tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33580201587842961232024-03-12T16:28:28.093-07:00I'm the TamamammaTamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14620378176995806152noreply@blogger.comBlogger166125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3358020158784296123.post-75724184711111749122012-04-23T17:21:00.000-07:002012-04-23T17:21:41.843-07:00Our Super Spring Break<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We have never gone anywhere for Spring Break before. This year we finally did, thanks to H3's final competition in Vegas. We decided to stop in St. George for a visit with DH's sister who moved there nearly a year ago. The weather was great and we had a wonderful time there.<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ukyOmtmAAB8/T5MSGZVBo-I/AAAAAAAAB-k/g3XSprfJMqc/s1600/DSC01239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ukyOmtmAAB8/T5MSGZVBo-I/AAAAAAAAB-k/g3XSprfJMqc/s640/DSC01239.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></div>
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We took a beautiful walk up in the rocks, and I even got brave and squeezed all the way through "the crack". The kids enjoyed playing in their Aunt's pool and the girls and I got to do some shopping.</div>
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Our first morning in Vegas we had team photos at the Las Vegas sign. There was a creepy but friendly Big Bird hanging out there.</div>
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It was really cold for Vegas. None of us were dressed right for the weather. Check out this adorable photo my friend took of our daughters trying to stay warm : )</div>
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She took some great team photos for us too.<br />
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That afternoon we had a yummy lunch at Buffalo Wild Wings and then took H2 to practice. The rest of the family went shopping at the outlet mall. H3 and I found some good stuff but the boys weren't so lucky. That evening was the team BBQ by the pool. It was cold and not good swimming weather, but the kids had a ball anyway. </div>
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That night we went out on The Strip to visit M&M World and The World of Coca-Cola. We saw the 3D M&M movie (which was pretty dumb) and bought yummy, but overpriced, M&M's. Mine were coconut and raspberry. Mmmmmm.</div>
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At the World of Coca-Cola store we shared a variety tray of ice-cream floats and, my favorite, a sampling of 16 Coca-Cola products from around the world. The nastiest one was "Beverly" from Italy. Yuck! Here is H1 giving it a brave try:</div>
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Some of the flavors we tried were: Bibo Kiwi Mango (South Africa), Kinely Lemon (England), Vegitabeta (Japan), Sunfill Mint (India), Smart Apple (China), and of course the nasty Beverly flavor from Italy. It was a lot of fun. And good shoppiing too, for someone who loves Coke.</div>
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On our way out we came across a street performer making up raps. He had started making up a rap for H2, so H1 gave him some money and he kept going. My favorite part of this video is when H3 slips on the pavement (It's hard to tell that it happens in the video, but what the guy says to her was hilarious.) No worries, she didn't hurt her sweet buns : )</div>
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The next day was our first day of competition. H2 did great! That afternoon we had lunch at the Rain Forest Cafe and saw the Titanic exhibit in the Luxor.</div>
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That night we saw the fountains at the Bellagio playing "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" and watched the volcano at the Mirage.</div>
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The next morning was H3's last day of competition. They rocked it again. Yay for the J2A Cubs! Between her performance and the awards ceremony, we went to check out the Gold and Silver Pawn Shop from Pawn Stars. It was interesting to see it...I wish now that I had bought a t-shirt while we were there.</div>
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We also found a Steak n' Shake in one of the casinos. We love to eat there when we are in St. Louis, so we were excited to find one in Vegas. Yummy burgers and fries!</div>
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We headed back to UNLV for the awards ceremony and were totally excited for the J2A Cubs to be awarded 5th place out of 14 teams! Good job H2!</div>
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Our friends decided that H2 looks like Christina Ricci, so they started calling her "Wednesday". I think they're on to something, don't you? It's pretty funny. She especially looks like this when she's got her grumpy face on!<br />
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<br /></div>Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14620378176995806152noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3358020158784296123.post-54648731922496876462012-04-09T13:46:00.007-07:002012-04-10T10:41:52.099-07:00Mommy Dates<div style="text-align: left;">It's been almost two years now that I started working again. It was just something I wanted to do. I have lazy tendencies and stay more productive when I'm busy. My job is a perfect mommy job: I go to school at 8 with my kids, work for 5 hours as a 6th grade aide, and come home two hours before the kiddos. Some days I can get overwhelmed because I still have so much to do at home after my hours at work, but for the most part I find it to be very rewarding and enjoyable.</div><div><br /></div><div>One of the challenges I came against when I returned to work was how to handle those mornings when one of my children says they don't feel well enough to go to school. Getting a sub at the last minute can be tough, and going through all of that to find out that my child wasn't really sick after all can be a little annoying. So, the idea of the mommy date was born. The idea is that if the kids make it through a whole quarter without faking sick at all, they get to be checked out of school for a one-on-one mommy lunch date. It has really helped. The times I have stayed home with them, they have been legitimately sick. </div><div><br /></div><div>We just ended the third quarter a little while back and so it was time for the dates again. I seriously look forward to these. They're so much fun! First was H1's turn (we usually draw straws to determine the order). He wanted to go to Shakey's pizza buffet. Since he was first, I hadn't yet thought of taking pictures, so here is an alternate picture of him driving his Grandpa's Polaris in the big fields:</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pf99PdCWW5s/T4NNbdsYo3I/AAAAAAAAB9Y/PIM0wDPn1mg/s400/524847_3375484222162_1121036543_55173004_279857449_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729508285168001906" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div>Next in order was H3. She chose the Asian Buffet. Yum. I got to chow down lots of green beens, cream cheese wontons, and enjoy converstation with this cute little thing:</div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nDdJXnNQhKc/T4NfX0K4FRI/AAAAAAAAB9k/ZI_ht0n6RxE/s400/IMG_0146.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729528013691294994" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span><div>H2 wanted to go to Buffalo Wild Wings. That girl loves wings about as much as I do. DH met us there since it is right near his work. It was a great time.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-su4sxmDkYBk/T4NfYlQOyEI/AAAAAAAAB9w/cg12gGR03r4/s400/IMG_0150.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729528026867091522" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span><div>We are almost to the end of cheer competition season. It has been fun. Saturday's was not my fave though because it involved a three hour drive both ways, which made for a long day. Here is the cheerleader herself all made up and ready to go:</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E0xYL3hylDo/T4NfpdGqP8I/AAAAAAAAB98/Gm0T3QIjrOQ/s400/IMG_0156.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729528316737241026" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span><div>The spring weather has been so nice! Last week after I weeded in the garden for 3 hours (ugh!) I took H3 and her friend to the park for a bit. Someone had the cutest little puppy there that she let us hold for a bit : )</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RPMEfcGZfuQ/T4NgAsRs_OI/AAAAAAAAB-I/rc2jDp-NnGY/s400/IMG_0144.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729528715947080930" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div>H1's favorite pass-time lately is making stop-animation films with his friend. He's done quite a few. I asked him to make one for me to post on the blog. </div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/PcKtTpnzOLQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><div><br /></div><div>And lastly, I got around to making a spring wreath for my door......my favorite steal from Pinterest so far!</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nr3ptoGqd90/T4RwsTAwLdI/AAAAAAAAB-U/OOF3b5LLtO0/s400/DSC00554.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729828532242099666" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div>Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14620378176995806152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3358020158784296123.post-37267441509376512682012-03-25T20:13:00.003-07:002012-03-25T20:22:54.773-07:00H2 Meets Her Goal......and Then Some!<div style="text-align: left;">H2 has been telling me about her new tumbling skills, but I had yet to see them. So I got a sitter last week to stay with H1 while I went to cheer practice with H2. It was fun to get to spend that time watching and seeing what she does there twice a week. She's doing fantastic! A major step has been achieving her back handspring and she has done it.....she's able to do three in a row and is constantly improving. Great job, H2!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/UeIFNlVNhn0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div>The spring weather we've had this week has been fabulous. I love it. We weren't so lucky last year. I don't think I was able to do recess duty without a coat more than a handful of times last year, and I've gone without it several times already this year. It's time to get the garden into shape! (The weeds are loving the weather too....I've got my work cut out for me!)</div><div><br /></div><div>DH and H1 went camping with the scouts on Friday night and had a really great time. H1 went on a hike with his friends that he told me all about when they got home. It was girl time here at the house. The girls had some friends over and we made little pizzas and had ice cream. They also spent some time upstairs telling each other scary stories.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mAi4Az1_oe0/T2_gxXLEbnI/AAAAAAAAB9M/YUM6THmMess/s400/DSC00299.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724040790049844850" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div>Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14620378176995806152noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3358020158784296123.post-73326235881159003222012-03-11T19:49:00.007-07:002012-03-11T20:07:18.567-07:0016 Great Years and Counting<div style="text-align: left;">In celebration of our sixteenth wedding anniversary, DH and I went on a little weekend getaway to Moab. We found a rental condo to stay in and did some exploring in the Jeep. I was glad it was our newer Jeep....a little more comfy for the long car rides. It was beautiful down there.....the scenery is gorgeous and the weather was perfect.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--2pNlMvRwAY/T11lxpe8RrI/AAAAAAAAB7U/X1afb7g1-DE/s400/DSC00273.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718839005454026418" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8DkwqRb3f98/T11lyNYtC5I/AAAAAAAAB7g/JvQ4AcVKXLk/s400/DSC00274.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718839015091538834" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_3hMg-j9t3U/T11mHNCiMuI/AAAAAAAAB7s/5gbUu9yLOlw/s400/DSC00286.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718839375775806178" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oQHDsI1Y8Cw/T11mWmuavCI/AAAAAAAAB8E/OuA5_F309Ts/s400/DSC00296.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718839640368790562" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Qjkw27oy9Ok/T11mXOz6JTI/AAAAAAAAB8Q/XQWSSISvKaI/s400/DSC00297.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718839651129238834" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QgtjzwZcwaU/T11mH-VEREI/AAAAAAAAB74/Fnz39c180g8/s400/DSC00293.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718839389006873666" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div>Meanwhile, back at home, the kids had a great time with their aunt and cousins. They got to try snow shoeing. Fun!</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tRNSelxfvP8/T11nbxB-ByI/AAAAAAAAB8o/u5Fd-_NsNXE/s400/IMG_0192.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718840828546123554" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ThYGZnJhoFg/T11nbcALdRI/AAAAAAAAB8c/_Ty90a3LSJI/s400/IMG_0195.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718840822901470482" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c1MuS7M-7hQ/T11ns6K6tFI/AAAAAAAAB9A/VmU-7cUBbYM/s400/IMG_0201.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718841123057349714" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a30i5hACw28/T11nsVtmp1I/AAAAAAAAB80/Ol2NJeYZYTQ/s400/IMG_0196.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718841113270724434" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></div>Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14620378176995806152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3358020158784296123.post-74019999921966613842012-03-04T18:28:00.004-08:002012-03-04T18:46:36.029-08:00News in the World of My Kids<div style="text-align: left;">H3 is going to tell you about a picture she drew. She says:</div><div>I made a picture of me 100 years old. Because it was the 100th day of school. It has glasses, wrinkly skin, a cane, poofy white hair, and smells like oatmeal. It loves to eat oatmeal. It loves to watch TV. It's favorite TV show is soap operas. I got this picture back at parent-teacher conference.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qhWyGe0YU1k/T1QlQMnEaDI/AAAAAAAAB6Y/YKbLh8AnbY0/s400/DSC00263.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5716234787233228850" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4w1E2nQiuDE/T1QlQTGxcXI/AAAAAAAAB6k/xO8zcu6AvhM/s1600/DSC00264.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4w1E2nQiuDE/T1QlQTGxcXI/AAAAAAAAB6k/xO8zcu6AvhM/s400/DSC00264.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5716234788976816498" /></a>H2 had another exciting weekend. Her team took 1st place in their division at this weekend's competition. We also brought her best friend along to watch, so it was really fun. I'm having issues with our new camera, so I don't have a video of the full routine yet. This is just the last part:<br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/2y77mJGFKWU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><div><br /></div><div>And some darling pics of them during the awards ceremony:</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-goQAJ8HIxrQ/T1QnGi_3LDI/AAAAAAAAB6w/mhsOaduYdd0/s400/425441_266279736782877_126209484123237_612054_829808234_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5716236820467362866" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZOLrQyuffAI/T1QnG1KnlwI/AAAAAAAAB64/T4vid465ezM/s400/419512_266279760116208_126209484123237_612055_698245046_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5716236825344317186" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></span></div><div>H1 is going to tell us about his favorite book, Michael Vey, by Richard Paul Evans.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vT5KaRBRYZ0/T1QnfnpdQII/AAAAAAAAB7I/lDq9Xkml0To/s400/michael_vey_prisoner_of_cell_25.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5716237251212296322" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 332px; " /></span></div><div>He says: I'd recommend this book to anyone who doesn't have a book to read. It's a little bit science fiction and a little bit realistic fiction. It's about a kid that goes to high school and he has tourette's syndrome. He secretly has electrical powers. One of his friends knows about his powers. There's this one girl that he likes and it turns out she has electrical powers too. There's a group of guys called Elgen and they're trying to hunt Michael and the girl down. </div><div><br /></div><div>That's all from us this week!</div>Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14620378176995806152noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3358020158784296123.post-9488428338810820832012-02-26T18:04:00.004-08:002012-02-26T20:01:55.754-08:00Idaho Cheer Competition<div style="text-align: left;"><i>My cute daughter Haylee is being the "guest blogger" on my blog today....I will be editing what she wrote and adding in bits here and there.</i></div><div><br /></div><div>it took about 5 hours to get to the hotel. we had to stop 3 or 4 times for a potty break. we got there at 7 or 8 o clock . The hotel had two beds and we brought the cot for someone to sleep in.<div>we had to wake up at about 6:30 and we had to be at the sports center at 7:30. we had to practice stunts then tumbling then the routine.</div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>It was an early morning, but she was excited. Here she is all made up for her performance:</i></div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K-pYIboOr0s/T0rldzhl9ZI/AAAAAAAAB3w/9vkKOASDtlU/s1600/DSC00221.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K-pYIboOr0s/T0rldzhl9ZI/AAAAAAAAB3w/9vkKOASDtlU/s400/DSC00221.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713631377482970514" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div><i>She is the second from the right:</i></div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9gEL0rFBydE/T0rl1iYQ_pI/AAAAAAAAB4I/TGTnWE3X6n0/s1600/DSC00229.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9gEL0rFBydE/T0rl1iYQ_pI/AAAAAAAAB4I/TGTnWE3X6n0/s400/DSC00229.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713631785197305490" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--WNO4GKTXH0/T0rmf60L_xI/AAAAAAAAB44/Ee9ZIKBb9LE/s1600/DSC00245.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--WNO4GKTXH0/T0rmf60L_xI/AAAAAAAAB44/Ee9ZIKBb9LE/s1600/DSC00245.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><i>And here she is on the left:</i></div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ht47XeOA1BQ/T0rleTxv5fI/AAAAAAAAB38/j5nsiiZE9fQ/s1600/DSC00226.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ht47XeOA1BQ/T0rleTxv5fI/AAAAAAAAB38/j5nsiiZE9fQ/s400/DSC00226.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713631386140665330" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9gEL0rFBydE/T0rl1iYQ_pI/AAAAAAAAB4I/TGTnWE3X6n0/s1600/DSC00229.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>after we performed we went on the bleachers and walked around. </div><div><br /></div><div>my team got 2nd place. we got a medal and a key chain bow.</div><div>after i got changed we went to a restaurant. I made my own pizza so did my sister.</div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>I was so happy for their team getting second place at their first competition. They all worked so hard and H2 really gave it everything she had! Yay!</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>I had read about a place called Flat Bread Community Oven. They had a wood burning oven that they cooked things in. The girls each ordered a pizza and the waitress brought them the raw crust, sauce, cheese, and pepperoni. They got to assemble their own pizzas and then the waitress took them away to be cooked. Pretty cool.</i></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Another place I read about was the Old Idaho Penitentiary. It is a state historical site. It was very interesting to look around the place. H1 couldn't remember what it was called and asked if we were going to the "Penetrationary". Oh, my. </i></div><div><br /></div><div>we went to a penitentiary. we took our mug shots.</div><div><br /></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ofxmKj3trr0/T0rmFqzqhnI/AAAAAAAAB4g/-DTVPqL4sD8/s1600/DSC00240.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ofxmKj3trr0/T0rmFqzqhnI/AAAAAAAAB4g/-DTVPqL4sD8/s400/DSC00240.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713632062337615474" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div> </div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-er9oPT81NpI/T0rl2KTF4HI/AAAAAAAAB4U/nAaWfEmoGKQ/s400/DSC00236.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713631795913023602" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cTheDc7Ubz4/T0rmflc-0fI/AAAAAAAAB4s/nJpW1QpnAug/s1600/DSC00238.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cTheDc7Ubz4/T0rmflc-0fI/AAAAAAAAB4s/nJpW1QpnAug/s400/DSC00238.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713632507576898034" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div>we went to a bunch of different buildings.</div><div><br /></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lFWibLphsGc/T0ryUg3R5WI/AAAAAAAAB50/vlsOfFBHi58/s1600/DSC00254.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lFWibLphsGc/T0ryUg3R5WI/AAAAAAAAB50/vlsOfFBHi58/s400/DSC00254.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713645511505995106" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><i></i><i></i><div>a lot of them had sell's and one of them had a place called death row .the people in death row were going to be hanged. only one peorson had been hung on the hanging divice.</div> </div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>It's true that only one person hung on the gallows that we saw. Before that, they did it on a gallows in what is now the rose garden. The death row cells looked out over the garden where the inmates could watch their own gallows being prepared. How nice, huh?</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>This was the oldest cell block. Boy was it creepy. It had four floors. Two people to a cell and no plumbing! Can you imagine what this place must have smelled like on a hot summer day?</i><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--WNO4GKTXH0/T0rmf60L_xI/AAAAAAAAB44/Ee9ZIKBb9LE/s1600/DSC00245.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--WNO4GKTXH0/T0rmf60L_xI/AAAAAAAAB44/Ee9ZIKBb9LE/s400/DSC00245.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713632513311375122" style="text-align: left; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><i>This is in one of the more modern cell blocks.<br /></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto;"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eeeqmlC5wqg/T0ryxUX3rLI/AAAAAAAAB6M/KCF6djIM_M4/s400/DSC00247.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713646006369234098" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: left;">they had to separate the women from the men so they made a building from the women.</div><div><br /></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wh6G4_-E1R4/T0rnWMlMxqI/AAAAAAAAB5o/hfMFLWE3n1s/s1600/DSC00255.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wh6G4_-E1R4/T0rnWMlMxqI/AAAAAAAAB5o/hfMFLWE3n1s/s400/DSC00255.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713633445793285794" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><i></i><i></i><div>my dad took a picture of us in a jail sell. <i>(one of the old, plumbing-free ones--notice the bucket in the corner)</i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sR5vQr0KYyU/T0ryw5VcUTI/AAAAAAAAB6A/faxv5pf7_zg/s400/DSC00244.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713645999111295282" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><i>The creepiest part of the penitentiary was the solitary confinement cells. Ugh. You would not want to be locked in there. The whole family thought it was very interesting.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>We spent time at the hotel pool and a lot of time together. All in all, a great weekend trip. We're all geared up for the next one!</i></div> </div>Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14620378176995806152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3358020158784296123.post-8771083324621632252012-02-18T14:52:00.008-08:002012-02-18T15:58:13.992-08:00My Little Cheerleader and The Leonardo<div style="text-align: left;">A big moment for H2....the arrival of her official cheer outfit. She loves it. She has her first competition coming up next weekend. Yay for the Jaguar Cubs! Here she is in all her cheery glory. The front:</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SP9be_4YH9o/T0A2jFSwcPI/AAAAAAAAB14/Kf__wSkSZF4/s400/DSC00173.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710624303849959666" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span><div>And the back:</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NOaGmYegEcw/T0A2juBNn3I/AAAAAAAAB2E/Bscao2QSJ3Y/s400/DSC00174.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710624314782228338" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span><div>We read a book about Leonardo Di Vinci together as a family. Yesterday we went up to The Leonardo museum. It was pretty cool, but definitely a one-time thing. I was a little disappointed that there wasn't anything about Leonardo in the museum at all. The museum is a science, technology, and art museum.....so I can see why they named it after him, but it was still missing a little something. I'm glad we went, but for the price I don't think we'll go again.</div><div><br /></div><div>I loved this interactive sculpture. It moves a little bit in response to people moving around it.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wr4x3kmquK8/T0A3ZRyPVdI/AAAAAAAAB2Q/fjrPlWdRatc/s400/DSC00178.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710625234916169170" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div>There was a desk designed for drawing self portraits</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NGrzr-mPFpQ/T0A3aNT66FI/AAAAAAAAB2c/qYDOaOK_GVA/s400/DSC00180.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710625250895128658" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div>The results:</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--PwG-hm7Pm4/T0A35mu1iNI/AAAAAAAAB2o/Zw9B6CjjTFc/s400/DSC00181.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710625790294853842" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div>They had a great time playing with the green screen</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DMFAMNgQV0A/T0A36C59y6I/AAAAAAAAB20/iKZ23c244zg/s400/DSC00183.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710625797857725346" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UhjQby2f4dQ/T0A5Ur-sn6I/AAAAAAAAB3A/aUpPlt-nNiQ/s400/DSC00182.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710627355071651746" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div>And designing their own stop-animation</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IE4V7fgyr58/T0A5U2sCmDI/AAAAAAAAB3M/RZEePxpzhS8/s400/DSC00186.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710627357946189874" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div>They got to see what it might feel like to wear a prosthetic limb.....and here is a stranger trying to help H3, which was nice.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r5bgg6exCXI/T0A6X4PZjUI/AAAAAAAAB3k/BHKf9m3NXgU/s400/DSC00192.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710628509414165826" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r-qAv5r4KV8/T0A6XfLj1wI/AAAAAAAAB3Y/C1N2RR9T-ck/s400/DSC00187.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710628502687176450" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div>We did a lot of walking downtown and got plenty of exercise. I'm ready for a relaxing evening....maybe getting some work done on my quilt once the house is cleaned up.</div><div><br /></div></div>Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14620378176995806152noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3358020158784296123.post-68951992563438764632012-02-12T18:28:00.000-08:002012-02-12T18:42:00.556-08:00More Quilting<div style="text-align: left;">I finished the top for one quilt and got the pieces cut for a second. It's been fun, and I think that by the time I'm done I'll be over the quilting "bug" for a bit. Hopefully to move on to getting some digital scrapbooking done because I am soooo behind!</div><div><br /></div><div>Here's the entire top for the "Sea of Galilee" quilt:</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wRWU3KZ3E2w/Tzh3P0w9rLI/AAAAAAAAB0w/CP0UoPLmkJE/s400/DSC00157.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708443641437858994" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div>And the layout for my warm colors/cool colors quilt. I only had to put about $11 into fabric for it since most of it came from my scrap stash.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0rm1aVlr-hM/Tzh3QR3QscI/AAAAAAAAB08/fqCQBjUcfnU/s400/DSC00168.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708443649248899522" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div>Can't wait to see both of the quilts completely done and ready for cuddling.</div><div><br /></div><div>H1 got to go on a fun field trip this week to Junior Achievement's BizTown. His class spent a lot of time preparing by learning about how businesses run, finances, and a lot of other things. They even interviewed for jobs. H1 was the CEO of Questar Gas. On the day of the trip, they played out a mock business day, complete with paying off loans, earning money, paying utilities, and buying things. He spent his "money" on this hat. He had a great time.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Vwzi595uyX4/Tzh3wjDin8I/AAAAAAAAB1I/Nh_5ZneQ7os/s400/DSC00169.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708444203619622850" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div>H2 insisted I take a pic of her doing one of her tricks, so here she is!</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k4moiLqW4eE/Tzh3w32VpYI/AAAAAAAAB1U/BaxhZnlH1K4/s400/DSC00170.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708444209201390978" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div>We were going to go to the museum yesterday, but H2 had a very croupy cough. Bummer. We just finished reading a book as a family about Leonardo Da Vinci and we were going to visit the new Leonardo museum downtown. Maybe next weekend! She had to miss cheer practice also. We ended up going out to lunch while DH and H1 went jeeping with DH's nephew.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bh0mZj8-fyE/Tzh4SRKXjrI/AAAAAAAAB1g/ZDBmKtSI0f8/s400/DSC00164.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708444782931971762" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LB_3qVBWmoo/Tzh4Sj16X2I/AAAAAAAAB1s/CqWsxM8KEt4/s400/DSC00162.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708444787946446690" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></div>Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14620378176995806152noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3358020158784296123.post-7990487502098451852012-02-06T18:13:00.000-08:002012-02-06T18:33:40.884-08:00Life as Usual<div style="text-align: left;">Nothing too exciting going on around here this last week. Last Monday I took a field trip with my 6th grade class (I'm a teacher's aide). We went to the planetarium. The star show and Hubble 3D movie were fun. I didn't particularly enjoy the bus ride though.</div><div><br /></div><div>On Saturday we went to a model train show. It was a bit of a snooze-fest for me, since we had gone to one last year. I couldn't believe how crowded it was! Afterwards, we went by DH's sister's pet shop. There were baby bunnies that we got to hold. They were precious. There was also a sweet chihuahua that I fell in love with, but no more dogs for us right now. The one that we have leaves enough hair all over the house as it is (but he's totally worth it).</div><div><br /></div><div>On Sunday we went to church and it was the most crowded I've ever seen it. We got there 5 minutes early and took the last spots available in the choir seating.....everything else was already full. People had to listen from out in the hall. I'm sure we'll have a split soon. It was especially bad because there were 3 baby blessings. I try to focus on how great it is that there are so many people that make church a part of their day on Sundays. Here's the view from up on the stand where we sat:</div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NzMVvzf_734/TzCM059xxJI/AAAAAAAAB0M/-rn2kRBiuPI/s400/IMG_0115.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706215568419439762" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span><div>I'm finishing up a quilt that I started quite a while ago. I finally got the piecing done for the top. I'll have to put a wide white sashing around it because I've run out of fabric and it's not as big as I want it. The pattern is a classic quilt pattern called "Sea of Galilee". I love the way it gives the optical illusion of curved lines even though everything in it is straight.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-etu4g_rDR2U/TzCNTqFZq2I/AAAAAAAAB0k/N5dzICoMcEY/s400/DSC00154.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706216096732392290" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div>This is what I want to tackle next. I found it on Pinterest. Gorgeous! It will be a great way to use up all of the scraps of pretty fabric I have accumulated</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DVyAtHcdCGc/TzCM1AP9i1I/AAAAAAAAB0Y/aaa5VIC3k8c/s400/54676582945531249_FEFJ6S7Y_f.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706215570106321746" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 316px; height: 400px; " /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div>Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14620378176995806152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3358020158784296123.post-82723355429045400352012-01-28T12:55:00.000-08:002012-01-28T13:58:52.138-08:00Backtracking<div style="text-align: left;">My new goal is to blog once a week......I'm realizing that by not blogging, I haven't been journaling. Time goes by so fast and life is so busy, but I don't want to forget the details of our lives.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'll start with H2's birthday, which was back in August. She wanted a "candy" themed party. I have a neighbor who is super talented at making cakes. I bought the supplies and she helped me assemble the cake. It was fun and it turned out so cute!</div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1TTg9N2cy6U/TyRjg4_kv2I/AAAAAAAABxM/zRVw4OUljHI/s400/DSC03026.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702792444863889250" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span><div>At her party she made candy jewelry with her friends.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Nd9z_D6GB7k/TyRjhJHMQZI/AAAAAAAABxY/dh_Sz_lUYUs/s400/DSC03028.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702792449190805906" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div>The summer also brought cheerleading into her life. She loves it. She is always practicing her stunts and never complains about going to practice. She has also developed tummy muscles of steel! She bought herself a uniform on Ebay to play "cheerleader" in....it has been a favorite game for her and her friends. This is one of her harder stunts, it's called the "bow and arrow".</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XIqyeWimpCo/TyRmIVHPf1I/AAAAAAAABxw/ll-_FiUFVq4/s400/DSC03014.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702795321450397522" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span><div>H1 turned 11 in September. He also had a birthday party, but he didn't want me to make him a cake (says he doesn't really like cake). He wanted cookies, and he spent the time playing video games with his friends.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MRSiC_XpaNg/TyRmIMakLxI/AAAAAAAABxk/s6eQzFKp8G4/s400/DSC03036.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702795319115525906" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div>He also got his stage 1 braces off. They made a huge difference in his smile. Here is a page I made documenting the process from beginning to end:</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qzgsjthSt4I/TyRoNbzjJbI/AAAAAAAABx8/fbC8DjiFfyQ/s400/nopayne.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702797608169448882" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px; " /></span><div>In June the kids decided to have a birthday party for Smuckers. They made invitations and invited other neighborhood dogs over. The dogs all got a treat and the humans got cupcakes.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ExbKxBbCEzU/TyRq0lqV3jI/AAAAAAAABy4/6jN_G_IMRgI/s400/DSC02837.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702800479853338162" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bI97RJZifcU/TyRq0QYmVcI/AAAAAAAABys/jwUhpeKcJco/s400/DSC02835.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702800474141775298" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div>We went back to school at the end of August. I went to 5th grade camp with H1, which was a lot of fun, except that it turned the cold I had into a terrible monster cold. The drive down the mountain almost made my head explode and I missed some work. I still plan on going next year with H2 though. It was a good experience for both of us.</div><div><br /></div><div>In October, a dream came true when I was able to go on a Disney Cruise with my mom. We visited Nassau and Disney's private island, Castaway Cay. Playing with the dolphins was definitely a highlight. We felt pampered the entire time!</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f3-QoRs0ut0/TyRp99Ao74I/AAAAAAAAByg/ta-XxlXe244/s400/DSC03093.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702799541228072834" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1D7sd5ttcFY/TyRp89b4L1I/AAAAAAAAByI/qb0_Z2nZ69I/s400/DSC03145.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702799524162449234" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bZiyOfjQs_E/TyRp9IScw8I/AAAAAAAAByU/lPXnNFXDbdg/s400/dolphin.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702799527075693506" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 271px; " /></span><div>A couple of days after I got home, it was Halloween. H1 was Phineas. I mad him a huge Phineas head to wear, and it got him a lot of attention when he wore it. Unfortunately, it wasn't comfortable so he didn't wear it for long. I never even got a picture of it! H2 was a cheerleader and H3 was a cowgirl.</div><div><br /></div><div>A couple of months later, my mom came to visit for Christmas. We had a great and relaxing time together. On Christmas Eve, each of the kids got to choose one present to open. And DH opened his race car track to play with.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SX5eQW08hNA/TyRuALgyXlI/AAAAAAAABzE/Z0bAidqV8Nw/s400/DSC00006.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702803977527254610" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LCRmPHwgjqo/TyRuAXXmZhI/AAAAAAAABzQ/yg8ynA7KJ1c/s400/DSC00012.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702803980709946898" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px; " /></span><div>I've had a lot of fun playing with the iPad I got : )</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ylhAE9QnaxY/TyRuBK9ZUZI/AAAAAAAABzc/osDJDVMOwRk/s400/DSC00050.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702803994558681490" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px; " /></span><div>And the kids were happy, happy, happy!</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TqStgVhld-0/TyRvAslo9uI/AAAAAAAAB0A/NytJ6dgCHJc/s400/DSC00081.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702805085917607650" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GjQqDGLMIZ0/TyRu_-ZpSeI/AAAAAAAABz0/PWYdYylCtgc/s400/DSC00080.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702805073519266274" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1NnXQoh70uk/TyRu_rr0HAI/AAAAAAAABzo/kXGTOWciUtc/s400/DSC00079.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702805068495199234" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div>Here's to blogging more often!</div>Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14620378176995806152noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3358020158784296123.post-11667371344399658652011-07-22T17:09:00.000-07:002011-07-22T17:39:02.980-07:00Happy Birthday H3!<div style="text-align: left;">My baby just turned 7 yesterday! She is such a sweet girl and lights up our home with her terrific personality. Today in the car she was telling me that there's no job she'd rather have when she grows up than to be a mother. She loves and cares for her baby dolls and is very sensitive to the feelings of the people around her. I admire her faith. She is always the one that is willing to say a prayer, remind us to have Family Home Evening, or recommend that her brother or sister get a blessing when they are sick.</div><div><br /></div><div>She got a camera (it's a piece of scrud, but she likes it), a styling head, a baby doll (of course), and a Happy Napper.</div><div><br /></div><div>We also had a little birthday party for her. She had a Rapunzel cake:</div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2oh0xWu8yKU/TioV7MkF3oI/AAAAAAAABws/mg-OEEnbJb8/s400/DSC02956.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632338390709296770" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div>The kids played with Fazoodles:</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zJg6S-nfmTM/TioTBFJFEyI/AAAAAAAABv0/Ny_Umc9Dtsc/s400/DSC02958.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632335193261282082" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div>and she got some really fun gifts. It was a great, and exhausting, day for her.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-woOg5CeUToE/TioTTm0OzmI/AAAAAAAABv8/-Ja-nH83oT4/s400/DSC02975.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632335511538290274" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div>A couple of weeks ago we took a trip to St. Louis to visit my family. Boy, it was hot! We had a great time though. We went to Purina Farms where the girls tried milking a cow:</div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kJzPu3-u6uM/TioUhrJ-LqI/AAAAAAAABwE/YvghbOAL5aA/s400/DSC02848.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632336852733013666" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div>And we saw a really, really, weird looking duck:</div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XxxrQugCAqs/TioUh5DOknI/AAAAAAAABwM/VI-no20CJdM/s400/DSC02851.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632336856462824050" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div>We also took a trip to Liberty, MO to visit my brother and his family. We were going to take a train, but because of complications due to flooding, we ended up taking a bus instead. It was still fun.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sRvMQ1lki8Q/TioVbY4C77I/AAAAAAAABwk/ynEbVqKGMJo/s400/DSC02854.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632337844258402226" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div>We had dinner at Buca de Beppe in Kansas City and played in the fountain.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YK3PFEmpYro/TioU7QUX03I/AAAAAAAABwc/Kz_CLfdZBYk/s400/DSC02861.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632337292205478770" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0953gzhvqck/TioU7NqJ0pI/AAAAAAAABwU/sH0nCGEjxO4/s400/DSC02865.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632337291491529362" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div>We also got to go the Magic House (it's like a big Children's Museum). There was a big "beanstalk" connecting the floors of the museum that the kids could climb up and down on:</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DlK1kg5mZDM/TioV7uD5OMI/AAAAAAAABw0/Iv6ZdZgIdAw/s400/DSC02885.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632338399701055682" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span><div>Their favorite room was the bubble room. H1 made the biggest bubble of anyone!</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sbooZA6rAlY/TioXx0Q0tXI/AAAAAAAABxE/0WtKGhpHmss/s400/DSC02901.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632340428590462322" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span><div>That's pretty much all that's new for us around here lately!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14620378176995806152noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3358020158784296123.post-9459536899400986472011-04-23T17:52:00.000-07:002011-04-23T18:44:04.088-07:00Is It Spring Yet?? Please??<div style="text-align: left;">Winter weather seems to be dragging on forever and I am so thankful for the few-and-far-between fair weather days that we have had. We've had fun though!</div><div><br /></div><div>January brought us a visit from Nanna. We were lucky to get to stay in a cabin up in the mountains once again. It was warm and cuddly inside and beautifully winter-y outside. We had fun going sledding together, everyone taking turns hiking up the hill and sledding back down again.</div><div><br /></div><div>Nanna and H1:</div><div><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UA_b1b-FYBk/TbN3q0lL5QI/AAAAAAAABs4/ppRUWBlYjz4/s400/DSC02635.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598950339304482050" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></div><div>H3 was remarkably brave!</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P3exT-CYEVQ/TbN4fWMZ6aI/AAAAAAAABtA/nIRSG_a7MqA/s400/DSC02643.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598951241680546210" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div>All bundled up!</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3XyZIyoRZzM/TbN3qcR8hzI/AAAAAAAABsw/TtBvEp7d3N8/s400/DSC02631.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598950332781332274" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div>There were some amazing ice formations on the cabin and along the river. </div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--JTWxYv3iZs/TbN5PLhjudI/AAAAAAAABtY/CPtjSEPIAPw/s400/P1010207.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598952063450200530" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div>At night we enjoyed a fire, watching TV, and cuddling.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M1RHROJI7MI/TbN5O8iBJgI/AAAAAAAABtQ/hIHD85P_JKA/s400/P1010213.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598952059425596930" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div>The next day I had big plans to stop for BBQ on the way home. Not even a mile down the road, we ran into a road closure. There had been some avalanches that needed to be cleaned up before we could go anywhere. I tried to go back to the cabin, but the roads were too slick and we ended up stuck for a bit. We ended up having an overpriced but memorable lunch while we waited for the snow to be cleared. The kids were pretty bored, so I let them take some random pictures of our experience.</div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-woQUkib1wS0/TbN4f1BIjDI/AAAAAAAABtI/VBSi8CQJcHw/s400/stranded.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598951249954769970" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px; " /></span><div>Our Smuckers had to have another surgery. His knee ligament broke (like the other one did a year ago) and he had to have it fixed. The kids were so precious with him. He is a very pampered pooch!</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gYWfU9boW04/TbN6PLfLpTI/AAAAAAAABtg/-pCMVMKSxmQ/s400/DSC02709.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598953162951861554" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div>Do you like his gangsta bling?</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-14EceziTlIA/TbN6PSLfhgI/AAAAAAAABto/BIZhCXwTb1Y/s400/DSC02720.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598953164748326402" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div>Spring Break came along just in time to give me a much needed break. Things were extra busy at work and I was also trying to get my volunteer hours in so that I could choose the kids' teachers for next year. I did 23 hours of sewing during the month of March. Whew!</div><div>My parents came for a visit and we had a great time. The weather wasn't great, but we had a lot of fun regardless. The first thing H1 wanted to do with Grandpa was play some video games. We opted for Raving Rabbids, and Grandpa did pretty good!</div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ts_8mzYC_0c/TbN73tIukyI/AAAAAAAABuA/gzSUrdfRybo/s400/DSC02734.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598954958690882338" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span><div>H3 was a little cuddle bug!</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CX3dSiGbaI8/TbN73-qCZII/AAAAAAAABuI/NXkusRvWWms/s400/DSC02729.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598954963393995906" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div>H3 was very excited to have another loose tooth and decided that she really, really wanted it to come out while her Grandparents were here. She got her wish! While we were up at the cabin, her Grandpa pulled it out for her!</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WP4MEUD7_FQ/TbN9Nmgp_uI/AAAAAAAABuo/wlNLmg59ESU/s400/PICT0814.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598956434380947170" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></span><div>On their last night here, the girls played a hidden object game with Grandma and then watched Get Smart with Grandpa.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t99T7h6oI_A/TbOADlkU-oI/AAAAAAAABvg/vzPgdaelSA4/s400/DSC02753.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598959560864103042" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cikZi3hClgU/TbN8LV06rNI/AAAAAAAABuY/hS7K8jcbilc/s400/DSC02755.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598955296031157458" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div>During that same time, a lot of our extended family was gone on a cruise, so we got to dog-sit Dixie. She was a welcome member of our household.</div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oYG_Q7v3Iz0/TbN9NReB6yI/AAAAAAAABug/yp2OkMHwbl0/s400/DSC02754.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598956428732787490" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div>H3 has been practicing with a musical group from school for a couple of months now. She had her performance on Thursday night and she did so well!</div><div><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/k76QeWum39Q?hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/k76QeWum39Q?hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></div><div>We had our Easter party today and it was so fun! The weather was even nice enough to have an outdoor Easter egg hunt. First was the kids' egg hunt:</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vKa0mWf8O0k/TbN-thtmk5I/AAAAAAAABu4/FStCpcr21Pk/s400/DSC02789.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598958082360513426" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eVXlXDWyBjM/TbN-tD402kI/AAAAAAAABuw/WIIDW5o1KMY/s400/DSC02782.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598958074354522690" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8n0kbljQu60/TbN_RRnA2gI/AAAAAAAABvA/msHJyhxHJfs/s400/DSC02790.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598958696513198594" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div>And the adults had eggs to find too. Each egg had a number in it. There were 7 prizes, some better than others. Our cousin J won the adult egg hunt again this year and got $20. There were also Hershey bars, $5, an old phone, and an old pinewood derby car (so it was kind of like a white elephant thing too).</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XXdPXielAD4/TbN_RqY8eCI/AAAAAAAABvI/VZqihau-ihc/s400/DSC02795.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598958703165077538" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hOcI3yukGLI/TbN_jw8Ok0I/AAAAAAAABvY/lTVJqoFTvhA/s400/DSC02793.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598959014161322818" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Hz5S8XUHdL4/TbN_jeBXHdI/AAAAAAAABvQ/4AjWp6i4uig/s400/DSC02797.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598959009082580434" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div>Happy Easter everyone!</div><div><br /></div>Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14620378176995806152noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3358020158784296123.post-41880965866269125762010-12-30T11:25:00.000-08:002010-12-30T12:34:08.913-08:00Time Flies When You're a Working Mamma<div style="text-align: left;">My poor little blog has had a spot on the back burner for a few months, so one of my goals over this Christmas break is to do a little catching up. Are you ready to see a ton of pictures? We just got back from vacation and I have a lot to share : )</div><div><br /></div><div>We took off for California the Tuesday before Christmas (that was also our last day of school, so it was a bit chaotic for me to try to be ready). We drove halfway to Mesquite and spent the night there. The next day we drove the rest of the way to Carlsbad. They had had a lot of rain and we were very lucky to have the storm clear up just in time for our arrival. We headed straight to the beach. It was low tide and we were able to find all kinds of cool things in the tide pools. These starfish were amazing.</div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/TRziHGve3cI/AAAAAAAABqU/Q3KsP9aCV6I/s400/P1012335.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556564651965078978" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div>There were tons of these little hermit crabs too.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/TRziHSw3zkI/AAAAAAAABqc/w3kmSc20DbU/s400/P1012332.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556564655192133186" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div>With the sunset and the clouds, it couldn't have been more beautiful.</div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/TRzixrxI2qI/AAAAAAAABqk/hXPA2fiOih4/s400/P1012340.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556565383458642594" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div>There was a photographer there from one of the local papers. He was doing a story about the rainstorms and took some pictures of us enjoying the evening.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/TRziyWHcvYI/AAAAAAAABqs/cNswi_eyqbc/s400/P1012341.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556565394826509698" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div>That night we had dinner at the Old Town Cafe in San Diego's Old Town. We met my long-time roomie Stefani and her family there. Delicious. Afterward, she and I went to Chocolat for some crepes and scrumptious Nutella and cream gelato. Mmmmmm. More, please?</div><div><br /></div><div>The next day was Legoland. It was fun, but I think we would have enjoyed it much more if it hadn't been so crowded. It was Christmas break and everyone was coming out of the woodwork after all of the rain. The rides at Legoland aren't very conducive to getting people in and out quickly. Anyway, we rode a couple of different plane rides:</div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/TRzk4NcCwyI/AAAAAAAABq0/IseAWc6HtS4/s400/P1012348.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556567694599439138" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/TRzljyNFL0I/AAAAAAAABrM/0rHce4dn5DY/s400/P1012365.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556568443203170114" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div>The girls rode the horses:</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/TRzk4SLgH5I/AAAAAAAABq8/lWWjUqKc-y0/s400/P1012356.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556567695872237458" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/TRzljjyB0hI/AAAAAAAABrE/Mc4pd4XCJ6Q/s400/P1012358.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556568439331607058" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div>And we pulled ourselves up a tower with ropes. H3 was not wanting to go all the way up though!</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/TRzmIf69BeI/AAAAAAAABrU/I8n8aFMgmS4/s400/P1012373.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556569073950459362" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div>And check out this creepy elf that we saw on our way out of the park:</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/TRzmT2rHwPI/AAAAAAAABrc/bsCpOL4-ym8/s400/P1012385.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556569269036630258" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span><div>The apple fries were delicious. If you ever go, you've got to try them! We also enjoyed the mini-cities built of Legos. We bought several mini-figures in the gift shops. They're fun because you don't know what's in the package until you open it. I got a little skier and a gladiator.</div><div><br /></div><div>The next day we went to a Japanese import mall that I wanted to go to (pretty much a waste of time, except the girls got a few cute things there). Then we spent the afternoon on the beach playing in the sand and the waves. It was a nice, relaxing day.</div><div><br /></div><div>The hotel we stayed in was fabulous. We loved it. Each night at 8:00 they put out fresh chocolate chip cookies and milk. It was especially convenient on Christmas Eve. We went and got some and extras for Santa and his elves. In the morning they were mostly gone and Santa had filled our stockings!</div><div><br /></div><div>After we checked out our stockings and slept in, we headed out to the Wild Animal Preserve. The first portion was a lot like a zoo, except prettier and with only African animals. These little guys were my favorite:</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/TRzn3HkQCWI/AAAAAAAABrk/mY9DriiXQCw/s400/P1012405.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556570974378264930" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span><div>And these little guys were pretty cute too:</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span></span><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/TRzn3fkP6WI/AAAAAAAABrs/nUXrnnrvddE/s400/P1012400.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556570980820707682" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div>The kids enjoyed the petting zoo:</div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/TRzojz0JujI/AAAAAAAABr0/50HvTJzmH6c/s400/P1012416.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556571742170364466" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div>The second portion of the park was a tram ride through a wildlife preserve.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/TRzokIC1RZI/AAAAAAAABr8/QXJnNKykXTg/s400/P1012426.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556571747600647570" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div>As it usually goes on vacations, especially during the winter, we had a sick kid. H1 had a cold and a fever, so he was not a very willing vacationer. We had to pretty much drag him everywhere, but it worked out ok. Luckily, it was a laid-back, relaxing kind of vacation. We had a lot of fun, but also a lot of rest.</div><div><br /></div><div>That night we went one last time to the tide pools. A few more fun little sea creatures. A cute little starfish and a sea snail:</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/TRzp0Ovb3AI/AAAAAAAABsM/VnGS7uzmogw/s400/P1012446.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556573123787873282" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/TRzpzvMfySI/AAAAAAAABsE/1tmYDMTPkSo/s400/P1012434.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556573115319830818" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div>I had to get this picture online because we didn't have our camera when we found a guy just like this. It was a sea slug that easily weighed a couple of pounds. Totally cool!</div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/TRzrjRYBVSI/AAAAAAAABsc/fPoKeG149UA/s400/sea%2Bslug%2B6.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556575031460451618" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></span><div>The morning that we left, we stopped by La Jolla cove to see the seal beach. It is such a beautiful area. I love the way the waves splash against the cliffs. There were groups of pelicans flying right past us as we walked along the cliffs. Super cool.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/TRzrjhFEwjI/AAAAAAAABsk/p8dvqnqpexU/s400/P1012449.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556575035675951666" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div>Now we are back home and I need a vacation from the vacation (and from my children, who will not stop fighting!) More to come later once I locate my camera with pics from October and Halloween.</div>Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14620378176995806152noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3358020158784296123.post-62271823347726534792010-09-19T08:58:00.000-07:002010-09-19T09:56:02.909-07:00Birthday, Baptism, and More<div style="text-align: left;">Our cute little H1 is not so little anymore (but he's still cute, of course!). He had his 10th birthday a couple of weekends ago. It was mostly all about video games. He also got a skateboard and a Lego Pyramid game. For his birthday treat he wanted homemade pizza and brownies.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/TJY2CXYZumI/AAAAAAAABn4/JFuR0bFvNK0/s400/DSC02392.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518657807653124706" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div>His game was a little hard to figure out, but it's sure cool looking!</div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/TJY2-1DCAdI/AAAAAAAABoA/8RGRf8zc768/s400/DSC02406.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518658846408704466" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div>He also had a party with his friends. They played his new video games and decorated sugar cookies. And there were presents, of course : )</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/TJY2_RQhw_I/AAAAAAAABoI/VdD_yzhmPpw/s400/DSC02396.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518658853981504498" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div>I would guess that the best thing that happened on his birthday was his Nanna coming to town.</div><div>We had a great time visiting with her. The first day she was here, she took the kids to Build-A-Bear Workshop to make animals for their birthdays.</div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/TJY4GffPUYI/AAAAAAAABoQ/TEMHBuIIwnc/s400/P1000987.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518660077572018562" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span><div>During her visit, she also took them on a special "Nanna date" to the temple grounds and then lunch at Wingers.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/TJY4YMPV6GI/AAAAAAAABog/sNHhuPub16w/s400/P1010030.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518660381642713186" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span><div>Our sweet little H2 got baptized this same weekend. She looked so beautiful in her pretty white dress. It was a great family day. After the baptism, the family came back to our house for a Cafe Rio style lunch. I was so busy that I had no idea that my kids had eaten nothing but chips, dressing, and rice until I looked at these pictures to choose which ones to post here. Bad mommy! Oh, well. It was her day, right?</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/TJY5jM7DlzI/AAAAAAAABoo/3HL0LsReawE/s400/DSC02412.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518661670316250930" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div>I was lucky to receive these beautiful dishes (the blue ones) from my dad and stepmom just in time to use them at the baptism. They were great!</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/TJY5jsXKa7I/AAAAAAAABow/8jT7ZZ4K5xs/s400/DSC02410.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518661678755638194" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div>Nanna was able to stay for a week, which was fabulous. We went out to eat a lot, saw Toy Story 3 together, had a backyard cook-out for Labor Day, and had fun in general. I love this picture that she took of us down by the lake on Labor Day (the mosquitos chased us away pretty quickly!) I already made a page with it so that we can have it in our album.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/TJY7na5hkcI/AAAAAAAABpA/Qt8hvnZi7Pw/s400/utahlake.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518663941810655682" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px; " /></span><div>Smuckers enjoyed it too!</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/TJY_nkzDYkI/AAAAAAAABpw/1q6oaTpHdqQ/s400/P1012211.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518668342514377282" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div>Since then I have been trying to catch up on work and sleep (I had a nasty cold to deal with) My new job at the school is absolutely fabulous. I love it. Just the right amount of work to be enough without becoming overwhelming and taking away from my "being a mom" time, which will always be my first priority. I have finally found someone to take over my position at Walgreens too, which will make life a little less hectic.</div><div><br /></div><div>Yesterday we took a little family hike up the Nebo Loop. My friend Christina had blogged about this location a while ago and we finally decided to go. It's called the Grotto. The hike itself is only about 1/2 mile, so it was perfect for the kids. The fall colors were absolutely gorgeous! </div><div><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/TJY-eKEwZMI/AAAAAAAABpY/77DiXQaNBj8/s400/P1012252.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518667081210422466" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/TJY-c3YiOOI/AAAAAAAABpI/ZtqwgBVukVI/s400/P1012261.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518667059013236962" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/TJY_L26Wo4I/AAAAAAAABpg/AnxhBuWorBc/s400/P1012266.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518667866340500354" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/TJY_nPWQqNI/AAAAAAAABpo/vWF9stWTmYg/s400/P1012257.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518668336756467922" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/TJY-dufI-aI/AAAAAAAABpQ/O3deLXXnLZw/s400/P1012273.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518667073804892578" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span>We had a yum-o lunch at Smokehouse barbeque afterwards. Mmmmmm.........</div>Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14620378176995806152noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3358020158784296123.post-87875382645244580062010-08-29T10:25:00.001-07:002010-08-29T10:29:28.967-07:00Another Birthday at Our House!<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/THqY3boSbAI/AAAAAAAABno/yZIjneDhucE/s1600/haylee-card+copy.jpg"></a><div style="text-align: left;">Two down, one to go! Plus a baptism : )</div><div><br /></div><div>Our cute little HBoo turned 8 on Thursday. She is such a joy in our lives with her sweet, calm (usually), personality and her big brown eyes. We started the day at 6 a.m. so that she could open all of her presents before school.</div><div><br /></div><div>She got a kareoke machine, a Baby Alive with an outfit, an Easy Bake oven, and a Fur Real kitty.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/THqTfOBX9vI/AAAAAAAABmA/2i8WTRLUoXo/s400/DSC02357.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510879258590312178" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/THqTfhBslxI/AAAAAAAABmI/3JmowIKb4is/s400/DSC02360.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510879263691937554" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span><div>For her treat that night she said she wanted blueberry pie. They weren't a hit, but oh well.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/THqTgdsVZmI/AAAAAAAABmQ/Fjx3h8BCzRk/s400/DSC02361.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510879279976900194" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div>Her "candle" was a sparkler shaped like an eight.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/THqUtJkcOWI/AAAAAAAABmw/yqe5E4QwXZg/s400/DSC02362.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510880597425011042" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div>The next night was her birthday party. It was music themed. They had a great time.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/THqY3boSbAI/AAAAAAAABno/yZIjneDhucE/s400/haylee-card+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510885172118187010" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 259px; " /></span><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/THqUiSVPKuI/AAAAAAAABmg/kkIcVrR231M/s400/DSC02367.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510880410798598882" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/THqUjCSBKgI/AAAAAAAABmo/zd3KHaNGa0Y/s400/DSC02374.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510880423670000130" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span></span><div>After cupcakes and presents, they made i.d. tag necklaces.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/THqVY6RzLGI/AAAAAAAABnA/w4OkkRScTyU/s400/DSC02375.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510881349234535522" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/THqVZVQrfKI/AAAAAAAABnI/SOyGquFrtvE/s400/DSC02376.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510881356477594786" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div>School has started for us and it's been great so far. I've taken a job at the school as a teacher's aid in the 6th grade. The hours are great and it's been a lot of fun. I really love the kids and the teacher is great to work with. It is all the fun of being a teacher without all of the stress and long days.</div><div><br /></div><div>My friend Kari got me into Japanese bento lunches. I've been having fun packing cute meals for my kids to take to school on the days that they don't want school lunch. Here are a few that I've done so far.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/THqWlpHt4TI/AAAAAAAABnY/VyOPl0_zfAc/s400/DSC02353.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510882667478769970" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/THqWmCAvznI/AAAAAAAABng/0Nu4LHczfIA/s400/DSC02366.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510882674160422514" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/THqWlK0wZVI/AAAAAAAABnQ/qdl1PeanEDo/s400/DSC02344.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510882659346179410" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div>I love this quote that I found on one of my favorite bento blogs <a href="http://www.obentolunch4kidz.com/">Obento Lunch 4 kidz</a>. "It is said in Japan that when you eat a bento lunch prepared by a loved one, the preparer's feelings for you are transmitted through the food. What could be better than sending a bit of love and cuteness with your children to school everyday?!" I also like the fact that it encourages a wide variety of foods and a more nutritious meal that the kids are more likely to eat.</div><div><br /></div><div>Wish me luck as I head into the next week with H1's birthday, birthday party, and HBoo's baptism. Oh, and my mom arrives on Thursday. Whew! Life as usual at our house. And I love it!</div>Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14620378176995806152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3358020158784296123.post-33452576162005301282010-07-22T18:49:00.000-07:002010-07-22T19:18:14.531-07:00My Sweet Little Jy-Jy Turned 6!<div style="text-align: left;">She sure did. She was so excited that she was in our room at 6:30 am to open her presents. Our tradition is to let the kids come into our room the morning of their birthday and they get to open their presents on our bed. Ok, so the root of the tradition is my laziness, but the kids like it.</div><div><br /></div><div>Her most treasured gift is her Baby Alive. She fed it all four packs of "food" the first day, changed it's diaper about 20 times and never let it out of her sight. The batteries were going dead after about 24 hours, probably due to her constant playing! The building blocks behind her in this picture have been a big hit too, even with my older kids.</div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/TEj34RtH86I/AAAAAAAABko/OQDK2ar74LM/s400/DSC02225.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496915891403092898" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/TEj4quOU5PI/AAAAAAAABlI/q7c-XL8GWl0/s400/DSC02229.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496916758052005106" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div>During the day we had an Alice in Wonderland themed birthday party. We started with our tea party. Heart shaped sandwiches, fruit, and kool-aid. H2 had made little place cards that were really cute. I love the one in this picture that says "Mad Hater".</div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/TEj4SHklXRI/AAAAAAAABk4/P4E90Pf3h5A/s400/DSC02232.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496916335359515922" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div>We opened presents and the kids played for a little bit. Everyone was very interested in H3's new baby.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/TEj4rOACbRI/AAAAAAAABlQ/VAR9v_eo6LU/s400/DSC02242.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496916766582009106" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div>Then we did a craft project and made Alice in Wonderland ID tag necklaces.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/TEj4r8kTgrI/AAAAAAAABlY/I_-8h3SWWk8/s400/DSC02241.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496916779082154674" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div>Then it was cupcake time! H3 is very bugged that you can't see her in the picture. She's hidden in the back there. Oh well.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/TEj6xp1y2NI/AAAAAAAABlo/LE6lC_LW3JU/s400/DSC02243.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496919076157708498" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div>We saved the cake for dinnertime. Here's a close up:</div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/TEj4SSnmGTI/AAAAAAAABlA/EIzhUxlsVAI/s400/DSC02219.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496916338324937010" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div>She blew out her candle : )</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/TEj5wK2KrdI/AAAAAAAABlg/fOs_lnqX4Ck/s400/DSC02244.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496917951146274258" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div>It was all a lot of fun. I have another 2 parties to plan in the next month when H1 and H2 have theirs!</div><div>I've also made some dresses these past couple of weeks. The first one I did was for H3:</div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/TEj7o1pBdPI/AAAAAAAABlw/4ZqzMT1zPk4/s400/DSC02207.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496920024218170610" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span><div>Then I made one for H2, but don't have a picture of that one yet. I had a bit of leftover material and decided to make one for this cute little girl. Love it!</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/TEj7plIe_LI/AAAAAAAABl4/vF_VDqBRN9s/s400/DSC02213.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496920036966595762" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div> </div>Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14620378176995806152noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3358020158784296123.post-33073568400161559782010-06-26T12:38:00.001-07:002010-06-26T13:30:59.783-07:00Oh What Do You Do in the Summertime?<div style="text-align: left;">We've been keeping busy, and it has been so much fun! The day after school let out, the kids had a "late over" with some friends. We had pizza, watched Wallace and Grommit (at least I wish they would have), and had cupcakes. The cupcakes had little "carrots" growing out of them.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/TCZX2CjIWKI/AAAAAAAABjQ/ukRE8aWKIYo/s400/DSC02082.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487169781906299042" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div>We got 6 month passes to the Gateway Discovery Children's Museum. We've only been once so far, but plan on going more. The kids really enjoyed it. I think the girls enjoyed the play town the most, and H1 liked the building toys the most. Here he is waiting for time to pass so that we can go upstairs to his favorite part:</div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/TCZaWg2FULI/AAAAAAAABjo/jg3Cy1MUFB8/s400/DSC02089.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487172538817925298" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div>And helping my friend's little twinner play with the balls:</div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/TCZYifcencI/AAAAAAAABjY/BukL_gq5TGw/s400/DSC02085.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487170545577270722" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div>H3 made my heart melt as she played and played with the babies in the little house:</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/TCZYixvck8I/AAAAAAAABjg/csRV_6TFOIk/s400/DSC02090.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487170550488667074" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div>H2 liked sitting up high on this horse: </div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/TCZaXY0VmvI/AAAAAAAABjw/4dCEKSykPWw/s400/DSC02092.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487172553842989810" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span><div>We also had Lagoon day with DH's work. The weather was fabulous and we had a really great time. While we were there, I forced the family to do this:</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_G8qArJkM2hQ/TCZheLtxuLI/AAAAAAAAAB0/MTA4xtsPBBQ/s320/follett+36.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487180367166290098" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span><div>We have also really enjoyed Classic Fun Center. We have memberships for the summer that make everything really inexpensive. H3 has played laser tag for the first time and gotten to play in their Ball Blast play area (which looks fun enough that I would like to try it myself). The girls have had fun on the bouncy toys and the skating rink and track. All in all, it's fabulous because the kids get exercise and I get a chance to read for a bit.</div><div><br /></div><div>H3 on the slides.....I can hear her squealing all the way across the place : )</div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/TCZcvCjJ8rI/AAAAAAAABj4/xlwuypeQf4Y/s400/DSC02127.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487175159205458610" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span><div>H3 isn't quite coordinated for skates yet, so we tried out a scooter and she loved it. She'll be getting one of her own for her upcoming birthday (along with a Baby Alive). I can't believe she'll be 6! That's H2 on the roller blades....she's really good at it!</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/TCZc8ruBMUI/AAAAAAAABkQ/17OsB3LMZiM/s400/DSC02173.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487175393595175234" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div>I wish they didn't enjoy the games so much, but they beg and beg, so I let them do a few each time.</div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/TCZc2_SFlvI/AAAAAAAABkI/PvnaK-YUSZQ/s400/DSC02170.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487175295767516914" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/TCZcvzDUg6I/AAAAAAAABkA/sOQRF-mZUfo/s400/DSC02168.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487175172225270690" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div>I've also been busy sewing things and planning for my new business venture with my friend Kari. We are starting a fabric business and sewing/crafting blog. We will be starting out with Riley Blake quilting fabric (soooo cute) which we will have available on etsy shortly. Our blog will be full of tutorials on how to make all kinds of things. Our first tutorial is for this skirt made from a pair of old jeans or pants.</div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/TCZfAbWpgjI/AAAAAAAABkY/LdM7hXgP9aw/s400/DSC02150.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487177656944919090" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/TCZfA7m1VuI/AAAAAAAABkg/ZpIkXy0VEBg/s400/DSC02149.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487177665602737890" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span><div>I love the logo my talented DH made for us!</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_G8qArJkM2hQ/TCZjIccTniI/AAAAAAAAAB8/uccyyRhk8H8/s320/logos.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487182192722550306" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 206px; " /></span><div>You can check us out at <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.twocraftycritters.blogspot.com">www.twocraftycritters.blogspot.com</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div>Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14620378176995806152noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3358020158784296123.post-24637475830903884162010-05-26T14:47:00.000-07:002010-06-26T12:37:00.191-07:00Disneyland and So Forth<div style="text-align: left;">We recently got back from a fabulous vacation to Disneyland. It was so fun. I'm bummed that it's over. Anyway, we drove to Mesquite on a Friday afternoon after the kids got out of school and spent a night there. That only left 5 more hours to drive on Saturday. We stayed at the adorable Candy Cane Inn on Harbor Blvd. I stole this pic online so you could see how cute it is.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S_2ZgS73bJI/AAAAAAAABg4/0coGBBKWmVo/s1600/candycane.jpg"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S_2ZgS73bJI/AAAAAAAABg4/0coGBBKWmVo/s400/candycane.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475701502070189202" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div>We immediately picked up our Disneyland tickets. Our original plan had been to get 2-day passes, but because of the deal they were running, we ended up with 5 day passes. It was really nice to be able to spread out our time at the park. I have a Disney rewards card, so we have a little tradition of visiting the Disney store in Downtown Disney on our first night there so that the kids can each choose a souvenir. The kids love it. They are very thoughtful about their choices.</div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S_2cfxgS5BI/AAAAAAAABhQ/fUZD5M3w7dc/s1600/DSC02027.JPG"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S_2cfxgS5BI/AAAAAAAABhQ/fUZD5M3w7dc/s400/DSC02027.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475704791631062034" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S_2cgTpkt7I/AAAAAAAABhY/bsUvGI_3NjU/s1600/DSC02037.JPG"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S_2cgTpkt7I/AAAAAAAABhY/bsUvGI_3NjU/s400/DSC02037.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475704800796784562" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div>I was impressed with the bravery of the kids this time. They all rode Splash Mountain, although none of them liked it. The little girls cried on that one. H1 went on it one other time with DH. H2 wanted to ride Tower of Terror with me, which is my favorite ride. She did pretty good on it, which convinced H1 to try it with DH. Everyone but H3 rode Space Mountain too. The lines weren't too bad, but we still ended up doing a lot of this (waiting in line):</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S_2cw2BjlWI/AAAAAAAABhg/byBdKJH_yCc/s1600/DSC02039.JPG"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S_2cw2BjlWI/AAAAAAAABhg/byBdKJH_yCc/s400/DSC02039.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475705084902085986" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div>We really liked the new "Toy Story Mania" ride. We waited in line FOREVER for it on Sunday, but when we went back by on Tuesday the wait wasn't quite so long. This Mr. Potato Head would talk with people in the line. H3 and H1 were in the right spot at the right time on Tuesday.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S_2fDk35p2I/AAAAAAAABiA/OzyMFA9pMqw/s1600/DSC02051.JPG"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S_2fDk35p2I/AAAAAAAABiA/OzyMFA9pMqw/s400/DSC02051.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475707605738956642" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><div>H1 rode Space Mountain twice, and this is what he did both times (DH had to pull a face for the camera):</div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S_2d5L0D7HI/AAAAAAAABhw/3J__Nkzuh0E/s1600/f03c2d2626c9__1273570225000.jpg"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S_2d5L0D7HI/AAAAAAAABhw/3J__Nkzuh0E/s400/f03c2d2626c9__1273570225000.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475706327701646450" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 315px; height: 210px; " /></a></div><div>On Mother's Day we went to the Orange County Swap Meet. I love shopping, and I love a good deal, so I love this place. I got some really cute jeans and capris there, the girls got the dresses in the picture above, and H1 and DH got a guitar.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S_2d40HjHEI/AAAAAAAABho/IMIBK7ZFSaU/s1600/images.jpg"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S_2d40HjHEI/AAAAAAAABho/IMIBK7ZFSaU/s400/images.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475706321340931138" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 143px; height: 107px; " /></a><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S_2eFTLHZrI/AAAAAAAABh4/fn-HeYotCCY/s1600/DSC02031.JPG"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S_2eFTLHZrI/AAAAAAAABh4/fn-HeYotCCY/s400/DSC02031.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475706535835821746" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div>We also wanted to visit the beach, so after the swap meet we headed to Ventura beach. We didn't spend much time there because it was chilly and windy. A few days later we headed to Huntington Beach but it wasn't great beach weather that day either. We played in the sand a bit, and then the poor girls both fell in the surf within moments of each other and both started crying. So sad. We headed to the hotel to play in the pool instead.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S_2gyu6He6I/AAAAAAAABig/Mole_WXpTOs/s400/DSC02054.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475709515398085538" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S_2gx3ZMPuI/AAAAAAAABiY/mV7t7tQOI4A/s1600/DSC02058.JPG"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S_2gx3ZMPuI/AAAAAAAABiY/mV7t7tQOI4A/s400/DSC02058.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475709500496035554" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S_2gxXxk6qI/AAAAAAAABiQ/qIjkV_CnbOs/s1600/DSC02055.JPG"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S_2gxXxk6qI/AAAAAAAABiQ/qIjkV_CnbOs/s400/DSC02055.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475709492008381090" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div style="text-align: left;">We celebrated my birthday by having a yummy (and, unfortunately, expensive) lunch at the Rainforest Cafe. Who would have thought the souvenir sports bottles were $6.99 a piece!! The waitress just told me that all you had to do was order an Icee. Dang expensive Icees!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S_2gw51n0UI/AAAAAAAABiI/4ZJvhLaHj_4/s1600/DSC02052.JPG"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S_2gw51n0UI/AAAAAAAABiI/4ZJvhLaHj_4/s400/DSC02052.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475709483972284738" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div style="text-align: left;">It was a great trip, a little exhausting, but super fun.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">After we got home and had some time to recuperate, I decided to paint my kitchen/living room area. The project is almost done. I'm still waiting on some rust colored curtains for the sliding door.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S_2hzaVpDgI/AAAAAAAABio/BeiNmhcYqFY/s1600/DSC02076.JPG"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S_2hzaVpDgI/AAAAAAAABio/BeiNmhcYqFY/s400/DSC02076.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475710626567884290" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S_2h072i7QI/AAAAAAAABi4/FIszFhjXQ1Y/s1600/DSC02078.JPG"><br /></a><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S_2h0TML7MI/AAAAAAAABiw/jqB4i7Fawn8/s1600/DSC02077.JPG"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S_2h0TML7MI/AAAAAAAABiw/jqB4i7Fawn8/s400/DSC02077.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475710641829047490" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S_2h072i7QI/AAAAAAAABi4/FIszFhjXQ1Y/s1600/DSC02078.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S_2h072i7QI/AAAAAAAABi4/FIszFhjXQ1Y/s400/DSC02078.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475710652744133890" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div style="text-align: left;">School is almost out. We've had a busy couple of weeks with a dance recital, gymnastics exposition, and kindergarten graduation. Right now I can only upload the graduation photos because I'm a nerd and took the other ones without the memory card in the camera. I'll have to have DH find the cord to get the other pics off of the camera so that I can get to them. Here is H3 getting her diploma from the school director.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S_2i6-YipLI/AAAAAAAABjA/m4ErhJON-nY/s400/DSC02071.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475711856014435506" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S_2aLUVyt_I/AAAAAAAABhI/Grk-TeWrUf4/s1600/DSC02037.JPG"><br /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S_2i8N7LFOI/AAAAAAAABjI/mZeBIg_caY0/s1600/DSC02075.JPG"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S_2i8N7LFOI/AAAAAAAABjI/mZeBIg_caY0/s400/DSC02075.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475711877366093026" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></span></span></span></div></div>Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14620378176995806152noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3358020158784296123.post-76553233184882050002010-04-22T12:31:00.000-07:002010-04-22T21:13:57.487-07:00Sew Busy!<div style="text-align: center;">We have had a busy few weeks at our house! Spring break was a lot of fun. We kicked it off by having an Easter party at our house. We decorated the house and spent hours on cupcakes. We had a Cafe Rio style dinner.</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S9CmePvheBI/AAAAAAAABfg/spiBn-HSsq8/s1600/DSC01973.JPG"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S9CmePvheBI/AAAAAAAABfg/spiBn-HSsq8/s400/DSC01973.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463049386552555538" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a>We had the kids' Easter egg hunt.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S9CmDJj86pI/AAAAAAAABfY/ZJ4F4kD4lR4/s1600/DSC01982.JPG"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S9CmDJj86pI/AAAAAAAABfY/ZJ4F4kD4lR4/s400/DSC01982.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463048921036941970" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div>And then we had another hunt for the adults and big kids. Each egg had a code in it and only one would open the lock box. J won the $20 gift card that was inside (her little brother helped her open the box)</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S9Ck-LLPiLI/AAAAAAAABe4/4STeQz08nIQ/s1600/DSC01970.JPG"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S9Ck-LLPiLI/AAAAAAAABe4/4STeQz08nIQ/s400/DSC01970.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463047736059201714" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div> After the party, H1 and H2 headed off to Bountiful to hang out with their cousins. H3 stayed here with us and enjoyed dying eggs and going to Pier 49 Pizza.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S9Ck-wmq06I/AAAAAAAABfI/l729MyOUBdw/s1600/DSC01989.JPG"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S9Ck-wmq06I/AAAAAAAABfI/l729MyOUBdw/s400/DSC01989.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463047746106348450" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div>We had a couple of croupy kids that week, but once they were better we spent an afternoon at Classic Fun Center. </div><div>H1 lucked out that Friday because he went back up to his cousin's to spend another night and missed his dentist appointment. It turned out to be a good thing for all of us, because H2's appointment took forever and I was glad to not have to be there even longer. H3 was a great helper for her sister and held her hand while she got her shot. We celebrated H2's bravery with a trip for ice cream on the way home.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S9CoQHbfLHI/AAAAAAAABfw/iq5XFp9zLzg/s1600/e5d51da7b62a__1270813945000.jpg"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S9CoQHbfLHI/AAAAAAAABfw/iq5XFp9zLzg/s400/e5d51da7b62a__1270813945000.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463051342826122354" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S9CoPgeGTuI/AAAAAAAABfo/5wSuoxPw-VQ/s1600/fd3f4a59d449__1270814021000.jpg"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S9CoPgeGTuI/AAAAAAAABfo/5wSuoxPw-VQ/s400/fd3f4a59d449__1270814021000.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463051332368092898" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div>H1 got his turn the next week. We got H2's mouth finished up and one side of his done. I wish we had flouride in the water here! I've finally bought flouride rinse for them in the hopes it will help them out. Poor H1 was very scared and I was proud of him for being so brave. Thank goodness for nitrous! H3 was a great helper again. She would be with H2 and say "Oh! I better go check on H1!" and off she would go. We stopped for ice cream again, but H2 was a little frustrated that it kept dripping out of her mouth and down her shirt!</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S9CpQJXBAvI/AAAAAAAABf4/rF4QcHYJ2jk/s1600/1aebb1ca62bb__1271336191000.jpg"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S9CpQJXBAvI/AAAAAAAABf4/rF4QcHYJ2jk/s400/1aebb1ca62bb__1271336191000.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463052442855867122" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 315px; height: 210px; " /></a><div>Other than that, I've been very busy sewing my heart out. I just keep finding new things that I want to make.</div><div>I'm working on another quilt that is made from a pattern I wanted to make many years ago before I had ever quilted before. I took a break from that when I ran out of one of my fabrics and had to order more. Here is a preview that I created in Photoshop:</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S9Cp_HBPjiI/AAAAAAAABgA/w6SEMhN0W90/s1600/stormatseaquilt"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S9Cp_HBPjiI/AAAAAAAABgA/w6SEMhN0W90/s400/stormatseaquilt" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463053249681526306" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 303px; height: 400px; " /></a><div>The pattern is called Storm at Sea. I love the way the curves in it are optical illusions. It'll be fun to see this one finished. While I was waiting for the fabric to arrive, I became obsessed with some pillow cases I found on someone's blog and HAD to make some. I've done quite a few now with plans to do some more. H2's is in progress right now and I'm working on some to give as a wedding gift along with a set of sheets.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S9CqyDSkycI/AAAAAAAABgI/uriOJLIWMlk/s1600/DSC01999.JPG"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S9CqyDSkycI/AAAAAAAABgI/uriOJLIWMlk/s400/DSC01999.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463054124853807554" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S9CqysWpR2I/AAAAAAAABgQ/JG4aWWoNnWg/s1600/DSC02002.JPG"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S9CqysWpR2I/AAAAAAAABgQ/JG4aWWoNnWg/s400/DSC02002.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463054135876732770" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div>H1's pillowcase I actually made a while back. Crochet is too girly for a boy anyway : )</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S9CrHelftRI/AAAAAAAABgY/V_uP3eNLhAU/s1600/DSC02000.JPG"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S9CrHelftRI/AAAAAAAABgY/V_uP3eNLhAU/s400/DSC02000.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463054492958176530" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div>Then H2 started asking me when I was ever going to make something for her to wear. Well......I had to take the challenge. I found a tutorial online so that I didn't have to buy a pattern. I even had some extra frabric. Here is H2 modeling for you:</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S9Cri78dF_I/AAAAAAAABgg/fU6DBehUYBo/s1600/DSC01992.JPG"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S9Cri78dF_I/AAAAAAAABgg/fU6DBehUYBo/s400/DSC01992.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463054964695570418" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div>And last but not least, with Mother's Day coming up soon, I decided to make this apron for my Mother in Law. I think H3 looks pretty cute in it!</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S9CsXPBDbrI/AAAAAAAABgo/nc3OBH0l3m8/s1600/DSC01998.JPG"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S9CsXPBDbrI/AAAAAAAABgo/nc3OBH0l3m8/s400/DSC01998.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463055863168331442" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><div>Whew! I think that's it for what we've been up to!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14620378176995806152noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3358020158784296123.post-49890030463781280762010-03-06T19:37:00.000-08:002010-03-06T20:12:27.986-08:00My Current Obsessions<div style="text-align: left;">I just wouldn't be me without being obsessed with things that I will most likely not be in few months. Oh well, that's what makes life exciting : )</div><div><br /></div><div>Currently, these are the things I love:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S5MhSOvLGxI/AAAAAAAABc4/P_Knmoz1S5M/s1600-h/sundaybest_20.jpg"><br /></a></div><div>DownEast Outfitters......the new things they have coming out are making me drool. I know where I will be spending my birthday money!</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S5Mh5RsIdqI/AAAAAAAABdI/se700sawbW0/s1600-h/smellrosestop_301.jpg"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S5Mh5RsIdqI/AAAAAAAABdI/se700sawbW0/s400/smellrosestop_301.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445733642305828514" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 394px; " /></a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S5MiBnjBJMI/AAAAAAAABdQ/9mBGRJ6I4dc/s1600-h/sundaybest_20.jpg"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S5MiBnjBJMI/AAAAAAAABdQ/9mBGRJ6I4dc/s400/sundaybest_20.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445733785612133570" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 254px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div>Another obsession......Noodles and Company. Mmmmmm. Way too expensive, but if I have a coupon or it's just me eating, it's worth it. Of course, I always order something from the Asian menu.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S5MireKTyJI/AAAAAAAABdY/fGOetdYD50A/s1600-h/images.jpg"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S5MireKTyJI/AAAAAAAABdY/fGOetdYD50A/s400/images.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445734504647084178" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 141px; height: 106px; " /></a><div>This ones a bit odd for me. I have never in my life wanted a doll....even when I was a little girl. But check these out. It's a Blythe Neo doll from Japan and they cost a TON of money (I will never own one of these). They totally remind me of the marionettes in The Sound of Music! Their eyes turn and everything. And you should see the little outfits and things that you can get. Sooooooo cute!</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S5MjQ7_052I/AAAAAAAABdg/D7-hxuI_0Wc/s1600-h/blythe-2.jpg"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S5MjQ7_052I/AAAAAAAABdg/D7-hxuI_0Wc/s400/blythe-2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445735148311340898" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><div>Yet another obsession.....Sweet Nothings shapewear from WalMart. Yes, WalMart. I purchased other shapewear at Kohl's that was total crap compared to these. And I love that they are cut like a cami, so I can layer it under my low cut shirts and it makes me look skinnier while doing the same thing as my Shade camis. Love them. I want one for every day of the week! I think this model needs to wear a different color panties.....almost looks like she doesn't have any on. Eeeeek!</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S5MkF8JkMLI/AAAAAAAABdo/KXJ3J9bdRE4/s1600-h/0001467158399_215X215.jpg"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S5MkF8JkMLI/AAAAAAAABdo/KXJ3J9bdRE4/s400/0001467158399_215X215.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445736058885255346" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 215px; height: 215px; " /></a><div>I've also been obsessed with Ugly Betty. My friend Kari has been checking out the seasons at the book mobile and kindly sharing them with me. I love finding a good show that you have never watched before because it is so nice to watch as many episodes as you want, whenever you want!</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S5Mksr5p_dI/AAAAAAAABdw/7VQ-ZC6DIqA/s1600-h/ugly-betty.jpg"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S5Mksr5p_dI/AAAAAAAABdw/7VQ-ZC6DIqA/s400/ugly-betty.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445736724538457554" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 300px; " /></a><div>My last obsession, at least the only one I can think of right now, is quilting. I feel myself coming to the end of this one for a bit, but here is what I've been up to in that arena for the past two or three weeks. This is the first quilt I ever took in to the quilter's. I met them at the local quilt shop and picked the pattern I wanted it quilted in. They took it home to their fancy-shmancy machine and returned it to me ready to be bound.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S5MlcCFI6cI/AAAAAAAABeQ/2qg_ViE5gfo/s1600-h/DSC01953.JPG"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S5MlcCFI6cI/AAAAAAAABeQ/2qg_ViE5gfo/s400/DSC01953.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445737537946053058" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div>I picked up some fabric today to re-cover some feather pillows I picked up at IKEA a while back. We needed some good living room pillows for stretching out on the floor to watch TV.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S5MlUWH7T2I/AAAAAAAABeI/8uXwQB9XOMo/s1600-h/DSC01951.JPG"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S5MlUWH7T2I/AAAAAAAABeI/8uXwQB9XOMo/s400/DSC01951.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445737405887500130" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div>This one is currently at the quilter's. I can't wait to get it back....it's my favorite!</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S5MmvQzMvvI/AAAAAAAABeY/3nOlCmQ8t3U/s1600-h/DSC01947.JPG"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S5MmvQzMvvI/AAAAAAAABeY/3nOlCmQ8t3U/s400/DSC01947.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445738967826480882" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div>I already know what I want to work on next if I can make myself stay with the sewing a bit longer. Love these.</div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S5Mm5gbWifI/AAAAAAAABeg/5N1NIu-fuaA/s1600-h/camille-boy.jpg"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S5Mm5gbWifI/AAAAAAAABeg/5N1NIu-fuaA/s400/camille-boy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445739143820118514" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 259px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S5Mm5ni26zI/AAAAAAAABeo/sKDsH3pPDdM/s1600-h/il_430xN.127832983.jpg"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S5Mm5ni26zI/AAAAAAAABeo/sKDsH3pPDdM/s400/il_430xN.127832983.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445739145730648882" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 304px; height: 400px; " /></a></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S5Mm_fVLFlI/AAAAAAAABew/NnZ3fAPVvOw/s1600-h/Sleepover.jpg"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S5Mm_fVLFlI/AAAAAAAABew/NnZ3fAPVvOw/s400/Sleepover.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445739246604981842" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></a></span></span></span></div>Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14620378176995806152noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3358020158784296123.post-32347907396643281382010-02-21T20:01:00.001-08:002010-02-21T20:55:27.129-08:00On a Felt Kick<div style="text-align: left;">My friend Shari posted a pic on Facebook of the most gorgeous Valentine's wreath she made from felt. The idea originally came from <a href="http://theidearoom.blogspot.com/2010/01/felt-heart-wreath.html">The Idea Room</a>. I could hardly wait to try it. So I ran up to Material Girls quilt shop and bought some felt to match my living room decor and went to work. My husband thinks this looks Christmas-y, which was not my intent at all--I just happen to have a green and brown living room. Anyway, I love it!</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S4IGZuFKyiI/AAAAAAAABcY/zUwVl3EDANg/s1600-h/DSC01929.JPG"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S4IGZuFKyiI/AAAAAAAABcY/zUwVl3EDANg/s400/DSC01929.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440918338753186338" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div><br /></div>Then I decided that the same technique would make a really cute topiary. I think I like this even more than the wreath:</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S4IGmCnjiUI/AAAAAAAABcg/wt-QUE4z60s/s1600-h/DSC01936.JPG"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S4IGmCnjiUI/AAAAAAAABcg/wt-QUE4z60s/s400/DSC01936.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440918550424553794" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a>While I was at it, I finally finished a project that I should have done ages ago. About a year and a half ago I got some curtains at IKEA to cover our sliding glass doors. They were way too long, so I cut them shorter and intended to use the scraps to make a matching valance for our living room window. The scraps had been sitting in the closet for a very long time. I finally got some coordinating fabric and put them together.</span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S4IGwniOmfI/AAAAAAAABco/L2mLCCgB8OQ/s1600-h/DSC01930.JPG"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S4IGwniOmfI/AAAAAAAABco/L2mLCCgB8OQ/s400/DSC01930.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440918732133014002" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">And here is a cute picture for no good reason. Our cat is not the most affectionate, but for some reason she lets our youngest do things like this to her:</span></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S4IG7ZfD_aI/AAAAAAAABcw/jtYO-I3ORkE/s1600-h/DSC01922.JPG"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S4IG7ZfD_aI/AAAAAAAABcw/jtYO-I3ORkE/s400/DSC01922.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440918917340200354" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">And finally, our little gymnast. She has been taking gymnastics for about a month and loves it. She is so persistent....I really admire the way she will practice something for hours until she masters it. Here is her latest accomplishment (the video is way too dark, I'll have to redo this at some point!):<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S4IEdLoP5dI/AAAAAAAABcQ/-B5nly6Xjis/s1600-h/DSC01929.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><br /></a></span></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwbE5mG8WgzGUeOciFR3rVva7eTCg2J1tQp19OBNgdWXawM5MFD0NCUadnzOdZ7x5zyIj6hMbzcoQAFf-RxIA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14620378176995806152noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3358020158784296123.post-3897662947757926352010-01-16T11:12:00.000-08:002010-01-16T11:58:56.502-08:00Winter Boredom Busters<div style="text-align: left;">Once Christmas is over, I'm ready for spring. Those long winter months at the beginning of the new year without any holidays to look forward to can be a little boring. So, we've had to get a little creative.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S1IUnRIV7vI/AAAAAAAABbo/Uutevk2KXiw/s1600-h/DSC01918.JPG"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S1IUnRIV7vI/AAAAAAAABbo/Uutevk2KXiw/s400/DSC01918.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427423165780717298" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S1IU2Mrrn1I/AAAAAAAABbw/eTlZFDz70so/s1600-h/DSC01915.JPG"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S1IU2Mrrn1I/AAAAAAAABbw/eTlZFDz70so/s400/DSC01915.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427423422284799826" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">I'm lucky to have a husband who comes up with such fun ideas. We have FHE on Sunday nights, and the kids love to do things like this together. Lately we've been watching old family videos and playing games like Clue, charades, and statue.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We got Raving Rabbids for the Wii. It was our New Years Eve entertainment. It's been a big hit, even H3 can play it. I love this picture of her brother teaching her how to play. Awwww.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S1IXuW2Y-LI/AAAAAAAABb4/ICfLYH-3E90/s1600-h/DSC01914.JPG"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S1IXuW2Y-LI/AAAAAAAABb4/ICfLYH-3E90/s400/DSC01914.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427426586109999282" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Our kitty, Tink, got "the fix" last week. She did really well, and the kids enjoyed nursing her back to health. H2 was an especially good nurse. She put this sign on the kennel. It says "Welcome to the kitty motel." So cute.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S1IX989zoXI/AAAAAAAABcA/EFlWlnUsJLY/s1600-h/DSC01919.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S1IX989zoXI/AAAAAAAABcA/EFlWlnUsJLY/s400/DSC01919.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427426854039691634" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S1IYKLAOy8I/AAAAAAAABcI/5pOCd3XGLBA/s1600-h/DSC01920.JPG"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/S1IYKLAOy8I/AAAAAAAABcI/5pOCd3XGLBA/s400/DSC01920.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427427063966387138" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></span></span></span></div>Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14620378176995806152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3358020158784296123.post-80003140464029088862009-12-30T16:34:00.000-08:002009-12-30T17:25:32.550-08:00Happy HolidaysDH and I got an exciting new job as models for romance novel covers. Can you believe it? Don't we look great?<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421197201927451778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/Szv2IeY6NII/AAAAAAAABa4/mREWm69luKM/s400/midnight+pleasures.jpg" border="0" /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/Szv2IK_o5EI/AAAAAAAABaw/LwnlJZcVNAc/s1600-h/care+and+taming.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421197196721185858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/Szv2IK_o5EI/AAAAAAAABaw/LwnlJZcVNAc/s400/care+and+taming.jpg" border="0" /></a> Just kidding, of course (DH photoshopped our heads onto these pictures)! These were part of our white elephant gift this year. We covered some old kids' paperbacks with these covers. The titles were awesome. The first one was "Midnight Pleasures with a Scoundrel" the second one was "The Care and Taming of a Rogue". They were hilarious!<br /><br />Christmas was super fun. I always have so much fun watching my kids open their gifts.<br /><br />Some new cozy digs:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/Szvzqq2djuI/AAAAAAAABZ4/Qo6wWNC_2ao/s1600-h/DSC01883.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421194490853297890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/Szvzqq2djuI/AAAAAAAABZ4/Qo6wWNC_2ao/s400/DSC01883.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/Szvziip0PSI/AAAAAAAABZw/yLBvL-dylFA/s1600-h/DSC01882.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421194351213821218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/Szvziip0PSI/AAAAAAAABZw/yLBvL-dylFA/s400/DSC01882.JPG" border="0" /></a> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421194927519191282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/Szv0EFjuUPI/AAAAAAAABaQ/sdsaToelNaM/s400/DSC01875.JPG" border="0" />Some new "pets" to add to the family:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/SzvzbyrocdI/AAAAAAAABZo/esR5lJInyhA/s1600-h/DSC01881.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421194235257319890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/SzvzbyrocdI/AAAAAAAABZo/esR5lJInyhA/s400/DSC01881.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/SzvzSelIEwI/AAAAAAAABZg/sHzHETv9CYs/s1600-h/DSC01880.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421194075242500866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/SzvzSelIEwI/AAAAAAAABZg/sHzHETv9CYs/s400/DSC01880.JPG" border="0" /></a> This cute little guy is actually a CD holder. H3 got some new computer games to play:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/Szvy1YUViPI/AAAAAAAABZY/9BYsMtNthqM/s1600-h/DSC01879.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421193575345260786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/Szvy1YUViPI/AAAAAAAABZY/9BYsMtNthqM/s400/DSC01879.JPG" border="0" /></a>One of H1's friends taught him how to play chess. Impressive!<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421195161808548530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/Szv0RuWqMrI/AAAAAAAABag/_PE99mz47nE/s400/DSC01887.JPG" border="0" /><br />Santa knew this was H3's favorite library book, so he got her her very own copy to keep. She can sing me the whole thing.....it's pretty cute : )<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421195037084913042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/Szv0KduOjZI/AAAAAAAABaY/L0NJpiH2nf8/s400/DSC01886.JPG" border="0" />Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14620378176995806152noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3358020158784296123.post-24665337904021546252009-12-16T19:04:00.000-08:002009-12-16T19:13:44.820-08:00Everything's cuter when it's tiny!One of the things I made to give as Christmas gifts this year was mini-pies. I decided to post it because trying to describe it to my mom over the phone didn't do it justice, and some of my friends wanted the links for the project. I love how they turned out....I'm thinking of doing these together as a family sometime and having them for FHE treat.<br /><div><div><div> </div><div>I found the idea on <a href="http://www.ourbestbites.com/2009/09/single-serving-pie-in-jar.html">Our Best Bites</a>. I have found so many great recipes there. The tags for the top of the jars were designed by Lolly of <a href="http://www.lollychops.com/lollychops/2009/09/confessions-of-a-pie-addict.html">Lollychops</a> (check out all of her free download and print things on her sidebar!)<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416037462394963170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/SymhYGxChOI/AAAAAAAABYw/eIqsWY_4leA/s400/DSC01868.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416037456225036738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/SymhXvyA6cI/AAAAAAAABYo/jDLA7CAZt-w/s400/DSC01867.JPG" border="0" /></div></div></div>I gave H3 a bit of dough to play with while I was working. I love her little creation. It's a kitty! (Can'tcha tell?)<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416037942460879874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/Symh0DJrFAI/AAAAAAAABY4/_NIqYM9iXog/s400/DSC01865.JPG" border="0" />Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14620378176995806152noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3358020158784296123.post-11074793783405141712009-12-14T10:38:00.000-08:002009-12-14T10:48:56.393-08:00Oh Little Town of BethlehemOne of my favorite holiday traditions is setting up this little (literally!) town of Bethlehem that my mom bought us at Costco about 8 years ago. I love it and I love letting the kids play with it (although a few of our little people have died tragic deaths in the hands of my children). It lights up and everything. As long as the Holy Family stays intact, I'll be happy because that's the most improtant part. <div><div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415164017771048178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/SyaG-7-4bPI/AAAAAAAABYI/S1EMfhKjWLw/s400/DSC01863.JPG" border="0" />The girls built a snowman outside with Daddy yesterday while I shoveled (which, by the way, is my favorite form of excercise!). They named him Kyle. We took bets on how long it would take him to fall over. He looks like he's doing yoga after a bit of melting, but he's still standing!<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415164895280123906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/SyaHyA9WUAI/AAAAAAAABYQ/KfiutZmTJkw/s400/DSC01864.JPG" border="0" />Backing up to Halloween, I wanted to post our creepy little apple faces. Each of us carved one and then let them dry up. It was fun checking on them each day to see how different they looked as they dried ( and by the way, that's not mold, it's just the core):<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415165504989057346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/SyaIVgTSUUI/AAAAAAAABYY/1ZY13Lg3zUY/s400/DSC01834.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415165514883679810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1RnvKMUEb54/SyaIWFKWRkI/AAAAAAAABYg/U9khzI1ZaRs/s400/DSC01835.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14620378176995806152noreply@blogger.com3