tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48335735235898348612024-03-13T08:34:06.149-06:00A Time to Embrace2 adults, 3 kids, 2 dogs and cat and an unhealthy addiction to guacamole.Lacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00629298236232758172noreply@blogger.comBlogger295125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833573523589834861.post-60235666307078990842013-01-01T11:13:00.000-07:002013-01-01T11:13:09.400-07:00Liza's bad dayDear Lizzie,<br />
<br />
Sunday I had a no good, very bad, awful day.<br />
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First, I woke up too early. Your mom told me it was time to get up but I didn't want to.<br />
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So I got up and got dressed. But we were out of milk so I couldn't have any cereal for breakfast! I was mad.<br />
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Then I realized I couldn't see because I had lost my glasses!<br />
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I tried to make the best of a bad situation and so I went to go play like your mom told me.<br />
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I got in trouble for playing in her jewelry.<br />
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Then I got in trouble for jumping on the bed.<br />
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And then I got yelled at for trying to play cowboys! (Tasha was supposed to be my pony)<br />
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I had to go to time out which made me VERY sad and I cried.<br />
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I really really miss you Lizzie. I can't wait until you get home!<br />
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Love,<br />
<br />
Liza<br />
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<br />
*Mom's note: After her timeout Liza calmed down and we talked about her day and why everything seemed to be going wrong. We both decided she had stayed up too late the night before playing in her bed and we both resolved to help her to go to sleep much earlier. Which she did and she was in good spirits the next day.<br />
Lacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00629298236232758172noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833573523589834861.post-45796154955736336772012-12-29T16:06:00.001-07:002012-12-29T16:06:36.403-07:00Liza helps outDear Lizzie,<br />
<br />
I didn't get to play outside today because I was busy trying to be a big helper while you are gone. You're mom is still sick and I think that she really needed my help today because of it.<br />
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Today was laundry day! We did a TON of laundry like always but this time I was able to help! I sorta folded some shirts and pants!<br />
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Your mom said something about re-folding stuff or hanging it up, I'm not sure. I was just glad I was able to help!<br />
<br />
After laundry everyone went to have quiet time and your mom went to lay down. She had told me about that last time she was sick and you came in to help her to I wanted to be a helper too!<br />
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I gave her some tissues for her nose! It's been so stuffy that it's starting to turn red so I tried to make sure these were the soft ones.<br />
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Then I helped take her temperature and gave her some water.<br />
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She said she was already feeling better but I wasn't certain. Her nose still sounded REALLY stuffed up so I looked around and I found this snot sucker. I tried to give it to her but she didn't want it! I can't imagine why not, it would make her feel better I'm sure!<br />
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Her loss I guess.<br />
<br />
I miss you a bunch. I can't wait to see you again! I'll try to be the big helper in your place but it's pretty hard to do.<br />
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Love,<br />
Liza<br />
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PS - Wilbur says he misses you too. And that he likes candy.Lacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00629298236232758172noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833573523589834861.post-31516704948543696742012-12-28T20:45:00.004-07:002012-12-28T20:45:55.504-07:00Liza's UpdateDear Lizzie,<br />
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I'm sorry I didn't write yesterday. You're mom's been sick with a cough and I don't know how to log onto the computer. It's been a pretty busy week with your mom going back to work after the holidays and your sister hanging around the house.<br />
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Wednesday I played in the Christmas stuff since Micah said he was going to take everything down this week.<br />
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It was neat being up that high but a little scary too. I wasn't sure the stocking was going to hold me!<br />
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Thursday I helped take down the Christmas Lights with Micah. It was sad taking them down because they were so beautiful and Wilbur was angry. He kept saying "I want Christmas!" I think he thinks the decorations are Christmas and doesn't realize that Christmas is a day yet.<br />
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Friday your mom stayed home from work sick. I felt bad for her so I tried to help out as much as possible by doing some chores. <br />
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I fed the cat who kept meowing at me really loud. But he didn't say thank you at all, he just ate VERY nosily.Your mom said he likes the purple cans the best but he ate the green one for me just fine.<br />
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Frankly, I think he's a little rude. I was surprised that your sister didn't feed him but your mom reminded me that it's one of the chores that you get to do around here so maybe Kylie just thought I was supposed to do it while you were gone. <br />
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I also helped with dishes. Kylie did put these away when your mom asked but I thought it would be nice to give her a hand.<br />
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It's been really cold here since you left but no more snow. I kinda wish it would snow so I could play outside again.<br />
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I miss you and I can't wait to see you. I hope you are having fun in Las Vegas!<br />
<br />
Love,<br />
<br />
LizaLacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00629298236232758172noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833573523589834861.post-12182707445139658012012-12-26T11:38:00.000-07:002012-12-26T11:38:12.690-07:00Liza's winter vacationAt our house we celebrated Christmas early, on Sunday, December 23rd, since Kylie came into town Saturday and Lizzie had to fly to Las Vegas on Sunday.<br />
<br />Sadly for Lizzie she received a doll that I would not allow her to take with her to Las Vegas. I was afraid she would lose her on the flight and she will have lots of other amazing toys for Christmas at her dad's house.<br />
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I did, however, promise that I would let her know what Liza (the doll) was doing while she was away. So I will now open up the Blog to Liza (the doll). Take it away Liza!<br />
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<br />
Dear Lizzie,<br />
<br />
I'm sad that we didn't get to play very long on Christmas. I'm looking forward to seeing you when you come back in January. Sunday, after the excitement of being opened and finding out that we looked like each other I was just so excited that I napped pretty much the rest of the day.<br />
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Monday though I got to play a lot. Monday I helped your step -dad Micah play the video game you got him. I don't think I'm very good though but he was a good sport to let me play.<br />
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I also drank one of your small waters. I hope you don't mind.<br />
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On Tuesday which was real Christmas for most people it snowed. I went outside with the dogs and played outside since William is still sick. It was colder than I thought and I couldn't stay outside very long. <br />
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I'm sorry the pictures are all sideways. I cant really figure out how to turn them the right way in this blog thing.<br />
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I miss you Lizzie, I hope you are having fun in Las Vegas and I will see you soon. Your family says to tell you that they love you and miss you.<br />
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Sincerely,<br />
<br />
LizaLacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00629298236232758172noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833573523589834861.post-35040750364834346372012-09-16T16:33:00.004-06:002012-09-16T16:33:59.819-06:00Peachy KeenTwo years ago, when I was first learning how to can, I experimented and made Peach Butter. For those who don't know, Peach Butter is not actually butter but just really reduced and condensed fruit puree, like jam but thicker. <br />
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I made several other things that year too but the Peach Butter was what I got the most feedback on and it was all very positive.<br />
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I decided to make it again this year since it was so well received. The best part of making peach butter, I think, is how amazing the house smells while it's being made.<br />
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If you want to make this yourself I will tell you it's incredibly easy but also amazingly time consuming. I used a crock pot and it took about 15 hours for my peach butter to be even CLOSE to the consistency I was looking for.<br />
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First you start with amazing peaches. These are Palisade Peaches which are grown in Palisade Colorado and which I purchased yesterday at a farmers market. Now, it's true, these were probably expensive compared to what I could have bought at the grocery store but they are from Colorado, which I love, and their carbon footprint is so much smaller than the ones from Georgia or wherever else peaches are grown.<br />
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You peel them which means blanching them and then cooking them down. What you see here is the ring of how far they've cooked down in the crock pot and also that I've used an immersion blender to make them smooth. You could have just as easily mashed them with a fork but they would be a little chunkier. <br />
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I take my jars out of the hot water bath canner where they were sanitizing.<br />
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They are now prepped with the funnel for a cleaner pour.<br />
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Pouring the amazing peach butter into the sterilized jar.<br />
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Placing them back in the boiling water. They then sat there, with the lid on for 20 minutes until they were sealed. I will take pictures of the completed butter later.<br />
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Now I'm going to allow them to rest and seal. The great thing about jams and butters is that as they sit the flavors just meld and get deeper and richer.<br />
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Now you may be asking, what do you do with peach butter or any fruit butter for that matter? Well you can use it just like jam and put it on toast or in sandwiches. You can also use it for a marinade for meat, particularly pork or chicken, you can spread it on pancakes, you can add it to crepes. It works well as a topper for ice cream or even as a cake filling. Basically it's versatile and delicious.Lacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00629298236232758172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833573523589834861.post-35560848774509584952012-08-04T23:20:00.001-06:002012-08-04T23:20:59.825-06:00BilburYou may recall, I have three children.<br />
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My oldest child is named Kylie and I tend to call her Ky or Kytito. Kytito is not a real word but rather a poor attempt to make her name sound Spanish. And my mother I believe was the first person to call her that.<br />
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My middle child is named Elizabeth. We call her Lizzie. Or LizzieLou. Or Lou. Or PooPoo. When we knew she was a girl I wanted to name her Beth after the character in Little Women. My mother referred to her once, when I was pregnant, as Lizzie. It stuck.<br />
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My youngest child's name is William. I fought against that name when I was pregnant because I don't like the name Bill. It sounds too old to me. We have tried numerous nicknames on him but none ever really seemed right. Billy. Will.Willy.Dolichan. Nothing.<br />
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Until his daycare provider called him Wilbur. William was just too big a name for such a small boy and so she took to calling him Wilbur. The other kids called him Wilbur. Then we did. Now he does. He responds better to Wilbur or the nickname Bilbur than he does to his own name.<br />
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Both grandmothers, Leslie and Linda, hate the name Wilbur. It sounds too old.<br />
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But I wish we would have named him Wilbur instead of William.<br />
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Bilbur is just perfect.<br />
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Sometimes you don't really know a child's name when they are born. You have to learn it over time and experience.<br />
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You may have heard, my sweet little town, the town without even a downtown, had a shooting.<br />
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If you hadn't heard then, well, we did. On July 20th a man, James Holmes, went to a midnight showing of the new Batman movie and opened fire. He killed 12 people and injured many more.<br />
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Friday morning I went to work early. I was pulling into the parking lot at 15 minutes to 6am when I started to get text messages from friends on the East Coast. I didn't understand at first why they were asking me about going to the movies and if I was alright.<br />
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I'm 33 but live life at the breakneck speed of 60. Of course I didn't go to a midnight showing of a movie. Are you out of your mind? Some of us have jobs to do. At 6am on a Friday.<br />
<br />
But. I've been to that theater. I have taken my children to movies there. Kylie asked if they were hiring earlier in the summer.<br />
<br />
My town is small. Most people in Denver make fun of it because we are essentially just a suburb. They talk about it like it's full of gangsters and drug dealers. Lots of people call it Saudi Aurora. (I have no idea why, by the way. It's not as if we are an oil rich city in the desert.)<br />
<br />
But Friday morning the people of Aurora and the people of Colorado felt the sting of violence. For all the joking we don't have a high crime rate. We are middle class, working folks. Almost everyone I know works in other cities within Colorado but we live in Aurora. We shop here. We play here. We go to movies here. We live here.<br />
<br />
Here it is now, a few weeks later, and for most of the country Aurora is forgotten. A sad situation in a little town in Colorado.<br />
<br />
But for us here, we are still healing. And reeling.<br />
<br />Lacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00629298236232758172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833573523589834861.post-73420758234785563042012-05-14T21:59:00.001-06:002012-05-14T21:59:38.041-06:00SeedlingsI'm not a naturally patient person. I try. I put forth the effort.
Sometimes it involves clenching my teeth, putting on a far too large
smile and faking it. But I tend to get impatient.<br />
<br />
<br />
So when the seeds I had planted and set in the window
hadn't come up after two weeks I was, shall we say, concerned. I checked
out my trusty friend Google and confirmed that I had somehow screwed
something up and all my seeds were dead.<br />
<br />
<br />
And it was possible. I had kept all my seeds together in a single
envelope and during a cleaning frenzy they had been placed in my large
kitchen window. While perfect for seed starting the window can get very
hot and given the strangely warm weather it was completely conceivable
that I had fried my seeds.<br />
<br />
<br />
I grieved. I wept. I moped.<br />
<br />
<br />
You see, I'm a seed snob. Sure, I could buy the plants from the
store but in terms of saving money there is no cheaper way to do it than
by planting seeds. PLUS I have the luxury of having heirloom, non-GMO
seeds growing things I just can't buy at the nursery. The nursery
doesn't carry carrot plants at all but if they did they wouldn't be the
sweet Chantenay Red Core kind. And while they have plenty of pepper and
tomato plants they don't carry my <a href="http://rareseeds.com/vegetables-p-z/peppers/sweet/sweet-yellow-stuffing.html" target="_blank">Sweet Yellow Stuff Peppers</a> or my <a href="http://rareseeds.com/vegetables-p-z/tomatoes/red/fox-cherry.html" target="_blank">Fox Cherry Tomatoes</a>.<br />
<br />
<br />
Too late to place another seed order, I stopped by the nursery on
my way home from work one night and picked up another round of green
bean and cucumber seeds and resigned myself to buying tomatoes plants in
a few weeks when the weather was right.<br />
<br />
<br />
Imagine then my surprise when I came home to find 2 possible
squash/pumpkin plants growing in my front yard. And then in the raised
beds I spied 3 sugar snap peas finally poking their heads out.<br />
<br />
<br />
I could have cried.<br />
<br />
<br />
Until that point I was pretty sure the only thing I was going to manage for the year was garlic and weeds.<br />
<br />
<br />
Now, a few weeks later I have 5 -6 squash or pumpkin plants in my
front yard (they look the same and I possibly planted both close
together), 12 pea plants coming up and at least 3 cucumber plants poking
their heads out of the ground. Additionally I have a melon seedling of
some kind hanging out with the garlic (thanks 2 year old son) and my
potatoes are finally starting to poke their eyes above the dirt.<br />
<br />
<br />
I suppose it just goes to show. I needed only the faith in the mustard seed. Or was that faith as small as the mustard seed?Lacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00629298236232758172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833573523589834861.post-73840955361172648102012-04-15T00:03:00.005-06:002012-04-15T00:14:45.780-06:00Seed HoarderI had actually meant to start a few seeds inside in March but it seemed that time kept getting away from me. Today, with only a few weeks to go before when I should be transplanting I took some time, pulled out my seeds, and began to plant.<br /><br />I love the smell and feel of the potting soil. The colors on the seed packets are always vibrant and make me long for the sweet smell of wet earth and fresh carrots.<br /><br />I realized though when I pulled out my seed packets that I perhaps have a problem.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9XovEaCl6ZA/T4plRkMpJOI/AAAAAAAAA-k/MGf7R54oxnM/s1600/seed%2Bhorder.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9XovEaCl6ZA/T4plRkMpJOI/AAAAAAAAA-k/MGf7R54oxnM/s320/seed%2Bhorder.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731504828231263458" border="0" /></a><br />Hi. My name is Lacy and I'm a seed hoarder.<br /><br />Every year I buy my seeds and instead of throwing out what I don't need or better yet, passing them on to others, I put them in Zip Lock baggies, label them and put them in the garden shed.<br /><br />I was admittedly surprised packets of the same kinds of seeds purchased year after year for now three years in a row. (I'm looking at your Green Beans) Frankly, it was a little embarrassing.<br /><br />I also noticed that my gardening know how and ability seem to have increased.<br /><br />When I first started I just grabbed whatever seeds in the garden store looked interesting. Not sure what I was thinking when I bought jalapeno seeds. I don't even LIKE jalapenos!<br /><br />Now I only purchase heirloom seeds and I think long and hard about how I want to eat what I grow. I wont plant lettuce again since my family are not big salad eaters. We love cucumbers though and I think we need a few more plants around here of those.<br /><br />This year I'm trying a couple of new things. I'm going to try and grow watermelon and another kind of melon. I've added garlic.<br /><br />And I threw out the old seeds. Anything from 2010 just had to go. A couple of the 2011's went too.<br /><br />And I planted tomatoes. Amish Paste and Fox Cherry. I also planted mini yellow peppers. Just for fun. (And because Kylie and Lizzie will eat them.)<br /><br />Veggiepalooza 2012! Viva la Tomato!Lacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00629298236232758172noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833573523589834861.post-74606233471437357852012-04-02T21:37:00.002-06:002012-04-02T22:14:14.473-06:00William and ElizabethMicah recently became interested in his family tree. Which means I became more interested in mine.<br /><br />He joined Ancestry.com and entered the information from his family bible into the family tree. He did a little research.<br /><br />He bragged to me one night as he was falling asleep that he had gotten (at that point) all the way back to 1650.<br /><br />Since I often compete with people over stuff that a)doesn't matter and b)they have no idea was a competition I got up, went to the computer and began researching.<br /><br />2 hours later I had gotten all the way back to 1044 on one link in the family and declared myself the "winner". <br /><br />I actually got so far back the first names in my family appear Latin. It's interesting because there is a MARKED difference in a couple of generations between the Latin/Pagan names and when we must have converted to Christianity because the names literally go, Nicol, Leolphi, Leolphus, Lyulph and then Philip. Philip goes on to beget Adam, etc.<br />And yes, all those names are male names. Somewhere around 1333 we started caring about the women in the family but before that it's only male names. <br /><br />I confirmed what I've always known about myself. That I come from a pasty people. Lots of Irish/Scottish/English in there with some Danish for good luck.<br /><br />While this family research is incredibly fascinating I discovered something I find incredibly unique. <br /><br />In the one branch I've researched pretty thoroughly there are three different generations of brothers and sisters named William and Elizabeth. My paid actually makes the fourth. That would cool in and of itself but as Micah initially pointed out those are both popular names, historically. And he's correct, they are. <br /><br />Except other popular names don't have that kind of similar pairing. Within the same family line there are Sarahs and Catherines, Roberts and Edwards but never does and Edward and say Sarah show up as a sibling pair but once. No other name combo ever appears as more than once EXCEPT for William and Elizabeth.<br /><br />I think it's pretty neat actually. I carried on a family tradition without knowing it. Especially because I didn't even want to name my son William. When we did name him William it took Dora/Nana to point out that it was a family name going back to William Doyle.<br /><br />Which, by the way, there are LOTS of William Doyles in our tree.<br /><br />Sadly, or maybe not, there is only one Lacy.Lacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00629298236232758172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833573523589834861.post-32322348903086348182012-03-31T23:35:00.005-06:002012-03-31T23:47:35.077-06:00The day I realized I'm really a 70 year old womanwho probably lives alone watching Wheel of Fortune and eating canned tuna with her 28 bajillion cats. (Yes, bajillion is the scientific term. Trust me.)<br /><br />A few weeks ago I had gone to bed, like I tend to do prior to midnight but just barely. I was just slipping into the deep ocean of rest when the dogs started barking. Well, it was probably only one dog but after midnight they both sound the same to me. I stumbled out of bed, opening my bedroom door and hissed into the darkness "SHUT UPPPPPPPPPP". Silence followed.<br /><br />I closed the door, laid back and bed and took a deep breath. Almost instantly I was free falling into the clouds of slumber when suddenly there went the dog again. I jumped up, angry and prepared to possibly beat something. The barking of course wakes me up and that's awful but it has the potential to wake Wilbur up. And a woken up Wilbur is WAY more terrifying to me than I am to the dogs. Obviously.<br /><br />As I marched out into the living room I realized that my house was shaking slightly. I could hear music in front of our house on the street and loud voices of teenagers. <br /><br />I stomped to the front door, flipping on my porch light and yanked open the door.<br /><br />And this is where you have to really close your eyes and see this this in your minds. Because what the teenagers outside saw was me, with my long hair experiencing a mad case of bedhead and sticking out in all directions wearing a mint green nightgown with cats all over it that hangs roughly down to my knees and does nothing to hide the fact that I gave up my bar earlier in the evening. I also, for affect, was wearing red pajama bottoms with snowflakes on them, in flannel. And I was mad. Very, very mad.<br /><br />I screamed something to the effect of "Turn that damn music down, I have kids and your going to wake them up. SHUT UP."<br /><br />I might as well have waved a rolling pin and yelled "you damn kids get off my lawn".<br /><br />All the kids stopped and stared at me. My blurry vision caught at least one kids jaw drop. <br /><br />As the neighbor kid began to apologize I slammed the front door, locked it and turned off the front light.<br /><br />I turned around to see Micah standing there, trying not to laugh and fairly evaluate the situation.<br /><br />He should have hailed me as a hero because the noise from the street died instantly.<br /><br />Instead he said something like "I didn't know you had turned 70 on your last birthday".<br /><br />Whatever. Me and the cats are perfectly content. Now where is my Pat Sajack?Lacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00629298236232758172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833573523589834861.post-21723030865599654402012-03-12T21:58:00.006-06:002012-03-12T22:44:29.279-06:00That groundhog is a liarWe had had a very mild winter, despite the pictures in my previous post with all the snow pictures. This weekend while Micah and I were cleaning the backyard of the dog "presents" and old leaves it dawned on my to check my garlic.<br /><br />There's something I never thought I'd say. Check my garlic. Almost sounds like code for something else coming from me doesn't it?<br /><br />Anyways, last fall, probably in October, I decided to expand my gardening horizons and picked up three varieties of garlic and then promptly forgot which kinds I had picked up.<br /><br />In any case I planted them in my half whiskey barrels and walked away. Leaves collected in the barrel and I thought nothing of it really until Sunday.<br /><br />Sunday I looked in the barrel and initially saw nothing. Which good because it's early March and the chance for snow here is pretty high. I learned that at the end of April 2 years ago when a large snow storm hit after I had transplanted all my peas and tomatoes.<br /><br />Then, upon closer examination I started to notice a little green.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S4RXqeQlfvo/T17NFNWsi2I/AAAAAAAAA9c/0b9tbXYSIS0/s1600/IMG_6715.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S4RXqeQlfvo/T17NFNWsi2I/AAAAAAAAA9c/0b9tbXYSIS0/s320/IMG_6715.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719234066175003490" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1RU7Ieehoh0/T17NDtxDA7I/AAAAAAAAA9Q/rGNzBsDuqDw/s1600/IMG_6713.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1RU7Ieehoh0/T17NDtxDA7I/AAAAAAAAA9Q/rGNzBsDuqDw/s320/IMG_6713.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719234040515724210" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GRiC8B248q4/T17NDZYBt0I/AAAAAAAAA9E/Qy71QVNvz7w/s1600/IMG_6710.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GRiC8B248q4/T17NDZYBt0I/AAAAAAAAA9E/Qy71QVNvz7w/s320/IMG_6710.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719234035042072386" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ya4a_wsyO8I/T17NFgmXAkI/AAAAAAAAA9o/hgxyyd93CYY/s1600/IMG_6719.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ya4a_wsyO8I/T17NFgmXAkI/AAAAAAAAA9o/hgxyyd93CYY/s320/IMG_6719.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719234071340974658" border="0" /></a><br />I've tried to cover them with some leaves but they refuse to be denied sunlight. I truly feel sick to my stomach that they are growing in so early but can hardly blame them. Today we hit 70 degrees at a time when the average temperature is around 54 degrees. So it makes sense that the garlic bulbs think they have hit the jackpot and are sprouting early.<br /><br />After all, they aren't alone. I found this stowaway in my larger raised beds. This must have been a pea that dropped and hid at some point and has now decided to sprout WAY ahead of schedule.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8NQmih7A5C4/T17Op7xB77I/AAAAAAAAA90/77ww4JwSh2o/s1600/IMG_6733.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8NQmih7A5C4/T17Op7xB77I/AAAAAAAAA90/77ww4JwSh2o/s320/IMG_6733.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719235796620406706" border="0" /></a><br />My yard work assistants were pretty intrigued with all the green. Wilbur offered to help "pick" while Lizzie Lou just wanted to hear what all could be eaten with garlic.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iiiCAtkaxNc/T17Pq0qokOI/AAAAAAAAA-A/2I1eQBhkSbQ/s1600/IMG_6724.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iiiCAtkaxNc/T17Pq0qokOI/AAAAAAAAA-A/2I1eQBhkSbQ/s320/IMG_6724.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719236911406026978" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OvPXBIUW6zM/T17PrG1OStI/AAAAAAAAA-M/Q4SGWAt8Yjs/s1600/IMG_6723.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OvPXBIUW6zM/T17PrG1OStI/AAAAAAAAA-M/Q4SGWAt8Yjs/s320/IMG_6723.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719236916282280658" border="0" /></a><br />I hope our lovely weather continues because I'd really like for all my plants to live. I really hope that groundhog was a liar and there is no more winter.<br /><br />Just in case I think I'll pick this weed...<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DijmvKkKgRA/T17QcbiP5DI/AAAAAAAAA-Y/1kDqn_NHGEI/s1600/IMG_6728.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DijmvKkKgRA/T17QcbiP5DI/AAAAAAAAA-Y/1kDqn_NHGEI/s320/IMG_6728.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719237763653428274" border="0" /></a>Lacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00629298236232758172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833573523589834861.post-6015887578417846102012-02-25T23:41:00.006-07:002012-02-25T23:48:50.548-07:00Family PhotosSo this FALL I took some family photos but apparently never posted them as I must have forgotten I had a blog or something.<br /><br />In any case here are a few of my favorites but certainly not all of them.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZL4lu2MPMk0/T0nUd2tZR5I/AAAAAAAAA7s/mhNZpijx_MM/s1600/IMG_4626.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZL4lu2MPMk0/T0nUd2tZR5I/AAAAAAAAA7s/mhNZpijx_MM/s320/IMG_4626.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713331211663394706" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IqRiga9Kj-4/T0nUdgMMBsI/AAAAAAAAA7k/KACNxITbj7U/s1600/IMG_4613.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IqRiga9Kj-4/T0nUdgMMBsI/AAAAAAAAA7k/KACNxITbj7U/s320/IMG_4613.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713331205618534082" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wn1cZAYfxRg/T0nUdW8uL1I/AAAAAAAAA7U/g_dQDCLXXPk/s1600/IMG_4608.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wn1cZAYfxRg/T0nUdW8uL1I/AAAAAAAAA7U/g_dQDCLXXPk/s320/IMG_4608.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713331203137744722" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eaNA6ipCdQw/T0nUc5idweI/AAAAAAAAA7M/2LULYkqqX5M/s1600/IMG_4578.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eaNA6ipCdQw/T0nUc5idweI/AAAAAAAAA7M/2LULYkqqX5M/s320/IMG_4578.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713331195242988002" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3_2L3hE8-RA/T0nUeHbXe_I/AAAAAAAAA78/SPVRcNOAD0Y/s1600/IMG_4629.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3_2L3hE8-RA/T0nUeHbXe_I/AAAAAAAAA78/SPVRcNOAD0Y/s320/IMG_4629.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713331216151182322" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LmSrexzd7Ck/T0nU2fn3m-I/AAAAAAAAA8g/4wuS7m6KYjQ/s1600/IMG_4691.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LmSrexzd7Ck/T0nU2fn3m-I/AAAAAAAAA8g/4wuS7m6KYjQ/s320/IMG_4691.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713331634962930658" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--AEMQHARQgU/T0nU2IJzNFI/AAAAAAAAA8Q/2dHS1rP8wdM/s1600/IMG_4649.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--AEMQHARQgU/T0nU2IJzNFI/AAAAAAAAA8Q/2dHS1rP8wdM/s320/IMG_4649.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713331628662797394" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9dr63rAK640/T0nU18hw9_I/AAAAAAAAA8I/svg_nqYGmSE/s1600/IMG_4645.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9dr63rAK640/T0nU18hw9_I/AAAAAAAAA8I/svg_nqYGmSE/s320/IMG_4645.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713331625542088690" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nyztWAghL4g/T0nU2xuAEOI/AAAAAAAAA8s/jZP2gsm0HiQ/s1600/IMG_4746.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nyztWAghL4g/T0nU2xuAEOI/AAAAAAAAA8s/jZP2gsm0HiQ/s320/IMG_4746.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713331639820488930" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iqy2H9IKAkk/T0nVHOL9kwI/AAAAAAAAA84/tGtjuTQi8Es/s1600/IMG_4757.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iqy2H9IKAkk/T0nVHOL9kwI/AAAAAAAAA84/tGtjuTQi8Es/s320/IMG_4757.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713331922340254466" border="0" /></a>If you do nothing else check out this last photo of my in-laws and their grandchildren. This is absolutely the best picture of all the ones we took. Having said that please check out MY younger daughter there on the left.<br /><br />Yes. It truly is the best picture.Lacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00629298236232758172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833573523589834861.post-7502127149649603402012-02-25T22:58:00.009-07:002012-02-25T23:18:57.722-07:00Playing in the snowThis winter in Colorado has been mild to say the least. We've had, until recently, very little snow and weather that never got below freezing. Our Christmas was pretty brown and un-holiday like.<br /><br />Luckily the end of January came and FINALLY Colorado remembered that it's Colorado and not, say, Florida and we got some snow.<br /><br />Of course we had to run outside and play in it.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BB7_xuEhQSs/T0nK6tW-tbI/AAAAAAAAA4s/K3Ad1xiiLbU/s1600/IMG_4850.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BB7_xuEhQSs/T0nK6tW-tbI/AAAAAAAAA4s/K3Ad1xiiLbU/s320/IMG_4850.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713320712253388210" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tZkxh2v1JF4/T0nK6XwzonI/AAAAAAAAA4k/4X0bpU3LPZ0/s1600/IMG_4843.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tZkxh2v1JF4/T0nK6XwzonI/AAAAAAAAA4k/4X0bpU3LPZ0/s320/IMG_4843.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713320706456134258" border="0" /></a> Needed to bring a drink with him. Does not care that that it will freeze out here.<br /></div><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fu_7Lw1ZDzU/T0nK531QpjI/AAAAAAAAA4Y/hHlSzFA8GKM/s1600/IMG_4824.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fu_7Lw1ZDzU/T0nK531QpjI/AAAAAAAAA4Y/hHlSzFA8GKM/s320/IMG_4824.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713320697884878386" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Btdi8Jza8mg/T0nK6-6--TI/AAAAAAAAA48/u5tv7NsBytA/s1600/IMG_4862.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Btdi8Jza8mg/T0nK6-6--TI/AAAAAAAAA48/u5tv7NsBytA/s320/IMG_4862.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713320716967803186" border="0" /></a>I love that picture. The children are in mid-stride running from the evil snow blower. Which they chased and then ran away from multiple times that day.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xKFxPLIfadA/T0nLoPj8bWI/AAAAAAAAA5g/e133_FHxhbU/s1600/IMG_4882.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xKFxPLIfadA/T0nLoPj8bWI/AAAAAAAAA5g/e133_FHxhbU/s320/IMG_4882.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713321494528683362" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NdaH7iXxWwY/T0nLnz5SJ7I/AAAAAAAAA5U/RofA861Prro/s1600/IMG_4875.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NdaH7iXxWwY/T0nLnz5SJ7I/AAAAAAAAA5U/RofA861Prro/s320/IMG_4875.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713321487101994930" border="0" /></a> Couldn't get out of the way fast enough.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fL96KdT1ezQ/T0nLnjl3f4I/AAAAAAAAA5I/Gnbyf-SeI8M/s1600/IMG_4865.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fL96KdT1ezQ/T0nLnjl3f4I/AAAAAAAAA5I/Gnbyf-SeI8M/s320/IMG_4865.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713321482725588866" border="0" /></a> Drive way snow angel's are the easiest ones to photograph.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZOHE0aqfWyk/T0nLoS1j7UI/AAAAAAAAA5o/5WR5udBUTfw/s1600/IMG_4888.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZOHE0aqfWyk/T0nLoS1j7UI/AAAAAAAAA5o/5WR5udBUTfw/s320/IMG_4888.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713321495407881538" border="0" /></a> Snot's going on?<br /></div><br />While we are not a particularly religious household we do subscribe to the idea of Proverbs 22:6 "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it."<br /><br />Which is to say we broke out snow shoveling equipment and set them to it.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TprxWmk5mPM/T0nMZyt6_HI/AAAAAAAAA6c/eKqfOmu2Cpc/s1600/IMG_4921.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TprxWmk5mPM/T0nMZyt6_HI/AAAAAAAAA6c/eKqfOmu2Cpc/s320/IMG_4921.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713322345779362930" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RVHLWQdFnWo/T0nMZq_hkHI/AAAAAAAAA6Q/mjY-wj3k3l4/s1600/IMG_4914.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RVHLWQdFnWo/T0nMZq_hkHI/AAAAAAAAA6Q/mjY-wj3k3l4/s320/IMG_4914.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713322343705710706" border="0" /></a> Taking a moment for a little snow shovel guitar.<br /></div><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7j7fBAory5k/T0nMZDBKxDI/AAAAAAAAA6E/kaxdLX32vy4/s1600/IMG_4899.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7j7fBAory5k/T0nMZDBKxDI/AAAAAAAAA6E/kaxdLX32vy4/s320/IMG_4899.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713322332975186994" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MaBk_-b7Ibw/T0nMYxJhxhI/AAAAAAAAA54/K-r6u8Bx4V8/s1600/IMG_4896.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MaBk_-b7Ibw/T0nMYxJhxhI/AAAAAAAAA54/K-r6u8Bx4V8/s320/IMG_4896.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713322328178411026" border="0" /></a> This is how you clean off Mommy's car - pay attention!<br /></div><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FaELELwPICo/T0nMaI-fjjI/AAAAAAAAA6o/91xARncFNio/s1600/IMG_4947.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FaELELwPICo/T0nMaI-fjjI/AAAAAAAAA6o/91xARncFNio/s320/IMG_4947.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713322351754448434" border="0" /></a>In all we had fun playing in the long awaited snow which melted a few days later. By then we were over that whole below freezing and warming up the cars thing anyways.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-smY85OoPUSE/T0nNaGrJ9XI/AAAAAAAAA60/NVy0ctgoAtw/s1600/IMG_4918.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-smY85OoPUSE/T0nNaGrJ9XI/AAAAAAAAA60/NVy0ctgoAtw/s320/IMG_4918.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713323450648098162" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It sure was fun having our snow days though. Even Micah enjoyed it.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-usEAirKjXR4/T0nOV7yq7mI/AAAAAAAAA7A/_GkMQXKG90I/s1600/IMG_4864.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-usEAirKjXR4/T0nOV7yq7mI/AAAAAAAAA7A/_GkMQXKG90I/s320/IMG_4864.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713324478518980194" border="0" /></a><br />Don't tell him I posted that.Lacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00629298236232758172noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833573523589834861.post-23421029935199740642011-10-24T21:43:00.006-06:002011-10-24T22:08:43.251-06:00Leaving on a Jet PlaneBrian and his wife (and their new baby) have finally moved to Las Vegas which means a whole new stage of our lives here in Colorado.<br /><br />No more week on, week off, no more two households, no more Sunday night switch.<br /><br />I actually like it better and I believe the girls do too. Consistency in a home is a good thing. While they both miss Brian he's been good about calling them and texting Ky etc.<br /><br />But the move also means school holiday visits. Colorado has a fall break for a week in October and so this was the first visit since he moved at the end of September.<br /><br />Because Ky is 16 now we don't have to pay the unaccompanied minor fee, she just has to be in charge of Lizzie. That is a nice money saver but also a worry for me because those two seem to get under each others skin.<br /><br />Not really having a sister I assumed that because there was such an age gap between them this wouldn't be an issue. I was mistake. Lizzie has a way of teasing Ky that Ky takes VERY personally and she retaliates in a pretty mean way to Lizzie which makes her cry. My nightmare was that happening in the airport and Ky losing Lizzie at some point.<br /><br />Luckily for me Frontier Airlines was very understand of my <s>neurosis</s> <s>nightmare</s> concern and gave me a gate pass. The girls and I made it through security and lucky for me Lizzie and I didn't have to go through the body scan. (Sorry Ky!)<br /><br />After we got through security Ky's Kindle stopped working and so her mood went from Eeyore to MASSIVE TEENAGED ANGER so I was glad I was there. First to call Amazon and find out what the deal was and second to make sure Lizzie was watched over because at one point Ky just got up and walked away without telling me where she went. Nice.<br /><br />The girls posed for me while we waited for their flight to be called.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TGjE8DGjWBo/TqY03NAP0JI/AAAAAAAAA4A/rGr2Vd1aH3Q/s1600/Airport1.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TGjE8DGjWBo/TqY03NAP0JI/AAAAAAAAA4A/rGr2Vd1aH3Q/s320/Airport1.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667275304080494738" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Lizzie had a case of the fidgets in a big way and told me "I think I'm gonna SQUIRM" after I asked her to try and control her body. But she did LOOK as though she was fighting it.<br /><br />Finally their row was called so I walked them up to the ticket agent. Lizzie hugged me huge and I hugged her back. Ky of course is a seasoned pro of leaving mom on an airplane so I'm not even sure she said goodbye to me. I got this photo of them before I just started crying like an idiot in the airport.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ratPFV1WLk0/TqY1x3kxi_I/AAAAAAAAA4M/1VVHa47BWIM/s1600/Airport2.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ratPFV1WLk0/TqY1x3kxi_I/AAAAAAAAA4M/1VVHa47BWIM/s320/Airport2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667276311940402162" border="0" /></a><br /><br />They did make it safely and no one called security on me as I stumbled/cried my way back through the airport so I guess it was a good day overall.<br /><br />Now I'm just counting down the days until they get back.<br /><br />And eating ice cream for dinner. Because I can.Lacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00629298236232758172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833573523589834861.post-61535416430265404222011-09-14T23:16:00.003-06:002011-09-14T23:34:36.237-06:00Hanging on with two handsIn two weeks I will be the mother of a 16 year old.<br /><br />16.<br /><br />Sweet 16.<br /><br />I actually struggle to wrap my mind around such a thing because I keep thinking that it must be impossible.<br /><br />How can my little girl be almost 16?<br /><br />I still remember her staring at my mother with rapt attention as a new born while my mother sang her the "onsie song".<br /><br />I can still feel the spit from her spit wet open mouth kisses on my cheek at 1.<br /><br />Our family STILL says "Doing?" as short hand for "what are you doing?" just like she did at 2.<br /><br />I remember the elaborate dance she made up to "Rum Tum Tugger" from the musical "Cats" when she was 3.<br /><br />When she was 4 she could already read fluently.<br /><br />She was 5 when the school district told me in Tucson that it didn't matter if she was reading college level material, she wasn't starting Kindergarten that year.<br /><br />At 6 she fully believed in magic, so much that her birthday party included a magician.<br /><br />I can still hear her at 7 making up stories with her grandma over the phone for hours.<br /><br />When she was eight she chose going to Alaska to see her family over a birthday party and wound up with a surprise stop in Disneyland.<br /><br />She was almost 9 when she called me at work to find out if she was going to have a little brother or a little sister.<br /><br />I can still see her writing her letter for her grandmothers casket at almost 10. She had more poise during that time than any adult in the room.<br /><br />At 11 she would still hold my hand at the store and didn't care if anyone saw.<br /><br />I can still hear her singing in the basement at 12 loudly and like no one was listening.<br /><br />I can see her crying uncontrollably at 13 and being so angry that I couldn't seem to help her.<br /><br />When she was 14 she handled her parents divorce with grace I myself rarely felt.<br /><br />I can still hear her at 15 screaming at me that she hated me.<br /><br />And now, here she is 2 weeks from 16.<br /><br />I am so excited for her as she grows and develops into the amazing young woman she is meant to be. But I still don't know that I'm ready for 16.<br /><br />Luckily I have two more weeks of a 15 year old. And I'm going to hold on to every second of it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GxYbNh5dxNU/TnGOSXrllOI/AAAAAAAAA34/V6zjh8Qyz4Q/s1600/kypaint.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GxYbNh5dxNU/TnGOSXrllOI/AAAAAAAAA34/V6zjh8Qyz4Q/s320/kypaint.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652455453572306146" border="0" /></a>Lacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00629298236232758172noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833573523589834861.post-35222166608304939262011-08-28T17:28:00.003-06:002011-08-28T17:33:54.461-06:00Young ManThe other night I was walking up the sidewalk and noticed my son peeking out at my from the window of his bedroom. It was dark, about 9pm and he was supposed to be asleep.
<br />
<br />"Young man, you get down from there and get in bed RIGHT NOW!" I said in my best stern mother voice.
<br />
<br />He laughed at me.
<br />
<br />"I mean it. It is past your bedtime, you go inside right now and get in bed." I was now standing in front of the window by at an angle and he was giggling maniacally.
<br />
<br />"I mean it. If I have to come in there and put you bed myself I will."
<br />
<br />More laughter.
<br />
<br />"Fine I'm coming in there but you are not getting another bottle!"
<br />
<br />As I turned around to go in the house I heard to my left, "Are you talking to me?"
<br />
<br />Apparently my neighbor's 18 year old son was standing on his front stoop, I have no idea why. He thought I was telling HIM to go to bed. Of course he couldn't see the baby on the other side of the window or hear the laughter, he just heard the crazy neighbor lady scolding him and telling him to go to bed. At 9 o'clock at night.
<br />
<br />Perhaps that explains why those neighbors choose to mow their backyard at 7am on Saturdays.
<br />
<br />They hate me.
<br />Lacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00629298236232758172noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833573523589834861.post-87332126183439654582011-08-10T21:08:00.004-06:002011-08-10T21:35:51.821-06:0059 reasonsI love you....
<br />
<br />1. You weren't afraid to let your hair grow gray
<br />2. You showed me women didn't need to wear makeup to be beautiful
<br />3. You instilled a distrust of pantyhose
<br />4. You taught me how to manage my money before most of my friends even had money
<br />5. You let me get a rabbit as a pet
<br />6. You displayed patience that I can only hope to achieve
<br />7. You taught me fractions
<br />8. You accidentally taught me an Irish drinking song
<br />9. You found money for summer camp
<br />10. You made me laugh every time I spoke to you
<br />11. You planted flowers where ever we lived
<br />12. You had true compassion for your fellow man
<br />13. You got me a phone when I was 13
<br />14. When I was 11 you shared me special powder after a bath because I was feeling so hormonal
<br />15. You bought me bath gel that you wouldn't even buy yourself because of the cost
<br />16. You suggested I share my middle name with my daughters
<br />17. No one else's mom had green eyes
<br />18. Even though I was you never made me feel like an accident
<br />19. You bought me groceries when I lived in Vegas
<br />20. You had more friends than most people have hair on their heads
<br />21. You honored your mother, even when she drove you crazy
<br />22. You taught me the importance of knowing your family history
<br />23. You told me to finish a semester of college before I got married
<br />24. You scrimped and worked so we never had to leave my childhood neighborhood
<br />25. You made up songs for each of my baby girls
<br />26. You yelled at the neighborhood creepy boy for me
<br />27. You brought me mac & cheese when I was babysitting for the "all organic/sushi" family
<br />28. You cheered at all of my junior high meets and games
<br />29. You showed me that family is more than just the people related to you
<br />30. You believed me when I told you I didn't steal the Baileys (I really didn't either!)
<br />31. You had a life that revolved outside of me
<br />32. But also made me feel like I was your world
<br />33. You never told me how hard teenage girls are
<br />34. You let me call you "Mammy" when we lived in Texas
<br />35. You never kept me from my father, even when he was a huge jerk to you
<br />36. You let me figure stuff out on my own
<br />37. You introduced me to Josh Groban
<br />38. You paid $25 for my flute for 3 years
<br />39. You took me on roadtrips
<br />40. You taught me how to cross stitch and knit
<br />41. I never went without what I needed
<br />42. You watched "Pride and Prejudice" with me
<br />43. The last thing you told me was that you loved me
<br />44. When the world was crumbling around you, you faced it with dignity and grace
<br />45. I never saw you stressed out
<br />46. The best quote I ever learned was hanging in your house
<br />47. You watched Dr. Quinn and Saturday Night Live with in the same night
<br />48. You taught me how to ride my bike
<br />49. You let me order cream pies for dessert
<br />50. You gained 60 pounds when you were pregnant only to have a 6lb 9 oz baby
<br />51. You knew I was sick before I did or my Dr.'s believed it
<br />52. You found me a mid-wife for my delivery with Ky
<br />53. You let me change schools
<br />54. You guilted me into getting my first tattoo
<br />55. You loved with your whole heart
<br />56. You took me to church
<br />57. You defended me
<br />58. You wouldn't let me be a statistic
<br />59. You were born on August 10, 1952
<br />
<br />Happy Birthday Mom.
<br />
<br />I miss you.
<br />Lacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00629298236232758172noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833573523589834861.post-24924882249273708322011-08-02T23:51:00.004-06:002011-08-02T23:55:48.413-06:00Not a photographerLately when I show people pictures of my kids I get "Are you a photographer?".<br /><br />The answer is no. But, I explain, it's easy to look like one when you have a camera more complicated than the space shuttle and such easy subjects to work with.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B5VIX7xykTo/TjjilouIViI/AAAAAAAAA3w/RmE3OofDDQA/s1600/LizziePark1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B5VIX7xykTo/TjjilouIViI/AAAAAAAAA3w/RmE3OofDDQA/s320/LizziePark1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636504069868115490" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q24196o1spc/TjjilTnTHAI/AAAAAAAAA3o/qTTibsV9YlA/s1600/KyliePark2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 258px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q24196o1spc/TjjilTnTHAI/AAAAAAAAA3o/qTTibsV9YlA/s320/KyliePark2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636504064202316802" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ww-lEAQhLFU/TjjilI-B12I/AAAAAAAAA3g/xmg1GnwlEio/s1600/KyliePark3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ww-lEAQhLFU/TjjilI-B12I/AAAAAAAAA3g/xmg1GnwlEio/s320/KyliePark3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636504061344864098" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LLv6gKotIUE/Tjjik2V3u9I/AAAAAAAAA3Y/PfkMVH1unLs/s1600/KyliePark1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LLv6gKotIUE/Tjjik2V3u9I/AAAAAAAAA3Y/PfkMVH1unLs/s320/KyliePark1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636504056344591314" border="0" /></a><br /><br />For the record, I STILL don't know how my camera works. But Micah does and that's all that matters.Lacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00629298236232758172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833573523589834861.post-42462263237253492062011-07-23T00:09:00.005-06:002011-07-23T00:18:17.395-06:00When Kylie was a year and a half, she loved to watch Quasimodo on TV which was a VHS copy we had of "The Hunchback of Notre Dame". The Disney version.<br /><br />When Lizzie was a year and a half old she knew some colors and could sing some nursery songs.<br /><br />Will is a year and a half. The following photos should explain why he knows no songs, watches almost no TV and has no interest in reciting colors for me.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WSzd-hrNz58/TipmC1N8ClI/AAAAAAAAA3A/1aCm7gGDuXc/s1600/HorseClimb.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WSzd-hrNz58/TipmC1N8ClI/AAAAAAAAA3A/1aCm7gGDuXc/s320/HorseClimb.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632426482811538002" border="0" /></a>Trying to climb the penny horse at the grocery store. Half of his shirt is under his armpit because he struggled to get away from me so hard.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DJhgEYvw6DA/TipmMUK9d8I/AAAAAAAAA3Q/1OAidVVzpfk/s1600/BedClimb.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DJhgEYvw6DA/TipmMUK9d8I/AAAAAAAAA3Q/1OAidVVzpfk/s320/BedClimb.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632426645739370434" border="0" /></a>This image is from the video camera we have set up in his room. We have it as a safety precaution, I think you can see why. This first image shows that Will has throw his favorite blanket on the roof of his toddler bed "fort" and is now attempting to climb up after it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9VeIGljwc_o/TipmMd9JRNI/AAAAAAAAA3I/fwdRlDplDt4/s1600/BedClimb2.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9VeIGljwc_o/TipmMd9JRNI/AAAAAAAAA3I/fwdRlDplDt4/s320/BedClimb2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632426648365778130" border="0" /></a>This image shows that he got up there, the canopy was strong enough to hold him and he sat up there. For almost 20 minutes.<br /><br />Not shown: Pictures of Will climbing into his high chair while my back was turned cooking dinner. Also not shown: Pictures of him scaling the dinner table, patio table and various other household furniture.<br /><br />Anyone taking bets on how many bones he'll break before he gets to Kindergarten?<br /><br />Does anyone know how many near heart attacks a mother can have because in 20 months I'm pretty sure I've reached the 3 digit mark.Lacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00629298236232758172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833573523589834861.post-24632913940540339552011-07-02T22:50:00.011-06:002011-07-02T23:01:41.590-06:00Baby's Day OutWhile my brother in law Andy and his wife Sara were in town they decided it would be fun to take Will to the zoo for the first time. Sadly I had to work but Micah and his mom Leslie were able to join the fun.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OhhyL6BBh9E/Tg_1ty-rWXI/AAAAAAAAA2I/IZa2upcCi7I/s1600/WillZoo1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OhhyL6BBh9E/Tg_1ty-rWXI/AAAAAAAAA2I/IZa2upcCi7I/s320/WillZoo1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624984626736617842" border="0" /></a>Upon entering the zoo Will behaves like a good boy and holds Daddy and Grandma's hands. Any Monkey backpacks tail.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LFTbFubGUgU/Tg_18k-KsdI/AAAAAAAAA2Q/oP1CS6s0DVk/s1600/WillZoo2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LFTbFubGUgU/Tg_18k-KsdI/AAAAAAAAA2Q/oP1CS6s0DVk/s320/WillZoo2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624984880674419154" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">At some point Uncle Andy ends up carrying Will. He also admires Monkey's tail<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OMN2tMJHI34/Tg_2FHn4YtI/AAAAAAAAA2Y/f9jwDpUZFzU/s1600/WillZoo3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OMN2tMJHI34/Tg_2FHn4YtI/AAAAAAAAA2Y/f9jwDpUZFzU/s320/WillZoo3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624985027415139026" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Will rides in style. My understanding is that he wasn't all that impressed with most of the animals at the zoo. Probably because really he's only tall enough to see everyone's rear ends and feet.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-udZgMXrXYnY/Tg_2biHsmXI/AAAAAAAAA2g/5LdQfwnuZrE/s1600/IMG_4037.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-udZgMXrXYnY/Tg_2biHsmXI/AAAAAAAAA2g/5LdQfwnuZrE/s320/IMG_4037.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624985412485028210" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">There is a wonderful carousel at the zoo and it appears that Will and Grandma had fun.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zOHGtwcwiC0/Tg_2xhgIAyI/AAAAAAAAA2w/6K-VAMsADeI/s1600/SarahAndyZoo.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zOHGtwcwiC0/Tg_2xhgIAyI/AAAAAAAAA2w/6K-VAMsADeI/s320/SarahAndyZoo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624985790276174626" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-niXiQ2MV_GI/Tg_2xfq5duI/AAAAAAAAA2o/R7idPu2wKF0/s1600/AndyZoo.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-niXiQ2MV_GI/Tg_2xfq5duI/AAAAAAAAA2o/R7idPu2wKF0/s320/AndyZoo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624985789784487650" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Uncle Andy and Aunt Sara also joined in on the fun.<br /></div><br />After a long, hot day everyone was tired, sweaty and over it. Will and he Monkey backpack said "bubye" to the zoo.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BZUKtrsaPuI/Tg_3FV6m5lI/AAAAAAAAA24/DW19f40FNXc/s1600/WillZoo5.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BZUKtrsaPuI/Tg_3FV6m5lI/AAAAAAAAA24/DW19f40FNXc/s320/WillZoo5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624986130763408978" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Is it me or does Monkey seem to be looking back a little wistfully?<br /></div>Lacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00629298236232758172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833573523589834861.post-3340950398762572502011-06-13T23:28:00.008-06:002011-06-13T23:41:56.808-06:00I knowI know. I knooooowww. Iknowiknowiknow. Alright already. It's been awhile. Don't hate.<br /><br />I had a surprise anniversary to help plan.<br />I worked almost 50 hours last week. While my brother and sister in law were in town. I worked on Sunday for crying out loud. I'm trying not to panic about the idea of traveling with 3 kids and a husband this weekend. To Minnesota. Hello family reunion! (My house will be totally guarded though internet. Don't think about breaking in. Besides, if you could see my husbands student loan bills you'd know there isn't anything worth breaking in for anyways.)<br /><br />My mother and father in law had their 20th wedding anniversary which, in this day and age is frankly a miracle. Heck, I'm pretty shocked that anyone married in the 90's is still married today. What's that? Bitter you say? Perish the though.<br /><br />Regardless I'm still in awe that two people can go through as much as these people have gone through and still want to sleep in the same bed every night.<br /><br />I helped plan this surprise anniversary party with my sisters in law Mel and Sara as well as my husband who pretty much handled guest inviting for anyone not on my father in laws side of the family. I was pretty impressed.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UWSqSIvUeVQ/TfbytPilXJI/AAAAAAAAA1o/sG8eizV1d90/s1600/IMG_3828.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 305px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UWSqSIvUeVQ/TfbytPilXJI/AAAAAAAAA1o/sG8eizV1d90/s320/IMG_3828.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617944444270894226" border="0" /></a><br />My sister in law drew this tree free hand. I'm pretty impressed. We had all who attended the party do their thumb prints (or finger prints, I'm not picky) and label them with their names. Later Sara and Leslie had it framed and it is gorgeous. You can't tell but that's their initials in the heart on the tree and two birds kissing. Under the tree it says "Rex and Leslie 20 years of love" and the dates.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SHk3bmSFEC0/TfbzVYfGfvI/AAAAAAAAA1w/9o92YsjYBzI/s1600/IMG_3879.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SHk3bmSFEC0/TfbzVYfGfvI/AAAAAAAAA1w/9o92YsjYBzI/s320/IMG_3879.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617945133866974962" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We got some great pictures of the grandkids although by this point in the day Will had decided life was not worth living unless a bottle of milk was in his mouth.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mPvTDJ_-nkA/TfbznqBUwII/AAAAAAAAA14/cR-pLeY-ED4/s1600/IMG_3898.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mPvTDJ_-nkA/TfbznqBUwII/AAAAAAAAA14/cR-pLeY-ED4/s320/IMG_3898.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617945447811563650" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Lizzie and Paloma were just happy to have their picture taken. And to play together.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fukj3HPNCqg/Tfbz1DrQtTI/AAAAAAAAA2A/nvosbZDIkfU/s1600/IMG_3928.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 250px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fukj3HPNCqg/Tfbz1DrQtTI/AAAAAAAAA2A/nvosbZDIkfU/s320/IMG_3928.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617945678036645170" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And we were able to get a giant group family picture which was amazing. Usually someone is looking funny or my husband is mock choking his sister or something weird is going on and that's all we have. But because we have a pretty wicked camera (in a good way) we took about 400 pictures of the family shot and what do you know! 4 of them turned out.<br /><br />Happy Anniversary Leslie and Rex. Here's to at least another 20 more. Although I'm probably not throwing another party until you hit 50. Sorry. I'm STILL exhausted from the last one.Lacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00629298236232758172noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833573523589834861.post-9509776703823838552011-05-30T14:12:00.003-06:002011-05-30T14:20:31.892-06:00OutsideWill is a man of limited words. He gets his message across with cuteness for the most part and so I was pretty happy with Mama, Daddy, Ba and the occasional word that sounds like Good Girl (for the dogs and cat and most animals), Sizzy (or is it Lizzy) and Uh oh.<br /><br />Saturday though we added a word to his vocabulary that makes all other words meaningless, at least to him.<br /><br />Friday night we drove to Micah's parent's house in the mountains. It's a 2 hour drive and Will and the dogs were over it by the time we got there. It was dark, we put him to bed and he was happy. Saturday morning he woke up and experienced his first morning camping. Grandma made hashbrowns, bacon and scrambled eggs. He had orange juice and eggs, potatoes, fruit. Then, he played. Outside. All Day. Between naps he ran around, navigated up and down hills, helped grandpa build a retaining wall, helped grandma haul stone, walked to the neighbors, played with dogs, chased birds and rode on a 4 Wheeler. (New vocab words also now include WHEEEEEEEEEEEEE!)<br /><br />Since we got home Saturday night all I've heard from him is "outside". From the moment he wakes up until he goes to sleep it's "Outside".<br /><br />So desperate was he to get outside that yesterday he climbed out of his crib during nap time, scaled the spare bed in his room, opened the crack in his window into something big enough for an 18 month to get out of and stepped out into my window boxes. Once out there however, he realized that he couldn't slide down and couldn't figure out how to get back in the house.<br /><br />Luckily Micah heard his terrified screams from the backyard and came running.<br /><br />Even after all that though, I'll I've heard from the boy is "Mama. Outside."<br /><br />It's going to be a long 18 years.Lacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00629298236232758172noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833573523589834861.post-80703154127046459662011-05-19T22:38:00.004-06:002011-05-19T22:50:14.865-06:00BraveShe's so brave. It's like she doesn't know to get embarrassed or anxious or worry about what others think. Which is ridiculous because she's 15. She cares what her peers think about almost everything.<br /><br />Instead she's up on stage in front of over a hundred people dancing. And maybe not dancing well, although it's hard to know what dancing well is these days for me. I'm so far away from teenaged dancing I probably sound like a 70 year old man yelling at kids to get off his lawn. "Why in my day we didn't jiggle our hips and hop on one leg."*<br /><br />But she's up there dancing to a pop song, unlike any of the other dancers this evening who have danced to hip hop or rap or even dance mixes like at an adult club. She's dancing to a pop song in pants and a silver sequined top when all the other girls had flapper like dresses. She's dancing alone on stage, by herself. The only performance this evening to contain only one dancer.<br /><br />I watch her and I feel like I'm going to be sick.<br /><br />When she took the stage almost no one clapped. A kid next to me started to laugh when her music started and I stared him down. That's my baby. Shut up you hooligan. He stopped.<br /><br />When she finished the auditorium erupted in applause. I screamed for her.<br /><br />She's so brave, my 15 year old. So beyond anything I could have ever imagined at 15.<br /><br />As a parent I shouldn't take credit when my child does well because she is her own person.<br /><br />But I certainly think I must be doing something right.Lacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00629298236232758172noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833573523589834861.post-41973050229661001202011-05-07T19:58:00.005-06:002011-05-07T20:16:53.956-06:00LilacsWhen we first moved to Colorado it was March which meant there was snow on the ground. Brian had bought the house with me only having seen it via the internet so I had no true idea as to what it looked like. Within a few days of moving here I flew with my 9 year old and 6 month old to Alaska to be with my Mother who, for those who don't know, had been diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer in February.<br /><br />It's a good guess that I didn't pay much attention to my house. I didn't really care about it because I was worried about my new baby, and my move from Tucson to Colorado and finding a job and helping my 9 year old adjust and oh yeah, my mother dying.<br /><br />I especially didn't care about my back yard. I could see it was large from my sliding glass doors in the kitchen but that was about all I cared about.<br /><br />But I noticed it for the first time on Mothers Day of that year, 2005. I was in the kitchen and the radio was playing. It played a song called "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ce1Xgs-A4kQ">No One Will Ever Love Me (that way again)</a>" by Rebecca Lynn Howard. I had never heard the song before and it caught me off guard because it was about a Mother's love and reduced me to a sobbing mess. You see, I knew already that it was my Mother's last Mothers Day even though everyone around me either wouldn't acknowledge it or didn't believe it.<br /><br />I sat at my dining room table crying my eyes out while my then husband sat across from my helpless but trying to comfort me. I looked up from the table when a familiar scent grabbed me and for the first time that spring I looked outside my kitchen door. There, in bright bloom with a strong lilac smell was this huge purple lilac tree to the side of the house.<br /><br />I believe in signs and I believe that signs tell me when I'm on the right or wrong track and for me this was a STRONG sign. You see, while Iris's were my mothers favorite flower, she loved lilac trees. One of her boyfriends after she and my father divorced had once given her a lilac tree as a gift (I can't remember why now) but sadly Alaska wasn't the place for lilacs. I know she kept it in that pot for awhile but I think it eventually just succumbed. She may have planted it but it never grew, it's hard to say for me know, over 20 years later. I just remember her loving them.<br /><br />Since that spring in 2005 my lilac tree has never really thrived or bloomed like it did that year. My Mother in law tells me it's because we've had so many late freezes in the years since and it just does a number on the lilacs.<br /><br />This year though the winter was mild. This morning I took this picture:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X9vMZkWiB3w/TcX8VoR-pRI/AAAAAAAAA1c/FlMwRfSQ8K0/s1600/lilac.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X9vMZkWiB3w/TcX8VoR-pRI/AAAAAAAAA1c/FlMwRfSQ8K0/s320/lilac.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604162759852729618" border="0" /></a>Right before I came down stairs to write this post I stood at my kitchen door and looked at my backyard. It's very different from when I first moved in but one thing this year was very much like that first year.<br /><br />I can smell the lilacs again.<br /><br />Happy Mothers Day Mom.Lacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00629298236232758172noreply@blogger.com1