tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11373769458974398572024-02-20T14:44:19.453-08:00Miles To Go Before I SleepJenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16106989830460197919noreply@blogger.comBlogger145125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137376945897439857.post-11873906915091638242013-12-31T10:07:00.001-08:002013-12-31T10:07:50.581-08:00The Best of Facebook 2013, Part 2<div style="text-align: center;">
Just copying these quotes over from Facebook is getting me excited to start blogging again in the new year. It's been so long since I've blogged with any sort of regularity. I've missed it and I have a lot of things to work through in writing, as well as just trying to keep up with the fast pace of my crazy growing girls, so I don't forget and lose all these fun memories! Anyway...here is Part 2. :)</div>
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Ashley, holding up a ladybug: "I have a little friend!"</div>
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Bethany, holding up a drowned black bug: "And I have a little...dead friend!"</div>
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The ultimate in non-discrimination.</div>
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Bethany, singing at the top of her lungs: "I'm living in a Cheerio world, because I am a Cheerio girl!"</div>
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No offense, Madonna, but I like Bethany's lyrics better.</div>
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Ashley: "Hannah, I'm so glad that I didn't accidentally kill you, and to show you that I'm sorry that I almost did, I'm giving you my peacock feather!"</div>
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There are some things a mother should just NOT overhear.</div>
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Hannah, looking into her water cup: "Oh no, my fishies can't breathe in all this water and they are all drowning!"</div>
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I just...it's not...I don't even know where to start with that sentence.</div>
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Hannah: "I have never been run over by a car, not once in my life! That's why I'm not dead."</div>
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Bethany, eagerly: "Mummy, I've figured out what my gift is! It's blowing up balloons!"</div>
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As she held up the inflated balloon as proof, her fingers slipped and it flew away, zigzagging through the room as the air whooshed out of it. She stared after it in silence for a moment, then amended solemnly,</div>
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"Or maybe it's playing the violin. I haven't tried that yet, but it's probably easier."</div>
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Hannah: "I'm sorry to tell you this, Mummy, but you are starting to look pretty old."</div>
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Me: "Oh my...is that a bad thing?"</div>
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Hannah, matter-of-factly: "Yes, because it means you are getting ready to die."</div>
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Happy Thursday to me!</div>
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Bethany, fighting tears of indignation: "Ashley says that if I don't do everything she tells me to do, I can NEVER be a flying yak!"</div>
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Oh bitter, bitter life.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin8FSjXJj71L_QIgCUsyqo_tymEB81bwW8xwuC3v25_K-0mE9aRGOg4RKWfXJCOK3r1QhvEg5jPhBEMtGIAN35I2DCLOYkTHeXD0b0I4MXBLnm1mrELnS4ytrBqA2ac_8QHWGPm3F52_k/s1600/1375206_10151880004976489_1478634279_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin8FSjXJj71L_QIgCUsyqo_tymEB81bwW8xwuC3v25_K-0mE9aRGOg4RKWfXJCOK3r1QhvEg5jPhBEMtGIAN35I2DCLOYkTHeXD0b0I4MXBLnm1mrELnS4ytrBqA2ac_8QHWGPm3F52_k/s400/1375206_10151880004976489_1478634279_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When does a happy face not inspire happiness? When it is carved into the dining room table with a thumb tack!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hannah's build-a-bear, whom she calls her daughter, had a baby yesterday. Meet Bluebird.<br /><br />This thing keeps following me around the house and, in a suspiciously Hannah-like voice, saying, "Hi, Great Grandma!" "I love you, Great Grandma!"<br /><br />I AM SO NOT OKAY WITH THIS.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hannah, casually as I turn around: "Hey Mummy, I just found out that I'm pregnant!"<br /><br />BE STILL MY HEART.<br /><br />For the record, it is a balloon. And she is never allowed to have a balloon again.</td></tr>
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Ashley, sweetly: "Just so you know, Mummy, I wouldn't love you more if you were dead. I love you a lot even when you're alive!"</div>
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Ah yes...family. Where they love you even when you're alive.</div>
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Sleeping in this morning resulted in my opening my eyes to find three anxious little faces inches away, peering intensely into mine. Instantly there arose a shout of glee, "She is conscious! She's alive!"</div>
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Equal parts terrifying and comforting.</div>
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Hannah hugged me at bedtime and told me, "I love you more than you love me!"</div>
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"No, you can't possibly!" I teased her. "I love you more because my heart is bigger than yours!"</div>
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She thought for a moment and then agreed. "Everything about you is bigger. Your arms are bigger, and your tummy is bigger, and your legs are bigger, and your waist is bigger, and..."</div>
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Yeah. Just the big heart would have been enough, thanks, darlin'.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT57MgX__Z5HVj3Fxyn8RtCE2gaJqaRGyXp96Eaq3u7qUxVPXbTItuCROlviXYnyGhzG8Elj-l5seaVZbviporh-yQtdZUpuUxUqcBvxEh0ghSVOV0cTRJNWjs_NPJMydKJx6Y0EP5HBk/s1600/1486813_10152094375626489_278999712_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT57MgX__Z5HVj3Fxyn8RtCE2gaJqaRGyXp96Eaq3u7qUxVPXbTItuCROlviXYnyGhzG8Elj-l5seaVZbviporh-yQtdZUpuUxUqcBvxEh0ghSVOV0cTRJNWjs_NPJMydKJx6Y0EP5HBk/s400/1486813_10152094375626489_278999712_n.jpg" width="345" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE0etYTu0ajVnMcTSHE2TUYezsnYXqRFN_bfGX8YtmQXgLBXPdNvhMpmkPXJgdaM0bAdmTcsQ6nQ40qrlGhHmUjRnd9MHqTo9fY8MY5TIWWgv8KE7q1dLk9WbJ_rutrMNsoUGRffAqljY/s1600/1488269_10152107322161489_1809487223_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE0etYTu0ajVnMcTSHE2TUYezsnYXqRFN_bfGX8YtmQXgLBXPdNvhMpmkPXJgdaM0bAdmTcsQ6nQ40qrlGhHmUjRnd9MHqTo9fY8MY5TIWWgv8KE7q1dLk9WbJ_rutrMNsoUGRffAqljY/s400/1488269_10152107322161489_1809487223_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
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Ashley, whispering: "Don't tell God, but I am going to make Him a surprise birthday present!"</div>
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I'm...not quite sure that will work the way she is picturing. But she is so sweet about it that I agreed to do my part to keep the secret by not telling God. ;)</div>
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Things I never knew I would say to my children, #8,562: "Girls, I shouldn't be hearing anyone yell, 'So long, suckers!!' while you are decorating gingerbread men."</div>
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Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16106989830460197919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137376945897439857.post-70698574822001954742013-12-30T20:41:00.000-08:002013-12-30T20:42:52.150-08:00The Best of Facebook 2013, Part 1<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #f4cccc; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">This was so much fun for me last year, so I'm doing it again...</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">I use this blog mainly to help me remember all these precious stages of life that we are zipping through too quickly. I just don't have the memory space in my caffeine-deprived brain to hold on to all of this as it happens, and it is such a joy to read back through the blog and revisit times and experiences we've had together, things the girls have said/done as they've grown, and all the memories that would otherwise be lost. However, frequently one of the girls will say something, I will think, "Oh, I need to write that down!", and the fastest and easiest option is to just post it to Facebook. I realize</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">how much less permanent that is than the blog, so I've decided to scan through the</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"> last year's worth of my Facebook status updates, and bring over here my favorites of the sweet or funny antics of the girls that I want to make sure I have recorded for good.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f4cccc; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">So here we go -- Part One!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f4cccc; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Bethany asked me to draw a cow, and when I finished, she said in great surprise, "Wow, that's actually pretty good! I didn't think it would be! Just keep practicing and you will get better at it, ok?"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Oh, well then. Thank you, benevolent one! I am in SUCH a hurry to draw more cows for you...not. ;)</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f4cccc; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Ashley: "One thing that's against the law is killing people when they are being nice to you and helping you have what you need and taking care of you."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Wait. Like...me? Should I be worried?!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f4cccc; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Ashley: "Even if I had lots of mummies, you would be the only one I would love!"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Six year olds' compliments are the best.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f4cccc; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Bethany's opinion of grapefruit juice: "I don't like it because it tastes like ketchup!"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Well. I guess I wouldn't like to drink ketchup either...</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Before he left for work, </span><a data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=515306518&extragetparams=%7B%22directed_target_id%22%3A0%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/guitarguy4him" style="cursor: pointer; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black;">Lamont</span></a><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> told the girls that I had been up most of the night with Katelyn (again) and to be gentle with me lest I turn into a sobbing puddle of sleep deprivation in the corner of the kitchen. (Those may not have been his exact words.) Now they are taking turns coming out of their room and offering me money from their piggy banks. I asked what it's for, and Ashley said, "So you can buy enough coffee!"</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><br style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" />
<span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Bribes, then. I'll take it!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f4cccc; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Ashley watched a clip of The Voice over my shoulder, and then told me confidently, "When I am 17, I will go on there and get a really good coach, because I know exactly what to sing."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><br style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" />
<span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"Oh really?" I asked. "What will you sing?"</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><br style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" />
<span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"Well Mummy, I can't tell you today, because I'm not quite a rock star yet!"</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f4cccc; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Hannah: "Since you can only use one hand today, Mummy, I will help you with the important things! So...how do I make cookies?"</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f4cccc; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Bethany at 2 am, as I tucked her back into bed after a bad dream: "Mummy, if you ever have a scary dream in the night, you can come wake me up and I will pray for you too, ok?"</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f4cccc; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Bethany, horrified: "Mummy! What are you doing with my pink frog?!"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><br style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" />
<span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Me, sheepish: "Why I am...um...taking him out of this bag of things for Goodwill, of course. Can you believe someone put him in there? Goodness!"</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><br style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" />
<span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Now she thinks I'm a hero, rather than would-be abductor of pink frogs.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOrt-GWTco0-2vz6kK3mZ5b4kD2UGLFlGuWrdn1k6WH81UAlalfxNSxBKiomCM5cJ0q-38bz69uFtnc0s4lLDu2lUSDtE3vy6B93VC2Hf-OW3qbb_vKK0eaD0udLF9ogHmlvEs5BwFbMM/s1600/922433_10151598595201489_310906829_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: black;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOrt-GWTco0-2vz6kK3mZ5b4kD2UGLFlGuWrdn1k6WH81UAlalfxNSxBKiomCM5cJ0q-38bz69uFtnc0s4lLDu2lUSDtE3vy6B93VC2Hf-OW3qbb_vKK0eaD0udLF9ogHmlvEs5BwFbMM/s400/922433_10151598595201489_310906829_o.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">When I come across a paper like this, is it paranoid of me to assume that it is a secret code that means something like, "We have almost made her crack. One more race through the house at top speed while belting out The Twelve Days of Christmas, and we will have her curled up in the fetal position on the kitchen floor. And then all the cookies will be ours, bwahahaha!!!" Anyone?<br /><br />~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: #f4cccc; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I asked the girls to move away from our neighbor's side of the duplex while they are playing outside. "Remember," I told them, "she sleeps during the day sometimes."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><br style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" />
<span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"Oh yeah," Ashley answered. "But why? Is she hibernating or something?"</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><br style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" />
<span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"No," cut in Hannah, importantly. "I think she might be a bat!"</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f4cccc; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Hannah: "You are the prettiest Mummy I have ever had!"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><br style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" />
<span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Thanks, sweetie. Pretty sure I'm also the most unfortunate looking one you've ever had, so I won't let it go to my head!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f4cccc; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I walked past the girls' bedroom to see Bethany with an arm around each of her sisters. "I love you guys so much," she said tenderly, "that when you die I will come to your funerals."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><br style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" />
<span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">They all leaned their heads together and my heart began a bittersweet melt, which came to an abrupt halt when Bethany added thoughtfully, "Unless I am swimming. Because that would be more fun."</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f4cccc; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Ashley: "Mummy, your face is long and skinny, but I love you and you don't look like an alien."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><br style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" />
<span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Kids. Great for an ego boost on those days when you wonder if you're looking a little extraterrestrial!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f4cccc; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Ashley, praying before dinner: "Thank you that Mummy makes our food and does most of the laundry, even though she doesn't do all of it!"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><br style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" />
<span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Yes, I suppose there really is no point in lying to God about the laundry.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f4cccc; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Hannah: "Mum, what's an analogy?"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><br style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" />
<span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Me: "It's...a comparison of two things that have something in common..."</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><br style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" />
<span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Hannah: "Oh, like you and cars."</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><br style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" />
<span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Me: "Excuse me?"</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><br style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" />
<span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Hannah: "You know, you need coffee and cars need gas. Is that an analogy?"</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><br style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" />
<span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I don't think I should be proud of this!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f4cccc; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Hannah: "What's a preference?"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><br style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" />
<span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Ashley: "It's if you want something more than something else. Like -- my preference is to have a pig instead of a chicken!"</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><br style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" />
<span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Hannah: "But I would never say that, because pigs are muddy."</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><br style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" />
<span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Ashley: "That's not the point, I'm just trying to teach you something!"</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><br style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" />
<span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Welcome to my world, sweetheart.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f4cccc; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Bethany: "Mummy, let's pretend that you're my mom, but let's pretend that you take care of me..."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><br style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" />
<span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">My children are clearly going to need therapy.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f4cccc; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Part 2 to follow! I am loving laughing my way through these, I had already forgotten most of them. :)</span></div>
Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16106989830460197919noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137376945897439857.post-67863515267215775432013-11-01T11:32:00.003-07:002013-11-01T11:32:36.202-07:00Today is the day!<div style="text-align: center;">
Breaking my blogging fast to announce a very special day! Everyone should be aware of this most exciting occasion, and I do my part annually to spread the word....</div>
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November 1st is Starbucks Holiday Cups Day!!!</div>
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I realize that our government is lagging shamefully in making today a national holiday, but that never stops me from celebrating on my blog with the proper amount of delight and hoopla! In fact, you can find my initial holiday cups post from 2010 <a href="http://jennifer-miles.blogspot.com/2010/11/exciting-psa.html" target="_blank">here,</a> and a fun follow up to that post <a href="http://jennifer-miles.blogspot.com/2010/11/follow-up-to-exciting-psa.html" target="_blank">here!</a> Go read them, they will impress upon you the proper level of excitement. ;)</div>
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Thank you to my friend Kayley, who continued the fun tradition she began a couple years ago by showing up on my doorstep this morning with my beautiful red cup waiting for me to rejoice over it!</div>
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They are really here, people. REVEL in them with me!</div>
Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16106989830460197919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137376945897439857.post-49280130653080790282013-08-31T16:17:00.000-07:002013-08-31T16:17:16.993-07:00Song of Summer<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>The summer stretched out before us, warm and welcoming</em></div>
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<em>Endless</em></div>
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Whispering promises of easy laughter and baseball games and </div>
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Grass stains</div>
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Of splashing and sinking and finally, triumphantly</div>
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Swimming</div>
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Of daring and dreaming and</div>
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Learning</div>
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Of skinned knees and ice cream pleas and</div>
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Climbing trees</div>
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Of gardens growing and children growing and yet sometimes</div>
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When one is overwhelmed by how small one still is</div>
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We reveled in the long, hot days and the languid nights and most of all the</div>
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Sunshine</div>
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We watched our last baby explore the world with eager</div>
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Wonder</div>
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And whether throwing our hands in the air in exuberant</div>
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Delight</div>
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Or joining hands in a sacred sisterly circle of</div>
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Prayer</div>
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We danced to the song of summer</div>
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Together</div>
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Then followed that beautiful season... Summer...</div>
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Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light; and the landscape</div>
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Lay as if new created in all the freshness of childhood.</div>
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~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow</div>
</em>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16106989830460197919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137376945897439857.post-67406049958129801142013-07-25T07:11:00.000-07:002013-07-25T07:11:09.033-07:00Back in the saddle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
I'm just going to jump in and pretend it hasn't been something like three months since my last blog post. If I haven't had time for blogging in all these months, I certainly don't have time for apologies and explanations for not blogging! And this post may consist almost entirely of pictures....</div>
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Life has been a wee bit intense so far this summer, and a couple of weeks ago Lamont surprised the girls and I with a family getaway trip to Silver Mountain Resort for some recharging time together. Endless hours in the waterpark, riding the gondola 5 kilometres up the mountain (longest gondola ride in the world, I believe) and back down - twice, hiking, and just hanging out together in our favorite state (Oh Idaho, we may yet move back to you someday). It was amazing and so refreshing. Here follow the aforementioned pictures!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNXk0IGlxmKPTUVgV853Xs4dx69yl78pjbIARJ0fb2ifWL_FplPNoxqlg4aE7uPYv_Brquhx9ACiGU9tQSKUbzMEZZbxsKoelW_Aluhyphenhypheni-cK3XsCspKcgowGQUsf6BsabnjbZASHLtUaM/s400/photo+(2).JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Far away dreams in her curly head as she gazes out of the gondola over the mountains....</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ecRkkYxlRAJj4mhBfGuttdQcIbcrVPbMixGfx9meB_XDO9AxT2Bd47Q6UGyzjT7owbZX0LTK_OLclq7EA98D2rxLA-k4kNt6NSWsSSwipsYKiHKFqH6fB7HsI8Yf2926_3MjrlqVJuw/s1600/photo+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ecRkkYxlRAJj4mhBfGuttdQcIbcrVPbMixGfx9meB_XDO9AxT2Bd47Q6UGyzjT7owbZX0LTK_OLclq7EA98D2rxLA-k4kNt6NSWsSSwipsYKiHKFqH6fB7HsI8Yf2926_3MjrlqVJuw/s400/photo+(1).JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A girl after my own heart! Ashley and I couldn't resist this puzzle in the suite.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7A6SsJeOIXpY0sL9M-F_El2Rk_uiB8soKGblouLJFtcKG9HOarjQD9JKZGmi91LaNx-KEI4kfN9-MorIGZ2swKk7dw-yMAGwhY0HcewvFZmNVkraQIDeRciwJh8UcfzVZsrmzfxGDBgw/s1600/photo+(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7A6SsJeOIXpY0sL9M-F_El2Rk_uiB8soKGblouLJFtcKG9HOarjQD9JKZGmi91LaNx-KEI4kfN9-MorIGZ2swKk7dw-yMAGwhY0HcewvFZmNVkraQIDeRciwJh8UcfzVZsrmzfxGDBgw/s400/photo+(3).JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From high up on the gondola...takes my breath away.</td></tr>
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<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/AVvXsEjUy5wnPbIQJYOU_qaOys0ADrG2VqmlHxvzUGqFMTErB8pU_LG2dPKFTsuE50Za3hkkX7PILbHDCJUUyWCEp3rNB4np6GCFohVb7P3qIBEX2eD2bi4Cq_iT6H7cP7U5TI2SEjAge2ksZko/s1600/photo+(4).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUy5wnPbIQJYOU_qaOys0ADrG2VqmlHxvzUGqFMTErB8pU_LG2dPKFTsuE50Za3hkkX7PILbHDCJUUyWCEp3rNB4np6GCFohVb7P3qIBEX2eD2bi4Cq_iT6H7cP7U5TI2SEjAge2ksZko/s400/photo+(4).JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There is a playground at the top of the mountain. Katelyn has fallen in love with swinging lately and swings with this darling mix of very serious, thoughtful faces, and huge happy smiles.</td></tr>
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<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/AVvXsEguNwHE-fxnKHk6qSJL-P2Ef7HRPeoVfM5yBj6cOCH8uNy0u3RBiYEHfEGVAC5cz0416_1il9knXLlTMPuv32WQRKyV3HRhvH8mwTA1aNLSW8DPeyJh_hHKvcLC9jvXT_D-sDIxw244gls/s1600/photo+(5).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguNwHE-fxnKHk6qSJL-P2Ef7HRPeoVfM5yBj6cOCH8uNy0u3RBiYEHfEGVAC5cz0416_1il9knXLlTMPuv32WQRKyV3HRhvH8mwTA1aNLSW8DPeyJh_hHKvcLC9jvXT_D-sDIxw244gls/s400/photo+(5).JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Part monkey!</td></tr>
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<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/AVvXsEjxX7VcE5zGx9mRzFYdyZ1FSZ6HEyYcJlZwJ81LkRoCfRasRwJEKKW2xDoCPpD9iXcWgZzDnDKdmUS2N6bysEgRBkBkGGvA424q4Fx86juyGeIp2qWulY2druxAGRCbQUGxoHd8MChaF_4/s1600/photo+(6).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxX7VcE5zGx9mRzFYdyZ1FSZ6HEyYcJlZwJ81LkRoCfRasRwJEKKW2xDoCPpD9iXcWgZzDnDKdmUS2N6bysEgRBkBkGGvA424q4Fx86juyGeIp2qWulY2druxAGRCbQUGxoHd8MChaF_4/s400/photo+(6).JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We went for a short hike on the mountain, about a mile. Most of that time was spent discussing the best course of action if we should happen upon the bears that the girls were certain lurked around every bend in the path.</td></tr>
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<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/AVvXsEjPmCLmgyBpbXPtaz21rSxg-cZswfOQDeA-RBCqGI0QexxGfZl-tTLoKybKoM-_H8dceG0tNegWAdaJZkcDSYVTw9ALAGBqEmabuQ3x7R6_ulVnNLMLXTNqxLe9boMftU5Zj3OTNst8eOQ/s1600/photo+(7).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPmCLmgyBpbXPtaz21rSxg-cZswfOQDeA-RBCqGI0QexxGfZl-tTLoKybKoM-_H8dceG0tNegWAdaJZkcDSYVTw9ALAGBqEmabuQ3x7R6_ulVnNLMLXTNqxLe9boMftU5Zj3OTNst8eOQ/s400/photo+(7).JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hannah apparently ran into a bear! She had no idea what happened to her leg, but was quite proud of this wound.</td></tr>
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<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/AVvXsEjexm9OiBZp5DXdvl-3RnlwqgDSQmwVbmfuK5PSQZluRhcSQ-HH0LOWzHwIDE5whGCHYQa9nI1D7vuneb2PfoJ3Xb43uJTGUkZXe-v5kbFb_zXMO4m9vRTetzfJgu5ItwoumTGXiov6xUE/s1600/photo+(8).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjexm9OiBZp5DXdvl-3RnlwqgDSQmwVbmfuK5PSQZluRhcSQ-HH0LOWzHwIDE5whGCHYQa9nI1D7vuneb2PfoJ3Xb43uJTGUkZXe-v5kbFb_zXMO4m9vRTetzfJgu5ItwoumTGXiov6xUE/s400/photo+(8).JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Look what God has done! There's poetry in all I see...look what God has done!" ~Jaci Velasquez</td></tr>
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<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/AVvXsEhIVd18oi9vUYWiRENWRV8-2pKajjj8_dH_IoSfo9F65uhLGfidL1OdpHkHeUkCADW0ehyPzAyHkSPj66YY8wPsNoV7SqbqfEAp5tu0PWCmPVYvORsHUBSOI394WN5z_pJQkYywWIywALY/s1600/photo+(9).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIVd18oi9vUYWiRENWRV8-2pKajjj8_dH_IoSfo9F65uhLGfidL1OdpHkHeUkCADW0ehyPzAyHkSPj66YY8wPsNoV7SqbqfEAp5tu0PWCmPVYvORsHUBSOI394WN5z_pJQkYywWIywALY/s400/photo+(9).JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Worn out on the way down the mountain and napping on Daddy's chest. A moment before this she was shrieking and giggling with her sisters, and then she just gave in and curled up and was instantly fast asleep. :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<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/AVvXsEi8Ro2pw1vPySDI-GPnOerkuIwavxQt20QWfqdkat74M_ePP8BxhmGuTYArfGF5db9ff0K1BI-e5dTSqV0gFxtgLn_b1J6PqSamZeDaXY4gFZtumEA9rVXdmuhyphenhyphenOgsL8QHGrqSMGYKw_YY/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Ro2pw1vPySDI-GPnOerkuIwavxQt20QWfqdkat74M_ePP8BxhmGuTYArfGF5db9ff0K1BI-e5dTSqV0gFxtgLn_b1J6PqSamZeDaXY4gFZtumEA9rVXdmuhyphenhyphenOgsL8QHGrqSMGYKw_YY/s400/photo.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Do they look like they are about to fall asleep?? No? I didn't think so.</td></tr>
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<br />Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16106989830460197919noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137376945897439857.post-25079214697371381272013-04-21T18:18:00.003-07:002013-04-21T18:20:33.524-07:00....SOLD!<div style="text-align: justify;">
Ashley asks out of the blue at the dinner table, "Do animals go to heaven?" </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I set my fork down slowly, deliberately. I am frantically thinking the prayer with which all experienced parents are uncomfortably familiar. <em>Please, for the love of all things caffeinated, in the next two seconds give me a brilliant answer that satisfies their curiosity without lying or saying too much!! </em>(Why yes, this prayer <strong>does</strong> apply to everything from the tooth fairy to the birds and the bees, thank you for asking.)</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
And then, as I smiled and opened my mouth to improvise an answer that was sure to leave all of my daughters unsatisfied and possibly in tears, I was cut off by this adorable conversation....</div>
<br />
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Ashley: "Do animals go to heaven?"</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Hannah: "Nope."</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Bethany: "How do you know?"</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Hannah: "Because animals don't have souls, and only souls go to heaven."</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Bethany: "I don't want to be sold to heaven!"</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Ashley: "But Beth, it's ok to be sold to heaven, because when you get sold to heaven you are really, really expensive. And that's how you know that you are important!"</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Hannah: "Am I expensive too?"</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Ashley: "Yes, everybody is. Because it costs all of Jesus for us to be sold to heaven, and that is even more expensive than money, so it's like more than even a king or queen could pay."</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Bethany: "Because Jesus died. That's how much it costs."</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Ashley: "Right."</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Bethany: "Why can't animals be sold to heaven too?"</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Hannah: "Because they are not expensive enough!"</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Bethany: "Oh. I see."</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
And everyone happily continues eating, completely content with their resolution of the question. Parent-prayer answered! And moments like this, when I get to sit back and watch my children embrace this God-given life with curiosity and intelligence and joy? They never, ever, ever get old.</div>
Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16106989830460197919noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137376945897439857.post-18333315783988935172013-04-02T18:41:00.002-07:002013-04-02T18:41:53.338-07:00Easter weekend picturesIt's been a full month since my last post and I only have a few minutes for the blog today, but I want to at least get some pictures posted from Easter weekend. It's so rare for us to all be in the same picture, and I love this one....<br />
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<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/AVvXsEjO4dXJbNHAOkVsnnRvLGo7cnJ2E_rYUJRP2n3_1wzSAHp4VREDxO8xWNw7I076_0-vTPiii0bfLH-osZLPKAvqT4q64UuGXUr5Dgcg5pq3-dcFYbp7thi1NCSCdtUkokndWuEaK7XhBxI/s1600/531802_499836173410307_1825109874_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO4dXJbNHAOkVsnnRvLGo7cnJ2E_rYUJRP2n3_1wzSAHp4VREDxO8xWNw7I076_0-vTPiii0bfLH-osZLPKAvqT4q64UuGXUr5Dgcg5pq3-dcFYbp7thi1NCSCdtUkokndWuEaK7XhBxI/s400/531802_499836173410307_1825109874_n.jpg" width="313" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crazy happy baby!</td></tr>
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And here are a few that my mother-in-law took, and I stole from her facebook page. ;) I don't do as well now as I used to with taking pictures of the girls -- I guess my hands are usually full and I just don't seem to have the camera on hand very often. So I'm glad to be able to borrow these ones. Thanks, Mom!<br />
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<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/AVvXsEj7N8-rP9sF6BSWpEMB5uhjuYquu3-Aw-m1uO9iMt_7ln87wvifmmWEeVNJ8aTxEdORTRPaoWCxfLtuag3EcpupPsFaCdWwZVuuiWrE8h4AvS8Fy86pSqosWVge1nFHB0GE_hyphenhyphenp-vyM4Co/s1600/483624_499836686743589_188080141_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7N8-rP9sF6BSWpEMB5uhjuYquu3-Aw-m1uO9iMt_7ln87wvifmmWEeVNJ8aTxEdORTRPaoWCxfLtuag3EcpupPsFaCdWwZVuuiWrE8h4AvS8Fy86pSqosWVge1nFHB0GE_hyphenhyphenp-vyM4Co/s400/483624_499836686743589_188080141_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She's seven months old this week. This is my fourth time through and I still don't know how that happens so quickly.</td></tr>
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<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/AVvXsEjkIpf7wI4m64V36xOiGEz7OLBj2s1c6fnsBLbTnYZqohUAibouEicGjDearKWDlWUaBM-oNigZqtI00l3ElqIBdVSMvrUH9PmRtrMF7N1XBe4mmXLiQqdbD1BAZCU_VO7SOj21-xGoJow/s1600/17227_499836093410315_606952078_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkIpf7wI4m64V36xOiGEz7OLBj2s1c6fnsBLbTnYZqohUAibouEicGjDearKWDlWUaBM-oNigZqtI00l3ElqIBdVSMvrUH9PmRtrMF7N1XBe4mmXLiQqdbD1BAZCU_VO7SOj21-xGoJow/s400/17227_499836093410315_606952078_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Speaking of growing up, this picture freaked me out a little! Six years old, going on sixteen....</td></tr>
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<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/AVvXsEjGfmB5CEqaOUMJhLCfPoPJpcJs6t2FzRtPGeCA_bX-1x6BjVVr7c7-_tTmQto6HiMoG-oNXM1D4kljMPOOKbXfTTxNXf5kSQMcxmZLSscSO2a07Y9jnqRg_0xyU_LwdOCk2Sj41uMTMrc/s1600/524706_499835986743659_1982653830_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGfmB5CEqaOUMJhLCfPoPJpcJs6t2FzRtPGeCA_bX-1x6BjVVr7c7-_tTmQto6HiMoG-oNXM1D4kljMPOOKbXfTTxNXf5kSQMcxmZLSscSO2a07Y9jnqRg_0xyU_LwdOCk2Sj41uMTMrc/s400/524706_499835986743659_1982653830_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Um...do they look a little bit crazed and terrifying here?? </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<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/AVvXsEgtcdIajb-StgjvHwABUKKvFRd6i7QoYMBD9C-cyo1EsRDFowOy3PxJbq8oIWOOdmd92FuwLlsq7M9gctilZUguNB3rAAMAAZfrx0FLGtByXf8wh61VImZ_Z1RfVQn9KbnkrGCFcydPglY/s1600/17388_499836116743646_1902676757_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtcdIajb-StgjvHwABUKKvFRd6i7QoYMBD9C-cyo1EsRDFowOy3PxJbq8oIWOOdmd92FuwLlsq7M9gctilZUguNB3rAAMAAZfrx0FLGtByXf8wh61VImZ_Z1RfVQn9KbnkrGCFcydPglY/s400/17388_499836116743646_1902676757_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A friend recently told me that Hannah seems like she'll be a queen bee, and I can see it. Watch out for this angelic looking blond head -- she's going to rule something when she grows up!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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/AVvXsEjfRzCRRvkRhho9n1988edHPAZ0u3MthyiEl6f4a0BRf95eWC2M4meLeEhagY4cQgHLLgcEu9t1_zDwphSd2UtbIQBm-Mgyt5lQM7s1jfjnaBHR6JtcY2LJfDla7QDSANSHqUojl9pcQQ8/s1600/027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfRzCRRvkRhho9n1988edHPAZ0u3MthyiEl6f4a0BRf95eWC2M4meLeEhagY4cQgHLLgcEu9t1_zDwphSd2UtbIQBm-Mgyt5lQM7s1jfjnaBHR6JtcY2LJfDla7QDSANSHqUojl9pcQQ8/s400/027.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My favorite picture of the weekend. LOVE this baby girl.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I keep thinking I'm going to write a post about how Ashley has two loose teeth, and how Katelyn just cut her first tooth and is sitting up now, and how my musical rehearsals are going, and how Lamont took an awesome trip all by himself to Salt Lake City to cheer on the Zags in the NCAA tournament (No. Don't talk about that. *sob*), and how school just started back up for me and I think I may have lost my mind to be taking two classes right now, and how it is finally SPRING and I do a happy dance every time I have to put on my sunglasses in the car, and how absolutely incredible life is....<br />
<br />
But instead I just crammed all of those things into the longest run-on sentence <em>ever. </em>And I am off!Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16106989830460197919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137376945897439857.post-18802877383070613322013-03-01T21:30:00.000-08:002013-03-01T21:32:47.096-08:00We're not gonna take it!<div style="text-align: justify;">
We've been laid flat by sickness for weeks on end -- just one cold after another cycling through our family and making us all miserable in endlessly alternating waves. Even poor little Katelyn. :( I have scrubbed everything I can find, disinfected more times than I can count, washed bedding daily for weeks at a time, aired out the house daily no matter how cold it is outside, and kept up our vitamins and lots of veggies and fresh fruit...all apparently to no avail. It has been SO frustrating! My dad gave me some ideas for building up our immune systems better, and in the week since then it does seem like we have improved, so I'm encouraged by that. I would say that as a family, we are probably 85% healthy now (and if you'd been in our house often over the last two months, you would know what a good statistic that really is!). Unfortunately, Katelyn still has this endless runny nose and cough. She is super sweet about it during the day, but has quite a bit of trouble at night, between the congestion and the cough. Last night was...difficult. </div>
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So this morning I was curled up in the corner of the couch, reading with Ashley, and I was so tired I kept losing track of what we were reading and staring at the book for several seconds before I could recover it. It wasn't pretty. And I thought, <em>you know what? We are all just so run down, and so tired of fighting sickness and being exhausted. We're snapping at each other for no reason, and we just aren't having fun together. I think we need a break! </em></div>
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I called on the authority of homeschooling moms everywhere and canceled the rest of the day, and took my girls out to have fun. :) We went to the mall, and the girls played in the play area for an hour while Katelyn watched them and shrieked excitedly and waved her arms in the air, and became a bundle of giddiness whenever one of her big sisters ran over to give her a kiss. Then we had lunch in the food court (at the recently added Subway -- yay!), at a super tall table because the girls like sitting on the barstools. And we finished our impromptu day off with an hour or so of shopping (for sneakers and Easter dresses -- not to be worn together!) and picture taking, as the girls decided to pose with all the mannequins they saw. :)</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL0rW64dVKa0DXDnFw6IzgPoP4eGv1qoIN1eVIb0q49UiWHyEEBd2VmJ7dtNwb544Hlsn2wC-84Y2dWajyP591-DgsEcZNff16gIdcIHPQ_hVbphp324c_zHnEKcwN6Mnsc-yKadFzRGc/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL0rW64dVKa0DXDnFw6IzgPoP4eGv1qoIN1eVIb0q49UiWHyEEBd2VmJ7dtNwb544Hlsn2wC-84Y2dWajyP591-DgsEcZNff16gIdcIHPQ_hVbphp324c_zHnEKcwN6Mnsc-yKadFzRGc/s400/001.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tall table with tall chairs! Now with 100% more fun than the regular height ones!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdHzScqn0djlMaCN48zZFVBu6PGfLJ9hLKbkwkH55om1CmuUsnus6Ltt3QKlPuu_Uv_quEnPu2yP_7g5Xmso3h1ZY6-tWFAXb7Ei-QW-pz08nV7qKV_tLKji6raxtcSlwXXZdduSJcy1A/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdHzScqn0djlMaCN48zZFVBu6PGfLJ9hLKbkwkH55om1CmuUsnus6Ltt3QKlPuu_Uv_quEnPu2yP_7g5Xmso3h1ZY6-tWFAXb7Ei-QW-pz08nV7qKV_tLKji6raxtcSlwXXZdduSJcy1A/s400/002.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lunchtime at the mall, now with 100% more fun than lunchtime at home!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMPrrioV6RktzJX5B3wvX839cYwX6-lZe9ONEf8pJYoONOShX7eBmfD0-hOuKeA3oTVvE15RHYbLPDpnvbvwpXxDe5JXbKD_XHWSEgnUREM12lYY3MwY2KUjXU3b_C85Q2aOUAI9XP_w8/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMPrrioV6RktzJX5B3wvX839cYwX6-lZe9ONEf8pJYoONOShX7eBmfD0-hOuKeA3oTVvE15RHYbLPDpnvbvwpXxDe5JXbKD_XHWSEgnUREM12lYY3MwY2KUjXU3b_C85Q2aOUAI9XP_w8/s400/012.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ha! Goofballs.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRcwR0u9azb7S2HBIIF9xjRdd7q8gqbtoJUx4EMqGywrZrpdEWCQtjGDMWbCOqSTPNYS0UJXN8C_bUhlPy10xMH_VnLdHT-MenyCsWhwQl_LeEOOrDFSeC_-_TZrSVN0zzSt74j7f95rU/s1600/014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRcwR0u9azb7S2HBIIF9xjRdd7q8gqbtoJUx4EMqGywrZrpdEWCQtjGDMWbCOqSTPNYS0UJXN8C_bUhlPy10xMH_VnLdHT-MenyCsWhwQl_LeEOOrDFSeC_-_TZrSVN0zzSt74j7f95rU/s400/014.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Giant yellow doors -- apparently they were begging for a picture. ;)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnwPCnllz3ocNz4eiZfguOXFUghmCUkoOhzp8V059ZLKyU2f5YQylAlIMo5P0OKPUkgNEcfJzTEX2J21ircXRzCizXtAq8yXoFUzE0BLFgb1SlVzEe2tJL9imQxUk_vh1R_9nCMdg9hss/s1600/017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnwPCnllz3ocNz4eiZfguOXFUghmCUkoOhzp8V059ZLKyU2f5YQylAlIMo5P0OKPUkgNEcfJzTEX2J21ircXRzCizXtAq8yXoFUzE0BLFgb1SlVzEe2tJL9imQxUk_vh1R_9nCMdg9hss/s400/017.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ooh la la!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEEWMxL69hbFFvcIJu-1RUDm0AKHXQTIK5bkQ858Mh203xDBEtH31exPe3Cmmt8QiFctAvEn5Y955hnvLZJoCUxBqZn9U6g4TviRSBZBgbOOA_90BG5zoy2y5PUsJyIOtnV6p7OKDgJBc/s1600/015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEEWMxL69hbFFvcIJu-1RUDm0AKHXQTIK5bkQ858Mh203xDBEtH31exPe3Cmmt8QiFctAvEn5Y955hnvLZJoCUxBqZn9U6g4TviRSBZBgbOOA_90BG5zoy2y5PUsJyIOtnV6p7OKDgJBc/s400/015.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I caught them in a natural moment, when they were discussing what they wanted to do for their next pose. I love these girlies!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNX0BWnuPZA9uecVqpHk8LOh5VmKmx7I2VTSSE4U99pCN7CRtCCJoSCkbKetwnwqwh7XzWCzhBXlLjI8wlUk67pQz6x0GwxIdX5udv4yKSPkZJQ9kalEMw9YZ9oS82F2l6L5jO-NFtJmY/s1600/018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNX0BWnuPZA9uecVqpHk8LOh5VmKmx7I2VTSSE4U99pCN7CRtCCJoSCkbKetwnwqwh7XzWCzhBXlLjI8wlUk67pQz6x0GwxIdX5udv4yKSPkZJQ9kalEMw9YZ9oS82F2l6L5jO-NFtJmY/s400/018.JPG" width="340" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stop...in the name of love! Or something. ;)</td></tr>
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Such a wonderfully fun day, all the more welcome because it started out rough. I'm so glad I get to spend my days with these hilarious little people, who help me make life fun even when we're sick and tired!</div>
Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16106989830460197919noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137376945897439857.post-34111500361911016912013-02-18T18:05:00.000-08:002013-02-18T18:06:53.884-08:00Freezing a moment in time<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Monday morning...</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOvs8JoAXyNCICkUkAXZoSngIIqnTW4egqBec8MA1stGO8RUVUjcZtf2dwTF9eksHfprsjnA6vbGVDKm5LOl1NKy4Uv9msYBHIAhkq4e71v4NsXE1Mjt21PS-8kuWs8DENfcnQbyeIVZ0/s1600/029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOvs8JoAXyNCICkUkAXZoSngIIqnTW4egqBec8MA1stGO8RUVUjcZtf2dwTF9eksHfprsjnA6vbGVDKm5LOl1NKy4Uv9msYBHIAhkq4e71v4NsXE1Mjt21PS-8kuWs8DENfcnQbyeIVZ0/s400/029.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peaches and rice cereal, yum! Her current favorite meal.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGQ12qVIVEfxy5TLQFkZttaok8H7WCTE7UqzVJ_MbzguuSV5Co3VlDHrON0R_FESq56QXe0FxQEMyjdsCr9eq7LwVeVSzdUhhsPSB0E4cnb4qmPe2FVw-Ehpffl8acQ67XT0Ma12z_oCg/s1600/031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGQ12qVIVEfxy5TLQFkZttaok8H7WCTE7UqzVJ_MbzguuSV5Co3VlDHrON0R_FESq56QXe0FxQEMyjdsCr9eq7LwVeVSzdUhhsPSB0E4cnb4qmPe2FVw-Ehpffl8acQ67XT0Ma12z_oCg/s400/031.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A moment before this she was singing "Angels We Have Heard On High" as she practiced her L's here in her handwriting book.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidQGkEf4DOAQ5HJQW1ELSNUP41srw76wX9e6qzFYFVumOH1_uKN0RFPzV3jS3X1mMqRuEU1zt9TFIqTdt7wqYGqcUdpcEjMTtVJTXJo23G2us1UUZl_NIor6zOJhLhfzBUgMD6xscNJ0U/s1600/038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidQGkEf4DOAQ5HJQW1ELSNUP41srw76wX9e6qzFYFVumOH1_uKN0RFPzV3jS3X1mMqRuEU1zt9TFIqTdt7wqYGqcUdpcEjMTtVJTXJo23G2us1UUZl_NIor6zOJhLhfzBUgMD6xscNJ0U/s400/038.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Curled up with a book, her most common pose lately.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She's been saving for a new lego set, and yesterday Daddy took her shopping and she chose a fire boat (that really floats!). She started working on it in her pajamas before her eyes were completely open this morning.</td></tr>
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<br />Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16106989830460197919noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137376945897439857.post-80406277669703876782013-02-18T07:28:00.000-08:002013-02-18T07:28:56.535-08:00Watch your daddy<h2>
My precious daughters,</h2>
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You are so little right now, so entirely captivated by the joys of childhood. It is hard for me to imagine you as young women, grown and lovely and looking eagerly toward romance and marriage! Yet I know that time is coming for each of you, more quickly than I can grasp at this moment. When it comes — when you are beginning relationships and evaluating young men and being swept away in the dizzy excitement of new love — I hope you will remember the things you are learning about men <em>right now</em>, during these years of watching your daddy....<br />
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I would love it if you'd click over to read the rest of this post <a href="http://kindredgrace.com/watch-your-daddy/" target="_blank">over here at Kindred Grace!</a>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16106989830460197919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137376945897439857.post-49939147808674750272013-02-02T19:19:00.002-08:002013-02-02T19:21:18.214-08:00Or a lion!Ashley sat under the dining room table, all the chairs pulled out to allow her easier access, and halfheartedly pulled her whisk broom along the floor. Her faraway gaze was slightly sullen, as she let her thoughts settle on anything but the much disliked task before her, and I sighed at the realization that this seemed set to be a long, unpleasant experience for both of us.<br />
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Suddenly she paused and sat up straight, her whole body arrested by a new thought. <br />
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"Mummy!" She said breathlessly, "I just realized something!"<br />
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"The verse we just learned in church says that we should keep running the race that has been marked out for us," she explained. (Hebrews 12:1) "And I think that maybe that could be talking about things like sweeping, too! Like, this is the job I've been told to do, so I should keep doing it until it's all finished, and have a good attitude about it, like I'm running an exciting race. Right?!"<br />
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And I beamed at her, this sweet and clever little girl, and told her that she was absolutely right, and that I was very proud of her for thinking of that and for taking such a positive approach to her work. <em>How mature she is!</em> I thought to myself. <em>How in tune with what she's learning about the Bible, and about living the way Jesus calls us to!</em> And my mother's ego preened a little as I imagined sharing the moment with my mum later. <br />
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"Or...."<br />
<br />
Ashley's face beamed up at me again as another thought occurred to her.<br />
<br />
"Or I could pretend that a lion is going to eat me if I don't finish sweeping quickly!"<br />
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Oh. Well. Or you could do that, definitely. ;-) Goofy girl!<br />
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Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16106989830460197919noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137376945897439857.post-75724608262551607962013-01-21T19:39:00.001-08:002013-01-21T19:39:15.645-08:00Things I am relearning about having a babyOnce upon a time, we had three babies in two and a half years. I like to say we basically didn't sleep for three years...it really was the most physically draining and exhausting experience of my life. But oh, the skills we learned! We learned how to wake up in the morning and live a normal day after sleeping no longer than an hour and a half at a time the night before. And how to function on a grand total of four hours of sleep a night, for weeks on end. We learned how to do <em>everything</em> with only one hand, while a baby slept or wiggled or cuddled in the other. We learned how to spend all day interpreting cries and coos and shrieks and whimpers, while still talking like (mostly) intelligent adults when speaking with someone over two feet tall.<br />
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But then they got older. We started getting more than four or five hours of sleep a night. They started walking on their own, talking with real words (English words!), and generally becoming self-sufficient little people. And when that happened, all those hard earned, bizarre new skills of ours went the way of geography facts and algebraic equations after the tests I used to cram for in high school -- they vanished. Disappeared into our rapidly retreating pasts, into the haze of sleeplessness and desperate coping mechanisms that was the previous three years of our lives. And we were really, really ok with letting them go.<br />
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And then four and a half months ago, we had another baby. On the one hand, I cannot <em>believe</em> how much easier it is to have just one baby than it was to have three at various stages of babyhood all at once! (Really. Now I get why people gave us funny looks all the time back then as if they were questioning our sanity. Having three babies at once instead of one at a time is <em>insane</em>.) But on the other hand, it's been a surprisingly tough adjustment for me to have a baby again. I think I was happily used to the independence with our older girls; last summer especially, the girls and I pretty much picked up and went wherever we wanted, and had all kinds of adventures together, and it was easy and fun all the time! I'm really glad that we had that time together, and though we're much more tied down now, I know it's coming again in the future.<br />
<br />
In the meantime, I'm relearning how to do life with a baby. And with not enough sleep. ;) Actually, Katelyn is the best sleeper we've had, which is awesome. But even when she's only waking me up once in the night, I've been feeling the decrease in sleep. I...really don't respond well to lack of sleep. My body's ideal amount of sleep per night would be about nine hours, I think, especially since my days are so full of non-stop energy requirements with my four busy girls. Between going to bed late at night (so busy!), getting up early in the mornings (again - so busy!), and being up with Katelyn in the night, I usually get around six hours. And I know that for some people, that would be plenty! I <em>wish</em> it was plenty for me, but sometimes I really struggle with not having more sleep. I am trying to remember that this is another temporary season, and to not lose track of the priceless, precious things about this season with my girls just because I'm a bit sleep deprived! I don't want to just function right now, and to look back on this time later and remember myself stumbling around just frantic to keep up, grumpy, or focused more on surviving than <em>loving</em>. <br />
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I'm also figuring out all over again how to do life one-handed! This part is fun, because it means Katelyn is hanging out with me a lot. :) And I know...I know...I have friends reading this going, "Why isn't she using a wrap?!?! Ahhhhhh!!!!!" I love you all, and I think it's awesome that you all love using wraps -- but I don't love them. So there. ;) The other day I made raspberry bars, start to finish, with only one hand. Yes, I have mad skills!<br />
<br />
So if you'll excuse me now, I need to go help Ashley paint her ceramic tea set, while making dinner with one hand, as I nurse Katelyn...all in my sleep. ;)Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16106989830460197919noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137376945897439857.post-481077540233875082012-12-30T18:05:00.000-08:002012-12-30T18:05:48.606-08:00Best of Facebook 2012, Part 2<div align="center">
July - December</div>
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Bethany, climbing up on the seat beside me: "I'm going to hang out with you for a while." Me: "How about if you hang out with me forever?" Bethany: "No, Mummy, that's not what children do. They just hang out with their parents for a while." *sob*</div>
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As I listened to the traditional complaining from Ashley this morning over having her hair combed after her shower, I finally told her that if she keeps it up, I'm just going to cut it all off short and be done with it. A moment's pause, then she began chanting, "I love showers! I love combing! I love showers! I love combing!"</div>
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Ashley, praying before lunch: "Thank you for the sunshine today, and that we got to go to Target...and I'm sorry that I just burped, and let's pretend that I didn't...and thank you for this food...."</div>
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The girls were building a plane in the livingroom. I was informed that it was a REAL plane, and would REALLY fly. Sadly, we eventually ran out of rubber bands, and as everyone knows, you cannot build a REAL plane without sufficient rubber bands. So the plane became a zoo (because zoos apparently don't require as many rubber bands), and now Bethany is supervising her sisters' zoo construction and throwing out encouraging comments. "I have a good feeling about this!" "This is quite impressive!" And my favorite -- "We can do this, gentlemen!"</div>
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Ashley's advice for young ladies: "If you stomp, stomp, STOMP all over the house, then you sound like a stomping bear. And you're not a bear, you're a girl, so you shouldn't be stomping." I like it!</div>
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Bethany, looking up from lego play: "Hey, where's Daddy?"</div>
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Hannah: "He's at work."</div>
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Bethany: "No, I think he's at a party."</div>
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Hannah: "No he's not! He's at work!"</div>
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Bethany: "Party, infinity!"</div>
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Hannah, singing a made-up song to Katelyn: "Oh little baby Katelyn, I've fallen in love with you, I love you like a son...." </div>
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Ashley's holding Katelyn, and I look over to see her wiping away tears. "Oh Ashley, what's wrong?!" And she tells me, "I was just looking at her and thinking about how much I love having a baby sister, and she opened her eyes and looked at me, and it just brought me tears of joy!"</div>
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Irritated that Bethany spilled her milk all over the table, I told her, "You need to pay attention to what you're doing!" Her cheerful reply: "Well, that's why God gave us towels, so we can clean up if we forget to pay attention!"</div>
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Hannah, sounding absolutely amazed: "I just realized that we get to stay alive until we die!"</div>
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Ashley: "Hey Hannah, I just made a surprise for you, but you can't look at it yet."</div>
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Hannah: "When can I look at it?"</div>
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Ashley: "You can't know that yet either!"</div>
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Hannah: "That's mean!" *short pause* "I'm going to make a surprise for YOU, and you can't look at it yet either, and I'm not telling you when you can look at it."</div>
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Ashley: "You're copying what I just said to you!"</div>
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Hannah: "Yes. It's called a cruel irony."<br />
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Ashley is excitedly deciding what she wants to take to an upcoming food drive: "I think we should take 12 muffins, and 7 eggs, and two dozen sandwiches!"<br />
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Bethany: "There's really nothing for me to do, except play." Ah, the tough, tough life of a three year old!<br />
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Hannah: "I only want to have one child when I grow up, because if I had more than one then they would eat all my ice cream!"<br />
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Bethany just brought me a play cup with a straw in it and said, "I made you some coffee to help you feel better!" I smiled at her and tried to hand the cup back to her, saying, "Thank you, that was sweet of you!" She put out her hand to stop me and said very seriously, "Mummy. You really need to drink the coffee."<br />
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Bethany: "Speaking of zebras, I really wish one would give me a kiss!" Um. We were not speaking of zebras.</div>
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Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16106989830460197919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137376945897439857.post-24557102503427266202012-12-28T18:15:00.000-08:002012-12-28T18:15:58.554-08:00The Best of Facebook 2012, Part 1I use this blog mainly to help me remember all these precious stages of life that we are zipping through too quickly. I just don't have the memory space in my caffeine-deprived brain to hold on to all of this as it happens, and it is such a joy to read back through the blog and revisit times and experiences we've had together, things the girls have said/done as they've grown, and all the memories that would otherwise be lost. However, frequently one of the girls will say something, I'll think, "Oh, I need to write that down!", and the fastest and easiest option is to just post it to Facebook. I've been realizing how much less permanent that is than the blog, so I've decided to scan through the last year's worth of my Facebook status updates, and bring over here my favorites of the sweet or funny antics of the girls that I want to make sure I have recorded for good. So here we go -- Part 1!<br />
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January-June, 2012</div>
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Hannah just prayed, "God, please help everyone to know that You are there, so that they don't have to be afraid of life."</div>
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Lamont just told Bethany that his coffee has a restraining order against her! *laughing hysterically*</div>
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Bethany: "I'm getting big and growing so much, so I'm changing into a mama!"</div>
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From Bethany along with her tight goodnight hug: "Do you know why God made you? I do. So that you could be my special Mummy."</div>
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The wind is picking up and I hear Ashley whispering to her sisters, "We better watch out, because I think our house is going to blow away in a potato!" *long confused pause* "I mean, we're going to blow away in an alfredo!" *even longer pause* "Hey Mummy, what's it called when the wind goes in a circle and it can pick up a house??"</div>
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Just out of curiousity, if your three year old tells you that you are a duckling...is that a good thing?</div>
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From Hannah's sunshiny face this morning: "Mummy, happiness that lasts is called JOY!"</div>
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Note to self: telling Hannah to just ignore her sisters' attempts to distract her from the job I've given her results in her loudly proclaiming, "Hey guys, I'm ignoring you! Just so you know, I'm ignoring you! Ok? I'm just ignoring you!"</div>
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Hannah: "I really need to get a job and start making some money!" Me, startled: "Oh really? Why do you need money?" Hannah: "So that I can give it to kids who don't have enough food, of course." *heart...melting...*</div>
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Bethany: "Can we please have cookies for breakfast?" Me: "Nice try, sweetie, but--" Bethany, quickly: "Why don't you just think about it for a while, Mummy!"</div>
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Our littlest baby girl kicked her daddy's hand for the first time tonight for his birthday - yay!</div>
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Bethany: "Mummy, I'm going to grow up and be a mom with kids, but if you want I can still be your little girl, too!" Oh, yes please.</div>
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Hannah just came out of the playroom for a drink of water and I asked her what she and her sisters are doing in there. The eyes start shifting back and forth and she says politely, "Um...I don't think you...really need to know that right now, Mummy...."</div>
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Hannah, with a fierce goodnight hug, "I'm so glad you're not a vegetable or a llama!"</div>
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From a very indignant Bethany: "Mummy, Ashley is being SO mean to me. She's treating me like a carrot!"</div>
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Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16106989830460197919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137376945897439857.post-88533313078163216502012-12-25T07:30:00.000-08:002012-12-25T07:30:20.451-08:00Rejoice!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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REJOICE! Christ, our saviour, is born!</div>
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Merry Christmas, and a very joy-filled New Year, from our family to yours!</div>
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May the love of God overwhelm you this coming year.</div>
Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16106989830460197919noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137376945897439857.post-15183966205482995042012-12-05T08:35:00.002-08:002012-12-05T08:35:55.231-08:00Check it out, Mary!The girls have beautiful advent calendars this year, with pictures of the nativity on the front, and small pictures with verses behind each door. And there's glitter! They're exactly like the calendars I remember from my childhood (let's pause a moment for my happy, happy memories...ahhh). There's something really good for the soul about continuing happy traditions from my childhood with my own daughters!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVo7oWqDH8XsnTRtajcEHXMr_8SKpcFjATI6aPOwKDJn_a8Z0YMI-IODpEpYmihlvJffWO2nxJ_lu7nB4wQGeuE3Xcg7Ln12tk9PSIbzcG0wSVwmmpkSJxG3KZCKY-9UhN5qGaJ6FlAVE/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVo7oWqDH8XsnTRtajcEHXMr_8SKpcFjATI6aPOwKDJn_a8Z0YMI-IODpEpYmihlvJffWO2nxJ_lu7nB4wQGeuE3Xcg7Ln12tk9PSIbzcG0wSVwmmpkSJxG3KZCKY-9UhN5qGaJ6FlAVE/s400/003.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Anyway, today's verse is Luke 1:31, "Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus." I always explain the verses to the girls, but this morning Hannah beat me to it, and I heard her give this explanation to Bethany....<br />
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"It's like the angel was saying, 'Hey, check this out, Mary! You're going to have a baby growing in your tummy!' And I don't know why he said womb, but he should have said tummy. And then he said, 'You have to call your baby Jesus,' so if Mary didn't call him Jesus, like if she called him Boysa or something, then she wouldn't be doing what the angel said. And if we don't do what angels say, then we aren't obeying God, because God tells the angels what to say."<br />
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I kind of want Hannah to explain the whole Bible to me now!Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16106989830460197919noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137376945897439857.post-11701927871433977552012-12-03T20:32:00.001-08:002012-12-03T20:32:12.075-08:00The Alligator Book<div>
This morning Ashley very proudly finished her very first book, both written and illustrated by her! She's been working on it for a week and a half, and though at one point she told me that she planned to "keep writing more and more of my book until I'm 12 years old!", she decided this morning that the story had come to an end. </div>
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Let me tell you, folks, this story has it all. Drama! Intrigue! Life and death conflict! Buckle your seat belts, because I'm about to share it with you. :)</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxqYzy8F1OAvuo6_gImTQBXJ2Q8Yg1Qi7PvoExh9Mlfsz1Z3obvU14U4isq_2USXcceTLD07ZSrutsYCSXYt4SqhLgFDR9uvSzbUwVJFemJRjhfB1lCKI-9RL7uMjU1GD5bPlwFHTwd0E/s1600/137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxqYzy8F1OAvuo6_gImTQBXJ2Q8Yg1Qi7PvoExh9Mlfsz1Z3obvU14U4isq_2USXcceTLD07ZSrutsYCSXYt4SqhLgFDR9uvSzbUwVJFemJRjhfB1lCKI-9RL7uMjU1GD5bPlwFHTwd0E/s400/137.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It says, "Ashley (self portrait of Ashley!): The Alligator Book"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHRRUjr7dS7_JUxvKLPiEso-VVyVzOmWJbn3tORUYFKiEKw0L04OTCHPx9KHxQZpNpC2pv0bZz55qsk2jQSzfbdD5PCMQRcb6xiTWnZ3Jz4Zy9YnfpN0So7s0YrOp-Nq_AmIiQrvdBeoI/s1600/127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHRRUjr7dS7_JUxvKLPiEso-VVyVzOmWJbn3tORUYFKiEKw0L04OTCHPx9KHxQZpNpC2pv0bZz55qsk2jQSzfbdD5PCMQRcb6xiTWnZ3Jz4Zy9YnfpN0So7s0YrOp-Nq_AmIiQrvdBeoI/s400/127.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Once upon a time there was an alligator that loved to eat and eat. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmuyEukzPp4HigJUGKX7bURoQxDt14WoCVfpMg7NAh1NvOOHtpYXaFdfnqbYAoe_B0r_ogXBgCO04BrNK7nzOEwpb64MWK0RBVRd1zJC4HFz8pQC_M-J9hK9dSPjVF1nxFcyYb4IckqAw/s1600/128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmuyEukzPp4HigJUGKX7bURoQxDt14WoCVfpMg7NAh1NvOOHtpYXaFdfnqbYAoe_B0r_ogXBgCO04BrNK7nzOEwpb64MWK0RBVRd1zJC4HFz8pQC_M-J9hK9dSPjVF1nxFcyYb4IckqAw/s400/128.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The alligator saw the monkey and wanted it. The alligator tried to eat the monkey but the monkey swung.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF9bYm-aJp3VLrZXZ5ZrqGsHzqfE8wEkBrYpCfg2HV6X1EBjb38pxRUi4cwmiZufVBk3reYILzGNTAA003rHOoqnJlzfv-v9wuXgX5FX9DcfP-vwJKp9OWJ004sXimvvJpjD6zqpt25RE/s1600/129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF9bYm-aJp3VLrZXZ5ZrqGsHzqfE8wEkBrYpCfg2HV6X1EBjb38pxRUi4cwmiZufVBk3reYILzGNTAA003rHOoqnJlzfv-v9wuXgX5FX9DcfP-vwJKp9OWJ004sXimvvJpjD6zqpt25RE/s400/129.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The alligator saw the frog and wanted it but the frog just ribbited and the alligator gave up.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfZkf_8VNh_mn-9ZvTA_A4VHAMDDSGh7fpDiCvCDVzpHZV2WOsXfr1DfoY7dav7mZ3EYzCneRO3eEgp-YWuqBu0Fm4VpKv3eJuMpP-6ajlZ5mH1K1LY7tvHMbfI1w9Ao88nCnac_VdKrs/s1600/130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfZkf_8VNh_mn-9ZvTA_A4VHAMDDSGh7fpDiCvCDVzpHZV2WOsXfr1DfoY7dav7mZ3EYzCneRO3eEgp-YWuqBu0Fm4VpKv3eJuMpP-6ajlZ5mH1K1LY7tvHMbfI1w9Ao88nCnac_VdKrs/s400/130.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The alligator wanted it (the bee) but the bee flew away. The alligator tried to eat the butterfly but the butterfly flew away.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBaPFzrA5H4zSFLckUQyidmRx5PTWuY2Bw06zPc9AfufQtpfpvzHgJN3VMlTdiwiNjwmJrhZIewh2ViQbYVwQhfszfHRVBKZBNRq7ycLLg-QomsP6MufmfSegUH0uLJeWTrsPzU14wf4M/s1600/132.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBaPFzrA5H4zSFLckUQyidmRx5PTWuY2Bw06zPc9AfufQtpfpvzHgJN3VMlTdiwiNjwmJrhZIewh2ViQbYVwQhfszfHRVBKZBNRq7ycLLg-QomsP6MufmfSegUH0uLJeWTrsPzU14wf4M/s400/132.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The alligator saw the horse and wanted it. But the horse ran away. Then the alligator saw pizza on the ground. Then he was happy.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicg2gvqR8IyE3wRquVyRjMJsRnkU7ScTpIlUsgnINjRvywy3GRXsAqygZ-ud82IP5QqhnYxoIKBPujgO_Q66JZxuWoYBNY85ixm8Hzb7FWZbNoqGCFRJxbQsbbZkH_qNGMoz3vnolUWAU/s1600/133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicg2gvqR8IyE3wRquVyRjMJsRnkU7ScTpIlUsgnINjRvywy3GRXsAqygZ-ud82IP5QqhnYxoIKBPujgO_Q66JZxuWoYBNY85ixm8Hzb7FWZbNoqGCFRJxbQsbbZkH_qNGMoz3vnolUWAU/s400/133.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The end.</td></tr>
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See??? That was a pretty intense plot! I bet you were worried about which poor animal was going to end up being lunch for the hungry alligator, weren't you??<div>
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The alligator's facial expressions absolutely crack me up. I love that you can tell he's getting more and more hungry and frustrated, and his giant grin as he looks at the pizza at the end is perfect!</div>
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Ashley now says that rather than working on this one story until she's 12, she will just continue writing other books until she turns 12, at which point she will open a bookstore and sell all her books for $10 each. :)<br /><br /></div>
Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16106989830460197919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137376945897439857.post-52427754141609997162012-11-28T18:52:00.001-08:002012-11-28T18:52:21.293-08:00Wrapping up GreaThingsSo! Obviously I did not quite succeed at posting <i>every</i> day during the GreaThings challenge leading up to Thanksgiving this month. I kind of expected that I would not be able to write every day, so I'm not disappointed -- I actually really loved being part of that, and am so glad I did it. It was wonderful to take a focused look back at some of what this year contained for me and for my family. And I was able to get a lot of pictures and memories onto my blog that otherwise would have been left behind completely, so I consider it a great success for that reason as well. :)<br />
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This post is just to officially wrap it up and acknowledge that despite a few wild ambitions I may have had, I am definitely not going to be able to catch up with the rest of the list of writing prompts, and I am finished. ;) Thanks for hanging out with me for GreaThings 2012!Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16106989830460197919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137376945897439857.post-64651645265363748672012-11-18T22:31:00.002-08:002012-11-18T22:33:25.041-08:00T is for travel!<i>T (blessings that start with this letter)</i><br />
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It has come up already a few times in my GreaThings posts, but I have so enjoyed getting to do a fair bit of traveling this year. Lamont and I both are passionate about visiting new places and learning about parts of the country (and hopefully someday the world!) other than where we live. It is refreshing and inspiring to us to be reminded that the world is much bigger than our tiny corner of it! And since it is difficult to travel while we have little ones, whether they come with us or stay home with family, I am especially grateful for the opportunities we had this year.</div>
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In March I got to go with Lamont on a company trip to Vegas -- he attended his conference by day while I relaxed by the beautiful pools, and in the evenings we went to the WCC basketball championship game, The Phantom of the Opera, and a Maroon 5 concert! It was surreal. The whole trip came together at the last second, with less than a week notice, and I couldn't believe it when my parents agreed to keep the girls for four days so that I could go with Lamont. I'm pretty sure the girls think they had more fun during that four days than we did. :-)</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh12c5SUPtAb4IhmtqxAfiCIry7D0paLp3JqCpLxai6MqWqrg-hv0F0UPJYljIWjb9EZTIiXv8KqvDZ0MFE_wDLItUKAHI4BSi-dQFPOxUtkSIPxCi1PNMnwfmhEIDeRvT_z-xNjMs3B4M/s1600/031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh12c5SUPtAb4IhmtqxAfiCIry7D0paLp3JqCpLxai6MqWqrg-hv0F0UPJYljIWjb9EZTIiXv8KqvDZ0MFE_wDLItUKAHI4BSi-dQFPOxUtkSIPxCi1PNMnwfmhEIDeRvT_z-xNjMs3B4M/s400/031.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Bellagio - gorgeous even though I didn't catch the fountain show!</td></tr>
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On my way back I had nearly half a day's layover in San Francisco -- it was my first time there, and a beautiful day to show me the very best views.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The San Francisco shoreline, looking like a movie setting. :-)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alcatraz!</td></tr>
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In May we went to Chicago for eight days, for a wonderful visit with Lamont's sister and her family. It was the girls' first flight, and though I thought they didn't do this anymore, when we were leaving the plane, the pilot invited them into the cockpit!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6tBPSTTgI4Lp0NNUxXtMa4ZbsY3xWL83HeOEaipU7hjXVaF4azqquDn4CKzycUt6ZiSwczL2OTnBM0QMhPDrJAdD5lQq6eSiY7DjpRNfxd8QDfNSxYLV3wjQze_rxezzK0Re7N1C1v1M/s1600/108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6tBPSTTgI4Lp0NNUxXtMa4ZbsY3xWL83HeOEaipU7hjXVaF4azqquDn4CKzycUt6ZiSwczL2OTnBM0QMhPDrJAdD5lQq6eSiY7DjpRNfxd8QDfNSxYLV3wjQze_rxezzK0Re7N1C1v1M/s400/108.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They asked him SO many questions about all the controls, and he was fabulously patient explaining everything to them.</td></tr>
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Our time in Chicago would fill a blog post by itself -- our adorable nephews there are 3 and 6 years old, and the girls have a blast with them. It was a week full of constant chatter (especially when they were supposedly eating), and crazy schemes (teaching pet bugs to do tricks, for instance), and it was over far too quickly. We spent most of one day at Lake Michigan, which I absolutely <i>loved</i>.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It wasn't as cold as it looks! And yes, Hannah <i>was</i> attempting to move the entire lake one shovelful at a time. Why do you ask?</td></tr>
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At the end of July we snuck in a quick weekend at the Oregon Coast, and had gorgeous sunshine and 80 degree days the whole weekend! And yes, it does slightly defeat the purpose of broadening our horizons when we repeatedly visit the Oregon Coast every year that we possibly can, but...it's our happy place. :-)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjijKaGO44A5jSX30KBrNdSpf5bdQWmaeJOSLjaF7TdO79BwYAf_8FpEEjIt1RcAZcQOUxjn6p6Uy2qv_0qCfU9IAKXYlbBdInelMMp760HYW_3fULUpoBfr47EchRhxf20UOWm88w7Fvo/s1600/040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjijKaGO44A5jSX30KBrNdSpf5bdQWmaeJOSLjaF7TdO79BwYAf_8FpEEjIt1RcAZcQOUxjn6p6Uy2qv_0qCfU9IAKXYlbBdInelMMp760HYW_3fULUpoBfr47EchRhxf20UOWm88w7Fvo/s400/040.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See? Happy!</td></tr>
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And sometime this summer (I truly cannot remember what month it was, which is a sure sign that I should be fast asleep right now), I got to sneak away to Yakima by myself for a weekend with my friend Sarah and her family. Her daughter is exactly Bethany's age -- they share a birthday. We were in labor at the same time, but in different hospitals, both frequently demanding updates from family members on each other's progress! And I'm not going to say I won or anything, but...well, I did beat her by a few hours. ;-) Somehow I have no pictures of the weekend, but it was lovely and filled with coffee, and movies, and cuddles with her sweet children, and ice cream, and browsing bookstores, and late night conversations.<br />
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This year has truly been rich with travels, and I love all the experiences I've had and the memories made in each of the beautiful places I've gotten to see!</div>
Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16106989830460197919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137376945897439857.post-65023611422143548632012-11-17T15:22:00.001-08:002012-11-17T15:22:15.879-08:00More than words...<i>Lyrics that have meant something special this year.</i><br />
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I hear You calling out my name</div>
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As only You can do</div>
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Your voice it covers all my shame</div>
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The old You turn to new</div>
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No matter how things look to me</div>
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You see a destiny, a perfect promise</div>
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You call me beautiful</div>
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You call me righteous</div>
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You call me worthy of Your son's own precious blood</div>
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You call me holy</div>
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You call me strong at my weakest</div>
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Forgiven and pure, You call me Yours</div>
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It's hard for me to understand</div>
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Exactly what You see</div>
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I slip and stumble every day</div>
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And still You say, "Believe."</div>
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You say You will finish what You start</div>
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You see me for my heart, and not the bruises</div>
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You call me beautiful</div>
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You call me righteous</div>
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You call me worthy of Your son's own precious blood</div>
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You call me holy</div>
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You call me strong at my weakest</div>
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Forgiven and pure, You call me Yours.</div>
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~"You call me Yours", Prelude</div>
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Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16106989830460197919noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137376945897439857.post-23754846589132774392012-11-17T14:57:00.002-08:002012-11-17T14:57:25.725-08:00"There can be miracles, when you believe!"<i>Answered prayers and miracles.</i><br />
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It's been a year full of everyday miracles.<br />
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~That oh-so-familiar and yet still brand new sensation of our newest baby dancing inside me for the first time. Little butterfly movements that stole my heart.<br />
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~The wonder on the faces of our girls as they eagerly pressed their faces to the airplane windows on their very first flight. The sparkling eyes as we climbed above the clouds.<br />
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~A little hand slipping confidingly into mine, or a small person climbing without hesitation into my lap because they know they belong there.<br />
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~The vicarious secure feeling that floods over me upon seeing my tiny baby curled up fast asleep on her daddy's chest.<br />
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~Crescendos of giggles from little girls' whispered conversations.<br />
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~Flour covered noses and radiant faces in the midst of a baking session.<br />
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~Meeting the eyes of my love above all the happy chaos, in a moment of recognizing together the beauty of the life we share.</div>
Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16106989830460197919noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137376945897439857.post-58987614058076615652012-11-14T19:47:00.003-08:002012-11-14T21:33:41.821-08:00E is for energy...<i>E (blessings that start with this letter)</i><br />
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I am so incredibly grateful for the energy God has given me throughout this year! </div>
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That seems so funny to say right now, while I am sipping decaf coffee with the "decaf" label turned away from me in an attempt to trick my mind into thinking it's the real deal, because I am SO TIRED. It seems strange to rejoice over having had so much energy this year, when I spent so many countless hours lying sick and exhausted on the couch during my pregnancy with Katelyn, and when the girls have gotten up before me in the morning at least 85% of this year. It seems odd to claim that I've been energized, when I've had to set my own schooling aside for the last 11 months because I just didn't have enough energy to go around. Yes, I have been tired this year and very drained, physically and emotionally.</div>
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<i>But I have had <b>enough</b> energy. </i></div>
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Somehow despite all the exhaustion (because that's another "E" word that can definitely apply to 2012!), there has also always been enough energy not just to survive, but to really love life with my family this year. And that feels like such a precious gift. We spent the beginning of the year playing in the snow for hours on end, and curling up together in the evenings to play games or watch movies or read together. And I got to play a couple of small roles in a fun production of The Chalk Garden, and somehow managed to suck in my far-too-quickly-expanding baby belly until the very last show to fit into my costumes! </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGENMiR5zkw7l50UdZoV_UYDKDoWprtuHIA7xL36FkoFeO75QGu6JcaYwYuLP3AC_dvTuFLFRhsJwVfcN49DRiL1MNDQiqQA90Oyz0hoF7biuf3J7B3zsP2U7ntu9i_dKmo_gjuZT4ARM/s1600/035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGENMiR5zkw7l50UdZoV_UYDKDoWprtuHIA7xL36FkoFeO75QGu6JcaYwYuLP3AC_dvTuFLFRhsJwVfcN49DRiL1MNDQiqQA90Oyz0hoF7biuf3J7B3zsP2U7ntu9i_dKmo_gjuZT4ARM/s400/035.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They basically thought it would be a good idea if we could just build an igloo and live outside all winter, so they'd never have to leave the snow.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQGdxyKofJAt9TQhNY9rxnxZM7PN7WDtEo8ALsFFGu3kyMrXB1QRt4dbHnAIbUwikaUpnz4fPiOBk9BLkDGudkeHUqq-jnLYsxe7adVIKYw6kkCRMxmPECrtDVIB-__oLDNZjbtPFYw3A/s1600/040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQGdxyKofJAt9TQhNY9rxnxZM7PN7WDtEo8ALsFFGu3kyMrXB1QRt4dbHnAIbUwikaUpnz4fPiOBk9BLkDGudkeHUqq-jnLYsxe7adVIKYw6kkCRMxmPECrtDVIB-__oLDNZjbtPFYw3A/s400/040.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">*love* (I don't have a lot of pictures of myself with the girls -- thank you to my friend Kayley for snapping this one when I wasn't looking!)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOp6ku74G8lObmxovhwSCurfGk4hbEWMP1rX89RdSPPNu51-M8OV-mutiokHch2SBWn6XhZirTisZM43o2pRtSHcwGbFdvHIx2n2_R_m_L8FxYGroNMbYUEQIcjaHOfKM3AGCt2MU4-R4/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOp6ku74G8lObmxovhwSCurfGk4hbEWMP1rX89RdSPPNu51-M8OV-mutiokHch2SBWn6XhZirTisZM43o2pRtSHcwGbFdvHIx2n2_R_m_L8FxYGroNMbYUEQIcjaHOfKM3AGCt2MU4-R4/s400/003.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Master Uno strategists!</td></tr>
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The spring and summer was filled with so much traveling, including my first trip to Vegas when I accompanied Lamont on a business trip and caught the Zags (both men and women) playing in championship games of the WCC conference! (It's basketball, people. You don't have to think it's exciting, but I do!) Lamont had to travel a lot for work over the summer, so the girls and I came up with a lot of adventures to keep us busy while he was gone. And then there was my brother-in-law's wedding, and <i>all five of us</i> were in the wedding party. Yes, you read that right, and yes, it was slightly insane. ;-) The "quiet", every day times of the summer were spent almost entirely outside -- at the park, the lake, up at my parents' acreage, or out on biking/running trails as a family. I got the best tan of my life so far this year!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ0V8Qw1NdmuI9B4X4nKvihPyLrhRH-WL2Jd_ndnyPMtGYKcR5AJLy08zGmXR0Y-12jAphRkQQ0LwcwPMn1GrmcUeXRiyxUx-Tc-_wneS05YwKdE7pJGxroLCLyQujaCFdcVJeGjdesEk/s1600/034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ0V8Qw1NdmuI9B4X4nKvihPyLrhRH-WL2Jd_ndnyPMtGYKcR5AJLy08zGmXR0Y-12jAphRkQQ0LwcwPMn1GrmcUeXRiyxUx-Tc-_wneS05YwKdE7pJGxroLCLyQujaCFdcVJeGjdesEk/s400/034.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hot summer day at the zoo + ice cream = pretty much perfection.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNoUU63_SsMKbi_UiFXDGzXosVYbbx0DmHrXCf77oB2x8VCS4CwNyZqldguBJ7s-MSe133BA8Pd39jLfT7wRTP3P4zvIUX7ka7Wq6Z9gENEkKkx4Lzr-phtxjDe82zvH4rdMKG_nP-7ZM/s1600/018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNoUU63_SsMKbi_UiFXDGzXosVYbbx0DmHrXCf77oB2x8VCS4CwNyZqldguBJ7s-MSe133BA8Pd39jLfT7wRTP3P4zvIUX7ka7Wq6Z9gENEkKkx4Lzr-phtxjDe82zvH4rdMKG_nP-7ZM/s400/018.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty flower girls playing on my phone to help them stay still before the wedding!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh yes, and this. T-ball provided us with a lot of beautiful summer evenings, plus some of the biggest smiles around!</td></tr>
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In the fall, of course, Katelyn arrived, and all the fun flurry of family and friends visiting that a newborn creates. And we started homeschooling in earnest, with the girls in preschool, kindergarten, and first grade. Lamont started teaching four days a week at Gonzaga again, and basically life continues to be unbelievably busy.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baby!!!</td></tr>
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And through all of this beautiful craziness, I have been aware of an equally beautiful energy that is more than I am, that has enabled me to truly enjoy this giggle soaked season of life with my family. I thank God for always giving me <i>enough</i> -- sometimes no more than just enough, but always enough!</div>
Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16106989830460197919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137376945897439857.post-83161430736233791792012-11-11T21:38:00.000-08:002012-11-11T21:38:50.740-08:00Love lifts us up where we belong<i>Scriptures that have been a special blessing this year.</i><br />
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"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mystery and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing." I Corinthians 13:1-3</div>
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This is what this year has been about for me, learning that <i>none of these things that make me "look like a Christian" are worth even the breath of a moment --</i> not without love. I have so much to learn about loving like Jesus does, and these verses make it sound like learning to love like Jesus does is pretty much the most important thing I could be doing. So I've been clinging to the next five verses as well, to remind myself over and over what that is supposed to look like....</div>
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"Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends." 1 Corinthians 13:4-8</div>
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There is really nothing I can add to that. You see why it has been consuming my whole year.</div>
Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16106989830460197919noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137376945897439857.post-40189938942488986722012-11-09T22:06:00.000-08:002012-11-11T20:45:42.189-08:00R is for romanceToday's prompt: <i>R (blessings that start with this letter)</i><br />
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Kind of an unusual letter, R. Hardly one of the top five you guess while playing Hangman!<br />
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<i>Romance. </i>Next month Lamont and I will have been married for seven years. In that time we've had four beautiful children together. We've lived in five different places, nowhere for more than two years. Lamont has spent months working two hours away from the girls and I, at two different points in our marriage. I've had three major surgeries, and Lamont...well, he broke his nose playing basketball, so we'll count that. ;-) We've dealt with severe family crises as well as deaths in both our extended families. We've spent significant portions of those seven years very, very sleep deprived! There have been endless joys, but also quite a lot of challenging experiences for the two of us so far.<br />
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And somehow...somehow this incredible man I married keeps making me fall in love with him over and over again. This year, through a physically demanding pregnancy, a relentlessly busy schedule, and once again living in a new place and this time just not feeling like we belong here at all -- through it all, my husband has faithfully reminded me of God's promises and purposes for us. And he doesn't just tell me, he <i>shows</i> me daily how to love selflessly, to seek God's guidance, and to remain humble as he focuses on those around him. And he keeps me laughing! (A very misguided man once told me, while Lamont and I were engaged, that after we were married I would no longer find his jokes funny. How very wrong you were, sir!)<br />
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Lamont is, in every possible way, my best friend. <i>He knows my heart. </i>And he pursues my heart, in big ways and little ways, every single day. This year has been the most beautiful year of our marriage so far, and that thrills me. I am so blessed to be building this life together with the man who knows exactly what I want from Starbucks based on my mood, and still shows up to surprise me with the perfect drink at the perfect moment...who washes dishes and reads to little girls and folds laundry and changes the oil in my car, all with a smile...who somehow finds a way to hold my hand frequently despite all the little people constantly around us...who sends me to bed while he stays up with the baby...who loves me exactly as I am, while inspiring me to become more. <i>This is romance.</i><br />
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"It's two hearts and one dream...I wouldn't trade it for anything!Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16106989830460197919noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137376945897439857.post-48933384199630971782012-11-08T22:42:00.000-08:002012-11-08T22:43:34.151-08:00Memories and moments...Today's prompt: "<i>Memories and moments you're thankful for this year."</i><br />
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And I don't have a clue where to start, because I think this could easily become the longest blog post I've ever written, but I don't have time to just write forever about the countless beautiful moments I have gotten to treasure this past year. So I'll pick just a few, the first ones that come to mind as I begin to write, and let the rest of them continue to scroll through the memory of my heart as I fall asleep tonight, even if they don't all make it to the computer screen.<br />
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Miss Katelyn Joy.... We learned I was pregnant right around New Year's, so we spent most of this year looking forward to and praying for her safe arrival. I was so, so nervous at the beginning of this pregnancy, after miscarrying last fall. And just when I thought we'd reached the "safe zone", at 13 weeks we had a scare with Katelyn, and I spent most of a day in the hospital thinking I was losing her. When I remember how broken I felt that day, I am overwhelmed by the incredible gift that this precious (and perfectly healthy!) baby girl is to our family. I labored overnight with her -- first time I've experienced all night labor and the profound exhaustion it brings. Never in my life have I felt so entirely drained, so at the absolute end of myself, and so completely surrendered to radiant joy as I did at the moment that Katelyn was born. It felt like my heart just shattered into intense relief and gratitude as she was tucked up onto my chest, and then she tilted her tiny head up and stared solemnly straight into my eyes, and all the shattered pieces came together again into the most <i>complete</i> feeling I have ever known.<br />
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So many happy memories from this year were at the water! We got to enjoy Lake Michigan in May, the Oregon coast in July, and Lake Coeur d'Alene all summer long. Plus overnight stays at two different indoor water parks (um, spoiled much??), and four weeks of swim lessons at the pool in the park just a few minutes from us. It was so much fun watching the girls build confidence in the water, and just delighting in the waves and the sand together. One time at the ocean in July I was resting on the sand and watching Lamont and the girls join hands to run into the water together as one long, laughing chain. The sun was hot and the waves were crashing so that they were all I could hear, and I sat there, suspended in that perfect moment in time, and fell completely in love with it.</div>
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About three weeks ago, the girls cleared their breakfast dishes and rushed to get their handwriting books, to begin school for the day. As I rinsed their bowls and listened to their excited chatter about what they were practicing writing that day (and more importantly, what stickers they planned to choose from the sticker box for their pages once they completed them!), it suddenly just hit me: <i>I am homeschooling my children.</i> No longer just <i>We're going to homeschool,</i> or even, <i>I'm teaching them and I reallyreallyreallyreally hope it works out ok,</i> but, <i>I actually am homeschooling them for real and they're learning and they love it and I love it and this is really amazingly cool! </i>It was a moment of confidence and joy, and it left me so very grateful to have the opportunity to experience this with my children! I have a feeling I'm going to remember that day from now on as "the day I <i>really </i>became a homeschooling mom". ;)</div>
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There are so many more lovely memories from this last year, and I'm loving writing them out and don't want to stop! But it's nearly 11 pm, and I'm about to fall asleep at my keyboard, so I'll raise my white flag for tonight. </div>
Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16106989830460197919noreply@blogger.com3