tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62355064908509864992024-03-14T11:49:58.486-07:00coffee and cocoa teaFollowing Christ, loving Handsome Hero and Wonderkids, all while making a lovely home and finding Joy in the Journey!Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15940720275001798418noreply@blogger.comBlogger406125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6235506490850986499.post-79908298186941355212017-04-05T09:55:00.000-07:002017-04-05T11:12:24.077-07:00Ella's Presidential Birthday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
On my tenth birthday, I distinctly remember my dad praying for his daughter who had now lived a decade. It made my age seem so important! It's a very strong memory, one that I cherish, which made me want to make Ella's tenth birthday very special. Last time <a href="http://coffeeandcocoatea.blogspot.com/search?q=ella%27s+big+girl+birthday+party" target="_blank">we did a tea party</a>. I loved it and was looking forward to seeing what she would want to do this year. </div>
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In the Fall, she took a class that taught how the election process works. She was fascinated, always coming home with new information. I could not believe how much she loved it! <br />
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She decided then, in the Fall, that she wanted her birthday, in the Spring, to be a Presidential one. </div>
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I nodded sagely and waited for her to change her mind. This was not the girly party I had in mind and I was sure this was just a phase. I had six months to show her the light.</div>
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She held strong, coming up with idea after idea for what her Presidential party should be like. She presented pages of notes at a time.</div>
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Like, Pin the Tie on the President. Or playing Pence, Pence, Trump {a la Duck, Duck, Goose}.</div>
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She also wanted to have all the girls dress up like past presidents and have a lunch where they pretended to like each other, just like real presidents do. Except that they really would like each other, so they'd have to pretend that they were pretending that they liked each other. My head hurt.</div>
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We now break from our regularly scheduled programming for a Public Service Announcement to inform the public that this was in no way in support of or protesting our new president. It was the process we were celebrating {in a birthday kind of way}. We will now return to our show.</div>
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It says<i> Ballot for birthday girl 2017</i>. She was running unopposed {wink, wink}.</div>
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For all my inner griping, I really loved this party! She knew what she wanted and she didn't waver. I did steer her away from some of her proposed activites, like when she wanted to make Presidential wigs out of swim caps and cotton balls.</div>
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I had planned to have the party on the deck, but it was really overcast and chilly, so we used the sunroom.</div>
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Naturally, the sun came out and warmed everything up<i> right before</i> the party. But the sunroom is truly the best room in the world for a party.</div>
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I found patriotic wind catchers on clearance somewhere, and figured we could use them again for quick July 4th decorations. A three dollar investment in streamers was also well worth it. </div>
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We had white paper lanterns left over from something else, so we added a few patriotic ones and the table became more special. I really like hanging things from the ceiling at parties on 3M ceiling hooks. Very little work for a lot of impact. Your table can also be a lot simpler this way.</div>
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Ella put flags in vases, which I loved, and I already had the silver star. We used disposable bamboo plates and paper napkins and mason jars for glasses. It was casual and easy.</div>
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The clean up for this party definitely beat the clean up for the tea party where everything had to be hand washed!</div>
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The food was very simple, and mostly made a couple of days ahead. Her cake was angel food cake with strawberries, blueberries, and whipped cream for the red, white, and blue theme.</div>
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We dipped marshmallows in colored candy melts and topped them with sprinkles and m&m's. What was that? You want to know where the other m&m colors went? ...Oh, um, well, moving right along....</div>
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I used the leftover candy and dipped long pretzels into it. So simple.</div>
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My favorite part of the entire party, bar none, no exclusions, was our very own secret service agent.</div>
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It looks like he's just about to drawl "Mr. Anderson." {Please tell me you remember the Matrix?} He stood watch at the front.</div>
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Then he walked around the whole time talking into one of my teal ear buds, muttering security-ish-sounding-type things. He didn't break character once, not even when I needed help with an apron. He checked it for weapons before he gave it back.</div>
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We made pies {a step up from wigs, wouldn't you say?} and these sweet girls were so good at it!</div>
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I had a pie pan for each one, a selection of rolling pins {I borrowed from their moms} and we got to work rolling out the dough, patting it into the pans, and topping them.</div>
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They could choose cherry or apple pie filling. Get it? They could be as american as apple pie, or choose cherry because of ole' George and his cherry tree. I'm so clever.</div>
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<i> That's my sweet friend, Brittany, helping out.</i></div>
The extra dough was a hit.<br />
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Then the pies went in the oven while the girls went out and played for a few minutes until it was time for treats. They took them home at the end of the party as favors. When I looked at my pictures after the party, I was so disappointed that I didn't get a single shot of the finished pies! They were so pretty.<br />
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The boys were here the whole time and I was one proud mama. We had planned for Handsome Hero to take the boys out during the party like he did last time, but Ella <i>really</i> wanted him there, playing the role of secret service agent and just being present. I hadn't planned for this and didn't have enough dough for them to make a pie, but there was not one complaint. They also didn't complain about not going anywhere. They just played with the girls and the girls completely accepted them being there. I was as amazed as I was thrilled with it all!<br />
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Can she really be TEN!!!!???<br />
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Happy birthday to my sweet Ella. You are so kind, always rooting for the underdog, always wanting to help those in need, tenderhearted, enthusiastic, friend to all you meet. I love you more than m&m's, and that's saying something.</div>
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<i>Sorry for the blurry pictures. I'm really trying to learn to take pictures in Manual, and I clearly {pun intended} don't have it down. Anyone want to teach this novice?</i></div>
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Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15940720275001798418noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6235506490850986499.post-2869176610608212932017-01-03T07:38:00.000-08:002017-01-03T07:46:14.932-08:00Aunt Irene<div>
When I was twelve, the eighth grade at Dayton City School took a trip to Washington, D.C. There was an essay contest beforehand to see who would lay a wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier. There would be 4 winners chosen from the grade. </div>
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I did my first draft, waxing eloquent about this fallen soldier in all the prose my middle school self could muster. I proudly took it to my parents, sure they would weep for all the raw emotion of this tale of woe. They wept all right. They laughed so hard they cried. Then they gave it back and told me to try again, maybe turning the emotional frenzy down a notch.</div>
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I was offended, but I learned something about writing. My revised essay also won the contest, so I can't hold a grudge.</div>
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Until now, I haven't written about my aunt, Irene Lasley. I could not quite do it yet. I didn't want to be sappy and overly emotional. I wanted to be real, but not dramatic. I wanted the right tone and I was too raw to write that way yet.</div>
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My aunt, Irene Lasley, was one of my favorite people. She was a cheerleader, a friend, and an ardent supporter of me, my marriage, my husband, my kids, my career, and our choice to homeschool. She was a teacher for her whole working life, teaching second through fifth grade. She loved my kids like they were her own grandkids {she called them "her grandbabies"}. She was my father's only sibling and they were as close as can be.</div>
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There's your intro to my aunt. I just had to go get another box of Kleenex because my tears were running into my belly button.</div>
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Aunt Irene is a constant presence in my memories. Even when she lived in Virginia, which she did for quite a while, we would go in the summer and spend a week with her. Her kitchen was covered in strawberries and her guest bedroom had a lava lamp. She had trinkets everywhere and she didn't mind if we touched them. She was the coolest. </div>
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Aunt Irene was a prepper. She wasn't a hoarder, certainly not like reality TV. Her house was always neat and tidy. She was no slouch. But...if salad dressing was on sale, you'd better buy twelve. Air freshener? You probably need twenty cans. She was savvy, but it was uncanny the things she stocked up on. It was just another layer of who she was.</div>
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Aunt Irene faced hardships no one should have to face. She lived with grace and kindness through ugly times, loving the unlovable and trusting the Lord to guide her. She recognized blessings that most of us would have said were our due. I have often marveled at how sweet and joyful and full of laughter she always seemed when I was a child with no clue of her circumstances. As an adult, I marvel more.</div>
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Aunt Irene was sick a lot this past summer with mono, so I couldn't take the kids to see her. It just wouldn't go away. In the fall, she thought it had reared up again, but it hadn't. She had acute Leukemia. <br />
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She was gone in five weeks.</div>
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When she was in the hospital, I went to see her as often as I could. She kept a journal by her bed to write all the blessings she saw while she was there. She knew she probably wouldn't live and she accepted it. She told me with a big laugh, "I don't expect a miracle, but I sure wouldn't say no!" She was really only concerned about leaving my uncle alone. He had lost his first wife to cancer as well and she grieved both losses with him. She put on make up and jewelry everyday so that he would see her at her best. She loved that man.<br />
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She wanted the time she had left to be spent serving her Lord. It was the most important thing in her life. She would talk about Him to every nurse, every doctor, every visitor. The time was short - let's get down to business. After she was gone, the nurses told my dad what an honor it had been to care for such a woman.</div>
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The services were hard, naturally. The family told stories of her, some I didn't know. I am named after her {Elizabeth Irene} but I actually didn't know that her first name was Emily. How did I not know that? </div>
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I know she's now whole. I know she's in Heaven where she was excited to go. I know the arthritis is gone, the cancer is gone, the pain is gone. I know that she had no fear of dying because her Destination was secured. I know that. Still, when you have a memorial service, a graveside service, and all the activity that naturally comes along, you are on auto pilot. Grieving, which I thought I was doing, had not yet begun.</div>
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It has been two months now. The grieving process is in full swing. Little things remind me of her, things that surprise me. She didn't call Jack on his birthday a couple of weeks ago. She always called and sang to the kids on their birthdays {Handsome Hero's and mine, too}. It hurts to my very soul that those calls won't come now.<br />
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I did not post funny kid stories to facebook for awhile because Aunt Irene always saved those stories on her computer and sent a copy to my parents. Each time I went to type, the words wouldn't come. I just thought of how hard she would have laughed or who she would have told. She took a lot of pride in these kids of mine. That first post I was able to write was a very conscious decision. Life does go on. It needs to. </div>
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I did not want to decorate for Christmas and if we hadn't had kids in the house, I don't know that we would have, but I'm glad we did. The first time has to be the hardest, right? I most especially did not want to do a tree. Several of our ornaments were gifts from, or made by, Aunt Irene. One summer visit when I was a kid, she and I cross stitched some of them for me to give to my family for Christmas {while watching <i>Matlock </i>or <i>Murder She Wrote</i>, naturally}. Of course we did get a tree, and Ella put on the first ornament. It was a cross-stitched picture of a moose that said <i>Merry Christ-moose</i>. The very first ornament she chose was that goofy one made by Aunt Irene. I left the room to cry. But then we finished decorating the tree and it was a very good thing.</div>
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Now that Christmas is over, we've been working on some home projects, one of which is getting Nate's old nursery organized so that it can better function as a guest room/craft room. Over the last two days I have gone through box after box of stuff, organizing, throwing away, separating into donation or consignment bins. The last box was one I didn't remember having, stuck way in the back of a cabinet. When I opened it, it was full of office supplies, and on top of them, one of Aunt Irene's many pairs of reading glasses. </div>
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Those glasses! You know how you associate people with things? I associate Aunt Irene with reading glasses on fancy, jeweled chains. Well, reading glasses and sequined sweatshirts. Okay, reading glasses, sequinned sweatshirts and hand knitted dish cloths. But always reading glasses. I set the box down and cried and cried. And now, long after the family has gone to bed, I'm continuing to grieve. <br />
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This time I wrote down my thoughts. This time, I'm ready. </div>
Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15940720275001798418noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6235506490850986499.post-84970997009893616982015-12-22T11:31:00.000-08:002015-12-22T11:31:00.512-08:00Christmas Cookies and Ugly Cookie NightRecently, the kids and I made Christmas cookies. I loved doing this as a kid. My mom would make the shapes, and we would sit around the table with several bowls with different colors of icing and sprinkles and decorate away. As an adult, I don't know how she did that. I am not proud to admit that I am THAT MOM. I don't like play doh, I don't like paint, and glitter has never entered the house to my children's knowledge. I let them play with play doh and paint, but it is a conscious decision to let go. The kitchen will be clean again.<br />
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And it really isn't any big deal. Even when it looks like a rainbow threw up all over the counter and floor, it's never so bad that it can't be cleaned up in ten minutes. When Ella recently found her missing silly putty by sticking her elbow in it, twice, it was no big deal. Did you know that rubbing alcohol gets that stuff right out of fabric? It was easy peasy and we did it together, and because I didn't get mad it became "that cool trick we learned together" instead of "that thing mom got really mad at me for but I'm not really sure why because it was an accident."<br />
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I'm improving. Boys are helping sanctify me in this area. They are sanctifying me through their pockets, one wash at a time.<br />
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Back to the cookies. I made the cookies a day ahead and outlined them in white royal icing {which is the stuff that gets hard so you can decorate and then stack them once they dry} before the kids got them, so that the kids could fill them in with slightly less thick royal icing in different colors. The more I worked with the thinned icing, though, the more I realized the kids wouldn't actually be able to use it. It was too difficult {I'm sure it was the recipe I used}. Ella would have figured it out, but Jack and Nate couldn't have, and this was supposed to be a family activity. Instead, I pulled out all of my sprinkles, put a rimmed cookie sheet in front of each kid, and handed them one cookie at a time. I had made gingerbread men, angels, snowmen, and trees. We started with the trees. I put the green icing on them, and they added the decoration. I didn't give them direction {I did have to look away a few times so they couldn't see my pained expression}. They did what they wanted. <br />
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This was where all of my dread was swept away. They had a blast! As I said, the icing was hard to work with, so they had to wait for each cookie. Something about that wait time and anticipation made each cookie special to them, so they decorated them more carefully. Also, by the time we finished the trees, they were satisfied and didn't want to do anymore. I put on a movie for them, and I went to town decorating the rest. Like Superman.<br />
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He was my favorite. But they were all pretty cute.<br />
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When I was finished, I had a few that were really ugly - I'm no pro. I took the ugliest three cookies and put them on paper plates. Then I took the last of each icing color and squirted them all over, covering them completely and with no rhyme or reason. Finally, I took the sprinkles left in their cookie sheets and tipped them over onto the cookies I had just iced. These cookies were so covered in icing and random sprinkles you couldn't tell what kind of cutout they used to be. After dinner, Handsome Hero and I put them at their plates and declared it Ugly Cookie Night! I was a little nervous that they would turn their noses up at them and want the pretty ones that were drying on the counter, but they didn't. They were so excited! They jumped up and down and grabbed their plates and compared their blobs and laughed and giggled and declared them the most delicious cookies they had ever eaten.</div>
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I had really dreaded this activity, but it turned out blessedly wonderful. I didn't take any other pictures because I hadn't planned on writing a post about it. I sent these pics from my phone to my mom, who encouraged me to share the story on the blog. I've tried a few different crafts this season that I thought the kids would like, like paper chains. <strike>We're never doing that again</strike> It didn't go exactly as planned. I really don't enjoy any craft that is heavy on the scissors. Add in complaining kids and I'm out. My favorite complaint was, "But, Mom, we're studying our COUNTRY! These should be red, white, and BLUE, not GREEN!" </div>
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But decorating cookies, a project that I thought would be horrible, that I put off and was dreading doing, ended up being such a joyful activity. The kids have been able to show off their creations at two Christmas celebrations so far, and we still have some left over for Friday. </div>
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I have no doubt that next year I will struggle with decorating cookies again, and it may turn out well, and it may not. What I know <i>will</i> turn out well? The tradition I'm <i>sure</i> will stick?</div>
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Ugly Cookie Night.</div>
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Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15940720275001798418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6235506490850986499.post-43458600920274481382015-11-26T14:38:00.000-08:002015-11-26T14:38:29.730-08:00Thanksgiving looks different this yearThanksgiving looks different this year. It's just the five of us, sitting around in our sweats, looking through the paper {it's the only paper we get each year and the kids don't seem to know what to do with it}. Handsome Hero got donuts for the kids this morning so they would think something was special. Nothing says Happy Thanksgiving like a donut. Or tacos, which is our dinner.<br />
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Getting over pneumonia and a hospital stay is harder than it looks, mostly because it requires me to do something I don't do well. I have to sit still. I don't have the energy to put into doing anything other than a nap, which I already did, so cross that off my list of activities. <br />
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Since I'm being sedentary, let me take a moment to sit and write about the reality of Thanksgiving this year. This year, we are supposed to be at my parents' house, enjoying everyone and gorging ourselves and being loved on. It's tradition. Instead we're here, and that's okay. <br />
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I have so much for which to be thankful. <br />
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<li>There are hospitals available to us when we need them. I'm on the mend. I kept down a little food yesterday for the first time in nine days. Today I haven't even needed nausea medication or some of the other "as needed" meds that I've wanted to get off of.</li>
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<li>You wouldn't know the kids had ever had pneumonia - they're crazy. It's a beautiful thing.</li>
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<li>Speaking of them, my parents took them while we were in the hospital and got to deal with their sicknesses. They brought them back with clean clothes and clean bills of health. I'm so grateful to them.</li>
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<li>Handsome Hero has been healthy and able to take care of everyone. I don't know how he doesn't ever seem to catch anything, but I am so very thankful. Not only that, this man does not complain. He has cooked, cleaned, slept on a hospital couch, been mom and dad and nurse, and done it with a smile. I'm bowled over. This is love at its best.</li>
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<li>Handsome Hero's work told him not to come back until I'm well. For the number of hours he works and how hard his job can be, they have been great through this. And I'm staying sick until Christmas. Hope that's okay.</li>
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<li>Our church has been wonderful, taking the kids before we knew they were sick, and bringing so many meals we've had to ask them to stop. One of my church friends just dropped off Thanksgiving dinner. They ate earlier, and she brought us some of each dish. I guess she wanted us to have some real Thanksgiving fare. Ella was so excited she was jumping up and down! I hadn't realized how much she wanted the tradition. </li>
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I guess tacos can wait. :)<br />
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There is so much for which to be thankful, but my favorite might be this.<br />
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Each night in November, the kids tell me something they're thankful for, and I put it on a tag on our thankful "tree." It is a highlight of the year for me, and I keep past years' tags in mason jars on the mantle to read to the kids. They love how silly they used to be.<br />
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They are so much more mature now! I, also, am thankful for eyebrows and cheeks.<br />
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When I got sick, I couldn't do the thankfuls and didn't mention them to Handsome Hero because everything else in the world was on his plate.<br />
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When my parents brought the kids back from their house, my mom handed me a bag. In it were all the thankfuls we missed. They did them at her house. I couldn't help it. I cried.<br />
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I am indeed blessed and thankful. Happy Thanksgiving, friends.<br />
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<br />Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15940720275001798418noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6235506490850986499.post-84702447006376782332015-10-26T09:02:00.000-07:002015-10-26T13:20:03.221-07:00My parents<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The older I get, the more I recognize how blessed I am to have these wonderful parents of mine. They're funny, energetic, loving, and an amazing example to all of us. I'm so thankful for them.</div>
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My mom has the heart of a servant. She is always helping. This year she struggled because she had knee surgery over the summer and did not recover as quickly as we thought she would, and as any of you who have had surgery know, it takes longer to get your oomph back than you would think. In past years, she has been the one to take the littles {Elijah and Nate} in from the beach for naps or snacks or general fussiness. She is a very early riser, so she would already be up to snuggle with any kids who got up every.single.morning. to see the sunrise {ahem, Jack}. </div>
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This year, by day three my sister and I and our beloveds were trying to figure out why we were so tired. No one wanted to stay up late. Everyone wanted a nap in the afternoon. Suddenly it dawned on us: <i> Mom was sleeping in! </i> She wasn't getting up with the kids! In fact, her pain meds were knocking her out so that she was sleeping late and we were trying to keep the kids quiet so that they didn't wake <i>her </i>up!<br />
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She was still really helpful, because it's just her nature, and even though she couldn't go out into the water where she would be unstable, she still logged some silly beach time {you'll see below}, and Elijah and Nate both took advantage of her when she was out there. <br />
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My dad is just plain awesome. He's always thinking of a joke, always has a song in his head {usually Frankie Valli} and loves spending time with his family. He works very hard and needs vacations like these. I sometimes think that God gave men like Handsome Hero and my dad their families so that they don't work themselves into the ground.<br />
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The nice thing is, he has learned how to relax. He loves to boogie board and he's really good at it!<br />
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One night during the week, he was reminiscing of when Rebecca and I used to fix his hair with all of our hair bows and barrettes, and I thought, "Used to?"</div>
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There isn't much left to fix, but I think I did okay. <br />
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He loved it. <br />
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You can tell.<br />
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The next series of photos are potentially my favorite in the history of ever. They are so open to captions I just can't limit myself. I lay them before you.<br />
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Can you see why I love these guys? They make each other laugh so much.<br />
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I would try to convince you that we are a serious crew, but you already saw evidence to the contrary.<br />
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These guys are so loved.<br />
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Blessed, indeed.</div>
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<br />Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15940720275001798418noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6235506490850986499.post-31744762108044771012015-10-15T10:35:00.000-07:002015-10-26T13:20:03.205-07:00Forster's<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This is my gorgeous sister, Rebecca, her handsome husband, Steve, my cutie-patooty nephew, Elijah, and that bump that you don't see? That's my niece. I've never had one of them before. <i>I'm very excited! </i></div>
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Steve is practicing for his role as protective daddy. <br />
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Seriously. Look at her. She's more than halfway through her <i>second pregnancy</i>. When I was <i>two months</i> into my second pregnancy, people were giving up their seats on the subway for me.</div>
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Her only redeeming quality is that she's genuinely awesome.</div>
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My nephew, Elijah, is hilarious. His expressions. Gah! Just scroll through these pictures and see if you aren't smiling.<br />
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Did that make your day, or what?<br />
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Elijah loved the sand, but he was <i>really </i>scared of the water. He struggled to see his mom or dad even going near it. They got their time in, though. I think each year will get better - by the end of the week, he was willing to touch the water, so progress was definitely made.<br />
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This is Rebecca and my dad catching the same wave.</div>
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Does this picture remind anyone else of the beavers in the old BBC version of <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/520095456944155495/" target="_blank">The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe?</a> Just me? Oh.<br />
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These guys. I love them. I'm blessed to have them in my life, and I'm thankful they have each other. They compliment each other so well. As for their new addition, well, let's just say she's highly anticipated!<br />
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I can't wait to meet you, little girl Forster! I love you already!<br />
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<br />Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15940720275001798418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6235506490850986499.post-36291059072184560972015-10-13T10:51:00.001-07:002015-10-26T13:20:03.210-07:00Nate the GrowingTaking a newly potty trained three-year-old to the beach isn't easy. In fact, by the time we made it out of Knoxville, we'd made three potty stops, already had an accident, and all my best-laid plans of not putting Nate in a pull up became a thing of the past. Ironically, he kept the pull up dry the whole rest of the trip.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimpXSGF5Vvw3XAF7MfWoNCczzbDgJtgIMAmb0yX1M6PLCG4cIVfhGfskpYifqTnrx5uBIp-Wv4IColWHPMB6HAhSj7KsK6Z7ogoRSFnCax2Hag4n4ds6LfD0qEZ2O6RoXKjP2N4AuVIvJy/s1600/DSC02459.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimpXSGF5Vvw3XAF7MfWoNCczzbDgJtgIMAmb0yX1M6PLCG4cIVfhGfskpYifqTnrx5uBIp-Wv4IColWHPMB6HAhSj7KsK6Z7ogoRSFnCax2Hag4n4ds6LfD0qEZ2O6RoXKjP2N4AuVIvJy/s400/DSC02459.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
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Nate did really well at the beach.<br />
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He liked the waves and sand. <br />
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He liked getting to use the sand dunes for a toilet. <br />
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He REALLY liked getting to sleep in a big boy bed for the first time!</div>
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He moved from a crib later than the other two because he sings himself to sleep and is a loud roommate and moving to a big bed meant moving to his brother's room.</div>
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So far, so good. Jack sleeps through his singing and likes having the company.<br />
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Our biggest problem right now is that when he wakes up, he thinks that Ella should wake up, too, so he runs into her room, turns on the light and pulls off her covers. "EWWA, IT'S <span style="font-size: large;">BWIGHT </span>OUTSIDE!!!!"<br />
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He's very fortunate that she loves him so much.<br />
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Nate is the only one with a cousin his age at the beach - my nephew, Elijah. He's in the yellow shirt below. This is how they play together.<br />
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I look forward to the fun of having them play as a team later, but for now, they just play in the same space. <br />
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Nate's favorite person on earth is my mom. She belongs to him.<br />
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The picture below was supposed to be one of just my parents, but Nate knew that his rightful place was in that picture, holding G.G.'s hand.</div>
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On his wedding day there he'll be with his bride, and on the other side he'll be holding G.G.'s hand.<br />
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Nate turned three in June, and right around then, he began to speak. <br />
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And when I say speak, I mean, clearly. This kid loves his consonants. <br />
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Handsome Hero says he speaks in a British accent. It is so fun to be able to understand him!<br />
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All that majestic water behind him, and he's only interested in a watering can.<br />
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There's a lesson in this. I showed him this picture and he said, "Mama, I was pwanting in the sand."<br />
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Nate is crazy, temperamental, friendly, loud, interesting, curious. He notices things. He is into everything, more than the other kids were. I am amazed that a three-year-old would think to get into the things that Nate gets into. Things you don't train for, like covering the toilet seat with stamps of pink tigers. I just wouldn't have thought to prepare for that.<br />
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Or puffing out an entire bottle of baby powder that I didn't even know I had. All over the room. Y'all, it was so cloudy in there I couldn't even see him. Every time I vacuum now, you smell the powder.<br />
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Don't even get me started on the the entire bottle of baby sunscreen on the carpet. I just can't go there.<br />
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He's definitely his own person. I am enjoying his hilarious personality a lot, and I can't wait to see the young man he becomes! He was our easiest baby, but probably our hardest toddler. Even on the tough days, though, he's a joy. I have a unique opportunity this year to spend time with him. The older kids do P.E. through the local YMCA once a week and Nate's too young to go, so for two hours, I have him all to myself. Initially, I was sad about this because I wanted some time alone, but as the weeks go by, I'm enjoying it because I find that I see him in a very different way when we're alone. He is such a character, and when he's not being overshadowed by older, louder, faster kids, his personality shines!<br />
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Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15940720275001798418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6235506490850986499.post-30375176738115476042015-10-12T14:53:00.001-07:002015-10-26T13:20:03.201-07:00Jack the Brave<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We continue our journey of cuteness at the beach with Jack the Brave. If you missed Ella's post, <a href="http://coffeeandcocoatea.blogspot.com/2015/10/ella-fearless.html" target="_blank">you can read it here.</a></div>
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Jack will always be comfortable with a sword or a gun in his hand. You just can't contain the boyness of him.<br />
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He's also a jazz dancer. <br />
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Jack is sweet, hilarious, and tenderhearted. He will snuggle up to you in a second if you'll read to him.<br />
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For over a year, he got up each morning while I was reading my bible, and silently snuggled in close. It is only in the last couple of months that he has begun staying downstairs. It is the end of a beautiful moment in time that I treasure.<br />
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Two years ago, when we began coming to the beach, Jack was afraid of the water. He would chase the waves out and yell, "I am KING!" and then run back in when the next wave came.<br />
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Last year he played in it a lot, but very close to shore and always with goggles.<br />
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This year he was so brave! He let out his inner beast and rode the waves, some on a boogie board but mostly in the shark.<br />
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It was fun to see him take to the challenge of the water and enjoy it so much.<br />
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But he still wore his goggles.<br />
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Jack is a middle child, like me. He has some of the same struggles I had. <br />
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He plays well with either of the other kids one-on-one.<br />
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But he's often left out when the three of them play. <br />
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He's okay with that, at least for now.<br />
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He, more than the others, needs alone time. He needs to recharge. Ella can be a lot to take! He handles her okay, though.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-GwcsLq4iQxdr7QGHHSPPhfheTt_wZbSpb0bBkYEoiELasBpXjJlPmSkrlj23ViP2sWuT1skf-O2xadpCfYm3igu7ScEn5KGGRRAp1HWPC6lj4evZ2jhKIZ5oBrMROebiD1UqD7U6VNcM/s1600/DSC02438.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-GwcsLq4iQxdr7QGHHSPPhfheTt_wZbSpb0bBkYEoiELasBpXjJlPmSkrlj23ViP2sWuT1skf-O2xadpCfYm3igu7ScEn5KGGRRAp1HWPC6lj4evZ2jhKIZ5oBrMROebiD1UqD7U6VNcM/s640/DSC02438.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Hey, Ella! Whatcha doin'?</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSkZKmqWSTNTxlIqcHueeGLiEO4kO57-_rJJ3TlDl91VZfuUl9pGoiFmC2q46ABdK9nQrc1fLFgvRnULbTnrgvmHwbK_beszloohRvThS7rhwMoVOl6_vsTw1OE67ckBFgaYpftlkX2fXQ/s1600/DSC02439.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSkZKmqWSTNTxlIqcHueeGLiEO4kO57-_rJJ3TlDl91VZfuUl9pGoiFmC2q46ABdK9nQrc1fLFgvRnULbTnrgvmHwbK_beszloohRvThS7rhwMoVOl6_vsTw1OE67ckBFgaYpftlkX2fXQ/s640/DSC02439.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">I'll help you. Here's some water.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">You want more? Okay.</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuJRfCmz0u-Uu3m9Ziv92-PakF-JE9v5hCmZ0qCG-8PRv4jEiVB3522rMmyBkls99aKy2E7SiTl5XsfmY651l1yDadQNJ8X6qkQ3mrYHYDFpJXMwb5IRsmq7DoQW2ePoqxmj1c1UDctwMT/s1600/DSC02441.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuJRfCmz0u-Uu3m9Ziv92-PakF-JE9v5hCmZ0qCG-8PRv4jEiVB3522rMmyBkls99aKy2E7SiTl5XsfmY651l1yDadQNJ8X6qkQ3mrYHYDFpJXMwb5IRsmq7DoQW2ePoqxmj1c1UDctwMT/s640/DSC02441.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">I'll get you water, all right.</span></i></i></div>
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<i>Hahahahahahahahaha!</i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXAtCQ7g3u_h8oFjc-2Unok4eMY1D_k_X6zDmGbAHv1xtEcI1Ow3jEstPFTI8ySqLM4KxTJX-SRpG3APRB942C0K68-NPXGeRuaL8oxw1IVOMHKYLhK84qiPR9RdeMXblriSSKxFDThzhI/s1600/DSC02443.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXAtCQ7g3u_h8oFjc-2Unok4eMY1D_k_X6zDmGbAHv1xtEcI1Ow3jEstPFTI8ySqLM4KxTJX-SRpG3APRB942C0K68-NPXGeRuaL8oxw1IVOMHKYLhK84qiPR9RdeMXblriSSKxFDThzhI/s640/DSC02443.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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It is amazing to see him grow up before my eyes. I sometimes catch myself still thinking of him as being very little and helpless. </div>
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We lovingly refer to him as our little space cadet, because he lives in his own world, but he's coming home to live on earth more and more.<br />
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Having a younger sibling is helping Jack to grow up a bit. It kind of makes me sad.<br />
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I want him to grow to be an independent man who loves his God and his family and cares for them as well as Handsome Hero cares for us.</div>
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But... not yet. That's the goal we're working toward, but we want to live in the moment, too. I don't want to miss out on any of his zany, funny, silly personality. Though, I'm pretty sure ...<br />
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He'll always have that!<br />
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P.S. Jack would like you to know that he is not a jazz dancer. The picture just looked like that. He's a cheetah.<br />
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Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15940720275001798418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6235506490850986499.post-28403408042929268022015-10-02T06:42:00.001-07:002015-10-26T13:20:03.196-07:00Ella the Fearless<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I thought it would be fun to recap our beach trip and update the kids at the same time. It's been awhile since I posted anything, much less an update on the kids.</div>
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Ella.</div>
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Ella is fearless. </div>
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She is adventurous, friendly, outgoing, and curious.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgooRfSa8x8sEq-4pXH9H8fukjMx8qxWcSpPIYi4vYwZKwKMjYLeuxWclUGmibtp0cr0kAUzoh1LKusFqxZlbUxgHH0jpV2IY9Jas8qhYxV77kY1FigZYydU0M66aVRFicE8paJ4PygQM3X/s1600/DSC02703.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgooRfSa8x8sEq-4pXH9H8fukjMx8qxWcSpPIYi4vYwZKwKMjYLeuxWclUGmibtp0cr0kAUzoh1LKusFqxZlbUxgHH0jpV2IY9Jas8qhYxV77kY1FigZYydU0M66aVRFicE8paJ4PygQM3X/s400/DSC02703.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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It amazes me how her positive traits are also her negative traits.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRdeFBxEPkNcXqK4DZHbMmkW3VlEp_TP42iiK9rux3fyp8V-g9cOjdmbCsiMo8a37PRd75NYRwXAkfbTqh332leyLiVjljP2xBAQ05gxI2FyrOtyegmqXhHzn-GrFamGrDuGoSPhrhrpJ9/s1600/DSC02706.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRdeFBxEPkNcXqK4DZHbMmkW3VlEp_TP42iiK9rux3fyp8V-g9cOjdmbCsiMo8a37PRd75NYRwXAkfbTqh332leyLiVjljP2xBAQ05gxI2FyrOtyegmqXhHzn-GrFamGrDuGoSPhrhrpJ9/s640/DSC02706.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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She doesn't like to fail {who does}, but when she falls, she tries again. And again and again. <br />
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I love that about her. I want to be more like that.<br />
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We've noticed over the last few months a really fun attribute becoming more prominent - voluntary helpfulness.<br />
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At the beach she was always ready to help out. At home she is a big help, but I wondered how she would do when she would have so many fun things pulling at her. Really well, as it turns out.<br />
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She even rescued fish from tidepools. They swam around her feet and she scooped them up and ran them to the ocean. <br />
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I hope they survived the rescue. It's iffy.<br />
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She now thinks that she can go fishing without a pole. Her toes are the only bait needed. She will not be dissuaded.<br />
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She built walls and castles and beauty chairs {?} out of sand each day at the beach. <br />
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<i>Side note: My sister always seemed to know when she was being photographed and subtly moved into a pose. It was hilarious.</i><br />
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She wanted to make a splash pad {a playground with water} for her brothers and all the other children on the beach.<br />
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The tide kept crashing over it, but she wouldn't move farther inland because then it would just be a playground, not a splash pad.<br />
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I love her dark eyes. Speaking of her eyes, she recently went through some vision therapy to correct a problem with her vision that was keeping her from being able to read. Her eyes weren't working as a team to focus on the letters.<br />
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I am very happy to report that she no longer needs glasses and her reading has really taken off! I had thoughts of pushing her to finish second grade quickly so that she'd be in the grade of her peers {she's 8 but in second grade} but I had some really great women who helped me to see that, though there is nothing wrong with that, it isn't necessary and what is more important is to instill in her a love of learning. <br />
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We've decided to enjoy second grade, and, funny thing, she's going pretty fast and will likely finish early anyway.<br />
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I kept trying to get her to smile at me, and she wrote this in the sand and went back to her splash pad construction.<br />
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"Mom is funy." </div>
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We're working on spelling.</div>
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The water at the beach was unpredictable, of course. Sometimes the waves were mild, and sometimes we couldn't stand in them at all. We kept getting pushed around. If Ella got pushed under, she popped up and was ready to try again. She learned how to dive under the waves, and loved it.</div>
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At the beach, Ella's favorite things to do are go on long walks on the beach {I'm preparing her for her online dating profile later}, and to go out in the water with Handsome Hero, who is much better at water sports than someone who shall remain nameless but who is writing this blog. Last year, boogie boarding was the activity of short, but this year tubing was pretty popular. Sometimes it was pretty hard staying on!<br />
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There is nothing this kid won't try.</div>
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We brought this silly shark raft, and it became a huge hit. It had taped up holes all over and we had to keep blowing it back up, but they loved it!<br />
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Ella was actually too big for it, but she tried.<br />
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I love that she can laugh at herself. She knew how silly she looked and thought it was pretty funny.<br />
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As much as I hate that she's growing up, I'm so proud of the young lady she's becoming. I raise my coffee cup to you, my dear. May you always be fearless.</div>
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<i>Note: The foggy pictures were my lens clouding over from being in the air conditioning and not adjusting to the outside in time.</i></div>
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<br />Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15940720275001798418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6235506490850986499.post-58616073602345559732015-09-18T08:58:00.004-07:002015-10-26T13:20:03.215-07:00Just like no time had passedLast week was a huge highlight of our year - the annual beach vacation. This year was a bit different in that we visited our dearest besties, the Hickok's, in Richmond, VA, first. On the way? No. Worth it? You betcha.<br />
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We did have an excuse that made the out-of-the-way trip logical, though. We've been studying Jamestown and it's only an hour from their house!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGLD5Ua2WCIPC-0Nl1l29Z2Gj-JS3m8DPNZ6f4qRywsjsxkhjlUx0Uvu6IiHsVO_UFar7Y4FnfXn5uOWIJmCZMJ8J6NQBHpA8D1fQ2zbmLHRipy3aUMRbfrgfOCWht9oHxj7KhPp0QM35K/s1600/DSC02370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGLD5Ua2WCIPC-0Nl1l29Z2Gj-JS3m8DPNZ6f4qRywsjsxkhjlUx0Uvu6IiHsVO_UFar7Y4FnfXn5uOWIJmCZMJ8J6NQBHpA8D1fQ2zbmLHRipy3aUMRbfrgfOCWht9oHxj7KhPp0QM35K/s640/DSC02370.JPG" width="640" /></a><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Can you tell we made Nate be in the picture very much against his will? </span></i></div>
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Do you have people in your life you couldn't possibly love more? These are some of ours. And this is Poppy, their youngest, who we got to meet for the first time! I think she likes me, which makes her the first Hickok baby to like me in the history of ever. That is delayed gratification right there.</div>
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Ella wore her most "pilgrimmy" dress, maybe because of the ruffle?</div>
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In the Indian village, the kids got to scrape the fur off of a hide while "Indians" described what life was like for the Indians and pilgrims. I liked that the employees didn't pretend to be from the period like they do in Williamsburg. That's fun, but the kids were able to understand these guys a lot more this way.<br />
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They have amazing replicas of the ships that would have come here. I have never before heard anyone say in a museum, "Touch everything. Climb all over it. It's here for you to explore." <br />
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Unfortunately, the rain came and with it lightning and our outdoor adventure was cut short. We didn't get to see the fort, but we did get to explore the inside museum, which was a bit old for the kids, but very well done, and since the costumed employees came in also, they were all around answering questions and very willing to talk the the kids.<br />
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It was disappointing to not see the fort or finish exploring the ships, but we had to wait an hour after the final lightning strike before anyone was allowed outside and it just. kept. coming. They refunded us most of our money, which was nice, and we got to spend a long time in the gift shop, which I could have done without.<br />
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This is the face of someone who has been told that he can't have an arrow from the gift shop. We did get him an arrowhead. Where is it, you ask? Ha! Ha!, I say. Did it even make it to the car? I don't know.<br />
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It was incredible getting to spend time with these friends. There were deep conversations that have continued since, lots of hugs, lots of coffee, games, newly coined words, and a general deepening of an already solid friendship.<br />
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We love you, Hickok clan! <br />
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P.S. Does anyone know how to enhance photos in Windows 10? I'm all thrown off.<br />
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Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15940720275001798418noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6235506490850986499.post-49324945620765189292015-04-27T08:12:00.001-07:002015-04-27T08:12:08.361-07:00Growing the garden and our boys<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We planted our garden last weekend! Last year we planted from seed, but started too late, and we got nothing. As in, tons of zucchini and a few tomatoes but nothing else. Oh, and two watermelons that were too grainy and mushy to eat. This year we took the easy way out and bought our veggies in pots. We may try seeds again, probably will, but this year we just wanted to see if we can get some more benefit out of the garden and maybe, possibly, make our money back. It's a doubtful thing, but we're trying. </div>
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The boys wanted to help. They were really great, watering each plant after we put it in.</div>
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Moments like these, the boys with their dad, they make me incredibly nostalgic. Prepare for more photos than you ever needed to see. The cuteness may hurt your eyes.</div>
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Handsome Hero is always a very serious man.</div>
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It amazes me how many things we have bought, not thinking ahead to Nate. Last year, I bought the other two gardening gloves. Not Nate. <br />
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I also bought the other two watering cans. Not Nate. Obviously, he didn't need those things then, but now he really wants to help and is aware of not having what the other kids have. Funny how that phase crept up on us.<br />
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I love how seriously Jack takes his watering, even while Handsome Hero is a total goof.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Not now, Dad. I'm concentrating.</i></span></div>
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The hose is around the front of the house {there is one closer, but it is leaking, and we're afraid it will leak into the house, so until Handsome Hero can look into it, we're down to one outdoor faucet}. The boys would each take a watering can {Nate borrowed Ella's}.<br />
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Then Jack would carry them both back. One of Nate's few phrases is "too heavy!" <br />
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What a sweetie. This is one five-year-old with a heart to serve others.<br />
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When they got back, Nate would walk through the cucumber trellis a few times before he was ready to water.<br />
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He watched big brother to know just what to do.<br />
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One plant done. On to the next.<br />
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Nate likes to understand things. He doesn't want to be left out.</div>
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Another plant lives because of the combined powers of Wonderkids Jack and Nate.<br />
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This is one of my very favorite pictures.<br />
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Oh, be still my heart. Can I freeze them?<br />
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I am so glad to get to capture moments like these. Sometimes I forget to bring out the camera and times like these remind me how important it is. I kind of don't care if we get veggies this year. We had a really fun time with the boys and I got these pictures. That's enough. Growing boys is much more rewarding than growing tomatoes, anyway. <br />
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<br />Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15940720275001798418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6235506490850986499.post-8081224089711556292015-04-17T08:10:00.000-07:002015-04-17T11:58:12.098-07:00Ella's Big Girl Birthday Party<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This weekend, we had a first in our house. </div>
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Ella turned eight a couple of weeks ago {!} and what she wanted more than almost anything was a big girl party.<br />
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Not just any party.<br />
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A tea party.<br />
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It was a wonderful opportunity to use some china from my grandmothers.<br />
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It was so fun to put this together.<br />
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I did buy some cheap flowers, but mostly I shopped the house for decorations.<br />
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The kids and I made these flower sugar cubes. They really couldn't be simpler and they were a huge hit.</div>
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I spent a few dollars on crepe paper streamers and these poufs {it was the same price at Hobby Lobby to buy them ready to fluff as it was to buy the paper and make them from scratch}. <br />
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It didn't hurt in the beauty department we were in the sunroom and everything was blooming outside.<br />
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I folded the napkins into roses and put them in the cups.<br />
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I found these brass vases at a salvage yard! I love them so much. </div>
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Outside on the deck, we set up a station for the girls to paint canvas bags.<br />
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I had a smock or paint shirt at each place so the girls wouldn't get paint on their pretty dresses.</div>
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We put paint brushes in mason jars and scattered jars with water around.</div>
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And we were ready to go! The day was perfect. <br />
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I sent Handsome Hero and the Wonderboys away for the afternoon and had my friend, Abby, help me with the painting part.<br />
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Most of these girls are in our church and it was so fun seeing them all carrying their bags on Sunday.<br />
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I do not know what I would have done without Abby. I hadn't thought through how often the water jars would need to be changed out, or how much help the girls would need with the paint.</div>
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While we waited for the bags to dry, we went downstairs and played Pin the Decorations on the Hat {another creation by my lifesaver, Abby}.</div>
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I would like to state that I love these girls. Each and every one of them was so incredibly sweet!</div>
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They encouraged each other all the way.<br />
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What a lovely hat.<br />
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Then we went upstairs to the sunroom for tea and Pink Lemonade cupcakes. These were quite tasty, if I do say so myself.</div>
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They were so excited and sweet about getting to use such fine china! They even began speaking with British accents.<br />
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They liked having the tea party so much that when we ran out of tea, they were sad. While we waited for a new pot to steep, we opened presents.<br />
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Ella was very excited about each gift. These girls know her well!</div>
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Doll clothes, crafts, and other very girly things are speaking this girl's language.<br />
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These girls. I love them.</div>
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I think I had as much fun as the girls did. This was a truly wonderful event and Ella felt so special!<br />
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Happy Birthday, Ella!<br />
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<br />Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15940720275001798418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6235506490850986499.post-43273674080295756472015-04-16T07:33:00.002-07:002015-04-17T08:14:50.495-07:00A little finger painting action!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We did a little finger painting last week. The kids were so exited! <br />
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The paint wasn't very good, but it didn't matter.<br />
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This picture represents them so well. Jack quietly uses one finger, Nate uses one finger but squeals the whole time, and Ella plants her whole hand in the paint.<br />
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Nate would not have been willing to touch this paint a year ago.<br />
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Nate loves being dirty now.<br />
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He thought it would be really fun to paint Jack's tummy. Jack didn't like it so much.<br />
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The good news is, when we looked at these pictures later, he thought this was hilarious.<br />
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If he can't laugh at himself in the moment, at least he can laugh in retrospect. Baby steps.</div>
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I love doing things like this, but for some reason, I don't often think of it. The last time we finger painted, <a href="http://coffeeandcocoatea.blogspot.com/2011/07/finger-paint.html" target="_blank">we only had two kids and one of them was eating the paint.</a> I can't believe how little they were! Except for Jack's belly. I can't believe how big that was!</div>
Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15940720275001798418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6235506490850986499.post-88115585452456841272015-03-12T06:23:00.000-07:002015-03-12T06:23:30.002-07:00Masters of Disguise<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The hallway next to the entry was yet another wallpapered mess when we moved in. In these pictures I'm standing in the entry and at the end of the hall is our master bedroom. The door on the left leads to the stairs to the basement. The door to the right is the master/hall bathroom. Someday I hope to make two bathrooms out of that space.</div>
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We took down the wallpaper {notice how we're using a sheet as a curtain in our room? That lasted way longer than it should have},</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjATuC0N3Lkc2F6xmKZ3oEnfiHT5SnjLOsWI0ZrynluRSRU1yH2gMieDRi5gV38l01vU5q-hThBisZEU0ICWrILhJb2AIRMWdUev-Fa8B-2wkc3xDUlIdA-oTbO_P2yjn8ZKR8SkFFlZ_Vt/s1600/DSCN9608.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjATuC0N3Lkc2F6xmKZ3oEnfiHT5SnjLOsWI0ZrynluRSRU1yH2gMieDRi5gV38l01vU5q-hThBisZEU0ICWrILhJb2AIRMWdUev-Fa8B-2wkc3xDUlIdA-oTbO_P2yjn8ZKR8SkFFlZ_Vt/s1600/DSCN9608.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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Primed the walls, </div>
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And finally, painted the trim and walls, in addition to <a href="http://coffeeandcocoatea.blogspot.com/2013/12/pendants-in-hallways.html">making these pendant lights</a>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioP8weh_KCzowyizyg2koq_H_RuE7NnLJfN0WQHjYOLuWzRI8X3W4dnHIKidWv710wwR0BmJsvmI4doK9mdZZrVAkaxvC_MMWjEaRTQG7lUrY_KMXfs_5R2cc5lJqgMLvkGp22LESuLXeq/s1600/DSCN7774.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioP8weh_KCzowyizyg2koq_H_RuE7NnLJfN0WQHjYOLuWzRI8X3W4dnHIKidWv710wwR0BmJsvmI4doK9mdZZrVAkaxvC_MMWjEaRTQG7lUrY_KMXfs_5R2cc5lJqgMLvkGp22LESuLXeq/s1600/DSCN7774.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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My favorite thing about this hallway, hands down, are the portraits of the kids.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJd-xY7_j8fxZ9bxhWavMb3x1icWTAKV-63F7DzqWVKYDctei6JA4bubWze4yHghsiQG61KucjnUUO-eweSLyxUJYsPE6ondV6Vdn0iPleupSz7D84Qkp5AabTrzuJkWcRaNqZJrVyjZSb/s1600/DSCN8990.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJd-xY7_j8fxZ9bxhWavMb3x1icWTAKV-63F7DzqWVKYDctei6JA4bubWze4yHghsiQG61KucjnUUO-eweSLyxUJYsPE6ondV6Vdn0iPleupSz7D84Qkp5AabTrzuJkWcRaNqZJrVyjZSb/s1600/DSCN8990.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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I love having pictures of my kids on display, but making them both cohesive and funny is my favorite.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpdxtN1Fz0uWuzlkHicfQbwFVQI8F8S4cHQ7Mgr_Q-AwXTMJuDKA5ykfSN_JJ5L3yXT5O1ZMJfxUbBWWk5Yfe6vjYkpV54CF2WkDxmQMVBnLhhJSw1q_hV2wPIMRMbufteVFHLkU18ZL1f/s1600/DSCN9836.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpdxtN1Fz0uWuzlkHicfQbwFVQI8F8S4cHQ7Mgr_Q-AwXTMJuDKA5ykfSN_JJ5L3yXT5O1ZMJfxUbBWWk5Yfe6vjYkpV54CF2WkDxmQMVBnLhhJSw1q_hV2wPIMRMbufteVFHLkU18ZL1f/s1600/DSCN9836.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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I love how adorable their little faces are!</div>
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But my favorite part? </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrSCS95o1vPxlyQd2vRCPtBa_VRmDFlswDB3TzRuQro01059T8oceoda6lRZPUcuRGZgf6cE936YxBjReXnzdyufxNKsYWvle-Lsjrm8V4VVgUb8AnTCjutXPBdB-TilXGqJdcu998iQwF/s1600/DSCN9838.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrSCS95o1vPxlyQd2vRCPtBa_VRmDFlswDB3TzRuQro01059T8oceoda6lRZPUcuRGZgf6cE936YxBjReXnzdyufxNKsYWvle-Lsjrm8V4VVgUb8AnTCjutXPBdB-TilXGqJdcu998iQwF/s1600/DSCN9838.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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I didn't have to make this happen. We already had these pictures. </div>
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Because that is how we roll.</div>
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We are masters of disguise.</div>
<br />Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15940720275001798418noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6235506490850986499.post-42978252436134797912015-03-10T10:16:00.000-07:002015-03-10T10:16:19.332-07:00Cross stitch in a whole new way<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We had this blank space over the couch in the sunroom. It is a very long wall and needs substantial wall coverings. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7OkGwFZk6SxSZCwzwzUa5XxkFu0p0fxh68S5BZUI82hSJf-tYl4gE9amuDo1pa2s-w0OYe6m1otuOG51tS08SNY9qI0xpMt1b4h_BG1bWsMUcHdEtlEH_nuFXFC6KpuT9tS55WzeqaLc_/s1600/DSCN6807.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7OkGwFZk6SxSZCwzwzUa5XxkFu0p0fxh68S5BZUI82hSJf-tYl4gE9amuDo1pa2s-w0OYe6m1otuOG51tS08SNY9qI0xpMt1b4h_BG1bWsMUcHdEtlEH_nuFXFC6KpuT9tS55WzeqaLc_/s1600/DSCN6807.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">What it looked like when we first moved in, after the trim went from brown to white and we took down the beige metal mini blinds.</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYDL7GKTqor0qLcXbilqlO0NiTb_8Y0jeAUhciUXUy32CL9oyztEfDTTfvcmE-YqzDV5__4eyvHYt1v8MM1pSy4xvqR8fxAB7BAUIVRUiBhTX4x2dLrA3_r7nBgDqhSEEC2QBNyGCUzH1x/s1600/DSCN6865.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYDL7GKTqor0qLcXbilqlO0NiTb_8Y0jeAUhciUXUy32CL9oyztEfDTTfvcmE-YqzDV5__4eyvHYt1v8MM1pSy4xvqR8fxAB7BAUIVRUiBhTX4x2dLrA3_r7nBgDqhSEEC2QBNyGCUzH1x/s1600/DSCN6865.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>And after we painted. Notice the blinds still on the floor. It is embarrassing how long it took to take those to ReStore.</i></span></div>
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I have my rattan butterflies over<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6235506490850986499#editor/target=post;postID=1934072732096383634;onPublishedMenu=posts;onClosedMenu=posts;postNum=27;src=postname"> the dresser {above} that I later painted grellow</a>, </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtINYRnVS7nvrUwyworhVzBSJrDjsXcy_akt0AIXCTbyuLFcvq8JLS04fdhoB4oV0qqb1RWom6nHS4PuKshA6OU94BzLqDdtw52ka_eOzzP42sz0KMlGKkT1eyXrxqIbNxu-XIBITUXndO/s1600/DSCN7761.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtINYRnVS7nvrUwyworhVzBSJrDjsXcy_akt0AIXCTbyuLFcvq8JLS04fdhoB4oV0qqb1RWom6nHS4PuKshA6OU94BzLqDdtw52ka_eOzzP42sz0KMlGKkT1eyXrxqIbNxu-XIBITUXndO/s1600/DSCN7761.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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but nothing else along this stretch of wall. I wanted to make something creative, something I hadn't really seen before. I came across this picture <a href="http://blog.hgtv.com/design/2014/02/17/cross-stitch-painting-diy/">by Alix Adams</a>, and loved the idea. It is a "cross-stitch" that she painted onto a board.</div>
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<img alt="Cross Stitch Painting" class="aligncenter" src="http://blog.sndimg.com/hgtv/design/AlixAdams/cross-stitch-painting-final3.jpg" /></div>
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I didn't want to do a deer head, because, while I really enjoy them when I see them, I see them a lot. I usually like things less and less the more I see them. Also, a deer head seems more of a cozy inside thing, not a sunroom thing. I did look for other animals to do, but ultimately decided to go in a totally different direction. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiraZGOSy5SkRGXkOU_q9rloZYc7Rnd-cill95BObRe6gve9olMxZgDyeoG6NcsaHutcY9s9m49OS4RO55K_gutmLthP6w73KtLQx8Piy01shWe4J5oGkolNdXScZWJ4kNgP1pCG41JuyeJ/s1600/DSCN9233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiraZGOSy5SkRGXkOU_q9rloZYc7Rnd-cill95BObRe6gve9olMxZgDyeoG6NcsaHutcY9s9m49OS4RO55K_gutmLthP6w73KtLQx8Piy01shWe4J5oGkolNdXScZWJ4kNgP1pCG41JuyeJ/s1600/DSCN9233.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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A rotary phone! I found a cross stitch pattern for one online and was able to copy it onto a piece of graph paper. I tried to find the image again so I could link it, but I was unable to locate it. </div>
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The main difference between mine and Alix's, other than subject matter, was that she used wood and paint. She made her grid right on the wood, and you could see it in the finished project. I didn't want that. I decided to get the biggest canvas I could find and take a slightly different route. I'd sew it! I'm a terrible painter, but if I had a pattern I could sew right onto the canvas.<br />
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Let me tell you, this was not easy. It is a math heavy job. If I used stitches as large as my current sketch called for, they would be one-inch-by-one-inch squares. Too big. Instead, I made each square on my graph paper count for four stitches on my canvas. I did not realize how much work this would end up being.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_olbdD5RVDlZBK75IG89PqMrcy0grK1maHEavn4Kk7CPsdy6UrEDTESO7U544WszoUzXaeepU5GZoLAfhrmEEkptTOAwf68_H7XWucsoWPxTWef-qa0rWaOQZzte3vAGObHcI5WX_lpuS/s1600/DSCN9235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_olbdD5RVDlZBK75IG89PqMrcy0grK1maHEavn4Kk7CPsdy6UrEDTESO7U544WszoUzXaeepU5GZoLAfhrmEEkptTOAwf68_H7XWucsoWPxTWef-qa0rWaOQZzte3vAGObHcI5WX_lpuS/s1600/DSCN9235.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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I made a grid on the backside of a canvas. The corner braces were getting in my way, so I used our multi master to remove them without damaging the canvas.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhai3IR3win5ZnpZo6ER6MtDKsFfMuT_M26kqHjmp7J2T8MAdT2aK8mUD_3VQqohzGOw6Lp0ebWdmcX5qn2uUW3CJ3fi2PjD36SG8YtlAeD0tWor9LPoXrOZBZDMMRRgcaRw-J28Iw3oyw6/s1600/DSCN9240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhai3IR3win5ZnpZo6ER6MtDKsFfMuT_M26kqHjmp7J2T8MAdT2aK8mUD_3VQqohzGOw6Lp0ebWdmcX5qn2uUW3CJ3fi2PjD36SG8YtlAeD0tWor9LPoXrOZBZDMMRRgcaRw-J28Iw3oyw6/s1600/DSCN9240.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Each of my squares were half an inch wide, and once I finished the grid, I marked my x's so that I would not mess up. It was a big job, but worth it because I didn't have to count every row or second guess each stitch. It put all of the thinking on the front end.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEZaEEYtCtN_JFyAUTItxPk-qsoMMmdZN4mMSWGBFHHMVIHLARiPcQSzKGzh6EQHo-bBs1Q55QHBZWtO6jWhK0kEhJrdkEa0oQl22JTJrr52-m-66FNkLdtyuOzw4drcfCYNq929pyfBnM/s1600/DSCN9244.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEZaEEYtCtN_JFyAUTItxPk-qsoMMmdZN4mMSWGBFHHMVIHLARiPcQSzKGzh6EQHo-bBs1Q55QHBZWtO6jWhK0kEhJrdkEa0oQl22JTJrr52-m-66FNkLdtyuOzw4drcfCYNq929pyfBnM/s1600/DSCN9244.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Then I began to stitch. I used black embroidery floss and started from the bottom {with the canvas upside down}, going in the same direction the whole time. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimHBZgW3J_3ZKd2lsSS2HLEqTdD_RGRg1wAgtzyd5ME2KrDIZhcNYa9cvr6LbRgb0xlMUNofpAPseFgFOX5Utu74q61MDzkKyYEiZh-9_5kNIGI0IDrgASif9wbJHYK8_HN9ZQ6_J_fFOx/s1600/DSCN9245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimHBZgW3J_3ZKd2lsSS2HLEqTdD_RGRg1wAgtzyd5ME2KrDIZhcNYa9cvr6LbRgb0xlMUNofpAPseFgFOX5Utu74q61MDzkKyYEiZh-9_5kNIGI0IDrgASif9wbJHYK8_HN9ZQ6_J_fFOx/s1600/DSCN9245.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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From the back, it looked like this.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7xDatMkwfyDizJwvCnJDCOzlVVc-e6V8ZwRKIyU0ZBxI2eZLMRbufbibkhrK1c9qaTJkoQhjvdKjYH6pyyMV6uN1pjNcGH7jUza9rnn76xn_5QjYph_8ESEo7WI2E0AnLZSAEabuCLxvQ/s1600/DSCN9246.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7xDatMkwfyDizJwvCnJDCOzlVVc-e6V8ZwRKIyU0ZBxI2eZLMRbufbibkhrK1c9qaTJkoQhjvdKjYH6pyyMV6uN1pjNcGH7jUza9rnn76xn_5QjYph_8ESEo7WI2E0AnLZSAEabuCLxvQ/s1600/DSCN9246.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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As I got to the middle, I turned it right side up to finish it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj2msMIfbYDQPY15gxEpZJfIrGGdQW5okVvLEAwP0Nr7S25vpQ9Lvw2QvnTJrqWUD-Ssn0pu0mulsZg-d4fVQUQQ68bXcsGUXTWkQxBviYfmY1oIo6j3o3dBz6NZuebki06cn5JHyITmY5/s1600/DSCN9251.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj2msMIfbYDQPY15gxEpZJfIrGGdQW5okVvLEAwP0Nr7S25vpQ9Lvw2QvnTJrqWUD-Ssn0pu0mulsZg-d4fVQUQQ68bXcsGUXTWkQxBviYfmY1oIo6j3o3dBz6NZuebki06cn5JHyITmY5/s1600/DSCN9251.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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And, after nearly two weeks of working on it in the evenings, it was done. This one nearly killed me. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcelfiFqawzpkJuudz7iUgEqLPRftF99pyXersJQ9X8azzv4H8kjxn6bf_jocq6ra30k1eshUjNo94SiSWNtNz0aMnnUD11-YohInkDRaz5vYSah4tDmxqAKgukrzkAInMt_0LwhhLqd1S/s1600/DSCN0077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcelfiFqawzpkJuudz7iUgEqLPRftF99pyXersJQ9X8azzv4H8kjxn6bf_jocq6ra30k1eshUjNo94SiSWNtNz0aMnnUD11-YohInkDRaz5vYSah4tDmxqAKgukrzkAInMt_0LwhhLqd1S/s1600/DSCN0077.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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And when I say I finished it, I mean only in one direction. I asked Handsome Hero what he thought and he said that it looked intentional, and that he hadn't realized the original plan called for x's, and he thought that x's would be too busy and he liked the abstractness and simplicity of the lines. <br />
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He had me at "It looks intentional." It was done. I did paint the sides hot pink because, um, just because. I like hot pink.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7n7nGrW7DIQqC2OaHQWsS8-RCMsgfzfBt0NWopv5m6lo8HWvjTEsfq4d6ubgM1y0S1be8V8idAhC0kfMekwR9Q2VqLFDFFuUV92uu0LKp4mYHweFcIn0R6dIBmrxl7nvwoajJwsUpZdAm/s1600/DSCN0076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7n7nGrW7DIQqC2OaHQWsS8-RCMsgfzfBt0NWopv5m6lo8HWvjTEsfq4d6ubgM1y0S1be8V8idAhC0kfMekwR9Q2VqLFDFFuUV92uu0LKp4mYHweFcIn0R6dIBmrxl7nvwoajJwsUpZdAm/s1600/DSCN0076.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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It fills the space pretty well now. I think we do need something between it and the door, but I am not sure what. I only know that it won't be square. Too much of that going on.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm9RDC7GY6qvWf4lDmD0jjlWnC0_jkYyzW7RvKgOfAZXyM3O-dGqMgTyDmWUHlWdmbWNZR9pKgEnx-eN55M7zwF_x-p1tY7r8KFPeRIkhFAxS7TMPbFJJyFetpIuN1hJUz3A3kjFVZHfIC/s1600/DSCN0078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm9RDC7GY6qvWf4lDmD0jjlWnC0_jkYyzW7RvKgOfAZXyM3O-dGqMgTyDmWUHlWdmbWNZR9pKgEnx-eN55M7zwF_x-p1tY7r8KFPeRIkhFAxS7TMPbFJJyFetpIuN1hJUz3A3kjFVZHfIC/s1600/DSCN0078.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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If you want to attempt this project, I would offer these sage words of advice. The canvas is tough to pull the needle through and my hands ached a lot. Use a thimble and your fingers will thank you. Also, check twice before poking the needle through - the hole doesn't readily go away. However, I have not noticed my mistake holes since putting it up. And, while you want to be as straight as possible, you will not achieve perfection, so don't stress about it. Observe the close up:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Ud5GhEwY5WSai1k037k3Roc3FwfSPTm2Oy2MuhqTmmyR-_j5qdJMJo1tGZ22TvvqrO9cbykOjXVnFurNalOB404zxTGysGgjVgUQE3p4QqMGLt40UWcKHLvOLStgLS6JJ0VPnGsFpKQZ/s1600/DSC00610.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Ud5GhEwY5WSai1k037k3Roc3FwfSPTm2Oy2MuhqTmmyR-_j5qdJMJo1tGZ22TvvqrO9cbykOjXVnFurNalOB404zxTGysGgjVgUQE3p4QqMGLt40UWcKHLvOLStgLS6JJ0VPnGsFpKQZ/s1600/DSC00610.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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And lastly, don't forget to reverse your pattern when you do it on the backside {if it's important for the picture}. I didn't do this, and my phone is backwards, which doesn't matter except for the dial.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYCMYzqsBobJfiJEJoO9N5P2vkEEysuwLACww8LI9aw0mEO7fUCvrFp1ggX9fsiw50LchqO6Jv717TCn_Yvd3WwhYPKXzSexMxhLg12vD8Ty7lYSzoLKkSHSsmDwmkOdHiddUIL5LhuH_R/s1600/DSC00611.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYCMYzqsBobJfiJEJoO9N5P2vkEEysuwLACww8LI9aw0mEO7fUCvrFp1ggX9fsiw50LchqO6Jv717TCn_Yvd3WwhYPKXzSexMxhLg12vD8Ty7lYSzoLKkSHSsmDwmkOdHiddUIL5LhuH_R/s1600/DSC00611.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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I could have fixed this, but then those holes would have been much more noticeable. No one notices it but me, anyway. And now you, because I told you.</div>
<br />Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15940720275001798418noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6235506490850986499.post-23832456859849326782015-03-09T11:01:00.000-07:002015-03-09T11:01:46.508-07:00Jack Lewis's Deep Thoughts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
For your reading enjoyment: words from the mind of my five year old.</div>
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<em>Everyone in the world has cars, unless they're dead, because then they don't need them.</em></div>
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<em>A house fire wouldn't be so bad if it were made of granola, 'cause then you could just eat it.</em></div>
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<em>Me: Would you like a half or a whole sandwich?</em></div>
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<em>Jack: I'd like a half.</em></div>
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<em>Me: Ok.</em></div>
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<em>Jack: And then another half.</em></div>
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<em>I had a booger on my hand, and I didn't want to get up, so I tried to put in back in my nose. It didn't work.</em></div>
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<i>Jack: Mom. am I your sunshine?</i><br />
<i>Me: Yes, you are my sunshine.</i><br />
<i>Jack: What does it mean to be your sunshine?</i><br />
<i>Me: It means to make me happy, even in hard times.</i><br />
<i>Jack: Okay. I'll be your sunshine.</i><br />
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Oh, if he only knew.</div>
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<br />Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15940720275001798418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6235506490850986499.post-19397706680210686792015-03-05T08:57:00.000-08:002015-03-05T08:57:38.201-08:00Chaise<i>This is another older project that I did last summer. Look at me, posting all regular-like!</i><br />
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From the first moment I walked into the sunroom in this house, I had a dream of hanging a daybed from the ceiling. Like this one from Pottery Barn.<br />
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<img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GIaX5ud6__E/Tc2PigCl4CI/AAAAAAAABZE/wOOPSzGnZHs/s400/HANGING+BED.jpg" height="358" width="400" /></div>
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I have wanted one for years, but we didn't live in a house that could really accommodate it until now. Doesn't this look so serene and tranquil? Not that serene or tranquil would adequately describe my life right now....<br />
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<img alt="Best Landscape Blog" src="http://www.swedishdekor.com/DB%20intaglio/GB%20june%20special/GBspecial12.png" /></div>
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<a href="http://www.swedishdekor.com/_blog/Garden_Blog/tag/Renovation/">via</a></div>
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A sunroom is the perfect place for a hanging daybed! No bugs! No mildew on the cushions! No muddy shoes {because in our house, no shoes come in the door}! My vision was something like this DIY one so that the view out the windows wouldn't be blocked.<br />
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<img alt="Hanging Outdoor Bed" src="http://image.ana-white.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/Full/knockoffwood%20hanging%20porch%20bed%201.jpg" height="385" width="640" /></div>
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<a href="http://ana-white.com/2010/06/furniture-plans-hanging-outdoor-daybed.html">via</a></div>
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It was going to fit a twin mattress, so you could have several people sitting on it at once, or I could lounge for a solitary siesta {HA!}. It was a solidified absolute necessity in my mind.<br />
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Practicality, how I despise thee. <br />
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I <em>love</em> the idea of a hanging daybed, and maybe one day it will work, but if we put a daybed in the sunroom, it will be permanent. No changing around the furniture when we have company. No rearranging without repairing big holes in the ceiling. We entertain a lot, and not having those options just doesn't seem logical.<br />
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Strangely, having the kids treat it like a swing and running into furniture or the wall wasn't really a concern to me. I was pretty confident that I could control their behavior on that score, though the more I think of it, I was inviting trouble, wasn't I? Nothing like dangling gorgeous and comfortable forbidden fruit right in front of them.<br />
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So I decided to nix the daybed, but something needed to be in this space between the two conversation areas. I was thinking maybe a really large bench, but couldn't find one I could afford that was the right size, and making one seemed cost prohibitive, too. The room is so long that to have a separation between these areas seems the most logical thing to do. Also, that door leads to our bedroom, and we like it to feel open when we walk through.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs38t8pAVAb8bs9aV0_MTGbghUhrU305ELi_rltP-iEuJOpcNquyjnjgJgensiuToKdAeVC286rTDuS_U96vJWLDXay4R6OIAOQ5XekNhwkcY8a6xNpog-pUpQilhohITRwcCRQvWiOb84/s1600/DSCN7767.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs38t8pAVAb8bs9aV0_MTGbghUhrU305ELi_rltP-iEuJOpcNquyjnjgJgensiuToKdAeVC286rTDuS_U96vJWLDXay4R6OIAOQ5XekNhwkcY8a6xNpog-pUpQilhohITRwcCRQvWiOb84/s1600/DSCN7767.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a><br />
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I bought a coffee table on Craigslist, thinking to make it into an upholstered bench.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFDJeqfTkg1mdyH7edDdIJ3osmvq9DyNU_TM-3o1JfK9NB7C1innxQaUd_8LT4GqHcXFe67YS2JfQ3dS9e9uMg4bN81OMJOPRaUN0tBWFY03uLVccJaaBswLimPDvM3jCLpRt0Qtjet-_v/s1600/DSCN9649.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFDJeqfTkg1mdyH7edDdIJ3osmvq9DyNU_TM-3o1JfK9NB7C1innxQaUd_8LT4GqHcXFe67YS2JfQ3dS9e9uMg4bN81OMJOPRaUN0tBWFY03uLVccJaaBswLimPDvM3jCLpRt0Qtjet-_v/s1600/DSCN9649.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Within a couple of days, and before I had started to work on the coffee table, I got a call from my mom. They were at an antique shop and had found a chaise that they thought I could make into something. I love that my parents can look at something like this and think, "Yes, this has potential. I think Beth could do something with this." <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDEIGR1BGXhHADWs-hFzHDkdROa5ymSyoGa4E4DTGTRNCZfrkqQxU7w5OjX-kn0LIypnFN4DXpJwxMcvDiyOEhUDatBUdOI5zwi1_gbFWCRQ72fGYfQPD-HQDvBqEFdfnwYcGQ9DZsyQIz/s1600/DSCN9560.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDEIGR1BGXhHADWs-hFzHDkdROa5ymSyoGa4E4DTGTRNCZfrkqQxU7w5OjX-kn0LIypnFN4DXpJwxMcvDiyOEhUDatBUdOI5zwi1_gbFWCRQ72fGYfQPD-HQDvBqEFdfnwYcGQ9DZsyQIz/s1600/DSCN9560.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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It wasn't exactly a beauty! The dimensions were great, though, much more substantial than the coffee table-turned-bench I had been planning on using. And it was sturdy. All wood and metal. The reclining mechanism fit into sturdy well-made grooves. It was definitely worth trying to save.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8khw2t_Z-_k1jilsGC9tPK9LZUse4Rw_-Rd2U6jsORaLGtTDs-yEXB0ECIfLUPw-UyylAJ3Kq_0qaqAfo7_Abo2G-_KY-8VwAEDYqn7iAqGMEGcHwrWTuXgKZhaF3VOErKWFHgnMiZKWO/s1600/DSCN9557.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8khw2t_Z-_k1jilsGC9tPK9LZUse4Rw_-Rd2U6jsORaLGtTDs-yEXB0ECIfLUPw-UyylAJ3Kq_0qaqAfo7_Abo2G-_KY-8VwAEDYqn7iAqGMEGcHwrWTuXgKZhaF3VOErKWFHgnMiZKWO/s1600/DSCN9557.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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I was a bit nervous about the part where the bottom meets the back. The current abominable upholstery was in one large piece, but it looked terrible! How was I going to upholster it so that the fabric didn't bunch unattractively when the back was raised? I peeled the fabric off to reveal stuffing on top of foam on top of vinyl. Oh, joy.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJi9mQ32lujGGpjPR7PI7G0TBToNew0himrexfdlN_vFzOzQ32Rd1UZlua3KfuGhE-YlN9qMd96B2yzFWfvn-EgGt2Alqid9OpypmxncoM5mc26TZN6ZZ9q8Rgifovv50UAbokpsunWfJr/s1600/DSCN9565.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJi9mQ32lujGGpjPR7PI7G0TBToNew0himrexfdlN_vFzOzQ32Rd1UZlua3KfuGhE-YlN9qMd96B2yzFWfvn-EgGt2Alqid9OpypmxncoM5mc26TZN6ZZ9q8Rgifovv50UAbokpsunWfJr/s1600/DSCN9565.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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It was a lot of dirty layers, each stinkier than the last, but at least I had help taking it apart.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho5taTfI8varCbma8ekWX1JckS27kZgKpKWdrlTIWQCB1rCE-knKSx1wXenhSxivudZSYaRXzTTiz_PKS4_yyXcSoIXL-GBhR57x0qfA4d60sz_3CibIYPR5i0Iu-S0Ef0-prGXHmN299Q/s1600/DSCN9570.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho5taTfI8varCbma8ekWX1JckS27kZgKpKWdrlTIWQCB1rCE-knKSx1wXenhSxivudZSYaRXzTTiz_PKS4_yyXcSoIXL-GBhR57x0qfA4d60sz_3CibIYPR5i0Iu-S0Ef0-prGXHmN299Q/s1600/DSCN9570.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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This is what the chaise looked like originally. It must have belonged to a down-and-out psychiatrist in 1973 who couldn't afford a leather couch.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk_RPAHjeKmVopEpkroXrQlBzISZhUVbDbwx-Gqi7vkZ_nKt8MAMQaI_3gg7RnRoR8cBILdCf-gW7Pm8eXUOuCUj9OlgFD8wwc-TqqbXtad_qfL6ZWMgQETbXPr2XW1ff3XFj-jb4l_Xmm/s1600/DSCN9571.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk_RPAHjeKmVopEpkroXrQlBzISZhUVbDbwx-Gqi7vkZ_nKt8MAMQaI_3gg7RnRoR8cBILdCf-gW7Pm8eXUOuCUj9OlgFD8wwc-TqqbXtad_qfL6ZWMgQETbXPr2XW1ff3XFj-jb4l_Xmm/s1600/DSCN9571.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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So here's the spot I was worried about.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHGmNEVmnU4h6XMNQemGw9UZvion2cPMbPg5AF-lfKgofdWuOhkBlTp9RkyGaZHahPbcX2WiLnHItMiKbUpwL4DrFDbVRLttHPBk0cxZhWwZWQcA7Dhi1qPBkn8HRrVMFojLu3uAqFwzFM/s1600/DSCN9573.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHGmNEVmnU4h6XMNQemGw9UZvion2cPMbPg5AF-lfKgofdWuOhkBlTp9RkyGaZHahPbcX2WiLnHItMiKbUpwL4DrFDbVRLttHPBk0cxZhWwZWQcA7Dhi1qPBkn8HRrVMFojLu3uAqFwzFM/s1600/DSCN9573.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a><br />
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I don't know if you can see, but the bottom piece of vinyl is pulled up under the back part, and then the back piece of vinyl is stapled over on top.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-yfkn8RobeVogFqlBX8Jpy_HIo5_KFNJK4EXGvQWj5IrU_Ek7E3BXBXV-MldWRolaium-baARJXFpYBcv9uLedSLQMlqtOXbWOaImAfokTByrZnOygTCb3qL2Jkm2no8idnuZOpHSBKc-/s1600/DSCN9574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-yfkn8RobeVogFqlBX8Jpy_HIo5_KFNJK4EXGvQWj5IrU_Ek7E3BXBXV-MldWRolaium-baARJXFpYBcv9uLedSLQMlqtOXbWOaImAfokTByrZnOygTCb3qL2Jkm2no8idnuZOpHSBKc-/s1600/DSCN9574.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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When I took off the vinyl, there was straw and more stuffing underneath. That was the source of the stench. <br />
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I sanded, primed, and painted the chaise, lightly sanding between coats. Because I was painting the bottom of the side rails and the back, I found it easiest to do this in the sunroom with two sawhorses as my support. <br />
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As you can see above, there is a wooden lip all the way around both sections that makes a recess. I thought you'd probably feel that lip through a sheet of foam, so I filled the wells with shredded foam and covered it with fabric first, just to make it even.<br />
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I had a wonderful helper. We stapled a bit of fabric, then stuffed and smoothed out the foam pieces. Then we stapled a bit further and repeated. It was messy, but not hard. <br />
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The fabric I used was just leftover curtain blackout lining I've had laying around. I think any heavier weight fabric would do.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8y1cxt9bdd-3j3ZK8CJBp8ooMPIM5g7G-Al2nvk0MjVaho7HxqWQfaqmfxc-ZrlkE89so3C8j58kwCGd3TCjIpFNYh2zIkzH1d6yV70OROVL6RViMY-tnjcmtgO_WbIdznq1JXL-wQeeo/s1600/DSCN9615.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8y1cxt9bdd-3j3ZK8CJBp8ooMPIM5g7G-Al2nvk0MjVaho7HxqWQfaqmfxc-ZrlkE89so3C8j58kwCGd3TCjIpFNYh2zIkzH1d6yV70OROVL6RViMY-tnjcmtgO_WbIdznq1JXL-wQeeo/s1600/DSCN9615.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Ella trimmed the fabric after we stapled it with my pneumatic stapler. She's left handed like her mama.<br />
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Then we added foam, a couple of layers of batting, and the fabric. I did the whole main section before starting in on the back so that it would lay smoothly. You'll see what I mean below.</div>
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I started stapling the fabric at the foot and worked my way up. At the place where the back of the recliner and the bottom meet, I pulled the fabric taut and stapled it on the back section. It's hard to see because it's all covered up, but I cut a diagonal slit in the fabric right at the separation between the back and the bottom.<br />
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Then I rolled both fabric sides under and stapled really well. You can see below a bit better.<br />
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This picture is taken from the head of the chaise looking down so that you can see better where the staples went.<br />
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They're not really straight, but that isn't important because they will be covered up in a minute. I did the same diagonal slit, turn under, and staple on this side.<br />
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I lined up the pattern of the paisleys so the two pieces would match.<br />
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Then I nailed this strip of cardboard down right on the bottom edge of the back piece. Upholstery shops use these to make crisp lines, and I took this one out when I took off the original vinyl, but after looking at it, I imagine you could use any heavy cardboard with upholstery nails to do the same thing, or just purchase it from your local upholsterer or online. It made a huge difference to the finished product.<br />
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After that, it was just a matter of placing the foam and batting and stapling it all down again.<br />
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See how the pattern lines up?<br />
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That nice, crisp line is because of the cardboard.<br />
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We attached the legs and the back mechanism. We also hot glued two layers of blue trim around the edge {one the first one was on in the picture below}. It seems like there should be a more secure way to attach this type of trim, but it is what the pros use, and its only purpose is to look pretty and hide staples. It doesn't need to hold the fabric or anything. If you do this, make sure to have your seam in an inconspicuous place and turn the edge under, gluing it a bit so that it doesn't fray.<br />
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And we were done. <br />
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I love it. I LOVE it. I feel like we took something that was horrible and no one would ever want, and made it into something beautiful. This is definitely my favorite type of project. It went from heavy and fat and became light and sleek.<br />
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Let's just look at the before and after again, shall we?<br />
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Before:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDEIGR1BGXhHADWs-hFzHDkdROa5ymSyoGa4E4DTGTRNCZfrkqQxU7w5OjX-kn0LIypnFN4DXpJwxMcvDiyOEhUDatBUdOI5zwi1_gbFWCRQ72fGYfQPD-HQDvBqEFdfnwYcGQ9DZsyQIz/s1600/DSCN9560.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDEIGR1BGXhHADWs-hFzHDkdROa5ymSyoGa4E4DTGTRNCZfrkqQxU7w5OjX-kn0LIypnFN4DXpJwxMcvDiyOEhUDatBUdOI5zwi1_gbFWCRQ72fGYfQPD-HQDvBqEFdfnwYcGQ9DZsyQIz/s1600/DSCN9560.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a><br />
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After:<br />
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Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15940720275001798418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6235506490850986499.post-81486809905663637652015-03-04T06:33:00.001-08:002015-03-04T06:33:28.000-08:00Dining room table goes diamonds<em>I started looking this week through posts I've written and never published, and I have some from years ago! Some of the posts were pretty good but they never got published because it takes a lot of time to edit and time is something I don't have a lot of. Right now, in fact, I'm being asked what shoes to wear, having a child complaining about another child, and am apparently living in a kingdom with three rulers in my basement. Oh, and I think I smell a diaper.... I thought it would be fun to go ahead and edit and post these over the next few weeks because they were fun to do. We'll see how far I get. Those of you who are local will recognize some of these home improvement and furniture restorations. Enjoy!</em><br />
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Our dining room is a well-utilized space. It's open to other rooms and since we put the piano in what was intended to be a breakfast nook, we use the dining room nearly everyday.<br />
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This is what it looked like when we moved in. Dirty grass cloth wallpaper, skin colored trim and doors, beige metal mini blinds, and a rustic chandelier. Forgive the bad pictures. It is really hard to photograph in here.<br />
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We stripped the wallpaper, along with all of the other rooms, and removed the blinds.<br />
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Then we painted the trim white and the walls above the chair rail Sherwin Williams's <i>Fawn Brindle</i>.<br />
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I also made <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6235506490850986499#editor/target=post;postID=345212020166999387;onPublishedMenu=posts;onClosedMenu=posts;postNum=50;src=postname">those curtains</a> and Handsome Hero found the perfect chandelier, and when we realized how much we were going to be using this space, I reupholstered the dining room chairs in a surprisingly soft gray vinyl that looks like silk so they were more kid friendly. It is quite possibly the best decision I've made so far. <em>What? You spilled your very red tomato soup or oil-laden pesto? No problem!</em> The picture above was taken before reupholstering, though I did leave two of the zebra print seats for the head and foot of the table. <br />
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As you can see, we have hardwood floors in our dining room, which I much prefer to the white carpet we had in our last house. Who puts white carpet in a dining room? People without kids, that's who.<br />
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I love how the room is coming together, but the wood table with the wood floors with the wood chairs with the wood china cabinet was really boring. The china cabinet is a darker color than it looks in the picture, but the other wood tones were a nearly perfect match. I had a few options running around my head of how to break up the monotony.<br />
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1. Keep a table cloth on it. Not practical for an often used table. I like to use cloths for decoration, but I don't want to feel like I have to.<br />
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2. Put a rug on the floor. Appearance-wise, I liked this one. However, it would need to be a large enough carpet that the chairs didn't fall off the back when they were scooched out, and again, kids.<br />
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3. Paint the table. Definitely the most labor intensive solution, and one I wasn't sure I wanted to tackle.<br />
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The decision was eventually made for me. The finish on the table top began to rub off and I had to do something. Not just worn spots - if you put your arms on the table, you'd take the finish off. If you put a paper plate with something warm on it on the table, the pattern of the paper would make a mark on the table. This was no longer a question of décor. I couldn't ignore it.<br />
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My hesitation in painting the table was this. The table has TEN intricately turned legs, two on each corner and two in the center for support when the leaves are in. If I were to buy a table today, I would not choose this one. I would choose a really large table with two chunky pedestals instead of corner legs so that we could fit more people around the table in a pinch. I would love to seat 12-14 comfortably. We already have five, so if we have another family just a little bit bigger, or, heaven forbid, two families over at the same time, we don't easily fit and we have to go to two tables. First world problems, right?<br />
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But we already have this table, which already has two leaves. Buying a new table is very low on my priority list and I'm a work-with-what-you-got lady anyway, so I started thinking. I realized that I didn't actually need to strip, sand, and paint all ten of those legs. I could just redo the top. <br />
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That opened up a whole new can of worms. If I was just doing the top, I could do anything! I could stain it, maybe even in a pattern {I've been wanting to do that for awhile} but there was already so much wood going on and would I be able to make it look intentional? I tossed around trying to make the table top look like zinc, <a href="https://www.1stdibs.com/furniture/tables/dining-room-tables/belgian-round-zinc-top-dining-table/id-f_342047/">like this</a>,<br />
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<img src="https://shard3.1stdibs.us.com/archivesC/upload/8112/773/XXX_f1282.jpg" /><br />
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but our table top has a detailed edge that doesn't lend itself to a very industrial look. I ultimately decided to paint, but I didn't want to do a single color - that seemed overpowering and boring all at once. I thought of everything from a mottled look to racing stripes to a stencil and everything in between before finally deciding on diamonds. Not really a harlequin pattern, more diagonal squares, but the same idea.<br />
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I took the legs off and put the table on some saw horses outside. I used chemical stripper to get the bulk of the finish off, being careful not to get any on the sides.<br />
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It's pretty cool to watch the finish bubble up, and when it's done, you just scrape it off. Not that there was much finish to scrape off anymore.<br />
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Can you see how dull the top looks now? It still has streaks, but I didn't have to do nearly as much sanding as I would have had to do.<br />
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I did sand it as smoothly as possible and filled in a few gouges it had gotten over the years. The table came from a consignment shop when we were first married, so it had "character" before it ever came to us.<br />
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Can you see the two "fingers" on the side of one of the leaves? That happened when I was scraping off the stripper. I immediately wiped it off, but the damage was already done. I was going to try to fix it, but once the table was painted, you really can't see it.</span></em></div>
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Once it was like buttah, I painted it with our entryway color, Sherwin Williams's <i>Windfresh</i>. The pattern itself was going to draw attention, so I chose to use two colors already being used in the house that were in the same color family so that the effect was more cohesive and less ice cream parlor. Once that was dry, I used the corners of the table to decide the angle of the diamond, using a carpenter's square and a long straight edge {in this case a level} to keep it all straight.<br />
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The size of the diamonds was determined by the leaves. I wanted the table to look right with no leaves, one leaf, or two leaves in, so I measured the leaves and figured out how long each diamond would be based on that measurement.<br />
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">camera strap photo bomb!</span></em></div>
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I drew out the grid lightly with a pencil to make sure my lines and measurements were accurate.<br />
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Then I switched the leaves around and then took them out entirely so that I could see that all the lines worked out in any configuration. Thankfully, it worked and my diamond points met in all the right places.<br />
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Then it was time for frog tape. With the leaves back in, I taped off inside the squares that would be the lighter color. Then, because it was kind of dizzying, I marked the ones to be painted with a pencil. Though it looks hard, it really wasn't. Time consuming, but not difficult.<br />
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I had to take breaks just so my eyes could rest.<br />
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Finally, I painted the second color, Sherwin Williams's <em>Fawn Brindle</em>, the same color as the dining room walls.<br />
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I only did one coat because I didn't want to have ridges from two extra coats of paint in some areas. While it was still wet I removed the tape. After the paint had fully dried, I sanded it very lightly to remove any ridges that were there anyway. I made sure to sand all in one direction, which made for a smoother finish.<br />
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I didn't over sand or purposely distress it, but it is an old table and the legs were not touched, so I didn't want to pretend that it was brand new. I left imperfections like what you see below. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEUlcTkNDUPKDfv9ZU5ur_VT8bcVsvF5VcIiqCmIVbHpIhKLJj0VauExVetc3skQnaQvI53Z0nwtM9WDB5N4A0p9ghzXsZWFAZ1qx900aCoPmYSEjSLVqvmB8VqKlEHOabT60YEMCRUl3H/s1600/DSCN9726.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEUlcTkNDUPKDfv9ZU5ur_VT8bcVsvF5VcIiqCmIVbHpIhKLJj0VauExVetc3skQnaQvI53Z0nwtM9WDB5N4A0p9ghzXsZWFAZ1qx900aCoPmYSEjSLVqvmB8VqKlEHOabT60YEMCRUl3H/s1600/DSCN9726.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">If you are going to work a table hard, like we do, you want it to last. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitgkraYZK6Y0GfuOcbQjtiSBU9EjvAlquhjKGu-2NVYP5oghemwjPFk2_jI5EwsJ4NPSXNPsbKuH3rYDmdj2x6LIy_QAT3Mf5QPWo3vu4-Ar2zBGz6_z5mVSbZiiXvO2_GLLk0k5EqfH7b/s1600/DSC00651.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitgkraYZK6Y0GfuOcbQjtiSBU9EjvAlquhjKGu-2NVYP5oghemwjPFk2_jI5EwsJ4NPSXNPsbKuH3rYDmdj2x6LIy_QAT3Mf5QPWo3vu4-Ar2zBGz6_z5mVSbZiiXvO2_GLLk0k5EqfH7b/s1600/DSC00651.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">A painted top just begs to be scratched and chipped. I put five good coats of poly on this baby, with lots of drying time. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIWQJXbJ66dChnAIEH50DzFll41D-VfTeyhn0y9h1Q_MxAeLTjIhk7piAw8UkobZgf-tdgBCE4ZkL_psT7XTynaJixJRvsiboclklgzj3TPKfLQEVHa5G9eet-sPkvO_oggCXuf4Ac2K6p/s1600/DSC00652.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIWQJXbJ66dChnAIEH50DzFll41D-VfTeyhn0y9h1Q_MxAeLTjIhk7piAw8UkobZgf-tdgBCE4ZkL_psT7XTynaJixJRvsiboclklgzj3TPKfLQEVHa5G9eet-sPkvO_oggCXuf4Ac2K6p/s1600/DSC00652.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">It's as sturdy as I could make it. </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">That didn't stop a child {for once, not one of mine} from gouging it with a fork before it could fully cure, but since then, I'm proud to report that it's doing great. </span></div>
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Because I had measured so carefully, I was overly confident when taping, and my perfectly matching seams are no longer so perfect, but it is a good reminder to me and really, no one notices them but me.</div>
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Since doing this project, we've had a few new additions to our dining room that further break up the wooden monotony. Meet our new captain's chairs.<br />
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I don't really like sets of things, so I wanted the break the chairs up anyway. I looked for over a year on Craigslist for something I could reasonably make over that was affordable, and guess what? No dice. Then I walked in World Market and found these beauties, on sale {plus I had a coupon}, they were going to cost way less than most of what I was finding on Craigslist, with the bonus that I didn't have to do anything to them! <br />
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And do you notice that nearly every color I'm using in the living room, dining room, kitchen, and entry {and even in the sunroom} is included here? They're easily moved to another location at some point if I don't want them in here anymore.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl35YC76HrgqtbqkEL95AP4BqvTM_B5dra6pqDYAGpRvd64CtUjei-4s7m67pCBTrTKeT-B2yzQnAWYYOqF5o5iOzFgAQ2oH7s1aRvlUrv24dVtGbfUbiHhen7fnPCYmhg9kwLykAt53C0/s1600/DSC00645.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl35YC76HrgqtbqkEL95AP4BqvTM_B5dra6pqDYAGpRvd64CtUjei-4s7m67pCBTrTKeT-B2yzQnAWYYOqF5o5iOzFgAQ2oH7s1aRvlUrv24dVtGbfUbiHhen7fnPCYmhg9kwLykAt53C0/s1600/DSC00645.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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What do you think? One thing is certain, it is no longer boring.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn2KqZ8cZR3sfiFTpbJvDUGs3kp9a9DEPCBuL7ms8R6KGijg0ifq3qmJZmfuteRc3XbVIIb0HYumYMwrjBLOcX5kJ9BR05O6XwVE1u0lVVtQB9Ulqo3k91vv-cxrrJWjO06Ip3JlhkhFgh/s1600/DSC00647.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn2KqZ8cZR3sfiFTpbJvDUGs3kp9a9DEPCBuL7ms8R6KGijg0ifq3qmJZmfuteRc3XbVIIb0HYumYMwrjBLOcX5kJ9BR05O6XwVE1u0lVVtQB9Ulqo3k91vv-cxrrJWjO06Ip3JlhkhFgh/s1600/DSC00647.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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P.S. The candlesticks were on clearance at Homegoods as were the new animal head additions you can see in a few pictures. I love that store.</div>
Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15940720275001798418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6235506490850986499.post-81465684702881747522015-02-26T19:43:00.003-08:002015-02-26T19:43:30.105-08:00Playing in the Snow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We have played in the snow a lot these past couple of weeks. </div>
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This picture is hilarious to me for a few reasons. First, both Nate and Jack are in 4T snow britches. Neither fits, and I don't care. Second, Jack's boots. They're bears, and his hat is a dog, and his mittens are some kind of animal mitten. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnznYFTf9mxvqbYN5qGLCfEx1OwQKaIAPkyMQ10N1y9tywCXXtkqbFH3dm2Ig0CqGEyw7patlUamE39coKRwQKBQvbhZt4zuopEDn5tjksNq55cLl0aEf1yZb8buNUgqN57GRtuiBpzvl4/s1600/DSC00675.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnznYFTf9mxvqbYN5qGLCfEx1OwQKaIAPkyMQ10N1y9tywCXXtkqbFH3dm2Ig0CqGEyw7patlUamE39coKRwQKBQvbhZt4zuopEDn5tjksNq55cLl0aEf1yZb8buNUgqN57GRtuiBpzvl4/s1600/DSC00675.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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He's a walking zoo. Further proof? His dinosaur slippers that he took off to put on his doggy snow boots.<br />
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We got about six inches today.<br />
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It started last night, and I was so worried about Handsome Hero driving home in it that I stood at our dining room window looking out until he walked up to the door.<br />
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Jack is looking at me through a little hole he made.</span></em></div>
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Walked up, because he had to leave the car at the foot of the hill. No one was making it up our hill last night.<br />
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;"> This is not that hill - it's our back yard. The snow makes things confusing.</span></em></div>
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There were a bunch of teenagers playing out on the hill in the dark, which was not very dark because of the moonlight reflecting on the snow. It made me nostalgic for when our kids will do things like that. What fun!<br />
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But remember how I was glued to the dining room window? I was standing in the dark, but they saw me watching, my shadow outlined by the lights from other rooms.</div>
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They quickly moved up the street away from the creepy, crazy, neighbor lady. I was really loving watching how much fun they were having, but if <em>I</em> had seen me standing there, I would have moved, too.<br />
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<br />
We aren't ready for moonlit snow playing, but sunlit snow playing was great, too!<br />
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<br />
This was an expression I saw a lot from this one, my feeler of all strong emotions.<br />
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This one loved it, too. He's just more mellow.<br />
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<br />
This one, well, he's a mix of the two. <br />
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In the snow, though, he was in a constant state of wonder.<br />
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They weren't sure what to do with the snow at first. The other snows have been really icy, and this was not, so they took time trying to figure it out.<br />
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<br />
He liked it.<br />
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He, um, liked it, too. It tasted good, anyway.<br />
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<br />
Jack had everything under control.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em></em> </div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>I got this, Mom.</em></div>
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This picture is included purely so you can be jealous of Nate's lashes.<br />
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<br />
I have at least twenty pictures of him eating snow. All taken at different times.<br />
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<br />
Jack is my most timid child. I was really proud of him for being willing to engage in a snowball fight with me.<br />
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Ella, stop it. Stop growing. You are killing me.<br />
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<br />
Rather than wear a hood, this one wore three hats. I'm sure it was way more comfortable than just wearing the hood. <br />
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Yes, that was sarcastic. <br />
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<br />
Snow angels were on the docket, naturally.<br />
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<br />
As was a snow fort. <br />
<br />
This winter I am learning something very important about my eldest.<br />
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She will spend hours creating the setting for something that takes only minutes to enact, whether it be a play, a tea party, a store front.<br />
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The creation of the snow fort was more important than the actual fight. It's the process, and the reward is in simply completing the goal.<br />
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This one was itching for the fight. I think. He may have just been hungry.</div>
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Just as with his sister, I'm learning more about this boy, too. He does not have fears that keep him from doing things, per se, but he does decide all of a sudden that he just. can't. do. something. And then he won't try.</div>
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<em>Mom, I'm scared to go down this slide that I've gone down a hundred times when there wasn't soft snow on which to land.</em><br />
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Is it mean that I made him do it?<br />
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I am afraid that if I don't make him take some chances, he'll create this limited world for himself.<br />
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At least this time I knew it was the right thing to do. If only every time were this simple.<br />
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We had to build a snowman, of course. A real beaut, eh? What? You don't see it? It's that <strike>mound</strike> sculpture right there with <strike>three dots</strike> eyes and nose, of course.<br />
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Oh, this is better. We added a mouth.<br />
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No snowman is complete without wonky branchy arms!<br />
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And HAIR!<br />
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P.S. Tell me that kid up there isn't the cutest five-year-old you've ever seen?<br />
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P.P.S. Does Mr. Snowman look just a little angry?<br />
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P.P.P.S. I am very well aware that most every snowman made today is being called by a certain Scandinavian sounding name originating in a certain very popular Disney movie, but I just can't bring myself to do it.<br />
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P.P.P.P.S. Maybe that's why he's mad?<br />
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<br />Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15940720275001798418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6235506490850986499.post-28615222769145334732015-01-13T19:51:00.001-08:002015-01-15T11:55:34.433-08:00Have you forgotten about Christmas already? Is this post too late?Merry Christmas and welcome to 2015! I know everyone is saying it, but I can't believe it's 2015. I told my kids I was born in 1978 and Ella just stared at me in shock. Apparently being born in a different century is unfathomable.<br />
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Growing up, we had three Christmases each year. On Christmas day we celebrated at home with our immediate family, but we also had celebrations at both grandparents' houses with those cousins, aunts, uncles, the whole nine yards. It was wonderful.<br />
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Now, we have four Christmases. Four. We added our Lewis celebration to what was already a crazy amount of celebration and I love every. single. minute. of it. Christmas is my favorite holiday, hands down, and the more celebration the better! I'm all in. Seriously, ask me how my pants are fitting.<br />
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I decided the best way to go about this Christmas review is to go chronologically. I think it will all make more sense that way.<br />
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12/19<br />
We started the week off the right way, with my sister and brother-in-law coming into town from NYC with their firecracker, Elijah. <br />
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I could not love that child more. They spent the night with us before going down to my parents' house.<br />
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12/20<br />
We trekked down to my parents' house for the Woodard family Christmas {my mom's side}. She had set up this little table in the kitchen for the littles to eat in view. We also had them eat before the adults and then put a movie on so that we could eat like civilized adult people. Let's just say we learned from Thanksgiving.<br />
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My sister and I with my grandmother, who is in her nineties and as feisty as they come. <br />
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I haven't been in a bloggy frame of mind, so my pictures are very sporadic, but at least I took pictures this year. Woo hoo, me.<br />
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This is my Aunt Janet and Uncle R.J.'s family. These are the cousins we grew up with the most because they're closest to our ages.<br />
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This is my family, minus my brother. Though the Lewis men in the picture don't show it, we really did have a good time.<br />
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After a great day of much food and talking and food and presents and food and singing and food, it was back to our house for a few days before more partying ensued. That kind of rhymed.<br />
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12/21<br />
One of the highlights of this year for me was that Ella is finally old enough to take to see the <i>Nutcracker</i>. I didn't want to take her before she was old enough to remember it, but I think she's finally there. We got all dolled up {apparently I only have one dolling up dress} and got our pitcher took by that thar tree, and headed into downtown for the show.<br />
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The only thing was, we went on Sunday and the show, well, the show wasn't until Tuesday.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>blissfully unaware</i></span></div>
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Handsome Hero and I BOTH read the tickets wrong, but it all worked out. Handsome Hero actually took her on Tuesday, and on Sunday after our failed attempt, we took advantage of our cuteness to go out to dinner together and walk around old town Knoxville. Ella really made out pretty well with a dress up date with mom and dad each in one week!<br />
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12/23<br />
I took the boys and went back to mom and dad's so my sister and I could go shopping for my mom's presents with dad. It's our second annual Daddy-Daughter-Christmas-Shopping-For-Mom trip and we are loving it. We need a better title, though. The DDCSFM? We didn't actually go, however, until the next day. Jack suddenly got really sick, as in 104 fever and just miserable. He always scares me when he gets sick - it's always severe. On thing you can say for Jack, he doesn't do anything halfway.<br />
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12/24<br />
Jack was feeling better on Christmas Eve, so the DDCSFM could commence! It was awesome, as we knew it would be. My dad LOVES shopping for my mom, and it has long been a tradition for him to show his girls all his gifts for my mom on Christmas Eve, though I'm pretty sure that's so that we'll help him wrap. I'm on to you, Dad.<br />
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The worst part of my Christmas was missing the Christmas Eve service at my parents' church. It is a highlight of my year, not to mention of this season, so to miss it was really terrible, but I had begun to feel sick myself and I couldn't let Jack go. Handsome Hero would have stayed with Jack if he had been there, but he and Ella didn't get in until later. The service was wonderful, I heard, as always, and while I'm sad I missed it, I'm already looking forward to next year.<br />
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12/25<br />
We started the day out like this.<br />
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Stockings in our house are <u><i><b>BIG DEALS</b></i></u>. This year was no exception. We had all collected things for them throughout the year, and the kids' stockings were overflowing into separate bags. We don't even try to hang them up. They'd just rip. Why, yes, we do go overboard with stockings,and no, I'm not apologetic at all. Why do you ask?<br />
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My mom made all of our stockings, and they are awesome because they stretch <i>so far</i>. You would not believe what you can fit in those things {though the kids' are smaller and don't fit as much}. Our always have socks, a toothbrush, toiletry things like emery boards, nail polish, lotions, and fun kitchen stuff like cute cookie cutters or places card holders. And thank you cards. We always get thank you cards. A wee hint, if you will.</div>
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Above is Ella's pose <i>du season. </i>For this post I had to look for pictures that didn't have her striking this pose. As she looked through the pictures with me, she said, "I do not like how my arms are always up," She hasn't done it since.<br />
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We take a high/low approach to kid stockings. There are some things in there that are nicer, but most things are needed and/or come from the dollar spot at Target or Dollar Tree or something like that. Not happy meal stuff but little coloring books and such. Underwear and socks are always in there, which are some of the only clothes I don't buy on consignment.<br />
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Nate still hasn't finished this candy cane.<br />
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The adults mostly just watched the kids and then opened our stockings more slowly while the kids were playing with their loot.<br />
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I'm wearing these same pj's as I type this post. I am so comfy right now.<br />
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Elijah loves Jack. Loves him. He calls Nate "baby" but wants to play with Jack. Jack is officially flattered. And a wee bit battered. There I go rhyming again.</div>
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My brother and Ella have this bond. I think it's that they are both so weird. </div>
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I should probably add here that Ella had an eye infection and she didn't want to chance touching her eye and spreading it so she found a pair of Handsome Hero's safety glasses and wore them all day, every day, until the infection was gone. It was really cute and thoughtful!</div>
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A neighbor came by to take our picture. It was a great idea, and one I think we'll continue. It's so nice to have everyone in one shot!<br />
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After stockings and getting dressed, it was time for breakfast. After breakfast, it was time to go into the living room where the big presents were {as in, these won't fit in the stretchy stockings}. Growing up, the presents were hidden behind closed doors until time to open. Then there was a grand reveal. Mom and dad's house now has no doors to open, and they didn't have a tree this year, anyway. </div>
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Oh, but don't worry. We still had the glow of Christmas lights.</div>
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My mom decorated my sister's senior art show piece, which is a huge sculpture of a woman, with lights and Nate's Christmas hat. She's a card, that lady. My mom, I mean. I don't know if the clay lady is a card. She doesn't say much.</div>
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Before we opened gifts, we listened to the Christmas story.</div>
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Nate illustrated using this wooden nativity. See Mary riding the camel?</div>
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Jack thought the sheep were very acrobatic. And apparently the wise men brought them gifts, too.</div>
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And Elijah listened while crawling through the furniture.</div>
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Then it was time for presents! We open one gift at a time, from youngest to oldest.<br />
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Ella got a doll she promptly named Lucy.<br />
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This doggy received several nice things, also.<br />
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Nate could not understand how a mitten could turn your hand green.<br />
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This year my grandmother got all of her grandsons plaid lounge pants. My brother, David, is showing how an incredibly fashionable a mountain hippie in high waters can be.</div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">side note - I am so thankful for a family where there is no difference between the kids born to you and the ones married in. Once you're here, you're truly family. I love that.</span></i></div>
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On Christmas night, we kept with another tradition by going to the Electric Power Board in downtown Chattanooga, where they have magical Christmas window displays. <br />
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Of course, I have no pictures of the displays themselves - only the people looking at them.<br />
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The little guys, especially, loved it.<br />
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I mean, Nate thought it was cool, but Elijah kept licking the windows to show his delight. He's part canine.<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">My sister really didn't just let him do that, like the picture above looks - she noticed what he was doing right as I took the picture. </span></i></div>
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Jack gets giddy about things like this. I hope he stays that way for a long time.<br />
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Such a cute profile. Nate would just stand in front of a window and take it all in.<br />
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Ella didn't want to miss a thing. So, she brought her "monoclears."<br />
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It was a great time.<br />
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12/28<br />
We headed home earlier than we had planned, missing out on Christmas number three, the Phillips side, because we were too sick to be there. All but Handsome Hero had some level of sickness. We got home and rested and waited until we felt better to have our own family's Christmas. It was very relaxed. I have no clue why Nate was crying in this picture. Is it wrong that I think it's funny? It's just so iconic to have the youngest crying.<br />
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We had some visitors who were very excited to see what we got for Christmas.<br />
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We started off with a package of stocking stuffers Handsome Hero's parents had sent. It was fun getting to open "stockings" again.<br />
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After those, we had breakfast. I had grand plans of making a homemade pastry, but still didn't have any energy back from being sick, and Handsome Hero rescued me by coming home with these cheese danishes. I love him.<br />
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Then it was on to PRESENTS!! AGAIN!!!<br />
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These pictures are hysterical to me. Nate can be very stoic. Even when opening gifts.<br />
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He's not excited.<br />
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He plods along.<br />
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Note: all of this time is for one gift.<br />
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There we are! Excitement! Or, perhaps he's yodeling?<br />
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This one, on the other hand, got very excited about everything, especially this snow globe given to her by her aunt. It replaces one that met an untimely death at the hands of her younger brothers.<br />
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I will say there is a great side to Nate's stoicism.<br />
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He's able to keep those fake mustaches on for a really long time.<br />
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No smiling and disturbing the glue.<br />
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He's hard core.<br />
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The next days were spent recovering, relaxing, and enjoying having Handsome Hero home. I, especially, reaped the benefits of his vacation days. He had me sleep in every day because I was not sleeping at night due to coughing. You know, there are days when you have to get up and make it through on no sleep. That's life. But having a spouse who makes it his mission to make this time easier, well, that's divine right there.<br />
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1/4<br />
My sister and nephew came back to stay with us for a new days. My brother-in-law had to go back early, but we got to keep these two for a bit. It's always crazy when you add another kiddo.<br />
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Sometimes, crazy isn't sufficient.<br />
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Of course, these things happen at our house with or without additional children. We loved having them for a few extra days! It was a wonderful end to the season before getting back to normal.<br />
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As I said, normal.Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15940720275001798418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6235506490850986499.post-34353642866881757262014-10-07T19:48:00.000-07:002014-10-07T19:48:57.434-07:00Finally! An Update on Nate the Great!I am sorry that this post is so late in coming. So many people have prayed with us through his illness and rejoiced with us with each bite and milestone. I have wanted to write about his amazing progress, but there is so much to fit in! It inevitably comes out in a jumble. Now that I have some separation I can condense a bit better, but it still sounds a bit scatter-brained. But, hey, I am a bit scatter-brained, so this post is an accurate representation of it's author.<br />
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If you have no idea what illness I'm talking about, you can read about Nate's journey <a href="http://coffeeandcocoatea.blogspot.com/2013/01/all-over-again.html">here,</a> <a href="http://coffeeandcocoatea.blogspot.com/2013/01/weight-update-on-nate-great.html">here,</a> <a href="http://coffeeandcocoatea.blogspot.com/2013/01/over-river-and-through-woodsto-hospital.html">here,</a> <a href="http://coffeeandcocoatea.blogspot.com/2013/02/hospital-adventures.html">here,</a> <a href="http://coffeeandcocoatea.blogspot.com/2013/02/home-sweet-home.html">here,</a> <a href="http://coffeeandcocoatea.blogspot.com/2013/02/you-know-that-feeling-when-you-look.html">here,</a> <a href="http://coffeeandcocoatea.blogspot.com/2013/03/on-feeding-tube-again.html">here,</a> <a href="http://coffeeandcocoatea.blogspot.com/2013/04/gaters-first-bites.html">here,</a> and <a href="http://coffeeandcocoatea.blogspot.com/2013/06/the-boy-is-eating.html">here.</a> Or you could just pretend you read all of that. <br />
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Cliff notes: Nate and Jack both went through an illness that has no name but is most likely genetic, wherein they lose their sense of hunger and begin to lose weight dramatically and essentially starve until a feeding tube is used to make them gain weight. They were both calm, serene, and sweet all the while, which made it difficult to detect that there was anything wrong. Nate took eight months to learn to eat because he had sensory issues that complicated his recovery.<br />
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All caught up? Good. Here we go.</div>
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<i>Beginning to stand at furniture or this windowsill, which is the perfect height. This was in the Spring.</i></div>
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We realized in the winter-spring time that Nate was not hearing. He still wasn't walking, but we expected that after all he's been through {Jack didn't walk until 21 months, and he recovered much sooner from his illness}. More important to us was that he didn't seem to hear when we entered the room and he still wasn't saying anything clearly except "Ella" and "Where's Ella?"<br />
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<i>He loves </i>Lellah<i>. This was when they were playing library. I am amazed at what he allows her to do.</i></div>
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We discovered he had standing fluid in his ears, so his balance and hearing were really off. He had tubes put in the day after Mother's Day, and started improving pretty quickly. <br />
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<i>Looking at a 3D book with Poppy</i></div>
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He was {and still is to a point} very afraid of loud noises since his surgery, but he's been a real trooper. He started saying more words and taking more steps along furniture within a couple of weeks.</div>
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<i>This kid loves to look at books. He will look at books over playing with toys.</i></div>
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On his second birthday, June 23, he began to walk. If you have kept up with this derelict blog, you know that <a href="http://coffeeandcocoatea.blogspot.com/2013/06/the-boy-is-eating.html">On his first birthday he began to eat.</a> I am convinced that at this pace he'll potty train himself for his third birthday. A mom can hope.</div>
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Once he began to walk, we noticed yet another problem. He was walking in an odd way, using his toes way more than he should. <br />
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<i>This is only exciting for the first few moments. After that it is just the typical pathetic parent video of a mom trying to convince an almost toddler to do something he has no plans to do. I would edit it out if I knew how, but.... So just watch the beginning, mmkay?</i></div>
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We had him evaluated by two therapists and an orthotist, and the consensus was that he needed braces. The P.T. said that, in very technical terms, Nate's feet are squishy. They are still baby feet, even though he's been walking on them for a couple of months now. <br />
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<i>Can you see his baby feet? Did I mention he likes books?</i></div>
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He has no muscle tone where he needs it, and these braces should force those muscles to step up {pun totally intended}. We don't know how long he'll need them, but hopefully we're looking at less than a year. We also found out that in a physical sense, Nate is about a year behind. He's a smart cookie {I think. Let's just assume because of his love of books.} but he is at the physical level of a 13 month old.</div>
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He's had his braces for a month now. They're camouflage with black straps. Very cute, very manly. He wears them pretty much all the time. He loves them and will bring them to me in the morning, wanting them on before he even gets his clothes on. I'm so thankful for that! <br />
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As to whether they are working, I don't know. He's clearly improving in his walking and balance, but how much of that is his braces and how much is just being more comfortable walking? I don't know, but I'm happy to see an improvement.<br />
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He is speaking a lot more, but I am at a loss to understand almost anything the child says. I have learned that it is common for a child who speaks later to use full sentences or at least phrases instead of single words. I know that he is doing that some, because I can recognize "it is" and "this is it" and what is it" and things like that. It is harder to pick apart words when they're strung together, though, which sometimes leads to frustration on both parts.<br />
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He is still a really happy kid. He always wants to do things himself and yet he will often let Ella dress him up and play doctor with him. He apparently often has a broken leg, because she makes casts out of scarves that he will keep on for hours. He mimics everything Jack does, but he doesn't say his name yet. He is selective, but he will latch on to certain people and make funny faces and tease and tickle. He is very hard to discipline because he makes me laugh so much, yet he is the strongest willed of the three. He loves any book, especially ones with flaps, and babies. Oh, he loves babies. Babies are toys {dolls, stuffed animals, other toys} that he can hold and cuddle. If it has a face, it's a baby and he loves it.<br />
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So there you have it. Our baby, who is not really a baby anymore, is doing really well. Thank you for your prayers, concern, and love for our family and for Nate. He is a joy to all of us and we are blessed to have him.</div>
Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15940720275001798418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6235506490850986499.post-55954413357008068712014-09-20T06:49:00.000-07:002014-09-20T06:49:06.343-07:00National Pirate DaySo, yesterday was National Pirate Day. More importantly, Krispy Kreme was giving away A DOZEN DOUGHNUTS for everyone who came in dressed as a pirate. Handsome Hero was taking the kids for the evening, giving me a much needed break, and decided to brave the crowds, but first the kids needed costumes. We already had one pirate costume, but all of the kids wanted to be pirates.<br />
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So what's an amazing dad to do? Rip up one of his undershirts for a pirate shirt and make eye patches out of felt and an old checkbook cover, of course! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVMMApqieWphzkcAJEukxGYM-dY7-SBzF8Mi77IeInoCnpgQ9Aa2YxuQWISi8B4w-BrApa1AlvAQiF3h50Kj5oYRQosCs9M5kbFhfmxhQsGaouia9WbLjLlvEBgJOoUdhcMVLoelQkWg-_/s1600/20140919_195346.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVMMApqieWphzkcAJEukxGYM-dY7-SBzF8Mi77IeInoCnpgQ9Aa2YxuQWISi8B4w-BrApa1AlvAQiF3h50Kj5oYRQosCs9M5kbFhfmxhQsGaouia9WbLjLlvEBgJOoUdhcMVLoelQkWg-_/s1600/20140919_195346.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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Nate kept his on the whole evening! </div>
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When they finally got through the line to the cashier, Handsome Hero was about to order when Ella piped up out of nowhere in her best scratchy, mean pirate voice:</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Ahoy, Mateys, and shiver me timbers! Fetch me my cat-o-nine-tails! I got a couple o' landlubbers to be teachin' a lesson to!*</span></div>
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Jaws dropped everywhere. Oh, my heavens. I love that kid.</div>
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*Apparently, this was a quote from a book-on-tape that we had taken on our trip to the beach last week. A quote that no one else remembers, but that she thought was fun and worth memorizing.</div>
Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15940720275001798418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6235506490850986499.post-4453799402926968852014-09-17T10:31:00.000-07:002014-09-17T10:31:34.594-07:00Our Beach Vacation {a.k.a. lots of cute kid pictures}We just had our second annual beach vacation! It was wonderful. Lots of quiet beaches, family time, sand castles, boogie boarding, and laughter with my parents and my sister's family. We've been looking forward to it all year.<br />
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We brought home lots of shells and lots of pink eye. Seriously. All three kids. Then Ella and I caught a cold. Then Handsome Hero caught a cold. We are a sorry, red-eyed, coughing mess. Still, I wouldn't trade it. We had a blast. <br />
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Hold on. I need another cough drop.<br />
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And a tissue.<br />
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And a Starbucks Chai. It's medicinal. Would someone get on that, please?<br />
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Meanwhile, back at the beach, long car rides with the kids can be pretty fun when you're prepared. We've done several eight-sixteen hour trips and have learned a lot. One of these old days I'll write about our strategy. One of the biggest helps is having lots of dollar store gifts to dole out at rest stops. I hope they always get this excited about dollar store presents.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjko4P4YYajUVmX5xaUEbObouod_weIGAFgvpC8pJ0tmc1cHUIibQvTdyVzINAoesx4td9KrBkeUd-sGL9znTc1NcrUO_zlSfdgc9X1cwcmoaTsTA-j7kHsfPtJeKSGpf01obeci3rexIAh/s1600/DSCN9777.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjko4P4YYajUVmX5xaUEbObouod_weIGAFgvpC8pJ0tmc1cHUIibQvTdyVzINAoesx4td9KrBkeUd-sGL9znTc1NcrUO_zlSfdgc9X1cwcmoaTsTA-j7kHsfPtJeKSGpf01obeci3rexIAh/s1600/DSCN9777.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i> We're just copying the dinosaur, mom.</i></div>
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I also took the kids to pick out a box/bag of cookies or candy each for the trip that we wouldn't normally get. They are woefully ignorant of all things candy related, which makes me simultaneously proud of our healthy ways and guilty that they are missing out on something nostalgic.</div>
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Get ready for more photos than your eyeballs can handle. The cuteness may overwhelm you. You've been warned.</div>
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Nate and Jack, who hated the water last year, really liked it this year. It was such a relief!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR6ZQk2KlxWWmowkvK2EIt9tCfzIHUMQD5Fdv9slIh-DxOr56pozYZIAtsiU0u2MT4xDn9DC1CLS4oYozLzPWrjmYrid4aHIy1cEjh7tRuF_OZb85F6Sn6-azp8dBkBjrW9th9oF8dHB6k/s1600/DSCN9781.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR6ZQk2KlxWWmowkvK2EIt9tCfzIHUMQD5Fdv9slIh-DxOr56pozYZIAtsiU0u2MT4xDn9DC1CLS4oYozLzPWrjmYrid4aHIy1cEjh7tRuF_OZb85F6Sn6-azp8dBkBjrW9th9oF8dHB6k/s1600/DSCN9781.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">It is really rare to get a nice smile from Jack, and even more so to get two kids smiling simultaneously, so this is one of my top pictures from this trip.</span></div>
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By the way, some of my favorite pictures have a haze because of how humid it was some days. My lens clouded over within seconds of my wiping it off again. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW9XR8W_wboMgYXiz2W-3H8gJ9ObnyAHZWwBgcurCTDWr_I7LacVLVbWiuwVHC6m4BQL1g_DNqJtgBH55sBeDi3QO_lCWbyMaLhhHkU51Z8uIhTNKGrDRxWW_cMuoECen2rUKEKZhXUNKf/s1600/DSCN9784.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW9XR8W_wboMgYXiz2W-3H8gJ9ObnyAHZWwBgcurCTDWr_I7LacVLVbWiuwVHC6m4BQL1g_DNqJtgBH55sBeDi3QO_lCWbyMaLhhHkU51Z8uIhTNKGrDRxWW_cMuoECen2rUKEKZhXUNKf/s1600/DSCN9784.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<i>My Spidey sense tells me that sand tastes good. Yum, yum, sand.</i></div>
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By the way again, for those of you who don't know because I have been terrible about updating the blog, yes, Nate is walking! I'll post about his progress coming up sometime before he goes to college.</div>
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My nephew, Elijah, who is the cutest two-year-old north of the Mason Dixon, did not like the water one little bit. It was a surprise to me because he is a dare devil in most ways. Crazy adorableness.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipbuaawZXfNqNLW0Fgl2EdCyYt0SMXjygkc1hCVrgU1cy5Y9c37xOmC1CZFG3S0e68t6Wn8A7qcod0oMCPxBNVyFamJdcRmsNGIR0IslCgKJzFb6eRHxv3-UiI7cJmC9lL-STKr9Ah-roS/s1600/DSCN9817.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipbuaawZXfNqNLW0Fgl2EdCyYt0SMXjygkc1hCVrgU1cy5Y9c37xOmC1CZFG3S0e68t6Wn8A7qcod0oMCPxBNVyFamJdcRmsNGIR0IslCgKJzFb6eRHxv3-UiI7cJmC9lL-STKr9Ah-roS/s1600/DSCN9817.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<i> I will always hold something in both hands. I must. It is my calling.</i></div>
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He looked the devil-may-care part until a wave came up and touched his tootsies. Poor baby.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXwfZgAoixjM3p2cvzpJM2DednjKYBAB3PHJx7xY48H-ifkaAWRDKe3eWUx0OwefsHJF7wq76eldu7c-miLGm7EasFjxvCpq8b7rJDz5rH8WN6t5T4d8a61HJgAie5Byls91sWiG7Vl2mg/s1600/DSCN9825.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXwfZgAoixjM3p2cvzpJM2DednjKYBAB3PHJx7xY48H-ifkaAWRDKe3eWUx0OwefsHJF7wq76eldu7c-miLGm7EasFjxvCpq8b7rJDz5rH8WN6t5T4d8a61HJgAie5Byls91sWiG7Vl2mg/s1600/DSCN9825.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<i>This board is only thing, but I have both hands on it. And does anybody care that I'm drowning?!?</i></div>
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So mostly, he became the ruler of the beach.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6unOSUTwby5sRSnMD3dUi5PiklBVM0yNcHmgZdbVL1OgU5JYBzm4vesfolF2u-mmycDXbTciOF4npBsH6E7LiBuE6b6Nna523e5jzm_rnvGVifSKApNSCHkfMWTyeIk0E6vFsdwBX9I8f/s1600/DSCN9800.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6unOSUTwby5sRSnMD3dUi5PiklBVM0yNcHmgZdbVL1OgU5JYBzm4vesfolF2u-mmycDXbTciOF4npBsH6E7LiBuE6b6Nna523e5jzm_rnvGVifSKApNSCHkfMWTyeIk0E6vFsdwBX9I8f/s1600/DSCN9800.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<i> Two. Things. I am king.</i></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">He struggled seeing his parents out in the water, but not enough to be willing to touch it. There came this moment when my gorgeous sister laid with him in the inner-tube, on the beach but in range of the water, to see if he would acclimate a bit. He hated every time a wave came in.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFiOXEp9y28C5xAE_DsBmvx7BCb5kgZ8sHi2ZmOoyXfT2WuBuBU_2tbr9Q51OXDLggF1Zq6dfI7cIckkiXbhgP6jobDp89ko2EQDHnagyTCBm11BHfdZCsIPhHYhsUBecEqWO3LBZU83yD/s1600/DSCN9963.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFiOXEp9y28C5xAE_DsBmvx7BCb5kgZ8sHi2ZmOoyXfT2WuBuBU_2tbr9Q51OXDLggF1Zq6dfI7cIckkiXbhgP6jobDp89ko2EQDHnagyTCBm11BHfdZCsIPhHYhsUBecEqWO3LBZU83yD/s1600/DSCN9963.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i> I will hold my mother tightly with my two hands. She might drown without me.</i></div>
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But then there came this wonderful moment....</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv5weK7u7YOtuiFtopZmFd1rwKa_brwYySocoFK6K-TjEyClQTqnvFE75ob_gBtjo9YyITHUfDhNUzeDLkTHnTWXDhLXYSf23q-DV6fV9LA-FvLlbIAkp5YNyKgQqciRjxamMDSoE6s8RE/s1600/DSCN9966.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv5weK7u7YOtuiFtopZmFd1rwKa_brwYySocoFK6K-TjEyClQTqnvFE75ob_gBtjo9YyITHUfDhNUzeDLkTHnTWXDhLXYSf23q-DV6fV9LA-FvLlbIAkp5YNyKgQqciRjxamMDSoE6s8RE/s1600/DSCN9966.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i> I guess we're okay, but I will not. let. go. Two hands.</i></div>
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Yeah! A smile!</div>
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My bro-in-law, Steve, is a pretty stellar guy and my boys love him. Nate, especially, is smitten. I have many pictures of the two of them. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJa4Pzaq6DrSGvvXSshnIgM0RXKkcT5q0egO6kJrJCqyhIJ-SLhgyJC0c7eXx0GzSoBnx47pcJFcSnG8wrXebSKD0tfuQWqOnf3nobTbbQV3NvyyUAHHUMuYpCchyphenhyphenA21VPBWazvqC6O8xe/s1600/DSCN9835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJa4Pzaq6DrSGvvXSshnIgM0RXKkcT5q0egO6kJrJCqyhIJ-SLhgyJC0c7eXx0GzSoBnx47pcJFcSnG8wrXebSKD0tfuQWqOnf3nobTbbQV3NvyyUAHHUMuYpCchyphenhyphenA21VPBWazvqC6O8xe/s1600/DSCN9835.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<i>I'll follow you anywhere, Uncle Steve. As long as you let me have a gun. Does Spiderman use a gun? And who is Spiderman? My mom put this thing on me.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdWfnLenzA3wv1K5Kvg9vUS3tHtMNEEkvE1EDVpFjXDMFyM34m5e3_jijPam1-5m1hudcHL4wZGUahuIqXe4olKI2C2aWgNZeZQBTdN-V1iE02UJm1vXsfd_AX9VTAQK91SFvkIvkE8lMx/s1600/DSCN9839.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdWfnLenzA3wv1K5Kvg9vUS3tHtMNEEkvE1EDVpFjXDMFyM34m5e3_jijPam1-5m1hudcHL4wZGUahuIqXe4olKI2C2aWgNZeZQBTdN-V1iE02UJm1vXsfd_AX9VTAQK91SFvkIvkE8lMx/s1600/DSCN9839.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<i>What is this marvel Uncle Steve holds in front of me? I must learn.</i></div>
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He gave Jack pointers on the skim board.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPbd9yEe1GLHSvwN7KLsosHBZkkzbxeR-v1DjZOB1DYNMZFWUrJ_GssWfJScNm8sj5t3D_w7pbOLR_R6DqwoRdjHhtGi3UUTyYhNYzwX8mRoM46Dloq5ottH7eeV8wmAm5dBd3NXUM5Xlw/s1600/DSCN9841.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPbd9yEe1GLHSvwN7KLsosHBZkkzbxeR-v1DjZOB1DYNMZFWUrJ_GssWfJScNm8sj5t3D_w7pbOLR_R6DqwoRdjHhtGi3UUTyYhNYzwX8mRoM46Dloq5ottH7eeV8wmAm5dBd3NXUM5Xlw/s1600/DSCN9841.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<i>Do I look like I'm doing it even though I'm standing still? Hurry up and take a picture, Ma!</i></div>
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There is always sand castle building and Uncle Steve is a pro. This year was a bit abstract. The kids called it the fantastic drip castle. I love the angle of this shot. Uncle Steve shrank! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikQd-iJ9MVFuObrLKoLcbr13B-R8hW-tkG5x2OpeJvChC7NpmP04Lior9fr8Q7Y9r91IDkNzwxIiJOHwROzigvJpNXcJsjIqTNZcLDlcfpzabGsJAE5N5uzz3MDaHHPXcX8e67uhbYDjS5/s1600/DSCN9869.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikQd-iJ9MVFuObrLKoLcbr13B-R8hW-tkG5x2OpeJvChC7NpmP04Lior9fr8Q7Y9r91IDkNzwxIiJOHwROzigvJpNXcJsjIqTNZcLDlcfpzabGsJAE5N5uzz3MDaHHPXcX8e67uhbYDjS5/s1600/DSCN9869.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"> There is a Gulliver reference that I'm missing here, so I'll go with, "By the power of Gray Skull!" Anyone remember that?</span></div>
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The kids played for hours on the beach, which was nearly deserted this late in the season. It was so wonderful.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcYH7vybOl-tHH4qCmr4WhNw7nExxtRcgZHytnbGMuoEPXZYbTfkg4svbDaLEZeHBZ69kmRvtnhIRdEB4m_Qeu0ag1npOzwMBX0TzeSFa6hpnGu2DiDLZ-kQM9iAy1Om_E316qEjTYTHlx/s1600/DSCN9854.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcYH7vybOl-tHH4qCmr4WhNw7nExxtRcgZHytnbGMuoEPXZYbTfkg4svbDaLEZeHBZ69kmRvtnhIRdEB4m_Qeu0ag1npOzwMBX0TzeSFa6hpnGu2DiDLZ-kQM9iAy1Om_E316qEjTYTHlx/s1600/DSCN9854.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"> Last year Jack wouldn't touch the water. He would chase the waves out, flex his muscles and yell, "I am KING!!!" Then he'd run screaming when the wave came back in.</span></div>
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This is as close as Jack got to boogie boarding.</div>
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<i>Mom, wait until a wave comes it so I look like I'm really doing it. </i></div>
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<i> Ella! Don't go! Stay with me! I am little and I am cute.</i></div>
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See the building on the left below? That's where we stayed. Directly on the beach, baby. We were totally spoiled. I don't know that I would do it any other way.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyq6WT1ecZZ_KvU6E8cVyoS3Pslmojr7xtfacrC1y8Mgf24MpjmixLihoml4ofYYOepZObUmPtki4MQPbLRyN0yjeVuOW72KUimz2XgSF0w_mmHwnbLICg5qHaj-AuOkqqe_VCMGWk8AT8/s1600/DSCN9967.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyq6WT1ecZZ_KvU6E8cVyoS3Pslmojr7xtfacrC1y8Mgf24MpjmixLihoml4ofYYOepZObUmPtki4MQPbLRyN0yjeVuOW72KUimz2XgSF0w_mmHwnbLICg5qHaj-AuOkqqe_VCMGWk8AT8/s1600/DSCN9967.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<i> You think I'm going to throw it, but I'm just going to put it in the water so you have to chase it in the waves. It's my favorite.</i></div>
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Jack and Nate played with sand in the buckets quite a bit.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih0f3wjiNYcMPwlp3jMNzdrPieiFDDPb2VVBKRNmfmv36GLqu3BpvlfMVf-cmTBHDXyYQZAuNWy-kh1kwfa1Gb7YmVgxZvLlRWi9hGYxfWXjzzXudhv55pKJMf6hIK3HfASQzM_G-_YEqe/s1600/DSCN0053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih0f3wjiNYcMPwlp3jMNzdrPieiFDDPb2VVBKRNmfmv36GLqu3BpvlfMVf-cmTBHDXyYQZAuNWy-kh1kwfa1Gb7YmVgxZvLlRWi9hGYxfWXjzzXudhv55pKJMf6hIK3HfASQzM_G-_YEqe/s1600/DSCN0053.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>"Jack, why do we keep filling this up and dumping it out?" "I don't know, Nate. It just seems like the right thing to do." "Okay. Dum-dee-dum-dee-dum." </i></div>
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Elijah had more important things to do with his bucket.</div>
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<i>Must. Find. Something. For. My. Two. Hands.</i></div>
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Do you see the boat in the picture below? It's a fishing boat and it came by twice a day. It was amazing how many birds followed it, hoping for a little snacky-poo.</div>
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It was a very relaxing trip. I didn't really expect it to be with two two-year-olds, but it was, mainly because of this lady.<br />
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<i> Holding G.G.with my two hands.</i></div>
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And this guy.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsFt_KeQtzb9BBo6H9vawcvqPN_a2TKN5TQBFobu6w_I6zxycJKNDdC20mhyphenhyphenejeigzKoBYIAgvkdevrOa3tUcLPtDV4Jrako6e-zoSwCJRPrnf128d-QJjafXrVqjt70hujXTQsW-ThQ0f/s1600/DSCN9902.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsFt_KeQtzb9BBo6H9vawcvqPN_a2TKN5TQBFobu6w_I6zxycJKNDdC20mhyphenhyphenejeigzKoBYIAgvkdevrOa3tUcLPtDV4Jrako6e-zoSwCJRPrnf128d-QJjafXrVqjt70hujXTQsW-ThQ0f/s1600/DSCN9902.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>My other hand was busy pointing.</i></div>
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My parents jumped in all over the place, taking fussy babies or giving baths or fixing food or not waking us up when the kids got up at six! It would have been nowhere near as wonderful a trip without them. I am deeply grateful for selfless parents.<br />
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Handsome Hero had a lot of one-on-one time with the kids doing what they wanted to do. Jack mostly stayed close to shore. <br />
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<i>Dad, I'm going to tell you the story of the three little zebras and the big, bad Elephant. I made it up.</i></div>
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Ella wanted to boogie board the whole time. She has become a force in the water after learning to swim earlier this summer. She's still kind of a doggy-paddler, but she's a forceful doggie-paddler.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">It was overcast quite a bit, but no one cared.</span></div>
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We brought our kite, too, which was a lot of fun.</div>
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While we were here, we celebrated Elijah's birthday.<br />
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<i>I don't understand why you're blowing on my cake, but I can't wait to get my two hands on it!</i></div>
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The weather was mixed, but we brought lots of rain activities and didn't feel like we were missing out on anything. In fact, look what we saw!</div>
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One overcast day, some of us went to a battleship-turned-museum. It was amazing. And not for the faint of heart. Every set of stairs were so steep I was sure I was going to fall. If you ever have the chance to visit this incredible place, don't wear a maxi skirt and flip flops. Just sayin'.<br />
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This is the U.S.S. North Carolina, and she was one fascinating ship. Handsome Hero said it was his favorite museum to date, and that is saying something.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Steve was a machine gunner in a past life.</span></div>
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Everything was real. The actual guns, the actual bunks, the actual urinals, the actual smells. You got a real feel for what life was like for these sailors. There were cards posted everywhere with memories of the men who had sailed on the ship. That was my favorite part. Handsome Hero loved seeing how the gears and pistons and doohickies worked. It was cool having him explain some of that stuff, because otherwise I would have just looked at the parts and said, "Huh," and walked on.<br />
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<i>"How do you look mean, Ella?" "I don't know. Pretend I just took your toy."</i></div>
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These guys were really good at showing me their fierce faces.</div>
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<i>I will stomp the enemy out with my pink shoes.</i></div>
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We were able to actually go inside the large guns and see how the sailors manned them and how ammunition was hoisted up from five levels below. It was so amazing.<br />
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<i>Okay, enough with the pictures, please?</i></div>
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This is Jack trying to look ferocious and smile all at the same time.<br />
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<i>She's taking a picture, so I know I'm supposed to smile, but I'm firing a gun, so I have to look mean. How about this?</i></div>
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And back to the beach, where we saw a shark. A four-and-a-half-year-old shark with a batman swimsuit. Terrifying, really.<br />
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I don't know why, but I love this one. It's so arty. She would look so serene if there weren't this silly, busy kid in the foreground.<br />
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The best part of this vacation was being together. You may not be able to see, but everyone is in the water here, minus Elijah, of course. He was busy on the shore. And me. Because I'm taking the picture. Obviously.<br />
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The Lewis's.<br />
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The Forster's.</div>
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Together with G.G. and Poppy. Can I tell you how much the sun was hurting our eyes?<br />
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It was a great trip and I'm already looking forward to next year. What new sickness will we bring home with us in 2015?<br />
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Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15940720275001798418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6235506490850986499.post-60391115036634443452014-06-16T12:09:00.000-07:002014-06-16T12:09:16.400-07:00Old MacDonaldYesterday was Father's Day and as we were driving home from church, the kids were singing <em>Old MacDonald</em>. They sing it a lot right now, because I am positive that Nate has begun saying <em>E-I-E-I-O</em> and I'm determined to get him to do it in time to the music. I'm also trying to get him to bark in the appropriate places during <em>How Much is that Doggy in the Window? </em>It's all about baby bragging rights.<br />
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Anyway, as is usually the case, the kids broke off from the normal verses pretty quickly. Jack said Old MacDonald had a car that said <em>vroom, vroom </em>and<em> </em>then Ella took the reigns. This was her first verse:<br />
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Old MacDonald had a farm. E-I-E-I-O!!<br />
And on that farm he had a Dad. E-I-E-I-O!!<br />
With a WORK, WORK here<br />
And a WORK, WORK there!<br />
Here a WORK! There a WORK!<br />
Everywhere I GOTTA WORK!<br />
Old MacDonald had a farm. E-I-E-I-O!<br />
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Now, Handsome Hero is a big boy, and doesn't get bothered by much, but I know that he struggles at times with feeling like he works hard to the detriment of the family and the kids, so this innocent verse hurt a bit. I immediately began saying things like, "Don't worry, Babe. You don't really work all the time. You're a great dad. And husband. You're wonderful."<br />
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Then she started her next verse.<br />
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Old MacDonald had a farm. E-I-E-I-O!!<br />
And on that farm he had a Mom. E-I-E-I-O!!<br />
With a BOSSY, BOSSY here<br />
And a BOSSY, BOSSY there!<br />
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.....<br />
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And Handsome Hero turned to me with a little smirk and said, "Don't worry, Babe. You're not really bossy. You're a great mom. And wife. You're wonderful."<br />
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Simmering in her own bossiness,<br />
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Beth<br />
aka Mom<br />
aka The Boss<br />
Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15940720275001798418noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6235506490850986499.post-81514741603151528762014-05-16T11:58:00.002-07:002014-05-16T11:58:32.387-07:00Birthday musingsSaturday is my birthday. Saturday is a wonderful day on which to have a birthday. I used to hate it when my birthday fell on a Saturday. Who wants their birthday on a weekend when they can get recognition at school on a weekday??<br />
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Now, though, I stay at home, so I love a weekend birthday when Handsome Hero can be home with me. See how I'm getting wiser? Growing up and everything.<br />
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I'll be thirty-six this year. Thirty-six. I want to be really excited about getting closer to forty. I mean, it's a landmark in life, right? It's when people do that "Lordy, Lordy" rhyme! It's the age of knowing what you're made of! <br />
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Wait, I think I got that from a Viagra commercial. <br />
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Let's move on.<br />
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I am looking forward to the wisdom that really does come with getting older, but I have my concerns about this age thing. I am already having a harder time losing the baby weight, have tons of gray hair, and varicose veins have drawn road maps behind my knees. I'm thinking of tattooing a <i>you are here</i> sign on my left calf.<br />
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Isn't it all downhill from here?<br />
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Actually, I don't think so. Getting older has advantages. Big ones. As I get older, I become more comfortable in who I am. I don't feel like I need to make excuses for being the person God made me. There are things to grow into and out of as time passes; that's maturity. But the personality with which I have been blessed is my gift from God and I rejoice in it. <br />
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There are other things I've come to realize. I will never be an athlete, but I can exercise consistently. I will always be so pale that make-up often doesn't come in a light enough shade. I could not care less. I talk to myself when no one is around, and sometimes when I just think no one is around. Why do you think I started a blog? I am convinced that I will meet that guy from HGTV's <i>Bath Crashers</i> in Home Depot one day and all of my bathroom renovation dreams will come true, so I practice for my interview when I get ready in the morning. In case you're wondering, I'm clever and pithy, but not too over-the-top. Just right for TV.<br />
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I am also more comfortable in my marriage as time goes on. Not to be confused with becoming complacent, being comfortable is a lovely place to be, restful and peaceful. Handsome Hero is still a big stud who makes my heart go pitter patter. We're going on a date tonight and I've been thinking of my outfit all day. I still want to make him happy, but as we grow together in the Lord, we begin to make each other happy by default. It becomes more and more natural.<br />
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So while I'm not thrilled about the outward signs of getting older, I'm more excited about the inward signs of growing up. I look forward to what I will learn this year that I didn't know last year. <br />
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It's a journey I'm on, and I have a built in road map, if I could just twist around to see it.<br />
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<br />Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15940720275001798418noreply@blogger.com1