tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-308156212024-03-13T02:59:24.837-07:00My Spice in LifeCamillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10587049437285724439noreply@blogger.comBlogger277125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30815621.post-84285948983735627072012-02-13T00:13:00.000-08:002012-02-13T00:13:52.678-08:00Trip, fall, get back upSometimes I feel like there's little point in trying to exercise regularly because something always trips me up. Whether it's getting sick after 3 or so weeks of steady work-outs, or schedule conflicts, or kid roadblocks, or sometimes low motivation, there usually seems to be something to get in the way. My Man's splurge to himself (and me) now that the office renovation is done was a gym membership. I now have no excuse not to get some cardio and weights in, especially during the rainy season. Are we going to have a rainy season? It should have been here by now....<br />
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I tried to get to the gym this morning. I even planned ahead and was on my way when this happened. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSZVcB1DjaQ7oLsDkdckoWzmUcACDM05SzqRK-nKt3KCZXv5Cyj7ywhnIgaPbE8H4SqAHGhxjKkqdOA3da2juf3z93XxA1Y5eUdeXzP-533P1LzFdW8_05MSN5fA7DGhyHLeEIMQ/s1600/1-25b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSZVcB1DjaQ7oLsDkdckoWzmUcACDM05SzqRK-nKt3KCZXv5Cyj7ywhnIgaPbE8H4SqAHGhxjKkqdOA3da2juf3z93XxA1Y5eUdeXzP-533P1LzFdW8_05MSN5fA7DGhyHLeEIMQ/s640/1-25b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Dropping Syd off to play with cousin Maddie, we were walking up Grandma and Grandpa's front porch steps when Syd tripped, fell, and broke her fall with her front teeth. She was right behind me and I knew as soon as I whipped my head around to see her face rebound off the concrete step that this one was serious. After a quick peek in her mouth to find her teeth pushed way farther back than normal and her gums ripped up and bloody, I made a quick call to the dentist to make sure they were in because I was coming straight there. I was so nervous and worried that teeth would have to be pulled and my baby would have a naked front row in her mouth until her adult teeth started to come in. Sure, it's not the end of the world, but it still would be sad. I remember thinking, "At least I just took some cute birthday pictures of her with her smile in tact." So lame, right?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijE3nUtUY7Faf-xvn5sDB9T_CYEM39HwNHIBNTJrE-VWq4XrBRnBkTvV9pwQPrgyB-UQH3JWYZVcaoijvlyFqJEuYjpAH5aWMqWIBgprBW1BbqxRTyGQTvdj0dTFAzN0pfeM5m6w/s1600/1-25c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijE3nUtUY7Faf-xvn5sDB9T_CYEM39HwNHIBNTJrE-VWq4XrBRnBkTvV9pwQPrgyB-UQH3JWYZVcaoijvlyFqJEuYjpAH5aWMqWIBgprBW1BbqxRTyGQTvdj0dTFAzN0pfeM5m6w/s640/1-25c.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTG8efPcqib5DrheT7ECr971jydFONL5d6AAkane9c5kQgeC5l_qyQ9jeSXQo_9aB_xjV96nWeZ2TNrA4CZVP1HcCLX2LesquKGShbqksiqB9SyRIylgsANR5PhtjQvAIRX0bacg/s1600/1-25a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTG8efPcqib5DrheT7ECr971jydFONL5d6AAkane9c5kQgeC5l_qyQ9jeSXQo_9aB_xjV96nWeZ2TNrA4CZVP1HcCLX2LesquKGShbqksiqB9SyRIylgsANR5PhtjQvAIRX0bacg/s640/1-25a.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Syd was such a brave girl. I kept trying to help her feel calm while we waited in the dentist chair, but I think it was me that needed the reassurance more than her. She was visibly worried, of course, but she took the x-ray, exam, and cleaning her up like a champ. Thankfully, nothing was broken. No teeth had to be removed. There is the possibility that one tooth may die, but since she already has a wicked cross bite (can we say ortho bills?) the misplaced tooth won't hit her bottom teeth. Syd left the office in tact with an ice pack, a scrip for antibiotics, and a promise to watch whatever movie she wanted when we got home.<br />
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So here I am nursing a pre-teen on the couch with a stomach ache who stayed home from school today, and a pig-lipped 4 year-old who only wants to watch movies and slide her tongue along her fat lip. Part of me wants to curl up right next to them and finish my book, but the practical Mom will win out. Instead I'm eating 4 day old pizza (which I shouldn't be because I didn't earn it at the gym this morning) and making a mental list of all that needs to get done today.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfTP4pVB6Jb2ZtbpWypjWbr57h-w1IeSHj2rH6ihETvKVmUbHid9IMiQaP00ouZ1dGAGTQZP7t7tWeqz09kWJ0dM-A2NRDf5mOjGl8b7WVUl1gorvBFndt4Gwht1C9JxFrmySLcg/s1600/_MG_1462web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfTP4pVB6Jb2ZtbpWypjWbr57h-w1IeSHj2rH6ihETvKVmUbHid9IMiQaP00ouZ1dGAGTQZP7t7tWeqz09kWJ0dM-A2NRDf5mOjGl8b7WVUl1gorvBFndt4Gwht1C9JxFrmySLcg/s640/_MG_1462web.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0EFhtUjwlFZV-EOALXUhIEW8PtSTygO7WrFBfy9hRGKbMqsk-NhHc5hwVHBS9Tq1M_tYXxEdhlb4My9yymo-8PqVTHonrMNEMNrV6RyioLYA3gHO93fK6ndFgcrjp78YvxV_83A/s1600/_MG_1458web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0EFhtUjwlFZV-EOALXUhIEW8PtSTygO7WrFBfy9hRGKbMqsk-NhHc5hwVHBS9Tq1M_tYXxEdhlb4My9yymo-8PqVTHonrMNEMNrV6RyioLYA3gHO93fK6ndFgcrjp78YvxV_83A/s640/_MG_1458web.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Hopefully, I can squeeze in a run with the dog tonight and get back on track tomorrow. Gratefully, Syd will try a play date with Maddie again tomorrow morning with a mouth still full of teeth!Camillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10587049437285724439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30815621.post-65860680151939567732011-10-24T09:58:00.000-07:002011-11-02T10:52:16.806-07:00and I would walk 500 miles.....It felt like we did walk that many miles during our three day adventure in Disneyland and California Adventure. Aunt 'Nisey set her pedometer on her new iPhone and it said we walked over 6 miles on our slowest day from late afternoon on. I'm sure we doubled that easily on each of the other two days, and the chillies were troopers with all that walking. They didn't complain about sore feet or blisters like us wimpy adults. We learned that if you do three or more days at Disney it would be ideal to take a rest day in between two of those days. We were really dragging that second day after being in the park until midnight (date night!), and didn't get to explore California Adventure as much as we would have liked. The kids were also burning the candle at both ends with staying up late each night to see the cool shows and fireworks. We got our Disney feet wet with the kids first trip there and know how to do it better the next time.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizMVQww96xfr5VHkVYlkWIYdIg-RnbPdC8MLdHqIE83Lun3zf7VcGLG7HYAbDAqHzW6z82GAceIFGsdj_xDIFOMOF8MyigefvJZQt9cZzyQs3lh7S0tdIuD-8q71xAC9qP9zjwSA/s1600/_MG_0677web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizMVQww96xfr5VHkVYlkWIYdIg-RnbPdC8MLdHqIE83Lun3zf7VcGLG7HYAbDAqHzW6z82GAceIFGsdj_xDIFOMOF8MyigefvJZQt9cZzyQs3lh7S0tdIuD-8q71xAC9qP9zjwSA/s640/_MG_0677web.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Notice how fried we all look in this picture? This was our last night and everyone had just woken up from a nap that was way too short. Disneyland in October was amazing. Since fall is my favorite season and Halloween one of our family's best loved holidays, I really enjoyed all the harvest decorations and jack-o-lanterns all over the park. The rides they converted for Halloween were well done and a fun change for us Disney veterans. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">It was almost a perfect first trip. I woke up our last day there to the realization that I hadn't seen our little camera come back with us the night before. It had all of the pictures from the first two days on it. I'm trying not to beat myself up too much about it, and I was almost sure someone would turn it in being that we were in Disneyland with so many other families who would realize the sadness of a lost camera. I struck out at Lost and Found and still do not know how I lost track of that blasted camera after it ran out of batteries and I put it back in it's case. It kinda stings that I don't have a folder full of pictures from the kids first trip to the Magic Kingdom. All the rational men around me keep putting things in perspective though. "Bah, it's just a camera! You all have the memories and it's the experience that's important," my Dad said when I told him. For me the photographs <i>are</i> part of the experience. :( </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Each kid came home with their top favorites list, and for the sake of documentation here they are;</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">J-bird was a trooper with trying all the big kid rides that she'd never experienced before. She went on everything Mom and Dad did except California Screamin' (her junk food-filled tummy wasn't up for the loop at that point) and the Tower of Terror (same reason and too tired). She loved Star Tours, Jedi training, Space Mountain (Ghost Galaxy during October), Sourin' over CA, Haunted Mansion, Big Thunder, Matterhorn, Indiana Jones, the Grizzly water ride, and making her own light saber. She spent the longest at this light saber station working and reworking the perfect double-edged light saber. Jessie is such the Tomboy....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ8rnZKV2-yFkWPUEAF7nvRKnkpA1ky1l7-wuEsIKHi571Z4LIpG-JWur-M17rdT7uJjfr3Rr52VC7aoXAfDZxRbnWy2MhLPIpToqWsykEFEPiBFdU2UhrvdMB1FuzSnu2Hr-Nxg/s1600/IMG_2144web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ8rnZKV2-yFkWPUEAF7nvRKnkpA1ky1l7-wuEsIKHi571Z4LIpG-JWur-M17rdT7uJjfr3Rr52VC7aoXAfDZxRbnWy2MhLPIpToqWsykEFEPiBFdU2UhrvdMB1FuzSnu2Hr-Nxg/s640/IMG_2144web.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Sweet Toby is a chicken when it comes to rides. Apparently that comes from his Dad when he was a little guy. He's too careful and tentative at amusement parks which I find odd considering his outgoing personality is completely opposite. We tried to break him in slowly, but going on Indiana Jones (kinda intense and <i>very </i>bumpy/jerky) ruined any chance we had of getting him or Logan on any other bigger kid rides. Toby's favs included Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, Star Tours, making his own light saber, swimming at the hotel, and getting picked for Jedi Training to fight Darth Maul. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfTDia1lWS257wmVhMD4Ybl66JmDSZpmM68tW__oFzgj9euI2ROnE4y3684Uyq7Yn7qFzGn1Dg9IXZT_Oj1x6UjeAj-9tJ4c33pQHJWC-KSXyJNBtw_e_WrjXEBOe1ef1u8Ikmtg/s1600/_MG_0561web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfTDia1lWS257wmVhMD4Ybl66JmDSZpmM68tW__oFzgj9euI2ROnE4y3684Uyq7Yn7qFzGn1Dg9IXZT_Oj1x6UjeAj-9tJ4c33pQHJWC-KSXyJNBtw_e_WrjXEBOe1ef1u8Ikmtg/s640/_MG_0561web.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0tlmAsse_OfUvWYDwFw-_buemnc2XYAhTHx7KI197CGB3uBGBeFVIf3_n4AuPXZ2yAcVDdBmOcSc6muSJsWdbiC6eXtOzhdYnCf-jEUpVA9-UBmOHXCvoe0mUf3sTCoI_ktwXTw/s1600/_MG_0550web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0tlmAsse_OfUvWYDwFw-_buemnc2XYAhTHx7KI197CGB3uBGBeFVIf3_n4AuPXZ2yAcVDdBmOcSc6muSJsWdbiC6eXtOzhdYnCf-jEUpVA9-UBmOHXCvoe0mUf3sTCoI_ktwXTw/s640/_MG_0550web.jpg" width="446" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Logan did better than I expected with all the walking. His all-time favorites were Buzz's Astro Blasters and Star Tours. He also liked the rocket ride in Tomorrowland, all the delicious junk food he consumed all weekend, the Teacups, Sourin' over CA, seeing ducks everywhere, swimming at the hotel, and the Bugs Life ride. Logan was also a little apprehensive about trying rides after taking cues from his brother, but he loosened up and became a little more adventurous. I was surprised that he was adamantly opposed to seeing the characters. Most the kids got pictures with various movie characters that they liked, but there was not a one that could bring Logan out of his shell. My Man and I were in line to take pics with all the villians and had to laugh that none of our kids wanted to come anywhere near them. Logan was across the sidewalk hiding behind a garbage can while we waited to see Cruella, the Queen of Hearts and Jafar. He is still a shy little guy even though he was more willing to try new things.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh44aQcBD0R80X4_Z82gXPKm46NY8PCoijiUrqrKo4PEgtlQ8pBs1tkJxXrAOQQXK4jB6Ah4Oja1gab-nf9PwXYdxBGoQDRiKtQ9K6A9u0A77E49MElKpHIHbyJUFJk7BM-1fXgTw/s1600/_MG_0581web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh44aQcBD0R80X4_Z82gXPKm46NY8PCoijiUrqrKo4PEgtlQ8pBs1tkJxXrAOQQXK4jB6Ah4Oja1gab-nf9PwXYdxBGoQDRiKtQ9K6A9u0A77E49MElKpHIHbyJUFJk7BM-1fXgTw/s640/_MG_0581web.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnRipfr_4tRfRw4c7sSZtYApG-WPObFEVlmfmPm9pDu-MUTjexWOFer7vfIPpfS2k-Y9b3yuHGFv_TuSiPoauap8esAOjZGSzkg9Xzy9-9Gf_mKix1xxR24QfCqym5LxPnWoRbOQ/s1600/_MG_0578web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnRipfr_4tRfRw4c7sSZtYApG-WPObFEVlmfmPm9pDu-MUTjexWOFer7vfIPpfS2k-Y9b3yuHGFv_TuSiPoauap8esAOjZGSzkg9Xzy9-9Gf_mKix1xxR24QfCqym5LxPnWoRbOQ/s640/_MG_0578web.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> Sydney had the best deal of the weekend with the stroller hook-up. It was a little hard to balance the big kid rides with the ridiculous long lines in Fantasyland that Sydney wanted to explore. Our early Magic Morning entrance saved the day in that regard. We headed straight for Star Tours and Fantasyland and walked onto every ride for one blessed hour. It really was magical. Aunt 'Nisey took all the Littles on their first ride on the Teacups, and I was shocked that Sydney loved that ride like it was the only thing she wanted to do in life. Little Maddie is not crying either, as she loved it as much as Syd. Since there was seriously NO line we walked back onto a different color teacup at least five times in a row. Syd would put her arms up on the top of the cup and silly scream with wide, excited eyes the entire ride. It was hilarious to watch her and I felt bad we didn't have time to go again later in the afternoon every time she asked to go back. She also liked the rocket ride, seeing Cinderella and all the princesses, and the Jungle Tour. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0lT6McBpPuEQyhY-96eRuOxDQm4k1VdKJfXEG3au07NZfkO2PzVoq7g83mEYv4b7hAAc-YNpJXCTpt1WjizM9OobTX8qv0nFlDK4es0esISUltOeZ2jCfIDMMitlLuzpcVcpY2A/s1600/IMG_0573web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0lT6McBpPuEQyhY-96eRuOxDQm4k1VdKJfXEG3au07NZfkO2PzVoq7g83mEYv4b7hAAc-YNpJXCTpt1WjizM9OobTX8qv0nFlDK4es0esISUltOeZ2jCfIDMMitlLuzpcVcpY2A/s640/IMG_0573web.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmuDnaCr9OhDZZ6L78yhPgilQgv1jf6JyzpdtQr1AhO27nQeEScom-IZz6rSah4FD_zLANuYEoLel_gpLUu3RvevPooDyo6QXEvnSigRtlNeyuTY9nc_VBdH7pnVcrU7awOwyj2A/s1600/IMG_0574web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmuDnaCr9OhDZZ6L78yhPgilQgv1jf6JyzpdtQr1AhO27nQeEScom-IZz6rSah4FD_zLANuYEoLel_gpLUu3RvevPooDyo6QXEvnSigRtlNeyuTY9nc_VBdH7pnVcrU7awOwyj2A/s640/IMG_0574web.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCSaoaopEN3gyzynRD4wg8NJxT_p7LWcSlKMFB7OJT648GorBrG_G6up5d_3HcF6EmZXVnj4TkCaRxNNTzPGdpgQ5DZFZIFyDN6WdR88fQfRM4P3MxeLWCz3MIQYXfjrEVdrydkQ/s1600/_MG_0620web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCSaoaopEN3gyzynRD4wg8NJxT_p7LWcSlKMFB7OJT648GorBrG_G6up5d_3HcF6EmZXVnj4TkCaRxNNTzPGdpgQ5DZFZIFyDN6WdR88fQfRM4P3MxeLWCz3MIQYXfjrEVdrydkQ/s640/_MG_0620web.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Did you notice the princess pose Syd is rockin' with Sleeping Beauty up there? Where did she learn that one? She loved every second of meeting the princesses. Now pretend you see the most adorable picture of Syd with her favorite princess, Cinderella, in the shade of a huge tree by Sleeping Beauty's castle. She has a beaming smile similar to this on her face. The next picture is Syd giving Cinderella a huge hug before saying goodbye. Those are the few pictures I am really sad are lost with our little Nikon. Over the three days Syd got to meet Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Ariel, Snow White, Tinkerbell and another fairy, and Mary Poppins without too much effort on our part. She was in princess heaven. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The family favorites were Buzz Astro Blasters (except Syd), Star Tours, and the Teacups. Three year-old Syd even did great on Star Tours although she didn't want to go again. I'm sure the kids could have spent an entire morning riding those three rides over and over and over again and been perfectly content. I think Pirates of the Caribbean would have been a family fav too, but it was closed. One of the things on my to-do list was a dinner date with my Man at the Blue Bayou which was closed with Pirates. Next time... </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Dave loved taking the kids on all the rides for their first time. We were so thankful that Denise and Arnold came with us so we could both take Jessie on the big kid rides together. Dave and I really liked spooky Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy, and Jessie put on a brave face to go with us. We were proud of her brave resolve to go even though she was worried about it, being her first big ride and all. My Man took his Sydney princess on the Ariel's Grotto ride in CA Adventure and it turned out to be a highlight for both of them. Logan was so excited every time Daddy said yes to his request to go on Buzz and Star Tours again and again. They both loved it! We made the mistake of taking the boys on Indiana Jones too early thinking that they would like the bumper car feel. I didn't know that another boy they met in the pool the night before told our boys that if you looked in the eyes of the temple guy at the beginning of the ride that you would have a BAD ride. That's all Logan could say after we got off that ride was that "Daddy looked into his eyes because that was a bad ride!" I'm guessing that even an adult would not have fun in that ride if they experienced the bumps, jerks and hills with eyes closed the entire time. Ironically, Toby couldn't stop whistling the Indiana Jones theme song the rest of the trip, and he actually listed the ride as one of his favorites. His eyes really were closed the entire ride, so I'm not sure what he liked about it. Dave was also instrumental in getting the kids to Jedi Training early enough that they would be front and center with the best chance to get picked to wield a light saber. Logan was picked to participate and fight Darth Vader the first day we were there, and we had to go back our last day so Toby and Jessie could have a chance. Thankfully, they were both picked first thing in the morning and had a great time fighting Darth Maul. Daddy loved watching each kid learn the moves and fight the dark side at the end. Dave was uber-disappointed in how they changed the Haunted Mansion for Halloween. Everything was Nightmare Before Christmas in the Haunted Mansion, which I loved, but it was a major downer for my Man as nothing was the same as the classic ride. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLrGJ0XspA_M1UU9BUbNWkzPZhCtz3qVZguJjbbnS4QUkqQw3Ir0g5117bL6ggQSRBBs5NaD06xOFbVzbcdZh9sf2gdXpEJgrkq9wMbF4Kcq2i1ydso0TBuo65uWAVNXBb8CPSbA/s1600/IMG_0556web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLrGJ0XspA_M1UU9BUbNWkzPZhCtz3qVZguJjbbnS4QUkqQw3Ir0g5117bL6ggQSRBBs5NaD06xOFbVzbcdZh9sf2gdXpEJgrkq9wMbF4Kcq2i1ydso0TBuo65uWAVNXBb8CPSbA/s640/IMG_0556web.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Dave's other favs included monster corn dogs, an adults-only ice cream cone every night (oh yes!), and meeting the Evil Queen. She came sauntering through Fantasyland early morning our last day there and Dave couldn't pass up that Kodak moment. The Evil Queen doesn't stop to sign autographs. She doesn't stand there and wait for everyone to line up for her. The Evil Queen keeps walking and bids you to follow her if you dare. Dave and I caught up to her and I asked "Her Highness" for a picture if she pleased. She said something like, "if I must, but hurry up. We wouldn't want to waste your time, or more importantly, mine." She was fun. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">My favs were sharing the Fantasmic show with the kids, the yummy food (corn dogs and ice cream!), California Screamin' and Tower of Terror with my Man, and witnessing the kids experience such a fun weekend at Disney. While Dave and I were on our date Saturday night we walked by the Fantasmic show (I'd never seen it before), and my heart sank at the fact the our kiddos were missing such a cool show. I thought it was the last show of the weekend, so being able to share it with them the next night was awesome! I have a few vivid memories of Disney as a young kid, and I loved taking our chillies there to have the same unforgettable fun! </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">It was no-holds-barred as far as food was concerned for four entire days. At home, we only eat sweets one day a week with the exception of the kids getting something special for lunch every day (chocolate milk, granola bar, goldfish, etc.). Since it was much cheaper to take in a bunch of packaged food, (and some token bagged veggies) instead of buying all our food in the parks, that is what we did. My Man and Aunt 'Nisey did a Target run early our first morning there and we were set for the remainder of the trip. We all found it a treat to reach into the magic backpack of snack mania when hunger reminded us we were indeed still on Earth. There were PopTarts, special cereals, Gogurt, fruit snacks, trail mix, beef jerkey, granola bars, Fruit by the Foot, crackers, and cookies. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I hear what ya'll are thinking. How can one have enough nourishment to hike through Disneyland whilst eating so much processed junk food? Not to worry, we balanced it out with proper proteins; turkey legs, corn dogs and chicken strips, and fruits/veggies; lemonade, pineapple wedges, and those token carrots and snap peas that were packed back home. What about dairy you ask? Well we don't eat much dairy at home, but we didn't hold that against the food group in Disneyland. The dairy there was delicious! In fact, I blame the amazing single scoop in a chocolate-dipped waffle cone with whipped cream on top for my excited hurriedness that I think led to the disappearance of our camera. Boo.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUDliNF02wbGgi6e8BkyIhyphenhyphen7ez_697I9HbIy68KsWbfCpL4AoqaQLwgcXNzcXgGZz21enY19iGzi__pF22A0g8eWSVLzyJXrjbY8Iahc1hj19-Icpsm5idoHS8rU-lKm3kzrsVRg/s1600/_MG_0624web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUDliNF02wbGgi6e8BkyIhyphenhyphen7ez_697I9HbIy68KsWbfCpL4AoqaQLwgcXNzcXgGZz21enY19iGzi__pF22A0g8eWSVLzyJXrjbY8Iahc1hj19-Icpsm5idoHS8rU-lKm3kzrsVRg/s640/_MG_0624web.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Our family and Aunt 'Nisey (Maddie snoozing in the stroller) enjoyed a memorable meal in the Golden Horseshoe while we watched these characters play some tunes. Check out the size of those corn dogs! I would have had one every day they were so delicious. We all enjoyed being entertained by the songs, instruments and punny jokes of Billy Hill and the Hillbillies as we rested our tired feet. It was a great recharge for our last push to check off the must-do items our last day in the parks.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwVPwNIffV1RoXaWW0RSfXJQYgIUMg-XtnYZbbhdXTDkX5t1zoJOR0aZOiUmR850xtmwaNjgb_hhg02uqwDlmILJ_sX00XXviNrr8cQRw9HF3G1KTnBR_NrzNb1FVLpjKxJ2kOOw/s1600/_MG_0642web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwVPwNIffV1RoXaWW0RSfXJQYgIUMg-XtnYZbbhdXTDkX5t1zoJOR0aZOiUmR850xtmwaNjgb_hhg02uqwDlmILJ_sX00XXviNrr8cQRw9HF3G1KTnBR_NrzNb1FVLpjKxJ2kOOw/s640/_MG_0642web.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>I thought three days in the parks would be plenty of time to get everything done that we wanted. It almost was. We were so tired the second day that our efficiency in checking off everyone's must-do list was pathetic. Next time we go we will take a rest day in the middle to recharge and sleep. That's what vacations are for anyway, right? </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd8TCQJFwgk2sDOBys_-hyl16x3qWWxobQ1SH3xEbJPmuvYfTqK7wSi-Fol2JBfQhgnMF0p93yUXeXWHp42TIgHWuUkFijVY4yb_eW_r3s_DGzA9YDDfOtJeUB56g8pG8KNp6m7Q/s1600/_MG_0668web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd8TCQJFwgk2sDOBys_-hyl16x3qWWxobQ1SH3xEbJPmuvYfTqK7wSi-Fol2JBfQhgnMF0p93yUXeXWHp42TIgHWuUkFijVY4yb_eW_r3s_DGzA9YDDfOtJeUB56g8pG8KNp6m7Q/s640/_MG_0668web.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Even though this weekend was not what I <a href="http://camibennett.blogspot.com/2011/10/disneys-new-san-diego.html" target="_blank">originally planned</a>, it turned out to be an unforgettable weekend with my family. At one point during the Fantasmic show Sunday night I glanced right to see my Man with Syd on his shoulders. Their faces lit up as fireworks went off behind the river boat that was floating by. The kids and I were soaking in every second of the amazing show. I smiiled at my Man as a huge wave of happiness and gratitude swept over me. I am a lucky girl to have a husband and father who provides so well for us, and who took the time, effort, and means necessary to surprise our family with a weekend at Disney to experience moments like we were having just then. It was, dare I say,....... magical. </div>Camillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10587049437285724439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30815621.post-71654044232189650252011-10-19T11:16:00.000-07:002011-10-19T11:24:42.139-07:00Disney's the new San DiegoThe month of October is my favorite month (always jam-packed with fun) because my birthday, General Conference weekend, our wedding anniversary, Harvest time, and Halloween (a family favorite) are always celebrated within these short 31 days. I love leap-frogging through October from one celebration to the next. Usually the weather starts cooling a little bit with crisp fall air during the day and snuggling with my Man under a heavy blanket at night. I always break out the pumpkin spice candles and scents and enjoy seeing happy orange pumpkins everywhere. It's the best month of the year for me and never disappoints. <br />
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The past few years my Man and I have been blessed to take a long weekend away from the chillies in October to celebrate our anniversary. When the time came this year to decide if we would go away I just wasn't feeling up for it. We have been talking about taking the kids to Disneyland this fall and I felt like we should save the money for that. My Man kept asking, "you sure you don't want to go away for our anniversary?" Finally I gave him the go ahead to plan something since he kept asking. He was paying for it after all, and I wasn't going to refuse a vacation dangling in front of me. My Man said he would take care of all the arrangements, finding a baby-sitter and pet-sitter, and surprise me. I was SO okay with that. <br />
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For two weeks there were quiet arrangements made between my Man and his sister, Denise, for the chillies to stay with them and do all kinds of activities while we were gone. My excitement for a quiet weekend for two to sleep in late, eat relaxing meals together, and slow down to recharge was starting to build. One night my Man asked me if I was even curious as to where we were going. Of course I was, but surprisingly, the control freak and planner in me didn't really mind not having to worry about the details. He said we were heading to San Diego for the weekend, and would drop hints every once in awhile about relaxing in the tub with a good book, or window shopping in downtown San Diego. <br />
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Since I was doing all the packing for the family I was told to pack swimming gear for the kids, clothes for four days, and all the gear necessary for a day at Six Flags (hat, sunblock, good walking shoes/socks, etc.) I kept telling Aunt 'Nisey she deserved a saint hood for not only taking all four of our kids for the weekend, but also for planning such awesome activities. Aunt Lauren also deserves mega brownie points for being willing to have Ruby with her while Dan was away most the weekend. The dog is still <i>very</i> puppyish and is always so rowdy around their dog, Simon. <br />
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Dave really did take care of everything and we left last Friday from work after his last patient. While I was waiting for Dave to finish with patients I noticed his schedule for the next week was completely empty for Monday AND Tuesday. I was told we were coming home on Monday. I started to get suspicious and anticipated him surprising me once we were there with an extra day of playing. Then as we were driving out of town he said we were stopping off on the way to San Diego to meet with one of his patients to go to dinner. Fast forward six hours later and stuck in LA traffic and I really began to wonder what was going on. <i>He had been texting someone all day like he was keeping tabs on them.</i> As soon as we got off on one of the Disneyland exits in Anaheim I began giving him mind-prying eyes to figure out what he was up to. He said his patient was staying at a hotel near Disney and wanted to take us out for dinner on our way down to San Diego. <i>Plausible. Still fishy. Was he taking me to Disneyland for that extra day first? I was looking forward to going to Disneyland with the kids not just for me. Six Flags and Disneyland were very similar in preparation. He would not dare plan a vacation to the Magic Kingdom without me! Would he?? </i>We pulled into a hotel right across the street from the front entrance to Disney. <i>Why are we walking back to his patients hotel room instead of them meeting us up front? We don't know these people </i><b><i>that</i></b><i> well. I just want to keep driving and get in that huge warm tub with my Man!</i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYy70_2lWTSCsMzAyM8NozNhjlOfF58zCKboaIm1Q1GEfK-LCamvFfKRaOqTFc2My00JPRfDpOIV5o3F6KhUTsCo61nxNTPUcNtSB8VuWkymR5XvFNHYWMJS2LYbBLQYAR01TlQw/s1600/10-14web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYy70_2lWTSCsMzAyM8NozNhjlOfF58zCKboaIm1Q1GEfK-LCamvFfKRaOqTFc2My00JPRfDpOIV5o3F6KhUTsCo61nxNTPUcNtSB8VuWkymR5XvFNHYWMJS2LYbBLQYAR01TlQw/s640/10-14web.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>As soon as I saw this outside a room we were walking up to, I knew. I just packed one of those strollers in the van that morning and I knew the other one was cousin Maddie's. My sweet stinker of a husband DID plan our Disneyland vacation without me, and I knew Arnold and Denise would be in that room with our excited chillies. They all shouted SURPRISE when I opened the door and the secret was out. Instead of going to Six Flags today like I thought they were, they had driven down in our van and got there just before we did. Since I didn't really want to plan a weekend away just the two of us, and I'd been talking about taking the kids to Disney for awhile, my sneaky Man decided to combine the two to surprise us all! The kids were so excited after the drive that they had energy to burn and didn't want to go to sleep until after 10 PM. <br />
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I will admit it took me about 12 hours and a night of restless sleep to get over the fact that a) the two of us were not going to be sleeping and relaxing this weekend b) I wasn't going to be using the long book, candles, bath salts, and lacy things to wear that I packed and c) we both missed the kiddos reaction when they found out they were going to Disneyland. Dave wrote them a note about how they were going to drive a little longer to go to Disneyland instead of the 75 minutes it took to get to Six Flags. (Arnold and Denise recorded them reading the note, but it was accidentally erased from the camera before we could see it) :( I had to completely switch gears in my head and change my expectations about how our Disney adventure was going to start, and then it was all good. <br />
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We has a fabulous, exhausting, amazing three days at the Happiest Place on Earth. We could not have done it without Arnold and Denise and are thankful they were willing to brave Disney with our clan. Me and the kids kept giving huge thank-yous to Dave for providing such an awesome vacation for our family that they will never forget. The chillies had an unforgettable first trip to Disney. <br />
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Also, I've decided Dave owes me at least a night away for teasing me with the prospect of a romantic weekend in San Diego. <br />
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Also, I don't know if I can trust him to plan a trip again- or maybe I should ask him to surprise me more often........ Camillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10587049437285724439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30815621.post-17686186489157603882011-08-10T18:59:00.001-07:002018-05-17T19:03:12.616-07:00Sydney was worried about her first dentist visit when I sprung it on the kids that they all had cleaning appointments today.<br />
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As soon as we sat in the waiting room Syd turned into a nervous question box. She asked me numerous times, "Who's going to clean my teeth? Is it going to be a lady because I LIKE ladies? Why am I getting a check-up?!!!"<br />
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Every employee that passed by the front desk got Sydney's eye of disapproval as she waited to see if they were going to be the one to call her back to the chairs. I asked her if she wanted me to walk back and sit next to her to which she grabbed my hand and said, "Yes!" When the time came for her to go, she jumped up and didn't look back. "Do you want me to come with you Syd?," I called after her. She didn't answer and started talking to the Doc, the lady Doc. It was smooth sailing from that point on.Camillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10587049437285724439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30815621.post-86112415383743103722011-07-03T22:46:00.001-07:002011-07-07T17:24:30.757-07:00It's not fair<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_R2ufWw1gVL_sx73Bpnk2THQws69td6yIKe-g56jJtId9m5lJKYNd2G1YX1Td_sfAVkrGGfxJhjoqyWMIbV2AHgA8a4ZUx_Znu9oSIeRDQVCdk5fGofGGFFnvCEBha_5M15Snkw/s1600/IMG_9582web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_R2ufWw1gVL_sx73Bpnk2THQws69td6yIKe-g56jJtId9m5lJKYNd2G1YX1Td_sfAVkrGGfxJhjoqyWMIbV2AHgA8a4ZUx_Znu9oSIeRDQVCdk5fGofGGFFnvCEBha_5M15Snkw/s640/IMG_9582web.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">We didn't get very far into the fair before everyone was hot and thirsty. Two quick rides and a snow cone later the natives were pacified. </div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig28c3jLnigwyXx3-L0JNQVkuQjEujnb-D9NvX4FD6bVT-5Tv675IzxjNF2WOTXUMr_zvKtR4L5PebQdGRikwndOhAOyONWjrFh9VzzTfOdlpH9ceBSesmmbcBGHGU_3KLrSbSQg/s1600/_MG_9466web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig28c3jLnigwyXx3-L0JNQVkuQjEujnb-D9NvX4FD6bVT-5Tv675IzxjNF2WOTXUMr_zvKtR4L5PebQdGRikwndOhAOyONWjrFh9VzzTfOdlpH9ceBSesmmbcBGHGU_3KLrSbSQg/s640/_MG_9466web.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"></span></span></div></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhofTRJXK0GAx_3ZfV7ThzIgYk_Ivw5MWgXfVNrItRrBNmGNClkmCkjmfA7fmLgc_NLc7bPBSKmbP4fXq59Fqg2r1RDTfFdc8hhV6oyTNl3IMDiVnGZQnU1Y_4avMtUAa4WpURhmg/s1600/_MG_9471web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhofTRJXK0GAx_3ZfV7ThzIgYk_Ivw5MWgXfVNrItRrBNmGNClkmCkjmfA7fmLgc_NLc7bPBSKmbP4fXq59Fqg2r1RDTfFdc8hhV6oyTNl3IMDiVnGZQnU1Y_4avMtUAa4WpURhmg/s640/_MG_9471web.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEnH2s9dOXvubBpdQw6kUlweCneEjdtB7PAwajBvTeeu-_ctM3QieBbsHEZZHW2oKo4AT_TV3d7Tvc4Ox2Hrf2AX2lKZ1aA-i_dzPdBYTfyvTkp0pS1VPiMFb88XX_rYvkW5BnbQ/s1600/IMG_9459web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEnH2s9dOXvubBpdQw6kUlweCneEjdtB7PAwajBvTeeu-_ctM3QieBbsHEZZHW2oKo4AT_TV3d7Tvc4Ox2Hrf2AX2lKZ1aA-i_dzPdBYTfyvTkp0pS1VPiMFb88XX_rYvkW5BnbQ/s640/IMG_9459web.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Jessie's favs at the fair were the "huge, creepy swings with Mom" where she felt like her swing was going to fall off. I'll give it to her, once those swings went up and got going fast it was a little disconcerting. I'm glad she wanted to go with me though. J also liked the huge slide. </div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqCpuiPdy99TtWQhYmH1VrlnCFa7uhxppjiCpybbq4c9BhTr4EPMazfvmW12zpIkkX9aA-vwu1fLnmIAWvehIktZVclbBB3mCpNkr6FI5u3bBF9xYJkcD7NpcCTzuvrbGPLrPqvA/s1600/_MG_9556web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqCpuiPdy99TtWQhYmH1VrlnCFa7uhxppjiCpybbq4c9BhTr4EPMazfvmW12zpIkkX9aA-vwu1fLnmIAWvehIktZVclbBB3mCpNkr6FI5u3bBF9xYJkcD7NpcCTzuvrbGPLrPqvA/s640/_MG_9556web.jpg" width="446" /></a></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtH9I36JRujc10VNdfDiqFCxoli3Trsx8_jOCRvT6Jqvwt278b1v71B12xCpQzyUonPNcBYET8uOHw4gT6-szkHFHvihFdRC1MYg3YB1lolSpdOS_qR_tT9IR7Q9vWRw3-4t0cIw/s1600/_MG_9498web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtH9I36JRujc10VNdfDiqFCxoli3Trsx8_jOCRvT6Jqvwt278b1v71B12xCpQzyUonPNcBYET8uOHw4gT6-szkHFHvihFdRC1MYg3YB1lolSpdOS_qR_tT9IR7Q9vWRw3-4t0cIw/s640/_MG_9498web.jpg" width="414" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Dang this girl is getting spunky! She has always had sass, but we see the tween years coming fast. I try to remember she is still a kid, needs Mom time just as much as the young chillies, and helps out so much that she deserves extra-special rewards now and then.<br />
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After mutton busting we saw lots of animals and conquered a couple monster corn dogs and giant lemonade. Logan's favorites of the day were "going on the huge slide two times, getting a silver medal, and eating junk food. The kids were really good about deciding on the few things they wanted to see or do, and we were able to hit them all. I knew our resident animal lover would be in heaven with all the animals available to touch and watch. Sydney touched every living thing possible, and I'm glad she didn't come home with any disease or sickness. </div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipmw-U5nJP7UY7TlbPGzT9jXL3lrvNlz2KQb1pPKIp8WXB6kVlFwzcNTtb1wZh3RSenboSUsxaEd0TjZnpWa0h__1Ck717JXxwIZjFGI1jV2UTA7OEOzMrwOeCChKZoWQ9ULL1Zg/s1600/_MG_9482web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipmw-U5nJP7UY7TlbPGzT9jXL3lrvNlz2KQb1pPKIp8WXB6kVlFwzcNTtb1wZh3RSenboSUsxaEd0TjZnpWa0h__1Ck717JXxwIZjFGI1jV2UTA7OEOzMrwOeCChKZoWQ9ULL1Zg/s640/_MG_9482web.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgTGN9y0BudYmFU6C61FCVSVzb0gHws1cbRKauL6qPU4zH-73AMAqTlI9p99p9N2UsXGOa64IwMuXEmd1_iKv-TL4JVvJ-0WBlRihuzzkd50Qf8JbVDuWvnyX_lZdM-mAqzHQn5A/s1600/_MG_9515web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgTGN9y0BudYmFU6C61FCVSVzb0gHws1cbRKauL6qPU4zH-73AMAqTlI9p99p9N2UsXGOa64IwMuXEmd1_iKv-TL4JVvJ-0WBlRihuzzkd50Qf8JbVDuWvnyX_lZdM-mAqzHQn5A/s640/_MG_9515web.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ1Vej1m7XVME140Toj8H-aXtnYSklRHuc2FOzh6xqgo8d8sgNobh5qdMi4OaOLotNwYHq43CGBM_y4hcXZjLCiwrZEZMVsuaZ7LK56OPoxpWsvyShSRfrouK0nJQaBhD8R3iR3Q/s1600/_MG_9513web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ1Vej1m7XVME140Toj8H-aXtnYSklRHuc2FOzh6xqgo8d8sgNobh5qdMi4OaOLotNwYHq43CGBM_y4hcXZjLCiwrZEZMVsuaZ7LK56OPoxpWsvyShSRfrouK0nJQaBhD8R3iR3Q/s640/_MG_9513web.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Check out the poor baby goat trying to grab a meal while Mom forages for food. The poor little one couldn't catch up with Momma darting in between all the people in the petting zoo. Syd thought it was the funniest thing, especially when baby accidentally got pooped on by Momma goat. </div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMUagPTBxJCokVFRKLZydpA8f27d3Heg7RTkSigbbI8DPIc9Mznyk5Nm8u4IXVvckUH3pvyc9U3NtoBUH99p_nWP_phpDf2sT-XsWhNpDARJgcsylsvrdORyTbYOeTpyzExnDqfw/s1600/_MG_9518web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMUagPTBxJCokVFRKLZydpA8f27d3Heg7RTkSigbbI8DPIc9Mznyk5Nm8u4IXVvckUH3pvyc9U3NtoBUH99p_nWP_phpDf2sT-XsWhNpDARJgcsylsvrdORyTbYOeTpyzExnDqfw/s640/_MG_9518web.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr0Ygg2BGTrXzagjzLEDHWnQm_dtRIYVzpcBvtajXL77US6VxEkEsXWWJ6c4hFexGmGQY2CqxvdyZIH8OvqhzGfU4iT11U9OopVuTrzgYOXQUxamj0hMo9RXwbWy_vQU7cTAWZJw/s1600/_MG_9531web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr0Ygg2BGTrXzagjzLEDHWnQm_dtRIYVzpcBvtajXL77US6VxEkEsXWWJ6c4hFexGmGQY2CqxvdyZIH8OvqhzGfU4iT11U9OopVuTrzgYOXQUxamj0hMo9RXwbWy_vQU7cTAWZJw/s640/_MG_9531web.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhenQXbyFAXiD2SbFif3-s7aAUMt2BUAdDqXkvYpJftvA3vqtHv3ALNFiN0Y4m876IugzRmPQAqLI-VgnnymG5kxewrIvzyWYYH4X9KDHQRwxitT74Tot4EuIcvdGcgFB4o9nGVpQ/s1600/_MG_9535web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhenQXbyFAXiD2SbFif3-s7aAUMt2BUAdDqXkvYpJftvA3vqtHv3ALNFiN0Y4m876IugzRmPQAqLI-VgnnymG5kxewrIvzyWYYH4X9KDHQRwxitT74Tot4EuIcvdGcgFB4o9nGVpQ/s640/_MG_9535web.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> When Syd was happy she was a riot to watch. She would squeal and wave every time a ride took her around to see Daddy standing on the side. She was the last one of us out of the small animals area because she was so curious and excited to see all the different creatures. As soon as she learned there were "real alive ponies" at the fair she didn't stop asking to find them until she was on that saddle. Her other highlights were talking to the clowns and the animals. Bless her little dare-devil heart; she was so sad when she was too short to go on the roller coasters. She's going to be fun at Disneyland when she grows tall enough for Space Mountain. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA20zxdoTvVPLMQoa6xSI8MYEamjXc5o2JPto0xiWDR2FmDSm7Ote4oexc1ejSvvnPLkiDaLez6i504J4FNhGGYCKs3ZvGDA7SFYFbj3qzKZhCoYI39AwGRx7EJvld6hfIX5Bq2Q/s1600/_MG_9474web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA20zxdoTvVPLMQoa6xSI8MYEamjXc5o2JPto0xiWDR2FmDSm7Ote4oexc1ejSvvnPLkiDaLez6i504J4FNhGGYCKs3ZvGDA7SFYFbj3qzKZhCoYI39AwGRx7EJvld6hfIX5Bq2Q/s640/_MG_9474web.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4-EI4iC5c_ZAXJzmi_XaePssFjnTNLgr5ysFvpTIysYeEc4_j_jLV_ZKaBHTuKgf7rHqy_G_IsuOgmv4NaF8JgvJvp_n0nCOdMjH9JDeaRQMYlQZ14fDH0JrtvZCS6PeaDP8dAQ/s1600/_MG_9550web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4-EI4iC5c_ZAXJzmi_XaePssFjnTNLgr5ysFvpTIysYeEc4_j_jLV_ZKaBHTuKgf7rHqy_G_IsuOgmv4NaF8JgvJvp_n0nCOdMjH9JDeaRQMYlQZ14fDH0JrtvZCS6PeaDP8dAQ/s640/_MG_9550web.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> Toby's highlight was the dragon roller coaster NOT the spinning roller coaster in the first picture. Our Toby is not the adventurous type when it comes to flying, spinning, or riding on crazy things. We <i>made</i> him go on those two roller coasters and he ended up loving the dragon one. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">This sweet boy learned a hard lesson at the fair too. We were nearing the end of our day there and each kid had three tickets left to spend how they wished. We tried to warn the kids that if they chose to spend their tickets on one of the games they wouldn't have any left for rides they wanted to go on. Toby and Logan especially were sucked into the games from the beginning, but after explaining that they would get one game or three rides everyone made their choice. Toby was the only one that chose to play those worthless games. We tried to warm him that he could buy the dippy prize he would win for half the money, but he was determined. He walked away from his game with a dollar store stuffed rat after less than a minute of throwing darts at balloons. Off the other kids went to go down the big slide when Toby exclaimed, "I want to ride the slide too!" </div></div></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><div class="" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUVxKbjXM5yD_5uWiDotXg6UbCUF6et3Lfizhowf62OXQ1y1p8tGbwixMncKWYTOgvY2bU-7i_wVxmvViv7z7eK40lE4GzqvQthyphenhyphenKG9D3noCkA4vAfV-E7D9WU1iBhLSSHMx76pA/s1600/_MG_9572web.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUVxKbjXM5yD_5uWiDotXg6UbCUF6et3Lfizhowf62OXQ1y1p8tGbwixMncKWYTOgvY2bU-7i_wVxmvViv7z7eK40lE4GzqvQthyphenhyphenKG9D3noCkA4vAfV-E7D9WU1iBhLSSHMx76pA/s640/_MG_9572web.jpg" width="438" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">It finally sunk in that he really did trade more rides for his lame game prize. Poor guy. I felt so bad for him, yet wondered why he didn't really listen to what we were trying to tell him. He had to find out on his own. Isn't that how we all learn hard lessons? At first he thought we were being unfair, until we explained that we tried numerous times to warn him. Toby sulked while the other kiddos finished using their tickets for rides. </div></div></div><div class="" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI4RH6fbY_qCbx4kf-fW6wkqrjg0QvJKfHsD-q0yP-0JuiQ7Ezy2Zpyex2NfXgJ25QOw8xdyWwmJU73YvEWTIw1jhxUFG2TZw3RY8ZPgv3cRs7n7xrJ2yVaq3huavvuMsHQzAwUQ/s1600/_MG_9540web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI4RH6fbY_qCbx4kf-fW6wkqrjg0QvJKfHsD-q0yP-0JuiQ7Ezy2Zpyex2NfXgJ25QOw8xdyWwmJU73YvEWTIw1jhxUFG2TZw3RY8ZPgv3cRs7n7xrJ2yVaq3huavvuMsHQzAwUQ/s640/_MG_9540web.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6bFbVyrpLROFB4yQxQQyPcF4mO59QrNG0O0uesGBVbZZIgnq3WCFnV0rkstnW3d332Egsx7VisU0qI6XcAxZsOS4OUnWt2H-LqfcrQX7CkrFgwmEV0Ybqyqp9FSyL5kIWbDJtRg/s1600/IMG_9439web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6bFbVyrpLROFB4yQxQQyPcF4mO59QrNG0O0uesGBVbZZIgnq3WCFnV0rkstnW3d332Egsx7VisU0qI6XcAxZsOS4OUnWt2H-LqfcrQX7CkrFgwmEV0Ybqyqp9FSyL5kIWbDJtRg/s640/IMG_9439web.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> Daddy loved his monster corn dog and lemonade, and had fun helping Logan get ready for his mutton busting. I loved the swing ride, splurging on corn dog yumminess and watching the kids have so much fun. </div></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The only downers of the day were that Miss Squid picked the one day we were out to be grumpy, and we had to leave early. Squid was a pickle off and on all day, and really could have used an afternoon nap. I guess we are not quite out of a stroller for her, and I was sorry I didn't bring it. Four and a half hours went by too fast. When it was time to leave we all wanted to stay longer. My Man had a swim team meeting and we had family night planned to celebrate sis-in-law Kristy's birthday, so we had to cut our visit a little short. We still had a great time as a family seeing all the animals, crafts, rides and eating the junk food!! Although, I just realized we did not eat, or have the kids try, a funnel cake. I can't even remember the last time I ate a funnel cake. That might be a travesty we will remedy next time....</div></div></div></div></div>Camillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10587049437285724439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30815621.post-28740873048075698632011-06-29T00:54:00.001-07:002011-07-03T23:08:27.036-07:00Mutton bustin'<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When family came home from the fair last week and told us about Mutton Bustin' we had to go check it out in person. One quick Google search later and I made tentative plans for a family trip to the county fair yesterday to take advantage of free admission. We helped the food bank with four canned goods per person for admission and scored 99 cent carnival rides. It turned out to be the only day we would have chosen to go, because rides alone would have drained our wallet twice over. It was a perfect way to enjoy the fair for cheap-er.</div><br />
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So what is Mutton Busting you ask? One child, one sheep, six seconds; that's what the <a href="http://www.woolridersonly.com/">official website </a>says. It's bull-riding for kids. All our chillies wanted to ride the sheep so badly, but only Logan fit the age 3 to 6 and under 60 pounds requirement. Once we got into the fair and Logan got a little more comfortable in his surroundings, he was all for signing up for the next mutton busting event.<br />
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This kid was all business, and a bit nervous, before and quietly enjoyed his moment of glory afterward. I may just be biased, but his sheep (the second one) hauled mutton butt out of that gate faster than any of the other kids sheep. Logan ended up with a second place medal and couldn't be happier. When we asked him if he had fun Logan said, "yes and no." Yes, for riding the sheep and getting a silver medal, and no because he flew off. He did it with style though. </div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_C7aaUuciN0bFMQg0ydbJ3ajchRQh_1hj8CghQQ_ZLOh-hSZ6WUjA0B4Z9Qx7MCXPSsThRHznBnHBQA1KEBRz73H6vo8YbuU8bBzioZeQ_E1IJ5df19f-rwUizTl4AcEcd2I45A/s1600/_MG_9490web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_C7aaUuciN0bFMQg0ydbJ3ajchRQh_1hj8CghQQ_ZLOh-hSZ6WUjA0B4Z9Qx7MCXPSsThRHznBnHBQA1KEBRz73H6vo8YbuU8bBzioZeQ_E1IJ5df19f-rwUizTl4AcEcd2I45A/s640/_MG_9490web.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A little nervous before.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGF1MGi9WFV21RzXYigKImrTKrudHKO89qhF-nkU5EZnEeUKtXFSSsSyRuXjRrglnC69OlQpU0hll2RZKMKJv7m_-6glMZfZ7z1PIa6_KFFSE2d2GeOdYfYE0BbRuPd0BmFDfiAg/s1600/_MG_9495web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGF1MGi9WFV21RzXYigKImrTKrudHKO89qhF-nkU5EZnEeUKtXFSSsSyRuXjRrglnC69OlQpU0hll2RZKMKJv7m_-6glMZfZ7z1PIa6_KFFSE2d2GeOdYfYE0BbRuPd0BmFDfiAg/s640/_MG_9495web.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Psyched and ready to go. Notice the cowboy boots he wore to get in the zone.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Without further ado, may I present our resident cowboy;</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Mission accomplished. He wore that medal proudly the rest of the day. People who knew what it was would stop him every once in awhile and give him high-fives or shoot thumbs-up his way. Surprisingly, he loved the attention.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">More fair pictures coming next..... </span></div></td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Camillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10587049437285724439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30815621.post-25862966254806078112011-06-24T21:29:00.001-07:002018-05-17T18:55:25.017-07:00Dang it our baby is growing fast. Look at these cute little Squidy buns on her first day of swim classes on Monday. We have been meaning to get her in some swim classes, and signed her up at the cabana club twenty minutes before the first class started. We brought her suit just in case, and now she conveniently has lessons the same time the kids are in the pool with the Gators. The best part is that one of her teachers in Jessie's senior buddy on the team, so Syd already knows her. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2cuIs91GCkGj1UUMT1bC8NN29IeRsq-hosKHauu9HUIGO9zalYMz-TmXa3uBltq1COnS3V8PqRt0ll14KMZ_HO9CyNyBodwYDjbWu7t88sin9OHeeS606f9avLIjwbQYshWofNQ/s1600/_MG_9591.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2cuIs91GCkGj1UUMT1bC8NN29IeRsq-hosKHauu9HUIGO9zalYMz-TmXa3uBltq1COnS3V8PqRt0ll14KMZ_HO9CyNyBodwYDjbWu7t88sin9OHeeS606f9avLIjwbQYshWofNQ/s320/_MG_9591.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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After all the kids got out of the pool this morning I told the big kids how Syd almost drowned today during her class. It's a good thing I was watching because she went off the last step to swim to her teacher, but the teacher was facing the other way with another kiddo. It took my brain a couple seconds to process that seeing the top of Syd's head under the water was <i>no</i>t a good thing. I raced out of my chair poolside, but got to her just as her teacher turned around to get her up. Phew. There are two teachers and three kids, so it's not like Syd was unsupervised for long periods of time, but that sure got my heart pumping. <br />
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As I related what happened to the big kids they started to semi-fight over who would be able to save Syd if that happened in Grandma and Grandpa's pool. J and Toby chatted about what they would do if Syd fell off the step when they were there. All the sudden Logan pipes up, "HEY! I want to save Sydney!" Without missing a beat, Syd says, "Okay Logan, you can be my superhero!" As cute as the entire conversation was, I pray it never happens. Camillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10587049437285724439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30815621.post-44180034263994299612011-06-18T21:21:00.000-07:002011-06-24T21:49:27.635-07:00Back, fly, breast and free<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I noticed today that we have a new set of words in our vocabulary at home now that we are a swim team family. Saturdays are proving to be exhausting lately with swim meets in the morning and misc. Saturday stuff the rest of the day. Our family is loving the swim season with the Gators though. This being our first year, we certainly jumped in head first (no pun intended). My Man is Co-Pres. of the team for the next two years, and we just might have all 4 kids swimming next year if little Squidy can make it across the pool by then. Each of the kids has an older buddy that helps them out during the meets, brings them treats, meets them with their towel at the end of each race, and allows them to hang out at the big kid side of the lawn. All our kids are loving the older attention and figuring out things to make or give to their buddies every Saturday. Even little Syd has made some good friends. She doesn't mind spending so much time at the pool if we have enough books and food to keep her busy. We love the happy, friendly vibe of our team, and it's SO nice that all the kids can participate in a sport at the same time and place. I'd much rather hang out at the pool for two hours a day for practice than shuttle kids to three different sports through out the week. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijBcU5u3cGbGOspFRAY2-7LmeI5X5DR5uhAvuWzsMA9mR8eC5QP_N66H0aaujaFbHWQyHMOn9A45sW3i6HrAS4C_WnC4jD5RtpsZbBPFnUQC9BbyRwKtRscK6s31ldDMmMZQwiHA/s1600/_MG_9347web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijBcU5u3cGbGOspFRAY2-7LmeI5X5DR5uhAvuWzsMA9mR8eC5QP_N66H0aaujaFbHWQyHMOn9A45sW3i6HrAS4C_WnC4jD5RtpsZbBPFnUQC9BbyRwKtRscK6s31ldDMmMZQwiHA/s640/_MG_9347web.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="426" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Our little fish have improved immensely since the beginning of practice. Mr. Cooper could barely make it across the pool while hanging onto the lane line for a couple rests. Now he has a basic grasp of all four strokes, and won THREE first in heat ribbons on Saturday. I'm bummed I didn't record his awesome freestyle race for which he earned a blue ribbon for the event. Toby loves the backstroke and is also improving quickly in all aspects. We just need to remind him how things work during a relay, so that he doesn't accidentally start the first leg of the relay as the #2 man from the opposite side of the pool. Yep, he got a little too excited and before we could stop him he was off at the starting beep. The kid who was supposed to start was either not ready or saw Toby starting and backed off. Check out his coach's reaction right above him in the pics below. Nnnnoooooooooo! He swam a great lap too. Figures right? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0oC3cP1cc5iVdq7Cit_w9dLCOpYpKaAnxwkupd18dEV3iX8AWkELrcRRt5p2w3FUqdXfHnkMcjjcvIAYWQAKTrCYQtiZRCzFu1hslyrsHbEBHNLKWr4hD9q3Qp0jZRld1gziw1Q/s1600/_MG_9348web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0oC3cP1cc5iVdq7Cit_w9dLCOpYpKaAnxwkupd18dEV3iX8AWkELrcRRt5p2w3FUqdXfHnkMcjjcvIAYWQAKTrCYQtiZRCzFu1hslyrsHbEBHNLKWr4hD9q3Qp0jZRld1gziw1Q/s640/_MG_9348web.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRzwo2ytMk9VGo9RQfvspO6oeSzAjKOfP2yYZFhq-fouVbxeJuK7Wu_oqJWpjBNTzB0VLF1mL1ih1omYnBR12oPNbqdYIWrsYdmGVfpLSO_0X7yldh1gplHgmSA0-Pbz57lv4ZuA/s1600/_MG_9349web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRzwo2ytMk9VGo9RQfvspO6oeSzAjKOfP2yYZFhq-fouVbxeJuK7Wu_oqJWpjBNTzB0VLF1mL1ih1omYnBR12oPNbqdYIWrsYdmGVfpLSO_0X7yldh1gplHgmSA0-Pbz57lv4ZuA/s640/_MG_9349web.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYhy1L_7TkkkTCkgOXZBf2YONpa2g6q3IJzaG1Vd6JBKbCp4A_eZEQKuKurWDHAuV-FficfJtxKoT1ytCcYn15RCnLR6j6Qd0Rom-teeOMy_gy72DxIBzPot3oTj5f0ZQzto77ZA/s1600/_MG_9350web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYhy1L_7TkkkTCkgOXZBf2YONpa2g6q3IJzaG1Vd6JBKbCp4A_eZEQKuKurWDHAuV-FficfJtxKoT1ytCcYn15RCnLR6j6Qd0Rom-teeOMy_gy72DxIBzPot3oTj5f0ZQzto77ZA/s640/_MG_9350web.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0484yVXEa0_xDMMeyzSRpzkxa5s6bt0zQ5YOuOS5yuIvTKxAcD775E6eGB2_uzSAyQT13P8ijAe4KkhhJ3raoLOPBN-I4IJ-jn92YNd5-bzX1240zaLtVrVWvKhnw3IcwOQEPig/s1600/_MG_9351web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0484yVXEa0_xDMMeyzSRpzkxa5s6bt0zQ5YOuOS5yuIvTKxAcD775E6eGB2_uzSAyQT13P8ijAe4KkhhJ3raoLOPBN-I4IJ-jn92YNd5-bzX1240zaLtVrVWvKhnw3IcwOQEPig/s640/_MG_9351web.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Notice the other coach on the left looking Toby's way and blocking her swimmer from making the same mistake. Also, take note of the awkward flop into the pool. What's that all about? The kid is capable of much nicer entries into the water. Here's proof; </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLlknqFuhS2g0dZbC87u0iBp3VWGLX68c40PHXU_tIlxbiIfecVX1kr-3d_GLZHKbhGBOcMr22XROxF7kafmvN0qO-VeiSM2nnCjbwdYjTk-ymeXKwMB0fXV1vIv7bo01l7WAmfA/s1600/_MG_9235web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLlknqFuhS2g0dZbC87u0iBp3VWGLX68c40PHXU_tIlxbiIfecVX1kr-3d_GLZHKbhGBOcMr22XROxF7kafmvN0qO-VeiSM2nnCjbwdYjTk-ymeXKwMB0fXV1vIv7bo01l7WAmfA/s640/_MG_9235web.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The best part is Toby didn't even know he went early until I told him after the race. My sweet Toby; he really does march to his own beat sometimes...... </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Jessie has been the wild card in this whole swim team situation. She was the most nervous at the beginning of the year to be on the team. I am not ashamed to say we pretty much made her try it. J went from a beginning swimmer who <i>wouldn't</i> go under the water without plugging her nose to an awesome swimmer who learns quickly and improves more each week. She has found the swimming stroke that she loves, and it just happens to be butterfly which I think is the hardest. Since this girl can out swim me with this stroke, and the fact that she has improved so much since the first day of practice in April, I am so pleased that I caught this race on film.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/E1EdhHSO3Ww?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The kids are having fun being at the pool every day, hanging out with their buddies, making new friends and learning all that goes into swimming back, fly, breast and free strokes. Now that I think about it, Mom and Dad are having a good time too. </div>Camillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10587049437285724439noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30815621.post-12820223643198591292011-06-04T18:33:00.000-07:002018-05-17T18:34:28.670-07:00Our family attended our first Warm Springs Gators swim meet against the Southgate Penguins today. They were not the most gracious hosts, so it made our first meet with the team pretty lackluster. The weather decided that everyone at the pool needed to be drenched, not just the swimmers, because it poured rain for over five hours. We tolerated setting up the pop-up canopy, camping chairs, and tarps in a drizzle of rain, but once it started pouring buckets we all got a little sick of getting wet. My Man lucked out and missed the whole ordeal because he was at his last day of a continuing education class. <br />
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It didn't stop raining while I shuffled 5-8 year-old swimmers to their races and cheered on our three little fish. <br />
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It's June right? Ladies were talking about skiing last weekend and planning ski trips to Tahoe for July 4th weekend. What is with this late spring? It felt so good to go home and get dry and warm. Camillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10587049437285724439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30815621.post-48549605615639872272011-05-21T17:48:00.000-07:002018-05-17T18:11:28.114-07:00Honored mother On a perfect Mother's Day.....<br />
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*I would wake up on my own, well-rested and ready for the day, no phone alarm clock at 6:30 AM today<br />
*I would hear the sound of my kids and handsome Man slaving away in the kitchen on what I can assume is breakfast in bed as I lay rubbing the sleep from my eyes.<br />
*I would forget that my Man snuck in to ask me how exactly you make whipped cream, the real stuff!<br />
*I would <i>never</i> forget my sweet kids filing into the bedroom, with a different bunch of my favorite flowers in each one's hand, to present their edible masterpiece.<br />
*I would open handmade cards, gifts, and some cool surprises while eating my kids version of Old Glory pancakes; pancakes topped with blueberries, vanilla whipped cream, strawberries and cinnamon. Yum!<br />
*Sydney would wish me an enthusiastic "Happy Birthday!" as I open a present from her. <br />
*Toby would flash me a beaming smile when I am happily surprised with the banana stand and recipe holder he made for me at Scouts.<br />
*Logan would get dressed for church happily and on time. (That's huge.)<br />
*Jessie would be her usual overexcited self about gifts, and what they should have bought me and why Dad wouldn't buy the dress that she wanted for me, and wondering aloud if I was going to wear the dress they <i>did </i>buy me to church. Love that girl! ;) <br />
*I would nix doing my hair up fancy in favor of more snuggle time in bed with my sweet kids who would sneak bites of my huge plate of pancakes. <br />
*The dress, shoes, and necklace gifts my sweet children picked out for me to wear to church (with careful suggestions from my love) would all fit and look okay. <br />
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*My Man would take the time to dress everyone in the same colors as my outfit so as to match for the inevitable pictures after church. <br />
*We would be on time to church!<br />
*The mildly-cheesy (sorry, it kinda was) Mother's Day song I would sing with a great bunch of ladies would actually bring a few tears to some eyes. <br />
*I wouldn't have to give the Young Women's lesson I just read through the night before.<br />
*The nap I was promised wouldn't get interrupted several times by kids sneaking around my bedroom or the dog licking my hand.<br />
*My ear wouldn't be throbbing and getting worse with a major infection. :(<br />
*I would enjoy the evening with both Moms, hence both sides of the family, over a delicious meal at Gram's house.<br />
*I would feel no guilt while savoring the left-over chocolate caramel ice cream after the kids went to bed.<br />
*I would fall asleep next to my love after a fabulous day. <br />
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<br />
While my Mother's Day wasn't perfect, it was as close as can be expected. I am so grateful to have my beautiful Mother close by, and am especially grateful for the sacred blessing I have been given in being Mom to these four awesome kids.<br />
Camillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10587049437285724439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30815621.post-91316308511040373132011-05-11T10:47:00.000-07:002011-05-13T13:22:56.235-07:00Choice funnies of lateDriving to Naylor's with the kids we started to have a conversation about who owns what. Logan said we owned the apartment complex where we live. After explaining that Jean owns the buildings and we just live in them, Toby jokingly said, "so she owns my toys and all our stuff?!!" "No, we own all our things," I assured the Littles.<br />
<br />
After a brief silence, Logan said, "Guess who owns everything on the Earth?.....Heavenly Father!"<br />
<br />
"I wouldn't say he <i>owns </i>everything on the Earth. It's more like he created the Earth and <i>loves</i> everything on the Earth," I said. <br />
"Yeah, and even he loves skunks?!!" Logan exclaimed.<br />
Amen.<br />
<br />
<br />
After a big breakfast at Naylor's, Syd said, "Mom, (big sigh) my tummy hurts.......cause I'm going to have a baby." She then walked around sticking her tummy out and rubbing it. Maybe she's been watching Auntie Lauren's tummy getting bigger lately.<br />
<br />
<br />
Syd loves the books Pinkalicious and Purplicious. We have read them enough together that she has them almost memorized and enjoys reading them to herself. In Purplicious, Pinkalicious gets teased because she loves pink and it's a baby color to all her classmates. The book says Pinkalicious writes in her pink diary that she loves pink. Syd reading the book to herself said, "And I wrote in my pink diarrhea that pink is perfect!"<br />
<br />
Camillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10587049437285724439noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30815621.post-77164487597917233032011-04-21T12:10:00.001-07:002018-05-17T16:29:51.410-07:00Zombie walk<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I thought it would be a good idea to take a nice long walk this morning to boost my energy for the day. I was a zombie yesterday because of lack of sleep, but I wanted to actually tick stuff off the to-do list today. Ever the multi-tasker, I decided to walk to Walmart with the littlest chillie up front in the stroller. I needed a few things there that would fit in the bottom basket of the trusty Graco, and it would kill two birds with one stone. Two and a half hours later I am home and wondering if I bit off a little more than I could chew. My barely noticeably sore neck now throbs from pushing the stroller for so long, and that partially black toe nail I squished under a chair several months ago is now coming off (too much?). <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-dWsg8nBfURuBytnhUSv8ffZzHY3ztHm_Ne9_sjgT3dAB9CrMdJSiHh7y6G4oSi2C6rCQ_Dobb1DWCNE3ZnTOCReo93kVs-GsrzRlrt9c-j0C31lDssE5n0fhhGpxZSn90QK2sg/s1600/dscn5406.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-dWsg8nBfURuBytnhUSv8ffZzHY3ztHm_Ne9_sjgT3dAB9CrMdJSiHh7y6G4oSi2C6rCQ_Dobb1DWCNE3ZnTOCReo93kVs-GsrzRlrt9c-j0C31lDssE5n0fhhGpxZSn90QK2sg/s320/dscn5406.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I gave Squid the camera to keep her busy, but wish I would have taken a picture of the both of us. </td></tr>
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<br />
Despite not being able to turn my neck to the left, though, I'm feeling good! As soon as my Man gets home he will fix me up right and the neck pain will be a distant memory. I don't know how I would get on without my Man's chiropractic and <a href="http://www.activerelease.com/">ART</a> prowess. Yes, that was a plug. He is so generous with his time to help our family (me and the kids whine about our aches and pain when he gets home all the time) after doing the same thing all day long. He really does love it still and his practice is doing well. We say thankful prayers for that every day! <br />
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Easter is upon us. I've been trying to eat so well in order to enjoy some guilt-free goodies on Sunday. I'm looking forward to spending the day with our family, going to church, eating some chocolate!, and enjoying the Sabbath with a thankful heart for all the amazing blessings God has given me. I know Jesus lives people! What a happy thought it is to know that I can be forgiven for my mistakes thanks to Jesus' atonement and resurrection. I try to take this beautiful time of year to heart and renew goals and commitments for myself to BE better. New spring flowers and bright green buds on the trees help me remember that I too can grow and learn. It just takes work. <br />
<br />
Speaking of something that takes lots of work. I feel like I was a crappy Mom yesterday. I'd like to blame it on my previously mentioned zombie mode. Unfortunately, I will perpetuate the stereotype that men love to blame my gender's foul moods on by saying, my "hormone spike" this week was partially to blame. I am so short-tempered that I need to constantly self-talk to keep my temper in check. It hasn't even worked. How far am I from menopause? My poor kids are walking on eggshells with me, and yet I am still a crazy person. I had to put myself in a time out or two today. <br />
<br />
Maybe I need more sleep.<br />
<br />
More sleep.<br />
Coloring eggs.<br />
Filling eggs for the kiddos to find on Sunday.<br />
Putting up some spring colored pretties in the house.<br />
The ever-present dishes and cleaning the house.<br />
Swim practice.<br />
More sleep. <br />
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That's the short list for the rest of the week. <br />
Ready break.Camillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10587049437285724439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30815621.post-31254384311380398782011-04-12T13:09:00.001-07:002011-06-12T00:21:44.594-07:00More days like thisMe and the Mister had a good day. I'd venture to say our entire young family had a great day! It was busy. There were some hectic, rushed times throughout the day, but when my Man and I sat down on the couch together at the end of the night we both felt a sense of accomplishment and happiness. If only every day could be as productive and fun.<br />
<br />
The past three months of Saturdays have been spent slaving away at my Man's office doing his remodel. Painting, ripping out carpet, and laying new laminate floor have been complicated while working around patients and massages that were scheduled during the same time. We finally got tired of trying to be quiet, dragging all the kids with us, and asking family to watch the Littles for those long days while we chipped away at the work. We decided to skip the Saturday craziness and work on Monday while the kids were at school. It was awesome to get an entire room of laminate down with no kid distractions. It was just the two of us hammering, cutting, measuring, and laughing while we finished the room. We were done before 2 PM when we weren't getting home until 5 or 6 on Saturday nights. The office is going to look so good when we are done!<br />
<br />
After a lunch break at Chipotle, a quick visit to the dog park with Ruby, and a pit stop at Sports Basement for swimming gear for the kiddos we called our working date a success. What a treat to spend the whole day with my Man. We had a lot of fun working together. We make a great team!<br />
<br />
Thirty minutes goes by too fast when you are speeding home to get 3 kids dressed and ready for their first day of swimming practice and to the pool on time. Again, we tag-teamed the task, getting all kids there on time with their shiny new goggles and suits. ALL THREE KIDS were so nervous to go to swimming practice. Okay, so maybe Toby wasn't all that nervous, but he doesn't really show it if he is. Things roll off his back so easy that he was along for the adventure. I think he is most willing to try new things in the pool, too. After all the kids swam the width of the pool for their coach, and learned the other kids names we were on our way home.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5B8NjW8UPN7hXj1iusWDYFbfAf_j6_MqmL6n5BP-2ad2A3i2tNT_we4Es_VIWmwJdMActYaPMhSzD9_fUtUsfAtRngblYMVzObcVvClCvCHGGlesESHvWPPFoKBo974-Eczi8dw/s1600/4-11web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5B8NjW8UPN7hXj1iusWDYFbfAf_j6_MqmL6n5BP-2ad2A3i2tNT_we4Es_VIWmwJdMActYaPMhSzD9_fUtUsfAtRngblYMVzObcVvClCvCHGGlesESHvWPPFoKBo974-Eczi8dw/s640/4-11web.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Applebee's saved the night for dinner since they have a kids eat for $1 special on Monday nights, and I hadn't been home all day to get something together for dinner. It was Family Night after all. I really need to get on it now about prepping dinner before we go to swimming every day.<br />
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As much as I am thankful for all we got done today, I think I would be exhausted in under a week after so much productivity every day.Camillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10587049437285724439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30815621.post-46777211862966988682011-03-11T16:20:00.000-08:002011-03-12T01:32:00.568-08:00Birthday celebration for DadWhat a happy day yesterday! Mom and Kristy went early yesterday morning to spring Dad from his prison. He was elated to walk out of the rehab facility to get on with life and healing. Kristy said she and Mom were busy collecting all the things from his room when they looked around and couldn't find Dad. He had walked himself down the hall to the elevator while his nurse ran after him to escort him out the front doors, as is protocol. It has been so hard for Mom to travel up to be with him every day, and Dad got terribly lonely when Mom wasn't there, like during the long nights. It's going to be great for them to be home. Dad will continue to have therapists come to the house and also travel for therapy in town, but the long drives and hours apart for Mom and Dad are done. I plan on spending the days that Mom works over at their house to help out and make sure Dad is okay. He can get around pretty well with a walker, but he lost most of his strength and stamina. He came home 20 pounds lighter and our family goal is to help him lose a lot more. He knows he <i>has</i> to now.<br />
<br />
The Doctors and therapists that worked with Dad loved his ever-present whit and were so surprised at how fast he progressed in his recovery. He came home teasing that he could go to work and function with half his brain tied behind his back. His speech is much better, he can eat solid food now (a big wahoo!), his facial paralysis is almost unnoticeable, and he is doing all his mental exercises to fix the connections in his brain that were damaged. Dad speaks so highly of the skilled staff that helped him, and he knows he has a long road back to %100. We are here to get him there though. I pray that dear Mom's burdens will be lightened as she is worried about working enough to cover their expenses, and is Dad's main care-giver until he can function be on his own.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGLCHFmiI8QBSgFuKo-XHFXSXw8QLKfKfleunrv2ZLF3ll2NZqb0QaDr2M8CrlqbkM1ULLpt2BnCGawR-RJDp6g178Z4g_goVgy5T8gWk88bp7m0SW4MMH_HBJGTqKOtNtNcYavQ/s1600/_MG_7320e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGLCHFmiI8QBSgFuKo-XHFXSXw8QLKfKfleunrv2ZLF3ll2NZqb0QaDr2M8CrlqbkM1ULLpt2BnCGawR-RJDp6g178Z4g_goVgy5T8gWk88bp7m0SW4MMH_HBJGTqKOtNtNcYavQ/s640/_MG_7320e.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>Despite all the hard work ahead, we had a happy celebration tonight with Dad at home. While in the hospital, he would look at the calendar every morning to see what day it was and count how many more days until the big starred date. His sister Mary, marked yesterday as Freedom Day and Birthday on the calendar in his room, so Dad would have something to look forward to. We had a great evening celebrating his freedom! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikQEht5bIqwbFc2FyVwyNb2WS394ISTa07Mq9uRzNRhtd1Oqn5XMBymEp1x8JHbWNSwJ9ZkKUx8mJ2jMdHyH_L3YoSOU0Xb3yfqgezVo00Mdn2krxSMuS-TOVtNKlnHCLW_UuZgg/s1600/_MG_7319e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikQEht5bIqwbFc2FyVwyNb2WS394ISTa07Mq9uRzNRhtd1Oqn5XMBymEp1x8JHbWNSwJ9ZkKUx8mJ2jMdHyH_L3YoSOU0Xb3yfqgezVo00Mdn2krxSMuS-TOVtNKlnHCLW_UuZgg/s640/_MG_7319e.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>The quickest thing we thought of whipping up for our impromptu dinner was breakfast; sausage, bacon, eggs, waffles, and tons of fruit. I know, it wasn't the best meal for those of us trying to lose weight, but we were celebrating. Dad kept saying that this was the best meal he had had in weeks. Of course, anything beats pureed food stuck into molds to form it back into the shape it started in. Breakfast for dinner topped with a piece of chocolate birthday cake for dessert made Dad a happy man. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHCWnl5qmmcLlDO8XcCeNwL9PvWVUtkRMwIxjMWVL3xpX-6W1zRoZomAGnhecn1U6TkXvBc1LzQpxBW5thWVU8PnEhGBCveOLssiifJQt7LIHQESAmcvbdvq6UcPbBFiThFznY6w/s1600/_MG_7317e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHCWnl5qmmcLlDO8XcCeNwL9PvWVUtkRMwIxjMWVL3xpX-6W1zRoZomAGnhecn1U6TkXvBc1LzQpxBW5thWVU8PnEhGBCveOLssiifJQt7LIHQESAmcvbdvq6UcPbBFiThFznY6w/s640/_MG_7317e.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrXxp466fzYVmssg5Z4feIJ4HBGIucnrruHqqd9Rn_-9K-WpL_Lo1_KoANgEfr4LjQxvvYYZh0i5vGCA9Rud_Y9K2EdkuJ9aCMyj_YnzdigF4Cb83FpVBPNRdSQGnSDr5IcCfQTQ/s1600/_MG_7324e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrXxp466fzYVmssg5Z4feIJ4HBGIucnrruHqqd9Rn_-9K-WpL_Lo1_KoANgEfr4LjQxvvYYZh0i5vGCA9Rud_Y9K2EdkuJ9aCMyj_YnzdigF4Cb83FpVBPNRdSQGnSDr5IcCfQTQ/s640/_MG_7324e.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>One of the things Dad has to practice is puckering his lips. Since his first week in the hospital he said he was going to watch the "Littlest Mermaid" when he got home because he remembered Sebastian puckering his lips in the movie. "You gotta bot your eyes like 'dis. You gotta pucker up your lips like 'dis," we all recited together in the family room as we watched the Little Mermaid while eating birthday cake. Dad wasn't kidding, he had Mom put on the movie and sat there with the kids until that part came. Then he practiced with all his might to pucker his lips. He still can't quite get there, but at least he is moving the left side of his face much better than several weeks ago. <br />
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We said a late good-bye and gave Dad a huge squeeze on behalf of everyone that has been praying for his return home. God is good! He answers prayers, and seeing Dad doing better and at home is a huge answer to many prayers!<br />
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Happy Birthday, dear Dad!<br />
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P.S. The chocolate cake looked and smelled delicious, but I was strong and didn't have any. Not even a sneak off Sydney's barely-eaten piece. I can do this. I think I can, I think I can , I think I can.......Camillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10587049437285724439noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30815621.post-38045586699515142322011-02-27T22:21:00.000-08:002011-03-11T16:37:08.937-08:00Sunny Sunday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQzca-6JP8iUyC6Do62H6G5O9EEYzephXm2DpPK0ua1yfsNVBDMxP9Df2hPl5qTrDD19fAmKERiwikF5xQ8K9S2vV3qPizGyAT7T6WO0bgV0KtLJ-fCExhUzUvnWRfhA9_RHihdQ/s1600/famw%253Adad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQzca-6JP8iUyC6Do62H6G5O9EEYzephXm2DpPK0ua1yfsNVBDMxP9Df2hPl5qTrDD19fAmKERiwikF5xQ8K9S2vV3qPizGyAT7T6WO0bgV0KtLJ-fCExhUzUvnWRfhA9_RHihdQ/s640/famw%253Adad.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Sunday afternoons have become go-visit-Grandpa day in Oaktown, so that we can catch up on our week and give Dad some much needed company. Dad was in good spirits and excited to share the goodies with us that his sister, Mary, brought with her when she visited this past week. It wasn't a coincidence that Aunt Mary called "just to say Hi and thinking of you" the night Dad had his stroke. They are close and it meant a lot to Dad that his sister came to visit. Thank you Ron and Mary for supporting Dad by coming here for a couple days. I know it helped him feel loved and lightened his spirits. Even though he has a rigorous therapy schedule during the day, he gets so lonely back in his room. I know having family visit is the highlight of his days. We talked and laughed together in a quiet room set aside for visits on Dad's floor at the rehab facility on this sunny Sunday afternoon. The kids munched away on treats, and provided ever-present entertainment while we heard about what Dad did the last week to wake up his brain after the stroke. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSi50PPh-NWdvVylM-p7cQRbRsArMYZYdVLcNV_YQC8tkHw2bJROqDF7EgnuFMGHtulaqDgFJeYBDKopidxVaJyDOcYZzbAGfO2mimBPlQsOpGDHYO5-VGAIST8htoqFgffsRFbQ/s1600/_MG_6926e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSi50PPh-NWdvVylM-p7cQRbRsArMYZYdVLcNV_YQC8tkHw2bJROqDF7EgnuFMGHtulaqDgFJeYBDKopidxVaJyDOcYZzbAGfO2mimBPlQsOpGDHYO5-VGAIST8htoqFgffsRFbQ/s640/_MG_6926e.jpg" width="434" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Showing off his hand exercises as we first arrived</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU-Z-cVXnWeNxQahVWTN7hLlDt60DEOMABa076HfkqoHDa-_u_2uHZXdG7xrmMxi-i2g3B4-z0xbUjb2KSULpjkIQP4Bf18MuQLGuAoaKCDcb30371Hh76peFcKkeJBWHxevDLMA/s1600/_MG_6927e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU-Z-cVXnWeNxQahVWTN7hLlDt60DEOMABa076HfkqoHDa-_u_2uHZXdG7xrmMxi-i2g3B4-z0xbUjb2KSULpjkIQP4Bf18MuQLGuAoaKCDcb30371Hh76peFcKkeJBWHxevDLMA/s640/_MG_6927e.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Mom tells us the Doctors are encouraged by Dad's quick recovery so far. His left-sided paralysis is decreasing, and his smile is getting much better. Mom runs him through all the facial exercises he can do to retrain those muscles, and he practices swallowing, puckering his lips, raising his eyebrows, and smiling to wake up that part of his brain that moves those facial muscles. He is much more alert and aware of what's going on in the room, as opposed to the first week where he just kept talking about the same things over and over and slept a lot. We could tell he was stressed about getting back to work and life after a couple days in the hospital, yet he didn't realize it wouldn't be possible for awhile. Yeah, that first week was hard to see my always on-the-go Dad laid up with all the desire, but no possibility of getting out of that bed right then. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYKy4p_3Jhz7XzSYq15nCXZHHTt7f_4OAj_sAHb7TmDBb2NB2caKOly1jSDzgFFiFzB7GN-R4mtEwHcbxBHgtqJgemSOOFsoYsb5oSQerIzbCb4gSj3yfd-0NGo85ViqLc8w3zOg/s1600/_MG_6932e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYKy4p_3Jhz7XzSYq15nCXZHHTt7f_4OAj_sAHb7TmDBb2NB2caKOly1jSDzgFFiFzB7GN-R4mtEwHcbxBHgtqJgemSOOFsoYsb5oSQerIzbCb4gSj3yfd-0NGo85ViqLc8w3zOg/s640/_MG_6932e.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">J showing Gramps her robot beetle built up from tiny pieces</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9e3NAuAlQowawVa4evFwym4T0Q5OghksvgzADykA84W1UXxYQELz9bN1rYLk03GnWQIi9TxqUZ0OnKAJc0dHv8tT1rjfrsAuxRy5YdkfAaqrDa57fhtec68E973NXgpMxh1RVLg/s1600/_MG_6938e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9e3NAuAlQowawVa4evFwym4T0Q5OghksvgzADykA84W1UXxYQELz9bN1rYLk03GnWQIi9TxqUZ0OnKAJc0dHv8tT1rjfrsAuxRy5YdkfAaqrDa57fhtec68E973NXgpMxh1RVLg/s640/_MG_6938e.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Man with his girls. This picture reminds me- almost everything I have read about thumb-sucking says you have to just ignore it until the kid is ready to give it up. I can't! It drives me nuts. What to do........???</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaIb0zCUglIphGu22PZ8JE0vg9Zyb2L5S9jMZS7libUC5SfQYIhA3qP3Ac4HMOxuDc0RjVM8O3-VCEd9nm8R-9JPSBS_8dPyHKNKbdIuu0pNE84Qmf-lIqazL1qDwgPRsJbGKWMg/s1600/_MG_6937e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaIb0zCUglIphGu22PZ8JE0vg9Zyb2L5S9jMZS7libUC5SfQYIhA3qP3Ac4HMOxuDc0RjVM8O3-VCEd9nm8R-9JPSBS_8dPyHKNKbdIuu0pNE84Qmf-lIqazL1qDwgPRsJbGKWMg/s640/_MG_6937e.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">I knew Dad was coming back to us when he sat us all down for a talk. He told us the target date the Docs set for him to come home was March 10th, his birthday. Then he made us all promise to help Mom as much as possible because she was working so hard already going to work and tending to Dad's needs. He joked with my boys that they could scrub the bathrooms at his house to help Grandma and call it a "Pee-pee party." He is still a little uninhibited and the boys think it's hilarious that he talks about that sort of stuff that they are not allowed to say in front of girls. </div></td></tr>
</tbody></table>This whole situation has forced me to think of the possibility of losing my parents, the possibility of my kids losing their parents, lots of uncomfortable things that one doesn't choose to think of often. I've had the prompting lately to dot the i's and cross those t's with regard to our financial planning, life insurance, our will, etc. We want to change some things and it's time to do it. Yesterday.<br />
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Above all, I thank God for sparing Dad's life to be with us here on Earth longer. I'm selfish that way. I want my parents around to spend time with me and my kids for as long as possible. We are so blessed that Dad is still here, doing well and on the road to recovery!Camillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10587049437285724439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30815621.post-31881386771143028292011-02-18T14:12:00.000-08:002011-03-11T14:14:40.373-08:00Slowly but surely<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Dad is doing well and was transferred to a rehab facility yesterday, although it wasn't without a fight. Mom has been waging war over the phone with their insurance company that denied Dad's request for rehabilitation. I am just as concerned about Mom getting worn down and having health problems as I am about Dad getting better. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As much progress as Dad has made in 5 days, he is still not able to take care of himself, yet they were ready to send him home yesterday. Thankfully, Mom found an advocate at the rehab facility where he ended up who helped plead their case to the powers that be. They basically had to threaten a possible lawsuit if Dad wasn't given the care he needed to get back to his functional self because of the safety issues he deals with at work. I pray that he can get back to work quickly and have a job waiting for him because it is almost all he talks about. He's gotta get out of that hospital because he has too much work to do, and they really need him because no one else knows how to run the job. Those are the types of things he has said every day I have seen him. He's probably right. As long as it motivates him to get better quickly.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Doctors and Mom are impressed with his progress, but Mom is still worried because they haven't found out what cause the stroke. Understandably, Mom wants to have as many questions answered so they can prevent Dad from having another stroke. I just pray that Dad won't find himself in the McDonalds drive-thru anymore and take this getting healthier thing seriously. We are so blessed that he is okay and that the stroke didn't effect his memory. The part of his brain that was effected controls his reflexes like swallowing & bladder control and organizational skills. Things look good for an almost full, if not full, recovery. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thank you to all who have been praying for Dad and Mom during this time. As a family, we have seen many little miracles and amazing improvement in Dad's situation and circumstances. He has wonderful care-givers and Doctors, and many kuddos to Mom's long hours at his side. She has spent every day at the hospital with Dad, but needs to get back to work. Now that Dad is 45 minutes away from home Mom is going to have many long, tiring days traveling from home to work to the rehab facility and back home late at night. We count our blessings that Dad is still here, is healing and had the desire to get well.</div>Camillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10587049437285724439noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30815621.post-33912820096474351282011-02-15T17:26:00.000-08:002011-02-15T19:30:53.158-08:00Tender Mercies<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In the spirit of Valentine's Day yesterday, I've been thinking a lot about all the amazing people in my life that I love and am so thankful for. I am especially grateful for both sides of my family who have pulled together to support Mom and Dad as they recover from Dad's stroke Saturday night. <br />
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It's been really hard for me seeing Dad laid up in the hospital. Each time I talk to one of my brothers I realize that, a). we can't change what happened so there is no use pining over how Dad was before the stroke and b). things could have been much worse and we still have him here with us. My husband has the same realist, no-nonsense personality which balances out my tendency to worry and let negative thoughts fester. I'm thankful for all their voices of reason to help me suck it up and get to work on improving the situation instead of worrying about how bad it could be. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdD4bHO0uKkRiJL3nhx3XdYlHiVwCm2T7rqcu3IogAkYEWzaSgG07VZ9CYBGrV1y8hFTXHUfYsDuRT21bMzE9AcU4AMctolzkxhToLpwPAXguyYbwmK_OunG_bwfTApH4vtp1urw/s1600/dad_day2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdD4bHO0uKkRiJL3nhx3XdYlHiVwCm2T7rqcu3IogAkYEWzaSgG07VZ9CYBGrV1y8hFTXHUfYsDuRT21bMzE9AcU4AMctolzkxhToLpwPAXguyYbwmK_OunG_bwfTApH4vtp1urw/s400/dad_day2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I had a wonderful talk with Mom last night about the numerous small miracles that have surrounded this entire situation with Dad's stroke. I am so thankful for many tender mercies that the Lord has seen fit to grant our family at this time. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCO-ElGRByU8M7wyxChdyht4BiFXa2kpSbT7uj9UVeTNFaO3zuvdIiTt2WXqpz2ipw9us8267uznKECSjeUry0LTS6j8eqnpgGz5GRdcabGp-2qxQQbkf9hvqNzs2pzqLpQWMsOw/s1600/2dad_day2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCO-ElGRByU8M7wyxChdyht4BiFXa2kpSbT7uj9UVeTNFaO3zuvdIiTt2WXqpz2ipw9us8267uznKECSjeUry0LTS6j8eqnpgGz5GRdcabGp-2qxQQbkf9hvqNzs2pzqLpQWMsOw/s400/2dad_day2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These pictures are from yesterday when Dad started to fall asleep. He was transported across the street for an MRI and worked with the speech therapist that morning, so he was ready for a snooze. Even so, I didn't see much of his eyes as he kept them shut most of the time. </td></tr>
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I am thankful for the great care Dad is getting at our local hospital. When Mom, who works at one of the best hospitals around, is impressed with the staff and care Dad is getting, I know he is in good hands.<br />
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I am thankful Dad wasn't driving or home alone for the day when he had his stroke. <br />
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I am thankful for the power of prayer. We have already seen the benefit of faithful family and friends prayers for Dad's health and recovery.<br />
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I am thankful that Tom and Mom were able to get him to the hospital as fast as they did.<br />
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I am thankful for such loving and selfless family. Thank you Ben and Heather for making the long drive down here to support and comfort my Mom and Dad. It has meant so much to us all. <br />
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I am thankful that Mom is also in good spirits. I worry about her just as much as Dad. I know that she is being comforted and strengthened by her faith in Heavenly Father's love for her and Dad. <br />
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I am thankful Dad still has his sense of humor. The part of his brain that was effected by the stroke effects personality which means it could have turned him into a cantankerous, belligerent, old grump. We are so grateful he is still Dad, if not a little more child-like version. He is willing to do what the nurses and Docs ask him to, and wants to work hard to get out of that bed for good. He keeps the staff entertained with his humor, sometimes proving that he doesn't have much inhibition by saying inappropriate things. ;)<br />
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I am thankful for the fast progress Dad is making in his recovery. He looks so much better than 24 hours after the stroke. My Man and I went to see him Sunday night, exactly 24 hours after, and it was all I could do to hold back tears. I wasn't even very good at that. He could barely open his right eye, he could talk but not very well, he couldn't swallow, and his entire left side was weak and droopy. It's hard to see a parent slow down, but when it happened so suddenly it really knocked the wind out of me. <br />
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I just got back from a quick visit to the hospital on Dad's 3rd day after the stroke and he looks so good. I walked in to find Dad sitting up and eating! His meals are blended up hospital food and thickened liquid, but he can swallow better and started his first day back on food. The best part about seeing Dad today was that he had both eyes wide open and was watching Fox News, his favorite. Mom said he walked down the hall with the help of a walker, and has been working hard on exercises to strengthen his facial muscles. He wants to get out of that hospital room SO badly. Every time I go see him he talks about how he needs to get back to work because they need him. His attitude is positive and the progress he is making is so encouraging. We are praying that he can make a quick recovery and keep the motivation to improve his health. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT3znyxT2evuRskAwsuekppfO2Kj8qt7hxCDKUmuSWvEIcDV9EmaXJTnaIGUtbbUY7501bQlQu-rEdHrrnh9Cnn_wF-A_e707Sr3tG_I_Jdive7I3wxVBt5uEIDtiH-LcPPA_NqA/s1600/getwell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT3znyxT2evuRskAwsuekppfO2Kj8qt7hxCDKUmuSWvEIcDV9EmaXJTnaIGUtbbUY7501bQlQu-rEdHrrnh9Cnn_wF-A_e707Sr3tG_I_Jdive7I3wxVBt5uEIDtiH-LcPPA_NqA/s400/getwell.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>My chillies made Grandpa cute cards on Sunday that we took over that night. He could barely hold them and didn't open his eyes at all to look at them. Today we took another picture on Mom's camera where Dad is holding the pictures and trying his best to smile, eyes wide open. Thank heaven for small miracles. I know that our Heavenly Father is watching over Dad and our family. I have realized in these short 3 days that this is a learning and growing experience for all of us, not just Dad.<br />
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When we visited on Sunday, Dad said the Doc asked him if he got his wife anything for Valentine's Day. Dad said he planned on picking up a box of See's chocolates and maybe flowers on his way home from work on Monday. In his mind he was going to work the next day. Monday morning we went to my Man's office to put things back together after painting all Saturday. I had to stop at the See's right by his office to get Dad that box of soft centers he was going to buy Mom. When I took Mom lunch at the hospital that afternoon, I gave Dad the box of chocolates to give to Mom. He said, "that's okay, I'm going to get some tomorrow after work." I said, "Dad, it <i>is</i> tomorrow and I picked them up for you to save you a trip." The rest of my stay he kept asking to have a chocolate even though we told him over and over that he couldn't eat until he passed his swallow test. "Yeah, I will," he replied. Before I left I leaned over his bed to say goodbye when he asked, "you have that candy?" "You mean the chocolates, Dad?" "Yeah, crack open that box. Let's have some chocolate." As you can see, his brain is still recovering. ;)Camillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10587049437285724439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30815621.post-38662884398997804752011-02-13T00:20:00.000-08:002011-02-15T19:34:39.937-08:00NightmareI have two reoccurring nightmares since being married twelve years ago. Actually, more like eleven years ago, right before our first born came to live with us. The first nightmare that I can't seem to escape is some sort of home invasion. A burly man attacks me while I'm alone at home and I can't get help, or someone barges in the house while I'm alone with the kids. It creeps me out just thinking about it mostly awake. My second nightmare, to which I have woken up crying a couple times, is being jolted with the news that my Dad has suffered a catastrophic health crisis like a heart attack and died. I dreamt these vivid, horrible dreams mostly when I was pregnant, but tonight one of them almost came true.<br />
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My Man called me as I was taking a breather at Walmart. My shopping cart held heart chocolates for the kids to attach to their Valentine's, and I was lazily browsing my way up to the cash register. He hastily asked if I'd talked to my brother, and that my Dad was at the hospital being checked over because he collapsed at home. I have believed my dearest Dad's health to be fragile for years, and we all beg him to take better care of himself. It looks as though he has suffered a stroke, but we don't know the extent yet. I hope and pray that all is as well as it can possibly be after such an occurrence. <br />
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I'm trying to direct all my positive thoughts and prayers to Dad's recovery, but there is part of my personality that won't shut off the negative thoughts. I've got 31 flavors of what happens next churning around in my head and not many of them are good. I just saw both my parents today, and mentioned to Mom that the new diet change my Man and I have done feels great and could really help Dad. I'm not ready to lose a parent. I'm sure no one really is, so I am praying with all my heart and mind (conscious and subconscious) that Dad recovers and finds the motivation to work his way back to health. I'm here to help with salad in hand!Camillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10587049437285724439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30815621.post-33769741183394875082011-02-03T11:26:00.000-08:002011-02-03T11:26:14.572-08:00Held accountableMy Man is on the fast track to losing weight. He looks amazing. He's also got great willpower. I want to be thinner, but I am having a problem committing. Not sure why. <br />
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SO, I hereby promise to eat sugar only one day a week. <br />
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Baby steps.Camillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10587049437285724439noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30815621.post-29131759308287513782010-12-19T05:39:00.000-08:002011-01-27T21:56:09.765-08:00Down with the Mouse King<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglb03XUQQs4bMtK05HHwrT3Tj4EjwPeMl1ndVToqIV1T6ps-h3Vtvcdwsf0QytcGXqIg3uImgf7eJH_Iu3OHmn5DS09tuHAbpErHuGYW_X0kDZ9WRN1_BYwsreyBNGbIfk96SOmw/s1600/_MG_6895e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglb03XUQQs4bMtK05HHwrT3Tj4EjwPeMl1ndVToqIV1T6ps-h3Vtvcdwsf0QytcGXqIg3uImgf7eJH_Iu3OHmn5DS09tuHAbpErHuGYW_X0kDZ9WRN1_BYwsreyBNGbIfk96SOmw/s640/_MG_6895e.jpg" width="426" /></a></div> When Toby grows up he has one more of those interesting tid-bits of information to share during a get-to-know you game or during small talk with a pretty girl. ;) Hopefully, it won't embarrass him to say that he participated in a production of the Nutcracker when he was seven. We saw his performance as a family last night and Toby did such a great job.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd21z5_l5OJcfBn4PPyIagAL7w23dn1xQLbkhyphenhyphenkOlxbtZjwhxSaQhg7_WaY_psy_5LHAKF7HlKesRmsgjGImYzH5o6EGqafLvHPfLvy4eHWAj4QIbBfnYhkNwaNu75ePO7Xtm5TQ/s1600/IMG_6835e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd21z5_l5OJcfBn4PPyIagAL7w23dn1xQLbkhyphenhyphenkOlxbtZjwhxSaQhg7_WaY_psy_5LHAKF7HlKesRmsgjGImYzH5o6EGqafLvHPfLvy4eHWAj4QIbBfnYhkNwaNu75ePO7Xtm5TQ/s640/IMG_6835e.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>The entire cast and crew of Rachel's Ballet has been up at Oakland late every night from Wednesday to Saturday (and many other nights) to rehearse and perform the Nutcracker on Temple Hill. Rachel is a friend from our ward at church and asked Toby back in January if he would be willing to participate because they were short on boys. He is a brave boy, a good sport, and loves to dance, so he said of course he would. My parents got roped into it too, because Rachel was desperate for couples to dance in the opening party scene. At least that's what my Dad says, because there is no other way he would be caught dancing on stage. That and my Mom committed them before telling Dad what exactly it entailed. He's never going to live down the fancy green handkerchief he waved around the stage during the dance. ;)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The parentals with dear Marilyn. She worked magic with the costumes and we had fun during rehearsals.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEh45Kt6i3feFpoK5iLom7viuKHFjfePu0vGQX7tT8Ih9SJjydZAeQFCOJa1y_t9TRW0rZzANeUXJClwls3b_thPo8Ld_h0ghlUtqGenpAtdYpyCxhB90RtK-0rcq2ua43jZFVgQ/s1600/IMG_6889e.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEh45Kt6i3feFpoK5iLom7viuKHFjfePu0vGQX7tT8Ih9SJjydZAeQFCOJa1y_t9TRW0rZzANeUXJClwls3b_thPo8Ld_h0ghlUtqGenpAtdYpyCxhB90RtK-0rcq2ua43jZFVgQ/s640/IMG_6889e.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even though he complained all the way, I think Dad really did have fun.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This production of the Nutcracker was a free two-night engagement that Rachel wanted to provide to the community so they could bring families to see one of <i>her</i> childhood loves. I also have a fond memory of seeing the Nutcracker when I was young and wanted to share that with my chillies. The problem was always that they wouldn't enjoy it at their current young ages for the $50+ a ticket we would have to pay at the San Francisco or San Jose ballet. I was so glad Rachel asked Toby to be in it and I was happy to help so that we could be a part of this production. What a wonderful Christmas present right?</span></div></span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieEirxWsdA2a1zqg0WnWJoRxTwrfBeViKveu2bg9ddjlZxOBN2hjIyilOR_1nRsiTdzkBIdKphi8hbVhNELe7IMgQqcbPzkaWjCT-LsTMWUtRMqmOmRlBEsyjbRstW3MT9R-tfuw/s1600/_MG_6841e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieEirxWsdA2a1zqg0WnWJoRxTwrfBeViKveu2bg9ddjlZxOBN2hjIyilOR_1nRsiTdzkBIdKphi8hbVhNELe7IMgQqcbPzkaWjCT-LsTMWUtRMqmOmRlBEsyjbRstW3MT9R-tfuw/s640/_MG_6841e.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiF4-9hLHpUZ03m0_p68X-Lfdd6V4kTQJgk7Fyg3OIPlYMOOCycfaS760wzr0VE6vlPYGg3DBVQe-EHhFb3OaYNnt6Ddejo0IQMaA1H1xkyqIMVHmDdEuUTsK2lvuoQSdDhgwyvg/s1600/_MG_6847e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiF4-9hLHpUZ03m0_p68X-Lfdd6V4kTQJgk7Fyg3OIPlYMOOCycfaS760wzr0VE6vlPYGg3DBVQe-EHhFb3OaYNnt6Ddejo0IQMaA1H1xkyqIMVHmDdEuUTsK2lvuoQSdDhgwyvg/s640/_MG_6847e.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>Toby's performance this weekend was even more commendable because he has been so sick all week. As a parent, they asked us to volunteer backstage for one rehearsal and one performance night, so I was also up late with Toby at rehearsal making sure he didn't hack up a lung. Poor guy. We got into a routine of taking it easy during rehearsal, going straight to bed by 11:30 or so, sleeping in (him, not me), drinking tons of water, vitamins, eating right, afternoon nap, a dose of Tylenol to keep his lingering fever in check, then back up to Oakland to do it all over again. He tried hard not to cough onstage, and thankfully, didn't need to worry about any sort of speaking part. "The show must go on" was uttered a couple times when he just didn't want to do anything. Despite feeling all-around crappy on Thursday and Friday, he soldiered on and still had a fun weekend. Rachel told me numerous times how much her and the teachers enjoyed working with Toby because he just has a natural ability to act and good stage presence. He was a natural leader for the other little soldiers that participated with him. The battle scene was the cutest part More importantly, he had fun!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtuijlCJj4RH0xNIx1Dv1GODltBbnKcK1j9DQ8zis5Q33ayFCY_H0T1DhcjWk8PFeVsVakYrUmfVg_aH7vXlOTK6VZMsyq-nnrSIEvfOEjoNrrcGqOxeFZ7cxVPUdQ-Oi2rLeeIw/s1600/_MG_6879e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtuijlCJj4RH0xNIx1Dv1GODltBbnKcK1j9DQ8zis5Q33ayFCY_H0T1DhcjWk8PFeVsVakYrUmfVg_aH7vXlOTK6VZMsyq-nnrSIEvfOEjoNrrcGqOxeFZ7cxVPUdQ-Oi2rLeeIw/s640/_MG_6879e.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">Toby's favorites:</div><div style="text-align: left;">Using the popguns during the party scene (to bug the girls).</div><div style="text-align: left;">Being a soldier and shooting the big canon at the naughty mice during the battle scene.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Watching the big girls dance.</div><div style="text-align: left;">A sweet lady from church asking for his autograph after the performance Saturday night (isn't that adorable?!). </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXHxWu0fa0PbgHglZ_XDQksZEaMMCok-YWHm0KhxtclLfHhE0UzH1q8oo6A4QHbdf5_xSyUr5SE16WN4MtVDPo0wl0ijvpm7kc7O7nLY2TJbjrhyzMAhDwyebl1ITbLGWWkW9FZA/s1600/nutcracker4e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="479" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXHxWu0fa0PbgHglZ_XDQksZEaMMCok-YWHm0KhxtclLfHhE0UzH1q8oo6A4QHbdf5_xSyUr5SE16WN4MtVDPo0wl0ijvpm7kc7O7nLY2TJbjrhyzMAhDwyebl1ITbLGWWkW9FZA/s640/nutcracker4e.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Dislikes:<br />
Having Mom put make-up on him. He could barely stand still long enough for some dark eye shadow and liner.<br />
Being sick and not able to run around with the other boys.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFnHlj8JN5fgGYcfOQTcjB5ZxC6dqAkfVuyO0PafVohFqZmMtB38GAUrJJxAdulOkw1b9mg6npXYFw3gv9p6145Dxhl9FE6U4mzb_GnoJF-ecAL_Q9cbQleE0mPMZiC74MxR-Nmg/s1600/_MG_6873e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFnHlj8JN5fgGYcfOQTcjB5ZxC6dqAkfVuyO0PafVohFqZmMtB38GAUrJJxAdulOkw1b9mg6npXYFw3gv9p6145Dxhl9FE6U4mzb_GnoJF-ecAL_Q9cbQleE0mPMZiC74MxR-Nmg/s640/_MG_6873e.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>So how did the ballet fair with the rest of the family? The Littles barely made it through the second act, but loved the first act with the party scene and the big battle between the soldiers and the Mouse King. Sydney's favorite part was the adorable little sheep and their costumes. After the performance she kept asking to go see our friend Maya as the sheep. She would have taken that costume home in a heart beat. When the gingerbread house and dancers came out I whispered to Sydney, "Look at that pretty gingerbread house!" She quickly replied, "I want to eat it!" Logan was a typical uninterested little boy who barely made it through with the help of a couple iTouch games. <br />
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We sat in front of friends from our ward, and we Moms joked about how we were going to expose our kids to cultured events even if it kills them. It almost killed off Logan tonight. He was shaking with frustration a couple times towards the end. At one point Daddy told Logan to watch the show. Logan replied back with genuine frustration, "What am I supposed to watch?!" Jessie liked it, but got a little frumpy because she couldn't see very well. I'm not sure if my Man enjoyed the night or tolerated it for Toby's sake, but he did like making fun of the prince's costume. At least he sat through the whole thing and didn't leave after the first act like some friends we know. Yeah, you know who you are, wimp!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMMeZk55lqdpx1RL6O0yc35Z5AdqPfqy5osvveeIY-Dbk1t85HP6ZQI_P_-Jridli6ogcI7-2qW0xQKUbgqr-ud_jlXWTK47c6xVhAS60WeSv8I-0QF5PWLUpRQSvOL3IQNa8btQ/s1600/IMG_6885e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMMeZk55lqdpx1RL6O0yc35Z5AdqPfqy5osvveeIY-Dbk1t85HP6ZQI_P_-Jridli6ogcI7-2qW0xQKUbgqr-ud_jlXWTK47c6xVhAS60WeSv8I-0QF5PWLUpRQSvOL3IQNa8btQ/s640/IMG_6885e.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Toby made fast friends with all the girls, as is his way, ;) Here he is with the beautiful Snow Queen.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgain4HpYzbkPorPl9noy5wsBei0fvwEoRUrexvpqO_-AVAhvHKS2RwN1lf5fWsnkAfp41906IwbU0s91JNuQ1nwlM3NftfKzEu0Etk-zDdOa3hM87obuhMx6u-YZg7WUbZSLbQcw/s1600/IMG_6887e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgain4HpYzbkPorPl9noy5wsBei0fvwEoRUrexvpqO_-AVAhvHKS2RwN1lf5fWsnkAfp41906IwbU0s91JNuQ1nwlM3NftfKzEu0Etk-zDdOa3hM87obuhMx6u-YZg7WUbZSLbQcw/s640/IMG_6887e.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was excited to finally see the whole show from the audience instead of snippets from backstage. It didn't disappoint. Watching the big girls stuff lambs wool between their sore toes before lacing up those tortuous toe shoes, then move so gracefully onstage was amazing. The costumes, scenery, and Rachel's ballet students were all so impressive. A couple times during the performance I reminded myself that this really was a free event. All around I think it was an awesome experience for our whole family.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgolyZ9R8YW-AKX1Kzkq5pNevwC5WGqq8F8AhBxHizMtxDxszK7UikYWge1Sz6BrtONPCSttpVlFnVdOQmCT4VB1vooyPIhVkPfNTJWcYVYthpQcDvRA2gGgYP-VpFyWSVw_W4VMQ/s1600/IMG_6850e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgolyZ9R8YW-AKX1Kzkq5pNevwC5WGqq8F8AhBxHizMtxDxszK7UikYWge1Sz6BrtONPCSttpVlFnVdOQmCT4VB1vooyPIhVkPfNTJWcYVYthpQcDvRA2gGgYP-VpFyWSVw_W4VMQ/s640/IMG_6850e.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Toby met up with his best bud Milo after the first performance. He was sawing logs about 15 minutes after this picture was taken. The poor kid was so tired. Funny story. When Milo's big sisters found out Toby was in the Nutcracker they were both shocked that Toby's Dad let him participate in a ballet. Apparently, my Man is too butch to have any son of his dancing on stage. We both laugh that one son has promise as a dancer and the other wants to be a "cake maker" when he grows up. We'll see if they change their minds to more 'manly' professions as they grow up. I don't think we mind either way as long as they are good at what they like to do. If this weekends performance of the Nutcracker is any indication, Toby could have a future in the performing arts. </div>Camillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10587049437285724439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30815621.post-62436617609279695262010-12-07T09:44:00.001-08:002011-02-09T10:10:02.677-08:00Chaos in the ParkToday is a clean-up-an-over-flowing-toilet-and-spilled-cold-cereal-all-over-the-kitchen-floor-before-7:30 AM kind of day. Let's hope the rest of the day picks up. I'm escaping here for awhile in hopes of turning the day around. <br />
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I lamented to my Man before we went to bed last night that all school should be canceled the month of December in favor of celebration and service activities, and late nights having fun. ;) The whole family had a hard time waking up this morning after a fun and late evening at Christmas in the Park for Family Night last night. December flies by so fast as it is, and I don't get those slow days where we just BE together like I wish for. Every year I imagine making beautiful gift packages for friends, cookie baking nights with the chillies, and homemade gift nights that just never happen. I WILL figure out how to make some of those happen this year. Even my Man expressed frustration with the fact that we don't have <i>one </i>day where there is nothing to do. Not to be misunderstood, a lot of our busy schedule is filled with good traditional activities. <br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"> We missed Dan this year as he is serving with the Air Guard in Africa over the holidays. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Ily6htw4u4IPwuCUHZKPDZ13nd65GXAsMKhqUaJDi6xP5_ZIg9khgmrXynywZ93MX5zZ51gveUHvV3vv7xmeFt6P-pGRRQHBSw0pKv8kwaB1mMlzjb89Q3gSek1Yq4VShoEoRA/s1600/DSCN5005e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Ily6htw4u4IPwuCUHZKPDZ13nd65GXAsMKhqUaJDi6xP5_ZIg9khgmrXynywZ93MX5zZ51gveUHvV3vv7xmeFt6P-pGRRQHBSw0pKv8kwaB1mMlzjb89Q3gSek1Yq4VShoEoRA/s640/DSCN5005e.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Christmas in the Park was eventful this year. This is the fourth year (I think?) that we have gone with my side of the family to visit the big man in red and enjoy the Christmas decorations and atmosphere. <br />
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I should have known we were in for craziness when our resident two year-old refused to take a nap. I was so busy with work and house that I didn't slow down enough to realize I should just lay down and snuggle said two-year-old to assure she would sleep. Actually, I know why I didn't; I would have fallen asleep as well and wasted an hour or so of time that I really needed to use. Sad isn't it? Most days I think of a nap for myself as a waste of time. I would escort Miss Busy-body back to bed and rush off, ignoring the sounds of play I heard every other time I walked by her room. She fell asleep at 5:30 PM on the way to San Jose. Then her dear mother accidentally squished her fingers in the door as we were leaving Aunt Lauren's house after dinner. I was spent before we even got there and felt so bad about hurting Syd which made the night even worse. Thankfully, Syd perked up to see Santa and was so excited to tell him about the "little scooter" she really wanted for Christmas. She sat on his lap like a brave girl and wouldn't leave until she told Santa all about how her Mom smooshed "these two fingers" in the door. Great. She was an over-tired, melted pool of kid on the pavement the rest of the night.<br />
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While we were in line to see Santa we spied this guy across the street doing tricks on his bike. We <i>had</i> to go over to get a closer look at the cyclist jumping up onto these concrete pillars. My Man, being the crazy sort of guy that he is, wanted to ask him if he would jump over one of our kids. I talked him out of that one and we proceeded on our walk around the park. Hot chocolate was calling from the other side of the park, after all.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOddh7NZ0aX007j9cJ556nJTrvSaZJm8vG-_0Z2mwne-fyGNe8qAi5dD5rHHaM9YXnhLIKVMnokFRacX78sNEfhcour8nyAwFolZCNsc6Yp_0nNGVrm4PXzSIPdjE48VNfA5WsFA/s1600/IMG_6663e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOddh7NZ0aX007j9cJ556nJTrvSaZJm8vG-_0Z2mwne-fyGNe8qAi5dD5rHHaM9YXnhLIKVMnokFRacX78sNEfhcour8nyAwFolZCNsc6Yp_0nNGVrm4PXzSIPdjE48VNfA5WsFA/s640/IMG_6663e.jpg" width="426" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZsfUnYB9dCOskH6OXT8jH1xr3-qWZ7SXH_Pdfv4LPjy4R8w3yz_5xHjfuJjY37nfslS2YgadNero8uh-3KKnKRMAdEAIF77QZqpp3KDYCN0vC3R35Zhcu3nBC5VDbK6A0n23UZw/s1600/_MG_6674e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZsfUnYB9dCOskH6OXT8jH1xr3-qWZ7SXH_Pdfv4LPjy4R8w3yz_5xHjfuJjY37nfslS2YgadNero8uh-3KKnKRMAdEAIF77QZqpp3KDYCN0vC3R35Zhcu3nBC5VDbK6A0n23UZw/s640/_MG_6674e.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>We saw many decorated trees that ran the gamut of quality from recycled water bottles and handprints to very professionally done. The kids paired off with an aunt, uncle or Grammy and Grandpa as we walked around, and we all had fun spending the evening together with nowhere else to be. Well, except for the fighting and tantrums sprinkled throughout the night it was enjoyable. Our kids love each other so much that they <i>love </i>to tease too. ;)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnmBGiQOqTHAxyG7bzlwCNwuw6SgyeHEOVlixKMxFTwK8CxluL-muH119OU56r9bst5xWsyD-2NKU0uzaiPeqDMYr6gc4zGQYMVmAJZCwNPZ0tWRThSJXooujVctS5pGdLVK-kIg/s1600/_MG_6670e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnmBGiQOqTHAxyG7bzlwCNwuw6SgyeHEOVlixKMxFTwK8CxluL-muH119OU56r9bst5xWsyD-2NKU0uzaiPeqDMYr6gc4zGQYMVmAJZCwNPZ0tWRThSJXooujVctS5pGdLVK-kIg/s640/_MG_6670e.jpg" width="426" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirUecR8ehM1IwGaqNgQLocNPaAgaW04121TSbIU1Fog-d3YlenvG1TCOp9c12qKcAewje791fhNE9sDBpDvUNmUXh5l-wkC9OTkgRIu6azbiNvSMpXpgFxE6zqi0JzK16xe3Mrrg/s1600/_MG_6672e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirUecR8ehM1IwGaqNgQLocNPaAgaW04121TSbIU1Fog-d3YlenvG1TCOp9c12qKcAewje791fhNE9sDBpDvUNmUXh5l-wkC9OTkgRIu6azbiNvSMpXpgFxE6zqi0JzK16xe3Mrrg/s640/_MG_6672e.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
Christmas wouldn't be complete without lights plastered on everything which the kids also enjoyed.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfjZB7dgCz-2vJEJftJrqovBcukuj-PLs_slraBu3mtilOnzJjiI4IYAIa0SEsbxcpduPstRnddwTF6gjau1R9Jsxj0eLaGzb3aRY-ouUE2tLsyt1OmLL2b3U4wUPHXESB1aVovA/s1600/IMG_6656e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfjZB7dgCz-2vJEJftJrqovBcukuj-PLs_slraBu3mtilOnzJjiI4IYAIa0SEsbxcpduPstRnddwTF6gjau1R9Jsxj0eLaGzb3aRY-ouUE2tLsyt1OmLL2b3U4wUPHXESB1aVovA/s640/IMG_6656e.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>The Little's sat on Santa's lap and talked to him about what they wanted this year. The Bigs wanted to talk his ear off, and after their conversation and family pictures, Santa insisted Grandma have a picture taken too. Isn't it adorable?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJknG32tBfmZBLIUG_3wSQYy4xfD8tRsVvBIt7bEv4fZQKKOSi8jwTyVCfJ2o84Dk4E8EdCoEPdWbLPnsJD73pUg4bDr-P26Qp0LjbZwaeKU5zi2a2sBbWg9bGoEco0-blL1AT0g/s1600/chrmaspark4e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJknG32tBfmZBLIUG_3wSQYy4xfD8tRsVvBIt7bEv4fZQKKOSi8jwTyVCfJ2o84Dk4E8EdCoEPdWbLPnsJD73pUg4bDr-P26Qp0LjbZwaeKU5zi2a2sBbWg9bGoEco0-blL1AT0g/s640/chrmaspark4e.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>Santa asked the kids if they had been good this year, listened to their Mom and Dad and done all their chores. I took the opportunity to chime in and ask Santa to watch very carefully to make sure they did their chores without complaining just to hit that point home. :) Sydney wasn't afraid at all of Santa this year. Last year she tolerated his lap so she could get a candy cane when she was done. This year she told Santa that she wanted a "red scooter," and listened to everything he said. Jessie asked Santa for a robotics kit, and the jury is still out if she still believes in Santa or is playing along without saying anything. Santa commented on Toby's crazy fish hat before Toby told him he "really, really, REALLY wanted a robe" for Christmas. Logan was the most reserved as he quietly asked Santa for Bakugans. He was a really kind and good-looking Santa who looked like he was having a great night talking to all the kids. <br />
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The last stop of our evening was our traditional cup of hot chocolate fully loaded with whipped cream, chocolate syrup, a candy cane and cherry on top. Despite the road bumps through the night, we did have a good time. Logan even quickly forgot that his big brother threw away his cup o'cocoa before he was done. Gramma Evie offered the rest of her hot chocolate to Logan which he finished right before Daddy came to the rescue with a new cup of whipped cream-topped goodness. By then the little Man was full and didn't want it. Figures.<br />
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Guess who drank two cups of hot chocolate last night? The slight sugar headache this morning is a nagging reminder.....<br />
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Again, it was all worth it. We had a great time. I'm thinking about, looking into, possibly wanting to plan, decorating a tree for Christmas in the Park next year. Anyone game?Camillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10587049437285724439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30815621.post-27135531611837800772010-12-02T18:56:00.001-08:002010-12-07T10:43:16.944-08:00Dinnertime jokesI dread dinnertime lately. Five o'clock rolls around before I know it, and by that time there IS no time to plan and cook a decent meal. I end up throwing something quick in the oven or whipping something together when the kids tummies start growling at me from across the room. Not exactly Mother of the Year material.<br />
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Tonight over our green beans, Mickey Mouse chicken nuggets and meatless corn dogs (not a punishment, they're actually good) the kids and I started talking about abbreviations and weird spellings of words when Toby said AKA while telling a story.<br />
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Logan: "What does AKA mean?"<br />
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Mom: "It's the first letters of each word in <i>also known as</i>. Known is spelled funny, with a silent K."<br />
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Jessie: "I hear a lot of abbreviations like that at school; ASAP is as soon as possible, G2G is got to go, TTYL is talk to you later, and LOL is laugh out loud."<br />
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*long pause* <br />
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Sydney: "Mom, there's crap on my chicken nugget."<br />
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Mom: "You mean crumbs."<br />
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Toby: *giggle* "Syd said C-R-A-P, AKA P-O-O-P!"<br />
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Logan, our cute Kindergartner, for sure knows how to spell poop, so he totally got Toby's joke. He started in with his wicked little giggle and before long the whole table was in a fit of giggles.<br />
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Syd didn't get the joke, but she really wanted to get in on the fun. All the sudden she looked at me with a grin and said, "K-O-I-T, less rock, less talk!" <br />
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Totally unexpected and hilarious! By then I was laughing out loud. I couldn't believe she remembered the call sign and slogan of KOIT 96.5, the radio station we listen to in the car. Well, she almost had it right. It's ♫"light rock, less talk. 96.5 KOIT."♫ They play 24 hour Christmas music starting around Thanksgiving and we've spent a considerable amount of time in the car lately. Kids really do say the darndest things. Camillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10587049437285724439noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30815621.post-59868773760313743082010-11-30T23:34:00.000-08:002011-02-09T10:27:06.755-08:00Tooth Fairy under fire!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLVop30ghyPg69WcwyzR5zHp-auxiu18d8rba482BIPQvGML-wjSsXICod2kbJjauvfy1XhNn4kuvd4jjR39bfPBQn5wyjCQnyTxVIl0piD_Yo9cy6ViDS6DqP90vAQp9ZAKiNJg/s1600/IMG_5705e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLVop30ghyPg69WcwyzR5zHp-auxiu18d8rba482BIPQvGML-wjSsXICod2kbJjauvfy1XhNn4kuvd4jjR39bfPBQn5wyjCQnyTxVIl0piD_Yo9cy6ViDS6DqP90vAQp9ZAKiNJg/s640/IMG_5705e.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>I'm just gonna get this one off my chest right now. I now hate it when the Tooth Fairy is due to visit one of my offspring. I have retired from stealthy tooth-snatching duties as of this minute. The tooth fairy is now definitely male in our house. You've probably seen him in that Santa Claus movie with Tim "the Tool Man" Allen, right? You know, the tooth-collector with notably broad shoulders, a deep voice and tiny little wings? Well, in our house he has speckled gray hair, a killer smile and a huge crush on little ol' me. <br />
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The older the kids get, the more it freaks me out to trade their newest pulled molar with a handful of coins. I try to sneak under their pillows to retrieve the family tooth box, but lately I either get caught or have to blurt out a good excuse to be fumbling around on the top bunk at midnight. Even if I get the box out without a child stirring, it is a miracle if I can quietly shove it back just far enough under the pillow so it won't fall off the top bunk. All this only happens if I actually remember that it's a night that the tooth box is full and waiting under a pillow. My poor kids are now used to the Tooth Fairy being "really busy" because it takes her a couple (the record is seven) nights to remember there's a tooth waiting to be cashed in.<br />
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I really was caught red-handed while trying to trade a tooth several months ago. Toby lost his 6th tooth and I was so impressed that I remembered on night one! Hold on, let me preface this with the fact that Toby is a DEEP sleeper. We can get him up at night to pee and he won't even remember walking to the bathroom, washing his hands or climbing back up into bed the next morning. The kid talks in his sleep sometimes, and I can't wake him up to get out of his dream without pulling him out of bed. So, on this fateful night of tooth-nabbing I felt confident I could whip in, switch his tooth, quickly be in bed, and wake to shouts and cheers that the Tooth Fairy came the first night!!! I slipped my hand under Toby's pillow to find the box when he scared me by bolting upright in bed and staring over the top bunk <b>right at me</b>! I should have stood there and made up some white lie, but I was so scared that he woke up so fast I just ducked and ran in hopes he wouldn't see me. LOL! So lame. He said, "I caught you, MOM. You're the Tooth Fairy!" I came back in and fed him something lame like I was just checking that he was okay and that he had remembered to put his tooth under his pillow. He still ribs me that I'm the Tooth Fairy while I continue to assure him that I am not for the Little's sake. <br />
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Poor Jessie has got to know by now that Mom and Dad carry on Tooth Fairy duties in our house. She lost a molar at a friends house last Tuesday which she brought home in a plastic bag. I forgot to get it that night and then we were out of town from Wednesday to Sunday. By then it was like the tooth had never come out until Jessie complained yesterday that the Tooth Fairy still hadn't come. *Sigh* I should just break down and tell her point blank that her lame Mom can't remember to switch her tooth. Even if she suspects there isn't a Tooth Fairy, I can't do that to her. Here it is a week later, and I still haven't switched that darn molar. I went to do so just now when two things foiled my plan; 1) I couldn't find the silly tooth box. Heck, I'm not even sure she put it in the tooth box! and 2) she totally woke up while I was trying to gently swipe under her pillow for the dang thing. It was easy to tell her I was looking for a rice bag to heat up because she currently has a bunch of stuff cluttering her bed. All that clutter means there is no flippin' way I'm going to locate a small tooth box in the dark while J is still semi-awake. I gave up until she's gone to school tomorrow to find the dumb tooth for tomorrow night. Heck, I almost left the quarters I had set aside with a note under her pillow that said, "Please give your tooth to your Mom because your bed was too messy for me to find it. Your Mom will turn it in to me tomorrow night." <br />
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Ugh. I'm such a bad Mom when it comes to the Tooth Fairy. That's why I've decided to put this one off on Dad. He can get caught with his hand in the fire once or twice for a change. We'll see how well he dances then. ;)<br />
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Did I mention that Logan has his first loose tooth as of last week...........Camillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10587049437285724439noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30815621.post-13606404099071957262010-11-20T11:08:00.001-08:002011-02-16T08:45:46.014-08:00Maintenance MondayWe run into some strange people and even stranger circumstances managing an apartment complex. There was that time when a tenant burned right through the kitchen linoleum and set his drapes on fire with a hot plate that tipped over. I didn't even witness that aftermath until he moved out months later. There was another incident when an old lady's pressure cooker exploded on the stove and shot the lid right through the stove hood and up to the ceiling. The hood and fan were ruined, and there was half-cooked rice on every inch of the kitchen. She tried to say it was the stove's fault. Seriously. <br />
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Sometimes, my (maintenance) Man and I crack up at the funny ways people try to tell us about things that need attention in their apartments. I thought it would be fun to share some of those here.<br />
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Here's a poor soul whose electrical outlet in the living room is shorting out and needs rewiring. He said it like this; "The electric line in the living room has problem. I open the light, but it turn off quickly every time. I can hear sound like Ka Ka Ka."<br />
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Here's one that we never quite figured out. "Moth built sand house inside one of the cabinet." I didn't know moths were such accomplished carpenters.<br />
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The overly dramatic, "my heater is just not working please hurry before we freeze to death." It was the end of November and I'm pretty sure the temperature wasn't below mid-40's that year. <br />
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"The toilet paper holder is unglued old got dried out." Besides some editing problems, this tenants complaint described a new TP holder being mysteriously ripped out despite the <i>careful</i> use of her 4 kids.<br />
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Property management has proved to not only be a huge learning experience, but very entertaining as well. Camillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10587049437285724439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30815621.post-55925311720761326142010-11-08T09:43:00.001-08:002010-12-07T10:55:03.097-08:00Kibble and BitsAt the dinner table on Sunday night we were talking about dog food. Delicious, right? Daddy referred to dog food as kibble; Kibble & Bits. <br />
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Toby asked, "What is Kibble & Bits?"<br />
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Jessie pipes up, "I know, me and Toby are the Kibble and Logan and Syd are the Bits."<br />
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My Man and I busted up laughing, and J was a little embarrassed until we assured her she made a funny joke. The kids are used to us calling the younger ones Littles and the two older kids are the Bigs. So naturally, Jess thought it was a term of endearment for our kids.☺ Now we have another term of endearment to call our different aged kids. They are all still chillies, and we now have the Littles/Bits (5 and under) and the Bigs/Kibble (7 and up). Gotta make this crazy zoo fun and interesting, right? When we are running errands or deciding who takes kids to what event or family members house to stay, it's much easier to split up the Littles with an older kid. My Man and I communicate faster calling them by their nicknames.<br />
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Isn't it fun to get a glimpse into the mind of a child? I still laugh about Kibbles & Bits.......Camillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10587049437285724439noreply@blogger.com0