15+Deerwood+MN+21.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />And then these are a bunch from a walk. It was a beautiful day and it was just a great time. Again, a few favorites.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqMp-dubogI/AAAAAAAABb0/PmZnfwRO4-4/s1600-h/2009-08-15+Deerwood+MN+22.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqMp-dubogI/AAAAAAAABb0/PmZnfwRO4-4/s400/2009-08-15+Deerwood+MN+22.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378188533118509570" border="0" /></a>And this last one is an ode to my oldest. She loves the camera. I know Julie took one and I took a couple, I think, but the rest are hers. She got some good shots.jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17826252555094322099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1151155661791765529.post-21084155177987547552009-09-05T18:34:00.035-05:002009-09-05T19:43:59.139-05:00Boating on Portage LakeWell, I've given much thought to how to do this. There are too many pictures, but I want to share so many of them with my family that I'm posting a ton. I didn't think the slideshow worked all that well, so I've spent a lot of time loading them up one by one. I've limited this set just to boating. There are many more to come of this week with family. I'm going to be brief. Just enjoy the pictures.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqL-zNpqduI/AAAAAAAABbU/T_kwnrAyXic/s1600-h/DSC03583.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqL-zNpqduI/AAAAAAAABbU/T_kwnrAyXic/s400/DSC03583.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378141060824987362" border="0" /></a>Verena, Gertie and my Dad on the boat.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqL-igJOV7I/AAAAAAAABbM/Nhsp9u2dsWg/s1600-h/DSC03575.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 272px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqL-igJOV7I/AAAAAAAABbM/Nhsp9u2dsWg/s400/DSC03575.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378140773731424178" border="0" /></a>My stepmom Judy and my Aunt Jean. Two good-looking chicks.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqL-VRvtE4I/AAAAAAAABbE/j4t21yujkps/s1600-h/DSC03559.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 330px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqL-VRvtE4I/AAAAAAAABbE/j4t21yujkps/s400/DSC03559.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378140546527990658" border="0" /></a>Ethan and Dad and Judy's new pup, Becky.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqL-ICBxSCI/AAAAAAAABa8/cZDKOvDmgbE/s1600-h/DSC03551.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqL-ICBxSCI/AAAAAAAABa8/cZDKOvDmgbE/s400/DSC03551.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378140318970497058" border="0" /></a>My Aunt Jean even got out on the tube with Grace. I insisted she wear that ridiculous life jacket. She thanked me later. Trust me.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqL93OrayGI/AAAAAAAABa0/q1qcsohltLA/s1600-h/DSC03544.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 305px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqL93OrayGI/AAAAAAAABa0/q1qcsohltLA/s400/DSC03544.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378140030308632674" border="0" /></a>Becky.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqL9piCshJI/AAAAAAAABas/0zQ4Bg0Kp5s/s1600-h/DSC03540.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 253px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqL9piCshJI/AAAAAAAABas/0zQ4Bg0Kp5s/s400/DSC03540.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378139794988369042" border="0" /></a>I stole this one from Judy. Me and my little girl.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqL9YAFnSrI/AAAAAAAABak/R9RAhu7S5r0/s1600-h/DSC03495.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqL9YAFnSrI/AAAAAAAABak/R9RAhu7S5r0/s400/DSC03495.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378139493816027826" border="0" /></a>I think Chad looks like a true captain with his crew of boys.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqL9IhhTRVI/AAAAAAAABac/8v6Tf9ShuSI/s1600-h/DSC03492.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 288px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqL9IhhTRVI/AAAAAAAABac/8v6Tf9ShuSI/s400/DSC03492.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378139227912619346" border="0" /></a>Gertie and me again. She loved tubing.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqL8-mrlgsI/AAAAAAAABaU/g4TuXIYCdpM/s1600-h/DSC03490.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 248px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqL8-mrlgsI/AAAAAAAABaU/g4TuXIYCdpM/s400/DSC03490.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378139057499243202" border="0" /></a>This was Grace's favorite place on the boat. You could find her here.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqL8ugoTvnI/AAAAAAAABaM/W5o4XnwEwV4/s1600-h/DSC03484.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqL8ugoTvnI/AAAAAAAABaM/W5o4XnwEwV4/s400/DSC03484.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378138780996976242" border="0" /></a>Enjoying the ride.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqL8d2XQ2OI/AAAAAAAABaE/iZ4jj_Z5tGI/s1600-h/Deerwood+MN+2+045.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqL8d2XQ2OI/AAAAAAAABaE/iZ4jj_Z5tGI/s400/Deerwood+MN+2+045.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378138494773287138" border="0" /></a>No words necessary. (Except that is Hunter, for those that don't know.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqL8TkLyesI/AAAAAAAABZ8/EXAldwcdNFM/s1600-h/Deerwood+MN+2+027.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqL8TkLyesI/AAAAAAAABZ8/EXAldwcdNFM/s400/Deerwood+MN+2+027.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378138318094629570" border="0" /></a>I just like back shots of cousins. What can I say?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqL8B09uDXI/AAAAAAAABZ0/KLVOedLacok/s1600-h/Deerwood+MN+2+010.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 295px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqL8B09uDXI/AAAAAAAABZ0/KLVOedLacok/s400/Deerwood+MN+2+010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378138013361376626" border="0" /></a>Foxy lady.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqL78leCVMI/AAAAAAAABZs/8-NFgZy66vY/s1600-h/Deerwood+MN+2+011.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqL78leCVMI/AAAAAAAABZs/8-NFgZy66vY/s400/Deerwood+MN+2+011.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378137923302610114" border="0" /></a>Verena and Bethie. I miss them already.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqL7tQ8MAVI/AAAAAAAABZk/8i9ZMuTRBWs/s1600-h/Deerwood+MN+2+008.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqL7tQ8MAVI/AAAAAAAABZk/8i9ZMuTRBWs/s400/Deerwood+MN+2+008.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378137660093890898" border="0" /></a>Baby V. What will I do when she grows up?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqL7cQ1yYuI/AAAAAAAABZc/Qk8NIGWFw-U/s1600-h/deerwood+mn+208.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqL7cQ1yYuI/AAAAAAAABZc/Qk8NIGWFw-U/s400/deerwood+mn+208.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378137368009269986" border="0" /></a>Aawww.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqL7PdICWlI/AAAAAAAABZU/Glm2SiTUIYg/s1600-h/deerwood+mn+206.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqL7PdICWlI/AAAAAAAABZU/Glm2SiTUIYg/s400/deerwood+mn+206.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378137147968739922" border="0" /></a><br />Becky getting a little lovin'.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqL7Ctj3IOI/AAAAAAAABZM/bNiEH004vRU/s1600-h/deerwood+mn+198.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqL7Ctj3IOI/AAAAAAAABZM/bNiEH004vRU/s400/deerwood+mn+198.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378136929042112738" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqL6x600jGI/AAAAAAAABZE/SvXafIceB0k/s1600-h/deerwood+mn+198.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqL6x600jGI/AAAAAAAABZE/SvXafIceB0k/s400/deerwood+mn+198.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378136640545131618" border="0" /></a>Gracie and Gertie.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqL6cOV6KOI/AAAAAAAABY8/o8sr0YALAvc/s1600-h/deerwood+mn+207.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqL6cOV6KOI/AAAAAAAABY8/o8sr0YALAvc/s400/deerwood+mn+207.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378136267827063010" border="0" /></a>Abandon ship!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqL6BALjqlI/AAAAAAAABY0/0UBtt7YJjJw/s1600-h/deerwood+mn+195.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqL6BALjqlI/AAAAAAAABY0/0UBtt7YJjJw/s400/deerwood+mn+195.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378135800169081426" border="0" /></a><br />Gertie.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqL503_kpRI/AAAAAAAABYs/-UBRCuRbwSs/s1600-h/deerwood+mn+193.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqL503_kpRI/AAAAAAAABYs/-UBRCuRbwSs/s400/deerwood+mn+193.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378135591812900114" border="0" /></a>When you pull three kids behind a pontoon boat, the kids quickly discover they've got a pretty stable ride. So they start on the tricks. Here they are:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqL5p5rth3I/AAAAAAAABYk/wAl4I04A61A/s1600-h/deerwood+mn+188.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqL5p5rth3I/AAAAAAAABYk/wAl4I04A61A/s400/deerwood+mn+188.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378135403287906162" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqL5cuGCGeI/AAAAAAAABYc/AvY-NQn4dgY/s1600-h/deerwood+mn+186.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqL5cuGCGeI/AAAAAAAABYc/AvY-NQn4dgY/s400/deerwood+mn+186.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378135176838781410" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqL5JqAUi4I/AAAAAAAABYU/1ByOK6GdR3M/s1600-h/deerwood+mn+184.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqL5JqAUi4I/AAAAAAAABYU/1ByOK6GdR3M/s400/deerwood+mn+184.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378134849323568002" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqL47OwByMI/AAAAAAAABYM/UYg3v5DH5bA/s1600-h/deerwood+mn+182.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqL47OwByMI/AAAAAAAABYM/UYg3v5DH5bA/s400/deerwood+mn+182.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378134601489303746" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqL4edWkIPI/AAAAAAAABYE/-RVBA9VlvbI/s1600-h/deerwood+mn+180.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqL4edWkIPI/AAAAAAAABYE/-RVBA9VlvbI/s400/deerwood+mn+180.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378134107192828146" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqL4QONfKwI/AAAAAAAABX8/KihEd0P_y6s/s1600-h/deerwood+mn+174.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqL4QONfKwI/AAAAAAAABX8/KihEd0P_y6s/s400/deerwood+mn+174.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378133862610053890" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqL4AUi2eiI/AAAAAAAABX0/m4z_MmkFpbs/s1600-h/deerwood+mn+097.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqL4AUi2eiI/AAAAAAAABX0/m4z_MmkFpbs/s400/deerwood+mn+097.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378133589432367650" border="0" /></a>Julie and John enjoying the sun.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqL3vQ3vBWI/AAAAAAAABXs/ieJFEwg_j2I/s1600-h/deerwood+mn+088.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqL3vQ3vBWI/AAAAAAAABXs/ieJFEwg_j2I/s400/deerwood+mn+088.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378133296388441442" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqL3cNw2JWI/AAAAAAAABXk/BQo7PtTNcsk/s1600-h/deerwood+mn+168.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqL3cNw2JWI/AAAAAAAABXk/BQo7PtTNcsk/s400/deerwood+mn+168.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378132969136727394" border="0" /></a>Chad and Tate made it out for a bit too.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqL3LYSNhVI/AAAAAAAABXc/soCD9OYDxd0/s1600-h/deerwood+mn+149.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqL3LYSNhVI/AAAAAAAABXc/soCD9OYDxd0/s400/deerwood+mn+149.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378132679903249746" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqL21MO4pXI/AAAAAAAABXU/EK-Za9tULoU/s1600-h/deerwood+mn+132.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqL21MO4pXI/AAAAAAAABXU/EK-Za9tULoU/s400/deerwood+mn+132.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378132298710951282" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqL2dUodGVI/AAAAAAAABXM/ezs0oS5pYm4/s1600-h/deerwood+mn+092.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqL2dUodGVI/AAAAAAAABXM/ezs0oS5pYm4/s400/deerwood+mn+092.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378131888648821074" border="0" /></a>jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17826252555094322099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1151155661791765529.post-19199761967194894892009-09-04T06:57:00.029-05:002009-09-05T13:11:54.072-05:00Marge Turns 80 (Figuratively, not Literally)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqEBOYJowAI/AAAAAAAABUE/7E_D-9u7wtQ/s1600-h/deerwood+mn+042.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqEBOYJowAI/AAAAAAAABUE/7E_D-9u7wtQ/s400/deerwood+mn+042.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377580776569749506" border="0" /></a><br />We just went over to John's mom's to say hello when we got to town, and then family started appearing out of nowhere. It was such an unexpected treat, that first night. I couldn't stop smiling. All this family, some of whom we hadn't seen in a long time, and some of whom we'd never met before. Gertie was getting reacquainted with all her cousins by running up and down the sidewalk. Quite entertaining. It went on for a long time. Huge giggles.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqEBeGkygLI/AAAAAAAABUM/uNF11SyT_Ws/s1600-h/deerwood+mn+044.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqEBeGkygLI/AAAAAAAABUM/uNF11SyT_Ws/s400/deerwood+mn+044.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377581046729703602" border="0" /></a>This is Ted (Brianne's boyfriend) and Hutch (John's brother-in-law) and Brianne (Hutch and Nancy's daughter). I was truly all smiles just watching them interact. They were having a good time.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqEJSRrk3JI/AAAAAAAABXE/OJk-Wq-ndxM/s1600-h/deerwood+mn+046.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqEJSRrk3JI/AAAAAAAABXE/OJk-Wq-ndxM/s400/deerwood+mn+046.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377589639645551762" border="0" /></a>This is Tricia and Heather, John's sister Barb's girls. Aren't they sweet? I got no pictures of Barb or her husband Steve, or of Becky, their other daughter that was there. I did not spend nearly enough time taking photos in South Dakota. I really regret that.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqEJGQhJHKI/AAAAAAAABW8/TIOLGRnKt6k/s1600-h/deerwood+mn+047.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqEJGQhJHKI/AAAAAAAABW8/TIOLGRnKt6k/s400/deerwood+mn+047.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377589433174924450" border="0" /></a>Even though this isn't the best picture of Marge, I love this picture. I just like how it shows this handsome grandson of hers (Drew) sitting next to her and soaking her in. And she's soaking him in. She loves her grand kids.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqEI4xF9iEI/AAAAAAAABW0/P_x0qZEZ5fU/s1600-h/deerwood+mn+048.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqEI4xF9iEI/AAAAAAAABW0/P_x0qZEZ5fU/s400/deerwood+mn+048.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377589201401120834" border="0" /></a><br />And this is John's Aunt Suzie and his brother Mark's wife Janine with their son Zachary. They looked great and it was so fun to see them again. Mark and Janine live very far away, and we don't get to see them all that often any more. Janine and I took our big girls shopping, and we had a great time together. I remember when Zachary was born in South Dakota, and I would go over and visit them after school and snuggle that little baby up. Good memories for me. He's grown since then.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqEIuzsqd4I/AAAAAAAABWs/onoPEV7Y7_w/s1600-h/deerwood+mn+050.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 374px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqEIuzsqd4I/AAAAAAAABWs/onoPEV7Y7_w/s400/deerwood+mn+050.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377589030301628290" border="0" /></a>And here is Kaelyn. She was wanting so badly to dig into those mints, but she was waiting for everyone else. Polite little girl! She is John's sister Nancy's granddaughter. Even though I had heard so much about her, I hadn't met her until this visit. She was a spunky little treat.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqEIbg4FwBI/AAAAAAAABWk/AmKtH8AmAGM/s1600-h/deerwood+mn+052.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqEIbg4FwBI/AAAAAAAABWk/AmKtH8AmAGM/s400/deerwood+mn+052.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377588698831765522" border="0" /></a><br />And John's sister Nancy MADE this beautiful cake. Isn't it gorgeous? She made our wedding cake too. It was perfect. Thanks, Nancy.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqEHpa7n-BI/AAAAAAAABWc/67I_UgFr3l8/s1600-h/deerwood+mn+054.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 328px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqEHpa7n-BI/AAAAAAAABWc/67I_UgFr3l8/s400/deerwood+mn+054.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377587838242519058" border="0" /></a><br />Now this was a planned family gathering, but a surprise birthday party for Marge. She really doesn't turn 80 until September 29th, and this was taking place on August 2nd. And we didn't bring out the cake until after all the eating had been going on for quite a while. A few people had stopped by and told her happy birthday, and she was very confused. (But maybe starting to catch on just a bit.) She told me later that it took quite a while for it to sink in that all these people were there to celebrate her birthday. She was very touched.<br /><br />And this was a big deal to our family. John's siblings are spread from coast to coast. I think we were all together a little over fifteen years ago for Mark's wedding, but never since then. All of Marge's five kids and their entire families made it back for this birthday. And some of those kids have families, and they brought them. Marge had only one granddaughter who didn't make it, and she had a good reason. His name is Levi. He was born just ten days after this party. He is super cute, and I can't wait to meet him.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqEHdVSlW5I/AAAAAAAABWU/FomkephXrI8/s1600-h/deerwood+mn+056.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqEHdVSlW5I/AAAAAAAABWU/FomkephXrI8/s400/deerwood+mn+056.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377587630569773970" border="0" /></a><br />And this is Nancy, cake baker and sister extraordinaire. Isn't she cool?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqEHLJ8kfKI/AAAAAAAABWM/Nf3bz6jUHNk/s1600-h/deerwood+mn+057.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqEHLJ8kfKI/AAAAAAAABWM/Nf3bz6jUHNk/s400/deerwood+mn+057.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377587318287006882" border="0" /></a>This is Tricia and Grace. Aren't they cute? This picture reminds me of one taken at Heather's wedding many years ago, after Tricia had fixed Grace's hair before Grace marched down the isle sprinkling flower petals down the isle with real thought and precision. Oh, memories. I love this family!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqEG6T5GH2I/AAAAAAAABWE/pQ5pQkGNpr0/s1600-h/deerwood+mn+059.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqEG6T5GH2I/AAAAAAAABWE/pQ5pQkGNpr0/s400/deerwood+mn+059.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377587028899012450" border="0" /></a>And these are some of John's cousins, and some of their kids. Good looking family I married into!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqEGuMlBrVI/AAAAAAAABV8/ANeAupXif_o/s1600-h/deerwood+mn+061.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqEGuMlBrVI/AAAAAAAABV8/ANeAupXif_o/s400/deerwood+mn+061.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377586820777356626" border="0" /></a>John's brother Mark in blue visiting with Marge's brother Steve in the hat. That is what I think my man will look like in twenty years. I'm good with that.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqEGj-0QYYI/AAAAAAAABV0/t3UPXngVh5c/s1600-h/deerwood+mn+062.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqEGj-0QYYI/AAAAAAAABV0/t3UPXngVh5c/s400/deerwood+mn+062.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377586645284446594" border="0" /></a>And this sort of picture may be my all-time favorite. I would like to line pictures like this along the hallway where many people line up the graduation pictures or the wedding pictures. I think you should have pictures of cousins eating Popsicles or ice cream or some sort of summer treats together during family get-togethers. It's pure joy, isn't it?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqEGVGejSNI/AAAAAAAABVs/cGuztnoMGxs/s1600-h/deerwood+mn+065.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqEGVGejSNI/AAAAAAAABVs/cGuztnoMGxs/s400/deerwood+mn+065.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377586389642856658" border="0" /></a>And here are the "little girls" running off to do big girl things together. Pushing the stroller, the biggest "little girl" Savannah acting as babysitter and general "Person in Charge." The two younger girls, Kaelyn and Gertie, just relishing in some summer freedom. Happiness.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqEGFCfrQsI/AAAAAAAABVk/IbQtPNh6zv4/s1600-h/deerwood+mn+066.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqEGFCfrQsI/AAAAAAAABVk/IbQtPNh6zv4/s400/deerwood+mn+066.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377586113695924930" border="0" /></a>Then we took Gertie to the pool in the park. She's cute. And I like her. So here she is.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqEF4t49iUI/AAAAAAAABVc/iPRLYg6Gisk/s1600-h/deerwood+mn+067.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqEF4t49iUI/AAAAAAAABVc/iPRLYg6Gisk/s400/deerwood+mn+067.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377585902006405442" border="0" /></a>And again.<br /><br />And now you need to fast forward in your mind through way too many fun family moments and cousins swimming and playing and getting reacquainted, and siblings laughing and getting to sit up late and talk on the porch in the woods (or something like that. I wouldn't really know because I was going to bed early). I didn't get my camera out, and we don't have pictures. Only memories. And they are good ones. They'll stick with us.<br /><br />But here we are at the place Barb (John's sister) and her family rented. She hosted a birthday party for Nancy and invited us all out to share in the fun. Ryan and Heather are gaming experts. Really. And I am not. But I still like to play. Anyway, they brought out this game where you put the bottle on top of the pipe, which is stuck in the ground, and then you throw the Frisbee at the pole and try to knock off the bottle. You have to do this while holding a drink in your hand, and when the other team knocks off your bottle, you have to catch it before it hits the ground. Got it? Good. Here we go.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqEFhDXLYXI/AAAAAAAABVU/saXba0XmXWw/s1600-h/deerwood+mn+070.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqEFhDXLYXI/AAAAAAAABVU/saXba0XmXWw/s400/deerwood+mn+070.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377585495453426034" border="0" /></a>Ryan is super good at this game, and he's teaching Ethan everything he knows. Ethan is duly impressed.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqEEFz6xLiI/AAAAAAAABVM/QQzT1CCMbcY/s1600-h/deerwood+mn+071.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqEEFz6xLiI/AAAAAAAABVM/QQzT1CCMbcY/s400/deerwood+mn+071.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377583927939640866" border="0" /></a>Heather is having the same effect on me.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqED0vzUMBI/AAAAAAAABVE/mLDmKgOUaxo/s1600-h/deerwood+mn+072.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 270px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqED0vzUMBI/AAAAAAAABVE/mLDmKgOUaxo/s400/deerwood+mn+072.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377583634776862738" border="0" /></a>But I'm not catching on as fast as I should.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqEDbO36jNI/AAAAAAAABU8/jKO311TeJj8/s1600-h/deerwood+mn+074.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqEDbO36jNI/AAAAAAAABU8/jKO311TeJj8/s400/deerwood+mn+074.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377583196441054418" border="0" /></a>And my Ethan goes in for the kill. I don't remember if he got it. Sometimes he did. Sometimes he didn't.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqEDNSnZ3FI/AAAAAAAABU0/Ftf6flZAdHc/s1600-h/deerwood+mn+075.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqEDNSnZ3FI/AAAAAAAABU0/Ftf6flZAdHc/s400/deerwood+mn+075.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377582956927376466" border="0" /></a>Here is Dan's wife Lisa enjoying the show. It was a good show.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqECzHZ1OBI/AAAAAAAABUs/BjB9o7eIMkg/s1600-h/deerwood+mn+079.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqECzHZ1OBI/AAAAAAAABUs/BjB9o7eIMkg/s400/deerwood+mn+079.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377582507241060370" border="0" /></a>John's brother Dan up on the deck with Tricia and Marge.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqECj0pTuBI/AAAAAAAABUk/a0HRqoY4yiE/s1600-h/deerwood+mn+080.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqECj0pTuBI/AAAAAAAABUk/a0HRqoY4yiE/s400/deerwood+mn+080.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377582244507662354" border="0" /></a>And I like this picture. Aren't they cute?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqECBS8NKEI/AAAAAAAABUc/0uKNF0cq930/s1600-h/deerwood+mn+085.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqECBS8NKEI/AAAAAAAABUc/0uKNF0cq930/s400/deerwood+mn+085.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377581651344566338" border="0" /></a>And this counts as one of those cute cousin pictures. Girls like horses, you know. The cutie in green is Mark's daughter, Allyson.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqEB1KuYZ4I/AAAAAAAABUU/ixpx4SZt2eM/s1600-h/deerwood+mn+087.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SqEB1KuYZ4I/AAAAAAAABUU/ixpx4SZt2eM/s400/deerwood+mn+087.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377581442980669314" border="0" /></a>And here is my man with his boy. I'm crazy about them. A good ending.jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17826252555094322099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1151155661791765529.post-27967103686585331062009-07-30T16:17:00.001-05:002009-07-30T16:17:22.345-05:00I’ll Have the Usual<p>Please make a note:  If you come to visit the Berkes, we will insist that you visit the Spam Museum.  We do, after all, live in Spam Town, USA.  So when John’s nephew and his girlfriend came to visit, we led the way to the local tourist trap.</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SnINpwLQ_WI/AAAAAAAABSs/LWUdWG2EHTI/s1600-h/Play%20Date%20004%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Play Date 004" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="184" alt="Play Date 004" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SnINqX1Qu9I/AAAAAAAABSw/fGDfagsIhj0/Play%20Date%20004_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a>They have this little station that looks like a diner, and the egg yolk is the mouse, and the butter is the clicker.</p> <p>Drew and Ethan looked right at home.<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SnINq9_IeOI/AAAAAAAABS0/WzJF69aQrnA/s1600-h/Play%20Date%20003%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Play Date 003" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="184" alt="Play Date 003" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SnINrNooHGI/AAAAAAAABS4/x30VRmBMHgM/Play%20Date%20003_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p>  <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SnINrg6icPI/AAAAAAAABS8/pfLwIEBwWfQ/s1600-h/Play%20Date%20007%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Play Date 007" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="244" alt="Play Date 007" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SnINsdFJFjI/AAAAAAAABTA/VD3bFqO8ADw/Play%20Date%20007_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" border="0" /></a> And Ethan always enjoys testing his strength by pulling this rope to lift a huge crate full of Spam.  I think he now, at age 10, officially weighs more than a crate of Spam.  Victory!</p> <p> </p> <p>And here are Meg and Drew, testing out a new career on the factory line canning Spam.  I think they enjoyed it, but I guess they are still heading off to college. </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SnINsgX_8JI/AAAAAAAABTE/FdN47oveF1E/s1600-h/Play%20Date%20014%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Play Date 014" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="244" alt="Play Date 014" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SnIN3gO0mZI/AAAAAAAABTI/wvWrdjPXDS8/Play%20Date%20014_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SnIN4Om0gVI/AAAAAAAABTM/9UdilUff98c/s1600-h/Play%20Date%20015%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Play Date 015" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="244" alt="Play Date 015" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SnIN4cfFtrI/AAAAAAAABTQ/JpP_QU6TQhs/Play%20Date%20015_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>In fact, they left today.  We enjoyed having them for a spell.  </p> <p>The kids did too, although they are glad to reclaim their space on the top floor.</p> jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17826252555094322099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1151155661791765529.post-53201504581217451552009-07-29T07:17:00.001-05:002009-07-29T07:17:47.322-05:00This Really Stinks<p>Good morning.  I am out of bed early—kicked out, really.  Gertie came in during the night, sardined me up against my husband, and I woke up with a kink in my neck, an ache in my shoulder, and a horrible smell being blown in by the fan in my window.</p> <p>The Hormel plant is located about a mile west of our house.  We did know this when we moved into this house.  What we did not know, is that occasionally, the very thick smell of burning pork comes rolling straight to us on the breezes that blow by.  We were horrified by this, and I thought my husband was going to pack up all we own and move our family again. </p> <p>That was back when we moved in.  And since then we’ve realized it is only occasionally, and for a brief period of time.  We’ve made it.  We’ve put it mostly out of our minds. </p> <p>This last week, however, the air has been very thick again with that horrible smell.  For long stretches of time.  Gagging stretches.  Last night I was threatening to call the City and tell on Hormel.  Do you think they’d shut Hormel down?  I’m thinking they won’t.  Do you think they’d insist Hormel do something more environmentally friendly about their burning pork flesh emissions?  I’m just not sure they would.  </p> <p>I have been reminded just recently that people around these parts call that the “Smell of Money.” Pew.</p> <p>In other more fragrant news, we’ve had John’s nephew Drew and his girlfriend Meg staying with us this last week.  They are on their way from Pennsylvania (home) to South Dakota (college), and asked if they could stay with us and hitch a ride with us when we go back for the reunion weekend.  It’s been fun having them around, and they’ve been very helpful every time they’ve been asked to chip in.  I know my kids are very much enjoying having them around.  Especially Gertie.  Especially Ethan.  Especially Grace.  </p> <p>We’ve (really Grace) also been watching a friend’s kids during the morning hours this week.  Gertie’s been loving having the playmates.  She’s tuckered out by bedtime.  And sometimes before.  </p> <p>I need to take some pictures of all these goings-on.  I’ve put that on my list for today.</p> <p>Ethan has his last baseball game of the season tonight.  I’m debating whether or not I should wash that dusty uniform from Monday night’s game or just slap it on him dusty.  It’s the last game.  (Does that really matter, it being the last game and all?)</p> <p>I’ve put that on my list as well.</p> <p>Grace got a new bike.  She keeps growing.  That really makes me mad.</p> <p>I am so excited for our upcoming vacations.  The first is the South Dakota one where all of John’s siblings and their kids and their kids are coming for visit.  That is going to be so fun.  John’s mom turns 80 this year, the reason for the big celebration.  But sshhh.  Don’t tell her it’s all about her.  She doesn’t know that yet.</p> <p>Then we head straight up to Northern Minnesota, for a much smaller reunion with my Dad and Stepmom and my sisters.  We’ve not explored Minnesota north of the Twin Cities at all yet.  I can’t believe that is true.  But I’m really looking forward to this get-together.  We have two full weeks of fun packed in right before school kicks up again.</p> <p>Better get to that list.  It keeps growing as I sit here.</p> jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17826252555094322099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1151155661791765529.post-43347230270725553392009-07-25T12:54:00.001-05:002009-07-25T12:54:20.513-05:00The Zip Line<p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SmtGE2l0AqI/AAAAAAAABQc/pUtCgzYPWUw/s1600-h/P1330768%5B5%5D.jpg"><img title="P1330768" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="184" alt="P1330768" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SmtGFOLjm3I/AAAAAAAABQg/k-760Ei0rpE/P1330768_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a>Here we are before we start.  This is going to be fun!</p> <p> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SmtGGFdf21I/AAAAAAAABQk/UNc6lc_xyj4/s1600-h/P1330786%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="P1330786" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="184" alt="P1330786" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SmtGGY-diyI/AAAAAAAABQo/LVIVHw3nR1Q/P1330786_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SmtGHGEpyYI/AAAAAAAABQs/w78Fc8ZoEGQ/s1600-h/P1330787%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="P1330787" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="184" alt="P1330787" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SmtGHYBidZI/AAAAAAAABQw/JoEgRf1A8UU/P1330787_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a></p> <p> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SmtGNefsMWI/AAAAAAAABQ0/urWhe_mpp6g/s1600-h/P1330789%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="P1330789" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="184" alt="P1330789" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SmtGNgERiHI/AAAAAAAABQ4/xWjze6tVAl8/P1330789_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a>This guy was making all these funny faces each time he was in a picture.  But here is my sweet Abby.  Beautiful.</p> <p> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SmtGOe5emPI/AAAAAAAABQ8/5j8JNEQPxok/s1600-h/P1330791%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="P1330791" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="184" alt="P1330791" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SmtGOpjTw6I/AAAAAAAABRA/bk_cX8_dZq4/P1330791_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a> And my cool Uncle Dale.  Zip lining.  He is a stud.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SmtGPQenrCI/AAAAAAAABRE/3bzBY74L4K8/s1600-h/P1330825%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="P1330825" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="184" alt="P1330825" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SmtGVNB0e2I/AAAAAAAABRI/3VC2s09NmZA/P1330825_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a>I know these are too many pictures.  Many are the same, but it was my adventure, and I’m posting it in full.</p> <p> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SmtGVgLjA6I/AAAAAAAABRM/1NL1ApcbXS8/s1600-h/P1330857%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="P1330857" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="184" alt="P1330857" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SmtGbQnEC3I/AAAAAAAABRQ/Hei-a4kEveY/P1330857_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>  <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SmtGcIVuTqI/AAAAAAAABRU/4gj2Eiu24XQ/s1600-h/P1330828%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="P1330828" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="184" alt="P1330828" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SmtGchX96iI/AAAAAAAABRY/XJicBzIOmh4/P1330828_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a>I thought this was a beautiful view.</p> <p> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SmtGdVGQyZI/AAAAAAAABRc/TSTQD0fPnMM/s1600-h/P1330827%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="P1330827" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="244" alt="P1330827" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SmtGi0-HMSI/AAAAAAAABRg/FUUEfXB7r_E/P1330827_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" border="0" /></a></p> <p> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SmtGjn6WGlI/AAAAAAAABRk/-SOiCQ3XH5s/s1600-h/P1330830%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="P1330830" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="244" alt="P1330830" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SmtGj0HQbDI/AAAAAAAABRo/h4t_FLW0O2M/P1330830_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SmtGkdDKBKI/AAAAAAAABRs/J57qRA3GLT4/s1600-h/P1330861%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="P1330861" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="244" alt="P1330861" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SmtGqP48ARI/AAAAAAAABRw/2HvIjLW29Vg/P1330861_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" border="0" /></a> And here we are in the sky.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SmtGqvsvLVI/AAAAAAAABR0/jY6jPE4bW8c/s1600-h/P1330857%5B5%5D.jpg"><img title="P1330857" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="184" alt="P1330857" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SmtGrMVNWZI/AAAAAAAABR4/dkCq-wGDdRg/P1330857_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SmtGrbHZPoI/AAAAAAAABR8/-deJpwvMz6k/s1600-h/P1330854%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="P1330854" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="184" alt="P1330854" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SmtGr9X4jGI/AAAAAAAABSA/Fo6yNllIONY/P1330854_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a>  <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SmtGsUuEmOI/AAAAAAAABSE/9O4O68jnelo/s1600-h/P1330859%5B5%5D.jpg"><img title="P1330859" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="184" alt="P1330859" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SmtGs2-m8lI/AAAAAAAABSI/zq6hWzlonac/P1330859_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SmtGtb9wYCI/AAAAAAAABSM/SJoC8BdLCyE/s1600-h/P1330858%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="P1330858" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="184" alt="P1330858" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SmtGywnV_gI/AAAAAAAABSQ/P40-DCn81d0/P1330858_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a>  </p> It was fun.  And the last piece of my Panama postings, finally.  jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17826252555094322099noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1151155661791765529.post-27558300886064460482009-07-16T17:35:00.000-05:002009-07-16T17:36:03.464-05:00<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/Sl-rUpvPaQI/AAAAAAAABPc/hZli4Ac3dh4/s1600-h/Gertie%27s+scratch+001.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/Sl-rUpvPaQI/AAAAAAAABPc/hZli4Ac3dh4/s400/Gertie%27s+scratch+001.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br />Gertie was hard at work today. This is important stuff. Let me know when you figure it out.<div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17826252555094322099noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1151155661791765529.post-37364333976090445472009-07-12T17:22:00.006-05:002009-07-16T17:56:59.682-05:00Grace is 13!<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SlpiRGxG__I/AAAAAAAABOg/ewN4C7mnMZY/s1600-h/kniffen+visit+013.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SlpiRGxG__I/AAAAAAAABOg/ewN4C7mnMZY/s400/kniffen+visit+013.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />My Big Girl turned 13 last week. We had a super-successful slumber party. Fun was had by all. She deserves a better tribute than this, but I'm playing catchup again. This is what she gets.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/Sl-sV8of3wI/AAAAAAAABP0/XncgJAN9mYA/s1600-h/kniffen+visit+029.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/Sl-sV8of3wI/AAAAAAAABP0/XncgJAN9mYA/s400/kniffen+visit+029.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359191574647398146" border="0" /></a>My sister Julie had won some concert tickets that she wasn't going to be able to use. She passed them onto John, and he recruited Brian Kniffen. He brought his family with him, including wife Amy, which I was grateful for, because she kept me company through that super-successful slumber party. She definitely helped make it super-successful.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/Sl-s5O3IF2I/AAAAAAAABP8/Of4Yp_6O6Nc/s1600-h/kniffen+visit+027.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/Sl-s5O3IF2I/AAAAAAAABP8/Of4Yp_6O6Nc/s400/kniffen+visit+027.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359192180836013922" border="0" /></a><br />This is Colton. He had a lot of wisdom he passed around freely. I learned a lot.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/Sl-sA4vFmsI/AAAAAAAABPs/CZaEg1Wa8is/s1600-h/kniffen+visit+022.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/Sl-sA4vFmsI/AAAAAAAABPs/CZaEg1Wa8is/s400/kniffen+visit+022.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359191212824042178" border="0" /></a><br />We fished. Wyatt didn't really catch any fish, but he reeled in a stick or two.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/Sl-rv6J6bII/AAAAAAAABPk/WyLdxq_KRWQ/s1600-h/kniffen+visit+020.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/Sl-rv6J6bII/AAAAAAAABPk/WyLdxq_KRWQ/s400/kniffen+visit+020.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359190921147214978" border="0" /></a>And we jumped. It was some good fun.<br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SlpiRGxG__I/AAAAAAAABOg/ewN4C7mnMZY/s1600-h/kniffen+visit+013.JPG"><br /></a> </div><br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SlpiRUqrPVI/AAAAAAAABOo/_1gbvSBXM1s/s1600-h/kniffen+visit+014.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SlpiRUqrPVI/AAAAAAAABOo/_1gbvSBXM1s/s400/kniffen+visit+014.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SlpiRmdt4SI/AAAAAAAABOw/KqsfYn3k50Q/s1600-h/kniffen+visit+016.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SlpiRmdt4SI/AAAAAAAABOw/KqsfYn3k50Q/s400/kniffen+visit+016.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SlpiSLN9Z9I/AAAAAAAABO4/2KK0ZLnTjCk/s1600-h/kniffen+visit+019.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SlpiSLN9Z9I/AAAAAAAABO4/2KK0ZLnTjCk/s400/kniffen+visit+019.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div>jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17826252555094322099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1151155661791765529.post-55985087349353526822009-07-08T01:00:00.001-05:002009-07-08T01:00:43.772-05:00Panama<p>So much has happened in this busy life of mine…school ended, I got away for two whole nights alone with my husband, Grace was great in the play, Ethan’s deep into baseball…</p> <p>But I don’t have time to catch you up on all that.  Things have been good.  That will have to suffice.</p> <p>The big deal is that I went to Panama to visit my sister.  I had the best time I possibly could have asked for.  I had asked my Uncle to go with me, and he obliged.  He treated us like princesses the whole time.  I felt so very blessed.  He drove us where we wanted to go.  He stopped to eat when we were hungry.  He saw what we wanted to see.  I hope it was over-the-top fun for him as well.</p> <p>Most of you probably know, but my sister Abby lives in Panama.  She’s in the Peace Corp over there.  I really wanted to see her and know her in her own element.  And I got to.  She is a lovely young lady just seeped in the culture over there.  She loves them and they love her.  I was in awe of her ability to speak the Spanish language so fluently.  In awe.  </p> <p>I tried to determine best how to do this post, and I guess I decided on a slideshow.  Probably boring at some points for even my two most devoted fans (Mother and Step Mother), but considering my time constraints, and the huge amount of pictures, I think that’s best.  **I just watched it, and it is slow.  I am sorry.  I am leaving it.  It took forever to create.  Don’t feel obliged to watch.  There will be no quiz.  </p> <div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:74e1a433-9844-4658-a727-56ade69de55b" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px"><div id="b966f188-3b4c-4a85-87c5-728ce9814ccd" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline;"><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_SrZcDmB3o" target="_new"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SlQ2ClpZxnI/AAAAAAAABOE/oSQBkVNS2Dw/video2fd90404837e%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-style: none" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('b966f188-3b4c-4a85-87c5-728ce9814ccd'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = "<div><object width=\"425\" height=\"355\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/2_SrZcDmB3o&hl=en\"><\/param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/2_SrZcDmB3o&hl=en\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"425\" height=\"355\"><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" alt=""></a></div></div></div> <p>Ugh.</p> <p>Now how do I blog out all my special memories?  I just don’t know.  I’ll try to hit only the high points.</p> <p>Dale and I arrived in Panama City relatively early in the day, but we had the hardest time finding the hotel.  Finally Uncle Dale paid a cab driver to lead us there.  The upside is that I got to see so much of Panama City.  My first impressions were:  colorful, lots of trash, lots of people, wild buses, sky scrapers.</p> <p>We finally found Abby, and it was so good to see her.  She looked good.  We were so hungry, so we found a nice restaurant.  Abby and Uncle Dale both speak Spanish so well, and I realized right then I was going to do a lot of smiling and nodding, as I had no clue what was being said.  But the smile was genuine.  I loved listening to them talk.</p> <p>The next morning we hiked up to the tippy top of Panama City (these places actually have genuine names other than tippy top, but that’s how I remember them).  The city is beautiful.  The vegetation is so interesting and lovely.  I wanted to photograph everything.  Shameless tourist.</p> <p>I found my favorite souvenir in the trash on our way home from this hike.  It is an old window, I believe, about three feet high, with the metal decorative bars running up and down.  Very shabby chic looking.  My favorite thing.  Shameless tourist.</p> <p>We visited the canal.  Huge.  Really nice museum there in Panama City.  The Panamanians are very proud of their work with the Canal, and they should be.  Got a history lesson on how it came to be.  Loved the education.</p> <p>We drove to the beach at Santa Clara and stayed a night there.  Not much time to spend, but it was also beautiful.  We had a stray dog in heat and her suitors that followed us everywhere.  Wonderful morning to wake up next to the water.</p> <p>Very long drive to “Abby’s town.”  She always called it “my town,” so the name of her town never really sunk in.  I do know it.  But not right now.  The drive was tough because it was raining hard all the way there.  Six hours (or what seemed like six hours).  Uncle Dale had a meeting later in the week in Panama City and decided to take the midnight bus instead of drive back there.  I don’t blame him.</p> <p>Abby’s town is small.  Her house is small, but cute.  I was shamefully scared of bugs and such, but I forged ahead.  I truly loved the adventure.  Abby has a dog named Lula that keeps her on her toes.  The town is basically all along one (or two) roads.  So different from the US.  </p> <p>We visited a school and I took pictures of those adorable kids.  Irresistible.  See for yourself.  The school was hosting an environmental fair of some sort.  The kids had made these banners and they had a program of some sort (remember, I understood absolutely nothing.  Smile and nod.), and then they had a parade.  </p> <p>We visited Cerro Punta.  My favorite place.  It was gorgeous farm country where they grow most of the area’s vegetables.  It makes a beautiful pattern on the hillsides.  Dale and I talked too deep too long, and Abby got fed up.  And the country was really worth some silence.  Strawberries and cream on the way home.  Absolutely delicious.  I hated not being able to finish it.  It followed a filling lunch.  Lots of good food on this trip.</p> <p>Abby and I had the next day to ourselves.  It was a slower day, but I just enjoyed it with my sister.  I got to know her so well.  And I like her.  I knew I did, but I treasured this time.  I am so proud of her, making her way in this far off place.  We ate at the local restaurant.  The food was delicious.  I took a picture of the restaurant and the ladies that ran it.  They were too good to us.</p> <p>We also visited the school that Abby works at.  I took more pictures of kids.  They loved having their pictures taken, and then looking at the pictures.  Sweet smiles.  I loved being swarmed by them.  The ants swarmed me and bit me too.  And I didn’t like that so much.  But those kids mobbing me was the best.  All I needed was a camera.</p> <p>We went to Boquette the next day.  Uncle Dale came in from the bus at about 6:45am, and we said, “We need to leave in five minutes.”  He said, “Okay.  I’ll just grab some breakfast and change my clothes.”  We said, “No time for that.”  Bless his soul, he got right back in the car and headed off for the zip line.  I told you he was good to us.  The zip line was fun.  Those pictures will have to follow.  There were some fun ones.</p> <p>Uncle Dale took us to a Peruvian restaurant in Boquette for lunch.  He wanted us to try some foods he knows to be delicious, and I did.  I wanted to try them, really.  I genuinely liked the cow’s heart.  I know that’s probably not that big of a deal, but I’ve never eaten the heart before.  And then some sort of fish that is “cooked” with lime juice and no real cooking.  It really wasn’t too bad.</p> <p>And the next day it was basically time to head home.  We drove back to Panama City and stayed in a nice hotel close to the airport to avoid any mishaps.  All went well.</p> <p>I learned I love to be around my sister.  My Uncle Dale is full of humility and grace.  He treated us better than we deserved.  Abby is strong and determined and graceful and beautiful.  I missed my family, and wanted to share all of it with them.  I couldn’t have survived without a Spanish speaker.  Thank the Lord I had two.  My first trip out of this country, and there wasn’t a bad minute for me.</p> jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17826252555094322099noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1151155661791765529.post-55980493613587855462009-05-20T08:27:00.001-05:002009-05-20T08:27:32.965-05:00My Kids Took My Camera<p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/ShQD9B9VzPI/AAAAAAAABKM/49Y-ixDt10g/s1600-h/Grace%27s%20shots%20007%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Grace's shots 007" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="244" alt="Grace's shots 007" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/ShQD9caS1bI/AAAAAAAABKQ/cO8QqBhwsUw/Grace%27s%20shots%20007_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/ShQD-BdAPmI/AAAAAAAABKU/9BSRWdAdeA8/s1600-h/Grace%27s%20shots%20009%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Grace's shots 009" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="244" alt="Grace's shots 009" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/ShQD-rq_xuI/AAAAAAAABKY/AerzoLRWeO4/Grace%27s%20shots%20009_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/ShQEEeJvupI/AAAAAAAABKc/Ld7p0kYPwMs/s1600-h/Grace%27s%20shots%20014%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Grace's shots 014" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="244" alt="Grace's shots 014" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/ShQEE40oJsI/AAAAAAAABKg/Q1KK3Hx3jMY/Grace%27s%20shots%20014_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" border="0" /></a> First I have a few shots of Gertie.  Our Pastor’s wife gave Gertie this little ice cream cone full of chocolate smelling bubbles on Sunday.  She’s had so much fun with those.  She is so proud of them.</p> <p>And then Grace and Ethan took my camera yesterday and got some pretty good shots, I thought.  Unless it’s just because I’m their mother and shamelessly proud of all that they accomplish.  You be the judge.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/ShQEFedRTFI/AAAAAAAABKk/j_t35yUw0tQ/s1600-h/Grace%27s%20shots%20018%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Grace's shots 018" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="184" alt="Grace's shots 018" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/ShQEFkhiTxI/AAAAAAAABKo/_ws6EN5V_P4/Grace%27s%20shots%20018_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/ShQEGI3bhpI/AAAAAAAABKs/Zo7sdkD41cY/s1600-h/Grace%27s%20shots%20024%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Grace's shots 024" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="184" alt="Grace's shots 024" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/ShQEL6sR4RI/AAAAAAAABKw/6cT-oQPyv7I/Grace%27s%20shots%20024_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a></p> <p>Grace took these.  They are a couple among many.  I loved the way the dandelion shot was focused on the buds instead of the seedlings.  (And I can’t stand the thought she found that in our yard.  She had a few to choose from.)</p> <p>And then she took many shots of her brother practicing his baseball skills.  Love them all.</p> <p> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/ShQEMbAXWAI/AAAAAAAABK0/mLS2ebuSHBI/s1600-h/Grace%27s%20shots%20029%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Grace's shots 029" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="184" alt="Grace's shots 029" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/ShQEMmx2hpI/AAAAAAAABK4/jFwiJygSNyk/Grace%27s%20shots%20029_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/ShQENWXpePI/AAAAAAAABK8/mZY4DSmemW8/s1600-h/Grace%27s%20shots%20035%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Grace's shots 035" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="184" alt="Grace's shots 035" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/ShQETBEOsxI/AAAAAAAABLA/7_ojlsF8hWE/Grace%27s%20shots%20035_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/ShQEY053CsI/AAAAAAAABLE/bBrwPxWvSy8/s1600-h/Grace%27s%20shots%20032%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Grace's shots 032" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="244" alt="Grace's shots 032" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/ShQEZF7iNFI/AAAAAAAABLI/F9vh2XWrqew/Grace%27s%20shots%20032_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/ShQEe4I2G4I/AAAAAAAABLM/jW38qQb2OdE/s1600-h/Grace%27s%20shots%20033%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Grace's shots 033" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="244" alt="Grace's shots 033" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/ShQEfSwMG0I/AAAAAAAABLQ/iKnKWzl3vkY/Grace%27s%20shots%20033_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" border="0" /></a>  </p> <p>  <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/ShQEf6gJY4I/AAAAAAAABLU/12CJay23D4k/s1600-h/Grace%27s%20shots%20040%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Grace's shots 040" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="244" alt="Grace's shots 040" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/ShQEleuGVLI/AAAAAAAABLY/5919UrmdveQ/Grace%27s%20shots%20040_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" border="0" /></a>I mean, just look at his form.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/ShQEmJ3WT9I/AAAAAAAABLc/YCjyPXle0EY/s1600-h/Grace%27s%20shots%20038%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Grace's shots 038" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="184" alt="Grace's shots 038" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/ShQEoqsqjmI/AAAAAAAABLg/aYtpvA1ed1M/Grace%27s%20shots%20038_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a>Really, I know nothing about form.  I just think he’s cute.</p> <p> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/ShQEpP0PWCI/AAAAAAAABLk/prEsWqgIn9o/s1600-h/Grace%27s%20shots%20046%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Grace's shots 046" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="244" alt="Grace's shots 046" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/ShQEpR3PNvI/AAAAAAAABLo/7X7_kOq_-ok/Grace%27s%20shots%20046_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/ShQEp531ZrI/AAAAAAAABLs/VuJG7PibWf8/s1600-h/Grace%27s%20shots%20048%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Grace's shots 048" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="244" alt="Grace's shots 048" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/ShQEvlfk2dI/AAAAAAAABLw/mav1tQHcrZE/Grace%27s%20shots%20048_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" border="0" /></a> </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/ShQE1Q1Ms4I/AAAAAAAABL0/7n2kyC_6Gas/s1600-h/Grace%27s%20shots%20039%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Grace's shots 039" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="184" alt="Grace's shots 039" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/ShQE14VUMaI/AAAAAAAABL4/OTEo7PcthDc/Grace%27s%20shots%20039_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/ShQE2uTfyVI/AAAAAAAABL8/WAUSPAkA7SQ/s1600-h/Grace%27s%20shots%20051%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Grace's shots 051" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="184" alt="Grace's shots 051" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/ShQE2-KeqDI/AAAAAAAABMA/4dZUfooioKc/Grace%27s%20shots%20051_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a>  </p> <p>And here is my sweet peaches.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/ShQE3bjDsTI/AAAAAAAABME/kZ99jNDlJiw/s1600-h/Grace%27s%20shots%20053%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Grace's shots 053" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="244" alt="Grace's shots 053" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/ShQE9NbxmtI/AAAAAAAABMI/sfrDMDiQTpg/Grace%27s%20shots%20053_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/ShQE9nM7jtI/AAAAAAAABMM/G1ht2sA0L88/s1600-h/Grace%27s%20shots%20052%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Grace's shots 052" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="184" alt="Grace's shots 052" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/ShQE-IZNrcI/AAAAAAAABMQ/8j4BJr5CuHI/Grace%27s%20shots%20052_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/ShQFJD8SGGI/AAAAAAAABMU/TO69L6xhyYQ/s1600-h/Grace%27s%20shots%20056%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Grace's shots 056" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="153" alt="Grace's shots 056" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/ShQFJU7fQPI/AAAAAAAABMY/-hKMbiGgIAg/Grace%27s%20shots%20056_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a>And how cute is this one.  If only she hadn’t cut off the top of her brother’s head.</p> <p> </p> <p> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/ShQFJ_Jd1XI/AAAAAAAABMc/FA1UighcJgM/s1600-h/Grace%27s%20shots%20062%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Grace's shots 062" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="184" alt="Grace's shots 062" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/ShQFKILCoNI/AAAAAAAABMg/VnXnq1kVX60/Grace%27s%20shots%20062_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/ShQFKjEeP6I/AAAAAAAABMk/mG6qd_8QsZE/s1600-h/Grace%27s%20shots%20066%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Grace's shots 066" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="184" alt="Grace's shots 066" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/ShQFLP7jdLI/AAAAAAAABMo/npDmMeCMsuw/Grace%27s%20shots%20066_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/ShQFQpsF76I/AAAAAAAABMs/CeH9LJPajkQ/s1600-h/Grace%27s%20shots%20067%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Grace's shots 067" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="184" alt="Grace's shots 067" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/ShQFRKtT8GI/AAAAAAAABMw/i8P97oTA-dg/Grace%27s%20shots%20067_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a>  And obviously Ethan got a turn to take a few pictures of his pretty sisters.</p> <p>I wonder what would have happened if they would have given the camera to Gertie?</p> <p>I’m glad they didn’t.  </p> <p>Really.</p> jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17826252555094322099noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1151155661791765529.post-40908949678626120072009-05-15T19:43:00.002-05:002009-05-15T19:48:00.960-05:00Week-End Update<p>Hello there. </p> <p>Today I’ve been garage saling—not the kind where you get to shop around; the kind where you sit in a chair behind a cash box and add up quarters and dollars and peel little stickers off old shirts and toys and stick little stickers into a notebook. (We are having a multi-family sale.) It is more of a test of my accounting and secretarial skills than I would have imagined. Now add a toddler that’s been dragging said goods all over the lawn since 7 am and is now sick of it all and ready to go home, but we can’t go home yet because it isn’t over and it looks like rain any minute.</p> <p>I’m making it sound like a bad day, and it wasn’t; it was a good day. My page is full of stickers in the amounts of .25 and .50, and when all is said and done I may just have $20 or possibly even more! But what really makes me happy is that I am rid of so much of the junk that’s been accumulating around our house. And people are buying lots of things. Things you would think nobody would be interested in. It astonishes me. Except they don’t want any wicker baskets. Of which I have many. Do you want some? They’re going for .25 a piece.</p> <p>Changing subjects.</p> <p>Grace is off on yet another year-end field trip. It is for orchestra, and it should be fun. She’s going to the Mall of America, and then off to see a real orchestra in action. She won’t get home until about midnight tonight. It’s been a very busy week for her, and I bet she’ll sleep until 2 pm tomorrow if we let her.</p> <p>I am so glad the kids get to take some of these fun trips, but I am considering giving her a $100 year-end field trip budget next year and seeing if that even comes close to covering all the fun things they plan for these kids. John and I feel like we’re shelling out ridiculous amounts of money every other day for this trip or that. Maybe it’s because Grace is involved in so many extra-curricular activities. I don’t know. But this is getting expensive.</p> <p>We went to her choir concert last night (another Mall of America field trip coming up next week. She wants me to chaperone so I can buy her things while we’re there, I’m sure.) It would have been watching that concert if Gertie wasn’t so fidgety during the whole thing. Ethan seems to think he can “help” by tickling her toes and kissing her and making funny faces. It seems to not matter that I ask him to “help” by sitting still and keeping his hands to himself. It matters not. Tickling. Kissing. When I glare at him, he goes, “Why can’t I kiss her? I just want to kiss her.” As if I am the cruel mother that doesn’t want my children loving each other. But Grace is adorable in the red bow tie and cummerbund and her brother’s white dress shirt that so small that she has to roll up the sleeves to make it work. </p> <blockquote> <p>“I don’t even know if we’re <em>allowed</em> to roll up our sleeves.”</p> </blockquote> <p>Thankfully, there were probably 13 girls there with their sleeves rolled up. I guess lots of 7th and 8th grade girls have been growing this year. They all have roll up their sleeves, whether they’re <em>allowed</em> to or not.</p> <p>Changing subjects.</p> <p>EJ has a field trip this week to the Twins game in Minneapolis. We gave him $10 spending money and he said he could afford no souvenirs . What is this world coming to? I said, “Not even a baseball?” He said, “Fifteen dollars.” I said, “How about a big hand that says ‘Number 1’?” He said, “Eleven dollars.” I said, “Did you get a hot dog or something then?” He said, “Yeah. And a pop, but they said I couldn’t have the lid.” Well, I didn’t quite understand the significance of that, but that conversation had worn out its welcome. Maybe it meant he couldn’t take it on the bus home if he hadn’t finished it. Or maybe he just wanted to save the lid as a souvenir. I just don’t know.</p> <p>He received his poetry award also this week. Now he wants a new PS2 game. </p> <p>Oh, and Grace was in the paper. </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/Sg4MSvhygdI/AAAAAAAABJM/BlVSuMhUMOY/s1600-h/Grace%20in%20the%20paper%20May%202009%20001%5B2%5D.jpg"><br /></a></p> <p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/Sg4M7JPH1tI/AAAAAAAABJs/uD-XA-3ITGA/s1600-h/Grace+in+the+paper+May+2009+001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 390px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/Sg4M7JPH1tI/AAAAAAAABJs/uD-XA-3ITGA/s400/Grace+in+the+paper+May+2009+001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336216818711779026" border="0" /></a>Isn’t she cute? That’s my girl. She was scared for the person being tazed.</p> <p>Talk to you later. I better go feed my family…</p>jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17826252555094322099noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1151155661791765529.post-37262403825685478572009-05-11T14:05:00.002-05:002009-05-11T14:12:00.283-05:00Okay. One More.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/Sgh3MzZ_NDI/AAAAAAAAA7Q/ecd-QRhSyM8/s1600-h/Iowa+City+2009+057.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/Sgh3MzZ_NDI/AAAAAAAAA7Q/ecd-QRhSyM8/s400/Iowa+City+2009+057.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334644820461696050" border="0" /></a>Okay. Just one more. I can't believe I neglected to throw this one in before. I was having a hard time toward the end of my post last night. <br /><br />But this is my mother's childhood friend Becky and her husband Bob who hosted our whole crew for the couple days we were in Iowa City. She is a hoot. We all love her and she makes us all feel so comfortable.<br /><br />She and my mom were in the hospital together when they were born, and they've been able to get reacquainted over the last several years. Very fun hosts.jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17826252555094322099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1151155661791765529.post-24312404216615651712009-05-10T23:48:00.003-05:002009-05-10T23:53:02.466-05:00(sheepishly) Just One More. Am I Overdoing It?<span style="font-style: italic;"></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SgeuXj0VTRI/AAAAAAAAA6s/AS-HptzMp-Q/s1600-h/Iowa+City+2009+054.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SgeuXj0VTRI/AAAAAAAAA6s/AS-HptzMp-Q/s400/Iowa+City+2009+054.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334424003418606866" border="0" /></a>I just loved this picture and wanted to include it. My last post just absolutely refused to take it. I'll show them...or it...or you. Whatever. Just enjoy the picture.<br /><br />Good night.jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17826252555094322099noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1151155661791765529.post-11048667765447838862009-05-10T23:45:00.001-05:002009-05-10T23:45:15.869-05:00Iowa City 2009<p>It has been a flurry, but I wouldn’t give it up—no way.  </p> <p> </p> <p>Beth has been visiting since Friday, May 1.  You saw the last post.  Too busy to write, but I wanted to get the pictures up, especially for Mike, because he was missing his baby, I am sure.</p> <p>Now I’ve had time to reflect.  And I have many more pictures to post.</p> <p>Beth and Verena’s visit to our home was fun.  I feel for Beth because I know it has been an exhausting trip for her.  But she sees the end now.  That new fresh tile floor awaits her.  It’s calling her name.  </p> <blockquote> <p><em>Beth…Beth…Come home now.  I miss those baby toes crawling all over my cool surface…Come home.</em></p> </blockquote> <p>Anyway, I digress.  We had so much fun having them around.  Verena is so cute you could eat her up.  But she wants her Mama most of the time.  She’s largely off the menu.  </p> <p>Gertie likes Verena much of the time.  And sometimes she likes her toys more than Verena.  Well, maybe that’s not true.  Maybe she just knows that her toys like her more than they like Verena.  Anyway, she protected them with valor, only releasing them to Verena’s clutches on threat of punishment.  Much of the time, Verena didn’t seem to notice, really, so all was well.</p> <p> </p> <p align="center">THE ROAD TRIP</p> <p align="left"> </p> <p align="left"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/Sgerm3jPz1I/AAAAAAAAA3w/tiwwGBV4H4I/s1600-h/IowaCity20090012.jpg"><img title="Iowa City 2009 001" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="184" alt="Iowa City 2009 001" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SgernKL4xGI/AAAAAAAAA30/fI_O3cvQ8Uw/IowaCity2009001_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a> Julie and my Mother came on Thursday morning and Beth and Verena and Gertie and I hopped into Julie’s van to drive down to Iowa City.  We had lots of fun listening to the ipod and fighting over the temperature in the car, and we made it safely to Iowa City in time to enjoy dinner with our cousins Christy and Nicki.  I’ll be tempted to say it time and again during this post, but I just love this family of mine, and getting reacquainted with them is all joy.</p> <p align="left">The only thing squishing the joy was that Verena arrived in Iowa City with puke down her front and a fever of over 102 degrees.  But we chatted over pizza, and I visited with these cousins that make me smile.  I got to meet Christy’s daughter Heidi again.  She is a young lady now.  We were laughing and eating, and then Beth felt she needed to have Verena looked at by a doctor.  So our party split up, and things got a little crazy.  Some were driving to the Urgent Care, some were staying for pizza and visiting—no, wait—some were coming back to take the chatters to the EMERGENCY room to join the ailing one, and the rest were going home—no, wait—some were turning in for the night while the rest braved the ER—no, wait—nobody wanted to brave the ER after all, and we all went home and tucked ourselves into bed.  Whew.  It was crazy for certain.</p> <p align="left">And my Gertie, whom Christy had been trying to win over during dinner with seemingly little success, suddenly became desperate to be with Christy.  She <em>needed</em> her.  She <em>needed</em> to see her again.  To know where she was.  To touch her.  To say goodbye.  That’s just like her.</p> <p align="left"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SgernvxhaeI/AAAAAAAAA34/OyAJAya-J4w/s1600-h/IowaCity20090062.jpg"><img title="Iowa City 2009 006" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="244" alt="Iowa City 2009 006" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/Sgern4btTlI/AAAAAAAAA38/DXtckmKUAro/IowaCity2009006_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" border="0" /></a> All told for that reunion, I got this picture.  We are waiting out in the rain for our ride (Nicki) to arrive and deliver us to the emergency room.  No picture of Nicki.</p> <p align="left">Then we met the next afternoon with my cousin Becca and her husband Ian and their adorable little Annabelle at the local children’s museum.  Annabelle was born just a month before Gertie, and they were fun to watch.<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/Sgert9wbHyI/AAAAAAAAA4A/rsA_JZNzPkc/s1600-h/IowaCity20090092.jpg"><img title="Iowa City 2009 009" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="184" alt="Iowa City 2009 009" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SgerucHYOMI/AAAAAAAAA4E/iF-hgDtWo7k/IowaCity2009009_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a>And this was a fun sort of place.  </p> <p align="left"> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SgervMQRigI/AAAAAAAAA4I/8RsLWGPyUCs/s1600-h/IowaCity20090112.jpg"><img title="Iowa City 2009 011" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="244" alt="Iowa City 2009 011" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/Sgervb2dHGI/AAAAAAAAA4M/eG4ROxsc1rw/IowaCity2009011_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" border="0" /></a> There was grocery shopping, complete with shopping carts and way too many vegetables and fruits and danishes and money.  </p> <p align="left"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/Sgerv2VHnqI/AAAAAAAAA4Q/Kyg2gV2XqCA/s1600-h/IowaCity20090142.jpg"><img title="Iowa City 2009 014" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="184" alt="Iowa City 2009 014" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SgerwYWyrWI/AAAAAAAAA4U/LWLK5odQrOc/IowaCity2009014_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a>And this big red fellow is supposed to be Elmo.  Gertie was convinced.  Gertie liked him, but still a bit skittish about getting too close.</p> <p align="left"> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/Sgerw7ANrjI/AAAAAAAAA4Y/JaPbaPe8z24/s1600-h/IowaCity20090152.jpg"><img title="Iowa City 2009 015" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="184" alt="Iowa City 2009 015" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SgerxEOE4pI/AAAAAAAAA4c/OwhNzaMA-NM/IowaCity2009015_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/Sger287BXGI/AAAAAAAAA4g/8kqb2bIuv9E/s1600-h/IowaCity20090162.jpg"><img title="Iowa City 2009 016" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="184" alt="Iowa City 2009 016" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/Sger-4Wjn2I/AAAAAAAAA4k/h1kBdnF93GM/IowaCity2009016_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/Sger_SAT9mI/AAAAAAAAA4o/tbs6AcGZHXE/s1600-h/IowaCity20090172.jpg"><img title="Iowa City 2009 017" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="184" alt="Iowa City 2009 017" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/Sger_mhM1eI/AAAAAAAAA4s/CEi8HUHq_tw/IowaCity2009017_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a>And then there was the baby nursery.  Gertie’s all-time favorite past-time:  babies.  This was the area she didn’t want to leave, the one she begged to go back to.  The one she left only by being picked up and carried out of kicking and screaming.</p> <p align="left"> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SgesAOtWE5I/AAAAAAAAA4w/hc_5c0k-5eo/s1600-h/IowaCity20090202.jpg"><img title="Iowa City 2009 020" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="184" alt="Iowa City 2009 020" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SgesFloRfaI/AAAAAAAAA40/MACSkuQG5_4/IowaCity2009020_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SgesGOBm5II/AAAAAAAAA44/ssfn3rCOR6k/s1600-h/IowaCity20090192.jpg"><img title="Iowa City 2009 019" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="183" alt="Iowa City 2009 019" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SgesLo9n3yI/AAAAAAAAA48/eML42ZMmWT4/IowaCity2009019_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a> </p> <p align="left">But that didn’t last long, because then we found this room.  This is Gertie and Annabelle on the slide.  Aren’t they just the sweetest.</p> <p align="left"> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SgesMIadxxI/AAAAAAAAA5A/n4yISwNiLYY/s1600-h/IowaCity20090232.jpg"><img title="Iowa City 2009 023" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="184" alt="Iowa City 2009 023" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SgesOvaC_eI/AAAAAAAAA5E/x42n9YV9Qyc/IowaCity2009023_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a>And Verena didn’t forget what the slide was all about.  She’s a pro by now.</p> <p align="left"> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SgesUQwztXI/AAAAAAAAA5I/8tdLJVT-MLg/s1600-h/IowaCity20090252.jpg"><img title="Iowa City 2009 025" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="184" alt="Iowa City 2009 025" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SgesUz_oMII/AAAAAAAAA5M/lPIBQGhAysU/IowaCity2009025_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a>They had golf balls everywhere in this area.  It was a very cool room.  Lots of room to run around.</p> <p align="left"> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SgesVBFsQsI/AAAAAAAAA5Q/Z9-_jMta3-Q/s1600-h/IowaCity20090262.jpg"><img title="Iowa City 2009 026" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="184" alt="Iowa City 2009 026" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SgesaxWoXaI/AAAAAAAAA5U/8NMwJqlesFA/IowaCity2009026_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a>But Verena didn’t forget about those slides.  (Did I say that already?)</p> <p align="left"> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SgesbT27XOI/AAAAAAAAA5Y/5qsUnN2IQLg/s1600-h/IowaCity20090282.jpg"><img title="Iowa City 2009 028" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="184" alt="Iowa City 2009 028" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/Sgesg4CCjII/AAAAAAAAA5c/5RutPHSJbuc/IowaCity2009028_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a>Annabelle.</p> <p align="left"> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/Sgeshbg6lsI/AAAAAAAAA5g/s6sQ3D0_TF0/s1600-h/IowaCity20090332.jpg"><img title="Iowa City 2009 033" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="184" alt="Iowa City 2009 033" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/Sgesh6jz2AI/AAAAAAAAA5k/cPUpp_Iczuw/IowaCity2009033_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a> This was the closest I could get these girls for a picture.  And that is even blurry because they were on the go.  I love these girls.</p> <p align="left">We followed this adventure up with some much needed rest before we went to Aunt Ann and Uncle Bill’s for a family dinner.  She made a delicious taco salad.  I love taco salad.  Aunt Jean and Uncle John were there.  I took no pictures, but had the biggest smile on my face the whole time.  </p> <p align="left">John and Julie talked high finance.  Beth started in with politics and everyone joined in.  Gertie and Annabelle had the very best time being chased around and giggling and hiding and giggling until I drug Gertie home and she collapsed into bed.  I just love this family and listening and watching and learning.  They are simply dear to me.  Watching our girls run rampant reminded me of our old times playing with the cousins during those happy reunions.  These times are so precious.</p> <p align="left">And the last leg was the grave tour.  Maybe only interesting to a few, but a sweet melancholy for me.  It’s good to be reminded of where you came from.<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SgesnvgV4qI/AAAAAAAAA5o/-A6_XK5TK-k/s1600-h/IowaCity20090352.jpg"><img title="Iowa City 2009 035" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="184" alt="Iowa City 2009 035" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SgesoFs5QeI/AAAAAAAAA5s/fCqE2pFalYU/IowaCity2009035_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a>The first stop was in Iowa City to my Great Grandmother Verena’s grave.</p> <p align="left"> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SgesuHmbUzI/AAAAAAAAA5w/hM46TZeUPEo/s1600-h/IowaCity20090422.jpg"><img title="Iowa City 2009 042" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="184" alt="Iowa City 2009 042" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SgeswkmVPqI/AAAAAAAAA50/2pLoz4iBKTA/IowaCity2009042_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a>This is Baby V at her cherished Great Great Grandmother’s grave.  Needs a frame if I do say so myself.</p> <p align="left"> </p> <p align="left">You know, we left there and Beth and I and our little girls headed out to Grandpa and Grandma’s old place.  We had the best hike around their place.  The weather was beautiful.  We were able to keep a slow but steady pace, disappointing no one because it was just us.  We hiked our old trail out to the picnic table and down to our swimming pond.  It was quiet and peaceful and brought back so many memories. We headed up to the old spring shack and back around to the house.  It didn’t take too long, and really it was the perfect distance.  The kids survived it pretty well.  It is heaven to me.  I am so glad that the new owners are agreeable to letting us visit, and I look forward to doing that until I’m gray.  I love that place and the memories it holds.  I loved doing that hike with my sister and our girls.  It was perfect.  Julie would have joined us as well, but she woke that morning not feeling so well.</p> <p align="left">We were determined to see it all, so we headed over to Tipton to visit the family gravesites there.  Another melancholy spot, but it means so much to be able to do it. </p> <p align="left"> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SgesxDTNsQI/AAAAAAAAA54/E7NoOQWMrxU/s1600-h/IowaCity20090452.jpg"><img title="Iowa City 2009 045" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="184" alt="Iowa City 2009 045" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/Sgesxgtyq9I/AAAAAAAAA58/NFgL-nBalEM/IowaCity2009045_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a></p> <p align="left"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SgesyTIcmxI/AAAAAAAAA6A/YVxfUH1DQZA/s1600-h/IowaCity20090472.jpg"><img title="Iowa City 2009 047" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="184" alt="Iowa City 2009 047" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/Sges30R9NcI/AAAAAAAAA6E/FuhOxmr_CdQ/IowaCity2009047_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a>  <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/Sges4gsB9fI/AAAAAAAAA6M/rH07eFraC5c/s1600-h/IowaCity20090502.jpg"><img title="Iowa City 2009 050" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="184" alt="Iowa City 2009 050" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/Sges41V5sFI/AAAAAAAAA6Q/HIn_ePWjs5I/IowaCity2009050_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/Sges5mExwzI/AAAAAAAAA6U/1YKkdmnsBs8/s1600-h/IowaCity20090512.jpg"><img title="Iowa City 2009 051" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="184" alt="Iowa City 2009 051" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SgetEp8Lr-I/AAAAAAAAA6Y/hbZbf1r6XRc/IowaCity2009051_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a>Grandpa and Grandma Furnish.</p> <p align="left"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SgetFP0si-I/AAAAAAAAA6c/EK_HkxCFyLw/s1600-h/IowaCity20090492.jpg"><img title="Iowa City 2009 049" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="184" alt="Iowa City 2009 049" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SgetQbAFNuI/AAAAAAAAA6g/0ht0HfVX460/IowaCity2009049_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a>Great Aunt Betty.<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SgetRDfrAHI/AAAAAAAAA6k/2UqpdQw116E/s1600-h/IowaCity20090522.jpg"><img title="Iowa City 2009 052" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="244" alt="Iowa City 2009 052" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SgetWoCWBHI/AAAAAAAAA6o/D7gqVbbXht4/IowaCity2009052_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" border="0" /></a> And is your last little baby ever so cute you just can’t stand it?  You want to freeze time because you know it won’t last forever?  You would eat her up if you could?  This was one of those days.  I love her up.</p> jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17826252555094322099noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1151155661791765529.post-15503482577661040252009-05-04T16:51:00.001-05:002009-05-04T16:51:08.670-05:00Let the Pictures Tell the Story<p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/Sf9iOSbJ-lI/AAAAAAAAA2A/FoI2GH124c0/s1600-h/Zeebs%20May%202009%20visit%20001%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Zeebs May 2009 visit 001" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="244" alt="Zeebs May 2009 visit 001" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/Sf9iOz-sNDI/AAAAAAAAA2E/o0n0Z5H7H6Q/Zeebs%20May%202009%20visit%20001_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" border="0" /></a> My Sister Julie, the beautiful drink maker.<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/Sf9iPcrTtgI/AAAAAAAAA2I/Mm5QtzMss40/s1600-h/Zeebs%20May%202009%20visit%20002%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Zeebs May 2009 visit 002" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="184" alt="Zeebs May 2009 visit 002" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/Sf9iVPEpw5I/AAAAAAAAA2M/n-L2OESKi8o/Zeebs%20May%202009%20visit%20002_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a>My sister Beth and her Baby V. <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/Sf9iVw7bk3I/AAAAAAAAA2Q/WIErti6UtfY/s1600-h/Zeebs%20May%202009%20visit%20004%5B5%5D.jpg"><img title="Zeebs May 2009 visit 004" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="184" alt="Zeebs May 2009 visit 004" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/Sf9ibvEK44I/AAAAAAAAA2U/EXGFXdHoJbg/Zeebs%20May%202009%20visit%20004_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a> Tate, Gertie and Verena before the baseball game.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/Sf9ib3e5T4I/AAAAAAAAA2Y/H2-ueftqIvY/s1600-h/Zeebs%20May%202009%20visit%20008%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Zeebs May 2009 visit 008" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="244" alt="Zeebs May 2009 visit 008" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/Sf9icVZTaOI/AAAAAAAAA2c/RugL9AEP4Vo/Zeebs%20May%202009%20visit%20008_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" border="0" /></a>My Gertie at the park.</p> <p> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/Sf9idLe3EVI/AAAAAAAAA2g/L0TpZvHcSaA/s1600-h/Zeebs%20May%202009%20visit%20009%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Zeebs May 2009 visit 009" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="244" alt="Zeebs May 2009 visit 009" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/Sf9iis47HkI/AAAAAAAAA2k/fLI2dpN3QIY/Zeebs%20May%202009%20visit%20009_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" border="0" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/Sf9ijK3attI/AAAAAAAAA2o/_Vpqrygn4H0/s1600-h/Zeebs%20May%202009%20visit%20010%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Zeebs May 2009 visit 010" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="244" alt="Zeebs May 2009 visit 010" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/Sf9iuepDeyI/AAAAAAAAA2s/Go81v-Uz5Sw/Zeebs%20May%202009%20visit%20010_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" border="0" /></a>Verena slipping on the slide for the first time.  All smiles.</p> <p> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/Sf9iu7tFINI/AAAAAAAAA2w/MnzURtFOuNg/s1600-h/Zeebs%20May%202009%20visit%20014%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Zeebs May 2009 visit 014" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="184" alt="Zeebs May 2009 visit 014" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/Sf9ixipwOHI/AAAAAAAAA20/RGm-pulRjTU/Zeebs%20May%202009%20visit%20014_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a>Gertie trying head first.</p> <p> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/Sf9i3ftzosI/AAAAAAAAA24/CAS1KajnQJI/s1600-h/Zeebs%20May%202009%20visit%20013%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Zeebs May 2009 visit 013" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="244" alt="Zeebs May 2009 visit 013" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/Sf9i88ohPII/AAAAAAAAA28/hAv_m2vClZQ/Zeebs%20May%202009%20visit%20013_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" border="0" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/Sf9i9UoMj_I/AAAAAAAAA3A/iXeX1WyoCwY/s1600-h/Zeebs%20May%202009%20visit%20018%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Zeebs May 2009 visit 018" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="244" alt="Zeebs May 2009 visit 018" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/Sf9i-MV-6VI/AAAAAAAAA3E/JyxT4a4Z9Gs/Zeebs%20May%202009%20visit%20018_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/Sf9i-iCa2sI/AAAAAAAAA3I/jwko2XGclKs/s1600-h/Zeebs%20May%202009%20visit%20019%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Zeebs May 2009 visit 019" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="244" alt="Zeebs May 2009 visit 019" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/Sf9jEVt6mVI/AAAAAAAAA3M/TOqP2Ln9aiY/Zeebs%20May%202009%20visit%20019_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" border="0" /></a> Verena gets some action at the game.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/Sf9jE_6IE6I/AAAAAAAAA3Q/g3ide9cci68/s1600-h/Zeebs%20May%202009%20visit%20020%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Zeebs May 2009 visit 020" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="244" alt="Zeebs May 2009 visit 020" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/Sf9jFQxDeBI/AAAAAAAAA3U/83ArKAsmGNY/Zeebs%20May%202009%20visit%20020_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/Sf9jFmjwviI/AAAAAAAAA3Y/QUN2tyL99KY/s1600-h/Zeebs%20May%202009%20visit%20022%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Zeebs May 2009 visit 022" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="244" alt="Zeebs May 2009 visit 022" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/Sf9jGO98q7I/AAAAAAAAA3c/XlKA7RAjur8/Zeebs%20May%202009%20visit%20022_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" border="0" /></a> Tate at bat.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/Sf9jMJJWecI/AAAAAAAAA3g/CSYS89u4fss/s1600-h/Zeebs%20May%202009%20visit%20024%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Zeebs May 2009 visit 024" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="184" alt="Zeebs May 2009 visit 024" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/Sf9jMrzk2YI/AAAAAAAAA3k/BIjA1irxzTk/Zeebs%20May%202009%20visit%20024_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/Sf9jNSCE_3I/AAAAAAAAA3o/cIk4EwalpTg/s1600-h/Zeebs%20May%202009%20visit%20026%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Zeebs May 2009 visit 026" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="184" alt="Zeebs May 2009 visit 026" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/Sf9jS9IzjJI/AAAAAAAAA3s/Dg9xqmkXczE/Zeebs%20May%202009%20visit%20026_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>My personal favorites every time.  The line-up the cousins and snap some pictures.  Guaranteed good ones.  Just missing Grace.</p> jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17826252555094322099noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1151155661791765529.post-72476313809415576042009-04-14T15:56:00.001-05:002009-04-14T15:56:45.850-05:00Our Own Little Stay-cation<p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SeT4IDtDS_I/AAAAAAAAA1I/j7H3MI0pCOI/s1600-h/nature%20center%20011%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="nature center 011" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="184" alt="nature center 011" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SeT4Iy1BwqI/AAAAAAAAA1M/ww_p3qYtOso/nature%20center%20011_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a> We wanted to get out and about, but we knew we couldn’t go far with John not being mobile.  We decided on the Nature Center here in town.  We had a good time rummaging around in the woods.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SeT4JbFlavI/AAAAAAAAA1Q/v-CbDDHX8ck/s1600-h/nature%20center%20008%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="nature center 008" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="184" alt="nature center 008" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SeT4PD_s10I/AAAAAAAAA1U/dlIQybAqeY4/nature%20center%20008_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a> We stopped off to look at the snakes and salamanders, and Grace fell in love with this beaver.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SeT4P4itSZI/AAAAAAAAA1Y/1hGupi29ROU/s1600-h/nature%20center%20016%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="nature center 016" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="184" alt="nature center 016" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SeT4VXwwh-I/AAAAAAAAA1c/4tIlcycNGx0/nature%20center%20016_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a> Grace and Ethan hopped the creek stones to get to this little island.  Gertie wanted to join them, so she just waded through the water.  She was pretty excited to be there with the big ones, though.  Look at that smile.  And they are pretty cool.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SeT4V30oQ_I/AAAAAAAAA1g/ZhQ7LqBN8KQ/s1600-h/nature%20center%20020%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="nature center 020" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="244" alt="nature center 020" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SeT4WEgceOI/AAAAAAAAA1k/z3BBUNy0CAw/nature%20center%20020_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" border="0" /></a> Gertie was coaxed into posing next to many stumps and dead trees.  She’s awfully cute next to trees and stumps.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SeT4byoyDYI/AAAAAAAAA1o/1X9g6dl_X2Q/s1600-h/nature%20center%20033%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="nature center 033" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="244" alt="nature center 033" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SeT4cKGAwMI/AAAAAAAAA1s/k4-TCQfy_ME/nature%20center%20033_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" border="0" /></a> And then we discovered a big tree root that had been uprooted when the tree fell over.  A perfect little hideout for these gangsters.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SeT4cuZBBaI/AAAAAAAAA1w/hhIqeTYTKrM/s1600-h/nature%20center%20038%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="nature center 038" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="184" alt="nature center 038" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SeT4dCWq4PI/AAAAAAAAA10/_i_qJo8lu-A/nature%20center%20038_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a> And this is the only picture of Ethan without his hat on.  I missed his hair, sticking up like it does.  I had to see it, if only for a moment.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SeT4dipOlTI/AAAAAAAAA14/h3ttxMFLkoE/s1600-h/nature%20center%20002%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="nature center 002" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="184" alt="nature center 002" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SeT4jbiGfCI/AAAAAAAAA18/D8ZYfW36P6Y/nature%20center%20002_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a>Have a happy Tuesday.</p> jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17826252555094322099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1151155661791765529.post-10347322093944431912009-04-12T20:38:00.001-05:002009-04-12T20:38:50.595-05:00Happy Easter<p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SeKXX4UhvGI/AAAAAAAAA0Q/piRJRQcuMAU/s1600-h/Gertie%27s%20Bike%20and%20Easter%20015%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Gertie's Bike and Easter 015" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="184" alt="Gertie's Bike and Easter 015" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SeKXYd-31KI/AAAAAAAAA0U/argCI7YvexM/Gertie%27s%20Bike%20and%20Easter%20015_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a> Yesterday Gertie and I went to an Easter egg hunt at a local church.  We had so much fun.  They went all out with a bunch of carnival games and a puppet show and cookies and punch and a truckload of eggs out on the big church lawn.  </p> <p>John hurt his back again on Thursday, so he’s been laid up since then.  I’ve realized (not that I had any illusions otherwise) that I don’t make a good Dad.  In my house the good Dad cooks and grocery shops and takes very good care of his family.  I help, but we make a good team.  I like the team.</p> <p> </p> <p>Pray for speedy recovery for him.  This tends to take him out for a good while.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SeKXY_dapcI/AAAAAAAAA0Y/Y4GbpOXrp2U/s1600-h/Gertie%27s%20Bike%20and%20Easter%20025%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Gertie's Bike and Easter 025" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="184" alt="Gertie's Bike and Easter 025" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SeKXeU_cR3I/AAAAAAAAA0c/3c1u6n7Q8wg/Gertie%27s%20Bike%20and%20Easter%20025_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a> We also decorated eggs yesterday.  It was a great time, as usual, and these are the favorite works of art from each of my kiddos.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SeKXexNUaDI/AAAAAAAAA0g/PdR3-UZE4yo/s1600-h/Gertie%27s%20Bike%20and%20Easter%20024%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Gertie's Bike and Easter 024" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="244" alt="Gertie's Bike and Easter 024" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SeKXpjRTbjI/AAAAAAAAA0k/U217v1WAHB4/Gertie%27s%20Bike%20and%20Easter%20024_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" border="0" /></a> Gertie’s still got the napped-on remains of the bunny painted on her face at the egg hunt.  Gertie was quite impressive in our own personal egg hunt this morning.  She held her own with the big kids.  And if she thought Ethan found too many eggs, she just took them out of his basket and put them into hers.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SeKXqOk5UHI/AAAAAAAAA0o/BCqwGuSX3h4/s1600-h/Gertie%27s%20Bike%20and%20Easter%20023%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Gertie's Bike and Easter 023" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="184" alt="Gertie's Bike and Easter 023" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SeKXqeMfuHI/AAAAAAAAA0s/gK2kiN3hSCE/Gertie%27s%20Bike%20and%20Easter%20023_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a> Grace was off to church early to prepare to play her cello as part of the worship team.  She did great, and I was a proud Mama watching her.  Ethan was in the service too, swinging flags.  Very fun to watch.  I barely pulled off getting the ham and potatoes in the oven before we left for church, but our dinner was delicious, even though my hands were the ones that prepared it.  I am thankful for that.</p> <p>And I’m so so thankful that Christ rose from the grave on this day many years ago.  I needed it.</p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>Happy Easter, all.</p> jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17826252555094322099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1151155661791765529.post-31955508936211745402009-04-12T20:23:00.001-05:002009-04-12T20:23:35.063-05:00The New Bike<p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SeKTz_DTDvI/AAAAAAAAAzw/AmreEOcNdg0/s1600-h/Gertie%27s%20Bike%20and%20Easter%20007%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Gertie's Bike and Easter 007" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="244" alt="Gertie's Bike and Easter 007" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SeKT0YaWUoI/AAAAAAAAAz0/lP6nr7d0hb0/Gertie%27s%20Bike%20and%20Easter%20007_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" border="0" /></a> This is a post I’ve been wanting to update.  Little Miss Gertrude got a new bike.  Of course, we’re in Minnesota, so she’s riding with hat and mittens.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SeKT0iwkIvI/AAAAAAAAAz4/o2OGCv8tB0A/s1600-h/Gertie%27s%20Bike%20and%20Easter%20005%5B5%5D.jpg"><img title="Gertie's Bike and Easter 005" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="244" alt="Gertie's Bike and Easter 005" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SeKT6b8pc1I/AAAAAAAAAz8/CUHv3biB5uA/Gertie%27s%20Bike%20and%20Easter%20005_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" border="0" /></a>She’s working on getting the pedaling thing figured out.  I would describe the progress as a bit slow.</p> <p> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SeKT6jUqPVI/AAAAAAAAA0A/zVAxeU8l2qQ/s1600-h/Gertie%27s%20Bike%20and%20Easter%20008%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Gertie's Bike and Easter 008" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="244" alt="Gertie's Bike and Easter 008" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SeKUFrul_cI/AAAAAAAAA0M/MKy5CtTlV-I/Gertie%27s%20Bike%20and%20Easter%20008_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" border="0" /></a> And every time she gets close to the edge of the sidewalk, which is often, she gets off and straightens herself out with her hands.  Like this.  I love this…</p> jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17826252555094322099noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1151155661791765529.post-56079394120748554142009-04-04T18:55:00.000-05:002009-04-04T18:55:49.819-05:00Basketball<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center">this is grace. my mom wanted me to add some captions to these pictures.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/Sdfzg6EeGQI/AAAAAAAAAyM/pgHP1kfiW8A/s1600-h/Basketball+069.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/Sdfzg6EeGQI/AAAAAAAAAyM/pgHP1kfiW8A/s400/Basketball+069.JPG" border="0" /></a> look at our boy</div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SdfzhOt1JGI/AAAAAAAAAyU/OPmk2-j08tc/s1600-h/Basketball+070.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SdfzhOt1JGI/AAAAAAAAAyU/OPmk2-j08tc/s400/Basketball+070.JPG" border="0" /></a> i told him to just pretend i wasn't here, so he walked away...</div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SdfzhdRq-gI/AAAAAAAAAyc/kWAWcNxc5Es/s1600-h/Basketball+073.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SdfzhdRq-gI/AAAAAAAAAyc/kWAWcNxc5Es/s400/Basketball+073.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SdfzhTCVD4I/AAAAAAAAAyk/DyF8LOv3Xgw/s1600-h/Basketball+083.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_g1FretjaCFs/SdfzhTCVD4I/AAAAAAAAAyk/DyF8LOv3Xgw/s400/Basketball+083.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17826252555094322099noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1151155661791765529.post-82317641223257452232009-04-04T18:27:00.005-05:002009-04-04T18:50:59.860-05:00Marisa's Song
<br />A month goes by...I just don't seem to be in a blogging mood lately. I am wondering if it might be because my wireless has gone funny and now I have to sit tethered to the computer desk instead of roam any old place, and usually my husband's soft, fluffy Lazyboy rocker in the family room. And I've had stuff I'd like to blog about too. And I'll get to all of it, but the reason that drove me to actually sit down and publish is that my darling and extra-talented son won his poetry contest at school. They call it the Eberhart Poetry Contest, and they chose one finalist from each school in our district. He had written this poem for an "old" friend that has moved away. It was a song, actually, and he had to alter it slightly to fit within the guidelines of the contest, but here it is.
<br />
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mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:auto; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:0in; mso-para-margin-left:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.5in;"><u><span style=";font-family:";font-size:48;" >Marisa’s Song<o:p></o:p></span></u></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.5in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;" align="center"><u><span style=";font-family:";" ><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"> </span></o:p></span></u></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12;" >Don’t you remember how it used to be?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12;" >Well, if you don’t, I’ll tell how it was.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12;" >It was you and me sitting under that old tree,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12;" >Then you would chase me, catch me.<span style=""> </span>I would laugh.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12;" >Don’t you remember how it used to be?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12;" >It was just us two. We made a good team.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12;" >We would just sit there, play a game or two.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12;" >We might just have fun, or we might be sad.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12;" >But everything changed and got rearranged.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12;" >Now I’m just a creep who can’t go to sleep.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12;" >Mellowed out dude, you could call me rude.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12;" >Thoughts have gotten caught thinking about you.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12;" >Think I should let them.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12;" >We would just sit there.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12;" >Play a game or two…
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center">
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Don't you just love this kid? </p>
<br />jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17826252555094322099noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1151155661791765529.post-77894864444016847882009-03-08T15:19:00.002-05:002009-03-08T15:35:01.495-05:00Hi there.John and I have the quiet house to ourselves. I should be sweeping and finishing the lunch dishes, but instead I've got my feet up and I've been wandering around Facebook and reading my e-mail. The dishes and the dirty floor will still be there in a few minutes, right?<br /><br />Yesterday we shopped all day looking for white pants and red shorts and white tennies for a play that grace is in. It is the school version of Grease. Suffice it to say that in our sleepy little town--and I do mean the whole little town--there is not a pair of white pants to be found. We found white tennies, but not in Grace's size. Keep in mind, these have to be the simple canvas white tennies like they wore in the '50s. <br /><br />So, although we bore not much shopping fruit, I did really enjoy my kids. We had a good time walking around together. Ethan had some money burning a hole in his Spiderman wallett, and it took him no time at all to hone in on a new PS2 joystick. He felt certain it wasn't a ripoff because it says on the box that if this item doesn't work, we'll replace it or repair it for free. Well, there you go. I'm convinced.<br /><br />I scraped the bottom of my billfold to find $1.25 for two cookies at the cookie shop. Ethan picked a sugar cookie with sprinkles and Grace got chocolate peanut butter or something. I was so happy sitting there watching them eat up their cookies and talking about this and that. Some simple family moments bring the most joy, don't they?<br /><br />I didn't have enough money for a drink, but Ethan and Grace pooled some change and shared a pop. Just like the old days. I loved it.<br /><br />And we've been watching the old family videos again. I am so glad John made all those little movies. Gertie just loves watching her brother and sister float around on the big screen when they were just her size. And so do I.<br /><br />This week holds some work for me, but not too much. Grace says she needs her eyes checked yet again, so that is on the books as well. And I need to start those taxes. But maybe not this week.<br /><br />So, the days are good, but the house is messy. I must remedy this.jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17826252555094322099noreply@blogger.com0