tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-357217912024-03-07T10:56:38.326-05:00Babies Having Babiesan adventure in mothering, reading, and schoolingandiewadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03674104592081249172noreply@blogger.comBlogger306125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721791.post-6583671111787860582012-12-21T09:54:00.000-05:002012-12-21T09:54:51.659-05:00christmas time<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
how about a continuing christmas tradition for a much-neglected blog?</div>
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2006</div>
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2007</div>
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2008</div>
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2009</div>
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2010</div>
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2011</div>
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2012</div>
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merry christmas to all!</div>
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andiewadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03674104592081249172noreply@blogger.com2Izmir, Turkey38.41885 27.1287199999999338.0207495 26.483272999999929 38.8169505 27.774166999999931tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721791.post-69734856017532251392012-02-19T14:41:00.000-05:002012-02-19T14:41:34.522-05:004<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">2008, brand new</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWzbEs42EJ0tPK8lhzYyrPmJ7fxV6unpPS1I7gfr9r7XPMSIkysdudmZ7b9erkkegYEDcH6ydk0H1e5rR40-FRPHmi_mkCaWNpBFInjur32lhHiSDROMR3CQKwT3F8SStGzokQ/s1600/DSC02180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWzbEs42EJ0tPK8lhzYyrPmJ7fxV6unpPS1I7gfr9r7XPMSIkysdudmZ7b9erkkegYEDcH6ydk0H1e5rR40-FRPHmi_mkCaWNpBFInjur32lhHiSDROMR3CQKwT3F8SStGzokQ/s320/DSC02180.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">2009: 1 year</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQJWOAQO0WlZ0ZgOdN7m_i1Bb4WyGZFIkKKXzUyIVQc_kqDpJX3pnsmBq_TkEiS9Yhjie_6oI3Q9VBjpeLVL6H6ehEbZk7c4Ml7nTztfIzomvBZVucrEmhUFWztJqLkGy7PK-U/s1600/IMG_6531.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQJWOAQO0WlZ0ZgOdN7m_i1Bb4WyGZFIkKKXzUyIVQc_kqDpJX3pnsmBq_TkEiS9Yhjie_6oI3Q9VBjpeLVL6H6ehEbZk7c4Ml7nTztfIzomvBZVucrEmhUFWztJqLkGy7PK-U/s320/IMG_6531.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">2010: 2 years </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNUkiRmN4EaxuoaJAZPjSaDL23v2XXE2hr5Ikh8etNWiGojtM8qDUTNrlzLh3ZgKJBQ9LBXlbUK2SywC9Ku1cnalgFXVN8vHSXKK52Fn-Iqj9nCcnC-MO1OfmRs8-uqXYAVYvQ/s1600/IMG_9415.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNUkiRmN4EaxuoaJAZPjSaDL23v2XXE2hr5Ikh8etNWiGojtM8qDUTNrlzLh3ZgKJBQ9LBXlbUK2SywC9Ku1cnalgFXVN8vHSXKK52Fn-Iqj9nCcnC-MO1OfmRs8-uqXYAVYvQ/s320/IMG_9415.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">2011: 3 years</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimAHtNXFRGSLyLz6mOoKUADhiTwYW3xsgzSb-OZrRd9z55YGc1CsnbqbUMUyZnTH9GHg09hJWhx9BZMYz-dovMmklPuEDKR4tkTEqkOQxwaFw4y1qV1qoYxI_k310inyaskEja/s1600/IMG_1875.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimAHtNXFRGSLyLz6mOoKUADhiTwYW3xsgzSb-OZrRd9z55YGc1CsnbqbUMUyZnTH9GHg09hJWhx9BZMYz-dovMmklPuEDKR4tkTEqkOQxwaFw4y1qV1qoYxI_k310inyaskEja/s320/IMG_1875.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">2012: 4 years</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDnrr2xhC-__FsvrWHGxRQ65HzD1fEN67g7B6fkOBQxZMBk8XiVHT4sBuZawA4YZTIw9s897sWHSEjK_XJL6Ps6MJIYAzDKOs6XCC9BEtzOcMpaI2A1P5rb3pID1KlIvJRvLVE/s1600/IMG_4199.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDnrr2xhC-__FsvrWHGxRQ65HzD1fEN67g7B6fkOBQxZMBk8XiVHT4sBuZawA4YZTIw9s897sWHSEjK_XJL6Ps6MJIYAzDKOs6XCC9BEtzOcMpaI2A1P5rb3pID1KlIvJRvLVE/s320/IMG_4199.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">somebody's getting too big for his britches.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>andiewadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03674104592081249172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721791.post-11051369686808919612011-12-30T10:22:00.001-05:002011-12-30T10:24:34.598-05:00glimpses of 2011<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">january</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja23bs9-bBV0NsYFoxXh6DYtuB1HhTQ9WxeMVLO9-SweY9hEhe3m-DDdwjN7BZQvuXCOyiz4iWYTxLjCakuYtF-F_kSv6Bq5rCUofnUZz7qu0cy0K_1dEJqnRvAkxkp4br5FX5/s1600/IMG_1975.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja23bs9-bBV0NsYFoxXh6DYtuB1HhTQ9WxeMVLO9-SweY9hEhe3m-DDdwjN7BZQvuXCOyiz4iWYTxLjCakuYtF-F_kSv6Bq5rCUofnUZz7qu0cy0K_1dEJqnRvAkxkp4br5FX5/s320/IMG_1975.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(inside the hagia sophia in istanbul)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgvzedACM8mbRbgA-G3Jo9pwDREYQgtqW9LRNnGICiW_6kUpdgJBAOy30RgX5Kt14v-muvBvPHI4Ih8VHu0ULR7N9xU13-G9d3GK-1lTgOBoZ44IhoLRKKhwtTFMwD7HqwpqQg/s1600/IMG_2022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgvzedACM8mbRbgA-G3Jo9pwDREYQgtqW9LRNnGICiW_6kUpdgJBAOy30RgX5Kt14v-muvBvPHI4Ih8VHu0ULR7N9xU13-G9d3GK-1lTgOBoZ44IhoLRKKhwtTFMwD7HqwpqQg/s320/IMG_2022.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(enjoying the amazing view from our room)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">february</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjykexQLLASF-fduLdDF-FUJRE-9H4GW8Z_e1FwkacyELy1icjifJBMKHD9kbxgEt3eT07c26RVr-oBAXcmgNHHKTn8MpY5VCLDuUFwW2IvlbZR32IrsOqoCKRCgByVo_QHn6MQ/s1600/IMG_2153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjykexQLLASF-fduLdDF-FUJRE-9H4GW8Z_e1FwkacyELy1icjifJBMKHD9kbxgEt3eT07c26RVr-oBAXcmgNHHKTn8MpY5VCLDuUFwW2IvlbZR32IrsOqoCKRCgByVo_QHn6MQ/s320/IMG_2153.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(taking a ferry ride across the bay)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGvKTvxoBHYWgAXDePzMHPiwnUXC64D7rE3YAVOIYb_uOThMdgv671VoPFcAP2O9zA1P00qzDiArej5nFYUcZynCxwrfk7CJ-e3BBUi9h79WNUSHnu0rXOzExaK6Pufh_QLw1H/s1600/IMG_2227.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGvKTvxoBHYWgAXDePzMHPiwnUXC64D7rE3YAVOIYb_uOThMdgv671VoPFcAP2O9zA1P00qzDiArej5nFYUcZynCxwrfk7CJ-e3BBUi9h79WNUSHnu0rXOzExaK6Pufh_QLw1H/s320/IMG_2227.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(someone turned 3)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">march</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG3anh7ywfLZexCKxny4cV6q2DhFVbaoDiIOehzmWlzgZ-eMl_GG-k-NmwOqf10JWqmd1l3_KPXv-AvgHg9xI7RbCyWQKtlO2XNYNZC5c1f8aJiPjhr_x5ngBX5-LdbnO6qRjy/s1600/IMG_2310.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG3anh7ywfLZexCKxny4cV6q2DhFVbaoDiIOehzmWlzgZ-eMl_GG-k-NmwOqf10JWqmd1l3_KPXv-AvgHg9xI7RbCyWQKtlO2XNYNZC5c1f8aJiPjhr_x5ngBX5-LdbnO6qRjy/s320/IMG_2310.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(participating in a local art class)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAmpzeBl-iZqnWbSDIa9-lo9BvFLMPiTPFxnrNbdY8IysKwQggRfAxPPAuyDYtMAYjWV7BKFu_gL116HKePBRShLZ9_dA8yT7CX8VzAAHk1qS_QbVEhF2mFac-_njM0r86Ymsg/s1600/IMG_2509.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAmpzeBl-iZqnWbSDIa9-lo9BvFLMPiTPFxnrNbdY8IysKwQggRfAxPPAuyDYtMAYjWV7BKFu_gL116HKePBRShLZ9_dA8yT7CX8VzAAHk1qS_QbVEhF2mFac-_njM0r86Ymsg/s320/IMG_2509.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(sightseeing trip with dear friends)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">april</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBo_pPL9b80NDa-XdUZ9HPAJdt9uuDIva6BiNWi3m3usIcs5isDvBJijQiUwYJJiXGCXXjmwUOHeEZZ2IGJBXLyCA7MvMB7ku3QaCIJL3Ttqv8DIDcuVZNoPmkPKa0T0RWLmyI/s1600/IMG_2643.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBo_pPL9b80NDa-XdUZ9HPAJdt9uuDIva6BiNWi3m3usIcs5isDvBJijQiUwYJJiXGCXXjmwUOHeEZZ2IGJBXLyCA7MvMB7ku3QaCIJL3Ttqv8DIDcuVZNoPmkPKa0T0RWLmyI/s320/IMG_2643.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>('for rent' sign hanging outside our fabulous city apartment)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMxUB_6HWeooG44DtGSM4jx0Ngk7xY6D42yyTuLr2Gb4JGPQVOIiqVct7WPWCt3eENhhulNThx7OTc_eEJpKJr8LdP4kFwsI9mGl_7unE5lUAC0KUJuwcV36apwy4DrTxiuTXu/s1600/IMG_2696.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMxUB_6HWeooG44DtGSM4jx0Ngk7xY6D42yyTuLr2Gb4JGPQVOIiqVct7WPWCt3eENhhulNThx7OTc_eEJpKJr8LdP4kFwsI9mGl_7unE5lUAC0KUJuwcV36apwy4DrTxiuTXu/s320/IMG_2696.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(all packed up and ready to move again)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">may</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjSf57XIfCMMgJaeokDjK5MXWh0FDbnX7G60GiqyqhDuVLu9b60mP3BLbIOIwPophy8-WK-Jhl259agpe3_9jCGpwgaE2C8TIRuT8h_FemyOzO67-933AvYttAbxBvNDRpCQLl/s1600/IMG_2806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjSf57XIfCMMgJaeokDjK5MXWh0FDbnX7G60GiqyqhDuVLu9b60mP3BLbIOIwPophy8-WK-Jhl259agpe3_9jCGpwgaE2C8TIRuT8h_FemyOzO67-933AvYttAbxBvNDRpCQLl/s320/IMG_2806.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(adjusting to life outside a big city)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDBi8jBZwIl6LxvUkicGiP0SNoUMiQ86gqY008zpkuqDnS250Wuh4msR5VWEOvJBHHbVZIvUi8fuZiO16EphUfdTXG2XYV5D5m3XSg6ju-3P1czAS__lUQduQU_3MctvoiKXdn/s1600/IMG_2961.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDBi8jBZwIl6LxvUkicGiP0SNoUMiQ86gqY008zpkuqDnS250Wuh4msR5VWEOvJBHHbVZIvUi8fuZiO16EphUfdTXG2XYV5D5m3XSg6ju-3P1czAS__lUQduQU_3MctvoiKXdn/s320/IMG_2961.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(spending time at the lake!)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">june</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLryH0gp6Uew54Q7OFH01eNsGCwPpzEEJI-ZMOdDbTg3DQzRmvTUWDU0yrCrnuCt3ijJhnM6jxeajLvOE9cO45xqlGbt0lOYJa59jlqkCI7OKxpsaChm19XYcA1jyWi9NkBgM_/s1600/IMG_3008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLryH0gp6Uew54Q7OFH01eNsGCwPpzEEJI-ZMOdDbTg3DQzRmvTUWDU0yrCrnuCt3ijJhnM6jxeajLvOE9cO45xqlGbt0lOYJa59jlqkCI7OKxpsaChm19XYcA1jyWi9NkBgM_/s320/IMG_3008.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(potty-trained boys get big-boy bikes)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAtQffyHXTFB3sHFf_rqEYtggJGb15aVGFMybobqI1l2r1RiKb5KjQWpvegtlXhi6p6G3VfY2ZnMKGAWCxyHafjnJ0_9DimHL_NkRRLGkRHusiDM0TBYLBdFG8RUQZ0x8_jp16/s1600/IMG_3092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAtQffyHXTFB3sHFf_rqEYtggJGb15aVGFMybobqI1l2r1RiKb5KjQWpvegtlXhi6p6G3VfY2ZnMKGAWCxyHafjnJ0_9DimHL_NkRRLGkRHusiDM0TBYLBdFG8RUQZ0x8_jp16/s320/IMG_3092.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(new friends and experiences)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">july</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy2T45AOOTA_N04jf4eUEQIDxUTSydNse8M3xq5tidjvD223QDOOqmuoWOaIwGzTjwGtSQQ04UtTuwTY05bviRSvIU59FZB2Dz4ZQJgBK7O9TduAutcdVPZzy_Q6t8_ADACyGI/s1600/IMG_3078.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy2T45AOOTA_N04jf4eUEQIDxUTSydNse8M3xq5tidjvD223QDOOqmuoWOaIwGzTjwGtSQQ04UtTuwTY05bviRSvIU59FZB2Dz4ZQJgBK7O9TduAutcdVPZzy_Q6t8_ADACyGI/s320/IMG_3078.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(starting kindergarten and breaking bones... not at the same time)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBg_FNHRWVNfTUIZxwopMjhCo3B5A4ylh1jI62As8Cgi6Qzl2zRZJrfzUch38BA3Ri5_DcCgdSWpTDc7HVOHzfQu8o9_1YAJUGEOxZ_Rr4FXfFnAgfFcKtK49k59azj0PAwBOO/s1600/IMG_3193.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBg_FNHRWVNfTUIZxwopMjhCo3B5A4ylh1jI62As8Cgi6Qzl2zRZJrfzUch38BA3Ri5_DcCgdSWpTDc7HVOHzfQu8o9_1YAJUGEOxZ_Rr4FXfFnAgfFcKtK49k59azj0PAwBOO/s320/IMG_3193.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(getting big girl haircuts!)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">august</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVbPna8Zw2GMWcAQ95X_X0mGI-cBwsBPnvBxGWL2vrAToWR-4IRFSztSiGHii5CH5XlxAIbKo2T5k0r6H_IaXHbUOpxBRPtvrVgXsd7qRhxhvyWJRjwa5ZsyYUSB5LcnhsWk4I/s1600/IMG_3289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVbPna8Zw2GMWcAQ95X_X0mGI-cBwsBPnvBxGWL2vrAToWR-4IRFSztSiGHii5CH5XlxAIbKo2T5k0r6H_IaXHbUOpxBRPtvrVgXsd7qRhxhvyWJRjwa5ZsyYUSB5LcnhsWk4I/s320/IMG_3289.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(road trips with precious sisters)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7DtFlCpwBlU1_Uw9ndDC7oog3Sj396EEP9-yZb9lbe1CS3XLJu19Akk7SniHdhSYQjdDIY4YNBYq1Q_I8Gu3rNfogLgqxtxP2tlDYOu8NKcD6h4SeoN0Js7BQ5qKbyOvifn-k/s1600/IMG_3389.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7DtFlCpwBlU1_Uw9ndDC7oog3Sj396EEP9-yZb9lbe1CS3XLJu19Akk7SniHdhSYQjdDIY4YNBYq1Q_I8Gu3rNfogLgqxtxP2tlDYOu8NKcD6h4SeoN0Js7BQ5qKbyOvifn-k/s320/IMG_3389.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(a new school for him and a new job for me!)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">september</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7RUhKA00dtWIl72mCtJkklMqOQLfn4NwvosbrHHW-OL7WWotwiBlFZbBVHgW4AXiR3bdgROb73J3QNP75UDpFvHATOTBDWwNt8LOTtpR-19OYtY-ySwIUkMIIqr5-ovqwbtPW/s1600/IMG_3422.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7RUhKA00dtWIl72mCtJkklMqOQLfn4NwvosbrHHW-OL7WWotwiBlFZbBVHgW4AXiR3bdgROb73J3QNP75UDpFvHATOTBDWwNt8LOTtpR-19OYtY-ySwIUkMIIqr5-ovqwbtPW/s320/IMG_3422.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(a couple weekend getaways)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"> october</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN834t4A9XA_9R1ElR1IjqMBXiz7hu4QpqqtgnnDuF6liGyyhHDSTRhf3OI-lRUdvXp3bJhhZeMN9MiBl6pPsJ4jTgqebhXOsBb0dibH_Ft-leGumK4oQRhnlqRV9cjw7JRTmM/s1600/IMG_3703.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN834t4A9XA_9R1ElR1IjqMBXiz7hu4QpqqtgnnDuF6liGyyhHDSTRhf3OI-lRUdvXp3bJhhZeMN9MiBl6pPsJ4jTgqebhXOsBb0dibH_Ft-leGumK4oQRhnlqRV9cjw7JRTmM/s320/IMG_3703.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(state fair time... a.k.a. funnel cake time)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQaJ9pPuiqASF_lVzmATOTU-H1gicasJuk8O10vf2pRXe0cVov9Ip_NhGGXeuazBYnl7umooEnjSRhSzmjnROI941Ntu4nP3IBDrkRMkRei9sTAdXE67Q7GXOvop2CG1vuQZTx/s1600/IMG_3735.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQaJ9pPuiqASF_lVzmATOTU-H1gicasJuk8O10vf2pRXe0cVov9Ip_NhGGXeuazBYnl7umooEnjSRhSzmjnROI941Ntu4nP3IBDrkRMkRei9sTAdXE67Q7GXOvop2CG1vuQZTx/s320/IMG_3735.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(one of these monkeys turned 6)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin565slSyvAA9lw6D_sN4uT6JA61HIhhK5mGOLEvaor5RQN4orkOti9kh4fz0ikk-AyXSZ8Xmoh43uwxBn-xltWsSvSmMnLvseaQ1vU4Pk6E9TVXRIxKVMh0hKCZanjAd1GClR/s1600/IMG_3817.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin565slSyvAA9lw6D_sN4uT6JA61HIhhK5mGOLEvaor5RQN4orkOti9kh4fz0ikk-AyXSZ8Xmoh43uwxBn-xltWsSvSmMnLvseaQ1vU4Pk6E9TVXRIxKVMh0hKCZanjAd1GClR/s320/IMG_3817.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(first family pumpkin carving)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">november</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8P2SQZyn3lIsubMqj1v5MWYc3bCLbQN1kOtOrwC9BNrnl7PFGFZVQmiFXt-Se0aYVf4NNZtpnBge7j3k0n_KQ07UJg1sdSecRahw7l09q1k5OMxeh2JugOa1m2rG9oX1ssqC3/s1600/IMG_3850.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8P2SQZyn3lIsubMqj1v5MWYc3bCLbQN1kOtOrwC9BNrnl7PFGFZVQmiFXt-Se0aYVf4NNZtpnBge7j3k0n_KQ07UJg1sdSecRahw7l09q1k5OMxeh2JugOa1m2rG9oX1ssqC3/s320/IMG_3850.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(kindergarten pilgrims)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz1VKSrjmgLdeK4MDYk9gdqlXlLtq0BX0ZIQmd2mWbMGnsFMMw2NqTHJsuASjE-aJo34M18PDRtbVonWId29X7EQvR2yD5oE8Fr-wfxA6PF7CH_Ij3BYB4bISaG1xXhavD-MTD/s1600/IMG_3858.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz1VKSrjmgLdeK4MDYk9gdqlXlLtq0BX0ZIQmd2mWbMGnsFMMw2NqTHJsuASjE-aJo34M18PDRtbVonWId29X7EQvR2yD5oE8Fr-wfxA6PF7CH_Ij3BYB4bISaG1xXhavD-MTD/s320/IMG_3858.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(rolling around in as many piles of leaves as possible)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">december</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKhWjcKZ7dnM2J67sFzqdIiiEXUa2jKrvj_LjnPyah4SgYRo5hr0cPwUPNIVjdh0DJSzfIhDgt4BW7rjzLkpTXmHxb3cxGZX4lU27Rr8jJKuvyCaJY5CSbyPm1PkRfQZJXtkfp/s1600/IMG_3929.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKhWjcKZ7dnM2J67sFzqdIiiEXUa2jKrvj_LjnPyah4SgYRo5hr0cPwUPNIVjdh0DJSzfIhDgt4BW7rjzLkpTXmHxb3cxGZX4lU27Rr8jJKuvyCaJY5CSbyPm1PkRfQZJXtkfp/s320/IMG_3929.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(getting a real tree!)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqDIxFoznNjQMHwqusDREAhcXEfOs9QC6-M8D2BPbxTm6qLpgi5y1XHaTKJFK0fghOI4w57a-1wtCptij0z3vEoYzRaKWS7gbSJ8aOnHttonEOWgPH1oNNK1IVKfZGsQzioriO/s1600/IMG_4033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqDIxFoznNjQMHwqusDREAhcXEfOs9QC6-M8D2BPbxTm6qLpgi5y1XHaTKJFK0fghOI4w57a-1wtCptij0z3vEoYzRaKWS7gbSJ8aOnHttonEOWgPH1oNNK1IVKfZGsQzioriO/s320/IMG_4033.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(dancing with her dance studio in a christmas parade!)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">bring it, 2012.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;">you can also take a glimpse at our <a href="http://andiewade.blogspot.com/2010/12/2010-in-pictures.html" target="_blank">2010</a>, <a href="http://andiewade.blogspot.com/2010/01/2009-in-pictures.html" target="_blank">2009</a>, and <a href="http://andiewade.blogspot.com/2009/01/2008-in-pictures.html" target="_blank">2008</a>.<br />
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</div>andiewadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03674104592081249172noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721791.post-46482950921142504552011-12-23T20:35:00.001-05:002011-12-23T20:38:15.844-05:00a fun new tradition for us!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">so at this point, you probably have your christmas decorating well out of the way, but i thought i'd still take time to share a fun family activity/tradition that we started this year.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">stringing popcorn!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1S_AoEO9rJA1uw3R1d8OAyEjxDlQUJXriyBo2S9gRRY0KxupJImd_gQy5ROnYoXf4FYS14yy260TQCm3ROyl6zDfGz3tnDlH74y00vMYwTa9tUZIQQyHjYXblPNdD25X4kBu4/s1600/IMG_3979.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1S_AoEO9rJA1uw3R1d8OAyEjxDlQUJXriyBo2S9gRRY0KxupJImd_gQy5ROnYoXf4FYS14yy260TQCm3ROyl6zDfGz3tnDlH74y00vMYwTa9tUZIQQyHjYXblPNdD25X4kBu4/s320/IMG_3979.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">i had actually never done this before in my life, but since i'm finding myself in an extra crafty mood this christmas (since many of our decorations are in another country and we don't have room to pack any new ones for the future, except, of course, for our <a href="http://andiewade.blogspot.com/2011/12/stockings.html?spref=fb" target="_blank">stockings</a>), i thought it would be a fun experience and add a neat touch to our tree. (we popped in 'a christmas carol' to watch as we ventured out on this new family tradition.)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-GLWRpGwemM8zC8A62OvlvrKHHfLsnghhSakaM0GOCmxEhVh1A1HRm7ZVc_OgdoBWU1xaWdovmMiqteySYsGhkqqneODnSGuH9Nl8vL1M0DTPVSeDO6euInDYabVE-Bt2jnjk/s1600/IMG_3978.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-GLWRpGwemM8zC8A62OvlvrKHHfLsnghhSakaM0GOCmxEhVh1A1HRm7ZVc_OgdoBWU1xaWdovmMiqteySYsGhkqqneODnSGuH9Nl8vL1M0DTPVSeDO6euInDYabVE-Bt2jnjk/s320/IMG_3978.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">i found a random spool of kite string in a random drawer and thought it would be just the thing. turned out it was! i also had to search through my needles for longer, sturdier ones (we definitely broke a couple smaller needles in half before we figured that out). yarn needles might work really well, too, but i didn't try it out.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Kbfdtos_rpubeU4iXCsOQImaoTpDWmyC-x0vO-VqqDy2vSyeXwgVtijZ_9Tgd1fDsoKoCqd18cXhiV9tkaVB42Z2LYviTCWPd3nCMT7-q8UXsMJHN2_fHXgvsgdxu5JVybVk/s1600/IMG_3981.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Kbfdtos_rpubeU4iXCsOQImaoTpDWmyC-x0vO-VqqDy2vSyeXwgVtijZ_9Tgd1fDsoKoCqd18cXhiV9tkaVB42Z2LYviTCWPd3nCMT7-q8UXsMJHN2_fHXgvsgdxu5JVybVk/s320/IMG_3981.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">then, just get to stringing'! with having younger kids, a lot of the stringing was left to the hubby and myself, but the kids did help out in the beginning, and they were pretty excited about the finished product on the tree. (turns out i was right, it added a great touch and we got a lot of comments about our homemade popcorn string at our christmas party!) </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">one day, our kids will be big enough to do this all by themselves! (if they want to, of course.)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrpU8npW8mGKlY8_TQHW07Y0265L-tFP0ljXFaFXSkQxOCPgelTBVL7YlfgMbKqVyEvICX_nAmC4Cs15SoN0wz1oV_OQf8xOb3C1K0tNBWJOP5cnbp_euGIJ43rPKHCtGeZEv4/s1600/IMG_3980.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrpU8npW8mGKlY8_TQHW07Y0265L-tFP0ljXFaFXSkQxOCPgelTBVL7YlfgMbKqVyEvICX_nAmC4Cs15SoN0wz1oV_OQf8xOb3C1K0tNBWJOP5cnbp_euGIJ43rPKHCtGeZEv4/s320/IMG_3980.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">if you have any christmas eve downtime tomorrow, it might be worth a try! happy stringing!</div>andiewadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03674104592081249172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721791.post-39338226541501595052011-12-22T18:33:00.000-05:002011-12-22T18:33:44.984-05:00stockings!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">finally, after 8 christmases as a family, we have real special-to-our-family stockings!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLY5yrs4IriaD07v4Jz4nsI0-uD-F4G-noR7xSUjJ1O1z1mjwSplagTwnnF2tTsd-D7U31ckZQDJdPjOVJxdVqa8Rxa6APHceXhZfccL-TBEPV_iuw7IiWyHszlH-97B0wc_iT/s1600/IMG_4053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLY5yrs4IriaD07v4Jz4nsI0-uD-F4G-noR7xSUjJ1O1z1mjwSplagTwnnF2tTsd-D7U31ckZQDJdPjOVJxdVqa8Rxa6APHceXhZfccL-TBEPV_iuw7IiWyHszlH-97B0wc_iT/s320/IMG_4053.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">(remember my wreath? it finally has company!)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw68OZRBN_cV8WH6uw0nIK-kLVFt7dk48EOYoAWCN4ZU2N5c1eqDoGbnAkZA_Wu0YAI3_Jr944hCe1-XPjOMJHywGLjDQoZ2VDLmVnSys_Vhdn29g3jhSkGIaRA_fFykPuueg9/s1600/IMG_4056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw68OZRBN_cV8WH6uw0nIK-kLVFt7dk48EOYoAWCN4ZU2N5c1eqDoGbnAkZA_Wu0YAI3_Jr944hCe1-XPjOMJHywGLjDQoZ2VDLmVnSys_Vhdn29g3jhSkGIaRA_fFykPuueg9/s320/IMG_4056.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">i had these babies in mind after last christmas, and have been working on them on and off since this past summer. if you're a knitter, you can find the pattern i based them on <a href="http://people.delphiforums.com/knit_chat/knitchat/patterns/stocking1.htm" target="_blank">here.</a> i changed the pattern around for the top (white) part of the stockings because instead of them looking different at the top, i wanted the whole stocking to look like the same continuous pattern. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh38UWQkbEmvkCXqnN3vt2v6dpOMD7oOJWeE7Sj5Kqih0HcldVaiF8QVTxY_r-VyZ1TInNwPnVIpkVV8muTZTa31JoxVrSJQsj1TRzW2B99yPtMmv0iFUB7ZQ0yscGxf18s-ee5/s1600/IMG_4057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh38UWQkbEmvkCXqnN3vt2v6dpOMD7oOJWeE7Sj5Kqih0HcldVaiF8QVTxY_r-VyZ1TInNwPnVIpkVV8muTZTa31JoxVrSJQsj1TRzW2B99yPtMmv0iFUB7ZQ0yscGxf18s-ee5/s320/IMG_4057.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">merry christmas!</div>andiewadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03674104592081249172noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721791.post-40175838882582644272011-12-12T17:16:00.000-05:002011-12-12T17:16:39.233-05:00speaking of traditions...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">yes, i show these every year, and you may be getting tired of them, but too bad. i'm not. :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">2006</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">rachel, 14 months</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9d4bXs-6mHZlGZoOjdvFv-nlhpKvDSie9jXvjqBGLaVyoaqDYcm7Ftwhdj2rXZ_XbYGSx_75f9IWkzUDU8IgZZOpD9hVxGFstY_BfvO-W0fju5O_O57ZrBcSBOsKvqqKUPVhL/s1600/DSC01468.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9d4bXs-6mHZlGZoOjdvFv-nlhpKvDSie9jXvjqBGLaVyoaqDYcm7Ftwhdj2rXZ_XbYGSx_75f9IWkzUDU8IgZZOpD9hVxGFstY_BfvO-W0fju5O_O57ZrBcSBOsKvqqKUPVhL/s320/DSC01468.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">2007</div><div style="text-align: center;">rachel, 2 years and 2 months</div><div style="text-align: center;">lucas, cooking in my oven for 8 months</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4IivscOalRkGloqs7hXplCWKYBxQMgYReK_ufYrlDC6f0j-K3S4UWLY-Z4tKbDHafQyLDDoBuYBNgXxLyTid_lr42H_r9u_lqeUcV5OAvc1tlwg9CMk5BCDYnleOC8mAyDgFJ/s1600/DSC02075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4IivscOalRkGloqs7hXplCWKYBxQMgYReK_ufYrlDC6f0j-K3S4UWLY-Z4tKbDHafQyLDDoBuYBNgXxLyTid_lr42H_r9u_lqeUcV5OAvc1tlwg9CMk5BCDYnleOC8mAyDgFJ/s320/DSC02075.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">2008</div><div style="text-align: center;">rachel, 3 years and 2 months</div><div style="text-align: center;">lucas 10 months</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2k-vSwYW_vdc51OXnfAHHj6QuoUzT9csx5Ev2XWh6hAAjYvzQ1tk9OrRaoTENifcFIRntrhSPaHGwef5mmDKcc728KkbDBr0qG8QIyU50u3iSKQ_AAaBso-qYV4XY1O8Mv-kM/s1600/IMG_5924.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2k-vSwYW_vdc51OXnfAHHj6QuoUzT9csx5Ev2XWh6hAAjYvzQ1tk9OrRaoTENifcFIRntrhSPaHGwef5mmDKcc728KkbDBr0qG8QIyU50u3iSKQ_AAaBso-qYV4XY1O8Mv-kM/s320/IMG_5924.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">2009</div><div style="text-align: center;">rachel, 4 years and 2 months</div><div style="text-align: center;">lucas, 22 months (and busy)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqSc9GLuwKeps_keLcDpvmrQh0UUhQxcIwCTbNNoRbr1CaZofKcl_53t8XSYvVPhCjsX5gs1aJXjBxU3EC0Pp4nyp87uIfnBGBgtIVvunTnmyRJ__mNOv2KIgMCvf8Kt_H_SmK/s1600/IMG_9225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqSc9GLuwKeps_keLcDpvmrQh0UUhQxcIwCTbNNoRbr1CaZofKcl_53t8XSYvVPhCjsX5gs1aJXjBxU3EC0Pp4nyp87uIfnBGBgtIVvunTnmyRJ__mNOv2KIgMCvf8Kt_H_SmK/s320/IMG_9225.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">2010</div><div style="text-align: center;">rachel, 5 years and 2 months</div><div style="text-align: center;">lucas, 2 years and 10 months</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3NZ9GnUhlvLvUK-7umXKg1OjAQTf1aITDamgQ2CBDh6U_6ErvC1Uy0ASnPZ_S6wjwMdpcR4GkbCp_u7eYhUIiG9biC_NqsZSZ-ipYrrHcTQqAG1UGzFKnSqirlpMmYOF5tXAk/s1600/IMG_1472.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3NZ9GnUhlvLvUK-7umXKg1OjAQTf1aITDamgQ2CBDh6U_6ErvC1Uy0ASnPZ_S6wjwMdpcR4GkbCp_u7eYhUIiG9biC_NqsZSZ-ipYrrHcTQqAG1UGzFKnSqirlpMmYOF5tXAk/s320/IMG_1472.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">2011</div><div style="text-align: center;">rachel pamela, 6 years and 2 months</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjerjBZ5DNvk8BlRPHonh382JDmpxxkunUOQz4MHgqW-Ms-QXXVhtTW5iSpdwkQV3wLAphjPOGLLSxdCyiWtq5rpZQ4GgvoDYqT3EYqUAHpqaS3LekNDXJ599QMIReHXQ026RZB/s1600/IMG_3935.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjerjBZ5DNvk8BlRPHonh382JDmpxxkunUOQz4MHgqW-Ms-QXXVhtTW5iSpdwkQV3wLAphjPOGLLSxdCyiWtq5rpZQ4GgvoDYqT3EYqUAHpqaS3LekNDXJ599QMIReHXQ026RZB/s320/IMG_3935.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">lucas charles, 3 years and 10 months</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBZyKCwZ3X-xnZ5A94vGf5xSJxkX9X8UJTs729b1rgM7_J7MEZ2jsYov9ySL3NQdfR6A419jkcYIeuyq-1nqZNo0O7V1LEMCe87FaXvT3JZto2DOUplt_CX2Btqbckfc9vUnj0/s1600/IMG_3936.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBZyKCwZ3X-xnZ5A94vGf5xSJxkX9X8UJTs729b1rgM7_J7MEZ2jsYov9ySL3NQdfR6A419jkcYIeuyq-1nqZNo0O7V1LEMCe87FaXvT3JZto2DOUplt_CX2Btqbckfc9vUnj0/s320/IMG_3936.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">merry christmas!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin-Epo2gHCiKpbRIVNvx5zeAxgYrqIg1L0nv3N1l05CPjKu3zG-7GHw6MUPYPP0_f9fFvuA6oaU1WHHX6tDra1Sl4t8-lvOQ6iwII1iISjCU82YEldz5TiZkeGeemTIF1GPtn4/s1600/IMG_3933.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin-Epo2gHCiKpbRIVNvx5zeAxgYrqIg1L0nv3N1l05CPjKu3zG-7GHw6MUPYPP0_f9fFvuA6oaU1WHHX6tDra1Sl4t8-lvOQ6iwII1iISjCU82YEldz5TiZkeGeemTIF1GPtn4/s320/IMG_3933.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>andiewadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03674104592081249172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721791.post-4785595640849745302011-12-09T09:01:00.000-05:002011-12-09T09:01:43.138-05:00cookie time!now that i'm back in the land of easily-accessible rollo cookies, i'm gearing up to make <a href="http://andiewade.blogspot.com/2008/12/christmas-cookies-batch-2-4-and-jesuss.html" target="_blank">these babies</a> for a christmas party this weekend! i highly suggest you go make yourself a batch, too!<br />
<br />
i definitely forgot how BUSY the christmas season is in the states. i have to be honest, even though i'm loving the christmas decorations and lights and music everywhere i go, i'm missing the simplicity of christmas overseas. BUT since it's not determined when we'll see another christmas in america, i'm soaking up as much as i can, enjoying the little things throughout all the busy-ness, and keeping Christ in the center. and what more can you really do?<br />
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merry christmas! go drink some hot chocolate!andiewadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03674104592081249172noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721791.post-80554726220565177902011-12-06T19:25:00.000-05:002011-12-06T19:25:21.497-05:00st. nicholas day!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">did you know that december 6th is st. nicholas day? it's a holiday that's celebrated mainly in europe. on the evening of december 5th, children put their shoes outside their bedroom doors. in the morning, they wake to find candy, money, and/or little presents inside their once-empty shoes. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">i learned about this holiday last year (after december 6th, unfortunately) and thought "what could be a more fun or more simple tradition to start with my own kiddos?" last night, we talked about who st. nicholas was and some of the things he did in his lifetime. the kids picked out the shoes they wanted to use and put them in the hallway. in the morning, they found candy!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDfbj4Cv3hq4vNGUCxd8atWyqopW4Rc457XIdJ2kBIwMWGZgpza8gHoDxWaKDBk2V66w35OPUUkDY4uRkBe_jWMufy5t7CYAxkbbizR54H4rFeyTi-1dQv6lOkVc66EfSE4boG/s1600/IMG_3961.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDfbj4Cv3hq4vNGUCxd8atWyqopW4Rc457XIdJ2kBIwMWGZgpza8gHoDxWaKDBk2V66w35OPUUkDY4uRkBe_jWMufy5t7CYAxkbbizR54H4rFeyTi-1dQv6lOkVc66EfSE4boG/s320/IMG_3961.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">it was pretty last minute, but i thought it would also be a fun thing to celebrate in our 4-year-old preschool class (and it would be a great opportunity to get rid of all the bags of leftover halloween candy we still seem to have in our house). first thing, the kids came to the carpet and i told them about "the first santa claus." i'll tell you what, you say you have a story about santa claus and all the sudden 4 year-olds want to listen!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">i found this story on wikipedia to share with the kids:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.4em;">"In his most famous exploit,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-17" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Nicholas#cite_note-17" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;"><span>[</span>18<span>]</span></a></sup> a poor man had three daughters but could not afford a proper <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dowry" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Dowry">dowry</a> for them. This meant that they would remain unmarried and probably, in absence of any other possible employment, would have to become <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostitutes" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Prostitutes">prostitutes</a>. Hearing of the poor man's plight, Nicholas decided to help him, but being too modest to help the man in public (or to save the man the humiliation of accepting charity), he went to his house under the cover of night and threw three <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Money_purse" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Money purse">purses</a> (one for each daughter) filled with gold coins through the window opening into the man's house.</div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.4em;">One version has him throwing one purse for three consecutive nights. Another has him throw the purses over a period of three years, each time the night before one of the daughters comes of age. Invariably, the third time the father lies in wait, trying to discover the identity of their benefactor. In one version the father confronts the saint, only to have Saint Nicholas say it is not him he should thank, but God alone. In another version, Nicholas learns of the poor man's plan and drops the third bag down the chimney instead; a variant holds that the daughter had washed her stockings that evening and hung them over the embers to dry, and that the bag of gold fell into the stocking."</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.4em;">(i left out the part about the prostitutes, though. no worries.)</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEAZNLYv4xZpMBLsbHv-OGzjjtZVlKqG5zHEw0UAo6X08cekFngjfrG28aUi0QBOAG_5qKx2_EcFfpe21Bfjn-8yQboZuis-ZuciJ0d3at4vbQSZdrhHXYh0nNvjVIgj-8si8R/s1600/IMG_3962.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEAZNLYv4xZpMBLsbHv-OGzjjtZVlKqG5zHEw0UAo6X08cekFngjfrG28aUi0QBOAG_5qKx2_EcFfpe21Bfjn-8yQboZuis-ZuciJ0d3at4vbQSZdrhHXYh0nNvjVIgj-8si8R/s320/IMG_3962.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">then i told them how if people needed food or money, they would leave their shoes outside their door to let st. nicholas know they were in need. and today this is what children do to celebrate his memory. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">so off the shoes went! (and since i have to constantly remind some of them to keep their shoes ON, this was way beyond fun.) and into the hallway they went!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivEpTIaWrLYKQL5HRhFsq8Ae9IPiaU_hf6GC1gVpbc7ZtgKWsuF-xPNYfHB0dH96HupLKcXnH38t1CxDdWXZTXyFjz2rxFsIYMiKerpqMheOXt1FbeavOs0RbMjy57C01ByBB_/s1600/IMG_3964.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivEpTIaWrLYKQL5HRhFsq8Ae9IPiaU_hf6GC1gVpbc7ZtgKWsuF-xPNYfHB0dH96HupLKcXnH38t1CxDdWXZTXyFjz2rxFsIYMiKerpqMheOXt1FbeavOs0RbMjy57C01ByBB_/s320/IMG_3964.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">even though i was absent from the room for a good 10 minutes or so, they couldn't believe "it worked" and candy actually appeared in their shoes! one little boy said, "there must have been MAGIC in the hallway!"</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIWhybN-WAf_Dss7Is4Ofg8JiE8FIAzWwOeFr1SgoxDQxbXNgJ3DrFqWDEQn_4XQDc_b2r_4wagO26e0EuIFs8spqCqKG1VOyqG5tXcfVEOYk7QkFqjEkJowUOpcQFrO7tbk-o/s1600/IMG_3965.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIWhybN-WAf_Dss7Is4Ofg8JiE8FIAzWwOeFr1SgoxDQxbXNgJ3DrFqWDEQn_4XQDc_b2r_4wagO26e0EuIFs8spqCqKG1VOyqG5tXcfVEOYk7QkFqjEkJowUOpcQFrO7tbk-o/s320/IMG_3965.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">i'm excited to make this one of our regular christmas traditions. happy st. nicholas day, everyone!</div>andiewadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03674104592081249172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721791.post-9996772931723964742011-12-02T13:17:00.000-05:002011-12-02T13:17:24.493-05:00look what i made!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">this christmas is proving slightly different than other christmases we've had in the past as a family. the main thing being all of our christmas decorations are 5500 miles away! and since we're not wanting to spend a ton of money on new decorations we'll (hopefully) only need to use for this year, i'm finding myself forced to become a little creative. (yes, i did use the word "forced" b/c i'm just not one of those people that has the motivation to make things, usually.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">we were lacking a wreath. and what's decorating for christmas without a wreath?? i had a sudden recollection that <a href="http://mybusyhome.wordpress.com/2011/01/12/diy-ribbon-wreath/" target="_blank">sheila</a> had an easy how-to-make-your-own-wreath on her blog last year. i looked it up and, indeed, it was as easy as i remembered. so i bought some small pieces of fabric from walmart, got a wire hanger out of the closet, and got to work.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">bend your hanger into a circle.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbCIWJYlN_iZna9_qk7aXEOgEWMEgHmQuucrT8cyztBXfAec6IYagIkVvr-kg-LIT8MYZ9hUQW8jcQIBAOmu0DYkyQt7TR9CoP28nniMKeAJUr-Ek_IT4voAYycSJqOe0mLM4i/s1600/IMG_3938.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbCIWJYlN_iZna9_qk7aXEOgEWMEgHmQuucrT8cyztBXfAec6IYagIkVvr-kg-LIT8MYZ9hUQW8jcQIBAOmu0DYkyQt7TR9CoP28nniMKeAJUr-Ek_IT4voAYycSJqOe0mLM4i/s320/IMG_3938.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">(there's me in my official preschool teacher t-shirt. rachel really wanted to take a picture of me.) </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNa-RGCDibTKBwybesqr6Nn1Hh-Df6AzU6e1tDfFA6cxOpvXkgqkWlu5e7dMCR8jdznbu7he5Tf5FU1qgaaZLHXhjdPX45Ud374Mc5vjbobPPFDTHwWCzeJqMPLaOtMo1Cm92H/s1600/IMG_3939.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNa-RGCDibTKBwybesqr6Nn1Hh-Df6AzU6e1tDfFA6cxOpvXkgqkWlu5e7dMCR8jdznbu7he5Tf5FU1qgaaZLHXhjdPX45Ud374Mc5vjbobPPFDTHwWCzeJqMPLaOtMo1Cm92H/s320/IMG_3939.JPG" width="256" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">i cut the fabric into lots of little strips. i did mine closer to 5 inches long (i varied some of the lengths to give my wreath some variety.)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHlHM5Cg10bG_2KHNafkLEF9oCOimA0chLnd4wUcoDunVs8EE2N57bNZMhbw13CLMTgAEO2RHzCII8oAsOSVVHBMjBTuYfunnS3WIm7fS2iLTjUEoH9Vt_rlxQkyuLjC909dQ_/s1600/IMG_3940.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHlHM5Cg10bG_2KHNafkLEF9oCOimA0chLnd4wUcoDunVs8EE2N57bNZMhbw13CLMTgAEO2RHzCII8oAsOSVVHBMjBTuYfunnS3WIm7fS2iLTjUEoH9Vt_rlxQkyuLjC909dQ_/s320/IMG_3940.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">tie each strip of fabric onto the wire in whatever kind of pattern you want.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw03gtcYOfnDlDEB1jKbvMfmhYLHS7m8ZuzEy_tqJeaFCYhQs8KFWNjKFqcM4PMUeHnweGaPM11eKJHt_SMiiwnZZBgUEfESj9_tDIXhgOho-f_O8jtn1QRjo1KPG_zg1WtYpM/s1600/IMG_3941.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw03gtcYOfnDlDEB1jKbvMfmhYLHS7m8ZuzEy_tqJeaFCYhQs8KFWNjKFqcM4PMUeHnweGaPM11eKJHt_SMiiwnZZBgUEfESj9_tDIXhgOho-f_O8jtn1QRjo1KPG_zg1WtYpM/s320/IMG_3941.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">behold, the finished product! i actually cut a lot more strips than i ended up needing for my wreath. i may even have enough left over to make another one!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit_0p11IDe6AODbsyJKU4MW9T_wGj3KLEkZSHm3cWSo3HZea7ZgYzLVZcrQs3Z10fTi5Nm2ihhdwFQAZfxwTmM2qnf-8QSy1PW5N-Uq-JNtwedLPMmgavTah7hyphenhyphenJIQkt8qh-UV/s1600/IMG_3944.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit_0p11IDe6AODbsyJKU4MW9T_wGj3KLEkZSHm3cWSo3HZea7ZgYzLVZcrQs3Z10fTi5Nm2ihhdwFQAZfxwTmM2qnf-8QSy1PW5N-Uq-JNtwedLPMmgavTah7hyphenhyphenJIQkt8qh-UV/s320/IMG_3944.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">yes, my mantle is currently stocking-less. hopefully that will be the next project i'll have finished up to show you!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">happy december!</div>andiewadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03674104592081249172noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721791.post-41532216458144709472011-11-29T21:13:00.000-05:002011-11-29T21:13:23.807-05:00it's the most wonderful time of the year...in the midst of all the busy-ness this year has thrust upon me, i'm looking forward to sharing a lot of fun holiday craft/decoration/just-plain-fun things that our family will be doing throughout christmas time.<br />
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last year i shared that we started a new tradition of the jesse tree, and we're getting ready to enjoy it again this year. it's not ready to share with all of you yet (a work in progress, you could say), but you can check out what we did last year right <a href="http://andiewade.blogspot.com/2010/12/our-jesse-tree.html" target="_blank">here.</a> we're most likely going to be changing up some stories this year and i look forward to sharing it!<br />
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remember to slow down and enjoy the season!andiewadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03674104592081249172noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721791.post-37983717215295439062011-10-19T15:49:00.000-04:002011-10-19T15:49:06.021-04:000 to 6 in the blink of an eye...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">brand new</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Sidh5iBxfRNqZR2WAHJNRxU9Z29YF2XYDWcqQw9bQRDDzCXj90BQqzi4RQUy9wlT_o7ykeAhonO2CWlIWss5XZ3o6-aVxB2b_OUw_tq5Ig3x0yf2fa_cGuhyphenhyphenWvCJjdHR2xGC/s1600/18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Sidh5iBxfRNqZR2WAHJNRxU9Z29YF2XYDWcqQw9bQRDDzCXj90BQqzi4RQUy9wlT_o7ykeAhonO2CWlIWss5XZ3o6-aVxB2b_OUw_tq5Ig3x0yf2fa_cGuhyphenhyphenWvCJjdHR2xGC/s320/18.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">1</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVCwf61aBZIcfaVGzFFDkd2M0gRo3YxOH-DzfUNvds2KyxX6CWTLENlNLJeerd29XsgjLAQ4v-9TbEMLGma-O_8qubCeVhyphenhyphenJ4NNEGSRFNOSyC5eycZqANRd-T6vXbA6NMCNWom/s1600/DSC01189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVCwf61aBZIcfaVGzFFDkd2M0gRo3YxOH-DzfUNvds2KyxX6CWTLENlNLJeerd29XsgjLAQ4v-9TbEMLGma-O_8qubCeVhyphenhyphenJ4NNEGSRFNOSyC5eycZqANRd-T6vXbA6NMCNWom/s320/DSC01189.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">2</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHoF6uagclnEfK0md7-E7n94Jl3QxqsqKDPJSF3yfQxgdo0WLHuvZsj6iVYWE_TJd7JrqMY0_UugjWReAThh1HaKtx23FWbVkxGgaf75u6SVhAkhDSq-x9XGFKyACQiQYPnMkI/s1600/DSC02055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHoF6uagclnEfK0md7-E7n94Jl3QxqsqKDPJSF3yfQxgdo0WLHuvZsj6iVYWE_TJd7JrqMY0_UugjWReAThh1HaKtx23FWbVkxGgaf75u6SVhAkhDSq-x9XGFKyACQiQYPnMkI/s320/DSC02055.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">3</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7YbLepaVcO8ecU1m2K-1v4TkjkvIIsLJlnfXjEGOXDdXW9gaFw45yT9qevs34RtzYDUdgTcHeFPovKRYzTlrLKyD7bWOoZSR-Ki2e9-aTztwgSktG8zjY4BdWfjZ5cLzUkteD/s1600/DSC02827.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7YbLepaVcO8ecU1m2K-1v4TkjkvIIsLJlnfXjEGOXDdXW9gaFw45yT9qevs34RtzYDUdgTcHeFPovKRYzTlrLKyD7bWOoZSR-Ki2e9-aTztwgSktG8zjY4BdWfjZ5cLzUkteD/s320/DSC02827.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">4</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl4REU8ktcbMQCmekMPUcI-BClVBqXzRHoV1FujsRuwNp4jEb0g9sg2H4EUckT8qfEydGZukyZfTITCVdrH1pijMaows_GeuYfIYplSr4qOK_zfMC0Rb_tcTqHdbSrlKFGwaPm/s1600/IMG_9121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl4REU8ktcbMQCmekMPUcI-BClVBqXzRHoV1FujsRuwNp4jEb0g9sg2H4EUckT8qfEydGZukyZfTITCVdrH1pijMaows_GeuYfIYplSr4qOK_zfMC0Rb_tcTqHdbSrlKFGwaPm/s320/IMG_9121.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">5</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAk_ZMyR3_3Z606HemFC3rmNDodUZrdKenI4coyTInK2Q-qMUy_BoQaXkHMeVMeetq2J6ivpWQKRZu-igcc0EzRQwyg1traA6BwN2S_dwMIaVeGnNUVxzeFq31ZBSyQOHY00cO/s1600/IMG_1413.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAk_ZMyR3_3Z606HemFC3rmNDodUZrdKenI4coyTInK2Q-qMUy_BoQaXkHMeVMeetq2J6ivpWQKRZu-igcc0EzRQwyg1traA6BwN2S_dwMIaVeGnNUVxzeFq31ZBSyQOHY00cO/s320/IMG_1413.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">6</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgItF8mCT8tFxi2FucCErDnpHnC9OrcQbGWZysNu137RcKo3Jv2LElQj3Y_zZMURQf-BdrRUE50g5UWaRjSJYkM6boMoRit6U4qXMTsEZwj_saZKx9frhGV0wk1kaogzn91TN-C/s1600/IMG_3654.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgItF8mCT8tFxi2FucCErDnpHnC9OrcQbGWZysNu137RcKo3Jv2LElQj3Y_zZMURQf-BdrRUE50g5UWaRjSJYkM6boMoRit6U4qXMTsEZwj_saZKx9frhGV0wk1kaogzn91TN-C/s320/IMG_3654.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">i know one 6 year old that's had one full life!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>andiewadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03674104592081249172noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721791.post-59594194581914551522011-09-01T10:27:00.000-04:002011-09-01T10:27:48.565-04:00FLYing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">i've discovered <a href="http://flylady.com/">the fly lady</a>. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">in the past, i've always tried to figure out some kind of good cleaning schedule... and failed miserably. i just can't seem to get in the habit of following a schedule, but i know that if it ever clicks, it'll be great and will help me keep up with my house as life happens.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">of course, we just moved into a furnished place for the time being and our personal possessions only consisted of 8 suitcases. so i really don't have clutter to deal with. i don't have any closets to clean out (except for some of my kids' clothes that i'm noticed are getting too small) and i certainly don't have anything to put in a yard sale pile. (yay!) but i really want to develop some good habits.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">fly lady sends out emails every day, but she encourages you not to read them until you get through her <a href="http://www.flylady.net/pages/begin_babysteps.asp">31 baby steps</a> (i'm only on baby step #5, so i can't vouch for the emails yet). i thought the baby steps would be something to do/clean in my house each day, but they're not. their purpose is to help you form habits. day 1 is all about shining your sink.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and here's my shiny sink!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtNaNv7MXuKkibG0z5iLX_wUA-EFwggq0IATeGuv2F9qNr2f3PQHl-RC7I3MiklBAZ9PN0UiWRy6kGNFrIbjQLgPwo5LPDY1As8VE86hAIMCWld77eCXKfEQ86CMo4WZu6Ffo2/s1600/IMG_3385.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtNaNv7MXuKkibG0z5iLX_wUA-EFwggq0IATeGuv2F9qNr2f3PQHl-RC7I3MiklBAZ9PN0UiWRy6kGNFrIbjQLgPwo5LPDY1As8VE86hAIMCWld77eCXKfEQ86CMo4WZu6Ffo2/s320/IMG_3385.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">so far the first 5 days are just building the habit of keeping a shiny sink and getting dressed each morning. slow and steady wins the race, right?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">this is what i need because i'm definitely the person that jumps head first into a new routine, slips in one aspect, and then gives up everything. go shine your sink!</div>andiewadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03674104592081249172noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721791.post-65485232591864431812011-08-29T21:45:00.001-04:002011-08-29T21:46:15.018-04:00new stages<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">summer is drawing to an unbelievably quick close. i mean, i'm definitely that person that has a fall-weather countdown going since about the end of may, but the speed of this summer has been nothing short of indecent. i guess that's what happens when you get b.u.s.y.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">as we're practically staring fall in the face, i thought i'd let you know what our upcoming most-wonderful-time-of-the-year is going to look like. in short, it will look completely different for my family from past falls. this is what we have going on:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">rachel: kindergarten kindergarten kindergarten. she likes her teacher, has new friends, and gets really excited about library day, but she expresses daily that she misses being home with me. and since i'm still missing her a lot, it's just enough to make a mommy's heart break. i really miss homeschooling like we did last year, but we're confident that this is what the Lord has for her (and us) this year. since there is a distinct possibility we'll be back overseas next fall, we'll be reevaluating school options again! with a life like ours, we'll definitely be taking education one year at a time for both children. (i'm already looking forward to more homeschooling years in the future.) rachel is also going to be starting up a new ballet and tap class at a studio just down the street from us. this girl likes to dance. AND she's participating in the awana program at <a href="http://www.opendoorlife.com/">our church</a> on sunday nights. i have one busy 5 (almost 6???) year old.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">lucas: this little man is going to be hitting up preschool 4 mornings a week, also at our church. this will actually be his second preschool experience, but since the first time was in a non-english speaking school overseas that he was technically too young for and the teachers carried him around all day because they loved his blonde hair (he came home smelling like perfume every day), the two experiences won't resemble each other in any way! he's also starting up awana this year. hooray for my little cubbie! he can't wait to say his first verse on sunday (i didn't think he would be into saying verses for his leader each week, but man, this kid wants badges on his vest!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">hubby: will be working super hard for his family, as always. his weekday job involves him being outside. all. the. time. which, as you can imagine, wasn't so fun all throughout the summer. he's really looking forward to a job that will let him be outside for all the fall weather, though. he's also excited about helping out some with our church's youth ministry this year. and he might get an opportunity to teach a class on sunday nights. i sure do like that guy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">me, myself, and i: i have a real-live job being a real-live preschool teacher, the same preschool lucas will be attending, but i'll be working with a class full of 4-year-olds and also doing music and movement once a week. we had open house last night and finally got a chance to meet the kids we've been preparing for all this time. it was a lot of fun and i'm really excited about the opportunity to be an "official" teacher :). (just so you know, decorating bulletin boards isn't for the faint of heart. i have a brand new respect for all you teachers out there with just the amount of work that goes into preparing a classroom before the kiddos come and tear it up.) i haven't had a job outside of my house since before lucas was born, so it's been a pretty big adjustment for me, mainly with my time management. i've also picked up a little violin student along the way. even though we're not technically "homeschooling" this year, i sure am doing a lot of teaching still!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">i think the biggest adjustment i'm having to make with this year is that, with officially being out of the baby stage, our 4-person family seems to be going in 4 different directions each day. i know many families do this all the time, but it's really different for us. i've been home with my kids for a while and when we were overseas our whole family was together a majority of the time. that would probably drive some families crazy, but we loved it. every minute of it. don't get me wrong, i'm excited about this year and all the busy-ness that will come with it, but i miss my family. weekends are all the more glorious since that's when we all get to be home together. but now it's time for another week!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8HkbeUlASFTDyLmFvhyphenhyphenLBGm_3D72n3gnYBL48zQFfesJ_5tGjVypwCL8_q4nKUXOa0zd9wJTNiHzSeSwR-iD7KTbANF-0kGzB43G5FGm5xBeE2DKfkJo6cekM02geT_Awwrx7/s1600/IMG_3379.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8HkbeUlASFTDyLmFvhyphenhyphenLBGm_3D72n3gnYBL48zQFfesJ_5tGjVypwCL8_q4nKUXOa0zd9wJTNiHzSeSwR-iD7KTbANF-0kGzB43G5FGm5xBeE2DKfkJo6cekM02geT_Awwrx7/s320/IMG_3379.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
andiewadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03674104592081249172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721791.post-66507321254570748832011-08-26T10:51:00.000-04:002011-08-26T10:51:41.132-04:00i must have blinked...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...because where did august go?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6dIFudSWfeloAo4fJKITOy94mPYc-kSg3WFtxlPhECYGeu-dLnQ2hhxk3MxXpIXyKyDW8STfpfcCFR0191Ik5LhlswSe2014wcqVKBIskUJGAdPmWbVxRpMpqWlQIfjXLUpWk/s1600/IMG_3346.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6dIFudSWfeloAo4fJKITOy94mPYc-kSg3WFtxlPhECYGeu-dLnQ2hhxk3MxXpIXyKyDW8STfpfcCFR0191Ik5LhlswSe2014wcqVKBIskUJGAdPmWbVxRpMpqWlQIfjXLUpWk/s320/IMG_3346.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">check out my pointy-toed ballerina</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoVd5fvgLlb0cnbdJuERaOSEDVAeZ4LvO-gfKH_QgJ73ltr4sDXy-DxYBMhnV7FNjyN2jd2rbkwriA3SxJH7itvY-vfKCRteZdtDJFZOB7THJjukvbE1lJZ-qmfUY1ak7aJlkQ/s1600/IMG_3352.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoVd5fvgLlb0cnbdJuERaOSEDVAeZ4LvO-gfKH_QgJ73ltr4sDXy-DxYBMhnV7FNjyN2jd2rbkwriA3SxJH7itvY-vfKCRteZdtDJFZOB7THJjukvbE1lJZ-qmfUY1ak7aJlkQ/s320/IMG_3352.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir8z3LuYUr5esFaRPJjcv6ERwMZQFoorIoD2JjzvAn12d696PJ2HDjE9vCENkyD9RyA2KNYGpJolqYO9gSrS1UhVxHEmBG56q69oe4raUeITRDXq0VoWSPqqTfrUuUYQTomszw/s1600/IMG_3376.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir8z3LuYUr5esFaRPJjcv6ERwMZQFoorIoD2JjzvAn12d696PJ2HDjE9vCENkyD9RyA2KNYGpJolqYO9gSrS1UhVxHEmBG56q69oe4raUeITRDXq0VoWSPqqTfrUuUYQTomszw/s320/IMG_3376.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">first position looking good. this is her last summer class. she's so excited to start again in the fall. (and mommy's so excited that it'll be just down the street from our house!)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK2DjQ9A5fUE0bFEJhCLGLwZAz_XYz5tp5Uxfi0Xyt4JB_mvKVtihw8GRI3lOcMNKYxEkBjcLdtJJxrmaa0FJsmUPGs7AFB2zOouOx4r7iEuzVCKuAH0H6aoZzG0LIYvMl2fzr/s1600/IMG_3355.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK2DjQ9A5fUE0bFEJhCLGLwZAz_XYz5tp5Uxfi0Xyt4JB_mvKVtihw8GRI3lOcMNKYxEkBjcLdtJJxrmaa0FJsmUPGs7AFB2zOouOx4r7iEuzVCKuAH0H6aoZzG0LIYvMl2fzr/s320/IMG_3355.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">rachel loves ms. christina!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCJ-EfBHNA-Igb0ZWu4mapbSk7QIPi4aX_1G_g0J9HUNpyli6c73mLyXFp0eiYRg7329LCtmPkBqDsVc8wiyZgJfl-D6KsFRUzmHQSrKVnVhJUzSJGeJcEP_1DgV5XEIn1HbY3/s1600/IMG_3378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCJ-EfBHNA-Igb0ZWu4mapbSk7QIPi4aX_1G_g0J9HUNpyli6c73mLyXFp0eiYRg7329LCtmPkBqDsVc8wiyZgJfl-D6KsFRUzmHQSrKVnVhJUzSJGeJcEP_1DgV5XEIn1HbY3/s320/IMG_3378.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
andiewadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03674104592081249172noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721791.post-64680675694220343402011-08-08T12:17:00.000-04:002011-08-08T12:17:28.737-04:00i forgot something...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">some official post-haircut pics :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0aJVBL3YjzAkvItCYQzVNUxhz30yQGD3mWevoT_cFzBwhAhaPaHGCioAwO3CEIrKlM_wFfKkTdhvfnQpMPp6F6l42wUr5MjVnR_UgweHtjSBJRH58JCMM_Z4WqhVN3tvKeUZ1/s1600/IMG_3198.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0aJVBL3YjzAkvItCYQzVNUxhz30yQGD3mWevoT_cFzBwhAhaPaHGCioAwO3CEIrKlM_wFfKkTdhvfnQpMPp6F6l42wUr5MjVnR_UgweHtjSBJRH58JCMM_Z4WqhVN3tvKeUZ1/s320/IMG_3198.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">little man got some chopped off, too. who knew i had such grown-up looking kids under all that hair??</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR4W91SDDNniNZAofnqmqFvbJrwV9y4RnyrvR-zfgaiOzx4VY2iW1PqnFQHQYD4dXWf9GF0QELyXT7CHEwa1GyfcKYdSunpLKlhy2Cnyd41C_QAlUWDDXjDCvNi0A4F-S6yjzM/s1600/IMG_3209.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR4W91SDDNniNZAofnqmqFvbJrwV9y4RnyrvR-zfgaiOzx4VY2iW1PqnFQHQYD4dXWf9GF0QELyXT7CHEwa1GyfcKYdSunpLKlhy2Cnyd41C_QAlUWDDXjDCvNi0A4F-S6yjzM/s320/IMG_3209.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
andiewadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03674104592081249172noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721791.post-53909320962036102372011-08-03T13:57:00.000-04:002011-08-03T13:57:35.819-04:00another favorite<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">even though my daughter started kindergarten a few weeks ago, she's already tracked out for the next 3 weeks. so we've returned to summer vacation mode. i am, however, trying to add a tad bit more structure to our days. that structure being a picnic lunch in the living room with nihao kailan, turn the tv off promptly at 1:00 because yo gabba gabba comes on (and since the entire IQ of the room drops about 47 points whenever that show is on, i don't allow it), and then we have snuggle time on the couch with a few books before nap time (their pick). this reading time has resurrected one of rachel's favorite books from our homeschooling last year:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH7scDydMUiM2oLFhFQjvwXArwlRckb8i8Rq0TTRi9ryf9wvYUtjisOfkRXFk_sESJmwnoMazJzTGx21-VITI6XGkimynAaFGyPHcirn_7KGn7SdHpmENvJl39PFo8MuoK7Uxk/s1600/PA08-m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH7scDydMUiM2oLFhFQjvwXArwlRckb8i8Rq0TTRi9ryf9wvYUtjisOfkRXFk_sESJmwnoMazJzTGx21-VITI6XGkimynAaFGyPHcirn_7KGn7SdHpmENvJl39PFo8MuoK7Uxk/s1600/PA08-m.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">i LOVE <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Milly-Molly-Mandy-Storybook-Joyce-Lankester-Brisley/dp/0753453320/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1312392912&sr=8-1">milly molly mandy.</a> this book is a collection of 21 stories about millicent margaret amanda (milly molly mandy for short... because that's easier to say... right?) and was written in 1928. the old-timey-ness of this book makes me an instant fan. the fact that they say "frock" instead of dress, that their house has a thatched roof, and that they have to "put the pony in the trap" to go pick someone up from the train station is basically the best thing ever.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">each story is about 10 pages long with very few pictures (usually 2 pictures per story). as we read through this book together last year i noticed a profound increase in my daughter's attention span with the picture-less stories. sometimes she wants me to follow the words with my finger so she can see where i am. other times she lays down and just watches my face as i read. i don't get away without reading at LEAST 2 of these stories in a sitting... if my voice can hold up, that is. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">it's safe to say that reading with my kids is just about one of my favorite things ever.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">click <a href="http://andiewade.blogspot.com/2011/02/rachels-favorites.html">here</a> for some more of rachel's favorites that we like to keep handy.</div>andiewadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03674104592081249172noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721791.post-80892223004479686212011-07-23T14:38:00.001-04:002011-07-23T14:41:03.737-04:00haircut day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">over a month ago, my daughter approached me and declared she wanted to get her hair cut short so she could give it to the wig people so the little sick kids can have hair.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">say what?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">how she learned about the <a href="http://www.locksoflove.org/">"wig people"</a> i'm not entirely sure. and it was a subject she wouldn't drop. i wanted her to understand that this was a big decision and once that gorgeous hair is gone, it's gone, and it won't be long again for a loooong time. but she never once wavered in her decision.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">so i made the appointment.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">but the day before our appointment, the other child in my household broke his arm. in the interest of not having to buckle him up in a car seat, i postponed the appointment until this morning.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">after a yummy breakfast at ihop (complete with various pig meats that our children loved to announce to the whole restaurant we were eating... they're still not used to being able to eat pig since being back in the states), we arrived at "the cutting store," according to rachel pamela (a. k. a. the fabulous kathleen weathers).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">look at those locks.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8__avisDDbyWknS6e3bC5HNNuIgPV373gXIR8Eg81FQ_mIe5259uSITOKbS2vNvalo8AQfHdtjsywQaCRh__FTJ9UKasQSH0wg675Gz30GAEy9D59cGgHWWLFgwN5KjodLudg/s1600/IMG_3184.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8__avisDDbyWknS6e3bC5HNNuIgPV373gXIR8Eg81FQ_mIe5259uSITOKbS2vNvalo8AQfHdtjsywQaCRh__FTJ9UKasQSH0wg675Gz30GAEy9D59cGgHWWLFgwN5KjodLudg/s320/IMG_3184.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">the first snip. no going back now.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL-7xFE3DuT1lmBEpCkl9e72RT_1aKnbJ1kgBiIM_m6bjyt__Tko0YeYcfBTLvunCLa1cZwIN0EpEGBogKJxeJrdVxPnvrqJuNJ1WmVx9Am1r00Dn6dZzFipqZy5jCN7oW8PjM/s1600/IMG_3186.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL-7xFE3DuT1lmBEpCkl9e72RT_1aKnbJ1kgBiIM_m6bjyt__Tko0YeYcfBTLvunCLa1cZwIN0EpEGBogKJxeJrdVxPnvrqJuNJ1WmVx9Am1r00Dn6dZzFipqZy5jCN7oW8PjM/s320/IMG_3186.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4fr6G90BgFLrSdA8J4zkdrhBJMpw1jzSux5P37Q-CkjQWQca5bpLlR__1bGfYbQ-vYpmysMQCtD5oXMkX-n-vnIqDKZsmGRkf0qy9WFzkiBDJG_XnqtiFupJdCCl4w-yTbBYG/s1600/IMG_3187.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4fr6G90BgFLrSdA8J4zkdrhBJMpw1jzSux5P37Q-CkjQWQca5bpLlR__1bGfYbQ-vYpmysMQCtD5oXMkX-n-vnIqDKZsmGRkf0qy9WFzkiBDJG_XnqtiFupJdCCl4w-yTbBYG/s320/IMG_3187.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">who knew this grown up lady was hiding underneath all that hair? i don't know if i'd recognize her in a crowd.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI-XEQacbfNDjGZvO5-s9rw_FLL8ruWJ0um8HWnwrTaT3YnrYPSh3jVCYHHsfTfx5ht354pv9SPvGw_yA5q7b4P0zbyZx68-b-HKpwR-lc-q7uGGc73KGqEVwZ9GwlYJmQ65XK/s1600/IMG_3190.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI-XEQacbfNDjGZvO5-s9rw_FLL8ruWJ0um8HWnwrTaT3YnrYPSh3jVCYHHsfTfx5ht354pv9SPvGw_yA5q7b4P0zbyZx68-b-HKpwR-lc-q7uGGc73KGqEVwZ9GwlYJmQ65XK/s320/IMG_3190.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">this hair will make some little child very happy one day!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOb0bjrL1P_AClpL7PbosU1mst2ui-cV6PuZ2bMVZ8uHuNgAHsZw2XNaLAX-CCxskVuBzQlEZfFWCIWH2ldq7W0U3mKY5vy5lRRn41kbAzypXXGffqN2JYgwduksW90Cwhv6eV/s1600/IMG_3193.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOb0bjrL1P_AClpL7PbosU1mst2ui-cV6PuZ2bMVZ8uHuNgAHsZw2XNaLAX-CCxskVuBzQlEZfFWCIWH2ldq7W0U3mKY5vy5lRRn41kbAzypXXGffqN2JYgwduksW90Cwhv6eV/s320/IMG_3193.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">man, i'm proud of that girl.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>andiewadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03674104592081249172noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721791.post-76023372592268371722011-07-21T13:13:00.000-04:002011-07-21T13:13:24.505-04:00for my big girl<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">as i was shopping for some last minute school supplies sunday night (the night before my daughter's first full week of kindergarten) i had an idea. i wanted to get her something special. something for a real big girl. a necklace. and not your little-girl-dress-up variety. a real grown-up necklace. i found this at target.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4wmPusnRukYMSiNUv0YbBNgdj88mFXrtH16rZ7XmcCJFYIowc3eqoAJSkellg7Dc6iMMwtmj0GWWxyRPNm1Im1XMkCh-V9PceJKx9BmZNcyjnYqJZqhvHR9J-R3xA7MMB0IIC/s1600/IMG_3123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4wmPusnRukYMSiNUv0YbBNgdj88mFXrtH16rZ7XmcCJFYIowc3eqoAJSkellg7Dc6iMMwtmj0GWWxyRPNm1Im1XMkCh-V9PceJKx9BmZNcyjnYqJZqhvHR9J-R3xA7MMB0IIC/s320/IMG_3123.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">it felt so bittersweet to give her something special as i sent her off to a new part of her life that i won't get to experience with her. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQEEsqV5nOxnlddLOTEeS7Ysf6kV5507C0HY1YC_-QH9TxDs_TpzBWTNryxYrhWxmIsim1x2oXuoFVbEtU_SsnyLAeIwjlWMdJ6ceVaTfDR-gwF5r3MCOND5HyUg1sELTT1_yl/s1600/IMG_3127.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQEEsqV5nOxnlddLOTEeS7Ysf6kV5507C0HY1YC_-QH9TxDs_TpzBWTNryxYrhWxmIsim1x2oXuoFVbEtU_SsnyLAeIwjlWMdJ6ceVaTfDR-gwF5r3MCOND5HyUg1sELTT1_yl/s320/IMG_3127.jpg" width="287" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">her mommy and brother are missing her a lot these days as we all adjust!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaUG9xjKa9T2EGr9NyfvLtZGoGvMCtqHbTpGNuflpBiTSzpkQZRsIZYxJqOxtkOVaX3423GAMyp9TieCk1CMaxuQe7O4Qe2qUUS4K45xfh76rTWN_B_lrSUZOFsa4g3DDXuRHa/s1600/IMG_3129.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaUG9xjKa9T2EGr9NyfvLtZGoGvMCtqHbTpGNuflpBiTSzpkQZRsIZYxJqOxtkOVaX3423GAMyp9TieCk1CMaxuQe7O4Qe2qUUS4K45xfh76rTWN_B_lrSUZOFsa4g3DDXuRHa/s320/IMG_3129.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>andiewadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03674104592081249172noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721791.post-55695968297612457522011-07-20T08:58:00.000-04:002011-07-20T08:58:33.435-04:00bubbs update<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">last wednesday, i packed a ginormous bag of snacks and things to do for my little man because i had no idea of what to expect when we went back to the hospital to have more tests done. on the day that i heard the scary word "cyst," i also heard other scary words like "cat-scan" and "biopsy." i was mentally prepared for my son (and me) to have an awful day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">**word of advice, if you ever have to go through anything like this for yourself or your child (oh, and i pray you never, never do), have a friend go with you. it doesn't even have to be a best friend. just to have an objective ear in the room to listen to all the information because i assure you your brain will be in an advanced stage of explosion and you won't hear most of it. and if that friend happens to be on her way to nursing school and knows how to ask medical questions with fancy words on your behalf, all the better.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">after filling out a pile of paperwork that rivaled our mortgage we were ushered in to have another x-ray. i have to brag on my son here because during his first x-ray he was screaming and crying and scared and in too much pain too move. this time around he hopped onto the table, laid down, held his arm and shoulder like a statue just like the nurse asked him to, and couldn't stop talking the rest of the day about how "i didn't cry!"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">we were ushered into another little waiting room for a surprisingly short wait. then we got to talk to 2 separate doctors, one of whom was the cream of the crop in the land of orthopedics according to his resume. (i didn't know if this was a bad sign to have such a doctor or not.) i was waiting for him to tell us what we needed to do to prepare for the next test, whatever that may be, but it turns out they could see everything they needed to see just from the x-ray.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">it's a classic, textbook bone cyst, which by definition is benign. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">me: so you're sure it's benign?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">doctor smarty-pants: yes, we're confident it's a classic bone cyst. we don't know what causes these cysts, but they're always benign. sometimes people never even know they have them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">me: so i don't have to worry about that any more?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">doctor smarty-pants: if i were worried, i'd tell you. i'm not worried.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">he also said that the cyst hasn't crossed his growth plate, which would've been a problem for his bone development in the future. (this was a question my smarty-pants-almost-nursing-student friend knew to ask. i wouldn't have had a clue.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">he ALSO said that after a break sometimes the bone can heal itself. but if that doesn't happen, they'll inject something into the bone to fill in the hollow area so it won't be so prone to breaking in the future.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and we were outta there before lunch.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">so good news, good news, and more good news. i had actually considered packing pjs for all of us because i had images of being admitted and my tiny son in a hospital bed getting his first radiation treatment... no, my brain doesn't automatically go to the worst scenario. why do you ask?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">so what now? we have another x-ray scheduled next week to check on the healing process. lucas is actually spending most of his time out of the sling now and is using his arm a lot more. he tells me it feels a lot better and he likes to show me how much he can move it. my little man has come through a lot of pain and he's a real trooper.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(and on a totally different subject, i think my little guy is really enjoying having his mommy all to himself while his big sister's in school. yesterday i asked him to start the dishwasher for me [which is a favorite chore around here and something my kids will actually fight about. i'll have to remind them of this in a few years, i'm sure.]. he sauntered across the kitchen, sighed a contented little sigh, and said, "it's just you and me!")</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsVX9U9MG1TaR-c9PKKEhdVTROjxxtBtGfpg-b61L1mLCVq9r_elF7fXXLCuwQTLTj9klP83pdQFYQ2sGtjA9HXCjY85uRgmgXLnXogr9QSomymRWQfSH91GcsixeZdyjphvoL/s1600/IMG_3109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsVX9U9MG1TaR-c9PKKEhdVTROjxxtBtGfpg-b61L1mLCVq9r_elF7fXXLCuwQTLTj9klP83pdQFYQ2sGtjA9HXCjY85uRgmgXLnXogr9QSomymRWQfSH91GcsixeZdyjphvoL/s320/IMG_3109.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>(note the sandwich shape preferences: lucas likes rectangle. rachel prefers the triangle variety. these are the details mommies get to know about their babies.)</i></div>andiewadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03674104592081249172noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721791.post-67410014444186439912011-07-11T09:18:00.000-04:002011-07-11T09:18:13.176-04:00today<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">with the transient and semi-unstable lifestyle that we've chosen for ourselves (currently being split between two continents), we're taking school year by year. there will be years of homeschooling. other years the kids will be sent to a big, red schoolhouse. today marked our first day of big, red schoolhouse adventures. i'm looking forward to sharing them with you throughout the year!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">rachel helped me pack her lunch up last night in her brand, new tinkerbell lunchbox. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5hMCDeDJvgbLzPTw5u_X4TEeOFztY1CM5LlNcpQYcI_psbS5aaDAU0_9TsIw4CyVQ2kyvItOE83WysALHg63yH5a_vTov8SfbWnMWiVMriwoew_kNGbmuMoLWk1VCP_i9fKyQ/s1600/IMG_3074.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5hMCDeDJvgbLzPTw5u_X4TEeOFztY1CM5LlNcpQYcI_psbS5aaDAU0_9TsIw4CyVQ2kyvItOE83WysALHg63yH5a_vTov8SfbWnMWiVMriwoew_kNGbmuMoLWk1VCP_i9fKyQ/s320/IMG_3074.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">she was pretty bummed when i told her we were going to have to wake up pretty early to get ready for school. i was planning on getting up before the kids (which had me a little bummed, too) so i could get their breakfasts ready while they snoozed a little extra. but it turns out rachel was already awake and ready to go when i got up. so i let the little man snooze a little extra. he was pretty un-enthused to get up early to walk his sister to school.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtHOCf9gcUxMVR6hghzhQru5zpaV7UxZlO7BUNVJQBBIs0Vky_nUg_g2f7A-3HcKszdP4y1UiS3YFM_A0sWsPZB70AJllczhrxbGGt0W9DtzEf4NlbPpbrWO6npYBhRFvFxZz9/s1600/IMG_3078.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtHOCf9gcUxMVR6hghzhQru5zpaV7UxZlO7BUNVJQBBIs0Vky_nUg_g2f7A-3HcKszdP4y1UiS3YFM_A0sWsPZB70AJllczhrxbGGt0W9DtzEf4NlbPpbrWO6npYBhRFvFxZz9/s320/IMG_3078.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">bookbag: check. lunch: check. rest mat: check. precious paper with room number: check. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">here she is walking across the parking lot to school. oh, how i had to fight for this walk! this was my first big frustration with the public school system: the fact that we lived next door to an elementary school, but weren't zoned for it. i requested a transfer, got denied, had to appeal, and finally was granted permission for my daughter to walk next door. (there were other factors going into my transfer request other than our proximity to the school, but come on. their teachers park in my front yard.)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghbR7_XuEPgAqzw8btYy6q1FHH7zzwG38R14uQNXNUBiu8IIMi5QPIPXhWfNsA_XmBrZUFaV406rQ6GM1bq0XB-jKigTAA7i71KUVS9nbGwE9OD3cwaFA-IZ5Lk0n9JqAS6Uli/s1600/IMG_3079.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghbR7_XuEPgAqzw8btYy6q1FHH7zzwG38R14uQNXNUBiu8IIMi5QPIPXhWfNsA_XmBrZUFaV406rQ6GM1bq0XB-jKigTAA7i71KUVS9nbGwE9OD3cwaFA-IZ5Lk0n9JqAS6Uli/s320/IMG_3079.jpg" width="278" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">i expected to be all weepy and huggy when i dropped my daughter off and watched her walk into the school like such a big girl, but after the events of last week with my precious boy, a first day of kindergarten isn't nearly as big of a deal and slightly anti-climactic. lucas and i got to chase a rabbit on the walk back home and he admired the school buses. it's just you and me now, bubbs!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivGarK2p6bRcU7o9u-hgJ4XLbipS6YmiTKcRSvGh-HCmKrjuhJKSPknQt20lJWei1sh9lpJW_n87uMTGqoEWtVoFbHnzU5_W_qVDXniCfc7ilhZZ69ZamOcKZE-B5_de6fhM81/s1600/IMG_3083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivGarK2p6bRcU7o9u-hgJ4XLbipS6YmiTKcRSvGh-HCmKrjuhJKSPknQt20lJWei1sh9lpJW_n87uMTGqoEWtVoFbHnzU5_W_qVDXniCfc7ilhZZ69ZamOcKZE-B5_de6fhM81/s320/IMG_3083.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">actually this is rachel's only real school day this week. today is assessment day, thursday i'll get news of who her teacher is and where her classroom is, and we'll go meet her teacher on friday. next monday will start her first full big, red schoolhouse school week!</div>andiewadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03674104592081249172noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721791.post-63052118398764396362011-07-08T12:13:00.001-04:002011-07-23T15:20:38.323-04:00yesterday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">it started like any other day. stumble out of bed. scrounge up some breakfast for the kiddos. don't forget the gummy vitamins. pour some coffee for myself. try to get outside to play early before it gets too hot. normal as normal can be. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">we weren't outside maybe 10 minutes before i saw lucas trip and fall. just like he trips and falls every single day, multiple times a day. it's all part of the being-a-3-year-old-boy package. but as soon as i heard his scream after hitting the ground i knew there was something different about this fall. i just didn't know how different, yet.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">he was holding his arm and i knew it was really hurting him. he can usually shake things off pretty quickly. i got his shirt off of him (which involved more screaming), but saw no blood, no swelling, no nothing. i kept some ice on it off and on, but 2 hours later, when he was still crying and still not wanting to move it, i accepted this wasn't a boo-boo that mommy could kiss away (not a feeling any mommy particularly likes). i strapped my shirtless boy into his car seat (which lead to more screaming as i had to move the strap around his arm) and headed to a nearby urgent care. after getting him out of the car seat (again, awful), they said i needed to take him to the emergency room because they didn't have the proper x-ray equipment for such a small child. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">back in the car seat he went (just getting awfuller). i have never taken one of my kids to the emergency room. i found the entrance and started looking for a close parking place. no dice. thanks to mr. shiny gas-guzzler truck that decided to take up two spaces... in front of the EMERGENCY entrance. seriously?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">i got him checked in and admitted. after a short wait, they lead us from room to room checking his vitals and getting different information from me (i was so flustered i actually forgot his middle initial for a minute. i was afraid they were going to think i had abducted him). all the while, i'm staring at his skinny little limp arm and wishing i had x-ray vision. they lead us into the x-ray room with brightly colored walls. i stared at the mural clearly meant for children and wondered if it had ever succeeded in cheering anyone up who had to enter this room. it surely didn't do the trick for my son and me. then i had to lay my pitiful little boy on the big white table as the nurse pulled over the huge x-ray camera that was bigger than my son. then i saw the fear enter his eyes. i saw him reach for me and tell me over and over again "don't leave me, mommy." i thought about the thousands of parents who had probably experienced the same surreal thing that i had in that room. and i kept thinking to myself, "but today started out so normal..."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">we were then led to a little hospital room to wait for the doctor. when we got there, i was relieved to see my neighbor in the room. my hubby was an hour away at work and this was definitely a day when i needed some moral support. the doctor came in pretty quickly and told me that he had broken his arm. what was peculiar about this break is that is was up close to his left shoulder, a place where kids just don't break their arms. as she proceeded to explain to me why the bone broke, i had the unbelievable experience of holding my child in a hospital room and hear the word "cyst" come out of a doctor's mouth. there is a very large cyst in his upper humurus, making a lot of hollow space in his bone, which is why it broke after a simple trip and fall. of course, at this point my brain exploded and my frantic hubby was on the way.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">some good news came after some other doctors had a look at his x-ray. the cyst is symmetrical, which is apparently a sign that it may be benign and something he was born with. we'll head to unc chapel hill on wednesday to have further tests run. even if it is benign, the bone will have to be filled up or it will continue to get weaker and more brittle. the doctor was very positive and encouraging. for now, my little guy is drugged up and sporting just about the cutest little sling ever.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">all day i couldn't help thinking about people with longterm health issues (and their parents). people that have to be in and out of the hospital, always have to have blood work done and prescriptions to fill. people that have a big part of their life defined by an illness. for all of those people, there was a day one. a day where things went from normal to never the same again. i was really struck with that thought for some reason. the comfort i got from all this, cliche though it may be, is that even though we were taken completely off guard, God has known of this day since the beginning and He's been preparing us for it in ways we're not even aware of. and i've been so encouraged by so many sweet messages and phone calls of people saying they're praying. we've even gotten word of people we've never met praying for our precious boy. the Kingdom is truly a marvelous thing and it's times like these when it's revealed more clearly. of course i pray for my son to be healed. i also pray for His Name is remain above all others. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">thanks for reading, if you've made it this far! i wanted to share all the information i knew with all of you and i also needed to write it out for my own sake :).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq0zeofK0Fpo1KnPB8uywlC3FnFV7XRylXSX6ppoxLLTlQF7WdQETWgtZJkoB5LkPFxxNA1J1dT1qZA1GXFbQ1flyrjCgHcpDkT-1hqElI40UROrXgmR4IUO3vDqiMBvWx5o0T/s1600/IMG_3073.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq0zeofK0Fpo1KnPB8uywlC3FnFV7XRylXSX6ppoxLLTlQF7WdQETWgtZJkoB5LkPFxxNA1J1dT1qZA1GXFbQ1flyrjCgHcpDkT-1hqElI40UROrXgmR4IUO3vDqiMBvWx5o0T/s200/IMG_3073.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1tHURO_28BnH_GzidWV5aQsDZfWa9T6Yf42ycqeqrgkIO0QQvABL6SnTqhWSFKUTeX2g-aj6HG3jDyc6I5eCrzFEzFINLZ-yTqTzKsaExlig0zr06sCT70TOsd9Jbo2sD5nCF/s1600/IMG_3072.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1tHURO_28BnH_GzidWV5aQsDZfWa9T6Yf42ycqeqrgkIO0QQvABL6SnTqhWSFKUTeX2g-aj6HG3jDyc6I5eCrzFEzFINLZ-yTqTzKsaExlig0zr06sCT70TOsd9Jbo2sD5nCF/s200/IMG_3072.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRABFx-H0IF4jiCkZ_rXlmm55a1V3PaZ9GVgM8ZTwInuc0oohfHpBJYnQL8p8wxtBJJro-yHUa8zLekiaG2BVNzZ39abH2fqRzswbRT6t0saD2FzyD0D_vIE7i1eO3yOK4sr4X/s1600/IMG_3071.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRABFx-H0IF4jiCkZ_rXlmm55a1V3PaZ9GVgM8ZTwInuc0oohfHpBJYnQL8p8wxtBJJro-yHUa8zLekiaG2BVNzZ39abH2fqRzswbRT6t0saD2FzyD0D_vIE7i1eO3yOK4sr4X/s200/IMG_3071.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>andiewadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03674104592081249172noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721791.post-4596770181446165722011-07-01T14:09:00.001-04:002011-08-26T10:54:33.497-04:00summer school? (part 2)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">we're learning about the great outdoors...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH2NeaF2nxz2j3CLqkXYXep61ZEEPgUUvM5B3JhdVvO4_bnSQamCcBSiHmUbpLUBJwt_OlxjQo8vGcrWU290GNwmftH21b3e2IUOYiGstNxyNcSjjqXy39haOFRBVIf3vReFaF/s1600/IMG_2961.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH2NeaF2nxz2j3CLqkXYXep61ZEEPgUUvM5B3JhdVvO4_bnSQamCcBSiHmUbpLUBJwt_OlxjQo8vGcrWU290GNwmftH21b3e2IUOYiGstNxyNcSjjqXy39haOFRBVIf3vReFaF/s320/IMG_2961.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...about how to celebrate american holidays...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjenp0BkIkUX4zZMIiCYjuL0NxdTS03IG8kJ_bT-7v1JLLlQ8qMGHdYW13u43vRQLiAXFdDZ8WkqSLGRrG7SoRoKkz4woRgdYLA7w6mmair8msZjshmBP_nmJ1yQZFaTQEW_-lU/s1600/IMG_2972.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjenp0BkIkUX4zZMIiCYjuL0NxdTS03IG8kJ_bT-7v1JLLlQ8qMGHdYW13u43vRQLiAXFdDZ8WkqSLGRrG7SoRoKkz4woRgdYLA7w6mmair8msZjshmBP_nmJ1yQZFaTQEW_-lU/s320/IMG_2972.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">...about big girl bikes...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv2F_bAty6RrWz9rhmafXO-v8WiJaTM1Fubz3_ljUP0fstVVKKOgblLa1Vtr4LoPEINB56VZUbhSOy6XpU-gBSl-y6k2q6FksTL_zygrrFLClc3dUzp3lWzXTRplHqsXwSLc78/s1600/IMG_2980.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv2F_bAty6RrWz9rhmafXO-v8WiJaTM1Fubz3_ljUP0fstVVKKOgblLa1Vtr4LoPEINB56VZUbhSOy6XpU-gBSl-y6k2q6FksTL_zygrrFLClc3dUzp3lWzXTRplHqsXwSLc78/s320/IMG_2980.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">...about <a href="http://www.fox43tv.com/dpps/news/local/portsmouth/pokey-smokey-ii-grand-opening-saturday_3811022">choo-choo trains...</a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpRjnOESaa83AOoRIadxaDR3vI0u7VQm3xxO14ln0_9CDMjUhQdvYEwq0BxWY9F8DJVIEvQUaV95qTYd_tVrv1tnFMrG_H6BbDh2WjGXPZjYk5aukFYCTN5xYwFza9tUkLGcZO/s1600/IMG_3002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpRjnOESaa83AOoRIadxaDR3vI0u7VQm3xxO14ln0_9CDMjUhQdvYEwq0BxWY9F8DJVIEvQUaV95qTYd_tVrv1tnFMrG_H6BbDh2WjGXPZjYk5aukFYCTN5xYwFza9tUkLGcZO/s320/IMG_3002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">...about <a href="http://www.parents.com/toddlers-preschoolers/potty-training/tips/potty-training-tips/">a couple other things...</a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH6zcpEBta6EcpfaDPaeTpB6sD99Z4uOGiNvBhhwZPwzFuowturnNLeFBmpaQ6LcJ1rYofRoTh2-PY5SumXVnWrBt0YuFLwlQTTrmvzV6jtRtQXAbb6j9poe8C_OMZkvxBjQIq/s1600/IMG_3007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH6zcpEBta6EcpfaDPaeTpB6sD99Z4uOGiNvBhhwZPwzFuowturnNLeFBmpaQ6LcJ1rYofRoTh2-PY5SumXVnWrBt0YuFLwlQTTrmvzV6jtRtQXAbb6j9poe8C_OMZkvxBjQIq/s320/IMG_3007.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">(that earned a real big boy bike)</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp_KQ_MyuJ_2cluz_J5CJLg1NoKxKgpNrTu3lDl0qWhnEHG6ygQcgDdWFFluZxQA2kA_h2VW1fPtfJnIuyHHk4k7-EDRaAXo2UQQkBy2WeHgARu-Opn3x_7pVh41VkqRNxzrCG/s1600/IMG_3008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp_KQ_MyuJ_2cluz_J5CJLg1NoKxKgpNrTu3lDl0qWhnEHG6ygQcgDdWFFluZxQA2kA_h2VW1fPtfJnIuyHHk4k7-EDRaAXo2UQQkBy2WeHgARu-Opn3x_7pVh41VkqRNxzrCG/s320/IMG_3008.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">...about medals of bravery for surviving kindergarden shots...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAAAY649yERLEVXOQGDuixrMOVc_rw5EYw6kqeT5Ck3ptfQVevTSOWrAJd2u2R_NY4ZUgT6CnIsEsiUEOG8xJh-Maq_BZVz7nzlnfWzDXoFXjApCgOp6yHQmiLhEqArArbCfCK/s1600/IMG_3013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAAAY649yERLEVXOQGDuixrMOVc_rw5EYw6kqeT5Ck3ptfQVevTSOWrAJd2u2R_NY4ZUgT6CnIsEsiUEOG8xJh-Maq_BZVz7nzlnfWzDXoFXjApCgOp6yHQmiLhEqArArbCfCK/s320/IMG_3013.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">...and about the performing arts.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXq_1q8b92nYejQ4CrQrsC8sUo496W7p9n2P2K9NRig9-EHKsBl-yRtxTjMIHEIYEZAlEN1jUEr3_p5R0UQf3FvQDcUscYN1Y8mUBLapv5RyLJDyMJux47WIiFQE45UX1JlxnI/s1600/IMG_3027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXq_1q8b92nYejQ4CrQrsC8sUo496W7p9n2P2K9NRig9-EHKsBl-yRtxTjMIHEIYEZAlEN1jUEr3_p5R0UQf3FvQDcUscYN1Y8mUBLapv5RyLJDyMJux47WIiFQE45UX1JlxnI/s320/IMG_3027.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">curriculum schmurriculum! </div>andiewadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03674104592081249172noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721791.post-51076412444649354162011-06-30T12:01:00.000-04:002011-06-30T12:01:25.694-04:00for a rainy day...just wanted to share this <a href="http://livingsocial.com/deals/43358?ref=personalized-link-box-17664404&rpi=17664404">great deal</a> i just got on living social. it'll come in handy on one of these crazy-humid north carolina summer days. if you're in the raleigh area, check it out!andiewadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03674104592081249172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721791.post-44495183654874021842011-06-27T10:15:00.001-04:002011-06-27T10:36:00.273-04:00summer school? (part 1)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">sure! why not? how about some sewing lessons from <a href="http://www.sweetracheloriginals.com/">grandma</a>, for starters?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWRReS_Sl6do2n533StbMHjfbWaGQSMdHcPSB5li-Md5mkIA2btTJg8uDd-MX_9hqmZ5ibfGa6p8fHb-r-0wCSQyt0onFpGqek7hBmWRsMn2q7xYnOdVStEuD0clc9aAVFxe3J/s1600/IMG_2735.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWRReS_Sl6do2n533StbMHjfbWaGQSMdHcPSB5li-Md5mkIA2btTJg8uDd-MX_9hqmZ5ibfGa6p8fHb-r-0wCSQyt0onFpGqek7hBmWRsMn2q7xYnOdVStEuD0clc9aAVFxe3J/s320/IMG_2735.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">how about strawberry picking on a real farm?</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1l0VbWHiBSeOU6j8LC4WrCWOo4gNQcC-Aypku8JAIco38Dq9K_7uFHnovMbqJiHUkGMveXgb0CGUfBccH44qE81S9ldEXae6cCMApGH58MQVaRarGZmL-majJNx0kCbWfF7AS/s1600/IMG_2791.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1l0VbWHiBSeOU6j8LC4WrCWOo4gNQcC-Aypku8JAIco38Dq9K_7uFHnovMbqJiHUkGMveXgb0CGUfBccH44qE81S9ldEXae6cCMApGH58MQVaRarGZmL-majJNx0kCbWfF7AS/s320/IMG_2791.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">how about a tour of a real-truly-live fire station?</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYtSTOAe9mFb4bGPGZWLm99BB2Lk8c002sc9RMdjHhrCd8T_dI0hzQjoCKpxWaYseVsNK2SXPzysb1YF9I3ywJyT7V-jRIG4HtTB7sPfDuSOk3jKvm-gAc0YM3AHpvgRJ363Ng/s1600/IMG_2851.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYtSTOAe9mFb4bGPGZWLm99BB2Lk8c002sc9RMdjHhrCd8T_dI0hzQjoCKpxWaYseVsNK2SXPzysb1YF9I3ywJyT7V-jRIG4HtTB7sPfDuSOk3jKvm-gAc0YM3AHpvgRJ363Ng/s320/IMG_2851.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">and how about some history thrown in there?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT1HSffU93hrJ7WD-FY7BREjFBLVJd5AXXb7fb4lVT5MrDuT1hklPMXsMo5IIS1X1fUA0S3QEVrE3sOn7w0elLEhQ2wqVw0CaRc9VoN-dfKnraZzVgKLGw-Wf5UpeF2Kxg4BEe/s1600/IMG_2864.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT1HSffU93hrJ7WD-FY7BREjFBLVJd5AXXb7fb4lVT5MrDuT1hklPMXsMo5IIS1X1fUA0S3QEVrE3sOn7w0elLEhQ2wqVw0CaRc9VoN-dfKnraZzVgKLGw-Wf5UpeF2Kxg4BEe/s320/IMG_2864.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">a civil war reenactment where they fire off real canons fits the bill.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwxsUc3ZU5IAdGtJvfGCKrqL1_o8DYtGguOaDsdjQFyIEIsLzn5Edsgm-3Wh83wPEhBtBE-_lX8speqoWu4GrOkkP5iIBfLd10x5mAM9Y23MipKQWehcQHXYtd6EYJbwmwYa8_/s1600/IMG_2866.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwxsUc3ZU5IAdGtJvfGCKrqL1_o8DYtGguOaDsdjQFyIEIsLzn5Edsgm-3Wh83wPEhBtBE-_lX8speqoWu4GrOkkP5iIBfLd10x5mAM9Y23MipKQWehcQHXYtd6EYJbwmwYa8_/s320/IMG_2866.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">how about some wildlife in a local zoo or aquarium?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjezQiFDk1yRa2dmAFe5peJeSxdlOLFMx0qy3ZCTo1bbTYfPc773jfZzbjKn_mcucMtFF27FUsh731upoRyGg105B5lDcNGpa0vuYwjLuBftdfysauTnl6aoSidEVhnwyQV9AYH/s1600/IMG_2880.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjezQiFDk1yRa2dmAFe5peJeSxdlOLFMx0qy3ZCTo1bbTYfPc773jfZzbjKn_mcucMtFF27FUsh731upoRyGg105B5lDcNGpa0vuYwjLuBftdfysauTnl6aoSidEVhnwyQV9AYH/s320/IMG_2880.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">how about not buying any curriculum?</div><div style="text-align: center;">yes and yes!</div>andiewadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03674104592081249172noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721791.post-36037482356011321622011-06-15T12:27:00.000-04:002011-06-15T12:27:59.440-04:00what's in your freezer?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">i mentioned <a href="http://andiewade.blogspot.com/2010/10/my-joy-killer.html">a while ago</a> that cooking is pretty much my nemesis. so far i haven't built up to my 3 week meal plan like i had hoped. i've been sticking to one week at a time. but i do still desire to figure out my family's food situation for longer stretches of time. now that we're back in the states and i have a lot more ingredients a lot more readily available, i'm hoping to get some inspiration in this area!</div><br />
i did manage to get a little inspiration from <a href="http://simplehomeschool.net/menu-planning-make-ahead-meals-the-busy-homeschool/#more-10149">this post</a> over at <a href="http://simplehomeschool.net/">simplehomeschool</a>, so i thought i'd share the wealth. while we were overseas and attending language school 5 days a week, i got into trying to have one or two meals already prepared in the freezer. on the days i got home from school a little earlier i'd make a double batch of whatever i was making and pop it in the freezer for next week. this way, i had a consistent flow of meals moving in and out of my freezer. it definitely made life so much easier. now i just need to locate the motivation to dive back in to this world of meal/kitchen/grocery shopping organization.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivtf48JOC5FGBbR8gp-RbTaTYvaNUvSChox5lM9np0Tyie6pFKEx48v5z73CsDiw-mxNHq-6mqFICwUTtTd4T2in3TC7h69nxfDXgG4HhxtcRN2BO-j-1BwtPMNZtNXa4s8gJ6/s1600/IMG_6964.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivtf48JOC5FGBbR8gp-RbTaTYvaNUvSChox5lM9np0Tyie6pFKEx48v5z73CsDiw-mxNHq-6mqFICwUTtTd4T2in3TC7h69nxfDXgG4HhxtcRN2BO-j-1BwtPMNZtNXa4s8gJ6/s320/IMG_6964.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>andiewadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03674104592081249172noreply@blogger.com1