tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61358225432153079262024-02-18T23:51:54.885-08:00Aa, A, K & MAa, A, K & Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09206189762294846454noreply@blogger.comBlogger194125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6135822543215307926.post-68382634036805761442012-06-18T23:26:00.000-07:002012-06-18T23:26:07.161-07:00i'm alive...but my blog is not!here i am...giving some much needed cpr and electric shock treatment to my blog. man, i have so many things i could have blogged over the last five (or more!) months...but life has been too busy. the five minute version:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>in may we went to sunriver for a family wedding. it was awesome...we always love to go and i see we have managed to make it every two years! sunriver holds a lot of great memories for us - aa and i used to go there every year for a little getaway. our first trip with kellen was shortly before he turned one and i remember that he learned to patty-cake there, including the "roll it" with his arms and he was so proud of himself! that first trip we found a great tree stump along the bike paths to take a picture of kellen. we have managed to find that same stump the last two times we've gone and now have a collection of photos of each of them on the same stump. i hope that the collection continues to grow! what a difference two years makes - look at my baby girl!</li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHPOq0cgwtAHgVRrMObEgvwR4p9hORdAA4R-XAS73tZtkFzXoO0ournZeuwjTjyP1oUjkatEsUKlT0H4bvSqkWbKbtd-uEjcKGuNiuxbihGKWYt41r8go_HPQcr3jVzxL39Y9Nxjp81Po/s1600/2010_09_17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHPOq0cgwtAHgVRrMObEgvwR4p9hORdAA4R-XAS73tZtkFzXoO0ournZeuwjTjyP1oUjkatEsUKlT0H4bvSqkWbKbtd-uEjcKGuNiuxbihGKWYt41r8go_HPQcr3jVzxL39Y9Nxjp81Po/s400/2010_09_17.jpg" width="300" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEislggPEU-HiOhMXBudqpfUN5KOqfXjUCaS2dmpE2nULjLpk_Yuakh4No8abLs7tW3TvQRxBIlKjfH4lPGu1pfhlC3BUYeWkLtrwKWW8Hx_KZ-l7_6GVjVL0Nu9svsk2JSV31FE_-m8ZpI/s1600/IMG_0400+w+date.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" rca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEislggPEU-HiOhMXBudqpfUN5KOqfXjUCaS2dmpE2nULjLpk_Yuakh4No8abLs7tW3TvQRxBIlKjfH4lPGu1pfhlC3BUYeWkLtrwKWW8Hx_KZ-l7_6GVjVL0Nu9svsk2JSV31FE_-m8ZpI/s400/IMG_0400+w+date.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi68-RHbYXhB_wDvCx3RUyDT1alt_LdoQbFardvLQSGohep71yQkW5SrqXTN6pxeME03te7QDghCE7iQdmI_t1J_7M-sY1yKdZvKRsu9gzc7tlKrDzmw694PxGFl13dN3oSXZ8RFOR4_Kk/s1600/IMG_2584-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" rca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi68-RHbYXhB_wDvCx3RUyDT1alt_LdoQbFardvLQSGohep71yQkW5SrqXTN6pxeME03te7QDghCE7iQdmI_t1J_7M-sY1yKdZvKRsu9gzc7tlKrDzmw694PxGFl13dN3oSXZ8RFOR4_Kk/s400/IMG_2584-001.JPG" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggpRQfTXyVPR7TSdPr63NxglegUAMhoUso18BJrWOQJtWbuxg-StNDN58Rj-cpZcZNyc0RzYE8SoHNDRQjWGy3GQ2I4ImBzh9FtQHMESWyJJH7CYQlFVhL48wzbN_LTt-H-XgZDUxsqFs/s1600/IMG_0448-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" rca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggpRQfTXyVPR7TSdPr63NxglegUAMhoUso18BJrWOQJtWbuxg-StNDN58Rj-cpZcZNyc0RzYE8SoHNDRQjWGy3GQ2I4ImBzh9FtQHMESWyJJH7CYQlFVhL48wzbN_LTt-H-XgZDUxsqFs/s400/IMG_0448-001.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2PoMBmy36hjXo4-1t42YUnG_f9-GWTkfs7OpWc8gAcB_Wr1Sxsd2rD1D8Pl7OooEoybg8q41JBvKMPX_87t1TVZjaO98QOmodImo9lqY7wR7jvN0C2WLK3lRV822FLm9OH5x2t-Nlln0/s1600/IMG_2589-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" rca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2PoMBmy36hjXo4-1t42YUnG_f9-GWTkfs7OpWc8gAcB_Wr1Sxsd2rD1D8Pl7OooEoybg8q41JBvKMPX_87t1TVZjaO98QOmodImo9lqY7wR7jvN0C2WLK3lRV822FLm9OH5x2t-Nlln0/s400/IMG_2589-001.JPG" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2LCMcTtkkKqm8qG7yKsFY7DSQYM-oTrNwwFVMb3e_o7gt_N8dSiYQkRxYStMrMYg78rDgo50C0QHMpiWji3elchS1Y16xIyARtvpr0fy0VgOB0brGWXN5cMPOn6myXFd26z23pW8ATyg/s1600/IMG_0465+with+date.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" rca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2LCMcTtkkKqm8qG7yKsFY7DSQYM-oTrNwwFVMb3e_o7gt_N8dSiYQkRxYStMrMYg78rDgo50C0QHMpiWji3elchS1Y16xIyARtvpr0fy0VgOB0brGWXN5cMPOn6myXFd26z23pW8ATyg/s400/IMG_0465+with+date.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<ul>
<li><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">
a week after sunriver, the kids and i took a little trip to the beach with sarah (my sister in law) and the boys and jan (my mother in law). we stayed two nights and it was really fun...but a little crazy (what do you expect with a 4, 3, 2 and 1 year old!). between my sister's kids and these boys, bennett and sammy, my kids are rich in the cousin department and it's oh so fun to see them all together!</div>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAnUPeQi50h4F1CRirSeRHUMSuI6EBzgoZbHyRx9Y_xcM-COdHjCQYKuruc3JIyL00Kc8Y_4gPvSs56l9-iKUWNPDib01pL_p9zGOltuP87_O6qfwLeBzvU4K2rHy4AmhxLz7FwX686ps/s1600/IMG_7421.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" rca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAnUPeQi50h4F1CRirSeRHUMSuI6EBzgoZbHyRx9Y_xcM-COdHjCQYKuruc3JIyL00Kc8Y_4gPvSs56l9-iKUWNPDib01pL_p9zGOltuP87_O6qfwLeBzvU4K2rHy4AmhxLz7FwX686ps/s400/IMG_7421.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sammy (1), Maya (2), Kellen (4) and Bennett (3)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<ul>
<li> for mother's day i woke up to breakfast made by aa and the kids...with two special leaves the kids had specifically picked out for my place setting! we then went on a nice 1 mile hike at the audoban society. it was a perfect little loop with a duck pond at the beginning and end. we stopped at the half way point and enjoyed some little treats we had gotten at elephants. it would have been perfect, except maya decided to take too big of a bit and proceed to gag and then puke all over herself and the trail. yuck. needless say we got out of there as quickly as possible after using the water from our bottle to clean as much as we could off of her and the trail. we quickly forgot about it all when we decided to go to salt and straw, the best ice cream shop for a little four sample tasting board. yum. the kids devoured it, crazy flavors and all. </li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsgOFTVG25YSa4IOtHmOnqO4qHSm4DT3B4RSael9YEn7aMS1C5BxA92RJF5AmS8dQYXvELQvtcALZdwEJ7zg4sblqPf3d2oLBSdoCP0NOHvQy38xhyphenhyphenME57sxaDqW1vS6PE3UYe8EzPtuk/s1600/IMG_0343.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsgOFTVG25YSa4IOtHmOnqO4qHSm4DT3B4RSael9YEn7aMS1C5BxA92RJF5AmS8dQYXvELQvtcALZdwEJ7zg4sblqPf3d2oLBSdoCP0NOHvQy38xhyphenhyphenME57sxaDqW1vS6PE3UYe8EzPtuk/s400/IMG_0343.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRC_F-ofgpoGh3R4L1T-pr52ezgdBR4flcFYlk3YFbJKaLu0LNcJfb6hS4_AEzHDr6v2D6HC1B-l6doxCtRtP1lp3y9aO1CSLZZdOWs_S6s9Jf3Mqv9p7bYnS6a-PF2D9U1hCWlx5D0U8/s1600/IMG_0360.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" rca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRC_F-ofgpoGh3R4L1T-pr52ezgdBR4flcFYlk3YFbJKaLu0LNcJfb6hS4_AEzHDr6v2D6HC1B-l6doxCtRtP1lp3y9aO1CSLZZdOWs_S6s9Jf3Mqv9p7bYnS6a-PF2D9U1hCWlx5D0U8/s400/IMG_0360.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<ul>
<li> when you work backwards like this...some milestones are given away! big ones, like first haircuts!!! may 6, we finally took maya in to chop off her locks. i'd actually been wanting to bob her hair for awhile and after seeing a picture that a friend posted of her looking like a wild cavewoman, i convinced her to go! we'd been asking her for months if she wanted a haircut and she would always say no...when i suggested it that weekend she said yes, so i guess we were both really ready! i do miss being able to put it up in cute pig tails, but the bob is so cute and so easy. i actually think she looks more like a baby with the little short bob than with her wild head of hair, so that's a bonus too! she was perfect - sat stoicly still and was thrilled to finally get a lollipop just like kellen gets when he gets a haircut!</li>
</ul>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigQLW9KHvP8lTRRSk0_PsEAnT9PXSzXrBjmEqU9ecHJA_93htuBg3Y5M0le02_9qrdZ64-hayeYLyzRZy2TThZGdqO-ltBrhTcoCB59QPDNwYGfvcfwDQN5DEF9sz-zY5zDhZ6Rc6kRRY/s1600/IMG_7345.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" rca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigQLW9KHvP8lTRRSk0_PsEAnT9PXSzXrBjmEqU9ecHJA_93htuBg3Y5M0le02_9qrdZ64-hayeYLyzRZy2TThZGdqO-ltBrhTcoCB59QPDNwYGfvcfwDQN5DEF9sz-zY5zDhZ6Rc6kRRY/s400/IMG_7345.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">nervously excited in her pink convertible chair!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVqIl7vJM3jSoPqPk9v9pwAOYYms4OaWlm8khLwP1CSm6rp6ujnV6PRjdzayu9DqBKX5U4j-_JhKLc_ZUubnvisewfSk_ut28CkQPJHyoMLOGWXxc8NZEbyeV6TUtmSM-qcczBngutS_4/s1600/IMG_7358.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" rca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVqIl7vJM3jSoPqPk9v9pwAOYYms4OaWlm8khLwP1CSm6rp6ujnV6PRjdzayu9DqBKX5U4j-_JhKLc_ZUubnvisewfSk_ut28CkQPJHyoMLOGWXxc8NZEbyeV6TUtmSM-qcczBngutS_4/s400/IMG_7358.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">first cut! sniff sniff</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Iai2WlkHc5FZFXiber_8ZhcAud0rQ_fZZYn7qClQarUFaJaKrGiG9GJlLvN6rKoux21ykL6FMuUgcUWIivwdzQtqid8KM34Verisp-a6TE0ovmujvrAyuQjs5W26enPCWPI557kKFWM/s1600/IMG_7364.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" rca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Iai2WlkHc5FZFXiber_8ZhcAud0rQ_fZZYn7qClQarUFaJaKrGiG9GJlLvN6rKoux21ykL6FMuUgcUWIivwdzQtqid8KM34Verisp-a6TE0ovmujvrAyuQjs5W26enPCWPI557kKFWM/s400/IMG_7364.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the look on her face the entire time!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqMxgwbPUfbIJmoecRWPHuJB6AJfiKZZ19dzXTdSHCfuX_iHQybti6W0kz3VsThlENZwhAnlH2-GvqavdJlnf7Ay2VQgOuGha1BvsO5ACHnknLBvInUOx4ebZD1xuUSn7qKgwTjAHCFd8/s1600/IMG_7372.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" rca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqMxgwbPUfbIJmoecRWPHuJB6AJfiKZZ19dzXTdSHCfuX_iHQybti6W0kz3VsThlENZwhAnlH2-GvqavdJlnf7Ay2VQgOuGha1BvsO5ACHnknLBvInUOx4ebZD1xuUSn7qKgwTjAHCFd8/s400/IMG_7372.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv3HCPNjrdkK6zVfpvZyOl6F_TzJEPfP546jT-LRy0AcpQL1_dHec9TYblobggNWEjGeyV2jzHAWu9KjoaOAt1vr5In2Jg3mKtpxnIrWmgM88B0sBjxLMmCi3977oYZ3MpiLA7Qrn-au8/s1600/IMG_7387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" rca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv3HCPNjrdkK6zVfpvZyOl6F_TzJEPfP546jT-LRy0AcpQL1_dHec9TYblobggNWEjGeyV2jzHAWu9KjoaOAt1vr5In2Jg3mKtpxnIrWmgM88B0sBjxLMmCi3977oYZ3MpiLA7Qrn-au8/s400/IMG_7387.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my sweet baby girl with her new do!<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii68xbsr9dOrsfMFXlHEpYG24gVX_Ab7OKg2VBEA760u-I1lAs99K_vaDQJ-Y1yMQZKhwGQIU31e2qjg47r3XknnJJfkQRENBRTK5MneTa0-MdnweQyFipOH401Wro0mBgG6HoHFI-6kc/s1600/IMG_7397.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" rca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii68xbsr9dOrsfMFXlHEpYG24gVX_Ab7OKg2VBEA760u-I1lAs99K_vaDQJ-Y1yMQZKhwGQIU31e2qjg47r3XknnJJfkQRENBRTK5MneTa0-MdnweQyFipOH401Wro0mBgG6HoHFI-6kc/s400/IMG_7397.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">hooray for lollipops!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<ul>
<li><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
our new(ish) house has three parks within walking distance - it's awesome. here are some fun pics of the kids at the park. kellen is in his pj's because he had a 24 hour bout of a stomach bug (we all actually caught it after him - LOTS of puking, ugh) and was finally feeling good enough to get outside, something we all needed! </div>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcLEvEUJaGDXeISk-wpKWHnhU1lCG4YOUq2IkWPJ01synnsibCrYhkKRi2l4YvgxVLwbPwCjoE_WUAhqAVjKwN3VBh9_arUEFykJVQPyMHPPggiGdY38cpNUFS5s4bt6_YimKhGdmia6M/s1600/IMG_0279.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcLEvEUJaGDXeISk-wpKWHnhU1lCG4YOUq2IkWPJ01synnsibCrYhkKRi2l4YvgxVLwbPwCjoE_WUAhqAVjKwN3VBh9_arUEFykJVQPyMHPPggiGdY38cpNUFS5s4bt6_YimKhGdmia6M/s400/IMG_0279.JPG" width="300" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEzn8NyD2_Q7GLGale9APNQXBDxLtqn1Ob1ln5_Wqgo8edWMZ2AHVOaRjysm0EWYF_LF_3fC1lhUg0jCJwLltLHAdGK0v2pT-rsf1wUAWOBfoY0X_KymI-dsSBfkcNgzRmX8cp1lLUuw0/s1600/IMG_0286.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEzn8NyD2_Q7GLGale9APNQXBDxLtqn1Ob1ln5_Wqgo8edWMZ2AHVOaRjysm0EWYF_LF_3fC1lhUg0jCJwLltLHAdGK0v2pT-rsf1wUAWOBfoY0X_KymI-dsSBfkcNgzRmX8cp1lLUuw0/s400/IMG_0286.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHeU3VI9WzmFoAYFnp2q-T78LHVNIPauw1Xz2CwLCr5LRo87jWcdoiWQGx_doHVfaWOQLqUgmi4hWEi86yDeF_wVy8YrCzTC5xW59P5cRmKs4iH3PjXltpqW1quG85HfW5u9tw-pSN0Ps/s1600/IMG_0288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHeU3VI9WzmFoAYFnp2q-T78LHVNIPauw1Xz2CwLCr5LRo87jWcdoiWQGx_doHVfaWOQLqUgmi4hWEi86yDeF_wVy8YrCzTC5xW59P5cRmKs4iH3PjXltpqW1quG85HfW5u9tw-pSN0Ps/s400/IMG_0288.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<ul>
<li><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">
i'll end tonight's five minute update on the tulip festival. the kids and i met aaron's mom down at tulip festival on a beautiful sunny day in late april. we stopped and got some picnic goods at whole foods and then went to enjoy the beautiful colors. it was actually my first time there, so fun to see the fields of flowers and lots of fun activities for the kids. here's a slew of pics from the day.</div>
</li>
</ul>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNUv0uZgGkV8KNizuQi7TQtDtnxm7ukBnBdNqjSUpCJNRp-gaiEtUObYlA-bPsfJcp2p2ZRE8_yVIfPxCX-HAE1lwu07-4rJYDtGDvqqH5jPh2tCXz4tSvrYLESmrx46uB-viMU5BiUW8/s1600/IMG_7239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" rca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNUv0uZgGkV8KNizuQi7TQtDtnxm7ukBnBdNqjSUpCJNRp-gaiEtUObYlA-bPsfJcp2p2ZRE8_yVIfPxCX-HAE1lwu07-4rJYDtGDvqqH5jPh2tCXz4tSvrYLESmrx46uB-viMU5BiUW8/s400/IMG_7239.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">grandma and kellen in the cow train</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBtynd-ZS2ZM3pBmPxs9SC2KJBMIUwsmAeUURzEQz8bUSW3SMGm2JWSOPx5KJ3qYoXozT7cc79uDkaPErxUv0AIy_Alk06YEnrah4rjW_uLFcKFN1zDCzfYbBeGfO9P_p98xXKAMeezhM/s1600/IMG_7242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" rca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBtynd-ZS2ZM3pBmPxs9SC2KJBMIUwsmAeUURzEQz8bUSW3SMGm2JWSOPx5KJ3qYoXozT7cc79uDkaPErxUv0AIy_Alk06YEnrah4rjW_uLFcKFN1zDCzfYbBeGfO9P_p98xXKAMeezhM/s400/IMG_7242.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">miss thing thought she wanted to ride on her own...only to freak out at the last minute and climb in my cow!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghvxVz9NFUQh4slLXra7b9pHJQZf3a7qzZdqk0bUviROwiOr37PO0pdfmDogCVe85C-Xv2tKqSue_dafUwHhF7E6x_prMCSg4jvg9CHMtkyVpbDBG3xdeSAmGXAVo-0_2Kn_WxYK9MPMo/s1600/IMG_7254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" rca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghvxVz9NFUQh4slLXra7b9pHJQZf3a7qzZdqk0bUviROwiOr37PO0pdfmDogCVe85C-Xv2tKqSue_dafUwHhF7E6x_prMCSg4jvg9CHMtkyVpbDBG3xdeSAmGXAVo-0_2Kn_WxYK9MPMo/s400/IMG_7254.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">i have to agree...it was way more fun with her on my lap!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhafDjX7yxY1ts4L-Y3pLehtEst-x5sLtfrh7mG7a5QEAhQPmI7RbLa0ZPGsVDIOSi6h20fB6KmzrHpbC5qULfowm3j0FpzUCPD4S283zj-1-UQ1RoLFwUSeUzsf3u53EGlBxtidH4fVRA/s1600/IMG_7251.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" rca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhafDjX7yxY1ts4L-Y3pLehtEst-x5sLtfrh7mG7a5QEAhQPmI7RbLa0ZPGsVDIOSi6h20fB6KmzrHpbC5qULfowm3j0FpzUCPD4S283zj-1-UQ1RoLFwUSeUzsf3u53EGlBxtidH4fVRA/s400/IMG_7251.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">pretty colors</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTBFddmg-POvTHqniejVK2sZt6ZP4YCCOb8NAqT6tIuNZxDkyr_YRuxh9PC5r0bEsu4DhiXSFr59G023dTbLYEvvEA4XAaPw7B5WqSUy4-q26NPRow_rcyS5UH62XNEQFSGC57LqJqrrk/s1600/IMG_7269.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" rca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTBFddmg-POvTHqniejVK2sZt6ZP4YCCOb8NAqT6tIuNZxDkyr_YRuxh9PC5r0bEsu4DhiXSFr59G023dTbLYEvvEA4XAaPw7B5WqSUy4-q26NPRow_rcyS5UH62XNEQFSGC57LqJqrrk/s400/IMG_7269.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">this picture kills me...her sunglasses, the look on his face, his arm around her and their little hands. i could die.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7vOa_mcQo-lA3M0IrOAtrqV-IQVn761L1DlX_VWhx7TET4UZAQK-5opG4rEi0e1bi0r3CxHRHXE5uurq08exeRq3I2g4tXUqeCklxOXnPbF4Goft8AHFuFExt8BkwIt5Uju6qczFgi_I/s1600/IMG_7337-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" rca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7vOa_mcQo-lA3M0IrOAtrqV-IQVn761L1DlX_VWhx7TET4UZAQK-5opG4rEi0e1bi0r3CxHRHXE5uurq08exeRq3I2g4tXUqeCklxOXnPbF4Goft8AHFuFExt8BkwIt5Uju6qczFgi_I/s400/IMG_7337-001.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">maya and grandma snuggling on the hay bales</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo6X-gS7IXI0iesagxKXgjpyrqkAq_rOAvXJJsCOoZD6eir-9gC7JKp0u4LMHZ5EG8lzmbJuvqKitLkY-VgX3J1D8S8Jr4wXOQCX9SXWSDsWS2x_RlcaK3keZMP1ktJqW3Wq_wpx5fmwo/s1600/IMG_7302-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" rca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo6X-gS7IXI0iesagxKXgjpyrqkAq_rOAvXJJsCOoZD6eir-9gC7JKp0u4LMHZ5EG8lzmbJuvqKitLkY-VgX3J1D8S8Jr4wXOQCX9SXWSDsWS2x_RlcaK3keZMP1ktJqW3Wq_wpx5fmwo/s400/IMG_7302-001.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sweet cheeks </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhRLb0bv0cjicBSp70WX9pe6jK8ck_SxtLYTqQZUdC4Nctk6AoBBzDWdsf-rMUNvErvvOz_8MUu3lOGpIkm58fay0-1QEZx3t5ENrKipYODP69iZo3xU41Ej5GoMQoPryFezM-0diQMSE/s1600/IMG_7311.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" rca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhRLb0bv0cjicBSp70WX9pe6jK8ck_SxtLYTqQZUdC4Nctk6AoBBzDWdsf-rMUNvErvvOz_8MUu3lOGpIkm58fay0-1QEZx3t5ENrKipYODP69iZo3xU41Ej5GoMQoPryFezM-0diQMSE/s400/IMG_7311.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">tractor tire swing was a hit!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH2lqAD-pp9mcYYGBhY5OUuLbhXRg4ywKdP80fjhd0U_oioFL5gUzz4-NG3sHXijjacbsscip2hOZ36QjPRv61T9izxXeVeeQetjC0-vDtJYDqF7DTzv-x880lcLYj-fw1h2PE4DixDWQ/s1600/IMG_7322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" rca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH2lqAD-pp9mcYYGBhY5OUuLbhXRg4ywKdP80fjhd0U_oioFL5gUzz4-NG3sHXijjacbsscip2hOZ36QjPRv61T9izxXeVeeQetjC0-vDtJYDqF7DTzv-x880lcLYj-fw1h2PE4DixDWQ/s400/IMG_7322.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">there are those pigtails i miss!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL3dPYdo1cpU63cWJ_2NxgexxzZgZRPpE-jhq1E7Y-dVAEAwPx1Yi5_SRL1QrFIILaQlpIWbuLyuaiwgBu37udUXDMmtUkys7lE4HBivq63A3CLPgHL7VHguZgXE3GctIBtbmdwRbmeWg/s1600/IMG_7304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" rca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL3dPYdo1cpU63cWJ_2NxgexxzZgZRPpE-jhq1E7Y-dVAEAwPx1Yi5_SRL1QrFIILaQlpIWbuLyuaiwgBu37udUXDMmtUkys7lE4HBivq63A3CLPgHL7VHguZgXE3GctIBtbmdwRbmeWg/s400/IMG_7304.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">mama and her babies!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgalj_wRRrqRLf3DSVNlvymnOOGgPIfGymqa6N72GgG730VEBDneytkTbFkQHJEM4JSPxrAADXwZDUWxoUd8uHK9vbxMiWtyljHzwWarl85HPK7LnKaiNXqI8A7WJXS6ZRv5yTURMbiY8Q/s1600/IMG_7295.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" rca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgalj_wRRrqRLf3DSVNlvymnOOGgPIfGymqa6N72GgG730VEBDneytkTbFkQHJEM4JSPxrAADXwZDUWxoUd8uHK9vbxMiWtyljHzwWarl85HPK7LnKaiNXqI8A7WJXS6ZRv5yTURMbiY8Q/s400/IMG_7295.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sniff</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6lkjZ7kbyhRxSnmKl9ZH_84OZDfbCZA9d_nwvhUyu1AsFk1tckmTB_3eY2AfnR8MY3yd8d_kVKqSw-IeL1ddoxOavC6tSiM7GL4TgWxNDpbdHmm7RaaV6GqDtzzXmRmwY05PvspxnWDs/s1600/IMG_7282.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" rca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6lkjZ7kbyhRxSnmKl9ZH_84OZDfbCZA9d_nwvhUyu1AsFk1tckmTB_3eY2AfnR8MY3yd8d_kVKqSw-IeL1ddoxOavC6tSiM7GL4TgWxNDpbdHmm7RaaV6GqDtzzXmRmwY05PvspxnWDs/s400/IMG_7282.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">grandma helping with the rubber ducky races!<br />
<div align="left">
</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>any bets on how long it will take me until the next post? that is the real question!!!</li>
</ul>Aa, A, K & Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09206189762294846454noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6135822543215307926.post-67296512143675310052012-02-20T13:41:00.001-08:002012-02-20T13:59:37.670-08:00BabyIt's amazing to hear these two little ones and their favorite made up game of "baby". I'm sitting here listening and wanted/needed (!) to capture this. Maya, of course, is the mama and kellen is the baby (crazy how those roles in life present themselves at such as early age!). Here's a sample of what I'm hearing! <br />
<br />
Maya (as mama): baby, do you want to go to San Diego? <br />
Kellen (as baby): yes, let's go to San Diego! <br />
<br />
Baby: I went potty! <br />
Mama: good job baby! <br />
Baby: pssssss.....sssssssss, potty on you mommy! <br />
Mama: babeeeeeee! Don't do that! <br />
<br />
Baby: mama, it's my birthday! <br />
Mama: let's go to frozen yogurt then! <br />
Both: yayayayayaya! Baby: let's go to the park! <br />
<br />
Mama: ok, oh look there is a swimming pool! <br />
Baby: I'm floating away! <br />
<br />
Mama: baby want to go to San Diego? With uncle bry. Ummm. <br />
Baby: nope. <br />
<br />
Mama: baby, it's your daddy on the phone <br />
Mama: (talking on the phone to daddy) umm and we went to San Diego and we made a castle. Bye bye daddy! <br />
<br />
Mama: let's make a castle baby. <br />
Baby: I already am! <br />
Mama: want a guy baby? <br />
Baby: no, go get me that other piece. <br />
Mama: ok, baby. <br />
Mama: no, I want it baby! <br />
Baby: I finished it mama, look at it! <br />
Mama: yep! <br />
Mama: (singing) teamwork, teamwork! I AM THE MOMMY!!! <br />
Baby: I know that mommy! <br />
<br />
And on and on it goes! This little game occurs nearly on a daily basis and the roles never change. Such fun and such gladness in my heart to be here to hear them play together in their imaginary world!Aa, A, K & Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09206189762294846454noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6135822543215307926.post-84580162664026668082012-01-23T22:50:00.000-08:002012-01-23T22:55:59.253-08:00november catch upjust a had to share highlights from november...cause some good stuff happened! <br />
<div>
</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTEcnPQmC2tFBZ-go54K1VRJ3cY8ppdT_9hHqbQ5XXHysXUVIAqSgjYF02k0cAgEfQAOb6OUyNExPNxjkjbtlYPCO8Q5a6mCfvrJHiy7jVc37sUi0G1ntEubM4ZFJx2aa9MFhYQRZZmoI/s1600/IMG_6411.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTEcnPQmC2tFBZ-go54K1VRJ3cY8ppdT_9hHqbQ5XXHysXUVIAqSgjYF02k0cAgEfQAOb6OUyNExPNxjkjbtlYPCO8Q5a6mCfvrJHiy7jVc37sUi0G1ntEubM4ZFJx2aa9MFhYQRZZmoI/s640/IMG_6411.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
maya moved from her mattress on the floor to her big girl bed (this may have happened at the very end of october...i can't remember)! it's been a seamless transition - she's yet to fall off the bed. i'm pretty sure since she spent the first two years of her life nestled in between aa and i, she was used to sleeping in one spot (meaning she never moved around in a crib all night long!). you can't see it here in this picture, but she actually uses her boppy as a pillow. i imagine she has lots of good association with that boppy and it also feels like she's being cradled in someone's arms (hooray for them not being mine all. night. long!). </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRmQaqDlyWsUcT1n30R73TIJSICq78ii4zMYqfJRI5jz65rW-wJRWPOZHItsowibBmP3kkZr-mjaePBCNeqseja3hWtb4uMNzfX3Jxh1DPMc2Tz0dpw4mTx6vUZpi7lhVawrO88QYm4Qw/s1600/IMG_6420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRmQaqDlyWsUcT1n30R73TIJSICq78ii4zMYqfJRI5jz65rW-wJRWPOZHItsowibBmP3kkZr-mjaePBCNeqseja3hWtb4uMNzfX3Jxh1DPMc2Tz0dpw4mTx6vUZpi7lhVawrO88QYm4Qw/s640/IMG_6420.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijZVHBx2B6loHwrzZeom1ARDMRiRSWXXYU-_saRXTaWQ3_rFU5gz-fuDrt3RCHzdUAERBa79DPdkhNgGYSpTdl-du-d51pWybjlSDQo-R6a4FJu0lm0440zXEDqRXr_AFy3-_xo-Ep4lE/s1600/IMG_6442.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijZVHBx2B6loHwrzZeom1ARDMRiRSWXXYU-_saRXTaWQ3_rFU5gz-fuDrt3RCHzdUAERBa79DPdkhNgGYSpTdl-du-d51pWybjlSDQo-R6a4FJu0lm0440zXEDqRXr_AFy3-_xo-Ep4lE/s640/IMG_6442.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgltMvjqHPtbXmMtrAasWIeBa4GfhRT9mW-7bTck6ZtqeTkurGUuuHCjzj0qKDDOfJH6gLb_DBKGU29R88OB2WG7AEIwKpLRs3N8LlrNpX0iwkmNkLtdF3UbNzcpkO1nt78m0ZjGzWDIW0/s1600/IMG_6449.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgltMvjqHPtbXmMtrAasWIeBa4GfhRT9mW-7bTck6ZtqeTkurGUuuHCjzj0qKDDOfJH6gLb_DBKGU29R88OB2WG7AEIwKpLRs3N8LlrNpX0iwkmNkLtdF3UbNzcpkO1nt78m0ZjGzWDIW0/s640/IMG_6449.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
in early november aa and i took a much needed weekend away sans kidlets. this would be our first time away from maya for more than one night (she had done that a few times when we moved and for our last anniversary). we hit the road mid day on friday so we could get down to the beach with enough time for a little happy hour at the salishan lodge, another beer at the salishack (a sweet, coasty dive bar) and then dinner at the side door (with our favorite pan fried oysters to start!). we basically did nothing the rest of the weekend but lounge, nap, catch up on magazines, watch movies or football (including an awesome duck win over stanford), snuggle on the couch and eat good food. oh and we did make it over to the lodge for a couple of swims/hot tubs. it was incredible to have some one on one time with each other (something that is SO hard to find with two kids...but SO important). the weekend was not quite as relaxing for the grandparents...sadly both kids slept terribly and were up multiple times in the night. much fun was had, but it might be awhile before we get another weekend away! :( </div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8eYOlNkuth31TV50AsYEtG4y2-ehhMEa3LELxvrBhAaZl4WrglnmgRaZRalqJqxs1QyVVMSq4QzZTojwVacmrN08MlHdCVvhTfgN29vcJ7Y_KQrgCqkT1ZxzkmiE_CG4kHp6Da82hAFM/s1600/IMG_6488.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8eYOlNkuth31TV50AsYEtG4y2-ehhMEa3LELxvrBhAaZl4WrglnmgRaZRalqJqxs1QyVVMSq4QzZTojwVacmrN08MlHdCVvhTfgN29vcJ7Y_KQrgCqkT1ZxzkmiE_CG4kHp6Da82hAFM/s320/IMG_6488.JPG" width="170" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMPmtoQ6qpaMltX-0U0uIuJTfInOZ6Wic3f69i-J7UH01iCoB38DXdoLIrjiZPVOlDCWBzf1gijFKJXa8tyjqbY9rBHkfxtf08rwsmRKAykrew6CmBkctrPVUxCCA_VXorCZqL4kc2Hno/s1600/IMG_6489.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMPmtoQ6qpaMltX-0U0uIuJTfInOZ6Wic3f69i-J7UH01iCoB38DXdoLIrjiZPVOlDCWBzf1gijFKJXa8tyjqbY9rBHkfxtf08rwsmRKAykrew6CmBkctrPVUxCCA_VXorCZqL4kc2Hno/s320/IMG_6489.JPG" width="170" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFWbcpzbU-yAFX4AxT5j8swpH2Ra6da0CnqBHA6WB_x-AUDleT9yIMvoIYQWpVWLJ0Epb1emYfThyYwR7HoYtzO06ikbMAWjfvQyVQYRQkhCEiHvA9w-CYl-1LF-lLGkUE33b9Vx_zIMA/s1600/IMG_6490.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFWbcpzbU-yAFX4AxT5j8swpH2Ra6da0CnqBHA6WB_x-AUDleT9yIMvoIYQWpVWLJ0Epb1emYfThyYwR7HoYtzO06ikbMAWjfvQyVQYRQkhCEiHvA9w-CYl-1LF-lLGkUE33b9Vx_zIMA/s320/IMG_6490.JPG" width="170" /></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
kellen and i raked (played in) a lot of leaves - the con to living in a neighborhood with LOTS of trees! truth be told, kellen and i rakes some leaves and aa raked a LOT of leaves! ;) </div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWG7cB0GNeeRiw1Q9sBbMT4cy4hVSa3GhNhENwWQuqnq1-1KhZ3y-XGrelIU3ipTUQOu-9B1ZqKEEKLin8JtLxD8LydcVtSGdEh1Om6xOyKHE9d-HtEaP_Yk1ZELygPDTMplMP5EXL2Z0/s1600/IMG_6513.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWG7cB0GNeeRiw1Q9sBbMT4cy4hVSa3GhNhENwWQuqnq1-1KhZ3y-XGrelIU3ipTUQOu-9B1ZqKEEKLin8JtLxD8LydcVtSGdEh1Om6xOyKHE9d-HtEaP_Yk1ZELygPDTMplMP5EXL2Z0/s640/IMG_6513.JPG" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-6xb9qJjwIIZHUv5sDWizlv1YZS-Cm33hHwDd9bwxYK7voPY1N320jzIPdXL49cNMJQdPl95pjuzuJCIpy35Ng5bS_9vpaKjM-D_c6NpTV45bvon2Ye4Cwr9ZDBmCshXh46R8s6NDpF0/s1600/IMG_6509.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-6xb9qJjwIIZHUv5sDWizlv1YZS-Cm33hHwDd9bwxYK7voPY1N320jzIPdXL49cNMJQdPl95pjuzuJCIpy35Ng5bS_9vpaKjM-D_c6NpTV45bvon2Ye4Cwr9ZDBmCshXh46R8s6NDpF0/s640/IMG_6509.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
my gram was in town for a couple of visits and my kids had so much fun with "drammy". it brings me such joy to see my kids loving my gram so much. i can remember (and still do) loving my gram and grandpa so much that it hurt...literally, we'd SOB after leaving their house. i only wish my grandpa was still alive, cause i know they'd have so much fun with him and he'd love loving on them too. </div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJN5h_RMqX3O_9Z1rel15JubkOKVJjM_ALfTaNZX42Z3FM_oBaF-mMGtDx-pGd2Srdlx7ER7EYKVRlHUgoWZ7zo7TRPb2IsNvVxf8S8y0R_7i8wS0kMRn7w2M28SbYgW-fpASS1pTdwF4/s1600/IMG_6516.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJN5h_RMqX3O_9Z1rel15JubkOKVJjM_ALfTaNZX42Z3FM_oBaF-mMGtDx-pGd2Srdlx7ER7EYKVRlHUgoWZ7zo7TRPb2IsNvVxf8S8y0R_7i8wS0kMRn7w2M28SbYgW-fpASS1pTdwF4/s640/IMG_6516.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbFud94b7xzr7y7jxMUNG_Ite2gJIgHX1Qz1tkVOR7SjcT4Y3kBb4u7MYx2AugDrydG-HxwGe-9GeaEZgzAQG2wsDFPDobDs-yC3XdZxEe7hfm03D8CGfv_yoSSoJ3AyTzt-w__O__ot4/s1600/IMG_6529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbFud94b7xzr7y7jxMUNG_Ite2gJIgHX1Qz1tkVOR7SjcT4Y3kBb4u7MYx2AugDrydG-HxwGe-9GeaEZgzAQG2wsDFPDobDs-yC3XdZxEe7hfm03D8CGfv_yoSSoJ3AyTzt-w__O__ot4/s640/IMG_6529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlHgcvLezDO9TpUFf9oZl0IzLGEshTvt0Kr8Eia8qCXp8nvnBgrlU7FheS580BS2eYRk0jM3EHoBGxSKxisUs-0PtT7ngP2nUitnBFsXFiKKGfkCkItS-2zllBHANQWKaeM2KIjEaUqDQ/s1600/IMG_6524.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlHgcvLezDO9TpUFf9oZl0IzLGEshTvt0Kr8Eia8qCXp8nvnBgrlU7FheS580BS2eYRk0jM3EHoBGxSKxisUs-0PtT7ngP2nUitnBFsXFiKKGfkCkItS-2zllBHANQWKaeM2KIjEaUqDQ/s640/IMG_6524.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
kellen wrapped up about six months of semi-private swim lessons at the farber swim school. he grew so much in those six months and i was so proud to see how far he'd come. he's much more confident in the water now (although still doesn't love his face to go under water) and we're hopeful that when we start up again in the spring that he'll step right back where we left off. poor maya was demoted to playing in the hot tub...we couldn't seem to get a schedule with the instructor and our swimmate that aligned so we could do a mommy and me class while kellen did his lessons - hopefully that will also happen when we start up again in the spring! </div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkNvrQoDjvNjxKRxJrjEJDNOkOsFbFcEpluhe1tCpJmPs0j_d5OEdHihyMMoz2Qsp5EvSk73qy0i2_t8TdLY_P0GZfmg2TqMmlMRFI8yckDg4-O96ttlrxmWzhHQHjjxrAo7YxvjdIW5o/s1600/IMG_6540.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkNvrQoDjvNjxKRxJrjEJDNOkOsFbFcEpluhe1tCpJmPs0j_d5OEdHihyMMoz2Qsp5EvSk73qy0i2_t8TdLY_P0GZfmg2TqMmlMRFI8yckDg4-O96ttlrxmWzhHQHjjxrAo7YxvjdIW5o/s640/IMG_6540.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
maya potty trained this month! this girl was actually ready to potty train in july/august (going potty on the toilet 3-4 times a day without being asked), but with the pending move and because she wasn't even two i didn't think it was possible and was too afraid to make the plunge! after we settled into the house, she was no longer so eager...but during the first week of november, her interest peaked again and i took the opportunity to say goodbye to the diapers. she was diaper free for a week before spending the weekend at her grandparents (nov 12/13), but that wasn't really fair to ask someone else to forgoe diapers in her first week, so she wore diapers that weekend. once we got home that sunday, i packed up the diapers and we haven't looked back. she basically trained herself and is practically night trained as well. i can't tell you how happy we are to no longer change/wash diapers. now if we could just figure out how to get them to wipe themselves we'd really be set! btw, her favorite undies are these pink ones pictures - those are apples on them and she calls them her "undies apples". she'd wear those undies every day if she could! as soon as she takes them off she says "wash my undies apples please mama!". she also has "undies stripes", "undies flowers", and "undies swirls". <br />
<br />
and this post is suddenly WAY too long and i haven't even hit on thanksgiving! i think i'll end on potty training and come back for a little turkey and pumpkin pie. </div>
</div>Aa, A, K & Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09206189762294846454noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6135822543215307926.post-10534884709573434952012-01-18T23:39:00.000-08:002012-01-23T22:55:16.075-08:00iPad killed my blog!well...not really, cause i'm trying to revive it! but aside from life (which is crazy busy with two littles), i blame the purchase of the ipad with the decline in my blogging. you see, pre-ipad i actually had to go into my office and sit down at my desktop to do anything on the internet...so it forced me to post to my blog. now, i can pretty much do anything on my ipad (pinterest, blog reading, facebooking, words with friends...yes, it can be a problem!) except easily post to my blog. well, i could easily post...but not easily add pictures and what's a blog with no pictures? <br />
<br />
so, i need to find a way to bring this blog back to life and i'm working on that (have a lot of things to work on at the moment though...so we'll see how it goes!). i have so much to catch up on over the last few months - most importantly a certain someone in this house turned FOUR! four...are you kidding me? <br />
<br />
despite the lack of attention on this blog, he was showered with celebrations for nearly a week. first off on the night of his birthday he chose sushi for dinner. so our little foursome ventured out to the neighborhood sushi train (which was rumored to be pretty good) and enjoyed a feast of sushi. rolls, edamame, noodles and sesame balls. it was quite exciting for the birthday boy to grab the little plates off of the rotating conveyor belt. sadly, i brought my camera sans memory card...so no pics of my sweet birthday boy's sushi outing. afterwards we went to peachwave to get a froyo with unlimited toppings (faves include: popping boba's, m&m's, anything gummy and of course sprinkles)! we brought it home and did a little cupcake/candle and singing action.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4wMbptcg37gdjypWIpq-tN0NAOmuSjHAj7r7heBpnRRYrKeRn-04YvWZnBA3m7n_ZlMENeW9hH8pJSoOEEzfuwTyPzlQy13v_ZUqfuUFV6c_9rCfInSlvu4eAE9LuXEn4RSGdvQ6q_Sc/s1600/IMG_6692.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4wMbptcg37gdjypWIpq-tN0NAOmuSjHAj7r7heBpnRRYrKeRn-04YvWZnBA3m7n_ZlMENeW9hH8pJSoOEEzfuwTyPzlQy13v_ZUqfuUFV6c_9rCfInSlvu4eAE9LuXEn4RSGdvQ6q_Sc/s400/IMG_6692.JPG" width="266" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJrqWOOzDiVuPJb_EN94Vh3rXdKNA7iJD4Du-cE67NZ4_qWiKPGWp0_AjdPSAXSXujjDn7NhZM7NGT2-b-EAXiTQztIhJBuWiWMubdTyONSrdP-khOAnpilP1Kp6ri7VyhRFpE3mfep-A/s1600/IMG_6708.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJrqWOOzDiVuPJb_EN94Vh3rXdKNA7iJD4Du-cE67NZ4_qWiKPGWp0_AjdPSAXSXujjDn7NhZM7NGT2-b-EAXiTQztIhJBuWiWMubdTyONSrdP-khOAnpilP1Kp6ri7VyhRFpE3mfep-A/s400/IMG_6708.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAtA0ZvfBNrmIljU_atubtcJfKnV4ISQdL0vV2YbOYgv1MDmHwxX88vxIjEom0Af9xlyB1ZB-u58TDUbhlxPmY3XOTp-3qMQDxqcQu-HiSqxgFn1oOJhggszY7HniCW5J-A8z78bZPO2c/s1600/IMG_6713.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAtA0ZvfBNrmIljU_atubtcJfKnV4ISQdL0vV2YbOYgv1MDmHwxX88vxIjEom0Af9xlyB1ZB-u58TDUbhlxPmY3XOTp-3qMQDxqcQu-HiSqxgFn1oOJhggszY7HniCW5J-A8z78bZPO2c/s800/IMG_6713.JPG" width="600" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
family shot...so hard to get all four looking good!</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
</div>
the next day was the day he celebrated his birthday at school. it was my day to work in the classroom and in honor of his birthday we brought mini ice cream cones from trader joes. they were a hit in the classroom. he was given a birthday crown to wear and got to pick out a book from the birthday basket - which of course was the highlight for my book loving boy! instead of rushing back to pick up maya, i took him on a little birthday lunch date at mcmenamins.<br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI_S_pRAkSmkRZW5fLYFbc543W7-3OacgKtkj5WiDBIGU8osWk-ILMxMceOttITwD90yB7YSXUI9FKsUhG6CrKXNyfY7hvk0IlZq1b2FLdW7l6AvrNJByt-kVouwGqk5jMRfzsuB5XkGs/s1600/IMG_6797.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI_S_pRAkSmkRZW5fLYFbc543W7-3OacgKtkj5WiDBIGU8osWk-ILMxMceOttITwD90yB7YSXUI9FKsUhG6CrKXNyfY7hvk0IlZq1b2FLdW7l6AvrNJByt-kVouwGqk5jMRfzsuB5XkGs/s800/IMG_6797.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
finally the weekend arrived and it was time for his par-tay...a fire station party to be specific. portland fire and rescue rents out their historic belmont firehouse (no longer a functioning station) for events. the highlight was getting to sit in the real fire engine and to slide down the fire pole. well, the fire pole wasn't really kellen's highlight (he made it to the top of the pole only to turn around and say no thank you), but it was a highlight for many of his friends! what fun to celebrate with some of his closest friends - including our baby and me group (6 of us who all had babes around the same time and used to attend the hospital based support group for new mamas!). </div>
</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnAcbH9mdgWsNScaiW9utBv7yNJ2id6xOokt7kAazjIVGhxS_gozRB82ZOUXBQgQ88U0LCnPoLpQ_ayd7ohE6q0DVwhMl9OCaHhvslLoT95WQWC0fJOTh8T61HCUlwHFG_iB21hTTJ_7A/s1600/IMG_6742.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnAcbH9mdgWsNScaiW9utBv7yNJ2id6xOokt7kAazjIVGhxS_gozRB82ZOUXBQgQ88U0LCnPoLpQ_ayd7ohE6q0DVwhMl9OCaHhvslLoT95WQWC0fJOTh8T61HCUlwHFG_iB21hTTJ_7A/s400/IMG_6742.JPG" width="266" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuJmPIuQFOxNayXGX0jZtdeQWRfVcrBUtxswbzoUkHQ3FEB7QfRZLz3yf2MnTQaMcA3_K2vdchyphenhyphenpM0NkjRj5up1i5LCw3hC43k-4nFwlP2Y8bKoiVYgH5bTeyPT3sTVZtc_Zzi8WE5R6A/s1600/IMG_6745.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuJmPIuQFOxNayXGX0jZtdeQWRfVcrBUtxswbzoUkHQ3FEB7QfRZLz3yf2MnTQaMcA3_K2vdchyphenhyphenpM0NkjRj5up1i5LCw3hC43k-4nFwlP2Y8bKoiVYgH5bTeyPT3sTVZtc_Zzi8WE5R6A/s400/IMG_6745.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
firefighter cousins sam and maisy!</div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWY-H4CFlx7Mc-LYkZLoSWKdagrZJHyewCw715HstZ42QXPaF8Z5f8CjHzEm9tP7h7V-DRRPhCPYWQtUoRE6v-JiE8mk6Ee8j-WfzhyhTAr0299hLWeqBb9mjo-ND3QR2BoaZn8Rq-JAk/s1600/IMG_6744.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWY-H4CFlx7Mc-LYkZLoSWKdagrZJHyewCw715HstZ42QXPaF8Z5f8CjHzEm9tP7h7V-DRRPhCPYWQtUoRE6v-JiE8mk6Ee8j-WfzhyhTAr0299hLWeqBb9mjo-ND3QR2BoaZn8Rq-JAk/s800/IMG_6744.JPG" width="600" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
playing in the firetruck with best bud, max (from nike)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQeEs7SqO0hRE4Azut6k0GfP75nOpiBRRnIdSDpt2OvGwqRqSjROJMN2K1ZgOflD1-vNzZ8xPgFeNigQgPfYu2-Rx91v6yFu2TjEwwlsQ-qKgX6Qz7FbO-yB9DDFXgGTw6T95Frm4nHI/s1600/IMG_6759.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQeEs7SqO0hRE4Azut6k0GfP75nOpiBRRnIdSDpt2OvGwqRqSjROJMN2K1ZgOflD1-vNzZ8xPgFeNigQgPfYu2-Rx91v6yFu2TjEwwlsQ-qKgX6Qz7FbO-yB9DDFXgGTw6T95Frm4nHI/s800/IMG_6759.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
the kids on the tour listening to the real firefighter lecture them about fire safety</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaH9UJbpkWmMvgwW4G4_zSTKvHCydG34yxXzkGWUksMaujS10qgZmiej1f3MfvyivY-xnqhMFzNemdKAYYyX8QsI6QsGuQaoxSEcFH7upQuOSMmbUFUGdMWOFji6_N-ubk1WNj9MqIn5g/s1600/IMG_6769.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaH9UJbpkWmMvgwW4G4_zSTKvHCydG34yxXzkGWUksMaujS10qgZmiej1f3MfvyivY-xnqhMFzNemdKAYYyX8QsI6QsGuQaoxSEcFH7upQuOSMmbUFUGdMWOFji6_N-ubk1WNj9MqIn5g/s800/IMG_6769.JPG" width="600" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
the cake...by beaverton bakery</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFXil24DRceLHx9nI1DvwIUDJ0v04-r_64sqN1r6_iEVyOc0QkK-eJPOKOcaB_bAy4QjrZUkSAcnbgh8mZeQkX1WnLvigtRD82Jywabgs_gyLlDhtly73W3FcmGSvwtKmAmfAr3FLn7Hg/s1600/IMG_6772.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFXil24DRceLHx9nI1DvwIUDJ0v04-r_64sqN1r6_iEVyOc0QkK-eJPOKOcaB_bAy4QjrZUkSAcnbgh8mZeQkX1WnLvigtRD82Jywabgs_gyLlDhtly73W3FcmGSvwtKmAmfAr3FLn7Hg/s800/IMG_6772.JPG" width="600" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
my boy...too nervous to go down the fire pole he'd been talking about ALL week!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUi_rvQ4HpE7c8InPS1Gz8Qpo59lK5IbctTBY6wlxhnUsiSmFjERa8kFaV5g22AWX2aVe0-WgWkMGO7M2qUv34kHgS645HMk01BlOVVHQiquB1eLMOpsLJPork5oXihOaOhlQ51u0XGPY/s1600/IMG_6775.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUi_rvQ4HpE7c8InPS1Gz8Qpo59lK5IbctTBY6wlxhnUsiSmFjERa8kFaV5g22AWX2aVe0-WgWkMGO7M2qUv34kHgS645HMk01BlOVVHQiquB1eLMOpsLJPork5oXihOaOhlQ51u0XGPY/s800/IMG_6775.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<strike>max</strike> TILDEN! going down for his fourth time before he had to be cut off!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDyx2Pi0kxO62YbtYbgIHI_UHn1HKiDvjVCbzn0SIkRs2bbedjEllolYUdJW4bTLlEMFgmXVIQSatQzu-t5Y6hI_QhprWvhiUUBGEilGpNSIskjQWM4CpUV6WP3yLZUJaJivUzKXwWAxw/s1600/IMG_6780.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDyx2Pi0kxO62YbtYbgIHI_UHn1HKiDvjVCbzn0SIkRs2bbedjEllolYUdJW4bTLlEMFgmXVIQSatQzu-t5Y6hI_QhprWvhiUUBGEilGpNSIskjQWM4CpUV6WP3yLZUJaJivUzKXwWAxw/s800/IMG_6780.JPG" width="600" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
mama's two babies!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZZLn_Q885m8WqoAJcdX5TWIitaV09AJW6lvs61s11WJ2Wgyj-yJpnMHudume1teluYZHrHOigDKr-jFHYEW9IBMz9yGZRLPM-Fk0E3rgdedEp2asmFbIeMKILn1K32cJDCegHz41Xkjc/s1600/IMG_6792.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZZLn_Q885m8WqoAJcdX5TWIitaV09AJW6lvs61s11WJ2Wgyj-yJpnMHudume1teluYZHrHOigDKr-jFHYEW9IBMz9yGZRLPM-Fk0E3rgdedEp2asmFbIeMKILn1K32cJDCegHz41Xkjc/s800/IMG_6792.JPG" width="600" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
daddy helping him to blow out the candles (must have taken 10 tries!)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
the next day we had a family dinner and his choice of meal was chili bar. i made two kinds of chili - regular red chili with beef and italian sausage and a white bean, green chili and chicken chili. of course lots of toppings were offered, including chips, sour cream, avocado, tomato, hot sauce, green onion and cilantro. we followed the chili bar up with a little ice cream cake (again with lots of toppings) and a few special gifts from family. what a lucky boy to be loved by so many. needless to say, by the end of the week we were a bit birthday'ed out. </div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvNAq4PYmwBNnfM35ZHDhv0hz6ygWxFBHAth4Ip2y2M07ADFJ9fqrC5rfG5B3cjCaEIjyQJzg_2xVZMg5IZJ5auflVN3rAGuMfhkilfaKeOmiISpLLomawJU3jnJd9pp9MoVJX00DAFbo/s1600/IMG_6803.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvNAq4PYmwBNnfM35ZHDhv0hz6ygWxFBHAth4Ip2y2M07ADFJ9fqrC5rfG5B3cjCaEIjyQJzg_2xVZMg5IZJ5auflVN3rAGuMfhkilfaKeOmiISpLLomawJU3jnJd9pp9MoVJX00DAFbo/s800/IMG_6803.JPG" width="600" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
k blowing out candles one last time</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnWr60sdk0jk5h2pd8-89xA56dbuQx1aabWS2LgAam1f6QX9pCnCcCoAIhr3r7lPWRpnsxZ5g85O-CKIZwnkKF54V-CUR5B5iJS9A5ReHmrLdmbf0GTUMBgYHRnq0FVJuKUcPuaVTXzpY/s1600/IMG_6809.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="445" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnWr60sdk0jk5h2pd8-89xA56dbuQx1aabWS2LgAam1f6QX9pCnCcCoAIhr3r7lPWRpnsxZ5g85O-CKIZwnkKF54V-CUR5B5iJS9A5ReHmrLdmbf0GTUMBgYHRnq0FVJuKUcPuaVTXzpY/s800/IMG_6809.JPG" width="600" /></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
papa, b and k</div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj_EiFWgf1b1B3Rr98p4Umj_b52kx2Vz5dul0FmzZdXTrm7C0mGUxuqeqIfUEYt6UgRo0L7z-gU301preKszACDpgqVeOsOL5hglkUGCJ6zU3q_P5N65Z3bBGqdwFuO5QFOKfbRfm3k88/s1600/IMG_6821.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj_EiFWgf1b1B3Rr98p4Umj_b52kx2Vz5dul0FmzZdXTrm7C0mGUxuqeqIfUEYt6UgRo0L7z-gU301preKszACDpgqVeOsOL5hglkUGCJ6zU3q_P5N65Z3bBGqdwFuO5QFOKfbRfm3k88/s800/IMG_6821.JPG" width="600" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
"dancing/running in circles"</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWCl91gnwz2d7ZDlxsaOIJHMGE6h51-dB0xt78cnqTHU2qxbJuJy4vEGGcUDusZcXjI1yFv4Oz7t44dJgWKb-t5imGHhOYozcrFBehIPLzwKQpOzcbfEBXcxUj2-Vlf65SBRTbHFax5BQ/s1600/IMG_6836.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWCl91gnwz2d7ZDlxsaOIJHMGE6h51-dB0xt78cnqTHU2qxbJuJy4vEGGcUDusZcXjI1yFv4Oz7t44dJgWKb-t5imGHhOYozcrFBehIPLzwKQpOzcbfEBXcxUj2-Vlf65SBRTbHFax5BQ/s800/IMG_6836.JPG" width="600" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
baby sammy, sarah and grandma</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
it's crazy to think our boy is four years old - he's a full blown kid now, who can carry on a real conversation, who loves loves loves books (and also tv!), who is sweet, cautious, kind and sensitve...with a bit of a stubborn side, who is open to trying new things, but often needs a little reassurance, who is fascinated with learning about new things, who wants to know all the details of your day, but not so willing to share the details of his (when we are apart), who is gentle and protective of his little sister (except when he's not, which is about 15% of the time!), who loves his family, who has a hard time picking a favorite of anything - it's ALL his favorite, who is a little on the shy side, especially with new people, who has one of the most contagious and genuine smiles, who can't wait to run as fast or be as big as his daddy (it's almost a daily conversation...when will i be as big as daddy, when will i wear the same size shoe as daddy, when will i be as fast as daddy?!), who still loves thomas and also cars the movie charactors, who has really good hair, who is a puzzle master, who is my "snuggle bug forever" (according to him!!!) and who is FOUR! it makes me want to smile and cry at the same time. i know they say time flies, but i really can remember that day we brought him home from the hospital (to a 55 degree house...brrr!) like it was yesterday (and yes, i did want to return him to the hospital in a brief moment of hormone and sleep deprivation insanity). we love you sweet boy!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3eXtk9U176QNL_f1gfxo_SOVDIhN2UpPLkYRnZBF0qe0ZsFCDZTsKygMAwZwQUDkpp_vayr384uDwxXH128gsv-4dssIFkYwJXOnXj46dbAga1NU0ykZ8cWoLebpZQkuO3WMpI8hH2kE/s1600/IMG_6727.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3eXtk9U176QNL_f1gfxo_SOVDIhN2UpPLkYRnZBF0qe0ZsFCDZTsKygMAwZwQUDkpp_vayr384uDwxXH128gsv-4dssIFkYwJXOnXj46dbAga1NU0ykZ8cWoLebpZQkuO3WMpI8hH2kE/s640/IMG_6727.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>Aa, A, K & Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09206189762294846454noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6135822543215307926.post-63836705643021591232011-11-06T23:42:00.000-08:002011-11-06T23:42:13.924-08:00halloweenok...not too bad, just a little under a week since halloween and i'm getting my post up! i'm on a roll. halloween was super fun this year - both kids were really into it. involved in picking out their costumes, racing from door to door for trick or treats and of course, gobbling up as much candy as possible. ugh. <br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
kellen decided this year he would be a train - he wavered between james, busy as a bee james, thomas and finally landed on percy. with the move just behind us, we had plenty of boxes, so i googled thomas the train costumes and came up with some great tutorials for creating a train out of some boxes, hot glue and paint. i got right to work on cutting out the pieces and while maya napped, k and i worked on painting and gluing. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCVAMMB8jc8upiGe0EukbRKL8Dbz2g2EvOFkmfo94Jy3foKibPUqmhWHJ7XflYZaWBVvX-vtU-OnCkAbrgQVhyphenhyphen5vqKSpiSAf9wAyHwchHJM8FSYOVV8EBd-Cw6ryP2QNO5nUon3Ux5QgU/s1600/IMG_6312.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCVAMMB8jc8upiGe0EukbRKL8Dbz2g2EvOFkmfo94Jy3foKibPUqmhWHJ7XflYZaWBVvX-vtU-OnCkAbrgQVhyphenhyphen5vqKSpiSAf9wAyHwchHJM8FSYOVV8EBd-Cw6ryP2QNO5nUon3Ux5QgU/s800/IMG_6312.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">mr percy the train (with face painted by grandma!)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
when maya found out kellen would be percy, she quickly decided she would be ata hat...aka sir topham hatt. the round, friendly head of all the trains on thomas and friends. ever since our "day out with thomas" adventure in hood river, she has had a mild obsession with ata hat. everytime halloween was mentioned she would declare "ata hat!". so ata hat it was. i ordered a kid's size top hat off amazon and went out to search the second hand stores for a little boys suit. after no luck, i happened to be talking with a mom of kellen's friend and she mentioned that his favorite thing was to wear a suit that his dad had bought for him. lucky for us...we were able to borrow the suit jacket and that almost completed our costume. i had found a little yellow shirt at goodwill that i cut into the shape of a suit vest, a black piece of felt tied into a tie and some grey pants, white shirt and black shoes that are part of our every day wardrobe rounded out our little miss sir topham hatt. </div>
</div>
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
here's a side by side with the real sir topham hatt and our little miss topham hatt...not too bad! actually super cute! she put the costume on at 1 in the afternoon to go visit our old neighbor and didn't take it off until late into the evening! </div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWfe0FcJHuHYzGrmGvAf96HcOyvQYaPFrk1b-FJ7nNxZgEO2S6qnWwGKrgcfyUuXVjt_DGuyaV2i6WF8ZT0OOIfkqvHrI5JcgL5BS3RCJOGo1pSL2UhEPtHEir02j0rMnatx8DxiNiENk/s1600/IMG_6302.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWfe0FcJHuHYzGrmGvAf96HcOyvQYaPFrk1b-FJ7nNxZgEO2S6qnWwGKrgcfyUuXVjt_DGuyaV2i6WF8ZT0OOIfkqvHrI5JcgL5BS3RCJOGo1pSL2UhEPtHEir02j0rMnatx8DxiNiENk/s800/IMG_6302.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">miss maya topham hatt</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0322BBmdpuMSZ4ynp0ZgIF2s1ObMvtETx6Ybp8gUZHT0k40KzwJU3cuqxBEAydEeIyHq6lLbPTv-BZEQfk6oJ5Nv7dDB8axlZHzLLVfIAL_u9WqHU0CnXHBcf5dfZMIg2xM8iZfAjtio/s1600/sir+topham+hatt.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0322BBmdpuMSZ4ynp0ZgIF2s1ObMvtETx6Ybp8gUZHT0k40KzwJU3cuqxBEAydEeIyHq6lLbPTv-BZEQfk6oJ5Nv7dDB8axlZHzLLVfIAL_u9WqHU0CnXHBcf5dfZMIg2xM8iZfAjtio/s800/sir+topham+hatt.png" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the "real" sir topham hatt</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQzFQPbwy6jiRyRXtoHQEoifaNltqKalXPmMA2FSIP6sLUr97KaCmUYx0H-UmCbVjzXRnWaIg3jnNTUu9cY_SQrDymqYYcF5vjFtBo1jrI4_sjyOcmcqHCe-zxFBezd50onyyQOVpLXaY/s1600/IMG_6291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQzFQPbwy6jiRyRXtoHQEoifaNltqKalXPmMA2FSIP6sLUr97KaCmUYx0H-UmCbVjzXRnWaIg3jnNTUu9cY_SQrDymqYYcF5vjFtBo1jrI4_sjyOcmcqHCe-zxFBezd50onyyQOVpLXaY/s800/IMG_6291.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">maya topham hatt and torsten the big red dog!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCp-qUhVfXx8aR2ID_yF7TdK0ssZxJ3DU8G3fB-60Lo63CqUP7CmoJ-agMouL7b3MjSjsuD9gLnFEYs9rTLsqbEvuZ19uiPYKRhFg7Wl45SriIjZJIYoqmUksVW08aHzdq3Pce9ODOEjI/s1600/IMG_6314.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCp-qUhVfXx8aR2ID_yF7TdK0ssZxJ3DU8G3fB-60Lo63CqUP7CmoJ-agMouL7b3MjSjsuD9gLnFEYs9rTLsqbEvuZ19uiPYKRhFg7Wl45SriIjZJIYoqmUksVW08aHzdq3Pce9ODOEjI/s800/IMG_6314.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">miss topham hatt and percy the train</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpOotDp0-cq1hkv9RwPfJILkKXIwcXZ2x4j-NNBOPy56OrQjaddgQ8zSW9LKyeJ9unNRG8X_4U9Tx1Ji1zqoJ8uf2L4vbd_hFkDyeOZ3xNCx146YW86wqHhC7Pcx3PHsRS2l6M0Bz-9d8/s1600/IMG_6322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpOotDp0-cq1hkv9RwPfJILkKXIwcXZ2x4j-NNBOPy56OrQjaddgQ8zSW9LKyeJ9unNRG8X_4U9Tx1Ji1zqoJ8uf2L4vbd_hFkDyeOZ3xNCx146YW86wqHhC7Pcx3PHsRS2l6M0Bz-9d8/s800/IMG_6322.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">trick or treat!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwnE5a4d3EimoI3YbOGbaqDusZrDhdK6Hke3p-KU24woQhSZwybRidsjkORzjGid0_Z3AbpaWl-MYyKTo_xx26ckMsoTLo3sbwbGYnqxuDkAJtF9IB8y6vCwyh3ovlWqzpYXPbKml4b_I/s1600/IMG_6324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwnE5a4d3EimoI3YbOGbaqDusZrDhdK6Hke3p-KU24woQhSZwybRidsjkORzjGid0_Z3AbpaWl-MYyKTo_xx26ckMsoTLo3sbwbGYnqxuDkAJtF9IB8y6vCwyh3ovlWqzpYXPbKml4b_I/s800/IMG_6324.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">maya and daddy in line for trick or treat</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
kellen unfortunately found it pretty difficult to run from house to house with his percy costume on...so off it came and we hauled that thing all around the neighborhood. note to self: no more cardboard box costumes. they are super cute and impressive, but not realistic and will promptly be discarded in favor of keeping up with the friends for more candy! on the plus side, we now have a real fun percy costume/toy that has gotten some good playtime post-halloween and it was a fun project for us both!</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguWmZLRGApn592fKBMB4ehZlO-o_g9rsie3QDGA3rs4wZP7aB4emgfaKUNU8GwvQCPi4EOyFU1EJKkGNHLbrAUOfrofL6E0N09G0Sle8Yyd5NbKiEnWAa5Ald8eEFtYO0mwBD1_yc5PYs/s1600/IMG_6339.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguWmZLRGApn592fKBMB4ehZlO-o_g9rsie3QDGA3rs4wZP7aB4emgfaKUNU8GwvQCPi4EOyFU1EJKkGNHLbrAUOfrofL6E0N09G0Sle8Yyd5NbKiEnWAa5Ald8eEFtYO0mwBD1_yc5PYs/s800/IMG_6339.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the crew mid trick or treating!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
for the second year in a row, we met up with our "baby and me" friends...tilden and torsten, tom and wes, kellen and maya, sydney, henry...just missing hadley. we all enjoyed a great halloween feast of pulled pork, sweet potato fries and other yummy treats prior to heading out to trick or treat in the ladd's addition neighborhood. it's so much fun to see how much more into it the kids are each year. </div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoSDfXO2NOpn94i2ygr3nXucXBdxFfi1WVO9BiBSKoZABYhT_d9gAO6kHpImgGc5wOWXJLoPNDC7G6BE-oXYXMEPC98TEp2ZeUOmStnKdErAOQRl2YVVOmhn4AhNtz9URFIof8e7COzeU/s1600/IMG_6367.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoSDfXO2NOpn94i2ygr3nXucXBdxFfi1WVO9BiBSKoZABYhT_d9gAO6kHpImgGc5wOWXJLoPNDC7G6BE-oXYXMEPC98TEp2ZeUOmStnKdErAOQRl2YVVOmhn4AhNtz9URFIof8e7COzeU/s800/IMG_6367.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">post trick or treat...and they ALL chose to eat a sucker!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg61Fkx1tZ01iiDRA2h01Gv4xuMEV0xljoSMxnusFNOQRauWnrM1n3mPEDdO0L4nBOpF_0No_YXUzqDUmOrj9Ac_pmAJUeKBkyZK-rbL8JZrzKEfC_me3AaHu3xs7HnRXMV7KkNLK4kLa4/s1600/IMG_6375.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg61Fkx1tZ01iiDRA2h01Gv4xuMEV0xljoSMxnusFNOQRauWnrM1n3mPEDdO0L4nBOpF_0No_YXUzqDUmOrj9Ac_pmAJUeKBkyZK-rbL8JZrzKEfC_me3AaHu3xs7HnRXMV7KkNLK4kLa4/s800/IMG_6375.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the loot!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXlvgousG60qnO0d2GgSrgBLH0aAV78RdFek6rupnlcgl1zLOsG7UqAw3iWSaISVIt_2lzUm7pXRHTacDs4PhDJVeTe2a3jSRB5Ti3BSZrIwBcqn_5y9dWFUx_PFRgo3Qz2i3kPKRHYaA/s1600/IMG_6403.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXlvgousG60qnO0d2GgSrgBLH0aAV78RdFek6rupnlcgl1zLOsG7UqAw3iWSaISVIt_2lzUm7pXRHTacDs4PhDJVeTe2a3jSRB5Ti3BSZrIwBcqn_5y9dWFUx_PFRgo3Qz2i3kPKRHYaA/s800/IMG_6403.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">on a sugar high in their new halloween jammies!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Aa, A, K & Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09206189762294846454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6135822543215307926.post-46980319352462661772011-11-01T22:03:00.000-07:002011-11-02T00:37:38.704-07:00fail.aye aye aye...big time fail in the blog department! what can i say, moving, the start of preschool, two kids, a bit of work, life, birthdays and halloween has all taken precedence over blogging. i have such good intentions, but just can't seem to make it to the computer to bang out a blog post. so here is a big dump...<br /><br />we moved! it's already been seven weeks. yikes. the house is slowly starting to feel like our home and not a vacation house that we are borrowing for a week. the odd, not our smell of the house is going away and it's starting to feel familiar. i'm becoming less nostaglic for our old house - in fact was over visiting our old neighbors and didn't even pay too much attention to our old house (other than to see if they were keeping up the yard work!). it's feeling comfortable. now if we could just get ALL the boxes unpacked, ALL the pictures on the walls, some decisions on more paint colors, and buy a few (or more) things that we need...we'd be in even better shape!<br /><br />the kids have adjusted really well. especially maya who...HALLELUJAH!!!...is sleeping in her own big girl bed. it was a thousand times easier than we anticipated, considering she slept every single night of her almost two year life in our bed and practically in my arms. she more often than not sleeps through the night and if she does wake up, it's best if aa goes in to get her settled as he can be in and out in a few minutes (as long as he doesn't fall asleep on the floor!). she prefers us to lay and snuggle her until she is asleep when going to bed, but aa and i both now snuggle her for a few minutes and then tell her "i'll be right back" to leave her on her own to fall asleep. i actually have to tell her that i need to brush my teeth and i'll be right back and that will somehow alleviate any tears. i won't lie...sometimes i miss her...but i couldn't be more thrilled to have our bed back. it's such a treat and my back and neck are happy too! kellen has been pretty good, although the combination of a too scary halloween story and a new house with new noises and shadows has had him a little fearful and calling out for us to make sure no one was coming in and that the shadows were nothing to be afraid of...err. just when we get one sleeping better the other has trouble!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1VqWerKAV9fo1eOMGQBWEBd5nnmDcBxx5JJQ7vLwhFN8sx0VDZGnuiN2gImGyzpRBR9QE5_CqEiMKAa_wTDo0rQS782a8lgMSN3tOrybMxeRiRyc7GPwFQMWu_2j9xhUlZGRnzRSK3Nk/s1600/2011-08-13.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 600px; HEIGHT: 450px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670267193342643426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1VqWerKAV9fo1eOMGQBWEBd5nnmDcBxx5JJQ7vLwhFN8sx0VDZGnuiN2gImGyzpRBR9QE5_CqEiMKAa_wTDo0rQS782a8lgMSN3tOrybMxeRiRyc7GPwFQMWu_2j9xhUlZGRnzRSK3Nk/s800/2011-08-13.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#333333;"><em>i took a picture of each of the kids in their bed before we moved and then a shot of each of the kids fast asleep in their own new rooms on their own new beds (really mattresses on the floor at the time!).</em> </span></span><br /><br />to make things really exciting...the week we moved was also kellen's first day of preschool! it was a big day and i won't lie...i felt a little emotional, but let's face it...i dropped him off at stringer (the nike child development center) for 9-10 hours a day, four days every week for 2 full years. but, we had been home together for the last full year and it definitely seems like such a milestone! we chose a great, play-based preschool called small friends. it's pretty hands on, as the parents volunteer in the school once every 4-5 weeks (which i really love) and the teachers seem wonderful (have been there for 15 and 20+ years). he is loving it and i think we both wish it was either a little longer or at least one more day per week. right now in the younger class he goes just tuesday/thursday from 8:30-11:45. he will often ask us if it's a school day yet! here are some pics from his first day:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoNlPccI9RN7amP0K7-mYFFFwl6sTv7CUTL5b7oZWtDxlxryWMXeXi6Wjz-6q1p1y7o_4bTS7sweF4Glkw3DyF2ESfbxCZZsrE11_dxczJ2IAnY7DAB2xqhySu4zQpSNvmEyXREMU1NnM/s1600/IMG_5812.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 600px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670266512840386722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoNlPccI9RN7amP0K7-mYFFFwl6sTv7CUTL5b7oZWtDxlxryWMXeXi6Wjz-6q1p1y7o_4bTS7sweF4Glkw3DyF2ESfbxCZZsrE11_dxczJ2IAnY7DAB2xqhySu4zQpSNvmEyXREMU1NnM/s800/IMG_5812.JPG" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><em><span style="color:#333333;">big preschooler - ready to tackle the first day of school...after the first night in our new house!</span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#333333;"></span></em></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1tsKYuAba8cRRZB8rNlx75m_qMh8mokqwAWWsTG7ye95mZE9L4g6bKXC3YoafHoAd0hIh7T0bYflFjbgghFbjNLj_5WDuxKk5pJBGM09ZRFbABHVhULeRY9hDyQk2j8zX2URHUwCe8ZA/s1600/IMG_5819.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 600px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670266521267697074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1tsKYuAba8cRRZB8rNlx75m_qMh8mokqwAWWsTG7ye95mZE9L4g6bKXC3YoafHoAd0hIh7T0bYflFjbgghFbjNLj_5WDuxKk5pJBGM09ZRFbABHVhULeRY9hDyQk2j8zX2URHUwCe8ZA/s800/IMG_5819.JPG" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><em><span style="color:#333333;">little sister getting in on the picture taking action...notice the lock box still on the door and maya's pj's and crocs!</span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#333333;"></span></em><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Nf5iXrfuUW5KB-3Iib27E8kMPrBv4mZiDQfzqouWwMjpaJLsXd4ARqa9w1FgoifXLO2AghqR641DkKVCYuXW6Ltl-Jl5BOEX811mKkJJ6tzM87_uXs3saxC4ND97rC6K7fqpdXLqd5Q/s1600/IMG_5832.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 600px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670266538020983202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Nf5iXrfuUW5KB-3Iib27E8kMPrBv4mZiDQfzqouWwMjpaJLsXd4ARqa9w1FgoifXLO2AghqR641DkKVCYuXW6Ltl-Jl5BOEX811mKkJJ6tzM87_uXs3saxC4ND97rC6K7fqpdXLqd5Q/s800/IMG_5832.JPG" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><em><span style="color:#333333;">getting comfortable in the classroom with dad at the potato head table</span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#333333;"></span></em><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheww44Dc8-8lNwLo2W4C2AdDxiBOZWE-5mYivwYHxXwrXLJY9Wb_wStu9uIrxevl39QKB03uJ1TB777Fx23AoycpVD3j4d4zwuf-tMe8HHVQH20HCgA3rOyWJQ4QFu5FsnwER5gNKpEL8/s1600/IMG_5841.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 600px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670267186225463682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheww44Dc8-8lNwLo2W4C2AdDxiBOZWE-5mYivwYHxXwrXLJY9Wb_wStu9uIrxevl39QKB03uJ1TB777Fx23AoycpVD3j4d4zwuf-tMe8HHVQH20HCgA3rOyWJQ4QFu5FsnwER5gNKpEL8/s800/IMG_5841.JPG" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><em><span style="color:#333333;">maya running through the halls of kellen's school! </span></em></span><br /><br />in other news, aa and i both turned 35 in october...sounds sorta old, but we really don't have time to dwell on it. and i honestly don't have any problem with getting older (at least yet!). definitely feels like a milestone...so much closer to 40! we talked about taking a little trip - maybe to sf...but it's looking like we'll take a kid-free night or two to the beach and save our pennies for the house. it's crazy to think that when we met we were 19 (nearly 20) years old...and yet here we are, solidly in our mid-thirties, with two little darlings and a lot to be thankful for - especially each other!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ykCE0y9tVyRR1gMUhanr_Pebu3ZsmN4q4PFP3WegcyBaTFUwzWeucqyc17uklZoB8gLHXPk0KYRwzx4QtR2-CnD1NuPvI3Y-JOihePOk6GRwc9ZAktFcoQI87quqNYU2l6Ub6FibTIU/s1600/IMG_5892.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 600px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670274421525038018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ykCE0y9tVyRR1gMUhanr_Pebu3ZsmN4q4PFP3WegcyBaTFUwzWeucqyc17uklZoB8gLHXPk0KYRwzx4QtR2-CnD1NuPvI3Y-JOihePOk6GRwc9ZAktFcoQI87quqNYU2l6Ub6FibTIU/s800/IMG_5892.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5i_Wj4MXPCqaaNOgmjMoeX6MsLIpD-FcTvPMw3y-kaqv9gIPNt4OIAnpAl633JPl8wvS7BSNo-sA4pztJXd3YHmMMoTLOzFPI2B5F-O2poRVlKLc9Mp5Z_L1yb4Y_M6C-tTvrcTQpllY/s1600/IMG_6223.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 600px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670274413074006050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5i_Wj4MXPCqaaNOgmjMoeX6MsLIpD-FcTvPMw3y-kaqv9gIPNt4OIAnpAl633JPl8wvS7BSNo-sA4pztJXd3YHmMMoTLOzFPI2B5F-O2poRVlKLc9Mp5Z_L1yb4Y_M6C-tTvrcTQpllY/s800/IMG_6223.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br />...and how could i even mention my birthday without mentioning our big TWO year old??? i'm sure this deserves a post of it's own...but let's be honest, if i wait it might not happen! ugh. october 21st is really about my girl. i can hardly believe she's two...it's flown by and yet feels like she came into this world just yesterday. she's the sweetest, fiestiest thing ever. she weighs 21 pounds 10 ounces...actually up to 24th percentile on the growth chart, but still quite a peanut. her height is 32 inches (and i didn't catch the percentile on that one...typically second child slight!). some of her favorite phrases are: "me do it" or "maya do it" (and watch out if you don't let her!), "how about me" (or how about maya/nellen/mama/dada...the girl is always looking out for her fam!), "no, nellen" (her second version of kellen...at first it was nennen) and "go duckies!". she has very strong opinions about almost everything...especially what she wears and what she eats. she talks up a storm, loves her big brother, is both a mama's girl and daddy's girl...but at different times. her favorite books in the last few months are: 10 little dinosaurs, my car, baby faces and baby born. her two year molars have yet to make an appearance. she loves to eat protein (chicken, turkey, salami, eggs, peanut butter...straight from the jar!) and isn't a huge fan of whole grains, although rice is pretty good. she's a total junk food junkie - chips, candy, cookies, chocolate, cupcakes, ice cream...you name it, she doesn't seem to have ANY problem eating any of those options. she LOVES babies...and will randomly name off her favorite babies - baby tato, baby adelynn, baby molly, baby nammy, etc. she doesn't however love baby dolls or really anything very "girly". anything her brother loves - she loves. for example, thomas the train, lightning mcqueen, etc. she'll push trains or cars around in her little doll stroller all day long. when given an option to do anything, she will usually ask to play trains and build tracks...just like her nellen.<br /><br />all she wanted for her birthday was ime meam (ice cream) and bawoons (balloons)...so because I did nothing for her for her first birthday (well a little family party...but nothing with any friends) and since we had just moved...we invited some of her favorite baby friends and some of my favorite mamas over to a playdate birthday party...complete with ime cream sundaes and a balloon animal making clown. the clown was a hit with most of the kids...although it did frighten a couple of them! it was utter chaos with 19 children 3.5 and younger, but loads of fun. maya wasn't sure at first, but warmed up right away. and after talking for weeks about wanting balloons...was too overwhelmed by it all to want one when it was time.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiozedQx7rmCk0Jld5urvdzm196Fx5k_CKSGQrjHBnf_NK5m9vr7ObRN0h3amb1CSNvhFRKySbo9RvFupHvcoSuoDmdvW3KUTbE7yPt0TyWVcEtO16PoNfefdpiV2KL4GtM-Lb4rfMKYnw/s1600/IMG_6145-1.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 600px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670286548531982354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiozedQx7rmCk0Jld5urvdzm196Fx5k_CKSGQrjHBnf_NK5m9vr7ObRN0h3amb1CSNvhFRKySbo9RvFupHvcoSuoDmdvW3KUTbE7yPt0TyWVcEtO16PoNfefdpiV2KL4GtM-Lb4rfMKYnw/s800/IMG_6145-1.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9sYF5sDSFhNofIKDmHZcMwI_RRtSPSWh6_tVFcRgQ06D_ra3d98Ykq7O1DJueNNqsSiE4RC503hS0LbgUKfBz3R96R0-V9FUiqxc3O_WpS6OFc25Yz9Ga85SWn6lPVSja5qao3cOcXbE/s1600/IMG_6154.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 600px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670286577057074418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9sYF5sDSFhNofIKDmHZcMwI_RRtSPSWh6_tVFcRgQ06D_ra3d98Ykq7O1DJueNNqsSiE4RC503hS0LbgUKfBz3R96R0-V9FUiqxc3O_WpS6OFc25Yz9Ga85SWn6lPVSja5qao3cOcXbE/s800/IMG_6154.JPG" /></a><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#333333;">and here she is...hiding behind the couch, not so certain of what is going on with the clown!</span></em><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioM8JuUd9kYa-UHoxNciT3CGAv_4awtX5Xt2OWuCcUJYaBhFJcZx8Pl6MTYN6chKuWmd2JD-HzyfdaDvudvojppv3KSlW12PMgSrFl0Y5NgrRSEti9fRyKWM434wwtt4W5ULiO5WwRuYk/s1600/IMG_6173.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 600px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670286556907580018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioM8JuUd9kYa-UHoxNciT3CGAv_4awtX5Xt2OWuCcUJYaBhFJcZx8Pl6MTYN6chKuWmd2JD-HzyfdaDvudvojppv3KSlW12PMgSrFl0Y5NgrRSEti9fRyKWM434wwtt4W5ULiO5WwRuYk/s800/IMG_6173.JPG" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><em><span style="color:#333333;">"two!!!" ...and those are rice crispy treats, orange because of the strange pumpkin marshmallows the kids picked out!</span></em><br /><br /></span>on sunday, we ended the birthday celebrations with a family birthday lunch...full of paninis, homemade soups and ice cream cake with yummy toppings!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj1fXew2NGFAIa7netDI9liPl1nTiSmXmTlh8_siqBWJ4kmBSggZyp1-m5uRzOyFtv32roJnVmkjiF0ByMzwA5ojiWoAb_7NBEvLsKLrxcte1qKjMBOkbgbbw1irzQZ8pl8aUAm4mUMC0/s1600/IMG_6259.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 600px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670291311819934146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj1fXew2NGFAIa7netDI9liPl1nTiSmXmTlh8_siqBWJ4kmBSggZyp1-m5uRzOyFtv32roJnVmkjiF0ByMzwA5ojiWoAb_7NBEvLsKLrxcte1qKjMBOkbgbbw1irzQZ8pl8aUAm4mUMC0/s800/IMG_6259.JPG" /></a><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#333333;">topping choices, minus the gummy bears...which were devoured on friday!</span></em><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinX792PbK2w_TyML1RZQPfp8T1Fg6a5UB3HSoXJ2DKu_1IFkG8KhenbPTmZQVnp0oXwI52BilujlUfQbStgIE_4-FKWhQpQyYCWUurqe1-AiKScpxAuScqptG6FXKVBwSHDUMX7bz8O50/s1600/IMG_6266.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 600px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670291321190222674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinX792PbK2w_TyML1RZQPfp8T1Fg6a5UB3HSoXJ2DKu_1IFkG8KhenbPTmZQVnp0oXwI52BilujlUfQbStgIE_4-FKWhQpQyYCWUurqe1-AiKScpxAuScqptG6FXKVBwSHDUMX7bz8O50/s800/IMG_6266.JPG" /></a><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#333333;">enjoying every last bite of her ice cream cake with papa!</span></em><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi31rtH63dowIUBJuGrowrNG44RUKcNgw52MFk6mhHcFj5RmwnDRXSWPj2JQqUo5bs0jx2BDNyNvbWC6WGWvOUpXCn87dJaejQo0DD8BR7SGvoPNmfEjnXTgskqI6umnCcflYb6LeKaHVU/s1600/IMG_6270.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 600px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670291334007347042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi31rtH63dowIUBJuGrowrNG44RUKcNgw52MFk6mhHcFj5RmwnDRXSWPj2JQqUo5bs0jx2BDNyNvbWC6WGWvOUpXCn87dJaejQo0DD8BR7SGvoPNmfEjnXTgskqI6umnCcflYb6LeKaHVU/s800/IMG_6270.JPG" /></a><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#333333;">this year she had NO problem getting into the present opening! </span></em><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeSiqRN302H2zHtmP0CNc62P1I8o5TS7F4PrbyTHpKib0oaj7yd8mxsDI3s3EOWbpMoiH8CoWZAp1N0KL59HwEDX_Lbhp1bx_ULSDUOIEdG0Y0Z1aebiKIai9JE_YTPQ1O9aJUD_0WKGA/s1600/IMG_6283.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 600px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670291352228435170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeSiqRN302H2zHtmP0CNc62P1I8o5TS7F4PrbyTHpKib0oaj7yd8mxsDI3s3EOWbpMoiH8CoWZAp1N0KL59HwEDX_Lbhp1bx_ULSDUOIEdG0Y0Z1aebiKIai9JE_YTPQ1O9aJUD_0WKGA/s800/IMG_6283.JPG" /></a><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#333333;">enjoying some fun times with uncle bry...otherwise known as "oh bry!"</span></em><br /><br /><span style="color:#000000;">as i said on my facebook update on our birthday...my baby girl decided to make an early appearance and surprise me on my birthday. at the time, i wasn't totally thrilled. today (oct. 21, 2011), i think it's the greatest thing ever and can't wait for all the birthday celebrations to come.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#000000;">it's true...i truly hoped she'd hold off until oct. 22 that night, but nope...11:57 pm she was pulled outta me and i really couldn't believe it. and now i feel so lucky to share the day with her. i envision mani/pedi's, shopping sprees and many more exciting adventures as she gets older for our big day. and with that...i'll try to post halloween pictures/updates before december arrives! no promises though...clearly that would not be worth betting on me for that! </span>Aa, A, K & Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09206189762294846454noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6135822543215307926.post-4048088223120401932011-09-08T23:44:00.000-07:002011-09-09T00:46:32.778-07:00busy!ah. life is so busy. i often wonder what i was thinking when i thought my college days were SO busy. i wish i could tell my younger self that i seriously had NO idea! two classes a day, four days a week, couldn't work out until 2 in the afternoon...rough life that girl had! perspective. i mean, i wish i could tell my only slightly younger self how easy one kid was...aa and i had good quality time with our boy, work was still somewhat manageable, we could get time together, some time to ourself, life was good...but it seemed SO stressful. perspective. now, life is crazy busy, we barely have time to shower or pee by ourselves, i had/got to quit my job cause two kids and my crazy job were just not meshing, despite my extreme exhaustion, i find myself up past midnight because it's the only time i have a silent moment to myself and i still have a to do list a mile long. perspective. i'm sure in 18 years, i'd die to be back in my almost 35 year old shoes with my almost 2 and 4 year old. perspective.<br /><br />but once again, that is not what this post is about. i'm trying to do a bit of catch up on this little ol' blog...if anyone is still reading! we've had SO much going on - i finally took a break from the little side gig i've been doing since april and in the meantime, we've bought a new house, rented our current little house and are getting ready to hightail it out of here in the next few days. it's with mixed emotion that we do this and it's frankly LONG overdue. poor miss maya never has had a space of her own and because she was such a terrible sleeper early on, she has gotten mighty used to cozying up between aa and i. i/we tolerated it for almost two years now since we were somewhat in survival mode and we were getting sleep and it wasn't like we really had space to give her a room of her own. now almost two years in, we are O.V.E.R it. we never intended to co-sleep and while i justified it in that she was my last baby and it really was kind of sweet to snuggle with her...we're ready to take back our bed for ourselves and get her to sleep through the night. in fact, we are so over it that the poor girl ends up sleeping on the couch for as long as she will until she wakes and then i bring her into our bed. AND...last week, sept 4 she actually slept through the night, ALL night from 8:30 - 7am on the couch...first time ever at the age of 22 months. poor baby girl...on the couch, but let me tell you, it felt so good to sleep in the bed without her! anyway...that is not what this post is about (ha!)<br /><br />i just wanted to do a tiny bit of catch up from the last couple of months, starting with fourth of july (seriously, how embarrassing is that...blogging two months later? but this blog is mostly for me and documenting some of these things so i have it years down the road...and i've always been a bit of a procrastinator anyway!).<br /><br />this year was super fun - 4 of july that is...reminded me of the joy it was when i was a kid. k and m were both really into it, but especially k. i bought a few little firecrackers and we decided to take them to the "big" fireworks show at tigard high school. after a VERY long wait...the fireworks started and literally 5 min in (and over 2 hours past his bedtime) k asked to go home. so we trekked our way back to the car! the highlight was probably the $10 worth of fireworks that i bought at the grocery store and aa set off in front of our house in the broad daylight! the kids loved em.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMOv5DY_BuN6yHRyjGYwzcdygemyrkmhdd9U3o89PipCaNkVslh59zgxagvSyIEOxCJJNXUHGwRYpitBbnjnR_qtUFhBPhhwvRJayK2gZmSDubwi6L_vhmFOrlnMcX2D6OLpqu5jp-TMg/s1600/IMG_5367.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 600px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5650252536856570562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMOv5DY_BuN6yHRyjGYwzcdygemyrkmhdd9U3o89PipCaNkVslh59zgxagvSyIEOxCJJNXUHGwRYpitBbnjnR_qtUFhBPhhwvRJayK2gZmSDubwi6L_vhmFOrlnMcX2D6OLpqu5jp-TMg/s800/IMG_5367.JPG" /></a><br />"our stash!"<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaZaqkulPJibvSSgUJ6uzGjpsKh6z1xPEAwlcOY7wbzrBUF4H4BQV2u5j-jg5nS6wW2R5pYuorm4LcnU604UV1HXTe3tyjj4KKsz30d8O6M4TyEw97kvZtfKJc_Zn70rCH-DkfZnqiDjQ/s1600/IMG_5377.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 600px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5650252544833950034" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaZaqkulPJibvSSgUJ6uzGjpsKh6z1xPEAwlcOY7wbzrBUF4H4BQV2u5j-jg5nS6wW2R5pYuorm4LcnU604UV1HXTe3tyjj4KKsz30d8O6M4TyEw97kvZtfKJc_Zn70rCH-DkfZnqiDjQ/s800/IMG_5377.JPG" /></a><br />"first sparkler...loved it!"<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH8K7RMbw0L2qqchCSy-Utzbsq88YlqYatMJ8dUIGCUZIgd0iXYTbPuPlG261l36JVakFdOKmZAO-GTozyxdvCfjhgvi6Mda5GqAQkza59N0mtpvuy1j2X_-HFMMRfrxDEUcDrCQR93YY/s1600/IMG_5381.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 600px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5650252562550743330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH8K7RMbw0L2qqchCSy-Utzbsq88YlqYatMJ8dUIGCUZIgd0iXYTbPuPlG261l36JVakFdOKmZAO-GTozyxdvCfjhgvi6Mda5GqAQkza59N0mtpvuy1j2X_-HFMMRfrxDEUcDrCQR93YY/s800/IMG_5381.JPG" /></a><br />"smoke bomb!"<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivHy9S76Lc7xz-w-YrDg9xL1BUqxTBROg7xHzxGSmBYuyGLITrhCCuQLmqe2HLXdc0Nu7TnPlaPj0FNrSodJtuoTHFSzxkIhdHvvQLeBeA2bW3mOpmax5STPeBnn5PjrQ2FB0tEAMzzco/s1600/IMG_5394.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 600px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5650252550448684418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivHy9S76Lc7xz-w-YrDg9xL1BUqxTBROg7xHzxGSmBYuyGLITrhCCuQLmqe2HLXdc0Nu7TnPlaPj0FNrSodJtuoTHFSzxkIhdHvvQLeBeA2bW3mOpmax5STPeBnn5PjrQ2FB0tEAMzzco/s800/IMG_5394.JPG" /></a><br />"loving every bit of it! please note her festive dress...saved and thankfully remembered from a mini boden purchase nearly a year earlier!"<br /><br />this summer we've also tried to get out and explore some of the many different spray/water parks around the city. seriously, where were these when we were kids?!! one sunday we headed out to lake oswego millenium park and let the kids splash around and followed it up with a happy hour at <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.blastburger.com">blast burger</a>. i highly recommend both activities! we all shared a kiddie burger and fries, the kids had a root beer float (a first and a HUGE hit!) and aa and i had a beer or two. great little spot, good food and drinks and fab outdoor seating.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDDhCtAhZfF6Rl9VePPqV2RO3p6pfNPrMeD32XB3AnYwdcmJW1ZyAYDsw8hNB6Z1B-Y4YLN37JJrDbvdZR_nSvIa4TXPqU89N11qzUx3oCRQNAJ5VyLODS_aLJBCdhXW0OvTlAAvGlaOY/s1600/2011-07-30.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 640px; HEIGHT: 480px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5650260310815712034" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDDhCtAhZfF6Rl9VePPqV2RO3p6pfNPrMeD32XB3AnYwdcmJW1ZyAYDsw8hNB6Z1B-Y4YLN37JJrDbvdZR_nSvIa4TXPqU89N11qzUx3oCRQNAJ5VyLODS_aLJBCdhXW0OvTlAAvGlaOY/s800/2011-07-30.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br />and yes, we bought a new house. it feels like it took so long, but really it was a pretty fast process. only looked at 12 houses in person (after LOTS of passive looking online) and found a great, great house (at least we think/hope so!). doesn't fit the search criteria that we had initally set forth, but we think it'll be a great place for us to be for as long or as little time as we want to be there...excited to move and start making it our home. a little bittersweet as we've been packing up our things - especially caught off guard by the emotion that was stirred up as we took the things off of kellen's walls and realized that some of the art pieces might not go back up in his new big boy bedroom. anyway, i'll write more about the new house as we get moved in (we actually already own the home...ah...hard to believe we own TWO homes (!), but get the keys on monday after a rentback) and settled (hopefully it won't take as long as the fourth of july pictures!). so with that...i'm off to bed!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoUKchoHAzwNEJlXiboIzFbX677u10T_gYPGc1WtFGwYP32IIuZg72TKtbnrDz9mK06PHHfZ0Rt_Z_o9gL2SgH1Tlo6HSvkuJiin4xP3C9TsLKSv2fpeAz7g4RtuGsyIMWblJsYGlDGuM/s1600/IMG_5512.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 600px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5650262731932944386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoUKchoHAzwNEJlXiboIzFbX677u10T_gYPGc1WtFGwYP32IIuZg72TKtbnrDz9mK06PHHfZ0Rt_Z_o9gL2SgH1Tlo6HSvkuJiin4xP3C9TsLKSv2fpeAz7g4RtuGsyIMWblJsYGlDGuM/s800/IMG_5512.JPG" /></a><br /><br />xoxoAa, A, K & Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09206189762294846454noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6135822543215307926.post-26953591898581486032011-08-23T14:36:00.000-07:002011-08-28T21:49:34.623-07:00cloth<div>
<br /><div>of all the things i could blog about right now (4th of july, our new house, all the summer fun we've been having...), i choose cloth diapers! ha. i've been meaning to update on this for a long time and i figure i need to soon before diapers are a thing of the past. yep, i actually see a light at the end of the tunnel in regards to diapers. not sure if it's a girl thing or the fact that maya watches kellen go to the bathroom...but this girl has been going on the potty now since she was about 18 months old. the first time i thought it was a fluke...she said poo poo and pointed to her booty. i asked her if she wanted to go sit on the potty and lo and behold, the girl pooped! now she goes anywhere from 1- 4 times a day. she almost always goes first thing when she wakes up and often her diaper is dry in the morning. crazy - probably the only thing that is holding her back from being fully potty trained is me!!! it's so much work out and about ensuring that two are all set potty wise and that there are no accidents. but, moving on...this post is not about potty training!</div>
<br /><div></div>
<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuZdGdrP5UV7yywzXds39F65B3HwF3kILnfrYQx1Kz-R_EHm5swqklZZrA2FE0kj5DHpymVoJDGwDEnHzNkxUPLAi1PueHMngxnPvWU6gHCou2w5BYi3b0wX6wD86iTe8cpbb0lYqRuAo/s1600/IMG_3898-2.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 600px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644178585627137778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuZdGdrP5UV7yywzXds39F65B3HwF3kILnfrYQx1Kz-R_EHm5swqklZZrA2FE0kj5DHpymVoJDGwDEnHzNkxUPLAi1PueHMngxnPvWU6gHCou2w5BYi3b0wX6wD86iTe8cpbb0lYqRuAo/s800/IMG_3898-2.JPG" /></a>
<br />
<br /></div>
<br /><div>it's about my switch to cloth diapers...almost a year ago!!! after much research and good intention, i finally switched to cloth after i quit my job (seriously, it's been almost a full year now!) and probably a good four months after i bought my first FOUR cloth diapers! there is no denying, a cloth diaper booty is way cute and really, the laundry hasn't been bad. but it is a lot of extra laundry. i probably wash diapes 2-3 times a week and it takes two cycles (1 cold wash with extra rinse, followed by 1 hot wash with extra rinse). in terms of better for the environment, i feel SO good about not putting bags of paper diapers in our trash, but there is a lot more water usage.</div>
<br /><div>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJo4f-XEvrwRP_7_J04N_S5zenNE40UrmXyJQOOoUBsg1xuZC5TnwUv8YXs5YdlHLObfIw3JzxsY6I3aoeG_J5IIU79OgHkQngqTVFIwd8N08i2N-XYM-akMF35EbbdBM4WuwBhvSpfjk/s1600/IMG_5346.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 600px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644171807571227986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJo4f-XEvrwRP_7_J04N_S5zenNE40UrmXyJQOOoUBsg1xuZC5TnwUv8YXs5YdlHLObfIw3JzxsY6I3aoeG_J5IIU79OgHkQngqTVFIwd8N08i2N-XYM-akMF35EbbdBM4WuwBhvSpfjk/s800/IMG_5346.JPG" /></a> </div>
<br /><div>
<br />i went with mostly pocket diapers...fuzzibunz are my faves, but we also have a blueberry and some katydid diapers. i have a few all in one, which i didn't care for as much, but have found they make a really great night time diaper. i also have a couple of bamboo fitted diapers that require a cover and for that i have a few thirsties duo covers! on top of not having to buy paper diapers, i bought most of these diapers on super sale via daily deal sites or amazon (got several practically for FREE when they had $10 off purchase and 30% off diapers coupons in magazine...those were total scores!). </div>
<br /><div>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitcQhMJcUGYp9oCOwRBtABqVMOfbubl_PBhJWRkM9GZBl4Ev4nTshKDKlH26USV00QSd1tzgwoOAx1S-2_C8QX4Qn3cWeribqLcjClaY3k8jZ0utLFyLOGNNbQkCAvlpaju2AIadU5cPU/s1600/IMG_3666-2.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 600px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644178590488035810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitcQhMJcUGYp9oCOwRBtABqVMOfbubl_PBhJWRkM9GZBl4Ev4nTshKDKlH26USV00QSd1tzgwoOAx1S-2_C8QX4Qn3cWeribqLcjClaY3k8jZ0utLFyLOGNNbQkCAvlpaju2AIadU5cPU/s800/IMG_3666-2.JPG" /></a> </div>
<br /><div>
<br />almost a year into it and my diapers are holding up really well...although i think they are starting to stink a bit! need to figure that out...but all in all, i'm so happy and proud of myself for making the switch. i did buy a pack of diapers when we went on vacay to hawaii and i have some left from that. we use a paper diaper every now and then when i don't have any clean/dry diapers or when i think her booty just needs a break (the moisture doesn't wick away from the skin with cloth like it does with paper). now if i can just muster the energy to potty train this girl, we'll say goodbye to the cloth and hello undies forevah!</div></div>
<br />Aa, A, K & Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09206189762294846454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6135822543215307926.post-84155284598086891822011-07-28T14:48:00.000-07:002011-07-29T17:57:49.159-07:00wowee...<p>MAUI! i'm so late in posting about our maui vacation...what fun we had (no post would do it justice!). 11 days/10 nights in paradise. we have our friends the schmole's to thank for giving us the motivation to take the trip. ironically, we had been thinking about going to hawaii with the two babes before maya turned 2 (and thus required a paid plane ticket!) and after we they told us about how difficult their trip in december with their two babes we decided somewhere a little closer would probably be best. when they suggested we all go together, we were a little surprised (given their trip in december!)...but took little influencing to make it happen! another family friend of ours also met up with us in lahaina (after a week or so on kauai!) and stayed in the same condo complex as ours (they were next door, but quickly moved out of that crap hole and into a more updated unit!).<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1c6V6YkF8CnutMjy8cLLTRBwt0tKcWi1hf4g3EuSZ1FKci0wgxrneex4yOqGKyYpNyQM1L_jcJLw-WAHUY4c3sa4KAEbpsViytt56DCh5toGeY5PhCXd6rNjH8IKSi0DPttt-0tSfhmY/s1600/IMG_4470.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 600px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624126605549304338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1c6V6YkF8CnutMjy8cLLTRBwt0tKcWi1hf4g3EuSZ1FKci0wgxrneex4yOqGKyYpNyQM1L_jcJLw-WAHUY4c3sa4KAEbpsViytt56DCh5toGeY5PhCXd6rNjH8IKSi0DPttt-0tSfhmY/s800/IMG_4470.JPG" /></a><br />the first 7 nights we stayed in 3 bedroom condo in lahaina with our friends - who have 2 boys, each approximately 3 weeks younger than our kids. sure, it was hectic at times with two three year olds and two one year olds...but so, so fun to have playmates and another family who knew what to expect with vacationing with little ones! we had the perfect balance of hanging and exploring together and then downtime on our own. we even managed to pull off a night out for the six adults - thanks to an awesome sitter that we hired through an agency (brilliant idea, mandy and kari!). it was pretty great to be able to enjoy an amazing meal in the company of good friends with an incredible view and setting! if you are in maui, i highly recommend merriman's in kapalua - and get the pina colada...you won't be sorry!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiueW5JXcHLb11AjOZ0TM4MyLXm6vXwStddny1dSomFhQQLMnMKu_LyK6wFAP83j7JXlAMtJm2f7ap_JpMoBWm4JdgzGjOstWOggnmuxsWkiE7lvu9AMhe8VV2ILCsbo1JuwPtqKJt5Tfc/s1600/IMG_4628.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 600px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624126611842061378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiueW5JXcHLb11AjOZ0TM4MyLXm6vXwStddny1dSomFhQQLMnMKu_LyK6wFAP83j7JXlAMtJm2f7ap_JpMoBWm4JdgzGjOstWOggnmuxsWkiE7lvu9AMhe8VV2ILCsbo1JuwPtqKJt5Tfc/s800/IMG_4628.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br />after we said goodbye to our friends, we had 3 more nights. thanks to my old banfield job, i had some hotel points to use. unfortunately they were at two different resorts, but the savings was worth it! so we stayed 2 nights in wailea at the marriott and 1 night at the westin in kaanapali. after the first week in a condo, it was nice to be in a resort with the different pools and beautiful grounds. one afternoon aa and i each traded about an hour of alone time at the adult pool. we were both looking forward to it, but honestly i ended my time early because i was a little lonely and missing my peeps! aa ended up feeling the same! now if aa and i could have been alone together, i'm sure it would have been a different story...but unfortunately the sitter we had used earlier was not available.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgygKgxU-5-OKqcabP3u_XIc75ny7bXxKt-_qnG6gooU9UhorFP0v2gynCccPbCpn10EUcqURPgbl3wQS0GJowL3sIG0ST1fPNwEFUAKuYUZ38vbdjt426FoeHH8C2SIf9YcxMM6XX16jM/s1600/IMG_5105.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 600px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624138041144253666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgygKgxU-5-OKqcabP3u_XIc75ny7bXxKt-_qnG6gooU9UhorFP0v2gynCccPbCpn10EUcqURPgbl3wQS0GJowL3sIG0ST1fPNwEFUAKuYUZ38vbdjt426FoeHH8C2SIf9YcxMM6XX16jM/s800/IMG_5105.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br />some of the highlights of the trip:<br /></p><br /><br /><ul><br /><br /><li>shave ice and ice cream in the afternoon with the kid</li><br /><br /><br /><li>ladies night out with the girls...including a stop at the local gelato shop</li><br /><br /><br /><li>a group "hike" at iao valley state park</li><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbn0TPYYMAxvYA5781vN6SkZBsRxWWlxITtzl69yYAKgJvbB5pWkyJOvok7Fl9j1xy0rUiAsBdv_6mIuzMK0B39IbCaUvXaXyS6tzY8mAoyJnnF9qsgersBBouVKzEICRGJBIgKhoOdbQ/s1600/Group+shot.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 600px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624135476099862066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbn0TPYYMAxvYA5781vN6SkZBsRxWWlxITtzl69yYAKgJvbB5pWkyJOvok7Fl9j1xy0rUiAsBdv_6mIuzMK0B39IbCaUvXaXyS6tzY8mAoyJnnF9qsgersBBouVKzEICRGJBIgKhoOdbQ/s800/Group+shot.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><li>deciding to stop at airport beach after the kids had fallen asleep in the car and enjoying some snorkeling and quiet time on the beach while the kids napped under a beach umbrella (they BOTH stayed asleep while we transferred their sleeping selves from carseats to the beach!)</li><br /><br /><br /><li>the above mentioned parent's night out<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe2kptpy-aq0A2-6PSh9yiu2_wFRiEcrxWo7fL6v_XMDDWohyphenhyphenJXzCIRtTOtKsbTO8GLD13ZTv72UUKYPFaMAy9XnPmEf6qAgBmn6mnRAUGouiC24qW_7_3gq8zbBjjBpIK4WA9RbvhSk4/s1600/IMG_1523.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 600px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624135484548010258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe2kptpy-aq0A2-6PSh9yiu2_wFRiEcrxWo7fL6v_XMDDWohyphenhyphenJXzCIRtTOtKsbTO8GLD13ZTv72UUKYPFaMAy9XnPmEf6qAgBmn6mnRAUGouiC24qW_7_3gq8zbBjjBpIK4WA9RbvhSk4/s800/IMG_1523.JPG" /></a></li><br /><br /><br /><br /><li>eating at some of our favorite spots from our last trip to maui - the fish market, honolua store, aloha mixed plate<br /></li><br /><br /><li>watching the little ones play together nicely (and sometimes not so nicely!)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx8Ej9sraJwyVIzNgeNdk9wHEjRPMmf2hg4tVVnLXNiLTtVRYxx4Iek1aCPWKZ2Yu5viynsiXXbbHyEalgIjDQufs8HRALjT6oKTZBDhg8RTnWx_it_6Eg-xOGI2nQNURtkPNWFjYrH_k/s1600/IMG_1385.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 600px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624134945965751410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx8Ej9sraJwyVIzNgeNdk9wHEjRPMmf2hg4tVVnLXNiLTtVRYxx4Iek1aCPWKZ2Yu5viynsiXXbbHyEalgIjDQufs8HRALjT6oKTZBDhg8RTnWx_it_6Eg-xOGI2nQNURtkPNWFjYrH_k/s800/IMG_1385.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSVQlf2i9ZdBQHsqwHkqM0mjfxCPFdb8HN85Ock5TDDqJwpqX3OOfuFhwoyFNGctB3YEvzxbdG3j-EJa1zjGNcNcDZT0u3xMQtkGVpHm6ggvRzrPziJl4ePFNK9r6wo4knxwt7r5Avp9g/s1600/IMG_4603.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 600px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624132869384696146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSVQlf2i9ZdBQHsqwHkqM0mjfxCPFdb8HN85Ock5TDDqJwpqX3OOfuFhwoyFNGctB3YEvzxbdG3j-EJa1zjGNcNcDZT0u3xMQtkGVpHm6ggvRzrPziJl4ePFNK9r6wo4knxwt7r5Avp9g/s800/IMG_4603.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHHpwZqVVYN2dAnAYcxuV7p1ZBX9VFhFFAAAhJZq8uUrrR465qmtisy_ZyIYhOpwnAcRfdtrDmo5Un5yXZQWheX9G-Tp5L5diZFTuB5V4-tBUQsV58fXooX6be0-fOyTXTnmZs_SZf6Ks/s1600/IMG_4617.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 600px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624132863483599122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHHpwZqVVYN2dAnAYcxuV7p1ZBX9VFhFFAAAhJZq8uUrrR465qmtisy_ZyIYhOpwnAcRfdtrDmo5Un5yXZQWheX9G-Tp5L5diZFTuB5V4-tBUQsV58fXooX6be0-fOyTXTnmZs_SZf6Ks/s800/IMG_4617.JPG" /></a><br /></li><br /><br /><li>a couple hours to enjoy a happy hour/dinner alone thanks to mandy and filip watching our kids</li><br /><br /><br /><li>simple but delicious bbq dinners out on the lawn with our good friends</li></ul><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia3CpdS6jjOlHk8xYM5rzdYV0McsJ6lO-08zy0URXjKq85C9sIXA1uKNLl6alS86KIt2fCS8i6SJbMMY8BziCYf9OzdUT8XZJebFi6xk36RF4tcSidwZC_9656ej8TPyT8FO3EMyIRwDU/s1600/IMG_4744.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 600px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624126623105513810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia3CpdS6jjOlHk8xYM5rzdYV0McsJ6lO-08zy0URXjKq85C9sIXA1uKNLl6alS86KIt2fCS8i6SJbMMY8BziCYf9OzdUT8XZJebFi6xk36RF4tcSidwZC_9656ej8TPyT8FO3EMyIRwDU/s800/IMG_4744.JPG" /></a><br /></p><br /><br /><ul><br /><br /><li>lots of fresh pineapple and papaya (maybe mixed with a little coconut rum and ice!)</li><br /><br /><br /><li>exploring the little town of pa'ia after our plans of going to baby beach were foiled when the kids fell asleep in the 5 minutes it took to drive there</li><br /><br /><br /><li>hanging on black rock beach with everyone and watching k squeal with delight as he jumped the waves with his friends</li><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ4379MmKxlrhF9SLCaQLCXM_Ktq7cmN7VTlDerd40rVg1NVUdbhzqVcoEwg85ot7r1HHgMja2sv0I_Az2E60Kwe7I9FUK31WBqyVKiTr3iHqNW5B5Q93zMkQSLkNn-SzYIKLcZ-T2j6A/s1600/IMG_4526.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 600px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624126608829050722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ4379MmKxlrhF9SLCaQLCXM_Ktq7cmN7VTlDerd40rVg1NVUdbhzqVcoEwg85ot7r1HHgMja2sv0I_Az2E60Kwe7I9FUK31WBqyVKiTr3iHqNW5B5Q93zMkQSLkNn-SzYIKLcZ-T2j6A/s800/IMG_4526.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6-cvhhBXxHgY05EhmxdmxduOYSalpmJB1NSdIx8qFtvKSLez64Bh5CmzOZpbeQd9vt_xsGuA9turU8RhU2aVl64nIOowpZw6AKm3z4ifk0IYVyjy7hdaotvFEKLeQIYt293ZxZ7RJJ0s/s1600/IMG_4787.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 600px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624134952503807874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6-cvhhBXxHgY05EhmxdmxduOYSalpmJB1NSdIx8qFtvKSLez64Bh5CmzOZpbeQd9vt_xsGuA9turU8RhU2aVl64nIOowpZw6AKm3z4ifk0IYVyjy7hdaotvFEKLeQIYt293ZxZ7RJJ0s/s800/IMG_4787.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><li>just being together (especially walking along the beach watching the sunset and hanging on the hammock in the evening!)- with young kids, life can be crazy and it's easy to not slow down and enjoy. i'm thankful for the ten days we had together as a family. i know the kids loved having aa for ten whole days...they have been missing him lots and have really been in a daddy mode (no mama...daddy! is something i hear often) upon our return<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiOn0WJAksSeA41FZcUy6yBO-2v_KEfICijs-wfhi1HiiE8xIBKSOMeuOKAb4zwWkCTdSyO1X4gZ-D1OX3l0FcEsdUCTLyUreWhbdnCkqf6EY5hbsvflMDpX27JfMrUmc8T3nEwAnRO70/s1600/IMG_1417.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 600px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624138059701839746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiOn0WJAksSeA41FZcUy6yBO-2v_KEfICijs-wfhi1HiiE8xIBKSOMeuOKAb4zwWkCTdSyO1X4gZ-D1OX3l0FcEsdUCTLyUreWhbdnCkqf6EY5hbsvflMDpX27JfMrUmc8T3nEwAnRO70/s800/IMG_1417.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik7yw4XnYA9OsEM_kDRGzt8Rwz3yK_ddR8dkYr2okv8NCwTXfVosuZ-CX2_JcNk9w09O4vCuaeTczQxdiDk2yTZbcrwT1mvLmlCdZYJNm7XY1Kr7RecW94y9mJuZjwLzAdp-XvcRmAQqs/s1600/IMG_5229.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 600px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624138052249203490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik7yw4XnYA9OsEM_kDRGzt8Rwz3yK_ddR8dkYr2okv8NCwTXfVosuZ-CX2_JcNk9w09O4vCuaeTczQxdiDk2yTZbcrwT1mvLmlCdZYJNm7XY1Kr7RecW94y9mJuZjwLzAdp-XvcRmAQqs/s800/IMG_5229.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnvkUs5mFJLOlY_c2xcxUnQNF_mQZykKSZdyha9TudX45N3VsUj9IitqvTn-HZfGP4Wcf8ktKmlVfZd1wu6kGy-2onRLpAawisRtUWmarXMF34d-4Mspg4qMfijLNnpZhO_2qpZZInG1U/s1600/IMG_5112.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 600px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624138048071994194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnvkUs5mFJLOlY_c2xcxUnQNF_mQZykKSZdyha9TudX45N3VsUj9IitqvTn-HZfGP4Wcf8ktKmlVfZd1wu6kGy-2onRLpAawisRtUWmarXMF34d-4Mspg4qMfijLNnpZhO_2qpZZInG1U/s800/IMG_5112.JPG" /></a><br /></li></ul><br /><br /><p>we've now been back for a month (make that over two months!) and i keep dreaming of our return, especially with this crappy portland summer...AGAIN! until then, i guess we have pictures and a sound machine set to ocean waves!</p>Aa, A, K & Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09206189762294846454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6135822543215307926.post-31750285423795193872011-06-29T14:20:00.001-07:002011-06-30T13:47:38.399-07:00thomasa couple of weekends ago we made the long trek out to hood river to visit a special friend - thomas the train! thomas has been a mild obsession around here for about the last six months or so. i never quite understood the fascination with him (have you seen the show? it's a little strange!), but our boy really loves thomas and all of his friends. we're starting to build quite the little collection here. anyway, thomas comes in real life to hood river once a year, so of course we had to go see what is was all about!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFtrHnqhboh6JXVbvnHkvlBpNA9B-uNknOrbQIltqmhJfhtqo2APqLmcNGNP5K2EtB1uWX4ZorKqFx734KlyLUuMxxpQKLLgFo9JKzBkyQlQ408IEAG2ZiAQfamwlXlDsPCv20IaGWKnM/s1600/2011-06-18.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 600px; HEIGHT: 408px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623790219729743746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFtrHnqhboh6JXVbvnHkvlBpNA9B-uNknOrbQIltqmhJfhtqo2APqLmcNGNP5K2EtB1uWX4ZorKqFx734KlyLUuMxxpQKLLgFo9JKzBkyQlQ408IEAG2ZiAQfamwlXlDsPCv20IaGWKnM/s800/2011-06-18.jpg" /></a><br /><em><span style="color:#666666;">our little engineers!</span></em><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYMdIo6WMk5xrBus47h75k77lqY_b5p3yQniDW2k4JmqE0BboGJIWBidMQ7Qsc01wrK-G6A9tcSPVN2ZYLlVmhl7c8iFmIuFqt2T_mx9CQz9HkmfRPf8S46eeFyEIpR-Nsm7LQ-lNVbz0/s1600/IMG_5287.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 600px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624114616287608402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYMdIo6WMk5xrBus47h75k77lqY_b5p3yQniDW2k4JmqE0BboGJIWBidMQ7Qsc01wrK-G6A9tcSPVN2ZYLlVmhl7c8iFmIuFqt2T_mx9CQz9HkmfRPf8S46eeFyEIpR-Nsm7LQ-lNVbz0/s800/IMG_5287.JPG" /></a><br /><em><span style="color:#666666;">yep, after a few days of sunshine it decided to rain on us. fortunately it stopped while we were doing all of the outside activities.</span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#666666;"></span></em><br />i have to admit, he was pretty cool! we approached the train station and there he was in all his smiling glory! the look on kellen's face made the almost $100 in tickets/paraphernalia totally worthwhile. we were running a little late due to an accident along 84, so we were almost the last ones on the five car steam engine (which actually worked out well as we didn't have to stand in line with all the other thomas fans!). as we took off, the engine had us "help" thomas by chanting push, thomas, push and of course the all familiar thomas music was playing in the background. the actual train ride itself was pretty insignificant (especially since the kids and i had just taken a 35 minute train ride around washington park and the zoo a few days before!). we literally went down the tracks about 10 minutes and then back (with a pull, thomas, pull chant of course!).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Pk4CPPkKbhS8WDJ1h-ZlZai7jdZ3FsY7RkVvFZYQWYyrgG8Ms0J80O2LNY3vR1VN2OrjKpdAqW5g36zmAAofDxkQBUhCGDxpFxoHrJTIiIQPHjoz1_kKA3oLnUBJ7g3ZU4twZGphyphenhyphen3M/s1600/IMG_5302.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 600px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623790206490276242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Pk4CPPkKbhS8WDJ1h-ZlZai7jdZ3FsY7RkVvFZYQWYyrgG8Ms0J80O2LNY3vR1VN2OrjKpdAqW5g36zmAAofDxkQBUhCGDxpFxoHrJTIiIQPHjoz1_kKA3oLnUBJ7g3ZU4twZGphyphenhyphen3M/s800/IMG_5302.JPG" /></a><br /><em><span style="color:#666666;">see the line of people waiting...ya, it went back about 2 full train cars! the "official" picture station is just to the right of the kids and aa!</span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#666666;"></span></em><br />after the train ride you could stand in line with the other 500 passengers to get your picture taken with thomas - starting at only $12! aa was a smart one and pulled us out of the line and took us to the exit, where we could get the same shot with our own camera for free!!! here is the money shot:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigBSkC1Di4IoK1B2HwW0hvAyUtoLcOhJylO5ALP5yArIEbY31VZ6xyXaQqtnf8_1wRWJyLKXULOVdipO51OKkM5MATEuTjm8qZPx4DBOvXB5eAbDCW237NfgtgPR-rb5uppGm3R9TbCOQ/s1600/IMG_5310.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 600px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624114615718495330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigBSkC1Di4IoK1B2HwW0hvAyUtoLcOhJylO5ALP5yArIEbY31VZ6xyXaQqtnf8_1wRWJyLKXULOVdipO51OKkM5MATEuTjm8qZPx4DBOvXB5eAbDCW237NfgtgPR-rb5uppGm3R9TbCOQ/s800/IMG_5310.JPG" /></a><br /><br />we then met sir topham hat, who both frightened and facisnated maya at the same time. she wouldn't go near him, but kept saying "ata hat! ata hat!". i finally figured out she meant sir topham hat and she'd shout it when he was out of her sight. there were also lots of train tables with trains, blocks, a kid sized train to ride, temporary tattoos, coloring, a thomas movie viewing area (which was a highlight for kellen - really did we need to drive to hood river to watch a thomas show!?), story hour, bounce houses (k was not a fan!) and of course the mother load of thomas toys, trains and trinkets under one giant tent. fortunately we made it out of there without having to purchase another train!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnkiGqDX5GPexoSFSZsgbqGuFNP9ZmN12mGswPNMdYlLyiAhJmROYPrwUwPmpUETZ8u-VFtQ4rlTIQPP7Ch08ob8m-Osnv0BK5sa5EbhWySUu1KzxuOFBvw4eO60LN8QkrYP9BmU0IwTw/s1600/IMG_5332.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 600px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623844287346448578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnkiGqDX5GPexoSFSZsgbqGuFNP9ZmN12mGswPNMdYlLyiAhJmROYPrwUwPmpUETZ8u-VFtQ4rlTIQPP7Ch08ob8m-Osnv0BK5sa5EbhWySUu1KzxuOFBvw4eO60LN8QkrYP9BmU0IwTw/s800/IMG_5332.JPG" /></a><br /><em><span style="color:#666666;">love kellen holding maya's hand! also note his diesel 10 tattoo!</span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#666666;"></span></em><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1dOwYshjowtRtTKDovBl-BzhYClkbGWDV5iOIa_WkaZ4Ec5LJ3STq6-SHVu94KTR4Zmw7hSjzar-ac9_o7gOs6zg1qK1tMh_E7mp8ThCBXiocrp9HHeWgyhow-pa-5rSyyFv17bVN_dU/s1600/IMG_5320.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 600px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623790211233034546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1dOwYshjowtRtTKDovBl-BzhYClkbGWDV5iOIa_WkaZ4Ec5LJ3STq6-SHVu94KTR4Zmw7hSjzar-ac9_o7gOs6zg1qK1tMh_E7mp8ThCBXiocrp9HHeWgyhow-pa-5rSyyFv17bVN_dU/s800/IMG_5320.JPG" /></a><br /><br />after a couple of hours of thomas overload it was time for lunch...and a beer! we headed up the hill to big horse brew pub for some grub and then over to mike's ice cream for a little treat before the kids and i settled in for a little nappy on the ride home! all in all, a good day.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUoEBwIskLICCZIRP6QVXqQIxNSr5cmWtvpytvvI8WpHyXID231Vnv5RrT5lrzans2rSLcPiODSsxK1osDWnsss0HJZh956FYBcHGI_6UzjP5D54OyD-8ztKrocs7h6LYOyQVabjwLkpw/s1600/IMG_5340.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 600px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623844280145763026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUoEBwIskLICCZIRP6QVXqQIxNSr5cmWtvpytvvI8WpHyXID231Vnv5RrT5lrzans2rSLcPiODSsxK1osDWnsss0HJZh956FYBcHGI_6UzjP5D54OyD-8ztKrocs7h6LYOyQVabjwLkpw/s800/IMG_5340.JPG" /></a><br /><em><span style="color:#666666;">this girl is trouble!!!</span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#666666;"></span></em><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzojIWp2VsrKAX9912zmx9ZY0eX5dzEQLO6pEOMOfhUXyOeSNdoL6cYkv_aLTerXTVmDvDrK_E4dreJE8S-PA5C_lDZmSfhVTfUzifjR6O8B4F9k8ObamjCIVoD3Lk9rCFxF2mxH0fr0U/s1600/IMG_5339.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 600px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623844284999158898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzojIWp2VsrKAX9912zmx9ZY0eX5dzEQLO6pEOMOfhUXyOeSNdoL6cYkv_aLTerXTVmDvDrK_E4dreJE8S-PA5C_lDZmSfhVTfUzifjR6O8B4F9k8ObamjCIVoD3Lk9rCFxF2mxH0fr0U/s800/IMG_5339.JPG" /></a><br /><em><span style="color:#666666;">kellen's "don't take a picture of me...funny face"</span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#666666;"></span></em><br />**side note: we made the mistake of telling kellen about this little adventure on monday when our thomas engineer hat and whistle arrived in the mail. bad idea. every day, every hour we had to discuss when we were going to see thomas!Aa, A, K & Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09206189762294846454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6135822543215307926.post-90842011325788928412011-06-10T17:25:00.000-07:002011-06-10T20:11:00.675-07:00sneek peaki've sat down several times to document our maui trip and just haven't found the time to complete it! to move on from the below post, here's a sneak peek. we had so much fun!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyhWUOLI_rpCyfYJgVip_oSDCbPNFC41cvWhkGqcFmPO5U3xi6NpfuEDvqMRYT0YLQR0KeMy4hqXHjcSanimAIEqfH7KEPCxTbMA2SZRM9mVI18M_DO6vUsGp9bcxslm2CVHfiWEykyNM/s1600/IMG_4969.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 600px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616776668596541490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyhWUOLI_rpCyfYJgVip_oSDCbPNFC41cvWhkGqcFmPO5U3xi6NpfuEDvqMRYT0YLQR0KeMy4hqXHjcSanimAIEqfH7KEPCxTbMA2SZRM9mVI18M_DO6vUsGp9bcxslm2CVHfiWEykyNM/s800/IMG_4969.JPG" /></a><br />boogie boarding in the grass!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv9APaa8GNoCerKgJx6H_fzTuJM21at_uAy1ZW0wQwbWRCbrX3iC5YzBCgJ5-aayfPKhYsJ8joL0hRMpQt30P5g5LyUIbYMOyLC78YsTQxiCbo8_n-kqX2J-KFc5MKsrw3D8QZY4XQ2Kk/s1600/IMG_4752.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 600px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616776655375102674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv9APaa8GNoCerKgJx6H_fzTuJM21at_uAy1ZW0wQwbWRCbrX3iC5YzBCgJ5-aayfPKhYsJ8joL0hRMpQt30P5g5LyUIbYMOyLC78YsTQxiCbo8_n-kqX2J-KFc5MKsrw3D8QZY4XQ2Kk/s800/IMG_4752.JPG" /></a><br />my hawaiian girl!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW5ow_75l3KTBPaANrB5KVRuZID-tc0ulEp7htZDImjtQq-l7BZHCGQZiEGRmkhfoQUsY53kdz0tpd3AnXlbApL0UHKKHkV9PCf_0qoz_dzphMUWOgY1iUM5GwIxaaL6vNmzoVu6fWs0k/s1600/IMG_4934a.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 600px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616776663238426850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW5ow_75l3KTBPaANrB5KVRuZID-tc0ulEp7htZDImjtQq-l7BZHCGQZiEGRmkhfoQUsY53kdz0tpd3AnXlbApL0UHKKHkV9PCf_0qoz_dzphMUWOgY1iUM5GwIxaaL6vNmzoVu6fWs0k/s800/IMG_4934a.jpg" /></a><br />the kids playing in the shallow waters of baby beach in lahaina<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrpj0W7TTu3l6G6Qn5P-zQ-_dt-pUazKvugnCkIQ5k13LcwYcMd-2Vy1yRIL9gETSmRtHqqPNdF5c30PwB7RfML8pO15XdrcFeZLTM-j4427JTz88h1YgHIfc5wlv7eNUUMDFlnwsJXDw/s1600/IMG_4668.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 600px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616756897607118898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrpj0W7TTu3l6G6Qn5P-zQ-_dt-pUazKvugnCkIQ5k13LcwYcMd-2Vy1yRIL9gETSmRtHqqPNdF5c30PwB7RfML8pO15XdrcFeZLTM-j4427JTz88h1YgHIfc5wlv7eNUUMDFlnwsJXDw/s800/IMG_4668.JPG" /></a><br />enjoying one of many hawaiian shave ice, or "ice sundae" as k liked to call them!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4uBup3o3X3d__qXKasaKDAKfVWMVzbht8jpPfTdNpVP6flB2UTIDB9U03DGSJt_676VDGzEma5gonYirBTXChTkKpeCU_3d-MenLayV9EqVQxPbgjjGKZ3b38YkUoPnL7xzE0yUaE7co/s1600/IMG_4803a.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 600px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616756889999217810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4uBup3o3X3d__qXKasaKDAKfVWMVzbht8jpPfTdNpVP6flB2UTIDB9U03DGSJt_676VDGzEma5gonYirBTXChTkKpeCU_3d-MenLayV9EqVQxPbgjjGKZ3b38YkUoPnL7xzE0yUaE7co/s800/IMG_4803a.jpg" /></a><br />the best nap - right on kaanapali beach with the REAL ocean sound in the background (as opposed to the ocean sound machine we all sleep with every night!).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZJZfPaxLH_nz8duCbLRAfA6xI2KL0nPmZnSD4OVTcyELrLxekuS0XrCK_IeKH8TgNdUT1yf5zXEOtv5EjQI33Kw8Wm3XN7u0XXrMdpiquMOtb-fwufiUIVidQR94AS1QiyT-CF1u0hP4/s1600/IMG_1637a.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 600px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616756882467897938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZJZfPaxLH_nz8duCbLRAfA6xI2KL0nPmZnSD4OVTcyELrLxekuS0XrCK_IeKH8TgNdUT1yf5zXEOtv5EjQI33Kw8Wm3XN7u0XXrMdpiquMOtb-fwufiUIVidQR94AS1QiyT-CF1u0hP4/s800/IMG_1637a.jpg" /></a><br />family pic<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcNfnkraGcp0F7j0-MwrUjlE6xGE_p2qDyC_GE6g23LBT97_9MJH68goTcn8O6F8-slLEQwgw3k6n4GYOr3WjRsBc92dqG3djw-ed7uF5JGZ_WjhNFidLsJzD8nTTp4VdI4QYB8XAnKgU/s1600/IMG_5185.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 600px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616754261113166866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcNfnkraGcp0F7j0-MwrUjlE6xGE_p2qDyC_GE6g23LBT97_9MJH68goTcn8O6F8-slLEQwgw3k6n4GYOr3WjRsBc92dqG3djw-ed7uF5JGZ_WjhNFidLsJzD8nTTp4VdI4QYB8XAnKgU/s800/IMG_5185.JPG" /></a><br />self portrait family pic in the hammock (grumpy maya!)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNEflBgIwsFpWVodbgTZ0yzL55FVseANJpytl6Pxc0otCIqSUL4EEJFk0q8NAFCgqXjO_3okMDcoRdF2xr9916UrQpACqr9JFxY3PdJTNYHT-YdX0nkSrzOFlYBlA75TPF9oZiGHppubg/s1600/IMG_5072.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 600px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616754251052107970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNEflBgIwsFpWVodbgTZ0yzL55FVseANJpytl6Pxc0otCIqSUL4EEJFk0q8NAFCgqXjO_3okMDcoRdF2xr9916UrQpACqr9JFxY3PdJTNYHT-YdX0nkSrzOFlYBlA75TPF9oZiGHppubg/s800/IMG_5072.JPG" /></a><br />daddy and his babies<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhltJzO0Asu-KDJ9N9rFwOqTXH0I8Uxu6-8x5fmjqhgteGrI3mpfMuMZJDBrJQiMD_hBny8pIba0C_JG-S68X3swM87gkO3TPsYBCk90NGmJqHo6mXcmZPfHxJAlHi7Yh0YW59jSaWmbQE/s1600/IMG_4529.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 600px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616754247637942338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhltJzO0Asu-KDJ9N9rFwOqTXH0I8Uxu6-8x5fmjqhgteGrI3mpfMuMZJDBrJQiMD_hBny8pIba0C_JG-S68X3swM87gkO3TPsYBCk90NGmJqHo6mXcmZPfHxJAlHi7Yh0YW59jSaWmbQE/s800/IMG_4529.JPG" /></a><br />mama and m taking a snack break<br /><br />i'll post more details soon!Aa, A, K & Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09206189762294846454noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6135822543215307926.post-13043160148444322632011-05-05T23:34:00.000-07:002011-05-05T23:34:00.640-07:00finallymaya finally has grown an attachment to something other than me! i've been trying basically her whole life to have a lovey (like k has his teddy and blanket). when maya was born and we learned she was a girl...the one thing i wanted was a <a href="http://www.littlegiraffe.com/catalog/categories/categories/blankets/luxe-spotted-blanket/">pink version </a>of the blanket kellen LOVES. i figured since kellen LOVES his blanket so much, maya would love it too. wrong. not that she dislikes that blanket...she could just care less about it. one of many things to remind me that she is a different baby/person than her brother!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEislTbspkOhcC2hvbRT7tCEvi7pLjAsuPlUzKtIdU_uTjcjLy4fZHGSsRh2S7hkuWe-fZwzDt4u9ca8V1ai-p9WoEyf3Af9BKCcOkms32IrBI1Oy-ZbENZGuJKsgp_PRypkNPyUrZQEtVA/s1600/IMG_4459.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 600px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602378584083825650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEislTbspkOhcC2hvbRT7tCEvi7pLjAsuPlUzKtIdU_uTjcjLy4fZHGSsRh2S7hkuWe-fZwzDt4u9ca8V1ai-p9WoEyf3Af9BKCcOkms32IrBI1Oy-ZbENZGuJKsgp_PRypkNPyUrZQEtVA/s800/IMG_4459.JPG" /></a><br /><br />in preparation for her to someday (it really will happen!) sleep in her own bed, i really have wanted her to have a blanket and/or object that she is attached to and finds comfort in. i had heard great things about this blanket called the <a href="http://www.adenandanais.com/shop/itemdisplay.aspx?ID=101&SKU=6021">dream blanket</a>, so when i stumbled upon a great sale i figured it wouldn't hurt to try. amazingly, she took a liking to it! she calls it "b" and every night when it's time to get ready for bed, she looks around the house for her b. the moment i knew she was really attached was when it was dirty in the laundry basket and she tried to pull it out crying, "beeeeeee, beeeeee!" at around the same time she took a liking to a stuffed bear that was given to her at birth. she calls him teddy, just like kellen's teddy and she needs both b and teddy to settle in for bed. i'm so thankful she now has these two to love and snuggle her and i really believe that soon they will help her to make the transition out of my arms at night!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Z5aGPp7_s1wY1mc78b1vo0rcslMN8bTXRvTRHwn_QMPDgo8XZPCm0-wAlT-ntXkpWd9UtGQ6ODRaP9c5hBXALWm6h_twexxRhLr2LADQbz3NO9TiRHeL7YiVc9VoGv4jXc5EkL7zC7E/s1600/IMG_4458.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 600px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602378577073030578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Z5aGPp7_s1wY1mc78b1vo0rcslMN8bTXRvTRHwn_QMPDgo8XZPCm0-wAlT-ntXkpWd9UtGQ6ODRaP9c5hBXALWm6h_twexxRhLr2LADQbz3NO9TiRHeL7YiVc9VoGv4jXc5EkL7zC7E/s800/IMG_4458.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><p>ps. she does have a space of her own, really a corner in the office. i realize if we want to get serious about her sleeping, we should probably put more effort into giving her a room and a bed that she could actually sleep in. but we have been unwilling to give up the office or too lazy to make the change. we really just need a bigger house, but that also takes effort! here's a couple pics of her corner. </p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgR3H97lQT9kTW8hpqQnC24EC0rxvQZmos6g8h3DzDmu2ngq8nX6pMUIPrdzTdOHFymp6LoXVpqoh-bCe9lff68cXhZ3lu0nwIh_BrrZ3d7oI31mDI2jS2AKFtlgazX-oE5VuzffllLjw/s1600/IMG_3960.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 600px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602383947661694882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgR3H97lQT9kTW8hpqQnC24EC0rxvQZmos6g8h3DzDmu2ngq8nX6pMUIPrdzTdOHFymp6LoXVpqoh-bCe9lff68cXhZ3lu0nwIh_BrrZ3d7oI31mDI2jS2AKFtlgazX-oE5VuzffllLjw/s800/IMG_3960.JPG" /></a><br /><em><span style="color:#666666;">mama, i hate this crib! </span></em><br /><span style="color:#666666;"></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgillVAEBgR-kdAL5zC8Z3aD84BZsfSLkL0CLnnE80PTGXsZ0NPgRQ52kHXMiAO5l7TJ-gdsvLAsyn8iicex914MEdO4nZCL0RZas3LRsrv9AY5N6ozyht3tsqDz4hrQy4ox6o0NBebaRk/s1600/IMG_3974.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 600px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602383953733206690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgillVAEBgR-kdAL5zC8Z3aD84BZsfSLkL0CLnnE80PTGXsZ0NPgRQ52kHXMiAO5l7TJ-gdsvLAsyn8iicex914MEdO4nZCL0RZas3LRsrv9AY5N6ozyht3tsqDz4hrQy4ox6o0NBebaRk/s800/IMG_3974.JPG" /></a><br /><em><span style="color:#666666;">the walls of her corner</span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#666666;"></span></em><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj18D0NgUQ5kHOB2vSt7lbGJjcmSsQhTEuAQEBwsPHapolNCFV2YQehSE6yfRrG8Q_KPwLHkJ4CJs66Pld_AGD0RvXF2TfFi01AT9965x_nSGkptCf84Rbhr26_dBxnSRbHniTNgxCdzxI/s1600/IMG_3975.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 600px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602383959328806994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj18D0NgUQ5kHOB2vSt7lbGJjcmSsQhTEuAQEBwsPHapolNCFV2YQehSE6yfRrG8Q_KPwLHkJ4CJs66Pld_AGD0RvXF2TfFi01AT9965x_nSGkptCf84Rbhr26_dBxnSRbHniTNgxCdzxI/s800/IMG_3975.JPG" /></a><br /><span style="color:#666666;">ok - i guess i don't have the greatest pics of her space! i actually took these a few months ago, hoping to document something for her baby book, but never finished the photo session because she was hating it! here you get a glimps of the <a href="http://www.landofnod.com/kids-striped-rugs/kids-room-decor/bold-stripe-rug/f4900">rug</a>. it's pink, orange, green and cream striped and there is also a little white floor lamp and a chair to sit in...but no pics of the entire space. sorry! my sister loaned us the crib - it's a mini crib that folds up and is actually sort of cute. but as you can see...she hates it! </span>Aa, A, K & Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09206189762294846454noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6135822543215307926.post-38319899510928467502011-05-04T22:23:00.000-07:002011-05-04T22:23:00.507-07:00paycheckas i mentioned below, i have recently started a little side contract that really just came out of the blue. today marks the start of my fourth week and so far so good. i'm working 15-20 hours a week, from home and on a temporary/contract basis. i'm actually still a little shocked to find myself working (for a paycheck...cause really, i've been working my butt off the last 8 months!), but it's kind of a perfect situation. i get to use my mind a bit, make a little money to restock my dwindling savings account, keep my resume fresh and current, but still have my focus here with my family. it's also make it easy knowing that i have an end date and the whole summer to look forward to with my babies!<br /><br />so here's the scoop...a couple of months ago a former nike co-worker of mine reached out randomly to see if i was enjoying staying home and oh by the way would i be interested in a full time position (not at nike, at a company called knowledge universe). i replied that i was loving it and not looking for a full time role, but if he ever needed some part time help, i'd be happy to do it from home (thinking there wasn't a chance and really not looking for something!). Lo and behold, he replied right back that he might indeed have a need for that and that we should talk. a few weeks later, i found myself with a laptop, blackberry and back earning a paycheck!<br /><br />side note: it does feel good to earn money. i don't think it's hugely important, because i do believe i'm doing my fair share contributing to our family, but money and the value we place on it is a weird thing. i recently applied for a credit card and had to put $0 income for my own and to my surprise (although i'm not sure why) i wasn't instantly approved. i've never had that happen and i won't lie, it felt a little odd/sad. i then applied under aaron's name and indeed, instant approval. i also am realizing that i've made virtually spent no money on myself since i quit my job (ie. i haven't had a haircut in 8 months) and now that i'm making a little money, i suddenly feel ok scheduling a hair appt for myself.<br /><br />i feel really fortunate to have the type of career/experience that allows me the flexiblity to do this kind of work. when i quit i thought that i could always consult/contract if i wanted/needed and it sure feels good to know that it's possible. i remember back when i graduated from uo and was offered the job as a recruiter. at the time i knew nothing about recruiting as as career choice (i think it was still fairly new to specialize in recruitment) and can't tell you how many times i had to explain to friends and family what i do (to do this day, some of my family still just think i'm a headhunter!). i've definitely had my highs and lows and moments where i questioned my career choice, but it does pay to be a recruiter if/when you are looking for a job and to have a bunch of recruiter colleagues and friends!!!Aa, A, K & Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09206189762294846454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6135822543215307926.post-67991269465673995292011-05-02T22:47:00.001-07:002011-05-03T00:28:04.348-07:00seven<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyP23B8dIk16KGaO-Vg86M8vESyyLZjCqnaTF-893hdJg4daqRAyA95HbKcXL2Vfj7ZM9CmwPzMCIN9K_dAkEyP4ArsBsmNnn1y5FqCJhgnL-HmonTzmx8rWSaInrhZ4TurGRw-8MD3ek/s1600/aawed301.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 600px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602371333002855618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyP23B8dIk16KGaO-Vg86M8vESyyLZjCqnaTF-893hdJg4daqRAyA95HbKcXL2Vfj7ZM9CmwPzMCIN9K_dAkEyP4ArsBsmNnn1y5FqCJhgnL-HmonTzmx8rWSaInrhZ4TurGRw-8MD3ek/s800/aawed301.jpg" /></a><br />yesterday was our seven year anniversary. we ate a bunch of great food (toro bravo for dinner, papa haydn for dessert, then simpatico for breakfast the next day), had the house to ourselves for an entire night and then marveled at the last seven years. the day was beautiful, warm and sunny - just like the day we were married. i remember it like it was yesterday - it was perfect (except for the 300 missing candles that still haunt me to this day!!!!).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjCNRzHuDulxr-roOeRlLKAkG6Cj-KI4aiGE8n6XSj5GYfAT3-CfHGDEMqtLCLeKd2M8Z2PliJJdfdluuNsEo3zhfgV0DfDi7S-tFzcj_4XMXVwmFacG3nzIC299tX8AEE4bc6x78zHTE/s1600/aawed322.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 600px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602371337117379170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjCNRzHuDulxr-roOeRlLKAkG6Cj-KI4aiGE8n6XSj5GYfAT3-CfHGDEMqtLCLeKd2M8Z2PliJJdfdluuNsEo3zhfgV0DfDi7S-tFzcj_4XMXVwmFacG3nzIC299tX8AEE4bc6x78zHTE/s800/aawed322.jpg" /></a><br /><br />this was the first year we stayed home for our anniversary. for our first we went to cannon beach for a long weekend - there happened to be an art festival going on that we didn't know about and all the galleries had receptions with free wine, food and music. we enjoyed it all and then went back to our room and dug our forks into two cakes made by the baker who did our wedding cakes (who is sadly now out of business). our second we spent at skamania lodge. it was nice for sure, but skamania felt a little like an older crowd and just wasn't for us. for our third i was fairly early in my pregnancy with kellen and we spent a long weekend in victoria. we almost missed the ferry cause aa was parking the car and taking his sweet time. we rented a condo right off the harbor and had a great weekend walking and exploring a new city. for our fourth, kellen was five months old so we decided to stay closer to home and went back to cannon beach. we stayed in the same place, hit up all of our favorite spots and enjoyed our first anniversary as parents. <a href="http://thegassnerfamily.blogspot.com/2009/05/5-years-mamas-day-life.html">for our fifth </a>we wanted to do something a little more special and decided to have our first night (really three) away from kellen and headed down to san francisco to explore. i was also just finishing my first trimester with maya. we stayed right downtown and despite the rain and not so great weather, we walked and ate our way all over that city! so much fun and while we missed our boy, it was so nice to have that time as a couple. finally last year, for number six we again decided to go back to the place that never fails us - cannon beach. this time with our six month old baby girl. k stayed in salem with grandma and papa. what fun it was to celebrate and also have a little weekend with just our girl - a real rarity for #2!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZVBpNsbcSuRvZG6Sqe9igorcHP3Ri9aTnM45HjtSHp0ob6vlVRv6xfjc8pG4JkLt9Xc-OUPJDJ-z_XQ4GfXRmZnLE0y_xWOAb293E4TTTUWKUZ2Zy302ROrxdey0IjPJpzqLYKcXFU8M/s1600/aawed397.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 600px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602371339721847394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZVBpNsbcSuRvZG6Sqe9igorcHP3Ri9aTnM45HjtSHp0ob6vlVRv6xfjc8pG4JkLt9Xc-OUPJDJ-z_XQ4GfXRmZnLE0y_xWOAb293E4TTTUWKUZ2Zy302ROrxdey0IjPJpzqLYKcXFU8M/s800/aawed397.jpg" /></a><br /><em><span style="color:#666666;">i love this picture of my nephew when we were cutting the cake! he's now a teenager...ah! where does the time go?</span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#666666;"></span></em><br />we would have loved to have a little weekend away this year, but with a hawaii vacation right around the corner and a baby girl who still really hasn't slept through the night without a little comfort from me it just didn't feel right. but, we did have a night to ourselves because auntie molly was kind enough to take both kids for the night (knowing full well that maya might be a challenge!). we were actually going to play it by ear and possibly pick maya up after dinner and then drop her off the next morning again so we could go out to breakfast...but my sis texted at 10 to say they were all going to bed and that was that. maya was a dream - woke up once at 1:30 and rocked back to sleep until 8am. sure, she was with my sister the whole time, but boy did it feel good to know that she could sleep without me! {and somehow this post about our anniverary has turned into a post about maya!}<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhid-K_VY2d-APJ6ry3hphu19OpFW6JcUt2JfTbgvjQsKRsRzTqi5_rnobEQMbwfhcULltuuj3b7HkkKOhkZlFxnLuaxV883ovYQyX6UQtQR2rAH4Brgk-3z9Hgl0NrG3wAL9DgGVv1moQ/s1600/aawed375.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 600px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602387152130293970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhid-K_VY2d-APJ6ry3hphu19OpFW6JcUt2JfTbgvjQsKRsRzTqi5_rnobEQMbwfhcULltuuj3b7HkkKOhkZlFxnLuaxV883ovYQyX6UQtQR2rAH4Brgk-3z9Hgl0NrG3wAL9DgGVv1moQ/s800/aawed375.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><em><span style="color:#666666;">a close up of the angie and aaron bobblehead dolls that aaron's parents had made for us!</span></em><br /><br />back to our wedding/anniversary...it was everything i hoped it to be - short and sweet ceremony, surrounded by our most loved friends and family and then a big party to celebrate where everyone enjoyed delish food, good drinks and danced their booties off! not to mention the fact that i married my best friend...truly. lots has changed these last seven years and it hasn't always been easy, but i'm so so so fortunate to have aa as my #1 teammate, partner and love.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlA7sBNrMb89qeaD7Y5OVdOJdgOJQ2u82wIiYP85_e-TBr8lpr7vcCsqKwwm0fGeY7tDyfR686uaTfpEvIX6O3a5GR_l3TX3aAwtJEYjde-Gb8wj9ylCQTlq_eW_62Kl4cmkaOK6_-qJM/s1600/aawed429.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 600px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602387154787862498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlA7sBNrMb89qeaD7Y5OVdOJdgOJQ2u82wIiYP85_e-TBr8lpr7vcCsqKwwm0fGeY7tDyfR686uaTfpEvIX6O3a5GR_l3TX3aAwtJEYjde-Gb8wj9ylCQTlq_eW_62Kl4cmkaOK6_-qJM/s800/aawed429.jpg" /></a>Aa, A, K & Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09206189762294846454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6135822543215307926.post-61387172750818746952011-04-11T13:01:00.000-07:002011-04-21T11:17:23.399-07:00randomlast friday was such a nice dose of sunshine. i didn't realize how much we needed it! the kids and i hung all day with our friends - literally, they couldn't get rid of us! we walked to the park, had a picnic and then just chilled in their backyard while the kids ran around. so nice! it also became clear to me that maya is really no longer a baby. she climbed up the play structure and went down the big slide - ON HER OWN, and toddled around trying to keep up with the big kids. so cute, but makes me kinda sad! kellen has decided that gracie is his new best friend! the next day we woke up and the first words out of his mouth...are we going to gracie's house?!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuYT5dt6fc6fkv9_waWYp7mXDDHznqkrhr6KSZi2wrzqRgTxLDdIXu82J8y7oNDLzJjZn8AaraTwXlnqndm1jgzXuxzMEK97Jm9uPL_apXRDV54AlyqjkcWvlDG3oUdFmZcXvvU-P3ZEA/s1600/IMG_4255.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 600px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594424622971483282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuYT5dt6fc6fkv9_waWYp7mXDDHznqkrhr6KSZi2wrzqRgTxLDdIXu82J8y7oNDLzJjZn8AaraTwXlnqndm1jgzXuxzMEK97Jm9uPL_apXRDV54AlyqjkcWvlDG3oUdFmZcXvvU-P3ZEA/s800/IMG_4255.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKJvHFvR9CEgasewWgsqiTgEYQNTrX6XKoEu4L-d3hPm8pr3tGpkFsZep6XUl78OibxG8QgK4jXeGH8-7RcrkdkqTLPmqCKm2m4ZJ1hywzyRDF_wGlkbuusSmqxzV2aU0-0wPirvG7NOE/s1600/IMG_4257.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 600px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594424631126960178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKJvHFvR9CEgasewWgsqiTgEYQNTrX6XKoEu4L-d3hPm8pr3tGpkFsZep6XUl78OibxG8QgK4jXeGH8-7RcrkdkqTLPmqCKm2m4ZJ1hywzyRDF_wGlkbuusSmqxzV2aU0-0wPirvG7NOE/s800/IMG_4257.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqVXNFnW4KEqGvDvFf_9U-GuT0SvXgqk2E058AX5SvhS0tTC0I6pWtAyCYKD9NV3jtlId7VookfKKwUUwzNbbrAW0lroqAp2JZBj3Me1wBfKl13UL9oO2RGHXzaX7UIWh8Qd7ETwATinM/s1600/IMG_4266.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 600px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594424639148378706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqVXNFnW4KEqGvDvFf_9U-GuT0SvXgqk2E058AX5SvhS0tTC0I6pWtAyCYKD9NV3jtlId7VookfKKwUUwzNbbrAW0lroqAp2JZBj3Me1wBfKl13UL9oO2RGHXzaX7UIWh8Qd7ETwATinM/s800/IMG_4266.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAHIGM6sz93OYlMNbK264tKNFRNzjbfbzUEZAscNyMDy9G1KJ78QAgIL3jxC5uc7dt0Cb2IsRq5xjL25QzZhxEl_HhGy4ErcOd1Q9h8sNJOqWSHsjQtEE7v84KTJ8NZYCW0oTBm1ZHQJA/s1600/IMG_4276.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 600px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594426098211451618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAHIGM6sz93OYlMNbK264tKNFRNzjbfbzUEZAscNyMDy9G1KJ78QAgIL3jxC5uc7dt0Cb2IsRq5xjL25QzZhxEl_HhGy4ErcOd1Q9h8sNJOqWSHsjQtEE7v84KTJ8NZYCW0oTBm1ZHQJA/s800/IMG_4276.JPG" /></a><br />did i ever mention that we are down to just a one diaper household?! after a frustrating day of attempting to potty train, i posted a vent on facebook and after some good advice, tips and comisseration i realized that it was really me not fully committing to no diapers. so february 24 was the last day we used a diaper and aside from an accident here and there (although they seem to come in multiples, hmm.) we are potty trained! we do wear "nighttime undies" aka pull ups, to bed...but honestly 90% of the time he wakes up with them dry! he wears his undies to nap and (knock on wood), we've yet to have an accident in his bed. it feels so good! the one downfall...getting him down to bed can sometimes be a challenge now. he is up as often as five times each night, telling us he needs to go potty or even "the poop is coming out!" and lo and behold he usually comes up with something. oh and the other day after telling me he needed a little space, i came to check on him to find him painting his toenails! opps!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5tdJhU7tDe6SKM45ujHL6wtDYM4dLjkdqa48-oftxU9FqSv-d8S5n8wn8ahc4OpLuuQjRNIXEb6DqfYSmP5bBGZ2JF1sUDeINoyxbzALRfhOwu3l4UvQctGmg_s-uvtKXeXj2_ETTN8k/s1600/IMG_4252.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 600px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594426101976479554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5tdJhU7tDe6SKM45ujHL6wtDYM4dLjkdqa48-oftxU9FqSv-d8S5n8wn8ahc4OpLuuQjRNIXEb6DqfYSmP5bBGZ2JF1sUDeINoyxbzALRfhOwu3l4UvQctGmg_s-uvtKXeXj2_ETTN8k/s800/IMG_4252.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizXTvqu5OVCawv3KqnS25jwGsDDa2lQsRq9V-h-rq1j2i5Z38bhoghfLcFugyuWvXehI7u52jXGSbWpJ1g8upRNX5WOEufA1VfMh3VXyGGNmoLob9NUAw5yzCbFd8gH3tfgUk7Ce1C58U/s1600/IMG_4403.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 600px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598099587855558210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizXTvqu5OVCawv3KqnS25jwGsDDa2lQsRq9V-h-rq1j2i5Z38bhoghfLcFugyuWvXehI7u52jXGSbWpJ1g8upRNX5WOEufA1VfMh3VXyGGNmoLob9NUAw5yzCbFd8gH3tfgUk7Ce1C58U/s800/IMG_4403.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br />last saturday i coordinated a little baby celebration for my sister in law who is about 4 weeks away from having our second little gassner nephew. we're very excited to meet the new little guy! most of her closest girlfriends gathered for dinner at mother's bistro (appropriate, eh?!) and to make it a little more special i made this paper flowers for each place setting. they are so cute, although quite time consuming to make! super fun though...the kit was from paper source, one of my favorite stores to browse and buy when i need to be creative! paper source will always have a special place in my heart, as all the supplies for our wedding invitations came from there...long before they opened a store in portland.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsfGgY12V7F_JV1qDo3JTUsTJ5dx9mcplkvHoZ-wyOcjSDH5zlDrKGc_PtnmSBwB8TaE42tTdOL0uIC7p_DWbyeNjcFQZ4jDEJrG31SfQhbuaMO0VciiMGyibaP6TkK23CsQN4beqehZ4/s1600/IMG_4247.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 600px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594426121625227906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsfGgY12V7F_JV1qDo3JTUsTJ5dx9mcplkvHoZ-wyOcjSDH5zlDrKGc_PtnmSBwB8TaE42tTdOL0uIC7p_DWbyeNjcFQZ4jDEJrG31SfQhbuaMO0VciiMGyibaP6TkK23CsQN4beqehZ4/s800/IMG_4247.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZXmb-rV4VySi-TNk88ptChmOBDR5B-R_ByKQzVLHtJ2ICka4yT9t0cPS9SMg3OkaYRHYp_L-_oBsNwRWyRhHoFxU4j1CrnEEP9Q072F50uDDhWxPIYQVLJ357cgTwn9UE1XZFeUYaGDw/s1600/IMG_4244.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 600px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594426110208899442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZXmb-rV4VySi-TNk88ptChmOBDR5B-R_ByKQzVLHtJ2ICka4yT9t0cPS9SMg3OkaYRHYp_L-_oBsNwRWyRhHoFxU4j1CrnEEP9Q072F50uDDhWxPIYQVLJ357cgTwn9UE1XZFeUYaGDw/s800/IMG_4244.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br />big girl maya started refusing her high chair about month ago...so she's moved onto a booster seat! my how time flies! where did my baby go again?<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi22KQ_UFmFGt9jCkmGHFpwdtlbbxWAsa0dQN4SVBLLC6AH9BF7LBeADXNvAKvfNoXrZLQ8TbGTaCxfYAbtNJWv0H5Egi21QR9hGDsa4sNU94qdpkZiOJa_VtE5sMYSPMwjgm4OwUVNEKY/s1600/IMG_4163.JPG"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8CJChJvVZ2qhjpM8kjnTcboGv8rOG-CyzWLMUqDsoJKjPaMhgvp_NvRVDhLiSMFjCJ1SckNxhIIw4S7wLv5_3ZSKZbQ6uPDwwop_AWlPRTYoR7eXRQ2JswQuBP7s7mFEtYVryH8aY6PQ/s1600/IMG_4098.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 600px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598099603545360610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8CJChJvVZ2qhjpM8kjnTcboGv8rOG-CyzWLMUqDsoJKjPaMhgvp_NvRVDhLiSMFjCJ1SckNxhIIw4S7wLv5_3ZSKZbQ6uPDwwop_AWlPRTYoR7eXRQ2JswQuBP7s7mFEtYVryH8aY6PQ/s800/IMG_4098.JPG" /></a><br /><br />kellen finally is tall enough and the weather nice enough for him to ride his skuut balance bike. we've gone out a handful of times in the last few weeks and each time he gains a little confidence and gets a little better at it. no balancing yet, but he gets faster! can't wait to see him gliding along on it. and maya is loving taking over his froggie trike (sadly i guess i don't have a picture of her riding the beloved trike.)!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi22KQ_UFmFGt9jCkmGHFpwdtlbbxWAsa0dQN4SVBLLC6AH9BF7LBeADXNvAKvfNoXrZLQ8TbGTaCxfYAbtNJWv0H5Egi21QR9hGDsa4sNU94qdpkZiOJa_VtE5sMYSPMwjgm4OwUVNEKY/s1600/IMG_4163.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 600px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598099605436349634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi22KQ_UFmFGt9jCkmGHFpwdtlbbxWAsa0dQN4SVBLLC6AH9BF7LBeADXNvAKvfNoXrZLQ8TbGTaCxfYAbtNJWv0H5Egi21QR9hGDsa4sNU94qdpkZiOJa_VtE5sMYSPMwjgm4OwUVNEKY/s800/IMG_4163.JPG" /></a><br /><br />one of the nice things about being at home is we can also spend with the kids' cousins! we don't do it all that often (let's get real...having a 3, 2, and 1 year old is a little crazy!), but when we do it's tons of fun! in the last month we had bennett and maisy over for a day (one at a time!). it's fun to see the three cousins together - and near impossible to snap a good picture of three kids at one time!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFMHN9DfgyFm1dg50IpdiZG8m-EFMByOMa9VKKgTi6sjFdSD2lNn5secSusZoah9rhYwUo2JlMq_nVhlWZ0gKwczuV0JLjcfmIAh08HbceYXQX094ix4nhia920xaGatSWFMJxbz7EDc4/s1600/IMG_4178.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 600px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598100250836529138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFMHN9DfgyFm1dg50IpdiZG8m-EFMByOMa9VKKgTi6sjFdSD2lNn5secSusZoah9rhYwUo2JlMq_nVhlWZ0gKwczuV0JLjcfmIAh08HbceYXQX094ix4nhia920xaGatSWFMJxbz7EDc4/s800/IMG_4178.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyH5StLppP9-Ve5NnrZy4ooRiRzDFmFOsx-j4kmKUobMYig_sa0RcyiClWwQMyjCSUnoaeVLe7urUzsF55oXG7xq3PsRcM9madB1TtoLX0LZBHyW5oG4t6ob9E7w5JmTuUhvSDCUFpTXg/s1600/IMG_4180.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 600px; HEIGHT: 327px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598100239871207154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyH5StLppP9-Ve5NnrZy4ooRiRzDFmFOsx-j4kmKUobMYig_sa0RcyiClWwQMyjCSUnoaeVLe7urUzsF55oXG7xq3PsRcM9madB1TtoLX0LZBHyW5oG4t6ob9E7w5JmTuUhvSDCUFpTXg/s800/IMG_4180.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAQTsF6XTY9qo_GW2VhgX0NfrLuBzBSZGyP50ZHq6qLqiL-JfYeivumN29xMkIdXfIko4xh1wviER0VB0sxDQxuaLf9qJ7rMx7qfKQnhqbBzW69MQ7K59_2aeLsPmAYu6M68vTwqmCwqU/s1600/IMG_4385a.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 600px; HEIGHT: 435px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598099591510465394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAQTsF6XTY9qo_GW2VhgX0NfrLuBzBSZGyP50ZHq6qLqiL-JfYeivumN29xMkIdXfIko4xh1wviER0VB0sxDQxuaLf9qJ7rMx7qfKQnhqbBzW69MQ7K59_2aeLsPmAYu6M68vTwqmCwqU/s800/IMG_4385a.jpg" /></a><br /><br />oh, btw...did i mention that i started a little side gig?! more on that later, but yes...i am doing a little work and so far so good.Aa, A, K & Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09206189762294846454noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6135822543215307926.post-3608322695564194132011-04-02T00:15:00.000-07:002011-04-02T00:26:05.710-07:00love.this.girl.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM7ADUaNXwfMAacZXRhqYAq9GUVf3Z96KSqVm00zhVIP1nqhTCReT_U3CkHUSCB93wMYCgV3k-vy5PiNZGmGAO4GhDuNZU5o8YzL24BjY0G3IptkxI1yP5sq0JcV1SHordV6aqCTWQ9nw/s1600/IMG_4190-1.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 600px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590882291508084146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM7ADUaNXwfMAacZXRhqYAq9GUVf3Z96KSqVm00zhVIP1nqhTCReT_U3CkHUSCB93wMYCgV3k-vy5PiNZGmGAO4GhDuNZU5o8YzL24BjY0G3IptkxI1yP5sq0JcV1SHordV6aqCTWQ9nw/s800/IMG_4190-1.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoDqfWk6qJ8h_QEIPxCvMfvi0FSjNG03axzLCIrA3desxF9lT7XPc8n-2RIv7bwHjUAzGfq610HwDE7YWvrfI9xf4gB9UsOaKPpzjERuM5DiykFImjEQ0biX6sM7Q8OlIBjHgReyVs8qI/s1600/IMG_4207-1.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 600px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590882284004546306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoDqfWk6qJ8h_QEIPxCvMfvi0FSjNG03axzLCIrA3desxF9lT7XPc8n-2RIv7bwHjUAzGfq610HwDE7YWvrfI9xf4gB9UsOaKPpzjERuM5DiykFImjEQ0biX6sM7Q8OlIBjHgReyVs8qI/s800/IMG_4207-1.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgluBZmvajHpEVbIc8vAeHUiL6W30KHKd3dv4oW7jJ8VQ79B87jpiQMQbf8yEISn0PjFKtWDGYo0dIFFy6YMCUuWfyOuU8kbnoeh9FNloOFHlLSoRRzlIPlt18OMr_mPFTKs8jY4V-y-8E/s1600/IMG_4209-1.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 600px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590882276267220066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgluBZmvajHpEVbIc8vAeHUiL6W30KHKd3dv4oW7jJ8VQ79B87jpiQMQbf8yEISn0PjFKtWDGYo0dIFFy6YMCUuWfyOuU8kbnoeh9FNloOFHlLSoRRzlIPlt18OMr_mPFTKs8jY4V-y-8E/s800/IMG_4209-1.JPG" /></a> <br /><br />love my boy something crazy too, but his response to me taking his picture these days is "NEVER!" (his new response to many things!). and yes, that is dried egg yolk on her mouth...probably her favorite breakfast right now...fried egg with a runny yolk!Aa, A, K & Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09206189762294846454noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6135822543215307926.post-60097398186032808902011-03-31T21:49:00.000-07:002011-03-31T21:54:31.567-07:00for uncle bry<p><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/VoQ2Q928tCE?hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><br /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/VoQ2Q928tCE?hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/vO7Bs2bR4Rk?hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><br /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/vO7Bs2bR4Rk?hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></p><br /><p>lazy, i know...but here are a couple of very recent videos of my babes! the dancing one is long...so sorry!!!</p>Aa, A, K & Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09206189762294846454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6135822543215307926.post-53160199253651846842011-03-05T16:01:00.000-08:002011-03-05T16:01:00.109-08:00siblings<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY1Jvo-Kn8y5TsSMbaUOTOW6GL2hjmvBPeBGrZpsClEGpACbIqFTZfKykwlEmtdxZIRnLF84JmdDAmJSS0cjvssDYplgL60vIqA0ciksXoh8Gz8yz_94xZ1hBgvRiw4XI7QwJDvYsRY44/s1600/IMG_3718.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 600px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580013411917728834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY1Jvo-Kn8y5TsSMbaUOTOW6GL2hjmvBPeBGrZpsClEGpACbIqFTZfKykwlEmtdxZIRnLF84JmdDAmJSS0cjvssDYplgL60vIqA0ciksXoh8Gz8yz_94xZ1hBgvRiw4XI7QwJDvYsRY44/s800/IMG_3718.JPG" /></a><br /><br />she has beautiful, dark brown eyes and has had them from day 1.<br />he has beautiful blue-y grey eyes and has had them from day 1.<br /><br />we both have brown eyes (aa's lighter brown, mine darker brown).<br /><br />his first word was "dada".<br />her first word was "mama".<br /><br />he is cautious and concerned by things that could cause him harm (the oven door...don't even think of leaving it open a crack - it scares him!)<br />she is fearless and oblivious to danger (the oven door...just a handle for me to help myself climb up on the stove!)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_p8fl6mYTDIIopCJtuO_5IHMw0RoxD8flrWWe2fAFMAtBHekfk1z5k46iKB_Y8d6AEnJf6aCD9Rb1lr9xG2-OWxHJ2NIO8HvDB88KCrUiJcRHFGUZsOUTXj-cbF_Nn7Kerl_k6OOvWLw/s1600/IMG_3719.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 600px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580013415150576898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_p8fl6mYTDIIopCJtuO_5IHMw0RoxD8flrWWe2fAFMAtBHekfk1z5k46iKB_Y8d6AEnJf6aCD9Rb1lr9xG2-OWxHJ2NIO8HvDB88KCrUiJcRHFGUZsOUTXj-cbF_Nn7Kerl_k6OOvWLw/s800/IMG_3719.JPG" /></a><br /><br />she took her first steps at 15 months and never looked back.<br />he took his first steps at 13.5 months, but didn't walk until around 16 months, unless you count walking on his knees!<br /><br />he often asks her for sloppy kisses, cause that's how she gives them. he never did that!<br />she loves to "pat, pat, pat" his back.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirXe675c7Jh5BdEfJXeDhdfZ0JOB5tkXCzb4FMwSZUXLWM6-CcbBR4E1tvanFHTn1pN6kALYZr600Z5Ktcp6fxgSeCOjGWVx0i90FuwkOA_es2SRtaBW_teigr1u7JZpjmvuThuP_B258/s1600/IMG_3721.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 600px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580013426047689426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirXe675c7Jh5BdEfJXeDhdfZ0JOB5tkXCzb4FMwSZUXLWM6-CcbBR4E1tvanFHTn1pN6kALYZr600Z5Ktcp6fxgSeCOjGWVx0i90FuwkOA_es2SRtaBW_teigr1u7JZpjmvuThuP_B258/s800/IMG_3721.JPG" /></a><br /><br />she loves veggies, especially broccoli.<br />he hates them - won't touch em, except spinach blended up in a smoothie or french fries (do they count?!).<br /><br />he is more of a carb guy - bread, pasta, rice.<br />she is more of a meat girl - chicken especially.<br /><br />they both love chocolate chip cookies and ice cream.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-B0VWslET44PbuXWbQZnCuFybqx2o5ku6KdecGV2nIXtYTUS9YCuhEaganh54LVqwl1mcBAgzOT95622jF4-AQDiaGNC_N70Z6zO9KeUnrstBmFZsUWNltGqSBjWholnI6ut4AKh-JL0/s1600/IMG_3723.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 600px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580021386796171890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-B0VWslET44PbuXWbQZnCuFybqx2o5ku6KdecGV2nIXtYTUS9YCuhEaganh54LVqwl1mcBAgzOT95622jF4-AQDiaGNC_N70Z6zO9KeUnrstBmFZsUWNltGqSBjWholnI6ut4AKh-JL0/s800/IMG_3723.JPG" /></a><br /><br />she is a terrible sleeper...has NEVER napped 4 hours (we're lucky to get an hour!) and can't sleep without touching me.<br />he is a good sleeper...used to often take up to 4 hour+naps and would go right to sleep in his crib (with teddy and his blanket of course!)<br /><br />he loved his ba (pacifier).<br />she hated them all...and we tried many different kinds!<br /><br />they were and are both snugglers (lucky us!).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwWNDEQ8MmG1jUNU4QL_coJ3-1A9aeBCp9OWsS7Rr-kibNC9XyZJASW19_RDuUWIEFlKb3AQQOwFIhr0a2RzeXfVy7nev8-KdpnxskJLjk5v5ACEslpB0zDL8_tRLyfzZiyu6Zt-O-evk/s1600/IMG_3729.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 600px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580021390756032706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwWNDEQ8MmG1jUNU4QL_coJ3-1A9aeBCp9OWsS7Rr-kibNC9XyZJASW19_RDuUWIEFlKb3AQQOwFIhr0a2RzeXfVy7nev8-KdpnxskJLjk5v5ACEslpB0zDL8_tRLyfzZiyu6Zt-O-evk/s800/IMG_3729.JPG" /></a><br /><br />she looked like her daddy when she was born.<br />he looked like his mama when he was born.<br /><br />they now both look more like ME! (i write the blog, so i get to say ;-p !)Aa, A, K & Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09206189762294846454noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6135822543215307926.post-35138606136327638372011-03-03T14:47:00.000-08:002011-03-03T17:55:19.730-08:00food thoughtsi've always been a fairly healthy eater (with a weakness for a sweet or salty treat here and there!), but in the last few years i've become more and more concerned with the food that goes in our mouths...especially my two little ones! it can become increasingly overwhelming to make the right choices...not to mention expensive. farmed vs. wild, organic vs. local, fresh vs. frozen, bulk vs. packaged, vegetarian vs. vegan vs. locavore, glass vs. plastic (bpa-free, of course!) . my head is spinning!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUUgqY2smAoCbkzvl4rWfK7vxK0A0jwJ_vRNElElD6Txa8OJz2xBmIRBOVm9imbpxjzoH7UWFgsNGDziAfLe5IrNsUqOGtl0gHGGlPoU5iCBsWzku06O6A0OsphJe2ejHzBQrQGK1t2XM/s1600/IMG_7698.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 600px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580004483250358690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUUgqY2smAoCbkzvl4rWfK7vxK0A0jwJ_vRNElElD6Txa8OJz2xBmIRBOVm9imbpxjzoH7UWFgsNGDziAfLe5IrNsUqOGtl0gHGGlPoU5iCBsWzku06O6A0OsphJe2ejHzBQrQGK1t2XM/s400/IMG_7698.JPG" /></a><br /><em><span style="color:#666666;">is there anything better than local, oregon strawberries?!</span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#666666;"></span></em><br />here are a few things that we do to feel good about the food that nourishes us:<br /><br /><br /><ul><li>i try to follow <a href="http://www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating/eat-safe/Dirty-Dozen-Foods">this list </a>of the top offenders in regards to pesiticides when making my organic purchasing decisions (and <a href="http://www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating/eat-safe/Save-on-Sustainable-Gallery-44032808?src=syn&mag=tdg&dom=tdg&link=rel">this list </a>to feel ok about not buying organic!). </li><li>loved making baby food for my babies...providing them with much more healthly and fresh purees, not to mention saving us money made it a joy and not a task - and really it was SO easy. </li><li>we've been csa members for the last four years. the first three we were members at <a href="http://www.sungoldfarm.com/">Sungold Farms</a> and last year we checked out <a href="http://www.yourcsa.com/">Dinihanian's Farm</a>. both of these farms delivered right nike every week - it was so great! i'm now researching other csa's and feeling a bit frustrated because the pick up locations are so far from me! i'm actually leaning towards going back to Sungold Farms and picking up at Nike (shh...don't tell!) or they also have a Lake Oswego drop off. if you are interested in joining a csa (and we highly recommend it!), check out <a href="http://www.localharvest.org/">local harvest</a> - it's a great resource. yes, you will get fruit and veggies that you have no idea what to do with and you will have to cook a lot of veggies, but it's so fun, healthy and worth it. </li></ul><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPyirbF2cCbsiuROf99XqlsweXIOCzyHh0cxozX2X_wWKuH72ITu5XVYr9QUZJg_WLRVFkf-W-fwGvz8QC6mQMY93mQIw2i0kqy6nv9p8zX_CSaR6pankVDX7LrZO3XWgkHga9XHe-HDg/s1600/IMG_7679-1.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 600px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580004486948314786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPyirbF2cCbsiuROf99XqlsweXIOCzyHh0cxozX2X_wWKuH72ITu5XVYr9QUZJg_WLRVFkf-W-fwGvz8QC6mQMY93mQIw2i0kqy6nv9p8zX_CSaR6pankVDX7LrZO3XWgkHga9XHe-HDg/s800/IMG_7679-1.jpg" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimQnntvfh02hbxtSaS-2hYcauCixO0U04ACtd7CUQ64pXMA9J9BNvZfSHfxsSg8lM7IYL03-H6G8tAz-nHFUinhGjdqjQjd5RO2eQO3y9LUtNWiEFU062j4IeIfnDqLH021ZzK7EUAlv8/s1600/IMG_7685.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 600px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580004476840881778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimQnntvfh02hbxtSaS-2hYcauCixO0U04ACtd7CUQ64pXMA9J9BNvZfSHfxsSg8lM7IYL03-H6G8tAz-nHFUinhGjdqjQjd5RO2eQO3y9LUtNWiEFU062j4IeIfnDqLH021ZzK7EUAlv8/s800/IMG_7685.JPG" /></a></p><p><em><span style="color:#666666;">a couple of pictures from the June 2009 Sungold Farm day for CSA members - hayrides and exploring the farm + lots of strawberries!</span></em></p><ul><li>csa's are typically around 18 weeks, so this year we decided to receive a weekly delivery from <a href="http://organicstoyou.org/">organics to you</a>. every thursday we get a box full of fruit and veggies delivered to our doorstep. when they can, they try to stock their boxes from local farms...but right now there isn't a lot growing in our area, so there is a lot from california. it's a bit spendy ($33/wk for a small box), but if you have a chinook book there is a coupon for 1 free box after you buy 4 boxes and you can also use it twice. we've enjoyed it so far and will continue until our csa starts up again.</li></ul><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOe2eqEkEopHFg1ldnuabfBWZm9IFMeh5eD_ZzXVCjDptuKOCsbqCSE1e-90ynvGbOln_xtUi5f6DRTRa5lgupQT4oUD-eCAA5gCJZTGaWNx3uXl8yV0csBpPzlCJX8dGaznLXJD7OOW4/s1600/IMG_3998.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 600px; CURSOR: hand" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOe2eqEkEopHFg1ldnuabfBWZm9IFMeh5eD_ZzXVCjDptuKOCsbqCSE1e-90ynvGbOln_xtUi5f6DRTRa5lgupQT4oUD-eCAA5gCJZTGaWNx3uXl8yV0csBpPzlCJX8dGaznLXJD7OOW4/s800/IMG_3998.JPG" /></a></p><p align="left"><em><span style="color:#666666;">the contents of our delivery from today (look at the size of that beet!)</span></em></p><ul><li>we rarely eat fast food and when/if we do...i can almost guarantee it'll be burgerville! not sure if it's much better, but at least i feel good that their food is fresh, local and sustainable. (and their current special of portabello mushroom wedges, yum!). </li><li>we eat very little packaged foods...although trader joes sure does have some winners that we do enjoy! (organic trader joes o's...basically spaghettios!, tempura battered halibut for easy fish tacos, mandarin orange chicken, <a href="http://snacksalad.com/products.html">snap pea crisps</a>)</li><li>we've tried to eliminate or greatly reduce our "white" food intake. we cook with mostly whole wheat flour (or brown rice gluten free flour for maya!), brown rice, quinoa (costco sells a big bag of organic quinoa for a steal!), dave's killer bread (another awesome costco item...although winco now sells it for just as cheap!). </li><li>and just so you don't think we are totally health nuts - you can almost guarantee to find anywhere from 1-3 cartons of ice cream in our fridge at any given time and we have at least a couple of pounds of m&m's in our snack drawer. but...we used to buy <a href="http://dreyers.slowchurned.com/flavor.aspx?b=112&f=1673">dreyers slow churned</a>, until we decided it didn't quite taste like ice cream (a little chemicall-y) and now we typically buy <a href="http://www.tillamook.com/products/Ice-Cream.html">tillamook</a> or <a href="http://www.umpquadairy.com/product/umpqua-premium-red-round-175-qt-flavors">umpqua</a>, which tastes delicious! should it be organic though? ah. it's dessert, so it doesn't count...right!? ;)</li></ul><p>some things we are thinking about - going vegan for a week (thank you oprah, for the idea) and/or eating vegan/veggies at least 1x week. kind of opposite, but also thinking about buying a quarter/half of a locally raised, humanely slaughtered beef - anyone else interested? i would love to have a garden, but i know myself too well and know it would just be a chore for me and not enjoyable! </p><p>here is a delicious and healthy recipe a friend recently shared with me: <a href="http://www.savvyvegetarian.com/vegetarian-recipes/crockpot-quinoa-red-lentil-stew.php">Quinoa Red Lentil Stew</a>. it's super easy - the recipe is a crock pot recipe, but i didn't have time and cooked it on the stove in just over an hour. it's also very adaptable...you could really use any combo of veggies. i had rutabaga (from our weekly delivery) and added it. didn't have cinnamon stick or ginger, so left it out. don't love rosemary, so left it out! wanted the kids to enjoy it so left out the jalapeno. maya ate it up...although by the third night of eating it was done! kellen was a little hesitant but with a little enouragment ate the whole bowl. i actually added organic chicken thighs (more fat and iron for my kiddos!) to it and it was delish.</p><p>what food choices do you make and what do you use to base your decisions on? anyone else csa members and recommend your farm? do you struggle with these things like i do? please share!</p>Aa, A, K & Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09206189762294846454noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6135822543215307926.post-10053734871151723852011-02-22T22:05:00.000-08:002011-02-27T00:00:10.447-08:00three<div>is a tough age so far. forget the terrible two's, it's the terrible three's in our house! my guess is it's probably not that bad, but we've had such an easygoing little guy that these temper tantrums and fits of anger that he expresses are a bit of a surprise. he's not afraid to tell us no if he doesn't want to do something. i must ask the question, "who makes the rules?" a couple of times a day...to which he answers, "mommy and daddy", but apparently he just doesn't follow them! while three has been a little tough...it's also filled with so much goodness. he's such a little man now - sometimes i can barely remember when he was a baby (cue the tears!).<br /><br />a few things about my boy:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVI4RmhIiqacJRGtrxkPKucSemawQ5C31LaT1jV1KawGahQ5ctt7LrY_hC60DOQxAeISkZy_tXffkfaoswznLIeKSp98JN1JFVblamg380mgCtVWsST4RAIISlHnv8C3ck9_wdSZ8wrkA/s1600/IMG_3870-1.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 600px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578274260437930578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVI4RmhIiqacJRGtrxkPKucSemawQ5C31LaT1jV1KawGahQ5ctt7LrY_hC60DOQxAeISkZy_tXffkfaoswznLIeKSp98JN1JFVblamg380mgCtVWsST4RAIISlHnv8C3ck9_wdSZ8wrkA/s800/IMG_3870-1.jpg" /></a><br />*one of his favorite things to say these days is "when i'm big like daddy i can..." as in, "when i'm big like daddy i can watch scary shows" or "when i'm big like daddy i can use sharp knives". it's super cute.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmFwwvrqmwH9ASLwSOKF-veCMpF9THG2IaCNiO255lhu2ehxLn9MBvkpcQCBdUrBPWY75GyDBzQxxLqEANybGc4dKzBW93o1w0h_pLKPcVhjrKyqzIEQcJ2_HFPoDGn1xGjRol5-dPaxQ/s1600/IMG_3702-1.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 600px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576771919309184866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmFwwvrqmwH9ASLwSOKF-veCMpF9THG2IaCNiO255lhu2ehxLn9MBvkpcQCBdUrBPWY75GyDBzQxxLqEANybGc4dKzBW93o1w0h_pLKPcVhjrKyqzIEQcJ2_HFPoDGn1xGjRol5-dPaxQ/s800/IMG_3702-1.JPG" /></a><br />*he also will often ask me if i want to see how big he is and when i say yes, he stands up very tall, with a big, proud smile on his face.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB_H3ws9ETXqD4L_ylHVn2xKL2N9xL8IjpYuNjS0lxsgLwhMK-tKDb7qC-aWNqZVMk4YptNlduOApjCrRFu7b-njLy5JYM5h77FnOUaZpTO3h9BGxskj4X9w-IADJGh-CX7wd-b_JlmuQ/s1600/IMG_3709.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 600px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576771929319510562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB_H3ws9ETXqD4L_ylHVn2xKL2N9xL8IjpYuNjS0lxsgLwhMK-tKDb7qC-aWNqZVMk4YptNlduOApjCrRFu7b-njLy5JYM5h77FnOUaZpTO3h9BGxskj4X9w-IADJGh-CX7wd-b_JlmuQ/s800/IMG_3709.JPG" /></a><br />*thomas the train is the lastest obsession. pretty much started when he turned three and is showing no sign of slowing down. one of his favorite activities is to read the catalog of thomas trains, sets, accessories that comes with the trains. he has many of them memorized...mostly thanks to grandma reading it with him over and over! </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDEoyyDoZiePDKudonQgTsDDRzwHWNkLmxkbD8vYUoQc3csrNp3WWuurA2OIaNfuPGnpAibjhJ5V1Oiqg5TLQmpyLpV7dZNrQQouWOXX7O_Sf7hDepn_yZ9jclGPZLf5LqGAl_-_3iWQ0/s1600/IMG_3734-1.jpg"></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqagyJbcHnXZtAN7cz9rRn4nNUlIFbJP-Fiyayk7GUAXCZbqgGomknCmXWPmm_IQhc8s7_eO850PSk877RRSvPhXu8f3H9eDa5T-6oTx3wVGPrO-zNdhAnwnO_6VKoiR6NGEwSFsJclvM/s1600/IMG_3701-1.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 516px; HEIGHT: 600px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576771933542759010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqagyJbcHnXZtAN7cz9rRn4nNUlIFbJP-Fiyayk7GUAXCZbqgGomknCmXWPmm_IQhc8s7_eO850PSk877RRSvPhXu8f3H9eDa5T-6oTx3wVGPrO-zNdhAnwnO_6VKoiR6NGEwSFsJclvM/s800/IMG_3701-1.jpg" /></a><br />*every train/lightrail we see is a thomas and he has to know which one it is. the max is named...max and the wes is wes...other times we have to get a little more creative. we've had porty, keizer and a few others that aren't coming to me right now. </div><div><br />*i think he might be close to dropping his nap. he only naps about 65% of the time right now and on those days nightime is such a struggle...sometimes he isn't out until 9 or 10. days that he doesn't nap he, drifts right off to sleep. i don't know which is worse.</div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKwh-ca-uAkWGlA03SIlIEfrBEjWICny_Ll-2iDAq58foxN2gvH7PAsagQ93VqWQgX9jwuH33ovGitwKynFs_D7naLfiRR0YFUgE57PaflDwJQt7hH0xDIzdFSEQqa-tTB-W_ERrb6OHQ/s1600/IMG_3811-1.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 600px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578274255164113282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKwh-ca-uAkWGlA03SIlIEfrBEjWICny_Ll-2iDAq58foxN2gvH7PAsagQ93VqWQgX9jwuH33ovGitwKynFs_D7naLfiRR0YFUgE57PaflDwJQt7hH0xDIzdFSEQqa-tTB-W_ERrb6OHQ/s800/IMG_3811-1.jpg" /></a></div><div>*he loves to help me cook. oatmeal, pancakes, banana bread and cookies are some of his favorites!</div><div><br />*his imagination has come alive and it's creating monsters in his head. he's been waking up at night quite a bit and we think he's having nightmares. he talks about a monster who bites his hair and lives in the forest a lot. his pillow actually has a hole in it and when i asked him how it happened he claimed the monster did it.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKGAxiNk2OUYRGu9dgLwpoqKKnCdE3gQCsa9IcQOxPM1sH0Lqq-Z8tXNJ6-HV72c0epPMn4M7-IgyBPQA1zisOCKuH9GmkNvQcmtLkMlaoDMgvBqIcPmLh-5AH7X1g6BdJyrVn_B7CbOs/s1600/IMG_3676.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 600px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576771935723091938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKGAxiNk2OUYRGu9dgLwpoqKKnCdE3gQCsa9IcQOxPM1sH0Lqq-Z8tXNJ6-HV72c0epPMn4M7-IgyBPQA1zisOCKuH9GmkNvQcmtLkMlaoDMgvBqIcPmLh-5AH7X1g6BdJyrVn_B7CbOs/s800/IMG_3676.JPG" /></a><br />*potty training is not going so well. he can totally do it, but just isn't always super interested...even when m&m's, junior mints, stickers and handy manny tools are involved. most of the 2/3 crowd we run with are potty trained, so it's making me feel like a bad mama! (yes, he did pick out the pink potty...insisted and after i suggested different colors a couple of times i stopped...nothing wrong with a pink potty! someday he will probably not be too happy about this pic being posted...he clearly wasn't happy with it being taken!)<br /><br />*he often calls me "mama gassner". not sure where he came up with it, but it is quite funny...he usually uses it when he <em>really</em> needs me or when he is just waking up.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDEoyyDoZiePDKudonQgTsDDRzwHWNkLmxkbD8vYUoQc3csrNp3WWuurA2OIaNfuPGnpAibjhJ5V1Oiqg5TLQmpyLpV7dZNrQQouWOXX7O_Sf7hDepn_yZ9jclGPZLf5LqGAl_-_3iWQ0/s1600/IMG_3734-1.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 600px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578274611729741586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDEoyyDoZiePDKudonQgTsDDRzwHWNkLmxkbD8vYUoQc3csrNp3WWuurA2OIaNfuPGnpAibjhJ5V1Oiqg5TLQmpyLpV7dZNrQQouWOXX7O_Sf7hDepn_yZ9jclGPZLf5LqGAl_-_3iWQ0/s800/IMG_3734-1.jpg" /></a><br />*he can be so sweet and so menacing with his sister in the span of 15 seconds. he often asks her for sloppy kisses...nothing cuter than your baby girl giving your baby boy sloppy kisses and both of them laughing with delight. 15 seconds later he will be body slamming her and there will be lots of tears. ugh.<br /><br />despite the challenges that the threes are bringing, i couldn't be happier to be home with him and to be able to soak up all the goodness...and the not so good (makes the good so much better!).<br /></div><em></em><em></em>Aa, A, K & Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09206189762294846454noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6135822543215307926.post-9042093869821865912011-02-10T22:19:00.000-08:002011-02-11T14:43:29.761-08:00fiesty<p>as in maya is one fiesty girl! she has for sure crossed over into that "no longer a baby" stage and is one fiesty toddler. cute, but fiesty! one of her favorite words, "NO!", with a little snarkiness is heard out of her mouth throughout the day. she's a girl who knows what she wants and don't even think about changing her mind! seriously, where did my baby go? oh and did i mention that she is finally walking? yep...right on her 15 month birthday. she took off and hasn't looked back.<br /><br />a few other random things about my girl:<br /><br />*she loves chicken...it's about the only thing that i can almost guarantee that she'll eat every time.<br />*words she says: mama, dada, papa, duck, mil (milk), mo (more), change, no, wawa (water), book, dog, baby, bye-bye, night-night, ouch, cat, shoe, all done, brrrr (as in it's cold outside!), nana (banana), poo-poo, yuck, lion...there may be a few more, but we're still trying to figure out what she's saying! she definitely has a sound for kellen/brother...but i can't quite decipher it yet.<br />*signs she uses: milk, more, all done, change (when she poops and needs her diaper changed, she comes over and signs it!), eat, water, wash, book, thank you<br />*she loves music and dancing...even when she's not feeling well or just about asleep, if she hears music her body just can't help but move to the beat!<br />*she loves the water...bath or shower, either one she's a happy girl.</p><p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnmdlqDuLmdwUz5f45756e3ZJBE7NgRHw3W7enVP44hIZshyphenhyphenfxXVlmzZs8O8OybyM1SffZwVcatJWYfKxAdFH067x6GLsVCs5KHPbcnJn-zNyZzeVZbtmyBWi956yllYWoREYstGX_kZE/s1600/IMG_3593.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 600px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572549889050952402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnmdlqDuLmdwUz5f45756e3ZJBE7NgRHw3W7enVP44hIZshyphenhyphenfxXVlmzZs8O8OybyM1SffZwVcatJWYfKxAdFH067x6GLsVCs5KHPbcnJn-zNyZzeVZbtmyBWi956yllYWoREYstGX_kZE/s800/IMG_3593.JPG" /></a></p><p>*she has a bit of a sweet tooth; well actually she's a junk food junkie - chocolate chip cookie (gluten-free, of course!) or pirate booty, she's good with either! </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqGi6ujWQP9qmnHdc8nq5WhcF4FVAnLb1i4Um-gOzXWjhWx-GiebC-r_k8zTkRuGzaGx1H3MgNDLLi-ozRAE5RAVbyX85ewTBveKnXcasfAylS0roK2_wOu0beFaNPXAIgisc5rGXxJlI/s1600/IMG_3614.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 600px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572552214068113314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqGi6ujWQP9qmnHdc8nq5WhcF4FVAnLb1i4Um-gOzXWjhWx-GiebC-r_k8zTkRuGzaGx1H3MgNDLLi-ozRAE5RAVbyX85ewTBveKnXcasfAylS0roK2_wOu0beFaNPXAIgisc5rGXxJlI/s800/IMG_3614.JPG" /></a></p><p>*she's not afraid to get into a little roughhousing with daddy and kellen </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB06MPlr6Jx6GuJM17ldr4cK3eQSdsSDhKaenQ_QHNBptAXEMzADTXVJPssdbuguPBaddr9NzfTCRp6SLAd5PJjSb2wV_6agS3Z69RT0dxD2ZRXpXvXIBZ7wuijAM8KcYDWjvED6fXHv8/s1600/IMG_3634.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 600px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572549896200761538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB06MPlr6Jx6GuJM17ldr4cK3eQSdsSDhKaenQ_QHNBptAXEMzADTXVJPssdbuguPBaddr9NzfTCRp6SLAd5PJjSb2wV_6agS3Z69RT0dxD2ZRXpXvXIBZ7wuijAM8KcYDWjvED6fXHv8/s800/IMG_3634.JPG" /></a><br />*her hair is long enough for a little pony in the back now...so cute, but of course i have to distract or trick her, cause if she knows anything is in her hair she promptly takes it out! </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9o2gnDul7VRJGBT7TmPw-l1N6YymErA09SoCiGfYs1uZFF0RKuXk_m0ov4dxx_CpbetXW-SBDa61hKMKQm6EzZhzF-Pl1YYL0YNbUIRmQzAoILnBBjEYwaZFTS2mbTtRl_C9_kT-XC4Y/s1600/IMG_3659.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 600px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572552209822350658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9o2gnDul7VRJGBT7TmPw-l1N6YymErA09SoCiGfYs1uZFF0RKuXk_m0ov4dxx_CpbetXW-SBDa61hKMKQm6EzZhzF-Pl1YYL0YNbUIRmQzAoILnBBjEYwaZFTS2mbTtRl_C9_kT-XC4Y/s800/IMG_3659.JPG" /></a><br />*she likes to brush her teeth, but only lets me brush her teeth if she's laying down on my lap with all three of us (kellen, aa and me) saying "AHHHHH" the whole time.<br />*she's an itty bitty and just moved up to a size 3 diaper at 15 months...by comparison, kellen wore a size 3 diaper at about 7 months (but didn't move up to a size 4 until just recently...now we are working on just switching to undies, but that is another post!).</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikNzJM8rFFjxbugqOAow9XM0hyphenhyphenVec7VrmbIJYkwJeDr7IulH86hO0t1r7_h7E4qUBxWsOayCaoFaKiabFkhdS7BwOZT1aND2koVtDRTK0Rqfqf292FXmC9anjRYi6j1s4pjgjNF7HqzUI/s1600/IMG_3686.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 600px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572552220625977618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikNzJM8rFFjxbugqOAow9XM0hyphenhyphenVec7VrmbIJYkwJeDr7IulH86hO0t1r7_h7E4qUBxWsOayCaoFaKiabFkhdS7BwOZT1aND2koVtDRTK0Rqfqf292FXmC9anjRYi6j1s4pjgjNF7HqzUI/s800/IMG_3686.JPG" /></a></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8SAOKaDCtoA2NzXvhfZUVEDQlh8VzvMmc1OuWRY3g-Idt-i7tATstcN2v2Tlx0ReSSdhIs-4pHOwv8kTK9FJU1z_OttMEE-m8u25C-AKRvuATvzsCoaDQUOYX4AqAnsnJ3KwW087r0D4/s1600/IMG_3590-1.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 430px; HEIGHT: 600px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572549884286264594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8SAOKaDCtoA2NzXvhfZUVEDQlh8VzvMmc1OuWRY3g-Idt-i7tATstcN2v2Tlx0ReSSdhIs-4pHOwv8kTK9FJU1z_OttMEE-m8u25C-AKRvuATvzsCoaDQUOYX4AqAnsnJ3KwW087r0D4/s800/IMG_3590-1.jpg" /></a><br /><br />*when she was born, most people said she looked like aaron, now we are getting more comments that she looks like me. what do you think???<br />*she may be fiesty, but we sure love her!Aa, A, K & Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09206189762294846454noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6135822543215307926.post-55531402434429238432011-01-17T22:35:00.000-08:002011-01-17T23:45:47.727-08:00back to normalwe are finally back to a "normal" routine post-holiday and duck game here in the gassner household. the last week or so was a little rough as maya had a bug that caused her some problems on both ends if you know what i mean. let's just say that i've had more than my share of bodily fluids on me. ugh. we experienced our biggest blowout of all time within 30 minutes of landing in arizona...i just thank god that it didn't happen on the plane. in fact, she was such a trooper on our trip to arizona to watch the ducks in the national championship game. with all the puking and pooping that went on...none of it happened when it would have really, really sucked. she was good on both flights (including a layover for each) and for the tailgater and game (almost 10 hours where we had access to nothing but public restrooms at best!). just this weekend she started getting back to normal and i see her appetite increasing daily (thank god...i have such a tiny girl on my hands!).<br /><br />arizona was a ton of fun - despite the bug and the loss. it felt wonderful to get some warm sun on my skin and to say i was excited about the game would be an understatement. thanks to rick (aaron's dad), a 30+ year season ticket holder, we had the privilege of using 2 of his 4 allotted tickets. i was really hoping that maya would be the lucky charm given the fact that attended all of the home games except portland state (we were in sunriver and seriously, it's portland state!) and they were undefeated. unfortunately that wasn't the case, but oh what an exciting game - when they scored the touchdown and 2 point conversion with a couple of minutes left in the game it was beyond thrilling. i thought i was going to cry! maya of course slept right through it all! she fell asleep with 12 minutes left in the second quarter and didn't wake up until we got to the car. poor kellen was left behind to play with grandma (which he loved and probably preferred...thanks, jan!)...he requires a ticket to get into the game and those were going for $1500+ and he wouldn't sleep sweetly in the ergo for the whole game!<br /><br />we were able to meet up with one of our great college buddies and my roommate for a year for a pre-game beer or two...fun to relive those college days. why on earth did i ever think it was hard - those 2pm work outs and classes 3 days a week sure were rough! what i wouldn't give to know then what i know now. but i guess that is what life is all about. the joy of growing older and more experienced...the ability to appreciate what we've learned and the path to get there!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHvjnwbS2o3og1SjnDYSwbmdwSbY2fsYxJR3BXe4QiThSbewZGlH9XXBvRuHmLIQrme25Zs6V_Y6GLL9IUIlMDenwvfDOyoXDOG9RjDh21uM9sJ5fiHOiYDLTLUrnb5WCjIA9Jc5aEzvQ/s1600/IMG_3556.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 600px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563419118917953730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHvjnwbS2o3og1SjnDYSwbmdwSbY2fsYxJR3BXe4QiThSbewZGlH9XXBvRuHmLIQrme25Zs6V_Y6GLL9IUIlMDenwvfDOyoXDOG9RjDh21uM9sJ5fiHOiYDLTLUrnb5WCjIA9Jc5aEzvQ/s800/IMG_3556.JPG" /></a><br /><span style="color:#666666;">even though he wasn't in attendance...he was showing his duck spirit all week long leading up to the big game!</span><br /><span style="color:#666666;"></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr58GgTf5gbylPSVxTP2BxhpI4zKGROXOCufUxHzfFYAL2pmVtTlBSHgKF-b2yhQ2Bn2GFRkoygMJwsX2N10fiYHQqeIHBgstVQ6ZIL7wQ41FXuFBADubCFNnP3l-cOHGCQp5rDtTf2v8/s1600/IMG_0405.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 450px; HEIGHT: 600px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563419123913156738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr58GgTf5gbylPSVxTP2BxhpI4zKGROXOCufUxHzfFYAL2pmVtTlBSHgKF-b2yhQ2Bn2GFRkoygMJwsX2N10fiYHQqeIHBgstVQ6ZIL7wQ41FXuFBADubCFNnP3l-cOHGCQp5rDtTf2v8/s800/IMG_0405.JPG" /></a><br /><span style="color:#666666;">maya looking cute right before she boarded her first flight!</span><br /><span style="color:#666666;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC7xgQWUGuj_TbYQDu7MltJ83pRC3_2NG0bQ9AgTsOpwaU1D4a8eQUk8_7s5_a7S08Hws-OiL3_EvNo1aC6-gxPCxJwhAwqaUp75l2aF18YApofd52aczYevZmoEbNIlhYfMuzrVj4CXU/s1600/IMG_0487.JPG"></a></span><br /><span style="color:#666666;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ2KUeN0eXQaMMAyoVUzuzt1QE9o2u6zCcn7EDGoT85YjVRZUko-Bsa9mRewhJW95P9jktbcCE629sH3sQmoYobaEN84f6Ad1w6XNae4hGZ_fDJPvuRjaiCAfx5t1-NcCSxmBLgkDtMvM/s1600/IMG_0417.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 450px; HEIGHT: 600px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563419127480539378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ2KUeN0eXQaMMAyoVUzuzt1QE9o2u6zCcn7EDGoT85YjVRZUko-Bsa9mRewhJW95P9jktbcCE629sH3sQmoYobaEN84f6Ad1w6XNae4hGZ_fDJPvuRjaiCAfx5t1-NcCSxmBLgkDtMvM/s800/IMG_0417.JPG" /></a></span><br /><span style="color:#666666;">maya girl feeling a little anxious right before heading over to the stadium for some tailgating and then the big game. she was the cutest little duck fan there - i must have had at least 20 people take her picture!!!</span><br /><span style="color:#666666;"></span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWWlkHq0kZYoU7veYf04khr858jxJG1VZT4MLWbjuvsbw0kO543yTguLowrd9B6olQlPu9IlGnUhpvbRK4r-cbrgjh6R7fI91QNk07nFYZ7u9LaxtUZSjcJ1jqemj1rqohyzd3L_cLSIM/s1600/IMG_0426.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 600px; HEIGHT: 450px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563419130450379058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWWlkHq0kZYoU7veYf04khr858jxJG1VZT4MLWbjuvsbw0kO543yTguLowrd9B6olQlPu9IlGnUhpvbRK4r-cbrgjh6R7fI91QNk07nFYZ7u9LaxtUZSjcJ1jqemj1rqohyzd3L_cLSIM/s800/IMG_0426.JPG" /></a><br /><span style="color:#666666;">our family at the tailgater...hosted by our arizona gassner family. such fun times and good margaritas and pulled pork!</span><br /><span style="color:#666666;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC7xgQWUGuj_TbYQDu7MltJ83pRC3_2NG0bQ9AgTsOpwaU1D4a8eQUk8_7s5_a7S08Hws-OiL3_EvNo1aC6-gxPCxJwhAwqaUp75l2aF18YApofd52aczYevZmoEbNIlhYfMuzrVj4CXU/s1600/IMG_0487.JPG"></a></span><br /><span style="color:#666666;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIA_Rk9IALFeis8lcWPF0jkFh4ZYo0dATsTTYSd7RT6lnrM2f3lnF5pWfCdbGnnp_e1aAgmCb5R1wMKGPo1DBP4IikLM-E8SRWQi7mTuOjrtuCm9xpwGl-fVf6FQaorK_W5w4u6cgve_s/s1600/IMG_0489.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 600px; HEIGHT: 450px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563420143898014626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIA_Rk9IALFeis8lcWPF0jkFh4ZYo0dATsTTYSd7RT6lnrM2f3lnF5pWfCdbGnnp_e1aAgmCb5R1wMKGPo1DBP4IikLM-E8SRWQi7mTuOjrtuCm9xpwGl-fVf6FQaorK_W5w4u6cgve_s/s800/IMG_0489.JPG" /></a></span><br /><span style="color:#666666;">mama and maya - such high hopes for a duck win.</span><br /><span style="color:#666666;"></span><br /><span style="color:#666666;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC7xgQWUGuj_TbYQDu7MltJ83pRC3_2NG0bQ9AgTsOpwaU1D4a8eQUk8_7s5_a7S08Hws-OiL3_EvNo1aC6-gxPCxJwhAwqaUp75l2aF18YApofd52aczYevZmoEbNIlhYfMuzrVj4CXU/s1600/IMG_0487.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 450px; HEIGHT: 600px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563420160885223026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC7xgQWUGuj_TbYQDu7MltJ83pRC3_2NG0bQ9AgTsOpwaU1D4a8eQUk8_7s5_a7S08Hws-OiL3_EvNo1aC6-gxPCxJwhAwqaUp75l2aF18YApofd52aczYevZmoEbNIlhYfMuzrVj4CXU/s800/IMG_0487.JPG" /></a></span><br /><span style="color:#666666;">daddy and maya - not so pleased to be wearing the headphones...but an absolute must. it was LOUD in there!</span><br /><span style="color:#666666;"></span><br /><br />with the new year here, we are excited at really settling into our new normal again. these kids are so much fun and so much work. there are definitely moments where i wonder if i'd be a better mama to these kids with a little break...but i'm trying to cut myself some slack and just enjoy and be thankful for this time i have. so we'll be enjoying music classes (maya's favorite...she's a music and dancing girl!), art classes (cool place... <a href="http://mymasterpieceartstudio.com/default.aspx">my masterpiece art studio </a>- check it out and if you want to go to a friday mini masters art class let us know!), playdates with friends, cooking together, lots of reading and playing together. the simple things in life. i'm so lucky.<br /><br /><p align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx4JU7u5quOXa0KSugF2LNcpcmRqjm7FOQyAirORCED3E2bJz38ACqe12uhBpF_U_jdvEB5isYRhzGhIQOnR_RiKMe5Kao534NZrFCYhFvmCnJplrwdHwvNxtxU9WHva_MuXMnDsUCUXw/s1600/IMG_3573-1.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 600px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563419109378350306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx4JU7u5quOXa0KSugF2LNcpcmRqjm7FOQyAirORCED3E2bJz38ACqe12uhBpF_U_jdvEB5isYRhzGhIQOnR_RiKMe5Kao534NZrFCYhFvmCnJplrwdHwvNxtxU9WHva_MuXMnDsUCUXw/s800/IMG_3573-1.JPG" /></a><span style="color:#666666;"></span></p><p align="left"><span style="color:#666666;">bath time...a favorite pastime for when we are feeling bored </span><span style="color:#666666;">or cooped up in the house </span><span style="color:#666666;">during the winter!<br /></p></span>Aa, A, K & Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09206189762294846454noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6135822543215307926.post-19543982062890617402011-01-08T21:18:00.000-08:002011-01-08T21:23:24.568-08:00GO DUCKS!<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/MQAvFwB0yvg?hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/MQAvFwB0yvg?hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />We've been chanting this all week long! Hope our efforts pay off for a big win on Monday!! GO DUCKS!!!Aa, A, K & Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09206189762294846454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6135822543215307926.post-49849386824776203402010-12-31T09:08:00.000-08:002011-01-01T19:03:00.854-08:00decade*wow, it just dawned on me this morning that this decade is over. what a ten years it has been. so much to look back on. ten years ago i was a 24 year old, account manager, two+ years into my first real job - at maxim group/tek systems selling computer consulting services to companies in north, northeast and southeast portland and vancouver/camas/longview. i was making good money, living with my boyfriend of ~ 3 years and feeling on top of the world! we were <a href="http://www.investopedia.com/terms/d/dinks.asp">dink</a>'s and didn't realize how easy life was! today i am a 34 year old, stay at home mom (a term that still makes my heart race...both because it scares the heck out of me and it makes me so happy), wife of 6.5 years, making NO money and tackling the most challenging yet fulfilling job of my life.<br /><br />some highlights of the last 10 years (via my digital photographs, which i bought in 2003, so 2003 is when it starts!):<br /><br />january 2003 - free trip to cancun with maxim group/tek systems! lobster, room service whenever we pleased, swimming with the dolphins, dance party, tequila shots...all free and so much fun! why did i quit that job?! oh...i hated it at the end!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIzs08RYOL0_Yq97yvE-9OHvmWFDBEii5FjpYLRpbNa2xH2ChYk5N0YulFgRW6KC6tWyTFtSD4Vz8DqCi-UkBO9yCxUDuUk16TkjMGEUjesv5zNVbdX5KYgHNu_d7znHr77PF1c3eTuZk/s1600/Us+in+Cancun.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556942046734155794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIzs08RYOL0_Yq97yvE-9OHvmWFDBEii5FjpYLRpbNa2xH2ChYk5N0YulFgRW6KC6tWyTFtSD4Vz8DqCi-UkBO9yCxUDuUk16TkjMGEUjesv5zNVbdX5KYgHNu_d7znHr77PF1c3eTuZk/s400/Us+in+Cancun.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9JQqCiZRj8HGCD7h-ikCifL7y-PWjBhiUFRYMSVk8HU5nPyzVpB0uE8c43xm0WJUhyphenhyphenIjU28sHrxPzPZn0o1lBKTERlLCSNjbWs5IPiJRRpUXwRnrpR5cLUtilTB63A4TPesuo7ST3s3s/s1600/IMG_0040.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 300px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556996819563870242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9JQqCiZRj8HGCD7h-ikCifL7y-PWjBhiUFRYMSVk8HU5nPyzVpB0uE8c43xm0WJUhyphenhyphenIjU28sHrxPzPZn0o1lBKTERlLCSNjbWs5IPiJRRpUXwRnrpR5cLUtilTB63A4TPesuo7ST3s3s/s400/IMG_0040.JPG" /></a><br /><br />may 2003 - aa and i spent 3 weeks in japan - - to visit adam and (his then girlfriend) sarah, our friend brad and my uncle/aunt/cousin. such an incredible cultural experience. i don't know that i fully realized it at the time, though! would love to go back...but there are so many other places in the world to see!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtSByX8LESfjHjc8iqpiBOhOImcBb2Eb94slFf_jDpMf_OpLXZDpGM8D8eR4Z4HGl2j1sE0y9yYTDb3VINXp5NjwI6HSGBa0ZfoZ3ByXKUGVjBwTFQayt2VsS3GnRRnyjX4SFfbgqsWaQ/s1600/Picture+014.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556920632896691090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtSByX8LESfjHjc8iqpiBOhOImcBb2Eb94slFf_jDpMf_OpLXZDpGM8D8eR4Z4HGl2j1sE0y9yYTDb3VINXp5NjwI6HSGBa0ZfoZ3ByXKUGVjBwTFQayt2VsS3GnRRnyjX4SFfbgqsWaQ/s400/Picture+014.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqQQr47F2-0sqYdilif9Vdux-SW_Fk5Ae-hJ3tLdLSr9iwe59K7O3LwlmaubnEfI1PlIdt35H-vyHPsp1Ai6R3LhxweLPrIDeysPKzLtmDfH_DcCzJE0DZgp0COGe1kYQHMArhTSOgg6s/s1600/Foursome.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556920634527410722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqQQr47F2-0sqYdilif9Vdux-SW_Fk5Ae-hJ3tLdLSr9iwe59K7O3LwlmaubnEfI1PlIdt35H-vyHPsp1Ai6R3LhxweLPrIDeysPKzLtmDfH_DcCzJE0DZgp0COGe1kYQHMArhTSOgg6s/s400/Foursome.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK6mFbLPTMYUI53Vl_Rewcb_0EjsoT1A147pTAeZa9aIKarFkfims_vQkId_g-EoI8eikthxwgy7KshhkF7X9dZkzQbH5DyL22oh3n-i9TvTQervdqGwD_OEI3RUg19n59WyQjDiWJ0lM/s1600/Picture+066.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 300px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556920642489723442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK6mFbLPTMYUI53Vl_Rewcb_0EjsoT1A147pTAeZa9aIKarFkfims_vQkId_g-EoI8eikthxwgy7KshhkF7X9dZkzQbH5DyL22oh3n-i9TvTQervdqGwD_OEI3RUg19n59WyQjDiWJ0lM/s400/Picture+066.jpg" /></a><br /><br />august 16, 2003 - we climbed mt st helens with jan, bryan, adam, stacy and a few others.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7tpkljRb6UoTvMjSM38RivqZGaV1HLtJMtxbJCcPS5f14vPYejoCdPrBbwjlbvjSF6_jHPcfxyPhgqFbrlt3cIj967IcD6OejGOPecywozF9t4A3zaG8ETDiIKMa8vASW9iiXWTSXBgA/s1600/the+top.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556920645236458818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7tpkljRb6UoTvMjSM38RivqZGaV1HLtJMtxbJCcPS5f14vPYejoCdPrBbwjlbvjSF6_jHPcfxyPhgqFbrlt3cIj967IcD6OejGOPecywozF9t4A3zaG8ETDiIKMa8vASW9iiXWTSXBgA/s400/the+top.JPG" /></a><br /><br />july 26, 2003 - aaron popped the big question at salishan on the beach on one knee. elated! finally! ;) sadly...no pics!<br /><br />september 2003 - we made an offer on our first house - planned to live there for 3 years max...that was 7 years ago and yes, we are still here!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimjVFnGA2ovimUT9n6XHXegHcRG3F6WKgCs3Uu9pIASPWajB0KvfH31gvHLIzNkZB1yZ4Z3JDnP6FRv0cJL5H0T0lNMC3B6RUMknO_8DdYkL2cSMUdJSIZenH54jACX42jZq5y_WmMoQw/s1600/Sale+Pending.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556942045737794994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimjVFnGA2ovimUT9n6XHXegHcRG3F6WKgCs3Uu9pIASPWajB0KvfH31gvHLIzNkZB1yZ4Z3JDnP6FRv0cJL5H0T0lNMC3B6RUMknO_8DdYkL2cSMUdJSIZenH54jACX42jZq5y_WmMoQw/s400/Sale+Pending.JPG" /></a><br /><br />january 2004 - started new job at banfield the pet hospital as a college recruiter. traveled around to different colleges around the country recruiting doctors. fun seeing all college campuses, but the travel got old real fast!<br /><br />may 1, 2004 - our wedding day! tied (with the birth of my babes) for my favorite day in life.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0drpWaYhtEcs5jfCK4RTkexrQMhQEk_iCLGRC4HMIvkxQ6Eqerodq_kOU-kdNWIkATCDBzQxHX6G14rBXlA5_bUFn5puApaUSDMJkW7mxs1O6mtKaSwcCBjyU3mIXCIgJHdVgwlJUN9Q/s1600/aawed336.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 277px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556946072925358578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0drpWaYhtEcs5jfCK4RTkexrQMhQEk_iCLGRC4HMIvkxQ6Eqerodq_kOU-kdNWIkATCDBzQxHX6G14rBXlA5_bUFn5puApaUSDMJkW7mxs1O6mtKaSwcCBjyU3mIXCIgJHdVgwlJUN9Q/s400/aawed336.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivMKouD6rkBXwvqLIAf_3YhoYPyQDjZGmBgtBFhueWYMUBep5XR6PjRcgiIYzO-JqR0F5VXvKj0N3T7y0t6MXPZXx3gLwX2Q9LKvb3jAnHMcxJe7YQO82yOKMAee-H3uA2Xqyb-BQ78Lg/s1600/aawed162.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 277px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556946079954875426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivMKouD6rkBXwvqLIAf_3YhoYPyQDjZGmBgtBFhueWYMUBep5XR6PjRcgiIYzO-JqR0F5VXvKj0N3T7y0t6MXPZXx3gLwX2Q9LKvb3jAnHMcxJe7YQO82yOKMAee-H3uA2Xqyb-BQ78Lg/s400/aawed162.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiqIvQ6_G0J2Xrjnu1y-ti9P46DYwCv072EvjaRXywxUBfbWgeJ50hrceJ_i44Rd8WeCPQLPtGP1xEnUdnx-ojnVj4WYuAKPk1-Cbx8Y_BvHj0YCKL5r-SpuMS5TrWzSkFZ0WPta21otk/s1600/aawed192.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 278px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556949492548885938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiqIvQ6_G0J2Xrjnu1y-ti9P46DYwCv072EvjaRXywxUBfbWgeJ50hrceJ_i44Rd8WeCPQLPtGP1xEnUdnx-ojnVj4WYuAKPk1-Cbx8Y_BvHj0YCKL5r-SpuMS5TrWzSkFZ0WPta21otk/s400/aawed192.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidyDnzjOHbVKpIQDRfYM1fDdCpaxanLv3h7viEp76SmxgrUhh5wauW_Wv3q2PPHqb4oVAO1iwlw8cT56oaRfQegBCfjNUKDfmMAb9V0KkKvmMrTdwuYuVSHgSsnyMFetqZZvanA34tFyg/s1600/aawed113.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 277px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556949483596112290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidyDnzjOHbVKpIQDRfYM1fDdCpaxanLv3h7viEp76SmxgrUhh5wauW_Wv3q2PPHqb4oVAO1iwlw8cT56oaRfQegBCfjNUKDfmMAb9V0KkKvmMrTdwuYuVSHgSsnyMFetqZZvanA34tFyg/s400/aawed113.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibAN8nclMk0l1bkTsGNt0nz_2ABu4r9vT07l3lX8vLcngKA0M40iiuELKDAUmDWvMamIoUGTg6Gz8yrppgV8u_HPx724hvo28ldIeh6LhZ2tH_dUvxgIxtRCkK7i7BbHHKmj8nYHMurb8/s1600/aawed429.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 277px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556949480379642050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibAN8nclMk0l1bkTsGNt0nz_2ABu4r9vT07l3lX8vLcngKA0M40iiuELKDAUmDWvMamIoUGTg6Gz8yrppgV8u_HPx724hvo28ldIeh6LhZ2tH_dUvxgIxtRCkK7i7BbHHKmj8nYHMurb8/s400/aawed429.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXi6NlVwz3mstuadAi0uk-yyPwwAXoDRQa-kQXwavj53J48vuT5s6ybqhRsJ6pEkPeuD687d_sXXHQ_UOi6ssFwcrVtNiZ_ILi3MhAd2gILfCno5Y3_ZN5BrJn8RKATAHgSI4JOoBG5Kg/s1600/aawed375.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 277px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556946095399185842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXi6NlVwz3mstuadAi0uk-yyPwwAXoDRQa-kQXwavj53J48vuT5s6ybqhRsJ6pEkPeuD687d_sXXHQ_UOi6ssFwcrVtNiZ_ILi3MhAd2gILfCno5Y3_ZN5BrJn8RKATAHgSI4JOoBG5Kg/s400/aawed375.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLlMckpbFpauv4YVIdyOAZz1c82wDsXmVza39yvBzYDiuXleY-QT9kXETKKWQIkjvcXmLzc1bB1rUKrnoOWz523HVPcBT3s69ieGZvrOGqZ-F9n3aaacap2OG8_Hun-wQNG2GrD2QNjnk/s1600/aawed363.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 277px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556946094033174290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLlMckpbFpauv4YVIdyOAZz1c82wDsXmVza39yvBzYDiuXleY-QT9kXETKKWQIkjvcXmLzc1bB1rUKrnoOWz523HVPcBT3s69ieGZvrOGqZ-F9n3aaacap2OG8_Hun-wQNG2GrD2QNjnk/s400/aawed363.jpg" /></a><br /><br />and 3 week honeymoon in Belize - pure bliss!!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8TuRyNzXBEM2ZCMMYgaP-IKD-yP23I7pHB1xlkKoA9wb7QGlr9VZbTpkozQSbE6IqfrfcsZU5bcCURdgi6wv52yylBuO6dzjGVgdN-gUrrocuyq02pyeBx0Ro1AqZGmYilUJDI3gbZfE/s1600/Picture+387.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 300px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556950568249223074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8TuRyNzXBEM2ZCMMYgaP-IKD-yP23I7pHB1xlkKoA9wb7QGlr9VZbTpkozQSbE6IqfrfcsZU5bcCURdgi6wv52yylBuO6dzjGVgdN-gUrrocuyq02pyeBx0Ro1AqZGmYilUJDI3gbZfE/s400/Picture+387.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Vz-n8O3VjOmuhf1gh1IfSUVzd8e5ByaP55M6HQLaDJT39pBbVb6B6EthOyPASGhnlC3AbT9wQaFRQJmeCfg61glPFa9_sSttE75XVWPJ5lfFRFZhyphenhyphenIHW12Ry8HJ5ntE9L95j2VIwQzo/s1600/Picture+338.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 300px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556950564424658674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Vz-n8O3VjOmuhf1gh1IfSUVzd8e5ByaP55M6HQLaDJT39pBbVb6B6EthOyPASGhnlC3AbT9wQaFRQJmeCfg61glPFa9_sSttE75XVWPJ5lfFRFZhyphenhyphenIHW12Ry8HJ5ntE9L95j2VIwQzo/s400/Picture+338.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfzz0h3O8YYAXuseVJ2A3CL8fMoTRbbupsPUsJm_4JKFZA2yABSIa0oYvRaSWxPsJTxN12qcojF9flPgiTNBLBNaNnjOAg82TKl4WMtRTFsirDUHOxq9id74F-9amHJIPUFhdLVn905XA/s1600/Picture+341.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 300px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556950558614323890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfzz0h3O8YYAXuseVJ2A3CL8fMoTRbbupsPUsJm_4JKFZA2yABSIa0oYvRaSWxPsJTxN12qcojF9flPgiTNBLBNaNnjOAg82TKl4WMtRTFsirDUHOxq9id74F-9amHJIPUFhdLVn905XA/s400/Picture+341.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjALwFwo6SNDSERb74tjP1x8SM-r7NVSuho0iuVaFDNIIjxmypsGQAM5UOQoO9L5P00G2DL2BDMZi2sqnJ6UGRR46u_EAow3GxNsgDqzBTYnDHNaUupOyGxnhHHllmivrnDVXLnaU1OZlw/s1600/Picture+314.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 300px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556949501825919570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjALwFwo6SNDSERb74tjP1x8SM-r7NVSuho0iuVaFDNIIjxmypsGQAM5UOQoO9L5P00G2DL2BDMZi2sqnJ6UGRR46u_EAow3GxNsgDqzBTYnDHNaUupOyGxnhHHllmivrnDVXLnaU1OZlw/s400/Picture+314.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBNF8h889XcFZRYfUMfEwQliECbjHu96ApGouBnYg-FUq-2ywY1TQK8SF8xlmHy4MtYUiTqO7N-08GMGghipr1GF9Z-XBDTEfgk2QqrsLHpxa3JFTMc2HCympq4vpFR9ku8opZVQLJNe0/s1600/Pics+043.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556949499055677810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBNF8h889XcFZRYfUMfEwQliECbjHu96ApGouBnYg-FUq-2ywY1TQK8SF8xlmHy4MtYUiTqO7N-08GMGghipr1GF9Z-XBDTEfgk2QqrsLHpxa3JFTMc2HCympq4vpFR9ku8opZVQLJNe0/s400/Pics+043.jpg" /></a><br /><br />april 12, 2005 - my first day at nike as a recruiter - LOVED working for this brand/company. great people, employee store discounts, challenging work, sample sales, cool events...yes, i was in the audience while phil interviewed mj in honor of his 25th anniversary with nike.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdpRC3AUSTMl-xP-YYzKDaKJ9rx_dG7FPuBvbiZ6N8yQMoVxtQ5bBvcbjB4vit2o-XOYd5iivji0qeksoH0fYB3t4gb4ZnM5_wmIUCVjwEdy2IisjDzmzJfVixowtoo5l7AzEBSWys9vM/s1600/phil+and+mj2.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 300px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557024038541055394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdpRC3AUSTMl-xP-YYzKDaKJ9rx_dG7FPuBvbiZ6N8yQMoVxtQ5bBvcbjB4vit2o-XOYd5iivji0qeksoH0fYB3t4gb4ZnM5_wmIUCVjwEdy2IisjDzmzJfVixowtoo5l7AzEBSWys9vM/s400/phil+and+mj2.jpg" /></a><br /><br />may 2005 (five weeks after i started my new job!) - traveled around peru for 3 weeks and hiked the inca trail to machu picchu w/ the gassner family. amazing!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1NWKvU8CRfJb-luMrxknn5dtva7Y58MGmEWxH9Z6MgzNjydrc1dlSwNjq3tmdsTvD-c7Vm8GaMIQsW2Lz8zZk1SQLxPYwbjF_sDGx2EWvwtHU1T9Y31_LpP-q-TeOM8jR9FJ5ekz-RsY/s1600/Inca+Trail+158.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556939291518499826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1NWKvU8CRfJb-luMrxknn5dtva7Y58MGmEWxH9Z6MgzNjydrc1dlSwNjq3tmdsTvD-c7Vm8GaMIQsW2Lz8zZk1SQLxPYwbjF_sDGx2EWvwtHU1T9Y31_LpP-q-TeOM8jR9FJ5ekz-RsY/s400/Inca+Trail+158.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1MrK9u6oO02xuQJjbq6KcR94nSCz_0mBN-tRsGN1xtQ953N_03BdsSKNEEI1fHEFipc_I1UFer4bDdZ-EhiRUhBAm1I7gsAiCzLtP4aH7mh7otMjr1doqygmM6qiqbBE3Q0kFf-CitQA/s1600/Inca+Trail+092.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 300px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556939290142931666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1MrK9u6oO02xuQJjbq6KcR94nSCz_0mBN-tRsGN1xtQ953N_03BdsSKNEEI1fHEFipc_I1UFer4bDdZ-EhiRUhBAm1I7gsAiCzLtP4aH7mh7otMjr1doqygmM6qiqbBE3Q0kFf-CitQA/s400/Inca+Trail+092.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9O6zQIiqKS1iTwW3wrNDK6lnvfQ1lZ010r5s2VusHaHHOipnWiWyd-Zm4gMiqBoK-FaAdf9sljTS6lBqRveaDmZnqeXB-TYxi-lRGCoBI0L316EZsytkubYF4pcy1CkGP3Yd70vO5_dc/s1600/Inca+Trail+078.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556939285639257890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9O6zQIiqKS1iTwW3wrNDK6lnvfQ1lZ010r5s2VusHaHHOipnWiWyd-Zm4gMiqBoK-FaAdf9sljTS6lBqRveaDmZnqeXB-TYxi-lRGCoBI0L316EZsytkubYF4pcy1CkGP3Yd70vO5_dc/s400/Inca+Trail+078.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFE4XXrhYYSCZzHKzQLwjfpLSo81tAxR9eU2bqVhRpBULyt5AtYh-KDtZYIIN-uPqj6gEY18NBbHUO2A3O-AgbVR9niF2G5O3w_GYyt3iL8iAEAt49855wtAAsX9a0iF497hwhR-L2wMQ/s1600/IMG_1516.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556939282005360882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFE4XXrhYYSCZzHKzQLwjfpLSo81tAxR9eU2bqVhRpBULyt5AtYh-KDtZYIIN-uPqj6gEY18NBbHUO2A3O-AgbVR9niF2G5O3w_GYyt3iL8iAEAt49855wtAAsX9a0iF497hwhR-L2wMQ/s400/IMG_1516.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />sept/oct 2006 - 3 weeks in africa in celebration of our 30th birthdays and a big hoorah before we attempt to start a family.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFocMpkGOscVV5QMhpho3DDGTGcYv4-YA13FdluAIq3YNS_C916o4BvBbPZA3mfXKV_9SEkfpVNDy2HjIuUVmyIZ0jzurzFzHN22bPQJ5ILChM6ZIvdt-BZdl5VceHe4LH2JneCO8CJ7M/s1600/Africa+463.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556944640690015842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFocMpkGOscVV5QMhpho3DDGTGcYv4-YA13FdluAIq3YNS_C916o4BvBbPZA3mfXKV_9SEkfpVNDy2HjIuUVmyIZ0jzurzFzHN22bPQJ5ILChM6ZIvdt-BZdl5VceHe4LH2JneCO8CJ7M/s400/Africa+463.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb0-CddgcGfD-0DnbHIJOfqWWKMe3t2JNibVI-Yz1uH5gHNVTNH6t0vXwSkiWvow_qdNADWGQYVIYVOFB162VnXkYzdSxzcmyT9xIWlYthMhfwNK-NTeL1VrnoM_V4pF84pjkELELFhxs/s1600/Africa+664.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556944627889234738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb0-CddgcGfD-0DnbHIJOfqWWKMe3t2JNibVI-Yz1uH5gHNVTNH6t0vXwSkiWvow_qdNADWGQYVIYVOFB162VnXkYzdSxzcmyT9xIWlYthMhfwNK-NTeL1VrnoM_V4pF84pjkELELFhxs/s400/Africa+664.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfsvc0VnW4vvyg7JgVU_nsio-mX-aQGfUbEV66H-qS4HCFUlIYkDzEspu_wRKToElaVNHcm7MPeeyd5MmIH6sT20jBVC7AbTM6j6VJdFPZOWPnS8Yqcs8J8dc1zLXyKlmg_hJ1fwvfuBI/s1600/Africa+653.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556944616861018178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfsvc0VnW4vvyg7JgVU_nsio-mX-aQGfUbEV66H-qS4HCFUlIYkDzEspu_wRKToElaVNHcm7MPeeyd5MmIH6sT20jBVC7AbTM6j6VJdFPZOWPnS8Yqcs8J8dc1zLXyKlmg_hJ1fwvfuBI/s400/Africa+653.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgng0A-u1fG9LNuriXannqKNKg-AV2OEu-hAq3Kkq_Rzus_tmUnqOhlgIuOi3F4yI833HbyUAOUAb9HNo-3QOtaC_IZwU8J92wbIUHhNtuhS3bO1MhkWZtdQvdDIycuBElNiaJ4KYSVV8/s1600/Africa+582.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 300px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556944608826122258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgng0A-u1fG9LNuriXannqKNKg-AV2OEu-hAq3Kkq_Rzus_tmUnqOhlgIuOi3F4yI833HbyUAOUAb9HNo-3QOtaC_IZwU8J92wbIUHhNtuhS3bO1MhkWZtdQvdDIycuBElNiaJ4KYSVV8/s400/Africa+582.jpg" /></a><br /><br />october 22, 2006 - ran the nike women's marathon in honor of my 30th birthday - my mom and mother-in-law came along to celebrate!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPgx9g4hQjzqUL160sr8RLpT8z5W-QOAVgaEp7iKlO2l7ZU_T-mDL_1ijWa_mOS4Rxrs2Io5aJUIK6iJXzFNIp8nin6EuM23kGkOYew0qe044ViWXhNIoE_Bu3ZyUICdHbpZH1bxVR06w/s1600/Random+122.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556942058517932114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPgx9g4hQjzqUL160sr8RLpT8z5W-QOAVgaEp7iKlO2l7ZU_T-mDL_1ijWa_mOS4Rxrs2Io5aJUIK6iJXzFNIp8nin6EuM23kGkOYew0qe044ViWXhNIoE_Bu3ZyUICdHbpZH1bxVR06w/s400/Random+122.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiUBRV6lj0mg9zKUJo5gWOeLRZVRe-OSlUhPh-qfBphYqqiNCBgNA5rSiPq6ojfAPWfxjBKmwCK2AEDDrdOUCETUWjVGFhbmfKoLc-xdqQsM4fEZj8qaQFCoH1tnkhpE1f2bNL68HsKh0/s1600/Random+120.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 300px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556942054828715938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiUBRV6lj0mg9zKUJo5gWOeLRZVRe-OSlUhPh-qfBphYqqiNCBgNA5rSiPq6ojfAPWfxjBKmwCK2AEDDrdOUCETUWjVGFhbmfKoLc-xdqQsM4fEZj8qaQFCoH1tnkhpE1f2bNL68HsKh0/s400/Random+120.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br />march 2007 - december 5, 2007 - pregnant w/ kellen, due date was november 22 (thanksgiving of that year), but 13 days overdue!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyj48KwvKwlii6qN29BqVHw5eiBl_mGvmUZ_YSvRGpom0JPxnEVpmx4qS47iF8Piz5ECsvNntJx1MeVsmMGwCu7BJS2AWh2FL12XRsaBQSwKJsrH1dMVcCI1AkKHzqM5No68XpVCBn4EA/s1600/aa+%2526+a.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 360px; HEIGHT: 239px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556986201572539218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyj48KwvKwlii6qN29BqVHw5eiBl_mGvmUZ_YSvRGpom0JPxnEVpmx4qS47iF8Piz5ECsvNntJx1MeVsmMGwCu7BJS2AWh2FL12XRsaBQSwKJsrH1dMVcCI1AkKHzqM5No68XpVCBn4EA/s400/aa+%2526+a.jpg" /></a><br /><br />august 2007 - babymoon #1, kauai, hi<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHIxshjYvp_ZLljWDnB1n0dHbND5ivBvuTYN8hrDkX1T2bWob12giu3Q8DfnZkG_OvyebKWI7_VE7AzAluSKziPTMY2D7sT2B2p9O9DWoejMGSQ7Jnd7yG6BCdph46RnrnxiNkzo6RKOU/s1600/Sunset+at+Beach+House.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 300px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557019931892433074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHIxshjYvp_ZLljWDnB1n0dHbND5ivBvuTYN8hrDkX1T2bWob12giu3Q8DfnZkG_OvyebKWI7_VE7AzAluSKziPTMY2D7sT2B2p9O9DWoejMGSQ7Jnd7yG6BCdph46RnrnxiNkzo6RKOU/s400/Sunset+at+Beach+House.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIALOKG3QzDsV6H-tGs9ojda5_7NNt1v-Vvq3dHIMVEtyywVbWY2T0XSjcLbO7qs-uFYY4D21guz7uOdAEd7UPTqXBnbojzST3yU2hxS3tjyNSb8FilJy1I49_FyMCJBgURIKDy4TJ-D8/s1600/Hiking+in+Waimea+Canyon.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557019926451294002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIALOKG3QzDsV6H-tGs9ojda5_7NNt1v-Vvq3dHIMVEtyywVbWY2T0XSjcLbO7qs-uFYY4D21guz7uOdAEd7UPTqXBnbojzST3yU2hxS3tjyNSb8FilJy1I49_FyMCJBgURIKDy4TJ-D8/s400/Hiking+in+Waimea+Canyon.JPG" /></a><br /><br />december 5, 2007 @ 10:46am - our boy is born...first family photo<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2v3vcWz52OqVlzW3k99gM7utkip5LAfnn8yBy8qcuAOZj0lttQ76YZ6L8HTUKOHXf49uiJCT49Lq_h_EpUXdnUE9gcPwicFEip_SqyGXzT0H9lR4E5t7Y6bfVI2IwZcIwiVDuttej8dM/s1600/First+fam+photo.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556950574385947570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2v3vcWz52OqVlzW3k99gM7utkip5LAfnn8yBy8qcuAOZj0lttQ76YZ6L8HTUKOHXf49uiJCT49Lq_h_EpUXdnUE9gcPwicFEip_SqyGXzT0H9lR4E5t7Y6bfVI2IwZcIwiVDuttej8dM/s400/First+fam+photo.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br />may 2008 - my first mother's day!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsuGoFMkI820iUrNUPEGWCJU3aQJiEUuUIL0xdJDqWMbs-qgqd3ojz5eX5T1LP2bAXmabJ3qxvPMa83mZ9akgPQrIDbXok-CtG_qiJtsXqTBaOgzzM_0y-fK0_kyzkG5A5gMzxf__TXwc/s1600/IMG_4514.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556986205796321026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsuGoFMkI820iUrNUPEGWCJU3aQJiEUuUIL0xdJDqWMbs-qgqd3ojz5eX5T1LP2bAXmabJ3qxvPMa83mZ9akgPQrIDbXok-CtG_qiJtsXqTBaOgzzM_0y-fK0_kyzkG5A5gMzxf__TXwc/s400/IMG_4514.JPG" /></a><br /><br />may 1, 2009 - 5 Years! our first night(s) away from kellen for a long weekend to san francisco.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0NkCV3zDWHBBXe6ADaui3Axeo_jwxnDDJ5HcgyGfj48JoZMaW864UhZdwc7MnTVb3WZfuBb55Zwk17MlzCRUVxV2dybD6mDWN6ZibVFM57uTczWfqaOEygunf1PBiDdX8B7wthHRuM3c/s1600/IMG_1805.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557019923132668066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0NkCV3zDWHBBXe6ADaui3Axeo_jwxnDDJ5HcgyGfj48JoZMaW864UhZdwc7MnTVb3WZfuBb55Zwk17MlzCRUVxV2dybD6mDWN6ZibVFM57uTczWfqaOEygunf1PBiDdX8B7wthHRuM3c/s400/IMG_1805.JPG" /></a><br /><br />august 2009 - babymoon #2 - maui, hi...a little different with a 1.5 year old!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga5XDLNpMRJd0oLZRe5TOhyF6GkJh8U3Qgt49UhI-7hjiW9Z9b3Yc3Q5n8qSBil07hw2F55n99lcMTagAkRbp2VhaSB1HZEbzDxtH-hUG0Tk9oRSGBJvQ9_F8ZchNY7CvTeAPBqD-5VuA/s1600/IMG_8252.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557019918941023650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga5XDLNpMRJd0oLZRe5TOhyF6GkJh8U3Qgt49UhI-7hjiW9Z9b3Yc3Q5n8qSBil07hw2F55n99lcMTagAkRbp2VhaSB1HZEbzDxtH-hUG0Tk9oRSGBJvQ9_F8ZchNY7CvTeAPBqD-5VuA/s400/IMG_8252.JPG" /></a><br /><br />october 14, 2009 - one week before giving birth...kellen comes down with croup - first ER visit, then ambulance ride to emanuel and overnight stay - 9 months pregnant! poor sick boy, poor pregnant mama.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Ao-MTOPE6iEdKIM0_FvO5FFYCoEWFX0TgULwQVhlqnmfWqIGvh3UZt3542RC_Kk2Vsw3yOzCgRNGa0rwFnn_ZyCceuyTH6axCLySxbB0FAUPT6ifXRlnjdun8VZa8m6M75Xhqgy0VRA/s1600/IMG_8373.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 267px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557019912397686706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Ao-MTOPE6iEdKIM0_FvO5FFYCoEWFX0TgULwQVhlqnmfWqIGvh3UZt3542RC_Kk2Vsw3yOzCgRNGa0rwFnn_ZyCceuyTH6axCLySxbB0FAUPT6ifXRlnjdun8VZa8m6M75Xhqgy0VRA/s400/IMG_8373.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br />october 21, 2009 - my 33rd birthday and maya's birthday @ 11:57 pm - our first photo with our girl!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpb5JQCUecApbLtQ_UqPn3ykb_QWG7-Htvzn4GsYM248OZOiurwlOVZULCmHHnsX-RcdRldtp39DkHc3O0_DTpfMpIc33xrS9r6H_cXmfNvijFL5F2iiko8asgREoG3wO6Jaxu3JIGAp4/s1600/IMG_8531.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556950576137846914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpb5JQCUecApbLtQ_UqPn3ykb_QWG7-Htvzn4GsYM248OZOiurwlOVZULCmHHnsX-RcdRldtp39DkHc3O0_DTpfMpIc33xrS9r6H_cXmfNvijFL5F2iiko8asgREoG3wO6Jaxu3JIGAp4/s400/IMG_8531.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br />july 2010 - our first family road trip to northern california - super fun and many good memories, but probably our last for at least five years!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKeLg6oCYpJFJeUSzVCBYDk7w1aQfmNOeRM9Jpb3HOTqDiri_aMtCiICIvxMy4YUozDA9zQJMzWuPrvy032GQ8Qt01uGq1b8TiKnRlyxvrFSkMS_JHhV8oBuG9MA7o_viAaVtlB_DgAt0/s1600/IMG_1999.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 267px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557073872570682178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKeLg6oCYpJFJeUSzVCBYDk7w1aQfmNOeRM9Jpb3HOTqDiri_aMtCiICIvxMy4YUozDA9zQJMzWuPrvy032GQ8Qt01uGq1b8TiKnRlyxvrFSkMS_JHhV8oBuG9MA7o_viAaVtlB_DgAt0/s400/IMG_1999.JPG" /></a><br /><br />september 3, 2010 - my last day at nike. such a bittersweet day. i view it as a sabbatical - extra long and hope to find myself back there when the time is right for us. for now, i'm loving this time and can't wait to see what the next decade brings.<br /><br />cheers and happy new year/decade* to all.<br /><br />* i realize acutally that we are probably a year into the official decade, but since this is my blog...i'm counting my last ten years!!! :)Aa, A, K & Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09206189762294846454noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6135822543215307926.post-19478682755320841642010-12-08T16:41:00.000-08:002010-12-08T17:51:18.694-08:00movesinspired by some awesome tribal sounding music yesterday, maya decided she'd start standing up on her own to do a little booty shake. i love how she waves her hands in the air with her finger pointed...a signature move she learned from her daddy. when he is in the room, she searches for him to make sure they both are doing the same move!<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/BH79IQiSpJc?hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/BH79IQiSpJc?hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Aa, A, K & Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09206189762294846454noreply@blogger.com3