tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75227443193987821612024-03-12T17:10:11.136-06:00The Newton GazetteDavid, Kim, Jake, Ben, and RachelUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger171125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522744319398782161.post-81137590990646330062013-06-17T13:14:00.000-06:002013-06-17T13:14:07.302-06:00The Amazing Spain Adventures-Madrid<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grandma, Papa, Jake, David, Ben and Rachel with our BIG van.</td></tr>
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We spent Saturday traveling and then celebrated Father's Day by eating in the world's oldest restaurant<span style="color: #0000ee;">, Botin,</span>(as deemed by the Guinness Book of World's Records) located in Madrid, Spain.<br />
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We feasted on suckling pig, baby lamb and chicken fricassee. Delicious. The caramel and chocolate ice creams were fabulous, too. </div>
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We toured the Royal Palace, not all 2500 rooms, but A LOT of them. Jake decided he'd like to be invited to a gala event there....who knew Jake likes galas?<br />
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And then we checked something off David's bucket list: attend a bullfight. It was interesting and unusual and quite formulaic once you got over the initial shock and horror of the bloody bull. The bullfighters do have their own style and flair but the "fight" is conducted in three "acts" each time and you start to be able to anticipate the moves. I am sure it will never be popular in the United States, but the history of it and the tradition make it a fascinating event if you're here for one. Ben was much more upset about the cigarette and cigar smokers surrounding him than the blood and Rachel is still not too sure she likes that event. I will certainly always remember it.<br />
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What's the deal with the hot pink socks on all the matadors? I'll have to find out the significance. <br />
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All in all, it was a whirlwind of a day to start our adventures. Day two, we were able to visit the Stadium Bernabeu, home to the professional soccer team, Real Madrid, before we left the city. It was a cool tour and one Ben will always remember. Hopefully, he will appreciate us all taking it in to honor him. We like soccer, but we LOVE Ben. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the pitch where the players sit.</td></tr>
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We are on to another city and more adventures....until tomorrow.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522744319398782161.post-21223075590038266012013-02-05T18:03:00.000-07:002013-02-05T18:03:22.843-07:00The "Future" is ComingYou know the first time in December when you buy milk and the "use by" date is after Christmas and it gives you a little fright? You think, "That's just around the corner. I better get moving." Well, today I had a frightening moment. <br />
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I went to make some frozen fish for dinner and the "use by" date said June 10, 2014. It occurred to me that Jake will have graduated from high school by that time! Holy smokes. I know it's not milk and it's more than a year away but it shook me up a bit nonetheless. "That's just around the corner and there's A LOT to be done between now and then..."<br />
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What lessons do I need to teach before then? What values have I missed imparting? Will he know where to turn when things are complicated? Will I know how to help an "adult"? Almost scarier than a room full of unwrapped presents in the middle of December...<br />
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Just my thoughts this cold January evening...plus the thought that I need to find some vegetables to serve with these fish and chips. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522744319398782161.post-46040551090521605662012-04-11T09:21:00.000-06:002012-04-11T09:21:01.315-06:00updatesFebruary 26th Kurt said:<br />
<br />
I just left Real Artways in Hartford. I was hired for my third annual Oscar statue performance to benefit Connecticut Aids Resource Center. It went well and the women who runs the gallery was VERY impressed with me and would like to work with me again.<br />
Yesterday I was ALSO an award statue for Ten31 at a casino. It was a fun performance because I was on stage for a part of it and I "came to life" to introduce a FLASH MOB<br />
I've been packing and moving stuff to Carrie's basement. Its really nice of her to let me use up her space. More than nice actually. Tomorrow I get the uhaul to bring MORE stuff. As of right now I don't even have a place to live. It's actually exciting to have anything be possible.<br />
I guess a goal is to take charge of my destiny and if human statuing is gonna be my thing I need to book myself gigs<br />
<br />
February 27th Rob wrote:<br />
<br />
So... it's been a bit since I last updated people on the goings on<br />
here in Millbury. Fortunately, not all that much really happens here,<br />
so it makes it pretty easy to get lax about these things.<br />
I had every intention of writing to everyone on Feb 12th, but I got a<br />
tad distracted. We had moved the table out of the dining room for<br />
some reason that currently escapes me, so I wanted to use the<br />
opportunity to (finally) remove the air conditioner from the window.<br />
This is the day we remind everyone that having a messy house has some<br />
nasty side-effects. You know, when you have stuff laying around all<br />
the time, it gets to be somewhat invisible. This can be an issue when<br />
you ask a teenager to clear a path to the garage, so that when<br />
carrying a bulky metal box you can walk without having to worry about<br />
not seeing where you are going. McGuire did an admirable job clearing<br />
a path, even spreading his arms to make sure the path was wide enough;<br />
but there was this little box sitting on the stairs that had been<br />
there for a few weeks, right on the 4th step from the bottom. I was<br />
reminded of this box when my foot landed on it, and my ankle twisted<br />
somewhat painfully - which also let me fall down the last 4 stairs<br />
right along with the air conditioner. I didn't break any bones, or<br />
floor tiles, and the frame of the air conditioner is only a little<br />
bent, so maybe it will still work, too. The poor kids, though!<br />
McGuire was ready to call 911 - he stayed remarkably calm at first. I<br />
could almost see the adrenaline wear off on him, as he started to feel<br />
like it was all his fault. Archer's first instinct was to call<br />
Allison, and he was near panic the whole time I was on the floor in<br />
pain. It only took me about 3 minutes for the initial blast of pain<br />
to wear off, and I just had a handful of scrapes and bruises, plus one<br />
good gash on my ankle.<br />
There wasn't too much of interest after that, until maybe Wednesday.<br />
We had our usual D&D at the store, and since it was Catherine's<br />
birthday on Thursday, her parents let her family join us for dinner,<br />
so we went to the 99. While we were there, I mentioned that McGuire<br />
and I were going to see Chronicle that weekend, so I suggested that<br />
McGuire invite Catherine as a birthday present. Ellie was thrilled to<br />
have Archer over for the night, so the three of us were headed out,<br />
and Jim (Ellie and Catherine's brother) asked if he could come with<br />
us. which I didn't mind. We wound up hitting a later show than<br />
planned, missing the 4:20 showing, so we went out to Papa Ginos before<br />
the movie, and caught the 7:10. It was a pretty good movie, much<br />
better than I was expecting. Allison was a little horrified to think<br />
of her son out on a date, but I told her that until she said that to<br />
McGuire, he probably had not thought of it as a date. It was pretty<br />
funny.<br />
The following week was pretty standard, I had some friends over Friday<br />
night for D&D - I'm getting geekier by the week! McGuire actually<br />
managed to charm his way into the group, so he gets to hang out with<br />
his Dad and some mid-20s guys. I am so lucky to have such a mature<br />
teenager, I swear he was the most mature one in the room.<br />
The kids had the next week off from school, and they were thrilled to<br />
be able to just hang out. I took Monday off to be with them one more<br />
day - I don't think we did anything actually productive, but we had<br />
some fun, watched the Neverending Story with Archer, who wanted to<br />
start reading the novel that very night! The week ended with a<br />
massive flurry of late-night D&D games and then a trip to the local<br />
gaming convention on Saturday. McGuire and I have D&D characters that<br />
we have played together since level 1, and most of our friends have<br />
gotten their characters to level 11, where they get extra powers.<br />
Ours were only level 9 at the start of the week, but we were able to<br />
find a game on-line Monday morning, making it possible, but unlikely,<br />
to be at the same level as the other players by the second game on<br />
Saturday. We were able to scare up a game on both Thursday and Friday<br />
night (until 2am or later both nights!), reaching level 10 on<br />
Thursday. If we had managed to score one additional game Tuesday or<br />
Wednesday, we could have gotten to level 11 if everything went<br />
perfectly. It turns out that it didn't matter: we couldn't get enough<br />
XP on Saturday morning to have reached level 11 for the big 9-hour<br />
adventure anyway. It was a good thing anyway, since it kept our<br />
characters at a level where we could play at the table with Catherine<br />
and one of the other kids from our regular Sunday games, so that was<br />
good. I took the Sweeny's out to Friday's after the 13 hour D&D<br />
marathon, which wound up being an hour-long meal at 11:30pm! We<br />
figured 1am would be a good guess to get them home, so 1:30 isn't too<br />
bad. McGuire and I were home at 2am, and probably asleep by 2:05, it<br />
was a long couple of days. What made it even better was that I got<br />
stuck at work late on Friday - somebody installed a trojan on my work<br />
computer (that would be me....) so I had to work on cleaning things up<br />
before I could leave. To top off the geekdom weekend, I had<br />
volunteered to run game on Sunday, so I had to get up at 10am to get<br />
ready for an adventure that I hadn't even looked at before Sunday! It<br />
went well, but I was sooooo tired by Sunday evening (last night).<br />
<br />
March 4th Rob wrote:<br />
<br />
Hi everybody!<br />
Pretty tame week here in MA, which is usually the way I like it. Last Sunday I ran the weekly D&D game at the Whiz, getting home around 7 pm. Spent the next 4 hours failing to get Archer into bed, and I think we managed to be on time to school some of the week.<br />
It was a crazy busy work week, with meetings and lots of coordination all the time. It was for the good, because at the end of the week, I made really great progress: alwáys a nice way to end a week. Probably the high point of the week for me was meeting up with my friend Jen, who was in town for work. We met up at a Japanese place, and I had sushi for the first time (I don't count the one try at a buffet), maybe not surprisingly, I actually liked it, once I got past the odd texture.<br />
Wednesday night we started getting some fluffy snow, nothing terrible, but it was supposed to continue all night, and through Thursday. For a change, Millbury cancelled school when it was a good idea, even though they waited until 5am to do so. Archer woke up in time to make the bud, but guessed right away that school was off due to the fact that our road was unplowed at 8am. McGuire made no effort to wake up, and I was happy to let him sleep in. I did get him pretty good, when he got out of the shower at 9:45, and I told him that he was late for school, even with the 2 hour delay. I told him the truth before he started really panicking, and even he admitted it was funny. I had already planned on going into work late on Thursday, since I had set up the house closing for that day. Allison came by around 9, expecting the lawyer for 10; he actually showed up at 9:40, which worked well. After signing and or initialing about 75 pages of mortgage crap, I am the sole owner of the house, with a much lower interest rate. Eight years of payments are essentially gone, but I will be able to claim more of what I am paying as a tax deduction, and I will have more money in my pocket every month, so I am pretty pleased.<br />
Friday I had some friends over for a D&D game, now McGuire gets to play with us, so that is cool. Archer gets to hang out downstairs, doing whatever he likes, which isn't all that different from normal, but apparently he feels ignored; so I probably can't keep playing in that game. The guys I am playing with there can't seem to avoid swearing every other sentence, so it does make the choice of backing out easier. <br />
That was my week - nothing of interest happened on Saturday, and today was just another game at the store. Until next week!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Carrie and I didn't have much to say I suppose. I sort of fell of the face of the earth when it comes to everything but I'm hoping to re-start with the sibling updates...it makes me happy to know what you guys are doing. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522744319398782161.post-32471704111274066962012-02-20T09:53:00.001-07:002012-02-21T19:39:11.104-07:00Weekly Update<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Kim</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaSgfk0LP1F3HiWtnHUQbmEqiok7bydDeVGavOxCZAWb00AAfTZY_KCum2vUKsrfTpvisMbs79mO1by1icqVyDzGDxJ0H_yS37dFhdyjSpqAW8_lN6EEN-lWgNFs-EIdKzc-Utg7up7EMl/s1600/IMG_1297.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaSgfk0LP1F3HiWtnHUQbmEqiok7bydDeVGavOxCZAWb00AAfTZY_KCum2vUKsrfTpvisMbs79mO1by1icqVyDzGDxJ0H_yS37dFhdyjSpqAW8_lN6EEN-lWgNFs-EIdKzc-Utg7up7EMl/s320/IMG_1297.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><br />
Jake got his driver's license on Friday, February 17th. I picked him up early from school and we spent three quality hours at the DMV together. It included a trip to lunch at his favorite local Mexican place so I like to think of it as a date. He will be able to take one other teenager in the car with him starting in six months and in a year from now he can take whomever he chooses...I'm glad he doesn't love to drive and didn't drop me off at home and head out on the town on Friday night. It's nice of him to ease me into this whole parenting a teenager thing. Does anyone really think I'll be ready for Ben to be sixteen? Will the world be ready for that?<br />
<br />
I felt like a date with Ben on Saturday might be fun since Rachel had a birthday party at a local cave that Dave was taking her to and Ben desperately <i>needed</i> a new bearing for his yo-yo. Off to Manitou Springs after getting my hair done. We happened upon the Manitou Carnivale parade and found a great Greek restaurant for lunch right by the yo-yo store. Ben is really rocking the yo-yo lately. He is one of a kind! This week we should hear about what team he made for competitive baseball. The team managers held a draft this weekend. Crazy. Soccer is ramping up just as I am burning out on it. How can it be that the season has not even started and I'm tired of it? Maybe Ben should just be a musician and yo-yo player. You know, stay-at-home stuff.<br />
<br />
For our date, Rachel and I were going to go to the playground and bake a cake together but the monkey bars got cold very quickly which put a damper on our playground time and then the cake baking got messed up by Dave fixing the auto-clean feature on the oven as we were planning to bake. The oven got cleaned but we will need to schedule another real date soon. Love that little lady. Last Saturday she did something for the first time that makes me so proud and happy and a little sad. She borrowed a chapter book from the library, a Geronimo Stilton book for those who know kids' series, and she read the whole thing by herself. It took her a couple of hours. I love LOVE to read but I had no idea it would give me such joy to see her loving it too. Pure joy.<br />
<br />
We hosted a soup night on Sunday for a few friends. It was fun and keeping with my goal to entertain more. I went to the temple last Thursday. Haven't been in ages. Nice to go with Lori and her mom. Missed Annee and Arby's this time. Still laughing about the turkey sandwich from the drive-thru from years ago.<br />
<br />
Dave has the coming week off so we'll do something fun for President's Day and then I've got a honey-do list for him. Oh boy, do I. Wish him luck. Though it's likely he doesn't need it. He did fix the oven <i>and</i> the hot tub already, in one day he'd like to note. Until next week.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Carrie</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm9yJ7ncepuIjfR7mPxCHSBJGew8b_hECKEXoH1nyNbbpHLoxIdefNHbVlSgw8KKg2hfzuzvwwwLnZtL9qG9kGlyxQvwgga-uvEYe0LcLbAPBBhFbTgyW3n4QXy-nxsyk6nWeKRZD7oZxY/s1600/SANY0177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm9yJ7ncepuIjfR7mPxCHSBJGew8b_hECKEXoH1nyNbbpHLoxIdefNHbVlSgw8KKg2hfzuzvwwwLnZtL9qG9kGlyxQvwgga-uvEYe0LcLbAPBBhFbTgyW3n4QXy-nxsyk6nWeKRZD7oZxY/s320/SANY0177.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
A week ago, Trent was riding those scooters at school and fell off, slamming his face into the wood floor. Poor kid was bleeding everywhere. They sent him home on the bus and called me. Poor baby needed two stitches inside his upper lip. He didn't even flinch!! That kid is a trooper. I'm traumatized though. Swelling went down after a few days. School is dangerous for my kids!!! Kayla got stitches after hitting her head at recess last year. Hailey almost got her finger broken at school a few weeks ago..........<br />
<br />
This week I made a lot of heart shaped sugar cookies!! Trent's class got to decorate their own cookies :) I went in and helped, it is so cute how three shakes of sprinkles turns into a mountain!! I love preschool!! Kayla had her Valentine's Day party too, I decorated those before though. I run back and forth between classes so I don't miss too much. Trent's teacher is super sweet and asked me what time Kayla's party starts so they could start earlier. That way I can make both parties without missing too much. Kayla also had her Science Fair this week. She did an experiment on which tape is the best, Scotch or generic. Scotch won!! She got interviewed by the Norwich Bulletin. Check online for her photo.<br />
<br />
Sean and I were heading to the casino tonight to watch his friend in a comedy competition. But Hailey fell ill. She came home yesterday with a sore throat (AGAIN!!!) and now she's wheezing through her throat, fever 102.3 and hasn't spoken since yesterday morning :( Heading back to the doctor today. Hopefully it's something easy to cure. I've found that viruses really make me mad. The poor kid suffers and nothing can fix it!!! I'd rather have it a bacterial infection of some sort so they can cure her!!!! I need some spring!! Maybe I should homeschool!!!! Germs, boo boos gone!! <br />
My exercise routine has picked up :) I'm doing 100 crunches everyday plus the rest of my workouts. I lost about two inches from my waist!!! And the areas that strapless dresses show off has slimmed :) Sean thought I've been shrinking his pants!!!!! He seemed to have found the weight I lost!! Not that you can tell on him :) So funny.<br />
<br />
Goals, keep on keeping on. I love your quote Kim!! I plan on waking up, being amazing and going to bed :) Air out the house today, it's supposed to be 50. Hit the -10 pounds mark. Find time for a date with Sean. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Kurt</span></div>I've actually and honestly been too<br />
Busy to even right an email. I have been working 12 hour days for HOUSE OF CACH. We have been doing a LOT of things... New designs, new sales, social media. All amazing and good things. I have been avoiding packing because I'm a dumb ass. I have also been squeezing in a few fun things. Such as a QUEER dance party with a ICE BEARD APOCALYPTIC theme and performing as Abraham Lincoln. So basically my life is the same as always. This past week I had a two day migraine that was leading to some<br />
major throwing up. I then decided to<br />
go out on ValenTIMES day and get totally drunk. I haven't drank in months and the next day was sick for approx. 24 hours. Here's some pics of the last two weeks......<br />
<br />
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<br />
Goals....ugh. I am not good with goals. It doesn't help me get things done. So instead I'll do some nice things for strangers this week. As in hold the door more often. Or maybe buy the person behind me in line a coffee<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Rob </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Rob says he'll catch up with us next week. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522744319398782161.post-45629669771300132082012-02-11T23:29:00.000-07:002012-02-11T23:29:28.966-07:00Weekly Update<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Rob</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sadly, my plans for getting this done on Saturday failed. Yeah, I was<br />
actually planning on having it done for Saturday so that I could get<br />
it out on Sunday morning for a change, but pesky life keeps getting in<br />
the way. For the most part, this week was really standard and boring.<br />
The biggest change from standard protocol was that the kids didn't<br />
get their homework done on Wednesday, so we missed D&D night again,<br />
this is three in a row now! It seems like they are able to carry on<br />
without us, which is actually pretty good - I don't have to feel<br />
pressured to make it. I did start getting some forward progress on<br />
refinancing the house this week, with the new credit union approving<br />
the loan, pending my paperwork checks out. Basically, I just have to<br />
get copies of the mortgage note, divorce decree and divorce agreement,<br />
saying that I own the house, and it should be all set. Two months<br />
without a mortgage payment, and then around 400 bucks a month less<br />
going to it! On top of that, it means my interest payments will be<br />
higher, so my tax deduction will be bigger, at least unless that tax<br />
benefit is taken away.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">I got most of my W2s and other tax forms needed, so I started entering<br />
the information into H&R Block - looks pretty grim so far.<br />
Apparently, I am outpacing a lot of the 99%, but I don't have Cayman<br />
island accounts and huge capital gains to keep me fiscally sound, so I<br />
will be paying roughly 35% of my income in taxes, all told. I thought<br />
it might be as high as 30%, but this is just painful. If that isn't<br />
enough mind-numbing bureaucracy for you, I also got notified that I<br />
need to renew my security clearance, so I have a decade of employment,<br />
familial, residential, financial and social to document... Be prepared<br />
to hear from the Government about me, they might want to ask my<br />
siblings about me, just tell them that I can keep a secret - it's even<br />
true!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">As to getting this done on Saturday, I was hoping to not have to worry<br />
about it on Superbowl Sunday, but Allison and her friend were coming<br />
over to watch the game here (why get an awesome new TV if you can't<br />
show it off?) and I had mucho cleaning to do. I didn't get much help<br />
from the kids, so Saturday was a hellishly draining day of chasing<br />
messes down, and trying to distract Archer enough that he would not<br />
make new messes. In the end, I got the house mostly clean, at least<br />
enough that I wasn't embarrassed. I would rather not talk about the game itself. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Stupid Giants.</span> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Carrie </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn47WkVQ5a1E5YNb8vuNYF0oTvUb5Ocrajawh-2rTVBNynFlRbws5Al9VdfeNFNDOJYu4DqXObIxtTuGqYp254e1lCsUaIKreHbNZerlu8yEmwPY4bQ0EB743XPghcy7hu2kNqrdqLqEPP/s1600/SANY0135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn47WkVQ5a1E5YNb8vuNYF0oTvUb5Ocrajawh-2rTVBNynFlRbws5Al9VdfeNFNDOJYu4DqXObIxtTuGqYp254e1lCsUaIKreHbNZerlu8yEmwPY4bQ0EB743XPghcy7hu2kNqrdqLqEPP/s320/SANY0135.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</a></div>Let's see........Last week was hectic to put it mildly. Chase got a stomach bug Sunday. Kayla got it Tuesday. Monday they ripped out the old oil tank and installed a new one. Tuesday they started putting in new doors and windows. All while I had kids puking. Fun times. Poor Kayla had to move room to room while they installed the windows. I cannot believe how many bugs my kids have had this year!! Insanity. Everyone was better Thursday :) My windows and doors are beautiful!! Super happy with the kitchen especially. The contractor who did the work also looked at the roof for us. Water spots on the ceiling in three places :( Come to find out we need a roof. Not very excited about that. I think I don't want to be a homeowner anymore. It's not all that fun :( <br />
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<br />
Sean finally had a whole weekend off!!! Friday our friends Dominic and Kristine brought their baby Gabriel over. Love getting a baby fix!!!! Saturday Sean took the kids to the airplane museum. He needed a daddy-kid day. Saturday night Keving (Sean's brother) and Lucy came over. They're looking for houses in Lebanon!!!! Sunday I took off with Heather and Laura to Providence. Laura saw Kurt to get her hair done and Heather and I went and ordered our bridesmaid dresses (FINALLY)!!!!! The wedding is in April. Waited long enough. Then girl scouts, then Superbowl. My friend Crystal and her family came over for the game. Good busy weekend. Lot's of company! Rare around here. As for my goals, I am right on target. -2 lbs. a week. Of course it doesn't come off where you want it to. But I'm increasing my workouts this week, adding in more cardio and reps. Yesterday I killed it!! :) <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Kurt</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Last week was a week of THRIFT SHOPPING. Sunday I found a pair of brown leather pants for $40! Then my most favorist jacket in Boston for $50. Later on that week I was in NYC for a friends bands performance. I wore another thrift find...a purple women's jacket. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg76Pf3Tp9GXrjyE9-vkXJ5danRP14ggFVvH3wmVN6-qJWkG416pN6x1kv3XFoAskHNJVT3DYN8JbNfqpiD5SQdNS73PmYpyFOgvR8LI_YiH0UJ45FiQegiFbV5MpfiBFE5qKz5KGeBcvXe/s1600/image-15.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg76Pf3Tp9GXrjyE9-vkXJ5danRP14ggFVvH3wmVN6-qJWkG416pN6x1kv3XFoAskHNJVT3DYN8JbNfqpiD5SQdNS73PmYpyFOgvR8LI_YiH0UJ45FiQegiFbV5MpfiBFE5qKz5KGeBcvXe/s320/image-15.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">I took some pictures on a rooftop </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">I then found size 14 men's cowboy boots to paint for my statue cause my others are too small. Especially when my feet swell while working. And I got a pair of jeans that are treated and LOOK leather. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Woohoo <br />
<br />
This week is PACKING so I can store stuff in carries basement. Because she is apparently my parents</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Kim</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMzftTvYX5e-SRRhXwRFJbDTZQ2Gx16aqUm2q7SAPRSXXe1Kqcn6ng1E0Qj_dKh7uqKRXao3BetM67tf40joNQsqNhELgjrzwryE2QL_N3L8j2pemAKuyD7Z_Rb6WohHZizCSMnTEdcJs2/s1600/Playercard_BEN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMzftTvYX5e-SRRhXwRFJbDTZQ2Gx16aqUm2q7SAPRSXXe1Kqcn6ng1E0Qj_dKh7uqKRXao3BetM67tf40joNQsqNhELgjrzwryE2QL_N3L8j2pemAKuyD7Z_Rb6WohHZizCSMnTEdcJs2/s320/Playercard_BEN.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This guy is a stud.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">We loved watching the Giants win in the Super Bowl. (Sorry Rob but you must know I hate the Patriots and always have...long before you loved them.) Jake picked the Giants at the beginning of the season as "his team". He tends to be incredibly lucky like that. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">The rest of the week kind of sucked for me since I was sick, as in lost almost two whole days to illness. That's pretty rare for me. I felt REALLY badly on Tuesday and Thursday. </span>I'm still kind of cruddy (wondering if I now have a sinus infection?) but so much better than Thursday that it's hard to complain. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I've been wondering lately what I really accomplish in a week--it so often feels like nothing--that I've spent some time trying to decide if I need more structure in my life. Now, for those of you that know me well, that should be funny. It took me a bit to realize just how funny. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I make a new recipe every week. I serve fish once a week. I serve homemade soup once a week. I do all my laundry one day a week. I clean my entire house one day a week. I volunteer at school one day a week. I attend church once a week. I bake muffins on the weekend. I hold FHE every week(which really means planning a great dessert once a week.) I do yoga at least twice a week. I walk with Lori in the morning(except when I'm sick!). I read a book for book club every month. I attend multiple PTO meetings every month. I pack lunches every morning. I make a dinner menu every week. I shop every Monday and fill up my gas tank, whether it needs it or not. I go to the library once a week. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="http://marinasprimalcooking.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/zuppa-toscana-soup.jpg" height="200" src="http://marinasprimalcooking.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/zuppa-toscana-soup.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="148" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zuppa Toscano-This week's new recipe and soup all in one. Delicious.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Maybe the problem is not LACK of structure but just the opposite. Maybe I need to throw caution to the wind and have a week with NO structure to see how that feels. Maybe that would help me see how much I really am accomplishing. Maybe not. That just sounds crazy. And a little irresponsible. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Likely, I just need to be more mindful of the little things I do to help out my peeps. After all that's my main job right now...I helped Ben with a "time line" of his life last week. Took Jake for his driving test. He passed and can get his license next week if we can find the time. Helped Rachel master her 71 phonograms-whew, I'll be glad to finish 1st grade forever. Helped Dave out with his Deacon's quorum combined youth activity. Picked up the repaired french horn. Comforted Rachel's broken heart. Supported Ben for baseball tryouts. Avoided mortally wounding a disrespectful teenager. Celebrated the kids' accomplishments, including Ben's third award for all-around awesomeness at school.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">All this while I was sick. I'm rocking this job. I'll do it again this coming week. Enough said. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522744319398782161.post-66518588499142686092012-02-11T22:08:00.000-07:002012-02-11T22:08:12.082-07:00Weekly (?) UpdateMy fault. I was waiting for an update from Rob (which arrived on Thursday, 2/2) and then I lost the rest of the post somewhere in the blogosphere. I kept thinking I would be able to find my clever and witty text along with Carrie and Kurt's charming updates and then I would post it. It is not going to happen. My sixteen-year-old has it right. I am technologically challenged. Oh well. <br />
<br />
So here it is (minus my long-winded contribution)--The Week of January 30th(give or take)...<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Kim</span></div>I've seen this on Pinterest (which tells you something about how I spend my week) and it kind of sums up my entire life for you...<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq"><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: orange;">My daily routine: Get up, be amazing, go back to bed.</span></span></span> </blockquote></blockquote><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Carrie</span></div><br />
My goals for the week complete, my boys got their hair done at Little Klippers in Colchester. They have an airplane chair!!! They look so cute, although Chase looks so big!!! And he is! We moved him to a big boy bed this week!! Freecycle rocks!! Free car bed :) Mom came to Providence with me and the monsters Saturday to get the girls hair done. Hailey has pink and purple highlights. Kayla got her hair dyed too!! It's a beautiful auburn :) Crazy young but it's in their DNA!!! My exercise has been awesome!! I'm feeling a little superhero like. I lost 2 lbs. :) I picked up a scale, balance ball and some weights. I overdid the workouts last week and needed a massage, so I came up with a four day a week plan. I'm sleeping so good!! I feel amazing. 46 lbs. is my goal. Hopefully in 23 weeks I'll have reached it!!!<br />
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This week is starting with Chase throwing up, the oil tank is going in and the old one coming out. Hopefully I'll have a time frame on the windows and doors :( Special orders ugh. Bump the elliptical time up 5 minutes. And take Kayla to the dentist. Have a sparkling week :)<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Kurt</span></div><br />
I walked in a runway show<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinJit9BMRVFwNkDHiV0KqJyyPFB8OnVnCLAXVfuYL5HxGye3ZXV43X1SRBeD7wQmDFo29zaP1lVY3pDAA3qP-DOzogsyO4017O0ojCmmrKH-BzogXXaqsKqRdPkoV3hfDtO618zz0RoPCF/s1600/image-12.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinJit9BMRVFwNkDHiV0KqJyyPFB8OnVnCLAXVfuYL5HxGye3ZXV43X1SRBeD7wQmDFo29zaP1lVY3pDAA3qP-DOzogsyO4017O0ojCmmrKH-BzogXXaqsKqRdPkoV3hfDtO618zz0RoPCF/s320/image-12.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I made a cell phone case<br />
<br />
<br />
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<br />
I want to bring my CDs to a store to sell them<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Rob</span></div><br />
Sunday, Thursday... they are so much alike, it is easy to confuse<br />
them. Ugh. You take a few days off from your life and next thing you<br />
know everything is forcefully moved around on you.<br />
<br />
So I didn't have really anything to add the week before last, people<br />
got sick, threw up, ran fevers - life goes on etc. Last week I made<br />
my trip out to D&D Experience in Fort Wayne, IN on Wednesday, getting<br />
home (insanely tired) on Sunday night. Not really much to crow about<br />
in the days leading up to it, except for maybe watching the Patriots<br />
win another playoff game, ensuring a spot in the Superbowl, only to<br />
have the Giants beat the 49ers and get a rematch of 2007 - and we all<br />
know how that ended :( . Last year I had brought McGuire with me to<br />
DDXP, and it was an absolute blast getting to spend all day playing<br />
with him for a long weekend. This year, stupid school had to get in<br />
the way of having my eldest son along with me, since he had mid-terms<br />
that week, and I couldn't in good faith pull him out of midterms to go<br />
have fun with his Dad. As such, I got them off to school on<br />
Wednesday, then took off for my trip.<br />
<br />
I had a nice little scare on the way out, as I realized that I left<br />
the house at 9, to get to the airport at 10, to catch my plane at<br />
11:30 - and then noticed that the plane left at 11:10. And the<br />
parking lot was closed. So I had to go to one of the far-away parking<br />
lots, and practically run to the terminal - thankfully security was<br />
empty and not a huge hassle, and I got to the terminal as they were<br />
seating group 4. I had the crazy good fortune of being in a row with<br />
3 other people, a lovely woman in her late 40s at the window, an empty<br />
seat, me, the aisle, a beautiful Indian woman, an empty seat and some<br />
guy who fell asleep on the window as soon as he sat down. No crying<br />
babies, no kids kicking my seat, no rotund dude spilling over the<br />
armrest into my lap; I count that a win. When I got the Chicago to<br />
switch planes, I actually saw one of the guys who works with Wizards<br />
of the Coast, and we chatted for a while - he even recognized me from<br />
last year, and asked about my son not coming. There was also a<br />
super-cute college girl sitting near me, we kept having eye-contact<br />
moments with a smile - I know I am a dork, but it made me feel good to<br />
get a smile from such a cute young woman. Steve (yep, the same gangly<br />
kid from Lebanon growing up) and Heather picked me up at the airport,<br />
and we went over to the hotel to get ready for the coming 4 days of<br />
gaming.<br />
<br />
I was scheduled to run games for the first 4 slots of the show, but<br />
they were adventures that I ran at GenCon last year, so I was very<br />
comfortable with them. They went really well: people had fun, dice<br />
were rolled, monsters were killed. Not the best set of players ever -<br />
a handful of people who liked to meta-game the encounters a bit more<br />
than I find fun, on either side of the DM Screen, but it didn't go too<br />
badly. The next day I was playing all day - the big Battle<br />
Interactive, preceded by a rescue mission into a fortress full of<br />
creepy eel people. I played my "Knight in Shining Armor" Paladin for<br />
both, and got a really great DM for the first adventure. She was new<br />
to DMing at conventions, and I had helped her out a little on<br />
Wednesday night. She ran the game really well, the table had a good<br />
interplay and everything was really fun. The big Battle Interactive<br />
this year was to defend a city populated by Sea Elves, and I was<br />
seated at a table with Steve and Heather - plus a husband-wife couple<br />
that I really wish I had never met. The adventure itself was great -<br />
lots of cool battles, good challenges, interesting combats and a<br />
choice of where in the city we wanted to help save. The party was a<br />
bit of a mess and the players of two of the party members had no<br />
interest in listening to anyone or working as a team. The DM was<br />
inexperienced, but also unfamiliar with the rules and the adventure,<br />
and was seriously lacking in "table presence". I will get another<br />
chance to play it with my local group at the end of February, so I<br />
look forward to a better experience then, but the table was a low<br />
point of the weekend, even though I liked the adventure.<br />
<br />
The next day I was playing mostly games set in the desert world of<br />
Athas, where the gods are dead and metal is rare. We got lucky in<br />
that the adventure was run by one of the people in charge of the<br />
campaign, and sitting with us were two D&D adventure writers. My monk<br />
just barely got out of that adventure with his skin intact - literally<br />
as close as one can get to having a dead character without actually<br />
dying. It was great. By this, the third day, there was some really<br />
good feedback about the adventure I helped write and was premiering at<br />
the show. Sadly, one table apparently ran it completely wrong, thanks<br />
to a bad DM, but most people called it the highlight of the trilogy,<br />
which makes me feel great. Saturday I also had a chance to be in the<br />
first public playtest of the newest edition of D&D, there is an NDA<br />
(Non-Disclosure Agreement) so I can't say much about the actual<br />
details, but I really dislike the direction they are going - sharply<br />
backwards. The game itself was really fun, since we had one of the<br />
key guys at Wizards running the table, and a couple of web-comic<br />
authors at the table with us. There were hijinks, outright Orcish<br />
brutality, slave girls, fireballs and lots of laughing. On one hand,<br />
pure role playing fun, on the other hand, not a game that I have a lot<br />
of interest in playing much.<br />
<br />
Sunday was the last day of the convention, and I took the hotel's<br />
shuttle back to the airport. Free wi-fi and a long gap between the<br />
shuttle and the plane meant I finished season one of Downton Abbey -<br />
SOOO good! Back to Chicago, and the same cute girl from Chicago->Fort<br />
Wayne was on this flight, too! Turns out she was home for a long<br />
weekend, then going out to Montana - college, as I assumed at first,<br />
and warm fuzzies from a smile of recognition. I'm such a dork.<br />
Flight back from Chicago to Boston was not as good as it could have<br />
been. Two rows in front of me was a small family: father, mother<br />
across the aisle from each other, and their perhaps 9 month old baby<br />
on Dad's lap. Crying. The whole time. Oh, and someone puked just<br />
after we got airborn. I would have guessed the baby, but the smell<br />
had me gagging every few minutes the rest of the flight, every time I<br />
caught a wiff of the puke. I hate that smell, even more than the<br />
crying. Anyway, I got home in really good time - plane landed a bit<br />
early, got to my car quickly and easily, no traffic. I saw the kids<br />
off to school on Monday, and that was the past week.<br />
<br />
I will try to get next week's actually at the end of the week, but who<br />
knows with me...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522744319398782161.post-5554962437769812882012-01-24T05:57:00.001-07:002012-01-25T06:36:48.915-07:00Weekly Update<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Rob</span>---catch you next week<span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Carrie</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaJyWQBv9frmHOIj-1VnIAswsoBQcSkGauU9fG7AOQNSDR8qqJvuWLRyjyKMFHGbL5KbD0Nhg0W1h5w0sgrs8EsSyw8zZ_BXyrormDBZMK0aBs0Z9VN2hy4DfN_xjPq69sfK4dx3aBms_u/s1600/SANY0010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaJyWQBv9frmHOIj-1VnIAswsoBQcSkGauU9fG7AOQNSDR8qqJvuWLRyjyKMFHGbL5KbD0Nhg0W1h5w0sgrs8EsSyw8zZ_BXyrormDBZMK0aBs0Z9VN2hy4DfN_xjPq69sfK4dx3aBms_u/s320/SANY0010.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Update.................After a round of strep throat for Hailey and 3 missed days at school, I get a call saying she got her finger hurt. Her hand was behind the big heavy doors when someone knocked into it. Her pinkie was smashed between the wall and the door :( Not broken luckily but I got to see she left a mark on the wall, a legacy!!! Poor kid's had a run of bad luck. I feel like I'm grounded when I have sick kids! But I dyed H<br />
We finally got some snow!!!! Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday :) It was so nice to get out there and play in the snow. I'm quite the princess about the cold. But if there's snow, it's all good. The kids made "snowcones" with strawberry syrup and maple syrup. Chase is finally liking the snow!!! He didn't want to come in. I guess his leg span is a key factor, last year he couldn't walk in more than an inch :) Kayla and Chase lasted hours longer then Hailey and Trent. Trent lasts about a half an hour and says he's cold :( He's OBSESSED with Super Mario Brothers!!! I've taken to hiding the games for the wii. It's bad!!! Kayla went ice skating with a friend. Her butt wasn't too sore :) <br />
I got dolled up with my friends to go Styleweek Providence. We picked Kurt up on the way and got to watch tons of beautiful anorexic girls work that runway!! Good times. As for me.....I started a pretty good workout routine. I'm almost sore all the time :) Sean's sit up app on his iphone is coming in handy for me too. Two days into that, 141 sit ups later!! Hailey's changeover to vegetarian has made us all eat a little bit better. Not that we ate that bad to begin with, but it's easier when I HAVE to focus on healthy. I've already lost a little hip, which is amazing to me. I need to get a scale now to keep track of my progress. I feel empowered!!!!! Goals for the week: continue my new lifestyle, get boys haircuts and get girls haircuts. <br />
Sorry, I'm a little picture happy :) <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Kurt</span></div><br />
What DID I do this week. I finished my shoes.<br />
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I started working again on my belt...<br />
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I've web doing a lot of photo uploading on the app INSTAGRAM....just a fun app to waste time and share art.<br />
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This week I really need to FINISH THAT BELT. I actually want to start separating things to be packed. And desperate clothes that I am actually going to wear. Edit my stuff for my moving/travels. My lease is up end of Feb So the new chapter BEGINS!! <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Kim</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiWJA-OBsjBfUURJ5C3jj634QziDyoEj2POZCyvLwt2FGlgUKFprmV0Y2zb62rAyQLTt-MzA7Q-AIBc5vBjLdzML8Jg2QM73NjM19ocul7KNkxHIboC0o0pHInOUXROBbxZ_i878BcGDr1/s1600/IMG_0173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiWJA-OBsjBfUURJ5C3jj634QziDyoEj2POZCyvLwt2FGlgUKFprmV0Y2zb62rAyQLTt-MzA7Q-AIBc5vBjLdzML8Jg2QM73NjM19ocul7KNkxHIboC0o0pHInOUXROBbxZ_i878BcGDr1/s320/IMG_0173.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
The sixth-grade Chinese New Year party was a hit. I wasn't sure 11- and 12-year-olds would have fun playing games--no media. I'm not sure they thought it would be fun either. But it was! It really was fun. I served dim sum and had them start with playing the guess who game. They ran a game of charades and then played a chopsticks game and then twister. They laughed and talked a lot and ended with a somewhat silly game of poker. Only three kids knew how to play sooo....not really very competitive. Mission accomplished. These kids DO have "people" even though middle school can make you feel alone.<br />
<br />
I finished <i>Masie Dobbs</i> for book club and am wondering what there is to discuss...I'll have to work on some questions. One of my goals this year is to read more and I've already finished 5 books in the new year. I doubt I can keep it up at that rate but I LOVE to read when it's cold out.<br />
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Carrie has inspired me to do better at exercising. I'm walking with Lori again so that's good. Talk about cold though--who-eee. It's been windy here. Sucks. I have the ongoing goal of filing and organizing papers--maybe a once-a-week commitment would help...we'll see. Maybe Thursday...And I NEED to update the blog with Disney and birthday pictures. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522744319398782161.post-46915386474642285112012-01-18T05:56:00.000-07:002012-01-18T05:56:24.540-07:00Weekly Update<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Kim</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIj1_N_htPrfJBSY7eGFd4byds0kLXYryVrPESnVZc_vrcQGbceAnkXh6Udlh593PhyPdfRLjxVPGbD_irYihsnFxIkMhs41yhfMyX2K4B3voamF83ildjb5Ffyz6gWSfLesAHtMKUHnZ_/s1600/IMG_0146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIj1_N_htPrfJBSY7eGFd4byds0kLXYryVrPESnVZc_vrcQGbceAnkXh6Udlh593PhyPdfRLjxVPGbD_irYihsnFxIkMhs41yhfMyX2K4B3voamF83ildjb5Ffyz6gWSfLesAHtMKUHnZ_/s320/IMG_0146.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I made the banner on my new Silhouette Cameo that I got for Christmas. Perfect timing. So much fun.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Rachel's party was the week's big event and took most of my time. Things turned out mostly the way I'd hoped and she had a <i>great time</i> so that's the best part. I had help from a young woman from church (who was Rachel's primary teacher last year) since I won her "party planning" services at the service auction in October. She was very invested and helpful even if she didn't realize she was dealing with a bit of a party planner to begin with...it's always interesting working with someone who doesn't exactly get what you're thinking. After my needless worrying, there were 13 guests at the party. We served spaghetti and meatballs and played lots of games. I love a good theme! Our neighborhood has lots of really sweet kids. It was impressively under control. Nearly all the kids gave Rachel some kind of craft project as a gift. It's cute that they know her so well. She's been in heaven crafting it up.<br />
<br />
Rachel is already thinking about next year's theme. "Under the Sea" is her initial thought. We'll see if I'm up for another home party by then. Somehow this fall I managed to commit to a Little House on the Prairie party for Rachel when summer comes. It will be fun to plan a party in the warm weather but I may not be able to face "Under the Sea" come January unless it's at a local pool...<br />
<br />
This coming week I need to take down the decorations, return a bunch of borrowed stuff and gear up for the Chinese New Year party I'm hosting for Ben and his friends. I'm trying to keep it low key but that's harder than it sounds. I can get carried away. I also need to get started on my book club novel, <i>Maisie Dobbs. </i><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Rob</span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">Monday Archer and I stayed home; he had a total meltdown and I<br />
couldn't send him into school like that. He wound up getting some<br />
sleep, and was a lot better afterwards. Tuesday, McGuire stayed home<br />
from school with Allison because he was feeling terrible. Wednesday<br />
everyone did their appropriate thing, until we left D&D. Our</div>Friendly's was closed!?! Apparently there was a rash of stores<br />
closed, again, and this time our weekly meal-house was one of the<br />
victims. Friday night Archer had his friend Logan sleep over, but<br />
Archer wound up puking on Saturday. He was running a fever later in<br />
the day, so he wound up napping on the couch with me while watching<br />
some excellent playoff football. Sunday he was still sick, so we<br />
stayed at home and rested. Monday, since Archer was feeling better,<br />
McGuire wanted to have the Sweenys over. They took turns playing<br />
Dance Central 2, then watched Willow and finished with a little Rock<br />
Band 3. Poor McGuire caught whatever Archer had last night, and woke<br />
up at 4:30 vomiting. Hopefully next week will be posted on Sunday,<br />
and have less bad stuff.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Kurt</span></div><br />
Wow...what a week. On Tuesday night I headed down to NYC to hang out with my good friend Taylor. He is an actor who I met while he was doing a deaf play in Hartford. Carries kids actually saw his play when it was touring. We ate at an ALL macaroni and cheese restaurant. It's like/or is a chain restaurant and the place is shaped like a C (like macaroni)<br />
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Wednesday morning we went to THE NEW MUSEUM to see Carsten Höllers Exhibit. It was all about sensory deprivation<br />
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and changing the way you look and use the space around u.<br />
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The main attraction was a slide that was built through the ground just for the exhibit<br />
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and a shallow pool that one person at a time goes in to nude (there are walls).<br />
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I was most excited to see his life sized resin cast animals that are BRIGHTLY colored....<br />
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I had read about them in an art book that I got for christmas right before I heard about his exhibit!<br />
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I then got to do a NEW character at TEN31 that was more of a yoga/contortionists performance.<br />
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I'm the unicorn...on the left.<br />
I have also been editing the film non-stop. There is a little "commercial" on my YouTube page now.<br />
<br />
And all through this I started making some shoes<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Carrie</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT0jDzhKOWmvC8TtqrxeHelS-OvflBe_JSA1YbJuDkEaoalZSCbCnOu8TvFwR3YLCUWv396UMo2DNAryePPVnScGvw3PVRoloD_6a_z_btIpYMdiKSwFe7JZ_EltXYlJz0lE2hONmMde_u/s1600/Carrie+kiddos" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT0jDzhKOWmvC8TtqrxeHelS-OvflBe_JSA1YbJuDkEaoalZSCbCnOu8TvFwR3YLCUWv396UMo2DNAryePPVnScGvw3PVRoloD_6a_z_btIpYMdiKSwFe7JZ_EltXYlJz0lE2hONmMde_u/s320/Carrie+kiddos" width="320" /></a></div><br />
So, I've been busy helping to plan my friend's jack and jill :) Sean's truck is all better. I replaced our new computer that crashed. Replaced our dinosaur tv in our bedroom. Got new books and a calendar finally! And did all of that with gift cards so I hardly spent money!!! Love that :) This week I'm going to take the boys to their favorite museum, and gear up for the fashion show on Sunday! I'm going to miss going to them in Providence since Kurt is moving on. :( Have dinner with friends of ours who has a little guy. Baby fix!!! My pilates is going well and the elliptical is still keeping me running!! Got to keep that up. That's all for now. xoxoxo.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522744319398782161.post-55657344191176376482012-01-09T09:10:00.084-07:002012-01-18T05:43:13.025-07:00Weekly Update<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Kurt </span></div><br />
Editing......editing...editing.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwKBYVtqh2h3TJjpnyrY9Km65d-9JmYEjtrROYTcn2x3cUjon96Rzvsue0waJF5YUzq35TNbr8FeKDfoZwzQLgHSqQaCFGyISsF8tlqLhwsK0FEqOsFMd53Qm4jvnttkaLn9FZUUSaFV9m/s1600/kurt+blue+unitard.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwKBYVtqh2h3TJjpnyrY9Km65d-9JmYEjtrROYTcn2x3cUjon96Rzvsue0waJF5YUzq35TNbr8FeKDfoZwzQLgHSqQaCFGyISsF8tlqLhwsK0FEqOsFMd53Qm4jvnttkaLn9FZUUSaFV9m/s320/kurt+blue+unitard.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
I had a fitting for a new costume at Ten31 productions<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG-Tt4U4x3fL7jGaPjHmWmIFNHNabKBOd6JPEhmBplRv1i6yX-OD5OxNuQ1xsV_-bXMQcE9qJNXWh87mMTHLcVKMdfsk-o1zzOrYplWGH5VbHzMY7XU0dLOuGOe95oSb6aLx6c-O8BO9tt/s1600/kurt+jan2012.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG-Tt4U4x3fL7jGaPjHmWmIFNHNabKBOd6JPEhmBplRv1i6yX-OD5OxNuQ1xsV_-bXMQcE9qJNXWh87mMTHLcVKMdfsk-o1zzOrYplWGH5VbHzMY7XU0dLOuGOe95oSb6aLx6c-O8BO9tt/s320/kurt+jan2012.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>It's very cirque du soilel/acrobat style.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs42evFark-wKWUbSdZ7b9eZ6hbNboZTbExhO7IOaKwLX_QmNVOc2dvvrqBz6nToShiVc3DasHT0pz1tdV4ov5QFv75Q7t0H5wnbsiYJwJim3dDjWwEQYTgrImW6tcl2N80Vjea5h-WVL9/s1600/kurt+editing.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs42evFark-wKWUbSdZ7b9eZ6hbNboZTbExhO7IOaKwLX_QmNVOc2dvvrqBz6nToShiVc3DasHT0pz1tdV4ov5QFv75Q7t0H5wnbsiYJwJim3dDjWwEQYTgrImW6tcl2N80Vjea5h-WVL9/s320/kurt+editing.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>We will be wearing silver elk and unicorn masks<br />
I also went to a David Bowie themed dance night. Tons of fun but no photos yet. Ok. Gotta get back to editing. I only have two weeks<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Carrie</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM7QA9pImV0IB8z_xe3A7hoQ9WYNagvfWTy4Gk-ZMlp-943ku0XLuCkzgyu2kz0Lr7r9F0FK3cDGP1BbQKPzsF7PZg8B2LGuLBHBiPW4Ehp6hk2ZED2ry594icO6OgvhrXUK57iHBQuhLu/s1600/Carrie+trent+shave" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM7QA9pImV0IB8z_xe3A7hoQ9WYNagvfWTy4Gk-ZMlp-943ku0XLuCkzgyu2kz0Lr7r9F0FK3cDGP1BbQKPzsF7PZg8B2LGuLBHBiPW4Ehp6hk2ZED2ry594icO6OgvhrXUK57iHBQuhLu/s320/Carrie+trent+shave" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">This week I got a call from Trent's speech teacher telling me he's graduating the program :-) I'm so happy with how far he's come!!! He also is starting with sight words and learning to read. Time flies!! Trent is the ring bearer for my friends wedding in April and he is super excited. Chase is potty training, on his terms of course. He'll be 3 in April!! As long as he can run around bare butt he'll go on the potty and asks for a diaper sometimes. If he's like Trent, he'll decide on day to stop wearing diapers and that'll be that! Kayla has come out of her cocoon lately. The phone rings more for her then me!! Another social butterfly. Hailey has been busy with friends, homework and newspaper club. She has 3 articles to do for the next middle school newspaper! Oh and she is a vegetarian now. Her love of animals is far greater then her love of steak!!!! Phase???!! Sean started his foreman job again. Long days :-( I helped plan Laura's jack and jill with Laura and Heather. On the way there our truck told me to shut the engine off, no oil pressure. Heather and I had to sit and let it cool down a few times. Total of an hour and a half!!!!!! Dad came and looked at it for me!! The good thing is Sean has his work truck. It just needs an oil change but wow, that sucked!!!!! And our new computer crashed :-(. Best buy is exchanging it for us today though :-) on a better note, I think I found a laundry system that will work for us!! And I started pilates again. Love pilates!!! </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">This coming week........start selling girl scout cookies, stick with my 2 vigorous laundry days, continue pilates, get a massage. Get truck done today, van done this week, get vegetarian cookbook. PTA, bridesmaid meeting, get bridemaid dress. I'm sure there's more in there too!!! This Is My Life :-D !!!!!!!!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Rob</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBnm6iGsnOqs3EV1xYN-9kfc9D-HdqG2SEMcC04fkiy64Ho3YxTCT-vxF9A0SgnO0aY1u3eavyoE1m3FXl1bS1_88HidmOgumvGSNU1DSg_yA85G-cfKsmhGu4RO9jGmYOf-OZDUghhzGD/s1600/Empty+Entertainment+unit+120811.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBnm6iGsnOqs3EV1xYN-9kfc9D-HdqG2SEMcC04fkiy64Ho3YxTCT-vxF9A0SgnO0aY1u3eavyoE1m3FXl1bS1_88HidmOgumvGSNU1DSg_yA85G-cfKsmhGu4RO9jGmYOf-OZDUghhzGD/s320/Empty+Entertainment+unit+120811.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Day late, which sucks; but I have a hard time getting these typed up<br />
when the kids are buzzing around, wanting my attention, or just<br />
refusing to sleep. Archer finally gave up and went to bed at 1am, so<br />
I didn't have a chance to get to this. The week was a little meh,<br />
overall. Sunday we all slept in, since we were up late on New Year's<br />
Eve - we had some friends over to play D&D. It could well end up<br />
being our family tradition. I didn't see much football, you know,<br />
with the lack of my television and all that, but I did watch one of<br />
the later games on the tiny, 20 year old TV in my bedroom while I did<br />
laundry. Allison came over to spend some time with the kids, they<br />
seemed to have fun.<br />
<br />
Monday was the highlight of the week: Carrie and her kids came up,<br />
bringing the Xmas gifts from Colorado. The boys were appreciative of<br />
the clothes, and even more so with the gift cards - they were quickly<br />
turned into the new Mario Kart for the 3DS and a gaming headset. The<br />
flashing helicopter that Kim sent me was a big hit - almost literally<br />
a few times. I also was able to get some funds towards my new<br />
receiver - once I do the research on what I want :P. I nicked my<br />
fingers for a split second with the rotor blades, not a good feeling,<br />
but no blood drawn. Later, McGuire walked into the path of a downed<br />
chopper, and felt the blades against his ankle. The big scary moment<br />
was when Trent was looking at it on the counter, and Archer asked if<br />
he could play with it for a second. I told him not right now, which<br />
he interpreted to mean "sure, grab it". When he did, he bumped the<br />
throttle, making the blades start spinning within about 6 inches of<br />
Trent's eyes. I was very much not pleased, and chewed Archer out over<br />
it. Near-blinding aside, it was a great visit, even without a fancy<br />
TV to show off. The rest of the week was work, school, homework,<br />
insomnia and some sleep. Booooring - sorry.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiES1NIIhr0hUZTbKEcZcDtpwgfd74tu2Z4wNE-qrM7LiwrUidQdUVQL_vfVlKHUy4Oi3sHCgpQqx7-Lg6o3LBpeV7WvhT5Ix_nHFCITGJnCrt12z_1ZKmpacoqZaDPcooB5BBn3AP95-cG/s1600/New+TV+Set+up+121111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiES1NIIhr0hUZTbKEcZcDtpwgfd74tu2Z4wNE-qrM7LiwrUidQdUVQL_vfVlKHUy4Oi3sHCgpQqx7-Lg6o3LBpeV7WvhT5Ix_nHFCITGJnCrt12z_1ZKmpacoqZaDPcooB5BBn3AP95-cG/s1600/New+TV+Set+up+121111.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">I take that back, a little. Wednesday, my main complaint for the last<br />
month finally got resolved. On Tuesday, I asked Best Buy about<br />
returning the TV, even if it had been "serviced", and since it was<br />
still within 30 days, it was no problem. I called the service center<br />
on Wednesday morning, and after getting some flak for wanting to just<br />
pick the TV back up, and informing them that Thursday was too long to<br />
wait, I got hung up on... But the TV was put back together when I got<br />
there, and I was able to get it back to Best Buy without a problem.<br />
By bedtime, I had a replacement, fresh out of the box, hung on the<br />
wall. It is almost odd to not have something to complain about,<br />
almost. I put links in the last post, links to pictures of the living<br />
room as I moved everything around, and a couple with the TV on the<br />
wall. I am attaching them this time.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj81wOJXoi2oWpdq3DQ4J3ZG8BSQIsNzaDrnxZk7TcqupXLL8yCy-uEOkL1PSrS-fPxYfdH161aVa524HDpezzh24OmKfazkupfA3s0fvZMudQSNjBXNk8q8G5pAl3_5TFJVvkX2pDwRNrn/s1600/TV+on+the+Wall+121011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj81wOJXoi2oWpdq3DQ4J3ZG8BSQIsNzaDrnxZk7TcqupXLL8yCy-uEOkL1PSrS-fPxYfdH161aVa524HDpezzh24OmKfazkupfA3s0fvZMudQSNjBXNk8q8G5pAl3_5TFJVvkX2pDwRNrn/s1600/TV+on+the+Wall+121011.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ2EqxRDyhcDv2X806mbrOuBwYPG036cHxsy7HkgRDlze73TKXs1x99z_Ud-KctFFwyVYTPsvETvb_mFYfGPmcrwJQuzsfXpUU1nuDW8sDN_i-dnegLxXugRraYxcArbAixd7gMRnEoEO3/s1600/Vacated+Old+Spot+120811.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ2EqxRDyhcDv2X806mbrOuBwYPG036cHxsy7HkgRDlze73TKXs1x99z_Ud-KctFFwyVYTPsvETvb_mFYfGPmcrwJQuzsfXpUU1nuDW8sDN_i-dnegLxXugRraYxcArbAixd7gMRnEoEO3/s1600/Vacated+Old+Spot+120811.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Saturday was nice in that we literally didn't do anything. I think<br />
maybe one load of laundry got washed.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Kim</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQMnzSHWZdKCTdCKmKgp-ajtisVRvtm0wxdMd6tAuWlV4Lt66fkkd8oiBF_6s74cNNegABRcsOF2kA1qno_zXN0mvlY-12eKK-kMUioEmVClTZ-M49oLhgZwhM6xigoiNXomO21uhMYEel/s1600/IMG_0644.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQMnzSHWZdKCTdCKmKgp-ajtisVRvtm0wxdMd6tAuWlV4Lt66fkkd8oiBF_6s74cNNegABRcsOF2kA1qno_zXN0mvlY-12eKK-kMUioEmVClTZ-M49oLhgZwhM6xigoiNXomO21uhMYEel/s320/IMG_0644.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jake at Cooper Mountain. Enjoying the day.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I got Christmas totally put away with Dave's help. The kids went snowboarding/skiing with Dave, including Rachel. She took lessons and had a GREAT day. I got through a MASSIVE filing/To do pile while they were gone. Did not practice poker. Started to plan for Rachel's birthday party. Cleaned the church bathrooms...seems like we did this not so long ago. I thought it was only twice a year...hmmm. Some people must not be pulling their weight. Enjoyed a mellow schedule without much going on...just in time to receive the soccer training schedule. It starts next week! Phooey. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyH0ldkMX_yBZg9Dy4CCxhETNFLOvMnsoLtgyR8VjfPwBjIJDwIDhnCztZNwcCd4wSx4Dtx1yTpY9sNo_vNDBvOP4A-27qO9fbCRedHkcPQh5oIxXvKb5-iBCODZ453athB34ozp83sgAz/s1600/IMG_0646.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyH0ldkMX_yBZg9Dy4CCxhETNFLOvMnsoLtgyR8VjfPwBjIJDwIDhnCztZNwcCd4wSx4Dtx1yTpY9sNo_vNDBvOP4A-27qO9fbCRedHkcPQh5oIxXvKb5-iBCODZ453athB34ozp83sgAz/s320/IMG_0646.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ben learning his S-turns in his new gear. Looking good.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoDUwDwbe-D1ilq7f9gNffLdwUuv2NCn9piDKtU8p4gi6tm6s9e6DwXgAW624cINMAldBuKtQUY1eABzsayt0v6Yof_8IIfF9OfY2CN09bWgYSyMFd0h2A_lWRGPoProwSbqOV7mcD_USj/s1600/IMG_0657.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoDUwDwbe-D1ilq7f9gNffLdwUuv2NCn9piDKtU8p4gi6tm6s9e6DwXgAW624cINMAldBuKtQUY1eABzsayt0v6Yof_8IIfF9OfY2CN09bWgYSyMFd0h2A_lWRGPoProwSbqOV7mcD_USj/s320/IMG_0657.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rachel learning to "shred" as her brothers say.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGSGaBtCEJUWkLDhuAQMhcxe4a7kNjDr2xnFRu-MGxrv7_OhPX1M5gXERTipdqtRd5EfAiK3g9U8-h_FQ1GFolkcrq8PAwKufECNDJXVwYcXgmkLnrKluIcAU4YJ5jWlNklpvdxFFhLNVY/s1600/IMG_0652.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGSGaBtCEJUWkLDhuAQMhcxe4a7kNjDr2xnFRu-MGxrv7_OhPX1M5gXERTipdqtRd5EfAiK3g9U8-h_FQ1GFolkcrq8PAwKufECNDJXVwYcXgmkLnrKluIcAU4YJ5jWlNklpvdxFFhLNVY/s320/IMG_0652.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rachel was concerned about the red rental skis with her outfit. Glad her instructor was a woman who understands such things and was able to commiserate.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">This coming week will be crunch time for Rachel's Jungle Party. The invitations are out and of course I'm worried no one will come...she invited her ENTIRE class of 19 kids and I'm worried about NOT having anyone here. Why? Who could say(a professional might be warranted here)...irrational, but true. I always worry about that.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Should be fun preparing for the party. I have big crafting plans. We'll see what I can accomplish while still managing other mom duties. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522744319398782161.post-90429524222615347662012-01-02T20:56:00.001-07:002012-01-02T20:59:02.687-07:00Weekly Updates<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Kim</span></div>On Christmas evening, Jake and I started to feel sick. We didn't enjoy the delicious pork roast that Dave made...I threw up and then we felt cruddy the whole next day. I did read the new book I got for Christmas though...Tuesday Ben and Rachel were feeling badly. Wednesday it continued for Rach. Thursday Dave started feeling poorly and by Friday night he was seriously not well. Saturday night Sadie-dog had me up to let her out SEVEN times. She NEVER does that. This is the first time we have ALL been sick in the same week-including the dog. Whew. Glad there are not more of us.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RX_6r52lTDA/TwHOCCvBBcI/AAAAAAAACMM/2psojNgEjeU/s1600/IMG_1267.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RX_6r52lTDA/TwHOCCvBBcI/AAAAAAAACMM/2psojNgEjeU/s320/IMG_1267.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Ben went skiing on Thursday with Evan and had a really great day.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-edB-IpPZxqQ/TwHPL1oFdwI/AAAAAAAACMY/FuG4K-FOMwE/s1600/IMG_1260.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-edB-IpPZxqQ/TwHPL1oFdwI/AAAAAAAACMY/FuG4K-FOMwE/s320/IMG_1260.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>Jake turned 16 and celebrated with a couple of his friends. Can that be right? I have a SIXTEEN year old!?! He received a bunch of great gifts in spite of just raking it in for Christmas, but the gift that has my interest the most is the poker set. We had a "friendly" game on New Year's where Jake killed us. How does he know how to play Texas hold 'em so well? <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AO4nWIfkbvM/TwHP0IWA8eI/AAAAAAAACMk/7ydlS54Pxv8/s1600/IMG_0123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AO4nWIfkbvM/TwHP0IWA8eI/AAAAAAAACMk/7ydlS54Pxv8/s320/IMG_0123.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
This week I will put away Christmas decorations. Sterilize my whole house. Make invitations for Rachel's birthday party. Start making decorations for her jungle party. Maybe brush up on my poker skills online...<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Kurt</span></div><br />
I'm on the set of a video shoot so this is short and sweet<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5EUkKLQu2dY/TwHSWTyPoII/AAAAAAAACM4/P553Njqh3co/s1600/image.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5EUkKLQu2dY/TwHSWTyPoII/AAAAAAAACM4/P553Njqh3co/s320/image.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Trainwreck...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ro4nKneQj5g/TwHSahJtvmI/AAAAAAAACNA/51VR5rzUs_4/s1600/image.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ro4nKneQj5g/TwHSahJtvmI/AAAAAAAACNA/51VR5rzUs_4/s320/image.png" width="213" /></a></div>A bunch of gender bender performers get together<br />
<br />
The House of Cach video shoot<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eVkSVuzGkFo/TwHSO3OMkpI/AAAAAAAACMw/-L8TisTQjv0/s1600/image-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eVkSVuzGkFo/TwHSO3OMkpI/AAAAAAAACMw/-L8TisTQjv0/s320/image-1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
More to follow. <br />
<br />
I've got a lot to do this week...editing video...I'm also seeing the current exhibit at the new museum in NYC. Check it out online<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Rob</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">It's been a nice, relaxing couple of weeks. I feel like I can't tell<br />
what day it is, with the kids off from school and minimal work during<br />
the break. I has also been largely uneventful, in a good way. We did<br />
the usual Christmas thing, no reason for divorce to change any of<br />
that. We wound up taking two cars to Carrie's for Xmas Eve, which let<br />
me and the boys stay there way too late. There was some concern that<br />
we wouldn't get home in time for Santa to get the gifts to the right<br />
place, but we made it with 15 minutes to spare. Christmas morning<br />
was an exercise in torture for the boys, I wouldn't let them go into<br />
the living room until Allison came over, so we wound up hanging out in<br />
my bed for 20 minutes until she could get here. Archer was<br />
off-the-charts happy to get Skylanders for the PS3, McGuire was<br />
psyched to get an automatic Nerf gun. The rest of the gift-giving was<br />
nice, lots of little gifts for the boys, I got a Dunkin Donuts card<br />
from Allison, and got her an hour massage. We packed up the kids and<br />
headed up to Maine to see Allison's parents. The kids got their usual<br />
complement of snack foods and a giant jar of pickles, plus a great<br />
collection of science kits. Those will go nicely for some long<br />
weekends. The rest of the week was sleeping in late, staying up late,<br />
video games and tv.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I had an "exciting" Wednesday, dropped off my TV to get it fixed,<br />
and took my car in for repairs. My brand new TV? oh, one of the<br />
boards is broken, making the picture screwed up? That's no problem, I<br />
will just call warranty services - they even refer me to a local<br />
repair place. Oh, by the way, 42" TVs are carry-in service only,<br />
whatever. Drop the TV off on Wednesday, they try their best to rush<br />
it, so I can pick it up without having to lose time at work. Thanks!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">As it was getting late on Wednesday, I call them up to ask about it.<br />
Oh, maybe have it back by Friday? If not then, Monday. I ask why I<br />
wasn't told that this was likely to be a one-week thing, and the guy<br />
got that offended tone. I didn't say it, but Wednesday, Thursday,<br />
Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday are six days, and a week is still<br />
seven days, right? So if it takes 6 days to do this, isn't a week a<br />
good estimate? Grouchy old repair tech tells me that the problem is<br />
one of two boards, and once he knows which, he can order it. If it is<br />
in stock, they will order Thursday, and get it in on Friday. My car<br />
came back to me in time for Encounters, 1400 dollars later, but my<br />
Check Engine light was finally off, for the first time in almost a<br />
year.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I hear nothing about the TV on Thursday, so I hope for good news.<br />
Meanwhile, I went in to work for Thursday and Friday. Of course, my<br />
check engine light turns back on on the way home...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Friday, I call the TV place, Scratch Monday, Tuesday... That's fine<br />
right? The part was in stock, and it arrived on Friday. He will work<br />
on putting it in Friday, and it can be picked up on Tuesday, since<br />
Monday is the holiday. I am so, so furious right now. I get to spend<br />
my commute home probably being on hold with Panasonic telling them<br />
that their product is crap, and they should do at least a little bit<br />
of work to ensure that customers aren't buying broken goods.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Saturday was good, though. I ran some D&D in the morning, the Lair<br />
Assault program, and managed to not kill any characters, but got close<br />
enough to scare them all. Then we went home, got the house cleaned up<br />
and had the Sweenys over and Ethan to play a long D&D adventure in<br />
what is shaping up to be a new New Years tradition here. We saved an<br />
Oriental town from losing their virtues while fighting off the Five<br />
Deadly Shadows, in an old-school Kung-Fu adventure.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Allison came over and spent a good chunk of Sunday with the kids,<br />
spending time with them while I worked on laundry and watched the last<br />
week of the 2011 NFL season. Quite a few exciting games, and the<br />
playoffs were finally set, so the next few weeks should prove to be<br />
very interesting.<br />
<br />
That's all I have for the week, hope everyone else had a good one.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Carrie</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Js5flzu-oJY/TwHUdPtiVVI/AAAAAAAACNo/bqRT0OET1z0/s1600/Carrie+new+van+2011" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Js5flzu-oJY/TwHUdPtiVVI/AAAAAAAACNo/bqRT0OET1z0/s1600/Carrie+new+van+2011" /> </a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carrie's "New" Van</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">My last one was lost is cyberspace!!! Anyway, Christmas was awesome!! Best one I've had since I was little. Everyone was so happy this year and I'm feeling like the luckiest person on earth lately. Kurt even stayed the night and hung out all day!! I helped a friend in need of a Christmas miracle. It felt so good to pass along some cheer. We bought a 1969 VW bus!!! I'm in love with her!!! Sean's been working on fixing her up a little everyday. I'm reading like a mad woman!! Read 6 books this week. I can't stop!! Just picked up more from Rob to last me this week. New Years Eve was fun. My friend and her family came over. She has 4 kids as well. Nerf war, just dance and lots of screaming and duct tape crafts happened. This week is back to school. Wish we got to do more on vacation, but three of the four kids got sick at some point over the week so we were grounded. Sean goes back to his foreman job this week as well. Hope to get the house a little more organized this week. New windows and doors are going in super soon. Need everything in it's place first!!! And must read!!!!!! :-) </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3VY91hMMBB4/TwJ7JTpZv0I/AAAAAAAACOk/yCMixhuMWW0/s1600/IMG_20111224_185849.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3VY91hMMBB4/TwJ7JTpZv0I/AAAAAAAACOk/yCMixhuMWW0/s320/IMG_20111224_185849.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kv09QYv-Z6I/TwJ7OygfbcI/AAAAAAAACOs/2zBpRX03KUo/s1600/IMG_20111225_071525.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kv09QYv-Z6I/TwJ7OygfbcI/AAAAAAAACOs/2zBpRX03KUo/s320/IMG_20111225_071525.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xfi75XVXEPU/TwJ7XfIp3hI/AAAAAAAACO0/h-ZNFmJOQWQ/s1600/IMG_20111225_071627.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xfi75XVXEPU/TwJ7XfIp3hI/AAAAAAAACO0/h-ZNFmJOQWQ/s320/IMG_20111225_071627.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HgZU6H7kCXM/TwJ7bZBEXlI/AAAAAAAACO8/Z-6qfeSIqFc/s1600/IMG_20120101_002455.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HgZU6H7kCXM/TwJ7bZBEXlI/AAAAAAAACO8/Z-6qfeSIqFc/s320/IMG_20120101_002455.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HJj6stleMuw/TwJ7cBEmpMI/AAAAAAAACPE/QUpyMb1wdME/s1600/IMG_20120101_002647.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HJj6stleMuw/TwJ7cBEmpMI/AAAAAAAACPE/QUpyMb1wdME/s320/IMG_20120101_002647.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ynpujPl_cgI/TwJ7f6-f-uI/AAAAAAAACPM/01RtU8Z_7pQ/s1600/IMG_20120101_002718.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ynpujPl_cgI/TwJ7f6-f-uI/AAAAAAAACPM/01RtU8Z_7pQ/s320/IMG_20120101_002718.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7AfvdnZV4y4/TwJ7n1oUfcI/AAAAAAAACPU/VPOBdcg81ho/s1600/IMG_20120101_003010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7AfvdnZV4y4/TwJ7n1oUfcI/AAAAAAAACPU/VPOBdcg81ho/s320/IMG_20120101_003010.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522744319398782161.post-40255547826684605972011-12-26T07:00:00.002-07:002012-01-02T08:13:11.548-07:00Weekly Update<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Kurt</span></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ywOJVEhMOP8/TwG7BgfIb2I/AAAAAAAACKQ/M-hmjOWOd2o/s1600/kurt+snow+2011" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ywOJVEhMOP8/TwG7BgfIb2I/AAAAAAAACKQ/M-hmjOWOd2o/s320/kurt+snow+2011" width="320" /></a></div><br />
The beginning of the week was a Ten31 job. The video doesnt really show the snow well(Sorry, Kurt. I could not figure out, for the life of me, how to post the video) ....but the girl i was working with Simara and i were birch trees in the snow....at one point we really had a "moment" slow dancing in the snow..it was very magical.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xUmCI_6r_eI/TwG7RUETKsI/AAAAAAAACKc/3E9aimQI41c/s1600/kurt+painting+2011" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xUmCI_6r_eI/TwG7RUETKsI/AAAAAAAACKc/3E9aimQI41c/s320/kurt+painting+2011" width="240" /></a></div>There is a woman i work with named Lois....she is the person i get along with most. I think she is the best person there because she makes everyone who works there or is a client, feel like the most important person in the world. She liked one of my paintings that she saw on facebook so I gave that to her for Christmas....she is a Jew....but thats ok :) She was very moved by it and was almost in tears. It was the first time this season that I got in the Christmas spirit, and in a way felt the way that she probably feels when she makes someone feel so special.<br />
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Christmas was fun with the Goins...all the kids had a fun morning. I was glad i was there, but it was an EARLY morning. After the Goins' i went to my friend Katies families house. they have an open house every year and i know everyone in the family...the best part was playing that game where you write a famous person or character on a sticky note and stick it to someones forehead...we played about 7 rounds of that....a very simple game, but very fun!!!! I then drove the 2 hours home with a headache and feeling nauseous. a TRUE Christmas tradition for me! :)<br />
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This coming MONDAY and Tuesday i am filming the HOUSE of CACH promotional video! so i REALLY need to get as much done around the house with cleaning and projects so that on Wednesday i can concentrate on EDITING!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Kim</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yln1qy_9j4c/TwG_BfnbYdI/AAAAAAAACKo/nfZPTIyVnx0/s1600/IMG_0055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yln1qy_9j4c/TwG_BfnbYdI/AAAAAAAACKo/nfZPTIyVnx0/s320/IMG_0055.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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We had a <b><i>great</i></b> time in Disney World. The parks were not all that busy and the weather was BEAUTIFUL. I'm glad we decided on Florida for this December trip-the weather was so much warmer than California. And Disney really does know how to make things <i>magical</i>...<br />
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The trip was a huge surprise and a great way to spend our week before Christmas although we missed out on some of our usual "traditions". We arrived home around 10pm on Christmas Eve and found new pajamas waiting for us. Thanks, Grammy!<br />
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We made it to church for our 10am sacrament meeting and enjoyed a lovely program. The irony of it is that much of the world ONLY attends church for Christmas but we attend every week. When we have to attend on actual Christmas, we (especially my kids) feel like it is an imposition. Ironic, and a little annoying. Whatever. We made it happen and in the end everyone agreed it was not TOO disruptive to our pajama-wearing, gift-unwrapping, laze-around day.<br />
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I'll post more on our trip later next week when the kids are back to school. (That's not until Thursday, January 5th actually. Can you believe it?)<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Carrie</span></div><br />
Some pictures that Kurt sent...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gtC9k4Q27tM/TwHBaUGRBqI/AAAAAAAACLc/fdHM_nS7shc/s1600/carrie+christmas4+2011" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gtC9k4Q27tM/TwHBaUGRBqI/AAAAAAAACLc/fdHM_nS7shc/s320/carrie+christmas4+2011" width="320" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522744319398782161.post-25063794910981861642011-12-20T06:51:00.002-07:002012-01-02T14:16:19.399-07:00Weekly Updates<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Rob</span></div><br />
Monday was just school for the boys, and work for me. I sometimes think people act like they hate Mondays just to have a good way to ignore the mundane nature of them. They even sound the same "Mundane : Monday"... Interesting. I really don't remember there being anything remotely interesting on Monday. Actually, Tuesday was not any better. I think the most interesting part of Tuesday was that McGuire told me he was getting a Saturday detention for being late to school too much. I left a... heated ... yeah, that works, a heated message with the Jr. High Principal. I sort of felt bad about it right away, I let my temper get the better of me, I just meant to ask him what I am supposed to do?<br />
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On Wednesday, Archer had a nice little atomic meltdown in the morning, for no good reason. I try to get him dropped off at a friend's house so that I can get to work early on Wednesdays, but his little freak-out meant I saved almost an entire 30 seconds, and it embarrassed me in front of his friend's mother. I was leaving work early that day anyway, to see my doctor in the afternoon. Traffic was lighter than expected (a Massachusetts first!) and I was relaxing in the parking lot when the Jr. High Principal called my cell. I apologized for my rude and vulgar voice mail a few times, and we came to the fact that there isn't really any concession that can be made, but that McGuire needs to be responsible for his own wake-up time. Really helpful. Doctor appointment was good, I have such a major crush on her, so I really don't mind going in. She finally is starting to understand that my sleeping 5 hours a night is just what I do. She is worried about everything I have on my plate, but I explained to her that I am dealing with it all as best as I can. So am I stressed out and sometimes overwhelmed? You bet. Is it bad wiring, or a chemical problem in my brain? Nope, just life... <br />
After that, I met up with the family at The Whiz for D&D: two totally full tables, with 2 of the regulars not showing up. I was able to play again - having other people DM Encounters is really working out well, and my pixie was as annoying as ever. We had a new guy show up to play, father of 4, knew his way around a RPG, but not super knowledgeable on the new edition. He was a fast learner, and didn't mind getting playing tips from a 14 year old. He was very impressed with Archer's mastery of the game, which makes me pretty proud. I don't consider the rules too complicated, but part of that is probably due to having two very smart kids. If we had more physical space, I could easily see a third table as a most-week option, but there just isn't the room.<br />
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Thursday was McGuire's Winter concert. I still don't have a real working camera, and Allison forgot to bring hers, but it was a good concert. McGuire finally got a hair cut. It was just too much to take care of, so he is mostly buzzed now - luckily he has a really good shaped head, so he looks really good with the short haircut. He had to leave the concert right after McGuire's sets were over, because he had gotten a lot of homework that day, and wasn't done with it. After the kids were in bed, I was finally able to finish the story of Assassin's Creed Brotherhood (so, so good).<br />
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Friday I had a dentist appointment in the morning. Thankfully, Archer cooperated with me so that he caught the bus, which let me get to my appointment on time. No cavities! I really wish I had always taken as good care of my teeth as I do now, but oh well.<br />
Work was fine, and after work I went out to dinner with my friend Jen, who was in MA for business. We went to an Irish restaurant near my work, since it was on her way home. It was pretty good, but I swear I had 20 pounds of mashed potatoes with my dish. We left around 8, so I got home in time to get the kids into bed and play Gears of War 3 with my on-line friends. I had to end earlier than usual, so I could bring McGuire to detention in the morning.<br />
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Saturday was pretty lame. Drop off McGuire for his punishment. He and I were joking about getting there late, just for the irony, but they spelled out that being 10 minutes late would result in a 3 day school vacation... I mean out-of- school suspension. I went back home, did some cleaning , took a little nap with Archer, then picked McGuire back up, and we all cleaned the house together, getting ready for Mary-Ellen to visit. At the end of the day, I brought the garbage outside, and realized no one had checked the mail, so I went down to the mailbox and got the mail. One totally shocking piece of mail was from the court system - I was expecting a new court date that we could have to miss. Instead, it was a sheet that looks like a judge went over our case file and signed off on the divorce. Allison and are officially divorced!<br />
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Sunday we woke up early enough to do some last-minute cleaning before Mel and Bediaco arrived. They came over, and we went to "lunch" - not realizing that Puffins only serves breakfast on weekends. It was a good, tasty breakfast anyway, so no problem, really. We played Carcassone on the 360 (easier to let the console do the scoring), but when we finished, the kids scattered to the wind, so we didn't wind up playing a second game with the actual cards. The rest of the day was pretty tame: watched some football, didn't even go onto the computer.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Kurt</span></div><br />
I did a makeup test for a short film that I am creating. It's for HOUSEofCACH. HoC is a jewelry company that I work for. We are making a promotional video. A story about a relationship between a man that keeps turning into a goat and a model who keeps changing her jewelry. It is being filmed in a beat up house from the 1950s.<br />
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I've been trying to finish off as many projects as I can before I move. I've been ordering a lot of things online which I've never done before. Metal spikes and studs, animal teeth, bodysuits. It's been very fun! I finally had a place to wear my new mask....goth night at club hell.<br />
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Last night I went to the ZINC SALON Christmas party. We ate at ZINC restaurant in new haven and then went to a cigar bar where everyone was smoking cigars and cigarettes. It was hard to breath at first but u KINDA got used to it. My clothes REEKED the next day. It was funny to think about how that was the way it was in bars at one time. It's much more pleasant to me in the current state<br />
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This week I have two people coming to look at paintings for sale at my house. I sold one today!! So my goal for this week is to clean the house ;). Oh. And make a replica of Marcel the Shell. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VF9-sEbqDvU&feature=youtube_gdata_player<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Carrie</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7ow3YJ3lsP0/TwIdAcdwnVI/AAAAAAAACN0/wPKkHW_dIK4/s1600/IMG_1268.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7ow3YJ3lsP0/TwIdAcdwnVI/AAAAAAAACN0/wPKkHW_dIK4/s320/IMG_1268.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
This week has been full of activity. Hailey's first band concert was good. Her grade has only been playing for two months but did really well. She likes her saxophone very much. I had extra kids over everyday this week. From 2 to 4 extras!! Good kids though. Made cookies everyday. And got our real tree today :-). Making cookie trays with Mom tonight. My friends took me out to celebrate my birthday, and I'm moderately decent at darts!! It's flown by.<br />
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This week it's finish Christmas preparations. Trent and Kayla both have parties I'm bringing baked goods in for. I'm really in the holiday spirit!!!!! I've been thinking back over the year and realizing how much I have to be grateful for, more and more everyday. I'm thinking of ways to pass my good fortune along, and I don't mean moneywise!!! I'm open to suggestions if you all have any!!! I need a service project!! Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Kim</span></div><br />
Can I just say that I feel like Wonder Woman? Christmas shopping-check. ALL wrapping-check. Shipping-check. Teacher gifts(three kids at three school-a lot of them)-check. Neighbor gifts-check. Gingerbread houses-check. Band concert-check. Laundry-check. Dog healthy and groomed-check. Bout with stomach virus-check. Packed and planned and executed biggest surprise to date-CHECK.<br />
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Dave and I decided to spend the first week of Christmas break and his week off doing something fun. That took on many faces as we looked at planning it <i>last weekend</i>. Finally, on Monday we committed to a week in sunny Florida. We are enjoying Disney World and planning a trip to Cocoa Beach and Universal later this week. We booked this trip Monday and got everything ready without the kids knowing about it. Until we arrived at the airport's long-term parking, they thought we were doing something in Denver. It was an epic surprise.<br />
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Holy cow. A trip always takes a ton of work to be prepared but this last-minute, right-before-Christmas thing, as a surprise...wow. I'm very impressed with myself. And with Dave. He nearly finished his "construction" project on his own and had to work like crazy at work to be able to leave Saturday. We did it. It was totally worth it to be able to surprise those kiddos. Jake will always remember this trip. He's really wanted to come here for a LONG time. Ben and Rachel will always remember the surprise.<br />
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I've said it before, but it's worth repeating. Jake is a much nicer teenager than I was in my family. He's not perfect, in fact he drives me crazy all the time, but he is sooo much happier to be with his family than I was at his age. I have pictures of me at 14 or 15 at Disney World on a family trip with a scowl on my face in every picture. Attitude to spare. Yikes. Jake kind of likes us. Not all of us all the time, but he knows how to make us all laugh and he can be found laughing more than scowling in our pictures...<br />
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I'm glad we could be spontaneous and throw together a great trip like this! We are so blessed. Here's to great family memories--limited scowls, please...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522744319398782161.post-27419619782125933132011-12-13T03:59:00.000-07:002011-12-13T03:59:49.006-07:00Weekly Update<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Kim</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5TLntmTPJS7xFQfEmN5kyEbrSo2GFyC0Al8hx9eCT4iATRhvAyH4yeovg2ZuB1KELW88LlqRj9VJEt5uTJTW0S2yBJEcd_Aq5b2Vwu2H8kCoXM2BqkJ_eX0NiqVs72CFHmO_kD6Yme1Na/s1600/kim+cleaning" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5TLntmTPJS7xFQfEmN5kyEbrSo2GFyC0Al8hx9eCT4iATRhvAyH4yeovg2ZuB1KELW88LlqRj9VJEt5uTJTW0S2yBJEcd_Aq5b2Vwu2H8kCoXM2BqkJ_eX0NiqVs72CFHmO_kD6Yme1Na/s320/kim+cleaning" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I really got a handle on Christmas to-do projects this last week and I officially spent more time at home than in the car and out and about. I wrapped 90% of what needed to be wrapped and helped Dave with a minor construction project...maybe it's not so minor since it's not done yet. I made a creme brulee cheesecake to celebrate Dave's birthday and delivered our Sub-for-Santa gifts. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">This week is the kids' final week of school before a LONG winters' break. I will get the teacher gifts wrapped up and delivered. I will mail off packages to family. I will likely finish wrapping. I will get all our Christmas cards in the mail. I will attend a Relief Society party and a middle school band concert. Go french horns! I will absolutely finish all my shopping. I like giving myself a hard deadline. Last year I had everything done by December 21 and it was lovely.</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"> Then there will also be the usual mundane like laundry, groceries, vet, wait around for delivery of a safe, blah, blah, blah...here's to a productive week!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Rob</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">This past week has been the adventure of a television.<br />
Monday I get a phone call while at work from Allison: the TV has apparently given up with the whole "displaying pictures" thing. She tells me that the sound is still working, but the picture is gone, regardless of the input option. While this really sucks, it drives home my hope to get an upgrade to the home theater. Tuesday I decide on a TV to get, and put the order in with Amazon, delivery expected on Friday, between 3 and 6pm. Since I ordered a flat-screen TV, with plans to mount it on the wall, I knew that the remainder of the week would be a lot of hard work, getting ready to change the layout of the room.</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Most of the goodies that I ordered along with the TV arrived Thursday, so I had a nice pile of boxes, just missing the televsiion, so Thursday was TV moving time. After work, I got home and started with the task of rearranging my living room. The first step was taking the huge and heavy TV out of the entertainment unit. See here. That wound up being one of the easiest steps of the night. I put the TV onto a small tabble, so I could watch some football while handling the rest of the room. Step two was to clean out the corner where I would be putting the entertainment unit. Sadly, I neglected to get a good picture of just how bad it was before hand, but if you have seen pictures of Stalingrad towards the end of WWII, you have a good idea. When it was clear, I got the picture. Next up was to move the actual entertainment unit over to the new location. Looking at the picture of where I took the unit out of, I don't know how I managed to move it - there is a lot of stuff all over the place most of the night. When you see where the entertainment unit ended up, you can see at the bottom of the stairs about 50% of what was in the corner where the unit ended up. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Friday, with the room pretty much ready, I left work early so that I could be home in time to accept delivery... which never came. I called Amazon at 6:02 (yeah, I got impatient) and they confirmed that there was a problem with the delivery - it was now scheduled for December 16th. Naturally, this was not going to be alright with me, so I went on a bit of a customer service quest to get it fixed, or as close to fixed as I could. After some communication, I got Amazon to try to get it sped up to a Monday delivery, along with a 45 dollar credit. I felt somewhat better, but after thinking about it for a while, decided to go with a local delivery. Dad offered to come up with his truck so we could get it Saturday, and I got it up that night! While watching Back to the Future on TV, I finished getting the room organized and mostly set up.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Sunday was pretty much spent relaxing around the house, McGuire had the Sweenys over, and Archer is slowly working on his homework - still is now, actually. He may never be done - may God have mercy on his soul.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Kurt</span></div><div style="text-align: left;">This week I got good news. My computer just needs more memory. And that is it. Plus it's only about $25. So it is ordered and on the way. Now I can do more creative stuff on my MAC, which is the point right?<br />
I went down to NYC on Thursday to see YELLE in concert. A French dance/pop group. AMAZING, very fun. I killed to faggots with one stone by doing my fitting with designer Ben Chmura. I will be walking in his Styleweek show in January. The stuff is super modern street wear. I'm VERY excited and inspired by his clothes. Lots of treated fabrics. <br />
Then last night I was THOR with a VALKYRIE at Harvard. It was a graduate student event that took place in their cafeteria which looks like its straight out of Harry Potter. We were at the entrance....we were in the middle of the dance floor....it was great</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;"> I came up with my next concept for performance art. Under the name Kurt Fowl in the subways of NYC I would like to be bird like characters that hand out notes to passerbys. So I've been writing little quotes to make people think or feel positive about their day. I need to work on those costumes. I ordered a body suit that I will paint. <br />
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This week I'd like to sell some paintings. I've sent out messages to people that I am selling them dirt cheap. Other than that I have no goals. I've done much as of late. I should make a goal for myself to REST!!! (which prolly won't happen)</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Carrie</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSxd-4Qywg3CGv2jUabytsMJRNXJCa420_qHFdAiLTCGSjnXaCMS24_qV0rsDiAXr5WI_3zKJquW4c4wdF2FD0JmwtyyBcCqGh_2sRbzhMzY12W3o9MxVliK6j-o3jCdcqytC_DUgrZyXr/s1600/Carrie+30th4" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSxd-4Qywg3CGv2jUabytsMJRNXJCa420_qHFdAiLTCGSjnXaCMS24_qV0rsDiAXr5WI_3zKJquW4c4wdF2FD0JmwtyyBcCqGh_2sRbzhMzY12W3o9MxVliK6j-o3jCdcqytC_DUgrZyXr/s320/Carrie+30th4" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">NYC was awesome!!! We stayed at the Trump Soho, corner room on the 37th floor. I got to look out over the city all the way to the Empire State building. Beautiful!! Soho was the perfect place for us to stay and shop and walk. Love the cobblestone streets!!! Except in heels. I still suck at heels, but I shopped and walked in them for 3 hours, an all time record for me :-) The Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall was spectacular, the backdrops alone is worth going for! Got some Christmas shopping done but could have and should have bought more. So many perfect finds. If we had more time I would have gone back to a few shops. Really wish we were filthy rich at a few swanky boutiques!! Blissful, although I started gushing over other people's kids probably freaking them out. I missed my babies!!</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoaDKp32ywsy-jZhB5dOKv6JSO_OEqfDmNoIXtGyI7GDdJd_kV6oYzDglogxlP1VhSx7PZu-c0_Ky4V2M4iZkt-UGJnYGHXJURbxkUvIxfe8P3NHqBWeTm7oe2zmuqBGQBQneMG9PLPiFW/s1600/carrie+30th" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoaDKp32ywsy-jZhB5dOKv6JSO_OEqfDmNoIXtGyI7GDdJd_kV6oYzDglogxlP1VhSx7PZu-c0_Ky4V2M4iZkt-UGJnYGHXJURbxkUvIxfe8P3NHqBWeTm7oe2zmuqBGQBQneMG9PLPiFW/s320/carrie+30th" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh8YnG46bLBWHCd0NReolbd9xweuoQHE3Unrvr3wsW5fAuLelJEOhv4ANZszd99OPtieEzVt5sAmfPM_uyEA7Rce3WM7uLuXfLjXy-92nMpyPnVXa7EekSjclS5yrEIo8fHzCXFAD69OxU/s1600/Carrie+30th2" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh8YnG46bLBWHCd0NReolbd9xweuoQHE3Unrvr3wsW5fAuLelJEOhv4ANZszd99OPtieEzVt5sAmfPM_uyEA7Rce3WM7uLuXfLjXy-92nMpyPnVXa7EekSjclS5yrEIo8fHzCXFAD69OxU/s320/Carrie+30th2" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU0rX_dNO1gI5qugOcTefsih53ybp9f6B1lXl0tcU-MhQ-l1z7EXoixkZ9HZnKLAqxYFMKq8DXfTlidiXSUTB2T1JCtGnM2ZSpJMhTWUZcGVweMCgYUg5P1b2D4is7Zo5Wh044Dp06oI-9/s1600/Carrie+30th3" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU0rX_dNO1gI5qugOcTefsih53ybp9f6B1lXl0tcU-MhQ-l1z7EXoixkZ9HZnKLAqxYFMKq8DXfTlidiXSUTB2T1JCtGnM2ZSpJMhTWUZcGVweMCgYUg5P1b2D4is7Zo5Wh044Dp06oI-9/s320/Carrie+30th3" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">As for the rest of the week, it feels so long ago. Who cares if I'm thirty!!! Hailey had her chorus concert. She was heard through the whole concert, and the 5th and 6th graders were really good!! I made fudge for the PTO to sell and it was a hit. Kayla has been on and off not feeling well so she got a little extra Mommy time last week. Chase is counting and signing ABC's a lot, as Mom can tell you. He did it for her from 4 to 530 am!!!!!! Lucy brought the kids to the Congregational church and they were in the Christmas Pageant. Trent was a donkey, Kayla a sheep and Hailey an angel. Wish I saw that!!! Sean left his job as foreman to go back with his old crew. He is very happy!!! He would have been laid off till March otherwise and now he's getting 20 hours of overtime a week again. Good timing!! I'm such a lucky person!!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">This week, finish cookies!!!! Drop clothes off for donation, wrap presents and finish shopping. Chaperone movie night, muchto Hailey's dismay, and show my babies how much I missed them by playing playing playing!! Starting tomorrow, cause I'm exhausted!! :-)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522744319398782161.post-22541160709553931742011-12-06T06:23:00.000-07:002011-12-06T06:23:19.546-07:00Weekly Update<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Kurt</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTt0FJolDHCXDmWYGdIO0v3FywRa74kowcsSup-RUBS-A8Hahsa4LgxhuYHa2FYzPybmEqFS5DcK1-2mjwS4OKbUjXNmL06zZvKy5AZ7nFVC2PAOkQVhpoTO73j4rj1SAInGD0kajF05KK/s1600/kurt+tree2" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTt0FJolDHCXDmWYGdIO0v3FywRa74kowcsSup-RUBS-A8Hahsa4LgxhuYHa2FYzPybmEqFS5DcK1-2mjwS4OKbUjXNmL06zZvKy5AZ7nFVC2PAOkQVhpoTO73j4rj1SAInGD0kajF05KK/s320/kurt+tree2" width="238" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">This week has been one with a lot of dealings with inside feelings and emotions. Ugh, haven't those been deep enough for so long that they are blackened charred coal and long forgotten. <br />
Going through a break up and living together situation.....listening to how I am viewed by someone who is angry at me and thinking about the effects of my actions. We all feel that we are in the right even if we empathize. Anyhow, lots of reflecting. That's enough for THIS medium. <br />
I performed at the Pierre hotel in NYC on Friday. It's right 5ave on central park. We were four silver/winter trees at a private event. The ballroom we were in was in a scene in Scent of a Women.<br />
On the drive back to RI with the Ten31 group I had an amazing conversation about creativity. It's actually been an amazing week. Reflecting a lot on art. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvivxNpFAhXsG-4gjoe20A-mQUVK3YZ0wVmsMUzarzy4lp0fhleQe2PZ8y7M0N2x1WWoVnzFiyXQINu5yYCXyZrjRxd9qFPhTuqwytIjgxEKBTn7L1hSPqxeiGG-Bf-z64eyA7Hsi0OyEm/s1600/kurt+tree1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvivxNpFAhXsG-4gjoe20A-mQUVK3YZ0wVmsMUzarzy4lp0fhleQe2PZ8y7M0N2x1WWoVnzFiyXQINu5yYCXyZrjRxd9qFPhTuqwytIjgxEKBTn7L1hSPqxeiGG-Bf-z64eyA7Hsi0OyEm/s320/kurt+tree1" width="269" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
On Saturday i was back in NYC and saw a great performance by the band HI FASHION. The female singer in the band is also a casting agent. She was the person who cast Jon on Project Runway. She is super nice and kind of reminded me of my friend Lind-z. They are FIERCE performance art and fun music. Check them out on FB. <br />
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Ok....so I got new contacts. Have an appointment Tuesday at APPLE to get more memory for my computer....or see if I need to buy a new one......and I MUST go to Carmax about selling my car. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Carrie</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzYuMS3jsWXOtKC3dsUy1KffxOrgAQJnE0JXHfx1EeXL8SI9c-2KvJdusTndIvkZKM_Oi4EXsHAn7w9RubKLIWNIhqDYTPUirGmOdBF4KnwqbHDiz7XZ6IwzwA7Qzd1xV23xDQXJ-8P8kv/s1600/carrie+hair1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzYuMS3jsWXOtKC3dsUy1KffxOrgAQJnE0JXHfx1EeXL8SI9c-2KvJdusTndIvkZKM_Oi4EXsHAn7w9RubKLIWNIhqDYTPUirGmOdBF4KnwqbHDiz7XZ6IwzwA7Qzd1xV23xDQXJ-8P8kv/s320/carrie+hair1" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span>This week.......I got my hair done!! Love it! Kurt is a genius. Didn't get the girls in for their hair though. Made three batches of two kinds of cookies :-) Started an anti~ video game movement, since Trent doesn't seem to be focusing on anything else!! We played trains, made playdough, pizza and pretended angry birds didn't exist. So far so good. The boys liked making cookies, playdough and pizza so much they thought they'd get up this morning and make more all by themselves!!! Flour everywhere!!!!!! But it's ok, they love being in the kitchen and it was really cute!!! The tree lighting is tonight and Kayla will serve some thumbprint cookies with Girl Scouts.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPS0udEq0YBsukk5fifYTO8BuxrUSF0jSKJORjchc-LU_XFyQOmN19W7dYavlMPzAYsYOFJ6hKgNxpdwOv93s5BXh2jWiVuOtmLHClpa0eivbn3hlrWav40ABkud7LIcx0KEffm0ZhwbID/s1600/carrie+flourmess" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPS0udEq0YBsukk5fifYTO8BuxrUSF0jSKJORjchc-LU_XFyQOmN19W7dYavlMPzAYsYOFJ6hKgNxpdwOv93s5BXh2jWiVuOtmLHClpa0eivbn3hlrWav40ABkud7LIcx0KEffm0ZhwbID/s320/carrie+flourmess" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
This coming week......ends my 20's. I'm sadder then I thought I'd be about it. I have everything I want so age is just a number, yet it sucks. My birthday night will be spent watching Hailey's first middle school chorus concert :-) Then Friday through Sunday, Sean and I will be in NYC alone!!!! First time leaving the kids, so a little strange, but we're going to be super close. I cannot wait to wear heels and dresses and makeup and explore. We go every few months with the kids but haven't been alone since high school!!!! Christmas Spectacular, horse drawn carriage ride, nice restaurants and shopping in Soho!! My bathtub will overlook the city at the Trump. I want to go pack just thinking about it!!!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
Goals this week.....cookies, license renewed, record story for the kids to hear while we're gone, stick to the no video game regimen and get our real tree. Although Chase knocked over the fake tree twice so I'm not sure why I'm pushing for torture :-D. Just kidding!!!!!!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Kim</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ben is dressed up as a banana. He stood on the corner with a sign to drum up business. His idea. So cute.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">I held the garage sale last week, as promised, in spite of freezing cold temperatures (like a high of 22 degrees Fahrenheit). It was not hugely successful, due to the cold, but it was good to get it done! We only raised $153 so I have approached a local donor (in my house, local) to make up the difference (a hundred bucks) to get ONE SMILE fixed. Rachel was disappointed that we hadn't done enough for one smile until I told her we might know someone who could help. Nice save, Dave. I was so grateful to have Lori's help! Did I really let her talk me into doing it all again in June, though?! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnKA59cZ4Jjc_YwlT2GRdU9EX_sFCIV9Hj4vCJTEbSD1GYYVhhPxgu9fwxr4349AnTFMtYkr7BC4fvzcM7iy0VJgARUs40fpMNhgeYnxysefflBuXFKYEDV5W2z3t1HKhFuO41gYxjIpcM/s1600/IMG_0040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnKA59cZ4Jjc_YwlT2GRdU9EX_sFCIV9Hj4vCJTEbSD1GYYVhhPxgu9fwxr4349AnTFMtYkr7BC4fvzcM7iy0VJgARUs40fpMNhgeYnxysefflBuXFKYEDV5W2z3t1HKhFuO41gYxjIpcM/s320/IMG_0040.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">Dave had the week off last week so we went back to the shooting range and shot a couple 9mm. I'm really not bad but the indoor range is so stinking LOUD! I used to think I hated the sound of popping balloons. This has been like immersion therapy for that phobia. Balloons have nothing on shotguns and colt .45s. One of the guys there told me I should switch to decaf after seeing me jump at each shot. If he only knew...I'm that high-strung on water only.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">We also made it over to IKEA. Dave was impressed. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">This week I have to pack away everything from the garage sale and store it. Wrap gifts for our Secret Santa family. Finish decorating for Christmas. Make ceramic ornaments with the kids. Help a friend clean after her move. Sad. Tackle the filing situation. Figure out teacher gifts. Actually a gigantic TO DO list...but a commitment to drink more water, floss, and exercise. </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Rob </span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipkI-X2DuWqUqr2fFrU4-9EqwtM9xquFGVnpinsWDwmLWLst7hcyzFBCDQAKnL2NSjcpBbVwAdZEX-MqL3mD3gvoC7vA8Slvoywij7HjyXnIx3hD5563w6bAeNjTowLJL8ffLodyKSRXGg/s1600/Rob+Ascension+Teacher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipkI-X2DuWqUqr2fFrU4-9EqwtM9xquFGVnpinsWDwmLWLst7hcyzFBCDQAKnL2NSjcpBbVwAdZEX-MqL3mD3gvoC7vA8Slvoywij7HjyXnIx3hD5563w6bAeNjTowLJL8ffLodyKSRXGg/s320/Rob+Ascension+Teacher.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ascension Teacher</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sunday - I was running a D&D adventure, so of course I overslept, and got to the store 20 minutes late. I really need to stop sleeping in until 11:30 on Sundays. The adventure went well, no players or characters died, and quite a few of them leveled up, which made them very happy. We had gotten a new board game (Wrath of Ashardalon), so after the game, we were looking at it, and the Sweenys</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Monday - Standard boring Monday. I don't think anything of value happened all day. Certainly nothing that stands out a week later.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Tuesday - Tuesday, my old nemesis. Most people dread Monday, but I am telling you, Tuesdays are the really dangerous ones. They are the serial killer of the week - Wednesday always said Tuesday seemed like a nice, quiet day, kept to himself, never seemed dangerous. But one day... *snap!* and Tuesday is on a rampage! We always suspect Monday, but Tuesday sits there waiting for our guard to be down and then it pounces. This Tuesday was boring, though. For now... Actually, Sons of Anarchy had part one of the season 4 finale, so that was good.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Wednesday - Dad was going to come up to bring the boys to D&D. In an odd way, it was really good that he couldn't, if he hadn't spotted the oil tank leaking in the house, it would have been a major disaster for him. As it was, he was able to take care of the near-calamity, and I was mildly inconvenienced with having to leave work an hour early to bring the kids to Encounters. I guess we could have skipped it, but it was Ellie's birthday (sixteen) so we had to go. She got permission from her parents to join us at our weekly Friendly's outing, but then she wanted to eat at the 99, so we did that instead. The best part was that her parents paid for us! As usual, McGuire's meal cost about 50% more than mine, the kid is really starting to scare me.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Thursday - it was a day. Named after Thor, if you were wondering. Most of the days of the week are based on Norse Gods. Tuesday is Tyr's day, Wednesday is Odin's day (hence that odd 'd' at the beginning), Friday is Freya's Day... I think Monday and the weekend days have Norse origins too, but looking that up would make this update even later, so I will skip it.<br />
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Friday - sort of accidentally started celebrating McGuire's birthday early. The one thing that I remember happening on Thor's day was a letter in the mail stating that McGuire had been late to school enough to get a detention. So when we woke up 15 minutes before he would be late (like we had no chance of getting him there on time), I decided to have him "be sick". Of course, then Archer oversleeps, and begs and begs so that he can "be sick" too. I figure "why not?". I am already way out of the running for father of the year or perfect attendance, and my kids are smart enough to miss a Friday. I went into work late, and left early to make up for it. I'm such a bad influence sometimes, honestly.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Saturday - I gave McGuire his second birthday gift from me (third if you count the Friday illness) - his own copy of Battlefield 3! Ironically he played some on my account Friday, but he loves the game, so now we can play together, which I love. We mostly played different games Saturday and cleaned up some of the recycling for the rest of the day.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb4VfFlIBkzjfjo0YA3U5BQjbsQpFLaRpDQcMBw0ilnBHgCzw95kWLQu3nvW6Zk8IDZwHwdpu0R_yS3BokMp56Ic9gs9ThmGLU3AO60CNuZ9uCZmJGxP1Y1fEVZt0LxXxCvEgIBnveDBwu/s1600/rob+mcguire+bday2" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb4VfFlIBkzjfjo0YA3U5BQjbsQpFLaRpDQcMBw0ilnBHgCzw95kWLQu3nvW6Zk8IDZwHwdpu0R_yS3BokMp56Ic9gs9ThmGLU3AO60CNuZ9uCZmJGxP1Y1fEVZt0LxXxCvEgIBnveDBwu/s320/rob+mcguire+bday2" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKrKYEWE7rM_iTawiiSDnxHJyjINpBynqMEqXD4DusFIPz-U6k9iRmX-Xse3tSr-uvXS7sclunNGbgLjG3yKBgzU6g1QB4uTpnl6Xji0VZRLLDnXiY6alXnONHlz9VmsaNmEw5Te29vAgT/s1600/rob+mcguire+bday1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKrKYEWE7rM_iTawiiSDnxHJyjINpBynqMEqXD4DusFIPz-U6k9iRmX-Xse3tSr-uvXS7sclunNGbgLjG3yKBgzU6g1QB4uTpnl6Xji0VZRLLDnXiY6alXnONHlz9VmsaNmEw5Te29vAgT/s320/rob+mcguire+bday1" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sunday - McGuire's Birthday! We went to The Whiz so that McGuire and Archer could play in D&D Adventure. While they were battling a sentient lake (?) I learned how to play the new Penny-Arcade board game - it plays a lot like Ascension which is cool. I was taught how to play that by this Ascension Teacher at GenCon last summer. After we had our gaming time, we went home and I had a chance to look up a Mexican restaurant in the area. McGuire really wanted Mexican food, but he suggested a Qboda, which is like Americano Burrito-ville. Fairly tasty, but really just a fast-food place that serves what Japanese comics would draw as American Burritos. I found a place called Plaza Azteca in Worcester, about 15 minutes away. Allison came over to join us, and McGuire got his first of his presents from her - Total War: Shogun 2. He started the download and then we went to get our meal. Really good Mexican food, and McGuire got a small sombrero and free flan for desert. After that, we went home, and he had Key Lime Cake and got two books from his mom. He had a chance to even play his newest game before bed, so he was happy. Pictures of McGuire in a sombrero, or pretending to eat his cake whole are attached. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522744319398782161.post-5491530790697560382011-11-29T06:38:00.001-07:002011-11-29T06:40:03.164-07:00Weekly Update<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Rob</span></div>Thanksgiving week! Finally a short work week, and a short school week, and a week where I know at least one meal ahead of time. Allison and I decided early in the week that she would take the kids to her parents' house, since her sister would be in the States from England for the holiday. My feeling was that since Allison will not put up with her father being a jerk to the kids, it would work out fine. I went down to Groton for dinner, but only stayed a little while after that, because I wanted to see Carrie and Kurt, too, in Lebanon.<br />
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At Dad's, the Kindle Fire was the hit of the day. People oooo'ed and aaaaah'ed over it, remarking how cool it was, especially at the price! Ben and Tyler, Joanne's grandkids brought their 360 over, so rather than watch football, I got to relive the joy that is Beavis and Butthead. Those 20 minutes felt like hours of listening to morons chuckle - I was never really a big fan of that show, and it has not aged well. The food was good, though, and it was nice to see Dad, but I left the house too late to go to Carrie's ahead of time, so I went afterwards.<br />
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I got there just before Kevin and Lucy left, which is too bad, cause I like them. Chase and Trent were already mostly ready for bed, too. Chase still acts like I have spikes growing out of my face, but Trent is warmed up to me by now. They were just getting the Rock Band going on the Wii - kind of a specialty of mine. I had to calibrate the system, it was making it impossible to play well, and I missed my huge song collection on the 360 so much that I bought a 20 dollar points card and hooked the Goinses up with some new tunes. Seeing Carrie's girls and boys made me miss my kids both a little more and a little less. I will just call that a net gain.<br />
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I got to work on Friday - sometimes being a contractor SUCKS, and the kids came back on Saturday to a mostly cleaned house and a mostly rested father. We then went to play D&D at the local game store, and they went over to the Sweeny house afterwards for pizza and board games.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Its like the only picture I took this week, showing Archer how much his hair goes out in the tub. I don't know why he looked so horrified, bu we were all laughing about it." -Rob</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Carrie</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjid_dqlbqSROywk4bOug9V3CAMoUq05WNr-O65uJaIOl7vPl-Jm6fnbPNPSyd9HZfypunbT4jdS7FBUQBGbD_6CxO37H6tWITt0FqyY3e20_HlOi7ATJAxcjvXrEUpSAjqKDnd2Yz30aFv/s1600/Carrie+thanksgiving" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjid_dqlbqSROywk4bOug9V3CAMoUq05WNr-O65uJaIOl7vPl-Jm6fnbPNPSyd9HZfypunbT4jdS7FBUQBGbD_6CxO37H6tWITt0FqyY3e20_HlOi7ATJAxcjvXrEUpSAjqKDnd2Yz30aFv/s320/Carrie+thanksgiving" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4CjQjj2aWdolczA7mYANZtgkJg-8zy8TKHH8S6fWY6UDHiikRKhq_VqE9FHRnr5Qx5XPNNZNGU2GqCJOlbpc9nq0QBtK1E0o6x93AUSZzVpgH7bbx6GArf5b0AoLMSH4i8z8Z62uHqqhN/s1600/Carrie+thanksgiving+2" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4CjQjj2aWdolczA7mYANZtgkJg-8zy8TKHH8S6fWY6UDHiikRKhq_VqE9FHRnr5Qx5XPNNZNGU2GqCJOlbpc9nq0QBtK1E0o6x93AUSZzVpgH7bbx6GArf5b0AoLMSH4i8z8Z62uHqqhN/s320/Carrie+thanksgiving+2" width="240" /></a></div> On Friday Carrie wrote: Since we're going north to no mans land tomorrow, I thought I'd update early. This week I went and saw Kayla with her friends all pilgrimed up. Some of these parents really outdid themselves with costumes!!!! Thanksgiving was nice!!! I cooked for us 6 plus Kurt. Kurt took family pictures for us. We played Twister, I almost puked on Kurt!!!! Then Rob stopped over for some Rockband!!! Wish you were here for that Kim. We all should be banned forever from a microphone :-) Sean is playing a reunion show with his old punk band tonight. Then Vermont for a thanksgiving meal with Mom. Hopefully some cookies and playing in the snow. My goals for next week.....to get my hair done, girls hair done and cookies!!! Always cookies this time of the year :-) <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Kurt</span></div>Thanksgiving was a lot of fun this year. Being with just carries family was really nice for me. I made bracelets with Hailey and Kayla and played Angry Birds with Trent. We played rock band together but had the most fun with a full on game of TWISTER. What a classic. I don't even REMEMBER playing when I was young although I'm sure I did.<br />
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Last night I was given a ticket to see SLEEP NO MORE in NYC. It is based on Shakespeare's stories. The play is interactive and takes place in a five floor building. The audience all wear white masks and are not aloud to speak. You are encouraged to be curious and explore all five floors how ever u see fit. Unmasked actors make their way through the vignettes and if u want to see AMAZING performances then u follow. I spent the full three hours exploring the different places. It is a combination of performance art, dance, choose your own adventure, disguise, voyeurism, and reading emotions in people just by watching their face and reactions. It was to this date the most special thing that I have experienced.<br />
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I plan to have Carmax give me an estimate on my car this week. I would really like to save more money<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Kim</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_OgO0BZ7XJ3as_97f8rrEnPbiQ7ILYiH8NzEJHF1oq0Dvi_ZN2F-H32lcXGv6WZiMQKFCoHqtme4f_8o0EBjZnzeDbDS1dg60hzSZNUncnCn2p3DvW06-D3Tvp1ajM8DF-eIB4eUGx3k4/s1600/IMG_1182.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_OgO0BZ7XJ3as_97f8rrEnPbiQ7ILYiH8NzEJHF1oq0Dvi_ZN2F-H32lcXGv6WZiMQKFCoHqtme4f_8o0EBjZnzeDbDS1dg60hzSZNUncnCn2p3DvW06-D3Tvp1ajM8DF-eIB4eUGx3k4/s320/IMG_1182.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
I wrote my post on Sunday and can not find where it was saved. Great. As Jake would say, I'm technologically impaired. He's fifteen and also says I'm "ancient". Just wait, Jake. You'll get yours someday. <br />
Last week Mertz and Bertha came for a visit and to celebrate Thanksgiving. We had a fun time together and great weather. On Thanksgiving we went bowling in the morning (a family tradition) and after a low-key, delicious dinner, Jake and I hit some pre-Black Friday sales. We left just after 10pm and arrived home around 3am. It was insane out there but Jake calculated our savings for me at around 43 percent so I can't complain. Plus he is great company. In addition to teasing me, he is just plain funny and smart. I'd give up a little sleep anytime to spend some time with Jake.<br />
I got my hair done on Friday. It's a bit too dark.<br />
On Saturday, Rachel and I took Grandma Bertha with us to see the Nutcracker. Another tradition for Rachel and me.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhD3_hPna3huXMtFXAVKv6zAZPIg9cuLFhXthuzOav27rrTl7rhPQY7Nu8JCRPb2ybfwfXy3wmoA488IpBaaQq9DKMrdnBzTI40JqVWFC9xvdNEwCqscGG_Zs1_VKkKXMJ8TjU-4jEnLRr/s1600/IMG_1183.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhD3_hPna3huXMtFXAVKv6zAZPIg9cuLFhXthuzOav27rrTl7rhPQY7Nu8JCRPb2ybfwfXy3wmoA488IpBaaQq9DKMrdnBzTI40JqVWFC9xvdNEwCqscGG_Zs1_VKkKXMJ8TjU-4jEnLRr/s320/IMG_1183.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>On Sunday, I taught Relief Society for the last time. I got released and called to be the Relief Society Publicity Specialist. Sounds like a made-up job, right? Whatever. I'm sure I'll be awesome. I do have a degree in advertising....<br />
Next week: hold the freaking garage sale. Get everything ready for it. Promote the RS Christmas party. Make neighbor gifts and teacher gifts. Wrap. Go to the temple with Dave. Get a pedicure. Make Ethiopian Chicken.<br />
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Until next week...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522744319398782161.post-47189198303996788502011-11-22T22:17:00.000-07:002011-11-22T22:17:36.638-07:00Weekly Update<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Rob</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKmykWPu8Rhg-aK9D0XYBMpcUgM2hkvsiAHA6vKlVcG3-SWe5U0vZNU3whOP0o9C_0RhFZ8I_D8qp0uWOfu3JFpKF1aMd_Yu3yqIJ7gjUdwVG9cbz0h_BQyvE4TvA4MavY2WgycnBCox-o/s1600/IMG_1180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKmykWPu8Rhg-aK9D0XYBMpcUgM2hkvsiAHA6vKlVcG3-SWe5U0vZNU3whOP0o9C_0RhFZ8I_D8qp0uWOfu3JFpKF1aMd_Yu3yqIJ7gjUdwVG9cbz0h_BQyvE4TvA4MavY2WgycnBCox-o/s320/IMG_1180.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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Typing this on a kindle fire, cause this week was apparently consumer week. I had preordered this a while ago, like when they were first announced, thinking it would be a good birthday present for me. I have to admit, it is pretty sweet. Not a lot of kindle.books on it yet, but I really don't get all that much reading anyway.I have a picture of it sent via text, note that most of the apps are games... It is just my nature. Not too much going on kid world, McGuire missed his afterschool program one day so that he could be home for Archer. We opened a savings account for Archer and got him a dozen pair of socks, clearly the high point.lint of his week. Sunday I got the latest Zelda game, see the picture? It is awesome so far. I am tired, fhouh-another picture to prove it- typing on A touch pad is sort of annoying.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqMFnSsIIBt6xgUg0y1nbfakuehrhjwGGZRBay63TydwaHIOm-g4COAx4o6egsI4gm4Jru0odkLmGpLfzunWmiEwoQahEvnTVD5Fy10UfZCMwj60uHH_t2PrqJztKhxpr8dDOCBz7hFJvH/s1600/IMG_1177.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqMFnSsIIBt6xgUg0y1nbfakuehrhjwGGZRBay63TydwaHIOm-g4COAx4o6egsI4gm4Jru0odkLmGpLfzunWmiEwoQahEvnTVD5Fy10UfZCMwj60uHH_t2PrqJztKhxpr8dDOCBz7hFJvH/s320/IMG_1177.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
Till next week<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Kurt</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">I finished the painting!!! I used silver red and gold. Red and gold are pretty much my last choices. Red and yellow are my least favorite colors. But....as I was out of blue paint it had to do. I really like the painting. It is very angry. It represent the end of my Providence chapter. The paper glued to it are my business cards from the salon that I started working at. And red and yellow are Jons favorite colors. While painting the large canvas I also painted a smaller one with the same concept. I have been doing a "companion piece" each time I do a large one. I really get a lot of satisfaction from that and it also creates more of a cohesive collect of work. <br />
I achieved NO other goals but last night did another roll of film LOMO-style. http://www.lomography.com/homes/kurtuccello The pics will be up next week. (If they come out)<br />
I was in NYC Monday and Tuesday. Just to take a break. My birthday was relaxing. I worked as an award statue then finished the glam gas mask. <br />
Friday night was the night I was looking forward to. Although nothing turned out the way it was suppose to...i.e. No one was able to get tickets and no one was out at a bar after the show. It was a GREAT show. They modernized the costumes and added a few unique jokes mixed in with the classic show. It was a welcomed change. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-uayq0A8Gu4QoQbeuY6B7XtEGnjmnskVgZDNFf9Fr1WkD77skNKMwDSKjHJaw2gIdV5Ix44HyIWgSvxVt_sQ-na62y2fmWgDVXIPeUBA8qxcvSxi2UXhcMmMiGfX6ykozpy427v4ejAl1/s1600/kurt+statue" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-uayq0A8Gu4QoQbeuY6B7XtEGnjmnskVgZDNFf9Fr1WkD77skNKMwDSKjHJaw2gIdV5Ix44HyIWgSvxVt_sQ-na62y2fmWgDVXIPeUBA8qxcvSxi2UXhcMmMiGfX6ykozpy427v4ejAl1/s320/kurt+statue" width="238" /> </a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Carrie</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwtz345Hkq4e953bFWf2-CHZuIuotQPPqi4kTKdwqJl4rr-K6muQTQ0d8bxIKKIOlQ4KMWxgMYHQCy5OhUifb-62q5EfDH_bYxYN_st9FHPUDtg8ZLEITMdzDyJq62L5Zk7GeauJ4H-6Hx/s1600/IMG_1181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwtz345Hkq4e953bFWf2-CHZuIuotQPPqi4kTKdwqJl4rr-K6muQTQ0d8bxIKKIOlQ4KMWxgMYHQCy5OhUifb-62q5EfDH_bYxYN_st9FHPUDtg8ZLEITMdzDyJq62L5Zk7GeauJ4H-6Hx/s320/IMG_1181.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Our closing at the Green Store"</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span>So, we are home owners!!!!! Friday night we signed all the papers. Surreal!! Then I chaperoned movie night for 5th and 6th graders. Sean and I met up with old friends to celebrate a 30th birthday and I went to a really good party for a sweet three year old and saw lots of old friends with lots of kids. It made me think of how much I lost contact with people over the years. I didn't get to meet any of my goals due to a 6 day migraine!!!!!! Now a sore throat, but the goals are in place for this week now!! I'm not giving up.<br />
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Sean went a got an elecrtric fireplace and new tv for the family room!!!! We've been wanting to do that for a while. So pretty and warm!!! I'm planning on doing some little changes in there to make it prettier, more library-like. Exciting!!! Goals, cookies, walking, cleaning, christmas decorations.......we're doing Thanksgiving just us this year. Then Sean is playing with his old band!!! Then we'll head to Vermont to finish our weekend. Continue to be thankful for everything I have. I'm so lucky!!!!! Oh and get into the school a lot for Kayla's pilgrim week!! I loved that in third grade.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Kim</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtruz8MCfqf9Rkm5AFP3CuEoX39-nrcGRP3hSp4VuOK6VSqjROmozK1EeKvA74hKaFmzfo_bT-9fHEYdlW64JQUlIW0cPWIc8WXq9bDUGWIwhu7mQAlv_6Qzv_GoBV_smTRZT9pA827V7Q/s1600/IMG_1171.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtruz8MCfqf9Rkm5AFP3CuEoX39-nrcGRP3hSp4VuOK6VSqjROmozK1EeKvA74hKaFmzfo_bT-9fHEYdlW64JQUlIW0cPWIc8WXq9bDUGWIwhu7mQAlv_6Qzv_GoBV_smTRZT9pA827V7Q/s320/IMG_1171.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">I was wowed by the first grade program last week and completely smitten with my own first grader. They seem so much bigger and smarter than I remember being at that age. <br />
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The other highlight of my week was my hot date with Dave to the shooting range. I bought groupons for a class, gun rental, 100 rounds of ammo and an hour of shooting. Having never shot a real gun, I was apprehensive about it but as it turns out I'm a natural-born killer. A former marine who was on the range with me nicknamed me Annie Oakley. I shot a browning long-barrel .22. Dave is of course awesome(he kind of rocks at everything) but I held my own. In our class of 8, I was in the top half of shooters. So much fun! I'm gearing up for a 9mm. <br />
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The coming week includes celebrating Thanksgiving with Mertz and Bertha. Shopping some sales with Jake on Black Friday. Preparing and giving a lesson at church. Shopping and wrapping for our "secret Santa" kids. Starting the book for book club-<i>Little Women</i>.</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtruz8MCfqf9Rkm5AFP3CuEoX39-nrcGRP3hSp4VuOK6VSqjROmozK1EeKvA74hKaFmzfo_bT-9fHEYdlW64JQUlIW0cPWIc8WXq9bDUGWIwhu7mQAlv_6Qzv_GoBV_smTRZT9pA827V7Q/s1600/IMG_1171.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
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Over and out. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522744319398782161.post-88323705657001694832011-11-14T06:25:00.004-07:002011-11-14T06:30:32.566-07:00Weekly Update<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Carrie</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Vw_PTP-YqrY2BV08dYZCQzCUpfxtEQkS78gJY-lYGhlOWPDtvkPtIj6TaoLMeNEy5QKzfmbpLLIcOsbp0RirTJihApZQtUd7ldEGdSVnaxCymKwYHmyArNxozwRYuusTrecLnzlGBfpO/s1600/carrie+kiddos" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Vw_PTP-YqrY2BV08dYZCQzCUpfxtEQkS78gJY-lYGhlOWPDtvkPtIj6TaoLMeNEy5QKzfmbpLLIcOsbp0RirTJihApZQtUd7ldEGdSVnaxCymKwYHmyArNxozwRYuusTrecLnzlGBfpO/s320/carrie+kiddos" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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This week....We should become homeowners!! Closing later this week. Sean and I got the house "Christmas ready" cleaning out the old to make room for the new :-) feels good to purge!!!! We got a babysitter and went to Boston House of Blues Saturday to see Manchester Orchestra play. They were really good. Over the week we had lots of kids over for playtime, never a quiet dwelling!!!! Got in some really good walks and am still trying to teach Trent how to play fair in Chutes and Ladders! We ended our weekend by heading to the Dinosaur Place and then Build a Bear. Much needed quality family time :-) Love having a long weekend with the kids!!! I also found a 1969 VW bus for sale and am seriously considering getting it if the frame is sound!!!! So cool!!<br />
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This week I hope to.........walk three miles 3 times. Catch up on laundry after the washer was down for almost two weeks!!!! Get more Christmas shopping done, pick out the new doors and windows for the house and bake Christmas cookies.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Kurt</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBK-Si1Ls8pSrqiR-g8ggu2NEOwT7b1q4TBvtkomQXBLj1TUMsDu96bk8vSad94bnvq3qDjZDqEyJJGcPFOkmY1sEoFJD8Z2QuT9GSHtoaW2EglCNLYglUzt6ksDRi518AgplafSq7BBIi/s1600/kurt+gas+mask" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBK-Si1Ls8pSrqiR-g8ggu2NEOwT7b1q4TBvtkomQXBLj1TUMsDu96bk8vSad94bnvq3qDjZDqEyJJGcPFOkmY1sEoFJD8Z2QuT9GSHtoaW2EglCNLYglUzt6ksDRi518AgplafSq7BBIi/s320/kurt+gas+mask" width="247" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"> It has been a busy week for THIS little performance artist. Sunday I performed as ALPHA (with OMEGA) at the Boston Convention Center where BILL CLINTON was speaking. Its one of my favorite characters because we are encouraged to "interact" with EVERYTHING. We can mess around with people, touch everything around...when we perform those characters its like we have JUST come to earth. you can check them out on <a href="http://wemakepretend.com/">WEMAKEPRETEND.COM</a><br />
The next day i was back up in Boston to perform at the ICA. Its a beautiful space to show contemporary art. I was an award statue at an event where DENNIS LEHANE (writer of Mystic River and many other things) spoke.<br />
Friday I was the GOD of WINE at a wedding in Connecticut. <br />
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I did NOT do my goal of writing some more songs. but thats ok I started, and am more than half way done with one of my other goals....creating a gem stone gas mask!!!!!<br />
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This week i would LOVE to start painting the new canvas that i bought at the salvation army, its the biggest canvas that i have ever owned. I am excited to throw some TEXTURE on that bad boy.<br />
I also NEED to make an appointment for new contacts, i am pushing at least 3 years on this last pair (of two week disposables! woops)<br />
Also, my computer NEEDS more space and speed so i need to bring it to apple....in my research APPLE doesnt make memory for my aged computer, so i need to get the specifics from the people at the GENIUS BAR</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Rob</span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">Sadly, I have no photos for the week. This could have been an excellent week - my birthday on Tuesday, the final battle for Neverwinter on Wednesday's Encounters sessions, 4 day weekend for the kids and a D&D game for me and both boys on Saturday. Instead, it was a week of concern, conflict and compassion. Sunday was spent scrambling for babysitting for Archer, since his mom was unable to get to the house when she said she would. I was able to drop him off at a friend's house, and picked him up later that night. Allison wasn't around for the Amazing Race, so we saved it for later in the week. When Monday rolled around, I left my cell phone charger at home, and my battery died. Imagine my surprise when I plugged it in, and had half a dozen voice mails and texts! Turns out Allison had a trip to the hospital, and in the end it wouldn't be until Friday that she would be able to go home. Her parents came down to see her, but she refused visitors; it was nice for them to see the boys anyway. I am largely not talking to her father anymore, because he thinks it not wildly inappropriate to threaten a teenager when you get lost. They left in a huff on Thursday, but I got my fridge cleaned while they were here, so that is something. Anyway, rather than get a lot of work done this week, I got to go in late Tuesday, oversleep Thursday and spend most of Friday driving around MA to bring Allison home (5 hours for the patient escort, 2 for the normal commute). All in all, a good week to have nothing much going on.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Taking editorial license here and inserting Halloween pictures and description this week. -Kim</i></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggxIOk-t2NpZ-ZltHQbA7EcB5HOjifacklsa4Q0QSSum9v7_xYUk2soRoina3KAFMEQwDaX6SoGY7I7fcidhFMSggsKxKwNcHJIyADostF1tQPZZCmF7YA0j0ThQoX25tCH3nqFbD8U6iA/s1600/rob+halloween.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggxIOk-t2NpZ-ZltHQbA7EcB5HOjifacklsa4Q0QSSum9v7_xYUk2soRoina3KAFMEQwDaX6SoGY7I7fcidhFMSggsKxKwNcHJIyADostF1tQPZZCmF7YA0j0ThQoX25tCH3nqFbD8U6iA/s320/rob+halloween.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8N_xiSd3q6vJ-qgBpE2HB-2gA31RreIER-52Z0kB4KyB5MuKa4r_1c8m21aQ6oG_YsP43o2PosAX1H-31K_LK6z4NT54Pnju5feQxI05kWIKKfDE8Hc-8O3Dc77CqyStYDeWZnu23xRzV/s1600/Rob+halloween+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8N_xiSd3q6vJ-qgBpE2HB-2gA31RreIER-52Z0kB4KyB5MuKa4r_1c8m21aQ6oG_YsP43o2PosAX1H-31K_LK6z4NT54Pnju5feQxI05kWIKKfDE8Hc-8O3Dc77CqyStYDeWZnu23xRzV/s320/Rob+halloween+2.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFehpTaLyg_MwPDU8L48if-xFFgOfMXBB9r1NUMLx0xa0FGYmAcs_i1nsqHgVNm6ceeB45GiM_Nt_t5qreqImOxE-WPQKEbrvMvRdUE3RQHmUnK1VuhHnkxq4sBCGZg7dMbeKkPRjyiYzR/s1600/Rob+halloween+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFehpTaLyg_MwPDU8L48if-xFFgOfMXBB9r1NUMLx0xa0FGYmAcs_i1nsqHgVNm6ceeB45GiM_Nt_t5qreqImOxE-WPQKEbrvMvRdUE3RQHmUnK1VuhHnkxq4sBCGZg7dMbeKkPRjyiYzR/s320/Rob+halloween+3.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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McGuire is the Green Lantern.<br />
Archer is General Greivous, but with only the mask, and a knight's armor. Think of it like Ceremonial Outfitting for the General - like Marine Blues.<br />
The young lady in Orange is Ellie, dressed as Clyde (or whichever of the ghosts from Pacman is Orange). The other young lady is Catherine, as a princess. The other boy is Jim, he is dressed as the Companion cube from Portal.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Kim</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXPp7RTOlnnMECj-l5YtuFTlo-hE9RigWPWQkzYUvaqBZOBkQ9SDoLKNN_7qOrlgUaeDoxy5C80eOn9CEwa9c9y7k9-1mSMcxPRO4LotpGlWsY6SduUQ0DiKcwvEyyvBHDv-NYER47VKsV/s1600/IMG_1167.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXPp7RTOlnnMECj-l5YtuFTlo-hE9RigWPWQkzYUvaqBZOBkQ9SDoLKNN_7qOrlgUaeDoxy5C80eOn9CEwa9c9y7k9-1mSMcxPRO4LotpGlWsY6SduUQ0DiKcwvEyyvBHDv-NYER47VKsV/s320/IMG_1167.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Let's see. I attended<i> one </i>PTO meeting and was kicked off the Air Force Base when trying to attend the second one since my license expired on my birthday. The high school is actually ON base and it's terribly inconvenient for just this reason. The armed guard actually wished me a happy birthday and told my to drive directly to the DMV. I did. I had NO idea my license had expired. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I tackled the ironing pile but only to store a quarter of it in spring/summer stuff, deliver another quarter to the cleaners and ironed like five things. Still on my to do list, but maybe not this week. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Exercised five times if you count a lame yoga routine and a slow walk for two of the days. I've got to get more motivated!<br />
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Attended Rachel's first piano recital(Popcorn Popping) and Ben's sixth(?)(The Entertainer). They both did excellent jobs. It's fun to see their progress. Closed out the soccer season with Ben's last game ending in a tie:1-1. He played full-time goalie and saved their butts several times. Way to go!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
Began Christmas shopping/planning. Made smoothies every weekday. Wouldn't you know, Rachel liked the "<a href="http://www.singforyoursupperblog.com/2011/07/19/green-er-brown-ish-monster-smoothies/" target="_blank">monster smoothie</a>" the best? The boys did not. Funny girl. It's the best way to get more fruits and vegetables into Ben. Plus, just some morning food.<br />
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This week I need to complete the preparations for the garage sale. We are clearing out toys and clothes mostly in hopes of raising enough money to buy someone a new smile from the organization <a href="http://www.smiletrain.org/" target="_blank">Smile Train</a>. My kids' hearts are very touched by their ads. We've had to wait until soccer ended to find a Saturday to do it. We've been stockpiling things for months now and I'm anxious to move them on and do something nice as we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
A first grade program and another PTO meeting this week. Also, Dave and I are taking a gun class this week. Should be a fun date learning to shoot!<br />
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Until next week...</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522744319398782161.post-35426469303014542602011-11-09T06:40:00.001-07:002011-11-10T14:35:08.687-07:00Siblings' Update<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUO1YS61NDxOia3DaYr6tXCu9GUwjzpF8w_JmIzoEodDXbxzXvUEhucyapfTEcMeAEb0m5GWJKS_M-doGQ-TU4kO1hqkPaisYy-D2chTc8C_xelInjPU2W94qnpMRS1P_vS0rUhAsJ0BCz/s1600/siblings+2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUO1YS61NDxOia3DaYr6tXCu9GUwjzpF8w_JmIzoEodDXbxzXvUEhucyapfTEcMeAEb0m5GWJKS_M-doGQ-TU4kO1hqkPaisYy-D2chTc8C_xelInjPU2W94qnpMRS1P_vS0rUhAsJ0BCz/s320/siblings+2011.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carrie, Kurt, Rob, Kim July 2011 Glastonbury, CT</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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We are terrible at staying in touch. We are going to try to do better by documenting one week at a time.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">KIM</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3O3uQ2XplFsP2Uip0E3C45OiVKFoy9FQzPtcZ2BbW3dQ41owT2g4I4dzsuUDYLU6Hx6cylfIjFf6emAaz-jsM40AIlKfm4v_D4eeWuQ3o4WmdRm64S1XQispTkdGr4AmlUk_PHkxNXRcx/s1600/Halloween+2011+kim+dave" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3O3uQ2XplFsP2Uip0E3C45OiVKFoy9FQzPtcZ2BbW3dQ41owT2g4I4dzsuUDYLU6Hx6cylfIjFf6emAaz-jsM40AIlKfm4v_D4eeWuQ3o4WmdRm64S1XQispTkdGr4AmlUk_PHkxNXRcx/s320/Halloween+2011+kim+dave" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mrs. Mia Wallace and Vincent Vega from Pulp Fiction</td></tr>
</tbody></table> Last week, I successfully finished up the Halloween celebrations and turned 41. Halloween seems to get more drawn out every year. I suppose when my kids are all gone and it is quiet and boring around here I'll look back with a melancholy regret that we don't do more to recognize Halloween. For now, I'm glad it's over. School parties, church party, neighborhood parties, costume rentals, <i>sewed</i> costume details (that's right, by me), carved pumpkins, assembled gingerbread haunted house and collected so much candy. Success. The kids also got well-child checkups (on their snow day) and flu shots.<br />
<br />
This week I plan to:<br />
1. Attend two PTO meetings, one at the high school and one at the elementary school<br />
2. Get the oil changed in Dave's car for him<br />
3. Schedule doctor and dentist appointments for myself<br />
4. Tackle my ironing pile<br />
5. File<br />
6. Start my Christmas shopping<br />
7. Make smoothies every morning for Ben and Rachel. Ben really needs to be eating/drinking something before school.<br />
8. Exercise five times this week.<br />
9. Make a plan for the Physical Fitness Merit Badge for Jake and Ben (and maybe myself)<br />
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<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">ROB</span></div><br />
It would be impossible to try to sum up the whole year, so I will only be looking at the past week, starting with Saturday, October 29th. Snow in October in New England is nothing particularly new or odd, but an October Nor'Easter, with most of the leaves still on the trees? That is a little less common. We had batteries, and flashlights, so the boys and I were happy to sit at home and watch the snow fall like crazy - after we ran a few errands. Archer was playing a new game he bought himself - Sonic Unleashed, we had some frozen pizza for dinner, and were sitting downstairs when the power went out t 7:30. No worries - I had my cell phone, used it as a light to get upstairs to light some candles. It was not a terrible way to end a night. McGuire read for about 3 hours in candle light, Archer and I hung out, and eventually went to bed early. When we woke up Sunday, the house was fairly cold - stupid gas furnace, with battery-powered thermostats, and it still wants some external power to actually turn on the furnace!!! We had plans to meet up with our D&D group, even though only McGuire was playing that day. Archer and I brought a DS and my netbook to use the store's power! We went to dinner at Fridays so that I could see the Patriots game against the Steelers (bad idea), and I brought them over to their mom's apartment since she had power and they didn't have school on Monday with the power out in most of the town.<br />
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I went home to sleep in a cold house, since I was still going to work in the morning. I was pretty happy to wake up with power, but my alarms were obviously not set, so I got to work later, anyway. Three of the kids that show up to D&D were coming over for Trick or Treating - I should have some cell-phone photos to insert here later. The kids had Tuesday off, as well, so I am already thinking that they will be losing a vacation with the first winter snowstorm.<br />
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Wednesday was supposed to be the day Allison and I got our divorce approved by a judge, but thanks to some misinformation, I took the day off from work. and we got "properly attired" for court for no good reason. Instead, we both went to our residences - I was lucky enough to see my neighbors leaving their house, so I dropped 100 bucks to get the kids they hired to clean their lawn to take the biggest debris from my yard, too. I then used the rest of the day to have my car looked at so that I could get it to pass emissions. Turns out that will cost about 1500 dollars, so I have some hard decisions to make there, the car has 200,000 miles on it, but it is a Camry, so getting a lot more miles out of it is not out of the question. Still, not a great way to take a day off from work. We did get penciled in to get judge time on November 10th, though. The rest of the week was fairly copacetic - we had some surprises with Allison on Saturday, which led to to juggle some plans on Sunday, but all in all, the weekend went well.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">KURT</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe4pOQ2KPW4YWCe8SiAPeRyeQ9NrXwyqPxH6KlEJIjlT8MnIYb1djo9173qARDuXkrUVNeDnDYN1o2WqjgoeKrgE0JjiKh54aGdyjtkHrKPhhVw6RexamvGQwjwIT-63AC8KbNPayQesge/s1600/Kurt+halloween.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="107" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe4pOQ2KPW4YWCe8SiAPeRyeQ9NrXwyqPxH6KlEJIjlT8MnIYb1djo9173qARDuXkrUVNeDnDYN1o2WqjgoeKrgE0JjiKh54aGdyjtkHrKPhhVw6RexamvGQwjwIT-63AC8KbNPayQesge/s320/Kurt+halloween.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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I saw the band CSS in boston, Brazilian Dance ROCK they are SO energetic and fantastic. I wore an army shirt that i made.<br />
I dressed as Kurt Cobain for work on saturday, which i may say came out Fantastic. I then worked as a statue at some rich peoples house outside of boston. I was King Neptune standing by them clams. then got back from that and did three costume changes for a halloween party in my building.<br />
Sunday I dressed as the "zombie boy" from lady gagas Born this way video @ a bar/restaurant DOWNCITY in Providence (it was on Kitchen Nightmares). i won third place which is a $50 gift card to the restaurant.<br />
Monday i was in my stuffed animal suit with my friend Katie in the NYC Halloween Parade. the largest pedestrian parade in north america. We marched and posed for pictures....the costume didnt get much attention, so we did a costume change later when she wore the pants, and people LOVED her.....it made me happy...next year we are gonna make her get ALL the attention.<br />
I've been planning on moving to NYC when my lease is up in Providence. Last night Jon and I broke up. I have a lot of goals in my mind, and usually I dont set DATES for. Although they do get done but this one week at a time will be fun. In this next week i would like to record at LEAST one more song. ive been doing recordings for a while....and i would like to get better at music, so i need to work...although when it comes down to it i will have to find someone to sing for me, i am just no good.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> CARRIE</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcondAkmvp7dBOt5dFefr-QXVpGMzb-Q-zFQg8sr6GGlOzYOLRfniQPHG-uRGzg_RfW_MTO_PpmCGajPxK56yTr4Xy11pHnZzv-MlJAK1Eyk9_sexXJrGlz6malmbT4ubxZU7OB7kPDlpi/s1600/carrie+chase" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcondAkmvp7dBOt5dFefr-QXVpGMzb-Q-zFQg8sr6GGlOzYOLRfniQPHG-uRGzg_RfW_MTO_PpmCGajPxK56yTr4Xy11pHnZzv-MlJAK1Eyk9_sexXJrGlz6malmbT4ubxZU7OB7kPDlpi/s320/carrie+chase" width="320" /></a></div> Last week........ a snow storm caused some serious damage around the state. We were lucky and only lost power for two days. We trick or treated with my friend and her four kids at an old folks home, but they horded the candy!!!! So we went on the green with another family we love. Too much snow, so we opened the van up and drove down the green. Lame but fun!! Carved pumpkins, made a gingerbread haunted house and had two days of school parties.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB9skTYkwDregeONeSqrKdtFnbJZSmCTL3794MwZAyePL5NhTDVOwZeP0Xt1mh1o8WJjD6aOhYmUstcf4g0QYy0zbdQEdVxSht3HbSbMt5sS-hmYbvWMwYBHxCjto3oXgU_o2nyyFkHu01/s1600/carrie+crew+halloween" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB9skTYkwDregeONeSqrKdtFnbJZSmCTL3794MwZAyePL5NhTDVOwZeP0Xt1mh1o8WJjD6aOhYmUstcf4g0QYy0zbdQEdVxSht3HbSbMt5sS-hmYbvWMwYBHxCjto3oXgU_o2nyyFkHu01/s320/carrie+crew+halloween" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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This week.......I'm freaking out!!!!! We're supposed to close on the house tomorrow. Still trying to get home owners insurance. Because of the storm, the insurance agencies have been closed. No joke, going on 10 days without power. I have been left out of the process because Dad, Uncle Jim and the mortgage broker wanted to make things easy for me. Now I'm clueless. And frustrated. My goal is to bake something tasty and go for a run. Or speed walk. It clears my head. My babies are keeping me grounded and that keeps my eye on the prize.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnB62V_pVpGAig7rUaYiBQH5TVdUbsz9lNvud7jd6ca9t69h68wxdfpDpPlT3xFlDBGOcDqFVg16Spaqnur6CW_S7RlBHAHGklUf_dueBfxlBGM0E7sMeJMxoVnZg0uKQZijAnX8fyr6Qv/s1600/carrie+kid+artwork" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnB62V_pVpGAig7rUaYiBQH5TVdUbsz9lNvud7jd6ca9t69h68wxdfpDpPlT3xFlDBGOcDqFVg16Spaqnur6CW_S7RlBHAHGklUf_dueBfxlBGM0E7sMeJMxoVnZg0uKQZijAnX8fyr6Qv/s320/carrie+kid+artwork" width="218" /></a></div> On another happy note...... Sean is taking me to NYC for my birthday weekend!!! Staying at the Trump Soho. So, as things stay crazy I have something to look forward to. :-) I'm a lucky girl. Just have to keep reminding myself I'm strong and can take everything that's thrown my way.<br />
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<br />
And that's a wrap for our inaugural week of "Updates". Can't wait to hear from you all on Sunday!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlcaIpUXbgA8qfiNh3QhjbWk3dh1VWhy9tEDpd8Q7W4KJAcyo7fZW-WjfPDM2ZVRehnffTRLP_PrT09fmPJycJbJ6uP-T8uPx9wAOJAwiYcrcMabpbZij2dCntdJ-KUfBnox9OuK476D9s/s1600/silly+siblings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlcaIpUXbgA8qfiNh3QhjbWk3dh1VWhy9tEDpd8Q7W4KJAcyo7fZW-WjfPDM2ZVRehnffTRLP_PrT09fmPJycJbJ6uP-T8uPx9wAOJAwiYcrcMabpbZij2dCntdJ-KUfBnox9OuK476D9s/s320/silly+siblings.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522744319398782161.post-58877104301031860642011-06-18T05:42:00.001-06:002011-06-18T13:09:26.116-06:00Turks and CaicosBeaches Resort June 4-11, 2011<br />
Oh my. How do I do justice to such a great vacation? Let's start with some pictures...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQLJaWPrsiek7aHcFEa_uu7OHsNC3SsnX95eNCg5_R71QY6Wh1YkMeiZHFXHbYjanDt4vdot7wpUgNc5FdqFMvFqysD2-5QTW5ZX1Zs_FLwVyAwhyphenhyphenm1OQj7YOVV_Yg5_00FOY4jx59IX6D/s1600/020_20.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQLJaWPrsiek7aHcFEa_uu7OHsNC3SsnX95eNCg5_R71QY6Wh1YkMeiZHFXHbYjanDt4vdot7wpUgNc5FdqFMvFqysD2-5QTW5ZX1Zs_FLwVyAwhyphenhyphenm1OQj7YOVV_Yg5_00FOY4jx59IX6D/s400/020_20.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The clearest waters and most fish we've ever seen. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpfRLcA31YOnfQrrEPh1mXSzTWt4mVoB7z-r2_qKTB_X-nShFP9JjJ5LR8bSXCzqepNSHzOosOhm3rpGvEXFjkOhqSRHk5oEueeP-P2xrRpXwOEUQ1TfN6gNsNKwOh19-RrsgIPV0AgYqO/s1600/019_19.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpfRLcA31YOnfQrrEPh1mXSzTWt4mVoB7z-r2_qKTB_X-nShFP9JjJ5LR8bSXCzqepNSHzOosOhm3rpGvEXFjkOhqSRHk5oEueeP-P2xrRpXwOEUQ1TfN6gNsNKwOh19-RrsgIPV0AgYqO/s400/019_19.JPG" width="318" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Rachel is like a fish. She snorkels without fear.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb0VaZGwFMiHydmdEFKTQgeBtGGyglQ-_vogxbwc1NOw9u1wv2sQnnSjuE9W5N92-L9LT4aEppfk2JFFVtb7aJerN73KbuWKj9kj-p3B3IB22DhqBe-QfyQKq6FsPGXtX9XowrYELfRcKU/s1600/018_18.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb0VaZGwFMiHydmdEFKTQgeBtGGyglQ-_vogxbwc1NOw9u1wv2sQnnSjuE9W5N92-L9LT4aEppfk2JFFVtb7aJerN73KbuWKj9kj-p3B3IB22DhqBe-QfyQKq6FsPGXtX9XowrYELfRcKU/s400/018_18.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ben gives a thumbs up to Caribbean warm waters.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSAGZfTfuqMr41j7kv0xXs-6i-Whs44Gyp1rh0f3ht7blFb2QMK-35_8l6wOat8rxHdvq5MzHRe3E2tJZKmFfRc-9DXojqX5pCVTybtKETrNvf6ynNvhvd6JeqbKMaUTjt6HUs2RiwST3F/s1600/017_17.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSAGZfTfuqMr41j7kv0xXs-6i-Whs44Gyp1rh0f3ht7blFb2QMK-35_8l6wOat8rxHdvq5MzHRe3E2tJZKmFfRc-9DXojqX5pCVTybtKETrNvf6ynNvhvd6JeqbKMaUTjt6HUs2RiwST3F/s400/017_17.JPG" width="300" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Jake prefers scuba diving, but humors us occasionally by snorkeling. His main job is to keep Mom from drowning.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbZr_XiJvgowTOk7mvvKQ5HCFmalUmTvH_034D0zUs1r3DVbzyoM0O1R5F5M5WBl9rc2nUCRjjVPA18obdiqkVIiM5OtYIQiZfBIaxixiRuFVdI2woxmbBXiIke6MSpCss5Xjej4eHfzja/s1600/IMG_0789.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbZr_XiJvgowTOk7mvvKQ5HCFmalUmTvH_034D0zUs1r3DVbzyoM0O1R5F5M5WBl9rc2nUCRjjVPA18obdiqkVIiM5OtYIQiZfBIaxixiRuFVdI2woxmbBXiIke6MSpCss5Xjej4eHfzja/s400/IMG_0789.jpg" width="298" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Triple-decker at the pool.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiys4s1DtAhTVsqIgQcqh54h5mBucGBfhY_mNGRVslqfTSVKEADNR7TS-OUGL6Kp_b6mjuthRZw-7CQdXdqsVQRrbFIZiU-VF9POcitje5GW0GUls4rMimI2jY4oOuE3uWDevEdqZxXNjC9/s1600/DSCN2375.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
</a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj63pEegKKBP3MWL1_QcygZb4fwov5uEztYdIAMf8vW23AlnT9drk75yETeUYG1GDxkgAupaNDlLzjl8zU6DhhOg4dpWl9NaTWZ3j6ZmBiY1S1f4kaHLJVxFBftKZ7I9mIQ_Cm828ROZDJA/s1600/015_15.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj63pEegKKBP3MWL1_QcygZb4fwov5uEztYdIAMf8vW23AlnT9drk75yETeUYG1GDxkgAupaNDlLzjl8zU6DhhOg4dpWl9NaTWZ3j6ZmBiY1S1f4kaHLJVxFBftKZ7I9mIQ_Cm828ROZDJA/s400/015_15.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">While Dave and Jake went on scuba tours (six of them!), we enjoyed the beach (and water slides, but I didn't get any pictures).</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggVjfAM9Re-Rsfnz7kW2k1vK4-QNTJi6kmD8wH-QaHGEBRBzbwlOAwESG2RDP6_Ci46T7kBWPA22QXoZ_FUps8aZwJWTp5tVON3n4aQODQwfNOjXasfcQhhmpLlXsu8-BC4JuNV8GZmPoH/s1600/DSCN2383.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggVjfAM9Re-Rsfnz7kW2k1vK4-QNTJi6kmD8wH-QaHGEBRBzbwlOAwESG2RDP6_Ci46T7kBWPA22QXoZ_FUps8aZwJWTp5tVON3n4aQODQwfNOjXasfcQhhmpLlXsu8-BC4JuNV8GZmPoH/s400/DSCN2383.JPG" width="300" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is how I get time to finish my book on the beach.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">What's this? The boys trying to turn sandcastle building into a competition? Who would've guessed... </span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Looks like the boys think they won...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Teppanyaki dinner</span></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8QvttN7LRUKwgzgj_mpVKwyfYDf44s142BztDVNBdhSKlzjYgySqdYdGaEbzgn7YRGvj2CXtiVq3BxiPqkC9gH6ClUomwyfK5t1n9-itr2Ljn3YKrxaKKCVNP6xNRIiEbgCPBQFFut7YD/s1600/IMG_0797.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8QvttN7LRUKwgzgj_mpVKwyfYDf44s142BztDVNBdhSKlzjYgySqdYdGaEbzgn7YRGvj2CXtiVq3BxiPqkC9gH6ClUomwyfK5t1n9-itr2Ljn3YKrxaKKCVNP6xNRIiEbgCPBQFFut7YD/s400/IMG_0797.jpg" width="298" /> </a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baking cookies with Cookie Monster.</td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXN18BGqPN_kcgcYTqegshhg_h7gVo0Nlt2UQKx2LVDE4a11aAeIxYdeUNYmX1AQDphzHtK0fkSt6X2nhn_OvNUalT4W52M_kfaZina8QdJvDTXciLRVZOs006E8BDE3rih10exb-R0VMK/s1600/DSCN2368.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXN18BGqPN_kcgcYTqegshhg_h7gVo0Nlt2UQKx2LVDE4a11aAeIxYdeUNYmX1AQDphzHtK0fkSt6X2nhn_OvNUalT4W52M_kfaZina8QdJvDTXciLRVZOs006E8BDE3rih10exb-R0VMK/s400/DSCN2368.JPG" width="400" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Dave enjoying the only surf around.</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">We LOVE the beach!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Goodbye for now...we'll be back.</span></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Every vacation feels like the best one at the time...I imagine we'll have more "best" vacations to come. Like Rachel tells us, "the best part is spending time with my family." (The boys call her a kiss-up, but I think she's sweet.) </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522744319398782161.post-24848833349154716182011-06-04T06:23:00.000-06:002011-06-04T06:23:00.883-06:00On Our WayYou know it is going to be a great vacation when your family members all call to wish you well before you leave and warn you to be careful. "Tell Dave," they all say. And then on your way to the grand destination, you have occasion to sleep on the floor of the airport. We're in for some memorable fun!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfClkAjNHSLeYeZjq-d3k99FH1y4MGsh7LK0yBQFjnLSypKFYM-1xqhjkxh5LYo-QjR-cVJOmoVlJpo2kVyFe8KvDsM29GR5pxK9MukBmhsNiP0XN2EY1f6IZPH9Ceu7JxIRysDV6IWZaz/s1600/IMG_0786.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfClkAjNHSLeYeZjq-d3k99FH1y4MGsh7LK0yBQFjnLSypKFYM-1xqhjkxh5LYo-QjR-cVJOmoVlJpo2kVyFe8KvDsM29GR5pxK9MukBmhsNiP0XN2EY1f6IZPH9Ceu7JxIRysDV6IWZaz/s400/IMG_0786.jpg" width="298" /> </a></td><td style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charlotte USA, thanks for vacuuming before we arrived.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522744319398782161.post-27397566480078010572011-05-25T06:28:00.003-06:002011-05-25T17:21:56.119-06:00The FreshmanI've had the nagging feeling that I should get back to blogging for several weeks now. Who knows what causes these impressions...guilt, a knowledge that it will serve my family well someday, something more significant. I can't say. I do know that Jake needs to be spotlighted.<br />
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This boy, or should I say man (at 6 feet tall and 180 pounds he certainly does not look like a boy) is one amazing person. He has taken to high school like a fish to water. It would seem he can navigate through most of life's challenges without much fanfare or drama. (I will chalk that up to his father's influence.) He is fifteen and drives me crazy some days with his procrastinating and lack of urgency about things, but man is he a joy!<br />
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I'm not the kind of person who loves teenagers. I don't find them terribly charming, as a whole. The surly attitudes and contempt for authority make them somewhat of a challenge for me. That is not to say I did not come to love the Beehives I worked with a while back. They <i>were</i> charming, and in fact quite respectful and kind. But I am not a parent who has looked forward to having a teenager.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiajOoc8eWn6_gR_cApGTJdKmeMI_pL-KAy8gG-Je5Kr6yZhL0lC0GRfyF_PQU_CRW2P5OkRJqopDD1Hs8ozbhSiBRt5o-WnoXgOHXLx3b0EJt3mPRXbP3k1iRaxvbP_r0014Udiyd3PSs/s1600/DSCN1978.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiajOoc8eWn6_gR_cApGTJdKmeMI_pL-KAy8gG-Je5Kr6yZhL0lC0GRfyF_PQU_CRW2P5OkRJqopDD1Hs8ozbhSiBRt5o-WnoXgOHXLx3b0EJt3mPRXbP3k1iRaxvbP_r0014Udiyd3PSs/s320/DSCN1978.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First Day of School 2010</td></tr>
</tbody></table>That being said, Jake is teaching me the pleasures of this stage, like a wonderful first-born child should do for his younger siblings. He is funny. Oh, so funny. And smart, and kind, and helpful, and capable. He has a quiet confidence that I admire and envy a little bit. I should probably trust him more to navigate his school work responsibly since he has been able to work it out so far on his own.<br />
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I want the BEST for him so sometimes I nag, and pester him to DO more, and achieve more, but the truth is he is everything I could possibly hope for in a child. He loves his family, and is a loyal friend, and most importantly, he knows the importance of living the gospel to find real happiness. Plus, he has mad shooting skills in video games. If we're ever invaded by zombies, we will prevail.<br />
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I love you just the way you are Jake. Good luck on finals! We're in your corner.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522744319398782161.post-5965599833332910052010-09-23T17:14:00.003-06:002010-09-23T18:51:41.990-06:00Summer Vacation 2010<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>We kicked off summer vacation June 3rd with Dave having the week off. He took us up to Mt. Baldy in the FJ Cruiser for our first family off-roading tour.<br />
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My favorite moment was after I hopped back in the car after helping Dave navigate a very tight passage and Rachel said, "I know something that starts with S, Mom" What's that Rach? "S is for SCARY."<br />
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Apparently, she doesn't have an adrenaline addiction developed yet. <br />
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Rachel's dance recital was June 5th and she did marvelously. My daily calendar's quote that day was, "When in doubt, twirl." How fitting. Especially if you saw the dance. After the dress rehearsal she told me she almost cried when she got on the stage and I was surprised but tried to comfort her. She said "No, Mom. I wasn't sad. I wanted to cry because I was so happy."<br />
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Here are some photos of our little ballerina. Just this week she was moved to a longer ballet class with older kids. It makes my life considerably more complicated having dance after the boys get home from school (since it's soccer season) but she seems to love it. She's not a baby anymore!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX64w29GGibWCxsY8vF5me3xovJ_ei3puzOmCMYL_BlVXb074aNFYA07arvJmOnJ0lmucc-izqw5vZH0EXX1dhzP1jToqpVBm9anszfGQ8rY9GtRZACFnF5KErmt3vbXkdD9MIrci_MFAK/s1600/DSCN1744.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX64w29GGibWCxsY8vF5me3xovJ_ei3puzOmCMYL_BlVXb074aNFYA07arvJmOnJ0lmucc-izqw5vZH0EXX1dhzP1jToqpVBm9anszfGQ8rY9GtRZACFnF5KErmt3vbXkdD9MIrci_MFAK/s320/DSCN1744.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp1m53rc-wvZxMqFOS3UoG6jo4nu5DJKqIFMFmrCF0ZTVdnwSs_GbGm0zH2Y0PUKdfo0Ycil5WCsJUjHuhKJEh7BTKl_saBP7cNI4nIfVaClP3oHa9yKsujlSr3lYDKaC23IriSeaCg9s8/s1600/DSCN1736.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp1m53rc-wvZxMqFOS3UoG6jo4nu5DJKqIFMFmrCF0ZTVdnwSs_GbGm0zH2Y0PUKdfo0Ycil5WCsJUjHuhKJEh7BTKl_saBP7cNI4nIfVaClP3oHa9yKsujlSr3lYDKaC23IriSeaCg9s8/s320/DSCN1736.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN-vCgA2fuCx62NGzj5zNBqg2fSvdA3X2P_s83JaDi-Ls6NjT0oIU7t-MXObHT52hE321h10ukXOZRHUJ9yvmFhDnECdMk6h-2hQY8ZoVaK1Hru_pKeNCzk5iLD1JoJjxkft07HwA-KwEV/s1600/DSCN1738.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN-vCgA2fuCx62NGzj5zNBqg2fSvdA3X2P_s83JaDi-Ls6NjT0oIU7t-MXObHT52hE321h10ukXOZRHUJ9yvmFhDnECdMk6h-2hQY8ZoVaK1Hru_pKeNCzk5iLD1JoJjxkft07HwA-KwEV/s320/DSCN1738.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYXWO8NjcdBYFItmtFl0YzfujeBu5Ejx8O2XkGBp-K3TiGp4gJ-AI3EAB-46Y99M-cIqdAoLRy0ffgR_juLOUC9kceRe2JQVr6ilOmlCGvPwstyDlHzJOfdG1sHbyWpn1st7p6nUxsbF5k/s1600/EPSON003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYXWO8NjcdBYFItmtFl0YzfujeBu5Ejx8O2XkGBp-K3TiGp4gJ-AI3EAB-46Y99M-cIqdAoLRy0ffgR_juLOUC9kceRe2JQVr6ilOmlCGvPwstyDlHzJOfdG1sHbyWpn1st7p6nUxsbF5k/s320/EPSON003.JPG" width="229" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeg2_0lX_9ZWg8x_lHgdwjKPaedSYrUuFLdudIKDdUxbuII47R9Lvba6CEtvg4kXFRIepH5Zv4I9dF7dMIMWL6VBo_YPrVD3qu1o4mu7NMglo4vrrrICo4ZUyxJQy9BWCbn5dsQMpMGtxH/s1600/EPSON004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeg2_0lX_9ZWg8x_lHgdwjKPaedSYrUuFLdudIKDdUxbuII47R9Lvba6CEtvg4kXFRIepH5Zv4I9dF7dMIMWL6VBo_YPrVD3qu1o4mu7NMglo4vrrrICo4ZUyxJQy9BWCbn5dsQMpMGtxH/s320/EPSON004.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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And swim team began even before school let out. It was the defining activity of our summer since it took up every weekday morning from 7-9:30am. Rachel followed with swim lessons every day until 10:45am. That's a lot of pool time! It's a good thing most of our friends were at the pool too every morning. Baby Dane was the source of much joy and love this summer. He probably will not remember the summer but we will never forget it...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6G-hC_0CB9_QlMd0UHQS_621C2g_1JYjO2Kpv2w4ayagjXShh6Qi5kmc5aBGKDnCpkhRDFg3DfMubWNKajUD3kx_2Q6RSbyGXshoyXzlZAv5bZWxFcN1g9KFtBjk8NoPZZPp1aEY8QSLU/s1600/EPSON001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6G-hC_0CB9_QlMd0UHQS_621C2g_1JYjO2Kpv2w4ayagjXShh6Qi5kmc5aBGKDnCpkhRDFg3DfMubWNKajUD3kx_2Q6RSbyGXshoyXzlZAv5bZWxFcN1g9KFtBjk8NoPZZPp1aEY8QSLU/s1600/EPSON001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6G-hC_0CB9_QlMd0UHQS_621C2g_1JYjO2Kpv2w4ayagjXShh6Qi5kmc5aBGKDnCpkhRDFg3DfMubWNKajUD3kx_2Q6RSbyGXshoyXzlZAv5bZWxFcN1g9KFtBjk8NoPZZPp1aEY8QSLU/s320/EPSON001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;">Jake is on the back row and Ben is nearly dead-center looking like he's ready to jump out of the picture.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCLpXimiOWmExB77YvhY_mMKNV8BOkbJZ8q39u6_ST4AA4K8hANoXf1tG_8UXJB_YkxxTtXSlwvhQSb9QbC_tjVY2KCUo7SSAaHLfuGfX8yBZGRFgBEX2S7-eAW67uWb939SAg87TSgdjr/s1600/DSCN1780.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCLpXimiOWmExB77YvhY_mMKNV8BOkbJZ8q39u6_ST4AA4K8hANoXf1tG_8UXJB_YkxxTtXSlwvhQSb9QbC_tjVY2KCUo7SSAaHLfuGfX8yBZGRFgBEX2S7-eAW67uWb939SAg87TSgdjr/s320/DSCN1780.JPG" /></a></div>The boys did a great job on the team and the coaches were tremendous. They both improved in form and speed considerably. Jake has even said he will go out for the high school team since he knows the coach now. Great news!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg06VJvMq95J0xuHsn9bez557vESSOHwnoQ111BNLcG2vXiLKTEspv73_GmOMWQ8LPzHbs4gaybK0r96CsEpmx4TLmz88IhrXP138Dh_zpgkkjhyctV7al_B9Iu3dleUb4hjLvCBFEZaG4M/s1600/DSCN1782.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg06VJvMq95J0xuHsn9bez557vESSOHwnoQ111BNLcG2vXiLKTEspv73_GmOMWQ8LPzHbs4gaybK0r96CsEpmx4TLmz88IhrXP138Dh_zpgkkjhyctV7al_B9Iu3dleUb4hjLvCBFEZaG4M/s320/DSCN1782.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijbxxZAtMH5D6GZsOynhFb7TEE4i_2STAOV13BVHc_wNEokhAQIfVlYisN38gxAS3finVrMr4mPPMLgzYNxz9qwF2C60pjd0WSyF30L4rzwhg-Exc9H3U3PRL9Z79FocgEVfQUHqOlMgrL/s1600/DSCN1785.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijbxxZAtMH5D6GZsOynhFb7TEE4i_2STAOV13BVHc_wNEokhAQIfVlYisN38gxAS3finVrMr4mPPMLgzYNxz9qwF2C60pjd0WSyF30L4rzwhg-Exc9H3U3PRL9Z79FocgEVfQUHqOlMgrL/s320/DSCN1785.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522744319398782161.post-43226132361540331422010-09-12T21:26:00.001-06:002010-09-13T05:28:35.610-06:00Ben's Injury - Part TwoI can't really move on without documenting "Part Two" of Ben's hurt leg.<br />
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All the kids went to the pediatrician for their well-child checks after we returned from vacation. While there the pediatrician insisted on removing Ben's stitches. It had been 7 whole days but they said to leave them 7-10 days so I was hesitant. <br />
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That night we attended the end-of-the-season swim team party but would not let Ben swim since the stitches were so newly removed. Good thing because he woke up the next morning with it splayed open again. SO gross. Dave was so mad he was fuming.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDEoaAKL6kJPe5xEot79Adgy2pUSvNa90O3Q_f5te2t9dDePGjH_gPmTZKgLubMK4iqqccGX1An_EdQFrhldO7e4ytb-sv1-qq7HZQFMBWamZQQJtIzTwiVIehFU5x1QPEuSUwsGExug0J/s1600/DSCN1973.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDEoaAKL6kJPe5xEot79Adgy2pUSvNa90O3Q_f5te2t9dDePGjH_gPmTZKgLubMK4iqqccGX1An_EdQFrhldO7e4ytb-sv1-qq7HZQFMBWamZQQJtIzTwiVIehFU5x1QPEuSUwsGExug0J/s320/DSCN1973.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
We had to get him to the ER to get it cleaned and re-stitched. The painful shot to numb it and a good scrub down followed by thirteen more stitches. What a trooper. I became a wound-care nurse for<i> two more weeks</i> and worried myself sick about infection and complications. I am not cut out for dealing with medical issues!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu-kYuFF1RR9h-n_EnasuWq6q9V4jyD93m8ze93NPuosGlVatcIPEkzfqRPgJmBi8oej_iaaZKbNNkU8d-TDwZt_GfpcdJtYjhuPOoSnh2XRoW_G9EzlJcfAaEuPGyAPpfjULgqnSZa_b0/s1600/DSCN1974.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu-kYuFF1RR9h-n_EnasuWq6q9V4jyD93m8ze93NPuosGlVatcIPEkzfqRPgJmBi8oej_iaaZKbNNkU8d-TDwZt_GfpcdJtYjhuPOoSnh2XRoW_G9EzlJcfAaEuPGyAPpfjULgqnSZa_b0/s320/DSCN1974.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I was a wreck. Everything turned out OK but I'm mad at the doctor for taking them out too soon and mad that every medical thing at our house has to be so darn complicated. Remember my wisdom teeth...<br />
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Here's sweet Ben surviving round two of the ER. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK-I_HaZDSAyPxNwO8v85_E2m0uzXo_q3ckXA0iAseG4HjM_Ntte7V93vZ0iUuHZIN2G6xVlS2hC-agXjzvIKlVj4Og8-lPUPNqxjzP4VM7_KkPEZpTNv1d8GNNbScHsk_2He1sRqHDarp/s1600/DSCN1977.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK-I_HaZDSAyPxNwO8v85_E2m0uzXo_q3ckXA0iAseG4HjM_Ntte7V93vZ0iUuHZIN2G6xVlS2hC-agXjzvIKlVj4Og8-lPUPNqxjzP4VM7_KkPEZpTNv1d8GNNbScHsk_2He1sRqHDarp/s320/DSCN1977.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He's such a charming guy...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Dave took out the stitches himself after 14 more days and it was a bit tough. Ben endured quite a bit of pain and then the nervousness of it opening up again (though that seemed incredibly unlikely since the stitches had nearly grown into the wound). Let's NOT do that again.<br />
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It finally, finally looks like a normal scar to me. As the second ER doc told him though, his leg-modeling career is over...We sure love you, Ben!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522744319398782161.post-20717377139968714322010-08-12T19:00:00.011-06:002010-08-12T23:20:47.851-06:00Epic Newton Vacation<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8DuOiDlsoTDThiNK_il1qES9Zd1FzS9Cp_NEtLTOAsD-3748W11eg-BxWVZ_HKJIiyfcgIL378bP2npUQkQaep-IVLNx6yzRxXxazLYKMJMD7uQjyo-PC6a8_UJkCPnB5DjoZEsgeG_fN/s1600/DSCN1959.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 170px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8DuOiDlsoTDThiNK_il1qES9Zd1FzS9Cp_NEtLTOAsD-3748W11eg-BxWVZ_HKJIiyfcgIL378bP2npUQkQaep-IVLNx6yzRxXxazLYKMJMD7uQjyo-PC6a8_UJkCPnB5DjoZEsgeG_fN/s320/DSCN1959.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504744165391111298" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We realized a long-time dream this summer by renting an RV and taking the family on a fun-filled trip around the West. We mapped out the trip and reserved our rig and campsites early and then had to spend nearly the whole summer waiting for the time to arrive. The preparations included baking up some recipes from my childhood. Camping for me, come to find out, is quite nostalgic. It wasn't until the planning of this trip that I remembered all the summers spent at Moose Meadow with my family growing up. Mini golf, reading books, eating blueberry buckle and of course, chocolate camp cake.<br /><br />Every good memory should include food.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcTZkTeDYLcknakwnSL-wJHkIn2AQw-xFqIr-bEJ9DoRlhemXhDSGegzVPMA0MaAexoAeA7BjiHFaKssSp0F9HN8jGgNV6PYJUhCEL-_FxZnZaL1W9VMn-EUNs6QsWea_JRTu9rIKo0nhj/s1600/DSCN1796.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcTZkTeDYLcknakwnSL-wJHkIn2AQw-xFqIr-bEJ9DoRlhemXhDSGegzVPMA0MaAexoAeA7BjiHFaKssSp0F9HN8jGgNV6PYJUhCEL-_FxZnZaL1W9VMn-EUNs6QsWea_JRTu9rIKo0nhj/s320/DSCN1796.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504700703459800466" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">Day One</span><br /><br />We hit the road by 5am so as to make it to "the Dakotas largest indoor water park" by early afternoon. We made great time and logged over 450 miles by 1pm. The water park was a tad smaller than anticipated but turned out to be the perfect way to shake off the long day of driving.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguCOlyvb2ocuTWLzHY33oUJh-U_HIyL8unCj-mVk7AWqUkGw-VWvo24PuW0LvkA-LepUCT073IXOW-KYPH0aLATaQCQKvQqskxO29O4OWI7j2_YQ0gTvC9M5kOLRHgI5S1hGPjsiUa9CYf/s1600/DSCN1797.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguCOlyvb2ocuTWLzHY33oUJh-U_HIyL8unCj-mVk7AWqUkGw-VWvo24PuW0LvkA-LepUCT073IXOW-KYPH0aLATaQCQKvQqskxO29O4OWI7j2_YQ0gTvC9M5kOLRHgI5S1hGPjsiUa9CYf/s320/DSCN1797.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504700712478051490" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGWyJZkS2gRAwknGgJ9tfveKhb8xlvcVClbv3ispj-uX5nKtD4YI0JmyxPRUjeBC8O4dXSBGq9T20HidnkC3-FmjGRrjbxPikM9mZyozLt8pN0KVUk9vMA17KkFMGTzMMmV6lwKhTsp0cO/s1600/DSCN1799.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGWyJZkS2gRAwknGgJ9tfveKhb8xlvcVClbv3ispj-uX5nKtD4YI0JmyxPRUjeBC8O4dXSBGq9T20HidnkC3-FmjGRrjbxPikM9mZyozLt8pN0KVUk9vMA17KkFMGTzMMmV6lwKhTsp0cO/s320/DSCN1799.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504700720744514338" border="0" /></a><br />Jake was the master.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7acP2KRQKdJqJJzGqZ2DtTVEKcSHOggjV0k7r3oh6MLPJwtqwJ15NQrsw2lBL1tL87kITAlUCwmnnW_xJ-kSl0YOmhsWdeVHyfgZbWwq6JjXTM09IHtQ11jzTyzZswNR-g-4FTGahmBtn/s1600/DSCN1800.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7acP2KRQKdJqJJzGqZ2DtTVEKcSHOggjV0k7r3oh6MLPJwtqwJ15NQrsw2lBL1tL87kITAlUCwmnnW_xJ-kSl0YOmhsWdeVHyfgZbWwq6JjXTM09IHtQ11jzTyzZswNR-g-4FTGahmBtn/s320/DSCN1800.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504700725335355170" border="0" /></a><br />Ben's back took quite a beating.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLTelJRifucUp2mAxru-OBun78JE0r-50cuYan5Mzd1R2r0pLgbN2eyNxjwElVbE8y7TiE8qDUv3jLwqDa8QeWdX1LULUNKOWfryXmjdRkBNib4mRPGrd_vei9dfTILeMPdAY_TQMMhCW7/s1600/DSCN1801.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLTelJRifucUp2mAxru-OBun78JE0r-50cuYan5Mzd1R2r0pLgbN2eyNxjwElVbE8y7TiE8qDUv3jLwqDa8QeWdX1LULUNKOWfryXmjdRkBNib4mRPGrd_vei9dfTILeMPdAY_TQMMhCW7/s320/DSCN1801.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504700735922970914" border="0" /></a><br />Dave earns Ben's respect here.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4RqCT0f2icYrYw8X1WzWNM1idbELdBabRwJ91ZCsYJx2RGc_cQVYAaKAVKoZKJdHJMezhrpPdbFpzW5J-_Q8CX4cRZoFB21PanlPTkCWZi0PfZT-hZKJFBfOswDSpoQqEfH2nwouSOdw4/s1600/DSCN1809.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 144px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4RqCT0f2icYrYw8X1WzWNM1idbELdBabRwJ91ZCsYJx2RGc_cQVYAaKAVKoZKJdHJMezhrpPdbFpzW5J-_Q8CX4cRZoFB21PanlPTkCWZi0PfZT-hZKJFBfOswDSpoQqEfH2nwouSOdw4/s320/DSCN1809.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504730107175298210" border="0" /></a><br />Rachel is fearless.<br /><br /><br />Everyone LOVED RVing on Day 1. Especially Rachel. Rounds of Monopoly, Life and Candy Land were had in earnest. No TV or movies for us on Day 1. We ate at Outback (which our kids insisted was a first) and hit the local WalMart for some supplies. Boy did we feel welcome there. Those were our people for the next week...<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">Day Two</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPys70KIMtL4xcVphd4KX3bu9EHj8P-8MTTRUqY0FN3SuU_AGSAnY5I9JDWhYT3kAn0Rg7Un1PqTjwsxl1tbOUqFu1RIBjRx2arqsQJnFmOGzLmWQmZ0owFQtXackcfRetXScEOgJTqvWY/s1600/IMG_0386.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPys70KIMtL4xcVphd4KX3bu9EHj8P-8MTTRUqY0FN3SuU_AGSAnY5I9JDWhYT3kAn0Rg7Un1PqTjwsxl1tbOUqFu1RIBjRx2arqsQJnFmOGzLmWQmZ0owFQtXackcfRetXScEOgJTqvWY/s320/IMG_0386.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504712321359963010" border="0" /></a><br /><br />A rental car from the campsite was in order to see Mt Rushmore and Bear Country, USA. We loved the Palmer Gulch KOA and would like to go back for a full week.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Knoqu7pmhjKUAAiLW7VTLiXIN1nCJf22vIshiSmiSBmQ-MhSm9mz6o7sroDujYUifu2C9-gR-_liIrK3TlCjVkRQaW_TYYAgvCrwTX0x5YIFhvHddT7V4J9mmyTAcLqCNSIYOS1gM-6C/s1600/DSCN1815.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Knoqu7pmhjKUAAiLW7VTLiXIN1nCJf22vIshiSmiSBmQ-MhSm9mz6o7sroDujYUifu2C9-gR-_liIrK3TlCjVkRQaW_TYYAgvCrwTX0x5YIFhvHddT7V4J9mmyTAcLqCNSIYOS1gM-6C/s320/DSCN1815.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504704300783828194" border="0" /></a><br />Here we are loaded in the car, but wait where's Dave?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPGcnXO-4mzJjjbHdNDMLbzx327gcE8GZCuqs40i6IU5xU6_QoVmOWPg8BuDNtLP85rj1J87Y42kRD29DVTS3XI1zBZDo3HSZTb28sh8OX60z2kHXT2Ucn0CMysxzgZddrPkT005VewiBj/s1600/DSCN1818.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPGcnXO-4mzJjjbHdNDMLbzx327gcE8GZCuqs40i6IU5xU6_QoVmOWPg8BuDNtLP85rj1J87Y42kRD29DVTS3XI1zBZDo3HSZTb28sh8OX60z2kHXT2Ucn0CMysxzgZddrPkT005VewiBj/s320/DSCN1818.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504704310461289570" border="0" /></a><br />Oh, there he is. While we're all ready to go he's got his own agenda...can I say, "like father, like son"?<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDTDc0havf6Vp6QW4LnJOPXnmOlS3MCQ4YXEt0pfhDTxvWAI0jaR_4VNpCK39u5hLXZUMBXXLviu8qlgRdT7LKAKoyu0Qe58s81rSNmu5VrUG95UbYxDRpCex1TcYwLwF02HJcGyNxUmht/s1600/DSCN1829.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDTDc0havf6Vp6QW4LnJOPXnmOlS3MCQ4YXEt0pfhDTxvWAI0jaR_4VNpCK39u5hLXZUMBXXLviu8qlgRdT7LKAKoyu0Qe58s81rSNmu5VrUG95UbYxDRpCex1TcYwLwF02HJcGyNxUmht/s320/DSCN1829.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504704318201676530" border="0" /></a><br />Mt. Rushmore was Jake's favorite part of the trip. Very impressive and majestic.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_YKo4gSA3Ro0SbcUM5FtUY5ZAbzfVammnx1huhmsAp_XVaRBPYjIawAElpYIkOQrqUl9O6B_NZxqL_z2bQ6O2pnTMWrxa-3MlJumOuv6TxebshI1zcsGvT3cKojd8ioKcfuw4XM2GyY8u/s1600/DSCN1840.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_YKo4gSA3Ro0SbcUM5FtUY5ZAbzfVammnx1huhmsAp_XVaRBPYjIawAElpYIkOQrqUl9O6B_NZxqL_z2bQ6O2pnTMWrxa-3MlJumOuv6TxebshI1zcsGvT3cKojd8ioKcfuw4XM2GyY8u/s320/DSCN1840.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504709216208528338" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidVDwSGsURY4aaD0gNSj5xNnR8mSdFaAKJYgND85XD83hzufXDCeMBZ5Dd4xROco6UqYZdZCd0JrNuVUPQOfijA8K50WrKV8ecoo1U1ANNL5gpmhkmentOex_0d91ahhFnHAnkeEn0yvqq/s1600/DSCN1862.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidVDwSGsURY4aaD0gNSj5xNnR8mSdFaAKJYgND85XD83hzufXDCeMBZ5Dd4xROco6UqYZdZCd0JrNuVUPQOfijA8K50WrKV8ecoo1U1ANNL5gpmhkmentOex_0d91ahhFnHAnkeEn0yvqq/s320/DSCN1862.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504709233395547538" border="0" /></a><br />At this point in the trip, Dave spent a lot of time carrying Rachel around. <span style="font-size:85%;">Note for what happens later.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm15X5wZ4775OXQlUNs2zQWhScW6sJh5TXed7lMBDUdrSfxkXX38WhpTNn43T9dzKZxCL1vg1sEcNUJDYNyzXb7ugGarw4Nw2K1PtIT2XEb67vH-9F3LmdvApl9tHBqDiW3OFSl7pE24gw/s1600/DSCN1868.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm15X5wZ4775OXQlUNs2zQWhScW6sJh5TXed7lMBDUdrSfxkXX38WhpTNn43T9dzKZxCL1vg1sEcNUJDYNyzXb7ugGarw4Nw2K1PtIT2XEb67vH-9F3LmdvApl9tHBqDiW3OFSl7pE24gw/s320/DSCN1868.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504709237694882146" border="0" /></a><br />Bear Country, USA has more than just bears!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYA2EmSfQLjuDdVCtsMbMrGRrHitl638UyDaNYc_YHMMhiCKluXfmghNKwpLcUQzWnwHEvB1wYALGBAii9V0992uY1P6VBOMn_7Ih87YxdWVv9FSoTqWHt7f354APJh1BoEs-jwmzC_GVh/s1600/DSCN1869.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYA2EmSfQLjuDdVCtsMbMrGRrHitl638UyDaNYc_YHMMhiCKluXfmghNKwpLcUQzWnwHEvB1wYALGBAii9V0992uY1P6VBOMn_7Ih87YxdWVv9FSoTqWHt7f354APJh1BoEs-jwmzC_GVh/s320/DSCN1869.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504709245049666930" border="0" /></a><br />For obvious reasons you are not allowed to open car windows or doors in the park. Unfortunately, our rental car had the air conditioner break and started to overheat while we were trapped in a HUGE line of cars. It reached scorching temperatures in the car while the bears got up close and personal. I think they could smell us cooking. It was a bit scary because it was so hot. Rachel looked like she might pass out. All's well that ends well, so I'll say it was neat and worth doing.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsyfYQHFIO-jp6MJ2yk4DTjWPpVobS6xWe4XsKyJrUyVpIMCC7QrNSl43joXGoXb_1ZXTcMUClCaZzXfBPJIet6mNBedlpsVkTgC7wfoeLRZEwLjobe4qAUE3zF2UX9V7rQs2DOos-7srB/s1600/DSCN1874.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsyfYQHFIO-jp6MJ2yk4DTjWPpVobS6xWe4XsKyJrUyVpIMCC7QrNSl43joXGoXb_1ZXTcMUClCaZzXfBPJIet6mNBedlpsVkTgC7wfoeLRZEwLjobe4qAUE3zF2UX9V7rQs2DOos-7srB/s320/DSCN1874.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504712341446031906" border="0" /></a><br />Dinner was cooked over a wood fire and finished with s'mores. A trip back to Mt. Rushmore for the lighting ceremony was well worth it.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdoYWGSMv-4yY6JdUd1aZR_nQszk-7WcmJGE8OJWAo3MFy1o6Ny_bJJbIR1rBm0tfkTimtAWiaqjC-u3PAPsjrJBUDzDNrfZww9FClEBsIBDx3axYE_VDoZWPjqr2t687_-q5YXFPhFz7G/s1600/DSCN1879.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdoYWGSMv-4yY6JdUd1aZR_nQszk-7WcmJGE8OJWAo3MFy1o6Ny_bJJbIR1rBm0tfkTimtAWiaqjC-u3PAPsjrJBUDzDNrfZww9FClEBsIBDx3axYE_VDoZWPjqr2t687_-q5YXFPhFz7G/s320/DSCN1879.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504712350597749314" border="0" /></a><br />This man is not afraid to get messy. You should see him eat ribs! (Or maybe you <span style="font-style: italic;">shouldn't.</span>)<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">Day Three</span><br /><br />By now we were feeling in the swing of things as RVers so we joined our "friends" for pancake breakfast at the chuck wagon. (I actually did make a couple friends the night before at the laundry hut. RV tip: Don't wait to do laundry too late in the evening, it gets cRaZY.)<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL9SIBauRN0NKeeAGHpppHp1btXU0aCQO5rsf3_jlJu1AoO1ak-PNX1Geed2o23eiNiYbPMfTK-wkRp2P_NVAgCu9SejFRPsRCVyEGnA8OF_wWnYDUluMEuBJRy7FfuDcN4UdBHkCANJdL/s1600/DSCN1881.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL9SIBauRN0NKeeAGHpppHp1btXU0aCQO5rsf3_jlJu1AoO1ak-PNX1Geed2o23eiNiYbPMfTK-wkRp2P_NVAgCu9SejFRPsRCVyEGnA8OF_wWnYDUluMEuBJRy7FfuDcN4UdBHkCANJdL/s320/DSCN1881.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504712352105298434" border="0" /></a><br />Here Rachel is combing her hair with a "dinglehopper". Of course she used the one with syrup on it...good times without a bathtub in sight. Luckily they all hit the pool before we pulled out of town.<br /><br />We spent the day driving nearly 400 miles to Cody, WY. It took longer than expected so we didn't make the gunslingers show. Bummer. We hit some fierce storms along the way with torrential rain and violent wind gusts. Dave managed it all beautifully but was exhausted by the time we arrived. The kids only watched one movie the whole day! We watch more in my van driving around town than we did in the RV. Ben rode his bike around the campground a bit until he busted his rear derailleur. Dave thought he might be able to fix it but ended up needing to go to a bike store the next morning. Maybe we should have left it broken...<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">Day Four</span><br /><br />We enjoyed FREE pancakes at the Cody KOA and then took an early morning tour to see the wild mustangs. Dave has wanted to do this every time he drives through Wyoming. Very cool. A band of "bachelors" approached our group once we exited the bus and looked like they might charge, but decided we were too weak to worry about after getting a closer look at us. Intense.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAhYNzkwi-1bWmJHALSCnsYsrhPweZpdSyEQBAv8iltu0v2Wr6pDKrSlHNgWnJImyvD9nNtMbgb45uZkT4PtGoFH22AVsFCUTSB8DPcZ6ZfrCODZN5n3-IgNTBjLbBAdyjXf5CEfNyaN42/s1600/DSCN1887.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAhYNzkwi-1bWmJHALSCnsYsrhPweZpdSyEQBAv8iltu0v2Wr6pDKrSlHNgWnJImyvD9nNtMbgb45uZkT4PtGoFH22AVsFCUTSB8DPcZ6ZfrCODZN5n3-IgNTBjLbBAdyjXf5CEfNyaN42/s320/DSCN1887.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504730087628736930" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwAvdWLPNOmByZkh9GdEwmYjRZV7O09cV1yJ47uHVadnNdfhZCmsptrGiKs-R-jzEtLDXA5u94-eTprK7PO3o0ZN8_UP1YKHVhwA3IsHUgo-98vqfkPokl6KJR5HIr28R2Nrv5_6fmHB3n/s1600/DSCN1889.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwAvdWLPNOmByZkh9GdEwmYjRZV7O09cV1yJ47uHVadnNdfhZCmsptrGiKs-R-jzEtLDXA5u94-eTprK7PO3o0ZN8_UP1YKHVhwA3IsHUgo-98vqfkPokl6KJR5HIr28R2Nrv5_6fmHB3n/s320/DSCN1889.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504730098456331106" border="0" /></a><br />The smallest horse in the picture (a black one) is only three days old.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVju5rNsuRO8nijP4md2zIlCAO5w1JaaCnUqIW-Y91sU3PAxhg0SD4z2vxudWL6CtScTTYtTwkVSovdmn_QdAlUeWM35oBnyv0CTpQJ7p-rqrS5MKV3xVYlXFUHgGC2PumDnbOyxxESMY7/s1600/DSCN1896.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVju5rNsuRO8nijP4md2zIlCAO5w1JaaCnUqIW-Y91sU3PAxhg0SD4z2vxudWL6CtScTTYtTwkVSovdmn_QdAlUeWM35oBnyv0CTpQJ7p-rqrS5MKV3xVYlXFUHgGC2PumDnbOyxxESMY7/s320/DSCN1896.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504730117619229282" border="0" /></a><br />After so many hours of driving in Wyoming it's a surprise to see this landscape. You'd never know it was here without taking a tour.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5-AsUz07xd1FwfSJIWgWEHY7KIngsCmi6cDsCnNjRXW9lAVl8LssZ5WCwZd_jFNRLnH_041vhkS1W-lBEQRXYk2NxiU_s3e7Vxm_2w4H4yzrFtz3qkiqK85xDtS2D1FIhJ42sNUFv6vZV/s1600/DSCN1894.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5-AsUz07xd1FwfSJIWgWEHY7KIngsCmi6cDsCnNjRXW9lAVl8LssZ5WCwZd_jFNRLnH_041vhkS1W-lBEQRXYk2NxiU_s3e7Vxm_2w4H4yzrFtz3qkiqK85xDtS2D1FIhJ42sNUFv6vZV/s320/DSCN1894.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504751122646474914" border="0" /></a><br />Ben made a friend and found a lizard. Again, like father, like son.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7pEknekwiDBbmubp6xNWT7Yy-WPHmd1AZ6j1WF6LPpQfsZct2Oixf7e6pV7IaIyr6kk4XxqQapSM4bRmkeBXZ5-RUVTw_xPWPppjW66m_pGdu6gVTTqlBQZ0bTE25b0VPIPbkOnT3dMey/s1600/DSCN1897.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7pEknekwiDBbmubp6xNWT7Yy-WPHmd1AZ6j1WF6LPpQfsZct2Oixf7e6pV7IaIyr6kk4XxqQapSM4bRmkeBXZ5-RUVTw_xPWPppjW66m_pGdu6gVTTqlBQZ0bTE25b0VPIPbkOnT3dMey/s320/DSCN1897.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504730132909627266" border="0" /></a><br />The kids caught a nap on the way to Yellowstone which was less than 80 miles away. So sweet.<br />You don't see moments like this at home....the day before, all three were in bed asleep briefly. The memories are piling up and making all the planning and cleaning worth it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8SX89eghpQdwUMaF0Ck3-TYH7BTy8Z_k77ag_5CBsmem8LIfFTIY3-UFgzQ6KHQa0SNHCsRTJq9zzRCOJsCxQfNBF-5Z8oMvBDVeCpraO9iWJ77QUfcesg-QNAPKT2m08CDhgh3icO-dJ/s1600/DSCN1904.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8SX89eghpQdwUMaF0Ck3-TYH7BTy8Z_k77ag_5CBsmem8LIfFTIY3-UFgzQ6KHQa0SNHCsRTJq9zzRCOJsCxQfNBF-5Z8oMvBDVeCpraO9iWJ77QUfcesg-QNAPKT2m08CDhgh3icO-dJ/s320/DSCN1904.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504744148110376274" border="0" /></a><br />Finally in Yellowstone, we start with some bison.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr9McHiBmjWZFoSSQuO7dzUOQwekCVfd9URQPgqqbunQqczE-cjYVMpdpR2XxnGOLJksB51xUHULidvZkfoDJ2Xy-w-arNakriqpY1W7OmBMddvHXECJ10VhqHhZyGLF1qYDpiXUjRFGs0/s1600/DSCN1900.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr9McHiBmjWZFoSSQuO7dzUOQwekCVfd9URQPgqqbunQqczE-cjYVMpdpR2XxnGOLJksB51xUHULidvZkfoDJ2Xy-w-arNakriqpY1W7OmBMddvHXECJ10VhqHhZyGLF1qYDpiXUjRFGs0/s320/DSCN1900.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504744153284214514" border="0" /></a><br />Followed by some "stinky parts", as Ben likes to call the thermal features.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsZMwYJvGFRqOSuMAhClkusxg_4KM5UpeLJEtnAYb86bipxYEJK2ckNz0CAIS5UIjLqklSs1JIo7b3AF7YAUO4H9o5Jliumm_WiVyvyxDf6_hN_dHoypdpGXcbvxf2bFm3JSV3-yb3yPiC/s1600/DSCN1905.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsZMwYJvGFRqOSuMAhClkusxg_4KM5UpeLJEtnAYb86bipxYEJK2ckNz0CAIS5UIjLqklSs1JIo7b3AF7YAUO4H9o5Jliumm_WiVyvyxDf6_hN_dHoypdpGXcbvxf2bFm3JSV3-yb3yPiC/s320/DSCN1905.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504744163216441378" border="0" /></a><br />And even more stink.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">Here's where things deviate from the plan in a big way...</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYfcQQv3xNl1Iysa6iWBRWAoTaCT3A7Hz2xiZ-KEeiSLE1CUAGBML6ozgqHhhNGV68K-rYrhMTyxzEMLFMuXCKkxMCOCxB0GLcg15FaVEcQ7v0vspxRph9EbHpvmSFgorpqcwl0FKMCxnI/s1600/DSCN1937.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYfcQQv3xNl1Iysa6iWBRWAoTaCT3A7Hz2xiZ-KEeiSLE1CUAGBML6ozgqHhhNGV68K-rYrhMTyxzEMLFMuXCKkxMCOCxB0GLcg15FaVEcQ7v0vspxRph9EbHpvmSFgorpqcwl0FKMCxnI/s320/DSCN1937.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504751131524472418" border="0" /></a><br />Ben gets hurt riding his bike with Jake and Dave near our campsite. He slides out on some loose gravel and his chain ring shoves into his calf. It's deep and there is fat tissue hanging from the bike. They flag down strangers to take them to the nearest clinic (one hour away but still in Yellowstone. That place is BIG!) and send Jake back to the campsite to tell me...I'm totally helpless to do anything really because Dave has the keys to the RV in his pocket. My friendly camp neighbors (who happen to be from Colorado Springs) take me down to the ranger's station to at least call about Ben. I finally get to talk to Dave as they are starting on Ben. Four hours after the whole ordeal began and 10 stitches later, Dave and Ben are delivered back to our RV by exceptionally kind campers who patiently waited the whole time so that they could drive Dave and Ben back "home" when they were done. It restores hope in humankind when there are SO many people who are concerned and generous.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">Day Five</span><br /><br />Yellowstone Tour: "Circle of Fire" with tour guide, Jared from Massachusetts. Awesome.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnKrkTQAC1KsL6_qwCFlXgRfsx-mSW6B5qGKaKe3Nk1WiEZFlftiM68E6c2eV7FgBl4l2JudzGf9lzUR8DUz1p8rbubtT2gjWU0suyV0FOXu9YnheSW-k0mDZRbi6_4wl4B-eQyxHFQWqT/s1600/IMG_0387.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnKrkTQAC1KsL6_qwCFlXgRfsx-mSW6B5qGKaKe3Nk1WiEZFlftiM68E6c2eV7FgBl4l2JudzGf9lzUR8DUz1p8rbubtT2gjWU0suyV0FOXu9YnheSW-k0mDZRbi6_4wl4B-eQyxHFQWqT/s320/IMG_0387.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504712331030440210" border="0" /></a><br />Grand Canyon of Yellowstone<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb1cFjWAlu-Z3Hri-Kyl2vTi_OqMfYzFQ5Kam8hI_AVjRAc8zLpp41LGVl24aPm2JO-Mit-M0sDmYlit253K6CsMUmGhyphenhyphenhY5-0or9ZKiWX3wg_EB2JiuqChhbnClBTgkk8M3jjjVYz3WKB/s1600/DSCN1934.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb1cFjWAlu-Z3Hri-Kyl2vTi_OqMfYzFQ5Kam8hI_AVjRAc8zLpp41LGVl24aPm2JO-Mit-M0sDmYlit253K6CsMUmGhyphenhyphenhY5-0or9ZKiWX3wg_EB2JiuqChhbnClBTgkk8M3jjjVYz3WKB/s320/DSCN1934.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504751154902978802" border="0" /></a><br />The tour was amazing but since we had one of these(a lame guy)...Dave had to carry him a whole bunch, which left us with one of these...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS7CkY6zAUY1fW7jwHnb5MntHBSsr2ENEgOFlh7ZXm56wqzByMLCyxxjppNSxqFoYXUpoKCMlc7E5IzaHMrEyEUkBdctMzVAr2ZpXdRP3EtP6SmhlEDfRynT0HpLVnGdnspSoudY9JlyEA/s1600/DSCN1909.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS7CkY6zAUY1fW7jwHnb5MntHBSsr2ENEgOFlh7ZXm56wqzByMLCyxxjppNSxqFoYXUpoKCMlc7E5IzaHMrEyEUkBdctMzVAr2ZpXdRP3EtP6SmhlEDfRynT0HpLVnGdnspSoudY9JlyEA/s320/DSCN1909.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504751141877895266" border="0" /></a><br />Rachel felt incredibly displaced with all the attention Ben was getting and we were lucky to get even one of these...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHEniDzOhzNxwrwpFtsyYTj_9mgUrX161iH8YlLKk9uzib8vlaYgmPlRZp08eIRwcTFzMI6fu3CMqXsIza7jfl07sl1LWER5tag25eCb9gsFOoP5CjZrG7A2kwS7x9yx03Kl3MEwGUoO2p/s1600/DSCN1907.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHEniDzOhzNxwrwpFtsyYTj_9mgUrX161iH8YlLKk9uzib8vlaYgmPlRZp08eIRwcTFzMI6fu3CMqXsIza7jfl07sl1LWER5tag25eCb9gsFOoP5CjZrG7A2kwS7x9yx03Kl3MEwGUoO2p/s320/DSCN1907.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504754693732448146" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6cWn0g1zyJXNMJT7iLm-Gm9dt0zEUVECzfN_qdxEtatdQ368_f474N3jQtoG69GMTAkg87AlCm0WTNfgK8gm7Gv9v8XdmomCHgLYov2zP1ydMdyrQ1qgTBUIN3iqD-vOQWRpvjFjytW71/s1600/DSCN1926.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6cWn0g1zyJXNMJT7iLm-Gm9dt0zEUVECzfN_qdxEtatdQ368_f474N3jQtoG69GMTAkg87AlCm0WTNfgK8gm7Gv9v8XdmomCHgLYov2zP1ydMdyrQ1qgTBUIN3iqD-vOQWRpvjFjytW71/s320/DSCN1926.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504754706435292658" border="0" /></a><br />Old Faithful performed admirably for us and we had a great day seeing nearly every "highlight." We were all exhausted, especially Ben.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">Days Six and Seven</span><br /><br />Needless to say, I was anxious to head home. It was worrisome and tiring having Ben with some pain and swelling along with the disgruntled "baby princess" (as labeled by Kevin Leman in <span style="font-style: italic;">The Birth Order Book</span>). <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsBp_EBofFtrayC6mMXu_UVtVfIE-LKo530TQxwbcwT9w_IPUFRIVArDzD_elXlEMr5zUVWPWs392XnERVjQBImh4Z6PSQHp9-8fQWOvyEJfG26XxhjasWErAlKLh91uBUldiTd9bXtm_l/s1600/DSCN1964.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsBp_EBofFtrayC6mMXu_UVtVfIE-LKo530TQxwbcwT9w_IPUFRIVArDzD_elXlEMr5zUVWPWs392XnERVjQBImh4Z6PSQHp9-8fQWOvyEJfG26XxhjasWErAlKLh91uBUldiTd9bXtm_l/s320/DSCN1964.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504754709708318434" border="0" /></a><br />We stopped to see the World's Largest Mineral Hot Springs but did not stay to "enjoy" them since it was scorching hot out and Ben was forbidden from such things. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCrT43FWJm4blPrDc3OOeBCswHbez5g_hpymd8GJOvnRXuT51b5MQu4MlYbs_bZYk2np0eLlJZ4T36522gMUR47mpjOx774ytZLUzQKR-vHV3Gj7Z9mZl6m9GqIxSK2tcH0_ycfkm8nIY_/s1600/DSCN1960.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCrT43FWJm4blPrDc3OOeBCswHbez5g_hpymd8GJOvnRXuT51b5MQu4MlYbs_bZYk2np0eLlJZ4T36522gMUR47mpjOx774ytZLUzQKR-vHV3Gj7Z9mZl6m9GqIxSK2tcH0_ycfkm8nIY_/s320/DSCN1960.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504754723228564770" border="0" /></a><br />All in all, we only had one terrible campground in Casper, WY and by then we were too tired to care much anyway. <br /><br />We logged 1723 miles on the RV and a little over 100 on the rental car. The tours we took had to be at least 150 more miles. We spent a LOT of time traveling. Rachel's favorite days were the "RV days"--the endless snacks, board games, and time with her brothers. I would like to rent one again and spend more time in one place. The coast of California or Oregon, maybe? How about Moose Meadow? We'll see. For now I'm thrilled to be home.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522744319398782161.post-91407063919735243762010-07-31T11:58:00.005-06:002010-07-31T12:23:26.013-06:00Our New YardThis has been in the works in Dave's mind since we moved in (five years ago) but it was good to sit on it awhile and wait to make sure it all came together, including the vegetable gardens in the backyard.<br /><br />BEFORE:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPSbc0IJkALE5h1vYvSBwwyFUGmrFN-5WBbt0Qyfm8NN69c-4MskpyDno7IhfoFjgeaf6nV0F5bvbbc7YFdmFXvOns-_zJKntkqtn2VrcQtoQscf0h_uP00N3tIg9D26LdcKdWyYb1q9hx/s1600/DSCN1671.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPSbc0IJkALE5h1vYvSBwwyFUGmrFN-5WBbt0Qyfm8NN69c-4MskpyDno7IhfoFjgeaf6nV0F5bvbbc7YFdmFXvOns-_zJKntkqtn2VrcQtoQscf0h_uP00N3tIg9D26LdcKdWyYb1q9hx/s320/DSCN1671.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500134765536878338" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYYEaFqPojjQHJGn5q2YWBSln1TzDn-SmsV9iCD9hEZOcGCwPVg47davzzKMJ0sky5x062S3DzoyWQ2miLu69nRlzPJvuLQt-Njr3D9wD0h44GZnGOc0TbofLhONN4rm2a0VFK2d_dyLw9/s1600/DSCN1672.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYYEaFqPojjQHJGn5q2YWBSln1TzDn-SmsV9iCD9hEZOcGCwPVg47davzzKMJ0sky5x062S3DzoyWQ2miLu69nRlzPJvuLQt-Njr3D9wD0h44GZnGOc0TbofLhONN4rm2a0VFK2d_dyLw9/s320/DSCN1672.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500134774275460434" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0pZVoaDaLl-86d1eaNUSQRJ9uukjfavOspFEHb0ApqyCs8p52amHd06r1BsWMwvrd8ZVECptaKqTkOu2DjIMpSQh3T7M2oBxLP-5yeIjYnfU0vRJfApqsyRySL8I6ZGAix37m7JacuNzy/s1600/DSCN1675.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0pZVoaDaLl-86d1eaNUSQRJ9uukjfavOspFEHb0ApqyCs8p52amHd06r1BsWMwvrd8ZVECptaKqTkOu2DjIMpSQh3T7M2oBxLP-5yeIjYnfU0vRJfApqsyRySL8I6ZGAix37m7JacuNzy/s320/DSCN1675.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500134779887529746" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />AFTER:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrs3aw8_8eChEIulLbl0pPg6UBtUVV5FR3XyfGQ9HvFfg8aMHwamBZPAmvV3pwxEMFHeDXyz7MCjgauogKvLXlJqi5j2qw-4EN6oZPxGflj7MPrEPwWLp3zYGIWJB2jmE8p7zrsZaWtrYx/s1600/DSCN1787.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrs3aw8_8eChEIulLbl0pPg6UBtUVV5FR3XyfGQ9HvFfg8aMHwamBZPAmvV3pwxEMFHeDXyz7MCjgauogKvLXlJqi5j2qw-4EN6oZPxGflj7MPrEPwWLp3zYGIWJB2jmE8p7zrsZaWtrYx/s320/DSCN1787.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500134784110535714" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYM0RI6gcDhP5bXVV0ql5MsOwaAW4NV4LIis9rgzn4pRKdilP-wOSLfHV8ZqBGpYo93mte3qkNAeIVdVv5boLY7Mvo68VMT1OXG8Y9XW1nCLVf1Evy_CmH1FkA3lxHrJJEIfgUdVl7F0ud/s1600/DSCN1786.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYM0RI6gcDhP5bXVV0ql5MsOwaAW4NV4LIis9rgzn4pRKdilP-wOSLfHV8ZqBGpYo93mte3qkNAeIVdVv5boLY7Mvo68VMT1OXG8Y9XW1nCLVf1Evy_CmH1FkA3lxHrJJEIfgUdVl7F0ud/s320/DSCN1786.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500134786986312322" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQXa49keVn6igpKcqwYwOINa2i7GOHPmUF8BgEJSrGxBDBncFM33uYJYWGJhEEZeihAANK3ndwT6AY0YnZyWNW5paZxn7AxrOcfS60hy-SwTrFno2QCMmthuP_pKnHyOG6oGrKGpO2_tqQ/s1600/DSCN1790.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQXa49keVn6igpKcqwYwOINa2i7GOHPmUF8BgEJSrGxBDBncFM33uYJYWGJhEEZeihAANK3ndwT6AY0YnZyWNW5paZxn7AxrOcfS60hy-SwTrFno2QCMmthuP_pKnHyOG6oGrKGpO2_tqQ/s320/DSCN1790.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500135896721720002" border="0" /></a><br /><br />So while a landscaping company came to clear out the scrub oak, lay automated sprinklers on both sides of the driveway and down to the gardens, and lay sod, Dave did all the other improvements. He spent one of his weeks off this summer gardening and landscaping every waking moment it seemed. I felt like I had a full-time gardener. He's awesome and now our yard is too. (Don't mention the deer or the bears to him unless you want an earful...He's feeling a bit put out with their presence in <span style="font-style: italic;">his</span> territory.)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3