tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85949335215295549222024-03-13T21:32:45.058-07:00Quadruple LutzErinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00596443385276791858noreply@blogger.comBlogger149125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8594933521529554922.post-55925139980403675032012-04-14T19:39:00.004-07:002012-04-14T20:15:27.785-07:00Easter<div style="text-align: center;">"Where is the Easter Bunny, damn it??"</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left; "><span style="font-size: 100%; margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwXIHl-r8mzvYrdoR9NqXkVwvmh3e3tnR7_kDa_ibPoVx_9yG16XOHGyv5owoiw_WPdMl8SnQbyi9HiEXamF4FBb9Wr93Fcyyq-nY0yUYLnlemte4jzOHKAnsDS-Kh174NI1CWWLdJbMQ/s1600/031.JPG" style="text-align: left; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwXIHl-r8mzvYrdoR9NqXkVwvmh3e3tnR7_kDa_ibPoVx_9yG16XOHGyv5owoiw_WPdMl8SnQbyi9HiEXamF4FBb9Wr93Fcyyq-nY0yUYLnlemte4jzOHKAnsDS-Kh174NI1CWWLdJbMQ/s400/031.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731452057053859778" /></a></span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span >Nothing like Easter and Spring Break together to inspire some Martha Stewart craftiness. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span >Yeah. I have come to the conclusion Martha has stock in Valium. And is not afraid to use it. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span >We picked Tye- Dyed eggs this year because they were different and looked to be loads of fun. They came out really cool, I will admit. To be loads of fun, you would have to require that to involve a dirty wet rag, and egg dye eve</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; ">ry.where.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI_zd7ags933XoZ9ZYoGgxkD2ni-KfZTrhsd6tjYXonSki3Mr5DmX0HGUOiEUjYE1e9-c87ZBCRW7FJX8EL9Y9PCX4dHbDgqFCd42rLP4NjirnjK5YDpr4F-7IxvTHb0P_7C0EuHJ-ovY/s400/010.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731452040807760674" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM8mmCWAQphLZHbANtW4ko0_J89tigj9U4f7LdlD2HIi-C_RL-elb0e2cgDMJGrKNLnOXWI47EKICKd1jjlKo4pyrgJn_lxC-aEKC56En6qLNMO98EHE_KZGoeABaUApplQfN2SVAVmSI/s400/003.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731452029987713874" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; ">We did some other crafts, but they too were destined for disaster. Finally we just gave up and watched movies. We all decided that not only is "50 First Dates" one of the best movies ever, but that it was time better spent.</span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiANimWr0yivD-SJlX0zdNiMRs7apKb6FfKXFPnY1-HDSl9cuIveBk0VsGlj65VMr0CKh5-Z20uhOogaRMOHsdcW75izIudIfXBRG_g4JkL-73lnBxB7Kytr52sSMFMbYiQkcwZ0lmfmhk/s1600/014.JPG"></a><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIJxyzHTjMtSjIwbs1O_qlr7ZYOCtJ7Qy7pgFU6YG4Lh3eEYaXZ4vohgxhfUuA3y1hUGTzZs3l2V4ywE3X967xXrc3pEvH0K9X5RxaisWijqJOI9-8RDvbjISiocMmvA2HRVtMzuqAGis/s400/035.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731452194049259986" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></div></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><div><span style="font-size: 100%; ">I saw these deviled eggs on someones facebook wall and thought they were so cute. I wondered why no one had thought of this idea sooner. No one had because it was damn near impossible to make them! It took a full dozen eggs to get these four little chicks! At dinner no one even wanted to eat them! "Too cute to eat!" Seriously? I got great pleasure making them into egg salad ;)</span></div></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiANimWr0yivD-SJlX0zdNiMRs7apKb6FfKXFPnY1-HDSl9cuIveBk0VsGlj65VMr0CKh5-Z20uhOogaRMOHsdcW75izIudIfXBRG_g4JkL-73lnBxB7Kytr52sSMFMbYiQkcwZ0lmfmhk/s1600/014.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEqk2bgvvO7JnV0nsy8-sxrmJgoWcex-trbgopP05bJsAYdUx5h1BpvszdaABkxPxonQ-xMXdQZEXlgmYja-J-Af1v_xrucs1mKurWRvqTQ7gAsxIuRS9J-npuOtkCnE8hE69WZFrAEyg/s400/036.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731452184963438066" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></a></span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">My first attempt at a cherry pie. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Forgot it in the oven and burned the hell out of it. </div><div style="text-align: center;">It sure was pretty.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiANimWr0yivD-SJlX0zdNiMRs7apKb6FfKXFPnY1-HDSl9cuIveBk0VsGlj65VMr0CKh5-Z20uhOogaRMOHsdcW75izIudIfXBRG_g4JkL-73lnBxB7Kytr52sSMFMbYiQkcwZ0lmfmhk/s1600/014.JPG"><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "></div></a></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span ><u><br /></u></span></div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%; margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM8mmCWAQphLZHbANtW4ko0_J89tigj9U4f7LdlD2HIi-C_RL-elb0e2cgDMJGrKNLnOXWI47EKICKd1jjlKo4pyrgJn_lxC-aEKC56En6qLNMO98EHE_KZGoeABaUApplQfN2SVAVmSI/s1600/003.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOfI1NyqZwUgerPtGSuGTQ-AZSX8dW__S_tx_Od5j-dZ2MlL_F7tuhJi4oRZXEe_xdzYzQvyrMM0Wk7XTlBZGvVAYVgNshAkQ0SmixwrhQCo0vdC9SMixYospgNJijrGugTBm_6kJCx7Y/s400/013.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731452043149901970" /></a></span></span><div>My cake boss in the making. She has more patience with this stuff than I do. She also learned that after you make it, you seldom want to eat it! I just threw the last of the cake away. </div><div>It *could have had something to do with the fact that the eggs were robin's Eggs Whoppers. Those candies are the devil's own.</div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc5qT10i6jH0fwyTd_ZQaQYLnS1J-kv72BsA4XBW0h6t73u9PiyDpd_RilQHHngkpp3-4Qbm22K2tT8FyyvRNfMSq36oxLbYkB-F3VGi1XSf9HtdJEEU9ijS3NkUNuW7sEomQla7CH3lY/s400/014.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731455147562408946" style="text-align: center; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " />Even with all the craziness, we had a great Spring Break and a great Easter. All four kids at home, baskets of goodies, Dyed eggs with inappropriate words, and wearing nothing but pj's for a week straight. </div></div><div>What more could you ask for?</div><div><span ><br /></span></div>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00596443385276791858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8594933521529554922.post-90369051073570185922012-04-01T10:38:00.004-07:002012-04-01T10:46:44.083-07:00Not as smart as I thought I was<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;">I got a new phone for Christmas. I was due an upgrade, and needed to have the ability to </span>send <span style="font-size: 100%;">pictures. How else can you share the ridiculous things you come across in a day if you can't send pics?!?</span></span><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">After four months, I think I have it figured out. With much help from you tube tutorials, and Morgan my phone helper guru.</div><div style="text-align: center;font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;">BUT....the downside is (in case you had not noticed) I </span>inadvertently<span style="font-size: 100%;"> deleted all my blog pictures. :(</span></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;">I didn't really want them on my phone, and had NO idea that </span>deleting<span style="font-size: 100%;"> </span>them<span style="font-size: 100%;"> would wipe them off of everything. Forever.</span></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;">I had great plans to go plug them back into the appropria</span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; ">te place, but after doing this on ONE post, I thought better.</span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;">Have you ever tried to read html code?? Holy shit. My eyes are bleeding. </span></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;">So. If you didn't read before, you will have to use your ima</span></span><span style="font-size: 100%; font-family: Georgia, serif; ">gination on the pictures.</span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;"> </span></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;">In case you need some cuteness, I will leave you with this:</span></span></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNHWhECWWWx3yitqhj-6GXjxpXyeG0nIP7gPrgO-4rLFImABzJ813RnxODTuIjBrDXFqVGa7jcCQYPxNj_f3-8WtG1ejhvJXbj_WQvQoGHF519dQ_U165A7c65sePJr_tTW-5rTdK-sVU/s400/004.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726489899952660082" style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, serif; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span ><br /></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div></div>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00596443385276791858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8594933521529554922.post-37253780255735199392011-12-05T08:14:00.002-08:002012-04-01T10:28:17.416-07:00Hi Ho, Hi Ho....to get a tree we go....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyh_9AeCkjgzm-s6Kpk_TZeEKDpWbbv4UsBf8gjBCP0qT-PAP53jD56kXsqRjG-NciFw_K-52TU22GEFLl3QUwm8-KQXabbUpj_ilhcgy6iB3qnUE8-aylFBvpRfUIMkqvJzwHTdIdA9o/s1600/038.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyh_9AeCkjgzm-s6Kpk_TZeEKDpWbbv4UsBf8gjBCP0qT-PAP53jD56kXsqRjG-NciFw_K-52TU22GEFLl3QUwm8-KQXabbUpj_ilhcgy6iB3qnUE8-aylFBvpRfUIMkqvJzwHTdIdA9o/s400/038.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726485382673985426" /></a><br /><br /><div>After a rare stretch of balmy-for-December weather, we decided to go chop down a Christmas tree early. 'Go chop down', as opposed to 'go to the nursery, point to a good tree, then go pet the cat who lives there'. </div><div><br /></div><div>We had a plan. *Tall and plump*. After some "suggestions" we did have to add:* green and pointed* to that list. Later we had to add: *still <b>alive</b>*. </div><div><br /></div><div>After 47 days and nights tromping around the tree farm, tripping on stumps, falling in holes, we narrowed down the list bit by bit. Every hill we discarded another requirement until at last we were left with: GREEN. Even<b> that</b> was negotiable. </div><div><br /></div><div>In spit of lowering our expectations we still could not decide on a tree. Weeping with hunger and fatigue, I finally conceded to Janey that she could pick whatever tree she wanted.</div><div><br /></div><div>And this, my friends, is how the fattest Christmas tree <b><i>*EVER*</i></b> came to dwell in my living room!</div><div><br /></div>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00596443385276791858noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8594933521529554922.post-72937629861719925102011-10-25T12:43:00.003-07:002012-04-01T10:36:13.796-07:00Bake Pops; Part Deux">A while back the girls and I decide to make <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sSwuoGVFNzU/TqcWXqVSeZI/AAAAAAAADtY/NnZGNKYJtKU/s1600/002.JPG" style="font-style: italic; " onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"> </a><a href="http://quadruplelutz.blogspot.com/2010/01/sucker.html" style="font-style: italic; ">cake pops</a><i>.</i> Once. We made them, and learned our lesson.<div><div><div><div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>This year for Janey's birthday her friends Jessie and Katie got her the "<a href="https://www.bakepop.com/?gclid=COKumvvPhKwCFdU55QodhAi9Cg"><i>As Seen on tv"</i> <b>Bake Pops</b></a>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Thankfully Jackie (Jessie and Katie's super mom) also got a set, and gave us a few pointers.</div></div><div><div><br /></div><div>I was still skeptical, and kind of dreaded making them.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "></span></u></span></u></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "><br /></span></u></span></u></div><div style="text-align: center;">Directions seemed easy enough. Make cake as directed, and add a package of pudding mix. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Pour into bottom pan. That would be the pan<i> wi</i><i>thout</i> the holes. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Take a picture of the cute birthday girlInstead of using melted chocolate to set the sticks and coat the cake, Jackie suggested heating up frosting. I can.not.even.BEGIN to tell you how much easier this made it!! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o44rnky-OCI/TqcWZP0wXxI/AAAAAAAADt8/qZVYN-US4_Q/s400/006.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667523279069404946" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">All we had to do was decorate, and voila!! Done and done.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sSwuoGVFNzU/TqcWXqVSeZI/AAAAAAAADtY/NnZGNKYJtKU/s1600/002.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0GpUv8rxo7w/TqcW1_kvviI/AAAAAAAADuc/lYmoFHOFRgY/s400/011.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667523772923493922" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></span></span></a></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><br /></u></div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sSwuoGVFNzU/TqcWXqVSeZI/AAAAAAAADtY/NnZGNKYJtKU/s1600/002.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mF6TtJmDvfU/TqcW25EaOOI/AAAAAAAADuk/z1XoIIFnpXI/s400/016.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667523788357122274" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></a></div><div>So easy, and so yummy! AND a very important lesson that sometimes the "as seen on tv" gimmicks are well worth it!</div><div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00596443385276791858noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8594933521529554922.post-830686160484909412011-07-31T20:27:00.000-07:002011-08-01T20:00:58.295-07:00King me!<div><br /></div><div>Every now and then an idea so simple smacks me in the side of the head. Usually the result of fighting kids, this one is no exception. </div><div>Last week I bought a chess/checkers set after the girls showed renewed interest. </div><div> Who knows where our old one(s) have gone to. </div><div style="text-align: left;">Needless to say, the boys want to play chess and the girls want to play checkers. <b>At.the.same.time.</b></div><div><br /></div><div>So..... with these few supplies, I made one of my best things <b>EVER</b>.</div><div><br /></div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yw9Hnyj65Kw/TjYdqQOgiWI/AAAAAAAADaU/J6hXXKBUOtM/s1600/035.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yw9Hnyj65Kw/TjYdqQOgiWI/AAAAAAAADaU/J6hXXKBUOtM/s400/035.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635724595448285538" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Acrylic paint in red and black</div><div style="text-align: center;">Yardstick</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sharpie</div><div style="text-align: center;">Brushes (foam worked really well)</div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Screwdriver</div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4mM-Okea9II/TjYdqO-VgcI/AAAAAAAADaM/_G712JwlBxs/s1600/030.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4mM-Okea9II/TjYdqO-VgcI/AAAAAAAADaM/_G712JwlBxs/s400/030.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635724595112018370" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">And most importantly:</div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">A wooden picnic table</div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rRWJmvzKygo/TjYdqLvD0bI/AAAAAAAADaE/0VAhjeVt3Cs/s1600/033.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rRWJmvzKygo/TjYdqLvD0bI/AAAAAAAADaE/0VAhjeVt3Cs/s400/033.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635724594242638258" /></a>I measured the "board" and marked off the spaces with the sharpie. </div><div> Mine were 3 inches square.</div><div>Use the screwdriver to 'etch' the lines in. It will help with the painting. </div><div>Not something you *have to do, but it made it a bit easier.<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CsEjbmhyAU0/TjYdp3qbanI/AAAAAAAADZ8/vjo17b8Bidk/s1600/034.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CsEjbmhyAU0/TjYdp3qbanI/AAAAAAAADZ8/vjo17b8Bidk/s400/034.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635724588854504050" /></a>I put 3 or 4 coats of paint on. It dried quickly, and I stopped once I had the coverage I wanted.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KIgZyOj5Pqc/TjYdZxlcGVI/AAAAAAAADZ0/fDSyVpOP-Q8/s1600/036.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KIgZyOj5Pqc/TjYdZxlcGVI/AAAAAAAADZ0/fDSyVpOP-Q8/s400/036.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635724312345057618" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Add the black squares. </div></div><div><br /><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HTznVT-ph3M/TjYdZqNE74I/AAAAAAAADZk/eDcuKWdlNwU/s400/043.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635724310363828098" /><div style="text-align: center;">I wanted this (obviously) to be weatherproof. </div></div><div style="text-align: center;">It is our crab eating table also, so it has to take a bit of wear and tear. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I used this sealer. Why? Because I had it already. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-itVkw9uSFz0/TjYdZk3WmII/AAAAAAAADZs/Q0aJnPv-E8o/s1600/042.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-itVkw9uSFz0/TjYdZk3WmII/AAAAAAAADZs/Q0aJnPv-E8o/s400/042.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635724308930533506" /></a>Used newspaper and tape to cover the parts I didn't want sealed. </div><div>Had to use packing tape, since duct tape disappears faster than candy in this house. </div><div>Again, one of those things I have no answer to.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ayHd2DoDdVY/TjYdZbYLiGI/AAAAAAAADZc/yK6D1xz99eo/s1600/045.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ayHd2DoDdVY/TjYdZbYLiGI/AAAAAAAADZc/yK6D1xz99eo/s400/045.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635724306383865954" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Couple of coats later...voila!! How awesome is this??</div></div><div><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3k8iStsgWgQ/TjYdZGdz6aI/AAAAAAAADZU/xPiHm5WpLXA/s1600/050.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3k8iStsgWgQ/TjYdZGdz6aI/AAAAAAAADZU/xPiHm5WpLXA/s400/050.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635724300770339234" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Now all they need is some checkers.</div></div>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00596443385276791858noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8594933521529554922.post-36920307914474542622011-07-21T22:56:00.000-07:002011-07-21T23:04:28.623-07:00Sun In<div style="text-align: center;">Finally was brave enough to let Janey swim in the deep end.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Yzqr0pgAUDM/TikR7i60NfI/AAAAAAAADZE/faAA-fP1Vz0/s400/022.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632052523686966770" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"> She perfected her underwater moves called "give mom a heart attack".</div><div><br /></div><div><div><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--nOUFDaKC2g/TikR8RNg-tI/AAAAAAAADZM/M3CboEF1sPU/s400/029.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632052536113429202" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> She can hold her breath for something close to 46 minutes. Or so it feels.</div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Qi9taBP2r2w/TikR7dsBAFI/AAAAAAAADY8/sxOAIzWK9vs/s400/015.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632052522282713170" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Summer: B<b>londe</b> hair for the kid. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Gray</b> hair for the mama.</div>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00596443385276791858noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8594933521529554922.post-90324556305688252762011-07-06T21:48:00.000-07:002011-07-06T22:14:33.870-07:00Not for the timid<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kjMoTGY_9s0/ThU-pxWBi0I/AAAAAAAADT0/g-riTurZr-o/s1600/010.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kjMoTGY_9s0/ThU-pxWBi0I/AAAAAAAADT0/g-riTurZr-o/s400/010.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626472196810574658" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Always looking for some fun (free) crafts to do at home. Preferably ones that we can get a lot of use out of. After discovering the rock hard, dried up finger paint I went in search of a recipe for make your own. I found a few recipes, and they all looked pretty simple. </div><div style="text-align: center;"> Simple I can do. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gNTLex4x7As/ThU-izLuE4I/AAAAAAAADTE/I6AZr7I9R8M/s400/001.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626472077045142402" /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">3 ingredients simple I can really do.</div><div style="text-align: center;">You know, 3 ingredients. Can't be that bad.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1POsCwBGfIc/ThU-j1pLyeI/AAAAAAAADTU/Y3iYY1UFilg/s400/006.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626472094885464546" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div>Things you may not know:</div><div><br /></div><div>Cornstarch is messy. <b>Really messy</b>. </div><div><br /></div><div>It is not the same consistency as flour, and if you are dumb enough to make the mistake of trying to pour it into a measuring cup, well....you will be making a big mistake.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AxBFjuaNBlo/ThU-jIzbLaI/AAAAAAAADTM/KOW4shxMNJA/s400/005.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626472082848820642" /></div><div>Cornstarch and water, brought to a boil to thicken <b>WILL</b> bubble. </div><div> If it gets on your skin, especially on the soft, unprotected flesh of your fingers, you <b>WILL</b> scream.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>You <i>might</i> even scream "F*CK!!!"</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>You will not, however, feel too bad about it because you will be in stunning disbelief as to how much it burns, and how cornstarch+boiling water= <b>molten hot GLUE</b>.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rhfWnjfKwGs/ThU-kPKTsHI/AAAAAAAADTc/DZQQlBUOI2o/s400/007.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626472101735280754" /></div><div>The mixing of the colors was the best part in the opinion of the paint makers.</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mw3L4i3Kmq0/ThU-kQddDhI/AAAAAAAADTk/uizfPYOKWEA/s400/008.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626472102084021778" /></div><div> I would love to be able to tell you how it actually works, but apparetnly they only wanted to <i>make</i> the fingerpaint. Not <i>use</i> it. </div><div><br /></div><div><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HXFAjZIUklU/ThU-ptj-YlI/AAAAAAAADTs/17RUAu6OAi4/s400/009.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626472195795346002" /></div><div>Probably for the best right now. I am sure it would irritate my blistered, burned flesh. </div></div>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00596443385276791858noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8594933521529554922.post-8408686573903731302011-07-04T20:47:00.000-07:002011-07-04T21:02:44.726-07:00Summer So Far<div style="text-align: center;">swimming</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rubld1FZsnw/ThKMYtv1aEI/AAAAAAAADSI/3o2sq5CY-Fs/s1600/080.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rubld1FZsnw/ThKMYtv1aEI/AAAAAAAADSI/3o2sq5CY-Fs/s400/080.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625713240764147778" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">swimming</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3A_tZSzV4R8/ThKMYGiz5VI/AAAAAAAADSA/ENLV6ZobXoo/s1600/126.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3A_tZSzV4R8/ThKMYGiz5VI/AAAAAAAADSA/ENLV6ZobXoo/s400/126.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625713230240539986" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">and more swimming</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oN6LwR-s4EY/ThKMXzSN3vI/AAAAAAAADR4/ANGX7DKGxrg/s1600/007.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oN6LwR-s4EY/ThKMXzSN3vI/AAAAAAAADR4/ANGX7DKGxrg/s400/007.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625713225070665458" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">janey's day spa</div><div><br /></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zceVfcJI30U/ThKKFkDED7I/AAAAAAAADRw/aEJUVN9VBTg/s1600/015.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zceVfcJI30U/ThKKFkDED7I/AAAAAAAADRw/aEJUVN9VBTg/s400/015.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625710712719675314" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">sparklers</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ptMaqsiJnDQ/ThKKFBWADQI/AAAAAAAADRo/dw335BjNe2M/s1600/023.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ptMaqsiJnDQ/ThKKFBWADQI/AAAAAAAADRo/dw335BjNe2M/s400/023.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625710703403863298" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">picnic lunches</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bXVW88bEaTc/ThIIiH7gfqI/AAAAAAAADRg/jZHB8OdPtiY/s1600/051.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bXVW88bEaTc/ThIIiH7gfqI/AAAAAAAADRg/jZHB8OdPtiY/s400/051.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625568266876386978" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">radishes from the garden. mysteriously planted, but enjoyed none the less.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RCjM0221FGY/ThIIhrtp8HI/AAAAAAAADRY/rDYOa7o4HzE/s1600/015.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RCjM0221FGY/ThIIhrtp8HI/AAAAAAAADRY/rDYOa7o4HzE/s400/015.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625568259302092914" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">crabs. I like them steamed. stella prefers live.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Vzx_2iYD0eQ/ThIIhP2C2_I/AAAAAAAADRQ/ToZvyNLF-lM/s1600/007.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Vzx_2iYD0eQ/ThIIhP2C2_I/AAAAAAAADRQ/ToZvyNLF-lM/s400/007.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625568251821087730" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">red, white, blue, and peace on earth</div><div><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SBjqEiKm84Q/ThIIg-GiW-I/AAAAAAAADRI/FDhtEhhjHR0/s1600/005.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SBjqEiKm84Q/ThIIg-GiW-I/AAAAAAAADRI/FDhtEhhjHR0/s400/005.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625568247058422754" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">baby horses and the beach</div></div><div><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Qvtmjhy8iYs/ThIIgX-0H-I/AAAAAAAADRA/9mGofsWniFs/s1600/208.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Qvtmjhy8iYs/ThIIgX-0H-I/AAAAAAAADRA/9mGofsWniFs/s400/208.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625568236825485282" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">so far so good!</div></div></div>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00596443385276791858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8594933521529554922.post-31533223789659076092011-06-26T21:19:00.000-07:002011-06-26T21:27:24.421-07:00Hindsight<img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8ksco8UA3Tw/TggFU0_5NZI/AAAAAAAADQA/-QdDqgtdgFI/s400/2006.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622749990154220946" /><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LR7ku-zYN0Y/TggFU0Hy8KI/AAAAAAAADQI/daG6VOFD8G8/s400/nc.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622749989918929058" /><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s521TgaTQ-I/TggFVOPjLnI/AAAAAAAADQQ/uexke86CLMI/s400/2007.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622749996930772594" /><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E5JsdMzQMnc/TggFVkF4cuI/AAAAAAAADQY/j0_5Me7nxcU/s400/vaca%2B2008.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622750002795803362" /><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8mwB5C7eaf8/TggFWDyAqWI/AAAAAAAADQg/tca-XAXzPO4/s400/OC2009.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622750011302390114" /><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ykh5q18bnXY/TggF_rWG5fI/AAAAAAAADQw/37_FSlnGMag/s400/2009.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622750726297413106" /><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cDN1gyNdCHs/TggF_YJsKSI/AAAAAAAADQo/k5WyP_69b5c/s400/OC%2B2010.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622750721145055522" /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D2LW34u22Oo/TggF_0qd4MI/AAAAAAAADQ4/0PlL6z2UCEw/s1600/003.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D2LW34u22Oo/TggF_0qd4MI/AAAAAAAADQ4/0PlL6z2UCEw/s400/003.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622750728798724290" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00596443385276791858noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8594933521529554922.post-74478072080068616112011-05-19T13:38:00.000-07:002011-05-19T14:44:55.103-07:00Better Late than Never<div style="text-align: left;">It has been a full year since we remodeled out bathroom upstairs. It was old. Outdated. Bad, bad, bad. It didn't even have an electrical outlet. Not a <b>single</b> one! What kind of person puts in a bathroom without an electrical outlet?!?</div><div><br /></div><div>It was well worth the hassle of 6 people sharing one bathroom. </div><div>Well...Teddy might disagree as it his his bathroom of choice ;)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>It was also well worth every penny, although I could have bought a fairly nice brand new car with what it cost. Who the hell knew that plumbers were so damn expensive?? Who the hell knew <i>faucets</i> were so expensive??</div><div><br /></div><div>This cabinet was ALOT bigger on the picture, and once I got it put together I was too lazy to return it. I could<b><i> really</i></b> use this to be about 5 times bigger. </div><div><br /></div><div><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CFJkylzjwuo/TdWCpFlwjNI/AAAAAAAAC3Q/ciX0LirbFZI/s400/006.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608532553346616530" /></div><div>Without meaning to, the bathroom evolved into a beach theme. All with things I had, and that mean something to me.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3S9MWhzwfqE/TdWCo9JS0JI/AAAAAAAAC3I/yRmi3otrkTA/s400/007.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608532551079743634" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Stuff from trips to the beach, my garden, days fishing on the boat, and from my grandmother.</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-W9BpH6nBKCE/TdWAJ2jZr1I/AAAAAAAAC2w/jUxfSSzJ3l4/s400/011.JPG" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608529817710997330" /></div><div>Shells from many beach visits. An intact sand dollar from Ocean City on the <a href="http://quadruplelutz.blogspot.com/2010/04/good-and-bad.html">day</a> Teddy and I visited what would be his new home away from home. A tiny baby horseshoe crab from the same day, and a sand dollar from my Nana.</div><div><br /></div><div><div><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i_E7BmQzpn8/TdWAJHfqPqI/AAAAAAAAC2o/vIkozs-Ayv4/s400/012.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608529805078838946" /><div style="text-align: left;">A teeny tiny seagull painting my grandmother painted. I love seagulls, and know I am in the minority there! A conch Teddy found clamming, and a stained glass sailboat that was in my grandfather's office until he retired.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z47Q4gQgFyg/TdWAIgdXMsI/AAAAAAAAC2g/1acNxhs6E1o/s400/013.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608529794600219330" /></div><div>Julian picked out the tile in the shower. My head started spinning at all the choices, and I went into a decorating coma. Kudos to her for not only picking out something that looked great, but, believe it or not, this was the lowest priced tile <i><b>and</b></i> mosaic.</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gllSHaHaV3k/TdWAHod2kZI/AAAAAAAAC2Y/EqQkzRMWAjU/s400/015.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608529779569889682" /></div><div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">And now a year later, after buying, trying, and rejecting many curtains, I <b>finally</b> made some to finish the bathroom. My sewing skills are limited, but I can make a mean curtain! All I know I learned in middle school home ec class. In case you may think I'm a little too big for my britches, I will show you what I <b><i>*really</i></b> have to work with!</div></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rYpBVdbVKC0/TdWMrJtXLtI/AAAAAAAAC3Y/rm26UrPcxK0/s400/010.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608543583928266450" />My fancy sewing machine (that I swipe from Julian) as well as my very helpful (<b>NOT!</b>) helpers!</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zlI2Fxhuczw/TdWMrTo-UyI/AAAAAAAAC3g/z2oxAEO-vtE/s400/011.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608543586594214690" /></div><div><br /></div><div>So...finally it is done. Until i decide what I want to hang on the walls. Maybe by next year :)</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GZppk0g5-UA/TdWAHCHiIsI/AAAAAAAAC2Q/S1nbMwA2KAc/s400/024.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608529769275728578" /></div></div>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00596443385276791858noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8594933521529554922.post-44623860414047872892011-04-26T06:09:00.000-07:002011-04-26T06:22:43.513-07:00Waiting on the corner<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>You hear it all the time. "She is doing great. Really turned the corner." or "I felt horrible, but finally turned the corner". <div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Well. I am trying to find the damn corner. I think I am close, but so far all my 'corners' have really been side streets leading to the main road.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>I continue to hobble along on my walker like a little old lady. Wilbur and Stella are two pain in the but speed bumps, and no longer have any fear of being run over. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>I do my exercises at the kitchen sink, and have watched Dawn's amaryllis bloom in the past few weeks. Stalkerish I know, but helps keep me focused one something besides the ball of fire formerly known as my knee!</div><div><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GejUXjngiX0/TbbGx1jz28I/AAAAAAAAC1U/G3a11khHuGI/s400/004.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599881746174958530" /></div><div>Until I get to that corner I will just keep on keeping on. </div>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00596443385276791858noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8594933521529554922.post-84524847017483132402011-04-17T14:46:00.000-07:002011-04-17T17:43:31.521-07:00Greetings from my new digs<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rMTBMU5x9wg/TatgXVndMZI/AAAAAAAACz4/9eTOMBguu_k/s1600/009.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rMTBMU5x9wg/TatgXVndMZI/AAAAAAAACz4/9eTOMBguu_k/s400/009.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596672915993866642" /></a>Almost two weeks since I had my knee replaced. I thought to post sooner, but thinking about something and actually <i>doing</i> it are two different things these days! <div>I spend my days in my hospital cave, and have pretty much taken over the tv room. I have the tv (duh. It<b><i> *is</i></b> the tv room), laptop, a cooler for my ice packs and drinks, clothes, toiletries, and best of all, my new Nook. A birthday gift from Steve and the kids.<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m3VIUU3aGYU/TatgWxJiulI/AAAAAAAACzw/wd4FRslOCgc/s1600/012.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m3VIUU3aGYU/TatgWxJiulI/AAAAAAAACzw/wd4FRslOCgc/s400/012.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596672906204723794" /></a>I also have the "help" of Wilbur and Stella. The like to take cat naps in my makeshift bed. Wilbur loves to lay on the ice packs, Kooky Kitty that he is. They think that all of the visitors are here to see them! <br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C2raOiExJ4U/TatgWl3KtSI/AAAAAAAACzo/H0kcht6qudg/s1600/038.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C2raOiExJ4U/TatgWl3KtSI/AAAAAAAACzo/H0kcht6qudg/s400/038.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596672903174862114" /></a>20 staples, a ton of swelling and bruising, and a shit ton of pain. Yet even with all of that my new knee feels more stable already. Stronger.<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8L-hn6McJkY/TatgWZ3CnNI/AAAAAAAACzg/iU8zogbPAyI/s1600/053.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8L-hn6McJkY/TatgWZ3CnNI/AAAAAAAACzg/iU8zogbPAyI/s400/053.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596672899953106130" /></a>I have been taking it easy. Doing my exercises, being a good physical therapy patient. Napping and taking my medicine as prescribed.</div><div>There are some rewards to being couch bound and in pain. I am now sporting a pretty fancy pedicure!</div>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00596443385276791858noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8594933521529554922.post-56279032312179174592011-03-21T12:39:00.000-07:002011-03-21T13:10:31.491-07:00Happy St. Patrick's Day!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1kSDU-ee1d4/TYep7P4bazI/AAAAAAAACmE/7zcqogsKs94/s1600/013.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1kSDU-ee1d4/TYep7P4bazI/AAAAAAAACmE/7zcqogsKs94/s400/013.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586620698116975410" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;">A holiday (well...not even a <i>real</i> holiday) that I have avoided for years.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Any day, holiday or not, with my *name <b>AND</b> a word pronounced *'bra' (braugh) is not even a bit welcome. Even after years of being a grown up, Erin-Go-Braugh, and Erin-Go-Bra<i>less </i>are phrases I hate. </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CtPkG2mtGkM/TYep6hwvLaI/AAAAAAAACl8/j3Zn5vezSzs/s1600/008.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CtPkG2mtGkM/TYep6hwvLaI/AAAAAAAACl8/j3Zn5vezSzs/s400/008.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586620685736684962" /></a>This year, however, thanks to numerous crafty blogs, the girls and I spit out years of repressed St. Patty's Day goodies.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CzBoKwlCX-o/TYep6SwR6PI/AAAAAAAACl0/rmdVkpx3s_I/s1600/002.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CzBoKwlCX-o/TYep6SwR6PI/AAAAAAAACl0/rmdVkpx3s_I/s400/002.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586620681708234994" /></a>Shamrock Rice Krispie treats, rainbow cupcakes and rainbow jello. My house looked a bit like Happy Gay Pride Day!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fS4H-tHrvyE/TYep6CzwEnI/AAAAAAAACls/F2JxfYKOR_s/s1600/004.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fS4H-tHrvyE/TYep6CzwEnI/AAAAAAAACls/F2JxfYKOR_s/s400/004.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586620677427827314" /></a>And...if St. Patrick can manage to drive all the snakes out of Ireland, well I guess I can manage to get my peas planted on time!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tnuIhYZaQj4/TYep56wNhZI/AAAAAAAAClk/P83bPLdfWYQ/s1600/005.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tnuIhYZaQj4/TYep56wNhZI/AAAAAAAAClk/P83bPLdfWYQ/s400/005.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586620675265496466" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">With the help of my own little Leprechaun! </div>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00596443385276791858noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8594933521529554922.post-68125535323009745012011-03-06T21:17:00.000-08:002011-03-27T20:58:23.073-07:00The view from here.<img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L61vUOBEZIU/TZAFjMhS6hI/AAAAAAAACog/nS63yelM8OU/s400/022.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588973239781222930" /><div style="text-align: justify;">I made great time on the trip to pick Teddy up from school last week. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Such great time that I had enough to spare to visit one of my favorite places on earth; Assateague Island.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bqloMEHbhJ8/TZAExdj2B5I/AAAAAAAACoY/7nuWpldgARE/s400/019.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588972385361856402" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Driving up the Verzanno bridge is a little daunting.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> You feel like you could be on a road just destined to plunge you into the great unknown.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YAeK88CKQyk/TZAD0VX3RDI/AAAAAAAACoA/MZ5AeTYjg1M/s400/014.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588971335192101938" /></div><div>Each time I crest the bridge it never fails to take my breath away.</div><div> The bay, the ocean the marshes,and untouched forever vegetation. </div><div><br /></div><div><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3qWf9rgqP4Q/TZAEIm9aiRI/AAAAAAAACoI/L2sLgJMG0LQ/s400/015.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588971683510389010" /></div><div>Furry winter coated ponies waited this time on the opposite side of the bridge. </div><div>Escaping the wind no doubt, but one can always imagine they were there as greeters.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ofr4qBs5r2g/TZAEfc42HoI/AAAAAAAACoQ/CXBC2sxo9d0/s400/017.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588972075943861890" /></div><div> </div><div>For the past few days my view on everyday things has been altered.</div><div> Walking up to the beach was supposed to be the mind eraser that I needed, but only served to act as a reminder. </div><br /><div> </div><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SkPcjSl0y3E/TZAFjcWHMxI/AAAAAAAACoo/idc6kMtOy2k/s400/024.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588973244029285138" /><div>It was hard getting up to the beach. Hard walking in the sand (especially with shoes on!), and I would like to fool myself into thinking that a speedy retreat to the car was from cold, and chilly ocean wind.</div><br /><div> </div><div>It won't always be cold. it won't always be windy. It won't always be winter. But without a knee replacement, sooner rather than later, it *will always hurt to get there. </div><br /><div> </div><div>It should make me feel a bit better that the doc was just as surprised as I was to have the xrays show significant arthritic damage in both my knees. It should, but it doesn't.</div><br /><div>Do not pass go, do not get a brace, put the ice away, and thank the genetic factors that not only gave me a fat ass, but a "bad set of knees" as well.</div><div><br /></div><div>So I will start my 40's with a new "Lieutenant Dan" knee. And a morphine pump. Hoping that I will soon be back to running my ass of chasing after these kids of mine :)</div><br /><div> </div><div>I am thankful that what ails me *CAN be fixed. So thankful. I just need a few minutes to have a bit of a temper tantrum. Without any kicking, of course.</div><br /><div> </div>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00596443385276791858noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8594933521529554922.post-61268378138612019982011-02-20T20:34:00.001-08:002011-02-20T21:36:34.070-08:00Back from saving the world....<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576002688659056530" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UddvQRVuPuI/TWHw5wQlZ5I/AAAAAAAACVU/5yDomUiAmiQ/s400/017.JPG" /><br /><div><div><div><div>....and other slight exaggerations. I wish I could say I have been doing something noble and admirable. Perhaps bringing water to villages in africa, or building homes for those who have none. Alas, I am just a bad blogger.</div><div> </div><div></div><div>We made it through Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's. Leaving time for the fun things, trying not to get bogged down by the mundane. Pared our gift list way back (a perk of unemployment), enjoyed the small things, and really, really, <strong><em>really</em></strong> looked forward to a new year! </div><div> </div><div></div><div>Managed to find a home for one of our foster kittens, and accidently had to keep two of them. One planned, one not so much, but both well loved, and well spoiled. Very spoiled, actually. </div><div> </div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576002689771849842" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qCdti7RDUhY/TWHw50Z5SHI/AAAAAAAACVc/s2zUgnkxk8I/s400/088.JPG" /></div><div> </div><div>Janey is working on setting a world record for how many teeth she can eject from her mouth. At not even six and a half she is -->thisclose<-- to catching up with Julian.</div><div> </div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576002821705409650" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pZsyKALE4aU/TWHxBf5TpHI/AAAAAAAACVs/2T1SRsqV48s/s400/070.JPG" /></div><div> </div><div></div><div>Teddy turned 19. Several times it seems, as his birthday parties seemed quite numerous this year. His gift is worthy of a whole 'nother blog post. But at least it is not a rattlesnake.</div><div> </div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576002696728853314" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ak7BjdlxU1c/TWHw6OUku0I/AAAAAAAACVk/04aDxEApFws/s400/010.JPG" /></div><div>So. I guess I am back. :)</div><div>Xoxo</div><div></div><div></div></div></div></div>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00596443385276791858noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8594933521529554922.post-46525211395330128762010-10-28T20:41:00.000-07:002010-11-15T19:49:25.585-08:00Girly Songs<div><div><div>I made a huge crock pot full of chicken and dumpling today. A crazy night scheduled where, once again, everything falls in the same time frame in opposite ends of the world. The whole house smells like home. It is very strange that the weather is warm and muggy. Even stranger that I crave things like chicken and dumplings and beef stew on days like this! </div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539988499153912498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uzMsQCwX758/TOH-MBfRgrI/AAAAAAAACKo/Rdzlwk-5nYY/s400/043.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div></div><div>Janey stomping through the house, sighing loudly like they poor martyred victim she is. There.Is.Nothing.To.Eat.In.This.House! <strong>::stomp::</strong> I.Am.Starving. <strong>::sigh::</strong> To.Death. <strong>::stomp::</strong> The next few sighs are mine. As I list the things available to alleviate her imminent starvation she rejects each one choosing instead to go up to bed and cry herself to sleep.</div><div> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539988493515704786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uzMsQCwX758/TOH-LsfBSdI/AAAAAAAACKg/hCdNATARV44/s400/042.JPG" border="0" /></div><div> </div><div> I have a new phrase for the girly-angst-drama. It is called "writing a song". 'Woe-is-me' lyrics, and 'my-life-sucks' rhymes. By the way, there is *plenty to eat in this house!</div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539988490073290194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uzMsQCwX758/TOH-LfqSNdI/AAAAAAAACKY/b-QLd7uKcuc/s400/041.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div></div></div></div>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00596443385276791858noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8594933521529554922.post-14165098860014376082010-10-23T22:03:00.001-07:002010-10-23T22:09:25.433-07:00Silver<div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531474133543845986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uzMsQCwX758/TMO-at4kgGI/AAAAAAAACDg/kAR-wgGBpUc/s400/033.JPG" border="0" /> it came as a surprise </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531474115241545266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uzMsQCwX758/TMO-Zps9jjI/AAAAAAAACDQ/pFw4x3yQas8/s400/023.JPG" border="0" /></div><div align="center">that the silver lining was actually</div><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uzMsQCwX758/TMO-ZxjLJnI/AAAAAAAACDY/PLTqABep_Gw/s1600/030.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531474117347976818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uzMsQCwX758/TMO-ZxjLJnI/AAAAAAAACDY/PLTqABep_Gw/s400/030.JPG" border="0" /></a> red and green </div></div>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00596443385276791858noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8594933521529554922.post-44739196659496045142010-09-15T07:26:00.000-07:002010-09-15T08:47:43.379-07:00Birthday Girl<div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517150829248535698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uzMsQCwX758/TJDbcrWcXJI/AAAAAAAAB7E/1yx8pIikltg/s400/105.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div align="center">The birthday girl turned six this month. She acts more like 16, though. She is sassy, and smart. And too cute for her own damn good!</div><div align="center">She has been anticipating her birthday since the day after her last one! </div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517150836775265586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uzMsQCwX758/TJDbdHY9JTI/AAAAAAAAB7M/Y5UKoxPl8ck/s400/002.JPG" border="0" /></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">By some stroke of luck, the kids had off school on her actual birthday. Janey wanted a Nature Party, and planned it herself. </div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517150860087275314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uzMsQCwX758/TJDbeeO-LzI/AAAAAAAAB7k/LVs_k04o9P4/s400/004.JPG" border="0" /></div><div align="center">The kids painted birdhouses, </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517150840487521794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uzMsQCwX758/TJDbdVOBrgI/AAAAAAAAB7U/I6q_PJQ9HoY/s400/026.JPG" border="0" /></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">made their own trail mix, </div><div align="center"><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517159333565584994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uzMsQCwX758/TJDjLsZoVmI/AAAAAAAAB70/9WtGg-K19Sc/s400/028.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><div align="center">and had a choice between 'dirt' or 'sand' cakes. </div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517159327663723762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uzMsQCwX758/TJDjLWahFPI/AAAAAAAAB7s/TQjUoB2fVbM/s400/003.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />Forget luck, the planets must have been aligned, because with a bunch of kids, all ages, there was no fighting.<br />Everyone got along, and had a great time.<br /><br /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517150848588881682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uzMsQCwX758/TJDbdzZinxI/AAAAAAAAB7c/BzjO6m8iAHw/s400/034.JPG" border="0" /><br />Janey is already planning next years' party!<br /><br /></div>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00596443385276791858noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8594933521529554922.post-7481802723068469882010-08-06T06:27:00.000-07:002010-08-06T21:08:11.813-07:00Holy crap. It is August. I'm not quite sure how it got here so fast. I feel like we have done nothing this summer, but in actuality we have. Thankfully I have photographic evidence for when my kids start complaining that they are "<strong><em>soooo</em></strong> bored, and we <strong>never</strong> do anything fun". Not that my sweet kids would <em>ever </em>whine or complain. Nope, never. They need to be thankful that we have done anything. The weather has been atrocious. Hot, hot, hot, and humid. My new found ability to sweat profusely (thank you middle age) has become quite the life of the party. A dishcloth is the latest fashion accessory for the girls as they play. All the better to wipe the sweat from your eyes!<br /><div></div><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502512919805566850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uzMsQCwX758/TFzaWNUCH4I/AAAAAAAAB4k/ai-NxXCFgyY/s400/057.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502512158748593746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uzMsQCwX758/TFzZp6J6TlI/AAAAAAAAB4E/XSOagN5Dtjc/s400/027.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502512166017263090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uzMsQCwX758/TFzZqVO5ZfI/AAAAAAAAB4M/SS7uN1iKzVE/s400/037.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div>The girls and I did enjoy an escape to the beach. It was really hard to come back! Actually, we stayed for 2 extra days (thank you MeMom). </div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502512180268132610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uzMsQCwX758/TFzZrKUkaQI/AAAAAAAAB4c/-Si1j9paWnY/s400/078.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502512172698850178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uzMsQCwX758/TFzZquH6U4I/AAAAAAAAB4U/ZYGoDZm0EMc/s400/055.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div>Our cousins came in from Washington State, and the kids picked up like they had seen each other yesterday.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502298269170416594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uzMsQCwX758/TFwXH5YmO9I/AAAAAAAAB30/BIGsv7vU7Yg/s400/050.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><div></div><div>Janey, the non swimmer, proved how fearless she is when we all went to the lake. </div><div> </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502514392432121746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uzMsQCwX758/TFzbr7RkF5I/AAAAAAAAB4s/9644kicMF9s/s400/114.JPG" border="0" /><br />We even corralled the big boys to come to the zoo with us. </div><br /><div></div><div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502298246620092562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uzMsQCwX758/TFwXGlYLmJI/AAAAAAAAB3c/tWbDsuUBOFk/s400/009.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><div>A miracle in and of itself! Going to the zoo on one of the hottest days of the year is great! The crowds are way down. See my attempt at finding the silver lining? </div><br /><div></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502298263099984002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uzMsQCwX758/TFwXHixSyII/AAAAAAAAB3s/aGZMgH4CMcw/s400/038.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><div></div><div>You know it is hot, when even the African animals look like they are going to pass out.</div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502298257025429954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uzMsQCwX758/TFwXHMJAccI/AAAAAAAAB3k/f_PMGdHKH2Y/s400/015.JPG" border="0" />A few more weeks of summer vacation left, and I am sure we can try to pack in some fun. Unless it stays this hot. In which case the girls and I will spend some bonding time in the a/c with our new guilty pleasure: Wife Swap.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00596443385276791858noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8594933521529554922.post-28813329908714467772010-07-09T07:35:00.000-07:002010-07-09T07:41:17.074-07:00From here to there<div align="center"> It is crazy how fast we got from here: </div><br /><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491915857145964834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uzMsQCwX758/TDc0X-mFKSI/AAAAAAAABpM/SeS92TcsLbI/s400/069.JPG" border="0" />to there:<br /></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491915863570232402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uzMsQCwX758/TDc0YWhvtFI/AAAAAAAABpU/CjaPNqauOPM/s400/012.JPG" border="0" /><br />Danielle and Teddy. Friends from the first day of school to the last.</div>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00596443385276791858noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8594933521529554922.post-14889918068302576782010-06-22T17:28:00.000-07:002010-06-22T17:46:44.501-07:00Having a ball<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uzMsQCwX758/TCFY7MtwSsI/AAAAAAAABn4/rrBS_j7IbT4/s1600/077.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485763595162634946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uzMsQCwX758/TCFY7MtwSsI/AAAAAAAABn4/rrBS_j7IbT4/s400/077.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />One step closer to being a teenager, my kid already has the rolling eyes and attitude perfected! <div><div><div><div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485762939809880514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uzMsQCwX758/TCFYVDVe2cI/AAAAAAAABnw/64Gu4UGMXG0/s400/044.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div>What could be better than having your birthday at the beach? Not much, I would have to say.</div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485762400128198082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uzMsQCwX758/TCFX1o3V5cI/AAAAAAAABnY/SFV3IbGanc4/s400/001.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div>Well...maybe having a bowling party with (almost) all your <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">bff's</span> would be good too.</div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485762412050687666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uzMsQCwX758/TCFX2VR4prI/AAAAAAAABno/-uR6TDkR-nA/s400/064.JPG" border="0" /> But best of all would be having a mom who totally rocks at making an awesome birthday cake!<br /><div></div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485762407981952850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uzMsQCwX758/TCFX2GH0r1I/AAAAAAAABng/wJK4R3B6hwQ/s400/035.JPG" border="0" /></div></div></div></div></div>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00596443385276791858noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8594933521529554922.post-53793844132422262812010-06-05T20:07:00.000-07:002010-06-06T07:17:19.846-07:00Time for a little break<div align="center"> With the crazy schedule of late the girls </div><div align="center">and I are off to the beach for a little break.<br /></div><div align="center"> </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479655020357000930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uzMsQCwX758/TAulNWQQnuI/AAAAAAAABgA/o4z4FNHQ8dM/s400/002.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div align="center">I probably should have been a <strong><em>little</em></strong> more clear on what kind of break I meant.</div><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479654454061755170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uzMsQCwX758/TAuksYo86yI/AAAAAAAABf4/6mLjeuZYflg/s400/002.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center">Because <strong>THIS</strong> is not it!</p>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00596443385276791858noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8594933521529554922.post-22141132267180613292010-06-01T06:17:00.000-07:002010-06-01T06:51:28.543-07:00Hostage<div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477798039969016578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uzMsQCwX758/TAUMS3OvKwI/AAAAAAAABew/lIMAQtC79fw/s400/029.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div>I have been a bad blogger. Not so clever, and not so funny. As with most things, it is <strong><em>not</em></strong> my fault. I am being held hostage by my yard! </div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477798037937855794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uzMsQCwX758/TAUMSvqeHTI/AAAAAAAABeo/p8U62mj24ck/s400/027.JPG" border="0" /><br />Who knew that having a graduation party in July meant that you needed to start yard prep in <strong>March</strong>?? </div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477798047959007682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uzMsQCwX758/TAUMTU_swcI/AAAAAAAABe4/8rGzCyeVHMk/s400/030.JPG" border="0" /> </div><br /><div>I have had lots of help.<br /><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477799878474629506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uzMsQCwX758/TAUN94MogYI/AAAAAAAABfI/rKTOUlzoLCM/s400/025.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div>Lots of good luck as well, and our veggie garden is doing quite well already.</div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477796879395799362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uzMsQCwX758/TAULPTwhQUI/AAAAAAAABeA/PN5WTTJJIoM/s400/025.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477799448677218226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uzMsQCwX758/TAUNk3E8d7I/AAAAAAAABfA/M-QJOM7QcMQ/s400/015.JPG" border="0" /><br />We have some new additions like swiss chard and broccoli, as well as tons of peas.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477796890251304066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uzMsQCwX758/TAULP8MrHII/AAAAAAAABeI/6vQY_uG13rE/s400/029.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477796893103259010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uzMsQCwX758/TAULQG0ofYI/AAAAAAAABeQ/ywu5gmeXTtE/s400/002.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><div></div><div>Shelling peas is when I am glad I have given birth to so many helper slaves! </div><div><br /> </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477798016815221938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uzMsQCwX758/TAUMRg-cTLI/AAAAAAAABeY/VvHlwFAI8CY/s400/003.JPG" border="0" /> </div><br /><div><div>I told my sister that I thought our strawberries were on their last legs. I would probably pull them up and start over. <em>Well</em>....I think they heard, and now I am overrun with berries!</div><br /><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477796866456958898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uzMsQCwX758/TAULOjjqN7I/AAAAAAAABdw/A0Hu62mEpWY/s400/032.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477796874616596146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uzMsQCwX758/TAULPB9EZrI/AAAAAAAABd4/PgOccM5StH8/s400/033.JPG" border="0" /> Waiting in line at Ikea for hours to purchase rain barrels was well worth the money I will save on my water bill!!</div><br /><div></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477798024351214626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uzMsQCwX758/TAUMR9DKbCI/AAAAAAAABeg/mG_ZvY4subo/s400/005.JPG" border="0" /> Can't wait till the point when I can relax and just <strong>ENJOY </strong>the garden. Oh, who am I kidding?? I will<strong><em> always</em></strong> be able to find something to do in it! <div> </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477801488658145266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uzMsQCwX758/TAUPbmmTH_I/AAAAAAAABfQ/7PUWKtNyqc4/s400/037.JPG" border="0" /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00596443385276791858noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8594933521529554922.post-35190368919072923482010-05-19T15:08:00.000-07:002010-05-22T21:27:47.217-07:00Field Trip<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474314398703272370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 265px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uzMsQCwX758/S_ir8QODwbI/AAAAAAAABcw/c_50451HvJs/s400/022.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div>In my almost (but not quite) 40 years of life I have never been into the city of Philadelphia. </div><div> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474315125902583138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uzMsQCwX758/S_ismlP4pWI/AAAAAAAABdY/RuXWdbWH8U8/s400/060.JPG" border="0" /></div><div>Into RFK Stadium to see Pink Floyd, yes. Into the convention center to see Finding Nemo on Ice, yes. But into the city? Not until this week. And never with over 100 5th graders! </div><div> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474314397425952354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uzMsQCwX758/S_ir8LdhZmI/AAAAAAAABco/_VGHHqHRKyI/s400/004.JPG" border="0" /></div><div> </div><div>The weather was as chilly, and rainy as it could be. </div><div> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474314383961028178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uzMsQCwX758/S_ir7ZTO9lI/AAAAAAAABcg/IoRSx4guRNI/s400/001.JPG" border="0" /></div><div>The puddles morphed into small lakes, and the many open parks available for lunching were drenched. </div><div> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474314410783873746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uzMsQCwX758/S_ir89OTGtI/AAAAAAAABc4/qBP7jpXR3iA/s400/037.JPG" border="0" /></div><div> </div><div>The Liberty Bell was great to see. </div><div> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474314417266572978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uzMsQCwX758/S_ir9VX5PrI/AAAAAAAABdA/Cl5dnc729fY/s400/039.JPG" border="0" /></div><div> </div><div>A few days after our trip it was evacuated because of a suspicious white powder. Wouldn't THAT have been a field trip to remember?!?</div><div> </div><div> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474315108088424706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uzMsQCwX758/S_isli4qKQI/AAAAAAAABdI/pp7okz5ybJ8/s400/044.JPG" border="0" /></div><div> </div><div>We got to see the actual chair George Washington sat in. </div><div>Benjamin Franklin's grave. </div><div> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474315116015214194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uzMsQCwX758/S_ismAajXnI/AAAAAAAABdQ/nmaIbH7L07A/s400/054.JPG" border="0" /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /><p> It was a field trip that inspired a lot of thought....</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474315143576062594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uzMsQCwX758/S_isnnFkioI/AAAAAAAABdo/QVtH_eUD99I/s400/072.JPG" border="0" /></p><p>And was a lot of fun!!</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474315135109536162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uzMsQCwX758/S_isnHi_maI/AAAAAAAABdg/dnzqdjuR-C0/s400/065.JPG" border="0" /></p>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00596443385276791858noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8594933521529554922.post-89578855820978709782010-04-30T20:08:00.000-07:002010-04-30T20:18:38.049-07:00Besties<div align="center"> They bicker like old women.</div><br /><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466134553526384258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uzMsQCwX758/S9ucamVttoI/AAAAAAAABX4/MOV4UPuUINM/s400/069.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div align="center">Best friends one minute,</div><div align="center"><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466134834313255234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uzMsQCwX758/S9ucq8WhWUI/AAAAAAAABYA/Wjo0tHbpjko/s400/031.JPG" border="0" /><br />Mortal enemies the next.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466134856557691922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uzMsQCwX758/S9ucsPOAhBI/AAAAAAAABYQ/g96TelN1lZw/s400/057.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div>The other day Janey 'fired' Julian as a sister.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466134843330067970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uzMsQCwX758/S9ucrd8S_gI/AAAAAAAABYI/JSOVCgXdMLk/s400/055.JPG" border="0" /><br />At the end of the day they are still 'Best-ies'</div><div> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466134859413257810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uzMsQCwX758/S9ucsZ20_lI/AAAAAAAABYY/9XXuUgcYwJo/s400/061.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /></div>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00596443385276791858noreply@blogger.com7