tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55960144366952586672024-03-13T14:55:40.017-06:00Kent and RebeccaBecca and Kenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10441910930489093552noreply@blogger.comBlogger862125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5596014436695258667.post-12260278903595458512017-02-19T11:15:00.003-07:002017-02-19T11:15:53.978-07:00weekend report<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Becca and Kenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10441910930489093552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5596014436695258667.post-12992696762638252452017-02-19T11:15:00.001-07:002017-02-19T11:15:27.035-07:00first day of school<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Becca and Kenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10441910930489093552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5596014436695258667.post-40048318308678652832017-02-19T11:15:00.000-07:002017-02-19T11:15:02.962-07:00the wall<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Becca and Kenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10441910930489093552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5596014436695258667.post-18875903447651176002017-02-19T11:14:00.002-07:002017-02-19T11:14:49.005-07:00into the mountains<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Becca and Kenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10441910930489093552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5596014436695258667.post-73462875285475856302017-02-19T11:14:00.001-07:002017-02-19T11:14:10.045-07:00February <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Christian LOVES his "Pizza Shark" shirt that my mom gave him for Valentine's Day. He asks to wear it every single day. I just love how he posed here when I asked him to smile for me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Kent and I were talking just a few days ago about how <i>easy</i> this child is. He's agreeable, often responding to our directions or commands with "Okay!" and obeying right away. He doesn't throw tantrums or fits, he just accepts when we tell him things need to be a certain way. He's always always happy, waking up ready to giggle and play. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We adore him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">February has been the end of winter and the beginning of Spring. Oh I cannot even say how happy this makes me! We've had several afternoons in the 50's, and we've texted all our neighbors, set up a blanket in the front yard, and let all the kids run and play in the yard together. The sunshine just feels SO good and I feel like I've come back to life. I love this neighborhood and this weather. For a few days in January, I started to feel pretty depressed and discouraged about the cold and snow, but now? Life is good again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jxpk_yjWKys/WKnXx6YV_dI/AAAAAAABQEU/FwhroHx7myM6l1tV9W3CbloiaykYnhrUQCPcB/s1600/IMG_20170213_212236.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jxpk_yjWKys/WKnXx6YV_dI/AAAAAAABQEU/FwhroHx7myM6l1tV9W3CbloiaykYnhrUQCPcB/s640/IMG_20170213_212236.jpg" width="480" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Ellie asked me for <i>months</i> leading up to Valentine's Day if they were going to get a special breakfast table set for them. I started this tradition right before Christian was born because I felt hugely pregnant and so tired and it was my attempt at feeling like I was still a "good mom." But it's turned into our family's Valentine's tradition, and I'm loving it. I didn't have time this year to write love notes to them, and Ellie missed having those, so I'll have to make sure I do that next year.</span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-61ElLPxEA54/WKnXx28LrbI/AAAAAAABQEU/TTs5gQWvzZwV4Axq8lk3_Qy2crY_nrgmwCPcB/s1600/IMG_20170214_175458.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-61ElLPxEA54/WKnXx28LrbI/AAAAAAABQEU/TTs5gQWvzZwV4Axq8lk3_Qy2crY_nrgmwCPcB/s640/IMG_20170214_175458.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Our Valentine's Dinner was Thai food take-out for Kent and I (getting ready for our trip, I guess,) and then I set up a "fancy" dinner for the kids with heart-shaped fruit, pink milk, and an attempt at heart-shaped grilled cheese. Candles, a little Josh Groban in the background, and the kids felt so special. </span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G-AYlXH7Slk/WKnXx0lWVlI/AAAAAAABQEU/PFl9AG2gvnsQ5LpDpuKxJ6YTe7EPKomzgCPcB/s1600/IMG_20170215_185947.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G-AYlXH7Slk/WKnXx0lWVlI/AAAAAAABQEU/PFl9AG2gvnsQ5LpDpuKxJ6YTe7EPKomzgCPcB/s640/IMG_20170215_185947.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Another tradition that I love: making these photo Valentine's cards to send to our cousins and grandparents and give out to our friends. Taking the photos is always an adventure--this year included multiple bribes with chocolate kisses as well as maybe a few threats, but we finally got what we needed on the one day that had enough sunshine between storms. </span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KrCK0ukAC-o/WKnXx2YbtVI/AAAAAAABQEU/Jikuvwsxy0MCvG1GTYD_yaa9zVa1rNktgCPcB/s1600/IMG_20170214_083408.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KrCK0ukAC-o/WKnXx2YbtVI/AAAAAAABQEU/Jikuvwsxy0MCvG1GTYD_yaa9zVa1rNktgCPcB/s640/IMG_20170214_083408.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ua-l0ziRJZ8/WKnXx2NKwwI/AAAAAAABQEU/q3kQOKFZCsMAXIWGzfpc54z94cU3NKTKACPcB/s1600/IMG_20170215_114551.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ua-l0ziRJZ8/WKnXx2NKwwI/AAAAAAABQEU/q3kQOKFZCsMAXIWGzfpc54z94cU3NKTKACPcB/s640/IMG_20170215_114551.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Our poor Ellie has been sleeping in this toddler bed for <i>years</i> now. We just haven't prioritized getting her a real bed because it seemed to be working still, even though she had to curl up on her side in order to fit in it at this point.....</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But lately she hasn't been sleeping well at all, and after multiple wakings one night last week where she insisted she couldn't sleep, I finally decided it was time to get her something other than the toddler bed to sleep on. So we moved the bed out, and Ellie and Christian had a fantastic afternoon "washing" it with wet rags. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Ellie is now sleeping on a double-high twin air mattress until we find a good deal on a real twin bed for her.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If we're being honest, though, it's likely she'll be sleeping on that air mattress for quite a while. At least it's not a toddler bed anymore, right? </span><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-60IaHB9tJ-E/WKnXx8mdz7I/AAAAAAABQEU/qDv6AjOLclU7aEOPaNypH49ZxqayokdIgCPcB/s1600/IMG_20170217_102956.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-60IaHB9tJ-E/WKnXx8mdz7I/AAAAAAABQEU/qDv6AjOLclU7aEOPaNypH49ZxqayokdIgCPcB/s640/IMG_20170217_102956.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Ellie had a field trip on Friday morning, and since Christian naps in the afternoon, it was just the two of us running errands that morning. He's so gosh darn cute, and I just love when I get a chance to spend some time with just him. It was windy and chilly in Spanish Fork, and when we'd get out of the car he'd tell me to "Faster! Faster! Cars!" hurry so the cars and wind wouldn't get us. He giggled when I ran and made silly noises. He's so fun to talk to as we go about our shopping, I just love his little responses and "okay!" answers. He sat in the cart and made up little songs, helped me lift the "heafy" things out of the cart, and was quite content to play with the boxes of berries. </span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GXMBLGf7bZ0/WKnXx4aUxgI/AAAAAAABQEU/Ae8INZhG3ukpuYSPuIdL_k381Ie_EtvBQCPcB/s1600/image-20170213_172858.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GXMBLGf7bZ0/WKnXx4aUxgI/AAAAAAABQEU/Ae8INZhG3ukpuYSPuIdL_k381Ie_EtvBQCPcB/s640/image-20170213_172858.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> I made dinner on Monday night for a family in our ward, so naturally my bread loaf came out a hard lump. It actually thudded onto the bread board when I slid it out of the pan. Then Kent poked a hole in the top with his finger when he was trying to test it. So. I made biscuits to take to them. </span><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cnnI-tY7oS4/WKnXxxhFAlI/AAAAAAABQEU/vt6P0-AgRmI6Th9IZfI_kHK5kc-sFb9iACPcB/s1600/IMG_20170213_114941.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cnnI-tY7oS4/WKnXxxhFAlI/AAAAAAABQEU/vt6P0-AgRmI6Th9IZfI_kHK5kc-sFb9iACPcB/s640/IMG_20170213_114941.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d85cVXW1HBc/WKnXx99msTI/AAAAAAABQEU/IEMhLyn6JkwZLs1sWpdFG7XWRAWX201CgCPcB/s1600/IMG_20170213_114925.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d85cVXW1HBc/WKnXx99msTI/AAAAAAABQEU/IEMhLyn6JkwZLs1sWpdFG7XWRAWX201CgCPcB/s640/IMG_20170213_114925.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BCOjHMY_SJ4/WKnXx6f1YhI/AAAAAAABQEU/NR2PlhkxN7AUFrwqgeCAZQZkm9hDvzusQCPcB/s1600/IMG_20170213_101243.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BCOjHMY_SJ4/WKnXx6f1YhI/AAAAAAABQEU/NR2PlhkxN7AUFrwqgeCAZQZkm9hDvzusQCPcB/s640/IMG_20170213_101243.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> The biggest apples we've ever seen were at the grocery store last week. I didn't even need apples, but I had to buy one because it was just so huge! This picture was after I spent fifteen minutes trying to wrestle Christian into the Ergo carrier on my back. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The grocery store clerk was chatting with us as she rang up our items at the end, and she asked Ellie's name, then said, about Christian, "You probably call him Fiesty, huh?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I said, "No, actually we most often call him 'Uh oh.'" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She looked puzzled, so I explained that he likes to put golf balls in heater vents, legos in toilets, color on the fireplace, and fill up the bathtub until it overflows. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He's a curious trouble-maker, but at least he's always happy about it!</span><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Br6uSinVIMw/WKnXxyWvm8I/AAAAAAABQEU/89-CyHF_VvYYWLOvYuq70Drgc4mgmrtFACPcB/s1600/IMG_20170211_193853.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Br6uSinVIMw/WKnXxyWvm8I/AAAAAAABQEU/89-CyHF_VvYYWLOvYuq70Drgc4mgmrtFACPcB/s640/IMG_20170211_193853.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> We went up to Logan last weekend to give the kids a chance to get used to being there, and while we were there I gave Christian a much-needed haircut. His little curls in the back were pretty adorable, but the rest was just getting too out of control. </span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vwkxr1kzIfw/WKnXxydCRWI/AAAAAAABQEU/SQeUalbcnEMZlElONl2rQ51aTnmEZZBuACPcB/s1600/IMG_20170211_193910.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vwkxr1kzIfw/WKnXxydCRWI/AAAAAAABQEU/SQeUalbcnEMZlElONl2rQ51aTnmEZZBuACPcB/s640/IMG_20170211_193910.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZsXT95SDct4/WKnXx7EefiI/AAAAAAABQEU/EDoJ280kzhsDBkd9wCVTzY8U5cRjoKm-gCPcB/s1600/IMG_20170211_193849.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZsXT95SDct4/WKnXx7EefiI/AAAAAAABQEU/EDoJ280kzhsDBkd9wCVTzY8U5cRjoKm-gCPcB/s640/IMG_20170211_193849.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> He wanted to watch Shopkins while we cut. Definitely NOT my favorite show in the world, but the way he says "Shawkins!" is pretty cute.</span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VOKpd4MIEf4/WKnXx903SmI/AAAAAAABQEU/CzUg9r93sM8ReLCVkpY1prh26VGmeKakgCPcB/s1600/IMG_20170211_195823.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VOKpd4MIEf4/WKnXx903SmI/AAAAAAABQEU/CzUg9r93sM8ReLCVkpY1prh26VGmeKakgCPcB/s640/IMG_20170211_195823.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I wanted to get a picture of how handsome his hair looked the next day, and this is the pose he gave me:</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--tDuzFDx2-A/WKnXx43pttI/AAAAAAABQEU/y9pHzlJTVEEDsdqppKkrZedRhUq0xTfOwCPcB/s1600/IMG_20170212_123526.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--tDuzFDx2-A/WKnXx43pttI/AAAAAAABQEU/y9pHzlJTVEEDsdqppKkrZedRhUq0xTfOwCPcB/s640/IMG_20170212_123526.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When we were driving to go to Old Navy and get dinner a few weeks ago the sunset reflecting off the snowy mountains was incredible.</span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LHR3E0NYyAU/WKnXx_BGJdI/AAAAAAABQEU/znrrQB-zgaklPqoj3XGpil1XYMnQMQ_RwCPcB/s1600/IMG_20170209_175659.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LHR3E0NYyAU/WKnXx_BGJdI/AAAAAAABQEU/znrrQB-zgaklPqoj3XGpil1XYMnQMQ_RwCPcB/s640/IMG_20170209_175659.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Old Navy was ridiculous, though---our kids were very unhappy that we weren't buying anything for them, just shirts for Dad. </span><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qX9PZgpLcJg/WKnXxw_41nI/AAAAAAABQEU/HDQ8dYlqSPcvpmngTwJt6aagXDHNixHlwCPcB/s1600/IMG_20170208_154248.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qX9PZgpLcJg/WKnXxw_41nI/AAAAAAABQEU/HDQ8dYlqSPcvpmngTwJt6aagXDHNixHlwCPcB/s640/IMG_20170208_154248.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> A week or so was spent getting ready for our friend's Valentine's Dinner party--it was a lot of work, but I just love this sort of thing, and I was pretty proud of how it turned out.</span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B-gybn3z_BE/WKnXx8mANYI/AAAAAAABQEU/_l_xgD-pAssHVbgViGGBog6Peq3Q2TVPQCPcB/s1600/IMG_20170204_140129.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B-gybn3z_BE/WKnXx8mANYI/AAAAAAABQEU/_l_xgD-pAssHVbgViGGBog6Peq3Q2TVPQCPcB/s640/IMG_20170204_140129.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A few Saturday's ago, the Ludwigs asked us if we wanted to do a babysitting swap. They went skiing in the morning and the kids all played at our house, and then in the afternoon we took our kids to their house and Kent and I got to go on a real date--the day was awesome. These adorable kids all get together so well and I feel like we hit the neighborhood jackpot here, really we just are so happy here.</span><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AfmAPATtgB0/WKnXx-kLf5I/AAAAAAABQEU/WylAlr4NeXgGaK9FaQuufA3ELTRQF2b9ACPcB/s1600/IMG_20170204_185710.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AfmAPATtgB0/WKnXx-kLf5I/AAAAAAABQEU/WylAlr4NeXgGaK9FaQuufA3ELTRQF2b9ACPcB/s640/IMG_20170204_185710.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> We got on the waiting list to get a table at Black Sheep, and while we waited we got ice cream, of course.</span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-enZKi4xEKbo/WKnXx4IKW0I/AAAAAAABQEU/n4ihRE1qcwg9De_yUbfW-q9a2vQWP-2HQCPcB/s1600/IMG_20170204_185741.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-enZKi4xEKbo/WKnXx4IKW0I/AAAAAAABQEU/n4ihRE1qcwg9De_yUbfW-q9a2vQWP-2HQCPcB/s640/IMG_20170204_185741.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> German chocolate cake and strawberry basil ice cream. </span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kr-Rhfnz5Rg/WKnXx1uTqMI/AAAAAAABQEU/pjCJp7w2VDYepF4ljbr05-C2NjP-J0BGQCPcB/s1600/image-20170204_200048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kr-Rhfnz5Rg/WKnXx1uTqMI/AAAAAAABQEU/pjCJp7w2VDYepF4ljbr05-C2NjP-J0BGQCPcB/s640/image-20170204_200048.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> And how is everything at Black Sheep just so delicious??</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> All the way back at the beginning of the month, I did something like I used to do all the time with the kids--we painted. These kinds of activities and crafts are my favorite way to "play" with the kids. And then Kent brought home Chinese food and we ate it picnic style on the kitchen floor. (after we got over Nick's crying fit about how rude we were to try and feed him something that "wasn't American!") </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Oh this life. It's the best.</span><br />
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<br />Becca and Kenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10441910930489093552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5596014436695258667.post-77373550217108752902016-09-11T21:59:00.001-06:002016-09-11T22:04:29.710-06:00seven<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This is completely cliche,<br />
but I'm going to say it anyway.<br />
How is my baby boy SEVEN years old??<br />
<br />
Also, why does seven feel so big? It's like I could pass six off as "still sort of a preschooler" in my head, but seven? Not a chance. He's a big kid. I'm the mom of a big kid.<br />
It feels so weird, guys.<br />
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This seven-year-old, though, is my favorite. He's sensitive and thoughtful, often asking me "What can I do to help you, Mom?" especially during the craziness as I try to get dinner ready each night.<br />
He's kind and friendly. He's a leader. He's silly and goofy and likes to say crazy things just for the heck of it.<br />
The other day we were buckling the others into the van so we could go to the store, and he walked out with this amazed look in his eyes and said, "Oh, I just never thought this day would come!"<br />
"What day??" I asked, laughing.<br />
"Oh just this one," and then he buckled his seat belt.<br />
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He has a great need to be loved. But as long as we remember to continually pour the love into his bucket, he shines. And he's oh-so-fun to be around. (sending him to school still breaks my heart every morning.)<br />
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For his birthday, he requested waffles for breakfast (eggos because we're fancy like that), going to Corner Bakery for lunch, and pizza for dinner.<br />
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For a boy who doesn't own a phone or other device, and who has only played a handful of times on daddy's phone, he's a Pokemon Go fanatic. For his birthday, the thing he wanted to do most was to go to the park with Dad and catch Pokemon.<br />
Easy enough, sweet boy.<br />
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A few months before his birthday, he asked for a kayak. I told him that if he got a kayak, it would probably be the only thing he could get because it's so expensive.<br />
He seemed okay with that, but asked for several other things too.<br />
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We got him lots of little things (candy, a box of his favorite cereal--Tiny Toast, a t-shirt) and let him open all of those first. He was completely satisfied and happy with all of that. The last present we let him open was a life jacket.<br />
And then I pretended like we'd forgotten a present, something to go with the life jacket.<br />
Kent carried his kayak around the corner.<br />
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This kid. He's the best.<br />
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There was much trauma and tears about the prospect of having a friend party (but who to invite?? and when to do it?? and how to make it <i>perfect</i>??) so we decided to compromise and have a little party at the park with some of our neighborhood friends a few nights after his birthday. Our dear neighbor Erin brought her kids and gave him a Pokemon joke book, which Nick promptly declared "the Best Gift in the World." (But really---Pokemon AND jokes? What could a first grader want more?)<br />
A couple of days after his birthday we drove up to my parents house and spent the weekend, including a trip to Bear Lake.<br />
These summer birthdays--lucky boy gets to stretch it out over several days and several parties and you know what?<br />
He deserves it all.<br />
Happy Seven, Nick!Becca and Kenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10441910930489093552noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5596014436695258667.post-67632084124466413552016-09-11T21:55:00.001-06:002016-09-11T21:55:10.693-06:00August, the rest<br />
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The end of summer came up so fast--<br />
we soaked it all in as much as we could.<br />
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August was a month for finally seeing a full lawn, many Home Depot trips as we finished up the basement, swimming lessons and pool days, splash parks, school preparations, and late nights in the cul-de-sac with friends.<br />
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Mirror selfie in Home Depot.<br />
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Christian flushed several toys down our toilets. For a couple of weeks, both of our main floor toilets were out of order. We finally had to get a plumber to come out and actually take the toilets off their seals to get the toys out. This child! <br />
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Christian brings me his shoes all day long, asking to go "ous!" <br />
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Hanging out in Mom and Dad's shower, just because, you know.<br />
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We've got carpet in our basement play room! It was amazing to see that, after all the time and work and $$ we've put into it, once that carpet was laid, suddenly we had a room! A brand new room! So fun.</div>
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<br />Becca and Kenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10441910930489093552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5596014436695258667.post-86546296514791020052016-08-12T17:11:00.000-06:002016-08-13T11:57:12.208-06:00Christian, 17 months<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3qByO9aLNs4/V5YcYF0A3DI/AAAAAAABDj0/tYn9aq30UfsiVf2Nr-jtLbsggHQIbWqowCLcB/s1600/DSC_0502.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3qByO9aLNs4/V5YcYF0A3DI/AAAAAAABDj0/tYn9aq30UfsiVf2Nr-jtLbsggHQIbWqowCLcB/s640/DSC_0502.JPG" width="428" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Oh my sweet boy. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I don't really know where to start. You are a little man with a <span style="font-size: large;">giant</span> personality. Silly, easygoing, loving, happy little copycat.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">There's really no end to how happy you are.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A few days ago, you woke us up bright and early at 6:30 am, and Daddy and I stumbled out of bed to be with you. We sat in a stupor on the couch while you turned on your keyboard and began to dance circles around the living room, saying "Dance! DANCE!" and laughing with delight when you'd fall down. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What kind of person gets out of bed at 6:30 am just so he can dance? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">You.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We like to say that you prance around the house shooting rainbows out of your fingertips. Because that's pretty much what you do. You are unbelievably happy, constantly oozing joy and enthusiasm. A tiny bundle of sunshine running down the halls.</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6TTF9padOxY/V65K20oe0mI/AAAAAAABEs0/flk3cv51y7AIwBoxfVGY5-ex90iKx7v2gCKgB/s1600/IMG_20160808_090712.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6TTF9padOxY/V65K20oe0mI/AAAAAAABEs0/flk3cv51y7AIwBoxfVGY5-ex90iKx7v2gCKgB/s640/IMG_20160808_090712.jpg" width="478" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And I have no idea what we'd do without you, dear boy.</span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DUu8eFrp4jI/V65K212ibZI/AAAAAAABEs0/1s--iQul0i8M1xZ06nQY2UTQeKi4wQYxQCKgB/s1600/IMG_20160807_183720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DUu8eFrp4jI/V65K212ibZI/AAAAAAABEs0/1s--iQul0i8M1xZ06nQY2UTQeKi4wQYxQCKgB/s640/IMG_20160807_183720.jpg" width="478" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">You are busy busy busy</span>, always working on something, doing something, following the big kids around and trying to be like them. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">One of your favorite words is "button" (always shouted as "BUT!!!" which is super fun when you see the buttons on the card reader when we're paying for our groceries. Yes, that's my child who is screaming "butt" in the checkout line, thankyouverymuch.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">You get endless joy out of pushing the doorbell button, the garage door opener button, and the light switch "buttons."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Although you're busy, you don't much get into stuff. You're more interested in getting <span style="font-size: large;">on top of stuff</span>. You no longer put little things in your mouth much, and you've finally mastered stairs and the need to be careful about getting down them, so mostly I just have to pay very close attention to where you are at all times, just to make sure you're not attempting to climb on top of the piano, sit on the ledge of your high chair tray, or scale the shelves in the pantry. <a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9RmdNCbePJs/V5YbuA8mBPI/AAAAAAABDjk/3L_Q_Z1rEhofztktr2gnoaUEH-LzTsvrQCLcB/s1600/DSC_0574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9RmdNCbePJs/V5YbuA8mBPI/AAAAAAABDjk/3L_Q_Z1rEhofztktr2gnoaUEH-LzTsvrQCLcB/s640/DSC_0574.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">You are scary-smart, and you pay attention to what is going on. A few days ago I asked the kids in the car what we should have for dinner. Before anyone else could answer your high little voice yelled out from behind your rear-facing carseat, "RICE!" I laughed so hard I almost had to pull over. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And yes, we had rice that night.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Also, I'm paying much closer attention to what I say around you, since apparently you're listening.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">You are the ultimate copycat. Whatever Nick and Ellie are doing, you must do too. When I take you to Primary with me on Sundays, you have me set up a chair just for you, and then you climb up into it and sit there with your hands in your lap, thinking you're just one of the big kids, and so proud of yourself for it.</span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S18hOpNtZGo/V65VULA5MfI/AAAAAAABEto/WhffySq7hD0cKl_jb25qekhh4lq6shHUACLcB/s1600/DSC_0169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S18hOpNtZGo/V65VULA5MfI/AAAAAAABEto/WhffySq7hD0cKl_jb25qekhh4lq6shHUACLcB/s400/DSC_0169.JPG" width="267" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">You love to copy Ellie by wearing her tiara or necklaces. One afternoon you strolled into the room with her string of beads hung over your ears, unbelievably proud of yourself for managing that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">You've also learned to copycat</span> their tantrums and tears. Which is both hilarious yet maddening. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">You're fiercely jealous of me, so when I'm comforting one of the others because of a skinned knee or stubbed toe, you plop yourself down on the other side of my lap and fake cry "waaaaaaa" while pointing to your imaginary injury in exactly the same place as your sibling's. Ellie scratched her foot a week ago and was holding it saying "Owie! Owie!" over and over. You watched her for a moment, then sat down and grabbed your own foot and moaned "Owie!" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">You're a mama's boy through and through, and also jealous of my affection. When I give Daddy a kiss before he leaves for work each morning, as soon as we part I find your face inches from mine, lips puckered ready to give me a smooch smack on the lips as well. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-etQnh04CoII/V5YbwFYZf0I/AAAAAAABDjs/Hh79AHnQgegB9h1q4PY0wGZ7bbYlRgHtgCLcB/s1600/DSC_0823.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-etQnh04CoII/V5YbwFYZf0I/AAAAAAABDjs/Hh79AHnQgegB9h1q4PY0wGZ7bbYlRgHtgCLcB/s640/DSC_0823.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Your favorite place to be is either <span style="font-size: large;">outside</span> (you ask us to open the door for you by saying "doonk," which means nothing to us except it's what you always say when you want a door opened,) or in my lap reading a book (requested by saying "gook.") Last Sunday morning Daddy read you no less than seventeen books before any of the rest of us had even gotten out of bed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">When you realize that you are going to get what you've asked for, you tip your head back and grin, slowly clap your hands, and cheer "YAAAASSSS." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I die every time.</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-km_N_KkFS7I/V5YfaTLkNDI/AAAAAAABDkA/Pi-SA9dcMXY4Qt4j_YdLmkHWYDH_VCA0gCKgB/s1600/IMG_20160704_095459.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-km_N_KkFS7I/V5YfaTLkNDI/AAAAAAABDkA/Pi-SA9dcMXY4Qt4j_YdLmkHWYDH_VCA0gCKgB/s640/IMG_20160704_095459.jpg" width="478" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">You stroll with your hands behind your back, particularly after you've told us a great long "story." <span style="font-size: large;">Your habit of babbling away</span>, with perfectly matched facial expressions and hand gestures but not a single real word is one of my most favorite things about you. I have video after video of these stories on my phone--it's just too cute!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Speaking of cute, when you're happy to see us, you grin, tip your head back, close your eyes, and run to us (with head back and eyes still closed.) A dangerous habit, but I don't think anything else has ever made me feel so loved.</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y5QEoUf-t9o/V5YfaQvG1tI/AAAAAAABDkA/MCWEQwZ9Do4O5Imamm1HPY_6BisXoOanwCKgB/s1600/IMG_20160626_113850.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y5QEoUf-t9o/V5YfaQvG1tI/AAAAAAABDkA/MCWEQwZ9Do4O5Imamm1HPY_6BisXoOanwCKgB/s640/IMG_20160626_113850.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> This summer has been a summer of perpetually scraped knees for you. You're a runner and a climber and so tough--sometimes you'll surprise us with how you don't even care when you bloody your knees or pinch your fingers again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">You are a water maniac.</span> At Grandma and Grandpa's house last month, you saw their sprinkler out in the grass, ran over to it, looked back at Jonah who was watching you out there, and then stuck your face straight into the spray of the water, letting it blast you at point-blank. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">You were using sidewalk chalk with the kids in the driveway when our own sprinklers came on. Nick and Ellie stood and bolted for the garage so they wouldn't get wet, while with equal urgency you stood and bolted for the sprinklers <span style="font-size: large;">so you <i>would</i> get wet.</span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I signed you and me up for a Mommy and Me swim class while the kids took their swim lessons these past two weeks, and although it was colder and you weren't really into it this week, the first week was so much fun. You kicked and splashed and reached for the side so you could climb out, count one two three! and jump back in again over and over and over again.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I really loved having that time, doing something fun, just you and me. We don't get that enough, Christian.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Because climbing on top of the table is your favorite, you often find the food that Nick and Ellie left behind. And boy what a mess you can make with it!</span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-654Bri9BjaE/V5Ybvz87xiI/AAAAAAABDjo/TKUdubXR0CIXjnija8s-5EFshPyZsoIPACLcB/s1600/DSC_0724.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-654Bri9BjaE/V5Ybvz87xiI/AAAAAAABDjo/TKUdubXR0CIXjnija8s-5EFshPyZsoIPACLcB/s640/DSC_0724.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MNnu26ZrCh4/V5YfaeCFfaI/AAAAAAABDkA/9b_n6d0G9_4_Kdla9B1WV_WB1xDYTgN-ACKgB/s1600/image-20160620_174341.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MNnu26ZrCh4/V5YfaeCFfaI/AAAAAAABDkA/9b_n6d0G9_4_Kdla9B1WV_WB1xDYTgN-ACKgB/s640/image-20160620_174341.jpg" width="480" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">You found a sucker that didn't belong to you..... You also like to "borrow" my toothbrush every time you come into my bathroom. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">You've been talking</span> like crazy lately. In the pool earlier this week you weren't having any fun and when I asked you if you wanted to swim more, you said, "It's too brrr," clear as can be. So we got out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">You've learned the word "no," and you use it freely, even when you actually mean "yes." Sometimes I forget that, and I take it as a real "no," and it takes me a moment to figure out why you're suddenly so frustrated. No means no, <i>and</i> yes. I'll try my best to remember that, Bud.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> other words you know:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">outside</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">open</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">water</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">splash</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">two (as in one, two three!)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">shoes</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">fish</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">hi and bye</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">down</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">watch/show</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">drink ("Deutch!")</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">milk</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">banana ("Mna mna!")</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">applesauce</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">dog (although it sounds like "woof!")</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">please</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">grapes ("bup")</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">cracker</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">rice!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">tickle</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">spider</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">car</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">book</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">nose</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">bubbles</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">mine!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">chickens</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">touch (when I say "don't touch" you nod and shout "touch!")</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ball</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">dance (one of my favorites. You'll point to our bluetooth speaker and say "Dance!" then show me a little spin in case I didn't realize you meant you want me to turn on music.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Nate</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Josh & Alicia</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">dang it (yep.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">and sometimes, if we're realllly lucky, you'll say Dad. Never Mom. I think you just assume that everything you say is already directed towards me, so there's really no point in saying my name first. </span><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i5II9Pg8MFc/V65MvXhPAFI/AAAAAAABEtA/2NfD_2Aegjk6f7qCQZtojzpc0rJqu3wJQCLcB/s1600/DSC_0504.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i5II9Pg8MFc/V65MvXhPAFI/AAAAAAABEtA/2NfD_2Aegjk6f7qCQZtojzpc0rJqu3wJQCLcB/s640/DSC_0504.JPG" width="428" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And you know, that's all right with me.</span><br />
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<br />Becca and Kenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10441910930489093552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5596014436695258667.post-52997451343347225102016-08-01T16:13:00.000-06:002016-08-01T16:13:02.386-06:00light up the night<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j_jwbTJ2NYg/V50lRVjdxNI/AAAAAAABD8s/W2FXZWQq-7E1-SNsIOyaZw-4LlaZoj52wCKgB/s1600/IMG_20160725_211337.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j_jwbTJ2NYg/V50lRVjdxNI/AAAAAAABD8s/W2FXZWQq-7E1-SNsIOyaZw-4LlaZoj52wCKgB/s640/IMG_20160725_211337.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
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Our city doesn't allow fireworks. (Too high up in the foothills, too dry.)</div>
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But on the 24th of July, Utah's Pioneer Day,</div>
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we wanted to have a party. </div>
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So we invited some of our neighbors and friends over for a Ice Cream and Glowsticks street party.</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ipTETHLlGa8/V50lNSxHTYI/AAAAAAABD8o/VjswOiD7f7kKFVTlh4OU4mHIcClP2FM_wCKgB/s1600/IMG_20160725_203623.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ipTETHLlGa8/V50lNSxHTYI/AAAAAAABD8o/VjswOiD7f7kKFVTlh4OU4mHIcClP2FM_wCKgB/s640/IMG_20160725_203623.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
The skies put on the first show of the evening as we were setting up the party.<br />
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We ate ice cream sundaes, Kent turned on some music for us,<br />
and we began the glow-in-the-dark fun.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4Yednzi1vWk/V50l0zvFpDI/AAAAAAABD8w/98698PPixfoRCmJpbWypdCdq6uLbVjzkgCKgB/s1600/IMG_20160725_212251.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4Yednzi1vWk/V50l0zvFpDI/AAAAAAABD8w/98698PPixfoRCmJpbWypdCdq6uLbVjzkgCKgB/s640/IMG_20160725_212251.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
One of our neighbors invented this super amazing glowsticks blaster that shot 40 glowsticks at a time about 100 feet into the air.<br />
Like a firework.<br />
Minus the fire hazard.<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7D8xDgm_804/V50l0w_XnfI/AAAAAAABD8w/5M-Nz1K0414BW96HNNxQxnCbRFpfQSbawCKgB/s1600/IMG_20160725_213112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7D8xDgm_804/V50l0w_XnfI/AAAAAAABD8w/5M-Nz1K0414BW96HNNxQxnCbRFpfQSbawCKgB/s640/IMG_20160725_213112.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rfsdatKmCP0/V50l07BLIcI/AAAAAAABD8w/ZOAvKfq9li8qEP-UoVP6I6o5C0Mc0I9bACKgB/s1600/IMG_20160725_213138.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rfsdatKmCP0/V50l07BLIcI/AAAAAAABD8w/ZOAvKfq9li8qEP-UoVP6I6o5C0Mc0I9bACKgB/s640/IMG_20160725_213138.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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We really just love this place where we live.Becca and Kenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10441910930489093552noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5596014436695258667.post-64319677892634735902016-07-31T15:43:00.000-06:002016-07-31T15:43:00.236-06:00July<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Kr3-Btahhns/V5ZxsY49YgI/AAAAAAABDpA/Tiv7y9XrSTsWs-TzKZULCDBqQtihBYq6QCLcB/s1600/DSC_0406.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Kr3-Btahhns/V5ZxsY49YgI/AAAAAAABDpA/Tiv7y9XrSTsWs-TzKZULCDBqQtihBYq6QCLcB/s640/DSC_0406.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">How is July almost over already?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It's been a month of swimsuits, splash pads, sprinklers. Mountains, hiking, camping, and lakes. Morning adventures and lazy afternoons reading. Homemade ice cream, street fair food, chips and salsa, frozen berry lemonades.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Just about as perfect as July gets.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We took the kids to a fair the other night, and Christian really really wanted to share everyone's food, <span style="font-size: large;">starting with Ellie's ice cream,</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NMLRJwUMISU/V5Zy2cHyvdI/AAAAAAABDpk/BR-0aHpBsJsgRq9DM9u4NkOatAphZ2QrACKgB/s1600/IMG_20160721_184119.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NMLRJwUMISU/V5Zy2cHyvdI/AAAAAAABDpk/BR-0aHpBsJsgRq9DM9u4NkOatAphZ2QrACKgB/s640/IMG_20160721_184119.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2avsm8rG-Yc/V5Zy2XTdJDI/AAAAAAABDpk/ZkvrDRg85nsRa204ULrNNP32r_z93oFTgCKgB/s1600/IMG_20160721_184052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2avsm8rG-Yc/V5Zy2XTdJDI/AAAAAAABDpk/ZkvrDRg85nsRa204ULrNNP32r_z93oFTgCKgB/s640/IMG_20160721_184052.jpg" width="478" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">And then on to Dad's street corn.</span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x5-zdFWpl3o/V5Zy2f_jlpI/AAAAAAABDpk/OC9_LmpIS2ITl43CEE_Ehmi7-49mOR_SwCKgB/s1600/IMG_20160721_185727.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x5-zdFWpl3o/V5Zy2f_jlpI/AAAAAAABDpk/OC9_LmpIS2ITl43CEE_Ehmi7-49mOR_SwCKgB/s640/IMG_20160721_185727.jpg" width="478" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Si3ydwYpMmg/V5Zy2X0DfZI/AAAAAAABDpk/aBHnXTEuROECd7XxxcctoIrYwlTqR3d_gCKgB/s1600/IMG_20160721_190047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Si3ydwYpMmg/V5Zy2X0DfZI/AAAAAAABDpk/aBHnXTEuROECd7XxxcctoIrYwlTqR3d_gCKgB/s640/IMG_20160721_190047.jpg" width="475" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">He also polished off my smoothies and tacos as well as the crumbs left in Nick's bag of doritos. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">(It was <span style="font-size: large;">a dinner of champions</span>, let me tell you. Ice cream, french fries, doritos, tacos, smoothies, and corn. We're great parents.)</span><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--M7Lb3_gni0/V5Zy2dx7xLI/AAAAAAABDpk/RTekYcNErJYNBED5ufoXKGfVqEP47XrFQCKgB/s1600/IMG_20160721_185922.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--M7Lb3_gni0/V5Zy2dx7xLI/AAAAAAABDpk/RTekYcNErJYNBED5ufoXKGfVqEP47XrFQCKgB/s640/IMG_20160721_185922.jpg" width="476" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Summer evenings</span> are my favorite. The sun goes down and it gets so cool and calm outside, and our sunset view is something else.</span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PODP0I9Of4c/V5Zy2Q7SGtI/AAAAAAABDpk/EUoWRkM9znYjX2ys1djG6_SRQErazc-yQCKgB/s1600/IMG_20160716_204948.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PODP0I9Of4c/V5Zy2Q7SGtI/AAAAAAABDpk/EUoWRkM9znYjX2ys1djG6_SRQErazc-yQCKgB/s640/IMG_20160716_204948.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a6QucCfjfIQ/V5Zy2Tm1ijI/AAAAAAABDpk/HzwltQL2Yp8BW4eRGsHV8dhaQZ9V7pTFQCKgB/s1600/IMG_20160711_205708.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a6QucCfjfIQ/V5Zy2Tm1ijI/AAAAAAABDpk/HzwltQL2Yp8BW4eRGsHV8dhaQZ9V7pTFQCKgB/s640/IMG_20160711_205708.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Christian has discovered the fun of selfies.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">His little tongue kills me.</span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AUkZS71hLt4/V5Zy2Wwio-I/AAAAAAABDpk/n3smTgCxTrc9fIwRcCynSaw4WPqj-j4mwCKgB/s1600/IMG_20160714_183357.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AUkZS71hLt4/V5Zy2Wwio-I/AAAAAAABDpk/n3smTgCxTrc9fIwRcCynSaw4WPqj-j4mwCKgB/s640/IMG_20160714_183357.jpg" width="478" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Kent and I have spent quite a few nights this month <span style="font-size: large;">painting the basement.</span> We're getting really close to getting the paint finished and then we'll get the electrical all finished up. </span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ix3KSlb95Bw/V5Zy2cDU-yI/AAAAAAABDpk/2ORv1IhRdkcfLg3IE6V1gd36Dur86WJ_QCKgB/s1600/IMG_20160713_212146.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ix3KSlb95Bw/V5Zy2cDU-yI/AAAAAAABDpk/2ORv1IhRdkcfLg3IE6V1gd36Dur86WJ_QCKgB/s640/IMG_20160713_212146.jpg" width="478" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Nick and Ellie "helped" a bit too.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Ellie liked to write her name and draw big smiley faces with the paint.</span><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZO-X4ntH5L8/V50TkQKsAbI/AAAAAAABD7A/VNxEMBCCs8cFRRGsiDadk9QFb6quzIfLgCKgB/s1600/IMG_20160725_153238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZO-X4ntH5L8/V50TkQKsAbI/AAAAAAABD7A/VNxEMBCCs8cFRRGsiDadk9QFb6quzIfLgCKgB/s640/IMG_20160725_153238.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I really am looking forward to these rooms not being such a dusty, paint-dribbled mess.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We've been here for six months now, and there's still those hidden spaces that need to be unpacked/organized/finished. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The <span style="font-size: large;">hall closet</span> was first on my list. This closet is thirty-inches wide and five feet deep. (And if there'd been any way to shuffle this in the floorplan to make it less awkward before we moved in I totally would have!)</span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-io9rFuyP_GE/V5Zy2XwxQxI/AAAAAAABDpk/wchUOyUFWl447xJvLsz4NuHzJSPPUsaDgCKgB/s1600/image-20160708_183426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B3YOocKAlW8/V5Zy2S_-E_I/AAAAAAABDpk/bPRY4luRaXox2oC_7hj9BROGJKFFa-6zwCKgB/s1600/IMG_20160708_165531.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B3YOocKAlW8/V5Zy2S_-E_I/AAAAAAABDpk/bPRY4luRaXox2oC_7hj9BROGJKFFa-6zwCKgB/s400/IMG_20160708_165531.jpg" width="297" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We definitely need to get some legitimate shelving in there, but for now, this is MUCH better.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And yes, I've caught myself opening the closet when I walk past just to remind myself how great it is to have it cleaned up.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">In the few final days of July,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Christian found a precarious new place to sit.</span><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q3RIHoYD8-M/V50Up_-35OI/AAAAAAABD7I/jrBXK1_YeLcg9oNXRVFNRL6tTYvtaxOvgCKgB/s1600/IMG_20160722_122708.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q3RIHoYD8-M/V50Up_-35OI/AAAAAAABD7I/jrBXK1_YeLcg9oNXRVFNRL6tTYvtaxOvgCKgB/s640/IMG_20160722_122708.jpg" width="478" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Between painting the basement and <span style="font-size: large;">watching Poldark</span> (LOVE this show, by the way) Kent and I have spent all the rest of our evening time pulling weeds out of our grass. The grass is growing in and looks SO great, we sprayed the weeds and most of them died, but they still need to be removed to help the grass grow in thick and strong like it needs to.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It's an achingly slow process. Our first attempt, Kent and I spent two hours out there and only weeded a ten-foot square in the yard. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We've spent so much time weeding this week that we're actually dreaming about weeds while we sleep at night. Not even joking.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">One afternoon I was out there with the kids.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Nick refused to help me with the weeding,</span> but was anxious to make sure I still felt the love while I pulled weeds alone anyway.</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p2FfGO7Nhac/V50Up5ER1lI/AAAAAAABD7I/8JNc_zqprHo6DmDO50gfm_E7In0vfofdACKgB/s1600/IMG_20160725_193452.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p2FfGO7Nhac/V50Up5ER1lI/AAAAAAABD7I/8JNc_zqprHo6DmDO50gfm_E7In0vfofdACKgB/s640/IMG_20160725_193452.jpg" width="478" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">He sat out there by the sign while I weeded and turned it as I moved around the yard, making sure the note was <span style="font-size: large;">always facing me</span> so I could still read it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Thanks, Bud.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It's been super hot this week (okay, okay Texas and Vegas friends.....I know, I know....) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">But it's been too hot to play outside much, so instead <span style="font-size: large;">we cool off at the splash pad </span>with friends.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eU-Q5TSi-HU/V50Up7cC6iI/AAAAAAABD7I/JLZx0QWxUOQRssW3-G6y15xSpbKztvhWwCKgB/s1600/IMG_20160727_110443.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eU-Q5TSi-HU/V50Up7cC6iI/AAAAAAABD7I/JLZx0QWxUOQRssW3-G6y15xSpbKztvhWwCKgB/s640/IMG_20160727_110443.jpg" width="478" /></a></span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iUD5EMeMZuw/V50cd56CGuI/AAAAAAABD8I/eJjsX33DcSUayKgXVBKxa2kxV23CRCqEgCKgB/s1600/IMG_20160727_110806.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iUD5EMeMZuw/V50cd56CGuI/AAAAAAABD8I/eJjsX33DcSUayKgXVBKxa2kxV23CRCqEgCKgB/s640/IMG_20160727_110806.jpg" width="478" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">and this goofy baby boy found yet another unusual place to sit:</span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Iukspb8aQ2g/V50cX7BaXdI/AAAAAAABD8E/rkOpL-BXs50Dw34TC3OccbH4O9wq7FilgCKgB/s1600/IMG_20160728_125419.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Iukspb8aQ2g/V50cX7BaXdI/AAAAAAABD8E/rkOpL-BXs50Dw34TC3OccbH4O9wq7FilgCKgB/s640/IMG_20160728_125419.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CcDHUs3hRy8/V50Up7NNMDI/AAAAAAABD7I/xshenUk-PrMRd8F0CTB087alDEpUJmHjACKgB/s1600/IMG_20160728_125357.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CcDHUs3hRy8/V50Up7NNMDI/AAAAAAABD7I/xshenUk-PrMRd8F0CTB087alDEpUJmHjACKgB/s640/IMG_20160728_125357.jpg" width="478" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Goodbye glorious July! We'll miss you!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>Becca and Kenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10441910930489093552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5596014436695258667.post-76173478183437335912016-07-30T15:15:00.001-06:002016-07-30T15:16:12.607-06:00birthday holiday week<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The first week of July we spent at my parent's house. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I drove up there with the kids, and despite stopping at IKEA mainly to give them a potty break,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Ellie still couldn't make it the two hours in the car without having to use a bathroom.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I pulled over at a rest stop, and after much persuasion, got her to use the restroom. And then, for reasons I will never figure out,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">she decided she was NOT going to get back in the car. <span style="font-size: large;">She wanted to stay right here</span> forever.</span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dfb7xTGuM9M/V5Zy2UoHuGI/AAAAAAABDpk/Iz2FfAXyhEYm0CcAz78sWKI8TsNk2EBAACKgB/s1600/IMG_20160701_131328.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dfb7xTGuM9M/V5Zy2UoHuGI/AAAAAAABDpk/Iz2FfAXyhEYm0CcAz78sWKI8TsNk2EBAACKgB/s640/IMG_20160701_131328.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Aiy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">But we made it, and what a fun week we had!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Sunday night we celebrated my little brother Nate with a Court of Honor for his Eagle Scout award.</span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3X3k9MjsbHA/V50XuhgK7DI/AAAAAAABD7o/8NNoUdMcx5wVuRRenmtwq0Us5KqvAgCtQCKgB/s1600/IMG_20160703_193655.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3X3k9MjsbHA/V50XuhgK7DI/AAAAAAABD7o/8NNoUdMcx5wVuRRenmtwq0Us5KqvAgCtQCKgB/s640/IMG_20160703_193655.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Way to go, Nathan!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The next morning was Kent's birthday! (oh, and the fourth of july...)</span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vt425QlWAqI/V5Zxuyi6UCI/AAAAAAABDpQ/tcMBK6Y8gaUup6BBHijfc7tJ_08vUVtBwCEw/s1600/DSC_0598.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vt425QlWAqI/V5Zxuyi6UCI/AAAAAAABDpQ/tcMBK6Y8gaUup6BBHijfc7tJ_08vUVtBwCEw/s640/DSC_0598.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Ellie gave him water balloons and Nicholas gave him foam swords and shields so they can battle. Christian gave him poptarts, because <span style="font-size: large;">my husband hasn't gotten the memo</span> that he's in his 30's now. He still requests poptarts for his birthday breakfasts.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">That morning we went to a huge parade way out in the country to see Jonah in the marching band. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HTHU8Il_rg0/V50V1YZfhJI/AAAAAAABD7Y/UAn4yWJb2ZQX5iMQNFsNpieBRtxzBD6tQCKgB/s1600/IMG_20160704_102320.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HTHU8Il_rg0/V50V1YZfhJI/AAAAAAABD7Y/UAn4yWJb2ZQX5iMQNFsNpieBRtxzBD6tQCKgB/s640/IMG_20160704_102320.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> The parade lasted about two hours. There were all sorts of tractors,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">horses, carriages,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">floats,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">cars, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">the university mascot on a teeny tiny motorbike,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">missionaries (!),</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UMekyP557u4/V50V1TM1WCI/AAAAAAABD7Y/PYdzLxi5iY8LDnkGmZZUjJJUBzA04p2_wCKgB/s1600/IMG_20160704_095927.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UMekyP557u4/V50V1TM1WCI/AAAAAAABD7Y/PYdzLxi5iY8LDnkGmZZUjJJUBzA04p2_wCKgB/s640/IMG_20160704_095927.jpg" width="478" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And more candy than we could possibly consume.</span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eOfbRMfLtnA/V50V1UFIQUI/AAAAAAABD7Y/jJKzpPh3dIoVsvrXwbEfdXdegaNM0OzqQCKgB/s1600/IMG_20160704_102342.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eOfbRMfLtnA/V50V1UFIQUI/AAAAAAABD7Y/jJKzpPh3dIoVsvrXwbEfdXdegaNM0OzqQCKgB/s640/IMG_20160704_102342.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Also, how cute is Christian's waiting pose??</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Oh I could just eat this kid up!</span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TI8fgfoe-yk/V50V1bvQMgI/AAAAAAABD7Y/fk81HPsZq00HQ4AmPuQyvT6fgDbNoFNbgCKgB/s1600/IMG_20160704_095505.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TI8fgfoe-yk/V50V1bvQMgI/AAAAAAABD7Y/fk81HPsZq00HQ4AmPuQyvT6fgDbNoFNbgCKgB/s640/IMG_20160704_095505.jpg" width="478" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">When we got back, Christian thought he'd give the tenors a try.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aL1xYaJFX2g/V5Zzw4bBG-I/AAAAAAABDpo/fMWjgoniPFUexVUsoQPAWRW54DRNMYjyQCKgB/s1600/IMG_20160704_112145.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aL1xYaJFX2g/V5Zzw4bBG-I/AAAAAAABDpo/fMWjgoniPFUexVUsoQPAWRW54DRNMYjyQCKgB/s640/IMG_20160704_112145.jpg" width="478" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> That night we did some <span style="font-size: large;">fireworks</span> for the kids.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We thought they'd only like these little "snakes," </span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ekH1X79Ou0U/V5Zzw4Xxh5I/AAAAAAABDpo/_JNCxqs7X383mFDuC3I_C57Tq_WNAqf5ACKgB/s1600/IMG_20160704_211906.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ekH1X79Ou0U/V5Zzw4Xxh5I/AAAAAAABDpo/_JNCxqs7X383mFDuC3I_C57Tq_WNAqf5ACKgB/s640/IMG_20160704_211906.jpg" width="478" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">because <span style="font-size: large;">we have a history</span> of them freaking out and being absolutely terrified of any real fireworks, no matter how tame,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">but they totally surprised us this year and loved the fountains we did. Nick did watch some of them through the window from inside the house, but Ellie stayed outside and squealed and laughed at everything. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Maybe fireworks can be a fun family event for us someday!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">My brother and his family came up to visit for the week from Vegas, and Christian and Avery made the funniest pair. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Avery is much <span style="font-size: large;">more enthusiastic about being friends</span> than Christian is. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">She's excited and loud and all about the love. Christian was more.....indifferent/hesitant/"stay back crazy lady!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The two of them toddled around the house, and Avery tried her very best to keep up with Christian.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">He's a lot faster than she is,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">but her determination had no end.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So they spent the week playing a hilarious, winner-less game of Avery-Christian tag.</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hn3qeL9fvY8/V5ZxuFdt2uI/AAAAAAABDpI/hycmGCG1uAIZ2QZELUesqKP6CTnqgwAOACLcB/s1600/DSC_0572.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hn3qeL9fvY8/V5ZxuFdt2uI/AAAAAAABDpI/hycmGCG1uAIZ2QZELUesqKP6CTnqgwAOACLcB/s640/DSC_0572.JPG" width="428" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Along with our day at Tony Grove,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">we spent a day at Bear Lake. </span>It was windy and cold most of the day, but we still had a fantastic time!</span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RVQIJaYplWk/V5Zxu6AtxdI/AAAAAAABDpM/aMkOYIGdKVA9K7U_ncn5QEP7wj1Bs1oMwCLcB/s1600/DSC_0664.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RVQIJaYplWk/V5Zxu6AtxdI/AAAAAAABDpM/aMkOYIGdKVA9K7U_ncn5QEP7wj1Bs1oMwCLcB/s640/DSC_0664.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LXOG194XfgU/V5ZxwTDIQkI/AAAAAAABDpU/1tXlLPfP5ZIbg1QMIROc_33RxorMz70HwCLcB/s1600/DSC_0672.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LXOG194XfgU/V5ZxwTDIQkI/AAAAAAABDpU/1tXlLPfP5ZIbg1QMIROc_33RxorMz70HwCLcB/s640/DSC_0672.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vz_HE5L8-2U/V5ZxxMv-3lI/AAAAAAABDpY/ymkd6Wkfk8E7bWVCpB3Yi4bPnJIZrV8WQCLcB/s1600/DSC_0677.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vz_HE5L8-2U/V5ZxxMv-3lI/AAAAAAABDpY/ymkd6Wkfk8E7bWVCpB3Yi4bPnJIZrV8WQCLcB/s640/DSC_0677.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">My own cousins came with their kids, and we had quite the group there.</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QHZBD6uasD4/V5ZxxCXoLtI/AAAAAAABDpc/t_hzksCa8h45uace5u6ryW06X6RLA38owCLcB/s1600/DSC_0698.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QHZBD6uasD4/V5ZxxCXoLtI/AAAAAAABDpc/t_hzksCa8h45uace5u6ryW06X6RLA38owCLcB/s640/DSC_0698.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Look at all those cousins! (and only four of them--that came--are girls!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif;">It really was just the best, busy, summer-filled week with everyone!</span><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FtxUsNpiTl4/V50YqV4dTjI/AAAAAAABD70/PFrs3kiwy8sDFagNq9gar051eoTEbG0wACLcB/s1600/DSC_0420%2B%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FtxUsNpiTl4/V50YqV4dTjI/AAAAAAABD70/PFrs3kiwy8sDFagNq9gar051eoTEbG0wACLcB/s640/DSC_0420%2B%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>Becca and Kenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10441910930489093552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5596014436695258667.post-39048183117641544972016-07-28T14:05:00.000-06:002016-07-28T14:05:02.517-06:00cousins come to play<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bRpeLe9_vtI/V5Zr5Fj-PsI/AAAAAAABDow/uQlFQ4B4IvkzN4BuEuCH_wDsSwy3GJu2gCEw/s1600/IMG_20160711_110403.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bRpeLe9_vtI/V5Zr5Fj-PsI/AAAAAAABDow/uQlFQ4B4IvkzN4BuEuCH_wDsSwy3GJu2gCEw/s640/IMG_20160711_110403.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
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Kent's brother Sam and his wife Heidi live in California, and we love that we get to see them when we go visit everyone out there. These kiddos all get along so very well and have a ton of fun together,</div>
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and we sure wish we could see them more often.</div>
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So when they said they were going to be at a family reunion in Idaho and Montana this summer and that they'd drive down here "on the way" home to see us for a couple of days, </div>
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we were so excited!</div>
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Kent had to make a last-minute trip to Times Square for work that weekend, so he missed our lazy Sunday afternoon and dinner with them. </div>
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The next morning we got up and drove into the mountains to take them on our favorite hike, The Grotto. </div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A4B7ohUeSds/V5Zr1emd1MI/AAAAAAABDoQ/Ukov_78073oj2itS_LzzPTH0-LzgWHxaQCLcB/s1600/IMG_20160711_103913.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A4B7ohUeSds/V5Zr1emd1MI/AAAAAAABDoQ/Ukov_78073oj2itS_LzzPTH0-LzgWHxaQCLcB/s640/IMG_20160711_103913.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-thz45NAQKKA/V5Zr0cB8BxI/AAAAAAABDoM/XFTXI3upINM12D_vBf4FUDc12sfpKa8sgCLcB/s1600/IMG_20160711_104503.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-thz45NAQKKA/V5Zr0cB8BxI/AAAAAAABDoM/XFTXI3upINM12D_vBf4FUDc12sfpKa8sgCLcB/s640/IMG_20160711_104503.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
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It was definitely a little crazy taking that many kids up there, but it was a beautiful morning with perfect weather and oh so fun.<br />
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I was so glad Daddy was there to help!<br />
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The rest of the day we just lounged around while the kids played and played and played. They played with swords and lightsabers, pop-up tents, dolls, horses, legos, blocks, and some crazy game that had to do with spoon fighting.<br />
And I found myself wishing I had a ten-year-old girl to follow Christian around, read to him, play with him, and just be so helpful in general! Carlee is the sweetest.<br />
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I thought it would be fun to use what we've got (rocks. So. Many. Rocks.) for a tiny little rock-painting craft.<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pe7uZmiVVC8/V5Zr5ZhBXWI/AAAAAAABDog/DlwqBJl9B-sEG4uumQ9g7GVrTIDak1O2wCLcB/s1600/IMG_20160711_161516.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pe7uZmiVVC8/V5Zr5ZhBXWI/AAAAAAABDog/DlwqBJl9B-sEG4uumQ9g7GVrTIDak1O2wCLcB/s640/IMG_20160711_161516.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Then we had a Family Home Evening about temples and took them to visit our newest temple with Rockwell Ice Cream to finish the night.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3_1M4quCKDs/V5Zr7Xd2h-I/AAAAAAABDoo/L2bbGbQoQmwlXMvZ9-FJuoQ57aMPJXU8QCLcB/s1600/IMG_20160711_192053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3_1M4quCKDs/V5Zr7Xd2h-I/AAAAAAABDoo/L2bbGbQoQmwlXMvZ9-FJuoQ57aMPJXU8QCLcB/s640/IMG_20160711_192053.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
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We are so lucky they came to visit, and we can't wait to see them again!Becca and Kenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10441910930489093552noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5596014436695258667.post-52699540533985647122016-07-27T13:22:00.000-06:002016-07-27T13:22:02.242-06:00camping<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Yqnf9wU7xjQ/V5ZdJgkRh2I/AAAAAAABDmE/4CBRIXQlMYobHkMavGtpP5HRH9wgE5AtwCEw/s1600/DSC_0840.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Yqnf9wU7xjQ/V5ZdJgkRh2I/AAAAAAABDmE/4CBRIXQlMYobHkMavGtpP5HRH9wgE5AtwCEw/s640/DSC_0840.jpg" width="428" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pJA7ct85u7k/V5ZfNYTDmZI/AAAAAAABDm0/yoO0Uv39XiEJzF8jhPU7EEL8R-tehO1qgCLcB/s1600/IMG_20160719_105359.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="602" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pJA7ct85u7k/V5ZfNYTDmZI/AAAAAAABDm0/yoO0Uv39XiEJzF8jhPU7EEL8R-tehO1qgCLcB/s640/IMG_20160719_105359.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My parents and my brothers took us camping last week.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We go to Tony Grove every year, and every year we leave wishing we could stay for maybe just one more day? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It's a little piece of heaven.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> When we walk around the campground we can remember the times we stayed in each campsite. The good and the not so good memories from each year.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This year's good? The weather was glorious, and we didn't even have to wear jackets as we roasted marshmallows each night. It was warm and sunny and beautiful! </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The not so good? The bathrooms were all out of order. So we used port-a-potties (that were labeled with names.....<i>George</i> was the cleanest, but a bit farther of a walk than <i>Jason</i>.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And the flies. Oh those flies. Some years they're barely noticeable, but this year they were <i>everywhere, </i>especially directly in your face and ears at all times.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But the kids got to run and play and climb and get oh-so-dirty, and we kept Christian alive, which was quite a task (fire pit? big rocks? cliff? tree stumps? LAKE?!? All things he really really really wanted to fall into, climb on, or jump off of.) </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So, it was a perfect, happy trip and two nights just didn't seem long enough!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Grandpa helping Ellie catch a fish!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> My aunt and uncle were planning to drive to Oregon, but they had some unfortunate car trouble, so they came camping instead, which was very happy for us! My cousin Sam is only ten days older than Nick, and they're best buddies, and Ellie had a blast playing with sweet Lizzie.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> And thank goodness for that jogging stroller my parents brought! Christian took all of his naps in it, and it was the only way we could get him to sleep at night, plus sometimes it was just really really great to be able to strap him down and keep him in one place (and out of the fire!) for a minute. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> I think the way she wrote her name on her cup is just too adorable.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Christian was much happier about the "push Ellie in the hammock" game than Ellie was....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Because Pokemon Go doesn't work in the mountains, my brother's brought the old school actual pokemon cards, and Nick was obsessed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Hanging out in the hammocks!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Before we left I was talking to my neighbor about the trip and she mentioned that they are taking their littles camping for the first time next month. She said her husband keeps asking, "Will it even be fun?" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I told her that, well, camping as a parent isn't exactly <i>fun</i> like we're used to having, and you can pretty much plan on not sleeping at all, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">but it's all for the kids.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You look at them, <span style="font-size: large;">smiling in the dirt,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">and it's ALL worth it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> (this isn't even <i>close</i> to the dirtiest he got...)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In the afternoon, we took all the kids down to the water and they splashed and swam and we circled the camp chairs in the shade and stayed there for hours. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Ellie and Christian didn't last long in the water because they both desperately needed naps, so Kent took one for the team and loaded them into the car (and drove to Bear Lake for a raspberry shake while they slept.....poor Kent.) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Nicholas and Sam and two of my cousin's boys took these little kayaks out and they paddled around the entire lake. When they came in for this picture sweet Ollie said, "We're just coming back from our journey!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It really was just too cute to watch these not-so-little-anymore boys exploring and hear them laughing out there on the water together.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">These kids. Camping with them (and just being with them anyway) is really the greatest. </span></div>
Becca and Kenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10441910930489093552noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5596014436695258667.post-7300625131491070662016-07-26T07:59:00.000-06:002016-07-26T07:59:00.685-06:00Tony Grove<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q77_fdvIW6Y/V4f3BGxefMI/AAAAAAABCS0/fwljl0nytLcSQLBUDiBc3_mT5O7hHA9-wCKgB/s1600/IMG_20160705_173933.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q77_fdvIW6Y/V4f3BGxefMI/AAAAAAABCS0/fwljl0nytLcSQLBUDiBc3_mT5O7hHA9-wCKgB/s640/IMG_20160705_173933.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We went camping last week,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">but a couple of weeks before, when Josh and Alicia were visiting from Vegas and Sarah was home for the week, we took a day to go to Tony Grove.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Because it's our favorite place in the whole wide world.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It was beautiful. So green. And the wildflowers were to die for.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Being up there for the day just made me so excited to come back and stay. I truly cannot think of a place that brings more peace to my soul. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As we packed up that morning for the day, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I didn't bring my kids' swimsuits or swim diapers, because I thought it would be too cold and Christian wouldn't want to get in the water.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Ha. </span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Gz1EvSYN3d4/V4f1je7AmYI/AAAAAAABCOY/f8dzd5UmakkJWTHnOfBBaEJf02Nc9W8ZACLcB/s1600/DSC_0603.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Gz1EvSYN3d4/V4f1je7AmYI/AAAAAAABCOY/f8dzd5UmakkJWTHnOfBBaEJf02Nc9W8ZACLcB/s640/DSC_0603.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When we came up over the bank from the parking lot and Christian saw the lake for the first time,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">he stood still (!) and his mouth dropped open and he said the sweetest little breathy</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"WOW."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Then he looked to the left.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"WOW."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Then he looked to the right.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"WOW!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Then he took off running into the water.</span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r0Eww9AKY-E/V4f1ilRgBUI/AAAAAAABCOo/Nt0DYMeE9Z8T0IbHuWEevv7WHFVJf8xbgCLcB/s1600/DSC_0608.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r0Eww9AKY-E/V4f1ilRgBUI/AAAAAAABCOo/Nt0DYMeE9Z8T0IbHuWEevv7WHFVJf8xbgCLcB/s640/DSC_0608.JPG" width="428" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After standing in the water for a few minutes,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">he plopped himself down and sat.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In that icy cold mountain lake.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Then he started to scoot on his bum.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Inching farther and farther into the deep.</span><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kioVPULa3_A/V4f1jUoulLI/AAAAAAABCOg/VySXX2sIGCEzrJLCia7OYUC2xaoQdGVLACLcB/s1600/DSC_0612.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kioVPULa3_A/V4f1jUoulLI/AAAAAAABCOg/VySXX2sIGCEzrJLCia7OYUC2xaoQdGVLACLcB/s640/DSC_0612.JPG" width="428" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He didn't stop. He just kept scooting,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">until the water was up to his chin.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">That's when I intervened and attempted to bring him closer to shore.</span><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_ePVwj120Ys/V4f1mG7wH5I/AAAAAAABCOc/ijWpPOAFUy0F2QJtk9viPtaTFLE64bl9ACLcB/s1600/DSC_0614.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_ePVwj120Ys/V4f1mG7wH5I/AAAAAAABCOc/ijWpPOAFUy0F2QJtk9viPtaTFLE64bl9ACLcB/s640/DSC_0614.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He didn't love that plan.</span><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1EmX2AA7MvE/V4f1ntJVDtI/AAAAAAABCOk/Q67d3oHkADMOx20S_9NmaoUem81ooN3RQCLcB/s1600/DSC_0615.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1EmX2AA7MvE/V4f1ntJVDtI/AAAAAAABCOk/Q67d3oHkADMOx20S_9NmaoUem81ooN3RQCLcB/s640/DSC_0615.JPG" width="428" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Also? What in the world did our own mothers do without swim diapers? These absorbent monster diapers are ridiculous!</span><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FGp9tk4fMT4/V4f1ovSKpmI/AAAAAAABCOs/q_datEcmKwsP-yuk-r3C7z57hsQiqv1rQCLcB/s1600/DSC_0616.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FGp9tk4fMT4/V4f1ovSKpmI/AAAAAAABCOs/q_datEcmKwsP-yuk-r3C7z57hsQiqv1rQCLcB/s640/DSC_0616.JPG" width="428" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">For camping the next week, I definitely came prepared for some serious time in the water with this munchkin.</span>Becca and Kenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10441910930489093552noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5596014436695258667.post-90325012933248341302016-07-25T07:56:00.000-06:002016-07-25T07:56:10.767-06:00Mommy Mornings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gy8RHFtPh0U/V4f4sWxaEjI/AAAAAAABCUY/hQ8kBTtyZXgwnDHMfY5wkdFzx88_ByipwCKgB/s1600/IMG_20160713_103331.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gy8RHFtPh0U/V4f4sWxaEjI/AAAAAAABCUY/hQ8kBTtyZXgwnDHMfY5wkdFzx88_ByipwCKgB/s640/IMG_20160713_103331.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My kids have been going through a couple of rough phases.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Now, <span style="font-size: large;">they're good kids. </span>Really good. And I think sometimes we don't acknowledge that as much as we should. Maybe sometimes we expect too much of them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But they're smart. And we need them to know that we expect them to be the very best they can be.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Anyway,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Kent and I have been working <i>hard</i> to help them get through these issues lately. We spend most of our time together in the evenings just talking and researching and praying.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The idea came to me last week,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">that my children might benefit from more attention. I'd already cut out all phone time/social media/internet browsing for me during the day, but maybe there could still be more I could give them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As I was praying about it,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I had a thought that I should start doing something.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Enter, <span style="font-size: large;">Mommy Mornings.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Nearly each morning now, we wake up, have breakfast, get dressed,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">and then I spend fifteen minutes completely alone with each child.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We can do anything they want. They take the lead, and I am theirs, completely, for fifteen minutes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It has become my favorite 45 minutes of the day.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Nicholas often chooses to just cuddle together on the couch and talk. We ask each other all sorts of questions. Then we'll jump up and play tag in the living room or hide-and-seek. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Ellie loves for me to play princess castle with her. We also color together, read, or go outside and paint rocks.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Christian mostly just jabbers away while I follow him around the house. We wrestle and tickle and give big slobbery squeezie kisses.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It's only 15 minutes, but it sets the tone for the day and lets them each know, on their own, that mommy loves them and cares about them enough to spend time just with them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And that's turing out to be a pretty great thing.</span>Becca and Kenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10441910930489093552noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5596014436695258667.post-70315569748756592016-07-14T14:25:00.002-06:002016-07-14T14:25:47.847-06:00The FourthOver the Fourth of July, my whole family got together up in Logan.<br />
Because we were all there together,<br />
we took some pictures of the whole group.<br />
<br />
I struggled with the lighting,<br />
and struggled even more with my children.<br />
(at one point I actually bribed Nick with $5 if he would <i>just smile</i>. $5! I was that desperate.)<br />
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Getting Christian to cooperate involved a lot of tickling. For the big group shot I would set the timer, scoop Christian up, and race back to our spot. He thought it was the most exciting game ever.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J3ZBEmuicFM/V4fz0CX6r7I/AAAAAAABCOE/XipdFDCfZ1cHx2HV1BQYvZFeIf5wnsT0gCLcB/s1600/DSC_0490.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J3ZBEmuicFM/V4fz0CX6r7I/AAAAAAABCOE/XipdFDCfZ1cHx2HV1BQYvZFeIf5wnsT0gCLcB/s640/DSC_0490.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qfE_6INPQJY/V4f0MXPSA6I/AAAAAAABCOI/7VyA63u85dgOnFZcUMXSLuRK5Pyk5OxPwCLcB/s1600/DSC_0435.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qfE_6INPQJY/V4f0MXPSA6I/AAAAAAABCOI/7VyA63u85dgOnFZcUMXSLuRK5Pyk5OxPwCLcB/s640/DSC_0435.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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By the end, the littles were getting pretty tired,<br />
but this yawning shot of sweet Avery? I just love it!<br />
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<br />Becca and Kenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10441910930489093552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5596014436695258667.post-4057372200222897642016-06-20T15:44:00.001-06:002016-06-20T15:53:28.711-06:00weekend report<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PsK_iUgZcaM/V2hfThWUNFI/AAAAAAABAGQ/CPV5Ih7sgSoTp5WEOvYDOLU5i8CZd6VLgCLcB/s1600/DSC_0358.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PsK_iUgZcaM/V2hfThWUNFI/AAAAAAABAGQ/CPV5Ih7sgSoTp5WEOvYDOLU5i8CZd6VLgCLcB/s640/DSC_0358.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Parade of Homes</span> finished up this weekend. Because we had a house right across the street from us in the parade, we knew there would be lots of visitors. Nicholas and Ellie (but mostly just Nick--Ellie still lacks in dedication/patience/desire for this sort of thing) sold drinks and chips.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">They made $45 in about 6 hours of selling. Seriously good money for a 6 year old!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Nick was the most adorable little salesman. He'd ask people if they wanted their drink "really cold or just normal?" and when he got the waterbottle from the cooler he'd say things like "oh this is a really drippy one!" and "now make sure this doesn't drip in your car!" and then "have a nice day!" At one point he told me he had been giving the chips away as a "buy a drink get chips free" sale. I also overheard him complimenting people on their "nice new car!" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It was "blazing hot" out there, according to Ellie, but Nick was impressively dedicated. It made all the set up and <strike>arguing</strike> discussing beforehand worth it. (The day before, Nick was <i>adamant</i> that he sell his drinks for Two Dollars and Three Cents. It required Kent and I working together, all day, to convince him that the three cents part was a particularly difficult to execute idea.)</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Quirks, revisited:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I've noticed a few more since my post about my kids wacky habits.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Christian. He is at just the right height to reach Ellie's underwear basket in her closet. He takes out one pair at a time of her clean underwear and places it somewhere else around the house. I am constantly picking Ellie's underwear up out of the bookshelf, the toy basket, the kitchen drawers, the stairway, etc.</span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iRerTdJRFz0/V2hiuX2fiQI/AAAAAAABAGw/DP6mqXMqv0UUWWGCr2Deye2RWj2eHC54wCKgB/s1600/IMG_20160620_153739.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iRerTdJRFz0/V2hiuX2fiQI/AAAAAAABAGw/DP6mqXMqv0UUWWGCr2Deye2RWj2eHC54wCKgB/s640/IMG_20160620_153739.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This pair made it into the shopping cart with a pony. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Ellie is completely convinced that eating tortilla chips gives her the ability to taste any other food without actually tasting it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">For example,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Ellie, I need you to at least try <i>one bite</i> of your meatball."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"But I don't have to, because I ate a tortilla chip so I already have the taste of meatball in my mouth!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">She thinks they're magic. We cannot convince her otherwise.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We're chicken-sitting</span> for some neighbors, so we get to pretend like their backyard belongs to us too for a few days. If you're looking for us this week, you can find us sprawling on the grass in the shade.</span><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7UapP5cxtjI/V2hdV3n-OYI/AAAAAAABAFc/2gPJyv0kdiwDJ70hHnYQXH6f2FtCcu-agCKgB/s1600/IMG_20160619_201520.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7UapP5cxtjI/V2hdV3n-OYI/AAAAAAABAFc/2gPJyv0kdiwDJ70hHnYQXH6f2FtCcu-agCKgB/s640/IMG_20160619_201520.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Nick gave me</span> a coloring book for my birthday last month, and I think it's one of the most thoughtful, great gifts I've ever received. I didn't know it before, but I love coloring. And the kids like to color with me, so it's a perfect "we're-spending-time-together-but-everyone-is-silent" afternoon activity. I make a copy of a page from my book for them, then we sit in the living room and color together while Christian naps.</span><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FR15xSuVmFc/V2hi2jQdzxI/AAAAAAABAG4/BrI_68VIqaY4xMpV1A7llMGHDe2RyFALACKgB/s1600/IMG_20160620_153922.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FR15xSuVmFc/V2hi2jQdzxI/AAAAAAABAG4/BrI_68VIqaY4xMpV1A7llMGHDe2RyFALACKgB/s640/IMG_20160620_153922.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Kent finished </span>up the drywall in the basement (wahoo!) and we passed inspection, so next step is to find an (affordable) taping/mudding/texturing/painter. We're only finishing two rooms right now, the playroom and the entertainment room, but gosh it's going to be awesome when they're done.</span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cM8AovT0XqE/V2hd43PnoWI/AAAAAAABAFk/JU4Arm-liwU4-3R-xoTHsKNWdnLkfAAaQCLcB/s1600/IMG_20160617_202824.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cM8AovT0XqE/V2hd43PnoWI/AAAAAAABAFk/JU4Arm-liwU4-3R-xoTHsKNWdnLkfAAaQCLcB/s640/IMG_20160617_202824.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">In the meantime</span>, while Kent was working on the drywall on Saturday, I took a few hours and cleared out one of our empty unfinished bedrooms and converted it into a makeshift temporary playroom. </span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yHQ55aSFPTs/V2hleb-0SjI/AAAAAAABAHw/Ub3aa3kE_wc2WuDJFIqsiIs2LLrgAnVJgCKgB/s1600/IMG_20160620_155111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yHQ55aSFPTs/V2hleb-0SjI/AAAAAAABAHw/Ub3aa3kE_wc2WuDJFIqsiIs2LLrgAnVJgCKgB/s640/IMG_20160620_155111.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />Their bedroom upstairs was getting CROWDED and it was time to give the toys their own home. It took some work to clean up the wood shavings, nails, splinters, and dust left over from construction, but I think it's ready now for them to play down there without my having to worry about them. At least until Christian starts climbing those totes and falling through the unfinished wall.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Not that he would do that.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Yeah, just kidding. He's going to be climbing those probably by next week.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Speaking of climbing</span>, this is the current arrangement of our dining table and chairs.</span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FZSsZXLuBhg/V2hjkDC43FI/AAAAAAABAHM/rsXTFOiVXeETUI_0zbg8A-NVdDWb3X-bwCKgB/s1600/IMG_20160620_153808.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FZSsZXLuBhg/V2hjkDC43FI/AAAAAAABAHM/rsXTFOiVXeETUI_0zbg8A-NVdDWb3X-bwCKgB/s640/IMG_20160620_153808.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A few days ago, I was cooking and Christian was just hanging out in the kitchen with me, walking around and pulling things out of drawers. I turned to the stove for a moment, and then when I turned back, he was in his high chair.</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o50Sb7Wu8l8/V2hdPLCciJI/AAAAAAABAFM/HLkCLxPoSOQXrYtigmSjgtkDbdXFgQ2VwCKgB/s1600/0616161827.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o50Sb7Wu8l8/V2hdPLCciJI/AAAAAAABAFM/HLkCLxPoSOQXrYtigmSjgtkDbdXFgQ2VwCKgB/s640/0616161827.jpg" width="360" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I did not put him there. Kent wasn't home. The kids aren't even close to strong enough to lift him that high plus they were in the other room the whole time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The only thing I can assume is that he climbed onto the dining chair, walked across the table (which he has a habit of doing,) and then scooted across his tray(!) and down into his seat.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Now the kitchen chairs are pushed far away from the table when not in use. I tried laying them down on the floor for a few days, but I got really tired of stubbing my toes on chair backs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I'm sure that in a few more days Christian will realize that chairs are mobile and start pushing them back over to the table so he can resume table-walking, but for now, this works.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Motherhood is all about going with the flow and changing your methods, sometimes by the minute.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now that I'm</span> in the Primary presidency, Kent's flying solo with the busy busy 15-month old during the second and third hour of church. And it's naptime. Of course.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Yesterday I tried to help their time together go more smoothly by taking Christian out during sacrament meeting, finding an empty classroom, turning on a white-noise app, and humming him to sleep. He slept, sweaty and sighing, in my arms for twenty or thirty minutes, and I loved every minute of it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">That belly! That drool-stained tie! Those dimples where his knuckles should be! Don't grow up, baby of mine. Please don't grow up. At least not yet.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Our Father's Day</span> was super low-key. Kent requests we don't make a fuss about holidays/birthdays that are about him. It is hard for me, because I want to celebrate this man, so we compromise by doing <i>just a little</i>. I gave him a package of bacon from a local butcher shop (we'll never go back to grocery store-bought bacon, guys!), and the kids made cards for him. Ellie made two cards, actually. On one card, Kent is a prince and Ellie is the princess. On the other card, Ellie has a pig nose, and Kent is "a potato with lady lips."</span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AQGTV9oFODI/V2heBk1jKvI/AAAAAAABAFw/crB_Kbmlm80T5q0mcF7nk0p3IOja3X2IwCKgB/s1600/image-20160619_185633.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AQGTV9oFODI/V2heBk1jKvI/AAAAAAABAFw/crB_Kbmlm80T5q0mcF7nk0p3IOja3X2IwCKgB/s640/image-20160619_185633.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Sometimes I think I want to get inside my children's brains, even if for just a moment, to figure out what in the world they are thinking.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">But maybe it's funnier when we don't know.</span><br />
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Becca and Kenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10441910930489093552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5596014436695258667.post-42341576379064218712016-06-13T08:05:00.001-06:002016-06-13T08:15:07.289-06:00a few weeks in<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IPxlsBqurkw/V163kvkv7iI/AAAAAAAA_rw/A3ZUj8QtQXArQ9XK1QR8GwdzCFqVFWgHACLcB/s1600/DSC_0264.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IPxlsBqurkw/V163kvkv7iI/AAAAAAAA_rw/A3ZUj8QtQXArQ9XK1QR8GwdzCFqVFWgHACLcB/s640/DSC_0264.jpg" width="428" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">With how early Nick got out of school this year (kindergarten is awesome,)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">we're a few weeks into summer by now, and we've got a good chunk of these bucket list items crossed off so far,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">with lots more fun to come.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And we've had our fair share of working through the "kinks" of having both the big kids home together all day every day (I'll never understand why, with over 3000 square feet of space in this home, my kids want to spend their time fighting over whose foot gets to be in one square inch of carpet...)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">but overall, it's been awesome.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> We visited my parents while Kent went to California over Memorial Day weekend.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The weather---to die for. <span style="font-size: large;">So green and perfect outside.</span> I think we officially spent more time outside playing on their lawn than in, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">which was perfect for us since our backyard is still a pile of rocks and dirt and our front grass still looks like this:</span><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DoL0pnyJKSI/V165UKVzedI/AAAAAAAA_sQ/bt5z0aNHIPofwvZzMK9ENNSEkgdXV4caACLcB/s1600/DSC_0259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DoL0pnyJKSI/V165UKVzedI/AAAAAAAA_sQ/bt5z0aNHIPofwvZzMK9ENNSEkgdXV4caACLcB/s640/DSC_0259.JPG" width="428" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">But 0ur city's main water supply well broke last week,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">and they've asked us to stop watering for the next five weeks.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We tried to figure out a way to keep this brand-new grass seed alive, and now they're letting us water once every five days,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">but it's probably not going to survive this summer heat. Such a bummer in timing--if only we'd waited until fall to plant our grass! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Last weekend Kent's dad and uncle came to help us get the drywall put up in our basement. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What a gift of service! Their help was invaluable, and now we have walls in our playroom and movie room! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We were also so happy to have <span style="font-size: large;">Grammer and Papa here to stay</span> with us for a few days while the guys were working. </span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DEroQm2PBk0/V165T_bw8BI/AAAAAAAA_sI/ng9F5ZvEbM8NUlSZ9Pr56iewgvAfdxcBACLcB/s1600/DSC_0253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DEroQm2PBk0/V165T_bw8BI/AAAAAAAA_sI/ng9F5ZvEbM8NUlSZ9Pr56iewgvAfdxcBACLcB/s640/DSC_0253.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> (Christian does not like to be held in one place....he's a crazy man and always on the go.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> We're seriously dying for a real yard. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The house across the street from us is in the Utah Valley Parade of Homes this year, and as a sort of sorry-about-the-craziness gift, our builder gave us a couple of tickets,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">so we traded babysitting with our darling neighbors, and </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Kent and I got to go see some houses.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Most of them are ridiculous (awesome, but ridiculous,)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">like this one with a full-size bowling alley:</span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yH-br1auGd4/V16-d8RBCbI/AAAAAAAA_s4/_qM83zNOhoYhJ7GlMbEVKN-8nLXOiLwFACKgB/s1600/0609161853b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yH-br1auGd4/V16-d8RBCbI/AAAAAAAA_s4/_qM83zNOhoYhJ7GlMbEVKN-8nLXOiLwFACKgB/s640/0609161853b.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> But I found the house of my dreams, guys.</span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V-wN1q_8xXQ/V16-d41BdYI/AAAAAAAA_s4/k1A0oUVwAWsm42DnnOjqi4jNiUW40wStwCKgB/s1600/0609161809a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V-wN1q_8xXQ/V16-d41BdYI/AAAAAAAA_s4/k1A0oUVwAWsm42DnnOjqi4jNiUW40wStwCKgB/s640/0609161809a.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> This is the laundry room. I think I would spend my whole day in there. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Also, speaking of dreams, I found the desk of my dreams. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I love it. Just not the $1300 price tag (eek!)</span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W2Z25XOftwg/V16-dzt3mQI/AAAAAAAA_s4/IsfT4F2BgbkT8gzr2D2VY-87EKjWF8H9QCKgB/s1600/0606161301.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W2Z25XOftwg/V16-dzt3mQI/AAAAAAAA_s4/IsfT4F2BgbkT8gzr2D2VY-87EKjWF8H9QCKgB/s640/0606161301.jpg" width="360" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Kent and I <span style="font-size: large;">have been pretty busy</span>,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">he's got a big deadline at work and has been staying long days,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">and our ward was split four weeks ago so we have a brand new ward and</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">brand new callings--Kent is the Assistant Ward Membership </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Clerk, and I'm now the Primary Secretary.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And our dishwasher broke. And is still broken. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">To all of you who live without a dishwasher, <span style="font-size: large;">I applaud you.</span> This is not an easy thing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">But in between I was able to find a little time to switch out some things to freshen up the house for summer.</span><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QXfiVIAjW7o/V165Ul8O7lI/AAAAAAAA_sM/D5alPKaaKhYYmdzJVobdprUxRFgQHqlzACLcB/s1600/DSC_0302.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QXfiVIAjW7o/V165Ul8O7lI/AAAAAAAA_sM/D5alPKaaKhYYmdzJVobdprUxRFgQHqlzACLcB/s640/DSC_0302.jpg" width="428" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> I love looking at these beach prints (St. John on the left and San Diego on the right) and remembering the sand and the sun.</span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bj9Lk44EnYU/V165XnTyxnI/AAAAAAAA_sg/xFdmdvv-RzwRV0URT6VruuruK2qb2jpjQCLcB/s1600/DSC_0303.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bj9Lk44EnYU/V165XnTyxnI/AAAAAAAA_sg/xFdmdvv-RzwRV0URT6VruuruK2qb2jpjQCLcB/s640/DSC_0303.jpg" width="428" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rAJO9wFGBcs/V165XkXQlMI/AAAAAAAA_sc/Af-EYskuqzIXMNxIvMTMRJsj-26rzlz8gCLcB/s1600/DSC_0304.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rAJO9wFGBcs/V165XkXQlMI/AAAAAAAA_sc/Af-EYskuqzIXMNxIvMTMRJsj-26rzlz8gCLcB/s640/DSC_0304.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And speaking of being busy,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">our littlest one lately has been </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">a handful.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Or maybe an armful. Maybe. </span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q1cbovStJ-M/V165XvuDRII/AAAAAAAA_sk/N0ffFc1OzGECoXlvYVDEloTEvRnp6W4QQCLcB/s1600/DSC_0307.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q1cbovStJ-M/V165XvuDRII/AAAAAAAA_sk/N0ffFc1OzGECoXlvYVDEloTEvRnp6W4QQCLcB/s640/DSC_0307.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">He's <span style="font-size: large;">our first climber</span> in the family and</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">holy exhausting!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And yes, those chairs are on the floor because otherwise he'd be on top of the table.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It's gotten to the point where, when I see him up on top of something that isn't exactly a place you typically find babies,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I have to evaluate the surroundings and determine, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">if he falls from there, will he get really hurt? Or just a little bumped? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And if the answer is just a little bumped? I let him be. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I tried following him around at first and getting him off of everything, but who has that kind of time?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So for now, we'll keep things soft and padded and always always remember to lay all the chairs down.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">If you need us you can find us slurping popsicles, finding places with real grass to play on, climbing, and reading lots and lots of books.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Happy summer!</span></span>Becca and Kenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10441910930489093552noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5596014436695258667.post-22456847626326579762016-05-26T21:19:00.002-06:002016-05-26T21:19:46.519-06:00welcome to summer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Monday was Nick's first day of summer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I thought,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">let's make it a super fun day where everyone is happy and we go to the farm and just have fun.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I should have realized what that would actually translate to.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Kent's mom calls it the "Jurassic Park Syndrome." Where you have this great idea with your kids and "ooh, ahh, this is SO fun and great!" and then before you know it it's screams and terror and people are getting eaten alive.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Nicholas and I had to get up early and get to the school for his end of year Kindergarten review testing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Which meant that when we got home, Nick was ready ready ready</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">and the other two kids were not.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So we spent the morning attempting to get the other kids ready to go while Nicholas questioned my abilities as a mother and very loudly wondered why we weren't leaving yet?!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The farm is part of a museum we used to visit lots when we lived in our last house. Now that we're down here, it's about a 35 minute drive on the freeway. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Three minutes into the car ride Ellie started asking if we were getting close yet.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We made it to the farm </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">and it really was really fun.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Christian wanted to live with the bunnies.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He circled that rabbit pen for a good forty minutes, squealing and stomping with excitement.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Nicholas asked me if he can get a pet rabbit "maybe when I'm 18, Mom?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He knows me well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There were baby goats, baby calfs, a baby pony, and of course the pony rides are always the highlight.</span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wFCABxMUTVY/V0Ugq-dNCpI/AAAAAAAA-7E/sa6Gs8TJOoY0FFHZxEs-SsXWrUTQW50ZQCKgB/s1600/0523161146b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wFCABxMUTVY/V0Ugq-dNCpI/AAAAAAAA-7E/sa6Gs8TJOoY0FFHZxEs-SsXWrUTQW50ZQCKgB/s640/0523161146b.jpg" width="360" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We really did have fun at the farm.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But by this point, it was past lunchtime, and Ellie hadn't eaten any of her breakfast (oatmeal was suddenly the worst) and things were about to implode on us, so we quick grabbed chicken nuggets from Wendy's.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The kids' meals came with frosties this time (has anyone else noticed that sometimes they give them and sometimes they don't?)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'd told the kids before the farm that we could get cookies at the bakery nearby after the farm.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But now we had ice cream too.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Trying to be a good mom and not let them eat their own weight in sugar each day, I suggested that the kids decide if they want to eat their frostie or if they want to get a cookie.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Nicholas chose the cookie.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Little miss instant-gratification-Ellie chose her frostie.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So we ate in the car outside the bakery.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And then Nicholas needed to use the bathroom. RIGHT NOW.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But Ellie was NOT going to get out of the car with us. She insisted she was old enough to stay in the car all by herself. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So much sadness/screams from the four-year-old, panic/potty dancing from the six-year-old, and screeching/wriggling from the one-year-old who was really thinking he'd like to run out in front of traffic at the moment instead of be stuck in mom's arms.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We made it inside, Nick used the restroom, and we waited in line and bought Nick his cookie. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">At which point Ellie decided that actually, she wanted a cookie instead of her frostie. I'd just paid, and now there were approximately 25 people in line.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">No deal, Girly. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Who thought that telling your child she has to eat her ice cream would make her wail in the middle of a restaurant? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Whew. This story is longer than I realized. There's still more. Stay with me. It gets better/crazier.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After we finished our food and treats, we needed to go to H&M. (Boy do I miss living so close to the outlets! If we still lived up there I would have called it quits at this point and taken all the crazies home for some rest. But it's a 40 minute drive, so the shopping had to be done now.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The kids were delightful as we walked and frolicked and skipped down to the end of the outlets and into H&M. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">H&M has an escalator.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I had a stroller. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Nicholas wanted to go on the escalator. So I let him. By himself. He waited at the top for me while I took Ellie and Christian up the elevator. All was well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We shopped. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Then we finished. Nicholas wanted to go back down the escalator. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So did Ellie. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So I sent them. Nick got on, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ellie did not.</span> She froze and stood at the top trembling and at her just-about-freak-out level. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So I suggested she ride the elevator with me. She did not appreciate that suggestion.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Because I was tired and they were tired and we just needed to go home I decided to attempt taking the stroller down the escalator so I could help Ellie.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Christian and I got on the escalator. I reached my hand out for Ellie, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">and she didn't get on. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So now I'm going down, with the stroller, away from Ellie. Nicholas is laughing at the bottom. Ellie is crying at the top, watching her mom leave her. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I shouted back up at her to just "wait there! I'll be right back up for you!" took the elevator back up to the top (We had to open the elevator twice because Nick couldn't decide if he wanted to stay at the bottom and watch Ellie or if he wanted to come with me), and I finally retrieved Ellie and dragged her screaming back down the elevator so we could pay for our things and </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">just. leave.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Then, when we got home, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Christian managed to get into the toilets five times before bed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Yay summer! </span><br />
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(And in case you're wondering, I already find this whole story absolutely hilarious. My life is nuts in the best way possible.)Becca and Kenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10441910930489093552noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5596014436695258667.post-44324014304619155572016-05-24T21:40:00.001-06:002016-05-24T21:40:17.846-06:00quirky<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eyOBRonFTy8/Vz-udNR6vwI/AAAAAAAA-zQ/WWyzsANjmDYdgU_6UBlv-4QCbgIEMZHtgCLcB/s1600/DSC_0623.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eyOBRonFTy8/Vz-udNR6vwI/AAAAAAAA-zQ/WWyzsANjmDYdgU_6UBlv-4QCbgIEMZHtgCLcB/s640/DSC_0623.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sometimes, as the day goes by, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I find myself wondering how I ever kept myself entertained</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">before I was a mother.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My children are darling and sweet and good and smart</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">and </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">odd.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In the most delightful ways.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I don't want to forget some of these quirks.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Nick:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">often yells in his sleep</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">also sleepwalks</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">anything that is broken, missing, or dead was suddenly his "Very most favorite!" in the whole world, worthy of much wailing and tears.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Loves to get his hair cut, as long as it's not me that's cutting it---</span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xu59BjyJQL8/Vz-vDX8wvII/AAAAAAAA-zY/Ibuo1knWC1UaD6k37GrSZKu0b0sSChBVQCKgB/s1600/1207151323.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xu59BjyJQL8/Vz-vDX8wvII/AAAAAAAA-zY/Ibuo1knWC1UaD6k37GrSZKu0b0sSChBVQCKgB/s640/1207151323.jpg" width="360" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">creates sock "nests" (groupings of four or more balled-up socks) behind the bathroom door</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">uses a fork to eat peas. Refuses to use a spoon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">pronounces "piano" as "plano" and "basket" as "bastick"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Is a terrible liar. Wiggles his tongue around inside his cheek and can't hold back a smile while he tries to lie to me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Loves to write notes and cards for people</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Believes that any home with a Wii is the best house ever. (aka, not our house....)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Ellie:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">often asks for a cheese and tomato sandwich for breakfast</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">sings to herself all day long</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">requires me to put her tights on inside out so she can't feel the seams</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Hates the wind</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">forgets that she likes chicken Every. Single. Time. I serve it to her. Until she takes the first bite and remembers "chicken is the best in my tummy!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">spends a surprising amount of time frolicking. For reals.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">too often uses her toothbrush to scrub the bathroom sink</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">takes off her pants (and sometimes more) before buckling herself into her carseat</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">likes me to put her hair into "piglets"</span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3X1ebOuxZRc/Vz-zaH6wqrI/AAAAAAAA-zw/7MvY5aMd7EUKJUiCHCqCY2aLM2r1BmHtACLcB/s1600/IMG_20160515_093217%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3X1ebOuxZRc/Vz-zaH6wqrI/AAAAAAAA-zw/7MvY5aMd7EUKJUiCHCqCY2aLM2r1BmHtACLcB/s640/IMG_20160515_093217%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="478" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">is terrified of kittens</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">needs about 4 hours of cuddling a day</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">names every character in her games "Ella."</span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J1JdFB__pQY/Vz-vDbxdcFI/AAAAAAAA-zY/oRQYSKGLaasxrYIknfFsmp878vRSGo9QQCKgB/s1600/0406160917.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J1JdFB__pQY/Vz-vDbxdcFI/AAAAAAAA-zY/oRQYSKGLaasxrYIknfFsmp878vRSGo9QQCKgB/s640/0406160917.jpg" width="360" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">once stuck a straw into the closet and blew into it, claiming she was adding more air to it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> Christian:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">does <i>not</i> say "mama," "dada," "ball," "milk," "dog," "cat," or "hi." But he <i>does </i>say "spider," "outside," "shoes," "train," "thank-you," "tickle," "fish," "cheese," and "delicious." I'm not even kidding.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Throws things into the bathtub or down the stairs, over the safety gate, and isn't upset at all that he cannot reach them. Just looks at them for a second and then walks away.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">is a total water-magnet. ANY amount of water, even the teeniest puddle, MUST be played in.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">closes himself into our rooms and then patiently knocks until we let him out</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SodcEAQSVrk/Vz-uAIKs5lI/AAAAAAAA-zM/W23poKN8bMwWe7gefLqiSzcq2q1ODOfbQCLcB/s1600/DSC_0095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SodcEAQSVrk/Vz-uAIKs5lI/AAAAAAAA-zM/W23poKN8bMwWe7gefLqiSzcq2q1ODOfbQCLcB/s640/DSC_0095.JPG" width="428" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">has zero interest in staying near me. My other two were glued to my hips at all times. This kid will wander across five acres without looking back.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">spins in circles and falls down just for the fun of it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">knows exactly which bite of food he wants on his fork, but can't get it on by himself</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">comes running when he hears the phone ring--he wants to talk--he'll jabber away as if he is answering and having a real conversation</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">brings us our shoes several times throughout the day</span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X6uSTOGgSIc/V0Bm3OqCbFI/AAAAAAAA-1o/rd9kA3w2rM0063QQnLx6wJYlnXVDJLekgCLcB/s1600/IMG_20160419_193504.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X6uSTOGgSIc/V0Bm3OqCbFI/AAAAAAAA-1o/rd9kA3w2rM0063QQnLx6wJYlnXVDJLekgCLcB/s640/IMG_20160419_193504.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">and slobbers. a lot. so much so that teeny doll plates can get stuck on his chin.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Moral of the story? My life is awesome. And crazy. And I wouldn't have it any other way.</span>Becca and Kenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10441910930489093552noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5596014436695258667.post-50121844180178882212016-05-21T07:43:00.000-06:002016-05-21T07:43:10.503-06:00St John, the beaches<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LhbZFP-R8h4/V0BhxxeBcjI/AAAAAAAA-0s/dmVplH2tLVY6mAhe9MftMvaEhmD1e21twCLcB/s1600/DSC_0006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LhbZFP-R8h4/V0BhxxeBcjI/AAAAAAAA-0s/dmVplH2tLVY6mAhe9MftMvaEhmD1e21twCLcB/s640/DSC_0006.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Now for the best part.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Kent and I have been a few places,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">and so far, St John has the very best beaches we've ever seen.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">White sand as soft as satin,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">crystal clear warm water. The kind of water you could spend hour after hour in and never want to get out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Just incredible. Every beach we went to I found myself thinking,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Okay, actually <i>this</i> beach is my favorite." They were all that good.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Seriously no better place to spend a Sunday afternoon. </span><br />
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<br />Becca and Kenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10441910930489093552noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5596014436695258667.post-43249263868993898472016-05-20T19:08:00.001-06:002016-05-20T19:08:24.460-06:00St John, the roads<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">One thing we were unprepared for was the roads on the islands. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Narrow, winding, <i>steep</i>, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">and,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">they drive on the left side of the road.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Driving there was pretty exciting!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">When the owner of the house we rented met us outside the car barge ferry and we followed her to the house,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Kent and I couldn't believe the roads. Even our Jeep struggled to get around some of those corners and hills. At one point we watched the landlord swing around an unbelievably steep corner in front of us, and we stopped and just laughed,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">thinking, </span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">wait, are we really supposed to follow her up there?</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Yep.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This is the road to the house we rented.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A little past this, our first night there,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">a massive crab, about as big as a dinner plate, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">scurried across the road in front of us. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> I may have shrieked a little.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Kent may have also, actually.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I wish these pictures accurately showed how seriously steep these roads are.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Notice Mike's hands bracing himself as we come down the hill here. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Crazy!</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M0xvZZ8PbgA/VzXSqAC-FhI/AAAAAAAA-nA/4-gaaeZr-m0SHK9GIE_UUnAYj_H46LO7wCLcB/s1600/20160503_155835.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M0xvZZ8PbgA/VzXSqAC-FhI/AAAAAAAA-nA/4-gaaeZr-m0SHK9GIE_UUnAYj_H46LO7wCLcB/s640/20160503_155835.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">They don't have garbage collection services on the island (because how in the world would a garbage truck navigate these roads??)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">so you have to take your own trash out, to big dumpsters alongside the road everywhere.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">These dumpsters are surrounded by all sorts of broken furniture, tires, rubbish, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">and layers of broken glass.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Which, we found out, is a very dangerous thing to drive over,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">even for a tough little jeep.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Cue, our attempt to fix a flat tire on a narrow, inclined road high on the mountains of St John.</span><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sc3VOMHD0to/VzXT3t7YhnI/AAAAAAAA-oE/4DAXDkL8JgYr1eaXmt-vIA90EyLKQzqkACLcB/s1600/DSC_0840.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sc3VOMHD0to/VzXT3t7YhnI/AAAAAAAA-oE/4DAXDkL8JgYr1eaXmt-vIA90EyLKQzqkACLcB/s640/DSC_0840.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We thought we could do it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Turns out, there's a reason the jack has a little picture of a car on a hill, with a great big X drawn across it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Fixing a flat on an incline is something best left to the professionals.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So we called a professional.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And one of us may or may not have been forced to relieve themselves in the jungle while we waited.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Let's just say we were working really hard to stay hydrated in the heat. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We succeeded.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We got our tire fixed thanks to an incredibly friendly repairman named Jack (with a "Be Kind" window sticker on the back of his pickup---the people of the Virgin Islands truly are the kindest people we've ever met) and we were soon back on our way to the beach.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">But not before we found some road construction, VI style,</span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9Q9EuNP2cFU/VzXSx7TNy5I/AAAAAAAA-ng/m-lW4aDZxoI0NQFSSCuInxXhWExA29aEgCLcB/s1600/P5040058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9Q9EuNP2cFU/VzXSx7TNy5I/AAAAAAAA-ng/m-lW4aDZxoI0NQFSSCuInxXhWExA29aEgCLcB/s640/P5040058.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">(What you can't see is the gaping hole that falls off the cliff right behind that orange barrier)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">and seeing some more of the island wildlife.</span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KNVJK5PpNzE/VzXSzV1NnoI/AAAAAAAA-ns/OOEXo_tC43MbUFXuW31kSaLD6LRCaRorwCLcB/s1600/P5040127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KNVJK5PpNzE/VzXSzV1NnoI/AAAAAAAA-ns/OOEXo_tC43MbUFXuW31kSaLD6LRCaRorwCLcB/s640/P5040127.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">the roads are nuts.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">But the views from these roads? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Make it all worth it.</span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lbzuD6Bkl9s/VzXSsp9523I/AAAAAAAA-nI/QKUNrY9fIi0vSQDL5PKs1OhS_T8IntMSgCLcB/s1600/P4290012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lbzuD6Bkl9s/VzXSsp9523I/AAAAAAAA-nI/QKUNrY9fIi0vSQDL5PKs1OhS_T8IntMSgCLcB/s640/P4290012.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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Becca and Kenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10441910930489093552noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5596014436695258667.post-34276680065730553892016-05-19T22:12:00.001-06:002016-05-19T23:03:41.936-06:00St John, the story<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Last week Kent and I got to go on a trip that we've been planning for and saving for the last three years.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Kent's parents went to St John four years ago, and ever since we've been dreaming of this place.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">With good reason, it turns out.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is a place of dreams, people.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We drove up a couple of days before to get the kids settled in with my parents.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I had a harder time leaving them than I thought I would. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">They're all just so sweet and little! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And I just want to stay with them and take care of them!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">But we have to take care of our marriage, too</span>. This is important to us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After a few days just me and Kent? We seem to find ourselves again. Remember who we are. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Then we come home, feeling refreshed and rejuvenated, and ready to start again to be the best parents we can be.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Our flight left at 1:15 am,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">which isn't the most ideal time for departure,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">but with just the two of us, and heading to the beach, I couldn't complain. We even got a couple of hours of sleep,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">which for a mom,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">is plenty!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">(apparently it's not quite enough for a dad, though....)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And the view out my window as the sun rose over Atlanta? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Incredible.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We picked up our rental car on St Thomas, bought a few groceries, and got in line for the car barge.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Pretty fun to be on a boat, in a car!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We got our first taste of the crazy roads on St John, dropped off our stuff at our beautiful rental house,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">then drove back into Cruz Bay to wait for</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">our very favorite travel buddies, Mike and Allison.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We ate dinner at a beachside restaurant that nearly lost our credit card and truly lost electricity a few times (all part of the experience!)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">and then Alli and I stepped down to the water to put our toes in for the first time.</span><br />
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<br />Becca and Kenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10441910930489093552noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5596014436695258667.post-84309030524941266692016-05-13T06:50:00.002-06:002016-05-13T06:50:56.153-06:00April-friends and flowers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Becca and Kenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10441910930489093552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5596014436695258667.post-40788620448735769582016-04-19T21:30:00.000-06:002016-04-19T21:38:25.299-06:00me<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I'm not thirty yet.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">But I spend too much time fretting about me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">How I think I look older than I am.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">Wrinkles, sun-spotted skin, places that wiggle and jiggle in ways they didn't before... </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And I fret about more. Those hours in the middle of the day when I'm crabby and snap at the kids,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">those times when I'm not enough, when there's not enough of me to go around. Between children, husband, and home, the things I cannot keep up with, the things that don't ever get done.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This picture, though, tells a different story.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I'm not thirty yet,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">but I am so loved. Loved and needed and wanted. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I have these people, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">who don't care about the things I care about.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">All they care about,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">is me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Just the way I am.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">They just want me. They just love me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">They love my soft arms, my kisses. They love that I care enough to know how to slice their toast just the way they like it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">They love that I get up each day to care for them, whether or not I get a shower or put on makeup. They love my smile and the way my nose crinkles when I'm really having fun.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">They just want me to read stories to them. Play castle with them. Feed them and bathe them and snuggle them into bed. Pray with them. Teach them the stories of Jesus.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And that's all they want from me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">To them, I'm enough. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">These people tell a more real truth than I tell myself.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">And I'm learning to listen.</span>Becca and Kenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10441910930489093552noreply@blogger.com4