tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49450531240109038442024-02-06T21:54:44.969-08:00True Love and TroubleLife at the Lucas HouseThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15028229827201963971noreply@blogger.comBlogger98125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4945053124010903844.post-2839255521488914062011-04-29T06:47:00.000-07:002011-04-29T06:49:52.440-07:00The Oregon Trail<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">So on the fourth day of school, my boy had to strike out on the Oregon Trail. He was placed in a family and given a list of supplies to bring. Fortunately, we are pretty geared up for equipment and dress for various time periods, weapons included. The whole of the 5th grade was on the trail now. (parents were welcome to come, but could not help unless there was a true emergency)<br /><br />Christopher Wales Lucas<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis5ft7ymQYcUyyWhkgWeM6Vfbo5uNA_-kcR3QS89ke8GIkzRHGIhkCIane9P1ermTG0Buf3xiWftBkyXY-jrN1wYcKZwwRMFXDSeONk-LY7De151zm8jbkeZXPYBmThG3qoNQc5tk0gv6b/s1600/IMG_0501.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis5ft7ymQYcUyyWhkgWeM6Vfbo5uNA_-kcR3QS89ke8GIkzRHGIhkCIane9P1ermTG0Buf3xiWftBkyXY-jrN1wYcKZwwRMFXDSeONk-LY7De151zm8jbkeZXPYBmThG3qoNQc5tk0gv6b/s320/IMG_0501.JPG" /></a><br />Everyone started out eager with lots of energy and wagons full of supplies. It was a beautiful day and the travel was expected to be easy.</div><br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvoDCkRmafbHRx_M9ZwFlCMNJc3CgTdTAe93656eaHw7Lxq50raVmBfBFd5F7KWto1pTQZia_Ekpf7vzWHq9TyUEvdiaOTNGsmrQmr6pyOY5TPWNClKfj9Lvk62W3j-5Ec-iJocDFHaXip/s1600/IMG_0504.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvoDCkRmafbHRx_M9ZwFlCMNJc3CgTdTAe93656eaHw7Lxq50raVmBfBFd5F7KWto1pTQZia_Ekpf7vzWHq9TyUEvdiaOTNGsmrQmr6pyOY5TPWNClKfj9Lvk62W3j-5Ec-iJocDFHaXip/s320/IMG_0504.JPG" /></a> </div>They had been told stories about terrible things that could happen along the trail. Even been told of hostile Indians....but who expected to really see them. Prisoners and hostages were taken, fortunately they were able to bribe the Indians with some food and weapons. This would make things harder with fewer supplies, but at least everyone was safe.<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzOaLPaKWSrDhbbfEeAuunHcCATmm8i93LCb9hoy7XPmztgbfvLAnDmFl7scOgfjYh4uZq1V9cvtsnZb5TqfJbVKADkO55Kzg3eZ9KxD59Y_UnxQbkYiOUdmap7fkwPjzI5yAVAwtEqAhc/s1600/IMG_0507.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzOaLPaKWSrDhbbfEeAuunHcCATmm8i93LCb9hoy7XPmztgbfvLAnDmFl7scOgfjYh4uZq1V9cvtsnZb5TqfJbVKADkO55Kzg3eZ9KxD59Y_UnxQbkYiOUdmap7fkwPjzI5yAVAwtEqAhc/s320/IMG_0507.JPG" /></a> </div>As the trail wore on, the terrain became more trecherous. Everyone had to lend a helping hand if they were all going to make it.<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvJqK7Lju4Wy83zOrRgWhTpmkXUkSdPqGMbNFOhjTPjZh1kUf60NAAiKYlPWcxQbRzkHyb1hoCUOQ3U9q-hfBG32Nul3x67qzQenE_vT8RVFWaoOGSeciY5gjYHvjiTip_5NAFdGtxkCQ_/s1600/IMG_0509.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvJqK7Lju4Wy83zOrRgWhTpmkXUkSdPqGMbNFOhjTPjZh1kUf60NAAiKYlPWcxQbRzkHyb1hoCUOQ3U9q-hfBG32Nul3x67qzQenE_vT8RVFWaoOGSeciY5gjYHvjiTip_5NAFdGtxkCQ_/s320/IMG_0509.JPG" /></a> </div>They had heard about the mighty river crossings, and had even survived the first one, but this river presented different dangers. It was slower moving, but the mud on the banks was cumbersome and some of the wagons tipped, and more supplies were lost. There was even the scare of losing one of the womenfolk. She fell in when the wagon tipped and she had to be treated before hypothermia set in. Thankfully, the doc was close at hand and extra clothes were donated.<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Dq1BgytL4S1fkzynJONmFsL6zJDU1xRr8w7GJO8b5Cv33pYpg6Zo7orlTNCNnTri1GCBw2o-3oAYRFhN6RZgiHEoqDPCRgHRdbf5Git_cNSDLOutNjn8eTkX55sHdJkB6ncTlR60skg4/s1600/IMG_0534.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Dq1BgytL4S1fkzynJONmFsL6zJDU1xRr8w7GJO8b5Cv33pYpg6Zo7orlTNCNnTri1GCBw2o-3oAYRFhN6RZgiHEoqDPCRgHRdbf5Git_cNSDLOutNjn8eTkX55sHdJkB6ncTlR60skg4/s320/IMG_0534.JPG" /></a> </div>Almost there, and yet, the biggest challenge is yet to come, getting over the mountain with all the wagons. It took all the effort they could muster to drag, push, and pull the wagons and all the folk up the mountain. <br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi765vtG2cLMBzlR3AjrNfTEPM8VVcIODcAXD3ng3d7i1vm_F4VBpsNGvVDmesKuyUK1ScL_7EJg1REDjXkPUVpw-qVaiauYq0Qg_TILtfSd4W3E8Tq8qZH6MurI_6S7WGp0Esr32w9OATB/s1600/IMG_0539.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi765vtG2cLMBzlR3AjrNfTEPM8VVcIODcAXD3ng3d7i1vm_F4VBpsNGvVDmesKuyUK1ScL_7EJg1REDjXkPUVpw-qVaiauYq0Qg_TILtfSd4W3E8Tq8qZH6MurI_6S7WGp0Esr32w9OATB/s320/IMG_0539.JPG" /></a> </div>With a great amount of teamwork and a lot of elbow grease, it was a success. All safe and well at the top.<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidc50T6c5g6xu_RGEhWgMEzEsQifyrfKCnZATapyYrLWdZsVuJS2uvqGA7hpteHY11MiPTXbZIJoEFlGbVH4V8juZdQmy20iYMxEORCsi5qd71Q8DHWt37QFUKuzLpmhWn-h92vpcMn0vv/s1600/IMG_0546.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidc50T6c5g6xu_RGEhWgMEzEsQifyrfKCnZATapyYrLWdZsVuJS2uvqGA7hpteHY11MiPTXbZIJoEFlGbVH4V8juZdQmy20iYMxEORCsi5qd71Q8DHWt37QFUKuzLpmhWn-h92vpcMn0vv/s320/IMG_0546.JPG" /></a> </div>After such a long, hard trip until now, the travelers were weary and it was suggested that a short stop be made. Though do not be fooled, if they don't make it over the last set of mountains before winter, there will be much suffering and loss.<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG5VN0l9hCkgEmR4oYq7CA9Gq0i3IpTisT2djdEzJAcbrNGRgHz5wf_A3BVV_NvhD0vhdmpmuMZ1jnTevXju7-OpJWC-HOVzUftqXZpA3_1a6Ft0rT3g8GSCrBGAxat5qg69fwh9j1Swui/s1600/IMG_0551.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG5VN0l9hCkgEmR4oYq7CA9Gq0i3IpTisT2djdEzJAcbrNGRgHz5wf_A3BVV_NvhD0vhdmpmuMZ1jnTevXju7-OpJWC-HOVzUftqXZpA3_1a6Ft0rT3g8GSCrBGAxat5qg69fwh9j1Swui/s320/IMG_0551.JPG" /></a> </div>Every journey has it's sacrifices. This was the biggest one yet. Seven people were lost to cholera, and many more weakened though they would survive. If only, they had known the water was contaminated....<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6bsJ4ejedzbG9OmPiBSeCGPZobkz35xahEy5umDOzRDH2I8-9zABliOrPuKmaG-ymzCV2xOkMWsSq3k4uiqcY0m93-1b3DZMUMpjQhFrDbL6PzQe4KcACfQFoHDXfZlQ63et46RjpY2IM/s1600/IMG_0554.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6bsJ4ejedzbG9OmPiBSeCGPZobkz35xahEy5umDOzRDH2I8-9zABliOrPuKmaG-ymzCV2xOkMWsSq3k4uiqcY0m93-1b3DZMUMpjQhFrDbL6PzQe4KcACfQFoHDXfZlQ63et46RjpY2IM/s320/IMG_0554.JPG" /></a> </div>Just before pulling into town after the big crossing through the mountain pass, the travelers were set upon by bandits. They fought hard and only lost a few weapons, and thankfully no lives.<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1AD_6Dtfs6YjmKM1VrLvs_eVL52vFAMnEDihpgtJ9M3M2OIw-etNxMHzG61x0WZxoZTFHFSgtkmROONA1Wjq2sFFm2cI6OBiRIV_fpa_g9HeVNJHfGNBSp7axVCdLnAt-lZhEFHzS9xEd/s1600/IMG_0558.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1AD_6Dtfs6YjmKM1VrLvs_eVL52vFAMnEDihpgtJ9M3M2OIw-etNxMHzG61x0WZxoZTFHFSgtkmROONA1Wjq2sFFm2cI6OBiRIV_fpa_g9HeVNJHfGNBSp7axVCdLnAt-lZhEFHzS9xEd/s320/IMG_0558.JPG" /></a> </div>Fort Walla Walla, finally!! It is time for a hard earned drink of root beer, and then get started on settling in for the coming winter. No rest for the weary.<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2KrK8f0aBkPvljdVAFcwFiXXEly5gFA3UW116pVX1ReXMiYV32c10i4lG9CXc_5FFUIrhQVrdppbEUePwLUpdxr1Qp_Y5kpblx8IWkliSxtsxFHac9GumZe1cfHLn-rNOwCk3YafaD_p5/s1600/IMG_0563.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2KrK8f0aBkPvljdVAFcwFiXXEly5gFA3UW116pVX1ReXMiYV32c10i4lG9CXc_5FFUIrhQVrdppbEUePwLUpdxr1Qp_Y5kpblx8IWkliSxtsxFHac9GumZe1cfHLn-rNOwCk3YafaD_p5/s320/IMG_0563.JPG" /></a> </div>Cheers to all the travelers who survived this long and arduous journey.<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzJTo_x9fIf6Jj5dHgl67W4f2eBvRloYrcry-zKm74Bj1VrAizZQjOvrerwH2urzocP5u-qXMDhOEUF-P0Oj4ExYx3m6duJPdFERfLOi-u6CekWp8XSOwxChBFEC3Vo7im3SfkNKAV9JYJ/s1600/IMG_0561.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzJTo_x9fIf6Jj5dHgl67W4f2eBvRloYrcry-zKm74Bj1VrAizZQjOvrerwH2urzocP5u-qXMDhOEUF-P0Oj4ExYx3m6duJPdFERfLOi-u6CekWp8XSOwxChBFEC3Vo7im3SfkNKAV9JYJ/s320/IMG_0561.JPG" /></a> </div>The family- the ties that bind. It's hard being the lone man with a gaggle of girls to watch over. They did good, and the journey is done.<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLXjBcRoAdhfi6sZDgWoQzxE6Os9LK67dTcouQrb5F76r0U6JZcuCIfTz0MWMYmBZ40P0VQb4N88DXi_qM3Gr7ZXB2glPgnB2Zidu28MFI_dXWWO7WdT8PduPA7B8ltbXLO3bTHUC4XYGR/s1600/IMG_0567.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLXjBcRoAdhfi6sZDgWoQzxE6Os9LK67dTcouQrb5F76r0U6JZcuCIfTz0MWMYmBZ40P0VQb4N88DXi_qM3Gr7ZXB2glPgnB2Zidu28MFI_dXWWO7WdT8PduPA7B8ltbXLO3bTHUC4XYGR/s320/IMG_0567.JPG" /></a><br />October 2009</div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15028229827201963971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4945053124010903844.post-27914168732230497352010-12-02T05:55:00.000-08:002010-12-02T05:55:32.467-08:00The Second First Day of School<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpBBND1oWHJhrfz425jC03JUvI1l7QUZDYAmBdeECT_k9BE_UEueY_pOkXJaDBhslOcH7mZJ48dwiVSUAoBowp1Jmnkk5Ms8Pa8eKd53AlxGQW9mHL5n2oRp2XvuQ7fnyXBMnnzsaRG1Sx/s1600/IMG_0571.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; FLOAT: left; CLEAR: both" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpBBND1oWHJhrfz425jC03JUvI1l7QUZDYAmBdeECT_k9BE_UEueY_pOkXJaDBhslOcH7mZJ48dwiVSUAoBowp1Jmnkk5Ms8Pa8eKd53AlxGQW9mHL5n2oRp2XvuQ7fnyXBMnnzsaRG1Sx/s400/IMG_0571.JPG" /></a> So it is that God brings to an end one season and ushers in another. This is one of those times. Christopher starts his first day of school today at Covenant Classical School. After much prayer and consideration, God has made it very clear that Christopher has need of what a more traditional school has to offer over homeschool. It is a very bitter sweet time. After many years of homeschool, it is hard to let him go, yet I know that for his best, it is necessary. God has great plans for my Christopher, and far be it from me to hold him back for my own selfish desires.<br />He is very excited about going, and a little nervous. But who isn't the first day of school.<br /><br />(So since this is a late post, I can also give you the follow-up... He loved it!!! Praise God!! He really loves school. He loves the teacher and kids, the routine, the challenge, and of course lunch and recess. It is just what he needed.)<br /><br />He is in a class of 11 kids with his teacher Mrs. Balbuena. The curriculum is classical with a focus on memorizing at this stage of development. The homework is somewhat formidable with the first major assignment being an 8+ page paper written about the Oregon Trail. WHAT???? And after much pain and agony and many late nights, my boy turned out an 18 page story about the Oregon Trail that will blow you away. Amazing what your kids can and will do when given the right stuff. Never underestimate your kids.<div style='clear:both; text-align:LEFT'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15028229827201963971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4945053124010903844.post-89199046667854873472010-12-02T05:37:00.000-08:002010-12-02T05:38:15.539-08:00A Biltmore Birthday<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">Once upon a time there was a girl...<br />Alas, this girl was turning 30, and at the request of her knight of what she desired for her celebration, she responded, "a day with my ladies-in-waiting at a place fit for a princess." And so, her knight took up the charge and sent her with her ladies to the Biltmore Estates.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwyuLV-oKjMP3j2VG-44Ol6GbRgx8eH0iJb6NJGk-A3y8Mt3ICWJiOcfO7SE8XzISZB-HuGg1I8CTo_kwe-h2Kss-M9h2c5tV8e79nH0H8P5D95MfDlrEMfC3V2Ups5NocEw7N1nuc-ocK/s1600/IMG_0316.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwyuLV-oKjMP3j2VG-44Ol6GbRgx8eH0iJb6NJGk-A3y8Mt3ICWJiOcfO7SE8XzISZB-HuGg1I8CTo_kwe-h2Kss-M9h2c5tV8e79nH0H8P5D95MfDlrEMfC3V2Ups5NocEw7N1nuc-ocK/s320/IMG_0316.JPG" /></a><br />What beauty awaited as they stepped from their coach. It was more beautiful than they imagined.</div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-68Rv4A2jGIBffsXuYaM34XRvFy5QeEOgJMKIM-RGOWmKN4BuliYUZi-17w01K8vKvgCAXSRRteVtdsxsA6hWzbJIi1gOgMrUqe6yCn7K5B0MV9-znNQ5GEaXjdL8lzhPzUdVkuMQNir1/s1600/IMG_0319.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-68Rv4A2jGIBffsXuYaM34XRvFy5QeEOgJMKIM-RGOWmKN4BuliYUZi-17w01K8vKvgCAXSRRteVtdsxsA6hWzbJIi1gOgMrUqe6yCn7K5B0MV9-znNQ5GEaXjdL8lzhPzUdVkuMQNir1/s320/IMG_0319.JPG" /></a><br />The gardens bedazzled with flowers galore, were but a mere shadow of the beauty surrounding them in the mountains they were hidden within.</div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUu5cQB3QWx-bBBJsCiXoKFswa-ASEeqKq24GosciJLDREuLhMDpyeZprncda_XbX5MDGsRZk9mi0a76TGbcc0_szPFmC3M7m4nCRx6fwbUyAFLnETJCIvTo95IlQEPcv9xEJS9EkUx4xz/s1600/IMG_0322.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUu5cQB3QWx-bBBJsCiXoKFswa-ASEeqKq24GosciJLDREuLhMDpyeZprncda_XbX5MDGsRZk9mi0a76TGbcc0_szPFmC3M7m4nCRx6fwbUyAFLnETJCIvTo95IlQEPcv9xEJS9EkUx4xz/s320/IMG_0322.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLEwaR2HrUeajRv0nikInE5cFNocUcyr5b14wExlHsLdEp2ScOcaRnekIkiyNtbK6OJcS32uEOBqSYKNRUfA9-vGHRWnLSlf3jA7PnzN-sh62PXsOYrutSNGnWw9IoxR5LZFYx3hgxC00q/s1600/IMG_0312.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLEwaR2HrUeajRv0nikInE5cFNocUcyr5b14wExlHsLdEp2ScOcaRnekIkiyNtbK6OJcS32uEOBqSYKNRUfA9-vGHRWnLSlf3jA7PnzN-sh62PXsOYrutSNGnWw9IoxR5LZFYx3hgxC00q/s320/IMG_0312.JPG" /></a><br />There was no lack of fun or food or enjoyment, the princess and her ladies celebrated a birthday not to be forgotten. For this princess now joined her wise and good friends in the decade they call the 30s. Happy Birthday my dear, sweet Lindsay!!</div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15028229827201963971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4945053124010903844.post-19158596522191891012010-12-02T05:23:00.000-08:002010-12-02T05:25:41.490-08:00Simhat Torah Party<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">To complete the Sukkoth, the children have a Simhat Torah Party. This commemorates when the Jews would take the Torah out of the ark during the Festival of Booths and parade it around for all to see, celebrating God's word. In current times, the children invite all the neighbors/friends to make banners celebrating God and His Word to parade around the neighborhood with treats to share for all<br /><br /><a href="http://localhost:54630/cc0447b5a7f1b5cc8c0951b8b7b1ccde/image/2203c437777bf944.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://localhost:54630/cc0447b5a7f1b5cc8c0951b8b7b1ccde/image/2203c437777bf944.jpg?size=320" /></a> </div>Christopher and Samuel made their banners, then went through the neighborhood inviting all the kids to come make a banner and have a parade with them.<br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://localhost:54630/cc0447b5a7f1b5cc8c0951b8b7b1ccde/image/ea9ea9db84b2c2f8.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://localhost:54630/cc0447b5a7f1b5cc8c0951b8b7b1ccde/image/ea9ea9db84b2c2f8.jpg?size=320" /></a> </div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://localhost:54630/cc0447b5a7f1b5cc8c0951b8b7b1ccde/image/600f03ddf1baa84e.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://localhost:54630/cc0447b5a7f1b5cc8c0951b8b7b1ccde/image/600f03ddf1baa84e.jpg?size=320" /></a> </div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://localhost:54630/cc0447b5a7f1b5cc8c0951b8b7b1ccde/image/a390c3eb405b8204.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://localhost:54630/cc0447b5a7f1b5cc8c0951b8b7b1ccde/image/a390c3eb405b8204.jpg?size=320" /></a> </div>So they lead all the kids in a grand parade up and down the street with their banners. Afterward, they had candy to share and played games in the front yard. It seems so simple and yet we never stop to do these things. God set these times aside for his people for the purpose of remembering and glorifying Him, and in the glorifying of Him, His people are brought closer together and filled with joy. I think even as christians, though we are no longer required to live by the law, we should take the time to be purposeful to remember God and His provision, simply to glorify God.Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15028229827201963971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4945053124010903844.post-38881132021725113872010-12-02T05:10:00.000-08:002010-12-02T05:10:55.483-08:00Sukkoth<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">As we continue our studies of the old testament and jewish tradition, we took time to celebrate Sukkoth, the Festival of Booths. This is where the people would build a small booth and share a meal in it as a reminder of how temporal material things are and celebrate God's provision for them during the flight out of Egypt, as well as today. <br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7EoT_2SETZFM3qZtPy9tEDFr76fHuoATYzMH2qU523FBmhQP6OUZtKhhCf02evKdpAwY1_exTjpvMArfWQjCNnCvo4Pbzunp-zDG_vGQ7HWIz6TaIqKma4acanWWvMH2RgViWrutvKqV_/s1600/IMG_0330.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7EoT_2SETZFM3qZtPy9tEDFr76fHuoATYzMH2qU523FBmhQP6OUZtKhhCf02evKdpAwY1_exTjpvMArfWQjCNnCvo4Pbzunp-zDG_vGQ7HWIz6TaIqKma4acanWWvMH2RgViWrutvKqV_/s320/IMG_0330.JPG" /></a> </div>So the boys built the frame with dad's help and carried it to the spot they felt best.<br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivwvLfwtwJXHYYkVfMB6apXxVdwMGr25F7kjZtdS8p5nRqhB77Jt-TntN3QGUpv8lu_FmFZkvDYFHDG1YCYMPuiB6asvXUe48MD0h8UZ16pH_X15wDxjUT7eSPEkK8ZTXkWn8q_CzV7ko3/s1600/IMG_0334.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivwvLfwtwJXHYYkVfMB6apXxVdwMGr25F7kjZtdS8p5nRqhB77Jt-TntN3QGUpv8lu_FmFZkvDYFHDG1YCYMPuiB6asvXUe48MD0h8UZ16pH_X15wDxjUT7eSPEkK8ZTXkWn8q_CzV7ko3/s320/IMG_0334.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF8Y6J9n4gEJ6CfTRPMsnlcLR4hMa9FF3XqZ2612-SCngZsT1vov6Z3oKnLnEGZMUNTjlDjx4AjvmwoaLmhbrOdWSJLmbuahDdAW2WBtJeAQioQBVXciBCVc0YX0vj0RtUPbuHcFNRJN2q/s1600/IMG_0335.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF8Y6J9n4gEJ6CfTRPMsnlcLR4hMa9FF3XqZ2612-SCngZsT1vov6Z3oKnLnEGZMUNTjlDjx4AjvmwoaLmhbrOdWSJLmbuahDdAW2WBtJeAQioQBVXciBCVc0YX0vj0RtUPbuHcFNRJN2q/s320/IMG_0335.JPG" /></a> </div>Then you decorate it with greenery and fall decorations in preparation for your meal together. Different parts of the meal symbolize how God provides for his people. I have to say, besides just being fun family time, it is also humbling to take time just to celebrate God and to dwell on his provision for our every need.<div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15028229827201963971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4945053124010903844.post-42424353961681491752009-12-29T08:54:00.000-08:002009-12-29T08:54:57.879-08:00Boy Scout Campout #1<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBWDibByp6Ed8oXZkEIcdjsxyv-jAtpHAoPIbxRtScpdcANlE0PiFwLfqC-TQ4n2HH-xI3gBxjXDBbLhDRi7FEwZRYs8pdwMK3X8hyphenhyphennI2Ol4lmPP5qYAH0BZ_esYt6orqc9WOupXuYg3Wv/s1600-h/IMG_0378.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBWDibByp6Ed8oXZkEIcdjsxyv-jAtpHAoPIbxRtScpdcANlE0PiFwLfqC-TQ4n2HH-xI3gBxjXDBbLhDRi7FEwZRYs8pdwMK3X8hyphenhyphennI2Ol4lmPP5qYAH0BZ_esYt6orqc9WOupXuYg3Wv/s400/IMG_0378.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs_cDzRRyzDJhVOhHJOqIXvafsChAUOCDBWXf_ogV5uuGqGhY6beTvxMJEtFqI77z32PvwVQsLFYmpz3BukGDTEWXnu1TsBIAVqex60wKNj8NUXYklUKmfYYy7YUDPh2wTITrLCtTqALIG/s1600-h/IMG_0379.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs_cDzRRyzDJhVOhHJOqIXvafsChAUOCDBWXf_ogV5uuGqGhY6beTvxMJEtFqI77z32PvwVQsLFYmpz3BukGDTEWXnu1TsBIAVqex60wKNj8NUXYklUKmfYYy7YUDPh2wTITrLCtTqALIG/s400/IMG_0379.JPG" /></a> </div>Sunday morning the sun greets the campers as they tumble from their tents to meet together to worship God together, at least the ones who are not frozen in their sleeping bags. I think this must have been record lows this weekend. It did not get above 35* during the day and it was around 28* that night. Saturday afternoon, the boys were working on badges and that night they did a campfire with skits, marshmallows, and also a ceremony to retire some American flags. It was very fun. Samuel, our cub scout, had a great time. At around 9:00, when everyone was turning in, I turned toward home. Yes, I admit, I could not take it, so my dear husband sent me home with the blessings of both sons. So I came back in the morning to help wrap up and pack up. The boys had a great time. They are looking forward to the next one in the spring. Hopefully the weather will be a little more cooperative.<div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15028229827201963971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4945053124010903844.post-82061513438354311602009-12-29T08:43:00.000-08:002009-12-29T08:43:42.432-08:00Jewish Tradition<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">This year, we have been studying the Old Testament, and along with that Jewish customs and traditions. We started by celebrating the Sabbath as they do on a Friday night and finishing on Saturday. There is a lot of ceremony that accompanies this dinner. It is a celebration to honor the Lord and the day of rest. Ours had a focus on Jesus, as christians, that the Jews do not have. We were all struck with how much it affected us to be solely focused on honoring the Lord throughout this meal.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3w-Ep0dmtIfTjmOYpDWw9hwDRXcO-n9lU23clW9DhTUIvh-k9Zn2SHsoiKspPc04njO4EjJg42SfuzoHDyTjuMXqmP3Z6B7N5R39-VO9Q6gGa67kNdMEsLDFNHFufnrx1aWtYPw0XXXB-/s1600-h/IMG_0267.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3w-Ep0dmtIfTjmOYpDWw9hwDRXcO-n9lU23clW9DhTUIvh-k9Zn2SHsoiKspPc04njO4EjJg42SfuzoHDyTjuMXqmP3Z6B7N5R39-VO9Q6gGa67kNdMEsLDFNHFufnrx1aWtYPw0XXXB-/s400/IMG_0267.JPG" /></a> </div>We also had the opportunity to tour a true to life replica of the temple that traveled with the Isrealites during their years of wandering. At each place within the temple, the group who does it, presents the information about what you are seeing. For instance, below is the alter and the water basin. This is where the sacrifices for the people were made. It is humbling to see how the Jewish people had to live by the law of sacrifice to be presentable before God, knowing that we are not bound by that because of Jesus's sacrifice on the cross. Amazing!<br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXSRBkSSLNrcASQ5nuogzgPH1PcwcRBc8hKmJwj395mbZzzKfKfwLOu1WkYZITH6oolV_sQdZBuPQFLFjzQCDrGClgnnHxcmDPpm3wuBI8YUImtNA409gNTrxYOzAnQcJuRLeU5FWNc7Gw/s1600-h/IMG_0496.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXSRBkSSLNrcASQ5nuogzgPH1PcwcRBc8hKmJwj395mbZzzKfKfwLOu1WkYZITH6oolV_sQdZBuPQFLFjzQCDrGClgnnHxcmDPpm3wuBI8YUImtNA409gNTrxYOzAnQcJuRLeU5FWNc7Gw/s400/IMG_0496.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyFCQwi5NK8uBQOFTlpLnsYC9ZsrLG92GMGan_q2iHHh5Nyd3DE8mEKVshlMHJaSW953HtfdcFtD_onfaXkWlkQtimeGo2nO8v0kpR8zOYOI2xYm-XDeO64aBHOHO3Q34-ZOrCqde9rA33/s1600-h/IMG_0498.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyFCQwi5NK8uBQOFTlpLnsYC9ZsrLG92GMGan_q2iHHh5Nyd3DE8mEKVshlMHJaSW953HtfdcFtD_onfaXkWlkQtimeGo2nO8v0kpR8zOYOI2xYm-XDeO64aBHOHO3Q34-ZOrCqde9rA33/s400/IMG_0498.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju0urcE7jTFvZEWemT4uNLFEMoYuQLtAmzNGarQemNujw2f9yY8t-7dOaMmMPt785gMfkCWK0SFtmHjPbN8HI94LSjmWYvUvF6H6mz5vcopf9ABN5_i9wpi5KQWxZMCvhHkwbWIrvk6BnE/s1600-h/IMG_0499.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju0urcE7jTFvZEWemT4uNLFEMoYuQLtAmzNGarQemNujw2f9yY8t-7dOaMmMPt785gMfkCWK0SFtmHjPbN8HI94LSjmWYvUvF6H6mz5vcopf9ABN5_i9wpi5KQWxZMCvhHkwbWIrvk6BnE/s400/IMG_0499.JPG" /></a> </div>In the end, the group presenting shared the gospel, which I thought very appropriate and bringing it full circle to why we as gentiles can be called children of God. We have an amazing God who created us and redeemed us all according to His plan.<div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15028229827201963971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4945053124010903844.post-13844210178287419052009-12-29T08:25:00.000-08:002009-12-29T08:25:44.878-08:00September Beach Trip<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu6qz9Q19wluI5UX0ygm77hvIG61RIkrdyyoF1yTjGjmiac2zYYJNyOjfq9di41Crp60FBKBWcXCMDQL-DgjDVkT83vEZSTLJRshLp2BVH-eXzdD11wMkpC_vtC3L3CifETsc_aRQu83Yw/s1600-h/IMG_0301.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu6qz9Q19wluI5UX0ygm77hvIG61RIkrdyyoF1yTjGjmiac2zYYJNyOjfq9di41Crp60FBKBWcXCMDQL-DgjDVkT83vEZSTLJRshLp2BVH-eXzdD11wMkpC_vtC3L3CifETsc_aRQu83Yw/s400/IMG_0301.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqXQvm-21PWYcKoyv7xxUszjp4JewzGq6IxbI2S47P7bwIxF7GPWYDHfYnxk7J_YEe76BVwlHv-JumqU5UZGjO_4HTsgZ5JQE1pYplRwjOMs0c_UtJWmVNptUS80m85X8VKiNsbnLsc2Tc/s1600-h/IMG_0288.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqXQvm-21PWYcKoyv7xxUszjp4JewzGq6IxbI2S47P7bwIxF7GPWYDHfYnxk7J_YEe76BVwlHv-JumqU5UZGjO_4HTsgZ5JQE1pYplRwjOMs0c_UtJWmVNptUS80m85X8VKiNsbnLsc2Tc/s400/IMG_0288.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizF1PKKhRyhrmG114WIDUKANFxv70WvkPOIt7jVGEM8VKon-OA5BI1-6SVaAG3jZC6IZ2vA2zl-tAgJvKsbFaTLUzBsItQ45FeK1ydhi4n5ZkzGq1xJt6gKC_eSGbMN_NEXuYZFG9gIe2M/s1600-h/IMG_0281.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizF1PKKhRyhrmG114WIDUKANFxv70WvkPOIt7jVGEM8VKon-OA5BI1-6SVaAG3jZC6IZ2vA2zl-tAgJvKsbFaTLUzBsItQ45FeK1ydhi4n5ZkzGq1xJt6gKC_eSGbMN_NEXuYZFG9gIe2M/s400/IMG_0281.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU2pkQhY2wB9xo_QWrLzHoaMTvvOnybnGOShjummAfYX2kPE_AnaTGbefQr2hyjXv_7sfLO4idEHO70OGyxtagRV8m0Y7Wh3qPj9GrZjvojaIUsh97usunrALxyIT6v-sOiHdZhgCBBwDq/s1600-h/IMG_0296.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU2pkQhY2wB9xo_QWrLzHoaMTvvOnybnGOShjummAfYX2kPE_AnaTGbefQr2hyjXv_7sfLO4idEHO70OGyxtagRV8m0Y7Wh3qPj9GrZjvojaIUsh97usunrALxyIT6v-sOiHdZhgCBBwDq/s400/IMG_0296.JPG" /></a> </div>The beach is always great. It was beautiful and we had a blast. Matt even bought a boat for the girls to use so we could float and sun. However, it turned out to be a bust, due to the waves that kept trying to flip us. Yes, we did take a dive once into the very cold water. My dear husband, who was supposed to be helping us get out past the breakers, helped us into the wave and the water and then pulled us out of the water spluttering, soaked and cold. Bad Matt! All in all it was a blast.<div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15028229827201963971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4945053124010903844.post-31596082272539571032009-10-06T12:15:00.000-07:002009-10-06T12:16:16.925-07:00The Maize Maze<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfKdi63oSD5pIJjE3kxNUtXClpGP3Os2CZuR_GEU37pkhxBPaOOQJFPrF9d78_7SaedykMNK2ZhdnjsKMyUQopg8CkndpuwgCLvnKLTpF8NTmm5YjEIrUt4ETFX4EDFlmN5P_dH_dpupQO/s1600-h/IMG_0304.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfKdi63oSD5pIJjE3kxNUtXClpGP3Os2CZuR_GEU37pkhxBPaOOQJFPrF9d78_7SaedykMNK2ZhdnjsKMyUQopg8CkndpuwgCLvnKLTpF8NTmm5YjEIrUt4ETFX4EDFlmN5P_dH_dpupQO/s400/IMG_0304.JPG" /></a> </div>This is our fearless group, Daniel R., Daniel H., and Christopher and Sam, and their fearless leaders, my friend Tara and myself. We started with much confidence in the ability of our team. All the teams were named after Greek and Roman gods, and we were the warrior gods, Mars and ?. (Yah, just drew a blank...Hmmmm) Anyway, the goal was to get through the maze in good time while collecting map pieces and answering questions you find along the way.<br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi56USqGglAPPL2GwGacgwRTi3XVxeI2vzisNxme4PhNYi3wIo9mZ42gIfBX3et9HtCCbdkRgiWQ8N70H0z9eUqhu-bagU2zcwtGdZaCt9M4zNG1RICtMOJzNzcM7Owtz5-9M6PbybJEzbv/s1600-h/IMG_0302.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi56USqGglAPPL2GwGacgwRTi3XVxeI2vzisNxme4PhNYi3wIo9mZ42gIfBX3et9HtCCbdkRgiWQ8N70H0z9eUqhu-bagU2zcwtGdZaCt9M4zNG1RICtMOJzNzcM7Owtz5-9M6PbybJEzbv/s400/IMG_0302.JPG" /></a><br />(whose kids are those anyway....)</div>So, off we go with our flag and our arrow of leadership. The arrow was to determine whose turn it was to decide which direction to go,and the flag was so that we were never entirely lost to the world. It worked out great. The boys worked so well together, no fighting or bickering about directions. They were so compliant, no one questioned any direction, even when we went in the same circle 2 times in a row. Even still, Tara and I had decided this was the boys' thing and we would just follow. So follow we did, for almost 2 hours. At about the 1 hour 45 minute mark, Tara and I both decided Starbucks was calling and we stepped in to ask for help. <br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN-RN6W8ulO96txEmM-Vzma2n44a3_oO77zcWlXnumSGvb83mHTHRxYDfWomeDB5j1pJWk-CJNCZSvR8iSV_2MAByZZWzfVdhV16kbe_m6gmnVAMLrwzrEBgCw5sFtmPHR5j4qzvC48Kzm/s1600-h/IMG_0307.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN-RN6W8ulO96txEmM-Vzma2n44a3_oO77zcWlXnumSGvb83mHTHRxYDfWomeDB5j1pJWk-CJNCZSvR8iSV_2MAByZZWzfVdhV16kbe_m6gmnVAMLrwzrEBgCw5sFtmPHR5j4qzvC48Kzm/s400/IMG_0307.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcejkkI0FlfpPCeuenZPZ8qexAar0lxO_Y1riaWKoGKddPhbf7nOsTVNm243nr2gluxdLJt1c2gAKquBoDl4uG95OluUcwq_qYSHbMR92GT44H9f_t4-S_SJ97i7hq8hHZXHd9-gVAZx9a/s1600-h/IMG_0305.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcejkkI0FlfpPCeuenZPZ8qexAar0lxO_Y1riaWKoGKddPhbf7nOsTVNm243nr2gluxdLJt1c2gAKquBoDl4uG95OluUcwq_qYSHbMR92GT44H9f_t4-S_SJ97i7hq8hHZXHd9-gVAZx9a/s400/IMG_0305.JPG" /></a> </div><br />The boys were getting a bit weary of not finding the end, but they still didn't want to ask for help. That's a group of boys for you. We were in there so long, even the maze masters were mocking us from their towers, very sad. However, we did ask for help to find our way out to find that we were the 4th out of 5 teams to finish. The first team finished in about 50 minutes (very impressive!), and the last team stayed past the point of getting out so they could find all the map pieces. They knew how to get out, but didn't so they could go back and find ALL the pieces. Alas, that really made us the truly last place team. (We didn't even have half our pieces AND it took us forever to get out.) When all the points and times were considered and honors handed out, we earned, the worked together best honor. Very nice, but I don't think I would have minded the quickest out award. :)<div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15028229827201963971noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4945053124010903844.post-18687072413040626822009-09-29T17:56:00.002-07:002009-09-29T17:59:56.018-07:00You've Had a Bad Day....<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhin_hlmTfqmXYi2mB_gRTuQexqLQum4_imJHrtyJHna4WLB6d6wZzVoabKg-N_rlAyT8x8arDvYuXgLtDVe0vfnPGYfTp7CyLe2r3WM6hX65rtF8bHiGkzAg442eYN7qOfQ4_N0h8oOks/s1600-h/IMG_0309.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhin_hlmTfqmXYi2mB_gRTuQexqLQum4_imJHrtyJHna4WLB6d6wZzVoabKg-N_rlAyT8x8arDvYuXgLtDVe0vfnPGYfTp7CyLe2r3WM6hX65rtF8bHiGkzAg442eYN7qOfQ4_N0h8oOks/s400/IMG_0309.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5DcsLo1hyphenhyphencV_vzEe4C_5CC0ks7qFv05SbbbA0qbcl6xe4YLFOTzWVfjzhGp79PtaBSG-W-rHZdFGbhKtZT_OoEPdSwCTbi3l5v4gPba0P-2wnDj9QEbZToWIY71CBJm-SG5XvuXqf9al9/s1600-h/IMG_0310.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5DcsLo1hyphenhyphencV_vzEe4C_5CC0ks7qFv05SbbbA0qbcl6xe4YLFOTzWVfjzhGp79PtaBSG-W-rHZdFGbhKtZT_OoEPdSwCTbi3l5v4gPba0P-2wnDj9QEbZToWIY71CBJm-SG5XvuXqf9al9/s400/IMG_0310.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">You know you have had a bad day when your children dig their own graves in your flower bed. Hmmmm......</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">Fortunately, it was only to be funny. I had run down the street to pick something up and this is what I saw as I walked up the drive. They think they are soooooo funny.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; BACKGROUND: 0% 50%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial" border="0" alt="Posted by Picasa" align="middle" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" /></a></div>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15028229827201963971noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4945053124010903844.post-42394510193998185652009-09-03T19:39:00.000-07:002009-09-03T19:39:57.355-07:00The Hummingbird<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBI25I4Zt7QrKvomz2XvjWErBiEzwFlouUwkXyPQ-XJqs_iLevxUx5VAecbHulEeWMEeRxxs3iwU77FW19hAqlDdRMMLjK2WChTs5dUHLnUqXixGvixewin4BVWDk7f7yBZQKcGEv5eVTw/s1600-h/IMG_0266.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBI25I4Zt7QrKvomz2XvjWErBiEzwFlouUwkXyPQ-XJqs_iLevxUx5VAecbHulEeWMEeRxxs3iwU77FW19hAqlDdRMMLjK2WChTs5dUHLnUqXixGvixewin4BVWDk7f7yBZQKcGEv5eVTw/s400/IMG_0266.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMeJKmGHsbr3E-Zx-HxjDp1ye6VZ2_tp-FfWFPLlqnAQwg92MeP4r6LitZsckPOBysayUnRcPxG-_wWeX_d7ebsy_DMjF4xL7NNyust-3CtgxRVAvd6WG8vnF3MD_zLLfOjLfRH9M5agja/s1600-h/IMG_0264.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMeJKmGHsbr3E-Zx-HxjDp1ye6VZ2_tp-FfWFPLlqnAQwg92MeP4r6LitZsckPOBysayUnRcPxG-_wWeX_d7ebsy_DMjF4xL7NNyust-3CtgxRVAvd6WG8vnF3MD_zLLfOjLfRH9M5agja/s400/IMG_0264.JPG" /></a> </div>Today, we found a hummingbird in our garage. It was fun to watch at first, until you realized the only direction it would fly was up. It kept bumping into the ceiling, rest on the garage door and keep trying to fly up, up and away. As Sammy and I stood there, Sammy commented, "If only it had a bigger brain." I just started laughing to which Sammy continued, " You know their brains are very, very small." You gotta love my Sam, so literal. Christopher joined us and tried to help me direct him out of the garage. It didn't work, but then it decided to fly down and actually was flying out of the garage, until it tried to fly up, again....and knocked itself silly on the door ridge. It fell straight to the floor, dazed. Of course, we went to try and help it. As the mom, I thought, this thing is not long for this world. But my Christopher, with his compassionate heart for animals, picked him up and cared for him. We got some sugar water and a towel. Christopher helped straighten it's wing and watched over it. And believe it or not, the little fellow flew away. Christopher said later that God had answered his prayer, and saved his hummingbird.<div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15028229827201963971noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4945053124010903844.post-45983284398416366362009-09-03T19:25:00.000-07:002009-09-03T19:25:41.740-07:00Pepper, My Peppers<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMMSEgpw10IDpF-gAd54-RX4FRlSzPxnPZbUtlpmwW1f997USnAt3TagpxhkpmspE3KOT6uDcIAxJP5By9mhcufJEFEuqLgMVUVMNA9hlJJ7ARGrnpxPRGOAtAtvQf6Yzu0jjF12gKDVSx/s1600-h/IMG_0262.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMMSEgpw10IDpF-gAd54-RX4FRlSzPxnPZbUtlpmwW1f997USnAt3TagpxhkpmspE3KOT6uDcIAxJP5By9mhcufJEFEuqLgMVUVMNA9hlJJ7ARGrnpxPRGOAtAtvQf6Yzu0jjF12gKDVSx/s400/IMG_0262.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIxtMHO0FgSsP2aJXfXUABecvo7H9O0XHLYhabXlcpr8aOzKWP5k3kT0f9UCA1ZI16gqCALq4SKJBexaKdQaoUUOx8xxwDv58O5Fi07JFJAureIpSKFQRtYTsb8Pe3VfF7VdJUlQU9d0mV/s1600-h/IMG_0263.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIxtMHO0FgSsP2aJXfXUABecvo7H9O0XHLYhabXlcpr8aOzKWP5k3kT0f9UCA1ZI16gqCALq4SKJBexaKdQaoUUOx8xxwDv58O5Fi07JFJAureIpSKFQRtYTsb8Pe3VfF7VdJUlQU9d0mV/s400/IMG_0263.JPG" /></a> </div>Check out my peppers!!!! The big red ones are mine, and Matt has the small, red, hot peppers. Hee, hee, hee...it only took 4 months, but I have red peppers. I may learn to garden yet...<div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15028229827201963971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4945053124010903844.post-33720243709351644422009-09-03T19:16:00.000-07:002009-09-03T19:17:01.874-07:00We LOVE legos!!!!!<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0-sHszQgFydOzPW_uNHSMZ6Tf0kc1_CcjjF_ugfc8RrYDScljOKO0p_g6Ce_AyPG7iial97PKetbLobkbsRBiwffRybi6Rs5tcCUPLx_2BT873wSKTgQDK6iifIoNlCy_f-K-kCORW5Ac/s1600-h/IMG_0244.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0-sHszQgFydOzPW_uNHSMZ6Tf0kc1_CcjjF_ugfc8RrYDScljOKO0p_g6Ce_AyPG7iial97PKetbLobkbsRBiwffRybi6Rs5tcCUPLx_2BT873wSKTgQDK6iifIoNlCy_f-K-kCORW5Ac/s400/IMG_0244.JPG" /></a> </div>Oh yes, we do love legos. Never in my girlie world did I ever imagine there could be such passion over small plastic blocks. And yet, I find, even I love legos. They must be the best toy ever invented. They can be anything you could ever imagine, and let me tell you, young boys' imaginations are endless. So when Lego decided to open it's Concord store, we, of course had to be there. Poor Matt had to work, so that meant me and the boys had to go it alone. First, we went to the store to buy our legos that would enable us to get our commemorative r2-d2 lego block. Then we lined up to be a part of building an 8 ft. R2-D2. Then back to the store for our certificates of participation. <br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSaxyl0rR8X9BCYHbLUvrhDG0T9rfjVcJMqR855l7RVqj6yqRDRWNWpIp_Yj_bPbYiK7WxhvyegoZjAoVRxvA5cgYluMipg2nG5Lc9-taSjirkYzWhFW9TUYd_X6h1Pk8-u_ONQELY66jh/s1600-h/IMG_0245.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSaxyl0rR8X9BCYHbLUvrhDG0T9rfjVcJMqR855l7RVqj6yqRDRWNWpIp_Yj_bPbYiK7WxhvyegoZjAoVRxvA5cgYluMipg2nG5Lc9-taSjirkYzWhFW9TUYd_X6h1Pk8-u_ONQELY66jh/s400/IMG_0245.JPG" /></a> </div> (Building the r2-d2)<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi37Fhy_1vEqNqNHE5HPo0pEZUhweCASA0Yfjjgmx75z6m3u0WerVSUaM6794T5MLubwp_iMSakXORazZ7Y0bcEe7m4Ph8VtedZ2fN3ih_gZiEo5ehsJup9qgt5tIAWwbGf_-x5QBSyI2IV/s1600-h/IMG_0236.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi37Fhy_1vEqNqNHE5HPo0pEZUhweCASA0Yfjjgmx75z6m3u0WerVSUaM6794T5MLubwp_iMSakXORazZ7Y0bcEe7m4Ph8VtedZ2fN3ih_gZiEo5ehsJup9qgt5tIAWwbGf_-x5QBSyI2IV/s400/IMG_0236.JPG" /></a> </div> (Huge pile of legos to build with in the classroom at the lego store.)<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR2JdNPM1EacoPO0z_WC-gNCq7oPPFc4Yfg3x3tZx3hNmHdrnFA3xa_AREm_jORJPBvj3gne2JbaoOu7nvdeHCKmEWSIYKBp8xW1TJAhmOFikooKjmx9SYkkBAetfBLzr13lJ06uAcmdzx/s1600-h/IMG_0233.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR2JdNPM1EacoPO0z_WC-gNCq7oPPFc4Yfg3x3tZx3hNmHdrnFA3xa_AREm_jORJPBvj3gne2JbaoOu7nvdeHCKmEWSIYKBp8xW1TJAhmOFikooKjmx9SYkkBAetfBLzr13lJ06uAcmdzx/s400/IMG_0233.JPG" /></a> </div>Oh my goodness, how happy can 2 boys be with a 6ft. lego clone trooper....his name is Rex. <br />(Talk about mom points... :) )<div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15028229827201963971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4945053124010903844.post-16568002217217644682009-09-03T18:55:00.000-07:002009-09-03T18:56:21.737-07:00The Fourth<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZYUPIMv_aHuVOOakvMP-IBWZSlXKzyxVkg__iF9DhZfSfxrjIVJXDXK2A_XO7ZYbYwasjo_LPiIaaN66xPkyHGcTRhZ36d6zvmX4KtrDRKg2do1p6rdO6p1jHdgFMvumSt-u-8Ln1x_KF/s1600-h/IMG_0184.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZYUPIMv_aHuVOOakvMP-IBWZSlXKzyxVkg__iF9DhZfSfxrjIVJXDXK2A_XO7ZYbYwasjo_LPiIaaN66xPkyHGcTRhZ36d6zvmX4KtrDRKg2do1p6rdO6p1jHdgFMvumSt-u-8Ln1x_KF/s400/IMG_0184.JPG" /></a> </div>This is how big boys play.....<br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVGXgkiXkNm-Lr2SGDQeW4bGZ8nVdg1UE7AJRdslxkKeLU21B9ucD6KC5W1NNKKtWQfDOX5RSm2qINc3oEmUB6gWxrtV7MWhnxO5Hw912EP50rPhzM6EjKoT0tNPGUI7ZQfCPl4mBALEC1/s1600-h/IMG_0185.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVGXgkiXkNm-Lr2SGDQeW4bGZ8nVdg1UE7AJRdslxkKeLU21B9ucD6KC5W1NNKKtWQfDOX5RSm2qINc3oEmUB6gWxrtV7MWhnxO5Hw912EP50rPhzM6EjKoT0tNPGUI7ZQfCPl4mBALEC1/s400/IMG_0185.JPG" /></a> </div>And this is how little boys play...<br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj8yn_2gS_vDPkXhi8yBtU1gH63nbCNC6YgVeVphs9x_YijtW_Yko5e-ShoYddfxxuFb8nh7kdRerskfeiRjdu7eGIudWzAiTPTD4uPDHmI3cBEwlhPmplcFglQz8zuckvSpSPwumOnWoa/s1600-h/IMG_0189.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj8yn_2gS_vDPkXhi8yBtU1gH63nbCNC6YgVeVphs9x_YijtW_Yko5e-ShoYddfxxuFb8nh7kdRerskfeiRjdu7eGIudWzAiTPTD4uPDHmI3cBEwlhPmplcFglQz8zuckvSpSPwumOnWoa/s400/IMG_0189.JPG" /></a> </div>And this is how all the kids play...<br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5lzP1crrThgWilvgkP41H9lDTU4449-H7wdCKxlpLrhcq3A2otpwy7WDS4ZyXiQuV9zn_7131qwQ96GmRUub-_t_9ZPtZROgewMnivZHb31X3ZrGXVjErjXA1Ur-DA9Ni0GLxgMh7nkcu/s1600-h/IMG_0174.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5lzP1crrThgWilvgkP41H9lDTU4449-H7wdCKxlpLrhcq3A2otpwy7WDS4ZyXiQuV9zn_7131qwQ96GmRUub-_t_9ZPtZROgewMnivZHb31X3ZrGXVjErjXA1Ur-DA9Ni0GLxgMh7nkcu/s400/IMG_0174.JPG" /></a> </div>On the fourth of July.....<br /><br />Thanks to the Bumgarner's and their parents, we have been privileged to be a part of a fabulous fourth of July celebration. It starts with a trip down to the border of SC with loads of fireworks, food, and family. Where many friends congregate to cook out, hang out, and blow things up. It is quite a time. The boys have actually toned down the fireworks from the orininal 6 hours of fireworks to a mere 2 hours, give or take. They do a great job.<div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15028229827201963971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4945053124010903844.post-45335232666192517332009-06-27T15:57:00.000-07:002009-06-27T15:57:17.766-07:00Easy Bake<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEkHanqFvmbUHh3zORD4d7xR3IM8ux3oikysBuXt7MP_9t2xc1WEuqfS-qUabsOIYZjdLk3z0MbpLP1RYCS145Mn4_A_FMR7jBIB2J40k-syp7v2-5dXOP6wRJYbo0fCDZvgpaJBvqpeoh/s1600-h/IMG_0169.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEkHanqFvmbUHh3zORD4d7xR3IM8ux3oikysBuXt7MP_9t2xc1WEuqfS-qUabsOIYZjdLk3z0MbpLP1RYCS145Mn4_A_FMR7jBIB2J40k-syp7v2-5dXOP6wRJYbo0fCDZvgpaJBvqpeoh/s400/IMG_0169.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>Sammy may one day be a chef. However, today he is an "Easy Bake" chef. They made cinnamon cookies with frosting and one chocolate chip. The best part is he did it ALL by himself, including clean up. Good Job Sammy!<div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15028229827201963971noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4945053124010903844.post-74099852457955892772009-06-23T13:12:00.000-07:002009-06-23T13:12:54.085-07:00Pizza! Pizza!<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXZ66DQ3z1SExvVDz1CYfTjuROAbmdrQGRHq2GxiTCGsRurkiC4584eJk6vKf6swA6am12YcBiZpYCyckvRXbEXtWncaGD6Gy7oMqrkKRXpB4dv5EeMh4GcqtBtDJq7T6TLWW4fJ4O8Fss/s1600-h/IMG_0064.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXZ66DQ3z1SExvVDz1CYfTjuROAbmdrQGRHq2GxiTCGsRurkiC4584eJk6vKf6swA6am12YcBiZpYCyckvRXbEXtWncaGD6Gy7oMqrkKRXpB4dv5EeMh4GcqtBtDJq7T6TLWW4fJ4O8Fss/s400/IMG_0064.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>Why do I post a picture of a pizza? To remind myself to be thankful for what we can eat. For those who don't know, Christopher recently tested positive for gluten intolerance which we think has been the cause for some past issues he has had. His genetic testing also showed that it runs in the family. I would also adhere to the gluten free diet due to the autoimmune issues I have experienced which we believe are linked to gluten intolerance. So there is the long and the short of it. So as we seek to change life in this way, I have done a lot of cooking to try and find good alternatives for my boy's favorites. But at this point, as good as it looks, it is still "homemade" pizza. Sigh.... So this is where I remind myself that this is an answer to prayer, and thank my good God for providing a way to help my baby feel better. As hard as this diet may be, it is all worth it when my 10 year old has all his old energy, no stomach aches or other odds and ends feel bad stuff. Thank you Lord for the provision!<div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15028229827201963971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4945053124010903844.post-48170851249452183152009-06-20T08:36:00.000-07:002009-06-20T08:37:43.010-07:00Beautiful Days<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgzlsQWsNBeXdyp7mUKLVG8zHykWzvq4r7zYNAal_mxrB9HH9NQdKowa82ND0tLtVrS2a-_KhuHbjaOs22-gBoXGp4QDzjNni09JtzlKsNl__PebahJPz8ORslyk1CFpylBW4sFHNgFeRL/s1600-h/IMG_0054.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgzlsQWsNBeXdyp7mUKLVG8zHykWzvq4r7zYNAal_mxrB9HH9NQdKowa82ND0tLtVrS2a-_KhuHbjaOs22-gBoXGp4QDzjNni09JtzlKsNl__PebahJPz8ORslyk1CFpylBW4sFHNgFeRL/s400/IMG_0054.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>Christopher reading in his homemade hammock.<br /><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUpMhm-IbEC0qu8ngee1RdN9uYiMSJ3PKXcKBXSMGFEC8903Kwzt-Nn4Mf42jWRKPj0TI_IAUsmAKnqiYDBI70ZhgLrlRve1-iWQasbuhMC4q5XbtimD4w-6mGlpcK8nBd6roryftah9wV/s1600-h/IMG_0055.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUpMhm-IbEC0qu8ngee1RdN9uYiMSJ3PKXcKBXSMGFEC8903Kwzt-Nn4Mf42jWRKPj0TI_IAUsmAKnqiYDBI70ZhgLrlRve1-iWQasbuhMC4q5XbtimD4w-6mGlpcK8nBd6roryftah9wV/s400/IMG_0055.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>Samuel reading in his homemade hammock.<br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5KjRNIMmZ8xIofFovyYilGSF5RbHbEJi1C70O5jIPpatnz93wwJCKNXn2xizObHI1ZuXynUrbvY-NXFTk3Ms2R0zhj28mcLjfZiDmd6wraDMxOfI3wXqUwctJtfyN4a-jZjOeUYdMjmR4/s1600-h/IMG_0056.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5KjRNIMmZ8xIofFovyYilGSF5RbHbEJi1C70O5jIPpatnz93wwJCKNXn2xizObHI1ZuXynUrbvY-NXFTk3Ms2R0zhj28mcLjfZiDmd6wraDMxOfI3wXqUwctJtfyN4a-jZjOeUYdMjmR4/s400/IMG_0056.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>And this is where I spent the next 1 1/2 hours reading, quietly and undisturbed on a most beautiful day.<div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15028229827201963971noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4945053124010903844.post-73591880738148908352009-06-18T14:29:00.000-07:002009-06-18T14:29:26.247-07:00The Rest of the Story<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_0POaqf67jGrQCahjXxOyXFwepLCtPeKRk9b7KewWou6i0_OErgrChmGlHWFU1zAK7VSPHuK5y8fowFopUXrhfPN9OR3xYlq_9oDUQvcMEOJmbf0MNECQtG1TPIPi_03GpsCwoldFgUoi/s1600-h/IMG_0063.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_0POaqf67jGrQCahjXxOyXFwepLCtPeKRk9b7KewWou6i0_OErgrChmGlHWFU1zAK7VSPHuK5y8fowFopUXrhfPN9OR3xYlq_9oDUQvcMEOJmbf0MNECQtG1TPIPi_03GpsCwoldFgUoi/s400/IMG_0063.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br />So in the end, he pulls the tarp onto the porch, fills it with water and plays there with the little toad he happened to find as well. And that's the rest of the story.<div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15028229827201963971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4945053124010903844.post-37529601143237858702009-06-18T14:10:00.000-07:002009-06-18T14:21:52.818-07:00A Commentary on BoysSo you see your son playing in the drainage water around your house in a thunderstorm. You say, "come in, you can't play in a thunderstorm, and you are tearing up the grass we are growing in the drainage area", and the reply is "why?", but he comes onto the porch. You go back in and a few minutes later see he is off the covered porch again. So you walk out and see him playing in the water that drains off the house. Again you say "out of the drainage water, it is thundering, and again you are making a muddy mess....". So you go in leaving him to "clean off his feet in order to follow you in", but he never makes it in. You go back out and find him playing in the water that has collected in a tarp he pulled into the rain. Hmmmm... Ok, so you go back out and tell him "you are killing the grass and you are still playing in a thunderstorm, get on the porch and don't get off again..". He then asks, " why don't you ever let us have any fun?" To which you reply "because I am really an ogre dressed up like a mommy!"Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15028229827201963971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4945053124010903844.post-41558829627143245012009-06-09T10:49:00.000-07:002009-06-09T10:50:04.983-07:00More pics<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlWPUU4YQb2_uQ0GBvyBCJwjzxdEGeGkex5lRXmn4j0-W9uJVqhKGFzzkeOljza7WqUb_dssuikAnldZUm5cJvc4qkJYRr7a3pCPQggUa_UOKTvKUQjDPfKE2F4VfoiPwacUVMzE3a_vkL/s1600-h/IMG_0048.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlWPUU4YQb2_uQ0GBvyBCJwjzxdEGeGkex5lRXmn4j0-W9uJVqhKGFzzkeOljza7WqUb_dssuikAnldZUm5cJvc4qkJYRr7a3pCPQggUa_UOKTvKUQjDPfKE2F4VfoiPwacUVMzE3a_vkL/s320/IMG_0048.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>Can you tell two boys live here???? I must love you all to show you how things really are.... I'm sorry to say that I am not super mom with perfect kids. (Well, let me rephrase that...my kids are perfect :), just not perfectly neat.)<br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxwepf0N5MyMYtV46NbUSvfjktCaCwKKcbW1ZGfU1-oBBrFfZR4HR0YOsRgbCv2hhV5XqoJ_pWjQusobc32I2rR_OBaIVAchC1A-kz_BTPIrCdq7HcUJq7S_wnqGvZi9n2BWz8K9E7EnLr/s1600-h/IMG_0049.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxwepf0N5MyMYtV46NbUSvfjktCaCwKKcbW1ZGfU1-oBBrFfZR4HR0YOsRgbCv2hhV5XqoJ_pWjQusobc32I2rR_OBaIVAchC1A-kz_BTPIrCdq7HcUJq7S_wnqGvZi9n2BWz8K9E7EnLr/s320/IMG_0049.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>The guest room for anyone who would like to stay. Just make sure you bring pajamas, that curtain rod in the corner is still in the corner.<br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZFFf8l73N6DaVG6ricw_ojNiu5Z_slCc558594Zq5mdrmUIL8A8UHaaCT_CcNTG4JGEAzrFJipESl9GJDrmOLIc9bn76_X1h8SEdOxyzwVrw25aFvo7ll4lptUgut83C_NEU5XoqZnI9C/s1600-h/IMG_0051.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZFFf8l73N6DaVG6ricw_ojNiu5Z_slCc558594Zq5mdrmUIL8A8UHaaCT_CcNTG4JGEAzrFJipESl9GJDrmOLIc9bn76_X1h8SEdOxyzwVrw25aFvo7ll4lptUgut83C_NEU5XoqZnI9C/s320/IMG_0051.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>And these are our great outdoors. These are taken off my side porch. God is so good. I still can't believe I live here.<br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRb6erEApdss9kQ1xDQOtTVW76XSrib842qptEg0JwWe7-roc7_9ZrkBlF7v-HQybZn0SK2RGoupAOAlFuVkUE2XfH2JDsxwrf_EDCOO3JSvlVm8-Ic8HlFeuyw9UcwqefRB5kVkRDhMA_/s1600-h/IMG_0052.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRb6erEApdss9kQ1xDQOtTVW76XSrib842qptEg0JwWe7-roc7_9ZrkBlF7v-HQybZn0SK2RGoupAOAlFuVkUE2XfH2JDsxwrf_EDCOO3JSvlVm8-Ic8HlFeuyw9UcwqefRB5kVkRDhMA_/s320/IMG_0052.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>So there you all have it, my house and my mess, all in one. We love visitors, so just give me a call. (Tours daily from 9-6, reservations not required. :) )<div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15028229827201963971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4945053124010903844.post-46975158142535752962009-06-09T10:42:00.000-07:002009-06-09T10:42:55.374-07:00<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwcRiKpoo8mZJyK-VVgu_NwnoQdzTA6JVThRPqIq9LyxpTvBSz2gm9M9pXXXW4wE-MlKMtbc9P3a7FRcBrIzNAhosly5g0uNHvTvRmZX6MKywXUDO1AzaShhXsz-KeWmQ9Kxdprgf94UkZ/s1600-h/IMG_0044.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwcRiKpoo8mZJyK-VVgu_NwnoQdzTA6JVThRPqIq9LyxpTvBSz2gm9M9pXXXW4wE-MlKMtbc9P3a7FRcBrIzNAhosly5g0uNHvTvRmZX6MKywXUDO1AzaShhXsz-KeWmQ9Kxdprgf94UkZ/s320/IMG_0044.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>My bedroom<br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU_4BoOYlASEx0sT4ZbqMboiu6KH1cKYQ3L10MFb1nvyItt4FpRpb8MD45ov-tPwKwJ7Xah8HSX0TIkV_UBVTqK7mMQlNO6lt9SXVT58IAu6LyLh6ebYAies55R_W7iglnYb3_QSlK0JO6/s1600-h/IMG_0045.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU_4BoOYlASEx0sT4ZbqMboiu6KH1cKYQ3L10MFb1nvyItt4FpRpb8MD45ov-tPwKwJ7Xah8HSX0TIkV_UBVTqK7mMQlNO6lt9SXVT58IAu6LyLh6ebYAies55R_W7iglnYb3_QSlK0JO6/s320/IMG_0045.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>The school room<br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2xr6GeEmeaF3lpSe4eXSHZuFthkx4VQnVy8LFETwmj2Eyay4hmfaEWwrmCvOGogYrM1IeoRFi3g-u9K0g8AX5wYsEIGLLMMIfFoPX2ogG__VMyGrJtavvznCyt86FnFOJduRK3GTFbXG7/s1600-h/IMG_0046.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2xr6GeEmeaF3lpSe4eXSHZuFthkx4VQnVy8LFETwmj2Eyay4hmfaEWwrmCvOGogYrM1IeoRFi3g-u9K0g8AX5wYsEIGLLMMIfFoPX2ogG__VMyGrJtavvznCyt86FnFOJduRK3GTFbXG7/s320/IMG_0046.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>The bonus room for both sides.<br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvM8V5u96rhU37JTSJOTg8m5R88FJNGRJQO18n_7Al-DKOgj4K0LqE9l_84qLED5jYSYtOFTmv4HoTD4Ue9Z_kFVxQ1WJChn7yrzUXm08mtR2rKrFQ4dZ-ByHO82aJTj806ZbDbFtZL_rm/s1600-h/IMG_0047.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvM8V5u96rhU37JTSJOTg8m5R88FJNGRJQO18n_7Al-DKOgj4K0LqE9l_84qLED5jYSYtOFTmv4HoTD4Ue9Z_kFVxQ1WJChn7yrzUXm08mtR2rKrFQ4dZ-ByHO82aJTj806ZbDbFtZL_rm/s320/IMG_0047.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15028229827201963971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4945053124010903844.post-57612559144448562862009-06-09T10:39:00.000-07:002009-06-09T10:40:25.394-07:00Finally, House Pictures<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRkXMIPDNEkPyxx28H6C3zQ__PDd0Ex7sMNlT2qDKojs5deCkzyCHAn_gRfah2LAj84FbjckV4EKfDplgMG9-93LVc9owUJsx7NGC9bJllQaSEnjYNeZNblVvq4DB7JSkYMkaLVRS0NLRp/s1600-h/IMG_0041.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRkXMIPDNEkPyxx28H6C3zQ__PDd0Ex7sMNlT2qDKojs5deCkzyCHAn_gRfah2LAj84FbjckV4EKfDplgMG9-93LVc9owUJsx7NGC9bJllQaSEnjYNeZNblVvq4DB7JSkYMkaLVRS0NLRp/s320/IMG_0041.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>Living Room<br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi20M7o5O56rnyCcZNlPXG85uEeLGPjBRzwFDsD0sfqQeJKzZtHRMrfRmDsQyHkbV28eE1IUEC3kcRMd3CcislbmVEGdmsjmmTvF7ltnxEDQlv0k1T1uwp2tW2Rxq87XfBMfocUBoz0t10S/s1600-h/IMG_0042.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi20M7o5O56rnyCcZNlPXG85uEeLGPjBRzwFDsD0sfqQeJKzZtHRMrfRmDsQyHkbV28eE1IUEC3kcRMd3CcislbmVEGdmsjmmTvF7ltnxEDQlv0k1T1uwp2tW2Rxq87XfBMfocUBoz0t10S/s320/IMG_0042.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRXOx_jcpkVo5rbts09nJlPq5_W23JRIyiJcnKmHe9tQtq9gbc_5KicJHveUEpdtj-FPShTDnDQkvi3SMa08qMFAQTVOTxgoRiOMy3su3AZDCHKsuPV8m224WyYNf8eBH7ybME1yg_FmDy/s1600-h/IMG_0043.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRXOx_jcpkVo5rbts09nJlPq5_W23JRIyiJcnKmHe9tQtq9gbc_5KicJHveUEpdtj-FPShTDnDQkvi3SMa08qMFAQTVOTxgoRiOMy3su3AZDCHKsuPV8m224WyYNf8eBH7ybME1yg_FmDy/s320/IMG_0043.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>Dining and Kitchen, Junk included<br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkrqSJaKx7mArjMIPvOhDAHzhiQB0HBow7GulUcrJzy_xmd9ijbwHgYNbnm_GVvNzndZ9yTOWgd-OGV2zKfghf413J1OMzjbY3jibAnquC5IhWroAcQ4zu-qq1jAYg0jTLv_qN8WWLXAz7/s1600-h/IMG_0050.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkrqSJaKx7mArjMIPvOhDAHzhiQB0HBow7GulUcrJzy_xmd9ijbwHgYNbnm_GVvNzndZ9yTOWgd-OGV2zKfghf413J1OMzjbY3jibAnquC5IhWroAcQ4zu-qq1jAYg0jTLv_qN8WWLXAz7/s320/IMG_0050.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>The front door to welcome you all. Please come visit. :)<div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15028229827201963971noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4945053124010903844.post-18897507045458521952009-06-09T10:27:00.000-07:002009-06-09T10:27:55.222-07:00The Shanty Shack<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTV0JK9jS5NNp3pnEQbj0Qkf27O_5ZJD-t6ER_3xSVgfHeP5coBFSCslVYSqmriBPmoJXtc9jyhiDC1YxvdYNpPatEXRpivuxswmYxSMMKJdW0t40StUBOKrnBvR9WsweQTa8h_ZSfOqHJ/s1600-h/DSC05209.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTV0JK9jS5NNp3pnEQbj0Qkf27O_5ZJD-t6ER_3xSVgfHeP5coBFSCslVYSqmriBPmoJXtc9jyhiDC1YxvdYNpPatEXRpivuxswmYxSMMKJdW0t40StUBOKrnBvR9WsweQTa8h_ZSfOqHJ/s400/DSC05209.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>My boys love junk, any junk and all junk. They like to build things with it. So welcome to the shanty shack, located on one prime pile of mulch with an excellent view overlooking a serene winter pond. There is even a refrigeration unit and safety rail for extra amenities. If you consider visiting this humble abode, please make sure your insurance is current. Due to some questionable materials and building techniques, the roof just may cave in on a windy day. <br />Yes, my boys were the only ones allowed to play in it because I couldn't justify risking any of their friends lives. This lovely dwelling stayed right outside my large glass door wall until it met its' demise a couple weeks ago when a small monsoon hit Treasure Cove.<div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15028229827201963971noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4945053124010903844.post-87459477674827286932009-02-15T14:19:00.000-08:002009-02-15T14:19:37.997-08:00What Boys do When Mommy Is Sick<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Make a lego board game of course! The boys wanted to play a board game, but since they are all packed now, Daddy just made them one. Yes, I don't understand either. He just does it. They disappear for a couple hours and emerge with a full board game made of legos with rules included. Do take a closer look at the bottom picture, it is quite detailed, spaces for moving, traps, jewels to be collected/lost, parts of armor to be collected, all to win the game. Amazing! And get this, it even comes with a bicker rule...if there is any bickering, all players must write "I will love my brother more than myself." five times. It worked.<br />And I hear expansion packs are coming soon.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6m3akRNizv52nsF0exyQEmh6ZH1rc6P4uT1f8UPjxC8SOT5KuPc9608CMes6yGDNoSNec54dAJPCik5HphqM4Pgle052V5MnZ5P1-dHpo1Ige7Ld5Dl6FolddoGXEcsUpplLU5xKAbzHV/s1600-h/DSC05119.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6m3akRNizv52nsF0exyQEmh6ZH1rc6P4uT1f8UPjxC8SOT5KuPc9608CMes6yGDNoSNec54dAJPCik5HphqM4Pgle052V5MnZ5P1-dHpo1Ige7Ld5Dl6FolddoGXEcsUpplLU5xKAbzHV/s400/DSC05119.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh90XpqqOGPqQzXXUb-DDQXX5osZVm3lxYMKurAT6S6s9OhRdw5djgfYftXvcTBI2dzAKVG0pubX7pYbq0vvTsQVgd9cPsGMrh-eLC11TiOD9mKqhiht8hSo49U0KVxm7mk0h5LTFA2RikY/s1600-h/DSC05117.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh90XpqqOGPqQzXXUb-DDQXX5osZVm3lxYMKurAT6S6s9OhRdw5djgfYftXvcTBI2dzAKVG0pubX7pYbq0vvTsQVgd9cPsGMrh-eLC11TiOD9mKqhiht8hSo49U0KVxm7mk0h5LTFA2RikY/s400/DSC05117.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15028229827201963971noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4945053124010903844.post-52226796239992477292009-02-15T14:03:00.000-08:002009-02-15T14:12:11.914-08:00More House<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw9Fa8kChNRMx1kku-GT6cVsLMDdzNXTfI2Br-Maz7JnSGhJTgNE9wLigQqMGt6H0-rZN0BZ-JjQTnvZm6xhZr7bLC2Svm3Zn8EBOTavCkNxcPnQp_CxfTR-KSp5yaW8yI2zQs2cW6BEiR/s1600-h/DSC05115.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw9Fa8kChNRMx1kku-GT6cVsLMDdzNXTfI2Br-Maz7JnSGhJTgNE9wLigQqMGt6H0-rZN0BZ-JjQTnvZm6xhZr7bLC2Svm3Zn8EBOTavCkNxcPnQp_CxfTR-KSp5yaW8yI2zQs2cW6BEiR/s400/DSC05115.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>The kitchen again, I know, but with light fixtures, but more importantly, wood floors. Yippee! They are a wide plank pine. The wood was actually reclaimed from an old distillery in Kentucky. They even come with a certificate of authenticity.<br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJEvTys5O8YnAlVhlIoJB7RAoBb5F5YON-8QB68xE3chccA8RD2pNZq-D4K7ykyzIU1CBbdvslYgYj-Ul3j53GT22c927NK_mmDPsg5flVwRJP3XOPo1Kohh1t6A68FHHMxW1smL0JEF-S/s1600-h/DSC05110.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJEvTys5O8YnAlVhlIoJB7RAoBb5F5YON-8QB68xE3chccA8RD2pNZq-D4K7ykyzIU1CBbdvslYgYj-Ul3j53GT22c927NK_mmDPsg5flVwRJP3XOPo1Kohh1t6A68FHHMxW1smL0JEF-S/s400/DSC05110.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>This is looking into the master bedroom. It is very hard to take a picture of an empty room, but wanted to show you the color at least. <br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY7wv03lzQm3zkoXFJswMfdvH3V_Q4YjkWGE_9cgsI7LMG_LgknCw0ATr5SJOe3N2GM84RxNEwuDh06vDslyU51gxMLvauhDEKKBpDOAIWP67fRmpyQ2p3a2QJGw9zFytEBbJUDL7ALZrx/s1600-h/DSC05112.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY7wv03lzQm3zkoXFJswMfdvH3V_Q4YjkWGE_9cgsI7LMG_LgknCw0ATr5SJOe3N2GM84RxNEwuDh06vDslyU51gxMLvauhDEKKBpDOAIWP67fRmpyQ2p3a2QJGw9zFytEBbJUDL7ALZrx/s400/DSC05112.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>Now, this is my very fun bathroom. I just love it. My tub is installed now. This picture just doesn't do it justice. The counters are white marble, which are just so classic.<br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPRJjdBFYuZVpfKeGqHvOWABvDcBh8_Eycx1ZV3hiuDGgW5P1pBI9BA6uaX75_qRUYOdp5g8JzRaAzn0uOH80TbUMpiDC8kR5sCEnz_mg7MlpXE20lZTpYU02bfCFEo_KONbn1ivaFUaWe/s1600-h/DSC05106.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPRJjdBFYuZVpfKeGqHvOWABvDcBh8_Eycx1ZV3hiuDGgW5P1pBI9BA6uaX75_qRUYOdp5g8JzRaAzn0uOH80TbUMpiDC8kR5sCEnz_mg7MlpXE20lZTpYU02bfCFEo_KONbn1ivaFUaWe/s400/DSC05106.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; BACKGROUND: 0% 50%; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial" alt="Posted by Picasa" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" align="middle" border="0" /></a>This will be our school room. Again hard to show an empty room, but their desks will go under the lights. And now for the answer you all have been waiting for.....</div><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: center">MOVING DAY: FEBRUARY 28!!!</div><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: center"> </div><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: center">So if you are free, we would love your company, and I can get you a free tour, including never before seen family rooms. :)</div><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: center"> </div>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15028229827201963971noreply@blogger.com3